A

lthough clown fish are conceived on coral reefs, they spend the first part of their lives as larvae drifting in the open ocean. The fish are not yet orange, striped or even capable of swimming. They are still plankton, a term that comes from the Greek word for wanderer, and wander they do, drifting at the mercy of the currents in an oceanic rumspringa.

When the baby clown fish grow big enough to swim against the tide, they high-tail it home. The fish cant see the reef, but they can hear its snapping, grunting, gurgling, popping and croaking. These noises make up the soundscape of a healthy reef, and larval fish rely on these soundscapes to find their way back to the reefs, where they will spend the rest of their lives  that is, if they can hear them.

But humans  and their ships, seismic surveys, air guns, pile drivers, dynamite fishing, drilling platforms, speedboats and even surfing  have made the ocean an unbearably noisy place for marine life, according to a sweeping review of the prevalence and intensity of the impacts of anthropogenic ocean noise published on Thursday in the journal Science. The paper, a collaboration of 25 authors from across the globe and various fields of marine acoustics, is the largest synthesis of evidence on the effects of oceanic noise pollution.

They hit the nail on the head, says Kerri Seger, a senior scientist at Applied Ocean Sciences, who was not involved with the research. By the third page, I was like, Im going to send this to my students.

Anthropogenic noise often drowns out the natural soundscapes, putting marine life under immense stress. In the case of baby clown fish, the noise can even doom them to wander the seas without direction, unable to find their way home.

The cycle is broken, says Carlos Duarte, a marine ecologist at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia and the lead author on the paper. The soundtrack of home is now hard to hear, and in many cases has disappeared.

Drowning out the signals

In the ocean, visual cues disappear after tens of yards, and chemical cues dissipate after hundreds of yards. But sound can travel thousands of miles and link animals across oceanic basins and in darkness, Duarte says. As a result, many marine species are impeccably adapted to detect and communicate with sound. Dolphins call one another by unique names. Toadfish hum. Bearded seals trill. Whales sing.

Scientists have been aware of underwater anthropogenic noise, and how far it propagates, for around a century, according to Christine Erbe, the director of the Centre for Marine Science and Technology at Curtin University in Perth, Australia, and an author on the paper. But early research on how noise might affect marine life focused on how individual large animals responded to temporary noise sources, such as a whale taking a detour around oil rigs during its migration.

The new study maps out how underwater noise affects countless groups of marine life, including zooplankton and jellyfish. The extent of the problem of noise pollution has only recently dawned on us, Erbe wrote in an email.

The idea for the paper came to Duarte seven years ago. He had been aware of the importance of ocean sound for much of his long career as an ecologist, but he felt that the issue was not recognised on a global scale. Duarte found that the scientific community that focused on ocean soundscapes was relatively small and siloed, with marine mammal vocalisations in one corner, and underwater seismic activity, acoustic tomography and policymakers in other, distant corners.

Weve all been on our little gold rushes, says Steve Simpson, a marine biologist at the University of Exeter and an author on the paper.

Duarte wanted to bring together the various corners to synthesise all the evidence they had gathered into a single conversation; maybe something this grand would finally result in policy changes.

The authors screened more than 10,000 papers to ensure they captured every tendril of marine acoustics research from the past few decades, according to Simpson. Patterns quickly emerged demonstrating the detrimental effects that noise has on almost all marine life.

(Getty Images)

With all that research, you realise you know more than you think you know, he says.

Simpson has studied underwater bioacoustics  how fish and marine invertebrates perceive their environment and communicate through sound  for 20 years. Out in the field, he became accustomed to waiting for a passing ship to rumble by before going back to work studying the fish.

I realised, Oh wait, these fish experience ships coming by every day, he says.

Marine life can adapt to noise pollution by swimming, crawling or oozing away from it, which means some animals are more successful than others. Whales can learn to skirt busy shipping lanes and fish can dodge the thrum of an approaching fishing vessel, but benthic creatures (those at the lowest depths) such as slow-moving sea cucumbers have little recourse.

If the noise settles in more permanently, some animals simply leave for good. When acoustic harassment devices were installed to deter seals from preying on salmon farms in the Broughton Archipelago in British Columbia, killer whale populations declined significantly until the devices were removed, according to a 2002 study.

The authors hope the review connects with policymakers, who have historically ignored noise as a significant anthropogenic stressor on marine life

These forced evacuations reduce population sizes as more animals give up territory and compete for the same pools of resources. And certain species that are bound to limited biogeographic ranges, such as the endangered Maui dolphin, have nowhere else to go.

Animals cant avoid the sound because its everywhere, Duarte says.

Even temporary sounds can cause chronic hearing damage in the sea creatures unlucky enough to be caught in the acoustic wake. Both fish and marine mammals have hair cells, sensory receptors for hearing. Fish can regrow these cells, but marine mammals probably cannot.

Luckily, unlike greenhouse gases or chemicals, sound is a relatively controllable pollutant.

Noise is about the easiest problem to solve in the ocean, Simpson says. We know exactly what causes noise, we know where it is, and we know how to stop it.

In search of quiet

Many solutions to anthropogenic noise pollution already exist, and are even quite simple: Slow down, move the shipping lane, avoid sensitive areas, change propellers, Simpson advises.

(Getty Images)

Many ships rely on propellers that cause a great deal of cavitation: Tiny bubbles form around the propeller blade and produce a horrible screeching noise. But quieter designs exist, or are in the works.

Propeller design is a very fast-moving technological space, Simpson says. Other innovations include bubble curtains, which can wrap around a pile driver and insulate the sound.

The researchers also flag deep-sea mining as an emergent industry that could become a major source of underwater noise, and suggest that new technologies could be designed to minimise sound before commercial mining starts.

The authors hope the review connects with policymakers, who have historically ignored noise as a significant anthropogenic stressor on marine life. The United Nations Law of the Sea BBNJ agreement, a document that manages biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction, does not mention noise among its list of cumulative impacts.

The UNs 14th sustainable development goal, which focuses on underwater life, does not explicitly mention noise, according to Seger of Applied Ocean Sciences. The UN had an ocean noise week where they sat down and listened to it and then went on to another topic, she says.

(Getty Images)

The paper in Science went through three rounds of editing, the last of which occurred after Covid-19 had created many unplanned experiments: Shipping activity slowed down, the oceans fell relatively silent, and marine mammals and sharks returned to previously noisy waterways where they were rarely seen.

Recovery can be almost immediate, Duarte says.

Alive with sound

A healthy ocean is not a silent ocean  hail crackling into white-crested waves, glaciers thudding into water, gases burbling from hydrothermal vents, and countless creatures chittering, rasping and singing are all signs of a healthy environment. One of the 20 authors on the paper is multimedia artist Jana Winderen, who created a six-minute audio track that shifts from a healthy ocean  the calls of bearded seals, snapping crustaceans and rain  to a disturbed ocean, with motorboats and pile driving.

A year ago, while studying invasive species in sea grass meadows in waters near Greece, Duarte was just about to come up for air when he heard a horrendous rumble above him: A huge warship on top of me, going at full speed. He stayed glued to the seafloor until the navy vessel passed, careful to slow down his breathing and not deplete his tank. Around 10 minutes after, the sound ebbed and Duarte was able to come up safely for air.

I have sympathy for these creatures, he said.

When warships and other anthropogenic noises cease, sea grass meadows have a soundscape entirely their own. In the daytime, the photosynthesising meadows generate tiny bubbles of oxygen that wobble up the water column, growing until they burst. All together, the bubble blasts make a scintillating sound like many little bells, beckoning larval fish to come home.

 The New York Times

One of the Lowcountrys oldest crisis centers for sex abuse announced a new name Feb. 9, which it hopes will expand its reach for survivors in the tri-county.

Founded in the 1970s, People Against Rape became one of the nations first rape crisis centers. It began as a collective to help survivors navigate resources which at the time were scant and lacked most of the trauma-informed strategies now accepted as best practice.

Over the years the organization became the tri-countys leading advocate for sex assault survivors. From a 24-hour hotline and companionship at the Medical University of South Carolinas sex assault examination rooms to group meetings and therapy referrals, they now offer a pantheon of resources for physical, legal and mental well-being.

While direct services for self-identified survivors is the heart of PARs mission, its leaders have also been working to raise funds and public awareness  something they say was made difficult by the group's name.

We were being told by community organizations that they wouldnt want to wear a shirt that says the word rape, Board Chair Tenelle Jones said. And (survivors) might say well, I know I wasnt raped, I was sexually violated ... but this isnt for that.

So the board decided to rebrand, and as 2020 came to a close, it decided on a name: Tri-County Sexual Violence Prevention, Education, Advocacy, Knowledge and Services (S.P.E.A.K.S.).

As the new year began, Executive Director Alex Russell took over the helm from interim Executive Director Djuanna Brockington.

Russell, who had previously worked on health and anti-violence programming at the College of Charleston, said shes excited to build on the foundations strategies for public education and outreach.

In the past year, Tri-County S.P.E.A.K.S. has appointed a victim services advocate for each of the counties it serves  Charleston, Berkeley and Dorchester  and shifted services like group meetings to an online format. Russell hopes thats just the beginning of a program thats accessible to rural and low-income survivors.

When were doing outreach and prevention education, people are going to know a lot more about the services we provide, whos eligible and how to access care, Russell said. But were also talking about primary prevention, secondary prevention, why consent is important. ... Were going to be able to build up our prevention education arm, and we dont even know what that looks like yet.

The S.P.E.A.K.S. acronym was intentional, Russell said. She wants to remind survivors that their thoughts and input matter, and empower them in the healing process.

"We're here to give a voice to survivors, to people impacted by sexual violence," Russell said. "But we're also here to be that voice when they need an advocate, when they need someone in their corner. They're not alone."

Reach the Tri-County S.P.E.A.K.S. hotline at 843-745-0144.
Clash with Congress: Left calls for 12-hour Bengal bandh tomorrow

India

oi-Briti Roy Barman

Kolkata, Feb 11: Left Front Chairman Biman Bose on Thursday announced a 12- hour West Bengal bandh by the Left and associate parties from 6 AM on Friday in protest against the clash that happened with Congress party workers during a rally to Nabanna in Kolkata as they tried to break barricades on their way to state secretariat.

"Left calls for 12-hour bandh in West Bengal on Friday from 6 AM to 6 PM to protest over today's incident wherein left party members were beaten up and water cannons were used against them by police during march to Nabanna in Kolkata," Biman Bose said in a statement slamming Congress with which it has formed an electoral alliance for the coming assembly elections in the state.

"The way police unleashed atrocities on the participants in the march to Nabanna, it created a situation somewhat akin to the historic Jallianwala Bagh incident," Bose further said.

The Left Front chairman claimed that more than 150 students and young men and women were injured in the police action while participating in the 'Nabanna abhiyan' programme of the student and youth wings of the Left and Congress demanding jobs and better education facilities.

The march to Nabanna started at College Street but was stopped by the police on SN Banerjee Road in the Esplanade area. As the activists tried to head further by breaking the heavy metal barricades, police used water cannons.

Amid slogans against the Mamata Banerjee government, the Left-wing youths and students tried to climb up the barricades, following which police began a baton-charge and also fired tear-gas shells.

Some police officials were also reported to be injured in the clashes. CPI(M) politburo member Mohammad Salim alleged that the Mamata Banerjee government is totally dependent on the police force to suppress protests and demands by the people.

"Why is she afraid of receiving a memorandum from jobless youths," he asked in a press conference at the CPI(M) headquarters here after the incident. Condemning the attacks on the agitators, Congress Rajya Sabha MP Pradip Bhattacharya said that the Trinamool Congress government has lost the people's faith and violent suppression of protests is an indication of that.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Thursday, February 11, 2021, 20:50 [IST]
Kenny Holston/NTY

In January 2016, Donald Trump said, We will respect and defend Christian America. He went on to say, Christianity will have power in the United States. His message to Christian nationalists was a direct hit.

Who are Christian nationalists? Those who believe that God is partial to Christians, that Christians are Gods chosen people in this country. They are convinced that America has always been a Christian nation and always will be. Therefore not only should Christianity be enshrined as our nations true religion, the government and the laws of this country should reflect and mostly be guided by the will of Christians.
Fortnum & Mason has axed the sale of its foie gras after decades of pressure from stars including Sir Roger Moore, Joanna Lumley and Ricky Gervais.

The luxury department store based in Piccadilly, London, will no longer stock the food product which has been branded 'torture in a tin' by critics because of the way it is produced.

The product is considered unethical by animal welfare groups as it involves force-feeding ducks or geese with excessive amounts of grain and fat, producing an enlarged liver which is then sold for eating.

Jars of foie gras with truffle have been slashed from 75 to 52.50 (per 180g) on the company's website, with goose foie gras also reduced from 70 to 49 per jar.

Fortnum & Mason (store pictured) based in Piccadilly, London, will stop purchasing the controversial food product as part of a decision made last year

The controversial food product is considered unethical by animal welfare groups as it is created by force-feeding geese or ducks with excessive amounts of grain and fat

A spokesman for Fortnum & Mason told The Telegraph that it will stop purchasing the product and sell off its remaining stock, adding: 'This decision was made last year as part of an ongoing focus on the way we do business.'

Celebrities have called over the years for the retailer to take the products off its shelves, with the late James Bond actor Sir Roger Moore leading a campaign from Peta (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) to boycott the store.

Actress Joanna Lumley, comedian Ricky Gervais, model Twiggy and writer Bill Oddie have also previously voiced their support for the charity's drive.

Peta's vice-president, Mimi Bekhechi, said: 'Although it took far too long, we're thrilled the penny has finally dropped and Fortnum & Mason is joining the list of iconic British institutions that reject this torture in a tin.'

Lady Moore, the widow of Sir Roger, who passed away in May 2017, said the actor would have been 'delighted'.

On its website, the company, which also owns stores at London's Heathrow airport and St Pancras railway station, writes: 'Foie gras and caviar are two of lifes greatest indulgences, and we source only the best for our customers.

The late James Bond actor Sir Roger Moore (pictured left, in 2012) led a campaign from Peta calling for the store to take the food product off its shelve with actress Joanna Lumley (right) also supporting calls from Peta to boycott the retailer

Comedian Ricky Gervais (pictured left) and model Twiggy (right) have also previously voiced their support for the animal welfare charity's drive

What is foie gras and how is it made? Foie gras - literally meaning 'fat liver' in French - is a speciality food made from the fattened liver of a duck or goose. It is rich in flavor, and smooth and buttery in its consistency. The delicacy is produced by force-feeding geese or ducks in order to enlarge their livers. Force-feeding via a six inch tube inserted into the animal's mouth usually occurs 12- 18 days before the bird is slaughtered. The production method originated around 2500 BC, with ancient Egyptians deliberately fattening fowl before killing them. The practice has long been criticised by animal rights activists who say it is inhumane. A report from the EU's Scientific Committee on Animal Health back in 1989 concluded that 'force feeding, as currently practised, is detrimental to the welfare of the birds'. Only five European countries still produce foie gras, including France, where the law states that the delicacy 'belongs to the protected cultural and gastronomical heritage' of the country. Advertisement

'Our foie gras is produced by just two farms carefully selected for their excellent welfare standards; smooth and creamy, it is the simplest way to transform a meal into a banquet.'

In 2012, Ewan Venters, the chief executive of the department store, said the shop had no intentions of yielding to the demands of Peta, stating that the demand for the delicacy was very strong.

He added that Fortnum & Mason had thousands of customers who wanted to buy the traditional food.

The chief executive further said that the geese supplied to the store comply with the shops gold standard code of conduct, and have access to good, natural air, and fresh drinking water.

A celebrity butcher who sold top-of-the-range meat to the rich and famous at Selfridges in London was previously sacked after secretly selling banned foie gras in the store.

Selfridges banned the foodstuff in 2009 after intense pressure from campaigners.

Jack O'Shea was forced to close his butchers based in the high-end department store after he was exposed for selling the controversial goose liver on undercover camera footage.

He was filmed serving customers who used the code term 'French fillet' packets of the French delicacy imported from Paris, weighing 795g, for 39.40.

In 2019 Waitrose began selling a 'guilt-free' foie gras, called Foie Royale, at some of its deli counters.

The laboratory-made version of the French delicacy is made from the livers of healthy, free-range geese and ducks that are ethically raised on farms.

The birds are slaughtered for their meat and their healthy liver is trimmed and sent to the lab for the process to begin, according to the Foie Royale website.

Traditional foie gras production is banned in the UK due to strict animal welfare laws but the RSPCA has called for imports to also be prohibited.

An RSPCA spokesperson previously said: 'The practice of force-feeding ducks or geese to produce traditional foie gras from their livers is considered cruel by the RSPCA, and our laws essentially prohibit it from being produced in the UK.

Fortnum & Mason's 310g jar of foie gras with gingerbread, which has been reduced on the company's website from 90 to 63

The high-end department store's ready-to-fry goose foie gras, for which the price has been slashed from 80 to 56 per 250g

Fortnum and Mason's goose foie gras with prunes and Armagnac - a type of brandy produced in France - which is being sold on its website for 60

'In addition, we would like to see an end to imports of foie gras; 180 to 200 tons of foie gras are still brought in from mainland Europe each year.

'We strongly believe that if the method of making a product is so unacceptable that producing it here is banned, then importing that product from another country should be illegal too.

'Brexit provides such an opportunity as most foie gras is produced in the EU which has no laws aimed at protecting the welfare of animals producing it.'

Meanwhile, restaurants and grocery stores in New York City are set to be banned from selling foie gras from 2022, with city council members voting 42-6 for a final version of the bill in 2019.

The motion will see vendors and restaurateurs slapped with a $2,000 (1,446) fine for each violation. A previous plan to jail offenders for up to 12 months was eliminated.

Chicago outlawed the sale of foie gras in 2006, before the law was overturned just two years later.

In 2014, India became the first country to issue a blanket ban on foie gras, causing dismay among the nation's top chefs.
#PongoElHombro en el parque Mayta Capac de San Martin de Porres y el Hospital de Apoyo Carabayllo, donde se inmunizo a personal de salud de Lima Norte. pic.twitter.com/KdTPKAUIfc
The CCA was an early adopter of the animated feature category: the Critics Choice Awards have handed out the prize since 1999, before the Oscars, BAFTAs, Golden Globes, and many others. The category had become a bellwether for the Oscars  in the 19 years in which the two ceremonies honored animated features, they picked the same film 16 times, including Pixars Toy Story 4 last year.

In its press release announcing the nominees, the CCA did not address the absence of animation features or explain its long-term plans for the category. Cartoon Brew has contacted the organization for comment; we will update this article if they respond.

An insight into their thinking was provided in November, when the Super Awards nominees were announced. Speaking to Deadline, CCA CEO Joey Berlin commented on the decision to launch this new showcase for animation and other genres:

We have given out best horror movie and action movie and animated series and those things, and they often didnt get on the air. Just like we broke out the documentary awards into their own event, and we broke out the reality television for the same reasons because there is good stuff that doesnt get to shine on its own at the Critics Choice Awards. I think it makes a lot of sense, and I think it is going to be really entertaining. I think it can really grow into its own annual event.

These changes are problematic for two reasons. Firstly  and well say this till were blue in the face  animation is not a genre, and is not considered as such by anyone in the industry. It is a medium suitable for any genre. Ironically, the range of genres represented in animated features is now broader than ever: recent adult-skewing nominees, like the biopic Loving Vincent or psychological drama Anomalisa, attest to that.

Secondly, animations move to the Super Awards is clearly a demotion. True, there are now more animation categories than before (see below). But the Super Awards lack the weight of decades of history, and were conceived from the start  even before Covid  as a virtual event. Their very premise smacks of condescension in both directions: it suggests that so-called popular films are unworthy of Critics Choice Awards prestige, while also implying that the films feted at the main ceremony are unpopular.

Of course, a best animated feature category  even within the main ceremony  is still a kind of ghetto. We dream of the day when the years best animated films are seen as viable candidates for best film awards (which, very occasionally, they are). In the meantime, the CAA has taken a step in the wrong direction.

But the buck doesnt stop with awards bodies. As Berlin says, the animation category at the Critics Choice Awards was often cut from the broadcast. The same is sometimes true at other major awards. Animated nominees often have high profiles and big fanbases; people are interested in them. Why shouldnt they get airtime?

Earlier at the Super Awards: Pixars Soul cleaned up at the Super Awards last month, winning best animated movie, as well as best actor and actress in an animated movie for Jamie Foxx and Tina Fey. Netflixs Bojack Horseman won best animated series, with the shows lead Will Arnett winning best actor in an animated series; Kaley Cuoco won the equivalent actress award for HBO Maxs Harley Quinn. Check out the full list of nominees here.

Meanwhile, the Critics Choice Awards are still handing out their vfx award. The nominees this year are Greyhound (Apple TV+), The Invisible Man (Universal Pictures), Mank (Netflix), The Midnight Sky (Netflix), Mulan (Walt Disney Pictures), Tenet (Warner Bros), and Wonder Woman 1984 (Warner Bros). Additionally, Soul has picked up a nomination for best score (Jon Batiste, Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross).

The 26th Critics Choice Awards will air on The CW Sunday, March 7. The ceremony will be a hybrid affair, with host Taye Diggs and some of the presenters filming from a stage in L.A. and nominees appearing remotely.

Pictured at top: Netflixs The Willoughbys was one of the Super Awards nominees in the animated feature category.
Saudi Aramco, the worlds biggest oil company, is discussing with banks the idea to offer the potential buyers of its pipeline business a staple financing package of up to US$10 billion, Reuters reported on Wednesday, citing three sources.

Saudi state-controlled giant Aramco is looking to monetize assets as its oil revenues and profitsand as an extension, Saudi Arabias income from oilhave drastically fallen over the past year, due to the crash in global oil demand and prices, and the OPEC+ production cut pact aimed at propping up oil prices.

Reports emerged as early as in October that Aramco was in early talks to potentially structure a deal worth more than US$10 billion to sell a part of its pipeline business to asset managers, including the worlds biggest, BlackRock.

According to Reuters sources, now Aramcos potential investors in the pipeline unit, including BlackRock, are also discussing with banks the possible financing package for the acquisition. A loan of up to US$10 billion would cover a large part of the value of the pipeline assets.

Another major oil producer in the Gulf, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has already moved to monetize energy infrastructure assets. Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) signed in June last year a US$20.7-billion deal with six international companies for the acquisition of a minority stake in Adnoc Gas Pipeline Assets.

Under the terms of the deal, Global Infrastructure Partners, Brookfield Asset Management, Singapores sovereign wealth fund, the Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board, Snam, and NH Investment and Securities acquired a 49-percent interest in ADNOC Gas Pipeline Assets, a new subsidiary of the UAEs national oil and gas company.

Saudi Aramco, for its part, is looking to raise more money via additional share offerings in coming years, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said last month.

There are going to be IPOs by Aramco in the following years, Bloomberg quoted the crown prince as saying at the Future Investment Initiative conference in Saudi Arabias capital Riyadh.

By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:

It is still possible to have a critical mass of the adult population vaccinated against Covid-19 by September, Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said today.

But it is dependent on the element of supply, Mr Donnelly told the Dail.

He has come under sustained attack for suggesting most of the adult population could be vaccinated by the end of the summer, which was perceived as a pledge.

Read More

But the aim was immediately thrown into chaos when AstraZeneca announced last month it would not be meeting contractual obligations with the EU on the supply of the Oxford vaccine.

Asked today about the Autumn target by Labour Party leader Alan Kelly, the Minister for Health replied: With regard to September, can I caveat it again, as I've tried to do many, many times by saying it's all highly provisional.

It got construed publicly as making promises, he said. These are not promises.

But I can say that, based on the highly conditional forecast we have, it would still be possible to meet the September date.

But again, it is highly, highly dependent on supply.

Mr Donnelly said 272,000 vaccines had been received into the country to last Sunday, including not only the AstraZeneca jab, but also those produced by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna.

The later two required careful storage and transport. You cant have a GP put them in the back of the car and drive them up the hills of Tipperary or Wicklow, he said.

He acknowledged there had been a recommendation against the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine for the over-65s, with Mr Kelly suggestingmany older people living in remote areas would be best receiving the vaccine in their own homes, including cate homes.

Mr Donnelly noted new field data was expected to be published on the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine in the elderly, and if its efficacy was shown to be higher than currently thought, the Irish health service would be prepared to update its approach.

The validated data they had showed the AstraZeneca jab showed an efficacy of 58-59pc, but other research may be higher, he said. Certainly my view is we have to keep all of that under review. And if we find out that the effectiveness changes, or is updated based on more information, I think we absolutely have to update the delivery plan accordingly.

He agreed with Mr Kelly that GPs should drop down an age cohort if they found they had extra vaccine left in an open vial, rather than let it go to waste within a few hours.

Government policy was not to allow unused vaccine, so if 16 out of the typical 20 doses in a vial were administered to the over-85s and there were none other in the catchment, then their administration to younger people in their eighties would be appropriate.

TDs raised the need to prioritise kidney patients and people with cystic fibrosis, with a number saying their were inundated with queries from others as to when they would qualify for a vaccine.

Mr Donnelly said detailed work was being carried out by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee, on people with underlying conditions who are at very high risk, and he hoped to be able to report back to the House next week on the matter.

A total of 34 vaccination centres were intended, with the national list being worked on the HSE. It was hoped to have these ready by mid-March for use in respect of large volumes of people in the second quarter of this year, he said.
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Robert Kocharyan on years of his leadership in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia

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"Armenia" alliance of political parties paying tribute to founder of First Republic Aram Manukyan

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

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MPSC, EGLE join 11 other states to examine planning for power grid amid transition to clean, distributed energy sources

MPSC, EGLE join 11 other states to examine planning for power grid amid transition to clean, distributed energy sources

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 11, 2021

Media Contact: Matt Helms 517-284-8300

Customer Assistance: 800-292-9555

Michigan.gov/MPSC

Twitter

Michigans energy future will require a more resilient, efficient electric grid that adapts to distributed sources of power generation. To that end, Michigan joined 11 states across the country in exploring the comprehensive electricity planning that will be required for states to create a more optimized grid thats also more affordable for customers.

The Michigan Public Service Commission and the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy participated in the nationwide Task Force on Comprehensive Electricity Planning, a joint effort by the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) and the National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO). State energy officials from Ohio, Indiana, Minnesota and other states participated in the task force, which has been meeting since November 2018.

Growth in distributed energy resources (DERs) such as solar, wind, battery storage and energy efficiency require regulatory and policy innovation and a greater emphasis on planning to overcome system complexities and avoid unnecessary costs associated with operating the grid.

Michigans transition from large, centralized power plants to smaller, distributed sources of electricity is already well under way, said MPSC Chair Dan Scripps. Electric utilities in the state have made significant pledges to move toward clean energy in the coming years, and this shift will require a regulatory framework based on innovation, adaptability, affordability and fairness, all goals weve begun addressing as part of the MPSCs MI Power Grid initiative.

Comprehensive grid planning will increase reliability for customers and also allow for a continued seamless integration of renewable energy resources such as wind, solar and storage, said EGLE Director Liesl Clark. The accelerating pace of change in the energy industry is having broad impacts on all Michiganders. We need to make sure the transition is equitable for all communities and at the same time is protective of our states environmental resources.

States are exploring their own approaches. In Michigan, the areas being explored include:

MI Power Grid, the multiyear effort led by the MPSC to maximize the benefits of the transition to clean, distributed energy resources for Michigan residents and businesses. MI Power Grids efforts to align planning processes were initiated in 2020, and further work is expected to incorporate learnings from stakeholder forums and the NARUC-NASEO roadmaps into utility planning processes.

Focusing on equity by ensuring that, through the increased engagement of impacted communities in the development of energy projects and access to clean energy, all communities and residents benefit from the ongoing energy transition. The Office of the Environmental Justice Public Advocate within EGLE will work collaboratively to ensure the environmental justice is prioritized and that there is equitable application of regulations, laws and policies. The Office is developing an Environmental Justice Screening Tool for Michigan that will play a role in targeting opportunities.

Incorporating goals laid out in September by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in her MI Healthy Climate initiative into the utility integrated resource planning process, including putting Michigan on a path toward being carbon-neutral by 2050.

In addition to improving grid reliability and resilience, the task forces goals included focusing on avoiding unnecessary costs for ratepayers, supporting states policy priorities and increasing the transparency of grid-related investments.

To learn more about the Task Force, visit www.naruc.org/taskforce.

For information about the MPSC, visit www.Michigan.gov/MPSC, sign up for its monthly newsletter or other listservs, or follow the Commission on Twitter or LinkedIn.

# # #
Murray Vaccine Appointments Rescheduled

By West Kentucky Star Staff

MURRAY - Due to impending bad weather, COVID-19 vaccinations at Murray State University's CFSB Center have been rescheduled.After discussions with state and local health and safety officials, the Calloway County Health Department has decided to reschedule the February 17 COVID-19 vaccinations to Sunday, February 14.With the forecast for early next week including several inches of snow for our area, health officials say the decision to reschedule was made in the interest of getting the vaccine distributed to the community in a safe and timely manner.Any patients that had an appointment scheduled for February 17 will receive a call to have their appointments rescheduled.The health department encourages anyone that hasn't signed up for the vaccine to do so at the link below.You can see additional information below.
GWINN, MI - You have to really make an effort to visit The Up North Lodge.

Its in middle of nowhere, which means in the middle of the Upper Peninsula, if you live in Michigan.

Heck, the whole U.P. is in the middle of nowhere, according to national social media posts that often lop off the entire peninsula in maps of Michigan.

Were a pretty unique location, said Jesie Melchiori, general manager at The Up North Lodge in Gwinn, which is located about 165 miles west of the Mackinac Bridge and more than a half hour south of Marquette, through winding roads, of course.

Its not like were forgotten, but its difficult to get to us. ...Were more of a destination, she added.

The UP North Lodge was our official Poll Winner for Michigans Best Outdoor Dining in the Upper Peninsula. It beat out the Pine Stump Restaurant in Newberry, which came in at second place.

The outdoor tent at The Up North Lodge in Gwinn, Michigan.Courtesy of The Up North Lodge

The Up North Lodge had 56 percent of the votes in the U.P., and the most votes of any restaurant in all of our 11 regional polls. You might say theyre overall No. 1. They were also a stop for Michigans Best Bloody Mary back in 2016, where we noted that every table ordered a slab of ribs. (Its still our No. 1 seller every night of the week, Melchiori said.)

The Up North Lodge in Gwinn, Michigan, is known for their famous Bloody Mary, made with a local mix.Courtesy of The Up North Lodge

The owners and crew of The Up North Lodge couldnt be more excited about being Michigans Best.

We put a lot of work and effort into that backyard so we could sustain the restaurant during the shutdown, Melchiori said.

Its hard for small towns to be able to support multiple restaurants in their area during these times. By adding the outdoor stuff, it gave us a unique advantage, and we had people traveling from all over to see the uniqueness of our backyard.

No igloos or greenhouses, The Up North Lodge in Gwinn, Michigan, has outdoor fire pits, some patio seating and a tent.Courtesy of The Up North Lodge

In her email nomination to MLive, Melchiori wrote:

Nestled in the outskirts of Gwinn this cozy log built restaurant has had to think outside the box to get it done this winter! We were given lemons and made one heck of a lemonade stand, we opened our backyard area to make an amazing outdoor wonderland! Complete with outdoor dining tents, outdoor bar, 3 firepits, and horse drawn sleigh rides!

Draft horses take you on a sleigh ride at The Up North Lodge in Gwinn, Michigan.Courtesy of The Up North Lodge

The backyard, as the locals call it, is a popular spot even during the summer months with live music on Sunday afternoons, and in the wintertime people come from all over for the horse-drawn sleigh rides. The space just needed to upgraded to battle the cold.

In the first part of December, they added two more handmade bonfire pits that featured bar tops, outdoor heaters and walls for a tent, as allowed by health department guidelines, Melchiori said. People just started hanging out all weekend long.

It all worked out because it kept us busy when we could have done just takeout, said Melchiori, who has decided to keep the backyard open Fridays through Sundays for the remainder of winter.

Being able to do that has saved their business, hands down, she added.

Interior view of the The Up North Lodge, which has an indoor seating capacity of nearly 200 people. It is located in Gwinn, Michigan.Courtesy of The Up North Lodge

Prior to outdoor dining, they were bringing in about 8% of regular sales throughout the shutdown.

With the backyard open, they are now doing about 26%of regu lar sales.

Its still not great, but its better than nothing. We figured out how to use winter and use this situation to our advantage, Melchiori said.

They look forward to seeing locals, travelers, snowmobilers and those who just want to support a local business working hard to make it through the pandemic.

Families come out for dinner. Couples for date night. And the teens come out for prom. The wedding season usually brings out some parties to the backyard, which can accommodate a few hundred people.

The Up North Lodge in Gwinn, Michigan, is known for its ribs, where it's "Every Day is Rib Day"!Courtesy of The Up North Lodge

And people love those juicy, delicious ribs made with a secret recipe, and Bloody Marys made with Whitneys Famous Bloody Mary Mix, which is based in the Upper Peninsula.

We are hands-down famous for our ribs. Everybody loves The Up North Lodge ribs, said Melchiori, adding every day is rib day!

The owners are Scott and Sally Searle, Roy Meni, Larry and Eunice Bertocchi, Vince and Mona Jean Rose, and Cheryl Frisk.

The Up North Lodge in Gwinn, Michigan, had the most votes in any of our polls for Michigan's Best Outdoor Dining.Courtesy of The Up North Lodge

IF YOU GO

The Up North Lodge

215 S. County Road 557, Gwinn, MI 49841

906-346-9815

Current hours: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday. The outdoor dining area is open from 4-8 p.m. Friday, and noon-8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

More info: theupnorthlodge.com or facebook.com/theupnorthlodge

The crew at The Up North Lodge says "thank you" for making them the UP's Best Outdoor Dining.Courtesy of The Up North Lodge

The search for Michigans Best Outdoor Dining is sponsored in part by Warm Fitness.

Rockford Public Service workers light the fire pits in the RORA (Rockford Outdoor Refreshment Area) on Thursday, Feb. 4, 2021 in Rockford. (Hope Davison | MLive.com)Hope Davison

More Michigans Best Outdoor Dining Stories

A Michigan-made yurt village can be found at this spot in Chelsea

10 great Outdoor Dining spots along the White Pine Trail

See all the photos from RORA - Rockford Outdoor Refreshment Area

Operation Shantyville is adventurous twist on outdoor dining, supporting Bay area restaurants

Play River Rocks, get farm-to-table cuisine at this SW Michigan outdoor dining spot

Traditional Irish food, tacos and great service at this Michigans Best Outdoor Dining spot

See all of the nominations for Michigans Best Outdoor Dining

How you can enjoy the cozy hygge lifestyle outdoors at this Grand Rapids spot

Kalamazoo brewery tucks heaters under tables to create outdoor Campground Patio

Igloos, shanties, huts and more: Where to dine outdoors in Michigan this winter

If you have questions about this search or suggestions for future searches, feel free to email us:

John Gonzalez: gonzo@mlive.com

Amy Sherman: asherma2@mlive.com

Follow our Michigans Best adventures on social media:

@mlivemibest on Twitter

@mlivemibest on Instagram

Facebook at MLiveMIBest.

Join in by using the hashtags #mibest and #outdoordining.

In addition:

John Gonzalez is on Twitter @michigangonzo, as well as Facebook and Instagram @MichiganGonzo.

Amy Sherman is on Twitter @amyonthetrail, as well as Facebook and Instagram @amyonthetrail.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-11 22:26:03|Editor: huaxia

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KAMPALA, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- Two cadet trainees of the Uganda People's Defense Air Force were injured when a military helicopter they were traveling in crash landed soon after take-off on Thursday.

Military spokesperson Flavia Byekwaso said in a tweet that the accident occurred near Entebbe International Airport, 40 km south of the capital Kampala.

"Today (Thursday) afternoon at about 2:15 p.m., a Jet Ranger piloted by two cadet trainees on a mutual training flight came down immediately after take-off near Lido Beach," Byekwaso said.

"The two were rushed to hospital to ascertain their health. Our aviation team is on ground to investigate the mishap," she added.

The accident occurred just after a week when another Ugandan military helicopter crashed in Somalia, injuring four soldiers on an African Union peacekeeping mission.

In January last year, the Ugandan military lost two soldiers in a Jet Ranger which crashed in the central district of Gomba. Enditem
COLUMBIA  South Carolina still has no official plan for distributing limited COVID-19 vaccines statewide after the public health agency's governing board punted making a decision on Feb. 11.

It may be next month before the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control board acts. But by then the Legislature will mandate its own method.

Meanwhile, shipping delays caused by wintry weather in parts of the South and Midwest are temporarily exacerbating the state's vaccine supply shortage. More people are being booted from their appointments to get shots and providers are having trouble scheduling future ones, not knowing when shipments will arrive.

Hundreds of hospitals, pharmacies, doctors' offices and other providers across South Carolina are setting appointments based on assumptions of how many doses they'll receive in future shipments and what days they'll show up. And while they are getting their full allotment this week, according to DHEC, even a day or two's difference in when they arrive can require rescheduling.

Prisma Health, for example, is expecting 37,500 total doses this week but less than half of that had arrived by Feb. 10, sending the state's largest hospital system scrambling to adjust reservations as demand surged in the first week 65- to 69-year-olds could get a shot.

"This pandemic has challenged everyone to be ready to adjust to a changing environment almost every moment, hour and day," said Dr. Saria Saccocio, co-chair of the Prisma Health Vaccine Task Force.

The delays prompted the Medical University of South Carolina to postpone a clinic set for Feb. 12 at Seacoast Church in Mount Pleasant.

It will take eight more weeks before all eligible South Carolinians who want a shot, including those 65 and older, can get one, said Nick Davidson, DHEC's deputy director for public health.

"There's still incredible demand in the current phase. People are really looking hard to get it," he said, noting people are traveling to wherever they can get an appointment.

This week's back-to-back shipping issues  amid severe weather near Pfizer's plant in Michigan, then at vaccine shipping hubs in Memphis and Louisville  are beyond the control of DHEC, which places orders though the federal government that ship directly to providers. And they affected states beyond South Carolina's borders.

But where DHEC can help providers tremendously is by deciding how to split the state's total allotment, giving them some stability on what's coming, board members recognized Feb. 11, while hearing a second presentation on how to potentially do so.

That predictability was the argument for allocating doses to counties based strictly on how many people live there  the scenario board members tentatively agreed on two weeks ago, when they asked staff to figure out the logistics.

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However, after a lengthy presentation and closed-door session, the board asked staff to come back with another presentation at its next meeting laying out the details for instead distributing doses on a regional basis  essentially, the Legislature's plan. They'll make a decision then, which won't be until March 11, unless a special meeting is called earlier.

That's likely a recognition the Legislature's going to make the call anyway.

Both the House and Senate have approved a measure requiring DHEC to allocate doses by population in multicounty regions, while factoring in demographics such as age and poverty. Now it's a matter of working out differences between the two versions  primarily, whether each of the four regions (Upstate, Midlands, Pee Dee and Lowcountry) should have its own vaccine advisory board.

The proposal, expected to be finalized next week, was a direct result of legislators' frustration with DHEC.

"We're 2 months into the vaccination process and they still havent made that decision," House Ways and Means Chairman Murrell Smith, R-Sumter, said after the DHEC board meeting.

"Citizens expect for us to have a plan and implement a plan," he said. "We cant control vaccination supplies, but theres no reason at this point not to have the infrastructure in place to get them to citizens as quickly as possible."

At the end of its board meeting, DHEC officials said they like the idea of a regional distribution plan since it provides "more flexibility" in reaching rural areas.

"There are so many regional providers (like large hospital networks) that have a fair amount of horsepower to get vaccine out in the communities," Davidson said. "There could be a fair amount of cooperation existing between those counties and that would assist in making sure that vaccine gets out to the communities that need it most."

The federal government is currently allocating 76,400 doses to South Carolina weekly for first shots.

But the demand is far greater. Providers are collectively asking DHEC to order three to four times that, Davidson said.

"Everybody gets less than they request because, otherwise, thered be nowhere near enough," he said, noting providers learn on Fridays what they'll receive the following week. "We want to give everybody as much as they can use. ... Thats an ongoing challenge until we have plenty of vaccine on hand."

In all, 1.3 million South Carolinians are on the eligibility list, including health care workers, long-term care residents and, as of Feb. 8, anyone 65 and older. As of Feb. 11, 460,000 residents had received at least their first of two shots, and more than 435,000 doses were reserved by appointments, some a month out, according to DHEC.

Jessica Holdman contributed from Columbia.
Cybersecurity

Senators: Biden picks Anne Neuberger to lead SolarWinds response

The White House has tapped Anne Neuberger, a career intelligence veteran and former senior cybersecurity official at the National Security Agency, to lead the government's response to the SolarWinds hack, according to two senators.

"The federal government's response to date to the SolarWinds breach has lacked the leadership and coordination warranted by a significant cyber event, so it is welcome news that the Biden administration has selected Anne Neuberger to lead the response," Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) said in a February 10 statement.

Warner and Rubio, the top senators on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, earlier this week published a letter to the White House asking the administration to name a single official responsible for overseeing the government's response.

Emily Horne, spokesperson for the National Security Council, told multiple media outlets that Neuberger's leadership on the breach is nothing new.

"Since Day 1, she has been running an interagency process on SolarWinds."

Neuberger formerly served as the director of the NSA's cybersecurity division and was tapped by the White House to be the deputy national security advisor for cyber and emerging technology at the National Security Council.

In one of her first public engagements in that role, Neuberger told a federal advisory committee yesterday that "President Biden has immediately shown leadership with saying we've got to get a handle on the SolarWinds incident."

She also told that group, the National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee, that the White House would include several of its recommendations into "our new national cyber strategy." Those recommendations include accelerating the adoption of cybersecurity guidelines, promoting software and supply chain assurance, and "a whole-of-nation approach to ensuring U.S. leadership in key emerging technologies."

Until now, a group of intelligence agencies and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency had been jointly responsible for the federal government's response to the SolarWinds hack.
Bloomberg

(Bloomberg) -- This time is different may be the most dangerous words in business: billions of dollars have been lost betting that history wont repeat itself. And yet now, in the oil world, it looks like this time really will be.For the first time in decades, oil companies arent rushing to increase production to chase rising oil prices as Brent crude approaches $70. Even in the Permian, the prolific shale basin at the center of the U.S. energy boom, drillers are resisting their traditional boom-and-bust cycle of spending.The oil industry is on the ropes, constrained by Wall Street investors demanding that companies spend less on drilling and instead return more money to shareholders, and climate change activists pushing against fossil fuels. Exxon Mobil Corp. is paradigmatic of the trend, after its humiliating defeat at the hands of a tiny activist elbowing itself onto the board.The dramatic events in the industry last week only add to what is emerging as an opportunity for the producers of OPEC+, giving the coalition led by Saudi Arabia and Russia more room for maneuver to bring back their own production. As non-OPEC output fails to rebound as fast as many expected -- or feared based on past experience -- the cartel is likely to continue adding more supply when it meets on June 1.CriminalizationShareholders are asking Exxon to drill less and focus on returning money to investors. They have been throwing money down the drill hole like crazy, Christopher Ailman, chief investment officer for CalSTRS. We really saw that company just heading down the hole, not surviving into the future, unless they change and adapt. And now they have to.Exxon is unlikely to be alone. Royal Dutch Shell Plc lost a landmark legal battle last week when a Dutch court told it to cut emissions significantly by 2030 -- something that would require less oil production. Many in the industry fear a wave of lawsuits elsewhere, with western oil majors more immediate targets than the state-owned oil companies that make up much of OPEC production.We see a shift from stigmatization toward criminalization of investing in higher oil production, said Bob McNally, president of consultant Rapidan Energy Group and a former White House official.While its true that non-OPEC+ output is creeping back from the crash of 2020 -- and the ultra-depressed levels of April and May last year -- its far from a full recovery. Overall, non-OPEC+ output will grow this year by 620,000 barrels a day, less than half the 1.3 million barrels a day it fell in 2020. The supply growth forecast through the rest of this year comes nowhere close to matching the expected increase in demand, according to the International Energy Agency.Beyond 2021, oil output is likely to rise in a handful of nations, including the U.S., Brazil, Canada and new oil-producer Guyana. But production will decline elsewhere, from the U.K. to Colombia, Malaysia and Argentina.As non-OPEC+ production increases less than global oil demand, the cartel will be in control of the market, executives and traders said. Its a major break with the past, when oil companies responded to higher prices by rushing to invest again, boosting non-OPEC output and leaving the ministers led by Saudi Arabias Abdulaziz bin Salman with a much more difficult balancing act.Drilling DownSo far, the lack of non-OPEC+ oil production growth isnt registering much in the market. After all, the coronavirus pandemic continues to constrain global oil demand. It may be more noticeable later this year and into 2022. By then, vaccination campaigns against Covid-19 are likely to be bearing fruit, and the world will need more oil. The expected return of Iran into the market will provide some of that, but there will likely be a need for more.When that happens, it will be largely up to OPEC to plug the gap. One signal of how the recovery will be different this time is the U.S. drilling count: It is gradually increasing, but the recovery is slower than it was after the last big oil price crash in 2008-09. Shale companies are sticking to their commitment to return more money to shareholders via dividends. While before the pandemic shale companies re-used 70-90% of their cash flow into further drilling, they are now keeping that metric at around 50%.The result is that U.S. crude production has flat-lined at around 11 million barrels a day since July 2020. Outside the U.S. and Canada, the outlook is even more somber: at the end of April, the ex-North America oil rig count stood at 523, lower than it was a year ago, and nearly 40% below the same month two years earlier, according to data from Baker Hughes Co.When Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz predicted earlier this year that drill, baby, drill is gone for ever, it sounded like a bold call. As ministers meet this week, they may dare to hope hes right.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 daughter of the late Russian journalist Irina Slavina, who died in early October after setting herself on fire in an apparent reaction to being investigated by authorities, has shut down Koza.Press, her mother's online newspaper.



Margarita Murakhtayeva on February 10 called her decision "not easy, but right," and expressed gratitude to journalists who had supported the newspaper and contributed to it since her mother's death four months ago.



Koza.Press, created by Slavina in 2015, focused on shortcomings in the work of local authorities, cases of political persecution, and the illegal removal of historic buildings in the Nizhny Novgorod region.



On October 2, before setting herself on fire in front of the city's police headquarters in Nizhny Novgorod, Slavina wrote on Facebook, "Blame the Russian Federation for my death."

A day earlier, a group of law enforcement officers searched her apartment, trying to find evidence linking her with the opposition Open Russia group and confiscated her computers and mobile phones.



Slavina said at the time that she was left without the tools needed to do her journalistic job, adding that she had never had any links with Open Russia.



Slavina's self-immolation caused a public outcry, with many people demanding justice for the journalist. However, authorities refused to launch a probe into her self-immolation, saying that the incident bore no elements of a crime .



After Slavina's death, her daughter and another journalist, Irina Yenikeyeva, continued the newspaper's activities.
Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.

In yet another example where China has run into rough waters with its neighbours, the country has planned to build the world's biggest dam on River Brahmaputra - a 60-gigawatt mega-dam in the Tibetan Autonomous Region (TAR), reported Al Jazeera.

China is planning to construct a mega-dam on the Yarlung Zangbao River (known as the Brahmaputra in India), which flows through Tibet, Bangladesh and eventually becomes the Brahmaputra when it enters India.

The Yarlung Zangbao Dam plan is moving ahead without China discussing or entering into water-sharing agreements with downstream India or Bangladesh.

With the proposed mega-dam sited just 30 kilometers (18 miles) from the Indian border, Tempa Gyaltsen Zamlha, the head of Environment and Development at the Tibetan Policy Institute believes the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) will "definitely try to use it as a political tool".

A spokesperson for India's ministry in charge of managing its water resources said it would respond with a 10-gigawatt project on another tributary of the Brahmaputra, reported Al Jazeera.

Sensing a tense situation ahead, the US has tried to prod the two sides into resource-sharing.

The Tibet Policy and Support Act, recently signed into law by Congress, outlined a commitment to "encourages a regional framework on water security... to facilitate cooperative agreements among all riparian nations ... on the Tibetan Plateau."

Likewise, the International Water Courses Convention, adopted by the United Nations in 1997, applies certain rights and duties in relation to trans-boundary flows, although neither Bangladesh, India or China are signatories.

Brian Eyler, an expert in rivers who is the director of the South East Asia Program at the Stimson Center said China has built several small- and medium-sized dam and as per an analysis of recent data on Chinese dams, "these operations have delivered deeper and deeper cuts to the downstream communities of the once-mighty Mekong river."

He also noted that "zero coordination for operating dams" has allowed China's 11 Mekong dams to disrupt fish life and the flow of sediment and has directly contributed to the collapse of river banks and the destruction of communities.

Further, experts have warned the record-breaking dam is likely to have political and environmental consequences.

The geopolitical factors were brought into sharp focus when China clashed with India in Ladakh in June last year and a 2017 border stand-off near the border with Bhutan, which has angered both nations over China's unilaterally decided hydroelectric power scheme.

Not only India but other nations of Southeast Asia are affected due to China's lack of consultations with downstream neighbours and have sparked controversy with them.

China's 11 mega-dams on the Mekong River have caused water levels there to fluctuate widely without prior notice to Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam.

Some analysts believe China is using its leverage over water flows as a stick to win concessions from downstream Southeast Asian states on other issues, including in regard to its Belt and Road Initiative.

Moreover, Tibetan rights activists are opposing the move to build the dam at Yarlung Tsangpo River, as they consider it sacred - it represents the body of the goddess Dorje Phagmo, one of the highest incarnations in Tibetan culture.

(ANI)

Also Read: India-China disengagement from standoff areas along the LAC in Pangong Lake; key highlights
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Biden, the 46th president, is America's second Catholic President. The first was John F. Kennedy  when he became President in 1961.

From the start of his campaign, Biden wanted everything to be about his faith. A favored campaign slogan for the Biden camp was the "battle for the soul of the nation."

It didn't matter the media outlet. They all loved reporting on how Biden was a "deeply devout Catholic" and that his faith is a huge factor in "shaping his politics." Even Speaker Pelosi publicly praises Biden's faith and willingly admits that his Catholic faith has shaped his career and public policies. An article in The New York Times stated, "President Biden, perhaps the most religiously observant commander in chief in half a century, speaks of how his Catholic faith grounds his life and his policies."

Interesting, isn't it? How the media and every single big-time progressive politician have no problem mixing Biden's faith with politics. But suppose you are a Christian who is pro-life and not in favor of the Supreme Court legalizing same-sex marriage. In that case, the response you get from the Left is the complete opposite. How was Judge Amy Coney Barrett (also a deeply devout Catholic) treated during the Senate confirmation hearings? Senator Dianne Feinstein and her colleagues didn't praise Judge Barrett for her faith. Instead, Senator Feinstein expressed her concern about how Judge Barrett's faith might influence her decisions by stating, "The dogma lives loudly within you, and that's of concern." But if the Left is so concerned about a person's faith interfering with their public service, why isn't the Left disparaging Biden from talking about how his faith shapes his public policies?

The main reason? Because President Biden is as much of a progressive as he is a Catholic. He is what I refer to as a "Progressive Catholic." Don't believe me? Listen to what he said in his book, Promises to Keep: On Life and Politics, "I'm as much a cultural Catholic as I am a theological Catholic." Biden continues, "My idea of self, of family, of community, of the wider world, comes straight from my religion. It's not so much the Bible, the beatitudes, the Ten Commandments, the sacraments, or the prayers I learned. It's the culture."

Because Judge Barrett is a conservative Catholic and not a progressive, liberal Democrats are concerned about her "dogmatic" positions embedding on her judgment. Therefore, she must be censored at all costs. However, in President Biden's case, he gets a pass because he'll keep on advancing progressive policies like the Equality Act (which will eviscerate religious freedoms in America), government funding of abortion, and the Green New Deal.

It's not a question of whether President Biden has a right to express his religious beliefs. He has that right under the Constitution. It's really about charging the media for being inconsistent by not allowing conservatives to do the same.

Let's hope the media will admit to their intolerance and learn to be more receptive to Americans who hold conservative viewpoints.

The steadfast commitment of these individuals to our firm, expertise in serving clients and hard work has helped them to reach new milestones in their careers.

FD Fund Administration (FD-FA), a leading provider of outsourced fund administration services, is pleased to announce that two members of the firm have been named as Partner and two members have been named as Principals. Jon Haidet and Andy Huss were each elected as Partner, while Michael Chiodo and Samantha Rondinelli were elected as Principal.

We are excited to name Jon and Andy to the partnership, and add Michael and Samantha to our senior leadership team, said Tom DiEdgio, Partner and CEO of FD-FA. These individuals will play a critical role in enhancing our growth and our focus on client experience.

The steadfast commitment of these individuals to our firm, expertise in serving clients and hard work has helped them to reach new milestones in their careers, noted Jacqueline Boggs, Partner and COO of FD-FA.

Jon Haidet is a member of FD-FAs Minneapolis office. Haidet focuses on back and middle office functions, including fund accounting, financial reporting and compliance. Additionally, he is well-versed in the complexities associated with investments in companies going through bankruptcy or reorganization. Prior to FD Fund Administration, Haidet worked as the Senior Manager of Operations for a registered investment adviser which had over $8 billion in assets under management at its peak. He began his career in public accounting as an auditor at KPMG.

Andy Huss, CPA, is a member of FD-FAs Minneapolis office. Huss advises clients on complex business situations across a variety of private equity and real estate structures and is also responsible for business development. His experience encompasses financial reporting and analysis, partnership tax, deal due diligence, financial modeling and relationship development. Prior to joining FD Fund Administration, Huss was the Senior Manager of Accounting and Controller of Real Estate for a registered investment adviser which had over $8 billion of assets under management at its peak. He also spent five years in public accounting with KPMG specializing in partnership tax within the alternative investment space.

Michael Chiodo is a member of FD-FAs Philadelphia office. Chiodo has 15 years of partnership accounting experience. Prior to joining FD-FA, he was a Controller with Hunt Investment Management (fka Capmark Investments), a registered investment adviser managing real estate funds with $6.6 billion in assets under management. He also previously worked in public accounting as an auditor with Rothstein Kass in New York, where he focused on investment partnerships including domestic and offshore funds, fund of funds and alternative investment vehicles. Chiodo also has experience in fund administration for timber funds.

Samantha Rondinelli, CPA, MSA, is a member of FD-FAs Philadelphia office. She provides outsourced fund administration services, specializing in financial accounting and reporting, and over ten years of partnership accounting expertise to her clients focused in the real estate and private equity industries. Prior to joining FD Fund Administration, Rondinelli worked for a multi-billion dollar real estate family of funds where she was involved with the financial reporting, accounting and treasury functions for real estate partnerships.

About FD Fund Administration

FD Fund Administration provides highly customizable fund administration services to meet the needs of complex real estate and private equity funds. FD-FA offers a robust suite of services, including fund accounting, investment reporting, tax administration, valuation services, investor servicing, company reporting and portfolio analytics and other services. FD-FA is headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

About Frazier & Deeter

Frazier & Deeter is an award-winning accounting and advisory firm headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. The firm provides a wide range of tax, audit, accounting and advisory services to serve the emerging needs of clients as they evolve. Frazier & Deeter and its FD family of brands have nine offices across the United States and one in the United Kingdom. The firm has been recognized repeatedly as a Best of the Best Accounting firm, a Best Firm to Work for in the U.S. and a Best Firm for Women in Leadership. Frazier & Deeters brand promise is Investing in Relationships to Make a Difference.
A Los Angeles man ended up in the emergency room after doing the 'Gorilla Glue Challenge,' inspired by the viral story of a Louisiana woman who sprayed permanent adhesive all over her hair and required the assistance of a surgeon to remove it.

Len Martin, who is also originally from Louisiana, was convinced that Tessica Brown was lying about the Gorilla Glue incident, and her hair was not  as she claimed  immovably and frighteningly stuck to her head.

To prove his hunch, Martin bought some Gorilla Glue of his own, using it to stick a red plastic cup to his face  only to realized he'd made a horrible mistake and couldn't get it off.

Whoops! A Los Angeles man ended up in the emergency room after doing the 'Gorilla Glue Challenge'

Len Martin was convinced that Tessica Brown was lying about the Gorilla Glue incident, and decided to Gorilla Glue a cup to his face to prove it

Say what? Brown stunned social media users last week when she revealed she set her hair with Gorilla Glue spray and it left her with a permanent hair helmet

Brown, 40, earned international attention this month when she ran out of Got2b Glued Spray hairspray and substituted it with Gorilla Glue, a highly-adhesive glue that is not meant to be used on people.

She washed her hair 15 times, tried an at-home acetone treatment, cut off her ponytail, and even visited the ER  but it would not come out.

She ultimately had to fly to Los Angeles to meet with plastic surgeon Dr. Michael Obeng, who spent four hours using a custom mix of medical-grade adhesive remover, aloe vera, olive oil, and acetone in order to dissolve the Gorilla Glue.

But despite Brown's harrowing story  and warnings from Gorilla Glue that its product should not be used on skin or hair  Martin was sure that he'd be able to remove the red plastic cup from his face easily.

A video Martin posted on Facebook shows him applying the adhesive to the ring of the plastic cup, then fitting it over his nose.

Consequences: Martin couldn't get the cup off by himself and had to go the hospital to have it painfully removed

'I thought that chick with the gorilla glue was making that story up...but no..its real... I dont kno why I tried it..now they talking bout cutting the tip of my lips off in surgery,' he wrote

The video cuts off there, before Martin tries to remove it  but he included a photo to show what happened next.

The image shows Martin in a hospital, the cup still over his nose and a mask covering his mouth.

'I thought that chick with the gorilla glue was making that story up...but no..its real... I dont kno why I tried it..now they talking bout cutting the tip of my lips off in surgery...yall pray for me [sic],' he wrote, adding the hashtag #gorrilagluechallenge

Speaking to local news station WKBN, Martin said: 'I thought she was just playing around because I didnt think it was that serious.

'I actually tried it out before and it actually didnt do anything for me So I was like, "Okay, shes lying" and there are all these challenges going on so I was like, "Okay Im going to try it," and it went backwards.

'I thought I could lick it off kind of to moisten it and pull it right off but that didnt work,' he added.

Please don't! Twitter users are begging people not to make the Gorilla Glue Challenge a thing

Doctors managed to remove the cup, but it did involve 'painful peeling.'

Martin is now warning others not to try the Gorilla Glue Challenge.

'This is definitely not one to try. Lets just stop this now Its very harmful,' he said.

There doesn't seem to be too much risk of others giving it a go, as most social media users tweeting about the #GorillaGlueChallenge are begging others not to do it.

'I'm highkey concerned gen z will start a gorilla glue challenge now, the same way they were eating tide pods a few years back,' wrote one.

'If a gorilla glue challenge start happening I'm losing faith in humanity,' wrote another.

Most people, it seems, have taken Brown's experience as sufficient warning not to try it at home.

Yikes: Brown explained in her viral TikTok video that she ran out of her Got2b Glued Spray and used Gorilla Glue instead

Stuck this way: She said she had washed her hair 15 times to no avail, and hasd't been able to move it in a month

The 40-year-old first went viral last week when she shared a TIkTok video about her predicament.

'Hey, yall. For those of you that know me know that my hair has been like this for about a month now. Its not by choice. No, its not by choice,' she said at the start of the clip.

'When I do my hair, I like to finish it off with a little Got2b Glued Spray, you know, just to keep it in place. Well, I didnt have any more Got2b Glued Spray, so I used this: Gorilla Glue spray. Bad, bad, bad idea.'

She then patted her head to show how the glue spray had turned her hair into a stiff, immovable helmet.

'Y'all look, it don't move. You hear what I'm telling you? It. Don't. Move. I've washed my hair 15 times and it don't move,' she insisted. 'Stiff where? My hair.'

She ended her video with some words of advice: 'If you ever, ever run out of Got2b Glued Spray, dont ever use this. Unless you want your hair to be like that forever.'

She went on to spend 22 hours in the ER, where baffled healthcare workers put acetone on her head, according to TMZ  but nothing seemed to work.

Struggle: She then reportedly spent 22 hours in the ER as healthcare workers tried to remove the Gorilla Glue spray

Throwback: She used to wear her hair in braids before switching up her look

Sources told the publication that the acetone burned her scalp and only made the glue sticky before it dried up again, leaving her with the same immovable hair she started with.

The front of the Gorilla Glue adhesive spray bottle says it bonds fabric, paper, wood, metal, and more. While the label states it's an eye and skin irritant, it doesn't specifically mention hair.

Gorilla Glue released a statement about the situation on social media Monday.

'We are aware of the situation and we are very sorry to hear about the unfortunate incident that Miss Brown experienced using our Spray Adhesive on her hair,' the brand wrote.

'This is a unique situation because this product s not indicated for use in or on hair as it is considered permanent. Our spray adhesive states in the warning label "do not swallow. Do not get in eyes, on skin or on clothing."'

The company added: 'We are glad to see in her recent video that Miss Brown has received medical treatment from her local medical facility and wish her the best.'

Response: Gorilla Glue released a statement about the situation on social media on Monday

Earlier this week, Brown enlisted a hairstylist to hack off her lengthy ponytail to make further attempts to remove the glue easier.

Finally, she flew to Los Angeles to meet with Dr, Obeng, who offered to help her for free.

In a video taken at Dr. Obeng's office, Brown  who was given a light anesthesia before the treatment  is seen lying on an operating table after the successful procedure, running her hands through her freed locks and tearing up at the sensation.

Hw used a custom mix of chemicals and natural products in order to dissolve the glue, having first practiced on a dummy head to ensure his formula would work.

Dr. Obeng used a mix of medical-grade adhesive remover, MGD  which is a mix of aloe vera and olive oil  and a small amount of acetone to break down the glue in Brown's hair.

During the procedure, the mixture was applied to Brown's hair using a spray bottle, while Dr. Obeng used medical tweezers and scissors to try and gently pull the matted hair apart, cutting the strands of glue that were holding her tresses together.

The doctor and his team then ran a comb through the hair to finally remove the glue, before applying a deep conditioning treatment to protect the locks.

Brown was given painkillers and steroids to reduce the swelling and inflammation caused by the glue  and the chemicals that she used to try and remove it.

Remarkably, Dr. Obeng was able to salvage much of her hair, and the mother-of-five revealed that she is now planning to get extensions to restore some length to her short locks.
The Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office agreed to pay $50,000 in damages and attorney's fees to a former Baton Rouge man who accused the department of wrongly holding him in jail for four days on the false suspicion that he was in the country illegally  even after a judge had already ordered him released.

Sheriff Bobby Webre, one of the defendants in an American Civil Liberties Union lawsuit over the incident, claimed vindication Thursday in the settlement with Ramon Torres, saying he had been legally detained on the orders of a different judge and "not on the whim of any deputy."

Webre, a former longtime jail warden in Ascension who rose through the ranks and eventually became sheriff, added that his office has not changed any of its policies at the jail because they are lawful.

"No court ruled that this office violated any law or policy. My deputies handled this situation in accordance with our policies and procedures and by order of a judge," he said.

Still, the ACLU claimed a win in the settlement.

"Our client Ramon Torres endured a terrifying and dehumanizing ordeal, and were glad hes receiving the compensation he deserves," Bruce Hamilton, ACLU of Louisiana senior staff attorney, said in a statement Thursday. "Sheriffs deputies had no basis to suspect our client of being undocumented and in fact, Ramon produced voluminous documentation proving his citizenship. This incident should be a cautionary tale to every community in the state: when local law enforcement agencies take it upon themselves to enforce federal immigration law, everyday citizens pay the price."

+2 Ascension Sheriff's Office denies racial profiling, calls actions 'legally permissible' The Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office has formally denied allegations of racial profiling lodged against it by a Baton Rouge man of Hispanic d

Torres was born in Honduras, entered the United States with his family as a young child and became a naturalized U.S. citizen on Feb. 25, 2009.

A state district judge had initially ordered Torres released on his own recognizance on Sept. 1, 2018, a day after state troopers had arrested him on suspicion of first-offense drunken driving.

Although one of Torres' co-workers produced his U.S. certificate of naturalization, his Social Security card, his Honduran birth certificate and his U.S. passport on Sept. 1, 2018, deputies didn't release him until three days later while they checked his immigration status.

The ACLU filed the lawsuit in August 2019 in U.S. District Court in Baton Rouge. Prosecutors in Ascension never ended up charging Torres over the DWI, but allowed him to go through the standard pre-trial diversion program for first-time DWI offenders with no criminal history and where no property damage or injuries were associated with the DWI arrest.

Tyler Cavalier, spokesman for District Attorney Ricky Babin, said that program typically requires defendants to pay fines and fees, do community services hours, and take a driver safety program and substance abuses classes in lieu of prosecution.

ICE officials have said they had not asked Ascension deputies to hold Torres. But on Thursday, it came to light that the immigration hold came on the orders of another local judge, Marilyn Lambert, who is now retired.

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James Bullman, the lead attorney for Torres, said Lambert didn't necessarily recall ordering Torres detained in an interview  but she acknowledged that, if jail records indicated she had ordered him held, she did that.

Bullman said Lambert told them she would never have ordered him held if she had known what documentation of citizenship the deputies had been given.

Webre maintained the entire lawsuit was an invention of the ACLU, and said he is glad to move beyond the litigation.

"While the ACLU attacks law enforcement from New York, the people of Ascension Parish know that this sheriffs office runs a lawful and safe jail, he said.

Webre said the ACLU could not corroborate the explosive charge that a female deputy had allegedly told Torres he was being held "because youre Spanish. They call (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) on all of y'all."

"They did not depose or even attempt to depose a single female deputy. Why? Because they knew it was fictional from the beginning," the sheriff said in a statement.

Lawsuit: Ascension sheriff's deputies improperly held US citizen of Hispanic descent Ascension Parish sheriff's deputies held a Baton Rouge man of Hispanic descent for four days after a judge ordered him released on a misdemean

Bullman acknowledged that plaintiffs' attorneys never interviewed a female deputy who could have corroborated the inflammatory quote, though they did interview multiple male deputies.

The ACLU's initial suit had identified several "John Doe" deputies that Torres alleged he encountered while in jail. Many of them were later identified and interviewed  but not the alleged female deputy, who couldn't be found. Bullman said he continues to believe his client's claims about the comments.

Torres has moved out of state since his arrest.

Torres' attorney acknowledged Thursday that they were unable to establish that Torres' experience was part of a pattern of jailers racially profiling Hispanic defendants and holding them improperly for immigration checks. Bullman said that's partially because the Sheriff's Office handles so few Hispanic defendants through the jail system.

Through interviews with deputies who were under oath, Bullman said plaintiffs' attorneys did find that deputies were supposed to follow an ICE memo, posted at the jail, in determining whether to hold people to check on their immigration status. Almost all of the deputies interviewed said the memo wasn't followed in Torres' case.

Plaintiff's attorneys also gathered testimony that deputies acknowledged they didn't have probable cause to hold Torres on suspicion of not being in the country legally, Bullman said.
WEST READING, Pa. - Tower Health is one of the healthcare providers in at least five states that had to recall N95 masks because they are counterfeit, the Berks County-based health system announced Wednesday.

Tower Health said one of its vendors distributed what it thought were masks made by 3M, but the 7-hospital health network said it was notified by 3M on Feb. 3 that the masks it received were actually fake.

"We had used an alternative vendor to acquire these masks because our primary supplier was not able to meet our demand," Tower Health said in a statement. "Our alternative vendor was supplied what it thought were 3M N95 masks, but which were counterfeit."

Tower Health said it had distributed throughout its system only about 12% of the counterfeit masks it received, adding that its supply chain team responded right away and recalled the fake masks.

Government investigating massive counterfeit N95 mask scam Federal authorities are investigating a massive counterfeit N95 mask operation in which fake 3M masks were sold in at least five states to hospitals, medical facilities and government agencies. The foreign-made knockoffs are becoming increasingly difficult to spot and could put health care workers at grave risk for the coronavirus. A federal official says these masks are giving first responders a false sense of security. Nearly a year into the pandemic, fraud remains a major problem as scammers seek to exploit hospitals and desperate and weary Americans. These schemes deliver phony products, unlike fraud earlier in the pandemic that focused more on fleecing customers.

The federal government said it is investigating what it called a massive counterfeit N95 mask operation in which the foreign-made knockoffs were sold to hospitals, medical facilities, and government agencies in at least five states.

The Minnesota-based 3M is among the largest global producers of the N95 mask, having delivered some 2 billion in 2020.

Kevin Rhodes, the company's vice president and deputy general counsel, encouraged medical facilities and their employees to look on 3M's website for tips on how to spot fakes, namely through packaging or faulty trademarks.

"These products are not tested to see if they make the N95 standards," Rhodes said of the fake masks. "They're not interested in testing them. They're interested in making as many as they can as cheaply as possible."

Since the pandemic began, law enforcement agencies have conducted more than 1,250 raids, resulting in the seizure of 10 million counterfeit 3M masks.

3M has filed more than a dozen lawsuits over reports of fraud, counterfeiting and price gouging.

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PUPILS at Ashipala Secondary School in Omusati were forced to sleep in flooded dormitories after the heavy rain lashed the area on Tuesday night.

About 200 pupils were affected as their uniforms, clothes, books and food were all soaked and damaged in the water that leaked into the makeshift dormitories.

The heavy rains that poured throughout the night also caused extensive damage to the hostel facilities made from corrugated zinc sheets by the teachers with the assistance of parents who contributed money for the project.

The hostel was built for pupils who stay far from school and normally have to walk long distances to attend classes. It also allows for easy monitoring of their school work and gives them a better environment to study in.

A teacher who spoke on condition of anonymity told The Namibian that classes at the school had to be suspended for the day as they evacuated the pupils and sought alternative accommodation for them.

"It was a moment of panic for all of us. Currently, our school does not have proper hostel facilities and even the corrugated zinc shacks where the pupils are accommodated are not properly constructed because the school did not have enough funds to construct proper facilities.

"The teachers contributed money and built shacks for our pupils to sleep in. Last night, we woke up to the screams of pupils as their rooms got flooded. All their personal belongings were destroyed in the water," she said.

The school also does not have proper ablution facilities among other challenges. With the shacks destroyed by the heavy rains, the school had turned about 16 classrooms into pupils' sleeping rooms.

"We have written several letters to the ministry to construct a hostel for us but our pleas have been ignored for some time now. Last year, many schools in the region were allocated funds to construct additional hostel blocks and ablution facilities but our school was sidelined.

"The pupils' lives are in great danger because those shacks are not up to standard and they walk a distance to the toilets at night, which is dangerous, especially for the girls. We are appealing to the government to consider our plight and assist us," she said.

The acting education director for Omusati region, Pauline Shapumba, could not be reached for comment.

For baby Teera Kamat, who has been on the earth for a mere six months, every day has been a struggle for existence and a grim reminder to her parents about the fragile little being that needed a miracle to be saved. Mumbai-born Teera is suffering from Spinal Muscular Atrophy, a very rare medical condition that often does not let children live beyond 5 months of age and her condition requires a lot of money for the treatment.

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a humanitarian move, decided to waive off Rs 6 crore as a GST amount against Rs 16 crore of imported medicines that are required to treat Teera. Baby Teera's parents Priyanka and Mihir Kamat have raised Rs 16 crore through crowdfunding for their daughter who needs a surgery to be cured. It also includes the cost of the medicine Zolgensma which has to be imported from the US. The tax exemption for baby's treatment amounts to at least Rs 6.5 crore and it includes 23 percent import duty and 12 percent Goods Services Tax.

The infant's parents had earlier appealed to PM Modi in October last year about Teeras medical condition and in January this year. The Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis also wrote to the Prime Minister and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaraman reiterating the request to exempt taxes on the medicine import.

What is Spinal Muscular Atrophy?

It is a type of genetic disorder and a motor neuron disease that results in a person not having any control over movement of their muscles due because of the lack of nerve cells, in their spinal cord and/or brain stem.

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) results in muscle wasting and weakness. For someone suffering from SMA, it is very difficult to stand, walk and control their movements. Some intense forms of the SMA can also result in inability to breathe and swallow.

SMA can either occur at birth or even appear at stages of life and they can affect one's life expectancy depending upon the seriousness and the type of the SMA.

So far, there has been no cure of SMA, but certain medicines do help, such as nusinersen (Spinraza) and onasemnogene abeparvovec-xioi (Zolgensma), that help slow the disease's progress.

What are Types of SMA?

The types of SMA depend on when they start showing up in a patient and how the symptoms vary in them. There are basically four kinds of SMA, as National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke list, which affects symptoms and life expectancy.

The first type of SMA, or Werdnig-Hoffmann disease appears before the infant is even 6 months of age. The child might be born with difficulty in breathing and the serious condition can turn fatal if there's no treatment.

Those with SMA type II will start showing symptoms of the disease usually when they are between 6 and 18 months of age. These children can sit but will not be able to walk or stand without helped and without treatment, they might just lose their power to sit as well.

Children with SMA type III or Kugelberg-Welander disease start showing symptoms after they are 18 months of age and can walk on their own. They however, experience difficultly in walking or running and other such physical exercises related to legs.

Those with SMA type IV usually develop the symptoms after they are over 21 years of age ad have minor muscle weakness and other issues. It doesn't affect one's life expectancy.

What are its Long-term Treatments?

The USA Food and Drug Administration has approved the Zolgensma gene therapy for children who show the signs of the disease and are less than 2 years. Last year in August, the FDA also gave its nod to the orally-administered drug risdiplam (Evrysdi) for patients who are older than two months of age and are diagnosed with SMA.

Physical therapy, occupational therapy, and rehabilitation are some measures that can be taken to help improve posture, stop joint immobility and help in case of muscle weakness and atrophy.

You can find the link to the crowdfunding page for baby Teera here.
VIGO COUNTY, Ind. (WTHI) - Sam's Club and Walmart pharmacies are joining the fight against COVID-19.

Starting Friday, over 50 Indiana locations will begin giving the vaccine for the virus.

Walmart on State Road 46 and Sam's Club on US 41, both in Vigo County, will distribute the vaccines.

Also on the list is Walmart in Vincennes.

The company will follow state guidelines to determine eligibility.

If you meet the requirements to receive the vaccine, you can register on Walmart and Sam's Club websites. You do not need a Sam's Club membership to receive one from there.
Thousands more social housing properties will be built over the next four years, on top of a $5.3 billion social housing construction blitz, under an ambitious 10-year strategy outlined by Housing Minister Richard Wynne.

The building initiative, which could lead to 14,500 homes being constructed in the first four years alone, is being billed as the biggest social and affordable housing program in the states history.

Destiny Axten Sarpa (right), her partner Gage Potter and 9-month-old daughter Winnie, have flourished after finding secure accommodation. Credit:Paul Jeffers

In briefings with local governments and other stakeholders this week, Mr Wynne said the Victorian government could build an additional 2500 homes in the next four years on top of the 12,000 initially announced by the government in November.

The new 10-year strategy will be jointly owned by state and local governments, the private sector, community housing and community services.
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By GENE JOHNSON

Associated Press

SEATTLE  Tim Eyman, the watch salesman-turned-antitax folk hero whose initiative campaigns have bedeviled state and local governments across Washington for decades, will no longer be allowed to have any financial control over political committees, under a judge's ruling Wednesday that blasted him for using donor's contributions to line his own pocket.

Thurston County Superior Court Judge James Dixon also ordered Eyman to pay $2.6 million in penalties.





. . .

Credit: Herbert Ponting/Royal Collection Trust/Wikimedia Commons

The icy continent has historically been a place for men. First "discovered" in 1820, Antarctica would not be visited by a woman for well over a century.

In 1935, Norwegian Caroline Mikkelsen, a whaler's wife, became the first woman to do so, some 24 years after her compatriot Roald Amundsen had trekked all the way to the South Pole.

It wasn't until the 1950s that women were finally allowed to participate in Antarctic science.

How had Antarctica come to be so dominated by men? Where were all the women?

In 2016, one of us (Meredith) took part in the largest non-scientific expedition of women to Antarctica in history.

Among the group were 77 women working in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine (STEMM), who took part in a three-week leadership program. As part of our study of this program, Meredith traveled with the group to Antarctica to gather women's first-hand accounts of their experiences.

But in terms of unlocking Antarctica's history, one of the biggest answers came from a surprising source: a map on the wall of the galley, where Meredith looked every morning to see where the ship was headed.

One morning, she spotted Marguerite Bay, on the Western Antarctic peninsula. It turns out there were women here, symbolically at least.

Who was Marguerite?

Marguerite's name reached the Antarctic because her husband, Jean-Baptiste Charcot, leader of the French Antarctic Expedition in 1909, named a bay after her.

Author and environmentalist Carole Devine has been doing a mapping project to uncover the stories of women like Margueriteshe has found more than 200 places in Antarctica named after women.

The portrayal of Antarctica as a female body that must be mastered and penetrated by men is central to Heroic Era narratives of the continent. Given this framing, it is unsurprising women were long denied access to Antarctica.

Many polar institutes around the world have traditionally justified the exclusion of women by arguing there were no facilities such as toilets for them on stations.

It certainly wasn't due to a lack of interest. In 1914, three British women named Peggy Pegrine, Valerie Davey and Betty Webster wrote to Ernest Shackleton to apply for his next expedition. They described themselves as "three sporty girls" and offered to wear men's clothes if there were no suitable female ones available. They added: "we do not see why men should have all the glory, and women none, especially when there are women just as brave and capable as there are men."

Shackleton's reply noted his "regrets there are no vacancies for the opposite sex on the expedition."

The expedition en route to Antarctica. Author provided

Coming in from the cold

Mikkelsen became the first woman to set foot on Antarctica in 1935. But it was not until 1956 that women began to be properly involved in Antarctic science.

Russian geologist Maria Klenova landed in Antarctica to make the first Soviet Antarctic Atlas. Women were finally charting maps, rather than just having their names written on them.

In 1969, an all-female group of US scientists led by Lois Jones landed in Antarctica. They wanted to collect their own samples from the McMurdo Dry Valleyssomething they had so far been prevented from doing.

Pointing to the anxiety and skepticism surrounding the voyage, the New York Times described the expedition as "an incursion of females" into "the largest male sanctuary remaining on this planet."

From the 1980s, the Australian Antarctic Program and the British Antarctic Survey allowed women to stay on research stations and conduct land-based Antarctic fieldwork.

Today, women are more fully integrated into National Antarctic Programs and women often lead field teams. Nearly 60% of early career researchers in polar science internationally are women.

Yet while women's participation in the Australian Antarctic Program is increasing, women still comprise only 24% of expeditioners. Women make up 33% and 30% of US and UK Antarctic expeditioners, respectively.

These low numbers are tied to the fact that women still face a range of barriers in a polar science career and especially during fieldwork, including:

Gender bias and discrimination.

Caring responsibilities.

Gender and sexual harassment.

Lack of recognition such as prizes and awards.

Physical barriers, such as field gear not being available in women's sizes.

Why does this matter?

Antarctica is strategically important to Australia and many other nations. Yet the credibility of Australia's Antarctic leadership is at risk without a substantial commitment to diversity and inclusivity.

Existing power relations may prevent women and those from other underrepresented groups (such as people of color and LGBTQIA+ people) from participating, or even considering, the possibility of an Antarctic science career.

Equity and inclusion in Antarctic science will not come about simply by waiting for more women to volunteer to become expeditioners.

Here is how we can proactively promote inclusion:

Change the image of a polar scientist. The "typical" polar scientist is still assumed to be a straight, white man who works for many months away in Antarctica. Yet polar scientists work in a range of settings. In fact, many polar scientists work indoors at a computer!

Grow the leadership pool. National Antarctic Programs must develop targeted recruitment campaigns, gender-neutral hiring practices, awareness of unconscious bias, training to be an "upstander" rather than a bystander, and parental leave policies and flexible work arrangements that can facilitate a woman's ability to succeed in polar science.

Women are in Antarctica to stay. They play important roles in the scientific, logistical and managerial realms of Antarctic operations.

Making polar research more inclusive will enrich the diversity of the scientific community and have flow-on effects for the quality of Australia's Antarctic science.

Explore further Pandemic reaches Antarctica, last untouched continent

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
US President Joe Biden

United States President Joe Biden said on February 10 he had approved an executive order for new sanctions on those responsible for the military coup in Myanmar and he repeated demands for the generals to give up power and free civilian leaders.

Joe Biden said the order enabled his administration to immediately sanction the military leaders who directed the coup, their business interests as well as close family members.

Washington would identify the first round of targets this week and was taking steps to prevent the generals in Myanmar, also known as Burma, having access to $1 billion in Myanmar government funds held in the United States.

We are also going to impose strong exports controls. We are freezing US assets that benefit the Burmese government, while maintaining our support for health care, civil society groups, and other areas that benefit the people of Burma directly, Biden said at the White House.

EXPLAINER: Why did the military stage a coup in Myanmar

We will be ready to impose additional measures, and we will continue to work with our international partners to urge other nations to join us in these efforts.

The February 1 coup and detention of elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi presents Biden him with his first major international crisis, and a test of his dual pledges to recentre human rights in foreign policy and work more closely with allies.

I again call on the Burmese military to immediately release the democratic political leaders and activists, he said. The military must relinquish power its seized.

US State Department spokesman Ned Price said Washington was rolling out collective actions with partners on Myanmar. We can impose substantial costs ourselves. We can impose costs that are even steeper ... by working with our like-minded partners and allies, he told a briefing.

FREMONT, Calif., Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Q'Apel Medical, Inc., an innovative neurovascular company specializing in developing and commercializing novel access device technology for vascular interventions, announced today it has raised $22 Million in Series C funding. The round included River Cities Capital, Soleus Capital, and incumbent investor Research Corporation Technologies (RCT). Scott Huennekens, former Chairman, CEO and President of Verb Surgical, and Carter McNabb, Managing Director, River Cities Capital, will join the Board of Directors.

"With our three-pronged approach that involves increasing manufacturing, expanding into newer geographies, and developing innovative products, Q'Apel is perfectly poised to become the preferred catheter technology vendor across the healthcare sector. In addition, having Scott Huennekens and Carter McNabb join our Board of Directors will be extremely valuable. Both Scott and Carter bring extensive experience, especially in high-growth medical device companies, building businesses both in the U.S. and internationally," said King Nelson, CEO of Q'Apel Medical.

"Q'Apel's technology has the ability to revolutionize vascular access and improve patient care. There is no better team to lead this effort; between strong existing physician relationships and a deep understanding of the neurovascular market, this team will execute effectively and efficiently," said Carter McNabb.

"I admire Q'Apel Medical for its highly innovative products and dynamic leadership team, and I'm honored to be joining their board. I have tremendous respect for King, Chris and the other board members, and I look forward to working with them," said Scott Huennekens

Q'Apel Medical products are already being utilized in over 130 hospital systems nationwide. In 2021, Q'Apel plans to significantly increase its manufacturing capacity, add additional head count and expand their product portfolio. At the same time, the company is in the process of acquiring CE certification, which will allow Q'Apel to expand into Europe later this year.

About Q'Apel Medical:

Q'Apel Medical leverages highly innovative technologies to help physicians overcome their challenges concerning the delivery of successful neurovascular procedures. The company's portfolio comprises two core products, the Walrus Balloon Guide Catheter (BGC) system, and the Wahoo Control Catheter hybrid access system. Q'Apel's Walrus BGC is specifically designed to assist doctors in performing mechanical thrombectomy procedures on stroke patients. Unlike existing balloon guide catheter products, the Walrus BGC has unmatched trackability, as well as a larger lumen which allows for the delivery of complex therapies and large bore stroke aspiration catheters. The Wahoo Control Catheter is a dual-mode hybrid access system, providing two distinct operational modes - Tracking Mode and Support Mode. The physician controls the change of modes at any given moment during a clinical case. The hybrid nature of Wahoo reduces the need for multiple catheters in challenging procedures.

Media Contact:

Q'Apel Medical

510.738.6255

[email protected]

www.qapelmedical.com

SOURCE Q'Apel Medical, Inc.

Related Links

https://www.qapelmedical.com



The Daily Beast

Screenshot/YouTubeA Christian diet guru and six other people are presumed dead after her small plane crashed into the waters of Tennessee lake on Saturday morning. Authorities were called to the Percy Priest Lake around 11 a.m., not long after the plane took off from the nearby Smyrna Rutherford County Airport. Late Saturday evening, investigators said they believed all seven passengers had perished. The cause of the crash is still under investigation. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Joe Lara (@joelaraofficial) The plane, a Cessna C501, belonged Gwen Shamblin Lara, founder of the Remnant Fellowship Church and author of The Weigh Down Workshop, and her husband William J. Lara, who went by Joe. The couple lived in nearby Brentwood and had registered the plane via their company JL&GL Productions LP. The aircraft has not been located, but Tennessee Highway Patrol told News Channel 5 that officers located debris consistent with a Cessna C501 and that a small plane had been seen descending into the water near a boat ramp early Saturday.Laras daughter, Elizabeth Hannah, sent a text message to members of the Remnant Fellowship Church saying that her mother and father were aboard the aircraft when it was forced to make a quick, controlled landing. All the planes passengers had ties to the church, including Hannahs own husband Brandon, according to her text. The others aboard were David and Jennifer Martin and Jonathan and Jessica Walters, according to authorities.My brother and I are asking for immediate prayers right now, as we have just gotten word that Gwen and Joe Laras plane had to go down, Hannah wrote before authorities said everyone appeared to have been killed. More information to come, but be in prayerand be at peace, the message continued. GOD IS IN CONTROL, and we will not stop moving forward with WHAT GOD WANTS with this church.Read more at The Daily Beast.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.
Technology group Wartsila has signed a Wartsila Optimised Maintenance Agreement covering two offshore Well Intervention Vessels owned by Norway based Siem Offshore.

The 5-year agreement will ensure the optimal maintenance required to reduce the vessels fuel consumption and emissions by utilising the latest digital technology to provide real-time monitoring and support.

The agreement, which was signed in December 2020, also covers the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) emissions-abatement systems installed with the engines.

Included in the agreement is Wartsilas Expert Insight predictive maintenance solution. Expert Insight is an innovative service that leverages artificial intelligence (AI) and advanced diagnostics to monitor equipment and systems in real-time, spot anomalies, foresee potential problems, and enable rapid reaction accordingly.

Should anomalous behaviour be detected, it is flagged to specialists at Wartsila Expertise Centres, allowing them to support the customer proactively with an appropriate resolution to the issue. The combination of AI, advanced diagnostics, and the companys extensive equipment expertise greatly enhances the reliability, efficiency, and safety of the installed equipment.

Also included is Wartsilas Data Driven Maintenance concept and the Lloyd class-approved Wartsila connectivity solution with enhanced cyber security. The Data Driven Maintenance enables the ships crews to conduct condition inspections using borescope optical instruments.

The digital images provided will be sent to Wartsilas technical experts for evaluation, and in most cases will lengthen the time required between engine overhauls.

The connectivity solution is an enabler for onshore digital tools providing cloud based services such as remote monitoring, remote optimisation and support. With optimal maintenance procedures, safety is increased and exhaust emissions reduced. We appreciate the easy access to remote operational support made possible by Wartsilas leading-edge solutions. This allows us to do maintenance when needed rather than at fixed intervals. We are especially excited with Expert Insight, which allows us to monitor the condition of the engines from ashore, and thanks to artificial intelligence and anomality detection we expect to prevent unscheduled stops that cause loss of revenue says Dag Honnemyr, Operational Director Siem-Helix.

Lifecycle support is a key element of our strategy, and our advanced digital and data-based maintenance solutions are central to enabling optimal operational performance. The benefit of being able to efficiently monitor the equipment and support customers remotely is enhanced even more today, since due to Corona-related travel restrictions, in-person visits by service engineers can be difficult to arrange. Since our engineers need to travel less, their carbon footprint is reduced, while at the same time we can optimise the performance of the asset, so it is really a double win, says Henrik Wilhelms, Director Agreement Sales, Wartsila Marine Power.

The two vessels, the Siem Helix 1 and Siem Helix 2, each operate with eight Wartsila 32 engines. The ships are operating in Brazils offshore oil fields. -- Tradearabia News Service
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Volkswagen AG, on Thursday, said it will use Microsoft Corps cloud computing services to help it streamline its software development efforts for self-driving cars.

Volkswagen, which owns brands such as Audi and Porsche, is working on both self-driving cars for the future and driver-assistance features such as adaptive cruise control in current vehicles.

But the companys brand had been developing those features independently.

Last year, Volkswagen consolidated some of those development efforts into a subsidiary called Car.Software to better coordinate among the makers.

This is with each company handling its own work around the look and feel of the software while collaborating on core safety functions such as detecting obstacles.

But the various companies inside the group were still using different systems to develop that software.

The deal announced on Thursday will put them on a common cloud provider, Dirk Hilgenberg, chief executive of Car.Software, told Reuters in an interview.

The Microsoft deal will also make deploying software updates to add new features to cars  a practice that helped set Tesla Inc apart from many rivals early on  much easier.

Volkswagen, in 2018, inked a deal with Microsoft to connect its cars to Microsofts Azure cloud computing service.

The Thursday deal means that the software updates will be developed on the same cloud that will then beam those updates down to the cars.

Over-the-air updates are paramount, Hilgenberg said.

This functionality needs to be there; if you cant do it, you will lose ground.

In practical terms, the deal means that cars that initially hit the road with a few driver-assistance features today could add new capabilities over time that bring them closer to autonomous driving, said Scott Guthrie, executive vice president of cloud and artificial intelligence at Microsoft.

For our phones 15 or 20 years ago, when you bought it, it pretty much never changed.

Now, we expected every week or every couple of days that, silently, theres new features, Guthrie told Reuters in an interview.

That ability to start to programme the vehicle in richer and richer ways, and in a safe way, transforms how the experience works.

(Reuters/NAN)
The Kent coronavirus variant may become the most dominant strain in the world, the director of the UK's genetic surveillance programme claimed today.

More than 50 countries have already spotted the mutant B.1.1.7 strain, which evolved to become more infectious than the original virus.

Professor Sharon Peacock, head of the Covid-19 Genomics UK (Cog-UK) Consortium said the variant 'is going to sweep the world, in all probability'.

It is already the dominant strain across the UK but all the evidence suggests current vaccines work against it.

But there are fears the variant has started to mutate further to become more like the one that evolved in South Africa, which is better able to resist immunity developed by past infection or from the current vaccines.

Professor Peacock said her work sequencing variants could be needed for at least 10 years.

The Kent Covid variant (top left) could become the most dominant strain of the virus in the world, according to the director of the UK's genetic surveillance programme

Professor Sharon Peacock from the Covid-19 Genomics UK (Cog-UK) Consortium said the variant has been detected in more than 50 countries and 'it's going to sweep the world'

The Kent variant was first detected in in September 2020 and its rapid spread across the country spooked No10 into tougher action in December.

Analysis suggests it is up to 70 per cent more transmissible than the previous strain that was dominant in the UK. No10's scientific advisers also fear the variant is slightly deadlier.

Professor Peacock said the variant's transmissibility was likely to cause scientists difficulties for years to come.

She told the BBC's Newscast podcast: 'Once we get on top of it [Covid-19] or it mutates itself out of being virulent  causing disease  then we can stop worrying about it.

'But I think, looking in the future, we're going to be doing this for years. We're still going to be doing this 10 years down the line, in my view.'

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

The network of public health bodies and laboratories Professor Peacock is in charge of currently analyses nearly 20,000 positive tests a week.

Up to 10 per cent of positive tests across the country are selected randomly to be sent on for genomic sequencing, which investigates the exact make-up of each virus.

The Covid-19 Genomics UK Consortium says it aims to screen every positive coronavirus test in the future.

It is already screening every positive test from areas undergoing surge testing where the South African variant has been found.

Professor Peacock explained that while it is common to see mutations in the virus in genome analysis, very few cases have 'special features' which make them more transmissible or affect vaccination.

She described mutations that make the virus more deadly as 'vanishingly rare' but said that 'we have to be on the look for it'.

Professor Peacock added that all UK-approved vaccines appear to work against the existing variants of the virus in the country.

But the Kent variant does appear to have mutated even further, in what has been described as a worrying development by scientists.

An extra mutation been found at least 21 times in different cases of people infected with the Kent variant. It has raised fears it could become a permanent feature of the British strain.

Both the Kent and South African variants already share one mutation, named N501Y, which makes the virus spread faster.

But the 21 cases of the Kent variant  including 14 in Bristol  also have the E484K mutation, which is found in the South Africa strain.

Experts say it can help the virus partially evade immunity.

SAGE adviser Professor Calum Semple suggested the risk of the Kent variant  and other versions of the virus  continuing to evolve was 'inevitable' and 'will occur in time', and this mutation would likely be part of that.

Speaking about the threat, Professor Ravi Gupta, an infectious diseases expert at Cambridge University, said: 'The number of sequences is low at present, though enhanced surveillance is being undertaken by PHE.

'There may be more cases out there given how high transmission has been. We need to continue vaccinating and drive down transmission.'

Despite data suggesting the Kent variant may be more deadly, there is no evidence to indicate existing treatments, such as dexamethasone, will not be effective against it in its current form.

There are now four 'variants of concern' of the virus that causes Covid identified by government advisers. Three of these have been found in the UK, and the fourth is the Brazil variant identified in people who had travelled to Japan.

It comes after the World Health Organization yesterday officially recommended the Oxford vaccine for people over the age of 65 and said it should be used 'without an upper age limit'.

WHO experts reviewed all the evidence from studies of the jab and said there was 'no reason' it shouldn't be used against the South African variant because it should still prevent severe illness and death even if it was less effective.

There are concerns the vaccine will not work against that mutated strain of the virus after a study in South Africa found it offered only 'minimal protection' against mild disease in young people  but WHO scientists said it was 'inconclusive'.

And they backed up the UK's strategy of spacing the first and second dose by three months, saying between eight and 12 weeks was ideal for maximum protection.

Dr Alejandro Cravioto, a director at the WHO, yesterday said in a briefing that the jab could be given 'without an upper age limit'.

And Dr Katherine O'Brien added: 'Even with a hypothetical drop in efficacy, its still the right thing to do to vaccinate.'

Dr Cravioto added there was 'no reason' that places with the South African variant of the virus should not use the vaccine to keep down hospital admissions and deaths with the virus.

No10's top scientific advisers insist it should still prevent vaccinated people from being hospitalised or dying  which is their main purpose.

Boris Johnson welcomed the WHOs support for the UKs strategy of delivering the Oxford vaccine in over-65s, saying it was 'good to see' in tonight's Downing Street press conference.

ASTRAZENECA SAYS ITS NEW COVID BOOSTER JAB TACKLING VACCINE-RESISTANT VARIANTS WILL BE READY BY THE AUTUMN AstraZeneca's chief, Pascal Soriot AstraZeneca is on track to roll out a new booster vaccine that will tackle coronavirus variants by autumn, the firm said today. Its current Covid vaccine, developed by Oxford University and being rolled out en masse in Britain, targets earlier versions of the virus. Growing evidence suggests that while the jab in its current state stops severe symptoms from all Covid strains, it may not prevent vaccinated people catching some of the newer variants and experiencing mild symptoms. AstraZeneca said the new jab will be ready in 'six to nine months', with human trials expected to start at some point in the spring. Tweaking the current jab to target new variants is a much simpler process than making a new vaccine from scratch, experts say. For comparison, Oxford managed to develop the original one and have it rolled out around the world in under a year. It comes as a number of studies have suggested the E484K mutation, which was first found in the South African variant of the virus and is now cropping up in strains in Britain, reduces the potency of the current crop of vaccines. The findings suggest some people may still be at risk of picking up the virus and passing it to others, but there is no evidence they would suffer anything other than mild symptoms. The more infectious Kent variant of the virus is also 'sweeping the world', the director of the UK's genetic surveillance programme claimed today, and is well on course to becoming the global dominant strain. Studies show it is still susceptible to immunity triggered by the current crop of vaccines, although it can acquire mutations that may open the backdoor to dodging antibodies - virus-fighting proteins - from the jabs. AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot said the company's current vaccine provides a 'good level of protection' against severe disease caused by the new variants, but will need to be adapted to prevent milder symptoms. The update could be used either as a booster for people who have already had a different vaccine or it could be used on its own for those who are still unvaccinated. Advertisement
The company described the transaction as "transformative"

(LON:ALGW, OTCQB: ALPGF) said it is acquiring an unnamed Bermuda-based insurance company supported by an oversubscribed 3.75mln share placing.

The financial services and asset management group said the deal, which will be earnings accretive, represents a significant building block in the company's continued evolution.

Today's acquisition announcement is a significant step forward for the company and demonstrates the ambition of Alpha Growth as well as the scale of the future opportunity, added chief executive Gobind Sahney

The Class C licensed insurer has assets under management of US$290mln and in-force policies of US$750mln.

Once the transaction completes, Alpha will have around US$300mln assets under management compared with just US$10mln at the start of last year.

In a wide-ranging update, the company said its BlackOak Alpha Growth Fund achieved a net return of 10.63% for 2020.

This placed it in the top five BarclayHedge yearly performance rankings in its category. Assets under management for the fund have doubled in this period.

The company also said it continues to progress the Alpha Growth & Income strategy.

This is a combination of life settlements and life contingent structured settlements hedged by a life insurance policy that is suitable for investors seeking cash flow and growth.

It will be funded in either a separate managed account or as a co-mingled fund with a minimum investment of US$50mln.

It is anticipated that this strategy is complementary with the announced acquisition, Alpha added.

Finally, the company said it has almost completed discussions to secure a short term credit facility.
MARIGOT:--- The Prefecture of Saint-Barthelemy and Saint-Martin and the Guadeloupe Regional Health Agency inform that following a temporary reduction in the stock of reagents at the Institut Pasteur de Guadeloupe, PCR testing capabilities have been reduced to 120 tests per day.

PCR tests are primarily reserved for potential cases, contact cases, and persons with planned surgery.

In order to guarantee territorial continuity, travelers with compelling motives to Guadeloupe, Martinique, or Metropolitan France will be able to perform an antigenic test. This one is accepted from today by airlines until February 21 at 23 pm.

Those wishing to get tested are invited to visit:

 at the new PCR drive located in Marigot, next to Mc Donald's, between 7 and 11 pm;

 Hope Estate driveway offering PCR testing from 8 am to 11 pm and antigenic testing from 11 pm to 14 pm.

The Prefecture and ARS recall the absolute necessity of respecting barriers and limiting travel out of the territory to imperative motives.
CHICO, Calif. - The city of Chico has plans to help build many accessory dwelling units, also known as ADU's, to provide affordable living to people.

"It's not just the city of Chico but the state is in a housing crisis and everyone needs to help chip in and be a part of the solution," said Brendan Vieg for the City of Chico Community Development Department.

The city of Chico secured grant funds from the California Department of Housing Community Development to offer free development plans for an ADU.

"They don't have to pay to get the plans drawn up because we have done that for them and there is no time to wait to get them approved which saves time and money," said Vieg. "Also, because they are all also under 750 square feet, there is no developing impact fees so there is a significant savings."

The city said the ADU's come in three different sizes.

"There are both one and two-bedroom sizes, select exterior preference, and ultimately there are up to 16 unique styles to choose from," said Vieg. "It's just a really quality use of land and infrastructure."

Chico resident, Art Leonard, says the coronavirus pandemic has been tragic for many families.

"I can't say it enough, we do need the housing," said Leonard.

The city said it costs about $100,000 to build the ADUs. The city has been able to knock off $20,000 of that $100,000 in the pre-approved plans.
BRAVE Longford woman Lynsey Bennett has safely arrived in Mexico and says she is being treated like absolute royalty as she gets set to begin pioneering treatment in a specialised hospital.

The 32-year-old and her pal Martin Guilfoyle flew into Mexico city after connecting flights from Dublin and had an overland 30-hour drive before settling into their hotel in the seaside city of Cancun.

She said that the Hope4Cancer centre is not too far of a walking distance from her hotel.

Ms Bennett also stressed that she was told by her driver that Cancun is very safe.

Because they rely on their tourism so much to survive, its actually very, very safe in Cancun, she said. We have been treated like absolute royalty.

Ms Bennett last week settled her High Court action over the alleged misinterpretation of her cervical smear slides.

The single mum says she has planned her own funeral, and has set up a trust fund for her two daughters Zoe (12) and Hailee (7).

Reverend Simon Scott has helped plan her funeral, in which she wants Dermot Kennedys version of the Van Morrison song Days Like This played at it.

He sat there writing pages and pages of everything that I wanted said and done, and he had no problem, she said.

Rev Scott promised he would do everything that he had to do if anything happened to Ms Bennett. He supported my friends and sent them messages and phoned them and checked in with them, and honestly he is just a remarkable man.

The dignified young woman manages to join her services every weekend despite all that is going on in her life.

So we have online services, we all go onto zoom calls, she said.

She believes in the power or prayer.

The amount of people who have said that they are praying for me and Im so grateful and I so appreciate that. Its just an amazing thing that somebody is willing to take [time to do], no matter what their religion is or faith is, and the amount of people who will say Im not religious but Im praying for you, and I just think it gives people some hope and its so comforting people knowing that.

Asked how she keeps such strong faith given the circumstances that have befallen her, she said: I dont really go into thoughts like that. I have never ever once turned around and said: Why me? Ive often said: Sure why not me?

I think that sometimes things happen and you are maybe given it because you need to help other people. I think people learn from peoples pain and peoples misfortune, so thats how I view it. I dont go into the why me and the negative thoughts. I try to stay away from that as much as I can.

Ms Bennett has met other women affected by the cervical smear test scandal, including Vicky Phelan.

Read More





I have actually met Vicky in person and we do send messages every so often and I have met loads of the other women, she said.

I have had huge support and phone calls and messages. I had gone to a few of the meetings, but I had spoken up because I had such a horrendous experience, so people had reached out to me and they have been so amazing.

She is accompanied during her stay in Mexico by radio presenter Martin Guilfoyle.

I have known Martin for the last couple of years. He ended up covering to support me for one of my appointments, she said. He had said when I told him I was sick again that if there was anything he could do, just ask.

One of the days in November I was going to a new hospital to a new consultant and didnt really want to go to the appointment alone, and he was upset listening to me explaining all that happened. I just mentioned it to him I was going to Mexico and that I could actually bring a companion. He said that he would never let me go to an appointment on my own again and said: Im going to ask work can I go.

Ms Bennett appeared on RTEs First Dates show last year, and was paired with a local Longford guy Liam.

We went for a walk in Longford park run. We also had a cuppa in the Longford Arms, she said.

But it wasnt romantic. It was such a lovely date and Liam had even messaged me after the court case when it was on the news and just saying all the best. I was so grateful that I got to have such a lovely experience on First Dates and we can truly remain friends because he isnt too far down the road.

But Lynsey said that online dating is something thats last on her list.

For me a relationship is just not possible with what my prognosis is and the fact you cant meet anyone, she said.

But all my friends know that two years ago there was someone that came into my life that has always stayed around. That means an awful lot to me and even though we are not being romantic, he is a great support to have. His name is Ted and it would be hard to find someone who is as good a man as he is.
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

Periods of rain. High 51F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a half an inch..

Tonight

Rain. Low near 45F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a half an inch.
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Gaborone  President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi says the Mining Indaba initiative is of paramount importance to Botswana.

Addressing a virtual meeting of the 2021 indaba recently, Dr Masisi said the initiative had created critical networks among the world's mining community necessary for productivity and performance enhancement as well as cementing the country's footprints in the mining industry.

He said this year's conference was significant as it was held during the COVID-19 pandemic which had greatly devastated the world economy with mining industry as one of the key economic sectors severely affected.

Dr Masisi said the pandemic left dire consequences for the development of diamond producing countries such as Botswana.

He said last year, Botswana experienced logistical challenges for exporting minerals while in some instances markets shut down completely, which resulted in great losses.

President Masisi further said the pandemic diminished revenue in some countries and continued to pose challenges for the diamond industry.

The 2021 indaba therefore provided opportunities to introspect and propose robust innovative strategies and solutions to revive the sector to help overcome the economic challenges countries endured during the pandemic, he said.

He said the situation called for collaborations particularly between governments and private sectors to ensure rebuilding of the mining sector.

Expressing optimism about the recently launched Africa Continental Free Trade Area, Dr Masisi said it would go a long way in accelerating intra-Africa trade.

He said it would boost mineral rich countries trading positions in the global market as well as strengthen Africa's common voice and policy space in global trade negotiations.

With a combined population of over 250 million and vast natural resources, Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), offered important market opportunities for its member states, Dr Masisi said adding that the region also had opportunities to attract investment in the extractive industries.

Source : BOPA
RTE star Lottie Ryan has revealed she became pregnant three weeks after she visited a fertility clinic to discuss freezing her eggs.

The broadcaster announced the happy news on Instagram yesterday by sharing a photo of a white babygrow which reads: I guess quarantine wasnt that boring after all. #comingsoon.

Appearing on the Jennifer Zamparelli show on 2FM this morning, Lottie opened up about her pregnancy journey so far.

I am due in August. So I am a good four months in now.

Yeah, and I have not been the most well bunny over the past while but I'm starting to feel a little bit better now, she said.

Read More

Lottie  the daughter of the late broadcaster, Gerry Ryan  revealed she and husband Fabio Aprile found out they would become parents shortly before Christmas.

Lottie married Fabio in a stunning ceremony in his native Italy in 2017 after dating for ten years.

"It was before Christmas we found out. We told our families on Christmas Day, which was just absolutely amazing.

I think my mother nearly fainted, God bless her, because she thought there was no hope for me, she explained.

Lottie revealed she had attended a fertility clinic to discuss freezing her eggs.

"I knew I was of a certain age and I had Dancing with the Stars had just finished and I had all these ideas I was off to the West End and you know all this kind of mad stuff.

I said: 'listen Fab, we better just freeze the eggs, because man I am off now, I am on this rollercoaster of wanting to perform'. So off we went to the clinic, she said.

Lottie said the pregnancy came as a surprise as doctors warned it may take over a year before she would conceive.

Three weeks later, I was sitting on the floor of my bathroom surrounded by fifty million pregnancy tests looking at Fabio going 'go to another chemist there is something wrong with this batch as well, she said.

Lottie also revealed her plans to go back to work after her new arrival in August.

"I'm not going to take long off at all, she said.

I probably wont because work is so important to me and part of who I am, and obviously I'm going to need a little bit of time off but I'm not going to take that much.
A total of 1.1 million bitcoin were stolen in the 2013-2017 period. Given the current price for Bitcoin exceeding $40,000, the corresponding monetary equivalent of losses is more than $44 billion highlighting the societal impact of this criminal activity. The question arises how does the uncertainty in the Bitcoin market - measured by its volatility - respond to such cyberattacks.

A recently published research article from Dr. Klaus Grobys (University of Vaasa, Finland) in the well-known journal Quantitative Finance addresses this question.

In his study, he examined 29 hacking incidents that occurred in the Bitcoin market in the 2013-2017 period. A surprising result of this study is that Bitcoin volatility does not respond to hackings with a subsequent increase in uncertainty between the subsequent day (? + 1) and the fourth day (? + 4) after a cyberattack took place.

However, the study finds evidence for a delayed response in volatility. Specifically, Bitcoin return volatility increases substantially on the fifth day (? + 5) after a hacking incident occurred.

This result remains robust even after controlling for the immediate volatility response at time ? = 0 which is the day where the actual cyberattack took place. The delayed response of Bitcoin return volatility points towards inefficiency in the Bitcoin market as shocks need time to be fully priced-in.

While earlier studies documented co-movements of cryptocurrency returns, a novel finding of the current research is that hackings in the Bitcoin market also affect other cryptocurrency markets.

Specifically, the evidence suggests that there is a contagion effect in volatility associated with hacking incidents. Like evidenced in the Bitcoin market, the volatility in the Ethereum market increases dramatically with a time delay at time ? + 5. A rather surprising result is that there appears to be no evidence for a contemporaneous response in Ethereum's volatility. However, the delayed volatility increase for Ethereum returns exhibits virtually the same economic magnitude as for Bitcoin returns.

Another interesting result is that neither Bitcoin returns nor Ethereum returns appear to exhibit asymmetries in their volatility processes even though it is a stylized fact of traditional financial markets that the volatility responds stronger to negative innovations.

"My study is a first attempt to reveal potential risk factors and their effects on the new emerging digital financial markets - cyberattacks is only one of these new risk factors. From my point of view, much more research needs to be done on this issue", says Dr. Klaus Grobys.

###

Research article

Grobys, K. (2020) When the blockchain does not block: On hackings and uncertainty in the cryptocurrency market, Quantitative Finance, forthcoming.

Ultivue to Participate in Cowen's 41st Annual Health Care Conference

Ultivue, an industry leader in multiplexing for tissue biomarker analysis, will participate in Cowen's 41st Annual Health Care Conference, a virtual event taking place March 1-4, 2021. The conference incorporates presentations, fireside chats, and innovative panel discussions hosted by members of the Cowen research team that focus on various aspects of the health care industry.

Ultivue's President and Chief Executive Officer, Jacques Corriveau, will host a series fireside chats, designed as one-on-one meetings with interested investors, on Tuesday, March 2nd.

About Ultivue

Ultivue provides researchers in translational medicine with multiplex biomarker assays for tissue phenotyping and digital pathology. Its proprietary InSituPlex technology enables advanced exploration and interrogation of tissue samples for precision medicine research. hese highly customizable solutions and scientific consultative approach strengthen and accelerate biomarker discovery and drug development programs. Learn more at Ultivue.com.







About Cowen

Cowen Inc. ("Cowen" or the "Company") is a diversified financial services firm offering investment banking services, equity and credit research, sales and trading, prime brokerage, global clearing, commission management services and actively managed alternative investment products. Cowen focuses on delivering value-added capabilities to our clients in order to help them outperform. Founded in 1918, the Company is headquartered in New York and has offices worldwide. Learn more at Cowen.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210211005909/en/
Nearly 12 crore doses of Covid vaccine to be available in June: Health Ministry

Supreme Court refuses to entertain plea on preventing sale of fake COVID-19 vaccines

India

oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P

New Delhi, Feb 11: The Supreme Court on Thursday refused to entertain a plea seeking direction to the Centre for framing "strict" guidelines to prevent any chance of sale of fake coronavirus vaccines in the country.

A bench comprising Chief Justice SA Bobde and Justices AS Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian said that though it understood the "motivation" behind filing of the PIL, it cannot pass general directions.

Mamata Banerjee thinks she is a tiger, but she is a cat: Dilip Ghosh's fresh attack on West Bengal CM

"We understand your motivation but you file a concrete case. We cannot pass general directions. We are not the legislature," the bench told lawyer Vishal Tiwari who filed the plea in his personal capacity.

"If you (lawyer) want to persue this issue, you make out a case with concrete facts. We will allow you to withdraw with liberty to file it afresh," the bench said in the hearing conducted through video-conferencing.

Fuel price hike: Maharashtra auto drivers forced to work extra hours

Tiwari then decided to withdraw the plea which was filed before the roll out of vaccines and had referred to the statement of Secretary General of INTERPOL to the effect that criminal organizations have been planning to infiltrate or disrupt supply chains.

The plea had said the INTERPOL official also issued a global alert to law enforcement agencies of 194 member countries warning them to prepare for organized crime networks targeting COVID-19 vaccines, both physically and online.

"Issue writ...directions to the respondent (Centre) to issue strict guidelines and regulations under Disaster Management Act or under any other law by constituting a special committee to prevent the chances of fake and counterfeit Corona vaccine selling/circulating and advertising by any organization, company, online Apps," it had said.

Farm Laws: What did PM Modi say on the agricultural laws in the Parliament| Oneindia News

It had also sought directions for the government agencies to run awareness programme for safety of citizens against the danger of fake corona vaccine.

"Direct the Respondent (Centre) enact a strict law against the criminal act committed by selling or circulating the counterfeit corona vaccine by any organization or Individual," it had said.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Thursday, February 11, 2021, 13:33 [IST]
Victorian travellers coming to Queensland will need to fill out a border declaration pass from 1am on Saturday, in response to the Holiday Inn coronavirus cluster in Melbourne.

Anyone who has been in a COVID-19 hotspot identified by Victorian health officials, where a confirmed case has visited, will not be allowed to enter Queensland.

Queensland Deputy Premier Steven Miles, the acting Health Minister, confirmed the change on Thursday morning, with the Melbourne cluster growing to 11 cases.

That will allow us to check whether they have been in any of the locations that have been identified by the Victorian contact tracers, whether they are required to get tested, and to notify them that that is the case, and require that they isolate if that is the case, he said.
President Volodymyr Zelensky has signed a law on state support for investment projects with significant investments to resume investment activity in Ukraine, the presidents press service reports.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky signed the Law On state support of investment projects with significant investments in Ukraine, No.1116-IX, which was adopted by the Verkhovna Rada on December 17, 2020. This document will help resume investment activity in Ukraine after the crisis of 2020, reads the report.

According to the Office of the President, the law provide for state support to Ukrainian and foreign investors with a total investment of EUR 20 million.

In particular, the law envisages the possibility of obtaining tax benefits, providing investment projects with related infrastructure, granting the preemptive right to use land plots of state or municipal ownership for the implementation of investment projects, securing investor guarantees through a direct agreement with the Government of Ukraine. The total amount of state support should not exceed 30% of the amount of investment in the project.

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Labour leaders in Enugu State on Thursday pledged to fight corruption by scrutinising the budget of local government councils and projects in the state.

The labour leaders made the pledge at a roundtable on how to improve efficiency, transparency, and accountability in public service.

Ben Asogwa, the chairperson, Trade Union Congress (TUC), Enugu State Chapter, said that the labour unions were ready to partner civil society organisations to tackle corruption and project abandonment at the local government councils in the state.

Mr Asogwa said the workshop was timely.

Corruption is increasing in the country and we cannot continue to watch, while our common patrimony is being squandered by a few corrupt individuals.

Things cannot continue this way. It is in the interest of our future and generations unborn to fight and kick-out corruption in the state, he said.

Virginus Nwobodo, chair, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Enugu State Chapter, said corruption has remained the bane of development at all levels of government.

There is a need to have collective and concerted efforts to deal with corruption especially the ones perpetrated at the council level.

This can be possible by widening the engagement and working in partnership with serious-minded CSOs to check corruption and corrupt tendencies in the council area, Mr Nwobodo said.

The Convener of Say No Campaign, a non-governmental organisation, Ezenwa Nwagwu, challenged labour leaders to rise up and ask questions on the budgets and projects of local government councils in the state.

Mr Nwagwu said the roles of labour leaders in improving the quality of governance and service delivery cannot be overemphasised.

We have a responsibility to deliver our duty with utmost diligence and to guide the government to live up to its mandate. We simply cannot fail, he said.

Continuing, Mr Nwagwu said, It is important that we become more intentional in working to uplift our society and our people even those in rural areas.

Being in the system, we can bring so much value to citizen oversight of government projects and initiatives in a way that benefits the society.

If we are altruistic, through our efforts we can curb the plague of abandoned projects, shabby budget implementation and diversion of public funds.

But we can only achieve this if we decide to take personal responsibility in carrying out our duties.

Dayo Olaide, the deputy country director, Mac-Arthur Foundation, said corruption holds back progress of democracy.

As a people, we must rise to stop corruption and its threat to our existence and the generation unborn.

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It is the responsibility of all to be able to Say No to Corruption and stand out for the truth and integrity, Mr Olaide said.

The workshop was organised by Say No Campaign and supported by MacArthur Foundation.

(NAN)
The investment provides funding to mid-2021 and important flexibility to progress planned bioMSAR testing and development activities that might otherwise have been deferred, said chairman Mike Kirk

( ) said it has raised 500,000 from the sale of convertible securities to existing investor Bergen, providing funding to the middle of 2021.

The proceeds of the investment will allow the company to accelerate activities relating to the testing and development of its bioMSAR biofuel and early-stage work under the new joint development agreement with MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company in its fleet of commercial container vessels.

Last week Quadrise revealed that initial testing confirmed bioMSAR as a viable diesel engine fuel, with higher efficiency and 20-25% lower NOx compared to baseline testing on diesel in test conditions on a high-speed engine.

Mike Kirk, chairman of Quadrise, hailed Bergen for their investment over the last 18 months.

Concluding this second and final investment from Bergen provides Quadrise with funding to mid-2021 and important flexibility to progress planned bioMSAR testing and development activities that might otherwise have been deferred, he said.

We will now be accelerating this work, alongside our activities related to the JDA with MSC to progress the LONO trial(s) planned to commence later this year.

With our exciting portfolio of projects and this additional funding, the company is in a strong position and we look forward to providing further updates on progress in the months ahead.

This second investment from Bergen concludes its ability to invest in Quadrise under the existing agreement and no further convertible securities will be issued pursuant to it, the company added.

The Daily Beast

Screenshot/YouTubeA Christian diet guru and six other people are presumed dead after her small plane crashed into the waters of Tennessee lake on Saturday morning. Authorities were called to the Percy Priest Lake around 11 a.m., not long after the plane took off from the nearby Smyrna Rutherford County Airport. Late Saturday evening, investigators said they believed all seven passengers had perished. The cause of the crash is still under investigation. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Joe Lara (@joelaraofficial) The plane, a Cessna C501, belonged Gwen Shamblin Lara, founder of the Remnant Fellowship Church and author of The Weigh Down Workshop, and her husband William J. Lara, who went by Joe. The couple lived in nearby Brentwood and had registered the plane via their company JL&GL Productions LP. The aircraft has not been located, but Tennessee Highway Patrol told News Channel 5 that officers located debris consistent with a Cessna C501 and that a small plane had been seen descending into the water near a boat ramp early Saturday.Laras daughter, Elizabeth Hannah, sent a text message to members of the Remnant Fellowship Church saying that her mother and father were aboard the aircraft when it was forced to make a quick, controlled landing. All the planes passengers had ties to the church, including Hannahs own husband Brandon, according to her text. The others aboard were David and Jennifer Martin and Jonathan and Jessica Walters, according to authorities.My brother and I are asking for immediate prayers right now, as we have just gotten word that Gwen and Joe Laras plane had to go down, Hannah wrote before authorities said everyone appeared to have been killed. More information to come, but be in prayerand be at peace, the message continued. GOD IS IN CONTROL, and we will not stop moving forward with WHAT GOD WANTS with this church.Read more at The Daily Beast.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.
He went back and laid by a car, while his sister took him to the hospital. He made up a story about getting shot while walking down 7th Avenue with Jones, because he thought it was an accident. He later admitted Jones had a handgun in the woods.
Dr. Phillip M. Boiselle has been appointed dean and professor of medicine at Quinnipiac Universitys Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine in North Haven effective July 1, according to an announcement made by Provost Debra Liebowitz. He also will serve as the William and Barbara Weldon Deans Chair of Medicine.

Boiselle, who currently serves as professor and dean of the Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, Florida, will have primary responsibility for Quinnipiac Netters academic and educational mission. He replaces founding dean, Dr. Bruce Koeppen, who is retiring from the university on June 30.

Phil is the ideal candidate to lead Quinnipiac Netter, Liebowitz said. He is a dynamic leader with a distinguished reputation as a medical scholar, and a champion for diversity and inclusion as a means of achieving institutional excellence. Having trained as a chief resident at Yale, Phil has many personal and professional connections in Greater New Haven and is committed to advancing Quinnipiac Netters reputation for engaging students in an innovative medical curriculum that prepares the next generation of patient-centered physicians who excel in interdisciplinary medicine.

Boiselle said, I am honored to lead the Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine through its next phase of growth. Since its founding, the school has built a strong foundation of excellence upon which to develop future innovative advances in medical education, clinical care, research, scholarship, and community service. I enthusiastically look forward to working with President Olian, Provost Liebowitz, other university leaders, and the entire Netter community of learners, faculty, staff and community partners, to collaboratively lead the School of Medicine to reach new heights in the years ahead.

At The Schmidt College of Medicine, Boiselle engaged in substantial community partnerships that addressed health concerns and needs of the most vulnerable community members. The Schmidt College also enhanced the diversity of its medical student and graduate student populations, with approximately one-third of all students now coming from backgrounds traditionally underrepresented in medicine and biomedical sciences.

A graduate of the Duke University School of Medicine, Boiselle was chief resident at Yale University followed by a fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital. His clinical career has focused on thoracic imaging, an area in which he is recognized as an international expert. As director of thoracic imaging at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center/Harvard Medical School, he developed and led a nationally recognized section that was highly valued locally for its emphasis on quality and safety. He also was associate dean for academic and clinical affairs, professor of radiology and a Rabkin Fellow in Medical Education at Harvard Medical School.

Boiselles research career has been devoted primarily to multidisciplinary, translational research involving the role of non-invasive imaging for enhancing the diagnosis and care of patients with a variety of airway disorders. An NIH-funded investigator, his study of tracheal dynamics led to the recognition of tracheomalacia as a distinct phenotype of COPD with therapeutic implications.

Boiselle has held a variety of local, regional and national educational leadership roles, including director of preclinical radiology education, radiology residency program co-director, thoracic imaging fellowship director, president of the New England Roentgen Ray Society, and president of the Society of Thoracic Radiology, among others.

Press Release
India needs to actively counter the Chinese historical narrative, which is an integral part of Chinas strategy on Tibet which is misleading the world. Not contesting this has made it significantly harder to challenge other narratives such as the one on the South China Sea. It would be of critical importance for India to bust the narrative and try to project the real narrative on Tibet. Tibet was never part of China. There is no legal basis on the occupation by the People's Republic of China (PRC) and it is solely on a self-serving basis. Tibet is an occupied country and the PRC doesnt possess sovereignty over it.

"It is important for India to understand that not only Tibet but the entire Himalayan region is of utmost importance for Indian geopolitical interests and India should start working to secure its interests. The Indian Government has an obligation under international law to resolve the Sino-Tibetan conflict. Apart from promoting peace in the region, Delhi would have to send a message that the conflict has not been resolved and the world needs To pay attention to it," said Dr Michael Van Walt a professor of international law and international relations during his briefing on the book 'Tibet Brief 20/20.

India has no longer made statements on China that it recognizes Tibet as a sovereign state. Late last year, the US Department of State referred to Tibet as an occupied territory, which was a significant move. India and the whole world should not succumb to Chinas pressure. This would strengthen Indias position and help to resolve the conflict on the border, added Dr Michael Van.

He further argued, Let me make this clear - India has a special role to play when it comes to the Tibet issue. Other countries look towards India for guidance on their Tibet policy. India does have a significant effect on the worlds Tibet policies. The only way to stop bullying is by ending the compliance with the bullys demands. This has started and we can see that the world is increasingly countering the Chinese aggression. The need now is to bring similar powers together in an alliance to counter China. When we started writing this book, such a climate didn't exist. But governments have increasingly started to stand up against China.

The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) has not made the concession that Tibet is an integral part of China. His Holiness Dalai Lama and the CTA have offered the Chinese government to negotiate over the conflict that would result in accepting a robust autonomy within PRC. I dont think that we can assume that the Tibetan side has made a concession and started to believe that Tibet is a part of China. The middle way approach means that conflict needs to be resolved with non-violence to bring China to the negotiation table.

"Personally, seeing the way China is behaving in Tibet, East Turkestan, Hong Kong, Inner Mongolia, etc., I find it difficult to see how China would respect even a favourable and robust autonomy even if they agree to come to an agreement. I feel it difficult to believe that this would actually work. He concluded by arguing - as Pandit Nehru had said - it is for the Tibetans themselves to decide their destiny. And the best way to do this is allowing them to exercise their right to self - determination.

Sharing the story of his struggle for Tibetan independence and thoughts about the liberation movement, Tibetan activist and writer Tenzin Tsundue said, They are our enemy and are destroying our country. We are not going to give up and would recreate the freedom movement in Tibet. The author is so right to say that what China does is manipulate the narrative to justify its occupation. Hundreds of immolations have happened in Tibet and numerous uprisings have taken place.

"The authors advice that the Tibetans or the Tibetan government in exile must not buckle under Chinese pressure and completely leave appealing China and playing up to Chinas politics is exactly on the point. It would certainly be undermining the trust of Tibetans. I am a Tibetan born and educated in India, waiting for the independence of Tibet. I feel pain when India is not speaking up for Tibet. I want India to protect its borders from China. One of the problems in fulfilling the commitment to the Tibetan independence movement is the ignorance amongst Indians on the Tibet issue. A lot of people in India have been believing in the slogan of Hindi-Chini Bhai-Bhai. No Indian textbooks talk about Tibet. They do talk about Burma, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and other countries. But nothing about Tibet. Hence, without the knowledge of Tibet, how would people stand up for its independence?" said Tenzin Tsundue.

Tibetan politician in exile and activist Gyari Dolma, We have gradually fallen into a trap. I don't speak on the behalf of the CTA and just as a Tibetan. We are sometimes too cautious to speak on certain topics which are essential because we don't want to offend somebody and believe that this act would push the other side to come and sit on the negotiation table. Both the countries - Tibet and India, must come out of self-censorship, especially on the historical aspect of Tibet. We need to correct the narrative that Tibet today is an illegally occupied nation by the PRC. When I emphasize on this fact that it's time for the Government of India to really come out and recognize Tibet as an occupied nation and for the reason of 1914 Shimla agreement and the usage of such words, I really request everybody to refer to the India-Tibet border as Indo-Tibet border and not as Sino-Indian border. We need to correct all the narratives. If India recognizes Tibet as an independent nation, as it would not necessarily mean contradicting the One China policy.

Former RAW chief CD Sahay underlined that the main issue is  Was a wrong done? If a wrong was done, can it get time-barred by international law? The issue then comes when and how do people agree to this formulation that Tibet remains an illegally occupied territory? How much support is there within Tibet for this proposition? Even at different platforms available, there are lots of efforts being made continuously over the years by the PRC government to discourage people and countries from talking about this. We would need to think on and ensure how we propose to keep this debate going and make people speak, write, and act in the later stage.

Former Ambassador Anil Trigunayat said, I personally believe that China has never respected the One India policy. And I think that there is no question that India should be reciprocating the same. China is continuing to expand itself and exercising its raw power. Dialogue is not going to take us very far and India needs to review its One China policy.

Former Special Secretary with the Government of India Krishan Verma added, There is a reason for us that we need to reassess our position on Tibet. One, what is the feeling within Tibet? Second, what does the CTA actually believe in? Are they looking at general autonomy or want to go beyond that? I believe that it has diluted the demands and rightly so, that you need to offer a concession to bring them to the table. The US has taken a lead in the way through the Tibet Policy Support Act in 2002 and in 2020. India should begin to think of similar ideas. We should also start to think about ecology and the environment, most importantly water. This is something that would come to haunt us. We need to think about aligning with countries that think on similar lines about China."

Professor at Delhi University Dr Abanti Bhattacharya said, The several uprisings in Tibet highlight three things. First, Chinas authority over Tibet is flawed. Second, Chinas nation-building plan has failed. Third, Tibet is an occupied territory and clearly disputed. China has been representing the issue as a bilateral issue between China and India and not as a trilateral issue between India, Tibet, and China.

Joyeeta Basu, editor of The Sunday Guardian further added, China is a state with no moral compass which violates all the agreements and treaties. If this is what managing the differences have brought us, why are we not taking steps to reverse it? She reinstates the need to stop normalizing the problem and legitimizing the occupation. India was first to do that before and now India should be the first to revoke it too.

Balochistan liberation activist Bilal Baloch also joined the event and argued that this is the time when India must change its policy of non-interference towards the other countries. He stressed, Dragon is a dragon; it will definitely bite you. The US and European countries are optimistic about India and they are watching India as a superpower in Asia and I am sad to say that India is not realizing it. Being a deep state, China is interfering in the internal issues of India. Even Pakistan is spreading religious extremism in India. China and Pakistan are one country in principle. India needs to reform its policies not only on Tibet but on Balochistan as well. Now China is in Gwadar, if it further comes within Gwadar, it would be more troubling for India. Dragon is making everyone suffer - Balochs, Mongolians, Tibetans, Uighurs, etc. So, the world needs to come together to tackle it.

CEO of Usanas Foundation Abhinav Pandya, and also the organizer of this book discussion said the Western world has to realize that Chinas wild expansionism doesnt end in Tibet. Unless the world and the West doesnt question the illegal Chinese occupation of Shaksgam valley which rightfully belongs to India, it's activities in Gilgit-Balochistan.
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The Supreme Court of Pakistan has ordered the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to immediately start rebuilding a century-old temple, which was vandalised by a mob in December last year, as reported by PTI. For the purpose of the same, the top court has asked the provincial government to submit a timeline for its completion. In a bid to punish the offenders, the apex body also ordered that all the money required for the reconstruction of the temple should be collected from those who charred it.

On December 30, a mob led by a local cleric and supporters of a religious political party, attacked the shrine in Terri village, Kerak district after the Hindu community was granted permission from local authorities to renovate the temple. A first information report was registered against two clerics, identified as Maulana Faizullah and Maulvi Mohammad Sharif, and many unidentified people.

On December 30, 2020, a #Hindu shrine in K-Ps Karak district was set on fire and severely damaged by a mob. A three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed, heard the suo moto case regarding the burning of a #Hindu temple in #Karak. pic.twitter.com/1ZyvKwybxk  Saqeena Quasim (@saqeena_quasim) February 9, 2021

During the hearing of the suo moto case, Evacuee Trust Property Board told the chief justice Chief Justice Gulzar Ahmed that no arrests or recoveries were made as of now. However, the government had previously approved Pakistani Rs 30.41 million for the reconstruction of the temple. Following the same, the chief justice said the chairperson of the trust property board should be summoned and called for the submission of a detailed report containing all progress made in the matter.

Read:'Afghanistan Peace Process Destroyed By Pakistan': India Encircles Imran Khan & Co At UNSC

Read:SHOCKING: Pakistan Opens Fire On Civilians In Kohistan; Women & Children Abducted

Army opens fire on civilians in the state

This comes as the Pakistan Army allegedly opened fire on the civilian population in Kohistan in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province on Tuesday, February 10. According to the Baloch Republican Party, the military has started a massive operation in the region where gunships are being used on the civilian population.

As per Sher Mohammad Bugti, the spokesperson of the party, the deaths of at least two Marri Balochs have been confirmed, while a large number of women and children have been reportedly been abducted. The region is located at a short distance from the ChinaPakistan Economic Corridor and has seen protests by locals who are against the massive development project.

Read:Ghulam Nabi Azad Bids Emotional Farewell To Rajya Sabha; Extolls India Over Pakistan

Read: Families On Three Climbers Missing In Pakistan
WYNYARD, UK, Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Venator Materials PLC (NYSE: VNTR) ("Venator") announced today that Vir Lakshman has been appointed to serve as a member of its Board of Directors.

The appointment of Vir Lakshman was effective February 11, 2021. Mr. Lakshman worked for KPMG in Germany from 1999 to July 2019, where he was Head of Chemicals and Life Sciences in Germany and a Deal Advisory Partner. Prior to KPMG Mr. Lakshman held senior positions at GE Capital, including that of CFO at Budapest Bank in Hungary, and worked for Coopers and Lybrand (now PwC) in the UK and Germany. Mr. Lakshman, a UK Chartered Accountant, was appointed to serve as Chair of the Audit Committee.

Simon Turner, President and CEO of Venator, commented, "We are pleased to welcome Vir to our Board of Directors and as Chair of the Audit Committee. I look forward to working with Vir and am confident his proven track record and depth of experience will be an asset to our Board."

About Venator

Venator is a global manufacturer and marketer of chemical products that comprise a broad range of pigments and additives that bring color and vibrancy to buildings, protect and extend product life, and reduce energy consumption. We market our products globally to a diversified group of industrial customers through two segments: Titanium Dioxide, which consists of our TiO 2 business, and Performance Additives, which consists of our functional additives, color pigments, timber treatment and water treatment businesses. We operate 24 facilities, employ approximately 3,700 associates worldwide and sell our products in more than 120 countries.

Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements contained in this press release constitute "forward looking statements" within the meaning of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward looking statements represent Venator's expectations or beliefs concerning future events, and it is possible that the expected results described in this press release will not be achieved. These forward looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside of Venator's control, that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward looking statements, including the impacts and duration of the global outbreak of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 pandemic on the global economy and all aspects of our business, including our employees, customers, suppliers, partners, results of operations, financial condition and liquidity, global economic conditions, our ability to maintain sufficient working capital, our ability to access capital markets on favorable terms, our ability to transfer business from our Pori, Finland manufacturing facility to other sites in our manufacturing network, the costs associated with such transfer and the closure of our Pori facility, our ability to realize financial and operational benefits from our business improvement plans and initiatives, changes in raw material and energy prices, or interruptions in raw materials and energy, industry production capacity and operating rates, the supply demand balance for our products and that of competing products, pricing pressures, technological developments, legal claims by or against us, changes in government regulations, including increased manufacturing, labeling and waste disposal regulations and the classification of TiO 2 as a carcinogen in the EU, the impacts of increasing climate change regulations, geopolitical events, cyberattacks and public health crises.

Any forward looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and, except as required by law, Venator does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for Venator to predict all such factors. When considering these forward looking statements, you should keep in mind the risk factors and other cautionary statements in Venator's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 filed with the SEC and in its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K. The risk factors and other factors noted therein could cause its actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward looking statement.

SOURCE Venator Materials PLC
Joe Biden said Thursday that he had a two hour conversation in his first phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday where the president claims they spoke about a wide variety of issues  including human rights violations.

'Last night I was on the phone for two straight hours with Xi Jinping,' Biden told reporters gathered in the Oval Office Thursday morning.

In regards to competition between the two countries, Biden said 'if we don't get moving, they're going to eat our lunch.'

He claimed China has 'major new initiatives' and they are 'working very hard' to produce cars with new technology.

Biden's call with his Chinese counterpart centered on trade and human rights violations  with Xi warning confrontation would be a 'disaster' for both nations.

Xi told Biden the two sides should re-establish the means to avoid misjudgments, according to the Chinese foreign ministry's account of the call.

Joe Biden said his first phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping Wednesday evening lasted two hours and involved conversations on a wide range of issues

The president told reporters Thursday regarding competition with China: 'If we don't get moving, they're going to eat our lunch'

Chinese President Xi Jinping warned confrontation regarding human rights in China would be a 'disaster' for both nations and said during the call they should avoid misjudgments

The phone conversation took place on Thursday morning Beijing time, but Wednesday evening in the U.S.

Biden also underscored during the call his 'fundamental concerns about Beijing's coercive and unfair practices, its crackdown in Hong Kong, reported human rights abuses in Xinjiang, and increasingly assertive actions in the region, including toward Taiwan', the White House said in a statement.

The Chinese leader maintained a hardline tone regarding Hong Kong, Xinjiang and Taiwan.

He told Biden these all were matters of 'sovereignty and territorial integrity' that he hopes the United States will approach cautiously.

Taiwan's government, which has complained of China's repeated military drills near the Chinese-claimed and democratic island, thanked Biden for expressing his concern.

The telephone call was the first call between Xi and a U.S. president since the Chinese leader spoke with former President Donald Trump in March last year. Since then, relations between the two countries have plunged to their worst level in decades, with Trump blaming China for the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the Trump administration, the United States launched a series of actions against China, including a trade war, sanctions against Chinese officials and firms perceived to be security threats and challenging Beijing's South China Sea territorial claims.

Xi congratulated Biden on his election in a message in November, even though Biden had called him a 'thug' during the campaign and vowed to lead an international effort to 'pressure, isolate and punish China.'

Chinese officials have expressed cautious optimism that bilateral relations will improve under Biden and urged Washington to meet Beijing halfway.

The U.S. and Chinese read outs of the call mentioned areas for potential cooperation, with both honing in on climate change and fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.

'You have said that America can be defined in one word: Possibilities. We hope the possibilities will now point toward an improvement of China-U.S. relations,' Xi told Biden, according to China's Foreign Ministry.

The Biden administration has made it clear that it will continue to maintain pressure on China, however, although it has also pledged to take a more multilateral approach.

Here then-vice president Biden and Xi are pictured in 2015 in Washington, D.C. during a State Luncheon for the Chinese leader hosted by Obama-era secretary of state John Kerry

A senior Biden administration official told reporters ahead of the telephone call that Biden would be 'practical, hard-headed, clear-eyed' in dealings with Xi, but wanted to ensure they had the opportunity to have an open line of communication, despite U.S. concerns about Chinese behavior.

The official said the call came at a time when the United States believed it was in a position of strength, after consultations with allies and partners, to lay out core concerns about China's 'aggressive activities and abuses'.

The Biden administration will look in coming months at adding 'new targeted restrictions' on certain sensitive technology exports to China in cooperation with allies and partners, the official said. He also said there would be no quick moves to lift the tariffs the former Trump administration left in place against Chinese imports.

The call came after U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke by phone to top Chinese diplomat Yang Jiechi on Friday. That was the first announced high-level exchange between top diplomats from the two countries since former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo met Yang in Hawaii last June.

In his call, Blinken said Washington would stand up for human rights in Xinjiang, Tibet and Hong Kong - all issues Yang had days earlier said the United States should stay out of.

Biden has said Beijing is Washington's 'most serious competitor', and his administration has indicated it will broadly continue the tough approach taken by Trump.
The African Union (AU) will not be "walking away" from AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine but will target its use in countries that have not reported cases of the variant dominant in South Africa, the head of its disease control body said on Thursday.

The comments come after South Africa paused the rollout of the vaccine because of preliminary trial data showing it offered minimal protection against mild to moderate disease caused by the 501Y.V2 variant dominant in the country.

South Africa said on Wednesday it could seek to sell or swap its AstraZeneca shots, and will use an alternative from Johnson & Johnson to start protecting healthcare workers later this month.

African countries are due to receive 100 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine this year under an AU vaccine plan.

John Nkengasong, director of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), told a virtual news conference that more work was needed to understand how the AstraZeneca vaccine worked against the fast-spreading 501Y.V2 variant first identified late last year.

"For now our strategy is not to throw away our 100 million doses, but rather target countries that as we indicated have not reported cases of that specific variant," Nkengasong said, adding that only six countries other than South Africa had reported that the variant was circulating.

"You still have an extensive number of countries that can benefit from those vaccines, so we will not be walking away from AstraZeneca vaccines at all."

Kenya said on Thursday that it would move ahead with plans to use the AstraZeneca shot.

Matshidiso Moeti, the World Health Organization Africa director, said the WHO was briefing African countries on a recommendation by its SAGE panel of experts to use the AstraZeneca vaccine, even in countries where the 501Y.V2 variant may reduce its efficacy.

She said interactions with countries neighbouring South Africa were "particularly intense" after eSwatini said on Tuesday that it would not use the AstraZeneca shots.

"While a vaccine that prevents against all forms of COVID-19 illness is our biggest hope, preventing severe cases and hospitalisations which overwhelm ... health systems is crucial," Moeti told another news conference.

ALARMING VARIANT

The 501Y.V2 variant partly worries health experts because of its ability to potentially evade the immune response generated by prior exposure to the coronavirus or vaccines.

African countries that have confirmed cases of the variant include Botswana, Comoros, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique and Zambia, although there are concerns it has spread to other places like eSwatini and Tanzania.

The Africa CDC recommended that countries that had not detected the variant proceed with the AstraZeneca rollout.

For those where it is present, "we recommend the acceleration of their preparedness to introduce all vaccines that have received emergency use authorisation or approval by regulatory authorities," Nkengasong said, adding that "consideration should be given to the effectiveness of the (AstraZeneca) vaccine against the 501Y.V2 variant."

Nkengasong said the Africa CDC would be doing its own evaluations of the AstraZeneca vaccine across multiple countries.

He added that talks were ongoing with Johnson & Johnson to access more doses than the 120 million that feature in the AU's vaccine plan.

Nkengasong said the rollout of 7 million AstraZeneca doses funded by telecoms firm MTN would continue. "That plan will still move forward, this is a good vaccine without the variant," he said.

AstraZeneca says it has started adapting its vaccine against the 501Y.V2 variant.

On Wednesday, South Africa said it wanted to see whether it could swap AstraZeneca doses it had ordered from the Serum Institute of India with shots of a different vaccine available via the COVAX vaccine distribution scheme.

Asked about that idea, AstraZeneca's chief executive said on Thursday that the drugmaker would support anything agreed between the Serum Institute and the South African government.

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Star Wars is in the news again -- not because there's a fun new space adventure on the horizon, but because Gina Carano, who plays Cara Dune on The Mandalorian, was expelled from the entire Star Wars universe, along with Jar Jar Binks and Jefferson Starship. Why? Well, as you probably know by now, Carano's social media presence has regularly included anti-science conspiracy theories, transphobic vitriol, and, most recently, a post comparing herself and other conservatives to literal Holocaust victims. Since this is A) objectively terrible and B) likely a look Disney is trying to get away from, Carano was fired.

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One Star Wars firing that wouldn't have been justified? Puppeteer Tim Rose, who was very nearly sacked during the making of Return of the Jedi. According to Rose, while filming the scene where Leia and Han are making out in Jabba's palace, all of the kooky aliens who laughed at this public display of affection were laughing out loud for real at first.

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Harrison Ford expressed concern that the "puppet characters" were going to laugh over his line, which was a problem because he didn't "want to have to come back and do ADR" -- stopping short of adding: "the second this goddamn space movie is done I'm flying an antique plane straight to a private island made out of ganja and single malt scotch."

During a later take, Jabba's abused pet Salacious Crumb, controlled by Rose, jokingly complained to the director: "Eh, this Harrison guy ... is he gonna talk over our laugh? 'Cause it's really putting me off." Rose didn't realize that his mic was on, and this exchange played through the speakers. While the crew laughed, "Harrison didn't." Presumably, because he was already pretty unhappy to have to dress-up like a space pirate and trade lines with a dope-smoking alien slug man, Ford "stormed off the set and refused to return until whoever made the joke had been fired." Luckily for Rose, who also played Admiral Ackbar, Ford didn't actually know what he looked like. So Rose was allowed to stay as long as he introduced himself as "the new guy" to Ford. So he was essentially fired and hired back as his own replacement. Which, thankfully, won't work for Carano ...

You (yes, you) should follow JM on Twitter! And check out the podcast Rewatchability.

Top Image: Lucasfilm
Before Igangan, 177 kilometres from Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, was propelled to national attention in the past weeks, Taiwo Adeagbo, a local farmer-leader, had collected several photographs, depicting bloodied and savagely hacked human bodies. His collection also includes the photograph of a rape victim, lying sick with a machete cut.

The forceful removal of the Fulani population in the town by a group inspired by Sunday Igboho Adeyemo, a self-acclaimed Yoruba warlord, had catapulted Igangan into national prominence.

This woman is 45-year-old and was seriously macheted on the left side of her face after she was gang-raped in the bush by Fulani herdsmen on July 4, 2019, said Mr Adeagbo, the secretary of Ibarapa Farmers Association. He mentioned the victims name (withheld) and family compound, as he showed this reporter one photograph after another.

Some of the photographs are from 2013  underscoring years-long simmering tensions the indigenous population of farmers had endured with the settled and migrant Fulani herders before rising recently to a level of open calls to arms against the herders in Yorubaland, ultimately threatening a civil war, as Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka warns.

Other cases in Igangan are more recent; like that of Fatai Aborode, a large-scale farmer, whose December 2020 murder  by persons whom his farm manager told PREMIUM TIMES he could identify as Fulani  became the focal point to justify the eviction of the head of the Fulani community, the Sarkin Fulani, Abdulkadir Salihu, and his kinsmen.

But misinformation may have contributed to Mr Salihus misfortune, PREMIUM TIMES found based on interviews with late Mr Aborodes farm manager, Olanrewaju Bolanle, and multiple victims of kidnapping and their ransom bearers.

Then, in another photograph, Alani Olalere lies lifeless, blood-drenched. He was said to have been stabbed by a herder following a disagreement over the destruction of his farmland by cattle.

Destruction of farmlands by cattle  and herders  is barely avoidable in Nigerias outdated open grazing system commonly adopted by Fulani pastoralists. Open grazing needs to end, herders must sedentarise, with defined property right  these are legitimate agitations driven by rigorous evidence of criminalities and destruction of the livelihoods of poor farmers, said Seun Kolade, professor at UKs De Montfort University, and convener of International Alliance Justice and Peace, IAJP, recently formed body in response to the troubles associated with pastoralism.

The spokesperson for the government of Oyo State, Wasiu Olatunbosun, said the Seyi Makinde administration had declared an end to open grazing but regretted: implementation is where we are having problems. On papers, governors are the chief security officers. They give instructions to the security (police, SSS, civil defence state-level commands) but if such instructions are different from the directive from Abuja, they wont carry out the instructions.

In Igangan, and six other towns that form the Ibarapa zone in Oyo State, farmers have for long faced the horror of having their farms trampled upon and crops eaten by straying cattle. And many times, farmers say, herders wilfully hack away at branches of cashew or cocoa trees or wrench out roots of cassava for cattle to feed.

They are only concerned about their cattle with no consideration for farmers, said Olusola Afolabi, a farmer. They act with impunity as nothing comes out when you go to the police, and for years our people are recording losses and abandoning farming because of destructions by herders.

Resisting the herders, who are routinely armed with swords, could leave fatal consequences or serious injuries of the sort inflicted on Mr Afolabi, who had his left arm broken. He had tried to stop a herder, who was advancing towards the heaps of cassava tubers he had harvested.

In addition to reviewing photographs collected by Mr Adeagbo, PREMIUM TIMES reporter saw various recent victims, among them 26-year old Seun Isiah, who was attacked by people he called Fulani herders at Alasia Village, the day Mr Adeyemo first visited Igangan.

He had to pretend to have died from severe machete cuts before his attackers retreated. Visited at a local clinic, he was found to have lost his physical balance with twisted legs and disfigured head. A photograph of him taken just after the attack is gory, with what seems a broken skull revealing inner parts of his head.

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Sarkin Fulani: His real sins

In a typically slumbering rural community, with governance far removed and the police rarely effective, there emerged the Sarkin Fulani of Igangan, Mr Salihu, at the centre of the frictions.

Mr Salihus father migrated to Igangan some 50 years ago from Ilorin, north-central Nigeria, he told PREMIUM TIMES, and settled at Alagolo Village. In what underscores many years of negligence by successive governments of Oyo State, the land Mr Salihu currently occupied was originally the states and was reserved for crop farming. Years after their arrival in Igangan, Mr Salihus family took over the large expanse of land for settlement, the usual way many Nigerians, including Fulani herders, treat land as a common resource.

Residents say it was the same manner another Fulani, Iskilu Wakili, adopted in seizing community land in Ayete some 18 years ago. We just heard a Bororo was occupying our land and I sent for him but he said land belongs to God, said the Odomofin of Ayete, Saubana Oyewole, whose extended family owns the land Mr Wakili occupies.

Mr Wakili has since formed Gaa Wakili (Wakili settlement), taken more land as he diversified into farming. And since Mr Salihu was evicted from Igangan, Mr Wakilis clan is said to have sacked a number of villages around Gaa Wakili. The affected villages include Kajola, Gbagabgere, Konko, and Dagbere, around his Gaa.

While the villagers are now displaced and taken refuge in the towns of Ayete and Idere, cut off from their means of livelihood, the Amotekun operatives deployed to Ibarapa by Governor Makinde have for several days refused to face Mr Wakili and his men in the bush. They remain at Ayete and a couple of them expressed fears about the quality of their arms compared to sophisticated ones Mr Wakili and his men had used to sack villages.

PREMIUM TIMES saw one of Mr Wakilis victims  Olalekan Ololade  who sustained bullet wounds in the last week of January and is now recuperating with his displaced family at Ile Balogun, Idere.

The spokesperson for the police in Oyo State, Gbenga Fadeyi, told PREMIUM TIMES Saturday night that inhabitants are back to their abode and normalcy restored to the area, after massive deployment. But according to the secretary of the farmers association, Mr Adeagbo, the villagers remain displaced.

Tell him he lied, Mr Adeagbo said, challenging the police claim.

Mr Salihu said he had no comment on Mr Wakili.

Mr Salihu told PREMIUM TIMES that the federal government, during the Sani Abacha junta  when President Buhari was the PTF chairman  had converted the land to a grazing area and given it to him. Asked for formal papers, he said they had been burnt when his house was razed. However, some leading Igangan natives insist the land is owned by the state government and remains a reserved area for crop farming.

Before his forced removal from the community by a mob inspired Mr Adeyemo, he had become deeply established in the community as a rallying point for the Fulani population  and the one the Yoruba farmers usually lodged complaints to when hurt by herders.

Some natives say he was the de facto ruler of Igangan, with the towns traditional ruler, Lasisi Adeoye, the Asigangan, weakened by old age and health challenges and, perhaps, limited economic means.

But to the farmers, especially the indigenous Yoruba population, Mr Salihu is seen as an unjust arbiter who largely helped the herders evade justice while leveraging his connections and influence.

In one case before the encounter in which his arm was broken, Mr Afolabi said he was referred to Mr Salihu by the police after he got an eyeful of savagery seeing tons of grains of maize, kept in barns, reduced to flames by suspected herders he had squabbled with over grazing access the previous day.

At the time, a ton (of maize) was N140 thousand but nothing came out of my report to Sarki (Mr Salihu), he said, adding that, and when my arm was broken earlier and I reported to the police area command in Eruwa, Sarki intervened and told the police he had asked me to collect N145 thousand as compensation and insisted the culprit would not be presented.

But I later used the vigilante to arrest the culprit in June 2019 and take him to the police. He was released to his principal, Buji Koga (a Bororo pastoralist connected to Mr Salihu) without my knowledge but they now said the boy had died.

Ibarapa farmers accused Mr Salihu of allegedly capitalising on the misfortunes visited on them by herders as a tool for blackmailing and extorting the herders: where the farmers would either collect nothing or a small part.

After Sarkis intervention, we agreed to N200 thousand as compensation for my destroyed tomatoes, said Sunday Aderounmu, a farmer. The herdsman paid but Sarki only paid me N40 thousand. He then challenged me to go to (police) station).

Similar allegations were made in separate interviews with farmers but Mr Salihu denied them all. He said, they are envious of me and they think I was outshining their king because all matters were referred to me and they say that I wanted to turn Igangan to an emirate. All they accuse me of are lies.

But a community group, Igangan Development Advocates, insists Mr Salihu made woes upon Igangan thrive. We are not only denouncing the criminal activities (of) Sarki Salihu, we also seek justice for years of crimes, the groups convener, Oladiran Oladokun, said.

Rampant kidnappings aggravated tensions

While the Yoruba and the Fulani have endured a long time of endless farmer-herder conflicts, tension aggravated as kidnappings became rampant recently. The criminal trend spread to all states in southwestern Nigeria  and indeed other parts of of the country.

So, when in January Mr Adeyemo went to Igangan and issued Mr Salihu and his kinsmen a seven-day ultimatum to leave, he gained massive support so much so that he became an instant hero of the Yoruba. Even when he tore apart foremost Yoruba monarch, Enitan Ogunwusi, the Ooni of Ile-Ife  but later apologised  and fired blistering remarks at Mr Makinde, with a threat to unleash violence on the two leaders, who have expressed opposing views, he remained popular, and millions of naira have even raised to support his mission.

You may not approve of his method, but Sunday Igboho (Mr Adeyemo) is not the problem, neither is he the instigator, said Mr Kolade, the IAJP convener. He expresses similar sentiments as others, who say Mr Adeyemo is filling a vacuum created by government failure to provide security and give justice to victims.

We should not ignore debilitating leprosy while focusing all attention on eczemamany like Dr Fatai Aborode have been kidnapped and murdered without consequences, he added.

Lukman Jimoh, a former councillor and car dealer, was kidnapped in the early hours of February 28, 2020, the first time such incident would happen in Igangan. Mr Jimoh said his abductors were Fulani and they spoke Fulfulde, which he basically understands following years of relationship with Fulani.

They dragged me through the bush and made me walk for several hours before they took me to their leader at 3 AM at Oke Kaun, near Ijio in Iwajowa Local Government, Mr Jimoh said. They allowed me to contact my people on the third day and they demanded N1,500,000 but my friends were only able to raise a million naira, which they collected at Ibudo Saki, also in Iwajowa, where they also released me.

He said the abductors were seeking information about others in the town perceived to be rich. And eight days after his return, another resident, Wasiu Wahab, a cattle breeder, was kidnapped and held at the same area, Ibudo Saki, where Mr Jimoh was released. He was released the following day after a ransom of N2 million was paid.

Then, late night on March 26, Olusegun Olosunde, a petroleum marketer, was abducted at his station. It is a day I will never forget. I was exiting mosque when about nine persons appeared and started shooting before they made me walk through the bush. I spent six days with them.

Mr Olosunde did not say his abductors were Fulani because his eyes were covered but Nurudeen Adeoti, who negotiated with them by phone said they were Fulani from their language. Mr Olosundes abductors collected four million naira, four times higher than what was paid to secure the release of Mr Jimoh, the first victim in Igangan.

It was Mr Adeoti that took ransom to secure the release of Monsuru Aderoju, a prince, abducted in January.

Those that collected money from me and counted the money in my presence were Fulani, he said.

Between February 2020 and January 2021, when Mr Jimoh and Mr Aderoju were respectively kidnapped, at least eight others also became victims, including two brothers, Shefiu and Saidu Asikolaye, who paid N5 million and N7 million respectively.

Not Just Igangan

Outside Igangan, abductions for ransom and murders have also occurred in other parts of Ibarapa, barely checked. In one prominent case, Sherifat Adisa, a businesswoman, was shot dead in the bush opposite her petrol station at Idere on January 2. The gunmen had attacked the station as she was exiting that evening, her manager, Temitope Onifade, a witness, said. As she tried to run back, she was shot in the leg and then dragged away. But apparently, as she could not walk due to the bullet wound she had just sustained, she was shot dead in the bush just opposite the station.

But the tragedy did not end there. Two children, 11-year-old Omowumi Babarinde and 10-year-old Qadrat Toriola were also shot dead beside the station. Omowumis mother, Alaba Babarinde, who was minding the two children that night, told PREMIUM TIMES that she was making a call to her older son to pick them up after a visit to a place behind the petrol station when she heard gunshots and tried to run with the children. She said the men she saw before she ran were Fulani.

She also fell, hit by bullets, and only regained consciousness at the hospital, her husband, Idowu Babarinde, told PREMIUM TIMES. Mr Babarinde is a farmer and agro commodity supplier but has now been cut off from his farm at Dagbere, near Gaa Wakili, due to ongoing activities of the Wakili clan.

But individuals of Fulani extraction have also been victims of abductions, especially in other Ibarapa towns. In 2019 alone, seven of our young men were abducted for ransom, said the Sarkin Fulani of Igboora, Idris Abubakar, who enjoys goodwill among the Yoruba population in the town. It is not only the Yoruba that are affected. A previous report by PREMIUM TIMES shows how the Fulani have also been victims of abductions.

The Fulani remain in Igboora and were not indiscriminately asked to leave although kaara, the cattle market there, like those in other Ibarapa towns, has been shut.

Mr Abubakar sought unity against crimes, saying, we will be helping the government with intelligence once we see suspicious movements and activities.

Yoruba Also Involved

A rarely known dimension to the criminalities in Igangan area is the role played by individuals of Yoruba extraction. On-the-ground reporting in Igangan, in addition to disclosures by security sources, showed two individuals, a pair of twins, Taiwo and Kehinde Adeowo, had been notorious for series of alleged crimes, including kidnapping, cattle rustling, and robbery.

In multiple separate interviews, Yoruba residents accused the Adeowo twins of various crimes but alleged they were working for Sarki to rustle the cattle of foreign Bororo who were seasonally exploring Nigerian pasture.

They rebelled after they confronted him (Sarki) and accused him of not giving them due compensation, said Mr Adeagbo, echoing various others. It was Sarki that helped the police to arrest the two of them.

PREMIUM TIMES confirmed the twins are in police custody in Ibadan, having been arrested since last year. But the spokesperson for the Oyo State Command of the Nigeria Police, Gbenga Fadeyi, declined comment on their case.

Mr Salihu said his assistance to the police in arresting the twins was one of the reasons the Yoruba population in Igangan were displeased with him, adding they (the Yoruba) are angry because we are exposing the Yoruba involved in kidnappings.

Faced with the allegation that the twins used to be his boys and had helped him carry out criminal assignments, he denied any illegal dealing with them but admitted to being previously close to them. He also said the twins used to seek his help when they committed crimes.

They used to be close to Sarki because their late father was a butcher and all butchers were close to Sarki, Mr Salihus son, Mohammed, told PREMIUM TIMES.

Mr Salihu also said: I had no illegal dealing with them but they had previously asked me to help intervene on their behalf when they committed crimes.

The states information commissioner, Mr Olatunbosun, said, we are against crimes whether by Yoruba, Igbo or Hausa-Fulani.

Untruths

Some claims made by Mr Adeyemo and amplified by many others as the anti-Fulani agitations intensified are contradicted in substantial parts by our findings.

In one instance, Mr Adeyemo claimed the Sarki, Mr Salihu, was involved in negotiating ransoms and interceding between victims families and the abductors. He particularly said the Asigangans child was kidnapped and the monarch paid ransom through Mr Salihu to secure the release of the prince.

Multiple victims of abductions told PREMIUM TIMES the Sarki was in no way involved in ransom negotiations. Also, the said prince turned out to be Mr Aderoju, the last person to be kidnapped in Igangan to date. The Igangan monarch, Mr Adeoye, told PREMIUM TIMES that Mr Aderoju is not his direct son and that the ransom to secure him was not routed through the Sarki Fulani.

In addition, Mr Adeoti, who took the ransom to the abductors at a place called Idi Apa to secure Mr Aderojus release, said the Sarki played no role in the negotiation or release.

Mr Adeoti said Mr Salihus oppressive tendencies and involvement in helping herders, who hurt farmers stave off justice, made people suspect he was behind the abductions, which, in fact, were mostly carried out by the Fulani.

In addition, a wife and a child of a monarch, Baba-Iso of Igbole in Igboora, another Ibarapa town, were said to have been abducted. Then, all the Ibarapa monarchs purportedly gathered to beg the Sarki for the release of the abducted royals. After purportedly giving the Sarki two million naira, the royals were freed by their abductors.

But two of the monarchs, who met to support their colleague in raising fund to secure the release of abducted royals told PREMIUM TIMES they had no meeting with the Sarki and he did not provide any help.

Sarki was not involved in any way, said the Oluaso of Igboora, Jamiu Badmus, of the efforts to free the royals. We paid the Fulani kidnappers two million naira and I contributed. This was also confirmed by the Asigangan, Mr Adeoye.

Then, on the murder of Mr Aborode, a PhD holder and large scale farmer, Mr Adeyemo said the deceased was leaving the Sarkis home, where he had gone to complain about the destruction of his farm by herders, when he was seized, tied to a tree, and brutally murdered by herders.

Mr Aborode was indeed brutally murdered

and his remains were left bloodied but he was not returning from the Sarkis house, his farm manager, Mr Bolanle, said. Mr Bolanle and the deceased were returning from the farm at Apodun  not on the same route as the Sarkis Alagolo residence  where their motorcycle was stopped by gunmen.

They were Fulani; though they used masks, I know from our conversations. They were four and it was around 5:30 p.m. and they started shooting heavily before one of them took me away into the bush, while another one dragged doctor (Mr Aborode) away too, said the farm manager. Before that, they said they did not want money but wanted to kill him.

The manager said he was released in the bush and that he followed another route to the town to call people for help. Mr Aborode died on the way to the General Hospital in Igboora.

The farm manager said his principal had no problem with the Sarki or the herdsmen before his assassination and that he had just recently purchased bags of salt for the wives of the herders as a philanthropic gesture. He added that his principal had also recently asked Fulani herders from various settlements to freely fed their cows with his stunted maize.

This was corroborated by Mr Aborodes father, who, however, endorsed Mr Adeyemos intervention against the Fulani herders, citing years of hurting farmers by herdsmen.

Mr Adeyemo could not be reached to comment for this report. Repeated calls and messages were not answered and replied. A lawyer who represents him also did not comment.

Mr Aborodes cousin, Majekodunmi Aborode, a former commissioner in Oyo State, told a virtual gathering monitored by PREMIUM TIMES that the deceased was involved in a court case over the destruction of his farm with the Sarki, Mr Salihu.

The farm manager said he did not know of any court case between his late principal and the Sarki or even any conflict involving both. Mr Majekodunmi rescinded his earlier decision to grant this paper an interview. When he was messaged via WhatsApp, specifically asking him to reiterate his court case claim, he did not comment.

I dont want to comment on the issue any longer, Mr Majekodunmi said via WhatsApp.

People expressed concerns as the police appear not to have taken any action on Mr Aborodes case, like most others. The deceaseds farm manager, Mr Bolanle, said he had not been invited for any investigation, nor has anybody been arrested despite reporting to the local police station. But police spokesperson, Mr Fadeyi, said the state CID is charged with the responsibility of investigating such case discreetly.

Indiscriminate Violence: Igboho must not run loose

Since Mr Adeyemo led residents to sack Mr Salihu from Igangan, residents said incidents of kidnapping and clashes between herders and farmers have stopped. But Mr Adeyemos intervention has not stopped Mr Wakili from sacking villages in Ayete.

Mr Adeyemo has been to Ogun State and has vowed actions in other south-western states to further a mission that is indiscriminately targeting herders and labelling them criminals amid rapidly growing anti-Fulani sentiments in the south.

In calling for indiscriminate violence on the Fulani in the region, he has muddled the message, detracting from a more substantive and pressing matter of criminal terrorism that has ravaged Yorubaland, said Mr Kolade. We need leaders from across Yorubaland to take control of this messaging away from the call for indiscriminate violence, that undermines the legitimacy and urgency of the actual struggle.

Mr Kolade said legitimate agitations can be made to end open grazing, ranching of cattle and have them register as other businesses do. All these will set the stage for flushing out criminals occupying and using forests as hideouts for their campaign of terror.

This is different from indiscriminate violence in the country where we have Yoruba in different parts of the north. Igboho must not be allowed to run loose with incendiary and ill-considered declarations, the professor said.

Mr Olatunbosun, Oyos information commissioner, said the government is opposed to the idea of sending people away, apparently referring to Mr. Adeyemos declarations.

For Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka, in an interview with BBC, Mr. Adeyemo, has responded to the situation in the way he knew how. Somebody reaches an explosion point and he says I cannot take this any longer and he takes unilateral action. The action may be excessive, what matters is that somebody has responded to an unacceptable situation. Any error he makes is for the rest of us to correct by calling him.
Kids want to fish? You don't know how yourself? Here's a little help
New Delhi:

The Bharatiya Janata Party on Monday nominated Union urban development minister M Venkaiah Naidu as the NDA vice-presidential candidate.

Naidu, 68, has had a long experience in public life as he served twice as BJP president and four-time Rajya Sabha MP. At present, he is serving responsibilities of two portfolios in the Modi government.

These are the possible factors which led to his selection-

BJPs face in Southern region-

Venkaiah hails from Nellore and it was already stated that RSS was in favour of fielding a candidate who belong to upper caste and from South India. The saffron party has already filed Ram nath Kovind from Uttar Pradesh in the Presidential elections. So, the move can be seen as the balancing act of the party.

Partys strong candidate in Rajya Sabha

Venkaiah Naidu is Rajya Saabha MP from Rajasthan and he was earlier parliamentary affairs minister in the Modi government. As the vice-president also happens to be chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Venkaiah could be seen as strengthen for the party in the Upper House where party is in minority.

Dedicated party worker 

Venkaiah Naidu has always emerged as partys Sankat Mochak to resolve any crisis which the party had faced in past. He reached out opposition on critical issues and defended the government at several times in the Rajya Sabha.

His political career started during 'Jai Andhra Movement' in 1972. He was imprisoned under Maintenance of Internal Security Act (MISA) during the emergency.Naidu was president of Janata Party Youth Wing of Andhra Pradesh between 1977 and 1980.

Also Read: BJP's Venkaiah Naidu is NDA's vice presidential nominee, to file nomination on Tuesday

His leadership skills helped his political career and he won the Andhra Pradesh assembly elections twice in 1978 and 1983 from Udayagiri constituency. He also served as Union minister for rural development in the ministry of Vajpayee Government.

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Hyderabad: Over 800 residents of the L&T Serene County in Gachibowli have lost sleep, peace, and precious work hours due to the non-stop bouldering and excavation activities of the Celkon company on the nearby land during day and night.

The work on setting up of Celkon director Gurumurthy's R&D office is ongoing since October of 2019. At first, it was a smooth affair, but eventually the workers started loading and unloading construction materials from 10:30pm to about 6 in the morning.

The residents raised several complaints with the Raidurgam police and even wrote to the GHMC, seeking a halt to the works during night time so that their sleep would not be disturbed. We even went to the site and requested the supervisor to avoid loud noise at night. We were already hit by the Covid-19 restrictions. For a short while, they heeded our request, but then continued with the disturbances, said Shashi Gupta, a resident. It is not like we are creating hindrance in their work. We told them they can carry out the work at night too but to a maximum of 10pm or midnight, but they would not listen, added Shashi.

The residents, along with some members of the All India Professional Congress, are on a peaceful sit-in dharna for the last 56 days and raising the issue via social media to force the company stop the works at night.

Celkon MD Gurumurthy rejected the argument of the residents and said the company had stopped work at night for two months. We cannot stop work during the day if thats what they mean. They requested us to stop it through the nights, and which we did so, he said.

Residents meanwhile provided proof that the work was indeed ongoing late at night too for the past about two weeks.

They said they made several phone calls to the Raidurgam Police Station seeking police help.

The latest calls we made to police were about two days ago, at night, when the noise got too loud for us to bear with. The cops visited the site, but the problem was not solved. Earlier the work used to start around 10pm. These days, they wait until 1am so that calls to the police might not be made, said resident Vasanth.

These people should be penalised for carrying out the work at night close to residential areas. We have written to the GHMC zonal commissioner, but saw no action, said another resident.

Satish Manne, the AIPC social media convener, made several representations to GHMC officials. "I suspect some illegal work is going on. People are suffering. So many of these residents working as IT professionals have developed severe ailments due to lack of sleep," said Manne. Efforts by Deccan Chronicle to elicit a comment from the GHMC did not succeed.
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Since November, Blanca Espronceda has spent many mornings chatting up other Latinos about the coronavirus vaccine, recruiting her neighbors in Maryland's heavily immigrant suburbs to participate in ongoing trials.

But even as a community health worker, she has her own fears about getting the shot.

"What if the side effects make me sicker than the virus?" asked Espronceda, a 36-year-old native of Mexico who lives in Hyattsville. "What if I should wait a year, just to make sure it works?"

For those she approaches with fliers at food distribution sites and supermarkets, the objections are stronger: Some falsely insist the vaccine contains a microchip or that it will give them cancer. Others fear their personal information will be used to spy on them. Many point to religious beliefs, claiming that God will cure them if they contract covid-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, or that the vaccine is a sign of the Antichrist.

"As Hispanics, we like to gossip, pass on messages from one person to the next," said Espronceda, who works with a program called Salud y Bienestar, or "Health and Wellness." "But if we listen to all the negative things people say, we will have a problem on our hands."

Latinos face higher chances of being infected by the coronavirus, getting hospitalized and dying of covid-19, but are twice as likely to lack the health insurance to afford treatment. They have suffered the sharpest drop in employment since March, and many who have held onto jobs are essential workers who risk exposure every day.

Yet they also appear to be getting vaccinated at very low rates.

More than 753,000 Maryland residents had received at least one coronavirus shot as of Thursday, according to state data. Among the 587,000 residents for whom ethnicity was reported, less than 4 percent identified as Latino or Hispanic. Nine percent of the state's population is Hispanic.

Latino immigrants are far from a monolithic category, and many, including those in the Maryland suburbs, are eager to get vaccinated. Yet faced with language and literacy barriers, immigration fears, or a lack of outreach from local and state governments, some of the most vulnerable communities have become fertile ground for vaccine misinformation, advocates say.

"People are being manipulated," said Norma Martinez, who coordinates Salud y Bienestar's efforts across Montgomery and Prince George's counties. "It's making them nervous and mistrustful of the vaccine. But it's a matter of education. Little by little, we will ensure that people get on board."

Groups like hers must fight falsehoods that spread far and wide on social media, powered by a deep trust in religious leaders, skepticism in government, and in some cases, a mere lack of other information.

Floridalma Galvez, 34, said the calls and WhatsApp messages began weeks before any vaccine was approved, from cousins in Chicago, Florida and her native Guatemala: The vaccine was "the mark of the beast," they told her, a reference to Satan or the Antichrist in the Book of Revelation.

Her family members heard it from evangelical pastors at church, she said, and passed it onto Galvez and other social media contacts, spamming their family chats with images and videos that baselessly claimed a coronavirus vaccine would alter their DNA.

"These conspiracy theories are like the virus itself," said Oscar Soria, a campaign director at the human rights group Avaaz, which has studied the matter and pushed social media companies for stronger regulation. "They mutate and develop new strains, which makes it very difficult to detect them. If something starts in English and continues in Spanish, it's going to keep spreading."

Soria said the most common falsehoods circulating among Spanish-language networks - such as the claim that chlorine dioxide will cure covid-19, which has been disavowed by the Food and Drug Administration - may have spread from the United States or Europe to Latin America.

One of the most prolific sources of vaccine disinformation, Doctores por la Verdad, or Doctors for Truth, appears to have started in Spain and moved to Argentina and a dozen other countries, peddling myths that eventually reached the United States.

Yet just like during last year's presidential election, social media companies have been far less likely to flag misleading posts or videos in Spanish, Soria said, prompting what he called an "infodemic." In an analysis of viral misinformation on Facebook last year, Avaaz found that 20 percent of Spanish-language posts received warning labels, compared with 70 percent in English.

Once falsehoods move to encrypted messaging apps like Telegram and WhatsApp, it becomes significantly harder to monitor and put a stop them.

In his own family's WhatsApp groups, Soria said, his father has posted images baselessly claiming that the Sputnik vaccine being distributed in Argentina is a coordinated effort - by the country's left-wing government, Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Rockefeller family and Pope Francis - to control the Argentine population.

Flavia Colangelo, a researcher at the firm GQR, which advises political campaigns on misinformation, noted that Spanish-language myths circulating among Latino immigrants are not necessarily dissimilar from what those that spread in English.

"But you have the added complexity because it's in Spanish," Colangelo said. "You have Spanish actors, Spanish influencers, and when we don't have a lot of counterinformation in Spanish, they become a lot more dangerous."

Some state and local governments have rolled out plans to target vulnerable sectors of their immigrant population with accurate resources. Oregon and Washington state, for instance, are planning radio ads to reach migrant farmworkers and a digital ad campaign entirely in Spanish.

Others are trying to address concerns that undocumented residents might be reluctant to seek out the vaccine due to their legal status, or because of a set of Trump administration rules that make it harder to obtain permanent residency after relying on safety-net programs.

Earlier this month, President Joe Biden's Department of Homeland Security announced that federal immigration agents would not be conducting arrests at vaccination clinics. New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo has pushed to ensure that personal data collected during vaccinations is not shared with the federal government, and Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont has encouraged undocumented residents to get vaccinated.

Yet some efforts have resulted in misinformation issues of their own. In Maryland, the state's Spanish-language vaccine registration page initially used the word for "car race" in the section that asked people for their race, sex and ethnicity, Montgomery County Council member Nancy Navarro, D-District 4, told state lawmakers Tuesday. Due to a Google Translate error, the Virginia Department of Health's online Spanish-language FAQ at one point falsely stated that vaccines were not necessary - when officials only meant to say that no one would be forced to get a shot, an agency spokesperson said.

Advocates like Salud y Bienestar's Martinez say the bulk of the work falls on trusted community members, like her small army of more than 70 volunteers.

In areas like Langley Park - where 70 percent of adults are not U.S. citizens, and more infections have been reported than in any other Zip code in Maryland - these community health workers are trained to hand out face masks and offer resources on everything from free testing to rent assistance.

"People are so desperately in need of answers," Martinez said, "and we know the community, because we're a part of the community."

Since the summer, Salud y Bienestar volunteers have taken on a second mission: recruiting volunteers for Moderna and Novavax trials at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

Milagritos Tapia, a Maryland pediatrics professor who helps coordinate the trials, said the arrangement allows researchers to confirm the vaccine is effective for an especially hard-hit community, while sowing seeds of trust though the participants. Because many of the community health workers participated in Moderna's Phase 3 trials in the fall, they can point to their own experiences to show there is nothing to be afraid of.

Such was the case one recent Saturday outside a Korean Korner supermarket in Silver Spring, where Dolores Fontalvo, a volunteer with Salud y Bienestar, approached George Ura, 17, to see if he might be interested in participating in ongoing vaccine trials.

"Isn't this stuff made by big corporations? They might be lying about what's in there," Ura answered, saying his parents had told him the vaccine could cause cancer.

But Fontalvo, 74, gently shot back with rapid-fire questions: Did Ura ever study how other epidemics were put to an end? Does he know anyone who died of covid-19? Has he looked at the staggering death toll? And hadn't he received other vaccines as a kid?

Accepting a flier from her, the teenager was left with little to say in response.

- - -

The Washington Post's Erin Cox and Rebecca Tan contributed to this report.

The National Book Foundation has named Ruth Dickey, who currently heads Seattle Arts & Lectures, its next executive director. She will start on May 17, with the foundation's deputy director, Jordan Smith, continuing on as interim basis until then.

Dickey has been executive director at Seattle Arts & Lectures since 2013 and, before that, served as executive director at the Clifton Cultural Arts Center in Cincinnati, New Futures in Burien, Wash., and Miriams Kitchen in Washington, D.C. She was also a judge for the National Book Award for Fiction in 2019, and has a background in poetry; her first book, Mud Blooms (Harbor Mountain Press), was a finalist for the National Poetry Series, among other honors.

Ruth Dickey brings the ideal combination of expertise and experience to lead the Foundation and advance our unique mission, David Steinberger, chair of the National Book Foundations board of directors, said in a statement. We were looking for a proven literary leader with a track record of engaging with a broad range of communities from all across our nation, and Ruth brings that and more to this role.

Dickey takes over for Lisa Lucas, who ended her high-profile five-year run as executive director of the National Book Foundation late last year to take over as publisher of Pantheon and Schocken earlier this year. Lucas, in a statement, praised Dickey's "extraordinary skill set" and her record as "an effective and inclusive leader." In a statement of her own, Dickey said she was "honored and thrilled to follow in Lisa Lucass footsteps" and to "lead the Foundations next chapter of work in support of books and reading, and their critical role in our cultural landscape."
The All Share Index slipped 1.96 per cent.

Nigerian stocks were down by 1.96 per cent or N425.919 billion on Wednesday, bringing the month to date loss close to N1 trillion as selling pressure weighed on a market beset by loss-making since February began.

Investors put up large volumes of shares in Fidson, CAP, Regal Insurance, Sovereign Trust Insurance and Sunu Assurance for sale, making them contribute the most to the downtrend.

A 3.70 per cent tumble in the Industrial Index to 1,963.12 index points also aided loss.

Market breadth was negative with 37 losers emerging against 13 gainers.

The All Share Index (ASI) slipped to 40,696.01 index points while market capitalisation tapered to N21.290 trillion at the end of trade.

Year to date, the index was up by 1.06 per cent.

TOP FIVE GAINERS

Niger Insurance led the flock of gainers, appreciating by 10% to close at N0.22. Champion Breweries added 9.82% to end today's trade at N3.02. Wapic went up by 7.41% to N0.58. Academy rose to N0.35, notching up 6.06% in the process. Guinness completed the top 5, climbing by 4.83% to N20.60.

TOP FIVE LOSERS

Etranzact was the worst performing stock, declining by 10% to close at N2.25. CAP fell to N18, losing 10%. Fidson dipped to N5.40, recording 10% depreciation. Sunu Assurance shed 10% to close at N0.81. Sovereign Trust Insurance closed at N0.27, going down by 10%.

TOP FIVE TRADES

In all, 366.859 million shares estimated at N5.483 billion were traded in 5,718 deals.

Zenith was the most active stock with 43.742 million units of its stocks worth N1.103 billion traded in 527 deals. 40.029 million units of FBN Holdings shares priced at N289.261 million exchanged hands in 279 transactions. GTB traded 35.980 million shares estimated at N1.168 billion in 270 transactions.

Courteville traded 35.119 million shares valued at N7.024 million in 27 deals. Transcorp had 23.739 million shares valued at N23.228 million traded in 169 deals.
Nairobi  The government is planning to convert the Kenya National blood Transfusion Service (KNTBS) into a parastatal in order to improve efficiency and management of blood in the country.

Health Mutahi Kagwe who officiated the Valentine's Day blood donation at the KNTBS centre at Afya Annex on Wednesday said the move will help in restructuring of the body's management and how it engages with stakeholders and Kenyans willing to donate blood.

"What we intend to do is to create this parastatal, remove it from a department within MOH, and make it a stand-alone inst that can be able to manage itself that can be able to source its staff without the incumbrance that comes with strict civil service structures," he said.

He said the new parastatal will also resolve issues on staffing.

The Health CS highlighted the importance of transparency in managing blood in the country saying there was a big gap in policies related to blood management.

On policy development, he said the government will provide clarity on the process of tissue transplants through an executive order and subsequently legislation through Parliament.

"It is not just a question of collecting blood, donors contributing blood but its more about managing blood and ensuring that we are able to track it from giver to user, to know where it comes from and where it's going, that is important to us, the element of transparency," Kagwe said.

Kagwe pleaded with Kenyans to ask their valentine dates to donate blood in addition to offering them flowers and other gifts even as he thanked the citizens' commitment to blood donation initiatives.

"If there is a gift that would be a fantastic gift to give Kenyans on valentine day is blood, if there is someone who wants to give you flowers, tell them in addition to flowers that I would appreciate you donating some blood," he said.

Few small businesses can survive in 2021 without relying on Big Tech. Unfortunately, all it takes is a small algorithm tweak by Google or shipping policy change from Amazon to shut down your company almost overnight.

Now, however, there are signs that the government could upend the large tech companies' hold on their smaller partners and competitors. The changes may come all the way from the top: The Biden administration is expected to pursue challenges to problematic mergers, and take a fresh look at existing antitrust laws. And the president himself has said that breaking up Facebook is "something that we should take a really hard look at." But exactly what will antitrust reform look like, and how will it impact small businesses?

Some of the problems with antitrust law are deep-seated, according to Nidhi Hegde, director of strategy and programs at the American Economics Liberties Project, an anti-monopoly group whose founder is working with the Biden transition team on antitrust issues.

"For the past 40 years, our antitrust laws and the way they've been enforced has really increased corporate power at the expense of small businesses," Hegde says. For example, the FTC may approve a merger because it will lower prices for consumers, despite the fact that it shuts out competitors.

There appears to be a big appetite for antitrust reform from both Republicans and Democrats in Congress. In the last two years, antitrust reform bills have begun proliferating at a level not seen since the 1990s. This includes bills that target new acquisitions or impose penalties on companies for anti-competitive behavior.

"Big Tech companies are wildly unpopular among Democrats and Republicans, albeit for different reasons, and antitrust is viewed as the proper tool to attack them," says John Lopatka, an antitrust expert at Penn State Law.

Whether efforts to curb the behavior of large tech platforms will play out in Congress or through federal agencies still remains to be seen. Even if the legislative branch doesn't take action, a bevy of legal and regulatory challenges could curb Big Tech's acquisition strategy. The Federal Trade Commission last year announced it was examining every acquisition that Facebook, Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, and Google parent Alphabet made over the past decade. Alphabet has already cut back on new acquisitions in light of a Justice Department lawsuit alleging that Google created a search monopoly.

"The antitrust enforcement agencies should, and I expect that they will, think creatively and boldly about how to use existing antitrust laws to address new challenges posed by increasing industry concentration and the tech platforms," says Doug Melamed, a professor at Stanford Law School.

Here's a breakdown of what antitrust reform could look like in the year ahead.

Congress

Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), the new chair of Senate Judiciary Committee's subcommittee on antitrust, unveiled an ambitious bill this month to overhaul antitrust laws. Known as the Competition and Antitrust Law Enforcement Reform Act, the measure would shift the burden from the government to companies to prove that their actions don't harm competition.

Klobuchar's bill, which includes some older policy proposals backed by Democrats, would bar mergers that "create an appreciable risk of materially lessening competition," a more stringent standard than the current law. It would also require companies that hold 50 percent or more of their market to prove that new acquisitions don't hurt competition. And companies involved in mergers that would significantly increase market concentration, or "mega-mergers" that are valued at more than $5 billion, must prove that their actions won't create a monopoly.

Critics of the bill say it's overly restrictive to ask companies to prove that their behavior isn't anti-competitive. "Whether conduct injures 'competition,' a term that is not self-defining, can be difficult to determine in the real world," Lopatka says. "And shifting the burden of persuasion to the defendant may result in certain practices being condemned that do not in fact injure competition."

The measure also would beef up the enforcement budgets of the FTC and the DOJ's antitrust division, allowing them to pursue companies that engage in anti-competitive behavior. And it would raise penalties for such behavior from a maximum of $100 million to a maximum of 15 percent of a company's annual revenue.

Republicans have expressed support for reining in Big Tech through antitrust reform as well. Earlier this month, Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) offered an amendment to the budget that would preemptively bar all mergers and acquisitions by Big Tech companies, but it didn't reach the Senate floor for a vote.

Representative Ken Buck (R-CO), the top Republican on the House Judiciary subcommittee on antitrust, has released a set of policy recommendations. Many of the findings were in agreement with a Democrat-authored report the subcommittee released last year, but some, like removing limits for class-action lawsuits, are considered non-starters for Republicans.

In general, the GOP is against breaking up Facebook or any other company for antitrust reasons. Also of concern to Republicans are so-called "line of business restrictions," which would keep a platform from using its dominance in one market (such as cloud services or e-commerce) to compete in another (such as facial recognition or online advertising).

"We are concerned that sweeping changes could lead to overregulation and carry unintended consequences for the entire economy," Buck wrote.

The executive branch and courts

A recent wave of antitrust litigation against Big Tech could have a more immediate impact than legislation in Congress. A lawsuit from the DOJ and 11 state attorneys general alleges that Alphabet uses anticompetitive tactics to maintain its monopoly in both search and online advertising. If the DOJ wins the case, the judge could require Alphabet to sell off a portion of its business, such as its search or ad operations. A separate antitrust lawsuit, led by Texas and a group of other Republican states, specifically targets Google's ad business.

If Alphabet loses its antitrust lawsuits, businesses that advertise with Google may soon see major changes in its ad tech business. The upshot could be lower ad rates or more consistent, transparent policies about placement in search results.

Meanwhile, the FTC and a coalition of 48 state attorneys general filed two separate lawsuits against Facebook that target its acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp. If successful, the suits could force Facebook to sell those businesses. The courts also could stop Facebook from asking third-party software developers to refrain from advertising on other social networks or creating features that could compete with Facebook.

The DOJ is also considering an antitrust probe against Apple and its app store. And Amazon is facing an FTC probe regarding its treatment of third-party sellers on its marketplace platform. If the agency finds evidence of anticompetitive behavior, it could fine Amazon and force it to make changes to its policies -- or to spin off its Marketplace platform into an entirely separate business that focuses on third-party sellers. Further, the company may be forced to adopt additional rights for third-party sellers or more transparent policies.

Already, recent victories for Amazon Flex drivers and Apple app developers have signaled that Big Tech can be held accountable for its actions. And a surge of employee strikes, government investigations, and courtroom battles shows a change to the industry's power dynamic.


Not long after Hurricane Katrina, float-building impresario Blaine Mr. Mardi Gras Kern was asked whether a devastated New Orleans would still host Carnival parades the following year. Absolutely, he replied.

His confidence, and the scaled-down but still festive Carnival season that followed, showed the world that New Orleans was both unbowed and open for business.

Barry Kern, Blaines son and the CEO and president of Kern Studios and Mardi Gras World, draws parallels between the fortitude of that first post-Katrina Carnival and the current, coronavirus-curtailed Carnivals innovations.

Its a testament, he said, to what Mardi Gras means to us culturally.

Just as his father was instrumental in making sure both Rex and Zulu rolled in 2006, Barry Kern is helping to facilitate the 2021 Carnivals alternative expressions of creativity.

Kern Studios has created many of the more elaborate St. Charles Avenue house float installations, including the circus house in the 5500 block and the New Orleans music-themed house in the 5400 block.

Kern Studios built many of the signature krewe floats: the Muses rubber duckie, the Endymion captains float and the Bacchus BacchaWhoppa whale, on display at the sold-out Floats in the Oaks drive-thru event at City Park.

And Kern is one of the driving forces of Mardi Gras for All Yall, the free, online virtual celebration airing Friday through Sunday at 8 p.m. on NOLA.com and theadvocate.com news websites, as well as on Facebook Live and YouTube. Mardi Gras for All Yall will also be rebroadcast on Lundi Gras and Mardi Gras.

+3 Mardi Gras For All Y'All online extravaganza to focus on the float house phenom The coronavirus landed a punch on Carnival 2021, but it didnt knock it out. There may be no parades this year, but never-say-die New Orleania

The last time no parades rolled in the greater New Orleans area was 1945. Even during the 1979 police strike, a dozen or so New Orleans parades moved to neighboring parishes. If there is any consolation to this years parade cancellations, Kern noted, its this weekend's weather forecast: It would not have been a great parade year.

Adding insult to injury, he woke up feeling lousy on the morning of Feb. 2 and subsequently tested positive for COVID-19. So he was unable to personally oversee his companys Carnival endeavors, including the installation of a mural honoring the Krewe of Iris in an upstairs room at the new Tujagues location. Instead, he relied on his son, Fitz Kern, to provide updates on the progress of various projects.

The cancellation of 2021s parades was a blow to Kerns core float-building business. This years floats will now be used in 2022, meaning there will be little for float-builders to do until work gears up for 2023.

The hugely popular Krewe of House Floats/Yardi Gras initiative, sparked in part by the Krewe of Red Beans, was at least somewhat motivated by a desire to provide work for float artisans.

That so many locals decorated their dwellings  the official Krewe of House Floats map boasts more than 3,000 addresses  is testament to community buy-in.

One reason so many people participated, Kern believes, is that corporate sponsorships of parades is prohibited. That Mardi Gras krewe members pay for their own parades via dues makes it more of a personal undertaking and explains in part why so many locals stepped up to keep the tradition alive.

If Mardi Gras was commercial in nature, Im sure you wouldnt see this reaction youre seeing now, Kern said. To see not 10, not 50, not a few dozen, but thousands of houses decorated ... thats a grassroots effort. It shows how people feel about Carnival. It shows you what a part of the culture it is.

Riding at the front of many major parades in a Kern Studios vehicle, Kern sees generations of families at the same spot, year after year."

Its a shame we cant do it this year. But maybe its a blessing in disguise. It puts everything in perspective of how much we do care for it. Sometimes you take these things for granted. This has been a year that none of us wants to ever repeat. But like New Orleanians do, we adapt.

He believes some of this years innovations will be permanent, especially the house floats: I think that is something that well stick with.

+11 Professor Longhair's Carnival classics: Find key songs on 'Mardi Gras for All Y'all' The standard songs of Mardi Gras are largely unknown outside south Louisiana. But for locals, they conjure a Pavlovian response, a desire to g

Another new Carnival feature that may live on in some form is Mardi Gras for All Yall.

In November, when the city announced that parades wouldn't roll in 2021, Kern got a call from longtime friend John Georges, owner of The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate and NOLA.com.

He asked what we were going to do, Kern said. I said, Well figure out what we have to do to keep going, but it wont be easy.

Georges later called back to pitch an idea for a sponsored webcast that would showcase Carnival to the world. At first, Kern said, the concept centered around krewe captains talking about parades and balls.

But what is Mardi Gras? Mardi Gras is everything that everybody in New Orleans loves and craves. Its about food, and music, the marching bands, having a good time and a few cocktails, families getting together. We wanted to show that side of Mardi Gras. The rest of world thinks its Girls Gone Wild. But if youve never experienced Mardi Gras on St. Charles Avenue, you dont know its about families and friends.

Thus, the programming of Mardi Gras for All Yall expanded to expound on everything from gay krewes to the 610 Stompers. Famed chef Emeril Lagasse is part of the webcast. So is Jimmy Buffett, a devoted fan of all things New Orleans, broadcaster Hoda Kotb, Saints legend Archie Manning, Troy Trombone Shorty Andrews and many others.

The segments, many of which were shot at Mardi Gras World, are interspersed with new musical performances.

Its an incredibly diverse group of people, Kern said.

+9 'Mardi Gras for All Y'all' digs into what New Orleans food brings to the party New Orleans food is a vital, vibrant part of any Mardi Gras celebration, and it's not just fuel to keep up with the party.

Parade floats are built in warehouses and dens across the city, but Mardi Gras World is the nexus of it, Kern said. Its a great backdrop for the program.

Under his stewardship, Mardi Gras World evolved from a warehouse-sized workshop to a major tourist attraction, typically welcoming a couple hundred thousand visitors annually. The facility is also home to the annual Buku Music + Arts Project.

And with its plethora of floats and props, it is a popular setting for film shoots of every description. The finale of the most recent season of the CBS competition The Amazing Race was shot in New Orleans and included a final task at Mardi Gras World, with Kern serving as an especially stern guest judge.

He plans to throw open the doors to Mardi Gras World on Fat Tuesday so locals can tour the facility for free. Masks will be required and social distancing protocols enforced.

Not everyone can go to Floats in the Oaks. This is for New Orleanians who dont have a chance to go and still want to see floats.

This is a unique and different year. But I love that New Orleanians have risen to the occasion. And I love that the national media has picked up on it. The whole world knows whats going on in New Orleans.
Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Wednesday called Prime Minister Narendra Modi's tearful farewell speech for Opposition leader Ghulam Nabi Azad an "artfully crafted performance."

Tharoor at former Vice President Hamid Ansari's book discussion said, "It (the farewell speech by the PM) was a very artfully crafted performance."

"It was partly in response to Tikait's tears that he decided he also has tears", added Tharoor. He was referring to farmer leader Rakesh Tikait who broke down into tears while talking about the ongoing farmers' protest at the Ghazipur border.

The Prime Minister had turned emotional several times in Rajya Sabha on Tuesday while recalling his close association with Congress leader Azad, whose term in the House ended.

Reminiscing about their long association, PM Modi said that as chief ministers of Jammu and Kashmir and Gujarat, both of them kept in touch with each other.

PM Modi sharing details of their communication during a terror attack on some Gujarati pilgrims in Jammu and Kashmir said, Azad was the first one to call him about the incident.

With tears rolling down his cheeks, PM Modi said Azad cried on the call while informing him about the horrific attack. "Azad was the first person to call me. During that call he could not stop crying," the Prime Minister said in a choked voice as tears rolled down from his eyes.

Also read: Do business in India but follow laws too, Ravi Shankar Prasad to Twitter

Also read: India, China agreed to disengage troops from eastern Ladakh, Rajnath Singh tells Parliament

A new paper published online in the Annals of the American Thoracic Society describes a "virtual" recovery program for sepsis patients that may also help post-COVID-19 patients and survivors of other serious illnesses.

In "Translating Post-Sepsis Care to Post-COVID Care: The Case for a Virtual Recovery Program," Stephanie Parks Taylor, MD, Department of Internal Medicine, Atrium Health, Charlotte, North Carolina, and co-authors describe a model of virtual care they developed and successfully implemented for patients who have left the hospital after being treated for sepsis. They also address ways that this model of care may help severe COVID-19 patients who have survived their illness but need continuing care.

Our initial health services research indicated that recommended post-sepsis care practices were inconsistently applied for sepsis survivors, but the application of these practices was associated with fewer rehospitalizations and deaths at 90 days post-discharge. We decided to engage a multidisciplinary stakeholder group to develop a mechanism to deliver best-practice post-sepsis care. Given the challenges many patients experience returning for face-to-face visits after critical illness, the virtual transition program emerged as an ideal approach that combined quality, patient-centeredness and scalability." Dr. Stephanie Parks Taylor, MD, Department of Internal Medicine, Atrium Health, Charlotte, North Carolina

This multicomponent sepsis transition and recovery program, known as "STAR," is conducted virtually by a specialized nurse navigator, who provides best-practice care for high-risk sepsis survivors post-hospital discharge. The nurse navigator helps deliver care through low-technology telehealth methods, including electronic health records (EHRs), secure messaging services and telephone. The sepsis nurse navigators monitor and support patients from a centralized, geographically distant location.

"While there is still a lot to learn about COVID-19 survivorship, based on what we currently know we can assume COVID survivors experience many of the same issues as recovering sepsis patients," said Dr. Taylor. "The STAR program leverages a virtual platform that addresses the challenges of care delivery in a pandemic setting."

According to Dr. Taylor, these challenges include strain on the health care system due to a rapid surge in survivors and reduced access to traditional primary care follow-up due to physical distancing.

Dr. Taylor and colleagues cite a number of factors that they have found important to successfully implementing their program:

Adequate human, financial and technological resources. Upfront funding and adequate training for the navigators are critical for success. Navigators should be trained in a number of areas, such as sepsis education, communication skills and cultural awareness.

A method to identify high-risk patients. The team developed and deployed a data-driven, EHR-embedded algorithm and risk models to identify patients at high risk of post-discharge death or rehospitalization.

Robust and effective operational processes. Among the additional elements that should be part of the program's operation are: optimization of medications, including frequent reassessment and adjustment of dosages; screening and early intervention for functional, cognitive and mental health problems, which are common among sepsis survivors and appear to be even worse for COVID-19 survivors; symptom monitoring to ensure that new infections do not occur, and to look for signs that other pre-existing conditions are worsening (such as weight gain for heart failure patients) or indications of adverse drug reactions (such as bleeding for patients receiving anticoagulants), and establishing goals of care, in partnership with patients, and communicating this information to the patient's primary care physician. STAR navigators are supported by a hospital-based physician (hospitalist) who reviews cases and discusses issues that arise.

Dr. Taylor notes that Atrium Health is an integrated health system, and that home health or community paramedicine providers can be activated for evaluation or treatment in patients' homes. "Whether the implementing site is an integrated health system or not, programs will need to establish robust communication pathways for efficient exchange of information between navigators and relevant partners," she said. "I think a potential misstep could be implementing a transition program that identifies problems among sepsis survivors but lacks an efficient process for responding effectively to those problems."

Additionally, much of the home care and some of the post-acute skilled nursing facilities are integrated within the health system, but many are not. Dr. Taylor and co-author Marc A. Kowalkowski, PhD, are now studying how to overcome barriers to providing extra support to post-acute care settings, as these patients are particularly vulnerable after hospital discharge.

The authors add that there are a number of advantages of a virtual navigator platform for sepsis transition and recovery:

Improved access and adherence to follow-up. This type of program can help ensure sepsis survivors get follow-up care, which is frequently not provided or easily accessible. It may also reduce rural, socioeconomic and disability disparities.

Frequent reassessment and adjustment of patients' care plan. This is made possible by virtual visits with nurse navigators, who can provide long-term follow up at short intervals. The STAR navigator program continues for 90 days after hospital discharge, and patients with persistent challenges have the most frequent navigator contact.

Consistent "check-ins" from a familiar health professional may have psychological benefits. The nurse navigator can help alleviate the stress disorders that are common among sepsis survivors.

The program is cost-effective and scalable. This model of care delivery enables one STAR navigator to accept 20-30 new patients a month and provide 90 days of support.

Dr. Taylor concludes, "Since severe COVID can be considered a type of sepsis, COVID patients are entering the STAR program if they meet its eligibility criteria. Currently, post-COVID patients are receiving the same elements of care as sepsis survivors, with special attention to respiratory symptoms and associated complications. Part of our research involves evaluating the extent to which post-COVID recovery differs from non-COVID sepsis recovery, so we hope to have data to determine whether there will be factors that are unique to COVID survivorship."

Geneva, Feb 11 : UN human rights experts have called on the European Union (EU) to "close the legal gap" to protect children from online sexual abuse.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Mama Fatima Singhateh, UN Special Rapporteur on sale and sexual exploitation of children, said: "The fact that there currently exists no legislation within the EU that allows for the technology companies to detect and report child sexual abuse online is very concerning to me." If no agreement is reached on temporary legislation to allow for the continued use of technological tools to tackle such abuse, "many children will continue to be abused with impunity with no hope in sight for assistance", Xinhua news agency quoted Singhateh as saying in the statement.

Joseph Cannataci, UN Special Rapporteur on the right to privacy, urged the EU member states to "review their legal frameworks to enable voluntary action by companies to lawfully and proportionately detect online child sexual abuse".

The call for action came in the wake of a recent law enforcement survey conducted by tech company NetClean, which confirmed that the Covid-19 pandemic has led to a global increase in online child sexual abuse crime, the statement said.

Europol, the EU's law enforcement agency, has also warned of "increased activity relating to child sexual abuse and exploitation".

The European Commission plans to introduce legislation addressing child sexual abuse online this year.
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WTF?! Okay, we are well past the launch frenzy. Black Friday and Cyber Monday have come and gone. And the last-minute Christmas shopping craze is well behind us. So how come I still do not have a PlayStation 5? The answer seems clear. I refuse to pay a scalper double.

The recent scalping furor has generated quite a bit of press, most of it casting these opportunists as villains. Apparently, these people, who have no qualms about cutting to the front of a digital queue and bypassing quantity limitations on purchases, don't like the bad press they are receiving and are speaking out about it.

A man going only by Jordan spoke with Forbes, saying that he thinks the press coverage has been unfair.

"There seems to be A LOT of bad press on this incredibly valuable industry and I do not feel that it is justified, all we are acting as is a middleman for limited quantity items [sic]," he said.

Jordan co-founded a private group called The Lab, which charges people for advice on how to scalp products. This type of business is known as a "cook group." Jordan admitted that he picked up 25 PS5s last month and sold them for about 700 ($967) each. He justifies this practice by comparing it to the retail market.

"Essentially, every business resells their products," the scalper said. "Tesco, for example, buys milk from farmers for 26p or so per litre and sells it on for upwards of 70p per litre. No one ever seems to complain to the extent as they are currently doing towards ourselves."

It is probably not necessary to point out the flaw in his logic. Buying from the source at wholesale then selling it to the public at retail is far removed from unfairly snatching all of a store's stock at retail and selling it for double on eBay. The fallacy was not lost on Forbes either, which put the analogy to its readers for comment.

"He is deluded. He doesn't get he's another layer of profiteering in his own Tesco analogy. He's not Robin Hood," one of them said.

These "middlemen" are not even shy about admitting to using software to cheat purchasing systems. The Lab's other co-found, who goes by Regan, shared screenshots (above) of the bot they use, called Velox. Regan said in some cases the program could complete a purchase in under three seconds. The software can also bypass 3D Secure, a credit card authentication process required in the UK.

Hardware and console scalpers are nothing new, but it has gone crazy in the last several months with a massive proliferation in bots used to bypass online queues and purchase-quantity checks. It's a problem only exacerbated by brick-and-mortar stores banning in-store sales in an attempt at crowd control during the pandemic.

Furthermore, with Sony, Microsoft, Nvidia, and other manufacturers struggling to get enough components to meet demand, it's not going to go away anytime soon. As such, it's not surprising that there have been talks of taking legal or regulatory measures to tackle the problem.

Image credit: Consoles by Jack Skeens, Velox by Janhoi Mcgregor
This is a time to come together, to support one another, and to think of the safety of everyone. We have made it a point to provide safe alternatives for all of our clients and we will continue to ensure that safety is a top priority as we fight to make our clients whole again.

The attorneys at Steinger, Greene & Feiner know all too well how often the injured and sick are overlooked or disregarded. In fact, for over 23 years, the firms core mission has been to fight for the injured and sick.

And that mission continues today as safety remains the firms top priority.

All offices are open in Florida and Tennessee, where employees follow the CDC guidelines to ensure the safety of clients and personal.

The firm has made it a point to make appointments flexible and digital if needed, giving clients the freedom to decide how they wish to meet with their lawyers.

According to the site website: Activities that once took place in person, including free case consultations, negotiations and the submission of essential court documents, have now moved to digital or courier-based modes of contact.

Michael Steinger, founding partner of the Steinger, Greene & Feiner, says that lawyers have worked hard to ensure that cases are minimally affected, and the firm ensures all clients have not and will not notice any change in the pace of their cases.

Steinger says, This is a time to come together, to support one another, and to think of the safety of everyone. We have made it a point to provide safe alternatives for all of our clients and we will continue to ensure that safety is a top priority as we fight to make our clients whole again.

COVID-19 may have slowed some industries and cause some turmoil across the world, but Steinger, Greene & Feiner have prevailed in their mission to fight for clients regardless.

Steinger goes on to say, We hope that you and those around you remain safe during these difficult times. Heal, and let us take care of the rest.

About:

SINCE 1997, Steinger, Greene & Feiner has been serving and defending the rights of victims who have been injured due to the negligence of others. The firms legal team with more than 40 attorneys is committed to representing and fighting for injury victims best interests, giving each client insight into the law and their rights. Steinger, Greene & Feiner specializes in all personal injuries, such as auto accidents, motorcycle accidents, and truck accidents, workers compensation, slip and fall, and wrongful death. Learn more about the law firm at https://www.injurylawyers.com/west-palm-beach/.

Name of Press Contact: Cerissa Stevens

Phone: (561) 932-1520

Email: cstevens@injurylawyers.com
One person suffered non-life-threatening injuries in a shooting Wednesday night, according to Harrisburg police.

Sgt. Kyle Gautsch confirmed the shooting happened near the 200 block of Verbeke Street. The shooting occurred after 8:30 p.m.

Gautsch was unable to provide more information Wednesday night, saying it was an ongoing investigation.

Anyone with information is asked to call Harrisburg police at 717-558-6900.

Read more on PennLive:
The government is set to begin the second phase of registering Kenyans for Huduma Namba in about three months time.

Government Spokesman Cyrus Oguna announced on Wednesday that the second round of Huduma Namba registration will start in May.

He noted that the first round registered 37 million people with 20 million being adults and 17 million below the age of 18 years.

This is why we are saying if you missed on the first phase please dont worry because we are launching the second phase at the end of April this year, Oguna told reporters in Nairobi.

He said after the second phase, Huduma Namba registration process will continue just like the Identity Card process.

Oguna also disclosed that only 300,000 people out of 2.2 million who registered have collected their Huduma Namba cards.

We are kindly appealing to those who have received the messages to please respond and pick their cards so that we can clear the backlog, he said.

The cards are being issued to adults while those below the age of 18 will only be issued with the Namba.

Going forward, a child will be issued with a Huduma Namba at birth but when they attain the age of 18 years, they will then collect their Huduma Namba cards,Oguba said.

The govt spokesperson also sounded an alarm over fraudsters asking unsuspecting Kenyans to pay some Sh100 to collect the cards.

The process of collecting these cards is free and nobody should be asked to pay any money. The messages for collection of the cards are not sent from a normal telephone number but a unique one, he said.

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no sane leader will allow others to continue to profit from their nations troubled educational system without taking practical steps to stem the tide. Agreed that many of our leaders may be lacking in the area of capacity to lead, but enriching other countries while impoverishing your own country has gone beyond ineptitude; that is a pure case of insanity!

A few days ago, precisely January 28, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace released a damning report on politically exposed persons (PEPs) in West Africa. The report claims these people, especially in Nigeria and Ghana, are stealing their countries monies to send their children abroad to study. Unfortunately, despite the sweeping indictment of Nigerian politicians and civil servants, the report is yet to attract the attention of the Nigerian public. Aside the few mentions in the media, it hasnt really been an issue of public discourse. Perhaps we are too overwhelmed by too many problems. Thats quite understandable. Nigeria at the moment is in a mess!

That notwithstanding, I think we should still look at some of the highlights of this report, which is an expose on our corrupt politicians and civil servants. Authored by Matthew Page, the report, titled, West African elite spending on UK schools and Universities: A Closer Look, describes how Nigerian PEPs are using private schools in the United Kingdom to launder their dirty money. According to the report, Nigerians, mostly civil servants, politicians etc., who cannot legitimately afford UKs expensive tuition of averagely 35,000 per annum, are sending their children to UKs private schools without being questioned on how they got the money to finance such expensive ventures. It adds that the fast-rising average annual cost of tuition in a UK private boarding school greatly exceeds the earnings of Nigerias most senior civil servants, governors, ministers and the rest, whose children are schooling abroad.

Analysing the situation, the report notes that while the average tuition of a UK school in 2020 was 35,289 (N17.1 million) per annum, the annual salary of a governor or minister in Nigeria was just 16,082 (N7.8 million). Yet, these people keep sending their children to the UK. How are they getting the money to do this? The report notes that Nigerian politicians always claim to make money from other businesses but wonders why our politicians businesses are never affected by the global economic meltdown or are immune to business challenges that affect other citizens.

The report equally accuses the Nigerian government of operating postgraduate scholarship schemes that are prone to corruption. It states that government entities such as the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Federal Scholarship Board (FSB), Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETfund) and numerous state government scholarship boards, are all highly vulnerable to corruption, making them precarious partners for the UK education sector.

For instance, it says the PTDF spends far more on itself than on the scholarships it provides. Citing an audit conducted between 2012 and 2016, the report notes that the PTDF disbursed just N29.6 billion (61 million) in scholarships and spent N45.3 billion (93.4 million) on its own staffing, administrative, training, and travel costs. In other words, the amount of money spent on administration was far higher than the worth of the scholarships awarded. Isnt that ridiculous?

Looking at the value of the scholarships, the report avers that it is difficult to ascertain the proportion of successful scholars who returned home after their studies abroad. As Nigerians, we cant pretend not to know this. People on government scholarships seldom return home after completing their programmes. Its like no one expects them to come back, forget the fact that they are made to sign bonds that they would. That is just a formality. Otherwise, a lot of defaulters would have been forced back home, going by the number of Nigerians that stay back abroad after enjoying government scholarships. We know that the incentive to return home is not there. Those who dared to return home soon became frustrated. I learnt of a lecturer in one of the polytechnics in the country who enjoyed a Tetfund scholarship. He returned to the country and really wanted to offer world class teaching using modern technology, some of which he personally procured with his money. But, he soon got frustrated because the system wouldnt allow him to follow through with his plan. He had to buy a generator, fuel and so on; he soon got tired and ran back to the UK.

The report further explains that the British government policies and programmes aimed at boosting its international education sector make it easy for corrupt Africans to use their unexplained wealth to pay for UK school and university fees. It then concludes that any effort by British policymakers to expand international education exports should be reconciled with other national strategic objectives

Anyway, not done yet, the report also states that the NDDC is particularly corruption prone. This also isnt a revelation to Nigerians. After all, the memory of the Commission disbursing N85.6 million (176,500, or 12,600 each) to fourteen top officials to attend a graduation ceremony in the UK, when both Nigeria and the UK were in lockdown, is still fresh. Many of us can also still remember how the Commissions MD entertained us by fainting on the floor of the National Assembly when asked to explain the corruption in the agency. He was rushed to the hospital and that was the end of the drama episode.

The report further explains that the British government policies and programmes aimed at boosting its international education sector make it easy for corrupt Africans to use their unexplained wealth to pay for UK school and university fees. It then concludes that any effort by British policymakers to expand international education exports should be reconciled with other national strategic objectives, like combating global illicit financial flows, so that countries like Nigeria can develop.

Knowing that the UK government has a hand in this research, I was curious to know why a country would sponsor a study that ends up accusing its educational system of aiding and abetting corruption. I then realised that the UK is also trying to scrutinise itself, knowing the implication of having any financial dealings that could be linked to corruption. It is also concerned about the reputational risks of its universities and is probably avoiding anything that could tarnish their image or reduce their worth in any way. It is no news that British schools see Nigeria as an attractive market. Nigeria is said to rank sixth in terms of non-EU enrolments in UK schools, just behind Malaysia, Hong Kong, the United States, India, and China.

For the UK, education is an export programme. In fact, the country sees international students as a revenue centre because they pay as much as three times more than what the UK citizens pay for the same education. I cant blame any country for turning its education into an export product. There is nothing wrong in being intentional about making a countrys education system attractive to command international patronage. However, what I dont understand is why a country like Nigeria will prefer to watch its own education system deteriorate on a daily basis and give room for a few to plunder the nations resources so that they can give their children good education in other peoples countries. Does it not occur to our leaders that the countries they run to for health, education and other good things of life are like that because those leaders have been responsible over the years? Right now, the situation is so bad that the money that the few privileged Nigerian children studying abroad spend per annum, is more than our annual budgetary allocation to the entire education sector.

Why do our leaders find it difficult to tackle problems that have obvious solutions? And why is Nigeria finding it so difficult to organise its educational system and make it work? Why do our leaders just love to mismanage the nations economy and make us a laughing stock?

Honestly, situations like this cast a doubt on the mental health of our leaders. Are Nigerian leaders insane? Or which sane leaders will continue to watch their countrys dysfunctional education system deteriorate and yet spend billions to develop other countries educational sectors? Whats the sense in developing other peoples economies at the expense of yours? In 2018, roughly 13,400 Nigerians were said to have attended U.S. universities, contributing an estimated $514 million to the U.S. economy. Nigeria is today placed third on the list of countries with the highest number of students studying overseas. To study in the UK, Nigerian students part with about 16,000 per year. This is aside the average living cost of about 12,180 per year.

The worst part is that we even pay in dollars to send our children to study in Ghana, a similar West African country of merely 30.42 million people, slightly above Lagos States population of 20 million. Recent data shows that there are about 71,000 Nigerian students in Ghana, paying about US$1 billion annually as tuition fees and for upkeep. This is more than the annual budget of US$751 million for all the federal universities in Nigeria. Another estimate shows that Nigerian parents spend above the Federal Governments yearly budget of $750 million to educate their children in the UK alone. Where is this money coming from?

Why do our leaders find it difficult to tackle problems that have obvious solutions? And why is Nigeria finding it so difficult to organise its educational system and make it work? Why do our leaders just love to mismanage the nations economy and make us a laughing stock? As far as I am concerned, no sane leader will allow others to continue to profit from their nations troubled educational system without taking practical steps to stem the tide. Agreed that many of our leaders may be lacking in the area of capacity to lead, but enriching other countries while impoverishing your own country has gone beyond ineptitude; that is a pure case of insanity!

Olabisi Deji-Folutile is the Editor-in-Chief of Franktalknow.com and member, Nigerian Guild of Editors. Email: bisideji@yahoo.co.uk
Surprise demand at a special auction for Indian government bonds has spurred speculation that the nations central bank was buying in the secondary market.

The benchmark 10-year bond was sold at 5.9726% cutoff yield, lower than 6.03% estimated in a survey by Bloomberg News. The 2025 bond saw a cutoff yield of 5.5410%, lower than the estimated 5.60%. The central bank accepted 2,000 crore ($275 million) more in each bond than the total 22000 crore it had planned to raise.

The Reserve Bank of India has been active in the market to ensure that the benchmark yield is anchored below 6%. On Wednesday, the central bank bought bulk of the bonds in the 10-year segment at a higher than expected price in an open market purchase auction signaling its intention.

It appears that the the RBI bought bonds in the secondary market to keep yields anchored," said Debendra Dash, head of fixed income at AU Small Finance in Mumbai. Once the central bank started buying, traders who had gone short may have also jumped in to cover their positions, and that boosted demand for bonds, he said.

Yields fell further in secondary market trades on Thursday after the sale with large trades reported in the benchmark paper. The 10-year note dropped five basis points to 5.96%. Investors got an indication of the RBIs intention earlier in the day when the underwriting commissions, which primary dealers get for underwriting bonds, came in much lower than market estimates.

Over 262 billion rupees of transactions were reported under the voice-based section for local trades, according to the Clearing Corp. of India data, which traders say was unusually high and pointed to RBI intervention. These trades suggest that the bonds auctioned on Thursday were immediately sold in the secondary market.

The central bank accepted 15 bids for the 2025 bond and 18 bids for the 2030 bond, it said. The bonds were part of last Fridays auction, where bids were rejected as traders demanded higher yields. The central bank is due to sell another 26,000 crore of bonds at a pre-scheduled auction this Friday.

The market reaction indicates the central bank may protect 6% to 6.10% through a combination of primary and secondary market intervention," said Ritesh Bhusari, deputy general manager for treasury at South Indian Bank. Otherwise, there is a lack of genuine commercial demand."

The RBI may buy 3 trillion of bonds in the current financial year and in excess of that in the following 12 months to help smooth the passage of the borrowing program, Bloomberg News reported Monday, citing a person familiar with the matter.

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While the oil market rebalancing looks fragile in the first quarter of 2021, global oil stocks are expected to rapidly draw down in the second half of this year as demand rises, setting the stage for OPEC+ to ease production cuts even if higher prices tempt producers from outside the group to boost output, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said on Thursday.

This year, world oil demand is expected to grow by 5.4 million barrels per day (bpd) compared to 2020, the agency said in its closely-watched Oil Market Report for February.

Thats 100,000 bpd lower than the projection in the January report when the IEA expected demand to rise by 5.5 million bpd year over year in 2021.

The latest estimate from this month pegs total global oil demand reaching 96.4 million bpd, which would be recovering some 60 percent of the volume lost to the pandemic in 2020, the IEA said today.

The agencys estimates are largely in line with that of many analysts and other forecasters who expect demand to be weak in the first quarter of 2021 but pick up pace in the latter half of the year with the rise of vaccination rates and eased travel restrictions.

While oil demand is expected to fall by 1 mb/d in 1Q21 from already low 4Q20 levels, a more favourable economic outlook underpins stronger demand in the second half of the year, the IEA said in its report.

Watch Now: The Energy Trades That Shook The World

Oil producers outside the OPEC+ alliance have started to respond to the rally in oil prices, the agency noted.

Led by the prolific Permian Basin, US drilling and completion rates have risen steadily in recent months, the IEA said.

Total oil supply from non-OPEC+ producers is set to increase by 830,000 bpd in 2021, compared to an annual decline of 1.3 million bpd in 2020.

The IEA still expects U.S. crude oil supply to hold largely flat at around 11.2 million bpd after falling by 940,000 bpd last year, while Canada, now pumping at record rates, has restored nearly all the volumes shut in at the height of last years demand collapse, the IEA said.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Downing Street slated the EU for snubbing the UK's call for financial service 'equivalence' today as Amsterdam overtook London as Europe's biggest share trading hub.

The PM's spokesman complained that Brussels had refused to copy Britain's decision to recognise standards despite the City's track record and having been supplied with 'all the necessary paperwork'.

No10 blamed that for the bombshell news that more European shares are now being traded in Amsterdam than London. The spokesman added: 'Our position is fragmentation of share trading across financial centres is in no one's interest, so we remain open to discussions with the EU about this.'

The backlash came as Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey accused the EU of trying to hold the UK to standards that it would 'not agree to be held to itself'.

Delivering his annual Mansion House speech online, he warned trying to force Britain to obey EU rules was 'unrealistic and dangerous' and would drive up costs for businesses on both sides.

He insisted that the City has a 'bright future' and will stay as one of the world's biggest financial centres despite Brussels' attempts to undermine it.

However, new figures laid bare the impact of Brexit on London, showing that Amsterdam surged to become Europe's main share trading hub last month.

An average 9.2 billion euros worth of shares were traded daily on Euronext Amsterdam and the Dutch arms of CBOE Europe and Turquoise in January - up more than fourfold from December.

By contrast volumes in London tumbled to 8.6 billion euros.

Analysts told the Financial Times that the shift was 'symbolic' and was not likely to mean job losses in the capital.

Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey (pictured) fired a warning shot at the EU last night as he reaffirmed that the UK will not become a 'rule-taker'

An average 9.2 billion euros worth of shares were traded daily on Euronext Amsterdam and the Dutch arms of CBOE Europe and Turquoise in January - up more than fourfold from December

His caution comes as officials at the Treasury try to thrash out a 'memorandum of understanding' with Brussels by March, setting out how the UK and EU will continue to trade in the key financial services sector.

One option is 'equivalence', where the UK and the EU agree to grant each other access to their markets if they deem their rules are closely enough aligned.

But while the UK's financial sector has granted the EU equivalence in 17 areas, so business can carry on as usual, Europe has so far refused to reciprocate.

Officials in Brussels claim to be worried about how the UK might decide to change rules in the future, amid concerns the Government could tear up red tape in an effort to lure more business to London post-Brexit.

Mr Bailey said: 'The EU has argued it must better understand how the UK intends to amend or alter the rules going forward. This is a standard that the EU holds no other country to and would, I suspect, not agree to be held to itself.'

Top bosses in the City have already told Parliament that they would reject this approach.

In a boost for City workers, Mr Bailey said: 'I believe we have a very bright future competing in global financial markets underpinned by strong and effective common global regulatory standards.

'London will undoubtedly continue as one of the world's leading if not the leading financial centre.'

Asked whether the UK risks being cut off from the EU financial system, he said: 'I think that would be a mistake. It raises the cost of finance for everybody including the citizens of the EU. It will raise the cost of doing business in the EU, so I think it's a mistake.

'I can't predict what will actually happen exactly because it's not within our control, but I think we have to state the argument for why it's important to have global standards, global markets and safe openness. And if we all sign up to that, there isn't a need to go in that direction.'
People walk under traditional Chinese lanterns along an alley in Beijing on February 9, 2021, ahead the biggest holiday of the year, the Lunar New Year, which ushers in the Year of the Ox on February 12. AFP-Yonhap




You cant blame university faculty members in Manitoba for feeling a tad bit nervous these days. So far, 2021 hasnt been a great year  and 2020 wasnt anything to write home about, either.

Opinion

You cant blame university faculty members in Manitoba for feeling a tad bit nervous these days. So far, 2021 hasnt been a great year  and 2020 wasnt anything to write home about, either.

COVID-19 has completely reshaped the way classes have been offered, meaning university professors, deans and administrators have been forced to turn on a dime and change the way they offer classes and programs. For some faculties that require hands-on learning, such as labs, this has been incredibly difficult.

Students are finding it hard to cope, and many dont feel they are getting their best education. The faculty members I have talked to feel their workloads have been increased, but their productivity has decreased.

There have been all manner of institutional responses to students concerns about classes. Allowing students to choose a pass-or-fail option instead of a mark, so these classes dont drag down their final grade-point average, is one scenario offered by the University of Winnipeg. But there are still worries from students (and their parents) that the degrees arent as robust as they have been in other years, which might affect the way employers view them.

All of this has caused worry for administrators and deans. Who can blame them?

At the same time, COVID-19 has also meant the steady stream of international students who come to Manitoba has been affected. That has also had a serious effect on universities, in Manitoba and across the country. Universities charge international students far more than they charge residents, which is one way that they top up their funding.

In fact, the government of Manitoba recruits international students, touting this province as "an excellent choice to meet your education goals." In 2018, this province welcomed a record number of international students, up 17 per cent from years previous. And according to Statistics Canada, the average tuition fee for Canadian undergrad students in Manitoba is $4,913, compared to $17,099 for international students.

But COVID-19 has meant serious problems for international students. First, many students are either stuck outside of Canada and cannot return to Manitoba for study; and second, those in Manitoba cannot work in their part-time or on-campus jobs and arent eligible for any relief from the federal government through the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit program.

For those hoping to study remotely outside the country, internet services may not be reliable, so that might not be an option, either.

And then, at the beginning of February, came news that Laurentian University in northern Ontario has filed for creditor protection. Private universities have filed for bankruptcy protection in this country before, but it is unprecedented for a public university to find itself in this type of circumstance.

LU President Robert Hache says the proceedings under the Companies Creditors Arrangement Act wont affect the day-to-day operations of the university, but has explained that the university has faced unprecedented challenges after a decade of financial strain caused by declining enrolment related to a shift in population in Northern Ontario and, more recently, the effects of COVID-19.

Ontario Colleges and Universities Minister Ross Romano has blamed the university board for the problems. Others have been quick to point out that this is what happens when governments underfund universities for years.

Now, Manitobas Advanced Education, Skills and Immigration Minister Wayne Ewasko wants to kick-start Manitobas economy by increasing the alignment between post-secondary education and jobs.

This is just another example of the inclination of conservative governments across the country to take aim at universities and intellectuals in an ongoing effort to cut costs. If weve learned one thing from the debacle that has unfolded in the United States, its that the cost of ignorance is very high.

It isnt completely surprising to learn a majority of U.S. Republicans now believe higher education is bad for America. And being denied the opportunity to learn to think critically could cost Manitobans a great deal. A post-secondary "shake-up" whose focus is solely on filling jobs and not on developing intellect is a dangerous proposition.

We need to prepare our students to be able to reason, to use data, to argue with rigour and to comprehend. That outcome doesnt just come from faculties that grant degrees solely in the sciences or with degrees that are linked only to jobs in fields such as engineering. It also comes from faculties that focus on the arts and humanities, which train students to expand their thinking, build arguments, write comprehensively and meet deadlines.

We cannot pander to the bottom-line need to focus solely on training students for jobs. We need to train young Manitobans to think critically. We need to emphasize intelligence, not more anti-intellectualism.

Shannon Sampert is a Winnipeg-based political scientist.

shannon@mediadiva.ca

Twitter:@CdnMediadiva
ABU DHABI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 10th Feb, 2021) Ministers and senior officials extended heartfelt congratulations to the UAEs wise leadership, government, and people, and to the entire Arab nation on the successful arrival of the Hope Probe to Mars on Tuesday evening.

They said the success of the Hope Probe in reaching the Martian orbit has positioned the UAE among the worlds elite nations engaged in space exploration.

H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, said:'' Thanks to the UAEs wise leadership and people, today, we achieved the dream of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founding father of the UAE to reach space, and proved that nothing is impossible in the UAE.'' ''The Hope Probes arrival to Mars reaffirms that the wise leadership's decision to empower and invest in human capital has been successful  where they have put their belief in humans capabilities to accomplish the most important space project in our region, and build a prosperous future for the people of the UAE and the Arab and Islamic nation based on science, innovation, and creativity.'' ''Reaching Mars is a new opportunity for Arabs and Muslims to elevate their global standing, and an Emirati message of hope for the new generation in our Arab world  one that boosts their confidence and moves them towards a better future that knows not the impossible,'' he added.

Dr Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, said: "The success of the Hope Probe in reaching the Martian orbit and commencing its two-year long scientific mission has positioned the UAE among the worlds elite nations engaged in space exploration, with a view to discovering the scientific secrets of the Red Planet. This moment represents a watershed for the UAEs flourishing industry and advanced technology sector.'' ''Our national competencies in the field of research and development, as well as the skills and capabilities of our young people  for instance, the scientists and engineers who oversaw the construction and journey of the Hope Probe - are well known. The Probe is an example of the UAEs abundant talent in advancing research and development (R&D) in the scientific domain. This milestone elevates the UAEs scientific, technical, and industrial prowess and distinguishes the country as a key contributor to humanity in a vital sector based on cutting-edge technologies. Furthermore, it enhances the countrys status as an influential international collaborator, a development that is set to positively impact the UAEs industrial sector."

He added: "I congratulate our wise leadership led by the UAE President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, Their Highnesses the Members of the Federal Supreme Council and Rulers and Crown Princes of the UAE, as well as the UAEs citizens and residents on the occasion of this incredible cultural and historical achievement."

Al Jaber confirmed that todays triumph is the latest in the UAEs long list of accomplishments over the past 50 years. Emphasizing that the Ministry is looking forward to building on this success through actively contributing to advancing the space sector and strengthening the countrys research and development capacities, he noted that this would be done through a two-pronged approach: upgrading young Emirati competencies on the one hand and raising the UAEs attractiveness to qualified scientific talent and to investors. In doing so, more space-related projects will be deployed, and advanced applications adopted to boost the national industrial landscape.

Dr Abdullah Belhaif Al Nuaimi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, said: "We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the UAEs wise leadership, government, and people, and to the entire Arab nation on the successful orbit insertion and operation of the Hope Probe.

The probes success in entering the Martian orbit and commencing its scientific mission is a momentous milestone in the UAEs journey. It leaves an imprint in history that reflects the hard work of a nation that is not yet 50 years old.'' ''Owing to the vision of its leaders, and with hope, passion, and relentless work, the UAEs efforts have come to fruition, and our homeland has joined the elite league of space nations. Once again, it has set itself apart as a country that doesnt know the meaning of the word impossible."

He noted that the Hope Probe is a prime example of determination and the will to succeed. While similar undertakings to study the Red Planet take a minimum of 10 years of preparation and execution, the Emirates Mars Mission successfully placed the probe in Marss orbit within only six years, making the UAE the fifth country to reach this frontier.

Dr Al Nuaimi added: "The Hope Probe will drive space research and innovation at home, as well as regionally and globally. The data collected and analyzed by the probe will feed into the work of academic research institutions. Studying the Red Planets atmosphere and environmental degradation will allow for a better understanding of the Earths climate and environment."

The Minister pointed out that some of the most prominent goals of the mission are carrying a message of hope to the Arab region and motivating the new generation of Arab youth to pursue space science, bringing to mind the former glory of Arab scientists.

Obaid Humaid Al Tayer, Minister of State for Financial Affairs, said: "Today  under the guidance of our wise leadership that continuously makes the impossible possible in various fields including scientific exploration, which benefits humanity as a whole  we mark a historic leap, and yet another achievement for the UAE.

On the arrival of the Hope Probe to Mars, we extend our congratulations to the wise leadership, and we reiterate our commitment to harness all our efforts and capabilities to elevate the UAEs global standing, and support its transformation towards a sustainable and innovation and knowledge-based economy."

Hessa Bint Essa Buhumaid, Minister of Community Development, said that the UAE project to explore Mars is an expressive message at an extraordinary stage related to the success and optimism of the Arab and Islamic worlds, and brings its scientific value to the entire world, noting that the UAE leadership provided the nation with a wide horizon of ambition and possibilities to enable them to think outside the traditional norms, open ways of leading the world with recognised achievements making the UAE aspirations "nothing is impossible" in its golden jubilee.

Buhumaid explained that in its fifth decade, the UAE was able to transit #Arabs_to_Mars in its golden jubilee flying high with the hopes and aspirations of hundreds of millions of young people in (56) Arab and Islamic countries.

"We have learned from the UAE wise leadership that the future is for those who make it, the race of excellence is long and the competitors are many, winning the first ranking positions requires that we do not look back, number one is our goal and the next one is always better."

''This is the spirit we have in the UAE, we have the determination and will of the nation to respond to the repercussions of the novel coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic with achievements that motivate us to other accomplishments. "We are on the verge of Expo Dubai, and on the way to achieve more accomplishments that will enrich 2021 as the "golden jubilee" to the top towards the UAE centennial 2071," she added.
Kids want to fish? You don't know how yourself? Here's a little help
Would-be parents will soon have access to a world-first website that allows them to compare the success rates of Australian IVF clinics and predict their own chance of having a baby.

The Your IVF Success website will launch on Monday funded by the federal government in response to growing calls for greater transparency in the sector.

The websites predictor tool works like a calculator, allowing users to enter their age, the age of their partner, their infertility diagnosis, whether they have previously had children, and any previous IVF treatment to offer an estimate of their chances of success.

Heidi and Dean Stevens with their daughters Elsa Jodi, 2, and Sianna, 6 months.

Heidi Stevens and her husband Dean experienced a 12-year odyssey of emotional upheaval that cost them in excess of $100,000 before they had two daughters through a Genea IVF clinic in Sydney.
More than two weeks days down the radical decision to demonetize the high value currency notes, it is now transparently clear that the government had not thought deeply enough. The myriads of problems that this move would throw up and the commensurate logistical response to it had not been visualized in all their multifariousness.

The woefully inadequate planning is the result of this paucity of thought. Bureaucracy has long since been depleted of talent because of the universal policy of opting for the pliant rather than the professional. Given the highly sensitive nature of the problem, the thought collective geared to this task was bound to be strictly limited, and the available talent further curtailed by the contingent nature of the choice.

Whether less radical measures were available, as the critics of the move have been suggesting, also may have some merit in it. Could it be that the political dividend at the end of the move is what blindsided and led to this unexceptionable decision in some hurry?

We are all eclipsed by the dark shadow that has fallen between a good idea and its shoddy execution. Even the large group of people who were its vocal supporters is beginning to be a little wary and the tentativeness of the government does not help matters much. It is very difficult to come by facts these days because facts are deployed in the service of particular causes; the supporters of government claim that the worst is over now and we shall live happily hereafter. Those opposed to the move claim that there is large scale despair and disquiet because the economic life of the country has stopped in its tracks. Facts have become Janus faced from one face they scowl at you from the other beam an endearing smile. But this much is clear that the disquiet and confusion at the national level is beginning to be felt and does not bode well. Now what?

For good or for bad, we are now committed to this course of action; rolling back would be an even worse option. Not only for the government - let it meet its just desert, who cares, but at an appropriate time - but for the nation at large. The nearest analogy to such a crisis one can think of is an ill-conceived and ill-timed war. But howsoever one may disagree with the war aims and its timing; one is obliged to lend full support.

Let us recall the national disgrace of 1962. The then PM is reported to have asked his Defence Minister to throw the Chinese, who were making border incursions, out. The Defence Minister went ahead and did what he was told. In a few days the stark situation was blown in the face of every countryman, including the folly of the lotus eating Defence Minister, yet the entire nation rallied behind the government, in an absolutely lost, hopeless cause.

What happened is now history but it has deeply scarred the psyche of a brave, professional army permanently. Those were uncomplicated times but democratic politics has immatured, repeat immatured, so much with time as to become unrecognizable. Nationalism, xenophobia and such other jingoistic traits have been long known to be minor neurotic disorders but in recent times it has bred its own anti dote, anti nationalism, a life style disease of the well heeled and very educated, so in the bitter feud between the nationalists and the anti nationals, the interest of the real, tangible nation which is home to 125 crore Indians, real people has been lost sight of.

The nature of our politics being what it is, the political parties would not allow Mr. Modi to walk with all the rewards should he pull it off without a major disaster and be left sucking their thumbs. To be fair, no opposition would have behaved any differently. Just as the government is invested deeply in the success of the programme, the political opposition - and those affected by it - sees rich dividends in its failure, in chaos and confusion. In the absence of a political consensus on any issue, it is like functioning in an atmosphere of 10 g. So an already difficult task becomes ten times harder.

The Indian poor are hugely inventive; they have seen calamities, food shortages, lack of basic amenities, official apathy. They have miraculously survived them all. Just let us think how best we, we who are a little better off, can make even a jot of difference to their situation. Their nerves are already jangled. Those who have a sense of history know that economic chaos is followed by political chaos, and political chaos is followed by restoration of order by some authoritarian agency. Those who are hoping for political gains out of economic chaos should think a few steps ahead. We are in the midst of a crisis because of a major goof up by the banking bureaucracy; do not seek to test the internal security apparatus. We who have seen it can tell them a thing or two.

India Today magazine once referred to Manoje Nath, a 1973-batch IPS officer, as being fiercely independent, honest, and upright. Besides his numerous official reports on various issues exposing corruption in the bureaucracy in Bihar, Nath is also a writer extraordinaire expressing his thoughts on subjects ranging from science fiction to the effects of globalization. His sense of humor was evident through his extremely popular series named "Gulliver in Patiliputra" and "Modest Proposals" that were published in the local newspapers.
In her guest blog, student writer Rebekah Craft explains how student researchers in materials science and engineering construct aluminum filler wire. Its a bit like baking.

Michigan Technological University students continue to show their innovation and impact current and future industries through their Senior Design projects. Specifically, students from the Department of Material Science and Engineering (MSE) arent letting pandemic restrictions affect their opportunity to impact the immediate workplace.

Students Spencer Hunt, Michael Gazdecki, Ryan Weiss and Tyler Latta have been working directly with alumni from Hobart Aluminum to discover a more cost-effective and durable method to produce an aluminum alloy filler wire. Senior Design projects like this test the skills of Michigan Techs students in a relevant and real-world environment, giving them the opportunity to represent themselves and Tech in a professional manner.

Old Process, New Alloy

Michigan Techs Senior Design program expands the definition of an internship because the students have the chance to work creatively and remotely alongside their course. While most students dont get to choose their project directly, each applies to a students degree and career goals, making this a great professional experience that counts for class credits.

The process of producing aluminum alloy filler wire has been standardized since the 1960s in a wide range of electrical industries. The innovation from these students, in addition to the resources and drive from the sponsor, showcases the way Michigan Techs student body makes current, real-world impacts on the job market. Through this collaboration, Hobart Aluminum sends MSE seniors the needed materials to conduct the research and complete a test to see the effectiveness of the new process. The seniors then send this information back to Hobart, where they have the machinery to do more conclusive testing of these new alloys.

How the Cookie Crumbles

The current method to make aluminum filler wire is to change the amount of manganese (Mn) and aluminum (Al) in a mixture to create a more durable and cost-effective wire. While the students are changing the process for the alloy, the aluminum is not being altered chemically. Instead, by evolving the drawing process of the wire  how its constructed in a foundry  this collaboration could change the way the automotive, construction, and other industries that rely on aluminum welding approach making these wires.

Gazdecki broke down the process: Its like you have this great chocolate chip cookie recipe from your mom, and you like it, but the cookies arent quite sweet enough, he explained. So you want to see if you can add more sugar or more chocolate to find what combinations give you the most optimal cookie taste.

Casting the alloy is like changing the amount of sugar and chocolate to change the sweetness of the batch. Aluminum is like flour  its always included and the rate doesnt change.

Its not a perfect comparison, but extruding an aluminum alloy is similar to piping the cookies onto a baking sheet and then putting them in the oven  that is, if the oven and piping bag were the same thing. The aluminum goes through extreme pressure and heat, squeezed through a small tube, to become a thinner wire as its extruded.

And, just like waiting for cookies to cool is important, drawing the wire  a process similar to extrusion  happens only with lower temperatures.

Sponsorship

Hobart Aluminum is a welding company based in Traverse City, Michigan. While they began with welding equipment, Hobart now focuses on filler metals, specifically aluminum. The intent for the Tech collaboration is to create a new aluminum alloy filler wire that can solve the current gap between the physical and mechanical properties of the alloy. The goal is to not only find a stronger and easier process of producing these wires, but also cost-effective production. To shift a process established for so long throughout so many different industries, the change needs to be beneficial in numerous ways. While the MSE team works on the overall goal of creating a new alloy, they are also collecting more basic research and information on the effects of manganese on aluminum-welding alloys.

While Michigan Techs foundry is great at providing its students with the equipment needed to do all sorts of jobs, materials are limited. Since Techs machinery only allows one test on these new processes, the MSE group improvised and is sending successful tests and possible alternatives to Hobart, where the company could conduct the process at a larger scale and confirm or deny the new method. Working around the schedules of both Tech and Hobart, they were eventually able to send their first sample cast to Hobart in November.

Casting Challenges

While the team had a simulation casting process to help them prepare for potential conflicts and factors, the simulation cant see everything.

Before they began to conduct the tests, the four MSE students expected typical obstacles like melting elements and burning magnesium. One of the biggest challenges? Drawability  the drawability process has so many technical components that each step can make the entire process difficult to complete. The most common issue is porosity, when air bubbles enter the metal due to gases being released as the hot metal solidifies.

Formation, composition of elements in the metal and tension in the rods each can alter the success of the overall process. Due to their composition, there is a tight range of compatible elements that can be used in this aluminum wire. In addition to finding this element, the students also have to be careful with the amount they use in the aluminum. The team has to figure out all of these small details as they go, and with limited machinery at hand, which the group says made them good at improvising and overcoming challenges.

Michigan Technological University is a public research university, home to more than 7,000 students from 54 countries. Founded in 1885, the University offers more than 120 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in science and technology, engineering, forestry, business and economics, health professions, humanities, mathematics, and social sciences. Our campus in Michigans Upper Peninsula overlooks the Keweenaw Waterway and is just a few miles from Lake Superior.
NEW YORK, Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Away , the global lifestyle brand with a mission to transform travel, announced the opening of its Seattle storefront in University Village. Now boasting thirteen brick-and-mortar locations across the United States, Canada, and United Kingdom, Away offers a wide range of luggage, bags, and travel essentials, perfectly suited for the modern traveler.

With COVID safety procedures in place, visitors to Away's newest retail location will be able to shop the brand's beloved line-up of travel and everyday essentials, including the fan-favorite Bigger Carry-On, a newly released collection with Serena Williams, the highly coveted Pet Carrier, recently introduced bag silhouettes, and much more.

"As we continue to expand Away's retail footprint, we've been eagerly planning our entry into the Seattle market and I'm thrilled to be opening our doors today," said Roy Chan, President of International and SVP of Retail, Away. "While the world may not be traveling right now, I am excited for what the future will hold. In the meantime, I look forward to deepening our connections with the local Seattle community and inspiring them to plan future trips once it is safe."

Away's in-store experience is designed to inspire future travels. Throughout the store, visitors will find thoughtfully sourced objects from Seattle's sister cities of Christchurch, New Zealand; Bergen, Norway; and Nantes, France. A designed feature wall will also showcase postcards and travel stories curated from around the world. The store also includes more local influences, including white oak and gray felt designed to evoke the beaches of the city and metal accents in reference to the Space Needle's iconic spire.

Away's Seattle store is located at 2645 NE 46th Street, Seattle, WA 98105. It will be open daily Monday-Saturday from 11am-6pm and Sunday from 12pm-6pm, with strict COVID protocols and procedures in place.

To learn more and to shop the collections, visit any Away location or awaytravel.com .

Media Contact: [email protected]

ABOUT AWAY

Away is a modern 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 travel essentials built for the modern traveler. Headquartered in New York City, with teams in London and Toronto, Away 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.

SOURCE Away

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A highly anticipated global inquiry, more than a dozen investigators, a fortnight of inspections at ground-zero of the virus that sent borders up around the world, and here we are.

After months of negotiations to get the inspectors into Wuhan, Tuesdays preliminary findings of the World Health Organisation-China Joint Mission on Coronavirus Disease left the public little more enlightened than they were in March last year.

The WHO investigators said COVID-19 was likely to have been transmitted from bats to an intermediate animal host to humans. The virus was likely to have started in China, but may have also begun elsewhere. It could have begun in the Wuhan wet market, or it may have been circulating widely in the community in the weeks leading up to the first cluster.

Opting for a message of unity: Chinese President Xi Jinping. Credit:Getty Images

The only theory to have been effectively ruled out is that it sprang from a Wuhan laboratory leak.

The gap between scientific probability and certainty has never been wider for Chinas coronavirus diplomacy.

As the investigators were preparing to announce their findings in Wuhan on Tuesday night, Chinese President Xi Jinping was on a virtual meeting with a group of central and eastern European leaders.

The group of 18 was divided. Serbia, Hungary and Montenegro were among six countries who have enthusiastically taken up Chinas offer of vaccines to inoculate their populations against a disease that has killed more than 2 million people. But Estonia, Slovenia and Lithuania were among six others who are increasingly wary of Beijings vaccines, its promises of economic cooperation and its role in the coronavirus pandemic.

Xi urged the group to put their differences aside. In the face of such unprecedented challenges, countries must come together and respond with solidarity and coordination like never before, he said. These efforts will contribute to a global community of health for all.

Then, as before, the Chinese leader was careful not to publicly discuss the origins of the virus, opting for a message of unity against a common enemy in an attempt to rise above tumultuous multinational sparring over the past year.

Read the full article here.
Israels Security Cabinet on Sunday approved a proposal to use more than $9 billion in US aid money toward the largest purchase of foreign military aircraft and munitions in years.

The landmark agreement, backed by Defense Minister Benny Gantz and Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Aviv Kochavi, was the result of a seven-hour meeting of the Security Cabinet on Sunday, Israels Channel 12 reported.

About $7 billion of the total cost is to come out of the $38 billion in aid that Washington has allocated for Israel until 2028. The remaining $2.5 billion is to be filled by refinancing a loan from Citibank originally taken out by Israels Defense Ministry in 2014 to purchase F-35s, according to Haaretz.

The proposal was met with controversy amid questions over its legality from Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit.

Defense officials argued in the meeting Sunday that they could reapply an authorization to take the 2015 F-35 loan off budget. Mandelblit could have vetoed the decision, but did not; he also said he could defend the decision in court if a challenge is raised.

The arrangement would cost Israeli taxpayers some $217 million in additional interest, but would also mean that Israel could acquire a set of weapons that it wants on a fast track. Its a very good trade-off for Israel, a source familiar with the agreement told Al-Monitor.

Israels air force is seeking to upgrade its fleet by adding additional F-35 Joint Strike Fighters, F-15s, midair refueling tankers, helicopters and advanced munitions. A majority of the $9.5 billion would be used to purchase American-made weapon systems.

The agreement would help Israel achieve its goal of an additional combat squadron, the source said.

Last year, the United States approved a potential $2.4 billion sale of as many as eight Boeing KC-46A Pegasus refueling tankers by 2023. The aircraft are to replace the Israeli air forces aging fleet of US-made Boeing 707s, which suffered a temporary grounding in 2019.

In July, Israel requested that the United States expedite the transfer of some of the new tankers by sending two US Air Force KC-46s this year, having not yet finalized the approval with Boeing.

The Israeli air force is also looking to obtain additional F-35s to form a third squadron of the highly advanced Lockheed fighter. The aircraft have helped secure Israels air dominance in a volatile Middle East, but their range is limited by reliance on the US militarys aerial refueling tankers.

Israel has launched hundreds of precision airstrikes against air defenses and Iran-linked targets in Syria as Tehran has moved fighters and weapons into the war-torn country.

Israeli reliance on occasionally reluctant US support for some of the operations has the Defense Ministry redoubling efforts to expand its strike range.

As during the US presidency of Barack Obama, Israeli officials again have begun raising the specter of a future unilateral strike against Tehrans nuclear capabilities if Washington reenters the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vocally opposed the original deal, saying its sunset would allow Iran to continue to pursue nuclear weapons in just a few years.

The Biden administration is seeking to rejoin the original deal but has promised to continue to push for Arab states normalization with Israel to shore up regional defense cooperation against Iran.

Sundays Cabinet agreement is aimed at further solidifying Israels military superiority in the region as the US considers whether or not to go through with a proposed sale of 50 F-35s and armed drones to the United Arab Emirates.

Historian Catherine Corless has written to the Taoiseach calling for legislation to allow the exhumation of babies buried in a sewage system at Tuam to be passed urgently.

It is believed up to 800 babies and children could have been buried in a mass grave on the site of the Tuam Mother and Baby Home after excavations uncovered an underground structure divided into 20 chambers containing significant quantities of human remains.

The legislation needed for the remains to be exhumed and DNA testing to be carried out to try and identify the babies is due to be passed by the end of the year.

Ms Corless said the current timeline means the removal of remains will not start until next year at the earliest.

This will be too late for some survivors and families, many of whom are in their 80s and 90s, she told the Irish Independent.

The timeline of one year is only for the passing of the bill. After that they have to get a team together to figure out how the children can be exhumed. If they pass the bill now all that can be done this year and the work can start.

"Thats what I have been pleading for and I have written to the Taoiseach and all the parties to please pass this legislation as soon as possible.

In her letter, sent to Micheal Martin and members of all political parties, Ms Corless said too much time has been wasted already.

Read More

I am asking the Oireachtas to listen to the voices of the survivors who have family buried in the sewage facility and to the unheard voices of the babies who were discarded in such a horrific manner, she wrote.

Ms Corless attached pages of the 5th Interim Report from the Commission of Inquiry to her letter, writing that the archaeologists at the time took numerous photographs of their discovery in the chambers, but the little skeletal remains are blacked out, and rightly so.

Important to note is the summary from the archaeologists, where they clearly indicate the babies remains were buried in a sewage system, and that it is not appropriate to leave them like this.

The Mother and Baby Home at Tuam was run by the Bon Secours Sisters on behalf of Galway County Council, between 1925 and 1961.

Last month, the local authority said it engaged with people who had a connection to the burial site in Tuam to work toward "the Governments agreed course of action.

Ms Corless said she hopes this will involve the council ensuring the exhumation process is expedited.

"We have waited three years after the babies were discovered, and then another year. Why is it taking until the end of the year, when the Oireachtas can do it within a few weeks if they wanted? she said.
THE northern part of Namibia is a hive of activity as hundreds of people ock to the region, bringing with them hundreds of boxes of grapes for sale, in a bid to ease their nancial problems.

As the grape season nears the end at farms in southern Namibia, people were in- formed that grapes were selling cheaply for as low as N$30 or N$40 per crate.

This triggered a rush as many people drove or hitched hike to Aussenkehr farm on the Orange River bordering SouthAfrica to buy the grapes for resale.

Suddenly open markets and street corners at Ondangwa, Ongwediva and Oshakati had people selling the grapes in bulk from trucks to street ven- dors for N$150. The vendors in turn repackage the grapes into smaller packets that sell for as low as N$10.

Aussenkehr farm produces high quality grapes which are mostly exported, with a small portion sold locally.

The grape farmers used to allow people to pick left over grapes for free after they har- vest for export but this is no longer the case.

According to Shekupe Nam- pala who also sells grapes, because of the large number of people, the free hand outs are no longer given.

"We were disappointed that the grapes were sold to us, but we still made pro t. It is an expensive trip driving all the way to 'Ou singela' but it is worth it because one can easily make N$15 000. People usually hitch hike on trucks coming from Oshikango and Angola returning to South Africa. Trucks drivers charge N$150 as opposed to buses that charge N$280 from Windhoek and when you come back with hundred boxes you pay for them," said Nampala.

"These grapes sell very fast but we have to transport them here as quick as possible as they are perishable. It is good business and with children starting school at least we can have money to buy the uniforms and school require- ments," she said.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 11) The new year, fresh beginning mindset holds true even in the Chinese calendar  as feng shui experts see a better, calmer year for the world this 2021.

In an interview with CNN Philippines, Patrick Lim Fernandez said that while the 2020 Year of the Rat focused on the more aggressive and unstable yang energy, the Year of the Oxs yin energy gives a calmer vibe.

We can expect a lot less volatility, a lot less chaos, and just a better year overall compared to last year, Fernandez told The Source.

Similarly, feng shui master Francis Gaw also sees a really good year for the health sector which has been severely affected by the coronavirus crisis.

With the Lunar New Year about to roll in, the feng shui experts share with CNN Philippines their predictions for the Year of the Metal Ox:

Year of the Metal Ox outlook: Calm is might, hardwork is key

The ox is usually perceived as a huge and loud animal, but one key thing for this year is to stay calm amid the chaos.

The key thing is by being calm, you can control your emotions, and thats what gives you the might in the Year of the Metal Ox, Fernandez added.

Fernandez added 2021 is also a good year to be productive, hardworking, and helpful  some of the key traits of the Ox. However, he advised people to always seek the truth and go deeper than the surface, especially with the prevalence of fake news.

The public is also reminded to avoid being one side-minded, and try to hear different arguments and hold dialogues with one another.

What lies ahead for each sign

1. Rat

1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020

FORECAST: Those born under the Rat sign have a lot to look forward to this year. Specifically, they will be learning new things whether formally or informally.

So they can take courses, classes. They can even just read books or watch YouTube videos. Anything to learn and make yourself better, thats good, said Fernandez.

They will also be having a lot of collaborators and will be getting help in their endeavors this year, both in their personal and professional life.

WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR: Anxiety

2. Ox

1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021

FORECAST: People born in the year of the Ox will be getting the spotlight during their year. They will have the opportunity to showcase their talent and creativity.

They are likewise advised to engage in activities that promote generosity, such as giving to charity or doing volunteer work.

WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR: Conflicts

3. Tiger

1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010

FORECAST: Its a good year for relationships for the Tiger this year, and they are advised to nurture these connections may it be with significant other, family, friends, or colleagues.

The Tiger will also be helped out by male higher-ups. So if you have any chance just to ask help from males in authority, thats likely where your luck will be coming from, Fernandez said.

WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR: Plans may abruptly change

4. Rabbit

1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011

FORECAST: Those born under the Rabbit sign may face a lot of challenges, but ultimately, 2021 will prove to be a year of growth for them.

WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR: Emotional, physical health

5. Dragon

1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012

FORECAST: While the Tiger seeks help from male authority, the Dragon will be supported by females. If you have a business, if you can cater to your female market, that should bode well for you, Fernandez said.

WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR: Temptation to interfere in other peoples business

6. Snake

1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013

FORECAST: Snakes will be given the opportunity to be recognized in their role or position, and their authority will also continue to grow.

They will also continue to push themselves and get out of their comfort zones, and learn new things both professionally and personally.

WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR: Be careful with legal contracts or details

7. Horse

1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014

FORECAST: This will be a good year for the Horse to grow their investments or businesses, but they are advised to thoroughly study any proposal or idea.

Those born in the Year of the Horse are also urged to celebrate victories even the small ones by relaxing and hanging out with loved ones.

WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR: Temptations

8. Goat

1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015

FORECAST: As the goat is in conflict with the ox, those born under this sign may face a lot of challenges and changes. But while you go through these changes, help is always available.

WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR: Expenses

9. Monkey

1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016

FORECAST: This will be a good year for relationships for those born in the Year of the Monkey. Single monkeys may even find the one this year.

Try to put yourself out there, be bold, and you might find some luck in that aspect, Fernandez said.

The monkey will also be getting a lot of help from everywhere, thus also making it a good year for business and investments.

WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR: Accidents

10. Rooster

1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017

FORECAST: The rooster may become more powerful or move up the ladder this year. They are also recommended to do a lot of good deeds.

WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR: Feeling like youre not moving forward

11. Dog

1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018

FORECAST: The dog will have a good year for professional advancement, and may encounter a lot of opportunities in that aspect. Those born under this sign may also get unexpected wealth.

WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR: Conflicts, quarrels, emotions

12. Pig

1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019

FORECAST: Pigs have a travel star under their sign this year, which is seen to benefit both their personal and professional life.

WHAT TO WATCH OUT FOR: Loss of belongings, health
Kathmandu, Feb 11 (UNI) The Nepal Communist Party (NCP)'s Dahal-Nepal faction has demanded the immediate release of leader Ram Kumari Jhakri, who was arrested earlier on Thursday.

Ram Kumari Jhakri, a leader of Dahal-Nepal faction of the Nepal Communist Party (NCP), was arrested for her comments on Nepali President Bidya Devi Bhandari.

Charges against Jhakri includes Clause 58 of 'The National Penal (Code) Act, 2017' that relates to the Prohibition of Intimidation of President or Parliament.

Jhakri was summoned by Nepal Police for questioning regarding her recent comments on President Bidya Devi Bhandari today and was taken into custody.

The Pushpa Kamal Dahal - Madhav Nepal faction has said that the state is being 'vindictive' by charging Jhakri for a crime against the state simply on the basis of a political statement, it condemned her arrest and demanded her immediate release.

As per a report by Himalayan Times, Nepali Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa had proded the Nepal Police chief to take Jhakri into custody.

Jhakri had on Wednesday appeared on the stage of a mass gathering of Dahal-Nepal faction in Bhrikutimandap with her mouth taped, as a mark of protest.

Jhakri has been accused by the police of resorting to character assassination of Nepali President Bhandari during her recent speech in Gorkha district.

The All Nepal Women's Association had handed over a memo to Prime Minister KP Sharma 'Oli' and Minister of Home Affairs Ram Bahadur Thapa demanding action against her for her comments on the President. The Association claimed that Jhakri's comments were disrespectful of all single women across the country.

Under Clause 58 (2), under which Jhakri has been charged if the charges are proven she could be jailed up to seven years or fined up to Rs 70,000, or both.

UNI XC-RKM RHK1732
Africa's young people are urging a re-think of the continent's governance systems to provide them a space to contribute their innovative ideas to development in the continent's post-pandemic recovery.

"Greater inclusion of young people to the public service is vital to Africa's growth and development," stated the youth policy paper recently published by the African Union Office of the Youth Envoy (AU-OYE) in collaboration with the Africa Centres for Disease Control (Africa CDC) titled, Africa Youth Lead: Facts & Figures of Africa Youth Agency, Challenges and Recovery Roadmap on COVID-19.

The policy paper is the outcome of months-long consultations, including through surveys in four languages (English, Swahili, French, and Arabic) and virtual focus groups with young people across the continent.

The AU Youth Advisory Board and the African Youth Front on Coronavirus (AYFC), a high-level policy and advocacy framework launched in May 2020 for young people to co-lead Africa's response to COVID-19, were involved in gaining the views of young people on a range of COVID-19-related issues, according to the AU-OYE.

The policy paper focuses on the impact of COVID-19 on young people and makes a range of recommendations the young people believe could help tackle Africa's intractable development challenges.

Ms. Aya Chebbi, the AU Envoy on Youth, says the policy paper "highlights the key challenges that young people in Africa are facing, challenges that the virus has exacerbated.

"The policy paper additionally outlines recommendations that young people have made during the consultations as a pathway to achieving the Africa they want," notes Ms. Chebbi.

One of the recommendations is the establishment of an "African Centres for Innovation and Excellence that can match education with the market needs through training opportunities, digital skills and infrastructure, in both urban and rural areas.

It maintains that any recovery plan must enable the continent to seize opportunities of the digital economy.

Skills development relevant to the digital economy "is one of the most critical investments that need to be made to ensure a sustained economic growth after the COVID-19 pandemic," the paper states, calling for restrictions on internet freedom to be criminalized.

The paper is loaded with sector-specific recommendations. For example, on the economic front, it demands immediate stimulus packages for young people who lost jobs as a result of the pandemic, as well as "increasing investments in youth entrepreneurship and innovation by financially supporting SMEs [small and medium-sized enterprises], by giving grants, loans, tax relief, payroll protection and loans."

Young people would like African governments to "adopt e-healthcare by engaging youth digital innovations to provide quality, affordable and timely health services," according to the policy paper.

On food security, it calls for the strengthening of knowledge in agriculture through reforms of school curriculums that will lead to innovation in the sector.

The paper also recommends the creation of an "enabling legal, regulatory and administrative environment for youth to actively participate in trade and opportunities of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)." Free trading is expected to begin in January 2021.

Given the devastating effects of COVID-19 on livelihoods, the paper pushes for the implementation of Universal Healthcare Coverage, tax exemptions for local youth manufacturers of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) and other sanitation products.

On gender equality, it requests governments to "protect young women's economic resilience and to recognize their additional burden of unpaid and domestic work."

Gender-based violence such as femicide, rape, sexual harassment, child marriage and female genital mutilation must be criminalized, it stresses, and calls for equal access to "essential sexual and reproductive health services, mental health support and digital technologies."

Other challenges facing young women, the paper elaborates, include the loss of jobs or reduction in income, which makes many of them unable to afford sanitary pads and contraceptives.

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It adds that "young women in refugee camps that would receive these services as aid, do not have access anymore as aid work has slowed down."

The youth also demand the right to protest peacefully, an end to police violence against young people, and for human rights abuses to be investigated.

In the policy paper's foreword, Dr. John Nkengasong, Director of Africa CDC, praised African youth for assisting his organization with information on socioeconomic thematic areas and for disseminating accurate information on the COVID-19 to the public.

The AU Commissioner of Social Affairs, Amira El Fadil, praised the achievements of the CDC and young people, particularly the establishment of the AYFC.

Source-Africa youth news
Lawmakers on marijuana study committee plan out-of-state site visits

Lawmakers want a firsthand look at legal cannabis operations in response to South Dakotans voting to loosen their state's pot laws last fall.
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A University of Arizona Health Sciences study that is examining COVID-19 immunity and re-infection among frontline workers is expanding to include some Arizona college students while broadening its research focus to include COVID-19 vaccination effectiveness.

"This new vaccine effectiveness aspect of the study will become even more important as COVID-19 variants with increased transmissibility emerge and expand globally," said Jeff Burgess, MD, MPH, MS, principal investigator of the Arizona Healthcare, Emergency Response, and Other Essential Workers Surveillance study, or AZ HEROES, associate dean for research and a professor at the UArizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, and a member of the BIO5 Institute.

Serologic and cellular immune response testing will be performed on pre-and post-vaccination blood samples. Different vaccine exposures, including different vaccine types and adherence to recommended vaccine doses and timing, will be examined. Researchers will investigate whether vaccine efficacy is modified by socio-demographic characteristics, occupation, or health status.

They also will examine:

whether vaccines modify illness severity, duration and infectiousness, or viral shedding, among essential workers who come into contact with the virus after they have been vaccinated;

the effectiveness of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 illness; and,

knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to new COVID-19 vaccines among essential workers, and the impact of those factors on subsequent vaccination behaviors, including vaccine refusal, hesitancy, or incomplete adherence to vaccination recommendations.

College students included

College students can be at higher risk of COVID-19 exposure due to living situations that often include roommates, as well as social activities and work, volunteer or internship obligations. The study hopes to enroll 500-1,000 undergraduate and graduate students from Arizona universities and colleges by June 2021.

The current AZ HEROES study eligibility criteria for college students are as follows:

Previously COVID-19 positive via polymerase chain reaction (PCR), rapid antigen or antibody test

Enrolled as a student at least part-time (at least six units)

Working at least 10 hours per week

Have not yet received the COVID-19 vaccine

The AZ HEROES team invites all eligible college students to sign up for the study on the AZ HEROES website: https:/ / azheroes. arizona. edu/

AZ HEROES was started last year by researchers in the Zuckerman College of Public Health and the UArizona College of Medicine - Tucson thanks to a $7.7 million grant from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The study's initial goals were to evaluate the incidence of asymptomatic and symptomatic COVID-19 re-infection among the state's frontline workers (health care personnel, first responders and other essential workers) and to establish patterns of COVID-19 immunity over time in individuals who previously tested positive for COVID-19.
CAIRO  Ethiopian Ambassador to Sudan Yibeltal Aemero warned that his country would take the necessary measures if Sudan does not respond to calls for a peaceful and friendly solution to the border dispute between the two countries in al-Fashqa region. Speaking to Ethiopias official state television on Feb. 4, Aemero accused Sudan of violating and attacking Ethiopian territories.

Aemeros statement came after the Sovereignty Council of Sudan asserted in a press statement Feb. 1 that it will not relinquish any part of the Sudanese territories on the borders with Ethiopia, stressing that Sudan believes in a peaceful solution with Ethiopia and that the war option is not on the table.

The dispute over al-Fashqa dates back decades. The disputed territory lies within the international border of Sudan, but Ethiopian farmers have been living and exploiting the region for a long time now.

In late 2020, clashes broke out between Ethiopian and Sudanese forces and lasted for weeks. In late January, limited clashes erupted again between Ethiopia and Sudan, with Ethiopia claiming that Sudan took advantage of the Ethiopian forces preoccupation with the Tigray conflict to occupy Ethiopian territories.

The border dispute is not the only point of contention between Ethiopia and Sudan. The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) issue has been going downhill, with the failure of the last round of negotiations between Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan on Jan. 10, upon Sudans insistence on changing the method of negotiation and expanding the role of African Union (AU) experts to enable them to play a key role in facilitating the negotiations and bridging the gap. However, Ethiopia and Egypt had their reservations, which they said stemmed from their desire to preserve the rights of the three countries to draft texts and provisions of the agreement to fill and operate the GERD. Besides, the AU experts are not specialized in the technical and engineering aspects of managing water resources and operating dams, the two countries argued.

In this framework, Hiba al-Bashbishi, a researcher at the African Studies Institute at the University of Cairo, told Al-Monitor over the phone, The tensions between Ethiopia and Sudan will likely affect the GERD issue. Both sides might refuse, amid these developments, any new call for negotiations. The dispute also complicates the task of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which took the helm of the AU Feb. 6, to bring points of view closer on this matter (GERD).

She added, The recent Ethiopian behavior lacks balance on all domestic and foreign fronts, in reference to the border crisis with Sudan and its take on the GERD issue, in addition to the implications of Ethiopias war in the Tigray area on the region. She indicated that such behavior might lead to the suspension of Ethiopias membership in the AU or to international and regional sanctions on it.

Ethiopian Minister of Water, Irrigation and Energy Seleshi Bekele said Feb. 5 that Ethiopia is not concerned with the failure to reach an agreement regarding the GERD issue. He noted that more than 78% of the dams construction has been completed, adding that Ethiopia will start the second filling of the dam lake in the coming months. Sudanese Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources Yasser Abbas responded on Feb. 6, telling Reuters that Ethiopias unilateral decision to fill the dam's reservoir on the Nile River threatens Sudans national security.

Bashbishi said, The border crisis between Ethiopia and Sudan is a long one and will not end soon. The DRC must call for an urgent session between the two countries in an attempt to solve the border dispute. Otherwise, neither party will be willing to resolve the GERD issue.

Sudan and Egypt (the downstream countries) have been trying since the construction of the dam in 2011 to reach a binding legal agreement with Ethiopia (upstream country) through negotiations on the rules of filling and operating the GERD, in the framework of the Declaration of Principles signed by the three countries on March 23, 2015, in Khartoum. The declaration stipulated the adequate and fair use of the dam, commitment to do no harm, and full regional cooperation and integration. Egypt and Sudan fear the dam will affect their shares of Nile water.

Egypt, which suffers from water scarcity, fears a decrease of its share in the Nile water, which amounts to about 55.5 billion cubic meters, as a result of the GERD, which Ethiopia began to build in 2011 on the Blue Nile in an area located on the Ethiopian-Sudanese borders at an estimated cost of $4.6 billion and a maximum capacity of 74 billion cubic meters. There are also concerns the dam will affect agriculture in Sudan by retaining silt (sediment), and the decrease in the water level threatens fish wealth. Ethiopia claims that the dam is necessary for its economic development, as it would supply Ethiopia and some neighboring countries with large quantities of electricity.

Professor of politics at the University of Cairo Tarek Fahmy told Al-Monitor by phone, It is clear that the military option preempts the political option with regard to the border crisis between Ethiopia and Sudan, especially in the absence of any AU intervention to find a peaceful solution.

Fahmy does not believe new negotiations will take place now for several considerations, including the fact that Ethiopia is planning to begin the second phase of the dams filling in the coming months, and new negotiations cannot be held because they will be useless. Still, Ethiopia announced it has nothing to do with obstructing the negotiations, and Sudans situation does not allow engagement in new rounds of negotiations at this timing, he added.

Fahmy expects the DRC to declare the failure of the tripartite negotiations between Sudan, Ethiopia and Egypt in reaching an agreement on operating and managing the dam. The crisis will then be internationalized before the UN Security Council, he said.
Look Out for ME is patterned after the work of the Recreate Responsibly Coalition , a national effort to share best practices to protect ourselves and our natural landscapes. The public health crisis caused by COVID-19 has raised the importance of being outdoors for health and wellness benefits. People are seeking refuge and relief in outdoor exploration with 2020 seeing a substantial increase in the number of people spending time in nature, exploring new places and trying activities for the first time. Sales for outdoor gear and equipment saw large increases here in Maine and nationally . In addition, Maine State Parks saw a record number of visitors in 2020.

"Aside from our people, our natural resources are our biggest asset and are an integral part of our economy. DECD, through the Office of Tourism and Office of Outdoor Recreation is committed to working with other state agencies and the private sector to provide our residents and visitors with tools to safely and sustainably enjoy all Maine offers in the outdoors," said Maine Department of Economic & Community Development Commissioner Heather Johnson.

The goal of the Look Out for ME initiative is to ensure that visitors and residents alike venture out safely and responsibly, with a great respect for the land and waters. There is a downloadable toolkit with assets including logos, social media posts and printable posters for businesses and organizations to use in their communications and marketing efforts.

The Maine Office of Tourism will complement the initiative with paid digital and print advertising and roll out a summer advertising plan in April.

"As more and more people engage in outdoor activities, there is a need to ensure information is available on how to safely participate and become stewards of our natural resources. The more positive the experience, the greater the likelihood is for return visits," said Maine Office of Tourism Director Steve Lyons.

There is no indication the trend for outdoor recreating will end any time soon. A study done within the past year reported that 82% of people recreating for the first time during the pandemic say they plan to continue to do so. That's good news for Maine where outdoor recreation makes up 4.2% of Maine's economy, which more than double the national average.

Roughly 94% of Maine's forest land is privately owned, and more than half of that land area is open to the public. Maine and the people who recreate here are fortunate for the generosity of landowners who open up their land for hiking, snowmobiling, snowshoeing and more. To preserve these opportunities for generations to come, respect for the landowners and our natural resources is vital. The Look Out for ME initiative serves as a reminder of that.

"In Maine, we are fortunate to have a wealth of natural areas, a strong outdoor brand, and several private businesses that sustain and grow a thriving outdoor economy. The tools available through the Look Out for ME initiative will help the public and private sectors have a unified message of responsibility and sustainability, ultimately helping more people safely enjoy the outdoors and protecting the outdoor assets we have," said Maine Outdoor Brands Executive Director, Jenny Kordick.

The Look Out for ME information and toolkit can be found at www.visitmaine.com/look-out-for-me.

SOURCE Maine Office of Tourism

To the Editor,

Trump tried to get the elections officials in Georgia to steal a few thousand votes for him so he could win the state. They refused so he offered little support for the Republicans in the Senate run-off elections. They lost both seats so Mitch OConnell lost his Senate majority post. Mitch was just another body for Trump to throw under the bus.

Im sure Georgia will be looking at Trumps trying to steal votes now that he is out of office. New York will also be looking at Trump as the un-indicted co-conspirator of Michael Cohen in the case that sent Cohen to prison. New York will also be looking at a lot of Trumps tax returns.

The Electoral College never ceases to be a problem. Without the Electoral College, Congress would not have had to meet January 6th. Without the Electoral College the votes would have been counted in November, the winner declared, and the election would have been over. Without the Electoral College there never would have been a President Trump. That alone should be reason enough to get rid of the Electoral College.

The constitution is a great document. It is not perfect though because it has needed to be amended numerous times. It needs to be amended again to get rid of the Electoral College. A true democracy should be majority rule. You can see what minority rule has done.

Millions of people have served in the Military to preserve our democracy. Now one man wants to overthrow our government, disregard our election results, and become a dictator.

Trump met with the rioters January 6th to get them fired up about what they needed to do to try a coup. He told them to head to the Capitol and be prepared to fight. He told them he would go along with them. The rioters headed to the Capitol ready for war. Apparently Trump happened to think about his fake bone spurs and when home instead. Let the others fight. Old habits are hard to break.

Dink Abbott

Alton
The UN migration agency offices in Niger has confirmed that 183 Gambians were repatriated from their Agadez transit center in Niger in 2020, with CFA 15 million spent on facilitating return of the last batch of 30 last week.

Agadez in Niger is considered geographically positioned for migration to West and Central Africa and a transit for West African migrants travelling to and from Algeria and Libya. Last week, a group of 30 returnees landed in Banjul courtesy of IOM.

Public information officer at IOM Niger, Borothe Thienot, confirmed they have facilitated some 183 assisted voluntary returns, including those who underwent physical and mental abuse such as torture.

Among the recent group of returnees are eight (8) victims of torture. In 2019, two women were discovered to have undergone torture, while a woman and five (5) men were registered to have undergone the same in 2017.

Thienot said 183 Gambians were returned to Banjul voluntarily with IOM in 2020. This process of repatriation goes through stages and processes, including returnees being tested to be medically fit for travel back home.

"We receive a lot of sick and injured migrants to whom we provide medical care until they are fit for travel. Migrants assisted by IOM also have access to psychologists and eventually, even to psychiatrists, where needed," Ms. Eva Pons, protection officer at IOM Niger, explained in an exchange this week.

For example, CFA 30, 000 was spent on the 30 returnees last week to undergo Covid-19 tests. After they satisfied those tests, a bus is prepared for the group to travel to Niamey, at a cost of CFA 1, 080, 000.

Each Gambian is also given a pocket money of CFA 5, 000 per day. This journey takes three days before the group is scheduled to fly out of Niamey.

For the flight, each pays a ticket CFA 435, 451, totaling CFA 13, 063, 542. So, costs of travel for the group, including bus to Niamey and pocket money were equivalent to CFA 15, 493, 542.

To Eva Pons, migrants' stories are unique but IOM staff at this transit center observed some patterns among the people assisted: 92% of them are men, about 4% are women and another 4% children. A little more than 90% were returned from Algeria and were met in Assamaka (border town between Niger and Algeria).

In Assamaka, migrants are usually worn out and in quite poor condition, including health condition.

The IOM transit center in Agadez also noted that they have identified and assisted 371 victims of trafficking in their transit centers since 2017. These figures also include Gambians en route to Europe through the Sahara.

"Typically you will see that victims are women, often from Nigeria. The first form of exploitation that we encounter is sexual exploitation," explained Ms. Eva Pons, protection officer at IOM Niger.

Regarding Search and Rescue (SAR), IOM had 222 rescues (206 men and 16 boys) in 2020. There were another 220 Humanitarian Rescue Operations (HROs) from Assamaka and 2 others from Dirkou (border settlements along the Algeria-Niger border).

"The vast majority are expelled from Algeria: Some also have been saved when they got lost in the desert near Libya... They are mostly ECOWAS citizens (Mali and Guinea, and mostly Senegal, Nigeria and Burkina Faso)," said Dorothe Thienot, public information officer, IOM Niger.

This list includes Gambians too. However, these other nationalities are the most important these days, Thienot added.

The 1,000-migrant capacity Agadez transit center has been a point of call for migrants who have stayed on the move for many years and tend to have experienced more difficulties during their journeys.

"We do for instance see that conditions experienced in Libya are constantly poor, with high prevalence of detention, violence, abuse and exploitation. We also do witness migrants who have experienced abuses in Algeria, notably abusive working conditions for undocumented migrant workers (for instance in construction)," said Eva Pons, protection officer at IOM Niger.

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She explained that they also observed some migrants "may be subject to exploitation and abuses" during their transit time in Niger. These come about either while they tried to work there to raise funds to move further on their irregular journeys and in the process, become exploited; or when they are trying to contract a trafficker to assist them with their movements, also resulting in their abuse.

In worst instances, such situations can end in human trafficking.

Women, even though represent a small part of the total number assisted in Niger, tend to be particularly exposed to abuses and violence, including gender-based violence, Eva said.

Overall, there is a significant drop in Gambians traveling through the Sahara to Europe in past few years, compared to past five to ten years.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-11 10:47:44|Editor: huaxia

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TOKYO, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga has sent his congratulations to overseas Chinese in Japan on the upcoming Spring Festival, or Chinese Lunar New Year.

Through a public letter published Thursday on Chubun, a Chinese language newspaper in Japan, the Japanese prime minister sent his greetings to the Chinese people in Japan ahead of the traditional Chinese festival.

Suga said that he has held phone talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping and other leaders since taking office last year as prime minister. The steady development of Japan-China relations is of great significance not only to the two countries, but also to the region and the international community as well.

Japan is ready to work with China to continue to shoulder the responsibility of addressing the common issues facing the region and the international community, said Suga.

Currently, Japan is going all out to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, said the Japanese leader. It is hoped that everything will recover as soon as possible to bring comfort and hope to everyone.

According to Suga, overseas Chinese in Japan have served as a bridge for the development of Japan-China relations over the past years. He would like to take the opportunity to express his gratitude to all the Chinese friends and wish them good luck and prosperity in the new year. Enditem
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Over the years, there has been a rise in the demand for convenient and efficient drug delivery systems for patients that rely on prescription drugs on a regular basis.

This creates a lucrative opportunity for pharmaceutical manufacturers all over the world to develop sophisticated, easy-to-use, and effective injectable drug delivery devices. Moreover, rise in the prevalence of chronic diseases such as diabetes, cancer, and rheumatoid arthritis are likely to fuel the growth of the injectable drug delivery market during the forecast period.

Get Sample Copy of Report @ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/3774

Company Profiles

Eli Lilly and Company

Biocon

Becton, Dickinson & Company

West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc.

Johnson & Johnson

Antares Pharma

AbbVie Inc.

Pfizer Inc.

Mylan NV

Vetter Pharma-Fertigung GmbH & Co.KG

Emperra GmbH

Digital Medics Pty Ltd

Enable Injections LLC

Insulet corporation

Consort Medical Plc

Diabnext

Diamesco Co., Ltd

SCHOTT AG

SiO2 Medical Products

Integrity Bio, Inc.

Wilhelm Haselmeier GmbH & Co. KG

Tandem Diabetes Care

Sanofi S.A.

Companion Medical Inc.

Ypsomed

Hoffman  La Roche Ltd.

Novo Nordisk A/S

Medtronic Plc.

The global injectable drug delivery market was valued at US$ 30.5 Bn in 2018, and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of around 9% during the forecast period (20192029).

Key Takeaways of Injectable Drug Delivery Market Study

Insulin pens contributed the most share to the injectable drug delivery market in 2018 , due to the rising prevalence of diabetes in developing countries.

, due to the rising prevalence of diabetes in developing countries. Non-smart injector technology accounted for a prominent share in the global injectable drug delivery market in 2018 , due to increase in the adoption of advanced technology and rising demand for smartphone-integrated products.

, due to increase in the adoption of advanced technology and rising demand for smartphone-integrated products. Rise in the demand for connected devices and the high cost of such devices offer growth opportunities for manufacturers of reusable injectable drug delivery devices.

Diabetes indication is expected to continue to hold a prominent position in the injectable drug delivery market throughout the forecast period.

Increase in the number of pharmaceutical manufacturers has contributed to the dominance of North America in the global injectable drug delivery market.

Attributed to growing awareness regarding various diseases such as cancer and diabetes, East Asia is expected to register notable growth opportunities for the injectable drug delivery market.

Get To Know Methodology of Report @ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/methodology/3774

Smart injectable drug delivery devices not only improve patient compliance to treatment but also collect extensive data that is valuable for future research. Rising demand for connected injectable drug delivery devices will offer significant growth opportunity for the injectable drug delivery market, says a PMR analyst.

Trends in Smart Injectable Drug Delivery Technologies

There are many research and pipeline products that will have the ability to connect with smartphones and trackers. However, current smart products are predominantly available as reusable devices.

This is attributed to the current state of technology that requires further advancements to apply to disposable products. According to a number of studies and key opinion leaders in the industry, there are a number of factors that limit disposable injectable drug delivery devices from being integrated with smart / connecting technologies.

Some of these factors include high cost of Bluetooth integration, low range connectivity with NFC, and lack of power source for connectivity. Thus, although disposable injectable drug delivery will continue holding a larger share throughout the forecast period, reusable injectable drug delivery devices have the potential to grow at a relatively faster rate, at least in the first five years of the forecast period.

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More Valuable Insights on Injectable Drug Delivery Market

Persistence Market Research offers a unique perspective and actionable insights on the injectable drug delivery market in its latest study.

The report presents historical demand assessment of 20142018 and projections for 20192029 , on the basis of product (self-injectors, needle-free injectors, auto injectors, wearable injectors, and insulin pens), technology (non-smart injectors and smart injectors), usage (disposable injectors and reusable injectors), indication (anaphylaxis, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, trauma and emergency, and others), and distribution channel (hospital pharmacies, drug stores, retail pharmacies , and online pharmacies), across seven regions.

Toyota Motor Corp. plans to launch two new battery-powered vehicles in the U.S. this year, revising its earlier tentative position on electric vehicles and trucks.

The automaker said Wednesday it will start selling the unnamed EVs and an unspecified plug-in hybrid model, adding to a lineup with several gas-electric hybrids that accounted for almost one-fifth of its total U.S. deliveries last year.

Toyota withdrew from EVs in the U.S. seven years ago when it ceased production of an all-electric version of its best-selling RAV4 crossover sport-utility vehicle.

The move to expand beyond hybrids represents a reversal of that cautious stance and comes at a time when rivals such as General Motors Co. are planning dozens of EVs and aiming to cease output of gasoline-powered models entirely by 2035.

Toyota sells limited numbers of a fuel-cell-powered sedan called the Mirai, but its executives in the U.S. said as recently as last year that they hadnt seen enough demand to justify a broader lineup of battery-powered models.

Toyota said 25% of its new-vehicle sales will be electrified by 2025  not far from what it expects to sell in the U.S. this year. But it added that the share will rise to almost 70% by 2030.
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A New Hampshire senator called his female colleague a 'b***h' after she recessed a hearing over Zoom for 10 minutes to talk to her hospitalized daughter's doctor.

Sen. Sharon Carson, a Republican from Londonderry, was chairing the meeting when she announced that she needed to temporarily pause the committee to taker the call.

But Sen. John Reagan, R-Deerfield was unaware he was unmuted during the remote hearing of the Executive Departments and Administration Committee on Wednesday.

New Hampshire senator John Reagan called his female colleague Sen. Sharon Carson a 'b***h' after she recessed a hearing over Zoom for 10 minutes to talk to her hospitalized daughter's doctor

'I'm going to put the committee in recess for 10 minutes,' she said.

The move prompted the vulgar reaction from state Sen. Reagan.

'Nobody else can do anything. Right,' he said, followed by b***h.

As the meeting adjourned later, Reagan said, 'Apologies for my recorded outburst previously.'

In an email to the Associated Press later he called his remark an 'an open mic zoom goof.'

Sen. Sharon Carson, a Republican from Londonderry, was leading the meeting of the Executive Departments and Administration Committee

Carson, who thanked Reagan for the apology, did not respond to a request for further comment.

Senate President Chuck Morse, a Republican from Salem, called the comment 'inappropriate and disappointing.'

'I expect that all Senators will be respectful to their colleagues and the public while carrying out Senate business,' he said in a statement.

Senate Democratic Leader Donna Soucey, of Manchester, said lawmakers 'should be held to the highest standards of respect and decorum.'

'Senator Reagan's derogatory comments directed toward Senator Carson today were cruel and entirely unacceptable,' she said in a statement.
A glance at some of the day's highlights from the Proactive Investors newswire

S&U PLC ( ) said its trading remains robust and profitable despite the current lockdown, and that it is planning for a significant rebound to pre-[coronavirus] motor finance transaction levels as lockdown restrictions ease this year as well a substantial increase in business for its Aspen property bridging arm.

( ) has updated on its 2020 trading performance following what it said was a record month in December thanks to its content licensing business.

( ) said in a statement ahead of its annual general meeting (AGM) that demand for the commodities it produces remains robust. Reviewing the year since the last AGM, executive chairman Loucas Pouroulis said the group has put in a strong operational performance, despite the disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

PLC ( ) has launched a pioneering new type of concrete block that does not contain cement. The ultra-low carbon concrete building block is unique in the UK market, the company said.

(LON:ALGW, OTCQB: ALPGF) said it is acquiring an unnamed Bermuda-based insurance company supported by an oversubscribed 3.75mln share placing.

( ) has unearthed high grade gold in a surface sampling programme at the Dabakala concession, Cote d'Ivoire.

Landore Resources Limited ( ) said drilling on the BAM gold deposit at its Junior Lake Property in Ontario continues to reveal visible gold in several intersections.

( ) told investors the companys September 2020 North Sea licence award has been formalised. It confirms the award of Merged Licence P2498 from last years 32nd Offshore Licensing Round.

( ) described its performance in 2020 as resilient as it weathered the impact of the global pandemic.

FastForward Innovations Ltd ( ) said Yooma Corp, in which it held a 10.65% interest, has completed its reverse take-over of Globalive Technology Inc by way of a statutory plan of arrangement and will begin trading under the name Yooma Wellness (CNSX:YOOM) on the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) today.

Salt Lake Potash Limited ( ) has completed its A$52mln fundraising, placing 130mln new ordinary shares as first announced in December. The second tranche of 5.025mln shares placed with directors has been completed following shareholder approval at the general meeting on January 22, including 3mln subscribed for by the chairman Ian Middlemas and 500,000 by chief executive Tony Swiericzuk. The company also issued 500,000 Ordinary Shares to an employee in lieu of 500,000 performance rights that had vested, but expired on December 31, 2021.

88 Energy Limited ( ) said it is now fully funded for all planned activity through to the end of the calendar year after completing a placing with domestic and international institutional and sophisticated investors, raising A$12mln as planned. Managing director Dave Wall said: While the path to spud of Merlin-1 has been challenging, the prize is more than worth it, and we look forward to commencement of drilling in around three weeks. We now also have funding to drill the Harrier prospect, in addition to Merlin, which provides a combined gross aggregate target of over 1bn barrels of recoverable oil, on trend to large existing discoveries immediately to both the north and south of the project area.

's Albion Development VCT has reached its 10mln limit, including a 3mln over-allotment facility, with its offer for subscription now fully subscribed and closed to further applications. Offers of the two companies still participating in Albion's VCT top-up round remain open.

Albion's VC arm has also led a 14mln funding round for data management specialist Solidatus, it said, which included investment from banking giants and Citigroup. AlbionVCs Jay Wilson will join the Solidatus board of directors as part of the investment.

( ) said it has raised 500,000 from the sale of convertible securities to existing investor Bergen, providing funding to the middle of 2021 and allowing it to accelerate testing and development activities.

DiscoverIE Group PLC ( ) said the 14.5mln (12.8mln) acquisition of Limitor GmbH has been completed. The deal, which was announced in early December, was subject to regulatory approvals that have now been received. A contingent payment of up to 3.5mln (3.1mln) may be payable subject to the business achieving certain profit growth targets over the next three years.

Metal Tiger (AIM: MTR) announce that it has received warrant conversion notices for 31,034, with 155,171 new shares issued as a result.

( ) is a potentially interesting addition to growth portfolios and for investors looking for income, according to a new note from broker Kepler. The investment trust team has produced a new piece of research about the trust, which is free to read for UK investors here: https://www.trustintelligence.co.uk/investor/articles/fund-research-investor-bb-healthcare-retail-feb-2021

( ) announced that it will report its 2020 annual results on Tuesday March 9. The company will host a virtual analyst presentation at noon on the day, followed by a Q&A session accessible via conference call or webcast at https://arixbioscience.com/investor-relations/events-presentations.

( ) said it has written to all registered shareholders regarding its intention to adopt electronic communication methods for shareholder documents. The company said it is seeking to adopt electronic communication in order to improve its environmental sustainability efforts and ensure timely and cost-effective communications with all shareholders.
The Daily Beast

Screenshot/YouTubeA Christian diet guru and six other people are presumed dead after her small plane crashed into the waters of Tennessee lake on Saturday morning. Authorities were called to the Percy Priest Lake around 11 a.m., not long after the plane took off from the nearby Smyrna Rutherford County Airport. Late Saturday evening, investigators said they believed all seven passengers had perished. The cause of the crash is still under investigation. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Joe Lara (@joelaraofficial) The plane, a Cessna C501, belonged Gwen Shamblin Lara, founder of the Remnant Fellowship Church and author of The Weigh Down Workshop, and her husband William J. Lara, who went by Joe. The couple lived in nearby Brentwood and had registered the plane via their company JL&GL Productions LP. The aircraft has not been located, but Tennessee Highway Patrol told News Channel 5 that officers located debris consistent with a Cessna C501 and that a small plane had been seen descending into the water near a boat ramp early Saturday.Laras daughter, Elizabeth Hannah, sent a text message to members of the Remnant Fellowship Church saying that her mother and father were aboard the aircraft when it was forced to make a quick, controlled landing. All the planes passengers had ties to the church, including Hannahs own husband Brandon, according to her text. The others aboard were David and Jennifer Martin and Jonathan and Jessica Walters, according to authorities.My brother and I are asking for immediate prayers right now, as we have just gotten word that Gwen and Joe Laras plane had to go down, Hannah wrote before authorities said everyone appeared to have been killed. More information to come, but be in prayerand be at peace, the message continued. GOD IS IN CONTROL, and we will not stop moving forward with WHAT GOD WANTS with this church.Read more at The Daily Beast.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.
Israeli drama series, Valley of Tears, set against the backdrop of the 1973 Arab-Israeli War, premieres in March.

This is a 10 part series which premiered in the US in November.

Inspired by true events and filmed in Hebrew, this compelling 10-episode series explores the Yom Kippur war, when Arab states led by Egypt and Syria launched a surprise attack on Israel on the holiest day in the Jewish calendar, Yom Kippur.

Through its magnified, unflinching lens, Valley of Tears reveals the tension, anxiety and trauma of a fateful war.

Valley of Tears focuses on the universality of heroism and sacrifice through four intertwined stories: a journalist searching for his estranged, newly-enlisted son; a commander and an intelligence analyst forced to flee their base near the Syrian border; three friends on a tank crew facing political and personal conflicts; and a female officer who remains on the frontlines, despite orders to evacuate.

Directed by Yaron Zilberman and based on a screenplay by Ron Leshem, Valley of Tears stars Aviv Alush, Joy Rieger and Lior Ashkenazi. The series is an HBO Max Original and is exclusive in Australia to the Foxtel group.

Tuesday, March 9 at 9.30pm on FOX Showcase.

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There was "nothing wrong" with President Hage Geingob opening parliament virtually, as remote presentations are now part and parcel of the new norm, political analysts argued yesterday.

Geingob on Tuesday came under heavy criticism from opposition leaders with some questioning him over his decision to address parliament from the comfort of his office.

Political analyst and senior lecturer in the department of communication at the Namibia University of Science and Technology (Nust), Admire Mare yesterday said for opposition leaders to criticise Geingob's virtual address highlights that some political actors are struggling to embrace the new normal with regards to virtual meetings and parliamentary sessions.

"People are used to in-person addresses which is fine, but we are living in dangerous and fluid times. Thus, a pre-recorded or a live presentation are part and parcel of our new normal," he said. Political commentator and director of the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) Graham Hopwood said in view of the current health concerns around the Covid-19 pandemic, he is of the opinion that the President's decision to present his parliament opening speech in a virtual manner was justifiable.

However, he said, as matter of courtesy, members of parliament should have been informed beforehand that the speech would be delivered in this way.

"If the same conditions apply for the Sona (State of the Nation Address) in a couple of months, it would be important to make sure the speech is delivered live and that there is an interactive component whereby MPs can ask questions," Hopwood said. Another commentator Ndumba Kamwanyah also shared similar sentiments, saying that there is nothing wrong with Geingob opening the parliament virtually. However, he was quick to add: "I think consultation with all the stakeholders would have averted what we have witnessed on Tuesday.

The President's decision to address parliament virtually has distracted the President's message from being the main story. Now the President is the story in that the people are talking about his pre-recorded speech and that he ran away to avoid being asked about the rot." Presidential spokesperson Alfredo Hengari yesterday told New Era that Geingob's virtual address during the opening of parliament is consistent with health protocols as advised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the state of alert in the country with regard to the deadly Covid-19 pandemic.

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"It is in that same vein that the President opened, also virtually the legal year 2021. Covid-19 is not a light issue and has affected many Namibians, including members of parliament," he explained.

Therefore, he said, Geingob following consultation with the Speaker of the National Assembly Peter Katjavivi agreed in favour of the virtual address in the same manner as he did with the Chief Justice Peter Shivute in opening Legal Year yesterday.

"The focus should be on the message of the President, imploring on MPs to serve in unison the Namibian people as the ultimate sovereigns with dedication and urgency in order to fight inequality and poverty," Hengari stressed. He said, as Namibians, discussion should be about the tangible message Geingob shared with MPs and not the inconsequential debate about the virtual delivery of the statement.

"Under Covid-19, leaders are participating in virtual meetings and there is a need to embrace that new normal," he concluded.
Mayfield said she made sure the state sent the district the money it needed based on formulas established under state law because Waukegan has a high percentage of low-income families and others who merit help. She does not want to get into operational details.
China's broadcasting regulator has moved to pull BBC News off the air in the country over a "serious content violation," the Chinese state news agency Xinhua reported Thursday.

China's National Radio and Television Administration (NRTA) said in an announcement on its website that the broadcaster, which is partly funded by the British state but editorially independent, had "undermined China's national interests and ethnic solidarity."

Chinese state media greeted the news with a sense of triumph, while U.S. and British officials have criticized the decision. British Foreign Minister Dominic Raab called the move an "unacceptable curtailing of media freedom."

The BBC is "disappointed that the Chinese authorities have decided to take this course of action," a spokeswoman for the broadcaster said in an email to reporters. "The BBC is the world's most trusted international news broadcaster and reports on stories from around the world fairly, impartially and without fear or favor."

The announcement, which arrived with the Lunar New Year holiday in China, followed recent disputes between Chinese officials and BBC News.

It also came just a week after Britain's media regulator pulled the Chinese state-run television channel CGTN off British airwaves because of alleged errors in an application to transfer its license to another company.

In December, BBC News produced a report that alleged the forced labor of ethnic minority Uighurs in China's cotton industry in Xinjiang. Chinese state media bristled at the work, calling it "fake news" and accusing the BBC of political bias.

"Far from being fake news, our evidence, along with the post-publication propaganda designed to undermine it, is proof of a coordinated effort to control the narrative, extending from the shadowy minders in unmarked cars, all the way up to the national government," John Sudworth, one of the team who reported the story, later wrote.

BBC News also produced a lengthy report detailing allegations of systematic rape in Xinjiang camps where Uighurs and other minorities are held.

China's NRTA did not detail precisely why BBC News was being pulled off air or how the move might affect the organization's staff in the country, but it said any new applications for a license would not be considered.

The Global Times, a newspaper run by the Chinese Communist Party, said the BBC would no longer be available anywhere on the Chinese mainland. Some Chinese academics who spoke to the Global Times, known for its nationalistic stance, said the next step may be to expel journalists.

Even before the ban, BBC News was not available widely in China, mostly limited to hotels that cater to foreigners. Even so, it comes amid a wave of restrictions on foreign journalists in recent years that has seen a number of reporters be arrested or have their credentials pulled.

In a tweet shortly after the announcement, Raab said the Chinese decision was an "unacceptable curtailing of media freedom" and noted that China already had some of the "most severe restrictions" on media and Internet freedoms in the world.

"This latest step will only damage China's reputation in the eyes of the world," he added.

State Department spokesman Ned Price said at a briefing Thursday that the U.S. government condemned the decision to ban BBC News, adding that China maintained "one of the most controlled and most oppressive, least-free information spaces in the world."

The Office of Communications (OFCOM), Britain's broadcast regulator, did not cite the content of the English-language CGTN in revoking its license. The regulator conducted an investigation that concluded the license was wrongfully held by a company called Star China Media.

OFCOM stated that its investigation had found the company did not control CGTN's content, as required by British law, and that editorial decisions were made by China Central Television, a company that is controlled by the Chinese Communist Party and that is not eligible to hold a license due to its state links.

A last-minute attempt to register the license to another company was also rejected due to missing information on the application, OFCOM said.

In a response to the OFCOM decision, reported by the Guardian newspaper, CGTN drew comparisons between the BBC and other state-funded broadcasters, such as Japan's NHK. The BBC has long maintained that there is a distinction between state-controlled broadcasters and those that receive public funding but are editorially independent.
Lome, Feb 6 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 6th Feb, 2021 ) :Togo's media watchdog has suspended a pro-opposition newspaper for four months for allegedly defaming a government minister.

It is not the first time the biweekly L'Alternative has fallen foul of the authorities in the tiny West African state.

The country's communications authority HAAC, which regulates the media, suspended the paper on Friday after a complaint from Housing Minister Koffi Tsolenyanu, who is also a notary.

A report in L'Alternative had questioned Tsolenyanu's administration of the estate of wealthy trader Georges Kudawoo, who died in 1940.

The HAAC said the paper's director had provided no proof of its allegations during a hearing on Friday, and had declined to rectify the story.

It said the paper had "defamed and harmed the honour and dignity" of the minister and had failed to respect a professional code of conduct.

L'Alternative was also suspended in March last year after a complaint by France's former ambassador about an article.

Togo is often accused by rights groups of cracking down on opposition politicians and media.
Councilwoman Emma Sharif Launches Bid for Mayor of Compton

This week, Councilwoman Emma Sharif officially launched her campaign for Mayor of Compton. Sharif released the following statement as she formally entered the race for Mayor:

I would like to first thank Mayor Aja Brown for leading our city over the last years. She has lead Compton through some turbulent times and it has been my pleasure to work alongside her to accomplish great things for our beloved Hub City. Since being re-elected to the city council in 2019, we have accomplished the following:

Completed $5.9 million in street repairs

Approved $45 million in revenue bonds to fund additional street repairs

Stood up a COVID-19 Testing Site in Compton

Created a Homeless Outreach Plan and provided services to 90 individuals

Hired an Anti-Graffiti painter

Approved a $1.2 million Tree trimming contract

Built or approved over 500 units of housing

Worked with Assemblyman Mike Gipson to revitalize the Compton Creek

Although we have much to be proud of as a city, we still have work to do to increase the quality of life for all Compton residents. I look forward to working with the council, staff and residents to take Compton to the next level. My administration will focus on tackling the homeless issue, finishing street repair projects, recruiting businesses that will bring revenue to the city and increasing programs and resources for our seniors.

Councilwoman Sharif, a 30-year resident of Compton who raised her four children in the city, is battle-tested, honest, transparent, and has remained true to the people she serves. Emma Sharif holds a Bachelors Degree in Political Science/Sociology; and a Masters Degree in Public Administration. Prior to being elected to the city council, Emma served the City of Compton as an elected School Board Member and proud union member in the Compton Education Association. She represents the city on several regional boards and serves as an elected member of the California Democratic Party State Central Committee.

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Bangladesh police this week formally charged three journalists under the Digital Security Act (DSA) for publishing material alleged to have the potential to destroy communal harmony and create unrest. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) strongly condemns the charges under the draconian act and the flagrant and ongoing intimidation by police against Bangladesh media workers.

Photographer Shafiqul Islam Kajol was charged on February 8, while cartoonist Ahmed Kabir Kishore and writer Mushtaq Ahmed were both charged on February 4. Bangladeshs DSA, adopted in October 2018, puts dangerous restrictions on freedom of expression and is regularly used by authorities to silence criticism. During 2020, arrests under the DSA increased significantly to crack down on Covid-19 rumours.

Ramna police charged Kishore and Ahmed, along with Rashtrochinta activist Didarul Islam Bhuiyan, on February 4 with violations of the DSA including the publishing of propaganda, false or offensive information, and information that could destroy communal harmony and create unrest. The charges carry a maximum penalty of 10 million taka (US $118,000) and up to 10 years imprisonment.

Four days later, on February 8, Kajol, a photographer and editor of Pakkhakal Sahfiqual magazine, was charged in Dhaka for allegedly criticising political leaders and spreading false, offensive and defamatory information on his personal Facebook page. Each charge carries a penalty of three years in prison. Kajol also faces another five years imprisonment for another charge of unauthorized use of identity information, as well as a fine of 300,000 to 500,000 taka (US$3,500-$6,000).

The case against Kishore and Ahmed was originally filed at Ramna Police station on May 6, 2020 by Abu Bakar Siddique, the assistant director of the third branch of Bangladeshs Rapid Action Battalion (RAB). The paramilitary force is accused widely by human rights groups of abuse of power and serious human rights violations. The two journalists were among 11 people indicted the same day, including Swedish-Bangladeshi journalist Tasneem Khalil, US-based journalist Shahed Alam and German blogger Asif Mohiuddia. However, only Kishore, Ahmed and Bhuiyan were charged after a reported lack of evidence against the other eight accused. Kishore and Ahmed have both been held in prison for nine months, with bail petitions rejected as many as six times.

The journalists are being prosecuted under Section 25(1) (b), Section 31 and Section 35 of the DSA, which forbids any campaign, "against the Liberation War of Bangladesh, the cognition of the Liberation War, Father of the Nation, National Anthem or National Flag", anyone "tarnishing the image of the nation or spread confusions" or attempting to "create hostility, hatred or adversity among people or destroy any communal harmony or create unrest or disorder or deteriorates or threatens to deteriorate law and order."

Shafiqul Islam Kajol has been repeatedly intimidated over the past year, after he published an allegedly defamatory article on social media about a member of parliament for the Awami League, Saifuzzaman Shikor. On March 20, 2020, Kajol was reported missing in a suspected 'enforced disappearance' by Bangladesh authorities and was later arrested under the DSA on May 2. He was released from prison on December 25.

The IFJ said: Bangladeshs oppressive Digital Security Act has been put into overdrive for abuse since the onset of Covid-19 with dire consequences for press freedom. The IFJ calls on the Bangladesh government and police to cease the threats and attacks on journalists, social media users and media rights activists and to dismiss all charges against Kishore, Ahmed and Kajol.

A new report from Bloomberg details multiple automotive manufacturers who might partner with Apple for its ambitious car project.

Even though Apple Car is still a few years away, the company is looking all geared-up for the project. The huge amount of leaks over the last months have suggested that the car might be a reality sooner than later. With Kia and Hyundai out of the equation, Apple is now, reportedly, looking towards other car manufacturers for its car project. A new report from Bloomberg today discusses potential manufacturers Apple could partner with.

Foxconn

Surprisingly enough, the first one on the list is Foxconn. Even though the company has no experience in manufacturing automobiles, the report cites that Foxconn already has a close relationship with Apple. Foxconn has already introduced its electric vehicle chassis and software platform designed to help carmakers bring models to market faster. Foxconn is also aiming to release a solid-state battery by 2024, the year in which Apple Car would enter production (supposedly).

Manga

The report claims that Magna might be a perfect fit for Apple since the company already has some experience in contract manufacturing. Apple, just like all their products, wants control over the car, and just wants a manufacturer to produce it. This is the reason why talks between Kia and Apple halted because both the companies wanted the charge of the car.

Nissan

The report also suggests that Nissan might be a potential Apple car manufacturer, though its seen as a long shot. The company has had a slump in its revenue, and could get much-needed revenue from helping Apple develop or manufacture its vehicle. Nissans CEO Makoto Uchida also said during an earnings news conference that Nissan has the DNA to do things others wont do.

Stellantis

Though unheard of, Stellantis might be a key candidate for manufacturing Apple Car. Its CEO Carlos Tavares said that Stellantis is open to working with Apple or any tech company on EVs, as long as it doesnt create any technology dependence that would jeopardize the automakers future.

We Want to Hear From You

What are your expectations from Apple Car? Which manufacturer would you like Apple to partner with for the car? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below!

[Via Bloomberg
Washington: US President Joe Biden has expressed his fundamental concerns about China's coercive and unfair trade practices, its crackdown in Hong Kong, human rights abuses in Xinjiang and increasingly assertive actions in the region in his first telephonic conversation with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.

The phone call between the two leaders came hours after the Pentagon announced a task force on China. This was the first phone call between the two leaders after Biden was sworn in as the 46th President of the United States on January 20.

During the phone call, Biden shared his greetings and well wishes with the Chinese people on the occasion of Lunar New Year. Biden affirmed his priorities of protecting the American people's security, prosperity, health, and way of life, and preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific, the White House said in a readout of the call.

China claims almost all of the 1.3 million square-mile South China Sea as its sovereign territory. China has been building military bases on artificial islands in the region also claimed by Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam.

President Biden underscored his fundamental concerns about Beijing's coercive and unfair economic practices, the crackdown in Hong Kong, human rights abuses in Xinjiang, and increasingly assertive actions in the region, including toward Taiwan, the White House said.

The militaries of China and India have been engaged in a tense standoff in eastern Ladakh since early May last year. Biden had earlier said he would not immediately cancel the trade agreement that former President Donald Trump struck with China nor take steps to remove tariffs on Chinese exports.

His administration is planning a sweeping review of the previous Trump administration's posture toward China, including its crackdown on unfair trade practices and antagonistic military activities in Asia.

China has faced severe criticism from Western countries, including the US, over persistent reports of the mass detention of Uighurs and other minorities in Xinjiang. Biden administration officials have also condemned China's attacks on pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong.

China has ramped up a crackdown in Hong Kong after imposing a new law against subversion following major protests in the city. The two countries also have differences over Taiwan.

China resents US support for Taiwan, which Beijing views as a rebel province that must be reunified with the mainland, even by force. During the phone call, Biden and Xi also exchanged views on countering the COVID-19 pandemic, and the shared challenges of global health security, climate change, and preventing weapons proliferation.

Biden is committed to pursuing practical, results-oriented engagements when it advances the interests of the American people and those of our allies, the White House said. Biden's call with Xi comes after his conversation with the leaders of his key allies and friends in Indo-Pacific: Australia, Japan, India and South Korea.

Live TV

(With Agency inputs)

Bhubaneswar, Feb 11 : After the Centre's notification withdrawl of the draft bylaws of National Monuments Authority (NMA) for Jagannath Temple in Puri, Odisha government has requested the NMA to withdraw the same for Lingaraj and Brahmeswar Temples in Bhubaneswar.

The Commissioner of the Endowment, Odisha and Khurda district Collector, who is also the president of Lord Lingaraj Temple Trust Board, urged the NMA to withdraw the notification immediately.

The two letters written to the NMA were released to media on Thursday.

The draft rules prohibit construction works around the Temples.

"Recently, the state government has acquired lands and properties for strengthening safety and security of the centuries old Shrine and also beautification of the peripheral areas for the projects under Ekamra Development Plan," said Khurda Collector S.K. Mohanty.

He said this project will also provide pilgrims with facilities such as drinking water, cloak rooms and Queue Management System.

These properties have been acquired by the state government through negotiations and most of the people have come forward to contribute their lands and properties for the purpose of this project, he said.

"This was possible because of the deep religious and spiritual connection with Lord Lingaraj of the people who owned these properties. These people agreed to part away with their ancestral properties for the comforts of millions of devotees who visit Bhubaneswar to catch a glimpse of Lord Lingaraj at Lingaraj Temple," the Collector said in the letter.

It was to get the technical know-how of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) for conservation of the ancient built structure, the trustees of Lord Lingaraj Temple Trust Board entered into an agreement with Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) on 10th February 1958.

"The agreement restricts and codifies duties and responsibilities of ASI vis-a-vis Temple Trust. The bare reading of agreement indicates that the importance of Lord Lingaraj Temple as one of the Shiva Pitha for hindus all over the world was given due consideration, when the Trust Board agreed to involve ASI in certain conservation works of ancient built structures," the Collector said.

Similarly, CR Mohapatra, Commissioner of Endowments, Odisha has written to the NMA urging it for withdrawal of heritage bye-laws framed for Brahmeswar Temple, Bhubaneswar.
A mother of two who was subjected to a serious assault in Ennis last month has lost her fight for life in hospital.

Wexford native, Sharon Bennett (29) died at University Hospital Limerick in the early hours of Wednesday morning 13 days after she was admitted to the hospital.

Ms Bennett was brought to hospital suffering serious head injuries after being allegedly assaulted by her boyfriend, Patrick Ballard (34) in Ennis's Market area on the evening of Thursday, January 28th last.

The mayor of Clare, Cllr Mary Howard (FG) said today: It is absolutely heartbreaking to hear that two children will be left without their mother."

The Ennis based councillor stated: It is so sad that they grow up and their Mammy isnt there.

Ms Bennett had her two children from a previous relationship and Cllr Howard stated: My thoughts and prayers are with her family and her friends who are absolutely heartbroken at this time and I say that on behalf of the people of Clare.

Cllr Howard commented: There was great fight in Sharon to fight for 13 days but it wasnt to be."

Supt Brendan McDonagh of Ennis Garda Station stated: It is very sad. Sharon Bennett had severe injuries to her brain and unfortunately she didnt make it.

Supt McDonagh confirmed that Ms Bennett passed away in the early hours of this morning at Limerick hospital.

Supt McDonagh stated that Gardai have allocated a level of resources into the investigation to date that would be normally given to a murder investigation.

He stated that following Ms Bennetts death we will be reviewing the charge as it stands. The accused has been charged with assault causing harm and we will consult with the DPP on the matter of further charges.

Supt McDonagh stated that Gardai will also await the results of the post mortem on Ms Bennetts remains and the post mortem is due to be carried out by Acting State Pathologist, Dr Linda Mulligan on Wednesday afternoon.

Supt McDonagh stated that Ms Bennett was originally from Co Wexford.

He stated: Sharon had been living in the Corofin area of Clare before moving into the Ennis area. Sharon had been living in the Clare area for a number of years.

Tributes were being paid online to Ms Bennett today with one describing Sharon as an absolute angel with another saying that Sharon was always so pleasant with a lovely smile.

Supt McDonagh stated that Ms Bennett is the first woman to die in a violent situation in a long time in County Clare.

Figures from Womens Aid show that Ms Bennett is the third woman to suffer a violent death to date this year.

This compares to a total of four for 2020 and five for 2019.

Patrick Ballard of Ashford Court Hotel, Ennis has been charged with assault causing harm of Ms Bennett and is currently on remand in custody at Limerick prison.

Mr Ballard is due to appear in Ennis court again via video link concerning the alleged assault next month.

When charged and cautioned by Det Garda Noelle Bergin on January 29th at Ennis Gardai Station, Mr Ballard replied Im sorry for what happened.

Det Bergin told the special court sitting in Ennis on Saturday evening January 30th that Ms Bennett had remained unconscious in hospital since the alleged assault as a result of sustaining serious head injuries.

Det Bergin told the court that Gardai has received a number of independent eye witnesses statements concerning the alleged assault as part of their investigation.

She stated that some of the independent witness statements are from people who were in the area at the time going about their business.

The detective stated that CCTV footage from a number of premises in the vicinity of the alleged assault has also been harvested.

Det Bergin stated that Gardai were also opposing bail concerning the seriousness of the charge before the court.

Det Bergin stated that Mr Ballard is a drug user and an alcoholic.

Solicitor for Mr Ballard, Tara Godfrey told the court that Mr Ballard has been living under the care of the Simon Community at the Ashford Court hotel in Ennis.

Ms Godfrey stated that Mr Ballard suffers from significant psychiatric difficulties and has spent the last number of years more often than not homeless.

Ms Godfrey told the court that Mr Ballard tried to take his own life on two occasions in the two weeks prior to the alleged assault on Ms Bennett.

Ms Godfrey stated that Mr Ballard has also recently spent time at the acute psychiatric unit in Ennis.

In court, Ms Godfrey described Mr Ballard as a most vulnerable person.

After failing to secure bail in the district court, Mr Ballard is scheduled to apply for bail in the High Court on Thursday, February 11th.
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[February 11, 2021] AIO and Finastra awarded $1M grant from the BIRD Foundation to expedite banks' customer onboarding and loan origination

LAKE MARY, Fla. and TEL AVIV, Israel, Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- AIO - Verified Financial Identity, a Fintech company based in Tel Aviv, and Finastra, today announced that they have been awarded a USD $1 million grant from the Board of Governors of the Israel-U.S. Binational Industrial Research and Development (BIRD) Foundation for the co-development of a digital customer onboarding solution. Developed by AIO and available on Finastra's FusionFabric.cloud open developer platform and app marketplace, the solution automates the process of establishing the financial identity of a loan applicant in order to meet Know Your Customer (KYC)/Know Your Business (KYB) regulations. The project received the largest available grant through the BIRD Foundation following a thorough review by BIRD-appointed evaluators from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) of the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Israel Innovation Authority. Driving factors that led to the grant being awarded to AIO and Finastra include the creation of an innovative solution that solves real-world problems and the ease with which financial institutions can leverage that technology. "It is an honor to be recognized by the BIRD Foundation for a solution that will fundamentally change how financial institutions assess loan applications, bringing tremendous efficiency to what is often an inefficient process," says Yoram Bechler, Co-founder and CEO at AIO. "In the world of COVID-19 there is also heightened demand and urgency for business loans. Our solution enables financial institutions to try to meet that demand, but also make lending decisions that are compliant, timely and cost-efficient. Working with Finastra, and making our solution available on its FusionFabric.cloud platform, we are able to reach more financial institutions, giving them the ability to leverage our customer-friendly mobile and web platform to meet KYC/KYB requirements and assess risk in just a few clicks." Current manual processes related to loan origination can be costly and time consuming. AO's solution, which integrates with Finastra's Total Lending suite, speeds up customer onboarding by up to 80% and saves costs by securely automating the collection and verification of digital financial documents. Patented AIO technology maintains data collection with the customer, automatically verifying digital documents. These are then supplied digitally to the financial institution through Finastra's Total Lending.



"This grant from the BIRD Foundation lends credence to a compelling solution, and also to our vision for open collaboration in financial services," said Mike Salfity, Global Head of Finastra Product Strategy and Head of North America Community Markets, Finastra. "We recognize the exciting offerings coming out of startups like AIO, and are committed to providing access to that innovation through FusionFabric.cloud. At the same time, we are able to extend the fintech's reach into the banking ecosystem. With this generous grant, AIO and Finastra will be able to better deliver an even more robust and impactful solution." The BIRD Foundation promotes collaborations between U.S. and Israeli companies in various technological fields for the purpose of joint product development. In addition to providing grants for approved projects, the Foundation assists by working with companies to identify potential strategic partners and facilitate introductions.

"We are proud to support the project between AIO and Finastra to improve loan origination and reduce time and costs to both loan applicants and financial institutions," said Dr. Eitan Yudilevich, Executive Director of the BIRD Foundation. "The BIRD Foundation will continue to support projects which contain high level of innovation that address present needs." Several large multinational banks in the U.S. and Europe are currently piloting AIO's financial identity verification solution, with more expected to roll out in the coming months. finastra.com About AIO - Verified Financial Identity AIO is an award-winning Tel-Aviv based Fintech company driving trust in business relationships. AIO accelerates customer screening and onboarding by up to 80% and saves costs through digital collection and verification of financial identity documents. AIO's platform and mobile app enables financial institutions to quickly establish customers' financial identities, meet KYC/KYB requirements, and assess risk levels with just a few clicks. Using AIO's patented technology, digital documents from any trusted data provider worldwide are collected and automatically validated, without the need for integration. AIO's effortless digital experience protects customer data and privacy, increases customer satisfaction, and minimizes fraud. About Finastra Finastra is building an open platform that accelerates collaboration and innovation in financial services, creating better experiences for people, businesses and communities. Supported by the broadest and deepest portfolio of financial services software, Finastra delivers this vitally important technology to financial institutions of all sizes across the globe, including 90 of the world's top 100 banks. Our open architecture approach brings together a number of partners and innovators. Together we are leading the way in which applications are written, deployed and consumed in financial services to evolve with the changing needs of customers. Learn more at finastra.com LinkedIn | Twitter | YouTube Corporate headquarters

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T: +1 800 989 9009 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/967510/Finastra_Logo.jpg View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/aio-and-finastra-awarded-1m-grant-from-the-bird-foundation-to-expedite-banks-customer-onboarding-and-loan-origination-301227072.html SOURCE Finastra

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The police in Bayelsa State appeal for useful information from the public that could lead to the arrest of the kidnappers.

The Commissioner of Police in Bayelsa State, Mike Okoli, has ordered a manhunt for kidnappers who attacked speedboats and abducted passengers on the Okpoma/Odioma and Nembe/Brass waterways, Tuesday.

The two incidents occurred simultaneously and six passengers were allegedly kidnapped by gunmen suspected to be sea pirates.

The police spokesperson in Bayelsa State, Butswat Asinim, disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday.

Mr Asinim, a superintendent of police, said a joint operation: operatives from the Marine Police, Navy and Joint Task Force 'Operation Delta Safe' are combing the creeks to rescue the kidnapped victims and apprehend the kidnappers.

The police spokesperson appealed to residents in the state to remain calm and volunteer useful information to security agencies in the state that could lead to the arrest of the kidnappers.

(NAN)
Breastfeeding women with COVID-19 do not pass along the SARS-CoV-2 virus in their milk but do transfer milk-borne antibodies that are able to neutralize the virus, a multi-institutional team of researchers led by the University of Idaho reported.

The team analyzed 37 milk samples submitted by 18 women diagnosed with COVID-19. None of the milk samples were found to contain the virus, but nearly two-thirds of the samples did contain two antibodies specific to the virus.

"Taken together, our data do not support the maternal-to-infant transmission of SARS-CoV-2 via milk," the researchers reported Tuesday in the journal mBio published by the American Society for Microbiology.

These results support recommendations to continue breastfeeding during mild-to-moderate maternal COVID-19 illness." Researchers

U of I researchers Michelle "Shelley" McGuire and Mark A. McGuire led the work funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Shelley is a nutrition researcher focused on human milk and directs U of I's Margaret Ritchie School of Family and Consumer Sciences.

Mark is a lactation physiologist and directs the Idaho Agricultural Experiment Station. Both are on the faculty of the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. Their research is featured on the CALS website, The Vandal Theory podcast and in U of I presentations.

The research team also includes scientists from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry;Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School; University of Rochester Medical Center; and Washington State University.

The team now has enrolled nearly 50 women who were diagnosed with COVID-19 and has followed their progress with the disease for as long as two months.

The initial study published in mBio reported on the first group of 18 women who submitted milk samples. Results from the larger study funded by both the Gates Foundation and the National Science Foundation are forthcoming, but the researchers are confident that they will support, expand and confirm the initial findings, Shelley said.

Earlier, the McGuires and their colleagues published a related review of scientific studies focused on coronaviruses in human milk and found that scant evidence exists about their presence or absence.

That work, published in Maternal & Child Nutrition in May, found only one study that tested human milk for the SARS coronavirus after that virus was detected in 2003. The review found no efforts to detect the subsequent and deadlier MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) coronavirus in human milk.

The dearth of knowledge spurred this multi-university effort, which is informing national and global guidance related to COVID-19 and breastfeeding, Shelley said.
Focused on building companies through early-stage, opportunistic, and diversified investments in the cannabis space

Spun off from Aurora Cannabis in late 2018

Terry Booth, who helped build Aurora, now CEO

What Australis Capital does:

( ) ( ) aims to build companies through early-stage, opportunistic, and diversified investments in the cannabis value chain in the US and abroad.

The Nevada-based companys business and assets include investments in Cocoon Technology LLC, , Green Therapeutics LLC, Quality Green, Folium Biosciences, and land assets in Washington state and Michigan.

Australis was spun out from cannabis behemoth Aurora Cannabis Inc (TSE:ACB) (NYSE:ACB) in September 2018 as its US investment vehicle. Aurora is not allowed to invest in US cannabis assets due to Toronto Stock Exchange and NYSE listing rules. Australis is therefore Auroras arm to establish a foothold in the US, before a potential US federal legalization shift.

As part of the new strategy to scale up its award-winning brands across the US and global cannabis markets, the company has acquired a 51% interest in cash-flow-healthy ALPS - the worlds premier design, construction management, commissioning, and post-commissioning consultancy for horticultural crops such as cannabis.

Australis has also gone through the process of acquiring a 100% interest of the outstanding membership interest in Nevada-based cannabis cultivator Green Therapeutics.

But the ALPS acquisition is central to the companys growth blueprint, and as such, former Aurora CEO Terry Booth is now Australis' new CEO, taking over from Duke Fu, who had been serving as Interim CEO since November 2020. Fu now is COO, focusing on driving organic growth.

With a number of existing customer relationships and significant contracts, Australis said ALPS is expected to bring material revenues to the company and is also anticipated to be immediately accretive to the companys results.

Australis plans to leverage ALPS's customer relationships, whereby customers, in return for ALPS developed intellectual property, will also grow Australis' portfolio of award-winning genetics, selling these back to the company at cost plus a relatively small mark-up.

Booth built Aurora Cannabis from a late starter to a multi-billion dollar cannabis industry leader and is a seasoned entrepreneur, capital market savvy, with a deep grasp of the requirements to be successful in the global medical and recreational markets.

How is it doing:

Australis' majority-owned subsidiary ALPS completed an agreement in May with the University of Alberta to provide a business case and feasibility study to establish a research and development greenhouse for the agricultural and life environmental sciences faculty. The objective is to establish a leading agricultural infrastructure focused on innovation to help attract the best and brightest horticulture students who will lead the industry in the years to come.

ALPS is also engaged in a number of other projects incorporating innovation and new intellectual property. One such project is with a Scandinavian grower of tomatoes and cucumbers under which ALPS has developed an ultra-precise environment control system, significantly improving propagation success rates and therefore economic output. ALPS retains the rights to the intellectual property developed and will be able to use this technology in the cannabis sector.

Meanwhile, Green Therapeutics recently took over the operations of a Nevada-based cultivator and producer of premium cannabis products after the companies announced a management agreement in April. Under the terms of the deal, GT operates the cultivation facility and produces products sold under the GT and Mr Natural brands. Harvest has begun, which will result in an expansion of the volume of GT branded products available in Nevada dispensaries, the company said.

GT recently signed an agreement with Nevada retail brand Thrive Cannabis Marketplace for its products to be carried by the chain. Thrive currently operates four dispensaries in Nevada, and the company expects to expand to eight locations before the end of the year.

Australis said Green Therapeutics continues to turn out exceptional, high-end products. Three of the company's cultivars, sold under the GT Flowers brand, have tested for high THC potency with exceptional terpene profiles.

The high quality of these products, due to Green Therapeutics' science-based approach to cultivation, is reflected in its products consistently selling out in the Nevada adult-usage space in which the company has achieved a 52% penetration rate. The firm operates an 8,000 square foot facility.

Green Therapeutics is also in the process of operationalizing assets in Missouri and Oklahoma. The company has a manufacturing license in Oklahoma and a 25% interest in an extraction and processing license in Missouri.

On the financial front, Australis revealed in April that it expects revenue for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2021, to have doubled year-over-year. A big reason for that, the company said, is ALPS, even though the deal was closed less than a month before the fiscal year ended.

Inflection points:

Discussions with potential partners to enter the now-legal New York market

Green Therapeutics US expansion

Execution of ALPS and Green Therapeutics deals

What the boss says:

Following the legalization of recreational adult-use cannabis in New York, Australis CEO Terry Booth discussed the company's future in the state.

We intend to play a leading role in the eastern US market, which will take a variety of forms, Booth said in April. We initiated discussions and negotiations with potential partners over 8 months ago in anticipation of this significant advancement in the American adult usage cannabis market. We will now accelerate these negotiations to determine the opportunities that these potential partners bring to strengthen our applications and negotiations.

He added: We also applaud the social equity components of the new legislation in New York. Diversity and Inclusion will not just be a checkmark on our applications, it will be a pillar of our corporate culture. We also believe the cannabis industry owes a debt to advocates, activists, innovators and early adopters. This legislation will enable many of these and otherwise disadvantaged groups to participate in the New York and eastern US markets, which we strongly believe is in the best interest of both the industry and society at large.

Contact Andrew Kessel at andrew.kessel@proactiveinvestors.com

Follow him on Twitter @andrew_kessel
WAREHOUSE receipt system has proved to be the best practice that besides assuring farmers with market, also presents them with good prices.

That was said on Wenesday in Parliament by the Agriculture Deputy Minister, Hussein Bashe adding that last year, cocoa farmers through the warehouse receipt system managed to sell at 5,011 per kilogramme in comparison to 3,000/- they were earning in 2015/16 season.

He gave the assurance while answering Kyela Member of Parliament -Ally Mlaghila (CCM) who wanted to know when the warehouse receipts system will change to benefit farmers and cooperatives against allegations that it was not meeting its target.

The Deputy minister said the warehouse receipt system has increased transparency and price, hence presenting farmers with best market prices.

Elaborating, he noted the system has supported the government to collect revenue and get correct data of production from cocoa farmers.

Mr Bashe cited 2018/19 case study when more than 7,532.13 tonnes of cocoa were sold and 33.6bn/- collected and paid to farmers leaving almost 1bn/- as revenue to the councils.

In 2019/20 season, 9,483.4 tonnes of cocoa were sold making famers pocket 45.7bn/- and the councils getting more than 1.3bn/- as revenue collection.

He said the system indicates the kind of trade and farm produce stored in a licensed warehouse, where the owner of the farm produce also receives a receipts with details of value, type, quantity and quality among others .

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Elaborating, Mr Bashe said the warehouse receipt facilitates storage, future trade and access to credit, without necessarily moving the said commodities from the licensed warehouse.

"The main objective of establishing warehouse receipts system in the country was to foster the efforts of the government to formalise the existing marketing systems aimed at minimising various constraints, which hamper effective production and marketing of the agricultural produce.

"The constraints include post-harvest losses, poor quality, price fluctuations, and lack of reliable market information as well as poor finance and polarized trade.

" It is the expectation of the government to improve the earnings of smallholder agricultural producers and small-scale traders of the commodity trade by reducing vices such as selling produce before harvests, selling without using standards and approved weighing equipment, minimize of trade tariff barriers, which ultimately increases their shares and volumes in the marketing channels and encourage value addition," added the deputy minister.
BALTIMORE, Feb. 10, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a 2019 statement from the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA), 252 counties in the rural United States are without a single health care provider, and a specialty such as urology can only be found in 38 percent of all U.S. counties. With 1/5 of Americans living in a non-urban region and only 11 percent of physicians practicing in those same areas, access to preventive measures and lifesaving treatments is severely limited for millions of U.S. citizens. Further exacerbating the workforce shortage, nearly 54 percent of urology residents have more than $150,000 in student loan debt, and for approximately 27 percent of them, the figure is $250,000 or more.

Rural Workforce Infographic

To help address this rural shortfall, Representatives David McKinley (R-WV-01) and Peter Welch (D-VT-At Large) introduced H.R. 944, which seeks to improve access to care in rural America through a student loan forgiveness program for specialty physicians. The bill authorizes the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to provide urologists and other qualified specialty medicine physicians the opportunity to have a portion of their eligible student loans repaid by the federal government in exchange for practicing in a rural community experiencing a shortage of specialty medicine physicians.

"Over half of urology residents are entering into practice with $150,000.00 or more of student loan debt, and a recent AUA survey showed that 70 percent of those residents will base their decision on where to practice  in part  on programs that can offer some form of student loan forgiveness or repayment. This puts rural hospitals and practices at a disadvantage, as most cannot afford to offer such incentives," says AUA Legislative Affairs Spokesperson Mark Fallick, MD.

The American Urological Association (AUA) is asking its members and other stakeholders to encourage their lawmakers to support H.R. 944, which provides improved access to essential health services for many Americans by helping to increase the number of practicing specialty physicians in rural America.

To take action visit this link https://p2a.co/ykZDG7v or text AUA to 52886 to get started.

About the American Urological Association: Founded in 1902 and headquartered near Baltimore, Maryland, the American Urological Association is a leading advocate for the specialty of urology and has nearly 24,000 members throughout the world. The AUA is a premier urologic association, providing invaluable support to the urologic community as it pursues its mission of fostering the highest standards of urologic care through education, research and the formulation of health policy.

Media Contact:

Teri Arnold, Corporate Communications and Media Relations Manager

Cell: 757-272-7002, [email protected]

SOURCE American Urological Association

Related Links

www.auanet.org


Tom Holland thinks Brad Pitt could portray him. Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP; Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP

Tom Holland praised Brad Pitt in an interview with Deadline.

Holland said he'd want Pitt to play him in a project about his life, if it ever happened.

Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

Tom Holland is a fan of Brad Pitt and thinks the 57-year-old actor would be a good choice to play him in a project about his life, if the idea ever came to fruition.

"I reckon he'd be a good one," Holland said in a new interview with Deadline. "We've got the same body type."

"He's a little bit taller than me, but that's all right, the 24-year-old actor said. "I'm not even joking, by the way. Brad Pitt is sort of the apex of what being a movie star is. If you look at his career and the work he's done I mean he's No. 1 for me."

The two actors have an age gap of 33 years and began their careers in vastly different decades: the '80s for Pitt and the 2010s for Holland. Despite that, both are accomplished A-list actors.

Pitt's career began with minor roles in TV shows and movies before he became a leading man in films like "Interview With the Vampire," "Se7en," and "Fight Club."

Brad Pitt in "Fight Club." Fox 2000 Pictures

He's now a two-time Oscar winner, earning one Academy Award in 2014 for "12 Years a Slave," which was produced under his production company, Plan B Entertainment.

Pitt won his first acting Oscar in 2020 for his supporting role as Cliff Booth in "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood."

Meanwhile, Holland was a theater kid before he made the jump to Hollywood. His first film role was in the 2012 movie "The Impossible," which starred Ewan McGregor and Naomi Watts.

His career reached new heights in 2016, when he made his Marvel Cinematic Universe debut as the beloved comic-book character Peter Parker/Spider-Man in "Captain America: Civil War."

Tom Holland in "Captain America: Civil War." Disney/Marvel

That year, he also starred in "The Lost City of Z" which, coincidentally, was produced by Pitt's Plan B Entertainment.

Story continues

Holland has since reprised his Marvel role for two "Avengers" movies and a standalone "Spider-Man" franchise, which has a third installment in the works.

More recently, he's been receiving Oscar buzz for his performance in the upcoming drama film "Cherry."

Read the original article on Insider
Source: Twitter

A top United Nations official has said that this year, more than ever, the international community counts on India for its contribution to multilateralism as a force for good - from COVID-19 vaccines to climate action and peacekeeping.

UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, addressing the inaugural session of the World Sustainable Development Summit 2021 Wednesday, hailed efforts by India to bolster its renewable energy basket and achieve its climate action goals.

India is currently the only G20 country that will overachieve the objectives of its nationally determined contributions. So much has been done already," Mohammed said.

"As India is seeking greater energy security through a revolution in solar, wind and energy storage, installing 450 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity by 2030 will bring more jobs, cleaner air and a more secure power grid, she said.

She underlined that India's efforts provide a "template and a path for others to follow, in particular through the international cooperation that this very institute represents.

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 year, more than ever, we count on India for its contribution to multilateralism as a force for good on COVID-19 vaccines, climate action and peacekeeping. Extreme weather and pathogens are transnational. Our solutions must be, as well, she said.

Mohammed began her address by expressing her condolences to the people and the government of India for the loss of life and damage caused by the glacier burst and flash flood in the northern state of Uttarakhand on Sunday.

"Climate change is destabilising our world, and the consequences are often terrifying. My heart goes out to Uttarakhand, she said, adding that such catastrophes remind nations of their global imperative to make peace with nature.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the World Sustainable Development Summit 2021 via video conferencing.

The theme of the Summit, which is the flagship event of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), is Redefining our common future: Safe and secure environment for all'.

In his address, Modi said the road to fighting climate change is through climate justice.

He added that India's intent is supported by concrete action and powered by spirited public efforts, India is on track to exceed its commitments and targets from Paris.

We committed to reduce the emissions intensity of GDP by 33 to 35 per cent from 2005 levels. You would be happy to know that a drop of 24 per cent in the emission intensity has already been achieved.

Modi underlined that India is ready to do whatever possible to further sustainable development. Our human-centric approach could be a force multiplier for global good.

The top UN official hailed India for being an active, influential player on climate change from the very beginning.

She said that even before the Paris Agreement, India was acting thoughtfully and strategically on its energy, environment and development priorities."

"You have translated this strategic thinking into policies and programmes, she said.

She applauded Prime Minister Modi for standing resolutely with the 2015 Paris Agreement and launching two major environmental initiatives in the time since the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure at the UN Climate Action Summit 2019 in New York and the International Solar Alliance, launched jointly with President of France during COP21 in Paris in 2015.

India is now poised to lead on the development of technologies that produce low-carbon steel and cement as co-leader with Sweden of the Leadership Group for Industry Transition. And I look forward to seeing the path you will chart to get to net-zero emissions and a climate-resilient economy by mid-century, she said.

Mohammed emphasised that these efforts have not just national, but regional and global impact.

She expressed confidence that India can lead the way.

India can count on the full support of the United Nations. Our expertise and convening power at the global and country levels will maximise the impact of our partnership.

The world is facing a uniquely challenging moment due to the global pandemic and less than a decade left to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, she said.

Last year more than 100 nations committed to net-zero emissions by 2050, or in the case of China, before 2060. She described this as significant momentum as more than 70 per cent of the world economy and 65 per cent of global carbon dioxide emissions are now committed to net zero.

But, this is not enough. The global coalition for net-zero emissions needs to grow, to cover the entire G20 and more than 90 per cent of the emissions.

Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar told the Summit that India is leading from the front and implementing all its climate pledges well before time.

Javadekar said India has reduced emission intensity and increased forest cover under the leadership of the Prime Minister.

Four international reports say that India, under Modi, is leading from the front and implementing all its pledges well before time. We have reduced emission intensity, increased forest cover and given a new target for the restoration of degraded land and 450-gigawatt target of renewable energy will be achieved. This is our country's ethos, he said.
Beavers have been reintroduced to Dorset for the first time in 400 years, a wildlife trust has revealed.

A pair of adult male and female beavers were introduced into an enclosure in the west of Dorset on Monday.

The pair will live in a large area of freshwater habitat not accessible to the public which can be continually monitored by wildlife experts.

Rivers conservation officer Steve Oliver said welcoming beavers back to the county was 'fantastic'.

He said besides being 'magnificent creatures in their own right' they were 'extra special because their engineering activities have the potential to bring even more life to a landscape and enable other species to flourish'.

An adult male and female were introduced into an enclosure in the west of Dorset on Monday, the county's wildlife trust revealed

It is believed the mammal's activities, such as the building of dams, could increase biodiversity, while filtering and cleaning water

The Eurasian beavers - which can grow to the size of a labrador dog - were relocated from Scotland under licence from NatureScot, the country's nature agency.

The project is part of a scientific study by the University of Exeter and Wessex Water to monitor the impact Europe's largest rodent has on water quality, flooding and other wildlife.

It is believed the mammal's activities, such as the building of dams, could increase biodiversity, while filtering and cleaning water.

The dams could even reduce flooding by slowing the rate of water passing through rivers and streams during storms, the trust said.

The pair will live in a large area of freshwater habitat (pictured) not accessible to the public which can be continually monitored by wildlife experts

A Eurasian beaver swimming to its den with a branch in its mouth (file image)

Prof Richard Brazier, from the University of Exeter, said: 'Beavers have been present on the planet for 40 million years or so, so they're a highly adapted species and know how to manage water resources. We could really learn a lot from them.'

Beavers became extinct in the UK in the 16th century, largely because they were hunted for their fur, meat and the oil in their scent glands.

Beavers build dams and lodges using tree branches, vegetation, rocks and mud.

They chew trees down and use lodges as shelter while the dams impound water. Once their dens are built they use the oil in their scent glands to mark their territory.

Reintroduction trials are under way throughout England, Scotland and Wales.

In November beavers built their first dam in Exmoor in more than 400 years after river restoration by the National Trust.

The animals, which constructed it at the Holnicote Estate near Minehead, were the first to be released into the wild by the trust in its 125-year history.

Footage shows the beavers gnawing nearby trees and collecting vegetation.

Rangers described the rodents as 'ecosystem engineers', as nine months after they were introduced to slow the flow of water and improve river quality, they have created an 'instant wetland'.

A small beaver dam made of wooden branches, sticks and twigs of small bushes, trunks of small young trees in a forest river with a fast current

The Eurasian beavers were relocated from Scotland under licence from NatureScot, the country's nature agency

Their construction allows for deep pools of water which offer animals shelter from predators and a place to store food, and turns the surrounding land into a mosaic of nature-rich habitats.

Beaver dams, ponds and channels help human communities too - by preventing flooding through slowing, storing and filtering water as it flows downstream.

Ben Eardley, project manager at the National Trust, said: 'It might look modest, but this beaver dam is incredibly special - it's the first to appear on Exmoor for almost half a millennium and marks a step change in how we manage the landscape.

'What's amazing is that it's only been here a few weeks but has created an instant wetland.

'We've already spotted kingfishers at the site, and over time, as the beavers extend their network of dams and pools, we should see increased opportunities for other wildlife, including amphibians, insects, bats and birds.'

He added: 'The recent rain we've had is a reminder of the significant role beavers can play in engineering the landscape.

Beaver dams, ponds and channels help human communities too - by preventing flooding through slowing, storing and filtering water as it flows downstream (file image shows a beaver dam)

The project is part of a scientific study by the University of Exeter and Wessex Water to monitor the impact Europe's largest rodent has on water quality, flooding and other wildlife

'As we face into the effects of climate change and more frequent extreme weather events, natural interventions like this need to be part of the solution.'

Nature group Rewilding Britain said a massive increase in restoring and connecting habitats is needed to help save wildlife forced to move because of climate change, and the reintroduction of beavers is key to helping with this.

A tree that has been felled by a beaver (file)

The beavers at Holnicote were relocated from wild populations on the River Tay catchment in Scotland, under licence from Scottish Natural Heritage.

They settled into a specially-built 2.7-acre enclosure on the estate in January last year and have been monitored by National Trust and Exeter University staff and volunteers since.

The project is part of the trust's Riverlands programme which aims to revive UK rivers by boosting wildlife, water quality, community engagement and tackling the effects of climate change.

A separate five-year trial on the River Otter in Devon was also recently hailed a success by the Government which is now considering a national strategy for the reintroduction of beavers.

Meanwhile, plans are in place to reintroduce other wild animals including bears, wild boards, lynx, and wolves to Britain.

Rewilding is expected to significantly affect the amounts of greenhouse gas being absorbed by plant life. If done right it could play a positive role in lessening the impact of climate change.

It involves strategically reintroducing certain species of animal into areas where their populations have been diminished or eliminated entirely.

Wolves and Lynx could be reintroduced under plans to 're-wild' large areas of England, backed by the head of Natural England. Pictured: A grey wolf pictured in a forest (file photo)

Lynx are the more likely candidate to be brought back, according to the head of natural England Tony Juniper, but the successful return of wolves in the Netherlands without problems has demonstrated that it could be possible to do the same in England.

The Lynx UK Trust intends to submit an application to Natural England to release six of the big cats from Sweden in Kielder Forest, Northumberland.

As Environment Secretary in 2018, Micheal Gove rejected a similar application by Natural England after the organisation advised against it.

But Juniper assumed the role of head of Natural England last year and is more supportive of lynx than his predecessor was.

Speaking to The Times, he said that he wanted to build on the reintroduction of beavers in Devon and white-tailed eagles on the Isle of Wight.

His comments came ahead of the launch of a new initiative to deliver on a government commitment to provide an additional 500,000 hectares of new wildlife habitat in England by 2042.

Lynx are the more likely candidate to be brought back, according to Tony Juniper - the head of Natural England. Lynx (pictured, filed photo) were wiped out from the UK by fur hunters and a loss of their habitat about 1,300 years ago

Pictured: Kielder Water & Forest Park, Newcastle, Northumberland. The park could see six lynx from Sweden introduced under the proposals

Lynx prey on deer and could help control their numbers, Juniper said, which is part of why Natural England was looking to explore their reintroduction.

In addition to Kielder Forest, Thetford Forest - that straddles the Norfolk-Suffolk border - has also been put forward as a potential site to release lynx.

In one example of the importance of re-wilding, researchers point to regions in North American and Europe where the absence of predators like wolves has led to unchecked deer population growth.

Deer feed on a variety of plant leaves that would otherwise play an important role in absorbing greenhouse gases from the environment.

Lynx UK Trust intends to submit an application to Natural England before Christmas to release six of the big cats from Sweden in Kielder Forest, Northumberland, while Thetford Forest - that straddles the Norfolk-Suffolk border - has also been put forward as a potential site

At the same time large herbivores like deer and cows can further add to the production of greenhouse gases like methane through their own bodily waste.

The key, according to scientists, is finding the right balance for each environment by selectively introducing a carefully chosen mix of species to restore balance to an environment.

Past extinctions mean only a small fraction of the species present in North and South America, Europe, and Australia can be reintroduced to rewilding projects, University of Sussexs Owen Middleton said.

If all the species available were reintroduced in these places, predators are likely to exert more control on herbivores than in the past. This would likely result in more trees growing with climate change mitigation benefits.

In Africa and Asia where extinction was less severe the mega-herbivores would likely be more dominant. In savannas this could stop trees growing, reducing climate mitigation potential but would be important for biodiversity. Regional analysis is needed to explore the details.

But these are simple estimations of a complex system. Future research should focus on regional case studies which includes social and ecological feasibility of reintroducing species, as well as how it could assist with the climate and other emergencies.'


NEW YORK, Feb. 11, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Spartan Acquisition Corp. III (the Company) announced today the closing of its initial public offering (the IPO) of 55,200,000 units at a price of $10.00 per unit. This includes the exercise in full by the underwriters of their option to purchase up to an additional 7,200,000 units. The units are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (the NYSE) and trade under the ticker symbol SPAQ.U. Each unit consists of one share of the Companys Class A common stock and one-fourth of one redeemable warrant, with each whole warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one share of the Companys Class A common stock at an exercise price of $11.50 per share. Once the securities comprising the units begin separate trading, which is expected to be on the 52nd day following the date of the final prospectus related to the offering, the shares of Class A common stock and warrants are expected to be listed on the NYSE under the symbols SPAQ and SPAQ.WS, respectively.



Credit Suisse, Citigroup and Cowen are acting as book-running managers and representatives of the underwriters. Morgan Stanley, Barclays and RBC Capital Markets are acting as book-running managers for the offering. TD Securities, MUFG and Siebert Williams Shank are acting as co-managers for the offering.

The public offering was made only by means of a prospectus. Copies of the prospectus may be obtained from Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Attention: Prospectus Department, 6933 Louis Stephens Drive, Morrisville, North Carolina 27560, or by telephone at (800) 221-1037 or by email at usa.prospectus@credit-suisse.com; Citigroup Global Markets Inc., c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, New York 11717 or by telephone at (800) 831-9146; or Cowen and Company, LLC c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, New York 11717, Attn: Prospectus Department, by email at PostSaleManualRequests@broadridge.com or by telephone at (833) 297-2926.

Registration statements relating to these securities have been declared effective by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) on February 8, 2021. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

About Spartan Acquisition Corp. III

Spartan Acquisition Corp. III was formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination. The Company intends to focus its search for a target business in the energy value chain in North America, with a particular focus on opportunities aligned with energy transition and sustainability themes. The Company is sponsored by Spartan Acquisition Sponsor III LLC, which is owned by a private investment fund managed by an affiliate of Apollo Global Management, Inc. (NYSE: APO).

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains statements that constitute forward-looking statements, including with respect to the IPO. No assurance can be given that the offering discussed above will be completed on the terms described, or at all. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous conditions, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including those set forth in the Risk Factors section of the Companys registration statement and prospectus for the Companys offering filed with the SEC. Copies are available on the SECs website, www.sec.gov. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release, except as required by law.

Contacts:

For investors please contact:

info@spartanspaciii.com

For media inquiries please contact:

communications@apollo.com


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Chancellor Angela Merkel has said Germany did not act quickly enough last autumn to prevent a second surge in coronavirus infections.

We didnt shut down public life early enough or systematically enough amid signs of a second wave and warnings from various scientists, she told legislators on Thursday.

Mrs Merkel and the governors of Germanys 16 states agreed late on Wednesday to extend the current lockdown, which was due to expire on Sunday, until at least March 7.

Schools and hairdressers will be able to open earlier, albeit with strict hygiene measures.

Mrs Merkel defended a decision to set a target of pushing the number of new weekly cases per 100,000 inhabitants below 35 before the lockdown is eased further.

The virus doesnt follow dates, the virus follows infection numbers, she said.

Germanys disease control agency said there were just over 64 cases per 100,000 inhabitants nationwide in the past week.

The Robert Koch Institute said there were 10,237 new cases and 666 deaths in the past day, taking the total to 2.31 million, including 63,635 deaths.
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.
Spearman Junior High Nominated for 2021 National Blue Ribbon Honors Governor Greg Abbott and the Texas Education Agency today announced the nomination of 26 Texas public schools as 2021 National Blue Ribbon Schools.



These 26 schools exemplify academic excellence, and I thank the teachers, staff, administrators, students, and parents for their outstanding work, said Governor Abbott. We have a responsibility to ensure that every Texas student graduates with the knowledge to succeed in college or a career, which is why last session we passed transformative legislation to invest more money into our classrooms and give our teachers a pay raise. This session we will build on these accomplishments to ensure that every Texas student receives a quality education regardless of their zip code.



Initiated by the U.S. Department of Education (USDE) in 1982, the National Blue Ribbon Schools program recognizes public and private elementary, middle, and high schools that have high student achievement and/or highlights where exemplary progress has been made in closing achievement gaps among student subpopulations. Since the programs founding, 9,000 schools across the nation have received this prestigious designation.



In the Lone Star State, public schools are considered for nomination based on student performance on the first administration of the previous years STAAR assessments. Each nominated school has an economically disadvantaged population of 25 percent or more.



The nominated schools in Texas for 2021 include the following:



Exemplary High-Performing Schools



Pullam Elementary - Brownsville ISD



Kathlyn Joy Gilliam Collegiate Academy - Dallas ISD



Trinidad Garza Early College High School - Dallas ISD



Hawkins Elementary - El Paso ISD



Lamar Elementary - El Paso ISD



North Houston Early College High School - Houston ISD



Klondike ISD



Achieve Early College High School - McAllen ISD



Spearman Junior High - Spearman ISD



Young Womens Leadership Academy - San Antonio ISD



South Texas ISD Preparatory Academy - South Texas ISD



South Texas ISD Rising Scholars Academy - South Texas ISD



Ramona Elementary - Ysleta ISD



Exemplary Achievement-Gap-Closing Schools



Atlanta Elementary - Atlanta ISD



A P Beutel Elementary - Brazosport ISD



Gallegos Elementary - Brownsville ISD



Calder Road Elementary - Dickinson ISD



Clendenin Elementary - El Paso ISD



Mitzi Bond Elementary - El Paso ISD



Hidalgo Elementary - Hidalgo ISD



Porter Elementary - Mesquite ISD



Navarro Elementary - Navarro ISD



Zeferino Farias Elementary - Pharr-San Juan-Alamo ISD



Valley Mills Elementary - Valley Mills ISD



South Loop Elementary - Ysleta ISD



Vista Hills Elementary - Ysleta ISD



The nominated schools must now complete a rigorous application process conducted by the USDE. National award winners will be announced in September of 2021. Schools that receive the designation are recognized at the Blue Ribbon Schools Awards Ceremony in Washington, D.C.


February 11 : Sidharth Malhotra and co-actor Rashmika Mandanna have started shooting for their film Mission Majnu in Lucknow. The Student of the Year actor shared a new picture on social media from the sets of Mission Majnu, revealing the female lead of the film, Rashmika. Mission Majnu marks the South actress debut in Bollywood.

Taking to his Instagram profile, Sidharth shared a picture, wherein the actor can be seen with Rashmika as they both hold the script of Mission Majnu. A special one with a special team. #MissionMajnu, day 1, Sidharth wrote. While Sidharth is seen in a grey shirt teamed with a Nehru jacket, Rashmika is in a salwar suit with her hair tied in a braid.

Sidharth had started work on the film since February 6, as he dropped a picture of the clapboard from the sets of the film. The makers of the film had revealed the first look poster of the film in December last year that featured Sidharth.

Helmed by Shantanu Bagchi, Mission Majnu is about one of Indias deadliest covert operations. The film marks a popular ad filmmakers directorial debut as well. While Rashmika was not present during the muhurat ceremony, she took to her Instagram story and wished good luck to the team.

In the spy thriller, Sidharth plays a RAW agent, who leads a mission that forever changed the relationship between India and Pakistan. Set in the 1970s, the film is based on real events. Its story has been penned by Parveez Shaikh, Aseem Arrora, and Sumit Batheja. It will be co-produced by Ronnie Screwvala along with Amar Butala and Garima Mehta. The film will be shot extensively in Lucknow and Mumbai.

Meanwhile, South star Rashmika has already delivered a number of hit Telugu and Kannada films, including Geetha Govindam, Kirik Party, and Devadas. She has recently featured in Badshah's new music video, Top Tucker.

Sidharth, on the other hand, will be seen in a double role in the biographical film Shershaah along with Kiara Advani. The film has been directed by Vishnuvardhan and co-produced by Karan Johar. The actor has also started shooting for his forthcoming comedy flick Thank God. Directed by Indra Kumar, the film also stars Ajay Devgn and Rakul Preet Singh.
Disclaimer: I am sorry, this time round I shall not be able to tell you whether I am being serious or comical? I myself dont know.

In 1907 Wilhelm Von Osten, a German mathematics teacher demonstrated the numerical skill of his horse Hans - Clever Hans as it later came to be known throughout Germany - and caused a minor sensation.

But diligent scientific investigations proved that the horse was keenly observing his trainer and responding to the cues from his body language to nod at the correct answer.

The Clever Hans syndrome had its brief period of fame, but it did provide an important methodology in conducting animal intelligence experiments. Observer-expectancy effect is widely used in studies in animal cognition.

Every now and then the Indian voters vote one way or the other and the results naturally go in favour of one party/group or the other. Predictably, the results throw the commentators, analysts, strategists and believers in democracy into raptures. A lot of inspirational verbiage, heavy jargon and statistical tools like bar graph, pies, chart and scatter diagram are all yoked by violence together to establish, scientifically, the wisdom and the perspicacity of the voter.

The act of unseating the ruling charlatan is taken as an evidence of the maturing of democracy just as installing him five or ten or fifteen or twenty years earlier had then been declared an act of great maturity. It seems that the primal state of immaturity is the default position of the Indian voter, the state of equilibrium, the state of maximum entropy to which having shown its maturity on election eve, he quietly retires.



The fact of the matter is that the voters choices are no more intelligent than that of Clever Hans or the roadside fortune telling parrot.

The high costs involved and the mammoth organising capability required to make an all India presence, has already narrowed the choice of acceptable alternatives to the two major political alliances. The paid media has ensured that you dont know a thing about them for sure and you have to vote by blind instinct or prejudice. Those who know both could describe them only in the memorable phrase of Stalin: they are both worse.

The voters respond to certain inducements, blandishments or subliminal appeals. Loan waiver, free electricity, free laptop, free liquor, freedom to smooch in the Echo Park or Sanjay Gandhi Udyan (a great vote catcher among the young in Bihar sometime back), Mandir, Masjid, Mandal, Kamandal, caste, community, are some surefire formulas.

At the end of the day long association with power has the same effect as living in the same underwear for long: they both stink and need to be changed, purely in the interest of hygiene. Nothing clever or exciting about that! If you take elections for what they are  a farce, a masked ball, a carnival, you can enjoy them as the most memorable show on earth.

"Free elections", says the maverick thinker, commentator and polemicist Slavoj Zizek, "involve a minimal show of politeness when those in power pretend that they do not really hold the power, and ask us to decide freely if we want to grant it to them."

For full participation, the pretense must be taken very seriously. You must prattle in your dunces cap pretending it be a crown. (I remember a line of a song I heard as a child: "Mat kaho ki sir pe topi hai, ye kaho ki sir pe taj hai."

My generation was indoctrinated in this business of topi pahanna and pahnana as children. The would-be tormentor/oppressor/excoriator would appear behind the mask of a servant, a chowkidar, a benefactor, a reformer, a pauper and beg for your vote. The electorate must play his role of prince with all the seriousness at his command and having granted the supplicant  pauper - his vote be prepared to be heard no more. Those like me who can see the tree for the wood enjoy democracy as a farce, and those many who dont, suffer it as tragedy.

India Today magazine once referred to Manoje Nath, a 1973-batch IPS officer, as being fiercely independent, honest, and upright. Besides his numerous official reports on various issues exposing corruption in the bureaucracy in Bihar, Nath is also a writer extraordinaire expressing his thoughts on subjects ranging from science fiction to the effects of globalization. His sense of humor was evident through his extremely popular series named "Gulliver in Pataliputra" and "Modest Proposals" that were published in the local newspapers.

NEW YORK, Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- As a Valentine's Day in the COVID-era approaches, Absolut is launching Drink Responsibly, #LoveResponsibly, a campaign that asks people to share what loving responsibly looks like to them in a world where connecting with others in meaningful ways has become increasingly more difficult. A survey conducted for Absolut by KRC Research highlights how all types of relationships have been put to the test over the past year, with nearly 40%1 of Americans saying they have experienced strains in their closest loving relationships, and that drinking more alcohol plays a role in some instances. Still, more than 80%1 believe that celebrating Valentine's Day this year is as important, or even more important, than last year, showcasing the resilience of love.

Starting today, Absolut is asking fans a simple question: "How do you love responsibly?" Whether that love is with an intimate partner, family member, friend, pet, or even your relationship with yourself, we want to learn and share the many ways that people of all backgrounds love responsibly. Consumers can share their answers as written text, video or image using #LoveResponsibly and tagging @AbsolutUS.

"A lot has changed since Valentine's Day 2020, and for many, our most important relationships have been tested in ways we never expected," said Pam Forbus, CMO of Pernod Ricard USA. "We've been forced to rethink how to show our love when physically separated, and how to evolve our love when living, working and learning in closer quarters than we are used to. We've also had to acknowledge that sometimes being apart from those we love is the best way to show we care. Absolut's #LoveResponsibly campaign offers our community a chance to share the big and small ways their love has had to change, and ultimately celebrate how it has survived and thrived."

For many Americans, the challenge of having to adapt relationships to new realities has been significant. Absolut's survey found the pressure on relationships is felt more significantly by younger and middle-age generations, with 52% of Gen Z, 43% of Millennials and 44% of Gen X audiences saying they've felt strain in their closest loving relationships over the past year, compared to only 29% of Baby Boomers1. Americans of all generations, however, noted a series of consistent, negative impacts on their relationships over the course of the pandemic, including stress and anxiety (46%), isolation/social distancing (36%), spending less time with loved ones (33%) and differing opinions on how to navigate pandemic restrictions (33%)1. Importantly for Absolut, a quarter of Millennials noted that drinking more alcohol during the pandemic has created negative impacts on their relationship1.

"We know that alcohol can play a positive role in bringing people together, but when over-consumed or consumed irresponsibly, it can catalyze negative actions, reduce our tolerance for one another and diminish our ability to love responsibly," said Regan Clarke, Vice President, Millennial Connector Brands, Pernod Ricard USA. "At a time when many loving relationships are strained due to the pandemic, it's our responsibility to ensure our product is not exacerbating these problems. That's why we're not just encouraging people to #LoveResponsibly, we are reminding consumers that drinking responsibly is a key component of healthy, responsible love."

The survey highlights some bright spots as well. "We learned that one in five Americans have turned inwards and focused more self-love in the past year. We also learned that for many people, love beyond a romantic partner has become more important in the past year, with people citing relationships with their children and their pets as greater sources of love," said Tad Greenough, Global Creative Director at Absolut. "As a brand that has always championed inclusion, authentic connections and love - in all its many forms - we're excited to see how our fans characterize the love that's gotten them through this year."

In addition to digital and social assets, the campaign will include a :15 TVC that will premiere during the Golden Globes as well as an influencer-led discussion series on social, which will discuss the many ways to love responsibly and invite others to join in. The Instagram Live series will feature interactive, intimate conversations with influencers such as Danny Pellegrino, host and producer of the podcast, "Everything Iconic," and Alexandra Rodriguez, creator of the popular digital shows, "Learning to be Fearless" on YouTube and "The Fearless Podcast."

Pernod Ricard, Absolut's parent company, is also joining the Drink Responsibly, #LoveResponsibly campaign to highlight the needs of one group of people in need of responsible love this Valentine's Day -- people experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV). IPV has been on the rise during the pandemic, a startling reality given that one in three women and one in 10 men already experience IPV in their lifetimes2. And while IPV takes many forms -- acts of physical, emotional, sexual and psychological abuse2 as well as controlling behaviors such as restricting access to financial resources, employment education or medical care -- studies show that physical forms of IPV were 1.8 times higher in 2020 than they were in the previous three years3. Pernod Ricard's support continues the company and Absolut brand's commitment to taking a stand on the issue of consent.

"The pandemic has taken a toll on us all. But for some, that toll has included violence and abuse in their closest intimate relationships," said Ann Mukherjee, Chairman and CEO of Pernod Ricard North America. "We know that alcohol can often be an accelerant to IPV and a coping mechanism or self-medication for victims of abuse4. I've experienced IPV, and I know this reality all too well. At a time when we celebrate love, it's our responsibility to support those most in need and to reinforce the role of responsible consumption in safe, responsible relationships."

Pernod Ricard USA is donating $150,000 in RAINN, the nation's largest anti-sexual violence organization, to help support those experiencing IPV. This investment is an extension of a relationship formed with RAINN last Valentine's Day to promote the role of responsible drinking in safe, healthy, consensual sex.

If you or someone you know has been affected by sexual violence and need to talk, free and confidential support is available 24/7 via RAINN's National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800.656.4673 and online.rainn.org.

To learn more about our campaign, visit absolut.com/loveresponsibly.

ENJOY RESPONSIBLY

ABSOLUT. PRODUCT OF SWEDEN. 40% ALC./VOL. 2020. IMPORTED BY ABSOLUT SPIRITS CO., NEW YORK, NY.

About Pernod Ricard USA

Pernod Ricard USA is the premium spirits and wine company in the U.S., and the largest subsidiary of Paris, France-based Pernod Ricard SA., the world's second-largest spirits and wine company. Pernod Ricard employs approximately 19,000 people worldwide, is listed on Euronext (Ticker: RI) and is part of the CAC 40 index. The company's leading spirits include such prestigious brands as Absolut Vodka, Avion Tequila, Chivas Regal Scotch Whisky, The Glenlivet Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Jameson Irish Whiskey, Kahlua Liqueur, Malibu, Martell Cognac, Olmeca Altos Tequila , Beefeater Gin, Del Maguey Single Village Mezcal, Monkey 47 Gin, Plymouth Gin, Seagram's Extra Dry Gin, Malfy Gin, Hiram Walker Liqueurs, Midleton Irish Whiskey, Powers Irish Whiskey, Redbreast Irish Whiskey, Aberlour Single Malt Scotch Whisky; Lillet; Smithworks Vodka, Jefferson's Bourbon, Smooth Ambler Whiskey, Rabbit Hole Whiskey, Pernod and Ricard; such superior wines as Jacob's Creek, Kenwood Vineyards, Campo Viejo and Brancott Estate; and such exquisite champagnes and sparkling wines as Perrier-Jouet Champagne, G.H. Mumm Champagne and Mumm Napa sparkling wines.

Pernod Ricard USA is headquartered in New York, New York, and has more than 700 employees across the country. As "creators of conviviality," we are committed to sustainable and responsible business practices in service of our customers, consumers, employees and the planet. Pernod Ricard USA urges all adults to consume its products responsibly and has an active program to promote responsible drinking. For more information on this, please visit: www.responsibility.org.

1 According to a KRC research study of 11 questions on the topic of love and relationships during the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey was fielded February 1-3, 2021. A total of 922 adults (age 21+) completed the survey.

2According to the CDC, "Preventing Intimate Partner Violence"

3According to RSNA, Radiology Vol. 298, No.1

4According to the World Health Organization's report on Intimate partner violence and alcohol

SOURCE Pernod Ricard USA
KYODO NEWS - Feb 12, 2021 - 02:53 | All, Japan, Coronavirus

Japan's health ministry is planning to move ahead with a formal approval of the coronavirus vaccine developed by U.S. pharmaceutical giant Pfizer Inc. on Sunday, when the first batch of doses is scheduled to arrive in the country, sources familiar with the matter said Thursday.

The Health, Labor and Welfare Ministry had intended to approve the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine on Monday. With an acceleration of its administrative procedures, the government is considering starting vaccinations on Wednesday for around 20,000 doctors and nurses who have consented to receive the shots, the sources said.

Ahead of the formal approval, a health ministry panel is expected to hold a meeting on Friday night to discuss whether Japan should go ahead with the Pfizer vaccine to deal with the pandemic. It is highly likely that the panel will give the green light, considering that Pfizer's vaccine has already been administered in several countries including the United States.

The roughly 20,000 doctors and nurses from 100 hospitals across the country are set to participate in a study aiming to track potential symptoms and the frequency with which the symptoms occur, regardless of whether the vaccine is the cause.

After the arrival from Belgium of the first batch of the vaccine, jointly developed by Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech SE, it remains unclear when and in what amount Japan can secure further quantities of the vaccine due to tightening EU export controls of products developed in the bloc.

Japan aims to secure the necessary doses of the Pfizer vaccine through negotiations with the European Union.

The government has agreements in place to receive enough vaccine doses for 157 million people, more than enough to cover Japan's population of 126 million. Of the total number, 72 million doses are to come from Pfizer. The remainder will be provided by AstraZeneca Plc and Moderna Inc.

About 20,000 ultra-cold freezers are slated to be set up at medical facilities across Japan to store the Pfizer vaccine, which was 95 percent effective in clinical trials. The AstraZeneca vaccine can be stored at 2 to 8 C, making it easier to handle, but is only around 70 percent effective.

Goodbye Year of the Rat and hello Year of the Ox!

From a global pandemic to the loss of several notable figures including Kobe Bryant and Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the Year of the Rat was a tough one.

The Lunar New Year typically falls sometime between Jan. 21 and Feb. 20, depending on the cycle of the moon. This year, Feb. 12 marks the first new moon in the Chinese calendar, which also symbolizes new beginnings in other East Asian countries that have large Chinese populations including Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines. South Korea and Vietnam also celebrate the holiday.

In Chinese culture, the calendar plays a vital role in decision making and signifies what the year ahead will bring. Normally, the celebration kicks off with a dinner full of traditional Lunar New Year foods that are eaten to bring happiness and wealth. It ends with the Lantern Festival, which honors peace, reconciliation, and harmony. Traditional dances like the Lion Dance and Dragon Dance are performed to ward evil spirits away and bring good luck and wealth.

Though events around the globe have been downsized or cancelled because of the pandemic, members of the University of Miamis Asian American Student Association (AASA) share what marking the first new moon of the lunisolar calendar means to them.

Bao Duong, a junior studying neuroscience and the president of AASA, said that according to the Chinese zodiac, the Year of the Ox may symbolize good fortune for all after facing a year of hardships because of the perseverance that the animal is most known for.

The ox is an animal that is very necessary, in terms of agricultureespecially in Asia, said Duong, who is a second-generation Vietnamese American. When you think of ox, you think of someone who is incredibly hardworking and theyre dedicated, dependable, and just excited to be a team player.

Duong added, Lunar New Year represents a time to truly celebrate the connection of my family and loved ones. The majority of my family is in Vietnam, and so my family cooks a small feast to celebrate. It is really nice because we FaceTime our relatives and wish them good fortune during this huge holiday. Before we eat the food, it is first used as an offering for our deceased relatives where we place it on an altar. My family always gives tribute and asks them to look over us for the upcoming year."

Her fondest memory of Lunar New Year includes cooking dishes with her mother. "My mother's love language is always food, and so it was really special to bond with her by learning these recipes, said Duong. Some traditional dishes include sticky rice, steamed pork ribs, and candied pineapple and lotus seeds. The best meal has to be dumplings, typically filled with beef and finely chopped vegetables.

Tram Huynh is a junior studying psychology and biochemistry. Customarily, in Vietnam, she said, the festivities will last for 15 days and there would be no school or work during this time.

Before the Lunar New Year, we would clean up and decorate the house with new trees and ornaments, said Huynh. We do all of this to wish for a prosperous new year. The best time are the first three days of the new year when we spend time visiting our families, friends, and even neighbors.

Hunyhs most fond Lunar New Year memory was when she and her brother were given the most powerful responsibility as a wish-giver.

We were to give the best wishes to our adults, who would return us with lucky money in red envelopes, she said. While my brother would wish them the usual wealth, health, and love, I'd recite poems that I had compiled the night before. I took my job very seriously.

Felix Nguyen, first year biology major and freshman liaison for AASA who is also of Vietnamese descent, celebrates Lunar New Year by going to temple and spending time with family.

There are usually celebrations at temples and annually theres a big event in the downtown area of my hometown, Jacksonville, Florida, where the temple that I attend has a booth set up with lots of food and various activities along with live performances, he said.

Nguyens most fond Lunar New Year memory took place in Jacksonville when he got to witness his friend perform live.

It was really neat to see her performing live with her group and just seeing her on stage, he said. The food was also great, and I got to see a lot of my old friends from elementary school.

Follow AASA on Instagram for updates on virtual events.

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New Mexico restaurant owners and industry leaders said they were excited but cautious Wednesday when the state announced the monthslong ban on indoor dining will end for several counties.

Restaurants in Bernalillo County havent been permitted to serve indoor diners since November, when the county was designated as red in a tiered system designed to limit the spread of COVID-19.

Bernalillo County  along with Sandoval, Santa Fe, Dona Ana and 11 other counties  was officially moved to the yellow tier Wednesday, allowing restaurants to offer indoor dining at 25% capacity.

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Were thrilled that this is hopefully the beginning of the end, said Carol Wight, CEO of the New Mexico Restaurant Association.

Wight said she is optimistic about the transition of Bernalillo and other counties into the yellow tier, but warned it will take restaurants some time to adjust back to serving indoors.

She said some restaurants, particularly counter service establishments, will be able to open as soon as theyre allowed to. Others, though, will need time to bring back employees and scale up their purchasing of ingredients.

I would encourage people to have patience with restaurants right now, she said. Because its almost like opening your restaurant for the first time.

Wight urged customers to call ahead or make reservations to ensure their restaurant is ready for indoor dining.

Many restaurants and breweries were quick to announce the reopening of their dining rooms, like Brew Lab 101 Beer & Cider Co., which announced on social media that it would be resuming indoor service just several hours after Sandoval County moved into the yellow designation.

MTuccis Twenty-Five issued an announcement Wednesday afternoon that it would be reopening for indoor service starting today, Thursday. In the release, the restaurant noted that this is its fourth reopening in one year.

Not all restaurant owners are optimistic about the change.

Nick Kapnison, who owns several restaurants  including Nick & Jimmys Restaurant and Mykonos Cafe & Taverna  said the changing public health orders are confusing and the latest doesnt help much.

Terry Keene, co-owner of Artichoke Cafe and the two locations of Farina Pizzeria, said he doesnt think the opening of indoor dining will mean an automatic influx of cash.

I dont think its going to be a gold rush to restaurants because theyre open for 25%  and we have history on our side, he said, explaining that the other two times Albuquerque restaurants have been allowed to open at 25% capacity, dining rooms havent even reached that level.

Keene said with many people still cautious about eating inside or at a restaurant, he doesnt expect the opening of indoor dining to make a huge difference in terms of income for his business.

However, Keene said he is still excited for the change, which will allow him to reopen the temporarily shuttered Artichoke Cafe.

He said the restaurant will open as soon as it can, while the two locations of Farina are expected to seat diners inside almost immediately.

At least were moving in the right direction and I give  Bernalillo County the credit for working hard to do that, Keene said.
New Canaan has made it easy for people over 65 to sign up for the COVID-19 vaccine.

Those seeking to be vaccinated can register online on the New Canaan town website after providing their name, address and date of birth.

Residents visiting the town site should click on the red box that says COVID-19 in the lower right hand corner of the home page.

Gov. Ned Lamont announced Monday that Connecticut residents over the age of 65 will be eligible to get the vaccine starting Feb. 11. The state is rolling out the next part of Phase 1b while vaccination for those 75 and over will continue.

In New Canaan, the registrations will be sorted by date of birth. This way, we ensure our eldest population get in first since the priority still remains for the seniors 75 plus that may have not been vaccinated yet, Director of Health Jenn Eielson said.

You will be notified for an appointment when it is available for you at Lapham Community Center during the month of February or March, according to the website.

Lapham Center is located in Waveny Park.

This week, the state Department of Public Health has allocated 300 doses to the Health Department  all of which will be administered today (Thursday Feb. 10) in one clinic, Eielson said.

The DPH gives the allocation amounts for the following week on Fridays.

This week we took that list and combined it with our existing list and simply selected 300 residents by their date of birth, Eielson said.

We are guaranteed 200 for next week but hopeful the state DPH will give us more like they did this week. We have over 1,100 on the list that signed up and took 300 off with this weeks clinic already, she added.

Next week, the town will have a second-dose clinic as well. Those that are vaccinated in New Canaan with the Health department are given their vaccination cards at their first appointment with the date of their second dose appointment. Eielson said.

The state website urges people to be patient since there are 350,000 individuals between the ages of 65 and 74 in the state and the weekly supply of vaccine to the state is increasing only slightly. The state expects 60,000 doses of the vaccine per week from the federal government.

Seniors 65 plus can also go on Stamford hospital website or register with Vaccine Administration Management System (VAMS) on the state website and select a provider for an open clinic anywhere in Connecticut.

The VAMS system requires an individual to be a little more tech savvy, Eielson said.
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The UN General Assembly decided on 22 December, 2015 that an annual observance was needed to recognize the critical role women and girls play in science and technology

The International Day of Women and Girls in Science is observed annually by the United Nations and other organisations to encourage the involvement of girls and women into the field of Science and laud the efforts put in by women associated with STEM subjects.

International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2021: Date

The global observance is celebrated every year on 11 February and an International Day of Women and Girls in Science Assembly is organised.

This year will mark the sixth International Day of Women and Girls in Science Assembly. The assembly in 2021 will be organised by the Royal Academy of Science International Trust (RASIT), along with the Permanent Missions of several countries to the United Nations, the African Union, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) and the World Intellectuals Property Organization (WIPO).

International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2021: Theme

According to the United Nations, the theme for the International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2021 is Women Scientists at the forefront of the fight against COVID-19 .

The outbreak of the pandemic has once again solidified the need and importance of women scientists. Women have actively participated in the research of knowing about the virus, then developed techniques for testing and also managed to create the vaccine against the virus.

Another aspect of the pandemics outbreak is the adverse effect it left on the career of the women scientists. For those who are in the early stages of their career, the advance of the viral pandemic left them staggered with no hope and scope for growth. This in effect further widened the already wide gap between the genders in the scientific system.

International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2021: Significance

The UN General Assembly decided on 22 December, 2015 that an annual observance was needed to recognize the critical role women and girls play in science and technology.

Since then, this day has been utilised to promote full and equal access to and participation in science for women and girls.


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.
Ethiopian freelance journalist Lucy Kassa was attacked at her home in Addis Ababa on 8 February by three unidentified armed men in plain clothes who threatened to kill her for her reporting. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) condemns the attack and demands the government take urgent steps to ensure her safety.

Lucy Kassa has worked for various international media including Los Angeles Times, Al Jazeera and the Norwegian magazine Bistandsaktuelt for several years.

Since armed conflict broke out in the Tigray region in November between the Ethiopian government and the local authorities, Kassa has reported extensively on the human rights situation there.

On 8 February, 3 attackers in plain clothes entered Kassa's home, beat her and threatened to kill her for writing bad stories about Tigray. Her computer and some photos were stolen by the attackers.

The attack ocurred at the time the journalist was working on a story for the Los Angeles Times about a woman who was gang-raped by Eritrean soldiers and other women being abducted in a rural village in Tigray. The story was published today.

Kassa claims she was attacked because of her reporting on the war in Tigray. I was interrogated by the armed men on my relationship with the TPLF junta and I told them that I have nothing to do with the TPLF, she told Bistandsaktuelt.

She has been criticised for being too critical of both the Abiy Government and the Tigray Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF).

IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger, said: The attack on Lucy Kassa is a cowardly and deliberate attack on freedom of expression. The only intention of the attackers is to silence Lucy, so that she will not report on the horrendous atrocities that are being committed in Tigray by both government forces and the TPLF. Journalists must be allowed to do their jobs without any form of intimidation and harassment".

The International Federation of Journalists urges the Abiy government to provide Lucy Kassa with all the safety measures she needs to carry out her duties as a journalist.
A Sogakope Magistrate Court has sentenced four persons who assaulted Police officers at Suipe-Kpelikope to a fine of GH600.00 each.



The convicts, besides the fines, would serve a day in prison custody.



The convicts, who are farmers, pleaded guilty to the charges of assault and obstruction of Police lawful duty.



They will go to prison for six months if they fail to pay the fine.



They are Grace Sodzi 40, Sodzi Kudzitsa Gbordzi 40, Kwame Dordzi 50 and Klutse Avor 54.



Police Chief Inspector Paul Addo Dwumah told the court presided over by Mr Justice Addo that the convicts played key roles in attacking the Police in the discharge of their lawful duty in a case the Akatsi South Social Welfare Department was investigating.



The case involves a fight among relatives over the custody of a child.



The prosecution said on Thursday, January 21, six Police officers, including a detective PW Sergeant, Patience Dzihlornu from the Domestic and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU), went to Suipe-Kpelikope, a farming community in the Akatsi South Municipality to find out why the relatives in the matter failed to appear for arbitration.



He said the convicts, wielding offensive implements such as cutlasses, stones and other objects, surrounded the Police vehicle and threatened to kill the officers.



Chief Inspector Dwumah said one officer was physically hit by blows around the chest and another at the neck.



The prosecution said the Officers tried to calm tensions but that didn't materialise.



The court, after hearing the convicts, fined them 50 penalty units each, an equivalent of GH600 with a day stay in prison custody.



Chief Superintendent Atsu Joseph Dzineku, Akatsi South Municipal Police Commander, said the conviction would serve as a deterrent to others, who take the laws into their own hands.

Source: GNA









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Dharamsala, Feb 11 : Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) President Lobsang Sangay on Thursday extended greetings on Losar, the Tibetan New Year, but expressed concern over the grim situation in Tibet.

"On this joyous occasion of Tibetan New Year, I, on behalf of the CTA, extend heartfelt greetings to His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet, religious leaders and representatives of Tibetan Buddhism and all Tibetan brothers and sisters in Tibet and throughout the world celebrating Tibetan New Year," he said in a statement.

Hoping that this New Year brings all good health, he said the situation inside Tibet "remains grave".

"Although we welcome the news of the recent release of language activist Tashi Wangchuk, we must not forget that he was falsely charged and wrongfully sentenced to five-year imprisonment. Similarly, the case of 19-year-old monk Tenzin Nyima who died of severe beating and torture by the Chinese authorities days after the enactment of the Tibetan Policy and Support Act of 2020 is a clear indication that the situation inside Tibet is worsening particularly after the US passed TPSA into law," he said.

Sangay said the US law "sends a powerful message of hope and justice to Tibetan inside Tibet and reinforces US support for religious freedom, the reincarnation system, environmental protection and Tibetan democratic system in exile, especially acknowledging the CTA and the Sikyong as the legitimate institution and representative of the Tibetan diaspora around the world is a significant achievement for Tibet's issue".

Keeping in mind the Covid-19 pandemic, he appealed everyone to prioritise maximum precautions during Losar festivity.

Hundreds of Tibetans and their spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, who have been living in exile at McLeodganj near here in Himachal Pradesh for over half a century, on Thursday began celebrations of the three-day New Year festival.
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TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - Big changes could be in store for the Vigo County Democratic Party. Terre Haute city council member, Martha Crossen plans to run for Democratic party chairperson in March. She's challenging current chairman, Joseph Etling, who's held that position for more than 20 years.

"Wow, looking back at that last election we need to do better," Crossen said.

In 2020, Vigo County Democrats suffered significant losses. They include two Vigo County Commissioner Seats, as well as the races for Treasurer, Recorder, and Clerk.

"I think if we could've been better organized, we could've won those races, Crossen said.

Dr. Matt Bergbower is the chairman of Indiana State University's Political Science Department. We asked him how a new chairperson could affect the future of the Vigo County Democratic Party.

"The positive is new blood and a fresh face, new ideas... and on the downside, the experience would matter and the established connections matter," Bergbower said.

Crossen will make her case to the Democratic Precinct Committee Chairpersons in Vigo County. They will hold a caucus on March 6.

News 10 has been in contact with current Democratic Party Chairman, Joe Etling. We are working with him to get an interview about the challenge to the party leadership.

The European Commission does not comment on the statements of German President Frank Walter Steinmeier that the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline is Russia's compensation for the events of World War II, but reminds that if it is implemented, companies will have to work within the framework of European legislation.

This is how representative of the European Commission Nabila Massrali commented on the corresponding statement of the German president and the subsequent criticism from the Ambassador of Ukraine to Germany Andriy Melnyk in Brussels on Thursday.

"This project is not within the framework of our goals. Nord Stream 2 is a project of a group of private companies, and we cannot interfere with their construction, and German government agrees with this. In case the companies complete the construction of the gas pipeline, they should know that they will have to work in accordance with European legislation. This is what we can do at the European level," she said.

At the same time, Massrali repeated the position of the European Commission, which is that Brussels believes that Nord Stream 2 "will not lead to diversification of energy supplies to the European Union, and this is precisely one of the goals of our Energy Union."

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has canceled its operations focusing on illegal immigrants with convictions for sex crimes, according to ICE head Thomas Homan.

"On Wednesday, February 3rd, another email went out to the field shutting down the national Operation Talon, that sought to arrest at-large illegal aliens with sex crime convictions to include child molestation," Homan was quoted on a Fox News report.

An ICE official said that the Biden administration has nothing to do with the agency's decision. However, it was possible staffers set aside while waiting new instructions from the administration.

Homan said that thousands of investigative hours go into planning for these operations from identifying targets, to locating them, as well as to ensuring that there is right coordination with other law enforcement entities.

An ICE spokesperson said that it was not able to confirm or discuss future operations until they are complete.

However, ICE's new operational plans are not yet final. Interim instructions were already sent to senior officials point to a major shift in enforcement. Agents will now focus instead on national security threats, recent border crossers, and people completing prison and jail terms for aggravated felony convictions, according to a Washington Post report.

"Generally, these convictions would not include drug based crimes (less serious offenses), simple assault, DUI, money laundering, property crimes, fraud, tax crimes, solicitation, or charges without convictions," acting director Tae Johnson was quoted on a report.

Related story: New Stimulus Bill Includes Stimulus Checks for Illegal Immigrants, Protections From Deportations

Biden Administration's Immigration Approach

Biden announced on Thursday that his administration will increase the number of admissions of refugees into the US., marking the latest shift in the immigration policy in his administration.

Biden said in a speech as the State Department that he is approving an executive order to start the hard work of restoring their refugee admissions program to help meet the unprecedented global need.

"It's going to take time to rebuild what has been so badly damaged but that's precisely what we're going to do," Biden was quoted in another Fox News report.

The president said he will up the number of refugees in the U.S. brings in each year from 15,000 to 125,000. The said number would be higher than what was recorded during President Barack Obama, which was by 15,000. Biden said the aim is to raise it for the first full fiscal year, starting October.

Meanwhile, ICE officials say the proposed changes will take away agents' discretion and severely constrain their ability to arrest and deport criminals.

A draft memo circulating in the agency stated that agents seeking to arrest fugitives outside of jails and prisons will need prior approval from the agency's director in Washington to justify the decision. The agents would also need to explain how the enforcement action shows a proper allocation of limited resources.

One distraught official who spoke on the condition of anonymity said that they have abolished ICE without abolishing the agency.

The official added that the pendulum swing is extreme and it feels like they have gone from the ability to fully enforce the immigration laws to now being told to enforce nothing.

Related story: Supreme Court to Decide Whether Census Must Count Illegal Immigrants in Allocating House Seats

Seth Brenzel, a gay white father of a bi-racial child, was denied a spot on the San Francisco Board of Education's volunteer parent committee on Tuesday night because he doesn't bring enough diversity to the group

A gay white father of a bi-racial child has been denied a spot on the San Francisco Board of Education's volunteer parent committee because his race doesn't bring enough diversity to the group.

The issue of whether to allow Seth Brenzel to volunteer for the 15-person parent advisory council was debated for almost two hours on Tuesday night during a board meeting.

The parent advisory council, who had unanimously supported Brenzel to join their all-female committee, had submitted his name to be approved by the school board.

His candidacy, however, faced opposition from some board members and members of the public who argued that there wasn't enough diversity on the council - even though there are five seats currently empty.

Those who opposed his candidacy were concerned with the fact that he is white.

The 15-person council currently only has 10 members: Two black mothers, one Asian-American, three Latinx, one Pacific Islander and three white.

Brenzel, who is the executive director of a music program for children, is openly gay. He lives in San Francisco with his husband and their young daughter.

If approved, Brenzel would have been the only father on the council.

After the lengthy debate, the school board eventually decided against voting on his appointment at all and asked the council to find alternate candidates for them to consider.

The issue of whether to allow Seth Brenzel (pictured on left with his husband) to volunteer for the 15-person parent advisory council was debated for almost two hours on Tuesday night during a board meeting. His candidacy, however, faced opposition from some board members and members of the public who argued that there wasn't enough diversity on the council

The parent advisory council, who had unanimously supported Brenzel to join their all-female committee (above), had submitted his name to be approved by the school board

Brenzel's appointment to the council was just one of the agenda items for the meeting that ended up going for seven hours.

Another item on the agenda was about reopening San Francisco schools amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

It is the same school board that last month voted 6-1 to strike the names of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and Abraham Lincoln from the district's institutions.

As a result, 44 schools had to change their names after board members deemed the historical figures to have ties to racism or have 'dishonorable legacies' despite basing the decision on incorrect Wikipedia articles.

The issue of diversity was a main argument in deciding whether to appoint Brenzel to the council.

One person, only identified as Tara, said during the meeting: 'They are not a diverse group of parents as far as I have seen, I have noticed and have observed.'

Others who opposed Brenzel's appointment argued that the council 'does not even mirror Joe Biden's cabinet' and that other 'voices need to be heard first before white queer voices'.

Commissioner Matt Alexander - who described himself as the lone white board member - had said that it seemed 'like the white members are over-represented on the P.A.C.' and that there was an under-representation of 'Arab, Vietnamese, Native American folks'.

'I'm probably going to get complaints now I'm telling white parents not to be involved or something. I want to be clear, that's not what I'm saying,' he said, before later adding that 'white parents also in the city tend to have a lot of privilege and power and access the board of ed in various ways.'

Several others, however, defended Brenzel's candidacy, pointing out that he would bring diversity because he is gay and a father.

'I see no reason why Seth should not be confirmed. I think this is just honestly just a political show so you can say that you stopped a white person from getting on,' one speaker said.

Another member of the public said: 'I'm very upset we are focusing solely on race. Seth would be the only male on the pact. He would be the only LGBTQ member. He has a bi-racial child.

'I mean, this notion of oh, he's just a white person therefore we can't have him, it's absolute nonsense. There's diversity beyond the color of our skin and I think it is important to consider diversity beyond just race and the intersectionalty of parents.

'We are all diverse in our own way and Seth brings a lot of diversity to a pact that has no men and no LGBTQ parents.'

It comes as the school board president Gabriela Lopez, 30, defended last month's decision to rename the 44 schools honoring historical leaders who have since been branded by activists as racist.

San Francisco school board president Gabriela Lopez, 30, has defended the decision to rename 44 schools

San Francisco Unified School District had been criticized for voting by 6-1 last month to change the name of one-third of the city's schools.

Parents and residents became concerned when it emerged that historians had not been consulted by the renaming committee.

Instead, committee members allegedly used references from Wikipedia and other non-scholarly sources to determine which personalities were racist and problematic.

Several of those citations have now been proven to be factually incorrect, including a false claim that American poet James Russell Lowell did not want black people to vote and that Paul Revere's military activities were tied to 'the conquest of the Penobscot Indians'.

Gabriela Lopez, the head of the San Francisco Board of Education, continues to defend the decision claiming in a tense interview with the New Yorker that she doesn't want to 'discredit the work that this group has done' despite their use of inaccurate information.

She claimed that she did not believe the names had been selected in a haphazard way, even after being read a list of the misinformation that was used in some of the decisions.

'No, because I've already shared with you that the people who have contributed to this process are also part of a community that is taking it as seriously as we would want them to,' Lopez argued about the errors made in the research process.

'And they're contributing through diverse perspectives and experiences that are often not included, and that we need to acknowledge.

'What I keep hearing is you're trying to undermine the work that has been done through this process. And I'm moving away from the idea that it was haphazard,' she said in the strained Q&A.

San Francisco Unified School District had been criticized for voting by 6-1 last month to change the name of one-third of the city's schools including those named after President Lincoln. Pictured, Abraham Lincoln High School in the Sunset neighborhood of San Francisco

George Washington's name will be removed from the high school named after him, as pictured right. The father of the nation owned slaves and ordered Indians killed

ERRORS MADE BY THE SAN FRANCISCO SCHOOL RENAMING COMMITTEE: Committee members allegedly used references from Wikipedia and other non-scholarly sources to determine which personalities were racist and problematic. Several of those citations has now been proven to be factually incorrect: 1. One committee member urged that the name of acclaimed American poet James Russell Lowell should be stripped off a high school because a Wikipedia citation stated that he did 'not want black people to vote'. However, that claim is false - and scholarly articles assert that Lowell 'unequivocally advocated giving the ballot to the recently freed slave'. 2. The committee concluded that Paul Revere's name should be removed from a middle school after citing an article from the History Channel website. Members alleged that Revere's military activities were tied to 'the conquest of the Penobscot Indians', which was untrue. 3. James Lick - who resided in San Francisco - was also deemed 'racist' after members failed to critically read an article about the famous 19th century businessman. The committee stated that Lick had funded a sculpture showing an American Indian lying at the feet of white men. However, in actuality, Lick died 18 years before the sculpture was created, and it was only partially funded by his posthumous estate. Advertisement

Lopez also pushed back on the complaints that historians were not consulted as part of the process.

Among the names included on the list that had provoked pushback from residents and historians was President Abraham Lincoln.

Lopez said that she did not believe Lincoln was a person she would 'admire or see as a hero'.

'I think that the killing of indigenous peoples and that record is something that is not acknowledged,' she said.

'It's something that people are now learning about, and due to this process. And so, we just have to do the work of that extra learning when we're having these discussions.'

Lopez also claimed that the renaming was only facing criticism because 'people will always have a problem with the discussion of racism', not because of the inaccurate information.

'That is what I know. That is why I'm getting death threats. That is why people aren't open to other possibilities. Because when we have this discussion, that's the outcomes no matter how good it's set up, no matter how open we are,' she said.

'No matter what, people are going to have an issue with that. That is what I know, given my experience. Of course, I'm hearing what you're saying, but I don't think it's going to change the outcome. People are still going to be up in arms when we're doing this.'

Among the other criticism received by the city's board of education was that it had voted on the renaming when there appeared to be no plan in place to bring students back to in-person learning.

'What I cannot understand is why the school board is advancing a plan of all these schools renamed by April when there isn't a plan to have our kids back in the classroom by then,' San Francisco Mayor London Breed had said.

The city of San Francisco has also since sued the board of education and school district claiming they have violated a state law that required districts to adopt a clear plan during the pandemic as it relates to in-person education.

Lopez claimed that it is 'completely false' to say they don't have a plan and accused to the mayor of jumping at 'any opportunity to cause further division'.
Allaying concerns of Chhattisgarh over incomplete phase 3 trials of Covaxin, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Thursday said both this and the other COVID-19 vaccine Covishield are safe and immunogenic and should be used expeditiously to mitigate the impact of the pandemic. Earlier, Chhattisgarh Health Minister TS Singh Deo said he had written to Vardhan urging him not to send Bharat Biotech's Covaxin till the phase-3 clinical trial results are completed while also expressing concern about the absence of expiry date on the vials of the vaccine.

The primary concerns of the state, Deo said on Twitter, are the inhibitions regarding the incomplete third phase trials of Covaxin and the absence of expiration date on the vials of the vaccine. "I have requested him to halt the supply of Covaxin to Chhattisgarh until these issues are addressed to the satisfaction of our Health Department to avoid the wastage of the early expiration doses of the drug," he said in another tweet.

Responding to his letter, Vardhan said he has got the matter examined in the ministry and as per New Drugs and Clinical Trials Rules, 2019, under Drugs and Cosmetics Act , 1940 and in light of urgent need due to COVID-19 pandemic in the country, the Central Drugs Standard and Control Organisation (CDSCO) has granted permission to manufacture the two vaccines based on the prescribed procedure and after due evaluation of pre-clinical and clinical trial data. Only those COVID-19 vaccines that have been granted permission for restricted use in emergency situations by the DCGI i.e.Covishield and Covaxin are being used for COVID-19 vaccination drive in the country.

"Both these vaccines being supplied to the states /UTs are safe and immunogenic and should be used expeditiously to rapidly confer protection to prioratised beneficiaries thereby mitigating the impact of the pandemic at the earliest," he said. "Your concern regarding unavailability of expiry date on Covaxin vial is also completely unfounded and without basis as the same is mentioned on the label of vaccine vials," Vardhan said in his letter.

He further noted that Chhattisgarh has achieved 69.87 per cent coverage of its healthcare workers by giving them the first dose of the vaccine, the state has been able to cover only 9.55 per cent of 2,09,512 frontline workers through the first dose of the vaccine. "You would appreciate that this coverage needs to improve significantly since adequate quantity of both the vaccines are available with the state. I look forward to your continuous oversight and guidance to the ongoing COVID-19 vaccination drive in the state of Chhattisgarh which remains crucial for its success," he said.
Day three of former president Donald Trump's impeachment trial featured the remainder of Democratic House impeachment managers' case against Trump.

Below, some takeaways.

- - -

1. A novel appeal to GOP senators about the consequences of acquittal

If there is one quote that summed up the Democrats' argument for conviction of Trump, it came Thursday from Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Calif.

The fact that Trump is no longer in office renders the biggest punishment of the impeachment process - removal from office - moot. Beyond that, it's about sanctioning him and preventing Trump from being able to hold high office again.

But Lieu suggested that this wasn't just about preventing Trump from running (and potentially winning) again; he said it was instead about avoiding another situation such as this.

"You know, I'm not afraid of Donald Trump running again in four years," Lieu said. "I'm afraid he's going to run again and lose, because he can do this again."

The comment was clearly intended for Republican senators who might be on the fence. The party establishment has flirted with a break from Trump in an attempt to phase him out, but that's no easy process. And of late, Republicans appear to have rallied behind the former president.

It's also logical that Democrats wouldn't be terribly concerned about Trump running again, given that he just lost and was one of the most unpopular presidents in history (despite actually coming closer than most recognize to winning reelection). Lieu tried to drive home that this was bigger than just an attempted political disqualification.

Another impeachment manager, Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Colo.), also got at this idea.

"All of these people who have been arrested and charged, they're being accountable, held accountable for their actions," she said. "Their leader, the man who incited them, must be held accountable as well."

DeGette added later: "Impeachment is not to punish, but to prevent. We are not here to punish Donald Trump. We are here to prevent the seeds of hatred that he planted from bearing any more fruit."

The concerted message on the final day of the Democrats' arguments was to warn Republicans about what they might have to account for if they let Trump slide.

But it didn't sway at least one key Republican who has suggested Trump carries blame, Sen. Mike Rounds, R-S.D.

"I think that was a very powerful statement on his part," Rounds said of Lieu's quote. "And I know I wrote that down. I know a number of my colleagues did. But once again, the issue for most of us is are you asking us to do something that we simply don't have the capability of doing because the Constitution does not give us that tool with regard to a private citizen."

- - -

2. Driving home Trump's history of violent rhetoric

A big question going into the trial was how much Democrats would keep focused on Jan. 6 and Trump's effort to overturn the election, and how much they would address his past rhetoric encouraging or excusing political violence.

Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., the lead impeachment manager, briefly made his team's offering on the latter Thursday.

This is hardly the first time people have tied Trump's comments to real or potential violence. It happened throughout his presidency. It happened to the point where even many Republicans now allied with Trump - who are playing down the need for his impeachment - warned about a situation similar to this, including former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley and Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas.

Raskin referred to many of these instances, including Trump jokingly praising a Montana politician for assaulting a reporter, suggesting that there were good people on "both sides" of the racist rally in Charlottesville in 2017, and his repeated suggestions both at his 2016 rallies and since that his supporters might get violent. Trump also endorsed a clip from a supporter saying "the only good Democrat is a dead Democrat" - before that supporter was arrested for his part in the Capitol riot.

Perhaps most compellingly, Raskin noted Trump's tweet to "LIBERATE MICHIGAN" in April. It came two weeks before armed protesters flooded the state Capitol there. Trump suggested approval for their show of force and, in response, urged Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, to negotiate with them on the coronavirus restrictions Trump had criticized. Two weeks later, protesters returned with more violent rhetoric. Then an alleged plot to kidnap Whitmer surfaced - a plot in which the alleged perpetrators echoed Trump's rhetoric.

"This Trump-inspired mob may indeed look familiar to you," Raskin said of the initial scenes at the state Capitol. "Confederate battle flags, MAGA hats, weapons, camo Army gear - just like the insurrectionists who showed up and invaded this chamber on Jan. 6. The siege of the Michigan Capitol was effectively a state-level dress rehearsal for the siege of the U.S. Capitol that Trump incited on January 6th."

Trump's defenders have focused narrowly on his speech Jan. 6, which they argue was unremarkable, and which they note included one line that those marching to the Capitol should "peacefully" protest. They have even argued that revelations about planning by some Capitol rioters suggest that they couldn't have been incited.

That ignores everything that preceded Jan. 6, and Trump's efforts to overturn the election. The fact is that there had been all kinds of suggestions that Trump's rhetoric could lead to what we saw. Trump often did far less than his critics said he should to prevent or condemn such scenes.

That might be the most significant evidence Democrats have - even if Raskin's presentation gave it short shrift, in the grand scheme of things.

- - -

3. A prebuttal to Trump's free-speech defense

Democrats offered a prebuttal to an argument the Trump legal team's is expected to make Friday, that this is a matter of free speech.

Trump's team, in its briefs, hasn't actually delved into the well-established limits on free speech, which include things like incitement and defamation.

Democrats argued that even those limits are beside the point. They said Trump, as president and commander in chief, is held to a higher standard.

Rep. Joe Neguse, D-Colo., cited a letter from legal experts on free speech, including many conservatives, who rebuked the idea that such a defense applies in this case.

"That [defense] has no basis in the evidence," Neguse said. "To hear his lawyers tell it, he was just some guy at a rally, expressing unpopular opinions. They would have you believe that this whole impeachment is because he said things that one may disagree with."

Raskin said that a president's speech carries inordinate weight when it comes to things like incitement, by virtue of his oath of office.

"Nobody made Donald Trump run for president and swear an oath to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution on Jan. 20, 2017," Raskin said. "But when he did, by virtue of swearing that oath and entering this high office, he took upon himself a duty to affirmatively take care that our laws would be faithfully executed under his leadership."

Raskin also went further, noting that constitutional experts generally agree that impeachment doesn't require a statutory crime. "High crimes and misdemeanors," despite the claims of Trump's legal team both this week and in his first impeachment, doesn't actually mean felonies or what the legal code today calls misdemeanors.

"Incitement to violent insurrection is not protected by free speech," Raskin said. "There is no First Amendment defense to impeachment for high crimes and misdemeanors. The idea itself is absurd. And the whole First Amendment smokescreen is a completely irrelevant distraction from the standard of high crimes and misdemeanors governing a president who has violated his oath of office."

4. The participants who cited Trump

The early focus Thursday was on driving home the incitement argument by pointing to rioters who said they had been incited.

Multiple rioters who have been charged with crimes have cited perceived invitations from Trump as part of their defense. That could be convenient for them, legally speaking. But DeGette focused more on people who said these things in real time.

Among them:

One man who wrote on the day of the siege, "Trump just needs to fire the bat signal . . . deputize patriots . . . and then the pain comes."

Another man said on a live stream from inside the Capitol: "Our president wants us here. We wait and take orders from our president."

One man told a police officer who stood in his way: "There's a f------ million of us out there, and we're listening to Trump - your boss."

Another woman responded to now-President Biden's calls for peace by saying, "Does he not realize President Trump called us to siege the place?"

Another talked about calling Trump from inside the Capitol and said, "He'll be happy. . . . We're fighting for Trump."

"Have you noticed throughout this presentation the uncanny similarity, over and over and over again, of what all these people are saying?" DeGette said. "They said what Donald Trump said and they echoed each other. 'Stand back and stand by.' 'Stop the steal.' 'Fight like hell.' 'Trump sent us.' 'We are listening to Trump.' "

It's possible to cherry-pick anecdotes in a prosecution. It's also possible that people perceived a message that Trump didn't technically send. The combination of these comments and those citing Trump's invitation as part of their legal defense, though, suggests that this is something many truly believed was done at Trump's behest - or at least that it would meet with his approval.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 11th February, 2021) President Joe Biden on Wednesday announced the creation of a new China Task Force at the Pentagon to provide recommendations on US military strategy to his administration within the next four months.

"The task force will work quickly, drawing on civilian and military experts across the department to provide within the next few months recommendations to Secretary Austin on key priorities and decision points so that we can chart a strong path forward on China-related matters," Biden said in remarks to Defense Department personnel during a visit to the Pentagon.

The Pentagon said in a fact sheet that the China Task Force will review high-priority matters related to Beijing, including bilateral defense relations, intelligence and US alliances and partnerships and issue recommendations within the next four months.

No final public report is anticipated, but the Defense Department will share its findings with Congress and other stakeholders, the Pentagon said.

Biden said the United States needs to meet the growing challenges posed by China to keep peace and defend US interests in the Indo-Pacific and around the world.

He added that the United States needs to enhance its capabilities in cyberspace and ensure it is in a position to lead in a new era of competition "from the deep sea to outer space."
Lawmakers on marijuana study committee plan out-of-state site visits

Lawmakers want a firsthand look at legal cannabis operations in response to South Dakotans voting to loosen their state's pot laws last fall.
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This weekend many lovebirds are looking for Valentines Day specials but one Massachusetts police department is helping offering specials for your ex.

Do you have an ex-Valentine and know they have warrants? Give us a call with their location for a special holiday offer, the Charlton Police Department wrote on Facebook.

The special includes free transportation, a three-night stay in our luxurious 5 accommodations, Valentines happy meal dinner and a special set of bracelets, the police department said.

The price: a phone call.

All callers remain anonymous, the department said.

Police departments have been known to make jokes on social media in the past. Although not all of them are a hit.

Last year, police departments across the country offered to test meth for coronavirus, USA Today reported.

Being that a large amount of narcotics come from outside the U.S., we want you safe, the Tavares Police Department in Florida wrote. Bring it by our station and we will test your batch within minutes!

In December 2018, a police department in Louisiana also offered to test meth for Zika, the newspaper reported.

Both times the police departments received backlash for the posts.

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The water level in the Rishiganga river surged again on Thursday, forcing rescue workers to suspend efforts to reach the over 30 people trapped in the Tapovan hydel project tunnel after the flash flood four days ago. Officials called it a 'temporary halt' to the massive effort by multi-agency rescuers to break through the sludge and debris that choked the tunnel after Sunday's disaster, which left 34 dead and about 170 missing.

READ | Uttarakhand disaster: Third day in a row, dog waits for his human friends outside Tapovan tunnel

"Rescue operation temporarily halted in Chamoli district due to a rise in the level of water in Rishiganga river. Orders have been given to vacate the areas downstream," said Ashok Kumar, DGP Uttarakhand. "The water level in the river is rising, people living in nearby areas are being alerted. People are requested to remain alert and not panic," added the Chamoli Police in Uttarakhand.

READ | Is plutonium device behind Uttarakhand glacier burst? Myths and rumors afloat over Tapovan tragedy

"Rescue operations in the tunnel temporarily halted as a precaution for the time being due to a low rise in water level in River Dhauli Ganga. Nothing alarming as seen in the river flow as of now," said the ITBP.

#WATCH Uttarakhand: JCB machines, equipment and rescue teams exit the tunnel in Joshimath, Chamoli district where rescue operation is underway, as the operation has been temporarily halted due to a rise in the level of water in Rishiganga river. pic.twitter.com/u8JhPqCyFB  ANI (@ANI) February 11, 2021

Hours before the sudden rise in the water, rescuers had also begun an operation to drill through the debris from the mouth of the river to reach life-saving devices to the trapped workers, an apparent change in strategy after trying to shift mounds of debris. But as the water level rose in the river which flows into the Alaknanda, rescue workers scrambled out of the tunnel with their heavy machinery. Chamoli District Magistrate Swati S Bhadauria said the work has been temporarily halted as a precautionary measure.

Uttarakhand glacier burst: ITBP and NDRF personnel continue rescue operations for the third day

Amid mounting concern over the lives of those inside, the focal point of the rescue operation remains the 1.5-km "head-race tunnel" -- a part of the 2.5-km long network of tunnels. "A drilling operation was started by the rescue teams at 2 am to peep into the slush-flushing tunnel that is about 12-13 metres below," Vivek Kumar Pandey, the spokesperson for the lead rescue agency, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), said in Delhi.

As the continuous flow of slush and silt remains a major obstacle between the rescuers and those trapped inside, a boring operation by a huge machine is being undertaken to see if this problem can be addressed in a different way and the teams can go further deep inside, he added.

Drilling through the debris started from around 68 metres inside the tunnel, Garhwal Commissioner Ravinath Raman, who is supervising the massive rescue effort at the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) project site, told PTI. The focus at the moment is to take life-saving devices such as oxygen cylinders to those trapped by drilling, Raman said. The drilling is to be done for 12 metres to access the probable location of those trapped, he added.

Till Wednesday, about 120 metres of slush from the mouth of the tunnel was cleared and those trapped inside were stated to be located somewhere at 180 metres, where the tunnel takes a slip or a turn. "More slush and water coming from inside the tunnel is making the way ahead difficult," Pandey had said on Wednesday.

ITBP chief S S Deswal had told PTI on Wednesday that his men and those from other agencies will continue with the rescue operation till "any length of time" or till a logical conclusion is arrived at and the trapped workers are located. He had expressed hope that that trapped inside might be safe with the help of possible air vents in the structure.

An officer said no doubt that those trapped inside must be in a bad situation without food and water. "But there is hope against hope that they are surviving somehow as the temperature inside the tunnel is about 20-25 degrees Celsius and some oxygen is possibly available to them," the officer said.

Workers at the 480-MW Tapovan-Vishnugad hydel power project of the NTPC got trapped after a surge of water in the Alaknanda river system on Sunday, possibly triggered by an avalanche or glacier break. Apart from the over 450 personnel from the ITBP, the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and the Army, the family members of those possibly trapped inside have stayed put outside the tunnel in anticipation of some news.
NEW DELHI : With a resolution of the stalemate over the new farm legislation seeming unlikely anytime soon, the agitating farmers at the Singhu border have started strengthening the infrastructure at the protest site to prepare for a long haul.

The leaders of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha, leading the protest, have reiterated to continue the agitation indefinitely till the Modi government scraps the three contentious farm laws and extends a legal guarantee of the minimum support price (MSP) for crops.

"We are strengthening our communication and other infrastructure to continue the agitation for a long period," said Deep Khatri associated with managing logistics at the Singhu Border protest site.

To increase security measures and keep miscreants at bay, 100 CCTV cameras with digital video recorders are being installed at the main stage used by the Morcha and also at some identified spots across the protest site's stretch on the GT Karnal Road.

"We are also readying a control room behind the main stage for monitoring and keeping a tab on the happenings here as a lot of people come and go everyday, " Khatri said.

Further, a team of 600 volunteers has been raised for patrolling the protest site, managing traffic and keeping a watch at night. These volunteers have been provided with easily identifiable green jackets and identity cards, he said.

Work is also on to install large LCD screens at 10 vantage points, at a distance of 700-800 metres, to enable the protesting farmers to watch activities like speeches of the leaders from the main stage.

"We will also use these points as pit stops for ambulances and teams of volunteers to coordinate traffic management, patrolling and response in case of any emergency," Khatri said.

In order to deal with any disruption in internet service as was done recently by the government, the Morcha is also hiring a separate optical fibre line for wifi facility, Khatri said.

He said in view of the approaching summer, electric fans and air conditioners are also being installed at the main stage used by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha and other facilities are being strengthened there.

The farmers protesting at Singhu asserted that they were ready to camp in protest for months and there was no dearth of people and resources to do so.

"We come from the culture of langar (community kitchen), so food is not a problem. Many farmers come here, stay for several days and go back to their villages to attend to their fields while others come and join us. This is going on and there is no lack of farmers' strength here," said Ranjit Singh from Moga in Punjab.

Morcha leader Rakesh Tikait who is staging the protest at Delhi's Ghazipur border had on Wednesday said the farmers' agitation will be long drawn and it will spread across the country in the coming days.

The farmers are protesting at Singhu, Ghazipur, Tikri border points of Delhi since November, demanding that the Centre scrap the new farm legislation.

The stalemate over the farm laws continues as 11 rounds of talks between the Central government ministers and farmer leaders have failed to achieve any breakthrough.

Tikait had on Wednesday said the government should talk to the farmer leaders to find a solution to the issues at hand.

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New Delhi [India], February 11 (ANI): Union ministers on Wednesday slammed members of opposition parties, especially those of Congress, for being absent from the budget discussion in the that went on till post-midnight on Thursday.

While there were quite a few ministers present in the treasury benches along with approximately 30 BJP MPs, the opposition benches were empty. Barring a few MPs of Shiv Sena and BSP, there were no opposition members present in the house when got extended to facilitate discussion.

Union Cabinet Minister Giriraj Singh highlighted the absence of Congress MPs in the house to the Speaker. Except for K Suresh who was discharging his duties as Speaker no other MP from Congress was present.

Coming out of at 12.45 am, both Union Minister Giriraj Singh and Minister of State for Finance Anurag Thakur slammed the opposition for being casual about the budget discussion.

"Congress MPs should listen to what other debate in the august house. While everyone puts their point across, Congress MPs are hardly there in the Parliament," said Anurag Thakur, MoS Finance.

Whereas Singh targeted the Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for being absent, and said, "Rahul Gandhi was not there and even his party members also not present. They are neither devoted to the country nor devoted to the Parliament. Some of them are going to Saharanpur (referencing Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's participation in Kisan panchayat) and some to other places for the photo sessions. Rahul Gandhi is shedding crocodile tears in the name of Congress," said Singh.

(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 Presidents Covid Relief Package

President Biden has announced bold goals for the much needed Covid relief package that America so desperately needs. But sometimes good intentions can fall upon bad roadblocks. In this case, its the Presidents desire to try and work with the Republicans who have demonstrated that they have no real concern about the pain and suffering of Americans outside of their own interest as a political party.

The U.S. House of Representatives has enough votes to pass the 1.9 trillion dollar relief package and as of February 2nd has begun the process of moving the legislation toward enactment. In the U.S. Senate, we encourage the Democratic leadership and majority to treat the Republicans as they have treated America for the past four years. That is, vote according to having the numbers with no concern for the other side. The Democrats have the numbers for a simple majority to pass the relief package with Vice President Harris standing by as the tie breaker if one occurs. The Republican package, presented to the President this week in their meeting with him at the White House, should be considered dead on arrival and viewed as no more than another effort to delay getting relief to the American people. There is still time to talk about unity after we get relief to the American people.

Mr. President, U.S. House of Representatives and the United States Senate, lets get this legislation passed and on the Presidents desk with all deliberate speed. The Republicans can catch up later, if they are still interested in democracy, their oath of office and the constitution they swore to serve.

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Lucknow, Feb 11 : Former UP minister Gayatri Prajapati, arrested earlier, has been sent to a seven-day Enforcement Directorate (ED) custody by a special court in a money laundering case linked to disproportionate assets.

His ED custody begins on Thursday.

Prajapati was booked in January this year by the ED in a fresh money laundering case after analysing an Uttar Pradesh Police vigilance FIR filed against him on charges of possessing alleged disproportionate assets.

The ED had sought at least 10 days' custody of Gayatri Prajapati from the court to 'dig out details of funds and 59 immovable properties worth Rs 20.90 crore', allegedly amassed by the former minister and his family members using purported proceeds of crime earned from illegal mining and other avenues.

In this case, he was arrested and sent to jail on March 15, 2017 and has been in judicial custody since then.

The ED had raided a number of his premises and those of his associated at Lucknow, Kanpur and Amethi in December last year.

The agency had then said that during the raids, it seized Rs 1.42 lakh cash, demonetized currency valuing Rs 11.50 lakh, stamp papers worth Rs 5 lakh, some property-related documents and computers.

"During the search, more than 100 registries of different properties spread across Lucknow, Kanpur, Amethi, Sitapur and others were unearthed. In addition, allotment letters of four villas in Mumbai, valued at Rs 2.5 crore each, belonging to the family members of the former minister were also seized," the ED had said in a statement.

The agency further said that its probe found that 'after the arrest of Prajapati in March, 2017 in a rape case, his sons have clandestinely sold off some of the properties for personal gains and influencing key witnesses in the trial case against him.' It had claimed that 'cash deposits in the bank accounts of Prajapati family members and companies were found to be non-commensurate with their income tax filings'.

"It was found that during the period the accused (Prajapati) was a minister in the UP government, his company rose exponentially in net worth which he could not explain satisfactorily during his examination," the ED had said.

The ED added that his family members had paid substantial tax on undisclosed income under the Union government-initiated Income Declaration Scheme (IDS) or the black money declaration scheme of 2016.

It said the probe against benami asset holders of Prajapati revealed that they were daily wage earners from humble backgrounds and incapable of owning or acquiring the properties found during investigation.

The ED is also probing his role in connection with the renewal of sand mining leases in Fatehpur district between 2012-2016.

It has been alleged in this case that Prajapati, in collusion with other government officials and private persons, got the mining leases renewed without following proper process of e-tendering and thereby aiding and abetting illegal mining in the district.
(Natural News) If America had a mainstream media that was honest, free of political bias and still interested in keeping the people informed as was their founding mandate and the reason for a free press, then there is no way the Democrat deep state would have been able to steal enough votes to ensure a Joe Biden victory.

Thats because the media would have exposed the Biden Crime Familys deep, troublesome ties to the Chinese Communists, a regime hell-bent on replacing the U.S. as the globes dominant power (by whatever means necessary).

But our large corporate media didnt do their jobs. In fact, they pointedly hid the Biden familys ties to China; so, too, did social media, especially after the New York Post published damning stories revealing those ties that were discovered on a computer hard drive Hunter Biden abandoned at a repair shop in Delaware.

And now that Bidens handlers managed to steal his victory, they are stocking his administration with China sycophants whose ties to Beijings ChiComs and military are both alarming and threatening to our national security.

The National Pulse reports:

Harvard Universitys Belfer Center  which counts participation from a host of current and former Joe Biden advisers  has repeatedly hosted conferences alongside the Chinese Communist Party, frequently publishing papers peddling CCP narratives, all while refusing to disclose its source of funding.

In fact, the center has hosted cybersecurity working groups alongside Chinese Communist Party government and military officials, despite Chinas repeated poaching and hacking of U.S. technology, The National Pulse adds.

The U.S. and China have a tremendous amount of power in cyber, and without appropriate dialogue there is a heightened chance for inadvertent conflict, said Belfer Center Director Ash Carter during a joint conference with Chinese cyber experts in the summer of 2019.

We need to stop talking past each other, have frank and constructive conversations, and start working on mutual interests. Were uniquely placed at the Belfer Center to convene a diverse group of stakeholders on both sides to tackle one of the most difficult international issues today, Eric Rosenbach, the centers co-director said.

How quaint. How wonderfully globalist. Theres just one problem, however: The Chinese dont see it that way.

They dont have the technology we have but this is how they get it  that is, when their military isnt hacking our technology and military secrets.

Meanwhile, lets take a look at some of the key players. Carter, who runs the center, ought to know better; he was a defense secretary under President Obama, and no doubt with Biden in the Oval now, hell be in touch. Eric Rosenbach, a fellow Obama administration national security alumnus, who also leads the China initiative. Also, Jake Sullivan, Bidens national security adviser, has served as a senior fellow at the Belfer Center.

Whats more, Bidens Director of National Security Avril Haines  who recently hesitated to call China a competitor, instead opting for global competitor  appeared on the centers Office Hours podcast in October 2017, The National Pulse reported.

Theres more. The outlet reports that Haines, Sullivan, and current Biden Secretary of State Antony Blinken have signed a letter backed by the center that advocates for strengthening ties with Beijing to develop a COVID-19 vaccine while claiming that the U.S. can definitely depend on China for protective gear and medicines needed to fight the virus.

This, after Chinese officials early on threatened to withhold PPE, where most of it is made thanks to decades of loss in American manufacturing (mostly to China).

In an article in Xinhua, the state-run media agency thats largely considered the mouthpiece of the party, Beijing bragged about its handling of COVID-19, a virus that originated in the city of Wuhan and has spread quickly around the world, killing nearly 5,000 people and infecting thousands more, Fox News reported in March 2020. The article also claimed that China could impose pharmaceutical export controls which would plunge America into the mighty sea of coronavirus.

Does that sound like a country that really wants to cooperate with us or dominate us? Bidens handlers seem to think its the former when it really isnt.

See more reporting like this at NationalSecurity.news.

Sources include:

FoxNews.com

NaturalNews.com

TheNationalPulse.com
Mumbai, Feb 11 : SEBI has imposed an overall penalty of over Rs 5 crore on brokerage firm OPG Securities Private Ltd, along with its promoter and MD Sanjay Gupta, and two other Directors in the NSE co-location matter.

As per a complaint received by the capital market regulator, OPG Securities used the NSE system to its advantage by hiring Nagbhusan Bhat, who was working with Omnesys Technologies, to figure out which server was working better.

The brokerage also allegedly made certain arrangements with a NSE datacentre staffer named Jagdish Joshi who would inform it of the time when the servers would start, and therefore, they could be the first to connect.

NSE was the second largest shareholder of Omnesys Technologies, which had the knowledge that connecting faster would put the server ahead in the queue.

Further, the complainant had alleged that the back-up servers that were installed for the purpose of business continuity, whose access should ideally be permitted in case the primary servers went down, were allowed to be accessed by OPG as load on such server was low.

The SEBI order noted that as a Director of OPG, Gupta was under an obligation to ensure that correct information was provided promptly to the regulator, however, he failed to ensure co-operation and hampered investigations in the instant proceedings.

"Accordingly, I hold that the submission made by the noticees in this regard are incorrect and misleading in nature," said the order by the Adjudicating Officer, Amit Pradhan.

On the other noticees, the regulator said that as they were directors of the company during the relevant period of violation, they were responsible for its day to day affairs and are "vicariously liable" for the acts of omissions and commissions of OPG.

"In the facts and circumstances of this case, the conduct of the noticee is blameworthy being in defiance of the obligations to exercise due skill, care and diligence in the conduct of its business and compliance with statutory requirements apart from indulging in 'unfair trade practice' in securities which is prohibited under Regulation 4(1) of the PFUTP Regulations and due to which they made unlawful gains," the order said.

SEBI has imposed a penalty of Rs 5 crore jointly on the company and the directors, along with a Rs 10 lakh fine each on OPG and Sanjay Gupta.
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The General Charles G. Harker School in Woolwich has been selected as a 2021 New Jersey State School of Character.

Each year the New Jersey Alliance for Social, Emotional and Character Development certifies schools and districts that demonstrate a dedicated focus on character development which has a positive effect on academic achievement, student behavior and school climate.

Criteria for selection are based on character.orgs 11 Principles of Character, which include providing students with opportunities for moral action, fostering shared leadership and engaging families and communities as partners in the character-building effort. The Harker School was recognized in its application for implementing promising practices and strategies that could help other schools.

We believe our students lead by example with the ways in which character education can have a positive and lasting impact on the learning environment and community, Swedesboro-Woolwich School District superintendent Kristin ONeil said. Hard work pays off, and we are so proud of our students, staff and administration!

In 2020, Harker School was recognized at Rider Universitys virtual recognition ceremony for earning two character.org Promising Practices and achieving honorable mention as a State School of Character. CHS representatives also were invited to attend the character.org National Forum next month.

For more information, visit swedesboro-woolwich.com.

Send community news to south@njadvancemedia.com.
MILWAUKEE, Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Health Payment Systems, Inc. (HPS, the "Company"), an innovator in the healthcare payments space, today announced that SV Health Investors, LLC ("SV") acquired a majority stake and provided growth financing to the Company. With this transaction, SV adds to its portfolio of growing healthcare technology investments. Hexagon, Inc., a private investment company and one of SV's limited partners, invested in HPS alongside SV.

Since its inception, HPS has helped self-funded employers in the Upper Midwest reduce the cost of healthcare, while maintaining high levels of provider and patient satisfaction. The Company's single-statement billing and patient financing services help families combat confusing and unaffordable medical bills, while its guaranteed payment model eliminates providers' collection costs and risk.

Tom Flynn, Managing Partner at SV who has joined HPS' board of directors, noted that "medical expenses and debt are a problem for employers, providers and most importantly, patientsparticularly during the current pandemic. SV is proud to partner with an organization focused on delivering solutions to patients and their families."

"SV believes HPS' innovative, data-based approach is positioned to transform the healthcare payment system. We're thrilled to be part of HPS' growth story," said Elizabeth Schwert, Vice President at SV, who has also joined HPS' board.

SV's investment will support HPS' expansion in the Upper Midwest and beyond. Tom Policelli, SV Executive in Residence, has joined the HPS leadership team as CEO. He partners with Terry Rowinski, who will become the Company's President.

Previously, Mr. Policelli was a co-founder and CEO of Minuteman Health, an HMO in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Prior to that, he was co-founder and CEO of Averde Health. Mr. Policelli also ran United Health Group's consumer-directed health business and founded a new business unit within the company. He began his career at CIGNA Healthcare, and while at Monitor Company consulted with several leading healthcare companies.

"I have known Terry and HPS for several years, and have been impressed from the start. The company has built a strong solution that now can be delivered to more consumers, employers, and providers in its current and future markets," said Mr. Policelli.

Jeffrey Holdsberg, Managing Director of Caltius Equity and board member of HPS said, "Terry and the HPS team have done a great job of building a highly-effective tool that streamlines the payment experience for both patients and providers. SV is a great partner for HPS as they too, like Caltius Equity, are focused on helping companies grow faster to reach their full potential. HPS will be able to greatly leverage SV's leading healthcare experience, vast industry and operational network, and proven, long-term investment performance."

About Health Payment Systems

Health Payment Systems (HPS) is a privately-held healthcare technology and services organization offering solutions to enhance the consumer healthcare billing and payments experience, while driving value to healthcare providers, health insurance companies and employers. HPS' single-statement billing and patient financing services help families combat confusing and unaffordable medical bills, while its guaranteed payment model eliminates providers' collection costs and risk. HPS is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

About SV Health Investors

SV Health Investors is a leading healthcare fund manager investing in tomorrow's healthcare breakthroughs. SV invests across stages, geographic regions and sectors, with expertise spanning healthcare services / technology, medical products, biotechnology, dementia and public equities. With approximately $2.2B in assets under management and offices in Boston and London, SV has built an extensive network of investment professionals and experienced industry veterans. Since its founding in 1993, SV has invested in more than 175 companies, with more than 75 of these having achieved successful acquisitions or IPOs. For more information, please visit www.svhealthinvestors.com.

About Hexagon, Inc.

Hexagon, Inc., founded in 1992, is a diverse private investment company with offices in Denver, CO and Milwaukee, WI.

About Caltius Equity

Caltius Equity, founded in 1999, buys and builds lower middle market companies in the business services, industrial services, IT and managed services and consumer services industries. The Los Angeles-based firm invests from $10 million to $30 million per transaction for controlling or substantial minority ownership positions in businesses generating EBITDA from $3 million to $12 million. Caltius Equity's creative and flexible solutions facilitate management buyouts, recapitalizations and corporate growth. The firm's experienced team develops deep relationships with its portfolio companies' management, helping them grow their businesses and optimize liquidity events. Learn more at www.caltiusequity.com

Media Contact:

Lauren Gill, MAG PR

978-473-1362

[email protected]

SOURCE Health Payment Systems
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Market Reports on Saudi Arabia Provides the Trending Market Research Report on Dishwashing in Saudi Arabiaunder House Supplies category. The Dishwashing 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.

In 2020, consumers in Saudi Arabia were subject to a period of national lockdown and their lifestyles changed considerably as most consumers switched to working from home and faced long periods of home seclusion and curfews. During this time consumers in Saudi Arabia spent a lot more time at home, which increased the frequency of dishwashing in households around the Kingdom, and thus boosted demand for products in dishwashing in 2020.

Dishwashing in Saudi Arabia Market report offers a comprehensive guide to the size and shape of the market at a national level. It provides the latest retail sales data (historic date range), allowing you to identify the sectors driving growth. It identifies the leading companies, the leading brands and offers strategic analysis of key factors influencing the market - be they new product developments, packaging innovations, economic/lifestyle influences, distribution or pricing issues. Forecasts to 2025 illustrate how the market is set to change.

Product coverage:

Automatic Dishwashing, Hand Dishwashing.

Data coverage:

market sizes (historic and forecasts), company shares, brand shares and distribution data.

Request a free sample copy of Saudi Arabia Dishwashing Market Report @

http://www.marketreportsonsaudiarabia.com/marketreports/sample/reports/152485

Why buy this report?

* Get a detailed picture of the Dishwashing market;

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* Understand the competitive environment, the markets major players and leading brands;

* Use five-year forecasts to assess how the market is predicted to develop.

Table Of Contents

Dishwashing in Saudi Arabia

LIST OF CONTENTS AND TABLES

KEY DATA FINDINGS

2020 IMPACT

Home seclusion during COVID-19 lockdown drives surge in demand for products in dishwashing

Hand dishwashing continues to dominate dishwashing as the government supports manufacturing

15% VAT spurred expansion of product lines

RECOVERY AND OPPORTUNITIES

Companies respond to price sensitivity with further discounts

Automatic dishwashing hit by decline in expatriates in post-COVID-19 world

Local brands in dishwashing on the rise

CATEGORY DATA

Table 1 Sales of Dishwashing by Category: Value 2015-2020

Table 2 Sales of Dishwashing by Category: % Value Growth 2015-2020

Table 3 NBO Company Shares of Dishwashing: % Value 2016-2020

Table 4 LBN Brand Shares of Dishwashing: % Value 2017-2020

Table 5 Forecast Sales of Dishwashing by Category: Value 2020-2025

Table 6 Forecast Sales of Dishwashing by Category: % Value Growth 2020-2025

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

COVID-19 impact on home care

COVID-19 country impact

Company response

Retailing shift

What next for home care?

MARKET INDICATORS

Table 7 Households 2015-2020

MARKET DATA

Table 8 Sales of Home Care by Category: Value 2015-2020

Table 9 Sales of Home Care by Category: % Value Growth 2015-2020

Table 10 NBO Company Shares of Home Care: % Value 2016-2020

Table 11 LBN Brand Shares of Home Care: % Value 2017-2020

Table 12 Penetration of Private Label in Home Care by Category: % Value 2015-2020

Table 13 Distribution of Home Care by Format: % Value 2015-2020

Table 14 Distribution of Home Care by Format and Category: % Value 2020

Table 15 Forecast Sales of Home Care by Category: Value 2020-2025

Table 16 Forecast Sales of Home Care by Category: % Value Growth 2020-2025

GLOBAL MACROECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT

GLOBAL INDUSTRY ENVIRONMENT

DISCLAIMER

SOURCES

Summary 1 Research Sources

Browse our full report with Table of Contents: http://www.marketreportsonsaudiarabia.com/marketreports/dishwashing-in-saudi-arabia/152485

About Us

Market Reports on Saudi Arabia provides you with an in-depth industry reports focusing on various economic, political and operational risk environment, complemented by detailed sector analysis. We have an exhaustive coverage on variety of industries  ranging from energy and chemicals to transportation, communications, constructions and mining to Food and Beverage and education. Our collection includes over 3000 up-to-date reports all researched, analysed and published by top-notch international research firms.

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The 1936 Montreux Convention governs the passage of ships between the Mediterranean and Black seas via the Turkish Straits, dictates the size of the vessels that can remain there, as well as limits how long they are allowed to stay. Now, 85 years later, this influential treaty is likely to be revised, Moscow military analyst Sergey Marzhetsky says, when Turkey completes its new Istanbul Canal, which will allow ships to bypass the northern element of the Straitsthe Bosporus (although not the Dardanelles).

But despite the fears of many in Russia, it is highly unlikely there will be any revision in the Convention without Turkeys approval or that such changes will benefit the West at Russias expense, The Jamestown Foundation writes with reference to Sergey Marzhetsky. Instead, he argues, Ankaras own ambitions are such that they may lead to modifications of Montreux that actually advantage the Russian Federation more than Turkeys North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies. The reasons for that, Marzhetsky suggests in two new articles, lie in Turkeys own longer-term interests and the ways in which these conflict with Western goals.

The 1936 accord specifies that civilian ships from countries without a Black Sea littoral have the free right of passage through the Turkish Straits both in times of peace and times of war. But military ships of non-littoral states can be present in the Black Sea only in peacetime, for a limited period, usually 21 days, and with a specific tonnage, lower than many of the largest ships in the NATO fleets. In recent years, the Western alliance has rotated ships through the Straits into the Black Sea on a regular basis to maintain a presence and project power, but it has not been able to insert its largest vessels or submarines. The presence of Western navies in the Black Sea has been a constant irritant for Moscow; consequently, the Russian government has sometimes favored a revision of Montreux that would eliminate them, and other times, it backed this long-standing convention as the best way for Russia to constrain the unwelcome Western presence.

Two developments have exacerbated Moscows concerns about Montreux in recent months, Marzhetsky says. On the one hand, Ankara is seeking to build a canal that would allow ships to transit between the Mediterranean and the Black Sea without passing through part of the Straits. Such a canal could vitiate Montreux, he argues, even though Russian officials have insisted that Montreuxs restrictions would apply to ships using the Istanbul Canal as well. And on the other hand, he points out, Ankara is pursuing a dramatic expansion in its navy. It already has the second-largest army in NATO; and it clearly wants to have a major fleet as well, one with a full-sized aircraft carrierit is currently constructing a small one. This would allow it to project greater power not only in the Eastern Mediterranean but in the Black Sea as well.

The Russian ambassador in Ankara has insisted that the Montreux limits will survive the construction of the Istanbul Canal and apply with equal force to ships using that waterway as ones passing through the Bosporus. But the Russian military analyst counters that this is not entirely so, because while the appearance of the new canal will not affect the Montreux rules, it will give the Turkish government an opportunity to raise the question about the review of the provisions of that international legal document and argue that it no longer corresponds to contemporary realities. If Ankara were simply an agent of Washington, as some Russians think, that could lead to a situation in which the United States would be able to put more and larger naval vessels into the Black Sea for longer and longer periods or perhaps without any limitations at all. But Turkey is not a US proxy, Marzhetsky writes; therefore, any revisions Ankara may propose or agree to will work to its benefit and not necessarily for its Western allies.

Ankara sees no advantage to a larger presence in the Black Sea (or the Eastern Mediterranean) of ships from the US, the United Kingdom or France. They would only encumber Turkeys aspirations to be the dominant player in the region. What this means, the Russian analyst predicts, is that Turkey will solely seek to exclude from the [Montreux Convention] limits the passage through its Straits of aircraft carriers not carrying nuclear weapons. That way, Turkey could freely send its aircraft carriers and possibly also submarines into the Black Sea; but the US, the UK and France could not. Thus, Washington, London and Paris would not be beneficiaries from any change, and Moscow would not be a big loser, Marzhetsky says. In fact, it could be a beneficiary because its civilian fleet would be able to make use of the new canal, avoiding the crowded Bosporus route.

In other words, the Russian military analyst contends, if Turkey does revise Montreux, it will do so to its own benefit and no one elses. Those treaty modifications will not be all that welcome in Russia on principle, but the results will certainly not be the tragedy some are suggesting. And that gives Moscow the opportunity to side with Turkey against the West on revising the 1936 convention, something that Turkey will welcome and that will help to further distance Ankara from Western capitalsyet another development Moscow can profit from. If others in Moscow accept this argument, it could mean the Kremlin will now ally itself with Ankara on this issue. Such a move could create new problems and tensions within the transatlantic alliance.
Mumbai, Feb 11 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned Armaan Jain, grandson of late Bollywood actor and director Raj Kapoor, in connection with its probe into the Tops Grup case.

An ED source related to development told IANS, "Jain has been asked to appear before the agency." Jain is the son of Raj Kapoor's daughter Reema Jain. The source said that the ED team also carried out searches at the residence of Jain on Tuesday, the day Armaan's uncle, actor Rajiv Kapoor, passed away.

The ED on Tuesday concluded the searches and allowed Reema and Armaan to attend the funeral.

The source further revealed that the ED action was based on some chats shared between Armaan and Shiv Sena MLA Pratap Sarnaik's son, Vihang.

The ED had carried out searches at the premises of the Shiv Sena MLA and his son in November last year. The ED had also summoned the MLA to appear before it.

The case is in connection with a complaint lodged in October last year against the leading security services provider, Tops Grup of Mumbai, alleging that the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) had been siphoned off Rs 175 crore.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
interview

Outgoing Australian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Claire Ireland, speaks about her impressions of Nigeria and why Australian mining companies are yet to begin extracting minerals in Nigeria.

The outgoing Australian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Claire Ireland, speaks in this interview with PREMIUM TIMES' Publisher Dapo Olorunyomi, Taiwo Hassan Adebayo, Busayo Agbola and Adebimpe Abodunde on how Nigeria can attract big multinational corporations into its mining sector, and other issues.

Excerpts:

PT: What are your impressions about this country, which you now have to leave?

High Commissioner: I have only been here for 18 months, which is a lot shorter than I had intended. But I think as many of us have been affected by the COVID-19 crisis, I have been too. Very sadly, my family hasn't been with me and I have three young children; 15, 13 and 9. They're not here at the moment and so now, with the COVID crisis, you have to do quarantine every time you travel, so I can't see them as much as I could before. So it is with a very heavy heart that I made the decision to leave the posting early so that I could be with my family.

I work for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Australia and over the last five years, they have had a really strong commitment to women leadership and to supporting women to take more leadership roles and to be much more engaged across the agencies. We set a target about four or five years ago to have 40 per cent of ambassadors to be female by 2020.

At the time they made that target, it was only 25 per cent of Australian ambassadors around the world that were female and so in a very short period of time they've managed to achieve that target and I'm definitely one of those people who have benefited from that. I was very well supported to take on this role to come here, and when I found, as a woman in a leadership role, that I was faced with this challenge of my family and my career, I was given a huge amount of support by Canberra to step down.

I haven't been penalised at all, they've given me some time out to stay with my family so I can reconnect with them, having been separated for almost nine months now. And so they've really supported me to do that and given me the time off. And then I will be welcomed back into the department. They're very keen for me to carry on and take further roles in Africa down the line. So whilst I'm very sad to be leaving here, I'm also very proud of the Australian government for its commitment to women leadership and it has enabled me to make what has been a very tough decision in a positive way with a huge amount of support.

The Australian government really does prioritise Nigeria as a country. So, even though I'm leaving, they have already identified someone to replace me. They have gone through the process very quickly, we've submitted all the necessary paperwork to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and, hopefully, my replacement will be here very soon so we won't have a big gap between me and the next person. And I think that's really indicative of the commitment that the Australian government has to filling the role.

PT: With regards to Nigeria, what are the Australian foreign policy goals?

High Commissioner: I arrived at a time when we were going through change. We had moved to our current embassy location and we had bought a new piece of land, which is where we are today. And there was a commitment to invest in building a new high commission premises and that really demonstrated our longevity that we saw in terms of our relationship here in Nigeria and the region more broadly.

We have invested a significant amount of money in purchasing this piece of land and we have just completed the first phase of this building. There will be another phase to do another part to this building. So we're in this transition of scaling our presence up. But in so doing, we had to scale down our people on the ground at that moment, and so a lot of focus came on to getting the High Commission up and running and so there was less focus at that time on our policy work.

Once we got the embassy back up and running in December last year, one of the first things we did was to have one of our senior official talks with the government of Nigeria. It had been eight years since we had our last senior official talks.

But the team and I really prioritised that as a first priority for us to be able to answer that very question that you just asked me. What are our priorities here, where are we focused, what are we going to do?

So we had the senior official talks. We had a very senior representative come from the Australian government, with the Nigerian High Commissioner who came from Canberra, and we had the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. And I think during those talks, we really acknowledged that we have a modest but a focused engagement here in Nigeria.

While we don't have a huge amount of investment or two-way trade, we have a very long historical relationship that dates back to the 1960s. Just before Nigeria had its independence, the Australian government had a representative here who became the High Commissioner as soon as Nigeria got its independence. And so for the last 60 years, we have had a very enduring relationship built in the Commonwealth.

But perhaps at this moment in time, there wasn't a very deep trade relationship particularly or a very deep political relationship. So the senior official talk was a chance to really regroup and say where our priorities are.

Following the senior official talks, what the team and I have done is to develop an internal think-piece to guide us on where our priorities are for the next five years. We wanted to make sure the outcome of the senior official talks was really embedded in our engagement and we identified four main areas where we are going to work. The first area is our economic relationship. Like I said, we don't have a big two-way trade between our countries. Australia buys oil from Nigeria and we used to sell wheat but it is not (in) huge numbers.

What we do have, though, is a big intellectual investment in the mining sector. Since 2003, the Australian government has been working very closely with the Nigerian government to support the development of the mining sector, and that was really starting from the basics, in terms of getting the mining legislation in place. The legislation that is in place in Nigeria now is very similar and mirrored on the mining legislation in place in West Australia, for example.

And so we've shared intellectual knowledge and capability of our own experience of 150 years in the mining sector to make sure we've enabled Nigeria the opportunity to develop its mining sector and get that legal framework in place, which is really critical and a foundation for it. So that's happened and the sector is developing.

There is still a lot for the sector to develop in terms of being able to be competitive, compared to the rest of West Africa like Ghana, Senegal, who've got much further advanced mining sectors. But what Nigeria is doing, and it has had support from the World Bank through a project called Mcdyver, is in terms of mapping and geology.

For example, to be enabled to get mining leases transparently and for the private sector to purchase, they need to know what's in the ground, they need to have the geological data and that needs to be open and transparently available. That's what the mining industry is working on and the Mcdyver project has been helping them to do.

Australia has been very much supporting that in the background, sharing our technology, experience and skills. We have a couple of Australian mining companies here working on the ground to develop projects and have mining leases. And so they're very much looking forward to the day when they can begin extracting minerals. For the moment, they're not there yet, they're still taking their analysis before getting to that point.

I think what's exciting when I talk to them is we are really excited that if Nigeria is able to get an internationally recognised company to have a successful mining operation in the ground. It would really demonstrate to the rest of the world the transparency and the good systems because Australian companies, they have to operate with good environmental due diligence, good social due diligence. If all those things are in place and you have an international company like an Australian company in place, you know then you have world-class standard.

At the moment Nigeria has a Canadian company, Thor, who's doing some gold mining and that has been the first one to really hit off. I keep my fingers crossed and hope that Australia could be the next country to have a successful relationship and partnership with Nigeria in terms of the mining sector.

And I think, what I said to the mining minister, that is what would really show to the rest of the world that Nigeria is open for business and is a credible country to do business in when it comes to the mining sector. We are not there yet but we are getting close and there is a lot of people working very hard to make that happen. Australia will stay fully engaged in that sector and fully supporting, where we can.

And then, just recently, we had a very successful engagement with Premium Times itself, in terms of the women in mining monograph that was done. And I think going back to my earlier point on women in leadership, and from my own experience with women engaging in the mining sector, we see that also as critical. So to be able to work on those areas is really the whole package when it comes to supporting the mining sector.

So mining is probably the biggest area that we're engaged in. The other main area is the education sector. We have had over the years something called the Australian Awards. The Australian government had a scholarship programme for Nigerians to study in Australia. But at the moment, with the COVID crisis, our borders are closed and so we've had to put a pause on that programme. I know it is a challenge for international students right now.

But in Australia, our universities are world-class and it is a big destination for international students in the world. I really hope that, once the COVID crisis is over and people are able to travel again, that we would be in that situation where we would be able to promote the education sector in Australia. Over the last five years, we have seen the number of Nigerian students who are studying in Australia has gone up quite a lot. It is still not a lot of people, it is still only around 3,000. But a few years ago, that was only 500 students.

And I think there is that recognition that Australia is a real gateway to South-east Asia and the Pacific. So when you come to study in Australia, it's not just a fantastic Australian education you're getting, it's also a gateway to networks, to other students. Particularly, there are Chinese students, Pacific students studying in our universities. And so those networks are formed and enable Nigerians to broaden their own networks into an area that perhaps they haven't historically had those relationships. So the mining and the education are really, from a sectoral perspective, the areas that we are actively engaged in.

Agriculture is an area that we feel is, perhaps, underexplored. But there is raw potential, given the similarities in our climates. At the moment, we are not doing a huge amount in that area. We're doing some light exchange in the dairy sector but we are not doing a huge amount. Like I said, our analysis and research show that given the similarity in climate, given that Nigeria wants to become more productive in its own country, and that we have the technology and capabilities that could be worth sharing, I think over the next five years, I think we'd like to explore that more. But our priorities remain the mining sector and the education sector.

PT: Is there something you are doing regarding supporting Nigeria to develop local capacity in the education sector, especially basic education?

High Commissioner: Our relationship is an economic partnership, so we don't have a bilateral aid programme in Nigeria. We do give aid financing but through the multilaterals. I am very conscious that we give our bilateral aid assistance to the Pacific and Asian Pacific countries who are our neighbours. It is the Europeans, Americans who give a lot of bilateral aid assistance here in Africa and in Nigeria particularly.

To answer your question, the last thing we think Nigeria needs is Australia to come here with another basic education project. So we give our money to the multilaterals and we trust the multi-laterals to prioritise investment in this country. For example, we put a lot of money into UNICEF who work here, we put a lot of money into UNDP and the World Bank. We are believers in the multi-lateral system and the global rules-based system, and so we feel the better way to get aid investment to support basic education, like you're talking about, is through the experts like the World Bank and the UN system. That is how our money comes through for that. We don't have any separate bilateral programmes, to answer your question directly.

PT: When you started, you mentioned the historic relationship between Nigeria and Australia. How do you assess the current relationship, with regards to shared commitment to international public good like climate change and fighting terrorism?

High Commissioner: This is something I have really been thinking about during my time here. Because when you come here as a high commissioner, you're here to promote the relationship between two countries and you want to see a really strong bilateral relationship. And one thing I have really tried to understand is, where is the added value in that relationship and what can we bring?

And I really have landed back to that point, multilateralism. Those kind of shared values is something we really have in common. Back in 1960 when our relationship first started, it was very much off Nigeria being a member of the Commonwealth and we were members of the Commonwealth, so that partnership organisation brought us together. And that was the basis of our relationship then.

I think the distance between the two countries makes a bilateral relationship very different to what you would have with a European country. So it is where can we really add that value?

So for example, right now, Nigeria and Australia are both in the Human Rights Council. We are working in the UN on the human rights council, both of us pushing for those issues to become mainstream and institutionalised in our partner countries. And I think where our added value comes, and where our relationship with Nigeria particularly comes, is to work on those shared values. The global dynamics are changing and the power dynamics are changing and understandably for Australia, we've really focused on our backyard in terms of the Asian Pacific, and that's our priority in terms of our neighbours.

And I hear a very similar story when I hear the Nigerian Foreign Minister talk about your background in terms of the ECOWAS community. So I think we're really like-minded in our approach. While we have different focus areas, the approach to focus in our immediate neighbours and surrounding. For us, it is the Pacific, Asian Pacific, the Asean community. For us, we're part and parcel of that. When I hear Nigeria talk about its foreign policy, it is about its immediate neighbours Cameroon or Benin, then the Chad Basin, then the ECOWAS and the African Union.

So our approach is actually very similar and I think what is interesting is where we can help potentially bring the two together. The more that we can help share in the Asian Pacific what's happening, the more we can learn from Nigeria about what's happening in Africa. And it is at that higher level where I think there's a real potential for working together, and it is those shared values like human rights and climate change. In the Commonwealth still we have those forums where we can work together.

PT: Do you have any running programme with Nigeria on climate change?

High Commissioner: No, I don't think we do.

PT: You should, because Nigeria is considerably affected by the climate change. You are aware of the farmers and herdsmen crisis and it has a link with climate change.

High Commissioner: Absolutely. When I presented my credentials to President (Muhammadu) Buhari, one thing he spoke to me about was the climate change issue and the Lake Chad Basin. And he was really concerned about it. We did talk about the fact that, while we don't have a programme particularly between the two countries, we have a lot of shared experience.

So obviously in Australia you know our climate is very harsh. Fires. Drought is also something we've struggled with. And the Murray-Darling basin is a big trans-boundary water resource that has really suffered over the years of drought. Our water sources have dried up and we've had to work together collectively across states to be able to reinvigorate the climate and support farmers who depend on the water resource for it.

So we have a lot of experience that we can share and that's something we are very committed to. And obviously, we will be at the Cup 21 in Glasgow. It is disappointing that it won't be this year and had to be postponed till next year. But Australia stands firmly committed to that agenda. So again, working at the multi-lateral level and we would be working with Nigeria. But on a bilateral level, we don't have a programme.

PT: How optimistic are you that the support you have given Nigeria to develop this legal framework in the mining sector will translate to something that will encourage companies from your country to operate here? And how optimistic are you about Nigeria's business environment to encourage investment from abroad?

High Commissioner: My background, before I got into the foreign policy side, I worked in aid for 25 years and I'm very passionate about it. But I'm also very passionate about the fact that you have just touched on, that you actually need a trade relationship and trade is a really important part of it.

To get to sustainable economic development, I am a firm believer that we need to move away from lots of small-scale projects and we need to focus on positive change and institutionalised change. I am often having debates with my colleagues who work on the aid programme here about when that kind of mining company finally takes off that will be potentially 100-150 year mine? A really long duration in terms of economic engagement, which will in turn employ up to 5000 people down the value chain for a sustained number of years. And how much more transformation that will be to the economy than another project which perhaps doesn't have that sustainability?

So I'm a real believer that you need to get that proper sort of engagement and you need to have that trade to be able to sustain the economy. But I do believe, (my background is in environmental management), that you have to do it sustainably, so environmentally sustainable development is critical.

So whilst I'm passionate about the mining sector, it has to be done right, it has to be done with the community's engagement, it has to be done in a way which isn't going to negatively impact the environment. So if you get that all right, I really believe that is much more beneficial long-term for a country's development than small aid projects which potentially don't have the sustainability.

To answer the second part of your question, how optimistic am I about that happening anytime soon? I think I've realised that it's going to take longer than I imagined when I first arrived. I would love to be leaving here to say that the Australian Mining Company is now at the extraction stage. But it is not and there are still these roadblocks that the companies come across. And I think what we have here is that the Australian government kind of convey what those policies are.

Why is it that the international company isn't yet at the extraction stage? One of the things that we have discovered with our private sector companies is the alignment of community development agreements with the mining leases. That presents a sort of challenge. Getting access to information on the geology has been a challenge. And so, I think that's where we can bring the conversation to the mining minister, about what those challenges are which are preventing the companies to be exploring or further extracting at the moment.

So it's not happening yet. I think there are still a few hurdles to get through. But we are certainly passionate and will advocate to try and make it happen. We certainly see the potential. There are a lot of phenomenal resources here in Nigeria to make it happen but it is going to take sustained commitment by the Nigerian government to make it a reality.

PT: Does Australia have any local laws that prevent multi-nationals from using products produced by children or from using children in their factories or mines?

High Commissioner: Yes we do actually. There are a couple of things to note here. One, we have members signed up to the EITI, Extraction Industry Transparency Initiative. Australia is committed to that and that is part of the process, you know, having that transparency out there. Linked to that is also another initiative called the Voluntary Principles Initiative (VPI) and that's about making sure companies and governments sign up to exactly what you're saying, that commitment to social due diligence, environmental due diligence.

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Australia was taking on the chair of the VPI this year and Nigeria is also a member of that, engaged in that. And that was something we were hoping to really take forward this year but perhaps got a bit slowed down because of the COVID crisis.

But certainly, this is where I mean we are real advocates of free trade system, a global laws-based system. And WTO, as you know, is a system we are really passionate about. We want to see a real trading system with the rules in place that we all kind of follow and commit to. So we really do it into those values and ensuring that environmental standards and social standards are committed to. So yeah, we've signed up to those agreements, we advocate for those agreements in the UN, we advocate for them in the WTO and we certainly implement them in our own country.

PT: What priorities does Australia have for Africa?

High Commissioner: Can I answer that in two ways, personally and professionally?

I first worked in Africa, in Kenya in 1995, so I've worked in Africa for a number of years. I have lived in Kenya, I have lived in Uganda, I have lived in South Africa, I have worked across most of Sub-Saharan Africa. But it was the first time I have lived and worked in a West African country, and it's been such a different experience to my East African experience. But it is one I have really loved. It is so different to any country in Africa that I have worked in before.

Whilst there were a lot of frustrations, as with any country, it is a country that really gets under your skin in a positive way. I think I feel for Nigeria because as soon as you say the word, Nigeria, people have this negative impression of Nigeria. But when you get here, and you live and work here, your mind is opened up in the most incredible way.

The potential for Nigeria is phenomenal. The education of so many Nigerians is superior, I often feel uneducated and under-qualified when I am talking to people like you. People have studied in Harvard, Oxford and Cambridge. Nigerians value education in a way which I have seen in no other country and are really so well educated, so the potential is phenomenal.

I see lots of frustrations, both from my own day to day experiences and from fellow Nigerians who are frustrated. But also, what I see is a phenomenal commitment. Both from Nigerians in Nigeria and also the diaspora, the commitment to this country is so inspirational and so motivating.

To answer the second part of your question, I think Australia, we're honest about our relationship. It is not huge, but it is a relationship we are committed to. And like I said, we have invested in this new high commission residence and we see ourselves here for the long term. We are commitment in terms of our engagement on a global platform and in the UN, in the Commonwealth, and we see the relationship as one we would want to continue at that kind of global, multi-lateral level.

I hope that in 5-10 years' time I come back and I see the Australian Mining Company in the ground and I meet a lot more Nigerians who have studied in Australia. If I come back in 5-10 years' time, that would be what success looks like to me. I will leave here an absolute advocate for Nigeria and I will tell people a positive story about the potential of Nigeria and particularly the youth of Nigeria.

PT: Do you have any sleepless nights over the conduct of Nigerians in your country?

High Commissioner: I know that today, there was a petition of about 200,000 people in the UK to have an investigation and a parliamentary debate about what happened in Lekki (tollgate shooting). So it is fascinating to see you have that many Nigerians represented in the UK that can have that kind of positive impact on government.

To answer that question, we don't have a huge diaspora in Australia. It's only about 8,000 Nigerians who are registered in Australia. But what you do have are 8,000 really well-educated Nigerians. They are doctors, professors, legal practitioners. They are a very smart, well-educated diaspora who do engage and engage regularly with me.

So what we try to do as the High Commission here and also as the diaspora back in Australia is to help promote a more positive image of Africa back in Australia. There's an African music festival that a Nigerian organises in Melbourne each year and we try to sort of promote that positive image.

But just like you've had Nigerian citizens in the UK raise concerns over the EndSARS, you've had in Australia. And I'm aware that the Nigerian diaspora in Australia have written to the prime minister with their concerns about what is happening. I think it is incredible to see that breadth of support for what is happening in Nigeria by the diaspora in other countries.

I don't think I have quite as big a headache as my counterparts in America or in the UK. But Nigerians are really vocal and they're really committed to their country and that's what I have seen. Even in Australia, we see that.


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WASHINGTON  Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and 13 state attorneys general are threatening to file a lawsuit against the federal government if it doesn't reopen the construction permit for the Keystone XL pipeline.

In a letter to President Joe Biden, the group of Republican AGs asked he reconsider his decision to cancel the controversial pipeline project, warning it would result in thousands of job losses.

By: Catherine Botticelli , Anthony S. Kelly, Eric Auslander, Dennis Lawson and Lindsay E. Ray

Overriding a presidential veto, Congress on January 1, 2021 enacted the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2021. In part, the NDAA restored significant enforcement powers to the Securities and Exchange Commission that recently had been limited through two landmark Supreme Court decisions - Kokesh v. SEC (2017) and Liu v. SEC (2020). The passage of this legislation, which inter alia codifies the SEC's ability to seek disgorgement in federal court actions, is a bold statement by Congress in support of the SEC's enforcement program.

Limitations to Disgorgement Previously Set by the Supreme Court

The SEC has a long tradition of seeking "disgorgement" (the return of any "ill-gotten gains") through its civil enforcement actions in federal district court for violations of U.S. securities laws. This disgorgement power historically stemmed from the SEC's power to seek "any equitable relief that may be appropriate or necessary for the benefit of investors." In recent years, the SEC has obtained billions of dollars in disgorgement awards from respondents, including a record-setting $3.59 billion in 2020.

However, the Supreme Court limited the SEC's power to seek disgorgement in two recent decisions. First, in Kokesh v. SEC, the Court limited the length of time during which the SEC could seek disgorgement, holding that dis......................

To view our full article Click here
The Girl & The Fig, one of the most acclaimed restaurants in Sonoma County, is closed for the foreseeable future. The owners said they made the decision after receiving death threats, following a viral story about a former employee who says she felt pressured to quit for wearing a Black Lives Matter mask.

The upscale Wine Country restaurant, whose Yelp and TripAdvisor pages are flooded with one-star reviews calling the owners racist, has received phone calls and emails following a story published by SFGate  with some as intense as saying they will burn down the building, according to president John Toulze.

He said he decided to close to protect the staff and noted a flyer circulating on social media about a protest outside the restaurant this weekend.

Theres no amount of money in the world thats worth it to ask my staff to walk through that and to ask my customers to walk through that, he said.

Until Wednesday, the French-inspired restaurant had been open for takeout and outdoor dining. Once the calls die down and employees feel ready, Toulze plans to reopen the business, which has been open in Sonoma Hotel since 1997.

On Tuesday, SFGate reported that former employee Kimi Stout quit her job at the restaurant last fall after being told by management that she couldnt wear a Black Lives Matter mask  citing a new dress code that required either The Girl & The Fig-branded masks or plain surgical masks. A few weeks before the policy started, Stout said a manager had warned her that she may not want to wear the Black Lives Matter masks after a customer scribbled an aggressive complaint about it on a receipt.

I had a very strong feeling that the only reason they created this mask policy was to get me to stop wearing my Black Lives Matter masks, Stout told The Chronicle.

Kate Munsch / Special to The Chronicle 2019

Toulze denied that Stouts masks led to the policy, saying that the business already had plans to roll out a policy before the customer complaint as they waited for the branded masks to arrive. Many of the employees masks, such as a neon orange one, didnt fit the restaurants finer dining vibe, he said.

Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more.

Stout declined to change her mask after the policy went into effect, and Toulze told her that he couldnt make exceptions to the rule and didnt want customers to know the restaurants political stances, according to Stout. (Toulze denies bringing up politics and maintains that he agrees with Stout on Black Lives Matter being a civil rights issue, not political.) Eventually, she resigned.

I understand Im the one thats responsible, said Stout, whos received an outpouring of both supportive and negative comments. I also understand that power dynamics were at huge play: I have the president, the one who creates the rules, telling me he cant do anything about the rules.

Though many consider Black Lives Matter political  and a Black Lives Matter political action committee launched last year  its grown into a movement about civil rights. Several national businesses, such as Whole Foods, Taco Bell and Starbucks, faced criticism last year for banning Black Lives Matter attire or even firing employees over the issue.

Janelle Bitker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: janelle.bitker@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @janellebitker
The majority of countries now allow sexual activity between consenting adults of the same gender, and the legal recognition of same-sex marriage is slowly spreading along with laws to protect LGBTQ people from discrimination, according to a report published Monday.

At the same time, persecution and stigmatization remain rampant in most countries, and equal rights for LGBTQ people are still very far from reach, said the report released by the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Assn.

To produce the report, State-Sponsored Homophobia: A World Survey of Sexual Orientation Laws: Criminalization, Protection and Recognition, researchers compiled data from a variety of sources on laws dealing with sexual orientation.

Were definitely seeing some really valuable progress to the lives of LGBTI people, but there are many threats emerging, said Aengus Carroll, an Ireland-based human rights consultant and researcher who co-authored the report with Argentine human rights lawyer Lucas Ramon Mendos.

The threats include morality laws and other discriminatory legislation, as well as crackdowns on free expression about sexual orientation, Carroll said.

Members and supporters of the LGBTQ community participate in a Pride March in Bangalore, India. (Aijaz Rahi / Associated Press)

Here we present seven of the most telling numbers in the report.

122

The number of countries that allow homosexual acts between consenting adults. Taiwan and Kosovo, which are not internationally recognized as independent states, bring the number to 124. Last year, Belize and the Seychelles became the latest nations to repeal laws criminalizing such activity.

72

The number of countries that outlaw it. The figure is down from 75 nations since May 2016. In 27 of the countries, the laws apply only to men. In the rest, they apply to men and women. A third of the countries  or 24  with such laws are in Africa.

In Uganda, men suspected of being gay are sometimes subjected to forced anal exams to prove their homosexuality, according to a report last year by Human Rights Watch.

In some Muslim nations, moral interpretations of sharia law make homosexual acts illegal, and individuals are then prosecuted under the regular penal code for debauchery, scandalous acts or the like, Carroll said.

Egypt is included in the categories of countries that both allow and outlaw same-sex sexual activities. Thats because, although the Middle Eastern nation does not officially have such laws on the books (such activity is generally classified as debauchery, indecency, scandalous acts or propagation), the state is one of the most hostile places on Earth for sexual diversity, Carroll said. Public expression regarding sexual diversity is also criminalized, and online activity is heavily policed.

Hundreds of gay people have been jailed in Egypt, according to Erasing 76 Crimes, a blog that focuses on the human toll of laws hostile to LGBTQ people and the struggle to repeal them.

A man at the third annual Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Pride celebrations in Entebbe, Uganda, in 2014. (Rebecca Vassie / Associated Press)

26

The number of countries that allow same-sex couples to adopt children that are not biological offspring of one of the partners. In the last year, Austria, Finland and part of Australia have passed such laws.

The United States allows adoption by gay couples. But this month, the Texas House of Representatives approved a bill that would allow foster care and adoption agencies to refuse to place children with families that go against their religious beliefs, including gay couples.

The bill would need approval from the state Senate and the governors signature to become law.

The energy of the Trump era is very much opening the gateways for this kind of very regressive discourse, Carroll said.

Greg Roling, center, and Larry Sandal take a stroll with their 9-month-old adopted daughter, Emmersyn Julia Roling, in Sioux Falls, S.D., in April 2017. (Jay Pickthorn / Associated Press)

25

The number of countries where it is forbidden to form, establish or register a nongovernmental organization that focus on issues related to sexual orientation or LGBTQ rights. Almost two dozen other countries have laws aimed at curtailing public expression and promotion of being LGBTQ through social media or other means.

Russia, for example, outlaws what it calls the promotion of nontraditional values to minors, Carroll said.

A recent increase in arrests and killings of gay men in the southern Russian republic of Chechnya has reportedly prompted many people to delete their online social media accounts for fear of persecution.

Last month, Amnesty International called for urgent action after reports of mass abductions and torture of gay men there.

Russian gay rights activists take part in a rally in central Moscow on May 6, 2017. (Kirill Kudryavtsev / AFP/Getty Images)

22

The number of countries that allow same-sex marriage. It includes the United States, where in 2015 the Supreme Court ruled that it was a right. Laws permitting such unions were enacted in Finland this year. An additional 28 nations, as well as Taiwan, recognize some sort of civil partnership.

People march in the Rainbow Pride parade in Tokyo on May 7, 2017. (Kazuhiro Nogi / AFP/Getty Images)

9

The number of countries, including Kosovo, that specifically mention sexual orientation in their constitution as grounds for protection against discrimination. Meanwhile, 72 countries have laws that forbid discrimination in the workplace due to a persons sexual orientation, and 86 have national human rights institutions that include sexual orientation in the issues they handle.

8

The number of United Nations member states where a person can be put to death for participating in consensual sexual activity with someone of the same sex. They are Iran, Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Sudan, where the punishment is implemented statewide nation; Somalia and Nigeria, where the penalty exists only in certain provinces; and regions of Iraq and Syria that are held by the militant group Islamic State.

An additional five countries  Pakistan, Afghanistan, Qatar, Mauritania and the United Arab Emirates  have this punishment on their books but dont appear to impose it, according to the report. And in 14 other countries, people engaging in such activity could face a jail sentence of 14 years to life.

ann.simmons@latimes.com

For more on global development news, see our Global Development Watch page, and follow me @AMSimmons1 on Twitter

ALSO

Globalization 2.0: How Chinas two-day summit aims to shape a new world order

U.S. foreign aid: A waste of money or a boost to world stability? Here are the facts

Laszlo Szabo: Europe needs to be smarter in distinguishing refugees from economic migrants

UPDATES:

5:40 p.m.: An earlier version of this story stated the number of countries that allow same-sex marriage as 23. The International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Assn. has since updated its report to reflect the correct number, which is 22. Slovenia does not allow same-sex marriage as earlier reported.
A member of the far-right group Proud Boys blamed Donald Trump for his participation in the deadly riot at the US Capitol, saying he was led astray by the outgoing president, who is currently facing an impeachment trial for allegedly inciting insurrection.

An attorney for Dominic Pezzola, also known as 'Spaz,' filed court documents on Wednesday seeking the 43-year-old's release from jail pending trial, but a federal judge ordered him to be detained after prosecutors argued that the retired US Marine was a danger to the community and a flight risk.

Prosecutors accused Pezzola of knocking over barriers outside the US Capitol, grabbing a riot shield from a police officer and using it to smash a window at the building, allowing rioters to stream inside the building.

He was then captured on video lighting a cigar for a 'victory smoke' inside the Capitol building.

Scroll down for video

An attorney for Proud Boy Dominic Pezzola, 43 (left), filed memo on Wednesday seeking to have him released pending trial in connection with the US Capitol riot, during which the upstate New York man was seen on video entering the federal building (right, in grey)

Pictured: Pezzola, with shaggy hair and beard, smashes a window at the Capitol with the shield of a Capitol police officer

Pezzola, from Rochester, New York, is one of at least six alleged Proud Boys facing criminal charges stemming from the attack by Trump's supporters on the US Capitol on January 6, which left five people dead and interrupted Congress from certifying President Joe Biden's election victory.

Pezzola has been arraigned on 11 charges, including conspiracy, civil disorder, unlawfully entering restricted buildings, and assaulting, resisting, or impeding a United Stated Capitol police officer.

Pezzola's lawyer Jonathan Zucker, in a 15-page court filing earlier on Wednesday, echoed arguments that US House Democrats have made repeatedly this week during Trump's impeachment trial in the Senate, telling the judge his client was duped by Trump's lies that the election had been stolen and acted on 'delusional belief that he was a "patriot" protecting his country,' reported Rochester Democrat & Chronicle.

Pezzola, who he claimed has 'minimal' involvement with the Proud Boys, 'was one of millions of Americans who were misled by the President's deception,' Zucker wrote, noting there was 'no rational basis for such a claim.'

He added that his client, who is a retired US Marine, 'was responding to the entreaties of the then commander in chief, President Trump. The President maintained that the election had been stolen and it was the duty of loyal citizens to "stop the steal."'

Pezzola's attorney argued in his 15-page memo that his client was duped by President Donald Trump's deception that the election results had been stolen. Pictured: Trump speaks to his supporters during the 'Save America' rally, which preceded the attack on the Capitol

Pezzola, known as 'Spaz,' is seen with long hair and grey beard walking with other rioters through the US Capitol on January 6

Rep. Stacey Plaskett of the Virgin Islands, mentioned Pezzola by name on Day 2 of Trump's impeachment trial in the US Senate on Wednesday

The lawyer further argued that Pezzola did not act out of criminal intent, but rather out of 'a frighteningly confused and distorted sense of conscience.'

Zucker added in a footnote, referring to Trump: 'Many of those who heeded his call will be spending substantial portions if not the remainder of their lives in prison as a consequence. Meanwhile Donald Trump resumes his life of luxury and privilege.'

Trump was impeached by the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives for the second time in his one-term presidency a week after the Capitol riots on a charge of inciting an insurrection. His impeachment trial in the US Senate is entering Day 3 on Thursday.

Pezzola and another alleged Proud Boy, William Pepe, 31, pleaded not guilty to the charges against them on Tuesday, after prosecutors said they have evidence to suggest the pair conspired to impede police from defending the US Capitol.

Pezzola was mentioned by name during Day 2 of Trump's Senate trial on Wednesday, as impeachment managers for the House of Representatives offered a detailed account of the attack on the Capitol.

'You can see Pezzola in the mob, chase Capitol officer Eugene Goodman through the building,' said Representative Stacey Plaskett, a Democrat from the Virgin Islands, reported Bloomberg.

Goodman has been hailed as a hero for leading the rioters away from the US Senate chamber and directing Senator Mitt Romney to safety.

Prosecutors say the FBI uncovered a thumb drive belonging to Pezzola that contained instructions on how to make bombs.

Among the trove of instruction manuals were titles including: 'Advanced Improvised Explosives,' 'Explosive Dusts,' 'Incendiaries,' 'The Box Tube MAC-11: The Ultimate DIY Machine Pistol,' 'Ragnar's Big Book of Homemade Weapons,' and 'The Advanced Anarchist's Arsenal: Recipes for Improvised Incendiaries and Explosives.'

Pezzola, seen with a cigar in his mouth, took part in a march organized by Proud Boys in support of President Trump on December 12

Pezzola is pictured left in the 1995 Aquinas Institute yearbook. The Rochester, New York, resident joined the US Marines after high school

Prosecutors also said a witness told authorities Pezzola was among a group of rioters armed with firearms or with access to firearms who said they 'planned to kill every single 'm**f**er' they can.'

The witness also told the FBI that Pezzola and his group 'would have killed Mike Pence if given the chance.'

According to a criminal complaint, Pezzola bragged about breaking windows and was quoted as saying: 'Victory smoke in the Capitol, boys. This is f**king awesome. I knew we could take this motherf**ker over [if we] just tried hard enough.'

US Magistrate Judge Robin Meriweather said it was a 'close call' in deciding whether Pezzola should be detained, but ultimately determined he posed a danger to the community.

She earlier agreed to allow another alleged Proud Boy facing criminal charges, Nicholas DeCarlo, to be released pending trial. Meriweather ordered him not to make posts on social media.

Dozens of those arrested are alleged to have ties to or share sympathies with far-right groups or militias.

Another alleged Proud Boy, William Pepe, 31 (right), pleaded not guilty to the charges against him and was released pending trial

Some 200 people, among them at least six Proud Boys, have been arrested in connection with the deadly rights on January 6

In addition to a focus on the Proud Boys, the government has charged several alleged members of the Oath Keepers, an anti-government militia, with conspiring to storm the Capitol.

One of those defendants, Thomas Caldwell, in a court filing this week denied being a member of the Oath Keepers and said physical ailments would have prevented him from forcibly storming the Capitol.

More than 200 people have been arrested so far in connection with the violent insurrection in Washington DC.
Galveston, TX (77553)

Today

Considerable clouds this morning. Some decrease in clouds later in the day. High 81F. Winds E at 15 to 25 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy skies early will give way to cloudy skies late. Low 76F. Winds ESE at 10 to 20 mph.
The United States has completed the sale of 1.116 million barrels of gasoline that Iran tried to ship to Venezuela last year, U.S. Department of Justice spokesman Marc Raimondi told Reuters, while the Administration is looking to detain another tanker it believes is part of an Iranian scheme to covertly ship Iranian oil to a foreign customer.

In August last year, the U.S. Administration said it had seized the fuel cargo of four vessels, alleging that the fuel came from Iran and was going to Venezuela.

The U.S. Department of Justice announced at the time the successful disruption of a multimillion-dollar fuel shipment by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), a designated foreign terrorist organization, that was bound for Venezuela. These actions represent the government's largest-ever seizure of fuel shipments from Iran.

The 1.116 million barrels of petroleum on the four tankers were seized and sent in U.S. custody.

The petroleum has been seized, and an interlocutory sale has preserved the cash value of the petroleum, which is now held by the U.S. Marshals Service, Raimondi told Reuters this week, adding that the proceeds from the sale  which havent been disclosed but are likely tens of millions of U.S. dollars  will be transferred to the U.S. Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund.

While the sale of the Iranian fuel was completed, the Department of Justice said last week that the United States had filed a forfeiture complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, looking to detain the oil aboard a tanker traveling to the United States.

The Department of Justice alleges that the IRGC has created a scheme to covertly ship Iranian oil to a customer outside Iran. The supertanker, the Achilleas, is carrying 2 million barrels of what the United States believes is Iranian crude oil, and was in the Caribbean Sea on Wednesday, headed to the U.S. Gulf Coast.

By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
TORONTO and KINGSTON, Jamaica, Feb. 10, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Psyence Group Inc., through its wholly-owned subsidiary Psyence Therapeutics Corp. (Psyence), is pleased to announce it has entered into a Research Collaboration Agreement with MycoMeditations Inc (MycoMeditations), a leading psilocybin retreat provider to conduct an observational study of the efficacy of naturally derived psilocybin. The Psyence Group is a leading platform in naturally derived psychedelic therapy and the development and commercialization of related technologies and products. MycoMeditations is the leading global provider of psilocybin-assisted therapeutic retreat experiences in Jamaica, with a record of more than 750 guests successfully completing psilocybin-assisted retreats.



Based on Psyences experience, scientific focus, and commitment to Jamaica, we are pleased to partner with Psyence to advance research in the area of psilocybin-assisted therapy, said Justin Townsend, CEO of MycoMeditations. We look forward to working with the Psyence team and toward evolving into a centre of excellence in research and therapeutic retreats as well as the future expansion of our offerings in this emerging field, he added.

The initial retrospective study will investigate a cohort of 30 people who have participated in a MycoMeditations retreat in the past 6 months and had reported suffering psychological trauma prior to their visit (the Study).

This is the first in a series of studies Psyence intends to carry out that investigate the efficacy of naturally derived compounds in comparison to studies undertaken using synthetically produced molecules.

The Study will be submitted for approval to the Ethics Committee of the Jamaican Ministry of Health, following which, and other relevant consents, the Study will be led by Dr. Tamika Haynes-Robinson, Senior Neuropsychologist at Psyence Group, with initial results anticipated in mid-2021. In support of this work, Dr. Haynes-Robinson attended a MycoMeditations retreat in early January 2021 as an observer in order to inform her study design and to assess areas where there are opportunities for current retreat practices to be augmented through consultation with Psyences team of experts via technical, scientific and medical support to bring operations into what is anticipated to be a soon-to-be regulated environment. The Study will utilize MycoMeditations existing data combined with Psyence generated data analysis. Following completion of the Study, the parties intend to publish the findings in a peer-reviewed academic journal and other available publication outlets.

The findings will inform the commercially licensed cultivation and production work being undertaken by Psyence Production (Pty) Ltd in the Southern African Kingdom of Lesotho (formerly known as Mind Health (Pty) Ltd and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Psyence Group Inc.), pursuant to its federally issued commercial license to cultivate, process, store, and export psilocybin.

Jody Aufrichtig, Co-Founder, President, and CEO, Psyence Group Inc. adds: This collaboration with MycoMeditations will begin the process of supporting existing groups active in the field of providing psilocybin-based therapies, in their path to enter and participate in the licensed and regulated opportunities and industry being created by industry pioneers. MycoMeditations brings a wealth of practical knowledge and experience that we believe can be of great value to derisking our product development work. We look forward to working with Justin and the MycoMeditations team on generating evidence-based data and future collaborations.

The Research Collaboration Agreement further serves as an opportunity for the Psyence team of medical and technical professionals to assess the utility of Mycomeditations' vast database of survey data collected from having led therapeutic psilocybin retreats in Jamaica over the past several years for future research and evaluate its possible use in identifying promising therapeutic pathways and indications. Assuming a positive outcome, the parties intend to expand their research collaboration with a further prospective study to measure dosing and efficacy within the structure of the retreat-based guided group experience.

About Psyence Group:

The Psyence Group sets the global standard for natural psychedelics. The executive team have international experience in the business of science and medicine and include global experts in palliative care, neurology, neuroscience and drug development. Psyence has built and operates one of the first federally licensed commercial psilocybin cultivation and production facilities. Psyence is pioneering the use of natural psilocybin for the long-term treatment of psychological trauma and its mental health consequences. Our global footprint operates across multiple legal jurisdictions, through the advanced provision of psychedelic therapy and experience, as well as market leading functional mushroom brands and product portfolio.

Media Inquiries: media@psyence.com

About MycoMeditations:

MycoMeditations, a world leader in the expanding fields of legal psychedelic therapy and wellness tourism, is driven by its commitment to charting a new way forward for psychological care, therapeutics, research and psilocybin legalization by providing safe, life-affirming experiences guided by expert facilitators and mental health professionals.

Media Inquiries: media@MycoMeditations.com

Certain statements in this news release related to Psyence Group Inc and its subsidiaries (collectively "the Company") are forward-looking statements and are prospective in nature. Forward-looking statements are not based on historical facts, but rather on current expectations and projections about future events and are therefore subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from the future results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking words such as may, should, could, intend, estimate, plan, anticipate, expect, believe or continue, or the negative thereof or similar variations. Forward-looking statements in this news release include statements regarding the approval of the Study and related activities by, and the obtaining of the requisite licences and consents from, the Jamaican regulatory and governmental authorities, the anticipation of the enactment or publication of regulation in the Jamaican psilocybin sector and the optimism surrounding the anticipated positive outcomes of the Study. There are numerous risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and the Companys plans and objectives to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking information. Actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. These and all subsequent written and oral forward-looking information are based on estimates and opinions of management on the dates they are made and are expressly qualified in their entirety by this notice. Except as required by law, the Company does not intend to update these forward-looking statements.

The Company makes no medical, treatment or health benefit claims about the Companys proposed products. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Health Canada or other similar regulatory authorities have not evaluated claims regarding psilocybin, psilocybin analogues, or other psychedelic compounds or nutraceutical products. The efficacy of such products have not been confirmed by approved research. There is no assurance that the use of psilocybin, psilocybin analogues, or other psychedelic compounds or nutraceuticals can diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease or condition. Vigorous scientific research and clinical trials are needed. The Company has not conducted clinical trials for the use of its proposed products. Any references to quality, consistency, efficacy and safety of potential products do not imply that the Company verified such in clinical trials or that the Company will complete such trials. If the Company cannot obtain the approvals or research necessary to commercialize its business, it may have a material adverse effect on the Companys performance and operations.
Party General Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trong sent his best wishes to the entire nation and the community of overseas Vietnamese at the sacred moment when the Year of the Buffalo began.

Party General Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trong sends his best wishes to the entire nation and the community of overseas Vietnamese. (Photo: VNA)

The top Vietnamese leader also wished international friends and people of foreign countries in the world a new year of peace, friendship, cooperation, progress and development.

The Year of the Rat  2020 has gone by with numerous memorable events, especially the 13th National Party Congress that ended in great success, the Party General Secretary and President said, noting that the entire Party, people and armed forces have made great efforts with patriotism, high resolve, mettle, creativity and solidarity and reaped important and comprehensive achievements. Economic development and political and social stability have been maintained, security-defence ensured, external relations and international cooperation promoted and deepened, thus maintaining a peaceful and stability environment for national development, and strengthening peoples trust in the Party, the State and the socialist regime.

Trong stressed that the highlight of the year 2020 is the effective combat against the COVID-19 pandemic while socio-economic development has been maintained along with making good preparation for and successfully organizing congresses of all-level Party organisations which culminated in the 13th National Congress, thus contributing to strengthening and enhancing trust and national pride and winning recognition of international friends.

The leader offered praises and thanks to the entire people and armed forces for their significant contribution to the aforementioned success and accomplishments.

Noting that the Year of the Buffalo -2021 is the first year implementing the resolution of the 13th National Party Congress and the five-year socio-economic development plan for 2021-2025; as well as the year when the elections of deputies to the 15th National Assembly and Peoples Councils at all levels for the 2021-2026 tenure will be held, the leader called on the entire Party, people and armed forces to unite and uphold the firm will to overcome all difficulties and challenges, press ahead with the cause of Doi Moi (renewal), build and firmly safeguard the Fatherland, maintain a peaceful and stable environment, successfully realise the set goals and tasks and gain even greater achievements in the cause of building and protecting the beloved socialist Vietnam. /.VNA
Hyde follows family tradition, takes home PIAA gold in shot put

"It's awesome," Hyde said. "It really feels like a tradition, now. It will be cool to see our names next to each other in the record books."
BOSTON, Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Boston-based software company In Force Technology, Inc. announces its crowdfunding efforts on Start Engine to raise capital to support its project IN FORCE911, a mobile panic button designed to save lives.

Not a typical SaaS business, IN FORCE911's capability is to connect a facility such as a school directly to the local police department in as little as four seconds during an emergency like a school shooting. Not only does IN FORCE911 directly connect schools to police agencies, but it will notify police in-car computer systems, local dispatch/communications centers, and cell phones of officers - both on-duty and off-duty.

IN FORCE911 has garnered over 10,000 individual users and 500 customer sites across the country and is seeking to expand its presence.

"Here at In Force Technology, we're about schools - and protecting the well-being of those who have dedicated their lives to enriching the future of our youth and providing children a safe place to learn," states Brandon Flanagan, President and CEO, In Force Technology. "Our state-of-the-art technology is designed to reduce law enforcement response time to an active school shooting. We do that by enabling our users such as teachers and school staff to send an alert directly to local police in as little as four seconds - bypassing the technologically challenged 9-1-1 system. As a father, I think our children at least deserve that type of a security blanket."

Traditionally placed 9-1-1 calls can take an average of five minutes up to now eight minutes (due to COVID-19) to be routed from the centralized public safety answering point (PSAP) to the closest responding agency, lengthening the time for first responders to get on scene. The second underlying problem at-risk facilities face is the inability to effectively communicate with each other from inside the same building and to collectively provide specific details of an active threat to law enforcement, causing additional time delays and leading to confusion when law enforcement arrives.

Once an IN FORCE911's notification is received, users are joined into a two-way, real-time chat where details of the event are shared, reducing the communication gap commonly found with crisis situations. School staff has access to emergency protocol information and a live connection with first responders to streamline their response and reunification measures. Law enforcement has direct and immediate access to floor plans, site and room maps and photos as well as a detailed description of the assailant and status of the event. IN FORCE911 was designed for flexibility and ease of use. This technology can be used on any platform (Windows, Mac, Apple or Android) and with any device (cell phone, tablet, computer for staff, and for first responders on their in-vehicle computers, cell phones and at the dispatch consoles). IN FORCE911, protecting what matters when seconds matter most.

For more information regarding crowdfunding options (starting at $233 USD), visit https://www.startengine.com/in-force .

Media Contact: Curtis Rogers | 716.860.2331 | [email protected]

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A Labour TD has hit out at the Healy-Rae brothers for "putting on a political costume" to appear working class.

In a heated exchange, Dublin Fingal TD Duncan Smith accused the Kerry TDs of being "sons of Fianna Fail privilege". During the debate on a Labour motion on pursuing an aggressive Covid-19 suppression strategy, the Healy-Raes both criticised the party.

First, Michael Healy-Rae said that the party was "lost" and "does not understand work and business".

"The lost Labour Party, who are walking in the political wilderness and are just trying to make themselves relevant in the political landscape of today by bringing forward this motion because they are on the sidelines and wandering aimlessly, have no understanding whatsoever. For a party that was once a great party and had great people in it, they are today trying to scramble to make themselves relevant.

"They are not representing the workers, who are coming to us and asking how could this motion make any sense in helping them."

His brother Danny Healy-Rae also criticised the party.

"For instance, people trying to build their own house and getting in a carpenter or a plumber to do work to finish off a house are stopped at the present time."

Dublin Fingal TD Duncan Smith accused the Kerry TDs of being "sons of Fianna Fail privilege" Picture: Gareth Chaney/Collins

Those contributions earned a stinging rebuke from Mr Smith, who accused the pair of being more wealthy than any representatives in the Oireachtas.

"I am absolutely disgusted because it hit me personally. Usually, what they say is water off a duck's back to most or all of us in this House, but they had a go, and it was the Labour Party this, the Labour Party that, relevance this and relevance that.

"They said we did not understand working people and said we did not understand a carpenter coming to the house to fix a job. I am the son of a carpenter. I am not the son of Fianna Fail privilege and millions and millions of euro. I remember, as a kid in the 1980s, having to take any work going, hanging doors in Finglas just to put a roof over our heads and food on the table. I remember that.

"I spent my teenage years working on sites, filling skips. Did they? Or were they driving their Mercedes into their big plant hire shops, walking past all of their machinery, worth hundreds of thousands, to count all their money, to count up all their properties?

"I am not going to be lectured on understanding workers. I do not have to put on a political costume and a caricature to pretend I am working class, like some. They do."

Danny Healy-Rae interjected saying that Mr Smith's claims "are not so" and later told Newstalk that the Labour Party had "drifted".

I dont go around in a flashy Mercedes and a flashy suit; you have to come up to Dublin to find these kind of lads with shiny cars and shiny suits.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-11 17:54:23|Editor: huaxia

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WASHINGTON, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- The phone conversation between Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Joe Biden "established a foundation for future engagement" between the world's two largest economies, said Robert Lawrence Kuhn, Chairman of the Kuhn Foundation, on Wednesday.

"It is always good when the leaders of the U.S. and China speak, and at this time, in light of deteriorated U.S.-China relations, it is especially good that President Biden and President Xi spoke," Kuhn told Xinhua via email.

"It was their first talk since Biden was inaugurated and, even though significant differences were surfaced, it established a foundation for future engagement," he said.

"When the two national leaders exchange candid views, seeking areas of cooperation as well as addressing mutual concerns, they are putting their personal credibility behind their commitment to stabilize bilateral relations," he said.

"Thus, the Biden-Xi call serves to prevent further deterioration by setting a standard that their respective senior officials -- diplomatic, economic, military -- must maintain," he said.

"While some commentators may see different readouts of the call from (the) U.S. and China sides as indicating that the leaders were 'talking past each other,' I can see it as holding hope that (the) U.S. and China's core interests are not a zero-sum game," said Kuhn.

"The U.S. primary concern is to uphold the international system. China's primary concern is to continue the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. These objectives are not incompatible," he said.

"Given leadership vision, diplomatic skill, good will, and perhaps a bit of luck, U.S.-China relations can shift slowly from increasing confrontation to growing cooperation. Let's all give Presidents Biden and Xi some time," he said. Enditem

Before Chea Thyrith, a local Cambodian journalist, was vaccinated on Wednesday, questions were asked about his health condition. Thyrith was informed that he needed to sign a consent form before getting the COVID-19 vaccine and that the state would not bear any responsibility if he died.

The signature is to show that I agree and take responsibility for any risks that I have been informed about, said the Bayon TV reporter on Thursday.

Cambodia started vaccinating people against COVID-19 after the arrival of the Chinese-made Sinopharm vaccine. Vaccinations began on Wednesday, with several dignitaries and government officials lining up to get the two-shot vaccine.

Frontline medical workers and security personnel are among the 300,000 people who will be inoculated in this first phase of vaccinations. The government decided that journalists too will get the vaccine as a high-priority group.

Chea Thyrith, 29, said he had no health issues and did not have any of the several conditions that would disqualify him from being vaccinated, such as cancer, lung-related diseases, allergies, and hepatitis.

We have to be honest about our health. For me I know about my health situation since I get a checkup regularly, he said.

We have to be certain of our health and have no problems as mentioned by the Health Ministry.

After agreeing to all the conditions, Thyrith got the COVID-19 shot in his right shoulder. The reporter said he had done his research about vaccines and found that the Chinese candidates were trustworthy.

Honestly speaking, I dont have any worries at all. I understand about the role of vaccines, he said.

Thyrith said he was advised not to eat seafood, drink alcohol or work hard after taking the vaccine.

Last month, Prime Minister Hun Sen said he would be the first to get the COVID-19 vaccine but backed out after being told he was too old to get this particular vaccine. The approved age bracket for the Sinopharm shot is 18 to 59 years.

In his place, Hun Manet, the prime ministers son and Army Commander, was the first to get the vaccine, along with other members of the Hun Sen family and senior Cambodian Peoples Party officials.

Voun Dara, a 30-year-old reporter from the Phnom Penh Post newspaper, said he got his first shot on Wednesday and was required to go back for the second dose in three weeks.

Voun Dara signed a consent letter, he said, which also lists the possible side effects after getting the vaccine, including fevers, shakes, muscle pain, and headaches.

The paper is like a contract for vaccination, he said. They explain to us and ask us again and again about our decision to be vaccinated. If we agree, we can sign it.

Dara said he decided to be vaccinated since journalists are a priority group and he didnt want to wait till later when more people will try to get vaccinated, and he would likely have to wait for the next batch of vaccines to arrive in the country.

I think I have decided clearly and it is not a risky one, he said.

Prime Minister Hun Sen had said that he would only use vaccines approved by the WHO but later changed his decision and accepted the one million doses of Sinopharm vaccine, which has not been approved by the global health body.

Political commentator Meas Nee said the public was not yet convinced of the effectiveness of the Sinopharm vaccine. He decided that his family will not get vaccinated with the Sinopharm shot.

I am over 59 years old, so I am not allowed to be vaccinated. I will not allow my children and relatives to get it as well since it is not recognized by the World Health Organization, he said. I am not against China.

He said the government will be blamed or accused if any issues emanate from this vaccine.

People are still uncertain about the vaccine and the Health Ministry has not ensured [its safety] 100 percent, he said.
SACRAMENTO, Calif., Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The field of plastic surgery has long had a gender imbalance: while 92% of patients are women, most plastic surgeons are men. In fact, only 1 out of 5 plastic surgeons is female. This is gradually changing, due in part to women like board certified plastic surgeon Christa Clark, MD, FACS , who employs an all-female staff at her practice, Granite Bay Cosmetic Surgery. Now, Dr. Clark is proud to announce the addition of two more female surgeons to the team: Annika Meyer, MD and Amie Miller, MD .

Plastic surgeons Dr. Amie Miller, Dr. Christa Clark, and Dr. Annika Meyer of Granite Bay Cosmetic Surgery in Granite Bay, CA.

"I am delighted to be bringing these amazing women into the practice," Dr. Clark commented. "They have each devoted many years and countless hours to becoming the talented plastic surgeons that they are today. Even more importantly, they are well-versed in modern cosmetic medicine and bring a fresh approach to aesthetic procedures. Dr. Meyer and Dr. Miller both have an exceptional eye for nuance and I love their gorgeously natural-looking results."

Dr. Annika Meyer trained as a resident at Mount Sinai Hospital before pursuing a fellowship in facial plastic surgery through the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. She finds the work to be rewarding because of the pivotal part she plays in her patients' lives.

"With facial plastic surgery, a relatively minor change can impact a patient's life tenfold. My role is to help people look the way they feel, and I find that to be deeply satisfying," Dr. Meyer explained.

Dr. Meyer performs the full scope of facial cosmetic procedures, such as facelift, neck lift, rhinoplasty, and more. In addition to surgical options, Dr. Meyer offers the complete spectrum of non-surgical facial rejuvenation options, such as BOTOX and dermal filler, at the practice's medical spa several days each month.

Dr. Amie Miller also takes pride in empowering her patients. Dr. Miller traveled to Granite Bay from the great state of Texas, where she completed a craniofacial surgery fellowship at Dallas Plastic Surgery Institutean additional level of training beyond her two residencies in general and plastic surgery.

"My philosophy is that I address what is bothering my patients so that they can exist in a much more confident place," said Dr. Miller, who performs breast and body contouring procedures. "It's about handling concerns in a manner that produces natural-looking outcomes."

Dr. Clark said that she and her team have been committed to helping patients live confidently since the practice's founding in 2016. "At Granite Bay Cosmetic Surgery, we believe that aesthetics can transform lives," she explained. Dr. Clark also supports numerous community initiatives that empower women and girls, earning her a reputation for uplifting women. The saying that "empowered women empower women" is not just a hashtag at Granite Bay Cosmetic Surgery, but rather a way of beingand Dr. Clark exemplifies that by sharing her practice with these two accomplished female plastic surgeons.

About Granite Bay Cosmetic Surgery: Granite Bay Cosmetic Surgery is a private, full-service ambulatory plastic surgery center and medical spa located at 5220 Douglas Blvd, Granite Bay, CA 95746. Stanford trained, board certified plastic surgeon Christa Clark, MD, FACS founded the practice and continues to perform a full range of cosmetic surgery procedures for the breast, body and face. Annika Meyer, MD offers facial plastic surgery at the practice, and Amie Miller, MD offers procedures for the breast and body. For more information, visit granitebaycosmetic.com .

Media Contact: Susan Goodrich, 916.242.2662, [email protected]

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Taoiseach Micheal Martin has said high level of restrictions will continue until at least early April.

While the Level five lockdown is likely to continue until Easter, the Taoiseach said the focus over the coming weeks will be on reopening schools and the construction sector.

And while vaccines are being rolled out over the coming months, Mr Martin said it was the right thing to do to proceed with caution, although the country will be in a better position with each passing month.

He added that in there will be greater clarity on the plans in two weeks.

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Oobviously well take stock over the next two weeks in terms of how the virus is evolving, Mr Martin said.

But I think, given that we have a vaccination rollout and that every month that goes by we significantly reduce mortality and possibility of mortality in severe illness, it makes sense that we would be cautious and that we are conservative in any reopening of society.

In terms of the construction industry Mr Martin said that Government believes that we can facilitate a phased reopening of construction and increase reopening of construction from March 5.

We do obviously have issues in terms of the need to significantly increase the number of houses that will be completed in 2021 because over the medium term we need to be building certainly up to 25,000 to 30,000 per annum, if we were to really significantly improve the situation for young people, and for people more generally, in accessing housing.

On the reopening of schools the Taoiseach said the return of special needs education is important.

I think that we need to give confidence to the wider school community, he added. I also believe that the next priority has to be the Leaving Certificate cohort. We need to bring clarity to Leaving Certificate students in respect of this years Leading Certificate.

There have been constructive talks underway between the minister and the Department of Education and all of the partners in education (on) Leaving Certificate students coming back to school sooner rather than later.

I think classroom time will be very, very important in facilitating options for Leaving Certificate students in the context of a written exam for example.

Speaking earlier on Newstalk Breakfast, the head of the Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland (ASTI) said she was hopeful Leaving Certificate students can return to classroom before St Patrick's Day.

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"We are planning a phased return and we are now looking at when it will be safe for Leaving Certs to return to the classroom, Ann Piggott said.

"I'm not sure when, we don't have a date set - but we expect it will be in the next few weeks.

When asked about bringing Leaving Cert students back by the week of February 22, Ms Piggott said: "I don't think the 22nd itself is realistic.

"The numbers were going down, we were quite happy when it was 556 the other day, and then again it was 1,006 yesterday - that is very high.

"We're coming out of a lockdown, we certainly don't want another lockdown in April again - we would like the numbers to go down more".

However, Mr Martin said getting Leaving Certificate students back on February 22 was a reasonable timeframe.

Given that special education is returning, and given that we're looking at about 60,000 students, in my view, that's manageable and it's something we should aim for, he said.

Because the wider issue that prevented the reopening of schools in general was that we didn't want a million people on the move, mobilising at the one time given the presence of the variant which is now 70pc of cases.

"And that variant transmits more easily and that has an impact in terms of the spread of the disease.

The numbers are coming down, he added.

I think a phased return to school is manageable and can be monitored. We can bring in additional protections in schools to make them even safer as locations for people to work in, and to study in.








(Natural News) That was quick.

Missouri Rep. Cori Bush (D), whose district includes all of the city of St. Louis, voiced her support for a violent prison riot by criminal gang members over the weekend.

(Article by Chris Menahan republished from InformationLiberation.com)

I dont want to unite with those responsible for the insurrection at our nations Capitol. I want us to unite in holding them accountable.  Cori Bush (@CoriBush) January 12, 2021

A riot is the language of the unheard.  Dr. MLK Jr. I want to talk to my constituents in the window. Their lives and their rights must be protected. My team and I are working to ensure that the urgent needs of people who are incarcerated are not ignored. https://t.co/wMq8ecyLQ2  Cori Bush (@CoriBush) February 7, 2021

The rights of the Ian Gang must be protected!

Inmates at St. Louis jail set fires, break out windows in disturbance over concerns about COVID pandemic https://t.co/GoN1lNvRZ2pic.twitter.com/ZrPfuLPgTB  John A. Moreno (@morenojohn) February 6, 2021

From The St. Louis Post-Dispatch:

A faulty locking system allowed inmates at a downtown city jail to escape their cells Saturday before freeing other very violent people who then caused widespread damage on a floor of the jail, including smashing exterior windows and sending flaming debris to the sidewalk below, city officials said. About 115 inmates took control of the fourth floor of the City Justice Center, where they set fires, clogged toilets, flooded parts of the floor and caused other damage, officials said. [] These were just very angry, defiant, very violent people that we house at the Justice Center, the citys director of public safety, Jimmie Edwards, told reporters after the uprising was brought under control about 10 a.m. No one at the Justice Center is housed for a misdemeanor, a municipal offense or a low-level felony. Everybody housed at the Justice Center is housed there because of very serious offenses like assault on police officers and homicide and things of that sort.

Read more at: InformationLiberation.com and Rioting.news.
In a letter to Japanese Premier Suga about the cooling water stored at the site of the 2011 nuclear disaster, which Japanese authorities would like to dump into the ocean, the Justice and Peace and Environment Councils of the two Bishops Conferences stress our responsibility towards future generations.

Tokyo (AsiaNews)  The Catholic Bishops' Conferences of Japan and South Korea have taken a stand against the Japanese government's plan to dump into the sea millions of tonnes of cooling water stored in immense tanks at the Fukushima nuclear power plant, which was seriously damaged by an accident in 11 March 2011.

In a letter to Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, the heads of the Justice and Peace Councils and of Environment Councils of the two Bishops Conferences express their opposition to the release of water containing the radioactive substance tritium into the ocean after purifying the contaminated water from Tepcos Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant.

Cooling water is one of the still unresolved issues almost ten years after the Fukushima nuclear accident.

Pending the plants decommissioning, which is proceeding slowly due to the high levels of radioactivity inside the plant, the reactors must be constantly cooled with water.

To avoid any risk of contamination, the used water is stored in a complex system of tanks. Every day, a hundred tonnes are added and the company is expected to run out of storage capacity at the plant in 2022.

For this reason, the Japanese Government wants to release the water into the sea, claiming that if properly filtered, any remaining tritium isotopes will no longer constitute a danger.

In their letter, Japanese and South Korean bishops dispute such a claim, citing studies that link tritium to stillbirths, leukaemia and Down syndrome.

For the prelates, the reassurances by Japanese authorities on the low concentrations of the radioactive substance are based on incomplete tests.

They also criticise the fact that nothing has been said about the possible long-term effects on the marine environment, which is of great concern to fishermen in the sea between Japan and the Korea Peninsula.

In the light of this, the two Bishops Conferences call on the authorities to examined options other than releasing the cooling water into the ocean.

We have a responsibility to hand over to future generations a global environment where we can truly live safely and with peace of mind, the bishops write, citing Pope Francis 2015 encyclical Laudato Si.

Since the world has been given to us, we can no longer view reality in a purely utilitarian way, in which efficiency and productivity are entirely geared to our individual benefit, the pope says. Intergenerational solidarity is not optional, but rather a basic question of justice.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-11 21:53:48|Editor: huaxia

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LONDON, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- As the world continues to battle coronavirus, especially with the emergence of new variants, a British expert has called for joint efforts among countries to speed up global vaccine rollout.

"I think there's much, much more recognition in the last few weeks, that it's not over until everybody is vaccinated," Rory Horner, senior lecturer in Globalisation and Political Economy in the Global Development Institute at the University of Manchester, told Xinhua in a recent interview.

Horner made the remarks as more than 13 million people in Britain have been given the first jab of the coronavirus vaccine, according to the latest official figures.

British Health Secretary Matt Hancock said that Britain is "on track" to complete the vaccination of the top priority groups, which cover 15 million people, by mid-February.

Downing Street has confirmed that all British adults aged 50 and older are expected to be offered a first dose of the coronavirus vaccine by early May. Britain aims to offer all adults their first dose by autumn.

However, there is increasing fear that different strains of the virus could emerge in other parts of the world and take the vaccine development process back to stage one.

"And there's no point just vaccinating your own country, because otherwise you'll essentially have to live cut off from the rest of the world," Horner said.

According to Horner, Britain could look to cooperate with countries like China in speeding up global vaccine distribution, especially in the low- and middle-income countries.

Horner said countries like China are starting to roll out vaccines domestically but are also sharing vaccines with other countries "both through an aid basis and also through a commercial basis in selling them at very, very early stages in their own domestic vaccination program."

"You don't have to try and vaccinate all of your population first, before you start sharing and encouraging vaccination in low- and middle-income," Horner said.

According to Horner, anything that will reach especially low- and middle-income countries, because of the volume of population -- 75 percent of approx. of the world's population driven by low- and middle-income countries -- you'll need countries like China involved, "which have enormous economies of scale and production capacity".

"As the coronavirus has highlighted how globalized our world now is, and with the introduction of new coronavirus variants, Britain will need to hand countries from all over the world who can share information and ingredients for drugs," he said.

"Even if you want to promote domestic manufacturing more, you're still likely to need collaboration with suppliers elsewhere in the world for different ingredients for different technology for different know-how," he added.

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. The country is seeking to strengthen border control to prevent new coronavirus variants from entering the country.

From next Monday, arrivals from more than 30 "red list countries" must pay 1,750 pounds (about 2,419.9 U.S. dollars) for their own hotel quarantine, transport and testing in England.

Previously, Britain has banned all travel by non-British or Irish passengers from the "red list countries" where there is a risk of known variants. Those countries include South Africa, Portugal and South American nations.

The latest development came amid rising concerns over the spread of coronavirus variant first detected in South Africa. A trial has found the Oxford vaccine had limited efficacy against mild disease from the variant. Enditem

Elon Musks satellite broadband operator Starlink has begun taking orders, with the service now open to Irish customers.

The broadband works using low orbit satellites being launched by Mr Musks SpaceX company.

It is promising speeds of between 50Mbs and 140Mbs, but warns of brief periods of no connectivity at all.

As we launch more satellites, install more ground stations and improve our networking software, data speed, latency and uptime will improve dramatically, the company says.

The service costs 99 per month plus a 499 charge for the required satellite dish and a 61 delivery fee.

It is unlikely to appeal to the majority of Irish broadband customers, who receive either fibre or cable broadband with faster speeds for half the price.

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However, Government figures suggest that there are at least 400,000 rural Irish homes that currently cannot get even minimal high-speed broadband services of 30Mbs. These homes are to be connected to taxpayer-funded high-speed fibre over the next five years, but half will not see availability for at least another two years.

Starlink is ideally suited for areas of the globe where connectivity has typically been a challenge, the company says.

Starlink satellites are over 60 times closer to Earth than traditional satellites, resulting in lower latency and the ability to support services typically not possible with traditional satellite internet.

The company says that it will cover Irish homes in mid to late 2021.

Last month, a survey of 1,000 people from Irish regulator Comreg showed a quarter of Irish people say their broadband has become worse since the start of the pandemic.

The Comreg figures also show that three-quarters of us now rely on home broadband far more than before the pandemic started, with families particularly dependent on it to get through an ordinary day.

But 13pc of Irish home broadband connections arent adequate for home working, Comreg says. The situation is particularly bad for those with mobile broadband services, where one in four say the connection isnt good enough to use for home working.

Comregs survey says that just under three in five of us are working from home to some degree. Over 40pc now need broadband to videoconference with work colleagues, while three in five use it to watch Netflix, Disney+ or other online video streaming services.

Almost 60pc would be willing to spend more on broadband to get a better service, the survey claimed, especially for households with children.
Romania's Prime Minister Florin Citu met on Thursday in Brussels President of the European Parliament David Sassoli as part of a an official visit to European bodies, February 11-12, 2021, to discuss, among other things, the ongoing COVID-19 vaccination campaign in the EU and the European Economic Recovery Plan.

According to a government press statement, the discussions provided an opportunity to exchange views on key issues on the European agenda, with focus on managing the COVID-19 pandemic Europewide, including the vaccination campaign, the European Economic Recovery Plan, the start of the Conference on the Future of Europe, as well as the EU External Agenda.

The Romanian prime minister reaffirmed Romania's firm commitment to continuing acting in a spirit of deep attachment to the European design and values."As part of the excellent cooperation with the European Parliament, he expressed the interest of the Romanian government in continuing their open and substantial dialogue, especially in the current European context marked by the pandemic, which requires increased involvement, unity and coordination on the part of the European institutions and EU member states. Prime Minister Florin Citu mentioned the expertise and involvement of Romania's MEPs in supporting the promotion of unity and cohesion inside the European Union," the release mentions.Citu also underlined the importance of close co-operation at European level in order to further manage the pandemic and its consequences, emphasising the importance of successful vaccination campaigns in the member states and the need to maintain the functioning of the internal market and the European free movement area.For his part, President of the European Parliament David Sassoli confirmed that only a coordinated approach at European level is likely to help the EU emerge from the crisis triggered by the pandemic."Economically, the Romanian prime minister underscored the importance of the new financial instruments being implemented to ensure robust economic growth. He also welcomed the very recent approval by the European Parliament of the Recovery and Resilience Facility," according to the statement.At the same time, regarding the Conference on the Future of Europe, Citu highlighted the relevance of the process, especially amidst the ongoing pandemic and the lessons learned, in strengthening European crisis response instruments, and in strengthening democracy Europewide."In his conversation with the president of the European Parliament, an expectation was highlighted that the debates at the forthcoming conference will contribute to the goal of a union closer to its citizens, ensuring the stability and prosperity they want, and to an in-depth dialogue on issues of direct interest to them," according to the release.At the same time, Citu thanked for the support of the European Parliament to Romania's accession to the Schengen area, with the president of the European Parliament reconfirming that Romania has all the support of the European Parliament."Regarding the European Union's external relations, the Romanian prime minister highlighted the priority attached to the Republic of Moldova and the support for the management of the pandemic, as well as for the democratic and pro-European reform process. The prime minister underlined the importance of the EU support to the vaccination process in its immediate vicinity. The president of the European Parliament expressed his deep appreciation for Romania's support to the Republic of Moldova, including in the shape of a donation of up to 200,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine," the release also reads.Citu also had a series of meetings on Thursday with leaders of the European political groups in the European Parliament: Manfred Weber, leader of the EPP Group; Iratxe Garcia Prez, leader of the S&D Group; Dacian Ciolos, leader of the Renew Group, and EPP Secretary-General Antonio Lopez-Isturiz."These discussions addressed current issues on Romania's European agenda: the vaccination campaign (Romania is currently ranked 4th in Europe) and the crucial importance of the coordinated effort at EU level by the European Commission, as well as the need for a mechanism to help the countries in the Eastern Neighbourhood obtain vaccines, the process of completing at national level the National Recovery and Resilience Plan, the European Rule of Law Mechanism, which Romania supports, Romania's effort to meet the benchmarks under the Co-operation and Verification Mechanism (CVM). Also tackled were Romania's commitment to meeting the recommendations of the European Commission as soon as possible, the presentation of the Euro-Atlantic Center for Resilience project, praised by the interlocutors, the process of Romania's accession to the Schengen area and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and other political issues of common interest," the release says.On Friday, the second day of his visit to Brussels, Citu is scheduled to meet President of the European Council Charles Michel; President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, and Executive Vice President of the European Commission Valdis Dombrovskis.
A top UN official said the threat to peace and security posed by the (IS) terror group is "on the rise again", despite its fall in both Iraq and Syria.

Addressing the Security Council on Wednesday, UN counter- chief Vladimir Voronkov said that despite the competing priorities brought by the Covid-19 pandemic, it is "crucial" for member states to remain focused and united in thwarting terrorism, reports Xinhua news agency.

"While IS has not developed a purposeful strategy to exploit the pandemic, its efforts to regroup and to reinvigorate its activities (has) gained further momentum," he said.

Via a video conference, the UN official flagged that the terror group has maintained the ability to move and operate, including across porous borders.

At the same time, the pandemic's socio-economic toll and political fallout could further render individuals receptive to radicalisation and recruitment.

As the community continues to grapple with the legacies of the group's so-called "caliphate", Voronkov said that some 10,000 IS fighters, mostly in Iraq, are pursuing a protracted insurgency, posing "a major, long-term and global threat".

"They are organised in small cells hiding in desert and rural areas and moving across the border between the two countries, waging attacks," he elaborated.

The top UN official also spoke of the precarious situation of the mostly women and children with links to the fighters, zeroing in on the dire humanitarian and security situation in detention facilities and displacement camps, "especially in al-Hol (Syria's largest refugee camp)".

"Nearly two years after the territorial defeat of IS, some 27,500 foreign children are still in harm's way in the camps in northeast Syria, including about 8,000 children from some 60 countries other than Iraq," he said, adding that 90 per cent are under 12.

He briefed the Council on IS activities in West Africa, Asia and Southeast Asia, recalling two suicide bombings conducted by women in the Philippines last August.

--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.)

The Buharism Movement, a President Muhammadu Buhari support group, has condemned the high electricity tariffs by the Power Distribution Companies, DISCOS in the country.

Mrs Jessica Kuraun, in a press statement she issued on behalf of the group on Thursday, urged the President to swing into action and reverse the hike in the tariffs, to save small businesses and save the economy from a recession.

She called on the President to act swiftly in crashing the hike, so as to give a majority of Nigerians relief from the difficulties following the increase in tariffs.

According to her, "Though we are in full support of the President, we are going through the same pain, like every other Nigerian, as a result of these insensitive and very high electricity tariffs".

The former member of Buhari Presidential Campaign Council warned that the high tariffs, will spell doom for the economy, and worsen poverty in the country, as small businesses will not be able to cope, and thereby cave in.

According to her, considering that the COVID-19 pandemic has already taken a toll on businesses, higher electricity tariffs, plus an upward review of petroleum products prices, will have a devastating effect on the micro-economy.

"Though the administration has done a lot in the area of providing soft loans and other social interventions, to reduce poverty in the country, this high electricity tariffs, coupled with the high price of petroleum products, will spell doom for small businesses and worsen poverty in the country.

"We supporters of Buhari, nationwide, are therefore pleading for his intervention, to reverse the hardship on Nigerians by these unconscionable electricity distribution companies", the group stated.

The group, also called on the Power Committees of the National Assembly, to improve on their oversight of the GENCOs and DISCOs, to ensure ordinary Nigerians do not continue to suffer avoidable hardship, as a result of indiscriminate hikes in tariffs.

" We also call on the Senate and House of Representatives Committees, to take their oversight more seriously, regarding the issue of affordable electricity for Nigerians. We believe that our good representatives, will kindly per heed to their constituents' cries and intervene positively ", the group submitted.

Vanguard News Nigeria

From the beginning itself, the Lower Subansiri hydropower project has been engulfed in controversies with serious flaws being pointed out to its design and structure by various experts and panels

It is election time in Assam and the high and roaring waves of the Dhauliganga river that ravaged the Tapovan Vishnugad Hydro Power project at Joshimath in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district on Sunday were too small for the northeastern state's ruling class to bother with. Not that the flash flood in Uttarakhand would have reached Assam, but the state has the perfect recipe for far more severe circumstances in the making right in its own backyard.

The NHPC-owned Subansiri Lower Hydro Electric Project, which is the biggest hydroelectric project undertaken in India so far and is a run of river scheme on the Subansiri, located at Gerukamukh in Assam's Dhemaji district on the border of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, also holds the dubious distinction of having the highest cost overrun among under-construction hydel projects in the country. The cost overrun is at a massive Rs 13,211 crore for a project whose original estimate was pegged at Rs 6,285 crore when it was conceived in 2002 and now the revised estimate puts the total cost at Rs 19,496 crore. Not just the financial cost alone, but time overrun has also been huge for the project as the original schedule of commissioning it was back in September 2010.

According to the reasons for time and cost overrun provided to Lok Sabha by the Ministry of Power on 25 July 2019, there are many factors behind slowing down the project. They are:

 Delay in the transfer of forest land

 Disruption of works by locals in Arunachal Pradesh side

 Slope failure in Power House in January 2008

 Damage to the bridge on Ranganadi river

 Change in design of surge shafts to surge tunnels

 Stoppage of works due to agitation launched by anti-dam activists in Assam against the construction of the project. Stoppage of work since 16 December 2011

 Issue of D/s Impact

 Case in NGT

However, during a visit to the Subansiri Lower HE Project site by Union power secretary Sanjiv Nandan Sahai on 4 December last year, NHPC CMD AK Singh assured that the project shall be commissioned by March 2022. Contrary to that the Ministry of Power had informed the Lok Sabha that the project will take four more years to be completed from the day work restarts. The work has restarted in the project site in October last year. The company claims that 50 percent work of the project has already been completed.

The decks for the resumption of construction works were cleared after the National Green Tribunal did not "find any merit in the applications" seeking the reconstitution of the Committee constituted by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) vide order dated 27.11.2017 in pursuance of the order of this Tribunal dated 16.10.2017 and the same were dismissed on 31 July 2019.

Genesis of the project

The Lower Subansiri HEP consists of one Concrete Gravity Dam of 116-metre high above the river bed level and 123-metre high above the deepest foundation level. It will have a surface powerhouse with an installed capacity of 2,000 MW with eight units of 250 MW capacity each. The project received its environment clearance through Letter No. J-12011/40/2001-IA-I dated 16 July, 2003 and the construction work on the project began in January, 2005.

Authors Swapnali Barman, RK Bhattacharya, SK Sharma and G Tirkey in their joint study Future flow scenario of Subansiri River and its Impact on Power Potential of Subansiri Lower Hydro Electric Project gave a little introduction to the river itself.

"The river Subansiri is one of the major north bank tributaries of river Brahmaputra. It flows through Tibet for 170 km, 250 km through Arunachal Pradesh after which it enters Assam at Dulangmukh in Dhemaji district and flows for another 130 km through the plains of Assam before it merges with the River Brahmaputra near Jamugurighat in Assam. The Subansiri river system has its practical importance as it holds high water resources as well as hydropower potential for the country," the paper said.

Going back on how the initial thoughts for the project came, senior practicing engineer JN Khataniar said it was the Brahmaputra Board that came up with the idea first.

"The possibility of hydropower generation using plenty of water of the river Subansiri was initially investigated by the Brahmaputra Board during 1982-84 and finally submitted the detail project report in 1985 as a multi-purpose 2,000 MW single hydropower project having a 275-metre height Rockfill Dam and an underground powerhouse due to high seismicity and land slid sensitivities of the entire region," said Khataniar from Guwahati.

He said that in 2000, NHPC took over the findings from Brahmaputra Board and prepared a new project concept for a three-stage hydropower project after conducting its own investigation. The NHPC recommendations were:

The upper stage: 2,000 MW with a dam height 214m from bed level and flood cushioning 10.00m The middle stage: 1,600 MW with a dam height 203 m from bed level with flood cushioning 15.00m The lower stage: 2,000 MW with a dam height 116m from bed level without having any flood cushioning as upper and middle stage flood cushioning are enough

Barrage of technical issues

The insincerity of NHPC is exposed right from the location of the project as mentioned on the company website with no clear indication of the dam site and rather vague details were given. There is no mention of Gerukamukh at all at least at first sight. From the beginning itself, the project has been engulfed in controversies with serious flaws being pointed out to its design and structure by various experts and panels.

In the 44th meeting of the Expert Appraisal Committee on River Valley and Hydro Electric Projects constituted under the provisions of EIA Notification 2006 which was held on 11 December, 2010 in New Delhi, the safety and stability aspect of the Lower Subansiri HEP dam came under deep scrutiny.

"The site specific seismic design parameter for peak ground acceleration (pga) value of 0.38g considered by NHPC is inadequate as the whole of the North East falls under Zone V  (very high damage risk zone) with probability of earthquakes of MSK IX or more. Previously the earthquakes of 8.7 (Shillong earthquake) and 8.5 (Assam earthquake) on the Richter scale have been experienced. In view of this, the design parameters need to be reconsidered to be at least 8.5 M at pga of 0.5g. The broad scale data provided by NHPC is shockingly lacking and there are gaps in the data. A mega earthquake of 1947 has not been reported. Therefore, lithologically and seismologically it needs deeper investigation, not only for lower but upper Subansiri too. A cumulative effect study should be conducted," the minutes of the meeting noted.

Also Read: Tragedy at Tapovan Vishnugad hydel project: Understanding hydrology, geology of Himalayas is need of the hour

In the same meeting itself, the geological deficiencies in the project were also pointed out.

"The rocks in the foot hills are poorly cemented sand stone on which the dam would be constructed. This also seems unstable even at pga of 0.38 g, especially for the surrounding ground. A fault along the Subansiri at about 2 Km downstream of the dam has also been inferred by GSI. Therefore, the indications of recent tectonics in the area give ample reason for giving a serious relook at the selection of the site for the dam. The Himalayan Foothills, south of MBT (Main Boundary Thrust) is not suitable for any mega hydropower project from the geological, tectonic and seismological point of view," the representatives of the Expert Group from IIT Guwahati, Gauhati University and Dibrugarh University said.

The change in the height of the dam from the originally designed 133-metre above the deepest foundation level including the foundation depth of 17-metre to the newly modified 125-metre by reducing the foundation depth to 9-metre was heavily criticised by the experts. They felt that "the ratio of total dam height to the foundation is inadequate" and "would make the dam highly vulnerable seismically especially when an earthquake of intensity 8.5 in the Richter scale has already occurred in that region in 1950".

NHPC even neglected the flood data of the area where the maximum observed flood at Chouldhowaghat was 21,230 cumecs on 11 July, 1971 but the public sector enterprise only considered 18,790 cumecs as the highest flood level.

What is even worse, the study conducted together by Barman, Bhattacharya, Sharma and Tirkey warned of a looming crisis downstream after the dam comes up fully.

"Devastating flood associated with intense rainfall in the upper catchment of Subansiri is a common phenomenon. There is a possibility that the construction of the dam will further increase the downstream discharge leading to the downstream areas more susceptible to flood and erosion," the study said.

The Thatte-Reddy Expert Committee appointed by the Planning Commission in its report in July 2012 came down heavily on NHPC saying that flood regulation "is the single most important aspect of project planning that has got ignored by the planners while converting single high dam to a cascade scheme of dams (from downstream to upstream) the very purpose of the Brahmaputra Board Act is defeated and the mandate of the Brahmaputra Board diluted by this action".

The report further said that "The sandstone, which really looks and behaves like a sand rock, on which the dam is founded, has all through the SLP (Subansiri Lower Project) planning been considered very weak. Its adequacy and competence to support the concrete gravity dam is not established satisfactorily."

In no uncertain terms, the report said that the frequency of landslides could grow after the project is completed. What landslide lake outburst flood or a glacial lake outburst flood can do to a hydropower project as the case may be was recently seen in the devastation caused in the Tapovan Vishnugad Hydro Power project at Joshimath in Uttarakhand. A total of 34 people have died so far and a frantic search for the 170 still missing is on in adverse conditions.

With the multi-purpose dam now converted into hydro-power projects, the Thatte-Reddy panel said that only with an independent authority like Subansiri River Basin Authority having operational control of the reservoir can help in mitigating floods when all the three projects  SLP, SMP (Subansiri Middle Project) and SUP (Subansiri Upper Project) are completed.

"Unfortunately, the execution of the Upper and Middle Stage as was originally being allotted to NHPC Ltd as per their investigation reports was withdrawn from them due to reasons unknown and finally handed over to other two agencies who have not been able to submit the DPR (Detailed Project Report) in a proper scientific manner till date," said Khataniar.

He pointed out a key point that no flood moderation for independent Subansiri Lower HE Project was conceptualised and that the Central Electrical Authority in its Techno-Economic Clearance had made it abundantly clear in 2003 that integrated flood studies including reservoir operation for all three projects  Subansiri upper, middle and lower  shall be done in consultation with the Brahmaputra Board and Central Water Commission before executing the Subansiri Lower Hydro Electric Project.

"There are possibilities of tremendous upstream impact on the most unhealthy 116-metre Concrete Gravity Dam structure in Lower Subansiri Hydro Power Project for the sudden loads of excess water that may occur due to heavy rains, cloud burst, or massive landslide. In the absence of other two projects over the same river as conceptualised as an integrated project, there are insufficient cushioning provisions above the dam structure to take care of probable floods," Khataniar said.

"We have already seen what environmental disasters can do in the recent catastrophic event in Uttarakhand despite the dams being made as per the recommendations. In the case of Lower Subansiri HEP, who will take responsibility for the retrofitting processes at the dam and guarantee the safety of the people living downstream? Who will take accountability for the inadequacies in concepts and design of the dam structure for which we are losing a huge amount of public money and destroying a natural water resource?" he asked.

Water resources engineer Pradip Pujari said that although one dam was completely lost in Uttarakhand, another dam downstream actually prevented a far bigger catastrophe by arresting the massive flow of water.

"The first dam could not absorb the immediate thrust but the second one managed to neutralise the threat because the force of the water had also gone down by then," Pujari said.

This makes the dams in the Upper and Middle Subansiri even more critical but they are yet to be constructed thus exposing the Lower Subansiri dam to grave threats.

In a study, titled Lower Subansiri Hydroelectric Power Project and future of the Subansiri River Ecosystem, the shoddy survey of the environmental impact of the project has also come under severe criticism.

"It becomes evident that no sufficient and detailed study was done in the entire downstream during the preparation of the report. Detailed mention about the probable impacts upon the downstream river health, rare and endangered species, physical resource, peoples livelihood and the options for mitigation etc. did not find place in the report. The EIA report contains insufficient records on terrestrial and aquatic flora, phytoplanktons, fish diversity, riparian flora, zooplanktons, avian fauna, floodplain crops, peoples lively hood etc. besides healthy habitats controlled by the unregulated Subansiri river," the report said.

What is worrisome is that despite the investment of such a huge amount of time and money, there will be a gradual reduction of power generation capacity of the plant and its prime production period is perhaps already over even though not an ounce of electricity has been produced yet.

"Compared to the historical period 1990-2014, where power obtained during this period was 3,72,982 MW, the future power obtained for SLHEP will gradually decrease from 2020-99. Power obtained for 2020-39, 2040-59, 2060-79 and 2080-99 are 29,94,14 MW, 2,83,533 MW, 2,64,851 MW and 2,64,590 MW respectively. From this analysis, it can be said that, as compared to 1990-2014, the power potential during 2020-39, 2040-59, 2060-79 and 2080-99 will decrease by 19.72 percent, 23.98 percent, 28.99 percent and 29.06 percent respectively," the authors claimed in their research.

Prevent the apocalypse

What happened in the Tapovan Vishnugad Hydro Power project was unprecedented and a rare incident that occurred due to natural causes. However, the problem with the Lower Subansiri HEP is that there are many flaws which the scientific community have themselves pointed out raising serious concerns about the safety aspect of the dam. Unless they are fixed, the chase for cheap power may prove disastrous with many lives and a huge amount of public money at stake. NHPC cannot be lackadaisical when it is making the country's largest hydropower project. It must shoulder responsibility, show accountability.
The first-known cases of a COVID-19 variant originally found in South Africa were identified by Stanford University researchers in two Bay Area residents, one in Alameda County and the other in Santa Clara County.

Gov. Gavin Newsom shared the news in a Wednesday press conference, making the point that while the state's infection rates and hospitalizations are down overall, the pandemic remains severe and people need to be vigilant about social distancing and wearing face coverings.

Newsom said as of Wednesday, 30 genomics labs in the state have identified 159 cases of a variant from the United Kingdom and 1,203 of two variants from the West Coast. The variant first detected in Brazil has not been found in California, he said.

"The issue of mutations is top of mind, not only here in the state of California, across this nation but increasingly around the globe," Newsom said speaking at a press conference in Fresno.

The South Africa variant is one of several recent mutations of the virus, most of which involve changes to its spike protein  the part of the virus that enables it to enter human cells  that may make it more contagious and slightly more resistant to vaccines.

It's typical for any virus to mutate, but concerns are rising about the growing number of new variants of the coronavirus around the world as some are proving to be more difficult to fight. The variant from Britain is more contagious and is believed to be more deadly than the original, while the variant from South Africa may render vaccines somewhat less effective.

In South Africa, where the variant is now dominant, officials will start vaccinating frontline health workers next week with a shot that is still in testing  an unorthodox strategy announced Wednesday after officials abandoned plans to use another vaccine that a small study suggests is only minimally effective against the variant dominant in the country.

A small study that suggested the AstraZeneca vaccine was poor at preventing mild to moderate disease caused by the variant threw South Africa's vaccination campaign into disarray this week just as it was about to start. Experts say the vaccine  the only one authorized for general use in South Africa  may still prevent severe disease.

But officials quickly turned their focus to the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine  which has only been approved for use in studies in South Africa and, in fact, hasn't yet been authorized for general use in any country. The company has applied for emergency use permission from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and South Africa's regulatory authority.

The first six Bay Area cases of the variant from the U.K. were all found in Alameda County. Two of them were students at UC Berkeley.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.



Reclusive movie star Shelley Duvall has given a very rare interview where she talks about her iconic role in Stanley Kubrick's The Shining, revealing that she would spend days on set of the film crying.

Duvall, 71, who was last seen during an appearance on Dr. Phil in 2016, spoke to The Hollywood Reporter in Texas Hill Country near to where she resides, and discussed her grueling filming days with Kubrick, who was notorious for being a hard taskmaster, as well as looking back on her Hollywood career.

As she played the wife of Jack Nicholson's character Jack Torrance - who goes insane while inside a snowed-in resort hotel - in 1980's The Shining, Duvall explained that she constantly had to get her mind in a state of panic to get into character for the filmmaker.

Stepping out of the limelight: Duvall, 71, who was last seen during an appearance on Dr. Phil in 2016, spoke to The Hollywood Reporter in Texas Hill Country near to where she resides

Sad: Reclusive movie star Shelley Duvall has given a very rare interview where she talks about her iconic role in Stanley Kubrick's The Shining (as she is pictured in the 1980 film), revealing that she would spend days on set of the film crying

Duvall explained: '[Kubrick] doesn't print anything until at least the 35th take. Thirty-five takes, running and crying and carrying a little boy, it gets hard. And full performance from the first rehearsal. That's difficult.'

She said that she would put on a Sony Walkman and listen to sad songs or just think of unhappy memories to get into the proper head space to play Wendy Torrance.

Duvall said: 'You just think about something very sad in your life or how much you miss your family or friends. But after a while, your body rebels. It says: "Stop doing this to me. I don't want to cry every day." And sometimes just that thought alone would make me cry.

She seemingly does not hold any ill will toward Kubrick as she said: 'No. He was very warm and friendly to me. He spent a lot of time with Jack and me. He just wanted to sit down and talk for hours while the crew waited. And the crew would say, 'Stanley, we have about 60 people waiting.' But it was very important work'

Method: As she played the wife of Jack Nicholson's character Jack Torrance - who goes insane while inside a snowed-in resort hotel - in 1980's The Shining, Duvall explained that she constantly had to get her mind in a state of panic to get into character for the filmmaker

Duvall (seen in 1995) explained: '[Kubrick] doesn't print anything until at least the 35th take. Thirty-five takes, running and crying and carrying a little boy, it gets hard. And full performance from the first rehearsal. That's difficult'

'To wake up on a Monday morning, so early, and realize that you had to cry all day because it was scheduled  I would just start crying. I'd be like, "Oh no, I can't, I can't." And yet I did it. I don't know how I did it. Jack said that to me, too. He said, "I don't know how you do it."'

She was asked by THR if she felt like Kubrick had been unusually cruel or abusive toward her in order for her to achieve the desired performance for the film.

Duvall answered: 'He's got that streak in him. He definitely has that. But I think mostly because people have been that way to him at some time in the past. His first two films were Killer's Kiss and The Killing.'

'Your body rebels': She said that she would put on a Sony Walkman and listen to sad songs or just think of unhappy memories to get into the proper head space to play Wendy Torrance

Writer of the piece, Seth Abramovitch, asked the star to elaborate more on the subject specifically when it came to the director's treatment of her.

She seemingly does not hold any ill will toward Kubrick as she said: 'No. He was very warm and friendly to me. He spent a lot of time with Jack and me. He just wanted to sit down and talk for hours while the crew waited. And the crew would say, 'Stanley, we have about 60 people waiting.' But it was very important work.'

However, fellow actress Anjelica Huston - whjo was dating Nicholson at the time - recalls Duvall and Kubrick's interactions much differently.

The 69-year-old actress said: 'I got the feeling, certainly through what Jack was saying at the time, that Shelley was having a hard time just dealing with the emotional content of the piece.

Back in the day: Duvall seen with artist Andy Warhol in New York back in 1981

'And they didn't seem to be all that sympathetic. It seemed to be a little bit like the boys were ganging up. That might have been completely my misread on the situation, but I just felt it. And when I saw her during those days, she seemed a generally a bit tortured, shook up. I don't think anyone was being particularly careful of her.'

Duvall went on to star in several projects after The Shining including 1980's Popeye opposite Robin Williams.

However she has not worked as an actress since 2002 and opted to move from Studio City, California to Texas 27 years ago.

After staying out of the limelight for a decade and a half, Duvall revealed her struggle with mental illness in November 2016.
New Delhi, Feb 11 : The much-touted BharatNet project, aimed at connecting 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats, still lags with as many as 98,569 Panchayats yet to be service ready, Parliament was told on Thursday.

The deadline to connect all the 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats in the country and provide 100 Mbps connectivity to all the Panchayats is also set to be extended from the previous deadline of August 2021.

In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology, Sanjay Dhotre said: "So far, a total number of 1,51,431 Gram Panchayats (Including Block HQ) have been made Service Ready." The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information Technology had recently pulled up the Department of Telecommunications for the delay in preparing a cabinet note for the roll-out of a public-private partnership (PPP) model for the rural broadband BharatNet project.

In its report, the panel said that this had not been done even though a whole year has passed since the Digital Communication Commission (DCC) gave its approval for the initiative.

The DCC had last year given in-principle approval to move to a public private partnership (PPP) model in order to expedite the project's implementation.




Video by Oh Jung-meen, Cho You-bin



Police and protesters clashed in Myanmar on Tuesday in the most violent day of demonstrations against a military coup that overthrew Aung San Suu Kyi, and a doctor said one woman was unlikely to survive a gunshot wound to the head.



The incidents marked the first bloodshed since the military, led by army chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, overthrew Suu Kyi's newly elected government on Feb. 1 and detained her and other politicians from her National League for Democracy (NLD).



Footage posted on social media of the woman who was shot showed her with other protesters by what appeared to be a bus-stop shelter some distance from a row of riot police as a water cannon sprayed and several shots could be heard.



The woman, wearing a motorbike helmet, suddenly collapsed. Pictures of her helmet showed what appeared to be a bullet hole.













A doctor in the Naypyitaw hospital said the shot woman had suffered what was most likely to be a fatal head wound. "She hasn't passed away yet, she's in the emergency unit, but it's 100% certain the injury is fatal," said the doctor, who declined to be identified. "According to the X-ray, it's a live bullet."



A man had a chest wound but was not in critical condition. It was not clear if he was hit with a bullet or rubber bullet.



"The use of disproportionate force against demonstrators is unacceptable," Ola Almgren, the UN representative in Myanmar, said.



This Friday, the UN Human Rights Council will convene a special session to discuss the crisis. (Reuters)
Hundreds of Haitians chanted "Down with kidnapping! Down with dictatorship!" as they marched through the streets of Port-au-Prince on Wednesday, bolstering opposition leaders who stepped up their demands that President Jovenel Moise resign.

The latest protest is the biggest one yet this year, and it comes just days after Moise announced that police had arrested nearly two dozen people accused of an alleged coup conspiracy, including a Supreme Court judge who remains in jail.

Opposition leaders labeled the arrests as political repression while critics accuse Moise of trying to become more powerful.

"The members of the opposition will not back down," said former senator Youri Latortue.

The opposition coalition recently announced that another Supreme Court judge, Joseph Mecene Jean-Louis, had become Haiti's supposed transitional president.

Jean-Louis accepted the position, which no one in the international community has recognized.

The opposition claims that Moise's five-year term ended on February 7, but Moise has reiterated that it ends in February 2022 since he wasn't sworn in until 2017.

Prior to that, a provisional president ruled Haiti for one year following chaotic elections marred by allegations of fraud.

The situation in Haiti has caught the attention of the international community, prompting a public statement from the U.S. Embassy in Haiti on Tuesday, a day after Moise's administration basically fired three Superior Court judges by announcing that they had been forced into retirement.

Among the three is Jean-Louis and Yvickel Dabrezil, who was arrested on Sunday.

The US Embassy said it was scrutinizing the order to determine if it's legal.

"We are deeply concerned about any actions that risk damaging Haiti's democratic institutions," the Embassy said as it called on Moise to hold overdue legislative elections.

Moise has been ruling by presidential decree for more than a year after dissolving a majority of Parliament in January 2020 amid a delay in legislative elections given political gridlock and protests that paralyzed the country in 2019.

His administration also has faced an increase in violence and kidnappings and a deepening poverty, with protesters on Wednesday also demanding a better life.

The peaceful protest was interrupted by police firing tear gas on demonstrators and on a group of journalists.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
English French

Press release Ecully, February 11th, 2021  6:30 p.m.





Continued expansion in Asia :

First implantation of the Mont Blanc 3D+ in Thailand

Signature of an Exclusive Distribution Agreement in Malaysia

Spineway, specialized in the treatment of severe disorders of the spine, announces the first surgery in Thailand with Mont Blanc 3D+ instrumentation as well as the signature of an exclusive distribution agreement for the marketing of its products in Malaysia.

This operation was successfully performed on February 4th, 2021 by Dr Chatchawarl Sarntipiphat, orthopedic surgeon at Srinagarind University Hospital in Khon Kaen Province, Thailand, on an 11-year-old patient with idiopathic scoliosis.

Doctor Sarntipiphat specifies the context of this operation : This type of scoliosis requires a surgical correction because the permanent deviation of the spine can cause a deformation of the vertebral bodies, especially during the child's growth period. Particularly indicated for this type of pathology, Spineway's patented Mont Blanc 3D+ implant makes it possible to correct the deformity while keeping the natural curves of the spine.

Present in Thailand since 2016 through exclusive distribution, Spineway continues to develop its know-how on the Asian continent with the implementation of a national distribution agreement within the main healthcare centers in Malaysia, a few months after the signing of an exclusive commercial agreement for the sale of its products in Japan1. Spineway and its partner will promote and introduce the whole product portfolio, in particular, the specific solutions for mini-invasive surgery Mont-Blanc MIS.

Stephane Le Roux, CEO of Spineway, says : We are delighted with this partnership in Malaysia, a country recognized as having one of the best healthcare systems in Asia. Our Mont-Blanc MIS and MISTI platform designed by Spineway will address the market needs by providing advanced surgical techniques to surgeons and patients.

Sales are scheduled to start in June 2020, immediately after the product registration will be granted by the Medical Device Authority in Malaysia.

This first implantation of the Mont Blanc 3D+ in Thailand and this new distribution agreement in Malaysia demonstrate that Spineway continues its development in Asia thanks to the high added value of its technologies.

Upcoming : April 15th, 2021 - Publication of first quarter 2021 revenues

March 8th, 2021  General meeting

The annual accounts and and the preparatory documents for the Shareholders' Meeting

are available on the companys website in the Investors

SPINEWAY IS ELIGIBLE FOR THE PEA-PME (EQUITY SAVINGS PLANS FOR SMES)

Find out all about Spineway at www.spineway.com

This press release has been prepared in both English and French. In case of discrepancies, the French version shall prevail.

Spineway designs, manufactures and markets innovative implants and surgical instruments for treating severe disorders of the spinal column.

Spineway has an international network of over 50 independent distributors and 90% of its revenue comes from exports.

Spineway, which is eligible for investment through FCPIs (French unit trusts specializing in innovation), has received the OSEO Excellence award since 2011 and has won the Deloitte Fast 50 award (2011). Rhone Alpes INPI Patent Innovation award (2013)  INPI Talent award (2015).

ISIN: FR0011398874 - ALSPW

Contacts:

SPINEWAY



Shareholder-services line

Available Tuesday through Thursday

(10 a.m.  12 p.m.)

+33 (0)811 045 555 Eligible PEA / PME



ALSPW





Euronext Growth





AELIUM



Finance & Communication



Investor relations

Solene Kennis

spineway@aelium.fr











1 Press release of April 23, 2020





Attachment

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - From a skyway operator in Australia to a tourist guide on Indonesia's resort island of Bali and a lion dance troupe in Malaysia, Asia's travel industry is hurting as coronavirus curbs keep most people home for the Lunar New Year. The celebration, which begins on Friday, usually triggers the largest annual migration as people reunite with loved ones or go on holiday, but this year government curbs are spoiling plans, even as many nations roll out vaccines. "In the last 10 months, there's been no income, because there are no visitors," said ...
EUGENE, Ore. -- As schools reopen their doors to in-person learning, many parents are excited about sending their students back into classrooms, while others are looking for guidance on the coronavirus risks from medical professionals.

According to Oregon Medical Group family physician Dr. Harold Perez, sending students to school does come with risks. Students can contract the virus themselves and carry it back home.

"They might not have as serious of an illness as adults do, they might get some mild symptoms, some might not have symptoms at all, but they do get sick as well," he said.

Though the Oregon Department of Education has established extensive guidelines and safety precautions for reopening classrooms safely, Perez said that families can also take action to promote the health of their students, family and community.

"It's actually not that complicated. People should do what we have been doing for a long time," he said.

Talking to your student about the importance of masking and making sure they are accustomed to the practice can help them continue masking behaviors in the classroom. Additionally, encouraging handwashing as students leave the home and when they return is a good idea.

"Kids are very resilient. Kids actually do very well. Kids follow instructions," said Perez.

Officials have always told parents not to send their students to class if they are feeling sick, but in the age of coronavirus, Perez said that advice is more important than ever.

If you have a high-risk family member or resident of your household, Perez said that it may be a good idea to discuss the risks of your student returning to class. There is any number of precautions your family can implement, and many schools will continue offering remote learning options once in-person learning resumes.
A picture is worth a thousand words. Or in this case, worth 90 million clicks.

The Aster amellus, or the European Michaelmas daisy, is a perennial herbaceous plant in the genus Aster of the family Asteraceae. It's also the flower, a photo of which on Wikimedia gets 90 million clicks a day daily from India.

In a tweet posted by Chris Albon, director of Machine Learning at Wikimedia, he mentions that "20% of all requests to one of our data centers for media are for this image of a flower. Nobody knows why."

He further posts a link to verify the data - which is public.

Want to check it out yourself? The analytics are public. 1. https://t.co/IXHoBDpBrM 2. Change the agent to spider (h/t to @fdans for fixing my tweet) pic.twitter.com/y2ImBvlomN  Chris Albon (@chrisalbon) February 8, 2021

We've noticed today that we get about 90M hits per day from various ISPs in India, a post on Phabricator, Wikimedias collaboration platform, said. These are very strange, as they come from wildly different IPs, follow a daily traffic pattern, so we are hypothesizing there is some mobile app predominantly used in india that hotlinks the above image for e.g. a splash screen. We need to investigate this further as this kind of request constitutes about 20 percent of all requests we get in EQSIN for media.

The pageview graph shows, that for more than six months, 20 percent of the traffic to that server were requests to look at the daisy. Wikimedias data is public and a chart showing daily requests to access the picture of the flower show a clear trend. Before June 8, the flower had pretty low numbers. On average, the flower gets a few hundred views.

On June 9, the number jumps to 2,154. On June 10, it hit 15,037. By June 30, it had more than 15 million daily hits.

Several people on the Phabricator post replied with the that fact that the huge upsurge in requests to see the flower coincided with India banning TikTok and several other Chinese apps. After TikTok was banned in India, several people are speculating that one of these new apps is accessing the flower picture. It is most likely an app, given the header information above and also based on some other connection attributes, said "ssingh". The question is which app though as some of us have gone through the popular apps in India but haven't been able to identify which app it is. It is also possible that the code was embedded in some app and that it requests the image but does not display it.

While several people on Twitter pointed out the app may be 'Josh,' there hasn't been any confirmation. One reply to the post mentions the Wikimedia team tracked down the app and confirmed that it was, indeed, a mobile app.  I just wanted to share that we have identified the app and will update this task tomorrow, an investigator said. And yes, it was a mobile app.

The app has not been revealed yet.
Defence Counsel Yankuba Darboe, who is representing Yakumba Jaiteh and Yusupha Jaiteh, who were charged with assault and obstruction, on the 4th February, 2021, told the third prosecution witness that he assaulted Yakumba Jaiteh's brother, who was alleged to have been in possession of cannabis.

Landing Tamba, the witness, was being cross-examined by the defence counsel to challenge, discredit and contradict him before Principal Magistrate Isatou Janneh-Njie of the Kanifing Magistrates' Court.

He was asked when he last saw Yakumba Jaiteh prior to the incident. In response, he told the court that he never saw her before. He was also asked to tell the court how he recognised her. He said through the scrambling and he went to her and showed her his identification card.

"You said that when you arrived, there was pushing and pulling and that both the accused were involved. Can you describe how it was done?" he was asked.

"They both held the hand of Tijan Macauley, Yakumba's brother, and said he will not go," he replied.

"What part of the hand Yakumba and her father were holding?" Counsel Darboe asked.

"I cannot tell," he stated.

"You said despite this was going on, you were able to reach out to Yakumba and showed her your identification card," it was put to him.

"It was during the scrambling I was able to do so," he answered.

He was asked what was Tijan actually doing when the push and pull was ongoing. He told the court that the moment Yakumba and her father held Tijan's hand, Tijan insisted that he was not going. He was asked whether that was the only thing Tijan said, and he answered in the positive. It was put to him that everything he said was a lie. He denied it and said he spoke the truth.

"Where were Tijan's hands?" Counsel Darboe wanted to know.

"His hands were handcuffed at the front," he posited.

"How can someone push and pull when his hands are handcuffed?" he was challenged.

"This is what Tijan did," he stated.

"I put it to you that the cuff would suffocate Tijan if you pull his hands. So what you said is not true," he was told.

"I told the court what happened," he said.

"You said when you got to the scene you heard Yakumba say Tijan is her brother. You also said you recognised her. How did you recognise her voice?"

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"All what Yankumba was saying was in my presence."

"How did you recognise that she was Yakumba?"

"I once saw her walking at the National Assembly."

He was asked what he did after showing Yakumba his identification card. He told the court that he asked for Tijan to be arrested and taken to the police station, and Yakumba complied. He added that Tijan was arrested by force and put in a vehicle.

"How was this minimum force exerted on him?"

"I told Yakumba to allow us to do our work. We were many and Yakumba was standing near the vehicle and would not allow us to arrest Tijan."

It was put to him that they used teargas to disperse the people. He denied it and said that he has never seen teargas, and denied that he assaulted Tijan and said he was under oath.

"When you got to the police station what did you do?"

"I wrote my statement."

At this juncture, he was shown his statement by the defence counsel which he confirmed. Counsel Darboe applied to tender the said statement.

ASP Jahateh, along with Warrant First Class 31 Gibba, who threw their weight behind the IGP, did not object to the tendering of the document. The application was granted and the document was admitted by the court.

"In your statement, you said you found a crowd," it was put to the witness.

"Yes."

"What was this crowd doing?"

"They were pushing and pulling with the officers."

The case was adjourned to today for the fourth prosecution witness to testify.

LONDON and SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Digital Shadows finishes 2020 fiscal year with a record Q4 and 67% growth in new bookings YoY fueled by 5x growth in managed security services provider (MSSP) business which contributed over 20% of new annual recurring revenue for the firm.

As demand for managed security services continue to grow, Digital Shadows expanded its MSSP program to over 30 industry-leading partners around the world including Optiv, SecurityHQ, Encode and more.

CEO Alastair Paterson says, "2020 was a record year for revenue and our service provider partners played a key role in that, adding over 20% of all new growth in the period. MSSPs are at the heart of our growth strategy as many more are looking to add digital risk solutions to their portfolio. We are grateful to work with the best service providers in the industry who are on the cutting edge of providing much needed support to their clients."

Feras Tappuni, CEO, SecurityHQ explains why SearchLight was the right fit for their service offering: "SearchLight is unique in that is only delivers relevant data and actionable threat intelligence. It is an exceptional enterprise grade platform, that gives us both the breadth and depth of what we require. We are remediating issues for our clients before they can have negative consequences."

Ron Darnall, VP and GM of the Fusion Center at Optiv, adds: "Digital Shadows is the kind of partner you want as a managed security provider. If we have a sales opportunity, they are right there with us offering support or clarification on the capabilities of the platform. If we are talking about expanding our services, they are interested and willing to participate in our expansion. Technical leaders in their space, cooperative, supportive, and always willing to jump on a call. The way all partners should be."

Kostas Kolokotronis, Director of Cybersecurity Services and Solutions at Encode adds: "We selected Digital Shadows to be our digital risk protection partner not just because of their strong market position but because the intelligence we get from Digital Shadows is easy to work with and has extremely low noise and false positives. We can act on this information confidently and quickly and we are able to improve our customer offering"

Maria Mastakas, VP of Sales, Americas at Digital Shadows summarizes: "The growth we have seen in our MSSP business is a testament to our exceptional partner community, our unique platform that is easy to work with and fast to deliver value, and the growth in demand we are seeing around the world. 2021 will continue to be a hypergrowth year for our MSSP business and we look forward to expanding our partner community globally."

For more information, or to request to become a Digital Shadows partner, please email [email protected].

ABOUT DIGITAL SHADOWS

Digital Shadows minimizes digital risk by identifying unwanted exposure and protecting against external threats. Organizations can suffer regulatory fines, loss of intellectual property, and reputational damage when digital risk is left unmanaged. Digital Shadows SearchLight helps you minimize these risks by detecting data loss, securing your online brand, and reducing your attack surface. To learn more, visit www.digitalshadows.com .

Media Contact:

Dex Polizzi

Lumina Communications

646-741-8358

[email protected]

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A man was found dead Wednesday afternoon inside a garage at a home in Passaic County, authorities said.

Police and fire officials were called about 5:40 p.m. to a fire inside a detached garage at a house on Segar Avenue in Clifton, according to Passaic County Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes.

Inside the garage, they found the body of a man inside a car, according to Valdes and Clifton Police Chief Thomas Rinaldi. It was not immediately clear whether the man was killed in the fire or died by other means.

The victim has not been identified. No other injuries were reported and the cause of the fire is under investigation, officials said.

Anyone with information is asked to call investigators at 1-877-370-PCPO or email tips@passaiccountynj.org. Clifton police can be reached at 973-470-5900.

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.

Lawmakers on marijuana study committee plan out-of-state site visits

Lawmakers want a firsthand look at legal cannabis operations in response to South Dakotans voting to loosen their state's pot laws last fall.
While the U.S. Senate hears the second impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump, statehouses nationwide are contemplating bills that at first appear unrelated.

More than 160 bills want to infringe on the rights of voters, a goal Trump shared and tried to violate to stay in office.

The bills want to restrict voting rights by limiting mail ballots and early voting periods and strengthening voter identification laws, as well as allow for zealous voter purges.

For Republicans, such restrictions are key to winning future elections. This will be how they approach the decennial redrawing of district lines in Texas to bolster their wins and weaken, or gerrymander, Latino and Black voting power.

In these matters, Republicans arent always obvious. They argue election integrity is at stake, even in the absence of evidence of voter fraud. Though more than 11 million Texans voted in November, the state prosecuted fewer than 20 voter fraud cases, most of them minor.

Democrats have filed more than 500 bills in state legislatures seeking the exact opposite.

Their bills want to expand voting rights by allowing more people to vote by mail, increasing early voting periods, loosening ID requirements and, generally, giving voters more access to the voting booth.

They see such bills as key to winning future elections, too.

Democrats argue that laws have historically suppressed voting, especially in Latino and Black communities.

Georgia voting advocate Stacey Abrams 2020 documentary, All In: The Fight for Democracy, showed that voter suppression dates back to the nations inception.

These bills are related to what happened in Washington just a month ago.

Those who mounted the deadly attack on democracy wanted to stop the lawful certification of electoral college votes.

Against proof, court rulings and revelations by GOP officials themselves, the insurrectionists  and those at home supporting them  believed Trump when he said he won the election by a landslide and that massive voter fraud cheated him of a second term.

For the record, election results showed President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris won by 7 million votes. Biden-Harris received 81.2 million, the most ever cast in U.S. history, while Trump received 74.2 million.

That Trump incited his supporters was vividly captured in a video presented to Senate jurors Tuesday. Several Republican senators reportedly kept their gazes on papers and phones, as if they might remove evidence by not looking at it.

The Brennan Center for Justice, an independent, nonpartisan think tank, published a paper this month showing that 33 state legislatures have introduced bills to restrict voting access, while 37 states have pre-filed, introduced or carried over 541 bills to expand voting.

Republicans have filed the most voter suppression bills in Arizona, Pennsylvania and Georgia, the crucial battleground states that went to Biden and were most in dispute.

The Brennan study says the Republican-led bills are an unmistakable response to the unfounded and dangerous lies that followed the 2020 election.

A Texas bill wants to strip voter registration powers from county clerks and require the secretary of state to send voter registration information to the Department of Public Safety for citizenship verification.

Texas Democrats filed more than 60 bills expanding voting rights, even if passage will be an uphill battle politically, the Brennan report said.

A Washington Post story said that, in state after state, Republicans have responded to election loses not by rethinking candidates and policies, but by trying to make it harder to vote.

Elections have never been just about policy and politics, but about race and not sharing power.

Donald Trump hasnt been subtle about it. In March, he spoke of levels of voting that if youd ever agreed to it, youd never have a Republican elected in this country again.

Then it got really ugly.

Trump pressed former Vice President Mike Pence to throw out millions of ballots. Seeing no other avenue but force, Trump incited a violent mob.

Good public servants have held the line. Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger rejected Trumps demand to find 11,780 votes.

On Wednesday, Georgia delivered a small measure of justice. Prosecutors opened a criminal investigation against Trump for attempts to influence the administration of the 2020 Georgia general election.

So while the Senate may acquit Trump, more than 500 bills will wage new good fights in statehouses across the country.

eayala@express-news.net
Lawmakers on marijuana study committee plan out-of-state site visits

Lawmakers want a firsthand look at legal cannabis operations in response to South Dakotans voting to loosen their state's pot laws last fall.

AS the white pirogue drifted in the waters just off Belle Garden in Tobago early yesterday morning, fishermen working nearby knew something was wrong.

What they saw in the small vessel stunned them.

Fourteen bodies, all of them male, along with a skull and other skeletal remains, were piled inside the vessel as it floated four miles off Belle Garden, police confirmed.

The bodies were all clad in tracksuits and green rain jackets and were severely decomposed, police investigators said.

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The Mets have designated righty Corey Oswalt for assignment, per a team announcement. His roster spot will go to Albert Almora, whose previously reported deal is now official.

Oswalt, 27, has received several MLB opportunities over the past three seasons. All told, he carries a 6.19 ERA with a 16.4% strikeout rate, 7.5% walk rate, and 41.3% groundball rate through 84 1/3 innings of action.

None of those stats jump off the page. Likewise, Oswalt doesnt throw particularly hard and didnt produce gaudy peripherals in the minors. That said, he has produced full-season, sub-3.00 ERA efforts at the Double-A and Triple-A levels and could hold appeal elsewhere as a depth arm.
LAS VEGAS, Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Scenic Las Vegas Weddings, a local wedding destination and photography business, has named the Valley of Fire the most popular outdoor wedding destination for 2020.

Valley of Fire State Park is located just 50 miles from the Vegas Strip. It gets its name from the deep red sandstone formations that seem to materialize up from the ground. These unique rock formations, coupled with the striking desert scenery, combine to make Valley of Fire a truly amazing place to have a wedding.

Valley of Fire is becoming one of the hottest destination wedding location in the world. With its beautiful red sand stone rock formations and desert landscape Valley of Fire offers the opportunity for amazing wedding photography. Your wedding is the beginning of your new future. So start of your new future with an amazing wedding at an unbelievable location like Valley of Fire.

"Couples come to Las Vegas looking to elope or get married all the time," says Scenic Las Vegas Weddings owner Trey Tomsik. "Over the past six months, we've noticed a huge increase in demand for couples wanting to get married in the Valley of Fire. They're looking for something different than the stereotypical Elvis on the strip wedding."

"I think a contributing reason as to why Valley of Fire is so popular is due to people wanting to get married in epic locations," continued Trey. "Valley of Fire offers an out-of-this-world landscape that has to be seen to be believed. Sunset is one of the most requested times of the day to conduct the wedding ceremony in Valley of Fireas the rays of the evening sun light up the rocks as if the entire landscape was on fire."

About Scenic Las Vegas Weddings

Established in 2000, Scenic Las Vegas Weddings is a full-service Las Vegas destination wedding firm that offers couples the chance to get married and have photos taken in one of several iconic Las Vegas outdoor locations. The company was founded by Las Vegas native Trey Tomsik who has a lengthy career as a professional wedding photographer. For more information on Scenic Las Vegas Weddings or to speak to Trey, please visit our website at https://www.sceniclasvegasweddings.com/.

Media contact:

Trey Tomsik

(702) 515-1100

[email protected]

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AUSTIN, Texas, Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- With health experts and elected officials now advocating for better quality masks to curb the pandemic, PPE manufacturer Armbrust American is expanding its line of products to include new PM 2.5+ Filter Inserts, KidSafe Pediatric Masks, and a bulk mask subscription option for small and medium businesses, the company announced today.

U.S. Manufacturer Armbrust American debuts its full line of products, including new KidSafe Pediatric Masks and PM 2.5+ Electrostatic Filter Inserts. Armbrust American's Texas-based medical mask production facility. Photo by Alex Smith.

"The science is clear. The best way to get this pandemic under control is for everyone to start wearing better masks that are actually rated to block particulates as small as the coronavirus," said Founder and CEO Lloyd Armbrust. "Especially with the CDC advocating for children to return to school in person, manufacturing a mask option for kids that has a better fit as well as an option for those who use cloth masks with filter inserts are two big ways we can help get everyone properly protected."

Made from N95 meltblown materials, Armbrust American's new KidSafe Pediatric Masks are sized for children and those with smaller faces. KidSafe masks are also FDA-listed , third-party lab tested at 99% filtration, and available in our signature American Denim Blue as well as Pink. Additionally, our PM 2.5+ Electrostatic Filter Inserts are a must have addition for reusable face coverings. Our Filter Inserts utilize our proprietary Electrostatic Armor Meltblown filter material, able to block most particulate matter 0.1 microns in size. Plus, they have 25x better filtration than Chinese-made PM 2.5 inserts, while also being thinner and using less material.

Finally, customers also now have the option to subscribe for regular shipments of our FDA-listed American Denim Surgical Masks (2,000-count) at a deeply discounted price. Subscribers can also specify how often they'd like to replenish their supply, from monthly to every three months (cancel anytime).

About Armbrust American

Armbrust American's mission is to bring strategic manufacturing back to the U.S. Founded in 2020 by Y-Combinator alumni Lloyd Armbrust, the company currently operates a factory out of Austin, Texas utilizing a proprietary mix of materials and manufacturing innovation to provide the highest quality PPE at a competitive cost. Lloyd was previously the founder and CEO of OwnLocal, a company that automates production for 3,500 newspapers worldwide.

Introduction Video: About Armbrust American (2-min)

For more info, visit: https://www.armbrust.com/

Media Contact:

Tom Cheredar

[email protected]

Ph: (512) 831-4409

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Burma NLD File Charges Against Myanmar Military After Headquarters Raid

Video of the raid on the National League for Democracy headquarters. / Tun Myint / Facebook

Yangon  The National League for Democracy (NLD), which was overthrown by Myanmars military in a coup last Monday, has opened a case against personnel who raided the partys headquarters in Yangons Bahan Township on Tuesday night.

Bahan police accepted the complaint and inspected the crime scene at the partys headquarters in Shwe Gone Daing on Wednesday night.

U Soe Win, who is in charge of the partys headquarters, told the press that military personnel broke down doors to enter, destroyed CCTV cameras and computer servers, and also seized savings passbooks and money from the safe.

We strongly denounce the unlawful act. They raided because they are trying to find fault with the NLD, said U Soe Win.

Around 15 people wearing military and police uniforms and in plainclothes were involved in the raid, according to the NLD.

The party will take legal action after instructions from the partys Central Executive Committee, he said.

Bahan police declined to comment, saying the case is under investigation. NLD leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has been detained by the military since the Feb. 1 coup.

You may also like these stories:

NLDs Self-Declared Parliament Reappoints Daw Aung San Suu Kyi as Myanmars Leader
School nurses help with COVID-19 vaccinesCinde Ingram, he High Point Enterprise, N.C.(TNS) - School nurses are administering COVID-19 vaccines at all of Guilford County's mass vaccination clinics now and can vaccinate teachers and school staff once more stable vaccines are available, according to Dr. Iulia Vann, the county's public health director.The two kinds of COVID-19 vaccines the county received so far are highly sensitive to temperature and can't be moved but once, Vann said Wednesday during a media briefing. New vaccine products may change that, she said. For example, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine requires only one dose and does not need the ultra-cold storage of the first two vaccines, from Pfizer and Moderna. That could be an opportunity going forward with Guilford County Schools and school nurses."They are very aware and experienced in vaccine administration for us to be able to maybe at one point move into vaccine administration in the schools," Vann said. "We have vaccine clinics in the schools at other times when we're talking about school-aged kids that need additional vaccines to make sure that they're meeting the North Carolina requirements. That would not be a new process for us. We do that all the time."The county continues to operate its mass vaccination sites for health care workers and people 65 and older as well as work with long-term care providers to vaccinate people in Groups 1 and 2, said Don Campbell, director of Guilford County Emergency Management."Right now, we have a number of planning scenarios we are working through," he said. "It really depends on when Group 3 is given the green light for us to be able to start."If the county continues to receive 3,000 to 4,000 doses of vaccines per week, a process is in place to work educators and others in Group 3 into existing clinic sites, Campbell said."If we are able to get more doses and it makes sense, we would have the ability to open up a new location to be able to help serve those in Group 3, but really it all depends on how much vaccine is available and what timeframe that process looks like," Campbell said. "We have a number of plans ready to go as we get those additional details from the state."Guilford County had recorded 36,226 cases of COVID-19 as of Tuesday, Vann said. The number of new cases has trended downward slightly from the peak experienced toward the end of December, which probably included cases from the holiday season, she said.The rate of tests of Guilford residents coming back positive over the past 14 days averaged 11.2% on Tuesday, which was slightly lower than the high numbers reported over the past few months that plateaued at 14% for a few consecutive weeks, Vann said.Another metric moving in the right direction was the number of people hospitalized, which decreased slightly to 137 from a high of 275."The one area of concern that we're identifying and have been closely monitoring is our death number. Our deaths are still very high," she said. "As of yesterday, we had 435 community members who have lost their lives to COVID in Guilford County. In the last 40 days since the end of the year 2020, we've added 129 additional deaths."Vann urged people to continue to be mindful of their activities and the places they are going in order to keep themselves, their families and others in the community safe."We are still seeing people who are getting sick, and we're seeing a lot more people actually dying from COVID in the last few weeks," Vann said. "Keep wearing the masks, keep washing your hands, stay 6 feet apart, avoid gatherings, try to stay away if you have any type of symptoms. Even if you have different symptoms, keep in mind the possibility of COVID-19."COVID-19 variants appearing around the world and starting to appear in Guilford County are a cause for concern because it shows the virus has a genetic change and/or mutation, Vann said.cingram@hpenews.com  336-888-3534  @HPEcinde___(c)2021 The High Point Enterprise (High Point, N.C.)Visit The High Point Enterprise (High Point, N.C.) at www.hpenews.comDistributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
TV presenter and fashion designer Brendan Courtney is supporting a drive by Dunnes Stores to raise 150,000 for the Irish Heart Foundation, and is asking the people of Longford to get involved between today and Valentines Day, Sunday.

The retailers four-day campaign has been launched to help the charity, where fundraising efforts have been badly affected by the pandemic.

From Thursday to Sunday this week, Dunnes Stores customers will be invited to add an extra 2 to their shopping bills  donations which will go straight to the Irish Heart Foundation.

Mr Courtney offered his support four years after the death of his father, Frank, following a stroke.

In 2017, he took part in a documentary, We need to talk about Dad, examining the difficulty of organising care for his father, who was unable to look after himself.

This is a cause Im very proud to be associated with, especially given my personal experience with stroke in my family, said Brendan.

Stroke prevention and support are key parts of the Irish Heart Foundations strategy and if people get behind this campaign and donate 2 at the tills, they will be making an enormous, collective contribution to that vital work.

Tim Collins, CEO of the Irish Heart Foundation, said the charity is delighted to have the support of Dunnes Stores as part of its Show Some Heart campaign.

Every year, thousands of people in Ireland are diagnosed with a heart condition or affected by stroke. We want to be there to help and support everyone, but Covid-19 has had a significant impact on our fundraising income, he said.

We hope the public will support our campaign by shopping in Dunnes Stores and making a donation at the till.

The fundraising drive begins today, Thursday, running until close of business at Dunnes Stores in Longford on Valentines Day.

If you miss the chance to donate in person, you can make a contribution at irishheart.ie.

Down hill: A snowboarder slides through the snow down Saliisbury Crags in Edinburgh

A weather warning has been issued for snow and ice in Northern Ireland this weekend.

The Met Office alert is in place from midnight on Saturday through to the early hours of Sunday.

It said: "Snow is likely to spread east during Saturday with some accumulations in places and icy stretches."

A forecaster said: "A band of snow is likely to arrive into Northern Ireland during the early hours of Saturday, then move east into parts of England, Wales and Scotland through the day.

"Not all areas will have snow, but where it does fall 1-4 cm are possible widely, with 5-10 cm, perhaps up to 15 cm over high ground. In addition to snow, some freezing rain may also fall in places, leading to very slippery conditions."

Oil edged lower after capping the longest run of gains in two years, as the IEA cautioned that the recovery in the market is still fragile.

Futures in New York have surged more than 12% over the past eight sessions as crude stages a robust rebound from the depths of the Covid-19 pandemic amid a tightening market. The rapid gain has driven prices to the highest level in a year, but also pushed crudes 14-day relative strength index to its most overbought level in more than 20 years, signaling a correction is due.

But there have been mixed views on the health of the market in recent days. The International Energy Agency cut its estimates for consumption this year and said last year was also weaker than previously thought. Still, Citigroup Inc. predicted the global benchmark Brent will reach $70 a barrel by the end of the year while JPMorgan Chase & Co. called a new supercycle for commodities.

Oils rebound accelerated after Saudi Arabia pledged to deepen output cuts and as prompt timespreads firmed in a bullish backwardation structure, helping to unwind global stockpiles built up during the outbreak. There are still concerns that the virus may curb near-term fuel demand, with Chinas air traffic falling sharply ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday after a resurgence in some areas.

A small pullback would make sense, not least considering the continued cautionary tone from the IEA, said Ole Hansen, head of commodities research at Saxo Bank. Question is whether Brent will find enough correction strength to move back below $60.

While the IEA cautioned over the markets health in the short-term, it also said the outlook for the second half of the year is brighter. Swollen oil inventories will then decline sharply as fuel use picks up. OPEC also said demand for its crude will be higher than previously expected, on a weaker outlook for rival supply and stronger global consumption in the second half.

Were seeing that the outlook for the economy and oil demand in 2021 is looking brighter, despite the near-term weakness because of coronavirus, Toril Bosoni, head of the oil market division at the IEA said in a Bloomberg TV interview. We still have to reduce the overhang on the product stocks that built up.
BUSAN, South Korea, Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- With the recent development of foldable mobile phone screens, research on foldable electronics has never been so intensive. One particularly useful application of the foldable technology is in solar panels.

International research team creates solar cells with unprecedented flexibility and resistance.

Current solar cells are restricted to rigid, flat panels, which are difficult to store in large numbers and integrate into everyday appliances, including phones, windows, vehicles, or indoor devices. But, one problem prevents this formidable technology from breaking through: to be integrated into these items, solar cells need to be foldable, to bend at will repeatedly without breaking. Traditional conducting materials used in solar cells lack flexibility, creating a huge obstacle in developing fully foldable cells.

A key requirement for an efficient foldable conductor is the ability to withstand the pressure of bending within a very small radius while maintaining its integrity and other desirable properties. In short, a thin, flexible, transparent, and resilient conductor material is needed. Professor Il Jeon of Pusan National University, Korea, elaborates, "Unlike merely flexible electronics, foldable devices are subject to much harsher deformations, with folding radii as small as 0.5 mm. This is not possible with conventional ultra-thin glass substrates and metal oxide transparent conductors, which can be made flexible but never fully foldable."

Fortunately, an international team of researchers, including Prof. Jeon, have found a solution, in a study published in Advanced Science. They identified a promising candidate to answer all of these requirements: single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) films, owing to their high transparency and mechanical resilience. The only problem is that SWNTs struggle to adhere to the substrate surface when force is applied (such as bending) and requires chemical doping. To address this problem, the scientists embedded the conducting layer into a polyimide (PI) substrate, filling the void spaces in the nanotubes.

To ensure maximum performance, they also "doped" the resulting material to increase its conductivity. By introducing small impurities (in this case, withdrawn electrons to molybdenum oxide) into the SWNT-PI nanocomposite layer, the energy needed for electrons to move across the structure is much smaller, and hence more charge can be generated for a given amount of current.

Their resulting prototype far exceeded the team's expectations. Only 7 micrometers thick, the composite film exhibited exceptional resistance to bending, almost 80% transparency, and a power conversion efficiency of 15.2%, the most ever achieved in solar cells using carbon nanotube conductors! In fact, as pointed out by Prof. Jeon, "The obtained results are some of the best among those reported thus far for flexible solar cells, both in terms efficiency and mechanical stability."

With this novel breakthrough in solar harvesting technology, one can only imagine what next-generation solar panels will look like.

Reference

Title of original paper: Foldable Perovskite Solar Cells Using Carbon Nanotube-Embedded Ultrathin Polyimide Conductor

Journal: Advanced Science

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202004092

*Corresponding author's email: [email protected]

About Pusan National University

Website: https://www.pusan.ac.kr/eng/Main.do

About Jeon Lab

Website: https://www.jeonlab.com

About the authors

Prof. Il Jeon is a Professor of Chemistry Education and Chemical Materials at Pusan National University, Korea. He completed his undergraduate degree at Oxford University, UK, and received a Ph.D. in Chemistry with honors from the University of Tokyo, Japan.

Media Contact

Young-suk Hwang

+82 51 510-1311

[email protected]

SOURCE Pusan National University

Related Links

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The Plague Cycle

by Charles Kenny (Scribner 20, 320 pp)

In 1962, the Nobel Prize-winning virologist Sir Frank Burnet wrote: 'The most likely forecast about the future of infectious disease is that it will be very dull.'

After outbreaks in the past few decades of bird flu, Ebola, SARS and Covid-19, we know how very wrong he was.

Infectious disease has always been with us and arguably always will be. Charles Kenny's book is a lively survey of our millennia-long struggle to defeat it.

One of the first reliably recorded pandemics was in Athens in the 5th century BC. A thousand years later, Yersinia Pestis, the bacteria that caused the Black Death, paid its first visit to Mediterranean shores. The Byzantine historian Procopius described 'a pestilence, by which the whole human race came near to being annihilated'. It returned to Europe most cruelly in the years 1348-9, when half the population may have died.

Infectious disease has always been with us and arguably always will be. Charles Kenny's book is a lively survey of our millennia-long struggle to defeat it (file image)

Their last days were made terrible by the 'emergence of certain tumours in the groin or armpits, some of which grew as large as a common apple'.

In Avignon, Pope Clement was obliged to consecrate the River Rhone as a burial site. Every morning, hundreds of corpses were flung into it.

Medieval medicine had no answer to the Black Death. As Kenny points out, for most of history, 'medical advice was often worse than useless'. The only thing that worked was isolation. Lepers were herded into lazar-houses and left, literally, to rot. There was little sympathy for a disease thought to be caused by lechery and most likely to strike 'those . . . who look upon a woman lustfully'.

The Plague Cycle by Charles Kenny (Scribner 20, 320 pp)

In the past couple of centuries, we have developed three effective weapons in the battle against infectious disease.

The first is better sanitation. In the 19th century, rapidly expanding cities were filthy breeding grounds for disease. In 1858, the Thames turned 'almost solid' with sewage. Something had to change. Sir Joseph Bazalgette's sewer system, built in the 1860s and much of it still in use, made London a healthier city. The second weapon is antibiotics, discovered in the 1930s.

The third, and probably the most important, is vaccination. In China, in the 16th century, the common method was to blow month-old smallpox scabs up the patient's nose. We can be thankful it was the English physician Edward Jenner's idea of injection which caught on.

Together they have massively strengthened our ability to combat and, in the case of smallpox eradicate, infectious disease.

Covid-19 reminds us only too clearly of the dangers that still exist but, as Charles Kenny argues, these three successes represent one of humanity's greatest triumphs.
Nairobi  Appeal court justices William Ouko and Martha Koome as well as Senior Counsel Fred Ngatia, President Uhuru Kenyattas lead lawyer in the twin 2017 presidential petitions, are among thirteen applicants who have expressed interest in the position of the Chief Justice.

The position which fell vacant on January 11 after former Chief Justice David Maraga exited office on attaining the mandatory retirement age of 70 has attracted two other judges: Justices D.K. Marete, Mathew Nduma and Said Juma Chitembwe.

Others according to a statement issued on Wednesday by the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) are Prof Otinga Mare, Prof Moni Wekesa, Alice Jepkoech Yano, Prof Patricia Mbote, lawyer Philip Murgor, Otondi Ontweka and Brian Matagaro.

Six applicants who sought to be shortlisted for the position of Chief Justice  Justices Ouko, Koome, D.K. Marete, Nduma, Chitembwe, and Yano  also applied for the position of a judge of the Supreme Court which attracted nine applications.

The other two applicants are Justice Kathurima MInoti and Dr Lumumba Nyaberi.

JSC Secretary Anne Amadi who is also the Chief Registrar of the Judiciary said the thirteen applicants who applied for the position of Chief Justice will be shortlisted within 14 days in accordance with the Judicial Service Act.

The Commission will thereafter interview the candidates before recommending a candidate for appointment by the President subject to approval by the National Assembly as provided for under Article 166 (1) of the Constitution.

Article 167 (2) caps the tenure of Chief Justice at ten years but the holder of the office is required to exit office regardless on attaining the mandatory retirement age outlined in Article 167 (1).

Maraga for instance left office after serving for four years, two-and-a-half months.

He handed over the instruments of power to Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu who is holding the position on an acting basis until a substantive Chief Justice is appointed.

In his final remarks, Maraga encouraged judges not to let Kenyans down but to be guided by the rule of law as enshrined in the Constitution.

I want to thank the people of Kenya for your unwavering support for me and for your steadfast support during difficult times as I served you, he said.

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Maraga urged the judges to always stand firm because God and the people of Kenya will defend you.

The former Chief Justice who had a fair share of run-ins with the national executive urged for respect to the constitution while expressing worries over politicians beating the drums of war ahead of the 2022 presidential race.

The JSC currently has a membership of ten which includes two commissioners nominated by the President to represent the public  Prof Olive Mugenda and Felix Kiptarus.

Attorney General Kihara Kariuki and Public Service Commission representative Patrick Gachohi also sit in the JSC.

The others are Acting Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu (Supreme Court representative), Justice Mohamed Warsame (Court of Appeal representative), Justice David Majanja (High Court representative), Evalyne Olwande (Magistrate Court representative), Mercy Deche (Law Society of Kenya representative) and Macharia Njeru (Law Society of Kenya representative).
EUGENE, Ore.-- Lane County Public Health said select pharmacies in the county will each be getting 100 doses of the COVD-19 vaccine next week from the federal government.

This week, the federal government promised 6,500 pharmacies across the country will get doses shipped directly to them. Jason Davis, a spokesman for public health, said these doses will not be counted in the overall number of vaccines allocated to Oregon counties by the Oregon Health Authority. He said he's thankful the federal government is stepping in to help, but there are some logistical challenges.

"It does present a challenge logistically because we need to keep accurate records of who's been vaccinated and who hasn't," Davis said. "Getting the shot in the arm of folks is one thing, then helping us understand where we're at in the vaccination process is another."

Davis said public health is working with pharmacies on using a centralized database to keep track of those who got the vaccine.

He said Health Mart's locations in Lane County will be getting shipments. Costco's pharmacy in Eugene will also be getting 100 doses.

Costco already has a website for members to sign up for their vaccine. The wholesale retailer will offer vaccinations at Eugene, Roseburg, and Albany locations.

Albertsons and Safeway are also expecting shipments to their pharmacies. But the two grocery stores are waiting until they receive a shipment before opening online registration. All 115 locations in Oregon will offer the vaccine.

Davis said the Lane County community should still pre-register for the vaccine to receive updates on when they're eligible. He also said that all pharmacies are following the state vaccination plan so the most vulnerable people can get vaccinated.

The federal government said there are plans to eventually distribute vaccines to 40,000 pharmacies across the United States.

Imogen Anthony is no stranger to stripping down on social media.

And the model, 30, turned up the heat on Wednesday by showing of her toned physique in a completely see-through bodysuit.

She posed on her knees in front of a vintage lounge in a sizzling photo shared with her 180,000 Instagram followers.

Raunchy: Model and influencer Imogen Anthony turned up the heat on Wednesday by showing of her toned physique in a completely see-through bodysuit

Her sheer bodysuit featured snakes across the chest and a black panel over her nether regions, barely concealing her modesty.

She opted for a glamorous makeup look with a radiant base, nude lipstick, bold smokey eyeshadow and lashings of mascara.

Her blonde hair was styled in waves, as two tendrils cascaded down her chest.

A subtle swipe? 'There are too many snakes in the city,' Imogen wrote in the caption, which was perhaps a reference to her ex-partner Kyle Sandilands (right), who returned to Sydney this week after a trip to Port Douglas with his new girlfriend, Tegan Kynaston (left)

'There are too many snakes in the city,' she wrote in the caption, perhaps referring to her reptilian-inspired outfit.

She may also have been alluding to her ex Kyle Sandilands, who returned to Sydney this week after a trip to Port Douglas with his new girlfriend, Tegan Kynaston.

Imogen recently celebrated her 30th birthday at the Magic Mike Live show in Sydney, before going out for drinks with friends.

Rest and relaxation: Kyle, 49, and Tegan, 35, spent the weekend lounging by the pool in Port Douglas, where they recently bought a $1.3million holiday home

In posts shared to Instagram, she looked sensational in a metallic frock with a low-cut front that showed off her cleavage.

Meanwhile, her former partner Kyle, 49, is living the good life with his latest squeeze.

He and Tegan, 35, spent the weekend lounging by the pool in Port Douglas, where they recently bought a $1.3million holiday home.
[February 11, 2021] MIT Sloan study finds thinking style impacts how people use social media

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Social media has become a significant channel for social interactions, political communications, and marketing. However, little is known about the effect of cognitive style on how people engage with social media. A new study by MIT Sloan Research Affiliate Mohsen Mosleh, MIT Sloan School of Management Prof. David Rand, and their collaborators shows that people who engage in more analytical thinking are more discerning in their social media use, sharing news content from more reliable sources and tweeting about more substantial topics like politics. "It's important to understand how people interact on social media and what influences their decisions to share content and follow different accounts. Prior studies have explored the relationship between social media use and personality and demographic measures, but this is the first study to show the connection with cognitive style," says Rand. Mosleh, a professor at the University of Exeter Business School, explains, "In the field of cognitive science, some argue that critical thinking doesn't have much to do with our daily life, but this study shows that it matters  critical thinkers are better able to use social media in meaningful ways, which has become an important part of modern life." In their study, the researchers measure Twitter-users cognitive style using the Cognitive Reflection Test (CRT), which is a set of questions with intuitively compelling but incorrect answers. For example, participants might be asked "If you are running a race and you pass the person in second place, what place are you in? The answer that intuitively comes to mind for many people is "first place," however "second place" is the correct answer. Mosleh points out that there is disagreement in the field of cognitive science about the relative roles of intuition and reflection in people's everyday lives. Some say humans' capacity to reflect is underused, and that critical thinking is mostly used to justify our intuitive judgments. Others maintain that critical thinking does have a meaningful impact on beliefs and behaviors and that it increases accuracy. Their Twitter study confirmed that critical thinking has a significant impact on how users interact on social media. People in the sample who engaged in more cognitive reflection were more discerning in their social media use. They followed more selectively, shared higher quality content from more reliable sources, and tweeted about weightier subjects, particularly politics. The researchers also found evidence of cognitive "echo chambers," says Rand. "More intuitive users tended to follow similar types of accounts, which were notably avoided by more analytical users. They also tended to share content related to scams and sales promotions." He notes, "This study sheds light on how misinformation and scams are spread on social media, suggesting that lack of thinking is an important contributor to undesirable behavior. It also highlights the type of users at risk of falling for scams." As for the importance of cognitive style for everyday behaviors, Rand call this an "important new piece of evidence for the consequences of analytic thinking." Rand and Mosleh are coauthors of "Cognitive reflection correlates with behavior on Twitter," along with MIT Research Associate Antonio Arechar and University of Regina Assistant Professor Gordon Pennycook, which was published in Nature Communications. The MIT Sloan School of Management is w here smart, independent leaders come together to solve problems, create new organizations, and improve the world. Learn more at mitsloan.mit.edu. For further information, contact:







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Michelle Lopez, executive director of the Berkshire Immigrant Center, said the nonprofit has raised and distributed more than $350,000 through its COVID Relief Fund to help meet crucial needs of undocumented families.
TORONTO - The Conservative party's use of CBC news footage in a partisan attack ad and tweets was a copyright infringement damaging to the public broadcaster's integrity and impartiality, Federal Court heard Thursday.

A man is silhouetted walking past a Conservative Party logo before the opening of the party's national convention in Halifax, Thursday, Aug. 23, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darren Calabrese

TORONTO - The Conservative party's use of CBC news footage in a partisan attack ad and tweets was a copyright infringement damaging to the public broadcaster's integrity and impartiality, Federal Court heard Thursday.

In submissions to the court, CBC lawyer Andrea Gonsalves said the federal Conservatives exploited the very qualities that make the CBC a trustworthy source of information.

"The works in issue are the products of CBC's skill and judgment; they reflect its high journalistic standards, practices, efforts and ethics," Gonsalves said. "The use and the unfairness of the use poses a real risk of eroding CBC's trustworthiness and reputation in the eyes of the public."

At issue are a Conservative ad and tweets from the 2019 election that used clips from CBC news programming and other outlets and from the leadership debates. The ad, for example, showed a short clip of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau asking the viewer to "look at what weve done" along with news clips that invited unfavourable conclusions about his performance.

The broadcaster, which maintains the issue is of wider public importance, wants Judge Michael Phelan to find a violation of the Copyright Act. The Conservatives want the case dismissed.

It is the first time a Canadian court has been asked to adjudicate a copyright dispute between a news organization and a major political organization, court heard.

A major problem is that the impugned material ignores the professional efforts that went into getting it to air, Gonsalves said. The Conservatives manipulated the material for their own purposes in a way that did not reflect the original context, she said,

Thats antithetical to the very reason that material was created in the first place, Gonsalves told court. The use of the materials here degrades CBC's journalistic work by deploying it to partisan ends.

Phelan wondered about the widespread use of a famous clip of former prime minister Pierre Trudeau saying "just watch me, when asked about the lengths he would go to to combat Quebec separatist violence.

Gonsalves called this situation different given the amount of work, planning and professional judgment and skill that went into creating the various segments. The Conservatives, she said, deliberately exploited those efforts and the trust people have in the CBC.

For their part, the Conservatives called the action "ill-conceived," saying there was no evidence the CBC suffered any damage.

"There has been no detrimental effect," party lawyer Casey Chisick said.

The snippets of news footage, the party argued, was intended to illustrate the failings of the Liberal government under Justin Trudeau. The ads and tweets did not use a "substantial part" of the CBC's work and qualify as "fair dealing" under the act, Chisick said.

The party, which took the material down after the broadcaster complained, also accused the CBC of displaying the very kind of bias it claims not to espouse.

"What this amounts to is the CBC complaining that it doesnt want to be associated with the Conservative party," Chisick said.

The lawyer noted CBC dropped journalists Rosemary Barton and John Paul Tasker from the litigation after their inclusion in the initial filing sparked a backlash.

This is really an attempt by the CBC to assert moral rights that it doesnt have, Chisick said of the claim.

CBC's lawyers rejected Conservative suggestions the ads qualified as educational or satire.

It isnt Monty Python. Phelan quipped.

The hearing is scheduled to wrap up on Friday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 11, 2021.

Note to readers: This is a corrected story. An earlier version had an incorrect last name for John Paul Tasker.
New Delhi: Mauni Amavasya is being celebrated with great vigor and enthusiasm today. According to Hindu calendar, the month of February is considered auspicious.

As per traditions, a holy dip in sacred rivers is believed to be necessary to get rid of evil deeds. Devotees also keep a fast on this day.

Mauni Amavasya Timings:

Amavasya tithi began at 1:08 AM on Thursday (February 11).

Amavasya will end at 12:35 AM on Friday (February 12).

How people celebrate Mauni Amavasya?

It is known as Mauni Amavasya, because people who celebrate it observe maunvrat that is silence. Both Lord Vishnu and Shiva are worshipped on this occasion.

While many people also donate food, clothing, gold and other items to the needy ones, some worship 'peepal' tree and light 'diya' under it.

Significance of Mauni Amavasya:

Mauni Amavasya is considered one of the most auspicious and biggest events of the year for the Hindus. A large number of devotees gather at the 'sangam ghat' in Prayagraj. Sangam is considered a sacred place, as it's a confluence of three rivers, Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati.

Magh Mela is organized every year by the state government to ensure a smooth celebration of festivity. Big tents are placed around riverbanks for visitors' comfortable stay.

However, this time due to the fear of coronavirus, security personnel have been deployed near the ghat, to avoid mass gathering and crowd. Advisories have been issued to the devotees, who will need to follow the social distancing norms.

Live TV
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 11, 2021) - Major Precious Metals Corp. (CSE: SIZE) (OTC: SIZYF) (FSE: 3EZ) ("Major Precious Metals" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it will be presenting at the Virtual Investor Day III ("VID III") February 17-18, 2021 hosted by IR.INC and FTMIG.

Mr. Paul Teniere, President and CEO will provide an in-depth update on the Company at 4:30 PM EST, February 17, 2021. VID III is a completely interactive experience for feature companies and stakeholders. Feature companies will have 30 minutes to outline their investment opportunity, while stakeholders and the audience will be invited to engage via direct Q&A, polls and other interactive tools after and during each presentation. To register for VID III, please click the link: https://www.bigmarker.com/series/virtual-investor-day-confere2/series_summit.

About Major Precious Metals Corp.

Major Precious Metals is a Canadian junior mining and exploration company based in Vancouver, BC that owns a diversified portfolio of exploration properties within some of the most promising precious and base metal deposits worldwide. Major Precious Metals is also engaged in the business of acquiring and exploring precious metal projects near or adjacent to existing mining operations controlled by well-established mining companies. Major Precious Metals is listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE") and its common shares trade under the ticker symbol "SIZE." Additional information relating to Major Precious Metals is available at www.majorprecious.com and SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

About IR.INC

IR.INC Capital Markets Advisory & Services works with its clients to develop and deploy strategic plans and build industry alliances while providing shareholder introductions and solutions. The Company also provides a number of traditional Investor Relations Services. You can find out more about IR.INC here www.irinc.ca.

About FTMIG

Follow the Money Investor Group is a financial portal that provides content and information needed to navigate the ever-changing capital markets. Our global community of visitors and investors are able to use our platform to discuss and collaborate daily on all facets of their current and potential investments. Our goal is to help retail investors make the right financial decisions that fit their individual needs. You can find out more about FTMIG here www.ftmig.com.

Disclaimer

Follow the Money Investor ("FTMIG") is an online investor community that connects investors and public companies. Both FTMIG and IR.INC are not registered as a broker, dealer, exempt market dealer, or any other registrant in any securities regulatory jurisdiction and will not be performing any registerable activity as defined by the applicable regulatory bodies.

Both FTMIG and IR.INC and their affiliates do not endorse or recommend any securities issued by any companies identified on, or linked through, this conference. Please seek professional advice to evaluate specific securities or other content discussed during this event. Links, if any, to third party sites are for informational purposes only, and not for trading purposes. FTMIG and IR.INC. and their affiliates have not prepared, reviewed or updated any content on third party sites and assume no responsibility for the information posted on them.

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To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/74143

Willie B. Smith III remains alive on death row in Alabama, after the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a ruling that required Smiths spiritual advisor to be in the execution chamber with Smith when he was given the lethal injection.

The ruling came down around 11:08 p.m. Thursday night, with the Alabama Department of Corrections calling off the execution one minute later.

In the concurring ruling, Justice Elena Kagan said that the law guarantees Smith the right to practice his faith free from unnecessary interference.

The Eleventh Circuit was right to bar Alabama from executing Smith without his pastor by his side, Kagan said. Nowhere, as far as I can tell, has the presence of a clergy member (whether state-appointed or independent) disturbed an execution.

Kagan along with Justice Stephen Breyer, Justice Sonia Sotomayor and Justice Amy Coney Barrett all denied the Alabama Attorney Generals Offices motion to overturn a lower court ruling requiring Smiths spiritual advisor to be in the execution chamber.

Justice Brett Kavanaugh along with Justice John Roberts, wrote the dissenting opinion.

Smiths other claim as to why the execution should be called off centered on what his lawyers called an intellectual disability. While the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals granted a stay based on that claim Wednesday night, the U.S. Supreme Court lifted that stay around 11 p.m. Thursday.

Smith, 51, was originally set to die by lethal injection at 6 p.m. inside of William C. Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore. Smith refused both breakfast and his last meal, according to Samantha Rose, Public Information Specialist for the Alabama Department of Corrections.

His breakfast consisted of eggs, grits, prunes, apple jelly, wheat toast and an orange drink. His last meal consisted of two chicken leg quarters, fries, kidney beans, sweet potatoes, two oranges and a grape drink.

Despite the meal refusals, Rose said Smith did eat a bag of potato chips and had one Coke to drink during his visitation. He made no special requests.

On Feb. 10, Smith was visited by his wife, mother, stepfather, sister, brother-in-law, two nephews, an investigator with the Federal Defenders Office and his attorney. He also took calls from his wife, mother and two different attorneys.

On Feb. 11, his wife, mother, stepfather, sister, and investigator returned for a visit. He did not take any calls.

Smith was sentenced to death in 1992 for the Oct. 1991 abduction, robbery and murder of Sharma Ruth Johnson. Johnsons body was found in the trunk of her burned car with a shotgun wound to her head, after being shot execution style at a east Birmingham cemetery.

History of Smiths legal filings

The most recent history of Smiths legal filings (following his initial conviction and appeals) began on Jan. 27. Then, Smiths lawyers argued to the Alabama Supreme Court that his execution should be stayed because the amount of people gathered at the prisons execution could cause a COVID-19 super-spreader event. The AGs Office responded by filing the Alabama Department of Corrections COVID-19 procedures for the execution.

Some of those procedures included:

Requiring visitors to wear both a face mask and a face shield while visiting the prison.

Visitors maintaining six feet of distance between themselves and Smith while visiting.

Visitors undergoing temperature checks and rapid COVID-19 tests.

Five days later, on Feb. 1, the Alabama Supreme Court denied Smiths motion. The ADOC would later announce that they would allow contact visitation during execution week for Smith, among other things.

Smiths attorneys with the Federal Defenders for the Middle District of Alabama filed a lawsuit seeking a stay of execution, in federal court on Feb. 3. In the lawsuit, Smiths lawyers cite a number of reasons the execution should not take place, most of which are due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Part of their concern centered around the requirement of Smith to wear personal protective equipment when he was put to death, which his lawyers argued could affect the ADOCs consciousness check. The consciousness check is a standard protocol for the ADOC during executions, and involves a corrections officer flick an inmates eye, pinch his arm, and yell his name after the first drug-- designed to render the inmate unconscious-- is administered.

The Alabama Attorney Generals Office replied to the motion the next day, saying Smith did not have to wear PPE during the execution. Officials performing the consciousness check will also be allowed to remove their PPE temporarily, according to the AGs office.

In the federal court documents filed on Feb. 7, Smiths attorneys argued the changes the ADOC made in response to an earlier complaint and emergency motion to stay the execution still violated Smiths rights.

On Wednesday night, the U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals granted Smith a stay of execution based on his claim of intellectual disability. The stay was to be in place for several days, according to the order, so the court could review the merits of the claim. According to the 11th Circuits ruling, Smith was granted a stay of execution until Feb. 16 at 5 p.m. EST.

The same night, the federal appeals court granted another win to Smiths legal team when they reversed a lower courts ruling that barred Smith from having his spiritual advisor in the execution chamber when he is put to death. An ADOC policy enacted in April 2019 doesnt allow an inmate to have any religious representative in the execution chamber.

The AGs Office appealed both the 11th Circuit Court orders to the U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday morning. The courts final orders on the case came hours later.

Lawyers from the firm Arnold & Porter also represented Smith in the religious liberties lawsuit.
Extreme Lockdown Measures Continue in Chinas Epidemic Hotspot

The risk level of Nangong city, one of the COVID-19 epidemic hotspots in Chinas Hebei Province, has been lowered on Feb. 8. However, the extreme lockdown measures continue to be implemented, and residents struggle to cope with the situation.

The Epoch Times learned from Nangong residents that every household has been under lockdown, and the latest government notice says the measures will continue till the end of the month. This means that residents will spend Chinese New Year, which begins on Feb.12, confined at home.

A city-wide mass COVID-19 testing was conducted on Feb. 6, which is the 10th nucleic acid test that all Nangong residents have taken, according to Chinese media outlets.

Family With a Newborn Struggling in Lockdown

The father of a newborn in Nangong shared his familys ordeal under lockdown in the past month with The Epoch Times.

After the total lockdown in the city started last month, Chen Yu (alias)s wife was in labor. He said, At the end of January, Nangong was a high-risk area. The hospitals in the city were closed, except the Health Center for Women and Children and the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital. However, the health center wouldnt admit my wife because there was a suspected case in our area, despite telling them that my wife was about to give birth!

Chen said that after he called many levels of government from the local city hotline such as Xingtai city (Nantong is a county level city under the jurisdiction of Xingtai), Shijiazhuang city (provincial capital), and Hebei provincial government, his wife was eventually admitted into one hospital and gave birth to a child by caesarean section.

Then, when they got home from the hospital, it was difficult to get infant formula while being confined at home. Chen said, Because my wife did not have breast milk, we had to call the official whos in charge of the lockdown of our area and ask him to help buy baby formula. He couldnt help me and he said that `the city government (website) does not have this item on it and I cannot get it for you.

On Feb. 5, Chens newborn baby fell ill with diarrhea. He said, I tried to go out and buy some medicine for my baby, but I was not allowed to do it. As soon as I went out, the Xingtai Special Police caught me. Then I went to the community office to get an official permission letter to go out. But I was only able to take the baby out of our communitys checkpoint and was stopped by authorities at another checkpoint. I made calls to government hotlines for help but it was no use. In the end, I had to make a scene at the checkpoint, and they eventually let us pass to go to the Health Center for Women and Children to get prescription and medicine for my baby.

Chen said that his wife is still recovering and needs nutritious food, but the rationed food provided by the government is bad quality and very expensive, Some vegetables are rotten, the onions already turned black and some of the meat are spoiled.

Screenshot of a social media post of rationed vegetables provided by the Nangong government to residents. (Provided to The Epoch Times by interviewee)

Chen said that to put it bluntly, the government is now lazy and takes no action. They (Chinese officials) just want to keep their positions, and dont care if people die. They dont care how people survive. Their slogan for joining the [Communist] Party is serving the people, but they are not serving the people at all. Legally speaking, they cannot do it [impose the lockdown], restricting the personal freedom of the people. 

Government Employee Sealed Off Inside Mobile Cabin Hospital

Mr. Sun is a government worker in Nangong city. He told The Epoch Times that he was assigned to carry out nucleic acid tests on residents in the Feifeng community where infected cases were reported. Afterwards, he was sent to a mobile cabin hospital for quarantine on Feb.1, despite the fact that he was not infected nor had contact with someone who tested positive for the CCP virus, commonly known as novel coronavirus.

Inside an isolation room in a mobile cabin hospital in Nangong. (Provided to The Epoch Times by interviewee)

He complained that the toilet, sink and bed are in a small room without any partition. No bathing or showering is allowed. The door of each room is shut with a seal and there are guards who monitor the seal. Only the staff removes the seals when delivering the meals and puts them back on after the delivery.

Sealed doors inside a mobile cabin hospital in Nangong. (Provided to The Epoch Times by interviewee)

Sun revealed that there are very few staff in the mobile hospital, however, there are more than 2,600 rooms, all of which have been occupied. People who are quarantined there have to take a nucleic acid test everyday or every two days, according to Sun.

The Epoch Times also obtained a video showing staff working inside of the mobile hospital.



In early February, The Epoch Times exclusively obtained internal documents of the Hebei government that showed that Nangong city began to implement strict lockdown measures on Jan. 16. All the residents are locked inside their residential communities, quarantined at home, and not allowed to go out. All essential workers have to eat at and stay in their work units and they are prohibited from returning home during the lockdown period. Some people were not allowed to go to the hospital for treatment for serious illnesses such as cancer, heart disease, kidney failure, and died at home.

Hu Yuanzhen, Gu Xiaohua and Zhang Yujie contributed to this report.
Electronic goods firm Panasonic India today announced the expansion of its Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) enabled connected-living platform Miraie. It launched connected refrigerator, washing machine, Wi-Fi fan, ROMA smart digital switches and smart Wi-Fi controller plugs and switches on the platform.

The new range of Miraie appliances will be available across Panasonic brand shops, large format retail outlets and online platforms from next week onwards.

These new models are an addition to the first generation of Miraie connected products including connected Air Conditioners (AC), smart door phones, Zigbee plugs & switches, which were introduced in 2020.

Dinesh Aggarwal, Joint Managing Director, Panasonic Life Solutions India told Moneycontrol that there is a rise in demand for smart and connected appliances.

"We are aligned with commercial and residential developers. So we can understand everyones needs. With these solutions one can really control their devices from anywhere. You could switch on your washing machine using your mobile phone or keep the heater ready at a particular temperature," he added.

Panasonic Life Solutions, which is an arm of Panasonic, sells products like switchgear, wires and lighting solutions and is also developing products for the home automation segment.

Aggarwal said that the idea was to bring in more appliances to this IoT/AI platform. The smart solutions are not just restricted to Panasonic appliances and can be used by other brand customers as well.

"If you have an AC of any other brand at home, you can buy a smart plug and connect it. So this makes the AC smart. We dont want to restrict it to only Panasonic products and will make it brand agnostic. We are already inviting other manufacturers to join the Miraie platform," he added.

The price difference between a regular appliances and connected appliances would be less than 10 percent, according to him.

In India, home automation market is estimated to be at $1.5 billion in India, with an annual growth of 30 percent. Home automation refers to usage of wiring/switch solutions to ensure a connected appliances at home.

Aggarwal explained that they are working on three large apartment projects across India and also a hotel in Lucknow to offer these home automation smart solutions.

Going forward, Aggarwal said that the idea is to democratise the home automation solutions so that price is not a factor dissuading customers from purchasing these products.

"Today, the minimum budget required for home automation is Rs 2.5 lakh to 10 lakh. We want to offer home-automation solutions with a starting price of Rs 19,999," he added.

Panasonics new range of IoT-enabled appliances come with features like notification alerts of wash cycle basis weather conditions to setting customised wash programs as favourites in washing machine. There will be diagnosis mode in refrigerators to get updates of the refrigerator door, freezer door.

The Miraie platform can be operated via voice assistants such as Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for more flexibility in operations.
MMA-fighter-turned-actress Gina Carano has fallen under fire for an Instagram story she posted on Tuesday night.

Carano, who currently stars in The Mandalorian on Disney+, posted a story in which she compared peoples hatred for members of different political parties to Nazi Germanys hatred of Jews.

Jews were beaten in the streets, not by Nazi soldiers but by their neighborseven by children, the post reads. Because history is edited, most people dont realize that to get to the point where Nazi soldiers could easily round up thousands of Jews, the government first made their own neighbors hate them simply for being Jews. How is that any different from hating someone for their political views?

Variety reports how, after removing the post in response to the backlash, Carano posted follow-up stories including one which stated, Expecting everyone you encounter to agree with every belief or view you hold is ****ing wild.

Those on social media took to Twitter on Wednesday to flood the platform with the hashtag #FireGinaCarano. This is not the first time Twitter has come out against Carano, as she has previously caused controversy in other instances including when she listed her gender pronouns as boop/bop/beep, something people regarded as a mockery of the trans community.

Yahoo! News notes that Carano later apologized for this incident. I didnt know [why people put pronouns in their bios], but I do now, Carano explained. I wont be putting them in my bio but good for all of you who choose to.

Carano and her representatives have yet to respond to the backlash.
A state administrative law judge has reinstated the certifications of two emergency medical technicians accused last year of striking a patient in the back of an ambulance in Jersey City.

And in doing so, New Jersey Administrative Law Judge Gail M. Cookson had harsh words for the states Office of Emergency Medical Services (EMS), which suspended the licenses of James Piro and John Bonvenca last fall for the alleged July 4, 2020 incident.

In her opinion, Cookson wrote that the EMS office, in the state Department of Health, acted with a serious lack of due process in the case, and ordered Piro and Bonvencas certifications reinstated pending a final hearing.

The judge also said the states investigation into the incident so far has been lacking and one of anonymous and double layers of hearsay when Piros and Bonvencas careers and ability to earn a living are on the line.

The state Health department did not immediately return a message seeking comment.

Last year, Piro and Bonvenca were EMTs with RWJBarnabas Health, which contracts with Jersey City to provide emergency medical services.

On July 4, they responded with others to back up another ambulance crew that was treating a combative patient, and had pulled over on the side of the road near Grand Street and Fairmount Avenue.

The state EMS office alleged in letters to Piro and Bonvenca that they assaulted the patient by striking him several times, lied and portrayed themselves as assault victims in their reporting on the matter, and then admitted their untruthful actions to their employer.

RWJBarnabas fired them, and the state suspended their certifications in October. (A third EMT present at the incident also had his certification suspended, but was not part of this action.)

Piro and Bonvenca have said through their lawyer, Peter LaGreca, they were indeed the victims, attacked by the patient when they arrived to help a fellow crew. They filed emergency legal action relief to get their state licenses back, and filed a lawsuit against RWJBarnabas.

LaGreca said Wednesday the administrative law decision speaks for itself.

In it, the judge says the state EMS office, added nothing to the investigation of the July 4 incident except to read and summarize an unauthored report forwarded to the state by RWJBarnabas officials.

The judge, Cookson, found no indication Piro and Bonvenca were given any opportunity to respond to the allegations before their licenses were suspended, and the evidence before her shows zero indication the state has undertaken anything since to complete an investigation.

The EMS office has not submitted a single certification or affidavit of anyone with personal knowledge of the July 4 incident to the administrative law court, nor the RWJBarnabas reporting on their investigation of the incident. And key details, like the RWJBarnabas investigators name, incident reports, as well as times, dates and other notes and details are missing or light on details, the judge wrote.

RWJBarnabas also did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The judge, Cookson, said in the decision: I do not condone in any form or forum the striking of a patient under ones care; but it is not disputed that this was an isolated incident, if it occurred at all, and not a pattern of [Piros and Bonvencas] tenure or the case of repeated abuse of an elderly or vulnerable person from a regular caregiver.

The interest and safety of the public must be paramount, and a single incident may warrant a suspension, Cookson wrote.

Nevertheless, there is also a public interest in government providing due process to its citizens before depriving them of property rights, such as [EMS certifications]...While there have been assertions of patient abuse, as stated above, at this juncture, it is entirely based on hearsay, double hearsay, and the work of anonymous investigators.

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Kevin Shea may be reached at kshea@njadvancemedia.com
Russian-occupation forces violated the ceasefire seven times over the past day, one Ukrainian soldier was wounded by a gunshot, the press center of the Joint Force Operation (JFO) has said.

"Over the past day, on February 10, seven ceasefire violations were recorded in the area of the Joint Force Operation. In the area of responsibility of the Skhid (East) task force, near Pisky, Russian-occupation forces opened targeted fire from small arms and sniper weapons. As a result, the Ukrainian soldier was wounded by a gunshot. The serviceman was promptly taken to a hospital where he is provided with the necessary medical care. The health condition of the wounded is satisfactory," the JFO headquarters said on Facebook on Thursday morning.

The JFO headquarters said that in the area of responsibility of the Pivnich (North) task force, near Pivdenne, Russian-occupation forces fired from an automatic heavy-duty grenade launcher. Near the settlement of Zolote-4, an unmanned aerial vehicle was used, which fired two VOG-17 shots at the JFO positions.

"The Ukrainian defenders provided an adequate response to the targeted shelling of the armed formations of the Russian Federation," the JFO headquarters said.

The OSCE representatives were notified of the facts of ceasefire violation through the Ukrainian side in the JCCC.

"Since the beginning of the current day, February 11, no violations of the ceasefire have been recorded," the JFO headquarters said.

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The weekend blizzard was coming fast, and though the flurries were already swirling through the South Philadelphia streets, I could not be deterred from my next stop for essential provisions: Hermans Coffee.

Yes, Hermans roasts some excellent beans and stocks a bars worth of various cocktail mixers, fine chocolates, local cheeses, and an entire rack of 80 hot sauces for that cold weather stewpot of chili. But I was really coming for the ultimate commodity to survive a storm in good taste: tinned fish.

And I dont mean Bumble Bee (my wifes preferred brand for her very excellent tuna salad). Im talking about charcoal-grilled sardine loins from Asturias, butter-poached Canadian lobster, meaty Spanish razor clams, tender morsels of Portuguese octopus, and Brittany sardines packed with Guerande sea salt in French butter that turns to liquid gold when you warm the tin in the oven (or by the campfire).

I wish people appreciated tinned fish more, mused Hermans owner Mat Falco. Just put it on a nice cracker with a little hot sauce. But if the fish doesnt sell right away, its not the worst problem.

That was what Falco told me in October, after hed converted his 24-seat Pennsport cafe into a gourmet grocery and was banking on the durable shelf life of tinned fish and the pandemics stay-at-home cooking push to boost his prospects. At that point, he had 47 varieties, likely the largest in the area.

In the four months since, Falco has transformed Hermans into a true paradise of seafood conservas, with over 150 cans from around the globe  and counting. And Phillys tinned-fish devotees approve, encouraging Falcos initiative with leads on coveted new cans to acquire.

We got him obsessed, said Shola Olunloyo, the Philadelphia chef behind Studiokitchen, whose love of tinned fish dates to his schoolboy days in Nigeria, when hed spread canned mackerel with tomatoes and butter on soft agege bread daily for lunch. I like salty fish and it was just one of those delicious things.

 READ MORE: Where to buy and taste the best tinned fish in Philly

The childhood connection is similar for Olunloyos chef friend, Bruno LeMieux-Ruibal, a Spaniard who was delighted to discover his old favorite coffee shop had become a source for delights from his native Galicia, the cradle of tinned fish.

Ocean flavor, preserved

Im going for the cheap ones, unfortunately, because Im unemployed. But [Hermans] has some wonderful things for $6, like a can of imitation baby eels, said LeMieux-Ruibal, who was laid off from a catering company because of the pandemic. I havent had real baby eels since I was a child. But now that Mat has those, too, I had to try. ... What a treat [for $42]! They have this freshness and a very particular murky-water, bottom-of-the-river taste. And you can see their little eyes. ... Hope you get to try them! ... I spend a lot of money [at Hermans]. Its bad.

Perhaps not so bad after all, as LeMieux-Ruibal is now set to cook a pop-up Spanish tapas gig on March 12 at Hermans food cart using the stores canned fish collection as inspiration. And it will surely be bigger by then.

Wow, [Hermans selection] looks like the shelf at my store! said Matt Caputo, owner of the Salt Lake City retailer Caputos and importer A Priori, one of the categorys major national wholesalers, who distributes many of the most coveted tinned seafood products from Europe, including brands like Spains Espinaler and Conservas Ortiz, Les Mouettes dArvor from France, and Portugals Jose Gourmet.

Interest in such premium artisanal canned seafood brands has spiked nationally in recent years, Caputo says, and is continuing to rise during the pandemic even after other staples that saw the early rush due to food disruptions (like flour) eventually level off.

There has just been an explosion of different products onto the market in the last two years, says Caputo, who frequently gives seminars on the finer points of tinned fish.

Several of those brands are rooted in venerable cannery traditions, while other relatively new players, like Patagonia, the outdoor clothing and gear manufacturer that entered the tinned seafood market in 2008, as well as Canadas Scout, showcase sustainability missions and charitable initiatives to appeal to a younger, environmentally aware demographic. Its a challenge, according to Mintel analyst Dasha Shor, who says most Gen Zers and millennials consider tinned fish to be boring and Americans in general are more than twice as likely to buy frozen fish.

Educating the public on the virtues of these artisanal products may be the key. Theres a huge difference in quality between these seafood conservas and the 99-cent cans of mass-produced fish commonly found in most supermarkets, says Caputo, from the quality and sustainable sourcing of the seafood to the processing, packaging, and prices.

A buttery, rich, and dauntingly expensive slice of ventresca tuna belly from Ortiz, one of the early pioneers in the U.S. market, has been a gateway bite for many fancy-fish first-timers  including Caputo 15 years ago.

I found out that what I had grown accustomed to [with tuna] was essentially what the modern-day food industry had done to something to make it cheap, he said. Americans tend to think of canned fish as a convenient substitute for something fresh thats better. But Europeans see the same transformation [of processing] high-quality tinned seafood as they do when they take a leg of pork and turn it into prosciutto. The value has actually been increased.

Hermans is hardly the only Philadelphia venue to showcase them. Di Bruno Bros. and Claudios have long been major sources for quality canned seafood. Riverwards Produce in Fishtown sells over 35 varieties, including a vintage-style tin of La Molenaise sardines from Les Mouettes dArvor in France that owner Vincent Finazzo prizes for its beautiful packaging.

Artwork in can

Its like buying a tiny piece of artwork, he said. And when you get them home and open it, these fillets are so neatly packed in olive oil and theyre gorgeous.

Beverage-focused restaurants have seen the appeal, as well. Bloomsday Cafe sells tinned-fish platters to go with its trove of natural and fortified wines.

Jennifer Sabatino, manager of Manatawny Still Works tasting room on East Passyunk, found that tinned fish not only offered an appealing food solution for a space with a limited kitchen and staffing, but also had bold enough flavors to pair well with the assertive character of the distillerys spirits.

From that first tin of sardines, I was hooked, says Sabatino, who serves Jose Gourmets fish with Grandma Utz potato chips (because lard) and chimichurri. She also pairs the distillerys mezcal barrel-aged whiskey with smoked mussels from Patagonia Provisions or briny Espinaler razor clams.

For Zach Morris, whose Bloomsday Cafe has 30 varieties for sale in its bottle shop, ranging from the relatively affordable Porthos line of sardines at under $10 per can to a quarter pound of tuna necks char-grilled over oak at Conservas Braseadas Gueyu Mar in Asturias for $46, tinned fish has become another means of substitute travel during the pandemic.

My heart is in Catalunya, says Morris, who usually visits Spain annually. And Gueyu Mar is magical. Their sardines are the freshest sardines Ive ever had. The notion of fish so fresh thats preserved captures a moment in time and takes me to a place I want to be.

There are some exceptional examples of canned seafood from North America, but according to Caputo, the continent has few artisans left due to consolidation. The alder-smoked king salmon from Wildlfish Cannery in Alaska was hauntingly good from the moment I opened the can, took a whiff of its smokehouse, and spread the brick-colored flakes across a bagel. I was also pleasantly surprised by the little tin of lobster from Scout Canning, whose knuckle meat was tender enough, but also came inside a deep orange pool of lobster butter that was ready made to enrich a serving of pasta. Or, more creatively, a lobster-flavored mayo for lobster bao, like the ones that Di Brunos e-commerce manager Rocco Rainone made for New Years Eve.

Ultimately, good tinned seafood is a ready-made snack with little more than a stack of crackers and a wedge of lemon needed. But simple preparations like pasta are also easily enhanced with a can of razor clams and their brine, sardines, or a few fillets of anchovies melted into hot oil.

And, as Olunloyo notes, high-quality tinned seafood doesnt have to be expensive. Two of his favorites  Sapori di Mares grilled fillets of branzino and salmon  cost $6.99 a can at Claudios, which imports them: Just put them on toast and theyre fantastic.

Olunloyo, now an avid tinned-fish collector who has brought back as many as 30 cans a trip from his travels, does not limit his local search to Western European sources. Maido! in Ardmore offers Japanese canned fish like soy-marinated pike mackerel. Lately, Olunloyo has been searching the Russian markets of Northeast Philly to find the canned Serbian cod liver that he likened to an oceanic foie gras: I mixed the cod liver with butter and make a maitre d butter for steak-frites. So good.

Olunloyos tinned fish hookup in Philly, Falco, is also intrigued: Oh ... cod liver?! Im definitely going to look that up.

Madison County residents now can text to 911, thanks to a new service.

The Huntsville-Madison County 911 Center announced the move in conjunction with the Alabama 911 Board and its network provider, INdigital. It is available to those who have cellular service with Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, SouthernLINC or Sprint.

Authorities say text-to-911 should be considered a secondary option only to dialing 911 from a cellular or landline phone. It should only be used:

When calling 911 is not possible, such as with a caller who is deaf, hearing or speech impaired.

If a caller is otherwise unable to speak, because of a medical condition, such as a stroke.

If speaking would be unsafe, as during an abduction, incidents of domestic violence or home invasion.

This service also allows Huntsville-Madison County 911 to respond to text messages, to not only confirm if an emergency response is needed but to also confirm whether or not an accidental call to 911 was made.

Frances Smallwood, president and founder of Deaf Access, Inc., said the move is a gamechanger for the deaf community.

Those who are deaf or hard of hearing struggle with things that we often take for granted, Smallwood said, having direct and easy access to emergency personnel when it could be a matter of life or death is paramount, and something that can potentially save lives.

For more information about the Huntsville-Madison County 9-1-1 Center, visit the website.
Fujitsu has just introduced the upgraded LIFEBOOK commercial notebook designed in line with today's working styles. The new FUJITSU Notebook LIFEBOOK U9, U7 and E5 series feature up to the 11th generation Intel Core i7 vPro processors and a host of all-round enhancements.

Super-lightweight design redefines no-compromise working

The new-generation Fujitsu LIFEBOOK U9311 is built to focus on the new normality for busy executives. With up to the 11th generation Intel Core i7 vPro processor and even smaller, more powerful, and lighter than before -- weighing just from 756 grams -- the new flagship model of LIFEBOOK range redefines no-compromise working. Also introducing the featherlight LIFEBOOK U9311X convertible, with the generous 13.3" FHD touchscreen, AES pen with WACOM technology, rear camera and full set of interfaces, it is your best companion in remote workplace.

Real-world improvements match today's working styles

Available in a range of popular sizes, the LIFEBOOK U7 introduces a near-frameless display on 14" and 15.6" models. They are thinner and up to 15% smaller than previous generation. This slimline look, combined with a warm silver color, gives the new models a strong visual presence. The LIFEBOOKs are good lookers in a near-frameless screen design and Intel IRIS Xe graphics that gives stunning graphics with an immersive experience for graphics-intensive applications.

Built for videoconferencing: A built-in HD camera can be closed with an ultra-tiny privacy camera shutter, and an electronic ePrivacy filter narrows the readable angle of the screen. It gives the best-ever audio for LIFEBOOK from the dual array microphone featured with noise cancellation technology.

A built-in HD camera can be closed with an ultra-tiny privacy camera shutter, and an electronic ePrivacy filter narrows the readable angle of the screen. It gives the best-ever audio for LIFEBOOK from the dual array microphone featured with noise cancellation technology. Secure by design: New LIFEBOOK models integrate Windows Hello, while Fujitsu's contactless PalmSecure biometric authentication provides the highest security and hygience standard. The series feature Intel Hardware Shield, available exclusively on the Intel vPro platform, that provides comprehensive hardware-based security for business, including below-the-OS-security protection, application and data security protection, and advanced threat detection.

New LIFEBOOK models integrate Windows Hello, while Fujitsu's contactless PalmSecure biometric authentication provides the highest security and hygience standard. The series feature Intel Hardware Shield, available exclusively on the Intel vPro platform, that provides comprehensive hardware-based security for business, including below-the-OS-security protection, application and data security protection, and advanced threat detection. The best connectivity: The latest LIFEBOOK series offers best-in-class connectivity with full sized LAN, HDMI, USB-A and Thunderbolt 4 ports for charging, speedy file transfer and connect to display in one cable. The new 65Wh four-cell battery6 brings superb battery performance which enables a full working day of cable-free runtime.

Powerful business platform -- LIFEBOOK E5

Fujitsu also introduces the new generation LIFEBOOK E5 series, featuring robust chassis and all-round security functions including Fujitsu PalmSecure Sensor, built-in smartcard reader, discrete TPM and privacy camera shutter. Legacy features such as service door for convenient self-upgrade and full size interfaces will be continuously supported in this new generation.

Pricing and availability

Availability of the new LIFEBOOK varies across countries and region. Prices vary by country and configuration.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 11)  President Rodrigo Duterte will be the one to tell the public what vaccine he will take, but his preference for a Chinese brand still stands, according to Malacanang.

During an online briefing on Thursday, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said Duterte had already decided on which drug maker to tap.

"I know of the decision of the President. I can say that the President's decision is consistent, he prefers Chinese but I'm not at liberty to make public that decision," Roque said.

"The President himself will make that pronouncement himself," he added.

Earlier this week, Malacanang said Duterte's physician will be the one to decide for him, amid the expected arrival of Western vaccines in the Philippines this month.

The first 117,000 doses that will arrive in the country will come from the vaccine developed jointly by US drugmaker Pfizer and German firm BioNTech. The shipment will come from the COVAX facility, a global platform led by the World Health Organization that aims to ensure fair and equitable access to vaccines. They are supposed to be delivered as early as next week.

However, National Action Plan Against COVID-19 Deputy Chief Implementer Vince Dizon said in the same briefing that there has been some delay in the processing of the papers for the Pfizer vaccines.

Roque said China will give the Philippines a total of 600,000 doses of Sinovac vaccines by February 23, while the arrival of the Pfizer vaccines remain unclear.

British television channel BBC World News has been barred from airing in China, the National Radio and Television Administration said on Friday, a week after Britain's media regulator revoked Chinese state television's broadcast licence.

In a statement issued on the stroke of the Lunar New Year, the administration said an investigation found BBC World News' China-related reports had "seriously violated" regulations, including that news should be "truthful and fair," had harmed China's national interests and undermined national unity.

The channel therefore does not meet requirements for foreign channels broadcasting in China and its application to air for another year will not be accepted, it added.

The BBC did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

On Feb. 4, British media regulator Ofcom revoked China Global Television Network's (CGTN) licence to broadcast in the United Kingdom after an investigation found the licence was wrongfully held by Star China Media Ltd.
Srinagar: Complete shutdown was observed, today, to mark the 37th death anniversary of prominent Kashmiri liberation leader, Muhammad Maqbool Butt.

Most of the shops, fuel stations and other business establishments were shut, while public transport was largely off the roads during the strike, call for which was given by the All Parties Hurriyat Conference and other pro-freedom leaders and organizations. Maqbool Butt was hanged in New Delhis Tihar jail on this day in 1984 for his active role in pro-freedom activities and was buried in the jail premises. Indian authorities imposed strict restrictions to prevent anti-India protests. The troops were deployed at all entry and exit points while the roads were blocked with barricades.

Hurriyat leaders and organizations including All Parties Hurriyat Conference in their statements in Srinagar while paying tributes to Muhammad Maqbool Butt said that martyrs like him are symbols of Kashmiris resistance against Indian illegal occupation. The APHC spokesman said that the Kashmiris would never allow any sell-out of the exemplary sacrifices of their martyrs.
Deaths from COVID-19 across Africa have increased by 40 per cent in the last 28 days compared to the previous 28 days, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has said.

The WHO Regional Office for Africa also said Thursday that over 3.7 million COVID-19 cases have been reported on the continent in the past one year.

Egypt confirmed its index case of the deadly COVID-19 virus on February 14, 2020, making it the first country to record a case in the Africa region.

The Regional Director of the WHO, Matshidiso Moeti, while speaking at a press briefing marking one year of COVID-19 in Africa, said countries in the continent have risen to the challenge of the pandemic but at huge cost to national economies, livelihoods and development.

In the first year of this pandemic in Africa, more than 3.7 million cases have been reported. In the coming week the continent is projected to pass a devastating marker of 100,000 lives sadly lost to this virus, Ms Moeti said.

As of the time of reporting, the global coronavirus cases stood at 108 million and over two million deaths recorded globally. In the Africa region alone, 3,730,762 cases of the infection have been reported and almost 100,000 deaths.

The increasing deaths from COVID-19 are warnings that health workers and health systems in many countries are dangerously overstressed, she said.

Africa region

Despite different projections that COVID-19 will cause havoc in Africa, the continent has fared better when compared to other parts of the world.

An earlier report by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) predicted up to 3.3 million deaths and 1.2 billion infections in Africa if no interventions were put in place.

The report added that even with intense social distancing under the best-case scenario, the continent could see more than 122 million infections.

Because Africa has widespread health problems, it makes people of the continent particularly susceptible to the virus; also, of all the continents, Africa has the highest prevalence of certain underlying conditions like tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS, the UN report said.

Barely one year after this projections, the continent only accounts for 3.5 per cent of global COVID-19 cases and 4 per cent of global deaths, according to the WHO.

While the African region is faring better compared to other regions, the pandemic has caused a harrowing economic impact which has triggered the continents first recession in 25 years, according to the World Bank.

In sub-Saharan Africa last year, the GDP fell by 2.6 per cent and the IMF predicts that Africa will be the slowest growing large region in 2021, Ms Moeti said.

The sociology economic impact of this pandemic will have ongoing repercussions for several years in African countries.

About 20 million jobs are at risk in Africa due to the impact of the contagion, according to an African Union (AU) study.

Sub-Saharan Africas biggest oil producers, Nigeria and Angola, alone could lose $65 billion in income, the report shows.

Turn around

According to Ms Moeti, the one-year milestone comes as the continent faces the spread of new strains of the COVID-19 virus amidst the second wave of the pandemic.

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She noted that the Variant B.1.351, which was first detected in South Africa, has been detected in eight other African countries.

South Africas health minister said the new variant is currently accounting for more than 90 per cent of coronavirus cases in the country.

Ms Moeti stated that the Variant B117 causing panic in the United Kingdom and some other parts of the world has been detected in six African countries, including Nigeria.

The first wave of the pandemic was contained relatively effectively with rapidly scaled up public health capacities, social measures like border closures and stay at home orders at huge cost, she said.

Vaccines roll out

To contain the rapid spread of the new variants and manage the second wave of the pandemic, countries around the globe have begun the rollout of some approved COVID-19 vaccines.

Countries including Cabo Verde, Rwanda, South Africa and Tunisia have been allocated 320,000 doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine through COVAX, a co-financing public-private facility.

Most African countries are banking on benefitting from the COVAX programme, which was set up to divide over a billion doses of vaccines across 92 low-and middle-income countries.

Nigeria is expecting to receive 16 million doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines before the end of February through this facility, authorities said.

Nearly 90 million of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine could start arriving on the continent later this month. This is subject to the WHO listing the vaccine for emergency use, Ms Moeti had said at a briefing.

South Africa, the most adversely impacted by the coronavirus in Africa with nearly 1.5 million infections and over 47,000 deaths, was on the verge of a massive vaccine rollout plan having received over a million doses of the Astrazeneca vaccine.

But the countrys government said it has suspended the rollout of the jabs for failing to protect clinical trial volunteers from mild or moderate illness.

Authorities said preliminary investigations showed the vaccines did not protect volunteers from the more contagious B.1.351 variant.

While a vaccine that protects against all forms of COVID-19 illness is our biggest hope, preventing severe cases & hospitalizations which overwhelm hospitals is crucial, Ms Moeti said.

So, my message is, go out and get vaccinated when a vaccine becomes available in your country. Ensuring equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines and sustaining the public health measures are the critical priorities to overcome this crisis.
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Britain announced another 13,494 coronavirus cases and 678 deaths today, with both measures having fallen by more than a quarter in a week.

Department of Health data show that the number of people testing positive for the virus has dropped by 35 per cent from 20,634 last Thursday  and the daily death count was down 26 per cent from 915.

And the country's vaccine roll-out continues to rattle ahead at speed, with 450,000 extra doses given yesterday, taking the total number of people to be immunised to 13,509,108. The NHS must reach just 1.5million of the most vulnerable people over the next four days  an average 375,000 per day  to hit its target of 15m by Monday.

More proof the worst of the second Covid wave has passed emerged today as Test and Trace data showed cases fell by a quarter last week and separate figures revealed infections dropped in every region and age group.

With all key metrics now indicating England is well past the peak, pressure is mounting on Boris Johnson to ease lockdown drastically when he announces his 'route map' out of the shutdown on February 22.

Today's Test and Trace report showed 149,000 people referred to the scheme were diagnosed with the disease in the week up to February 3  down 24 per cent on the previous week. It is the lowest weekly number since England came out of its second national lockdown and before the second wave spiralled out of control.

Meanwhile, Public Health England's weekly surveillance report showed Covid cases are continuing to fall in every English region and among every age group.

The West Midlands has the highest rate at 237.6 per 100,000 people, down from 326.8 in the previous week. The South West has the lowest rate at 120.3, falling from 176.5. Infections are highest among 30 to 39-year-olds, the figures show, at 265.3 cases per 100,000 people. For people aged 80 and over, who are most at risk of dying from the virus, the rate fell from 294.6 to 200.5.

PHE's report also found 145 out of 149 local authorities (97 per cent) recorded a drop in the weekly rate of coronavirus cases and one area remained unchanged in the seven days to February 7.

Despite the outbreak continuing to shrink and the vaccine roll-out storming ahead, prominent SAGE scientists called for longer restrictions to drive cases down to almost nothing. No10's top scientific advisers warned there must be no more than 10,000 Britons infected on any given day  the equivalent of fewer than 1,000 daily cases  before Boris Johnson should start easing the measures.

But furious Tory MPs fumed that the UK's hugely successful Covid vaccine roll-out will be pointless if it doesn't unlock Britain from brutal lockdown curbs soon.

The Test and Trace report also revealed more than 80 per cent of close contacts of infected patients were reached and asked to self-isolate  a threshold set by SAGE which is key to the programme be successful at thwarting outbreaks.

The scheme managed to hunt down 87 per cent of Covid patients, about 130,000, and 94 per cent of their close contacts, or 265,000.

But there were still almost 20,000 people who tested positive and could not be traced, plus everyone they'd come into contact with during their illness.

Only four areas saw a spike in infection rates during first week of February All but four areas in England saw coronavirus infection rates fall during the first week of February, official figures revealed today in yet more evidence the second wave is firmly in retreat. Public Health England's weekly surveillance report found 145 out of 149 local authorities (97 per cent) recorded a drop in the weekly rate of coronavirus cases and one area remained unchanged in the seven days to February 7. Rutland in the East Midlands saw the largest increase with infection rates doubling to 463 per 100,000, while Calderdale in West Yorkshire reported a 17 per cent rise to 192. Rutland's outbreak is thought to be being partly fuelled by an outbreak of the disease among prisoners at HMP Stocken, believed to have accounted for around half of all cases in its county area. Middlesbrough recorded a slight uptick of 5 per cent, taking its rate to 373 per 100,000 and there was a 3 per cent increase in Bolton, where the rate rose to 283. East Sussex saw the biggest drop in infection rates, followed by the London borough of Haringey, the Isle of Wight and Thurrock in Essex. Advertisement

The figures also highlight the Test and Trace programme is still failing to turn around Covid tests within 24 hours, despite Boris Johnson promising last June that everyone who took a PCR swab would get a result inside a day.

But figures show the average turnaround time for a home testing kit is 35 hours. In-person swabs are faring much better, with 97 per cent of results sent out in a day.

Health Minister Lord Bethell said: 'More people than ever before have had a Covid-19 test this week and have also received their test result quickly and conveniently despite the demands on the service.

'These numbers are hugely impressive and have an enormous impact on the spread of the virus.'

It comes after Britain yesterday announced 13,013 more coronavirus cases and 1,001 deaths yesterday, with both metrics down significantly from last week.

Covid infections were down by a third on last Wednesday's figure, while fatalities shrunk by a quarter compared to the tally a week ago.

The number of Covid patients in hospital has also fallen by more than a fifth in a week, with just over 26,000 beds now taken up by sufferers compared to almost 40,000 at the peak last month.

Meanwhile, Department of Health officials revealed another 415,000 vaccines were administered on Tuesday, with more than 13million Brits having now received their first dose.

With all the key statistics now pointing towards a quickly shrinking epidemic, and with the vaccine rollout steaming ahead, pressure is mounting on the Government to start dropping the most brutal lockdown curbs.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has promised to lay out a 'route map' out of the national shutdown on February 22, with schools expected to be the first to go back sometime after March 8.

If the country follows the Israeli roadmap for defeating coronavirus then it suggests Britain will only begin

Britain will only begin to emerge from lockdown at the end of May, if it follows the Israeli roadmap for defeating coronavirus.

Israel has started implementing a three-stage plan to exit draconian Covid restrictions  similar to the blueprint Boris Johnson is set to lay out on February 22.

The number of people who tested positive for coronavirus through the NHS Test and Trace programme fell by a quarter last week. Today's report showed 149,000 people referred to the scheme were diagnosed with the disease in the week up to February 3, down 24 per cent on the previous week

Public Health England's weekly surveillance report showed Covid cases are continuing to fall in every English region

The report also showed infections are highest among 30 to 39-year-olds at 265.3 cases per 100,000 people. For people aged 80 and over, who are most at risk of dying from the virus, the rate fell from 294.6 to 200.5

A sea of blue - representing local authorities where the weekly Covid case rate is lower than 190 per 100,000 - has washed over the country thanks to the brutal lockdown curbs

Israeli officials hope to let non-essential shops, gyms and libraries reopen within a fortnight.

But ministers will only give the move the green light on February 23 if 90 per cent of over-50s have been vaccinated and at least a third of the country have had their booster dose. Infection rates must also continue to plummet.

Under the same lockdown-easing plan, pubs, cafes and restaurants won't be allowed to welcome customers again until March 9  by which time 95 per cent of over-50s must have been jabbed. Four million Israelis  roughly 45 per cent of the country  will also need to have had their top-up jab.

Were Number 10 to follow Israel's model, non-essential shops wouldn't reopen until late May because of how long it would take to vaccinate the 17million Britons aged 50-70 who are next on the NHS priority list. Pubs, restaurants and hotels would have to wait until early June.

Schools could start from roughly the middle of May, as per the Israeli system which requires 70 per cent of over-50s to be fully vaccinated before kids go back to class. But the Prime Minister has pledged to reopen schools from March 8.

These dates for the UK are borne out in modelling by the University of Warwick which was passed to Sage a few weeks ago.

It argued that the best way for Britain to prevent another surge in Covid deaths was to keep the national lockdown going until the end of May and then recommence the social distancing rules in September until the end of 2021.

This crisis has asked so much of our school leaders and teachers. Their concerns and questions about the vaccine make sense, and I am so grateful that they have this outstanding resource in a parent of an enrolled child.

Dr. Joseph Fauver had a decent understanding of the COVID-19 pandemic when he and his partner decided to keep their infant daughter enrolled at the Building Blocks Early Learning Center in Hamden, CT. Now, nearly a year into the COVID-19 crisis, he has found another way for his work studying COVID-19 mutations to serve the greater good.

Fauver, an Associate Research Scientist in Epidemiology at the Yale School of Public Health, wholeheartedly accepted an invitation from Lindsay Hoffman, President of Building Blocks, to help address and potentially alleviate teachers' concerns about the COVID-19 vaccine.

"As a part of the public health community tasked with understanding and controlling this virus, I believe that it's important to share more about the conditions that made it possible to develop this vaccine so quickly," says Fauver. "When Lindsay shared that teachers were apprehensive, I saw a unique way to give back to the professionals who make my work, and the work of so many other parents, possible."

Moved by Fauver's generosity, Hoffman asked if he would be open to extending the invitation to the other 30 New England preschools and early learning centers operated by Little Sprouts, LLC, the parent company of Building Blocks. He was.

As Hoffman puts it, the simple human act of having this kind of conversation offers the chance for those who dedicate their careers to childcare to experience a bit more relief. "This crisis has asked so much of our school leaders and teachers. Their concerns and questions about the vaccine make sense, and I am so grateful that they have this outstanding resource in a parent of an enrolled child."

Dr. Fauver will share his personal and professional experience surrounding COVID-19 with dozens of early educators and childcare professionals tonight, Thursday, February 11, during a private video webinar. Participants will learn about the major factors that enabled the safe and expedited COVID-19 vaccine production and have time and space to ask their questions.

About Little Sprouts, LLC

Little Sprouts, LLC is an award-winning network of childcare centers and preschools in New England. Little Sprouts provides early education and care for thousands of children in Little Sprouts schools in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, Building Blocks Early Learning Centers in Connecticut, and Heartworks Preschools, STEAMworks Preschool, and Loveworks Childcare Centers in Vermont. We inspire learning, curiosity, and joy through our child-centered approach and play-based curriculum. For more information, visit littlesprouts.com.
Education minister Janet Museveni's order to all school authorities to paint their buildings before reopening on March 1 has provoked reactions from school heads and owners.

They say government is merely issuing directives that require funding, but without providing financial support.

Ms Museveni argued that the schools need to look clean and attractive to the learners.

"... Try and paint all our schools both primary and secondary, including universities so that they look clean and attractive for our learners," Ms Museveni, who is also the First Lady, directed on Friday.

Schools have been closed for almost a year now following the coronavirus outbreak with only candidate classes later allowed to reopen in October as government continued to assess the interventions to enable more classes come on board while observing the standard operation procedures aimed at controlling the virus spread.

Stakeholders in the private sector yesterday warned government that their demands for reopening should be financially supplemented.

Mr Hassadu Kirabira, the National Private Educational Institutions Association secretary in-charge of research, yesterday told Daily Monitor that the directive is luxurious to institutions which have been closed and can only be implemented with government support.

Mr Kirabira said their concentration will be on paying teachers who have not been earning, clear the fixed bills for water and electricity and ensure they put in place the washing facilities

"Schools don't have the money. They are struggling to put up what government requires for the safety of the learners. Perhaps government can help us do that. It's not bad for government to offer this to the schools as their contribution to the Covid-19 relief. Painting a school now looks luxurious. We think priority should not be on non-health issues," Mr Kirabira said.

Mr Patrick Kaboyo, the Federation of Non-State Education Institutions secretary, said: "Painting schools will play a role of disinfection and bringing a new life to the school. But that should come along an incentive to have people borrow money at no cost. It should be an enabler to buy the paint. It is expensive if you have to paint 12 classrooms. Not all people have the resources. If you rank in priorities, painting is not part of them. Painting may be seen as a luxury but since it's a directive, you can implement it but with a helping hand."
Were not accustomed to openly managing this trade-off in the United States, partly because of the power of health care interest groups, and perhaps because of a more individualistic culture.

Not so in other countries. The vast majority of European nations, and many Asian ones, have a process for deciding what drugs should cost.

A 2011 German law, for example, established a system by which a central body evaluates the benefits of new drugs. Then health insurers jointly negotiate prices, which are capped relative to existing drugs for the same condition if the new drug has no demonstrable additional benefit. Those prices apply to all statutory health insurance plans, which cover 90 percent of the population, and are typically adopted by private payers as well.

France, Britain and other nations also have systems to limit drugs prices and assess the value they provide, seeking to balance innovation and profit. Many countries peg the prices of drugs to those established by other nations  something the Trump administration had proposed for drugs purchased by Medicare.

For the last few decades, Canada has relied on a mixture of national and provincial organizations to protect against what it considers excessive prices. But the Trudeau government has judged these approaches insufficiently effective, appearing to have concluded that the high prices have not led to sustained research and development investment in Canada, said Christopher McCabe, chief executive of the Edmonton-based Institute of Health Economics. So starting in July, after a delay because of the pandemic, the Patented Medicines Price Review Board will set Canadian prices without consideration of the prices paid in the United States and Switzerland, and for some drugs, with explicit consideration of cost effectiveness, he said.

In the United States, drug prices reflect what the market will bear, under the influence of government-granted monopolies for novel medications. Because of the byzantine political compromises they reflect, there is no good reason to believe that the duration of those monopolies  or the prices they support  match the value of the drugs for which theyre provided or the degree of innovation they motivate.

The tool is blunt, so in some cases drug prices are arguably too low, even if theyre very often arguably too high. (The question of whether the price is right is not unique to prescription drugs, but pervasive throughout the health system. Both health care markets and policy have flaws that lead to prices for health services that are often too high and sometimes too low relative to their value.)
A man who was caught on camera carrying a Trump flag inside the Capitol building during last month's deadly riot has been arrested after being recognized by people watching the news who turned him in to the FBI.

Steven Omar Maldonado was apprehended by FBI agents on Wednesday morning at Orlando International Airport as he was preparing to fly to Puerto Rico.

Maldonado was identified after being recognized in news footage that was widely publicized in the days following the siege. His name was reported by a couple who then informed the FBI.

Steven Omar Maldonado is accused of participating in last months riots in DC

Maldonado admitted to being the person featured in a photo showing a man breaking into the Senate Chamber during the Capitol riot and carrying a Trump flag

The FBI said it cross-referenced that information with Maldonado's driver's license, social media photos and surveillance footage from U.S. Capitol police.

In eight pages of charging documents Maldonado can be clearly seen wearing a white hat with the 'Make America Great Again' slogan alongside former President Trump's name, all while carrying a blue Trump flag.

A photo that was posted to the FBI's website shows him holding his hand up with his mouth open while pointing forwards as if he were yelling.

Maldonado was pictured in news footage and cellphone video filmed by other rioters that was recorded while inside the Senate.

Maldonado's distinctive white cap made it easy for him to be identified in photographs

Maldonado can be seen confidently strolling through the corridors of the Capitol

Surveillance footage also shows Maldonado walking in front of a man dressed as Captain America.

Maldonado was interviewed at his home on Saturday whereupon he admitted that he and his friend attended the Stop the Steal rally. He confirmed that he was the man seen in news reports and surveillance.

He appeared before a judge Wednesday afternoon and was charged with violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds and restricted building or grounds.

The judge said the case will likely be transferred to D.C.

In the meantime, he ordered Maldonado released on a $25,000 appearance bond, that he surrender his gun, passport and not travel outside of the Middle District of Florida, except for court proceedings.

He was identified after being featured on TV news footage while the FBI was contacted by someone who had been sent footage of the siege by him

He is at least the thirteenth person from Florida to have been arrested in connection with the deadly riot on January 6th, including a firefighter from Sandford near Orlando and a local organizer of the far right group, Proud Boys.

Dozens of those arrested are alleged to have ties to or share sympathies with far-right groups or militias.

In addition to a focus on the Proud Boys, the government has charged several alleged members of the Oath Keepers, an anti-government militia, with conspiring to storm the Capitol.

Authorities have arrested more than 150 people for their alleged role in the siege according to law enforcement.

Authorities have arrested more than 150 people for their alleged role in the siege according law enforcement but there are still more to come

But the investigation recently shifted gears with federal officials now attempting to prosecute those who allegedly took part.

As more information is gathered on the suspects, investigators are attempting to determine whether a larger conspiracy case might also be able to be pursued.

Steven D'Antuono, FBI Assistant Director in Charge had revealed the FBI has received more than 200,000 digital media tips from the public.

Though a combination of tips and research, 400 suspects allegedly involved with the riots have been identified and about 150 arrested.

Some officials said many of the pro-Trump protestors who broke into the offices of top legislators like House Speaker Nancy Pelosi appeared to know how to navigate the maze-like Capitol.

Trump supporters clash with police and security forces as they storm the US Capitol in Washington, DC on January 6. Authorities are sifting through more than 200,000 digital tips gathered from social media, the public, confidential informants, news and surveillance footage

Groups of Trump supporters had toured the Capitol for 'reconnaissance' a day before the attack.

But analysts say much of the activity on January 6 was chaotic, disorganized and more typical of a spontaneous riot.

Matthew Feldman of the Center for Analysis of the Radical Right in Britain said that's typical of political violence.

At the moment, with limited evidence on communications and other links, he said, 'It is impossible to establish causality.'

'Those people who made up the herd did not appear organized, but within them clearly there were people who were organized.'

At the same time, he noted that the crowd included members of the violent Three Percenters, Oath Keepers and Proud Boys, some who traveled to Washington from as far as Hawaii.

The FBI has hundreds of agents on the case looking at the Capitol attack. Pictured, Jacob Anthony Chansley, also known as Jake Angeli, of Arizona, is one of those charged

Their presence, the discovery of pipe bombs planted nearby, and the apparent threats to capture members of Congress or the vice president, were signs of 'terror' plotting, he said.

'You had a riotous mob... and within that you had domestic terrorists' who were 'clearly planning something.'

Lawyers defending the suspects are using a common defense saying their clients took their instructions from former President Trump, who called on his supporters to flock to D.C. to protest Congress's certification of President Biden's election win.

President Trump is on trial this week in the U.S. Senate after being impeached in the House, for the second time in his one-term presidency.

House prosecutors say Trump incited the rally crowd to march on the Capitol and then did nothing to stem the violence.

Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga yesterday signalled the formation of a "bigger political movement" with the ruling party that he described as unstoppable in the run-up to next year's General Election.

Mr Odinga, whose party has been enjoying a cordial working relationship with President Kenyatta's Jubilee since their March 9, 2018 deal, gave the clearest indication yet that the two parties could enter into a coalition deal together with other parties.

He made the remarks while addressing a joint meeting of chairpersons of ODM and Jubilee from all the 17 sub-counties of Nairobi at the Convent Hotel in Lavington where he rallied them to support the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI).

Mr Odinga said the union would bring together other political parties to form one formidable force which he likened to the River Nile.

"It will be an unstoppable movement. We will also bring together other parties so that we have a bigger movement. River Nile has left Lake Victoria heading to the Mediterranean Sea and no force will stop it," he declared.

"Itafika huko wapende wasipende (It will reach there whether they like it or not). That's why we're saying nobody can stop reggae," the former Prime Minister added.

Coallition

Talk of a possible coalition between ODM and Jubilee follows reports that the President's party is keen to have Mr Odinga's party to formally sign their cooperation agreement.

The ODM leader has been touted as one of the fiercest challengers of Deputy President William Ruto's quest to succeed President Kenyatta in 2022.

Jubilee has already entered into a post-election coalition agreement with Senator Gideon Moi's Kanu and also signed a cooperation agreement with Mr Kalonzo Musyoka's Wiper and ex-Bomet governor Isaac Ruto's Chama Cha Mashinani (CCM). The DP's wing of Jubilee has been unhappy about the agreements. Mr Ruto, however, recently said he backed the DP for the presidency.

Prior to previous polls, Mr Odinga has likened his political movement to a tsunami, and yesterday's declaration of a bigger movement in the offing is another pointer to developments ahead of the 2022 elections.

Yesterday, he told off the opponents of the BBI drive, saying : "We won't relent in our quest to ensure the passing of the BBI."

"Wacha wale wabweke. Lakini ngurumo ya chura haizuii ng'ombe kunywa maji. (Let them continue barking. They must know that the croaking of frogs does not stop a cow from drinking water."

"We cannot be threatened and we won't relent in our quest to push for the implementation of BBI," the ODM leader said, referring to the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill, 2020, that's before county assemblies.

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He said they were not worried about the court stopping the electoral commission from subjecting the Bill to a referendum until petitions against the proposed changes are determined.

"We're not worried; the courts also know the urgency of the matter. By the time the process reaches the IEBC, they'll have resolved the petitions," Mr Odinga said.

The Orange leader said he was glad ODM and Jubilee chairmen in Nairobi had resolved to work together and extend the relationship to other parts of the country.

Nairobi ODM chairman George Aladwa, who is also Makadara MP, Dagoretti North MP Simba Arati, ODM executive director Oduor Ong'wen and Jubilee Nairobi chairman Gitonga Ndegwa attended the meeting.

Stating the obvious

Mr Aladwa said they were looking forward to a political formation bringing together several political parties, including ODM, Jubilee, Wiper, Kanu, Amani National Congress as well as Ford-Kenya.

Mr Ndegwa expressed confidence that the unity will see BBI approved.

Jubilee secretary-general Raphael Tuju said his party and ODM will continue working together.

"Working together on BBI is stating the obvious. The President has been very clear and I can reiterate that BBI is not about 2022," Mr Tuju told the Nation.

Hormel Foods is going nuts.

The Minnesota company, known for its meat brands like Spam and Applegate, said Thursday it's buying the Planters nut business from Kraft Heinz Co. for $3.35 billion.

"It's very exciting for us," explained Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Jim Sheehan. "This is a product line brand that has some of the highest recognition in the food category. It's almost one hundred percent of the consumers. When you say Planters, they know what you are talking about. They know the brand."

Included in the deal are Planters brands like Nut-rition, Cheez Balls and Corn Nuts. Hormel Foods said the acquisition significantly expands its presence in the growing snacking space.

"It's taking the company to a new level," said Sheehan. "It's expanding our importance to the retailer and consumer, and it's been

a great experience in understanding not only the role Hormel plays in the food industry but the respect others

have for Hormel."

Kraft Heinz said it will reinvest the money in brands with more growth prospects, like Lunchables and P3 protein packs. Kraft Heinz also sold its natural cheese business last fall.

The deal with Hormel is expected to close in the first half of this year.

Press Release

11 February 2021

Marriott Bonvoy, the travel marketplace and highly awarded travel program from Marriott International, has released a redesigned, more intuitive version of its mobile app in anticipation of increased desire and demand for travel this year. Featuring new travel shopping options based on inspiring destinations and access to more of Marriott's vast travel offerings such as premium vacation rentals from Homes & Villas by Marriott International as well as destination tours and activities, the app will offer members even more personalized recommendations and offers to maximize their points earned when traveling and even when they are not. As the centerpiece of the company's mobile-first mindset, the Marriott Bonvoy app ensures guests receive the best available rate; enjoy program benefits such as exclusive member rates and accruing points for stays; and enables members to customize their experience. The app will make it easier for guests to choose a contactless option for check-in and check-out, easy access to mobile keys, and the ability to request services and amenities via chat and mobile requests.

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"The enhanced Marriott Bonvoy Mobile app is a must-have travel companion. It simplifies the travel planning process, allows for the most frictionless experience before and during your stay and gets smarter the more you interact with it," said Leigh Zarelli, Senior Vice President Digital, Marriott International. "Only the Marriott Bonvoy Mobile app offers travelers so much whether it is the breadth of global accommodations  from 7,500 hotels among our 30 brands to home rentals  destination experiences and relevant and customizable content for travel inspiration. Through tailored, displayed offers, members can learn how to earn hundreds of thousands of points just by booking stays, or going about their daily lives' grocery shopping, ordering takeout or buying items for their home."

What's new on the Marriott Bonvoy mobile app:

New Shopping and Booking Options: Homes & Villas by Marriott International home rentals, Work Anywhere with Marriott Bonvoy day, stay and play passes and Marriott Bonvoy Tours & Activities are all now available through in-app browsing. By booking via the app, guests are guaranteed the lowest rate available and is one of the ways members can earn points and receive on-property benefits during stays.

Homes & Villas by Marriott International home rentals, Work Anywhere with Marriott Bonvoy day, stay and play passes and Marriott Bonvoy Tours & Activities are all now available through in-app browsing. By booking via the app, guests are guaranteed the lowest rate available and is one of the ways members can earn points and receive on-property benefits during stays. More Customization During the Stay: Improvements and additions to mobile requests and mobile key enable members to get more from their experience and choose to minimize contact and better maintain social distance. Mobile Key, available at over 4000 properties and is now accessible on the home screen once checked in. Making it easy to skip the desk and minimize social interactions. Mobile Requests now contains more one-touch-buttons so users can order a crib, shoeshine, and dry cleaning, along with bath towels, pillows, bath products and more, as well as the ability to chat directly with hotel staff.

Making it Easier for Members to Earn Points: Members can capitalize on points promotions relevant to them on the home screen and their account page. This provides members with easy to access, tailored Marriott Bonvoy American Express and Chase limited time offers, as well as access to points promotions with Eat Around Town and Hertz.

Members can capitalize on points promotions relevant to them on the home screen and their account page. This provides members with easy to access, tailored Marriott Bonvoy American Express and Chase limited time offers, as well as access to points promotions with Eat Around Town and Hertz. Increased Functionality for Non-Members: While nearly a million people used the app to become members in 2020, those not ready to join for free can still search and book stays easier than before.

While nearly a million people used the app to become members in 2020, those not ready to join for free can still search and book stays easier than before. Updated Searching & Booking with New, Dynamic Map: Users can search and book accommodations by hotel brand, destination, price or points needed for a free night's stay.

Users can search and book accommodations by hotel brand, destination, price or points needed for a free night's stay. And More Improvements for the Frequent App Users: Updated Marriott Bonvoy account profile page

highlighting personalized promotions, on-property benefits to take advantage of during stays and full account activity. Member numbers can be copied and pasted onto other web-based forms. FaceID and TouchID automatically engages after the first login. Room numbers will now appear on the home screen.



An ever-expanding travel program, Marriott Bonvoy connects 30 extraordinary hotel brands with 7,500 properties located in 132 countries & territories, 20,000 premium and luxury vacation home rentals, and tens of thousands of tours & activities enabling members countless ways to earn and redeem points for a perfect and personalized travel experience. The refreshed Marriott Bonvoy mobile app provides front and center, easy access to points earning opportunities, as well as the ability to sign-up for and earn points with the Marriott Bonvoy co-brand credit cards, providing additional ways beyond the stay for members to earn points.

Photo: Marriott

The app is available in seven languages - English, Spanish, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Chinese. Four additional languages will be added later this year including Italian (April), Russian (May), Portuguese (June) and Arabic (August). The improved app experience launches first on Apple's iOS operating system which accounts for most Marriott Bonvoy app users followed the Android operating system later this year.

About Marriott Bonvoy

Marriott Bonvoy is the award-winning travel program from Marriott International comprised of a portfolio of 30 hotel brands, a vacation home rental offering, all-inclusive resorts and hundreds of thousands of experiences. Members can earn and redeem points for stays and more, accelerating the points they earn with co-branded credit cards. The program offers more than 300,000 destination tours and activities, as well as exclusive experiences on Marriott Bonvoy Moments. When members book direct on Marriott.com they receive perks including free and enhanced Wi-Fi and exclusive member-only rates, and on the Marriott app they enjoy mobile check-in and checkout, Mobile Requests and, wherever available, Mobile Key. To enroll for free or for more information about Marriott Bonvoy, visit MarriottBonvoy.com. To download the Marriott app, go here. Travelers can also connect with Marriott Bonvoy on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
The C.D.C. said tight-fit masks or double masking with cloth and surgical masks increase protection.

A W.H.O. panel recommended AstraZenecas vaccine even in countries where variants are circulating.

Germany extended its lockdown for at least another month, citing the spread of more infectious variants of the virus.

Get the latest updates here, as well as maps and vaccines in development.

U.S. deaths decline

The United States is having a brutal winter, having recorded half of all of its deaths during the pandemic since Nov. 1. But after several dark months, the country is showing some positive signs.

Fatalities from the virus have been steadily declining for weeks. The country is now averaging about 2,700 deaths per day, down significantly from a few weeks ago, when it was averaging more than 3,300.

The declining death rate follows a drop in hospitalizations and cases  the U.S. recorded less than 100,000 new infections for a third day in a row, a level not seen since early November. Whether this trend will continue is uncertain as more contagious variants of the virus have been expanding rapidly in the U.S. and could reverse these gains.

The death toll remains far above the levels of early November, before the winter surge, when the country reported an average of roughly 825 deaths per day. Deaths are also continuing to rise in some states, including Kansas, Iowa and South Carolina.
[February 11, 2021] Signature Consultants Ranks on Training Magazine's Training Top 100 List for the Fifth Consecutive Year

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Signature Consultants, a leading IT and professional staffing, consulting, managed solutions and direct placement provider, was ranked no. 38 by Training magazine on their 2021 Training Top 100 List. This is the fifth consecutive year that Signature has made the list. For Signature, creating opportunities for employees to continuously develop and advance is standard practice. The company's proprietary training program helps to identify an individual's strengths and align them with the best career path. Based on these strengths, as well as tenure and role, individuals progress through dedicated modules to help them reach their personal and professional goals. Founder and CEO Dr. Jay Cohen has made training a priority since founding Signature in 1997, and he continues to make training and mentorship a part of his regular meetings and interactions with teams today. "No matter the market conditions, employee development will always be a top priority for us. This program has continued to grow and evolve over the last 24 years, in order to best meet the changing needs of our employees and ensure that they are satisfied and successful," said Dr. Cohen. "This award recognizes tha investment and commitment, and we are honored to rank among such notable companies, including Best Buy, BNSF Railway, Dollar General Corporation, Nationwide and Sonic Automotive."



The Training Top 100 ranking is based on myriad benchmarking statistics and several qualitative and quantitative factors, including total training budget, percentage of payroll, scope of training programs provided, detailed formal and informal training programs, training linked to business goals and results, and the Kirkpatrick model of training evaluation. "To maintain the credibility of our awards program during the COVID-19 pandemic, we chose not to lower our standards and put organizations on the list that did not meet the minimum scoring threshold for training excellencehence the change back to the Training Top 100," explains Training magazine Editor-in-Chief Lorri Freifeld. "This makes the extraordinary accomplishments of the 2021 Training Top 100 organizations even more noteworthy. We salute these best-in-class organizations for their steadfast dedication to continuous employee learning and development; their agility and innovation in transforming their training delivery in response to the pandemic; and their passionate commitment to the current and future success of their people."

Previously the Training Top 125, Signature Consultants ranked no. 47 in 2020, up from no. 92 in 2019. About Signature Consultants, LLC

Headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Signature Consultants was established in 1997 with a singular focus: to provide clients and consultants with superior staffing solutions. With 29 locations throughout North America, Signature annually deploys thousands of consultants to support, run and manage their clients' technology needs. Signature offers IT staffing, consulting, managed solutions and direct placement services. For more information on the company, please visit https://www.sigconsult.com. Signature Consultants is the parent company to Hunter Hollis and Madison Gunn. View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/signature-consultants-ranks-on-training-magazines-training-top-100-list-for-the-fifth-consecutive-year-301227049.html SOURCE Signature Consultants

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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 11)  Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez, Jr. told Senators having an indemnification fund is important to secure more COVID-19 vaccines, and encourage more Filipinos to be vaccinated.

During a Committee on Finance hearing on a bill that aims to expedite vaccine procurement, Galvez explained having a provision of indemnification under the law will greatly affect the volumes that vaccine producers are willing to give the country.

"We need an indemnification clause in the law considering that it will greatly affect the volumes that the manufacturers are willing to give to us," he said.

This will also assure them in case of adverse effects after immunization, given that vaccines are only being distributed through Emergency Use Authorization.

People will also be encouraged to get the shots since they are assured of compensation if they experience adverse effects, Galvez added.

Speaking to CNN Philippines, World Health Organization Country Representative Rabindra Abeyasinghe explained manufacturers require indemnification funds "for their own safety" since not all vaccines have been approved for the market.

"This is recognizing that all vaccines are still not cleared for market authorization and all these are emergency use-listed vaccines and so there are certain precautions that the manufacturers are taking," he said.

The WHO added all governments that joined the COVAX facility initiative have agreed to put up indemnification funds. The COVAX facility seeks to provide over 150 participating countries equitable access to coronavirus vaccines.

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon suggested that budget for this be sourced from the contingency fund of the government.

"So that we do not have to go into issues like is there an appropriation which will require certification as to the availability of fund, we can just include in the proposed authorization a provision that, we can earmark a portion of the contingency fund for indemnification," he noted.

Committee chair Sonny Angara said comments will have to be solicited from the Office of the President as they are the ones managing this fund. If this will be settled then this will be added to the bill to put certainty on the matter, he added.

Meanwhile, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said PhilHealth has been instructed to look into formulating a benefit package that will cover patients who will experience severe side effects following vaccination.

RELATED: Congress asked to pass bill providing compensation in case of serious side effects from COVID-19 vaccines

The government has been implementing efforts to procure enough supply of vaccine doses to be able to immunize up to 70 million Filipinos. To complement this, LGUs are also entering into tripartite agreements with vaccine manufacturers and the national government.

Galvez said around 27 million vials have been purchased under these agreements, including those made with the private sector.

President Rodrigo Duterte will also certify as urgent the passage of a bill that will allow local government units to make advance payments to vaccine makers. This will also exempt them from procurement rules to speed up the purchase and rollout of the much-needed vaccines.
Dakota Home Care, one of the premiere providers of home care and private nursing care in North Dakota, is expanding service offerings to include two new programs: the Residential Habilitation program and the Community Support Services program.

Erica Muchow, RN, BSN, Program Director at Dakota Home Care, stated, The Residential Habilitation and Community Support Services programs will allow Dakota Home Care to serve more people in our community, allowing individuals with physical disabilities to remain in their own home with help.

Each of these programs have been awarded the three-year Quality Assurances Accreditation from CQL | The Council on Quality and Leadership. This designation confirms Dakota Home Cares commitment to person-centered solutions and to improving quality of life for individuals and families receiving supports and services throughout North Dakota.

CQL will help our agency improve the quality of support we provide to our clients, according to Nikki Joersz, RN, BSN, Director of Nursing at Dakota Home Care, and will allow our agency to offer services to a wider range of people in our community.

Residential Habilitation

The Residential Habilitation program is offered in partnership with the North Dakota Department of Human Services, and provides Medicaid-eligible individuals with nursing facility level care in the comfort of their own home.

Residential Habilitation is an all-inclusive 24-hour care service for individuals who may be able to benefit from one or more of the following: care coordination, community integration and inclusion, adaptive skill development, assistance with activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living, social and leisure skill development, medication administration, homemaking, protective oversight supervision, and transportation.

Eligible participants can live alone or with individuals who are not capable of or obligated to provide care. Residential Habilitation is a great option for cognitively impaired individuals, as well as those seeking assistance with socialization and self-help skills. The training and skills maintenance component will allow program participants to more seamlessly integrate into their communities.

Community Support Services

Community Support Services offers all-inclusive care for up to 24-hour for Medicaid-eligible individuals who require a nursing facility level of care. Similar to the Residential Habilitation program, the participant must live alone or with a non-family member who is not capable or obligated to provide care. In addition to offering these services in a private residence owned or leased by the participant, the Community Support Services program is also available in agency-controlled community residential settings.

The services offered in the Community Support Services program are similar to those offered in the Residential Habilitation program, and may be best suited to individuals with a physical disability or with complex medical needs.

According to Muchow, both the Residential Habilitation and Community Support Services programs are provided under the Medicaid Waiver Program, allowing qualified individuals to access these services at no additional charge. Dakota Home Care is pleased to expand its service offerings, helping more community members remain the in the comfort and familiarity of home.

About Dakota Home Care

Established in 2012, Dakota Home Care is a licensed home health agency serving families in 28 North Dakota counties. Locally owned and family operated with offices in Mandan and Fargo, Dakota Home Care provides medical and non-medical in-home care solutions to help clients live in the comfort of home. To learn more about Dakota Home Care visit http://www.dakotahomecare.com.

About CQL | The Council on Quality and Leadership

CQL | The Council on Quality and Leadership is an international non-profit, virtual organization dedicated to the definition, measurement and improvement of personal quality of life. CQLs vision is a world of dignity, opportunity and community for all people.

Learn more about CQL by visiting: http://www.c-q-l.org
The Department of Theatre at Hope College will present six performances of Detroit 67 via livestream between Friday, Feb. 26, and Saturday, March 6.

The department will stage the play on Friday-Saturday, Feb. 26-27, at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, Feb. 28, at 2 p.m.; Thursday, March 4, at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, March 5, at 8:30 p.m. and Saturday, March 6 at 7:30 p.m.

Virtual tickets are free and open to all but pre-registration is required via tickets.hope.edu. Out of an abundance of caution due to the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic, there will be no in-person audience.

Detroit 67 was written by Dominique Morisseau in 2013. As described by its publisher, In 1967 Detroit, Motown music is getting the party started, and Chelle and her brother Lank are making ends meet by turning their basement into an after-hours joint. But when a mysterious woman finds her way into their lives, the siblings clash over much more than the family business. The racial tensions on the streets of the city serve as the play's socio-political context and backdrop for the action.

The Hope productions director, Richard Perez, noted that he feels a connection to the play. I wanted to direct Detroit 67 because I am dedicated to theatrical work that pays tribute to and honors the people in our society who have been silenced or detrimentally maligned, said Perez, an assistant professor of theatre. As a Mexican American who grew up in an urban area often portrayed negatively in the media, I feel a special kinship with the people of Detroit. We love where we come from and are disheartened by the negative misconceptions continuously perpetuated about our communities.

I was also struck by how timely Detroit 67 is, he said. While the play takes place over 50 years ago, our communities are still being ravaged by the repercussions of racial inequality and injustice. When people constantly suffer from being denied the opportunities promised by our forefathers, the powder keg of uprising is inevitable.

In addition to Perez, the production team includes theatre department chair Michelle Bombe as costume designer, and Eric Van Tassell, assistant professor, as master electrician. Staff members Erik Alberg, Ken Chamberlain, Stephen Krebs and Darlene Veenstra serve as lighting designer, sound designer, scenic and properties designer and technical director, and costume shop manager respectively. In addition, the following students are included on the production team: stage manager, freshman Lydia Konings of Milwaukee, Wisconsin; assistant stage managers, sophomore Trinity Frye of Grand Rapids and freshman Brianna Tomczak of Dexter; assistant scenic designer, junior Valerie Dien of Fountain Valley, California; and properties lead, senior Tim Embertson of Cadillac.

The cast includes: sophomore Tia Hockenhull of Southfield; sophomore Kaniya Houston of Chicago, Illinois; sophomore Rubben Jerome of Chicago, Illinois; junior Alex Johnson of Indianapolis, Indiana; and sophomore Elayna Sitzman of Minnetonka, Minnesota.

Updates about the production are available through the Department of Theatres social media (Hope College Theatre Department on Facebook; @hopetheatredept on Instagram).
Court grants agency two more months to complete probe into terror case

NGT forms 5-member panel to investigate on violation of environmental norms by JSW

NIA seizes huge cache of arms meant to be used by naxals against security forces

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Feb 11: The National Investigation Agency has recovered high grade explosives and cordtex wire during searches in Jharkhand.

The NIA team conducted saerches in the dense forest of Korangburu hillock, at Jilingkel in Khunti district and recovered Cordtex wire (100 mtrs) and 126 Gelatin sticks (15 kgs ), a high grade explosive.

The recoveries were made following the arrest of a naxalite, Birsa Munda. He is an armed cadre of the proscribed organisation CPI (Maoist).

Deputy sarpanch in Chattisgarh killed by naxals

The case pertains to attack on a police party by the cadres of CPI (Maoist), at around in June 2019 at Kukru Haat. 5 police men were martyred and their arms and ammunition were looted by the naxalites.

The Jharkhand Police had arrested 11 accused and filed two charge-sheets against them. The NIA re-registered the case and arrested 5 more accused, who are armed cadres of CPI (Maoist).

During the examination of accused, Munda, it was revealed that explosives procured by the cadres of CPI(Maoist) were hidden at the Korangburu hillock, in Jilingkel, District Khunti.

Farm Laws: What did PM Modi say on the agricultural laws in the Parliament| Oneindia News

NIA team, with the help of local police and SSB, conducted searches during the wee hours and recovered cordtex wire and 126 Gelatin sticks. The explosives were to be used against the security forces by CPI (Maoist).

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Story first published: Thursday, February 11, 2021, 8:50 [IST]
SUZHOU, China, Feb. 10, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Transcenta Holding Limited (Transcenta), a global biotherapeutics company with fully-integrated capabilities in discovery, development and manufacturing of antibody-based therapeutics, today announced the appointment of Dr. Michael Shi as Executive Vice President, Head of Global R&D and Chief Medical Officer. Dr. Shi will lead the global research and development of all our pipeline molecules and registration approvals. Dr. Li Xu, current acting Chief Medical Officer, will continue to help company and will serve on its scientific advisory board and as a strategic advisor to CEO.

Before joining Transcenta, Dr. Michael Shi was Global Program Clinical Head at Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corp. in East Hanover, New Jersey, USA. He played key leadership role in the clinical development of multiple novel oncology/hematology products, including Tabrecta  (capmatinib), Zykadia (ceritinib), Adakveo (crizanlizumab), Exjade/Jadenu, BGJ398, TKI258 (dovitinib) and PDR001. Most recently, he led the development teams to achieve accelerated approval of Tabrecta and Zykadia in lung cancer indication and Adakveo in sickle cell disease, all under the US FDA breakthrough therapy designation.

"We are honored to have Dr. Shi joining the Transcenta team," said Dr. Xueming Qian, Co-Founder and CEO of Transcenta. "As a seasoned biopharmaceutical industrial expert, Dr. Shi worked extensively in the areas of clinical development, translational medicine, biomarker development, and discovery research in several well-known companies. He will lead our global clinical development and registration of all therapeutic area products."

"The biopharmaceutical industry has made great progress in China in recent years," said Dr. Shi. "As an integrated biopharmaceutical company focusing on innovative biological products, Transcenta has great potential. I'm very excited to join the company and look forward to accelerating the research and development of innovative biologic pipeline molecules with the excellent team, and benefiting patients around the world."

Dr. Shi received his medical education from Peking Union Medical College, a Ph.D. in Molecular Pharmacology and Toxicology from the University of Southern California and conducted a postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard Medical School. He also worked as the Program Director of Genetics Variation at NIH and an assistant professor at the University of Michigan Medical School.

About Transcenta Holding Limited.

Transcenta is a global biotherapeutics company that fully integrates antibody-based biotherapeutics discovery, development and manufacturing. With Headquarters and Discovery and Translational Research Center in Suzhou, Process and Product Development Center and Manufacturing Facility in Hangzhou, and Clinical Development Centers in Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou in China and in Princeton, US, and External Partnering Center in Boston, US, Transcenta has established global footprint. Transcenta is developing a panel of ten antibody molecules for oncology and selected non-oncology indications. Upon the latest financing, the company has raised over $342 million from globally prominent investors. For more information, please visit www.transcenta.com.

SOURCE Transcenta Holding Limited

Cybersecurity

Krebs: More 'destructive,' 'brazen' attacks possible from Russia

Then-CISA chief Chris Krebs at an August 2019 cybersecurity conference.

The federal government's former top cybersecurity official warned lawmakers today the SolarWinds Orion hack is likely not the worst attack the United States may see from Russia.

"Particularly emanating from those four countries -- China, Russia, Iran, North Korea -- the behavior will continue until the leadership has decided that it cannot tolerate further behavior," Chris Krebs, the former director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, told the House Homeland Security Committee at a Feb. 10 hearing.

Krebs testified alongside Sue Gordon, the former principal deputy director of national intelligence, Michael Daniel, president and CEO of Cyber Threat Alliance and Dmitri Alperovitch, co-founder and a former executive at Crowdstrike.

The hearing was one of the first of several that lawmakers will likely convene to discuss the SolarWinds hack, which has so far affected hundreds of private companies and at least 10 federal agencies.

Krebs' warning came in response to a question from Rep. Lou Correa (D-Calif.), who asked the former CISA chief about what the country can do to deter further attacks. Correa said these attacks "should in all sense and purposes constitute a declaration of war on the United States."

Krebs suggested the government could prevent attacks by levying financial sanctions on adversarial nations and certain oligarchs. Correa pushed back on that, saying, "We've heard this suggestion a number of years ago in this committee, you go after their pocketbook, you go after the oligarchs. Yet, this has not been used. What's been deterring our country from using this?"

Krebs responded that the U.S. has used financial sanctions to that effect, but those penalties need to be matched by other international allies. "But at the same time recognize, there are certain behaviors that, unfortunately, are within the realm of acceptable cyber behavior" such as espionage against a federal government.

The topic of whether or not the SolarWinds hack constitutes an "act of war" is a discussion coming up often among elected officials. The federal agencies investigating the attack as well as third-party cybersecurity experts have largely concurred the breach appears to be espionage.

"So far, all of the information that is available about this intrusion indicates that it is espionage," said Daniel, the Cyber Threat Alliance official.

Gordon told Correa flatly that the government cannot stop all attacks, but lawmakers can clearly define what kinds of attacks and impacts -- such as knocking out an electrical grid -- would warrant a response. She also said lawmakers should not limit responses to a cyberattack with a "cyber response."

Since December when the initial hack was discovered, CISA has become the government's primary agency for responding to the damage caused by the breach. That role has called into question whether CISA has sufficient funding and staffing.

Asked about funding by Rep. Jim Langevin (D-R.I.) today, Krebs said his agency had a $2.2 billion budget, but only $1.2 billion of that were put toward cybersecurity programs.

"However, of that $1.2 billion, about $800 million was focused on two programs," he said, referring to the National Cyber Protection System and the Continuous Diagnostics and Mitigation program. "That leaves several hundred million dollars for incident response and actually very little frankly for broader engagement with the critical infrastructure community."

Krebs added it is his biggest regret that he could not put more funding toward engaging state and local governments and other critical infrastructure entities.

Alperovitch, the former Crowdstrike executive, in his opening remarks recommended CISA be given the authorities and resources to effectively become the government's chief information security officer.

Asked about that idea, Krebs said the current federal CISO, which is part of the White House's Office of Management and Budget, is a in a policy setting position, while CISA focuses on policy enforcement. Additional funding for CISA to help agencies improve their security would leave the federal government "in a much better place," he said.
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Hundreds of supporters of Ecuador's largest Indigenous political party joined protests on Wednesday over presidential election results which could see their candidate miss out on an April runoff. Pachakutik supporters are alleging electoral fraud over a review of ballots which could see Yaku Perez drop to third place in Sunday's vote.

More than 200 demonstrators gathered in front of the National Electoral Council (NEC) in Quito on Wednesday and more were expected to arrive. Some 15% of votes would be reviewed over supposed irregularities, the NEC announced Tuesday. Speaking in Guayaquil, Perez told a crowd of supporters this number of anomalies was much higher than usual, alleging a fraud was being "consummated".

Sunday's election was won by left-leaning former minister Andres Arauz, but there is a close race for second between Perez, on 19.61%, and conservative banker Guillermo Lasso, on 19.66%, with 99.9% of polling stations counted. As of Sunday, the NEC has 10 days to process the results that will define the April 11 runoff candidates that will determine the successor to President Lenin Moreno.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) greets supporters after speaking to a crowd during a rally in Cheyenne, Wyo., on Jan. 28, 2021. (Michael Ciaglo/Getty Images)

Gaetz Issues Heated Response to Anti-Trump Republican Seeking His Defeat

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), one of former President Donald Trumps most vocal backers in Congress, has issued a profanity-laced response and challenge on Feb. 10 to an anti-Trump Republican who has started a new political action committee (PAC) that may seek to oust Gaetz in a primary election.

Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.), one of 10 House Republicans who voted to impeach Trump, recently started a new PAC backing anti-Trump Republicans for the purpose of defeating GOP lawmakers who support the former president.

Adam is a patriot who fought for America from Northwest Florida. We will always appreciate & honor his service. Now, he wants to target my America First politics, referencing me by name, Gaetz wrote on Twitter on Feb. 10.

My response: [expletive] bring it. Adam needs PACs to win elections. I dont.

Kinzingers office didnt respond to a request for comment by press time.

Kinzinger announced the start of his PAC on Jan. 31.

The Republican Party has lost its way, Kinzinger said in a video posted on the website of his Country First PAC.

In the six-minute video, which mentions neither Trumps name nor any specific policy issues, Kinzinger appears to equate the mob that breached the Capitol on Jan. 6 with the Republican Party. The Illinois Republican also alleged, without offering examples or evidence, that Republicans have embraced conspiracy theories, outrage, and the politics of personality.

Kinzinger is one of 10 Republicans who may face primary challengers backed by the Fight Back Now America PAC, which was started by former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski. The PAC will first focus on defeating Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), who issued a scathing statement critical of Trump ahead of her vote to impeach the then-president.

Gaetz campaigned in Wyoming last month against Cheney with support from Donald Trump Jr., who spoke to the rally crowd via speakerphone. Gaetz recently said he would be willing to give up his House seat to defend the president in the Senate impeachment trial.

The other House Republicans who joined Kinzinger in voting to impeach Trump are Reps. Anthony Gonzalez (Ohio), Jaime Herrera Beutler (Wash.), John Katko (N.Y.), Peter Meijer (Mich.), Dan Newhouse (Wash.), Tom Rice (S.C.), Fred Upton (Mich.), and David Valadao (Calif.).

Support for Trump remains significant in Congress and among voters despite Democrats attempts to impeach the former president over the violence that unfolded at the Capitol last month. Ninety-five percent of Republicans in the House voted against impeachment, while in the Senate, 44 Republicans voted on Feb. 9 against proceeding with the impeachment trial. More than 4 in 5 GOP voters hold a favorable view of Trump, according to a Morning Consult poll released on Jan. 27.

Kinzinger has been a vocal Trump critic and was the only Republican to vote for a resolution calling on Vice President Mike Pence to invoke the 25th Amendment to remove Trump. He told The Washington Post last month that he has felt isolated from his party in the aftermath of his impeachment vote.
Officials from Ukraine and many other European countries have grown increasingly frustrated with the German government's insistence on completing the project.

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier pointed to the "bigger picture," including Nazi Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union, when asked about the Nord Stream 2 pipeline.

This did not go down well with Ukraine, Deutsche Welle reports.

Ukraine's ambassador to Berlin, Andriy Melnyk, on Tuesday slammed "questionable historical arguments" made by the German president regarding the Russian pipe.

Melnyk's reaction came as officials from Ukraine and many other European countries have grown increasingly frustrated with the German government's insistence on completing the project and effectively doubling the volume of gas Germany imports from Russia,

Read alsoPoland urges halt to Nord Stream 2 constructionSteinmeier defended the pipeline by telling the German newspaper Rheinische Post that fuel sales were "one of the last bridges between Russia and Europe."

"I believe that burning bridges is not a sign of strength," Steinmeier claimed.

"For us Germans, there is another dimension," the president said, noting that June will mark 80 years since the Nazis invaded the Soviet Union. He said 20 million Soviet citizens were killed in World War 2."

"This does not justify any wrongdoing in Russian politics today, but we must not lose sight of the bigger picture," he added. "Yes, we live in the presence of a difficult relationship, but there is a past before and a future after."

Melnyk said Steinmeier's stance was met by "surprise and indignation" in Kyiv. The comments "struck deep" into the hearts of Ukrainians, the ambassador said, according to DPA news agency.

Steinmeier's comments ignored Ukrainian victims of Nazi Germany, Melnyk said. Ukraine was a part of the Soviet Union during the war, and millions of Ukrainians also lost their lives. Kyiv is currently engaged in a prolonged conflict with Moscow, and the completion of the pipeline could deprive Ukraine of valuable gas transit fees.

Read also"Impossible" to complete Nord Stream 2  expertOn Tuesday, Steinmeier's office dismissed Melnyk's complaints by saying it was met with "complete incomprehension."

Reporting by UNIAN
Highlights Olympus/ OM Digital Solutions may release new cameras very soon.

But nobody knows what these new products look like.

But yes, the company has a lot of plans with OM Digital Solutions.

Olympus is a Japanese camera maker which transferred its imaging division to Japan Industrial Partners (JIP) early this year. The new entity is known by the name OM Digital Solutions. Since the takeover, OM Digital Solutions has been promising to announce new products. But such press statements are not enough to woo users. The company certainly needs to confirm the upcoming imaging products.

So far, there is no confirmation on the new products from the brand. But the company has recently published an article on Olympus website (not on OM Digital Solutions website, which is actually strange). The article states that Olympus' history and heritage are the reasons to trust the brand to continue to innovate and release new products.

"In the 1950's, Developer Yoshihisa Maitani completed a prototype of a half-sized camera as a research theme for educating new design staff. This was the prototype of the Olympus PEN," article reads.

"Maitani went to the Lens Design Department and requested the best lens, not inferior to the Leica Tessar type. With no cost restrictions, the lens design personnel agreed with the thoughts of Maitani, and decided to pursue an excellent lens without sparing any cost. They were delighted to take on the challenge, resulting in the various D Zuiko lenses. The business model of being incredibly fussy about lens development became the basis for providing high image quality with a small system going forward."

If OM Digital Solutions decides to repeat the history, then the company has potential to release some interesting imaging products in the future. The article confirms, "Olympus has a long standing reputation for originality. OM Digital Solutions has inherited this value and will continue to develop products and technologies that do not yet exist in the market."

"The Zuiko lens, which was born from the spirit of originality, is best represented by the M.Zuiko Digital ED 150-400mm F4.5 TC1.25x IS PRO, a new lens equipped with extraordinary super telephoto performance, yet a compact, lightweight design of less than 1.9 kg., launched at the end of 2020. It offers unprecedented mobility for those who require a long lens with high optical performance."

It is undeniably true that the company has a lot of plans with OM Digital Solutions but the plans should also have an action call. Otherwise, it won't take too long for users to think that such press statements are nothing but a mere piece of fiction.
Thirteen individuals, among them five judges, have applied to become the next Chief Justice.

Interestingly, none of the Supreme Court judges, including Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu, feature on the list released by the Judicial Service Commission on Wednesday evening.

Among the applicants are president of the Court of Appeal William Ouko, Court of Appeal judge Martha Koome, High Court judges Said Chitembwe and Nduma Nderi, and their Employment and Labour Relations colleague Gitonga Marete.

Also in the list are Senior Counsels Fred Ngatia, Philip Murgor, Patricia Mbote, Dr Moni Wekesa, Otondi Ontweka, Brian Matagaro and Alice Yano as well as Prof Otunga Mare.

They are seeking to succeed David Maraga who retired last month, and handed over to Justice Mwilu to act as CJ. The JSC also announced that nine people had applied to become judges of the Supreme Court as a replacement for Justice Jackton Ojwang' who retired in February last year.

Among those who applied are Court of Appeal judges Kathurima M'Inoti and Koome, High Court judges Joseph Sergon, Chitembwe and Nduma and Prof Lumumba Nyaberi.

Also on the list are justices Marete, Alice Yano and Dr Lumumba Nyaberi. The deadline for applications for the post of the CJ and a judge of the Supreme Court was Tuesday, February 9 at 5pm.

"The commission will proceed to shortlist and publicise the list within 14 days as provided in the First Schedule of the Judicial Service Act," JSC said in a statement.

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Once they meet, the JSC will conduct reference checks to review, verify and supplement information provided by applicants. The commission will also communicate to the applicants' referees and former employers who will be asked to comment on their candidature and get background information.

"Applicants must take note that it is a criminal offence to provide false information and documents in the job application and the same will be verified by relevant bodies," a gazette notice by acting Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu on January 18 warned.

The next CJ will be the third after the promulgation of the constitution and will be earning a salary of between Sh900,000 and Sh1,327,888. The Salaries and remuneration Commission (SRC) capped the salary of the Chief Justice in 2017 at Sh1.3 million with an entry package of Sh990,000 minus allowances.

To ensure transparency, the JSC Act requires the commission to constitute a selection panel consisting of at least five members.

Their function is be to shortlist persons for nomination by the commission. The JSC will also be filling one position of a Supreme Court judge, which has remained vacant since Justice Ojwang' retired in February last year.

The retirement age of judges is 70 years with the option for early retirement after attaining 65 years, as per Article 167 (1) of the Constitution.
News that the current Covid-19 restrictions would continue until next month did not surprise the Licensed Vintners Association, whose CEO Donall OKeeffe said vaccine roll-out is the key to society opening up again in the future.

We had expected the announcement. We knew that opening this side of Easter was not a reality, he told the Irish Independent.

When the pubs closed last March we thought the worst case scenario was that we would be closed until the summer of last year, not the summer of this year. It goes to show how Covid can continue to surprise us in a negative way.

Read More

A combination of continued suppression and the roll-out of the vaccine is what gives us the fastest route to reopening, but the pace of vaccine roll-out is a concern. The longer this goes on the worse it is for publicans and it is hard to predict what the effect will be and how many pubs dont reopen again.

The manner in which there is a reopening is also a concern. Will there be restrictions? What will the consumer response be? These are unknowns, he added.

Retail Excellence Ireland (REI), who represent 2,200 members across the country, said the ongoing uncertainty about when non-essential retail will open is doing damage to the sector.

By the time Easter comes around, non-essential retail will have been shut for half a year, and the fixed costs such as rent still need to be paid, said REI managing director Duncan Graham.

The only outlet for many traders has been to build an online business, and for the smaller operators, their e-commerce facilities are still only in their infancy and do not make up the difference that open trading allows.

Paschal Donohoe is talking about putting VAT back up to 23pc, and we have had no confirmation that the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme and Covid Restrictions Support Scheme will continue beyond the first quarter. So there is lots of uncertainty and lots of businesses will be wondering how they will survive.

Nobody wants the open/close cycle to continue, so when non-essential retail opens again it needs to be for good, and the vaccine roll-out plays a big part in that.

"But our vaccine roll-out appears to be painfully slow compared to our nearest neighbours. Thats a worry, and vaccination needs to be ramped-up, he added.

Adrian Cummins, the CEO of the Restaurants Association of Ireland, which represents 3,000 businesses around the country, called on the Government to double the Covid Restrictions Support Scheme funds and maintain and increase the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme in order to support the sector while it remains closed.

There will be casualties, but proper supports might mitigate against how many there will be, said Mr Cummins.

The continued restrictions were well flagged but we would like to see dialogue with the Government in how the summer will look for tourism and the hospitality industry.

The roll-out of the vaccine is of huge concern to us. I was talking to my counterpart in Israel and he was telling me they will be fully open by May.
Uganda will buy 18 million doses of the Oxford vaccine at a higher price than South Africa, and more than triple what the European Union is paying for the same, the government announced this week.

Last week, the Cabinet gave the Health Ministry the go-ahead to procure the initial order of the vaccine from the Serum Institute of India. The vaccine will be first administered to people aged 50 and above, those with underlying health conditions, health workers, security personnel, teachers and other essential social services providers.

The country will pay $7 per dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine South Africa is paying $5.25 and the EU $2.16.

Uganda's price does not include international transportation and handling costs for the vaccine, which have been put at $3 per dose.

With this particular vaccine requiring two doses between 28 days, the total will be $17 per person for a full regimen.

The high prices quoted caused an outcry among medical experts and the public, with some accusing the Health Ministry of inflating the prices.

But Permanent Secretary Diana Atwiine told The EastAfrican that the prices were tentative and are subject to reduction after negotiations with the manufacturer.

"At this time we cannot say this is the actual cost but it is for purposes of planning. We were guided by Gavi as we came up with those estimates," Dr Atwiine said.

On Wednesday, the Health Ministry presented to the Parliamentary Budget Committee a supplementary request for Ush18.5 billion ($5 million) to purchase the vaccine.

Efforts to reach both AstraZeneca and Gavi on why Uganda had to quote such a high price were futile by the time we went to press.

Gavi has already communicated to Uganda a tentative allocation of 3,552,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine by the end of February or beginning of March under the Covid-19 Vaccines Global Access (Covax) facility.

Uganda joined the facility last month and will contribute $132 million while Gavi will contribute $142 million to buy vaccines that will immunise 60 per cent of the country's 45 million people.

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Joe Biden on Wednesday held his first call as president with Xi Jinping, pressing the Chinese leader about trade and Beijing's crackdown on democracy activists in Hong Kong as well as other human rights concerns.

President Joe Biden speaks at the Pentagon, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, Pool)

Joe Biden on Wednesday held his first call as president with Xi Jinping, pressing the Chinese leader about trade and Beijing's crackdown on democracy activists in Hong Kong as well as other human rights concerns.

The two leaders spoke just hours after Biden announced plans for a Pentagon task force to review U.S. national security strategy in China and after the new U.S. president announced he was levying sanctions against Myanmar's military regime following this month's coup in the southeast Asian country.

A White House statement said Biden raised concerns about Beijings coercive and unfair economic practices." Biden also pressed Xi on Hong Kong, human rights abuses against Uighur and ethnic minorities in the western Xinjiang province, and its actions toward Taiwan.

I told him I will work with China when it benefits the American people," Biden posted on Twitter after the call.

Chinas state broadcaster CCTV struck a mostly positive tone about the conversation, saying Xi acknowledged the two sides had their differences, and those differences should be managed, but urged overall co-operation.

CCTV said Xi pushed back against Bidens concerns on Taiwan, Hong Kong and Xinjiang, saying the issues are Chinas internal affairs and concern Chinese sovereignty. He warned, The U.S. should respect Chinas core interests and act with caution.

Biden, who had dealt with the Chinese leader when he served as Barack Obamas vice-president, used his first three weeks in the White House to make several calls with other leaders in the Indo-Pacific region. He has tried to send the message that he would take a radically different approach to China than former President Donald Trump, who placed trade and economic issues above all else in the U.S.-China relationship.

With Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga late last month, Biden underscored the U.S. commitment to protecting the Senkaku Islands, a group of uninhabited islets administered by Tokyo but claimed by Beijing. In his call with Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Biden emphasized the need for close co-operation to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific. And in his call with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison last week, the president highlighted that the two nations' alliance was essential to stability in the region, the White House said.

Top aides to Biden have repeatedly heard from Asia-Pacific counterparts who had become discouraged by Trumps frequently sharp rhetoric aimed at allies, talk of reducing troop levels in South Korea and odd interactions with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un, according to a senior administration official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the private calls.

Allies in the region have made clear they want a more purposeful and steady approach to engagements going forward, according to the official.

To that end, Biden and other top administration officials have taken care in their initial interactions with their counterparts to look to the long game in resetting the relationships.

Biden used Wednesday's call to raise concerns about Beijings crackdown on activists in Hong Kong and about its policies affecting Muslims and ethnic minorities in Xinjiang. In the final hours of the Trump administration, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo declared that the Chinese Communist Party had committed crimes against humanity against the predominantly Muslim Uighurs and other minority groups.

China has denied any abuses and says the steps it has taken are necessary to combat terrorism and a separatist movement.

The White House also said Biden made clear his concern about Beijings increasingly assertive action with Taiwan. Beijing claims full sovereignty over Taiwan, even as the two sides have been governed separately for more than seven decades.

Days into Bidens presidency, China dispatched warplanes close to the island. The U.S. Navy, in turn, last week sent a guided-missile destroyer through the waterway that separates China and Taiwan.

One area that Biden doesnt appear ready to move quickly on is discontinuing Trumps trade war with China, which led to tariffs on their steel, aluminum and other goods.

Biden plans to leave the tariffs in place as his administration conducts a top-to-bottom review of trade policy. Administration officials note that the president is still awaiting confirmation of his U.S. trade representative nominee, Katherine Tai, and his pick for commerce secretary, Gina Raimondo. Both are expected to play key roles in helping shape China trade policy.

Administration officials say Biden also wants to consult with allies in Asia and Europe before making decisions on tariffs.

Biden and Xi know each other well and have had frank exchanges.

Biden played host to then-Chinese vice-president Xi during his 2012 visit to the United States. Biden used that visit to get a read of Xi and was blunt at moments, even raising concerns about Chinese theft of intellectual property and human rights abuses during a luncheon toast.

The following year, when Biden visited China, he publicly criticized Beijing for refusing to affirm that it would renew the visas of American journalists and for blocking the websites of American-based news media sites.

Biden has said he believes there are areas where the U.S. and China can work closely, such as addressing climate change and preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons. But ultimately, Biden said recently, he expects the U.S.-China relationship to be one of extreme competition in coming years.

On Thursday, Chinas state broadcaster said Xi told Biden: Youve said Americas greatest feature is possibility. I hope that this type of possibility will develop in a way that is conducive to improving relations between the two countries.

__

Associated Press writer Huizhong Wu in Taipei, Taiwan, contributed to this report.
As he launches a blueprint to reverse the NHS reforms of an earlier Conservative government, Matt Hancock has been warned not to allow the reorganisation to become a distraction in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic.

A white paper being published on Thursday aims to strip away the bureaucracy of the internal market system created under David Cameron in 2012, and encourage health and social care services in England to work more closely together.

But health experts warned that yet another massive restructure could divert manpower and resources away from the challenges facing the NHS as it emerges from Covid-19.

And there were fears that restoring ministers powers of direction may lead to politicians attempting to micromanage the service from Whitehall.

Shadow health secretary Jonathan Ashworth said: Boris Johnson must explain why a reorganisation in the midst of the biggest crisis the NHS has ever faced is his pressing priority.

With 192,000 patients now waiting over a year for treatment, our cancer survival rates shamefully low by European standards and mental health services stretched to the limits, ministers need to outline how an NHS reorganisation at this point in time will deliver the standards of care patients deserve.

Mr Hancock said his proposals - leaked at the weekend - were about stripping away unnecessary legislative bureaucracy, empowering local leaders and services and tackling health inequalities.

There was a broad welcome for proposals, based on recommendations in the 2019 NHS long-term plan, for a new model for local health services based on integrated care systems bringing together the health and care services and local government.

By sweeping away clunky competition and procurement rules, these new plans could give the NHS and its partners greater flexibility to deliver joined-up care to the increasing numbers of people who rely on multiple different services, said Richard Murray, the chief executive of the Kings Fund thinktank.

But he warned that new powers for ministers to intervene earlier in local decisions on the opening and closure of services risked reintroducing the damaging model of top-down command and control in the NHS.

Mr Murray said: The history of the NHS is littered with reform plans that overestimated benefits and underestimated disruption. In implementing these proposals, it will be essential to avoid distracting health and care services from dealing with the crisis at hand..

And Nuffield Trust chief executive Nigel Edwards warned: We must be careful that, in trying to boost cooperation, we dont fall into the age-old traps of distracting, confusing reorganisation, or trying to run Europes biggest public service from Whitehall.

The NHS has seen so many restructures that it can shift easily into reorganisation mode, where attention is taken away from patient care to focus on who is on which committee and which lines are on the organogram.

Meanwhile, figures from across the political spectrum, including Conservative former health secretaries Jeremy Hunt and Stephen Dorrell, social care review author Sir Andrew Dilnot and Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham, were due to attend a virtual conference demanding a people plan for fairer pay for social care workers.

Unveiling figures showing 73 per cent of care staff earn less than the real living wage of 9.50 per hour - 10.85 in London - Unison union general secretary Christina McAnea said: The shortcomings in social care should have been fixed long ago. But governments of all persuasions have failed repeatedly to deliver a plan for reform.

Care workers are on the forgotten front line as this pandemic has repeatedly shown. They and the people they look after deserve better  its time they got a fair deal.
IT has been well established that the countrys most effective mobilisation system is the election machinery based on political affiliation.

With this in mind, the current crisis in the country regarding the frightening spread of the coronavirus calls for a different kind of intervention. It is past time for the declaration of a political truce. We call on the countrys two major political machines, PNM and UNC, and all other existing political parties and groups, to come together in the national interest.

German and Danish police have arrested three Syrian men accused of planning an attack with several kilogrammes of explosive chemicals, prosecutors said Thursday.

The men aged 33, 36 and 40 are charged with planning a serious act of violence endangering the state, according to prosecutors in the town of Naumburg in Germany's Saxony-Anhalt state.

"In January of this year, they are alleged to have been involved in the purchase of several kilogrammes of chemicals that can be used to manufacture explosive devices," they said.

Two of the suspects were arrested in Denmark, where the chemicals were also seized, while the third was arrested in the German state of Hesse.

Police also seized 10 kilogrammes of gunpowder and fuses at an address in the town of Dessau in Saxony-Anhalt, the prosecutors said.

The three men are brothers, according to a report in Germany's Der Spiegel weekly, which also said police found an Islamic State flag at the Dessau address.

The chemicals -- sulphur and aluminium powder -- had been ordered by the 33-year-old from Denmark to be delivered to the address of his 36-year-old brother in Dessau, Der Spiegel said.

The 36-year-old was not found at his address but the two younger brothers were later arrested in Denmark, where police also found more IS propaganda, it said.

People with ties to IS have committed several violent attacks in Germany in recent years, with the worst a ramming attack at a Berlin Christmas market in December 2016 that killed 12.

Since 2013, the number of Islamists considered dangerous in Germany has increased fivefold to 615, according to security services.

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Financial advisory business in the growing Senior Life Settlement (SLS) asset class

A life settlement refers to the sale of an existing US insurance policy to a third party for a one-time cash payment

According to a study, $200 billion worth of life insurance will lapse or be surrendered each year through 2027

What Alpha Growth does:

( ) (OTCQB:ALPGF) is a financial advisory business providing specialist consultancy, advisory and supplementary services to institutional and qualified investors globally in the growing multi-billion dollar Senior Life Settlement (SLS) asset class.

A life settlement refers to the sale of an existing US insurance policy to a third party for a one-time cash payment. Payment is more than the surrender value, but less than the actual death benefit. After the sale, the purchaser becomes the policy's beneficiary and assumes payment of its premiums. By doing so, the buyer receives the death benefit when the insured dies.

Building on its well-established network, Alpha Growth has a unique position in the longevity asset services and investment business as a UK and US-listed entity with global reach.

The companys strategy is to expand its advisory and business services via acquisitions and joint ventures in the UK and the US to attain commercial scale and provide wholistic solutions to alternative institutional investors who are in need of specialised skills and unique access to deploy their financial resource in longevity assets.

In addition, the groups BlackOak Alpha Growth Fund, provides non-correlated, strong returns in a tax-efficient manner. The fund invests in life settlements targeting annual returns in the 10% to 14% range.

According to a study by investment firm Conning, $200 billion worth of life insurance will lapse or be surrendered each year through 2027  all of which could qualify for a life settlement and be pocketed by the policy owner.

How is it doing:

Alpha Growth said the trend of growth and improved operational & financial performance continued in the first quarter of 2021.

The Black Oak Alpha Growth Fund saw US$5mln of additional inflows during the quarter. Assets under management (AuM) at the end of the quarter stood at US$25.5mln.

The company is looking to substantively increase the marketing of the Black Oak Alpha Growth Fund in 2021, to which end it has announced the appointment of Michael Molloy, who has significant experience within the alternative investment sector and who will be responsible for growing the fund.

Alpha Growth started 2021 with news of an expansion, announcing, on February 11, that it is acquiring an unnamed Bermuda-based insurance company supported by an oversubscribed 3.75mln share placing.

The group said the deal, which will be earnings accretive, represents a significant building block in the company's continued evolution. The Class C licensed insurer has assets under management of US$290mln and in-force policies of US$750mln.

Once the transaction completes, Alpha will have around US$300mln assets under management compared with just US$10mln at the start of last year.

The company also said it continues to progress the Alpha Growth & Income strategy. This is a combination of life settlements and life contingent structured settlements hedged by a life insurance policy that is suitable for investors seeking cash flow and growth.

The group said this will be funded in either a separately managed account or as a co-mingled fund with a minimum investment of US$50mln.

Alpha Growth also said it has almost completed discussions to secure a short term credit facility.

On January 15, Alpha Growth had announced year-end results for its BlackOak Alpha Growth Fund which, on a net basis, showed the fund produced a 2020 calendar year return of 10.63% and a 13.71% total return since inception in September 2019.

This placed BlackOak in the top five BarclayHedge yearly performance rankings in its category. Assets under management for the fund have doubled in this period.

Alpha Growth said it continues to actively market to registered investment advisors in the US and to look at supplementing the direct outreach with virtual events in the US that showcase the fund.

With its December listing on the US OTCQB market, Alpha Growth added, it intends to closely coordinate the US marketing of the fund with greater reference to the company so US investors are able to follow the holding company of the general partner and investment manager of the fund as well.

Alpha Growth shares commenced trading on the OTCQB Market operated by OTC Markets Group Inc ( ) under the ticker symbol 'ALPGF' on December 16, 2020. The financial services specialist's ordinary shares continue to trade on the London Stock Exchange's Standard List market under the symbol 'ALGW'.

The firm said the listing on the OTCQB Market allows its ordinary shares to be traded by broker-dealers in the United States. Alpha was sponsored by B. Riley Securities, Inc., a registered broker-dealer with FINRA. Initially, B. Riley will act as the company's market maker in the US. Pello Capital continues to be the company's corporate broker in the UK.

Inflexion points:

More news on Bermuda-based insurance company acquisition

Completion of discussions to secure short term credit facility.

Alpha Growth & Income strategy growth

BlackOak Alpha Growth Fund assets to reach target range

What the boss says: Gobind Sahney, executive chairman

2020 was a foundational year for the fund and a significant growth year for the company overall. Despite the impact from Covid, we were able to implement various strategies across the company which are now enabling the phenomenal growth. During 2021 we will continue to further invest in these strategies to ensure we accelerate growth, increase AuM and substantially build our fee revenue.
Bennington, VT (05201)

Today

Rain likely. High 53F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a half an inch..

Tonight

Rain likely. Low 44F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a half an inch.
More than a hundred former Republican officials, who view the party as unwilling to stand up to former President Donald Trump, are in talks to form a center-right breakaway party, four people involved in the discussions told Reuters.

The early stage discussions include former elected Republicans, former officials in the Republican administrations of Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush and Trump, ex-Republican ambassadors and Republican strategists, the people involved say.

More than 120 of them held a Zoom call last Friday to discuss the breakaway group, which would run on a platform of 'principled conservatism,' including adherence to the Constitution and the rule of law - ideas those involved say have been trashed by Trump.

The plan would be to run candidates in some races but also to endorse center-right candidates in others, be they Republicans, independents or Democrats, the people say.

Names reportedly under consideration for a new party include the Integrity Party and the Center Right Party.

Evan McMullin, who ran for president in 2016, co-hosted last Friday's Zoom call

Trump's January 6 speech preceded the insurrection that saw five people lose their lives

Evan McMullin, who was chief policy director for the House Republican Conference and ran as an independent in the 2016 presidential election, told Reuters that he co-hosted the Zoom call with former officials concerned about Trumps grip on Republicans and the nativist turn the party has taken.

Miles Taylor, a former homeland security official, was among Republicans on the call

Three other people confirmed to Reuters the call and the discussions for a potential splinter party, but asked not to be identified.

Among the call participants were John Mitnick, general counsel for the Department of Homeland Security under Trump; former Republican congressman Charlie Dent; Elizabeth Neumann, deputy chief of staff in the Homeland Security Department under Trump; and Miles Taylor, another former Trump homeland security official.

Taylor was the official who wrote the 2018 'Anonymous' New York Times column promising there were 'adults' inside the White House keeping America safe during the Trump administration.

The talks highlight the wide intraparty rift over Trump's false claims of election fraud and the deadly January 6 storming of the U.S. Capitol.

Many Republicans remain fiercely loyal to the former president, but others seek a new direction for the party.

The House of Representatives impeached Trump on January 13 on a charge of inciting an insurrection by exhorting thousands of supporters to march on the Capitol on the day Congress was gathered to certify Democrat Joe Biden's election victory.

Charlie Dent, who represented Pennsylvania in the House from 2005-18, was on the call

Elizabeth Neumann, Assistant Homeland Security Secretary for Threat Prevention and Security Policy under Trump, pictured in September 2019, was another participant on the Zoom call

Miles Taylor, another former Trump homeland security official, was on the call

Call participants said they were particularly dismayed by the fact that more than half of the Republicans in Congress - eight senators and 139 House representatives - voted to block certification of Biden's election victory just hours after the Capitol siege.

Most Republican senators have also indicated they will not support the conviction of Trump in this week's Senate impeachment trial.

'Large portions of the Republican Party are radicalizing and threatening American democracy,' McMullin told Reuters.

'The party needs to recommit to truth, reason and founding ideals or there clearly needs to be something new.'

Donald Trump is the first president in U.S. history to have been impeached twice by the House

Asked about the discussions for a third party, Jason Miller, a Trump spokesman, said: 'These losers left the Republican Party when they voted for Joe Biden.'

A representative for the Republican National Committee referred to a recent statement from Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel.

'If we continue to attack each other and focus on attacking on fellow Republicans, if we have disagreements within our party, then we are losing sight of 2022 (elections),' McDaniel said on Fox News last month.

'The only way were going to win is if we come together,' she said.

McMullin said a plurality of those on last week's Zoom call backed the idea of a breakaway, national third party.

Another option under discussion is to form a 'faction' that would operate either inside the current Republican Party or outside it.

If it is decided instead to form a faction, one name under discussion is the Center Right Republicans.

Members are aware that the U.S. political landscape is littered with the remains of previous failed attempts at national third parties.

'But there is a far greater hunger for a new political party out there than I have ever experienced in my lifetime,' one participant said.
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Mortar shelling in Afghanistan kills at least 10 civilians

Fire breaks out at West Virginia oil refinery in US

Iran ready to help improve the defense capability of Syria

European Parliament head proposes to strengthen sanctions on Russia

UK PM gets married in London

Armenia reports COVID-19 new 81 cases: for people die

EU countries invite US to issue joint statement against Russia

2 people die in Armenia road accident

Nigeria: Students taken hostage a month ago are released

61 quakes recorded in Congo per day

Syrian MFA: EU lost credibility due to blind obedience to US policy

Armenia ex-minister of emergency situations hospitalized with heart attack

Mher Grigoryan: Clarification of border points is possible only after withdrawal of Azerbaijani troops from Armenia

Suspicious deal: Whether there was profit from buying DNA IDs?

Armenia ex-president says current authorities are trying to blame Russia for defeat in war

4 people killed in Afghanistani bus attack

Robert Kocharyan: This war could not have happened, it was a consequence of the policy of the authorities

Kocharyan: I have to ask people how it happened that overwhelming majority elected this leader

Armen Gevorgyan presents 'Armenia' bloc program: We offer the concept of a working country

Biden's administration proposed to leave unchanged amount of financial support to Armenia

US Embassy in Baku calls on Azerbaijan to immediately release Armenian POWs

Luxembourg MFA calls on Azerbaijan to immediately release all Armenian prisoners

Russia peacekeepers climb to Armenia Gegharkunik Province village positions

Biden strongly condemns manifestations of antisemitism in US

Iran intensifies its diplomacy amid Armenia-Azerbaijan border tensions

Armenia acting PM on forthcoming snap parliamentary elections: We hope to get 60% of votes

Lukashenko accuses West of destabilizing situation in Belarus

Armenia Central Electoral Commission chief on snap elections: No legal basis for postponing, suspending any function

Armenias Pashinyan is met by Yerevan district residents chanting against him

We are ready to be fully engaged in negotiation process to resolve Karabakh issue, says Armenia acting PM

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan gives interview to Russia TV channel

Armenia acting premier: We are ready to start withdrawing troops at any moment

Canada MFA expresses concern over 6 Armenian soldiers capture by Azerbaijan troops

There are omissions in registration documents of political forces that applied to Armenia Central Electoral Commission

Armenia Central Electoral Commission chief: There is activeness in Yerevan for the past day or two

Three new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Group of US Congress members threaten Azerbaijans Aliyev regime with sanctions

Chicago mayor is sued for allegedly refusing interview with white reporter

Iran exports oil to US for first time after long interval

"Armenia" bloc top 50 MP candidates are announced

42 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Sri Lanka public beach is covered in charred plastic pellets due to fire in container ship

US preparing list of targeted sanctions on Belarus authorities

China believes it will own America by 2035, Biden says

15 al-Shabab militants killed in Somalia

Newspaper: Armenia political forces that applied for running in election impatiently await CEC decision

Newspaper: Changes are expected in Artsakh

California prisoner who considers himself Satanist beheads cellmate, dismembers his body

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM's "mutually beneficial" proposal to collapse state system?

Armenia National Security Service Reserve Officers' Union members meet with His Holiness Karekin II

EU is ready to help Armenia and Azerbaijan with border delimitation and demarcation

ARF-D member on Nikol Pashinyan: 103 years ago Armenia's founding fathers would have executed him for treason

Iran President hails brotherly ties with Azerbaijan

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

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
TOKYO  Japan will begin administering the COVID-19 vaccine next week, with medical experts at the pandemic's frontlines the first recipients.

We will make every effort to prepare for everything, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga said at a meeting of ruling party officials Wednesday where he confirmed the timing of the first inoculations.

He called for cooperation by doctors, nurses and local municipalities to smoothly carry out the massive inoculations.

A health ministry panel is expected to give its first greenlight for a COVID-19 vaccine  one developed by Pfizer Inc.  within days.

Japan has also signed agreements with AstraZeneca of Britain and Moderna Inc. of the United States to provide a total of more than 310 million vaccine doses, or enough to cover the countrys entire population, this year. Pfizer is to provide 144 million of them.

Japanese officials have raised concerns about supply uncertainties of vaccines coming from Europe.

Vaccines are considered key to holding the postponed Tokyo Olympics this summer.

___

THE VIRUS OUTBREAK:

 South Africa will administer Johnson & Johnson vaccine to its front-line healthcare workers next week after scrapping AstraZeneca's

 Israels ultra-Orthodox reject criticism of their virus defiance, say they are defending their way of life

 House Democrats advance on major portions of President Joe Bidens pandemic plan, including school relief and minimum wage

 Absence of Lunar New Year dragon dances in Philippine capital is a palpable sign pandemic crisis is spilling into the new year

 What quarantine is like in Japan and what it might look like for the Tokyo Olympics in a few months

 Follow 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:

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia  Three sons of Cambodian leader Hun Sen were inoculated against COVID-19 as the country began distributing vaccines donated from its closest ally, China.

Hun Manet, the head of the army and Hun Sens eldest son, urged all Cambodians to be vaccinated and thanked China for the donation.

I trust this vaccine and that is why I have been vaccinated with it, Hun Manet said.

China is donating 1 million doses of the Chinese-made Sinopharm vaccine, enough for half a million people, and the first shipment of 600,000 doses arrived in Cambodia on Sunday.

Hun Sens two sons-in-law, government ministers and other officials also were vaccinated at a state-run hospital Wednesday.

Hun Sen himself backtracked on receiving the vaccine because he is 68.

In China, the Sinopharm vaccine was approved only for people ages 18-59 because that is the population studied in clinical trials. While there is not yet data on its effectiveness for other age groups, other countries have discretion to use it in older people.
As the financial hardship of many leaseholders continues, building firms are cashing in on a property market boom.

The five biggest developers have made around 10billion in profits since the Grenfell Tower inferno, allowing them to shower more than 4.5billion on shareholders in dividends.

The Government's Help to Buy scheme, which offers loans to first-time buyers, has played a key part  13billion has been doled out but developers are the real winners, as a Mail audit of the five biggest shows.

The five biggest developers have made around 10bn in profits since Grenfell Tower inferno

Barratt Developments

David Thomas, Chief executive of Barratt Developments

Value of company: 7bn

Pre-tax profits since Grenfell: 2.2bn

Dividends since Grenfell: 1.26bn

Help to Buy revenue: 1.84bn/year (approx)

Cladding removal fund: 82m

The first housebuilder to back calls for a developer levy, it has already spent 82million for remedial action on cladding and other defects.

Without a comprehensive list of the housing blocks at risk, it is impossible to say how far the money will go.

Profits for the second half of last year alone hit 430million. Around 44 per cent of its sales for that period were boosted by the Help to Buy scheme.

Chief executive David Thomas has been paid 14million in the past five years, peaking in 2019 at 3.7million.

Mr Thomas lives in a sprawling estate in Purley, south London. Bought for just under 2.6million in 2008, it is now worth around 4.5million.

Persimmon

Dean Finch, chief executive of Persimmon

Value of company: 8.82bn

Profits since Grenfell: 2.1bn

Dividends since Grenfell: 1.48bn

Help to Buy: 1.9bn/year (approx)

Cladding removal fund: 75m

Persimmon pledged 75million yesterday to pay for work on 26 buildings that may be affected by the cladding issue. Of these, nine are high rises over 18 metres.

The company, which has been synonymous with excess in the building industry, has embarked on a drive to improve its reputation. Its profits are boosted thanks to Help to Buy. The scheme accounted for about 60 per cent of its sales in 2018 and helped it to almost triple its profits per house to 66,265.

In the year after Grenfell, Persimmon became the first British housebuilder to make annual profits of more than 1billion and paid then chief executive Jeff Fairburn 85million over two years.

Last year it appointed Dean Finch, who previously turned around National Express, as its new chief executive. It has started the year with a record order book. Analysts predict that it will have made 847million in profits in 2020 despite the coronavirus.

Pete Redfern, chief executive of Taylor Wimpey

Taylor Wimpey

Value of company: 5.94bn

Pre-tax profits since Grenfell: 1.65bn

Dividends since Grenfell: 1.1bn

Help to Buy revenue: 1.7bn/year (approx)

Cladding removal fund: 40m

The fortunes of building boss Pete Redfern stand in stark contrast to the desperate straits of many flat-owners.

Taylor Wimpey's long-standing chief executive has been paid 40million in ten years  the same sum the firm has earmarked to replace cladding.

Mr Redfern lives in an Oxford mansion bought for 4.75million in 2016 and has a portfolio of Taylor Wimpey properties in the UK and Spain, mostly purchased through a staff discount scheme. In 2019, he backed down from plans to take advantage of a 436,000 discount on a 2.48million riverside apartment in central London.

Jason Honeyman, Chief Executive of Bellway

Bellway

Value of company: 3.7bn

Pre-tax profits since Grenfell: 1.5bn

Dividends since Grenfell: 465m

Help to Buy revenue: 772m/year (approx)

Cladding removal fund: 86.8m

Bellway has seen revenues soar by 12 per cent to 1.7billion in the past six months and completed a record 5,656 homes, up 6.3 per cent on a year ago. It has set aside 86.8million to make fire safety improvements to its homes.

Chief executive Jason Honeyman earns 1.09million and lives in a mansion in Chislehurst, south-east London, bought for 2.9million in 2016.

Bellway cancelled a dividend to shareholders during the first lockdown, only to reinstate it in October.

Rob Perrins, Chief executive of Berkeley Group

Berkeley Group

Value of company: 5.29bn

Pre-tax profits since Grenfell: 2.3bn

Dividends since Grenfell: 349.5m

Help to Buy revenue: 196m/year (approx)

Cladding removal fund: Unknown

The luxury developer has made huge profits in recent years and has been criticised over executive pay, facing a shareholder rebellion two years ago.

Chief executive Rob Perrins lives in a sprawling 4million six-bedroom period property in Woking, Surrey.

Berkeley has been praised by some campaigners post-Grenfell for doing work on a number of its developments without waiting for government intervention. However it has repeatedly declined to reveal what it is offering and how many flats have defects.

Controversially, Mr Perrins last year said that the Government should relax a blanket ban on combustible cladding and adopt a risk-based approach.

Who gets help... and who's been left in the cold

What's been announced?

Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick yesterday announced an extra 3.5billion from Government to replace dangerous cladding from high-rise buildings.

It takes the total pot to 5billion. Those in low and medium-rise blocks will pay a maximum of 50 a month for 'long-term, low-interest' loan to help them replace their cladding.

Who does it help?

Mr Jenrick said leaseholders in high-rise buildings  18 metres (six storeys) and above  won't pay to replace dangerous cladding.

It may relieve 700,000 people of average bills of 25,000 each.

Who misses out?

Leaseholders in low and medium-rise blocks say their repayments, which could cost 600 a year, are unaffordable with other bills such as 24-hour fire patrols (around 499 a month per flat) and insurance hikes (around 1,307 a year).

Estimates say more than 2million live in unsafe buildings below 18 metres. Critics say the size of the debt, which could be up to 24,000, will be deducted from the value of homes when leaseholders try to sell, pushing many into negative equity.

Is this just about cladding?

Hundreds of apartment blocks in England and Wales have other safety defects such as combustible insulation and timber balconies.

Mr Jenrick ducked questions on payment for these repairs, which often cost more than replacing cladding.

Leaseholders in unsafe buildings of all heights are still liable for tens of thousands of pounds to make their homes safe.

Why does height matter?

Mr Jenrick said the Government was focusing on high-risk buildings and that cladding on low and medium-rise buildings would often not need replacing.

But since Grenfell, two major fires have occurred in buildings below 18 metres. Campaigners say it is unfair for leaseholders to pay up to 600 a year to fix defects because they live in low or medium rise blocks.

Will it speed up repairs?

Extra Government funding should allow more work to get under way. But this will be limited to high-rise buildings and the pot only covers cladding issues.

Just 216 out of a possible 11,760 dangerous buildings have been fixed since Grenfell.

Does it help with the housing market?

About 1.27million properties are unsellable due to rules introduced after Grenfell. An EWS1 certificate is required to prove a building is safe before lenders will offer a mortgage.

Mr Jenrick said the measures allow homeowners to buy and sell once again  but it is unclear how. An industry consultation launched last month could free 600,000 homes from the process.

Will the industry pay its dues?

A planned developer tax could raise 2billion over a decade. There will also be a levy on some high-rise projects, but it is unknown how much this may raise.

Critics say construction giants can and should pay more to cover the costs of the scandal, while building owners, manufacturers and insurers should not get off scot-free.
Gunned down: Danny McClean was shot while sitting in a car last week

The funeral of murder victim Daniel 'Danny' McClean will be held on Friday in Belfast.

Mr McClean (54) was shot multiple times as he sat in a parked car on the Cliftonville Road in north Belfast last week.

Originally from Andersonstown in west Belfast, he was due to go on trial later this year on four terror-related charges. The charges against him were formally quashed at Belfast Crown Court on Wednesday.

The father-of-two, who was killed by a lone gunman, was identified as a dissident republican in court in 2019.

His murder has been linked to a fall-out among dissident republicans.

A 32-year-old man was arrested in connection with the killing on Wednesday, while two men aged 46 and 38, arrested in north Belfast on February 2, were released unconditionally on Monday.

Read More

Police revisited the scene of Mr McClean's murder on Tuesday night.

His funeral will be held at St Theresa's Church on the Glen Road at 10am on Friday.

Mr McClean's funeral notice read: "Loving partner of Nicola, beloved daddy of Emma and Chloe, step-daddy of Grace and a much loved granda of Conan - RIP. Due to current restrictions the funeral will be private to family only.

"Deeply regretted by his loving family circle."

Speaking last week, a senior detective appealed for anyone with information regarding Mr McClean's murder to come forward.

Read More

PSNI Superintendent Jason Murphy said police would work tirelessly to seek justice for his "callous" murder.

"This was a brutal and calculated murder carried out by someone who has no regard for life. There can be no justification for it whatsoever," he added.

"It was carried out in a built-up residential area, putting families living there at risk.

"It is extremely fortunate that no one else was injured as a result of this shooting."

Mr McClean's funeral mass can be viewed live at http://www.stteresasparish.church/webcam.
Bruce L. Castor Jr. is proud to be from Montgomery County. He made that clear Tuesday during a meandering opening statement on the first day of Donald Trumps Senate impeachment trial that invoked Philadelphia and its suburbs at least a half-dozen times.

Unfortunately for Castor, a large swath of Montgomery County isnt feeling so proud.

Disappointing, bizarre, and distressing were words used Wednesday by both Democrats and Republicans in the increasingly blue suburban Philadelphia county where Castor has for decades loomed large in political and legal circles.

Its embarrassing, said Sharon Eisman, whos from Maple Glen. You know when you have those dreams where its, like, opening night and you never rehearsed and they throw you on stage? It was like watching that guy go through that in real time.

Castor, the erstwhile district attorney who is now defending Trump, delivered a 50-minute speech on the U.S. Senate floor Tuesday that was widely panned by pundits and politicians for being seemingly unfocused on the issue at hand: the constitutionality of impeaching a former president. The perennial Republican political candidate took a folksy tack, recounting his time as a prosecutor and referring to the senators from Pennsylvania as friends.

While the performance reportedly left Trump yelling at the TV in frustration, Castor defended himself Wednesday, telling reporters at the Capitol who asked if the former president expressed displeasure: far from it.

He is literally the only person that gave his performance a compliment yesterday, said James Matthews, the former Republican Montgomery County commissioner who served alongside  and frequently sparred with  Castor. He said his former colleague may be reduced to a punchline and came across as arrogant. The greatest sign of self-centeredness is when you dont know your audience.

 READ MORE: Pa. Republicans are stumped by Trumps pick of Bruce Castor for his impeachment defense. Others see a natural choice.

Matthews, a self-described Trump fan, said he was initially hopeful when he heard the former president had tapped Castor to colead his defense team. Matthews called the trial a clown show and said Castor could have been persuasive with a purely constitutional argument.

He suggested Castor should have turned to Sen. Patrick Leahy, the Democrat presiding over the proceedings instead of Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., and said: What are you doing here?

Instead, Castor told stories of prosecuting homicides as district attorney  even accidentally introducing himself as lead prosecutor instead of lead counsel. He quoted Benjamin Franklin, saying hes my founding father, too, and devolved into multiple long-winded asides.

Some Montgomery County residents who were watching said they were waiting for a pivot that never came. Tony Heyl, a Bridgeport councilmember who has worked in Montgomery County Democratic political circles for more than a decade, said it reminded him of professional wrestling: Hulk Hogan was famous for years for body-slamming his opponents, then one day switched gears out of nowhere, did a leg drop move, and turned to the dark side, Heyl said.

Bruce Castor, he never made a heel turn, he said. He never turned to the Trump side.

Catie Scott, a 29-year-old who grew up in North Wales and now lives in Philadelphia, said she was looking forward to watching Castor on the national stage, but the monologue felt very stream of consciousness and was kind of spiraling downward.

 READ MORE: Bruce Castor had a big spotlight to open Trumps impeachment defense. It didnt go well.

She said she did identify with Castors pride for his home county, a pride that she shares. But Scott, a former Republican who switched parties in 2016, is clear-eyed about how Castor was received by the nation: If I had to pick a representative for Montgomery County, it wouldnt have been that.

Across the country, Eisman was watching Castor from her home in Los Angeles. The 45-year-old artist and producer who graduated from Upper Dublin High School had never heard of Castor before  that is, until she Googled him while he was speaking Tuesday and found out they share a home county.

She exhaled in disappointment, feeling oddly ashamed. While Eisman said shes a Democrat, this shame does not come from my party affiliation, she said. It just comes from poor lawyering from my hometown.

Others were a bit more forgiving. David Keightly Sr., a Montgomery County-based attorney who worked in the district attorneys office with Castor in the late 80s and early 90s, said his former colleague was put in an almost impossible situation.

Trump brought Castor onto his impeachment defense team less than two weeks before the Senate trial. The former presidents previous legal team parted ways with him, according to the Washington Post, after he insisted they focus their defense on his bogus assertion that the 2020 election was stolen.

Keightly said Castors performance didnt comport with the Castor that he knew  someone who was scary organized.

People are making a mistake beating up Bruce when its really all Trumps fault, he said. Bruce gets a case of that magnitude a week before trial and hes representing a loathsome, lying insurrectionist. Like, its not an easy position to be put in.

 READ MORE: The best tweets about Bruce Castors debut as Trumps impeachment lawyer

Joseph M. Hoeffel, a Democrat and former congressman from Abington who served on the Montgomery County board of commissioners alongside Castor and Matthews, said Tuesday was clearly a bad day for Castor and on a huge stage.

This wasnt a Montgomery County jury in a criminal matter, he said. This is the U.S. Senate during the impeachment of a former president, and he did not meet the moment.

But Castor has had a lengthy political life, proving several times hes nothing if not resilient.

Hes more talented than that, Hoeffel said, and frankly, I expect he will rebound next time hes at the podium.

Staff writer Jeremy Roebuck contributed to this article.
Booz Allen Hamilton has appointed Bruno Wehbe as the new Vice President for its Real Estate & Investments practice, covering the Mena region and its ambitious mega-projects that include the foremost cities of the future.

An industry veteran, Wehbe boasts consulting expertise that spans a number of related industries and other high-profile engagements.

Prior to rejoining Booz Allen, Wehbe was Chief Portfolio and Strategy Officer for Arabian Centres, which is Saudi Arabia's largest developer and operator of lifestyle centres, where he managed 1.3 million sq m of properties worth more than $4 billion.

He also co-led the IPO of the company in 2019, one of the kingdoms largest listings of the past decade.

Welcoming the appointment, Souheil Moukaddem, Executive VP and Booz Allen Hamiltons Managing Director in Mena, said: "Wehbe brings with him a wealth of experience in the real estate sector and will support our clients with high-impact solutions as they navigate a dynamic environment."

As a consulting firm with experts in analytics, digital, engineering, and cyber industry,

military, government, and business leaders have turned to Booz Allen Hamilton for more than 100 years to solve their most complex problems.

On his new role, Wehbe said: I am excited to be back with Booz Allen and look forward to being a part of this stellar team of professionals, working within the vibrant real estate industry across the region."

"I look forward to serving the regions national champion developers in defining winning strategies and transformation programs to meet the fast-evolving business landscape," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
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Research

6 Steps to Move Prior Learning Assessment Forward

A new report from Capella University shares ways institutions can grow their prior learning assessment (PLA) offerings. The PLA model is "the practice of documenting a learner's existing knowledge and skills through written assessments and portfolios of work" and providing students with college credit for those competencies, the institution explained in a news announcement.

Particularly now, with students and universities dealing with the economic turmoil of the current pandemic, PLA can provide a way for students to spend less money to obtain their degrees and accumulate credits at a faster rate, the university pointed out. Commented Dick Senese, university president, "Improving the effectiveness of practices such as PLA is one way that institutions can reduce barriers to access and affordability and offer educational experiences that are tightly coupled with the needs of the students we serve."

In "Unlocking the [Full] Potential of PLA," Capella outlines six steps for moving PLA programs forward:

1) Map out current practices. To start, institutions need to analyze where PLA credit is coming from and what programs that credit is mapping to; document whether credit is awarded toward degrees or toward electives; and establish who is responsible for making decisions (e.g., the registrar's office or individual academic departments), the report advised.

2) Communicate with students. Make sure students are provided information about PLA  build it into the standard enrollment and pathway advising process. "One of the biggest barriers to the expansion of prior learning assessment is that many students simply don't know about it," the report noted.

3) Track outcomes. It's important to collect data on which students use PLA and how it impacts their academic trajectory, the report asserted. Use data to make the case for PLA and to refine or redesign practices.

4) Change funding models. Lack of financial support and incentives for PLA is a barrier across higher ed. Funding models at the federal, state and institutional levels need to change so that students can receive credit for their prior learning and be eligible for financial aid for the associated fees.

5) Define competencies. If more institutions use competencies  clearly defined knowledge, skills, abilities and intellectual behaviors  as the measure of learning (rather than time and course completions), "it becomes much easier to assess the value of and apply outside learning to a program of study," the report said.

6) Develop interoperable learner records. The report defines these records as those that "contain verified information about a learner's formal education and credentials, informal learning, and work" that is shareable "across systems, devices, platforms, and applications." Though interoperable learner records are still in their infancy (drawing on distributed ledger technology like blockchain), they "may well be key to unlocking PLA's full potential," the report said.

"There is strong evidence that PLA can be an invaluable tool for decreasing time to completion and reducing college costs  all by recognizing and valuing the learning that students may bring from their work and life experiences," said Becky Klein-Collins, vice president of impact at the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning. "This report makes an important case for adult-serving institutions to redesign PLA for a new era  in a moment in our history when we need working adults to continue learning and acquiring the credentials that support our knowledge economy."

The full report is available on the Capella site.
The finance minister has defended changes to tax payments on pandemic employment supports, saying it's aimed at ensuring people don't face a big tax bill at the end of the year.

People receiving the pandemic unemployment payment (PUP) who return to work in 2021 have to pay all the income tax due on the payment this year, while those on PUP last year have four years to settle their bill.

The change by the Revenue Commissioners, announced on Wednesday, will likely put more financial strain on people on the payment, many of whom are already under pressure.

Those going back to work this year will effectively lose tax credits, reducing the portion of their income that is tax-free.

Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe said he was "very clear that the PUP was taxable" and the Government wasn't in a position to tax it at the time, because "we created the payment in an emergency".

He said:

Concerns did develop on whether PUP recipients would face a really large tax bill at the end of the year.

"In order to avoid that happening again, it will be taxed as we go normally through the year to try to avoid any creation of a big bill pending."

Mr Donohoe said the scheme is vastly different from the one in place a year ago, with four different rates of payment at 200, 250, 300, and 350.

"If you're on 200, 250, 300 rate, it's very likely that the value of your tax credits on a weekly basis will actually be less than the value of PUP payments that you're getting, which means that you will not have any additional tax liability if you go back to work," he said.

"On the 350 payment, somebody had been unemployed from the start of January to the start of May this year, it's likely that the additional tax liability that they would have from May onwards will be between 130 and 140.

"We tax jobseekers' payments and it's therefore appropriate that the same happened with the PUP, but I understand the concern about a big bill at the end of the year.

"We did deal with that last year, and in an effort to avoid it for this year, that's why the Revenue Commissioners are collecting tax."

Vat increases

The 2% lower rate of Vat will also end at the end of this month.

"When we brought in the lower rates of the use of a Vat, the aim of bringing in lower rates for a fixed period of time was mainly to support our retailers who were under such pressure because of either being closed or having a very low level of trading," Mr Donohoe said.

"What has changed since then is we've brought in the Covid restriction support scheme (RSS) that we launched in October.

"That is an additional way of supporting either closed retailers or retailers with a very low level of trade."

Mr Donohoe said the Vat change was a temporary measure, costing 440m for the number of months it was in place:

We now have a more effective way of supporting closed retailers.

"The new scheme that we have has paid 230m already. It is a more targeted scheme, and a more effective use of our money," he added.

"Even with the budgetary flexibility that we do have  we are this week, for example, supporting a million of our citizens through income payments  I believe that we can make more effective use of hundreds of millions of euro."

The 9% Vat rate with regard to the hospitality sector will remain in place until November 31.
The Scottish Saltire flag flies next to the British Union Jack with the London Eye wheel seen behind in London, on July 29, 2019. (Toby Melville/Reuters)

Scottish Support for Independence Slips, Poll Shows

LONDONScottish support for independence has fallen 4 percentage points, probably due to divisions among Scottish nationalists, but 47 percent of Scots still support breaking up the United Kingdom by going it alone, a poll indicated on Feb. 11.

A Savanta ComRes poll for The Scotsman showed 47 percent would vote for independence and 42 percent would vote against, with 10 percent still undecided.

Scottish nationalists are pushing for an independence referendum to be held after Scottish Parliament elections in May, although British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said such votes should happen only once in a generation.

Alongside polling on independence support, the survey found that Scottish Conservatives had gained popularity while there was greater support for both Johnson and the British government.

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has been accused by her predecessor and mentor, Alex Salmond, of misleading Parliament over the governments unlawful investigation of sexual harassment claims against him.

She has denied misleading the government. Salmond was cleared by a jury at Edinburghs High Court of all sexual assault charges.

That kind of division could perhaps make people think twice about independence and whether or not the SNP can be trusted ultimately to have a united front when it is needed the most to get independence over the line, said Chris Hopkins, political research director at Savanta ComRes.

In a referendum in 2014, Scots voted 55 percent to 45 percent to remain in the UK, but both Brexit and the British governments handling of the COVID-19 crisis have bolstered support among Scots for independence.

If Scots voted to leave, it would be the biggest shock to the UK since Irish independence a century agojust as it grapples with the impact of Brexit, a move that Scotlands voters strongly opposed.

By Guy Faulconbridge
Chief Nursing Officer Brenda Cadorette presents Susan Alibozek, right, with Berkshire Medical Center's first DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses.

BMC Presents Inaugural 'DAISY' Award to Cardiac Nurse

PIITTSFIELD, Mass.  Cardiac care nurse Susan Alibozek was honored with Berkshire Medical Center's first DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses, a national nursing recognition program that has been adopted by thousands of hospitals to honor individual nurses who have had a tremendous impact on patient care.

Based on a nomination received from the granddaughter of a BMC patient, Alibozek had a huge impact on the patient and family.

"My grandmother fell and broke her femur around her hip joint implant. It was a bad break that required a lengthy surgery. When we got to BMC, the doctors were also concerned about her heart so she was admitted to the 4th floor. During her stay, communications with the nursing team was wonderful," said Crystal Van Deusen in her nomination. "Sue Alibozek was the amazing nurse that got stuck listening to me. She took all the time that was needed with me to explain and calm me. She walked me through everything that had happened  all that I was either unaware of or had little knowledge of. She also told me what the next steps were and what options we had. She treated me and more importantly my grandmother with dignity, grace, compassion empathy and respect."

Using the acronym PETALS, BMC's criteria for nominating a nurse for a DAISY Award is:

P: Passion and compassion  for nursing and the care they provided

E: Empathy  toward individual patients and their loved ones

T: Trust and teamwork  does the nurse convey a sense of trust and security

A: Admirable attributes

L: Love, for patient and profession

S: Selflessness

"It truly shows how much passion she has for nursing and compassion for her patients," continued Van Deusen. "She even suggested a few things that I hadn't thought of so I know she has a huge heart and has superior knowledge. She was an advocate for gramma when I wasn't there and it made things so much easier, I was able to trust her and her judgment. A thank you doesn't seem like it's enough to say to Sue for her selflessness, compassion, love and respect."

The DAISY Award will be bestowed monthly following a nomination process and review by an interdisciplinary oversight committee. BMC staff, patients, and the general community can submit nominations. The nomination form can be found on each floor and in patient welcome packets.

The DAISY Foundation was started in memory of Patrick Barnes, who passed away in 1999 from complications of the autoimmune disease ITP, or idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura.

His family wanted to turn their grief into something positive. The DAISY acronym stands for Diseases Attacking the Immune System. As they brainstormed on what the foundation would do they kept coming back to conversations about how wonderful Barnes' nurses were. Their mission became to express gratitude to nurses with programs that recognize them for their extraordinary skillful, compassionate care provided to patients and families.

The program is now in over 4,500 health-care facilities across the United States and around the world.

FULLERTON, CA / ACCESSWIRE / February 11, 2021 / California-based contractor and entrepreneur Alberto Mordoki was recently featured in an article on TopDreamer. He was asked to provide his insight into recent trends in home improvement and design.

Alberto Mordoki runs his own construction company alongside his wife Mirella Mordoki and his son and daughter.

For the TopDreamer article, Alberto Mordoki identified the top five trends in home improvement and design for 2020. The first trend was upgrading the workspace. Mordoki noted that with so many people being forced to work from home, it led to a major increase in demand for workspace renovations. He went on to say that he saw many extra bedrooms or spaces being turned into offices, as well as empty land on properties being transformed into office spaces.

The second home improvement trend Mordoki described was kitchen makeovers. He said that more people working remotely has led to more people cooking their meals at home. In turn, it has made people want to redesign their kitchens to be more functional, have more storage space, and be more visually appealing.

Further, Mordoki claimed that one popular home improvement and design trend from the past year has been a renewed focus on the outdoors.

Homeowners have more of an opportunity to get fresh air. And since throughout the pandemic, many people have been told not to leave their homes, what better place to do that than their own backyard?" said Alberto Mordoki.

The final trend that Alberto Mordoki discussed is bathrooms. He said that bathrooms are always a popular home improvement trend, and now more than ever, they are being seen as a place to rest and relax as well as a practical space.

For more information, visit albertomordoki.com.

About Alberto Mordoki

Alberto Mordoki is a contractor and entrepreneur from Fullerton, California. He started his own construction company in 2012, which he runs alongside his wife and two children. The company specializes in drywall installation and taping, construction, and suspended ceilings for both commercial and residential properties. In addition to the construction side of the business, Mordoki also has an eye for interior design, a service he offers to many homeowners looking for advice on paint colors or furniture.

CONTACT:

Alberto Mordoki

news@albertomordoki.com

(657) 348-3194

SOURCE: Albert Mordoki

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/629367/Contractor-and-Entrepreneur-Alberto-Mordoki-Speaks-Out-on-Recent-Trends-in-Home-Improvement-and-Design
Alleged killers of J.B. Danquah Adu, former Member of Parliament for Abuakwa North have finally been provided with a new lawyer.



On November 27, last year, Mr Augustine Obuor who had represented the suspects over the past few years withdrew his representation in the case.



Mr Obuor indicated that he had read and seen many videos of one of the suspects, Daniel Asiedu aka Sexy Dondon admitting the crime to the whole world and that it was going to be difficult for him to defend Asiedu.



However during Thursdays court sitting, the High Court presided over by Mrs. Justice Lydia Osei-Marfo, said that Mr Yaw Dankwa, a lawyer has agreed to defend Asiedu and Vincent Bossu, the two suspects.



The court said I have to put on record that My Yaw Dankwa has come into this case on behalf of the accused persons because of the courts intervention.



I had to plead with him to take up the matter of the accused persons when he appeared before me in another case and he gracefully agreed to do that, this being so, Mr Yaw Dankwa is formally the counsel for the accused persons in this case.



The Court therefore ordered him Mr Dankwa to contact the Legal Aid Office in Accra for the disclosure documents which had been in the custody of the previous counsel.



The previous counsel, the court said would be forwarding them to Legal Aid.



Ms Sefakor Batsa, a Principal State Attorney who led the Prosecution said she had contacted the lawyer who was formerly representing the accused persons in respect of handing over the disclosures to the new counsel who will take over the representation of the accused persons.



According to Ms. Batsa, Mr Obuor indicated to her that since he was appointed by the Legal Aid, he would prefer handing over the documents to Legal Aid.



She said Mr Obuor disclosed that, he had been contacted by an officer from Legal Aid who will be coming for the documents.



But before proceeding would end, Asiedu made allegations of being tortured by one of the prison officers.



The Court ordered the prison officers to investigate the matter and adjourned the matter to February 19.



The court held that at the next sitting, the plea of the accused persons would be taken and a jury empaneled.



Asiedu and Bossu are facing a charge of conspiracy.



Asiedu is additionally being held for murder.



The two are believed to be involved in the murder of the late legislature in his home at Shiashie, near East Legon in February 2016.



Accused persons plea have been preserved and they have been remanded into prison custody.

Source: GNA









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An 8-month-old Decatur child is in critical condition in a Birmingham hospital with injuries police say came from a man now charged with assault.

Decatur police officers went to a home in the 2,200 block of Victoria Drive SW about 11:59 p.m. Tuesday on a call about a child in medical distress.

The child was taken to a hospital, where physical injuries were discovered.

On Wednesday, police arrested Cameron Almen Elliott, 22, of Decatur and charged him with assault, unlawful possession of marijuana and unlawful possession of a controlled substance. Decatur police said they found Elliott in possession of marijuana that was packaged for re-sell and some prescription medication.

Elliott was book in the Morgan County Correctional Facility with a $260,000 bond.
(CNN) -- Former President Donald Trump was unhappy with his impeachment lawyer Bruce Castor's opening argument on the Senate floor Tuesday, two people familiar with his reaction told CNN.

Castor, who is representing Trump alongside attorney David Schoen, delivered a meandering argument during the first day of the Senate impeachment trial, including praise for the House impeachment managers for a presentation that he said was "well done."

Trump was almost screaming as Castor struggled to get at the heart of his defense team's argument, which is supposed to be over the constitutionality of holding a trial for a president no longer in office. Given that the legal team was assembled a little over a week ago, it went as expected, one of the sources told CNN.

Still, Trump's allies were flabbergasted when the attorneys switched speaking slots at the last minute.

Castor's discursive presentation featured lengthy praise of the Senate, including his home state Pennsylvania senators -- Republican Pat Toomey and Democrat Bob Casey -- while arguing that the Senate should not be holding the trial. He warned that a second impeachment trial in 13 months would "open the floodgates" to future impeachments, even making the unfounded rhetorical suggestion that former Obama administration Attorney General Eric Holder could be impeached.

The Senate ultimately voted 56-44 that the impeachment trial is constitutional.

An adviser to Trump's team offered a candid assessment of the messy opening day, asking pointedly, "What the hell is going on?"

The adviser said the former President could be in serious jeopardy if he finds himself charged in criminal court, given his inability to attract a high-powered legal team for the impeachment trial.

"Trump is f--ked if anyone ever charges him. No one wants to work with him," the adviser said.

Schoen was supposed to present first, not Castor, two people familiar with the plan told CNN. But Castor told the Senate that Trump's legal team "changed what we were going to do on account that we thought that the House managers' presentation was well done."

After Castor yielded to Schoen, the tone of the defense team changed starkly. Schoen charged that Democrats were using impeachment as a political "blood sport" to try to keep Trump from running for office again, accusing them of trying to disenfranchise pro-Trump voters.

Though the former President was displeased by his defense team's early performance, his staff remained confident that he was headed for acquittal and it would not change the outcome of the trial. Two separate sources close to Trump say he's lying low through the end of the trial but talking with aides about how to reemerge and help Republicans around the midterm elections.

A separate senior adviser to Trump insisted that Castor was attempting to lower the emotional temperature in the Senate before Schoen began his presentation.

"This is about lowering the temperature following the Democrats' emotionally charged opening, before dropping the hammer on the unconstitutional nature of this impeachment witch hunt," the adviser said.

But even some GOP senators signaled they were unimpressed with the presentation.

Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas -- who nonetheless voted that the trial was unconstitutional -- told reporters bluntly, "I thought the President's lawyer -- the first lawyer -- just rambled on and on and on and didn't really address the constitutional argument."

"Finally the second lawyer got around to it, and, I thought, did an effective job." He quickly added, "But I've seen a lot of lawyers and a lot of arguments and that was -- it was not one of the finest I've seen."

Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, who was the only senator to vote differently than in a procedural vote last month on the constitutionality of the trial, told reporters that the "House managers were focused, they were organized" and "made a compelling argument," while in contrast, "President Trump's team were disorganized."

"They did everything they could but to talk about the question at hand, and when they talked about it they kind of glided over, almost as if they were embarrassed of their arguments," Cassidy said.

Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska similarly said: "Today was supposed to be an opportunity to, to be briefed on the constitutionality of whether or not you can move forward with an impeachment of a former president."

"I thought that -- that the House presented a pretty good, pretty good legal analysis. In fairness, I was really stunned at the first attorney who presented for former President Trump. I couldn't figure out where he was going, spent 45 minutes going somewhere, but I don't think he helped with us better understanding where he was coming from on the constitutionality of this," Murkowski said.

A source who advised the Trump campaign said plainly, "Getting criticized by both sides. Yikes."

Castor and Schoen, each of whom has a history of being involved in controversial legal matters, were tapped to lead Trump's legal team one day after CNN first reported that five members of his defense had left abruptly. One point of friction with his previous team was that Trump wanted the attorneys to focus on his election fraud claims rather than the constitutionality of convicting a former president.

A source close to the first Trump impeachment team said the former President's current lawyer shouldn't be compared with the attorneys who represented him at his first trial.

"It is hard to compare to our team," the source said of Trump's first impeachment team, noting it featured the likes of Bill Clinton impeachment veteran Judge Ken Starr, Harvard professor Alan Dershowitz and former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi. "Different level of experience."

Despite the criticism, Castor simply told reporters after the day's session: "I thought we had a good day, thank you."

This story has been updated with additional reporting.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Trump unhappy with his impeachment attorney's performance, sources say"
The European Union rebuffed Britain's call to reset the two sides' relationship, saying Britain needs to honor the promises it made on Northern Ireland as part of the Brexit deal.

In a letter to Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove, European Commission vice president Maros Sefcovic gave a cool response to Britain's request to delay the implementation of border checks on some goods entering the province, saying that measures the U.K. previously signed up to "urgently need to be fully and faithfully implemented."

The letter, published ahead of a meeting between the two men in London on Thursday, is likely to inflame tensions between the two sides that escalated dramatically on Jan. 29 when the commission briefly threatened to trigger an emergency clause in the Brexit divorce deal to curb vaccine exports to Northern Ireland.

Speaking to lawmakers Tuesday, Gove said the part of the Brexit deal covering Northern Ireland, known as the Irish Protocol, wasn't working, and called for a reset in the EU's relationship with Britain.

Unlike the rest of the U.K., Northern Ireland effectively remained in the EU's customs union and single market after Brexit -- a concession Prime Minister Boris Johnson made to the bloc to secure Britain's orderly departure.

"The difficulties on the island of Ireland are caused by Brexit, not by the Protocol," the EU's chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, told the European Business Summit in Brussels on Thursday. "The Protocol is the solution, I'm sure -- if it is correctly implemented by everybody."

With goods crossing the Irish Sea facing delays and disruption, Gove is seeking to postpone the introduction of full checks on food destined for supermarkets, medicines and parcels moving into the province from the rest of the U.K. until 2023.

But "blanket derogations" from EU law as set out in the deal "in respect of Northern Ireland cannot be agreed beyond what the Protocol foresees already," Sefcovic said in the letter.

He also said granting more flexibility around checks on seeds and pets crossing the border -- two British demands -- "would entail the U.K. committing to align with the relevant EU rules."

Sefcovic also set out a list of what he called "shortcomings" in the British implementation of the deal, saying border control posts are still not fully operational and data-sharing aren't in place.

The U.K.'s Cabinet Office criticized Sefcovic's letter and called for urgent action to "restore confidence" in the Northern Ireland Protocol.

"It is disappointing that the Commission has failed to acknowledge the shock and anger felt right across the community in Northern Ireland from its decision to trigger Article 16," the Cabinet Office said in a statement. Gove will underline the need for "political leadership" when he meets with Sefcovic on Thursday, the statement said.

Read more: How a 'Mind-Blowing' Blunder Created a Dangerous Brexit Standoff

The letter also drew a critical response from Northern Ireland's first minister, Arlene Foster, whose Democratic Unionist Party has long opposed the Protocol.

She said that Sefcovic has had his "head in the sand" and "fingers in his ears" over the problems affecting the region. "That's an incredible state of affairs," she told on ITV's "Peston" program on Wednesday.

Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin called on EU member states to "cool it," saying there were bound to be teething problems in early days of the Protocol.

"Tensions were rising unnecessarily," he told RTE Radio on Thursday. "Ultimately, we want the U.K. aligning well with the EU. We want harmonious sensible relationships."

Separately, the European Commission said Wednesday that it wanted to delay the conclusion of the provisional application of the wider post-Brexit trade agreement from the end of February until April 30 to give time for governments and EU lawmakers to scrutinize the trade pact.

The European Parliament has to vote on whether to approve the deal before the end of the provisional period. Officials on both sides said it's highly unlikely lawmakers will seek to vote down the accord. Any delay, though, would still have to be approved by both the U.K. and EU.

"It's a little surprising the EU wish to change it quite so soon," David Frost, the U.K.'s chief Brexit negotiator, said to a panel of lawmakers Tuesday after being told informally by the EU that it wanted more time. Frost said he didn't think there is "any wish" on the U.K. side "to extend this more than necessary."
Welcome Guest! You Are Here:
An amorous couple face being fined for breaking lockdown rules after they were caught 'fornicating under the stars' on Dartmoor on the coldest night of the year.

The two women were busted by a routine patrol in the early hours when the temperature was -3C near the village of Yelverton, Devon.

They had driven 10 miles from their homes in Plymouth and had parked up in a car park in West Dartmoor, a known dogging hotspot, when officers arrived just after midnight.

The couple were warned to return to their separate homes, which they did, and were subsequently reported for breaking lockdown regulations and may now face a 200 fine each.

Police have urged people to stop breaking lockdown rules after busting two women having sex in a Dartmoor car park on the coldest night of the year (stock photo)

It prompted Tavistock Police to take to social media at 2.17am this morning to tweet warnings to anyone considering doing the same.

The force said: 'Fornicating under the stars, on the moors, may seem like this year's latest romcom, but it is not an essential journey and certainly breaks social distancing guidance.

'Please continue to abide by Covid-19 legislation to help prevent the spread of Covid.'

A spokesperson for Devon and Cornwall Police added: 'During a routine patrol, officers from the Tavistock Neighbourhood Team discovered two people in-breach of social distancing regulations, in a car at a remote location near Yelverton, West Dartmoor, late on Wednesday 10 February.

'The officers spoke to the individuals who were subsequently instructed to return to their respective home addresses; both were reported for breaching COVID-19 regulations.'

Tavistock Police found the couple at a secluded car park. They were warned to return to their separate homes, which they did, and were subsequently reported for breaking lockdown regulations and may now face a 200 fine each

Today, locals told how parts of Dartmoor had become a magnet for doggers travelling from Plymouth and Tavistock.

One said: 'From what I gather the couple caught in flagrante last night were two women who had driven the 25-minutes out of Plymouth to a remote car park near Yelverton. They aren't the only ones, a lot of couples do it.

'It's become somewhat of a hotspot in recent times and despite the lockdown, couples are still venturing out.

'The police regularly patrol car parks and other remote spots around Dartmoor because they know that more often than not doggers will be out breaking the rules.

'And that is what happened last night apparently, the officers wandered over to the car with the windows steamed up and caught the women at it. They were told in no uncertain terms to go home which they did straight away.'

At the other end of England, Northumbria Police and Mountain Rescue Teams have begged people 'don't put yourself and others at risk' after they rescued ill-equipped hiker in heavy snowfall.

Volunteers from the Northumberland National Park Mountain and North of Tyne Mountain Rescue Teams have come across a number of people wearing trainers, tracksuit bottoms and lightweight jackets  despite blizzard-like conditions and sub-zero temperatures.

Northumbria Police and Mountain Rescue Teams have begged people 'don't put yourself and others at risk' after they rescued ill-equipped hiker in heavy snowfall

Wintry conditions across the hills of Northumberland are keeping temperatures at about -8C with a windchill down to as low as -19C at the weekend.

Mountain Rescue Team Leaders, Iain Nixon and Keith Briggs, said: 'In these conditions a simple trip and slip can lead to a serious life-threatening situation and anyone going onto the hills must be prepared for winter conditions and be dressed and equipped accordingly.

'This includes the ability to navigate in zero visibility, read avalanche terrain and be in possession of ice axe and crampons. We would ask  please dont put yourself and others at risk.'

Meanwhile, a group of lockdown flouters are facing up to 13,000 in fines after police busted a drink and drugs-fuelled house party in one of Londons most exclusive areas.

A total of 17 partygoers were slapped with fixed penalty notices of 800 each while some tried to argue with police about why they should be allowed to socialise.

A group of lockdown flouters are facing up to 13,000 in fines after police busted a drink and drugs-fuelled house party in one of Londons most exclusive areas

Cops were called to an address in leafy Knightsbridge, west London, on Saturday night after reports of a gathering and loud music.

Officers arrived to find a crowd of more than 20 people from different households boozing inside.

When they searched the property, which turned out to have been rented out for the party, they also found drugs.

One attendee confessed to travelling around 20 miles from Slough in Berkshire to be at the party despite rules banning people from non-essential travel.

Chief Superintendent Helen Harper, the Mets Borough Commander, said: 'Those who have followed the Covid-19 rules from the outset of the pandemic are, I am sure, fed up of seeing and hearing about blatant breaches of the legislation such as this.

'Whilst explaining why attendees would be issued with fines, my officers were met with resistance from some who felt that they had every right to meet and socialise.

'I would like to reiterate the words of my officers: across the capital and the country, there are people whose quality of life will be detrimentally affected by the virus, and others who will not survive at all.'

A Met Police spokesman added: 'More than 20 people from different households were present at the private property. One person admitted to travelling from Slough to attend the party in a clear breach of lockdown rules.

'It was later discovered that the property had been rented out over the weekend specifically for the party. Police continue to investigate the circumstances of the rental agreement and identify the owner.

'Seventeen people at the address were reported for consideration of FPNs of up to 800 each.'

In Cheshire, rule breakers were so desperate to avoid being caught at an illegal party that they hid in cupboards in an attempt to evade capture by the police.

Raiding a house party on Saturday night at 8.30pm, the force found banners, balloons and an alcohol bar in full flow.

But when they got to the gathering some party-goers tried to hide in cupboards to evade the officers.

Assistant Chief Constable Jenny Sims said: 'While the majority of Cheshire residents are abiding to the rules, there are still a minority who are bending and blatantly breaching restrictions which are in place to save lives.

'Officers are risking their own health to protect Cheshire residents from this deadly virus. When they are met by blatant and repeat breaches they will enforce without delay.

'There are many more people in hospital with the virus during this lockdown than at any time during the pandemic.

'This is why it is so important that people continue to stick to the regulations, we will only get through this health emergency by us all doing the right thing'
RALLY for Democracy and Progress leader Mike Kavekotora says he supports the decision by Cabinet to liquidate and close down Air Namibia.

Cabinet on Tuesday gave approval for the national airline to be voluntarily liquidated.

Kavekotora is one of the members of parliament who have been calling for closing down of parastatals that have been "technically insolvent for years".

"We don't need to be emotional about it. We currently have an airline which is basically a bottomless pit. It has been a liability. The money we have been pumping into Air Namibia as a nation went into billions and billions of dollars. This is money that could have been used for other pertinent issues such as education and health and other pertinent issues," Kavekotora said.

Kavekotora added: "I only hope that the decision to liquidate Air Namibia is not politically motivated to the benefit of the politically connected people as we have been hearing in the papers".

He said he does not support the narrative of maintaining a national airline for the sake of it.

"I am not buying into that argument of just wanting to see the Namibian flag on an airline. That is nonsense, that is an emotional reaction. We need to be realistic and we don't need to be emotional about this. If something does not work, you just have to kill it. And this applies to many technically insolvent state-owned enterprises," he said.

Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) director Graham Hopwood also supports the Cabinet decision to liquidate Air Namibia.

He said: "Air Namibia has not produced any audited financial statements over the years. You can't run a business like that and expect it to continue so I'm afraid it is very sad but it is inevitable that it has to happen".
You are here: China

Premier Li Keqiang has signed a State Council decree unveiling a regulation on preventing and handling illegal fundraising amid efforts to promote healthy economic development and maintain social stability.

The new regulation will strengthen oversight in key areas. It will also prevent and defuse risks and protect the legitimate rights and interests of the people.

It will come into effect on May 1.

A State Council executive meeting on Dec. 21, 2020 adopted the draft regulation. It stipulates the administrative and criminal responsibilities for illegal fundraising, the return of funds, and the consequences participants should bear.

The country prohibits illegal fundraising in all forms and shall put prevention first, conduct early cracking down on illegal acts, and prudently implement comprehensive management, said the regulation.

An integrated working mechanism shall be established. Governments at the provincial level shall be in charge of the work against illegal fundraising in their administrative areas, guided by the State Council, according to the regulation.

Monitoring and early warnings shall be established and improved. More efforts should be made in market entity registration, internet and advertising management, as well as funds monitoring.

The administrative deposition shall be strengthened, with timely investigation and identification of suspected illegal fundraising acts, with clarified means and compulsory measures.

The regulation stipulates legal responsibilities. Acts of illegal fundraising that constitute a crime shall be investigated for criminal responsibility under the law.
School in China Requires Students to Disclose Their Religious Beliefs

Chinese Communist Party (CCP) authorities in one Chinese city are mandating that school students disclose their religious beliefs, according to a Chinese parent who recently moved to the United States. He spoke with The Epoch Times and expressed concern that China could be seeing another wave of religious persecution.

Yan Tao, a new Chinese immigrant to Los Angeles and whose daughter had attended primary school in China, recently received a notification from a chat group on popular Chinese social media platform WeChat. It is a group for parents at his daughters school. The message sent by the head teacher stated: According to the notice of the municipal Party committee office and the municipal education bureau, schools are requested to immediately conduct statistics on the status of students faith. The teacher repeatedly emphasized that students with religious beliefs must contact the teacher immediately. Yan was very surprised, but also worried that the Chinese communist regime would again carry out large-scale religious persecution.

Screenshot of the WeChat group. All the parents responded that their children do not believe in religion when asked by the school administrator. (Provided to The Epoch Times)

Yan recalled that the Chinese education system teaches the communist idea of materialism. Yan said that teachers would indoctrinate students with the message: People who believe in religion lose their freedom because all religions are superstitions and deceive the ignorant people.

He said, In fact, those are made up by the Communist Party. In fact, on the contrary, in countries with freedom of religion, people care for each other more, social behavior is more orderly, more free.

After living in mainland China for many years, Yan gradually realized that the intense competition in Chinese society is caused by people losing their religious faith.

Since coming into power in 1949, the CCP has launched political indoctrination campaigns to solidify its rule. The authoritarian regime is grooming the youth of China, from as early as kindergarten, on how to monitor and brainwash relatives with the right ideas and thoughts rooted in atheism, reported Bitter Winter, a magazine on religious liberty and human rights in China.

According to another report by Bitter Winter, Chinese leader Xi Jinping is forcefully promoting patriotic education to indoctrinate the youth with the communist ideologies. When he visited a primary school in Chenzhou city in the central province of Hunan on Sept. 16, 2020, he stressed ingraining the red gene in students and to pass down the revolutionary cause from generation to generation.

Before moving to the United States, Yan had no religious beliefs. He said: Because of the communist atheist education, when we were young, we always had some negative perceptions of religions. After immigrating to Los Angeles, Yan was invited by a friend to attend several church activities. He found that he felt very fulfilled being part of that community. He also saw the people trusted and helped each otherfrom renting a house, buying a car, to finding schools for their children to attend.

Yan Tao calls for religious freedom in China. Los Angeles, California on February, 2021. (Provided by the interviewee)

After the CCP virus, commonly known as novel coronavirus, broke out in China in late 2019 and became a pandemic, the international community has been severely affected. Yan noticed that religious beliefs could offer comfort and hope when people are in despair. When people are suffering, they need religious support the most. The CCP must be afraid that the people are seeking religious beliefs. In order to maintain stability, it will crack down on religion even more during the pandemic, he said.

Yan stated that the CCP uses all methods possible to destroy peoples religious beliefs and infringe upon religious freedom. He mentioned that his wifes friend was dismissed from her job because of her belief in Falun Gong, a meditation practice that is severely persecuted by the Chinese regime. She [wifes friend] is a particularly good person  people dont dare to talk about it [the persecution] openly, even among friends. Everyone is worried about getting into trouble. Because there are relatives and friends in the family who practice Falun Gong, they will be investigated. He said that during the household registration census, local police also asked residents if people have religious beliefs or if they knew Falun Gong practitioners.

The CCP uses its power to manipulate public opinion and to pressure and silence people collectively, Yan said. Its so terrible that you cant even mention it. From this you can tell how severe the CCPs persecution is and how fearful people are in general, he added.

Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is composed of meditative exercises and a set of teachings centered on the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance. It grew in popularity in the 1990s, with 70 million to 100 million adherents in China by the end of the decade, according to official estimates at the time.

Threatened by its popularity, the CCP launched a systematic elimination campaign in July 1999. Since then, millions have been detained inside prisons, labor camps, and other facilities, with hundreds of thousands tortured while incarcerated, according to the Falun Dafa Information Center.

Yan believes that the Chinese authorities recent request for schools to investigate students religious beliefs shows that the CCP is afraid that it will eventually be overthrown by religious believers and those who seek freedom.

He said, They [the CCP] are eager to know what every Chinese believes in. They want to kill all religions, which shows that they [the CCP] know how weak they are.

Xu Xiuhui and Deksha Devnani contributed to this report.
Man jailed following

alleged assault

POTTSVILLE  A city man was jailed after Pottsville police were called to a report of an assault in a residence in the 300 block of North 12th Street around 6:10 p.m. on Feb. 4.

Police said the investigation by Patrolman Paul Olson determined that Robert Hoy, 50, and his girlfriend, 40, were involved in an argument that escalated with Hoy hitting the woman in the face, causing injury.

Hoy was taken into custody and charged with domestic violence simple assault. He was arraigned by on-call Magisterial District Judge David A. Plachko, Port Carbon, and committed to Schuylkill County Prison unable to post 10% of $25,000 bail.

Police investigate Route 61 crash

POTTSVILLE  Pottsville police investigated a crash that happened around 12:40 p.m. Feb. 4 at Route 61 and East Arch Street.

Patrolman Timothy Youse determined that Bonnie Swoyer, 65, of Frackville, was driving a 2002 Oldsmobile Alero south on Route 61 when she tried to make a left turn across traffic onto East Arch Street and was struck by a 2006 Subaru Outback being driven north on Route 61 by a 24-year-old Saint Clair man.

No injuries were reported and Pottsville firefighters assisted at the scene.

As a result of the crash, police said, Swoyer was cited for a left turn violation.

Father, son treated for minor injuries

POTTSVILLE  Pottsville police investigated a crash involving a pedestrian that was reported around 11:10 a.m. Saturday at the intersection of North Centre Street and East Laurel Boulevard.

Police said Patrolman Jonathan Randolph determined that Kelly Snowe, 51, of Pottsville, was crossing the street with his son, 10, while having a no walk/crossing sign.

Randolph said that a Dornsife woman, 31, was driving a 2013 Ford Edge making a left turn from North Centre Street onto East Laurel Boulevard with a steady green signal when she hit Snowe, who subsequently struck his son.

Both Snowe and his son were taken to a hospital by Schuylkill EMS for treatment of minor injuries, police said.

Man charged with criminal mischief

KULPMONT  A Frackville man was charged with criminal mischief by state police at Stonington after an incident around 1 p.m. Feb. 2 on South 10th Street in this Northumberland County community.

Police said Eric Miernicki, 20, was charged after he damaged the windshield of a 2006 Chevrolet Impala owned by a Kulpmont man with a metal pipe.

The charge against Miernicki was filed in a Northumberland County district court, police said.

Truck towed from scene of crash

POTTSVILLE  A crash that happened around 1:10 p.m. Feb. 4 at Route 61 and Mauch Chunk Street was investigated by Pottsville police.

Patrolman Anna Flail determined that James Barry Bradley, 54, of Fayetteville, North Carolina, was driving a 2019 Western Express tractor-trailer north on Route 61 when he tried to make a left turn onto Mauch Chunk Street and struck a Chevrolet Silverado truck driven by a Pottsville man, 62, who was stopped for a red light at the intersection.

No injuries were reported and police said the Pottsville mans vehicle was towed from the scene.

Police investigate theft by deception

ELIZABETHVILLE  State police at Lykens are investigating a theft by deception incident that happened in Washington Township, Dauphin County, and was reported on Jan. 8.

Police said a Tower City woman, 56, reported she was contacted by an imposter on Facebook and paid them $4,000.

The woman, police said, was then paid in three $500 gift cards to a fake account.

Luanda  The African Export and Import Bank (AFREXIMBANK) has USD1.3 billion available to fund projects in Angola, in several areas, the bank's chairperson, Benedict Oramah said Tuesday in Luanda.

According to the leader of AFREXIMBANK, who is heading a delegation made up of some of the bank's investor partners, at the request of the Angolan authorities, the bank plans to increase that initial amount of funding, in order to help in the process of diversifying the economy and boosting agri-business.

Benedict Oramah made the announcement during a meeting between his delegation and the Secretary of State for Trade, Amadeu Leitao Nunes, and said on the occasion that the institution he heads had transactions in Angola totalling over USD 900 million.

On his 48-hour visit to the country, the chiarperson of AFREXIMBANK (a bank based in the Egyptian city of Cairo) said the aim was to identify new business opportunities and announce an amount of USD 1.3 billion to finance several projects in the 2021 financial year.

"We're going to create an amount to fund agri-business projects," Benedict Oramah noted, stressing that the institution he manages is an important partner in the process of consolidating the African Free Trade Area (FTA), a thesis supported by the Secretary of State for Trade, Amadeu Leitao Nunes.

"The Ministry of Industry and Trade has requested a memorandum of understanding from the AFREXIMBANK delegation, taking into account the process of industrialisation of agri-business in Angola, in line with the agenda of the African Union 2063," the Angolan leader told ANGOP at the end of the meeting.

Created in 1993, the African Export and Import Bank - AFREXIMBANK is a supranational financial institution with headquarters in Cairo, Egypt, and with branches in Abuja (Nigeria), Abidjan (Cote d'Ivoire), Harare (Zimbabwe) and Kampala (Uganda).

According to the leader of AFREXIMBANK, who is heading a delegation made up of some of the bank's investor partners, at the request of the Angolan authorities, the bank plans to increase that initial amount of funding, in order to help in the process of diversifying the economy and boosting agri-business.

Benedict Oramah made the announcement during a meeting between his delegation and the Secretary of State for Trade, Amadeu Leitao Nunes, and said on the occasion that the institution he heads had transactions in Angola totalling over USD 900 million.

On his 48-hour visit to the country, the chiarperson of AFREXIMBANK (a bank based in the Egyptian city of Cairo) said the aim was to identify new business opportunities and announce an amount of USD 1.3 billion to finance several projects in the 2021 financial year.

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"We're going to create an amount to fund agri-business projects," Benedict Oramah noted, stressing that the institution he manages is an important partner in the process of consolidating the African Free Trade Area (FTA), a thesis supported by the Secretary of State for Trade, Amadeu Leitao Nunes.

"The Ministry of Industry and Trade has requested a memorandum of understanding from the AFREXIMBANK delegation, taking into account the process of industrialisation of agri-business in Angola, in line with the agenda of the African Union 2063," the Angolan leader told ANGOP at the end of the meeting.

Created in 1993, the African Export and Import Bank - AFREXIMBANK is a supranational financial institution with headquarters in Cairo, Egypt, and with branches in Abuja (Nigeria), Abidjan (Cote d'Ivoire), Harare (Zimbabwe) and Kampala (Uganda).
A History of What Comes Next, the thrilling first installment in a new series from Sylvain Neuvel, stars a mother-daughter pair of Kibsu women, highly intelligent beings whose sole goal is to take [humanity] to the stars before Evil comes and kills them all. Sara and her daughter Mia entice German aerospace engineer Wernher von Braun to join a secret U.S. government program to recruit Nazi scientists, and carefully disclose intelligence to get the Soviets focused on building rockets of their own. The balance of wry narration, wired action, and delicate worldbuilding make for deeply gratifying reading. Here Sylvain picks ten of his favorite alternate histories.

Alternative history (noun) 1: fiction that is based on history and that explores what might have happened if certain historical events, figures, etc., had been different.

Thats how Merriam-Webster defines the genre, but books are rebellious little things and theyll test that definition in any way they can. What counts as a historical event? What exactly does different mean? Just think of Outlander. There are plenty of historical events in the series, and, as far as I know, there was no time-traveling nurse present at any of them, yet Im willing to bet many would not describe it as alternate history. Its not entirely clear that my own book qualifies, either, since all the historical events are real. I just involved fictional characters in them. Perhaps more importantly, books are rarely monolithic. Part of Cixin Lius The Three-Body Problem, for example, fits the definition to a T, but the book is so many other things as well that alt-history may not be the first, second, or third thing that comes to mind when talking about it.

Whether they fit Websters definition or not, here are ten very different books, old and new, that mess with the past in unique and interesting ways. Some show us a vastly different reality, others are set in a world barely distinguishable from our own.

1. The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick Set 15 years after a version of WWII won by the Axis alliance, The Man in the High Castle is often the first title to come up when discussing alt-history. Interestingly, its also an alternate history within an alternate history. The plot involves a fictional novel depicting a world in which the Allies won the war, a world also different from our own. Try Fatherland, by Robert Harris or SS-GB by Len Deighton for different takes (and styles) on the same premise.

2. United States of Japan by Peter Tieryas Inspired by The Man in the High Castle, Peter Tieryass book begins with the same WWII what if?, but the setting is a slick cyberpunk version of America and the fictional novel is now a video game. Its action-packed, a lot faster than its inspiration, and a sensible exploration of themes like patriotism, nationalism, and the burden of an oppressive regime. Did I mention its got giant mechs?

3. Bring the Jubilee by Ward Moore Moores book is not inspired by Philip K. Dicksits the one that inspired it. The novel is set in a world where the Confederacy won the battle of Gettysburg and the Civil War. The story begins in a defeated and impoverished United States in the mid-20th century, where, as luck would have it, time travel is about to be invented. You can check out the Southern Victory series by Harry Turtledove for a similar premise (time travel not included).

4. Dread Nation by Justina Ireland Speaking of Gettysburg, what if all the dead didnt stay that way? After the zombie apocalypse puts a stop to the Civil War, Black and Indigenous people are sent to fight the undead. Ireland uses imagined horror to explore a very real one in this provocative YA novel about racism, resilience, and one badass woman fighting for her life.

5. The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead Before the Civil War, the Underground Railroad was a network of secret routes and hiding places used by slaves to reach free states. Colson Whitehead reimagines it as an actual railroad running underground. Cora, a slave on a cotton plantation in Georgia, embarks on a perilous journey in search of her freedom. Traveling through both time and space, each stop in this harrowing road trip sheds light on a different chapter in Americas racial history.

6. Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke In Clarkes fantasy version of England during the Napoleonic wars, long lost magic is revived to help the British defeat Napoleons forces. The worldbuilding here is as phenomenal as it is extensive (this book is HUGE). Neil Gaiman called Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell "the finest English novel of the fantastic written in the last 70 years, which might be the finest quote to appear on a book cover in the last 70 years.

7. Farthing by Jo Walton Waltons England is more somber than Clarkes. Set in 1949, this whodunit takes place after England signed a peace treaty with Germany to put an end to the war. When a politician is found dead at the Farthing estate, everyone suspects the main characters Jewish husbandwhich may very well be why he was invited. Farthing is a brilliant take on the perils of fascism, and though set in a fictional past, it feels uncomfortably timely.

8. The Calculating Stars by Mary Robinette Kowal In another slightly altered timeline, a cataclysm forces the Unites States to speed up the space program while an ambitious human computer fights rampant sexism to become an astronaut. A brilliant novel that pays homage to the First Lady Astronaut Trainees (aka Mercury 13) and women pilots everywhere, The Calculating Stars deservedly won both the Nebula and the Hugo.

9. The Oppenheimer Alternative by Robert J. Sawyer Set in the same era as The Calculating Stars, this novel sees the worlds greatest scientists banding together to save the Earth from impending doom. Oppenheimer, Einstein, Szilard, Fermi, Bohr, von Braun, etc.: Every. Single. Character in this book is a real-life physicist or rocket scientist. Its astonishingly well-researched. When youre done, check out Sawyers website to find out whats real and whats not.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Biden administration will look at adding "new targeted restrictions" on certain sensitive technology exports to China in cooperation with allies, a senior official said on Wednesday ahead of the new president's first call with China's leader Xi Jinping. The U.S. will also not move to lift Chinese trade tariffs imposed by the Trump administration before it has conducted "intense consultation and review" with allies, the official told reporters during a briefing. "We are maintaining those tariffs while we conduct our review ...
Justice Midha had directed FRL and other parties to maintain status quo till pronouncement of the reserved order

Amazon has approached the Supreme court in the matter against Future, picture used for representational purposes only

New Delhi, Feb 11 (PTI) E-commerce major Amazon has moved the Supreme Court in a bid to block Future group's Rs 24,713-crore deal with Reliance, according to sources.

The development comes after a recent Delhi High Court's ruling that stayed a previous order on status quo of the deal and ruling that statutory authorities cannot be restrained from acting in accordance with law.

Amazon has approached the Supreme court in the matter against Future, sources close to the development said.

Future and Amazon did not respond to e-mailed queries.

The High Court order on Monday came over an urgent petition moved by FRL after a single-member bench directed maintaining status-quo over Future's deal with Reliance.

The scheme of arrangement has already received approval from CCI and no objection from SEBI and bourses, following which it had approached NCLT Mumbai on January 26, 2021.

Last month, Amazon had approached the Delhi High Court seeking enforcement of the interim order of the Emergency Arbitrator (EA) at the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) that had restrained FRL from going ahead with the deal with Reliance.

Justice Midha had directed FRL and other parties to maintain status quo till pronouncement of the reserved order.

Amazon and Future have been locked in a bitter legal tussle after the US e-commerce giant dragged Future Group to arbitration at SIAC, arguing that the latter had violated their contract by entering into the deal with rival Reliance.

Amazon had invested in Future Coupons in August 2019, with an option of buying into the flagship Future Retail after a period of three to 10 years.

In August last year, Future group had entered into a deal with billionaire Mukesh Ambani's RIL to sell its retail, wholesale, logistics and warehousing units in a Rs 24,713-crore deal.

On October 25, 2020, an interim award was passed in favour of Amazon with a single-judge bench of V K Rajah barring Future Retail from taking any step to dispose of or encumber its assets or issuing any securities to secure any funding from a restricted party.
After she was charged with abusing her dog in an Instagram Live video, an influencer was arrested in Georgia. In videos shared on the social media app, Brittany Johnson, 20, reportedly abused her six-month-old Jack Russell Terrier, Max.

She allegedly sprayed the dog's eyes with perfume, picked it up by the ears, and claimed to have broken its legs. The cops were called by many individuals to report Johnson's conduct.

Instagram

According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Johnson, who is from Louisiana and is known online via Lovely Peaches, was tracked down by police to a Motel 6 in DeKalb County, where she was arrested.

The arrest took place on January 22, after which she willingly surrendered the puppy to DeKalb's animal services.

Also Read: Remember The Kerala Dog Who Was Dragged Behind A Car? She Is Now A Happy Mother Of Three

She allegedly posted a message from a private account on January 21, saying 'As I Posted On My Personal Max is no Longer With Us Rip Buddy #6Months on this Earth Keep Me In Prayers.'

According to Insider, the post might indicate that the puppy died, but animal welfare officially took care of the dog the next day and the dog is still alive.

Police say Johnson admitted to making 'statements on her social media about harming or killing her dog to gain more followers.'

Instagram

Following her arrest, Johnson posted a $2,500 bail, but she is not authorised to possess or care for any animals until the conclusion of her case. There are over 147,000 followers one one of her pages, while another one has over 60,000 followers.

After she allegedly made threats against Charli D'Amelio, a social media influencer with over 107 million followers on TikTok, her accounts were officially blocked last year.

People mistreating animals should be given maximum punishment. Animal cruelty should be dealt with in a strict manner.
Yunice Abbas, one of the five men, who had robbed reality TV star Kim Kardashian West in Paris, has published a memoir about the heist. According to reports, the book titled, I Kidnapped Kim Kardashian describes how the crime was executed. However, a French court ruled that Abbas will make no profits from his published book.

In 2016, Kim Kardashian West had visited Paris for the Fashion Week, when she was robbed of over Rs 70 crores worth of jewellery. She had revealed that the robbery took place at gunpoint by masked men dressed as police officers. Kim who was unharmed physically, had told the police that one of the robbers was wearing a jacket with police insignia. He tied her up with plastic cables and adhesive tape, and placed her in the bathtub.

Abbas recounted the incident in the book differently. He wrote, "It went fast, maybe five, six, seven minutes, from entry to exit, because everything went smoothly. Nobody interfered, the victim handed over the jewels without resistance."

According to reports, Abbas was one of the 12 men who were arrested, three months after the robbery took place. He revealed in the book that he was working as a night watchman at the luxury residence, to finance his studies at the Sorbonne University.

Abbas had spent a total of 21 years in jail in his life and was "clean" for 9 years before robbing Kim. He was reportedly released after 22 months on health grounds. Reportedly, it was the biggest robbery of an individual in France in two decades. The police only recovered a diamond-encrusted cross that Abbas dropped while leaving the scene on a bike.

Yunice Abbas in a recent interview asked for forgiveness as he said, "I am sorry. I would like her to forgive me. I am asking her to forgive me," and continued, "If she doesn't want to forgive me I will live with it. Personally, I wish her all the best, I wish her success in her career, good for her. I have no bad feelings towards her."

ALSO READ: Keeping Up With The Kardashians: Kim Kardashian Unveils An Emotional First Look Teaser From The Final Season

ALSO READ: Kim Kardashian Claps Back At Trolls For Questioning Daughter North West's Painting Skills
opinion

The African Union's new leadership has some fresh faces. But it will be hard for the newcomers to overcome the AU's lack of political will to solve the continent's crises, writes DW's Mimi Mefo Takambou.

Changes in leadership are a rare phenomenon in many parts of Africa.

So, whenever this happens, we Africans get excited about what the new leadership could bring to our continent, which has been stuck for so long in a morass of economic stagnation, unemployment and conflict.

That's why, like many us, I've been closely watching the African Union's elections for a new chairperson and new heads of the commission.

But I have mixed feelings about the results.

I was exhilarated to see Monique Nsanzabaganwa from Rwanda elected by the assembly as deputy chairperson of the AU Commission. The first woman to hold the position, she brings a breath of fresh air to the leadership.

Nsanzabaganwa describes herself as striving to live by Biblical standards, holding that "where there is no vision, the people perish." In line with this, the trained economist has a record of championing programs targeting women and a laser focus on the empowerment of all Africans.

Being from Rwanda, Nsanzabaganwa is also no stranger to the devastating impact of conflict and genocide.

We Africans can only hope that she truly embodies a new vision that will help our people.

On the other hand, for close to a decade, Nsanzabaganwa has been a top member of President Paul Kagame's government, which has indictments for a litany of crimes -- from disappearances, politically motivated arrests and murders to the unconstitutional clampdown on dissent through the arrest of critical voices and suppression of press freedom.

This is a negative mark on Nsanzabaganwa's otherwise-positive scorecard. It gives rise to the question of whether Nsanzabaganwa has what it takes to rise above the AU Commission's lethargic approach to dealing with conflict and autocratic governments on the continent.

Disappointing reelection of Moussa Faki Mahamat

I also ask myself whether Nsanzabaganwa has the strength to work around the whims and caprices of Chad's Moussa Faki Mahamat, selected for a second term as AU Commission chairperson.

Since 2017, Faki has headed a Commission rife with allegations of sexual harassment, bribery, nepotism, corruption and bullying.

On top of his failures to tackle these issues, Faki has also floundered on bridging the divide between the Anglophone and Francophone caucuses, which he inherited from his predecessor, Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma.

Then there's the AU's failure to deal with the continent's many simmering conflicts, such as the Tigray conflict in Ethiopia, Islamic militancy in Mozambique's Cabo Delgado and the Anglophone conflict in Cameroon.

Faki, who was prime minister and foreign affairs minister under Chad's sit-tight president, Idriss Deby, has also stayed silent on the situation in his home country. He was AU Commission head in 2018, when Chad approved a new constitution that expands Deby's powers and allows him to stay in office until 2033.

That makes me think that perhaps charity does begin at home.

For all of these reasons, I don't understand why Faki was reelected for a four-year term by 51 of the AU's 55 member states.

Felix Tshisekedi shows glimmer of promise as new AU chairman

When he was sworn in as president of the Democratic Republic of Congo in January 2019, Felix Tshisekedi inherited not only a country with immense economic resources, but also a nation at the epicenter of what some commentators call "Africa's world war."

Since then, Tshisekedi has taken pains to distance himself and his presidency from the influence of former President Joseph Kabila, giving the impression that he wants to abandon old ways of doing things.

Tshisekedi promised in his December 2019 State of the Union address that "2020 will be the year of action," sounding keen to take the embattled nation's shattered institutions to the dry cleaners.

If Tshisekedi manages to steer the AU in the same decisive way as he has the Congo, I believe he might have an impact at the helm of the African body.

Tshisekedi, however, has big shoes to fill, given that the coronavirus pandemic gave his predecessor, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, the opportunity to pivot the AU command into a continental leadership position.

As well as convening several meetings about the coronavirus, Ramaphosa also successfully mediated the dispute over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, thereby establishing the AU's legitimacy to negotiate on, and intervene in, peace and security matters.

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The real test for Tshisekedi will be his ability to show similar leadership in his one-year term as AU chairman.

AU fails to silence guns

When the African Union launched its campaign for "Silencing the Guns in Africa by 2020," I was mildly optimistic -- I felt that the continent's leadership was focusing on what truly mattered for the first time in its history.

"Silencing the Guns" has lofty goals. It seeks to prevent genocides and end wars and conflicts across the continent, bringing peace to millions while stopping human rights violations and lessening humanitarian disasters.

Just last month, however, the AU extended its deadline for bringing peace on the continent by another decade, demonstrating its inability to help build an Africa free of conflict.

As such, I am now at a loss as to what the priorities of the new leadership will be -- beyond COVID-19 of course.
An emotional second day of the trial ended in procedural chaos as a Republican senator objected to testimony that cited him as a source for a conversation former President Donald J. Trump had during the Capitol attack that is at the heart of the case.

In the final hour of arguments on Wednesday, Representative David Cicilline, Democrat of Rhode Island and one of the impeachment managers, spoke of Mr. Trump mistakenly calling Senator Mike Lee, Republican of Utah, in an effort to reach Senator Tommy Tuberville, Republican of Alabama. In describing the call, which was detailed in news reports, Mr. Cicilline asserted that Mr. Lee had stood by as Mr. Trump asked Mr. Tuberville to make additional objections to the certification of President Bidens electoral votes.

As Mr. Cicilline spoke, Mr. Lee could be seen writing furiously on a notepad in large letters: This is not what happened. When Democrats concluded their arguments for the day, Mr. Lee invoked an impeachment rule that allows senators to raise questions during the trial, including about the admissibility of evidence, and asked that the statements about him be struck as false.

Senator Patrick J. Leahy of Vermont, the presiding officer for the impeachment trial, ruled the request as out of order. Mr. Leahy, who consulted with the Senate parliamentarian, pointed to a rule specific to this impeachment trial that allows the House managers to include elements in their oral arguments that were not in their original pretrial submissions.
The US may not reach herd immunity and return to some semblance of normalcy until Thanksgiving at the current pace of COVID-19 vaccinations and speed of variant spread, Biden administration officials told the Daily Beast.

That's far later than the end-of-summer target date by which Dr Anthony Fauci has estimated that American life might get back to normal.

Dr Fauci, however, remains 'cautiously optimistic' that that day could come by fall if the general public starts getting vaccines by 'April, May, June,' but admitted he's concerned that variants could stretch that timeline in an interview with the Daily Beast.

So far, 10.5 percent of the US population has received one or more doses of COVID-19 vaccine.

But if American officials were to follow Israel's model of reopening, restaurants, gyms and stores when 90 percent of over-50s are vaccinated, these businesses could be operational as early as June, a DailyMail.com analysis suggests.

At its current pace of vaccinating 1.6 million people a day, Biden officials fear it will take nine months for the US to give shots to 75% of its population and reach herd immunity

Dr Anthony Fauci (left) remains 'cautiously optimistic' that some semblance of normality will return by fall. Although the US is on track to hit President Biden's (right) goal of 100 million shots given in 100 days, officials in his administration are concerned vaccine manufacturing can't keep up with the current pace

Dr Fauci declares April 'open season' for ALL American adults of any age to have access to COVID-19 vaccines Dr Anthony Fauci has predicted that any American who wants one will be able to get a coronavirus vaccine by April. 'By the time we get to April, that will be what I would call, for better wording, "open season," namely, virtually everybody and anybody in any category could start to get vaccinated,' Dr Fauci said during a Thursday Today show interview. 'Hopefully as we get into the middle and end of the summer we will have accomplished the goal of...the overwhelming majority of people have gotten vaccinated.' So far, the US has vaccinated about 10.5 percent of its population. About 10 million people have received both doses and 1.6 million shots are being given a day. At that rate, it will take nine months for the US to each herd immunity, but Dr Fauci has remained optimistic about the timeline. He credited the forthcoming uptick in vaccine doses available from Pfizer and Moderna and potentially from other firms like Johnson & Johnson, whose vaccine is expected to be authorized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the coming weeks. Advertisement

The US is on target to hit President Biden's goal of more than 100 million vaccines administered in his first 100 days in office, a milestone which will come in April.

But he admitted in a CBS News interview that it will be 'very difficult to reach herd immunity much before the end of the summer.'

Members of Biden's COVID response team are warning the White House that even that may be unrealistic, two senior officials told the Daily Beast.

Driving their less optimistic timelines for herd immunity are the potential fragility of the vaccine supply chain and the emergence of more infectious coronavirus variants, including two that may make vaccines less effective.

Currently, the US is giving an average of 1.6 million vaccinations a day.

At that clip, it will take about nine months for 75 percent of the population to get vaccinated, at which point the nation will likely have herd immunity that reduces the circulation of the virus low enough that unvaccinated people are unlikely to get infected.

But that is dependent upon how many doses Moderna and Pfizer can make of their authorized vaccines, though the supply could get a 100 million dose boost if Johnson & Johnson's one-dose shot is approved.

Both manufacturers are working flat-out to make more doses but their production capacity is limited.

So far, just shy of 66 million doses of the vaccines have been delivered to US states and territories, and about 46 million have been administered.

About 2.15 million doses of Pfizer's shot were allocated for next week in the US, while 3.35 doses of Moderna's vaccine were allocated.

Shipments of Moderna's shot have increased slightly over the weeks since rollout began on December 14. Weekly allocations of Pfizer's vaccine increased slightly in mid-January, and have been stable since.

Pfizer has said it is on track to deliver 200 million doses to the US by May, ahead of schedule and Moderna will deliver 200 million by June.

According to Bloomberg's vaccination calculator, the US will need nine months to reach herd immunity, and it could take some countries six years

In an effort to sustain the supply, the Biden administration is considering having other pharmaceutical companies co-manufacture Pfizer and Moderna's vaccines as well as using the Defense Production Act to boost production.

Merck said Thursday it is in active discussions about signing on to make one or more of the COVID-19 vaccines, after dropping its own shot candidate.

And Israeli pharmaceutical giant Teva is considering doing the same.

Israel, meanwhile, has raced ahead of the rest of the world in its vaccination campaign.

The small nation has already given one or more doses to 66 percent of its population and a quarter have had both doses.

Similar to the plan British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to lay out this month, Israel has a three-phased strategy for reopening after keeping nine million residents under strict measures to slow the spread of coronavirus.

Israeli officials hope to let non-essential shops, gyms and libraries reopen within a fortnight.

But ministers will only give the move the green light on February 23 if 90 percent of over-50s have been vaccinated and at least a third of the country have had their booster dose. Infection rates must also continue to plummet.

If the US was using an identical strategy and kept up its current pace of vaccinations, its 102 million over-50s could be vaccinated by June - about a month later than Britain could reach the same level of immunity.

However the American rollout is much less uniform. While nearly 16 percent of people in Alaska have had on or more doses, half that proportion of people in Alabama have been vaccinated.

States are now broadly vaccinating anyone 65 or over, but some are giving shots to people with underlying conditions that raise their risks from COVID-19 in the next wave, rather than simply stepping down in age groups.

President Biden has pledged to reopen schools by April - within 100 days of the start of his term - but has not otherwise articulated when businesses can reopen, likely because states could reach herd immunity through vaccination weeks or even months apart.
On a farm in Plant City, Florida, Maria Alvarez and her husband have been working throughout the pandemic, picking whats in season and planting for the next.

Alvarez, 34, is worried about getting infected with COVID-19 while she works with dozens of other migrant workers during shifts that last up to 12 hours.

When we arrive to pick up the boxes, were very close to each other," she said. "Then we head back to go picking and were still close. Theres no social distancing."

Alvarez is eager to get vaccinated, saying it would be "a shield" for her.

Farmworker organizations are pleading with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to make vaccinating such farmworkers a priority. Advocates cite the risks facing workers who live and work in crowded conditions and are often not given protective equipment by employers, making them vulnerable to infection.

Related: In farm work and meatpacking industries, it's estimated that at least 50% of the workforce is undocumented. Health experts say they "need to be vaccinated."

Now what happens when you have people living three families to a house and youre denied them vaccination? Its like a death sentence, said the Rev. Frank OLoughlin, 79, a Catholic priest and founder of the Guatemalan-Maya Center in Lake Worth, Florida, which provides support to migrant farmworkers.

When OLoughlin heard Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis past remarks associating the spread of COVID-19 on farmworkers and day laborers, he saw an opportunity for his nonprofit to help inoculate farmworkers.

DeSantis broke with guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and announced in December that the state would focus on vaccinating residents over 65 after the first round went to health care workers, instead of prioritizing essential workers such as public transportation employees or teachers.

In a Jan. 11 letter obtained by NBC News, several organizations, including O'Loughlin's, wrote to DeSantis, urging him to "prioritize essential farmworkers for the COVID-19 vaccine independent of their immigration status," as well as improve health care access and coronavirus testing.

Story continues

In many ways, recognizing farmworkers as essential has kept the people in Florida from falling into the uncertainty and cynicism that results from empty grocery store shelves, the letter reads.

Florida, with a population of over 21 million, has had the third-highest number of COVID-19 cases in the U.S. over the past seven days, just after Texas and California. It has had the fourth-highest death toll over that time, after California, Texas and Indiana.

Vaccinations are the latest hurdle for farmworkers since the pandemic began. When the spring harvest was underway, organizations were forced to beg the state for medical supplies and protective equipment that arrived late. Over the summer, there was a surge in COVID-19 cases in agricultural communities but testing was limited. Doctors Without Borders, an international humanitarian group, sent teams to Florida and helped set up mobile clinics.

Related: A new study from the CDC provides an update on the number of reported COVID-19 cases in farm and food processing workplaces.

Farmworkers are uniquely vulnerable to infection, said Oscar Londono, executive director of WeCount!, an organization out of Homestead, a city south of Miami with vast agricultural areas, and one of the groups that signed the letter to DeSantis.

Vaccinating farmworkers would reduce hospitalization and mortality rates, Londono said, pointing out farmworkers' lack of access to adequate health care and paid sick days. Some workers go to work feeling ill because they're afraid of losing their jobs if they call out sick, he said. Londono said it was a mistake for the governor to break with CDC guidelines.

The letter to the governor stated that among 600 farmworkers in Palm Beach County who were regularly tested for COVID-19, the positivity rate was consistently 30 %, a high number that worries advocates.

To date, OLoughlin said they have not heard back from DeSantis office regarding the letter. And we have not done well in persuading the agricultural industry to speak up, he said.

DeSantis office did not respond to requests by NBC News for comment.

Breaking through barriers, misinformation

For Herlinda, 40, an undocumented farmworker in Palm Beach County, buying her own personal protective equipment has become part of her job as she works the field, adding compost and picking and cleaning flowers that are sold to landscapers, wholesale companies and other buyers.

Were not safe at work. All of a sudden, you get ill and one doesnt know, said Herlinda, who is being identified only by her first name because of her immigration status. I need to support my children and if I get ill [for] two, three weeks, thats a lot for me. Thats why I worry a lot, she explained.

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Floridas surgeon general announced in January that those seeking shots would have to show proof of residency, amid concerns that nonresident visitors were flying to Florida to get vaccinated. Many farmworkers are guest workers with temporary visas or no legal documents, and showing a utility bill or rental agreement could be complicated.

Farmworker advocates say vaccinations have to be done regardless of farmworkers immigration status.

Misinformation that has spread in Spanish has also taken a toll. Nezahualcoyotl Xiuhtecutli, a general coordinator at the Farmworkers Association of Florida, said some of the farmworkers he has contacted have expressed a hesitancy about getting vaccinated.

"What I have heard a few times is, 'Well just let those who are eager to get it first. If they dont die, then I can go get it,' said Xiuhtecutli.

The language barrier also worries advocates. Isaret Jeffers, founder of Colectivo Arbol, told NBC News that most of the forms and information regarding COVID-19 are in English, but most of the farmworkers speak Spanish or Indigenous languages.

As part of a grassroots effort to inform migrant farmworkers about COVID-19, OLoughlin said his center has been calling a 1,000 or so farmworker families, speaking to them in their native languages and sharing pertinent coronavirus information in areas with a scarcity of information.

Florida is a specialty crop state with more than 47,000 farms running on 9.7 million acres, according to scientists at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. Many of the fruit and vegetable crops are labor intensive and harvested by hand because of their fragile nature, according to a spokesperson for the institute.

Across Florida, there are about 138,000 full-time and part-time jobs in agriculture, according the spokesperson. The information shows that almost half (48%) are hired domestic workers and almost a quarter (24%) are working through the federal Temporary Agricultural Workers program and 28 % are sole proprietors.

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This story was originally published on NBCNews.com.
The review is expected to boost trade between Ukraine and the EU.

The European Commission confirms its readiness to start the review of the trade-related provisions of the Association Agreement between the European Union and Ukraine.

Valdis Dombrovskis, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission for an Economy that Works for People, announced this at a joint press conference with Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal in Brussels on February 10, according to an UNIAN correspondent.

Read alsoEuropean Commission: Widespread corruption continues to hamper Ukraine's reform process

"We note Ukraine's interest in trade and economic cooperation, deepening our work together in areas such as digital economy, trade facilitation, and customs. We are ready to start the review of trade liberalisation for goods envisaged in the Article 29 of the Agreement, which can take place five years after its entry into force, i.e. in 2021," he said.

"This will be an important step towards further improving access to our respective markets and testifies to the dynamic character of this Agreement," he said.

He also pledged the full support of the European Commission for the ambitious program of the Ukrainian government to implement the Association Agreement.

As Dombrovskis said, he and Shmyhal discussed, ahead of the meeting, the implementation of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area and agreed that "there is still a lot of untapped potential."

"We also understand the need to fully respect commitments made under the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area. We noted good progress already on the implementation of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area. And we hope that this positive trend between Ukraine and the EU will also strengthen the role of the EU as a key trade partner for Ukraine," he said.

EU-Ukraine Association Agreement

In 2014, the European Union and Ukraine signed an Association Agreement, which marked the beginning of a new period in the development of relations between the EU and Ukraine.

On September 1, 2017, the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU entered into force in full in terms of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area between Ukraine and the EU. Prior to that, it had been applied on an interim basis since 2016.

The agreement is a key tool for closer rapprochement between Ukraine and the European Union: it contributes to deeper political relations, stronger economic ties, and mutual respect for common values.

The Association Agreement's economic provisions on the deep and comprehensive free trade area gives Ukraine an opportunity to expand trade relations and economic development, as it opens up new markets, contributes to the adaptation of legislation, standards, and regulations in various sectors. The latter will help incorporate EU standards in key sectors of the Ukrainian economy.

Reporting by UNIAN


The camp of former President Donald Trump is firing back at the House Democrat impeachment managers by reviving past instances of them, and President Joe Biden using the phrase "fight like hell."

The impeachment managers spent hours on Wednesday convincing the senators to convict Donald Trump for inciting the insurrection on Capitol Hill last month.

Their argument focused on Trump's rhetoric. They included the "fight" or "fight like hell" that he told his supporters on the National Mall shortly before the Jan. 6 riot on the Capitol, according to a Fox News report.

However, the Trump team turned the tables on the Democrats by digging up instances where they used the same words.

One tweet from the "Trump War Room" account pointed to a "FLASHBACK" of Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), who said in September 2020 that he'd "fight like hell" to stop the assault on the Constitution.

Raskin told this amid Republican efforts to swiftly replace the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg following her death, the New York Post reported. Raskin is the lead House impeachment manager.

Trump camp also tweeted a 2019 Atlantic magazine interview, wherein Raskin said of Trump's presidency to "hope for the best, be prepared for the worst, and go fight like hell for the Constitution."

In 2017, Raskin also said to "fight" for "our Democracy," as he called for an investigation into Donald Trump's alleged ties to Russia.

Related story: Schumer, McConnell Agree To Delay Trump's Impeachment Trial Until Week of Feb. 8

More Unearthed 'Fight Like Hell' Tweets From the Trump War Room

The Trump team also revived a pair of 2017 tweets in which House manager Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) appeared to dismiss former First Lady Michelle Obama's famous catchphrase of, "When they go low, we go high."

"I like that. But I like better, 'when they go low, we fight back,'" Lieu noted in one.

House manager Joe Neguse (D-Colo.) was also called out for a tweet from April 2018, touting the endorsement of then-Senator Kamala Harris.

Neguse, who has been widely praised as the breakout star of the impeachment trial, said he was truly humbled to have the support of such a fearless leader "as we fight to take back Congress."

Rep. Eric Swalwell was also cited for his comments during a 2019 interview when he also used the phrase "fight like hell" to make sure the Americans saw Robert Mueller's report, The Sun reported.

GOP members of the House Judiciary Committee also tweeted a screengrab of then-candidate Biden, who said in May that he had spent his whole career "fighting - and I will continue to fight - like hell so that no one ever has to make that walk again."

Biden was reportedly tackling how his father walked upstairs to bring the news that they had to move to Delaware so he could make a living.

The Trump War Room is one of the last remaining Twitter accounts affiliated with Donald Trump.

House Impeachment Managers to Show New Footage of Capitol Riot

On Wednesday, the impeachment managers will show unseen footage of the Jan. 6 riot as they start their case for impeaching the former president. However, according to a Daily Mail report, they did not say what the new footage was or whether it came from the Capitol Police or Washington D.C's Metropolitan Police.

A senior aide on the House impeachment team said the video would show the extent of the violence that happened in the Capitol and the threat the rioters posed to everyone.

The aide further noted it would also show the extent of what Donald Trump "unleashed" on the Capitol and just how close the mob came to members of Congress, senators, and staff.

Read also: 'We Did What We Came To Do': Trump Stresses Record in Farewell Address

Qlik is offering its first-ever Academic Program Professor Ambassador Class, creating a select network of academics from the Qlik Academic Program that have demonstrated dedication and excellence in leveraging Qlik to drive data literacy with analytics in the classroom.

The Professor Ambassador Program is an extension of the Qlik Academic Program, which helps universities improve the value of their offerings by teaching marketable data skills, while helping students advance their analytical and data literacy proficiency within every academic discipline with Qlik.

Professors selected for ambassador status join a network of like-minded peers from across the world, gaining exclusive access to additional Qlik resources, and raising their profiles as a champion of data literacy in education. The inaugural class includes:

Richard Wilkinson, senior lecturer in computing, University of Worcester (UK)

Jerry Roek, adjunct faculty in statistics and business analytics, Oakland University, Texas A&M - San Antonio (US)

Javier Leon, adjunct professor in business intelligence and analytics, Saint Joseph's University and Villanova University (US)

Angelika Klidas, lecturer in data and analytics, University of Applied Sciences Amsterdam (NL)

Blerim Emruli, senior lecturer in informatics, Lund University (SE)

Sukanta Ghosh, assistant professor in computer applications, Lovely Professional University (IN)

Josue Lima Romano, research professor in economic and social sciences, Universidad de Congreso (AR)

Members in the Professor Ambassador Class are committed to working with Qlik to further a shared vision of making students more data-literate and better prepared to become leaders in the dynamic data-driven world, according to the company.

As ambassadors for the Qlik Academic Program, they will also have numerous opportunities to share their experiences and learnings at Qlik and third-party events, in forums, in university publications and professional journals, and more.

Data literacy is a critical success factor in todays economy, and will become even more important with the accelerated adoption of digital technologies and automation rapidly taking place across every industry, said Kevin Hanegan, Qlik chief learning officer. The Professor Ambassador Program celebrates education leaders from our Qlik Academic Program that have stood out in their ability to recognize this shift and leverage Qlik to better enable their students for the data-driven workplace.

For more information about this news, visit www.qlik.com.
Nigeria Customs Service, Federal Operations Unit, Zone "C" Owerri, Imo state has intercepted and seized 1,046 bags of 50 kilograms of parboiled foreign rice, 1,024 cartons of unregistered pharmaceutical products, 290 cartons of imported eva soap, 62 jumbo bales of second hand clothing and one 2018 model Toyota Corolla worth Duty Paid Value of N869,550,345.00.

It was gathered that the seizure was made by the command between January 1st to 31st, 2021.

Briefing Newsmen on Wednesday in Owerri, the Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Yusuf Lawal stated that the bags of foreign rice were trailed and evacuated from an unknown warehouse along Elelenwo road in Port Harcourt.

He said that the trailing was based on credible and timely intelligence following lay down operational procedures, rules of engagement and ensued professionalism backed by Section 147 and 151 of the Customs and Exercise Management Act Cap C45 LFN 2004.

His words, "As you all know, it is our responsibility to ensure full implementation of the government policy banning the importation of rice through land border and following headquarters directive on same, we re-strategized our operational modalities and beam our search light at the creeks, water side and at various locations in South south, Southeast zones and hence the reason for the massive rice seizure within the month under review".

Lawal further stated that the eagle eye of our operatives confiscated 1,024 cartons of unregistered colcaps medicaments imported from India without National Agency for Foods, Drug and Administration and Control certification.

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He said, "Our concern now is to unravel those behind the importation, their accomplices and their antics of scaling through unapproved routes. The negative effects of unlicensed drugs if gotten to the wrong hands cannot be over emphasized".

Lawal however, said that the drugs were intercepted along Oforun-Benin expressway based on intelligence report.

He did not omit to say that the 290 cartons of foreign eva soap were intercepted along Aba-Owerri road following a tip- off.

He added that soaps and detergents were still on import prohibition list which he said fell under Schedule 3 of Common External Tariff.

The comptroller assured that the unit would continue to ensure that smugglers count their losses until they repented from sabotaging the nation's economy.

"Our resolute remains to degrade the activities of smugglers through aggressive patrol of all flanks and flashpoints. We will be very ruthless with these economic saboteurs because we have responsibility to protect the nation's economy in line with the expectations of the Federal Government of Nigeria.

"I wish to advise and warn smugglers and would be smugglers to be prepared for the battle ahead because we will leave no stone unturned in our effort to up the ante of our anti-smuggling mandate". "There is no amount of resistance from the smugglers and their mob accomplices that will deter us from performing our statutory responsibility by suppressing smuggling within our zones".

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, Feb 11 : US President Joe Biden raised the issue of human rights in Xinjiang, the crackdown in Hong Kong and the trade disputes in his first discussion with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jingping after taking over, the White House said on Thursday.

The two leaders also discussed measures to counter the Covid-19 pandemic, the challenges of global health security, climate change and weapons proliferation in the call which came ahead of the Chinese Lunar New Year.

"I told him I will work with China when it benefits the American people," Biden tweeted after the call.

In a statement, the White House said the President had "underscored his fundamental concerns about Beijing's coercive and unfair economic practices, crackdown in Hong Kong, human rights abuses in Xinjiang, and increasingly assertive actions in the region, including toward Taiwan".

China's state broadcaster CCTV said that the two "had an in-depth exchange of views on the bilateral relationship and major international and regional issues", the BBC reported.

Xi also warned Biden that bad relations would be a disaster for both countries, Chinese media reported.

US-China ties have seen soaring tensions during the Donald Trump presidency on issues such as trade and the Covid-19 pandemic. However, following Trump's defeat, China has urged the Biden administration to improve relations.
Nine downtown restaurants hold the special licenses now. The citys committee considered three applicants for two licenses last spring and granted them to Peddlers Pizza Pub, which opened in the late summer in the spot formerly occupied by the Old Style Inn at 5 Lincolnway, and to Side Show Kitchen at the former Figure Eight Brewing, 150 Washington St., which has not yet opened.
"What should America be? Can its promise of liberty and justice for all be fulfilled? These questions  over the past year  seem to be tearing our country apart," writes Anderson. "Is there a greatness or promise in our constitution that should be embraced, or has the American experiment failed to such an extent that it needs to be radically re-constituted? This book, through a series of essays and speeches on the subject of the confluence of faith and public life, speaks to that question."

The 288-page hardcover volume, titled These Liberties We Hold Sacred: Essays on Faith and Citizenship in the 21st Century was released Jan. 27 by Square One Publishers (Cover price: $24.95). It is currently available for purchase at various booksellers and at knightsgear.com as well as kofc.org/liberties. All author royalties are donated to Knights of Columbus Charities.

As Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus since 2000, Mr. Anderson has guided the 2 million member-organization to new heights in charity and support for Catholic families. Last year, Knights donated $187 million and more than 77 million hours of volunteer service to charity.

In addition to his duties as Supreme Knight, Mr. Anderson has served the Holy See on numerous committees by appointment of Pope John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI and, most recently, Pope Francis who appointed him as a member of the Pontifical Academy for Life. Earlier in Mr. Anderson's career, he worked in public service and higher education. He served as acting director of the White House Office of Public Liaison for President Ronald Reagan and was a member of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights for a decade. He taught family law at the Pontifical John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family at the Pontifical Lateran University in Rome and was the founding vice president and first dean of the Washington, D.C., campus of this graduate school of theology, now located at The Catholic University of America.

Mr. Anderson has also served on numerous boards, including those of the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA); and The Catholic University of America (CUA), where he was vice chairman. He is also a consultant to several committees of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) focusing on pro-life, religious liberty, marriage and racism.

In addition to These Liberties We Hold Sacred, Mr. Anderson is the author of the New York Times bestseller, A Civilization of Love: What Every Catholic Can Do to Transform The World; co-author (with Msgr. Eduardo Chavez) of Our Lady of Guadalupe: Mother of the Civilization of Love, also a New York Times bestseller; co-editor (with Msgr. Livio Melina) of The Way of Love: Reflections on Pope Benedict XVI's Encyclical Deus Caritas Est; co-author (with Rev. Jose Granados) of Called to Love: Approaching John Paul II's Theology of the Body; and author of Beyond a House Divided: The Moral Consensus Ignored by Washington, Wall Street and the Media. His books have been translated into nine languages.

About the Knights of Columbus

The Knights of Columbus is one of the world's leading fraternal and service organizations with 2 million members in more than 16,000 parish-based councils. During the past year, Knights around the world donated more than 77 million service hours and $187 million for worthy causes in their communities. The organization also offers extensive life insurance services to members and their families, resulting in more than $114 billion of life insurance in force. Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors offers investment services to individuals and institutions in accord with Catholic social teaching and has over $26 billion in assets under management. From helping children in need, to providing wheelchairs for the disabled, to helping stock food banks, to offering top-rated and affordable insurance products to its members, to creating a legacy of giving, the Knights of Columbus has supported families and communities for more than 138 years. To learn more please visit us at kofc.org.

SOURCE Knights of Columbus

Related Links

www.kofc.org


WASHINGTON (AP)  The meetings begin each day not long after dawn. Dozens of aides report in, coffee in hand, joining by Zoom from agency headquarters, their homes or even adjacent offices.

The sessions start with the latest sobering statistics meant to focus the work and offer a reminder of whats at stake: new coronavirus cases, people in hospitals, deaths. But they also include the latest signs of progress: COVID-19 tests administered, vaccine doses shipped, shots injected.

Where the last administration addressed the pandemic with the vernacular of a natural disaster  using the Federal Emergency Management Agencys mantra of a federally supported, state managed and locally executed response  President Joe Bidens team is borrowing from the Pentagon and the doctrine of overwhelming force.

Were at war with this virus, COVID-19 coordinator Jeff Zients said in an interview with The Associated Press between Sunday morning meetings on the response. Were taking every resource and tool the federal government has to battle on every front.

Its a strategy facing urgent tests after Biden inherited an inconsistent vaccine distribution plan and with the emerging threats from new virus variants.

The goal, Biden aides say, is as simple as it is ambitious: After a year of being on defense they want to take the fight to the virus  to overwhelm the problem, a kind of mantra for the team.

The campaign is being waged in schools and sterile pharmaceutical plants, on the vast blacktop of stadium parking lots and along the sidewalks outside Americans homes. To defeat the virus, Bidens team must oversee a herculean logistical effort to put shots into hundreds of millions of arms, but also overcome vaccine hesitance, politically charged science skepticism and fatigue across all corners of society after nearly a year of hardship.

For Biden, beating back the pandemic is a defining challenge of his presidency, testing his central promise to the American people that he can better manage the outbreak than his predecessor. His team seemingly day by day rolls out an almost dizzying array of new efforts and appeals large and small  everything from building a surgical glove factory in the U.S. by years end to asking Americans to wear masks while walking their dogs.

The central question for Biden and his team, one that cant be answered yet: Will it all add up to enough?

Theyre taking exactly the right approach, said Dr. Leana Wen, an emergency physician and public health professor at George Washington University who previously served as Baltimores health commissioner. The federal government is taking responsibility, instead of leaving everything to state and local governments and blaming others when things go wrong.

For all of the activity, though, Biden knows that there are more grim statistics to come before Americans can return to any semblance of the before days.

More Americans have died from COVID-19 in the last year than during all of World War II and some projections show the death toll could top that of the Civil War by the beginning of summer.

New virus cases, which had been at historic highs following the holiday season, have steadily declined over Bidens early weeks in office, but still remain worrisomely elevated, and lives are still being lost at a rate of about 21,000 per week.

Since he took office three weeks ago, Bidens team has attacked the problem on multiple fronts. They have unleashed billions of federal dollars to boost vaccinations and testing and developed a model to deploy more than 10,000 active-duty troops to join even more members of the National Guard to put shots into arms. Mass vaccination sites, supported by federal troops, are set to open in California, Texas and New York in coming weeks.

As concerns grow about potentially dangerous mutations in the virus, Biden aides view the vaccines less as a silver bullet and more as part of a complementary series of moves that taken together offer the prospect of real progress.

And for the U.S. to fully contain the problem, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nations top infectious disease expert, has warned that the pace of vaccinations must increase globally to curtail the mutants.

Were not going to sugarcoat in any way how hard this is, but were going to demonstrate clear evidence of progress and action, Zients said.

Biden is already well on pace to exceed his goal of 100 million vaccinations in his first 100 days in office. Its an assuredly achievable goal that some consider inadequate but also a break from the off-base predictions of the Trump administration that undercut public confidence. According to the Centers from Disease Control and Prevention, at least 26 million doses have been administered in Bidens first three weeks in office.

Much of the improvement in vaccination deliveries so far has been due to long-planned manufacturing ramp-ups, not the actions of the Biden team, aides acknowledge. But with the prospect of a third vaccine receiving approval in coming weeks, they are trying to anticipate and eliminate the next set of bottlenecks, when capacity to deliver injections and demand for vaccines become limiting factors.

Wen urged the Biden administration to set more aggressive targets  a moon shot  to increase the pace of vaccinations to 3 million per day. I think they just need to be a lot more ambitious when they talk to the public, she said.

Beyond the focus on sheer numbers of shots delivered, there is question of whose arms.

Bidens team has taken an increased role in determining where each vial of vaccine goes, with an eye on ensuring that lower-income, rural and minority communities are covered, an implicit criticism of how some states have handled their rollouts.

New distributions to community health centers, announced Tuesday, and a 1 million weekly dose pharmacy program being rolled out this week will allow the White House to directly steer vaccines to underserved communities.

The ideas are not without their critics. On a call with the White House on Tuesday, Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson appealed to the administration to work through states rather than alternative distribution avenues, arguing they have excess demand they already cant meet. Other governors expressed concern that the federal program would upend their own plans to use those health centers to distribute vaccines.

While governors appreciate the federal partnership, it is important that any increase in manufacturing capacity for vaccines should go to the states for distribution and not duplicated through separate federal programs, Hutchinson told the AP.

The White House has defended them as pilot programs that can be scaled up to more sites with more doses if they prove to be effective.

In one key instance, the more hands-on federal response has meant the Biden White House has taken a step back.

Where the Trump White House got involved in editing CDC guidance for businesses, travel and schools  prompting complaints about meddling with science and leading some states to adopt their own more stringent protocols  the Biden administration is leaving it to career scientists to craft policies.

New, more prescriptive federal guidance on schools is expected as soon as Friday. While Biden in December promised that the majority of our schools can be open by the end of my first 100 days, his administration has since narrowed that goal to cover just K-8 schools, and even then, plans to count success as being open just a single day per week.

Thats drawing criticism from some Republicans who say Biden is setting the bar too low and for ignoring the lessons of schools that have remained open for most of the pandemic.

One early success of the Biden plan was born out of conversations with governors frustrated about constantly fluctuating vaccine supplies. The lack of certainty led some states to slow the administration of first doses to ensure enough second shots would be available if deliveries dropped. Bidens team pledged to give states three weeks notice on whats coming their way.

We now see more vaccine on the horizon than we did a few weeks ago, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, a Republican, told the AP. The more we learn about more vaccine the happier I am.

Early reviews from the public of Bidens response have been largely positive.

Two weeks into Bidens administration, a Quinnipiac poll showed 61% of Americans approving of the way the president is handling the coronavirus pandemic. Nearly all Democrats and 33% of Republicans said they approve. In a December Quinnipiac poll, 39% of Americans approved of the way President Donald Trump was handling the coronavirus pandemic. Seventy-eight percent of Republicans, but just 3% of Democrats, approved.

Bidens national strategy for the pandemic, released on his second day in office, provides the roadmap for the months ahead: more testing, clear guidance, and more and equitable vaccinations.

But the path to a new normal is still unclear. The science on what will be necessary to achieve herd immunity, particularly with the rise of new mutations, remains unresolved.

The Biden team is already actively working with pharmaceutical companies to prepare booster shots for the variants, potentially annually, like flu vaccines. And theyre building the infrastructure to ramp up testing for the virus, given that testing could be part of life for years to come.

Bidens call for Americans to wear a mask for his first 100 days will undoubtedly be extended, aides said. And his other goals are likely to be adjusted upward in coming months.

Well set the next set of goals as we make progress against the first set of goals, Zients said.

___

Associated Press writers Hannah Fingerhut and Jonathan Lemire in Washington and Andrew DeMillo in Little Rock, Arkansas, contributed to this report.
AMHERST  During Living Building tours at Hitchcock Center for the Environment, Executive Director Julie M. Johnson likes to hear young students exclaim, That was so cool!

The building is informed by its bioregion, generates its own energy with renewable resources, captures and treats its own water and is constructed of locally and responsibly sourced non-toxic materials.

New programs like the Living Building Tour Program, Youth Climate Summit, Engineering and Design School Field Trips and Environmental Justice Series have resulted in the centers ability to work with more diverse audiences from more than 80 towns and communities in Massachusetts, 30 states nationwide and 30 countries from throughout the world annually.

But what has been Johnsons greatest joy during her tenure at the center has been working with dedicated, passionate and highly skilled staff.

Now she is planning to step down from her role on June 30, after nearly 20 years of leadership.

Since 2001, she has been focused on building greater capacity to fulfill the centers mission, resulting in an historic period of growth and transition; she is the longest serving director in the organizations 59-year history.

Since opening the doors to the new Living Building, the Hitchcock Center has experienced a 40 percent growth in the number of people mentored, taught and supported there and a 325 percent growth in the number of visitors who come to the center as a destination for new ways of learning and teaching about sustainability.

The Hitchcock Center educates and inspires action for a healthy planet through nature-based programs, serving an average of 10,000 program participants annually throughout western Massachusetts and beyond with PreK-12 school programs, children, youth and family programs, adult education and professional development programs for teachers.

We are facing one of the most if not the most existential threat to human survivability  climate change. It is no longer acceptable to conduct business as usual, Johnson said. We must find creative and innovative ways not only to teach sustainability, we must demonstrate it  show that is it possible. And we must not just learn about sustainability, we must act on our knowledge to develop and implement solutions to achieve sustainability. This requires new programming that focuses on environmental leadership and civic engagement. This is our priority.

With 35 years experience in social policy, community development and nonprofit management, Johnson has worked to strengthen the impact and reach of the Hitchcock Center for the Environments mission to educate and to inspire action for a healthy planet. She has kept the Hitchcock Center at the forefront of leadership in environmental education through careful strategic planning, sound financial stewardship and collaborative partnership development.

One of her crowning achievements in the 20 years she has led the Hitchcock Center is the construction of the 23rd Certified Living Building in the world  third in Massachusetts  through a $6.9 million Building for the Future capital campaign. Her leadership in creating this new sustainable environmental learning center that serves as an innovative teaching tool for generations to come garnered her the 2017 Green Giants Award from the Western Massachusetts U.S. Green Building Council.

She said leading transformational change to enhance organizational performance is her greatest strength, and she is committed to driving innovation and ambitious goals, using the power of education to create an environmentally sustainable and just future.

Also among her achievements has been securing the centers new home on the Hampshire College campus with a 95-year ground lease, making it the newest member of the colleges Cultural Village that includes the Eric Carle Childrens Book Museum and the Yiddish Book Center.

We cannot thank Julie enough for the dedication, passion, enthusiasm and motivation she has given the Hitchcock Center over these past years. She will be greatly missed by the staff, board, members and partners alike, said Hitchcock Center Board President Clay Ballantine, noting that the center will continue to endeavor to meet the growing demand for environmental literacy.

Prior to joining the Hitchcock Center, Johnson was the executive director of the Guild Studio School in Northampton and served in a number of leadership positions for the City of Santa Monica, California, where she managed a $7 million grant program that provided funding support to more than 50 nonprofit social service organizations.

She plans to leave the Hitchcock Center to do independent consulting for forward-thinking nonprofits that are seeking transformational change and impact.

The centers board of directors has assembled an executive search committee chaired by the board vice president, Tom Davies.

hitchcockcenter.org.
Mortar shelling in Afghanistan kills at least 10 civilians

Fire breaks out at West Virginia oil refinery in US

Iran ready to help improve the defense capability of Syria

European Parliament head proposes to strengthen sanctions on Russia

UK PM gets married in London

Armenia reports COVID-19 new 81 cases: for people die

EU countries invite US to issue joint statement against Russia

2 people die in Armenia road accident

Nigeria: Students taken hostage a month ago are released

61 quakes recorded in Congo per day

Syrian MFA: EU lost credibility due to blind obedience to US policy

Armenia ex-minister of emergency situations hospitalized with heart attack

Mher Grigoryan: Clarification of border points is possible only after withdrawal of Azerbaijani troops from Armenia

Suspicious deal: Whether there was profit from buying DNA IDs?

Armenia ex-president says current authorities are trying to blame Russia for defeat in war

4 people killed in Afghanistani bus attack

Robert Kocharyan: This war could not have happened, it was a consequence of the policy of the authorities

Kocharyan: I have to ask people how it happened that overwhelming majority elected this leader

Armen Gevorgyan presents 'Armenia' bloc program: We offer the concept of a working country

Biden's administration proposed to leave unchanged amount of financial support to Armenia

US Embassy in Baku calls on Azerbaijan to immediately release Armenian POWs

Luxembourg MFA calls on Azerbaijan to immediately release all Armenian prisoners

Russia peacekeepers climb to Armenia Gegharkunik Province village positions

Biden strongly condemns manifestations of antisemitism in US

Iran intensifies its diplomacy amid Armenia-Azerbaijan border tensions

Armenia acting PM on forthcoming snap parliamentary elections: We hope to get 60% of votes

Lukashenko accuses West of destabilizing situation in Belarus

Armenia Central Electoral Commission chief on snap elections: No legal basis for postponing, suspending any function

Armenias Pashinyan is met by Yerevan district residents chanting against him

We are ready to be fully engaged in negotiation process to resolve Karabakh issue, says Armenia acting PM

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan gives interview to Russia TV channel

Armenia acting premier: We are ready to start withdrawing troops at any moment

Canada MFA expresses concern over 6 Armenian soldiers capture by Azerbaijan troops

There are omissions in registration documents of political forces that applied to Armenia Central Electoral Commission

Armenia Central Electoral Commission chief: There is activeness in Yerevan for the past day or two

Three new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Group of US Congress members threaten Azerbaijans Aliyev regime with sanctions

Chicago mayor is sued for allegedly refusing interview with white reporter

Iran exports oil to US for first time after long interval

"Armenia" bloc top 50 MP candidates are announced

42 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Sri Lanka public beach is covered in charred plastic pellets due to fire in container ship

US preparing list of targeted sanctions on Belarus authorities

China believes it will own America by 2035, Biden says

15 al-Shabab militants killed in Somalia

Newspaper: Armenia political forces that applied for running in election impatiently await CEC decision

Newspaper: Changes are expected in Artsakh

California prisoner who considers himself Satanist beheads cellmate, dismembers his body

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM's "mutually beneficial" proposal to collapse state system?

Armenia National Security Service Reserve Officers' Union members meet with His Holiness Karekin II

EU is ready to help Armenia and Azerbaijan with border delimitation and demarcation

ARF-D member on Nikol Pashinyan: 103 years ago Armenia's founding fathers would have executed him for treason

Iran President hails brotherly ties with Azerbaijan

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

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
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During his first visit to the Pentagon as commander-in-chief, President Joe Biden announced that a new Department of Defense task force will review the US-China military posture.

Biden announced new Pentagon task force

On Monday, the President said the new Pentagon task force would examine the "growing challenges" of the US-China military strategy. As relations between Washington and Beijing become tenser in the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic and a years-long trade war, the panel will work quickly to provide Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin with proposals on military policy.

Biden referred to a region including the heavily-contested South China Sea, "To maintain peace and protect our rights in the Indo-Pacific and internationally, we need to face the rising challenges raised by China."

He continued by saying he was briefed on a new DOD China Task Force that Secretary Austin stands to look at the strategy and operational concepts, force posture, and technology, and so much more.

According to NY Post, the changing US-China relationship confronts Biden's presidency with one of the biggest foreign policy threats. The US hit Chinese exports with high tariffs under uncompromising predecessor Donald Trump, brought President Xi Jinping to task for the country's mishandling of the first cases of the coronavirus pandemic condemned human rights violations against Uighurs.

Read also: Biden's Push for School Reopenings Conflicts CDC COVID-19 Pandemic Protocols

The task force review will help build a strong path on issues with China

According to The Epoch Times, President Joe Biden said Wednesday that the Pentagon would undertake a new analysis of how the U.S. military will address China's threat.

"A government-wide effort, bipartisan cooperation in Congress, and strong alliances and partnerships will be required," Biden said at the Pentagon building. "That's how we're going to meet the challenge in China and ensure that the American people win the future competition."

He added that the review would help "chart a strong path forward on China-related matters."

On Sunday, Biden told CBS News that "the Chinese government should anticipate extreme competition" from the United States. Still, he said the relationship need not focus on confrontation. "We will confront the economic abuses of China," explained Biden, adding the government is "the most serious competitor in the United States."

In the interview, however, Biden said he would take a different path to the CCP than Trump, whose administration has often condemned the government for its systematic violations of human rights, the dissemination of lies, and other abuses.

The new Pentagon task force group will be responsible for making recommendations on the United States' role in China. It will provide Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin with its findings in four months.

"No final public report is expected, although the department will discuss suggestions as appropriate with Congress and other stakeholders," the Pentagon wrote in a statement about the new task force on Wednesday.

The task force will be led by Ely Ratner, a longtime aide to Biden, as per the Pentagon. Ratner had previously worked as vice president of the think tank's Center for New American Security.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken claimed that the Trump administration was right to take a more challenging position against the CCP.

"I think he was right to take a tougher approach to China, in fairness to President Trump. That was the best thing to do," he said in a Sunday CNN interview.

What does this ask of us, though? From a position of dominance, we have to engage China. And we have to work with it from a position of strength, whether it's the negative aspects of the relationship, the competitive ones, or the cooperative ones that arise in our common interest," Blinken continued.

Read also: Sanders: It Is Bad Politics That Those Who Got Their Stimulus Check From Trump Will Not Get Them From Biden

Biden released detailed comments on China's presidency

Amid the meetings with new Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Biden plans to make the announcement. The step comes days after Biden, after his most detailed public comments on China's presidency, was released.

The President also commented several times about meeting the Chinese king, as per Daily Mail. Officials have described the task force as managing different US government levers. The Wall Street Journal confirmed that they include commercial, diplomatic, political, and military zones.

China has been seen as an increasing rival to the US for decades. Its officials have developed elaborate strategies for controlling the developing world, extending Chinese territorial claims, exercising greater ownership over particular territories such as Hong Kong, and continuing its advances as a global military and economic power.

Read also: Report: Biden has Awkward, Flirty Moment After Complimenting a Nurse for Her Youthful Appearance

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FORT MYERS, Fla., Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- On Thomas Edison's 174th birthday, the Edison Awards announces the 2021 Edison Best New Product Award Finalists that will be recognized and honored at the Fort Myers Caloosa Sound Convention Center on April 21- 23, 2021.

2021 Edison Awards | Fort Myers, Florida

"In a year when everyone was forced to change their daily routines, it's amazing how many companies responded by innovating new solutions that make consumers' lives safer, healthier, and more productive," said Edison Universe Executive Director Frank Bonafilia. The diverse group of finalists represents game-changing new products and services from around the world including: Australia, China, Canada, Israel, Russia, UAE, South Korea, United Kingdom, Germany, and throughout the United States. For a complete list of the 2021 Edison Awards finalists go to https://edisonawards.com/finalists2021.php.

Over the last 34 years, being recognized with an Edison Award has become one of the highest accolades a product can receive in the name of innovation success. The awards are named after Thomas Alva Edison (1847-1931) whose inventions, new product development methods, and innovative achievements changed the world, garnering him 1,093 U.S. patents and making him a household name around the world.

For more information on the 2021 Finalists, event attendance, and exhibiting, go to www.edisonawards.com. Event Sponsors include; The City of Fort Myers, The Horizon Foundation, Florida Power and Light, Black and Veatch, Babcock Ranch, NeoGenomics, Sabic, and Arrow Electronics.

The Edison Awards are operated by the Edison Universe a 501c3 non profit organization with the mission of recognizing, honoring and fostering innovations and innovators.

Contact: Christie Huczek, [email protected]

SOURCE Edison Awards

Related Links

http://www.edisonawards.com



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Dallas, Texas--(Newsfile Corp. - February 11, 2021) - Puration, Inc. (OTC Pink: PURA) today confirmed a multimedia, online presentation scheduled for tomorrow, Friday, February 12, 2021, to preview the company's plans to construct a 70-acre facility designed to provide interactive, demonstrable education on the potential of hemp to provide environmentally sustainable alternatives to over $1 trillion in existing industrial products and services currently damaging the environment.

The 70-acre facility is the cornerstone of the company's overall Farmersville Hemp Brand strategy designed to accelerate the overall market growth of hemp derived products beyond the industry forecasted 2027 $15 billion market size.

The presentation will include details on the roles of PAO Group, Inc. (OTC Pink: PAOG), North American Cannabis Holdings, Inc. (OTC Pink: USMJ) and Alkame Holdings, Inc. (OTC Pink: ALKM) in PURA's Farmersville Hemp Brand strategy.

Watch for an announcement tomorrow with a link to the presentation.

For more information on Puration, visit http://www.purationinc.com

Contact:

Puration, Inc.

Brian Shibley,

info@aciconglomerated.com

(800) 861-1350

Disclaimer/Safe Harbor: This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Securities Litigation Reform Act. The statements reflect the Company's current views with respect to future events that involve risks and uncertainties. Among others, these risks include the expectation that Puration will achieve significant sales, the failure to meet schedule or performance requirements of the Company's contracts, the Company's liquidity position, the Company's ability to obtain new contracts, the emergence of competitors with greater financial resources and the impact of competitive pricing. In the light of these uncertainties, the forward-looking events referred to in this release might not occur. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/74279
A solicitor is under investigation on suspicion of breaking the nose of another legal professional in Dublin this morning.

The alleged assault happened along Wolfe Tone Quay in the city centre at around 11am.

Gardai were alerted to the incident and discovered one man, aged in his 40s, with facial injuries after being struck by another man.

It's understood that these injuries include a suspected broken nose for which the man, who is a solicitor, is being treated.

Read More

No arrests have yet been made but investigators have identified the parties involved in the incident.

The Sunday World has learned that the suspect is also a practicing solicitor who cannot be named for legal reasons.

The man is a highly regarded criminal defence lawyer in the capital.

Gardai are investigating if the alleged assault occurred following a row over clients between the two men.

One source said: "Gardai were carrying out a Covid-19 checkpoint nearby when they were alerted to the incident.

"It quickly emerged that the two men involved are known to each other and the row may be over clients.

"No arrests have yet been made but gardai are expecting to make significant progress the investigation," the source added.

It's understood the two men were once colleagues and are well-known to each other but now work in separate firms.

A garda spokesman said: "Gardai at the Bridewell have commenced an investigation following an alleged assault incident between two males on Wolf Tone Quay, Dublin 7 shortly after 11am on Thursday 11th February 2021.

"One of the men involved sustained facial injuries in the incident. Investigating Gardai have identified both parties involved and enquiries are ongoing," the spokesman added.
Finding new ways to lure tech companies has become an inherent part of state government nowadays.

But one governor is taking it even further than just offering a fat tax break. Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak is touting a proposal that would allow tech companies to create their own local governments, the Las Vegas Review-Journal's Colton Lochhead first reported.

COME BACK TO TEXAS: Is New York City suddenly hurting for the 'young and ambitious' now?

All you need is enough money, a huge chunk of undeveloped land and an "innovative technology" and Nevada will let a Tesla or Facebook of the world establish its own ruling system within an "Innovation Zone."

According to the draft of the proposal obtained by the Review-Journal, company-formed governments would be able to impose taxes, form school districts and justice courts, and provide government services.

Texas is currently seeing a tech boom as companies and their founders move here to take advantage of income tax laws and loose corporate regulations. But could the state stretch far enough to offer jurisdiction to a Governor Elon Musk?

For some context, here are some incentives Texas has offered tech giants, as reported by the Austin American-Statesman's Lori Hawkins:

Samsung's Austin location received an estimated $200 million in tax breaks over a 17-year period. Those tax breaks end in 2023.

Tesla's factory location in Austin, which was announced in July, will receive tax breaks potentially worth up to $60 million.

Apple in Central Texas is getting 65 percent of the company's property taxes reimbursed by the county for 15 years, as long as the company spends at least $400 million purchasing and developing land and creates 4,000 full-time equivalent jobs in the area.

Some of these incentive packages are pretty small compared to what other states have proposed. When Amazon made its very public search for HQ2 known, ultimate "winners" Arlington, Virginia and New York City offered $573 million in tax breaks with $23 million in cash and $1.5 billion in tax breaks with cash grants of $325 million, respectively. (Amazon eventually withdrew from New York after local pushback.)

Tesla also already has a Gigafactory in Nevada, striking a deal with the state that could allow the company to take in nearly $1.3 billion in tax benefits.

WINTER IS COMING (MAYBE): Your iPhone says it's going to snow, but how accurate is it?

Now, there's nothing wrong with wanting higher-paying jobs in your state. But ceding government control to a company seems like a bad idea that could quickly lead to a "Josie and the Pussycats"-like corporate dystopia with government-sponsored brainwashing of America's youth through constant advertisements, not unlike in the underappreciated 2001 musical satire.

And Google has built some swanky campuses in Seattle, so living might not be all bad. But could a local government headed by Amazon lead to a Jeff Bezos-appointed judge to fine me $500 in Amazon gift cards all because I ordered that new novel on Bookshop after the Amazon-created school system failed to fully impart on me the inherent priceless value of Prime 2-Day Delivery?

I kid. But seems like a slippery slope.

In comparison, Texas seems to have enough footing (no income tax!) to draw in some of tech's heavy hitters already, so I expect we won't have to add an honorific in front of Elon Musk's name anytime soon. I look forward to visiting the sovereign state of the Apple Innovation Zone, Nevada if the state passes Sisolak's proposal.
Cervical cancer campaigner Vicky Phelan has expressed her fury after her Instagram account was hacked by a vicious blackmailer.

The Limerick based mum-of-two, who is currently in the US undergoing treatment, took down her profile and set up a new one after receiving a threatening message from the hacker who demanded thousands of euro not to use it maliciously.

She took to Twitter after a number of her followers saw a new account with no followers appearing with her name.

She wrote: "Hi to all my tweeps, For any of you who follow me on Instagram, my account has been hackedand deleted.

Read More

She added: "Christ what I wouldn't give to be in the same room as this f****r, " she stormed on Twitter. "Messing with people's lives with no consideration for how and who they are targeting."

She also shared a screengrab of the threatening message she received from the hacker.

She wrote: "See below msg I just received from the person who hacked my Instagram account. Now I am angry."

In the message the blackmailer warns: I hold your Instagram account. First of all I can say that it is not possible to restore the account. I've been doing this for four years and I have many references.

I am expert in this field. I can use your account maliciously if I want or I can take you away from your friends but my goal is not to harm you. I'm deducting my earnings from this business. I'm ready to give back the account for $3,500. Any action you take to get the account back will have no effect and your account will belong to me.

However, Vicky has received numerous message of support.

Read More

I have just blocked him and reported him to WhatsApp for what it's worth, she added, I refuse to engage with this lowlife."

She also urged her followers to be careful.

"To all my tweeps, PLEASE check your social media accounts and ensure that you use strong and different passwords AND two-factor authentication for your accounts or you will be hacked."

Read More




Posted Wednesday, February 10, 2021 6:04 pm

A bill that would have required kayakers and paddleboarders to take a boater education course to operate human-powered water vessels was effectively killed in the state Legislature after a petition circulating on social media garnered more than 17,000 signatures in opposition in one week.

Scott Holley, president of Eddyline Kayaks, said he started the petition last week because he felt lawmakers crafted House Bill 1018 without including stakeholders, such as himself, and other leading experts in the state.

Theres an existing state boater education process where you have to sit for an online class, a class on boater safety thats designed for powerboats, Holley said. The way you safely paddle a kayak is way different than the way you drive a boat.

The bill apparently is dead, Holley said, based on communications with the Washington State Parks and Recreation Department officials, who told Holley they were also surprised at the introduction of House Bill 1018. As the Feb. 15 policy cutoff approaches, Holley believes it is unlikely the bill has any chance to move forward.

Holley said the response to the petition was surprising  the number of signatures doubled from 8,000 signatures to 17,000 between Feb. 3 and Feb. 5.

It now has over 18,000 names. Holley said lawmakers could have predicted this response had they talked with their constituents.

I would imagine that the quick, public opposition to this bill was such that they realized it would not have any public support whatsoever, he said.

Rep. John Lovick, D-Mill Creek, told the House Community & Economic Development Committee during the bills hearing Jan. 20 that the mandate would address an upswing of accidental deaths and drownings, around half of which happened on paddleboards.

Washington state is fifth in the nation in boating-related fatalities  what Im hoping for is that House Bill 1018 will increase safety by including human-powered vessels in requiring boater education standards, Lovick said.

Few voiced support for the bill during the hearing. The National Association of State Boating Law Administrators, a national nonprofit organization that works to develop public policy for recreational boating safety, testified in favor, as did Kalkomey, a for-profit company specializing in providing platforms for outdoor education.

Tom Hayward, chief financial and chief operating officer at NASBLA, said an education standards panel at NASBLA found 53 boating fatalities in Washington state, with 24 of them from paddleboards.

People who have taken a boater education course are 70% less likely to have an accident, incident or fatality, Hayward said, citing statistics from the U.S. Coast Guard.

Holley said recent state data from the Parks and Recreation Department in fact shows a decrease in deaths in the last year.

Certainly I would say the stats dont necessarily show that Washington is doing any worse, Holley said.

Holley said he still wanted to see lawmakers address water safety and would rather see an all-encompassing life jacket requirement.

That in and of itself would be easier to enforce and would have a better potential outcome, Holley said.
Teen Killed in Trigg County Crash

By West Kentucky Star Staff

TRIGG COUNTY - A teen was killed Wednesday morning in a crash in Land Between the Lakes.Trigg County Sheriff Aaron Acree told WKDZ 18-year-old Anthony Boyer was driving westbound on US 68 shortly before 7 a.m. when he lost control of his vehicle at the intersection of The Trace. His vehicle then hit a bridge and overturned.Boyer, who Acree said was not wearing a seatbelt, was partially ejected from the vehicle. He was pronounced dead at the scene by the Trigg County Coroners Office.Acree said weather conditions and speed were factors in the crash.Boyer was a senior at Marshall County High School. The school released a statement Wednesday evening expressing love and support for his family.
Thursday, February 11, 2021

In the middle of the Garrison investigation, this library card turned up.

Bill Turner wrote about the card in his article, "The Garrison Commission," in the January 1968 issue of Ramparts Magazine:

"Thus it may be significant that Oswald obtained library cards in Dallas and New Orleans, and usually visited the libraries on Thursday. The possible implication of his visits was not overlooked by the FBI, which confiscated every book he ever charged out, and never returned them. A piece that may fit into the puzzle is the discovery by Garrison of an adult borrower's card issued by the New Orleans public library in the name of Clem Bertrand. The business address shown is the International Trade Mart [Shaw's former place of employment], and the home address 3100 Louisiana Avenue Parkway, a wrong number, but conspicuously close to that of David Ferrie at 3330 Louisiana Avenue Parkway. There may be a pattern here, since Oswald supposedly carried a card issued to Ferrie when arrested in Dallas."

But was this card legit?

Clay Shaw's legal team did some investigating and here is their memo on the library card:

The issue of the library card turned up again, after Shaw's acquittal, in one of the memos of 'new leads,'

So, they decided that perhaps they should re-examine the lead! From there the memo goes into la-la land.

Shaw did not sign his name as Clay Bertrand in the V.I.P. Room. He was supposedly with a group of U.S. State Department visitors who had a military escort. The military man did not recognize a photo of Shaw, and while one State Department employee did recognize Shaw - it was only because he knew Shaw professionally, and he said Shaw was not at the airport. I source several documents supporting this in my book, On The Trail of Delusion - Jim Garrison: The Great Accuser.

Note that Garrison frequently believed that libraries were excellent meeting places for agents. Check out my blog post on Norman Gallo.

I have not found any further Garrison memos that refers to the library card.
Ready Player One alum Tye Sheridan is reportedly 'in talks' to star in two-time Oscar winner George Clooney's directorial effort The Tender Bar.

The 59-year-old actor-filmmaker's Long Island-set, coming-of-age tale already scored a distribution deal with Amazon Studios - according to Collider.

The 24-year-old Texan would portray author J.R. Moehringer from his 2005 best-selling memoir, which will be adapted by Oscar-winning screenwriter William Monahan.

Ready Player One alum Tye Sheridan is reportedly 'in talks' to star in two-time Oscar winner George Clooney's directorial effort The Tender Bar (pictured in 2019)

Streaming next year? The 59-year-old actor-filmmaker's Long Island-set, coming-of-age tale already scored a distribution deal with Amazon Studios

Clooney already signed two-time Oscar-winning filmmaker Ben Affleck to play Moehringer's Uncle Charlie after the pair collaborated on the 2012 hit Argo.

Coincidentally, Tye's onscreen love interest from Michael Cristofer's 2020 crime drama The Night Clerk just so happened to be Golden Globe nominee Ana de Armas.

The Cuban 30-year-old was said to have ended her year-long romance with the Berkeley-born, Cambridge-raised 48-year-old over the phone last month.

Sheridan will next portray astronaut Christopher Rebbs in Neil Burger's sci-fi thriller Voyagers, which was supposed to be released on November 25 but was postponed due to the pandemic.

Best seller: The 24-year-old Texan would portray author J.R. Moehringer from his 2005 memoir, which will be adapted by Oscar-winning screenwriter William Monahan

Second time: Clooney already signed two-time Oscar-winning filmmaker Ben Affleck to play Moehringer's Uncle Charlie after the pair collaborated on the 2012 hit Argo (pictured in 2013)

Awkward! Coincidentally, Tye's (L) onscreen love interest from Michael Cristofer's 2020 crime drama The Night Clerk just so happened to be Golden Globe nominee Ana de Armas (R)

Ouch! The Cuban 30-year-old (R, pictured August 16) was said to have ended her year-long romance with the Berkeley-born, Cambridge-raised 48-year-old (L) over the phone last month

'Since only half those theaters are open, Lionsgate has taken it off the schedule,' Burger lamented on Instagram.

'I'm disappointed but it was definitely the right choice. No new date yet but will let you know. I was looking forward to celebrating with my brilliant cast and crew but will have to wait.'

Joining the Independent Spirit Award winner in Voyagers were Colin Farrell, Lily-Rose Depp, Isaac Hempstead Wright, and Fionn Whitehead.
China will 'eat our lunch', Biden warns Americans

China will 'eat our lunch', Biden warns Americans

US President Joe Biden said on Thursday that his first phone call with Xi Jinping since taking office lasted two hours, as he warned Americans that if the United States doesn't "get moving" on China policy, "they're going to eat our lunch."



"Last night, I was in the phone for two straight hours with Xi Jinping," Biden told reporters -- an unusually long interaction for a US president, with whom even face-to-face meetings rarely stretch beyond an hour.



He challenged Xi on human rights, trade and regional muscle-flexing during the call, which aimed at setting the tone for the Sino-US relationship.



Beijing has tested US ties since Xi came to power, and under former president Donald Trump found itself on the receiving end of trade tariffs as relations frayed.



Biden  who met Xi during his time as vice president under Barack Obama  is under pressure to maintain Trump's stance.



Earlier, the White House said the president "underscored his fundamental concerns about Beijing's coercive and unfair economic practices, crackdown in Hong Kong, human rights abuses in Xinjiang, and increasingly assertive actions in the region, including toward Taiwan," during the call.



The two leaders also spoke about the Covid-19 pandemic, climate change and weapons proliferation, the White House said.



Mainland state media reported simply that the two sides "exchanged in-depth views on bilateral relations and major international and regional issues." (AFP)

Acronis SCSVets may not be a household name, but it could soon become one for military personnel about to leave the service, veterans and even their families. It's a nonprofit organization that trains military-connected people in the latest technologies while helping place them in new careers.

Attending the six- to 18-month program is free for vets and military family members, no matter where in the United States they might live. And it helps them find a job once their training is finished.

The U.S. information technology sector is set for massive growth in 2021, according to corporate consulting giant Deloitte. Important skills in cloud computing, network analysis and cybersecurity will be more in-demand than ever before, says Deloitte Vice Chairman Paul Silverglate.

But there won't be enough recent college graduates to fill that demand, so reskilling employees will be a critical aspect of meeting those needs. Acronis SCSVets offers veterans a way to get one of 500,000 unfilled IT jobs.

The nonprofit places eligible applicants into training and certification programs offered by accredited providers. This means that all of the training received through Acronis SCSVets classes can be credited toward a traditional college education later. But the training will also provide all the skills necessary to get a job in information technology.

Acronis SCSVets teams up with partners across the country to provide education and certification training, so the classes could be held at any local college or university, removing geographical barriers for military-connected individuals.

After a quick review, applicants are placed into one of four career areas -- help desk technician, network analyst, cyber analyst and cloud architect -- before the nonprofit develops their training regimen. A program will be set up, and training can begin.

Graduates will be able to boast what the organization called "stacked" certifications, including expertise in internationally recognized CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network+, CompTIA Security+,

Windows 10, and Acronis SCS credentials.

The program is a job pipeline for veterans and family members who graduate. From the day they begin the training, Acronis SCSVets provides participants with a range of job placement and social service programs. These include resume writing workshops, mock interviews, financial literacy resources, career exploration guidance, and access to industry professionals -- all designed to ensure trainees' success.

As graduation nears, students will discuss their career aspirations and options with industry leaders in the areas where they live. They are then provided with apprenticeship opportunities and even recruiting agencies for their career field.

There are zero out-of-pocket expenses for those who attend. Acronis SCSVets partners with the military, Department of Veterans Affairs and state workforce development agencies to cover the costs. Any expenses that remain are covered by the nonprofit.

To learn more about the program and to apply, visit AcronisSCSVets.org. Applicants will usually receive a call from the Acronis SCSVets staff within one business day.

-- Blake Stilwell can be reached at blake.stilwell@military.com. He can also be found on Twitter @blakestilwell or on Facebook.

Want to Know More About Veteran Jobs?

Be sure to get the latest news about post-military careers, as well as critical info about veteran jobs and all the benefits of service. Subscribe to Military.com and receive customized updates delivered straight to your inbox.
A South Sudanese refugee and child pictured in Bele settlement, Haut Uele province, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (file image).

analysis

Refugee resettlements in 2020 reached historic lows despite record-high numbers of displaced people in need. At the same time, substantial funding gaps remain. This is increasing pressure on African host countries, exposing refugees to enhanced risks and driving irregular migration.

In 2020, only 22 770 refugees out of 79.5 million displaced people were resettled by 20 countries through the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) - the lowest number since the agency started collecting this data in 2003. The record high was 126 291 in 2016.

Africa has the highest resettlement needs worldwide, yet only about 7 000 Africans were resettled in 2020. There are over 26 million displaced people on the continent. This number has increased nearly threefold in the past decade and continues to grow due to ongoing and new crises. Africa represented the largest increase in the number of displaced people in the first half of 2020.

Concurrently, refugee returns have decreased as many conflicts prove intractable. Only a fraction of displaced Africans can go home each year - 341 100 in total in 2018. More than three quarters (77%) of the world's refugees are now in protracted situations.

Most displaced Africans flee to neighbouring low-income countries that continue to accept refugees despite limited resources. Many host states don't allow free movement or grant rights to work or study. Most people live in temporary camps or camp-like situations. Resettlement is one of the only permanent solutions available but with such low resettlement offers, their chances of being selected are negligible.

Africa has the highest needs worldwide, yet only about 7 000 Africans were resettled in 2020

The UNHCR has identified 1.44 million of the most vulnerable people - children, elderly, victims of violence - as urgently needing resettlement. The millions of others, such as young single men, have little chance of being accommodated.

This lack of options drives irregular migration. Instead of waiting indefinitely for solutions, some are compelled to pursue risky travel to a country where they can claim asylum on arrival. The non-refoulement principle protects them from being deported and requires that their cases be heard.

In 2020, almost 75 000 people - more than triple the number of global resettlements - crossed the Mediterranean by boat despite great risks and significant barriers. Most claimed asylum on arrival.

While COVID-19 has influenced the decrease in resettlements, it's primarily due to cuts by the Donald Trump administration. The US president sets an annual resettlement quota at the beginning of the fiscal year. For decades before Trump, the US had the highest annual intake of refugees. As part of an anti-immigrant stance, Trump reduced quotas each year to record lows - from 85 000 in 2016 under Barack Obama to 15 000 in 2021.

COVID-19 influenced the fall in resettlements, but it's primarily due to Trump administration cuts

The Trump administration also applied its travel ban to exclude refugees from some countries and created complicated and slow 'extreme' vetting procedures. It shifted priority away from vulnerable people from Africa or the Middle East towards Christians from Europe or former Soviet Republics.

Cuts to the US programme have severely impacted global numbers. Only about 30 countries resettle refugees and most have not significantly increased their intakes to compensate for US shortfalls. All European Union member states combined resettled only 8 290 refugees in 2020.

US President Joe Biden has pledged to raise the refugee intake to 125 000 annually, hopefully pressuring other countries to increase their commitments. Advocates for resettlement warn that this increase will only be symbolic until the dismantled refugee system can be fully restored.

Some resettlement countries, such as the United Kingdom and Australia, are showing worrying signs that they're using COVID-19 as an excuse to advance anti-immigrant agendas and reduce refugee intake in the longer term. Most of the refugee situations in Africa are chronically neglected.

Some resettlement countries use COVID-19 to advance anti-immigrant agendas and reduce intakes

In August 2020, the UNHCR had a 51% overall funding gap and issued urgent appeals. Six of the top 10 most underfunded situations were in Africa: South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia, Central African Republic, Burundi and the Mediterranean Route. East Africa, the Horn and the Great Lakes were the least funded regions in the world. The South Sudan situation - affecting over 2.3 million people - received only 25% of its 2020 funding requirements.

Lack of funding is directly impacting basic needs including food, water, shelter and hygiene. Education, psychosocial support for survivors and child protection have been cut. The World Food Programme has warned that it must further reduce monthly relief cash and food rations by 10% for 1.26 million refugees in Uganda. Their rations had already been reduced by 30% in April 2020.

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Uganda hosts the largest refugee population in Africa (1.4 million), including tens of thousands of new arrivals in 2020. The country is widely celebrated for its progressive refugee policies and is one of the six African Global Compact on Refugees' (GCR) roll-out countries.

Two of the four GCR objectives are to ease pressure on host countries and expand access to third-country solutions. Yet the UNHCR's Uganda appeal is currently only 44% funded - again. Its 2017 Solidarity Summit on Refugees only generated only US$350 million of its US$2 billion target.

These conditions expose refugees to additional hardship and risks. They add to host countries' burdens at a time when COVID-19 is disproportionately affecting African economies and exacerbating poverty.

Refugee resettlement is fundamental to well managed migration and refugee systems. Yet many countries focus on border security and reducing pathways that negatively impact Africans while resettling few refugees and allowing appeals to go underfunded. This situation drives irregular migration and requires a global commitment to strategies that include increased resettlement and responsibility sharing.

Aimee-Noel Mbiyozo, Senior Research Consultant, Migration, ISS Pretoria
Sir,

One time I was watching Trevor Noah doing his thing and fortunately for me, it turned out to be a lecture. The son of Patricia said he almost lost it to this one racist man who supposedly called him a racist name Nigga, but he opted to revisit his mothers teachings of fighting the evil with one lethal weapon, love. Instead of picking up fights and fuming for no reason take whatsoever youre given in the name of hate, shake it with love and throw it right back to your poker and let love win.

Hope

Believing in love isnt dime a dozen and especially now that COVID-19 is messing with matters of hope. Who still got the stamina to be madly in love when the first you hear when you wake up is COVID-19 here and COVID-19 there? Its not easy to love when the hearts got so many questions and very insecure. Families are dysfunctional, steady couples are shaking too, relationships arent working out and friendship is slowly dying too. In this COVID-19 era, weve grown to be selfish like theres absolutely nothing to give in for yet we really need to loosen up a bit after living traumatic experiences of this era. Theres a saying that goes there is nothing stronger than a heart of a believer meaning, if we have faith in love, what could be the best vaccine to heal this malicious world. Meticulous!

God

God wants us to love, no matter what. In 1John 4:8 he says; whosoever doesnt love, means that person doesnt know God because God is Love. Love still needs to be celebrated because it still lives, in the midst of it all, it survives and thrives to climb the highest of mountains and light the darkest of days and just like Tom Walker, it will leave a light on. It is a blessing and in this month of love, it needs to be respected and observed with honour. Some of us havent decided on what to fall for and some have been searching for love. Love is in many forms, if you cannot be with somebody yet its okay, just find something to love about yourself. Love is in war and love will win!

Fate

To all couples at the verge of falling, its time to lay down your weapons. To all surviving relationships and friendships out there, the fate of love is in your hands. Dont let it die in vain because the lockdown doesnt allow you be with your friends or partners. Time-to-time again I pray for the elderly group of Eswatini because they are at a high risk in terms of COVID-19, happy month of love to you too. As we sail across rough seas, we hope captain love carries us through safely. We hope he drives us carefully through icebergs of gossip, insecurities and from cheating. Love will forever reign!

Mthunzi West






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. ( ) said the second quarter has started very strongly after posting some satisfying first-quarter numbers.

In the three months to 31 March, the CBD company posted a 377% increase in revenue to 1.3mln, with gross profit up 234% to 707,000.

Adjusted underlying loss was halved to 404,000 and loss per share was 63% lower at 0.3p.

The group also submitted a novel food application to the Food Standards Agency ahead of the 31 March 2021 deadline.


[February 11, 2021] Saint Peter's University Hospital Expands Partnership with CarePort to Support Compliance with CMS's Patient Event Notification Requirements

CarePort, powered by WellSky, a market leader in care transitions, today announced its enhanced partnership with Saint Peter's University Hospital, an acute care teaching hospital and member of Saint Peter's Healthcare System in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Saint Peter's University Hospital will implement CarePort Interop, a new offering that supports compliance with a newly created Condition of Participation (CoP) for patient event notifications, as outlined in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Interoperability and Patient Access final rule. Under CMS's new Medicare CoP requirement, hospitals and health systems with electronic health records (EHR) are required to send electronic notifications about patient admissions, discharges, and transfers to primary care providers, physicians, post-acute providers, and suppliers. Hospitals must comply with the patient event notification CoP by the April 30, 2021 deadline to continue receiving Medicare funding. CarePort Interop (News - Alert) will enable Saint Peter's to notify all required recipients about patient admissions, discharges, and transfers, in accordance with the CoP. CarePort Interop helps hospitals like Saint Peter's reach a range of stakeholders - including in-network or out-of-network post-acute providers, suppliers such as durable medical equipment (DME) and infusion providers, and patients' designated physicians. "CarePort Interop was the obvious choice when we learned that our organization would require an intermediary to ensure compliance with the new patient event notification Condition of Participation," said Jordan Tannenbaum, MD, MBA, MPH, CHCIO, PgC Healthcare Informatics (News - Alert) , vice president/chief information officer and chief medical information officer at Saint Peter's Healthcare System. "CarePort offers a seamless implementation process that is less burdensome or our staff than other solutions, as it is already integrated with our workflows and our EHR."



Leveraging CarePort's new solution, Saint Peter's can identify and notify a patient's established care providers across CarePort's national network that connects 850,000 direct-enabled physicians and more than 110,000 post-acute providers - which includes skilled nursing facilities, home health agencies, long-term acute care hospitals, inpatient rehabilitation facilities, hospices, DME suppliers, infusion centers, and dialysis facilities. CarePort has the largest end-to-end care coordination network that exists today, capturing more than 30% of post-acute transitions in the United States - equating to more than 20 million referrals sent annually. CMS's April 30, 2021 deadline is now less than three months away, and CarePort Interop can be implemented on a short timeline because the solution fits into existing workflows, requires minimal onboarding, and offers an expedited set-up process. CarePort Interop improves care coordination between disparate providers across the continuum and empowers providers with enhanced transparency and communication regarding patient status to enable safer patient transitions. CarePort Interop is also now available within the Epic App Orchard marketplace.

"With its selection of CarePort Interop, Saint Peter's University Hospital can leverage its existing CarePort workflows and network, as well as an established third-party solution that proactively fulfills CMS's forthcoming CoP requirements," said Dr. Lissy Hu, CEO and founder of CarePort. "CarePort Interop was developed specifically with this new patient event notification CoP in mind, guaranteeing that Saint Peter's University Hospital and fellow hospitals can easily comply with CMS requirements to ultimately focus their attention on delivering high-quality patient care." About CarePort, powered by WellSky CarePort is the leading care coordination network with thousands of providers connected across the U.S. The end-to-end platform bridges acute and post-acute EHR data, providing visibility into the entire patient journey for providers, physicians, payers, and ACOs. With CarePort, healthcare professionals can efficiently and effectively coordinate patient care to better track and manage patients as they move through the continuum. CarePort helps providers meet and comply with the patient event notification Condition of Participation, as part of the CMS Interoperability and Patient Access final rule, and the IMPACT Act. Read more about CarePort on careporthealth.com, Twitter and LinkedIn. About Saint Peter's University Hospital Saint Peter's University Hospital, a member of Saint Peter's Healthcare System, is a 478-bed acute-care teaching hospital sponsored by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Metuchen. Saint Peter's, which received its sixth consecutive designation as a Magnet hospital for nursing excellence by the American Nurses Credentialing Center in 2020, is a state-designated children's hospital and a regional perinatal center, and is a regional specialist in diabetes, gastroenterology, head and neck surgery, oncology, orthopedics, and women's services. The Children's Hospital at Saint Peter's University Hospital provides families with access to a full range of pediatric specialties, including a nationally recognized Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, pediatric surgery and orthopedic surgery featuring innovative anterior scoliosis correction. The hospital offers a midwifery service and the brand-new state-of-the-art Mary V. O'Shea Birth Center. Saint Peter's is a sponsor of residency programs in obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics and internal medicine, and is a major clinical affiliate of Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences. Visit saintpetershcs.com or call 732-745-8600. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210211005084/en/

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China in Focus (Feb. 10): WHO Experts Depart Wuhan After CCP Virus Probe

The team of experts led by the World Health Organization has departed Wuhan after its probe into the origins of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus pandemic.

Hundreds of thousands of Chinese migrant workers are struggling as employers fail to pay their wages. Some of them said theyve worked for up to a year without compensation.

President Joe Bidens nominee to head the CIA is coming under scrutiny over his ties to China.

And Beijing is writing a new set of rulesincluding guidelines for next generation technology. The ambitious project is called China standards 2035.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more first-hand news from China.

For more news and videos, please visit our website and Twitter.
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
The DUP's Westminster leader has accused the EU of trying to "ramp up" the Northern Ireland Protocol and increasing trade disruption between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson was speaking ahead of a meeting between Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove and the European Commission's vice president Maros Sefcovic to discuss the implementation of the protocol.

Unionists have called for the protocol to be scrapped over disruption to some food supplies and online deliveries.

Mr Sefcovic wrote to Michael Gove ahead of the meeting stating the protocol is the "only way" to protect the Good Friday Agreement and prevent a hard border on the island of Ireland.

Read More

The NI Protocol sees Northern Ireland remain in the EU single market for goods, thus creating a de facto border down the Irish Sea.

Mr Gove told MPs last week that - while the UK did not want to "ditch" the protocol - it "reserved the right" to do what it has to in order protect Northern Ireland.

Speaking to the BBC, Sir Jeffrey accused the EU of intransigence over the issues.

"There is no proposal within the EU letter as to how we're going to fix these problems. What they are actually proposing is to ramp up the protocol, is actually to increase the level of checks, to increase the disruption to trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland," he said.

"Article 16 of the protocol is very clear: if there is a diversion of trade, if there is a societal or economic impact on the people of Northern Ireland then one side or the other may act unilaterally to resolve that difficulty.

"We are saying, and we have the backing of tens of thousands of people who have signed our petition calling on the UK Government to now act unilaterally to deal with these issues, which is within their right to do so."

The DUP's petition, which has more than 138,000 signatures, is calling on the UK Government to invoke Article 16 of the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement to deal with the problem.

Article 16 is an emergency mechanism allowing either side to unilaterally suspend operations of the deal if it is causing major problems

"At the moment we have many truck that are returning to Northern Ireland that would usually be full of produce and goods that are now coming back empty - that tells us that there is a diversion in trade," Sir Jeffrey added.

Sinn Fein MP Chris Hazzard, however, said the DUP's approach to Brexit is "at best wrapped up in a series of contradictions" and, at worst, "stinks of hypocrisy".

"There is no surprise in Maros Sefcovic's letter, I think it is a timely reminder that there are consequences to your political decisions. Many of the problems we are facing now are the result of the DUP and British government policy to break entirely from SPS food hygiene rules."

Sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) rules are designed to protect humans and animals from diseases and pests that can be carried in food products.

In his letter to Michael Gove, Maros Sefcovic expressed concerns over "teething problems" in the implementation of the protocol, however said it was now "our mutually agreed legal obligation".

"The protocol is the solution agreed by the UK and the EU to these challenges. It is the only way to protect the Good Friday (Belfast) Agreement, preserving peace and stability and avoiding a hard border on the island of Ireland," he wrote.

"It is designed to ensure clarity and predictability for people and businesses, while minimising the disruption inevitably caused by the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union.

"It is a balanced outcome after years of difficult negotiations and is now our mutually agreed legal obligation.

"I therefore agree that our shared objective is to work tirelessly in order to make the protocol work.

"It requires full and faithful implementation by both parties."
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-11 23:08:45|Editor: huaxia

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SUVA, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- Fijian Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama Thursday congratulated China and the Chinese people on the Lunar New Year which falls on Feb. 12 this year.

Bainimarama used the Fijian language and the Chinese language to convey his well wishes to China and the Chinese people by saying "Bula Vinaka," Fijian language of "wishing you happiness and good health" and "Xin Chun Yu Kuai," which means "Happy Spring Festival" in Chinese.

"I wish to extend my best wishes to China and the Chinese people everywhere," he said.

"As they celebrate the Chinese New Year, according to the traditional Chinese zodiac, 2021 is the Year of Ox. Ox is a valued animal throughout the world and a symbol of strength, steadfast, team work and prosperity which should inspire us in 2021."

The prime minister also urged nations in the world to work together to fight against COVID-19 and climate change.

"This year we require all nations to cooperate as never before to defeat the global COVID-19 pandemic and seriously confront the price of climate change together."

He stressed that Fiji and China have good relationship and both countries should work together to build a better future.

"Fiji and China have enjoyed friendly and productive relations over the years. Let us forge ahead in the year of Ox to build a better future for our two countries, for Asia and the Pacific and for the world as well. And while we may celebrate apart for now, we in Fiji look forward to the day we can be together and work together once again," he said. Enditem
The ruling will enter into force after the appeal deadline expires, that is, in 30 days, while the Kyiv Council says the relevant paperwork is already being prepared.

Kyiv's District Administrative Court has declared unlawful and overturned the decision of the Kyiv City Council to rename Moskovsky (Moscow) Avenue into Stepan Bandera Avenue, as part of the decommunization drive.

That's according to a court ruling of January 28, published in the Unified State Register of Court Decisions.

The court's ruling was handed down on the lawsuit lodged by a local NGO which contested the terms of the Council decision and vote count legality.

Read alsoZelensky on Bandera: Ukrainians should also praise modern day heroes"The court also fined the Kyiv City Council to the tune of UAH 9,205 (US$331) for failure to provide data for forensic examination," Dolinsky said.

Also, the court decided to cancel the renaming of Suvorov Street (named after Alexander Suvorov  Russian general in service of the Russian Empire) into Mykhailo Omelianovych-Pavlenko Street (after the Supreme Commander of the Ukrainian Galician Army (UHA) and of the Army of the Ukrainian People's Republic), he added.

The ruling will enter into force after the appeal deadline expires, that is, in 30 days.

Municipal authorities say they are already working to prepare the relevant appeal and file it with the court.

Decommunization in Ukraine

On April 9, 2015, the Ukrainian parliament passed legislation on decommunization, as per Wikipedia.

It banned the promotion of symbols of "Communist and National Socialist totalitarian regimes".One of the main provisions of the bill was the recognition of the Soviet Union was "criminal" and one that it "pursued a state terror policy".

The legislation prohibits the use of Communist symbols and propaganda and also bans all symbols and propaganda of national-socialism and its values and any activities of Nazi or fascist groups in Ukraine.

The ban applies to monuments, place and street names, while not applying to World War 2 monuments and when symbols are located in a cemetery.

Expressing pro-communist views was never made illegal.

The ban on communist symbols did result in the removal of hundreds of statues, the replacement of millions of street signs and the renaming of populated places including some of Ukraine's biggest cities like Dnipro.

Reporting by UNIAN
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The United States will not lift sanctions on Turkey over its possession of Russias S-400 air defense system, the State Department signaled Wednesday, appearing to rebuff a suggestion by Turkeys defense minister that the NATO allies could find a solution to the dispute.

Our policy vis-a-vis the S-400 has not changed, State Department spokesman Ned Price said Wednesday afternoon, adding, We continue to urge Turkey not to retain the system.

In an interview with Turkeys Hurriyet newspaper on Tuesday, Defense Minister Hulusi Akar reiterated a proposal to discuss the S-400 dispute with US officials via a working group, adding that Ankara need not use the system constantly, likening his governments possession of the Russian technology to Greeces possession of the S-300.

Akar seemed to tie the S-400 issue to Washingtons support for the Syrian Peoples Protection Units (YPG) in the fight against the Islamic State in Syria, saying the disagreement about the YPG could not be resolved without concession from Washington. Turkey considers the YPG to be inextricably linked to the Kurdistan Workers Party, designated as a terrorist organization by Ankara and its Western allies.

In a separate interview with Daily Sabah, Akar floated a veiled threat, saying Turkeys leaders may take matters into their own hands if the United States continues its support for the YPG.

Bloomberg on Tuesday cited two anonymous Turkish officials as saying Ankara was willing to make concessions to Washington on the S-400, such as limited use, in order to maintain its defense industry relationship with the United States.

The US ambassador to Turkey, David Satterfield, last week said no sanctions would be lifted unless Turkey gives up the S-400.

The Trump administration imposed limited sanctions on Turkeys defense procurement agency in December, two months after Turkey test-fired the air defense system on its Black Sea coast.

Relations between the Biden administration and Turkish government under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan are off to a frosty start, draining prospects of a quick reset between the two NATO allies.

Neither President Joe Biden nor Secretary of State Antony Blinken have yet called their Turkish counterparts. US national security adviser Jake Sullivan spoke with his counterpart in Ankara, Ibrahim Kalin, for nearly an hour earlier this month about a number of regional issues, including managing disagreements effectively.

A week prior to that call, Sullivan referred to Turkey alongside adversary China as issues of mutual concern in a conversation with the European Commissions Cabinet leader, Bjoern Seibert, according to a readout of the call.
ATLANTA, Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Purchasing Power is proud to be part of a distinguished list of Atlanta companies joining the Metro Atlanta Chamber's (MAC) multi-year, multi-step action plan called ATL Action for Racial Equity. Designed to help address the ongoing effects of systemic racism impacting the Black community, the initiative will leverage the size, scale and expertise of the region's business community. Purchasing Power is one of the first 150 metro Atlanta-based companies to join in the focus on measurable actions across corporate policies, inclusive economic development, education and workforce development.

"As a 'majority-minority' company born and bred 20 years ago in Atlanta, we are proud of our heritage of equality and enthusiastically support the Chamber's efforts to promote leadership in racial equity in our company and our community," said Trey Loughran, CEO of Purchasing Power.

The first step in the ATL Action for Racial Equity plan is a corporate policies focus, which calls on businesses across the region to take concrete actions in the areas of people, talent pipeline and human resources policies. Purchasing Power will look to the initiative's corporate policies playbook as a guide to setting clear goals and implementing specific actions.

"This aligns well with our primary goal to embed DE&I into our existing talent and business processes with a particular focus on talent management, which is most susceptible to unconscious bias," said Racquel Roberts, Purchasing Power Chief People Officer. "Our most important measure is organizational inclusion. We have the help of our B.O.L.D. (Building Opportunities, Leveraging Diversity) Advisory group and our upcoming DE&I dashboard to track our progress along the way."

In the recent announcement of the initiative, MAC president and CEO Katie Kirkpatrick said, "True impact starts with a detailed action plan, commitment, metrics and accountability. Leveraging the size, scale and know-how of Atlanta-based companies to make impactful change is an approach that will fuel our economy and set an example for the nation."

"At Purchasing Power, we embrace diversity, equity and inclusion as core values in the success of our business. By joining this important initiative, we look forward to standing with others committed to action and progress that will make metro Atlanta a more vibrant, equitable and inclusive region," added Loughran.

For more information on ATL Action for Racial Equity powered by the Metro Atlanta Chamber and to take action, visit www.ATLRacialEquity.com.

About Purchasing Power, LLC

Purchasing Power, LLC, is an Atlanta-based voluntary benefit company offering a leading employee purchase program for consumer products and services through payroll deduction. Helping employees achieve financial flexibility, Purchasing Power is available to millions of people through large companies including Fortune 500s, associations and government agencies. Purchasing Power is a Flexpoint Ford, LLC company. For more information, visit www.corp.purchasingpower.com

Purchasing Power is a registered trademark of Purchasing Power, LLC.

2021 Purchasing Power, LLC. All rights reserved.

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Lafayette resident Vaughn Gordon inside the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Gordon was among the hundreds of people who stormed the building, interrupting Congress' certification of the Electoral College. He said he remained peaceful and did not vandalize the building.

A French nun who is the world's second-oldest person and recently survived a bout of Covid-19 was celebrating her 117th birthday on Thursday.

Sister Andre's plans for the day included champagne and red wine, and a feast with her favourite dessert, a Mass in her honour and other treats to toast her exceptional longevity through two world wars and her recent brush with coronavirus.

David Tavella, communications manager for the nun's care home in the southern French city of Toulon, said: 'It's a big day.

'She is in great shape. I went to see her this morning. She is really happy. She wanted me to tell her the schedule for the day again.'

Lucile Randon, who took the name of Sister Andre when she joined a Catholic charitable order in 1944, tested positive for the coronavirus in January but displayed no symptoms.

Lucile Randon, who took the name of Sister Andre when she joined a Catholic charitable order in 1944, tested positive for the coronavirus in January but displayed no symptoms. She is seen celebrating her 116th birthday last year in Toulon, southern France

Some of Sister Andre's great-nephews and great-great-nephews were expected to join a morning video call with her, and the bishop of Toulon was due to celebrate a Mass in her honour.

Mr Tavella said: 'She was very proud when I told her. She said: "A Mass for me?"'

The menu for the birthday feast included a starter of foie gras, followed by capon with fragrant mushrooms and wrapping up with baked Alaska, the nun's favourite dessert.

'All of it washed down with red wine, because she drinks red wine. It's one of her secrets of longevity. And a bit of champagne with dessert, because 117 years have to be toasted,' Mr Tavella said.

As for packing dozens of candles onto a cake, 'we stopped trying a long time ago', he added.

'Because even if we made big cakes, I'm not sure that she would have enough breath to blow them all out. You would need a fire extinguisher.'

Sister Andre, who was born on February 11, 1904, is the world's second-oldest living person according to the Gerontology Research Group's (GRG) World Supercentenarian Rankings List

Sister Andre, who was born on February 11, 1904, is the world's second-oldest living person according to the Gerontology Research Group's (GRG) World Supercentenarian Rankings List.

The Gerontology Research Group, which validates details of people thought to be 110 or older, lists her behind an 118-year-old woman in Japan, Kane Tanaka.

The world's oldest person of all time was a French woman named Jeanne Louise Calment, who died in 1997 at the age of 122.

The world's 20 oldest people in the GRG list are all female.

Sister Andre tested positive for coronavirus in mid-January (Sainte-Catherine Laboure care home/David Tavella via AP)

Mr Tavella told French media earlier this week that Sister Andre had tested positive for coronavirus in mid-January but that she had had so few symptoms that she did not even realise she was infected.

Her survival made headlines both in France and beyond.

Asked if she was scared to have COVID, Sister Andre told France's BFM television that she had no fears about death.

'No, I wasn't scared because I wasn't scared to die... I'm happy to be with you,' the nun said. 'but I would wish to be somewhere else join my big brother and my grandfather and my grandmother.'
(ANSA) - ROME, FEB 11 - Italy on Thursday started administering the AstraZeneca COVID vaccine with the central region of Lazio, around Rome, the first to start giving the jab.

The health ministry has recommended that the new jab, which joins the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, only go to the 18-55 year old bracket in good health.

A major vaccination hub has been opened at Fiumicino Airport, capable of vaccinating up to 3,000 people a day, said regional health councillor Alessio D'Amato.

"We mean to really get the vaccine rollout going at top speed," he said.

Italy's vaccine rollout has been hit by delays in the delivery of doses from Pfizer and AstraZeneca in particular.

It has aired the possibility of legal action against the companies.

A 54-year-old optician, Marco Buglione, was the first to get the AstraZenca vaccine at the new hub at Fiumicino's long-stay car park.

"I'm thrilled," said Buglione.

The doctor and opthalmic surgeon said everyone should get he jab.

"I think it's a vaccine that has an excellent production machine behind it.

"The British, one of the best peoples in the world, studied it well at the university of Oxford.

"Let's hope that all the vaccines works well and this horrendous story ends soon, for everyone", Buglione said, giving the thumbs up as he got the jab. (ANSA).


PARIS: U.S. tariffs and coronavirus restrictions that shut restaurants, bars and airport duty free stores in many countries wiped 13.9% off the revenues of French wine and spirits exporters last year, industry group FEVS said.

Sales abroad of wines and spirits - Frances second-biggest export after the aerospace industry - fell by 2 billion euros to 12.1 billion euros ($14.7 billion), the Federation of French Wines and Spirit Exporters (FEVS) said on Thursday.

We expect activity to pick up (in 2021)," FEVS deputy-chairman Antoine Leccia told a news conference. There is some light at the end of the tunnel with the vaccination campaign."

Shipments to the United States, the largest overseas market for French wines and spirits and one which represents a quarter of all such exports, slumped 18%, or 670 million euros, to 3.1 billion euros in 2020.

French wine and spirits exports had jumped in 2019 as exporters booked sales ahead of the imposition of U.S. tariffs.

The U.S. government imposed additional duties on certain European Union products, including wines from France, as part of a 17-year battle over aircraft subsidies between Washington and the EU.

The U.S. market remains the symbol of a year marked by trade tensions and the COVID-19 epidemic," FEVS said. It added that finding a solution to the conflict was urgent.

In 2021, French still wine exports - excluding spirits such as Cognac - to the United States were likely to fall 1.1 billion euros, FEVS chairman Cesar Giron forecast.

The global pandemic broke out in China on the eve of the Chinese New Year, hitting consumption during the festive period and causing exports to China to fall 15%. Sales to Singapore and Hong Kong fell 31% and 6% respectively, FEVS said.

A rise in consumption at home only partly compensated for the closure of bars, restaurants and airport shops, it said.

Global exports of champagne and cognac, by far the largest wine and spirits exports, both lost more than 20% in sales last year.

FEVS said it hoped for a better 2021, provided the pandemic eased, with some positive signs in some countries in the last quarter of 2020.

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Almost 82,000 Europeans have applied for settled status in Northern Ireland following Brexit (Steve Parsons/PA)

Almost 82,000 Europeans have applied for settled status in Northern Ireland following Brexit.

Citizens of the EU who were in the country before the end of the transition period are eligible.

The Home Office is funding organisations to help vulnerable and hard-to-reach individuals and groups enter the EU Settlement Scheme.

With less than five months to apply to the #EU #SettlementScheme, we have teamed up with @Seraphus to offer FREE Q&A sessions with an immigration solicitor. Sign up for the next session via the link to get your questions answered https://t.co/pDPspaTczg @belfastcc @ExecOfficeNI  Advice NI (@AdviceNI) February 5, 2021

Fiona Magee, deputy chief executive at Advice NI, said: Advice NI has already helped more than 30,000 people in Northern Ireland to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme and the Home Office funding allows us to continue this important work with the more vulnerable in society, including the elderly, isolated or those who lack IT literacy skills.

A total of 81,800 applications had been received from people in Northern Ireland up to the end of last month.

Minister for Future Borders and Immigration Kevin Foster urged European citizens and their families to apply ahead of the June 30 deadline.

He said: There is plenty of support available and the new funding announced today means no stone will be left unturned in ensuring everyone gets the help they need.

A further 4.5 million of funding was announced by the Home Office on Thursday for the network of 72 organisations helping people apply across the UK.

We will reach out to everyone who deserves status under the settlement scheme to make their application Future Borders and Immigration Minister Kevin Foster

Mr Foster added: There is no target, no limit, no quota.

We are clear: we will reach out to everyone who deserves status under the settlement scheme to make their application.

All EU citizens resident in the UK before the end of the transition period on January 1 this year can apply.

Applicants need to prove their identity, show that they live in the UK, and declare any criminal convictions.

Evidence of residence can be a utility bill, bank statements, or a letter from a GP or charity.
SPRINGFIELD  As he walked through the construction site that will soon be Springfield Prep Charter School, sixth-grader Maurice Elliott thought about what he is looking forward to the most when the project is complete.

The classrooms and having more space and new stuff of our own, he said.

Maurice joined other students, teachers and administrators Wednesday on a tour of the former office building in East Springfield. The renovation project will cost $20.4 million and will result in a 51,000-square-foot school on four acres. Springfield Prep, which has operated in temporary spaces since it opened in 2015, expects to move into its new campus in time to start the next school year.

Shawna Mitchell is the assistant principal for the elementary students at the school, which will have students in kindergarten to eighth grade next fall. She said she is looking forward to a permanent location.

These kids deserve everything. They deserve a stage, and Im excited to see them put on plays and have classrooms that have space for them and not have to constantly move between buildings, she said. Im excited for stability and consistency for the families too.

2/10/2021 - Springfield - 6th grader student Maurice Elliott having fun during the tour of Springfield Prep Charter School construction on Roosevelt Avenue Wednesday afternoon. (Hoang 'Leon' Nguyen / The Republican)

The school started off on Pine Street sharing space with Veritas Prep Charter School. Now it is at the Jewish Community Center campus on the Springfield/Longmeadow line.

Springfield Prep has 380 students in kindergarten through sixth grade, and will grow to its full size, with 486 students through eighth grade, in the 2022-23 school year. There will be more than 70 full-time staff members. Springfield Prep is a free public school with no screening requirements. Students are enrolled through a lottery.

Maurices mom, Annie Cosme of Indian Orchard, said she had heard charter schools offered a better education. She was thrilled when her son got a lottery spot in fourth grade.

The school is very well structured and the students are well disciplined, she said, adding that she is excited for the students to have their own space.

Im looking forward to them having an art room and a gym and a full cafeteria as well as bigger classrooms, she said.

2/10/2021 - Springfield - Shawna Mitchell, assistant principal at Springfield Prep Charter School, attended the tour of the construction site on Roosevelt Avenue Wednesday afternoon. (Hoang 'Leon' Nguyen / The Republican)

The campus at 2071 Roosevelt Ave. will feature a full gymnasium with a stage, multiple playgrounds and outdoor classroom space. There will also be dedicated classrooms for science and art, and a multipurpose cafeteria and community room.

Jessica Cruz is a kindergarten teacher as well as the mother of two students at the school.

Im really grateful to be part of this team and to be moving into this new space, she said. I know the kids are going to appreciate that so much.

Cruz said teaching remotely while also having two children who are attending school remotely has been difficult.

It has been really challenging, but we have adapted well to it. However, Im really looking forward to coming back on site, she said.

2/10/2021 - Springfield - Jessica Cruz, a kindergarten teacher at Springfield Prep Charter School, attended the tour of the construction site on Roosevelt Avenue Wednesday afternoon. (Hoang 'Leon' Nguyen / The Republican)

Her children, Jaliyah Cruz, 10, and Josh Cruz, 7, got a sneak peek at the building too.

I like how its really big. I have never been in a building this big, but its kind of weird because all of the ceilings are showing the wires, said Jaliyah, who has been a student at Springfield Prep since she was in kindergarten. She is now in fourth grade.

Josh, who is in second grade, liked the cafeteria the most because its a big room. Like everyone else who toured the site on Wednesday, he is looking forward to more space.

I think its a really big school so we are gonna have more space in every classroom, he said.

For Mitchell the new building will present more opportunities for the teachers and students to shine.

This building will give them the space to be their amazing selves and for our teachers to have fun while teaching and engaging with the kids, she said. We are just so excited to have this new space.

2/10/2021 - Springfield - 10-years-old Jaliyah Cruz with her 7-years-old Josh attended the tour of Springfield Prep Charter School construction site on Roosevelt Avenue Wednesday afternoon. (Hoang 'Leon' Nguyen / The Republican)

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Poor husbandry and parasites have been blamed for damage (David CHeskin/PA)

The pursuit of profits by salmon producers globally is creating significant environmental and social damage, according to a new report.

New analysis from Just Economics into fish farming puts cumulative costs since 2013 at almost 36 billion (50 billion dollars).

More than half of these are falling to producers with the rest being passed on to society in the top four salmon-producing countries.

Eilis Lawlor, director of Just Economics, said: There is a growing demand from consumers to source fish from producers that care for the environment, protect coastal communities and prioritise fish welfare.

However, our analysis shows that salmon farming is incurring significant economic, social and environmental costs that are not currently accounted for in company reporting.

Investors should factor in the long-term risks facing salmon aquaculture and governments should implement robust regulation to ensure that companies rapidly switch to more sustainable farming practices.

Norway, Scotland, Canada and Chile account for 96% of farmed salmon across the world.

The Dead Loss report, commissioned by the Changing Markets Foundation, analyses the impacts of the industry in these four countries.

It identifies poor fish husbandry, parasites and pollution as causing hundreds of millions of fish mortalities before they are ready for slaughter.

This accounts for the highest proportion of the costs.

A total of 10 companies account for 50% of global salmon production.

The report highlights the short-term pursuit of profits by these producers as resulting in the deaths of 100 million salmon since 2010.

A Scottish Salmon Producers Organisation spokesman said: Farmed salmon has a great environmental story to tell. Salmon has the lowest carbon footprint of any main livestock protein, it is a nutritious and healthy food and, as the UN and other international experts have acknowledged, aquaculture provides one of the best solutions to feed the worlds burgeoning population in the years to come.

It is a shame that the authors have chosen to ignore these benefits when compiling this report.

A spokesman for the International Salmon Farmers Association said: Unfortunately, a review of the paper makes it clear that this is simply activism masquerading as academic analysis.

The paper is not supported by facts, includes no discussions with independent experts, and lacks the critical context required to offer useful insights.

Patna, Feb 11 : A retired IPS officer has accused Bihar minister Leshi Singh of possessing sophisticated weapons such as AK-47, AK-56 and Self Loading Rifle (SLR).

Amitabh Kumar Das, a 1994 batch IPS officer, has written a letter to Bihar DGP SK Singhal, urging him to immediately conduct raids on different locations to recover the weapons.

Leshi Singh has been recently appointed the food and consumer affairs minister in the Nitish Kumar-led Bihar government.

"Keeping these weapons is a serious criminal offence. Only armed forces and police departments are entitled to procure such weapons," he said.

"I have specific information about Leshi Singh keeping a huge cache of arms and ammunition like AK-47, AK-56, SLR in her various known and unknown houses. These weapons could be sent to Nepal if raids are not conducted in time," Das said.

Asked how he knew about the weapons, he said: "I have trusted informers in all the districts who provide information from time to time.

"Leshi Singh has a criminal background. Her husband Butan Singh was a dreaded gangster of Purnea. He was known for terror in Seemanchal region. He was facing murder, kidnapping, extortion charges. He was gunned down in April 2000 during a court appearance in Purnea. After that, Leshi Singh took over the gang and she kept the weapons as well," Das said.

Butan Singh was a childhood friend of Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

During 1997-1998, when the JD-U was known as Samata Party, Nitish Kumar was its president, and he had appointed Butan Singh as district president of the Samata party.

"This is enough to establish the proximity between Butan Singh and CM Nitish Kumar and it has been continuing at present as well with Leshi Singh being given a berth in the second cabinet expansion of the government," Das said.
The U visa program, created in 2000, provides undocumented immigrants and others with temporary legal residency and a path to American citizenship if they cooperate with law enforcement officials after being a victim of or a witness to violent crimes, among them domestic violence and sexual assault.

Ms. Reed said she could not elaborate on how Ms. Nadeem had become eligible for the visa program or discuss whether she had been a crime victim.

ICE officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Wednesday night.

The Rev. Nathan Dannison, the senior pastor of First Congregational Church in Kalamazoo, said in an interview on Wednesday night that parish members had decided that the church should become what is known as an immigrant-welcoming congregation after Donald J. Trump was elected president in 2016. ICE typically does not conduct raids at houses of worship, which the agency has designated as sensitive locations.

It was not the first time the church in Kalamazoo had offered someone safe harbor.

We willfully violated the Fugitive Slave Act in 1851, Mr. Dannison said.

In 2018, the church learned of the predicament of Ms. Nadeem, who is Muslim and had previously worked as a servant in Kuwait. She hasnt been to Pakistan in 40 years, according to a post by her son on the churchs website.

Her application for asylum had been denied after she came to the United States in the mid-2000s.

We thought that was unimaginable, Mr. Dannison said, because she was a model citizen of Kalamazoo. But they said, This is a new administration, and things are changing.

The church created a 200-square-foot apartment in the basement for Ms. Nadeem, who Mr. Dannison said had become an instrumental member of the parish and is known by the nickname Auntie. Ms. Nadeem cared for people with developmental disabilities and worked with refugees in the community, according to the church.
COLUMBUS, Ohio  Gov. Mike DeWine was chided last week after he pitched Ohio as a progressive place, a state that should be able to draw large numbers of mobile millennials looking to relocate during the pandemic.

Democratic leaders took DeWines comments as an opportunity to criticize the Republican governor and GOP lawmakers for what they believe is a long record of anti-progressive policies, on issues from abortion rights to the minimum wage to gun control.

Read more: Proposed $50 million marketing campaign would help Ohio compete for pandemic-era, mobile workers

The debate, however, may be beside the point: There isnt much evidence to suggest that young, mobile workers are looking to land in progressive states.

The highest growth states in the U.S.  including Idaho, Arizona, Utah and Texas, according to the U.S. Census  arent generally perceived as the countrys most progressive places.

And the biggest exodus is from states that are generally described as more progressive, including New York, California and Illinois.

Rebecca Gehman, managing director of talent attraction for Development Counsellors International, does extensive research on what mobile workers want from prospective communities. Progressive politics isnt listed as a top draw.

There is consensus, however, that young professionals want communities that are perceived as welcoming and diverse.

I think its important to remember that there are young professionals who affiliate with both parties, she said.

In addition, Gehman said that prospective residents arent typically shopping for a state  theyre looking for a community.

And many of the hottest cities right now  Nashville, Austin and San Antonio, for example  are located in states that arent perceived as particularly progressive.

Lydia Mihalik, a DeWine appointee and director of the Ohio Development Services Agency, acknowledged that there are different definitions of progressive. I think the beauty of Ohio is we have a very diverse population with a lot of different places to call home, she said.

Destination Cleveland CEO David Gilbert said the issue of whether Ohio is a progressive state may not matter much, from a marketing perspective.

Its not mine to argue whether we are progressive or conservative, he said. The key to marketing is really knowing your customer. Is it important to them?

Top 15 relocation considerations

Cost of living

Housing cost

Housing availability

Quality health care

Welcoming/friendly local population

Climate

Alternative job opportunities in new location

Outdoor recreational opportunities

Diverse population

Job opportunities for spouse/partner

Proximity to family

Proximity to friends/others in same age/demographic group

Arts/cultural amenities

Public transportation/walkable

Higher education opportunities

Source: Development Counsellors International surveyed 1,600 workers, ages 21-65, last summer about what factors were most important when considering relocation. For information: https://aboutdci.com/products/talent-wars-2020/
Financial services group Fidelity Investments is to create 90 jobs in Ireland.

Work to fill the roles is under way and the company is looking to have all positions filled within the first half of this year.

The new positions  60 of which will be based in Galway, with the rest in Dublin when it is safe to return to the office  will be in the technology area and include java engineers, data engineers, and quality engineers.

US-headquartered Fidelity has grown steadily to a workforce of 1,300 people in Ireland today from 400 here in 2013.

We are excited to be growing our operations in Ireland again, said Al Riviezzo, general manager at Fidelity Investments Ireland.

"While the pandemic has been a challenge and weve had to adjust how we operate today, we know weve pivoted in a way where new hires can get excited about working at Fidelity and growing their careers with us.

These new key technology positions will enhance our ability to meet our clients changing needs during the ongoing pandemic, and into the future.

Fidelity has assets under administration of $9.8trn (8.08trn), including discretionary assets of $3.8trn as of December 31, 2020.

Privately held for 75 years, Fidelity has more than 47,000 employees around the world.

The company helps more than 35 million people invest their own life savings.

It also works with 22,000 businesses, assisting them manage employee benefit programs.

In addition, Fidelity provides more than 13,500 financial advisory firms with investment and technology solutions to invest their own clients money.

This is its second major job announcement in Ireland in as many years.

In April last year, the IDA Ireland-backed company said it was creating 100 jobs in both Galway and Dublin. On that occasion, the majority of the roles created were for software engineers.

The company has been in Ireland since 1996.
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.
TV presenter and fashion designer Brendan Courtney is supporting a drive by Dunnes Stores to raise 150,000 for the Irish Heart Foundation, and is asking the people of Donegal to get involved between today and Valentines Day, Sunday.

The retailers four-day campaign has been launched to help the charity, where fundraising efforts have been badly affected by the pandemic.

From Thursday to Sunday this week, Dunnes Stores customers will be invited to add an extra 2 to their shopping bills  donations which will go straight to the Irish Heart Foundation.

Mr Courtney offered his support four years after the death of his father, Frank, following a stroke.

In 2017, he took part in a documentary, We need to talk about Dad, examining the difficulty of organising care for his father, who was unable to look after himself.

This is a cause Im very proud to be associated with, especially given my personal experience with stroke in my family, said Brendan.

Stroke prevention and support are key parts of the Irish Heart Foundations strategy and if people get behind this campaign and donate 2 at the tills, they will be making an enormous, collective contribution to that vital work.

Tim Collins, CEO of the Irish Heart Foundation, said the charity is delighted to have the support of Dunnes Stores as part of its Show Some Heart campaign.

Every year, thousands of people in Ireland are diagnosed with a heart condition or affected by stroke. We want to be there to help and support everyone, but Covid-19 has had a significant impact on our fundraising income, he said.

We hope the public will support our campaign by shopping in Dunnes Stores and making a donation at the till.

The fundraising drive begins today, Thursday, running until close of business at Dunnes Stores in Donegal on Valentines Day.

If you miss the chance to donate in person, you can make a contribution at irishheart.ie.
Tharisa is an integrated resource group incorporating mining, processing, exploration and the beneficiation, marketing, sales and logistics of PGMs and chrome concentrates.

Its principal asset is the Tharisa Mine located in the South-Western Limb of the Bushveld complex, South Africa.

The mechanised mine has a 14-year open pit life of mine (LOM) and the ability to extend operations underground by at least 40 years.
Revenue at Reed Exhibitions, which holds the London Book Fair and the retired BookExpo, among other major publishing-adjacent events, plunged 71% in 2020 compared to 2019, parent company the RELX Group reported. Revenue in the exhibition group was 362 million, down from 1.27 billion in 2019. The division had an adjusted operating loss of 164 million compared to a profit of 331 million in 2019. The loss excludes one-time charges, including a charge of 183 million, which primarily reflects costs of canceling events as well as actions taken to downsize the business.

The exhibition group accounted for 5% of RELX's total revenue in 2020, down from 16% in 2019. The remainder of its businessesSTM, Risk, and Legalhad combined sales of 6.75 billion, up 2% over 2019. RELX said higher electronic revenue offset declines in print, which fell at a steeper rate than in recent years.

Despite the poor performance by Reed Exhibitions, RELX remained a very profitable company. Last year, adjusted operating profit for the company was 2.08 billion, down 17% from 2019. Revenue fell 10%, to 7.11 billion.

RELX did not sound overly optimistic about a rebound in the exhibition business in 2021, saying that the ongoing pandemic made predicting prospects for the business difficult. RELX said that, since last March, the only face-to-face events it has been able to hold were held in Asia. Reed conducted 169 physical fairs last year, all of which had digital components. In addition, it conducted about 70 fully virtual events, which RELX said generated up to 20% of the revenue that would be generated by an equivalent physical show.

At present, RELX said it is managing its event schedule flexibly, with the majority of shows outside of Japan and China planned for the second half of the year. RELX added: All events remain subject to the risk of postponement or cancellation, primarily depending on local government policies on events and travel. Events that do take place are likely to experience some revenue attrition."

Reed canceled the London Book Fair last year and held a much scaled down BookExpo virtually. For this year, BookExpo has been canceled, and Reed has not announced whether it will ever be held again. This year's London Book Fair had its dates moved from March to June 29-July 1 as organizers hoped to be able to hold a live fair. It said a decision on that makeup of the event will be made by late March.
Berger said when he read the findings of the first probe, "it was pretty clear to me we needed to do a follow-on...

NEW YORK, Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- New York based fashion brand, HIROMI ASAI, (www.hiromiasainy.com , Instagram @hiromi.asai) has always been trying to revive the essence of Japanese Kimono for modern luxury fashion. The designer, Hiromi Asai, first presented Kimonos on runway at the New York Fashion Week in 2016. Then, HIROMI ASAI develops men's wears all made of Japanese Kimono textiles, which were presented at Pitti Uomo in Florence, Italy and other major trade shows in USA every season since 2017. HIROMI ASAI men's wear collection won accolades and got many international media coverages.

HIROMI ASAI AW21 New York Fashion Week Show with Flying Solo, All made of Kimono Textiles HIROMI ASAI AW21 New York Fashion Week Show with Flying Solo Poster (Feb-13-2021), Cut Paper Collage by Akiko Kaneko

HIROMI ASAI is active as an official member of the retail and showroom in SoHo, New York; Flying Solo (flyingsolo.nyc), which introduces and sells independent and emerging fashion brands, and now becomes the US largest fashion showcase and retail for independent designers. Flying Solo also produces fashion shows to demonstrate the latest collection of the independent designers during the New York Fashion Week, Paris Fashion Week, and more.

HIROMI ASAI presents Autumn-Winter 2021-2022 men's wear collection on runway at Flying Solo Show held at the rooftop in SoHo, starting at 4pm EST on Saturday, February 13, 2021. The theme of the collection is "Space Travel". HIROMI ASAI develops new textiles suitable for men's wear collection with craftsmen in Tango and Nishijin-Kyoto, Japan, who usually manufacture textiles for Kimono by traditional techniques. For this new collection, HIROMI ASAI creates the forms and designs suitable for forthcoming space travels. Based on the designs by Hiromi Asai, Tetsuya Hagiyama, one of the rising stars in Japan, accomplished elaborate pattern making, and Teruo Hirokawa, an authority of handmade tailoring in Japan, tailored all this collection. Cumulatively, HIROMI ASAI would like to demonstrate luxury fashion with unique prominent textiles and sophisticated design, made by outstanding tailoring techniques.

Considering the circumstances under the COVID-19 pandemic, as the capacity of the venue is quite limited, this show is livestreamed on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/flyingsolonyc/), starting at 4pm EST on Saturday, February 13, 2021.

"I am extremely excited to return to runway of the New York Fashion Week and demonstrate our new collection in this season. I realize that fashion is indestructible even during the disastrous COVID-19 pandemic," Ms. Hiromi Asai, a designer of HIROMI ASAI said. "I deeply appreciate great collaboration with craftsmen and artisans in Japan to create our new collection. I hope many people worldwide watch them, try them, and wear them to long for Space travels." Hiromi Asai added about the concept of HIROMI ASAI collection, "I have been focusing on Kimono, but the essence of Kimono is `textile` not `form`. It is our responsibility to hand over craftsmanship for production of traditional textiles to the next generation. For this commitment, I continue transforming Japanese traditional textiles to modern luxury fashion, which also serves as echo-friendly sustainable fashion passed from generation to generation."

DETAILED INFORMATION OF THE SHOW

HIROMI ASAI @ Flying Solo

Autumn/Winter 2021-2022 Flying Solo Show

Date and Time: Saturday, February 13, 2021; 4pm EST

Location: Rooftop in SoHo, New York (only by invitation)

Livestream: https://www.instagram.com/flyingsolonyc/

HIROMI ASAI WEB AND SOCIAL MEDIA

HP: http://www.hiromiasainy.com

Flying Solo HIROMI ASAI online store: https://flyingsolo.nyc/collections/hiromi-asai

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hiromi.asai

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/modeandclassic

Media Contact

Hiromi Asai

646-242-4156

[email protected]

SOURCE HIROMI ASAI


India and China began to pull back troops and battle tanks on Thursday from a disputed lake area high in the western Himalayas. The move came after months of tensions on the disputed border.

Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh told parliament the two sides had reached an agreement to withdraw from Pangong Tso, a high-mountain, glacial lake, following a series of talks.

Our sustained talks with China have led to agreement on disengagement on the north and south banks of the Pangong lake, Singh said.

Chinas defense ministry confirmed that troops from the two countries were pulling back from the lake area.

The dispute began last April. India said Chinese troops had entered deep into its side of the border, called the Line of Actual Control, in the western Himalayas. China said its troops were operating in its own area and accused Indian border guards of making aggressive actions.

India and China have not been able to agree on their 3,500-kilometer-long border since the two countries fought a war in 1962. Instead, the two militaries hold positions.

Last June, the Indian Army said at least 20 of its soldiers were killed in direct fighting with Chinese troops near the lake. The incident marked the first conflict-related deaths on the border in 45 years. The Chinese side also suffered an unknown number of injuries or deaths. Since then, both countries had moved troops, tanks and other weapons close to the border.

Singh said the Indian government had told Chinas government that peace and calm had been seriously harmed by the actions of Chinese troops. He said relations between the countries had also suffered.

Singh said the two sides decided for troops to return to the permanent and accepted bases.

Pangong Lake is a narrow body of water that extends from Chinas Tibet Autonomous Region and into Indias Ladakh region. Singh said the two countries had agreed to take down defense structures they had built on the two sides of the lake.

Once the disengagement has been completed at the lake, Singh said military commanders would meet to discuss pullback from other areas.

Im Ashley Thompson.

The Reuters news agency reported this story. Ashley Thompson adapted it for VOA Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor.

_____________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

glacial adj. related to glaciers: frozen rivers of ice on mountains and in Arctic areas

sustained adj. dealt with or carried out over time

disengagement n. (military) the act of ordering an end to fighting and to move away from an area

banks n. (pl.) the sides of a river or lake

region n. an area of a country that is different or separate from other parts
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Nitin Chandra, the budding film director from Bihar, after successfully making 'Bring Back Bihar', a documentary depicting on the plight of Biharis in Mumbai, in his next project deals with the recurring flood situation in Bihar and how the central and state governments have failed to recognize the actual reason for this annual nightmare.

A former student of Don Bosco, Patna, with a Bachelor in Information Technology from Delhi and Masters in Communication Studies from University of Pune with specialization in film-making, Chandra says that his new project is funded by the Centre for World Solidarity (CWS). It is a film that is based on illogical and technically non-feasible methods of controlling floods in Bihar.

{gallery}newsimages/nitinchandra{/gallery}Chandra says that the devastation which Bihar faces due to floods is caused by 'brainless engineering and spineless bureaucracy'.

"The whole idea of controlling the nature by humans has backlashed in Bihar. Over the past 50 years, the damage of agrarian land because of flood has increased by 80%. Even though the government has spent millions of rupees, the government is unable to understand that in no way we can control the flood by tying a noose around rivers," the young film-maker says.

Chandra contends that the cause of the flood situation in Bihar is because of ever-growing population and the lack of education.

"Shaukat Khan, a villager in Supaul Basantpur Block, I met, had 15 kids. According to him, in his village the average number of children people have is 10. Harihar, a farmer with seven children, is also woefully unaware of the results of having too many kids. After the last year's flood in the Kosi region, a large area of Supaul and Madhepura district is covered with a white sheen of sand that is 3 to 6 feet deep," says Chandra.

"The plight reminds me of Phanishwar Nath Renu's lines from his book Parti Parikatha:

????, ?????, ??????? ???????? |

????? ????, ????, ????, ??????? ????...|

???? ???, ???? ?? ???...

Even after 50 years of writing his book, we are still there," he said.

The film deals with all the techniques applied under the heading of "Flood Control Mechanism".

"We have interviewed hundreds of men and women living in wretched conditions in flood-affected villages and farmers who lost their lands, government officials and social activists. We are recording all the speeches given by big political leaders in Kosi region to appease people. In the film, we have interviewed a 90-year old man from Supaul (Bairiya Manch) who says that Dr. Rajendra Prasad and Jawaharlal Nehru, in the wake of development built the embankments but never came back to see the plight of the people," Chandra said.

The film-maker further says that the plugging-in of the breach in Kusaha is yet to be done.

"The Kosi '08 was not a natural flood, it was mass genocide about which no one wants to know or talk about. Thousands of people died, hundreds are still missing. One Mumbai attack has all the media and public attention but each year Bihar faces a catastrophe in the form of flood but no one wants to talk about it. Electronic media is too busy talking about Kasab eating biryani, or his demand of perfume; they want to talk about Matuknath's election campaign but there has been no follow-up on the plight of the people who are leaving the flood-affected areas only to be disgraced and ill-treated in places like Punjab, Kashmir, and Mumbai," Chandra says.
Feuding between the parties that make up the Joint List had been going on for some time. It all ended when the Feb. 4 deadline arrived for the parties running for the 24th Knesset to submit their lists of candidates to the Central Election Committee. Suddenly, the Joint List was no more, at least in its previous constellation. It formally split up when the Raam faction, led by its chairman, Knesset member Mansour Abbas, submitted a separate list of candidates. Raam had decided to run on its own without the other parties that made up the Joint List.

Upon submitting his list, Abbas announced that Raam was setting off on a new path. We are neither left nor right. We will work with everyone to advance the issues important to Arab society. We will work with anyone who works with us, in accordance with our values and the interests of the Arab public. As for whom we will recommend to serve as prime minister, we will leave that until after the election, once we have had a chance to examine every option.

The head of the Joint List, Knesset member Ayman Odeh, submitted a list for the remaining three parties: Hadash, Taal and Balad, saying, We continue to follow the path of equality through strength. Knesset member Aida Touma-Suleiman (Hadash) explained, The list that we are submitting today is the Joint List. Hadash is running in partnership with Taal and Balad. It is the same Joint List, even more closely united over its political principles and its approach to the struggle. In an interview with Makan Radio that day, Knesset member Ahmad Tibi declared that he is prepared to give up my second-place slot in favor of Raam in order to keep all the parties that make up the Joint List intact.

This is not the first time that the Joint List has split apart. On the eve of the April 2019 election, Tibi announced that he was leaving the Arab political alliance because he felt that his own party, Taal, did not receive adequate representation within the list of candidates. It resulted in two Arab coalitions running separately: Hadash-Taal, which won six seats, and Raam-Balad, which won four.

There is, however, an important difference. The last time this happened, the split revolved around the distribution of seats between the constituent parties. This time, Raams ideology and its demand for a new approach to achieving the Arab publics objectives were the impetus. In the background, cooperation between Abbas and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu culminated in Raam abstaining from last Decembers votes to dissolve the Knesset and to extend debate on the new budget, infuriating the other members of the Joint List.

In a speech to Raam, the head of its political bureau, Ibrahim Hijazi, shared that in negotiations with the rest of the Joint List, he had said, You are ready to say that Netanyahu is your red line, but lets discuss how we can impact the political map. With whom are you willing to work and cooperate, and with whom wont you work?

This question summarizes the most significant reason behind the partys decision to split from the coalition. Ra'am's argument is that there is a group of people who just want the appearance of being lawmakers while another wants to do the work needed to effect decision-making in Israel.

So what does the Arab community think about the split? There is a clear desire among a growing number of Arabs to have a say in Israels political process. It could be the reason the Joint List recommended Blue and White leader Benny Gantz to be prime minister after the last election. The Arab public pushed for the Joint List to take action and nominate him rather than refuse to engage, like Arab parties did in the past.

Social activist Samir Abd Elhadi discussed the split in a conversation with Al-Monitor, saying, I support the split into two separate lists because in the end, it will contribute to and help the Arab public. The split should create competition between the two lists to win the support of the Arab voter. It will cause Arab Knesset members to show greater interest in the needs of their electorate and focus on issues relevant to Arab citizens. It will improve the way they operate as parliamentarians.

But there are also those who consider the split to a negative and even dangerous development. Political and media consultant and strategist Sami el-Ali told Al-Monitor, The implications of this split in the Joint List for the political discourse and public activity in the nations interest are dangerous, because the background is an important debate over key issues on the Joint Lists social platform. Preserving a united front, particularly in the middle of an important debate over principles, is the real test for the constituent parts of the Joint List. In other words, it must preserve the strategic national political project of representing Arab society as a whole, despite the challenges and despite significant differences of opinion. What we have in common should supersede those differences. The continued existence of the Joint List with its four components in the middle of such a heated debate would prove to the Arab voter that the party represents genuine unity. And it would erase the image of the Joint List as a political entity whose partners are squabbling over seats and positions.

When asked why the Joint List seems to have held no such discussion before now, he explained, It should have been on the table since the Joint List was founded in 2015. The fact that it was ignored for five years hurt the parties themselves, their parliamentary activity and the political discourse within Arab society. It locked Arab Knesset members into a technical position, competing with the partys other members over achievements.

This is the real challenge facing Abbas and Raam. They must convince the Arab public that they offer an alternative instead of being in the pocket of one Jewish party or another over who will be the next prime minister.
First contact between the two leaders. The new administration wants to continue Trump's tough policy, but with a different approach. Washington: involve allies and partners in the Indo-Pacific region. China task force created in the Pentagon. US warships continue to challenge Chinese interests.

Washington (AsiaNews / Agencies)  The ongoing repression of Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang; the suppression of democratic freedoms in Hong Kong; the acts of aggression towards Taiwan and unfair business practices.

In his first phone call with Xi Jinping, the new US President Joe Biden attacked his Chinese counterpart on several fronts revealing a policy closely aligned to that of his predecessor, Donald Trump. The telephone call took place yesterday: a courtesy gesture from Biden on the eve of the Chinese New Year, which begins tomorrow.

Xi responded as expected to Biden's criticism: Xinjiang, Hong Kong and Taiwan are internal affairs and Washington must not interfere. Chinese state media reports that the Beijing leader even warned that a conflict would be disastrous for both sides.

A few days ago, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Trump was right to pursue a tougher policy towards China. Compared to the former White House tenant, however, the new administration wants to promote a more coordinated approach with allies and regional partners.

Washington reiterated that it will continue to protect Japan's interests with respect to the Senkaku Islands. The atolls in the East China Sea are administered from Tokyo, but claimed by China (which calls them Diaoyu).

In his talks with the leaders of India and Australia, Biden stressed his willingness to work to promote a "free and open" Indo-Pacific region. Yesterday Hsiao Bi-khim, Taiwan's representative in the US, met Sung Kim, a senior State Department official. The two stressed the need to deepen the ties between the two countries.

The phone call between Biden and Xi came just hours after the US president announced the creation of a Pentagon task force to review the strategy towards China.

Meanwhile, US ships continue to operate in the "hot" areas of East Asia. Two US aircraft carriers (Theodore Roosevelt and Nimitz) sail in the South China Sea; on February 8, the destroyer John S. McCain approached the Paracel Islands, partly occupied by China but claimed by other countries in the region.

Last week, a Washington warship crossed the Taiwan Strait - the first time that such a crossing had been made under the Biden presidency.
Dogs are the most loyal creatures and one needs to learn from them how to love people and stay loyal. And an incident that took place amidst the recent flash floods in Uttarakhand is testimony that dogs are the most loyal of all species.



Recently, a two-year-old Bhutia breed dog named Blackie was found waiting outside the Tapovan dam tunnel that was demolished by the flash floods as a result of the glacier burst.

 Unsplash

The adorable dog has been sitting at the same spot for the past three days as he is waiting for the return of the workers who fed him and took care of him.



Blackie was born near the area where the Hydel project of the NTPC was being developed. He grew up around the workers who worked at the project site and he used to come to meet them in the morning and then go back down the hill.

He usually would follow this routine and when on Sunday he went back up there, he couldnt find any of the employees who used to pet him.

 BCCL

A resident named Ajeet Kumar told TOI, "He must have realized something was amiss. The place was full of strangers who paid no attention to him. Blackie used to laze around close to the project site.



Another worker Rajendra Kumar said, We would give him food, a sack to sleep on when we worked. Blackie would be around during the day and leave in the evening when we did.

Not only this, but the teams also tried to shoo him away while the rescue operation was going on but he did not go and kept coming back to check for his friends. The local onlookers also noticed the presence of Blackie there and expressed that he was devastated and anxious throughout.

 Unsplash

Currently, the local people from around the area are looking after him and we hope the rescue team will find the workers.



Earlier, the landslide in Keralas Munnar swept the houses of 81 people, and the pictures that came after were devastating and heartbreaking to another level. But, images of Kuvi, a country dog searching for his loved ones among the debris was even more shattering.

Even days after the disaster, Kuvi led the search and rescue team then found the body of a two-and-a-half-year-old girl who was missing.

The dog found the body of Dhanuska, whose family was the owner of the dog. The body of the little girl was found stuck in the debris in a river and had reached 4Kms away from the landslide spot.

Arent dogs just extremely loving? Let us know in the comments section below!
The EU is joining calls for China to release an Irish businessman who is being held in the country without charge.

Aviation executive Richard OHalloran has been prevented from leaving China for almost two years after going there to help solve a dispute involving his company chairman.

Now three MEPs have written to the Chinese ambassador to the EU, Zhang Ming, to raise their concerns and ask that Mr OHalloran be allowed to return to Ireland.

For two years, Mr O'Halloran has been held against his will in China and his mental and physical health has taken a heavy toll, said the letter, dated February 9.

"It was reported that he was hospitalised twice because his heart stopped beating. His family, his wife and four children, who have not seen their husband and father for more than two years, are very worried and fear for his life.

Your Excellency, we hope that you understand our concern for the situation of Mr OHalloran.

Therefore, we ask you to raise our concerns with the relevant authorities in China and help secure Mr OHallorans release so that he has the chance to reunite with his family in the new spring.

The letter is signed by German Green MEP Reinhard Butikofer, the head of the European Parliaments China delegation, Greek MEP Maria Spyraki, who sits in the same centre-right group as Fine Gael, and German socialist Evelyne Gebhardt.

Read More

Its the first public intervention in the case by EU lawmakers, who mentioned Mr OHallorans situation in a resolution China adopted last month.

The letter was spearheaded by Fine Gael MEP Frances Fitzgerald, who wrote to the Chinese ambassador herself last week to ask for Mr OHallorans release.

Its a sensitive time for the case. Mr OHalloran, a director of the Dublin-based China International Aviation Leasing Service (CALS), travelled to Shanghai in March 2019 following the arrest of his companys chairman, Min Jiedong, on fraud charges.

He was not a director of the company when the events under investigation occurred, and Mr Min has since been jailed.

The Sunday Independent reported last month that Shanghai police are demanding a $36m (around 30m) payment from Mr OHalloran before he can return home.

The acting directors of CALS sent $200,000 (165,000) to the Chinese court in a good-faith gesture, but it led to further interrogation of the Foxrock father-of-four, the paper said.

Then, after being told in January that his exit ban was lifted, he was turned away from his flight.

Fianna Fail MEP Barry Andrews has also been involved in bringing the case to the EUs attention, and said the timing of the blocs recent trade deal with China was surprising given Mr OHallorans situation.

Ms Fitzgerald raised the trade deal in a letter she sent to MEPs last week.

Given the recent EU-China Comprehensive Agreement on Investment and given the general increase in economic co-operation between the EU and China, it should be a major source of concern that an EU citizen can be effectively detained against their will for such a period, she said in her letter, dated February 5.
MAN 23/30H GenSet lands order for first Mk3 unit

STX Engine set to build first Mk3 variants of MAN workhorse.

STX Engine has signed a contract with Daehan shipbuilding for 3  MAN 6L23/30H Mk3 GenSets for 1+1 vessels, which marks the first sale of the engines Mk3 version. The engines are bound for an Aframax crude tanker ordered by Atlas Maritime, the Greek international shipping company, and will achieve Tier III emission levels with the aid of SCR. They are provisionally scheduled for delivery in August 2021. Finn Fjeldhj, Head of Small-Bore, Four-Stroke Engineering, MAN Energy Solutions, said: This is an important order; our 23/30H GenSet is a proven workhorse that our customers have much appreciated over the past half-century, and whose new mark now prepares it for the next many years in the market. The MAN 23/30H engine The first 23/30H engine came on the market in 1965 and has a long history of operational stability. The engine is popular with shipowners for a number of reasons, not least for its broad market penetration that has ensured global recognition on account of its reliability and forgiving service demands. Globally, well over 12,000 units have been produced over its lifetime. Applications for the engine include tankers, bulk carriers and product tankers as auxiliary engines, with some sales as prime movers for fishing trawlers and power plants. The engine is mostly diesel-driven, with LNG and bio-oil also used in special environmental areas. The new Mk3 variant is a cost-effective GenSet that complies with 2020 SOx-regulations and has a power range of 500 - 1800 kW. Compared with its Mk2 predecessor, among other characteristics, it features: an increased power-output per cylinder

a reduced fuel-oil consumption

the longest TBO in its class

an improved conrod design

a two-part piston design for fast maintenance.




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The sun is not special. I know thats a churlish thing to say about everyones favorite celestial body, our planets blazing engine and eternal clock, giver of light, life and spectacular Instagram backdrops. Awesome as it is, though, the sun is still a pretty ordinary star, one of an estimated 100 billion to 400 billion in the Milky Way galaxy alone. And the Milky Way is itself just one galaxy among hundreds of billions or perhaps trillions in the observable universe.

Then theres Earth, a lovely place to raise a species but, as planets go, perhaps as unusual as a Starbucks in a strip mall. Billions of the Milky Ways stars could be orbited by planets with similarly ideal conditions to support life. Across all of space, there may be quintillions of potentially habitable planets, or even a sextillion  which is more than the estimated grains of sand on all of Earths beaches.

So isnt it hubris to assume that were the only life around? Since Nicolaus Copernicus posited nearly 500 years ago that Earth is not at the center of the universe, much of what humanity has learned about the cosmos has confirmed our insignificant ordinariness. We live aboard Carl Sagans pale blue dot, a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam. In all the vastness of space and time, then, doesnt it seem likely, maybe even obvious, that there exist other ordinary beings on other insignificant motes?

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 director general of the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA), Momodou Jallow, yesterday disclosed before the legislators of the Public Enterprises Committee (PEC) of the National Assembly that the telecommunication sector in the country is driven mainly by mobile sector which has a telephone rate of 112%. The technologies, being used to provide services is mainly 2G, 3G and 4G, with Africell having the largest market share of the telecoms in The Gambia.

He added that an undertaken was made by PURA to make sure that they submit activity report and financial statement for the year ended 2019. However, for some technical reasons and for some lapses, it was not done as stipulated by the Public Enterprises Committee (PEC).

He said when PURA presented its 2018 report, they indicated activities that involved handsome activities that were evolving and some of them are materialising such as the liberalisation of the gateway to the extent that licences have been issued to service providers.

According to the Chairman of PURA Alieu Ngum, PURA has always been guided by the Act, and the regulations that empower it to regulate service providers. He added that PURA also makes it very plain that, if action is taken against a service provider, those actions are guided by law and if the parties are at grief, they can still go back to that law to get redress.

He added that this has happened in the past to some service providers, and in the end, they chose to negotiate out of court, which PURA also is amenable to as the authority to encourage quality of service delivery to the consumers. However, at the same time, PURA tries to ensure that investments that have been made in those services become profitable to the investors.

"When we came here the last time, an IPP has been developed in the electricity sector in connection with the agreement signed between Nawec and KAR Power, which is adding to the generating capacity of Nawec," he concluded.
The Morrison government wants states to agree to standards for wildlife protection that fall far short of those proposed by a landmark review of environmental laws, critics of the proposals say.

The leaked Interim National Environmental Standards proposed for agreements between the Commonwealth and states and territories reveal ambitions that dont match those recommended by an independent review of environmental laws by Professor Graeme Samuel.

Carolyn Hogg (right), a University of Sydney population biologist, shows federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley and NSW Environment Minister Matt Kean the universitys Wildlife Genomics Group lab. Credit:University of Sydney

The leaked 19-page document, which covers only part of the so-called Matters of National Environment Significance, show the government has largely sought to reproduce existing clauses in the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act rather than improve it.

For instance, Professor Samuels call for safeguards to be enhanced is not echoed in the standards being put to the states, and demands for best available information becomes a requirement only for adequate assessments.
Genomic sequencing can answer several questions. It can detect which strains of COVID-19 are circulating in Chicago; it can monitor the spread in specific neighborhoods or within certain populations.

"For example, if the city wants to understand some COVID-19 hot spots, the genomic information can help to identify chains of transmission so that public health resources can be used most effectively to break the chain," Hayden says.National effort to surveil COVID-19With RIPHL, Rush and CDPH join a national effort to step up surveillance of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, and detect any variants of the virus and identify genetic changes in these variants.New strains, such as those found in the United Kingdom (UK), South Africa and Brazil, are now spreading to other places, including the United States. The UK strain was first reported in Chicago in mid-January."These few new strains are not going to be the end of it, so we need to know more than just whether people have the virus. We also need to know which strain they are carrying," says Green, who recently joined Rush to set up and oversee RIPHL.Like other viruses, the COVID-19 virus constantly changes through mutation, and new variants emerge over time. "SARS-CoV-2 is mutating, though not at an especially rapid rate compared to other viruses, such as influenza," Green adds."There's also interest in whether people who become ill with COVID for a second time are infected with a new strain of the virus or the same strain as the first infection, and whether it is a relapse and the infection never really went away," Green says.Another question of interest is whether variants will "escape" the immunity provided by the COVID vaccines."While the SARS-CoV-2 vaccines have been shown to be very effective, one focus of RIPHL will be to sequence viruses from vaccinated persons who develop COVID, to monitor whether certain variants are more likely to cause infection after vaccination," Hayden adds.The contract was awarded in December, and the lab is expected to be fully operational by March. The CDPH, which is working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and State of Illinois to contribute to national surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 strains, says the lab partnership will increase public health surveillance of possible COVID-19 variants.Rush and CDPH have partnered on other public health initiatives, including a comprehensive data resource hub that centralizes hospital information. Launched in December, the big data analytics tool is designed to aid in the fight against COVID-19 and other public health issues.Source: Newswise

A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter crew assisted Canadian police to save a man from the bluffs of Lake Erie.

Officers from the Chatham-Kent Police Service responded to the scene on Talbot Trail, west of the town of Merlin on Tuesday after receiving reports that a man was in crisis.

Upon arriving on scene, officers followed footprints leading to the edge of the bluffs, overlooking Lake Erie. Police deployed the drone and located the man a short distance away at the bottom of the bluffs.

Two officers then made their way to the mans location to provide assistance and render first aid for hypothermia, according to a news release.

The U.S. Coast Guard eventually responded to a call for help from Selfridge Air Force Base near Mount Clemens. The man was hoisted into the helicopter and airlifted to a London, Ontario hospital for medical attention.

We always love working with our Canadian colleagues in these cases, Lt. Matthew Zavalij, a public affairs officer for the U.S. Coast Guard, told the Chatham Daily News. The coordination was really great, making sure all those moving pieces made it all happen.

The two officers were able to return to safety on their own, according to the department.

The Chatham-Kent Police are thanking the search and rescue teams in Trenton and Ornge, CK EMS, CK Fire and Emergency Services and neighbors in the area, who provided guidance and assistance during the rescue.
The Maids & Mr. Clean With the Mr. Clean partnership, customers can now be reassured we are using industry-leading products along with our innovative and detailed, proprietary 22-step cleaning process thats now been certified by Mr. Clean.

The Maids, a franchised residential cleaning service, and Mr. Clean continue their exclusive partnership to ensure customers receive the highest quality cleaning services available across the United States and Canada. Originators of the home cleaning industry in 1979, The Maids is proud to partner with Procter & Gamble (P&G) through its iconic Mr. Clean brand.

The exclusive brand partnership began in 2018 and continues to provide innovation, learning, product development, and training opportunities to the front lines of The Maids operations. A legendary cleaner has joined a legendary cleaning team; and no one can match the combined cleaning power and level of service provided by The Ultimate Clean Team.

History of Cleaning Expertise & Innovation

Customers benefit from the cleaning expertise of The Maids and P&Gs extensive research and product development teams. With over 120 years of combined experience, the two companies each bring unique insights into how people want to maintain a clean and healthy home. Innovation has been a cornerstone to success as both brands seek to provide first-to-the-market solutions to help solve problems, fulfill consumer needs, and overall improve lives.

The Maids team members spend over three million hours in customers homes each year and are the experts in providing cleaner, healthier homes for our customers, says Dan Kirwan, President and CEO of The Maids International. With the Mr. Clean partnership, customers can now be reassured we are using industry-leading products along with our innovative and detailed, proprietary 22-step cleaning process thats now been certified by Mr. Clean.

Effective Cleaning Products & Industry Leading Processes

When cleaning customers homes, The Maids franchisees have access to the powerful P&G Professional Line of products, the versatile Mr. Clean Magic Eraser, and Microban 24, the disinfectant that keeps killing bacteria in your home for 24 hours. The Maids approach to cleaning homes is a trifecta  trained employees working together in teams using professional products and equipment, and a systematic, detailed cleaning process. Beyond the brand partnership between The Maids and Mr. Clean, the corporate office for The Maids franchise network works closely with P&G on market insights, product testing and feedback, and home cleaning trends to ensure The Maids customers receive the very latest innovations and highest quality clean available to keep families happy and healthy.

A Partnership for a Certified Clean

In a crowded home services industry, it can be hard to know who to trust. The Maids customers get an added benefit of enjoying a certified level of clean. Through the co-brand partnership, current and future customers have confidence in using The Maids because they were hand-selected to be the exclusive home cleaning partners of the very meticulous Mr. Clean. The Maids has always been about convenience; thats why they offer so many different cleaning services. Mr. Cleans trust has ensured every service offered gets customers homes cleaner and healthier than ever before.

We spent decades building the Mr. Clean brand and we didnt want to trust it with just anyone, said Kevin Wenzel, Brand Vice President, P&G North America Surface Care. We did research into the brands in the home cleaning space and The Maids really stood out. The Maids were our number one choice to approach as a partner. We found The Maids has a great national presence, an outstanding brand and a dedication to quality service. We also really like that The Maids is known for genuinely caring for their employees and customers.

To put the power of The Maids and Mr. Clean to work in your home, visit https://www.maids.com to find the nearest office and get your free, no obligation cleaning estimate. If a new business venture is what youre looking for, The Maids has available territories across the United States and Canada available for you to take advantage of a proven business system.

About The Maids:

The Maids, the most trusted name in home cleaning, provides superior customer service and a premium clean for every customer. Using professional supplies and state-of-the-art equipment with a proprietary cleaning process, The Maids is the residential cleaning service of choice. Visit https://www.maids.com or call 1-800-The Maids (843-6243) to learn more.

About Procter & Gamble:

P&G serves consumers around the world with one of the strongest portfolios of trusted, quality, leadership brands, including Always, Ambi Pur, Ariel, Bounty, Charmin, Crest, Dawn, Downy, Fairy, Febreze, Gain, Gillette, Head & Shoulders, Lenor, Olay, Oral-B, Pampers, Pantene, SK-II, Tide, Vicks, and Whisper. The P&G community includes operations in approximately 70 countries worldwide. Please visit http://www.pg.com for the latest news and information about P&G and its brands.

Certain trademarks used under license from The Procter & Gamble Company or its affiliates.
Individual choices in medicine carry a certain amount of uncertainty.

An innovative partnership at The University of Texas at Austin takes aim at medicine down to the individual level by applying state-of-the-art computation to medical care.

"Medicine in its essence is decision-making under uncertainty, decisions about tests and treatments," said Radek Bukowski, MD, PhD, professor and associate chair of Investigation and Discovery in the Department of Women's Health at Dell Medical School at UT Austin.

The human body and the healthcare system are complex systems made of a vast number of intensely interacting elements," he said. "In such complex systems, there are many different pathways along which an outcome can occur. Our bodies are robust, but this also makes us very individualized, and the practice of medicine challenging. Everyone is made of different combinations of risk factors and protective characteristics. This is why precision medicine is paramount going forward.

To that effect, in the January 2021 edition of the American Journal of Obstetrics Gynecology, experts at Dell Med, Oden Institute for Computational and Engineering Sciences (Oden Institute), and Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC), along with stakeholders across healthcare, industry, and government, stated that the emergence of computational medicine will revolutionize the future of medicine and health care. Craig Cordola of Ascension and Christopher Zarins of HeartFlow co-authored this editorial review with Bukowski and others.

According to Bukowski, this interdisciplinary group provides a unique combination of resources that are poised to make Texas a leader in providing computational solutions to today's and tomorrow's health care issues.

At UT Austin we're fortunate to have found ourselves at a very opportune point in time for computational medical research. The Oden Institute has world-class expertise in mathematical modeling, applied math, and computational medicine; TACC is home to the world's largest supercomputer for open science, and also committed to improving medical care, including outcomes for women and babies." Radek Bukowski, MD, PhD, Professor and Associate Chair of Investigation and Discovery, Department of Women's Health, Dell Medical School at UT Austin

Powered by such collaborations, the emerging discipline of computational medicine focuses on developing quantitative approaches to understanding the mechanisms, diagnosis, and treatment of human disease through applications, more commonly found in mathematics, engineering, and computational science. These computational approaches are well-suited to modeling complex systems such as the human body.

An on-point area of study for obstetrics

While computation is pivotal to all domains in medicine, it is especially promising in obstetrics because it concerns at least two patients -- mother and baby, who frequently have conflicting interests, making medical decision-making particularly difficult and the stakes exceptionally high.

According to state Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin, a co-author of the editorial review, Texas legislators should be concerned about the unacceptably high rate of maternal morbidity and mortality in the state.

"When I became aware of the efforts to bring computational medical approaches to addressing maternal morbidity and mortality, I was immediately intrigued," Howard said. "And when I learned of the interdisciplinary expertise that has found itself conveniently positioned to create this new frontier of medicine, I was sold."

Individualized medicine is happening now because of advancements in computing power and mathematical modeling that can solve the problems which were unsolvable until now.

Case in point: in 2018 the National Science Foundation awarded UT Austin a $1.2 million grant to support research using computational medicine and smartphones to monitor the activity and behavior of 1,000 pregnant women in the Austin area.

In particular, the growing array of data sources including health records, administrative databases, randomized controlled trials, and internet-connected sensors provides a wealth of information at multiple timescales for which to develop sophisticated data-driven models and inform theoretical formulations.

"When combined with analysis platforms via high performance computing, we now have the capability to provide patients and medical providers analysis of outcomes and risk assessment on a per-individual basis to improve the shared decision making process," Bukowski concluded.
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Police have charged the partner of missing woman Ju Zhang with murder.

Joon Seong Tan was charged on Thursday night and is expected to face Melbourne Magistrates Court on Friday.

Police say the investigation into the matter is ongoing. Officers spent hours searching bushland in Melbournes north-east for clues that could lead to the missing woman on Thursday, after Mr Tan was taken into custody for a second time.

Ten days after the Epping mothers disappearance, detectives scoured the Darebin Creek Trail near Ivanhoe for hours on Thursday as the search for the missing woman intensified.
"I am now on Koo. Connect with me on this Indian micro-blogging platform for real-time, exciting and exclusive updates," Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal's invite to people on Tuesday to join the new microblogging social media site called Koo turned into a snowball effect on Twitter.

Ministers to aam janta, several were curious to know more about the app and soon began migrating to Koo.

Koo is a microblogging social media app that was launched 10 months ago in March 2020 by a Bengaluru based start-up. It is currently being pitched as India's homegrown alternative to Twitter. The app won the Aatmanirbhar App Challenge organised by the Indian government last year in August to encourage homegrown innovation.

With the app came the inevitable memes and desis "koo-ked" up puns as well on Twitter.

Also Read: What is Koo, Who Made it? Top Ten Questions You Had about Twitter's New Desi Doppelganger

It was only a matter of minutes before Koo united the Tamilians on the Internet and they couldn't stop giggling every time the name popped up on their timelines.

For the non-Tamilians, they were busy asking everyone they could get their hands on to learn what the word Koo really meant.

koo meaning in Tamil?  Sanaya (@Sarcaswari) February 10, 2021

Me, a tamil intellectual, everytime I see this new app Koo mentioned on TL: pic.twitter.com/eCIbN0UKjQ  Potato Based (@pepsiwithastraw) February 10, 2021

Good god! Just got to know that Indias answer to @Twitter is called #Koo - this is going to be great in Tamil.  Sriram V (@MadrasMobile) February 9, 2021

What will the users of Koo be called? Tamils please dont try to answer  andolanjeevi dr. meena kandasamy ||  (@meenakandasamy) February 10, 2021

Whoever came up with the name koo for the app lol good luck with Tamil guys.  o (@sycorax666) February 10, 2021

Ask a tamil what koo is short for and watch them giggle  Rajiv Ramanujam (@vernal_equinox) February 10, 2021

The madness wasn't just limited to Twitter. A glance at the growing google trends in India shows that people channeled their inner Sherlock Holmes on Wednesday.

So what does Koo really mean?

A quick search under any of the aforementioned tweets may give you an answer.

Friendly disclaimer: You're better off not knowing the meaning.

Koo was co-founded by Aprameya Radhakrishna and Mayank Bidwatka in 2020. It is owned by the parent company Bombinate Technologies Pvt Ltd which also operated Vokal, the desi version of the QnA app Quora. Radhakrishna, an Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, graduate, is also the CEO.
Tennessee Man Charged with Murray Burglaries

By West Kentucky Star Staff

MURRAY - A Tennessee man was arrested Wednesday on burglary charges in Murray.On Tuesday, the Murray Police Department began an investigation into the burglaries of three local businesses. Later that day, a residential burglary was also discovered that appeared to be related to the business burglary investigation.On Wednesday, as detectives continued to investigate the case, they obtained a warrant for 35-year-old James Ahmed of Joelton, TN for three counts of 3rd degree burglary. Having knowledge of Ahmeds location, detectives contacted the Paducah Police Department who served the arrest warrant.On Thursday, detectives obtained an arrest warrant for Ahmed for 2nd degree burglary and theft by unlawful taking over $500 in reference to the residential burglary. Ahmed was arrested and lodged in the McCracken County Regional Jail.
- The Doctoral fellowship in India for ASEAN (DIA) provides aspiring scholars with an exciting opportunity to pursue a PhD at India's finest technical institutions - the IITs

CHENNAI, India, Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- IIT Madras invites applications to its PhD program through the DIA, an exclusive program launched by the Government of India in recognition of India's historic ties with ASEAN countries. A 1000 PhD fellowships are on offer and selected candidates receive funding covering the entire cost of their study and living expenses for up to five years of the program.

IIT Madras is internationally renowned for the quality and diversity of its research which is nurtured through various academic programs run by its 16 departments and through sponsored programs. It hosts around 100 excellent laboratories, 37 'Centres of excellence' and India's first university-based research park - IITM Research park - to provide state-of-the-art research facilities to students. The QS World University Rankings 2020 has placed IIT Madras among the top 50 institutions in Asia and among the top 100 institutes globally in Engineering & Technology,

With a faculty of international repute, a brilliant student community and a global alumni network, IIT Madras seeks to attract the best students from diverse backgrounds and offer them an excellent educational experience. The institute has collaborations with 250 foreign universities and also offers 18 Joint Doctoral Degree Programs with internationally renowned partner universities which has lent the campus a distinct multi-cultural flavour.

The institute is residential and has nearly 10,000 students, of whom nearly 3,000 are research scholars. The self-contained, pollution-free campus is located right in the heart of bustling Chennai. Carved out of 632 acres of forested area, it is a verdant retreat which is home to many endangered flora and fauna and a beautiful lake. Campus life for students is never dull with different student clubs and activities, and access to the best sporting facilities.

Highlighting the unique opportunities available for research scholars at IIT Madras, Prof. Preeti Aghalayam, Advisor, DIA, IITM, said, "IIT Madras, with its world-class research infrastructure, strong focus on interdisciplinary work, and inspirational faculty, is an ideal destination for PhD aspirants from ASEAN countries. We are delighted with the opportunity to welcome you to our beautiful campus!"

Applications to the DIA are ongoing and close on 31 March 2021.

For more information visit: https://asean.iitm.ac.in/

Contact:

Ms. Deepa Maria Alexander

Lead - International Academic Programs

Office of Global Engagement

Indian Institute of Technology Madras

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After the world's largest video game retailer  GameStop GME and Silver, Reddits discussion has now popularized marijuana stocks like Sundial Growers Inc. SNDL (up 78.8% on Feb 10) and Tilray TLRY (up more than 50% on Feb 10). The pending merger between Tilray and Aphria is supposedly the main driver of the promotion for the latter.

Apart from Sundial Growers and Tilray, Canopy Growth Corporation (CGC), Aurora Cannabis Inc. (ACB) and Aphria Inc. (APHA) also gained 6.3%, 21.2% and 10.7% on Feb 10, respectively.

A website that tracks stock ticker mentions on the forum found Sundial Growers was the most talked-about on Feb 10, pushing GameStop to the No. 2 position. Aphria and Tilray took the third and fourth spots, respectively. Canopy Growth and Aurora Cannabis both became the top-12 most popular tickers, as quoted on an article published on Barrons.

Cannabis ETFs like Global X Cannabis ETF POTX (up 20.2% on Feb 10), ETFMG Alternative Harvest ETF MJ (up 14.9% on Feb 10), Amplify Seymour Cannabis ETF CNBS (up 14.7% on Feb 10) and The Spinnaker ETF Series Cannabis ETF THCX (up 13.9%) were also solid gainers.

Notably, Reddits Wall Street Bets forum promoted the stock GameStop last month as a value investment that pushed GME shares to as high as $483 on Jan 28 from $17.25 at the start of the year. Then, the group veered their focus toward silver, making the white metal another hit. Now, its time for marijuana.

Apart From Reddit, Democrats Boosting Pot Stocks

The cannabis companies have also received a boost from the Democratic Partys intentions to legalize the plant at the federal level. Shares of major cannabis stocks rallied this year on Democratic victories in Georgias two runoff elections.

Bidens victory and Democrats hold on the Senate could speed up the legalization of marijuana at the federal level, thereby providing a boost to the U.S. cannabis industry. Five states also legalized marijuana through ballot measures last year. A slew of financing deals and strong earnings reports also added fuel to the already-surging pot stocks.

Story continues

Moreover, the pot area has been in a sweet spot lately on the news that three Democratic senators led by Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said they would make reform legislation a key consideration in the current Congress, boosting hopes for a federal legalization (read: Top ETF Stories of January Worthy of Attention in February).

ETFs in Focus

POTX (up 189.9%), MJ (up 131.4%) CNBS (up 99.4%) and THCX (up 136.7%) are some of the toppers in the space this year. Goldman Sachs chief U.S. equity strategist, David Kostin, said on CNBCs Squawk on the Street that popular Reddit stocks are mainly related to small caps, which is why they are logging astounding gains.

Moreover, continued increase in new special purpose acquisition companies have also led to gains. With such an investing backdrop, we can expect further rally in marijuana stocks and ETFs.

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The Opposition on Wednesday raised the issue of rising fuel prices in the Rajya Sabha, posing an interesting question before Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

During the Question Hour in the Parliament, Samajwadi Party MP Vishambhar Prasad Nishad asked the Minister why the price of fuel was higher in Rams India, compared to Sitas Nepal and Ravana's Sri Lanka? To this, Pradhan responded saying that fuel prices cannot be compared between the countries due to its varied consumption rate.

The Minister further quoted the price of kerosene in India, which is 32 per litre whereas it is 59 per litre in Nepal and 57 per litre in Lanka, as it is a mass-consumption commodity there.

READ | Petrol Price Close To Rs 88-mark In Delhi, Diesel Near Rs 85-level In Mumbai

Discussing the issue further, Congress MP KC Venugopal pointed out that the government has increased the excise duty on petrol and diesel, which has led to a spike in prices. Responding to the claim, Pradhan said retail pump rates are governed by international prices as India is 85% dependent on imports for meeting its need.

"When the international price of crude oil is higher, we have to increase the prices and when the international price is lower, we have to decrease the prices here too. This is a market mechanism which is followed by oil marketing companies. We have given the freedom to them," he said.

READ | Fuel Price Rise: Maharashtra Auto Drivers Forced To Work Extra Hours

Fuel prices record all-time high

The Opposition questions came after a record high in fuel prices was witnessed this week, especially in the four top metros, where petrol cost more than 85 a litre. Petrol prices have seen an increase by 6 per litre in three months in the three cities, while Mumbai has seen a spike in diesel prices.

Both central and state governments rely heavily on collections from taxes on these products for meeting their developmental and welfare priorities, the Minister said.

"They need some resources... (and) this (taxing petrol and diesel) has been a proven and substantial route by all the governments, whether the state governments or the central government," he added.

READ | Misnomer To Campaign That Fuel Prices Are At All-time High: Dharmendra Pradhan

The current rally in fuel prices is because crude oil prices have touched $61 per barrel mark for the first time in more than a year. Taxes make up for over 61% of retail petrol price while they constitute more than 56% of diesel pump rates.

While the central government has raised excise duty, states too have raised value-added tax (VAT), the minister said. "So, both the states and the central government are raising taxes according to their developmental needs."

READ | Petrol, Diesel Prices At Fresh Highs As Rates Up For 2nd Straight Day
E-commerce giant has moved the challenging the order which had stayed the implementation of status quo direction passed by single-judge of the High Court with respect to the $3.4 billion Future-Reliance deal, according to the sources.

Jeff Bezos-led is locked in legal disputes with Kishore Biyani-headed Future. It has alleged that the retail conglomerate violated an agreement with the American e-commerce firm by agreeing to sell its assets to Mukesh Ambani-owned last year. Future denies any wrongdoing.

The on Monday had stayed its single-judge direction to Ltd (FRL) and various statutory authorities to maintain the status quo with regard to the Rs 24,713-crore ($3.4 billion) deal with in a setback for Amazon, which has challenged the transaction. has now filed the petition before the

Because the Impugned Interim Common Order passed by the Honble High Court is illegal, and arbitrary apart from being without jurisdiction, therefore the same is liable to be set aside on this ground alone, said Amazon in its Special Leave Petition before the and which has been seen by Business Standard.

The petition said the Honble High Court has acted illegally and arbitrarily, firstly in failing to appreciate much less consider the oral submissions made by the Petitioner, and the catena (a series of things connected with each other) of judgments relied upon by the Petitioner. In taking upon itself to adjudicate the Appeal, even though it did not fall within the jurisdiction of the Honble High Court, the petition said the Impugned Interim Common Order suffers from illegality and arbitrariness and is also against the principles of natural justice, equity and fair play.

Salman Waris, managing partner at technology law firm TechLegis Advocates and Solicitors said Amazon has now filed an appeal in the Supreme Court against order passed earlier this week, revoking its previous order that effectively blocked the Future-Reliance deal. He said this was on the grounds that the latest order by the Delhi High Court court was illegal and arbitrary and it would face irreparable harm if the Supreme Court did not intervene.

ALSO READ: Players like Udaan may disrupt $1 trn consumer retail market: Bernstein

has reportedly already filed a caveat petition before the Supreme Court requesting it be heard if any plea is filed by Amazon.

The order under challenge and which lifted the status quo on the Future-Reliance deal was passed by a Division Bench of the High Court in an appeal filed by FRL against the court's order passed last week. It was related to protecting the rights of Amazon.

However, on Monday, the division Bench noted that FRL was not a party to an arbitration agreement with Amazon and prima facie the group of companies doctrine could not be invoked in the present case as the three agreements  Shareholding Agreement (SHA), Future Coupons Pvt Ltd (FCPL) SHA, and FCPL Share Subscription Agreement  were distinct in nature.

The court observed that there was no reason to seek a status quo order from the single judge. It stated that statutory authorities like the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) and the Competition Commission of India (CCI) could not be restrained from "proceeding in accordance with law".

Amazons main plea in its Supreme Court appeal is that the October 2020 Singapore Arbitration order that put the Future-Reliance deal on hold remains valid, said Waris.

ALSO READ: ITC Q3 profit falls 11% YoY to Rs 3,587 crore, declares interim dividend

Amazons petition said the Division Bench failed to take note of the fact that repeated and brazen breaches of the EA (Emergency Arbitrator) Order were undertaken by all the Respondents. It said Respondents had persisted with the applications relating to the impugned transaction between FRL and entities of the Mukesh Dhirubhai Ambani Group (Impugned Transaction) and obtained approvals on false representations by repeatedly suggesting to the statutory authorities that the EA Order was worthless and had made false claims that the Suit Order had effaced the EA Order.

The petition said the Honble High Court failed to appreciate the fact the FRL, by way of the Appeal has attempted to mount a collateral challenge to the EA Order. It submitted that the FRL has acted in complete disregard of the rule of law and procedure prescribed by law. It stated that the division Bench hastily proceeded to issue the Impugned Interim Common Order.

In August 2020, the struck a $3.4-billion asset sale deal with RIL. Amazon then sent a legal notice to Future, alleging that the deal breached an agreement with the e-commerce firm.

In 2019, Amazon had acquired a 49 per cent stake in Future Coupons (FCPL), the promoter entity of FRL, for about Rs 1,500 crore. The deal specified any disputes would be arbitrated under the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) rules.
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General Insurance Corporation of India (GIC Re) on Thursday reported a net profit of Rs 987.42 crore for the third quarter ended December 2020. There was a loss of Rs 1,069.64 crore in the year-ago period. Sequentially, it had posted a net profit of Rs 230.06 crore in the second quarter ended September 2020.

Gross premium during the October-December quarter increased to Rs 11,668.51 crore, from Rs 11,539.96 crore in the same period of 2019-20, GIC Re said in a regulatory filing.

Global scenario for the insurance industry for the FY21 has shown weak trends due to COVID-19 situation for most classes while benefitting a few. As compared to Q2, there is a growth in business volume during Q3 FY20-21, the general insurer said.

"Although COVID-19 influence remains on the insurance industry, the severity of the impact is gradually reducing and the same is reflected in the results of the industry. GIC Re's financials for the nine months ended 31st December 2020 have shown indications of positivity and signals turnaround in the near future," it added. The net profit for the nine months ended December stood at Rs 660 crore.

However, a loss of Rs 1,556.50 crore was recorded for the same period of the previous fiscal. Investment income for the nine months has increased significantly. GIC Re's international business has shown a growth rate of 23 percent.

It grew to Rs 6,534.65 crore for the first nine months this fiscal from Rs 5,216.00 crore in the year-ago period. "Our underwriting performance is expected to show better trends going forward and this will result in further strengthening of GIC Re's position," the insurer said.

Solvency ratio is increased to 1.53 at the end of the third quarter FY21 from 1.51 a year ago. It is a metric to measure how much a company has in assets against how much it owes. The insurer said its total assets stood at Rs 1.34 lakh crore at the end of December 2020, as compared to Rs 1.29 lakh crore by a year ago.

GIC Re's group includes subsidiary companies namely, GIC Re South Africa, GIC Re Corporate Member, London, and GIC Perestrakhovanie LLC, Moscow. The group also includes three associate companies namely GIC Re Bhutan, India International Insurance Pte Ltd, Singapore and Agriculture Insurance Company of India Ltd. Shares of GIC Re closed 0.58 percent up at Rs 137.85 apiece on BSE.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, right, shakes hands with then U.S. Vice President Joe Biden as they pose for photos at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Dec. 4, 2013.

U.S. President Joe Biden has criticized China's human rights violations and military aggression against the democratic island of Taiwan, in his first phone call with Chinese leader Xi Jinping ahead of the Lunar New Year celebrations on .



While the phone call was timed to wish Xi a happy Lunar New Year, Biden also brought up "fundamental concerns" about the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)'s genocidal policies in Xinjiang, a crackdown on peaceful dissent and political opposition in Hong Kong, and increasing military threats against Taiwan, the White House said in a statement.



"President Biden underscored his fundamental concerns about Beijings coercive and unfair economic practices, crackdown in Hong Kong, human rights abuses in Xinjiang, and increasingly assertive actions in the region, including toward Taiwan," the statement said.



The leaders also discussed the pandemic, climate change, and preventing weapons proliferation, with Biden pledging to "advance the interests" of the U.S. and its allies.

Earlier Wednesday, Biden visited the Pentagon and announced that the Department of Defense had set up a task force focused on U.S. strategy towards China.

"We need to meet the growing challenges posed by China to keep peace and defend our interests in the Indo-Pacific and globally," he said.

"It will require a whole government effort, bipartisan cooperation in Congress, and strong alliances and partnerships," added Biden.

Former Tsinghua University politics lecturer Wu Qiang said it was significant that Biden had already waited three weeks to make the call since taking office in late January.



"China has been eager to gauge U.S. strategic intentions, after ties that have been frozen for more than a year," Wu said. "The state of diplomatic decoupling had gotten to a more serious and [potentially] dangerous than ... even the period after 1971."



Three problem areas

Wu said Biden had clearly identified three major problem areas in the U.S.-China relationship.



"The first is ... regional security, which includes Taiwan, the second is around Hong Kong and the [breaching of] the Sino-British Joint Declaration, and its commitment to rule Hong Kong unchanged for 50 years, and China's overall attitude towards freedom and democracy in Hong Kong," Wu said.



"The third problem area is China's human rights abuses, which are exemplified by [its policies in] Xinjiang," he said.

Last month the U.S. State Department determined that repression of Uyghurs and other Muslim ethnic minorities in its northwestern Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR), including its use of internment camps and forced sterilizations, amounts to genocide and crimes against humanity."

Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's designation has been recommended by Uyghur exile groups and human rights experts since the revelation in 2017 of mass re-education camps that have held as many as 1.8 million Uyghurs. Biden's team supports its predecessor's decision.

"President Biden has given great hope to the Uyghur people in recognizing and raising Chinas genocide of and crimes against humanity towards the Uyghurs," said Dolkun Isa, president of the Munich-based World Uyghur Congress (WUC) exile group.

"The next step for the Biden Administration is to call on China to stop the 21st century genocide, close all the concentration camps and release all the Uyghurs arbitrarily detained," he told RFA's Uyghur Service.

Shortly before Biden spoke with Xi, Taiwan's U.S. representative Hsiao Bi-khim met with U.S. State Department officials to discuss regional security and economic cooperation.



Hsiao was told that the U.S. is committed to a deeper relationship with Taiwan, a democratic and pluralistic society that has never been ruled by the CCP, nor formed part of the People's Republic of China.



Hsiao's meeting was also Taiwan's first official contact with the State Department since Biden took office.



"The Taiwan issue is ... [regarded as] an integral part of the security situation in the Indo-Pacific region," Wu said.



Little room for mutual tolerance

By continuing the recent relaxation of protocol enabling more direct contact with officials from Taiwan, which hasn't had formal diplomatic ties with Washington since 1979, the Biden administration has signaled that it will likely continue where the Trump administration left off when it comes to the Taiwan relationship.



Hong Kong current affairs commentator Willy Lam said the situation hasn't changed much with the change of U.S. president.



"On geopolitical issues like the South China Sea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Xinjiang, ... there isn't much room for mutual tolerance, because Xi Jinping has vowed to build China up with more saber-rattling at least until 2022," Lam said.



"The Clinton or Obama administration continued the [Democrats'] policy of engagement with China, which entailed a multilateral cooperation, but after four years of the Trump administration, nobody feels that they can afford to be seen as weak on China, whether they are Democrats or Republicans," Lam said.



U.S.-based scholar Lu Jun said the presidents' conversation carried more of a symbolic than a practical significance.



"It was a long time coming, and he only called Xi Jinping because it is about to be Lunar New Year in China," Lu said.



"If he hadn't called, I think this might have been a tough year for Xi."



Shortly before the two leaders spoke, the U.S. aircraft carriers Theodore Roosevelt and Nimitz, along with their carrier strike groups, carried out dual carrier operations the South China Sea, the U.S. Navy Times website reported.



"Through operations like this, we ensure that we are tactically proficient to meet the challenge of maintaining peace and we are able to continue to show our partners and allies in the region that we are committed to promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific," Rear Adm. Doug Verissimo, commander of the Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group, said in a Navy news release.



Reported by Qiao Long and Chan Chun-ho for RFA's Mandarin and Cantonese Services. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
The greyhound industry launched a fightback against what it claims is an aggressive campaign to distort and damage its reputation.

The industry  in the form of a video documentary series  aims to highlight the value of the industry to the Irish agri-sport economy and the welfare work being done by Irish dog owners.

The sector, it says, is worth 300m to the Irish economy. It also underlines the individuals who are devoted to the industry ranging from Cork GAA great Jimmy Barry-Murphy to racing enthusiast John Kenny and famous trainers Pat Guilfoyle and Denis Fitzgerald.

The campaign was unveiled after the industry was left reeling by a series of allegations about dog welfare, cullings and exports.

Last November, the Social Democrats failed to get a Dail motion passed seeking to end State funding of the greyhound industry.

Cork TD Holly Cairns said she was "flabbergasted" by the extent of State funding for the sector. I could never understand how public money was pumped into a loss-making industry," she said.

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Animal welfare groups including Greyhound Action Ireland (GAI) queried how the State can justify increased funding of 19.2m for the sector in 2021/22, despite the widespread concerns over the treatment of dogs.

However, Irish Greyhound Owners and Breeders Federation (IGOBF) Chairman Damian Matthews said what the industry and individual owners had been subjected to over recent times was deeply unfair.

The welfare of our greyhounds is paramount above everything else in our sport amongst our thousands of members from the time the pups are born to when they retire in our homes, or are rehomed to new caring owners," he said.

"This campaign addresses recent high profile misrepresentations portrayed unfairly in the media and shows exactly how the greyhounds we love are reared, fed, trained and cared for during their racing careers and in their retirement.

"The videos show how greyhounds love to race and are bred to run but they also are amazing pets and give back so much to their owners. We will be releasing one new video a week across all our social media channels using the hashtag #OurGreyhoundsOurLives and we hope that the fair-minded people in our society will judge our industry from them.

Around 12,500 jobs are supported throughout the rural economy by the greyhound industry with an economic spin-off of around 300m each year.

The IGOBF launched the campaign as "it was felt there was a strong need to correct the distortion of facts about greyhound racing from recent misrepresentative attacks which have greatly hurt the greyhound community  the vast majority of whom care for their dogs with the highest welfare standards."

Owners slated recent criticism as "aggressive and unfair".
- Thrombocytopenia Treatment Market is expected to experience robust expansion due to the rise in patient pool and availability of products

LAS VEGAS, Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --DelveInsight's " Thrombocytopenia Market " report provides a thorough comprehension of the Thrombocytopenia, historical and forecasted epidemiology, and the Thrombocytopenia market trends in the 7MM [the United States, EU5 (Germany, Spain, Italy, France, and United Kingdom) and Japan]. The Thrombocytopenia market report also proffers an analysis of recent Thrombocytopenia treatment practice/algorithm, market drivers, market barriers, and unmet medical needs.

Some of the vital points from the Thrombocytopenia Market Research Report

Thrombocytopenia Market is expected to experience considerable growth, and this is attributable to the rise in the Thrombocytopenia patient pool, availability of products, and the anticipated launch of emerging therapies.

Market players such as Sanofi, Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Kissei Pharmaceutical, Sobi, Shionogi & Co., Ltd., Amgen, Novartis, Zenyaku Kogyo, UCB Biopharma, Principia Biopharma, Baxalta, Takeda, Argenx, GC Pharma, Omeros Corporation, Biotest, Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Cellphire, Momenta Pharmaceuticals, ILTOO Pharma, Genosco , and several others are involved in developing Thrombocytopenia therapies.

, and several others are involved in developing Thrombocytopenia therapies. Thrombocytopenia market might experience significant growth due to the expected launch of upcoming therapies such as Rozanolixizumab (UCB7665); Rilzabrutinib (PRN-1008); BAX930; Efgartigimod (ARGX-113); Cablivi (caplacizumab); Tavalisse/Tavlesse (Fostamatinib); Doptelet (Avatrombopag); Nplate (Romiplostim); and Mulpleta (lusutrombopag), and others.

For additional information on Market Impact by Therapies, visit: Thrombocytopenia Therapeutics Market Analysis

Thrombocytopenia is a condition in which the blood has a lower than a normal number of platelets. The condition can be inherited or acquired. Thrombocytopenia causes, sometimes, are not known. The main Thrombocytopenia symptoms include mild-to-severe bleeding. Bleeding can occur inside the body or underneath the skin, or from the skin's surface. As per DelveInsight's analysts, the total number of Thrombocytopenia cases in the 7MM was 1,653,934 in 2020. The Thrombocytopenia cases are expected to increase throughout the study period of 2018-2030 with a decent CAGR.

The Thrombocytopenia Market Report provides historical as well as forecasted epidemiological analysis segmented into:

Prevalent Cases of Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (TTP)

Prevalent Cases of Immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP)

Prevalent Cases of Thrombocytopenia in Chronic Liver Disease

Incident Cases of Chemotherapy-induced Thrombocytopenia

Number of Cases of Heparin-induced Thrombocytopenia

Total Cases of Thrombocytopenia

Request sample report for more insights @ Thrombocytopenia Market Insight

Thrombocytopenia Treatment Market

Thrombocytopenia treatment depends on its cause and severity. The main goal of Thrombocytopenia treatment is to prevent death and disability caused by bleeding. If the condition is mild, the patient may not need treatment.

One treatment approach is a direct treatment to the etiology of thrombocytopenia. Unfortunately, only in a minority of cases is the etiology of thrombocytopenia exact and the cause found. In a case of severe bleeding, if the thrombocytopenia etiology is not known but not thought to be immunologic, platelet transfusion can be used to proffer an immediate platelet increase.

Patients with inherited thrombocytopenia have been treated with platelet transfusions. The option of allogeneic stem cell transplantation is reserved for inherited thrombocytopenia with a high risk of marrow failure or a rising risk of acute leukemia.

Many Immune Thrombocytopenia cases (ITP) can be left untreated, and spontaneous remission in children is common. If therapy is required, the first-line treatment option is generally corticosteroids. The most effective second-line treatment option is splenectomy. Further, second-line treatment options with documented evidence of efficacy comprise various agents: azathioprine, cyclosporine, cyclophosphamide, danazol, dexamethasone, vinca alkaloids, mycophenolate mofetil, rituximab, and thrombopoietin-receptor agonists.

The use of thrombopoietin-receptor agonists is an effective and safe second-line treatment strategy. Two thrombopoietin-receptor agonists were authorized to treat chronic ITP in adults by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2008 and have been utilized extensively for chronic ITP treatment in relapsed and refractory patients. These were romiplostim, a thrombopoietin mimetic formed from peptides (peptibody), and eltrombopag (a small molecule, non-peptide).

The mainstay of Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (TTP) treatment is plasmapheresis with plasma replacement. Other treatment modalities in non-responders to plasmapheresis include immune-suppression, not limited to high dose steroids and B-cell depleting agents (e.g., rituximab).

Thrombocytopenia Emerging Therapies Along with Key Players

Thrombocytopenia pipeline possesses potential drugs in mid-stage developments to be approved soon. The major key players enumerated below can create a significant positive shift in Thrombocytopenia market size.

Rozanolixizumab (UCB7665): UCB Biopharma

Rilzabrutinib (PRN-1008): Principia Biopharma

TAK-755 (BAX930/ SHP655 ): Baxalta/Takeda

): Baxalta/Takeda Efgartigimod (ARGX-113): Argenx

GC5101B (GC5107A, IV-Globulin SN Inj. 10%): GC Pharma

Narsoplimab (OMS721): Omeros Corporation

BT-595: Biotest

TAK-079: Millennium Pharmaceuticals/Takeda

Thrombosomes: Cellphire

M254 (Hypersialylated IgG): Momenta Pharmaceuticals

BIVV020: Sanofi

Interleukin 2: ILTOO Pharma

SKI-O-703: Genosco (Subsidiary of Oscotec)

And others.

Concluding thoughts on Thrombocytopenia Market Growth

Thrombocytopenia Market Drivers

More efficacious therapies - Emerging therapies with novel mechanisms of action target the different patient groups of thrombocytopenia and improved drug delivery mechanisms to increase patient compliance.

- Emerging therapies with novel mechanisms of action target the different patient groups of thrombocytopenia and improved drug delivery mechanisms to increase patient compliance. Increase in Thrombocytopenia cases - Rise in the cases due to various risk factors such as rise in chemotherapy use, chronic liver disease, and others.

- Rise in the cases due to various risk factors such as rise in chemotherapy use, chronic liver disease, and others. High chances of drug approvals - The most common type of thrombocytopenia is ITP, which is highly prevalent. Whereas CIT (Chemotherapy-Induced Thrombocytopenia) occurs in patients with cancer due to chemotherapy and radiation treatment. Thrombocytopenia in patients with CLD is growing rapidly, increasing cases of HCV infections among them. These areas may lead to approval of the upcoming therapies with an intent to boost the market.

- The most common type of thrombocytopenia is ITP, which is highly prevalent. Whereas CIT (Chemotherapy-Induced Thrombocytopenia) occurs in patients with cancer due to chemotherapy and radiation treatment. Thrombocytopenia in patients with CLD is growing rapidly, increasing cases of HCV infections among them. These areas may lead to approval of the upcoming therapies with an intent to boost the market. Increase in patient compliance - Novel therapies for the treatment of refractory patients. The vast risk factors causing thrombocytopenia offers an excellent opportunity for emerging therapies to target specific disease populations.

Novel therapies for the treatment of refractory patients. The vast risk factors causing thrombocytopenia offers an excellent opportunity for emerging therapies to target specific disease populations. Robust pipeline - Identification of new drug targets will boost novel therapies' entry into the Thrombocytopenia market.

Thrombocytopenia Market Barriers

Economic burden - Strict pricing and reimbursement policies.

Strict pricing and reimbursement policies. Low disease awareness and delay in diagnosis - Currently, no cure is available for congenital thrombocytopenia.

Currently, no cure is available for congenital thrombocytopenia. Complications associated with current therapies - Adverse events associated with the available therapies such as corticosteroids, which causes mood swings, difficulty sleeping, weight gain, hypertension, diabetes, gastric irritation, skin thinning, and osteoporosis.

Scope of the Thrombocytopenia Market Insight

Geography Covered : 7MM - The United States , EU5 ( Germany , France , Italy , Spain , and the United Kingdom ), Japan .

: 7MM - , EU5 ( , , , , and the ), . Study Period : 3-year historical and 10-year forecasted analysis (2018-2030).

: 3-year historical and 10-year forecasted analysis (2018-2030). Thrombocytopenia Markets Segmentation : By Geographies and By Thrombocytopenia Therapies (Historical and Forecasted, Current and Upcoming)

: By and By (Historical and Forecasted, Current and Upcoming) Leading Market Companies investigating its candidates for Thrombocytopenia: Sanofi, Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Kissei Pharmaceutical, Sobi, Shionogi & Co., Ltd., Amgen, Novartis, Zenyaku Kogyo, UCB Biopharma, Principia Biopharma, Baxalta, Takeda, Argenx, GC Pharma, Omeros Corporation, Biotest, Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Cellphire, Momenta Pharmaceuticals, ILTOO Pharma, Genosco, and several others.

Sanofi, Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Kissei Pharmaceutical, Sobi, Shionogi & Co., Ltd., Amgen, Novartis, Zenyaku Kogyo, UCB Biopharma, Principia Biopharma, Baxalta, Takeda, Argenx, GC Pharma, Omeros Corporation, Biotest, Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Cellphire, Momenta Pharmaceuticals, ILTOO Pharma, Genosco, and several others. Analysis : Comparative and conjoint analysis of emerging therapies, Attribute Analysis.

: Comparative and conjoint analysis of emerging therapies, Attribute Analysis. Case Studies

KOL's Views

Analyst's View

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Table of Contents

1 Key Insights on Thrombocytopenia 2 Executive Summary of Thrombocytopenia 3 Thrombocytopenia Market Overview at a Glance 4 Disease Background and Overview: Thrombocytopenia 5 Thrombocytopenia Patient Journey 6 Thrombocytopenia Epidemiology and Patient Population 6.1 United States Epidemiology 6.2 EU5 Countries Epidemiology 6.2.1 Germany 6.2.2 France 6.2.3 Italy 6.2.4 Spain 6.2.5 United Kingdom 6.3 Japan Epidemiology 7 Thrombocytopenia Treatment 8 Thrombocytopenia Unmet Needs 9 Thrombocytopenia Marketed Drugs 9.1 Cablivi (Caplacizumab/ALX-0081): Sanofi (Ablynx) 9.2 Tavalisse (Fostamatinib): Rigel Pharmaceuticals/Kissei Pharmaceutical 9.3 Doptelet (Avatrombopag): Sobi (Dova Pharmaceuticals) 9.4 Mulpleta/Mulpleo (Lusutrombopag): Shionogi & Co., Ltd. 9.5 Nplate (Romiplostim, AMG-531): Amgen 9.6 Promacta (eltrombopag): Novartis 9.7 Rituxan (rituximab): Zenyaku Kogyo 10 Thrombocytopenia Emerging Drugs 10.1 Key Cross Competition 10.2 Rozanolixizumab (UCB7665): UCB Biopharma 10.3 Rilzabrutinib (PRN-1008): Principia Biopharma 10.4 TAK-755 (BAX930/SHP655): Baxalta/Takeda 10.5 Efgartigimod (ARGX-113): Argenx 10.6 GC5101B (GC5107A, IV-Globulin SN Inj. 10%): GC Pharma 10.7 Narsoplimab (OMS721): Omeros Corporation 10.8 BT-595: Biotest 10.9 TAK-079: Millennium Pharmaceuticals/Takeda 10.10 Thrombosomes: Cellphire 10.11 M254 (Hypersialylated IgG): Momenta Pharmaceuticals 10.12 BIVV020: Sanofi 10.13 Interleukin 2: ILTOO Pharma 10.14 SKI-O-703: Genosco (Subsidiary of Oscotec) 11 7MM Thrombocytopenia Market Analysis 12 United States Thrombocytopenia Market Outlook 13 EU-5 Thrombocytopenia Market Outlook 13.1 Germany Market Size 13.2 France Market Size 13.3 Italy Market Size 13.4 Spain Market Size 13.5 United Kingdom Market Size 14 Japan Thrombocytopenia Market Outlook 15 Thrombocytopenia Market Drivers 16 Thrombocytopenia Market Barriers 17 SWOT Analysis 18 Reimbursement and Thrombocytopenia Market Access 19 Appendix 20 DelveInsight Capabilities 21 Disclaimer 22 About DelveInsight

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Reuters

Rice export prices in India, the top exporter of the staple, remained anchored near a three-year high this week as other Asian and African buyers continued purchases, shrugging off the uptick in rates in recent weeks.

India's 5 percent broken parboiled variety was quoted at $402-$408 per tonne this week, unchanged from last week, which was the highest since May 2018.

"In the last two weeks prices have gone up, but buyers are still making decent purchases," said an exporter based at Kakinada in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh.

India's southern state of Andhra Pradesh will use a deepwater port to export rice for the first time in decades amid a global shortage of the grain, according to a government order seen by Reuters, which could raise shipments this year by a fifth.

A revision to neighbouring Bangladesh's import policy in part helped lift global rice prices to a seven-month high in January, according to the latest report of Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO).

"In the parboiled segment, sentiment was also influenced by a series of government purchases by Bangladesh, its approval of lower duties on private sector imports, on condition that traders market supplies promptly," according to the report.

Bangladesh imported around 100,000 tonnes of rice mainly from India over the last month and more deals are being finalised, a food ministry official said.

Activity was muted in Vietnam and Thailand's rice trading market is closed as regional traders and exporters observe the Lunar New Year.
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Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

Periods of rain. High 51F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a half an inch..

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Rain. Low near 45F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a half an inch.
This blog covers software patent news and issues with a particular focus on wireless, mobile devices (smartphones, tablet computers, connected cars) as well as select antitrust matters surrounding those devices.
France on Wednesday confirmed 25,387 Covid-19 cases in the past 24 hours, the highest daily total in a week. The country is facing a high risk of a rebound in the epidemic as more contagious variants of the virus continue to circulate, health authorities said.

France's cumulative number of confirmed infections has grown to 3,385,622, while the number of coronavirus-related deaths reached 80,443 after another 296 patients died in one day, according to the Xinhua news agency.

Currently, 27,461 people are hospitalised, including 3,319 in intensive care. The two tallies decreased by 216 and 23, respectively, within a day.

In Ile-de-France (Paris Region), the country's most populated zone and its main economic hub, 39 percent of the positive tests are attributable to the Covid-19 variant first detected in Britain, warned Gilles Pialoux, head of the Infectious Diseases Department at Tenon Hospital in Paris.

"We have an incredible surge of the variant in Ile-de-France... We have clusters mixing caregivers and patients," Pialoux told media early on Wednesday.

"The situation is alarming for several reasons. First, we cannot predict the path of these variants and we are very late in France with sequencing. And there are clusters in hospitals, which means bed closures and staff eviction," he said.

The virus variant, first detected in Britain, could be responsible for the majority of new cases from the beginning of March, Arnaud Fontanet, an epidemiologist, told a newspaper in a recent interview.

Fontanet, member of the government's advisory body on Covid-19, added that "difficult months" were still ahead for France.

"The coming weeks will be decisive. The variant will dictate the way forward, it circulates in all age groups and would be 30 per cent more lethal," he said.

Unlike some of its neighbours, France has decided against a new lockdown, betting on a night-time curfew and an intensified vaccination campaign to bring the epidemic under control.

The night-time ban on people's movement, in force since mid-December, was extended by two hours nationwide on January 16 to reduce social mixing. The country has also tightened border controls, ordered the closure of large shopping malls and intensified police patrols to enforce the curfew.

The Health Ministry said on Wednesday that 2,056,572 people had already received the first vaccine dose, representing 3.1 per cent of France's population of 67 million.

A total of 76,415 inhabitants have received the second jab in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of people who have received both vaccine doses to 443,148.

As the world is struggling to contain the pandemic, vaccination is underway in France and some other countries with the already-authorized vaccines.

Meanwhile, 242 candidate vaccines are still being developed worldwide -- 63 of them in clinical trials -- in countries including Germany, China, Russia, Britain and the US, according to information released by the World Health Organization on February 9.

--IANS

int/rs

(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.)
INDIANAPOLIS  The Indiana Department of Health today announced that 1,452 additional Hoosiers have been diagnosed with COVID-19 through testing at state and private laboratories. That brings to 643,305 the number of Indiana residents now known to have had the novel coronavirus following corrections to the previous days dashboard.



A total of 11,578 Hoosiers are confirmed to have died from COVID-19, an increase of 52 from the previous day. Another 423 probable deaths have been reported based on clinical diagnoses in patients for whom no positive test is on record.

Indiana COVID-19 Dashboard & Map

To date, 3,021,613 unique individuals have been tested in Indiana, up from 3,015,385 on Tuesday. A total of 7,367,210 tests, including repeat tests for unique individuals, have been reported to the state Department of Health since Feb. 26, 2020.

To find testing sites around the state, click here.

Hoosiers age 65 and older, along with healthcare workers, long-term care residents, and first responders who are regularly called to the scene of an emergency to render medical assistance, are now eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.

To schedule, visit https://ourshot.in.gov or call 211.

As of today, 736,504 Hoosiers have received a first dose of vaccine, and 258,213 are fully vaccinated.

The state and its partners are adding more locations for you to get vaccinated including select Meijer, Kroger, & Walmart pharmacies across the state.

Vigo Countys three Kroger locations are included.

All locations will show up on the state's vaccination website.

It's important to note Meijer and Kroger will have their own appointment sign-up areas on their websites.
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Mitt Romney said Wednesday that Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman took in a lot of bear spray and tear gas while defending the Capitol from the MAGA mob on January 6 as it was revealed the cop pointed the Utah Republican to safety in the midst of the chaos that day.

'I don't think my family or my wife understood that I was as close as I might have been to real danger,' Romney told reporters Thursday after video was shown during the impeachment trial Wednesday of him running to a safe place at the direction of Goodman.

'They were surprised and very, very appreciative of Officer Goodman, in his being there and directing me back to safety,' he continued.

Romney and Goodman were seen talking Wednesday after the senator saw footage for the first time of the officer getting the senator 'out of harm's way' as pro-Trump rioters stormed the Capitol.

'I didn't know it was him [Goodman] until I saw the video yesterday,' Romney described on Thursday. 'There was also a third person in the video. I don't know who that was.'

The clip was shown Wednesday on the Senate floor as part of the House impeachment manager's prosecution of Donald Trump claiming he 'incited the insurrection' of the Capitol.

'I expressed my appreciation to him for coming to my aid and getting me back into the path of safety. And I expressed my appreciation for all he did that day,' Romney told reporters at the Capitol Wednesday of his talk with Goodman.

Senator Mitt Romney revealed Wednesday that Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman  already known for his heroic actions fending off the MAGA mob on January 6  took in bear spray and tear gas

Romney spoke with Goodman (pictured) on Wednesday after seeing, for the first time, video of the officer pointing him toward safety on January 6 after rioters breached the Capitol

House impeachment managers on Wednesday showed video surveillance video of Goodman running through the Capitol halls on January 6 and directing Romney to turn around

Goodman (center) is shown pointing Romney (left) toward safety and the senator immediately turned around and ran in the opposite direction he was originally walking

Romney said that Goodman took him through the events of January 6 and what he went through.

'He was exhausted going from one part of the building to the other  up and down stairs. He indicated that he had to breathe a lot of bear spray and tear gas and that he was nauseated,' he detailed.

The moderate senator, who voted Tuesday it was constitutional to move forward with the impeachment trial against Donald Trump, said he got a text that protesters had made it into the Capitol building on January 6.

Romney said he started to exit the Senate chamber to get to his hideaway, but when he reached the hallway was confronted by Goodman running in the opposite direction. At that time, Goodman told Romney he should turn around and go back into the chamber because he would be safer there.

Goodman has already been recognized for his heroic efforts to keep lawmakers safe that day.

'It tears at your heart and brings tears to your eyes. That was overwhelmingly distressing and emotional,' Romney told reporters just minutes after seeing the video.

He said while he did distinctly remember the events, this was his first time seeing the surveillance video of the interaction.

The video shows shortly after Romney turned around to run back toward the chamber, Goodman raced down a flight of stairs to confront a group of rioters and divert them from reaching the Senate chamber.

Goodman is already known for his heroic acts during the storming where he was heavily outnumbered

Goodman ran throughout the building to divert the mob away from the Senate chamber

Romney was one of the six Republican senators who voted Tuesday with the 50 Democrats that moving forward with the impeachment trial of a former official is constitutional.

The other five who joined him were Senators Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Ben Sasse of Nebraska, Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana.

On Thursday afternoon, the third day of the impeachment trial will kick off as House impeachment managers move forward with their argument against Trump for 'incitement of insurrection.'

Video of Goodman was just some of the multimedia the nine Democrat managers are using in their augment.

They have also shown violent images of the thousands of Trump supporters storming the Capitol and confronting with law enforcement. They are juxtaposing those images with Trump's speech on January 6 shortly before the chaos broke out.

Democrats claim Trump is solely to blame for inciting the riots last month as Congress moved to certify the 2020 presidential election for Joe Biden.

File photo shows the national flags of China and the United States as well as the flag of Washington D.C. on the Constitution Avenue in Washington, capital of the United States. (Xinhua/Bao Dandan)

BEIJING, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday morning took a phone call from U.S. President Joseph R. Biden on the eve of the Lunar New Year.

The two presidents wished each other good fortune in the Year of the Ox, and had an in-depth exchange of views on China-U.S. relations and major international and regional issues.

Biden conveyed festive greetings to the Chinese people and wished the Chinese people a happy and prosperous New Year. Xi congratulated Biden once again on taking office as U.S. president, and wished the people of China and the United States a happy and auspicious Year of the Ox.

Xi pointed out that the restoration and growth of China-U.S. relations has been the most important development in international relations over the past half century and more.

Despite various twists and difficulties, he added, the relationship has on the whole kept moving forward and delivered enormous benefits to the Chinese and American peoples and contributed to global peace, stability and prosperity.

Xi stressed that China and the United States both gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation; cooperation is the only right choice for both sides.

Containers of China COSCO Shipping Corporation Limited are seen at the Port of Long Beach in Los Angeles County, the United States, Feb. 27, 2019. (Xinhua/Li Ying)

When China and the United States work together, they can accomplish a great deal for the good of both countries and the world at large; confrontation between the two countries, however, will definitely be disastrous for both countries and the world, he added.

Emphasizing that the China-U.S. relationship is currently at an important juncture, Xi said it is the common desire of both peoples and the wider international community to see the sound and stable development of China-U.S. relations.

"You have said that America can be defined in one word: Possibilities. We hope the possibilities will now point toward an improvement of China-U.S. relations," Xi said to Biden.

The two countries, he suggested, should make joint efforts in the same direction, follow the spirit of no conflict, no confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation, focus on cooperation, manage their differences, and work for the sound and stable development of China-U.S. relations.

In this way, they can deliver more tangible benefits to people in both countries, and make their due contribution to fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, promoting world economic recovery and maintaining regional peace and stability, Xi added.

Xi emphasized that while the two sides may differ on some issues, it is crucial to show mutual respect, treat each other as equals, and properly manage and handle the differences in a constructive fashion.

Employees work at the Tesla Gigafactory in Shanghai, east China, Nov. 20, 2020. (Xinhua/Ding Ting)

The foreign affairs departments of the two countries may have in-depth communications on wide-ranging matters in the bilateral relationship and major international and regional issues, and the economic, financial, law enforcement and military authorities of the two countries may also have more contacts, Xi said.

The two sides should re-establish the various dialogue mechanisms, read each other's policy intentions accurately, and avoid misunderstanding and miscalculation, he said, adding that it is important to manage differences where they exist and jointly pursue cooperation where it is desirable to do so.

The Taiwan question and issues relating to Hong Kong, Xinjiang, etc. are China's internal affairs and concern China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and the U.S. side should respect China's core interests and act prudently, Xi stressed.

Xi emphasized that confronting a highly uncertain international situation, China and the United States shoulder special international responsibilities and obligations as permanent members of the United Nations Security Council.

The two sides, he added, should act to conform to the trend of the world, jointly safeguard peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region, and make historic contributions to promoting world peace and development.

Biden, for his part, noted that China has a long history and a great culture and the Chinese people are a great people.

The United States and China must avoid conflict and they may work together on climate change and many other issues, he added.

The U.S. side, he said, is prepared to have candid and constructive dialogue with the Chinese side in the spirit of mutual respect and to improve mutual understanding and avoid miscommunication and miscalculation.

The two presidents agreed that their phone conversation today will send a positive signal to the world and the two sides will maintain close communication on China-U.S. relations and issues of mutual interest.

Joe Biden said that the US government was taking steps to prevent the generals from improperly having access to the one billion dollars in Burmese government funds held in the United States. Biden added that they were also going to impose strong export controls.

US President Joe Bidens administration has decided to sanction the military officials of Myanmar because of their unjust assumption of power. Biden said that he had approved a new executive order that prompted the government to sanction the military leaders who directed the coup in Myanmar immediately, alongside any investments made by them or their family members. The American authorities have begun identifying such prospects.

Joe Biden said that the US government was taking steps to prevent the generals from improperly having access to the one billion dollars in Burmese government funds held in the United States.

He added that they were also going to impose strong export controls. He said that they were freezing US assets that benefit the Burmese government while maintaining their support for health care, civil society groups and other areas that benefit the people of Burma directly.

Stating that the issue was of international concern, Biden said that the military must relinquish the power theyd seized and demonstrate respect for the will of the people of Burma, as expressed in their November 8 election. He said that they would be ready to impose additional measures and theyd continue to work with their international partners to urge other nations to join them in those efforts.
A young Cork girl surprised her Italian boyfriend on stage while he was auditioning for Italys Got Talent.

Abigail and Federico met while he was on Erasmus in Cork and bonded over their passion for singing and music. Due to the distance and travel restrictions, the teens didnt see each other for two years.
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After Prime Minister Imran Khan's alleged that Democratic Movement chief made 'vast amounts of money' while selling votes during Senate polls, Maulana Fazlur Rehman said that the premier should not redirect the blame to others for the actions of his party workers and said that his 'conscience was clear'.

Earlier in the day, Khan had alleged that Fazl had made "vast amounts of money" while selling votes during the polls for the upper house of the Parliament, reported Geo News.

The allegations came in the backdrop of a leaked video that showed Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers receiving large amounts of money, ahead of Senate elections in 2018.

The Democratic Movement (PDM) chief also commented that corruption had increased in PTI's tenure according to Transparency and voices demanding accountability are now growing louder within the ruling party.

"All of the state's institutions are there to serve the masses and they should perform their responsibilities in the parameters of Constitution," Rehman said.

Despite the video showing his party lawmakers accepting bribes, Imran Khan, while reacting to the video earlier on Tuesday, said that his government was determined to "stop the cycle of money laundering and corruption", reported Geo News.

According to a report by Geo News, the video showed a couple of PTI Members of National Assembly (MNAs) taking money from Mohammad Ali Bacha, former MPA of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) before the Senate elections in 2018.

In the video, stacks of currency are seen in the video atop a table in front of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa PTI Members of Provincial Assembly (MPAs).

This comes days after Pakistan President Arif Alvi had signed the Elections (Amendment) Ordinance 2021 to pave the way for Senate elections to be held via an "open and identifiable ballot".

(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 ruling TRS won 56 wards in the GHMC polls conducted in December 2020. The BJP won 48, AIMIM bagged 44 wards, and the Congress won only two

Hyderabad: The ruling TRS in Telangana on Thursday bagged the mayor and deputy mayor posts in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) with the support of ex-officio members and the AIMIM.

Vijayalaxmi R Gadwal and Mothe Srilatha, both belonging to TRS, were elected as the mayor and deputy mayor respectively, by show of hands, during a special meeting of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC).

The TRS did not get a majority on its own and secured only 56 wards in the 150-member GHMC in the civic elections held in December 2020.

The BJP also contested the mayor and deputy mayor election even though it lacked the numbers, but the TRS nominees won as the ex-officio members and the AIMIM backed them.

Though BJP won 48 wards in the election, its strength came down to 47 following the death of one of its victorious candidates.

The saffron party had said it decided to contest for the mayor and deputy mayor posts, despite lacking the numbers, in the spirit of democracy and to oppose the "opportunistic" attempt of TRS to win the poll through a "backhand deal" with AIMIM.

Though the keenly-fought GHMC elections were held in December, the election of mayor and deputy mayor was conducted on Thursday as the term of the previous body came to an end only on 10 February.

The proceedings of the special meeting began on Thursday with the newly-elected Corporators taking the oath of office.

While the TRS and BJP won 56 and 48 wards respectively in the GHMC polls, the AIMIM bagged 44 wards. Congress could win only two wards.

The BJP gave the TRS a run for its money in the GHMC polls by organising a powerful campaign in which its top leaders, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, JP Nadda and Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath participated.

The Lok Sabha MPs and MLAs, who have their vote in the city are ex-officio members of the corporation.

Besides, MLCs and Rajya Sabha members, who have their vote in the city, had to give an option, choosing the GHMC, to be able to vote, official sources said earlier.

According to GHMC sources, there were 44 ex-officio member votes in the GHMC and TRS has 32 followed by MIM 10, BJP 2 who are eligible to vote taking the total number of votes to 194.

Meanwhile, state BJP president Bandi Sanjay Kumar alleged that the "unholy alliance" between the TRS and AIMIM "stood exposed" (with the AIMIM supporting the ruling party in the mayor election).

"What BJP said during the GHMC poll campaign about the two parties came true," he claimed.

Vijayalaxmi R Gadwal is the daughter of TRS Rajya Sabha member K Keshav Rao who had also served as state Congress president before joining TRS.

According to TRS sources, Vijayalaxmi did BA and LLB. She lived in the US for several years and returned to India in 2007.

While in the US, she worked as a research assistant in Duke University, North Carolina.

She won from Banjara Hills ward in 2016 and again in December, 2020. Mothe Srilatha is TRS Corporator from Tarnaka ward.
Omans daily production of crude oil stood at 730,459 barrels during January 2021, an increase by 1.11% compared to the daily production during December 2020.

The monthly report published by the Ministry of Energy and Minerals said that the daily exported quantities of crude oil stood at 814,656 barrels, a decline by 0.97% compared to the daily export rate during December 2020, an Oman News Agency report said.

Crude imports by China fell by 2.70% during January 2021 to form 79% of the total Omani crude oil exports compared to December 2020. Meanwhile, imports by India rose by 11.20% compared to the quantities imported during December 2020. Malaysia maintained the same%age of the Omani crude oil imports with 3% in January 2021, compared with December 2020.

The Crude Oil Prices rose during January 2021 futures settlement trading (March Delivery 2021), compared to December 2020 for the major crude oil benchmarks around the world. The West Texas Intermediate crude oil at the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX) has averaged ($52.13) a barrel, an increase by ($4.95) compared to December 2020 trading. Likewise, North Sea Brent blend on the ICE in London averaged ($55.32) a barrel, a rise by ($5.10) compared to December 2020.

Similarly, the average monthly price for Oman Crude Oil Futures Contract rose by 9.6% compared with previous month. The official selling price for Oman Crude Oil during trading of January 2021, for March Delivery 2021, settled at ($54.78) per barrel, an increase by ($4.79) compared to February 2021 delivery. The daily trading market price ranged between ($50.54) per barrel and ($56.42) per barrel.

The increase in crude oil prices during January 2021 trading is attributed to several factors that directly and positively enhanced prices. Among the most prominent factors is the announcement of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to cut additional output of one million barrels per day during February and March 2021, in addition to the decrease in commercial stocks of crude oil in the United States of America. -- Tradearabia News Service
Employees of the Fulton County Board of Registration and Elections process ballots in Atlanta, Ga., on Nov. 4, 2020. (Brandon Bell/Reuters)

Georgia Election Board Refers 35 Voter Fraud Cases for Prosecution

Georgias election board this week referred 35 cases of voter fraud for prosecution.

Election fraud is not tolerated in Georgia. When there is evidence of it, the people responsible face prosecution, Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, chairman of the five-member board, said in a statement.

Georgia has multiple safeguards in place that allow our team of investigators to discover fraudulent voting. They worked to catch the wrongdoing in these cases, and they maintain the security of Georgia elections, the Republican added.

The cases include four instances where authorities say convicted felons voted or registered to vote and four other cases of non-citizens voting or registering to do so.

Authorities also said a group called the New Georgia Project submitted 1,268 voter registration applications after a deadline, causing voters to be disenfranchised in a 2019 special election.

In a statement emailed to The Epoch Times, the projects CEO Nse Ufot said: The February 10th State Election Board meeting was the first time NGP heard about the allegations regarding NGPs important voter registration work from 2019. We have not received any information on this matter from the Secretary or any other Georgia official so we will have no further comment on the investigation.

Raffensperger said last year that the project was one of several groups that sent letters to people living outside the state in possible violation of Georgia law. The group, which says it fights for voter rights and was founded by former Democrat gubernatorial nominee Stacey Abrams. The group ran into trouble before, when it failed to pay unemployment insurance, according to state records.

During an appearance on MSNBC last week, Ufot said: The idea that there is rampant voter fraud is insane. It is a part of Republican fan fiction.

Authorities are also accusing Floyd Jones and the Fayette County Board of Elections and Voter Registration, where he was director at the time, of improperly handling four memory cards registering 2,760 votes in the Nov. 3, 2020 general election. The board didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.

Fayette County was one of four where officials found uncounted votes during a recount. Some 2,755 votes were were uncovered in a memory card that were not included in the initial count, Raffenspergers office has said.

Another notable case involves an Atlanta woman, Samunta Pittman, who allegedly submitted 70 false voter registration applications while canvassing for the Coalition for the Peoples Agenda. The coalition didnt respond to an inquiry.

Two other individuals also allegedly submitted one false voter registration application each while a third is accused of voting in another persons name.
The Cayuga County Health Department released a scaled-down COVID-19 situational update on Wednesday and reported 105 more active cases since Saturday.

The department is now using a state database to generate the number of Cayuga County residents in mandatory isolation, which is ordered when an individual tests positive for the virus. The change was made on Monday, according to the department.

The state's reports "provide a higher level of accuracy," local health officials said, and produces a number that is "reflective of cases in hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities and correctional facilities."

It differs from the county's previous method, which was to manually query the number of active cases.

Before the revamped situational update was released, the county did not distribute a COVID-19 update on Monday and Tuesday. But there were new cases reported over the last three days.

There were 14 new cases on Sunday, 11 on Monday and 21 on Tuesday. The health department said a man in his 60s who had tested positive for COVID-19 and was in the hospital died on Sunday. It's the 84th virus-related death in the county.
If you look outside this afternoon, you can probably expect to see the beginning of snowfall in the Portland area. That might be only the beginning, though.

Portland is expected to see some early rain showers Thursday before the precipitation turns into snow this afternoon. A few inches of accumulation are expected to cover the city today heading into the weekend.

Heres a look at what weather experts are saying about the snow on its way to Oregon:

National Weather Service in Portland

The National Weather Service in Portland has issued a winter storm warning for the area that remains in effect until noon Pacific time Friday. NWS Portland says it will bring a mix of wintry precipitation to much of the region Thursday into Friday, with another round of precipitation spreading across portions of the region Friday night into Saturday.

Total snow accumulations from NWS Portland are listed as two to six inches, with ice accumulations of one to two tenths of an inch. The heaviest ice accumulations will be to west and south of downtown Portland, with heaviest snowfall to the east and north.

KGW

Chief Meteorologist Matt Zaffino of KGW shared his forecast guide for what each area in the region can expect between snow, ice and slippery conditions on Thursday:

Some places will see snow, some will get iced over. Here's a rough guide to who gets what. These lines may drift north or south as the storm develops Thursday. #kgwweather #WinterBlast pic.twitter.com/YLlynVsp4t  Matt Zaffino (@Zaffino) February 11, 2021

KOIN 6 Weather

Kelley Bayern of KOIN predicts there will be the transition to snow by this afternoon or evening with a range of one to two inches in the Portland area.

She also looked ahead to what the Portland can expect heading into Friday night. Bayern expects another round of heavy snow, significant icing or a mix of both going into the evening:

Snowfall will continue overnight into Friday morning. We'll likely wake up to a coating of snow around Portland + northward. Another round of heavy snow, significant icing, or a mix of both expected going into Friday night.  #orwx @KOINNews pic.twitter.com/6VH7vpaO6q  Kelley Bayern (@KelleyKOIN) February 11, 2021

KATU

Snow is picking up quickly in the Columbia River Gorge. Dave Salesky of KATU shared yesterday that a blizzard warning is posted in the area and the Gorge could get eight inches of snow with wind gusts to 70 miles per hour.

KATU photojournalist Mike Warner shared this video of snow picking up in the area this morning:

WINTER WEATHER... things are quickly deteriorating in the Columbia River Gorge as snow is covering roads, mixed with icy rain and very high winds. Seeing a couple crashes already. USE EXTREME CAUTION if heading into this area #LiveOnK2 #pdxtraffic #pdxtst pic.twitter.com/kih4Yn0BNf  Mike Warner (@MikeKATU) February 11, 2021

KPTV

If youre hoping this round of snow doesnt make you nervous, I have some bad news: Mark Nelsen of KPTV tweeted last night that the snow slated for this week is probably the biggest February storm of his career. His forecast predicts snow will be in the works Thursday night through Saturday morning, with 10.3 inches of accumulated snow in Portland by 11 p.m. Saturday:

Evening models in and big snowstorm still in works Thursday night through Saturday AM. Two waves of snow bring 2-12" metro. Mainly frz rain south metro = less snow. 8-12" central and north + east metro. Probably biggest February storm of my career. Euro model still look good pic.twitter.com/yCtxlE5iW8  Mark Nelsen (@MarkNelsenKPTV) February 11, 2021

-- Aron Yohannes

ayohannes@oregonian.com; @aronyohannes
(Newser)  A Houston doctor fired for allegedly stealing doses of coronavirus vaccine says he's not the villain that news reports around the world make him out to be. Hasan Gokal tells the New York Times that after a nurse punctured an 11-dose vial to administer a vaccination at an event to vaccinate emergency workers on Dec. 29 wound down, he had to figure out what to do with the remaining doses before they expired within hours. Gokal, who was supervising the event, says health workers and police officers at the site either turned him down or had already been vaccinated. He says that after a Harris County official approved his plan to distribute the remaining doses, he started calling people in his phone's contact list on his drive home to find eligible recipients.

story continues below

Gokal says he vaccinated nine mostly elderly people, including a woman in her 90s, but had one dose left after the final recipient called soon before the deadline to say they couldn't make it to his home. He says that with minutes to spare, he vaccinated his wife, whose pulmonary condition made her eligible. Gokal says he told her: "I didnt intend to give this to you, but in a half-hour Im going to have to dump this down the toilet." He was fired days after he told his supervisor about the vaccinations and submitted paperwork. He says officials told him he should have brought the doses back to the officewhere they would have expiredor been thrown away. He was accused of stealing the vaccine doses, worth $135. A judge dismissed the charge days later, but the local district attorney plans to present it to a grand jury, ABC13 reports. The Texas Medical Association has issued a statement of support for doctors who take steps to avoid wasting doses. (Read more coronavirus vaccine stories.)
Official denies John MacArthur makes more than $500K a year from Grace to You

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California megachurch Pastor John MacArthurs ministry denied he makes more than $500,000 annually from his Grace to You media ministry and defended the stewardship of his collective ministries' finances on Tuesday after a recent report suggested his private lifestyle belies the modesty he preaches at the pulpit.

The questions and quibbling innuendo that have been published on the Internet regarding John MacArthurs income and stewardship are rooted in misinformation. For example, a report has been floating around online for some time that John makes more than half a million dollars annually from GTY. Totally false, Phil Johnson, GTY executive director and an elder at MacArthurs Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, said in a statement to The Christian Post on Tuesday.

That idea is wrongly extrapolated from the fact that GTYs 2011 990 tax form (ten years ago) reported $400k in salary and benefits paid to John. That figure reflects a one-time gifta rare 1st-edition KJV Bible given to John to honor the completion of his verse-by-verse exposition of the whole NT. It was an expression of thanks for 40 years of faithful ministry. John in turn gave the Bible to the seminarys collection of rare manuscripts and early Bible editions, Johnson explained.

Johnsons statement came in response to questions from CP about a report published by independent journalist Julie Roys last Wednesday highlighting that while MacArthur is well known for preaching against the prosperity gospel, financial statements and tax forms show that MacArthur and his family run a religious media and educational empire with more than $130 million in assets that generates more than $70 million a year in tax-free revenue.

Roys also reported that MacArthur, his family, and related companies have been paid more than $12.8 million from ministry and donor funds and the megachurch pastor owns three luxury homes worth millions.

It was further revealed that MacArthurs Grace Community Church resigned from the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability after Roys raised questions about the ministrys compliance with membership standards, such as the timely release of financial statements on request, and concerns that two of MacArthurs sons have served on GTYs board along with their father.

MacArthurs son, Matthew, remains on the board of GTY and has been listed on every 990 since 2002 as the treasurer. His other son, Mark, has also been listed as a GTY board member on every 990 since 2002.

Last year, the Securities and Exchange Commission charged Mark MacArthur, 52, along with a wealth management company he founded, with defrauding their advisory clients in a $16 million real estate investment scheme.

GTY has also reportedly paid MacArthurs son-in-law, Kory Welch, and companies Welch owns millions over the years, according to Roys. In 2008, Welch, whos married to MacArthurs daughter, Melinda, was earning a salary of $83,677 as director of television broadcasting at GTY. He also received a $20,000 no-interest home loan with total debt forgiveness from GTY.

The following year, Welch began working for GTY as a video production contractor through a company he formed two years earlier, called The Welch Group. GTY reportedly paid The Welch Group $741,000 for post-production services that year.

Johnson, who reportedly also served on the GTY board for many years, defended their business practice.

We do lots of video, and we bid out the contract. We chose Johns son-in-laws firm because 1) his companys work is excellent; 2) he has easier access to record John than any other videographers would; and 3) his bid was competitive. Our payments go to his company, not him personally, Johnson said.

It is not personal salary paid to him, despite what some have claimed. We save money by not maintaining our own video production department. The critics who seem so eager to sully Johns name with controversy are busybodies guilty of sinful scandal-mongering. As far as I know, no one who has any actual firsthand knowledge of John or his lifestyle has ever accused him of extravagance or poor stewardship, he continued.

Johnson did not respond to specific questions from CP about Grace Community Churchs resignation from the ECFA and the accountability organization did not provide a response in time for this report. He insisted, however, that his boss does not live an extravagant life.

John is paid a modest but reasonable salary by Grace Church. Lay elders review and approve his salary annually, using information gleaned from careful surveys. They take great pains to ensure that Johns salary is well within the upper-medium range for California pastors salaries. The same process is followed with equal care by the board of directors at Grace to You. (Board members with blood relationships or employment connections to John MacArthur recuse themselves from those decisions, to make sure there are no conflicts of interest.) Professional auditors and an impartial audit review committee review all such decisions to add two extra layers of accountability. John is not paid an exorbitant salary by either organization, he said.

Without sharing any specifics on MacArthurs income, Johnson said it was possible that most of Johns total annual income comes neither from the church nor from Grace to You but from book royalties paid by his publishers.

He has written numerous best-selling works, and his commentaries and the Study Bible will no doubt be in print long after we are all in heaven. John earns a fair authors royalty for all those worksand all of that income comes from the publisher, not from any of the three nonprofit organizations John serves, he said.

No law requires an author to make book royalties paid from his publisher public information, so the facts about Johns total annual income being reported by a small group of critical bloggers are pure speculation and (frankly) well-salted with cynical false assumptions.

He urged people to pay attention to MacArthurs lifestyle, such as living in the same home for the last 40 years and owning just one car. Johnson further noted that MacArthur doesnt always fly 1st class.

For flights longer than three hours, he explained that MacArthur, who is 81, needs to fly business class for health reasons.

Contrary to other noisy claims once made [in 2014] by a certain angry blogger [not Julie Roys], MacArthur,  since he almost died of pulmonary embolism a few years ago, its not good for him to be immobilized in a middle seat on a long flight. So when we at GTY make his reservations for flights more than 3 hours, we do put him in business class whenever we can so that he can move around and stretch more easily, Johnson said. Hes in his eighties and often has to preach multiple sessions immediately after arrival on an overseas flight. Its hardly an unreasonable expenditure.

MacArthur recently slammed some of America's biggest churches for supporting a culture of corrupt, superficial Christianity and making a lot of money doing it. He also asserted that the internet is now making it harder for phonies to survive.

He explained that one of the things he likes to do is to call the church to repentance, but it was a tough call because superficial Christianity made a lot of money and elevated a lot of charlatans.

It was successful. The biggest churches in America are part of it. It was very hard to call people to faithfulness when you could be so corrupt and so successful in Christian religion. That was the battle. Now I think theres a sifting and a shifting, he said before alluding to sex scandals surrounding prominent Christian figures like late apologist Ravi Zacharias and former Hillsong Church Pastor Carl Lentz without mentioning their names.

First of all, phonies are going to have a hard time hiding with the internet. Were seeing one after another after another. Dead ones and alive ones. This dead apologist had a deviant sex life. This cool dude rock and roll pastor was immoral with multiple women for years and years, MacArthur said.
Backed by SITA's state-of-the-art technology, Bahrain International Airport's (BIA) newly opened Passenger Terminal is better prepared to respond to the changing demands of travel during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The ultra-modern facility positions BIA as the most advanced boutique airport in the Gulf, increasing its capacity to 14 million passengers per year.

A key focus for Bahrain Airport Company (BAC), the airport's operator and managing body, was to optimise the passenger experience and operations to quickly recover from the pandemic through 2021 and beyond.

Using SITA's Operations at Airports portfolio, the airport benefits from real-time insights, improved stakeholder collaboration, and increased agility to optimize operations. The solution includes SITA's Flight Info Displays Systems (FIDS), providing a dynamic platform for communicating important information and managing the passenger flow.

SITA is also providing Flex, its advanced cloud-based passenger processing solution. Flex allows airlines and the airport to develop new cloud-native applications for passengers and airport workers that transform the passenger experience and create new revenue opportunities. Flex will be delivered with SITA Smart Path kiosks enabling a low-touch mobile and biometric-enabled check-in experience that combats Covid-19 by reducing the passengers and staffs risk of contracting the virus.

The SITA solution also includes a baggage reconciliation system to help manage the delivery of passengers' bags end to end.

Roger Nakouzi, Vice President Sales, SITA, said: "Were excited to reach this important milestone with Bahrain International Airport, despite the challenges of Covid-19. Thanks to new SITA technology, Bahrain International Airport can leap forward and make operations resilient, agile, and safer for all passengers. The implementation allows for deeper integration of Smart Path throughout the airport and further installation of automated systems, future-proofing the airport for decades to come.

The Airport Modernization Program (AMP) is the largest investment in Bahrains aviation sector for more than 20 years and will usher in a new era for air transport in the Kingdom.

BAC Chief Executive Officer Mohamed Yousif Al Binfalah said: In addition to the new Passenger Terminal, the AMP includes several infrastructure development projects that will contribute to the realization of Bahrain's Economic Vision 2030, laying the foundation for a more sustainable and diversified economy. With SITAs support, we have enhanced operational efficiency and are in a stronger position to meet the new standards and measures required during Covid-19. We are excited to become one of the most advanced airports in the region and look forward to delivering a smarter, safer, and more comfortable travel experience.

The ICT contract was undertaken collaboratively between SITA-Thales signed with the Ministry of Transport on behalf of Bahrain International Airport.

For many countries, including Bahrain, economic recovery from the pandemic relies heavily on travel and tourism, sectors that are suffering due to Covid-19. SITA has been working closely with governments, airlines, and airports to support the implementation of strong border controls that have helped minimise and manage the pandemic's impact globally. - TradeArabia News Service
ROME, FEB 11 - Great Italian conductor Riccardo Muti on Thursday appealed to Premier-designate Mario Draghi to make culture a top priority for his upcoming government. "I appeal to Premier-designate Mario Draghi, who I know is an extraordinary person, to restore our country's dignity via culture," Muti said during the presentation of the live-streaming of a production of Cosi Fan Tutte directed by his daughter Chiara from Turin's Teatro Regio on March 11. "I think it is the right time to change course. "We are a country of culture but too many theatres are closed. "That's why I'm appealing to Draghi". (ANSA).
The Daily Beast

Screenshot/YouTubeA Christian diet guru and six other people are presumed dead after her small plane crashed into the waters of Tennessee lake on Saturday morning. Authorities were called to the Percy Priest Lake around 11 a.m., not long after the plane took off from the nearby Smyrna Rutherford County Airport. Late Saturday evening, investigators said they believed all seven passengers had perished. The cause of the crash is still under investigation. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Joe Lara (@joelaraofficial) The plane, a Cessna C501, belonged Gwen Shamblin Lara, founder of the Remnant Fellowship Church and author of The Weigh Down Workshop, and her husband William J. Lara, who went by Joe. The couple lived in nearby Brentwood and had registered the plane via their company JL&GL Productions LP. The aircraft has not been located, but Tennessee Highway Patrol told News Channel 5 that officers located debris consistent with a Cessna C501 and that a small plane had been seen descending into the water near a boat ramp early Saturday.Laras daughter, Elizabeth Hannah, sent a text message to members of the Remnant Fellowship Church saying that her mother and father were aboard the aircraft when it was forced to make a quick, controlled landing. All the planes passengers had ties to the church, including Hannahs own husband Brandon, according to her text. The others aboard were David and Jennifer Martin and Jonathan and Jessica Walters, according to authorities.My brother and I are asking for immediate prayers right now, as we have just gotten word that Gwen and Joe Laras plane had to go down, Hannah wrote before authorities said everyone appeared to have been killed. More information to come, but be in prayerand be at peace, the message continued. GOD IS IN CONTROL, and we will not stop moving forward with WHAT GOD WANTS with this church.Read more at The Daily Beast.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.
EAST HAMPTON  As the coronavirus pandemic nears a year, Town Manager David E. Cox had some good news for residents.

The towns positivity rate for COVID-19 infections has been reduced, and the number of cases has declined, according to Cox.

Were doing much better in terms of COVID rates, Cox said as he delivered a comprehensive report on the status of the virus in town during a Town Council meeting Tuesday.

At one point, the rate of infection was seven cases per day, Cox said. Now, that number has been halved, he told the council.

Whats more, roughly 11 percent of residents in town have received at least their first shot of the COVID vaccine, he said, and 80 percent of residents 75 or older have been vaccinated.

However, the state Department of Public Health reported that another East Hampton resident had died as a result of the virus, Cox said, bringing the towns toll to 18 since the pandemic began last March.

For its part, the council, meeting virtually via Zoom, gave tentative approval to paying the Chatham Health District an additional $19,368.20 to offset increased costs associated with the health districts work amid the pandemic.

CHD Director Russell S. Melmed previously had asked each of the six towns that make up the health district to pay a portion of their Municipal Coronavirus Relief Fund money to the district, citing those increased expenses.

Hebron, Marlborough and Portland have approved that request.

Director of Finance Jeffrey M. Jylkka will present the one-time appropriation request to the Board of Finance next week, Cox said.

The board will make the decision on how to pay the money, either by taking it from the relief funding or from the contingency line in the 2020-21 budget, he said. Once the board decides which option to use, the request will come back to the council for final approval.

Cox addressed concerns from some residents about allocating the funds to the health district as the town itself has seen some expenses related to the pandemic, such as leave time for some employees and personal protective equipment.

Those costs are very tightly controlled, Cox explained.

jmill@middletownpress.com
Lucknow: Schools in Uttar Pradeshs Moradabad, Noida, Varanasi, and Gorakhpur reopened for classes 6 to 8 on Wednesday (February 10) with COVID-19 protocols in place, after months of closure due to the pandemic.

Primary education officer, Moradabad, Yogendra Kumar told ANI," The government ordered reopening schools from February 10 for classes 6 and 8, including all government and private schools in Uttar Pradeshs Moradabad. The government has also instructed to call different standard students on different days of the week, with students of class 6 attending school on Mondays and Thursdays, class 7 on Tuesdays and Fridays, and class 8 on Wednesdays and Saturdays."

"All precautions including cleaning of the schools, sanitisation of hands, wearing masks, thermal screening will be in place at all schools. Schools Will have to take a consent letter from parents for sending their child to school. Also, only half of the total students in a class are allowed to attend at a time," he further added.

A student stated that she was waiting for her school to reopen, adding that she was facing some difficulties in attending online classes.

Live TV
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 11)  President Rodrigo Duterte will certify as urgent the passage of a bill relaxing procurement rules on local governments in the purchase of COVID-19 vaccines, his spokesman Harry Roque said Thursday.

PRRD (President Rodrigo Roa Duterte) will inform Congress that it is an urgent admin bill, Roque told CNN Philippines in a text message.

Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez said in a Senate hearing on Thursday that the presidential certification is in the works.

We are now drafting [the certification] for the President to make this bill an urgent bill so that it would be passed immediately, he said.

Senate Bill 2042 would allow local governments to directly purchase COVID-19 vaccines. A similar measure has been filed at the House of Representatives.

In the Senate version, local governments can make up to 50% down payment on COVID-19 vaccines if required by manufacturers during the period of the state of calamity due to the pandemic, which is in effect until September 12 this year. The Government Auditing Code and a 2005 memorandum order only authorize the President to allow an advance payment of 15% percent of the contract price.

A number of local governments have entered into deals with British-Swedish firm AstraZeneca and the national government to buy vaccines for their constituents. AstraZeneca is asking for a 20% down payment, San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora, who signed a tripartite agreement with the vaccine maker and the national government, said Wednesday.

SB 2042 also exempts local governments from complying with the Government Procurement Reform Act, the Local Government Code, and other related laws to hasten the purchase and administration of anti-coronavirus shots.

But as a safeguard, only COVID-19 vaccines approved for emergency use can be bought.

Proposed amendments

In the same hearing, a Department of Science and Technology official opposed the provision that permits LGUs to directly purchase vaccines not approved for general use.

Dr. Jaime Montoya, DOST-Philippine Council for Health Research and Development executive director suggested that the bill "must emphasize that LGUs will only be allowed to procure their own COVID-19 vaccines with emergency use authorization through a tripartite agreement with the national government."

Montoya said vaccine developers do not usually engage with LGUs for the supply of products still under development or those that have been granted EUA. "They only do so if there is a special arrangement made through the national government," he added.

He also said the bill must specify those responsible for compensating people who might exhibit adverse reactions to COVID-19 vaccines.

He pointed out manufacturers with EUA "are not liable" to provide indemnification to vaccinated people as the development of their product is incomplete.

Galvez said he supports Montoya's suggestions, adding that the national government must provide the indemnification.

He also said the absence of an indemnification law could hamper the delivery of the initial 117,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine made by Pfizer. These Pfizer vaccine shots from the COVAX facility are supposed to arrive this month. COVAX is an initiative led by the World Health Organization, along with the vaccine alliance Gavi and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, which seeks to provide over 150 participating countries equitable access to coronavirus vaccines.

The significant volumes (of COVID-19 vaccines) given by COVAX and manufacturer[s] can be hindered without an indemnification law, Galvez said.

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said the funds for indemnification could be sourced from the contingent fund under the 2021 national budget. Senator Sonny Angara agreed, saying it will help address the issue of compensation.

Galvez also recommended extending until the end of the year the validity of the proposed law.

More harm than good?

While proponents of the measure see it as a solution to delays in vaccine arrival, a group of healthcare workers warned of graver consequences should it be signed into law.

Healthcare Professionals' Alliance Against COVID-19 opposed the bill's passage, saying it may expose Filipinos to more danger and "make local policy makers liable for wrong decisions." This is because the bill will bypass the required recommendations of experts from the Health Technology Assessment Council, HPAAC said.

The group also warned the bill could lead to maldistribution of supply based on an LGU's capacity to pay rather than the need for the vaccine. To ensure vulnerable sectors and high-risk areas are prioritized, the medical professionals said there should be centralized procurement and distribution by the national government.

Citing the World Health Organization, the group said of the nearly 200 million people who have been vaccinated globally, 75% are from 10 rich countries.

"Meanwhile, at least 130 countries have not vaccinated a single person, the HPAAC said. "We aggravate this inequity by doing the same thing locally  distributing geographically according to capacity to pay."

The alliance also cautioned that the bill could drive increases in vaccine costs.

"Allowing LGUs to directly purchase from sellers or manufacturers will escalate vaccine prices because the country will lose the scale or volume that one buyer has," it said. "At the same time, central government's monopsony power as 'single buyer' is also diminished, likewise resulting in higher prices."

HPAAC said LGUs have important roles in fighting COVID-19, but "procuring vaccines is not one of them." Instead, local governments must focus its efforts and funds on other equally important aspects of the immunization program, such as profiling recipients, hiring and training vaccinators, conducting simulations, and assuring cold chain logistics, among others, the alliance said.
Members of the community witnessed the October 20 shooting of peaceful protesters by Nigerian soldiers and had provided details of the incident

Officials of the Lagos State Environmental Tasks Force accompanied by policemen and persons suspected to be thugs have burnt down a community whose residents witnessed the October 20 shooting of peaceful #ENDSARS protesters by soldiers at the Lekki Tollgate.

PREMIUM TIMES sourced some of its witnesses from the community for its groundbreaking investigation into the shooting, which revealed that soldiers and policemen shot directly at the protesters, killing some and injuring several others.

After originally claiming that soldiers deployed to the tollgate to disperse protesters were given only blank rounds and that "they merely shot in the air", the army later admitted that the troops carried both live rounds and blank bullets.

Ahmed Taiwo, a major general, who represented the army at a judicial panel investigating the #ENDSARS shooting, argued that the soldiers carried live rounds "because hoodlums had infiltrated the protest".

Residents of the community also accused the divisional police officer of the nearby Maroko Police Division, Raji Ganiyu, of shooting and killing some of the protesters. Mr Ganiyu denied the allegation.

A 24-hours notice

Residents of the community who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES said policemen and some officials of the environmental task force, arrived at the community on Tuesday and told them to vacate their residences within 24 hours.

The residents, who asked not to be named for fear of being arrested by the authorities, said they were still trying to gather their belongings on Wednesday morning when a contingent of taskforce officials, mobile policemen and "persons that looked like thugs" arrived and immediately started pulling down structures in the community.

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They said while a bulldozer was pulling down the mainly makeshift houses, the thugs were setting fire to the fallen structures. Policemen chased residents who were still trying to salvage their belongings far into the banks of the lagoon, injuring some of them, witnesses said.

"People were scared and thought they were going to be arrested and ran towards the lagoon where they sustain deep cuts in their legs from broken bottles that were discarded there," one resident said.

'Police mock residents over #ENDSARS'

Another resident said he and other residents were stopped and searched by the policemen who claimed they were looking for weapons hidden in the shanties.

He also said the policemen mocked residents of the shanty for participating in the protest and "for speaking to the media" after the indiscriminate shooting of peaceful protesters at the tollgate.

"They were laughing at us as we struggled to gather our properties. The policemen said: 'Sheybi na una be #ENDSARS protesters abi?'"

No comments

When reached for comment, the spokesperson of the Lagos State Environmental Taskforce, Taofeek Adebayo, asked for 30 minutes to find out why the community was demolished and burnt.

When he was reached later, he directed this reporter to the police for comment.

Muyiwa Adejobi, the spokesperson of the Lagos State Police Command, said he was not aware of the demolition but promised to find out. He is yet to revert on this.
Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 3 mesi fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili.

Home Infusion Therapy Market Growth & Trends

The global home infusion therapy market size is expected to reach USD 44.7 billion by 2028, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. It is expected to expand at a CAGR of 8.5% from 2021 to 2028. Home infusion therapy involves the intravenous or subcutaneous administration of drugs or biological products to an individual at home. Favorable government policies and regulations are expected to propel market growth. In February 2018, the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018 was signed into a law that states that all temporary payments of home infusion therapy in the U.S. will be covered by the government in accordance with this regulation.

In addition, the rising prevalence of chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), cancer, diabetes, and other life-threatening conditions, is expected to have a high impact on market growth. According to a report by the WHO, the above-mentioned diseases accounted for 60.0% of the total deaths and 43.0% of the disease burden in the U.S. in 2019. This creates the need to infuse nutritional products that contain glutamine, phospholipids, glucose, and amino acids while administering medication to patients, which, in turn, is expected to boost the market growth.

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is expected to create lucrative opportunities for the market. Due to restrictions caused by COVID-19, patients are waiting to seek treatment until they feel safe. Moreover, patients who seek infusion therapy already have diseases that weaken their immune systems. In such cases, going outside even to receive treatment becomes a potential threat. Reduced operating hours have led to difficulty in scheduling appointments as well, even if patients choose to continue treatment. Hence, home infusion therapy is expected to play a key role in supporting patients.

Request a free sample copy or view report summary: Home Infusion Therapy Market Report

Home Infusion Therapy Market Report Highlights

By product, the infusion pumps segment held the largest revenue share in 2020 owing to the increasing use of delivery fluids, such as nutrients and medications

The anti-infective application segment dominated the market in 2020 as a large number of procedures are performed during the administration of medications, such as antibiotics and antifungals

North America dominated the global market in 2020 owing to increasing demand for new technologies, along with advanced healthcare infrastructure

The Asia Pacific market is projected to witness the fastest growth over the forecast period owing to the increasing number of diabetic patients in the region

Home Infusion Therapy Market Segmentation

Grand View Research has segmented the global home infusion therapy market on the basis of product, application, and region:

Home Infusion Therapy Product Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2028)

Infusion Pumps Elastomeric Pumps Electromechanical Gravity Others

Intravenous Sets

IV Cannulas

Needleless Connectors

Home Infusion Therapy Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2028)

Anti-infective

Endocrinology Diabetes Others

Hydration Therapy Athletes Others

Chemotherapy

Enteral Nutrition

Parenteral Nutrition

Specialty Pharmaceuticals

Others

Home Infusion Therapy Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2028)

North America US. Canada

Europe UK. Germany France Spain Italy Netherlands Belgium Switzerland Russia Sweden

Asia Pacific India Japan China Australia South Korea Malaysia Indonesia Singapore Philippines Thailand

Latin America Brazil Mexico Argentina Colombia Chile

Middle East & Africa South Africa Saudi Arabia UAE Israel Egypt



List of Key Players of Home Infusion Therapy Market

CVS/Coram

Option Care Health

BriovaRx/Diplomat (UnitedHealth Optum)

PharMerica

Fresenius Kabi

ICU Medical, Inc.

Braun Melsungen AG

Baxter

BD

Caesarea Medical Electronics

Smiths Medical

Terumo Corporation

JMS Co. Ltd.

About Grand View Research

Grand View Research, Inc. is a U.S. based market research and consulting company, registered in the State of California and headquartered in San Francisco. The company provides syndicated research reports, customized research reports, and consulting services. To help clients make informed business decisions, we offer market intelligence studies ensuring relevant and fact-based research across a range of industries, from technology to chemicals, materials and healthcare.
After a year of pandemic lockdowns, economic woes and political strife, the Smash RX rage room just outside of Los Angeles has found a steady stream of new customers looking to shed some stress by beating the heck out of things. (Feb. 11)

Video Transcript

YASHICA BUDDE: This is California's first and only rage room to incorporate a therapeutic aspect. When they go in, a lot of people really find that they're really overwhelmed by like, I can really break things, and you know, like there's no consequences for that?

JOSH ELOHIM: Feels great to be able to release. I mean, obviously, these are times none of us have ever seen before in our lifetimes. But thankful to be able to come to a place like this and be able to break some stuff and release some tension without going to jail.

YASHICA BUDDE: I see teenagers, and the teenagers have been out of school for so long until they're like, I don't even know if I'm ever going to go back.

PIPER MAPE: I lost my senior year.

- Yeah.

PIPER MAPE: So I came here to smash up.

This feels nice. And I just want to break something. And also, as a mom, it feels nice to do something like this with my son. Because we built our own way of expressing our feelings, and so this felt kind of cool for me to do with him.

YASHICA BUDDE: It's COVID related, but it's also stress related to job. I think our political environment has not helped at all. And so I think that people are coming in and they have a mountain of different stressors and different things that they're dealing with.
Today, we are unveiling an evolutionary, new software platform predicated on the IoT principle - everything that can be connected will be connected...

Celebrating an unparalleled 5th decade of innovation, the business released a software platform harnessing the power of connectivity. Robert Cavitt, CEO of Jenkon, circulated the future of enterprise business is predicated on all software platforms continuously communicating and sharing information in real-time with all related systems, devices, and technologies. The essence of human nature and evolution has always been communication and connection. It is only natural that the newest revolution in digital processing will ensure this premise applies to everything impacting the human experience. The Internet of Things, or the IoT phenomenon, establishes that virtually all physical objects, devices, and systems will remain connected and constantly communicating via the internet.'

Cavitt continued, Jenkon has been a world leader for over four decades in providing software solutions to empower micro-entrepreneurs and home-based business opportunities. Today, we are unveiling an evolutionary, new software platform predicated on the IoT principle - everything that can be connected, will be connected. JoT delivers industry-leading sales tools and reliability on a state-of-the-art cloud-platform, empowering direct sellers to easily communicate with their preferred digital, social, mobile, or app technology. JoT modularity allows direct sellers to utilize the features best-suited for their business. Just as important, JoT is extensible with open APIs, web services, and a development toolkit allowing customers to internally evolve and innovate on the platform, without requiring the use of 3rd-party vendors.'

While the platform is already proven in billion-dollar enterprises, Jenkon is making available a stream-lined, cost-effective version for start-ups and emerging trailblazers. Cavitt cited Our vision is to make Jenkon reliability and strength available to the next generation of market leaders - much earlier in their business evolution than before. JoT delivers the flexibility and innovation critical for success in an ever-changing future.

Jenkon is the world leader in providing software systems to global direct selling companies, their sales representatives, micro-entrepreneurs, and retail customers. Jenkon has successfully delivered thousands of worldwide deployments, creating a multitude of decades-long, loyal clients. Visit their website to learn more and set up a free discovery session.
has released a new software update for its Galaxy Buds Pro that brings improvements to active noise cancellation and ambient sound modes, among other changes.

The software update appears to only be available in the US at the moment, reports SamMobile.

The update is just 2.2MB in size and can be applied using the Galaxy Wear app for Android or Galaxy Buds app for iOS.

The latest update arrives a few weeks after introduced another update that included improved Bixby voice wake-up response and left/right sound balance adjustment.

Priced at Rs 15,990, the new Galaxy Buds Pro comes with an Intelligent Active Noise Cancellation and feature system in the package which uses a separate woofer and tweeter making it a 2-way speaker.

claimed that the Galaxy Buds Pro can reduce the surrounding noise by up to 99 per cent.

In addition to ANC, there is also an ambient mode to let users hear what is happening in their surroundings such as traffic sounds.

The TWS headphones feature Samsung's brand new Wind Shield technology so the wind doesn't mess up your calls while outside or while riding your bike.

--IANS

wh/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.)
The United Nations Security Council on Tuesday called on the new interim leadership of Libya to swiftly form an inclusive Government and make necessary preparations for December's presidential and parliamentary elections.

Last week, the 74-members of the UN-led Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF) chose an interim Prime Minister and President of its new executive council, charged with leading the country to elections, planned for 24 December 2021.

In a Presidential Statement, issued by the representative of the United Kingdom, Council President for February, the Security Council welcomed the agreement "as an important milestone in the Libyan political process" and urged the interim leadership "to improve services and launch a comprehensive national reconciliation process".

Withdraw all foreign forces, mercenaries

The 15-member Council called on all parties to implement the October 2020 ceasefire agreement in full, urging UN Member States "to respect and support the full implementation of the agreement, including through the withdrawal of all foreign forces and mercenaries from Libya without further delay."

They also called for full compliance with the Council-imposed arms embargo by all Member States, in accordance with the relevant resolutions.

The Security Council further underlined the importance of a credible and effective Libyan-led Ceasefire Monitoring Mechanism under the auspices of the UN, and welcomed the swift deployment of an advance team to Libya. It added that it looked forward to receiving proposals on the tasks and scale of the mechanism from the UN Secretary-General.

New head of UN Mission takes up functions

On Monday, Jan Kubis took up his functions as the new Special Envoy on Libya and head of the UN Support Mission in the country (UNSMIL), highlighting the Organization's commitment to a stable, prosperous, sovereign and unified Libya.

According to a news release issued by UNSMIL, Mr. Kubis spoke by phone with senior Libyan officials, including the President of the Presidency Council, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, as well as with key regional and international interlocutors

The UN Special Envoy also spoke with Mohammad Younes Menfi, President of the Presidency Council designate and Abdul Hamid Mohammed Dbeibah, Prime Minister designate. They discussed the way forward to ensure a smooth transition of power to the new unified interim executive authority, the news release added.
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PROSPECTS of dialogue seen as the only solution in settling Zimbabwes political and economic crises are gloomy because of selfishness and egotism being exhibited by Zanu PF and opposition MDC Alliance leaders, the main political players in the country, church leaders have said.

The Zimbabwe Heads of Christian Denominations (ZHOCD) on Tuesday said President Emmerson Mnangagwas Zanu PF did not want to talk to Nelson Chamisas MDC Alliance, because it viewed such a move as a sign of weakness on its part.

The ZHOCD executive met Mnangagwa and Chamisa separately on September 16 last year as part of efforts to bring the two protagonists to the negotiating table, but was struck by the selfishness of the political leaders.

The church also noted that Zanu PF was not willing to engage in dialogue because it would be viewed as an admission of failure to run the country.

While at first there were many contradicting responses, the two main political parties, MDC and Zanu PF rejected the proposal on two grounds: the first one being that the proposal was unconstitutional, and the second one questioning the detailed implementation modalities, the churches said in a statement yesterday.

With time, many who gave it further reflection realised that it was possible to implement the Sabbath Call constitutionally, and that there were many implementation possibilities, only if there was political will. Such requisite political will was hampered by the concern from the ruling party that accepting the proposal would appear to be an admission of failure.

ZHOCD said the MDC Alliance sees dialogue as a pressure valve, which if open, would let out steam and give relief to Zanu PF.

The main opposition was concerned that an open embrace of such a proposal could give a lifeline to the ruling party like they did during the GNU (2009-2013).

Looked at it from this perspective, it was clear that the proposal was rejected for political expediency and not for the sake of healing the nation.

Pressure has been mounting for Mnangagwa and Chamisa to dialogue to end the economic and political crises in the country after the 2018 controversial polls won by the Zanu PF leader, but rejected by the opposition.

Mnangagwa formed the Political Actors Dialogue (Polad) platform with fringe parties that participated in the 2018 elections but Chamisa refused to be part of it.

The church is worried that without talks to find common ground, attaining peace in the country will be impossible after police recently warned that the 2023 general elections could be marred by violence.

The ZHOCD argues that without a certain level of consensus among key stakeholders and the broader citizenry, the efforts by the governing party to realize true peace, unity, justice and prosperity for all our people, will be futile, not only now but also in the future, the churches said.

Following renewed calls for dialogue, the MDC-T led by Douglas Mwonzora, accused of being a Zanu PF project by Chamisas backers, said deep-seated personal egos and ambitions were the biggest obstacles to dialogue.

We must conquer our own prejudices, we must divest ourselves of our own hatred against each other, we must defeat ourselves and in that regard, we shall succeed, Mwonzora said.

Zanu PF has insisted that it is open to talks on condition that such talks happen under the Polad umbrella and it has also insisted that Chamisa should concede electoral defeat.

A few weeks ago, Chamisas deputy Tendai Biti said the opposition party was open to talks with Zanu PF although it was not ready to have the MDC-T on the same table. Newsday


The Micromax In note 1 will receive Android 11 in April, company is working on a 5G phone

In November Micromax returned to India with the announcement of the In note 1 and In 1b. Co-founder Rahul Sharma answered several questions in the second episode of Lets Talk INdia (which you can watch below).

He revealed that an Android 11 update for the In note 1 is in the works and is expected to be released in April. It will go through an early access testing period first, volunteers will be able to sign up at Micromax community forum soon.

As for the Micromax In 1b, an update to Android 11 Go edition is planned but no time frame was provided. First, a smaller update will be released with improvements to the camera (including slow-mo video option), the speakers and a January security patch.

The companys first 5G smartphone is being developed in the Bengaluru R&D center. Another team is working on wireless headphones that will have a unique design. More details on these projects will be revealed at a later date.

The company co-founder affirmed that Micromax has no interest in creating a custom skin for Android (unlike virtually all other Android makers). Also, Micromax will never put ads in its phones, says the co-founder.

By the way, a smaller update for the note 1 came out last month. It added EIS and RAW mode to the camera, improved the portrait mode for the selfie cam and upped the security patch to January.

Via

Nigerian Army confirmed attacks on troops providing security for road construction workers along Goniri-Kafa on February 5 and on Geidam on February 9 but did not disclose the number of soldiers killed.

The Nigerian Army has dismissed reports of killing of 20 soldiers by Boko Haram/Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists in the North-East Theatre of Operation Lafiya Dole.

The Director, Army Public Relations, Mohammad Yerima, via a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja, said the information was false.

Mr Yerima, a brigadier-general, described the report by an online medium, titled; "Nigerian Army Keeps Mum As Boko Haram Terrorists Kill '20 Soldiers' In Borno" as false, fake and baseless.

He said the report was aimed at discouraging the public and demoralising troops in the fight against insurgency.

According to him, there was no attack where 20 soldiers were killed in the entire Theatre.

Mr Yerima said the recent attacks on troops providing security for road construction workers along Goniri-Kafa on February 5 and on Geidam on February 9 were decisively dealt with.

He said the attack on the troops along the road construction site and the attempt to infiltrate Geidam town by the terrorists were swiftly and professionally cleared by the Mobile Strike Teams (MSTs) and elements of 159 Task Force Battalion.

The spokesperson said soldiers paid the supreme sacrifice while two others who sustained injuries were currently receiving treatment at a military medical facility.

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According to him, Boko Haram and ISWAP are on the run and desperate for foods, drugs and logistics from soft targets for survival as their camps, routes and enclaves have been destroyed, blocked and manned by troops of Operation "TURA TAKAIBANGO."

He said that troops also overpowered terrorists mounted on eight gun trucks, motorbikes and foot soldiers who attempted attack on troops of 3 Battalion at Rann in Kala Balge Local Government Area of Borno on February 9.

According to him, the troops held their ground and instantly destroyed one terrorists' gun truck.

"With swift air support during the attack, the terrorists lost initiative and had to scamper for safety due to heavy aerial bombardments, while additional four terrorists' gun trucks were completely destroyed as several of their members were killed while others fled with gunshot wounds.

"The situation within the Rann general area is under control by our troops and members of the community are going about their normal activities.

"Members of the general public are therefore requested to continue to cooperate with the Nigerian military to fight both the terrorists and peddlers of fake and unsubstantiated stories.

"We shall continue to remain focused and determined to perform our constitutional roles and responsibilities professionally in the protection of the sovereignty of our nation, ensure the safety of lives and property, while we clear the terrorists and their cohorts within the region," he said.
Three people were killed and another injured in a crash on Oregon 26 in Clatsop County on Wednesday, officials said.

Oregon State police responded to reports of the crash near milepost 11 around 10 a.m. and found that a Mercedes station wagon, driven by 21-year-old Walter Smith, of Pendleton, had been heading west when he lost control and slid into the eastbound lanes.

Smith collided with a Toyota Tacoma driven by 30-year-old Natalie Swauger, of Seaside.

Smith and two passengers20-year-old Erick Fadness, of Decorah, Iowa, and an unidentified 16-year-old girlwere all killed in the crash. Swauger was flown to a hospital in Portland, though the extent of her injuries was unclear.

Investigators did not say what caused Smith to lose control, but said speed was believed to be a contributing factor in the crash.

-- Kale Williams; kwilliams@oregonian.com; 503-294-4048; @sfkale
A young woman who lost her legs and fingers to meningococcal has showed off her amazing recovery as she smashes her fitness goals.

Juttima Chinnasri, 30, spent ten days in an induced coma fighting for her life after suddenly falling ill with the disease in October 2018.

Although doctor's miraculously managed to save the Sydney woman, blood poisoning turned her legs, feet and fingers black and they could not be spared.

Just over two years on, the survivor has a new lease on life - and is living it to the fullest - as she learns to adjust to everyday activities with her new prosthetic limbs.

Juttima Chinnasri, 30, (pictured in July, 2018) went to bed one night in October 2018 with flu symptoms and woke up the next morning covered in a deadly rash

Documenting her recovery journey online, Ms Chinnasri has shared a series of videos in recent weeks showing her hitting major rehabilitation milestones.

After months of grueling physiotherapy, she is now jumping and has begun rock climbing with her new legs.

'Only amputees would know how much work (physical + mental) has gone into this,' she wrote alongside a clip of her jumping in a session last month.

'I couldn't be happier with my progress.'

While leaping in her prosthetics has hurt in the past, Ms Chinnasri told fans the exercise has become more comfortable after having new prosthetics fitted.

Ms Chinnasri body was coated in black splotches, diagnosed as meningococcal disease, and comatose for ten days (pictured)

The deadly bacteria gave her blood poisoning, which turned her fingers and legs black

What does the survivor wish people knew about meningococcal? * Her lips turned purple and purple spots appeared on her forehead and then spread to the rest of her body. * Ms Chinnasri told her followers on TikTok that they needed to act before seeing the rash and ideally call an ambulance the moment they suspect they might have the deadly disease. * Waiting until the rash appeared saw her ultimately lose both legs, feet and her fingers. Advertisement

'It doesn't hurt as much as before because my new legs are fitting pretty good and they also have ankles which help me absorb the impact from the jump,' she said in another video.

'The only time it will hurt is if the stump has lost the volume throughout the day and the prosthetic legs becomes loose and the stump can roll around in the socket and it hurts if I land wrong.

'Sometimes I get phantom pain, but it is mainly pretty good.'

Ms Chinnasri's life-changing experience began one night in October 2018, when she went to bed early concerned that her high fever was a sign on an oncoming flu.

The next morning she woke covered in blotchy, dark rashes and was rushed to St George Hospital where doctors confirmed she had meningococcal B - and the deadly bacteria had seeped throughout her system, poisoning her blood.

Ms Chinnasri has shared videos (pictured) of her latest progress in physiotherapy as she smashes fitness goals

The survivor has now exceeded major rehabilitation milestones, and is jumping (pictured) with her prosthetic legs

For the following ten days, while in an induced coma, her family waited nervously as hospital staff desperately tried to save her life.

Her blackened limbs were amputated, leaving her wheelchair bound and in hospital for three months as she learned to adjust to life without them.

After leaving hospital, she moved into her parents' Kogarah home while she learned how to walk again.

Grateful to have survived, Ms Chinnasri frequently shares uplifting posts about her journey to help inspires to make the most out of life.

In December, she posted a video revealing how her life has changed for the better since her ordeal, and how she is back working on her fashion business, Dolled Up, to help other women feel beautiful.

The 30-year-old (pictured) says she has more self love now than she did before the life changing experience

Ms Chinnasri moved back into her parents' Kogarah home after leaving hospital while she relearns how to walk. She is pictured at physiotherapy

Next to a photo of her with her ex-boyfriend, she wrote: 'Me before 2018, in my longest relationship of five plus years, but I was insecure and had zero self love.'

The slideshow then progressed through a series of images of her in hospital with bandages covering her wounds, before showing her in more recent times returning to normal activities with her prosthetic legs.

One shot shows her walking along the beach, while in another she is doing squats at a gym. A third photo shows her busy unpacking boxes of clothes for her business.

'This is me after a life changing experience and me back to focusing on myself,' she wrote alongside the pictures.

'Now I have unlimited self love and I am the strongest I have ever been.'
Remnants of planets with Earth-like crusts have been discovered in the atmospheres of four nearby white dwarf stars by University of Warwick astronomers, offering a glimpse of the planets that may have once orbited them up to billions of years ago.

Observations of lithium and potassium around white dwarf stars point to remains of rocky planet crusts

Analysis by astronomers led by University of Warwick shows chemical composition of crusts is very similar to Earth's continental crust

The outer layers of the white dwarfs contain up to 300,000 gigatonnes of rocky debris, which includes up to 60 gigatonnes of lithium and 3,000 gigatonnes of potassium

These white dwarfs are among the oldest stars in our galaxy, and could host one of the oldest planetary systems discovered so far

Remnants of planets with Earth-like crusts have been discovered in the atmospheres of four nearby white dwarf stars by University of Warwick astronomers, offering a glimpse of the planets that may have once orbited them up to billions of years ago.

These crusts are from the outer layers of rocky planets similar to Earth and Mars and could give astronomers greater insights into the chemistry of the planets that these dying stars once hosted.

The discovery is reported today (11 February) in the journal Nature Astronomy and includes one of the oldest planetary systems seen by astronomers so far.

The University of Warwick-led team were analysing data from the European Space Agency's Gaia telescope of over 1,000 nearby white dwarf stars when they came across an unusual signal from one particular white dwarf. The researchers at the University of Warwick received funding from the European Research Council and the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC).

They used spectroscopy to analyse the light from the star at different wavelengths, which allows them to detect when elements in the star's atmosphere are absorbing light at different colours and determine what elements those are and how much is present. They also inspected the 30,000 white dwarf spectra from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey published over the last 20 years.

The signal matched the wavelength of lithium and the astronomers soon discovered three more white dwarfs with the same signal, one of which was also observed with potassium in its atmosphere. By comparing the amount of lithium and potassium with the other elements they detected - sodium and calcium - they found that the ratio of elements matched the chemical composition of the crust of rocky planets like Earth and Mars, if those crusts and been vaporised and mixed within the gaseous outer layers of the star for 2 million years.

Lead author Dr Mark Hollands from the University of Warwick's Department of Physics said: "In the past, we've seen all sorts of things like mantle and core material, but we've not had a definitive detection of planetary crust. Lithium and potassium are good indicators of crust material, they are not present in high concentrations in the mantle or core.

"Now we know what chemical signature to look for to detect these elements, we have the opportunity to look at a huge number of white dwarfs and find more of these. Then we can look at the distribution of that signature and see how often we detect these planetary crusts and how that compares to our predictions."

The outer layers of the white dwarfs contain up to 300,000 gigatonnes of rocky debris, which includes up to 60 gigatonnes of lithium and 3,000 gigatonnes of potassium, equivalent to a 60km sphere of similar density to Earth's crust. The amount of crust material detected is similar in mass to that of the asteroids we see in our own solar system, leading the astronomers to believe that what they are seeing around all four stars is material broken off from a planet, rather than an entire planet itself.

Previous observations of white dwarfs have found evidence of material from the inner core and mantle of planets, but no definitive evidence of crust material. Crust is a small fraction of a planet's mass and the elements detected in this study are only detectable when the star is very cool. White dwarfs are in the dying phase of their lifecycle, as they have burnt out their fuel and cool over billions of years. These four white dwarfs are thought to have burnt out their fuel up to 10 billion years ago and could be among the oldest white dwarfs formed in our galaxy.

Co-author Dr Pier-Emmanuel Tremblay from the University of Warwick said: "In one case, we are looking at planet formation around a star that was formed in the Galactic halo, 11-12.5 billion years ago, hence it must be one of the oldest planetary systems known so far. Another of these systems formed around a short-lived star that was initially more than four times the mass of the Sun, a record-breaking discovery delivering important constraints on how fast planets can form around their host stars."

Among the oldest of these white dwarfs, one is 70% more massive than average and so its huge mass would normally cause any material in its atmosphere to disappear relatively quickly, leading the astronomers to the conclusion that it must be replenishing the crust material from a surrounding debris disc. Furthermore, the astronomers detected more infrared light than expected for the white dwarf alone, which indicates a disc being heated by its star and then re-radiated at longer wavelengths.

Dr Hollands adds: "As we understand it, rocky planet formation happens in a similar way in different planetary systems. Initially, they are formed from similar material composition to the star, but over time those materials separate and you end up with different chemical compositions in different parts of the planets. We can see that at some point that these objects have undergone differentiation, where the composition is different to the starting composition of the star.

"It is now well understood that most normal stars like the Sun harbour planets, but now there's the opportunity to look at the frequency of different types of material as well."

###

* 'Alkali metals in white dwarf atmospheres as tracers of ancient planetary crusts' will be published in Nature Astronomy, DOI: 10.1038/s41550-020-01296-7

Link: https:/ / www. nature. com/ articles/ s41550-020-01296-7

* This project has received funding from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (Grant agreement No. 677706 (WD3D))

Notes to editors:

Artist's impression of planetary crusts accreting into a white dwarf available to download at the link below. This image is free for use if used in direct connection with this story but image copyright and credit must be University of Warwick/Mark Garlick:

https:/ / warwick. ac. uk/ services/ communications/ medialibrary/ images/ february_2021/ accreting_wd2. jpg

Caption: Remnants of planetary crust disintegrating under the tidal forces around a cool white dwarf. Material in the disc becomes vaporised close to the central star and flows onto the white dwarf atmosphere. Credit: University of Warwick/Mark Garlick

For interviews or a copy of the paper contact:

Peter Thorley

Media Relations Manager (Warwick Medical School and Department of Physics) | Press & Media Relations | University of Warwick

Email: peter.thorley@warwick.ac.uk

Mob: +44 (0) 7824 540863

The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)

The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) is part of UK Research and Innovation - the UK body which works in partnership with universities, research organisations, businesses, charities, and government to create the best possible environment for research and innovation to flourish. For more information visit UK Research and Innovation.
OSLO, NORWAY (11 February 2021) - TGS-NOPEC Geophysical Company ASA ("TGS" or the "Company") today announced that reflective of the Company's strong financial and liquidity position and cash flow outlook, the Board of Directors has authorized a share repurchase program of up to USD 20 million.

The share repurchase program will be in place until the Company's annual general meeting in May 2022, or such earlier time as the maximum number of shares has been acquired, or the Board resolves to terminate the program.

The share repurchases will be conducted based on the authorization to acquire treasury shares granted at the annual general meeting of the Company on 12 May 2020 and is subject to renewal at the annual general meeting on 11 May 2021.

Any repurchased shares will be held in treasury and, subject to approval by a general meeting, thereafter be cancelled. Repurchased shares may also in part be used to satisfy obligations under incentive programs and/or otherwise disposed of (for cash or in-kind consideration as part of transactions).



It is expected that shares will primarily be repurchased in the open market on the Oslo Stock Exchange.

The share repurchases will be conducted based on the authorization to acquire treasury shares granted at the annual general meeting of the Company on 12 May 2020.

For more information, visit TGS.com (http://www.tgs.com) or contact:

Fredrik Amundsen, CFO

Tel.: +47 995 89 882

E-mail: investor@tgs.com(mailto:investor@tgs.com)

About Us

TGS provides scientific data and intelligence to companies active in the energy sector. In addition to a global, extensive and diverse energy data library, TGS offers specialized services such as advanced processing and analytics alongside cloud-based data applications and solutions.

Forward Looking Statement

All statements in this press release other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, which are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict, and are based upon assumptions as to future events that may not prove accurate. These factors include TGS' reliance on a cyclical industry and principal customers, TGS' ability to continue to expand markets for licensing of data, and TGS' ability to acquire and process data product at costs commensurate with profitability, as well as volatile market conditions, which have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the severe drop in oil prices. Actual results may differ materially from those expected or projected in the forward-looking statements. TGS undertakes no responsibility or obligation to update or alter forward-looking statements for any reason.



Myanmar State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi (C) prepares to speak at the Advisory Forum on National Reconciliation and Peace in Myanmar, in Naypyidaw on May 7, 2019.

Myanmars military junta has dissolved the office set up by the ousted civilian-led government of Aung San Suu Kyi to negotiate peace agreements with warring ethnic armies, replacing it with an army team that will deal directly with the armed groups, negotiators said.

The dismantling of the National Reconciliation and Peace Center (NRPC), chaired by State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi since 2016, in the wake of the Feb. 1 military coup led by defense forces chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing was met with concern by wary ethnic armed groups.

Lamai Gum Jar, a peace broker with the Myitkyina-based Peace-Talk Creation Group  a group of Kachin businessmen who assist with peace talks by mediating between the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and the government  said the leader of the Myanmar militarys Northern Commander told him that the NRPC no longer existed.

Thats why the ethnic armed groups are now required to work with the military governments peace negotiation group in the future, he said.

The KIA is among seven ethnic armies that have not signed on to the governments nationwide cease-fire agreement (NCA), which has drawn in 10 ethnic armies since it was launched in 2015.

The 10 ethnic armies that have signed the NCA and had joined several rounds of government-run peace talks through 2020 have not yet received details about the termination of the NRPC, said Colonel Khun Okkar, chairman of the Pa-O National Liberation Organization (PNLO), one of the signatories of the pact.

The ethnic armies have expressed doubt over the legality of the coup and questioned whether the military government has the authority to hold peace talks, he said.

This military coup affects the entire peace process, Khun Okkar said. The trust we have built over these years has been lost. The promises that we made to each other that we would create a federal union are now no longer guaranteed, but we will have to keep the negotiations going.

The colonel also said that it is important for the armed groups to negotiate with legitimate authorities.

We need to review whether our negotiations would be valid under Myanmar law and international law, he said. Only then can we have an official Union-level peace conference.

The grouping of armies that remain outside the cease-fire, called the Federal Political Negotiation and Consultative Committee (FPNCC), has not yet commented on the development. The alliance comprises seven rebel armies in northern Shan state, including four known as the Northern Alliance.

Lamai Gum Jar also said that plans for a February meeting between government peace negotiators and the Northern Alliance have been canceled because of the coup, though the new regimes peace negotiation team has not confirmed this.

RFA could not reach Myanmar military spokesman Major General Zaw Min Tun to confirm the dissolution of the NRPC and whether the junta has informed all ethnic armies about the change. The regime has not formally announced the suspension of the body.

A facilitator in the peace process who asked not to be named said NRPC members, including vice chairmen Dr. Tin Myo Win, the state counselors longtime personal physician, and Kyaw Tint Swe, minister of the State Counselors Office, were detained along with Aung San Suu Kyi.

The new military regime hasnt done anything yet with regard to the NRPC, though it has dissolved the civilian administration and ministries and formed new commissions, the source said.

Ending Myanmars decades of internal warfare was a key goal of Aung San Suu Kyis 2016-20 term. Four rounds of talks were held during that time, but they failed to make significant headway.

Reported by RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Ye Kaung Myint Maung. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin.
Health Departments COVID Updates for Thursday

By West Kentucky Star Staff

WESTERN KENTUCKY, SOUTHERN ILLINOIS - Area health departments confirmed several new cases of COVID-19 on Thursday.The state reports 31 new cases across the Pennyrile District, including 7 in Caldwell County, 3 in Crittenden County, 3 in Livingston County, 6 in Lyon County, and 12 in Trigg County.The Southern Seven Health Department has logged 46 new cases of COVID-19 since Tuesday, including 13 in Union County, 10 in Johnson County, 3 in Pope County, 3 in Hardin County, 8 in Alexander County, 5 in Pulaski County, and 27 in Massac County.The Purchase District Health Department said it is aware of 32 new cases of COVID-19, including 30 in McCracken County and 2 in Ballard County.The Marshall County Health Department reports 24 new cases, raising the county's total to 2,500.The Calloway County Health Department noted 3 new cases, raising the county's total to 3,286.This list will be updated as we receive more information from area health departments.
New Delhi: Kareena Kapoor and Ranbir Kapoors cousin, actor Armaan Jain, has been summoned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for questioning in a money laundering case.

The ED had conducted searches at Armaans house in Mumbai on Tuesday (February 9), the day when his uncle, actor Rajiv Kapoor breathed his last. The central agency had concluded the searches and allowed Armaan and his mother Rima Jain to attend the funeral of their relative, IANS reported.

Rima Jain is the sister of actors Randhir Kapoor, Rishi Kapoor and Rajiv Kapoor, and daughter of legendary actor Raj Kapoor.

Armaan has been summoned for inquiry in connection with Tops Grup- security services provider. The ED is investigating a money laundering case related to the firm.

As per sources, several chats between Armaan and Shiv Sena MLA Pratap Sarnaik's son, Vihang, have surfaced in connection with the case.

In November 2020, the ED had raided premises of Shiv Sena MLA Pratap Sarnaik in Maharashtra. "The searches are being conducted on the Tops group (a company in the business of providing security) promoters and related people, including some politicians, a source had revealed.

A complaint was lodged in October last year against Tops Grup of Mumbai, alleging that the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) had been siphoned off Rs 175 crore.

(With inputs from IANS)
After four hours of debate where both sides reiterated their arguments, the senators are now voting on the constitutionality of an impeachment trial for a former president out of office. A simple majority is required to proceed.

Senate Proceeds With Trump Impeachment Trial

A divided Senate voted to pursue the historic second impeachment trial of Trump following an emotional opening day in which the prosecution contended that the former president should be singlehandedly accountable for provoking the fatal siege at the US Capitol. The defense cautioned that the process would further sever a divided country.

The senators, now seated as jurors and vowed to deliver "impartial justice," voted 56 to 44 on the question of whether there was a constitutional basis for conducting a trial on an impeached president.

Six Republicans joined all 50 Democrats in voting to proceed with the impeachment trial. However, the vote also served as an indication of Trump's possible acquittal, considering the fact that 17 GOP senators would need to vote with Democrat senators in order to convict him. Senator Bill Cassidy joined five other Republican senators who had earlier voted that the trial is constitutional, reported CBS News.

In the US Capitol siege, thousands gathered in support of allegations of prevalent electoral fraud, which denied the former president's victory in the United States presidential election.

Democrats prosecuting the case commenced the proceedings by displaying a dramatic video montage of the former president's January 6 speech and the fatal storming of his supporters.

According to Representative Jamie Raskin of Maryland regarding the footage, "That's a high crime and misdemeanor. If that's not an impeachable offense, then there's no such thing," reported BBC.

Also Read: David Schoen: Impeachment Trial Will Tear the United States Apart

The decision cleared the way for several days of arguments over whether the former president should be pronounced guilty of provoking the assault on the US Capitol.

A number of Republican senators also denounced the performance of Trump's lawyers.

The decision concluded the first day of the unprecedented trial. The Senate adjourned until Wednesday, briefly following the tabulation of votes.

Voting against was former Senate Majority leader, Mitch McConnell who earlier had postponed the impeachment trial until the former president was no longer in office.

Trump's attorneys, David Schoen and Bruce Castor, argued on Tuesday that there is no legal justification to conduct a trial for a president who has been removed from office. However, senators sided with House managers prosecuting the case, along with a large cluster of legal experts, that the Senate is bound to hold a trial taking into account that Trump was impeached prior to leaving office.

The Democrats' 13-minute footage concluded with the former president's deleted tweet on January 6, indicating "these are the things and events that happen when a sacred landslide election victory is so unceremoniously & viciously stripped away," reported CNN.

Castor cautioned that a second impeachment trial in 1 year and one month would "open the floodgates" to upcoming impeachments, also suggesting former Obama administration Attorney General Eric Holder could be impeached.

Related Article: Trump Not Happy With Defense Team After Rambling Performance On Day 1 Of Impeachment Trial

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HOUSTON  Officials in Houston are hoping to address the racial disparity within Texas and the U.S. in who is receiving COVID-10 vaccines with a new clinic on the campus of one of the areas historically Black universities.

Baylor St. Lukes Medical Center, one of the hospitals from Houstons Texas Medical Center, has partnered with Texas Southern University for the clinic that starting Monday will administer vaccines to some of the areas most vulnerable populations, including people 75 years and older and minorities who meet the states guidelines for vaccine distribution.

St. Lukes Health CEO Doug Lawson said the clinic was part of the hospitals efforts to reach out to communities of color, underserved communities and address racial inequities in the health care that we are delivering.

The campus clinic is located in Third Ward, one of Houstons historically Black neighborhoods, and will allow the hospital to serve one of the communities hardest hit by the pandemic, said Elizabeth Youngblood, president of Baylor St. Lukes Medical Center.

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A recent analysis by The Associated Press shows that a racial gap has opened up in the nations COVID-19 vaccination drive, with Black Americans in many places lagging behind whites in getting shots.

In Texas, Black people make up 13% of the population and 18.2% of the health care workforce but only 7.2% of the vaccine recipients so far, according to the APs analysis.

In Houston, Mayor Sylvester Turner said 43% of whites have been vaccinated, compared to 21% of Hispanics, 18% of Blacks and 8 to 9% of Asian Americans. According to Census figures, more than 70% of the citys population is made up of Blacks, Hispanics and Asian Americans.

The mayor has welcomed the large mass vaccine distributions the city has held, including a new one that will start Feb. 24 at NRG Stadium. But he has worried that while such sites are good for numbers  theyre not good for equity.

Many of the residents the new clinic hopes to serve are on the margins and theyre constantly battling not just to thrive but just to survive and now here comes this virus and its impacting them even more, Turner said.

We can work together to make sure this vaccine is distributed to people in the city of Houston but especially to people who have been disproportionately impacted by this insidious virus, he said.

In the state, there were 385 deaths reported Thursday from COVID-19, the illness the coronavirus causes, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services. The same number of deaths were reported on Wednesday. The states death toll has risen to 40,200 according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

The state also reported 8,435 new coronavirus cases Thursday. Since the pandemic began, there have been over 2.5 million cases in Texas according to the COVID Tracking Project. On Thursday, 8,933 patients were hospitalized for COVID-19.

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Follow Juan A. Lozano on Twitter: https://twitter.com/juanlozano70
Senator Mike Duffy leaves the Ottawa courthouse on Wednesday, June 27, 2018. The Senate is urging the country's top court to dismiss Sen. Mike Duffy's challenge of a ruling that prevents him from suing the upper chamber for suspending him. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Patrick Doyle
A man allegedly killed his 25-year-old girlfriend and her mother before filming himself, screaming "I'm sorry," and turning the gun on himself during a standoff with SWAT in Dallas, Texas over the weekend.

Police have not yet released the identities of the victims. But they were identified on social media as Marietta Matthews and her mother, Tamiko Merriwether, 55, Daily Mail reported.

The suspect was allegedly Matthews' boyfriend, Nathan Rashad James. Dallas Police said that they have responded to an active shooter call in the 9800 block of Summerwood Circle on Sunday afternoon.

The 24-year-old suspect fired shots at the officers as they approached the apartment building, police said. It struck the police squad car, prompting the officers to back off, and called for SWAT Dallas.

Related story: Murder-Suicide Leaves 2 Dead at Florida Hospital Shooting





Nathan Rashad James Livestreams Himself Pacing With a Gun After Killing the Victims

Police said the SWAT Dallas made several attempts to get the suspect to surrender before entering the apartment at around 7 p.m. and saw two females and one male dead from gunshot wounds.

"Oh my God, bro. Oh my God. This s**t is crazy, dog. This s**t is crazy, dog. This shit is crazier than a motherf***ker dog," Nathan Rashad James said in his Instagram live video after shooting his girlfriend and her mother.

The Washington Time reported that the suspect was seen in the video panning the camera to Merriwether's body, who was still breathing then. She was seen slumped on the couch, covered in blood, as she gripped on her phone.

When Nathan Rashad James saw Merriwether was still alive, he told his viewers to "Call 911 again." He then walked over to his dead girlfriend's body on the ground as he called out to her, "Baby!"

The weapon was seen next to Merriwether's body as James continually shouted that he was sorry and had to protect his life. Nathan Rashad James even grabbed Matthews' face by her chin, and the clip showed the woman's left eye blasted out of her head.

Authorities said it does not appear that any officers discharged their weapons, nor were there any injured officers. According to the police, the mother and daughter died from gunshot wounds, and the suspect died from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Matthews was identified as an alumna of the University of Central Missouri, according to an Instagram post. She and her mother were reported shot by a semi-automatic shotgun. A portion of the video appeared to show Nathan Rashad James holding the weapon as he walked around the room.

According to a Dallas News report, the police department's special investigations unit will do a follow-up investigation. Police Chief Eddie Garcia said on Twitter that he was praying for the victims, adding that his officers' bravery inspired him in responding to the said incident.

Dallas crime rates are reported to be 68 percent higher compared to the national average, while violent crimes in Dallas are 127 percent higher than the national average, according to an Area Vibes report.

Read also: Psychologist Mom Killed Twin Daughters Before Committing Suicide


The EU is a strong supporter of the Egyptian economy, with ongoing assistance in the form of 1.3 billion in grants financing a wide range of development projects covering agriculture, irrigation, and urban transport.

In an exclusive interview with Al-Ahram Weekly, the head of the EU Delegation to Egypt, Christian Berger, who assumed his role in September 2020 amid the ongoing Covid-19 crisis, speaks in detail about the current EU portfolio in Egypt, touching upon political and economic issues of mutual interest.

What are the key features of EU-Egyptian relations?

The EU and Egypt have had a long and close relationship over many years. The EU has relationships and engagements with all neighbours in the Mediterranean and North Africa regions but Egypt is always at the centre of the EUs relationship with the regions countries.

Two documents spell out the overall spectrum of our relationship: the 2004 Association Agreement and the 2017 Partnership Priorities. In the current phase, I would add of course our joint fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, its socio-economic impact and ways of overcoming it, including the rollout of a vaccine.

During the first wave of Covid-19, urgent measures were taken by our member states and our neighbours that included many necessary restrictions aimed at containing the pandemic, including the shutdowns, the lockdowns and other associated measures.

At the same time, we saw how European countries and our partners, through working together and assisting each other, have managed to mitigate the impact of Covid-19 and address the socio-economic repercussions of the pandemic, making sure that trade can continue, jobs are secured, and preparations for recovery are launched.

Over the past year we have seen how working closely with our neighbours and partners, including Egypt, is critical in such a time of crisis to deal better with its repercussions, especially its socio-economic impacts.

How has the EU supported Egypt since the onset of the pandemic?

There are broader aspects and more specific and concrete ones in this regard. In May 2020, the EU together with other members of the G20 launched a campaign to collect funding in order to find a vaccine, then we started to contract companies to develop the vaccine and that was for the whole world, including Egypt for sure.

Meanwhile, in December 2020, the EU agreed to provide an 89 million support package for Egypts Ministry of Health to be used in Covid-19 related activities.

Moreover, the EU signed in January a three-year Support to Covid-19 Response project agreement worth 6 million with the Ministry of Social Solidarity, in collaboration with the UN Development Programme (UNDP), that aims to deal with the impact of the pandemic on the elderly and the vulnerable groups.

Another important aspect was that despite the lockdowns and restrictions trade would continue. For example, we introduced the concept of green lanes that allowed trade to continue within the EU but also with our neighbours. Despite a global slowdown we noticed an increase in trade between the EU and Egypt.

How is the EU supporting Egypt financially?

Grants are the more traditional support that the EU provides Egypt, alongside loans that are provided through two European financial institutions, the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).

The two kinds of support have been very important for Egypt, particularly amid the crisis, especially that the EIBs work focuses on supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), an engine of employment and the economy in general, through making sure that SMEs have access to financial resources to finance their activities.

The latest tool has become what we call blending, a combination of over 620 million in grants that has leveraged a portfolio of approximately 7 billion in terms of investment supported by the EUs Neighbourhood Investment Plan (NIP), which includes Egypt, along with Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine and Tunisia, among the NIPs Southern Neighbourhood regions countries.

The NIP has managed to leverage around 9 billion in loans for Egypt so far.

What are the EUs plans in Egypt over the medium and long terms?

We always cooperate closely with our partners on the basis of their own goals, spelt out in the governments development plans. So, in Egypt, it is the Sustainable Development Agenda Egypts Vision 2030. In more general terms we will present ideas this week on how we see cooperation between the EU and the Southern Neighbourhoods.

And there is the broader international plan of the sustainable development goals (SDGs). Egypt and the EU are very strong supporters who want to make sure global SDGs are met.

Investment, trade and economy are key elements for our mutual engagement. These include aspects of human development, involving education, vocational training and making sure that women have access to business opportunities. Other key aspects are promoting the concept of a green economy, business enhancement, and broader issues like governance and regulations to enhance the business environment and attract more investments.

This is fully in line with our 2017 partnership priorities with Egypt and its three big clusters: a sustainable modern economy and social development; foreign policy; and enhancing stability.

How do view the investment environment in Egypt?

Egypt is very attractive for European investments. It has the second largest foreign direct investments (FDIs) from the European Union in the Mediterranean with about 39 billion euro in 2019, following Turkey. I think these investments are the biggest in Africa as well.

That shows how Egypt is attractive for foreign investments, and I think this is due to the well-developed infrastructure and a young, well-educated population. In addition, there are a lot of initiatives that the government launched over the last few years that aimed to improve the investment climate.

There are European business institutions and chamber of commerce that see Egypt is very attractive for their investments.

What kind of measures does Egypt need to take to create a more welcoming climate for foreign investors?

There are many things that are already happening. There is a lot of work on the regulatory framework. For instance, the procedures of opening a company and registering a business are easier. And issues such as tax payment are much easier. What else could be done is to work on the identification of feasible investments for possible EU investors. Direct communication and promotion could be a way of doing this. What the companies look for when deciding to start a business in a country is a safe environment, easy procedures, fair competition, and a system of dispute settlement.

How do you view the measures Egypt has applied to contain the pandemic and its impact on the economy?

Egypt has done very well in containing the pandemic compared to other countries in the region. It has managed to keep the right balance between measures that needed to be taken, but not impacting the socio-economic situation very negatively.

What is the total amount of trade exchange between Egypt and the EU?

Since the signing of the Association Agreement with Egypt in 2004 trade volume between the two sides has tripled.

In 2019, total EU goods exports to Egypt recorded 19.1 billion, while Egypts exports to the EU posted 8.3 billion. For services, EU exports to Egypt registered 3.6 billion while Egypts exports to EU countries were 6.2 billion. The overall trade volume is not bad but it can, of course, improve. We can do more going forward.

We are currently in discussions in Europe to shorten supply lines to minimise the impact of Covid-19 and overcome likely problems when taking measures to contain the pandemic. In this regard, the situation with Egypt is perfect. All these aspects speak in favour of strengthening Egypt as a production hub for EU countries.

To what extent will the UKs exit from the EU affect the EUs business relations with other regions like the Middle East?

All countries that inked association agreements with the EU, including Egypt, have signed a similar agreement with the UK as well. The principals are more or less the same. For us, it has not made much impact but of course it is important for them because they want to make sure that their trade with the UK will continue and will not be disrupted.

How do you see the future of cooperation in supporting Egyptian civil society?

The EU is following this very closely. The EU is the biggest supporter of civil society organisations around the world. The new legislation is an opportunity for the EU and Egypt, in the framework of our 2017 partnership priorities, to further support an enabling civil society environment and work together with civil society to contribute to the economic, political and social development process in compliance with the Egyptian constitution and respective national legislation.

Just to mention some of the most promising provisions, the new bylaws introduce a fund for capacity building for civil society organisations and to provide technical assistance. The engagement of volunteers is also foreseen, which may have a great impact in terms of youth motivation. We believe that civil society covers a wide range of issues; people who deal with daily issues and problems can, actually, contribute in solving these issues. Civil society is not limited to certain aspects. It covers a very broad approach.

The recently approved law [NGO law] is a critical step and makes it easier for these organisations to work. We will work with all concerned bodies to ensure that the implementation of the law is done in such a way that it helps in this regard.

The EU was invited as an observer to the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) negotiations. How do you view the obstacles in the way of the negotiation process?

We see these negotiations are very important and would like to see an agreement as soon as possible. We are ready to offer both technical and political support to help finding a mutually acceptable solution to generate jobs, wealth and prosperity for the three riparian states.

The EU has a strong interest that this issue to be resolved in the best manner for all concerned countries.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 11 February , 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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OTTAWA  Northern Manitoba MP Niki Ashton says the chaotic COVID-19 outbreak on the remote Pauingassi reserve is the culmination of decades of neglect by the federal government.

OTTAWA  Northern Manitoba MP Niki Ashton says the chaotic COVID-19 outbreak on the remote Pauingassi reserve is the culmination of decades of neglect by the federal government.

"The COVID-19 crisis has exposed the way in which decades of federal austerity and neglect have put First Nations peoples lives at risk," Ashton wrote, arguing the community is past due for an airport and an all-weather road.

She said one patient who struggled with COVID-19 symptoms had to wait 17 hours for a medevac helicopter.

Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller said Wednesday that such a situation is unacceptable.

"People can die and time is of the essence. Its everything that we talk about, every morning in all our calls with our teams," he said. "Seventeen hours is just too long to wait."

The military was deployed to the far-flung community, northeast of Winnipeg, on Feb. 6 to help stem the rapid rise in COVID-19 cases.

Pauingassi Chief Roddy Owens has not replied to multiple Free Press queries, but he spoke with Ashton on Tuesday.

She said there had been 146 cases in the community, which has about 620 residents.

In a statement, the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs said the military has provided logistical support while the Canadian Red Cross has flown an unspecified number of people out of the reserve by helicopter.

"We are doing our best with the resources we have and those that have come into community," reads a statement attributed to Owens. "We appreciate the support that has been coming to Pauingassi."

Pauingassi has no road or airstrip. Residents must travel to Little Grand Rapids, 24 kilometres to the south, to get to the nearest airport. In summer, they travel by boat, and in winter, snowmobile.

In 2018, as smoke and flames closed in on the community during a wildfire, the evacuation was hampered by the reserve's remoteness.

Meanwhile, Ashton said the winter road has been delayed because most of the clearing crew either caught COVID-19 or had to self-isolate. That's made it incredibly difficult to get critical supplies to Pauingassi.

Miller added that the military and federal departments factor in remoteness when sending help during outbreaks.

"Those concerns, as we mobilize in, are all part of the planning that takes place at the front end of things," Miller said.

"It is a frequent reminder of where we need to go as we emerge out of COVID, and ensuring that we have the proper infrastructure supports to help communities that do find themselves in a pretty remote location, like Pauingassi."

dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca
Mortar shelling in Afghanistan kills at least 10 civilians

Fire breaks out at West Virginia oil refinery in US

Iran ready to help improve the defense capability of Syria

European Parliament head proposes to strengthen sanctions on Russia

UK PM gets married in London

Armenia reports COVID-19 new 81 cases: for people die

EU countries invite US to issue joint statement against Russia

2 people die in Armenia road accident

Nigeria: Students taken hostage a month ago are released

61 quakes recorded in Congo per day

Syrian MFA: EU lost credibility due to blind obedience to US policy

Armenia ex-minister of emergency situations hospitalized with heart attack

Mher Grigoryan: Clarification of border points is possible only after withdrawal of Azerbaijani troops from Armenia

Suspicious deal: Whether there was profit from buying DNA IDs?

Armenia ex-president says current authorities are trying to blame Russia for defeat in war

4 people killed in Afghanistani bus attack

Robert Kocharyan: This war could not have happened, it was a consequence of the policy of the authorities

Kocharyan: I have to ask people how it happened that overwhelming majority elected this leader

Armen Gevorgyan presents 'Armenia' bloc program: We offer the concept of a working country

Biden's administration proposed to leave unchanged amount of financial support to Armenia

US Embassy in Baku calls on Azerbaijan to immediately release Armenian POWs

Luxembourg MFA calls on Azerbaijan to immediately release all Armenian prisoners

Russia peacekeepers climb to Armenia Gegharkunik Province village positions

Biden strongly condemns manifestations of antisemitism in US

Iran intensifies its diplomacy amid Armenia-Azerbaijan border tensions

Armenia acting PM on forthcoming snap parliamentary elections: We hope to get 60% of votes

Lukashenko accuses West of destabilizing situation in Belarus

Armenia Central Electoral Commission chief on snap elections: No legal basis for postponing, suspending any function

Armenias Pashinyan is met by Yerevan district residents chanting against him

We are ready to be fully engaged in negotiation process to resolve Karabakh issue, says Armenia acting PM

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan gives interview to Russia TV channel

Armenia acting premier: We are ready to start withdrawing troops at any moment

Canada MFA expresses concern over 6 Armenian soldiers capture by Azerbaijan troops

There are omissions in registration documents of political forces that applied to Armenia Central Electoral Commission

Armenia Central Electoral Commission chief: There is activeness in Yerevan for the past day or two

Three new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Group of US Congress members threaten Azerbaijans Aliyev regime with sanctions

Chicago mayor is sued for allegedly refusing interview with white reporter

Iran exports oil to US for first time after long interval

"Armenia" bloc top 50 MP candidates are announced

42 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Sri Lanka public beach is covered in charred plastic pellets due to fire in container ship

US preparing list of targeted sanctions on Belarus authorities

China believes it will own America by 2035, Biden says

15 al-Shabab militants killed in Somalia

Newspaper: Armenia political forces that applied for running in election impatiently await CEC decision

Newspaper: Changes are expected in Artsakh

California prisoner who considers himself Satanist beheads cellmate, dismembers his body

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM's "mutually beneficial" proposal to collapse state system?

Armenia National Security Service Reserve Officers' Union members meet with His Holiness Karekin II

EU is ready to help Armenia and Azerbaijan with border delimitation and demarcation

ARF-D member on Nikol Pashinyan: 103 years ago Armenia's founding fathers would have executed him for treason

Iran President hails brotherly ties with Azerbaijan

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

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Russia MOD reports on maintenance of ceasefire regime in Nagorno-Karabakh

Armenia acting MOD meets with Russian counterpart in Moscow

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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

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Shoygu to Harutyunyan: Russia, Armenia strengthen military cooperation

Armenia acting premier: We are 100% honest toward our country

Artsakh President pays tribute at Stepanakert memorial, Shushi Tank-Monument

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Acting PM: "Cement," "fittings" were stolen while constructing Armenia state "building"

Two new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Catholicos of All Armenians visits Sardarapat Memorial, again separate from state officials

MOD dismisses Azerbaijan statement on Armenia army firing toward Nakhchivan

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France, UN World Food Programme partner to support displaced people in Armenia

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan: Today we are not full-fledged negotiating party

Norwegian prime minister opposes series of NATO reforms

Armenia deputy FM briefs UN, Red Cross leaders on consequences of Azerbaijan aggression against Artsakh

NATO Secretary-General: Afghans must take full responsibility for peace and stability in their country

104 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Armenia acting premier: Our sovereignty, independence cannot be subject of discussion

Karabakh state-finance minister announces resignation

Artsakh MFA: Sardarapat victory has inspired all Armenians for over a century

Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: In contrast to kneeling, disgraceful authorities of the day, we have determination

Armenia President: Today we stand on threshold of Sardarapat of morality, dignity

Catholicos of All Armenians: Our people shall find strength to overcome this ordeal as well

Armenia First Republic Day event is held under very modest conditions

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Armenia ex-President Sargsyan: Now or never!

Armenia President, then acting premier arrive at Sardarapat Memorial

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France ambassador: I wish Armenia to be able to live its independence in peace, prosperity

Bashar al-Assad wins Syria presidential election
Using strategic foresight research and interactive expert workshops, Yesterday's Gone identifies and explores eight megatrends with the potential to impact employment in Canada by 2030. They include: Our Lives Online; Capitalism in Question; Technology to the Rescue; Climate in Crisis; Reconciliation and Inclusion; Finding Meaning and Well-being; Shifting Power and Evolving Population. In exploring these changes, businesses, governments, and policymakers will be better equipped to design skills-demand programs and policy responses.

Key findings from the report:

The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated pre-existing trends such as automation and digitization while forcing society to rethink many of our assumptions about how we work and learn, and our socioeconomic structures and systems.

COVID-19 has given rise to new trends, including a heightened prioritization of meaning and well-being in our work and lives. While some changes may be temporary, they could have longer term implications for the labour market.

Topics that may seem unrelated to Canada's labour market, such as floods, air pollution, and responsible AI, all have the potential to impact the future of work.

Yesterday's Gone is the first report from BII+E's Employment in 2030: Action Labs project, funded by the Government of Canada's Future Skills Centre. The report will help inform the prototyping of potential new service offerings, interventions, or policies aimed at helping workers gain the skills and abilities they need to be resilient in the next decade. BIII+E will work with six partner organizations across Canada to host these prototyping sessions as well as a national showcase between March and May of 2021. You can find the full report at brookfieldinstitute.ca.

The Brookfield Institute for Innovation + Entrepreneurship (BII+E) is an independent, nonpartisan policy institute, housed at Ryerson University. We transform bold ideas into real-world solutions designed to help Canada navigate the complex forces and astounding possibilities of the innovation economy. brookfieldinstitute.ca @brookfieldiie

Ryerson University is Canada's leader in innovative, career-oriented education. Urban, culturally diverse and inclusive, the university is home to more than 44,600 students, including 2,600 master's and PhD students, 3,100 faculty and staff, and nearly 185,000 alumni worldwide. For more information, visit ryerson.ca.

The Future Skills Centre  Centre des Competences futures (FSC-CCF) is a forward-thinking centre for research and collaboration dedicated to preparing Canadians for employment success. We believe Canadians should feel confident about the skills they have to succeed in a changing workforce. As a pan-Canadian community, we are collaborating to rigorously identify, test, measure, and share innovative approaches to assessing and developing the skills Canadians need to thrive in the days and years ahead. Visit fsc-ccf.ca/ @fsc_ccf_en

SOURCE Brookfield Institute for Innovation + Entrepreneurship

For further information: For media requests, and to interview lead authors Heather Russek and Jessica Thornton, please contact Erin Warner at [email protected]

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http://brookfieldinstitute.ca/


MARINA DEL REY, Calif., Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- LeaseLock , the world's leading insurtech platform for real estate, today announced that David Hemry has joined the company as Director of Claims Innovation. He will focus on rapid advancement of the enterprise claims product for the company's first-to-market lease insurance business.

This key new hire comes on the heels of the insurtech leader's $52M Series B announcement.

Hemry brings 17 years of deep expertise in claims operations, working with world-class organizations such as USAA and Farmers Insurance. As Director of Innovation for USAA, Hemry oversaw adjustment capability enhancements, estimation automation, aerial imagery, and Blockchain usage. During his 15-year tenure with Farmers Insurance, he helped create and launch Toggle Renters on a new insurance technology platform in eight weeks. Within a year, the digital service was live in 22 states.

"The LeaseLock claims experience is where the rubber hits the road for our enterprise real estate customers. They must have a modern and magical experience powered by our platform," said Cassandra Campbell, Vice President of Product at LeaseLock. "David brings the high-caliber leadership we need to drive claims innovation with the rare combination of insurtech startup experience and deep claims operations subject matter expertise."

As the only AI-driven financial technology platform for rental housing providers, LeaseLock deploys through native property software systems and back-office workflows to integrate into the online lease checkout. Operators market their communities as Zero Deposit, creating a seamless resident experience and conversion lift. Residents pay a small monthly fee to replace upfront security deposits while operators receive $5,000 in rent loss and damage coverage on every new lease with the standard coverage plan. Claims filing is built into the native receivables process at move-out, creating an automated claims experience.

NMHC Top 50 operator LeaseLock clients include Greystar, Cushman Wakefield, Avenue5 Residential, Harbor Group Management Co., LMC, and RKW Residential. Top ownership clients include Goldman Sachs, ColRich, GoldCor, Olive Tree, TruAmerica, White Oak, Trinsic, and Goodman Real Estate.

About Us

LeaseLock is the world's leading insurtech platform for real estate.

Our flagship lease insurance product leverages artificial intelligence to eliminate security deposits from enterprise operating infrastructurepowering a faster, simpler, more affordable rental transaction. LeaseLock seamlessly deploys within the native online leasing checkout, resulting in significant conversion liftwhile instantly generating industry-leading coverage for the property on every lease.

LeaseLock has insured over $1 billion in leases backed by insurance rated A (Excellent) by A.M. Best. Our global investors include SoftBank Ventures Asia, Wildcat Ventures, Westerly Winds, Vertex Ventures US, Liberty Mutual Strategic Ventures, American Family Ventures, Moderne Ventures, and Mucker Capital.

Media Contact:

LinnellTaylor Marketing

Marlena DeFalco

Account Director

(303) 682-3943

[email protected]

SOURCE LeaseLock

Related Links

https://leaselock.com/


A SMALL, six-legged critter has surfaced around Windhoek, raising alarm as it moves in swarms and settles in heaps.

While Namibians are speculative of where the bugs may be coming from, minister of agriculture, water and land reform Calle Schlettwein says there is no need to panic.

"We have seen a number of these waves of insects coming in masses. I don't think this specific one has any danger or is any pest," Schlettwein yesterday told The Namibian.

Furthermore, he said the proliferation of the beetle is most likely associated with the good rains received around the country in recent weeks.

"It's a little bit of a nuisance, I agree. But they are little, they can't bite, they can't do anything, so its not a dangerous thing," Schlettwein said.

The tiny, black bug measures about seven millimetres in length with thin, thread-like antennae at its mouth and a lightly streaked exoskeleton.

Locals recently shared pictures and videos of the tiny bugs on social media and with The Namibian, asking whether the city was experiencing a beetle infestation, with some bugs spotted in people's homes and offices around the city.

"I'm more convinced now than ever that we have a beetle infestation on our hands in Windhoek. These little buggers are busybodies and quite robust against Doom. Question is: Where did they come from and how did they get to this point? #GroundBeetleInfestation," one user wrote on Twitter.

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"I'm ready for winter. I can't be fighting so many insects. One day it's moths, the next it's bugs, flies and creatures I've never seen before. This sounds like that chapter in the Bible y'all," said another.

John Chimumbwa, the executive director of the E8 Secretariat, consisting of eight southern African countries, provided a basic identification of the bug and corroborated Schlettwein's sentiment that the insect is harmless.

"It belongs to an order called Coleoptera that chews wood. [... ] For sure it does not bite humans!" he said.

Other insects in this category include a huge diversity of beetles such as ladybugs, fireflies, junebugs, stag beetles, weevils, burying beetles, rove beetles, click beetles, rose chafers and others.

The specific insect is suspected to be of the Stenolophus genus of ground beetle, however, its specific species remains unknown.

According to entomologist John Irish, the bug's scientific name is Platymetopus figuratus and it belongs to the family Carabidae, commonly known as ground beetles.

He said it is fairly common, being found throughout Namibia and the rest of southern Africa, but usually not in large numbers.

Furthermore, he said the insect's eggs can remain dormant in the ground for many years, only hatching when environmental conditions are optimal for the survival of the species.

"We do not know exactly what these optimal conditions are for most insects, but one can guess that the combination of temperature, humidity, cumulative rainfall and/or day length of the past week or so were exactly what is optimal for Platymetopus figuratus, and it has triggered the mass emergence of all those eggs that accumulated over many less optimal years," he said.
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Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism.
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.
House Passes Bill Raising Felony Theft Threshold

By The Associated Press

FRANKFORT - The Kentucky House has passed a bill to double the minimum dollar amount required to charge someone with the crime of felony theft.The criminal-justice reform legislation would increase the minimum threshold to $1,000 from the current $500.Property thefts under $1,000 would be considered a misdemeanor, which carries a lesser penalty.The bill won House passage Wednesday and heads to the Senate next.Lead sponsor Republican Rep. C. Ed Massey says it wont lessen a commitment to accountability, but will offer people who exercise poor judgment to have a second chance.Opponents say the bill could unintentionally lead to more thefts.
The disengagement plan in Eastern Ladakh explained

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Feb 11: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said in the Rajya Sabha that the Armed Forces had responded to the challenges posed by the unilateral Chinese action and have shown valour and courage on both South and North bank of Pangong Tso.

Ladakh Standoff: Rajnath Singh says India and China have agreed to disengagement| Oneindia News

The statement in the Upper House was made a day after China said that both the armies would disengage from the north and south banks of Pangong Tso.

The statement by the Defence Minister signals that the are clear signs of tensions being eased in Eastern Ladakh.

Disengagement at LAC raises hopes, but Delhi would remain cautious

Many strategically important points were identified and our troops positioned themselves at those Hill Tops and at locations which were very important from our point of view. It is because of this great bravery of our Armed Forces in the face of harsh adverse climatic conditions that we maintained the edge. Our Armed Forces proved yet again that territorial integrity of our country remains safe in their hands and their grit and determination to safeguard our borders is unwavering, the Defence Minister said.

#WATCH: Indian Army video of ongoing disengagement process in Ladakh. pic.twitter.com/kXjr0SiPN2  ANI (@ANI) February 11, 2021

During the discussions held between the two countries, India maintained three key principles:

(i) both sides should strictly respect and observe the LAC

(ii) neither side should attempt to alter the status quo unilaterally

(iii) all agreements and understandings between the two sides must be fully abided by in their entirety.

Till date, there have been 9 rounds of meetings of the Senior Commanders of both sides. Diplomatic talks have continued in parallel under the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC). I am happy to inform the House today that as a result of our well thought out approach and sustained talks with the Chinese side, we have now been able to reach an agreement on disengagement in the North and South Bank of the Pangong Lake. It has also been agreed to convene the next meeting of the Senior Commanders within 48 hours after the complete disengagement in the Pangong Lake area so as to address and resolve all other remaining issues, Singh also said.

Troop presence:

It has been agreed that for disengagement in the Pangong lake both sides will cease their forward deployments in a phased, coordinated and verified manner. The Chinese side will keep its troop presence in the North Bank area to east of Finger 8. Reciprocally, the Indian troops will be based at their permanent base at Dhan Singh Thapa Post near Finger 3.

A similar action would be taken in the South Bank area by both sides. These are mutual and reciprocal steps and any structures that had been built by both sides since April 2020 in both North and South Bank area will be removed and the landforms will be restored.

It has also been agreed to have a temporary moratorium on military activities by both sides in the North Bank, including patrolling to the traditional areas. Patrolling will be resumed only when both sides reach an agreement in diplomatic and military talks that would be held subsequently. The implementation of this agreement has started yesterday in the North and South Bank of the Pangong Lake. It will substantially restore the situation to that existing prior to commencement of the standoff last year.

India-China begin disengagement along Pangong Lake

Not conceded anything:

I want to assure this House that in these talks we have not conceded anything. The House should also know that there are still some outstanding issues with regard to deployment and patrolling at some other points along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh. These will be the focus of further discussions with the Chinese side. We have agreed that both sides should achieve complete disengagement at the earliest and abide fully by the bilateral agreements and protocols. By now, the Chinese side is also fully aware of our resolve. It is therefore our expectation that the Chinese side will work with us in full sincerity to resolve these remaining issues, Rajnath Singh said.

Oakland Athletics / Bjarke Ingels Group

An Alameda County Superior Court judge ruled Wednesday in favor of the Oakland As in a lawsuit that would have derailed the teams plans to streamline the construction of a new waterfront stadium.

Under the judges ruling, a ballpark at Howard Terminal would still have to go through the full environmental impact review under the California Environmental Quality Act. But complaints or legal challenges stemming from the review, which could stall the project, have to be resolved within 270 days  as a result of a state bill passed in 2018, AB734.
Hillary Clinton on Wednesday claimed that if former President Donald Trumps second Senate impeachment trial ends in his acquittal it will be because the jury includes his co-conspirators.

If Senate Republicans fail to convict Donald Trump, it wont be because the facts were with him or his lawyers mounted a competent defense, Clinton said in a tweet Wednesday morning. It will be because the jury includes his co-conspirators.

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Clinton, who served as secretary of state during the Obama administration, waded into the conversation before the second day of the trial began. House Democrats, joined by ten Republicans, voted last month to pass a single article of impeachment  incitement of an insurrection  against Trump after a mob of his supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol on January 6.

On the first day of the trial, the Democratic impeachment managers presented never-before-seen footage of the days unrest, showing how close rioters came to lawmakers as Congress met to certify President Joe Bidens election win last month.

Democrats will attempt to pin the pro-Trump rioters actions on the 45th president, arguing that his rhetoric in the hours before  and in the months leading up to  the electoral-vote count on January 6 stirred up supporters and led them to storm the Capitol. The unrest left five people dead, including one Capitol Hill police officer.

Trumps lawyers are arguing that it is unconstitutional for the Senate to hold an impeachment trial for a former president and that his rhetoric is protected by the First Amendment. They also say that he did not incite the rioting and that the House rushed to impeach Trump without offering him time to prepare a defense.

The Senate is likely to fall short of the two-thirds vote needed to convict Trump: Only six Republicans  Senators Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Mitt Romney of Utah, Ben Sasse of Nebraska and Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania  joined their Democratic colleagues in voting to affirm the constitutionality of the trial.

Story continues

Senator Rand Paul (R., Ky.) said Wednesday that he expects at least 44 Republican senators to acquit Trump, according to Politico.

Everybody objects to that violence. Everybody is horrified by that violence, he said. But the question is: Did the president incite that?

In the unlikely event that Trump is convicted, the Senate could then move to bar the former president from holding office going forward with a simple majority vote.

More from National Review
: armylion (  ), : Military

 : 

: BBS  (Wed Feb 10 11:45:12 2021, )



TikTok's forced sale to Walmart and Oracle has been shelved indefinitely as

the Biden administration takes on a broad review of national security risks

posed by Chinese technology companies initiated under his predecessor,

according to the Wall Street Journal. From a report:



Former U.S. President Donald Trump had ordered the popular video app, which

is owned by China's ByteDance, be sold to an American company last year,

citing national security concerns about users' data falling into the hands

of Chinese authorities. But multiple legal challenges held up a deal. The

most recent ruling on Dec. 7 said Trump's executive order likely overstepped

his authority. Discussions have continued between ByteDance and U.S.

security officials at the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S., the

Journal reported citing people familiar with the talks. One of the people

said possible solutions include use of a trusted third party to manage

TikTok's data, which wouldn't require an outright sale. But no decision on

how to resolve the issues is imminent as the Biden administration undertakes

its own assessment of the risks of Chinese technology companies and data

collection.

--

 :  mitbbs.com [FROM: 213.]


[February 11, 2021]

TeraGo Selected by Canadian National Healthcare Provider to Deliver Managed SD-WAN Solution

TORONTO, Feb. 11, 2021 /CNW/ - TeraGo Inc. ("TeraGo" or the "Company") (TSX: TGO) (www.terago.ca), was selected as the National Managed SD-WAN (Software-Defined Wide Area Networking) service provider for a large Canadian healthcare provider. TeraGo's Managed SD-WAN is deployed on VMWare's industry leading Velocloud platform and offers customers best-in-class networking capabilities. The Managed SD-WAN solution provides advanced visibility for application and network optimization, leverages TeraGo's fixed wireless Internet 50/10 product and enables the customer to run an intelligent, efficient, and visible national network.

The large Canadian healthcare provider was looking for a reliable and scalable network monitoring product delivered by an industry leading services partner. TeraGo was selected as the clear-ut solutions provider due to its track record of delivering exceptional customer experiences.







"We are thrilled to be able to deliver our valued customers a solution that can optimize their networking infrastructure," said TeraGo COO and CRO Blake Wetzel. "TeraGo's Managed SD-WAN helps deliver improved application visibility, cost optimization and network performance across Canada. We look forward to continue bringing this advanced technology to more companies across Canada and internationally."

TeraGo focuses on delivering premium networking solutions to Canadian and international businesses. Managed SD-WAN is a highly reliable and scalable product utilizing TeraGo's owned National Fixed Wireless network and helping customers design and build their advanced networking infrastructure.

About TeraGo

TeraGo owns a national spectrum portfolio of exclusive 24 GHz and 38 GHz wide-area spectrum licences including 2,120 MHz of spectrum across Canada's 6 largest cities. TeraGo provides businesses across Canada with cloud, colocation and connectivity services. TeraGo manages over 3,000 cloud workloads, operates five data centres in the Greater Toronto Area, the Greater Vancouver Area, and Kelowna, and owns and manages its own IP network. The Company serves business customers in major markets across Canada including Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver, Ottawa and Winnipeg. For more information about TeraGo, please visit www.terago.ca.

SOURCE TeraGo Inc.
Former president turned climate action champion Mary Robinson has urged the Government to learn lessons from Covid-19 and listen to the experts on climate change.

There are lessons from Covid  first of all that collective human behaviour matters because thats whats protecting us from the virus at the moment, she said.

The second lesson is that government matters. We see the listening were doing to the health experts in Ireland - theyre leading government policy and rightly so because they know what needs to be done. We need the same attention paid to the climate scientists.

Read More

She also urged Irish companies to do more to assist in the national effort to reduce carbon emissions.

We have to get our private sector engaged in a way that the private sector internationally is engagin.

I dont think the Irish private sector is doing enough. I hope it will commit to be zero carbon at the latest by 2050.

Mrs Robinson was speaking at the formal opening of the countrys first Centre for Environmental Justice, an initiative of the Community Law and Mediation (CLM) charity.

She said the move was timely as injustices in society risked becoming all the deeper with the impact of the climate and environmental crises.

"The climate crisis disproportionately and earlier affected the poorest countries and communities and still disproportionately affects those in poorer communities even in developed countries, she said.

CLM, which has offices in Dublin and Limerick, offers free legal advice, education, advocacy and mediation, with an emphasis on equality issues.

Chief executive, Rose Wall, said the move to expand into environmental justice was a natural extension of their existing work as the burden of the climate crisis would not be borne equally by all.

We have seen how climate change and other environmental factors directly impact peoples housing, due to flooding, or health, due to dirty air, she said.

We are also alert to the potential unfairness of climate action measures on marginalised groups whether that is, for example, through job loss or energy poverty.

People who are most disadvantaged or marginalised have the fewest choices about where and how they live; they have fewer resources to cope with pollution or the challenges of climate change; and they have less visibility in the shaping of policy responses.
By Chayut Setboonsarng

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand announced plans on Thursday to inoculate 1 million of its most vulnerable people against COVID-19 by May and start mass vaccinations in June, with the aim of administering 10 doses a month.

The announcement was the first clear timeline for its plan to vaccinate about half of its 70 million population, and comes amid criticism over the government's vaccine procurement strategy.

"We are planning two phases; February to May and the second, June to December," senior health official Sopon Iamsirithaworn told a briefing.

The first four months will be used to administer 2 million doses of the Sinovac Biotech vaccine, which are due to arrive this month, earmarked for frontline medical workers in high-risk areas.

Sopon made no mention of the 50,000 imported AstraZeneca vaccines that Thailand has said it would be receiving.

The second phase, between June and December, authorities plan to administer 10 million doses monthly until December, using 61 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, which will be produced locally from June by Siam Bioscience.

"About 1,000 hospitals are being prepared. Each able to do 500 doses per day, which over 20 days comes out to 10 million doses per month," Sopon said, adding that in the early stages only hospitals with resuscitation areas and equipment would be used.

Thailand is planning to vaccinate about 60% of the adult population by the end of 2021, to get closer to "herd immunity".

Critics have accused the government of being opaque in its vaccine strategy and too slow to secure supplies while relying almost entirely on an agreement with AstraZeneca. The government has defended its approach.

Thailand has a relatively few infections for its population size compared to most countries, with just 80 fatalities and 24,104 infections so far. About 80% of its cases have been detected in the past two months.

(Reporting by Chayut Setboonsarng; Editing by Martin Petty)
This weeks controversial decision to permanently switch elite Lowell High School to a lottery-based admissions process means San Francisco will be one of the few major cities in the nation without a selective comprehensive high school that uses merit-based admissions.

The San Francisco Board of Education voted 5-2 on Tuesday to eliminate the admissions system that uses test scores and grades at Lowell High, one of the top public high schools in the country.

The debate over Lowell reflects similar questions about equity that have been raised for decades around the country. Reformers and critics of selective public high schools in New York City, Chicago and Northern Virginia, for example, have pointed to racial and socioeconomic disparities as reasons to jettison admissions based on test scores or grades. But most attempts at eliminating merit-based applications have fallen flat.

Half of the states in the U.S. have at least one selective public high school, with the majority clustered in the bigger cities of the Midwest and Northeast, according to the authors of Exam Schools, a book about the countrys most selective public schools.

San Franciscos only other selective high school, Ruth Asawa School of the Arts  which is not considered a comprehensive high school because of its focus on visual and performing arts  has an audition-based admissions policy.

Board members cited pervasive systemic racism and a lack of diversity at Lowell as reasons driving their decision. Efforts to increase diversity over the years have included giving an edge to students from middle schools with disproportionate enrollment of low-income families or students of color. Lowell also reserves 30% of spots for those who meet minimum academic standards and have principals support.

Of Lowells 2,900 students, 51% are Asian and Asian American, 18% are white, 12% are Latino or Hispanic, 6% are Filipino and Filipino American and 2% are African American, with the rest being either of two or more races or other/not reported. About a third of students are from low-income families, compared to about half for the district overall. The districts overall enrollment is 33% Asian and Asian American, 28% Latino or Hispanic, 15% white, 6% African American, 4% Filipino and Filipino American.

Here is a look at how several such debates have played out in other big districts in the U.S.

New York City

New York City, with the nations largest public school district, has eight elite public high schools designated under decades-old state legislation as specialized schools. They are among the only public schools in the city whose admissions are controlled by the Legislature rather than the mayor.

Admissions to these elite schools are based on an exam called the Specialized High Schools Admissions Test. The only exception is LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts, which, like Ruth Asawa School of the Arts in San Francisco, requires an audition or portfolio for admission.

Asian American students make up about 60% of the population at New York Citys elite schools but constitute only 16% of the citys school system as a whole. Black and Hispanic students, who make up 70% of the city school system, constitute only 10% of students at elite schools. These statistics reflect national trends; a study from 2015 by Measure of America found that white and Asian students are more likely to attend screened high schools. In 2019, only seven Black students were admitted to New Yorks Stuyvesant High School out of 895 spots.

Mayor Bill de Blasio attempted to integrate schools in 2018 by pushing the state Legislature to eliminate the entrance exam for the citys eight elite high schools, but that initiative failed. The bill evaporated, in part because of a well-funded opposition effort by one of the schools billionaire graduates and backlash from Asian families who said the plan was discriminatory against its many low-income Asian students, the New York Times reported.

De Blasio recently implemented sweeping school integration measures affecting admissions for hundreds of selective middle and high schools, but they do not affect the most elite schools, which continue to admit students via the exam.

Chicago

Chicago has often been contrasted with New York City for its very different approach to admissions in its elite public schools. The process is selective, but has been modified over the years in the face of court challenges.

After a federal court issued a desegregation order in 1980, the city used a race-based affirmative action policy for its specialized schools. But in 2010  after a judge vacated that decree  the city switched to a different plan: They would consider geography and socioeconomic factors in an attempt to diversify their student populations. The city began evaluating applicants on a score composed of grades, an admissions test, standardized testing and socioeconomic tiers based on the citys census tracts. By 2019, 70% of the slots in the citys selective high schools were allotted for students chosen equally from four socioeconomic tiers.

Richard Kahlenberg, an author and senior fellow at The Century Foundation, held up the policy as a national model for achieving racial and ethnic diversity in selective public schools, but several recent studies have suggested that those efforts may have had negative effects on their students. One study co-authored by Lisa Barrow, a senior economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, found no evidence that attending a selective high school raised scores for students in any of the socioeconomic tiers, and in some cases, made them even worse off academically, The 74 Million reported.

Currently, Hispanic and Black students remain minorities at many of the schools. The Chicago Tribune reported that students of color began challenging administrators at the beginning of this school year, seeking reforms in admissions, culture and curriculum. Recent numbers found that Walter Payton College Prep, one of Chicagos top schools, was 44% white, 10% Black, 22% Hispanic and 19% Asian, but that the Black population had declined by 17 percentage points since 2010.

Virginia

A controversy similar to San Franciscos recently erupted in Virginias largest school district  but with a different outcome.

For months, the admissions policy had been debated at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Fairfax County. Several adjustments had been made over the past decade to try to boost diversity at the prestigious magnet school, which has been predominantly Asian for many years, while its Black and Hispanic student populations continue to dwindle.

Recent data found that only 10 Black students had been admitted into its class of 2024, which sparked outrage among families and alumni who had already spoken out against the schools rigorous admissions exam. A plan to switch to a merit-based lottery was also considered, but was met with even more conflict. In October, the board eliminated the test and its $100 application fee as first steps toward change, the Washington Post reported.

In December, the board considered two final options: a merit-based lottery and a holistic review admissions process. The lottery was rejected, with board members approving a modified review process. Applicants will now be evaluated based on certain academic criteria, as well as a math or science problem-solving essay, and a variety of experience factors that include special needs, language barriers and socioeconomic status.

Annie Vainshtein is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: avainshtein@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @annievain
IRVINE, Calif., Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- ATTOM Data Solutions, licensor of the nation's most comprehensive foreclosure data and parent company to RealtyTrac (www.realtytrac.com), a foreclosure listings portal, today released its January 2021 U.S. Foreclosure Market Report, which shows there were a total of 9,702 U.S. properties with foreclosure filings  default notices, scheduled auctions or bank repossessions  down 11 percent from a month ago and 80 percent from a year ago.

"January foreclosure activity declined at least in part due to the Biden Administration's decision to continue the foreclosure moratorium on government-backed loans through the end of March," said Rick Sharga, RealtyTrac executive vice president. "The moratorium and CARES Act mortgage forbearance program have effectively prevented millions of seriously delinquent loans from entering the foreclosure process. But it's important to remember that the number of foreclosures we're seeing right now doesn't reflect market reality  and that's something we'll need to deal with once these government programs expire."

Foreclosure completion numbers continue decline

Lenders repossessed 1,428 U.S. properties through completed foreclosures (REOs) in January 2021, down 28 percent from last month and down 86 percent from last year  thirteenth consecutive annual decline in completed foreclosures.

States that saw an annual decrease in REOs in January 2021 included: Illinois (down 86 percent); Florida (down 83 percent); Maryland (down 83 percent); California (down 82 percent); and Texas (down 82 percent).

Those major metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) with a population greater than 200,000 that saw the greatest number of REOs included: Birmingham, AL (124 REOs); Chicago, IL (65 REOs); Baltimore, MD (41 REOs); Miami, FL (40 REOs); and Beaumont, TX (38 REOs).

Highest foreclosure rates in Delaware, Louisiana and Florida

Nationwide one in every 14,164 housing units had a foreclosure filing in January 2021. States with the highest foreclosure rates were Delaware (one in every 4,923 housing units with a foreclosure filing); Louisiana (one in every 6,581 housing units); Florida (one in every 7,920 housing units); Indiana (one in every 8,668 housing units); and Alabama (one in every 8,707 housing units).

Among the 220 metropolitan statistical areas with a population of at least 200,000, those with the highest foreclosure rates in January 2021 were Lake Charles, LA (one in every 2,050 housing units with a foreclosure filing); Birmingham, AL (one in every 3,053 housing units); Lafayette, LA (one in every 3,492 housing units); Provo, UT (one in every 3,631 housing units); and Beaumont, TX (one in every 3,871 housing units).

Other than Birmingham, among the metropolitan areas with a population greater than 1 million, those with the worst foreclosure rates in January 2021 included: Jacksonville, FL (one in every 5,657 housing units); Cleveland, OH (one in every 5,660 housing units); Miami, FL (one in every 6,867 housing); and Louisville, KY (one in every 7,541 housing units).

Foreclosure starts increase monthly in 17 states

Lenders started the foreclosure process on 5,235 U.S. properties in January 2021, down 12 percent from last month and down 80 percent from a year ago.

Counter to the national trend, some states saw increases in foreclosure starts from last month including: Washington (up 63 percent); Virginia (up 54 percent); North Carolina (up 32 percent); Massachusetts (up 21 percent); and Ohio (up 10 percent).

Among the 220 metropolitan statistical areas with a population of at least 200,000 and at least 100 or more foreclosure starts in January 2021, those that saw double digit annual declines, included: Chicago, IL (down 87 percent); New York, NY (down 85 percent); Los Angeles, CA (down 80 percent); Dallas, TX (down 77 percent); and Houston, TX (down 69 percent).

Report methodology

The ATTOM Data Solutions U.S. Foreclosure Market Report provides a count of the total number of properties with at least one foreclosure filing entered into the ATTOM Data Warehouse during the month and quarter. Some foreclosure filings entered into the database during the quarter may have been recorded in the previous quarter. Data is collected from more than 3,000 counties nationwide, and those counties account for more than 99 percent of the U.S. population. ATTOM's report incorporates documents filed in all three phases of foreclosure: Default  Notice of Default (NOD) and Lis Pendens (LIS); Auction  Notice of Trustee Sale and Notice of Foreclosure Sale (NTS and NFS); and Real Estate Owned, or REO properties (that have been foreclosed on and repurchased by a bank). For the annual, midyear and quarterly reports, if more than one type of foreclosure document is received for a property during the timeframe, only the most recent filing is counted in the report. The annual, midyear, quarterly and monthly reports all check if the same type of document was filed against a property previously. If so, and if that previous filing occurred within the estimated foreclosure timeframe for the state where the property is located, the report does not count the property in the current year, quarter or month.

Interested in finding out more about our pre-foreclosure and foreclosure data?

Contact ATTOM for Foreclosure Data Licensing Details.

Visit RealtyTrac.com for Foreclosure Search and Listings.

About ATTOM Data Solutions

ATTOM Data Solutions provides foreclosure data licenses that can power various enterprise industries including real estate, insurance, marketing, government, mortgage and more. ATTOM multi-sources from 3,000 counties property tax, deed, mortgage, environmental risk, natural hazard, and neighborhood data for more than 155 million U.S. residential and commercial properties covering 99 percent of the nation's population.

About RealtyTrac (Powered by ATTOM's Property Data)

RealtyTrac.com is the premier foreclosure listing and search portal for investors and consumers looking to gain a competitive edge in the distressed market. Realtytrac.com grants access to insight that is typically only available to real estate professionals.

Media Contact:

Christine Stricker

949.748.8428

[email protected]

Data and Report Licensing:

949.502.8313

[email protected]

SOURCE ATTOM Data Solutions

Related Links

https://www.attomdata.com


[February 11, 2021] Technology Trailblazer and Santa Clara University Alum Kris Bazan Joins the Retail Management Institute (RMI) Advisory Board of Directors

Santa Clara University's Retail Management Institute (RMI) announces the first appointment in 2021 to its advisory board. Apple (News - Alert) Senior Director, Customer Marketing-Global Retail Kris Bazan '92, '99 MBA, joins an impressive group of select CEOs, presidents, EVPs, CMOs, CTOs and directors from influential Silicon Valley, San Francisco Bay Area and leading brand companies. The Advisory Board provides insight and perspective to ensure RMI remains a top destination for retail business education. "This is a thrilling time for RMI. We are delighted to have Kris contribute to our vision to establish RMI as the destination for knowledge through retail innovation in this time of significant industry shifts and bold actions creating a new retail landscape," says Kirthi Kalyanam, L.J. Skaggs Distinguished Professor and executive director, Retail Management Institute. "Kris brings trailblazing expertise as well as a passion for hands-on engagement and support to future proof the next generation of our retail studies students. She is a great strategic match for the RMI Advisory Board." Bazan joined Apple in 2002 and has managed global marketing teams across the enterprise, education, government and retail business. In her current retail role, she and her team are responsible for global marketing across product launches, store openings, and seasonal initiatives. She has held global management positions at ewlett Packard, bringing high availability products to market, and at Blue Pumpkin Software, where she led corporate communications and sales operations for the early-stage start-up.



"RMI is at the cutting edge of educating and preparing Santa Clara students for jobs in the constantly evolving and exciting field of retail. As a hiring manager, I look for employees who can contribute immediately and know that RMI's focus on real world, innovative curriculum provides students the skills necessary to be competitive," says Bazan. "I am delighted to join my alma mater and push retail marketing to the forefront as a sector of growth and opportunity for future graduates." Bazan holds both a BS in Commerce and an MBA from Santa Clara University. She has been a competitive runner since high school and ran cross country for Santa Clara. She now hits the trail or the track a few times a week. Bazan lives with her husband and two children, ages 14 and 10, in Los Gatos.

About the Retail Management Institute (RMI) The Silicon Valley based Retail Management Institute (RMI) provides a platform for deep collaboration between leading academics and industry luminaries into the emerging and evolving concepts impacting retail today. The knowledge generated from this innovative collaboration, forms the basis of distinct retail studies curriculum and experiences that prepare Retail Studies students and industry executives for success in the new world of technology infused retail. The Retail Management Institute (RMI) is a recognized academic partner of the retail industry with a 40-year history. About Santa Clara University Founded in 1851, Santa Clara University sits in the heart of Silicon Valley-the world's most innovative and entrepreneurial region. The University's stunningly landscaped 106-acre campus is home to the historic Mission Santa Clara de Asis. SCU has among the best four-year graduation rates in the nation and is rated by PayScale in the top 1% of universities with the highest-paid graduates. SCU has produced elite levels of Fulbright Scholars as well as four Rhodes Scholars. With undergraduate programs in arts and sciences, business, and engineering, and graduate programs in six disciplines, the curriculum blends high-tech innovation with social consciousness grounded in the tradition of Jesuit, Catholic education. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210211005821/en/

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Ahmed is a retired civil servant in his early 70s, and for the last 12 months he and his wife Nawal, in her mid-60s, have been extremely cautious about mixing with others for fear of contracting the coronavirus.From the beginning when Egypt officially announced its first case of the virus in mid-February 2020, Ahmed and Nawal went into a kind of self-imposed social exile that for four months only saw a single visit from their cleaning lady each month.They would keep their masks on while she was doing her tasks, as unmasked it would be impossible, and there was only one supermarket and pharmacy delivery every two weeks.It was only in late July 2020, with recorded cases seeing a decline, that the couple decided to ease the restrictions but even so never fully. When autumn and winter came, they went back into the same strict routine.We noticed from the social circles that we keep in touch with through phone calls that the virus had become a lot more aggressive. It seemed to be spreading faster and killing more people. We decided it was safer to get bored at home than to risk getting infected, Ahmed said.Today, he added, as he enjoyed the morning sun at an early hour in one of Cairos sporting clubs, he and his wife are impatiently waiting for the vaccine.This is the only way we can go back to a normal life, but we have no idea when this will happen or how we can get it. We keep hearing statements, and I keep looking for information in the press, but it is not at all clear, he said.Ahmed a few weeks back tried to register his name and that of Nawal on a website that the Ministry of Health operated for a few days for people who wished to get the vaccine.I had no idea which vaccine would be available. I heard there was a Chinese or a Russian one  or something else. I spoke to Nawal, and we thought that whatever becomes available first we would go for it, Ahmed said.However, his aspirations lasted for only a few days. When Ahmed tried to check the website for updated information, he realised that the site had been suspended. He thought he would get a call to explain the situation to him or to notify him of a date and place for vaccination, but instead there was nothing, he said.I just dont know when or where or how we will get the vaccine, he lamented.In recent press statements, Minister of Health Hala Zayed said that Egypt was planning to get 100 million shots of the vaccine to be able to provide them to all Egyptian citizens and all foreigners with permanent residence in Egypt who wished to have them.But the figure came with no dates and no specifications. In view of the fact that Zayed had previously made promises to provide millions of vaccine shots, first from Russia and then from China and the UK, the recent statement made more room for speculation than for confidence.At the Ministry of Health, there is still no clear answer as to what is really happening with the vaccination plans. According to informed sources, both governmental and private, Egypt has a long way to go before it manages to secure even the few million shots of the vaccine that are required for medical workers, people over 60, and people with a chronic illness.The reason is simple: to be able to secure the vaccines, a country has to be able to make the necessary financial deposits to the pharmaceutical companies making them. Egypt, a developing country, is not an LDC (least developed country), which would make it eligible to get free vaccines. It could, however, make sure that its demands are not overlooked.The minister of health said that the Tahiya Masr Fund would be the financing arm for the purchase of the vaccines.

For Hatem, a doctor at one of the public hospitals in Giza, this statement was very strange, however.



Vaccines are funded from the state budget. If we are talking about a fund, that means we are waiting for donations, and that means quite a long wait for an intensive vaccination plan which is desperately needed in our country. The restrictive measures are not always observed, and many hospitals, and for that matter doctors, are tired after the two waves of the virus, he said.



A few leading businessmen have announced donations to the Fund. But according to one informed independent source, the donations made so far would barely suffice to provide the least-expensive vaccines for people benefitting from state social security coverage.



The minister of health announced during a TV appearance late last month that the state would provide vaccines for all economically challenged citizens while the rest would pay symbolic fees of no more than LE200.



The price of the vaccine, according to government sources, will most likely vary because purchasing prices vary considerably.

According to Hatem, any vaccine would be better than no vaccine. Different countries are providing different types of vaccines, and this is not the problem. The problem is that if the government does not manage the situation well, we could be faced with problems like a black market for vaccines or counterfeits, he said.For Hatem and other medical sources, both official and independent, the private sector should be allowed to import or, at a later stage, to manufacture vaccines. Distribution and vaccination should be a state prerogative to avoid any illicit dealings that could be catastrophic.The statements of the minister suggest that the state will be in control of supplies and vaccinations when the vaccines are available. Thus far, the state has officially secured 100,000 doses of the vaccine. Half of these are of the Chinese-formulated and UAE-produced Sinopharm vaccine, used in Egypt in phase three trials, and the other half are the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine.The Sinopharm vaccine had already been used for medical teams in isolation hospitals. A doctor and a nurse who work in one of these said, on condition of anonymity, that not many people had agreed to get the Sinopharm vaccine, themselves included, however.We dont know enough about the trials. The results of the third phase of testing, on people, were never fully shared by the Chinese, and this is not reassuring. It would be safer to wait for a vaccine with a more credible profile, the doctor said.Egypt, according to official statements, has committed to securing its vaccine stock from Sinopharm, Oxford-AstraZeneca, and the Russian Sputnik V vaccines. According to sources in the pharmaceutical industry, there are plans for two leading companies to get licenses to manufacture at least two of these three vaccines. Egypt is also expected to get some further donations from China and possibly from the UAE.But for many in the medical field, the situation is too ambiguous to be tolerated at a time of a pandemic.In a series of commentaries on his Facebook page, Mohamed Abul-Ghar, a doctor who takes an interest in public affairs, has appealed for a more pragmatic approach.The government, he said, should allow for a parallel-track approach in which it incorporates the private sector to import and provide the vaccines at a state-monitored price, while the government acts to promptly provide the vaccines for those who cannot afford to pay for them.

Questions over the clarity of the management of the coronavirus situation in Egypt are not new. Over the past 12 months, and after a Chinese resident of Egypt tested positive following a visit from a relative from China, there have been many queries.



One big question is about the mortality rate of Covid-19 in Egypt. Officially, the Ministry of Health puts the death rate of both waves of the coronavirus at under 10,000. But this number makes some doctors laugh or cry. In the words of one, this figure cannot be anywhere near the real figure. The second wave has been especially lethal and not just for older people and people with chronic diseases.



The debate over the mortality rate is complicated, according to government sources. They admit that after the first four months, the regulations have been that deaths from co-morbidities should not be registered as coronavirus mortalities.



One ministry source argued that in the beginning this might have had to do with a government wish to avoid exaggerating the mortality rate, but with the debate over complications involved in the burials of people dying of Covid-19, the trend has been to reduce the numbers as much as possible to allow families to have traditional burial procedures.



The question, however, according to a source in an international body that monitors Egypts management of the coronavirus, is not just about the mortality rate but also about overall recorded cases over the past 12 months.



In the first three months, we thought that Egypt was doing well enough. There was a sufficient amount of transparency, an attempt to apply necessary testing, and prompt action on the side of the government to at least minimise the risk of uncontained community transmission, he said.



Unfortunately, however, this hard work was not sustainable.



Critics of the Egyptian governments management of the coronavirus pandemic, both from local and international medical and health quarters, argue that one mistake was insufficient testing.



Originally, PCR tests were only available at central labs managed by the Ministry of Health. However, as early as late May last year, or 14 weeks after the official announcement of the first Covid-19 case in Egypt, some labs affiliated to the Ministry of Higher Education were allowed to do the PCR tests, even though their figures were not incorporated in the numbers put out by the Ministry of Health of infections recorded in the country.

With the cost of a single PCR test at around LE2,500 back then, and in view of the fact that every patient who tested positive would need at least two extra PCR tests to make sure they had subsequently tested negative, the government decided to go for rapid tests that are not as accurate as PCR.



At a later stage, chest X-rays and blood tests were introduced to help doctors decide on cases. With the spikes of both waves of the virus, the Ministry of Health decided to treat any suspected Covid-19 patient as positive even without tests and to provide the necessary medication.



Adel Khattab, a pulmonologist, argues that the combined use of PCRs, X-rays, blood tests, and rapid tests almost saved the day for Egypt when there were simply not enough PCR tests to go around.



This, he said, was particularly the case after the government decided that medical curfews and lockdowns were not sustainable, which meant that people were mixing more, sometimes without observing masks and social distancing.



According to Jihan, a Cairo pharmacist, by late August we had what we called the coronavirus group. This was essentially medicines included in the designated protocol for mild and medium cases of Covid-19 that individuals were getting off the shelf, often upon detecting symptoms like a persistent fever or a bad cough or fatigue.



I know I should not be saying this, but it worked in many cases. It is too costly for most people to go for an LE2,500 PCR test, or to even pay half as much to get the necessary blood tests and chest X-rays, Jihan said.



So, people would just call and say that they suspected they had Covid-19. We would send them the necessary medicines, an oximeter if we can get one, and two boxes of masks.



According to two pulmonologists and two intensivists spoken to by Al-Ahram Weekly, they have seen cases with chest complications in the wake of this self-treatment approach.



This new virus is very tricky. Sometimes people might think they are over it, but it leaves them with complications that if not immediately spotted and promptly treated could be dangerous, said one intensivist.



In the end, he added, there were cases that were hospitalised and then released but that suffered terminal complications. The fact is that we dont know enough about the way this virus acts, not just us in Egypt, but I mean the medical community worldwide. This is one of the reasons behind the high mortality rates, he said.



MEDICAL TEAMS

One of the figures that is most certainly accurate is the mortality rate among medical workers including doctors.



According to the count of the Doctors Syndicate, there have been over 360 doctors who have lost their lives due to the infection.



In the first wave of the pandemic, doctors working at public hospitals spoke about shortages of PPE that had compromised their health. They spoke of cases of overusing surgical masks, of having to collect money to buy high-protection masks, of the lack of training for cleaning staff on disinfection practices, and exhausting working hours with possible high exposure to intense viral loads from patients who were neither wearing masks nor observing social distancing.



This was not the case with the second wave, however. Doctors said that PPE was readily available and that medical leave was generally allowed for any suspected infection or excessive fatigue. However, the mortality rate remained high.



Mona Mina, an activist for physicians rights, argued that the management of infection measures in many public hospitals had put doctors in harms way. This month, the Doctors Syndicate promised training sessions on the basics of infection prevention and control to help hospitals and doctors reduce risks that had left Egypt among countries having high rates of mortality among doctors.



Gynaecologists have been particularly endangered. Salah Sallam, a Cairo-based gynecologist who has headed the Al-Arish branch of the Doctors Syndicate, said that gynaecologists were among the most exposed physicians to infection.



We deal with emergencies all the time where we cannot hesitate for a second because it is all about lives, and we are exposed to all sorts of body secretions and this increases the chance of infection, he said.



Without the experience that the medical community had had with the first wave of the virus, things could have been worse with the second wave that was a lot more ferocious in terms of infection and mortality.



He is convinced that the most important thing to be done today is to provide the vaccine for as many doctors as possible. All doctors are exposed to infection, not just those who work in isolation hospitals, and all doctors deserve to get the vaccine promptly to spare them from being infected and from being the carriers of the infection, he said.



Sallam said he was hopeful that by the end of next month the Ministry of Health would have provided enough vaccines to go around for medical workers, including doctors.



He is not concerned about the question of which vaccine. We need to move on as much as we can without wasting time, and for that matter lives, on unnecessary debates, he said.



At the end of the day, Sallam argued, there was no risk to be expected from any vaccine manufactured using a weakened virus that cannot replicate but that can allow for antibodies to be developed. As for efficacy, he argued, any vaccine is better than no vaccine.



Until a vaccine is made available for doctors, some physicians have said that they may resort to anti-parasitic medications since it seems they can halt the replication of the Covid-19 virus.



This is what we have for now, and we will use it until a vaccine is available, also bearing in mind that distribution will likely take some time and will go through different categories of age and risk, one doctor commented.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 11 February , 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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Radio communications from the Metropolitan Police Department highlight how, during and and following President Trumps speech, Trump supporters descended on the Capitol, and became increasingly violent. What you are about to hear has not been made public before. In another radio communication between Metropolitan Police officers, you can hear an officer declare that there is a riot at the capital at 1:49 p.m. We are seeing the inside view as the mob approaches from outside and beats the windows and doors. You can see that the rioters first broke the window with the wooden beam that you saw previously, and a lone police officer inside responds and begins to spray the first man who enters, but is quickly overwhelmed. I want you to pay attention to the first group of assailants as they break into the building. The second man through the window is wearing full tactical body armor and is carrying a baseball bat. Others are carrying riot shields. Among this group are members of the Proud Boys, some of whom, like Dominic Pezzola, who was recently indicted on federal conspiracy charges, we will discuss later. In this security footage, you can see Officer Goodman running to respond to the initial breach. Officer Goodman passes Senator Mitt Romney, and directs him to turn around in order to get to safety. On the first floor, just beneath them, the mob had already started to search for the Senate chamber. Officer Goodman made his way down to the first floor. On the left-hand side of the video, just inside the hallway, is the door to the Senate chamber. And watch how officer Goodman provokes the rioters and purposefully draws them away from the door to the Senate chamber and towards the other officers waiting down the hall. The rioter seen carrying a baseball bat in this video is the same one we saw moments ago, breaching the window on the first floor. While all of this was going on, Vice President Pence was still in the room near the Senate chamber. It was not until to 2:26 that he was evacuated to a secure location. This next security video shows that evacuation. His movements are depicted by the orange dot in our model  the red and blue dots represent the location where the mob and Officer Goodman were, and where Officer Goodman led the mob away from the chamber, just moments ago. You can see Vice President Pence and his family quickly moved down the stairs. The vice president turns around briefly as hes headed down. About the same time Capitol Police announced the Capitol had been breached, Speaker Pelosis staff heeded the call to shelter in place. As you can see here, the staff moves from their offices, through the halls, and then enters a door on the right hand side. Thats the outer door of a conference room, which also has an inner door that they barricaded with furniture. The staff then hid under a conference room table in that inner room. This is the last staffer going in and then barricading themselves inside of the inner office. After just seven minutes of them barricading themselves, and the last staffer entering the door on the right, a group of rioters entered the hallway outside. And once inside, the rioters have free rein in the speaker of the Houses offices. In this security video, pay attention to the door that we saw those staffers leading into and going into. One of the rioters, you can see, is throwing his body against the door three times until he breaks open that outer door. Luckily, when faced with the inner door, he moves on. This security footage, which does not have sound, shows a close-up of Trumps mob as they move toward the second floor of the House chamber to stop the counting of votes. This security video shows Ashli Babbitt, followed by others in the mob, turning the corner toward the House lobby doors where the members were leaving. This security video from 2:56 p.m. shows the mob in the House of Representatives wing on the second floor of the Capitol. Insurrectionists who are still inside the building are fighting with the police, who are overwhelmed and trying to get them out. In this security video, you can see how the Capitol Police created a line and blocked the hallway with their bodies to prevent rioters at the end of the hall from reaching you and your staff. Additional security footage shows how leader Schumer and the members of his protective detail had a near miss with the mob. They came within just yards of rioters and had to turn around. Going up the ramp with his detail, hell soon go out of view. Seconds later, they return and run back down the hallway, and officers immediately shut the door and use their bodies to keep them safe. Heres an audio recording from the radio traffic of the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department describing the violence. In a separate Metropolitan Police Department radio traffic recording, you can hear an officer when he realizes that the insurrectionists had overtaken the police line. Hours after members of the House and Senate had left this area, on the west front of the building, the mob continued to grow, continued to beat the officers as they tried to get in. In this new security video, you can see the mob attacking officers with a crutch, a hockey stick, a bullhorn and a Trump flag.
Last year, when a brand new school Gledswood Hills Public opened in Sydneys south-west, there were eight kindergarten classes. This year there were 12. When year 2 student Azalea returned for term one, she found 13 new demountables on her playground.

It used to be a whole field of grass, and the kids could freely go wherever they wanted to, said her mother Charelle, who did not want her last name used. Now they seem so boxed in. Driving into school in the morning, its like a car park.

Charelle with her daughters Azalea and Isabella in front of Gledswood Hills Public School, which has 13 demountables despite only being opened a year ago Credit:Dominic Lorrimer

New communities in western Sydney are growing so quickly, schools are filling up within a few years of being built. Last year, nearby Oran Park Public, which opened in 2014, had 27 demountable classrooms and support spaces.

Demountables are not the tin cans of the old days; they are insulated, air conditioned and come with more high-tech equipment than many fixed classrooms. But critics say they take up childrens play space, and are relied upon when enrolment forecasts are faulty.
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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.  A lot of love went into this art exhibit.

Then again, almost everything Lonnie Anderson does for Valentines Day is about love.

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................................................................

Lots of love.

Love that spreads across the sky in stars that spell out his wifes name, Anne, last years big gesture, created with the help of the planetarium folks at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History & Science.

Love that circles the globe in photos of random folks in more than 65 countries who held signs that read I Love Anne sent at Andersons request.

Love that is written in an e.e. cummings poem with 6,500 pebbles, in a giant pinata and paper flowers taller than their South Valley house, in a working carousel in their yard, in a throne fit for a queen.

For the past 26 years, Andersons unique expressions of devotion to Anne Bolger Witherspoon, his wife of 20 of those years, have put to shame those who opt for a perfunctory drugstore rose and, he hopes, inspired other would-be romantics to think outside the box of chocolates for Valentines Day.

None of his fanciful feats, featured in this column and in media around the world, cost more than the price of a bouquet of roses and a fancy dinner out, and thats because Anderson is very resourceful and very persuasive, able to enlist others in his endeavors in the name of love.

This years Valentines Day project was a greater challenge than ever because of COVID-19 restrictions, yet more than ever it seemed important to spread love in such unlovable times.

With all the hate and division out there, it felt we needed to put love out into the universe, he said. Even if nobody saw it.

Anderson decided to create an art show featuring some of his most notable Valentines Day creations from years past, pieces of which he has stored in his garage.

But every gallery said, no, thats not art, he said.

Eventually, art folks with the city of Albuquerque decided they loved the idea and offered the use of the gallery at the South Broadway Cultural Center.

But I needed help, he said. I was literally in the garage putting back together giant pinatas and flowers and needed someone to step in to curate the show.

He knew the perfect person  his 17-year-old daughter, Hawthorn Bolger Witherspoon.

My daughter has helped me with every Valentines Day project since she was 1 and dressed up as Cupid, Anderson said.

Hawthorn, a junior at Bosque School, is far more than daddys little helper these days. She interned at the Albuquerque Museum, learning about curating exhibits from director Andrew Connors. Two of her photos are part of an exhibit at the Smithsonian Institutions National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C. She helped write and illustrate a book called South Valley with Albuquerque poet Jimmy Santiago Baca. Shes taking classes on art history and museum studies at the University of New Mexico and Central New Mexico Community College.

And she knows people.

Shes also apparently inherited her fathers art of persuasion, convincing nationally known street artists Shepard Fairey, Daniel Johnston, Ron English, Coco 144 and Albert Rosales to loan their art to the exhibit.

I was lucky enough to work with some of them, and I was preparing to do a video essay of Johnston before his death, she said.

The exhibit, aptly titled Love, opened Feb. 2.

Hawthorn really is the brains behind this exhibit, Anderson said. I think the artists appreciated that.

The artists also liked the idea that their work would be seen by a community that may not otherwise get to see it beyond the pages of a book or a mural in a larger city, he said.

Perhaps the most poignant item in the exhibit is a poem written by famed Albuquerque author Rudolfo Anaya and sent unexpectedly to Anderson last April.

By then Anaya, 82, was in failing health. He died June 28. The poem, titled Valentines Day 2020 and typed on his familiar stationary with the cartoon image of a scholarly owl, is likely the last piece he wrote and has never been publicly released until now.

We didnt know at the time how sick he was, Anderson said. But until the very end of his life he was writing about love, how complicated love is.

Among the lines:

I love like a coyote chasing a jackrabbit across the mesa

I love you like the rattlesnake that almost bit me

Thats pretty complicated.

Anaya had participated in Andersons Valentines Day extravaganza in 2017 as one of nine poets asked to recite a love poem to Anne in a private reading.

A year later, Hawthorn, then 13, was asked to photograph a couple of photos of a pear tree in Anayas front yard in northwest Albuquerque. The photos are used in a video that accompanies Anayas portrait at the Smithsonian to explain the shadows that fall across Anayas face as captured by artist Gaspar Enriquez.

And what of Anne? Before the shows opening, Hawthorn and Anderson surprised her with a private showing of this exhibit of love put out into the universe for her, for everybody to see.

She loved it.

UpFront is a front-page news and opinion column. Reach Joline at 730-2793, jkrueger@abqjournal.com, Facebook or @jolinegkg on Twitter.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-11 12:18:26|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- The following are the updates on the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

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BELGRADE -- A second shipment of Sinopharm's COVID vaccine arrived from China at the Belgrade Airport on Wednesday night.

The batch, containing 500,000 doses, was welcomed by Prime Minister Ana Brnabic and Chinese Ambassador to Serbia Chen Bo.

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SEOUL -- South Korea reported 504 more cases of COVID-19 as of midnight Wednesday compared to 24 hours ago, raising the total number of infections to 82,434.

The daily caseload was up from 444 in the previous day, rising above 500 in 15 days since Jan. 27.

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CANBERRA -- An Australian infectious diseases expert has warned that it could take six years to vaccinate the world against COVID-19.

In an address to the National Press Club (NPC), Sanjaya Senanayake -- an infectious disease physician and associate professor at Australian National University's medical school -- said that just 10 percent of people in the world's 70 poorest countries would be vaccinated by the end of 2021.

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BEIJING -- No new locally transmitted confirmed cases of COVID-19 were reported Wednesday across the Chinese mainland, the National Health Commission said Thursday.

Two new confirmed cases and one suspected case arriving from outside the mainland were reported on the same day, the commission said. The new confirmed cases were reported in Fujian and Guangdong, while the suspected case was found in Shanghai.

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HAVANA -- Cuba reported on Wednesday 858 new COVID-19 infections and five deaths in the last 24 hours, for accumulated totals of 34,922 cases and 249 deaths, the Ministry of Public Health said.

Francisco Duran, the ministry's national director of hygiene and epidemiology, highlighted the common risk factors of most of the deceased, including high blood pressure and diabetes, in the daily report.

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NEW YORK -- New York City's COVID-19 test positivity rate on a seven-day average went up to 8.48 percent, compared with 8.09 percent one day earlier, Mayor Bill de Blasio tweeted on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, de Blasio said that there were 265 new hospital admissions and new cases of the coronavirus reached 3,859, adding that "You can help stop the spread. Get a free COVID-19 test today."

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BERLIN -- Germany will extend lockdown efforts to contain the COVID-19 pandemic for three more weeks till March 7, Chancellor Angela Merkel and the 16 federal state leaders decided on Wednesday.

According to the decision paper published following a video conference, the restrictions tackling the spread of the virus, which are due on Feb. 14, will extend to March 7.

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KUWAIT CITY -- Kuwait reported on Wednesday 987 new COVID-19 cases and five more deaths, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 173,983 and the death toll to 980, the Kuwaiti Health Ministry announced.

The ministry also announced the recovery of 553 more patients, taking the total recoveries in Kuwait to 163,264. Meanwhile, it said that 9,739 coronavirus patients are receiving treatment.

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MALABO -- A batch of China-donated Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines arrived in Malabo, capital of Equatorial Guinea, on Wednesday.

This is the first batch of vaccine aid provided by the Chinese government to African countries, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said Tuesday at a press briefing. Enditem
Lawmakers on marijuana study committee plan out-of-state site visits

Lawmakers want a firsthand look at legal cannabis operations in response to South Dakotans voting to loosen their state's pot laws last fall.

Irene Gutan, the chief executive of High Emotion Weddings, a luxury wedding planning service specializing in European celebrations, has already started postponing all her planned events from the first half of this year to 2022. Because most of her clients are coming from the United States, Canada and Australia she is also cautious about bookings from June through August.

There is just no way of knowing what travel restrictions will be in place, and this is important because our clients guests are from all around the world, which makes the situation very challenging, Ms. Gutan said. Right now, we are trying to finalize every single planning aspect for every wedding we have booked to have it already in place for the moment it can actually go ahead.

For most weddings, the final decision over whether to go ahead needs to be made at least two months in advance to give vendors and guests time to adapt and adjust, Ms. Gutan says. For smaller weddings of between 10 to 20 people, the stakes are not as high financially, meaning couples are able to push the decision back longer.

Even if venues are cooperative, the decision to postpone or cancel can still be costly to couples and their guests. Destination weddings are complex productions where vendors are usually paid ahead of time and hotels are booked with strict policies against last-minute cancellations.
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Exporters on Thursday urged the government to provide support measures in the next (FTP), being formulated by the commerce ministry, to boost the country's outbound shipments.

Different suggestions were made by representatives of different export promotion councils during their meeting with the

Gems and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) President Colin Shah said the government should announce a jewellery repair policy in the next FTP (2020-25) as it will help promote shipments of jewellery.

He said the policy is required as India has all the infrastructure to become a hub of the world in repair and restoration of old and damaged jewellery.

"We need this policy in the next (2020-25). India has skilled man power for repair of jewellery. A friendly policy would help us in excelling in the sector," Shah told PTI.

Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) Director General Ajay Sahai said support measures in the FTP would help boost the country's exports.

Suggestions made by the councils include continuation of interest subsidy scheme; expansion of the transport and marketing assistance (TMA) scheme; provisions for northeastern states; and guidelines to promote exports through e-commerce.

They also include efficient mechanism for duty drawback scheme; continuation of EPCG (export promotion for capital goods); and action plan to promote exports from districts.

Exporters also suggested easing of certain procedures such as review of restricted and prohibited list of goods; and review of procedure for issue of licences.

The new FTP will come into effect from April 1, 2021, for five years and will strive to make the country a leader in international trade.

The FTP 2015-20 came into effect on April 1, 2015 and the same was extended by one year till March 31, 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

(TNS)  Washington state lawmakers are hoping to improve cybersecurity and data sharing within the state government after a fraud attack at the Employment Security Department cost the state hundreds of millions of dollars last year and a breach involving the State Auditor's Office exposed more than 1 million people's personal information.If passed, the two bills heard in committee Tuesday would boost cybersecurity at state government agencies. A bill requested by Gov. Jay Inslee would create an Office of Cybersecurity to work with state agencies to create security standards and respond to major cybersecurity incidents at state agencies. A second, Republican-sponsored bill would require the Employment Security Department and the Department of Labor and Industries to examine and potentially replace their use of full social security numbers.Sen. Reuven Carlyle, D- Seattle, said now is a time with "historic cybersecurity threats" and the state needs to have the highest quality system to protect against them. "We are not meeting those standards today," said Carlyle, co-sponsor of the bill to create a new office of cybersecurity.Carlyle's bill was requested by Inslee last week after the breach at the Auditor's Office. Accellion, a third-party provider the office used to transmit files, experienced a security breach in December, exposing the personal information of people who filed for unemployment claims in 2020. The data included the person's name, social security number, driver's license or state identification number, bank information and place of employment.The files affected were part of an audit the office was doing on the Employment Security Department, which paid out between $550 and $650 million in fraudulent claims last year. Of those, only about $342 million had been recovered."It is ironic that this would happen, but that really is the situation," Auditor Pat McCarthy said.The office had used Accellion for 13 years and was in the process of switching from its 20-year-old product to a newer secure tool when the breach happened.Carlyle's bill would create the Office of Cybersecurity within the existing Office of the Chief Information Officer. The new office would establish security standards and policies for the state and develop a centralized cybersecurity protocol, according to the bill. It would also be charged with investigating all cybersecurity incidents at state agencies.The office would also be required to research existing best practices for data protection and submit a report to the Legislature by the end of the year.The bill would give strong central authority to the Office of Cybersecurity and enable statewide collaboration on data protection, Sheri Sawyer, of the Office of the Governor, told the Senate Environment, Energy and Technology Committee.This bill would clarify guidelines for the Office of the Chief Information Officer and provide a path forward for dealing with data breaches, state Chief Information Officer Jim Weaver said.Republicans told reporters on Tuesday the state did not need to be creating another governmental entity to deal with this issue, as the Office of the Chief Information Officer already exists.That office needs to be empowered to take on cybersecurity issues, Sen. Ann Rivers, R- La Center, said. Although she acknowledged the new office would exist within the Office of the Chief Information Officer, she said adding more bureaucracy would only cause more problems."Adding more government is not the solution," Senate Minority Leader John Braun, of Centralia, said.One solution Republicans have proposed is a bill by Rep. Gina Mosbrucker, R- Goldendale, that would remove some uses of full social security numbers from some agencies. Specifically, it would require the Employment Security Department and the Department of Labor and Industries to examine where they are currently using full social security numbers and potentially replace them with encrypted versions. It would also require them to stop sharing those numbers with nongovernmental third parties."We need to make sure if there's ways to take action that we take action and find an encryption mode to protect the identity of those we serve," she told the state Labor and Workplace Standards Committee.The bill had support in its public hearing, although some groups, such as the Department of Labor and Industries and the Consumer Data Industry Association, had concerns with the vagueness of the bill's language."We do think this is the right direction," Tammy Fellion, of the Department of Labor and Industries, said.Mosbrucker said this bill was just a matter of getting started and the issue needed to be addressed.Both bills had their first public hearing in committee on Tuesday. The cut-off date for them to pass out of their committees is Monday.


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MARKHAM, ON / ACCESSWIRE / February 11, 2021 / iFabric Corp. ("iFabric" or the "Company") (TSX:IFA.TO), today announced its results for its first quarter ended December 31, 2020.

"I am extremely proud of our first quarter performance which represents a testament to the relevancy of our technologies during this unique and tumultuous time. The capabilities of our class-leading technologies and high-quality apparel programs continue to resonate with our customers and their consumers both in-store and across multiple digital platforms," said Hylton Karon, President and CEO of iFabric.

"My sincere appreciation goes out to our global employees for their passion and extraordinary commitment to serving our customers in the midst of the ongoing pandemic," concluded Mr. Karon.

HIGHLIGHTS FOR FIRST QUARTER ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2020 (Q1 2021):

Total revenues of $7,520,901 in Q1 2021 compared to $2,596,841 in Q1 2020, representing an increase of $4,924,060 or 190%.

Revenues for the Intelligent Fabrics Division were $6,880,019 in Q1 2021 compared to $1,435,051 in Q1 2020, representing an increase of $5,444,968 or 379%. The Intelligent Fabrics Division's revenue growth was attributable to the fulfilment of a personal protective equipment contract, which was previously delayed due to a contract dispute in China, increased chemical sales, and new finished performance apparel programs for a major retailer.

Revenues for the Intimate Apparel Division were $612,911 in Q1 2021 compared to $1,129,707 in Q1 2020, representing a decrease of $516,796 or 46%. The decrease in revenue for this division was attributable to store closings or restrictions faced by certain of its major retail customers due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Gross profit dollars increased by 166% or $1,812,016 in Q1 2021, to $2,904,235 from $1,092,219 in Q1 2020, as a result of the increased revenues for the current quarter.

Gross profit margins decreased from 42% in Q1 2020 to 39% in Q1 2021, resultant from the divisional sales mix for the quarter which contained a higher proportion of Intelligent Fabrics revenue at lower margins compared to the mix in 2020.

Selling, general and administrative costs decreased to $1,096,694 in Q1 2021 compared to $1,200,687 in Q1 2020, attributable to a reduction in travel and other variable cost savings as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Adjusted EBITDA* amounted to $2,015,386 in Q1 2021 compared to Adjusted EBITDA of $124,420 in Q1 2020, representing an increase of $1,890,966, largely attributable to increased revenues, increased margin contribution and a reduction in administration expenses, as discussed above.

Net earnings after tax attributable to iFabric's shareholders during Q1 2021 was $1,602,282 ($0.060 per share basic and $0.058 per share diluted) compared to $53,810 ($0.002 per share basic and diluted) in Q1 2020, representing an increase of $1,548,472 for the reasons above.

Working capital (excluding a demand term loan to be renewed in 2021) amounted to $8,888,125 at the end of Q1 2021 compared to $6,981,998 as at September 30, 2020, representing an increase of $1,906,127, mainly attributable to the earnings for the current quarter.

Cash decreased to $946,563 at the end of Q1 2021 compared $1,160,248 at the end of the previous quarter.

The Company's bank operating line was unutilized at both December 31, 2020 and at the end of the previous quarter, leaving the full line of $3,750,000 available to finance future business.

Shareholders' Equity attributable to common shareholders was $10,917,022 as at December 31, 2020 compared to $9,339,866 at September 30, 2020 representing an increase of $1,577,156.

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS:

Three months ended December 31, 2020 2019 $ $ Revenue 7,520,901 2,596,841 Earnings (loss) from operations 1,758,856 (161,096 ) Share based compensation (6,745 ) (11,739 ) Adjusted EBITDA *(Note) 2,015,386 124,420 Net earnings before tax 1,966,701 71,792 Net earnings after tax attributable to shareholders 1,602,282 53,810 Other comprehensive earnings (loss) (271,871 ) (226,781 ) Total comprehensive earnings (loss) 1,336,392 (170,557 ) Net earnings per share Basic 0.060 0.002 Diluted 0.058 0.002

*Note: Adjusted EBITDA represents earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization and share based compensation

Complete Financial Statements are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on the company's website at www.ifabriccorp.com.

Hylton Karon, CEO of iFabric Corp., will be joined by Hilton Price, CFO, and Giancarlo Beevis, CEO of the Intelligent Fabric Division, to provide an investor update hosted by Adelaide Capital on Friday, February 12 at 2:00PM Eastern Time (U.S. and Canada), followed by a question-and-answer period. Please register here if you would like to participate: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_rtIWH0g3TdiI94FwdYo0Yg The webinar will also be live streamed on YouTube for those who are unable to access Zoom: YouTube Live Stream. Questions may be asked during the webinar or can be emailed ahead of time to info@adcap.ca. A replay will be made available after the event on the Adelaide Capital YouTube channel: Adelaide Capital YouTube Channel.

ABOUT iFABRIC CORP:

Headquartered in Markham, Ontario, iFabric Corp www.ifabriccorp.com is listed on the TSX and currently has 26.5 million shares issued and outstanding. Through its wholly owned subsidiaries, Intelligent Fabric Technologies (North America) Inc. ("IFTNA") and Coconut Grove Pads Inc. ("Coconut Grove"), the Company offers a variety of products and services in both of its strategic divisions:

IFTNA is focused on performance apparel, medical protective apparel, consumer protective apparel, as well as proprietary chemical formulations that render fabrics, foams, plastics, and numerous other surfaces intelligent, thereby improving the safety and well-being of the consumer.

Coconut Grove, operating as Coconut Grove Intimates, is a designer, manufacturer, distributor, licensor and licensee of ladies' intimate apparel products and accessories.

*USE OF NON-GAAP MEASURES

Certain measures in this document do not have any standardized meaning as prescribed by International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS") and, therefore, are not considered generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") measures and may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other issuers. Where non-GAAP measures or terms are used, definitions are provided. The Company believes that certain non-GAAP financial measures provide important information regarding the operational performance and related trends of the Company's business. In this document and in the Company's consolidated financial statements, unless otherwise noted, all financial data is prepared in accordance with IFRS.

Adjusted EBITDA

The Company uses Adjusted EBITDA to assess its operating performance without the effects of (as applicable): current and deferred tax expense, finance costs, interest income, depreciation and amortization of plant assets, other gains and losses, impairment loss, share-based compensation and other non-recurring items. The Company adjusts for these factors as they may be non-cash, unusual in nature and do not reflect its operating performance. Adjusted EBITDA is not intended to be representative of net earnings from operations or an alternative measure to cash provided by operating activities determined in accordance with IFRS.

The table below reconciles Adjusted EBITDA and Net earnings and comprehensive earnings attributable to owners of the Company, calculated in accordance with IFRS:

Three months ended December 31, 2020 2019 $ $ Net earnings after tax attributable to shareholders 1,602,282 53,810 Add (deduct): Net earnings attributable to non-controlling interest 5,981 2,414 Provision for income taxes 358,438 15,568 Share-based compensation 6,745 11,739 Amortization of deferred development costs 6,705 6,705 Amortization of plant, property and equipment and right-of-use assets 20,990 21,966 Interest expense 14,245 12,218 Adjusted EBITDA 2,015,386 124,420 Add (deduct): Share-based compensation (6,745 ) (11,739 ) EBITDA 2,008,641 112,681

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

Forward-looking statements provide an opinion as to the effect of certain events and trends on the business. Certain statements contained in this news release constitute forward looking statements. The use of any words such as "anticipate", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "project", "should", "believe" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and various estimates, factors and assumptions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, including the risk factors described in the Company's annual information form dated December 23, 2020 and other filings with the Canadian securities regulators available under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these statements as the Company's actual results, performance, or achievements may differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements if known or unknown risks, uncertainties or other factors affect the Company's business, or if the Company's estimates or assumptions prove inaccurate. Therefore, the Company cannot provide any assurance that forward-looking statements will materialize. The Company assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or any other reason except as required by applicable securities laws.

Given the impacts of COVID-19 and resulting ongoing uncertainty, there can be no assurances regarding: (a) the COVID-19 related impacts on the Company's business, operations and performance, (b) the Company's ability to mitigate such impacts; (c) credit, market, currency, operational, and liquidity risks generally; and (d) other risks inherent to the Company's business and/or factors beyond its control which could have a material adverse effect on the Company.

Any financial outlook or future oriented financial information in this news release, as defined by applicable securities legislation, has been approved by management of iFabric. Such financial outlook or future oriented financial information is provided for the purpose of providing information about management's reasonable expectations as to the anticipated results of its proposed business activities. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. The forward-looking statements contained in this press 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, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, please contact:

Hilton Price, CFO

Tel: 647.465.6161

Email: hilton.price@rogers.com

Tina Byers - Investor Relations

Tel: 905.330.3275

Email: tina@adcap.ca

Gary Perkins - Investor Relations

Tel: 416.882.0020

Email: garyperkins@rogers.com

Jean-Francois Dube (Quebec) - Investor Relations

Tel: 514.233.9551

Email: jfdube@mac.com

Website: www.ifabriccorp.com

Neither the TSX Exchange nor its Regulations Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

SOURCE: iFabric Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/629217/iFabric-Corp-Announces-Record-Q1-2021-Revenues-and-Earnings
Get ready, Oregonians. Snow is on the way.

The National Weather Service has issued a winter storm warning that cautions residents of the Portland and Vancouver areas against a series of storms that are expected to bring a mix of frozen precipitation to much of the region Thursday into Friday.

The warning extends for 24 hours beginning at noon Thursday. Forecasters said the first round of winter weather is likely to bring two to six inches of snow to Portland, which has gotten only a trace of snow so far this year.

The weather service said residents of Astoria, McMinnville and Salem, for example, should expect a mix of rain, snow and freezing rain. Freezing rain is unlikely but possible in Corvallis and Eugene, according to the agency.

Five to 10 inches of snow could fall in the Hood River Valley. And plenty of snow will pile up on Mount Hood: Up to 11 inches is possible Thursday at Timberline Lodge, and another 10 inches could accumulate that night.

The Portland- and Vancouver-area warning advises against the possibility of spotty power outages and tree damage because of wind or ice.

Travel could be challenging at times, the warning says.

Portland temperatures are expected to fall to about 33 degrees by 4 p.m., then dip to roughly 28 degrees Thursday night, according to the weather service.

Forecasters expect Portland temperatures to top out near freezing Friday.

Meanwhile, a blizzard warning is in effect in the western Columbia River Gorge  covering areas including Corbett and Cascade Locks  from late Thursday morning to noon Friday. Forecasters expect wind gusts of 55 to 70 mph.

Travel should be restricted to emergencies only, the warning says.

The central Willamette Valley is also under a winter weather advisory from 4 p.m. Thursday to noon Friday.

 The Oregonian/OregonLive
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But this mob had only one leader: Trump. It was a cult of personality. It was a religion with one god. And that god is a jealous god. And vindictive. And mean.

Anyone who would dare forsake Trump runs the risk of being smote by him, and targeted by his minions. To diverge from Trump is essentially to abdicate power, and for a career politician that is a fate worse than death.

So, we watch the impeachment trial, with the impressive and clear presentation by the House impeachment managers of evidence that we already knew and some that we didnt. We are reminded of just how heinous an episode that attempted insurrection was, that people were killed and injured.

We are reminded that there were those in that band of terrorists who wanted to take even more murderous actions, but simply didnt happen upon the opportunity and targets.

And, in the end, you have to ask yourself only one question to convict Trump: Would this attempted insurrection have happened without him? The answer is no.

For months Trump lied about the election and pumped into his followers the fallacy that something had been stolen from them and that they needed to fight with all they had to reclaim it. Then there are all the things he said on the eve of the assault on the Capitol, during it and even after it.

Trump refused to accept that his white power presidency was coming to an end, in part because of Black and brown voters in some key states, so he asked his white power patriots to come to his defense, to help overturn a fair election.
And now for the Back Story on 

Creating a digital personal notebook

Commonplace books can be traced to the Roman era and were a standard exercise in Renaissance Europe. Making one involves copying down your favorite lines from other peoples works into an annotated notebook. These can be song lyrics, movie dialogue, poems and any inspiring bits you find in your reading and listening. Heres a guide for making one with modern technology.

Get inspired. The Yale University Library has scanned pages of historical commonplace books in its holdings, and the Harvard Library has a few in its own online collection, as well as images of a version of John Lockes 17th-century guide to making commonplace books, which was originally published in French.

Take notes. For sheer simplicity, collecting your commonplace entries in a word-processing document stored online is one option. If you find that approach unwieldy, consider the note-taking app that came with your phone  Apples Notes or Google Keep. Just enter quotations and other text snippets whenever you get the urge. If you want to skip the typing or pasting, Google Keep can scan and transcribe text from images of book pages, and Apples Siri voice assistant or Google Assistant can create a note and take dictation.

Convert a paper notebook. What if youre someone who has been keeping a physical commonplace book for years but would like to digitize the whole thing without retyping it all? One method: Snap a photo of each page and import the image into your notes app, which also preserves the look of your original hand-scrawled entries.

Thats it for this briefing. See you on Friday.  Natasha

Thank you

Melina Delkic wrote todays Back Story. Theodore Kim and Jahaan Singh provided the rest of the break from the news. You can reach Natasha and the team at briefing@nytimes.com.

P.S.

 Were listening to The Daily. Our latest episode is about what it will take to reopen schools in the U.S.

 Heres our Mini Crossword, and a clue: What soy and almond milk lack (five letters). You can find all of our puzzles here.

 Rebecca Blumenstein, a deputy managing editor, is joining the publishers office as deputy editor.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-11 13:01:49|Editor: huaxia

Video Player Close

BEIJING, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- The Export-Import Bank of China (China EximBank) released over 76.3 billion yuan (about 11.85 billion U.S. dollars) of special bailout funds to companies last year.

The funding mechanism, established at the beginning of 2020, has aimed to support companies stricken by COVID-19 and trade frictions with a focus on sectors related to foreign trade and manufacturing.

As one of the sectors bearing the brunt of the pandemic, the air transport industry saw ten of its major firms receive more than 17 billion yuan of such funds in 2020.

The China EximBank is a state-funded and state-owned policy bank dedicated to supporting China's foreign trade, investment and international economic cooperation. Enditem
Mortar shelling in Afghanistan kills at least 10 civilians

Fire breaks out at West Virginia oil refinery in US

Iran ready to help improve the defense capability of Syria

European Parliament head proposes to strengthen sanctions on Russia

UK PM gets married in London

Armenia reports COVID-19 new 81 cases: for people die

EU countries invite US to issue joint statement against Russia

2 people die in Armenia road accident

Nigeria: Students taken hostage a month ago are released

61 quakes recorded in Congo per day

Syrian MFA: EU lost credibility due to blind obedience to US policy

Armenia ex-minister of emergency situations hospitalized with heart attack

Mher Grigoryan: Clarification of border points is possible only after withdrawal of Azerbaijani troops from Armenia

Suspicious deal: Whether there was profit from buying DNA IDs?

Armenia ex-president says current authorities are trying to blame Russia for defeat in war

4 people killed in Afghanistani bus attack

Robert Kocharyan: This war could not have happened, it was a consequence of the policy of the authorities

Kocharyan: I have to ask people how it happened that overwhelming majority elected this leader

Armen Gevorgyan presents 'Armenia' bloc program: We offer the concept of a working country

Biden's administration proposed to leave unchanged amount of financial support to Armenia

US Embassy in Baku calls on Azerbaijan to immediately release Armenian POWs

Luxembourg MFA calls on Azerbaijan to immediately release all Armenian prisoners

Russia peacekeepers climb to Armenia Gegharkunik Province village positions

Biden strongly condemns manifestations of antisemitism in US

Iran intensifies its diplomacy amid Armenia-Azerbaijan border tensions

Armenia acting PM on forthcoming snap parliamentary elections: We hope to get 60% of votes

Lukashenko accuses West of destabilizing situation in Belarus

Armenia Central Electoral Commission chief on snap elections: No legal basis for postponing, suspending any function

Armenias Pashinyan is met by Yerevan district residents chanting against him

We are ready to be fully engaged in negotiation process to resolve Karabakh issue, says Armenia acting PM

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan gives interview to Russia TV channel

Armenia acting premier: We are ready to start withdrawing troops at any moment

Canada MFA expresses concern over 6 Armenian soldiers capture by Azerbaijan troops

There are omissions in registration documents of political forces that applied to Armenia Central Electoral Commission

Armenia Central Electoral Commission chief: There is activeness in Yerevan for the past day or two

Three new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Group of US Congress members threaten Azerbaijans Aliyev regime with sanctions

Chicago mayor is sued for allegedly refusing interview with white reporter

Iran exports oil to US for first time after long interval

"Armenia" bloc top 50 MP candidates are announced

42 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Sri Lanka public beach is covered in charred plastic pellets due to fire in container ship

US preparing list of targeted sanctions on Belarus authorities

China believes it will own America by 2035, Biden says

15 al-Shabab militants killed in Somalia

Newspaper: Armenia political forces that applied for running in election impatiently await CEC decision

Newspaper: Changes are expected in Artsakh

California prisoner who considers himself Satanist beheads cellmate, dismembers his body

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM's "mutually beneficial" proposal to collapse state system?

Armenia National Security Service Reserve Officers' Union members meet with His Holiness Karekin II

EU is ready to help Armenia and Azerbaijan with border delimitation and demarcation

ARF-D member on Nikol Pashinyan: 103 years ago Armenia's founding fathers would have executed him for treason

Iran President hails brotherly ties with Azerbaijan

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

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
A fashion stylist has created a remarkably trendy outfit for just $39 using clothes and accessories from Kmart.

Lisa Galanopoulos, 44, from Adelaide, SA, built a 'stylish and fresh summer look' with a $9 bodysuit, $10 pants and a $20 wicker tote that is a near-perfect dupe of a designer bag 43 times the price.

The discount store accessory is almost identical to the iconic 'Basket Bag' from Spanish luxury fashion house Loewe, which is handwoven from palm and premium calf leather and costs $855 for the equivalent size.

Ms Galanopoulous, a mother-of-two with 25 years experience managing clothing stores, helps women to 'look stylish on any budget' by sharing tips on Instagram.

Scroll down for video

Adelaide fashion stylist Lisa Galanopoulous (pictured) created this remarkably trendy outfit for just $39 using clothes and accessories from Kmart

The luxury alternative is this iconic 'Basket Bag' from Spanish fashion house Loewe, which is handwoven from palm and premium calf leather and costs an eye-watering $855

She told Daily Mail Australia she hopes to inspire women to 'shop smart' at brands such as Kmart, Zara and Lovisa which stock fashion-forward pieces at affordable prices.

Photos of the outfit, which have garnered 362 'likes' since they were uploaded online on Tuesday, have won widespread praise from thrifty fashionistas.

'Proves you don't have to spend a fortune to look like a million dollars,' one woman replied.

'Great look. Such a timeless colour combo,' added a second.

Photos of the outfit (pictured) have won widespread praise from thrifty fashionistas

Ms Galanopoulous (pictured) hopes to inspire women to 'shop smart' at brands such as Kmart, Zara and Lovisa which stock fashion-forward pieces at affordable prices

A third said Ms Galanopoulous 'sure knows how to put an outfit together', while a fourth wrote: 'Stunning as always! You're an inspiration.'

And the Loewe-imitation handbag is not the only bargain version of a high-end piece used in Ms Galanopoulous' ensemble.

The top looks identical to one beloved by some of the world's top models, including Rosie Huntington-Whiteley.

Rosie approved: The 33-year-old model wears two outfits built around the white version of the bodysuit, both accessorised with her favourite style of Bottega Veneta square-toe heels

Kmart's $9 Sleeveless Cut Away Bodysuit (pictured), which hit shelves online and in stores Australia in December, is a brilliant dupe of the Zara original

The $9 Sleeveless Cut Away Bodysuit, which just hit shelves online and in stores across Australia in December, is a brilliant dupe of a $29.95 Zara top that the British catwalk queen turned fashion designer regularly wears on social media.

The 'Halterneck Bodysuit' - which comes in black, white, nude, sky blue and khaki green - swiftly became a must-have for models, stylists and fashion bloggers after Rosie first wore it in an Instagram photo uploaded in August 2019.

The style even got the esteemed seal of approval from Who What Wear editor-in-chief Kristen Nichols, who described it as an 'indispensable building block' in her wardrobe after investing in white, nude and khaki.


GRONINGEN, Netherlands, Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- After the Intensive Care Units (ICU) were first threatened of becoming overwhelmed. The tough impacts are now being experienced also within the GGZ (The Dutch Association of Mental Health and Addiction Care) and crisis care. The measures of the past year and the ongoing lockdown are beginning to take their toll, especially on young adults. The decision to extend the curfew is therefore a hard blow for many. But a number of companies from the city of Groningen in the Netherlands are showing that things can be done differently; They decided to go into lockdown in Limburg and are successfully avoiding the curfews.

"Last year, everyone was still calling us crazy," says Bas Krijgsman, co-founder of the company EventInsight. In 2020 EventInsight attracted attention when they went with 15 people to Drentse Heath for a fortnight. They did this at the time to save their events company, which had been hard hit by the corona crisis, but also for the energy and mental state of all of their employees.

The company employs many people in their twenties and thirties, not all of whom have a partner's yet. "The lockdown does reduce the spread of the coronavirus, but at the same time it offers all kinds of long-term (mental health) risks. Especially considering that the majority of employees are in an important development and deployment phase of their lives." With this in mind, the company took some unconventional measures.

"Our starting point was simple: instead of looking at what cannot be done, we only look at what can be done," Krijgsman explains enthusiastically. The company developed its own vitality programme in which employees learn to eat healthily and take part in sports, went into quarantine a second time in the autumn and even set up its own COVID-19 testing line. And with success: 'With an absenteeism rate of less than 1.5%, we are showing the opposite of national trends.

Immediately left when the curfew was introduced

Within a day of the introduction of the curfew, the company decided to go into quarantine again, together with four other companies in Groningen. This time with no fewer than 28 people, 3 dogs and 2 children. All in accordance with the RIVM (National Institute for Public Health and the Environment) guidelines, of course. Bart Joplling, who is the Managing Director of Ten Stripes also went along; "I had understood from Bas that the quarantine weeks were a success, but I could have never imagined that it would give me such a boost and increase my energy levels so significantly".

During the day, the companies work in their self created office at the Braampeel. Early in the morning bootcamps are held and in the evening, people have the opportunity to relax in the jacuzzi or partake in a yoga session. They have even set up a mini disco, probably the only one in the Netherlands that is corona-proof. The Braampeel's owner Ria Joosten, also an entrepreneur in the events industry, is also very enthusiastic: "It's great to see how a group of young entrepreneurs is tackling the coroana crisis in a different way. And meanwhile, more companies are already interested in this set-up".

The companies will remain in quarantine until the end of the week, after which they will head north again to Groningen. Whether there will be a next edition of the 'Covid-camp', Krijgsman cannot yet confirm: "In any case we will do everything in our power to counter the negative effects of Corona in a safe way!"

https://www.eventinsight.io

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1437376/EventInsight.jpg
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On Wednesday morning, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced more research into the efficacy of mask wearing. The headline: Double masking helps further prevent infection. Modifying your mask may lead to more than 95% protection to double up.
Kim Kardashian showed off her sensational assets in a peekaboo outfit when she was spotted in Los Angeles this Wednesday.

The 40-year-old looked ready for Valentine's Day week in a plunging red blouse with slits up the slide to reveal she had no bra on underneath.

She was seen that night without her wedding ring - as she has been repeatedly over the past few weeks amid rumors of her impending divorce from Kanye West.

Looking fab: Kim Kardashian showed off her sensational assets in a peekaboo outfit when she was spotted in Los Angeles this Wednesday

Although she was wearing her wedding band in an ad photo-shoot she posted to Instagram last week, it is unknown when those snaps were taken.

When she was seen this Wednesday she teamed her cleavage-baring top with a pair of clinging black leather trousers and a set of matching high-heeled boots.

Kim let her luxurious hairdo down and accentuated her screen siren features with heavy makeup for her latest outing.

After emerging from a gleaming black car she could be seen making sure to put her mask on amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Dropping hints: The 40-year-old looked ready for Valentine's Day week in a plunging red blouse with slits up the slide to reveal she had no bra on underneath

There it is: She was seen that night without her wedding ring - as she has been repeatedly over the past few weeks amid rumors of her impending divorce from Kanye West

The sizzling sensation recently raised eyebrows online by posting a Bob Ross-style landscape painting and gushing that her daughter North, seven, made it.

When online commentators cast their doubts on the idea that a seven-year-old was behind the artwork Kim erupted.

'How dare you see children doing awesome things and then try to accuse them of NOT being awesome!?!?!' she wrote on social media.

'Please stop embarrassing yourselves with the negativity and allow every child to be GREAT!!! NORTH WEST PAINTED THAT PERIOTDDDDDABCDEFGZFDT!!!!!!!'

Mover and shaker: Kim let her luxurious hairdo down and accentuated her screen siren features with heavy makeup for her latest outing

'NORTH WEST PAINTED THAT': The sizzling sensation recently raised eyebrows online by posting a Bob Ross-style landscape painting and gushing that her daughter North made it

One of her defenders was Camryn Frederickson who said on Tik Tok that her mother Celeste Astor Frederickson was North's teacher.

Camryn posted a picture of 'me at seven years old' sitting next to 'the infamous painting' - the same one Kim posted.

'My mom taught me how to paint this and she taught North how to paint the same one, just two weeks ago,' Camryn said.

'She's been an art teacher for 30 years and everyone who comes to her classes starts with the exact same painting when they're starting out.'

Word on the street: Kim's latest outing comes about a week after Page Six reported that her third husband Kanye West shifted 500 pairs of sneakers out of their Los Angeles mansion

Kim's latest outing comes about a week after Page Six reported that her third husband Kanye West shifted 500 pairs of sneakers out of their Los Angeles mansion.

Rumors have been raging for over a month now that Kim is on the verge of divorcing Kanye, whom she married in Florence in 2014.

The couple are the proud parents of two daughters, North, seven, and Chicago, three, as well as two sons, Saint, five, and Psalm, one.

Proud mother: The couple are the parents of two daughters, North, seven, and Chicago, three, as well as two sons, Saint, five, and Psalm, one

Recently a Page Six insider alleged that the upcoming last season of Keeping Up With The Kardashians will show the 'Kimye' marriage on the rocks.

The source claimed that 'the Kardashians intend to go out with a bang. Theyve filmed Kim discussing her marriage problems. But everybody involved is on a nondisclosure agreement, because the finale wont screen until later in 2021.'

Keeping Up With The Kardashians will end this year with its 20th season and the women of the family will then move to an undisclosed project at Hulu.

Drama: Recently a Page Six insider alleged that the upcoming last season of Keeping Up With The Kardashians will show the 'Kimye' marriage on the rocks
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 11, 2021) - Tudor Gold Corp. (TSXV: TUD) (FSE: TUC) (the "Company" or "Tudor Gold") is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Ken Konkin to the Board of Directors. Mr. Konkin, who is Vice President Exploration and Project Development for Tudor Gold, has over 35 years of geological experience throughout North and South America, as well as Russia. Ken worked for Silver Standard for 19 years and managed advanced exploration programs at Manantial Espejo (Argentina), San Luis and Berenguela (Peru), as well as Snowfields in the Golden Triangle of BC, Canada. Mr. Konkin was appointed the Project Manager for Pretium Resources after it purchased the Snowfields-Brucejack Project from Silver Standard in 2010. Subsequently, he was instrumental in the discovery of the Valley of the Kings deposit at the Brucejack Mine, an 8 million ounce gold deposit that is currently in production. He spent seven years managing all aspects of the exploration programs at Snowfield-Brucejack. During his tenure with Pretium, the company received the Bill Dennis Award in 2013 in recognition of a significant Canadian discovery (presented by the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada). Mr. Konkin was also the co-recipient of the prestigious H.H. 'Spud' Huestis Award in 2017 for 'Excellence in prospecting and mineral exploration enhancing mineral resources in B.C. and/or Yukon'.

The Company also wishes to announce the resignation of Mr. Alex Burton as a Director of the Company, effective February 9. The Company thanks Mr. Burton for his strong support and valuable geological contributions since 2016. In the future Mr. Burton will provide consulting services for the company.

Walter Storm, President and Chief Executive Officer of Tudor Gold stated: "We are very pleased to welcome Ken Konkin to our Board of Directors. Ken has been instrumental in the extraordinary exploration success at our Treaty Creek property since he joined the Company in early 2019. We believe Ken will add considerable value and strength to our Board and we look forward to working with him to advance the Treaty Creek Project and build value for our shareholders. We want to thank Alex Burton for his professional advice to Tudor Gold and the introduction of the Treaty Creek Project to us back in 2016."



About Tudor Gold

Tudor Gold is a precious and base metals explorer with properties in British Columbia's Golden Triangle, an area that hosts producing and past-producing mines and several large deposits that are approaching potential development. The 17,913 hectare Treaty Creek project (in which Tudor Gold has a 60% interest) borders Seabridge Gold Inc.'s KSM property to the southwest and borders Pretium Resources Inc.'s Brucejack property to the southeast. The Company also has a 100% interest in the Electrum Project, earn in options and 100% interests in other prospective projects located in the Golden Triangle area.

"Walter Storm"

Walter Storm

President and Chief Executive Officer

For further information, please visit the Company's website at www.tudor-gold.com or contact:

Carsten Ringler

Head of Investor Relations and Communications

Phone: +1 604 559 8092 or +49 151 55362000

E-Mail: carsten.ringler@tudor-gold.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/74273

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, addresses a Chinese Lunar New Year reception at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 10, 2021. The CPC Central Committee and the State Council held the reception on Wednesday in Beijing. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)

BEIJING, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping, on behalf of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the State Council, extended Spring Festival greetings to all Chinese Wednesday at a reception in Beijing.

Xi, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivered a speech at the gathering at the Great Hall of the People, greeting Chinese people of all ethnic groups, compatriots in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, and overseas Chinese.

This year's Spring Festival, or the Chinese Lunar New Year, falls on Feb. 12.

Achieving the first centenary goal of finishing building a moderately prosperous society in all respects is a great feat of milestone significance, Xi noted.

Demanding the virtues of modesty and prudence, Xi called for efforts to achieve the second centenary goal and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and make new and greater contributions to the noble cause of securing peace and development for all mankind.

Party and state leaders Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji, Han Zheng and Wang Qishan were present at the reception. Li Keqiang chaired the event.

Xi summarized the nation's major achievements in 2020 under the Party's leadership, including emerging as one of the first countries that brought the COVID-19 epidemic under control, taking the lead among major economies in achieving positive economic growth, making historic progress in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and accomplishing the poverty eradication tasks on time.

The country also saw the success of a number of key science and technology innovation projects, solid progress in pushing forward the Belt and Road Initiative and the successful conclusion of implementing the 13th Five-Year Plan, as well as growing global support for building a community with a shared future for humanity, Xi said.

Facts have once again proved that the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics has incomparable vitality and creativity, Xi noted.

As long as the entire Party and the Chinese people of all ethnic groups rally closely around the CPC Central Committee, there is no difficulty that cannot be overcome, he said.

In 2021, efforts should be made to consolidate and expand the results secured in epidemic containment and social and economic development, Xi stressed, demanding a good start in boosting the country's development during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025) so as to celebrate the Party's centenary with outstanding achievements.

Having completed a glorious journey of 100 years, the CPC has grown into the world's largest Marxist ruling party that has been in power for over 70 years in the world's largest socialist country, Xi said.

The centenary sees the Party, with more than 91 million members, in its prime with the widespread support of 1.4 billion Chinese people, he added.

The Party will remain invincible as long as it stands at the forefront of the times, leads the charge in overcoming difficulties and challenges, and takes root among the people, Xi said.

4

1

[ Editor: WPY ]
TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain has affirmed its keenness in promoting various aspects of cooperation with the European Union in all fields to achieve more growth and development of common interests.

This was emphasised by Foreign Affairs Minister Dr Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani as he met yesterday European Council President Charles Michel at the European Council headquarters as part of his official visit to Brussels.

During the meeting, they exchanged views on the developments of the political and security situation in the region and discussed a number of current regional and international issues, as well as efforts aimed at achieving regional and international security, stability and peace.

The Foreign Minister conveyed the greetings of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, as well as his appreciation for the distinct friendship Bahrain shares with the European Union.
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By David Shepardson and Steve Holland

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Justice Department on Wednesday asked two federal appeals courts to put on hold government appeals of lower court rulings blocking restrictions the Trump administration imposed on Chinese-owned app

Under former President Donald Trump, the Commerce Department sought to ban Apple Inc and Alphabet Inc's Google app stores from offering for download to new users and to ban other technical transactions said would effectively barred the app's use in the United States.

Three federal judges in separate rulings blocked Commerce orders on TikTok and for Chinese-owned WeChat.

The Justice Department told appeals courts for the District of Columbia and the Third Circuit that the Commerce Department "plans to conduct an evaluation of the underlying record justifying those prohibitions" to determine if they are warranted by the national security threat Trump described.

Late Wednesday, the Third Circuit agreed to cancel oral arguments that had been set for Thursday and directed the government to file a status report in 60 days.

Earlier, the White House said it has an ongoing review of risks TikTok may present to U.S. data but stressed it has taken no new "proactive step" related to a pending plan for U.S. investors to acquire the Chinese-owned company's American operations.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said "it is not accurate to suggest that there is a new proactive step by the Biden White House" related to TikTok.

She said the administration was still conducting a comprehensive review of the "risks to U.S. data ... including from TikTok, and will address them in a decisive and effective fashion."

Reuters on Wednesday, citing two people briefed on the matter, reported that the plan unveiled in September for U.S. investors, including Oracle Corp and Walmart Inc, to buy a majority stake in TikTok's American operations could face months of additional reviews, as the new Biden administration conducts a wide-ranging review of China policy.

The Trump administration had contended that TikTok poses national security concerns as the personal data of U.S. users could be obtained by China's government. TikTok, which has over 100 million users in the United States, has denied the allegation.

Many key Biden administration officials are not yet in place to review TikTok's status. TikTok declined to comment.

Walmart declined to comment. Oracle did not respond to requests for comment.

Under pressure from the Trump administration, ByteDance, which owns TikTok, was in talks for months to finalize the deal with Walmart and Oracle to shift TikTok's American assets into a new entity to address U.S. security concerns. Those talks have continued since Biden took office last month, sources said.

In early December, the Trump administration chose not to grant a new extension of an August order that required the company to divest TikTok's U.S. assets. The Justice Department had the power to enforce the divestiture order once the deadline expired, but it has taken no enforcement action.

(Reporting by David Shepardson, Steve Holland, Melissa Fares, Echo Wang and Alexandra Alper in Washington, Chavi Mehta in Bengaluru; Editing by Maju Samuel, Jonathan Oatis and David Gregorio)

(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.)

Data doesnt lie, but it can mislead. Disclosure that the Euronext-owned Amsterdam stock exchange traded on average 8.1billion of shares each day in January against 7.5billion in London looks like a body blow to the Citys status as a great global financial centre.

What it doesnt explain is that in the absence of an equivalence deal, whereby Brussels recognises UK financial regulation, euro-denominated stocks would have to be traded elsewhere.

It is no accident that it is Amsterdam rather than Frankfurt or Paris which has come out on top.

The Euronext-owned Amsterdam stock exchange (pictured) traded on average 8.1bn of shares each day in January against 7.5bn in London

It is where the London Stock Exchange (LSE) chose to establish a parallel Turquoise platform for the convenience of the big American and European investment banks based in the City.

Stronger Amsterdam volumes are largely London-based trades conducted on the canals.

This may look like victory for Brussels as it engages in rearguard actions over the UKs departure from the EU.

But the losers are consumers in Northern Ireland or, in the case of share trading, big battalion investors such as pension funds.

They are faced with Balkanisation, less liquid markets and worse buy and sell prices.

Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey has been in need of a distracting narrative this week as the consequences of his spat with Dame Elizabeth Gloster over the London Capital & Finance probe are digested.

There has been no disguising Baileys exasperation with the EU over financial regulation.

In a sharp Mansion House speech, he was nonplussed as to why Canada, Australia, the US, Hong Kong and Brazil have been granted equivalence but more closely aligned UK denied, except for clearing and settlement.

It is known that Europe is cool on derivatives trading and clearing because of the perceived risk.

The Bank has a history of euro-doubting dating back to the late Eddie George and through the Mervyn King era. Mark Carneys perceived tilt in favour of Remain was an aberration.

Bailey looks to be in the former camp with his bold advocacy of global standards of financial regulation, an open economy and open financial systems.

Fortunately, the City is not standing still. Swiss shares, barred under the previous regime, are back on the LSE platform.

Chief executive David Schwimmer is using the Refinitiv platform to expand into global trading of currencies and fixed interest, with outposts across the globe.

It would be better if a decent relationship could be reached with the EU. The harder Brussels and Frankfurt make it, the more incentive there will be for Britain to look outwards and away from Europe. That would be an act of self-harm for our Continental pals.

Good health

No one is ever going to ask who-they about Astrazeneca after the companys vaccine performance. The co-operation with Oxford and the NHS is a textbook example of private-public sectors working for the greater good.

Covid-vaccine activity barely touches on AZs annual results and is unlikely to for the next year, given the pledge not to profit from the vaccine.

Nevertheless, the reputational lift gained from the vaccine (except from President Macron) will hold it in good stead in a pharmaceutical industry which often has spiky relationships with government.

The significant narrative for investors is how chief executive Pascal Soriot has proven financial community doubters wrong over growth forecasts made at the time of the takeover defence against Pfizer in 2014.

The groups suite of oncology treatments and respiratory compounds is continuing to drive overall sales up 10 per cent at 29.4billion on the year.

Soriot is able to use the groups 95billion market value to bulk up with the proposed Alexion acquisition with its focus on rare diseases. Brave will be the analyst who disputes that now.

Oil change

Shell is seeking to maintain a balance between continued investment in oil and gas and a renewables drive.

It has set itself challenging targets to lower carbon emissions and is linking progress to the pay of up to 16,500 staff, seeking to align the interests of all stakeholders to sustainability.

The surge in oil price up above $60-a-barrel shows why the industry is not giving up on heavy capital expenditure just yet.

There is a politically incorrect case for oil to look across to tobacco. Attempts to diversify from smoking to other industries and towards more healthier vaping products never quite delivered for investors.
Government has ordered about 355,000 AstraZeneca vaccines from Europe and will be available by the middle of March this year to cover an estimated population of 20 million.



Making an appearance before the Appointments Committee of Parliament (ACP) as the President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addos first nominee, the Minister-designate for Health, Mr Kwaku Agyeman-Manu said: We are making arrangements to cover the entire 40 million Ghanaians within the period of time.



He told the committee that Ghana currently did not have the storage infrastructure for Pfizer vaccines that required the drugs to be stored at zero temperature.



The good news is that we are getting support from COVAX and the African Union (AU), which had set up an African medicines supply platform, he said, and gave an assurance that more vaccines would be available as more countries were yet to get certification for their vaccines.



The Minister-designate, who is also the NPP Member of Parliament (MP) for Dormaa Central, was accompanied by his wife and some traditional rulers from Dormaa.



NHIS



Mr Agyeman-Manu called for an increment in the levy and the premiums paid by individuals into the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to stop the scheme from possible collapse.



The proposed increment, should it be considered, must not affect contribution from the pension premium from the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), as it is part of peoples pension.



Mr Agyeman-Manu blamed the pressure exerted on the scheme on population increase, stagnation of premiums paid, cost escalation in terms of medication, equipment and devices used at health facilities, as well as the skills needed to provide healthcare services.



He said there was the need for urgent increment in both the levy and the premiums paid by individuals to ensure the sustenance of the scheme.



Time to increase levy and premiums



The minister-designate said if the idea of an increment was not seriously considered, there might not be enough funds to adequately finance the scheme into the future.



But for health insurance, I must be honest to tell colleagues and the whole country that cost for healthcare continues to escalate, but the premium that we pay to health insurance has been stagnant for a very long time since the time we started.



If we don't find a way to bring in some extra resources, either through increments in premiums or through more government resource allocation to support the scheme, going forward we may not continue to see its efficient performance as it is, he told the committee.



The NHIS



The NHIS is funded by the National Health Insurance Levy (NHIL), which is a 2.5 per cent levy on goods and services collected under the Value Added Tax (VAT), 2.5 percentage points of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) contributions per month and returns on the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) investments and premium paid by informal sector subscribers.



Comatose scheme



Mr Agyeman-Manu, who was the Minister of Health during President Akufo-Addos first term, told the committee that he had inherited a scheme which was in coma.



The scheme, he indicated, owed 12 months in arrears to health facilities, some of which were charging patients quietly for services rendered, making patients not to be benefiting from the scheme at all.



We only had a structure that was paying people little amounts of money that they get for their salaries, but down the facilities there was nothing happening, he said.



He told the committee that the NHIS had only paid health facilities arrears owed them up to August last year and stopped short of disclosing the outstanding liabilities of the scheme to facilities.



More resources needed



The minister-designate was optimistic that if the scheme continued to get releases from the Ministry of Finance, as it had been doing over the last four years, it would have the resources to be able to meet our reimbursable expenditures from health facilities.



If that does not happen, it is likely we may go back to the same old problem of accumulating arrears that will hamper the efficient performance of the health insurance system, he said, adding that the releases from the MoF included bonds, including about GH400 million, as there were debts that were inherited to ensure sustenance of the scheme.



Frontline workers allowances



When the Minority Leader, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, quizzed him about the last time frontline health workers were paid their deserved allowances, the minister-designate admitted that there had been some delay in the payment of allowances to some frontline workers.



He said the MoH set up a system to solicit data from health facilities and that last week the Ministry of Finance queried the number of frontline workers that came up, so the facility managers were asked to review the type of list that they had brought.



He agreed to a suggestion that the late allowance payment could demoralise frontline workers, saying: I expect that by the close of this week, money would have been released to pay them.



Casual health workers



Responding to a question from the MP for Madina, Mr Francis Xavier Sosu, about what he would do to mechanise the many contract health workers, some of whom had remained casual for more than 17 years, the minister-designate said as early as 2017, when he was sworn in as Minister of Health, he wrote to all health facilities not to recruit contract workers until stakeholders engaged to find solutions to their plight.



He said prior to 2017, most of those facilities were not getting financial clearance but needed nurses, midwives, cleaners and laundry workers and paid them with what they generated internally.



Inclusion of mental health care under NHIS



Responding to a question on the lack of funding for mental health care in Ghana and the need to consider an amendment to the Mental Health Act to place mental health care under the NHIS, Mr Agyeman-Manu answered in the affirmative.



Yes, I will consider; if an amendment of the law is what will solve the problem, I will so do, he said.





Source: graphiconline.com









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Featured Video
LINN COUNTY, Ore. -- When Linn County gets bumped down to the high risk level on Friday, what will that mean for the businesses that have been navigating opening and closing over the past year?

KEZI 9 News spoke to several spots in Linn County to find out.

RELATED: LINN COUNTY DOWNGRADED TO HIGH RISK

The Albany Community Pool is just one of several places around town eagerly waiting to open its doors back up. People can expect a few big changes this time around.

Kim Lyddane is the director of Albany Parks and Recreation.

This time last year we would actually be in meet season, Lyddane said. So there would be absolutely people on this deck packed shoulder to shoulder and swimmers all in the lanes.

Now, 50 people will be allowed inside at a time. There will be limited times for swimming. Anything touched is sanitized directly after, and you have to wear a mask until you get in the water. Plus, there will also be regular temperature checks and screenings.

People have just been really wanting to get back in the water, so we're thrilled that 50 people allows us to actually open the doors, Lyddane said. Flexibility has been key. Our staff has been absolutely amazing watching the guidelines and just trying to figure out what we need to do and what we need to tweak in order to make it doable.

The Albany Community Pool will welcome guests on Monday, Feb. 15.

But what does the change mean for restaurants?

With Linn County having been at the extreme risk level, eateries have been limited to takeout and outdoor dining only. When the county drops down to the high risk level on Friday, the limits will allow indoor dining of up to 50 people or a maximum of 25% capacity.

KEZI 9 News talked to Alex Loomis, the general manager at Gamberettis Italian Restaurant.

I just hope the COVID cases stay down because regardless of anyone's opinions on COVID, if the numbers spike we get shut down again, Loomis said. That's a bigger problem to unfold.

Loomis said the restaurant plans to open up for indoor dining on Friday.

The community has been more than supportive -- above and beyond our expectations on helping us and other restaurants out, Loomis said. Theyve been helping us tread water during these times. I couldn't thank them enough. Were lucky to be in Albany.

KEZI 9 News also spoke to leaders with Albanys Historic Carousel and Museum.

The museum hasnt been allowed guests since November of last year but opened up for private sessions this past weekend.

Were really hoping that our county can stay in this high category and not go back, executive director Peggy Burris said. It's really hard on my staff, my volunteers, but especially the community when we know families are so excited to start coming back.

Now, up to 40 community members at a time will be able to experience the attraction beginning this Friday through this Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Guests will be able to experience rides, take a tour, have lunch and even shop at the gift shop.

Of course, face coverings are required and social distancing will be made a priority.

I'm hoping and trying to be optimistic that this is the beginning of getting back to what we're used to, Burris said.

Linn County is one of 10 that are being lowered from extreme risk this week.
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WASHINGTON - Once his impeachment trial concludes and former president Donald Trump returns to his business, he will face some obvious challenges, such as declining real estate income and investigations from New York authorities.

But he may also have to finally face two tax issues that have been simmering in the background, either of which experts say could carry significant consequences should they materialize now that he is out of office.

One is a massive income tax refund Trump received before entering office, according to the New York Times, one that has quietly been under a years-long review by the Internal Revenue Service and a little-known congressional panel, the Joint Committee on Taxation.

The refund, which the IRS issued to Trump in 2010 for $72.9 million, according to the Times, could be a nonissue for Trump if the agency rules that it was issued appropriately and he should keep the funds.

But if the agency rules against him, he could be asked to pay it back with interest, handing him a debt of more than $100 million at a time when some of his biggest properties are suffering severe revenue losses and the law firm that handled his tax issues cut ties with him following the attack on the U.S. Capitol.

After the Times story, Trump Organization attorney Alan Garten issued a statement to The Washington Post saying parts of the story were inaccurate, without identifying them. "Over the past decade the President has paid tens of millions of dollars in personal taxes to the federal government," he said. He declined to comment further Wednesday.

Steven M. Rosenthal, a tax expert who worked for the Joint Committee on Taxation in the 1990s, said he was not surprised that the IRS and the committee didn't issue a decision while Trump was in office. He said it's more likely they'll move forward now.

"The outcome of all this may be a huge liability for Donald Trump," Rosenthal said. "This is real money."

The other issue Trump faces is the possibility that Democrats, after five years of trying, will finally pry free Trump's tax returns now that the party controls both Congress and the White House. Leading House Democrats are still pursuing a lawsuit seeking six years of Trump's returns. On Feb. 3, a federal judge gave officials in the Biden administration until March 3 to decide whether it plans to comply.

No decision has been scheduled for either issue, but experts say legal and administrative authorities are more likely to address Trump's tax issues now that he is a private citizen, even as Biden administration officials debate how much to hold Trump accountable for past actions while also trying to move the country forward.

"With Trump out of the White House, the IRS and state and local taxing authorities will no longer fear going after him," said Bert Ely, a consultant who has testified before Congress on financial matters.

Because the refund is a private tax matter under federal law, the IRS has not said anything about when a decision will be rendered, or whether it already has. The Joint Committee on Taxation also has provided the public with no information.

"The staff of the Joint Committee on Taxation does not comment on the receipt of any review case, nor comment on when any review case's review has been completed," said Thomas A. Barthold, the agency's chief of staff, in an email to The Post.

Rosenthal, the former committee staffer, said the IRS sometimes quickly issues refunds but then later reconsiders whether doing so was proper. In cases involving large sums, the IRS consults with the committee. Committee staff members offer an opinion, but the final decision on whether to "claw back" a refund belongs to the IRS.

Rosenthal said the Joint Taxation Committee "plays merely an advisory role. It reviews a refund, at least a quickie refund, after the refund has already been paid. And it may raise questions for the IRS to think about. But the IRS is not bound to resolve those questions."

Rosenthal, now a senior fellow at Washington's Urban-Brookings Tax Policy Center, said he had no direct knowledge of Trump's case. But he said that if the IRS believed Trump would resist paying the money back, it may have delayed a final outcome until after he left office.

"The IRS - and, I imagine, even Joint Tax - wouldn't be really crazy about trying to get into a big confrontation while Trump was president. So a delay was understandable," Rosenthal said. Now, he said, "I think it'll finish."

Rosenthal said there might be no public notice if the fight concludes with the IRS or Trump backing down. But Trump himself could make the matter public if he refuses to accept a decision and files a lawsuit to block it.

The IRS is still under the control of Commissioner Charles P. Rettig, whom Trump appointed to the agency in 2018 and whose term runs until November 2022. Rettig, a Beverly Hills attorney before joining the IRS, owns a 50% share in two units in Trump International Hotel Waikiki, prompting concerns from congressional Democrats about whether he would remain impartial in decisions affecting Trump's finances, such as the refund.

Through a spokesman, Rettig declined to comment on whether he would personally review large, prominent refunds such as the one reportedly received by Trump. Rettig also declined to say if he would recuse himself in matters related to Trump's business. Trump's company manages the Waikiki hotel and splits revenue with unit owners.

"Regarding recusals generally, the Commissioner follows the advice provided by career IRS Ethics Officers," said IRS spokesman Terry Lemons in a statement. Lemons said Rettig had been briefed on conflicts of interest and recusal requirements and that he "is committed to fair and impartial operation of the IRS in its service and enforcement matters."

John Koskinen, Rettig's predecessor at the IRS, said that in his experience commissioners were not involved in decisions about whether to grant a refund or claw back one that had previously been granted. An IRS directive allows the commissioner to delegate such issues to career staff.

"In four years, I never saw a tax return. And nobody ever asked me about a particular case or a refund, or the status of an audit," Koskinen said.

Although dealing with a sitting president's taxes is highly unusual, the IRS tradition was for those decisions to be made by career staff, without involving the agency's two presidential appointees, the commissioner and general counsel. "I don't think there's a statutory provision that says the commissioner can't be asked," Koskinen said.

Though Trump is known to demand loyalty from his appointees, Rettig may be of little assistance to Trump when it comes to keeping the former president's tax returns private.

After Trump became the first president since the 1970s not to release his tax returns, Democrats demanded that Rettig provide Trump's returns to the committee overseeing the IRS.

Under questioning in 2019 from Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden, D-Ore., Rettig said the decision was not his but that of Trump's treasury secretary, Steven Mnuchin, who oversaw the IRS at the time.

"We are a bureau of the Treasury. We are supervised by Treasury," Rettig responded.

Rep. Richard Neal, D-Mass., chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, then sued Treasury and the IRS for the returns later that year. Neal issued a statement to The Post saying he will continue seeking the returns with Trump out of office, as part of a program of automatic audits of the president and vice president.

"The Committee will continue to pursue its case for the President's tax returns as part of our oversight of the mandatory presidential audit program," he said.

Attorneys for Trump from the law firm Consovoy McCarthy have argued in a related suit that Neal "is trying to expose the President's financial information for political gain, not to study the IRS's audit procedures," according to court filings. They did not respond to a request for comment Wednesday.

Newly installed Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has not yet said how she will handle the request for Trump's taxes, and Treasury Department officials declined to comment. U.S. District Judge Trevor N. McFadden is waiting on the Biden administration to take a position on the case before moving forward.

IRS experts said it's probably Yellen's decision to make on whether to surrender Trump's tax returns to the committee.

"Given that so far it's been controlled by Treasury, I'd be surprised if it was reverted to the IRS," said Mark Everson, who served as IRS commissioner under President George W. Bush. "That would put Rettig in a very tough position."

Koskinen agreed, saying it would be odd for Rettig to get involved.

"This is a matter of politics," he said. "The treasury secretary is the right person to be making this decision. The commissioner stayed out of it last time around and I assume he will this time around as well."

However, Koskinen tried to temper expectations among Trump opponents that the returns might reveal some previously unknown business relationships, since tax returns often don't address the filer's partners.

Wyden said through a spokesperson that he will continue to push legislation requiring that presidents and vice presidents make their tax returns public.

"There needs to be transparency and the American people need to know that the president and vice president are paying what they owe," he said.
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Radically changing global scenario has drastically altered the notions of life and the entire gamut of the disciplines associated with it. Literature, especially poetry, being a highly sensitive genre, could not have remained unaffected. Urdu poetry, like all the literatures written in English and indigenous Indian languages, has kept its pace with the pressures of times---misinterpreting or misreading of it notwithstanding.

It has, very subtly and elementally, assimilated and accentuated the recently emerging linguistic and literary ethos in terms of the modes of perception and presentation. Urdu poetry has a rich tradition adorned with oriental philosophies, metaphysical depth and delicacies, socio-cultural complexities and linguistic niceties. Second half of the earlier century brought in the unprecedented advancement in the field of science, technology, politics, intellectual inquiries and cultural studies that had a direct bearing on the creative consciousness all over the globe. Unprecedented migration of the masses and creative writers to the West has also given a sharp turn to the very idea of literary concerns and commitment. It has, in fact, added a new dimension to what is now called literary productions. Parvin Sheres poetry is an excellent synthesis of the tradition and the current internationalism which invariably seems to be the dominant concern of the immigrant writers.



Parvin Sheres poetic concerns and thematic preoccupation, however, needs to be understood in terms of simultaneity of the emotional translucence and intellectual intensity that determine the tone and texture of her poetry and directions of her ideology. Her intellectualism and ideological stance, it should be noted here, cannot and should not be perceived in the Western political, polemical, theoretical or merely academic context. Her new culture, certainly, has sensitized her creative consciousness and sharpened her analytical and critical acumen, that many a time attributes subtlety and pungency to the balanced but highly devastating ironic phraseology of her poetic structures.



Like any other competent diasporic discourse, Parvins poetry embodies a bitter critique of the male dominated society. Her poems like,Mirage (Sarab) and Disposable represent her emotional and intellectual response to the womans predicament in the suppressive patriarchal system. These two poems betray two different dimensions of Parvins poetic reactions against the callous sexist society that resembles across the borders and nations. The very title Disposable is highly suggestive of the Western cultural reality that exemplifies the constitution of the western disposition and it also effectively communicates the nature and texture of human relationship in a culture where romance with consumption reigns supreme. The poem also makes a sarcastic statement on the culture that has reduced woman to the trivial position of a commodity; she is bought, used, abused and discarded:



Exquisite..

Sighting in a show case

He bought it and brought it home

Filling it up

.

He threw in the dustbin

Then left to get another one.

(Disposable)



Mirage offers another dimension of Parvins poetic vision. It reveals the intrigues of the cultural institutions shrewdly engineered by the exploitative male society to perpetuate subservient female psyche. The dominant system makes a woman internalize the submissive positions in absolutely natural way. Obliterating her own identity and independence, she willingly/unwillingly gets subsumed into the roles designed by the male conspiracy. Mirage bemoans this helplessness:



I am water, you a goblet



.



Towards the end, however, the poem takes a turn that unequivocally registers Parvins intellectual reaction:



Even so,

I am water,

a spring source of life

and you---------

a rock,

impervious to what life is!

(Mirage) trans. by: Hameed khan

Parvins poetry epitomizes the agony of a continually tormented and tortured womans soul:

How many more tests and trials of my patience

How many more skies are there over my head ?

Layers after layers are incessantly revealed

How many faces are there behind the faces?

Gazal, trans. by: Hameed khan

Is there an end to it ever! is a perennial question that keep appearing in her poems like a refrain.



The Last Station is an elegy on the decay and death of the human relationships. The values of love and mutual trust, disinterestedness and selflessness are a rarity in the contemporary world that is ruthlessly governed by materialistic drives and ulterior motives. We are all a lonely crowd, lost in the labyrinth of narcissism. John Updike has rightly pointed out that contemporary man needs assurance, without mutual lies we all will be suspended like planets in the azure skies. Octogenarians (Darul Zoafa) dialogizes yet another dimension of the rotting human concerns. The poem portrays the hear-shattering reality of the helplessness of the old people who are mercilessly abandoned by those who had been the pivot of their life. John Updikes first novel The Poorhouse Fair seriously addresses itself to these issues. The thematic canvas of this novel, however, is wider as he also takes into fictional account the larger issues of social homogenization and loss of faith. Parvins other poems like The Coffin (Tabut), Helplessness (Bebasi), No Exit (Sabhi Raste Moattal Hain), Dilemma (Kashmash), A Beautiful Dream-like House ( Khubsurat Khwab sa Ghar) are exquisite subjective expressions of the irresoluble tensions between the worlds within and outside.

Contemporary womans plight in the male dominated world is doubly worsened. Parvin Shere effectively employs the metaphor of train and journey motif. Everyday, right from morn a woman is continually shocked and shattered, dejected and disillusioned. By the end of the journey the train stands against the gloomy landscape tragically deserted and desolated :



left alone,

my wet eyes,

keep trying to locate---

from each and every window,

all human relations

lost in the thick mists of time.

(Last Station) trans. by: Hameed khan



Parvins scathing criticism of the gender-biased society, nevertheless, is not a projection or a manifestation of the radical feminist ideology. Because feminist ideology, ipso facto, aims at subverting the system perpetuated by patriarchy. In her indictment of the patriarchal designs Parvin is, one with her contemporary Canadian women novelists and poets like Margaret Atwood, Margaret Laurence, Aritha Vanherk, Nicole Brossard , Daphne Marlette and many others. But it should also be carefully noted that she is noticeably different from them in terms of modes of perception and presentation and also in terms of linguistic and generic experimentations. Many of these Canadian poetess are constantly engaged in ideological discourses that are vehemently directed towards annihilation of the murderous male supremacy. Deliberate transcendence or transgression is the launching pads of their poetic subversive endeavours. Debunking male-oriented language is also one of the major preoccupations of these women writers. They are often infuriated by the canon, the generic traits and their male association. Sexual deviation and moral digression is yet another point. These radical poets, however, have a well-defined logic and logistics for the subversion of the dominant system as well as for reconstruction of womans identity and her absolute independence. The alternative systems beyond the limits of family and morality, however, would not suit Parvins refined oriental sensibility and inherently feminine delicacy. Like many of the women poets from the sub-continent Parvin retains the she essential and intrinsic poetic idiom coupled with highly loaded phraseology assimilitated from her diasporic experiences in the world that is, ironically, looked upon as a haven of freedom and paradise of consumption. She is a solitary example who enjoys dexterity in painting, music and poetry. Her poetry presents a harmonious blending of these three different disciplines of the fine arts.



Parvin has been living in Canada for more that four decades now; she has been in live contact with the practicing women writers. As an intellectual poet she has been closely following the directions the creative consciousness in Canada and in the west at large. But her poetry does not provide any evidence of being carried away by the inflated intellectual intricacy or triviality. Nor does her poetry betrays any desire to sell-off her own culture to the western readers, as many of the immigrant writers are accused of. Her western exposure, on the contrary, has widened the horizon of her experiences. Like her Canadian colleagues she sharply interrogates the male hierarchies.



Rather than aiming at subversion, Parvins poetry betrays a creative consciousness questing for lasting and enduring human relationship. It is this relationship which, in its ultimate analysis, attributes dignity and integrity to human stature and makes his life meaningful, colourful and eventful.



Her insatiable quest for enduring relationships does not confine itself to the interpersonal or social extent. Imperialistic drives in the cultural, intellectual, political and economic spheres on the international level also reveal disconcerting upheaval owing to an obvious lack of sincerity and authenticity in human relationships. Her poems like Iraq, and Outrage (Andhera), are the moving portraits of the precarious conditions humanity is deplorably placed in. It immensely grieves Parvins heart to think,  what man has made of man!



Parvins poetry, in fact, is a heart-rending scream of a bleeding heart and agonized mind. It is a perennial quest for order, authenticity and equilibrium conspicuously missing in the contemporary spheres of human relationships. And it this quest that determines the aesthetics of her poetic art.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

* Dr. Hameed Khan is Professor at the Department of English, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University, Aurangabad (MS), India. A Ph.D. in American literature, Dr. Khan has one book, two text books and a number of research papers to his credit. His research papers, articles and reviews are published in various journals and magazines. He has also written preface/s and foreword/s to ten books in English, Urdu and Marathi. Dr. Khan is also known for his translations. His Urdu translations of Marathi short stories are published by Maharashtra State Urdu Academy, Mumbai. His English translations of interviews, Marathi and Urdu short stories have appeared in the different issues of INDIAN LITERATURE.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Editor's Note: Parvin Shere who studied at Patna University towards Psychology/Philosophy(1964-1966) is an artist, poet and musician. She formally developed her talent of paintings at the University of Manitoba, Canada, Fine Arts Program (1966-1967 Fine Arts, University of Manitoba). Her extensive travel throughout Europe and particularly in developing countries triggered in her a need to enlighten her audience about the dualistic nature of this world.
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India made a scathing attack on Pakistan at the United Nations Security Council on Wednesday, accusing Islamabad of disrupting the peace process in Afghanistan by bringing about violent attacks through terror groups like Al-Qaida, Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant - Khorasan Province (ISIL-K) in the neighboring country and terror groups are now relocating in Kunar and Nangarhar provinces.

"It is essential that we don't lose sight of the ease with which the proscribed Haqqani Network and its supporters, especially the Pakistani authorities, have worked along with prominent terrorist organizations like Al-Qaida, ISIL K, Tehrik-Taliban Pakistan, etc. in South Asia," said India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations TS Tirumurti while speaking at the Security Council Briefing on 'Threats to International Peace and Security Caused by Terrorist Acts'.

"The world is fully aware that these groups also perpetrate terrorist activities from safe havens in Pakistan, including through violent attacks in Afghanistan that have disrupted the peace process. We are also witnessing the relocation of terror groups to Afghanistan especially in Kunar and Nangarhar provinces, across the Durand Line," Tirumurti added.

READ | 'Gift Of Life': India And Afghanistan Sign MoU For Construction Of Shahtoot Dam Near Kabul

READ | Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani Thanks PM Modi For 'gift Of Vaccines And Water'

India & Afghanistan Sign MoU For Construction Of Shahtoot Dam

Meanwhile, on February 9, India and Afghanistan signed an agreement to build the Shahtoot Dam in Kabul in order to provide a drinking water facility in the Afghan capital. During a virtual summit, External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar and his Afghan counterpart Mohammed Haneef Atmar signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in the presence of Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Ghani thanked PM Modi for the "gift of life" through the signing of an agreement on Shatoot Dam.

Ghani also lauded India for providing attention to Afghanistan and giving a gift of life to Kabul, and the people of Afghanistan symbolize the value of decency, democracy, humanity, mutual interest, mutual respect, mutual trust, and our interdependent world." The Shahtoot Dam that will be constructed on the Kabul river basin would help provide drinking water to residents of the city of two million. India has announced at least 150 projects in the war-stricken country and it has pledged to rebuild Afghanistan committing to $80 million worth of projects

READ | Officials: Separate Attacks Kill 8 People In Afghanistan

READ | Afghanistan: At Least 10 People Killed And Several Injured In Separate Attacks

(With ANI Inputs)
Stand With Parkland needed to deliver a message to House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, and they turned to Miami Republican Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart to do it.

For the last three years, the group that represents 15 of the 17 victims families of the nations deadliest high school shooting has focused almost exclusively on school safety. Its an issue that doesnt garner wall-to-wall cable news coverage or dominate political campaigns, but Stand With Parklands approach enabled the group to introduce legislation and build trust among lawmakers from both parties  particularly members of Congress from Florida.

But the nations biggest political story was now colliding with their school safety work.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a newly elected member of Congress from Georgia who once agreed that the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School was a false flag attack, was assigned by McCarthy to the House Education Committee. Greenes social media posts and videos of her harassing Parkland survivor and gun control advocate David Hogg had generated national attention and calls for her resignation from Democrats.

And Greenes position on the Education Committee would make the one-time Parkland denier responsible for considering legislation crafted by Stand With Parkland like the Luke and Alex School Safety Act. Last week, Diaz-Balart reintroduced the bill named after Parkland victims Luke Hoyer and Alex Schachter that would codify into law a federal clearinghouse for school safety measures.

Two families spoke with Greene, and the group decided that her committee assignment hurt their goals of school safety, securing campuses and responsible firearms ownership. They sent their letter to McCarthy. Greene needed to go.

She was reluctant to recognize the effects of school shootings not just on the families but on the entire community, said Stand With Parkland President Tony Montalto, whose daughter Gina was one of the victims. It led us to believe she couldnt be effective in stopping the problem.

Story continues

Lobbying with a purpose

In the last three years, the 17 Parkland families became some of the most effective lobbyists in Washington, building relationships with lawmakers, understanding the sausage-making of legislation and crafting public relations strategies. Two parents who arent part of Stand With Parkland, Fred Guttenberg and Andrew Pollack, are vocal advocates for different causes. Guttenberg is a well-known gun control advocate while Pollack has pushed for arming and training school personnel to deal with threats and was the only Parkland parent to support Greene.

The fact that it even came to this place is fascinating, said Guttenberg, whose daughter Jaime was one of the victims. Guttenberg shared multiple videos of Greene harassing Hogg on social media and led calls for her removal alongside Rep. Ted Deutch, who represents Parkland in Congress.

On Feb. 3, Stand With Parkland sent McCarthy its letter asking for Greenes removal from the Education Committee, a similar move McCarthy made with Iowa Rep. Steve King in 2019 when the former congressman expressed sympathy for white nationalism. On the same day, McCarthy reached out to House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and said he was open to reassigning Greene to a different committee.

Hoyer, aware that a resolution to strip Greene of her committee assignments led by Broward Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz had unanimous support from Democrats, wouldnt agree to any deal that kept Greene on committees, the bodies that craft and consider legislation.

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On Feb. 4  just 10 days shy of the terrible Valentines Day anniversary of the 2018 shooting  a vote was scheduled on Wasserman Schultzs resolution to kick Greene off the Education and House Budget Committees. Republicans were expected to mostly back Greene ahead of the vote, arguing that it set a dangerous precedent to punish a lawmaker for conduct prior to assuming elected office. One Democrat predicted that only one or two Republicans were expected to break ranks as lawmakers entered the chamber.

In the end 11 House Republicans, including Diaz-Balart, Rep. Carlos Gimenez and Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar ended up breaking with their party to kick Greene off her committees. The three Miami Republicans joined a group of eight lawmakers who cast their yes vote at the last possible second.

Gimenez characterized his position as a vote of conscience, and argued that Greenes rhetoric will sink the Republican Party in future elections if it isnt thoroughly rejected.

Actually, the problem is the rhetoric, the QAnon, the conspiracy theories, Gimenez said on CNN a day after the vote.  If you get attached to that ... its going to cost us the majority in [2022]. I reject all of that. I think most of my colleagues on the Republican side reject it.

McCarthy never responded to the letter delivered by Diaz-Balarts office, Montalto said, but he hoped their position made a difference with local lawmakers.

Wed like to think that all the Florida contingent worked together and discussed the issue, he said.

Conservative point of view

Ryan Petty, a Parkland parent whose daughter Alaina was one of the victims, is a Stand With Parkland board member but also a conservative who generally supports Republicans. He was one of the two Parkland parents to speak with Greene and said her past dissemination of conspiracy theories was what led the group of parents to recommend that she not be seated on the Education Committee.

Ill speak as the father of a victim here and someone who is more involved on the Republican side of the political spectrum, Petty said. We have a responsibility to be ambassadors for the things we believe in and disseminating conspiracy theories and participating in those dont help, theyre not persuasive, they dont move people toward the positions we care about. My advice to her was to stay as far from those as possible. Well see if she does that.

After speaking to Greene, Petty said he spoke to a number of conservatives and Second Amendment advocates and found that Greene didnt have much support. The conversations gave him hope that some Republicans would vote to kick Greene off her committees, and ultimately made the votes of Diaz-Balart, Gimenez and Salazar less surprising to him.

I was surprised how little support there was for her, Petty said. I wasnt surprised to see several Republicans vote against her. Im proud that Republicans are willing to hold our own accountable for the things they say and the things they do.

Empathy from a Pulse victims mother

Other families who lost loved ones in mass shootings also noticed Diaz-Balart, Gimenez and Salazar. MJ Wright, a Miami resident whose son Jerry was one of the 49 Pulse Night Club shooting victims in 2016, said she sent a letter to all three representatives thanking them for their vote.

It was important to me just as a parent to say thank you for doing the right thing, Wright said.

Wright, a registered Republican who once cut a TV ad on behalf of former Miami Republican Rep. Carlos Curbelo, said she stays in touch with Parkland families and the families of Sandy Hook, a 2012 mass shooting at a Connecticut elementary school that Greene also considered a false flag attack to gin up support for gun control. Wright said the Miami Republicans vote made her emotional.

I actually got tears in my eyes when I saw that because maybe theres hope of having some sane people on the conservative side, Wright said. They could have just gone with the majority and they didnt, and I think we need to recognize that it was courageous and that merit needs to be given.

Petty, Guttenberg and Montalto agreed that the three Miami lawmakers proximity to Parkland was a factor in their vote. Four of the other Yes votes from Republicans came from New York-area members, as Greene also questioned the validity of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Whether they were in office or not what happened in Parkland had a tremendous impact on a lot of our elected leaders, Petty said.

Guttenberg said South Florida politicians had no other choice than to kick Greene off her committees, though he was disappointed that the Republican statements after the vote also criticized Democrats.

I was very pleased at what those three members did, Guttenberg said. They are part of this community where Parkland happened, they could have made no other choice.

And the parents also said the votes by Gimenez and Salazar give them hope that theyll have two more members who will work with them on school safety issues. None of the parents currently have close relationships with Gimenez and Salazar like they do with Diaz-Balart, because they were recently elected.

They are on the list to get to know, Montalto said. Sadly, the time after the election is also the holiday season, and its very difficult for our families and its hard to maintain the amount of political outreach that other groups can with new members. We have to deal with the pain of our loss and find strength and energy to continue to work for school safety.
platforms are free to do business in India, but must respect the law of the land, Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) said in Rajya Sabha on Thursday.

His comments come a day after two of Twitters global executives held a virtual meeting with the MeitY secretary and other officials regarding the standoff between the two sides on content takedown requests.

We flagged ..why is it that (on) Washington Capitol Hill when ransacking occurs and the police has to take action, these microblogging companies stand with them, but when an attack happens on the here, which is a symbol of Indias pride, they stand against it. This double standard will not work...Freedom of expression exists in the Indian Constitution, but Article 19(2) also says it is subject to reasonable restrictions...what is the meaning of trending hashtags like is massacring farmers? We will be very strict, Prasad said.

He was referring to the hashtag #ModiPlanningFarmerGenocide that was trending on around January 30. MeitY asked the firm to take down and block certain accounts tweeting that hashtag.

took action on hundreds of accounts that violated Twitter Rules and had the potential to incite offline harm, prevented some terms from trending and suspended over 500 accounts. However, it did not fully comply with MeitYs orders.

In the Capitol Hill riots that broke out in the US on January 6, Twitter stopped the phrase Hang Mike Pence after it trended on the platform. The phrase was heard at the US Capitol and trended after Twitter permanently banned former US president Donald Trumps account for inciting the riot.





ALSO READ: Koo crosses 3 million users, popularity surges amid Twitter row

MeitY also subsequently asked Twitter to block 1,200 more accounts flagged by security agencies as belonging to Khalistan sympathisers or backed by Pakistan.

In a blog post on Wednesday, Twitter said two of these were emergency blocking orders that the firm temporarily complied with, but subsequently restored access to the content in a manner that it believed was consistent with Indian law. After we communicated this to MeitY, we were served with a non-compliance notice, the blog post by Twitter Safety said.

The blog added that in keeping with its principles of defending freedom of expression, it had not taken any action on accounts that consist of news media entities, journalists, activists, and politicians. To do so, we believe, would violate their fundamental right to free expression under Indian law. We informed MeitY of our enforcement actions today, February 10, 2021. We will continue to maintain dialogue with the Indian government and respectfully engage with them, Twitter said.

The government said Wednesday in a strongly worded statement that lawfully passed orders are binding on any business entity. The minister also said on Thursday that any company's own rules were not above Indian law.

We respect social media a lot, said Prasad in Parliament on Thursday. Social media has empowered people, had a big role in Digital India programme. We also support the right to criticism, you can criticise anyone from the Prime Minister to the Constitution, because its a part of our Constitution. But misuse of social media for violence, fake news...will invite action, I want to say with a lot of modesty, he added.
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / February 11, 2021 / Magna Terra Minerals Inc. (the "Company" or "Magna Terra") (TSXV:MTT) is pleased to announce results from a recently completed soil geochemical survey, part of a larger systematic exploration program (the "Exploration Program") at its 100% owned Great Northern Gold Project ("Great Northern"), located in western Newfoundland.

The Exploration Program was focused on the Jacksons Arm Trend, a 2.4 kilometre long, previously unexplored, altered and mineralized geological corridor and included geological mapping, prospecting, soil sampling as well as Light Detection and Ranging ("LiDAR"), Induced Polarization ("IP"), and Magnetic geophysical surveys. The Company also initiated a first phase 1,600 metre diamond drill program within a portion of the Jacksons Arm Trend with results pending.

The soil geochemical survey has identified numerous anomalous gold trends as well as other pathfinder elements (e.g., Cu, Ag) coincident with geological and geophysical targets as outlined in the press release dated February 4, 2021 (Exhibits A, B, and C). The program was designed to cover areas that have not previously been sampled and to test potential northern and eastern extensions of the Jacksons Arm Trend. The coincidence of anomalies within multiple datasets highlights several priority drill targets planned for 2021.

Exploration Highlights

2.0+ kilometre-long gold-bearing soil geochemical trend;

87 of 1,284 samples assayed between 10 and 2,088 ppb gold and 15 of 1,284 samples assaying between 100 and 2,088 ppb gold;

Two newly identified 500+ and 350 metre gold-bearing soil geochemical anomalies south and north of Frenchman's Cove, respectively;

Identification of a robust 2.4 kilometres long alteration system;

Grab samples* up to 26.90 grams per tonne ("g/t") gold confirming results of previous sampling; and

Identification of numerous gold-bearing soil samples, IP chargeability and magnetic anomalies coincident with mapped alteration zones and mineralized structures.

*Grab samples are selected samples and are not necessarily indicative of mineralization that may be hosted on the property.

"The results of the recently completed soil geochemical survey have identified a 2.0-kilometre long anomalous zone coincident with the Jacksons Arm Trend. Of particular note is the identification of two new anomalous trends coincident with alteration, structure, geophysics, and mineralization as mapped in the field. These new anomalies all represent significant potential for discovery, and we are currently working up drill plans for these targets. Significantly, most gold deposits in Newfoundland have been discovered with soil anomalies as a prominent indicator of gold mineralization. Based on the results to date we have just broadened the scope of the soil geochemical program and initiated the collection of further soils data to identify targets for future work."

~ Lew Lawrick, President and CEO, Magna Terra Minerals Inc.

Exploration Program

The Exploration Program comprised flying a LiDAR survey of the entire Great Northern Project, geological mapping and prospecting, 51 line kilometres of ground IP surveying and 59 line kilometres of ground magnetic surveying, and the collection of 114 rock samples and 1,284 soil samples, the results of which were previously announced on October 15, 2020 and February 4, 2021. The Exploration Program was designed to test for the northern and eastern continuation of the altered and mineralized zone along the Jacksons Arm Trend, along the faulted contact between the Ordovician Coney Head Intrusives and the Silurian Sops Arm Group sedimentary and volcanic rocks (Exhibit A). The collective data from the Exploration Program identifies several priority drill targets for follow-up exploration, including drill testing, in 2021.

Soil Geochemical Survey

A total of 1,284 B- or C-horizon soil samples were collected at 25 metre intervals along east-west oriented grid lines, spaced 100 metres apart. Samples were submitted to Eastern Analytical Limited in Springdale, NL for gold and 34-element ICP analysis. Soils were collected, based on previous work, that identified numerous geochemical anomalies (>10 ppb gold) that led to discovery of bedrock gold mineralization. In addition, a recently completed desktop glacial geology study indicated that the area is covered in a thin veneer of glacial till that likely signifies minimal glacial transport of overburden materials.

A total of 87 of 1,284 samples assayed between 10 and 2,088 ppb gold with 15 of 1,284 samples assaying between 100 and 2,088 ppb gold. The soil results (>10 ppb gold) outline several multi-line and single station gold anomalies that are coincident with other rock geochemical and geophysical anomalies and form targets for follow-up exploration. In particular, a 500+ metre north-south oriented trend of anomalous gold-bearing soils (assaying up to 2,088 ppb gold) is located south of Frenchman's Cove and coincides with rock float samples assaying up to 23.04 g/t gold and IP chargeability anomalies in an area characterized by strongly faulted and deformed Coney Head granites and Sops Arm sedimentary/volcanic rocks. Also, a 350 metre long zone of anomalous gold-bearing soils (assaying up to 219 ppb gold) sits to the north of Frenchman's Cove and trends parallel to the Coney Head/Sops Arm contact and is associated with a several IP chargeability and magnetic anomalies.

Follow-up Exploration

The Company has started a follow-up soil geochemical sampling program extending the soil grid to the south to track the 500+ metre anomaly located to the south of Frenchman's Cove.

Pandemic Considerations

The Company has critically considered logistical matters given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, to ensure that this Exploration Program and all future programs are executed in a way that ensures the absolute health and safety of our personnel, contractors, and the communities where we operate.

The Company would like to thank the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador for partial funding of the exploration program under the Junior Exploration Assistance Program.

Qualified Person and Technical Reports

This news release has been reviewed and approved by David A. Copeland, P. Geo., Chief Geologist with Anaconda Mining Inc., a "Qualified Person", under National Instrument 43-101 - Standard for Disclosure for Mineral Projects.

Soil samples were analyzed for gold using standard fire assay (30 g) pre-concentration and Atomic Absorption finish methods and 34 additional elements where analysed by Inductively Coupled Plasma Emission Spectroscopy (ICP) at Eastern Analytical Ltd. in Springdale, NL ("Eastern"). Eastern is a fully accredited firm within the meaning of NI 43-101 for provision of this service.

"Grab samples" are selected samples and are not necessarily indicative of mineralization that may be hosted on the property.

About Magna Terra

Magna Terra Minerals Inc. is a precious metals focused exploration company, headquartered in Toronto, Canada. Magna Terra owns three district-scale, advanced gold exploration projects in the world class mining jurisdictions of New Brunswick and Newfoundland and Labrador. Further, the Company maintains a significant exploration portfolio in the province of Santa Cruz, Argentina which includes its precious metals discovery on its Luna Roja Project, as well as an extensive portfolio of district scale drill ready projects available for option or joint venture.

Forward Looking Statements

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.

Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward Looking Information

Some statements in this release may contain forward-looking information. All statements, other than of historical fact, that address activities, events or developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future (including, without limitation, statements regarding potential mineralization) are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are generally identifiable by use of the words "may", "will", "should", "continue", "expect", "anticipate", "estimate", "believe", "intend", "plan" or "project" or the negative of these words or other variations on these words or comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's ability to control or predict, that may cause the actual results of the Company to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things, without limitation, failure to establish estimated mineral resources, the possibility that future exploration results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations, changes in world gold markets or markets for other commodities, and other risks disclosed in the Company's public disclosure record on file with the relevant securities regulatory authorities. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Magna Terra Minerals Inc.

Lewis Lawrick

President and CEO, Director

647-478-5307

Email: info@magnaterraminerals.com

Website: www.magnaterraminerals.com

Exhibit A: Geology and Soil Sample Map of the Jacksons Arm Trend with LiDAR background, showing current extent of the 2.4 km long alteration zone.

Exhibit B: Ground IP Chargeability and Soil Sample Map, Jacksons Arm Trend, Great Northern Project showing the coincidence of IP Chargeability anomalies with anomalous soils.

Exhibit C: Ground Magnetic Contour Map with Soil Samples, Jacksons Arm Trend, Great Northern Project showing the coincidence of magnetic, IP chargeability and soil anomalies within the Jacksons Arm Trend.

SOURCE: Magna Terra Minerals Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/629252/Magna-Terra-Identifies-Numerous-Additional-Soil-Geochemical-Targets-at-the-24-Kilometre-Jacksons-Arm-Trend-Great-Northern-Project-Initiates-Follow-Up-Exploration
Insurance companies failure to honour business-interruption cover in the pandemic risks becoming the tracker mortgage scandal of the insurance industry, Sinn Fein TD Pearse Doherty has claimed.

The charge was made in the Dail by the party's finance spokesperson who said up to 1,300 businesses could be covered, yet the industry was trying to wriggle out of paying the claims, despite a High Court ruling last week.

There are thousands more businesses that seem to have entitlement to payouts under business-interruption insurance, just like the four pubs that won a landmark case against FBD last week, Mr Doherty said.

The quartet of publicans who took on FBD for business-interruption insurance had nowhere else to turn, he said, urging the Government to get the Central Bank involved. A watchdog had forced compliance on insurers in Britain, he said.

Mr Doherty said he had received hundreds of letters with indications of similar cover to the pubs with FBD insurance, using Dail privilege to name other companies, including AIG, Aviva, Allianz and RSA.

Many of the complainants to him were covered, while others had a very strong case, he said. Despite this insurance, companies are refusing to accept indemnity.

In Britain, the Financial Conduct Authority took action in the courts and achieved a binding result in the public interest, he said. The decision is legally binding now on eight insurers in Britain, and as a result, thousands of businesses will receive payments, a financial lifeline for so many that are struggling at this time.

Read More

I previously called on the Central Bank to intervene back in March of last year but it and your Government took no action at that time. And that is why the four pubs were forced to defend themselves in the courts last week.

Now they will receive the compensation they were entitled to all along and the judgment could affect up to 1,300 other businesses who hold similar policies.

As the CEO of the Restaurants Association had made clear, insurance companies were still dragging their heels and refusing to pay even interim payments to businesses, he said.

Either the Central Bank intervenes, or there is going to be a wave of litigation at a cost that is too much for too many small businesses.

He said he had written to the governor of the Central Bank requesting it undertake an examination like the tracker mortgage examination.

But Tanaiste Leo Varadkar told him the Central Bank was an independent regulator and it had to decide for itself what to do. It was not subject to direction by the Government. It was looking at the issue, he said.

I pay tribute to the businesses that took that case. We now have case law. We will now see in the next few weeks what the quantum is, and what the implications are, Mr Varadkar added.

Mr Doherty referred to a hairdresser in his native Donegal that had cover for a notifiable disease within 25 miles. The business is covered but does not have the resources to fight a case through the courts, he said.

Mr Varadkar said that Sinn Fein said things about the Central Bank because you hope people are stupid and may think that the Government has this power of intervention. It doesnt. The Central Bank is independent.

Any calls that you make to Government to somehow intervene or direct the Central Bank to do something are totally disingenuous.

Its an attempt by you to mislead people in small business, and to pretend that you're on their side, said Mr Varadkar.
CALGARY - Investors applauded with higher stock prices for both Arc Resources Ltd. and Seven Generations Energy Ltd. on Thursday following the announcement of an oilpatch marriage one analyst described as "a merger of high quality equals."

The logo for Seven Generations Energy Ltd. is shown in an undated handout photo. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO - Seven Generations Energy Ltd.

CALGARY - Investors applauded with higher stock prices for both Arc Resources Ltd. and Seven Generations Energy Ltd. on Thursday following the announcement of an oilpatch marriage one analyst described as "a merger of high quality equals."

The Calgary-based companies announced late Wednesday they had agreed to a deal under which Arc will issue 1.108 shares for each share of Seven Generations, valuing Seven Generations at $2.74 billion at Arc's Wednesday closing price.

They said the total value of the merger including debt is $8.1 billion.

"We're excited about the massive opportunity that lies ahead for Arc and Seven Generations," said Arc CEO Terry Anderson in a Wednesday night conference call.

"We recognize that the combined entity is better positioned to maximize long-term value together versus each company individually."

In early trading in Toronto, Seven Generations stock rose by as much as 10.8 per cent to $8.88 and Arc jumped by nine per cent to $8.09.

The combined company is to operate as Arc Resources Ltd. and remain headquartered in Calgary. Arc chairman Hal Kvisle and CEO Anderson are to continue in their roles while Seven Generations CEO Marty Proctor is to become vice-chair.

"When discussions were first initiated, we saw that the combined entity would have the scale and high-quality asset base that is critical to remaining competitive in both the transitioning energy industry and the evolving capital market space," said Proctor on the call.

"I am proud of what we've accomplished at Seven Generations Energy in a relatively short amount of time."

Seven Generations was founded in 2008, while Arc began in 1996.

Arc and Seven Generations said they expect to generate cost savings from synergies of about $110 million per year by 2022 while continuing to pay ARC's quarterly dividend of six cents per share.

Analysts rated the deal a winner in overnight reports.

"We believe market response to this transaction will be positive, given synergies, solid accretion metrics, and clear pathway to accelerated shareholder returns, which should drive value far beyond the 'point in time' implied acquisition premium," said analyst Cody Kwong of Stifel FirstEnergy.

"The market has been clamouring for M&A in the E&P (explorer and producer) space  and the combination of ARX and VII does not disappoint! In one fell swoop, the merger creates the Canadian condensate champion," wrote analyst Justin Bouchard of Desjardins.

The merged companies will be Canada's largest condensate producer, third-largest natural gas producer and sixth-largest oil and gas producer, they said.

Condensate is a very light oil often produced with natural gas that is highly valued by oilsands producers who blend it with heavy bitumen to allow it to flow in a pipeline. It usually trades at or near benchmark U.S. oil prices.

Overall combined production is expected to total over 340,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day this year, composed of about 138,000 barrels per day of liquids like condensate and 1.2 billion cubic feet per day of natural gas.

The companies are among the largest drillers into the Montney, a sprawling underground formation that straddles the Alberta-B.C. border. Its liquids-rich natural gas resource has been unlocked over the past dozen years by the development of technologies such as horizontal drilling and multistage hydraulic fracturing or "fracking."

Access to the Montney has been the prize driving several other transactions recently, including Canadian Natural Resources Ltd.'s $111-million purchase of Painted Pony Energy Ltd. which closed in October and the $510 million acquisition of Kelt Exploration Ltd.s Montney position by Houston-based ConocoPhillips last summer.

The deal is subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals and is expected to close in the second quarter of 2021.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 11, 2021.

Companies in this story: (TSX:VII, TSX:ARX)

Vinfast is seeking excellent designs for its global showrooms. (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi - The Vietnam Design Association  HCM City has launched the VinFast Global Showroom Design Competition 2021 to find the most outstanding design idea for VinFasts global showrooms.

The contest, which offers cash prizes worth more than 60,000 USD, seeks outstanding showroom design ideas that can represent the carmakers vision and core values.

Contestants are required to send their entries in 3D design with three main items: exterior architectural space with an area of 30m by 20m, a standard car showroom with a minimum area of 10m by 7m and a creative zone also the same size.

The deadline for submitting entries is February 25.

The most unique and impressive entries will be displayed at Times Square, New York, US, in April.

There will be one first prize worth 40,000 USD, three second prizes worth 3,000 USD each, five third prizes worth 1,000 USD each and 41 consolation prizes worth 200 USD each.

The winners will also have the opportunity to work with VinFast.

VinFast, a subsidiary of Vingroup, one of Asia's leading conglomerates, is Vietnams only indigenous car brand, and currently makes the Lux SA2.0, Lux A2.0 and Fadil.

It has researched and developed the first three-level 3-4 Autonomous Smart EV models with 30 smart features, underlining its vision to become a global smart electric mobility company.
Team Rescues Mother Elephant Walking in Pain With Hunters Snare Cutting Into Her Leg

A heroic wildlife rescue team has managed to save a mother elephants life after she was spotted wandering the plains in Zimbabwe with a hunters snare attached to her leg.

Catherine Norton, 58, a conservationist living in Zimbabwe, was called to the Musango Island Safari Camp after the owner saw the adult elephant, named Martha, struggling to walk.

Catherine Norton (C) along with the wildlife rescue team helping an elephant with a hunters snare attached to its leg. (Caters News)

Catherine said: We had to immobilize Martha, because without our intervention she would have died.

There was a wire snare digging deep into her left front leg, crippling her and causing severe pain.

We had to clean the wound and as it was infected, give her antibiotics, and remove the snare with wire cutters.

It only took her a few minutes to come around but the outcome could have been so much worse.

Catherine said one poacher could set up to twenty snares a day. The wound can leave the animal suffering for days.

It shows how much damage can be done to an innocent animal with just one piece of wire, Catherine said.

Poaching isnt just about shooting and axes, she added.

This method is just as cruel and equally as deadly.

Catherine said Martha had a calf with her that was still dependent on her. If the rescue team hadnt acted in time, the mother elephant would have died.

Epoch Times staff contributed to this report.

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International

Countries curb diplomatic ties, weigh sanctions on Myanmar

Demonstrators shout slogans against the military coup during a protest in Mandalay, on Thursday. (AP)

SEOUL, FEB 11 (AP) | Publish Date: 2/11/2021 1:17:18 PM IST

A growing number of governments are curbing diplomatic ties with Myanmar and increasing economic pressure on its military over the coup last week that erased the fragile democratic progress in the long-oppressed Southeast Asian nation.

President Joe Biden said he has approved an executive order that will prevent Myanmars generals from accessing USD 1 billion in assets in the United States, and promised more measures. The US was among many Western governments that lifted most sanctions in the past decade to encourage democratic transition as Myanmars military rulers were taking gradual steps toward civilian rule changes that proved temporary with the ousting of the elected government and detentions of Nobel Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi and others.

One of the strongest reactions came from New Zealand, which has suspended all military and high-level political contact with the country and pledged to block any aid that could go to its military government or benefit its leaders. It also placed a travel ban on Myanmars new military rulers.

We do not recognise the legitimacy of the military-led government and we call on the military to immediately release all detained political leaders and restore civilian rule, Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta said Tuesday.

In Washington, Biden said his actions were aimed at freezing US assets that benefit Myanmars military leaders while maintaining support for health care programmes, civil society groups and other areas. The U.S. already has sanctions in place against some Myanmar military leaders over the killings and persecution of minority Rohingya Muslims.

In Brussels, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said European foreign ministers will meet February 22 to review the 27-nation blocs relations with Myanmar and explore ways to increase economic pressure. Its options could include sanctions targeting individuals and businesses owned by Myanmars military as well as cuts in development assistance.

Since 2014, the EU has granted Myanmar almost 700 million euros ($850 million).

The UN Human Rights Council, the 47-member-state body based in Geneva, has scheduled a special session on Friday to consider the human rights implications of the crisis in Myanmar.

While the leaders of Malaysia and Indonesia called for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to convene a special meeting to discuss Myanmar, a member state, its unclear whether the bloc would come together to take meaningful action.

ASEAN has long operated on a principle of non-interference in each others affairs and its decisions are made by consensus, meaning it would take just a single member, possibly Myanmar itself, to block any move it sees as hostile.

Following the coup, Brunei, the current ASEAN chair, issued a statement calling for the pursuance of dialogue, reconciliation and the return to normalcy in accordance with the will and interests of the people of Myanmar.
The judge overseeing the trial of a former Head of Service, Winifred Oyo-Ita, at the Federal High Court in Abuja, on Thursday, threatened to withdraw from the case.

Ms Oyo-Ita, who was prematurely retired over corruption allegations late 2019, is being prosecuted along with others before the judge for money laundering involving N570million.

Taiwo Taiwo, the trial judge, was angry that the prosecution allegedly snubbed his directive to terminate the parallel proceedings instituted against three of Mrs Oyo-Itas co-defendants before another judge.

The parallel case is an interim forfeiture application filed by the prosecution before Folashade Giwa-Ogunbanjo, a judge of the same court in Abuja, for the freezing of the accounts of the three co-defendants.

Do the needful and withdrawal it, or else I will return the file to the Chief Judge.

I cannot discharge an order made by a sister court, Mr Taiwo warned on Thursday.

Defendants complaints

The defence had on December 1, 2020, reported to Mr Taiwo that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) surreptitiously obtained an order freezing their clients accounts from another judge, Folashade Giwa-Ogunbanjo.

Describing the development as an abuse of court process, the defence urged the court to adjourn the case indefinitely until the anti-corruption agency presented evidence that the accounts had been unfrozen.

The judge, who was displeased with the EFCC after listening to the defence lawyers, said the prosecutions action was a slap on his face and demonstration of the commissions lack of confidence in his court.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Taiwo recalled on Thursday that he had,on December 3, ordered EFCCs lawyer, Mohammed Abubakar, to close the case in the other court.

He said he adjourned the case till January 13, but still could not find anything in his file showing EFCC had taken steps in that direction.

Why do you have to go to Ogunbanjo when the case is pending here? Mr Taiwo queried again on Thursday.

EFCCs side

Responding, the prosecuting counsel, Mr Abubakar, said

EFCC filed the exparte motion to obtain the freezing order, but it was the Chief Judge of the court who assigned it to Ms Giwa-Ogunbanjo.

Insisting that the prosecution must terminate the proceedings before Ms Giwa-Ogunbanjo, Mr Taiwo said, That is what the law says.

We will see how we can withdraw it, Abubakar said in response.

Mr Taiwo then adjourned the matter till February 24.

Aside from Mrs Oyo-Ita, other defendants in the case include, Frontline Ace Global Services Ltd and Asanaya Projects Ltd, Garba Umar, his two companies, Slopes International Ltd and Gooddeal Investment Ltd  the 2nd to 6th defendants.

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The rest, who are the 7th to the 9th defendants are, Ubong Okon Effiok, his two companies, U & U Global Services Ltd and Prince Mega Logistics Ltd.

The EFCC accused the ex-HoS of engaging in fraud in relation to Duty Tour Allowance, estacodes, conference fees and receiving kickbacks on contracts.

(NAN)

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Political leaders allied to President Uhuru Kenyatta and opposition leader Raila Odinga have hit out at Deputy President William Ruto and his allies, accusing him of undermining the Head of State and instigating a class war.

The ODM and Jubilee affiliated Senators and MPs reminded the DP they were elected together with the President and he should therefore not try to divorce himself from the pledges made to Kenyans by the Jubilee government.

They also promised to drum up support for the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) saying the document has several benefits to Kenyans.

The leaders told off Ruto over his 'premature' 2022 General Election campaigns which they said were at the expense of development projects in the country.

Youth and Gender Affairs Chief Administrative Secretary Rachel Shebesh, in a veiled attack on DP Ruto, tore into leaders who are going around the country saying President Kenyatta has done nothing, saying the President does not need to shout what he has done.

She rubbished the wheelbarrow empowerment initiative by the DP saying real empowerment lies in government projects including the provision of funds to youth and women to start businesses that can in turn grow the economy.

"Uhuru is the president. He does not need to shout but to work. Let us respect the President. Everyone will go to the ground in 2022 when the time comes," said Shebesh.

Shebesh, however, castigated leaders allied to the President for creating the gap that is now being exploited by peddlers of the "wheelbarrow" narrative, asking Kenyans to start telling off leaders who go to the ground to peddle lies that President Kenyatta has not delivered.

Nairobi Metropolitan Services (NMS) Director General Major General Mohamed Badi warned the leaders not to think that the President has been left alone reminding them that he is in the Handshake deal together with ODM party leader Raila Odinga.

Badi said the Head of State has the support of all Kenyans as well as leaders allied to his course and therefore, no one should think he has been left alone.

"I am not a politician and therefore I will not talk about building bridges initiative but let me make it clear that the President is not alone. If there is a handshake, do you think he is alone? He has his partner in the deal," said the NMS boss.

"If you say he is alone, where are we then? The President has all Kenyans behind him and we are all his supporters," he added.

Kibra MP Imran Okoth told off Ruto, who prides himself as the Hutsler Nation leader, for using taxpayers' money in search of power instead of honouring pledges the Jubilee government made to Kenyans.

In a scathing attack on the DP, he said Ruto had abandoned the President and is busy campaigning asking for votes ahead of 2022.

"We are in a difficult moment as a country with the President having been left alone to work as those he had campaigned with have left him and are now campaigning. It is sad when your deputy cannot help you deliver to Kenyans but is instead crisscrossing the country campaigning for his presidential bid," said Okoth.

"You are still driving government cars, you are living in a house built by taxpayers' money yet you are busy asking Kenyans to elect you as president in 2022 while you have failed to deliver your pledges," he added.

The ODM lawmaker also dismissed the wheelbarrow narrative by Ruto chiding the DP for only realizing that mama mbogas and bodaboda riders existed in the country now after eight years in power.

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Nairobi Deputy Governor Anne Kananu drummed up support for BBI saying it portends well for Kenyans as it will ensure increased allocations to counties, benefit to youths and women, allocations to ward development fund calling on Kenyans not to be misled by the naysayers.

"Yes you will be given wheelbarrows but you need to ask yourself how much of your load can you carry with it. The BBI bill is the only sure way of empowering Kenyans as it ensures more funding to counties," said Ms Kananu.

Kamukunji MP Yusuf Hassan laid into the regime of former Governor Mike Sonko for derailing development in the capital through constant wrangles thanking the President for his intervention.

"Nairobi had stagnated because of corruption, poor leadership, and wrangles. I thank the President for intervening. Now we have NMS which is delivering on developments as well as a new governor. We are hopeful of better tidings in the remaining months," he said.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - February 11, 2021) - Mr. Ari Toderovitz, of 31 King High Avenue, North York, ON, M3H 3A8, announces the filing of an early warning report (the "Early Warning Report") in connection with the disposition of 536,000) common shares (the "Common Shares") in the capital of Spyder Cannabis Inc. (the "Corporation") through the facilities of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV") on February 11, 2021 at an average price of $0.21342 per Common Share, for aggregate gross consideration of $114,394.12 (the "Disposition").

Immediately prior to the Disposition, Mr. Toderovitz, together with 2432692 Ontario Inc. (the "Joint Actor"), an entity controlled by Mr. Toderovitz, held 4,096,833 Common Shares (approximately 8.70% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares, on a non-diluted basis), as well as 83,333 common share purchase warrants of the Corporation (the "Warrants") (held by the Joint Actor), and 400,000 incentive stock options of the Corporation ("Options") (held by Mr. Toderovitz). Assuming full exercise of the Warrants and the Options held by the Joint Actor and Mr. Toderovitz, respectively, Mr. Toderovitz held, together with the Joint Actor, an aggregate of 4,580,166 Common Shares (approximately 9.73% of the issued and outstanding shares, on a partially diluted basis). Mr. Toderovitz notes that as a result of increases in the issued and outstanding share capital of the Corporation since the date of the last report filed by Mr. Toderovitz under National Instrument 61-103 - The Early Warning System and Related take-Over Bid and Insider Reporting Issues, Mr. Toderovitz's security holding percentage interest in the Corporation had decreased, without his knowledge, to the aforementioned percentage as a result of dilution, independent of his participation in such dilutive transactions.

As a result of the Disposition, the beneficial holdings of Mr. Toderovitz decreased to less than 10% of the Corporation's issued and outstanding Common Shares. Following the Disposition, Mr. Toderovitz, together with the Joint Actor, holds 3,560,833 Common Shares approximately 7.56% of the issued and outstanding Common Shares, on a non-diluted basis), and assuming full exercise of the 83,333 Warrants held by the Joint Actor and the 400,000 Options held by Mr. Toderovitz, Mr. Toderovitz holds, together with the Joint Actor, 4,044,166 Common Shares (approximately 8.59% of the issued and outstanding shares, on a partially diluted basis).

The Common Shares were disposed of in the ordinary course of business, for investment purposes only. Depending on market conditions and other factors, Mr. Toderovitz and/or the Joint Actor may from time to time acquire or dispose of additional securities of the Corporation, or continue to hold or dispose of some or all of the securities of the Corporation in the open market, by private agreement or otherwise.

This news release is being issued as required by National Instrument 61-103 - The Early Warning System and Related take-Over Bid and Insider Reporting Issues. A copy of the Early Warning Report can be obtained on SEDAR at www.sedar.com under the Corporation's company profile, or by contacting Mr. Toderovitz (see below).

For further information, please contact:

Mr. Ari Toderovitz

Telephone: 647-999-9734

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/74310
Khartoum  According to the Darfur Bar Association (DBA), the current transitional government has failed to collect weapons in Darfur despite multiple attempts.

Saleh Mahmoud, head of the DBA, spoke at a press conference in Khartoum yesterday about the proliferation of weapons among armed groups, tribes and individuals in Darfur. He emphasized the threat these weapons pose for public security and safety, and stressed that they need to be collected and removed. The proliferation of weapons leads to "extrajudicial killings", rapes and other crimes against humanity, Saleh Mahmoud said.

According to Mahmoud an estimated 15,000 villages in Darfur have been burned and destroyed. "There is not even an estimate of the number of plundered and destroyed properties in Darfur." At least 0.5 million people in Darfur haven been direct victims of violence involving the use of weapons, he said. The number of those affected or displaced by the violence stands at 4 million, 2.7 million of them live in camps.

Protection for the people, enabling refugees and displaced persons to return to their villages of origin, and justice must be the main challenges for the transitional government now that reconciliation with armed rebel movements has been reached, Saleh Mahmoud said.

Mahmoud stressed that ousted president Omar Al Bashir and others must be transferred to The Hague to appear before the International Criminal Court (ICC).

He said that the government has not dealt with the recent violence in the Jebel Marra region and in El Geneina, capital of West Darfur, and that "the criminals are still at large and need to be brought to trial".

Nafisa Hajar, head of the director of human rights at DBA, added that 85% of the population in the camps in Darfur are children and women. She said that children are being forcibly recruited by armed groups.

On Monday, Mousa Adam Saeed (37) was killed and Abdelatif Haroun (42) was wounded when they were shot at four kilometres northwest of Nierteti, Central Darfur.

Adam Okaruo told Radio Dabanga that the victims had come to the area from the West Jebel Marra region to harvest honey. Four gunmen on horseback had opened fire on them. He added that the gunmen stole the victims' mobiles, money and belongings and then headed west.
James Nielsen/Staff

Winter electricity demand could reach an all-time high as frigid temperatures move into Texas, the state's grid manager said Thursday.

An extremely cold air mass that has begun moving south across the central United States could make it to the Gulf of Mexico, with subfreezing temperatures expected to hit Houston beginning this weekend.
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Alessandra Ambrosio has been making the most of being under lockdown from the COVID-19 pandemic as the numbers continue to climb: so far 2.35million people have died worldwide.

The beauty - who will turn 40-years-old in April - has been sheltering with her friends and family in her native Brazil where she is often seen unwinding on the beach.

On Thursday the cover girl was pictured on the shore yet again as she said she was enjoying a mermaid's life while in a 'coral castle.'

Easy life: Alessandra Ambrosio has been making the most of being under lockdown from the COVID-19 pandemic after 2.35million people have died worldwide

The siren had on a light blue bikini from her popular GAL Floripa line; the top had double straps and a triangle shape while the briefs went high on her slender hips.

The Versace model added layers of gold necklaces, one with an evil eye, and added bracelets and rings.

Ambrosio wore her hair down over her shoulders and slightly damp from the ocean. She had a deep tan from spending nearly every day on the beach.

All good for her: The beauty - who will turn 40-years-old in April - has been sheltering with her friends and family in her native Brazil where she is often seen unwinding on the beach

She posed on the rocks in shallow water as she managed to look like a mermaid at rest.

The day before she had on the same swimsuit but in white.

The Gucci model sat on the rocks overlooking a serene cove while she posed away. The focus on the new photos was her dynamic figure with long limbs and a flat belly; the beauty is in incredible shape especially considering she is turning 40-years-old in just two months.

Dreamy location: On Thursday the cover girl was pictured on the shore yet again as she said she was enjoying a mermaid's life while in a 'coral castle'

The siren was born on April 11, 1981 and has done a lot in her 39 years, including securing a career as an international model that has landed her on the cover of Vogue and given her a Victoria's Secret contract. She has also welcomed two children and launched her own swimwear line, GAL Floripa.

In the new images her hair was worn down in soft waves as she was makeup-free for a day in the sun; at one point she raised one of her sculpted arms toward the sky.

The mother-of-two wrote added a sunshine, flower and sun emoji for her 10.3M followers.

For weeks she has been in Cachoeira Do Bom Jesus, Santa Catarina, Brazil, with her friends and family.

Last month she treated her Instagram fans to a bevy of photographs while on the shore.

Dream day: The siren had on a light blue bikini from her popular GAL Floripa line; the top had double straps and a triangle shape while the briefs went high on her slender hips

The leggy Brazilian beauty took to the Instagram page for her swimwear company GAL Floripa to show off her latest design, a light pink two piece with a bra cup top.

The Victoria's Secret favorite was not alone as she was surrounded by several other models who also had incredible figures.

The star offered some sage advice: 'Be silly, be fun, be different, be crazy. Be you, because life is too short to be anything but happy.'

The California resident asked her fans to 'share your smile with the world' as she noted she was in the Sereia bikini.

Floating is fun: Ambrosio wore her hair down over her shoulders and slightly damp from the ocean. She had a deep tan from spending nearly every day on the beach

And then she shared the photographer was Roberto Martini.

In another image with her pretty pals, Alessandra said she was 'ready' for fun.

In an image where the catwalker was jumping off a boat with her pals she said, 'Yes, we are aware of how silly we are together... No, we don't care!'

None of them had masks on and it's not clear if the shoot was done before COVID-19 or if they all quarantined together and were tested.

In an image where AA showed off her backside, she said, 'Happiness looks good on everyone.'

Blinged out: The Versace model added layers of gold necklaces, one with an evil eye, and added bracelets and rings

The star was in Florianopolis, while spending the holidays in her nearby home state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

The looker accessorized the low-cut structured bikini top with layers of gold necklaces and bracelets in gold and blue.

Ambrosio debuted a fun video campaign for her swimwear line GAL Floripa over the weekend, which she filmed in Brazil with some of her closest model pals.

The Daddy's Home actress had a great time at a resort and pranced around the beach in sizzling bikinis, before moving the party to a yacht.

Although she's a proud Brazilian, Ambrosio also became an American recently, achieving citizenship status this summer.

She can't take a bad photo: The day before she had on the same swimsuit but in white. The Gucci model sat on the rocks overlooking a serene cove while she posed away. The focus on the new photos was her dynamic figure with long limbs and a flat belly

She took to her Instagram Story on Labor Day with her naturalization certificate, writing: 'From the newest addition to the American team !!!'

Ambrosio has lived in the US for roughly 20 years, having kicked off her successful modeling career when she was 15.

She shares daughter Anja Louise, 12, and son Noah Phoenix, eight, with ex Jamie Mazur, 39, to whom she was engaged from 2008 to 2018, before calling it quits.

Now with clothing on: The stunner is seen here in a bra and a black suit as she appears on Germany's Next TopModel

In 2017 she talked about getting ready for a VS show.

'For breakfast I usually have eggs and/or avocado toast,' noted the slim model. 'And after my work-out I usually grab a green juice followed by lunch where I usually have a salad along with some chicken or fish,' she said.

'For dinner I might go for sushi, or grill Brazilian BBQ at home. I also have some nuts or a protein bar in my bag all the times in case I get hungry while Im running around.'

And she works out plenty: 'I would say an hour to an hour and a half a day.

'It all depends on what I'm doing that day.

'If Im going on a hike or playing volleyball with my friends it might be longer but I dont usually spend more than hour and a half in the gym.'
Bennington, VT (05201)

Today

Rain likely. High 53F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a half an inch..

Tonight

Rain likely. Low 44F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a half an inch.
A SIAKOBVU traditional healer was recently arrested while trying to sell a US$2 000 worth of python skin to Zimbabwe Parks Authority (ZimParks) rangers.

Matirikisi Dzomba, 51, of Gweshe 2 village in Siakobvu last week appeared before Chinhoyi magistrate, Mr Tendai Banda for contravening Section 45 (I) as read with Section 128 (b) of the Parks and Wildlife Act chapter 20:14, which pertains to "possession of a python skin without a permit."

He pleaded guilty and was remanded in custody to 26 March.

The regional court is expected to hand down sentence.

Police evaluated the python skin measuring 2, 48 metres at US$2 000.

It is the State's case that on February 2, at Gweshe 2 village, Chief Nebiri, Siakobvu at around 5:30pm, ZimParks ranger Herbert Makiyi received a tip off that Dzomba had a python skin at his homestead.

Makiyi and Tazvishaya Dhinhiwe both stationed at Mutasadonha National Park went to the homestead.

The two misrepresented that they wanted to buy to python skin.

Dzomba went into his house and emerged with a small sack containing the skin, which led to his arrest.

The crime attracts a mandatory nine-year jail term.
Mumbai: Director Mohit Suris upcoming sequel to his 2014 hit Ek Villain is set to release theatrically on February 11, 2022. Titled Ek Villain Returns, the action-thriller features actors John Abraham, Arjun Kapoor, Disha Patani and Tara Sutaria in the lead roles.

Abraham took to Twitter and shared the first look from the film. Iss kahaani ka hero, villain hai!#EkVillainReturns, 11th Feb, 2022, the actor said.

Ek Villain Returns is the first collaboration between Abraham and Suri, who last directed the thriller Malang. The film reunites Kapoor with Suri, after the duos 2017 drama Half Girlfriend.

Ek Villain was my passion project and a labour of love. The kind of love that I still receive for Ek Villain overwhelms me. I am sure with Ek Villain Returns, the love is only going to grow bigger. And while I cannot reveal much about the film, I can assure that it is going to be a thrilling rollercoaster ride, the filmmaker said in a statement. Ek Villain, featuring Sidharth Malhotra, Shraddha Kapoor and Riteish Deshmukh, was revenge drama about a criminal whose wife is murdered by a sadistic serial killer.

The sequel is backed by Ekta Kapoors Balaji Motion Pictures and Bhushan Kumars T-Series.

Attorney for former President Donald Trump Bruce Castor speaks to reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington on Feb. 10, 2021. (Joshua Roberts/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)

Trump Lawyer Bruce Castor: Impeachment Managers Presented Nothing New

A lawyer representing former President Donald Trump in the impeachment trial said that House Democrats presented no new information in the nearly eight hour session on Wednesday.

Yesterday we said we didnt dispute that the breach of the capital is a terrible thing, and that mob violence is something that President Trump abhors. So we didnt learn anything today we didnt already know, its a matter of fact. I wonder why we sat through eight hours of videos that are under dispute, Bruce Castor told reporters as he walked to his car after the session ended.

The representatives serving as impeachment managers presented no new evidence supporting the charge of inciting insurrection, though they did show video footage that had never been shown before to the public.

Castor said Trumps team isnt making adjustments to its approach based on what was presented on Wednesday, adding, I dont know what the public has seen and I dont think the Democrats revealed anything the public hasnt seen from a different angle; I think it was all angles.

Castor also reaffirmed that Trump will not be appearing during the trial.

David Schoen, lawyer for former President Donald Trump, walks on Capitol Hill during a break in the second impeachment trial of Trump, at the Capitol in Washington on Feb. 10, 2021. (Joshua Roberts/Pool via AP)

Asked whether Trumps lawyers would be presenting videos suggesting Democrats themselves have incited riotous behavior, David Schoen, another member of Trumps team, said, Youll have to stand by and watch, but its a pretty good bet.

I would say, though, that its not only that they wanted plenty of video time today, it seems like they want a lot of screen time for themselves. Theyre clearly playing to the cameras, to the public, all of the time, he added.

Schoen was speaking during a virtual appearance on Fox News The Ingraham Angle. Host Laura Ingraham noted that some of the House impeachment managers objected to election results in 2017. Theyve equated similar actions in the last election cycle as inciting violence.

Schoen also argued that Democrats showing raw video clips and photographs from Jan. 6, when protesters stormed the Capitol during a joint session of Congress, undermined the message from some in the party that they want to heal the country.

Security video from the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 is shown to senators during the impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump, in Washington on Feb. 10, 2021. (Senate Television via AP)

Its continuing to open wounds for the American public and it is something that President Trump has condemned in no uncertain terms, the terrible violence that went on there. So theres not an issue about that, theyre just hoping to drum up emotion and get their last shots in at President Trump, he said.

Impeachment managers had asserted Trump was to blame for the violence on Jan. 6 as they attempt to convince 67 senators to vote to convict him.

How did we get to a point where rioters desecrated, defiled, and dishonored your senate chamber? Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) said. I will show you how we got here. President Donald J. Trump ran out of nonviolent options to maintain power.

Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas), another impeachment manager, told reporters as he left the Capitol, I thought it was a strong day.

Under the new policy, commercial 15-year-old vehicles and 20-year-old private vehicles can be considered for scrapping.

Passenger vehicle sales in India increased by 11.14 per cent to 2,76,554 units in January, auto industry body SIAM says. The figure stood at 2,48,840 units a year back.

According to the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), two-wheeler dispatches to dealers rose 6.63 per cent to 14,29,928 units from 13,41,005 units in the last one year.

While motorcycle sales increased 5.1 per cent to 9,16,365 units as against 8,71,886 in January 2020, scooters saw a 9.06 per cent rise in sales to 4,54,315 units from 4,16,567 units in this period.

Three-wheelers, however, recorded a sharp 56.76 per cent decline in offtake to 26,335 units as compared with Rs 60,903 units in January last year.

Vehicle sales across categories rose by 4.97 per cent to 17,32,817 units last month as against 16,50,812 units in the year ago period, SIAM says.
Trouble in paradise? That didnt take long.

Right-hander Trevor Bauer, who signed a three-year, $102 million contract last week with the Los Angeles Dodgers, is finding everything wont be fun in the sun. Just check out his tweet from Wednesday:

Dodger fans: I love you already, Im excited to meet you all and interact with you, and I love signing autographs for fans. But please, have some respect for my personal space when Im at my house or hotel. Its not ok to follow me through the hotel demanding that I sign.

The Dodgers, who are the defending World Series champions, and the New York Mets were the finalists for Bauer, who won the 2020 National League Cy Young Award after posting a career-best 1.73 ERA for the Cincinnati Reds.

Bauer reportedly left more money on the table in choosing the Dodgers over the Mets. The 30-year-old Bauer spent the offseason flirting with the Mets on social media, going out of his way to praise new owner Steve Cohen and the Mets fan base.

Bauer will be the third Cy Young Award winner in the Dodgers starting rotation, joining Clayton Kershaw (NL in 2011, 2013, 2014) and David Price (AL in 2012).

Bauers only All-Star season came in 2018 with the Cleveland Indians. One year later, the Indians traded him to the Reds as part of a three-team deal with the San Diego Padres.

Mike Rosenstein may be reached at mrosenstein@njadvancemedia.com.
The latest local murder offers a glimpse at tempers growing worse in the metro as the darkest days of Winter are starting to take their toll on everyone.



Take a look . . .



Fox4: Parkville police investigating double murder along 9 Highway

Deets:

According to Parkville Police Chief Kevin Chrisman, there was a dispute between two parties over the sale of firewood.



Two people in one vehicle began to drive away from the place where the transaction was to take place and were followed by a man in a truck.



The man in the truck allegedly fired a gun and struck the men in the other vehicle. One man was pronounced dead at the scene. The other man died after arriving at the hospital.

Developing . . .


Officers from the Guardia Civil are carrying out an major operation against cocaine trafficking in the provinces of Malaga and Cadiz with early-morning raids this Thursday (11 February).

Sources have told SUR that there have been raids in the Palma-Palmilla district of Malaga city and on a farm in Alhaurin de la Torre. It is also reported that raids are also taking place in Cadiz.

According to the same sources, searches are being carried out and there have been several arrests.

The officers deployed belong to the Central Operational Unit (UCO) and the Drug Trafficking Coordination Agency (OCON), deployed by the Government in the Campo de Gibraltar and surrounding areas to take down drug trafficking gangs.

2021-02-11

Maeci

The Foreign Ministry celebrates the 6th International Day for Women and Girls in Science with the words pronounced at the Conference of Science Attaches of 2020 by the Italian scientists Barbara Gallavotti, Ilaria Capua and Alessandra Fanciulli, at the forefront of scientific cooperation and research in Italy and worldwide.
MONROE COUNTY, MI  A man accused of attacking two Black teens at a state park, fracturing one teens skull with a bike lock, has been indicted on federal hate crime charges.

Lee James Mouat Jr., 42, of Newport, was indicted Thursday, Feb. 11, on two counts violating the federal Hate Crime Prevention Act, which makes it illegal to injure, or attempt to injure, someone because of their actual or perceived race, color, religion or national origin.

The charges were filed in October, when federal officials first released information about the case.

The victim and two other African American teenagers were in the parking lot of Sterling State Park in Monroe County June 6 when Mouat used a racial slur when telling them they didnt belong on the beach. according to the criminal complaint filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.

Mouat said he had something for them in his car, and the teen assumed he was leaving, but Mouat returned with a chain object and hit the victim in the face, knocking several teeth out, and attempted to hit a second teen, the affidavit says.

The teen hit with the bike lock lost several teeth and suffered a skull fracture in the assault, records show.

Prior to the attack, a witness saw Mouat walking with his family and complaining about the music the teens were playing, the affidavit says. The witness said they heard Mouat use racial slurs and call the teens monsters multiple times.

Several other witness at the park told investigators they heard Mouat yell Black lives dont matter followed by more racial slurs leading up to the attack, records show.

Mouats next court date has not yet been publicly posted. He faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted.

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AstraZeneca expects profit growth to pick up this year after the COVID-19 vaccine developer beat forecasts for quarterly drug sales, with demand for its cancer and other therapies cushioning the disruption caused by the pandemic. Last year was a crucial one for the Anglo-Swedish company. It teamed up with the University of Oxford to develop a COVID-19 vaccine, and struck its largest ever deal by buying U.S. drugmaker Alexion. AstraZeneca said on Thursday it expects 2021 revenue to increase by a low teens percentage, with "faster growth" in core ...
"My companies and I have made some meaningful and practical community activities with a view to supporting the homeland to overcome the difficulties."

What were your biggest concerns when looking back at a turbulent 2020?

The past 13 months has been a journey fraught with challenges for most businesses, including our companies. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to spread across the world, including the United States. Meanwhile, Vietnam is continuing its fight against the pandemic as well as recovering from the natural disasters like saline intrusion, floods, and landslides. Thus, my companies and I have made some meaningful and practical community activities with a view to supporting the homeland to overcome the difficulties.

When the US declared states of emergency in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, it witnessed a severe scarcity in medical equipment especially face masks. At that time, CWS donated 40,000 N95 face masks to the US. The company also ordered 80,000 cloth face masks and 1.5 million surgical face masks from Vietnam to give the American people. In mid-April 2020, CWS donated $100,000 to the COVID-19 Prevention Fund by the Consulate General of Vietnam in San Francisco.

In November the company granted an additional $120,000 to the Consulate General of Vietnam in San Francisco to support the residents of the flood-hit central region. At the event, the Vietnam American Business Association (VABA), where I am chairman, also granted $51,000 to the central region. As of present, the total sum CWS, VWS, and VABA have donated to Vietnam amounts to $171,000.

VWS also gifted VND200 million ($8,700) to the Standing Committee of the Vietnamese Fatherland Front to support the fight against COVID-19, as well as drought and salinity in the south of Vietnam.

Despite these moderate contributions to help residents in the central region, these grants reflect the warm hearts of Vietnamese people living in the US as well as the children living far away from their homeland around the world. I affirm that the Vietnamese community in the western states of America, no matter what they do, wherever they are, is always turning towards the homeland, especially in difficult times.

The expat community also expressed their belief that under the leadership and direction of the government and the consensus of the people, Vietnam will continue to control and contain the COVID-19 pandemic more successfully than most nations have been able to achieve.

How do you see the challenges affect the operation activities of CWS and VWS?

In the midst of turbulent times, CWS and VWS have conquered many challenges to maintain our operation. Fortunately, most of our staff in the US and Vietnam have overcome the difficulties caused by the global health crisis. CWS continues to earn the trust of the San Jose City authorities with the signing of the new contract on waste treatment.

VWS still safely operates and processes the amount of garbage discharged in Ho Chi Minh City.

However, my greatest concern is the delay of the project to upgrade the waste treatment technology at Da Phuoc Integrated Waste Management Facility. The project has been waiting for the citys approval for a long time, which leads to increases in capital bringing the project costs over $400 million. The project will produce eco-friendly by-products such as fertiliser, compost, and compressed natural gas, bringing enormous benefits to society.

We hope that the city will soon green-light this new technology in line with US and EU standards for its huge benefits on environmental protection, creating more products for the society and generate new jobs for the local community.

Meanwhile, VWS is waiting for the approval of Functional Departments about the planning report for the Green Environmental Technology Park in Thu Thua district of the Mekong Delta province of Long An. Covering an area of 1,760 hectares, the project uses modern waste-to-energy combustion technology in line with EU standards. Once put into operation, the Green Environmental Technology Park will receive and handle all kinds of garbage for Ho Chi Minh City, Long An, and other provinces in the key southern economic region, with a processing capacity of 44,000 tonnes of garbages per day.

At present, the planning of the project is adjusted and waiting for the approval of competent authorities. However, I am confused by Long Ans alleged proposals to alter the purpose of a clean site planned for the Green Environmental Technology Park. It is worth noting that the project is a testament to the wholehearted efforts of the Vietnamese business community in the US towards the homeland. The investment capital for this project is very large so we have mobilised resources from the Vietnamese business community in the US as part of funding for this project.

You have said that your aim is not to do business but to serve and repay your homeland. How do the obstacles affect this sentiment of Vietnamese overseas investors like yourself?

I believe the good things of the previous years will continue into 2021 with innovative thinking and synchronous implementation from high to low levels. In another economic aspect, Vietnam has formulated good policies such as the Law on Investment. The central leaders are determined to implement the new policies. I was very happy when Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc agreed to set up a special taskforce to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) to Vietnam.

As of present, I am committed to continuing contributions to the homeland. This spirit is in line with our efforts as chairman of VABA, which was established to promote investment and trade activities between Vietnam and the US. I always encourage Vietnamese overseas businesses to return and invest in Vietnam.

In addition, VABA is aimed at fostering solidarity among Vietnamese businessmen as well as enhancing the position of Vietnamese businessmen in the US. The association has created a bridge connecting entrepreneurs and investors from the US to Vietnam. I can affirm that, no matter who or where, Vietnamese people overseas always turn to their homeland, especially in difficult times.

However, some overseas Vietnamese businessmen have said that there is still some inconsistency from high to low levels. This, coupled with inconsistent policies, has plagued several businesses in some localities. Those are the things that will hinder overseas Vietnamese businessmen to fund certain projects and contribute to the local market.

What is the outlook of attracting investment from Vietnamese overseas businessmen?

At present, Vietnam has become a spotlight as a safe investment destination for investors, especially many big names like Apple, Foxconn, Google, and Samsung. These are good signs for the countrys FDI attraction. Many overseas Vietnamese people in the US have supplied millions or even tens of millions of US dollars of investment into Vietnam. If the central, provincial, and city authorities can create more favourable conditions for overseas Vietnamese investors, it will attract much larger foreign influxes in the coming time.

It didn't take long for Claire Danes to jump back in and land another leading role for television.

Just nine months after wrapping up her role as CIA case officer Carrie Mathison on the hit spy series Homeland, the actress has signed-on to star in period drama series The Essex Serpent for Apple TV+.

Danes takes over for Keira Knightley, who was originally cast as Cora Seaborne, but had to drop out of the project for personal reasons related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

New gig: Claire Danes will star in the lead role for the upcoming period drama series The Essex Serpent for Apple TV+

The series is based on the 2016 novel of the same name by British author Sarah Perry.

Set in the Victorian era of the 1890s, the drama follows Cora (Danes), a newly widowed woman relishing her newfound freedom from an abusive husband, who moves from London to a small village in Essex.

Not long after arriving, she becomes intrigued by a local superstition: a mythical sea serpent known as the Essex Serpent that has returned to the area.

Original leading lady: Danes is taking over the leading role from Keira Knightley, who dropped out of the project due to concerns over childcare for her two young children amid COVID-19

Role of a lifetime: Danes only just wrapped her hit spy drama Homeland in April 2020 after eight seasons that debuted back in 2011

The See-Saw production is being directed by Clio Barnard, who's best known for her work on film The Selfish Giant (2013), and produced by Andrea Cornwell.

Anna Symon will serve as the lead writer. Her resume includes penning the British historical drama series, Mrs. Wilson (2018).

Both Barnard and Symon will also play serve as executive producers alongside Jamie Laurenson, Patrick Walters, Hakan Kousetta, Emile Sherman, and Iain Canning, according to Deadline

Apple gave the green light and ordered The Essex Serpent to series in August 2020.

TV gold: The 41-year-old actress first made waves as a leading lady on television when she starred alongside Jared Leto in the acclaimed series, My So-Called Life (1994-1995)

Knightley, who has been labeled the Queen of Period Pieces after starring in films as Pride & Prejudice (2005) and Atonement (2007), was cast as Cora but she pulled out in October over childcare concerns during the pandemic.

Danes, 41, steps into the series after starring in Homeland for eight seasons, which spanned from 2011 to 2020.

She first made waves on television starring opposite Jared Leto in the acclaimed coming-of-age teen series My So-Called Life (1994-1995).

The following year the New York City native was paired with Leonardo DiCaprio in the romantic crime tragedy film Romeo + Juliet (1996).

Among her most celebrated roles: the HBO film Temple Grandin (2010), for which she played a young woman with autism.
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Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

University of New Mexico Hospital is touting its new status as the states first Comprehensive Stroke Center, a designation that could make a big difference for stroke patients who have a narrow window to get help before suffering permanent damage.

Thats the highest designation from the Joint Commission, the primary accrediting body that partners with the American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association to certify centers in cardiac and stroke care, UNMH neurosurgeon Dr. Andrew Carlson said on Wednesday.

The certification indicates that UNMH has the 24-7 capability to perform surgical procedures to repair aneurysms in the brain, or endovascular procedures inside blood vessels to remove blood clots.

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For five years, UNMH has been using a multidisciplinary approach of neurologists, neurosurgeons, nurses, physical and occupational therapists, and other health care professionals to treat stroke patients as quickly as possible, said Torsten Rohde, director of UNMHs Stroke and Heart Failure Programs.

UNMH must regularly document and report its treatments and outcomes, which are checked and compared to other hospitals, so we are not just our own island here, Rohde said.

Where a stroke is caused by a blockage, the window for successful treatment is three to four-and-a-half hours in which to administer the clot-dissolving medication TPA; where a stroke is caused by a brain bleed, such as from a leaking or burst aneurism, the window for successful treatment is six to 24 hours, depending on the severity of the bleed, Carlson said.

Once a patient gets transferred in, its the expectation that we will get that patient from the door on to the table and have access to their blood vessels within one hour, which is a big challenge when we have to do all their assessments, their scans and move them across our whole hospital, Carlson said.

People in the greater Albuquerque area who have symptoms of a severe stroke, Carlson said, should come straight to our Comprehensive Stroke Center to cut the time it takes to transfer a patient from one facility to another.

Other hospitals in the metro area, as well as throughout the state, are also important as primary stroke centers, where mild symptoms of a stroke can be imaged and evaluated.

UNMH has been coordinating with hospitals throughout New Mexico, as well as paramedics in the field, to recognize when a stroke patient is in need of more complicated medical attention so they can be more quickly transferred to UNMH, either by ambulance or helicopter, depending on the distance, Carlson said.

Nationwide, strokes are responsible for one in every six deaths, said Dr. Michel Torbey, chair of the UNM Department of Neurology. About 795,000 people experience a stroke each year in the U.S., and someone dies from a stroke about every four minutes.

Including treatment, medicine and missed days of work, the combined cost of stroke in the U.S. is about $46 billion a year, Torbey said.

The good news is we have the ability to reverse the disease and treat these patients, provided they get the proper medical intervention and get it quickly, Torbey said.

GROTON, Conn., Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- ThayerMahan, Inc., a world leader in autonomous maritime security solutions, completed an underwater survey using its SeaScout system to capture high-quality hydrographic imagery of Connecticut's Thames River. The survey is being conducted under a National Institute for Undersea Vehicle Technology (NIUVT) project in conjunction with the University of Connecticut (UConn)'s Department of Marine Sciences.

For more information on ThayerMahan's subsea capabilities: https://www.thayermahan.com/sectors/subsea-infrastructure

SeaScout Image: Anchor and lumber on the bottom of Thames River near New London ferry docks NIUVT, ThayerMahan, and UConn logos

ThayerMahan's SeaScout system is an actively stabilized towed vehicle with synthetic aperture sonar and multibeam echosounder payloads. The system generates ultra-fine resolution (3cm x 3cm) beamformed imagery and interferometric bathymetry of undersea cables, boulders, rocks, and seafloor characteristics in real-time. For example, individual anchor chain links are visible and discernable in the image shown below:

The two-year project will locate and monitor the shifting boundaries of key biological habitats and short-term, small-scale changes in bathymetry important to the health of the Thames River and Long Island Sound ecosystems. Baseline data will be re-evaluated to identify changes in the region and enhance security within the New London port area.

Michael Connor, ThayerMahan's President and CEO stated,

"ThayerMahan is thankful for the NIUVT project and is very excited about our partnership with UConn. This project, leveraging ThayerMahan's ability to rapidly gather high-quality imagery in real-time, is an important step toward safely developing the Blue Economy offshore and enabling the safe and secure use of our harbors by commercial and government vessels. All ships, particularly those carrying environmentally sensitive cargoes and munitions, should be able to operate in restricted waters confident that neither obstructions nor threats lie in their path. Our seabed imaging capability can make that a reality today. ThayerMahan is proud to support the State of Connecticut and the future of the Port of New London."

The survey was performed aboard the R/V Connecticut, a research vessel owned by UConn. The Undersea Warfighting Development Center and the Naval Submarine Base New London were important contributors to the project. The next survey is planned for May 2021.

ThayerMahan has over 350+ years of maritime operational experience and 125+ years of sonar operational experience in the most challenging seaborne environments. Founded by retired Navy Admiral Mike Connor in 2016, the company specializes in unmanned autonomous sensing and reporting systems for the U.S. Navy, DoD, and other government and commercial customers.

About ThayerMahan

ThayerMahan, Inc. is a maritime technology company dedicated to providing its clients with turn-key autonomous marine solutions, including deployment, operations, data gathering and analysis services, using state-of-the-art acoustic and electronic sensors integrated on a variety of host platforms tailored to customer missions. The company is headquartered in Groton, CT with additional locations in Lexington, MA, Boston, MA and Washington, DC.

Media Contact:

Richard J. Hine (COO)

[email protected]

860-937-6622 (Office)

SOURCE ThayerMahan, Inc.
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The Chinese people are celebrating the Lunar New Year. I'm so happy that I'm able to participate for the first time this year, staying in Beijing to enjoy the festive atmosphere of the Spring Festival and feel the splendid Chinese civilization.



I arrived in Beijing in 2019 a few days after the Spring Festival. Despite being a little late, I could still see the city wearing a festive look. Ever since, I have been curious to witness how the Chinese people ring out their traditional old year and usher in the new one and be a participant.

Ahead of the Spring Festival, Chinese people thoroughly clean their house to sweep away any lingering ill-fortune and to make way for incoming good luck, and they decorate the windows and doors with traditional New Year red paper-cuts and couplets.

The most attractive part of the festival is the family gathering and annual reunion dinner, when family members scattered across the country return to their hometown to participate in this special ritual. This is why the Spring Festival travel rush became the world's largest human migration.

However, this year's celebration is somewhat different as the Chinese government has encouraged people to spend their holidays in the place of current residence to reduce the risks of infection or spread of COVID-19.

Many have chosen to give up the chance to join the annual travel rush back to their hometowns to be with their families for the biggest traditional festival. They did this for the sake of their loved ones and the pandemic prevention and control.

People used to depict Beijing as an "empty-city" due to scenes of empty streets and vacant homes following the mass exodus. This year, the city looks much busier and crowded, and the atmosphere become even more resplendent as restaurants, shopping malls, supermarkets and all kinds of business remain open and offer a variety of services and activities to make the festival more colorful and interesting.

Every corner of Beijing wears a celebratory look with the decoration of red paper-cuts and lanterns. Every door of the house has been decorated with red stickers written with different good luck wishes. The colorful illustrations of buildings around the city have brought extra vibes to the festivity.

The government and enterprises have rolled out various policies and measures to ensure people can have a relaxed and happy festival, such as offering bonuses and utilization of 5G technologies to ensure people reunite with families through virtual video chats. There are also a lot of local tourism products offering people opportunities to enjoy short-distance trips close at hand.

The Lunar New Year is around the corner. I can sense the feeling of joy and festivity all around. My office has already been decorated with festoons, scrolls and lanterns. Everyone living in my community is getting ready to usher in the new year of the Ox. My colleagues have started exchanging traditional red envelopes with each other.

Staying in Beijing to join in the Spring Festival celebration is really a unique experience, which allows me to get a sense of traditional Chinese culture and taste delicious Chinese delicacies. Happy Chinese New Year!

The author is a Bangladeshi journalist and columnist now based in Beijing.

Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.

If you would like to contribute, please contact us at opinion@china.org.cn.
Massachusetts schools have reported to the state 674 cases of COVID-19 within the last week, excluding students who are learning remotely.

Those cases, including 462 students and 212 staff members, were detected from Feb. 4 to Feb. 10, according to a report from the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

DESE releases a COVID case report each Thursday that includes cases of student or staff members who tested positive within seven days of being inside a school building. This week, there were 457 student cases and 194 staff cases reported at local school districts, one student case and six staff cases at education collaboratives, and four student cases and 12 staff cases at approved special education schools, according to the report.

This weeks report shows a significant decrease from last week, when the state announced 894 cases split between 571 students and 323 staff members. Statewide, coronavirus metrics have been trending downward.

Braintree reported the largest number of student COVID cases among districts this week with 25, according to the report. Andover had 20, New Bedford had 13, Beverly had 11 and Hanover had 10.

District staff cases were highest in Lynn with eight, per the report. Fall River saw seven staffers test positive, Wachusett had six and Brockton and Framingham both had five.

The one student case among education collaboratives was at South Shore Educational Collaborative (SSEC). Staff cases at collaboratives included three at South Shore Educational Collaborative (SSEC) and one each at Central Massachusetts SPED Collaborative, LABBB Collaborative and Northshore Education Consortium.

At approved special education schools, there was one case each at the Landmark School, Cardinal Cushing Centers School - Braintree, Cotting School and JRI Anchor Academy School - Middleborough. There were nine staff cases at the Boston Higashi School and three staff cases at the Perkins School for Blind.

There are 23 active COVID clusters in schools that were identified from Jan. 10 to Feb. 5, including 97 confirmed cases and 187 contacts. There are 42 clusters identified before Jan. 10 that have not yet met the criteria for closing.

School clusters include cases associated with a school where in-school transmission cannot be completely ruled out, officials have said, though other transmission settings are considered more likely. A cluster is considered closed after 28 days have passed since the last confirmed case.

Evidence of possible in-school transmission includes two or more cases that share a classroom or other school setting; timing between cases, as the average time between exposure and development of disease for COVID-19 is 5 days; and ruling out of other exposure settings, officials said.

DESE estimates there are 450,000 students and 75,000 staff members in public school buildings during the pandemic.

The state is currently in Phase 2 of its vaccination plan, which includes K-12 employees. However, a specific plan for educators to get vaccinated has not been unveiled yet. On Wednesday, a group of unions proposed to the state a rapid COVID vaccination plan for school employees, particularly in high-need districts that have been hit hard by the pandemic.

Meanwhile, more than 120 schools are starting a pooled COVID testing program, an initiative that is currently funded by the state with the hopes that more children will be able to return to classrooms.

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This newspaper understands that despite opposition by the oil companies, the Milan court accepted the evidence, acquired by Milan prosecutors from UK authorities.

A former Nigerian attorney-general and minister of justice, Mohammed Adoke, has petitioned the Inspector General of Police, demanding probe of an email evidence presented by prosecutors in the Malabu trial in Milan, Italy.

Mr Adoke, in his petition dated February 5, claimed that the evidence presented against him at the Italian court was "forged" with the intent to interfere with the course of justice.

The petition, titled "Forgery of Document for Purposes of Unlawful Interference With the Course of Justice", claimed that although those behind the alleged "forgery" are unknown, they can be unmasked by the security operatives.

The petition urged the Inspector General to look into the email evidence, as well as another audio evidence earlier presented against him in the trial.

Mr Adoke's reaction comes against the background of the Milan court's acceptance of evidence sourced from U.S. banking giant JP Morgan as part of the Malabu OPL 245 corruption trial.

Last week, PREMIUM TIMES reported that the court also accepted evidence of an email allegedly sent by Mr Adoke from the email address of a company allegedly owned by a "middleman" named in the controversial deal, Abubakar Aliyu.

This newspaper understands that despite opposition by the oil companies, the Milan court accepted the evidence, acquired by Milan prosecutors from UK authorities.

Prosecutors claim that Mr Adoke sent instructions about the transfer of OPL245 1.1$ billion payment by Eni and Shell from the email address of a certain A Group Properties, said to be owned by Mr. Abubakar.

A statement circulated by Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA) last week said the Milan Court denied Mr Adoke's claim that the email was not his.

HEDA quoted Milan public prosecutor Fabio De Pasquale as saying that "Internal email of senior compliance officer at JPMorgan denies Eni's claim that the bank got a green light for the transfer of OPL245 money by SOCA, the UK financial intelligence authority preventing money laundering".

PREMIUM TIMES had penultimate week reported that the prosecutors in Italy requested the Milan court to file documents sourced from U.S. bank JP Morgan and emails allegedly sent by Mr Adoke.

The new evidence accepted by the court claimed that the former AGF shared with JPMorgan an unofficial copy of the resolutions agreements of OPL245 signed by the FGN with Eni, Shell and Malabu.

In his reaction last week, Mr Adoke dismissed the evidence as "forged" and fake.

Scandal

The Malabu scandal is subject to corruption trials in different jurisdictions around the world.

The OPL245 oil block, regarded as one of Africa's richest, was controversially awarded to Malabu in 1998 by the then petroleum minister, Dan Etete.

Mr Etete owned 20 per cent of the block through a fictional character, Kwekwu Amafegha, and the block was controversially sold to oil giants, Shell and ENI, in 2011 with a large chunk of the $1.1 billion paid for it ending up in Mr Etete's accounts.

Mr Etete allegedly used a large chunk of the money to bribe officials of both the Nigerian government and those of Shell and ENI.

The Nigerian authorities have charged Messrs Etete, Adoke, and several others linked to Malabu with money laundering in connection with the onward flow of funds from the OPL245 deal.

Messrs Etete, Adoke, Abubakar and other parties accused in the trial, including officials of oil giants Eni and Shell, have denied wrongdoing.

Petition

In his new petition, filed by Kanu Agabi, the former attorney general claimed that the evidence against him were unsubstantiated and forged.

He argued that the parties responsible for the petition, investigations, and commencement of criminal trial allegedly resorted to the forgery of both the audio and email evidences, adding that the purpose of introducing the email was to establish relationship between him and Mr Abubakar.

Mr Adoke expressed shock at what he called the "unlawful design" and "collusion" with the prosecutors in Milan, which resulted in the "forgery" of the evidence.

To establish that the email was forged, Mr Adoke said that at the time it was sent, being June 21, 2011, he was not in office as the attorney general of the federation, "owing to the dissolution of the Federal Executive Council" by former president Goodluck Jonathan. The former minister claimed he was re-appointed into office on July 2, 2011, adding that within the period the email was allegedly sent, he was abroad and never had any dealings with official matters of the state.

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In the same vein, Mr Adoke said the prosecutors claimed the email was sent by "Mohammed Bello Adoke" but he never signed off correspondence without adding the suffix "SAN", which was not contained in the email.

Mr Adoke also claimed that he could never have sent an email from another person's mail while using his name. He described such conduct as "nonsensical" and distanced himself from the claim. He argued further that even if he had any reason to use another person's mail, he had a retinue of aides who could help him out.

Mr Adoke recalled that there had been a similar evidence presented against him in the past, with respect to tape of an alleged telephone recording with a certain Carlamaria Rumor, said to be a reporter with RAI TV in Italy, which he denied.

He called on the security operatives to investigate the genesis of the claims and bring those allegedly behind the "forgery" to book, adding that the individuals who initiated the petition, investigation and criminal trial against him may have questions to answer in the alleged case of "forgery".

When Chris Coy became Calgarys first Black firefighter 25 years ago, his heroic vision of the profession was almost immediately upended.

First, he said, during training he was hazed more than his colleagues, strapped to a stretcher against his will and repeatedly doused with a fire hose. Then there were the co-workers who ostracized him at lunch. Throughout his career, he said, fellow firefighters used a racial slur directed at Black people.

For years, Mr. Coy said he suffered in silence as he feared speaking out would mean dismissal, or, worse, other firefighters not shielding him from danger in the field.
Agartala, Feb 11 : Two youths have been arrested on the charge of trying to extort money from renowned doctors in Agartala by posing as journalists, police said on Thursday.

A police official said that the two had tried to blackmail a few leading doctors in the state capital in the past few days after threatening them to put out news against them on their YouTube channel.

The duo was arrested on Wednesday following complaints by the Agartala Press Club Secretary Pranab Sarkar after the affected doctors sought help from the apex body of media persons in Tripura.

"We are keeping a close watch on such attempts at blackmail and extortion by people posing as journalists. We have asked police and authorities concerned to take appropriate action in such cases," Sarkar said.
KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia will extend its free COVID-19 vaccination programme to all foreigners residing in the country, including students, refugees and undocumented migrants, the government said on Thursday.

The Southeast Asian country is expected to begin its vaccine rollout at the end of this month, aiming to cover at least 80% of its 32 million population within a year.

"A safe environment free from COVID-19 can only be achieved when as many Malaysian residents as possible are immunised," the government committee on vaccine supply said in a statement.

"During a pandemic, providing vaccinations is a humanitarian step."

The committee, however, said priority will be given to Malaysians, with the vaccination schedule for foreigners to be announced at a later date.

Separately, science minister Khairy Jamaluddin said foreigners eligible for free vaccinations will include asylum-seekers registered with the U.N. refugee agency UNHCR and undocumented migrants.

"(The committee) will be discussing further on how this can be implemented," he said on Twitter, adding that authorities will bring in state governments, foreign embassies and non-government organisations to assist in vaccine distribution.

Malaysia has secured more than enough vaccines to reach its targets after agreeing supply deals with U.S. drugmaker Pfizer and German partner BioNTech, Russia's Gamaleya Research Institute as well as China's Sinovac Biotech Ltd and CanSino Biologics.

It had also secured two separate vaccine shipments from AstraZeneca PLC, including one arranged under the global COVAX facility.

The first shipment of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines is expected to arrive on Feb. 26.

Malaysia has seen a sharp spike in coronavirus infections in recent weeks, after having largely reined in the epidemic for most of last year.

That has pushed total cases past 250,000, including 923 deaths, as of Wednesday.

(Reporting by Rozanna Latiff; Editing by Martin Petty)

Three injured in clash during rally for Ram Mandir donation in Kutch

Picture of Kerala MLA donating money for Ram Mandir goes viral; Congress terms it as 'trap'

India

oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P

Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 11: In a recent development, Congress MP Rajmohan Unnithan on Thursday defended his party MLA Eldhose Kunnappilly, whose picture went viral on social media with claims that he donated money for the construction of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh.

"It was a trap," said Unnithan, adding that "Congress is a secular party". "Had he (Eldhose Kunnappilly) known that the donation was for Ram Mandir construction, he probably would not have given," he further said.

Redevelopment of New Delhi railway station taken up on Public-Private Partnership to cost Rs 5,000 crore

In the viral picture, Kunnappilly was seen along with a few other men, holding a card with the image of a building.

However, the MLA had on Wednesday claimed that the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) deceived him and added that he was under the impression that he donated the money for some other temple.

Fuel price hike: Maharashtra auto drivers forced to work extra hours

"Some people had contacted me asking for donations for some temples. But they did not reveal they were RSS workers or if the donation was for Ram Mandir. Out of my innocence, I donated Rs 1,000 as I normally give," the MLA said in a Facebook video.

He also apologised to the Muslim community. "I express my grief over this RSS propaganda if that has in any way hurt religious sentiments of some communities," said the Congress leader.

Farm Laws: What did PM Modi say on the agricultural laws in the Parliament| Oneindia News

Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust secretary-general Champat Rai had recently announced that the donation drive, which started on January 15, would go on till February 27 across the country.

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Story first published: Thursday, February 11, 2021, 12:48 [IST]
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Ukraine investigating illegal purchases of coal from Russia-occupied Donbas

The financing of terrorism is punishable by imprisonment for a term of five to eight years.

Reporting by UNIAN

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Its heartbreaking that, what theyre saying now is their plans to have more shift to outpatient now arent even doable because theyve lost so much money, theyre losing staff. There should have been a better way and were going to have to now play catch-up on fixing whats broken, but I understand why they filed, Lightfoot said. Its really tough to run, even a not-for-profit, when you dont have money, your staff is fleeing and you dont have additional resources to backfill. Its a tragedy for our city, theres no question about it.
ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla., Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Buc-ee's, home of the world's cleanest bathrooms, freshest food and friendliest beaver, will unveil its newest travel center in St. Augustine, Florida, on Feb. 22, 2021. Doors will open at 6 a.m. EST, and a ribbon-cutting ceremony will follow at 11 a.m. EST. The celebration will be attended by local leaders and community members.

Located at 200 World Commerce Parkway, Buc-ee's St. Augustine is the first Buc-ee's travel center to open in Florida. Construction is currently underway for a second Florida location in Daytona Beach, which is expected to open next month. The two Florida outposts continue Buc-ee's multi-state expansion across the South, joining stores in Georgia and Alabama. Buc-ee's first travel center in South Carolina is also currently under construction and is slated for opening in 2022. Buc-ee's continues to operate 38 locations in Texas, where it was founded.

Buc-ee's St. Augustine will occupy 52,600 square feet, and offer 104 fueling positions just outside its store with thousands of snack, meal and drink options for travelers on the go. The new travel center will also feature the same award-winning restrooms, cheap gas, quality products and excellent service that have won the hearts, trust and business of millions in the South for nearly 40 years. Buc-ee's favorites including Texas barbeque, homemade fudge, kolaches, Beaver nuggets, jerky and fresh pastries will all be available as well.

"Picking St. Augustine for our first Florida location made sense for many reasons, but its proximity to our other locations across the South was our initial motivator. Location aside, our owners fell in love with the rich history and warm hospitality of St. Augustine," said Stan Beard of Buc-ee's. "With their crystal-clear beaches and walkable atmosphere, St. Augustine is among the most beautiful cities in Florida. We are excited to offer visitors and residents the experience and convenience of Buc-ee's and can't wait to become a part of the local community."

Buc-ee's remains committed to providing a friendly, safe and fun stop for travelers everywhere. Buc-ee's St. Augustine will bring approximately 200 new, permanent, full-time jobs to the area with great pay, full benefits, 401k and three weeks of vacation.

About Buc-ee's

Buc-ee's is the world's most-loved travel center. Founded in 1982, Buc-ee's now has 38 stores across Texas, including the world's largest convenience store. Buc-ee's began its multi-state expansion in 2019 and has since opened two travel centers in Alabama and one in Georgia. Buc-ee's broke ground on their first location in South Carolina in 2020 and plans to open two locations in Florida in 2021. Buc-ee's is known for pristine bathrooms, a large amount of fueling positions, friendly service, Buc-ee's apparel and fresh, delicious food. Originally launched and still headquartered in Texas, Buc-ee's has combined traditional quality and modern efficiency to redefine traveling for their customers. For more information, visit www.buc-ees.com.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Rachel Austin, 713-305-0419

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Wheel change: Electric scooters, like these in Redcar, UK, could soon be on Irish streets legally. Photo: Ian Forsyth/Bloomberg

E-scooter companies are lining up to launch services in Irish cities, with at least three rental outfits set to offer services here when the Government legalises their use.

Europes largest e-scooter rental firm, which operators over 95,000 scooters in 90 cities, says it will enter discussions with local authorities as soon as the law is passed.

We think this will be a good way to get around in cities like Dublin, Tier CEO Lawrence Leuschner told the Irish Independent.

When the legislation is there, we hope to launch as soon as our discussions with local authorities are complete.

Others are waiting to launch in Irish cities too.

Dott, an e-scooter rental firm that operates 30,000 e-scooters in 16 European cities, says that it intends to enter the Irish market in Dublin, Limerick, Cork and Galway.

We have already had great conversations on the ground in different cities in Ireland and we look forward to engaging with more local stakeholders to ensure that our deployments in Ireland are as successful as our others across multiple European capitals and cities to date, said Duncan Robertson, general manager for Dotts UK and Ireland operations.

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Irish firm Zipp, which is part-founded by former Irish rugby captain Brian ODriscoll, has also announced its intention to launch in Ireland, with 450 e-scooters already in operation in the UK.

And another Irish firm, Brite, is eyeing expansion into e-scooter rentals here, having signed a deal with insurance company Zego to expand its fleet of electric micromobility vehicles, including e-scooters and e-bikes.

The company says that it has been in contact with Irish local and national Government offering its support to the Irish Governments announcement to draft legislation on e-scooter and e-bike regulation.

Electric scooters will soon be legal to use in Ireland without car tax, insurance or a drivers licence, the Government said last month.

Communications Minister Eamon Ryan has approved draft legislation which will regularise e-scooters and electric bikes as commonly accepted means of transport.

While there are thousands of e-scooters being used in Irish cities, at present the devices are legally classed as mechanically propelled vehicles, categorised in a similar way to motorbikes. That means that to use one legally requires a drivers licence, motor tax and insurance. Gardai regularly turn a blind eye to people using the devices round towns and cities, although some e-scooter owners have complained on social media about their vehicles being seized.

Mr Ryan said that the legislation will provide for a new vehicle category, known as Powered Personal Transporters (PPTs). If passed, this will include e-scooters and similar devices. Tax, insurance and driving licences will not be required, he said.

The new law would also reclassify electric bicycles mainly in the same way as pedal cycles while more powerful models will be classified as light mopeds.

Were big believers that adopting micro mobility services will help corporations, governments and others not only achieve their carbon emission goals but also move their people around in a safe and efficient manner, without having to deal with traffic and the costs associated with parking cars and vans in our cities, said Colin Barry, CEO and founder of Brite Mobility.
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Workers Lament Albertas Troubled Resource Sector

The new year has brought more woes for Albertas resource sector already hit with low oil prices and fleeing investments before the U.S. announcement of the Keystone XL pipeline cancellation.

Forty-one-year-old Albertan Ryan Telford, who has worked in the oil and gas sector since he was 17, says that from his experience and knowledge of the industry, he estimates that between 5,000 and 8,000 people in Alberta are directly affected by the cancellation of Keystone XL.

Theres a lot of work that happens before you can even begin the pipeline. Youve got to survey and locate anything thats there, phone lines, water lines,  and then youve got surveyors who survey the actual pipeline, he said.

And then youll have guys that go out and cut the right-of-way, scrape all the topsoil off, and then the actual pipeline crew will start their trenching work. Then the new pipe comes in, they start welding all of that up, and when theyre done, you hardly know theres a pipeline there.

The Alberta government had estimated that the project would create 2,000 construction jobs over two years.

Telfords own experience in the oil and gas business started with a job as a swamper, helping to load, move, and unload drill rig equipment from site to site. From there he was hired on as a roughneckone of the most gruelling and dangerous jobs on an oil-drilling platformand then he went on to work as an oil rig motorman and then to building the platforms.

Today, the Grand Prairie native, who lives in the small hamlet of Woking, works for a local electrical supplier to oil and gas operations selling modern artificial lift rigsthe descendent of the iconic pumpjacks.

Over the past few years, some of the biggest hits to the oilsands include Tecks cancellation of its $20 billion Frontier project, Texas-based Kinder Morgan Inc. selling off all its assets in Canada, Encana Corp.s exodus to Denver, and most recently, the Keystone XL cancellation.

So whats Telfords prognosis for Canadas beleaguered energy sector?

Its baffling to me, with Canada having as much energy resources as we do here, to even think about bringing oil in from other countries, he said. He added that hes bullish about the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion to the West Coast, and about Energie Saguenay, which will deliver Alberta natural gas to the east coast of Canada.

If we get a couple more refineries builtthose exporting stationsbuilt on our coasts, and we start exporting to Asia, we will be one of the richest countries around, he says.

But right now its landlocked. And a lot of these carbon taxes and stuff like that are making it uneconomical for producers to look at working [in the oilsands].

Another recent development in Albertas resource sector is the provincial governments cancellation of new metallurgical coal mining leases it had issued for the Rocky Mountains north of Crowsnest Pass, a move that was taken following a public outcry.

Many raised concerns about the impact the coal mines would have on sensitive areas, with ranchers whose cattle graze on the lands east of the Rocky Mountains launching a legal challenge. Meanwhile, some in the resource sector worry about the impact the lease cancellations will have on their industry.

Chrystal Montieth, a third-generation mechanic in Albertas mining industry, laments the direction things are going in.

My dad worked in the coal mine when he was 18. He was a mechanic. My uncles are both mechanics who worked in the coal mines. My grandpa, who still lives in the [Crowsnest] Pass, worked in the coal mines his entire life, Montieth said in an interview.

Montieth, who hails from Blairmore in the municipality of Crowsnest Pass, works the night shift managing a warehouse of heavy equipment parts at Albian Sands Energy Inc.s oilsands project north of Fort McMurray.

She says its frustrating that outsiders seem detached from the resources that are so central to their livescrude oil and metallurgical coal used in steel production, for exampleand from the people who produce those resources and whose livelihoods depend on the work.

They dont understand our community is slowly turning into a ghost town, she said, adding that besides creating jobs for employees, coal companies invest in the community and support activities such as sports.

Due to public pressure, Natural Resources Minister Sonja Savage announced on Feb. 8 that the province would reinstate the 1976 Coal Policy and conduct public consultations on a new coal policy.

The government cancelled 11 recently issued coal leases and paused future coal exploration on what used to be classified as Category 2 lands under the 1976 policy, which include parts of the southern Rocky Mountains and their foothills. It stopped short of nixing proponents like the Riversdale Resources Grassy Mountain coal mine project, already before the Alberta energy regulator.

Montieth said the bad news about Keystone XL, cancelled by U.S. President Joe Biden on his first day in office, upset a lot of folks. The mechanics were pretty upset. A lot of guys I work with were really upset about it. I was upset about it.

Its one of the cleanest ways to transport oil. Its a lot safer and its a lot cheaper to push oil through a brand-new pipeline than it is on rail or truck, she said.
Several Republican senators have criticised the performance of the lawyers representing former president Donald Trump at his impeachment trial, with at least one saying the disorganised, random arguments by Mr Trumps attorneys motivated him to change his mind and vote with Democrats.

After listening to opening statements, the Senate voted 56 to 44 to move forward with the impeachment trial, rejecting Mr Trumps legal teams arguments that it was unconstitutional to do so.

The vote mostly split along party lines and was almost identical to a similar one that was held last month.

Senator Bill Cassidy, the only Republican senator to switch his vote to support moving forward with the impeachment trial, blasted the meandering opening statements by Mr Trumps attorneys as incoherent and ineffective.

It was disorganised, random, Mr Cassidy told reporters after Tuesdays proceedings.

[Mr Trumps lawyers] talked about many things but didnt talk about the issue at hand. The issue at hand, is it constitutional to impeach a president whos left office? And the House managers made a compelling, cogent case, and the presidents team did not.

Mr Cassidy was one of six Republican senators voting with the Democratic caucus to say that it was constitutional to carry out the impeachment trial of a former president even after he has left office.

The other five Republicans  Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Mitt Romney of Utah, Ben Sasse of Nebraska, and Patrick Toomey of Pennsylvania  had done so in a similar vote last month.

It remains unclear how senators will vote when faced with the question of convicting Mr Trump, who was acquitted by the Senate last year on separate impeachment charges.

Mr Cassidy said at one point that as one of Mr Trumps lawyers was speaking, he leaned over, confused, to ask Senator Ted Cruz whether he was missing something.

Read More

If Im there as an impartial juror, respecting my oath of office to uphold the Constitution of the US, and one side makes the argument, and the other side does everything but make the argument, then to live with myself, I make that vote, Mr Cassidy added.

Ive always said Im approaching this as an impartial juror.

Almost immediately afterward, the Louisiana Republican Party condemned Mr Cassidy for his vote.

However, even Republicans who voted against proceeding with the impeachment trial were not impressed with Mr Trumps lawyers  particularly with Bruce L Castor Jr, who opened for Mr Trumps legal team and spoke for 48 minutes, touching on subjects as diverse as ancient Greece, Rome and Nebraskas being quite a judicial thinking place.

At one point, Mr Castor admitted that his team had changed strategy after observing the thoroughness of the House impeachment managers presentation.

Asked his opinion of Mr Castor, Mr Cruz paused for six seconds of silence, then laughed.

I dont think the lawyers did the most effective job, Mr Cruz said at last. Ill leave it to others to, uh, to fill out a scorecard on that front.

Mr Cruz added that the lead House impeachment manager, Democrat Jamie Raskin, was impressive.

Hes a serious lawyer, Mr Cruz added.

Read More

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When State Sen. Eric P. Lesser toured the Eastfield Mall vaccination site in Springfield on Wednesday, it looked different than just days ago.

The vaccination site has been the focus of criticism since it opened due to the number of people - many of whom are 75 years old or older - who were left outside while they waited for their vaccinations.

The site is operated by a private medical company, Curative, which runs more than 10,000 sites across 15 states. Maranda Gottlieb, vice president of marketing at Curative told MassLive that due to people arriving early, a backlog of those arriving for their appointments occurred.

Those coming to the site would be taken into the mall but would not be asked to show their ID until until they were at the table to receive their dose. According to Gottlieb, this was why those arriving on time were delayed.

Lesser became concerned after seeing photos of the vaccination site and hearing complaints from his constituents. He told reporters that in his career as a public servant, he had never seen such high numbers of people left out in the snow.

It really wasnt until a potentially very dangerous situation unfolded, which was elderly people being kept in a snowstorm outside, that they made the changes, said Lesser.

On Feb. 1, Lesser highlighted what he says is an imbalance across the commonwealth in vaccination sites. In Western Massachusetts, the only super vaccination site is located within a retail space that previously featured a Macys department store at the Eastfield Mall.

The first vaccination site to open is at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, followed by Fenway in Boston. Several other large-scale vaccination sites have since opened in Eastern Massachusetts. Starting next week, a super vaccination site will open in Worcester, serving about 1,000 residents per day at Worcester State University.

New staff have been recruted to aid the people coming to the Eastfield Mall for their vaccinations. (Douglas Hook / MassLive)

As the Longmeadow Democrat toured the site in Springfield, Curative staff members removed the signs from the entrance that had been the way in for those coming for their dose. A Springfield police officer at the door directed arrivals to the new entrance roughly 50 feet away.

The change will allow people to wait inside the mall for their appointments and not have to brave the cold for extended periods.

Charlie Coggins drove for over an hour from his home in Oxbridge to the Eastfield Mall for his appointment and told MassLive the appointment itself was an extremely quick process. He was worried about having to wait after seeing the coverage over the last few days.

Once he heard that the National Guard had been deployed, however, he felt much more confident about the process. He said that one of the 10 National Guard medical personnel onsite Wednesday gave him his Pfizer vaccine. He also said that he was given an exact time and day to come back to receive his second dose.

Curative has been working diligently this week to ensure our Eastfield Mall vaccination site is now equipped to handle the patient flow and we are pleased to share that the vaccination site is running smoothly today, said a Curative spokesperson on Wednesday.

On Wednesday morning, Curative reports that they have given more than 1,400 doses and have hired additional staff. Gottlieb on Tuesday told MassLive that 21 new staff members have been introduced this week and this number will increase as the site moves toward the 5,000 doses per day goal.

During the patients first visit to the site, the second dose is scheduled through the Curative software, the Curative spokesperson added.

(Douglas Hook / MassLive)

As of Thursday, those that accompany those 75 and older to their vaccinations will also be eligible for a dose at the super vaccination sites. They can be a family member, neighbor or anyone else who is considered a trusted caregiver.

Gov. Charlie Baker has not been to the Eastfield Mall site since it opened on Jan. 29, a fact that Lesser highlighted, citing that this is could show that the west of the state is less of a priority for the administration.

Its very clear that there was a lack of supervision. There was a lack of quality control. There was a lack of oversight from the state, said Lesser. I talked to some of the nurses and some of the health officials, who are actually administering the vaccines, theyre doing their job. The National Guard is doing their job.

Lesser described the work being accomplished inside as fantastic work. The staff he saw and spoke to were dedicated to getting doses in the arms of those that need it as quickly as possible. Lesser said the lack of support from the state and Curative is what has caused problems.

Christina Vodendorf walked out of the mall with her 93-year-old mother-in-law, Dorothy Vodendorf, on Wednesday and told MassLive that the experience was much better than last week.

On Feb. 4, Christina brought her mother to the site and was waiting for over two hours for the appointment scheduled for 3:30 p.m.

On Wednesday, she and Dorothy were in and out in under 10 minutes.

New staff have been recruted to aid the people coming to the Eastfield Mall for their vaccinations. (Douglas Hook / MassLive)

Curative has worked to address the waiting times and keeping people inside during this months below freezing temperatures after pressure. Lesser said that he had discussed the issues at the mall with the Springfield City Council on Tuesday evening and also thanked Mayor Domenic J. Sarno for his role in flagging the issues.

Lesser said that some of his worst fears about the inequity of the vaccine rollout were coming true and called for Baker to make more resources available to the site.

After hearing of the seniors being left outside, Sarno spoke with both Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito and Curative Site Director Dean Shultis to look for solutions.

On Monday, Springfield Police Commissioner Cheryl Clapprood sent additional police cruisers to the mall to ensure that seniors are not being left outside by the vaccination site.

I do want to thank Mayor Sarno and his Department of Health and Human Services for really stepping up when frankly, the state kind of left them high and dry, Lesser said.

Waiting areas have been set up inside the Eastfield Mall on Wednesday to keep people from waiting outside in the cold. (Douglas Hook / MassLive)

The Springfield mayor sees smaller vaccination sites as an answer to issues seen at the Eastfield Mall.

As Massachusetts continues to encounter stumbling blocks in its rollout of the coronavirus vaccine, a Harvard University analysis published this week gave the state multiple F grades on its response to the pandemic.

The analysis, published Tuesday by the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at the Harvard Kennedy School, gave Massachusetts Fs on three of four key COVID-19 performance measures: deaths per capita, vaccinations per capita and vaccinations as percent of doses available.

Im not about pointing fingers, said Sarno to MassLive on Tuesday. Im about, lets solve the problem.

The mayors office has looked at 10 locations that could be used as smaller vaccination sites that could potentially relieve some pressure from the Eastfield Mall. But as both the mayor and senator point out, without the vaccines supplied from the state, their hands are tied.

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CHICAGO, Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- NuCurrent announced today its comprehensive Proven Wireless Power method to guide the wireless power industry through the next wave of technology development and adoption. Leveraging its decade of experience in bringing products from concept to mass production, the company is revealing its proven methods to usher in the next generation of never-before-seen features and products.

NuCurrent NuCurrent trade show exhibition

"Customers are demanding and expecting wireless power in their electronic products, yet some of the world's largest companies have had costly, failed product launches due to planning, technology and capability deficits," said NuCurrent CEO Jacob Babcock. "With NuCurrent's Center of Excellencewhich has enabled Proven Wireless Power in more mass production products than any other companymore product developers will be able to take advantage of our technology and expertise to develop innovative product offerings. This is great news for the end consumers."

NuCurrent's comprehensive Proven Wireless Power method consists of five essential components needed to bring products to mass production successfully.

Groundbreaking technological innovation

NuCurrent has developed an extensive patent portfolio with 150+ patents granted and pending worldwide across a dozen (and counting) wireless power subspecialties including: antenna structure and design; multi-bay and extended range transmitters; simultaneous communications and power transfer; systems architecture, software, and more. These core inventions are coupled with an archive of trade secrets, state-of-the-art laboratories, simulation tools and design libraries.

World-class wireless power expertise

NuCurrent's accomplished multidisciplinary team is composed of experienced architects, engineers (electrical, RF, mechanical and software), project managers and industry executives collectively responsible for tens of billions of electronics products sold in the market.

Proven mass production capabilities

NuCurrent has simplified the path to product launch via its "Discover-Design-Deliver" process that advances products through to mass production. For over a decade, the company has cultivated strong connectivity throughout the industry with a global network of integrated circuit companies, manufacturing partners, and standards/regulatory bodies, all of which are influential to product launch success.

Flexible engagement model

NuCurrent has developed an engagement model designed specifically for sophisticated, high-volume electronics manufacturers. This approach makes the company's technology and expertise accessible via established supply chains and preferred vendors, resulting in efficient procurement and cost benefits.

"Customer-first" partnership

"NuCurrent's 'customer-first' partnership focuses on two things," said VP of Sales & Marketing Tim Tumilty. "It certainly means that we prioritize our customers' needs. But it also means working with our customers to achieve first-of-their-kind innovations like we did with PopSockets, Klipsch and Honeywell on their flagship wireless power programs."

As part of NuCurrent's commitment to advancing Proven Wireless Power throughout the industry, the company will kick-off the second year of its global educational program that explores emerging aspects of wireless power product design, including:

Devices Charging Devices: The emerging trend of reverse wireless charging on February 24, 2021 at noon CT . To Qi or Not To Qi in March 2021 From Hello to Mass Production: Bringing Wireless Power to Market in April 2021

For more information on NuCurrent's Proven Wireless Power method and archived educational content, head to www.nucurrent.com .

About NuCurrent

NuCurrent supplies Fortune 1000 companies and other high-flying product developers with wireless power technologies and product integration expertise. Our core technologies span magnetics, software and systems simulation. We have generated over 150 patents granted and pending globally, and unparalleled internal tools that enhance speed to market, improve product performance and mitigate major development risks. Our broad systems integration expertise supports manufacturers of appliances, smartphones, wearables, hearables, consumer electronics, medical devices, robotics, IoT, sporting equipment and other emerging product categories.

NuCurrent solutions are based on inductive and inductive resonant wireless power transfer which offers convenience, safety, efficiency, and enhanced user experience. Founded in 2009, we are a venture-backed company based in Chicago with offices in Hong Kong, San Diego and Bangalore. More information at www.nucurrent.com

PRESS CONTACT

Amaya Adams, Marketing Manager

312.637.3511

[email protected]

NuCurrent

SOURCE NuCurrent

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Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - February 11, 2021) - Canuc Resources Corporation (TSXV: CDA) (OTCQB: CNUCF) ("Canuc" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the commencement of diamond drill operations at the Company's wholly owned San Javier Silver-Gold Project in Sonora State, Mexico. A drilling permit has been secured and drill pad construction is in progress. A diamond drill is scheduled to be mobilized to site on the week beginning February 15th, 2021.

The Company believes that the San Javier Silver-Gold Project is hosted in an IOCG depositional environment. Drilling will target geophysical anomalies and mineralized breccia and stockwork zones as disclosed in press releases dated: August 6th, 2020 September 22nd, 2020 October 14th, 2020 and January 7th, 2021.

Drilling will commence near the site where the Company earlier reported silver assays of 2,859 g/t in a mineralized magnetite vein. The vein is exposed at surface and in artisanal mine workings (press release September 22nd, 2020). From there, drilling will progress to the first of at least 3 distinct magnetic high targets which were identified in a recent drone supported magnetic survey (press release January 7th, 2021).

The Company is currently building a secure core shack and storage area near to the village of San Javier which is designed to hold 20,000 meters of diamond drill core.

Seymour M. Sears, B.A., B.Sc., P.Geo. is the Qualified Person for the Company, as defined by NI 43-101, and has reviewed and approved the contents of this press release.

About Canuc

Canuc is a junior resource company focusing on its San Javier Silver-Gold Project in Sonora State, Mexico. The Company generates cash flow from natural gas production at its MidTex Energy Project in Central West Texas, USA where Canuc has an interest in eight producing natural gas wells and has rights for further in field developments. Canuc also has exclusive rights, through a Partnership Agreement with Ioticiti Networks Inc., to sell Industrial IoT applications and infrastructure in the Provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan, Canada and in the State of Texas, USA.

For further information please contact:

Canuc Resources Corporation.

(416) 525 - 6869

cberlet@canucresources.ca

Forward Looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking information. All information, other than information of historical fact, constitute "forward-looking statements" and includes any information that addresses activities, events or developments that the Corporation believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future including the Corporation's strategy, plans or future financial or operating performance.

When used in this news release, the words "estimate", "project", "anticipate", "expect", "intend", "believe", "hope", "may" and similar expressions, as well as "will", "shall" and other indications of future tense, are intended to identify forward-looking information. The forward-looking information is based on current expectations and applies only as of the date on which they were made. The factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in such forward-looking information include, but are not limited to, the ability of the Corporation to fund the exploration expenditures required under the Agreement. Other factors such as uncertainties regarding government regulations could also affect the results. Other risks may be set out in the Corporation's annual financial statements, MD&A and other publicly filed documents.

The Corporation cautions that there can be no assurance that forward-looking information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Except as required by law, the Corporation does not assume any obligation to release publicly any revisions to forward-looking information contained in this press release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/74153
Police Report: Gunman Had Made Prior Threats Against Clinic

BUFFALO, Minn.A man who opened fire at a Minnesota health clinic, killing one staff member and wounding four others, previously threatened to carry out a mass shooting at the facility, according to a police report.

Gregory Paul Ulrich, 67, was arrested in Tuesdays attack at an Allina clinic in Buffalo, a community of about 15,000 people roughly 40 miles northwest of Minneapolis. He remained jailed in Wright County on Wednesday and was expected to appear in court Thursday.

County Attorney Brian Lutes said he would charge Ulrich with second-degree intentional murder, four counts of attempted first-degree premeditated murder, and possession of explosive devices.

Gregory Paul Ulrich in a mugshot photo in Buffalo, Minn., on Feb. 9, 2021. (Wright County Sheriffs Office via AP)

Ulrich has a long history of conflict with medical clinics in the area and had been unhappy with the care he had received, Buffalo Police Chief Pat Budke said.

According to a police report, Ulrich threatened to carry out a mass shooting at the clinic in October 2018, with a doctor telling investigators that Ulrich had talked about shooting, blowing things up, and practicing different scenarios of how to get revenge. He said Ulrich told him he dreamed about exacting revenge on the people who tortured him, referring to issues he had with back surgeries and the medication he was prescribed for them.

Ulrich told police he had just been telling the doctor about his dreams and that he wouldnt actually do anything, and police took him for a mental health evaluation at a facility in Monticello, the report says.

Allina medical staff believed Ulrich might act on the threats and filed paperwork barring him from the companys property, which police delivered to his home the next month.

A criminal charge of violating a harassment restraining order was filed a couple of weeks later. The nature of that violation isnt clear in court papers, but orders filed in that case in 2018 and 2019 prohibited Ulrich from having contact with a man whose name matches that of the doctor named in the police report. It wasnt known Wednesday if the doctor was among the victims of Tuesdays attack, and a call to his home number rang unanswered.

The charge of violating the restraining order was dismissed last April when the prosecutor said Ulrich was found mentally incompetent to proceed.

Budke said Tuesday that Ulrichs history led investigators to believe he was targeting the clinic or someone inside but that it was too early in the investigation to know if it was a specific doctor.

Law enforcement personnel and first responders gather outside of the Allina Health clinic in Buffalo, Minn., on Feb. 9, 2021. (David Joles/Star Tribune via AP)

The victims of the attackall employees, Allina said in an email on Wednesdaywere rushed to hospitals following the attack. Hennepin County Medical Center spokesperson Christine Hill said Tuesday night that a person brought to the hospital after being shot at the Buffalo clinic had died. Hill said she could not release any other details.

One of the victims was discharged on Tuesday. The conditions of two of the three who remained hospitalized Wednesday were upgraded from critical to fair condition. The third remained in critical condition.

During a search of the clinic, investigators found a suspicious device and evacuated the building, Wright County Sheriff Sean Deringer said.

It was not immediately clear whether that device exploded, but TV footage showed several shattered plate-glass windows at the clinic. Deringer said suspicious devices were also found at a local Super 8 motel where Ulrich had been staying, and there were at least two shattered windows there as well.

Deringer said Ulrich was well known to law enforcement before the attack, and there were calls for service dating back to 2003.

Court records for Ulrich list a handful of arrests and convictions for drunken driving and possession of small amounts of marijuana from 2004 through 2015, mostly in Wright County, including two convictions for gross misdemeanor drunken driving that resulted in short jail sentences.

A court services agent who conducted a pre-sentence investigation wrote in a June 2019 filing that he had just learned that Ulrich had applied to police for a permit to purchaseapparently meaning a permit to buy a gunbut had not yet been approved. The agent said he highly recommended that Ulrich not be allowed to have use of or possession of any dangerous weapons or firearms as a condition of his probation.

Ulrich also had raised concerns at a local church. According to an August 2019 update on the Zion Lutheran Churchs website, the church said it had obtained a no-trespassing order for Ulrich after the pastor received a disturbing letter. Church staff were given a picture of Ulrich and told to call 911 if he appeared on any of the churchs properties.

By Mohamed Ibrahim and Gretchen Ehlke



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Arrivals at the border described a scene of 'absolute bedlam' today as they lingered in queues for more than four hours while stretched officials lost their cool and lamented: 'We have not got any more staff!'

Days before a tough hotel quarantine regime is enforced, Heathrow Airport was swamped with passengers trying to enter the UK.

Footage shows one border force official telling an impatient passenger it was taking up to 30 minutes to wave through a single person.

Pictures show a line of visibly frustrated arrivals snaking back dozens of rows, while some slump on the floor and take off their masks.

Dylan Carter, 23, whose girlfriend was coming back from Ukraine, told MailOnline: 'It's absolute bedlam. They've been stuck in queues for four hours. Officers have been shouting at the crowds saying things like 'you chose to travel'.

He said his girlfriend landed at Terminal 2 at 11am and only eventually passed through security at around 5pm.

Mr Carter blamed the wait on a scramble from passengers to avoid the beefed-up border controls the Government is introducing from Monday.

And a video sees an irritated border guard berate one of the impatient arrivals suggests it was due to a shortage of staff.

The footage appears to show the male official fume: 'We have not got any more staff! We have staff isolating, we have staff off with Covid and we have had two staff die with Covid! So forgive us for not being understanding!'

A separate clip shows his colleague sternly telling an arrival that social distancing was compounding the hold-up.

The official seems to say: 'It's taking anything to 30 minutes to deal with one single person. Unfortunately, border force staff are not immune to Covid either so we... have to work in bubbles.

'If you choose to stand close to someone, that's up to you, but we have to socially distance. It takes time to do things, so please be patient.'

Arrivals at the border described a scene of 'absolute bedlam' today as they lingered in queues for more than four hours while stretched officials lost their cool and lamented: 'We have not got any more staff!'

Pictures show a line of visibly frustrated arrivals snaking back dozens of rows, while some slump on the floor and take off their masks

Days before a tough hotel quarantine regime is enforced, Heathrow Airport was swamped with passengers trying to enter the UK

Footage shows one border force official telling an impatient passenger it was taking up to 30 minutes to waive through a single person.

From Monday arrivals from a 'red list' of 33 countries - who will only be allowed to fly into one of five airports - will be expected pay 1,750 to quarantine for 10 full days (11 nights) in designated hotels.

Those who attempt to evade quarantine by providing false information face a fine of up to 10,000, and up to 10 years in prison, while those who do not book a hotel place before arriving in England face a 4,000 fine.

But it was thrown into chaos today as its booking website crashed minutes into its launch, while travellers were not allowed to reserve rooms for the first two days.

Searches at Birmingham, Glasgow and Heathrow airports showed they weren't 'any applicable hotels' for passengers to stay in.

The Government is already thought to have contracted 16 hotels to take part in the scheme, with the 50-a-night Thistle near Heathrow believed to be one of them.

The new booking website asks people to state the airport they are landing at, along with the date and the number of people arriving.

It then lists what is included in the 1,750 quarantine package, such as food, drinks, transfers, security costs and two Covid tests.

The website also informs visitors that there is a 650 surcharge for an extra adult in the same room, and a 325 charge for children aged between 5 and 12.

However, minutes after going live, the new website was taken down, with an error message telling visitors developers were carrying out 'some maintenance'. The website does appear to be working for some visitors.

A Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) spokesperson said the problem was a 'minor technical issue' and that the website was 'currently undergoing maintenance'.

The spokesperson said: 'Rooms are available from Monday 15 February and travellers will be able to book through the site imminently.'

The Government's hotel quarantine website launched this afternoon - but passengers looking to return to Britain next week are facing problems using the website already

Minutes after going live, the quarantine hotel website was taken down by developers who told visitors they were carrying out 'some maintenance'

Heathrow Airport appeared busy this morning as passengers were seen flooding back into Britain. Pictured: People wait at the International Arrivals area of Heathrow Airport today

Travellers from Covid hotspots will only be allowed into England via one of five airports Travellers from countries on the banned list can only arrive into one of five airports in England when new rules come in next week. UK nationals or residents returning from 33 'red list' countries will be required to spend 10 days in a Government-designated hotel from Monday. Guidance for those who have to quarantine in hotels was published on Thursday and states that anyone with a booking that brings them to a different 'port of entry' from February 15 must change it to one of those specified. The accepted entry points from red list countries are: Heathrow Airport, Gatwick Airport, London City Airport, Birmingham Airport and Farnborough Airfield. Notable absences on the list include Manchester Airport - which is the UK's second busiest airport after Heathrow. Luton and Stansted have also been excluded. Farnborough Airport - which is included on the approved list - is a private airport catering mostly for business passengers and has around 30,000 movements each year. Advertisement

However Shadow Home Secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds today slammed the launch blunder and said ministers must 'act urgently' to get it back up and running.

'It is extremely worrying that even the limited hotel quarantine booking system is showing signs of failing from the outset,' he said.

'Over a year into this pandemic and 50 days on from the discovery of the South African strain, there are no excuses for yet more Government incompetence in the introduction of hotel quarantine.'

Meanwhile the Government today issued more advice on its quarantine hotel scheme. The guidance states that any traveller wishing to leave their room for exercise will only be allowed with special permission from hotel staff or security and is 'not guaranteed'.

The Government also today published a list of five airports in England that travellers from red list countries must fly to under the quarantine rules.

The accepted entry points from red list countries are: Heathrow Airport, Gatwick Airport, London City Airport, Birmingham Airport and Farnborough Airfield.

Notable absences on the list include Manchester Airport - which is the UK's second busiest airport after Heathrow. Luton and Stansted have also been excluded.

Farnborough Airport - which is included on the approved list - is a private airport catering mostly for business passengers and has around 30,000 movements each year.

It comes Matt Hancock this week unveiled England's new quarantine programme for Britons arriving home from Covid hotspots abroad.

The measures are aimed at stopping Covid variants discovered in countries such as Sotuh Africa and Brazil taking hold in the UK.

Meanwhile, Heathrow Airport chiefs today warned that unless there is a way to revive the travel industry soon, thousands more jobs will be lost.

Bosses at the London airport fear that once the quarantine rules are introduced on Monday only the 'desperate and wealthy' will be flying.

Ahead of the new measures being introduced, face mask wearing passengers pushing large trolleys of luggage were today seen streaming through the arrivals area at Heathrow.

A large group of people were also seen waiting at the arrivals area waiting for passengers, while there were queues at departures as people checked-in for flights leaving the UK.

The arrivals landed in Heathrow today, as Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer visited the busy London airport, where he delivered a scathing attack on the Government's quarantine scheme.

Heathrow Airport chiefs today warned that unless there is a way to revive the travel industry soon thousands more jobs will be lost. Pictured: Long queues of people at the check-in desks at Heathrow Airport today

Travellers who don't book a hotel quarantine place face a 4,000 fine Travellers arriving in England from 33 'red list' countries who don't pre-book a space at a quarantine hotel face a 4,000 fine - and will still have to pay the cost of their stay. Arrivals the Covid hotspots will have to pay 1,750 to quarantine for 10 full days (11 nights) in designated hotels from Monday. The package includes the costs of transport from the port of arrival to the designated hotel, food, accommodation, security, other essential services and testing. But the government warns those who have not arranged a quarantine package prior to their arrival in England, 'face a penalty of up to 4,000 and will still have to pay for your quarantine package on arrival'. The costs for the 11 night stay, including food, drink and transfers, are 1,750 for one adult in one room, with a 650 additional rate for 1 adult (or child over 12) and a 325 rate for a child aged 512. Meanwhile, providing false or deliberately misleading information when filling out your passenger locator form is an offence punishable by imprisonment. The Government warns that you could be fined up to 10,000, imprisoned for up to 10 years, or both, if you do not provide accurate details about the countries you have visited in the 10 days before you arrived in the UK. Advertisement

An estimated 10,000 travellers arriving in the UK from 'higher-risk countries' every day will avoid hotel quarantine, Labour warns.

'I don't think anybody would argue that's a system that's going to work,' Sir Keir said.

The Labour analysis is based on the number of people travelling from countries where the South African or Brazilian coronavirus variants are circulating but which are not on the Government's red list. This includes locations such as France, Germany, Spain and the Netherlands.

Speaking to reports during his visit to the airport today, he said: 'Our concern isn't their preparations, because they're getting on with that.

'Our concern is that we now know that there are variants in countries that aren't on the red list. So this partial approach by the Government isn't going to work.

'We are at this crucial stage now where it's a race between the vaccine and variants, and the only way through this is to buy time by having a comprehensive system of quarantine in hotels, wherever you come from.'

The Labour leader, who is planning a holiday in Devon in August 'subject to the restrictions', also warned the Government not to give 'mixed messages' on the possibility of foreign holidays this summer.

It comes as Mr Hancock today insisted ministers are 'doing everything we can' to make sure people can go on holidays this summer - but admitted there is no guarantee of success.

The Health Secretary confirmed that he has already booked a trip to Cornwall, despite Grant Shapps sparking fury yesterday by saying Britons should not plan trips 'domestically or internationally'.

However, Mr Hancock risked fuelling Tory MP frustration further by insisting that even though the vaccine rollout has surged ahead the situation is 'uncertain' with mutant coronavirus strains running riot.

'What we have all been saying is we will do everything we can to make sure that people can have a holiday but these are uncertain times,' Mr Hancock said in a round of interviews this morning.

The arrivals landed in Heathrow today, as Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer (pictured) visited the busy London airport, where he delivered a scathing attack on the Government's quarantine scheme

Sir Keir, pictured during a visit to Heathrow Airport today, also warned the Government not to give 'mixed messages' on the possibility of foreign holidays this summer

'That is something people understand  especially after the last year, people really get that.'

Mr Hancock also insisted he made 'no apology' for his bloodcurdling threat of 10 years in jail for travellers to the UK who lie about visiting high-risk 'red list' countries.

Mr Shapps' blunt comments sparked a day of chaos yesterday, with Downing Street distancing itself from his views at lunchtime, saying it was a 'choice for individuals'.

But Boris Johnson, who earlier this month said he was 'optimistic' about the prospect of summer holidays, then echoed his minister's gloomy line at a Downing Street press conference.

He warned it was 'just too early for people to be certain about what we will be able to do this summer'.

Despite the cautious message from the PM, Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden are working on packages to promote holidays in the UK.

One senior Tory said: 'We are in danger of making 'holiday' a dirty word when it should be exactly the sort of aspirational thing we are celebrating.'

Meanwhile, scientists have voiced scepticism about whether it will be possible to ease the government's extreme border crackdown anytime soon.

Dr Simon Clarke, associate professor in cellular microbiology at the University of Reading, said booking a holiday now is 'one hell of a gamble'.

And Professor Devi Sridhar warned that sacrificing foreign holidays was likely to be the price for easing the lockdown in the UK.

Nick Jariwalla, Director of Border Force at Heathrow, said: 'We are in a global health pandemic which is why every traveller is subject to enhanced monitoring at UK airports in line with the public health measures at the border. Every airport across the UK has a responsibility to comply with social distancing and Covid measures on site.

'We have maintained staffing levels at Heathrow throughout the pandemic, however, due to social bubbles for our staff, it may appear that there are smaller numbers of people at the desks than passengers may expect. In reality, arrivals and Border Force officers are separated into zones so they can continue to process passengers while ensuring they are kept safe and work in a Covid-secure environment.

'People should not be travelling unless absolutely necessary and every essential check from pre-departure testing, to the Passenger Locator Form and the suspension of travel routes is to strengthen our borders and prevent the spread of coronavirus into the UK and we aim to check 100% of forms.'
The Democratic House impeachment managers are preparing on Thursday to wrap up their case against former President Donald J. Trump as they move ahead quickly with the Senate trial.

Mr. Trumps lawyers, who have yet to present their case, have dismissed the trial itself as unconstitutional. It is still unclear whether they will try at all to directly address the House prosecutors arguments.

The Senate will reconvene at noon Thursday.

What do House managers have left in store?

The Democrats prosecuting Mr. Trump went to great lengths on Wednesday to not only remind senators of the violence that occurred on Jan. 6, but to also link those scenes directly to statements he made.

Several senators said they came away feeling moved.

They had a strong presentation put together in a way that I think makes it pretty compelling, Senator John Thune of South Dakota, the chambers No. 2 Republican, told reporters after.
More than 4,000 herdsmen have arrived Ladduga community in Kachia Local Government Area of Kaduna State following series of eviction threats issued to those of them residing in the Southern part of the country.

Daily Trust gathered that the herders arrived the community, presumed a haven for Fulani herders that have been displaced in crises within Southern Kaduna.

The Ardo of Ladduga, Ruguni Pate, could not be reached, but Mohammed Iliya, a resident, said the displaced persons were sacked from communities in the southern part of the country, adding that while some came in vehicles, others came by foot with their animals.

Iliya further said, "It is a pathetic situation, you will weep for them, especially the women and children. Some were killed, their animals and homes destroyed. Right now, most of them sleep in the open because we have no place to keep them and we expect more of them will come."

He added that officials of the Kaduna State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) visited the community to take their records, appealing to the authorities to send them relief materials.

The Assistant Director Operations of the Kaduna SEMA, Hussaini Abdullahi, who visited Ladugga, said the herders were over 4,000 and that they were still being profiled.

SEMA's Executive Secretary, Abubakar Hassan, when contacted on phone, said until the profiling was completed he would not be able to give tangible information about the situation.

The state's Chairman of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN), Haruna Usman Tugga, told Daily Trust that he was making plans to visit them and hear their stories.
The following statement was adopted by the Network of Action Committees for Safe Workplaces in Germany, which was formed last year to mobilize the working class, independently of the unions, against the criminal response of the ruling classes to the pandemic, which has killed more than 63,000 people in Germany and 750,000 in Europe.

We have created the Network of Action Committees for Safe Workplaces because we are not prepared to accept the planned mass redundancies in industry, the dangerous working conditions and the cover-up of infection figures in workplaces. We want to organise the growing resistance independently of Bundestag parties and trade unions and coordinate the struggle internationally.

Although well over 20,000 people perished from COVID-19 in Germany in January alone and the pandemic continues to rage, industrial plants are being kept open at all costs. We are expected to risk our lives every day under completely unsafe conditions so that the profits keep pouring in. But our health, our lives and those of our families are more important than the profits of the factory owners and shareholders.

After months in which our labour has created the corporations profits, under the most adverse conditions of the pandemic, many of us are now to be thrown on the street. Almost all companies are now taking advantage of the terrible consequences of the pandemic to implement long-planned restructuring measures and attacks on jobs, wages, pensions and working conditions. Not a day goes by without new announcements of mass layoffs.

This is what we are organising resistance against. We oppose the trade unions and their works council representatives, who function as co-managers and support the rationalisation measures, cutbacks and dismissals in the name of competitiveness. We expose the Mafia-like structures and machinations of the works councils, which often exert pressure by holding one-on-one meetings with workers to push through job cuts.

We reject all forms of nationalism and so-called location politics that pit workers in one plant against workers in others in order to divide them. We fight for international solidarity and a global strategy. Neither the coronavirus nor the social attacks of the corporations recognise national borders. Workers everywhere face the same problems, which can only be solved together.

That is why we are organising independently of the trade unions and establishment parties and joining forces with our colleagues all over the world to prepare a general strike. The dramatic development of the pandemic is the result of a policy that places private enrichment and profit above the protection of the life and health of the population. This policy can only be stopped by the European-wide mobilisation of the entire working class!

 We demand the immediate closure of all non-essential production until the pandemic is under control! Full pay for all affected workers!

 Real and effective safety measures must be implemented in essential workplaces, such as food and medical supply manufacturers, overseen by health and safety committees in consultation with public health and infectious disease experts.

 We demand access to all information to gain an accurate, detailed and comprehensive picture of the spread of the pandemic in the different workplaces, on which workers can act.

 We fight to defend every single job and demand a public employment programme in socially important areas such as education, health and environmental protection!

We call on workers everywhere to build independent rank-and-file safety committees in their workplacesclick here for details.

Send us information and reports about the situation in your company!

The network serves as a platform to break the wall of silence and suppression of information. We make known all news and information about the real situation in the factories.

It is time to become active! It is not enough to denounce the criminal irresponsibility of the employers, the government, parties, and trade unions, it is necessary to fight against them.
Two brothers in Maryland have been arrested for 'orchestrating a stabbing hoax' for social media that saw both emergency and fire & rescue personnel dispatched to their home.

Denidson Jean, 21, and Pierre Jean, 19, were both charged with knowingly causing a false call for an ambulance and making false statement to an officer with the intent to deceive and cause an investigation.

The video was posted to YouTube to an account allegedly run by the brothers, but that video along with all others has been deleted from the page.

The pair were arrested on Feb. 8 in connection to a Jan. 24 911 call that saw the first responders at the scene located on the 12700 block of Laurie Drive in Silver Springs, according to a release from the Montgomery County Police Department.

Denidson Jean, 21, and Pierre Jean, 19, were both charged with knowingly causing a false call for an ambulance and making false statement to an officer with the intent to deceive and cause an investigation.

Since deleted video show the pair getting ready to 'prank' their family

A caller speaking with the dispatcher told them that the two brothers had been fighting in the house and it looked as if one stabbed the other in the neck with a knife.

The responding officer who arrived at the scene found Denidson in the kitchen lying in a large amount of what appeared to be blood, with a t-shirt held close to his necks. The officer believed that the man was holding the t-shirt to his neck to stop the bleeding.

Pierre was standing over his brother, according to authorities, and told the officer 'I didn't mean to,' when asked who stabbed Denidson.

The release states that the officer immediately began administering first aid to Denidson, radioing for advanced life support (ALS) response from fire & rescue.

Four others residents were also said to be inside the home, adding to the chaos of the scene with their 'yelling and crying.'

Denidson can be seen pouring fake blood on himself as the pair prepare to do their 'prank'

After getting the scene ready, Pierre alerts his other family members about the 'stabbing'

After approximately two minutes of the cop rendering aid to the man, Denidson is said to have sat up and immediately started laughing.

He allegedly explained to the officer that he was playing a prank for social media and it was determined that he was not injured as other officers arrived on the scene.

Officers would later find prop blood at the home, along with a digital camera which 'had been placed in the kitchen light.'

Pierre and Denidson created the scene, police said, with Pierre then going to get the other people living in the home. It was then that Pierre directed the group to call 911 five times, according to the release.

Police at the scene could be seen looking at the pair with frustration as they realize they had been pranked

There is no current indication that the other residents knew that the entire ordeal was a prank, police state.

Both Denidson and Pierre have since been released from custody.

'The suspects' decision to orchestrate this hoax for social media and set it into motion with directing a call to 9-1-1 demonstrated a total disregard for the numerous Montgomery County police officers and Fire & Rescue personnel who were dispatched to the residence,' Montgomery Police Chief Marcus Jones said in the release.

'These officers and medical personnel responded in an emergency status (activating vehicle overhead lights and siren) to render aid to the alleged stabbing victim, causing unnecessary risk to the emergency responders and the community. The suspects created a dangerous and chaotic scene for the officers and other residents in the home, and we are fortunate that no one was hurt or injured during this situation.
BARAGA, MI  Two corrections officers were injured in an attack by a maximum security prisoner at an Upper Peninsula facility on Wednesday, WLUC reports.

The attack occurred around noon on Feb. 10 at Baraga Correctional Facility, MDOC spokesperson Chris Gautz told the TV station. A maximum security prisoner used a weapon to attack a corrections officer from behind. The assault caused injuries to the officers neck. The injured officer was able to restrain the prisoner with the help of a second officer who was also injured during the incident.

Following the incident, prisoners were locked down and the injured officers to transported to a local hospital for treatment, the report said. Both officers were released from the hospital Wednesday evening.

The Michigan Department of Corrections and Michigan State Police are investigating this incident, the report said. The name of the suspect has not been released. Charges have not yet been filed. Authorities have not disclosed the nature of the weapon used in the attack.

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Photo: The Canadian Press Newfounland's Liberal, Conservative and NDP leaders.

Amid soaring COVID-19 cases and community spread in St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador's chief electoral officer is calling on authorities to postpone the vote in Saturday's provincial election.

In a letter sent to party leaders today, Bruce Chaulk says the province's chief medical officer of health should use her powers to delay the election.

He says alternatively, party leaders should discuss the issue with a goal of approaching the lieutenant-governor to find a constitutionally sound way to postpone polling day.

Chaulk says many people who signed up to work the polling stations on Saturday are backing out over fears of contracting and spreading COVID-19.

He says his office is facing a serious occupational health and safety issue and he believes that in order to hold a fair election, the vote must be delayed.

His plea comes as provincial health authorities reported a record 53 new cases of COVID-19 Wednesday and introduced partial lockdown measures in the St. John's metro region.
Prayagraj : Feb 11 (IANS) Congress General secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, on Thursday, took a holy dip at Sangam -- the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and the mythical Saraswati -- on the occasion of "Mauni Amavasya'.

Priyanka took the holy dip in the waters and offered prayers.

The Congress leader went to Sangam by boat amid tight security.

Earlier, Priyanka arrived in Prayagraj and visited Anand Bhawan, the ancestral home of the Nehru family. Here she offered floral tributes at the place where late Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru's ashes were kept before they were immersed in the Ganga river. She also interacted with the children of the orphanage in Anand Bhawan and spoke to them on various issues.

Priyanka is scheduled to return to Delhi, later in the evening.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Im sure Peter can be, and will be, a key ingredient as Berryessa turns itself around and becomes one of Napa Countys most important visitor magnets. New visitors, incremental to our present batch in an area where they will broaden the countys economy, will help the Berryessa region thrive once again. Go get your copy of Peters book at your favorite local bookstore now.

Here Is An Interesting change-up from my pro river guide for the past 28 years, Kevin. He senses that there are going to be a lot of big strong steelhead, up to 20 pounds, cruising Oregons famous Umpqua River in the peak time of March. And you can keep two.

Hell be fishing out of Canyonville, Oregon, an easy ride to just north of Grants Pass on Interstate 5. His recommendation for lodging there is the Seven Feathers Casino (800-548-8461). Better book your trip quickly by calling Kevin at 800-995-5543. I know that water; at every turn you might see a small herd of elk or a red fox checking out the shore. Click fishkevinbrock.com for some other 2021 programs with Kevin. We like to fish for wild rainbows on the Sacramento River in Redding in May.

Over the past 28 years, Kevin has become more than a fishing guide to the Ryans. He is a very good friend who we trust completely.
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.
India and China have agreed to disengage troops from a bitterly contested lake area in the western Himalayas, the Indian defence minister said on Thursday, in a breakthrough after a months-long standoff on the disputed border.

Rajnath Singh told parliament the accord had been reached after several rounds of talks between military commanders and diplomats.

"Our sustained talks with China have led to agreement on disengagement on the north and south banks of the Pangong lake," he said.

Also read: Indian, Chinese troops begin disengagement at Pangong Tso in Ladakh
CHICAGO, Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Technology Advisors, Inc. (TAI) is pleased to announce its recent partnership with Pipedrive, the leading cloud-based CRM for sales and marketing teams. Pipedrive is known for its easy-to-use yet powerful tools which help its users to find and manage high-quality leads, close deals faster with automations, and nurture customer relations.

"Pipedrive's intuitive user experience provide core sales functionality without clutter. It's a solution that customers can adopt quickly and start benefitting from right away, and we are happy to be able to provide services that support it," says Technology Advisors Inc. CEO, Sam Biardo.

Technology Advisors Inc. will offer services for Pipedrive implementation, training, customization, and support. In addition, the company's deep experience with integration and migration allows the added benefit of being able to migrate new Pipedrive customers to the solution without losing their data, and the ability to integrate Pipedrive with supporting applications like email and social media.

"We are extremely excited to welcome Technology Advisors to the Pipedrive's incredible global partners family. We are confident that with the support and expertise of such strong partners, customers can take full benefit from Pipedrive's award-winning toolset from day one when digitizing their business," said Scott Fratianne, VP of Channel Sales & Partnerships, Pipedrive.

Pipedrive is a top-rated CRM that has won a number of awards. It has been recognized as the "Best Overall CRM Solution in 2020" by MarTech Breakthrough, easiest to use CRM by Motley Fool, ranked #1 by Software Reviews and #2 by the U.S. News & World Report "Best CRM Software in 2020". For the past three years, Pipedrive has been included in the highly competitive Forbes Cloud 100 list.

Technology Advisors is a software consultancy focused on digital transformation initiatives and CRM optimization. The goal of TAI is to help customers drive more revenue by successfully utilizing their software mix for automation, departmental alignment, and streamlined services. To learn more about the Pipedrive services offered by Technology Advisors, please visit www.techadv.com/solutions/pipedrive.

About Technology Advisors

Technology Advisors Inc. (TAI) is a business software consulting company out of Chicago that specializes in custom software integrations and enterprise-level CRM projects. The company helps businesses in various industries select and implement CRM, marketing automation, business intelligence tools, customer service solutions and other business software. TAI is uniquely positioned to personalize CRMs through its internal team of developers who customize the platform for clients' individual needs. The company continues to expand its software offerings and development to create tailored software experiences for its customers.

Press Contact:

Danine Pontarelli

847.655.3415

https://www.techadv.com

SOURCE Technology Advisors

Related Links

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TWO men have been arrested following a significant drugs seizure in west Limerick.

Gardai have confirmed that an estimated 30,000 worth of Cannabis Herb was seized following searches at two homes in the Abbeyfeale area on Tuesday.

"The searches were carried out by the Limerick Divisional Drugs Unit on the afternoon of Tuesday, February 9 2021. Cannabis Herb with a combined value of 30,000 (pending analysis) was seized and two men were arrested," said a garda spokesperson.

The men, aged in their 40s and 60s, were taken to Henry Street garda station in the city where they were detained and questioned under the provisions of Section 2 of The Criminal Justice Act 1996.

The man, aged in his 40s, has since been charged and will appear before Limerick District Court at a later date.



The second man remains in custody at Henry Street station.

The drugs will be sent for analysis and investigations are ongoing.
Oslo, 11 February 2021 - DNO ASA, the Norwegian oil and gas operator, today announced the acquisition of ExxonMobil's 32 percent interest in the Baeshiqa license in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, doubling DNO's operated stake to 64 percent (80 percent paying interest), pending government approval. The Company plans to continue an exploration and appraisal program on the license while fast tracking early production from existing wells in 2021.



DNO has already demonstrated proof of concept of producing through temporary test facilities, having delivered 15,000 barrels of 40o API oil and 22o API oil for export from the Baeshiqa-2 and Zartik-1 wells, respectively.

In November 2019 DNO issued a notice of discovery on the Baeshiqa license after flowing hydrocarbons from several Jurassic and Triassic zones to surface in the 3,204 meters (2,549 meters TVDSS) Baeshiqa-2 exploration well. Following acid stimulation, the zone flowed variable rates of light oil and sour gas. Two zones flowed naturally at rates averaging over 3,000 barrels of oil per day (bopd) of light gravity oil each and another averaged over 1,000 bopd also of light gravity oil. Subsequent analyses on surface samples collected during testing confirm that the Triassic reservoirs contain saturated oil with a gas cap.

An exploration well was completed in 2020 on a second structure (Zartik) some 15 kilometers southeast of the Baeshiqa-2 discovery well. The 3,021 meters (2,322 meters TVDSS) well tested hydrocarbons to surface from several Jurassic zones, with the uppermost zone flowing naturally at rates averaging over 2,000 bopd of medium gravity oil.

The Company currently estimates gross license contingent recoverable resources from three of the tested zones in the two wells ranging from 12 million barrels of oil (mmbbls) (1C) to 156 mmbbls (3C), with a 2C volume of 43 mmbbls.

"By increasing our stake in the Baeshiqa license now, we demonstrate our belief in its ultimate potential," said Bijan Mossavar-Rahmani, DNO's Executive Chairman. "Following the stabilization of oil prices and export payments in Kurdistan, DNO is stepping up spending on new opportunities," he added.

DNO acquired its first 32 percent interest from ExxonMobil and assumed operatorship of the Baeshiqa license in 2018.

The 324 square kilometer license is situated 60 kilometers west of Erbil and 20 kilometers east of Mosul. The license contains two large structures, Baeshiqa and Zartik, which have multiple independent stacked target reservoir systems, including in the Cretaceous, Jurassic and Triassic. The remaining partners in the license include TEC with a 20 percent paying (16 percent net) interest and the Kurdistan Regional Government with a 20 percent carried interest.

In addition to the Baeshiqa license, DNO also operates the Tawke license containing the Tawke and Peshkabir fields in Kurdistan. Gross operated production from the Tawke license averaged 110,300 bopd in 2020.

For further information, please contact:

Media: media@dno.no

Investors: investor.relations@dno.no

DNO ASA is a Norwegian oil and gas operator focused on the Middle East and the North Sea. Founded in 1971 and listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange, the Company holds stakes in onshore and offshore licenses at various stages of exploration, development and production in the Kurdistan region of Iraq, Norway, the United Kingdom, Netherlands, Ireland and Yemen.

This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.
Hyde follows family tradition, takes home PIAA gold in shot put

"It's awesome," Hyde said. "It really feels like a tradition, now. It will be cool to see our names next to each other in the record books."
Moody's Investors Service on Thursday said India's reduces the risk of a sharp deterioration in public sector banks' asset quality, but the capital would remain insufficient to support credit growth and absorb unexpected shocks.

With high credit costs continuing to suppress their profitability, the banks' capital buffers will remain insufficient. The government plans to infuse Rs 20,000 crore in equity capital into PSBs next fiscal. While the amount will help the meet Basel capital requirements, it will not boost credit growth, Moody's said.

"We expect the Indian economy to recover in 2021, and this reduces the likelihood of a sharp deterioration of asset quality at the However, they will continue to face capital shortages as their profitability remains weak," Moody's said in an update on public sector

Moody's Assistant Vice President and Analyst Rebaca Tan said various measures by the Indian government to support borrowers have helped curb growth in public sector banks' non-performing loans (NPLs), and the volume of restructured loans is not as large as we anticipated.

Asset quality at the five largest rated public sector banks (PSBs) in India State Bank of India, Bank of Baroda, Punjab National Bank, Canara Bank, and Union Bank of India improved mildly in the first nine months of the year ending March 2021 (fiscal 2021) despite an economic contraction exacerbated by the pandemic.

However, India's public sector banks will continue to face capital shortages as their profitability remains weak given high credit costs, leaving them vulnerable to any unexpected stress, the agency 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.)
While the Crusader has been the universitys mascot since a switch from the Germanic calvary soldier the uhlan in 1942 because of the rise of Nazi Germany, those involved with the effort to remove the Crusader said that discussion began decades ago but didnt gain cohesion until this summer, after protests over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis and growing awareness of racial injustice that followed, as well as the use of Crusader imagery during the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.
The governments 2011-2020 master program on the state administration reform has come to an end.

State agencies will review the implementation of the program and determine what to do in the next period. The achievements and existing problems will be found and analyzed.

Bricks on street pavements are replaced once every several years

More than 10 years ago, most of the EUs governments engaged to carry out strong administrative reform to bring benefits to enterprises. Hearing that, businesses then asked the governments to show the benefits the reform can bring to them, and the value of the benefits.

EU countries then had to calculate the administrative procedure compliance costs that businesses have to pay, which allowed them to estimate the amount of money they would save if carrying out the reform.

As such, the results of administration reform needed to be quantified, i.e. it was necessary to calculate the benefits for people and businesses.

People and businesses dont care much about the process but more about the laws that have been amended or about the agencies that have been removed. They they only want to see the results, i.e. the impact of the reform on them.

It is now simpler to have college degree, household residential registration and certificate of birth certified at the local authorities. People dont have to travel too far and dont have to show too many kinds of documents thanks to the one-stop shop mechanism.

In many cases, people and businesses do not need to come directly to agencies because they can use third- and fourth-level online public services.

The civil servants who receive people have changed their behavior and attitude. The governments openness and friendliness towards businesses have been established.

Many government leaders have become aware that it is businesses which act as the driving force for the countrys socio-economic development. Most of the decisions by the Government have been applauded by the business circle.

This is the biggest achievement gained in the last 10 years of administration reform

Workforce quality

After 10 years of reform, the qualifications and capability of officers, civil servants and public employees still cannot meet the requirements.

If asked what the biggest problem is, most people would say it is the workforce.

After 10 years of reform, the qualifications and capability of officers, civil servants and public employees still cannot meet the requirements.

Many measures aiming to improve civil servants qualifications have been applied, including setting standards for civil servants, organizing civil service examinations, rank promotion examinations, changing working positions, rotating, and retraining.

One of the biggest achievements of reform was that many embezzlement and wrongdoing cases have been brought into light in the last 3-4 years. Never before has Vietnam witnessed such a high number of officials, including high-ranking ones such as ministers and Deputy Prime Minister, being disciplined.

However, this is not enough, or in other words, there has been no drastic changes in the contingent of civil servants. Many public employees are not capable, but still stay, while the number of retrograde and degenerate elements is still increasing. This is clear evidence for the poor results of workforce reform.

The institutions to manage the workforce are still not good enough. Policies have been deployed in moderation. This weakness, plus interest groups and embezzlement cases, created good soil that incubates toxic plants which cannot be eliminated at once.

Every action, big or small, by the authorities, central and local, needs to be clarified for whose benefits they are taken.

Construction projects

Gentrification is part of every urban development plan. However, its a big problem in Hanoi that bricks on street pavements are replaced once every several years and the pavements are then tiled once again. This demonstrates the management capability of local authorities.

Press agencies have recently reported that the Ministry of Constructions inspectors flew to HCM City to inspect apartment and villa projects which have overly high construction density. On a section of Nguyen Van Canh Road alone, three kilometers long, there is one construction project every 500 meters.

In fact, the same problem can be seen in many areas, including Le Van Luong, To Huu and Nguyen Tuan streets in Hanoi.

The problem lies in the management mechanism. One ministry is in charge of licensing construction works, while matters related to the transport network, and school and hospital planning are under the management of other ministries.

If traffic jams occur, this must be settled by transport agencies, while risks for fires and explosions must be the concern of fire prevention and fighting agencies.

One man said that he usually goes to a hospital under the Ministry of Public Security for medical services and always has to show a lot of documents. The procedure is repeated every time he comes. But if he goes to 108 Military Hospital, he only has to show documents the first time and not the next time because his personal information is stored in the hospitals system.

Dinh Duy Hoa

Ministry of Health to cut 30% administrative procedures The health sector sets target of better serving people via digital transformation, giving them more convenient access to quality services.

Kids want to fish? You don't know how yourself? Here's a little help
Nearly a week after a deputy shot a man in Clark County, investigators have released a report revealing that the encounter began when the deputy stopped the man over a taillight on his car.

In a lengthy report, police described deputies interaction with Jenoah Donald during a Feb. 4 traffic stop in Hazel Dell, which ended with Deputy Sean Boyle firing two shots and critically injuring Donald.

Donald, a 30-year-old Black man from Clark County, was taken to a hospital with life-threatening injuries. He remains on life support in an intensive care unit, according to a Tuesday update on an online crowdfunding page in his name.

The sequence leading to his shooting began when deputies responded to Northwest Jordan Way because a neighbor called to complain about a drug house and to report two suspicious vehicles circling the area, according to the report released Wednesday night by the Vancouver Police Department.

Police said that since June, law enforcement officers have been called to the house more than 40 times. They did not specify whether Donald was associated with the home.

Boyle, one of the three deputies who responded, saw a bronze Mercedes-Benz with Oregon license plates leaving the area. Boyle followed the car, noticed it had a defective rear light and pulled over Donald, the driver, near the intersection of Northeast Second Avenue and 68th Street.

Boyle said Donald produced his drivers license but no proof of insurance or registration, according to the report. And Holly Troupe, another deputy who came over to the passenger side of the car, saw several objects inside the car that caused her to become concerned, the report says.

One item, the report states, was a ball-handled object with a three-to-four inch sharpened stake at the end. Troupe told Donald to put his hands where she could see them because she was concerned he could quickly pick up the ball-handled object, according to the report.

Police did not return calls for clarification about what exactly the object was or how it posed a threat.

Troupe said Donald did not comply with Troupes commands, put his hands behind his lower back and pulled out his cellphone and a pair of metal pliers, according to the report.

As Boyle returned from his police car and came back toward Donalds vehicle, he told Donald to get out of the car, the report says. Donald didnt comply.

Meanwhile, a third deputy, Greg Agar, arrived.

Boyle and Troupe then tried to remove Donald from the car, but he resisted and began to struggle, according to the report. Troupe tried unsuccessfully tried to gain pain compliance, although the report does not clarify what that means.

Boyle then punched Donald in the nose, according to the report. He later said he felt Donald pull on his bulletproof vest and tug him inside the car.

Boyle told Donald several times to let go of him during the struggle, the report says, but Donald continued to pull on him. Troupe also told investigators she was worried Donald would hit Boyle with the ball-handled object.

Donalds car had been off, according to the report. But at some point during the struggle he turned it on. The report did not clarify whether Donald turned on the car intentionally or by accident.

Boyle told investigators he felt the car move forward and worried he was going to be killed. He said he pulled out his gun and warned Donald that he would shoot him if he did not let go of him.

Donald didnt let go, according to the report, and Boyle fired two shots at him, striking Donald once.

The report says that Boyle was able to free himself and that the car began rolling away, stopping when it hit a nearby fence.

The three deputies then took Donald out of the car and aided him until he was taken to a hospital, according to the report.

Donalds mother was told he wasnt going to survive but is not ready to give up hope and has to give him a chance, according to the GoFundMe page in his name.

Boyle, whos worked for the agency for 21 years; Agar, a six-year deputy; and Troupe, a 1 -year deputy, are all now on administrative leave. The Vancouver Police Department is leading an investigation into the shooting, as Washington state law dictates that agencies cannot investigate shootings involving their own personnel.

The shooting happened less than one mile away from the Oct. 29 shooting of Kevin Peterson Jr., a 21-year-old Black man from Camas who was shot and killed by Clark County deputies during an undercover drug sting.

Donalds family is being represented by Herrmann Law Group, the same attorneys that represent Petersons family.

Lawyer Mark Lindquist previously said the firm has retained an investigation agency in Vancouver, John Visser Investigative Solutions, to independently investigate the shooting.

Visser was also hired to investigate Petersons shooting.

Jayati Ramakrishnan; 503-221-4320; jramakrishnan@oregonian.com; @JRamakrishnanOR

Jaimie Ding of The Oregonian/OregonLive contributed to this report.
The government has cancelled this year's Farmers Day celebrations, famously known as Nane Nane Day.

Every year, Tanzania celebrates Nane Nane Day on the 8th of August in recognition the important contribution of farmers to the country's economy.

Announcing the decision in Dodoma, Wednesday (10th February, 2021), the Minister of Agriculture Prof Adolf Mkenda told reporters that fund set aside for celebrations will be used to boost extension services in the country.

Meanwhile, the minister said the government is assessing the relevance of the celebrations as far as agricultural sector development is concern.
Community News Editor / Librarian

Jeannie Maschino is community news editor and librarian for The Berkshire Eagle. She has worked for the newspaper in various capacities since 1982 and joined the newsroom in 1989. She can be reached at jmaschino@berkshireeagle.com.
New Delhi, Feb 11 : The national capital reported 142 new cases of Covid-19 in the last 24 hours and two deaths whereas 135 patients recovered from the disease on Thursday, according to Delhi Health Department bulletin.

The latest case tally now stands at 6,36,529, including 6,24,592 patients who have either been discharged or have migrated or recovered. Meanwhile, the death toll has mounted to 10,886.

The number of active cases has reduced to 1,051, of which 415 are in home isolation.

Meanwhile, 64,328 tests were conducted in the last 24 hours, the bulletin showed.

Of the tests conducted, 41,943 were done through RT-PCR and 22,385 were Rapid Antigen Tests (RAT). The capital city has conducted 1,13,88,092 tests so far, according to the Delhi Health Department bulletin.

Currently, 484 out of 5,777 beds are occupied in the hospitals, nine out of 7,392 beds in the dedicated Covid Care Centres and and just one out of 307 beds in the dedicated Covid Health Centres, as per the data shared by the Delhi government.

On Tuesday, the national capital had reported no deaths after a gap of 10 months.

Expressing relief, Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain had said that the collective will is winning over the Covid-19 infection.

The minister had congratulated the people of Delhi for taking proper precautions, and expressed gratitude towards the healthcare, and frontline workers for continuously fighting the battle against the Covid pandemic.
The Lee University Theatre program, led by Dr. Christine Williams, will present its spring performance, The Last Train to Nibroc, on Feb. 19-20 and 25-27 at 7:30 p.m. via live stream.

The Last Train to Nibroc is set in 1940 where May, an aspiring missionary, and Raleigh, medically discharged and heading to New York to be a writer, share a seat on a train where they realize they come from neighboring Appalachian towns. Raleigh decides to change trains for Kentucky in hopes of taking May to the Nibroc Festival. The two cross paths years later looking for happiness and love.

This particular show was chosen to provide our young actors with a unique challenge, said Dr. Williams. It is a two-person show and allows them the opportunity to really develop a character over the course of the play.

This simply staged romance features two leads, May and Raleigh, played by Lee students Macy Patton and Justin Gadson. Other Lee students involved in the play include Elizabeth Dusenberry, director; Macy Brown, costume designer; and Noah Seaman, sound designer.

We are delighted to be able to offer this sweet and entertaining production that will be enjoyable for all audiences, said Dr. Williams. Through careful planning and precautions, we are able to offer this show, that was on our original schedule for this year, and see the work of several students.

This performance will be streamed via a password-protected link. Upon purchase, the link and password will be sent to viewers. Tickets are $5 for an individual or $10 for a group and can be purchased by visiting showclix.com/event/nibroc.
Amidst the uproar over the changes in WhatsApp's terms of service, Facebook India Vice President and Managing Director Ajit Mohan on Thursday said the company is absolutely committed to privacy for its messaging app.

"The commitment to encryption on WhatsApp and privacy is absolute. We cannot read your messages. We cannot read anyone's messages. That has always been true and that will always remain true," he said at India Today Conclave East.

In January, WhatsApp had come out with an update in its privacy policy and terms of service that required users to agree to sharing of their data of chat with business accounts, payments and transaction information with its parent company Facebook and third parties associated with it.

After criticism from users over sharing of their data, the company postponed the rollout of the policy update to May 15 from February 8.

While saying that the company could have done a better job of explaining the policy changes to users, Mohan said WhatsApp was extremely transparent about the changes and raised the bar for transparency in internet.

"Having said all of that...I think we could've done a better job in terms of how we rolled out the changes in the privacy policy," Mohan added.

Also read: Do business in India but follow laws too, Ravi Shankar Prasad to Twitter

Responding to a question on the tussle between the Indian government and micro-blogging platform Twitter, he said while the company has a responsibility to make sure that its social media platforms allow free expression, it also has to take all possible steps to reduce harm through the platforms.

He said the company's community standards help it in identifying the behaviour which is not allowed on its platforms.

"And a lot of our community standards were developed over the years with inputs from multiple stakeholders, including governments around the world, that allows us to create these canvases for expression, especially in a democratic country like India, while equally allowing us to play the responsibility we have to keep users safe," Mohan said.

Besides, there are established protocols for engaging with the government and its orders, he said, adding that as a responsible company, Facebook "absolutely" respects Indian law.

Union IT and Communications Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Thursday said that all social media platforms are welcome to work in India, but they will have to adhere to Indian laws.

Speaking in Rajya Sabha, Prasad said the government respects social media a lot, which has empowered common people. "Social media has a big role in the Digital India programme. However, if social media is misused to spread fake news, violence then action will be taken."

The government is miffed with Twitter over its inaction on accounts red flagged by the IT Ministry for spreading misinformation during the ongoing farmer protests.

Also read: MeitY welcomes Twitter to India, keeps it on a short leash though

Also read: WhatsApp new features expected: From video and voice calls on desktop, mute video, and multi-device support

Calling Banerjee a ' failed administrator, Shah said the BJP's 'Parivartan Yatra' is not for changing a chief minister, MLA or minister but ending inflitration and transforming the condition of West Bengal.

Union home minister Amit Shah on Thursday, launching a scathing attack on West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, claimed that the upcoming state Assembly elections would be a fight between Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "development model" and the Trinamool Congress' "destruction model".

Shah was addressing a rally in West Bengal's Cooch Behar before flagging off the fourth of five 'Parivartan Yatras'  launched by BJP president JP Nadda on 6 February  criss-crossing the poll-bound state.

Dubbing Banerjee a "failed administrator", Shah said the BJP's 'Parivartan Yatra' is not for changing a chief minister, MLA or minister, but ending inflitration and transforming the condition of West Bengal.

Shah said the yatra is also aimed at ending corruption patronised by "Bua-Bhatija" combine.

The BJP has been accusing Banerjee and her nephew Abhishek, the Lok Sabha MP from Diamond Harbour, of "institutionalising corruption".

Shah claimed large-scale infiltration into Coochbehar district, which shares border with Bangladesh, has caused significant changes in its demography.

"This 'Parivartan Yatra' is not for changing a CM, MLA or a minister. It is for ending infiltration, it's for the transformation of Bengal. You vote the BJP to power in Bengal. Leave alone illegal immigrants, not even a bird from across the border will be allowed to enter the state," Shah said.

Shah alleged that Banerjee gets angry at 'Jai Shri Ram' slogan, but will herself begin chanting it by the time Assembly polls are over.

"Such an environment has been created in Bengal that raising Jai Shri Ram slogan has become a crime. Why does she get angry after hearing Jai Shri Ram? Mamata didi, if Jai Shri Ram is not chanted here, will it be chanted in Pakistan?" he asked.

The West Bengal chief minister had refused to speak at an official programme to celebrate Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's 125th birth anniversary after "Jai Shri Ram" slogans were raised from the audience in Modi's presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

She had later branded the BJP as a group of "outsiders" and accused the saffron party of insulting Netaji.

At Thursday's rally, Shah said the BJP is ready to take on the "goons" of the ruling TMC. "You think that we can get intimidated by the TMC goons? They cannot stall BJP's march to power. Once we are in power, each and every perpetrator of violence that led to the killing of BJP workers will be thrown behind bars," he asserted and claimed that "TMC goons" have so far killed more than 130 of its workers.

He asserted the BJP will bag more than 200 of the state's 294 seats.

According to the Indian Express, Shah alleged that the TMC and Communist parties have done nothing for the state's development and said the BJP works with the ideal of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikaas. He added that the party takes cultures, literature and traditions of every community ahead.

Shah said that after coming to power in the state, the BJP will spend Rs 500 crore and build a Rajbonshi Cultural Centre in the region as a tribute to the legends of Rajbonshi community, which has a sizeable population in West Bengal's Coochbehar and parts of Assam.

He also pledged to build a tourist circuit, which will include the Madan Mohan mandir in Cooch Behar and other mandirs from the region, according to The Indian Express report.

Rajbongshi voters are a deciding in factor in many of the 56 Assembly seats of North Bengal.

According to a report by News18, Shah also announced a new 'Narayani Sena Battalion' in the paramilitary forces and said that the training centre will be named after veer (brave) Chila Roy. He said that the parivartan yatra is to fulfill the dream of "sonar bangla" and appealed to the people to vote for the BJP.

The Modi govt will form a Narayani battalion in the para-military forces to pay tributes to the bravehearts that stopped the Mughals. After forming the govt in Bengal, we will spend Rs 500 crore to build a Rajbanshi Cultural Centre as a tribute to this community- Shri @AmitShah pic.twitter.com/Z190JjI0SR  BJP (@BJP4India) February 11, 2021

Shah said the upcoming Assembly poll will be a contest between the "vikas (development) model" of the Narendra Modi government and Mamata Banerjee's "vinash (destruction) model".

The home minister said while the Modi government works for "jan kalyan" (public welfare), the Mamata Banerjee dispensation is bothered only about "bhatija kalyan" (nephew's welfare).

As per the News18 report, the Union Home Minister accused Banerjee of blocking Central schemes including the Ayushman Bharat and PM Kisan Samman Nidhi in the state and assured the Ayushman Bharat health scheme will be implemented in the first Cabinet meeting after coming to power.

"The people of Bengal have made up their mind to elect a BJP government. At its very first cabinet meeting, the new BJP government will take a decision to transfer Rs 12,000 to the bank accounts of each farmer which they could not get as Mamata di refused to join the PM Kisan scheme," news agency PTI quoted him as saying.

BJP under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi can only ensure good governance in Bengal," the News18 report quoted him as saying.

Earlier this week, countering Nadda's allegations of denial of PM Kisan benefits to farmers in the state, Banerjee had said "BJO pnly lies", according to a NDTV report.

"They say Mamata is blocking farmers' money (but) did you not get Krishak Bandhu (a state scheme for farmers) money? Now tell Modi to send the money he promised," the report quotes her as saying. She further alleged that the state government had sent the names of farmers to the Centre but it was not sending the money.

At the rally in Murshidabad, Banerjee had also claimed that the Centre did not give any assistance to West Bengal for dealing with the devastation caused by cyclone Amphan last year, nor did it do anything to support the state to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the NDTV report, Banerjee also countered Nadda's accusation of appeasement, saying, "They are lying about Hindus. Are we not Hindus? But we don't say that just because we are Hindus we will hate Muslims... We don't say that just because we are Hindus we will hate Buddhists... that is not in our culture."

Nadda had referred to the West Bengal permitting Muharram celebrations during the coronavirus lockdown but not permitting Saraswati Puja celebrations.

Likening herself to a Royal Bengal Tiger, Banerjee asserted that she is not a weak person who can be intimidated by the BJP.

Polls to the 294-member Bengal Assembly are expected to be held in April-May.

With inputs from PTI
Donald Trumps lawyers face a challenge as they begin his defense at this weeks Senate impeachment trial. House prosecutors have made the case that Trump, in his Jan. 6 speech to a crowd in Washington, D.C., incited the insurrection that followed. Trumps lawyers deny that the insurrection was what Trump intended. But in that case, they need to offer a plausible alternative. If Trump wasnt directing the mob to attack or threaten Congress, what was he telling it to do?

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In their trial brief, the defense attorneys point out that Trumps Jan. 6 remarks never explicitly called for an insurrection, a riot, criminal action, or any acts of physical violence. At worst, the brief argues, Trump was misunderstood by the thugs who subsequently attacked the Capitol. But nowhere in the brief do the lawyers explain what the misunderstanding was. Thats because Trumps behavior, over the course of two months, rules out any other reasonable explanation. By rejecting every nonviolent option that could have ended the election dispute, he drove his supporters to violence.

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According to Trumps attorneys, when he told the crowd to fightIf you dont fight like hell, youre not going to have a country anymorehe was just referring to action at the ballot box, calling for a change in the occupants of Congress through future primary elections, or talking about the need to fight for election security in general. But that explanation is obviously false. Trump summoned the crowd to show up two years before the next federal election. The question on the table was whether to accept the election that had just taken place.

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The lawyers, in their brief, note that Trump didnt specifically demand unlawful action. But he got the same result by telling his base that lawful action had failed to save the country. He denounced every court, including the Supreme Court, that rejected his election challenges. When the FBI and the Department of Justice found no evidence of widespread voter fraud, he denounced them too. He told his followers to ignore state-certified ballot counts and the Dec. 14 vote of the Electoral College. As lawful options were exhausted, Trump continued to demand that the election be overturned. The conclusion was inescapable: He wanted action outside the law.

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The president made clear that these actions would have to be taken by citizens, because public officials had failed. He urged his supporters to come to Washington on Jan. 6, when Congress was scheduled to certify the electoral vote, because Republican senators lacked the courage to block certification. On Jan. 4, he told his followers that it was their job to fight like hell and make sure the certification didnt happen. On Jan. 5, he vowed that they would inundate Washington and galvanize Republicans. The mission of the mob, as he described it, was to intimidate Congress.

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In his speech to the crowd on the morning of Jan. 6, Trump inserted a token line about protesting peacefully. Hardcore Trump fans knew he often sprinkled that line in speeches as a joke. Then, over the next hour, Trump foreclosed every peaceful option. He called Joe Bidens victory illegitimate. He dismissed the Supreme Court as biased and hostile to the country. He told his supporters to suspend the usual rules of election acceptance, urged them to counter the lefts ruthless power grab, and warned that if Biden were inaugurated, our country will be destroyed. By the end of the speech, his meaning was obvious: Violence was justified and necessary. An hour later, as insurrectionists surrounded the Capitol, he tweeted that the last nonviolent optionintervention in Congress by Vice President Mike Pencehad failed.

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Trumps behavior during the attack erased any doubt about his intentions. He didnt like scenes of his supporters attacking policehe saw those images as a threat to his law & order brandbut he loved what the mob had done to Congress. White House officials said he was pleased, delighted, excited, and borderline enthusiastic because it meant the certification was being derailed. When the assault was over, Trump gloated. These are the things and events that happen when a sacred landslide election victory is so unceremoniously & viciously stripped away from great patriots, he tweeted. Remember this day forever!

Trump made clear what he wanted. He declared that the country was in mortal danger and that officials who stood in his way were enemies of the people. He told his followers that every legal option had failed them and that every institution was rigged against them. He warned that the putative winners of the election were ruthless, and it was time somebody did something about it. He scoffed that Congress, without pressure from the streets, would never do the right thing. If these messages werent a call for insurrection, what were they? The former presidents lawyers had better have an answer.
Most people would agree that countries have a right to protect their industries and jobs against seriously unfair competition from overseas but a debate is now starting on whether the same logic applies to imports from countries with poor policies on carbon emissions.

The Herald revealed on Thursday that Australia would push back against Britain and the European Unions moves to impose so-called carbon border adjustment taxes.

Both the EU and Britain have adopted ambitious carbon reduction targets: British prime minister Boris Johnson recently pledged to cut emissions to 68 per cent below 1990 levels by 2030 and the EU has a 55 per cent target.

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But they are turning to border carbon taxes to prevent their industries being undercut by imports which are cheaper because they are produced using dirty coal-power and other carbon-heavy technologies. The EU, which is furthest advanced, says it will release a proposal next month and plans to start levying the taxes in 2023.
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A Newman teenager who pleaded guilty to murder after beating his partner and wheeling her body to hospital in a bin last year wants to be punished under customary Aboriginal law, even if it could result in his death.

The 17-year-old, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, looked to the ground as details of the young mothers death were read out for the first time during his sentencing in the WA District Court.

The court was told the pair had been drinking at a house party in Newman on May 5 last year when they started fighting. The bickering spilled into the street, where the 18-year-old woman fell to the ground before the teenager dragged her by the hair and punched her in the head.

Others separated the couple, who returned to the party for a short while before going to nearby bush to talk.
Boss Security Screens, the leading premier security screen provider in Nevada, has responded to high consumer demand and expanded their offering of high-end steel security screens for residential and commercial structures. Headquartered in Las Vegas, Boss Security Screens recently established locations to service Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona and Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Manufactured with more than 55 years of engineering excellence, all screens are made in the USA and are pry resistant, shear resistant, impact resistant and nearly impossible to defeat, making them the toughest security screens on the market. Popular with consumers concerned with home safety, Boss Security Screens offers a no break-in guarantee and a variety of financing options. Filtering 65% of thermal energy to help keep homes cool, the company has experienced an increase in demand throughout the warmer southwest region. The screens also retain regular airflow, feature an easy-to-use ADA compliant egress latch and maintain homeowner views.

Security is a timeless need, and due to the pandemic, people are spending more time at home than ever. Our goal is to make people feel safe, comfortable and secure in their own space, said James Kerr, CEO and founder of Boss Security Screens. As a company, we are excited about this southwest expansion and look forward to being able to offer quality security products to homeowners in Arizona, New Mexico and beyond.

Boss Security Screens is committed to using the highest performing designs, strongest materials and developing the most innovative manufacturing processes to provide a solution at an affordable price point that will excel in unfortunate times of need. Boss Security Screens has plans to expand into additional markets in the near future including California, Utah and Texas.

For more information about Boss Security Screens, contact their Las Vegas office at (702) 637-0255, Phoenix office at (602) 633-5289, Tucson office at (520) 477-6375 or the Albuquerque office at (505) 225-3732.

About Boss Security Screens:

Headquartered in Las Vegas, Boss Security Screens is the leading premier security screen provider in Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico with plans to expand nationwide. Boss Security Screens provides high-end steel security screens for residential and commercial structures, custom built to suit any type of window or door. Boasting more than 55 years of engineering excellence, all screens are made in the USA and are pry resistant, shear resistant, impact resistant and nearly impossible to defeat, making them the toughest security screen on the market. Boss offers a no break-in guarantee and financing options are available. The company is committed to using the highest performing designs, strongest materials and best manufacturing processes to provide a solution that will excel in times of need and provide peace of mind to families and individuals. For more information, visit http://www.bosssecurityscreens.com and follow on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.
"Today, there's a tremendous amount of demand for those digital and cloud capabilities. And as you saw in the last quarter, that's now more than half of our business and growing at about 30 percent. Given that sort of attraction, it will have good continuing momentum for some time," Salil Parekh, CEO & MD, Infosys told Moneycontrol in an exclusive interview. File Photo.

Infosys CEO & MD Salil Parekh seems to have the Midas touch because when he took charge in January 2018 he set out a three-year target to transform the IT major, and on the face of it, it looks like he has delivered.

The company, which has been growing at a faster clip compared to rivals such as TCS and Wipro in the last few quarters, is confident about growing revenues in double-digits, on the back of robust demand for digital and cloud capabilities.

"Today, there's a tremendous amount of demand for those digital and cloud capabilities. And as you saw in the last quarter, that's now more than half of our business and growing at about 30 percent. Given that sort of attraction, it will have good continuing momentum for some time," Parekh told Moneycontrol in an exclusive interview.

"Our view is, many large enterprises are now looking at it not just to improve various components of their performance, but also to look for growth from their own customers, increase the efficiency of their supply chain, and make sure that their connection with their people is much more agile, stronger," he added.

Edited excerpts from the interview:

You have often said that you will go from stability to investment to momentum to acceleration; so is the acceleration phase here to stay? Will it continue beyond FY22?

What you are describing is what we have put together over the past few years really making sure that we are building out all those capabilities in digital which our clients are looking for. My sense is today there is a tremendous amount of demand for those digital and cloud capabilities and as you saw in the last quarter that is now more than half of our business and growing at about 30 percent. Given that sort of traction, my sense is that will have good continuing momentum for some time.

Of course, it means we have to continue to keep the capability building going and work closely with clients to make sure that we are delivering what their needs are, what their digital and cloud transformation programmes are. At the same time making sure our employees are getting all the reskilling to make of all these programmes happen.

So are we then staring at a multiyear cycle of double-digit growth, because in recent interactions you have spoken about how IT has moved beyond a cost driver to a business driver for global corporations. So are we looking at a multiyear cycle of double-digit growth something that will perhaps continue for FY23, FY24 and so on?

There I think you are right; our view is that many large enterprises are now looking at IT not just to improve various components of their performance, but also to look for growth from their own customers, increase the efficiency of their supply chain, make sure that their connection with their people is much more agile and stronger and those are more in the nature of investing for the growth, for the transformation of their large enterprises. We think that sort of a trend will continue for some time.

Of course, we have not spoken about anything becoming multiyear in terms of our own growth. We will be very clear to say that next year we see double-digit growth for Infosys.

Would this have happened sooner for Infosys if not for the pandemic, or do you think it has happened because of the pandemic? How do you really see that equation?

There if you see a year before we had a growth rate of 9.8 percent, a year before that 9 percent, now our guidance is already a very strong guidance in the range of 4-5 percent. We think that this sort of growth is very much part of what our three-year programme was, how we built capabilities and how we are working closely with clients on their transformation journey.

Of course, when initially the COVID situation unfolded last year in March, all of the things slowed down. But we are seeing many of the industries which were impacted early on, especially the large companies in those industries, are growing back and back with more technology spend and so each quarter our growth has expanded and with that we see more and more coming in the future.

My sense is we adapted to the COVID situation in the March-April timeframe, so in that sense it wasnt that it was independent of what was happening and with that adapting and with all of the capabilities we have built we see much more traction today. But of course, at a global level economies have to catch up where they were before COVID, but all of the policy work, stimulus are definitely helping the economies together.

How are budgets getting funded for digital? Are clients perhaps taking budget from marketing or other areas and tactically spending it on digital? Where are these budgets really being carved out of?

There are really few places where that spend is coming from. One which is another important part of the approach we have put in place which relates to automation is a big play in how large enterprises are looking at their technology spend. So for example today we have built over the past several years about bots -- these bots do much more automated work in technology than it was being done in the past. When these are deployed with our clients environments the overall cost for large enterprises in terms of their technology where these are deployed is lower and some of that strength is then used by large enterprise clients to go and build their digital portfolios or their digital and cloud transformation journey.

Then there is a whole bucket which is what we were discussing earlier which comes from investing for growth. So it is not a replacement of cost in that sense, it is much more how do we at large enterprise grow with our customers, what are the huge markets, what are the new distribution channels that we can access and that is another area that large enterprises could look to for diverting investment into digital.

What impact could the tectonic rise in the IT industry have on the rest of the economy because usually there is a chain reaction. For every one job that gets created in IT you have perhaps two jobs getting created in sub-contracting, facility management services, other services and so on. So could we see this in a sense lifting the economy, the fact that IT companies are seeing this scorching pace of growth, something that is going to continue into the next financial year as well?

Absolutely, I think to the proportion of how IT contributes to the economy this will be a big beneficiary to the overall economy and of course the overall economy is also seeing very good traction for the coming financial year. But the contribution from the IT sector as you point out is beyond just the jobs in the IT industry, it is all of the things that are supporting around the IT industry and to the proportion that we are part of that economy which is very significant that will become more and more apparent.

You were talking about the tectonic shift that the growth in IT companies would have on the economy in terms of job creation, in terms of the multiplier effect, can you expand on that because IT usually has a huge change reaction when it comes to investment, consumption and spending?

To the proportion that IT industry is contributing to the economy given that there is a good growth across the industry that will continue because there is additional benefit beyond the IT industry and job creation and that will continue into the economy as this happens over the next financial year.

Many people feel that remote working might do away with a lot of supervisory roles; some of these supervisory mid-management roles may become redundant. So do you see the nature of jobs also changing?

We see the change coming in how people are working. As you described, remote working or work from home, there is a tremendous amount of flexibility that is now within the system. Clients are open to it and very supportive. Our own infrastructure enables it. However, we dont see any redundancy.

In fact, what we are seeing is with the growth we will have more and more people joining the IT industry and that scaling will require more roles at every level because there will be more projects to manage, there will be more work with clients, and there will be more support of all of those activities. So, in that sense, we dont see the redundancy, but we do see a change in the way people are working.

You rolled out salary hikes effective January 1, 2021. You also said that you will be rolling out promotions this quarter. Have you started rolling out promotions, at which levels, and how many people are likely to benefit? Secondly, just like how you rolled out a special incentive a couple of quarters ago, will you look at yet another special incentive because the war for talent is likely to intensify in the current demand environment?

I think all of those plans are proceeding as we had shared both from promotion and salary increase perspective. We will always look at anything beyond that as the time comes because really my sense is employees have contributed massively in the way the overall company has done, but also in a very difficult environment  while yes everyone is working from home, it has some pluses and it has some challenges, and people within Infosys have really risen to the occasion. So all of those things are in full motion and we will see all of the impact in this quarter as we had previously announced.

So should I take that as a yes, should the lakhs of Infosys employees perhaps prepare for another special incentive coming their way?

We will decide within this quarter or over the next few quarters if we do something like this. There is nothing for me to announce today in that area. But very much the salary increases, very much the promotions are fully in motion. We are very open to doing everything we can which will support and help the employees.

Some people believe that the growth might taper in the second half of the year because IT companies may not be equipped to handle these digital budgets, it might go back to niche providers such as EPAM. What do you make of this scepticism? Is the growth here to stay or is this something that IT companies got because of the pandemic, because clients were really looking to offload some work to their existing vendors?

My sense is at Infosys we are quite confident and comfortable with how we are seeing this financial year. We have already increased our growth guidance. We see very good traction with large enterprises and clients. In fact, what we are seeing is, large enterprises are looking for a partner that can do all of their work together. So make sure that their current technology landscape is looked after, but also integrate with the digital transformation and the cloud transformation.

So, in fact my sense is Infosys is probably better positioned than many others to do all of those. Hence we have confidence in this financial year and we have given a high-level review that next financial year will see double-digit growth.

While hikes and increased travel is likely to impact margins, you have often spoken in the earnings about how you will leverage other strategic levers. What are these levers likely to be because your offshore is already high, your utilisation is already at 85-86 percent. So, what could these other levers be?

You may know that in one of our sessions last year in November, we had played out a set of strategic levers; for example how we would look at what we do across our pyramid, how we would look at sub-contractor expenses, how we would look at more and more value creation in different elements of digital. There are separate levers that have been outlined in that session. Our sense is those strategic levers will continue to be of importance in the years to come. Of course, there were several one-time benefits that we got in this financial year. Some of those will go away in the coming year and coming quarter, but these strategic levers we will continue to help us.

This is also your first interview after Biden has officially taken charge as US President. Initially at least it seems to be encouraging. He has taken away most of what Trump has done with respect to H4 visas, he has delayed the change in processes for H1B visas. So are you overall confident about deploying employees from here, applying for visas? Will that continue or will you still continue to step up local hiring? How do you see this panning out because so far at least signals seem to be pretty positive compared to his predecessor?

As we had shared before, our model is built on working with various scenarios. Of course, we have built a very good model around localisation, but we also have a very good model where we have a lot of people working on different visa situations as well. Given where we are in the cycle, my sense is Infosys will be able to work in this set of scenarios and policy decisions as well if not better as we worked in the past because our objective is really to build a business that works under multiple scenarios. Yes, we will make sure that all of the current guidelines is something we fully support and adhere to, but even so we will make sure that our business model remains resilient for the future direction.

Infosys co-founder and chairman Nandan Nilekani in recent months has spoken about how crucial it has become to build an optionality when it comes to building business models, taking decisions, etc. So I am just curious to understand how has this changed the way you make decisions, you build businesses, are you bringing an optionality as Nandan Nilekani said into various initiatives, strategy, the way you look at Infosys?

ALSO READ: EXCLUSIVE: Expect growth momentum to continue in near term, says Infosys CEO Salil Parekh

Absolutely. I think what Nandan has shared is a way of looking at the business world making sure there are multiple scenarios or as you call optionality in how you look at the outcome. We have gone through an extremely difficult period as a global economy over the last 11 months but also going ahead, we are building within Infosys, a situation, a business which will look at and thrive under multiple scenarios. Our approach there is to make sure that those options are evaluated and then you are prepared depending on how the world around us evolves to execute on that within a broad framework, which is working very closely with our clients on digital and making sure that all of the rescaling is going on with our employees. So absolutely, that approach makes a lot of sense and it is something we have implemented within how we look at the business at Infosys.

Something more topical that is making news this week  the government is thinking about a four-day workweek, it may allow companies to go ahead with a four-day workweek giving employees three days off but the working hours are likely to remain at 48-hours, if and when this comes into effect, will you welcome it, how you will see it, will it really make a difference considering 97-98 percent of your employees are still working remotely, how do you see this evolving?

It is quite early in the discussion. Our approach will be to support whatever direction the government puts together. What we see in our own workforce is a tremendous ability in this new environment to work from home, work remotely and have a hybrid or flexible model and also there is tremendous enthusiasm for learning new skills and making sure that they are relevant for our clients.

So at the end, our employees are very self-driven in how they are looking at what they need to do in working with our clients. With that enthusiasm of our employees and whatever regulations the government would put, we will make sure that we will align to it and working with our clients to make anything work for them.

The other very fascinating thing that has held everyones attention is crypto and bitcoin. Tesla last week was in the news for spending $1.5 billion to buy bitcoins, they are saying they will accept payment in bitcoins, how do you see this evolving? Will Infosys come to a stage where a significant portion of your cash will go into bitcoins or will this be in conflict with your environmental, social and governance (ESG) - carbon-neutral goals because a lot of people believe bitcoins are bad from an environmental perspective? How do you see this, any thoughts on this at all?

There we have no plans to put any of our cash into bitcoins at this stage. Of course we will evaluate in the future how the world evolves. Our ESG growth is very robust and very clear, we have very strong targets for 2030, we have also announced that we were carbon neutral as you saw last year, so we have a strong commitment to our ESG goals going forward and it has been a history and the culture of the company for many years. So that is how we will approach it as we look ahead.

The regulatory environment surrounding bitcoins and crypto in India is also very uncertain at this stage, you never know what is going to happen?

Yes. There are guidelines that are evolving. So as those evolve, we will look at them as well.

How does your day begin and when does it end?

The thing that I have noticed in these last few months is the level of connect we have with our clients has increased and given in one way that there is no travel, there is a lot more of these sort of connects through the video platforms and we have many clients that are on the west coast, so invariably things go pretty late into the night but I have a routine in terms of morning work, a little bit of exercise routine and end through the day in work and meetings and discussions. So in that sense a little bit longer but one difference is there is no travel, so it balances out.

Any productivity apps that you particularly like, anything that works for you that you would like to tell us about?

From my perspective, I am not a big user, it is about being a little bit more efficient with how we look at time and how we work across different teams respecting each others time commitments that seem to be the most critical element but no specific app in that sense.

Infosys said that they are going to hire at least 24,000 freshers this year; what are the one or two things that you will look at when someone applies to you for a job or if you have to interview a fresher?

The key thing from my perspective when we look at normal graduates or across any other level  my own sense is if there is a desire to continuously learn, a desire to work hard at delivering what we are looking for the clients. Those are the two key elements - in addition of course to many different skills which come and then you evolve into different skills overtime. To me the more fundamental points are more about are you someone who want to continuously learn and someone who is willing to work hard in support of all the clients be it in their environment.

You have been pretty social media shy but any thoughts on joining Clubhouse, all the CEOs in Silicon Valley, investors seem to be spending a lot of time there, will we see you on Clubhouse anytime soon?

Clubhouse is an extremely powerful platform. My own sense is - my attention is focused on working with our clients and our employees. So at this stage, I have chosen not to participate but I am certainly someone who observes it and I could see the interviews a couple of weeks ago, it is always fascinating to see what is going on.
I dont want to doubt the sincerity of Durbin. Sincerity just oozes off the man. But Ive spent most of my life around Illinois and Chicago politics. Perhaps Ive become a cynic against my will. With the Senate divided in a 50-50 split, Biden needs the Illinois senators more than they need him. And if Durbin and Duckworth, and possibly Biden, really wanted Lausch to stay on, why did the firing process go so far as to have Lausch on a conference call Tuesday with the Justice Department, and with other federal prosecutors, asking for their resignations?
by Fady Noun

A year ago, said the Maronite Archbishop of Beirut, I stood before this altar, and a large number of our countrys leaders were also present in the church. I relayed to them the cry of the Lebanese, oppressed to the point of despair, waiting in long queues at the gates of the hoarders of their basic needs. [. . .] They heard it and left. Nothing has changed.

Beirut (AsiaNews)  In his address on Monday to members of the diplomatic corps accredited to the Holy See, in the Benediction Hall, Pope Francis also mentioned Lebanon, stressing the need to preserve the very reality of that country as well as its stability.

The pontiff, whose remarks were addressed mainly, but not exclusively, to the international community, urged them to commit to Lebanons stability, its internal equilibrium, its pluralistic character, its economic recovery and finally its internal reforms.

In a long but exciting global analysis, the paragraph the Holy Father dedicated to Lebanon reads: I also express my hope for renewed political commitment, both national and international, to fostering the stability of Lebanon, which is experiencing an internal crisis and risks losing its identity and finding itself caught up even more in regional tensions. It is most necessary that the country maintain its unique identity, not least to ensure a pluralistic, tolerant and diversified Middle East in which the Christian community can make its proper contribution and not be reduced to a minority in need of protection.

Christians, with their many educational, health and charitable works, are an intrinsic part of Lebanons historical and social fabric, and they must be guaranteed the possibility of continuing their efforts for the good of the country, of which they were founders. A weakening of the Christian presence risks destroying internal equilibrium and the very reality of Lebanon. In this regard, the presence of Syrian and Palestinian refugees must be also addressed.

Moreover, without an urgently needed process of economic recovery and reconstruction, the country risks bankruptcy, with the possible effect of a dangerous drift towards fundamentalism. It is therefore necessary for all political and religious leaders to set aside their personal interests and to commit themselves to pursuing justice and implementing real reforms for the good of their fellow citizens, acting transparently and taking responsibility for their actions.

This urgent appeal to the international community and the great powers coincides with the Maronite Patriarch's recent call for an international conference under the auspices of the United Nations to consolidate Lebanon in its modern constitutional foundations, which are based on the unity of the Lebanese entity and the principle of its neutrality.

According to Patriarch Bechara al-Rahi, the conference should provide permanent guarantees to protect the country from aggression against its sovereignty and end the presence of illegal weapons.

This call should not go unanswered in a region that is adapting to new facts following the election of US President Joe Biden, the reorganisation of the Arab world after the reconciliation between Saudi Arabia and Qatar, and the prospect of de-escalation of tensions between the United States and Iran,

Alongside these developments, a homily on Tuesday, the feast day of Saint Maron, by the Maronite Archbishop of Beirut, Bishop Boulos (Paul) Abdelsater, caused a stir. In a diatribe inspired by the Beatitudes, the bishop, who traditionally celebrates the feast of Saint Maron in front of prominent leaders, but led Mass this year in an empty church, spoke about the hardships the people of Lebanon experienced over the past year, especially the poor and those who rely on daily earnings.

Slamming the state of neglect and the injustices endured by the population, the archbishop said: A year ago, I stood before this altar, and a large number of our countrys leaders were also present in the church. I relayed to them the cry of the Lebanese, oppressed to the point of despair, waiting in long queues at the gates of the hoarders of their basic needs. [. . .] They heard it and left. Nothing has changed. Things have gotten worse, corruption has expanded, strategies of deception and concealment of the truth have developed, and lies, hypocrisy and irresponsibility have spread.

Woe to you, O political leaders of my country, for you build your glory on the oppression and humiliation of those who have trusted you. Forget not that history will be ruthless and will mention your names among the names of tyrants, rogues and executioners!

Woe to you, financial managers in Lebanon, because you amass wealth and build your homes with the money of fathers and mothers who struggle hard to secure the future of their children. Remember that God hears the moans of the oppressed and shrouds have no pockets. Your wealth and your homes will inevitably return to others, and the curses of the oppressed will pursue you in the grave!

Woe to you who are responsible for administering justice and the law in my country, for you put your rulings in the service of your positions, titles and gains, and you oppress the rightful holder. In truth, I tell you: your seats will be taken from you. Forget not that you will certainly be confronted by the One who holds the judgment and who does not look at appearances!

This sermon comes at a time when Lebanon has faced several serious crises  socio-economic, financial, political and health  for more than a year.

As a result of these crises, aggravated by the coronavirus pandemic and the double explosion in the port of Beirut, which killed 209 people, more than half of the Lebanese population now lives below the poverty line, in a country shaken by riots that turn violent, with rampant inflation, whose currency, the Lebanese pound, has lost more than 80 per cent of its purchasing power.

On top of that, since August it has burdened by a constitutional crisis that prevents the formation of a new government.
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By Ruth Anderah

The supreme court is on March 18th expected to give their final judgement on the petition filed by NUPs Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine who is challenging President Yoweri Musevenis victory in the just concluded today.

This has been revealed by the chief justice Alfonse Owiny Dollo who is leading a panel of eight other justices after todays pre-hearing session where the two parties, petitioner and respondents were supposed to agree on the triable issues was adjourned to February 24th.

The adjournment followed revelation by the petitioners lawyer Medard Lubega Ssegona that they were not ready to proceed as they had a batch of more affidavits to file with 50 expected to be filed today and another 50 by Monday, February 15th.

Justice Owiny Dollo who has set strict timelines for all sides has also ordered the parties to file written submissions by not later than March 4th.

He however says each lawyer will only be given 30 minutes to make oral highlights before court.

Justice Dollo adds that a chance will be availed to cross-examine any intended witnesses and presentation of any electronic evidence between February 25thand 26th .

The court will retire to use ten days to write its summary judgement to be delivered on 18th March.

The Chief Justice has meantime warned parties to the case to avoid using social media to divulge in merits of the case.

This is an opinion column.

Its a new twist on an old question: What did Tommy Tuberville know, and when did Donald Trump know it?

Alabamas junior senator has again opened his mouth. This time, rather than revealing what he doesnt know  like what the three branches of government are  Tuberville let slip he knew something he maybe shouldnt have.

And Donald Trump knew it, too.

And it could mean the president knowingly put his vice president, Mike Pence, in danger, or even incited a mob to try to kill him  which is all kind of important in the impeachment of the former president.

Heres what we know so far.

On Wednesday, after the second day of impeachment hearings, Tuberville spoke with reporters about a phone call he had with the president the day of the attack on the U.S. Capitol. As insurgents stormed the building, Pences security swept the vice president out of the Senate chambers. Tuberville says he was on the phone with Trump, who wanted his help delaying the Senate count of electoral votes.

I said Mr. President, they just took the vice president out, Ive got to go, Tuberville told Politico.

At least Tuberville has sense enough to look out for his own safety.

But if Tuberville is telling the truth, what hes revealed is important  not only that Trump would have known Pence was in danger, but more importantly when Pence was in danger.

Tuberville would have told Trump that Pence had been evacuated from the Senate chambers around 2:15 p.m.

About 10 minutes later, Trump tweeted angrily about the vice president.

Mike Pence didnt have the courage to do what should have been done to protect our Country and our Constitution, giving States a chance to certify a corrected set of facts, not the fraudulent or inaccurate ones which they were asked to previously certify, Trump tweeted before his account was suspended. USA demands the truth!

There are only a few ways to interpret this. Either, Trump didnt care his vice president was in danger and recklessly put his life at further risk. Or Trump did care  and wanted him pursued, or hurt, or killed.

Which is crazy, but thats where we are.

With Tubervilles revelations, Trumps attorneys cant argue that the former president was ignorant of the danger Pence was in.

Ive been tempted to accept that Tuberville is some bumbling fool, stumbling through a political upheaval like a hapless Forrest Gump. But this sort of thing keeps happening again and again, and the evidence keeps stacking up against him  most of it out of his own mouth.

Last year, Tuberville told Alabama Daily News Todd Stacy that he intended to use his new Senate office space for fundraising  which is illegal.

Two weeks ago, Tuberville denied hed been at a January 5 meeting of Trump confidants at the Trump International Hotel, even though social media posts of two people there put him in the room, and another woman took a picture with Tuberville in the hotel lobby.

And now, speaking to reporters, Tuberville has let slip something that might make him the most important witness in Trumps impeachment.

Tuberville campaigned on the promise hed do everything he could to support Trump in Washington. Now he might be the key to convicting him. The more Tuberville talks, the more we seem to learn  which means theres just one thing to do.

A year ago, Senate Democrats demanded witnesses in Trumps first impeachment trial but Republicans refused to allow them. This time around, the Dems have been the ones arguing for a witnessless trial. Thats a mistake.

The House impeachment team should call Tuberville as a witness. Lets do on purpose what Tuberville keeps doing by accident. Put him under oath. And keep him talking.

Or make him invoke his right to remain silent.

We need to hear what Tuberville knew.

We need to hear when Trump knew it.

And we need to know it now.

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

What have you done now, Tommy Tuberville?

Beware your new friends, Tommy Tuberville

What Tommy Tuberville doesnt know

Whats buried in Tommy Tubervilles pine box

East African Portland Cement Company (EAPCC) has fired its acting Managing Director Stephen Nthei and replaced him with Daniel Kiprono.

The cash-strapped cement maker through a notice on Wednesday said that Mr Kiprono, a career accountant took over on February 8, ending Mr Nthei's 19-month stay at the helm of EAPCC.

Mr Kiprono has served in various capacities with his immediate post being head of the Internal Audit department.

"The board of the company wishes to inform the shareholders that Mr Daniel Kiprono has been appointed as the acting Managing Director of the company with effect from February 8, 2021," EAPCC said in the notice.

The new managing director takes charge at a time the cement manufacturer is keen to turn around its fortunes months after its move to convert all its permanent staff to temporary workers with a pay cut of up to 50 per cent as part of taming its wage bill amid depressed earnings.

Mr Nthei's exit comes at a time there are allegations of a fallout amongst the firm's top management over the sale of its Mavoko land to pay a bank loan and raise cash for operations.

The loss-making cement maker was last year declared technically insolvent after its liabilities payable within 12 months outstripped assets in the year ended June 2019.

EAPCC had tasked Mr Nthei with shepherding its turnaround backed by the multibillion-shilling sale of over 2,000 acres of prime land in Mavoko, Machakos to raise money to pay a KCB loan. Last November, the firm said it was yet to find a "suitable" buyer for 2,076 acres.

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(ANSA) - ROME, FEB 9 - League leader Matteo Salvini said Tuesday that he told Premier-designate Mario Draghi that he wants a government headed by the former chief of the European Central Bank to take the lead in Europe.

"We talked about Europe," Salvini said after government-formation consultations.

"Our aim is for Italy to be a lead player in Europe again.

"What we are interested in is that it works for the national interest at the EU level.

"No austerity. No blood-and-tears pacts".

Salvini said he did not talk to Draghi about who the ministers will be in his government.

But he said he was satisfied that the premier-designate had agreed with the League's idea of using the model of streamlined bureaucracy employed in rebuilding Genoa's viaduct after the collapse of the Morandi bridge in 2018. (ANSA).


Malcolm & Marie  made during the pandemic  an explosion of a damaged couple trying to keep it together

Writer-director-producer Sam Levinsons visually compelling film and self-financed film, Malcolm & Marie, was made during the pandemic and stars John David Washington (Malcolm) and Zendaya (Marie), who is one of the producers. They made it for 2.5 million and it sold to Netflix for $30 million.

The black-and-white drama set over the course of one long night is an examination of two deeply hurt people in a dueling monologue where old grievances are constantly unearthed.

This examination of this dysfunctional relationship is done inside a luxury rental somewhere in Hollywood. They are both self-involved people creating a mood so depressing it makes you pause, ponder and ask yourself  oh God, is that what I look like when I have an argument with my significant other but with a soundtrack to highlight the lows and highs?

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James Browns Down and Out in New York City floats through the film as Malcolm a rising filmmaker shakes off his anxiety dancing across the living room with a style that suggests, I belong here and here is a perpetual state of luxury being admired and well paid.

Its his night, hes just returned with his stunning girlfriend, from a successful premiere, and hes feeling himself, high-high-high on his own steam. Is he as good as he thinks he is? Hell yes, he screams with every line and everybody movement. Hes peacocking which irks Marie.

Marie is complicated. Beautiful and layered, a former drug addict whose horrific experiences inspired Malcolms film, and shes furious because  wait for it  he forgot to thank her, during his acceptance speech.

The question looms, which is, how much more can she take? Shes filling fast with resentment and about to unload on her unsuspecting partner. This would be brand new behavior. Shes not one to stick up for herself. To that end, she carefully listens to his rant which evaporates into his hatred for those film critics who define him by his Blackness. I get it. He has a meltdown in an almost 10-minute tantrum, not unlike a spoiled child. But later, when one of those critics (Los Angeles Times) praises him hes ecstatic.

A failed actress, Marie asks him why he didnt cast her in his movie, the very one that she inspired?

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Spotlight on his soul, Malcolm turns on Marie, telling her shes not special and assuring her that the character, in his brilliant film, is not based on her. He asserts that its an amalgam of all the deeply damaged women he has known. Shes wounded which was his intention the moment he opened his mouth.

But its at this point, that we can see that Malcolm is deeply insecure giving a picture for the saying: hurt people, hurt people. Thats Malcolm, a hurt person trying to give more pain to Marie. Its at this point, I feel, that the film turns itself into a mirror and if you are honest with yourself (and I am), Ive had a few Malcolm & Marie moments.

Marie is the underdog but you have to ask, why? Why is she taking this amount of abuse? Shes drop-dead gorgeous, and strong because shes no longer using drugs. So why stay with an ungrateful man?

Zendaya is stunning in her performance and allows us an important glimpse of what Maries suffering feels like.

Malcolm & Marie  maybe, on the surface, to be asking what, if any, does a storyteller has to its muse. But what I think its really about is what amount of abuse will one person take to feel validated.

Here, Hollywood fills in that space and, Hollywood is glamorous. Hollywood pays ridiculous amounts of (validation) money and creates stars pumping them up with hope and then can (and often does) systemically tear them down. These are facts. So the question in Malcolm & Marie is will these equally damaged people find their self-worth in time, and by extension will the universal I/me/you?

Malcolm & Marie now playing on Netflix.
In the first full day of arguments in the Senate trial of Donald Trump, House impeachment managers presented irrefutable and graphic evidence of the former presidents central role in preparing and organizing the January 6 political coup. Trump stands exposed as a political criminal who caused the death of five people that day, and narrowly failed to trigger a much larger bloodbath.

The presentation documented in detail the case laid out in general terms the previous day: Trump sowed doubts about the legitimacy of the election beforehand, then denied the results after vote-counting showed him losing decisively to Joe Biden, and finally targeted January 6, the date of the formal congressional counting of the Electoral College votes, as his last chance to hold on to power.

Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, is flanked by his staff with reporters following during a dinner break as arguments continue in former President Donald Trump's impeachment trial, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

There was never-before-seen video showing Vice President Mike Pence and his entire family escorted from a Capitol hiding place by Secret Service agents to make their escape, of Senator Mitt Romney redirected away from the oncoming mob by a Capitol policeman, and of Senator Chuck Schumer hastily reversing course, along with his security detail, to avoid attack. The House managers played an audiotape of Speaker Nancy Pelosis frightened staffers whispering on a cellphone as they hid under a table in a locked conference room, while the mob raged outside.

The mass of harrowing details, now viewed by millions of people, as both broadcast and cable news networks provide nonstop coverage, will no doubt have an impact on public opinion. But the political framework in which this evidence is presented is of decisive significance. As developed by the House Democrats, and reinforced by the corporate media, it entirely covers up the essential character of the events of January 6.

In the telling of the Democrats, January 6 was a purely personal effort by Donald Trump to prevent the counting of electoral votes that would seal his defeat in the presidential election. He organized the rally of his supporters outside the White House, incited them to march on Congress and fight for his victory, and then sat back and watched approvingly as they stormed into the Capitol and put a stop to the counting of electoral votes. The entire responsibility for the events of that day rests on Trump and Trump alone.

The Democrats do not approach January 6 as a political event. The Republican Party as an institution does not figure in it, and, in fact, it is treated as a co-equal victim along with the Democrats.

The Democrats said nothing about the Republican congressmen and senators, more than 150 in all, who votedonly hours after the events in the Capitol!to follow Trumps lead and reject the electoral votes of states won by Biden. The Democrats would have been perfectly within their rights to demand the exclusion of Senators Ted Cruz and Josh Hawley from the Senate jury on the grounds that they are accomplices and co-conspirators with Trump. And what about Senator Tommy Tuberville, whom Trump telephoned on the afternoon of January 6 to discuss further delaying the certification, even while the mob was inside the Capitol seeking to block certification altogether?

The vast majority of Republicans, both in the House and the Senate, defended Trumps refusal to concede the election even after vote counting had been completed and all legal challenges to the results had been disposed of. They lent legitimacy to his bogus claims of a stolen election, and thus helped fuel the campaign that produced the events of January 6.

The case presented by the Democratic managers was reduced to a pathetic moral appeal, directed to Senate Republicans, urging them to convict Trump and make him ineligible to run again for president in 2024. Even if this appeal were to succeed, barring Trump from a future campaign is a minor issue compared to the emergence of a powerful fascist tendency in American politics, which now dominates the Republican Party.

The Democrats know full well that if the coup had succeeded in its aims, Trump would have seized on the crisis as the basis for staying in office indefinitely, establishing a presidential dictatorship. The Republican Party would have endorsed such an outcome, regardless of the will of the voters who decisively rejected Trumps reelection bid.

The Democrats avoid all such issues. Even the language they use is revealing. The coup is never referred to as a coup. The goal of establishing Trump as an authoritarian ruler is never acknowledged. Even the role of fascist groups as the spearhead of the attackersunavoidable given the detailed recounting of the actions of the Proud Boys, the Oathkeepers and other fascist groupsis downplayed. As lead impeachment manager Jamie Raskin declared in his opening remarks Wednesday: It makes no difference what the ideological content of the mob was. Actually, the ideological content is of critical importance: Trump was seeking to retain power through the mobilization of a fascist-led mob, because he sought to establish himself as a fascist ruler.

The Democrats even echoed the language of the pro-Trump mob in their own presentations, as one impeachment manager after another lamented the failure of our commander-in-chief to answer the pleas of congressmen and senators trapped in the Capitol by the mob. Trump is not and never has been the commander-in-chief, full stop.

That term as defined in the US Constitution establishes the role of the military as subordinate to civilian authority: the highest civilian official, the elected president, serves as commander-in-chief over the US military. The president is not commander-in-chief of Congress, or other elected officials, state and local, let alone the American people as a whole. Such usage would make the president a king or absolute ruler, and would actually serve to legitimize the claims of the January 6 mob that they were attacking Congress on the orders of the president, their commander-in-chief.

The Democratic effort to cover up for Trumps co-conspirators extends not only to the Republican Party, but also to officials in the executive branch, and especially the military. The presentations by the House managers gave a nearly day-by-day timeline of Trumps efforts to stay in office over the past six months, but they avoided one action entirely: Trumps firing of Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, who had opposed mobilizing troops against the wave of protests that followed the police murder of George Floyd last May, and his replacement by Christopher Miller, a retired Special Forces colonel, and other Trump loyalists, who were suddenly slotted into the Pentagon in the wake of the election. This was an effort to ensure control of the armed forces in the event of a political crisis like that threatened by the events of January 6.

This two-faced approachdamning Trump while whitewashing the Republicansundercut even the most effective presentations by the House Democrats. In one example, Representative Stacey Plaskett, delegate from the Virgin Islands, detailed Trumps role in preparing the January 6 march, even to determining the date of the protest and its line of march to the US Capitol. She noted the plans circulating online to turn the march into an outright assault on the Capitol, which were being monitored by the White House social media operation and Trump personally. She quoted from social media messages calling for the establishment of the MAGA militia and declaring that an actual tactical victory like storming and occupying the Capitol was necessary in order to have the effect that we want.

But this account begs the question: if Trump and the White House were monitoring these social media pronouncements, were not the FBI and other law enforcement and intelligence agencies doing the same? Given that the preparations for an assault on the Capitol were so public, even reported in the corporate media, how is it possible that nothing was done to stop it? Why were the Capitol police so unprepared? Why were no additional forces alerted and deployed to help defend the Capitol against the threatened attack?

If the Democratic Party had any real commitment to the defense of democracy, the Biden administration would be justified in investigating and prosecuting Trump, his Republican abettors and enablers in Congress, and numerous officials in the military-intelligence apparatus, as well as their financial backers, for criminal conspiracy to overthrow the Constitution.

But they sought to do exactly the opposite. At several points in the eight-hour proceedings on Wednesday, the Democratic case against Trump sounded like an infomercial for Vice President Mike Pence. Democratic impeachment manager Joaquin Castro declared, The vice president is a man who upholds his oath, his faith, his duty, and most of all upholds his duty to the Constitution. And Mike Pence is not a traitor to his country.

This absurd praisedirected at a right-wing bigot and Christian fundamentalist who has stood behind Trump in countless crimesis aimed at building up Pence as the alternative within the Republican Party to Trump. What the Democrats want above all is a responsible Republican party with which they can collaborate, giving them the means to carry out the right-wing political program demanded by Wall Street as it confronts growing social opposition from below.

Establishing the complicity of the Republican Party in an attempted fascist coup would destroy it. Biden has already made clear that his political priority is maintaining the Republican Party as a strong opposition, setting policy through bipartisan collaboration. He even claims not to be paying attention to the Senate trial, although it involves the most serious threat to democracy in the history of the United States.

The Democratic Partys conduct of the impeachment trial expresses the class interests it represents. As a party of Wall Street and the military and intelligence agencies, the Democrats are opposed to any real exposure of the social and political forces behind the January 6 coup.

Exposing in detail the role of Donald Trump is only the first step in an investigation into the events of January 6. But if the Democratic Party has its way, it will also be the last step. The working class must oppose and reject such a political whitewash of a deadly dangerous threat to its democratic rights. Trump aimed to establish an authoritarian dictatorship, and he had many accomplices and co-conspirators. Every one of them must be exposed and brought to justice.
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Tory unrest is mounting today as Matt Hancock insisted ministers are 'doing everything we can' to make sure people can go on holidays this summer - but admitted there is no guarantee of success.

The Health Secretary confirmed that he has already booked a trip to Cornwall, despite Grant Shapps sparking fury yesterday by saying Britons should not plan trips 'domestically or internationally'.

However, Mr Hancock risked fuelling Tory MP frustration further by insisting that even though the vaccine rollout has surged ahead the situation is 'uncertain' with mutant coronavirus strains running riot.

'What we have all been saying is we will do everything we can to make sure that people can have a holiday but these are uncertain times,' Mr Hancock said in a round of interviews this morning.

'That is something people understand  especially after the last year, people really get that.'

Mr Hancock also insisted he made 'no apology' for his bloodcurdling threat of 10 years in jail for travellers to the UK who lie about visiting high-risk 'red list' countries.

Mr Shapps' blunt comments sparked a day of chaos yesterday, with Downing Street distancing itself from his views at lunchtime, saying it was a 'choice for individuals'.

But Boris Johnson, who earlier this month said he was 'optimistic' about the prospect of summer holidays, then echoed his minister's gloomy line at a Downing Street press conference.

He warned it was 'just too early for people to be certain about what we will be able to do this summer'.

Despite the cautious message from the PM, Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden are working on packages to promote holidays in the UK.

And Heathrow Airport warned today that unless there is a way to revive the travel industry soon thousands more jobs will be lost, saying that once new quarantine rules are introduced on Monday only the 'desperate and wealthy' will be flying.

One senior Tory said: 'We are in danger of making 'holiday' a dirty word when it should be exactly the sort of aspirational thing we are celebrating.'

Meanwhile, scientists have voiced scepticism about whether it will be possible to ease the government's extreme border crackdown anytime soon.

Dr Simon Clarke, associate professor in cellular microbiology at the University of Reading, said booking a holiday now is 'one hell of a gamble'.

And Professor Devi Sridhar warned that sacrificing foreign holidays was likely to be the price for easing the lockdown in the UK.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps sparked a furious backlash after declaring yesterday morning: 'People shouldn't be booking holidays right now  not domestically or internationally'

Health Secretary Matt Hancock (pictured) has revealed to Tory MPs he has already booked a holiday in Cornwall this summer

CAN I GET A REFUND FOR HOLIDAYS? Can I get a refund if my travel company cancels the trip? Yes, if you've booked a package holiday, by law the travel company must refund your holiday if they cancel it. Some firms have been pushing customers to accept vouchers, but you are entitled to a full cash refund. Those who have privately booked holidays will likely be able to rearrange their flights for free. But accommodation costs will be harder to recover and most travel insurance policies do not cover government coronavirus travel restrictions. Can I get a refund if I cancel my flight? Many companies have a policy whereby if they cancel the trip, customers are entitled to a full cash refund. Whereas if the customer cancels, often they will only be entitled to a voucher to put towards a future flight, or the option of rescheduling. The best option is checking with your provider. I no longer want to travel. Should I cancel my flight now? Probably not. If you cancel now, you are not entitled to a refund under the law. But you are if the company cancels your flights. Most carriers will also let you rearrange your flights free of charge. Guy Anker of Money Saving Expert told MailOnline: 'The general message is wait to see if they cancel on you, unless you get close to their cut off to get something back.' He added: 'It's a bit like a game of chicken to some extent. It's not a game of wait to the last second, it's a game of wait to the last second until you can get something back.' Advertisement

Ministers have already put dreams of a summer break abroad in jeopardy, with the introduction of draconian border controls backed by the threat of ten-year prison sentences for those who try to cheat the system.

Mr Shapps yesterday said opening up foreign travel would depend on 'everybody having their vaccinations'  a process not currently due to be completed until the autumn.

The PM later told MPs that people would have to 'get used to the idea of re-vaccinating in the autumn' to counter new variants of the disease.

But suggestions that domestic holidays could also be disrupted sparked anger among Tory MPs and travel bosses.

Mr Hancock said the public will need to be 'patient' over the prospect of summer holidays this year.

'I know that people are yearning for certainty over whether they can have a summer holiday, but pandemics are difficult times and there is a lot of uncertainty so I am afraid that people will have to be patient before we can get that certainty,' he told BBC Breakfast.

'We are doing everything that we possibly can to make sure that people can have a holiday this summer but the vaccine rollout is absolutely essential to that.

'We will set out more in more detail when we can, but at the moment unfortunately there is that uncertainty still.'

Scientists lined up today to urge a cautious approach to easing lockdown, despite the massive damage being inflicted on the economy and mental health.

Sir Jeremy Farrar, director of the Wellcome Trust, said it is 'not sensible' to predict when Covid-19 restrictions can be lifted and when people might be able to go on holiday.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, he said: 'It is not sensible to set a date when restrictions will be lifted  those restrictions can and they will be lifted, but only when the data allows that to be true. Setting a date now, arbitrarily, for some date in March or April, frankly doesn't make any sense.

'I appreciate that businesses have to plan and everything else, but the data has to drive us, and in 2020 we lifted restrictions too quickly when the date would not really have allowed that and, frankly, as a result the transmission went back up in this country.'

Dr Simon Clarke told LBC: 'Where I am is that I'd very much like to be able to go on holiday in the UK or elsewhere, but I think the Government is looking at this from the perspective of having perhaps been too optimistic in parts last year, and having had its fingers burned.

'It allowed itself, I think, to be pressured into allowing travel corridors when perhaps some of those were not so wise, and it's looking at that this year and being deliberately cautious because it doesn't want to be in that situation again.'

He added: 'We don't know where we're going to be, not only in this country in terms of vaccinations, but in terms of spread of troublesome variants and what other countries are going to have been able to do.

Infections must fall below 10,000 before lockdown can be eased, says top scientist A leading scientists has warned infections need to fall below 10,000 - from around 750,000 currently - before lockdown can be eased. Sir Jeremy Farrar, director of the Wellcome Trust, said transmission was still 'incredibly high' even though cases are falling quickly. Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Sir Jeremy said: 'Transmission is still incredibly high in the UK. If transmission were still at this level and we were not in lockdown, we would be going into lockdown. 'There are 750,000 people today in the UK infected, there's still huge pressure on the NHS and on critical care in this country. 'We've made enormous progress  the UK deserves great credit for the science behind the vaccines and the rollout (with) 30 million people now vaccinated in this country. 'But the transmission rate is incredibly high still and we've got to get it lower, we've got to get it  in my view  into the single thousands before we can possibly think of lifting restrictions.' Advertisement

'So it really is too early to say. I think if people were to book holidays now, I'd like to do that myself, it would be one hell of a gamble.'

Prof Sridhar told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'We have seen that it's possible.

'If we look across the world to New Zealand, Australia, East Asian countries, and even the debate's now happening within Japan and now in Germany, you're seeing there's a turn towards saying: 'Do we want to use our vaccines and the tools we have to actually just stop transmission of the virus and be able to get back our normal life, which means normal schooling, fully open and crowded restaurants and bars, gyms and fitness studios, live music festivals, large spectator sports events, but the cost is restricted movement internationally?

'I think we need to have a very open debate about that because I think people want it all, and realising that (in) a pandemic, when we try to have it all we end up having very little.'

However, Heathrow chief executive John Holland-Kaye warned that businesses are struggling to survive and quarantine rules coming in from Monday are set to hammer passenger numbers even more.

He told Sky News some aviation firms had gone a year without any revenue: 'Businesses cannot keep going like that. And the only thing they can do is to slash their costs, and unfortunately that often means people lose their jobs.

'And I think at Heathrow we've probably lost between 15,000 and 25,000 jobs across the whole airport in the last 11 months  that is the size of a small town, with people who have lost their jobs.

'That is devastating to local communities and devastating to the businesses as well.

'Unless we see some recovery plan from the Government and some support for the aviation sector financially then I'm afraid that more jobs are at risk.'

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer  who plans to holiday in Devon  urged ministers to be cautious in the way they communicate about the summer plans as the pandemic continues.

'It's very difficult to predict what's going to happen later in the year,' he told reporters on a visit to Heathrow.

'We've got a holding of a holiday in August in the UK, but we are going to have to see. It's subject to the restrictions and that's the best anybody can do.'

He acknowledged it was 'really difficult' for ministers to know what will happen over the coming months.

'I'm not going to stand here and criticise the Government for being unable to say with precision what's going to happen in August, I don't think that's fair,' he said.

'What I do think they should avoid is mixed messages  so don't say, one day, through the Prime Minister, 'it'll all be fine' and through the Transport Secretary say 'don't book a holiday'.

Sir Charles Walker, vice-chairman of the 1922 Committee of backbench Conservative MPs, yesterday led condemnation of the suggestion that people should not book summer breaks in the UK was 'extraordinary and unacceptable'.

He insisted the goalposts for easing lockdown had 'not so much been moved as ripped out and moved to another playing field'.

Shapps says 'vaccines passports' likely to happen in the future Grant Shapps today said he believes 'vaccine passports' will happen so holidays can resume when the pandemic eases. The Transport Secretary confirmed the government is working on a system and was having talks with other countries. However, he stressed it is not the same thing as documentation to allow people to access services in this country, which is not being considered. Mr Shapps said in a round of interviews: 'I imagine that in the future there will be an international system where countries will want to know that you have been potentially vaccinated or potentially had tests taken before flying. 'I was speaking to my Singaporean counterpart, I was speaking to my US counterpart this week, and we'll have discussions about those things to have an internationally recognised system.' Advertisement

He said: 'We had summer holidays last year when we didn't have vaccines. Now we have vaccines coming out of our ears we are being told we can't book a holiday. It is very strange and very frustrating.'

Sir Charles, who called on the PM to 'rein in' Mr Shapps and Mr Hancock, warned that lockdown was becoming 'an extended exercise in almost studied and deliberate cruelty for a nation now that is increasingly anxious and under pressure'.

In a further sign of Tory unease about the lockdown, 24 MPs yesterday staged a symbolic rebellion over Covid regulations relating to house parties.

Steve Double, Tory chairman of the all-party hospitality and tourism group, said it was 'almost too late' to book a holiday in many parts of the UK.

He stressed it was 'essential' that the PM set out a timetable for the reopening of the domestic tourism industry when he publishes his road map out of lockdown later this month.

Mr Double said: 'I don't know about telling people it's too early to book a UK holiday this summer  in many places like Cornwall it's too late.

'People are listening to what is being said about foreign travel and booking in this country.'

The PM previously indicated that the road map, due in the week beginning February 22, would offer guidance on holidays. Asked directly whether it was safe to book for this summer, he replied yesterday: 'I understand why people want to make plans now, but we're just going to have to be a little bit more patient.'

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer last night urged ministers to 'stop the mixed messages' on holidays adding: 'That really isn't helping.'

Mr Johnson also warned that the reopening of the economy and society would be 'cautious'.

He added: 'What businesses up and down the country are going to want is a cautious and measured approach that is pragmatic and one we don't have to retreat from or reverse.'

Microbiologist Professor Paul Hunter yesterday said the tough border restrictions should be lifted once the over-50s are vaccinated at the end of April.

Ministers have already put dreams of a summer break abroad in jeopardy, with the introduction of draconian border controls backed by the threat of ten-year prison sentences for those who try to cheat the system. Mr Shapps yesterday said opening up foreign travel would depend on 'everybody having their vaccinations'  a process not currently due to be completed until the autumn (stock image)

He told the BBC's World At One: 'The things we are trying to keep out are probably already here. Border restrictions may have some value in terms of delaying things until we have got more vaccine. But in the longer term I cannot see them having any substantial ongoing benefit after April.'

Travel chiefs yesterday warned of a 'second lost summer' and stepped up urgent calls for a bailout and recovery package.

Tim Alderslade, of Airlines UK, wrote to Mr Johnson, saying in order to run a full flying programme in July, airlines need to begin planning by the end of the month.

Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary told Sky News: 'If everybody over 50 is vaccinated by the end of May, frankly there's going to be no justification for restricting people's civil liberties or forcing them to sit at home when the risk of coronavirus has been hugely reduced.

Ryanair is still urging people to book summer holidays, with Mr O'Leary firing a stinging broadside at the Transport Secretary.

'Nobody in the travel industry would take any advice from Grant Shapps who has mismanaged almost every aspect of travel during the pandemic,' he said.

Tui announced yesterday that 2.8million people have booked holidays for this year, more than half of them Britons, while Jet2 yesterday cancelled all of its holidays until April 14.

Many of the trips have already been rescheduled from last year, or booked on the back of ministers' previous predictions that life would be back to normal by 'Christmas' or 'Easter'.

Package holiday customers now face a wait to see if companies will cancel their holidays, entitling them to a refund, or offer to reschedule their breaks for later in the year or next year.

Anyone who has booked their own flights should be able to reschedule for free under most airlines coronavirus rules, but face losing accommodation costs such as Airbnbs.

And if rules were to be lifted before Autumn - Matt Hancock has indicated quarantine rules will stay until it is 'safe' to lift them - prices are expected to rocket as demand soars for a limited supply of flights and destinations.

Ryanair has already said it still expects the travel restrictions to be lifted despite the tough rhetoric from the government.

A spokesman said: 'The UK's successful vaccine rollout program eliminates the need for these draconian travel restrictions from May onwards.

'If all over 50s are vaccinated by May as predicted by Boris Johnson, then the risk of the Covid virus to the health service is severely diminished and this must give rise to the removal of travel restrictions on UK citizens, particularly on short-haul flights both within the UK and to/from Europe.'

Meanwhile staycation costs have already rocketed this year, with one ultra-luxurious two week break in Scotland being marketed for 600,000 and Cornwall reporting a flood of bookings.

Other Brits are block booking holiday cottages for weeks at a time for a so-called 'workation' - allowing them to work remotely from their holiday destination.

One disappointed customer is Lauren Porteous, 23, from Newcastle, has been forced to re-book her trip to Florida three times during the pandemic - and is now braced for it to be delayed for a fourth time.

She initially booked her trip to the US in April last year in the hope of going in November, before it was pushed back to May and now August.

She told MailOnline: 'We're going to be waiting until closer to the time to see how things are... If we have to change our flights and dates again though, we will.'

The test analyst, who also has a trip booked for Los Angeles in August, said she has a mixed experience with travel companies - some have been accommodating while others have been a 'nightmare'.

Asked if she was worried about her trip being cancelled, the she said: 'I'm more worried about being stuck here for longer... I hate being in the same place for too long and I'm missing LA so much.

Lauren Porteous, 23, from Newcastle, has been forced to re-book her trip to Florida three times during the pandemic - and is now braced for it to be delayed for a fourth time

Tui announced yesterday that 2.8million people have booked holidays for this year, while Jet2 said there is 'huge pent-up demand' for trips abroad

'At the moment we can keep changing flights as many times as we need, so I'm not too worried about it yet.'

However many would-be holidaymakers are demanding refunds and want to know what what options they have to claw back their money.

Experts advised people against immediately cancelling their flights as it could prevent their entitlement to a full cash refund.

Guy Anker, deputy editor of MoneySavingExpert, told MailOnline: 'This is a bad story for people who want a holiday - but financially there's a lot that can be done.'

He said: 'A lot of it will depend on the holiday company and their rules. So the first thing to do is check with your holiday company.

'The second point is that a lot of these companies will have built-in flexibility.

'The general message is wait to see if they cancel on you, unless you get close to their cut off to get something back.

He explained that many, but not all, companies have a policy whereby if they cancel the trip, customers are entitled to a full cash refund.

Whereas if the customer cancels, often they will only be entitled to a voucher to put towards a future flight, or the option of rescheduling.

Mr Anker said: 'It's a bit like a game of chicken to some extent. It's not a game of wait to the last second, it's a game of wait to the last second until you can get something back.'

Nicky Kelvin, director of content at The Points Guy UK, agreed: For now, the best advice is to sit tight.

'If you don't already know, check now with the airline or company you have booked with to see if your booking is flexible or refundable.

'If it is, you can wait to see what happens, and then be ready to cancel or re-book once you can be certain the trip won't happen.'
TOLEDO, Ohio - When General Motors boldly announced its goal last month to make only battery-powered vehicles by 2035, it didn't just mark a break with more than a century of making internal combustion engines. It also clouded the future for 50,000 GM workers whose skills  and jobs  could become obsolete far sooner than they knew.

Stuart Hill, a United Auto Workers member who works at the General Motors Toledo Transmission Operations facility, poses in Toledo, Ohio, Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2021. At 38 years old and a GM employee for five years, Hill is still decades from retirement. He wonders about the future of that plant and his role in it. Its something thats in the back of my mind," Hill said. "Are they going to shut it down? (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

TOLEDO, Ohio - When General Motors boldly announced its goal last month to make only battery-powered vehicles by 2035, it didn't just mark a break with more than a century of making internal combustion engines. It also clouded the future for 50,000 GM workers whose skills  and jobs  could become obsolete far sooner than they knew.

The message was clear: As a greener U.S. economy edges closer into view, GM wants a factory workforce that eventually will build only zero-emissions vehicles.

It won't happen overnight. But the likelihood is growing that legions of autoworkers who trained and worked for decades to build machines that run on petroleum will need to do rather different work in the next decade  or they might not have jobs.

If the history-making shift from internal combustion to electric power goes as GM, Ford and others increasingly envision, jobs that now involve making pistons, fuel injectors and mufflers will be supplanted by the assembly of lithium-ion battery packs, electric motors and heavy-duty wiring harnesses.

Many of those components are now built overseas. But President Joe Biden has made the development of a U.S. electric vehicle supply chain a key part of his ambitious plan to create 1 million more auto industry jobs with electric vehicles.

Yet for workers at GM and other automakers, that future could be perilous. The more environmentally focused plants of the future will need fewer workers, mainly because electric vehicles contain 30% to 40% fewer moving parts than petroleum-run vehicles. In addition, many of the good union jobs that have brought a solid middle-class lifestyle could shift to lower pay as automakers buy EV parts from supply companies or form separate ventures to build components.

Most vulnerable in the transition will be the roughly 100,000 people in the United States who work at plants that make transmissions and engines for gas and diesel vehicles.

They are people like Stuart Hill, one of 1,500 or so workers at GM's Toledo Transmission Plant in Ohio. At 38 years old and a GM employee for five years, Hill is still decades from retirement. The future of the plant and his role in it worries him.

Its something thats in the back of my mind," Hill said. "Are they going to shut it down?

He and others hope that Toledo will be among the sites where GM will build more EV parts. If not, he'd be open to moving to some other plant to continue to earn a solid wage; top-scale workers represented by the United Auto Workers are paid around $31 an hour.

Yet there is hardly assurance that automakers will need as many workers in the new EV era. A United Auto Workers paper from two years ago quotes Ford and Volkswagen executives as saying that EVs will reduce labour hours per vehicle by 30%.

There are just less parts, so of course it stands to reason that there is going to be less labour, said Jeff Dokho, research director for the UAW.

The exterior of the General Motors Toledo Transmission Operations facility is shown in Toledo, Ohio, Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2021. When General Motors boldly announced its goal last month to make only battery-powered vehicles by 2035, it didnt just mark a break with more than a century of making internal combustion engines. It also clouded the future for 50,000 GM workers whose skills  and jobs  could become obsolete far sooner than they knew. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Were sort of at the beginning of that transition, said Teddy DeWitt, an assistant professor of management at University of Massachusetts Boston who studies how jobs evolve over time. Its not going to be just in the vehicle space.

The number of industry jobs that will be lost in the transition will likely reach into the thousands, though no one knows with any precision. And those losses will made up, at least in part, by jobs created by a greener economy, from work involved in building electric vehicle parts and charging stations to jobs created by wind and solar electricity generation.

Indeed, the most far-reaching change in manufacturing since the commercial production of internal combustion-driven vehicles began in 1886 will ripple out to farm equipment, heavy trucks and even lawnmowers, snow blowers and weed-whackers. The oil and gas industries could suffer, too, as the fading of the internal combustion engine shrinks demand for petroleum.

At the century-old transmission plant in Toledo, GM workers make sophisticated six-, eight-, nine- or 10-speed gearboxes. Eventually, those parts will be replaced by far simpler single-speed drivetrains for electric vehicles. Especially for workers low on the seniority list, GM's plans for an all-electric future mean that eventually, their services will likely no longer be needed.

This is that moment to define where we go in the future, said Tony Totty, president of the UAW local at the Toledo plant. This is a time we need to ask ourselves in this country: What are we going to do for manufacturing? Is manufacturing dead in our country?

Those worries already were in the air when Biden made an October campaign stop at the Toledo union hall. Totty delivered a letter imploring the candidate not to forget about the people getting the job done today.

Even though fully electric vehicles now constitute less than 2% of U.S. new vehicle sales, automakers face intense pressure to abandon internal combustion engines as part of a global drive to fight climate change. California will ban sales of new gas-powered vehicles by 2035. European countries are imposing bans or strict pollution limits. Biden, as part of a push for green vehicles, pledged to build a half-million charging stations and convert the 650,000-vehicle federal fleet to battery power.

At the moment, though, American motorists have other ideas. They continue to spend record amounts on larger gasoline vehicles. With average pump prices close to a $2 a gallon, trucks and SUVs have replaced more efficient cars as the nation's primary mode of transportation. In January, roughly three-fourths of new-vehicle sales were trucks and SUVs. A decade ago, it was only half.

All that demand will still keep Toledo in business for years. Yet there's little doubt that the move to electricity is inexorable. About 2.5 million electric vehicles were sold worldwide last year. IHS Markit expects that figure to increase 70% this year alone. In December, there were 22 fully electric models on sale in the United States; Edmunds.com expects that figure to reach 30 this year. GM alone has pledged to invest $27 billion on 30 EV models worldwide by 2025.

The acceleration of the trend has heightened anxiety even at plants that are now running flat-out to meet demand for GM trucks.

It definitely scares me, said Tommy Wolikow, a worker at GMs heavy-duty pickup assembly plant in Flint, Michigan, who has worked eight years for GM. I think that eventually theres a good chance that I might not be able to retire from this plant.

Depending on how fast consumers embrace electric vehicles, Wolikow fears he could be bumped out of his job by employees with more seniority. Workers already are starting to vie for jobs at three plants that GM has designated as electric vehicle assembly sites, two in the Detroit area and one in Tennessee.

In the meantime, GM says it needs its full factory workforce as it rebuilds inventory depleted by a coronavirus-related factory shutdown last spring.

We have to run our current core business smart and strong, because that will ultimately allow us to invest in this all-electric future, spokesman Dan Flores said. Theres no way we can speculate on the future of any individual facility."

Not all internal combustion-related jobs will vanish in the transition. GM excluded heavier trucks in its EV goal. And some manufacturers will keep making gas-electric hybrids, said Kristin Dziczek, a vice-president at the Center for Auto Research, an industry think-tank .

It's unclear what will happen to workers at GM or other automakers who might be squeezed out in the transition. In the past, GM has protected some workers in periods of downsizing. When it closed an assembly plant in Lordstown, Ohio, in 2019, for example, laid-off workers were given a chance to transfer to other plants. And when GM shuttered factories heading into a 2009 bankruptcy, laid-off employees received buyout and early retirement packages.

The UAW says it views the transformation to electricity as potentially less a threat than an opportunity for growth. Dokho suggested, for example, that the Biden administration could offer incentives to build more EV parts here.

Were optimistic about making sure that there are jobs in the future, and that the jobs there now are protected, he said.

Every major industrial transformation, DeWitt said, has tended to result in both lost jobs and new work. He noted, for example, that when Americans migrated from farms to cities after the Civil War, agricultural jobs dwindled. But cities were wired for electricity, and jobs such as electricians were created.

If the automakers are willing, DeWitt said, most of their workers could be retrained to move from gas vehicles to electric parts and vehicle assembly.

It feels unlikely to me that all of that knowledge we have built up in that workforce for the past 50 years is all of the sudden completely useless," he said.

The protection of jobs seems sure to be a top issue in the next round of UAW contract talks in 2023, and workers will especially want to preserve higher-wage positions. GM and other automakers now view battery manufacturing as a parts-supply function with lower pay.

The automaker is building a battery factory in Lordstown in a venture with South Koreas LG Chem. CEO Mary Barra has said that workers there will be paid less than those at vehicle assembly plants, to keep costs closer to what competing automakers will pay.

The 2023 contract bargaining could be even more contentious than it was two years ago, when a 40-day UAW strike cost GM $3.6 billion.

Indeed, the reckoning between GM and the union may come sooner than anticipated, said Karl Brauer, executive publisher at the CarExpert.com website. Automakers, he said, generally work on vehicles five to seven years ahead of when they go on sale.

You could make the argument that by 2028, theyre not going to be doing any more development on internal combustion engine vehicles, he said. Which starts to sound much closer than 2035.

____

Krisher reported from Detroit.
AT least 12,476 health workers will be employed before the end of the 2020/21 financial year, the Parliament was told on Wednesday.

Again, as part of its effort to ensure health care providers concentrate in public health facilities; the government would continue tracking staff, who divert their attention to private hospitals.

The commitment was made in the Parliament by the deputy minister of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children, Dr Godwin Mollel, while responding to a question by Special Seats MP, Mwantumu Zodo (CCM) who wanted to know the government's plan on addressing shortage of 16,000 health workers in the country.

In response, Dr Mollel said new employees will be recruited and priority given to regions with acute shortage citing them as Kigoma, Mtwara and Songwe and all Councils in rural areas.

"And for those who secured government employment, but sneak to the private sector will be dealt with effectively," he said.

Responding to a supplementary question on when the government will post new health workers to Tanga Region, the deputy minister said some 12,476 new workers will be recruited.

In another development, the government explained that the implementation of the Local Government Finance Act, CAP 290 which started in the 2018/2019 financial year has resulted in more District Councils and improving issuance of loans to special groups including women, youth and people living with disabilities (PWDs).

It was reported that by 100 per cent some 79 District Councils have been issued with loans, against 54 receiving only 8 per cent.

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That was said by the President's Office, Regional Administration and Local Government Deputy Minister, Dr Festo Dugange while responding to a question from a Special Seats MP Asia Halamga (CCM).

Her question was on the implementation of a law that district councils allocate 10 per cent of their internal revenues as loans to special groups.

She also wanted to know the number of district councils that have so far implemented the act by 100 per cent.

In rejoinder, the deputy Minister displayed a data that showed provision of loans to the special groups, women, youth and people with disabilities, noting that introduction of the law has improved provision of the loans in the district councils.

According to him, a total of 42.06bn/- was issued in the 2018/2019 financial year in comparison to 26.1bn/- released in 2017/18 before its amendments.
Bengaluru: Medical students in Karnataka should get vaccinated against Covid and lead the drive as its ambassadors, state Health Minister K. Sudhakar said on Wednesday (February 10).

"Medical students in the state should lead the anti-Covid vaccine drive as its ambassadors by getting vaccinated," said Sudhakar after opening the obstetric triage at the state-run Vani Vilas hospital here.

The minister, who unveiled the respiratory intensive care unit (ICU) at the state-run Victoria hospital here, said if medical students take the vaccine, staff in their colleges and attached hospitals would be inspired to receive the shot.

"Some students are citing exams as a reason to avoid vaccination. But there is no connection between vaccine and exams or side-effects," said Sudhakar, who is a doctor himself.

Though the vaccination drive was launched across the state on January 16 with healthcare warriors as its first beneficiaries, only about 40 percent of them took the shot till date.

The southern state got Covishield from the Serum Institute of India and Covaxin from Bharat Biotech for vaccinating its healthcare workers.

"Indian vaccines are in great demand from 25 countries the world over. As the dose is offered free, people should take the shot voluntarily," Sudhakar said.

Noting that the coronavirus had made the people realise the importance of health, the minister said the BJP government had improved the health infrastructure across the state over the last 7-8 months.

"The Health and Medical Education Departments added 22,500 oxygenated beds in state-run hospitals during the pandemic to treat the Covid patients," he said.

Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa has decided to prioritise the health sector for more funds in the budget for 2021-22, he added.

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New Delhi, Feb 12 : The National Investigation Agency (NIA) filed a charge sheet against six accused in a case relating to hoisting of Khalistani flag at a government building in Punjab's Moga by cadres of the banned Sikh for Justice (SFJ).

An NIA spokesperson here said that the agency has named Inderjit Singh, Jaspal Singh, Akashdeep Singh, Jagwinder Singh, Gurpatwant Singh Pannun, and Harpreet Singh aka Ranjit Singh under several sections of the IPC, the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act and the Prevention of Insult to National Honour Act.

The official said that the agency took over the case relating to hoisting of Khalistani flag by the SFJ cadres at Deputy Commissioner Office Complex in Punjab's Moga on September 5 last year.

The official said: "Investigation has revealed that accused Inderjit Singh, Jaspal Singh and Akashdeep Singh were radicalised members of SFJ, a proscribed unlawful association, and conspired with Gurpatwant Singh Pannun and Rana Singh of SFJ." "In furtherance of conspiracy, Inderjit Singh, Jaspal Singh and Akashdeep Singh were involved in hoisting the Khalistani Flag at DC Office Complex, Moga on August 14 last year and also tearing of the Indian National Flag hoisted in premises of DC Office." The official claimed that they made video of the incident and sent it to Pannun and Rana Singh of SFJ to broadcast on various social media platform like YouTube, US Media International and SFJ Channel to propagate the secessionist agenda of the SFJ and in support of Referendum-2020 for making separate State of Khalistan.

The official said that Pannun and Rana Singh also sent funds through money transfer services to accused Inderjit Singh and Jaspal Singh after commission of crime.

"During investigation, various electronic devices like laptops, hard disc, mobile phones containing incriminating material were seized from the accused persons establishing their strong involvement into the commission of crime," the official said.
Photo courtesy: Getty Images

More than three years after Hurricane Harvey damaged hundreds of thousands of homes in Houston and beyond, flooding remains the top major concern for Harris County residents, according to a new report released Wednesday by the University of Houston Hobby School of Public Affairs.

When presented with 24 issues, 66% of residents chose flooding as a major concern followed by violent crime at 62%. With more than 400 murders in 2020, Houstons murder rate was one of the worst in decades and a 42% increase over the previous year.

Hobby School founding dean Kirk P. Watson says these public policy concerns are issues that city and county leaders should continue to address, adding that the coronavirus pandemic has only exacerbated challenges for many people.

Our survey reveals a theme. People want and need to feel secure in their homes, whether the concern is flooding or crime. And right now, many folks are struggling with job loss, social isolation and stress due to the pandemic, said Watson. We hope our findings help policymakers by reinforcing the areas of most concern to people living in the Houston area.

Other issues that at least half of Harris County residents listed as major concerns:

Failing public schools 55%

Streets in poor condition 53%

Homeless population 52%

Lack of access to health care 51%

Traffic congestion 50%

Racial and Social Justice Issues

As the country continues to grapple with social and racial inequality, the Hobby School survey suggests a stark contrast among race, gender and age, though the largest disparity can be found among partisanship. Sixty-five percent of Harris County Democrats believe racial inequality is a major concern, compared to only 9% of Republicans. African Americans, meanwhile, are significantly more likely than whites or Latinos to list equity issues as major concerns.

Sixty-one percent of African Americans chose racial inequality as a major concern compared to only 41% of whites, said Renee Cross, senior director of the Hobby School. In addition, African Americans (59%) are significantly more likely than Latinos (44%) and especially whites (39%) to list police violence as a major concern.

The entire report, Report Five: Issue Priorities and Evaluations in Harris County, is part of the series Texas Policy and Politics 2021 that can be viewed in full on the Hobby School website.

Other notable findings:

Democrats (58%) are significantly more likely than Republicans (19%) and Independents (39%) to list police violence as a major concern.

Millennials and members of Generation Z are significantly more likely than members of the Silent Generation/Baby Boomers and Generation X to list racial discrimination as a major concern (56% vs. 43% and 40%).

African Americans (50%) are significantly more likely than whites (33%) to list the lack of good paying jobs as a major concern.

Women are significantly more likely than men to consider the following issues to be a major concern: Economic inequality (55% vs. 41%), homeless population (62% vs. 42%), racial discrimination (55% vs. 41%) and racial inequality (52% vs. 40%).

Women are significantly more likely than men to consider the three social welfare issues to be a major concern: Access to health care (62% vs. 40%), failing public schools (60% vs. 51%) and food insecurity (47% vs. 35%).

Infrastructure issues are of significantly greater concern to members of the Silent Generation and Baby Boomers than to Millennials and members of Generation Z in the areas of flooding (81% vs. 52%), streets in poor condition (65% vs. 50%) and traffic congestion (67% vs. 42%).

Latinos were the only racial/ethnic group to list a lack of access to health care among their top six concerns. Just last week, Harris County launched a new COVID-19 vaccine campaign aimed at addressing vaccine hesitancy, especially in minority communities. Latinos account for just 11% of residents who have already received the COVID-19 vaccine, compared to 48% that are white, according to city data.

Access to health care is a critical issue for communities of color and the effects are only amplified during a pandemic, said Mark P. Jones, a Hobby School senior research associate and fellow at Rice Universitys Baker Institute. Latinos and African Americans are being disproportionately impacted by the coronavirus, but these inequities have been evident long before the current public health threat.

Evaluation of Harris County Politicians

In addition to top concerns, the survey also looks at favorability ratings for 18 Harris County politicians. The politicians with the highest proportion of Harris County residents who have a favorable opinion of them (very favorable plus somewhat favorable) are:

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo (51%)

Houston Chief of Police Art Acevedo (50%)

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner (46%)

Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez (44%)

Former Harris County Judge Ed Emmett (41%)

The politicians with the highest net favorability ratings (very favorable plus somewhat favorable) minus (somewhat unfavorable plus very unfavorable) are:

Houston Chief of Police Art Acevedo (+33%)

Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, (+32%)

Former Harris County Judge Ed Emmett (+31%)

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo (+27%)

Harris County Commissioner Adrian Garcia (+22%)

The politicians with the highest net favorability ratings among Harris County Democrats are:

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo (+72%)

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner (+68%)

Houston Chief of Police Art Acevedo (+50%)

Former Houston Mayor Annise Parker (+50%)

Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez, (+48%)

Harris County Commissioner Adrian Garcia (+48%)

The politicians with the highest net favorability ratings among Harris County Republicans are:

Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick (+51%)

S. Senator Ted Cruz (+50%)

Former Harris County Judge Ed Emmett (+50%)

Congressman Dan Crenshaw (+49%)

Governor Greg Abbott (+48%)

The survey of 468 Harris County residents was conducted between Jan. 12 and Jan. 20 in English and Spanish, resulting in a confidence interval of +/-4.5%.
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To celebrate Women's History Month, Les Dames d'Escoffier International chapters are hosting virtual events. Tweet this

"We are excited to welcome everyone to our virtual table during Women's History Month," said LDEI Board President Judith Hollis Jones. "Members from our chapters around the globe have developed high-quality, interesting events with great speakers and presenters, ranging from cocktail demonstrations and wine tastings to interviews with notable figures in the industry, and proceeds from events will benefit philanthropic efforts in each chapter's community."

All events are posted on the Table Talks with Les Dames website, with registration links. Participating chapters include Atlanta, Austin, Charleston, Chicago, Cleveland, Dallas, Des Moines, Kansas City, Kentucky, London, England, Minnesota, New England, New Orleans, New York, Paris, France, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Seattle, South Florida, St. Louis and San Francisco.

Events range in price from free - $30 per person. A sampling of the events includes:

An "Exploration of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging in the Hospitality Industry" with the Austin, TX Chapter

Chapter GenFood  the Kansas City and Sacramento Chapters will present new research on how America's food-forward consumers are surviving the pandemic

and Sacramento Chapters will present new research on how America's food-forward consumers are surviving the pandemic Louisville's Bourbon Rebirth  how Bourbon showcases a community's culture and heritage, with the Kentucky chapter

Bourbon Rebirth  how Bourbon showcases a community's culture and heritage, with the chapter How farmers are adapting to change in the world food supply, with the London chapter

chapter A conversation with restaurateur and sommelier Alpana Singh about building your personal brand and crushing your goals, with the Chicago chapter

about building your personal brand and crushing your goals, with the chapter A panel discussion about women chefs who helped pave the way, with the New York chapter

chapter A three-part series of events looking at soul food scene in Philadelphia

A conversation about rethinking fair wages and the new restaurant paradigm, with San Francisco and New York chapters

Registration is open to the public now at www.tabletalkslesdames.com.



About Les Dames d'Escoffier International

LDEI is an international organization of women leaders who create a supportive culture in their communities to achieve excellence in the food, beverage and hospitality fields. To do this, 2,400 members in 43 chapters worldwide provide leadership, educational opportunities and philanthropy within their communities. For more information, visit LDEI.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram @lesdamesintl, Linked-in and Twitter @lesdamesintl.

SOURCE Les Dames dEscoffier International (LDEI)

Related Links

http://www.ldei.org


2004 sci-fi The 4400 is getting a reboot after The CW announced on Tuesday announced a straight-to-series order.

The original ran for four seasons from 2004  2007 and starred Aussies Jacqueline McKenzie & Jenni Baird, Joel Gretsch, Peter Coyote, Billy Campbell and a younger Mahershala Ali.

Ariana Jackson (Riverdale, UnREAL), will oversee the series which follows 4,400 marginalised people who vanished without a trace over the last hundred years and are all returned in an instant, with no memory of what happened to them.

As the government races to analyse the potential threat and contain the story, The 4400 themselves must grapple with the fact that theyve been returned with a few upgrades, reads the official synopsis, and the increasing likelihood that they were all brought back now for a specific reason.

The new version has been in the pipeline for some time,. In 2018 it was to be co-written by Craig Sweeny (Elementary) and Taylor Elmore (Justified), who both collaborated on Limitless.

The 4400 screened in Australia on 10 with a bumper 1.99m premiere before dropping away quickly. Its final season was relegated to first run episodes at 4am! Dont think we have forgotten.

Source: TV Line

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AS the white pirogue drifted in the waters just off Belle Garden in Tobago early yesterday morning, fishermen working nearby knew something was wrong.

What they saw in the small vessel stunned them.

Fourteen bodies, all of them male, along with a skull and other skeletal remains, were piled inside the vessel as it floated four miles off Belle Garden, police confirmed.

The bodies were all clad in tracksuits and green rain jackets and were severely decomposed, police investigators said.
Watertown, NY (13601)

Today

More clouds than sun. Slight chance of a rain shower. High around 65F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Low 44F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph.
Take a quick scan at the discourse surrounding Democrats desire to increase the minimum wage to $15 in Bidens recovery plan, and youll read much about the procedural obstacles they face in trying to do so.

The main procedural hurdle is that a minimum wage increase may not be allowed under the filibuster-free process, called budget reconciliation, that theyre using to pass Bidens COVID relief package with 50 votes. That determination would be made by the Senate parliamentarian. There is, then, a secondary procedural question about whether Democrats, and tiebreaker Vice President Kamala Harris, would have the willpower to bypass a negative determination by the parliamentarian and keep the $15 minimum wage in the package. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has said that hes working hard with Budget Committee Chairman Bernie Sanders, who manages the reconciliation process, to see if theres a way to include the increase in the bill. And if they cant convince the parliamentarian, progressives both inside and outside government are trying to stiffen Democrats spines about pressing ahead anyway.

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As a sicko whose love for Senate procedural questions is surpassed only by that for second-degree Senate procedural questions, I declare this is good stuff. But there is a bigger problem for advocates of a $15 minimum wage that these rules discussions obscure: Democrats, on the policy itself, do not have 50 votes for a national $15 minimum wage.

We know this. West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin, the most conservative Democrat, gave a flat No when asked earlier this month whether he supported a $15 minimum wage. He said that $11 an hour would be right for his state. His defection alone would leave Democrats with, at best, 49 votes for a $15 minimum wage.

Theres reason to doubt that a $15 minimum wage has anywhere near 49 votes, too. My repeated inquiries over the last two weeks to other Senate Democrats on the marginArizona Sens. Mark Kelly and Kyrsten Sinema and Montana Sen. Jon Testerabout whether they supported a $15 minimum wage went unanswered.* When Sanders introduced the relevant text, the Raise the Wage Act of 2021, in January, he touted 37 Democratic co-sponsors. Unless they had some logistical reason for missing the co-sponsorship sign-up sheet, thats a good sign that 12 have problems.

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Some, like Delaware Sen. Tom Carper, are willing to acknowledge their issues. I have supported raising the minimum wage to $15 for years. Its obvious that we need to do more to support hard-working Americans, Carpers office told the Washington Post in a late January statement. In this moment, we also want to be mindful of the small businesses across our country that have been hit particularly hard this past year during an unprecedented pandemic. When Republicans tried to split Democrats in last weeks vote-a-rama by forcing a messaging vote on the appropriateness of enacting a $15 minimum wage during a pandemic, Sanders had to pull some procedural jiujitsu to avoid a having a roll-call vote on the matter. Because it wouldve shown splits.

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Those keeping their silence, meanwhile, may just prefer for the parliamentarian to do the dirty work of nixing the idea.

If Sanders and the room full of lawyers hes put together can successfully make the case that a minimum wage increase is allowed under reconciliation, that will put some of these holdouts on the hot seat. From there, they could either negotiate a smaller minimum wage increase, perhaps with some carve-outs by types of workers, regions, or statesor just rely on Manchin to stick to his announced position and absorb all of the blame for waiting until another time, and another piece of legislation, to tackle the issue.

The procedural issues are real, but they are not the central impediment to passing a national $15 minimum wage. Its a cover story for those who are wedged uncomfortably between businesses and their base. The bottom line is that Senate Democratic support for a $15 national minimum wage is soft.

Correction, Feb. 11, 2021: This piece originally misspelled Jon Testers first name.
Lottie Moss turned up the heat on Thursday morning as she gave fans a taste of what to expect from her latest venture.

The model sister of catwalk veteran Kate Moss showed off her figure in a stunning pink bra and matching underwear while posing for a new social media update.

Captioning the image, Lottie, 23, admitted the distinctive lingerie was part of an imminent new range, telling fans: 'Launching something exciting tomorrow.'

Looking good: Lottie Moss turned up the heat on Thursday morning as she posed in a stunning pink bra and matching underwear

The previous evening Lottie set pulses racing after slipping into a sexy lace negligee and black stockings for another social media update from Los Angeles.

The model showed off her ample cleavage and toned stomach in the slinky dress, while the lace suspenders amped up the sex appeal.

She captioned the shot: 'Someone give me an excuse to wear this'.

Lottie also revealed a canvas print of her older sister Kate dressed as a Playboy bunny in the background.

Don't mind me: The previous evening Lottie set pulses racing after slipping into a sexy lace negligee and black stockings for another social media update from Los Angeles

Working it: The model showed off her lingerie as she posed up a storm in the mirror

Lottie has moved back to her home in Beverly Hills full time to work on modelling and various campaigns for brands including PrettyLittleThing.

In January, she avoided the UK's latest coronavirus lockdown by jetting to Mexico for a work trip.

Despite being abroad for work, Lottie didn't seem to be stretching herself too much as she lived it up in the sunshine with her friends on the vessel.

Strike a pose: Lottie has moved back to her home in Beverly Hills full time to work on modelling and various campaigns for brands including PrettyLittleThing

Racy display: Lottie showed off her ample cleavage and toned stomach in her black lingerie, while lace suspenders amped up the sex appeal

Prior to her trip, Lottie apologised for saying she was a 'coronavirus super-spreader' in December, calling herself 'young and dumb'.

She sparked controversy after filming herself kissing two female friends and claiming she was a 'coronavirus super-spreader'.

Her clip was broadcast during an Instagram Live when London was in Tier 2 and social distancing, as well as wearing masks, was very much a requirement.

The video was filmed while Lottie was out for dinner with four friends who live in the same household, a scenario justified by the model as she lives alone and can therefore join someone else's support bubble.
Four women who have accused disgraced film mogul Harvey Weinstein of sexual misconduct are appealing a Delaware judges approval of the Weinstein Co.s bankruptcy plan.

Attorneys filed the appeal in U.S. District Court in Delaware on Tuesday on behalf of producer Alexandra Canosa and actresses Wedil David and Dominique Huett, who have accused Weinstein of sexual assault, and a former Weinstein Co. employee who claims she was subjected to a hostile work environment.

They also filed an emergency motion in bankruptcy court asking that the judge stay implementation of her plan confirmation order pending the appeal.

The reorganization plan would provide about $35 million for creditors. Thats about $11.5 million less than under a previous plan, which was scrapped after a federal judge in New York refused to approve a proposed $19 million settlement between Weinstein and some of his accusers. The settlement in that purported class-action lawsuit was a key component of the initial bankruptcy plan.

Roughly half of the approved settlement, about $17 million, is allocated for a single sexual misconduct claims fund, down from about $25.7 million allocated for three separate categories of sexual misconduct claims under the previous plan. Another $8.4 million would go to a liquidation trust for resolving non-sexual misconduct claims, and $9.7 million would be used to reimburse defense costs for former company officials other than Weinstein. The plan also releases those officials from liability for tort claims related to Weinsteins conduct.

Holders of sexual misconduct claims will receive 100% of the liquidated value of their claims if they agree to release Weinstein from all legal claims. A claimant who elects not to release Weinstein but to retain the option to sue him in another court would receive 25% of the value of her bankruptcy claim.

Attorneys for the objectors say the plan includes overly broad releases from liability for third parties such as insurance companies and former Weinstein Co. officers and directors. They also argue that it contains a provision that unfairly prevents non-consenting sexual misconduct claimants from pursuing their claims.

Weinstein is serving a 23-year prison sentence after being convicted by a New York jury for the rape and sexual assault of two women. He also has been charged in California with rape, forcible oral copulation, sexual battery by restraint and sexual penetration by use of force. Those allegations involve five women and stem from events in Los Angeles and Beverly Hills from 2004 to 2013.

Top Photo: Harvey Weinstein

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Governments all across the world are curbing diplomatic ties with Myanmar and increasing economic pressure on its military due to the coup that took place last week. Myanmar was engulfed in chaos early on February 1 as its military took over the power announcing a one-year state of emergency with reports stating that State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and other government leaders have been detained. World leaders like Joe Biden, Jacinda Ardern, Boris Johnson, expressed their concern over the situation in Myanmar.

Nations react to Myanmar coup

US President Joe Biden announced a series of sanctions on the military leaders of Myanmar. Speaking to reporters at the White House, Biden said, Today I'm announcing a series of actions that we're taking to begin imposing consequences on the leaders of the coup. The US government is taking steps to prevent the generals from improperly having access to the USD1 billion in Burmese government funds held in the United States. Biden further added that he has approved a new executive which enables the US to immediately sanction the military leaders who initiated the coup. He said, We will identify a first round of targets this week. We are also going to impose strong export controls. We are freezing US assets that benefit the Burmese government, while maintaining our support for healthcare, civil society groups, and other areas that benefit the people of Burma directly.

Read: Britain, EU Request UNHRC To Hold Special Session To Address Crisis In Myanmar

The US was one among many of those Western governments that lifted most of their sanctions in order to encourage democratic transition. This was because Myanmars military rulers were taking gradual steps toward civilian rule. These changes proved temporary with the ousting of the elected government and detentions of Nobel Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi and others.

Another strong reaction came from New Zealand. After nearly eight days of military taking power of Myanmar, New Zealand announced the suspension of all high-level military and political contacts with the Southeast Asian nation. Marking the first international move against Myanmar after the coup, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern took the stringent decision of isolating the countrys ruling junta. Unveiling the measures, she also called for the entire international community to strongly condemn what were seeing happen in Myanmar, according to Radio New Zealand. Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta on Tuesday said, We do not recognize the legitimacy of the military-led government and we call on the military to immediately release all detained political leaders and restore civilian rule.

Read: Myanmar: Suu Kyi's Close Aide And More Arrested As Biden Orders Sanctions

In Japan, lawmakers asked the government in power to impose sanctions against the military leaders in Myanmar. In a letter addressed to the government, Japans ruling Liberal Democratic Party and the opposition Constitutional Democratic Party made an appeal to work in collaboration with the US and the European Union (EU) to impose trade and economic embargo on Myanmar. The letter also asked to halt all aids to the country, barring humanitarian, according to Japans NHK news agency.

The Indian Embassy in Yangon issued an advisory to Indian citizens in Myanmar to avoid unnecessary travel and take due precautions. Air India flight on Yangon-New Delhi sector was also rescheduled following the recent developments. This comes after the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that it is monitoring the situation closely. "We have noted the developments in Myanmar with deep concern. India has always been steadfast in its support to the process of democratic transition in Myanmar. We believe that the rule of law and the democratic process must be upheld. We are monitoring the situation closely", the ministry's statement read.

On February 8, Britain and the European Union requested that the United Nations Human Rights Council hold a special session in response to the ongoing political crisis in Myanmar. In Brussels, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said European foreign ministers will meet on February 22 to review the 27-nation blocs relations with Myanmar. Also, they will be looking for ways to increase economic pressure.

Today, the UK & EU have called for a Special Session of the #UN Human Rights Council on Myanmar on Thursday. We condemn the coup in Myanmar & the arbitrary detention of elected politicians & civil society by the military.  Dominic Raab (@DominicRaab) February 8, 2021

Read: 'Costumes, Art, Pools': Myanmar Protesters Bring Creativity In Anti-military Protests

Also Read: Myanmar Coup: Internet Partially Restored Amid Ongoing Demonstrations

(Image Credits: AP)
Abbeyleix Tidy Towns is a mission to turn the Laois community into a smart village part of which will see the deployment of smart sensors to measure traffic, air quality and weather.

Based on Internet Of THings (IOT) technology, the committee is teaming up with UCD (WeCOunt Project), Makeport Makerspace in Portarlington and TOG Makerspace in Dublin to measure traffic.

It is one of six pilot locations around Europe where traffic sensors are being deployed. The project says WeCount aims to empower citizens to take a leading role in the production of data, evidence and knowledge around mobility in their own neighbourhoods at street level.

"The project will follow participatory citizen science methods to co-create and use innovative low cost, automated, road traffic counting sensors (i.e. Telraam) and multi-stakeholder engagement mechanisms in five pilots in Madrid, Ljubljana, Dublin, Cardiff and Leuven and now also an additional add on the pilot in Abbeyleix, Co Laois," say the organisers.

The team has installed a sensor at Knockanamoe House but wants more people to get involved.

"We are looking for locals in Abbeyleix to get involved by placing sensors in upstairs windows with unimpeded views of any of the approach roads to Abbeyleix," say the organisers.

The Telraam sensors will count pedestrians, cyclists, cars and freight/heavy vehicles by using images taken by the device camera and the analysis performed by a small computer on which the device is based. The analysis simply uses the size and speed of the passing object.

Abbeyleix is also signing up for realtime air quality monitoring through a sensor that is measuring air particulates using a home made sensor. The information gathered is shared globally on https://sensor.community/en/

Realtime weather monitoring is also underway at a smart weather station in Knocknamoe House. It is measuring temperature, wind speed, wind direction, precipitation, air pressure and UK index.

The station is running only on a solar panel at the moment which means that it only collects data during daylight hours.

For more details go to https://www.abbeyleixtidytowns.net/smart-sensor-project
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Koo is a Twitter-like micro-blogging platform which allows users to post multimedia content, including audio clips. (by arrangement)

New Delhi: Indian social-media app Koo is witnessing a surge in popularity, fuelled by politicians and others flocking to it after U.S. rival Twitter Inc refused to follow a government order to block certain content on its platform.

Twitter has locked horns with New Delhi this month over the order to remove more than 1,100 accounts and posts which the government says are spreading misinformation about farmer protests against new agricultural laws.

The dispute escalated on Wednesday when Twitter said it did not fully comply with some requests as it believed they were not in line with Indian law.

Koo said downloads had surged 10-fold in the past two days to over 3 million. Meanwhile #kooapp was the top Twitter trend in India on Wednesday with nearly 21,000 posts, followed by #BanTwitter.

What is Koo?

Koo is a Twitter-like micro-blogging platform which allows users to post multimedia content, including audio clips. A text post is restricted to 400 characters and the service supports six Indian languages, including English.

Like Twitter, Koos logo is a bird, though yellow in colour. It allows users to use hashtags (#) or the @ symbol for mentions. The app also allows users to re-koo, Koos version of a retweet and chat instead of a direct message.

How did it start?

Koo was founded by Aprameya Radhakrishna and Mayank Bidawatka, both MBA, or business management, graduates. The duo are also the founders of Vokal, an audio-video knowledge-sharing platform similar to Quora.

The app was launched in March 2020, and won an government award for driving tech innovation. It raised more than $4 million in funding last week from new and existing investors including venture capital firms Accel and 3one4 Capital.

Who is on Koo

For years, Twitter has been a major public communication tool for the Indian government. But several ministries and high-profile figures, including Bollywood actors, have also gradually begun using Koo in recent months. The technology ministry and trade minister Piyush Goyal joined this month.

Koo is however still dwarfed by Twitter, which had 17.5 million users in India as of last month, its third highest user base after the United States and Japan, according to German database firm Statista.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is yet to join Koo, spoke about the app last year in his monthly radio address. Its called Koo, he said. In this, we can place our opinion and interact in our mother tongue through text, video or audio.

What its founders say

The sudden increase in Koos popularity can be compared in some respects to the surge in the use of digital payments apps in India following a ban on high-value currency notes in late 2016, Koos co-founder Bidawatka told Reuters.

You could say this is something similar, because a certain event happened and lot of people want to move here... There is a surge at an unexpected time and lots of people are talking about us.

Radhakrishna posted a hiring alert for engineers on LinkedIn on Wednesday.

Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter.
Maricel Presilla, who worked with Ms. Guarnaschelli for nearly 20 years on Gran Cocina Latina, her magisterial 900-page work on the food of Latin America, said that any other editor would have cut my book in half. Gran Cocina Latina won top awards from both the James Beard Foundation and the International Association of Culinary Professionals when it was published in 2013.

She wanted every recipe and every sentence to be a road map for the reader, Ms. Presilla said.

From the beginning of her career, Ms. Guarnaschellis relentless approach earned her a reputation for harshness. But the works she championed earned dozens of awards, among them The Zuni Cafe Cookbook, by Judy Rodgers (2002); The Splendid Table, by Lynne Rossetto Kasper (1992); The Cake Bible, by Rose Levy Beranbaum (1988); and My Bread (2009), by Jim Lahey, whose no-knead bread technique remains one of the most popular recipes ever published by The New York Times.

Alex Guarnaschelli said that her mother had spent years testing, retesting and rewriting the recipes in the books she edited, until the family tired of creations like sponge cake or balsamic vinegar. She needed to understand the mechanics of cooking in order to get it onto the page, she said in a phone interview. I think I became a chef so I could take her work in the other direction.

Like her longtime rival, the Knopf editor Judith Jones, who published Julia Child and Marcella Hazan, Maria Guarnaschelli valued accuracy and rigor above quick and easy. Her books included recipes for dishes that required days to make and included ingredients, techniques and equipment that were far from commonplace in American kitchens at the time.

Maria was a major contributor to the sea change in how cookbooks were done, said Nach Waxman, founder of the Manhattan cookbook store Kitchen Arts and Letters and a colleague of Ms. Guarnaschellis at her first publishing job, as an editorial assistant at Harper & Row. She went on to hold senior positions at William Morrow, Scribner and W.W. Norton. She retired in 2017.

Tech companies mobilize to schedule vaccine appointments, but often fall short

On Jan. 14 at 8:43 p.m., Patrick McKenzie tweeted a plea for tech engineers to help him set up a website to track COVID-19 vaccine availability in California. McKenzie, who heads a Bay Area financial services tech company, issued the call to anyone in California [who] wants to do a civtech project which matters.

The response was swift and resounding. In less than an hour, someone had set up a chat group for brainstorming the effort. By 12:24 a.m. the next day, 70 people had joined. By noon, the tracker was live. Now, just over two weeks later, the site, called VaccinateCA, involves about 300 volunteers. They operate what is essentially a call bank, dialing pharmacies and hospitals for updates about COVID vaccine supplies and posting the results on the site.

The quick and ardent response to McKenzies pitch highlights just how desperate Californians have become amid a chaotic vaccine rollout that has overwhelmed public health departments. Similar crowdsourced websites have gone up in Georgia, New Jersey, Michigan, Texas and other states.

While helpful to some, however, the websites and apps have only compounded the frustration for many people seeking vaccines for themselves or loved ones but cant secure an appointment no matter how hard they try because supply is limited. Critics say that, at best, they simply enable the tech-savvy and people with time on their hands -- two groups that dont necessarily overlap with those most in need of COVID vaccination -- while leaving poor and minority communities behind.

If you have an hourly job, youre not going to be on your phone every minute, said Jeffrey Klausner, a professor of preventive medicine at the University of Southern Californias Keck School of Medicine, who likened the process of securing a vaccination to The Hunger Games.

We need call centers. We need people going out into the community door to door, registering people as if there were a census. You need to somewhat structure the system to allow and prioritize access for the most disadvantaged -- reversing structural racism, or factors that exclude certain groups.

Rhonda Smith, executive director of California Black Health Network, said its vital to reach out to communities where vaccine hesitancy is strong. While technology can help centralize information, building trust and relationships is whats needed to convince skeptical communities of the vaccines importance.

They arent going to just respond to a text message or a random app, she said.

Platforms like VaccinateCA acknowledge their limitations. We recognize that this isnt our core strength today, said Zoelle Egner, a volunteer with the site. But the app could be a resource for organizations that work with disenfranchised communities, she said.

California is also working with an online platform called My Turn, developed by Salesforce, that will alert residents when they are eligible for vaccination and facilitate sign-ups. The state announced last week that it had hired insurance company Blue Shield of California to create and manage a statewide vaccination network.

While some platforms offer a central place to search for pharmacies and links to sign up for updates from hospital systems or local governments, they cant provide more vaccine-filled needles. With limited supply, a thousand allocation snafus and conflicting information about who is eligible, consumers find themselves signing up for wait lists and spending hours trying to snag appointments, only to be told theres no vaccine for them or their loved ones. The apps cant do anything about that.

Many users have found success. Melissa Reyes, who lives in Sacramento, was able to get her 76-year-old mother vaccinated after checking VaccinateCA. She called four pharmacies listed on the site before she hit the jackpot with her local Save Mart. She tweeted to VaccinateCA to thank the group.

For many others, success rests on luck: clicking through to the right pharmacy or supermarket website at the right time before all appointments are gone. For every exuberant user, there are often multiple frustrated people unable to land an appointment.

Misa Ahmad, whose 83-year-old father lives in Oakland, said VaccinateCA didnt work for her. She ended up deciding to wait for her fathers health care provider, Kaiser Permanente, to contact him with an opening. (KHN, which produces California Healthline, is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente.)

Her VaccinateCA search involved going through trying to look at all of the places and figure out what they are, where they are, if they would be optimal for him, and then locating some and then trying to see if I can get an appointment. That is a very time-consuming process. And, unfortunately, my father has limited technological ability.

Other users have found that the information provided is sometimes inaccurate, a product of ever-changing state and county regulations. Many Californians are still finding that, while Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that residents age 65 and older are eligible for the vaccines, their counties are still allowing only those 75 and older to sign up. Who is eligible for vaccination differs by county.

Whats really frustrating is I keep getting texts and emails from the Department of Public Health saying, Youre eligible for the shot; call your health care providers, and you call and no one is giving it to your age yet, said Leanna Dawydak, a 66-year-old San Franciscan. She estimates shes spent an average of four hours a day since Jan. 13 trying to find an appointment, only to be told shes too young, lives in the wrong county or gets her care from the wrong health care system.

Israeli secret agents spent months smuggling a high-tech machine gun into Iran in tiny pieces to kill the regimes top nuclear scientist, it was revealed last night.

The remote-controlled weapon fired 13 high-accuracy rounds into Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, 62, known as the father of Irans illegal atomic programme, as he was driven from the capital Tehran to his country residence last year.

The gun was so accurate that the scientists wife, who was sitting just inches from him, emerged entirely unscathed from the attack.

A bomb strapped to the remote-control device then exploded, destroying the weapon as the 20-strong team of spies who organised the hit melted away.

Iranian nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh (pictured) was killed on November 27 last year in a hit carried out by Israel's secret service, Mossad

Fakhrizadeh was killed as he was travelling from Tehran to a villa he owned near Absard when a remote-control gun mounted on a pickup opened fire, then self-destructed

The execution on November 27 followed an eight-month surveillance operation by Mossad, the national intelligence agency of Israel.

Israeli spies first arrived in Iran in March 2020 where they made contact with locals and began preparations for the hit.

The team built up a minute-by-minute picture of Fakhrizadeh's routines in order to identify opportunities to have him killed.

A source close to the operation told the Jewish Chronicle: 'For eight months, they breathed with the guy, woke up with him, slept with him, travelled with him.

'They would have smelled his aftershave every morning, if he had used aftershave.'

The team soon identified a window of opportunity - during Fakhrizadeh's Friday journey from Tehran to his weekend retreat, a villa near the town of Absard.

But rather than attack the convoy with an armed team - risking a firefight that would potentially cause additional casualties - the spies suggested using a remote-control gun instead.

The weapon, they argued, was accurate enough to ensure that only Fakhrizadeh would be killed without harming any other member of his convoy.

Mossad sources said 13 bullets fired at the convoy struck Fakhrizadeh 'head on', killing him without wounding anyone else

The one-ton gun, including the explosives used to destroy it, was then smuggled into Iran in small pieces before being rebuilt and fitted to a Nissan pickup truck.

Once the gun had been built, gents parked the pickup along the road to Absard before establishing positions from where they could watch for Fakhrizadeh's approach and open fire.

After the convoy had passed a pre-selected point, the gun was activated and fired 13 bullets which struck Fakhrizadeh head-on, killing him instantly.

The bomb then exploded, destroying the gun before the team fled.

Contrary to Iranian claims that a bodyguard was hurt diving across Fakhrizadeh, sources said nobody else in the convoy was touched.

The weapon was also not operated by satellite, as Iran had initially said.

'They didnt catch anyone. They didnt even come close,' one of those familiar with the operation said.

'Their security was not bad at all, but the Mossad was much better.'

Jacob Nagel, one of Israels most senior defence officials, revealed that Mossad had decided to target Fakhrizadeh after uncovering a secret trove of documents that pointed to him as the head of the country's nuclear weapons programme.

He said: Mossad had documents proving Fakhrizadeh had worked on several nuclear warheads, each one able to cause five Hiroshimas. He was serious.

The execution on November 27 followed an eight-month surveillance operation by Mossad, the national intelligence agency of Israel. Pictured: Fakhrizadeh's funeral in Tehran

Israel declined to comment in November and on Wednesday night an Israeli government spokesman responded to the latest report by saying: We never comment on such matters. There has been no change in our position.

Fakhrizadeh, 59, was long suspected by the West of masterminding a secret nuclear bomb programme.

He had been described by Western and Israeli intelligence services for years as the mysterious leader of a covert atomic bomb programme halted in 2003, which Israel and the United States accuse Tehran of trying to restore. Iran has long denied seeking to weaponise nuclear energy.

According to the Jewish Chronicles report, Iran has secretly assessed that it will take six years before a replacement for him is fully operational and that his death had extended the period of time it would take Iran to achieve a bomb from about three-and-a-half months to two years.

Others believe that the time-span will actually be closer to five years, saying that Mossad itself was surprised by the impact Fakhrizadeh's death had.

Mossad sources also denied that America had been involved in tracking the scientist or launching the operation.

Agents said the US was given an indication that the hit was about to take place shortly beforehand, but was otherwise not involved.

'It was absolutely an Israeli operation, door to door. It was not political, it was a matter of security. It had nothing to do with Trump or the election,' the source said.
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Evictions have been on hold for a year. Now what?

When March begins, it will be one year since the first case of COVID-19 was detected in New York and turned the state on its head.

Businesses were closed, tourists canceled their trips to the Big Apple and the states economy ground to a halt. This left many of the states residents jobless and unable to pay their rent. Tenants rights advocates quickly mobilized and called on the state to enact an eviction moratorium (passed!) and to create a relief fund for public and subsidized housing (not yet created).

In mid-March last year, the states housing court suspended all eviction proceedings for 90 days. Soon after, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that no one in the state could be evicted until June 20. And in April, the Tenant Safe Harbor Act, sponsored by state Sen. Brad Hoylman and Assembly Member Jeffrey Dinowitz, was passed to ensure that tenants who experienced coronavirus-related financial hardship could not be evicted throughout the course of the pandemic. The suspension of eviction proceedings was renewed through the end of 2020 as the virus showed no sign of dissipating.

During the state Legislatures special session at the end of 2020, a sweeping eviction moratorium was passed to prevent evictions as well as foreclosures due to COVID-19 related economic hardships until May 1, 2021. However, those protections are not automatically provided to tenants. Individuals must submit a Declaration of Hardship, either to their landlord or to the housing court in their borough if theres already a court proceeding in progress. However, many undocumented immigrants living in New York may not be able to gain access to such hardship programs, as they may not have documentation required, such as proof of income.

Eviction freezes have allowed tenants who are unable to pay their rent to continue living in their homes, however, there remains an expectation that they will have to pay off what they owe once the moratorium has been lifted or face the possibility of an eviction. Housing advocates have been calling attention to the lack of clarity over what will happen once the moratorium ends and warn that there will be an enormous wave of evictions. The kind of massive evictions that we could be looking at given the number of people who have not been able to pay their rent is pretty horrifying, Judith Goldiner, head of Legal Aid Societys civil law reform unit, told The New York Times in December.

Now, advocates are hoping to have various proposals passed at the state level to ensure that tenants continue to remain protected from eviction and accumulating rental debt.

By the numbers

COVID-19s impact on jobs and housing

122,926: The number of homeless men, women and children slept in New York Citys shelter system at one point during the citys 2020 fiscal year

200,000: The number of eviction cases filed before March 17, 2020, and were pending in New York City Housing Court, as of December

1 million: The number of jobs were lost in New York in 2020

1.2 million: The number of households are facing eviction throughout the state

More than $2 billion: The estimated amount of rent owed by New York City tenants

A micro-explainer

How do evictions work?

Evictions can happen for a number of reasons in New York, including violating a lease agreement and not paying rent. However, before an eviction can happen, landlords need to terminate the tenants lease by providing them with a written notice explaining why they want to do so and providing them with a deadline for when they want to end their lease. Should this prove unsuccessful, landlords must then file an eviction lawsuit to have a tenant physically removed from their home. It is illegal for any landlord to remove a tenant until after they have won their eviction lawsuit, no matter the circumstance.

Housing advocates have also been highlighting how those most at risk of losing their homes are Black and Latino tenants. Even before the pandemic began, in New York City Latinos were the most likely group to be threatened with an eviction, followed by Black, white and Asian renters. And majority-Black and majority-Latino areas experienced the highest rates of evictions between 2017 and 2019.

Evictions are cited as causes for mental health issues and financial instability. Data has indicated that those who face eviction are also much more likely to face mental health struggles and end up experiencing homelessness. Evictions can also have a serious impact on a childs mental well-being and academic aptitude.

Rent relief, tenant protections and vouchers

The legislation being requested by housing advocates

State Sen. Julia Salazar has proposed a bill to cancel rental debt through the remainder of the pandemic and form a rent relief program for landlords, in an effort to place the burden to sign up for relief on landlords instead of tenants. The vast majority of the time, tenants have less resources in order to apply for that relief than their property owners do, Salazar said. Putting the burden on tenants to apply has been a problem with existing and previously existing voucher programs actually being effectively implemented.

Salazar also introduced a bill that hopes to instill good cause eviction practices, which means that landlords would have to provide their tenants with first right of refusal once their lease is up  meaning they would decide whether or not they want to renew their lease first  and would also limit the amount that landlords would be able to increase rent.

State Sen. Brian Kavanagh introduced legislation in July, which is still pending, aimed at creating a more robust housing voucher program that tenants struggling to pay their rent could apply for and receive financial assistance.

State Sen. Zellnor Myrie sponsored the Emergency Housing Stability and Tenant Displacement Prevention Act, which seeks to ban evictions and the introduction of new eviction cases for a year after COVID-19 emergency restrictions end.

Where is the affordable housing?

NYCs homelessness crisis

Despite the ambitious affordable housing plan that New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio unveiled in 2014, many housing advocates have criticized the mayor for not adequately factoring homelessness into his plan. The de Blasio administration has financed the construction or preservation of 165,590 housing units across the city that were meant to be more affordable, but housing experts said those units remain out of the price range of many New Yorkers. In a report by the Community Service Society, which analyzed Department of Housing Preservation and Development data, only 35% of units built by nonprofit developers between 2014 and 2018 were intended for extremely low-income New Yorkers. The current lack of affordable housing for low-income residents has been tied to the rise in homelessness across the five boroughs.

Housing rights advocates are hoping that an influx of permanent housing affordable to low-income New Yorkers could help diffuse the current crisis, as sending individuals to homeless shelters makes it more difficult for them to secure permanent housing. The vacancy rate for apartments for the lowest income New Yorkers is below 1%, so the likelihood of finding a comparable unit even if you had the money is low, Shelly Nortz, deputy executive director for policy at the Coalition for the Homeless, told Politico New York in June. They dont have savings to rely on, they dont have that cushion.
WARSAW: After some lean months during the COVID-19 pandemic, Fat Thursday finally brought some cheer to Polish confectioners as their sweet-toothed customers feasted on doughnuts.

On the last Thursday before Lent, the period when Christians traditionally fast before Easter, Poles stuff their faces with doughnuts in a festival of calorific indulgence.

The pandemic has obviously had an effect on our sales, a negative effect of course," Pawel Sapniewski, owner of the Sucre Patisserie in Warsaw, told Reuters. Fat Thursday is crucial for my business because the months of January and February are quite dead in our industry."

Poles will consume almost 100 million doughnuts worth up to 250 million zlotys ($67 million) on Fat Thursday, according to analysts at the BNP Paribas bank.

With many people now working from home, delivery has become a more popular option.

I think the pandemic has increased the number of deliveries we are doing now. We are seeing a lot of delivery boxes already prepared for today," said Sapniewski.

Doughnut consumption averages out at around 2.5 per head, but for some ambitious Poles that is a poor tally on a day when many aim to eat as many as possible.

I have already eaten enough," said Sapniewski. They were coming out hot, so I think I ate about five already during the night and I am not planning more today."

Amid the ongoing standoff with China at the Ladakh border area, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh made a statement in Rajya Sabha regarding the 'present situation in Eastern Ladakh' .

This comes after the Chinese and Indian border troops on the southern and northern shores of Pangong Lake began disengagement on Wednesday as per the consensus reached during the ninth round of military commander-level talks, according to China's Ministry of National Defence.

Rajnath Singh in Rajya Sabha: Highlights

 Patrolling in Finger area of Pangong suspended till further decision is taken by military commanders based on diplomatic talks. Some outstanding issues remain: Rajnath Singh.

 A mutually acceptable disengagement (between India and China) process has been worked out: Rajnath Singh.

 Many fraction areas are built near LAC in Eastern Ladakh. China has collected heavy force & arms and ammunition near LAC & in the nearby area on their side. Our forces have also adequate & effectively done counter deployment: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

 Our sustained talks with China have led to agreement on disengagement on the north and south banks of Pangong Lake. After this agreement, India-China will remove forward deployments in a phased, coordinated manner: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in Rajya Sabha.

 Our security forces have proved that they are ready to face any challenge to protect the sovereignty of the country: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in Rajya Sabha.

 Indian armed forces dealt with situation in eastern Ladakh effectively and maintained their edge: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

 India always conveyed to China that border issues can be resolved through talks: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

 We are committed to maintaining a peaceful situation at the Line of Control. India has always emphasised on maintaining bilateral ties: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh makes a statement on present situation in Eastern Ladakh in Rajya Sabha.













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President Uhuru Kenyatta has rejected a Bill that would have compelled employers to give leave to parents of adopted children or those born through surrogacy.

Mr Kenyatta returned the Bill to Parliament with a memorandum citing the absence of a substantive legal and regulatory framework governing surrogacy in Kenya.

The Employment (Amendment) Bill, 2019 sponsored by Gilgil MP Martha Wangari sought to provide two months leave to mothers of a child born as a result of surrogacy and two weeks paternity leave to the father.

"Amongst the reasons for his reservations ... the President notes that amending the law in the manner proposed in the Bill will lead to surrogacy agreements operating in a vacuum in terms of absence of a substantive legal and regulatory framework governing surrogacy in Kenya," National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi said while alerting MPs of the President's memorandum rejecting the Bill.

"The President also objects to the proposal on grounds that the provisions relating to surrogate motherhood agreements are of a substantive nature hence necessitating the formulation of a comprehensive policy arrived at after broad public participation and stakeholder engagements that will inform legislative positions."

Kenya lacks a law on surrogacy, a method of assisted child birth where parents commission a woman to give birth on their behalf.

Under the current law, a child born through a surrogacy still needs to be adopted through a court process.

Mr Kenyatta said while surrogacy is a novel reproductive science, it touches on children, reproductive rights and the concept of family and therefore there is need to first put in place a rigorous substantive legal and regulatory framework to protect all parties within the surrogacy agreement.

The pre-adoptive leave targeted to benefit parents who commission other women to carry babies on their behalf, bringing them in the same bracket with those who nurse their own pregnancies.

"Where a child is born as a result of a surrogate motherhood agreement, an employee who is a commissioning parent shall be entitled to two consecutive months parental leave with full pay from the date the child is born in the case of a female employee and two weeks paternal leave with full pay, in the case of a male employee who is married," the Bill states.

Ms Wangari while moving debate on the Bill said the two months would provide adequate time for the mother to bond with her child.

Mr Muturi has directed the Labour and Social Welfare Committee to consider the President's memorandum and file a report within 21 days.

The House will require a two-thirds majority-- or 233 lawmakers--to overturn the President's memorandum on the amendments.

Kenya's law currently allows a fully paid, three-month maternity leave and a two-week paternity break for fathers. Many companies frown upon these breaks, viewing them as an additional labour cost that sometimes forces them to hire temporary workers.

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MPs four years ago unsuccessfully tried to amend the law to provide for an option to extend maternity leave by another three months without pay.

Proponents of the longer maternity policy reckons it will help in the recruitment and retention of women at the workplace.

The International Labour Organisation Maternity Protection Convention recommends maternity leave for at least 18 weeks or four and a half months.

The United States is among a few countries that do not have a paid-leave law.

This means in the US mothers and fathers go back to work much sooner after birth of a baby than they would like because they can't afford unpaid time off.
Politicians and campaigners angrily rejected long-awaited Government plans to end the cladding scandal yesterday as a betrayal of innocent leaseholders.

Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick pledged a further 3.5billion to help end the safety crisis following the 72 deaths in the Grenfell disaster.

More than a million leaseholders face bills of up to 115,000 to fix unsafe homes. Mr Jenrick told the Commons that those in blocks over 18 metres (60ft) high would no longer have to pay to replace flammable cladding. But MPs and leaseholders reacted with fury at the news that loans costing up to 600 a year will be forced on hundreds of thousands of homeowners in low and medium rise blocks  potentially blighting resale values.

And all victims still face bills of tens of thousands of pounds to fix other defects, such as missing fire breaks and combustible insulation.

Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick pledged a further 3.5billion to help end the safety crisis following the 72 deaths in the Grenfell disaster

With the Government pledging 1.6billion for repairs last year, Mr Jenrick's announcement brings to 5.1billion the taxpayer's outlay. But MPs estimate it will cost 15billion to fix the crisis.

And while Mr Jenrick indicated there would also be a levy on developers  who have made profits of 15billion since the Grenfell inferno four years ago  that is set to raise only 2billion over ten years. A proposed levy on construction projects will raise an unknown amount.

It sparked calls for building firms and ministers to do more to cover the costs of decades of safety failures.

Conservative MP Stephen McPartland, a prominent critic of the Government's handling of the crisis, dismissed the statement as 'smoke and mirrors'.

Mr Jenrick indicated there would also be a levy on developers  who have made profits of 15billion since the Grenfell inferno (pictured) four years ago

He tweeted: 'I am listening to Robert Jenrick's announcement with my head in my hands. Wondering how he can have got this so wrong. It is a betrayal of millions of leaseholders. It is not good enough. It is shocking incompetence. It is clear the PM has to step in now.'

Fellow Tory Sir Peter Bottomley called Mr Jenrick's move 'a major step forward' but admitted there was more to be done.

Labour housing spokesman Thangam Debbonaire said the proposals 'still leave too many people struggling'.

About four million people are affected by the scandal, with more than a million flat owners paying 2.2billion a year for safety measures and extra insurance while waiting for repairs to be carried out. It threatens to wreck the housing market as a whole, with flat sales falling by 48 per cent amid safety fears and red tape.

Just 216 of a possible 11,760 dangerous buildings have been fixed since the Grenfell fire in west London in June 2017.

The Daily Mail is calling on ministers to end the scandal within 18 months and spare leaseholders the crippling financial burden. It also wants the firms responsible for the crisis to pay their fair share.

Mr Jenrick said his announcement will provide 'certainty that leaseholders in high-rise residential buildings will face no costs for cladding remediation works'.

Contractors undertaking works at a residential property in Paddington, London, as part of a project to remove and replace non-compliant cladding

He said the measures would boost the housing market and free up homeowners to buy and sell their properties.

More than two million people are thought to be living in unsafe low and medium rise buildings. They will be forced to take on loans as part of a 'long-term, low-interest scheme' with payments capped at 50 a month.

But critics believe the size of the debt, which could be up to 24,000, will be deducted from the value of homes when they are sold, pushing leaseholders into negative equity. The Housing Secretary also failed to give details on how other defects would be paid for. And MPs pointed out that there were no measures to alleviate the costs of 24-hour fire patrols imposed on high-risk buildings at an average of 499 a month per flat  or insurance increases averaging 1,307 a year.

A survey by Inside Housing reveals that around one in six of affected leaseholders is considering bankruptcy and 15 per cent face bills of more than 100,000  double the estimated average. More than two-thirds need to repair missing fire breaks and 59 per cent have flammable balconies  the cost of repairing these faults is not covered by the Government fund.

The magazine found that 65 per cent have had to dip into savings to pay for repairs, while 21 per cent have borrowed from friends or family. Campaign group Grenfell United said Mr Jenrick's plans were 'too little, too late'. A spokesman added: 'We needed something to deal with this mess once and for all  we didn't get that today.

'Residents living in unsafe homes will go to bed tonight worrying if their building will qualify or be left out once again. The industry needs to be held fully responsible for what they have done  a small levy doesn't cut it.' Sebastian O'Kelly, of the Leasehold Knowledge Partnership charity, described the plans as 'piecemeal'.

Paul Afshar, of campaign group End Our Cladding Scandal, said: 'The Government promised us no leaseholder would have to pay to make their homes safe. Today we feel betrayed.'

How Big 5 developers have made 10bn since Grenfell fire

By Arthur Martin and Ruth Sunderland for The Daily Mail

As the financial hardship of many leaseholders continues, building firms are cashing in on a property market boom.

The five biggest developers have made around 10billion in profits since the Grenfell Tower inferno, allowing them to shower more than 4.5billion on shareholders in dividends.

The Government's Help to Buy scheme, which offers loans to first-time buyers, has played a key part  13billion has been doled out but developers are the real winners, as a Mail audit of the five biggest shows.

Barratt Developments

Value of company: 7bn

Pre-tax profits since Grenfell: 2.2bn

Dividends since Grenfell: 1.26bn

Help to Buy revenue: 1.84bn/year (approx)

Cladding removal fund: 82m

David Thomas, Chief executive of Barratt Developments

The first housebuilder to back calls for a developer levy, it has already spent 82million for remedial action on cladding and other defects.

Without a comprehensive list of the housing blocks at risk, it is impossible to say how far the money will go.

Profits for the second half of last year alone hit 430million. Around 44 per cent of its sales for that period were boosted by the Help to Buy scheme.

Chief executive David Thomas has been paid 14million in the past five years, peaking in 2019 at 3.7million.

Mr Thomas lives in a sprawling estate in Purley, south London. Bought for just under 2.6million in 2008, it is now worth around 4.5million.

Persimmon

Dean Finch, chief executive of Persimmon

Value of company: 8.82bn

Profits since Grenfell: 2.1bn

Dividends since Grenfell: 1.48bn

Help to Buy: 1.9bn/year (approx)

Cladding removal fund: 75m

Persimmon pledged 75million yesterday to pay for work on 26 buildings that may be affected by the cladding issue. Of these, nine are high rises over 18 metres.

The company, which has been synonymous with excess in the building industry, has embarked on a drive to improve its reputation. Its profits are boosted thanks to Help to Buy. The scheme accounted for about 60 per cent of its sales in 2018 and helped it to almost triple its profits per house to 66,265.

In the year after Grenfell, Persimmon became the first British housebuilder to make annual profits of more than 1billion and paid then chief executive Jeff Fairburn 85million over two years.

Last year it appointed Dean Finch, who previously turned around National Express, as its new chief executive. It has started the year with a record order book. Analysts predict that it will have made 847million in profits in 2020 despite the coronavirus.

Pete Redfern, chief executive of Taylor Wimpey

Taylor Wimpey

Value of company: 5.94bn

Pre-tax profits since Grenfell: 1.65bn

Dividends since Grenfell: 1.1bn

Help to Buy revenue: 1.7bn/year (approx)

Cladding removal fund: 40m

The fortunes of building boss Pete Redfern stand in stark contrast to the desperate straits of many flat-owners.

Taylor Wimpey's long-standing chief executive has been paid 40million in ten years  the same sum the firm has earmarked to replace cladding.

Mr Redfern lives in an Oxford mansion bought for 4.75million in 2016 and has a portfolio of Taylor Wimpey properties in the UK and Spain, mostly purchased through a staff discount scheme. In 2019, he backed down from plans to take advantage of a 436,000 discount on a 2.48million riverside apartment in central London.

Jason Honeyman, Chief Executive of Bellway

Bellway

Value of company: 3.7bn

Pre-tax profits since Grenfell: 1.5bn

Dividends since Grenfell: 465m

Help to Buy revenue: 772m/year (approx)

Cladding removal fund: 86.8m

Bellway has seen revenues soar by 12 per cent to 1.7billion in the past six months and completed a record 5,656 homes, up 6.3 per cent on a year ago. It has set aside 86.8million to make fire safety improvements to its homes.

Chief executive Jason Honeyman earns 1.09million and lives in a mansion in Chislehurst, south-east London, bought for 2.9million in 2016.

Bellway cancelled a dividend to shareholders during the first lockdown, only to reinstate it in October.

Rob Perrins, Chief executive of Berkeley Group

Berkeley Group

Value of company: 5.29bn

Pre-tax profits since Grenfell: 2.3bn

Dividends since Grenfell: 349.5m

Help to Buy revenue: 196m/year (approx)

Cladding removal fund: Unknown

The luxury developer has made huge profits in recent years and has been criticised over executive pay, facing a shareholder rebellion two years ago.

Chief executive Rob Perrins lives in a sprawling 4million six-bedroom period property in Woking, Surrey.

Berkeley has been praised by some campaigners post-Grenfell for doing work on a number of its developments without waiting for government intervention. However it has repeatedly declined to reveal what it is offering and how many flats have defects.

Controversially, Mr Perrins last year said that the Government should relax a blanket ban on combustible cladding and adopt a risk-based approach.

We are no better off, says pregnant mum

A pregnant mother whose flat does not qualify for funding to remove cladding said the Government's plan is 'shambolic'.

Laura Bell, 32, said her situation was 'exactly the same as before' because her building is only four storeys high.

The commodities trader, pictured, who is expecting her second child next month, is desperate to move to a bigger property with her husband James and one-year-old daughter. She said: 'This announcement is awful for us. It's all a bit of a shambles. The arbitrary height set at 18 metres is a blow.

Laura Bell, 32, (pictured) said her situation was 'exactly the same as before' because her building is only four storeys high

'I'm due any week now so we really need to move out as soon as possible.'

In October she was told her two-bedroom flat in Penge, south-east London, was covered in dangerous cladding. She fears she will face bills of up to 30,000 to replace it. While the Government has promised costs will be capped at 50 a month for the removal of unsafe cladding on properties under 18 metres, Mrs Bell believes she shouldn't have to pay.

She added that she worried about the impact of additional loans on the value of the property, which she bought in 2016.

Mrs Bell said: 'We did not design or build these buildings with cheap, shoddy materials. We are the only party without blame here... But we are the ones whose livelihoods are being sacrificed.'

Who gets help... and who's been left in the cold

What's been announced?

Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick yesterday announced an extra 3.5billion from Government to replace dangerous cladding from high-rise buildings. It takes the total pot to 5billion. Those in low and medium-rise blocks will pay a maximum of 50 a month for 'long-term, low-interest' loan to help them replace their cladding.

Who does it help?

Mr Jenrick said leaseholders in high-rise buildings  18 metres (six storeys) and above  won't pay to replace dangerous cladding. It may relieve 700,000 people of average bills of 25,000 each.

Who misses out?

Leaseholders in low and medium-rise blocks say their repayments, which could cost 600 a year, are unaffordable with other bills such as 24-hour fire patrols (around 499 a month per flat) and insurance hikes (around 1,307 a year). Estimates say more than 2million live in unsafe buildings below 18 metres. Critics say the size of the debt, which could be up to 24,000, will be deducted from the value of homes when leaseholders try to sell, pushing many into negative equity.

Is this just about cladding?

Hundreds of apartment blocks in England and Wales have other safety defects such as combustible insulation and timber balconies. Mr Jenrick ducked questions on payment for these repairs, which often cost more than replacing cladding. Leaseholders in unsafe buildings of all heights are still liable for tens of thousands of pounds to make their homes safe.

Why does height matter?

Mr Jenrick said the Government was focusing on high-risk buildings and that cladding on low and medium-rise buildings would often not need replacing. But since Grenfell, two major fires have occurred in buildings below 18 metres. Campaigners say it is unfair for leaseholders to pay up to 600 a year to fix defects because they live in low or medium rise blocks.

Will it speed up repairs?

Extra Government funding should allow more work to get under way. But this will be limited to high-rise buildings and the pot only covers cladding issues. Just 216 out of a possible 11,760 dangerous buildings have been fixed since Grenfell.

Does it help with the housing market?

About 1.27million properties are unsellable due to rules introduced after Grenfell. An EWS1 certificate is required to prove a building is safe before lenders will offer a mortgage. Mr Jenrick said the measures allow homeowners to buy and sell once again  but it is unclear how. An industry consultation launched last month could free 600,000 homes from the process.

Will the industry pay its dues?

A planned developer tax could raise 2billion over a decade. There will also be a levy on some high-rise projects, but it is unknown how much this may raise. Critics say construction giants can and should pay more to cover the costs of the scandal, while building owners, manufacturers and insurers should not get off scot-free.
Eric Omondi could yet get his wish to become Magical Kenya ambassador.

This after the comedian posted a video of himself in a meeting with Tourism CS Najib Balala at his office.

Although he did not divulge more information about the outcome of the meeting, Omondi's fans have already drawn their conclusions.

Their assumptions founded by the caption and background music playing in the background hinting that the comedian might have sealed the deal.

"Magical Kenya KEKEKE," wrote Eric Omondi.

During a recent interview with Radio Maisha's Konnect Show, the comedian claimed he was in talks with the government to replace British supermodel Naomi Campbell as Magical Kenya International Tourism Ambassador.

CS Balala however refuted the claim at the time, indicating his office was not in talks with Omondi.

Last month, the Tourism CS appointed British supermodel Naomi Campbell as the Magical Kenya International Tourism Ambassador.

Balala said Campbell's appointment to promote Kenyan tourism abroad is meant to strengthen the domestic market and not take away anything from it.

The news of her appointment stirred controversy among Kenyans with many expressing their displeasure on social media.
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SPRINGVILLE, Ala. (AP)  The Alabama Department of Corrections says a state prison inmate has died following an altercation with another prisoner.

Corrections officials say St. Clair County Correctional Facility inmate Dexter Freeman died Monday from injuries sustained during the inmate-on-inmate assault at the Springville prison.

The department says an autopsy is set to be performed to determine the 38-year-old's cause of death.

No additional details have been released and the other inmate allegedly involved in the attack hasn't been identified.

Corrections spokeswoman Samantha Rose said the incident is being thoroughly investigated.

Freeman was serving a 15-year sentence for first-degree sodomy.
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By Juliet Nalwooga

Finance minister Matia Kasaija has revealed that his ministry will next week formally respond about the pending suspension of the Democratic Governance Facility (DGF), a donor Agency.

This follows a 2nd January letter from President Museveni to Finance Minister Kasaija that ordered the immediate suspension of activities of the donor agency and also a directive to police, the Inspectorate of Government and State House Anti-Corruption Unit to probe how it was authorized to operate in Uganda.

The Finance minister says he received the letter that was unfortunately leaked to the public and that the ministry will respond next week after meeting the Ambassador and the affected parties on the way forward.

Ofcourse the president wrote to me. Somebody leaked that letter while it was a confidential. You know really you people you never keep secrets. We will come out fully next week after we have finished consultation after even meeting the Ambassador so that we tell you what exactly is happening he noted.

The DGF currently chaired by Denmark is financed by governments to include, Ireland, Austria, UK, and the European Union, in poverty eradication, and rule of law activities.

In Uganda it bankrolls at least 74 institutions, both state and non-state.
Security video is shown to senators at the second impeachment trial of former president Donald Trump in the Senate at the US Capitol in Washington (Senate Television via AP)

Democrats opened their first day of arguments in former president Donald Trumps impeachment trial with searing footage of the US Capitol riot.

They painted Mr Trump as an inciter in chief who systematically riled up his supporters and falsely convinced them the election had been stolen, culminating in the deadly attack.

He assembled, inflamed and incited his followers to descend upon the Capitol, the lead impeachment manager, Representative Jamie Raskin (Democrat-Maryland), said.

As she presented harrowing footage of the siege, Delegate Stacey Plaskett, a Democrat representing the US Virgin Islands and one of the prosecutors, said Mr Trump had put a target on the backs of then-vice president Mike Pence and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who were leading the certification of President Joe Bidens election victory.

His mob broke into the Capitol to hunt them down, Ms Plaskett said.

Here are the highlights from the first full day of arguments:

 Trumps words come back to haunt him

Mr Trumps voice rang out in the Senate Chamber as Democrats aired video from his rallies and other remarks to supporters. Interspersed throughout were slides of Mr Trumps tweets contesting the election and promoting the January 6 rally in Washington, which he promised would be wild.

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Whatsapp In this image from video, a quote is displayed on a photo as part of the prosecution evidence presented during the impeachment trial (Senate Television via AP)

The impeachment managers put Mr Trumps rhetoric on trial, from the months he spent laying the groundwork to contest the election results to the speech he delivered outside the White House egging on his supporters to fight before they stormed the Capitol.

He truly made his base believe that the only way he could lose was if the election were rigged, said Representative Joaquin Castro, (Democrat-Texas), another one of the prosecutors.

Mr Trump, the House impeachment managers argued, whipped his supporters into a frenzy with the big lie that their votes had been stolen, and urged them to fight.

This attack never would have happened but for Donald Trump, said Representative Madeleine Dean, (Democrat-Pennsylvania), choking back emotion. And so they came, draped in Trumps flag, and used our flag, the American flag, to batter and to bludgeon.

There was no widespread fraud in the election, as has been confirmed by election officials across the country and former attorney general William Barr. Dozens of legal challenges to the election put forth by Mr Trump and his allies were dismissed.

 New surveillance footage

To reconstruct the siege for senators, Democrats aired never-before-seen security footage from inside the Capitol that showed the attack unfolding. Their presentation included chilling video of the rioters rampaging into the building and audio of distressed police officers who tried in vain to keep them out. We have been flanked and weve lost the line, one frantic officer could be heard saying.

The presentation also showed the perilous moments when legislators and others, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Mr Pence, were rushed to safety; body cam footage of an officer being beaten; the sounds of crunching, breaking glass; profane screams and violent threats; and cries as the rioters streamed into the building, some carrying riot shields and weapons.

Where do they count the f****** votes? one member of the mob could be heard shouting. You work for us, one yelled at officers. Wheres that meeting at?

Democrats warned that many of the scenes would be hard to watch, including the horrifying screams of an officer being crushed in a doorway and video of one of the rioters, Ashli E Babbitt, being shot dead by US Capitol Police.

Also never before seen: Footage of Capitol Police officer Eugene Goodman, who has already been hailed as a hero, warning Republican Utah Senator Mitt Romney that the mob was heading his way. Mr Romney turned and dashed in the other direction.

I did not know that was Officer Goodman, Mr Romney told reporters after seeing it. I look forward to thanking him when I next see him.

Mr Goodman also directed the mob away from the Senate chamber.

 Praise for Pence

While the Democrats excoriated Mr Trump, they lavished praise on an unlikely figure: former vice president Mr Pence, outlining in exacting detail how his life had been put in physical danger and hailing him as a patriot for defying Mr Trumps pressure campaign to overturn the election results.

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Vice President Pence had the courage to stand against the president, tell the American public the truth and uphold our constitution. That is patriotism, said Ms Plaskett, whose presentation included previously unseen footage of Mr Pence and his family being evacuated from the Senate chamber as rioters spread through the Capitol.

Other footage showed the rioters chanting Hang Mike Pence! as others searched for him. At one point, Ms Plaskett said, the rioters were within 100ft of where Mr Pence was sheltering with his family.

They were talking about assassinating the vice president of the United States, she said.

Many Republicans had been appalled by Mr Trumps treatment of his most loyal soldier during his final days in office. And the focus appeared to be a tacit acknowledgement of the Democrats intended audience as they try to convince Senate Republicans  many of whom are close to Mr Pence  that Mr Trump deserves to be punished for what happened.

Mike Pence is not a traitor to this country. Hes a patriot, said Mr Castro. And he and his family, who was with him that day, didnt deserve this, didnt deserve a president unleashing a mob on them, especially because he was just doing his job.

 Trumps lawyers return

They were merely observers as Democrats had the floor. But members of Mr Trumps legal team indicated they would stay the course despite a flood of criticism, both from Republican senators and the former president, about their performance during procedural arguments on Tuesday.

Expand Close David Schoen, left, and Bruce Castor (Andrew Harnik/Pool/AP) / Facebook

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Whatsapp David Schoen, left, and Bruce Castor (Andrew Harnik/Pool/AP)

Not at all, said lawyer Bruce Castor when asked by reporters whether there would be any changes to their strategy. No, I dont anticipate any, echoed David Schoen, another lawyer.

Both Mr Castor and Mr Schoen said they had spoken to Mr Trump on Tuesday, but Mr Castor denied that the former president had expressed displeasure to him.

Far from it, he said, even as Mr Schoen allowed that there was room for improvement after Republican senators panned their performance as disjointed and unhelpful.

To the extent they were critical of anything that I did, I just want to try to do a better job then, he said.

Bottom line is I think his team will do better, can do better, said Senator Lindsey Graham (Republican-South Carolina), a close ally of the president, after the two had spoken. While he acknowledged there was room for improvement, Mr Graham said he had tried to tell Mr Trump that the case is over. Its just a matter of getting the final verdict now. All but six Republican senators voted on Tuesday against moving forward with the trial.

 Making it personal

Ms Dean described the House chamber descending into chaos as she stood with colleagues in the gallery above the floor and made panicked calls to her husband and sons.

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Someone shouted up to us, Duck! then Lie down! then Ready your gas masks! she remembered. Shortly after, there was a terrifying banging on the chamber doors. I will never forget that sound.

Representative Eric Swalwell (Democrat-California) described the text he sent to his wife telling her to hug their young children.

On January 6, said Mr Castro, President Trump left everyone in this Capitol for dead.

Throughout the proceeding, the House managers served as personal witnesses of the horror and repeatedly invoked the word us as they appealed to fellow legislators targeted in the attack.

He was coming for you, for Democratic and Republican senators. He was coming for all of us, just as the mob did at his direction, said Representative Ted Lieu (Democrat-California) after describing Mr Trumps rhetoric.

 Republicans hold firm

There appears little chance enough Republicans will break with Democrats to convict Mr Trump at the end of the trial. And some of them appeared indifferent to the proceedings and unmoved by the evidence on Wednesday.

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Missouri Senator Josh Hawley, who led the Senate challenge to the election along with Texas Senator Ted Cruz, said the prosecutors case was predictable and included information that was already public.

The video evidence was nothing new here, for me, at the end of the day, said Mr Hawley, who maintains the trial is unconstitutional.

Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson, another close ally of Mr Trump, predicted the remainder of the trial was going to be pretty tedious and said the two sides would be better served if they just made their cases in a couple hours and be done with this.

And Kentucky Senator Rand Paul, who sat with his back to the screen, writing notes on a pad, walked out in the middle of Ms Plasketts description of the threats against Mr Pence.

It was a notable contrast with Democrats such as Maryland Senator Ben Cardin, who described the prosecutors presentation of evidence as painful to watch.

While it forced them to relive a traumatic moment, it also helps to bring closure, so I think its something that we have to go through, said Mr Cardin, who described January 6 as one of the roughest days of our life.
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A poultry factory worker was killed after she was sucked into a giant meat-grinding machine in a horrific accident in Russia.

The woman was pulled into the mincer after her hand got trapped in machinery while she was moving chicken carcasses from one conveyor to another.

Distressing security footage from the factory in Belousovo showed the moment she was sucked into the machine.

'The employee died on the spot,' said Russia's investigative committee.

Security footage at a Russian poultry factory showed this woman moving chicken carcasses from one conveyor to another before she was sucked in

The woman, circled, was pulled into the grinder after her hand got trapped in part of the machinery, and employees who came running to her screams could not rescue her

The woman died from chest wounds after being sucked into the grinder, according to preliminary data.

'It is difficult to imagine what she experienced before she died,' said a local report in Belousovo, Kaluga region.

'Employees of the plant who came running from her screams could no longer help her.'

The case came to light as officials released findings of an investigation which found a slew of safety breaches due to 'negligence'.

'There were no protective shields on the machine and there was free access to its rotating mechanisms,' said the committee.

Legal action is expected against the poultry farm and an organisation responsible for providing workers for the plant.
Europe's oldest person, French nun Sister Andre, turns 117 on Thursday after surviving Covid-19 last month and living through two world wars, with a special birthday feast including her favourite dessert -- baked Alaska.

Born Lucile Randon on February 11, 1904, Sister Andre said she didn't realise she had caught the coronavirus, which infected 81 residents of her retirement home in the southeast city of Toulon, killing 10 of them.

"I'm told that I got it," the nun told AFP on Wednesday at the home, where she sat basking in the winter sun, her eyes closed and hands clasped in prayer.

"I was very tired, it's true, but I didn't realise it," she added in a steady, strong voice that belies her years.

But David Tavella, spokesman for the Sainte Catherine Laboure nursing home, said she had "experienced a triple confinement: in her wheelchair, in her room and without a visit".

"So her birthday, it reinvigorates us," he added, following the deadly outbreak.

Sister Andre, who has been inundated with calls from reporters around the world, said she was not planning to do anything special for her 117th birthday.

But the home has other ideas, with a celebration to include a video call with her family.

The facility, home to a dozen nuns, plans a special mass, and the chef is preparing a birthday feast with foie gras, capon fillet with porcini mushrooms and Sister Andre's favourite dessert: baked Alaska.

- A glass of wine a day -

She says her favourite food is lobster and she enjoys "a small glass of wine every day".

Born in the southern town of Ales in a Protestant family, she grew up as the only girl among three brothers.

One of her fondest memories was the return of two of her brothers at the end of World War I.

"It was rare, in families, there were usually two dead rather than two alive. They both came back," she told AFP last year, on her 116th birthday.

As a young woman she worked as a governess to children of wealthy families in Paris, a job she said "suited me very well."

Story continues

She converted to Catholicism and was baptised at the age of 26. Driven by a desire to "go further", she joined the Daughters of Charity order of nuns at the relatively late age of 41.

Sister Andre was then assigned to a hospital in Vichy, where she worked for 31 years and then spent 30 years in a retirement home in the French Alps before moving to Toulon.

Nineteen French presidents have occupied the Elysee presidential palace since Sister Andre was born.

She is the second-oldest living person in the world, according to the Gerontology Research Group, after Japanese woman Kane Tanaka, who is 118.

Asked what she would say to young people, Sister Andre said, hands clasped in prayer, "Be brave and show compassion."

fan-san/mdm/cb/gd
This article is part of the Free Speech Project, a collaboration between Future Tense and the Tech, Law, & Security Program at American University Washington College of Law that examines the ways technology is influencing how we think about speech.

Last summers antipolice brutality protests represented the largest mass demonstration effort in American history. Since then, law enforcement departments nationwide have faced intense scrutiny for how they policed these historic protests. The repeated, egregious instances of violence against journalists and protesters are well documented and have driven widespread calls for systematic reform. These calls have focused in part on surveillance, after the police used sophisticated social media data monitoring, commandeered non-city camera networks, and tried other intrusive methods to identify suspects.

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But in Oregon, the Portland Police Bureau went a step further in its innovation: It broadcast its surveillance publicly, in real time, by livestreaming protests on social media. According to a lawsuit filed by the ACLU, PPB hosted a video on YouTube and on its official Twitter feedwhich has more than 230,000 followerson at least three occasions. PPB allegedly zoomed in to focus on individual protesters faces, making them easily identifiable and vulnerable to surveillance technologies such as facial recognition software, which law enforcement used to identify a protester in D.C.s Lafayette Square and, reportedly, many of the insurrectionists who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6. PPB first justified its public livestreaming on the grounds that it was necessary to provide situational awareness and to record possible criminal activity, and later so the community could understand what was occurring at the protest. But an Oregon court quickly forbade the livestreams, based on Oregon law and a local consent decree.

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Courts have generally not been receptive to chilling-effect claims based solely on law enforcement collection of intelligence at protests.

The case raises an interesting constitutional question as to whether, in the absence of local laws like Oregons, the First Amendment would prohibit public broadcasting by law enforcement of public protest activity. While no court has considered the issue, the First Amendment is generally understood to allow individuals to engage, associate, and communicate with others for purposes of political expression without being surveilled by the government. In 1958s NAACP v. Patterson, the Supreme Court held that the state could not compel the NAACP to disclose a list of its members and agents, including names and addresses. The court reasoned that the inviolability of privacy in group association may in many circumstances be indispensable to preservation of freedom of association, particularly where a group espouses dissident beliefs. It subsequently deployed the First Amendment as a shield against governmental collection of information, most notably in cases dealing with the monitoring and regulation of mid20th century political activists. These cases set forth a clear doctrinal rule that government action may not impermissibly chill the exercise of First Amendment rights, directly or indirectly, through surveillance.

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There is, however, an important caveat to this rule as it relates to protest surveillance. In 1972s Laird v. Tatum, the Supreme Court held that gathering information at demonstrations for law enforcement purposes did not inhibit the exercise of protesters First Amendment rights. Laird concerned an Army surveillance program instituted in the wake of protests in Detroit in 1967 and around the country following the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. the following year. The program documented attendance of public protest meetings by Army intelligence agents who wrote reports that included attendance records and speaker identities. The information was shared with other law enforcement agencies, but not the general public. The court rejected a First Amendment chilling effect challenge, explaining that the mere existence  of a governmental investigative and data-gathering activity did not constitute a cognizable First Amendment harm because the activity had a legitimate governmental purpose. Since Laird, the courts have generally not been receptive to chilling-effect claims based solely on law enforcement collection of intelligence at protests.

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But subsequent lower court decisions suggest that public livestreaming of protests might be meaningfully different than the surveillance activity the court sanctioned in Laird. Crucially, the Laird calculus changes when law enforcement shares the fruits of its surveillance with the general public. For example, the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals has held that the Philadelphia Police Department could compile detailed files on protesters, but it could not broadcast on network television the protesters identities or the information contained in their files. The court emphasized that the primary concern was whether publicization of the information might cause protesters to self-censor.

Police livestreaming might cause protesters to self-censor by leaving protests or cause potential protesters to self-censor by not showing up at all. By intentionally zooming in to individual protesters faces, the Portland livestreams made the individuals easily identifiable. Geometric data could easily be captured and cataloged by members of the public, creating an open database of protestors. The website Faces of the Riot did just that after the Jan. 6 insurrection, using open-source machine learning and facial recognition software to publish a browsable lineup of 6,000 faces. The lineup does not distinguish between the insurrectionists who stormed the Capitol and the peaceful protesters who attended only the preceding rally.

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In the NAACP case, the Supreme Court recognized multiple ways that public identification can chill expressive activity. One is the threat of retaliation by private employers based on the protesters beliefs. Except in select jurisdictions, private sector employees have only limited protections against discipline or termination on the basis of their participation in political protests. Such recourse by employers is not merely hypothetical. In 2017, dozens of employees nationwide were fired for participating in an immigration-related protest. And a Taco Bell employee was fired in 2020 after wearing a mask supportive of the Black Lives Matter protests to work.

Another important issue is the threat of violence against identified protesters. That concern remains disturbingly present today. Private militias made appearances at more than 50 Black Lives Matter protests in 2020, leading to 64 assaults, 38 vehicle assaults, and nine cases of shots fired at demonstrators resulting in three deaths. According to experts, these militias see themselves as extensions of local law enforcement. More troublingly, they have repeatedly engaged in violence with counterprotesters while police watched and did not intervene. The combination of militia presence and violence along with law enforcements apparent tacit support has had substantial chilling effects on expressive activity. A July protest in Utah was canceled due to the perceived threat of the frequent presence of armed militia members at protests in the state. And in rural Oregon, 70 armed men dissuaded people from joining a demonstration.

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There are, of course, countervailing considerations. Police might have a legitimate interest in showing what protests look like from its perspective to help citizens understand the difficult, chaotic circumstances officers sometimes face in the line of duty. This interest, however, is likely better served by journalists, who have extensive experience covering protests and providing objective accounts in a manner that does not readily subject protesters to private retaliation. Officers might respond that the media neglects to adequately cover violent or criminal acts committed by protestors. But studies show that journalists have been found to historically overcover instances of violence relative to peaceful conduct, at least at certain types of protests. And law enforcement remains free to convey to the public the difficulties officers face at protests in myriad other ways, like publicizing the number of arrests made, the underlying charges, and the extent of any officer injuries or property damage suffered.

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One might also wonder whether a constitutional limitation on police livestreaming would have much practical effect, given the ubiquity of livestreaming by protesters and citizen observers. After all, the Faces of the Riot project was compiled solely using videos posted to the now-defunct Parler app by the protesters and insurrectionists themselves. But the First Amendment regularly prevents government from doing things that citizens can do freely. Even so, Jan. 6 was something of an exception: As some commentators have pointed out, the extensive amount of documented self-identification on social media was likely due to the fact that the insurrectionists considered themselves heroes and wanted to be recognized as such. Livestreams dont typically set out to intentionally identify individual protestors by zooming in on specific faces for prolonged periods. Indeed, advocacy groups discourage livestreamers and journalists from highlighting individuals. And protesters often self-police livestreamers and media alike, using a variety of techniques to prevent and punish those who focus on demonstrators faces.

Protesters might well fear that law enforcement livestreams could subject them to retaliation at work or to threats or violence by militias, particularly in rural areas where viewers might be more likely to identify fellow community members. If these fears are objectively reasonable and dissuade people from engaging in protests, the Constitution should offer protection. As the Supreme Court has recognized, the First Amendment demands that the price of lawful public dissent must not be a dread of subjection to an unchecked surveillance power.

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.
London, Feb 11 : Pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca said it could take between six to nine months to produce Covid-19 vaccines that are effective against new variants of the virus.

A six-month turnaround for an updated vaccine would represent a vast improvement over traditional vaccine development timelines, The Guardian reported on Thursday.

"Work on the variants hasn't started today, it started weeks and months ago, as soon as those new variants were identified and... we are aiming to be in the clinic in the spring, with next generation vaccines for the new variants," said Sir Mene Pangalos, Executive Vice-President, BioPharmaceuticals R&D at AstraZeneca.

Pangalos added that the jabs could be available to the public by the autumn, assuming the regulatory bodies are satisfied with using studies into the body's immune response to the vaccine as the route to approval.

The company's vaccine, developed jointly with the University of Oxford, remains effective against the original virus and at least one variant, first discovered in Kent, England. But preliminary findings in a small-scale trial prompted South Africa to limit its use while it ascertains its efficacy against the variant that emerged there, the report said.

A number of Covid vaccines have shown lower efficacy in trials where the South Africa variant predominates -- earlier this week preliminary trials revealed the Oxford-AstraZeneca jab provided little protection against mild to moderate infection, although it is still expected to protect against severe disease and death.

It has recently emerged that some cases of the Kent variant have a mutation also found in the South African variant, a development that scientists have cautioned needs to be taken seriously, not least since the mutation -- known as E484K -- has been linked to the ability for the South African variant to evade protection offered by some current Covid vaccines, the report said.

Panaglos said tests need to be carried out on the Kent variant with the E484K mutation.
Tension entre la France et les Comores

Les relations se tendent entre les Comores et la France. En cause notamment, une arrivee de migrants trop importante au gout des Francais a Mayotte. Sur les deux dernieres annees, la France a reconduit 40 000 Comoriens aux frontieres, mais pres de la moitie de la population de Mayotte reste de nationalite comorienne. Lundi, les ministres des Affaires etrangeres des deux pays ont echange en visioconference avec pour objectif d'apaiser les tensions.

Les elus mahorais ne decolerent pas. En juillet 2019, un accord etait signe a Paris pour encadrer les arrivees de migrants comoriens sur l'ile francaise en echange d'une aide au developpement de 130 millions d'euros.





Mais un an et demi plus tard, pour Mansour Kamardine, l'accord n'est pas respecte. Le depute francais en compagnie des autres elus de Mayotte, a boycotte lundi, en signe de protestation, une rencontre destinee a le reconduire.





 Nous avons la certitude que du cote des Comores, ils considerent l'utilisation de l'immigration clandestine comme une arme de destruction massive de tout developpement. Donc on ne se met pas a negocier avec quelqu'un qui nous declare la guerre. 





Pour l'elu mahorais, la declaration de guerre a ete prononcee par le gouverneur d'Anjouan fin janvier lorsqu'il a appele ses compatriotes a arriver  par milliers  sur le sol francais. Mais le ministre des Affaires etrangeres comorien, Doihir Dhoulkamal se desolidarise de ces propos et assure que son gouvernement souhaite reduire l'immigration.





 La position du gouvernement comorien, ce n'est pas le gouverneur d'Anjouan qui la porte. Nous sommes en train de nous equiper en bateaux de surveillances en radars, nous allons former les gens pour qu'ils soient encore plus efficaces sur la surveillance.... Tout cela, ce sont des gages de notre bonne volonte de vouloir stopper ces deplacements. 




Regulatory News:

Gecina (Paris:GFC) has sold a mixed portfolio of 16 assets with non-strategic profiles, due to their location or size, to two funds managed by Keys REIM, the Keys Asset Management Group's portfolio management company, for a total of 54.6m excluding duties.

This 26,000 sq.m portfolio is made up of office assets, as well as retail units and parking spaces located in Paris, the Paris Region and other regions across France.

With this sale, Gecina is moving forward with its strategy to rationalize its portfolio and further strengthening, in the Paris Region, the centrality of its office assets in sectors with a focus on mixed-uses and proximity.

On this operation, Gecina was advised by the notary's office Cheuvreux and the consulting firms JLL and Catella.

About Gecina

As a specialist for centrality and uses, Gecina operates innovative and sustainable living spaces. The Group owns, manages and develops Europe's leading office portfolio, with nearly 97% located in the Paris Region, and a portfolio of residential assets and student residences, with over 9,000 apartments. These portfolios are valued at 20 billion euros at end-June 2020.

Gecina has firmly established its focus on innovation and its human approach at the heart of its strategy to create value and deliver on its purpose: "Empowering shared human experiences at the heart of our sustainable spaces". For our 100,000 clients, this ambition is supported by our client-centric brand YouFirst. It is also positioned at the heart of UtilesEnsemble, our solidarity commitment program to the environment, to people and to the quality of life in cities.

Gecina is a French real estate investment trust (SIIC) listed on Euronext Paris, and is part of the SBF 120, CAC Next 20, CAC Large 60 and Euronext 100 indices. Gecina is also recognized as one of the top-performing companies in its industry by leading sustainability benchmarks and rankings (GRESB, Sustainalytics, MSCI, ISS ESG and CDP).

www.gecina.fr

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210211005836/en/

Contacts:

Financial communications

Samuel Henry-Diesbach

Tel: +33 (0)1 40 40 52 22

samuelhenry-diesbach@gecina.fr

Virginie Sterling

Tel: +33 (0)1 40 40 62 48

virginiesterling@gecina.fr

Press relations

Julien Landfried

Tel: +33 (0)1 40 40 65 74

julienlandfried@gecina.fr

Armelle Miclo

Tel: +33 (0)1 40 40 51 98

armellemiclo@gecina.fr
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The CompTIA ISAO is committed to advancing cybersecurity resiliency throughout the global information technology industry Tweet this

EAC members serve as the guiding governance body for the CompTIA ISAO, helping the organization fulfill its mission of advancing cybersecurity resiliency throughout the global tech industry.

"The CompTIA ISAO brings together the best minds in the cybersecurity, IT channel and MSP communities to gather, analyze, disseminate information, and counter cyber threats," said MJ Shoer, senior vice president and executive director of the organization. "Our advisory council members have a common goal of seeing that robust security practices are implemented throughout the IT industry."

Members of the CompTIA ISAO Executive Advisory Council include Arnie Bellini, managing partner, Bellini Capital; Vince Crisler, founder and CEO, Dark Cubed; Christopher Jones, director of cyber security, Dell Technologies; Ben Nowacky, senior vice president of products, Axcient; Jay Ryerse, CISSP, vice president, cybersecurity initiatives, ConnectWise; Wayne Selk, director, professional services, ConnectWise; and Marty Ward, vice president, product marketing, Sophos.

Also, Scott Algeier, executive director, IT-ISAC; Paul Kurtz, co-founder and chairman, TruSTAR; Chris Loehr, executive vice president, Solis Security; Eric Weast, owner, ECW Network & IT Solutions, Esteban Blanco, chief geek officer, Blanco I.T., Sagar Samtani, assistant professor and Grant Thornton Scholar, Indiana University Kelley School of Business; and Tracy Holtz, director, security Solutions, Tech Data and co-chair, CompTIA Cybersecurity Advisory Council.

Established in August 2020, the CompTIA ISAO evolved from the TSP-ISAO created by Bellini, a technology entrepreneur, investor and philanthropist, in conjunction with ConnectWise. In less than six months the CompTIA ISAO has provided its nearly 1000 corporate members with more than 200 cybersecurity alerts on breaking threats and reports from analysts, members and other industry sources. Examples include:

A September 14, 2020 , alert on the Microsoft Windows Netlogon vulnerability. CompTIA ISAO members had nearly 48 hours advance notice of this issue and recommendations for immediate mitigation, well before much of the industry.

, alert on the Microsoft Windows Netlogon vulnerability. CompTIA ISAO members had nearly 48 hours advance notice of this issue and recommendations for immediate mitigation, well before much of the industry. A November 11, 2020 , report titled "MSPs Targeted by Ransomware Operators." The report was specifically written to help members understand current ransomware trends and included recommendations to protect themselves and their customers.

, report titled "MSPs Targeted by Ransomware Operators." The report was specifically written to help members understand current ransomware trends and included recommendations to protect themselves and their customers. More than 40 posts in the CompTIA ISAO Cyber Forum on the SolarWinds event so members could better understand the impact of the event and respond accordingly to keep their customer and themselves safe.

Membership in the CompTIA ISAO is open to organizations in the IT channel and MSP communities, including cloud services providers, managed service providers, managed security service providers, technology vendors, and businesses providing services to the tech industry, such as financial, legal, sales, marketing, business consulting, and training firms. Visit www.comptiaisao.org/ for more information.

About CompTIA

The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) is a leading voice and advocate for the $5 trillion global information technology ecosystem; and the estimated 75 million industry and tech professionals who design, implement, manage, and safeguard the technology that powers the world's economy. Through education, training, certifications, advocacy, philanthropy, and market research, CompTIA is the hub for advancing the tech industry and its workforce. Visit www.comptia.org .

Media Contact

Steven Ostrowski

CompTIA

+1 630-678-8468

[email protected]

SOURCE CompTIA

Related Links

http://www.comptia.org


Generation to transform employment systems, support new research, and serve 75,000 people over the next two years with $77 million in new funding and $50 million in in-kind resources

WASHINGTON, Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Generation, the non-profit global employment organization, has secured $77 million in new funding and $50 million in in-kind resources from BlackRock, McKinsey & Company, Microsoft Corp., and Verizon, to accelerate its work in tackling unemployment across 14 countries around the world. This combined commitment will allow Generation to support people who face systemic barriers to employment -- particularly young adult and midcareer workers -- as COVID-19 continues to threaten jobs and global economic growth.

Generation trains, places, and supports diverse people into life-changing careers that would otherwise be inaccessible. BlackRock, McKinsey & Company, Microsoft, and Verizon will enable the significant expansion of Generation's collaboration with governments and other workforce partners, globally, supporting the embedding of Generation's approach within large-scale, existing systems to tackle COVID-19 jobs recovery and beyond.

With the new funding, Generation and its workforce partners will serve 75,000 people over the next two years, placing them into work that provides stable income and supports them to transform their lives and communities. This funding will also support Generation in undertaking new global research to yield insights for workforce programs, employers, and policy makers. The group's commitment encompasses cash funding, in-kind resources, and connections to employers in their ecosystems for Generation graduates.

To date, Generation has 40,000 graduates from its employment programs in 14 countries across 30 professions that span four sectors; technology, healthcare, customer service, and skilled trades. 93% of Generation learners are unemployed when entering the program, and 84% of graduates are placed in jobs within 3 months of completion.

Large-scale economic and social shifts resulting from the global pandemic have deepened the problem of inequity in employment opportunity. The impact is expected to push 47 million women and girls into extreme poverty, and more than one in six young people are already out of work. This new coalition will work with thousands of public, private, and social sector partners to help create an inclusive jobs recovery.

Dr. Mona Mourshed, founding global CEO of Generation, comments: "The climb to employment was already challenging for the people Generation serves. Now, with the global pandemic devastating entire sectors and livelihoods for thousands, it has steepened dramatically. We believe we can rise to this challenge and fundamentally transform education to employment systems and connect people who face significant systemic barriers to work with life-changing opportunities. We are delighted that our global partners share this vision and with their generous commitments, our reach and impact can accelerate - at a time when it matters most."

Deborah Winshel, Global Head of Social Impact at BlackRock and President of the BlackRock Foundation, comments:

"Generation's focus on breaking down barriers to meaningful employment is aligned with the BlackRock Foundation's goals of promoting equitable economic opportunity in our communities. We're excited to be supporting a purpose-driven partner with ambitious growth plans to help more people into durable, sustainable careers,"

Anne-Marie Frassica, Director of Giving Back, McKinsey & Company, comments:

"Our belief in the power of work to transform people's lives and their communities is embodied in our founding and enduring support of Generation. We are excited to join together with industry-leading companies to support Generation's mission and work. Our contribution provides flexible, unrestricted resources that will enable Generation to create greater economic opportunities for those most affected by the global pandemic through COVID recovery and beyond."

Kate Behncken, Vice President and Lead, Microsoft Philanthropies, comments:

"Talent is everywhere but opportunity is not, and Generation is working to change this around the world by preparing and placing unemployed and underemployed people into meaningful careers. Microsoft's partnership with Generation will accelerate our collective commitment to ensure every person has the skills and opportunity to succeed in the digital economy."

Rose Stuckey Kirk, Chief Corporate Social Responsibility Officer, Verizon, comments:

"Through our responsible business plan, Citizen Verizon, we're partnering with Generation to scale up initiatives that help people obtain the skills they need to thrive in the workforce; helping to build a more inclusive and equitable society and helping us to realize our goal to reskill and upskill half a million people over the course of the next 10 years. We're excited to be a part of this coalition and support Generation's vision to create new opportunities for those who face economic disparities and unequal access to the tools that will help advance their skills, their education and their chance for economic prosperity."

About Generation

Generation is a global nonprofit that transforms education to employment systems to prepare, place, and support people into life-changing careers that would otherwise be inaccessible. For more, visit generation.org .

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1436802/Generation_Programme.jpg






[February 11, 2021] Atacama Resources Announces New Board of Directors and Management Teams Led by First Nations Leaders and Business Executives

PLANTATION, Fla., Feb. 11, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Atacama Resources International, Inc. (OTC: ACRL) (Atacama) is pleased to announce the immediate appointment of Joe Dion (Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors), Darwin Douglas (member of the Board of Directors), Joshua Dion (President and Member of the Board of Directors), and William (Chris) McKay (Vice-President, Investor Relations) to key management and board of directors positions. In addition, Atacama has established an Advisory Board and is pleased to introduce Justin Gee as its first member. The Advisory Board will be comprised of individuals from throughout Canada and the United States with unique skill-sets and backgrounds geared towards the exploration and mining industries and aboriginal relations. Moving forward and addition to the above appointments, Colin Keith will be transitioning to the position of Vice-President, Legal Affairs and Corporate Development, Wayne Holmstead will remain as the Vice-President of Exploration, and Waylon Iserhoff and David Berry will remain as members of the Board of Directors.

This is a very important moment for Atacama and the culmination of many months of hard work. The importance of this day cannot be understated as some of Canadas most prominent First Nations leaders and business executives will now be guiding Atacama, explained Colin Keith. As noted by new Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board, Joe Dion, This has been a long time coming for Indigenous peoples of Canada; to be leading the exploration and development of our natural resources in a respectful, ethical, and environmentally sensitive manner. Atacama will be progressive in its relations with First Nations and we believe this will be reflected in many ways, including our employment and procurement practices. We feel this will not only be highly rewarding for Atacama shareholders, but the benefits of these resources will be experienced by impacted Indigenous communities in a lasting and commensurate manner. As highlighted by David Berry, To the best of my knowledge, Atacama is the worlds first publicly traded mineral exploration company with a First Nations-lead board and management team. I am incredibly proud to have Joe, Darwin, Josh, Justin, and Chris join our team. We see the potential for major social and economic development and I believe our shareholders should be very happy. Additionally, we have been working to resolve the cease trade issue with the Alberta Securities Commission. Our new team will assist with this process and we are hopeful to get back on track with our exploration and asset acquisition plans. Strong relations with First Nations are vital to successful resource exploration and development, remarked incoming board member, Darwin Douglas. We want to be at the forefront developing and maintaining ethical, meaningful and mutually beneficial and prosperous relationships and partnerships (centered upon responsible resource exploration and development) with First Nations throughout our country. Joe Dion Joe Dion is the current Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Frog Lake Energy Resources Corporation (FLERC), one of Canadas only wholly-owned First Nations owned oil and gas exploration and production companies. Prior to joining FLERC, Joe worked as a consultant for First Nations in Canada and the United States while advising energy companies and gvernments negotiating Impact Benefit Agreements and joint ventures.



Joe also comes from a family of hereditary chiefs. He is great-grandson to notable Cree Chief Big Bear, who played pivotal roles in Canadian history. As his great-grandfather before him, Joe served in his hereditary role as Chief of Kehewin Cree Nation and Grand Chief for the Province of Alberta. From tribal administrator, council member, treaty chairman, constitutional coordinator, to president and chairman of numerous boards, brotherhoods, and associations, Joe works tirelessly for the social and economic well-being of First Nations. In 1984, Joe founded the Indian Resource Council of Canada. This council now represents over 150 First Nations in Canada and was instrumental in establishing Indian Oil and Gas Canada, a federal government agency responsible for managing oil and gas development on Indian reserve lands.

Darwin Douglas Darwin Douglas is a prominent entrepreneur, a Council member for Cheam First Nation, board member for Cheam Enterprises Inc., CEO of All Nations Cannabis, and a leader in his family and community while serving as a leader and a new voice for Indigenous Business in the Sto:lo territory and beyond. For several years Darwin served as a researcher and manager in Aboriginal Rights and Title for both the Cheam First Nation and the Sto:lo Nation. He was also the manager of the Coqualeetza Cultural Education Centre, where he was able to bring financial stability to the Centre and relocate archival materials to ensure they were preserved properly for future generations. He also currently owns and operates two small businesses in the Fraser Valley, the Cheam Trading Post which offers wild, local and fair trade salmon and seafood products, and, Sto:lo Seafood Company, a business that operates a certified processing facility. Joshua Dion Joshua Dion is a seasoned oil and gas and governmental and indigenous affairs executive. A member of the Kehewin Cree Nation, Joshua obtained his MBA from the University of Trinity Western and has recently served as the Community Outreach Officer for the Western Indigenous Pipeline Group and the Manager of Corporate and Indigenous Relations and Partnerships for Indigenous Resource Management in Vancouver, British Columbia. Josh has worked with software tools to help build First Nation capacity by providing a single window approach to project management and consultation. It is through this that Josh has worked with communities in understanding the needs for own-source revenue streams to bolster their economies and improve resource management. Justin Gee Justin Gee is a member of the Six Nations of Grand River and a graduate of Queens University with a Bachelor of Applied Sciences (Metallurgical Engineering). With over twenty one (21) years of completing of planning studies and detailed designs for First Nations across Canada, Justin is perhaps the only First Nations individual with both professional engineering and planning designations, and is the Vice-President of Canadas largest First Nations owned and operated engineering company, First Nations Engineering Services Ltd. William (Chris) McKay Chris McKay is an Oji-cree from Mattagami First Nation in mineral rich Northeastern Ontario and has been involved in the mining and exploration sectors for over 15 years while representing and negotiating, on behalf of the Mattagami First Nation, 3 Impact Benefit Agreements, including the Cote Lake Gold project, and over 10 exploration agreements. Chris has also worked for TransCanada Pipeline on the Energy East Project as the national Aboriginal Advisor on Traditional Knowledge. During this time Chris negotiated over 50 Community Engagement Agreements to complete impact studies for identified communities. Chris also works with the Wabun Tribal Council as its Economic Development Advisor being tasked with providing business development advice as well accessing funding for various projects including resource and renewable energy development. About Atacama Resources International (www.acrlintl.com) Atacama Resources International is a publicly traded OTC Pink company with significant mining claims in the greater Kirkland Lake area of Northern Ontario. Metals and minerals under potential exploration include gold, silver, copper, graphite and cobalt. Forward Looking Statements

Certain information set forth in this news announcement may contain forward-looking statements that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond the control of Atacama Resources International, Inc. Such forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about the Companys industry, management beliefs and certain assumptions made by its management. Forward-looking statements are based on information available at the time the statements are made and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainty and other factors, including the effect of COVID-19, that may cause our results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from the information expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements in this press release or our filings on OTC Markets. 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. Information concerning factors that could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those contained in these forward-looking statements can be found in the Company's periodic reports as filed on the OTC Markets. Unless required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise to reflect future events or circumstances or reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. For more information please contact: info@acrlintl.com



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NEW YORK , Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Zocdoc , the country's leading digital healthcare marketplace, today announced $150 million in growth financing from Francisco Partners, a leading global investment firm that specializes in partnering with technology businesses. This follows a momentous year for the company, characterized by a successful transition to a profitable variable revenue model which has led to accelerating growth. Zocdoc grew revenue by more than 35% year-over-year before the pandemic, and had year-over-year growth in 2020 despite COVID-19's disruption. Today, Zocdoc is profitable and on track to accelerate its pre-pandemic growth trajectory. The company will use the capital to further propel its rapid growth, deepening its investments in sales and marketing, and expanding the products available through its platform.

Zocdoc has long been the leader in online scheduling for in-person doctors' appointments. However, as the pandemic dramatically accelerated the adoption of telehealth, Zocdoc rapidly adapted its marketplace. The company successfully expanded into telehealth, making it a rare digital health platform that supports hybrid care: both physical and virtual care services. By aggregating millions of in-person and video visit appointments across a nationwide provider network, Zocdoc is distinctly positioned to become the front door to healthcare.

Most recently, the company leveraged its core technology and 13 years of healthcare scheduling expertise to introduce Zocdoc Vaccine Scheduler . This new service is designed to help cities, states, and healthcare providers centralize and streamline vaccinations. The company is offering this new solution free of charge to help accelerate public health efforts. Zocdoc Vaccine Scheduler has already been adopted by the City of Chicago and health systems around the country to help fast-track vaccinations.

"Today, Zocdoc is the rarest type of private technology company: we are profitable with accelerating growth, and we are a business that does real good for the world," said Oliver Kharraz, M.D., Zocdoc founder and CEO. "The last year has demonstrated that Zocdoc is poised to have a transformative impact on healthcare in this country. From our rapid expansion into telehealth to our efforts in helping cities and health systems distribute vaccines, our work remains focused on giving power to the patient. I have never been more proud of the Zocdoc team or more excited about our future."

"Zocdoc is a remarkable company that is well positioned to be consumers' one-stop-shop for all their healthcare needs, and we're proud to work with them to fund their next chapter," said Scott Eisenberg, Head of Credit and Structured Solutions at Francisco Partners. "We've been incredibly impressed by the pace of Zocdoc's innovation and growth, as well as the company's invaluable contributions to improving America's healthcare system - including supporting the needs of patients amid the COVID-19 pandemic."

The success of the company's recent initiatives, along with its accelerating growth and profitability, has been built on the foundation of Zocdoc's variable pricing model. Begun in 2018 and now largely complete, the transition from a flat subscription model to the current, fee-per-booking model has enabled the company to lower the barrier to entry for providers, dramatically accelerating the growth of providers on its platform. The company has grown its healthcare provider network by 50 percent in the first states that transitioned to its new model, and other states are following a similar trajectory.

This new model has also empowered Zocdoc to make deep and sustainable investments in product, technology, and marketing, which have helped fuel its expansion into telehealth , vaccine scheduling , and national television advertising . The company has quickly become one of the country's largest telehealth platforms, with more than 10,000 providers offering nearly one million video visit appointments across 100 specialities. Further, Zocdoc's telehealth approach aligns with patient preferences , enabling them to select nearby doctorseven for virtual visitsso that they can establish relationships with local physicians, should they choose to seek care in-person.

About Zocdoc

Zocdoc is the leading digital healthcare marketplace for in-person or virtual care. Each month, millions of patients use our free service, via Zocdoc.com or the Zocdoc app, to find in-network doctors, instantly book in-person or virtual appointments, read reviews from verified patients, get reminders for upcoming appointments and preventive checkups, and more. With a mission to give power to the patient, Zocdoc's platform delivers the accessible and simple experience patients expect and deserve.

About Francisco Partners

Francisco Partners is a leading global investment firm that specializes in partnering with technology and technology-enabled businesses. Since its launch over 20 years ago, Francisco Partners has invested in more than 300 technology companies, making it one of the most active and longstanding investors in the technology industry. With more than $25 billion in assets under management, the firm invests in opportunities where its deep sectoral knowledge and operational expertise can help companies realize their full potential. For more information on Francisco Partners, please visit www.franciscopartners.com .

Contact

Jessica Aptman

[email protected]

SOURCE Zocdoc

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 11)  Senators on Thursday said local government units should be given the opportunity to adjust their vaccination priority list depending on their local situation.

During a hearing, Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said local chief executives should be consulted and be given leeway on how they would want to prioritize vaccination in their own jurisdictions.

"I think the priority of the LGUs might be a little more different. There should be some sort of leeway," he said, adding that this should be made as a provision of a law to make sure there will be no violations.

Senator Sonny Angara shared the same sentiment considering LGUs may have different views on who their frontliners are.

League of Provinces Director Sandra Paredes said there are some local authorities asking they be given the power to adjust their list, with some noting their intentions to immunize their workforce first to jumpstart the local economy.

However, Dr. Antonio Dans, spokesperson of the Healthcare Professionals Alliance Against COVID-19, said the prioritization process is the responsibility of the National Immunization Technical Advisory group. "If prioritization will be determined by LGUs, we will fail to reach an equitable distribution," he added.

Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. also said they have a general rule and moral obligation to vaccinate first those who are most vulnerable to the disease. He said LGUs were already advised that these people should be inoculated first to preserve healthcare institutions, then the population who they think should be prioritized will follow.

READ: LIST: Priority sectors, subgroups in COVID-19 vaccination program

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon also said prioritization should be specified in the law to prevent the fear of politics intervening in this important government program.

The government targets to procure some 148 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine and immunize up to 70 million Filipinos this year.
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Vials with a sticker reading "COVID-19 vaccine/Injection only" and a medical syringe are seen in front of a displayed AstraZeneca logo in this illustration taken on Oct. 31, 2020. (Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo/Reuters)

Not Perfect, but Saves Lives, AstraZeneca Says of COVID-19 Vaccine

AstraZenecas COVID-19 vaccine is not perfect, but will have a big impact on the pandemic, its chief executive predicted on Thursday, as the drugmaker pledged to double supplies to more than 200 million doses per month by April.

The two-dose shot, developed with Oxford University, has been hailed as a vaccine for the world because it is cheaper and easier to distribute than some rivals.

But its rapid approval in Europe and elsewhere has been clouded by doubts over its most effective dosage and interval between doses.

Data at the weekend also showed it was less effective against a fast-spreading South African variant of the virus, and the company has been embroiled in a row with the European Union over supply delays.

Is it perfect? No its not perfect, but its great. Who else is making 100 million doses in February? CEO Pascal Soriot said on a conference call about the vaccine.

Were going to save thousands of lives and thats why we come to work everyday.

AstraZeneca said it expected much-anticipated data from the U.S. trial of the vaccine before the end of March, and that it was confident the shot offered relatively good protection against severe disease and death for the South African variant. Its disappointing results were against milder cases.

However, after rising to become Britains most valuable company last summer, the company has now slipped to sixth, in a move some analysts attribute to doubts over the vaccine.

Brian Pinker, 82, receives the Oxford University/AstraZeneca CCP virus vaccine from nurse Sam Foster at the Churchill Hospital in Oxford, England, on Jan. 4, 2021. (Steve Parsons/Pool via Reuters)

In a year or two we will look back and everybody will realize we made a big impact, Soriot said.

Poster Child

AstraZenecas shares were up more than 2 percent in morning trade after the company forecast a pick up in earnings growth this year on strong demand for its cancer and other new therapies.

It has pledged not to make any money from its COVID-19 vaccine during the pandemic.

The company said it expected 2021 revenues to rise by a low teens percentage and core earnings of $4.75 to $5.00 per share, as it beat expectations for fourth-quarter sales.

A general view of AstraZeneca offices and the corporate logo in Cambridge, England, on July 18, 2020. (Alastair Grant/AP Photo)

The earnings guidance equates to 1824 percent growth, after 15 percent in 2020, but was a little lower than the $5.10 per share analysts were expecting, as the company flagged more spending this year.

The COVID-19 vaccine is not included in the guidance and the company said its sales would be reported separately from the first quarter of 2021.

While public interest is focused on the vaccine, AstraZenecas core business of diabetes, heart, kidney, and cancer medicines has been steadily growing, helping the company to turn around years of decline.

Rounding off its third consecutive year of product sales growth, sales for the three months to December surpassed a company-compiled consensus, while core profit of $1.07 per share was in line with expectations.

Cancer drug sales, AstraZenecas biggest field, jumped 28 percent in the quarter, led by its top-selling lung cancer drug Tagrisso.

The company is arguably the poster child for big pharma turnarounds, said Third Bridge senior analyst Sebastian Skeet.

By Pushkala Aripaka and Ludwig Burger
Police in Amsterdam thinking they had uncovered a cold-blooded murder were left in hysterics after discovering their 'victim' was in fact a snowman.

Officers patrolling the Dutch city's Oosterpark area on Tuesday went to investigate after discovering what they thought was a body lying on the floor.

But when they approached the chilling scene they discovered the 'iced' victim was in fact a snowman that had been built laying down on its back.

Freeze! Dutch police who thought they had spotted a dead body in Amsterdam's Oosterpark were left in hysterics after discovering the 'victim' was in fact a snowman

'On Tuesday evening, officers in a car were patrolling through the Oosterpark, until they suddenly saw a person lying lifeless on the ground in the distance.

'A victim of a crime? Did someone get unwell? After our colleagues approached the "body" they saw that police tape or an ambulance would not be needed.

'It was actually a handsome piece of "snow art", including a carrot nose! At least the colleagues could laugh a lot about it.'

Police have yet to trace the creators of the snowman, presumably because the trail has gone cold.

The Netherlands, like much of Europe, has been shivering through a February cold snap that has pushed temperatures to near-record lows.

A temperature of -20.5C was logged in Egmond aan Zee, 25 miles from Amsterdam, on Wednesday night, and forecasters are expecting that to dip even lower at the weekend.

In Cold Blood: Police made the chilling discovery on Tuesday night but have been unable to trace the snowman's creators - presumably because the trail has gone cold

The cold weather has also brought heavy snow across the country driven by Storm Darcy, forcing officials to declare a 'code red' emergency earlier this week.

The country's first official snowstorm since 2010 - meaning heavy snow combined with gale-force winds - struck on Sunday , forcing all train services to be suspended.

Dozens of flights were delayed or cancelled at Schiphol airport while Eindhoven airport scrapped all services.

All trains were cancelled, including international services to Germany, while a tram derailed in the snow in The Hague.

Motorists were also told to avoid travelling as more than 80 cars were reported to have skidded off the road.

Most parts of the country had between two and four inches of snow but some areas received 12 inches, public broadcaster NOS said.
Many people who dont live in this part of the country or ever visit here will be quite surprised to discover that long-standing stereotypes about us are completely false,

Today, the Rural America Chamber of Commerce (or Rural Chamber), the countrys first membership-based organization for rural entrepreneurs and business leaders, launched nationwide. Led by Founder & Executive Director Sherri Powell, the Rural Chamber will promote the economic interests of non-urban communities, while celebrating rural Americas rich diversity.

When our economy is challenged, rural areas are just as hard-hit as citiesand often more so because rural America in many ways lacks the survival and recovery resources available to metropolitan areas. This past year has been no exception, said Powell.

Our new, rural-focused Chamber of Commerce is exactly what our country needs now and into the future. Ongoing rural business success contributes to the prosperity of our entire nation, Powell continued.

Membership in the Rural America Chamber of Commerce is open to sole proprietorships, small- to mid-sized businesses and trade associations, as well as nonprofit organizations. Member benefits include business visibility and promotion, access to actionable information and resources, networking opportunities, and more.

The Rural Chambers advocacy arm, for example, will educate policymakers on the needs of rural America, pursue laws and policies that spur sustainable opportunities, and provide impact analyses of proposed actions or inaction on rural businesses, economies, and livelihoods.

The Rural Chamber will also serve as a platform for celebrating the inclusivity and diversity of rural America. Many people who dont live in this part of the country or ever visit here will be quite surprised to discover that long-standing stereotypes about us are completely false, said Powell. Our membership will authentically reflect the diverse heritage of rural America and, in so doing, play a vital role in strengthening race relations and mending the dangerous divisions that threaten to unravel our democracy.

About the Rural America Chamber of Commerce

The Rural America Chamber of Commerce (Rural Chamber) is a national, membership-based, 501(c)(6) non-profit organization incorporated in the state of New York and overseen by a board of 11 directors. The Rural Chamber exists to support, promote, and empower rurally based entrepreneurs and business leaders to positively impact local and regional economies, rural communities, and rural livelihoods.

To learn more about the Rural Chamber, visit http://www.ruralchamber.com.

About Sherri Powell, Founder & Executive Director

Sherri Powell is a native of Alamo, Georgia (pop. 3,370) (per capita income $7,613). Her professional experience includes serving on Capitol Hill as a House and Senate staffer, managing government and regulatory affairs in the private sector, and an entrepreneurial stint as the founder of Yours Rurally, a company offering curated gift boxes that feature products sourced exclusively from rural America.
The government's draft bill on cryptocurrencies is likely to bar Indian companies and individuals from using digital currencies if cleared by parliament.

The Cryptocurrency and Regulation of Official Digital Currency Bill, 2021 is expected to be introduced soon in the ongoing Budget session (of parliament).

People, traders, exchanges, and other financial systems' participants will not be permitted to deal in cryptocurrencies, with penalties proposed in the draft law for any violation by corporates as well as individuals, NDTV reported.

Also Read: Inter-ministerial group recommends ban on Bitcoin, private cryptocurrency in India: FM

The decision was taken after an inter-ministerial panel, including representatives from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), felt that private cryptocurrencies will pose a risk to the financial stability of the country.

The bill, which proposes a blanket ban on all private cryptocurrencies, will also lay the basis for an official digital currency with ties to the RBI, which can regulate it, the report added.

The Centre's draft bill comes days after car manufacturer Tesla, led by billionaire Elon Musk, announced a $1.5 billion investment in Bitcoin with plans to accept the cryptocurrency from customers purchasing its electric vehicles. This drove the digital money to an all-time high.

Also Read: Sell or hold - investors on edge as India mulls cryptocurrency ban

Both the Centre and the central bank have been cautioning against digital currencies and have advised all banks and financial institutions not to deal in them.

The RBI, through a circular in April 2018, had advised all entities regulated by it not to deal in virtual currencies or provide services for facilitating any person or entity in dealing with or settling them.

In mid-2019, a government committee had suggested banning all private cryptocurrencies, with a jail term of up to 10 years as well as heavy penalties for anyone dealing in digital currencies.

However, the Supreme Court in March 2020 overturned RBI's circular, permitting banks to handle cryptocurrency transactions from traders and exchanges.

As per the official estimates, around 7 million Indians hold cryptocurrencies worth more than $1 billion.
LANSING, Michigan  A top GOP official in Michigan was overheard on a hot mic Wednesday saying he stood by his assertion that the Jan. 6 assault on the U.S. Capitol by supporters of Donald Trump was a hoax, despite apologizing for the comments a day earlier.

Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey released a statement on Tuesday apologizing for his inaccurate comments, which were recorded by a Republican party official as Shirkey met with party leaders at a restaurant, mlive.com reports.

But the Detroit Free Press reports Shirkey could be heard Wednesday on microphone on the Senate floor speaking with Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist, a Democrat, saying he stood by his original point.

I frankly dont take back any of the points I was trying to make, Shirkey said, according to CNN. Some of the words I chose I do, I regret in the end.

The Free Press reports Shirkey made the comments to Gilchrist after opening Wednesdays session urging unity and working together.

Shirkey reportedly declined to comment Wednesday. But Gilchrist harshly criticized Shirkey, according to the Free Press.

While (Shirkey) made a half-hearted attempt to address his inexcusable language and behavior last night, and an even weaker attempt during a prayer in todays Senate session, his comments toward me on the Senate floor this morning tell a different story, Gilchrist said. It is clear that his so-called apology was not heartfelt, nor did it come from a place of humility and understanding. Rather, it was an empty gesture made for political expediency, and one that the people of Michigan can see right through.

In the original video, in which Shirkey was speaking to members of the Hillsdale County Republican Party, Shirkey falsely claims the assault on the Capitol was staged and implies that U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell, a Republican from Kentucky and the Senate majority leader at the time of the assault, was somehow involved.

That wasnt Trump people. Thats been a hoax from day one, Shirkey says in the video.

More than 200 people are facing criminal charges in connection with the Capitol assault. Five people died on the day of the insurrection, including a Capitol police officer.

Officials with the Michigan Democratic Party are calling for Shirkey to resign, mlive.com reports.
Twitter will continue to ban former US President Donald Trump permanently from its social media platform, the company's Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Ned Segal said in an interview on Wednesday

WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 10th February, 2021) Twitter will continue to ban former US President Donald Trump permanently from its social media platform, the company 's Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Ned Segal said in an interview on Wednesday.

"When you're removed from the platform, you're removed from the platform," Segal told CNBC. "Our policies are designed to make sure that people are not inciting violence. He was removed when he was president and there'd be no difference for anybody who'd been a public official once they'd been removed from office."

Indian social media platform Koo is playing up the Indian investment and has said that more Indian entrepreneurs are investing the company. This comes at a time when there have been some questions about the Chinese investment in the platform. The official figures indicate that as much as $4.1 million has been invested in Bombinate Technologies  Koos parent company, by Indian investors. The company also confirms that Shunwei, the company which had invested earlier for an app called Vokal, will be exiting and the new investors will buy their stake. The company insists that Koo is an Atmanirbhar app with Indian founders and is registered in India.

Koo says that the recent investment of $4.1 million was led by an Indian investor, 3one4 Capital. The company also says that there has been a slew of Indian investment in the social media platform, that has caught the attention, over the past few weeks as the Indian governments feud with Twitter continues. A set of Indian entrepreneurs are seen to be investing in Koo with Ashish Hemrajani from BookMyShow, Vivekananda from Bounce, Nikhil Kamat of Zerodha amongst various others entering the cap table of the company, says Koo in an official statement.

Earlier, Aprameya Radhakrishna who is the co-founder and CEO of Koo, had clarified in an interview with CNBC-TV18 that the Chinese investment from Shunwei Capital, would be moving out. Shunwei had invested in the earlier brand Vokal. We have pivoted our business and focused on Koo, they are on their way out. They are being bought out by other people. We are a truly Atmanirbhar Bharat app, he said. The 3one4 Capital venture capital firm is based in Bengaluru and is backed by Infosys veteran T.V. Mohandas Pai. Koo, also has investments from Kalaari Capital and Blume Ventures. Koo, founded in March last year, is seen as a Made In India rival for social media platform Twitter.

Over the past few days, Ministers from the Government of India including Union Ministers Piyush Goyal and Ravi Shankar Prasad, as well as government departments have set up their Koo accounts. This came as a reaction to the Governments feud with Twitter about the mandate to block some Twitter accounts and take action against some tweets posted on the platform, something that Twitter has been hesitant to do. Koo said it has so far verified handles of MeitY, MyGov, Digital India, India Post, National Informatics Centre (NIC), National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT), Common Services Centre, UMANG app, Digi Locker, National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI), Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), among others, on its platform.

Earlier, speaking with News18, Koo confirmed that over the past six months, since the announcement of Koo being one of the winners of the MyGov Aatmanirbhar App Challenge, downloads for the app has grown 4x. Koo has now clocked more than 3 million downloads.
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LESSONS FROM THE PAST 16: Times Are A-changing

As new professions emerge in the new environment, we become aware of their impact in due course. There are opportunities in the information technology (IT) sector; in the information technology enabled services (ITES) sector; in the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector; in the financial sector; in infrastructure; in biotechnology; in solar energy; and before COVID-19 hit the world so hard in 2020  also in the hospitality and tourism sectors.

The last two have had a sorry time in 2020 and it may take a couple of years for them to recover. A pitybecause both were in the growth stage of the industry and were a long way from maturity, thus opening up a lot of prospects over the next decade or even more.

However, we also need to sit back and think about the many careers that have disappeared in the new economy. New technology and the pressure of new ways of doing things have made many professions of the olden days redundant. Dreaming about a job on a cruise ship, or a job as a pilot on an airline, or many otherswill just not do. Times have changedand many of us need to fall in line.

Young people today must be constantly aware of what professions will disappearand what are the new areas, or existing, but growth areas.

There was a time when my cousin earned a lot of money as a navigator for an international airline for close to 15 years. And then the airlines designed planes, which could do without a navigatorand this job ceased to exist. He had to go away, and take up farming in Nashik. Fortunately, he had a positive attitude. He did not sit at home and mope, cursing his bad luck.

And there was John (mentioned in another article of mine) in California, who was an airline pilot in US with United. In the 2008 depression, when the airline industry was doing badly, he lost his job, could not find any other because the industry was sinking and he moved on to be a mason or brick layer. He did what he enjoyed doing, got a certification and enjoyed his work, though it did not pay him as much as he would have got as a pilot!

We always used travel agents, to book our airline tickets and do our hotel bookings. No longer. Now we go on the internet, and log on to Makemytrip.com or cleartrip.com or the airline itself and book our tickets  at the best price available from among competitive airlines.

It is the same with hotels. One can specify the area in the city where your hotel should be; know the prices of competitive hotels; see the photographs of the hotel, the room, and the dining area (short of seeing the photo of the receptionist on duty when you arrive) and you have all the information. And you book on the internet, using your credit card.

Obviously, the travel agent cannot give you all this informationwhich you can get yourselfand for yourself, tailored. So goodbyetravel agent!

We also need a stockbroker to buy and sell stocks at regular intervals. We need not do this any more. Many banks like ICICI Bank and HDFC Bank offer facilities for stock trading on the internet. You can buy and sell whenever you like- in the comfort of your home or officewhich means, goodbye to stockbrokers!

Bank clerks was a well sought-after occupation. The jobs were well paid and offered lifetime employment, security guaranteed by trade unions and promotions at regular intervals in public sector banks. The introduction of computers has changed all this. That is why the bank workers union had resisted computerisation for a long time. One computer can do the work of many, perhaps, 10 clerks. No longer will there be crowds waiting for selection interview at banks for this, once valued assignment.

The road sweepers job with the BrihanMumbai Municipal corporation (BMC) was a valued jobbecause of free quarters provided; security in service; and preference to children of municipal workers for any suitable job in the corporation. When I see the new road sweeping machines operating in some areas of the city, I know that times are a-changing.

Stenographers from typing schools from Burnleys and Davers in Mumbai? A qualification, which guaranteed a job 30 years ago. Many were recruited from these institutions as soon as they had finished their programme. There are no stenos any more. They have metamorphosed into personal assistants, who use computers. And the boss handles much of the correspondence on his own laptop anyway!

In my younger days, there were eight laundries in my neighbourhood. Today, there are two! People use wash and dry fabrics and wrinkle free fabric. They have washing machines at home, and they only have to get their silk fabrics and woollen suits dry-cleaned some of the time. The laundry business has contracted, though perhaps, it will never really shut down completely.

Young people must see the signs of the times and the beacons of the future. Those who do, will succeed. Those who dont, will be left on the banks of a fast-flowing river!
Federal authorities have narrowed to a handful the number of suspects in the death of US Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, a US official briefed on the probe said Wednesday, raising hopes that investigators can bring charges in the case.

New video evidence from the US Capitol on January 6 has aided the work of the FBI and prosecutors in the US Attorney's Office in Washington, DC, in what the official says investigators continue to view as a complicated and difficult case.

One leading theory that investigators are considering is that the suspects sprayed an irritant, perhaps bear spray, that caused Sicknick to suffer a fatal reaction, the official said and CNN has previously reported.

In police audio played at former President Donald Trump's Senate impeachment trial Wednesday, officers could be heard screaming during the attack that some members of the violent Capitol mob were spraying them with bear spray. And Republican Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah told reporters Wednesday that Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman had indicated to him that "he had to breathe a lot of bear spray and tear gas and that he was nauseated" while serving on January 6. The pair had spoken during a break in the trial.

Sicknick, a 13-year veteran of the police force, died on January 7, one day after he collapsed in his office after being "injured while physically engaging with protestors," the Capitol Police said in a statement last month.

Investigators have struggled for weeks to build a federal murder case in Sicknick's death as they pored over video and photographs to try to determine the moment when he suffered his fatal injuries. Investigators have determined that initial reports suggesting Sicknick was struck with a fire extinguisher aren't true, CNN previously reported.

Last week, Sicknick lied in honor in the Capitol building in an emotional ceremony, and was visited by President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden and congressional leaders.

More than 100 other police officers were injured in the melee last month, including at least 15 officers who required hospitalization, according to court documents.

Several people have been charged with assaulting police officers in the weeks since, but none so far in relation to Sicknick.

Prosecutors have dedicated a team inside the DC US Attorney's Office to investigate the officer's death and other officer assaults.

Sicknick's death is being investigated by the DC Metropolitan Police Department's homicide branch, the US Capitol Police and federal authorities.

Metropolitan Police Department Public Information Officer Sean Hickman told CNN on Wednesday that the case remains under active investigation, and there is no further information available to provide at this time.

Eva Malecki, a spokeswoman for US Capitol Police, said the Sicknick family, respectfully, declined to comment.

Footage featured during Wednesday's impeachment proceedings highlighted the role that law enforcement officers played during the January 6 riot in seeking to protect lawmakers from the insurrectionists.

The videos included footage of officers being beaten by the rioters as well as images depicting just how close the mob inside the Capitol came to reaching lawmakers. The House managers showed security footage of senators fleeing their chamber, with Capitol Police officers between them and rioters just steps away.

Impeachment managers Del. Stacey Plaskett of the Virgin Islands and Rep. Eric Swalwell of California methodically walked through how the rioters breached the Capitol and overtook the building, attacking police officers for several hours even after lawmakers had been whisked away to safety.

Swalwell concluded by showing footage of police officers being violently attacked by the rioters, including one officer screaming for help as he was pressed up against a Capitol door. The footage included a Washington, DC, Metropolitan Police officer who was violently attacked with weapons and tased by the rioters while guarding the front of the Capitol.

This story has been updated with additional information.
An Iranian cyber spying group nicknamed Domestic Kitten has targeted over 1,200 individuals with more than 600 successful infections since 2017, according to new research by Check Point, an Israeli-U.S. security firm.

Why it matters: Repressive regimes around the world, including Iran, devote significant resources to targeting individuals and organizations they view as potential challengers to their rule or internal stability. Revelations about campaigns like these can help show who precisely these regimes believe are their greatest threats.

Details: The campaign, while mostly compromising individuals within Iran, has been global in scope, with victims in the U.S., U.K., Pakistan, Afghanistan, Turkey and other countries, says Check Point.

The Iranian cyber operators tricked victims into following links to install a malicious application using multiple vectors, including an Iranian blog site, Telegram channels, and even by SMS, reports Check Point.

In addition to focusing on Iranian dissidents at home and abroad, Domestic Kitten also targeted ISIS supporters and members of Irans Kurdish minority, among other groups.

Go deeper: In an earlier investigation into Domestic Kitten, Check Point described how the group created a fake updated version of an app from a real Kurdish news service to infect victims devices. It also created a fake pro-ISIS app that allowed users to select pictures to use as their wallpaper for electronic devices.
Former New York Yankees right-hander David Phelps will be back at Yankee Stadium this year, but youll find him in the visitors clubhouse.

MLB.coms Mark Feinsand broke the news Thursday that Phelps is signing with the Toronto Blue Jays. ESPNs Jeff Passan was the first with the contract terms:

Right-hander David Phelps has signed a one-year, $1.75 million deal with the Toronto Blue Jays, sources tell ESPN. He can earn another $750,000 in performance bonuses.

Introducing Yankees Insider: Get exclusive news, behind-the-scenes observations and the ability to text message directly with beat writers

Phelps made his MLB debut with the Yankees in 2012. He played three seasons in the Bronx, pitching in 87 games, 40 as a starter. He went 15-14 with a 4.21 ERA for the Yankees.

After the 2014 season, the Yankees traded Phelps and infielder Martin Prado to the Miami Marlins for right-handers Nathan Eovaldi and Domingo German, as well as first baseman Garrett Jones.

Phelps has been used almost exclusively as reliever since leaving the Yankees. The Marlins traded Phelps to the Seattle Mariners in 2017. He missed 2018 while recovering from Tommy John surgery.

Phelps started 2019 with the Blue Jays, who traded him to the Chicago Cubs before the non-waiver deadline. He started 2020 with the Milwaukee Brewers, who traded him to the Philadelphia Phillies in August, briefly reuniting him with former Yankees manager Joe Girardi.

In eight MLB seasons, Phelps has a 3.95 ERA in 291 career appearances.

Get Yankees text messages: Cut through the clutter of social media and text during games with beat writers and columnists. Plus, exclusive news and analysis every day. Sign up now.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription.

Mike Rosenstein may be reached at mrosenstein@njadvancemedia.com. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here.

1. Roads. The citys roads are a mess. Significant resources are needed to fix them.

2. Public safety. The crime rate is too high. Police pay and resources come first.

3. More city programs. The city must invest more in city programs and services.

4. Comprehensive plan. The city needs to focus on rebuilding and rebranding.

5. Cut city spending. City officials must get serious about trimming the budget.

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(Natural News) The Florida town of Oldsmar recently had its water supply hijacked, resulting in potentially damaging levels of sodium hydroxide (lye) being dumped into its drinking water.

Plant operators noticed strange activity on their monitors as chemicals that are normally used in smaller amounts to treat the water were amped up to significantly higher levels capable of killing people.

An unauthorized and still unidentified third party somehow gained external access to the system, allowing for the real-time adjustment of lye levels being injected into the water supply.

A plant worker first noticed the unusual activity at around 8 am Friday when someone briefly accessed the system, reports indicate.

At about 1:30 pm, someone accessed it again, took control of the mouse, directed it to the software that controls water treatment and increased the amount of sodium hydroxide.

The hackers identity has yet to be uncovered, but whoever it was exposed a serious breach in the computer systems that manage and control water supplies not just in Oldsmar but all across the country.

According to local sheriff Bob Gualtieri, the system was briefly manipulated to initiate the dumping of upwards of 100 times the normal amount of lye into Oldsmars water supply.

The chemical is used in small amounts to control the acidity of water but its also a corrosive compound commonly found in household cleaning supplies such as liquid drain cleaners, reported the Tampa Bay Times.

This is obviously a significant and potentially dangerous issue, Gualtieri is quoted as saying.

How long before someone hacks the fluoride systems to fully destroy peoples brains?

Gualtieri insisted to reporters that the public was never in danger because even if the plant operator had failed to quickly reverse the hack, it wouldve taken between 24 and 36 hours for that water to hit the water supply system.

Still, the vulnerability is concerning, especially since there are other chemicals like toxic fluoride that could likewise be hacked to start dumping profusely into drinking water supplies.

Fluoride at the levels currently laced into many municipal water supplies throughout the United States to treat tooth decay is already dumbing people down and creating a crisis of chronic illness. Were fluoride levels to be increased any higher, people could very well end up having to be rushed to the emergency room for a different kind of treatment.

Research out of Harvard University found that children exposed to government-approved levels of fluoride in drinking water have lower IQs than children who live in areas where drinking water is not fluoridated.

Dozens of studies over the years have come to similar conclusions, which is why we have long warned against artificial water fluoridation and encouraged our readers to contact their local governments to demand its removal.

Fluoridating water amounts to forced medication of the masses with a deadly neurotoxin. No doctors are involved in its prescription as the local water companies dump it in without peoples consent, which is a crime against humanity.

Since it appears that minimal effort was required to over-chemicalize the water in Oldsmar, how easy would it be to do the same with fluoride all across the country? The Oldsmar case serves as a warning to all other water municipalities to pay even closer attention to what their remotely connected computers are doing.

Critical infrastructure shouldnt be remotely accessible, wrote one Zero Hedge commenter. Most of these facilities are supposed to be hardened to some extent, especially post-911. Its a security state but only on Wednesday.

Why are water systems connected to the internet in the first place? asked another.

More related news about the dangers of fluoride, a damaging neurotoxin, can be found at Fluoride.news.

Sources for this article include:

ZeroHedge.com

NaturalNews.com
BASEL (dpa-AFX) - Sandoz, a Novartis (NVS) division, agreed to buy GlaxoSmithKline Plc.'s (GSK.L, GSK) cephalosporin antibiotics business. The deal includes the global rights to three established brands (Zinnat, Zinacef and Fortum) in more than 100 markets. The deal excludes the rights in the US, Australia and Germany to certain of those brands, which were previously divested by GSK, and in India, Pakistan, Egypt, Japan and China, which will be retained by GSK. Sandoz noted that it will pay GSK $350 million at closing, plus additional milestone payments of up to $150 million. Closing of the transaction is expected in the second half of 2021. In 2020, the three brands had combined sales of about $140 million in the relevant markets. Sandoz said it plans in the longer term to manufacture Zinnat at sites in its own network, which has global antibiotics production centered on its lead production site in Kundl, Austria. Once the transaction is completed, GSK will supply Zinnat to Sandoz under a manufacturing and supply agreement, while supporting a transfer of the related manufacturing operations to Sandoz. Sandoz expects the process to last for about four years from the close of the transaction onwards. 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.
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Social media has become a significant channel for social interactions, political communications, and marketing. However, little is known about the effect of cognitive style on how people engage with social media. A new study by MIT Sloan Research Affiliate Mohsen Mosleh, MIT Sloan School of Management Prof. David Rand, and their collaborators shows that people who engage in more analytical thinking are more discerning in their social media use, sharing news content from more reliable sources and tweeting about more substantial topics like politics.

"It's important to understand how people interact on social media and what influences their decisions to share content and follow different accounts. Prior studies have explored the relationship between social media use and personality and demographic measures, but this is the first study to show the connection with cognitive style," says Rand.

Mosleh, a professor at the University of Exeter Business School, explains, "In the field of cognitive science, some argue that critical thinking doesn't have much to do with our daily life, but this study shows that it matters  critical thinkers are better able to use social media in meaningful ways, which has become an important part of modern life."

In their study, the researchers measure Twitter-users cognitive style using the Cognitive Reflection Test (CRT), which is a set of questions with intuitively compelling but incorrect answers. For example, participants might be asked "If you are running a race and you pass the person in second place, what place are you in? The answer that intuitively comes to mind for many people is "first place," however "second place" is the correct answer.

Mosleh points out that there is disagreement in the field of cognitive science about the relative roles of intuition and reflection in people's everyday lives. Some say humans' capacity to reflect is underused, and that critical thinking is mostly used to justify our intuitive judgments. Others maintain that critical thinking does have a meaningful impact on beliefs and behaviors and that it increases accuracy.

Their Twitter study confirmed that critical thinking has a significant impact on how users interact on social media. People in the sample who engaged in more cognitive reflection were more discerning in their social media use. They followed more selectively, shared higher quality content from more reliable sources, and tweeted about weightier subjects, particularly politics.

The researchers also found evidence of cognitive "echo chambers," says Rand. "More intuitive users tended to follow similar types of accounts, which were notably avoided by more analytical users. They also tended to share content related to scams and sales promotions."

He notes, "This study sheds light on how misinformation and scams are spread on social media, suggesting that lack of thinking is an important contributor to undesirable behavior. It also highlights the type of users at risk of falling for scams."

As for the importance of cognitive style for everyday behaviors, Rand call this an "important new piece of evidence for the consequences of analytic thinking."

Rand and Mosleh are coauthors of "Cognitive reflection correlates with behavior on Twitter," along with MIT Research Associate Antonio Arechar and University of Regina Assistant Professor Gordon Pennycook, which was published in Nature Communications.

The MIT Sloan School of Management is w here smart, independent leaders come together to solve problems, create new organizations, and improve the world. Learn more at mitsloan.mit.edu.

For further information, contact:

Paul Denning or Patricia Favreau Director of Media Relations|

Associate Director of Media Relations (617) 253-0576

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Omari Hardwick has joined the legions of Hollywood stars currently filming projects in Australia.

The Power star, 47, was spotted at Sydney's Bronte Beach last week during a day off from filming the upcoming Netflix series Pieces of Her.

Making the most of the summer weather, Omari enjoyed a beachside outing with his daughter Nova.

Downtime Down Under: Omari Hardwick was spotted at Sydney's Bronte Beach last week during a day off from filming the upcoming Netflix series, Pieces of Her

He showed off his muscular arms in a black and white Nike singlet, which he paired with Adidas shorts.

The handsome actor also wore a pair of sneakers and white tube socks.

Omari enjoyed a leisurely walk with his daughter, who stopped to swing off a tree branch as her doting father watched on.

Sun's out, guns out: The Power star, 47, showed off his muscular arms in a black and white Nike singlet, which he paired with Adidas shorts

He is in Sydney filming the thriller Pieces of Her for streaming giant Netflix.

The drama will also star Australian actors Toni Collette, Bella Heathcote and David Wenham.

It was originally supposed to be filmed in British Columbia, Canada, last year, but the Covid-19 pandemic saw the shoot delayed and production moved to Australia.

Soaking up the sun: Making the most of the warm weather, Omari enjoyed a beachside outing with his daughter Nova, who stopped to swing off a tree branch as her father watched on

Filming commenced last month, but there's no release date for the eight-episode season just yet.

The series is based on the 2018 novel by Karin Slaughter, and is about a young woman named Andrea who is caught up in a mass shooting at a diner.

Andrea witnesses her mother, Laura, violently regain control of the deadly situation, which forces her to confront her mother's dark past.
                                         

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The animals rescuer said she got out of her car to investigate what had caused the pileup. Nadia Tugwell, with her coat in hand, teamed up with a stranger clutching a blanket in a bid to capture the marsupial. A concrete highway divider had blocked the koalas crossing. Photo: AP

City Montessori School in Ghattekulo of Kathmandu, that used to be full of students before the Covid-19 pandemic, nowadays remains deserted. In the school, out of 212 students, 25 per cent have dropped out and now only 90 students attend school.

Similarly, Baphal-based Sanskar School is conducting classes of grades one and two. It had more than three dozen students but at present, there are barely 20 students in the school.

Many of the schools in the Kathmandu valley that were shut since March last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic have resumed from the second week of January. Due to the great pressure of the parents citing reasons that online learning for primary students have not been as effective, schools resumed their regular (physical) classes in the condition that parents take the responsibility of protecting their children.

Those sending are keeping in touch with the school, concerned about the safety arrangements. But, there are still many parents who are in a dilemma to send their children to school or not.

Increasing dropout

Since last July and August, however, some Montessori schools in Kathmandu have been flooded with students. Even when the Covid-19 risk was at a peak, many parents still sent their children to school because they had to go to work. But, many have expressed they will not send their children to the school this year, in the sight of the risk.

Tika Ram Puri, the president of Private and Boarding Schools Organisation Nepal (PABSON) says about 25 per cent of primary school students have dropped out recently because of the infection risk. According to Puri, there is a large number of parents who do not wish to enrol their children this year and will only enrol them in regular schools from the next academic year.

According to Sankar Schools principal Pooja Gautam, Many parents are still unsure whether to send their children to school because of the risk. But, we urge them to send their students to school without worries. Gautam adds that sending children to schools is less risky than keeping them at home.

Puri assures that all private schools have taken necessary safety measures for the students and there is no need for them to hesitate to send their children to the schools. However, he also says that it would not be appropriate to put pressure on parents regarding this issue and their sentiment to be reluctant to send their children to schools this year is also valid.

The same problem exists in government schools too. Padmodaya Secondary School has been open since the second week of January. Its principal Narayan Gautam says it has been challenging for primary school children to implement health measures against Covid-19. He says it is easy to remind older students to adhere to the safety measures, but since younger students are temperamental and playful, parents are sceptical about sending their children to schools.

Masking is tough

After observing half a dozen Montessori schools in Kathmandu, it became obvious that the most common problem among the young students was to keep a mask on the childs face.

File: Children, masked, attend a class at their school amid the coronavirus infection risk, in Kathmandu.

According to international standards, only six to eight students should be in a classroom so that a teacher should be able to answer all their questions immediately. But, City Montessori principal Pushpa Rijal argues if Montessori schools are to follow it, the risk of infection will be reduced while running classes now.

Public Health expert Dr Sameer Mani Dixit says that there is no need to hesitate to send a child to school now. According to international studies, even if a child under the age of 15 is infected with the coronavirus, the chances of it spreading, in and outside schools, are low, he adds.

He says that the risk is very low in the schools of rural areas whereas Kathmandu schools can also be reopened by following the health standards. Dixit says schools should follow the health standards, ensure children wear masks all the time, either by monitoring regularly or convincing them. If this rule of wearing a mask can be followed, other issues can be considered secondary, he says.
LONDON and NEW YORK, Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Regnan, the responsible investment management business affiliated with J O Hambro Capital Management (JOHCM), announces the hire of Bertrand Lecourt, Senior Fund Manager, and Saurabh Sharma, Fund Manager, ahead of the launch of a global equities sustainable water and waste investment strategy later this year.

Lecourt and Sharma will join Regnan in April from Fidelity International and will be based in JOHCM's London office. They currently manage US$2.5 billion of assets within a sustainable water and waste strategy, including the US$2.4 billion Luxembourg-domiciled Fidelity Funds - Sustainable Water & Waste Fund and a US$88 million UK-domiciled OEIC fund. Both funds invest in companies involved in the design, manufacture or sale of products and services used in the water and waste management sectors.

The team's appointment is the second investment team hire by Regnan as a standalone responsible investment business within Pendal Group, JOHCM's parent company. It follows the recruitment of the Regnan Equity Impact Solutions team, led by Tim Crockford, from Federated Hermes in December 2019. Regnan's focus on delivering innovative and credible sustainable and impact investment solutions draws on over 20 years of experience at the frontier of responsible investment in engagement, advisory and research.

Nick Good, CEO, JOHCM USA, commented: "We are thrilled that Bertrand and Saurabh are joining Regnan and the wider group to launch our first thematic sustainable investment strategy. Their decision highlights the attractions of Regnan's responsible investment pedigree and the value of its unique sustainability research platform. The team's appointment demonstrates our ability to attract superior talent and progresses the firm's mission to provide investment strategies for people, planet and performance."

Team biographies

Bertrand Lecourt, Senior Fund Manager

Bertrand Lecourt joined Fidelity International as a Portfolio Manager in 2018, where he launched and managed the Fidelity Funds Sustainable Water & Waste Fund. Previously he was a Portfolio Manager at Polar Capital and the founder and CIO of Aquilys Investment Management. Prior to moving to the buyside, Bertrand was Head of Equity Research, France at Deutsche Bank and a utilities analyst at Dresdner Kleinwort Benson and Goldman Sachs. He holds an MSc in International Finance from HEC School of Management, France, an MSc in Money, Banking and Finance from Birmingham University, UK, and a DEA in Monetary Economics from Orleans University, France.

Saurabh Sharma, Fund Manager

Saurabh Sharma joined Fidelity in 2014 as a Product Specialist before becoming an Assistant Portfolio Manager in February 2020. Previously, he held equity research analyst roles at Moody's Analytics and GlobalData. Saurabh has an MBA in Finance from IBS Hyderabad School in India and is an CAIA and ICFAI Charterholder.

Background on Regnan

Regnan is a responsible investment business within Pendal Group with a vision to grow its assets under management and become a global leader in providing environmental, social, and governance (ESG) investment strategies and solutions to clients.

Regnan exists to drive positive impact and investment for a sustainable future and works towards this by developing and promoting more principled, rigorous and outcome-oriented approaches in responsible investment. It has a long and proud heritage in engagement and advice on environmental, social and governance issues. Regnan has produced pioneering research that has changed the way investors think about their wider responsibilities to society including advising influential organisations, such as the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI).

Regnan can trace its roots back to a collaboration with Monash University, Melbourne, in 1996, with an investigation into overlooked ESG-related sources of risk and value for long-term shareholders in Australian public-listed companies. Regnan has since taken its ESG expertise globally. Its diverse experience in advocacy, regulation, academia and advising investment managers has enabled Regnan to offer responsible investment-related advisory, engagement and research services.

Pendal Group, including JOHCM and Regnan, manages US$75.2 billion (as of December 31, 2020).

J O Hambro Capital Management Limited

J O Hambro Capital Management Limited (JOHCM) is an active asset management company with an investment performance-led culture. It manages $41.2 billion of assets (as of December 31, 2020) across Global/International, Emerging Markets, UK, European, Asian, Japanese equities and multi-asset strategies. JOHCM constrains investment strategy capacity in order to promote market-leading portfolio performance. JOHCM includes J O Hambro Capital Management Limited, JOHCM (USA) Inc. and JOHCM (Singapore) Pte.

Regnan is a standalone responsible investment business division of Pendal Group Limited (Pendal). Pendal is an Australian-listed investment manager and owner of the J O Hambro Capital Management Group.

The Regnan business consists of two distinct business lines. The investment management business is based in the United Kingdom and sits within J O Hambro Capital Management Limited, which is authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and is registered as an investment adviser with the SEC. "Regnan" is registered as a trading name of J O Hambro Capital Management Limited. Alongside the investment management business is the Engagement, Advisory and Research (EAR) team of Pendal Institutional Limited in Australia, which has a long history of providing engagement and advisory services on environmental, social and governance issues.

SOURCE J O Hambro Capital Management

Related Links

http://www.johcm.com


Controversial Islamic preacher Soni Eranata, also known as Maaher At-Thuwailibi, is seen in his Twitter profile picture.

The death in police custody of a 28-year-old Islamic preacher, who was jailed for several weeks for an insulting tweet about an advisor to the president, has raised questions about the treatment of detainees and the state of free speech in Indonesia.

Soni Eranata, also known as Maaher At-Thuwailibi, died in his detention cell on Monday night after refusing to be hospitalized for an illness, police said.

Last week, a man accused of stealing a mobile phone died in detention in Balikpapan, a city on Borneo Island, after allegedly being tortured by police. Police have named six officers suspects in the case.

At least nine detainees in Indonesia have died in the past three months because of mistreatment, illness, suicide and fighting among inmates, said KontraS, a human rights group.

This is the result of overzealous action by police and a lack of transparency and accountability, KontraS coordinator Fatia Maulidiyanto told BenarNews.

We urge the national police chief to order police departments across the country to conduct thorough reviews to prevent mistreatment and excessive action.

Soni was arrested on Dec. 3 after a citizen complained to police about one of the preachers postings on Twitter.

In that tweet, the citizen perceived that Soni was mocking the head gear worn by Luthfi bin Yahya, an Islamic cleric and member of the presidential advisory council.

Wearing the hijab like the Banser cleric makes you more beautiful, Soni tweeted with a photo of Luthfi.

Banser is the paramilitary wing of the Nahdlatul Ulama  Indonesias largest Muslim organization  to which Luthfi belongs.

Soni eventually apologized for the post, but police pursued the case and charged him with violating the Electronic Information and Transactions (ITE) Law.

According to national police spokesman Inspector Gen. Argo Yuwono, Soni became ill after he was arrested in December, and had been treated for a week at a police hospital in Jakarta before being discharged and returned to the police detention center.

It is not true that he was ill-treated. He died from an illness, Argo told reporters on Tuesday.

Theres a statement from the doctor who treated him that the suspect was sick. There are lab results too.

After being discharged, Soni on Feb. 4 again said he was sick and police offered to send him back to the hospital, but he refused, Argo said.

Argo declined to provide details on Sonis illness, saying it was a sensitive matter. No autopsy was conducted and the body has since been buried, police said.

Sonis lawyer, Djuju Purwantara, said the family had asked that the preacher be taken to an Islamic hospital in Bogor, south of Jakarta, but the request was rejected on the grounds that the police hospital was well equipped to treat him.

The family wanted Ustaz [teacher] Maaher to be treated at Ummi Hospital, because his medical records were there, Djuju told BenarNews.

Djuju said his client often complained about stomach aches but the police hospital did not inform him about Sonis illness.

The National Commission on Human Rights (Komnas HAM) said it was seeking more information about Sonis death.

We want to know what really happened, Komnas HAM chairman Ahmad Taufan Damanik told reporters on Wednesday.

His family said that there was no violence and he was sick. We want to know why he was sick and why he was not treated immediately, he said.

Taufan said he had urged the coordinating minister for political, legal and security affairs, Mohammad Mahfud MD, to improve monitoring in detention centers.

We need to improve the conditions in detention centers. There should be zero tolerance for violence and torture, he said.

Ultimum remedium ignored

Soni was no stranger to controversy and provocative social media posts.

In 2017, he accused President Joko Widodos government of being hostile to Islam after it disbanded Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI), the local branch of an international group seeking to establish an Islamic caliphate.

Last year, Soni called actress and model Nikita Mirzani a whore and threatened to send hundreds of people to her house after she called hardline cleric Muhammad Rizieq Shihab a snake oil salesman.

Meanwhile, Rizieq, who founded a now banned vigilante group called Islamic Defenders Front (FPI), has been in detention since December and is awaiting trial for allegedly flouting coronavirus restrictions.

Days before he turned himself in, police said they shot dead six FPI members who were traveling in a convoy with Rizieq, in self-defense. On Dec. 30, the government banned FPI, accusing it of violating the law and disrupting peace and security.

The arrests of Soni and Rizieq and the killing by police of six FPI supporters in December have prompted accusations that the government is becoming increasingly hostile towards Muslims who do not toe the government line.

In 2017, the government outlawed Hizbut Tahrir Indonesia (HTI), for promoting a state based on Sharia law instead of the nations Pancasila ideology.

Asfinawati, the head of the Indonesian Legal Aid Foundation, said freedom of speech and assembly had been under attack in recent years, with critics on social media increasingly subjected to prosecution under the electronic information law.

On the other hand, pro-government influencers seem to be above the law, Asfinawati told BenarNews.

She urged Jokowi to rein in the police.

The police force is under the president. If the police deviate from their duties and charge people for exercising free speech, the president should warn them, Asfinawati said.

Damar Juniarto, executive director of the Association for Freedom of Expression in Southeast Asia (SAFEnet), said the electronic information law had been abused to stifle free speech.

A study by civil society groups shows that the conviction rate of the ITE Law is 96.8 percent, with an imprisonment rate of 88 percent. This means that people who are charged under the ITE Law are likely to be jailed, Damar told BenarNews.

Articles of the ITE Law also often ignore the principle of ultimum remedium punishment, he said. Ultimum remedium means prosecution as a last resort.

This is the contradiction. People file police reports even before a warning, mediation or any attempt to seek clarification, Damar said.


The Winnipeg Humane Society wants a ban on the export of live horses after sharing videos online of more than a hundred horses in crates on the Winnipeg airport tarmac before they travelled overseas for slaughter.

Still image from a video provided to the Winnipeg Humane Society and posted to its Twitter account shows a Korean Air Cargo flight arriving at James Armstrong Richardson International Airport in the early morning hours of Monday, Feb. 8. The Humane Society says the plane left Winnipeg with a cargo of horses, which it says were kept in containers on the tarmac (seen at left beyond plane's nose). (Winnipeg Humane Society/Twitter)

The Winnipeg Humane Society wants a ban on the export of live horses after sharing videos online of more than a hundred horses in crates on the Winnipeg airport tarmac before they travelled overseas for slaughter.

The video, filmed at 3 a.m. on Monday when temperatures dipped below -30 C, shows a large aircraft pulling up alongside several wooden crates containing the horses. They were destined for Kitakyushu, Japan, on Korean Air Cargo, to be slaughtered and likely sold as raw meat.

To read more of this story first reported by CBC News, click here.

This content is made available to Free Press readers as part of an agreement with CBC that sees our two trusted news brands collaborate to better cover Manitoba. Questions about CBC content can be directed to talkback@cbc.ca.

On the day the Red Sox made a major trade, sending outfielder Andrew Benintendi to the Royals in a three-team, six-player deal, Boston was involved in a couple other moves.

The Red Sox agreed to a minor-league deal with veteran catcher Chris Herrmann and lost reliever Joel Payamps to the Blue Jays on a waiver claim, sources told MassLive. Heres a breakdown of each move.

Herrmann signs minor-league deal

Herrmann, a 33-year-old veteran of parts of eight major-league seasons, has agreed to a minor-league deal that includes a non-roster invite to major-league spring training. The agreement was first reported by @iTalkStudiosYT on Twitter.

Herrmann will join camp as a veteran presence behind starting catcher Christian Vazquez and backup Kevin Plawecki, joining young catchers Connor Wong, Roldani Baldwin and Jhonny Pereda in camp. The University of Miami product did not appear in the majors in 2020 but did spend time in both the Rays and Giants organizations.

Herrmann is a lifetime .205/.282/.344 hitter with 25 home runs and 103 RBIs in 370 career games with Minnesota (2012-2015), Arizona (2016-2017), Seattle (2018) and Oakland (2019). He appeared in a career-high 106 games for the Diamondbacks in 2017.

Payamps claimed by Jays

Payamps, who was designated for assignment last week to make room on the 40-man roster for free-agent addition Garrett Richards, was claimed off waivers by the Blue Jays, multiple sources said. The teams have not yet announced the move.

Payamps, 26, was claimed off waivers from the Diamondbacks in November, so he never appeared in a game for the Red Sox.. He has thrown seven major-league innings over the last two years with Arizona, allowing four runs (three earned) and six hits in that span. The former Rockies prospect previously worked as a starter in the minors, making 15 starts split between Double-A and Triple-A in 2019 and 76 starts over four years in the Diamondbacks organization.

The Red Sox have a full 40-man roster but still need to clear two spots for the pending additions of free agents Martin Perez and Hirokazu Sawamura.

Related links:

Andrew Benintendi trade: Red Sox send outfielder to Royals; Franchy Cordero, Josh Winckowski among 5 players coming to Boston

Boston Red Sox trade: Who are Josh Winckowski, Franchy Cordero, the players acquired for Andrew Benintendi in three-team deal?

Andrew Benintendi trade: Why did Boston Red Sox acquire 3 players to be named later in deal?

Boston Red Sox trading Andrew Benintendi frees up $1.4M in payroll flexibility; will Chaim Bloom sign another position player before Opening Day?
London, Feb 12 : Another 13,494 people in Britain have tested positive for Covid-19, bringing the total number of coronavirus cases in the country to 3,998,655, according to official figures released on Thursday.

The country also reported another 678 coronavirus-related deaths. The total number of coronavirus-related deaths in Britain now stands at 115,529. These figures only include the deaths of people who died within 28 days of their first positive test, the Xinhua news agency reported.

The latest figures were revealed as coronavirus case rates are continuing to fall in all regions of England, according to the latest weekly report from Public Health England (PHE).

In the West Midlands, which has the highest rate of any region, the rate of new cases stood at 237.6 per 100,000 people in the seven days to February 7, down from 326.8 in the previous week.

Case rates are also continuing to fall among all age groups, according to PHE.

The highest rate is among 30 to 39-year-olds, which stood at 265.3 cases per 100,000 people in the seven days to February 7, down from 367.2 in the previous week.

Meanwhile, Britain is stepping up efforts to speed up vaccine roll-out to bring the pandemic under control.

More than 13.5 million people in Britain have been given the first jab of the coronavirus vaccine, according to the latest official figures.

Britain aims to complete the vaccination of the top priority groups, which cover 15 million people, by mid-February.

Downing Street has confirmed that all British adults aged 50 and older are expected to be offered a first dose of the coronavirus vaccine by early May. Britain aims to offer all adults their first dose by autumn.

England is currently under the third national lockdown since outbreak of the pandemic in the country. Similar restriction measures are also in place in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

To bring life back to normal, countries such as Britain, China, Germany, Russia and the US have been racing against time to roll out coronavirus vaccines.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Things2do which curates and co-creates multiple experiences across a host of local events, nightlife, food festivals appoints Roch D'souza, former Chief Marketing Officer at Brand Factory, Future Group. He will be based out of Things2do's Mumbai office.

Roch brings close to 20 years of experience having worked across FMCG and Retail Sector, with organisations such as Parle Bisleri, HUL and in Future Group, across a host Lifestyle and Fashion Brands. His previous assignment was CMO at Brand Factory, where Roch was instrumental in taking the brand with around 30 stores 6 years ago, to more than 105 retail outlets and growing the business 5-fold during this period. Roch also conceptualised and ran the immensely popular Free Shopping Weekend at Brand Factory which became the biggest offline Annual Retail Sale across all players, reaching out and engaging more than 20 million customers annually. He is a firm believer in having a digital-first approach for brand building.

Things2do is among India's largest hyperlocal Experience Marketing business and runs the immensely engaging social platform called Things2doinMumbai that reaches over 10 million customers in Mumbai monthly. Things2do is rapidly diversifying across all the Major Metros in India, as well as runs the immensely popular Dubai local community Things2doinDubaiCity, and soon to be launched Things2doinSingapore.



Things2do is also running the current ongoing Mumbai Festival in partnership with Maharashtra Tourism and is looking at taking this engagement across various geographies over the next 12 months.



At Things2do Roch will be working with the management to expand and oversee Things2do's business and the diversification that the business is undertaking. Roch will also be responsible to launch the Things2do Club, which will be curating and co-creating unbeatable experiences for the customers across India. Things2do already has more than 1000 merchants signed up for the program and is aiming to onboard another 2000 partners. He will further lookout for interesting brand associations and tie-ups to further strengthen the Experience Marketing promise of the brand as well as aiding in the Discovery of hereto unknown Experiences for consumers across the country and overseas.

Commenting on the appointment, Amit Tripathi, Managing Director, Things2do said "It gives me immense pleasure to welcome Roch on the team. He has tremendous experience in building brands from scratch to multi-bagger companies. Things2do is a well-established platform; all we need to do is jointly work on setting newer milestones. Roch's past experiences are the true testimony of his expertise. We are certain that with Roch's leadership, the Things2do promise and its team will rewrite the rules for the Experience Marketing business in India."

Roch D'souza stated "I am excited to work with the young and enthusiastic group of professional at Things2do. There is a huge potential in Things2do business model. The passion of the 2 founders, Yash and Rahul supported with the vision of the Management we will be able to shape the business and its current engagement with Tourism bodies and Brand partners in more ways than one. Online to Offline (O2O) business clubbed with the promise of Experience Marketing for the consumer promises to be a game-changer in terms of the Discovery process as well as influencing Brand Reputation for such partners. I am extremely keen and looking forward to making a difference in the journey of Things2do as well as build a world-class team in the organisation."
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Sanjay Dutt and wife Maanayata Dutt have successfully completed 13 years of happy marriage. The 61-year-old actor marked their wedding anniversary by sharing a special post on social media. He extended his wishes on the occasion with a sweet message for his wife. Sanjay picked a romantic picture which shows the happily married duo twinning in black colour.

The photo which seems to have been taken at their residence shows Sanjay smiling admiringly at his wife. The actor is dressed in an all black kurta set, while Maanyata looks stunning in a saree paired with chunky golden earrings. The actor shared the date of their wedding and expressed gratitude towards Maanayata for her constant support. In the caption, Sanjay mentioned what changed for him during the course of 13 years of their marriage. He explained that it is his love that has changed, he loved his wife before but even more now.

Meanwhile, Maanayata also took to her social media handle to mark their 13th anniversary and shared an epic wedding throwback. Sanjays daughter Trishala Dutt also wished the couple and showered love in the comments section.

2020 was indeed a tough year for Sanjay and his family. After his sudden diagnosis with lung cancer last year, Sanjay managed to triumph in his treatment. He was successful in battling cancer and shared the happy news with the world on the occasion of his younger twin childrens birthday. Not to mention, Maanayata constantly stood by her husband like a rock and helped him overcome the disease like a warrior.

On the work front, Sanjay completed filming for KGF: Chapter 2 last year. His kitty is filled with some coveted projects including Shamshera and Bhuj: The Pride of India. Sanjay recently wrapped the shooting of period drama Prithviraj in a quick five-day schedule.

Note: The Express-News is suspending traditional restaurant reviews until restaurant dining rooms fully reopen.

Two things figure prominently in a new trio of Thai restaurant openings in San Antonio. One, of course, is our inherent love of Thai food. The other is the pandemic, which has driven the shape, scope and timing of those openings.

At a time when bars without food face the mercy of shifting COVID-19 restrictions, Jeret Pena and his Boulevardier Group have fostered a symbiotic relationship between a tiki-inspired bar aesthetic and a short, smart Thai menu at Hello Paradise near the Pearl.

In the Five Points area, Jerry Gonzales and Siwaporn Archariya added a Thai restaurant to their coffee-roasting business without the fuss of a full-scale restaurant. The pandemic-driven model for Hew by Akhanay Coffee Roasters is called a ghost kitchen, doing business exclusively by curbside pickup and delivery. For a couple who always dreamed of opening a restaurant, call it a dream redefined.

And finally, theres the plain old-fashioned drive to thrive  pandemic be damned!  that inspired Kin Thai & Sushi to expand from its Northwest Side perch at Dominion Ridge to a former Mama Fus Asian House location on Bulverde Road on the Northeast Side. For Alan Shaw, the co-owner of the new Kin, the decision was driven in part because theres not as much demand for his former life spinning party music as DJ Wet Li.

Each has taken a different path, but all three have arrived at the same place: great Thai for a city hungry for more.

On ExpressNews.com: Critic's picks: The best 25 San Antonio restaurant dishes of 2020

Mike Sutter /Staff

Hello Paradise

To get a sense of where the Thai food at Hello Paradise comes from, all you have to do is look up. From your courtyard perch at Hello Paradise, you can just make out the construction site where Still Golden Social House used to stand at Broadway and Grayson Street, the same place where the food truck Yais Mobile Kitchen made regular appearances.

Yais and Still Golden have concurrently evolved into Hello Paradise, where tiki and Thai share the spotlight in the former home of Jason Dadys Shuck Shack. The tiki part comes from the bar, where a Painkiller cocktail ($10) takes you away with a frothy blend of rum, pineapple, orange, coconut cream, and A Kauai Place ($9) balances the beach and the boardroom with a punchy Negroni-style blend of Campari, sweet vermouth and rum.

On a covered courtyard patio beside a firepit, Thai food takes on a beachfront campfire vibe with Thai wings ($10) fried in a sharp-tongued soy garlic batter and dumplings wrapped like silk purses overflowing with pork seasoned with black pepper and sesame oil ($7).

The kitchen flexes its full-plate muscles with a rich red panang curry with tender sliced beef ($10) and an energizing bowl of tom yum noodles flavored by peanuts and chile paste ($11) and fortified with pork three ways: braised, ground and in meatballs. Served in paper boats and disposable bowls, its an indispensable and innovative Thai food experience.

520 E. Grayson St., 210-338-5114, helloparadisesa.com. Open noon to 2 a.m. daily, with the kitchen open until midnight, weather permitting. Patio dining and curbside available.

Mike Sutter /Staff

Hew by Akhanay Coffee Roasters

Hew might be a ghost kitchen, but its Thai bona fides are real. Archariya is a Thailand native, and Gonzales trained at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park before working for a wholesale coffee roaster in Thailand.

Order online from Hew and choose pickup or delivery, then get ready for Thai that sounds new but tastes comforting and familiar. You might not know ba mee moo daeng moo grob, but youll recognize the satisfying flavors of egg noodles, barbecue pork, crispy pork belly and soft dumplings with pork and shrimp ($12). Khao mun gai ($12) delivers the one-two punch of fried and boiled chicken over aromatic rice, served with rich chicken broth and sweet and tangy sauces.

Noodles get their shining moment with ba mee moo daeng haeng ($11), which checks all the boxes with barbecue pork, pork-and-shrimp dumplings and resilient chicken meatballs, energized with fried garlic and roasted peanuts. For something simpler, theres a street snack called Wing Zaap ($8), which gives chicken wings a character thats by turns spicy and sweet.

Remember that Hews run by people who roast coffee for a living, and their twangy coconut nitro cold brew coffee ($4.25) and deep, smoky-sweet Thai iced coffee ($4.25) are some of the best coffee drinks in the city.

1430 N. Flores St., Suite 110, 210-606-4540, hew-by-akhanay.square.site. Open 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., Friday through Sunday, with food service starting at noon. Curbside and third-party delivery only.

On ExpressNews.com: 5 great surf-and-turf, steak and lobster combos

Mike Sutter /Staff

Kin Thai & Sushi

Prawpan Shaw co-founded the first Kin Thai & Sushi at Dominion Ridge. She stepped aside to let her son Alan Shaw take the co-ownership reins at the new Kin Thai on the Northeast Side. But that doesnt mean she left him on his own, and her steady hand helping out in the kitchen means the new Kin is already on a solid path.

Duck panang curry ($18) showcases crispy and tender bone-in duck in a rich, red sauce, while Tipsy Noodles ($14) go full flavor bomb with wide rice noodles, beef and a bouquet of vegetables thrown together in an almost impolite tangle. Kin Spring Rolls ($8) arrive in a little golden fryer basket, standing like the spikes of a crown, appropriate to their role as some of the citys best.

From the sushi bar, the Kin House Roll ($16) weaves together tuna, soft-shell crab, yellowtail, fish eggs, salmon and eel sauce for a complex but focused experience. The fresh salmon ($5), red snapper ($4) and octopus ($5) made for a bright, fresh plate of nigiri.

Judging from the early crowds, the Northeast Side is ready for another bite of Thai.

17306 Bulverde Road, Suite 105, 210-314-7827, Facebook: @kinonbulverde. Open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Friday; noon to 9 p.m. Saturday; noon to 8 p.m. Sunday. Dine-in and curbside available, with third-party delivery coming soon.

msutter@express-news.net | Twitter: @fedmanwalking | Instagram: @fedmanwalking
THE government has explained its commitments in attracting more investors especially in the cashew nut processing factories including creating conducive investment climate.

Revealing that in Parliament, on Wednesday, the deputy minister for Industry and Trade, Exaud Kigahe during the questions and answers session further said the country's doors are opened to willing investors given various favouring investment climates.

Mr Kigahe made the statement, while responding to a question from Special Seats MP Tunza Malapo (CCM), who on her main question, wanted to know when the government will revive all the Cashew nut processing factories in Mtwara Mikindani Municipality, Mtwara region.

In response, Mr Kigahe noted that before the privatization policy, the government had 12 cashew nut processing factories across the country.

He said two of them were in Mtwara Mikindani Municipality known as the Likombe Cashew Factory that is now known as Micronics Systems Co. Ltd and Mtwara Cashew Company Ltd whose name was later on changed to Cashewnut Company (2005) Ltd.

He informed the house that the two factories are working, however the Micronics Systems Co. Ltd that has the capacity of processing 5,000 tonnes of cashew per annum is now processing an average of 2,000 tonnes per year.

The processed cashews are those that are bought from the auctions, he added.

According to him, the Mtwara Cashew Company Ltd is proceeding with the grading and packaging of the nuts being processed by small scale factories, which do not have machines for the task.

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Meanwhile, the ministry of water has said in the 2021/22financial year, the government through the Great Lake Region will implement a water project in 12 villages of Biharamulo District, Kagera Region.

The villages in questions included Rwekubo, Rusese, Kabindi, Runazi, Rukora, Kikomakoma, Kagoma, Songambele, Kasozibakaya,Nyamigogo, Chebitoke and Nyabusozi.

Speaking in the Parliament, the deputy minister of water Maryprisca Mahundi said right now, the government is preparing tenders for the project.

"Due to the shortage of water in Biharamulo District, the movement decided to make Lake Victoria the main source of water for the district, instead of depending from a small water streams and dams," she said.

Her statement was in response to the question fielded by Buharamulo West MP Ezra Chiwelesa (CCM) who wanted to know the government's plans in ending water shortages in his constituency.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - February 11, 2021) - Aurelius Minerals Inc. (TSXV: AUL) (the "Company" or "Aurelius") is pleased to announce that it will be presenting at the Virtual Investor Day III ("VID III") February 17-18, 2021 hosted by IR.INC and FTMIG.

Mr. Mark NJ Ashcroft, the President and CEO will provide an in-depth update on the Company at 1:30 pm EST, February 17, 2021. VID III is a completely interactive experience for feature companies and stakeholders. Feature companies will have 30 minutes to outline their investment opportunity, while stakeholders and the audience will be invited to engage via direct Q&A, polls and other interactive tools after and during each presentation. To register for VID III, please click the link: https://www.bigmarker.com/series/virtual-investor-day-confere2/series_summit

About Aurelius Minerals Inc.

Aurelius is a well-positioned gold exploration company focused on advancing its recently acquired and renamed Aureus Gold Properties, including Aureus East and West, the Tangier Gold Project and the Forest Hill Gold Project located in Nova Scotia and described in detail in the Company's press release of November 18, 2019. Aurelius is also focused on advancing two district-scale gold projects in the Abitibi Greenstone Belt in Ontario, Canada, one of the world's most prolific mining districts: the 968-hectare Mikwam Property, in the Burntbush area on the Casa Berardi trend and the 12,425-hectare Lipton Property, on the Lower Detour Trend. The Company has a sound management team with experience in all facets of the mineral exploration and mining industry who will be considering additional acquisitions of advanced staged opportunities in Nova Scotia, the Abitibi and other proven mining districts.

About IR.INC

IR.INC Capital Markets Advisory & Services works with its clients to develop and deploy strategic plans and build industry alliances while providing shareholder introductions and solutions. The Company also provides a number of traditional Investor Relations Services. You can find out more about IR.INC here www.irinc.ca

About FTMIG

Follow the Money Investor Group is a financial portal that provides content and information needed to navigate the ever-changing capital markets. Our global community of visitors and investors are able to use our platform to discuss and collaborate daily on all facets of their current and potential investments. Our goal is to help retail investors make the right financial decisions that fit their individual needs. You can find out more about FTMIG here www.ftmig.com.

Disclaimer

Follow the Money Investor ("FTMIG") is an online investor community that connects investors and public companies. Both FTMIG and IR.INC are not registered as a broker, dealer, exempt market dealer, or any other registrant in any securities regulatory jurisdiction and will not be performing any registerable activity as defined by the applicable regulatory bodies.

Both FTMIG and IR.INC and their affiliates do not endorse or recommend any securities issued by any companies identified on, or linked through, this conference. Please seek professional advice to evaluate specific securities or other content discussed during this event. Links, if any, to third party sites are for informational purposes only, and not for trading purposes. FTMIG and IR.INC. and their affiliates have not prepared, reviewed or updated any content on third party sites and assume no responsibility for the information posted on them.

For further information, please contact:

Joanne Jobin, Principal

IR.INC | Capital Markets Advisory & Services

jjobin@irinc.ca www.irinc.ca

Karl Boyd, President

Follow the Money Investor Group

kboyd@ftmig.com www.ftmig.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/74039
The 2021 Nissan Rogue is now available at Jack Ingram Nissan. The crossover offers a generous amount of cargo space, has a good estimated fuel economy and it has the most safety technologies in its class.

Drivers in the Montgomery area who are looking for a new vehicle that is larger than a sedan have a great option now available. It is the 2021 Nissan Rogue. The crossover offers a generous amount of cargo space, has a good estimated fuel economy and it has the most safety technologies in its class.

All of the 2021 Nissan Rogue trim levels come standard with the same engine option. It is a 2.5-liter, four-cylinder engine that produces 181 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque.

The trim levels of the 2021 Nissan Rogue get achieve very similar numbers when it comes to estimated fuel economy. The S trim level gets about 27 miles per gallon in the city, 35 miles per gallon on the highway and 30 miles per gallon combined.

There are a variety of driver-assist features that come standard in the 2021 Nissan Rogue. Some of these include Intelligent Forward Collision Warning, Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection, Lane Departure Warning, Blind Spot Warning, Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Rear Automatic Braking.

Finally, there is a generous amount of cargo space available in the 2021 Nissan Rogue. There are just over 36 cubic feet behind the second row of seats and between 72 and 74 cubic feet when all of the seats are folded flat. The capacity depends on whether or not there is a moonroof.

Individuals who would like to learn more about the 2021 Nissan Rogue can visit the dealerships website https://www.jackingramnissan.com/. Potential customers who would like to speak with someone from the dealership can do so by calling 833-343-0674. Finally, Jack Ingram Nissan is conveniently located at 227 Eastern Boulevard for those who would like a more personal experience.
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.
Mortar shelling in Afghanistan kills at least 10 civilians

Fire breaks out at West Virginia oil refinery in US

Iran ready to help improve the defense capability of Syria

European Parliament head proposes to strengthen sanctions on Russia

UK PM gets married in London

Armenia reports COVID-19 new 81 cases: for people die

EU countries invite US to issue joint statement against Russia

2 people die in Armenia road accident

Nigeria: Students taken hostage a month ago are released

61 quakes recorded in Congo per day

Syrian MFA: EU lost credibility due to blind obedience to US policy

Armenia ex-minister of emergency situations hospitalized with heart attack

Mher Grigoryan: Clarification of border points is possible only after withdrawal of Azerbaijani troops from Armenia

Suspicious deal: Whether there was profit from buying DNA IDs?

Armenia ex-president says current authorities are trying to blame Russia for defeat in war

4 people killed in Afghanistani bus attack

Robert Kocharyan: This war could not have happened, it was a consequence of the policy of the authorities

Kocharyan: I have to ask people how it happened that overwhelming majority elected this leader

Armen Gevorgyan presents 'Armenia' bloc program: We offer the concept of a working country

Biden's administration proposed to leave unchanged amount of financial support to Armenia

US Embassy in Baku calls on Azerbaijan to immediately release Armenian POWs

Luxembourg MFA calls on Azerbaijan to immediately release all Armenian prisoners

Russia peacekeepers climb to Armenia Gegharkunik Province village positions

Biden strongly condemns manifestations of antisemitism in US

Iran intensifies its diplomacy amid Armenia-Azerbaijan border tensions

Armenia acting PM on forthcoming snap parliamentary elections: We hope to get 60% of votes

Lukashenko accuses West of destabilizing situation in Belarus

Armenia Central Electoral Commission chief on snap elections: No legal basis for postponing, suspending any function

Armenias Pashinyan is met by Yerevan district residents chanting against him

We are ready to be fully engaged in negotiation process to resolve Karabakh issue, says Armenia acting PM

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan gives interview to Russia TV channel

Armenia acting premier: We are ready to start withdrawing troops at any moment

Canada MFA expresses concern over 6 Armenian soldiers capture by Azerbaijan troops

There are omissions in registration documents of political forces that applied to Armenia Central Electoral Commission

Armenia Central Electoral Commission chief: There is activeness in Yerevan for the past day or two

Three new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Group of US Congress members threaten Azerbaijans Aliyev regime with sanctions

Chicago mayor is sued for allegedly refusing interview with white reporter

Iran exports oil to US for first time after long interval

"Armenia" bloc top 50 MP candidates are announced

42 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Sri Lanka public beach is covered in charred plastic pellets due to fire in container ship

US preparing list of targeted sanctions on Belarus authorities

China believes it will own America by 2035, Biden says

15 al-Shabab militants killed in Somalia

Newspaper: Armenia political forces that applied for running in election impatiently await CEC decision

Newspaper: Changes are expected in Artsakh

California prisoner who considers himself Satanist beheads cellmate, dismembers his body

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM's "mutually beneficial" proposal to collapse state system?

Armenia National Security Service Reserve Officers' Union members meet with His Holiness Karekin II

EU is ready to help Armenia and Azerbaijan with border delimitation and demarcation

ARF-D member on Nikol Pashinyan: 103 years ago Armenia's founding fathers would have executed him for treason

Iran President hails brotherly ties with Azerbaijan

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

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

Tocilizumab stops signalling molecules called cytokines from rousing the immune system, preventing a deadly 'cytokine storm' - Pascal Rossignol/Reuters

A second coronavirus treatment which lowers the risk of death will be given to NHS patients after successful trials by British scientists.

Severely ill patients on oxygen will receive tocilizumab, a drug usually used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, which dampens down the immune system.

Many people die from Covid because their immune system goes into overdrive, causing irreparable damage to vital organs  but tocilizumab stops signalling molecules called cytokines from rousing the immune system, preventing a deadly "cytokine storm".

Trials show tocilizumab lowered the chance of death by 14 per cent, and it will be given alongside the steroid dexamethasone, which reduces the risk of dying by one third.

It also reduces the time spent in hospital by five days, which could significantly reduce pressure on the NHS.

Updated guidance will be sent to NHS trusts and clinicians on Monday, recommending that they use the drug for hospitalised patients.

Matt Hancock, the Health Secretary, said: "Today's excellent news is further proof the UK is at the forefront of the global mission to find safe and effective treatments for this terrible virus.

"I want to thank all those who have played a part in generating these tremendous results, from the British scientists and researchers behind the trial to the thousands of patients who took part across the country.

"We are working quickly and closely with colleagues across the health system and sector to ensure every NHS patient who needs this treatment should be able to access it, reducing further pressures on the NHS and potentially saving thousands of lives."

Scientists discovered the drug was effective during the Recovery clinical trial, funded by the UK Government through the National Institute for Health Research and UK Research and Innovation.

Last month, the international clinical trial Remap-Cap, also funded by the Government, found that a tocilizumab and sarilumab reduced the risk of death for patients when administered within 24 hours of them entering intensive care.

Story continues

The latest findings by Recovery, run by the University of Oxford, show a much larger group of hospitalised patients can also benefit from the drug if it is given to those outside intensive care with oxygen deficiency and showing signs of worsening  meaning thousands more lives could potentially be saved.

Prof Stephen Powis, the NHS national medical director, said: "Throughout the pandemic, where the NHS leads the world has followed  from vaccinating the first patients outside of clinical trials to helping get dexamethasone into frontline care, and now to driving forward research on another breakthrough treatment.

"This is another positive development in our continued fight against the virus, and alongside the rollout of the biggest and fastest vaccination programme in our history  with over 10 million people receiving protection so far  we can start to look to the future with hope."

Prof Jonathan Van-Tam, the deputy chief medical officer, said: "These results present another important advance in our fight against Covid-19 and are good news for patients and clinicians around the world. It's a combination of both effective therapeutics and vaccines that will mean an end to this pandemic."

The Government is working closely with the manufacturer Roche to ensure the drug is available across NHS healthcare settings.

It is the second treatment that Recovery  the world's largest randomised controlled clinical trial  has found to be effective against Covid, following its discovery of the world-first treatment with dexamethasone in June, which reduces the risk of death by 20 per cent for patients on oxygen and 35 per cent for ventilated patients.

Scientists say the benefits of using tocilizumab with dexamethasone are in addition to the benefits shown by dexamethasone alone.

Athimalaipet Ramanan, professor of paediatric rheumatology at the University of Bristol, said: "After dexamethasone, this is the most significant advance in the treatment of Covid that has an impact in reducing deaths."
(Natural News) International travels who try to enter Canada from elsewhere are learning the hard way that Justin Trudeaus henchmen are ready and waiting to throw them into Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) internment camps straight from the airport.

This is what happened to 34-year-old Steve Duesing, who upon arriving in Toronto from Charlotte was told that he would have to quarantine for three days at a camp or be arrested and taken to jail.

Im in one, the Scarborough man told the Toronto Sun, contradicting the official narrative that there are no internment camps for the Chinese virus in Canada.

I was told when I arrived (at Pearson International Airport) Sunday night from Charlotte that it was either three days quarantine or go to jail, he further explained.

Duesing says he was escorted via shuttle bus straight from the airport to a nearby Radisson Hotel, located on Dixon Road, where he was ordered to stay confined in his room, with guards perched outside to ensure he would.

I am not allowed to leave the room, Duesing indicated. There is a guard at the end of the hall.

Before being forcibly hauled off to the ninth floor of the Radisson, Duesing was forced to get tested for Chinese germs. A cotton javelin possibly containing a secret vaccine was thrust into Duesings nose or anus, after which he was forced to just wait in solitary confinement for the results.

I was told I cant order in food, Steve told reporters on the phone as he looked outside down into the parking lot where there was a Tim Hortons, a Harveys, a Subway, and a Swiss Chalet.

Coronavirus is a cover to destroy your civil liberties, make you a government slave

While still in North Carolina visiting a friend, Duesing paid $130 to get a Chinese virus test, to which he tested negative. Upon arrival in Canada, however, Duesing was forced to get tested again because those are the rules. And part of those rules apparently allows people to be imprisoned against their will because Chinese germs are just too darn scary to continue allowing freedom and liberty.

It feels like that, Duesing said about his jail-like experience living in the Radisson. I dont have any say in it.

The Public Health Agency of Canada was unhappy with the rapid test results that Duesing procured upon arrival in Toronto and demanded he take another. In the meantime, he was forcibly detained without probable cause of any crime.

I was escorted by police to a shuttle bus and taken to this hotel, which is fenced off from the public, Duesing indicated, noting that the facility had a detention center feel to it. The facility was wrapped in a protective barrier, preventing anyone from coming or going without an escort.

Its a lonely, solitary existence, Duesing lamented. I should be allowed to leave at 10 pm tonight (Tuesday).

Even the Toronto Sun was forced to admit that this type of setup hardly fits a supposedly free country. Writer Joe Warmington added that it also seems punitive, as if Duesing had committed some kind of crime simply for existing as a potential carrier of the Chinese virus.

If he had a fever or cough, perhaps precautionary measures of some kind could be taken, Warmington writes, recognizing that this has all gone way too far. But taking away someones liberty is obscene. It feels like a violation of basic human rights in a country that purports to champion such freedoms.

More related news about the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) can be found at Pandemic.news.

Sources for this article include:

TorontoSun.com

NaturalNews.com

NaturalNews.com
One of Queenslands major medical research facilities has been caught up in an international data breach, with non-identifiable patient data believed to have been accessed.

QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute said it was investigating exactly how much data the third parties accessed as part of a wider breach of the Accellion file-sharing system.

QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute is working to establish which files were accessed.

Accellion is an external company that bills itself as provider of secure file sharing services for large organisations, with QIMR using the service to share data with collaborators in what it thought was a secure way.

The data accessed was estimated to be about 4 per cent of the nearly 16 gigabytes of QIMR Berghofer data on Accellions servers.
KALAMAZOO, MI -- A 65-year-old woman who spent nearly three years living at a Kalamazoo church, fearing she would be deported to Pakistan, can finally leave her sanctuary.

Saheeda Nadeem took refuge with the First Congregational United Church of Christ in March 2018 as she faced imminent deportation to her native country, a place she had not lived in 40 years.

But with the recent election of Democratic President Joe Biden, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement bureau changed its approach to enforcement.

Nadeem, known as Auntie Saheeda to many, was placed under an Order of Supervision that allows her to leave the church property and go on with daily life in the greater Kalamazoo community.

Related: Church basement now home to Pakistani woman ICE considers a fugitive

Nadeem fled Pakistan about 40 years ago to work as a domestic servant in Kuwait. She came to the United States 13 years ago on a non-immigrant visa in hopes of finding a better life for her two elementary-aged children, Lareb and Samad.

Nadeem overstayed her visa, ICE officials said, and a federal immigration judge ordered on June 18, 2010 that she be removed from the U.S. The decision was upheld following two appeals to the Board of Immigration Appeals in 2011 and 2012.

She remained free following the denied appeals, but later became what ICE considered a fugitive when she failed to leave the country on a final order of removal. It was then she sought refuge with the church.

Nadeem feared for her safety in Pakistan because of a number of issues -- personal, family and cultural -- and did not want to leave the United States.

This has been an incredible journey, and it isnt over, Susan E. Reed, managing attorney for the Michigan Immigrant Rights Center, said in a written statement.

Related: Kalamazoo church provides sanctuary to woman facing deportation

Like so many other immigrants, Saheedas legal fight for dignity and permanent protection from deportation continues and we will continue to walk alongside her. Auntie Saheeda is a dear person who has done nothing but care for others in our community; she gives us hope. We celebrate with her today, we appreciate the governments new approach to her case, and we will continue to work for a more just system for all immigrants, Reed said.

In a message posted to the MIRC Facebook page, Nadeem expressed gratitude to the many people who helped and supported her over the years.

Today, I have freedom. I want to express my thanks, she said in the message.

For 10 of the years Nadeem has lived in Kalamazoo, she worked as a caretaker for disabled adults in a group home and has volunteered for Bethany Christian Services. She became known as Auntie Saheeda to orphan refugee children and she called the people she worked with her family.

While in sanctuary at the church, Nadeem was supported by her son, Samad. A daughter, Lareb, died in the summer of 2016, the same year she graduated from Western Michigan University.

Until she was forced to seek sanctuary, Nadeem would visit her daughters grave daily, MIRC officials said.

More from MLive:

Worker at Michigan prison tests positive for COVID-19 variant, triggering new testing protocol

Michigan plunges overnight: U.P. down to 33 below, Lower Peninsula down to 18 below


is ready to register and start the production of Russia's Sputnik V vaccine against the coronavirus in case of improved results of its toxicological tests, Turkish Minister of Health Fahrettin Koca said.

In late January, the Russian Direct Investment Fund, which promotes Sputnik V in the international market, signed an agreement with a leading Turkish pharmaceuticals developer to produce the Russian vaccine in and started the transfer of technologies. could reportedly produce millions of Sputnik V vaccine doses per year.

"We are holding negotiations with various countries and companies, especially with those who are ready to provide us with the vaccine until April. From the very beginning, we have been focusing on three vaccines: the Russian one, the Chinese one and the vaccine developed by Turkish scientists. Russia's Sputnik V vaccine has some problems with toxicology. However, we are continuing the work on it and if these problems are removed, will be ready not only to register and purchase it but also to launch its production in Turkey," Koca said on late Wednesday.

A recent peer-reviewed study published in The Lancet journal stated that Sputnik V, which was developed by Russia's Gamaleya Research Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology, showed 91.6 percent efficacy, based on Phase 3 clinical trial interim data. The vaccine, which is built on a human adenoviral vector platform, was registered by the Russian government on August 11. Over 20 countries have already registered Sputnik V for emergency use.

(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.)
Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyariwas denied permission to use a state government aircraft to travel to Dehradun on Thursday, triggering a row and inviting a strong criticism from the opposition BJP which sought an apology over the incident.

Koshyariwas scheduled to travel by a state government aircraft to Dehradun and on getting on-board, the governor was informed that permission for use of the plane had not been received, a statement from the Raj Bhavan said.

The governor later took a commercial flight from the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) to travel to the capital of his home state of Uttarakhand, it said.

The Raj Bhavan secretariat and the state government sought to blame each other for the incident, which added a new chapter in the uneasy ties between the ruling coalition, comprising the Shiv Sena, NCP, Congress, and the governor.

The Raj Bhavan statement said the governor's secretariat had written to the government authorities seeking permission for the use of the aircraft "well in advance" on February 2.

The office of the chief minister was also informed about it, the statement said.

However, the government said the Raj Bhavan secretariat had been informed a day earlier by the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) that approval for use of the official aircraft has not been given.

A statement from the CMO said the state government had taken serious cognisance that the official concerned at Raj Bhavan did not apprise the governor about the communication from the government (denying nod to use the aircraft).

"The Raj Bhavan official did not confirm about the approval for use of official plane and plan the Governor's travel schedule.

"The Chief Minister has issued directives that responsibility be fixed on the Raj Bhavan official concerned after taking serious cognisance of the developments," the CMO statement said.

It said the Raj Bhavan secretariat should have confirmed about availability of the official plane since non- approval for same was communicated a day earlier.

"Due to this the governor had to face inconvenience. The state government is not to be blamed ," the CMO said.

It admitted that the Raj Bhavan secretariat had sought permission for use of the official plane.

"On February 10, the CMO communicated that no permission was given for use of the plane. The Raj Bhavan secretariat was expected to check on the permission and then bring the governor to the airport," the CMO statement said.

Sources in the Raj Bhavan, however, said, It did not receive any communication in this regard from the state government at any level.

According to the Raj Bhavan statement,Koshyariis scheduled to preside over valedictory function of the 122nd Induction Training Programme of IAS officers at the Lal Bahadur Shastri Academy of Administration at Mussoorie in Uttarakhand on Friday.

He was scheduled to depart from the Mumbai airport for Dehradun at 10 am on Thursday, the statement said.

Koshyariwill travel to Mussoorie from Dehradun.

"Today, on 11th February 2021, the Honble Governor reached the CSMI Airport at 1000 hrs and boarded the government plane.

"However, the Honble Governor was informed that the permission for the use of Government Aircraft had not been received," the statement said.

As directed by the governor, tickets for Dehradun were booked immediately for him on a commercial aircraft leaving Mumbai at 12.15 pm and accordingly, he left, it said.

Meanwhile, a video clip surfaced on Thursday evening in which Koshyari is heard saying in Dehradun, Did not get (to use the government) plane for some reasons. So, came by another flight.

To a question whether permission was denied to use the plane as his trip is private, Koshyari said, How come the felicitation of IAS officials could be a private visit?



While the Shiv Sena said the government had followed all laid-down norms in disallowing the governor to use the state-owned plane, the opposition BJP demanded an apology from the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) over the incident.

The BJP accused the MVA government of being "egoistic" and indulging in "childish acts".

When asked about the incident, deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar said he had no clue.

"I will take details on reaching the Mantralaya (state secretariat) and only then will be able to say anything," the deputy chief minister said.

Meanwhile, former minister and senior BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar said the MVA government should apologise for "insulting" the governor.

If the state government has purposefully denied permission, it is a "blot" on the state's reputation, he said.

"If this embarrassment is not intentional, then the state government should suspend the official who failed to issue the flying permission in time to the governor," he said.

The government should apologise and avoid further escalation of the issue, Mungantiwar said.

BJP leader and former Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis accused the state government of being "egoistic" and indulging in "childish acts".

Fadnavis alleged the state government has insulted a constitutional post.

"It is an unfortunate incident. Such an incident had never happened in the state earlier. Governor is not a person, it is a designation. People come and go, but the designation stays," the former chief minister said.

The governor is the head of the state. In fact, it is the governor who appoints the chief minister and his cabinet, Fadnavis pointed out.

"The government should understand that it is insulting a constitutional post," the former CM said.

Defending the government, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said it had followed all norms in disallowingKoshyarito use the state plane for his visit to Dehradun.

Rejecting the BJP's charge that the government has insulted the governor, Raut told reporters in Delhi that there was no politics involved in the incident.

"We respect the governor. The government has upheld the Constitution... This is what I gather from my conversation with Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray," Raut said.

"If the governor wants to use the government plane for private work, then there are some rules and had the government violated those rules, it would have been in the dock," the Sena MP said.

Notably, state Congress chief Nana Patole on Wednesday said the MVA government has decided to move court over the 'delay' by the governor in appointment of nominated members to the Legislative Council.

In the first week of November last year, the state government recommended 12 names for appointment to the Council under the governor's quota to Koshyari.

In October last year, during the coronavirus lockdown, Koshyariwrote a letter to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, asking if the latter had turned "secular" since he denied permission at that time to reopen temples in the state.

The CM later said he does not need a "Hindutva certificate" from anyone.

During the pandemic last year,Koshyarialso insisted on holding the final year exams of degree students in the state, but Thackeray at that time rejected the demand.
Nation fighting COVID-19 with all its strength: PM Narendra Modi at Mann ki Baat

BJP most popular political party among Indian-Americans: Survey

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

Washington, Feb 11: Indian-Americans have relatively more conservative views of policies in India while on issues affecting the US, the diaspora has a more liberal take, according to a survey of the political attitudes of the influential community in this country.

Indian-Americans comprise slightly more than 1 per cent of the total US population-and less than 1 per cent of all registered voters.

The survey, a collaboration between the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Johns Hopkins-SAIS, and the University of Pennsylvania, "How Do Indian Americans View India? Results from the 2020 Indian American Attitudes Survey," draws on the Indian American Attitudes Survey (IAAS).

US in favour of India on new farm laws, says it improves 'efficiency' of Indian markets

The IAAS is a nationally representative online survey of 1,200 Indian American adults conducted between September 1 and September 20, 2020, in partnership with YouGov. The survey has an overall margin of error of +/- 2.8 per cent, a media release said on Tuesday.

Indian-Americans' policy views are more liberal on issues affecting the United States and more conservative on issues affecting India, it said.

Regarding contentious issues such as the equal protection of religious minorities, immigration, and affirmative action, Indian-Americans hold relatively more conservative views of Indian policies than of US policies, according to the survey results.

Indian Americans, in other words, believe that white supremacy is a greater threat to minorities in the United States, a country where they are a minority, than Hindu majoritarianism is to minorities in India, a country where Hindus are in the majority, the report said.

Seventy per cent of Hindus agree or strongly agree that white supremacy is a threat to minorities in the United States, compared to 79 per cent of non-Hindus.

Regarding Hindu majoritarianism in India, however, the data point to a much sharper divide: only 40 per cent of Hindus agree that Hindu majoritarianism is a threat to minorities, compared to 67 per cent of non-Hindus, it said.

Noting that Indian-Americans are divided about India's current trajectory, the survey said that respondents are nearly evenly split as to whether India is currently on the right track or headed down the wrong track.

On India's top three challenges, government corruption (18 per cent) ranked the highest followed by the economy (15 per cent). Foreign policy issues-exemplified by China and terrorism-are found in either the middle or bottom tier of the rankings.

Among the Indian Americans, a majority either strongly or somewhat support an all-India National Register of Citizens 55 per cent and the 2019 Citizenship Amendment Act (51 per cent), the report highlighted.

However, they are more opposed than not to two other issues: the use of police force against peaceful protesters (65 per cent oppose) and government crackdowns on the media (69 per cent oppose).

On the other issue of caste-based affirmative action in higher education admissions, the community is divided-with 47 per cent supporting this measure and 53 per cent opposing it, it said.

Indian Americans are the second-largest immigrant group in the United States. There are 4.2 million people of Indian origin residing in the United States, according to 2018 data.

Farm Laws: What did PM Modi say on the agricultural laws in the Parliament| Oneindia News

Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is the most popular political party among Indian-Americans, the survey said.

"One-third of respondents favour the ruling BJP while just 12 per cent identify with the Congress Party," it said.

However, two in five Indian Americans do not identify with an Indian political party-suggesting an arms-length relationship to everyday politics in India, it added. Indian-Americans hold broadly favourable views of (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi, the survey said.

Nearly half of all Indian-Americans approve of Modi's performance as prime minister.

"This support is greatest among Republicans, Hindus, people in the engineering profession, those not born in the United States, and those who hail from North and West India," the survey results said.

Further, the Indian-Americans, who have raised their political profile in the country, are broadly supportive of the US-India relationship, the survey results concluded.

A plurality of Indian-Americans believe that current levels of US support for India are adequate, while a large majority hold unfavourable opinions of China.

However, Indian-Americans are divided about US efforts to strengthen India's military as a check against China.

Foreign-born Indian-Americans and those who identify as Republicans are more supportive of the US efforts to support India militarily than their US-born and Democratic counterparts.

Authors of the report are Sumitra Badrinathan from University of Pennsylvania, Devesh Kapur from Johns Hopkins-SAIS and Milan Vaishnav from Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

According to a UN report in January, India has the largest diaspora population in the world with 18 million people from the country living outside their homeland in 2020. The UAE, the US and Saudi Arabia host the largest number of migrants from India.

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Story first published: Thursday, February 11, 2021, 9:01 [IST]
[February 10, 2021] IDEMIA Announces Corporate Partnership With Fintech Australia

IDEMIA, the global leader in Augmented Identity, has signed a corporate partnership with Fintech Australia, a trade association that seeks to boost growth of the country's Fintech ecosystem. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210210005852/en/ (Graphic: Business Wire) As a global leader in payment card issuance, payment solutions, security and identity management technologies, IDEMIA will draw on its best-in-class R&D and experience to provide key support for Fintech Australia's events, awards and community activities. Rebecca Schot-Guppy, General Manager of Fintech Australia said: "We welcome IDEMIA to our partnership programme and look forward to further integrating the company with the Australian Fintech community. Fintech Australia has signed up a myriad of major corporate partners in the past year, and hence our cooperation with IDEMIA is essential to growing our ecosystem and forming collaborations that will help Fintech firms step up growth." As a global leader in Fintech innovation, IDEMIA invests in the future of payments with proprietary solutions including Greenpay Sustainable Payments (seeking a payment community environmental paradigm shift) and the Fintech Accelerator Card Program (supporting Fintechs and neobanks with a dedicated programme from onboarding to card issuance). In Australia, IDEMIA was awarded "Innovation Partner of the Year" in 2018 by Westpac, the country's POS consumer and business payment market leader.



IDEMIA offers a comprehensive range of innovative payment solutions and services underpinned by convenience, flexibility and - above all - security. Such goods and services include eco-friendly cards (Greenpay), metal cards, Smart Digital solutions including digital pins, and digital inserts) and IDEMIA Connect (which enhances customer experience by simply tapping the card to phone to activate their cards). Ben Scott (News - Alert) , VP of Financial Institutions, IDEMIA Australasia said: "With our comprehensive services, global footprint and payments experience, we are ideally placed to support fast changing payment trends and help Fintechs meet their goals. We're excited about our partnership with Fintech Australia - especially since ongoing innovation and digital services take-up will be driven by Fintechs. We really look forward to teaming up with more Australian Fintech firms so that we get an idea how we can best use our technologies to enhance not only their services, but also how our technologies can be rolled out to other industries."

About IDEMIA IDEMIA, the global leader in Augmented Identity, provides a trusted environment enabling citizens and consumers alike to perform their daily critical activities (such as pay, connect and travel), in the physical as well as digital space. Securing our identity has become mission critical in the world we live in today. By standing for Augmented Identity, an identity that ensures privacy and trust and guarantees secure, authenticated and verifiable transactions, we reinvent the way we think, produce, use and protect one of our greatest assets - our identity - whether for individuals or for objects, whenever and wherever security matters. We provide Augmented Identity for international clients from Financial, Telecom, Identity, Public Security and IoT sectors. With close to 15,000 employees around the world, IDEMIA serves clients in 180 countries. For more information, visit www.idemia.com / Follow @IDEMIAGroup on Twitter (News - Alert) About Fintech Australia Fintech Australia is a member driven organization that is building an ecosystem for Australian Fintechs to advance the global economy and culture We are here to build a strong community, foster connections while supporting innovation and regulation that our members require. Above all else, we are here to be the voice of the Australian Fintech community. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210210005852/en/

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A social media app called Clubhouse, which became popular for political discussions in China, has been blocked within the country.

Thousands of Chinese users had recently been using the app to discuss issues that are often censored in China. Earlier this week, users began reporting difficulties connecting to the service.

Clubhouse was blocked in China around 1100 UTC on Monday, reported GreatFire.org. The American nonprofit group watches developments in Chinas huge internet filtering system and tries to help users get around it.

Officials from Clubhouse and Chinas Cyberspace Administration had no immediate comment on the blockage.

Clubhouse was launched in March 2020 by two American businessmen. The app permits users to communicate through audio in virtual discussion rooms. There are many rooms covering different subjects and users can create their own room.

People who want to join the app must be approved after receiving an invitation from someone who already has it. Users seeking acceptance are required to provide their names and telephone numbers.

That requirement raised questions about the possibility the government may have listened to private discussions on Clubhouse and could try to punish users. There were no signs that such punishments had yet happened, The Associated Press reported.

One user warned others: I advise everyone not to use your real photo as your profile picture, and not to link your Clubhouse account to your Twitter.

Chinas ruling Communist Party also blocks access to Facebook, Twitter and other social media services. Also blocked are websites run by news organizations, human rights groups and pro-democracy activists. The internet filtering system is known as Chinas Great Firewall.

Users within China can still access blocked apps like Clubhouse using a virtual private network, or VPN. A VPN uses software to link to private computer networks outside the country to make it appear that the device or computer is based overseas.

CNN reported that many people were using VPNs to stay on Clubhouse. One such user who spoke to the news network was Susan Liang, from Shenzhen.

"It is too rare an opportunity. Everyone has lived under the Great Firewall for so long, but on (Clubhouse), we can talk about anything," Liang said. "It's like someone drowning and can finally breathe in a large gulp of air."

However, she said some people also fear being targeted for using VPNs, which are illegal in China unless approved by the government. Another user advised people not to discuss which VPN they were now using to access the app.

While Clubhouse was still available, VOA Mandarin observed several Chinese-language rooms where users joined discussions on wide-ranging and sensitive subjects. These included Uighur rights, the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic, Taiwans independence, Chinas national identity and gender issues.

However, the Chinese government tightly controls online discussion within the country. Many users said they were not surprised when the app was blocked. After seeing people discuss so many political issues here in previous days, I knew right away that Clubhouse will be walled - and so it was, one user said.

Yaqiu Wang is a researcher with Human Rights Watch. She said on the organizations website that people from all sides of politics came together to discuss important issues, with many disagreements arising.

But Wang added: People on Clubhouse appeared to truly try and put themselves in the shoes of others. It was wonderful to see a unifying internet in which Chinese-speakers from around the world communicated with each other in one shared online space.

Im Bryan Lynn.

The Associated Press, Reuters, Agence France-Presse and VOA News reported on this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the reports for Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor.

Quiz - Popular Political Discussion App Clubhouse Blocked in China Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz

________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

app  n. a computer application or program used for a specific purpose

censor  v. to examine books, movies and media to remove things that are not approved of by a government or society

filter  v. a permit some things through but not others

virtual  adj. something that exists in computers or on the internet, and that is not physical

profile  n. information that describes someones identity, often including a picture

access  n. the ability to use something

opportunity  n. an amount of time or a situation in which something can be done

gulp  n. to swallow a large amount of something quickly

origins  n. the beginnings of something

gender n. the state of being male or female
Public school students in Paterson will not return to classrooms before May 3, officials in the K-12 district announced Wednesday night.

Paterson is the latest school district to extend all-remote learning until well into the spring due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Approximately 28,000 students in New Jerseys third-largest city have been relying on virtual instruction from home since schools across the state first closed in mid-March 2020 at the onset of the pandemic.

In making the announcement, district officials said the COVID-19 vaccination rate in Paterson and other cites is significantly lower than other parts of the state. They said that, as of Feb. 7, only 725 Paterson residents  well under 1% of the citys 145,000 residents  had received both doses of the vaccine.

Schools Superintendent Eileen Shafer said the pandemic remains a dominant part of our reality.

As much as all of us are looking forward to the time when students and teachers can be together again in school buildings, that time has not arrived yet. We will continue to keep the safety of our students and staff as our top priority and do everything we can to make students virtual learning experiences as engaging and as effective as possible, Shafer said via a written statement from the school district.

Paterson is among several urban school districts that have been unable to resume in-person instruction due to the pandemic. Officials in Trenton said last month that students will not return to classrooms before May 3, the same tentative return date set by Paterson.

Newark and Jersey City have extended all-remote learning until April 12 and April 21, respectively.

In Hillside, the school district announced in January that students will continue learning from home for the remainder of the school year.

There is no guarantee that students will return to classrooms in Paterson on May 3. A final decision will not be made before reviewing an updated assessment of local pandemic conditions by mid-April, according to the announcement from the school district.

Prior to the announcement on Wednesday, students in Paterson had been planning to return to classrooms on March 1.

The pandemic has taken a disproportionate toll in New Jersey on Black and Hispanic residents, which according to Census data make up 86% of Patersons population.

Paterson school board president Kenneth L. Simmons said he supports continuing with all-remote learning.

The increases of in-school COVID-19 cases among students and school staff in our region since December are a clear indication that it simply not safe for all students and staff to return to district school buildings, Simmons said, in the statement provided by the district.

Shafer said the school district is in a stronger position than a year ago to accommodate all-remote learning. The district received nearly 10,000 Chromebooks about a week before virtual instruction began in September, helping to close a digital divide that drew additional notice when schools first closed in March.

We will continue to do everything we can to make remote learning engaging and effective for our students, and to prepare for the time when we will be able to open our school buildings again, Shafer said.

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Rob Jennings may be reached at rjennings@njadvancemedia.com.
Disenfranchised and Marginalized Communities See Hope with Biden, Harris

Before he won the 2020 election, President Joe Biden campaigned on a promise to reverse many of the previous administrations assaults on the nations racial progress.

The president ran on the premise of reclaiming the soul of America and ensuring that African Americans (Theyve always had my back, he declared) and other minorities would finally experience a level playing field.

On his first day, just hours after taking the oath of office, President Biden signed a host of executive orders  one of them aimed at ensuring racial equity.

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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 President Biden proclaimed.

He continued:

Affirmatively advancing equity, civil rights, racial justice, and equal opportunity is the responsibility of the whole of our government. Because advancing equity requires a systematic approach to embedding fairness in decision-making processes, executive departments and agencies must recognize and work to redress inequities in their policies and programs that serve as barriers to equal opportunity.

By advancing equity across the federal government, the president offered that agencies could create opportunities to improve historically underserved communities, which he said benefits everyone.

For example, an analysis shows that closing racial gaps in wages, housing credit, lending opportunities, and access to higher education would amount to an additional $5 trillion in gross domestic product in the American economy over the next five years, Biden spelled out.

The federal governments goal in advancing equity is to provide everyone with the opportunity to reach their full potential, he remarked.

Consistent with these aims, each agency must assess whether, and to what extent, its programs and policies perpetuate systemic barriers to opportunities and benefits for people of color and other underserved groups.

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The presidents words and early actions have offered a glimpse into what communities of color can expect over much of the next four years  at least that is the hope.

As a black man living in America, the inauguration brings a sense of hope that has not been felt since January 2009, uttered Christian Bradford, a Northern California educator.

Just look at the parallels, the country was experiencing the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression, and we were about to experience a person in a position of leadership that we had never seen, Bradford related.

Seeing a Black woman, whos an HBCU graduate, member of a Divine nine sorority, and who has steadily ascended the political ladder is inspiring in so many ways, he continued.

The emotions are similar to when Barack Obama was elected. Generations of children had never experienced a president that looked like them.

Conversely, many children who did not look like President Obama had never seen a Black man in a position of authority, and now the most powerful leader in the world was a Black man.

So, I think its equally important for people of all races in this country to see that leaders come from all races, ethnic groups, familial backgrounds, and so many other unique positionalities.

Tanya St. Julien, the Chief of Staff at Leadership for Educational Equity and a member of her Community Education Council in Brooklyn, New York, said the new administration brings hope for all Americans who believe in the promise of true democracy  one in which all people can live up to their full potential.

For people of color, this administration brings representation, St. Julien offered.

With great pride, people of color across the country are looking at folks who share their racial and cultural identity assuming political leadership and influencing policy at the highest level.

According to St. Julien, the new administration also brings opportunity.

Biden named and thanked Black women in his acceptance speech, and that, along with the diversity of his administration, makes us hopeful that he will support and promote the policy priorities of the people who have been hardest hit by systemic inequity, she said.

St. Julien added that she is hopeful for economic restoration and commensurate investments in supporting Black businesses, creating jobs for people of color, and investing in our communities economic development.

She noted that Vice President Kamala Harris offers a chance to address and uproot the legacy of white supremacy in America, so people of color could live up to their potential instead of facing systemic challenges like educational inequity, murder at the hands of police, substandard healthcare, and food insecurity.

St. Julien stated that emotions might be different for the Biden-Harris administration than when Obama first won election in 2008.

Obamas election was all about hope, and it was an overwhelming victory. This election is different, St. Julien observed.

Decided by a handful of states and undermined by the sitting president, we are experiencing the meeting of two Americas. We are cautiously optimistic and remain ready to fight against systemic inequity so that America can finally start to fulfill its promise of equality and justice for all.


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The first civilian governor of Lagos State, Lateef Jakande, is dead.

Mr Jakande, who was popularly called Baba Kekere and a disciple of the former premier of the old South-west region, late Obafemi Awolowo, died in the early hours of Thursday at the age of 91.

The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, confirmed the news on his Twitter handle, @jidesanwoolu.

Mr Sanwo-Olu wrote: With gratitude to God for a worthy life well spent in the service of Lagos State, Nigeria and humanity, I announce the death of a venerable statesman, outstanding politician, public administrator and the first Civilian Governor of Lagos State, Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande.

Baba Jakandes record of service as a journalist of repute and a leader of remarkable achievements as governor of Lagos State will remain indelible for generations to come. His death is a colossal loss and he will be missed.

The governor expressed his condolences to the family of the late politician, and prayed to God to grant them the fortitude to bear the loss.

On behalf of the Government and people of Lagos State, I want to express my sincere and heartfelt condolences to the family, friends and comrades of Baba Jakande, the governor added.

The deceased, a former journalist, was elected the governor of Lagos State in 1979 and served till 1983.

He was later appointed the minister of works under the military regime of late Sani Abacha, a general.

Mr Jakandes administration as governor is still a reference point in the country in terms of massive infrastructural development and provision of affordable housing and huge investment in education across the state.

Mr Jakandes death comes about a month after the death of another former military governor of the state, Ndubuisi Kanu, rear admiral, was recorded.
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / February 11, 2021 / 01 Communique Laboratory Inc. (the "Company") (TSXV:ONE)(OTCQB:OONEF) one of the first-to-market, enterprise level cybersecurity providers for the quantum computing era, is pleased to announce that it has retained the services of Renmark Financial Communications Inc. ("Renmark") to handle its investor relations activities.

"We are pleased to announce that we have selected Renmark to reinforce 01 Communique's profile in the financial community as well as enhance the visibility of our company both in the U.S. and here in Canada. We choose Renmark because its standards and methodologies fit best with the message we wish to communicate to the investing public," noted Andrew Cheung, President and Chief Executive Officer.

In consideration of the services to be provided, the monthly fees incurred by the Company will be a cash consideration of up to $8,000 CAD, starting February 8th, 2021 ending on June 30th, 2021 and monthly thereafter.

Renmark does not have any interest, directly or indirectly, in 01 Communique Laboratory Inc. or its securities, or any right or intent to acquire such an interest.

About 01 Communique

Established in 1992, 01 Communique (TSX-V: ONE; OTCQB: OONEF) has always been at the forefront of technology. The Company's cyber security business unit focuses on post-quantum cybersecurity with the development of its IronCAP technology. IronCAP's patent-pending cryptographic system is an advanced Goppa code-based post-quantum cryptographic technology that can be implemented on classical computer systems as we know them today while at the same time can also safeguard against attacks in the future post-quantum world of computing. The Company's remote access business unit provides its customers with a suite of secure remote access services and products under its I'm InTouch and I'm OnCall product offerings. The remote access offerings are protected in the U.S.A. by its patents #6,928,479 / #6,938,076 / #8,234,701; in Canada by its patents #2,309,398 / #2,524,039 and in Japan by its patent #4,875,094. For more information, visit the Company's web site at www.ironcap.ca and www.01com.com .

Neither TSX Venture Exchange ("TSX-V") 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.

INVESTOR CONTACT:

Brian Stringer

Chief Financial Officer

01 Communique

(905) 795-2888 x204

Brian.stringer@01com.com

Renmark Financial Communications Inc.

Joshua Lavers: jlavers@renmarkfinancial.com

Tel: (416) 644-2020 or (212) 812-7680

www.renmarkfinancial.com

#

SOURCE: 01 Communique Laboratory Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/629203/01-Communique-Retains-Renmark-Financial-Communications-Inc-for-Investor-Relations

Rep. Lyle Larson filed legislation this week to expand Medicaid, becoming the first Texas Republican in years to actively push the Obama-era measure that would bring billions of dollars in federal aid to combat the states booming uninsured rate.

I think we should have a discussion, the San Antonio lawmaker said. We should have a discussion, and everybody should bring their ideas.

Texas is one of only a dozen states that have declined to expand the public safety net program under the Affordable Care Act. House Republicans last tried in 2013 and faced a blockade by then-Gov. Rick Perry, who argued there were too many problems in the states existing Medicaid program to add even more people to it.

OP-ED: Larson: Past time for Texas to expand Medicaid

Pressure is building again as the uninsured rate climbs amid the pandemic, and Larson is hoping to avoid the threat of a governors veto this time by putting the idea directly to voters through a constitutional amendment. The approach still comes with risk: To get on the ballot, it will need two-thirds support in both chambers, rather than a simple majority.

A lot of members would rather have the voters make the decision on something this critical, Larson said in an interview, noting that the same path has been used in other red states, including Oklahoma and Missouri. He expects more Republicans to come forward in support in the next several days.

Medicaid expansion, by the numbers 4.1 million: Texans currently enrolled in Medicaid 1.27 million:Texans who would be eligible for coverage under expansion $5.4 billion:additional federal dollars for Medicaid if the state expanded $600 million: Texas' expected contribution under expansion, or 10 percent of the federal match $66.5 billion: current two-year budget for Medicaid, 60 percent of which is funded by the federal government Source: The Bush School of Government and Public Service, Texas A&M University See More Collapse

A small-business owner who has at times drawn fire from fellow Republicans, including Gov. Greg Abbott, Larson urged his colleagues to move past their party loyalties and instead look at what makes the most fiscal sense.

You take all the politics out of it, its really a bad business decision not to access the federal dollars, he said.

POLITICAL WINDS: Some Texas Republicans were open to Medicaid expansion in 2020. They arent saying much now.

In Texas, Medicaid is currently limited mostly to children, pregnant women, people with disabilities and low-income seniors. Under an expansion, it would extend to adults making up to 138 percent of the poverty line, or about $17,600 for an individual and $36,200 for a family of four.

That could add about 1.3 million people to the states Medicaid rolls, according to a study published in September from the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University.

The federal government would pay 90 percent of the cost, a more generous match than it offers for the rest of Medicaid but one that would still require a state contribution. Some other states have funded that 10 percent by taxing tobacco products or sales of medical marijuana. In 2013, then-state Rep. John Zerwas proposed leveraging tax revenue from premiums on health care plans.

House Speaker Dade Phelan, R-Beaumont, said last month that he does not believe there is enough support in the Republican-controlled House to back Medicaid expansion outright. A spokesman said the speaker was still reviewing Larsons proposal but has said before that any idea must be revenue neutral.

Phelan and others have speculated that a conservative alternative could pass in the chamber, though none has been filed and its fate in a more staunchly conservative Senate would be less certain.

TEXAS TAKE: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox

Proponents also lost leverage this year when the outgoing Trump administration extended a waiver that helps defray the cost of uncompensated care in hospitals. The move does not expand health coverage but does help hospital systems cover the cost of treating uninsured patients.

Thats not all the costs, however, and local hospital districts are often left paying whats left. Larson said that results in higher tax burdens, and he pointed to San Antonio as a prime example.

Our county tax is the same as your hospital district tax, like $450 million of tax dollars to pay for uncompensated care, he said. So I think the states culpable in a lot of that.

If youre paying into a system in D.C., he added, and youre not pulling the money back in, but youre raising taxes at the local level to offset for that money youre paying in, I think thats fiscally irresponsible. The fiscally responsible thing to do is trying to maximize, like we do in every other revenue stream in the state budget.

For years, Texas has had the highest uninsured rate in the country. It was 18.4 percent before the pandemic, or about 5.2 million people. That does not include the 1.6 million more who lost work-related health care in the economic fallout from the health crisis.

Critics of expansion warn that Medicaid is outdated and inefficient, with too many administrative burdens and too few providers that accept the states low reimbursement rate. Some conservatives instead support targeted approaches to increasing access to low-cost options including regional health clinics and primary care doctors.

Just because someone has government-issued insurance doesnt mean theyll get the health care they need, James Quintero, a policy director at the right-leaning Texas Public Policy Foundation, has noted.

Rep. Tom Oliverson, R-Cypress, who chairs the House Insurance Committee, said he has concerns with Larsons approach and specifically pointed to problems in Oklahoma after voters there approved Medicaid expansion last year.

I have talked extensively with the insurance department folks in OK and they are having real problems with implementation because the ballot language was not written as well as a statute would have been, he said in a text.

Democrats, meanwhile, are eager to pass an expansion bill and welcomed Larsons support.

Expanding Medicaid improves the states bottom line, increases our economic productivity and keeps our fellow Texans healthy, Rep. Donna Howard, D-Austin, said in a statement. She added, Between the pandemic and mounting rural hospital closures, I dont think Rep. Larson will be such an outlier on this issue come May.

jeremy.blackman@chron.com
An Alabama man accused of stealing more than $150,000 in cryptocurrency through a large-scale SIM swapping scheme that targeted Manhattan residents was hit with a host of charges on Wednesday.

Joseph Chase Oaks, 22, faces grand larceny, identity theft, computer trespass, computer tampering, scheme to defraud, and other related charges for his scam that targeted hundreds of unwitting victims, prosecutors said at his arraignment. A judge released him without bail.

Prosecutors said the Millbrook man accessed 50 online accounts, at least 15 of which belonged to Manhattan-based residents  stealing more than $150,000 in cryptocurrency between August 2018 and October 2019.

Mr. Oaks is accused of fraudulently transferring the cell phone numbers of more than 300 people to phones in his possession, said Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance in a statement.

Two years ago, I announced the first prosecution for SIM swapping by New York authorities and one of the first in the country. While that individual has since pleaded guilty and been sentenced to state prison, todays indictment makes clear that SIM swapping has only grown more common and prolific.

SIM swapping means what it sounds like: a thief transfers a persons number to their own cell phone. From there, the thief can make calls and texts from the victims stolen number. With direct access to the victims phone, thieves can circumvent two-factor authentication security measures  used by banking and social media apps  to access sensitive online accounts.

At his Manhattan Supreme Court arraignment, prosecutors said Oaks worked in conjunction with other scam artists in the U.S. and Canada to access more than 60 different Apple and Android smartphones and hundreds of SIM cards.

If you believe you or someone you know has been targeted in a SIM swapping scheme, contact the Manhattan DA at (212) 335-9600. People may also submit tips anonymously through Signal, Wickr, Telegram, or WhatsApp at (347) 463-2198.

___

(c)2021 New York Daily News

Visit New York Daily News at www.nydailynews.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
On Thursday, February 11, 3297 persons tested positive for the novel coronavirus in Maharashtra taking the state's COVID-19 tally to 20,52,905. At present, there are 30,265 active cases in the state. With 6,107 COVID-19 patients discharged in the day, the number of recovered soared to 19,70,053. Mumbai continues to be a major novel coronavirus hotspot with 510 new cases recorded in the day.

25 deaths  4 from Nagpur, 3 from Mumbai, two each from Panvel, Nashik, Jalgaon and Parbhani and one each from Amravati, Washim, Nanded, Ratnagiri, Jalna, Pimpri Chinchwad, Pune, Ahmednagar, Raigad and Kalyan Dombivali were reported on Thursday. Until now, a total of 51,415 persons in the state have died owing to COVID-19. So far, over 1.50 crore samples have been tested for the novel coronavirus in labs operational across the state.

While 1,66,785 persons are under home quarantine, 1,852 others have been admitted to institutional quarantine centres. The COVID-19 recovery rate and fatality rate in Maharashtra stand at 95.84% and 2.5% respectively. Earlier in the day, Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray launched Spice Health's initiative of mobile health labs for RT-PCR testing in Mumbai at Rs.499. On this occasion, the CM requested for the expansion of these labs across Maharashtra.

Today, newly 3297 patients have been tested as positive in the state. Also newly 6107 patients have been cured today. Totally 19700532 patients are cured & discharged from the hospitals. Total Active patients are 30265.The patient recovery rate in the state is 95.84%.  Rajesh Tope (@rajeshtope11) February 11, 2021

Read: Coronavirus Can Infiltrate Crucial Brain Cells, Causing Neurons To Die: Study

COVID-19 inoculation in Maharashtra

On January 3, the Drugs Controller General of India approved COVISHIELD and COVAXIN for restricted emergency use. 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%. On the other hand, COVAXIN is a Whole Virion Inactivated Corona Virus Vaccine developed by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with ICMR and NIV.

On January 16, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray launched the COVID-19 vaccination drive in the state and inaugurated the vaccination centre at BKC. In the state, this drive is being conducted on 5 days every week- Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. With 34,889 persons including 15,593 healthcare workers being inoculated against the novel coronavirus on Thursday, the total number of vaccinated individuals in the state has soared to 6,08,570.

Read: US Doubts WHO's Wuhan Coronavirus Probe; Says 'will Verify Results Via Own Intelligence'
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Want to travel abroad but dont have a huge bank balance? Here are a few countries that will satisfy your wanderlust on a budget!





The problem with being young is that you have many passions and dreams and not enough money to fulfill them, especially post-lockdown, when everybody is tired of being cooped within four walls and exhausted of staring at the same screen day in and day out. Its highly unfair to put a price on ones dreams, but thats the reality we live in. Yet Indians always manage to get what they want, thanks to our favourite word in the Hindi vocabulary: jugaad. Use this special skill and travel to these affordable international destinations so that you can live your dreams without burning (too much of) a hole in your pocket.



Here are countries you can visit on a budget:



Bhutan



Image:Prateek Katyal/pexels



The only carbon-negative country in the world, this green nation is truly one of the most convenient places for Indians to travel to. Getting to Bhutan is very easy; you can either drive down to the country Siliguri or take a flight. Indians do not require a visa to enter the country; all you need is either a passport or your voter id card. However, you are required to obtain an entry permit at the border or the airport. The Bhutanese ngultrum (currency of Bhutan) is almost equal in value to the Indian rupee, making it an affordable country to visit. Another great advantage about Bhutan is that it also allows the use of the Indian rupee (except the Rs 2,000 note). You dont have to worry about anything; all you need is a pocket full of cash and the passion to travel!


Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who is in West Bengal campaigning for the BJP as the state readies for assembly election, on Thursday reiterated that the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) will be implemented as soon as the nationwide Covid-19 vaccination drive ends.

There are people who are spreading misinformation about CAA. But, I told my brother Shantanu Thakur (BJP MP from Bongaon) that I will come personally and clear all the confusion. I could not make it here recently (on January 30 he postponed his Thakurnagar rally due to the Delhi blast case near the Israel Embassy). Mamata di was very happy that I could not make it. But I would like to tell her that I will come again and again till I free Bengal from her misrule, Shah said in Thakurnagar, a stronghold of the Matuas - a refugee community credited with helping the saffron brigade secure numbers in the 2019 Lok Sabha election.

Party insiders feel that Shahs rally in Thakurnagar is an attempt to appease the Matua community ahead of the crucial assembly polls scheduled to be held in April-May in the state.

Defending the legislation, which its opponents say is discriminatory against the Muslim community, Shah, said, Propaganda has been spread that this bill is against the Muslims in India. They are Indian citizens and will always remain. There is no question of discrimination against Muslims. No Muslim in India needs to worry due to CAA.

Today, as a Union Home Minister of India, I would like to announce from this pavitra bhumi (sacred land) that CAA will not snatch away the citizenship of my Muslim brothers. There is no clause in CAA to do so. It is an Act for giving citizenship and not for snatching it, he added.

He said, In 2018, we promised to ensure justice to my Matua brothers and sisters that we will bring citizenship act. We fulfilled our promise in 2019 after Matua's brothers and sisters fully supported us. Today, I would like to assure you that we will implement CAA once the COVID-19 vaccination process gets over.

Hitting out at Mamata for opposing CAA, he said, Mamata di is saying that she will not allow us to implement CAA. But I would like to ask her how she can stop an act from being implemented which was passed in the parliament. Also, in April she will not be on CMs chair and we will ensure this as we are certainly going to win the upcoming State polls.

Shahs clarification on CAA came after Shantanu Thakur  a BJP MP from Bengals Bongaon and a prominent Matua leader from Thakurnagar  had recently demanded that the Centre clarify its stand over the implementation of CAA in the state.

Thakur, who won the Bongaon seat while riding the waves of BJPs citizenship promise to the Matua community, has found himself in an odd situation over the delay in the implementation of CAA in Bengal.

On Thursday, Shah also announced the Refugee Kalyan Yojna', renaming of Thakurnagar Railway Station to Sree Dham Thakurnagar railway station and pension for Matua/refugee community people.

In 2019 Lok Sabha election, its the refugees, particularly the Matuas, who helped the saffron brigade secure 9-10 seats out of 18 constituencies they had won. The BJP had won from Cooch Behar, Alipurduar, Jalpaiguri, Darjeeling, Raiganj, Balurghat, North Malda, Ranaghat, Bongaon, Barrackpore, Hooghly, Jhargram, Midnapore, Purulia, Bankura, Bishnupur, Burdwan-Durgapur, Asansol seats in Bengal.

The Matuas are said to have played an important role in Cooch Behar, Alipurduar, Jalpaiguri, Raiganj, Balurghat, North Malda, Ranaghat, Bongaon, Burdwan-Durgapur and Asansol. All of these seats combined consist of nearly 70 assembly segments and this is the area where BJP is looking to reach the magic figure of 148 seats (out of total 294 elected and 1 nominated) in the 2021 Assembly Polls in West Bengal.

The Matuas, interestingly, were also a major political force behind Mamata Banarjee in the 2011 assembly polls when she ousted the states Left Front government after 34 years.

Since then, in 2014 Lok Sabha polls and in the 2016 Assembly election, its only with the blessings of Binapani Devi Thakur (influential Matua leader who died on March 5, 2019) that the TMC is in power in the area.

However, the wind changed in 2019 when the BJP managed to snatch the seat from the ruling TMC by playing its CAA card.

The CAA is crucial in Bengal and this was precisely one of the reasons, Prime Minister Narendra Modi - armed with Citizenship Amendment Bill  kicked off his campaign in Bengal near Matua headquarters at Thakurnagar under Bongaon Lok Sabha constituencies (won by BJPs Shantanu Thakur) on February 2, 2019.

Then, PM Modi had said, During partition people from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan fled amid communal violence. Sikh, Hindu, Christian, Parsis faced utmost atrocities. Now you tell me, after so many years dont you think they have every right to live with dignity here in India? Therefore, we brought this Citizenship Amendment Bill but I would like to ask Mamata jis stand on this. I would like to assure you (Matua community) that our government is with you in this issue.

As per Nikhil Bharat Bangali Udbastu Samanway Samiti (NBBUSS)  a refugee welfare organisation there are approximately six crore refugees in India. of which in West Bengal alone the figure is around 3.5 crore  a key factor for any political party.

Party leaders at both the TMC and BJP camps feel that the refugee card will undeniably be the key factor which could turn the tables in this upcoming polls.

Last year in January, West Bengal had become the fourth state to pass a resolution against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in its assembly. Other Opposition-rules states who have adopted the anti-CAA resolution include Rajasthan, Punjab and Kerala.

Banerjee had even said that the CAA and the NRC citizenship verification drive can only be enforced in Bengal over her "dead body".

India witnessed widespread protests against the law which its opponents feel deliberately excludes Muslims while offering fast-track citizenship for Pakistani, Afghan and Bangladeshi illegal immigrants from six minority religious groups, including Hindus -- provided they entered India on or before December 31, 2014.

In December, Shah had said that rules for CAA were in the process of being framed. they were delayed because of the pandemic situation and the matter will be considered once the Covid-19 vaccination starts and the corona chain breaks.

Addressing a press conference in Bolpur, West Bengal, Shah had claimed that Banerjee and the Trinamool Congress raked up the "outsider- insider" issue to divert public attention from the failures of the state government and said that a "son of the soil" would lead the state if the BJP is voted to power. "The rules of the CAA are yet to be framed as such a massive process could not be carried out because of the corona. As soon as (COVID) vaccination starts and corona cycle breaks, we will consider it," he said.
Zbigniew Janowski's latest book, Homo Americanus, states clearly in its preface that "[t]his book revolves around four topics: the state of America and democracy today, liberalism, equality, and totalitarianism." Actually, we see a complex and penetrating analysis showing not that there is a fight between the values of liberalism/equality/democracy and totalitarianism (which fight was the overarching theme of the Cold War), but that we are moving directly into the implementation of Soviet-style totalitarianism. The woke generation, the obsessive anti-white rhetoricians, the "liberated" voices of sexuality (recommending gender fluidity and other twisted theories of sex), and those obsessively committed to "equality" are ramping us up toward the totalitarianism we have struggled against for generations.

Prof. Janowski sees that a threat of mind control and conformity is beginning to envelop American society and even the West. Increasing numbers of leaders are demanding this new level of conformity. And the conformity being inculcated and required is doing just the opposite of cultivating the equality and justice for all that democratic systems strive for. A crushing uniformity of thought, speech, and behavior is being impressed upon the people.

The book's opening chapter gives a powerful warning to the driven progressive advocates who wish to control all speech and behavior in the "name of the people" (sic). In prophetic mode, the author ends Chapter One by saying:

After the collapse of Communism in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union, the former 'socially progressive values' were found morally abominable, the monuments of 'new' heroes were torn down to be replaced by the monuments with the 'old villains,' and history had reversed its course. The old awards and medals returned; the streets had regained their original historical names, and the 'museums of atheism' became houses of religious worship again. The events that followed the burial of the Communist past ought to be a dire warning for the present-day progressivist social reformers. They can end up in the graveyard for the disgraced proponents of Progress, buried there while still alive. It has already happened to Hillary Clinton. On September 14, 2018, the Texas Board of Education voted to remove her name from the list of famous historical figures. History can be a real b----.

The author links employer sensitivity training sessions to the Orwellian mind control found in the classic 1984. The sensitivity training sessions of the 1970s and 1980s were child's play compared to the intense mind control sessions that now cover the entire range of topics from sex to race to health to male-female identity to religion. The entire ideology behind protected classes in our law has moved to center stage, replacing the classic constitutional protections of rights. I'll never forget when, 35 years ago, I was talking with a gentleman who told me that he had complimented a fellow employee on a dress she was wearing, and she reported him to Human Resources, which led to a letter of reprimand being put in his personnel file.

Since then, we have unquestionably moved much farther toward mind control. A New York City high school for gifted students on its website at the beginning of the COVID-dominated 20202021 school year recommended that all parents, administrators, students, and teachers over the summer read the bestseller How to Be an Anti-Racist by Ibram X. Kendi. That book explicitly makes statements to the effect that capitalism commits one to being a racist. Knowing that this is now a mainstream proposition being encouraged, can any reader think Prof. Janowski is exaggerating in his thesis about the totalitarian orientation of "democracy"?

The author's extensive discussion of the manipulation of language is an intellectual tour de force as he brings in a range of authors including George Orwell, Emily Bronte, Jane Austen, Ludwig Wittgenstein, Sinclair Lewis, Alex Tocqueville, and many others. New distortions are introduced daily to supposedly correct the pro-male and pro-white skewing of language. Prof. Janowski takes the side of the Canadian psychologist Jordan Peterson in his personal war against "new pronouns." This is no small matter, but Peterson's fight is the tip of the iceberg of a movement to co-opt literature to reflect and express new modes of thought that supposedly resist gender stereotyping, which new-pronoun advocates claim is debilitating for many individuals.

This writer found Chapter 8 particularly compelling. Its title is "From Dostoevsky to Huxley to Eric Fromm towards a Humanized Technology." The author deals with the works of these three authors and shows how they dovetail to prove Fromm's vision that we have indeed turned toward mass schizophrenia. He states, "Observing the behavior of millions of Americans, fifty years after what Fromm predicted would happen, one cannot resist the feeling that we are living in a society which displays all the symptoms of low-grade schizophrenic behavior." Prof. Janowski seems to have a vivid understanding that these three writers from such different cultural and intellectual contexts all understand that mind control and different pathologies occur nowadays that threaten human freedom. Although the author does not pound home the idea of inherent autonomy (the right to "liberty" found in our Declaration of Independence), he enlists these great minds of literature and psychology to reveal that rationality, responsibility, and freedom from intense manipulation by the "authorities" are part and parcel of that freedom. Political freedom hundreds of years ago meant "get out of my private life" and more importantly now also means "get out of our minds," both subliminally and in terms of enforced social and governmental pressures.

This book is a call for a return to reason, common sense, decency, Jewish and Christian values, mental health, and truly liberal ideals based on ideas from many of the greatest thinkers from Plato to the present. The morbid turn of our society toward collective schizophrenia and mind control is made with no punches pulled. Prof. Janowski is a voice of hope challenging us all to remain on a healthier and more reasonable path than the one we seem to be on at present.

Image via Pixy.

Jaipur, Feb 11 : At a time when former cabinet minister Vishvendra Singh's tweet mentioning 'Former Deputy CM' Sachin Pilot as 'Deputy CM of Rajasthan' is making rounds, Acharya Pramod Krishnam, a close aide of Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, has sparked off further speculations in favour of Pilot.

Rajasthan politics is now centering around a discussion yet again on Pilot gaining ground against his 'bete noir' Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot especially after Krishnam shot two tweets, one of which comes as an open blessing for the former deputy CM to become Chief Minister of Rajasthan in the future.

In his tweet, Acharya Pramod Krishnam, wrote: "Mukhyamantri Bhavah" (May you become the CM).

The tweet has garnered 1.1K retweets and 10.1K likes.

Acharya, in fact, shot his tweet, replying to former PCC Chief and former deputy CM Sachin Pilot's tweet in which he posted a photo-video of a farmers' rally taken out in Bayana on February 9.

The video showed a mammoth crowd listening to Pilot in the Kisaan Mahapanchayat.

The spiritual guru used just three words to tweet: "Mukhyamantri Bhavah".

It needs to be mentioned here that Pilot, along with his supporting MLAs, has been organising Kisaan Mahapanchayats in Rajasthan which has been receiving huge response. The initiative has been taken to stand in solidarity with farmers protesting against the three contentious farm laws passed by the Centre.

Pramod Krishnam, in fact, also asked Gehlot, who tweeted asking "young generation to come forward in the # JoinCongressSocialMedia campaign". The spiritual guru asked Gehlot whether he was referring to Sachin Pilot via the tweet.

Gehlot on Tuesday posted a video message for the Join Congress social media' campaign, and said, "I would like the younger generation to come forward and participate in the #JoinCongressSocialMedia campaign and bring the right picture to the people of the country, it should be our endeavour." To which, Acharya Pramod responded: "Are you referring to Sachin Pilot?"

Months back, Pilot and his two loyalists -- Vishvendra Singh and Ramesh Meena -- were stripped off of their cabinet portfolio. After things normalised they have been awaiting their decent induction in cabinet expansion and political appointments long awaited.

Congress in-charge Ajay Maken in fact promised that the political appointments will be made by January 31, however, during his recent visit, he simply took a U-turn and said that appointments cannot be made any time soon.

This left Pilot group demotivated.

Soon after, Pilot started a Kisaan Mahapanchayat rallies, in a bid to gain political grounds.

During one of the rallies, Vishvendra Singh' referred to Pilot as the 'deputy chief minister' of Rajasthan in his tweet and said, "Deputy Chief Minister of the state @SachinPilot addressed the farmers and lodged a protest against the three agrarian black laws brought by the BJP at the Kisan Mahapanchayat organised at Fatehgiri Maharaj Ji in Jaisora, Bharatpur." In another tweet, he mentioned about other Pilot loyalists who also marked their presence at the gathering.

"This gathering also includes former cabinet minister Ramesh Meena, MLA Ved Prakash Solanki, Gajraj Khatana, Amar Singh Jatav and Rajesh Pareek," he tweeted.

All of these leaders are perceived as staunch supporters of Pilot, ever since the rebellion last year.

Several social media users reminded Vishvendra that Pilot is not deputy CM any longer, but he did not remove the tweet.

These days, Vishvendra, in his social media profile, does not mention 'Congress' and introduces himself as Rajasthan worker, MLA from Deeg-Kumher, 6 times MP/MLA and ex cabinet minister, Rajasthan government.

All these developments come just ahead of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's tour in the state on Friday and Saturday. The situation has puzzled other leaders who are wondering if a new political tsunami is in the making in the desert state.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
Ontario Education Minister Stephen Lecce speaks at press availability alongside Premier Doug Ford at a school in Brampton, Ont., on July 23, 2020. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press)

Ontario to Postpone March Break Until April

TORONTOOntario is postponing March break until the week of April 12 in an effort to reduce COVID-19 spread as students return to in-person classes.

Education Minister Stephen Lecce said postponing the breaka decision based on the advice of the provinces chief medical officeris an important way schools can help limit community transmission.

I recognize this is one more change in a year that has been challenging for so many students and our education staff, Lecce said Thursday. But it is one made on the best advice of public health officials to keep them safe and to keep our schools open in this province.

The provinces largest teachers union, the association representing public school boards and the Opposition New Democrats had all asked for the March break to go ahead as planned, saying families, students and teachers needed it.

All students began the new year learning remotely as part of a provincial lockdown. The government then took a gradual approach to reopening physical classrooms, starting with northern and rural areas.

Students in three COVID-19 hot spotsToronto, Peel Region and York Regionwill be the last ones in the province to return to physical classrooms on Feb. 16.

Top doctors in Toronto and Peel have warned that rolling back other restrictions as students resume in-person learning amid the spread of new virus variants could kick off a worse wave of infections.

The provincial and federal governments have been urging residents to limit their travel.

The federal government recently introduced its own policies aimed at preventing travel over the spring break. Four major airlines have halted their flights from Canada to Mexico and the Caribbean until the end of April.

The provincial government has also introduced mandatory COVID-19 testing for all international arrivals to Ontario.

By Holly McKenzie-Sutter


A MAN who tried to smash a garda station window with a bicycle lock told gardai he "only tried" to break it and he knew the law.

Declan Tobin (57) argued that he had not actually broken the window when a garda came out and confronted him.

Giving him a three-month suspended sentence, Judge Alan Mitchell told Tobin he needed to improve his attitude or he would be going to prison.

Tobin, with an address at a Dublin hostel, pleaded guilty to being reckless as to whether criminal damage would be caused in the incident at Pearse Street garda station, as well as threatening, abusive and insulting behaviour.

A garda told Dublin District Court he was in the office working on files last April 5 when he heard a loud bang.

He looked outside and saw the accused holding a bike lock, which he used to hit the window.

The garda ran outside and, when he confronted the accused, Tobin said: "I only tried to break the window."

Tobin cursed a number of times at gardai and members of the public as he was being taken into the station.

When charged, he replied: "I only tried to break a window, I didn't actually break it. I know the law."

The garda told the court: "Whether or not he was trying to break in or break the window, I can't say."

Garda Sergeant Gail Smith said separately that last September 5, gardai were called to Merrion Street, where Tobin was highly intoxicated, being verbally abusive and using "choice language".

The judge said Tobin seemed to have an attitude to gardai.

"He doesn't seem to like us," Sgt Smith said.

Tobin's solicitor, Ruth Walsh, said alcohol addiction had been an issue all the accused's life and he was sleeping on park benches at the time.

Judge Mitchell said: "They say 'in vino veritas', in wine there's truth.

"He would want to improve his attitude to the gardai or he will be going into prison."




Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-11 20:59:46|Editor: huaxia

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by Nguon Sovan, Mao Pengfei

PHNOM PENH, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian leaders are quite confident in the safety and efficacy of China's Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine after receiving their first doses during an inoculation drive launched on Wednesday.

Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Tea Banh said the Sinopharm vaccine is very safe and highly effective and used widely in China and other countries.

"The Sinopharm vaccine is currently going popular for its high safety and efficacy," he said Wednesday at a press conference.

High-ranking government officials and military leaders were among the first to be inoculated, showcasing Cambodia's trust and confidence in the vaccine.

CONFIDENCE BOOSTED

Speaking after receiving his dose at the Calmette Hospital in the capital city of Phnom Penh on Wednesday morning, Hun Manet, the eldest son of Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen, said he believes in the safety of the Sinopharm vaccine.

"I'm present here, came here first and got the first dose of the vaccine, I'm completely confident in this vaccine," said Hun Manet, also a deputy commander-in-chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces and the commander of the Royal Cambodian Army.

"The injection was painless, and I feel more confident that I have a protection system in my body against the COVID-19," he said, who urged people to be vaccinated and expressed his gratitude to China for providing the jabs to the kingdom.

Cambodia has so far registered a total of 478 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with zero deaths and 459 recoveries, according to the Ministry of Health.

Justice Minister Koeut Rith was also among the first group of people who were inoculated.

"A vaccine is the best defense solution for us, for our family and our community," he said. "With the vaccine, we almost have no more worries about the spread of this virus."

A HEALTHY CITIZENRY

Vong Pisen, the commander-in-chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, said the vaccine is a strategic product to protect the Cambodian people, and he thanked China for providing the vaccine.

"I'm good after getting my first dose of the jab and see no problem with my health," he told Xinhua after his inoculation at the Preah Ket Mealea Hospital, a military hospital in Phnom Penh, on Wednesday afternoon.

Ek Tha, standing vice-chairman of the Cambodian government's spokesperson unit, said he was pleased to be inoculated with the Sinopharm vaccine and was confident in its safety and efficacy.

"I need to get vaccinated because I strongly believe that if citizens are protected from COVID-19 and are healthy, it will contribute to the well-being of the community and the country's social and economic development," he told Xinhua after getting his first dose at the Preah Ang Duong Hospital in Phnom Penh.

"Since no one can see COVID-19 with the naked eye, it's necessary for people to get inoculated," he said.

Chea Monyrith, president of the Chinese Cambodian Evolution Researcher Association, said Thursday that the launch of the vaccination drive clearly showed that Cambodia made health and safety a top priority.

"Many high-profile figures have got vaccinated, this truly reflects their absolute confidence in the quality and efficacy of the Sinopharm vaccine," he told Xinhua.

Monyrith praised China for its kindness and generosity for sharing vaccines with other countries. "The generous and humanitarian gesture of China will be undoubtedly inscribed on the history page of the Cambodia-China relations and remembered in the hearts of the Cambodian people for good."

NEW HOPE

Cambodia approved the emergency use of the Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine on Feb. 4.

According to the Ministry of Health, priority groups for vaccination include frontline health workers, government members and officials, municipal and provincial governors, armed forces, and journalists, among others.

Pon Panha, a student at Beltei International University in Phnom Penh, said that people had been suffering from this pandemic for a year before Chinese vaccines brought hope for a return to normalcy and a swift economic recovery.

"The vaccine is very important to curb the spread of COVID-19, to protect Cambodian people's lives, and to restore the economy as fast as possible," he said.

Chea Huykong, a 37-year-old vendor of Chinese New Year decorations and items in Phnom Penh, told Xinhua that her business is recovering. "I hope that in the Chinese New Year, we will be able to return to normal life." Enditem
An online court hearing had a surprise when the lawyer accidentally uses a cat filter during a zoom court session. He said he cannot remove it but was corrected; court sessions are not always serious.

A court is always a serious place, and rare mishaps do happen. Especially with the reliance on conferencing, that might cause comical situations.

A cat appears in court

A virtual court in Texas did not expect a lawyer speaking as a cartoon cat while in the zoom session. The lawyer did not realize it until brought to attention, reported NBC News.

According to the Texas lawman, one of the worst dangers of the recent pandemic includes technology that can be inconvenient. Zoom calls and remote conferencing is the best options to get the job. But as he learned and noticed, his kid must have used the computer. In doing so, he activated the cat filter and left it on.

For this virtual session, it came to abrupt paws with no pun intended. For a few moments, the novelty of seeing a computer-filter-generated cat arguing was a rare sight. In a real court, it might have caused contempt for the offending lawyer. Given the circumstances, it was brushed off one of those days.

Cat speaks

Based on accounts of the report, the lawyer identified as Presidio County Attorney Rod Ponton took everyone by surprise. What Ponton took as one of his normal zoom calls was a "cat-astrophe" of comedic epicness.

Little did he know, he uses a cat filter during a zoom court session. Hardly the image any lawyer would want to project.

Also read: Jury Still Out on China's Transparency to the WHO Probe, State Department not Convinced

It lasted for 30 seconds was awkward to say the least, for Presidio County Attorney Rod Ponton. Participants found the incident funny and some stress released, not so for Ponton, who did not know how to change Zoom's settings.

Most of the counsels were amused at their colleague's discomfiture. Still, the 394th Judicial District Court Judge Roy Ferguson took it upon himself to show the fretting lawyer how to fix the problem.

With other lawyers on screen wryly smiling, 394th Judicial District Court Judge Roy Ferguson tried to walk Ponton through keystrokes. Ponton said he was ready to proceed even in his feline form.

Ponton says he is professional; he's not a cat

Judge Ferguson found the incident funny, and the kitten attending court episode with the lawyers' professionalism was praised.

He gave good advice on how to avoid these problems. Adding that a pre-check on the zoom setting would be wise, or an unexpected filter would take a comedic turn or so. Turn off the filters as a precaution. Posting a tweet, the kitten just made a formal announcement in the 394th court.

Ponton further explains that he used his secretary's computer, his office was transferring location.

In an NBC interview, he said that it was okay for others to find it funny, which did not bother him. Mentioning these things happen when computers are involved.

The judge said a laugh in stressful times is good, especially with a pandemic. If any lawyer uses a cat filter during a zoom court, it's no big deal. It just makes things lighter; lawyers aren't always serious.

Related article: South Dakota Republicans Sponsor Bill to Null the Executive Orders of Biden

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"I look forward to helping continue [McFadyen Digital's] recent momentum as we continue to evolve the notion of what is possible with digital commerce," said Adam Thibodeaux, SVP of Global Sales.

McFadyen Digital, a leading global strategic commerce agency, is adding two industry veterans to keep up with demand for its strategy, technology, marketing, and user experience services. Upward trends have necessitated both key leadership additions as the company continually strives to offer its customers access to the best talent, technologies, and strategies in the digital commerce space.

The company has hired Adam Thibodeaux as Senior Vice President of Global Sales and Lee Riesterer as Chief Digital Officer, joining dozens of digital commerce professionals who have joined McFadyen Digital over the past year amid 40% year-on-year growth in 2020.

Adam Thibodeaux joins the McFadyen team as their global leader of sales and business development. His extensive experience in the industry includes leadership positions at Oracle, JCPenney, and Razorfish, meaning that Thibodeaux brings customers a potent blend of domain knowledge backed by consulting and practitioner experiences.

McFadyen Digital has been a leader in the commerce and marketplace space for over 22 years, producing outstanding results for some of the worlds largest brands, remarked Thibodeaux. I look forward to helping continue this recent momentum as we continue to evolve the notion of what is possible with digital commerce.

Lee Riesterer joins McFadyen to lead their strategy practice, driving innovation for its customers online marketplace and ecommerce businesses. In his storied career, Riesterer has served as a Global Vice President for SAP, Managing Partner for the Brookhaven Group, and key strategic leadership positions at several other commerce-focused agencies and organizations.

The clients that McFadyen Digital works with tend to be on the larger, more complex end of the spectrum, explained Riesterer. The strategic needs of such a sophisticated customer span from market planning, to business operations, to site optimization, to making the right technology decisions to set them up for the next 10 years. Im looking forward to this challenge and am excited to be joining such a talented organization.

By solidifying these two key leadership positions, McFadyen Digital continues to bolster their digital commerce strategy capabilities that so perfectly compliment their technical, user experience, and digital marketing expertise. As digital commerce continues to evolve in the quest to deliver memorable shopping experiences to both retail and B2B consumers, McFadyens comprehensive roster of services offers brands a partner to plan for whats now and what comes next.

About McFadyen Digital

McFadyen Digital is a global strategic commerce agency that creates award-winning online marketplace and ecommerce experiences for the worlds most prominent brands. Our clients seek to delight their customers with memorable online shopping experiences, and we deliver those results on-time and on budget.

With over two decades of experience with large enterprise commerce projects, our strategy, technology, design, and ongoing innovation services delivered from our offices in the US, Brazil, and India, provide scalable and repeatable results. During 20 years of global delivery McFadyen Digital has optimized the quality, cost, and timeframe benefits of on-shore, near-shore, and off-shore team collaboration.

For more information visit http://www.mcfadyen.com, connect with us on LinkedIn or follow us on Twitter.
New Delhi, Feb 12 : "We are trained to look at the ongoing farmers' agitation with a certain gaze that tends to ignore the role of women participating actively and passively. The same holds true for Dalit labourers who do not own tractors and trolleys, and make a huge effort to be at protest sites. This is where the newsletter 'Karti Dharti' comes in," says social activist Sangeet Toor.

Launched today (February 12), this four page A3 sized newsletter in Punjabi, and later Shahmukhi (Persian) too, founded and edited by Toor, a Master's degree holder in Cyber Security from George Washington University in the US comprises an all women's team. While it has been designed by Navjeet Kaur, funded and distributed by Sargam Toor, another social activist, the rest of the team is in the background. "Considering the crackdown by the government, some other women members have decided to contribute for different roles anonymously. Besides two protest sites, the newsletter will also be distributed at several morchas in Punjab," Toor tells IANS.

Interestingly, 'Karti Dharti' was conceived when the founder-editor was invited to give a talk (digital) by the Young Lyallpur Historian's Club in West Pakistan. "Talking about the ongoing farmer' agitation, the host asked if there was any newsletter taken out by women. I instantly felt that there was a need for one to bridge gaps on multiple levels." While the newsletter has been christened 'Karti Dharti' by Nausheen Ali, a Professor at New York University (NYU) in the US, Toor, who is also involved with 'Trolley Times', a newspaper taken out by a team of activists on the borders says that she did initially think about talking to them about the space she would like to explore. "However, considering the fact that I have been writing independently on women and labour issues, I was also looking for more elbow room. Moreover, I wanted this to be a woman led initiative." Stressing on the role of women in the agitation -- not just those who are on the borders, but also ones back in their villages, the social activist says, "From making foodstuff in huge quantities for protesters to mobilizing other women in villages, they are making an important contribution. We must understand that not every family is schooled to let the women go out and participate in the protest. Many of them who cannot go collaborate with other women are taking out jago in their areas." Adding that she wanted 'Karti Dharti' to be a print edition and not a digital one owing to the reader base being targetted, Toor says, "You will see most women in Punjab still reading established Punjabi newspapers and not really going in for news distributed through digital or social media platforms." For her, the life of the newsletter goes beyond the agitation. "We have put a lot of thought and are convinced that the present agrarian crisis goes beyond the three new laws. It is how we have been doing agriculture and the need for several changes. The 'Karti Dharti' space is also going to be used for starting new conversations and involving common people." (Sukant Deepak can be reached at sukant.d@ians.in)


Most people who keep animals choose to have dogs, cats, fishes or small birds. But, Recep Mirzan keeps a different animal on his farm in Western Turkey.

The 63-year-old retired postal worker has a swan, a large and long-lived bird found in many parts of the world.

Mirzan rescued the swan from a dangerous situation many years ago. Mirzan and a group of friends were driving in their car when they saw an injured swan with a broken wing. Mirzan immediately took the swan with him to protect her from predators. He kept her in the car until that afternoon when he was able to take the swan to his home.

Since I love animals, I said to myself that I should take her home instead of leaving her as prey, Mirzan told The Associated Press.

He named the swan Garip. It means strange in the Turkish language but is also used to describe a person who has had difficulties in their life. After Garips broken wing improved, she remained with Mirzan. Mirzan is not married and has no children, so the swan is like a child to him.



When Garip is out of her pen, an area that is used to keep her protected, she follows Mirzan wherever he goes. Garip has been living on Mirzans farm in the Karaagac area of Turkey, bordering Greece, for the past 37 years.

Garip has never tried to run away from Mirzans farm.

According to the group Swan Sanctuary, in Britain, swans live in the wild for only about 12 years. But in protected environments, they can live up to 30 years.

Im Armen Kassabian.

Erhin Yildiz and Robert Badendieck from The Associated Press reported this story. Armen Kassabian adapted it for Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor.

________________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

postal  adj. relating to or involved in the sending, handling, and delivery of mail

predators  n. an animal that lives by killing and eating other animals

prey  n. an animal that is hunted or killed by another animal for food

sanctuary  n. a place where someone or something is protected or given shelter

Have you ever rescued an animal and kept it as a pet? We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section.
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China and Benin have signed a financing agreement to support high impact social and economic projects in the West African country.

Chinese Ambassador to Benin Peng Jingtao and Benin's minister of foreign affairs and cooperation Aurelien Agbenonci signed the agreement on Tuesday in the economic capital Cotonou.

Worth about 7.7 million US dollars, the economic and technical support package will help finance high-impact social and economic projects within the action program of the Benin government.

"China will continue to provide its tireless support to the government and the people of Benin in their reforms and also in their modernization efforts," Peng said.

Agbenonci said the signing of this donation agreement is further evidence of the friendly and cooperative relations between Benin and China.
Geneva, Feb 11 : The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has urged the European Union (EU) and its member states to stop "pushbacks, collective expulsions and the use of violence" against migrant groups and refugees at the bloc's borders.

The Geneva-based organization made the appeal in a statement on Wednesday after receiving documented reports that indicated several forms of brutality against migrants at the EU's external land and maritime borders, reports Xinhua news agency.

"Our direct interactions, with migrants, including during the delivery of assistance, as well as various testimonies and photographs shared by NGOs and the media, confirm the level of brutality they were subjected to before being pushed back across maritime and land borders," the UN body said in the statement.

Eugenio Ambrosi, IOM Chief of Staff, condemned the incidents, saying that "the use of excessive force and violence against civilians is unjustifiable".

"States' sovereignty - including their competence to maintain the integrity of their borders - must be aligned with their obligations under international law and respect the human rights and fundamental freedoms of all." The IOM reminded that pushbacks and collective expulsions are prohibited under international and EU law.

As proofs of brutality continue to come, sometimes in the form of direct testimony or photographs, the IOM called for better "migration and asylum policy and governance".

It also said it supports the establishment of an "independent border monitoring mechanism, working closely with" the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights.

The mechanism was suggested previously by the European Commission.

According to UNHCR data, there were 26 million refugees and 45.7 million internally displaced persons in Europe.
A paramedic has been left 'heartbroken' after her handbag was stolen from her ambulance at the end of a gruelling 10-hour shift on the Covid frontline.

Hannah Wyndham noticed the little black rucksack was missing when she and a colleague parked up outside a hospital.

The young medic is desperate to get the bag back which had her purse and other valuables inside.

Hannah Wyndham noticed the little black rucksack was missing when she and a colleague parked up outside a hospital

Hannah appealed for help in tracking down the bag in a post on social media, pictured

Shattered Hannah - who works at South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust - had it pinched outside the Royal Berkshire Hospital, in Reading, Berks.

It happened on Tuesday night, but was not caught on CCTV in the ambulance bay.

She said: 'This is a very long shot but I had my handbag stolen from the ambulance last night while I was on shift.

'The most likely place was outside the Royal Berkshire Hospital, but I can't be 100 per cent sure.

'It had my purse and other valuables in it. If anyone finds a little black rucksack lying around anywhere or my purse please contact me.'

It comes as the pandemic continues to apply pressure to those working on the frontline of the crisis.

Shocking official figures last week revealed that a record number of ambulances are being forced to wait for long periods outside crammed hospitals to offload patients.

Crews routinely have to wait more than an hour to hand over the seriously ill and injured, not only putting the health of patients at risk, but delaying responses to other emergencies.

The young medic is desperate to get the bag back which had her purse and other valuables inside

Guidelines state patients should be handed over to hospital staff within 15 minutes of arrival, but ambulances queued for more than an hour outside English hospitals more than 30,000 times in December and January  exceeding the total number of such delays for the whole of the previous winter.

Meanwhile, the number of routine operations being carried out in the NHS fell by nearly a quarter in January as doctors and nurses turned their attention to Covid patients.

NHS figures leaked to the Health Services Journal reveal almost 23,000 fewer ops - including hip replacements and cataract replacements - were carried out last month compared to December.

Hannah's colleague Stephanie Hudson said: 'My lovely crew mate Hannah had her bag stolen last night from the front of our ambulance whilst we were working.

'It was taken at some point during our 10 hour night shift.

'Rubbish isn't it, she wasn't even angry about it, she was just heartbroken and upset, 2020 and 2021 is taking its toll.

'There are some absolutely heartless people around! 'Praying some of her belongings turn up.'
Child Rights International (CRI),a non-governmental organisation (NGO),has said the cases of Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) among children have not reached the level of risk to determine whether schools should be closed or not.



The Executive Director of CRI, Bright Kweku Appiah, explained that though there had been a rise in cases of infections among children, available data was not strong enough for the country to call for a shutdown of schools.



Mr Appiah said this yesterday in Accra at a press conference on the COVID-19 state of children in Ghana.



He said within the last four months  November 9 to February 4, 2021- a total of 1,737 children within the age range 0-17 years had tested positive to the virus.



The number, he said, represented 1.04 per cent increase from the previous cases recorded within March and November 9, last year, where 2,180 children contracted the virus.



He stated that cumulatively, a total of 3,917 children had contracted the virus since March 2020, representing 5.47 per cent of the total contraction rate in Ghana



Mr Appiah said there were three indicators in determining the severity of COVID-19 among children and how policies should be formulated to protect them.



The indicators, he said, were cases of infection among children, admission and hospitalisation and mortality.



According to Mr Appiah,data gathered from the Ghana Health Service (GHS) and CRI staff monitoring activities nationwide indicated that althoughincreases in COVID- 19 infections among children were relatively high, describing it as worrying , he noted that no child had died from the virus.



He also mentioned that cases of admission among children in the country were below one per cent, adding that only one child was admitted and has since been discharged.



The Executive Director of CRI said hospitalization in children was virtually absent as compared to adults with the virus, suggesting that children might have less severe illness from the virus as compared to adults.



Even though we have not got to the level of the second and third indicators, it is still necessary for the country to strictly adhere to the COVID-19 protocols. There must be effective strategies in place to reduce the spread of the virus and measures to provide first class services for children affected by COVID-19, he said.



He called on the government to make a policy to engage pediatricians in providing care and treatment for children who might suffer severe conditions.



Mr Appiah also suggested that the government should consider random testing in schools as recent data indicated that the number and rate of pediatric cases were steadily increasing.



He urged Ghana Education Servicetointensify its educational programmes in schools to reduce COVID-19 infections among children while asking parents to ensure their children go to school under strict adherence to the protocols.







Source: The Ghanaian Times









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Featured Video
A constant flow of investing ideas is always fodder for useful research, even if many notions you have about future winners won't pan out.

You can actively seek out investing inspiration, or it might strike while you are shopping, watching the news or chatting with family and friends.

Social media is a popular place for investors to exchange ideas, but as we saw with the rapid rise and fall of GameStop, following other posters' tips is a risky business.

With the help of money experts, we look at sources of investing inspiration, the ways to use them effectively, and how to avoid the pitfalls.

Inspiration: Not every notion you have about future winners will work out, but some might

Scuttlebutt: Observant investors can reap rewards

This is about keeping your eyes open and ears to the ground as you go about life, not following tipsters on internet forums, explains Sophie Lund-Yates, equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown.

She says social sites like Reddit might be a good place to meet fellow stock market enthusiasts, but your own personal observations and foresight can find you stock market winners.

By way of example, Lund-Yates says: 'A perceptive investor will have noticed early on that Next was fast to react to the shift to online shopping.

'Its history as a mail-order catalogue company meant it had a lot of the infrastructure in place already.

'Those that were already ordering clothes from the group's directory could have put two and two together, to realise Next was in a perfect position to beat its peers to the worldwide web.'

However, she warns: 'Large-scale change brings about huge opportunity, but also potential risks.

'Events that change how the world and economies operate, like a pandemic, result in a lot of hype, and it's crucial investors take a breath and cut through the noise - and invest in things they truly understand.'

Adrian Lowcock, head of personal investing at Willis Owen, says think about what you and your friends do  how you shop, eat and are entertained - and try to link this to investment opportunities.

'The classic example is when Apple launched the iPod  millions bought it but few linked that success with the company share price.

'Look at recent changes in trends and think is that an investment opportunity. Kids can be great for this as they often engage with new trends and fashions much faster than others.'

Economic cycles: How bullish are you about the future?

Sophie Lund-Yates: Share sales and purchases by directors can be a sign of confidence or lack of it in a company's future

Defensive stocks tend to better withstand an economic shock, while cyclical ones are more likely to benefit from an economic recovery.

Coronavirus is a good example of this approach to thinking about investing, says Lund-Yates.

'The strength of strong "stay at home" stocks, like the grocers, has really been proven. It's always worth considering what the world will always need  food and medicine come top of that list.

'And while exactly where we are on the economic cycle is up for some debate, it's fair to assume there are going to be some ups and downs as the world continues to climb out of lockdowns.

'Investors need to make sure they have at least some exposure to defensive stocks.'

She adds: 'It's important to remember that the stock market and economy work in different ways. The market looks to the future, but economic data is historical.'

Big themes: What will change the world for the better, or threaten existing businesses?

Thinking about which cutting edge ideas and trends will make lasting change in the world and backing them is one of the most exciting ways to invest.

What big theme opportunities are on the horizon right now?

Lund-Yates says: 'The shift to digital has been rumbling on for years. But those first lockdown orders lit the fire underneath this shift.

'A third of all retail sales now take place online. And while some of that might temper as we being to emerge from lockdowns, an increased demand for online shopping will be here to stay.'

When it comes to which businesses stand to benefit, she says: 'Online retail powerhouse ASOS could be one  it's also recently snapped up TopShop and Miss Selfridge, benefiting from the demise of less nimble bricks and mortar rivals.

'The supermarkets are also worth considering. Demand for delivery slots has outweighed supply by some margin during the pandemic.

'Most of the big players are ramping up investment in online capacity, with the belief demand will remain elevated post lockdown. This is a big growth opportunity.'

Lund-Yates believes cloud computing is another area worth exploring, saying: 'A world working from home means digital storage and computer power have never been more valuable.

'A bit like online shopping, our new working from home habits are something we're unlikely to give up once normality resumes. Tech giants like Microsoft, Alphabet and Amazon all have a hand in cloud computing.'

Watch the experts: But check if their goals match yours

Jason Hollands: 'Investors now have access to a vast amount of information readily available on their phone or desktop around the clock. Much of this is free'

Most really skilled investors are probably doing it for a living and running a fund, according to Jason Hollands, managing director at Tilney Investment Management Services.

'You will usually be able to see their top 10 holdings on their fact sheets, which can provide some inspiration, but they will be reticent to show the world all of their ideas, especially their latest thinking, when they are building new positions in a company.'

Lund-Yates points out that a fund manager's job is to try and find stock market winners, and they do the hard work so you don't have to, so it's worth having a look at what they hold.

'Fund manager Baillie Gifford has benefited from holding Tesla in several of its funds, including the Scottish Mortgage investment trust. Tesla has more than quadrupled in value over the last year,' she says.

'Consider that fund managers invest depending on their style. Some will focus on companies in geographic regions they think hold potential. Others will go after stocks they think are undervalued.

'Some will focus on those likely to generate an income through the payment of dividends, others will focus on capital growth over the long term.

'The list of different approaches is long, so it's worth having a think about what's most important to you before you home in on a particular fund.'

Lowcock says: 'Professional investors are looking for new ideas all day every day and have the resources and tools to look into stocks and identify trends.

'It is important however, to understand what the expert is trying to do. Are they looking for income or growth?'

Director share deals: Check them out but beware PR spin

Adrian Lowcock: 'Professional investors are looking for new ideas all day every day'

'When a company's directors are buying or selling shares they must disclose this to the stock market, so seemingly this gives a great insight as to whether those "in-the-know" are confident in the outlook of a company or otherwise,' says Hollands.

'It may, but it might not. They may be selling shares for personal reasons such as to pay a tax bill, because of a divorce, schools fees or any other reason that has nothing to do with their view on the outlook for the company.

'And of course, when a company is in a tough patch, it is a shrewd PR for the senior management to be seen to buy a few shares.'

Lund-Yates says share sales and purchases by directors can be a sign of confidence or lack of it in a company's future, and although sometimes they will do this for normal reasons like retirement or buying a house, it is worth keeping an eye on this activity.

'If you see a number of directors buying or selling at the same time - particularly if it's the finance director - they could have a long-term view of the company that the market doesn't know.'

Breaking news: Free round-the-clock noise

'When I began my investment career in the earlier 1990s, many people would rely on thumbing through the pages of the Financial Times to check up on fund and share prices, as well as news about company results,' says Hollands.

'Of course the internet has changed all that. Investors now have access to a vast amount of information readily available on their phone or desktop around the clock. Much of this is free.'

You can check investing platforms, the feed of recent stock exchange announcements, stockbroker views on whether companies are a buy or a sell, and specialist financial news sites and apps, he says.

Lowcock says: 'Looking at the business pages and money sections of newspapers can help you identify investment opportunities and trends that may be driving markets.

'However, this needs to be balanced as sometimes when the news has broken it may be too late, so check the share prices before investing.'

Do be sceptical: Pub tips, online forums and self-styled gurus

The huge amount of information now available in the digital age has been accompanied by the spread of disinformation, warns Hollands.

He advises investors to exercise a healthy degree of caution about 'stock tips' that are not grounded in genuine research, particularly after recent headlines about incredible moves in the share price of US firm GameStop.

Are you dealing with a REAL financial firm? Watchdogs raise alarm over rise of 'clone' investment scams, and expose the new ruses to fool savers. Read more here.

'This might give the wrong impression that investing in shares is an opportunity to get-rich-quick like a game of roulette. Genuine investing however is about buying shares in sound companies for the long-term.'

Hollands says anyone is entitled to an opinion on an investment, and you can find them shared freely on online discussion boards.

But he cautions: 'Following a tip from a complete stranger  whether online or in a pub - whose expertise you know nothing about and financial circumstances or attitude to risk may be very different from your own, isn't very wise as they may be playing you.

'They could just be an enthusiastic hobbiest, keen to share their views in the interest of genuine debate, but they could also be a charlatan looking to ramp up a share they already own in the hope that others will push the share price up so they can get out.

'Ultimately, this can result in lemming like behaviour, where you jump on a bandwagon started by others which might end in tears.

'Many of those late in to GameStop have now found they paid a very high price for shares in a pretty pedestrian company, with the shares losing over 80 per cent of their value last week.'

Hollands adds that talented investors do not charge people to attend courses to learn 'the secrets of their success'.

'Be very wary of people trying to make a living by claiming to be financial gurus as they might just turn out to be the modern equivalent of a snake oil salesman.'

Lowcock says: 'It is very hard to know how good a tip is and if it is an investment tip or just a speculative punt.

'The quality of the tip is very hard to verify and often tipsters are not investors but speculators.'

He says investors should also be on the alert against ideas that sound too good to be true.

'If you ever come across an idea or investment that just sounds so good, then you really need to consider it in more detail, before considering it as an investment.'
OTTAWA, ON, Feb. 10, 2021 /CNW/ - Today, the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, announced that 5,054 Canadian dairy farmers have already received their payments, totalling $267.1 million, under the second year of the Dairy Direct Payments Program. This represents roughly 51 % of the more than 10,000 dairy farmers across the country. Minister Bibeau made the announcement as part of a keynote speech to the Dairy Farmers of Canada at their Annual General Meeting.

With these direct payments the Government of Canada is delivering on its commitment to provide full and fair compensation to supply-managed sectors for market access concessions made under the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

Dairy farmers will receive $1.75 billion in direct payments over the course of four years, with $345 million made available in year one (2019-20) and $468 million currently available under year two of the program. Another $469 million will be available in 2021-22, and $468 million in 2022-23. The owner of a farm with 80 dairy cows will be awarded compensation in the form of a direct payment of approximately $38,000 for each of these remaining years.

These amounts also build on the $250 million CETA on-farm investment program, and provide certainty on the schedule and form of remaining payments in the $2 billion total compensation package for dairy farmers.

The Government of Canada remains committed to engaging the sector on full and fair compensation for the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), and to providing compensation to processors of supply-managed products.

Canada's supply managed farmers are the backbone of rural communities across the country, and help ensure a strong Canadian economy and agriculture sector. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, these farmers have consistently demonstrated their outstanding commitment to providing high-quality products to the Canadians who rely on them.

Quote

"Our Government is moving full steam ahead to ensure that supply-managed sectors receive full and fair compensation that gives them the predictability and support necessary for their success for generations to come. More than 50% of producers have already received their second payment. The Government continues to work tirelessly to ensure that dairy, poultry and egg producers remain resilient and prosperous."

- The Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

Quick Facts

Letters were mailed to all Canadian dairy producers in January to provide them with directions on how to register for this second payment. Producers must register through the Canadian Dairy Commission prior to March 31, 2021 to receive a payment under this program year.

to receive a payment under this program year. There are 10,095 dairy farms in Canada , supporting close to 19,000 direct jobs on farms. The demand for Canadian dairy remains strong, and has led to a 9% increase in raw milk production between 2016 and 2019.

, supporting close to 19,000 direct jobs on farms. The demand for Canadian dairy remains strong, and has led to a 9% increase in raw milk production between 2016 and 2019. There are over 4,750 chicken, egg, broiler hatching egg, and turkey farmers across Canada . These farmers generated over $4.9 billion in farm cash receipts in 2019, totalling 7.4 percent of all farm cash receipts in Canada . According to industry, Canada's poultry and egg sector supports more than 140,000 direct and indirect jobs.

. These farmers generated over in farm cash receipts in 2019, totalling 7.4 percent of all farm cash receipts in . According to industry, poultry and egg sector supports more than 140,000 direct and indirect jobs. Details of federal compensation programs for chicken, egg, turkey and broiler hatching egg producers, totaling $691 million over ten years, are being discussed in consultation with industry representatives. These consultations are progressing well, further program details expected to be available this spring.

Additional Links

Follow us on Twitter: @AAFC_Canada

Like us on Facebook: CanadianAgriculture

SOURCE Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

For further information: Jean-Sebastien Comeau, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, [email protected], 343-549-2326; Media Relations, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, 613-773-7972, 1-866-345-7972, [email protected]

Related Links

www.agr.gc.ca


Former state Assemblyman Terry Goggin was sentenced to a year in prison Wednesday for his role in a money laundering scheme to deceive investors in a chain of coffee shops at BART stations.

Goggin, a Democrat who represented San Bernardino from 1974 until 1984, pleaded guilty to a felony charge of money laundering in December 2019. As part of the plea agreement, he admitted to defrauding investors in a company he founded, Metropolitan Coffee & Concessions, which owned four Peets Coffee & Tea shops in BART stations.

The former assemblyman was sentenced to one year and one day in prison and ordered to pay $685,000 in restitution, according to a statement from U.S. Attorney David L. Anderson. Upon his release from prison, Goggin, 79, will serve three years on probation.

Goggin befriended former San Francisco mayor and Assembly speaker Willie Brown during their time working together as state lawmakers. He later followed Brown to San Francisco to practice law after Brown was elected mayor in 1995.

A federal grand jury in Oakland indicted Goggin in November 2018 on four counts of wire fraud and nine counts of money laundering stemming from his time overseeing the coffee company.

Goggin sought funding to expand his chain of BART coffee shops from 2007 to 2014. He collected $685,000 from multiple investors, who were told their money would be used to improve the existing coffee shops and build new ones at the Civic Center and Balboa Park BART stations.

In truth, he planned to use the funds otherwise, said Anderson.

Prosecutors said he lied to investors about his plans and misled them about the financial state of his company, which later went bankrupt.

Goggin later admitted to using some of the $685,000 in investment funds for other business ventures and personal expenses after prosecutors accused him of transferring thousands of dollars to a lover in Thailand.

His lawyer, Deputy Federal Public Defender Hanni Fakhoury, declined to comment on the sentencing.

Nora Mishanec is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: nora.mishanec@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @NMishanec
San Diego weighs in at No. 9 of California's 58 counties. Even though it has the state's second-highest population, with 3.3 million people, it has managed to vaccinate 15.2 percent of them.

Orange  almost identical in population to San Diego, with 3.2 million residents  has vaccinated 12.9 percent of its population, landing the No. 21 spot.

Massive Los Angeles, with 10 million people, has vaccinated 12.3 percent, coming in at No. 23.

Riverside, with 2.5 million people, was No. 39, with 9.4 percent vaccinated.

San Bernardino, with a population of 2.1 million, was No. 41, with 9.2 percent vaccinated.

In last place, at No. 58, was Kings County, with just 5 percent vaccinated

A Better Measure?

Vaccine Calculations

Vaccine Distribution Funnel

(TNS)  California is pushing shots into arms at a much faster clip than it was just a month ago  closing in on the national average, with vows to accelerate even further  but the pace of COVID-19 vaccinations varies greatly from county to county within the Golden State.A Southern California News Group analysis of state data found that smaller counties with fewer people and less complicated logistics are leading the pack in vaccinating their residents: Little Mono, with 14,526 residents, ranked No. 1, managing to vaccinate one out of every three residents. On its heels was tiny Alpine, population 1,209, getting shots into 27 percent of its residents.But inoculation pace is not a simple function of size. Some big counties appear better than others at getting the job done:The differing rates reflect complicated variables, as well as the state's still-shaky data-gathering system, officials said. How many people are in priority groups within a county's borders dictates how much vaccine they get. There's also the ease  or difficulty  of scheduling appointments, the availability of transportation to vaccination sites, the willingness of people to embrace the shots, and, most importantly, the scarcity of vaccine itself, as demand far outpaces supply."The issue for vaccinations is an issue of available supply nationwide," Gov. Gavin Newsom said Wednesday. "The issue of scarcity is real."Newsom acknowledged the state has fallen behind, especially on the effort to ensure densely populated communities of color and others hardest hit by the coronavirus, are not overlooked."We are falling short of our goals of making sure we are truly being equitable in the distribution of this vaccine," Newsom said at a briefing in the Central Valley, where preparations are underway for the eventual distribution of the vaccine to agricultural workers."Our commitment to equity is not rhetorical. It's real," Newsom said, adding that equity metrics on the rollout are due out later this week, and will show the state is, indeed, lagging.He also said several testing sites operated by state partner OptumServe are being converted to vaccination clinics across California  with a goal of reaching residents in hard-hit neighborhoods. That, in tandem with new mass vaccination sites at Oakland's Alameda Stadium and Cal State Los Angeles joining the array of community sites, will open up vaccine distribution to the most vulnerable, Newsom said.But as with most vaccine pledges from public officials, it all came with a caveat: getting enough vaccine in the first place.On Wednesday, L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti announced the Dodger Stadium vaccine center would close Friday and Saturday because it expects to run out of vaccines.In Riverside County, spokeswoman Brooke Federico said the better measure of distribution efficiency is how much vaccine received is actually in people's arms.Statewide, just shy of 66 percent of vaccines delivered have made their way into arms, according to state data. And while county-by-county data is not yet available from the state, Southern California counties report doing much better than the state average.Riverside County has administered 86 percent of the doses it has received, Federico said. San Bernardino and Orange counties say they both have administered 89.5 percent; Los Angeles is at 82 percent.Officials warned that the state's data-gathering has many holes and that vaccination may well be under-reported. Orange County, for example, tracks the ZIP codes of those vaccinated, but when it uploads data to the state system, the ZIP codes are stripped out, said Supervisor Lisa Bartlett."The state data has to get scrubbed, cleaned up," Bartlett said, fearing that such errors could impact how much vaccine counties are allocated in the future.Counties don't get vaccine supply based on simple, total population, Federico said.Instead, allocations are based on how many people are in priority groups in each county. That means even counties with identical total populations would get different amounts of vaccine based on how many folks over 65 they have, how many health care workers they have, how many nursing home residents they have.To illustrate: San Diego County has a health care and skilled nursing facility workforce of 352,174, while Riverside County's workforce in that category is 113,614. San Diego got 13.3 percent of the state's early vaccine supply, while Riverside got 4.3 percent.The calculations will change as vaccine is offered more widely. Now that people 65 and older are eligible, Riverside County has 387,429 people in that priority group, and will get an allocation much closer to San Diego's: 6.19 percent starting on Feb. 16, Federico said. San Diego County, with 496,742 eligible, will get 7.94 percent.Orange County has more people over 65 than San Diego, and will be getting more supply as well, said Clayton Chau, director of the Orange County Health Care Agency.Complicating comparisons, said San Bernardino County spokesman David Wert, is that each county also is vaccinating a large number of residents from other counties. "That's because, besides seniors, the only eligible sectors are employment-based, and a sizable number of health care, emergency, and education workers get vaccinated where they work, not where they live, and those are often different counties," he said.Clearly, the numbers are a work in progress, and will be more meaningful after vaccinations have been available to the general population for a while, Wert said.Another detail escaping most people is that counties aren't providing the bulk of vaccinations.Large, independent health systems have received some 70-80 percent of the vaccine supply and give the shots directly, said Andrew Do, chairman of the Orange County Board of Supervisors. Frustrated people  told it's not their turn yet by their health providers  then turn to the county seeking shots, he said.Moderna and Pfizer are scaling up production, and Johnson & Johnson's vaccine candidate is slated to go before the Food and Drug Administration for emergency use authorization on Feb. 26. Quick approval is expected, and the company has vowed to have 100 million doses available by June.Things are ramping up quickly. A month ago, California trailed the nation, vaccinating just 1,981 of every 100,000 residents. The pace has picked up considerably, with nearly 4.8 million doses administered, or 12,109 per 100,000 residents. That's very close to the national average of 12,810, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and OurWorldInData in London."I hope I'm waking up a month from now and we have plenty of vaccine  and I'm not getting any more arrows shooting in my back," Chau said. "I'm very confident we have the capacity, the infrastructure, that will help us respond to the need."
Kolkata, Feb 11 : Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday came down heavily on the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal for not allowing the chant of "Jai Shree Ram" as slogans.

Shah said that "Mamata Didi" gets angry if someone chants "Jai Shree Ram" in Bengal as a political slogan. He also said that Banerjee treats people like criminals if they use the Jai Shree Ram-chant.

"Is it an insult to her? When so many people take pride in it, the Bengal CM feels insulted. It's because she wants to appease a particular community to maintain her vote bank politics.

"I want to ask her that do the people from other communities not vote for her in the state? "If slogans of Jai Shri Ram are not raised in India, then will they be raised in Pakistan?" he said at a rally in Cooch Bihar district while kick-starting "Parivartan Yatra".

Shah will also visit Thakurnagar in North 24-Parganas Bongaon to address a rally there in the evening. He had arrived in Guwahati on Wednesday night and on Thursday met Ananta Roy, the chief of Greater Coochbehar Peoples' Association (GCPA), in Assam's Chirang district.

He said Banerjee is only focused at making her nephew Abhishek Banerjee the next chief minister of West Bengal.

"Had Dilip Ghosh not been there, she would have announced it long back. But she is scared now. I would urge people to choose Prime Minister Narendra Modi's development drive this time and reject Mamata's destructive politics.

"She constantly fights with the Centre. I want to ask you will it help bring developments in Bengal?" the Union Minister said.

Shah said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s Parivartan Yatra is targeted to eradicate corrupt Trinamool government in West Bengal. "This campaign is for building 'Sonar Bangla' (referring to the golden days of Bengal from history). We want to give you that in next five years," he added.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text

There was once a time when hard drives that spun at 10,000 and 15,000 RPMs were considered fast storage. Then came the SSD and blew that all away. But there are some old servers out there still using them, and they could use a more modern approach.

HPE has announced an SSD replacement option for SATA-connected disk drives in its Apollo, ProLiant and Synergy servers called Very Read-Optimized (VRO). These 2.5-inch and 3.5-inch SSDs use SATA interfaces and are plug-in replacements for the drives in the servers.

HPE claimed in a Community Experts blog post this week that the drives will deliver better TCO than 10,000 RPM HDDs, although really, that's not a hard claim to make. Based on HPE's own testing, you can get 70,000 read IOPS on an HPE SATA VRO SSD compared to 400 IOPS on the fastest HPE 10K HDD. It's not even close. HPE argues that the upgrade pays for itself. It says the SSDs are up to three times more energy efficient than the 10K drives.

"And for years, that's exactly what HPE has been working toward: Enabling you to experience the breakthrough performance, reliability, and energy efficiency of SSDs on HPW ProLiant, Apollo and Synergy platforms  at the closest possible price to the HDDs. Now available to replace HDDs in popular workloads, that's exactly what we're excited to deliver," the company said in its blog post.

VRO SSDs are optimized for mostly read use. They're designed around a greater than 80% random read use and less than 20% sequential writes (large block size). Such storage workloads include vSAN capacity tiers, NoSQL databases, business intelligence, Hadoop, analytics, object stores, content delivery, and AI and machine-learning data lakes.

The VRO drives are being positioned as replacements for 1-8TB HDDs. They have a 6GBit/sec SATA interface, which is slower than the PCI Express interface but still orders of magnitude faster than a mechanical hard drive. They're available in 1.92TB, 3.84TB, and 7.68TB capacities in the 2.5-inch form factor and 3.84TB and 7.68TB versions in the 3.5-inch form factor.

The company also makes similar points for target use cases:

SQL databases: 10x faster SQL analytics at lower TCO

NoSQL databases: 7x faster NoSQL on HPE ProLiant DL380 at lower TCO

Hadoop and Big Data: 2 hours faster sorts on HPE Apollo 4200 at lower TCO

Object stores: 6x faster object stores at lower TCO

Content delivery network (CDN): serve 200x more CDN users at lower TCO

Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML): 25% faster AI/ML training at lower TCO

One thing missing: the price. HPE hasn't responded to a request for a price, but I suspect it's higher than the $229 for a 2TB Samsung SSD you can get on Newegg.com. Which is the same price as a 1.2TB 10K RPM Seagate Enterprise Performance disk drive.

HPE is simply factoring in lower power draw, less time to read data, and a longer lifespan than the 10K drives, which have a higher failure rate than 7200 RPM drives.

Francistown  The Measles Rubella Campaign that started in earnest beginning of February is reportedly proceeding well in Francistown.

The campaign, undertaken on a five-year cycle, targets children aged nine to 59 months.

The theme for this year's campaign, expected to end February 12 is 'Vaccinated Communities, Healthy Communities'.

Greater Francistown DHMT Senior Nursing Officer Ms Sekani Chikunyana, who is also the head of Preventative Services, told BOPA in an interview Tuesday that parents were coming in droves to have their children immunised.

She attributed the high turnout to the Ministry of Health and Wellness' community mobilization that started last year.

"Mind you, this campaign was supposed to have taken place in 2020 but the advent of COVID-19 threw a spanner in the works," she said.

Ms Chikunyana said immunisation spots had been created in an effort to decongest the 39 facilities under Greater Francistown DHMT.

"We have also engaged the services of volunteers in this campaign and this has made the entire crusade a success," she said.

Source : BOPA
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The Manhattan prosecutors noted to officials in Washington that they initially raised the idea in the summer, before the 60-day cutoff, the people said. And after the election, the prosecutors tried again.

But even then, political appointees in Mr. Trumps Justice Department, including officials in the deputy attorney generals office at the time, did not approve, noting Mr. Trump was still contesting the election results in several states  a legal effort being led by Mr. Giuliani, the people said.

The opposition rankled both the Manhattan prosecutors and some career officials in Washington, who questioned whether senior officials were treating all politically sensitive investigations equally after the election. While Manhattan prosecutors still faced opposition to examining Mr. Giulianis records, federal prosecutors in Delaware were allowed to issue subpoenas for a tax investigation into Mr. Bidens son, Hunter Biden.

And while the political appointees were skeptical that there was enough evidence to charge Mr. Giuliani, the career officials involved felt there was sufficient reason to believe that the search would turn up evidence of a crime, the legal standard to obtain a warrant.

Ultimately, senior officials in Washington proposed delaying a decision on the subpoena until the Biden administration took over. It is unclear whether the prosecutors have obtained a warrant since Mr. Biden was sworn in.

The episode was not the only time Mr. Trumps Justice Department had tried to intervene in a politically sensitive investigation by the United States attorneys office in Manhattan, one of the most independent prosecutors offices in the country. In June, Mr. Trump fired the head of the office, Geoffrey S. Berman, who oversaw a number of investigations into Mr. Trumps allies, including Stephen K. Bannon.

CNN first reported on Wednesday that the potential search warrant was met with resistance from Justice Department officials in Washington who questioned the strength of the evidence against Mr. Giuliani. In December, NBC News reported that the Manhattan prosecutors had discussed making a legal request for Mr. Giulianis electronic communications.
Photo: The Canadian Press Chief coroner Lisa Lapointe provides an update on illicit drug toxicity deaths in the province during a news conference at the B.C. legislature in Victoria on Monday, February 24, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito

British Columbia is asking for a federal exemption to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of drugs for personal use after more people died from overdoses in 2020 than any other year.

Sheila Malcolmson, minister of mental health and addictions, said the province wants to see a national approach to decriminalization, failing that, she has asked federal Health Minister Patty Hajdu to consider a provincial exemption.

Decriminalization is a vital step toward saving lives because it helps reduce stigma as a barrier for treatment, she said.

"Whether it's Canada-wide or in B.C., it is in the federal government's power to act," she said at a news conference Thursday.

Chief coroner Lisa Lapointe said 1,716 people died last year from illicit drug overdoses as she and others expressed their frustration at the slow pace of action.

The "alarming" death rate of 33.4 per 100,000 people represented the most fatalities in a single year from any unnatural cause, and far surpassed those caused by suicides, homicides, motor vehicle crashes and prescription drug deaths combined, she said.
It comes as no surprise that President Biden doesn't plan to let up on the US pursuit of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, after widespread hopes and expectations that Trump was going to pardon Assange during his last days in office, which didn't happen.

Despite the US losing its push in a London court for the UK to extradite him in a ruling early last month on grounds that he would likely be subject to cruel punishment, the US government now has until a February 12 deadline to submit its "grounds for appeal". It's now been confirmed that the Biden administration intends to do just that.

"We continue to seek his extradition," said Justice Department spokesman Marc Raimondi on Tuesday. This is exactly what Assange's legal team and supporters feared  Washington plans to drag this out as long as possible, leaving him to languish at Belmarsh prison, tied up in the seeming endless legal process.

Initially last year the Trump administrated formally indicted Assange on 17 counts of espionage and one count of conspiracy to commit a computer crime, which together would mean 175 years in prison if convicted.

Interestingly, Biden's stance is however a departure from the prior Obama policy. As one of the journalists most closely following Assange's confinement and trial notes:

The statement represents a departure from President Barack Obama's administration, which declined to prosecute Assange. Justice Department officials were reportedly concerned about the threat it would pose to press freedom.

If he were brought to the United States it would most certainly mean he'd spend the remainder of his life at the notorious at ADX Florence, the supermax facility that currently houses terrorists, murderers, and traitors to the US government - where inmates spend 23 out of 24 hours in a small cell with no view of the outside world.

Based on this British district judge Vanessa Baraitser's January 4th decision cited that Assange's fragile mental state was "such that it would be oppressive to extradite him to the United States of America."

Thus it appears the legal saga and Assange's imprisonment could press on for months more, and according to the worst-case scenario, even years.

A Mercedes driver allegedly veered into oncoming traffic as he was pursued by police for 60km along a major highway before he crashed into officers.

Andrew Bell, 26, allegedly sped off after police tried to pull him over on the Pacific Highway near Murrays Beach on the NSW Central Coast at 11am on Thursday.

Bell allegedly attempted a U-turn but crashed into two police cars at the M1 motorway's Kariong exit near Gosford about 11.32am, when he was arrested.

The crash scene after a black Mercedes (centre) crashed into two police cars (left) on the M1's Kariong exit near Gosford at approximately 11.32am on Thursday

'The vehicle involved was searched and officers allegedly found a knife and a small amount of methamphetamine,' NSW Police said.

A male senior constable involved in the crash was treated for a fractured wrist and facial injuries before being rushed to hospital for a surgery on the wrist.

He allegedly drove south and crossed into an oncoming northbound lane, at which point police temporarily called off the pursuit.

Two highway patrol cars eventually stopped the Mercedes by crashing into it, wedging it between their cars and a rock face on the M1 near the Kariong exit.

Police allegedly found a knife and a small amount of methamphetamine while searching the Mercedes

The crash caused traffic chaos from 11.32am to 12.45pm, by which point the debris was cleaned up.

Bell was charged with driving dangerously in a police pursuit, disqualified driving, resist arrest, drug possession and possessing a knife in a public place at Gosford Police Station.

He was refused bail and will appear in Gosford Local Court on Friday.

Investigators are calling for anyone with dash-cam footage of the pursuit to come forward and submit it as evidence.
Crown Resorts chairperson Helen Coonan with Crown boss Ken Barton. Credit:Eamon Gallagher News Corporation reported on Thursday night Crown boss Ken Barton had agreed to resign following a meeting with chairman Helen Coonan. Crown did not respond to questions and Mr Barton could not be reached. However, sources close to the company said Mr Barton had been in discussions with Ms Coonan about his future and expected his resignation would be imminent. The Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation, which the government says may be reformed in light of the review, has instructed Crown to remove former AFL boss Andrew Demetriou as a board member. Andrew Demetriou has resigned from Crown Resorts. Credit:The Age

Late on Thursday, Mr Demetriou advised Ms Coonan of his resignation from the Crown Resorts board, effectively immediately. Loading This was not an easy decision and I have thought carefully about taking this step, the former AFL boss said in a statement. I have always been a team player and supported the greater good. I will therefore step down from the Crown Resorts Board to give Crown the best possible chance of becoming suitable to the NSW Regulator. Asked whether the Victorian Labor Party should continue receiving Crown donations, an Andrews government spokeswoman said: This is a matter for the party, however all donations are declared appropriately.

The NSW report states Crown contributed about $1.4 billion to the Victorian governments revenue base since 2014. Premier Daniel Andrews has consistently emphasised the economic value of the casino, which is the largest single-site employer in Victoria. Tony Robinson, Victorian government gaming minister between 2007-10, said the amount Crown had donated to parties was inconsequential relative to how much they spend during elections. Mr Robinson has been highly critical of the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulations monitoring of Crown. He predicted Crown would halt donations until it attempted to resurrect its brand, and said he never felt pressure to make policy decisions in Crowns favour because of the donations his party received. I dont think it had any influence on the way policy is made, he said.

The federal Labors party secretariat said it would immediately review whether to continue taking money from Crown following the damning findings. Crowns donations to federal Labor are under review, Labors national secretary Paul Erickson said. Labor leader Anthony Albanese declined to comment on the review, with a spokesperson saying it was a matter for the party executive. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video Greens leader Adam Bandt said major parties should go further than banning donations and return money they had already received. The Greens did not receive any donations from Crown at a federal level.

Crown has donated $303,000 to federal Coalition candidates in Victoria, compared to about $250,000 to Labor Party candidates. Loading The state opposition said this week that Mr Andrews was weak on policing Crown due to donations the company gave to Labor. The federal and Victorian Liberal Party secretariats declined to comment on whether they would continue taking Crown donations. The Victorian Labor Party will wait on the results of the federal branchs review of Crowns donations before taking any action. Crown has not donated directly to the state election campaign funds of either major party in Victorian since 2018. Before 2018, Victorian parties were not required to disclose how much they received in donations for state campaigns.

Because of the way federal and state donations laws interacted before 2018, some of the Victorian parties donations declared to the AEC may have been used for state election campaigns. Major parties in WA have said they will not take Crown donations before the states March election, as WA regulators review the findings of the NSW inquiry and potential implications for the companys WA casino licence. Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation chief Catherine Myers said on Thursday she would demand Mr Barton and high-profile director Andrew Demetriou explain why they should be allowed to be involved with the groups flagship Melbourne casino after being heavily criticised in the NSW report. That came hours after her NSW counterpart, Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority chair Philip Crawford, said that Crown needed to part ways with Mr Barton and the former AFL boss Mr Demetriou if it ever wanted to open its new casino at Barangaroo in Sydney. Commissioner Patricia Bergins findings were released publicly on Tuesday afternoon.

Former Supreme Court judge Patricia Bergins report found that Mr Barton was no match for what is needed at the helm of a casino and called Mr Demetrious appearance at her public inquiry unedifying. Ms Coonan said on Thursday that she accepted the criticism from the report was warranted and repeated our unreserved apologies for these shortcomings. We do not underestimate the scale of the problem and appreciate there is a need for root and branch change, she said. This change has commenced. Crown was set to open the gaming floors at its Sydney casino in late December but the regulator blocked it from doing so after evidence of money laundering at Crowns Melbourne and Perth casinos emerged in the Bergin inquiry.

The top five political donors at a federal level in the last financial year included Clive Palmers Mineralogy, Anthony Pratts Pratt Holdings, Woodside Energy, Macquarie Group and the Australian Hotels Association. In 2018, the Victorian government introduced some of the strictest donation laws in the country that limit donors from contributing more than $4000 over a four-year term. Every donation over $1000 must be publicly disclosed. Gambling companies cannot donate to NSW political parties, but they can donate to the NSW branches of political parties so long as the money is used to fund the federal election campaigns rather than state campaigns. This is because federal laws, which do not prohibit gambling donations, apply to donations to federal campaigns. NSW caps donations at $6600 per year for each donor. The federal Labor Party is advocating for a cap on donations for federal elections.
While the COVID-19 pandemic brought most of the country to a standstill in March 2020, Philadelphia trauma surgeons noticed an alarming trend in the incidence of firearm violence. Instead of decreasing with containment measures, firearm-injured patients were presenting at even higher rates to Temple University Hospital and other trauma centers around the city.

A team led by Jessica H. Beard, MD, MPH, FACS, Assistant Professor of Surgery and Director of Trauma Research at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University (LKSOM), sought to determine the magnitude of Philadelphia's increase in firearm violence during the COVID-19 pandemic. They also aimed to understand potential causes of the increase by trying to pinpoint when the increase occurred.

They hypothesized that two major events of 2020 could explain the increase in firearm violence in Philadelphia: the enactment of public health policies designed to contain COVID-19 and a national reckoning with systemic racism, including widespread protests sparked by the police killing of George Floyd.

In a new research letter published in JAMA, Dr. Beard and her team used the Philadelphia Police registry data of shooting victims from January 1, 2016 through November 26, 2020 to determine when the spike in firearm violence began. They examined changes in the number of individuals shot per week in the city following the enactment of Philadelphia's first COVID-19 containment policy (closure of non-essential businesses) on March 16, 2020, and following the killing of George Floyd on May 25, 2020.

The team found that there were 7,159 individuals shot in the city overall during the 256 weeks included in the study. Prior to Philadelphia's first COVID-19 containment policy, there was an average of 25 individuals shot per week. In the weeks after that policy was put in place on March 16, 2020, the average number of individuals shot per week climbed to 46. A time-series analysis found that the increase in firearm violence was strongly associated with the enactment of COVID-19 containment policies. The killing of George Floyd was not associated with any significant increase in the rate of gun violence in the study model.

These findings indicate a significant and sustained increase in firearm violence in Philadelphia following enactment of COVID-19 containment policies.

In the city of Philadelphia, shootings are often geographically concentrated in lower-income communities. These communities have not only been disproportionately affected by the coronavirus disease itself, but the pandemic and its associated policies have also exacerbated issues that were already present, including unemployment, poverty, structural racism and place-based economic disinvestment, which are empirically tied to firearm violence in Philadelphia." Jessica H. Beard, MD, MPH, FACS, Assistant Professor of Surgery and Director of Trauma Research, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University

Our research shows that the measures put in place to contain the pandemic for health and safety reasons had a significant and sustained association with increased firearm violence in the city. In addition to mitigating the impact of COVID-19 in Philadelphia, we must also come together to address what is now an epidemic of gun violence in the city."
[February 11, 2021] Counties and Hospitals Turn to Rave Mobile Safety to Power Vaccine Distribution

Rave Mobile Safety (Rave), the critical communication and collaboration platform customers count on when it matters most, today announced Morris County, N.J. and Blair County, Pa. are among the latest counties to leverage the company's Vaccine Distribution Solution to identify and communicate with vulnerable populations, deliver tailored guidance and logistical information and conduct ongoing check-ins to ensure the success of vaccine rollout. As vaccination efforts continue, public agencies need communication systems that help them understand who is most at risk and target updates and clear instructions to groups of residents. For those communications to be effective, it is critical those tasked with vaccine distribution can reach residents via modes of communication they rely on most, whether that's text, phone or email. Morris County has utilized its Rave notification system for various communications since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. This information included communications to the county's first responders, leadership and other partners with critical COVID-19 related notifications, weather notifications and vaccination appointment availability notifications. Additionally, Morris County is urging residents to create Smart911 Safety Profiles, where they can sign up for alerts and notifications through Morris County's alert system, "AlertMorris." By creating a Smart911 profile, residents can provide critical information, including preexisting medical conditions, that can be provided to first responders in the event of an emergency. Signing up for this system allows the Morris County Office of Emergency Management to proactively identify and communicate with individuals who become eligible for the vaccine based on preexisting conditions, and individuals can then be notified by their partner, Atlantic Health System, when vaccination appointments are available. "We are working on a joint plan with Atlantic Health System to communicate with all of our Morris County residents and get them signed up for alerts to schedule vaccine appointments," said Jeffrey Paul, Director, Office of Emergency Management, Morris County Dept. of Law & Public Safety. "In addition, the significant benefit of registering with Smart911 goes way beyond vaccine scheduling. A Smart911 profile can make the difference between life and death, when you dial 9-1-1 and your safety profile becomes visible to our Moris County 9-1-1 Communications Center and ultimately to the first responders who are responding to your aid."



"This system has already saved lives, and we highly encourage Morris County residents to sign up for Smart911, which can be done easily and at no cost," said Morris County Commissioner Doug Cabana, a liaison to public health and safety issues. "We know this system can make a difference in the lives of everyone in Morris County. Please join us by signing up." Blair County has also urged residents to create Smart911 Safety Profiles to aid in vaccination distribution efforts.

"Our priority is to get as many of our residents vaccinated as quickly as possible. To accomplish that, we need to understand how our population fits into the phases of rollout and be able to contact them about vaccine appointment opportunities," said Mark Taylor, Director of Public Safety, Blair County Department of Emergency Services. "With Rave, we've experienced great results not only getting residents scheduled for vaccine appointments, but also providing first responders with health information, like conditions that make individuals vulnerable to COVID-19, that enable them to better help individuals in emergency situations." Hospitals have also turned to Rave to ensure doses of the vaccine are administered as soon as possible. Dayton Children's Hospital in Ohio is using Rave to notify and remind staff of their second dose appointments, which are critical to ensuring the efficacy of the vaccine. Rave's Vaccine Distribution Solution aids those overseeing vaccine distribution by: Surfacing vulnerable and at-risk populations based on demographics including age, all high-risk medical conditions as outlined by the CDC, functional and access needs, disabilities, employment status, geographic location and more throughout all phases of vaccine distribution, with the ability for that data to be leveraged by several key stakeholders, including public health and emergency management officials

based on demographics including age, all high-risk medical conditions as outlined by the CDC, functional and access needs, disabilities, employment status, geographic location and more throughout all phases of vaccine distribution, with the ability for that data to be leveraged by several key stakeholders, including public health and emergency management officials Delivering mass notifications and targeted communications to reach the right people with the right message, share tailored guidance and logistical information to inform the community and build confidence and trust through ongoing community engagement, outreach and education

to reach the right people with the right message, share tailored guidance and logistical information to inform the community and build confidence and trust through ongoing community engagement, outreach and education Continuously monitoring and querying the community to track symptoms, receive updates on any side effects, follow up to schedule second doses and poll residents for community feedback To learn more about Rave's Vaccine Distribution Solution, visit www.ravemobilesafety.com. About Rave Mobile Safety Rave Mobile Safety is the leading provider of critical communication and collaboration technology used to save lives, manage crisis incidents and increase resiliency. From major disasters and crisis events to everyday emergencies and operational incidents, the Rave platform enables critical data sharing, mass notification and emergency response coordination. Over 8,000 first responder, emergency management, 9-1-1, and federal, state and local agencies-as well as corporations, healthcare organizations, universities and schools-all rely on Rave to prepare better, respond faster, recover quicker and mitigate anticipated critical incidents. Founded in 2004, Rave's award-winning software solutions are backed by leading growth equity firm TCV. Let Rave enable you to do all you can todayTM to keep everyone safe. For more information, visit https://www.ravemobilesafety.com, read our company blog, and follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210211005210/en/

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Google has chosen Malaga as the headquarters of a cybersecurity centre of excellence that will have an international reach.

It will be located in the old military headquarters building on Paseo de la Farola which will be completely renovated to adapt to its new role.

The technology giant will have 2,500 square metres of space to relocate the more than 40 engineers that make up the Virustotal team who are currently based at the University of Malaga.

There will also be open spaces for the public and businesses, where "training, talks, workshops and mentoring on cybersecurity" will be given, according to company sources.

"The choice of Malaga to host this new Google hub is not by chance," they say. "This region has great talent."

Google began its association with the city of Malaga in 2012, when it acquired the company VirusTotal, founded by Bernardo Quintero from the city. Quintero has since become one of the top managers of Google's cybersecurity division worldwide.

The cybersecurity centre of excellence doesnt yet have an opening date as the renovation works of the building will be long and complex.

Investments of 650 million euros

Google has also announced other projects aimed at promoting the digitisation of Spain with investments worth 650 millioneuros this Thursday (11 February) at a meeting between the vicepresident of Google Iberia, Fuencisla Clemares, and Nadia Calvino, the Minister of Affairs for Economic and Digital Transition of the Government of Spain.

The technology giant said that, Before the pandemic, only 14 per cent of Spanish companies had a digitisation plan and today only 16 per cent use cloud services. The European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training (CEDEFOP) indicates that 43 per cent of people between 16 and 74 years old in Spain lack basic digital skills. With the aim of supporting this transformation, Google announces the investment of more than 650 million euros over five years to help the digital transformation of the country."

This investment will include the establishment of Google's first cloud region in Spain, announced in collaboration with Telefonica, and also Google's first private underwater cable to connect Spain with the United States and the United Kingdom which will allow Spanish companies and public administrations to accelerate their growth and unleash the potential of low latency, high performance cloud services.

The company said, During the pandemic, Google has worked with governments around the world, including Spain, to help face this crisis. In Spain we are collaborating with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation to provide official information about Covid-19, and with the Ministry of Education to show how our technology can help in distance learning."

"We have an opportunity ahead and we are convinced that public-private collaboration can make it possible to strengthen the country to face changes and uncertainty and take advantage of the opportunities that technology offers us," said company sources.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 11, 2021) - EMX Royalty Corporation (NYSE American: EMX) (TSXV: EMX) (the "Company" or "EMX") is pleased to announce the commencement of development construction on its Balya lead-zinc-silver royalty property in western Turkey. Operating partner Esan Eczacibasi Endustriyel Hammaddeler San. ve Tic. A.S. ("Esan") has informed EMX that it has commenced construction of a 4,900 meter decline and expects commercial production from the property to begin as early as Q4, 2021. These developments represent a key milestone for EMX, as Balya is an organically generated royalty property. EMX originally acquired the mineral rights to the Balya project via its exploration programs in Turkey, and then subsequently sold the project to a partner company for further advancement and development with EMX retaining a royalty interest.

Balya Royalty Property, Turkey. EMX retains a 4% net smelter return ("NSR") royalty on its Balya royalty property, which is situated in the historic Balya mining district of northwestern Turkey. Mining at Balya has taken place since antiquity, with several generations of historic operations. The district contains extensive zones of carbonate replacement style ("CRD") lead-zinc-silver mineralization in addition to skarn and more copper-rich styles of mineralization developed at depth.

Esan acquired the EMX royalty property at the end of 2019 (See EMX news release dated January 7, 2020), and is a private Turkish company that operates 40 mines and eight processing plants. Most importantly, Esan operates a lead-zinc mine and flotation mill on the property immediately adjacent to EMX's Balya royalty property. The Hastanetepe lead-zinc-silver polymetallic deposit on EMX's royalty property will be called the Balya North Deposit ("Balya North") from this point forward (see Figure 1).

Esan completed a 22,230 meter drill program in 2020 in order to update its exploration model and to also test for projections of mineralization at deeper levels in the system. This program was successful, and Esan has since notified EMX that it has started development of the 4,900 meter decline, which will reach its intended final depth in approximately two and a half years. However, Esan has also advised EMX that commercial production from "run of mine" material is anticipated in Q4, 2021 as development of the decline proceeds and encounters lead-zinc-silver mineralized bodies along its path. The decline will have dimensions of 5 meters by 5 meters, with a downward slope averaging 14%, which will reach a total depth of approximately 650 meters.

While development work on the decline proceeds, Esan will continue its exploration drilling, with 60,000 meters expected to be drilled in 2021. This work will continue to refine the current exploration models and also continue testing deeper levels in the system.

EMX congratulates Esan on its progress and looks forward to additional updates as work advances.

Dr. Eric P. Jensen, CPG, a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and employee of the Company, has reviewed, verified and approved the disclosure of the technical information contained in this news release.

About EMX. EMX is a precious and base metals royalty company. EMX's investors are provided with discovery, development, and commodity price optionality, while limiting exposure to risks inherent to operating companies. The Company's common shares are listed on the NYSE American Exchange and the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol EMX. Please see www.EMXroyalty.com for more information.

For further information contact:

David M. Cole

President and Chief Executive Officer

Phone: (303) 979-6666

Dave@emxroyalty.com

Scott Close

Director of Investor Relations

Phone: (303) 973-8585

SClose@emxroyalty.com

Isabel Belger

Investor Relations (Europe)

Phone: +49 178 4909039

IBelger@EMXroyalty.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may contain "forward looking statements" that reflect the Company's current expectations and projections about its future results. These forward-looking statements may include statements regarding perceived merit of properties, exploration results and budgets, mineral reserves and resource estimates, work programs, capital expenditures, timelines, strategic plans, market prices for precious and base metal, or other statements that are not statements of fact. When used in this news release, words such as "estimate," "intend," "expect," "anticipate," "will", "believe", "potential", "upside" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, which, by their very nature, are not guarantees of the Company's future operational or financial performance, and are subject to risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause the Company's actual results, performance, prospects or opportunities to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and factors may include, but are not limited to: unavailability of financing, failure to identify commercially viable mineral reserves, fluctuations in the market valuation for commodities, difficulties in obtaining required approvals for the development of a mineral project, increased regulatory compliance costs, expectations of project funding by joint venture partners and other factors.

Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this news release or as of the date otherwise specifically indicated herein. Due to risks and uncertainties, including the risks and uncertainties identified in this news release, and other risk factors and forward-looking statements listed in the Company's MD&A for the quarter ended September 30, 2020 (the "MD&A"), and the most recently filed Annual Information Form (the "AIF") for the year ended December 31, 2019, actual events may differ materially from current expectations. More information about the Company, including the MD&A, the AIF and financial statements of the Company, is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and on the SEC's EDGAR website at www.sec.gov.







Figure 1. Location of Balya North zone (formerly the Hastanetepe zone) and drill holes plotted according to ZnEq% grade x thickness.



To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/1508/74161_8bfffe2f94fed9dc_002full.jpg

Comments on Sampling, Assaying, QA/QC, Grade x Thickness Calculation, and Adjacent Properties. Esan's Balya drill samples were collected in accordance with industry standard best practices. The samples were submitted to ALS laboratories in Izmir, Turkey and Vancouver, Canada (ISO 9001:2000 and 17025:2005 accredited) for sample preparation and analysis. Elemental concentrations were determined by four acid digestion and ICP MS/AES techniques. Over-limit analyses are performed by atomic absorption, and in some cases (>30% Pb and >30% Zn) by volumetric titration techniques. Esan performed routine QA/QC analyses on their assay results, including the utilization of certified reference materials, blanks, and duplicate samples.

* Grade x Thickness (ZnEq x meters) calculated from intervals > 2% ZnEq. ZnEq calculated as Zn% + Pb%(0.8182) + Ag g/t(0.03367), and assumes that recoveries and net smelter returns are 100%. Assumed metal prices are $1.10/lb for Zn, $0.90/lb for Pb, and $25.40/oz for Ag. True widths vary from 60-95% of the drill intercepts.

Esan's project provides context for EMX's Balya royalty property, which occurs in a similar geologic setting. However, this is not necessarily indicative that Balya hosts mineralization with similar tonnages or grades.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/74161


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Seaside Aquarium Reopens | Other Oregon Coast, Portland-Area Counties Lowered

Published 02/10/21 at 4:06 AM PDT

By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff





(Oregon Coast)  More of the Oregon coast and the Portland metro area are opening back up again as state officials ease up some COVID restrictions. (Photo courtesy Seaside Aquarium)

Among the most high profile is Seaside Aquarium, which reopens Friday, February 12 after being mostly shut down since December when Clatsop County went to the extreme risk category. This week, Governor Kate Brown and Oregon Health Authority (OHA) announced the county was lowered to the high risk category.

Hours at the Seaside Aquarium will be 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., allowing the public to once again feed the seals. 503-738-6211.

Lowering the county to the high risk level also allows eateries and bars to open back up in the towns of Seaside, Cannon Beach, Warrenton and Astoria. Indoor dining is now allowed but with a 25 percent maximum capacity or 50 people, whichever is smaller.

Its not just the Seaside Aquarium and Clatsop County that have cause to celebrate. Washington, Multnomah and Clackamas counties were finally lowered to high risk after being in the extreme category since November 18. Many restaurants and bars in the counties with the highest-density populations had been barely scraping by with uncomfortable outdoor dining and to-go orders, this now allows more revenue and a slightly higher semblance of normality.

State officials urged extreme caution, however, as OHA is expecting another spike in cases after the Super Bowl.

On the Oregon coast, other counties that recently lowered their risk categories are Tillamook and Curry (lower risk) and Lincoln and Douglas (moderate), which includes the towns of Manzanita, Pacific City, Rockaway Beach, Brookings, Gold Beach, Reedsport, Lincoln City, Newport and Yachats, among others. The Oregon Coast Aquarium was allowed to reopen last month.

Two coastal counties remain in extreme risk: Coos and Lane, leaving the towns of Coos Bay, Bandon, and Florence, along with Eugene, with to-go food only and / or outdoor dining.

Farther north on the Washington coast, that shorelines only aquarium, Westport Aquarium, is scheduled to resume opening by appointment only on February 13. To make an appointment call 360-268-7070 and leave a message or email them at wpaquarium@gmail.com. MORE PHOTOS BELOW

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Joke

Patti Martin, 45, lives in California and claims no party, saying she finds Democrats and Republicans equally abhorrent. She voted for Mr. Trump.

I think its a waste of time and money. I think theres a lot more going on  like the pandemic, for one, job loss, for two. And I think we need to focus our energies on being more positive and how we can get people back to work so they dont lose their livelihoods. I know somebody said the president had incited it, and Im just like, Please, I dont believe that at all. At the end of the day, people are going to do what theyre going to do. These are grown people. They have to be responsible.

Unsurprising

William Hogan, 36, is an independent voter in Atlanta and a marketing director for a long-term care pharmacy company. He figures Congress has more important matters to focus on than impeaching and trying a president who has already left office.

Im glad that hes no longer president, but to me this feels like a waste of time. I certainly think he has some significant responsibility for what happened. But this impeachment is more kind of showmanship to me, and I think thats a shame because theres a lot that needs to get done. But it is what it is, and since they are going through with it, I wouldnt mind seeing him convicted.

Pointless

Sam Riddle, 50, is an operations manager for a construction equipment company and a Trump voter from Charleston, W.Va. He said he believed that Mr. Trump was not to blame for the insurrection, and that he was more interested in following President Bidens trade and stimulus policies than impeachment.

I did not spend a lot of time on that first one, and Ill spend even less time than that on the second one. Its not a concern to me. I want to see the news as to seeing what Bidens plans are now that he is the sitting president. Now, lets press forward. Lets try to save our country.

Methodology: We obtained a list of more than 1,000 people last year who had responded to a SurveyMonkey online survey and said they were voters and were willing to be interviewed by a reporter. We reached out last year to several hundred of those voters  covering a wide range of ages, races and ethnicities, political leanings and home states. This article includes interviews conducted this month with some of the people from that list plus three who had been interviewed on impeachment for a different article. The interviews do not constitute a scientific sampling of opinion.

Susan C. Beachy contributed research.

A week after the US advised against all travel to Tanzania its embassy in the East African country has said it is "aware of significant number of Covid-19 cases since January 2021".



Mitigation and prevention measures against the virus remained limited, a statement from the embassy said.



It warned that Tanzania's health facilities could be quickly overwhelmed if the situation continued.



Tanzania is one of the few countries in the world to not publish any data on Covid-19 cases - last doing so in May.



A month later, President John Magufuli declared the country to be "coronavirus-free".



Yet the authorities have continued to give mixed messages about the virus.



Last week the health minister recommended a vegetable smoothie and steam inhalation as a way of prevention.



This came a few days after Mr Magufuli had warned officials against importing Covid-19 vaccines saying they could harm people, without giving evidence.



In another development, officials have dismissed allegations made by The Open University of Tanzania that coronavirus is "spreading fast" in the country.



The institution's administrators had breached health protocols and had expressed a personal opinion, the education minister said in a statement.

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.

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Related Sudan and Egypt draw closer over GERD

Egypts Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry congratulated Mariam Al-Sadiq Al-Mahdi, the new foreign minister in the new Sudanese cabinet, on assuming the post, inviting her to visit Cairo at the earliest opportunity.

In a phone call on Wednesday, Shoukry affirmed to Al-Mahdi Egypts keenness to enhance bilateral relations with Sudan and to intensify coordination to achieve foster constructive strategic cooperation tying the two countries, a statement by the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said.

Meanwhile, Al-Mahdi expressed to Shoukry deep appreciation to Egypt and expressed her aspiration to continue joint work with the neighboring country to achieve stronger bilateral relations.

Al-Mahdi is the daughter of the late Sadiq Al-Mahdi, the leader of Al-Umma Party and two-time prime minister who passed away late last year.

She now leads her late father's party.

Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok announced his new cabinet, which consists of 26 ministers, on Monday night.

Al-Mahdi also stressed to the Egyptian foreign minister that enhancing bilateral relations with Egypt during the coming period represents a priority to Sudan.

Shoukry urged in the phone call building on the strong bilateral relations between the two countries to move to further horizons of partnership and cooperation that serve the peoples of the two countries and enhance the historic official and popular ties between the two countries, according to the statement.

Shoukry also wished Sudan and the Sudanese people permanent progress, prosperity and development.

In recent years, Egypt and Sudan have voiced similar concerns in the ongoing dispute with Ethiopia over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). Both countries have repeatedly affirmed that a reaching a binding legal agreement on the filling and operation of the GERD between all three countries is the only way out of the current stalemate in negotiations.

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As the U.S. approaches a year in quarantine, Robin Wright broke free from self-isolation to enjoy a bike ride with her husband Clement Giraudet.

The couple were spotted enjoying a leisurely bike ride through a neighborhood in Los Angeles on Thursday.

Robin, 54, looked carefree as she explored the suburban area, with her helmet resting upon her handle bars.

Riding high! Robin Wright enjoyed a brisk bike ride in Los Angeles with her husband Clement Giraudet on Thursday

The former House Of Cards actress wore a black jacket, turtleneck, and bright blue trainers, enabling her to effortlessly pedal her way around town.

She also wore a black pair of gloves, allowing for easier grip on the handlebars.

Her husband, 37, cruised by her side, though pedaled at a slightly faster rate than his lady love.

As the actress approached a busier street, Robin propped on her helmet in order to safely navigate the bustling big city.

Leading the way: Her husband, 37, cruised by her side, though pedaled at a slightly faster rate than his lady love

Robin and her husband have continued enjoying the outdoors throughout the pandemic, and have been spotted going for walks or bike rides together.

The actress married Clement in 2018, after beginning their relationship a year earlier.

She was previously married to actor Sean Penn, who is currently assisting with COVID-19 testing and vaccination efforts through his organization, CORE.

Safety first: As the actress approached a busier street, Robin propped on her helmet in order to safely navigate the bustling big city

Meanwhile, fans can catch more of Robin in the upcoming drama film Land, set for release February 12, 2021.

The film follows a bereaved woman named Edee (played by Wright), who begins living off the grid in the forests of Wyoming in order to start a new life.

The drama also stars Demian Bichir and Sarah Dawn Pledge.
MEDFORD, Ore.  In what has become an annual tradition, Dutch Bros plans to donate $1 from every drink sold on Valentine's Day to fight hunger through local food banks.

This year's "Dutch Luv Day" event is set for Sunday, February 14. Proceeds will go to food banks that serve the local community  including Access, the Josephine County Food Bank, and Klamath-Lake Counties Food Bank.

Dutch Bros says that customers can ask at the window to find out which organization their favorite stand is supporting. On average, a $1 donation helps provide three meals to people facing hunger.

Serving our communities is the heart of what we do at Dutch Bros, said Travis Boersma, co-founder and executive chairman of Dutch Bros Coffee. As we continue to grow as a company, our commitment to make a difference in our communities grows right along with it. Im stoked to see how our broistas, franchisees, operators and customers come together this year to share the Dutch Luv.

Dutch Luv began as a canned food drive in 2007, evolving over the next 15 years. Dutch Bros says that it has raised more than $1.8 million for non-profit food banks over the history of the event. In 2020 alone, the event raised $483,346  translating to more than 1.4 million meals.

Dutch Luv Day is one of our favorite days of the year, said Mason Smith, operator of Dutch Bros Grants Pass. Were stoked to partner with our customers to make a difference one cup at a time!
A snowstorm in Spain, called Filomena, caused business interruption and property losses estimated at nearly 1.8 billion ($2.2 billion), according to Aons monthly Global Catastrophe Recap report, which evaluates the impact of the natural disaster events that occurred worldwide during January 2021.

The report indicated a wide insurance protection gap for this event because insurance payments in the agricultural sector, along with flood-related property claims, only reached into the tens of millions of euros.

In the United States in January, an atmospheric river and low-pressure system brought intense wind and rain to the Pacific Northwest, Intermountain West and Northern Plains between Jan. 11-14, said the report. Widespread power outages, flash flooding, landslides, downed trees and property damage caused total economic losses estimated at $525 million. Slightly more than half of the losses were covered by insurance, said Aon.

An unseasonably strong high wind event affected central and southern California between Jan. 17-20. Wind gusts across the Sacramento Valley, Bay Area and Greater Los Angeles reached 60 to 70 mph (95 to 115 kph), with maximum gusts at higher elevations topping 90 mph (145 kph). Total losses were estimated at $350 million, with more than 50 percent covered by public and private insurers, said Aon.

Cyclone Eloise made an initial landfall in Madagascar on Jan. 19 before rapidly intensifying and striking Mozambique the same day as a Category 2-equivalent storm, killing at least 25 people. Landfall occurred near the city of Beira, which is still recovering from cyclones Idai and Kenneth (2019), and tens of thousands of homes were damaged or destroyed in Mozambique, Madagascar, Zimbabwe, Swaziland and South Africa.

While the European Windstorm season to-date has been relatively calm in comparison to peak loss years, winter Storm Filomena brought wintry conditions and cold temperatures not seen in Spain in two decades, said Michal Lorinc, catastrophe analyst for Aons Impact Forecasting team, in a statement. Winter weather is not often a primary driver of annual financial losses, but the level of direct and indirect disruption due to extreme freeze or excessive snowfall can lead to notable commercial and supply chain challenges.

Further natural hazard events occurring in January include:

Two notable outbreaks of severe weather with strong winds and heavy snowfall affected western Canada on Jan. 12-14 and 19-20. Total economic and insured losses were anticipated to reach into the tens of millions of dollars.

A magnitude-6.4 earthquake struck San Juan Province in west-central Argentina on Jan. 18. At least 3,000 structures were destroyed and 30,000 more were damaged.

In an active stretch of cyclonic weather, Windstorms Christoph and Hortense affected parts of Western Europe on Jan. 20-22 with strong winds and heavy rain. Significant flood-related losses from Christoph were registered in England and Wales.

Heavy snowfall and blizzard conditions affected northwestern parts of Japan from Jan. 7-12. As many as 23 people were killed, while total economic and insured losses were each expected to reach into the hundreds of millions of US dollars.

Source: Aon/Impact Forecasting

Photograph: A woman walks along Paseo Castellana covered with the snow in Madrid, Spain, on Monday, Jan. 11, 2021, a 50-year record snowfall that paralyzed large parts of central Spain. Photo credit: AP Photo/Manu Fernandez.

Topics Catastrophe Aon
Jude Laws actor son Rafferty cosied up to Vivienne Westwood and Sex Pistols manager Malcolm McLarens granddaughter Cora Corre in bed as they ate toasted sandwiches.

Rafferty, 24, who has previously dated Rita Ora, 30, and Brooklyn Beckhams ex Hana Cross, 23, has always been friends with Cora Corre, 24, but their latest picture will no doubt pose questions as to just how friendly they are.

It's also not known if the content is a throwback or even if the duo are living togeter as the UK remains in national lockdown.

Sweet: Rafferty Law, 24, cosied up to Vivienne Westwood and late Sex Pistols manager Malcolm McLarens granddaughter Cora Corre, 24, in bed on Instagram on Wednesday as they ate toasted sandwiches

Would you like some ketchup with that? Cora wore a white corseted dress as she posed with a plate of condiments

Coras mum, Serena Rees, founded Agent Provocateur and photogenic Cora took her first steps into the modelling world when she signed to Next model at the age of 17 in 2014.

Rafferty too, became a model around the same time, and the two have been friendly with one another for years as their respective partners have come and gone.

The handsome chap claims to be currently single is the new star of Charles Dickens adaptation Twist which he stars in with Ora.

Larking around: Rafferty posed for a picture and a video with Cora who, dressed in a short white corseted dress, appeared to ask him to order a taxi

Doing well: Coras mum, Serena Rees, founded Agent Provocateur and photogenic Cora took her first steps into the modelling world when she signed to Next model at the age of 17 in 2014

He looks the double of his father Jude, 48, who split from his actress mother Sadie Frost, 55, in 2003.

Rafferty posed for a picture and a video with Cora who, dressed in a short white corseted dress, appears to ask him to order a taxi.

In another video Cora is wearing a silky blue negligee and says she likes crusts on her toastie while Raff, who is in the giant bed beside her wearing a patterned short sleeved shirt, asks for Ketchup and no crusts.

She knows what she wants: In another video Cora is wearing a silky blue negligee and says she likes crusts on her toastie

McLaren, the man who created the Sex Pistols, died in October 2012 at the age of 64.

He been battling cancer for many months - an illness he had kept from the public.

Malcolm died in a clinic in Switzerland with his then 42-year-old son Joe Corre by his side. His body will be brought home to London for burial in Highgate cemetery.

He had found fame opening the clothes shop Sex on Chelsea's King's Road with his then lover Vivienne Westwood, 79, mother of Joe.

McLaren had met Miss Westwood in a squat. She was a primary school teacher who was running away from her husband and already had a child in tow. He was an art student.

'Vivienne was astonishing. I thought she looked very beautiful and I thought the kid was adorable,' he recalled.

Family: Dame Vivienne Westwood in 2006 with (left to right) son Joe Corre, seven-year-old Core Corre, Serena Rees, Dora Swire (Vivienne's mother) and Ben Westwood

Grandparents: McLaren found fame opening the clothes shop Sex on Chelsea's King's Road with his then lover Vivienne Westwood, 79, mother of Joe (pictured in 1981)

He got her pregnant when he was only 18 and pleaded with her to have an abortion. But Miss Westwood spent the money that his grandmother had provided for the operation on 'a cashmere twin-set' from Bond Street.

He had no idea what to do with a baby and even turned up at the maternity hospital three days late. 'Are you a long-distance lorry driver or something?' the nurse asked him.

He barely saw Joe when he was growing up and the child was sent to boarding school as Miss Westwood made her career in fashion.

The boutique he founded with Miss Westwood was more of a success than their failed attempts at family life.

Upon learning of his death, Vivienne said: 'When we were young and I fell in love with Malcolm, I thought he was beautiful and I still do. I thought he was a very charismatic, special and talented person.

'The thought of him dead is really very sad. We hadn't been in touch for a long time.'

In 1976, McLaren began to bring the Sex Pistols together and their anti-establishment single God Save the Queen stole the number one spot during the silver jubilee in 1977.

To whip up controversy on the Pistols' tour of America in 1978 he purposely booked them to play redneck bars, with predictably violent consequences.

Their music sold well but within two years bassist Sid Vicious and his girlfriend Nancy Spungen were dead, Sid from a heroin overdose, Nancy from a knife plunged through her heart, apparently by Sid.

McLaren said: 'I knew that something like this would happen eventually. It was almost a way of testing the boundaries, we all do it: you want to feel invulnerable, feel the razor's edge between life and death.

'Punk didn't just change the culture, it changed life, if only for a moment and that was the result of throwing yourself into the brink.'

Not everyone saw things in such elevated terms. Lydon felt used, and later sued McLaren and won control of the group.
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New Delhi, Feb 11 : Talented Gujarat shooter Elavenil Valarivan, the current world number one in women's 10m air rifle, beat compatriot Apurvi Chandela's standing finals world record score to win the T3 national selection trials in the event here on Thursday.

This makes it two world record marks beaten in two days by India's young guns at the ongoing national selection trial three and four for rifle/pistol events at Dr. Karni Singh Shooting ranges.

On Wednesday, Divyansh Singh Panwar had gone past the finals world record mark held by a Chinese shooter, in the corresponding men's final.

Elavenil shot 253 in the women's 10m air rifle T3 finals. Olympics quota holder Apurvi had shot 252.9 in the New Delhi Word Cup two years ago to claim the world record.

The Olympics Games are scheduled to be held from July 23 to Ausgust 8 in Tokyo.

In the other events on Thursday, two more Olympic quota winners won their trials.

Among them two-time Olympian Sanjeev Rajput continued a stellar run of form. He topped qualification with a score of 1176 in the men's 50m rifle 3 positions (3P) T3 event and then went on to post a wire-to-wire finals victory with a classy 462.2.

Younger Aishwary Pratap Singh Tomar, also an Olympic quota winner, came in second with 458.1. He had also followed Sanjeev in second place in qualification with an 1172.

Manu Bhaker, the present world number two in the event, won the women's 10m air pistol T3 trials quite comfortably. She also topped qualification with a score of 584 and then won the finals with an effort of 243.7 after 24-shots.

The final winner of the day was Vijayveer Sidhu, who won the men's 25m rapid fire pistol T3 event. Vijayveer shot 35 in the finals to beat Bhavesh Shekhawat to second place. Rajasthan's Bhavesh shot 29 to finish behind the Punjab youngster.
Leveraging their shared values of safety, sustainability and innovation, Windsor Salt and CSL began construction of the custom-made vessel in August 2020 after several years of collaborative planning, which included an environmental impact analysis, ship and shore personnel safety reviews, an efficiency evaluation of cargo operations, and navigational optimization.

The distinctive, purpose-designed vessel was created to service Windsor Salt's need to deliver deicing salt from its Mines Seleine salt mine on the Magdalen Islands to stockpiles in Montreal, Quebec City, and other destinations within the provinces of Quebec and Newfoundland. Windsor Salt's consistent and timely delivery of deicing salt helps keep roadways safe during the winter season across Eastern Canada.

The new vessel will bring a long-term, safe, sustainable and reliable shipping solution to the region that relies on the Mines Seleine salt mine.

"Through our partnership with CSL, we wanted to prove not only that we could  but we should strive for better  because it's important to challenge the status quo, especially when we have the opportunity to reduce our environmental impact and improve safety while delivering the deicing salt Canadians know and trust," said Tom Labash, Marine Distribution Manager for Windsor Salt.

More Sustainable Marine Transportation

Given the shipping route is located in the sensitive marine environment of the Magdalen Islands in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, Windsor Salt and CSL worked together to bring several innovations to enhance sustainability and reduce the environmental footprint of the new ship, including:

Diesel-electric tier 3 engines and a unique hull design that will contribute to cutting CO 2 emissions and improve energy efficiency;

emissions and improve energy efficiency; A ballast water treatment system that is expected to reduce the transfer of invasive species;

Quieter machinery that will reduce vessel noise to protect the area's North Atlantic right whales and other marine mammals.

Compared to the previous vessel servicing the same salt routes, the new ship is expected to emit approximately 25% less greenhouse gas emissions and 80% fewer harmful air pollutants.

Safer and More Efficient Shipping

The new ship also features several innovations to enhance efficiency and safety including:

A fixed, single point of loading system with a single hopper into which the salt is loaded, combined with a cargo handling system that eliminates the need for the vessel to shift during loading, which will improve the efficiency of cargo operations and the safety of ship and shore personnel.

A modern hull design and state-of-the-art propulsion system to enhance the maneuverability of the vessel and increase the safety of navigation in the shallow Magdalen Island channel.

"We are honoured to be joining forces with our long-time customer Windsor Salt  a visionary partner willing to make concrete commitments to integrate sustainable and safety-first choices into their supply chain," said Louis Martel, President and CEO, The CSL Group. "CSL is very excited about leading the design and construction of this pioneering ship for our customer and introducing a new level of safety and environmental sustainability in Canadian waters. We would also like to thank the Ministere des Transports du Quebec for its financial contribution to the newbuild project, as part of the Ministry's program to improve the efficiency of marine, air and rail transportation. Thanks to this generous support, CSL is able to acquire and install equipment to reduce the new vessel's greenhouse gas emissions."

The keel laying ceremony for the newbuild was held at Chengxi Shipyard in Jiangyin, China, on

January 29, 2021. The vessel is expected to commence operations in the Magdalen Islands at the start of the 2022 navigation season.

For more information about the project, visit www.CX9203.com.

About Windsor Salt

K+S Windsor Salt Ltd. is headquartered in Pointe-Claire (Quebec) and employs approximately 800 people across Canada. The company's highly recognizable Windsor brand has been a part of Canadian life since 1893. Today, the Windsor portfolio includes a full range of premium products for consumers, business and industry, from culinary salts and water softening salts to deicing products and pool salts. For more information, please visit WindsorSalt.com.

Windsor Salt's Mines Seleine mine has been in operation since 1982 and employs approximately 143 people.

About Canada Steamship Lines

Canada Steamship Lines is a division of The CSL Group, the largest owner and operator of self-unloading ships in the world. Headquartered in Montreal with regional operations in the Americas, Australia, Europe and Asia, CSL delivers millions of tons of cargo annually for customers in the construction, steel, energy and agri-food sectors.

SOURCE The CSL Group Inc.

Related Links

http://www.csl.ca


[February 11, 2021] Spotify to Host Virtual "Stream On" Event Followed by an Investor Discussion and Q&A with Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Daniel Ek, and Chief Financial Officer, Paul Vogel

Spotify (News - Alert) Technology S.A. (NYSE: SPOT) announced that it will be hosting a virtual event - Stream On - on Monday, February 22, 2021 at 11 a.m. Eastern Time to share the latest on the state of global audio streaming and the company's commitment to empowering creators around the world. The live-streamed event will include a number of speakers and will be available for on-demand viewing immediately following. You can tune in on Spotify.com/StreamOn or YouTube.com/Spotify. No login required.



After market close at 4 p.m. Eastern Time on Monday, February 22, 2021, Daniel Ek, our Founder and Chief Executive Officer, and Paul Vogel, our Chief Financial Officer, will be hosting an Investor Discussion and Q&A related to the Stream On event. The webcast for the Investor Discussion and Q&A will be available live and for replay on the Spotify Investor Relations website under the Events section at http://investors.spotify.com.

About Spotify Technology S.A. Spotify is the world's most popular audio streaming subscription service with a community of 345 million Monthly Active Users and 155 million Premium Subscribers. With a presence in 93 markets, and more than 70 million tracks including over 2 million podcast titles, it has transformed the way people access and enjoy music and podcasts. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210211005700/en/

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Washington, DC - We are deeply concerned about declining media pluralism in Hungary. The imminent loss of the broadcasting license of one of the countrys most popular radio stations, Klubradio, threatens the departure of yet another independent voice from Hungarys airwaves.

The United States shares the concerns of international press freedom advocates and many Hungarians over the decline of media pluralism in Hungary.

The United States believes that a diversity of independent voices and opinions is essential to democracy, and we urge the Government of Hungary to promote an open media environment. The United States is committed to strengthening our partnership with Hungary, a NATO Ally, and advancing the Biden administrations commitment to supporting democratic institutions, human rights, and the rule of law.
Former Rep. Anthony Brindisis decision to concede to Claudia Tenney closes one chapter of a historic House race that exposed deep flaws in New Yorks voting system and will likely spur election reforms for years to come.

From the start, the 22nd Congressional District election attracted attention far beyond Upstate New York. Both national political parties viewed the rematch between Brindisi, D-Utica, and Tenney, R-New Hartford, as one of the most competitive House races in the nation.

Brindisi stood out as a unicorn on the national electoral map, representing a district Donald Trump won by 15 percentage points in the 2016 presidential election, the second-largest margin of any House district held by a Democrat.

Brindisi had unseated Tenney in 2018, winning by about 4,000 votes (a margin of less than 2%) in one of the nations closest and most expensive House races.

By the time the 2020 rematch was over, Brindisi and Tenney and outside political groups had spent at least $27 million combined on their campaigns, one of the highest sums in history for a New York House race.

But in the end, the race gained national attention for all of the wrong reasons: A three-month, post-election legal battle between the candidates exposed New Yorks antiquated election system and weaknesses that led to a myriad of errors and delays by local election boards.

The eight counties in the 22nd District set their own rules for counting a record number of absentee and affidavit ballots after the Nov. 3 election, with no uniform standards or central authority to oversee their work.

Lost ballots and tabulation errors were discovered, other ballots were wrongfully tossed by election officials, and Oneida County election clerks revealed in court that they simply failed to process more than 2,400 applications from new voters who had properly registered at the state Department of Motor Vehicles.

Amid the confusion, the post-election vote count changed over and over again.

Tenney led by more than 28,000 votes election night after votes at the polls were tallied.

But as a record number of absentee ballots filed during the coronavirus pandemic were opened in the weeks after the election, Brindisi steadily chipped away at Tenneys lead.

He won about 75% of the absentee ballots. By Thanksgiving, Brindisi led the unofficial election tally by at least 12 votes. In early December, as more errors were corrected, Tenney was up by 12 votes.

Ultimately, state Supreme Court Justice Scott DelConte in Oswego County had to rule on the validity of thousands of disputed ballots cast in all eight counties. In the end, Tenney was up by 109 votes when the judge ordered counties to certify the election on Friday.

Frustrated after DelConte ruled it wasnt his job to correct systemic violations of state and federal election law, Brindisi waved the white flag Tuesday. He didnt want to prolong what had become the only undecided House race in the nation.

Brindisi dropped his legal appeals and his demand for a hand recount of all 326,568 ballots cast in the election, saying he wanted to spare voters from a battle that could continue for an additional three months and divide the community.

Tenney will be sworn into office this morning, a key pickup for Republicans that will give the GOP 211 House members in the new Congress. Democrats will maintain a thin majority with 221 members. Three seats are open due to deaths and a resignation.

Brindisi said he wants some good to come out of the election mess: He called for an independent investigation by New York Attorney General Letitia James or other authorities to find out how and why things went so terribly wrong.

I hope some higher authority comes in and investigates what I think is a massive disenfranchisement of voters in the district, Brindisi told syracuse.com, adding there were clear violations of state and federal election laws.

Already, voting rights advocates are demanding changes in Albany and suggesting the legacy of the 22nd District election will be an overhaul of New Yorks voting laws and electoral system.

Jarret Berg, an election lawyer who co-founded the group Vote Early NY, is among those calling for post-election investigations and legislative reforms.

The judge in his most recent order even invites the governor and the Department of Justice to investigate, Berg said. Will anyone be fired? Will anyone be forced to resign? Does anyone plan to investigate? Can you imagine any other state agency where this kind of behavior would be allowed and there would be no consequences? This is one of those things that begs for change.

Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente on Tuesday became the first elected official to demand any accountability. He asked Gov. Andrew Cuomo to fire the countys two election commissioners, Rose Grimaldi, a Republican, and Carolann Cardone, a Democrat.

Voters were disenfranchised, Picente said. The outcome of a congressional race was held in limbo for over three months, leaving this county and district without representation while we fight a global pandemic. I demand better from anyone who represents Oneida County.

Vote Early NY and Common Cause New York are among voter advocacy groups who also asked the governor to fire the election commissioners, stating they are not up to the responsibility placed on them.

To avoid problems in the future, voter advocates say its time for the state to start helping counties pay for the cost of elections and unfunded state mandates. New York is one of the few states in the nation that provides no funding to its counties for elections.

Dustin Czarny, Onondaga Countys Democratic election commissioner, said a bipartisan group of election commissioners across New York have followed the problems in the 22nd District election and come up with a blueprint for reforms.

The group proposed limiting election commissioners to four-year terms, setting minimum staffing requirements for county election boards, and providing annual state funding to those boards.

The commissioners also want the state to establish an online absentee ballot tracking system that would allow voters to track the status of their applications and ballots after they are submitted.

Susan Lerner, executive director of Common Cause New York, said the lack of resources led, at least in part, to the failures exposed in the 22nd Congressional District election.

She said its likely that similar problems plague county election boards across New York that have not had the same scrutiny as those that came under a microscope in the 22nd District.

What we fear is that this is not unusual, Lerner said. It may happen in other counties, but because other elections are not close, we dont hear about counties disenfranchising voters.

Lerner and the voter advocates also want the state Assembly and Senate to pass a law requiring county election boards to report to the state, at least monthly, their progress in processing voter registration applications before the election.

The state should make its own employees available to any county that falls behind in processing registrations, the groups said.

Lerner said its also time for New York to do away with its system for allowing a bipartisan staff of political appointees to run county election boards. She and other voter advocates favor hiring permanent professional staffers with relevant experience.

Those election staffers should have to follow a uniform set of rules and policies statewide, Lerner said, to prevent a repeat of what happened in the Brindisi-Tenney House race.

The thing that stood out to me is that we had eight counties in the district with eight different ways of doing things, she said. There was no accountability whatsoever. As a voter, I want to make sure my vote is counted and not subject to the whims of what side of the county line I live on.

MORE ON THE NY-22 ELECTION

Brindisi: New York should investigate massive disenfranchisement of voters

Anthony Brindisi concedes to Claudia Tenney in NY-22 House race

NY certifies Claudia Tenney as winner of House race

Amid errors and delays, a lesson from New York 22nd race: How not to run an election

In NY 22nd, judges suggests there are no great options to fix Oneida County mistake

700 votes were tossed in Oneida County. Officials ignored state law in latest mess up

Oneida County botched 2,400 voter signups, preventing their votes in Brindisi-Tenney race

Got a tip, comment or story idea? Contact Mark Weiner anytime by: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 571-970-3751
It was only a matter of time.

Less than a month after 2Day FM debuted its new breakfast show, The Morning Crew with Hughesy, Ed and Erin, the program has been skewered by Kyle Sandilands - the most powerful and outspoken man in Sydney radio.

Kyle, 49, who worked at 2Day FM for years before jumping ship to KIIS FM with his co-anchor Jackie 'O' Henderson in 2014, said on Friday he didn't even need to listen to the show to 'know it's going to be a failure'.

The verdict is in: Less than a month after 2Day FM debuted its new breakfast show, The Morning Crew with Hughesy, Ed and Erin, the program has been skewered by Kyle Sandilands (pictured) - the most powerful and outspoken man in Sydney radio

He based his judgement on a car-crash interview hosts Dave 'Hughesy' Hughes, Ed Kavalee and Erin Molan did with Channel Nine's Today show earlier this week.

The signal delay between Nine's Sydney headquarters and 2Day FM's studio in Melbourne resulted in some awkward on-air moments.

To make matters worse, Hughesy was asked to share his favourite thing about being in Sydney - despite the fact he was broadcasting his show from Melbourne.

Scathing: Kyle, 49, who worked at 2Day FM for years before jumping ship to KIIS FM with his co-anchor Jackie 'O' Henderson in 2014, said on Friday he didn't even need to listen to the show to 'know it's going to be a failure'. Pictured The Morning Crew hosts Ed Kavalee (left), Dave 'Hughesy' Hughes (centre) and Erin Molan (right)

After watching the segment, Kyle said he didn't have to listen to an episode of The Morning Crew to know it was a disaster.

He said the trio 'couldn't communicate with each other' and described the whole Today interview as a 'mess'.

'Instantly, without even hearing the show, I know it's going to be a failure. Listen, I'm a radio expert,' Kyle said, as Jackie desperately tried to shut down the conversation.

'No, come on. You're not doing this,' she said sternly, to which her colleague replied: '[It's] an absolute disaster...'

'They couldn't communicate with each other': Kyle based his judgement on a car-crash interview hosts Dave 'Hughesy' Hughes, Ed Kavalee and Erin Molan did with Channel Nine's Today show earlier this week. (Left: Today hosts Karl Stefanovic and Leila McKinnon)

Not again! 'Without even hearing the show, I know it's going to be a failure. I'm a radio expert,' Kyle said, as his co-host Jackie 'O' Henderson (bottom) tried to shut down the conversation

Kyle has made no secret of his contempt for 2Day FM in the years since he parted ways with the Southern Cross Austereo-owned station in 2014.

He can't resist mocking each new attempt at a breakfast format, and has previously had feuds with 2Day FM presenters Rove McManus and Em Rusciano.

The Hit Network station has been unable to find a successful Sydney breakfast team since Kyle and Jackie O's departure, and last year gave up entirely by filling the time slot with a music playlist curated by Jamie Angel.
Efforts by federal prosecutors in Manhattan to obtain access to Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani's communications hit a wall among top Justice Department employees in Washington in the last days of the Trump administration, it was revealed this week.

Giuliani, whose investigative efforts on behalf of Trump in Ukraine featured in Trump's first impeachment, has been reported to be under investigation, and two of his former Ukrainian associates have been charged with crimes.

The effect of the decision was to delay action on the request for a warrant, as the matter got kicked over to the new administration.

It was top political appointees of President Trump who made the decisions.

High-level Justice Department officials turned down New York prosecutors' requests to get a warrant for Donald Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani's communications last summer and right after the November elections. Giuliani's

Prosecutors in New York were conducting a complex investigation into whether Giuliani violated the Foreign Agents Registration Act through his work on behalf of Trump, which included his own probe and meetings with officials as he sought dirt on Joe Biden's son Hunter over Hunter Biden's business dealings.

Prosecutors were seeking a warrant last summer, the New York Times reported.

The action required approval from the main Justice Department, under guidelines that set a high bar for searching materials belonging to a lawyer that may be privileged. Giuliani's work on behalf of Trump is well known and became a key issue during the 2020 impeachment.

Top officials at DOJ raised concerns about issuing a warrant so close to an election, people with knowledge of it told the paper. DOJ rules prevent actions close to an election that might be seen as interference  a matter that came up both in 2016 during the probe of Hillary Clinton's emails and in 2020 during the investigation, not publicly revealed, into Hunter Biden over potential tax issues.

Giuliani sought information in Ukraine on Trump rival Joe Biden and Hunter Biden. He also headed his effort to overturn the election results

This undated image released by the House Judiciary Committee from documents provided by Lev Parnas to the committee in the impeachment probe against President Donald Trump, shows a photo of Lev Parnas with Rudy Giuliani. Parnas, a close associate of Trump's personal lawyer Giuliani is claiming Trump was directly involved in the effort to pressure Ukraine to investigate Democratic rival Joe Biden photos that have emerged of the two men together

High-level Justice Department officials turned down the request for a warrant on Giuliani's communications

In this handout photo provided by Adriii Derkach's press office, Rudy Giuliani, an attorney for U.S President Donald Trump, left, meets with Ukrainian lawmaker Adriii Derkach in Kyiv, Ukraine, Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019. A Ukrainian lawmaker says he has met up with Rudy Giuliani, President Donald Trump's personal attorney, in Kyiv to discuss an anti-corruption project

The timeline of the request  during the summer  puts it before the two months before an election when officials take special care not to engage in actions that might interfere.

New York prosecutors made another effort after the election, according to the Times, but were met with resistance in part because Giuliani at that time was spearheading Trump's efforts to overturn the election.

In the end, they took no final action and effectively punted until after the handover. Although the Times didn't identify an official by name, the paper said it reached the level of the deputy attorney general's office.

CNN reported that DOJ officials were discussing efforts to get Giuliani's communications in December.

Giuliani did not conceal his efforts in Ukraine, and said he was working on behalf of Trump gratis.

In 2019 two Giuliani associates, Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman, were charged with conspiring to violate the ban on political donations and contributions by foreign nationals in connection to a straw donor scheme.

They were pictured repeatedly with Giuliani on social media accounts.

Prosecutors were investigating Giuliani's ties to Ukrainian oligarch Dmitry Firtash, who has been fighting U.S. extradition.

Former Attorney General Bill Barr left his post shortly before Christmas, at which point Jeffrey Rosen became acting attorney general.

Giuliani also has played a role in the second impeachment, and was quoted during this week's trial urging 'trial by combat' at a Trump rally before the MAGA riot in the Capitol.
Luckily, there is no shortage of truck Land Cruisers out there, and they seem to keep on coming. The one we have here, for instance, was imported from Colombia in January this year after it was the subject of a ten-month restoration process that concluded in late 2020.The truck spent most of its life in South America, where it was used by a Colombian institution dedicated to studying the flora and fauna of Colombia's forests. It was allegedly maintained by the Japanese carmaker itself there before it went into an unnamed shop to be remade.The truck was kept as close to its original self as possible, despite the fact that some of the elements that went into remaking it are OEMs, and not the original hardware. That includes the new floors, new grille, and new roof, but also the new seats for the interior.The truck's sheet metal was remade to its original specifications and wrapped in a color Toyota itself used back in the day. Its called Rustic Green, and is offset by the white top and grille.The FJ45 rides on steel wheels shod in BF Goodrich tires. It gets its kicks from a 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine and a four-speed manual transmission  both pieces of hardware allegedly original to this particular truck.Fresh on the American market, the Land Cruiser is for sale on Hemmings . The bidding ends in five days, and at the time of writing, the highest someone is willing to offer is $29,250. The truck goes complete with an overseas title with U.S. Customs importation documents.
The latest public school debacle unfolded this week when teachers refused to return to classrooms at the direction of Philadelphia Federation of Teachers boss Jerry Jordan, defying Superintendent William Hites directive for them to show up. When Hite threatened no-shows with discipline, Mayor Jim Kenney stepped in and said teachers could stay away after all.

The call was for 2,000 teachers to return to classrooms Monday to prepare a limited reopening for about 9,000 pre-K through second grade students on February 22. The district says it has worked to make buildings safe for return, but the PFT balked at some elements of the plans for ventilation. Hence the showdown.

 READ MORE: Philly teachers don't report to school buildings for second day

Reopening schools is probably the most thorny and challenging of all the problems presented by the pandemic. Every side represents opposing pressures: parents with jobs who need kids to be in school, educators and other child advocates alarmed about the devastating loss not only of in-person learning, but social supports provided by schools, and families and teachers concerned about safety. Add this to lack of consistent guidance or support from the federal government, and its a dilemma playing out in school districts across the country, with few satisfactory solutions.

Philadelphia has the additional challenges of racial and economic inequities, ancient buildings, and a history of inadequate funding. A trust gap between the district and teachers and parents has been exacerbated by blunders by the district in addressing environmental hazards, recently centered on Ben Franklin High School sharing its site with Science Leadership Academy. This week, the PFT said the district has not shared enough data on the ventilation standards.

It all adds up to a no-win situation. But there must be a path to opening schools, above all for the sake of children suffering irretrievable losses in their education and development.

Of course the PFT has a stake in safety issues faced by the district, and has given teachers a powerful voice in this particular debate. But other voices must have equal standing.

Turning this into a Teacher vs. District fight is not the path. A district that often falls short of communicating is a problem, and Superintendent Hite is ultimately accountable. But the size and complexity of this problem cannot rest only on his shoulders. When Mayor Kenney took control of the schools back from the state and created the local school board, he claimed Philadelphia will finally be able to hold one person accountable for their school system, the mayor. He must now be a bigger part of the solution.

The pandemic immediately laid bare failures and flaws in public education in this city and others that have been generations in the making. The path toward fixing it requires a much wider conversation that must happen now. Mayor Kenney has the power to convene a working group that includes not only the District and the union, but parents, educators, child advocates, elected officials, as well as members of the business community, who have an important stake in this. They should commit to the immediate task of reopening schools  and the longer-term task of rethinking how public education should work for all. Its time to end stand-offs, and begin standing up.

New Delhi, Feb 11 : With their border dispute over the Kotia panchayat lingering for over 50 years, the Odisha government termed recent moves by Andhra Pradesh "an emerging constitutional crisis" and moved the apex court for initiation of contempt proceedings against its officials for violation of status quo.

Senior advocate Vikas Singh, representing the Odisha government, sought an urgent hearing on the matter. "A constitutional crisis is emerging on the border and in spite of the top court's order to maintain status quo, Andhra Pradesh is trying to take over Odisha's land," he said.

The villages under dispute are part of Pottangi taluka in Odisha's Koraput district. There are 21 villages in the Kotia group, which are entangled in dispute. In 1968, the status quo order was passed by the top court and the same order is holding till date, the Odisha government contended.

"Administratively and otherwise as well, the state of Odisha has been in control of these villages throughout. However, of late clandestinely the contemnors (Andhra Pradesh government) have entered into the impugned act of contempt by which the order of this court has been violated," it said in its plea.

On March 5, 2020, the AP government issued a notification roping in three villages from the Kotia group of villages into its Vizianagaram district for the local body elections.

"Tactfully the contemnors converted these three villages of one gram panchayat falling under territory of Odisha to three different gram panchayats. The said three-gram panchayat created by the contemnor were made part of the Salur Mandal (of Vizianagaram)," the plea, filed through advocate Sibo Sankar Mishra, added.

The Odisha government cited that the top court in its final hearing in 2006, recorded the status quo undertaking given by both states while disposing of the suit. "Over the years, the petitioner state has taken many development initiatives in the said three villages and has built infrastructure like schools, police stations, roads, bridges etc. for the people of these villages," it argued.

The government added that these villages have been getting the benefits under various social schemes of the state, and the Census 2011 in these villages was conducted by the government too.

The top court is likely to hear the matter on Friday.

Reigning Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin has fought back tears in her post-match conference after crashing out of the tournament.

The American world number four became the highest-ranked player to be knocked out of the grand slam following a crushing straight sets loss to unseeded Estonian veteran Kaia Kanepi, 35, at Melbourne Park on Thursday.

A distraught Kenin later admitted in her post-match conference she was 'way too nervous' and cracked under the pressure of being the defending title winner.

'I know I couldn't really handle the pressure,' she said as she wiped away tears.

'I mean, obviously I haven't experienced that. I obviously felt like I'm not there 100 percent physically, mentally, my game. Everything just feels really off. It's not good.'

Sofia Kenin (pictured) was heartbroken after she crashed out of the Australian Open in a shock round two loss on Thursday

'I know I couldn't really handle the pressure. I'm not obviously used to this, so right now I've just got to figure out how to play at that level that I played at.

'Because like today and those matches, it just hasn't been there.'

Kenin backed up her maiden grand title with a runner-up finish at the French Open last year, which boosted her up the world rankings to world number four.

'I did put pressure on myself there (Roland Garros), but not as much as here,' she said.

'I feel like everyone was always asking me, 'Do you see yourself getting there and winning again?'

'The Australia trip, I feel like that was something that I had my eye on. I knew I was going to have pressure.

'I knew I was going to have emotions, nerves, everything all together. I felt really nervous. I haven't felt my game for I don't know how long.

'It's obviously tough. The Aussie swing definitely got me.'

Sofia Kenin has a dream Australian Open in 2020, where she won her maiden grand slam

Kenin admitted she's been battling a groin injury and said the 14 day hotel quarantine upon arrival in Melbourne may have also had a toll.

Kenin was just the third Australian Open defending champion not to reach the third round since 1970, and the earliest to crash out since Jennifer Capriati in 2003.

It was a surprising defeat given the 22-year-old upset Australian world number one Ash Barty in the semi-final and Spain's Garbine Muguruza in the final to win the Open last year.

'I just came here, I didn't have really any expectations,' Kenin said of last year's campaign.

'I obviously wanted to do well. I knew I was playing well. I started having a good run and everything. It's not like I was ranked 100 and all of a sudden, I won. I was  top 20 or something. I don't even remember.

'I just didn't put this much pressure on myself as this year. This year I put a lot of pressure [on myself]. I obviously felt like I was expected to do well.'

Estonia's Kaia Kanepi (pictured) makes a backhand return to Kenin during their second round match on Thursday. The unseeded player managed to take victory in straight sets

Kanepi came out swinging with a strong first set while Kenin's ability quickly worsened as the short match progressed.

The American made 22 unforced errors, ten winners and no aces while the Estonian managed 10 aces.

Her second round defeat is the earliest elimination of a women's defending champion in the Australian Open in 18 years.

Kenin choked back tears as she faced the press in the post-match conference. 'I know I couldn't really handle the pressure,' she told reporters

Meanwhile, Kanepi was unsurprisingly pleased with her performance.

'I served really well today my game plan was to play aggressive as I normally do,' she told reporters.

Kanepi will next play against Croatian world no.33 Donna Vekic in the third round on Saturday.
The transaction reduced his holding to 599,740 Tesla shares, which amounts to $483 million. Tesla insiders hold a 19.6 per cent stake in the company, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

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The World Health Organization and the European Union are launching a 40-million euro ($48.5 million) program to help deploy COVID-19 vaccines in six former Soviet republics, WHO's regional director for Europe said Thursday while highlighting a 4-week decline in confirmed coronavirus cases.

The program will involve Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova, and complements the work of an existing EU program and the WHO-backed COVAX Facility that aims to deploy vaccines for people in all countries in need whether rich or poor, Dr. Hans Kluge said.

Vaccines offer a way to emerge faster from this pandemic. But only if we ensure that all countries, irrespective of income level, have access to them," Kluge told reporters from WHO Europe headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Unfair access to vaccines can backfire. The longer the virus lingers, the greater the risk of dangerous mutations," he added.

Kluge also relayed the good news" that the number of new confirmed infections in the 53-country WHO Europe region has declined for four straight weeks and virus-related deaths have fallen in each of the last two weeks. He also pointed to falling hospitalization rates.

In the region, some 7.8 million people have completed immunizations against the coronavirus, Kluge said. He added that the number of vaccine doses administered has outstripped the number of reported COVID-19 cases, with some 41 million doses given compared to the 36 million cases reported in the region during the pandemic.

After a review of AstraZenecas vaccine, which is to become a key part of the UN-backed rollout of vaccines to poorer countries, a WHO expert group said Wednesday that recommended dosage is two doses administered over an interval of 8 to 12 weeks.

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text.

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US President on Wednesday (local time) announced the launch of a new China task force that will provide recommendations on military strategy to the Department of Defense (DoD) to counter growing challenges posed by Beijing.

"Today I was briefed on a new DoD-wide China task force that Secretary Austin is standing up to look at our strategy and operational concepts, technology and force posture and so much more. The task force will work quickly, drawing on civilian and military experts across the department to provide within the next few months recommendations to Secretary Austin on key priorities and decision points so that we can chart a strong path forward on China-related matters," said Biden while delivering remarks at the Pentagon.

The task force will be composed of civilian and military experts across the department and will need a whole government effort, bipartisan cooperation in Congress and strong alliances and partnerships, said the US President.

During his remarks, Biden said that the US needs to meet the growing challenges posed by China to keep peace and defend its interests in the Indo-Pacific and globally.

"We need to take on the dangers and opportunities of emerging technologies, enhance our capabilities in cyberspace, ensure that we are positioned to lead a new era of competition from the deep sea to outer space, and we need to meet the growing challenges posed by China to keep peace and defend its interests in the Indo-Pacific and globally," he said.

A China task force will study the military's footprint in Asia, technology, intelligence, the role of allies and partnerships, and other areas of the strategy, The Wall Street Journal reported citing administration officials.

The Pentagon said in a fact sheet that the China Task Force will review high-priority matters related to Beijing, including bilateral defense relations, intelligence and US alliances and partnerships and issue recommendations within the next four months, reported Sputnik.

The relations between the US and China have deteriorated sharply over the last year in wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, China's efforts to curtail Hong Kong's autonomy, and the US-China trade war.

A few days back, Chinese top diplomat Yang warned the US not to cross a "red line," saying issues --such as human rights, the coronavirus response, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Tibet, and Xinjiang---concern China's core interests, national dignity, as well as the sensitivities of its 1.4 billion people.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)


The Serene Haven private school in central Kenya is giving teenage mothers and pregnant girls a second chance to finish their education.

Many of the girls, between the ages of 13 and 19, were forced out of their local schools.

In a normal year, about 13,000 pregnant girls are forced to stop going to school, government research shows. That is likely to increase this year.

Aid groups say COVID-19 restrictions closed schools and led to an increase in teenage pregnancies and sexual abuse.

Seventeen-year-old Emily said she was assaulted by a man who had promised to teach her while classes were closed. She asked not to be identified by her full name to protect her privacy.

Emily is now six months pregnant. She said her mother would not let her go back to school. She was worried ... they would be mean to me or tease me, she added.

Then Emily met Elizabeth Wanjiru Muriuki. The former social worker started Serene Haven, which provides child care and counseling services to the girls. Serene Haven opened in January when other Kenyan schools reopened.

The young mothers walk through the library and other school buildings with their babies in their arms. There is an assistant available when needed, and the girls can take breaks to feed their children between lessons.

We only have three babies who are over one year old. The rest of the babies and the rest of the pregnancies all happened during the COVID time, said Muriuki.

Nineteen-year-old mother Josephine Wanjiru has been out of school for two years. Being at Serene Haven means she might reach her goal of becoming a nurse.

I was very excited because I did not expect something like this, said Wanjiru.

Muriuki was a teenage mother herself and went on to finish school and build a career.

There are some girls who come here and are really downcast, they feel like this is the end of the world, said Muriuki.

I start with giving them my story ... they are really encouraged  like Ah, if you can do it, we can also do it.

Im Jonathan Evans.

Ayenat Mersie reported on this story for the Reuters news service. Jonathan Evans adapted this story for Learning English. Susan Shand was the editor.

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Words in This Story

assault  v. to violently attack someone or something

tease  v. to laugh at and criticize someone in a way that is either friendly and playful or cruel and unkind

counsel  v. to give advice to someone

library  n. a place where books, magazines, and other materials such as videos and musical recordings are available for people to use or borrow

encourage  v. to make someone more determined, hopeful, or confident

downcast - adj. not happy, confident, or hopeful
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The United States could start letting the general public have access to Covid-19 vaccines in April, and the country may be able to inoculate most Americans by the middle or end of the summer, Dr. Anthony Fauci said Thursday.

The director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases told NBC's "Today" show that he believes the pace of vaccination will pick up going into March and April.

More doses should be available daily by then, he said. And he said he was "fairly certain" that toward the end of April, pharmacies, community vaccine centers and mobile units will help pick up the pace -- and not just for those in higher priority groups.

"I would imagine by the time we get to April, that will be what I would call for, you know, for better wording, open season," Fauci said. "Namely, virtually everybody and anybody in any category could start to get vaccinated."

Fauci has previously said the Americans had a chance of living a little more normally by early fall, assuming 70% to 85% of the US population was vaccinated by end of summer.

Meanwhile, more states are loosening Covid-19 restrictions, even as experts warn the US is not in the clear as more-transmissible variants are increasingly appearing across the country.

Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte signed a bill on Wednesday shielding businesses and houses of worship from legal liability for Covid-19 transmission as long as they take measures to follow public health guidelines, and announced he would not extend the statewide mask mandate.

"The mask mandate will expire on Friday," the governor said, adding, "Since we're not out of the woods yet, I will continue to wear a mask, and I will encourage all Montanans to do the same."

Chicago officials said Wednesday indoor service at bars, restaurants and events can expand to the lesser of 25% capacity or 50 people per room or floor. The measure, which will be effective Thursday, comes as part of a broader plan to slowly ease Covid-19 restrictions in the city.

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that stadiums and arenas with more than 10,000 seats can reopen starting February 23, with approval from the state's health department -- with heavy restrictions. The Barclays Center in Brooklyn has already been approved to open that day for the Brooklyn Nets' NBA game against the Sacramento Kings.

However, New York's stadiums must limit capacity to 10%; they must ensure all staff and spectators received a negative Covid-19 PCR test within the last 72 hours; and they must mandate face coverings and assigned, socially distanced seating.

"While we continue to fight Covid on multiple fronts, we must also get this economy re-opened intelligently and in a balanced way," Cuomo said.

In New Mexico, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said the state will drop its mandatory-quarantine rule for people coming from "high-risk" states, attributing the policy change to a "cautiously brighter pandemic outlook after several months of unsustainable strain on the state's health care system."

But health experts have warned Covid-19 variants complicate the country's outlook. Easing restrictions now is "incredibly risky," Dr. Richard Besser, former acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, warned earlier this week.

"It is absolutely essential that we continue to do steps beyond vaccination to keep this under control," Besser said. "The more this virus is allowed to spread in our communities, the more we're going to see these variants spreading."

Cases, hospitalizations and deaths are dropping, for now

The CDC has said a more transmissible variant first identified in the United Kingdom could be dominant in the US in March, and could worsen virus spread.

For now, however, the rates of new Covid-19 cases and deaths, and the numbers of Covid-19 patients in hospitals, are dropping after holiday-era surges:

-- Cases: The US has averaged 104,304 new Covid-19 cases a day over the last week -- down 58% since the country's peak average of more than 249,800 on January 8, according to Johns Hopkins University data.

-- Hospitalizations: More than 76,900 Covid-19 patients were in US hospitals on Wednesday -- the lowest total since November 16, according to the COVID Tracking Project. The number has been below 100,000 for 12 straight days.

-- Deaths: The country has averaged 2,779 Covid-19 deaths a day over the last week -- down from the nation's peak average of 3,363 in mid-January, Johns Hopkins data shows.

-- The national test positivity rate -- or the percentage of tests taken that turn out to be positive -- now averages 6.49%, according to the COVID Tracking Project.

That's down from a winter peak of around 13.6% in early January. But the World Health Organization has recommended governments not reopen until the test positivity rate is 5% or lower for at least two weeks.

An ensemble forecast published Wednesday by the CDC projects the US could see another 68,000 virus-related deaths by March 6, adding to the more than 471,700 already recorded.

Which states are digging for variants

So far, more than 940 cases of Covid-19 variants first detected in the UK, South Africa, and Brazil have been reported in the US, according to CDC data.

But the number likely doesn't represent all of the variant cases in the country, experts have cautioned. While the US is ramping up its genome-sequencing efforts to be able to hunt for the variants, it still lags far behind many other developed nations.

"I think once we have more sequencing that's happening, we'll have a better idea as to how many variants there are and what proportion are out there," CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said earlier this week.

But only eight states have genetically sequenced more than 1% of their total Covid-19 cases during the pandemic -- compared to the national average of just under 0.4%, according to CDC data.

Those states comprise Hawaii, Maine, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Utah, Washington state and Wyoming.

Eighteen states have sequenced less than 0.1% of their confirmed Covid-19 cases.

CDC: Second vaccine dose can be administered later

Meanwhile, the CDC also released new guidance on best practices for managing second doses of the vaccine.

The Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna Covid-19 vaccines authorized for emergency use in the US are administered as two doses -- 21 and 28 days apart, respectively.

But if it's not possible to adhere to those recommended intervals, the new CDC guidance says the second dose "may be scheduled for administration up to 6 weeks (42 days) after the first dose."

So far, more than 33.7 million Americans have received at least their first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine, CDC data shows, while more than 10.4 million people are now fully vaccinated.

The agency said Wednesday that people who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 can skip quarantine if they are exposed to someone infected with the virus.

"Fully vaccinated persons who meet criteria will no longer be required to quarantine following an exposure to someone with COVID-19," the CDC said.

That criteria: People must be fully vaccinated -- having had both shots with at least two weeks having passed since the second shot.

But the agency added that protection may wear off after three months, so people who had their last shot three months ago or more should quarantine if they are exposed, and they should also quarantine if they show symptoms.

"At this time, vaccinated persons should continue to follow current guidance to protect themselves and others, including wearing a mask, staying at least 6 feet away from others, avoiding crowds, avoiding poorly ventilated spaces, covering coughs and sneezes, washing hands often, following CDC travel guidance, and following any applicable workplace or school guidance," the agency said.
Paris, France (PANA) - On the International Day for Women and Girls in Science, UNESCO and the L'Oreal Foundation honoured five women researchers in the fields of astrophysics, mathematics, chemistry and informatics as part of the 23rd International Prize for Women in Science


HUDSON  A Hudson Valley police chief who was put on leave last year after State Police, the Columbia County district attorney's office and the state comptroller's office investigated him for two years pleaded guilty Thursday in Columbia County Court to stealing from the state retirement system and the village of Chatham.

During an online court appearance, Chatham Police Chief Peter Volkmann pleaded guilty to fourth-degree grand larceny for stealing $74,222 from the retirement system and to official misconduct for filing false claims for $18,607 in mileage and expense reimbursement from Chatham.

Volkmann double-dipped while collecting a pension, the state comptroller's office said. Volkmann circumvented the $30,000 annual cap on a state retiree's earnings from other government sources by having 19 municipalities and school districts pay his private company, PF Volkmann & Associates, instead of paying him, the state comptroller's office said. The comptroller did not specify what services Volkmann provided for the payments.

Volkmann retired from serving as a police officer and emergency medical technician with the town of Ossining Police Department before he came to Columbia County, according to a Facebook page for his business which features a number of posts advertising active shooter action plan training.

Volkmann funneled the government payments through his firm from about 2012 to 2019, according to authorities. Volkmann was police chief of Chatham since the fall of 2013 and had been chief of the Stockport police until 2016, holding both jobs simultaneously.

The retirement double-dipping scheme began while Volkmann was the Stockport chief and carried over into his time leading the Chatham Police Department, District Attorney Paul Czajka said.

Forensic auditors from the state comptroller's office Division of Investigations dug into the municipal records as they investigated Volkmann with the assistance of Czajka's office and the State Police. They looked into the retirement payments as well as Volkmann's falsifying mileage and other expense reimbursements from the village of Chatham.

Volkmann immediately lost his job as the village chief of police under state law when he entered his guilty plea, Czajka said. As part of his plea deal, Volkmann must pay $92,829 in restitution before his sentencing.

Czajka described the multi-agency probe as an "extremely complex investigation under difficult circumstances." Czajka prosecuted the case with Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney Ryan Carty.

Columbia County Court Judge Richard Koweek will sentence Volkmann, 57, of Stuyvesant on July 19.

"Instead of upholding the law, Volkmann, the chief law enforcement officer of the village, defrauded the state retirement system and his community. Taxpayers have the right to expect their public officials, including law enforcement officials, will act with honesty and integrity," State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli said.

Volkmann had been on leave since September from his Chatham position. The move occurred days after the village of Chatham was served with a warrant to search Chatham Police Department computers, the mayor told the Times Union in an emailed statement.

Related: Chatham police chief on leave after state investigators search computers

Chatham police chief remains on leave during investigation

Investigators did not confiscate the Chatham computers they searched, Mayor John Howe told the Times Union last fall, but copied information from them.

Volkmann's paid leave was extended in October after village officials said they learned the inquiry was not complete.

He also served as police commissioner for the city of Hudson. He resigned after only nine months in the role which he was appointed to in Jan.. 2020. He left it when the investigation in Chatham became public.

Volkmann was represented by Albany attorney William Dreyer of Dreyer Boyajian who could not immediately be reached for comment.

Volkmann has been at the forefront of efforts to improve drug treatment, work that had earned him recognition.

At his department, Volkmann started the Chatham Cares 4 U initiative, which allows drug users to turn over drugs to the police without punishment and get help finding treatment. As a result of the program, Volkmann was the guest of U.S. Rep. Antonio Delgado at the State of the Union speech in Washington, D.C., last year to bring awareness to the effects of the opioid epidemic on the Capital Region.

Volkmann wrote about Chatham Cares 4 U and the legalization of marijuana in an essay the Times Union published on March 26, 2019. In the piece, Volkmann wrote about the need to connect people with treatment programs, adding: "This issue is personal  I have been in recovery since September 2, 1995."

"I support legalizing and regulating marijuana for adult use because its prohibition has caused much more damage to communities and individuals than its use," he continued in the essay.

"Marijuana prohibition has cost taxpayers billions of dollars and forced law enforcement to divert resources to marijuana arrests, all without improving public safety or reducing usage."
Health Minister Robin Swann has detailed his roadmap out of Covid restrictions with a three-point plan.

And Northern Irelands chief medical officer has moved to offer hope after warning that restrictions are likely to remain in place next year.

Dr Michael McBride appeared at a briefing on Wednesday afternoon, where he said he wanted to clarify that some restrictions will be required into 2022.

The apparent row-back came after criticism of comments earlier this week when he said summer is likely to bring some respite from the current lockdown, but it is likely restrictions will be enhanced again in the autumn and remain until next year.

And Mr Swann on Wednesday said if the figures continue in the current direction, we can consider a careful, managed easing of some measures, but only when and if the timing is right.

The current lockdown is due to end on March 5 and Mr Swann has warned there will be no quick release from restrictions.

However, he outlined three principles for restrictions to be eased:

Falling infection rates and a significant easing of pressure on hospitals.

Awareness of the risks and uncertainties associated with mutations of the virus.

Understanding the toll the pandemic is having on the economy and society.

Mr Swann warned against meeting up over St Patricks Day and Easter as he stressed that the lifting of lockdown will be a slow process.

He said: We have to crawl before we can walk and walk before we can even think about running.

Both Dr McBride and Mr Swann acknowledged the fact that life is unlikely to return to normal for some time is a difficult reality for people to accept.

The Health Minister said: I want to offer people hope but stress the need for caution. Like everyone else, I long for the day when restrictions, any restrictions, do not hang like a dark cloud over all aspects of our daily lives. That day is achievable, but we have to tread carefully towards it.

Vaccination coupled with strict adherence to social distancing and other public health guidance can help us get there. Our vaccination programme is continuing at pace and as of close of play yesterday, 361,430 vaccinations had been administered. Thats more than 16,000 people than the day before.

Mr Swann said vaccination is protecting more and more people each day but he said there are uncertainties and unknowns and it is important to be frank about the challenges.

He added: As the chief medical officer has rightly made clear, some restrictions may be with us into the long-term. We may be wearing face coverings in shops and on public transport for a long time to come. That type of restriction may well become part of our new normal daily life.

This is not to say lockdown, or partial lockdown, will roll on indefinitely. It doesnt have to be that way because, to be clear, restrictions and lockdowns are not the same thing.

On Wednesday the Department of Health said another four people had died with Covid-19. A further 336 positive cases were announced, while 544 people were hospital inpatients.

At Wednesdays Stormont briefing, the focus was on Dr McBrides earlier comments about restrictions.

Asked whether he regrets the comments made on Tuesday, Dr McBride said that it would be unrealistic to think that there would not be a requirement for some restrictions during the course of this year.

He added: In terms of next year, this virus doesnt disappear, it is likely we will have to change the vaccines, it is also likely that the vaccines alone will not hold this virus completely in check, and depending on the time of year, we will require some restrictions to a greater or lesser extent.

That is just stating the obvious and that is stating what we know about this virus and what we have learnt about this virus over the past year.

Italians Fabio Fognini and Salvatore Caruso had to be separated by an official during a furious argument after their five-set classic at the Australian Open Thursday.

Fognini, the 16th seed, prevailed 4-6, 6-2, 2-6, 6-3, 7-6 (14/12) in nearly four hours after a fierce battle on John Cain Arena.

But rather than the traditional polite congratulations, the pair argued furiously in Italian for several minutes, gesturing and wagging their fingers.

Translations of the spat suggested firebrand Fognini told Caruso -- in colourful language -- that he had been lucky with some close calls, which Caruso took exception to.

Eventually the court supervisor had to step between the pair and tell them to cool off, with Caruso walking away and bowing to the crowd as he exited.

Fognini, who battled back from 1-5 down in the deciding tiebreak, didn't want to talk about the incident afterwards.

"We are good friends," he said, adding that what was said on court "stays on court".

"I have nothing to say about that question anymore," he added.

Pressed on whether he had spoken to Caruso since the match ended, he replied: "Not yet. We're going to speak, don't worry.

"I'll let you know. If you give me your phone, I'll text you."

The angry ending capped a compelling and seesawing second-round match, with Fognini's reward a clash with Australian 21st seed Alex De Minaur.

mp/th
Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday announced that an agreement has been reached with China on disengagement of frontline troops deployed at the North and South Bank of Pangong Lake in Ladakh after a nearly 10-month long standoff.

The disengagement at Pangong Lake, one of the key friction points on the contested Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, will be the first step in the long process of de-escalation.

Giving broad contours of the disengagement process, Singh told the Rajya Sabha that China will place its troops in the North Bank towards the east of Finger 8, while India will keep its army units at its permanent base, Dhan Singh Thapa post, near Finger 3. Similar action will be taken by both the parties in the South Bank area. Both sides will remove the forward deployment in a phased, coordinated and verified manner, Singh said.

Although the minister emphasised that India has not lost anything during the talks, the government has made a significant concession to end the deadlock by agreeing to not patrol areas that were being patrolled earlier on by the Indian troops at the North Bank.

It has been decided that both sides will temporarily halt troop activities on the North Bank, including patrolling of locations traditionally held by the two sides. The patrolling will be initiated only after further negotiation at the military and diplomatic level leads to an agreement, Singh told the House.

The Indian Army had earlier refused to accept the PLAs proposal for a moratorium on patrolling on the northern bank of Pangong Tso  like the one the two sides put in place while agreeing on withdrawal of troops from the face-off point in Galwan Valley after the violent clash on June 15.

The mutual pulling back of troops and tanks from the heights of Pangong Tso come a fortnight after military commanders of the two armies agreed on January 24 to push for early disengagement.

ALSO READ | Green Top Near Pangong Emerges as Thorn in LAC Talks as China Digs in at Key Vantage Point

The Indian claim line in this sector extends to Finger 8, while the Chinese claim is up to Finger 4. The two are about 8km apart. But Chinas aggressive deployment in the eastern Ladakh theatre had blocked the Indian Armys traditional patrolling patterns in several areas, including the Fingers.

The Chinese PLA had built a bunker near Finger 4 on the northern bank of the lake on Finger 4, and the deadlock had continued as the Indian side had insisted on restoration of previous patrolling rights.

Under the agreement reached, whatever construction has been done by both parties on North and South Bank from April 2020 will also be removed and status quo will be restored, Singh informed the House.

ALSO READ | India Transgressed Along LAC More Than China, Beijing Media Doesn't Cover it: Union Minister VK Singh

The defence minister told the Upper House that the dialogue to reach this final agreement for North and South Bank started on Wednesday, February 10, and it is expected that this will restore the situation to status quo ante, before the deadlock of last year. It has also been agreed that within 48 hours of complete disengagement from Pangong Lake, senior commander level talks should be held and the remaining issues should be resolved, he added.

However, what was missing from Singh's statement was any update on the status of the standoff at the Depsang plains in the DBO sector, the one area the Indian side has been reluctant to talk about. There has been no discussion on the strategically vital area in this deal and it will be taken up separately. where Chinese troops have been blocking Indian Army patrols from going up to the Patrolling Points (PP) 10 to 13 beyond the Y-junction in this strategically important area.
Irani hits out at Rahul in Lok Sabha, says he is spreading lies

India

pti-Briti Roy Barman

New Delhi, Feb 11: Textiles Minister Smriti Irani on Thursday launched a scathing attack in Lok Sabha on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of spreading lies and saying he may not accept the budget, but people will.

Making an intervention in the general discussion on the Union Budget in Lok Sabha, Irani said that she did not expect Gandhi to support a budget which intended to promote the government's 'Atmanirbhar Bharat drive and unite the country.

Earlier in the day, Gandhi had alleged that the three new farm laws would damage the country's food security system as also "break the spine of farmers" and said that the country was being run by only four people with a 'Hum do, Hamare do' approach.

In a dramatic move, Gandhi also led his party members and those from the TMC and the DMK to observe a two-minute silence by standing to mourn the death of farmers during the ongoing agitation against the laws. Claiming that "200 farmers" have died during protests, he said he was doing this as the government has not paid tributes to them.

The BJP fielded Irani, who had defeated Gandhi in Amethi during the Lok Sabha elections, to respond to the Congress leader. Without naming Gandhi, Irani wondered how could someone construct a building on the edifice of lies and walk away after showing his back.

He may not accept the budget, but people will accept the budget which is a budget to unite people and not to break the nation, Irani said amid thumping of desks by BJP members. She accused the Congress of spreading lies about the MSP, which the government has repeatedly said would continue.

Irani wanted to know what the Congress governments did to mitigate the hardships of farmers, especially farmers of Amethi, the traditional parliamentary constituency of the Gandhis. If someone has done something for the people of Amethi, may it be constructing toilets, building roads or other public facilities, it was (Prime Minister) Narendra Damodardas Modi, she said and emphasised it repeatedly during her speech.

The minister said that it was the Modi government which gave free ration to 80 crore people during the lockdown period. Of these 3.18 lakh people of Amethi got free ration, she added. Irani said that Amethi lacked basic facilities like good hospitals, roads and official buildings, and the Congress government did nothing for years. Many of these projects have been undertaken by the Modi government, she said.

On the accusation of the Congress that farmers will lose their land because of the three farm laws, she said that it was a Congress-backed trust which took away the land belonging to farmers in Amethi.

Speaking during the discussion, RLP member Hanuman Beniwal urged the government to withdraw the three farm laws and provide legal guarantee to the minimum support price (MSP). Farmers have a lot of hope from the Modi government and it should respond positively to the demands of farmers who are agitating on the borders of Delhi, he added.

Thousands of farmers have been protesting at Delhi's borders with Haryana and Uttar Pradesh demanding the rollback of the Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020.

The protesting farmers have expressed apprehension that these laws would pave the way for the dismantling of the minimum support price system, leaving them at the "mercy" of big corporations. However, the government has maintained that the new laws will bring farmers better opportunities and usher in new technologies in agriculture.

He called the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol building a hoax. He said he spanked the governor of Michigan on several policy issues.

Those remarks captured in a video recording by members of the Hillsdale County Republican Party have drawn intense scrutiny around the state and country, but Michigans most powerful elected Republican, Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey, is no stranger to controversy.

The Clarklake lawmaker has made enough off-color comments during his tenure that former House Speaker Lee Chatfield, in his farewell speech on the floor last year, jokingly thanked him for somehow saying things in the press that made me look reasonable.

Related: U.S. Capitol insurrection was a hoax, Michigan Senate leader says in video

With the three major statewide elected positions  governor, attorney general and secretary of state  all currently held by Democrats, Shirkey is the top Republican officeholder in Michigan. He has served in the Michigan Legislature since November 2010, and as majority leader, Shirkey sets the chambers legislative agenda and has final say over what bills are taken up on the Senate floor.

Conservative and deeply religious, Shirkey is the founder of the Jackson-based manufacturing company Orbitform, which assembles machine equipment and provides engineering services for assembly of parts. He represents the states 16th Senate District, which covers Jackson, Branch and Hillsdale counties, and replaced former Sen. Arlan Meekhof as Senate Majority Leader in 2019. Shirkey will be term-limited out of the Senate in 2022.

Since taking on the leadership position, Shirkey has mainly served as a Republican foil to Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, vocally opposing many of her policy proposals and taking her administration to court over the states COVID-19 restrictions.

But the policy priorities Shirkey has championed have often been overshadowed by a penchant for offensive off-the-cuff comments, both publicly and in private conversations, that his office referred to in a Tuesday evening statement as an occasional lapse in restraint of tongue.

Its very difficult for the Senate Majority Leader to surprise me with the things that he says, said Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist, whom Shirkey told ahead of Wednesdays Senate session that he didnt take back the points he was making in the video but regretted his word choice.

We hope that Republicans will want him to be held accountable for using that kind of rhetoric and for being so directly disrespectful to the governor as well, because we have work to do, but we need to do it better, Gilchrist continued.

Businessman turned politician

Prior to his legislative tenure, Shirkey was active in Jacksons business community, where he started Orbitform in 1987. In 2005, the Jackson City Council granted Orbitforms request to qualify as a Tool and Die Renaissance Recovery Zone, making the company eligible for a 15-year tax abatement worth about $1.2 million in city and state taxes.

Shirkey served on the local hospitals board of trustees and on the Columbia School Board and was also was a frequent contributor to the Jackson Citizen Patriots Voice of the People guest commentary section.

Once elected to public office in 2010, Shirkey became known for his interest in government transparency, although as Senate Majority Leader, hes resisted opening lawmakers to public records requests and disclosure of financial interests.

He also was a strong proponent of making Michigan a right-to-work state and also pushed to expand electricity choice  which angered Consumers Energy, one of the largest employers in his district.

Later on, Shirkey was the lead sponsor of religious freedom legislation that would have limited the governments ability to interfere with a persons sincerely held religious belief, which happened in response to the U.S. legalization of gay marriage.

In 2013, Shirkey was one of the legislative Republicans who supported Medicaid expansion in Michigan, saying at the time he went from a hard no to a yes on the issue even though he didnt like the Affordable Care Act. At the time, Shirkey said, the opportunities for us to seize control of how Michigan defines our Medicaid system significantly outweigh the philosophical opposition.

A difficult relationship with my governor

Shirkey became Senate Majority Leader in 2019, the same year Whitmer took office. Although Shirkey, Whitmer and Chatfield had a big victory early on with auto insurance reform and in 2020 passed a suite of criminal justice reforms, the bipartisan good feelings are largely a thing of the past.

Whitmer and Shirkeys working relationship, never especially warm, has deteriorated exponentially over the last two years, in part due to Shirkeys frequent remarks about the governors appearance, her mental state and her fitness to serve.

Related: Gov. Whitmers relationship with Republican leaders is at an all-time low. Now they need to solve a $3.2B problem together.

For months, Shirkey referred to Whitmer as my governor in press releases and interviews, a term many took offense to. And in November 2019, he told a group of college students Whitmer was on the bats**t crazy spectrum.

He apologized to the governor for the latter remark, and the governor jokingly sent him a bat cake for his birthday that year. Shirkey said in a December 2019 interview with MLive the comment was not becoming of somebody whos been privileged to serve as a majority leader, but said he felt both he and the governor viewed it as not as big a deal as what some other people wanted to make it.

Deep disagreements over how to handle the COVID-19 pandemic amped up the animosity between the two. At one point, Shirkey asked on the Senate floor how Michigan residents could trust the governor amid controversy about her husbands remark to a boat docking company, to which Whitmer responded that she hopes eventually, his emotions will stop getting the better of him.

More recently, Shirkey told reporters his main takeaway from the governors 2021 State of the State address was that she didnt wear a mask, adding that she looked delightful.

Its not that Im saying masks are evil, but symbols and gestures matter, he told Michigan Radio. I think it was a great opportunity for her to help us move from this notion of fear and control into a trust and hope mode.

In a 2020 interview with MLive, Whitmer acknowledged Chatfield was easier to work with on a variety of fronts than his Senate counterpart.

Pandemic and election response

During the pandemic, Shirkey has emerged as a staunch opponent of the administrations COVID-19 response. He and Chatfield successfully sued Whitmer over her use of executive authority to continue Michigans state of emergency declaration without legislative approval.

He personally opposed a statewide mask mandate and has spoken at several rallies protesting the initial stay-at-home order and other measures, and at one point, he told JTVs Bart Hawley he met with militia leaders to push the groups to adopt codes of conduct that would be more palatable to the general public.

Shirkey contracted COVID-19, and a spokesperson said he believed he was exposed on Dec. 19 of last year. He was in the House chamber to attend Chatfields farewell address on Dec. 21.

He recently referred to his own experience with the disease as a fight with the Chinese flu army and claimed in an Oct. 2020 interview an element of herd immunity is necessary to recover from the virus.

This year, the Senate has used the chambers advice and consent process to reject Whitmer appointees to various boards and commissions, expressing ongoing frustration with the pandemic response. A Shirkey spokesperson said he has not identified any specific compromise or goal that would satisfy the concerns of Republican lawmakers.

After the November election, Shirkey and Chatfield agreed to meet with President Donald Trump and ordered legislative hearings to rehash the general election proceedings, although both said previously they would not interfere with the electoral process despite calls from within the party to do so.

In a statement at the time, Shirkey acknowledged President Joe Biden won the election.

The latest controversy

This week, the executive board of the Hillsdale County Republican Party voted 14 to 5 on the censure vote on Thursday, Feb. 4. They said Shirkey wasnt doing enough to push back against Whitmers coronavirus-related measures that shut down businesses and was not doing enough to support conservative values like Second Amendment rights.

Ahead of that vote, members of the party met with Shirkey and recorded a video of the encounter, which lasts for more than an hour and shows Shirkey arguing with them about his pending censure from the party in between ordering food and drinks.

Related: Hillsdale Republicans censure Sen. Mike Shirkey for departing from conservative values

He frequently used expletives and discussed a wide range of issues with the group, ranging from the election results to his support of banning open carry in the Michigan Capitol building.

Thats been a hoax from day one, Shirkey said of the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, later adding that what occurred was all staged and implied Sen. Mitch McConnell and other leaders wanted to have a mess.

Elsewhere in the conversation, Shirkey remarked that he contemplated inviting Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to a fistfight on the Capitol lawn and spanked her.

Weve spanked her hard on the budget, spanked her hard on appointments, he said.

The Michigan Democratic Party called on Shirkey to resign, and Senate Minority Leader Jim Ananich, D-Flint, and Sen. Stephanie Chang, D-Detroit, criticized the comments during floor statements Wednesday.

House Speaker Jason Wentworth issued a statement Wednesday afternoon calling Shirkeys remarks disappointing.

Majority Leader Shirkeys comments are his own and dont reflect my feelings or beliefs, he said. Its disappointing that this situation is detracting from the important work we are doing every day.

Whitmer told the Associated Press she does not have the time or energy to indulge anyone in terms of conspiracy theories or even threats of violence against me personally.

On Wednesday evening, Whitmer Deputy Chief of Staff Zack Pohl said on Twitter Shirkey has not apologized directly to the governor.

Related: Michigan Democratic Party calls on Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey to resign
A week ago, on her nightly CNN interview programme Amanpour & Company, Christiane Amanpour interviewed the director of a Moscow-based political think tank. The subject was Alexey Navalny, the political dissident who has just returned to Russia from Germany where he was treated for poisoning allegedly administered at the order of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Enumerating the mass demonstrations that have erupted around the country in support of Navalny, Amanpour asked whether this was a tipping point for Russian public opinion. Striking a rather aloof pose, the Russian political scientist did not deny the wave of demonstrations, but he stressed that it reflected only a small sliver of Russias population of almost 150 million.

Amanpour then asked his opinion on the global outcry against the Russian authorities and Putin personally, censuring their treatment of Navalny and crackdown on the opposition. Amanapours guest countered that the statements of condemnation did not come from the world but rather from the handful of countries that make up the Western coalition. In fact, he said, most other countries of the world were either sympathetic to Russia or preferred to remain silent on a matter about which, according to him, the available information is inaccurate and biased.

Is there a connection between that TV interview and the Biden administration? Yes, there is.

Following the military coup in Myanmar (formerly Burma), the entire political establishment in Washington was on its feet, demanding that Biden should take firm steps to halt the coup and secure the release of the head of state Aung San Suu Kyi. Although a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, the deposed prime ministers reputation has been mired in criticism over her handling of the question of the genocide of the Muslim Rohingya minority in predominantly Buddhist Myanmar.

In the US, that criticism led not to attempts to better understand the complexities of Myanmar but to calls to intervene there in the name of democracy and human rights. The advocates of this course lacked the humility so much as to ask themselves what business it was of the US to meddle in an Asian country on the other side of the world, one rooted in a long history, a unique faith and culture, and ancient traditions that intertwine with its civil and military establishments.

To be clear, I am not venturing an opinion for or against what happened in Myanmar. My personal familiarity with that country is limited to Prime Minister U Nus visit to Egypt at a time when Myanmar was still Burma and that he was among the ranks of Third World leaders such as Kwame Nkrumah in Africa and Sukarno in Asia. That was an entirely different era to the present one. It was the post-colonial era, heavily infused with dreams of Third World liberation and catching up with the developed world.

Today, the whole world is undergoing a process of change that is impossible to ignore, defined by the gauntlet thrown down to globalisation. Essentially, the challenge is that globalisation is not an American phenomenon but, as its name implies, a global one that concerns all nations and peoples who have to come to terms with the new info-and bio-tech forces of production, just as they had to do with the first and second industrial revolutions, and with steam, oil and nuclear generated energy.

President Joe Biden, his team and the globalist liberal elites in Washington cannot ignore the profound lesson Donald Trump delivered to the US political, economic and social order which culminated in the tragic storming of the Capitol and led to Trumps second impeachment. The impeachment trial has yet to play out, but whatever the result is, it will not affect the former president alone.

It will also affect over 70 million American citizens who voted for him in 2016, continue to support him and cheer his policies on immigration, taxation and other foreign and domestic issues. True, Biden won the elections. But that does not automatically mark the end of one era and the beginning of another. The winner will not be able to succeed unless he acknowledges that the past four years were not just an anomaly or a blip that Americans can simply move past.

The problem in the context of foreign policy is no less troublesome. The current direction in the US is in favour of a return to the political engineering of other countries. That stems from the firm belief that Washingtons ideas about how the rest of humankind should manage their affairs represent the incontrovertible truth. The result is not so much a reversion to the approach of the first decade of the 21st century as a reformulation of it. The old approach did not work. The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, alone, cost $7 trillion and the costs in terms of the death and the destruction of cities and cultural heritage are incalculable.

As has been the case since antiquity, nations and peoples vary. Each has its own way of adjusting to change, depending on the features, interplays and states of development of the components of its institutions, and on what solutions their political elites, as opposed to the elites in Washington, deem appropriate.

In 1648, after the Hundred Years War and another Thirty Years War, European countries signed the Peace of Westphalia enshrining the most important principle of international relations: non-intervention in the domestic affairs of other nations. That principle formed the basis for the establishment of the League of Nations and the UN much later. It was also constantly violated by colonial powers and then by powers citing the pretext of international globalisation.

There is no denying that the world has grown smaller and that humankind is more interconnected and interdependent than ever. However, the solutions for how countries should manage their domestic and foreign affairs are best left to their people and their knowhow. If there is one lesson that the US should have learned from its recent history it is that its interventions to engineer regime change, first through the use of military force and then through the use of soft power, had catastrophic consequences for the people of the countries that were the subjects of these experiments.

For Washington, the interventions backfired: Afghanistan was handed over to the Taliban and Iraq to Iran, and in each case the state in question disintegrated. Even when the West appeared more homogeneous thanks to the EU experiment, the US decided to draw a line between the new Europe and the old one. In the end, when the UK felt it couldnt attain the place it deserved in the EU it opted for Brexit.

The new Biden will not be new if he resorts to old tools from a bygone era, or if he creates new podiums for passing judgements and issuing condemnations without serious study of what is really happening in other, different countries of the world. To be new, he will have to grasp the lessons of the past and deal with other countries realities, not as Washington sees them, but as their people see them. After all, it is ultimately those people who will either benefit or pay the price.

*The writer is chairman of the board, CEO and director of the Regional Centre for Strategic Studies.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 11 February , 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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By John Irish and Robin Emmott

PARIS (Reuters) - The European Union is likely to impose travel bans and asset freezes on allies of Russian President Vladimir Putin, possibly as soon as this month, after France and Germany signalled their willingness to move ahead, three diplomats said.

The sanctions, in response to the jailing of Putin's main domestic critic Alexei Navalny, could be the first to be imposed under a new framework enacted in December, which allows the EU to take measures against human rights violators worldwide.

But Berlin and Paris are still likely to withhold support for tougher steps sought by some European allies, such as halting the huge Nord Stream II gas pipeline from Russia to Germany.

Pressure for sanctions has grown since Moscow infuriated European countries last week by expelling German, Polish and Swedish diplomats without telling the EU's foreign policy chief, who was in Moscow for a visit. Paris and Berlin now say there must be a response.

Poland, Baltic countries, the Czech Republic and Romania had already been pushing for sanctions, and the agreement of the EU's two most powerful countries means other EU states are unlikely to block it. The decision could be taken when EU foreign ministers hold their next meeting on Feb. 22.

"We can't avoid sanctions anymore," said a European diplomat. "There is a consensus including in Germany to have sanctions. We can't respond in any other way."

Germany has been vocal in support of Navalny, who was treated there for what Berlin says was poisoning by a Soviet-era nerve agent. But it also has close energy links to Russia.

Russia controls a third of Europes gas market. The $11 billion Nord Stream 2 project, led by Russia's state energy company Gazprom, would double the capacity of an existing undersea pipeline which bypasses Ukraine and deprives Kyiv of transit fees.

Berlin, with support from Paris, says sanctions should not target the pipeline, despite U.S. punitive measures against the project and a European Parliament resolution calling for it to be blocked.

Story continues

Foreign Minister Heiko Maas told German lawmakers on Wednesday that sanctions needed to hit Russians responsible for Navalny's jailing. France's foreign ministry, in response to a Reuters question on whether it backed sanctions, said: "The latest developments, especially with regard to Alexei Navalny's situation, will be fully taken into account. The EU's response must be united, strong and comprehensive".

The EU already imposed economic sanctions on Russia over its annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014. Last year it imposed travel bans and asset freezes on six Russian officials close to Putin over Navalny's poisoning. Moscow has denied blame for Navalny's illness and says it has seen no proof he was poisoned.

When a former Russian spy was poisoned in then-EU member Britain in 2018, the bloc took more than a year to impose sanctions, which targeted lower level military intelligence agents rather than Russia's national leadership. Now it is under pressure to take more forceful measures, and faster.

Two allies of Navalny, Vladimir Ashurkov and Leonid Volkov, joined a video call with EU states and envoys from Britain, the United States, Canada and Ukraine on Monday to propose senior figures in business, political, judicial and security circles who could face sanctions, according to Western diplomats.

(Reporting by John Irish in Paris and Robin Emmott in Brussels, additional reporting by Andreas Rinke)
Saybrook, a logistics and supply chain conglomerate, today announced a strategic relationship with Esri, the global leader in location intelligence, to transform the logistics industry through joint technology innovation based on Esris ArcGIS system.

This strategic partnership enables transparency, standardization, and advanced analytics across all channels of a connected digital and physical global supply chain ecosystem. By leveraging Esris widely adopted cloud-based geospatial platform to build a common foundation and data standard enabling compatibility, visibility and analytics across the supply chain ecosystem, the partnership will deliver a compelling environment for developers to build solutions to thousands of logistics challenges.

Built upon ArcGIS, the gold standard in geospatial intelligence, todays announcement marks a turning point in the struggle to modernize the movement of goods by creating a digitalized pathway with end-to-end visibility, said Jonathan Rosenthal, CEO of Saybrook Management Group. We are ecstatic about our partnership with Esri and look forward to growing our strong ties.

Location intelligence is the key to ensuring data consistency across global supply chains and reducing systemic bottlenecks. Through spatially-enabled digital transformation, firms can have more effective flow of goods to substantially reduce environmental impacts of moving goods, which today is one of the largest inorganic contributors to global warming.

Our teams look forward to working with Saybrook as we develop specialized programs, services and solutions that help the industry transform the way goods are moved around the globe, yielding higher efficiencies and increased customer service levels, said Cindy Elliott, Head of Industry Marketing Solutions, Manufacturing and Logistics at Esri.

As an Esri Strategic Alliance, Saybrook joins a select group of leading global organizations combining their resources and technology with Esri to collaborate on products, services, and programs that leverage location intelligence to bring innovative solutions to their common clients and industries.

This strategic alliance will offer new opportunities to producers and consumers in the global supply chain ecosystem and effectively transform the technology backbone of the industry, said Robert Laudati, Director, Global Partners and Alliances at Esri. We are privileged to work with Saybrook as a leader in the supply chain industry and welcome them to our partner network.

Together, Saybrook and Esris partnership creates a pathway for effective cross-industry strategies, efficient supply chain workflows and increased workflow transparency to improve the entire ecosystem. Learn more about Saybrook and Esri at http://www.esri.com/saybrookalliance.

About Esri

Esri, the global market leader in geographic information system (GIS) software, location intelligence, and mapping, helps customers unlock the full potential of data to improve operational and business results. Founded in 1969 in Redlands, California, USA, Esri software is deployed in more than 350,000 organizations globally and in over 200,000 institutions in the Americas, Asia and the Pacific, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, including Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, nonprofits, and universities. Esri has regional offices, international distributors, and partners providing local support in over 100 countries on six continents. With its pioneering commitment to geospatial information technology, Esri engineers the most innovative solutions for digital transformation, the Internet of Things (IoT), and advanced analytics. Visit us at esri.com.

About Saybrook

Saybrook is an investment management firm founded in 1990 in Los Angeles, California, having invested, incubated or managed more than $200 billion in assets across more than 100 companies. Saybrook holds discretion over assets for some of the world's largest and most respected public pension funds, corporations, endowments, foundations, family offices and individuals. Our focus is on investments in logistics operations and technology that drive efficiencies, leverage Geospatial Intelligence and reduce environmental impacts. To learn more, visit saybrookfunds.com.
The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged Arrayit Corporation, a Sunnyvale, California company, with making false and misleading statements about the development of a COVID-19 test, and with failing to file required financial reports. The SEC also charged Arrayit's co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, Rene Schena, with making misrepresentations to investors about the financial reports, and for her role as a control person of the company.

The SEC's complaint alleges that, in March and April 2020, Arrayit falsely stated to investors that it had developed a COVID-19 blood test. In fact, as alleged, at the time, Arrayit had not yet purchased materials needed to make a test. The complaint further alleges that Arrayit falsely asserted to investors that it had submitted the test for emergency approval and that there was a high demand for the test. Additionally, the complaint alleges that, between October 2018 and March 2019, Arrayit issued a series of false and misleading statements to investors, including in a shareholder letter prepared by Rene Schena, claiming that it was preparing to file delinquent periodic reports and financial statements for the first time since November 2015. As alleged, Schena knew or was reckless in not knowing that these claims were untrue.

The SEC's complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, charges Arrayit with violating the antifraud provisions of Section 10(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 thereunder, and the reporting provisions of Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act and Rules 13a-1 and 13a-13 thereunder. The complaint further charges Rene Schena with aiding and abetting Arrayit's violations and alleges that she is liable as a control person of Arrayit pursuant to Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act. Without admitting or denying the allegations in the complaint, Arrayit and Rene Schena agreed to settle with the Commission and to be enjoined from future violations of the charged provisions. Rene Schena also agreed to a 3-year officer and director bar and to pay a $50,000 penalty. The settlements are subject to court approval.

The Commission previously filed charges against Mark Schena, the President and Chief Science Officer of Arrayit, for related conduct. That matter is currently pending in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.

The SEC's investigation was conducted by Fitzann R. Reid and John K. Han, and supervised by Jason H. Lee and Monique C. Winkler, of the San Francisco Regional Office.
Bull Run Pizza, a thin-crust pizza cart at Baerlic Brewings Barley Pod, is opening a brick-and-mortar restaurant in a prominent Northeast Portland location, co-owner Alex Pashkevich told The Oregonian.

The cart originally opened as a second outpost of Bing Mi, the Chinese-style jianbing cart that maintains an outpost in Northwest Portland. The small business has been on a wild ride since converting the cart for pizza at the end of 2019, with COVID-19 shutdowns, wildfire smoke and the occasional uncooperative oven. In November, Baerlic converted its adjacent taproom to a small beer and wine shop, closing down most on-site seating.

Pashkevich originally had his eyes on the former UFO pizza location at 6024 N.E. Glisan St. nearby, but Jason Blair, a Portland chef turned broker whose Hogans Goat pizza served as Bull Runs commissary kitchen, steered him to the old Fonda Rosa space at 108 N.E. 28th Ave. (Fonda Rosa, which opened just down from the original Taqueria Nueve in 2008, hung on for more than a decade, finally closing in 2019.)

Partners in the project include Carlee Porter and Tim Harris, both of whom Pashkevich met through Bing Mi.

Pashkevich expects to reopen the Barley Pod food cart in March.

If you havent tried Bull Runs 11-inch pies yet, heres what to expect, from Pashkevich himself:

It looks a bit like NY style, but we use a slightly lower protein flour, pretty high hydration, and build a larger outer crust/cornicione. Long cold ferment on the dough. We were making it at the Goat and bringing it over in batches from the walk-in, so generally getting used in the 3 to 5 day range. Very thin, hand tossed. Hot gas oven, about 5 minute bake time. If we knew the world would be all delivery when developing it, our pizza would probably look very different, but Im really happy with it and dont want to change.

Look for Bull Run Pizzas brick-and-mortar restaurant to open by the end of the month at 108 N.E. 28th Ave., 971-888-0301, bullrunpizza.com

-- Michael Russell, mrussell@oregonian.com, @tdmrussell

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Something that everyone in Illinois should know is that things are moving in a very positive direction, Pritzker said after touring a vaccination site in Elgin on Thursday. It does the heart good to see people getting vaccinated and to know that were seeing the light at the end of this terrible COVID tunnel.
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Following the violence that occurred at the Obalende area of Lagos on Thursday, the police in the state said officers have been deployed to the scene to forestall further violence.

This was contained in a statement by Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the police spokesperson, adding that six suspects were arrested in connection to the incident.

PREMIUM TIMES reported the pandemonium that occurred on Thursday morning in the area, as members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) took over the area.

Gunshots filled the area as Lagosians, who were heading to work, were seen running to safety.

The violence reportedly occurred in front of Kam Salem House, the former police headquarters on Lagos Island, but the officers were unable to contain the violence. They were only able to secure the police headquarters.

Mr Adejobi, a chief superintendent of police, said the Command had deployed resources to disperse and suppress the hoodlums fomenting troubles in the area.

The spokesperson added that normalcy has been restored to the area with the presence of the officers.

Based on preliminary findings, the crisis, that occurred today Thursday 11th February 2021, was between transport unions in the area and no life was lost.

Six (6) suspected hoodlums have been arrested and handed over to state CID, Panti, Yaba for discreet Investigation, he said.

In a video recording, one of the arrested NURTW members said they were deployed to cause trouble in the area by some of the leaders.

We came from Ikorodu to fight at Obalende, Ranti Ibrahim, the suspect, said.

He also confirmed that some of their members were with guns, which they shot during the violence.

Mr Adejobi said the sixth suspect was at the hospital receiving treatment due to the injuries sustained.

Hakeem Odumosu, the commissioner of police in the state, said the command would not condone any act of lawlessness and criminality in the state.

He directed the area commander Area A, Lion Building, Bode Ojajuni, to intensify efforts on flushing the hoodlums out of the area and on the Lagos Island in general, with the available recourses deployed to the area command.

Mr Adejobi added that the leaders of transport unions in the area have been invited for interrogation and further actions.

Residents of Sare Gubu Basiru in the Sandu District, Upper River Region (URR) have complained over what they called poor mobile telecommunication network and internet connection services in the area.

Sare Gubu, a community about 350km from Banjul has complained about this nightmare for over a decade. The residents have to walk to the outskirts of the village or hang their mobile phones up to get network services.

This reporter can confirm that the majority used Orange Sim Card (Senegalese mobile telecommunication Sim Card) to browse because none of The Gambia's mobile telecommunication functions in that area effectively.

Speaking to The Point exclusively, Alhagie Sura Bah, the head for Sare Gubu Basiru village described the poor mobile telecommunication network in the village as one of the greatest challenges for the residents.

"If you need network services here you have to go outside the home," he decried.

He said they find it difficult to communicate to their travelled brethren both in the country and abroad due to the poor network.

He said Orange Sim Cards have dominated Gambians' telecommunications at the village and its surroundings. He said the money they spend on purchasing credit is going to the Senegal instead of The Gambia.

"We are using Orange Sim Cards because we have no other option. Our wish is we would have been using Gambian sim cards so that the money we spend on credit remains in the country," he said.

Ebrima D. Bah, a teacher at Sare Gubu Basic Cycle School, said the residents cannot use Gambian GSM operators' sim cards for regular phone calls talk less of browsing.

"I personally used an Orange Sim Card to browse," he said.

In the 2018-2021 National Development Plan (NDP) document, the President Barrow-led government promised to increase roll out of regional Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Centres to enhance connectivity to schools and communities. It also assured to upgrade telecom access network.

However, Bah said sometimes the community would be totally incommunicado due to poor network, adding: "Even if we have an emergency, we would find it very difficult to communicate. At some point, we will have death cases at health facilities but we cannot communicate well. Sometimes our people abroad would receive the information before us due to poor network."

Bah, one of the Orange Sim Cards users, said: "I have very fine internet service with my Orange Sim Card."

He added: "I as a Gambian, it is not fair for me to use a Senegalese sim card while in The Gambia but I have no choice."

The teacher argued that the residents of that area are Gambians like any other person in the country; therefore, he said they deserve a good network to ensure effective and efficient communication.

Amie Bah, a visitor said: "I have both Qcell and Africell sim cards but since I came here, none of them is functioning effectively. In fact, I have to switch off my mobile phone to save the battery. I only switch it on if I want to use the torchlight."

Ms. Bah said the poor network had affected her seriously, noting that whenever she travels, she called home to communicate with the family but at this time, it does not happen due to the nature of the community.

Muhammed Bah, a businessman who visited his native village said: "Whenever I visit the village, I would not access my email, Instagram, WhatsApp, and others."

This, he said, always affects his business because he cannot communicate with his customers and business partners.

"I cannot spend much time here due to the poor network services," he complained.

Basiru Bah, a law lecturer at The University of The Gambia, who visited his village told this medium that all Gambians irrespective of geographical setup have the right to social amenities and Sare Gubu residents are no exception.

The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR); International Covenant on Socio-Economic and Cultural Rights (ICSECR), and The Banjul Charter - African Charter on the Rights and The welfare of People (ACRWP) provide that socio-economic rights are basic necessities for every individual and every state in Africa is under an obligation to provide service for her people.

Lawyer Bah argued that it's Gambia government's failure to provide such services for the community. He added the locality and the entire rural area are lagging behind in getting social amenities.

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The legal practitioner called on government through the Ministry of Information and Communication Infrastructure to fulfill its obligation by providing all the necessary social amenities, especially network services for the residents.

"If we are to drag The Gambia government to court based on their failure to provide these resources, they would be obliged by the African Union to provide for these services. If they fail to do that, we (The Gambia) may even face sanctions at the state level. We may face an economic embargo from the rest of the continent," he told this reporter.

For her part, Elizabeth Mendy-Johnson, general manager for the state's telecommunication company Gamcel explained that currently, Telecommunication Company does not have nationwide network coverage but added that the company has a network expansion project which she believes would serve every Gambian.

"The project has been already rolled out. Currently, the feasibility study is done, and we are looking at areas where to place our network infrastructure which I believe is going to cover the whole country," she said.
A leadership wrangle has rocked a tea factory following a disclosure that documents for change of guard were sanctioned by a lawyer who died 11 years ago.

As a result, the High Court has been urged to invalidate the leadership of Central Highlands Tea Company Ltd in Murang'a, which has a share capital of Sh138million.

Company top director Kirubi Kamau and five others are accused of failing to account for Sh45 million advanced to the factory.

Mr Kamau, Mr Charles Njiru Kihara, Mr Michael Muranguri Gakund, Mr Gerald Maina Gikonyo, Mr David Githua Muraya and Mr Crispus Thuku Kinene are accused of assuming office through filing forged documents with the Registrar of Companies.

The documents were reportedly signed by Mr Robery Mburu Mbugua in 2019 yet the lawyer died in 2008.

The court has also been urged by four directors to order an audit of the company finances.

The plaintiffs are Mr Meshack Kibunja Kaburi, Mr James Njukira Ihura, Mr David Macharia Gichure and Mr Daniel Wanjie Waruinge.

Mr Kamau and his fellow directors are also accused of fraudulently bringing on board new shareholders.

Testimony filed at the court by the four shows fraud.

Distorted minutes

In the case filed by their lawyer Kabue Thumi under a certificate of urgency, the four distance themselves from letters and affidavits reportedly filed by Mr Mbugua in December 2019.

The directors have attached a copy of the obituary published in the Nation in December 2008.

"I neither authored nor signed the resignation later dated June 11 2018," Mr Kaburi says in a sworn affidavit to support the petition to restore the original directors of Central Highlands Tea Company Ltd.

"I am a stranger to the affidavit...as I neither signed it nor appeared before the Commissioner of Oaths."

Mr Ihura, Mr Gichure and Mr Waruinge also say they never quit from Central Highlands Tea Company, which receives leaves from 820 farmers.

Mr Kaburi says the company held a meeting on June 11 2018 but Mr Kamau and his associates filed distorted minutes with the Registrar of Companies.

He says what was agreed during the meeting at Enkare Hotel, Nairobi, is the true reflection of company leadership and members.

"The June 11, 2019 affidavits could not possibly have been commissioned by Mr Mbugua as he was dead," Mr Kaburi says in his petition.

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The plaintiffs say Mr Kamau and the other five directors have failed to diligently conduct the business of the company since they assumed office "irregularly".

"The respondents have not acted in the best interest of the company and its shareholders, thereby exposing it to the risk of financial and reputational losses," Mr Kaburi says.

He and the other three insist that the company's assets will be wasted if the court fails to intervene.

They accuse the respondents of acting fraudulently by allocating themselves extra shares without authorisation.

Mr Kamau and the five directors are said to have brought on board new shareholders and failed to remit the entire sum paid to Highlands Tea Company.

According to the complainants, a share was sold for Sh180 but only Sh140 was surrendered to the company.

They say some farmers who take their leaves to the factory have not been paid.

"The respondents have not said when the payment will be made," Mr Kaburi says in the affidavit.

Mr Kamau and his group asked the High Court for more time to respond to the accusations.

The court directed that they file their response in seven days.

Mr Kaburi and his colleagues were also given seven days to reply to the respondents.
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JACKSON, Miss. (WTVA) - Vaccine doses shipped to Mississippi are for eligible groups that live or work in the state.

More Mississippians have received doses in adjacent states than out-of-state residents have received doses in Mississippi, State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs stated Thursday morning.

COVID vaccines shipped to MS are intended for eligible groups that: -Live in MS

-Work in MS BUT - please know that thus far, more Mississippians have received vaccine in adjacent states than out-of-state residents have received vaccine in MShttps://t.co/oUbNHMwCnB  thomas dobbs (@TCBPubHealth) February 11, 2021

In a letter on Wednesday to colleagues, State Epidemiologist Dr. Paul Byers said Mississippi has made great progress in vaccinating vulnerable populations during the past several weeks.

Currently, the state health department is prioritizing individuals with the highest risk of severe illness or death.

Health care workers;

Those 65 years of age or older; and

Those with qualifying medical conditions (view qualifying health conditions)

Byers urges medical officials to refer non-residents, who are not eligible through employment, to their state of residence for vaccination opportunities.

Related - Schedule vaccine appointment online in Mississippi
STAMFORD  Health care information provider Sema4 announced Wednesday that it would become a publicly traded company, an ambitious plan intended to catalyze further growth for one of the fastest-expanding firms in Connecticut.

In a move that values the company at approximately $2 billion, Stamford-headquartered Sema4 is going public through a process that offers an alternative to an initial public offering. It would result in Sema4s shares trading on the Nasdaq Global Market upon the transactions expected completion in the second quarter of this year.

Itll be a big infusion of cash onto the Sema4 balance sheet to build out more rapidly and more completely the kind of solutions were delivering for patients, providers and health systems, Sema4 founder and CEO Eric Schadt said in an interview. What this provides is the right scale of fuel to get much more aggressive.

To facilitate its transformation into a public company, Sema4 has entered an agreement with special purpose acquisition company CM Life Sciences that is expected to generate proceeds of up to approximately $793 million when the transaction is completed. Up to $343 million of that amount would be paid to Sema4 stockholders, and the remainder would support Sema4s operations.

Through the SPAC framework, Sema4 expects to accrue up to $500 million in available cash  a total that would include $450 million from the transaction, as well as existing cash on its balance sheet.

For a biomedical company, you need so much money to keep doing the research and bringing products to market. Having that infusion of another $450 million will really help the company, said Paul Pescatello, executive director and senior counsel for the Connecticut Business & Industry Associations Connecticut Bioscience Growth Council. Its a very efficient way of raising the funds and being able to go forward.

In addition to approximately $443 million of cash held in CM Life Sciences trust account, a group of institutional investors plans to participate through $350 million of private investment in public equity.

Its sort of an IPO in reverse because youre setting the price up front, doing the road show up front with getting all these big-name public investors signed up and then you do that merger agreement and get ready to be public, Schadt said. It helps capture the value of the market today, helps set the (stock) price and gives you security.

Those investors include Casdin Capital, Corvex Management, Greenwich-based Viking Global Investors, Fidelity Management & Research Company LLC, Counterpoint Global (Morgan Stanley), Perceptive Advisors, SB Management, a subsidiary of SoftBank Group Corp, and funds and accounts advised by T. Rowe Price Associates Inc. Existing investors include funds and accounts managed by Blackrock and Deerfield Management.

The disruptive promise in combining these genomic and clinical data sets, at the patient level, is profound but takes a team of experts, the right business model and lots of growth capital, Eli Casdin, founder and chief investment officer of Casdin Capital, said in a statement. We therefore could not be more excited to lend our partnership and fill the balance sheet for the foremost leader in the field, Eric Schadt and the expert team hes assembled at Sema4. With an early start, unique business strategy and more than 150 leading data scientists, this is the premier company in one of the biggest, winner-take-most markets in life sciences.

In a related move, CM Life Sciences held last September a $385 million initial public offering.

Signaling the markets optimism about Sema4s prospects, CM Life Sciences stock value surged by 42 percent on Wednesday, to close at about $22. CM Life Sciences trades under the CMLF ticker symbol.

This makes it easier for a company like Sema4 to go public because CMLF has already handled the work of registration and all the guts you need to be a public company, Schadt said. Whatever ticker symbol gets assigned to Sema4 will replace the CMLF ticker symbol, and we become that publicly traded stock.

Sema4 had already garnered major investments. Last year, the company received a $121 million infusion from a group of backers that included the state-chartered investment agency Connecticut Innovations and Greenwich-based Oak HC/FT. The investment helped the company achieve at that point a valuation of more than $1 billion.

Growing in Connecticut

Since its 2017 spinoff from the Mount Sinai Health System into its own firm, Sema4 has expanded significantly in Connecticut.

Among recent developments, it announced last December the opening of an approximately 70,000-square-foot lab in Stamfords Waterside section. It has the capacity to process thousands of genomic tests per day  crucial in Sema4s efforts to provide information related to thousands of genetically identifiable diseases to patients across the country.

The new facility opened following the renovation of a building at 62 Southfield Ave. that dates to 1904 and once operated as a chocolate factory.

It replaced the firms old laboratory at the Mount Sinai campus in Manhattan and complements another lab, in Branford.

In total, Sema4 employs approximately 560 in Connecticut. About 200 of them work at the Stamford lab, alongside about 110 based in Branford and around 250 based at the Ludlow Street offices.

To support its expansion, the state Department of Economic and Community Development has provided Sema4 a total of $15.5 million in loans.

Since its founding, Sema4 has focused largely on reproductive health-based testing and analysis.

But it has diversified its services in the past year to respond to the coronavirus pandemic. At the Branford lab, it has built out a testing program that recently has been processing about 20,000 to 25,000 viral tests each week.

Across all its operations, Sema4 has amassed more than 10 million patient records.

Sema4s name refers to semaphore  a system used to send signals. The company has said it aims to discern signal from noise across trillions of data points to gain insights into human health.

pschott@stamfordadvocate.com; Twitter: @paulschott
Geneva, Switzerland (PANA) - A World Health Organization (WHO) expert panel countered concerns over the efficacy of the AstraZeneca COVID vaccine on Wednesday, insisting that its the right thing to do to use it  even in countries where variants had surfaced
Kamco Invest, a regional non-banking financial powerhouse with one of the largest AUMs in the region, announced the appointment of Ibrahem Al Shariadah as Chief Executive Officer for its operation in Saudi Arabia.

Al Shariadah joins Kamco Invest - Saudi with extensive experience in banking and Investment having held several executive positions with top asset management firms in Saudi Arabia. He has experience across all core areas of asset and wealth management, managing various investment asset classes and building strong relations where he has served government & semi-government institutions, regional sovereign wealth funds, Saudi and regional family offices, and UHNW individuals. He holds a BA in Management Information and an MBA from Colorado Technical University (CU, CTU), USA.

Prior to joining Kamco Invest - Saudi, Al Shariadah headed the Wealth Management division at Al Rajhi Capital, leading a team of 40 people with an AUM in excess of SR46 billion in a multi-asset class portfolio. He has also held several executive positions with exposure across regional and international markets including Head of Discretionary Portfolio Management (DPMs) at Al Rajhi Capital, Acting Head of Capital & Money Market and Senior Fund Manager at Adeem Capital in Saudi Arabia, as well as several positions at Samba Capital in Saudi Arabia where he first started his career, the last being Senior Fund & Portfolio Manager in the Equity, Money Market and Real Estate Funds Department under the Asset Management Division.

Engineer Sufyan Zamil Al-Zamil, Chairman of Kamco Invest - Saudi, said: We are pleased to welcome aboard Ibrahim Al Shariadah as Chief Executive Officer of Kamco Invest - Saudi. His experience and track record will be an added value to lead the Saudi operation to further contribute towards the implementation of the groups growth strategy.

Commenting on his appointment, Al Shariadah said: Kamco Invest has built a strong reputation in the local and regional markets as a leading non-banking financial services provider and as one of the largest asset managers in the GCC. I look forward to working with the talented team in Saudi Arabia as we work together to progressively strengthen our position in the Saudi market, capitalising on the vast resources that Kamco Invest has to offer as well as the strength of its regional reach.

Kamco Invest manages an AUM of around $12.9 billion (as of December 31, 2020) on behalf of its clients in various asset classes and jurisdictions, making it the fifth largest asset manager in the GCC according to Moodys asset management report dated September 2019. It also holds a strong track record with investment banking credentials exceeding $23.8 billion since inception till December 31, 2020 in equity capital markets, debt capital markets and mergers & acquisitions. Kamco Invest - Saudi manages the Kamco Saudi Equity Fund with AUM in excess of SR685 million (as of February 7, 2021), making it the second largest conventional Saudi equity fund, and the largest fund managed by an independent investment company not affiliated with a local bank. -TradeArabia News Service

Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called up Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday, requesting for Covid-19 vaccines, which India has generously gifted to 20 countries under its vaccine diplomacy.

An official statement from the Prime Minister's Office said that Trudeau informed Modi about Canada's requirement for Covid-19 vaccines from India. Modi on his part assured the Canadian PM that India would do its best to support Canada's vaccination efforts, just as it had done for many other countries already.

Expressing his appreciation, Trudeau said that if the world manages to conquer Covid-19, it would be significantly because of India's tremendous pharmaceutical capacity, and Prime Minister Modi's leadership in sharing this capacity with the rest of the world. The Indian Prime Minister thanked Trudeau for his sentiments.

The two leaders also reiterated the common perspective shared by India and Canada on many important geo-political issues. They agreed to continue the close collaboration between both the countries in fighting global challenges like climate change and the economic impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The leaders looked forward to meeting each other in various important international fora later this year, and continue their discussions on all issues of mutual interest.

Desiree LaMarr-Murphy grew up without enough food.

Back in the mid-1980s, school days were the hardest, when shed sit without lunch in the cafeteria of the former William B. Mann Elementary School (now Mastery Charter Mann Elementary) in the Wynnefield section of Philadelphia, watching other kids eat.

Years later, after life improved a bit, an apartment fire left her and her children temporarily homeless and dependent on church-donated food that was lovingly bestowed but spoiled and inedible.

The food-less lunch periods and the after-fire charity forged LaMarr-Murphy, now 43, into an unparalleled hunger fighter. Trained as a special-ed teacher and now a special-needs coordinator for the School District of Philadelphia, LaMarr-Murphy promised herself two things: to never again suffer hunger, and to help feed children and their families by creating food pantries in schools and other locations throughout the region.

And now, during the pandemic, shes distinguished herself as perhaps the only person in the Philadelphia area who runs a food pantry out of her own home. LaMarr-Murphy created the network of food donors for the pantry herself, and stores some of the supplies in the 550-square-foot building she calls her she-shed in her Upper Darby backyard.

People label survivors of hard times resilient, said LaMarr-Murphy, a widowed mother of five daughters. But, she explained, theres also something called post-traumatic growth. Bouncing back from trauma isnt enough. You have to do something with your trauma: You grow and become somebody better for somebody else, not just for yourself.

Youre healing yourself, then youre helping others.

How come I dont have that?

Over time, LaMarr-Murphy discovered that there was something wrong in the early days of her life.

I learned we were food insecure, she said, referencing the term that means a person or family is lacking the money to buy enough food to live a healthy life.

She remembers having cereal and Oodles of Noodles for dinner, as well as pancakes made without pancake mix. LaMarr-Murphy would enviously watch The Cosby Show, in which the well-dressed characters lived cohesive, loving lives, with plenty to eat.

How come, shed ask herself, I dont have that?

In those days, anyone needing free school lunch had to turn in paperwork that LaMarr-Murphy didnt know how to fill out.

I didnt want to make anyone in my family sad or feel bad, so I didnt talk about not eating lunch, she said. And at school, no adult ever asked what was wrong.

So, no sandwiches, no chicken nuggets, no pizza. Shed see and smell the food other students ate, and wait for the bell to ring.

I just accepted this, LaMarr-Murphy recalled.

At 17, she became pregnant while attending Overbrook High School. There she learned about food stamps and WIC (the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children).

I was a disgrace to my family getting pregnant and being the first to be on welfare, she said. But those programs sustained us.

After graduating from high school, LaMarr-Murphy went on to Philadelphia Community College. She had her second daughter with Christopher Murphy, the man who would become her husband.

At 23, she and Murphy separated for a while. One night, a fire broke out in her West Philadelphia home, and she and the two girls found themselves homeless.

When someone from a local church promised a box of food, LaMarr-Murphy fantasized about its contents, visualizing a nutritional cornucopia that would keep the beleaguered trio going. Instead, she said, remembering the exact items, we got one can of waxed beans, one can of kidney beans, one can of chickpeas, and lots of moldy mushy produce.

I fell to my knees and cried. We waited all day for this box of trash, and there was nothing to feed my kids.

From that day forward, I vowed to never ever feel that way again.

She kept her word. In 2009, LaMarr-Murphy went on to Temple University and graduated with a degree in education at age 32. She and Murphy reconciled, bought a house, and had three more children, one of whom would have her own child. Murphy would die of a pulmonary embolism at age 39 in 2016.

As a special-ed teacher in North Philadelphia, LaMarr-Murphy listened to her students talk and heard the hunger in their conversations:

They would ask me what I had for dinner the previous night, she said. Id tell them and theyd say, I wish I had that. 

LaMarr-Murphy would bring in food for the kids, her empty-stomach lunchtimes never diminished in her memory. Soon afterward, she started pantries, connecting with Philabundance, the hunger-relief agency, to stock the shelves in some of them. She opened her co-called Murphys Markets at Richard Wright Elementary School in North Philadelphia, and at Mitchell Elementary School in Southwest Philadelphia.

LaMarr-Murphy also distributes food at several other locations in the area, though none more unique than her own home.

In the Philadelphia region, there are more than 800 food pantries, though LaMarr-Murphys Sellers Ave. location is believed to be the only one in a private home, according to both Philabundance CEO Loree Jones and George Matysik, executive director of Share Food Program, the largest food distribution agency in the area.

On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, LaMarr-Murphy talked a bit about her anti-hunger mission with then-President-elect Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden at Philabundance during a day of service. She said that as she and Biden filled boxes for Philabundance clients, he made a promise of his own to fight food insecurity. And she said she felt shed met a kindred spirit after Dr. Biden told her that, as a teacher, she too brings food to students  even adults.

I find her inspiring

In an icy rain, more than 30 people lined up on the sidewalk outside LaMarr-Murphys two-story stucco house in a middle-class Upper Darby neighborhood. Its a startling sight  an outdoor market in a driveway, created by LaMarr-Murphys contacts and convictions.

This helps a lot, said Maria Guzman Salazar, 43, a pantry client and a local manicurist whose hours were curtailed because of the pandemic. Were feeding four adults and four kids in my house, and this is very good food. Everything is fresh. I feel blessed.

Saju Paul agreed. Its important for my family that I come here, said the 64-year-old who, pre-COVID-19, worked in food distribution at Philadelphia International Airport. I have no job right now because of the pandemic, but I have a wife and three kids.

During the Tuesday distributions, neighbors have sometimes complained because of the crowds, said Rashida Ximines, LaMarr-Murphys longtime friend. But its nothing that cant be rectified. Mostly, people are impressed with LaMarr-Murphys good spirit and kind heart, she said.

Jones of Philabundance is also a fan, summing up LaMarr-Murphys value to the community:

Im moved by somebody who went through so many challenges and literally used them to make the world better.

I find her inspiring.
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Nepal has banned two Indian climbers and their team leader from carrying out any mountaineering expeditions in the country for six years after a probe found that they faked their Mt Everest summit in 2016, according to a media report on Thursday.

Indian nationals Narender Singh Yadav and Seema Rani Goswami received expedition certificates during the spring season of 2016 without successfully climbing the world's highest mountain, the Himalayan Times reported, quoting a spokesperson of the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation.

Both the climbers had received the certificates of climbing the 8,848.86m (29,032 ft) mountain by submitting false details to the Department of Tourism. Their certificates have been revoked, the ministry said

After receiving a complaint about the fake ascent, the ministry had formed a committee to investigate the matter.

"The investigation has confirmed that both of them had obtained certificates by giving false details," the spokesperson was quoted as saying by the daily.

They have been banned from ascending any mountain in Nepal for six years. The ban will be effective starting May 20, 2016, it said.

Their Indian team leader Naba Kumar Phukon, who led the expedition, has also been banned for six years starting May 20, 2016.

The government has also imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on the Seven Summit Treks Pvt Ltd, the agency which organised the expedition for the Indian nationals.

The ministry has also warned Pawan Kumar Ghimire, the liaison officer of the team, not to repeat such mistakes in the future. The ministry has also decided to impose a fine of Rs 10,000 on Nga Dawa Sherpa, the climbing supporter during the expedition.

Sherpa had filed false documents claiming that Yadav had successfully climbed Mt Everest.

This is not the first time that climbers have been confirmed of faking the summit of Mt Everest.

Dinesh and Tarakeshwari Rathod, an Indian couple, who were part of a different expedition in the spring of 2016, had also claimed that they had scaled Mt Everest and obtained the expedition certificate by submitting false details, the daily said.

Their climbing recognition was also revoked by the DoT.

Aiming to reduce such activities, the government has been dwelling on installing GPS tracking system in the mountains. However, no progress has been made on this front yet.
New Delhi: Foundation stone of All India War Memorial Arch, popularly known as India Gate was laid by British royal, Duke of Connaught on February 10, 1921. Also known as Prince Arthur, his uncle King George V held a grand durbar in Delhi in 1911, to mark the announcement of shifting imperial capital from Calcutta to Delhi. Following this, work to build the new capital on Raisina Hills began whose foundation was laid by King George V on December 15, 1911.

Later, Sir Edwin Lutyens and Sir Herbert Baker laid out a new capital plan with the Viceroy's House being the 'centrepiece' of New Delhi. With North and South blocks in front of it, this place was officially named as the Rashtrapati Bhavan in 1926.

However, during the construction of the capital city, World War 1 broke out in which a large number of soldiers from the British Indian Army were sent to war zones.

During his Delhi visit in 1921, Duke of Connaught participated in a number of activities. One among them is laying the foundation of War Memorial and Council Chamber of Parliament House. According to sources, army units across India gathered at the New Delhi event. Meanwhile, Duke of Connaught said, there will stand a memorial archway, in the central vista of Delhi, to remind the generations of the glorious sacrifice of army men, who fought the war. He also mentioned how the memorial is not about lives lost, but a monument marking a great victory.

The sandstone arch was opened after a decade. It has often been compared to Paris' Arc de Triomphe. Standing forty-two metres high, Memorial Arch was built to honour the brave men who died in WWI and the Third Anglo-Afghan War. Its surface has their names inscribed on it.

India Gate bears the name of over 13,516 soldiers among the 80,000 who died in those wars.

Amar Jawan Jyoti has a flame burning, with an inverted bayonet and a soldier's helmet over it. Built in 1972, under the arch, it commemorates lives lost in the Indo-Pak war of 1971.

India Gate attracts many tourists today. It serves as a memorial of Indian soldiers who laid down their lives in their line of duty.

Live TV
PHILADELPHIA  A day after his widely panned opening on the first day of Donald Trumps Senate impeachment trial, defense lawyer Bruce L. Castor Jr. said the former president had not expressed any displeasure with his teams performance.

Far from it, Castor told reporters on his way into Wednesdays proceedings at the Capitol. Asked whether their rocky start  which drew critiques from pundits and GOP senators and reportedly had Trump near screaming at his TV  prompted the team to change its strategy, Castor replied: Not at all.

Castor opened Trumps defense Tuesday with a folksy, 50-minute monologue that heaped flattery on senators, digressed into personal anecdotes, and highlighted his own past career as a district attorney. Several Republican senators  including John Cornyn and Ted Cruz of Texas and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana  later said that compared to the taut, organized presentation of the Democratic House impeachment managers, Castors presentation left them cold.

It was disorganized, random [and] they did not talk about the issue at hand, said Cassidy, who added that the Trump teams failure to present a coherent case prompted him to change positions and join Democrats in voting to allow the trial to continue.

Some pundits close to Trump, including Fox News Sean Hannity, openly speculated Tuesday night that the former president might change course and rely on Castors co-counsel, David Schoen, to take the lead as the trial continues.

Schoen delivered a more pugnacious presentation Tuesday following Castor, which was reportedly more to the presidents liking.

Asked Wednesday whether he would be taking on a greater role moving forward, Schoen said only: Mr. Trump always gives good advice.

--

Jeremy Roebuck of The Philadelphia Inquirer wrote this story.

(c)2021 The Philadelphia Inquirer

Visit The Philadelphia Inquirer at www.inquirer.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
On the third day of the plenary meeting of the eighth Central Committee of the ruling Workers' Party, Kim on Wednesday suggested important tasks for firmly ensuring the implementation of the national economic plan by law and the fulfilment of this year's economic tasks, the country's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said in the report.

Seoul, Feb 11 (IANS) North Korean leader Kim Jong-un called on the legislation sector to strengthen legal supervision and control over the establishment and executive process of the national economic plan, a state-media report said on Thursday.

He called on the legislative sector to "remove irrational elements becoming stumbling blocks to the implementation of the national economic plan and enact and perfect new laws for every sector which help promote the efficiency of the production and construction", Xinhua news agency quoted the KCNA report as saying.

Kim particularly urged legislative bodies to check all kinds of illegal practices revealed in economic activities.

He also said party officials should intensify political guidance to achieve this year's economic tasks.

At the eighth congress of the Workers' Party last month, Kim unveiled a new five-year economic development plan focusing on self-reliance.

--IANS

ksk/
(Newser)  An icy highway in Texas is being blamed for a massive pileup of vehicles Thursday that has left at least five dead, reports the Fort Worth Star Telegram. The toll could grow: Authorities were still searching vehicle by vehicle for trapped drivers and passengers, and several of the approximately three dozen people transported to hospitals had critical injuries. The pileup happened about 6:30am Eastern and involved an estimated 100 cars and trucksincluding 18-wheelerson Interstate 35 in Fort Worth. Once the initial accident happened, witnesses say other vehicles were powerless to stop crashing into the pile because of the icy conditions.

story continues below

The vehicles are just mangled, says a spokesman for MedStar ambulance service, per the AP. Its going to take a lot to disentangle this wreck. The crash scene stretches nearly a mile long, reports CNN. Authorities had to bring in buses to transport drivers and passengers from the scene. They "were not patients but could've become patients because of hypothermia," says the MedStar rep. Police also had to set up a family reunification site at a local community center. The pileup occurred after an overnight storm brought freezing rain and disrupted travel across the region, reports NBC Dallas Fort Worth. In Austin, five people were hospitalized after a 26-vehicle pileup. (Read more Fort Worth stories.)
Robert F Kennedy Jr has been banned from Instagram for what the company said was repeatedly sharing misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines.

The son of the former US Attorney General, US Senator and presidential candidate Robert F Kennedy is a prominent vaccine skeptic who set up his own advocacy group called Children's Health Defense in 2016.

A spokesperson for Facebook, which owns Instagram, confirmed the 67-year-old nephew of JFK had been banned 'for repeatedly sharing debunked claims about the coronavirus or vaccines,' CNN reported.

The spokesperson told CNN there were no plans 'at this time' to take down Kennedy's Facebook page, which remains active.

Facebook earlier this week said it would delete posts that it deemed to be spreading 'misinformation' about the vaccine - a move that some applauded, but that some slammed as censoring discussion about an important issue.

The company said the rules would apply to Facebook itself and also Instagram.

Robert F Kennedy Jr has been banned from Instagram for repeatedly sharing what the company said was misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines. Pictured: Kennedy speaks to a crowd that included coronavirus skeptics in Berlin in August

A spokesperson for Facebook, which owns Instagram, confirmed that Kennedy, 67, been banned 'for repeatedly sharing debunked claims about the coronavirus or vaccines' CNN reported. There are no plans 'at this time' to ban Kennedy from Facebook [Stock photo]

Kennedy, a lifelong Democrat, has previously lobbied Congress to allow parents who do not want to vaccinate their children exemptions from state mandates to do so.

His organization says it does not oppose vaccines, but is dedicated to questioning their safety.

A heading on a recent post read, 'Vaccine Mandates: An Erosion of Civil Rights?'

The group, which was originally named the World Mercury Project, promotes claims generally not accepted by medical experts that mercury in vaccines can cause autism.

At a public event in February 2017, Kennedy alleged that vaccines had 'caused an autism epidemic'.

During the Washington, DC event, Kennedy and actor Robert De Niro offered $100,000 to anyone who could prove that vaccines were safe.

More recently, Children's Health Defense has engaged in furthering the 'great reset' conspiracy theory that claims that 'global elites' - including Microsoft founder and public health philanthropist Bill Gates - will use the pandemic to advance their interests, a claim health experts consider outlandish and false.

Kennedy's organization Children's Health Defense has engaged in furthering the 'great reset' conspiracy theory that claims that 'global elites' will use the pandemic to advance their interests. The group posted on its social media channels about the theory debunked in the mainstream that warns that individuals including Bill Gates are seeking to pursue a globalist/Marxist plot to destroy US sovereignty and the personal freedoms of American citizens

Robert Kennedy Jr, the son of the former US Attorney General, US Senator and presidential candidate Robert F Kennedy, is a prominent anti-vaxxer who set up his own advocacy group in 2016. Pictured: Kennedy (center) with anti-vaccine protesters [File photo]

Kennedy's group posted on its social media channels about the conspiracy theory, which warns that individuals including Gates are seeking to pursue a globalist/Marxist plot to destroy US sovereignty and the personal freedoms of American citizens.

University of California law professor Dorit Reiss said Kennedy's famous name and connections give him a platform - and an air of legitimacy - that others in the anti-vaccine movement don't enjoy.

'The anti-vaccine movement pride themselves on bucking authority, but are also desperate for legitimacy' Reiss told the Globe and Mail late last year. 'Robert Kennedy gives them both.

In December 2020, Kennedy's doctor niece who cared for coronavirus patients in New York City at the height of the pandemic called out her uncle for spreading 'misinformation'.

In an op-ed for the New York Times, Kerry Kennedy Meltzer, 29, wrote that she loves her uncle Robert F. Kennedy Jr. yet 'when it comes to vaccines, he is wrong'.

'When a Covid vaccine is offered to you, I urge you to take it,' she said. 'Do it for yourself, for your family and for your friends. Do it for your country.'

Members of his own family have hit out against his views before, including his siblings, former Maryland Lieutenant Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, former Massachusetts Rep. Joseph P. Kennedy II and Maeve Kennedy McKean.

Kennedy, a lifelong Democrat, has previously lobbied Congress to allow parents who do not want to vaccinate their children exemptions from state mandates to do so. He has insisted that he is not against vaccines, saying he is in favor of safe vaccines, and that his own children have been vaccinated. Pictured: A tweet shared by Kennedy in March 2019

Kennedy has raised questions over whether the coronavirus vaccine is safe and has railed against the big push to get people to take the shot

Kennedy is the nephew of former President John F. Kennedy; in 1961, he visited his uncle in the White House

They posted an op-ed in 2019 saying their brother was 'tragically wrong' about vaccines.

'He has helped to spread dangerous misinformation over social media and is complicit in sowing distrust of the science behind vaccines,' they said amid a surge that time in measles cases.

Meanwhile, Kennedy's Children's Health Defense Fund has hit back itself.

It filed a lawsuit last year against Facebook and three fact-checking companies, alleging they censored posts and misrepresented and defamed the group.

Kennedy has insisted that he is not against vaccines, saying he is in favor of 'safe' vaccines, and that his own children have been vaccinated.

Kennedy is just the latest high-profile figure to be blocked by social media sites over claims the sites have deemed as false.

Following the siege of the Capitol building on January 6, then-President Donald Trump was banned from virtually all social media networks, including Facebook, over accusations that he incited the rioters.

The accusations are the subject of the second impeachment trial against Trump, which began yesterday.

The Twitter account of company MyPillow received a permanent Twitter ban after CEO Mike Lindell tweeted from it to circumvent a ban on his personal account for spreading false claims that Trump won the 2020 presidential election.

The coronavirus pandemic and US election have heaped - in some corners - pressure on social media sites to crack down on those who share what's considered to be false information.

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 has approved contracts worth over N26.7 billion for projects under the ministries of Information and Culture; Communication and Digital Economy, and Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development.

The contacts were approved during the federal executive council meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa.The government also approved a new National Policy on Aging.

The minister of water resources, Suleiman Adamu, said council also approved N8.43 billion for the implementation of Damaturu water supply scheme.

Adamu said the contract for Lot A was awarded to Mallam Matari and Service Center Water Supply Project. Lot B is the construction of Water Supply at Nufakalam and Lot C Water Supply scheme at Sunsuma.

"They are all ground water or borehole projects spread over wide distance because they are covering three major cities. They will be mostly solar based and also it's in response to the critical needs of these localities in Yobe State."

Suliaman said the localities were affected by the activities of insurgents eight years ago, adding that the area is a high Sahel region where surface water is difficult to come by. "We hope that with this intervention, the water supply within this area will be greatly enhanced. The completion period is 24 months."

His Communication and Digital Economy counterpart, Isa Pantami, disclosed that the council approved about N8.9 billion for a new National Information Communication and Technology (ICT) park in the FCT to coordinate public and private ICT hubs in the country.

He also revealed that government would soon release the timelines for the replacement of BVN with NIN in bank accounts. Pantami explained that a 4,200 square meters land has already been acquired for the establishment of the ICT Park.

He said, "The wisdom behind the ICT Park is for it to be a center where public and private ICT hubs are going to be coordinated by the federal government of Nigeria, where young innovators with crazy and disruptive ideas will be mentored and all what they need provided for.

"We will provide enabling environment for them to utilise and come up with disruptive technologies.

"This is the first of its kind in Nigeria, we have so many parks and hubs but they are regional. This one will be central and will be a center of job creation for our teaming youths. It will be a center where technology will be developed and incubated. It will play a significant role in reducing unemployment and the reduce the gap of unemployability."

The minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, said council approved the sum of N9.43 billion to complete the digital switch over, which had previously missed the deadline set for implementation.

Mohammed said, "As you know, the ITU had two cut off dates, one in 2017 another in 2020, where nations were supposed to completed their movement from analogue to digital. Regrettably, we were not able to make it. But with the approval of this memo today, we would be striving to switch from analogue to digital.

"We will now agree on a date for a launch in the biggest cities like Lagos, Kano and Port Harcourt. And we will start the switch off in the already switched on states.

"The effect of the move today is that, digital switch over is now real and the economic effect of it will be the creation of hundreds of thousands of jobs in content production, channel distribution, Nollywood and electronic appliance productions to service about 20 million Nigerian homes.

Mohammed also revealed that the council approved a Memorandum of Understanding between the ministry and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Bankers Committee for the renovation of the National Theatre, Iganmu Lagos.

He said, "This is a landmark approval because, it has pave the way for investment in the creative industry as part of the resolve of this government to create at least one million jobs in the next three years in the creative industry.

"The approval of these two memos is capable of creating one million jobs in the next three years.

"President had in 2020 gave approval to the CBN and the Bankers Committee, to develop, refurbish, renovate the National Theater and at the same time take over the adjourning lands to create a veritable creative industry where they will be four hubs, one for films, one for music, one for IT and the other for fashion.

"The memo today was for the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture to enter into Memorandum of Understanding for the refurbishment of the National Theater.

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"The CBN and Bankers Committee are willing to invest N21.894 billion to renovate, refurbish and commercialisation (run it profitably) of the National Theater complex. The MOU has a life span of 21 years after which it will revert back to government. The important thing is that no job will be lost because after the National Theater is renovated, a special purpose vehicle will be created to run it. It cannot be business as usual, it will be a turning point in the creative industry in the sense that we are going to have a brand new National Theater, an event center that will help in creating more jobs."

Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, Sadiya Umar Farouk, on her part said council approved National Policy on Aging.

According to her, the objective of the policy is to ensure that older persons in the society are guaranteed security, independence anticipation, participation, comprehensive care, self fulfillment and dignity.

"The policy covers spectrum of issues and opportunities for older persons, older persons with disabilities, older persons who are internally displaced, older persons engaged in farming in the Nigeria, in urban and rural areas."

Saudi human rights activist Loujain al-Hathloul, 31, has been released after 1,000 days in prison.



Hathloul became famous worldwide for her campaign in favour of women's right to drive a car in Saudi Arabia.



She was arrested in May 2018, just months prior to women being given the right to drive.



On Thursday, Hathloul's sister, Lina, announced on Twitter: "Loujain is home!", publishing a photo of Hathloul and adding that she spent some 1,001 days behind bars.



Hathloul was convicted last December by a criminal court established to try terrorism cases and sentenced to five years and eight months in prison.



She was charged with "incitement to change the government regime of the Kingdom and having cooperated with individuals and entities to advance a foreign agenda", Saudi sources said.



The sentence raised a wave of indignation and criticism around the world, mitigated by the news that part of her sentence - two years and 10 months - was suspended.



The concession, however, was tied to Hathloul's commitment to "not commit other crimes for three years" and an obligation to remain in Saudi Arabia for the next five years, her family said.



Hathloul's case, from the start, contributed to increasing international pressure on Saudi authorities, who have been repeatedly accused of disregard for human rights, particularly after the atrocious assassination of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi.



Her release could now ease tension on Riyadh, especially with Washington and the new administration of US President Joe Biden, which has already shown that with regards to human rights it wants to conduct a much more severe policy than that of Biden's predecessor Donald Trump.
The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has suspended the operations of all Memba Travellers Sacco matatus with immediate effect.

The suspension comes days after a tragic incident in which a female passenger lost her life when she was allegedly thrown out of a moving matatu by the crew.

The passenger and crew had reportedly disagreed over the fare with the deceased willing to part with Sh400 but the crew insisting on Sh600.

NTSA, in a statement to newsrooms, demanded all the vehicles attached to this Sacco be subjected to fresh scrutiny.

The Sacco officials have also been summoned to explain the incident.

"The vehicles belonging to the Sacco be subjected to a compliance inspection at the NTSA inspection centre at Likoni road, Nairobi," the statement further added.

The deceased was identified as Lucy Wanjiku who Police say died on Sunday.

The Equity Bank employee is said to have been pushed out of a Mwea-bound matatu by a rogue crew in Juja on Saturday, some 30 minutes after she had boarded the vehicle in Ruiru.

The 26-year-old, who'd planned to wed later this year, hit her head on the tarmac and died hours later.

Wanjiku, who was a beneficiary of Equity Bank's Wings to Fly scholarship program for bright and needy students, boarded the matatu in Ruiru at around 6.30 pm on her way to Mwea in Kirinyaga.

According to family members, when the deceased boarded the vehicle -- registration number KCZ 729C belonging to Memba Sacco -- she quarreled with the driver and two touts over a sudden rise in the fare price.

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Witnesses told police Wanjiku had agreed to pay Sh400 and handed over a Sh500 note to the conductor.

But when the matatu got to Juja, the crew refused to give back her change, prompting a quarrel.

The vehicle stopped and the driver ordered her to alight.

Inspector-General of Police Hillary Mutyambai said on Monday during a Twitter engagement with Kenyans that the driver of the vehicle is still at large and the police are in pursuit.

He assured Kenyans that action will be taken against the culprits involved in the death of Wanjiku.

"We have not arrested the driver and his conductor but we have traced the vehicle and towed it to a police station. Efforts to arrest the two are ongoing," said Juja OCPD Beatrice Migarusha
Ranchi, Feb 11 : Two CRPF personnel were seriously injured in a gun battle with Maoist guerrillas in Jharkhand's Bokaro district on Thursday, police said.

The gunfight began when a joint team of police and Central Reserve Police Force conducted raids following a tip-off that the members of banned CPI-Maoist were present in the forests of Tuti Jharia and Jhumra hills under Jageshwar Bihar police station jurisdiction and planning a major crime.

Police said the injured jawans Satyendra Singh and Vishnu Singh were admitted in a Ranchi hospital. Combing operations were on in the area.
Baylor Universitys Faculty Senate passed a resolution Tuesday that supports chartering an LGBTQ student group that has long sought official recognition on campus.

A majority of the faculty group voted to allow Gamma Alpha Upsilon, which spells out GAY in Greek letters, to be recognized as an official student group, said Faculty Senate chair Matthew Cordon, a law professor who also serves as a director of Baylors Legal Writing Center. Twenty-six were in favor, nine opposed and four abstained from the vote.

Such a designation would grant the group, which was founded in 2011, the privileges of other official student organizations, including opportunities to advertise their programs on campus, invite guest speakers, reserve university spaces for meetings, and receive funding through the student government.

Those who opposed what we were doing were still able to voice their concerns, which were based on their sincere and religious beliefs, he said. Faculty ultimately decided in a fairly simple resolution that was symbolic of what the Senate wanted to support.

Cordon said the closed meeting Tuesday evening, at which the president of Gamma and two student leaders were invited to speak, was a respectful discussion among colleagues. The question was not whether faculty wanted to support students, which Cordon said every member was in favor of. The question was whether to support the organization.

Sophomore and Student Senator Veronica Penales, who presented and answered questions for faculty at the closed meeting, said she cried when she received confirmation about the resolution.

I was pleasantly surprised that this resolution, Penales said.

Gamma never asked anyone to change their religious agenda. I would say we dont even have an agenda. Were just trying to support and create a safe space for our LGBTQIA community and our allies.

Baylor senior Brittany LaVergne, who is social media chair and PR officer for Gamma, said many students have been ecstatic about the facultys support and have been flooding Gammas social media accounts with positive messages.

It was exactly what I hoped for and prayed for, LaVergne said of the resolution. She added that the faculty vote made her feel more welcome on campus than she had before.

It made me realize there are more faculty and staff on our side than I had recently believed, LaVergne said.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Baylor students pass bill, urging administration to approve LGBTQ group

A Baylor spokesperson said the university administration appreciates the work of the Faculty Senate and the role it plays in representing the voices of the academic community, though the resolution is non-binding, meaning it does not set policy.

But as with other resolutions, it will be taken into consideration as the university continues discussions to provide a caring, supportive community, the spokesperson wrote in an email.

Though neither the Student nor Faculty Senates resolutions change the universitys policy concerning LGBTQ students or Gamma, it is considered a symbolic move in a decade-long fight by students and alumni for recognition.

LaVergne said Gamma members were aware that faculty dont have the final decision but emphasized that faculty have been instrumental in progressive changes in the past, including integration in the 1960s.

Faculty holds a lot of weight. Their vote on this puts us in a better position to go to the administration to say we have the support to be able to be chartered and continue this fight to be recognized, she said.

In May 2019, more than 3,000 Baylor University alumni, students, staff and former faculty signed a petition addressed to university officials supporting the groups fight to be recognized.

The university responded in the following months, with President Linda Livingstone noting that Baylor is committed to providing a loving and caring community for all students  including our LGBTQ students and pointing to its statement on human sexuality and sexual conduct policy. The statement notes that the university affirms the biblical understanding of sexuality as a gift from God.

Its sexual conduct policy also states that it is expected that Baylor students will not participate in advocacy groups which promote understandings of sexuality that are contrary to biblical teaching, which include heterosexual sex outside of marriage and homosexual behavior.

brittany.britto@chron.com
Married at First Sight Australia 'virgin' Matt Bennett claims his ex-wife Lauren Huntriss accused him of 'being gay' after he turned down her X-rated sexual desires.

In his first UK interview, the videographer, 32, revealed Lauren asked him 'aggressive' questions about his sexuality and said he was 'blindsided' after she admitted her fantasies include having threesomes, swinging and 'being choked.'

Matt, who entered the TV experiment as a virgin aged 29, felt a 'switch was flicked' after he finally had sex with Lauren, 32, who he now wishes he didn't share his first time with after needing two years of therapy to recover.

'Blindsided': Married at First Sight Australia 'virgin' Matt Bennett claims his ex-wife Lauren Huntriss accused him of 'being gay' after he turned down her X-rated sexual desires

He told MailOnline: 'When my season aired in Australia, the person I was matched with decided to start these rumours that I was gay. I had a lot of people attacking me, calling me gay and using it as a slur.

'Honestly, I had to cut contact with her quite a while ago and if I never see her again it will be too soon. There was a lot that happened behind the scenes and after the show that people just don't know about, which made my life unpleasant.

'The things she would say to me and the way she behaved was quite unpredictable. She asked me aggressive questions... like knowing my inexperience she would start to get quite sexual and not moving at the pace you'd expect with someone like myself.

'I started to get concerned and withdraw and she implied I was gay because I wasn't jumping all over her and throwing her on the bed.

'I remember her saying to me at one point "have you ever wanted to put a d*** in your mouth?" and I was completely shocked and I asked her "what kind of a question is that?" and she was like "some people do."'

'Unpleasant': Matt claims Lauren asked him 'aggressive' questions about his sexuality and she admitted her fantasies include having threesomes, swinging and 'being choked'

'Shattering': Matt, who entered the TV experiment a virgin age 29, said he felt a 'switch was flicked' after he finally had sex with Lauren, who he now wishes he didn't share his first time

On the Australian dating series, which was filmed in 2018 and is currently airing in the UK, Lauren admitted on camera to previously having relationships with women and that she longed for Matt to be more adventurous in the bedroom.

Matt explained: 'The conversation where she said she used to be a lesbian, the producers had to have her do that on camera because the night before she blindsided me with all these really sexually explicit things that completely changed the tone of the relationship and who I thought she was.

'Behind the scenes she was saying she wanted to do swinging and threesomes and she wanted to be choked and I was completely blindsided. It was already a big deal for me getting as far as I had it was completely shattering.'

Matt had sex on his honeymoon with Lauren but claims she became a different person once they consummated their marriage  and he regrets going all the way.

Split: The couple were the first to leave the show after Matt confessed to not being 'attracted' to Lauren while she discovered they were incompatible in the bedroom

He said: 'She was very good at putting on one face when the cameras were there and one when they weren't  it was a bit like Jekyll and Hyde.

'I went in there knowing physical attraction wasn't the be all and end all for me and it was more important to find someone with good values who's a nice person, and a good personality for me is attractive.

'I wasn't physically attracted to this person who I was matched with but the personality she was portraying was someone I was attracted to... those were the values I was looking for but when I lost my virginity that visage seemed to slip.

'Once I lost my virginity it was almost like a switch was flicked. Knowing what I know now, would I give it up again to her? No, definitely not.

'It's ridiculous!' To Matt's frustration, he became defined by his virginity by producers, who even referred to him as 'ex virgin' whenever he was on screen

'If I could go back I'd tell myself "Matt don't get caught up in the bubble that is the show."

'The producers are very good because they know how to play to each person's wants, so for me, someone who just wanted validation and approval when you've got a producer there saying "you're doing a great job Matt"  you're inclined to do whatever is going to make them happy.'

To Matt's frustration, he became defined by his virginity by producers, who even referred to him as 'ex virgin' whenever he was on screen.

He said: 'They hammer it! My caption was 'Matthew Bennett, 29-year-old virgin'  they played that as though it was my occupation or where I was from, it's ridiculous!

Regret: Matt claims Lauren's personality changed after they had sex and if he could go back he would tell himself to resist going all the way and finally giving up his virginity

'They said from the get go "we're going to really push the fact you're a virgin" and I was like "okay I get it," I grew up watching professional wrestling and every character needs a gimmick and that was mine.

'But I wasn't prepared for just how hard they were going to hit it. What is an ex virgin? Is everyone else technically an ex virgin? I don't understand, it is just ridiculous.'

Matt needed two years of therapy in order to cope with the impact of online trolls, and to understand the reactions he had towards Lauren during filming.

He said: 'One thing I have found out in therapy is that I have avoidant personality disorder, which is like a coping mechanism you develop as a child, when a situation is too stressful or overwhelming you escape at all costs and when you physically can't get out of there you mentally shut down.

'When things got too much for me I wouldn't know how to cope and would just go silent and basically completely implode.

'I couldn't function, I wouldn't know what to say or how to act and that's why there are shots of me sitting there just blinking.

'Because of how the show was cut and how overwhelmed I was I had a lot of people messaging me saying "you're autistic, you have autism" and that was quite hurtful and I started to think "maybe I do."

'I ended up doing the autism screening and I did it about three times and each time it came back negative. There are a lot of keyboard experts and keyboard warriors out there.'
The nations top Treasury bureaucrat has declared Australias recovery from the coronavirus recession is locked in, predicting consumers will help power the economy over the next two years.

Treasury secretary Steven Kennedy said a combination of the way Australia had controlled the pandemic and the amount of federal and state government money pumped into the economy meant the country was well on its way out of recession.

Treasury secretary Steven Kennedy says it appears Australias economic recovery was locked-in. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Were quietly confident now that the recovery is locked in, he told the Senates COVID-19 committee on Thursday.

The economy contracted by 7 per cent in the June quarter, its single largest contraction since the 1930s, before growing by 3.3 per cent in the September quarter. Economists believe the December-quarter result, to be released next month, will show continuing strong growth.
The French defence procurement agency (DGA) has awarded Thales and Airbus a contract for the new joint tactical signals intelligence (SIGINT) system to upgrade the French forces' critical signals monitoring, direction finding and spectrum analysis capabilities.

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Contextual illustration: TEWS is a comprehensive Tactical Electronic Support and Attack solution (COMINT/ESM/ECM) designed to target the most complex and recent HF and V/UHF radio signals in land environment (Picture source: Thales)

The 10-year contract will equip the three services with a common information system and set of sensors and is designated a high-impact programme (PEM1), alongside Contact and Scorpion, under France's defence spending plan. This joint tactical SIGINT system will provide French armed forces command with an expanded tactical electronic support measures (ESM) capability.

The tactical SIGINT programme will upgrade the electronic warfare capabilities of front-line units, providing a set of high-performance portable or vehicle-mounted assets compatible with the latest communications technologies. The new system to monitor and localise enemy communications will support tactical manoeuvres in the theatre of operations, helping to keep our forces safe and secure. It will equip the electronic support vehicles of the French Army's 54th Signals Regiment (SCORPION programme), the French Navy's front-line warships and the Atlantique 2 maritime patrol aircraft, and could be deployed to protect air bases on military operations overseas.

The system will be the only one of its kind in service with the French forces. All three armed forces will rely on the same logistics infrastructure to simplify training of specialist operators and optimise through-life support delivery. The programme will benefit from the combined experience of co-contractors Thales (agent) and Airbus.

Thales will draw on the SIGINT expertise developed by the Group on several legacy programmes: COHORTE (the current French Army tactical SIGINT system), MINREM2 (French Navy SIGINT system), ARCHANGE3 (French Air Force new-generation SIGINT aircraft) and CLOVIS4 (strategic interministerial communications localisation project). Thales will also build on its capabilities in end-to-end communications, radio communications and communications security.

Airbus will provide its expertise in strategic ELINT systems, drawing on its experience on programmes such as RAMSES (strategic radio and satellite communications information system) and PARADOS (radio signal acquisition sensor). These systems are currently in operational service with France's defence intelligence agency (DRM5), the French Army, the French Air and Space Force, and the French Navy. Airbus will also draw on its complex-systems integration and security know-how.

The first phase of the programme will provide the three armed forces with an initial operational capability for signals monitoring, with subsequent optional tranches to significantly increase the number of units in service. New functions (new data analytics functions for the information system, expanded detection and technical analysis capabilities, etc.) will be added incrementally over the term of the contract to provide the French armed forces with a set of state-of-the-art electronic warfare systems and capabilities.

"As risks evolve and expand, reliable intelligence is an essential element of sovereignty and a strategic asset for operational decision-making, force protection, territorial integrity and civil security. We are proud to be taking part in this programme to upgrade France's intelligence capabilities in support of front-line forces across all environments and to be helping to keep them safe and effective on their crucial missions."

Marc Darmon, Thales Executive Vice President, Secure Communications and Information Systems, Thales, said : "Our armed forces face an increasing number of threats and need to rely on ever expanding volumes of data," added Francois Lombard, Director of the Intelligence business, Airbus Defence and Space. "Combined with aerial and satellite imagery and other sources, these new electronic intelligence capabilities will make it possible to identify these threats, and above all to characterise them with significantly greater precision."

Astrazeneca boss Pascal Soriot has defended his company's Covid-19 jab, insisting it is 'not perfect' but will save lives.

The two-dose shot, developed with Oxford University, has been backed by the World Health Organisation and hailed as a 'vaccine for the world' because of its low cost and ease of transport.

But Astra faced criticism over the way it published early clinical trial data, while the company also became embroiled in a high-profile spat with European Union chiefs over supply problems.

Astrazeneca boss Pascal Soriot (pictured) said he was proud of the company's work and its decision to provide the jab at no profit

There have also been fears in recent days that it may be less effective against emerging variants of the virus  but experts have said it should still prevent serious disease and hospitalisations.

And responding to the concerns yesterday, an upbeat Soriot said he was proud of Astra's work and its decision to provide the jab at no profit.

The 61-year-old Frenchman said: 'Scientific venture is always challenging. And the big picture today is that we have a vaccine that has been approved by several important regulators.

'Is it perfect? No it is not perfect. But it's great. Tell me who else is making 100m doses in February, and we can have a discussion.

'We are going to save thousands of lives and that is why we come to work every day as individuals.'

Astra said that revenues for 2020 had grown by 9 per cent to 19.3billion  with new medicines making up more than half of sales. Profits jumped from 1.1billion to 2.8billion.

Soriot said the company was in a promising position for the future. The firm's 28billion proposed takeover of US rare disease specialist Alexion would also add valuable scientific expertise to its arsenal.

But Astra warned of the impact of patients making fewer trips to the doctor, which could hurt sales of prescription medicines.

Police body-worn cameras have captured the moment an alleged drunk driver sped through a COVID-19 regional checkpoint, narrowly missing several workers.

Jasmine Jones, 26, is accused of being behind the wheel of a stolen Ford Falcon as it flew down the wrong side of Toodyay Road at 6.15pm Wednesday, reaching speeds of up to 60 kilometres per hour as it drove through a COVID vehicle inspection point in Morangup.

The checkpoint is at the border between Perth and the Wheatbelt, with Perth and Peel residents banned from travelling to WAs other regions while the state remains under restrictions from a recent community case of coronavirus.

WA Police, in a statement, said the vehicle had been spotted speeding around three kilometres before the checkpoint.

New Delhi, Feb 11 : The tussle between Twitter and the Union government reached its zenith on Thursday with a firebrand speech in the Rajya Sabha by IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad cautioning the micro-blogging platform to pay heed to the law of the land -- raising the pitch beyond issuing notices and social media posts.

The war of words has been going on for over 10-15 days and we have seen a letter trail, social media outcries (latest example being Koo) and an "unusual" Twitter blog post but no stern action has been taken by the government to date.

Legal experts argue that if the government can ban several Chinese apps including giants like TikTok and PUBG, why can't they act on US-based tech giants, and the government does not even need a data privacy law like the EU GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) to find a way to penalise Twitter if they have strong reasons that the company has repeatedly failed to comply with its directions.

Twitter says it cannot suspend of block nearly 1,435 accounts specified by the government as it "does not believe that the actions it has been directed to take by the IT Ministry are consistent with the Indian law and violates fundamental right to free expression".

Prasad replied in Rajya Sabha: "There is freedom of speech but Article 19A says that this is subject to reasonable restrictions".

According to Virag Gupta, the lawyer of former RSS ideologue K.N. Govindacharya, who is arguing the social media Designated Officers' matter before the Delhi High Court, said that the IT Ministry can take action as per their "will power".

"They have banned Chinese apps under the existing legal jurisprudence so that can take down the social media platforms too," Gupta told IANS.

'Buy why only Twitter? Why not WhatsApp that was embroiled in the Pegasus spyware controversy and Facebook that let Cambridge Analytica happen that compromised millions of Indians' data too?" he asked.

The government can initiate action for suspension or blocking of intermediary apps or websites if they fail to comply with its directions.

"As per Section 69A (3), there is provision of seven years' imprisonment and fine," Gupta reiterated.

In case Twitter fails to comply with the government directions, the latter has the powers to resort to penal consequences.

"In that direction, appropriate FIRs can be registered against intermediaries and service providers and their top management can also be made liable for the said contravention under Section 85 of the Information Technology Act, 2000," said Pavan Duggal, one of the country's top cyber law experts.

The government can exercise its power under the Section 69(A)(1).

In case, any service provider or intermediary fails to comply with the provisions of the same, then there are penal consequences prescribed under Section 69A(3). Non-compliance with directions for blocking is a non-bailable serious offence punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years and shall also be liable to fine.

However, till today, we haven't seen any reported conviction under Section 69(A)(3) of the Information Technology Act, 2000 in the public domain.

It is to be seen which direction the whole Twitter-India saga will go from here on, in the absence of a strong data protection law.
JACKSON, MI -- After 43 years, researchers now have new information about a person found dead inside a garbage bag in the Waterloo State Recreation Area in 1978.

Through further investigation, the victim, originally identified as female, was discovered to have been born male, according to Carolyn Isaac, assistant professor in Michigan State Universitys Department of Anthropology.

A team from MSUs Forensic Anthropology Lab, the Jackson County Medical Examiners Office and Michigan State Police recently completed a reanalysis of the person revealed the skeletal morphologies for estimating biological sex were indeterminate, with some appearing more masculine and others more feminine, Isaac said in an email.

The team was concerned this could be hindering the identification of the person, so further DNA testing was completed to confirm the victim was born male, Isaac said.

The team has also been working with the DNA Doe Project and the Trans Doe Task Force in an effort to identify the victim.

I really hope that we are on track to get this person identified. It breaks my heart that someone has been missing their loved one for all of these years, Isaac said.

Michigan State Police did not want to directly comment on the discovery, but Det. Sgt. David Stamler provided MLive/Jackson Citizen-Patriot with this statement:

At this time the laboratory analyzing the DNA is in the process of preparing the sample(s) for comparison with the consumer databases (Ancestry, 23 and Me, etc.) available. Due to the pandemic, these efforts have been delayed, and like yourself, we are waiting for this to be completed with the hopes of possible matches with the victims family members. Normal procedures dictate that we will be made aware of any possible matches, and will contact potential relatives as part of the investigation. As you can understand, the release of information in a homicide/ death investigation is dealt with the utmost sensitivity. We will be releasing and/or soliciting information to/from the media as necessary, and in a manner that does not damage the integrity of the investigation.

Police released a sketch of the victim to the media in 2014, hoping the public could help with identification.

The victims body was found in a garbage bag on the side of Clear Lake Road, just north of I-94, in the Waterloo State Recreation Area in Jackson County on Aug. 30, 1978. Police said they believed the body was dumped there about 9:20 a.m. that day.

The unidentified victim is believed to have been between 28 and 40 years old at the time of death, approximately 5 feet, 7 inches tall, weighing 130 pounds and wearing glossy black high-heeled shoes and a collar-length, wavy auburn wig.

After 35 years, body found in Jackson still unidentified, public asked to help identify unknown female

Officials have not been able to determine if the victim was transgender, according to Isaac.

Forensic anthropology methods do not allow us to assess gender-only sex, she said. We also do not have any reference material of transgendered individuals for us to compare to. So this is beyond the scope of our current science. We also only have the skeletonized remains and not the personal effects so I can only comment on the remains.

A second victim, a female, was found in the state park at the same time. Authorities believe the cases are connected and that both victims were likely from the metro Detroit area.

Read more from the Jackson Citizen Patriot:

Brothers face multiple charges for fatal shooting in Calhoun County

Former Jackson-area police officer accused of perjury heads to jury trial

Police release name of man found dead on Hillsdale County sidewalk
In politics theres always a photo you live to regret.

For John Howard, that image was captured in earthquake-ravaged Pakistan in 2005, when Aussie soldiers invited the then-Prime Minister to join in a game of cricket with local children. He bowled three balls, none reached the batsman. Speaking at the Bradman Foundation Gala Dinner in 2019, Howard described it as one of the biggest regrets of his political career.

For Scott Morrison, that moment came at the tail end of 2019 when he ran into some Aussie tourists in Hawaii and posed for a photo at sunset while making a Hawaiian shaka hand signal. The photo was posted online Australia was in the midst of a bushfire catastrophe. It haunted him and it can represent all that was wrong with his response to the natural disaster engulfing the country.

A happy snap taken by Australian tourists of Scott Morrison on holiday in Hawaii while bushfires ravaged in Australia.

For Daniel Andrews it was a seemingly innocuous photo taken in 2015 while he spoke to the ABC from Tiananmen Square in China.
Lais first application was rejected by the Court of Final Appeal at the request of the Department of Justice. The pro-democracy tycoon has been in prison since 31 December. He still has a chance to be placed under house arrest if his defence team can prove that he poses no threat to national security.

Hong Kong (AsiaNews)  Jimmy Lai yesterday applied against for bail. His request will be heard by Court of First Instance Judge Anthea Pang on 18 February.

The pro-democracy media tycoon was jailed in early December after charges of corruption and threatening national security were filed against him.

On 23 December, the Court of Appeal granted him bail and placed him under house arrest. On 31 December, the Court of Final Appeal reversed the decision after an application by the Hong Kong Department of Justice. On Tuesday Hong Kongs top court denied his bail request.

The 73-year-old owner of the Apple Daily newspaper, which has been critical of both Hong Kong and Chinese authorities, is accused of "collusion" with foreign forces, an offence included in the national security law imposed by Beijing, based on interviews that Lai granted to foreign newspapers.

His charge sheet also includes the charge that he called on foreign governments to sanction Hong Kong leaders for their actions against the pro-democracy movement. His trial is scheduled to begin on 16 April. If convicted, he faces life in prison.

For the Court of Final Appeal, the Court of Appeal misinterpreted the provisions of Hong Kongs draconian new national security law. In their view, the security law raises the threshold for bail, creating an exception to the presumption of innocence that is found in both Hong Kongs Basic Law and the United Nations International Covenant of Civil and Political Rights.

For the Court of Appeal judge, prosecutors had to prove that the billionaire posed a threat to national security; for the Court of Final Appeal, the court must assess whether the accused can flee or taint the evidence once released.

For University of Hong Kong legal scholar Simon Young, Jimmy Lai still has a chance of getting bail and remain under house arrest.

Speaking to RTHK, he said that although the judges of the Court of Final Appeal found an error on the part of the Court of Appeal judge, the new Court of First Instance judge could rule that the defendant does not pose a danger to national security. To achieve this, Lais defence must provide adequate guarantees.
Three sons of Cambodian leader Hun Sen were inoculated against COVID-19 on Wednesday as the country began distributing vaccines donated from its closest ally, China.

Hun Manet, the head of the army and Hun Sen's eldest son, urged all Cambodians to be vaccinated and thanked China for the donation.

I trust this vaccine and that is why I have been vaccinated with it, Hun Manet said.

China is donating 1 million doses of the Chinese-made Sinopharm vaccine, enough for half a million people, and the first shipment of 600,000 doses arrived in Cambodia on Sunday.

Hun Sen's two sons-in-law, government ministers and other officials were vaccinated at a state-run hospital.

Hun Sen himself backtracked on receiving the vaccine because he is 68.

In China, the Sinopharm vaccine was approved only for people ages 18-59 because that is the population studied in clinical trials. While there is not yet data on its effectiveness for other age groups, other countries have discretion to use it in older people.

China is Cambodias biggest investor and its closest political partner, while Hun Sen is shunned by some Western nations who consider his government to be repressive. Cambodia in turn backs Beijings geopolitical positions in international forums on issues such as Chinas territorial claims in the South China Sea.

China also announced it would give Cambodia 1 million doses of the vaccine produced by Beijing Institute of Biological Products Co., but a date for delivering the rest of the promised amount has not yet been set.

Cambodia has recorded 478 confirmed cases of infection with the coronavirus, with no deaths.

Hun Sen said earlier this month that Cambodia seeks to reserve 20 million vaccine doses to inoculate 10 million people, roughly two-thirds of its total population.

In addition to the Chinese donation, Australia has announced a grant of $28 million to purchase 3 million doses, and it is set to get 7 million doses through the World Health Organization's COVAX initiative.
In a reference to the eastern Ladakh row, Chief of Army Staff Gen MM Naravane on Thursday said the situation along the northern frontier highlighted the nature of threats facing India in preserving its territorial integrity and sovereignty, noting that the "legacy challenges" have only grown in scale and intensity.

He said while the will continue to prepare and adapt to the future challenges, the more "proximate, real and present dangers" on India's "active borders" cannot be ignored.

The Army Chief was addressing a seminar organised by Centre for Land Warfare Studies, a leading military think-tank.

For the last nine months, thousands of Indian and Chinese troops have been engaged in a bitter border standoff in eastern Ladakh that created severe strain in overall bilateral ties.

On Thursday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced in Parliament that both sides reached an agreement on disengagement of troops in the north and south bank of Pangong lake which is a major face-off site.

Gen Naravane said the ongoing developments along the northern borders should make the armed forces ponder over the nature of the unsettled borders and consequent challenges with regard to protecting the country's territorial integrity and sovereignty.

"Without doubt there are newer threats on the horizon, but the hard reality is that the legacy challenges have not quite gone away. In fact, they have only grown in scale and intensity," he said.

"While the will continue to prepare and adapt to the future, the more proximate, real and present dangers, on our active borders cannot be ignored," the Chief of Army Staff said, in an apparent reference to the nearly 3,500 km Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China.

He said the principal challenge before the Armed Forces today is that of the growing capability enhancements in an era of "finite budgets", adding the structures, inventories and human resources of the military will need to adapt and transform accordingly.

"The future lies in becoming agile, smart, fleet footed and innovative in thought and action alike," he said.

At the same time, he said the is steadily consolidating its structures and capabilities towards winning "wars of the future".

Talking about changing contours of security challenges, Gen Naravane said when India focused on building core capacities in the spheres of land, sea and air , the country's adversaries took the battle to the newer domains of space, cyber, and informatics.

He said India's adversaries are investing in creating a formidable stand-off enterprise in the form of long range precision fires, hypersonic vehicles and robust air defence capacities.

"In order to win future wars, mere mastery of the traditional domains of land, sea and air will no longer suffice," Gen Naravane said.

He said as the adversaries expand the "contest to the grey zone", there is a "dire" need for modern militaries to be as proficient in competition as in hard core "kinetics".

"We need to shed the classical war and peace disposition and enhance cross governmental fusion in order to win aggressively in the competitive space," he noted.

The Army chief also broadly touched upon how the future wars could be fought with the use of highly maneuverable unmanned aerial vehicles, electromagnetic spectrum technology, swarm drones or use of low orbit systems.

He said considering the future threats, the Indian Army is also focusing on multi domain operations (MDO).

"We would need to transit rapidly to full scale integration for digital era combat as also in the pursuit of greater interoperability" he said.

"We need to recognise the scale and magnitude of the challenge, and move with greater rapidity towards integration in combat, cross governmental fusion and complete dissolution of inter-agency as also civil and military silos," 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.)
Housebuilder Redrow has reported record first-half revenues of over 1billion after it successfully completed 20 per cent more homes despite doing business under strict Covid-secure rules.

The group said it benefited from the stamp duty holiday, a release of latent demand emanating from the first lockdown, and the imminent shutdown of the Help to Buy scheme.

It revealed sales rose by 171million to 1.04billion in the six months to December 27 on the back of 3,065 house completions, compared to 2,554 during the same period last year, with purchases of both private and affordable housing growing.

Redrow said it benefited from the stamp duty holiday, a release of latent demand emanating from the first lockdown, and the imminent shutdown of the Help to Buy scheme

High demand in provincial areas for homes from its Heritage Collection, which feature designs and finishes popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, was attributed by Redrow to people wanting more space during the lockdown.

Operating profits at the Flintshire-based firm grew by 19million to 178million as the group disclosed it also had a 'record' order book of 1.3billion and had sold more than 95 per cent of its homes for the current fiscal year.

Because of this strong order book, it has joined rivals such as Barratt Developments and Vistry Group in resuming shareholder payouts by declaring an interim dividend of 6 cents per share.

The FTSE 250 company is now urging the government to reform the 'arbitrary' stamp duty tax to further boost the housing market, arguing that it hurts those who want to move for work or downsize for their retirement.

'The success of the holiday illustrates that high levels of Stamp Duty deter buyers and we continue to urge Government to undertake a reform of the tax to make homes more affordable in the longer term,' it stated.

Last July, Chancellor Rishi Sunak introduced the stamp duty holiday with the aim of reviving the British housing market. The tax break is due to end on March 31 though, and the government has said it has no intentions to extend the measure.

Redrow is urging the government to reform the 'arbitrary' stamp duty tax to further boost the housing market, arguing that it hurts those who want to move for work or downsize for their retirement

In a media call, Redrow chief executive Matthew Pratt said: 'For a stamp duty holiday, it would come to a close at some point. It pumps up the number of sales very quickly, but clearly people are rushing to an end day and then it stops.'

'If we get a longer-term reform, the view would be if we lower stamp duty to a more reasonable level, the chances are we would get more transactions which in itself would create tax,' Pratt added, without quoting a figure.

He also suggested that construction workers be prioritised in Britain's vaccination drive as they can't work remotely. The initial lockdowns in 2020 left construction sites empty for months.

In a Policy Exchange report, former Boris Johnson adviser Gerard Lyons claimed abolishing stamp duty would make it easier for people to downsize from their current homes

Redrow's results come a few days after a former economic adviser to Prime Minister Boris Johnson called on the government to abolish the tax, arguing that a mere tax 'holiday' was 'not the answer to creating a generation buy.'

In a Policy Exchange report, Gerard Lyons wrote: 'If it was abolished completely it would help turnover across the whole property market, including making it easier for people to downsize from properties that are too big for them.

Lyons said if the government thought the proposal was too radical, it could slash the tax entirely on lower-valued homes as an alternative.

Shares in Redrow were down 3.9 per cent to 549.5p just before trading closed.
On Wednesday, a ceremony was held in Odesa to hand over 20 armored humvees and 84 inflatable boats of various types from the United States to the Naval Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine said.

"U.S. Naval Attache Peter Mallory and Marine Corps Attache Dan Schierling participated in a ceremony in Odesa commemorating delivery of 20 humvees and 84 boats to the Ukrainian Navy in December, a demonstration of U.S. commitment to helping Ukraine defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity," the U.S. Embassy wrote on Twitter on Wednesday.

At the same time, as early as Thursday, the Last Checkpoint Telegram channel reported that the Ukrainian Navy and the Special Operations Forces received ten speed boats and 70 boats from the United States.

"Rigid hull inflatable boats of the RHIB and RIB type have arrived in Odesa harbor, in particular ten 7-meter Metal Shark speed boats and Wing inflatable boats used by a number of U.S. Navy units," the Telegram channel said.

The Special Operations Forces and the Naval Infantry, as well as a separate Special Operations Forces center "Pivden" (South) of the Ukrainian Armed Forces received the boats.
New Jerseys second most populous city has just one vaccination site open and has never received more than 1,000 doses in a week.

Officials say theyre doing the best they can to vaccinate the citys senior population, but like most other vaccinators, theyre begging for more medicine.

Thats why Mayor Steve Fulop invited Gov. Phil Murphy to see just how well the site is performing and how much more it could handle, he said. Murphy accepted the offer and came for a tour Wednesday with state Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli.

Recently, the city has been vaccinating 250 people a day at its vaccination hub at the Bethune Center, said Ari Matityahu of BeSpoke Health, which Jersey City hired to run its vaccination program.

It has the capacity to vaccinate 800 to 1,000, he told the governor. While the city has been receiving a growing number of doses each week  it went from 300 to 500 to 700  thats minor for a city this size, the mayor said.

We wanted him to see that the site is working very well, Fulop said. We wanted him to see it firsthand in the hopes that eventually it leads to more access to the vaccines for Jersey City.

Jersey City has more sites across the city ready to begin vaccinations but has not received state approval to open them, said city Health and Human Services Director Stacy Flanagan.

When asked when Jersey City may open a second site, Persichilli said that can happen when the state receives more doses.

Murphys visit to Jersey City came hours before an announcement that a member of his family had tested positive for COVID-19. Murphy entered voluntary quarantine but has since tested negative for the virus, a spokesman said.

Jersey City seniors can only register for appointments by calling the city, and phones have been ringing off the hook, officials said. Theres been a 0% cancellation rate and 97% return rate for the second shot, Matityahu said.

When residents call for appointments but are under the age of 65, the city asks whether they have a car and can visit the county site in south Kearny instead, Flanagan said. It has also been able to transfer about 150 appointments to Jersey City Medical Center and Christ Hospital, she added.

Racially, 41% of individuals 60 and over that the city has vaccinated have been white, according to the city. The city is 35.9% white. Overall, 48% of those vaccinated in Jersey City have been white, compared to 50% statewide.

Jersey City had a special roster of live vaccinations for the governor to view Wednesday. First up was Florence Holmes, assistant director of the Bethune Center. In neighboring booths were 92-year-old World War II veteran Fred Jackson, Police Director Tawana Moody, and the Rev. Esterminio Chica, pastor of Christ the King Church and Our Lady of Sorrows.

The city has assigned a health educator to each ward to hold vaccine question and answer workshops with community groups and religious congregations. It asked local religious leaders to get the vaccine and encourage their congregants to do the same, Flanagan said. About 65% of the people vaccinated at the Bethune Center  located in the heart of the citys Black community  have been seniors.

And while the single vaccination site isnt within walking distance for everyone, the city is offering free Uber rides to get there. The webpage with vaccine information is available in Hindi, Arabic and Spanish.

(The) Bethune Life Center is a place we love coming to, Murphy said in an interview after the event with ABC. It serves especially communities of color and that is where weve got to aggressively push into and get these vaccines.
Were excited to be recognized by a top technology research firm for the sixth time in row. said Dhiraj Sharma, Simpplr Co-Founder, and CEO. During a prolonged period of remote work, Simpplr aims to help organizations to stay connected, engage employees, and align their communication.

Simpplr today announced it was named to the Constellation ShortList for Employee Digital Workspaces in Q1 2021. The technology vendors and service providers included in this program deliver critical transformation initiative requirements for early adopter and fast follower organizations. Simpplr has been recognized by the Constellation ShortList in the Digital Workspaces for the sixth consecutive time.

Simpplrs software aligns organizations by streamlining communications and engages employees with information as theyre spread across multiple locations. The abrupt transition to remote work amplified the need for modern software to connect distributed employees across departments, offices, and locations. Many companies are reevaluating their communications tech stack to help employees stay informed and connected. Modern intranets help create an engaged digital workplace to create a single source of truth.

Were excited to be recognized by a top technology research firm for the sixth time in row, said Dhiraj Sharma, Simpplr Co-Founder, and CEO. During a prolonged period of remote work, Simpplr aims to help organizations to stay connected, engage employees, and align their communication. Think of us as a virtual headquarters.

Constellation Research advises leaders on leveraging disruptive technologies to achieve business model transformation and streamline business processes. Products and services named to the Constellation ShortList meet the threshold criteria for this category as determined through client inquiries, partner conversations, customer references, vendor selection projects, market share, and internal research. The portfolio is updated at least once per year as the analyst team deems necessary based on market conditions.

As leaders adjust to a compressed state of digital transformation, they want to know which vendors matter the most based on technology investment, use cases, strategic vision, customer value, executive leadership, and price, noted R Ray Wang, chairman and founder at Constellation Research. Our analysts have a pulse on whats working, whats not, and are constantly in touch with other buy-side executives. The ShortList does this in the most efficient and effective manner."

About This Constellation ShortList

Corporate Intranets, often referred to today as Digital Workspaces, represent the evolution from simple company portals, which provide access to human resources and financial information, to a central hub for several aspects of employee engagement. Digital Workspaces or intranets enable people to connect with the colleagues, content and business applications they need in order to get their jobs done.

About Simpplr

Simpplr is todays modern employee intranet. Our software helps companies engage their workforce by streamlining internal communication and forging employee connections.

Simpplr partners with many leading brands, including Workday, AAA, Vertex Pharmaceuticals, DocuSign, Eurostar, and Columbia University. Our customers are improving productivity, increasing employee engagement, and reducing employee turnover. More importantly, the improved internal communication is helping employees find work meaningful and fulfilling.

Simpplr is headquartered in Redwood City, CA with an office in Gurgaon, India, and is backed by Norwest Venture Partners, Salesforce Ventures, and Still Venture Capital.

Visit simpplr.com and join the conversation on Twitter @simpplr.

Disclaimer

Constellation Research does not endorse any solution or service named in its research.
Show-off drivers are shutting down Charlotte streets and highways with increased frequency since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, endangering themselves and the general public, police said Wednesday.

As we all know, young people customizing their cars and meeting up somewhere to show them off is not a new phenomena, Charlotte-Mecklenburg police Major Dave Johnson said at a news conference at CMPD headquarters.

Whats different and particularly disturbing, he said, is how the gatherings have devolved into forms of aggressive driving that put everyone at risk.

Police called the news conference after a group of drivers shut down a side of Interstate 77 at Tyvola Road late Friday.

Video on social media showed drivers doing burnouts and doughnuts, with traffic backed up in the distance. A 25-second video reviewed by the Observer on Twitter on Saturday night was later taken down.

About 30 Dodge Charger drivers blocked the southbound lanes, WSOC-TV reported.

Johnson described Friday nights type of street driving as particularly brazen. Its highly reckless, and it shows a shameless disregard for public safety and for the rules of the road.

The group vanished by the time law enforcement arrived, and 911 callers gave no details needed to investigate and make arrests, such as a tag number and the make, model and color of a car, State Highway Patrol Trooper Ray Pierce said.

Pierce said hed never seen a group of drivers shut down an interstate like the one Friday night.

You are our eyes and ears, Pierce said of the public.

He urged people to call *47  the number for the State Highway Patrol phone line  when they see such gatherings forming.

Do not engage with them or chase them, he said.

Said Johnson of groups gathering on highways and roads: We have the ability to respond, but only as they are happening.

I-485 crackdown a success, police major says

Police have literally seen this activity on every stretch of interstate in Charlotte-Mecklenburg since the start of the pandemic, Johnson told reporters. 485 in particular, and on 85 and 77 and some local streets.

Story continues

Thanks to information from the public, police thwarted a similar gathering planned for last Saturday night on I-77, he said.

In December, CMPD disrupted a plan for hundreds of drivers to similarly gather in the Northlake Mall area, according to Johnson. Police made multiple arrests, including on gun and drug charges, he said.

Since October, police have cracked down on speeding and other reckless driving on I-485 near Prosperity Church Road, making 2,000 traffic stops and issuing nearly 3,000 citations, according to CMPD figures.

We know this is important, because speed kills, reckless driving kills, Johnson said. So far this year, four of our 10 fatal wrecks involved speed. Statewide, in almost half of the (road) fatalities in 2019, reckless driving or speed were factors.

This is a serious issue, Johnson said. We take it seriously, and we are going to take enforcement action whenever the opportunity presents itself.

CMPD has partnered with the State Highway Patrol, Mecklenburg County Sheriffs Office, Huntersville Police Department and other agencies on such efforts, especially where reckless driving is most prevalent, Johnson said.

Those areas encompass CMPDs North, University City, Freedom, Steele Creek and Westover divisions, he said.

Of CMPD, Pierce said, we cant say thank you enough for its assistance on interstate enforcement.

Interstates are the purview of the State Highway Patrol.

But with over 200 miles of interstate in Mecklenburg County to cover with just five or seven troopers on duty at a time, Pierce said, help from CMPD and other law enforcement agencies is welcomed and needed.

Charlotte street racing not new

While aggressive-driving gatherings such as the one on I-77 last Friday night may seem new, police in the Charlotte area have been dealing with groups of dueling street racers for decades.

In 2006, the Observer reported at the time, young drivers in souped-up cars had been racing for months late at night on roads around Mecklenburg County, exceeding 100 mph.

Police cracked down that year after reports of racing after midnight near the Stonecrest at Piper Glen shopping center in south Charlotte.

About four years earlier, police launched a smaller probe into street racing in northern Mecklenburg that resulted in several arrests and car seizures, according to the Observer.

In neighboring Gastonia in 2005, five people were hurt when a street racer lost control of his car and crashed into a line of people outside a Dairy Queen.
He is a well-known fixture in many American households today. And despite the controversy that swirls around the pandemic, he tries his best to stick to the science.

And true to form, Dr. Anthony Fauci, longtime director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and a leading member of President Joseph Bidens COVID-19 response team, did so on Wednesday. He attracted a virtual audience of about 1,800 that included University of Miami medical students, faculty members, fellows, and residents when he spoke to them as a Hoffman Ratzan Endowed lecturer in the Miller School of Medicines Department of Medicines weekly Grand Rounds, which often features outside experts.

Dr. Anthony Fauci has provided a powerful example as a scientist and physician. He is a towering figure in global health who has safeguarded and relied on the integrity of science, without bending to political pressures, said President Julio Frenk, also a physician and global public health expert. I am honored to be here today as our residents and students learn from one of the worlds best.

During his 40-minute lecture, COVID-19 in 2021: Lessons Learned and Remaining Challenges, Fauci traced the nascent history of the novel coronavirus, which is the third pandemic-level strain of the many different coronaviruses that already exist (up to 30 percent of common colds are caused by less harmful coronaviruses).

Although the number of cases is beginning to decline in the United States, Fauci noted that the nation has experienced three surges of the virus since its arrival last year. The first was centered in the New York City metro area during March/April of 2020; the second occurred last summer, after COVID-19 restrictions were lifted in many states; and the third started in late fall, fueled by cold weather and holiday gatherings. Unlike other viruses, he said, each COVID-19 surge has built upon the previous one, raising the stakes for hospitals and the overall number of deaths. At its height just last month, there were up to 400,000 new cases per day and up to 4,000 deaths per day.

With the appearance of variants in our society, we have to keep an eye on that. And even though, thankfully, we are seeing a diminution in cases, we are not by any means over with this surge, he said.

Fauci also discussed some of the other unique and disturbing traits of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, including how it disproportionately affects minority populations. To make his point, he showed a bar graph highlighting the number of COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths among Native American, Hispanic, and Black people that far outnumber the rest of the U.S. public.

Another unusual trait is the novel coronavirus nimble capacity to spread, mostly through the air, Fauci explained. He said up to 45 percent of people who have COVID-19 have no symptoms, and 59 percent of people who test positive get it from an asymptomatic individual.

This becomes extremely problematic when youre trying to do identification, isolation, and contact tracing, he said. And in fact, this is unprecedented with any virus that weve ever seen and particularly with a virus that has the capability of causing such a high degree of morbidity and mortality in certain groups in our population.

Discussing the three new variants of COVID-19 from the United Kingdom, South Africa, and Brazil that have evolved in the past few months, Fauci said he is watching these isolates, carefully. So far, he indicated, vaccines available in the U.S. are still able to mitigate the most severe effects of the U.K. variant, but the South African strain could be more challenging.

If we have this new lineage become dominant in our own country, even though the vaccines would protect against serious disease . . . its overall protection would be compromised, Fauci pointed out.

He also spoke to aspiring physicians about the different tests for COVID-19 that are available. He touted a new home test made by an Australian company, named Ellume, that can net results in 15 minutes and is now under contract with the federal government.

Fauci also called the rapid development of COVID-19 vaccines the success story of the pandemic, a favorable result he attributed to the groundwork laid by vaccine scientists, who over the past decade developed a platform that was quickly customizable.

Something that would have taken years to do was accomplished in a matter of months, less than a year, Fauci remarked. This is purely a reflection of scientific advances and the work that was put in for the prior decade for the development of this platform technology.

In addition, Fauci mentioned that some scientists are working to develop a universal coronavirus vaccine that could potentially address all the variants and maybe even help recipients fend off colds.

Meanwhile, he urged everyone who can get vaccinated to do so quicklyso the U.S. can reach the 70 percent vaccination threshold believed to be needed to reach herd immunity (where the amount of virus circulating in the population is extremely low, hindering more variants from evolving). Noting that close to 2 million people are being vaccinated daily now, he said he is hopeful that most adults who want it will be inoculated by April. And with vaccine trials now underway for children, he is optimistic that they may be able to get vaccines by late summer or early fall.

Yet, Fauci said, vaccine hesitancy is a real stumbling block. So, he hopes that people will change their minds as they see people like himself, Biden, and Vice President Kamala Harris rolling up their sleeves.

Efficacy is the result of a clinical trial. But in order to get an effective vaccine, we need to get it into peoples arms. And the reservations and hesitancy out there are things we must overcome, he said.

Dr. Roy Weiss, the University's chief medical officer for COVID-19, said Fauci's leadership through the pandemic provides confidence and trust.

"Dr. Fauci is first and foremost a scientist of high regard," Weiss said. "He does not allow politics to influence the science. We are honored that he was able to present to the Department of Medicine and the Miller School of Medicine."

To watch a recording of Dr. Faucis virtual Grand Rounds lecture, click here.


(Photo : Screenshot From Pxhere Official Website) Apple Lawsuit Alleging 'Unlawful and Intentional' Recording of Siri Conversations Dismissed by Judge

A judge from Northern California has just dismissed a whole class action lawsuit that is alleging Apple of certain "unlawful and intentional" actions. The allegations are that Apple records confidential Siri communications even without having user consent.

Allegations against Apple

According to an article by MacRumors, the class action lawsuit was initially filed back in August 2019 after it started to become public that Apple had certain employed contractors listen as well as grade some of the anonymized Siri conversations in order to improve the product said product.

The contractors had reportedly told The Guardian that they had actually overheard some confidential medical details, private information, drug deals, and more coming from the accidental Siri activations. Some of them also expressed concern that users were actually not adequately informed regarding the said recordings.

How does Siri collect data?

As noted by a report coming from Bloomberg, the US District Judge Jeffrey White noted that the given plaintiffs in the whole class action case were unable to provide sufficient details regarding the alleged recordings that Apple had supposedly collected. The plaintiffs are also required to be able to prove that they have been suffering injury coming from Apple's actions in a given "concrete and particularized" way that is also not conjectural or even hypothetical.

All the allegations within the lawsuit were said to be based on the information that was included within the original story coming from The Guardian which reportedly highlighted Apple's very own use of contractors to analyze the Siri data. It also noted that certain plaintiffs provide no proof that their personal private data was also accidentally collected by Apple then misused.

Read Also: EU, UK Open Probe into Nvidia and Arm Merger: Will the Deal Push Through?

Case dismissed

It was noted that The Guardian article technically does not plausibly suggest that all of the devices from Apple were subject to the accidental triggers and also reviewed by certain third-party contractors. Much less, it also notes that such interception had occurred in a reasonably private setting. The article also discusses the frequency of these accidental triggers that were primarily in relation to either the Apple Watch or the HomePod speakers which were not owned by the said plaintiffs. Moreover, the article had also expressed that just a "small portion" of the total daily Siri activations that were included were sent to the said contractors and that they also reportedly included both accidental activations and deliberations.

Finally, although the said article describes the private communications among the said recordings that were sent to the contractors, Plaintiffs now allege that no facts in order to suggest that they themselves were victims or that their very own private communication were in fact intercepted by the said accidental triggers. Although Apple's motion to be able to dismiss the whole lawsuit was granted, the judge also noted that consumers involved are allowed to revise as well as refile a case within 20 days, so Apple is still not yet out of hot water.

Related Article: Robinhood FTC Complaints Surge Dramatically, Some Furious Over Having No Way Out

This article is owned by Tech Times

Written by Urian Buenconsejo

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
BRUNSWICK, Ohio -- Police continued to investigate a Feb. 10 bomb threat at Brunswick Middle School and the building remained closed today (Feb. 11).

Brunswick City Schools officials reported receiving the threat shortly after 11 a.m. Feb. 10. The middle school building, at 1483 Pearl Road, was evacuated by police.

There were just over 800 kids in the building, about half of (the number) that is there normally, in non-COVID times, said Brunswick Police Lt. Robert Safran.

Students and staff were transported to the nearby Diamond Event Center, Safran said, as officers did a sweep of the building. No explosive devices were found inside the school.

Closing the school today was a district decision, Safran said.

Without getting into the specifics of the investigation, our detectives are now working on identifying a suspect, he said, adding that the BPD is currently the only agency working on the investigation and that there are no known suspects at this time.

Historically, on this type of call, when a suspect is identified, they could face a charge of inducing panic, which is a felony, or a simple disorderly conduct, a misdemeanor, Safran said.

Given the scale of this incident, with a complete evacuation of the building required, an inducing-panic charge is very possible, he added.

Police were not able to provide further details about the specific nature of the threat or how the school was contacted by the suspect.

A Feb. 10 press release from the district stated that central office administrators and the site manager also conducted a room-to-room search following the evacuation, as a precautionary measure to ensure that all students and staff members were out of the building.

Parents and guardians were notified of the bomb threat, evacuation and student dismissal through a district all-call and email. Students were transported home by school buses or picked up by their guardians.

In-person classes were expected to resume Feb. 12 for students with last names beginning with the letters M through Z, and remotely for A through L, per the districts current COVID-19 protocol.

The Brunswick City School District would like to thank the Brunswick Police Department for the quick response and ongoing efforts to investigate this threat, the release stated. We are proud of our staff and students who swiftly and calmly evacuated the building.

Read more news from the Brunswick Sun.
A commercially available genomic test may help oncologists better determine which patients with recurrent prostate cancer may benefit from hormone therapy, according to new research from the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center and 15 other medical centers.

Researchers studied prostate cancer samples from 352 participants in the NRG/RTOG 9601 clinical trial, which compared radiation therapy alone with radiation therapy combined with hormone therapy. The investigators found that the Decipher test, which measures the activity of 22 genes among seven known cancer pathways, independently estimated the participants' risk of metastasis, death from prostate cancer and overall survival. Researchers say it also guided treatment recommendations for recurrence of prostate cancer after surgery, helping identify patients most likely to benefit from hormone therapy.

Results were published online Feb. 11 in the journal JAMA Oncology.

"The findings may be practice-changing, and will give oncologists additional information to help guide decisions on whether to offer patients hormone therapy," says senior study author Phuoc Tran, M.D., Ph.D., professor of radiation oncology and molecular radiation sciences and co-director of the Cancer Invasion and Metastasis Program at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center.

For the study, Tran and colleagues studied prostate cancer samples from 352 men whose prostate cancer recurred after surgery and who participated in the NRG/RTOG 9601 clinical trial of radiation therapy between March 1998 and March 2003. The participants were randomized to receive radiation with hormone therapy (150 milligrams of bicalutamide daily for two years) or radiation therapy without hormone therapy. The researchers ran genetic information called ribonucleic acid (RNA) from the tumor tissue through the Decipher test, which evaluates the activity of 22 genes to predict how aggressive the cancer is and its chances of metastasis.

The test uses "genomic classifier scores" determined from the genomic characteristics of the tumor to stratify patients into three groups. Lower scores correlate with a more favorable prognosis. Of the participants, 148 patients (42%) had low genomic classifier scores, below .45; 132 (38%) had intermediate genomic classifier scores, between .45 and .60; and 72 (20%) had high genomic classifier scores, above .60. These genomic classifiers helped predict the risk of distant metastases, prostate cancer-specific death and overall survival, even after adjusting for participants' age, race/ethnicity, Gleason score, T stage of T1 to T4 to classify the extent of tumor spread, margin status, prostate-specific antigen level and whether they were receiving hormone therapy.

Specifically, patients with intermediate and high genomic classifier scores had an 88% increased risk of distant metastases versus those with low genomic classifier scores. The test also demonstrated that patients with lower genomic classifier scores had a 2.4% improvement in overall survival 12 years after treatment with radiation and hormone therapy, compared with an 8.9% improvement among those with higher genomic classifier scores. Additionally, patients receiving radiation therapy soon after recurrence benefited more from hormone therapy. Those with higher genomic classifier scores derived an 11.2% improvement in 12-year occurrence of distant metastasis and a 4.6% improvement in overall survival from taking hormone therapy.

"Patients with lower scores do better overall, but they do not benefit as much from adding on hormone therapy because they are low risk. Patients with higher scores have worse disease and, therefore, benefit the most from adding the hormone therapy," explains Tran.

"The way that we treat many patients in the clinic now is based on pathological and clinical factors, such as age, stage, grade and imaging," Tran says. "Those have been very helpful, but you can only go so far with these rough markers. Hormone therapy unfortunately has a whole host of side effects, such as lack of libido, lack of erections and fatigue, and over time can increase the risk of diabetes, heart attack or stroke, so you only want to prescribe it if it is clearly beneficial. Our study demonstrated that Decipher is prognostic in its ability to determine cancer metastasis and also prostate cancer-specific survival and overall survival. It also was able to determine the benefit of patients receiving hormones or no hormones." Tran says the information the test provides guides precision medicine efforts to help physicians direct hormone therapies to those most likely to benefit from them.

###

The work was supported by grant U10CA180868 from NRG Oncology Operations, grant U10CA180822 from NRG Oncology SDMC, grant UG1CA189867 from NCORP, grant U24CA196067 from NRG Specimen Bank, and grant R01 CA240582 from the National Cancer Institute and Decipher Biosciences.

Other contributors to the work were from the University of California San Francisco Medical Center; Decipher Biosciences, San Diego; the University of Michigan; Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles; Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston; the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine; Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston; Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia; Emmes Canada, Vancouver; the NRG Oncology Statistics and Data Management Center, Philadelphia; the University of Chicago; Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center, Boston; University College, London; Centre Hospitalier de l'Universite de Montreal; Juravinski Cancer Centre at Hamilton Health Sciences, Canada; the Medical College of Wisconsin; Mayo Clinic; and WellSpan Health-York Cancer Center.

Tran reported receiving grants from Astellas Pharm, Bayer Healthcare and RefleXion, and personal fees for consulting from RefleXion and Ad Board from Noxopharm outside the submitted work. Tran also reported having a patent licensed to Natsar Pharm. These relationships are being managed by The Johns Hopkins University in accordance with its conflict of interest policies.
1. Roads. The citys roads are a mess. Significant resources are needed to fix them.

2. Public safety. The crime rate is too high. Police pay and resources come first.

3. More city programs. The city must invest more in city programs and services.

4. Comprehensive plan. The city needs to focus on rebuilding and rebranding.

5. Cut city spending. City officials must get serious about trimming the budget.

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Former MMA fighter and actress, Gina Carano, has been fired from The Mandalorian after receiving backlash for an Instagram story she posted on Tuesday night.

Carano, who played the character Cara Dune on the show, had published a post that compared the hatred of Jews in Nazi Germany to that of hating someone from a different political party today.

Jews here beaten in the streets, not by Nazi soldiers but by their neighborseven by children, the post read. Because history is edited, most people dont realize that to get to the point where Nazi soldiers could easily round up thousands of Jews, the government first made their own neighbors hate them simply for being Jews. How is that any different from hating someone for their political views?

Carano later removed the post from her story amidst the backlash, replacing it with a quote which said, Expecting everyone you encounter to agree with every belief you hold is ****ing wild.

Those on Twitter took to the platform to create a #FireGinaCarano hashtag, accusing the star of anti-Semitism and pushing alt-right conspiracy theories.

Others brought up the fact that this was not the first time Carano received backlash for social media posts; the Texas native once put the words boop/bop/beep in one of her profiles, which many regarded as a mockery of the trans community.

Yahoo! News states that Carano later apologized for this incident, stating, I didnt know [why people put pronouns in their bios], but I do now. I wont be putting them in my bio but good for all of you who choose to.

Deadline reports how Lucasfilm released a statement on Wednesday night after the #FireGinaCarano hashtag gained traction, announcing that Carano is not currently employed by Lucasfilm and calling her posts abhorrent and unacceptable.

Carano has yet to make a statement of her own.
Addressing a 'Poriboton' rally in Bengal's Thakurnagar, Home Minster Amit Shah on Thursday, spoke on CAA assuring that no Muslim will lose citizenship due to the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). Lashing out at the Opposition for 'misleading people', Shah said that BJP only wished to give citizenship to people who have lived in India for 70 years. Amit Shah flagged off the fourth round of the BJP's 'Poriborton Yatra' from Cooch Behar, earlier in the day, before holding a rally in Thakurnagar.

Priyanka Gandhi & others won't get VIP treatment at Mauni Amavasya Mela: Prayagraj IG

Shah on CAA: 'No Muslim will lose citizenship'

"The media and the Trinamool Congress want to hear about CAA. I will talk about CAA fearlessly. As soon as vaccination drive will conclude and we become Corona-free, the work of providing citizenship will be undertaken. CAA is Parliament's law, how can you stop it?," he said.

Later, he added, "Opposition is trying misleading people, they tell people that they will lose their citizenship. As the Home Minister of India, I want to say that no Muslim will lose their citizenship, There is no such provision in the law. We just want to give citizenship to people who are living here since 70 years and still are not citizens of this country."

Amit Shah's dig at Mamata: 'Poriborton Yatra not to change CM but to build Sonar Bangla'

CAA rules being framed: MHA

On February 2, Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai informed the Lok Sabha that the rules for the Citizenship (Amendment) Act were being framed. The Act which has come into force on January 10, 2020, is yet to be widely used as the Centre is yet to frame the rules for the contentious law. Rai informed that Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha have granted an extension of time up to 9 April and 9 July 2021, respectively to frame these rules. Recently, Home Minister Amit Shah had said rules of CAA are yet to be framed and the law will be acted upon after COVID vaccination is completed.

BJP balks at Abhishek Banerjee's 'language' at rally: 'Even Ravana's ego was perished'

The Citizenship (Amendment) Act amends the previous Citizenship Act 1955 to make refugees who are Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan, eligible for citizenship. Moreover, the Bill exempts the inner line permit areas in Nagaland, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh and areas falling under the Sixth Schedule in the regions. It will be applicable to the members of these communities having arrived in India on or before December 31, 2014. The Supreme Court is yet to hear the 150 pleas challenging the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), after it refused to stay its implementation.

Trinamool MP Mahua Moitra slams Centre over CAA: 'Why deadline to form rules extended?'
BRUSSELS, FEB 11 - European Economic Affairs Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni said Thursday he had full confidence in premier-designate Mario Draghi's ability to lead an "efficient and pro-European" government, using EU COVID recovery funds to boost growth and weather the virus emergency. Gentiloni said the 750 billion euro Recovery Fund, 209 billion of which will go to Italy, had a "very important growth potential" and so it was important that the likely government led by the ex-ECB chief "should go in the right direction". Gentiloni said he had "full confidence in (Draghi's) experience, ideas and abilities" to lead the government Italy needs. (ANSA).

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One of Saudi Arabia's most prominent political activists was released from prison Wednesday, her family said, after serving nearly three years on charges of "causing disorder" and "agitating for a foreign agenda."

Loujain al-Hathloul, who pushed to end a ban on women driving in Saudi Arabia, was arrested in 2018 and sentenced to almost six years in prison last December under a broad counterterrorism law.

Held for 1001 days, with time in pre-trial detention and solitary confinement, she was accused of crimes such as agitating for change, using the internet to cause disorder and pursuing a foreign agenda.

``Loujain is at home!!!!!!`` her sister Lina al-Hathloul declared on Twitter alongside a screenshot showing a flushed Loujain beaming on a family video call.

There was no immediate comment from Saudi authorities on her release.

Her release this year was widely expected as the judge suspended two years and 10 months of her sentence and gave her credit for time already served, putting her release date sometime in March.

The release Wednesday, earlier than anticipated, comes as Saudi Arabia faces new scrutiny from the United States, where President Joe Biden has vowed to reassess the US-Saudi partnership and stand up for human rights and democratic principles.

``I have some welcome news that the Saudi government has released a prominent human rights activist,`` Biden said in a speech at the Pentagon. ``She was a powerful activist for women's rights and releasing her was the right thing to do.''

Biden had labeled Saudi Arabia a ``pariah'' on the campaign trial and promised to reverse former President Donald Trump's policy of giving the country ``a blank check to pursue a disastrous set of policies,'' including the targeting of female activists.

The kingdom lifted the ban on women driving in mid-2018.

The United Nations welcomed al-Hathloul's release but U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said ``it is important that others who are in the same condition as her, who have been jailed for the same reasons as her, also be released and that charges be dropped against them.``

Although released, al-Hathloul will remain free under strict conditions, her family has said, including a five-year travel ban and three years of probation.

``Loujain is at home, but she is not free. The fight is not over,'' her sister Lina wrote on Twitter. ``I am not fully happy without the release of all political prisoners.''

Many human rights activists applauded al-Hathloul's release from prison but urged caution amid the remaining restrictions on her freedom.

The 31-year-old Saudi activist rocketed to prominence in Saudi Arabia for her criticism of the kingdom's guardianship system, which bars women from travel without a male relative, and her outspokenness on human rights issues.

In 2019, Saudi Arabia issued laws allowing any citizen to apply for a passport and travel freely, ending a long-standing guardianship policy that gave men control over women.

Al-Hathloul was first detained in 2014 for 70 days when, in an act of defiance, she posted a video online of herself attempting to drive from the United Arab Emirates into the kingdom.

Her release follows that of two dual Saudi-US citizens who had been detained since 2019: Badr al-Ibrahim, a writer and physician, and Salah al-Haidar, the son of a prominent women's rights activist.

Following intense pressure from Congress, they were both set free, the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee announced last Friday, calling it a ``positive, but long overdue step.''

Al-Haidar, who has a family home in Vienna, Virginia, had faced up to 33 years in prison for alleged Twitter posts criticizing the Saudi government. The Freedom Initiative, a prisoners' rights group, stressed that the release of the men was temporary, pending trial.

*This story was edited by Ahram Online

Short link:


Boris Johnson has promised there will be no return to lockdown after England emerges from the current round of restrictions, declaring that next weeks roadmap to recovery will set out cautious but irreversible steps back to normal life.

But the prime minister resisted Conservative backbench calls for firm deadlines to reopen shops, pubs and restaurants, saying that the 22 February document will offer only dates for the earliest possible relaxation of controls.

Urging Britons to be optimistic but also patient, Mr Johnson told a Downing Street press conference: I hope there isnt that much longer to go now... I want this lockdown to be the last.

On a visit to a vaccination centre in southeast London earlier in the day, the PM sent clear signals that easing of restrictions will be slower than demanded by backbench critics, in the hope of avoiding a damaging return to lockdown.

He is coming under growing pressure from backbench Tories to restart the economy, with the Covid Recovery Group saying there will be no justification for unnecessary restrictions after over-50s get the jab in April.

But he insisted: Weve got to be very prudent. What we want to see is progress that is cautious but irreversible and I think thats what the public and people up and down the country will want to see.

The prime minister confirmed his 8 March target for reopening schools and said he was increasingly confident and optimistic about the possibility for lifting other restrictions  even suggesting that rapid-turnaround tests could be used to allow the return of nightclubs and theatres.

He hailed the completion of the first phase of vaccinations, covering over-70s, health and care workers and people with serious health conditions, as an unprecedented national achievement and said that 1 million over-65s were now receiving their invitations for a jab.

But he admitted he could offer no cast-iron guarantees that there would not be further setbacks, and said he wont hesitate to delay easements if infection rates rise.

NHS England chief executive Sir Simon Stevens said the end of April had been set as the target to vaccinate the top nine priority groups, including all over-50s, but added that if vaccine supplies increase we think we can go faster.

Estimating that the next 10-11 weeks could see double the number of jabs as in the last 10-11 weeks including many second doses for those in the first wave of vaccinations  he told the prime minister: Give us the tools  the vaccines  and we will finish the job.

Top medics and scientists will now be involved with senior ministers including Mr Johnson, health secretary Matt Hancock, chancellor Rishi Sunak and Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove in a series of meetings over the coming days to thrash out Mondays blueprint for recovery.

Sources within government insisted that vital data on the effect of the vaccines on hospitalisations, deaths and transmission of the virus were still coming in, and stressed that no final decisions have been made. A final decision on the way forward could come as late as the weekend.

Mr Johnson himself said that reports suggesting that social contact curbs could be relaxed next month, shops reopened within weeks and self-catering holidays permitted by Easter should be taken with a pinch of salt.

When I explain what we are going to do, you will hear it directly from me, he promised.

The PMs promise of an irreversible move away from restrictions sparked alarm among public health experts, who warned that Covid-19 could still flare up even if over-50s are vaccinated as planned.

Latest data showed that the 9,765 positive tests reported on Monday remain higher than in September, while more people are in hospital than at the peak of the first wave last April. Some 230 deaths were reported on Monday, with the seven-day total down more than 26 per cent on the previous week.

Public health professor Gabriel Scally, of Bristol University, told The Independent that the UK remains far from the nirvana of being able to relax its guard.

Opening up retail and hospitality risked a spike in transmission among non-vaccinated groups, increasing the likelihood of dangerous new variants emerging, he warned, pointing to reports of seven worrisome mutations detected in the US in recent days.

Coronavirus: London on lockdown Show all 29 1 /29 Coronavirus: London on lockdown Coronavirus: London on lockdown A man walks down a deserted Camden High Street Photos Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown Goodge Street Station is one of the many stations closed to help reduce the spread Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown An empty street in the heart of Chinatown Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown People in masks in Chinatown a day after the lockdown Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown A near-empty Piccadilly Circus during the first week of lockdown Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown Sonja, my neighbour, who I photographed while taking a short walk. It was nice to briefly chat even from a distance Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown A couple sit on the empty steps of the statue Eros in Piccadilly Circus Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown Making sure I stay two-meters apart  DArblay Street, Soho Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown A mannequin behind a shop window. UK stores have closed until further notice Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown A notice displayed on a shop window in Camden Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown As part of the lockdown, all non-essential shops have been ordered to close.Image from Camden High Street Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown A skateboarder wearing a mask utilises his exercise allowance in the Camden area Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown Communities have been coming together in a time of need Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown A woman stands alone in a deserted Oxford Street. Up until a few weeks ago, on average, half a million people visited the street per day Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown A couple walk hand in hand down a street in Soho, a day before the stricter lockdown was announced Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown During the first week of March, shoppers focused on stockpiling necessities ahead of a countrywide lockdown Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown Many supermarkers are operating a queuing system to make sure only a limited amount of customers are allowed in at anyone time Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown Stay Safe  Curzon cinemas are temporarily closed under the new measures Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown Pubs, restaurants and bars were ordered to shut as part of the lockdown Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown Camden High Street There are fears that coronavirus could lead to permanent closure of struggling shops Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown Camden Town is eerily silent on a normal working day Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown Shops and supermarkets ran out of hand sanitisers in the first week of the lockdown. As we approach the end of the second week most shops now have started to stock up Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown Empty streets around Soho Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown A noticeboard on Camden High Street urges the public to stay at home Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown Camden High Street, one of Londons busiest tourist streets turns quiet Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown Thriller Live confirmed its West End run ended in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown Empty and eerie Soho streets after stricter rules on social distancing announced Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown A woman pauses for a cigarette on Hanway Street, behind Tottenham Court Road Angela Christofilou Coronavirus: London on lockdown A man steps outside onto Hanway Street, that sits behind what is usually a bustling retail hub Angela Christofilou

And while older age-groups may be protected from serious illness and death, younger people still risk being struck down by long Covid.

OK, numbers of cases are coming down, but we were up at the top of Everest and it is a long way down, said Prof Scally. We are still in a really dangerous situation and yet again they are talking about opening up.

When the prime minister says irreversible, why would anyone believe him, given his appalling track record on foreseeing the development of the pandemic so far?

Rather than talking about dates for reopening, ministers should be ramping up the test and trace system and providing better support for those told to isolate, as well as funding extra space to allow better distancing and ventilation in schools, he said.

Read more: Follow live coronavirus updates

Former minister Harriett Baldwin told The Independent that data on vaccine effectiveness appeared to show it outstripping expectations.

The PM is right to take into account the best information from the scientists, but this is all going to schedule, so we could be able to lift everything by 1 May if things continue at this cracking pace, she said. We are keen to give the economy the best shot in the arm it can have, which is to have certainty about dates.

Mr Johnson again ruled out the issuing of vaccine passports for domestic use, but said that documentation to allow international travel was very much in the mix down the road, adding: I think that is going to happen.

The travel industry called for work on the scheme to be stepped up to allow it to be operational by the summer holiday season.

Mark Tanzer, chief executive of travel agents trade body Abta, said: The current restrictions have not only stopped travel but have dented peoples confidence in booking.

We believe that there should be a plan for the starting up of travel again and the government needs to be working on that now, not waiting till the summer. Were confident that if thats put in place then people will be able to travel and they can book now for summer holidays.

Carolyn Kaster / Associated Press

As vaccine distribution ramps up across the Bay Area, eligible individuals can now register for a free coronavirus vaccine appointment at some CVS locations, with the vaccinations starting Friday.

CVS said it is offering the vaccine at no cost with most insurance plans or through a federal program for the uninsured. As of Thursday, CVS said the pharmacies are vaccinating only health care workers and individuals 65 and older.
A mother and her daughter were rescued by police officers in northeast Brazil after they managed to escape from a farm where they had been forced to work as slaves for six years.

The 44-year-old woman and her 21-year-old daughter were spotted on the side of a road Tuesday night in the Piaui rural city of Floriano while waiving their hands for help to a Federal Highway Police patrol unit.

Police officer Alexsandro Lima told Noticias UOL that the patrol unit was in the area responding to an emergency phone call from a friend of the mother, who revealed their shocking conditions.

'During the escape they hid in a school by the side of the road,' Lima said. 'When the police arrived, they told [about] the whole situation to which they were subjected.'

Lima said that the women, who have not been named, were able to flee from the farmhouse they had been forbidden to leave after arriving there in or around 2015.

Agents from a Federal Highway Police station in the Brazilian state of Piaui rescued a 44-year-old mother and her 21-year-old mother after they escaped from a farm in the rural town of Floriano where they were held captive for six years and where not given the minimum wage the owner had promised them as a compensation for their housekeeping duties

The women confessed that the owner had failed to come through with the promise of paying them a minimum wage as well as providing food as compensation for their housekeeping duties.

They reportedly were also forced to clean the farm and could not bathe on the premises because only their bosses were permitted to do so.

They women orchestrated their escape with the help of a friend after they were successful in retrieving personal documents that had been taken away from them. The documents were meant to be used to secure emergency aid awarded by the government due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The woman and her daughter were placed in custody of the Specialized Social Assistance Reference Center.

The police are investigating the owner of the farm, but have not yet released his name.
Traditionally, fixed income instruments have played this role. Bonds provide the stability and consistency to preserve a portfolio's returns while the riskier equities hunt for higher returns. However, unfavorable changes in correlation between equities and bonds over time nudged investors to evaluate the suitability of other potential bedrock investments.

"We suggest investing in life settlement as a strong bedrock candidate on the basis of the following historically observed attributes," stated Tony Bremness, Managing Director of Laureola Advisors.

Using the Laureola fund as a proxy for life settlements, the chart above shows the distribution of a life settlement fund's annualized returns over multiple 3-year periods. The fund's returns tend to be higher than that of the S&P 500 Index and 3-year US Treasury yield since May 2013. This highlights the consistency of performance (and potential outperformance over equities) over a 3 years.

Here, the stability of monthly returns is highlighted. The narrow range of returns for a life settlement fund suggests returns volatility closer to that of fixed income when compared to S&P 500's wide dispersion of returns.

Mr Bremness notes that "life settlements as an investment can meet the first requirement of a bedrock investment  its returns are stable and consistent over time."

The second requirement is that the returns of a bedrock investment should have little or no correlation to the returns of the risky asset. This independence is prized because such assets stabilize a portfolio during periods of poor performance in the risky assets. In the chart above, the Laureola fund as a representative for life settlements has recorded low levels of correlation with other asset classes. Of note are the low correlations to equities and bonds.

"Low correlations are great but what matters is what happens when risky assets dive. The behavior we want to see out of bedrock investments is independence during those risky asset drawdowns," Mr Bremness explained. The worst 10 months of S&P 500 would have caused an average monthly decline of -6.6% while the Laureola Fund would have produced an average return of -0.1%. Dec 18 was a coincidence where Laureola revalued its portfolio upon discovery of aggressive life expectancy assumptions provided by the independent Life Expectancy underwriters. The revaluation was not linked to S&P 500 movements.

Mr Bremness summarises, "We believe that the life settlements exhibit characteristics of a bedrock investment. With the Laureola fund as a representative, an investment in life settlements has stable consistent returns over time and its returns are uncorrelated to a wide range of risky assets. With a bedrock in the portfolio, an investor can liberate his/her portfolio to take on risk. This is especially meaningful navigating the rich but risky platter of opportunities in the post-pandemic investment landscape."

Contact: Tony Bremness | +1 (888) 498 0966 | [email protected]

SOURCE Laureola Advisors

Related Links

www.laureolaadvisors.com/home


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Nyandarua Speaker Wahome Ndegwa was on Wednesday afternoon impeached by ward representatives.

A total of 27 out of 31 MCAs eligible to vote during the impeachment motion sponsored by Majority Leader King'ori Wambugu voted to remove Mr Ndegwa.

Seven ward reps were suspended by the Jubilee Party as the impeachment motion was on-going. One MCA voted in favour of the motion from a hospital bed.

The session was full of drama and strategies to ensure the House adhered to conditions issued by a Nakuru Court in a ruling that reinstated Mr Ndegwa after the January impeachment by some 30 MCAs in a Special Sitting convened by Deputy Speaker Zachary Njeru.

Mr Ndegwa had moved to court arguing that he was unprocedurally removed.

On Monday and during yesterday's sittings to discuss the impeachment, Mr Wahome wore a brave face telling the House that he is still the Speaker, whether in bed or walking and will continue discharging his mandate.

And when he appeared to defend himself before the House yesterday, Mr Wahome termed the impeachment Motion as witch-hunting stating that he was cleaner than the cotton.

In yesterday's Impeachment Motion when defending himself in a setting full of dramas, Ndegwa was accused of abuse of office, nepotism, and corruption, allegations he sarcastically denied.

On employing three relatives in the assembly, Mr Wahome said he did no wrong since he is not the employing authority but the county public service board, adding that he genuinely introduced the relatives who he had educated and mentored, but did not participate in interviewing the relatives.

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On car hire payment to his private car, Mr Wahome said it was the county procurement officers that requested he submits documents to facilitate the Sh12, 000 per day payments.

He also defended himself against accusations of using vulgar and insulting language saying he had no apologies for calling health executive member Dr John Mungai a witchdoctor since he behaved like one.

At some point, the impeachment Motion was halted with MCAs raising concerns over security as the Sergeant-at-Arms locked all the doors denying the MCAs, media and public from leaving the Chambers and galleries.

It was a double blow to Mr Ndegwa after the Jubilee party suspended seven MCAs allied to him on disciplinary grounds.

The Jubilee letter was electronically served after process servers were denied access to assembly premises by the assembly security team, which later together with ICT department disconnected the live link of the proceedings.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines , February 10) - President Rodrigo Duterte has requested that a portion of the donated COVID-19 vaccines from China's Sinovac be allocated to the police and the military, his former aide Senator Bong Go said.

"Susunod rin po 'yung donasyon ng bansang Tsina, ito pong Sinovac. At pinagbilin po ni Pangulong Duterte na ilan po dito sa mga donated doses mula sa Tsina ay bibigyan po ng prayoridad ang ating mga sundalo at mga kapulisan dahil kabilang rin po sila sa ating mga itinuturing na mga frontliners," Go said in a statement.

[Translation: Next in line is the donation from China, the Sinovac. President Duterte requested that our soldiers and police officers be prioritized with some of the donated doses from China because they are considered frontliners.]

Duterte has always made known his desire to have the police and the military included in the priority list. Last year, he pointed out that they need to be prioritized because he needs a "healthy" police and military forces.

The President also said early this year he wants free COVID-19 vaccination for soldiers and policemen, and their families.

Go meanwhile said athletes should also be prioritized in the vaccination program.

"Bigyan rin po dapat ng prayoridad ang ating mga atleta na nagbibigay karangalan sa ating bansa at mag-uumpisa na po ang kanilang mga training," he said.

[Translation: Our athletes should also be prioritized because they are giving our country honor, and they are about to start training.]
Cui Tingting dyed her hair Mars red for the arrival of Chinas spacecraft at the planet known in Chinese as the Fire Star. This is a great era for space, and the future of mankind lies in the exploration of outer space, said Cui, director of the China Mars Society, the local chapter of a global advocacy network.

She hosted an online party Wednesday night to wait for the announcement that the Tianwen-1 spacecraft, launched last July, had reached Mars orbit. Video from participants across China showed a replica of Tianwen-1's robot rover in the home of one society member. Another wore a homemade space suit.

"Earth is our mother planet ... but for me, Mars is the same," Cui said.

China is falling in love with space, inspired by the ruling Communist Party's increasingly ambitious plans over the past two decades to launch humans into orbit and explore the moon and Mars. The expanding space program coincides with President Xi Jinping's campaign to promote an image of China returning to its former glory as a world leader.

Xi's government is trying to nurture public enthusiasm with a five-year "Scientific Literacy Action Plan." It includes a promise of support for developing Chinese science fiction. Cui is already planning another party in May when Tianwen-1s robot lander is due to touch down.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
PROVO, Utah, Feb. 10, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc. (NYSE: NUS) today announced fourth-quarter 2020 results, achieving 28 percent revenue growth and 94 percent earnings per share (EPS) growth. For the full year, revenue increased seven percent and EPS increased 17 percent. In addition, the company is projecting five to nine percent revenue growth and EPS of $3.80 to $4.10 in 2021.

Executive Summary

Q4 2020 vs. Prior-year Quarter

Revenue: $748.2 million; +28%  +4% fx impact Earnings Per Share (EPS): $1.40; +94% Sales Leaders: 70,435; +29% Customers: 1,557,302; +34%

2020 Annual vs. 2019

Revenue: $2.58 billion; +7%  Less than (1%) fx impact Earnings Per Share

(EPS): $3.63; +17%

"Our strong fourth-quarter results were driven by exceptional customer growth of 34 percent compared to the prior year," said Ritch Wood, chief executive officer. "We grew revenue in each of our reporting segments with particular strength in the West markets where our brand affiliates have more broadly adopted social commerce to share our products. The successful Boost and Nutricentials product introductions helped generate 28 percent revenue and 29 percent sales leader growth in the quarter. In addition, our manufacturing segment continued to generate strong results, posting 42 percent revenue growth in the quarter and playing a critical role in our ability to keep product in stock, even with increased demand and global supply chain constraints.

"I am proud of the work and execution of our entire team, especially our global sales force, as we grew both revenue and earnings amidst the uncertainty of the pandemic. We strengthened our balance sheet, repurchased more than five million shares of stock, innovated in our product pipeline, enhanced our digital capabilities and established a path for double-digit earnings growth going forward," concluded Wood.

Q4 2020 Year-over-year Operating Results

Revenue: $748.2 million compared to $583.4 million  +4% fx impact Gross Margin: 74.0% compared to 75.9%  Nu Skin business was 76.5% compared to 78.5%  Impacted by increased freight charges and geographic mix Selling Expenses: 38.0% compared to 39.1%  Nu Skin business was 40.3% compared to 41.3% G&A Expenses: 24.1% compared to 27.4% Operating Margin: 11.9% compared to 9.4% Other Income / (Expense): $2.7 million compared to ($1.1) million Income Tax Rate: 19.6% compared to 25.1%  Benefited by geographic mix EPS: $1.40 compared to $0.72

Stockholder Value

Dividend Payments: $19.1 million Stock Repurchases: $17.0 million  $325.8 million remaining in authorization

Q1 and Full-year 2021 Outlook

Q1 2021 Revenue: $610 to $640 million; +18 to 24%  Approximately +3% fx impact Q1 2021 EPS: $0.65 to $0.75; +81 to 108% 2021 Revenue: $2.71 to $2.81 billion; +5 to 9%  Approximately +2 to 3% fx impact 2021 EPS: $3.80 to $4.10; +5 to 13%

"We expect a strong 2021 driven by our robust product pipeline and digital initiatives combined with steady growth in both our customers and sales leaders," continued Wood. "We plan to expand our customer reach through the Boost and Nutricentials launches in the first half and the introduction of our new product innovations in the second half. We remain focused on balancing our geographic profile through the expansion of our social commerce business and our manufacturing segment. We are forecasting high single-digit revenue growth and expect solid improvement in our operating margin, together driving toward a double-digit increase in earnings per share. Additionally, we increased our quarterly dividend for the 20th consecutive year, a remarkable feat that demonstrates the durability of the Nu Skin business model."

Mark Lawrence, chief financial officer, added, "Our guidance reflects the strong momentum coming out of 2020 and our focused strategy for 2021. Looking to the first quarter, we anticipate revenue of $610 to $640 million, a growth of 18 to 24 percent including an approximate three percent favorable foreign currency impact. We project earnings per share of $0.65 to $0.75, approximately double the prior year. For our initial full-year 2021 guidance, we anticipate revenue of $2.71 to $2.81 billion, reflecting a positive foreign currency impact of approximately two to three percent. We anticipate annual earnings per share of $3.80 to $4.10."

Investor Day

The Nu Skin Enterprises management team will host an investor day event Feb. 11 at noon (ET). Those wishing to access the webcast, as well as the information presented, can visit the Investor Relations page on the company's website at ir.nuskin.com. A replay of the event will be available at the same URL through Feb. 25, 2021.

About Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc.

Founded more than 35 years ago, Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc. (NSE) empowers innovative companies to change the world with sustainable solutions, opportunities, technologies and life-improving values. The company currently focuses its efforts around innovative consumer products, product manufacturing and controlled environment agriculture technology. The NSE family of companies includes Nu Skin, which develops and distributes a comprehensive line of premium-quality beauty and wellness solutions through a global network of sales leaders in Asia, the Americas, Europe, Africa and the Pacific; and Rhyz, our strategic investment arm that includes a collection of sustainable manufacturing and technology innovation companies. Nu Skin Enterprises is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "NUS." More information is available at nuskinenterprises.com.

Important Information Regarding 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, that represent the company's current expectations and beliefs. All statements other than statements of historical fact are "forward-looking statements" for purposes of federal and state securities laws and include, but are not limited to, statements of management's expectations regarding the company's performance, growth, product pipeline and product launches, customers and sales leaders, strategies and initiatives; projections regarding revenue, operating margin, earnings per share, foreign currency fluctuations and other financial items; statements of belief; and statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. In some cases, you can identify these statements by forward-looking words such as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "project," "outlook," "guidance," "plan," "forecast," "expand," "will," "would," "could," "may," "might," the negative of these words and other similar words.

The forward-looking statements and related assumptions involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and outcomes to differ materially from any forward-looking statements or views expressed herein. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the following:

risk that epidemics, including the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and other crises could negatively impact our business;

adverse publicity related to the company's business, products, industry or any legal actions or complaints by the company's sales force or others;

risk that direct selling laws and regulations in any of the company's markets, including the United States and Mainland China, may be modified, interpreted or enforced in a manner that results in negative changes to the company's business model or negatively impacts its revenue, sales force or business, including through the interruption of sales activities, loss of licenses, imposition of fines, or any other adverse actions or events;

any failure of current or planned initiatives or products to generate interest among the company's sales force and customers and generate sponsoring and selling activities on a sustained basis;

political, legal, tax and regulatory uncertainties associated with operating in international markets, including Mainland China;

uncertainty regarding meeting restrictions and other government scrutiny in Mainland China, as well as negative media and consumer sentiment in Mainland China on our business operations and results;

risk of foreign-currency fluctuations and the currency translation impact on the company's business associated with these fluctuations;

uncertainties regarding the future financial performance of the businesses the company has acquired;

risks related to accurately predicting, delivering or maintaining sufficient quantities of products to support planned initiatives or launch strategies, and increased risk of inventory write-offs if the company over-forecasts demand for a product or changes its planned initiatives or launch strategies;

regulatory risks associated with the company's products, which could require the company to modify its claims or inhibit its ability to import or continue selling a product in a market if the product is determined to be a medical device or if the company is unable to register the product in a timely manner under applicable regulatory requirements;

unpredictable economic conditions and events globally, including trade policies and tariffs;

the company's future tax-planning initiatives; any prospective or retrospective increases in duties on the company's products imported into the company's markets outside of the United States ; and any adverse results of tax audits or unfavorable changes to tax laws in the company's various markets; and

continued competitive pressures in the company's markets.

The company's financial performance and the forward-looking statements contained herein are further qualified by a detailed discussion of associated risks set forth in the documents filed by the company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements set forth the company's beliefs as of the date that such information was first provided, and the company assumes no duty to update the forward-looking statements contained in this release to reflect any change except as required by law.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures: Constant-currency revenue change is a non-GAAP financial measure that removes the impact of fluctuations in foreign-currency exchange rates, thereby facilitating period-to-period comparisons of the company's performance. It is calculated by translating the current period's revenue at the same average exchange rates in effect during the applicable prior-year period and then comparing that amount to the prior-year period's revenue. The company believes that constant-currency revenue change is useful to investors, lenders and analysts because such information enables them to gauge the impact of foreign-currency fluctuations on the company's revenue from period to period.

The following table sets forth revenue for the three-month periods ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 for each of our reportable segments (U.S. dollars in thousands):



Three Months Ended December 31,





Constant-

Currency

2020

2019

Change

Change

Nu Skin























Mainland China $ 172,442

$ 154,731



11%



5%

Americas/Pacific

157,984



86,146



83%



86%

South Korea

90,384



81,958



10%



5%

Southeast Asia

82,191



74,767



10%



10%

Japan

73,132



65,482



12%



7%

EMEA

82,656



46,205



79%



68%

Hong Kong/Taiwan

45,864



41,616



10%



5%

Other

(391)



1,860



(121)%



(121)%

Total Nu Skin

704,262



552,765



27%



23%

Manufacturing

43,364



30,487



42%



42%

Grow Tech

567



107



430%



430%

Total $ 748,193

$ 583,359



28%



24%



























The following table sets forth revenue for the years ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 for each of our reportable segments (U.S. dollars in thousands):



Year Ended December 31,





Constant-

Currency

2020

2019

Change

Change

Nu Skin























Mainland China $ 625,538

$ 722,526



(13)%



(14)%

Americas/Pacific

511,941



349,078



47%



53%

South Korea

326,478



329,978



(1)%





Southeast Asia

302,708



301,620







1%

Japan

273,681



260,039



5%



3%

EMEA

230,246



167,165



38%



35%

Hong Kong/Taiwan

161,117



166,335



(3)%



(6)%

Other

(17)



1,621



(101)%



(101)%

Total Nu Skin

2,431,692



2,298,362



6%



6%

Manufacturing

149,339



121,917



22%



22%

Grow Tech

903



137



559%



559%

Total $ 2,581,934

$ 2,420,416



7%



7%



























The Company's Customers and Sales Leaders statistics by segment as of December 31, 2020 and 2019 are presented in the following table:



2020

2019

% Increase (Decrease)

Customers

Sales

Leaders

Customers

Sales

Leaders

Customers

Sales

Leaders























Mainland China

381,460



21,990



292,812



17,987



30%



22% Americas/Pacific

404,955



14,439



220,216



7,607



84%



90% South Korea

158,953



7,059



168,972



7,251



(6)%



(3)% Southeast Asia

154,355



8,903



136,349



7,480



13%



19% Japan

128,400



6,318



125,557



5,916



2%



7% EMEA

258,587



7,063



153,330



4,619



69%



53% Hong Kong/Taiwan

70,592



4,663



65,669



3,900



7%



20% Total

1,557,302



70,435



1,162,905



54,760



34%



29%

"Customers" are persons who purchased products directly from the company during the previous three months. Our Customer numbers do not include consumers who purchase products directly from members of our sales force.

"Sales Leaders" are independent distributors, and sales employees and independent marketers in China, who achieve certain qualification requirements.

NU SKIN ENTERPRISES, INC. Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited) (U.S. dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)



Three Months Ended December 31,

Years Ended December 31,

2020

2019

2020

2019























Revenue $ 748,193

$ 583,359

$ 2,581,934

$ 2,420,416 Cost of sales

194,751



140,566



658,028



581,420 Gross profit

553,442



442,793



1,923,906



1,838,996























Operating expenses:





















Selling expenses

284,129



228,127



1,019,494



955,600 General and administrative expenses

180,616



159,987



646,848



615,970 Total operating expenses

464,745



388,114



1,666,342



1,571,570























Operating income

88,697



54,679



257,564



267,426 Other income (expense), net

2,736



(1,101)



(1,332)



(12,254)























Income before provision for income taxes

91,433



53,578



256,232



255,172 Provision for income taxes

17,966



13,466



64,877



81,619























Net income $ 73,467

$ 40,112

$ 191,355

$ 173,553























Net income per share:





















Basic $ 1.44

$ 0.72

$ 3.66

$ 3.13 Diluted $ 1.40

$ 0.72

$ 3.63

$ 3.10























Weighted-average common shares outstanding (000s):





















Basic

50,971



55,548



52,296



55,518 Diluted

52,403



55,807



52,765



55,927

NU SKIN ENTERPRISES, INC. Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) (U.S. dollars in thousands)



December 31,

2020

December 31,

2019 ASSETS





Current assets:





Cash and cash equivalents $ 402,683

$ 335,630 Current investments

21,216



8,413 Accounts receivable, net

63,370



50,378 Inventories, net

314,366



275,891 Prepaid expenses and other

101,563



69,854 Total current assets

903,198



740,166











Property and equipment, net

468,181



453,604 Operating lease right-of-use assets

155,104



144,326 Goodwill

202,979



196,573 Other intangible assets, net

89,532



80,321 Other assets

138,082



154,016 Total assets $ 1,957,076

$ 1,769,006











LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY









Current liabilities:









Accounts payable $ 66,174

$ 38,979 Accrued expenses

446,682



290,281 Current portion of long-term debt

30,000



27,500 Total current liabilities

542,856



356,760























Operating lease liabilities

112,275



105,701 Long-term debt

305,393



334,461 Other liabilities

102,281



96,795 Total liabilities

1,062,805



893,717























Stockholders' equity:









Class A common stock

91



91 Additional paid-in capital

579,801



557,544 Treasury stock, at cost

(1,461,593)



(1,324,826) Accumulated other comprehensive loss

(64,768)



(85,292) Retained earnings

1,840,740



1,727,772 Total stockholders' equity

894,271



875,289 Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 1,957,076

$ 1,769,006

SOURCE Nu Skin Enterprises
2020 was a year marked by hardships and challenges, but the Fauquier community has proven resilient. The Fauquier 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 Fauquier Times be your community companion throughout 2021, and for many years to come.
Amid Centre's ongoing face-off with Twitter, Union Minister for Electronics, IT, and Communications Ravi Shankar Prasad on Thursday praised its India-made analogue 'Koo' in the Rajya Sabha. This is the second day in a row that the ministry has championed Koo over Twitter.

"Koo is a made-in-India app that has become a toast for success today and we should be proud of it. It is a matter of pride for me that Indians are heading so many multi-technology companies. Let us salute the extraordinary courage of our start-ups," Prasad said during the Question Hour.

"Double standards of social media companies"

The Union Minister further issued a stern warning against social media platforms allowing the spread of 'hateful' content and said that their "double standard" will not be allowed in India. Lashing out at the double standards of the social media companies, Prasad said, when the US Capitol Hill was attacked by pro-Trump protestors, Twitter and Facebook supported the investigation, but when the Red Fort was breached in New Delhi, the social media platforms have stood against the Indian government.

"We have now flagged Twitter. Our department has engaged with the company. When there is violence in US Capitol Hill, social media platforms encourage police investigation but when Red Fort is breached, the same platforms go against the government of India. The Red Fort is the symbol of our pride. We won't allow this double standard in the country. What is this? You are trending genocide?" the minister said in Parliament.

READ | Twitter Watching? Centre Uses Koo To Call Out Its 'unusual' Blog Post; Sets Record Clear

Ravi Shankar Prasad said that these companies can work in India and make money but they will have to abide by its laws and the Constitution. "The micro-blogging companies better note this, the Indian Constitution guarantees freedom of speech but it is subject to reasonable restriction because of the sovereignty of India," he fumed.

"We respect social media a lot. it has empowered common people. Social media has a big role in the Digital India program. However, if social media is misused to spread fake news, violence then action will be taken," the minister said.

READ | Centre Pulls Up Twitter For Late Compliance To Legal Orders, Flags Differential Treatment

Twitter's tensions with GoI

Ravi Shankar Prasad's warning to social media companies comes just a day after the Centre pulled up Twitter over the delay on obeying its order to remove tweets and hashtags related to 'farmer genocide' and Khalistan sympathizers. s. Expressing strong displeasure at the fact that the company allowed the content with the hashtag referring to 'farmer genocide' to continue despite the Centre's issuance of an emergency order, he conveyed that Twitter had chosen to side with people seeking to provoke disturbance to public order. Moreover, he called upon Twitter to take strong action against well-coordinated campaigns against India on its platform as elaborated in the toolkit shared by environmental activist Greta Thunberg.

READ | Anti-India Twitter Crackdown Escalates; Twitter Seeks Formal Dialogue With Govt Of India

In a blog post earlier in the day, Twitter had revealed that it had suspended more than 500 accounts that were engaging in platform manipulation and spam from January 26 onwards. While acknowledging that it had received multiple blocking orders from the MeitY in the last 10 days under Section 69A of the IT Act, it admitted to only taking partial action.

Justifying its decision to not block certain accounts, it wrote, "Because we do not believe that the actions we have been directed to take are consistent with Indian law, and, in keeping with our principles of defending protected speech and freedom of expression, we have not taken any action on accounts that consist of news media entities, journalists, activists, and politicians. To do so, we believe, would violate their fundamental right to free expression under Indian law. We informed MeitY of our enforcement actions today, February 10, 2021. We will continue to maintain a dialogue with the Indian government and respectfully engage with them."

Subsequent to this, the Ministry expressed how the blog post was 'unusual', and in a move that had greater symbolic meaning than even its content, used its account on Koo to post the update. Koo has witnessed a huge spike in usership over the last few weeks with many prominent celebrities now signing up.

READ | Anti-India Twitter Crackdown Escalates; Centre Wants 1178 Pak-Khalistan Handles Taken Down
Reality TV star and cosmetics czarina Kylie Jenner's mood on Thursday was baby blue in hue, and she shared a glimpse of it with fans on social media. (Instagram) Image Source: IANS News

Reality TV star and cosmetics czarina Kylie Jenner's mood on Thursday was baby blue in hue, and she shared a glimpse of it with fans on social media. (Instagram) Image Source: IANS News

Reality TV star and cosmetics czarina Kylie Jenner's mood on Thursday was baby blue in hue, and she shared a glimpse of it with fans on social media. (Instagram) Image Source: IANS News

Mumbai, Feb 11 : Reality TV star and cosmetics czarina Kylie Jenner's mood on Thursday was baby blue in hue, and she shared a glimpse of it with fans on social media.

In a set of three images she posted on Instagram, Kylie is seen in a white cut-out crop top paired with blue prints. She has her long black hair open.

"Baby blues," she captioned the picture, where she is seen wearing minimal make-up.

A recent video captured Kylie giving her father Caitlyn Jenner a makeover.

She recently took some time off to fly off to Turks and Caicos Islands where her daughter Stormi turned a year older. She was accompanied by her sisters Kim, Kourtney, and Khloe Kardashian, and Kendall Jenner.
Central police forces will play a greater role in poll bound states: CEC Arora

India

pti-Briti Roy Barman

Chennai, Feb 11: In poll-bound states, including Tamil Nadu, the Central police forces would play a greater role as part of measures to ensure fair polls and to see that no one took any undue advantage, Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora said here on Thursday.

Several measures were being contemplated to ensure inducement free, fair elections to the Tamil Nadu Assembly in view of allegations of inducement of voters in the past and two Special Expenditure Observers would also be deputed, he said.

The bypoll to the Kanyakumari Lok Sabha seat would be held alongside Assembly polls, he said. The seat fell vacant following the death of Congress MP, H Vasanthakumar due to COVID-19 last year.

The top Election Commission official, wrapping up meetings with senior officials and representatives of political parties here along with his colleagues, expressed confidence of a free, fair and transparent elections.

In keeping with the best administrative traditions of Tamil Nadu, there shall be no 'Vellores and RK Nagars,' he said in an apparent reference to allegations of distribution of cash to voters and the EC's measures to prevent such attempts.

It has been decided that for all the five poll bound states including Tamil Nadu, the Central Armed Police Forces coordinator shall be at the apex level of a committee that allocated personnel from one place to the other, Arora said addressing a press conference.

Tamil Nadu, Kerala, West Bengal, Assam and the Union Territory of neighbouring Puducherry are likely to go to polls in April or May. The official said that at the district level, the senior most general observer would be part of the exercise on allocation of personnel.

"This is a major decision we have already taken. It will be formally conveyed to the Chief Electoral Officers in the next two to three days maximum."

The decision follows feedback from political parties and a 'complaint' that the personnel were deployed by the state governments "wherever they like," he noted.

The Commission is trying to put more forces in every state and the coordinator of the Central forces have been assigned a greater role to play in terms of both deployment and allocation of personnel so that no one took any undue advantage when it came to exercise of franchise through postal ballots, he said.

Referring to a high level meeting today with Central and state regulatory agencies, answering a question, he said the EC has emphasised a lot about measures to ensure inducement free polls.

"There are several things we are planning to do and we shall do, but I am sorry to say that it will not be possible for me to share a lot of things in public domain... because we have given instructions and we shall be conducting another meeting with senior officers and enforcement agencies after a week or 10 days virtually to review as to what is the outcome of the meeting we held today."

The EC is sensitive to alleged inducements, he asserted and recalled cancellation of polls to Vellore Parliamentary Constituency (2019) and bypolls to RK Nagar Assembly segment (2017), the 'harshest' action taken by the commission in any state in respect of such allegations. On special observers, he said, "because of money factor of inducement in Tamil Nadu, besides the normal observers we send, we have decided to send Special Expenditure Observers (SEO)."

This would be in addition to district observers, he noted. Such SEOs shall be noted for their integrity and would be of the rank of retired secretaries of the Centre and also former chairpersons of the Central Board of Direct Taxes.

There shall be at least two SEOs and one of them shall be a very senior person for guidance for Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The exercise of deputing SEOs was being done on a state to state basis and not followed necessarily eveywhere while in some states, the special focus would be on law and order front.

The top official expressed displeasure over the work by some regulatory arms of the Tamil Nadu government ahead of the notification of state polls. "When we had the meeting of the regulatory agencies, I must say we were quite unhappy with the overall performance of the state excise department as well as the Special DG enforcement. We have brought the relevant facts to the notice of the Chief Secretary."

Since the state has excise revenue of Rs 34,000 crore, he said, "We felt that much more could have been done" vis-a-vis matters like the kind of seizures done. "... how many decimal points you have to put after the zero, the honourable excise commissioner was not even able to calculate it."

He said the EC was very disappointed about not apprehending the 'big fish.' On this matter, he said they were apprised that during enforcement in a particular seizure of almost Rs two crore, the authorities registered 23,000 to 27,000 cases. It meant that these were against the "small guys, some drivers, some couriers, the foot soldiers who were being caught and not the big fish."

The EC has sought a special report on this matter from the Additional Chief Secretary Home who also looked after the Finance Department, he noted.

From the previous 68,324 polling stations in Tamil Nadu, there would be 25,000 more now as per the norms to prevent spread of COVID-19 and in total there shall be 93,000 booths, he said adding it also meant mobilisation of more men and materials.

As regards arrangements for procurement of COVID-19 related materials, the state Chief Secretary has assured that these would be available on time.

Asked on likelihood of TN elections being held in April or May and if polls would be conducted in a single phase, he said these would be made known later at the time of announcement of elections.
Andy Warhol wasnt the kind to allow convention to dictate his style. He wore a Piaget watch with a hardstone dial regardless of the implications society might attach to lapis lazuli or malachite. He wore it because he liked it.

Granted, not everyone has the artists razor-sharp aesthetic but even so: whereas the barriers between mens and womens watches are (finally!) coming down, the materials used to make them are still tinged with gender bias. While diamonds are just beginning to shake off old prejudices, mother-of-pearl still trails its reputation as being for women. There is certainly nothing in nature to suggest this so why, then, do we insist on stereotyping mother-of-pearl this way?

Recent beginnings

Thankfully some brands have made the leap beyond this narrow box. Francois-Paul Journe is one. In 2012 in Geneva, the watchmaker unveiled a Boutique collection featuring an hour chapter in mother-of-pearl with Arabic numerals around a Clous de Paris guilloche centre. These mother-of-pearl dials were offered on not one but three models  the Chronometre Souverain, the Octa Automatique Lune and the Octa Automatique Reserve: proof that the brand was serious about its use of this material.

Edition Boutique Nacre  Francois-Paul Journe

Four years on, Vacheron Constantin revealed the surprising Metiers dArt Elegance Sartoriale collection, designed with the well-dressed gentleman in mind. Guilloche dials reproduce the herringbones and checks of fine cloth while hours and minutes are shown on a subdial trimmed with white mother-of-pearl.

Metiers dArt Elegance Sartoriale Collection  Vacheron Constantin

The following year, in 2017, Omega introduced grey mother-of-pearl to the dial of its De Ville.

Omega De Ville  Olivier Muller/WorldTempus

A 40mm diameter ensures a perfect fit for men as well as women. Special mention also goes to Parmigiani Fleurier whose Tonda 1950 is unusual for its rainbow gem-setting surrounding a grey mother-of-pearl dial.

Tonda 1950  Parmigiani Fleurier

And among the very latest releases (presented earlier this month), Ulysse Nardins Skeleton X Sparkling distinguishes itself with a mother-of-pearl decoration on the barrel.

Skeleton X Sparkling  Ulysse Nardin

Getting complicated

Mineral dials are a speciality of Jaquet Droz, which has long worked with mother-of-pearl. This creativity is expressed in the Loving Butterfly Automaton. Set inside a 43mm case, the grey mother-of-pearl dial is the backdrop for an animated scene in which a cherub drives a chariot pulled by a butterfly.

Loving Butterfly Automaton  Jaquet Droz

Another brand, another complication, the Midnight Poetic Wish, brought to life by Van Cleef & Arpels as one of its Poetic Complications. Alongside the brands numerous renditions for women, this 43mm version in white gold is equally at home on a mans wrist.

Midnight Poetic Wish  Van Cleef & Arpels

Among the independents, Greubel Forsey is perhaps not the first name that springs to mind for its use of mother-of-pearl. However, a rare version does exist of the Balancier Contemporain, shown here with the option of diamonds on the case. At 41.6mm in diameter, it sits comfortably on a masculine wrist. Not quite so complicated but always highly technical nonetheless, Richard Mille, having noted that its RM-037 enjoys a male and female following, obliged with a version that features a dial in mother-of-pearl.

RM-037  Richard Mille

Entry-level

Mother-of-pearl watches for men are still a rare occurrence at brands whose collections are positioned at lower price points. Does this mean mother-of-pearl appeals first to a fringe of mature collectors before reaching a wider audience? Correlation and causality are different things but we have our suspicions

Raymond Weil was one of the few to propose a mens watch with a mother-of-pearl dial in the early 1990s, in its Parsifal collection.

Collection Parsifal Raymond Weil  Olivier Muller/WorldTempus

A handful of brands continue along this road today. One of them is Tissot, whose Le Locle Powermatic 80 with black mother-of-pearl dial retails for under $600.
The Ministry of Road Transport And Highways plans to award contracts for construction of 210 kilometres Delhi-Dehradun access-controlled expressway by March this year. The government plans to complete the project in the next two years. The government has decided to execute the project on engineering procurement and construction (EPC) mode.

Once completed, the Delhi-Saharanpur-Dehradun corridor will reduce the distance between the two cities from 235 kilometres at present to 210 kilometres. The project will cut the travel time from 6.5 hours currently to 2.5 hours.

An official from the Road Transport Ministry told BusinessToday.In that the land acquisition and environment impact assessment for the project is in the last phase.

The project will have a six-lane elevated wildlife corridor spanning 12 kilometres for preservation of the wildlife as the expressway alignment crosses wildlife areas.

ALSO READ: NHAI to fine up to Rs 10 crore for major lapses in construction standards

The entire length from Akshardham, which will be the starting point in Delhi, to Dehradun will be divided into four sections, the ministry said.

Section one will have two packages. The first package of 14.75km, with 6.4km of elevated stretch, will be in Delhi. The second package of 16.85km, having 11.2km elevated section, will be in Uttar Pradesh.

"This section would start from Akshardham Temple near DME and pass through Geeta Colony, Khajurikhas and Mandola. This highway also aims to decongest the North East Delhi and also enhance the development potential of Tronica city, Mandola Vihar Yojana of UP Government," said a release from the Road Transport Ministry.

"The second section is six-lane fully access controlled greenfield stretch passing through Baghpat, Shamli, Muzaffarnagar and Saharanpur. The detailed project report is complete and tendering process has been initiated in four packages under the section," said the ministry.

ALSO READ: FM Nirmala Sitharaman announces Rs 25,000 crore for highways in poll-bound West Bengal

The third section starts from Saharanpur bypass and ends at Ganeshpur. "The entire length has recently completed to four lanes by NHAI. Necessary underpasses and service road are being planned to make it fully access controlled to achieve minimum 100 kmph speed," said the ministry.

The fourth section of the proposed expressway is a six-lane access-controlled corridor. This section primarily passes through reserve forest in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Out of 20km, 5km are brownfield expansion, and 15km are realignment comprising of elevated wildlife corridor (12 km) and approaches to tunnel.

For the second and the fourth section, the ministry of road transport has targeted to award the contracts by March this year.
Stratodesk, a leader in delivering VDI, Cloud, and IoT endpoint solutions, today officially announces support for the Microsoft Windows Virtual Desktop Linux Client on Stratodesk software for both x86 and ARM/Raspberry Pi devices. Available since the end of 2020, Stratodesk is one of the first technology provider worldwide to support the Windows Virtual Desktop Linux client on both architectures, making it easier and more affordable than ever for enterprises everywhere to connect workers with Windows 10 desktops in the Cloud.

Leveraging Stratodesk and the Windows Virtual Desktop Linux Client on the Raspberry Pi unlocks key benefits for enterprises around the world including:

Seamless, secure access to Windows 10 instances in the Cloud.

Secure endpoint operation and management for all x86 and ARM devices.

Significant savings options and scalability.

Thanks to Stratodesks latest innovation, x86 and Raspberry Pi/ARM endpoints in Windows Virtual Desktop deployments can now be managed side by side, as well as connected to Microsoft Azure and Windows 10 desktops in the cloud and deployed in a matter of minutes to end users anywhere in the world.

Windows Virtual Desktop is the ideal way to consume Windows 10 in the cloud. Stratodesk is its perfect companion, making managing thousands of endpoints anywhere easy says Stratodesk CEO and Founder, Emanuel Pirker. Together, the two solutions also offer an incredible value proposition to enterprises by enabling secure, reliable remote work at an unbeatable price. By powering Windows Virtual Desktop Linux Client via Stratodesk software on both Raspberry Pi/ARM and x86, we give enterprises an unparalleled savings multiplier and unlimited scalability options that before would have been unimaginable.

By using Stratodesk on the Raspberry Pi, enterprises deploying Windows Virtual Desktop have access to incredible savings potential, with Raspberry Pi endpoints available from technology leaders at a fraction of the price of competing devices. As enterprises look to ramp up the number of endpoints in their deployment, Stratodesk with the Windows Virtual Desktop Linux Client included, combined with the Raspberry Pi, is the surest way to overcome scalability obstacles inherent to a modern, complex workforce.

Stratodesk integration offers process improvements and cost-saving measures to our customers, said Kam VedBrat, General Manager, Windows Virtual Desktop, Microsoft Corp. The latest development gives customers the ability to connect to Windows Virtual Desktop sessions from on x86 and Raspberry Pi-based Linux devices.

The Spring 2020 version of Microsoft Windows Virtual Desktop Linux Client is available in the latest Stratodesk software release. Test Stratodesk software today by visiting [free trial link]

About Stratodesk

Founded in 2010, Stratodesk is redefining end user computing by delivering an all-in-one solution for VDI, DaaS and IoT markets. Stratodesks cutting edge Linux-based OS and management suite, NoTouch, is the hardware-agnostic solution that enables companies to cost-effectively manage their entire secure digital perimeter. Stratodesk solution works seamlessly across x86 and ARM/Raspberry Pi based hardware products to provide a unified platform for all your endpoints. It increases endpoint security, simplifies user experience, and allows customers to maximize the benefits of their existing desktop hardware through PC conversion. Today with nearly one million licenses deployed across multiple industries including healthcare, finance, retail, and education. Stratodesk is the fastest growing EUC company with offices located across the United States, Europe, and Russia.
Kids want to fish? You don't know how yourself? Here's a little help

To the Editor:

The Pennsylvania State Corrections Officers Association renews its call for the Wolf administration and the new COVID-19 Vaccine Joint Task Force to prioritize vaccinating corrections officers in state prisons over smokers.

Its one thing to follow CDC guidelines regarding smokers, but that doesnt prevent the administration from making the vaccination of its own corrections officers a higher priority. Our state prison system continues to be overwhelmed by COVID, but for some reason the Wolf administration has decided to ignore its own corrections officers, who are risking their lives every day in some of the worst conditions of this pandemic. Recently, over 800 inmates and officers tested positive at State Correctional Institution-Forest.

Our members are overworked, exhausted and are working massive amounts of overtime due to COVID-19 illnesses within their ranks. The mental anguish of passing the virus to their loved ones also takes a tremendous toll. Thats why the decision by the administration to put smokers ahead of corrections officers is repugnant.

Its our hope the task force will right this wrong and take care of the people working in some of the worst pandemic conditions in this commonwealth.

John Eckenrode

President

PSCOA
Kenya's chances at getting a slot in the management of the African Union (AU) now rest on one last contest after its other candidates lost out in a changed structure of the continental body.

After last week's elections at the AU, Nairobi will have to wait for the outcome of a race for the commissioner of Health, Humanitarian affairs and Social Development to see if it can be represented.

The African Union last week postponed the contest for this position and that of the commissioner for Education, Science, Technology and Innovation, choosing to make a decision at the next meeting of the AU Executive Council. Sudan's Amira Elfadil Mohammed and Prof Sarah Agbor of Cameroon will continue to serve in their current positions in the meantime, the AU announced.

Survived first two hurdles

Kenya's Ahmed Ezra Ogwell Ouma, the current deputy director of the Africa CDC will go again for the contest, having survived the first two hurdles that included interviews from a panel.

According to the final candidature for this post, he will compete with Ivorian Justin N'Guessan Koffi and Mauritanian Verges Aicha Vall. In the interview with the panel, Dr Ouma tallied behind the Ivorian with a score of 74.99 per cent against Koffi's 81.66 per cent.

The interviews were part of reforms proposed by President Paul Kagame to make the African Union better managed. Those rules suggested that contenders for the six commissioners' posts must have at least a Master's degree in a relevant field, at least a decade of experience in a regional organisation and proficiency in at least one of the four main languages spoken at the AU.

Faki re-elected

Last week, Mr Moussa Faki Mahamat was re-elected chairperson of the AU Commission unopposed and Rwanda's Monique Nsanzabaganwa voted in as deputy after defeating two other female candidates; -- Uganda's Prof Pamela Mbabazi and Djibouti's Hasna Bakarak Daoud.

Dr Bankole Adeoye of Nigeria was elected commissioner for political affairs, peace and security, while Ms Josefa Sacko (Angola) was chosen again to head Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment. Zambia's Albert Muchanga was re-elected to head Economic Development, Trade, Industry and Mining docket while Egypt's Amani Abou-Zeid (Egypt) was chosen again to lead the Infrastructure and Energy docket.

Mr Kagame's reforms saw the number of commissioners reduced from eight to six, seen as a way to reduce overlapping of duties. For example, previously, there were different commissioners for Economic Affairs and Trade, and Political Affairs and Security. This time, the AU renamed the two as commissioner for Economic Development, Trade, Industry and Mining; and Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security

In the final contest that saw 25 people compete for commissioners, Dr Ouma and former Transport PS Cyrus Njiru had been included.

Kagame's reforms

The changes to the system focused on "equitable regional representation, gender parity, predictable rotation, attracting and retaining Africa's top talent, accountable and effective leadership and management, and transparent and merit-based selection," according to a bulletin by the continental body.

But this was very much a race of regional give-and-take, according to Kenya's officials involved in the lobbying. This is despite the AU rules demanding that voting for commissioners, done by foreign ministers, is through secret ballot.

"Of course we always support our candidates," an official told the Nation on Tuesday.

"But the system is fixed so if there is someone from another region already in the job, then we can compete but if we have someone from our region, then we cannot compete."

Dr Njiru, who had sought the post of commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy, had qualified for the election phase after scoring 79.74 per cent during interviews, more points than the re-elected Amani Abou-Zeid, the Egyptian, and Coletha Uwineza Ruhamya of Rwanda, who got 73.43 per cent. The group was topped by Amos Marawa of Zimbabwe, who got 87.34 per cent.

Regional balancing

Because of the regional balancing tradition, some quit the race, allowing Egypt to cling onto this post since 2013 when Dr Abou-Zeid replaced compatriot Elham Mahmoud Ahmed Ibrahim. For example, the Kenyan and Zimbabwean quit so the Rwandan can get the deputy's post, sources told the Nation.

Fatoumata Jallow-Tambajang, the Gambian who was vying for the deputy chairperson's seat announced she had quit the race after the regional bloc -- Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) -- decided to back the Nigerian diplomat Adeoye. The resolution also meant that Ghana had to withdraw its candidate for the deputy chair, Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee. Sierra Leone, Burkina Faso and Cote d'Ivoire also withdrew their candidates for commissioners.

Mr Adeoye will replace Smail Chergui, although the initial docket included a separate post for Political Affairs, which was held by Ms Minata Cessouma Samate of Burkina Faso.

Kenyans Stephen Wainaina -- who wanted to be commissioner for Economic Development, Trade, Industry and Mining -- and Tim Murithi, a specialist in conflict management on the continent, had also initially expressed interest to run for the AU commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security. They did not get past interviews conducted by a panel headed by former Cameroonian Prime Minister Philemon Yang, Ethiopian diplomat Kongit Sinegiorgis, Namibian Prime Minister Tuliameni Kalamoh and Hassan Bubacar Jallow, the Gambian chief justice; and audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers Associates Ltd, a Mauritian firm.

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Initially crowded

But even in the changed system, the East African region did not appear to rally around single candidates, allowing the race to be initially crowded. In 2017, Sudan's Amira Mohammed Elfadil was the only commissioner successful in her contest from the East African region, even though Burundi, Djibouti and Uganda had fronted candidates for various departments.

Kenya had fronted Amina Mohamed (now Cabinet secretary) for the chairperson's seat while Djibouti had nominated Yacin Elmi Bouh (now ambassador to Kenya) as contender for deputy chairperson.

In the 2021 race, South Sudan, for example, had initially fronted six candidates, including some who competed for the same posts. They all failed at interview stage. Uganda, Ethiopia, Rwanda and Tanzania also had candidates. Other candidates from Sudan, Djibouti, Somalia and Burundi were dropped for not making the cut.
A teachers' trade union executive says that Leaving Cert students should return to school in Febuary.

The Teachers Union of Ireland says it believes the Leaving Certs should return after the mid-term break during the same week as secondary students in need of special education are due to go back.

"Our Executive Committee has expressed its strong position that subject to the advice of the public health authorities, Leaving Certificate students should also return to schools during the week beginning 22nd February.

"We will continue to engage on the sustainable re-opening of schools and all other related matters," said a statement.

The TUI made the committent in a statment in which it announced that it has decided that its members will facilitate the re-opening of special classes in Post-Primary schools from Monday, 22nd February.

The TUI acknowledged the vital importance of face-to-face provision for these students.

TUI President Martin Marjoram outlined the union's position.

"While emergency remote teaching and learning continues, the TUI has engaged intensively and positively with all education stakeholders to work towards the safe re-opening of schools for priority groups in line with public health advice and as early as is possible.

"In this regard, the Unions Executive Committee this evening, (Wednesday, January 10), decided that its members would facilitate the re-opening of special classes in Post-Primary schools from Monday, 22nd February given that a number of concerns expressed by the Union have been addressed.

"In taking this decision, the Union acknowledges the vital importance of face-to-face provision for this cohort of students and took note of the range of additional supports and measures that have been agreed to protect students and staff.

"These measures, which had been sought by TUI, include full contact tracing and fast-track testing, provision of high grade PPE for special education teachers and arrangements for staff in high risk health categories and pregnant teachers to continue to provide remote learning.

"Clearly, all risk mitigation measures and safeguards will need to be strictly adhered to at school level. At national level, all measures must be kept under ongoing review, not least to take account of the emerging new variants of COVID-19. The health and safety of students, staff and their families cannot be compromised.

"Communities must also work to protect schools and ongoing vigilance is required. In this context, any member of the school community - staff or student - who has symptoms of COVID-19 or is a close contact of a confirmed case must stay at home.

"Vital to maintaining the confidence of the school community will be further suppression of the virus in society," she said.
TICKERS: NRG; NRGOF

Source: Streetwise Reports (2/11/21)

The winter work Newrange Gold is doing at North Birch in Ontario and Pamlico in Nevada is summarized in a Noble Capital Markets report.



In a Feb. 9 research note, Noble Capital Markets analyst Mark Reichman reported that Newrange Gold Corp. (NRG:TSX.V; NRGOF:OTC) is advancing two projects, North Birch in Ontario and Pamlico in Nevada.

"With Newrange getting closer to understanding the potential source of gold mineralization for the Pamlico District and laying the groundwork for drilling at North Birch, we believe this year's exploration and drilling programs could accelerate the company's development and provide significant catalysts for the stock," Reichman commented.

He described the exploration work the Vancouver-based exploration firm has going at both properties and what it aims to achieve from the efforts.

At North Birch in Canada, Newrange is preparing for an induced polarization (IP) geophysical survey to commence in about 10 to 14 days. The primary survey target is an 8 kilometer (8 km), undrilled area that is part of a folded iron formation.

That area "extends 2 km along strike into the high-grade Argosy gold mine which closed in 1952," Reichman noted. "There are multiple showings in the rocks to the south of the main target horizon."

The objective of the survey is to help Newrange delineate areas of sulphide enrichment and thereby identify targets for diamond drilling to follow. The company still needs to receive the necessary drill permits but indicated drilling could begin as early as April.

Also, Reichman relayed, Newrange exercised its option to acquire the H Lake property, 3,830 acres adjacent to the western part of North Birch. Both properties cover part of the same folded iron formation as the Western Fold property. Together, North Birch, H Lake and Western Fold span 9,514 acres and encompass the entire folded iron formation.

As for its Nevada project, Pamlico, Newrange is conducting an IP geophysical survey there, too, to obtain clarification of two anomalies. One is 1,000 meters wide by 1,000-plus meters long, which the company suspects was caused by a sulfide-rich skarn system. The other anomaly is located about 3.8 km to the southeast of the first and is smaller.

"The survey will help management to better interpret the geological environment and improve targeting for an upcoming diamond drilling program," Reichman wrote.

Noble Capital has an Outperform rating and a US$0.20 per share target price on Newrange Gold, the stock of which is now trading at about US$0.10 per share.

[NLINSERT]

Disclosure:

1) Doresa Banning compiled this article for Streetwise Reports LLC and provides services to Streetwise Reports as an independent contractor. She or members of her household own securities of the following companies mentioned in the article: None. She or members of her household are paid by the following companies mentioned in this article: None.

2) The following companies mentioned in this article are billboard sponsors of Streetwise Reports: Newrange Gold. Click here for important disclosures about sponsor fees.

3) Comments and opinions expressed are those of the specific experts and not of Streetwise Reports or its officers. The information provided above is for informational purposes only and is not a recommendation to buy or sell any security.

4) The article does not constitute investment advice. Each reader is encouraged to consult with his or her individual financial professional and any action a reader takes as a result of information presented here is his or her own responsibility. By opening this page, each reader accepts and agrees to Streetwise Reports' terms of use and full legal disclaimer. This article is not a solicitation for investment. Streetwise Reports does not render general or specific investment advice and the information on Streetwise Reports should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Streetwise Reports does not endorse or recommend the business, products, services or securities of any company mentioned on Streetwise Reports.

5) From time to time, Streetwise Reports LLC and its directors, officers, employees or members of their families, as well as persons interviewed for articles and interviews on the site, may have a long or short position in securities mentioned. Directors, officers, employees or members of their immediate families are prohibited from making purchases and/or sales of those securities in the open market or otherwise from the time of the decision to publish an article until three business days after the publication of the article. The foregoing prohibition does not apply to articles that in substance only restate previously published company releases. As of the date of this article, officers and/or employees of Streetwise Reports LLC (including members of their household) own securities of Newrange Gold, a company mentioned in this article.

Disclosures for Noble Capital Markets, Newrange Gold Corp, Feb. 9, 2021

Company Specific Disclosures

The Company in this report is a participant in the Company Sponsored Research Program ("CSRP"); Noble receives compensation from the Company for such participation. No part of the CSRP compensation was, is, or will be directly or indirectly related to any specific recommendations or views expressed by the analyst in this research report.

The Company has attended Noble investor conference(s) in the last 12 months.

Noble intends to seek compensation for investment banking services and non-investment banking services (securities and non-securities related) within the next 3 months.

Noble is not a market maker in the Company.

ANALYST CREDENTIALS, PROFESSIONAL DESIGNATIONS, AND EXPERIENCE

Senior Equity Analyst focusing on Basic Materials & Mining. 20 years of experience in equity research. BA in Business Administration from Westminster College. MBA with a Finance concentration from the University of Missouri. MA in International Affairs from Washington University in St. Louis. Named WSJ 'Best on the Street' Analyst and Forbes/StarMine's "Best Brokerage Analyst." FINRA licenses 7, 24, 63, 87.

RESEARCH ANALYST CERTIFICATION

Independence Of View:

All views expressed in this report accurately reflect my personal views about the subject securities or issuers.

Receipt of Compensation:

No part of my compensation was, is, or will be directly or indirectly related to any specific recommendations or views expressed in the public appearance and/or research report.

Ownership and Material Conflicts of Interest:

Neither I nor anybody in my household has a financial interest in the securities of the subject company or any other company mentioned in this report.
Very quickly, Disney has become perhaps the dominant force in the video streaming world. Just about six months after the company announced it had over 100 million streaming video subscribers, Disney has revealed it has almost that many on Disney+ alone. In todays earnings report covering the last quarter of 2020, Disney announced that it now has 94.9 million Disney+ subscribers, 39.4 million Hulu subscribers and 12.1 million ESPN+ subscribers. Overall, Disney is up to 146 million streaming video subscribers all told, with Disney+ a force to be reckoned with.

Since Disney+ just launched in December of 2019, comparing year-over-year subscriber numbers isnt super helpful, but the fact that it picked up almost 100 million users in the span of a year is extremely impressive. However, the average monthly revenue per subscriber dropped significantly, from $5.56 a year ago to only $4.04  thats in large part to Disney+ Hotstar, the name of the service in India and Indonesia. In those countries, the monthly charge for Disney+ is significantly lower than elsewhere. We wager Disney is OK with that tradeoff, though.

While Disney+ is by far the companys biggest streaming service, Hulu and ESPN+ were highlights as well. The 12.1 million ESPN+ subscribers represents 83 percent year-over-year growth. And Hulu grew 30 percent year-over-year to 39.4 million subscribers, as well. Hulus live TV product represents only 4 million of those users, though  but thats still a 25 percent increase over a year ago. Even if live TV subscribers arent growing as fast as those for the on-demand service, its not exactly dead in the water yet.

Streaming video was a bright spot for Disney in a tough year in which it has taken a hit by closures of business like theme parks and cruises thanks to COVID-19. Theatrical movie offerings were similarly hard-hit, but at least the company has lots of loyal fans staying home binge-watching to help bump up those video subscriber numbers.

Rebekah Vardy got back to work on Thursday morning after attending a mediation hearing with Coleen Rooney via Zoom.

The wife of Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy appeared to be in high spirits after arriving at Nottingham's National Ice Centre ahead of another day of rehearsals for the latest series of Dancing On Ice.

It was her latest public appearance since reportedly failing to resolve an ongoing legal dispute with Coleen, who alleges she sold private stories about her to a national newspaper.

Here she comes: Rebekah Vardy got back to work on Thursday morning after attending a mediation hearing with Coleen Rooney via Zoom

Preparing for her latest rehearsal ahead of Sunday's live show, Rebekah, 38, was appropriately dressed in a casual sweater and tie-dye leggings.

On another chilly day the brunette added to her look with a thick quilted winter coat, while sunglasses and running shoes rounded things off.

Clearly in no mood to take unnecessary risks, Rebekah brought along a safety helmet ahead of her latest appearance on the ice with professional skating partner Andy Buchanan.

Upbeat: The WAG appeared to be in high spirits after arriving at Nottingham's National Ice Centre ahead of another day of rehearsals for the latest series of Dancing On Ice

Controversy: It was her latest public appearance since reportedly failing to resolve an ongoing legal dispute with Rooney, who alleges she sold private stories about her to a national newspaper

Relaxed: Preparing for her latest rehearsal ahead of Sunday's live show, Rebekah was appropriately dressed in a casual sweater and tie-dye leggings

It's understood that Coleen tried to reach out to the brunette after another round of failed talks to avoid a costly legal battle.

However the mother-of-four saw the mediation as a 'waste of time' as Rebekah continues to demand she apologise for accusing her of leaking stories to the press.

A source told The Sun: 'Nothing's changed. There's been no progress, no chink of light at the end of the tunnel  and no prospect of avoiding court. As far as Coleen's concerned mediation was a waste of time.

Finishing touches: On another chilly day the brunette added to her look with a thick quilted winter coat, while sunglasses and running shoes rounded things off

Precautionary measure: Clearly in no mood to take unnecessary risks, Rebekah brought along a safety helmet ahead of her latest appearance on the ice

'Coleen won't apologise. She's convinced she's right about Becky leaking stories to the press and thinks she's made a reasonable offer.

'She refuses to do another mediation meeting and is now preparing for court.'

Coleen is reportedly being pressed by her inner circle to apologise and say she regrets accusing Rebekah of leaking stories about her to the press.

She has already offered a make or break offer to 'agree to disagree' over the pair's row.

A source told MailOnline: 'Rebekah is digging her heels in and wants Coleen to say sorry.

'But Coleen has refused and she has been told by her best friends that if she does say sorry, it could lead to a resolution and bring the dispute to an end.

Staying safe: Rebekah wore a protective face covering as she made her way towards the ice rink on Thursday

Getting ready: The brunette will be back on the ice with professional skating partner Andy Buchanan on Sunday

'A judge has to be told after the weekend whether the peace talks they had in mediation meetings has worked.

'If they haven't  and Coleen has been told she holds the key  then the two women's lawyers will have a case management conference on March 26 which will be a big step towards it all going to the High Court.'

On Thursday, Rebekah and Coleen met in an intense face-to-face mediation on Zoom as they attempted to settle their high-profile dispute, but failed to come to a resolution.

Didn't happen: Rebekah has reportedly told Coleen and her legal team that she did not leak stories and her rival has no proof

Snubbed: It's understood that Coleen Rooney's attempts for a peace deal with Rebekah have been denied

Proceedings began with both sides reading out a statement and then breaking off into separate virtual rooms as the mediator spoke to them and their legal representatives independently.

However the meeting ended with both sides failing to come to a resolution.

If they remain in deadlock, then the matter will be settled at a full trial expected to take place later this year.

Rebekah launched a 1m High Court libel action after Coleen accused her in an October 2019 Instagram post of being the source of leaks to the media.

Deadline: It's thought that lawyers for both stars will report to the court with an update on the mediation talks on Monday (pictured in 2016)
Driven Racing Oil, which traces its roots to blown NASCAR engines, and Boostane, which was spawned from a college term paper, will pool engineering and marketing resources to help each other expand into additional territories like grassroots racing, diesel, and powersports.

Officials from both companies confirmed the collaborative partnership to PRI and also stressed that a merger or acquisition is not part of the agreement as the companies explore additional market possibilities.

We are still completely separate entities, said Ian Lehn, owner and founder of Boostane Octane Engineering, Bonita Springs, Florida. We will share some resources because were looking to utilize our expertise and develop projects together.

Driven was born near the turn of the 21st century when Joe Gibbs Racing suffered failures with the flat-tappet camshafts and lifters in its NASCAR engines. The team then developed its own break-in and race oils to solve the problem and named the product Driven Racing Oil. A couple of years later, Driven became available to other race teams, followed by national distribution. The company was then sold to Ron Coleman and Scooter Brothers, who headed up COMP Cams at the time. Driven shared some resources with COMP Performance Group (CPG) but was never folded into the company.

Driven recently hired certified tribologist Bill Alexander (CLS) (OMA), who brings a deep performance background, and the company is targeting new markets outside of high-end racing specialties.

We can now address opportunities in the market where product is not currently available. The beauty of our brand is that were a niche player, said Kyle Fickler, director of sales and business development at Driven.

The concept of Boostane was Lehns senior year exit thesis, with the premise of developing a fuel concentrate that not only would help his fathers offshore racing team but also be an affordable alternative to race gas. In 2014, the idea won the Launchpad competition at SEMA. One of the judges was Ron Coleman.

Weve always been for the guy that did not have the capability to buy real expensive race fuel, said Lehn. What I am hoping for, working with Ron and Scooter, is that we can bring some of that to Driven and use our collective resources to be more effective in grassroots racing.

Fickler said Drivens product line will expand by offering specific engine oils along with gear lubes and transmission fluids into more markets. Including a real meaningful and broad product line for powersports, he added. Not just side-by-sides but snowmobiles and personal watercraft. Much of the powersports stuff ends up in the micro and mini-sprint market. So, thats a logical choice, given our strong penetration into sprint cars.

I know our engineering team is working very closely with Drivens engineering team on developing a line of diesel products for fleet and commercial application, Lehn added. The way we look at it, between our two companies there is no part on an engine that we do not touch in one way or the other. So we want to make sure that there are products out there that show that type of collaboration.

For more information, visit www.drivenracingoil.com and www.boostane.com.

Reprinted with permission from the PRI News e-newsletter. For information about the Performance Racing Industry Tradeshow and/or Magazine, visit www.performanceracing.com.
An elderly British couple have been found dead at their home on the Algarve after the husband apparently fell when he discovered his wife was in difficulty.

The bodies of the 83-year-old man and 75-year-old woman were discovered in the villa after worried neighbours raised the alarm when the two Britons had not been seen for days.

Portuguese detectives do not believe a crime was involved, with no signs of a break-in at the property in Sao Bartolomeu de Messines.

The woman was found dead in her bed, with an autopsy set to 'confirm if she took any toxic substances or there are traces of a health issue'.

'The man was a sick person who had been bedridden for some time,' the source said. 'We suspect he noticed what happened to his wife, tried to get up and ended up falling on the floor where he died.'

An elderly British man and woman have been found dead at their home in the town of SAo Bartolomeu de Messines (pictured) in Portugal

The bodies were found in an Algarve villa in Bartolomeu de Messines

The police source added: 'We got a phone call from one of their friends, neighbours who were also British, who hadn't seen them for some days and were concerned.

'Officers went there on Wednesday night to check and found the bodies. 'The woman was in bed and the man was in another room on the floor.

'We don't believe at this stage there was a crime involved. There are no signs of a break-in and all their valuables inside the villa were untouched.'

The alarm was sounded around 9pm on Wednesday.

Firefighters are believed to have forced entry before police discovered the two bodies.

The source added: 'Cash found inside the villa is in safe keeping so it can be protected along with other valuables.

'They have been deposited with a court in Silves for their relatives to claim.
A 'healthy' woman who decided to go to the doctors after having 'terrifying nightmares' she was dying was shocked discover she had advanced breast cancer.

Carolann Bruce, now 51, says her dreams saved her life after they pushed her to get checked twice even after doctors told her they were '80 percent sure' she didn't have cancer.

The mum-of-two from Stockport, Lancashire, had been experiencing nightmares on a nightly basis starting in January 2011, which lasted for nearly a year and left her terrified to go to sleep.

'These dreams were just the scariest dreams you can ever imagine, I had a dark shadow man who would visit me on a daily basis.

'I'd think I was awake and he would take over my body. It was absolutely terrifying. I used to tell my mum I wanted to stay up all night because I was so scared,' she said.

Had she not gone to a doctor despite showing no symptoms, she said there was a very real possibility she would have been terminal within a year.

A 'healthy' woman who decided to go to the doctors after having 'terrifying nightmares' she was dying was shocked discover she had advanced breast cancer. Carolann Bruce, 51, says her dreams saved her life after they pushed her to get checked twice even after doctors told her they were '80 percent sure' she didn't have cancer.

She began to journal her dreams and on November 11, 2011 she dreamed a shadowy figure took her to a hospital where she was a patient who kept dying of cancer.

The following day she felt a lump on her breast, and headed to Marple Cottage Surgery in tears as she was certain she had cancer.

She was told she had to wait two weeks for a test, but Carolann said she 'couldn't wait any longer' and booked an appointment at a private hospital.

A consultant at the Alexandra Hospital in Cheadle conducted a mammogram which came back negative but Carolann said her dreams were so vivid she challenged her diagnosis and insisted on further tests.

The mum-of-two from Stockport, Lancashire, had been experiencing nightmares on a nightly basis starting in January 2011, which lasted for nearly a year and left her terrified to go to sleep. She is pictured now, healthy

She began to journal her dreams and on November 11, 2011 she dreamed a shadowy figure took her to a hospital where she was a patient who kept dying of cancer. She is pictured in hospital after losing her hair

The following day, on November 15, she returned and told doctors they were wrong despite assuring her they were '80 percent sure' she didnt have cancer.

However, a further scan and biopsy revealed she had Stage 2 breast cancer which needed immediate surgery.

Doctors said her malignant carcinoma had been doubling in size each day and performed a life-saving 10,000 mastectomy in early December to remove it.

Discussing the terrifying dreams, Carolann added: 'I didn't know if I was awake or asleep.

A consultant at the Alexandra Hospital in Cheadle conducted a mammogram which came back negative but Carolann said her dreams were so vivid she challenged her diagnosis and insisted on further tests. She is pictured in hospital

'I started keeping a journal to see if I could make some sense of it.

'One night I had the most terrifying nightmare yet, I was taken to a hospital I'd never been to before and I saw myself - I was a dying patient.

'I felt so helpless and I kept crying because I kept dying over and over again. When I woke up I put my hand on my breast and I felt a lump - and I knew I had cancer.

Carolann, who was born in Glasgow, Scotland, says she hasn't had a single nightmare since her surgery nearly a decade ago.

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world and affects more than two MILLION women a year Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world. Each year in the UK there are more than 55,000 new cases, and the disease claims the lives of 11,500 women. In the US, it strikes 266,000 each year and kills 40,000. But what causes it and how can it be treated? What is breast cancer? Breast cancer develops from a cancerous cell which develops in the lining of a duct or lobule in one of the breasts. When the breast cancer has spread into surrounding breast tissue it is called an 'invasive' breast cancer. Some people are diagnosed with 'carcinoma in situ', where no cancer cells have grown beyond the duct or lobule. Most cases develop in women over the age of 50 but younger women are sometimes affected. Breast cancer can develop in men though this is rare. Staging means how big the cancer is and whether it has spread. Stage 1 is the earliest stage and stage 4 means the cancer has spread to another part of the body. The cancerous cells are graded from low, which means a slow growth, to high, which is fast growing. High grade cancers are more likely to come back after they have first been treated. What causes breast cancer? A cancerous tumour starts from one abnormal cell. The exact reason why a cell becomes cancerous is unclear. It is thought that something damages or alters certain genes in the cell. This makes the cell abnormal and multiply 'out of control'. Although breast cancer can develop for no apparent reason, there are some risk factors that can increase the chance of developing breast cancer, such as genetics. What are the symptoms of breast cancer? The usual first symptom is a painless lump in the breast, although most breast lumps are not cancerous and are fluid filled cysts, which are benign. The first place that breast cancer usually spreads to is the lymph nodes in the armpit. If this occurs you will develop a swelling or lump in an armpit. How is breast cancer diagnosed? Initial assessment: A doctor examines the breasts and armpits. They may do tests such as a mammography, a special x-ray of the breast tissue which can indicate the possibility of tumours.

Biopsy: A biopsy is when a small sample of tissue is removed from a part of the body. The sample is then examined under the microscope to look for abnormal cells. The sample can confirm or rule out cancer. If you are confirmed to have breast cancer, further tests may be needed to assess if it has spread. For example, blood tests, an ultrasound scan of the liver or a chest x-ray. How is breast cancer treated? Treatment options which may be considered include surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and hormone treatment. Often a combination of two or more of these treatments are used. Surgery: Breast-conserving surgery or the removal of the affected breast depending on the size of the tumour.

Radiotherapy: A treatment which uses high energy beams of radiation focussed on cancerous tissue. This kills cancer cells, or stops cancer cells from multiplying. It is mainly used in addition to surgery.

Chemotherapy: A treatment of cancer by using anti-cancer drugs which kill cancer cells, or stop them from multiplying

Hormone treatments: Some types of breast cancer are affected by the 'female' hormone oestrogen, which can stimulate the cancer cells to divide and multiply. Treatments which reduce the level of these hormones, or prevent them from working, are commonly used in people with breast cancer. How successful is treatment? The outlook is best in those who are diagnosed when the cancer is still small, and has not spread. Surgical removal of a tumour in an early stage may then give a good chance of cure. The routine mammography offered to women between the ages of 50 and 70 mean more breast cancers are being diagnosed and treated at an early stage. For more information visit breastcancercare.org.uk, breastcancernow.org or www.cancerhelp.org.uk Advertisement

Carolann is pictured in hospital. If she had not gone to the doctor her cancer could have become terminal within a year

Pictured: Caroline's scar from her mastectomy. The former nurse was told her tumour had been doubling in size each week and the cancer was on the verge of turning into stage three.

'No one has been able to tell me why I had those dreams, people thought I was crazy.

'Even the doctors didn't think I had cancer, but I was sure of it. My dreams were too real and they saved my life.'

The former nurse was told her tumour had been doubling in size each week and the cancer was on the verge of turning into stage three.

In January 2012, she began the first of six rounds of chemotherapy which would last until the summer, which she says was the 'worst thing in the world'.

Thankfully, her tumour has not returned since - nor have her nightmares which she hasn't had since her surgery in late 2011. She is pictured now

Eight most common signs of breast cancer  A change in size or shape  A lump or area that feels thicker than the rest of the breast  A change in skin texture such as puckering or dimpling (like the skin of an orange)  A redness or rash on the skin and/or around the nipple  Your nipple has become pulled in or looks different, for example changed its position or shape  Liquid that comes from the nipple without squeezing  Pain in your breast or your armpit thats there all or almost all of the time  A swelling in your armpit or around your collarbone Advertisement

The grandmother-of-two said: 'They told me it was doubling in size each week, but I was just turning into stage three and maybe a year later I would have been terminal.

'Going through chemotherapy was worse than any nightmare I could have imagined.

'The only way I can describe it is they poison you and take you on the brink of death and then bring you back to life, only to bring you to the brink of death again.

'It's the worst thing in the world.

'I needed my son and partner to help me in the toilet. I was so unwell, it was so horrific.'

Doctors believe the cancer had been growing in her breast for roughly six to nine months before the surgery - around the time her nightmares began.

Thankfully, her tumour has not returned since - nor have her nightmares which she hasn't had since her surgery in late 2011.

She said: 'I look back on it now and I thank God I had the nightmares as they saved my life.

'Never had a dream after I was diagnosed, the dreams, the dark man, all vanished.'

Carolann gets tested every two years but has otherwise led a healthy and normal life supported by her husband Jarrod Plant, 51 and her two kids Ryan James, 29, and Jenna Browne, 36.

She had been writing journals throughout her ordeal which has now become a book, 'The Dream That Saved My Life'.
KANSAS CITY, Mo., Feb. 11, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Unlike most countries, American expats, which includes U.S. citizens and permanent residents, still need to file U.S. federal income taxes while living and earning income abroad. Tax filing is especially important for U.S. expats because they can be at risk of penalties, or in some cases, losing their passports if they are not compliant. To help expats meet their filing obligations, H&R Block (NYSE: HRB) today announced a new online do-it-yourself tax software for U.S. expats who want to file on their own.

Expats face tax complexities simply from living abroad. For people who want to take control of their taxes with a DIY solution, H&R Block can help them file accurate returns, said Jody Vanarsdale, general manager of H&R Block Expat Tax Services. Designed specifically to meet their unique needs, our online expat software gives U.S. expats the confidence they need to file their expat taxes while knowing theyre getting the best outcome.

Filing expat taxes with confidence

Avoiding double taxation is key for expats who may not realize if they earn foreign income they still need to file and pay U.S. taxes, in addition to their country of residence. Knowing how to claim tax breaks unique to American citizens living abroad, such as the Foreign Tax Credit and Foreign Earned Income Exclusion, requires tax and expat expertise. Adding to the complexity, U.S. expats also may have special reporting requirements and forms to report money in foreign accounts. H&R Block offers a DIY filing solution built specifically for expats to avoid double taxation and ensure an accurate tax return that meets filing requirements.

All Americans share a tax payment deadline of April 15, however, due to their filing requirements, U.S. expats who are not in the U.S. on April 15 have until June 15 to file.

DIY filing starts at $99 for simpler returns covering employment income, but more complex expat tax situations, such as self-employment income or investment income, like stock options or rental property, can use the product at an additional cost. Clients looking to catch up on prior year returns should continue to file with an expat tax advisor.

H&R Block Expat Tax Services gives U.S. expat clients the option to choose how they file . Whether they want to have an advisor prepare their taxes or take control of their taxes through DIY filing, H&R Block can provide the expertise expats need. To learn more about the expat DIY tax service or to get started filing taxes today, visit hrblock.com/expat .

About H&R Block

H&R Block, Inc. (NYSE: HRB) provides help and inspires confidence in its clients and communities everywhere through global tax preparation, financial products, and small business solutions. The company blends digital innovation with the human expertise and care of its associates and franchisees as it helps people get the best outcome at tax time, and better manage and access their money year-round. Through Block Advisors and Wave, the company helps small business owners thrive with disruptive products like Wave Money, a small business banking and bookkeeping solution, and the only business bank account to manage bookkeeping automatically. For more information, visit H&R Block News or follow @HRBlockNews on Twitter.

For further information

Investor Relations: Colby Brown | 816-854-4559 | colby.brown@hrblock.com

Media Relations: Angela Davied | 816-854-5798 | angela.davied@hrblock.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/003baa73-aef9-42d3-a8ed-91044b5e7e5e

A video accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f26c02b4-273e-4574-86cf-fdf8463a6f12
A Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) jet ranger on Thursday crashed in Entebbe, near Lido beach moments after takeoff.

Eye witnesses said there were two occupants in the helicopter who were rushed to hospital after the accident.

UPDF spokesperson, Brig Gen Flavia Byekwaso said the helicopter was being piloted by two cadet trainees on a mutual training flight.

"Today afternoon at about 2:15pm a jet ranger piloted by two cadet trainees on a mutual training flight came down immediately after takeoff near Lido beach. The two were rushed to hospital to ascertain their health. Our aviation team is on ground to investigate the mishap," UPDF spokesperson, Brig Gen Byekwaso tweeted.

The development comes just days after the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) said Sunday that it had launched investigations into circumstances under which its helicopter crashed in southern Somalia injuring four Uganda Peoples Defense Forces (UPDF) soldiers last week.

The AU mission said the four soldiers were rescued when a helicopter on a mission to support its troops in Lower Shabelle region crashed soon after take-off in Balidogle on February 5, 2021.

AMISOM said the helicopter whose registration details were not disclosed belonged to the AU mission's Aviation Unit from the Uganda People's Defense Force.

"All four soldiers aboard the helicopter were rescued and are in a stable medical condition," AMISOM said in a statement issued in Mogadishu.

"Investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the crash. However, preliminary reports indicate that it was due to a mechanical failure," the AU mission added.
A tsunami alert, caused by a 7.7 magnitude undersea earthquake near New Caledonia, has been canceled for New Zealand and Australia's Lord Howe Island.

The main tsunami waves have now passed all expected Lord Howe Island locations. Small unusual waves may continue, but Tsunami Warnings for Lord Howe Island have been cancelled. NSW State Emergency Service will advise the All Clear when safe to return to coastal areas.  Bureau of Meteorology, Australia (@BOM_au) February 10, 2021

The earthquake caused Norfolk Island to be struck by small tidal waves and briefly triggered underwater warnings for Lord Howe Island, 700km off the New South Wales coast.

Lord Howe Island

The earthquake took place off New Caledonia's coast, sending ripples through the Tasman Sea. The Joint Australian Tsunami Alert Center for Lord Howe Island released alerts immediately, advising people to keep clear of the beaches.

"There is the possibility of dangerous rips, waves and strong ocean currents for the marine environment of Lord Howe Island, and some localized overflow to the immediate foreshore beginning after 2:45 am (local time) Thursday and persisting for several hours," read the alert.

No evacuations were expected, and the warning was canceled shortly after 7 am, with all the major tsunami waves going over the island without significant effects. However, the bureau said that for some time, rough and irregular situations may remain.

The Bureau of Meteorology reported at about 2am that the tsunami affected Norfolk Island, with unusually rough waves striking beaches for several hours. These may not seem to have caused severe damage.

It did not strike the Australian mainland.

New Zealand

New Zealand, which had warned people to stay out of the sea, off the beaches, and away from ports, waterways, and estuaries in areas ranging from Ahipara to the Bay of Islands, the Great Barrier Island, and from Matata to Tolaga Bay, was also cleared.

The New Zealand National Emergency Response Agency said in a statement, "We expect New Zealand's coastal areas to experience strong and unusual currents and unpredictable shore surges."

Powerful currents and tides can hurt and drown people. Swimmers, surfers, small boats, and others in or around the water near the shore are at risk.

New Zealand authorities have also advised people of its northern coast to avoid beaches and coastal areas.

The European Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) recorded the epicenter of the earthquake at about 417km (258 miles) east of Tadine, New Caledonia, and 10km deep (6.2 miles).

The quake preceded at least three other tremors in the area, with magnitudes ranging from 5.7 to 6.1 in a period of just over an hour, the intensity of which was upgraded from an earlier magnitude of 7.2.

The U.S. Tsunami Warning System announced that a tsunami watch was in place for U.S. Samoa, noting tsunami potential in other areas, including Vanuatu, Fiji, and New Zealand.

For some coastal regions of Vanuatu, Fiji, and New Zealand, waves rising up to a height of 1 meter (3.3ft) above the usual tide level were likely, it said.

Related Article: Magnitude 6.4 Earthquake Shakes Croatia

What to do when there's a tsunami warning?

If there is a tsunami warning, it's best to do the following:

Protect yourself from an Earthquake. Drop, Cover, then Hold On .

. Get to high ground as far inland as possible. Protect yourself from the effects of a tsunami by moving from the shore to safe, high grounds outside tsunami hazard areas.

Be alert to signs of a tsunami, such as a sudden rise or draining of ocean waters.

Listen to emergency information and alerts.

Evacuate: DO NOT wait! Leave as soon as you see any natural signs of a tsunami or receive an official tsunami warning.

ALSO READ: Squashed Undersea Volcanoes Cause Rare Tsunami Earthquakes

For similar news, don't forget to follow Nature World News!

After more than a month stuck outside of the country, a teenager who lost a physical copy of her green card might have a chance to be reunited with her aunt in Massachusetts.

Daniela Fernandez, who was born in Colombia but lives with her aunt in Revere, said she was turned away at the U.S. embassy in Bogota in January after her attorney requested an appointment. After a MassLive story and contact with Sen. Elizabeth Warrens office, Fernandezs attorney says the 16-year-old girl now has an appointment to get the travel documents she needs to return home.

There was a reason that I reached out to you, and to you as a person of the press to help me get this story out there, and it was that I thought that if anybody knew that a story as compelling as this was going to get out there that they might be compelled to do something about it, said Joseph Molina Flynn, Fernandezs attorney.

Consular officials responded to Flynn with available appointments. Fernandez is expected at the U.S. Embassy in Bogota on Feb. 22.

If God is willing, I expect theyll let her leave Colombia to come here, said Lorena Fernandez, Danielas aunt who has taken care of her since 2016.

Daniela was allowed to remain in the country under her aunts care as a Special Immigrant Juvenile, a classification given to children who are abandoned or neglected by their biological parents. She obtained her green card in 2020.

She and her aunt visited Colombia in December for a funeral. They planned to be there five days. When Daniela and her aunt arrived at the international airport in Medellin, she said she presented her green card at the check-in desk. But between that and the next security checkpoint, the document was nowhere to be found.

Daniela has spent the last six weeks with relatives trying to keep up with her classes at the Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational High School Vote remotely. She speaks with her aunt nearly every day, awaiting news on when she can return.

Shes the only mom figure I have, Daniela told MassLive in a phone interview earlier this month. Just having her far away from me, it hurts a lot because I miss her a lot.

The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services allows lawful permanent residents, such as Daniela, travel without their green card if they go to a U.S. embassy and get a boarding foil. But several embassies around the world have suspended or limited their services for visa holders because of the coronavirus pandemic. These embassies are continuing to perform services for U.S. citizens who are out of the country.

Daniela was turned away at the U.S. embassy in Bogota in January after Flynn requested an appointment on her behalf. At the time, Daniela said she was told the appointment wasnt confirmed and they wouldnt see her.

A State Department spokesperson, who declined to give their name, confirmed embassies and consulates still had fewer interviews scheduled as they tried to avoid crowds and reduce the spread of COVID-19. Those steps meant they were processing fewer requests.

U.S. embassies and consulates are working to resume routine services on a location-by-location basis, in accordance with public health data and local conditions, following a suspension due to COVID-19, the spokesperson said. We will only resume all services worldwide when it is safe and appropriate to do so.

The State Department declined to discuss Danielas case and referred a MassLive reporter to Embassy Bogotas website for information about its operations. The embassys website said it resumed its American Citizen Services Unit, but remains unable to resume routine immigrant and nonimmigrant visa services at this time. The U.S. Embassy in Bogota did not respond to inquiries from MassLive.

Flynn contacted MassLive as well as congressional lawmakers. After inquiries from MassLive, congressional lawmakers started to get in touch with Flynn and Lorena.

I do believe of the combination and you asking of the different senators offices, at the same time that I was waiting for a response from them caused them to react initially and then ultimately to come back with what we hope is a solution, Flynn said.

Related Content:
analysis

Ten years after independence, South Sudan is faring poorly, beleaguered by political and socio-economic ills. The civil war's two main antagonists have an uneasy peace, but others fight on. The country needs a reset rooted in power sharing and devolution of authority from the centre.

What's new? In February 2020, South Sudan's two main belligerents began forming a unity government pursuant to a peace deal inked a year and a half earlier. But the pact is fragile, smaller conflicts are still ablaze and the threat of return to full-blown civil war remains.

Why does it matter? Forthcoming elections could test the peace deal severely. Looking further ahead, conflict will continue to plague South Sudan until its leaders forge a political system that distributes power more widely. The cost of cyclical fighting since 2013 has been steep: hundreds of thousands dead and millions uprooted from their homes.

What should be done? South Sudan's leaders should strengthen pre-election power sharing and broaden the peace deal to include other parties. They should not rush to polls, if conflict looms, and seek a political settlement decentralising governance and cementing national power sharing. Civil society and external partners should continually advocate for these steps.

Executive Summary

Feted at birth a decade ago, South Sudan is failing. It suffered a brutal civil war from 2013 to 2018, exposing a country whose foundations were weaker and divisions deeper than its well-wishers envisioned. The war has quietened thanks to a peace deal, signed in 2018 by the two main belligerents. But the path to stability is unclear. Not only could the pact collapse, but it does little to calm an insurgency in the nation's south or local violence elsewhere. Elections looming as soon as 2022 threaten to inflame tensions between its signatories. Moreover, South Sudan's winner-take-all political system ill suits a country that requires consensus among major blocs to avert cyclical power struggles. South Sudanese need to get through elections, which may well require some form of pre-election power-sharing pact. They also need a revised political settlement. While prospects of that for now appear slim, the country's reform-minded elites, civil society and external partners should still work toward fairer power sharing at the centre and greater devolution.

While the country's stark development needs were apparent at independence, South Sudanese and outsiders significantly downplayed its political woes, especially its ethnic cleavages. That proved a mistake. Just two years after the triumphal inauguration of the world's newest country in July 2011, South Sudan collapsed at the centre, as the rival camps loyal to President Salva Kiir and Vice President Riek Machar turned against each other in bloody combat that shattered the ruling party. The resultant fighting, which has mostly taken place along ethnic lines, has killed as many as 400,000 people. Since the 2018 peace deal, which moved forward in February 2020 when Kiir and Machar agreed to form a unity government, the ceasefire between the two main warring parties has held but the pact has accomplished little else.

With the country so broken, the first challenge is maintaining and expanding upon the ceasefire. The peace process requires endless maintenance by external actors, notably East African leaders, with their attentions consumed by efforts to prevent a slide back to war between the two chief factions. Meanwhile, groups that fought under Machar's banner could well split off and return to conflict. Communal violence in parts of the country is running up the death count, particularly in remote rural areas. An insurgency led by Thomas Cirillo, a veteran general in the South's previous struggle against Khartoum, has also taken root in the southern Equatoria region, including near the capital Juba, and risks spreading. Regional and other diplomacy aimed at bolstering the ceasefire between Kiir and Machar is critical, but those involved should do what they can to prevent splinter conflicts and broaden the peace process to include Cirillo.

The next hurdle is preventing renewed violence in the run-up to or aftermath of promised elections. The polls are expected to pit Kiir's coalition against Machar's in what some call a final showdown. That the peace deal culminates in such a winner-take-all contest is a potentially fatal flaw. Even if fighting does not erupt before the polls, as occurred in 2013 when Kiir's faction exchanged fire with Machar's, setting off the civil war, an all-or-nothing vote risks dissolving the agreement's political settlement by locking the losers out of power. Regional leaders and other external actors have to tread a fine line: pushing South Sudanese parties toward elections while showing flexibility when necessary to create space for them to reach consensus on key decisions. At the same time, they should keep a watchful eye on pre-election dynamics and encourage dialogue between Kiir and Machar. If the poll looks set to be fraught, particularly if, as appears likely, both men decide to run, regional leaders should push for a pre-election deal that guarantees a share of power to the loser.

Getting past the vote without a descent into further violence will be hard enough, but the bigger challenge lies in finding a settlement among South Sudanese that lays the groundwork for a sustainable peace. Regional leaders and diplomats are short of ideas as to how to steer South Sudan out of its pattern of peace deals that fall apart. They privately express little optimism or vision for South Sudan's future. Nor is such a vision to be found among South Sudan's major donors, which also once championed its cause and now foot the huge humanitarian bills, if not the ultimate costs, for its failings.

Solutions could be found in the reshaping of South Sudan's political architecture toward more consensual forms of governance. Constitutionally, the country is a majoritarian democracy. Yet in practice, peace in South Sudan requires consensus among elites and communities, which often mobilise as well-armed ethno-political blocs, notably within Kiir's Dinka people, the nation's largest, Machar's Nuer, the next largest, and Equatorians, a diffuse grouping of ethnicities in the nation's south. Even the concept of a centralised state in South Sudan butts against the reality of a country lacking basic institutions and infrastructure including roads. Maintaining stability is impossible without broad accommodation.

A more durable political settlement requires reducing the winner-take-all stakes. Options could include institutionalised power sharing at the centre or an elite bargain to rotate power among key ethno-political groups or regions. Some form of decentralisation is almost certainly necessary. Such remedies cannot cure all the country's ills, but they might provide its elites a sense of shared interest that has eluded them over decades of brutal conflict. Prospects for such reform for now appear slim, with powerful elites, including Kiir and Machar themselves, for the most part opposed. Still, until space opens for official dialogue on reform, South Sudanese civil forces should advance discussions in whatever venue they can, including outside the state arena. South Sudan's external partners should be ready to facilitate such dialogue, if asked. Long-term peace in South Sudan almost certainly requires the country's leaders to agree on a more equitable division of power and resources, no matter how long it takes them to do so.

Juba/Nairobi/Brussels, 10 February 2021

I. Introduction

Peer deep, then deeper, and the number of South Sudan's problems only appears to grow. Years of civil war have devastated the country, leaving up to 400,000 people dead and displacing four million- one in every three South Sudanese - either inside the country or across its borders. South Sudan requires massive food aid to prevent chronic famine. Its politicians have plundered oil revenue that many hoped would pay for a brighter future. The country lacks the most basic infrastructure. Despite a 2018 peace deal, including a ceasefire between the main belligerents that has largely held, violence blights large swathes of the country, with ruling elites never far from turning against each other and going back to war.

South Sudan is thus often absorbed in trying to keep its head above water. Its foreign partners, fatigued by conflict and aid bills, must apply recurrent pressure on parties to stop fighting or to stick to a peace deal. National elections loom as early as 2022, worrying officials and diplomats who wonder if the country will be ready, that is, if the unity government that brought President Salva Kiir and his arch-rival Riek Machar together in 2020 has not imploded by then due to disputes between them, including over the poll itself. Amid the constant efforts to halt violence, ward off starvation, keep the stuttering peace deal on track and push the country toward a vote, outside powers as well as many South Sudanese seem to have lost sight of any vision for longer-term stability in South Sudan.

A strategy for escaping the current quagmire must go beyond conflict mitigation to address South Sudan's failed political model, which concentrates authority in the centre and unleashes a king-of-the-hill power scramble. The winner-take-all governance system fuels constant tensions among elites, already sore from decades of bloody infighting, leaving the country vulnerable to relapse into war. Many community, rebel and religious leaders, government officials and women's groups across the country express not only deep frustration with the national leadership but also the belief that the solution lies in greater autonomy and representation for South Sudan's diverse communities and regions. They echo tenets of the liberation movement that preceded the country's 2011 secession from Sudan: decentralisation, enshrined in the first constitution, and the promise that South Sudanese would share the country as equals. Shared and devolved power might be a credible path out of crisis, albeit one strewn with obstacles - notably, elites who often conduct themselves more as war entrepreneurs than statesmen.

This report proposes strategies for addressing South Sudan's immediate problems and then takes a longer view, charting options for the country to escape its perennial cycles of conflict. Research involved dozens of interviews across South Sudan, in Horn of Africa capitals and in New York, Washington, Brussels and London, as well as by remote means.

II. Tortured History, Troubled Present

On 9 July 2011, thousands of South Sudanese thronged the capital of what would soon be Africa's 54th state to celebrate their independence and what many hoped would be the capstone of a five-decade struggle for liberation from successive repressive governments in Khartoum. South Sudanese had voted by a landslide in a referendum six months earlier to carve out a new state from Sudan following protracted talks between South Sudanese leaders and representatives of Omar al-Bashir's Khartoum administration.

Despite the joy on display at the independence celebrations, few thought the road ahead would be easy or smooth. South Sudan at its outset was a place of abject underdevelopment and hardship, with many of its citizens' daily lives marked by chronic hunger, rampant insurgent violence and security force brutality. The plight of women was especially dire, with maternal health and female education scores among the worst in the world. Years after independence, a South Sudanese girl was still more likely to die in childbirth than to finish school, according to the UN.

Perhaps even more pernicious than the development challenges were deep ethnic divisions lurking just beneath the triumphalism that accompanied the new nation's founding. South Sudanese had fought a destructive conflict for decades both against the Sudanese government in Khartoum and, more often than not, against each other. Salva Kiir and Riek Machar, today South Sudan's president and vice president, respectively, fought each other on rival sides, mobilising combatants from the Dinka (Kiir) and Nuer (Machar) ethnic groups, from 1991 until 2002. During this period, many other armed groups in South Sudan took part in the factional melee.

South Sudan's 437-page development blueprint - published a month after independence and described by the finance minister as "the first comprehensive plan for the Republic of South Sudan" was blunt about the prospects of overcoming ethnic and political divisions:

Still, at independence, most South Sudanese officials and outsiders seemed oblivious to the danger that the country's elites would hurt its chances with violent power struggles, despite their long history of infighting. The country's development plan envisaged that ethnic and political animosity might lead to local violence but did not foresee civil war or state collapse. A "worst-case scenario" imagined by the UN and U.S. considered the risk that a repressive one-party petrostate might emerge and fight border wars with neighbouring Sudan, but it shied away from predictions of implosion.

Donors thus devoted their efforts to strengthening the central government through capacity building and military reforms, believing that in time South Sudan would be resilient enough that the private sector would want to invest in the country more heavily. The UN Security Council explicitly tasked the UN Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) to deploy a peacekeeping operation focusing mostly on supporting the country's institutions. Major donors, led by the U.S., lined up to help, to the tune of billions of dollars. The UN, U.S. and UK especially underwrote efforts to help the government mould the country's many militias into a professional army.

But South Sudan plunged into civil war, nevertheless. The political waters appeared calm just after independence, perhaps because South Sudan's new ruling-party leaders were bound together by illicit self-enrichment from leaky state coffers. Soon enough, however, the scars of decades of internecine conflict reopened. The loose alliance that held the ruling party together began to unravel as the clique associated with Kiir's home area and Dinka kin tightened its grip on the levers of government and the party. As power became concentrated in fewer hands, this circle grew more prone to wielding repression and violence in order to keep it. Those targeted or squeezed out saw few options for redress other than taking up arms.

South Sudan's quick disintegration into political fratricide and ethnic violence thus did not come from nowhere. It was born of deeply poisoned internal politics that evolved over decades of struggle against Khartoum.

A. Decades of Cleavages

There was a time prior to South Sudan's independence when its elites appeared unified in purpose. In the 1950s, a distinct nationalism brought together various political factions in what is today South Sudan. They opposed the terms of Sudan's own independence in 1956, arguing that Britain's decision to attach the South's largely non-Muslim and Black African peoples to the majority-Muslim North would end in neglect by Khartoum.

But the South's own latent political divides soon opened up. Southern solidarity began to dissolve when Joseph Lagu, who had led the South's first insurgency (the so-called Anyanya) and signed a 1972 peace agreement granting the area autonomy, campaigned to subdivide the new entity into its three colonial-era provinces - Equatoria, Bahr el Ghazal and Upper Nile - after he lost the leadership position to Abel Alier, an ethnic Dinka, in assembly elections in 1980. Backed by politicians in his native Equatoria region, Lagu argued that the Dinka, the South's biggest ethnic group, unduly dominated Southern politics. He pushed for the South to be broken up to dilute what he considered the Dinka's excessive power.

Sudan's president, Jaafar Nimeiri, exploited these divisions. Siding with Lagu in 1983, he split the South into three regions, dissolving the autonomous government created by the 1972 deal. Amid Southern infighting, Nimeiri also declared that Islamic law would apply throughout Sudan. These moves led to widespread unrest and the creation of the Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), headed by John Garang, an ethnic Dinka, who led the South's second insurgency against Khartoum.

Even as Garang presented himself as representative of all Southerners against Khartoum's rule, the South remained internally divided. Many Equatorians viewed the SPLM as a Dinka force opposed to the newly formed Equatoria region. Together with other minority groups, they felt alienated by abuses committed by Dinka-dominated forces against them. The SPLM also broke up into multiple factions after Machar, then a top ethnic Nuer SPLM commander, challenged Garang's leadership in 1991, creating a split that led to years of ethnic wars, primarily involving Dinka and Nuer - a preview, in some ways, of South Sudan's civil war that began in 2013. Khartoum continued to exploit these divisions, supporting proxy and splinter forces against Garang's SPLM across the South, while Garang leveraged regional backing and Western support to amplify his own power internally.

Divisions persisted even after war ended. The 2005 peace deal between Sudan and the South, brokered by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) regional bloc, set the South on course for its independence referendum. But many Nuer and other minority anti-SPLM militias across the South remained outside the agreement. Some of them remained explicitly aligned with Khartoum.

B. Pre-independence Inclusion, Post-independence Exclusion

After Garang's sudden death in 2005, Kiir took over the SPLM and pursued a big tent strategy of political inclusion. He worked to bring Southern factions together primarily by handing out plum positions and cash in a massive petrodollar-fuelled arrangement. This approach worked to some degree. In 2006, he negotiated the Juba Declaration with the SPLM's main enemy in the South, the South Sudan Defence Forces, led by Paulino Matip, who then came to Juba as South Sudan's deputy commander-in-chief until his death years later. Current and former SPLM dissidents also joined Kiir in Juba, attracted by the oil riches in the treasury and the shared aim of secession from Sudan. Tens of thousands of fighters from a collection of disparate militias joined the ranks of the South's military, still known then by its rebel moniker, the Sudan People's Liberation Army (SPLA).

Kiir's accommodation strategy reached its apex in 2010, during the run-up to the South's independence vote. While several new insurgencies sprang up, led by disgruntled local leaders who would soon be armed by Khartoum, Kiir managed to contain the fallout by once again promising to broaden the tent. In October 2010, just months ahead of the independence vote, he hosted an "all parties" political conference in Juba with 23 parties, negotiating a ceasefire with insurgent forces by promising the opposition a broad-based interim government and an inclusive constitutional review process once independence was achieved.

After the January 2011 referendum, the interlude of South Sudanese unity dissipated almost immediately. Independence secured, the SPLM, still led by Kiir and Machar, moved quickly to monopolise power, dishonouring its October 2010 deal with other parties. Just days after the referendum vote, Kiir renewed military offensives against opposition forces, breaking the ceasefire. The ruling party then ignored the rest of its commitments in the 2010 pact, including the inclusive constitutional review and the broad-based interim government.

The SPLM elites then trained their sights upon one another as they jockeyed for the country's all-important presidency. Since many party insiders viewed Kiir as an interim leader following Garang's death, he came under frequent leadership challenges from senior party opponents who hoped to rule in his place. These opponents included Machar, then his deputy, and the party's secretary general, Pagan Amum. With tensions boiling over, Kiir postponed a March 2013 party conference, then sacked Machar as vice president that July and dismissed many other top cabinet and party officials.

The dispute split the party elite into three main factions, largely along the ethnic and geographical lines that later defined the contours of the civil war's early period. Kiir drew his core support largely from prominent Dinka from Bahr el Ghazal, while Machar commanded the loyalties of influential Nuer, with a separate, ethnically heterogenous challenge led by SPLM Secretary General Pagan Amum from the late Garang's faction of party elites, including some from Garang's Greater Bor Dinka community. Rather than agreeing on how South Sudanese could share power, the country's most powerful elite had instead entered a mad scramble for it.

The UN-protected "Protection of Civilians" (PoC) displaced camp outside Juba, South Sudan, where thousands of South Sudanese, predominantly ethnic Nuer, fled to for protection at the outbreak of the country's civil war in December 2013. June 2016. CRISISGROUP/Alan Boswell

The result was civil war. When SPLM delegates finally met to choose their leader in December 2013, after repeated delays, Machar and Kiir's other key rivals boycotted the session, accusing the president of rigging the process for the party's presidential nomination in his favour. Shots rang out on the evening of 15 December, as Dinka and Nuer elements of the elite presidential guard tasked with protecting both Kiir and Machar exchanged fire. Gunmen loyal to Kiir scoured Juba for ethnic Nuer, massacring civilians, while Nuer forces fled to the bush, later forming the SPLM/A-In Opposition under Machar.

C. A Shaky Peace

The war dragged on for years. After bitter fighting and failed talks, Machar returned to the capital in April 2016 under an initial peace deal, with over a thousand fighters in tow, but he fled again three months later after fresh clashes broke out between the rival forces in Juba. Government forces pursued him for weeks until he and his remaining guard of near-starving fighters crossed into the Democratic Republic of Congo, where the UN airlifted him to safety. Under pressure from the Obama administration, which at the time hoped to push Machar out of politics, regional countries arranged for him to be placed under de facto house arrest in South Africa, where he sought medical treatment. This arrangement, however, failed to stem the Machar-led insurgency against Kiir, which spread into Equatoria and western Bahr el Ghazal, areas where Kiir's forces had already launched devastating scorched-earth counter-insurgencies.

Peace talks did not resume until late 2017, when regional governments realised again that there was no clear path to ending the war except by bringing Machar back to the negotiating table. After months of futile attempts to recreate a unity government, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed handed the mediation over to Sudan's then-president, Omar al-Bashir, who worked with Kiir's ally, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, to push the two sides to compromise. The parties surprised many by quickly settling into a ceasefire after signing a September 2018 accord laying out the timeline for formation of a unity government.

Getting to the unity government, however, has been a slog. Kiir and Machar failed to unify their forces and form a unity government by May 2019 as promised, as the mediator Bashir fell to a popular uprising capped by a coup. The two South Sudan leaders missed another deadline to form the unity government in November 2019, before regional leaders, headed by the new Khartoum government, brokered Machar's entry into the power-sharing arrangement in February 2020. While the ceasefire has largely held, nearly all its provisions - including unification of forces into a single army, establishment of a new national assembly, creation of a transitional court of justice and economic reforms, to name but a few - remain unfulfilled.

D. Shattered Country, Shattered Plans

South Sudan's horrific civil war exposed how the young country still requires broad political consensus to hold together. At independence, South Sudan's presidential system lacked negotiated norms to ensure that those outside power had an incentive to believe in the new state rather than rebel against it. As SPLM ruling elites competed for oil funds, they also fell out with one another. The result was state collapse. The peace deals that followed have not overcome the problem of political exclusion, as Kiir has dominated the levers of government and oil revenues under power-sharing arrangements that have quickly eroded. Rather than the unitary state donors envisaged, the country now more closely resembles a Wild West contested by armed factions.

Donors, stunned by the scale and ferocity of the country's epic collapse and then fatigued by the years-long effort to keep South Sudanese alive while trying to end the war, now regularly admit that they have no clear plan for finding peace, despite the substantial sums still devoted to humanitarian aid. Disgust with the country's elite is especially palpable in Washington, where many considered themselves South Sudan's "midwife" due to their support for the SPLM. Donors eventually suspended the state-building project altogether and are unsure whether and how to restart it, given their deep aversion to assistance that strengthens the hand of the now-despised elite class. Regional neighbours that backed South Sudan's independence bid now primarily hope to prevent another collapse, but they have shown little interest in the peace deal since Machar returned to Juba and are now preoccupied with the crisis in Ethiopia, the lynchpin of the Horn.

South Sudanese across ethnic lines acknowledge that their country is troubled at its core. They describe deep and polarising ethnic divisions, both at the national and local levels, and a leadership class that has lost the people's trust. Ideally, South Sudan would start over, taking seriously the profound frailty revealed by its rapid political implosion, while also confronting head-on the scale of new and renewed challenges created by the war, including deepened divisions and widespread destruction. A new roadmap must start with bolstering and widening the current ceasefires, and preparing for elections, but it must also look much farther ahead if South Sudan is to find a path toward a more durable political settlement.

III. Fighting Fires

Given the obstacles to resolving South Sudan's core political problems, the government and its external partners are right to focus heavily on keeping the peace. Their immediate priorities are to maintain the ceasefire between the main belligerents Kiir and Machar and thus to prevent a return to wider war. To bolster the ceasefire, the authorities and civil actors, especially religious leaders, who frequently mediate peace at the grassroots, should also call for and develop local political settlements to calm down other hotspots and stop various conflicts from splintering into new disputes. Yet even if the ceasefire continues to hold, the Kiir-Machar relationship will be subject to centrifugal forces pulling the two of them apart. South Sudan will also likely see more raging local violence between ethnic groups and elite-backed militias. It could even face fresh rebellions.

A. Preventing Another Collapse

Keeping the peace between Kiir and Machar is the top short-term priority for the guarantors of South Sudan's peace deal, although it will be no easy task given their bitter rivalry. Machar is the junior partner in the unity government and wields little actual power in Juba. Kiir maintains a firm grip upon the security services, who overshadow Machar's appointees in local and state governments and can prise defectors out of the vice president's camp, sowing continual discord. With both men continuing to command their own separate forces, the journey back to war could be short.

Divisions within Machar's camp could also erupt into the open even before any wider falling-out between Kiir and Machar. The latter faces significant discontent with the peace deal among his own forces, since Kiir has yet to bring any of the vice president's fighters into the national army despite agreeing to do so by mid-2019. Parts of Machar's fractious coalition, which encompasses not just his own Nuer loyalists but many other aggrieved groups who fought the government during the civil war, could themselves take up arms again due to lost confidence in his ability to extract benefits for them in the unity government. In such a scenario, local conflicts could break out, and then snowball. These could spark splinter conflicts or culminate in the resumption of hostilities between Kiir and Machar as they blame each other for the renewed clashes.

Keeping the unity government together requires constant and concerted diplomatic pressure from the leaders of neighbouring countries, who have repeatedly stepped in at critical moments to push the two men to reluctant compromises. These leaders need to stay active in mediating to prevent the unity government from collapsing. But since many of them are now besieged by domestic problems, they may only rally to pressure Juba when they feel that the underlying Kiir-Machar truce is under dire threat. Other actors, including South Sudanese civil society actors, the UN and the African Union, will need to redouble their own efforts as well as prod regional heads of state to remain engaged.

B. Silencing the Other Guns

Keeping Kiir and Machar together, however, is no panacea for all the bloodletting in South Sudan's many regions. Despite the ceasefire, violent deaths continue to spike across the country, including in the president's strongholds, as other conflicts unfold. These require concerted efforts to achieve bespoke settlements.

The acrimonious dispute over Malakal, the capital of Upper Nile state and South Sudan's second-largest city before the war but today mostly a ghost town, is top among local conflicts that could derail the national peace process. The conflict over the city predates South Sudan's civil war and pits factions of Kiir's Dinka against the ethnic Shilluk, whose Agwelek militia led by the powerful and popular General Johnson Olony joined Machar's forces in 2015. The Agwelek proved some of the strongest forces in Machar's camp. But they operate with relative autonomy, making it clear that their primary interest lies in achieving control of Malakal. Olony's officials and communal leaders in Olony-controlled territory threaten renewed insurgency unless his forces are able to re-enter the city.

The battle for the governor's seat in Upper Nile state severely frayed ties between Machar and Olony, straining their alliance and possibly setting the stage for renewed fighting. Under the peace deal's terms, Machar had won the right to appoint Upper Nile's governor, seated in Malakal. He nominated Olony in June 2020, but Kiir refused to appoint him. For months, neither side budged, holding up the formation of state governments across the country. Machar finally ended the impasse in January 2021 by bypassing Olony and nominating the latter's former deputy. Kiir then quickly confirmed the appointment. Olony's spokesman rejected the move, however, with his loyalists claiming betrayal by Machar. The rift between Machar and Olony could lead to violence between supporters of both men, which would require diplomatic intervention from regional countries, particularly Sudan, to cool down. Those who could side with Olony include Nuer generals who have also fallen out with Machar and who denounce his agreeing to join the unity government when so much of the peace deal was not implemented.

Other local conflicts also require attention. Disputes over the north-western city of Wau sparked a brutal conflict in Western Bahr el Ghazal, a state in South Sudan's north west, after the first peace deal collapsed in 2016. Machar's home Unity state has also remained stuck in internal conflict, linked to wider power politics, since the 1990s. There, scorched-earth combat and systematic looting has displaced hundreds of thousands and eviscerated their livelihoods since 2014. In Jonglei, in the country's east, alarming and escalating intercommunal fighting erupted in 2020. Intra-Dinka fighting in Warrap and Lakes states has also reached fever pitch, with hundreds killed each year and local militias so well armed they can go toe to toe with the military. National and local officials, together with local civil society actors including religious leaders, will need to keep pushing to resolve all these conflicts, supported by the UN peacekeeping mission.

A rebellion in the southern state of Equatoria is yet another challenge. The region is home to the most active conflict and the clearest carryover from the civil war. Insurgents under the National Salvation Front banner led by Thomas Cirillo, a former SPLM general who rose to deputy army chief before defecting, operate throughout much of the central and western Equatorian countryside, demanding greater local rights and complaining of widespread abuses by government security forces they now deride as tribal militias. Cirillo signed a January 2020 ceasefire, called the Rome Declaration and separate from the Kiir-Machar deal, but heavy fighting began again in April, as large-scale government offensives met with guerrilla warfare. After talks reconvened in October, the parties recommitted to a short-term ceasefire as they deliberate over a ten-point declaration of principles to frame their discussions.

Ending the Equatoria conflict will also not be quick or easy. Given that Cirillo's chief aim is a heavily devolved federal structure, he is unlikely to accept a power-sharing post in the national government as sole prize for making peace. Nor is that blandishment likely to mollify his supporters. Mediators in Rome, belonging to Sant' Egidio, a lay Catholic community, should draw Cirillo into the national ceasefire process, as agreed in 2020, and push for credible talks to address core Equatorian grievances. Negotiations should aim to reach an agreement on strengthened constitutional review to negotiate the state's structure (explored further below) and a separate initiative to address longstanding Equatorian complaints, such as the abusive incursions of armed Dinka cattle herders from neighbouring states.

IV. Elections: Hurdle, Not Finish Line

Amid all the violence in South Sudan, its leaders and people must also prepare for elections, scheduled for 2022 or later. For now, there is little clarity about when the vote will take place. South Sudanese and external actors will need to manage a delicate and combustible pre-election period, taking care neither to rush the country into a vote, if elections look likely to trigger major conflict, nor to let the process stall indefinitely and thus create renewed flashpoints between the incumbent president and an embittered opposition. If election preparations do proceed, the country's external partners will need to work to mitigate tensions as they crop up and also ensure that violence in the Equatoria region - where a rebellion against the state is now in play - is brought to peaceful resolution so elections can take place there. They may also have to facilitate a pre-election dialogue between Kiir and Machar, to avoid their relapse into conflict in the likely event that they run against each other in the elections.

A. Risks Inherent in an Election

The first election-related dilemma relates to timing. Already, the calendar is shaping up to be contentious. Some South Sudanese advocate that the polls take place either three years from May 2019, when the peace deal's signatories were supposed to form a unity government, or three years from 2020, when the parties actually did so. Others, given the lag in filling many unity government positions, including formation of a new national legislature and state and local governments, suggest that the three-year countdown start only after the unity government is fully installed. Just getting an agreement on an election date could become a pretext for dangerous brinkmanship. For now, Kiir and Machar have yet to take a strong position as to when precisely the polls should occur, though some officials close to Kiir have voiced support for a longer timeline.

Diplomats in South Sudan will have to strike a balance between pushing for elections without jeopardising the country's stability. Ethnic tensions are sky-high after years of bloodletting, and given how tortuous political processes tend to be in South Sudan, it is likely that the run-up to elections will be littered with disagreements that will slow down preparations and require constant unsticking. Holding elections if logistics have not been adequately prepared, or if broader tensions linked to the elections themselves are still rife, could be risky. In those scenarios, a unilateral rush to polls by Kiir that does not give his opponents time to prepare would provoke them to cry foul: they would likely label the election a sham.

The difficulty of shepherding the parties to a mutually acceptable poll is not lost on South Sudan's external partners. Some diplomats say the unity government must hold elections earlier rather than later. They fear that failure to do so may tempt it to delay the polls indefinitely, illegitimately extend its term and deny people a chance to choose their leaders as promised in the peace accord. Conversely, others fear that if South Sudan is rushed into holding an election when politicians are still disputing the vote's management and preparation, more violence would result. "We really need those full three years", says a top Western diplomat. Other observers say even more time might be required. That said, indefinite delays could also provoke hostilities if the opposition perceives them as ploys allowing Kiir to cling to power.

South Sudan's partners should not fixate on deadlines at the expense of politics. In this regard, Crisis Group's advice mirrors that in late 2019 against pushing Kiir and Machar to form a government by a November deadline, given that Machar was not yet ready to return to Juba and renewed war loomed as a distinct possibility as a result. With a bit more time, the parties succeeded in forming a unity government in February 2020, following last-minute concessions by both Kiir and Machar. If rushing elections risks unleashing more instability, external partners should support a delay in the polls to mitigate those political tensions. African leaders, donors and South Sudan's other bilateral partners should avoid sanctifying a possible sham election, should Kiir appear to be staging one, for instance by rushing to hold polls without adequate preparation. Such a vote would only further anger opposition actors and reignite ethnic animosity across the country.

Even if the parties can reach consensus on timing, persistent diplomacy will be essential to help the country navigate a path to elections strewn with obstacles. Should either Kiir or Machar unexpectedly step aside, or be unable to run, new contenders could jostle to replace them, possibly violently, and upend national politics while imperilling any scheduled election. Machar's coalition could fracture further, again possibly violently, including if he feels politically checkmated and strikes a deal with Kiir to run again as his vice president, as some of his supporters fear. Then there is the south of the country, where Cirillo's rebellion rages. If elections cannot happen in southern areas due to insecurity, Equatorians may consider their voices stifled and feel more disillusioned. South Sudanese, regional leaders and other diplomatic partners of Juba should focus on bolstering political inclusion before the vote, by fulfilling the peace deal's terms and bringing in Cirillo's group, to further enable a secure environment for the vote to take place, including in Equatoria.

B. Averting the Loser-Loses-All Scenario

If Kiir and Machar do both contest elections, which is the most likely scenario, a post-electoral crisis could easily erupt. Both men tend to couch their political rivalry in zero-sum terms. Violence could occur out of frustration on the part of politicians and their followers who feel that the result has locked them out of state power and a share of its resources. In this scenario, aggrieved parties would perceive their rivals as having used the vote to impose a final victory in the war. Kiir's allies, in particular, make no secret of the fact that they view the elections as a means of crushing Machar. Machar, meanwhile, sees the polls as his last chance to defeat the long-dominant Dinka elite and thus hold together his coalition, which expects nothing less from him than utter triumph.

Incentives for post-election violence will be acute. South Sudan's highly centralised power structure and political economy raise the election's stakes, since there are limited consolation prizes, especially if Kiir continues to flout the constitution by refusing to devolve oil revenues and removing powerful governors by decree. South Sudanese elites have often used violence to negotiate their way into a greater share of power. Even in a much less polarised ethno-political environment, disputes about the 2010 elections produced several local rebellions. Political divisions are sharper and deadlier today.

If a Kiir-Machar election showdown does indeed take shape, regional leaders who serve as guarantors of the peace deal should try, by brokering pre-election dialogue, to extract assurances for losing parties so as to lower the stakes. One option would be to guarantee, in advance, another broad-based unity government. The parties could, for instance, designate slots in the future government, including vice presidential positions, that would go to losing parties according to vote share. Such pre-election guarantees are unusual and would likely require continued diplomacy from regional leaders to enforce. But they have at least one precedent in East Africa. Kiir is unlikely to welcome such guarantees, but they could be critical for preventing a return to conflict.

Other African leaders and major donors, including the U.S. and the European Union, should encourage IGAD and South Sudan's leaders to seriously engage in forging such a settlement. Such a deal would serve to bolster, rather than dissolve, the basic political settlement that undergirds the 2018 peace deal in South Sudan, which is that peace is possible only if the major groups feel included in the country's all-important political centre. The deal would, in some ways, preserve a troubling and unstable status quo. But the likely alternative is not transformational change, but a return to war.

V. The Long Term: Beyond Kiir and Machar

Barring unforeseen events, the elections will likely usher either Kiir, Machar or both back into power, hardly a reason for celebration given their records in office. Many South Sudanese are desperate for change, a sentiment widely shared in the outside world. Both men are unpopular even among their own constituencies. Most of Kiir's ethnic group, the Dinka, view his presidency as disastrous - and more and more of them are willing to say so publicly, including during the recently concluded National Dialogue Kiir himself inaugurated. Many Nuer are deeply critical of Machar, whom they perceive as narrowly self-interested. This sentiment has only grown as Machar has appointed family members and inexperienced sycophants to top positions in the unity government. Both men are likely to stay in power, however, as their supporters remain united against each other and as each works to keep alternative figures from his camp from emerging.

Even if both men, by some extraordinary turn of events, departed South Sudan's political scene, the country would still be bitterly divided, awash in guns, lacking state institutions and infrastructure, and in need of broad consensus to avoid rampant bloodshed. Any long-term strategy for remaking the country must address the fragility at the heart of its politics. Blaming the mess on Kiir and Machar alone, or on their generation, has, understandably, become common in diplomatic circles but can underplay the destructive tendencies in South Sudan's political system that helped drive the country to ruin. Kiir himself appears to acknowledge the controversy surrounding that system, and places himself at the centre of a tug of war between hardliners and advocates of inclusion. Speaking at the conclusion of his National Dialogue initiative in November, Kiir addressed his critics:

In reality, Kiir's argument is misleading: conflict arises in South Sudan when entire ethnic groups or regions feel excluded from power and oppressed by those who wield it. Moreover, Kiir's attempts at "inclusion" - ad hoc buyouts of elites rather than deeper reforms - fall short. Indeed, the system itself in South Sudan acts as a disincentive for elites to build inclusive coalitions. Ideally South Sudanese would rework the system, looking for whatever safeguards can be found to lessen the risk of exclusionary politics that is likely to lead to political violence. Even if the root and branch changes necessary seem a remote prospect for now, supporters of reform inside the country and their international allies should, in other words, tug unapologetically on the inclusion side of the rope whenever the opportunity arises, both to mitigate immediate conflicts and to prevent future recurrences.

A. Sharing the Centre

One way to reduce the pernicious effects of exclusionary politics is to build a system where power can be shared more equitably at the centre. South Sudan can look elsewhere for guidance, though each example it draws from comes with caveats.

A rotational presidency might hold some benefit. Nigeria, for example, rotates the presidency by informal convention between the country's northern and southern regions, in an attempt to keep all invested in the political order, though the system certainly does not resolve the country's myriad conflicts related to power, money and disputed elections or address popular anger at elites themselves. In Tanzania, elites have crafted a similar power-sharing arrangement that rotates the presidency between a Christian and a Muslim every ten years, though this arrangement has done little to prevent the country's turn toward authoritarianism. In light of its own extreme fragility, South Sudan could adopt a similar rotational policy. It might not solve all South Sudan's problems, but it could encourage multi-ethnic alliances or mean losers of elections feel they have a shot at the presidency next time around.

South Sudan could consider also formally slot prominent positions in the national government for electoral runners-up. This arrangement would ameliorate the winner-take-all nature of elections, thus both lessening the risks of conflict in the run-up to the vote and lowering the stakes of post-election bargaining by guaranteeing losers positions of influence with no need for them to take up arms or threaten to do so. The country's elites could agree to designate the first vice president position, now held by Machar, for the presidential runner-up, while allocating at least one other vice presidential position to the next most successful contestant. Such a measure would be in line with the basic inclusionary logic of the 2018 peace deal. It would risk further entrenching those who have been at the centre of the country's violent scrambles for power, but it might at least prevent more South Sudanese lives being lost.

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Other measures could include creating powerful committees shared among ruling and opposition parties to oversee critical government functions, such as finance and military affairs. Such reforms would not be foolproof, since committee positions alone would not necessarily give opposition politicians influence unless their ruling-party counterparts played ball and actually followed rules. Yet such guarantees would offer some protection and go some way to reducing risks of elections in which losers deploy violence or the threat thereof to negotiate their way into power afterward.

More ambitiously, some South Sudanese advocate for a collegial presidency, with a rotating chair elected by the members. The body could comprise one or two elected representatives from each of South Sudan's three greater regions, Bahr el Ghazal, Greater Upper Nile and Equatoria, which would ensure diversity without explicitly entrenching ethnic identity in the country's political model. Even so, some regions would need to take care not to exclude their own minority ethnic groups from the representatives' slots and thus fuel new waves of conflict.

South Sudanese could also entrench power sharing not just among parties, but also among regions and ethnic groups, at all levels of public life. Quotas by state or county or strong affirmative action programs could ensure diversity at all ranks in civilian and military public institutions, as grievance at real and perceived under-representation is a major driver of political discontent and unrest among certain communities.

Overall, the challenge lies less in coming up with options and more in persuading elites to adopt them. There might be ways to make changes more palatable: limiting them to a prescribed number of electoral cycles, for example, after which they either lapse or come up for renewal via popular referendum. Still, the country's leaders for now seem likely to resist reforms; Kiir hopes to retain and Machar to capture the all-powerful presidency. Moreover, even if there are changes to rules, they will make little immediate difference if South Sudan's leaders continue to flout the country's constitution and laws.

B. Decentralising the State

The other channel to reducing the all-or-nothing stakes of South Sudan's centralised power struggles is to push more authority and resources out of Juba and into regional, state and local administrations.

One only has to look at South Sudan's recent history to see the rationale for decentralisation. The national peace agreement has done little to address the local disputes that often drove militias to take up arms in the first place. Indeed, the centralised system has spurred more conflict since communal elites and armed actors believe they need to join a national coalition to uphold their cause in Juba. Unresolved local disputes then add to the national deadlock.

South Sudan's constitution provides for decentralisation of governance, although in practice little has occurred. Garang, the SPLM's iconic founder, long championed a decentralised system, which he called "taking the towns to the people", as a demand on behalf of disenfranchised regions inside then-Sudan. Upon achieving power, however, South Sudan's leaders nearly reproduced the oppressive system they had once sought to overthrow, rather than putting into practice the visions they had proclaimed during their long struggle against Khartoum.

Debates about decentralisation are back in fashion among South Sudanese thinkers and politicians, and at the grassroots, where the idea appears to be a unifying demand. Federalism is a key tenet of the 2018 peace deal, at least on paper, and a popular idea among many South Sudanese politicians. Machar embraced it early in the civil war to attract the support of minority groups to his cause. Cirillo has published a 100-page proposal for a new heavily decentralised federal system for South Sudan. Even Kiir, who originally criticised calls for federalism as attempts to divide the country, is now competing to don the devolution mantle. The president's National Dialogue found widespread support for decentralisation among the public and adopted federalism as a chief recommendation. South Sudan's cabinet now includes a minister of federal affairs, appointed by Machar, though thus far Kiir has allowed little power or resources to leave Juba's hands.

The idea is also not anathema in the region. South Sudan's neighbours in the Horn of Africa have long tried to find the right balance between a strong state and devolution of power. Ethiopia, Somalia and Sudan have wrestled with their basic state structure, either adopting various forms of decentralisation or pivoting to centralised rule. Many observers see Kenya's federal devolution model, adopted by referendum in 2010, as a better example of how structural reform can reduce the risks of political instability and large-scale violence, especially surrounding elections. Kenya's devolution, however, has also sparked debate about whether it will lead to neglect of minorities within the new entities.

Given its mixed record in other countries, decentralisation is not a full remedy for South Sudan's problems. Indeed, it has been counterproductive in South Sudan before. Kiir's wartime subdivision of South Sudan into 32 states from the original ten, for instance, increased rather than decreased central power by drastically shrinking the states in terms of geographic size, political authority and economic importance. As Crisis Group has warned elsewhere in the region, devolving power away from the centre can also push conflict and corruption to the local level, even if it lowers the temperature of national politics. Competition for local resources already drives local conflict in South Sudan and could spike if more resources were available in devolved units.

Still, if South Sudanese can agree on a system that drastically downsizes the winner-take-all nature of its political contests without accelerating the forces of state fragmentation, devolution could bring South Sudanese together by creating a clear settlement on shared governance. Devolved power would also give space for South Sudan's massive UN mission and other donors to redouble peacebuilding efforts on the ground, which are increasingly derailed by national deadlock.

C. From Here to There: An Unclear Road Ahead

A vision for how to nudge the young country forward is critical for South Sudan's future, even if the immediate path toward substantive reform looks blocked. A stable South Sudan is likely to be one that incorporates more permanent power sharing and greater decentralisation, no matter how convoluted or painful the journey to get there.

Few expect the country's current leadership to be the ones who begin righting the ship. Proposals for reforming the country's system of governance are plentiful, but they are overshadowed by the country's immediate problems and the chronic power struggles between its top political actors. The 2018 peace pact, while securing a valuable ceasefire, still plays out as a zero-sum tactical competition among opposing camps and is unlikely to produce the broad-based consensus that South Sudan requires. Rising calls for what South Sudan really needs - an all-inclusive process clearly designed to address the fatal flaws in its winner-take-all system - look untethered from this grim reality.

The challenge goes beyond Kiir and Machar. Many South Sudanese believe that inclusive talks are possible only if both men step aside. This scenario is unlikely to soon transpire, to say the least. But even if it did, through a convergence of pressure on both men from South Sudan's political class, foreign powers and Christian leaders, it would be unlikely to change as much as many hope. Both Kiir's coalition and Machar's would likely survive the leaders' departure from the political scene. Kiir's pan-Dinka base predates his own time in power, while a mostly united Nuer front drawing on Equatorian and other ethnic minorities for support would likely always form the most viable opposition to a Dinka-supported presidency. Similar power struggles may thus extend past either man's tenure, especially in the absence of laws or norms that prescribe a rotation of power at the top.

Pressing the reset button any time soon appears a tall order. South Sudanese leaders could, for example, convene a national conference that draws delegates from across the political spectrum as well as from the communal and civil leadership, including women and elders, in every part of the country. Conference delegates could chart a clearer path out of South Sudan's conflicts and zero-sum political game, agreeing on immediate steps forward and a wider dialogue that leads to more power sharing at the centre and locally as well as decentralisation. Such a conference remains a remote prospect, however, given the self-interest of South Sudan's top elites. Nor does the limping constitutional reform process embedded in the 2018 peace deal offer much hope. Certainly, those negotiations, dominated by Kiir and Machar, should be broadened to include Cirillo's party and others to reflect the country's diversity. Yet, even if that happens, constitutional changes absent deeper commitment from the country's top elite to enact them may make little immediate difference in the lives of most South Sudanese.

South Sudanese will thus need to look for opportunities to push gradually toward a more inclusive future. While continuing to pursue all available options for reform, South Sudanese and their outside partners will need to stay ready for any future window of opportunity for South Sudan to repair its broken political system. If South Sudan's peace deal were again to collapse, external mediators should also prioritise addressing these deeper structural questions in an effort to halt the cycle of conflict. To keep hopes alive in the meantime, South Sudanese civil forces inside and outside the country could organise robust political discussions on options for power sharing and decentralisation outside the state arena. The country's external partners should be prepared to step in to financially support or help facilitate such talks.

VI. Conclusion

South Sudan - the world's newest country - needs a reset, if not a redo. Its 2013 descent into civil war starkly illustrated its fragility. There is little consensus on how to move the country forward amid ethnic animosity, economic collapse and institutional anaemia. The scale of the challenges contrasts maddeningly with what seems politically possible to fix. South Sudanese will need to strive for wider peace now while also pushing to recreate the country they fought to achieve. These tasks are as urgent as they are daunting. Progress in shifting South Sudan toward more inclusion and less violence will likely be halting and non-linear. Yet only a persistent search for a political settlement among all South Sudanese can salvage the dreams of 2011 from the present wreckage.

Juba/Nairobi/Brussels, 10 February 2021

Appendix A: Map of Conflict Risks in South Sudan
TikToks ever-impending sale to an American company will remain in limbo a bit longer, President Bidens administration told the Wall Street Journal on Wednesday. A new group formed by Oracle and Walmart had been preparing to head up TikToks American operations, but the National Security Council is delaying these plans until it can better grasp Trumps crackdown on Chinese tech companies.

In 2020, Trump and TikTok engaged in a months-long squabble. More than 100 million Americans like and post viral lip-synching and dance videos on TikTok, but the video sharing app is owned by a Chinese company, ByteDance. Trump argued that TikTok posed a security concern to our country and provided the Chinese government with easy access to U.S. citizens data. His claim wasnt too far-fetched, but also was never proven.

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In August, Trump issued an executive order that read more like ultimatum, threatening to block TikTok unless an American company bought it within 45 days. The deadline came and went somewhat unnoticed. A lawsuit in December eventually blocked Trumps ban.

Still, American companies wanted in. As a team, Oracle and Walmart beat out Microsoft and scored a deal to purchase a 20 percent stake in TikTok. Even though the agreement, announced in the fall, was riddled with problems, it still received Trumps blessing. But not Bidens, yet. Perhaps notably, as the Wall Street Journal points out, Peter Harrell, a senior director of the National Security Council, tweeted in support of TikToks ban over the summer. And Trumps ban on Huawei has remained untouched, though Jake Sullivan, a Biden adviser on national security, was critical of Trumps desire to drive out Chinese tech companies.

I will note, broadly speaking, that we are comprehensively evaluating the risks to U.S. data including from TikTok and will address them in a decisive and effective fashion, Biden press secretary Jen Psaki said Wednesday morning. She didnt give a timeline for this review, though it may be forced to move quickly. Next week, a Trump-era executive order to ban U.S. transactions on WeChat and other Chinese owned apps is set to take effect. TikTok will not be affected by thisbut whether it goes through could foretell TikToks future.

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.
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DUBAI, United Arab Emirates  One of Saudi Arabias most prominent political activists was released from prison Wednesday, her family said, after serving nearly three years on charges that sparked an international uproar over the kingdoms human rights record.

Loujain al-Hathloul, who pushed to end a ban on women driving in Saudi Arabia, was arrested in 2018 and sentenced to almost six years in prison last December under a broad counterterrorism law. Held for 1001 days, with time in pre-trial detention and solitary confinement, she was accused of crimes such as agitating for change, using the internet to cause disorder and pursuing a foreign agenda  charges that rights groups describe as politically motivated.

Loujain is at home!!!!!! her sister Lina al-Hathloul declared on Twitter alongside a screenshot showing a flushed Loujain beaming on a family video call.

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................................................................

There was no immediate comment from Saudi authorities on her release.

Her release this year was widely expected as the judge suspended two years and 10 months of her sentence and gave her credit for time already served, putting her release date sometime in March.

The release Wednesday, earlier than anticipated, comes as Saudi Arabia faces new scrutiny from the United States, where President Joe Biden has vowed to reassess the U.S.-Saudi partnership and stand up for human rights and democratic principles.

I have some welcome news that the Saudi government has released a prominent human rights activist, Biden said in a speech at the Pentagon. She was a powerful activist for womens rights and releasing her was the right thing to do.

Biden had labeled Saudi Arabia a pariah on the campaign trial and promised to reverse former President Donald Trumps policy of giving the country a blank check to pursue a disastrous set of policies, including the targeting of female activists.

The harsh crackdown against women who had pressed for the right to drive before the kingdom lifted the ban in mid-2018 came to symbolize the dual strategy of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The young, ambitious prince has sought to portray himself as a liberalizing reformer while also silencing and detaining activists who long had pushed for change.

The United Nations welcomed al-Hathlouls release but U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said it is important that others who are in the same condition as her, who have been jailed for the same reasons as her, also be released and that charges be dropped against them.

Prince Mohammed cultivated close relations with the Trump administration, which members of Congress say largely shielded the kingdom from censure over its human rights record and instead sought to prioritize lucrative weapons deals.

The suppression of perceived critics and potential rivals has intensified under Prince Mohammed, increasingly attracting international ire since the killing of Saudi critic Jamal Khashoggi inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul at the hands of Saudi agents in late 2018.

Although released, al-Hathloul will remain free under strict conditions, her family has said, including a five-year travel ban and three years of probation.

Loujain is at home, but she is not free. The fight is not over, her sister Lina wrote on Twitter. I am not fully happy without the release of all political prisoners.

Many human rights activists applauded al-Hathlouls release from prison but urged caution amid the remaining restrictions on her freedom.

If she is not allowed to leave Saudi Arabia, or is forced to remain on probation, there is no reason to believe she will not be arrested again or forced to remain subject to her countrys draconian laws that prevent her from speaking out and demanding her basic rights, said Abdullah Alaoudh, Gulf research director at Democracy for the Arab World Now, the organization founded by Khashoggi.

The 31-year-old Saudi activist rocketed to prominence in Saudi Arabia for her criticism of the kingdoms guardianship system, which bars women from travel without a male relative, and her outspokenness on human rights issues. She was first detained in 2014 for 70 days when, in an act of defiance, she posted a video online of herself attempting to drive from the United Arab Emirates into the kingdom.

From behind bars al-Hathloul launched hunger strikes to protest her prison conditions and joined other female activists in testifying to judges that she was tortured and sexually assaulted by masked men during interrogations. The women reported that they were caned, electrocuted and waterboarded. Some said they were groped and threatened with rape. Saudi Arabia denies that any were mistreated.

Al-Hathlouls family said that an appeals court Tuesday rejected her claims of torture, citing a lack of evidence. While some activists and their families have been pressured into silence, al-Hathlouls siblings, who reside in the U.S. and Europe, have launched a high-profile campaign calling for her release.

Al-Hathlouls release follows that of two dual Saudi-U.S. citizens who had been detained since 2019: Badr al-Ibrahim, a writer and physician, and Salah al-Haidar, the son of a prominent womens rights activist.

Following intense pressure from Congress, they were both set free, the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee announced last Friday, calling it a positive, but long overdue step.

Al-Haidar, who has a family home in Vienna, Virginia, had faced up to 33 years in prison for alleged Twitter posts criticizing the Saudi government. The Freedom Initiative, a prisoners rights group, stressed that the release of the men was temporary, pending trial on what it described as unsubstantiated terrorism charges.

____

Associated Press writer Darlene Superville in Washington contributed to this report.
English French

BIC completed the sale of its Clichy (France) Headquarters





Clichy, France  11-FEB-2021, BIC announced today that it has signed with BNP Paribas Real Estate and CITALLIOS the sale of its Clichy-La-Garenne-based (France) Headquarters and BIC Technologies sites for an amount of 175 million euros, representing approximately a 169 million euros gross capital gain.

Launched at the end of December 2019, the tender won by BNP Paribas Real Estate and CITALLIOS related to the sale of the BIC Clichy sites, representing a land area of approximately 3.8 hectares. The agreement to sell was signed on 09-NOV-2020.

ABOUT BIC

BIC is a world leader in stationery, lighters, and shavers. For more than 75 years, the Company has honored the tradition of providing high-quality, affordable products to consumers everywhere. Through this unwavering dedication, BIC has become one of the most recognized brands and is a trademark registered worldwide. Today, BIC products are sold in more than 160 countries around the world and feature iconic brands such as Cello, Conte, BIC FlexTM, Lucky Stationery, Made For YOUTM, Soleil, Tipp-Ex, Wite-Out and more. In 2019, BIC Net Sales were 1,949.4 million euros. The Company is listed on "Euronext Paris," is part of the SBF120 and CAC Mid 60 indexes and is recognized for its commitment to sustainable development and education. It received an A- Leadership score from CDP. For more, visit www.bicworld.com or follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter, or YouTube.

CONTACTS

Sophie Palliez-Capian  V.P., Corporate Stakeholder Engagement Investor Relations Contact: Press Contacts Sophie Palliez-Capian + 33 6 87 89 33 51

sophie.palliez@bicworld.com







Michele Ventura +33 1 45 19 52 98

michele.ventura@bicworld.com Albane de La Tour dArtaise + 33 7 85 88 19 48 Albane.DeLaTourDArtaise@bicworld.com







Isabelle de Segonzac : + 33 6 89 87 61 39 isegonzac@image7.fr

AGENDA  ALL DATES TO BE CONFIRMED

Full Year 2020 Results 17 February 2021 Conference call and webcast First Quarter 2021 results



28 April 2021 Conference call and webcast 2021 AGM 19 Mai 2021

Attachment
Rhik94 Newbie



Join Date: May 2020 Location: Kolkata Posts: 18 Thanked: 70 Times

Which car for spirited highway drives and offbeat locations?



I have been a spectator in this forum since 2012. The plethora of experiences and reviews shared by owners and moderators on this forum has been vast to say the least. As a feather on my cap, I was finally approved as a member here in 2020. Guess the pandemic did bring in some cheer after all.



Fast forward to today, here I am looking for advice and suggestions from everyone regarding my next BIG purchase of my life.



I am on the lookout for a fun to drive car to satiate my weekend needs as well as impromptu road trips cross-country. Before I delve into my requirements, I would like to share my driving experiences, just so that members can get an idea as to where am I coming from with regard to my perspective.



Motorcycling Experiences:



1. Bajaj Pulsar 135LS : Used it for my college commutes (strictly). In fact I never took it beyond the vicinity of Kolkata ever. I owned the bike for 8 months since I easily outgrew the power on tap and had my eyes set on an Apache even before purchasing this. Owing to the fact that I am the first person in my immediate family ever to have ridden a motorcycle, my father had put his foot down that I am not to venture in the 150cc category. My parents are extremely paranoid with the idea of me riding a bike but they are extremely sweet and understanding at the same time. More on this as you read on.

Summary: Bajaj Pulsar 135LS- 8 months- 5xxx kms.



2. TVS Apache RTR 160 Dual Disc: This is the motorcycle that I ALWAYS wanted to start with. When the Pulsar could not satisfy me anymore, I pitched the idea that I'd like to upgrade. Having just received my internship offer and a fat joining bonus of sorts, I purchased my very first vehicle in this life. It was a surreal feeling to say the least. This was the motorcycle that fit my like a glove. I knew this is the ONE. So much so, that I did not even bother checking anything else. I loved the bike to bits and in 2 years raked up 23000 kms.

Summary: TVS Apache RTR 160DD- 2 years- 22xxx kms.





3. Honda CBR 250R: Proudly named her 'Kokai' which stood for Sea of Red in Japanese. The picture is self explanatory. This is the bike which had the RedBull effect on me. It literally gave me wings. I traversed the length and breadth of the country in this. Notable trips included the following:

* Kolkata- Bangalore- Solo

* Everywhere possibly in West Bengal and Odisha, barring the Himalayas

* Entire South India circuit (Madurai, Alleppy, Rameshwaram, Chennai etc) with my sister as a pillion.

* Bangalore- Ooty-Coorg- Munnar

* Kolkata to Mumbai and back.

I got a taste for touring on this motorcycle. Alas, good things seldom last long and I was forced to part ways with it since I left for my MBA to the US. Upon returning, I did try to buy back Kokai but in 2 years it had already changed 3 hands and I could not muster courage to see her.

Summary: Honda CBR 250R- 3.5 years- 48xxx kms.





Car Experiences:

1. 2005 Maruti Suzuki Alto LXi- I learnt driving in this trusty steed. Though was a passenger in this for about 80% of the time it was with the family. We as a family do not employ a driver since cars are extremely dear to my Dad and me hence we share driving duties even now.

Summary: Maruti Suzuki Alto LXi- 9 years- Do not remember the ODO count



2. Maruti Suzuki Zen Estilo VXi- This car was primarily purchased for my sister but I did most of the driving in this one. It was a neutral experience in this car and I did not like it much. The tall-boy design ruined the classic zen and the body roll was pitiful.

Summary: Maruti Suzuki Zen Estilo VXi- 3 years- 18000 kms



3. 2011 VW Polo Comfortline 1.2L MPI Petrol- I LOVED this car to bits. Yes, it had a lousy engine, yes it clattered like a diesel but I did not care. Remember how I mentioned the Apache fitting like a glove? This was the equivalent of that. I was so comfortable with pushing this car. I thoroughly enjoyed every drive in this car. This car would gulp state highways where there was need for agility rather than outright performance. This love too shall end since the rear seat was cramped and the height was too low for my parents. Before leaving for my MBA we exchanged the Polo for a 1.2L Petrol Baleno Alpha Manual since I did not want Dad to go through the hassle of dealing with VW ASS. The Baleno was chosen purely for the space on offer and the friendly Maruti ASS. Since Dad would only use it in the city we were okay with the flimsy build quality. This too was a sad parting since I loved the Polo a lot. Even had the factory spec sports kit to it at an embarrassingly high price. It looked HOT with the sports kit and scraping would be limited to the skirts rather than the actual body of the car.

Summary: VW Polo 1.2P MPI- 7 years- 53000 kms





4. Maruti Suzuki Baleno 1.2 Petrol Alpha- We are still using this car. In fact I dared to even drive to Amritsar and back in this car just 2 months back. Feature wise the car was a HUGE step up from the Polo but the build quality made us squirm a little. Its becoming a rattle fest and I keep tinkering with panels to quieten them. I like the 1.2 litre engine. It is fun to drive and has a throaty roar between 2000 and 3000 rpm when cold. This engine is clearly tuned keeping fuel efficiency in mind. Beyond a 120 the engine feels lethargic and beyond 100 the car feels feather weight. Hence highway runs aren't very confidence inspiring, though make no mistake, this will get the job done. It tends to get bouncy on the highway. I understand that 15 inch wheels would be more comfortable but I do not mind the 16 inch ones since they look nice (Not in the original Baleno alloy but in general).As of now we are happy with the Baleno and Dad will continue driving this within Kolkata.

Summary: Maruti Suzuki Baleno Alpha Petrol- 2.5 years and running- 15xxx kms







5. 2020 Maruti Suzuki Alto 800 LXi- This car was bought by my sister in January while she was staying in Punjab. During the lockdown I drove it down alone from Amritsar to Kolkata and it was quite an adventure. I shall pen down that experience in a separate post.

Summary: Maruti Suzuki Alto 800 LXi- 1 year and running- 7xxx kms







Apart from this have driven numerous cars in India, USA and Canada. This includes doing a 37 state US road trip in a VW Tiguan, driving Baltimore-Toronto-Baltimore in a Camaro SS, trip to Michigan Upper Peninsula in a Dodge Charger SRT8, separate trips in a Challenger, Mustang 5.0, Mustang EcoBoost, moving houses in a FordF150 and others.

Dodge Challenger





If you are still reading, well, THANK YOU VERY MUCH!



Now I am on the lookout for a car. I will be relocating to Bangalore soon and I am looking for a car for myself. I am utterly confused to say the least. I will try to be as articulate as possible. Please bear with the mind of someone who wants everything wrapped in one package.



Requirements:

- Under 10 lakhs On Road- Kolkata

- A car for weekend drives and cross country road trips.

- I have a lead foot and enjoy being ahead of the pack though not at the cost of being rash. Simply put, I don't want a struggling drivetrain out on the highways

- Capability to cruise comfortably between 90-110 kmph with easy overtaking grunt beyond this when required

- Space isn't a high priority



Good to Have:

- Cruise Control

- Projector Headlamps (HID/LED)

- Reverse Camera

- Fog Lamps



Must Have:

- At least 2 Airbags and stable body shell

- Android Auto/Apple Car Play

- Rear Washer + Defogger

- Manual Transmission

- Music System with at least 4 speakers



I am not too interested in unnecessary features but would like a reliable vehicle which will not become a rattle house within 2 years.



It would be of great help if you could please point me to the right direction with your valuable insights!!! Hi Everyone!!I have been a spectator in this forum since 2012. The plethora of experiences and reviews shared by owners and moderators on this forum has been vast to say the least. As a feather on my cap, I was finally approved as a member here in 2020. Guess the pandemic did bring in some cheer after all.Fast forward to today, here I am looking for advice and suggestions from everyone regarding my next BIG purchase of my life.I am on the lookout for a fun to drive car to satiate my weekend needs as well as impromptu road trips cross-country. Before I delve into my requirements, I would like to share my driving experiences, just so that members can get an idea as to where am I coming from with regard to my perspective.Motorcycling Experiences:1. Bajaj Pulsar 135LS : Used it for my college commutes (strictly). In fact I never took it beyond the vicinity of Kolkata ever. I owned the bike for 8 months since I easily outgrew the power on tap and had my eyes set on an Apache even before purchasing this. Owing to the fact that I am the first person in my immediate family ever to have ridden a motorcycle, my father had put his foot down that I am not to venture in the 150cc category. My parents are extremely paranoid with the idea of me riding a bike but they are extremely sweet and understanding at the same time. More on this as you read on.2. TVS Apache RTR 160 Dual Disc: This is the motorcycle that I ALWAYS wanted to start with. When the Pulsar could not satisfy me anymore, I pitched the idea that I'd like to upgrade. Having just received my internship offer and a fat joining bonus of sorts, I purchased my very first vehicle in this life. It was a surreal feeling to say the least. This was the motorcycle that fit my like a glove. I knew this is the ONE. So much so, that I did not even bother checking anything else. I loved the bike to bits and in 2 years raked up 23000 kms.3. Honda CBR 250R: Proudly named her 'Kokai' which stood for Sea of Red in Japanese. The picture is self explanatory. This is the bike which had the RedBull effect on me. It literally gave me wings. I traversed the length and breadth of the country in this. Notable trips included the following:* Kolkata- Bangalore- Solo* Everywhere possibly in West Bengal and Odisha, barring the Himalayas* Entire South India circuit (Madurai, Alleppy, Rameshwaram, Chennai etc) with my sister as a pillion.* Bangalore- Ooty-Coorg- Munnar* Kolkata to Mumbai and back.I got a taste for touring on this motorcycle. Alas, good things seldom last long and I was forced to part ways with it since I left for my MBA to the US. Upon returning, I did try to buy back Kokai but in 2 years it had already changed 3 hands and I could not muster courage to see her.Car Experiences:1. 2005 Maruti Suzuki Alto LXi- I learnt driving in this trusty steed. Though was a passenger in this for about 80% of the time it was with the family. We as a family do not employ a driver since cars are extremely dear to my Dad and me hence we share driving duties even now.2. Maruti Suzuki Zen Estilo VXi- This car was primarily purchased for my sister but I did most of the driving in this one. It was a neutral experience in this car and I did not like it much. The tall-boy design ruined the classic zen and the body roll was pitiful.3. 2011 VW Polo Comfortline 1.2L MPI Petrol- I LOVED this car to bits. Yes, it had a lousy engine, yes it clattered like a diesel but I did not care. Remember how I mentioned the Apache fitting like a glove? This was the equivalent of that. I was so comfortable with pushing this car. I thoroughly enjoyed every drive in this car. This car would gulp state highways where there was need for agility rather than outright performance. This love too shall end since the rear seat was cramped and the height was too low for my parents. Before leaving for my MBA we exchanged the Polo for a 1.2L Petrol Baleno Alpha Manual since I did not want Dad to go through the hassle of dealing with VW ASS. The Baleno was chosen purely for the space on offer and the friendly Maruti ASS. Since Dad would only use it in the city we were okay with the flimsy build quality. This too was a sad parting since I loved the Polo a lot. Even had the factory spec sports kit to it at an embarrassingly high price. It looked HOT with the sports kit and scraping would be limited to the skirts rather than the actual body of the car.4. Maruti Suzuki Baleno 1.2 Petrol Alpha- We are still using this car. In fact I dared to even drive to Amritsar and back in this car just 2 months back. Feature wise the car was a HUGE step up from the Polo but the build quality made us squirm a little. Its becoming a rattle fest and I keep tinkering with panels to quieten them. I like the 1.2 litre engine. It is fun to drive and has a throaty roar between 2000 and 3000 rpm when cold. This engine is clearly tuned keeping fuel efficiency in mind. Beyond a 120 the engine feels lethargic and beyond 100 the car feels feather weight. Hence highway runs aren't very confidence inspiring, though make no mistake, this will get the job done. It tends to get bouncy on the highway. I understand that 15 inch wheels would be more comfortable but I do not mind the 16 inch ones since they look nice (Not in the original Baleno alloy but in general).As of now we are happy with the Baleno and Dad will continue driving this within Kolkata.5. 2020 Maruti Suzuki Alto 800 LXi- This car was bought by my sister in January while she was staying in Punjab. During the lockdown I drove it down alone from Amritsar to Kolkata and it was quite an adventure. I shall pen down that experience in a separate post.Apart from this have driven numerous cars in India, USA and Canada. This includes doing a 37 state US road trip in a VW Tiguan, driving Baltimore-Toronto-Baltimore in a Camaro SS, trip to Michigan Upper Peninsula in a Dodge Charger SRT8, separate trips in a Challenger, Mustang 5.0, Mustang EcoBoost, moving houses in a FordF150 and others.Dodge ChallengerIf you are still reading, well, THANK YOU VERY MUCH!Now I am on the lookout for a car. I will be relocating to Bangalore soon and I am looking for a car for myself. I am utterly confused to say the least. I will try to be as articulate as possible. Please bear with the mind of someone who wants everything wrapped in one package.Requirements:- Under 10 lakhs On Road- Kolkata- A car for weekend drives and cross country road trips.- I have a lead foot and enjoy being ahead of the pack though not at the cost of being rash. Simply put, I don't want a struggling drivetrain out on the highways- Capability to cruise comfortably between 90-110 kmph with easy overtaking grunt beyond this when required- Space isn't a high priorityGood to Have:- Cruise Control- Projector Headlamps (HID/LED)- Reverse Camera- Fog LampsMust Have:- At least 2 Airbags and stable body shell- Android Auto/Apple Car Play- Rear Washer + Defogger- Manual Transmission- Music System with at least 4 speakersI am not too interested in unnecessary features but would like a reliable vehicle which will not become a rattle house within 2 years.It would be of great help if you could please point me to the right direction with your valuable insights!!!
Insurrectionists who stormed the U.S. Capitol sought to kill House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and feverishly searched hallways and her office in hopes of finding the San Francisco Democrat, according to evidence outlined Wednesday during the impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump.

We know from the rioters themselves that if they had found Speaker Pelosi, they would have killed her, said House Delegate Stacey Plaskett, D-Virgin Islands, one of the House managers prosecuting the case against Trump.

The Capitol police deemed the threat so dangerous that they evacuated (Pelosi) entirely from the Capitol complex, rushing her to a secure off-site location as pro-Trump rioters breached the building on Jan. 6, Plaskett said.

Plaskett said court documents in criminal cases that have been brought against alleged rioters and social media posts make clear that their intent was to kill Pelosi and then-Vice President Mike Pence, who had rejected Trumps assertions that he could single-handedly overturn Electoral College votes giving Joe Biden the presidency. Plaskett pointed to a post from one rioter who wrote, Crazy Nancy probably would have been torn into little pieces, but she was nowhere to be seen.

She also cited an affidavit from an FBI agent stating that a group of insurrectionists said that anyone they got their hands on they would have killed, including Nancy Pelosi.

During the second day of Trumps trial in the Senate, House Democrats presented previously unseen surveillance footage showing how the mob roamed the hallway outside Pelosis Capitol office and kicked in the door, looking for the speaker. Although she had been evacuated, her staff was in another room in the office, hiding from the mob.

Eight staff members had barricaded the two doors leading to an inner conference room and crouched underneath the table. One rioter broke down the first door but moved on when he encountered the second door.

We need Capitol police in the hallway, a staffer whispered in a phone call. Theyre pounding on doors trying to find her.

The staffers remained in the room for hours, hiding in fear for their lives, Plaskett said, while rioters rummaged through their offices, shattered a mirror and kicked in doors.

One of the rioters, a man who rested his feet on a desk in Pelosis office, carried a stun gun on his belt, Plaskett said. The rioter left a note stating, We will not back down.

Authorities say the man was Richard Barnett, 60, of Arkansas. He has pleaded not guilty to federal charges including entering and remaining in a restricted building with a dangerous weapon, theft of government property and disorderly conduct.

As the mob spread through the Capitol, rioters shouted, Where are you, Nancy? Were looking for you. Nancy, oh, Nancy, according to a video shown by the impeachment managers.

Again, that is a mob that was sent by the president of the United States to stop the certification of an election, Plaskett said. President Trump put a target on their backs, and his mob broke into the Capitol to hunt them down.

Chronicle Washington correspondent Tal Kopan contributed to this report.

Dustin Gardiner is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: dustin.gardiner@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @dustingardiner
That was a blessing, because we had very long hours before the pandemic, said Lemons. Lems was open until 2 a.m. on weekdays, and 3 a.m. on weekends, but now until 10 p.m. and 11 p.m. respectively. Were going to keep these hours, because it was tiring and it was wearing us out. And we found out that we can make almost the same amount of money.
A driver has died in a crash involving three trucks near the Victoria-South Australian border, where COVID-19 travel restrictions were reimposed overnight.

Victoria Police investigators have been told a truck crashed into the rear of another stationary truck at 2.20am on Thursday morning, two hours after South Australian authorities slammed the states border with Victoria shut in response to a growing COVID outbreak in Melbourne.

A witness photo of the fiery crash that killed a truck driver at the Victoria-South Australia border overnight. Credit:3AW

South Australian Police Commissioner Grant Stevens confirmed the accident occurred during a traffic jam at the border.

My understanding is the trucks were heading to South Australia and one vehicle has gone into the rear of another vehicle and forced it into another truck and those two trucks were already in a line waiting to enter South Australia, he told ABC Radio Adelaide.
Before the pandemic, levels of food insecurity were already at an all-time high, with 4.4 million Canadians having difficulty being able to afford food 2 . This means that more than 11% of Canadian families had been without physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food 3 .

For the fifth consecutive year of the 'Fight Hunger. Spark Change.' campaign, Walmart wants to remind Canadians how much they have already helped in the fight against food insecurity. Since the inception of the campaign in 2017, Walmart Canada, its suppliers and its customers have provided 50 million meals for people in Canada, from coast-to-coast. This year, Walmart is matching customer donations, up to a maximum of $820,000.

"The pandemic is continuing to have an enormous impact on all Canadians, including our most vulnerable. At Walmart Canada, it's our responsibility to give back and help raise funds to provide millions of meals for those in need," said Horacio Barbeito, president and CEO of Walmart Canada. "We are very grateful to our loyal Walmart customers and suppliers. Together, we're all helping those less fortunate in our communities across the country."

How the Fight Hunger. Spark Change. Campaign gives back

Walmart has committed up to a $1 million donation to Food Banks Canada through the campaign. This commitment includes:

A corporate match of in-store customer donations, up to a maximum of $820,000

$100,000 to Food Banks Canada's retail food program, which allows food banks to pick up donations from any retail location

to Food Banks Canada's retail food program, which allows food banks to pick up donations from any retail location $80,000 to support Food Banks Canada's National Food Sharing System, which helps to acquire and share approximately 27 million pounds of food annually.

Walmart is inviting customers to join in the fight against hunger. For every purchase (in-store and online at walmart.ca) of select products, a donation will be made to Food Banks Canada, up to a maximum of $1.2 million. Partners include: Mars Canada, KraftHeinz, Kellogg's, Conagra, Maple Leaf, General Mills, Dare, Pepsi, Mondelez, Ferrero, Coca Cola, Unilever, Grupo Bimbo.

Canadians can also contribute by donating non-perishable food items in-store at their local Walmart or by adding a cash donation to online grocery orders.

"We are grateful to Walmart Canada, who has been an integral partner in our fight against food insecurity for over 20 years. The pandemic has been a particularly hard for food banks and Canadian families dealing with hunger," said Chris Hatch, Chief Executive Officer of Food Banks Canada. "Federal funding initiatives, along with tremendous support from businesses,

foundations, individuals, and local communities, have enabled local food banks to survive throughout this period. Walmart Canada remains a long-standing partner in helping us achieve our mission of a Canada where no one goes hungry."

Walmart Canada fights food insecurity directly with local food banks

Today's fifth annual 'Fight Hunger. Spark Change.' campaign announcement builds on Walmart's continued efforts to support for Canadians in need. Walmart and the Walmart Foundation are working to address surplus food use and food insecurity by supporting the work of the food bank network across Canada.

Since the campaign launched in 2017, Walmart Canada has raised 50 million meals for Canadians coast-to-coast, building on the more than 25 million pounds of food Walmart has donated to food banks across the country over many years. Walmart stores across Canada pair up with food banks in their communities to ensure quality food is provided to those who need it most.

Walmart Canada and the Walmart Foundation also support the efforts of the food bank network to help food banks keep food fresh and safe during transportation and distribution within the community. In addition, the Walmart Foundation has invested nearly $6 million to build capacity among Food Banks Canada's 630 affiliate food banks, leading to more trucks, more refrigerators and more people to get food from all sources to those who need it most. These grants from the Walmart Foundation are the next step in a multi-year, multi-million-dollar commitment to strengthen food security across Canada.

3 Food Banks Canada. A Snapshot of Food Banks in Canada and the COVID-19 Crisis. 2020.

About Walmart Canada

Walmart Canada operates a chain of more than 400 stores nationwide serving 1.5 million customers each day. Walmart Canada's flagship online store, Walmart.ca is visited by 900,000 customers daily. With more than 100,000 associates, Walmart Canada is one of Canada's largest employers and is ranked one of the country's top 10 most influential brands. Walmart Canada's extensive philanthropy program is focused on supporting Canadian families in need, and since 1994 Walmart Canada has raised and donated more than $500 million to Canadian charities. Additional information can be found at walmartcanada.ca, facebook.com/walmartcanada and at twitter.com/walmartcanada.

About Food Banks Canada

Food Banks Canada provides national leadership to relieve hunger today and prevent hunger tomorrow in collaboration with the food bank network from coast-to-coast-to-coast. For 40 years, food banks have been dedicated to helping Canadians living with food insecurity. Over 3,000 food banks and community agencies come together to serve our most vulnerable neighbours who  last year  made 1.1 million visits to these organizations in one month alone, according to our HungerCount report. Since 2010, as a system we've sourced and shared almost 1.5 billion pounds of food and Food Banks Canada shared over $100 million in funding to help maximize collective impact and strengthen local capacity  while advocating for reducing the need for food banks. Our vision is clear: create a Canada where no one goes hungry. Visit http://www.foodbankscanada.ca to learn more or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Linkedin



____________________________________________ 1 Goal is based on total supplier, customer and Walmart contributions received during the Fight Hunger. Spark Change. campaign. The approx. cost to Food Banks Canada to secure a meal for those in need is $0.33. Goal is an estimate based on available data 2 Food Banks Canada. A Snapshot of Food Banks in Canada and the COVID-19 Crisis. 2020 3 https://www.foodbankscanada.ca/Blog/May-2020/Majority-of-Canadians-believe-that-hunger-and-food.aspx

SOURCE Walmart Canada

For further information: Jesse Cecchetto, APEX Public Relations, [email protected] | 416-839-9204; Dani Lalonde, Food Banks Canada, [email protected] | 905.602.5363
Doors opened Jan. 29 at 7 p.m. at Athens newest bar, The Warehouse, a haven for hundreds of maskless bar-goers to mingle during the deadliest month of the pandemic in the United States.
Motorola has refreshed its Moto E6 smartphone lineup with the launch of the new Motorola Moto E6i. The new budget device is powered by a Unisoc Tiger SC9863A SoC and runs Android 10 (Go Edition) out of the box. Other notable features of the Moto E6i include dual-rear cameras and a 3,000mAh battery.

The Motorola E6i is currently available in Brazil for BRL 1,099 (2GB + 32GB option) which is roughly Rs 15,000 in India. The smartphone is available in Titanium Gray and Pink colour finish via Motorola Brazil website. The Lenovo-owned company is yet to share its global availability details. Currently, Motorola sells the Moto E6s in India for Rs 7,999. Its successor, the Moto E7 Plus is available in the country at Rs 9,999 for the 4GB + 64GB storage option.

In terms of design, the newly launched Motorola Moto E6i looks similar to the Motorola Moto E6s with a waterdrop-style notch and pill-shaped rear camera module. It features a 6.1-inch HD+ with narrow bezels on the sides. Under the hood, the phone packs the Unisoc Tiger SC9863A chipset paired with 2GB RAM and 32GB onboard storage. It runs on Android 10 Go out of the box, which is a toned-down version of the regular Android 10. The Go edition of Android is limited to smartphones with entry-level specifications.

The dual rear camera setup on the Motorola Moto E6i includes a 13-megapixel primary camera with f/2.2 aperture and a 2-megapixel secondary camera with f/2.4 aperture. At the front, there's a 5-megapixel camera with f/2.4 aperture for selfies and video calling. Other notable features on the smartphone include Bluetooth v4.2, Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n, GPS, Glonass, and 3.5mm headphone jack. As mentioned, the Moto phone packs a 3,000mAh battery that supports 10W charging via the Micro-USB port. Lastly, the Motorola E6i weighs 160 grams and measures 8.5mm in thickness.
The Daily Beast

Screenshot/YouTubeA Christian diet guru and six other people are presumed dead after her small plane crashed into the waters of Tennessee lake on Saturday morning. Authorities were called to the Percy Priest Lake around 11 a.m., not long after the plane took off from the nearby Smyrna Rutherford County Airport. Late Saturday evening, investigators said they believed all seven passengers had perished. The cause of the crash is still under investigation. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Joe Lara (@joelaraofficial) The plane, a Cessna C501, belonged Gwen Shamblin Lara, founder of the Remnant Fellowship Church and author of The Weigh Down Workshop, and her husband William J. Lara, who went by Joe. The couple lived in nearby Brentwood and had registered the plane via their company JL&GL Productions LP. The aircraft has not been located, but Tennessee Highway Patrol told News Channel 5 that officers located debris consistent with a Cessna C501 and that a small plane had been seen descending into the water near a boat ramp early Saturday.Laras daughter, Elizabeth Hannah, sent a text message to members of the Remnant Fellowship Church saying that her mother and father were aboard the aircraft when it was forced to make a quick, controlled landing. All the planes passengers had ties to the church, including Hannahs own husband Brandon, according to her text. The others aboard were David and Jennifer Martin and Jonathan and Jessica Walters, according to authorities.My brother and I are asking for immediate prayers right now, as we have just gotten word that Gwen and Joe Laras plane had to go down, Hannah wrote before authorities said everyone appeared to have been killed. More information to come, but be in prayerand be at peace, the message continued. GOD IS IN CONTROL, and we will not stop moving forward with WHAT GOD WANTS with this church.Read more at The Daily Beast.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.

RTHK: US sanctions Myanmar generals over coup

The United States on Thursday imposed sanctions on Myanmar's acting president and several other military officers and warned there could be more economic punishment as Washington responds to the military coup.

The US Treasury Department said it targeted eight people, including the defence minister, three companies in the jade and gems sector, and updated sanctions on the top two military officials, accusing them of playing a leading role in overthrowing Myanmar's democratically-elected government.

But Washington stopped short of including the entire Myanmar Economic Holdings (MEHL) and Myanmar Economic Corporation (MEC), the military's conglomerates that are prevalent throughout Myanmar's economy.

US President Joe Biden on Wednesday approved an executive order for new sanctions on those responsible for the coup in Myanmar, also known as Burma, that ousted the civilian-led government and detained elected leader and Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.

"The February 1 coup was a direct assault on Burma's transition to democracy and the rule of law," Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said in the statement.

"We are also prepared to take additional action should Burma's military not change course. If there is more violence against peaceful protesters, the Burmese military will find that today's sanctions are just the first," Yellen added.

Thursday's action designated Commander-in-Chief of the Myanmar military Min Aung Hlaing and Deputy Commander-in-Chief Soe Win under Biden's executive order. Both were previously hit with sanctions in 2019 over allegations of abuses against Rohingya Muslims and other minorities.

Others listed were six members of the National Defence and Security Council and four military officials announced as members of the State Administration Council by the military, including Defence Minister Mya Tun Oo.

The three companies named by Washington  Myanmar Ruby Enterprise, Myanmar Imperial Jade, and Cancri (Gems and Jewellery)  were identified by a UN mission on Myanmar in 2019 as part of the MEHL conglomerate.

The White House said the sanctions imposed on Thursday do not need to be permanent, urging Myanmar's military to "immediately restore power to the democratically elected government, end the state of emergency, release all those unjustly detained, and ensure peaceful protesters are not met with violence." (Reuters)

This story has been published on: 2021-02-11. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Members of the Myanmarese community in South Korea protest against the military coup in the Southeast Asian country, near the Embassy of Myanmar in Seoul's Yongsan District, Feb. 5. After the military seized power and occupied the country's capital Nay Pyi Taw, the country's leader Aung San Suu Kyi, President Win Myint and other members of the National League for Democracy were detained by troops. Courtesy of Soe Moe Thu



By Jung Da-min



When large crowds were participating in demonstrations on the streets across Myanmar to protest the military coup there, Myanmarese communities in other countries also rose up against the military regime.



Here, members of a community of Myanmarese people and local residents who support democratic values and people's rights in the Southeast Asian country organized street rallies in different regions. One such rally was held near the office of the military attache of the Embassy of Myanmar in Seoul's Yongsan District, last weekend, days after the military coup took place, Feb. 1.



Soe Moe Thu, a Myanmarese pro-democracy activist who came to South Korea in 1995 to work to support his family back home, took part in the rallies as a supporter of Myanmarese leader Aung San Suu Kyi and her National League for Democracy (NLD) party.



"As massive demonstrations are prohibited under the South Korean government's quarantine measures during the COVID-19 pandemic, we have been staging one-person protests or press conferences in which a total of nine people are allowed to attend, not only in front of the Embassy of Myanmar but also in different regions across the country where many people pass by, such as subway stations," Soe Moe Thu told The Korea Times in a phone interview, Feb. 8.





Members of a Myanmarese community in South Korea participate in a demonstration against the military coup in the Southeast Asian country, near the Embassy of Myanmar in Seoul, Feb. 8. Courtesy of Soe Moe Thu



"We have also been uploading messages of protest on social media platforms to inform the international community of the current situation in Myanmar."



After the military seized power through a coup days before the beginning of a new session of the Myanmar parliament, which was set for Feb. 5, the country's leader Suu Kyi, President Win Myint and other members of the NLD party were detained by the military. After occupying the country's capital Nay Pyi Taw claiming widespread fraud in the outcome of a general election held last November, the military's commander-in-chief Min Aung Hlaing declared a year-long state of emergency.



Soe Moe Thu said the military coup is unpardonable, because it dashed the hopes of the Myanmarese people for democracy. Under Myanmar's current Constitution, the military could declare a state of emergency if it sees there is confusion in state affairs, but Soe Moe Thu said the military was unjustly using the Constitution as it did not want Suu Kyi's civilian government to take power again.



In the 2020 November general election there, Suu Kyi's NLD party won by a landslide, securing about 83 percent of the seats in the country's bicameral Assembly of the Union. The military and the opposition demanded a revote claiming fraud, but the Election Commission saw no evidence to support their claims.



This was the second victory of the NLD party, five years after the country's civilian government first took power with the party's overwhelming victory in the 2015 general election.





Members of the Myanmarese community in South Korea hold a rally against the military coup in the Southeast Asian country, near a subway station in Seoul's Gangnam District, Feb. 8. Courtesy of Soe Moe Thu



Since then, the civilian government has pushed ahead with amendments to the country's current Constitution which was created by the military in 2008, in an effort to fully democratize the country. But the military has hampered such efforts.



"The military has tried to divide the people of Myanmar using the thorny issues of minority groups such as the issues of Rohingya people and conflict between Buddhism and Islam, but the civilian government again received overwhelming support from the people.  I believe the civilian government's victory in the two consecutive general elections showed the support of the Myanmarese people for the country's democratization," Soe Moe Thu said.









"Before the military coup actually took place, we didn't think the military could carry out a coup as the Constitution requires other legal procedures such as the president's order for such a military movement. Besides, the current Constitution was set up by the military itself in 2008. But the military even destroyed their own rules to take power again."



Soe Moe Thu said the coup shocked the Myanmarese people, not only those in the country but those living abroad, which led to the massive rallies in major cities in Myanmar such as Yangon or Mandalay, and small and big rallies in other countries including Thailand, Japan and South Korea.



Soe Moe Thu said Myanmarese people here  mostly in their 20s or 30s as only those age groups could get a working visa to come to South Korea  are desperately fighting for the country's democratization.





A member of the Myanmarese community in South Korea holds a one-person demonstration against the military coup in the Southeast Asian country, at a park near a subway station in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi Province, Feb. 4. Courtesy of Soe Moe Thu





Kay Thwe Aung, a member of the Myanmarese community in South Korea, participates in a one-person demonstration against the military coup in the Southeast Asian country, near a subway station in Bupyeong District, Incheon, Feb. 3. Courtesy of Soe Moe Thu



"There had been the 8888 (or the eighth day of August 1988) uprising for the country's democratization in 1988, but it was a past event for Myanmar's young generation. The military coup this time, however, is an act of overthrowing the results of the general election, in which many people, including those inside and outside the country, actively participated despite the COVID-19 pandemic," Soe Moe Thu said. "Young Myanmarese here also actively participated in the vote by casting absentee ballots, despite the pandemic situation and all of the required documents."



Soe Moe Thu said nearly 10,000 Myanmarese here participated in the general election by casting absentee ballots, showing their support for the country's democratization. About 28,000 Myanmarese were staying in South Korea in 2019, according to the South Korean government's statistics.



So Moe Thu also said Myanmarese communities outside the country are ready to raise money to support public officers in the country who are planning to carry out strikes to protest against the military regime.



Kay Thwe Aung, a Myanmarese here, staged a one-person demonstration near a subway station in Bupyeong District, Incheon, Feb. 3 and participated in a small group rally in front of the Embassy of Myanmar in Seoul, Feb. 6. She hopes more South Korean people would know what is exactly happening in Myanmar and that Myanmarese people are fighting against the military coup.



"The military is denying the result of last year's general election and it is the same as calling Myanmarese people, who actively participated in the election to support the leader Suu Kyi and her NLD party, liars. This is why Myanmarese people deeply resent the military coup," Kay Thwe Aung told The Korea Times in a phone interview, Feb. 9. "I was born in 1979 and witnessed how the military suppressed the people during the 8888 uprising. I vividly remember the military's suppression and I feel that this year's coup is like the military trampling on the Myanmarese people with their shoes."





A Myanmarese worker here holds a placard to denounce the military coup in the Southeast Asian country. Courtesy of Soe Moe Thu





A Myanmarese worker here holds a placard to protest against the military coup in the Southeast Asian country. Courtesy of Soe Moe Thu



Some South Korean people have also engaged in rallies here to support the Myanmar people's fight for democracy.



Chung Beum-rae, the founder and manager of an online community about Myanmar here called Myabiz, initiated demonstrations by community members through one-person protests in front of the Embassy of Myanmar on Feb. 3. Chung, who had lived in Myanmar for seven years before coming back to South Korea in 2007, has long been supporting democratization movements of Myanmar.



"The people of the Republic of Korea stand with Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of Union of Myanmar. We also demand the release of politicians associated with the National League for Democracy party, the winners voted into leadership through a fair election," read a statement by Chung, which was also printed on the placards he held during the protest. "The people of the Republic of Korea attained won democracy through our own hands and we shall stand firmly together with the people of Myanmar. We fully support your fight for democracy."



Chung told The Korea Times in a phone interview, Feb. 8, that he hopes more South Koreans will support and help the Myanmar people's protests.



"South Korea should stand together with Myanmar for the Southeast Asian country's democratization, as South Korea also underwent similar periods of military dictatorship and the South Korean people also fought to achieve the country's democracy," Chung said.





Chung Beum-rae, second from left, the founder and manager of an online community about Myanmar called Myabiz, participates in a demonstration against the military coup in the Southeast Asian country, together with other members of the community, near the Embassy of Myanmar in Seoul, Feb. 6. Courtesy of Chung Beum-rae
TASHKENT -- The Uzbek Prosecutor-General's Office has said a criminal case against Otabek Sattoriy, a video blogger critical of the regional government, is "lawful," while rights watchdogs say the case is fabricated and have urged Tashkent to immediately release him.

In its February 11 statement, the Prosecutor-General's Office said that special inspections had not revealed any wrongdoings by the Interior Ministry's directorate in the southern Surxondaryo region, where the 40-year-old founder and editor of the video blog Halq Fikiri (People's Opinion) was arrested in lateJanuary.

"A criminal case launched against Otabek Sattoriy is based on complaints related to seven episodes, which are currently being investigated," the statement said, without giving any other details of the case.

The statement added that since his arrest on January 29, Sattoriy, who streamed on Telegram and YouTube, has already been tried in a separate case and was found guilty of defamation, insult, and distribution of false information. According to the Prosecutor-General's Office, a court in the city of Termiz ordered the blogger to pay a fine after finding him guilty.

Sattoriy's relatives told RFE/RL earlier that he was charged with extorting money and stealing mobile phones from unspecified individuals. If found guilty, Sattoriy may face up to 10 years in prison.

Sattoriy has been known as a harsh critic of the regional governor Tora Bobolov. In one of his recent postings, Sattoriy openly accused the local government of launching fabricated criminal cases against bloggers and vowed to continue to raise the issue of corruption among officials despite the "crackdown."

Media-freedom watchdogs have condemned Sattoriy's arrest.

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said on February 11 that the charges against the blogger were aimed at silencing his reporting on local corruption.

"This is yet another attempt to silence critical voices in Uzbekistan," Jeanne Cavelier, the head of RSFs Eastern Europe and Central Asia desk, said in the statement.

"We firmly condemn the use of fabricated charges with the aim of covering up local corruption, and we call on the authorities to release this blogger at once and to drop all proceedings against him," Cavelier added.

The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists earlier this month called for Sattoriy's release, saying that "the persecution of bloggers and citizen journalists for their reporting on corruption violates their constitutional rights."

RSF said that despite a "relative improvement" in press freedom since President Shavkat Mirziyoev took over the Central Asian country in 2016, "critical journalists and bloggers are still often imprisoned, and extortion charges are still often used to silence dissent."

Uzbekistan is ranked 156th out of 180 countries in RSF's 2020 World Press Freedom Index.
Citing concerns about COVID-19, a judge has recused himself from presiding over Limestone County Sheriff Mike Blakelys theft and ethics trial.

N. Pride Tompkins, a retired judge from Colbert County, was specially appointed to preside over Blakelys criminal case after Limestone County judges recused themselves. Tompkins, who is in his 80s, issued a one-sentence order today removing himself from the case.

Due to the corona virus pandemic and my high risk status I recuse myself from this case, he wrote.

The recusal is likely to further delay the trial, which has already been pushed back several times in the 18 months since Blakely was indicted on 13 charges of theft and abuse of power. The Alabama Supreme Court will have to appoint another judge to replace Tompkins.

[Related: COVID delays Sheriff Blakelys trial again]

Currently in his 10th consecutive term, Blakely is believed to be Alabamas longest-serving sheriff. He took office in 1983 and continues to hold his position while the criminal case is pending.

Blakely is accused of stealing from his campaign accounts, county funds and jail inmate funds, and using his position to illegally acquire interest-free loans. A Limestone County grand jury issued an indictment in August 2019 charging the sheriff with the following crimes:

Six felony counts of use of official position or office for personal gain

Two felony counts of first-degree theft

Two felony counts of second-degree theft

Two felony counts of third-degree theft

One misdemeanor count of fourth-degree theft

The sheriff has pleaded not guilty.
Canada welcomed 184,000 new immigrants in 2020 Immigration to Canada fell to the lowest level since 1998. Kareem El-Assal Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif

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New Canadian government data shows the country welcomed 184,370 new permanent residents in 2020 as newcomer flows fell due to the coronavirus pandemic.

This is the lowest level of immigration to Canada since 1998 when it welcomed just over 174,000 immigrants that year.

In March 2020, Canadas Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino announced Canada would seek to welcome 341,000 new immigrants, the same level as in 2019. Days later, however, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Canada was compelled to impose new travel restrictions to contain the spread of COVID-19.

Data released by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) shows that immigration to the country fell around the same time the travel restrictions took effect and the countrys newcomer flows have yet to recover to pre-pandemic levels. Nevertheless, Canada is maintaining a steadfast commitment to welcoming high levels of immigrants to support its post-COVID economic recovery.

Find out if youre eligible for Canadian immigration

Since the start of the pandemic, IRCC and provinces and territories across the country have continued to process new and existing immigration applications. This is to complete the processing of as many applications as possible so that those eligible to obtain permanent or temporary status now can do so while travel restrictions and other pandemic disruptions persist. The second reason why Canadas governments are processing applications now is to enable the countrys immigration system to recover as quickly as possible following the pandemic.

In late October 2020, Mendicino announced the most ambitious immigration targets in Canadian history. Under the 2021-2023 Immigration Levels Plan, Canada aims to welcome at least 401,000 new immigrants per year.

In a recent TV interview, Mendicino said he was confident that the targets were realistic even during the pandemic. The reasons for this include IRCC inviting more immigration candidates living in Canada right now to apply for permanent residence through the Express Entry system. Provinces and territories are employing a similar approach through the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) and in Quebec.

In addition, the travel restrictions contain a number of exemptions which allow certain individuals such as the close family members of Canadian citizens and permanent residents to immigrate to Canada during the pandemic.

Canada had been welcoming around 300,000 new immigrants annually in the years leading up to the pandemic. The countrys immigration rate stood at about 0.9 per cent, which represents three times as many new immigrants per capita as the United States. Canadas immigration rate fell to 0.5 per cent in 2020 as the country welcomed under 200,000 immigrants for just the second time since 1989 (the only other time was in 1998).

Looking ahead, Canadas immigration levels are likely to exceed 200,000 newcomers in 2021 as IRCC has since adapted to the pandemic. A major reason why immigration failed to break the 200,000 newcomer barrier last year was that Canadas permanent residence landings plummeted between the middle of March and May 2020 as federal government officials were affected by lockdowns and other pandemic measures. As Mendicino indicated in his recent TV interview, IRCC has since expanded its operations to incorporate remote working and more online application processing. These measures should help it avoid unexpected disruptions to its ability to support the recovery of immigration levels.

The pandemic will continue to have an impact on Canadas Immigration Levels Plan, but we can expect levels to surpass 401,000 annually once COVID-19 has been contained globally. In the meantime, IRCC and provinces and territories continue to issue new immigration invitations. IRCC held an Express Entry draw yesterday and is expected to hold another one this week.

Find out if youre eligible for Canadian immigration
Gunned down: Danny McClean was shot while sitting in a car last week

Terror charges against a murdered Belfast man have been formally quashed by the city's Crown Court.

Danny McClean (54) was shot several times while sitting in a parked car on the Cliftonville Road in north Belfast last week.

Two men, aged 46 and 38, arrested by detectives investigating his killing have since been released "unconditionally".

Yesterday, following an application by the prosecution, Judge Donna McColgan QC ruled that the indictment faced by Mr McClean "be endorsed as having no legal effect and the file closed".

Mr McClean, who was originally from Andersonstown in west Belfast but had an address in Hilden Court, Lisburn, was due to go on trial later this year on four terror-related charges.

These included possession of documents and possessing a 9mm pistol magazine under suspicious circumstances and without a firearms certificate.

The father-of-two, targeted by a lone gunman, was identified as a dissident republican in the Belfast court in 2019, when he was sentenced for two years for the assault and interrogation of a suspected drug dealer which was secretly taped by MI5.

In one of the tapes from the MI5 sting operation against Oglaigh na hEireann, Mr McClean was heard threatening to blow a man's legs "clean off" with a shotgun and saying that he "wouldn't think twice about putting him in a body bag".

Although charged with membership of the IRA, the charge was left on the books and not proceeded with after his guilty pleas to the assault charges.

Mr McClean's murder has been linked to a fall-out among dissident republicans, a feud which also claimed the life of Kieran Wylie, who was shot dead in his Lenadoon Avenue home in May last year.

Like Mr Wylie, threatening graffiti was daubed on walls in west Belfast about Mr McClean, who it emerged during his 2019 trial had served in the British Army during the 1990s.

Last week a senior detective appealed for anyone with information to come forward to help the PSNI investigation.

Superintendent Jason Murphy said police would work tirelessly to seek justice for his "callous" murder and to find answers to his family's many questions.

"This was a brutal and calculated murder carried out by someone who has no regard for life. There can be no justification for it whatsoever," he added.

"It was carried out in a built-up residential area, putting families living there at risk.

"It is extremely fortunate that no one else was injured as a result of this shooting."

Meanwhile, police investigating the murder of Mr McClean arrested a 32-year-old man last night.

The man was arrested in the Belfast area and was taken to Musgrave Police Station for questioning, police said.

It was the third arrest in relation to the murder.

Two men aged 46 and 38, arrested in north Belfast on February 2, were released unconditionally on Monday.

It comes after police returned to the murder scene of Mr McClean on Tuesday night.

Police now believe the gunman made off in a silver coloured Vauxhall Vectra in the direction of the Old Park Road.

They previously said the gunman walked back towards Clifton Crescent after the shooting.
Ukraine's Ambassador to Georgia Ihor Dolhov has conveyed an official invitation from President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky to President of Georgia Salome Zourabichvili to take part in the Crimean Platform summit and celebrations marking the 30th anniversary of Ukraines independence.

The Ukrainian Embassy in Georgia wrote about this on its Facebook page following Dolhov's meeting with Head of the Presidential Administration of Georgia Natia Sulava.

During the meeting, the parties discussed the development of bilateral relations between Ukraine and Georgia on the basis of strategic partnership, the time frame of the current official visit of the President of Georgia to Ukraine, as well as the efforts of both countries to overcome the consequences of the pandemic and restore bilateral economic and tourism potential.

Ambassador Ihor Dolhov conveyed to Natia Sulava an invitation on behalf of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky to President of Georgia Salome Zourabichvili to take part in the inaugural summit of the Crimean Platform and celebrations marking the 30th anniversary of Ukraines independence, which will be held in Kyiv on August 23-24," the report reads.

As reported, the Crimean Platform is a new consultative and coordination format initiated by Ukraine to improve the efficiency of the international response to the occupation of Crimea, respond to growing security challenges, step up international pressure on Russia, prevent further human rights violations, protect victims of the occupying power and to achieve the de-occupation of Crimea and its return to Ukraine.

The Crimean Platform is expected to operate at the level of heads of state and government, foreign ministers, in the dimension of inter-parliamentary cooperation and expert network.

The Crimean Platform will be launched officially at an inaugural summit in Kyiv on August 23, 2021.

ish
an awesome review of how God has loved, guided, forgiven, and provided His best for me in spite of my blunders.

Dr. Norman Ferguson shares the adventures and challenges of lifes lessons as leasrned through his 87 crazy and exciting events in Lifes Indelible Moments: Forks in the Road of LifeUnexpected Adventures

($25.99, paperback, 9781662807855; $9.99, e-book, 9781662807862).

Ferguson knew he was at a crossroads in his life that day in the dentists chair, and the spur-of-the-moment decision he made to follow the road less traveled changed his life forever. We all experience these moments, and whether or not we make the right decision, we live with the consequences. In this book, Ferguson shares some of his decisions and where they have taken him.

Ferguson said this volume is an awesome review of how God has loved, guided, forgiven, and provided His best for me in spite of my blunders.

Dr. Norman W. Ferguson, B.A., B.D., M.R.E., T.H.D., and G.R.I. (Real Estate). Norm resides in Tyler, Texas with is his wife Jennifer, a retired Spanish teacher. His many faceted roles in life include: Husband, Father, College Bilbe Professor, Pastor, Minister of Music, Youth and Education. His hobbies include coin collecting, stamp collecting, and tooling leather objects for friends.

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Xulon Press, a division of Salem Media Group, is the worlds largest Christian self-publisher, with more than 15,000 titles published to date. Lifes Indelible Moments is available online through xulonpress.com/bookstore, amazon.com, and barnesandnoble.com.


When the announcement came that Yosemite National Park would reinstate its day-use reservation system, restricting the number of visitors for most of the month of February, Douglas Shaw hit a breaking point.

Shaw is the co-owner of Yosemite Bug Rustic Mountain Resort, a long-standing and beloved resort set on a forested hillside just 23 miles from the parks Arch Rock entrance. The 50-acre complex has for decades been a mainstay for international backpackers, young couples and families seeking affordable and comfortable accommodations near the park.

We have served up memories in our resort, restaurant and spa for 25 years. We contribute to the local economy in jobs and taxes. We have enjoyed serving a wide range of guests. But we are letting go of very good employees now. And we are going broke, Shaw wrote last week in an open letter to Yosemite National Park Superintendent Cicely Muldoon. How long are these restrictions going to go on?

Shaw and other business owners in Yosemites gateway towns depend on park visitors to patronize their establishments, so when visitation is limited, that hurts the businesses bottom lines. And after a year of back-to-back-to-back disasters  including the pandemic, catastrophic fires and most recently the Mono wind event that rendered Mariposa County a disaster area  many of those businesses are barely surviving. To them, the recent return of the day-use system feels like a last straw.

Reasonable COVID precautions should be heeded for safety  but has Yosemite National Park gone too far? A park out of reach? Shaws letter asks.

Courtesy of Douglas Shaw

During the month of February, though, with thousands expected to descend on the park for Presidents Day weekend and the highly anticipated firefall event, officials say the day-use reservation system was necessary to manage visitation levels and thereby reduce risks associated with exposure to COVID-19.

Although park officials did not respond to Shaw in writing, his letter made the rounds, and Mariposa Countys Public Health Officer Eric Sergienko did write back.

One overarching comment from a public health perspective: the more population mobility, the more cases," he wrote. "The more cases, the more likelihood there is to be hospitalizations and deaths. This is as true in Mariposa as in any other location, particularly when we see increased visitation from areas with a higher prevalence of disease transmission. We have seen that throughout the surges of the pandemic in April, July, November, and December.

Sergienko went on to say that park officials informed him that park visitation was well in excess of usual visitation in November and December, with areas like Yosemite Falls seeing crowding similar to a usual summertime. This aligns with both increasing case numbers in the county as well as an increase in cases that were associated with community transmission, he wrote.

Finally, Sergienko pointed out that available ICU capacity  which was then 36 out of 600 beds in the San Joaquin Valley Region  is still an issue. Given all that, we do need to achieve a balance that allows for businesses to do what they can in a pandemic environment while preserving life, Sergienko wrote.

Courtesy National Park Service

Shaws letter also found its way into the hands of some members of the Mariposa County Board of Supervisors, who in turn asked Muldoon to come speak at their Tuesday meeting.

There was a consensus of the board that it would be a good idea to have a little conversation, Supervisor Wayne Forsythe told SFGATE. The reason being, obviously the governors lifting of the [stay-at-home order] happened so quickly, and then of course the park service is trying to figure out what to do as well. I think there were some missed opportunities for all of us to communicate.

Upon introducing herself at the meeting, Muldoon expressed appreciation for the ability to meet face-to-face, then launched into a discussion involving many of the issues raised in Shaws letter. The second round of day-use reservations had started Monday, Muldoon said, and would remain in place until the end of the month. We expect to be able to lift it then, unless theres some terrible development in COVID based on ICU capacity, she said.

Muldoon then brought up the firefall event, where people are standing shoulder to shoulder for hours on end in a very small space.

What the park does not want to be is a superspreader event for Mariposa County, Muldoon said. We do not want to tax this ICU system more than it's already taxed.  We're particularly concerned about the rise of new variants of the virus, and our visitors of course come from everywhere. So we just want to do everything we can to protect the health of the community while providing as much access as possible and keeping the park open.

That approach is seemingly a course correction. Back in November, park officials ended the initial phase of the day-use reservation system, assuming based on previous years winter visitation that limiting the number of guests was no longer necessary. Then over Thanksgiving and Christmas, Yosemite Valley was sometimes packed with visitors both indoors and outdoors, even though it had no mask mandate in place.

Bidens federal mask mandate now covers the park, and Yosemite officials have seemingly wised up about unusually high demand. On Feb. 1, they released 80% of the day-use reservations for this month. Those reservations are valid for seven days with unlimited re-entries, and visitors must arrive on the first day indicated on the reservation. Weekends sold out almost immediately, but as of Feb. 10, all available weekday tickets on Recreation.gov were booked as well.

Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The Chronicle

For those who missed out on the chance to book early, beginning at 8 a.m. two days prior to the date of entry, officials will release the remaining 20% of day-use reservations. For example, on Feb. 12 at 8 a.m., day-use reservations for Feb. 14 will be available. This was also how the system worked in June through November, when getting a reservation two days in advance proved extremely challenging.

The goal of the system, park officials say, is to have around 1100 vehicles entering the park each day, which aligns with visitation in previous winters.

For those who dont obtain those reservations, though, there are other ways to enter the park. Folks who manage to get wilderness permits, a campsite or other lodgings within the park can enter without day-use reservations, as can those who take the YART bus or an authorized tour.

But the problem for Shaw is that all of these rules and barriers to entry are a burden for Yosemite Bugs guests, who mostly come on weekends (when reservations are hard to come by) and want a guaranteed, easy and affordable way into the park, he says. So they simply dont come.

Its elitism at its best, Shaw told SFGATE of the way the system favors higher-income visitors with the luxury of planning ahead or purchasing costly tours or lodgings inside the park. Shaw also doesnt understand why visitation should be based on previous winters, when those numbers have historically been low.

Yet another sticking point for Shaw is the seven-day aspect of the reservation system. Many visitors use only a few of their allotted days, even as others are not able to secure passes for even a single day. When a question came up about that in the meeting, Muldoon punted it to public relations officer Scott Gediman.

Courtesy of Douglas Shaw

We dont have any leeway in the seven-day passes right now through Washington, Gediman said. SFGATE sent Gediman a follow-up email asking him to clarify who in Washington prevented Yosemite from making changes to the day-use reservation system, and why. He declined to respond.

After Muldoons presentation, the meeting opened to public comment, and Shaw rose. While he appreciated that Muldoon came and spoke, he still felt nervous about what the future holds, he told SFGATE.

His business is operating at 10% capacity when he needs it at 50% to break even. Hes still $300,000 in the hole, which he covered with loans last year, and hes waiting to find out if yet another loan will come through. Without it, Yosemite Bug's tent cabins, dorms and private rooms will all be shuttered, along with the beloved June Bug Cafe and Yosemite Health Spa.

I just feel like the park needs to think outside the box, Shaw said at the meeting. This is a COVID-19 winter. I don't think the average [number of guests] should be based upon previous winters. I think that [the park] should be looking at options to keep people in recreation and keep the many options available.

After Shaw, Yosemite/Mariposa County Tourism Bureau Executive Director Jonathan Farrington suggested to park officials that visitation limits be based on what would be safe, rather than on numbers from previous winters. He asked for larger buses with room for more socially distanced passengers. Lastly, he asked about changing the length of stay for a day-use reservation to something like two or four days, rather than seven.

We realize the difficult path the National Park Service has to walk, Farrington told SFGATE. Still, hes alarmed by all of the ailing businesses hes hearing from, which have included shopkeepers on Main Street, bed-and-breakfast owners and even people from outside the area who were considering investing but now wonder if it's smart.

Perhaps most concerning, hes been hearing from businesses that have been solid for many years, if not decades  like Yosemite Bug. Shaw and his partner Caroline McGrath are passionate about the community, Farrington said, and a great employer with a core staff of people who have been with the lodge for upwards of 20 years. Theyve gone through fires, floods, rockfalls and all sorts of other disasters, he said, and never once did they lay anybody off. Until now.

Its heart-wrenching to see them going through this, Farrington said.
IRVING, Texas, Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- OneShare Health, a Christian Health Care Sharing Ministry (HCSM) in Texas, has recently accepted an invitation to become a member of the Alliance of Health Care Sharing Ministries (AHCSM).

Founded in July 2007, the Alliance is currently headquartered in Washington, D.C. The organization's website states it was created for the purpose of "protecting and preserving the rights of their members."

AHCSM Extends Invitation to OneShare Health to Become Newest Member of Health Care Sharing Ministry Alliance

Katy Talento, Executive Director of AHCSM, said that in addition to being recognized by the federal government as meeting the Affordable Care Act (ACA) definition of 'Health Care Sharing Ministries', ministries that belong to the Alliance must have a clear religious identity, an independent board that actively oversees the organization, rigorously managed financial operations, and be transparent with the public about their finances, health care sharing model, and how they differ from other health care solutions.

"We were very impressed with OneShare Health's leadership," said Talento, "including Interim CEO Buddy Combs, Nancy Atkins, and the entire team that works on government affairs, since that is such a key priority for the Alliance. They were critical partners in working with other ministries to develop robust standards against which Health Care Sharing Ministries should be evaluated."

Nancy Atkins, Chief Regulatory Officer at OneShare Health says OneShare's leadership is excited by the prospect of collaborating with other ministries not only because it will create a path for OneShare Health to continue facilitating a viable alternative to health care, but also for the opportunity to better their Members' overall experience.

"We feel that by working together we can accomplish more than each ministry may be able to do independently," said Atkins. "The Alliance gives us a greater voice when it comes to issues that affect us all, and it also allows OneShare Health the opportunity to lend our talents, and the talents of our legal and regulatory staff, for the greater good."

Advocates in public policy at state and federal levels, the Alliance works on issues impacting Health Care Sharing Ministries, and provide support through public relations and media to present a true and accurate representation of HCSMs.

Citing their "transformative" and "wholesome" effect on the country, Talento said that HCSMs also cut out many of the middlemen in the health care supply chain that "merely take value out of the system rather than adding value."

"Most don't realize that Health Care Sharing Ministries are actually leading the way in driving down the cost of health care through their robust price negotiation and patient navigation services," explained Talento. "HCSMs are a beautiful way that like-minded believers come together in community to bear one another's burdens. In the midst of a pandemic and the resulting economic crisis, it's more important than ever that all Americans have access to a health care solution that is consistent with their budgets and their beliefs."

Interim CEO of OneShare Buddy Combs said he and the Ministry's Leadership Team are honored to be a part of something so important. "We are incredibly excited for this opportunity to join together with some organizations we greatly respect and admire," said Combs. "The objective of the Alliance is to gather together likeminded sharing organizations to discuss and work on issues which affect us all. Just like OneShare's slogan of Better Together, there are a great many things in which working together is better for all HCSMs. We are grateful that they have trusted us to join their ranks as a member."

"Our participation shows we value protecting Members' interests along with the interests of the Members of our brother and sister ministries," continued Combs. "Members can also feel confident that they have selected a Health Care Sharing Ministry that is respected by others in this industry."

Talento, having worked in health policy for decades, said she spent years enrolled in health insurance plans before becoming a member of a Health Care Sharing Ministry, where she said she found "mutual accountability and encouragement in stewarding our bodies faithfully," unlike traditional health insurance.

"Health care is personal," stated Talento. "It's where we're all at our most vulnerable and most in need of fellowship that can share both the spiritual and the financial burden. Ministry members are right there with prayers and kindness and financial support when things go wrong. When we're in a health crisis, we want to turn to the Body of Christ, not a cold bureaucracy that answers to Wall Street."

For Press Inquiries, Contact:

Buddy Combs

OneShare Health

1-888-940-8291

[email protected]

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OneShare Health Joins the Alliance of Health Care Sharing Ministries

AHCSM Extends Invitation to OneShare Health to Become Newest Member of Health Care Sharing Ministry Alliance

SOURCE OneShare Health
OTTAWA - Complaints of workplace harassment and violence have risen sharply at several federal departments and agencies in recent years, according to internal data.

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) headquarters Connaught Building is pictured in Ottawa on August 17, 2020. Complaints of workplace harassment and violence have risen sharply at several federal departments and agencies in recent years. Harassment complaints at the Canada Revenue Agency rose 82 per cent to 166 between 2016-17 and 2018-19. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

OTTAWA - Complaints of workplace harassment and violence have risen sharply at several federal departments and agencies in recent years, according to internal data.

The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) saw harassment complaints jump 82 per cent to 166 between 2016-17 and 2018-19.

The RCMP says it received 1,132 harassment complaints over a five-year period, with numbers increasing by more than 50 per cent between 2015 and 2017 before levelling off.

The RCMP figures follow an independent report in November on misogyny and homophobia in its ranks that called for fundamental change to rid the Mounties of a toxic culture.

At Canada Post, complaints about workplace violence have grown every year since at least 2011, doubling to 641 between 2011 and 2015 and swelling to 870 in 2019. Most concern interactions with the public rather than fellow mail carriers.

Harassment complaints filed to Fisheries and Oceans Canada shot up to 66 in 2018-19 from four in 2016-17.

In a response to an order paper question from the NDP, the CRA said the figures "are not necessarily an indication of more discrimination and harassment," but rather the result of greater public awareness and beefed-up internal processes that encourage victims to come forward.

"It is not clear whether these statistics can be attributed to an increase in reporting or an increase in incidents," Mary-Liz Power, press secretary for Public Safety Minister Bill Blair  who oversees the RCMP  said in an email.

She highlighted efforts that include an Independent Centre for Harassment Resolution set to launch this summer and a management advisory board established in 2019 to identify internal policy improvements around violence and harassment at the police agency.

New Democrats sought to link the higher complaint tallies to the Liberal government, which the NDP says has avoided reforms toward a healthier environment for federal employees.

"In the context of the investigation report on the former governor general that led to her resignation ... the Liberals knew that federal workers were increasingly subjected to a toxic and insecure working climate and failed to take the right measures to improve the working conditions of civil servants," NDP labour critic Scott Duvall said in an email.

The accusation comes after reports of habitual bullying and belittling of staff by Julie Payette, who stepped down as governor general last month.

Duff Conacher, co-founder of advocacy group Democracy Watch, said the federal integrity commissioner and a broader consciousness around workplace mistreatment have helped root out bad actors, but the government has not followed through on recommendations from a parliamentary committee to protect whistleblowers in the public service.

A government operations committee report from 2017 sought to shield federal workers who speak up about wrongdoing, including harassment, through amendments that would prevent employer retaliation and shift the burden of proof from the whistleblower to the government in cases of reprisal.

"Youre going to have a lawyer paid for. Youre going to be rewarded if your claims are found true. If they try to do anything to retaliate against youll get compensation for that," Conacher said of the would-be legislation.

"In other words, you wont be on your own ... and you can do it anonymously.

"Obviously that deters people from harassing people and abusing them in other ways, because you know that person is going to have a place to go that is dedicated to protecting them."

Katherine Lippel, Canada research chair in occupational health and safety law at the University of Ottawa, said workplace harassment has ballooned over the past decade, partly as a result rising workloads.

Harassment, rather than relating exclusively to verbal abuse or violence, is "about not having enough time to do what youre supposed to do, being asked to do contradictory tasks, having no control of the workload, having very, very high demands," she said.

Nonetheless, a growing recognition among employers of the psychological strain  and bad press  tied to toxic workplaces means new processes could prompt a flurry of complaints.

"It might be very healthy that theres an increase in complaints. It might just be an indicator that the policies are working," Lippel said.

New workplace harassment and violence-prevention regulations under the Canada Labour Code came into effect Jan. 1, which include an increased focus on prevention and informal resolution.

The Canada Revenue Agency pointed to its five-year-old Discrimination and Harassment Centre of Expertise, established as a way for employees to report discrimination and harassment.

"Following the introduction of the DHCE, there was increased communication and awareness for employees," along with a more centralized approach to addressing discrimination and harassment complaints, CRA spokeswoman Sylvie Branch said in an email.

At Canada Post, roughly 70 per cent of the violence complaints filed by employees stemmed from "customers or the public being aggressive," agency spokesman Jon Hamilton said in an email.

About 20 per cent related to peer-to-peer interactions while the rest concerned employees-supervisor incidents, he said, with both numbers plateauing in recent years.

"Most often the cause is customer frustration due to factors beyond the control of the front-line employee, such as delivery delays or a corporate policy," he said.

Jane Deeks, a spokeswoman for the minister of fisheries and oceans, said the department is striving "to move towards a harassment-free workplace."

"Although an increase in numbers may spark concern, they also demonstrate our increased efforts to encourage employees to come forward, to address these issues and complaints, and to find a meaningful resolution," she said.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 11, 2021.
The Minnesota gunman, 67, told a motel owner not to give him a discount because 'tomorrow my work will definitely be done' just one day before he allegedly shot dead a mom-of-two nurse and wounded four others at a health clinic.

Gregory Paul Ulrich, from Buffalo, made the eerie warning Monday to Mona Patel, owner of the Super 8 motel where Ulrich was staying prior to the mass shooting at the Allina Health Clinic in Buffalo Tuesday morning, according to a report.

Buffalo Police confirmed Tuesday that 'suspicious packages' had also been found at the motel - located roughly one mile from the center - Tuesday while some windows appeared to have been blown out in the building.

Questions are being asked whether law enforcement may have missed many red flags leading up to the devastating attack, as it emerged Ulrich had 43 run-ins with cops over the years and had a specific vendetta against the clinic and its staff.

Ulrich had even threatened to carry out a mass shooting at the clinic two years prior to Tuesday's attack and had a restraining order taken out against him by one of the facility's doctors.

Five people were injured after Ulrich entered the facility not long before 11am and opened fire.

One of the victims - 37-year-old mother-of-two Lindsay Overbay who worked as a medical assistant at the facility - died after being transported to the Hennepin County Medical Center.

Allina Health identified another victim Thursday as Sherry Curtis, a Licensed Practical Nurse at Allina Health who has worked at the facility since 2013.

The other three victims have not been identified but Allina Health has now confirmed they are all staff at the facility.

Three remain in hospital with one in a stable but critical condition and the other two upgraded to fair. A fifth victim was discharged Tuesday.

Ulrich is scheduled to appear in court Thursday morning.

The Minnesota gunman, 67, told a motel owner not to give him a discount because 'tomorrow my work will definitely be done' just one day before he allegedly shot dead a mom-of-two nurse and wounded four others at a health clinic. Gregory Paul Ulrich (above)

Gregory Paul Ulrich, from Buffalo, made the eerie warning Monday to Mona Patel, owner of the Super 8 motel (above) where Ulrich was staying prior to the mass shooting at the Allina Health Clinic in Buffalo Tuesday morning, according to a report

The motel owner told CNN about her interaction with the suspected shooter in the hours leading up to Tuesday's attack.

Patel said Ulrich claimed he did not have much money because he was over 65 but turned down a discount because he would have 'definitely' completed his 'work' by the following day.

'He said 'Mona, I don't have a car and I don't have much money,'' she recalled.

Patel said she offered him a discount for a longer stay.

'I said 'If you take a whole week, I will give you a cheaper rate because you have a shortage of money',' she said.

'And he says 'No, by tomorrow my work will be definitely done. So just give me one [more] night and if it is not done then I can buy more nights.'

Patel said she did not ask what type of 'work' Ulrich had planned.

She told CNN police collected surveillance footage from the motel Wednesday.

It is not clear how many days he had stayed at the motel prior to Tuesday's shooting but authorities had also swooped on the site while the situation was still said to be active at the clinic.

Police said at a press conference Tuesday afternoon they had learned Ulrich was staying at the Super 8 at the time.

Buffalo Police confirmed Tuesday that 'suspicious packages' had also been found at the motel - located roughly one mile from the center - Tuesday while some windows appeared to have been blown out in the building

A map of the Allina Health Clinic which is just one mile from the Super 8 Motel. Suspicious packages were found at both locations

Officers went to the motel where they found 'additional suspicious devices' and evacuated the building.

'Suspicious packages' were also located at the clinic in the aftermath of the shooting.

Police said Tuesday it was too early to confirm if any of the devices had detonated but an update is expected on the case Thursday.

While the small 15,000-strong Buffalo community reels from the attack, more details continue to emerge about Ulrich's vendetta against the clinic and his many run-ins with local law enforcement in recent years.

Between 2007 and this week's deadly shooting, Ulrich had at least 43 interactions with cops, according to the New York Post.

Records show how the Minnesota native's crimes escalated in recent years from petty offenses to threats of mass violence before culminating in the alleged murder and alleged attempted murder of medical staff.

Authorities said Tuesday Ulrich had been known to law enforcement since at least 2003.

Court records obtained by DailyMail.com show a long list of charges and convictions dating back to 2004 when he was convicted that October of driving under the influence.

The nurse killed by suspected Minnesota gunman Gregory Paul Ulrich, 67, at a health clinic in Buffalo Tuesday has been identified as 37-year-old mother-of-two Lindsay Overbay (left with her son and husband)

Allina Health identified another victim Thursday as Sherry Curtis(pictured), a Licensed Practical Nurse at Allina Health who has worked at the facility since 2013

He was given one year's probation and a fine but violated that probation and was jailed for 15 days.

In 2007, he spent the night in jail on three separate occasions over drunken behavior, reported the Post.

Buffalo Police had at least four further encounters with Ulrich between 2012 and 2015 including him being caught in a local park after hours and leaving a backpack with marijuana in it on a bus.

But his interactions with cops escalated after he underwent back surgery in December 2016.

Ulrich first called 911 that month to report pain and issues with his medication before contacting cops one month later to claim nurses had stolen his medication, records show.

Over the next two years, Ulrich made several calls to police that his medication was missing or stolen or he that he needed more, reported the Post.

Things reached a head in 2018 when he began harassing and threatening a doctor - Andrew John Burgdorf - at the Allina Clinic.

Questions are being asked whether law enforcement may have missed many red flags leading up to the devastating attack at Allina Health (above), as it emerged Ulrich had 43 run-ins with cops over the years and had a specific vendetta against the clinic and its staff

One of the broken windows following the mass shooting at the clinic

An October 2018 police report says Ulrich had threatened to carry out a mass shooting, to do something 'big and sensational so that it makes an impact' and made various threats against a total of four Allina facilities with the Buffalo site being his main target.

Ulrich said wanted to seek revenge on Burgdorf and the medical staff who he felt had 'tortured' him by refusing to give him drugs for his back injury.

Allina medical staff told police at the time they believed Ulrich was likely to carry out his threats.

'I believe Mr. Ulrich is a high threat to society and himself,' Burgdorf said, according to the police report.

Ulrich told the responding officer he was simply telling the doctor about his dreams and 'that he would not really do anything such as he had talked about', the report states.

However he also told the cop he had dreams about seeking revenge to the people that 'tortured' him by not giving him the medication he wanted for his back injury.

It was only after the complaint made by Burgdorf - and after 15 interactions with officers - that the police finally referred Ulrich to the Wright County Health and Human Services office, the records show, per the Post.

Just two weeks after the incident, Ulrich then returned to the Allina campus - this time to Buffalo hospital.

Testimony filed by a nurse as part of Burgdorf's motion for a temporary protection order against Ulrich cited the incident on October 29 where medics pressed the panic alarm at Buffalo Hospital when the suspect entered and started yelling at staff.

Ulrich had approached the nurse 'unfocused and disoriented' asking for his medical records and telling the medic about his medical history, the document states.

'[Ulrich] expressed that Buffalo Hospital had previously sent him to Abbott Northwestern Hospital because he had overdosed on narcotic pain medication,' it read.

An aerial view of the mobile park where Ulrich lived. His former roommate at the trailer claims Ulrich was granted a firearms permit last year despite his threats against the health clinic and doctor

'He wanted me to agree with him that Buffalo Hospital should not have transferred him to Abbott Northwestern Hospital.'

Ulrich's 'behavior escalated' and he started yelling, with the nurse reporting that she was fearful for the safety of herself and others at the hospital.

Another staff member pushed the panic alarm and Ulrich left before a security guard arrived, the document states.

Court records seen by DailyMail.com show a petition for a restraining order was filed against Ulrich by Burgdorf.

Ulrich called Burgdorf three times in an hour, becoming increasingly threatening each time, the filings say.

He threatened the doctor saying that 'killing one individual wouldn't be enough' and speaking of 'mass violence at a medical clinic and hospitals', the documents state.

'His intent was to create enough of a sensation to get public recognition that would warrant at least 30 years in jail [and] possibly a straight jacket,' they read.

'[Ulrich] stated he had practiced different scenarios [and] he was testing how to get through security with a length of steel since he knew he had only seconds after getting past security to achieve his goal.'

Ulrich had a restraining order taken out against him by one of the facility's doctors Andrew J Burgdorf MD (above) in 2018, it has been revealed

Ulrich was served with a temporary restraining order on November 9 of that year ordering him to stay away from Burgdorf, Burgdorf's home, the Allina Clinic and the Buffalo Hospital.

Following a December hearing, Ulrich was given a harassment restraining order up until December 13 2020.

Ulrich was charged with violating the order after he showed up at the clinic and staff called police.

He claimed he was there to 'straighten things out' because he'd been 'falsely accused.'

He then pleaded guilty to the violation but the case was later dismissed in April 2020 after he underwent a mental health evaluation and was deemed 'mentally incompetent'.

The full petition documents have not been released because Burgdorf's lawyer requested they remain confidential at the time of the filing.

Despite the restraining order, Ulrich had four more interactions with police over Allina Health centers.

These included calling police to say he wanted to sue the doctors for performing unnecessary back surgery that 'crippled him' and trespassing incidents at the Stellis Health-Buffalo Clinic next to the Allina Clinic attacked Tuesday.

In August 2019, he sent 'suspicious letters' to Stella staff.

Ulrich had even threatened to carry out a mass shooting at the clinic (above) two years prior to Tuesday's attack

Law enforcement personnel and first responders gathered on the scene outside the clinic

Staff were simply told to ask Ulrich to stop contacting them and the case was closed, according to the Post.

Aside from the interactions around the medical center, police also had encounters with Ulrich over various domestic disputes with his roommates as well drug offenses.

Ulrich had also been issued a no trespassing order for a local church after sending a 'disturbing letter' to the pastor.

Buffalo Police Chief Pat Budke said at a press conference Tuesday afternoon the suspect had been known to law enforcement for some time and is thought to have specifically targeted the clinic.

'All I can say is, it's a history that spans several years and there's certainly a history of him being unhappy with health care... with the health care that he'd received,' Budke said.

'None of the information that we have from our past contact with him would indicate that he was unhappy with, or would direct his anger at, anyone other than people within the facilities where he had been treated or where they had attempted to give treatment.'

Ulrich has lived in the community for some time and has been in contact with healthcare professionals at the clinic for 'quite some time',' authorities said.

'None of the information we have at this time suggests he would focus on any other individual or clinic.'

Police said they believe he acted alone and they are not looking for any further suspects involved in the shooting.

Both the Buffalo Police Department and the Wright County Sheriff's Department were 'very familiar' with the suspect and had received 'several calls for service [regarding Ulrich] dating back to 2003,' Sheriff Sean Deringer said at the press conference.

'He is no stranger to law enforcement,' authorities said.

As well as questions around whether law enforcement missed critical warning signs ahead of Tuesday's attack, there are also pointed questions over how Ulrich got his hands on a firearm.

Allina Health named the victim as Lindsay Overbay Wednesday who had worked for the company since 2018

During court proceedings in June 2019, a court official said Ulrich had previously applied for and been denied a gun permit.

'It is highly recommended that the defendant not be allowed to have use or possession of any dangerous weapons,' they wrote.

Five months later in November 2019, Ulrich was then ordered to hand over any weapons or permits for weapons.

However, his former roommate claims he was in fact granted a firearms permit and had showed off to him a gun he bought just months before Tuesday's mass shooting.

Raymond Zandstra, who lived with Ulrich in his mobile home for two years until last July, told Fox 9 he had seen a copy of a permit allowing the 67-year-old to carry a firearm in his home last year.

Zandstra said Ulrich then showed off his new handgun - a Smith & Wesson - last summer.

'He showed me a new handgun he got, I said, 'What?' You shouldn't have a gun,' he told the outlet.

DailyMail.com has not yet been able to verify whether or not Ulrich was granted a gun permit.

Neither Buffalo Police Department nor Wright County Sheriff's Department returned a request for information Wednesday.

Ulrich was arrested at the scene of Tuesday's attack and is currently being held in the Wright County Jail.

The Wright County Sheriff's Office said Wednesday the criminal complaint against Ulrich will be completed by the attorney's office Thursday.

He faces charges including one count of second-degree intentional murder, four counts of first-degree attempted murder and one count of possession of explosive or incendiary devices.

Buffalo Police Chief Pat Budke said at a press conference Tuesday afternoon the suspect had been known to law enforcement for some time and is thought to have specifically targeted the clinic

Wright County Attorney Brian Lutes vowed to 'aggressively prosecute Ulrich for this horrible crime and the pain he caused to the victims, their families and the entire community.'

Police were first called to reports of shots being fired at the clinic at 10:54 am.

Officers responded to the scene and found several people injured inside the clinic as well as the suspect who they took into custody.

During a secondary search of the building, officers found what they described as a 'suspicious package' in the lobby and evacuated the building.

Authorities then received information that Ulrich was staying at the Super 8.

Officers went to the motel where they found 'additional suspicious devices' and also evacuated the building.

The situation was contained by 11:42 am and there was no ongoing threat to public safety.

Five victims were rushed to hospital following the shooting. Four patients were taken to North Memorial Health Hospital in Robbinsdale and the fifth at Hennepin County Medical Center.

The hospital confirmed Tuesday night that one of the victims had died.

Allina Health named the victim as Lindsay Overbay Wednesday who had worked for the company since 2018.

'The loss of Lindsay is traumatic for all who knew and loved her. Our entire Allina Health family extends our deepest sympathies to her family, friends and co-workers,' Allina said in a statement.

The health clinic named one of the other victims Thursday as Sherry Curtis, a nurse at the center.

'In total, five of our colleagues were victims in the attack. Sherry Curtis, a Licensed Practical Nurse at Allina Health since 2013 was also injured in the attack. We will not be identifying the other victims at this time out of respect for the families wishes,' it said.

A GoFundme has been set up to help Overbay's family including her two young children.
European research project iRel40: Improving the reliability of electronic components for future applications

Sensitec GmbH is collaborating in the European research project Intelligent Reliability 4.0 (iRel40) with 75 scientific and industrial partners from 13 countries to improve the reliability of electronic systems and microelectronic components. This project is coordinated by Infineon Technologies AG.

\High-performance electronics form the basis for future-oriented technologies such as electromobility, autonomous driving, renewable energies and energy-efficient networked solutions. However, they will only be successful if users can rely on reliable functionality, quality and durability. Reliability is a key differentiator in international competition,\ says Dr Reinhard Ploss, CEO of Infineon Technologies AG.

The special feature of iRel40 is the holistic approach to optimising the reliability of microelectronic systems along the entire value chain. All stages of a product and its manufacture are examined, starting with the wafer, through the chip, the packaging and the system, and all with the actual application in mind. A significant reduction in failure rates and thus an increase in product quality and service life represent the actual goal. This promotes a more sustainable use of our natural resources. Experts from science and industry rely on the latest findings and methods of materials research and failure analysis, including modelling and simulation as well as artificial intelligence. New, improved methods and procedures for increasing reliability will be developed and verified in concrete application cases from the fields of energy, transport and industry.

The collaborative project aims to build strong partnerships and enable investment in innovation across Europe, securing highly skilled jobs in Europe for the long term. The European Union is funding iRel40 as part of the ECSEL programme (Electronic Components and Systems for European Leadership). Germany supports the project work of the German partners through the Federal Ministry of Education and Research as well as through the two federal states of Saxony and Thuringia. The project will run for three years and is expected to end in April 2023.

Sensitec GmbH

Sensitec is a technology leader in magnetoresistive sensor technology. For more than 20 years, Sensitec has been developing and manufacturing magnetoresistive sensors (AMR, GMR, TMR) in its own wafer fab in Mainz and in system assembly at its headquarters in Wetzlar, Germany. The company supplies innovative sensor solutions for applications in the automotive, aerospace, industrial automation, measurement and testing, renewable energy, medical technology and biotechnology sectors. Main sensor solutions are current sensors, which can be used e.g. for electric speed drives or power electronic converters and inverters, position sensors for industrial plants, automotive controls and medical tools, scanners for non-destructive testing, contactless switches for pacemakers/implanted defibrillators. Sensitec has been part of the German Korber AG Group since 2013. With partners from industry and research, Sensitec develops new solutions for condition monitoring and predictive maintenance within the framework of publicly funded projects.

Role

Sensitec will lead the industrial pilot project 17 \Reliable xMR sensor based current measurement modules\ within iRel40. Within this activity, a small group of project partners will investigate current sensor modules to improve their reliability. This will be achieved through simulation, testing, a better understanding of the physics of failure and the selection of new materials and process improvements. Furthermore, intelligent analyses of data from the production and testing of the modules and their components using AI algorithms will be used to increase reliability and reduce production costs. Special attention will be paid to harsh environmental conditions, taking into account an extended temperature range between -40 ?C and 165 ?C.

Important contribution

In addition to leading the IP17 industrial pilot project, Sensitec will contribute to the development of more reliable AMR current sensor components and modules. In addition, Sensitec will work with the project partners to improve production and testing processes in thin-film technology, with the aim of developing more reliable sensor products even under harsh environmental conditions.

Further information on the project and the project partners can be found on the website https://www.irel40.eu/.
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A further 20 countries will be added to the mandatory hotel quarantine list by the Government later today, Taoiseach Micheal Martin has confirmed.

The UAE and Austria are among the list which will be finalised by Government later this evening. Previously, South Africa and Brazil were the only two countries requiring mandatory quarantine. Sub Saharan African countries will also be on the list.

Anyone arriving from these countries that are not essential workers will be subject to a mandatory 14-day quarantine in a hotel, which they must pay for themselves.

The Taoiseach said Ireland will be taking a tough line in the coming months with regard to non-essential and agreed it will cost thousands to those who ignore the regulations, through fines or enforced quarantine in hotels.

Legislation to increase the fine for non-essential foreign travel to 2,000 will be brought in next week, Mr Martin confirmed. He said it was regrettable that some people still dont seem to get it that travel abroad for non-essential purposes shouldnt happen.

Even now, as we move into a mandatory quarantining phase, we have to think beyond that as a strategy. All countries do, otherwise we end up as prisoners in our own country in the medium to long term.

"That comes back to the global vaccination strategy, that is going to be key to ending this, he said while speaking on Morning Ireland.

Mr Martin said it made sense to be cautious in the face of the vaccination rollout as, every month we get with the vaccine now, we reduce mortality, we reduce serious illness among those most vulnerable. That is a prize worth fighting for, Mr Martin said.

He said it was still the target to have most of the population vaccinated by September but admitted there are no definitives when it came to vaccines as supply issues are beyond his control.

Mr Martin added that he thinks the world should be pushing production of the vaccine even more and alluded to Ursula von der Leyens speech yesterday where she said the current global capacity to produce vaccines wont cut it.

The Taoiseach said the more advanced and richer societies will be vaccinated but pointed out that we need the rest of the world to be vaccinated too as mutations will arrive and could undermine our vaccination efforts.

The addition of the Johnson and Johnson one-shot vaccine will make a real difference when it comes on stream, the Taoiseach said, adding that quarter 2 is likely to see a significant increase in the number of vaccines available.

The positivity rate among close contacts has been at 22pc since the HSEs contact tracing resumed testing of close contacts, prior to this wave, that was 10 or 11pc, the Taoiseach said, showcasing the transmissibility of the dominant UK variant.
A customer told Denise Brown recently of her frustration. An order of new checks was way overdue. The company blamed the delay on the US Postal Service.

Thats worrisome for Brown, owner of Gilberts Written Word Stationery Store in East Longmeadow, because she sells a lot of greeting cards.

Greeting cards people buy to put in the mail, she said. Greeting cards that customers will mail the expectation that they arrive before the occasion theyre expected to celebrate.

Im a huge believer in the Postal Service, Brown said. If anything is going to drive people to doing things online rather than in the mail, its if things disappear in the mail.

She said shes busy now with Valentines Day cards and the wedding invitation business is starting to pick up as happy couples begin to see the end of the COVID pandemic on the horizon.

A COVID-caused spike in online shopping and shipping and Trump-era politics put a double whammy on the Postal Service in recent months with widespread complaints that packages were delayed or not arriving at all.

We urgently need a pro-postal pro-worker Postal Service Board of Governors to defend and expand the peoples Post Office. Have you signed the petition yet? Posted by APWU - The American Postal Workers Union on Tuesday, January 12, 2021

Complaints about late mail are fewer now than they were over Christmas, but still crop up, said Both Brown and Michael Harazmus, president of Branch 46 of the National Association of Letter Carriers in Western Massachusetts.

Harazmus, whose union represents workers in post offices and people who deliver mail, said that if mail is getting to local post offices its getting delivered. The backlog is happening at sorting plants. Locally, letters are sorted in Connecticut and packages at the Postal Services Network Distribution Center in the Indian Orchard section of Springfield.

Its getting incrementally better, Harazmus said. I can tell you the delays are not what they were.

Russell Evans, president of the American Postal Workers Union, Local 497, said the backups at the package handling Network Distribution Center  a facility where volumes went up 52% in December to more than half a million packages a day  cleared a few weeks ago.

Workers there processed 350,000 to 400,000 on a normal December day, a figure that swelled to more than 500,000 packages a day in the weeks leading up to Christmas.

The Postal office also shut down an overflow sorting center in a rented warehouse on Brookdale Drive, Evans said.

And there are more workers at the Springfield package sorting plant than there usually are at this time of year. The hundreds of holiday workers brought in late last year have been retained until at least March 23. Usually, they are gone in January.

The 78-acre facility has about 1,500 regular employees.

Evans said fewer workers are out with COVID symptoms or are quarantining due to feared exposure to the coronavirus. But he cant go into details due to worker privacy laws.

But he expects package volumes to continue to be high.

COVID has people shopping and ordering online, he said. No one is going out. I dont expect that to change for a while.

Postal workers across the country hope their agencys leadership changes under the Joe Biden presidency , according to the Associated Press.

Ron Bloom, a former labor leader and Obama administration official was elected Tuesday to serve as chair of the U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors replacing a Republican loyalist in what experts say is the first step Bidens plan to replace Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, Trump loyalist accused of hamstringing the postal Service last year in the run up to the election.

Were cautiously optimistic, said Harazmus who appeared last year at save-the-post-office rallies with both U.S. Rep. James McGovern, D-Worcester and with U.S .Rep. Richard E. Neal, D-Springfield.

Evans said the Springfield package-handling plant lost two machines in March or April of 2020.

One, a flat sorter sequencer was taken out of service and tarped in post-office parlance.

But then they fire it up every once in a while, he said. We keep telling them they need that machine.

The other machine, a flat sorter machine, was dismantled.

We have a lot of people at the plant and in my Local who care about the customers, he said. I cant preach that enough. We do care. Thats our job.

Related content
It was the kind of horror story that Americans had grown painfully used to reading during the four years of Donald Trumps presidency: More than 100 U.S. asylum seekers from strife-torn Haiti, suddenly deported across the U.S. border into the dangerous crime-ridden Mexican city of Juarez, including mothers who had no diapers for their babies and kids with no shoes on their feet.

Nobody was at the bridge to receive them, said Tania Guerrero, an immigration attorney from El Paso who witnessed the mid-winter dumping and described it to the Miami Herald. They were just dropped there.

But Donald Trump wasnt the president for this new episode of American harsh treatment toward refugees yearning to breathe free on U.S. soil. The Haitian immigrant dump happened earlier this month  about two weeks into the presidency of Joe Biden, whod campaigned promising to reverse his predecessors xenophobic immigration policies on Day One of his term to once again make the United States a global beacon for those seeking freedom.

So far, Biden is finding that abruptly reversing U.S. immigration policy is like turning around a battleship using the tiny, loose steering wheel of the USS Minnow. His highest-profile immigration move  an executive order pausing deportations for 100 days  has been blocked by a federal judge in Texas whom Trump had appointed just last year. In this vacuum of uncertainty, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE  still under an interim boss hastily installed in the last week of the Trump administration  and the Border Patrol, whose rank-and-file officers zealously supported POTUS 45, have seemingly sped up deportations and other enforcement actions.

For example:

The recent dumping of Haitian asylum-seekers in Mexico comes amid what officials and immigration observers had been reporting as a huge spike in deportations to the Caribbean island  which has been plagued by political violence and retribution amid a Trump-style constitutional crisis surrounding its current president  in the days since Biden took office. As many as two flights a day filled with rejected asylum seekers  many booted under an executive order aimed to slow the spread of COVID-19  had been arriving in Haiti, compared to just two every month a year ago.

In El Paso, ICE moved hastily in late January to deport a Mexican native  identified only by her first name of Rosa  who had been a witness to 2019s horrific Walmart shooting by a Trump aficionado who targeted Latinos and killed 22 people. The woman had been expected to testify at his trial. Advocates including a Texas congresswoman are now fighting for the return of Rosa  whod been pulled over for a broken tail light  as she told the Texas Tribune from her unfamiliar new home in Mexico that sometimes you feel hopeless and right now, I am in that kind of state.

Other deportation moves have continued or seemingly sped up since Bidens inauguration and the judges order blocking the new presidents moratorium, including flights to Guatemala, Honduras and Jamaica. A controversial flight that would have deported Africans back to strife-riven Cameroon  including some whod complained about abuse by ICE agents during their Trump-era U.S. detention  was halted only with last-minute intervention from top Biden officials.

The immigration fight reveals how undoing the wider toxic after-effects of Trumpism will probably take years. Will Bunch

The new deportation wars havent received the attention they deserve, in part because the news media and a healthy swath of the viewing public are mesmerized by Trumps second impeachment trial, showing how the ex-presidents Capitol Hill incitements caused major structural damage to the American Experiment. But the immigration fight reveals how undoing the wider toxic after-effects of Trumpism will probably take years and a crusade to undo all the booby traps  in the form of anti-refugee rules and xenophobic bureaucrats and government agents  planted throughout the government during the last four years.

Its all a reminder that before 2016 the term the Deep State was more popular with liberals than conservatives because it described an actual problem, which was careerists at the Pentagon or CIA or FBI who continued unchanging national-security-state policies regardless of which party controlled the White House. Trump deeply corrupted the term to make it an attack on incorruptible career public officials like those who stood up to his high crimes in the Ukraine affair, but at the same time the 45th president and his worst aides like Stephen Miller were installing the bad kind of Deep State at ICE and Border Patrol.

 READ MORE: Abolishing ICE is the radical idea America needs to be talking about | Will Bunch

Stephen Yale-Loehr, a longtime immigration expert who teaches at Cornell Law School, told me this week in an email interview that Biden faces a long road in undoing Trumps immigration policies. First, he said, former President Trump emboldened ICE agents to arrest anyone they suspected of being here illegally, even if the person merely overstayed their visa. ICE officials will not want to return to the pre-Trump era, where they were supposed to prioritize deporting immigrants who had serious criminal convictions. That is harder work.

Whats more, with virtually no fanfare the Trump administration signed a remarkable 8-year deal with the National ICE Council  the union for ICE agents, which endorsed Trump in 2020  with a clause that requires homeland security leaders to obtain prior written consent before implementing policy changes that would affect how agents do their job. Even if Team Biden somehow voids that contract, new immigration policies are also endangered by the flood of conservative judges rammed through by Trump and his Capitol Hill enabler Mitch McConnell.

In sum, changing the ICE bureaucracy is like steering an ocean liner, Yale-Loehr said. It takes time to change course. And it is harder when the crew may refuse to comply.

It may be even harder than that. The New York Times reported this week that the Trump administration scattered dozens of what it called land mines throughout the U.S. web of immigration rules and regulations, making it harder for the disabled to gain citizenship, or denying rights to same-sex partners of diplomats, or making it easier to deport pregnant women, and so on.

Its all a numbing reality check for Biden voters, many of whom were no doubt animated in their desire to oust Trump by images of toddlers separated from their parents at the Southern border. Although there have been some early wins for Bidens pro-refugee approach, overall its an uphill slog with Trumps appointees running ICE and the agents who overwhelmingly voted for Trump still in the streets. And theres one more pitfall  which is the politics, as Democrats already eye the 2022 midterms. The former president won in 2016 on an anti-immigrant platform because xenophobia is pretty popular; a new survey of Bidens first-month executive orders found the only one opposed by a plurality of voters was his plan to allow as many 125,000 yearly refugees to enter America.

Changing the ICE bureaucracy is like steering an ocean liner. It takes time to change course. And it is harder when the crew may refuse to comply. Stephen Yale-Loehr

Ideally, the best way to return the United States to the values of supporting freedom and worldwide human rights that are embodied by the Statue of Liberty would be to take the radical step that I and others on the left advocated in the worst days of the Trump administration: Abolish ICE, an agency that didnt even exist until the nations rushed and not-always-thought-out response to 9/11. The sick culture of ICE, after two decades, is too embedded throughout that agency and its cousin, Border Patrol, to change by simply rewriting their rule book. But practically, and given his need for consensus on COVID-19 and the economy, President Biden is absolutely not going to abolish ICE.

But that means Team Biden better gird itself for four years of trench warfare at ICE. We need a new Biden-appointed, pro-refugee head of the agency ASAP, followed by a push to replace as much high-level personnel as possible under civil service laws. The ridiculous new contract that cedes day-to-day control of immigration policy to Trump-loving ICE agents on the ground needs to get tossed out, and a task force needs to review every page of immigration regs and safely remove the landmines. All this needs to happen while nascent efforts to reunite families ripped apart during the Trump years are accelerated. The only airport images I want to see during the Biden years are mothers hugging their toddlers in joyful reunions, not more deportation jets on the tarmac.

Its understandable that Biden and his team would focus on the immediate pain of the pandemic in these first 100 days. Immigration  like impeachment and the mission-impossible push for a conviction in the Senate  shows how hard we will have to scrub to eliminate the moral stain of Trump. But it must be done. The worlds huddled masses of the tired, the hungry and the poor never stopped depending on us.

 READ MORE: SIGN UP for The Will Bunch Newsletter
WASHINGTON - House Democrats opened their first day of arguments in former President Donald Trumps impeachment trial with searing footage of the U.S. Capitol riot as they painted Trump as an inciter in chief who systematically riled up his supporters and falsely convinced them the election had been stolen, culminating in the deadly attack.

This image from video shows one of many slides presented by Democrats prosecuting the impeachment of former President Donald Trump in the Senate at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021. The video, which showed Trump's supporters chanting "Fight for Trump!" after they stormed into the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, was used by prosecutors as they sought to connect the mob with Trump and make the case that the president had incited them to insurrection. (Senate Television via AP)

WASHINGTON - House Democrats opened their first day of arguments in former President Donald Trumps impeachment trial with searing footage of the U.S. Capitol riot as they painted Trump as an "inciter in chief" who systematically riled up his supporters and falsely convinced them the election had been stolen, culminating in the deadly attack.

"He assembled, inflamed and incited his followers to descend upon the Capitol," the lead impeachment manager, Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., said Wednesday.

As she presented harrowing footage of the siege, Del. Stacey Plaskett, a Democrat representing the U.S. Virgin Islands and one of the prosecutors, said Trump had "put a target" on the backs of then-Vice-President Mike Pence and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who were leading the certification of President Joe Biden's election victory. "His mob broke into the Capitol to hunt them down," Plaskett said.

Highlights from the first full day of arguments:

TRUMPS WORDS COME BACK TO HAUNT HIM

Trump's voice rang out in the Senate Chamber as Democrats aired video from his rallies and other remarks to supporters. Interspersed throughout were slides of Trump's tweets contesting the election and promoting the Jan. 6 rally in Washington, which he promised would be "wild."

The impeachment managers put Trumps rhetoric on trial, from the months he spent laying the groundwork to contest the election results to the speech he delivered outside the White House egging his supporters to "fight" before they stormed the Capitol.

"He truly made his base believe that the only way he could lose was if the election were rigged," said Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, another one of the prosecutors.

Trump, the House impeachment managers argued, whipped his supporters into a frenzy with the "big lie" that their votes had been stolen, and urged them to fight.

"This attack never would have happened but for Donald Trump," said Rep. Madeleine Dean, D-Pa., choking back emotion. "And so they came, draped in Trumps flag, and used our flag, the American flag, to batter and to bludgeon."

There was no widespread fraud in the election, as has been confirmed by election officials across the country and former Attorney General William Barr. Dozens of legal challenges to the election put forth by Trump and his allies were dismissed.

In this image from video, House impeachment manager Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., speaks during the second impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump in the Senate at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021. (Senate Television via AP)

NEW SURVEILLANCE FOOTAGE

To reconstruct the siege for senators, Democrats aired never-before-seen security footage from inside the Capitol that showed the attack unfolding. Their presentation included chilling video of the rioters rampaging into the building and audio of distressed police officers who tried in vain to keep them out. "We have been flanked and weve lost the line," one frantic officer could be heard saying.

The presentation also showed the perilous moments when lawmakers and others, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Pence, were rushed to safety; body cam footage of an officer being beaten; the sounds of crunching, breaking glass; profane screams and violent threats; and cries as the rioters streamed into the building, some carrying riot shields and weapons.

"Where do they count the fing votes?" one member of the mob could be heard shouting. "You work for us," one yelled at officers. "Wheres that meeting at?"

Democrats warned that many of the scenes would be hard to watch, including the horrifying screams of an officer being crushed in a doorway and video of one of the rioters, Ashli E. Babbitt, being shot to death by U.S. Capitol Police.

Also never before seen: Footage of Capitol Police officer Eugene Goodman, who has already been hailed as a hero, warning Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, that the mob was headed his way. Romney turned and dashed in the other direction.

"I did not know that was Officer Goodman," Romney told reporters after seeing it. "I look forward to thanking him when I next see him."

Goodman also directed the mob away from the Senate Chamber and toward other officers.

PRAISE FOR PENCE

While the Democrats excoriated Trump, they lavished praise on an unlike figure: former Vice-President Pence, outlining in exacting detail how his life had been put in physical danger and hailing him as a "patriot" for defying Trump's pressure campaign to overturn the election results.

"Vice-President Pence had the courage to stand against the president, tell the American public the truth and uphold our Constitution. That is patriotism," said Plaskett, whose presentation included previously unseen footage of Pence and his family being evacuated from the Senate chamber as rioters spread through the Capitol.

Other footage showed the rioters chanting "Hang Mike Pence!" as others searching for him. At one point, Plaskett said, the rioters were within 100 feet of where Pence was sheltering with his family.

In this image from video, a Tweet is shown to senators as House impeachment manager Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, speaks during the second impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump in the Senate at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021. (Senate Television via AP)

"They were talking about assassinating the vice-president of the United States," she said.

Many Republicans had been appalled by Trump's treatment of his most loyal soldier during his final days in office. And the focus appeared to be a tacit acknowledgment of the Democrats' intended audience as they try to convince Senate Republicans  many of whom are close with Pence  that Trump deserves to be punished for what happened.

"Mike Pence is not a traitor to this country. Hes a patriot," said Castro. "And he and his family, who was with him that day, didn't deserve this, didn't deserve a president unleashing a mob on them, especially because he was just doing his job."

TRUMPS LAWYERS RETURN

They were merely observers as Democrats had the floor. But members of Trumps legal team indicated they would stay the course despite a flood of criticism, both from Republican senators and the former president, about their performance during procedural arguments Tuesday.

"Not at all," said attorney Bruce Castor when asked by reporters whether there would be any changes to their strategy. "No, I dont anticipate any," echoed David Schoen, another attorney.

Both Castor and Schoen said they had spoken to Trump on Tuesday, but Castor denied that the former president had expressed displeasure to him.

"Far from it," he said, even as Schoen allowed there was room for improvement after Republican senators panned their performance as disjointed and unhelpful.

"To the extent they were critical of anything that I did, I just want to try to do a better job then," he said.

"Bottom line is I think his team will do better, can do better," said Sen. Lindsey Graham, D-S.C., a close ally of the president, after the two had spoken. While he acknowledged there was "room for improvement," Graham said hed tried to tell Trump that "the case is over. Its just a matter of getting the final verdict now. " All but six Republican senators voted Tuesday against moving forward with the trial.

MAKING IT PERSONAL

Dean described the House Chamber descending into chaos as she stood with colleagues in the gallery above the floor and made panicked calls to her husband and sons.

"Someone shouted up to us, Duck! then Lie down!' then Ready your gas masks!" she remembered. "Shortly after there was a terrifying banging on the chamber doors. I will never forget that sound."

Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., described the text he sent to his wife telling her to hug their young children.

"On Jan. 6," said Castro, "President Trump left everyone in this Capitol for dead."

Throughout the proceeding, the House managers served as personal witnesses of the horror and repeatedly invoked the word "us" as they appealed to fellow lawmakers targeted in the attack.

"He was coming for you, for Democratic and Republican senators. He was coming for all of us, just as the mob did at his direction," said Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Calif., after describing Trumps rhetoric.

REPUBLICANS HOLD FIRM

There appears little chance enough Republicans will break with Democrats to convict Trump at the end of the trial. And some of them appeared indifferent to the proceedings and unmoved by the evidence Wednesday.

Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley, who led the Senate challenge to the election along with Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, said the prosecutors case was "predictable" and included information that was already public.

The video evidence was "nothing new here, for me, at the end of the day," said Hawley, who maintains the trial is unconstitutional.

Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson, another close ally of Trump, predicted the remainder of the trial was "going to be pretty tedious" and said the two sides would be better served if they just made their cases "in a couple hours" and be "done with this."

And Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, who sat with his back to the screen, writing notes on a pad, walked out in the middle of Plasketts description of the threats against Pence.

It was a notable contrast with Democrats like Maryland Sen. Ben Cardin, who described the prosecutors presentation of evidence as "painful" to watch.

While it forced them to relive a traumatic moment, "it also helps to bring closure, so I think its something that we have to go through," said Cardin, who described Jan. 6 as "one of the roughest days of our life."
Union Home Minister Amit Shah

In a yet another effort to make deeper inroads into poll-bound West Bengal, Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced on February 11 that a new Narayani Sena Battalion will be included in the paramilitary forces, reported News 18.

Apart from promising the Narayani Sena regiment to the Rajbonshi community of North Bengal -- in lines with the one that existed in the Cooch Behar kingdom  Shah also promised that the training centre will be named after Chila Roy  a prince of the Koch Dynasty and the younger brother of King Nara Narayan.

Addressing a Porivartan Yatra in Rash Mela Ground, Cooch Behar, Amit Shah said: Today, I feel honoured to address you from Cooch Behar, which is known for the bravery of Narayani Sena. Once Narayani Sena courageously fought with the Mughals and chased them away. Now once again infiltrators are entering India illegally. We will dedicate a Narayani Sena battalion in the paramilitary forces soon. The training centre for Narayani Sena will be known as Chila Roy.

The Narayani Sena regiment has been a long-standing demand of the Rajbonshis, and BJP national president JP Nadda had also assured them of the inclusion of the battalion.

To appease minority communities, West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee has already announced the formation of three separate police battalions -- Narayani in Cooch Behar, Jangalmahal for the tribal belt, and Gorkha in the Hills.

Notably, Rajbonshis contribute to 30 percent of the vote share and their sentiments can sway the elections in North Bengal. In fact, the Rajbonshi community was instrumental in helping the saffron party make massive inroads in North Bengal during the previous Lok Sabha elections.
Thiruvananthapuram: About 2,000 litres of furnace oil from the state-run Travancore Titanium Products (TTP) here leaked into the sea on Wednesday over a one km stretch, but was contained within half-an-hour and the cleaning operation underway, company officials said.

Local fishermen first spotted the leak, from the pumping line to the boiler, which spread from Veli to Shangumughamarea and alerted the TTP officials and other authorities concerned. Coastguard ship C-441 and Dornier aircraft from Kochi conducted surveillance along the Veli coast here.

The coastguard vessel is closely monitoring the situation and is equipped with all logistics in case the oil spill spreads due to tidal movements, A Defence press release said. It was estimated that about 2000 litres oil leaked into the sea, it said.

Earlier, company officials told PTI that the leak was plugged within 30 minutes and the cleaning process has been initiated with the help of locals.

"Since the leak was near the drain, it spread to the sea along the coast for nearly one km. The cleaning process has begun. The work is being done with the help of the locals and it is expected to be completed by this evening.We will resume the work only after replacing the faulty line," TTP Managing Director Georgee Ninan told PTI. The company is a pioneer manufacturer and distributor of titaniumdioxide anatase grade pigment. Thiruvananthapuram District Collector Navjot Khosa inspected the site andthe adjacent beach and said the authorities were examining the extent of damage.

The district authority, in consultation with the Kerala Pollution Control Board, has initiated the process of removing the polluted sand from the beach. "We plan to finish the cleaning process by removing the polluted sand from the beach and separate the oil. As of now, it has not spread much into the sea.

"But we still need to monitor the sea with the help of the Coastguardand to assess the situation in the next 48 hours. The spread depends upon the wind and tide conditions," Khosa told reporters. She said the KPCB will assess the damage caused to the fishermen and nature and decide the compensation to be given.

"Further action will be taken after the board submits its report. There are guidelines in case of such spills. We will act accordingly, she said. Congress MLA V S Sivakumar, who visited the area, claimed fishermen would not be able to put out to sea for atleast a month as the area has been polluted.

"Fishermen, especially those in the shore seine fishing activity, have been affected. The state government should give adequate compensation to those who have lost their livelihood," he told reporters. Ninan said the company will discuss the matter with the councillors and the local people and provide necessary compensation to those who lost their livelihood.

Posted Wednesday, February 10, 2021 6:06 pm

The Chehalis City Council on Monday discussed parking regulations in the historic downtown area and whether or not to require businesses in the downtown district to provide off-street parking.

The council raised concerns about making parking requirements too strict and creating difficulties for businesses in the downtown area.

Were not looking at this as a parking enforcement regulation but rather just changing the code, Chehalis Building and Planning Manager Tammy Baraconi said.

The proposed change to the code was to no longer exclude downtown businesses from having to provide off-street parking to customers. The removal of that portion of the citys code would allow city staff to evaluate parking needs anytime there is a change of use.

The developer would have to provide their own parking spaces, with the number of spaces dictated by the use of the building, whether its restaurant, apartments or offices, Baraconi said.

The council had the concern that the new parking requirements could be too strict and it would inhibit new businesses from moving into the downtown area.

The problem is that in the downtown area, the parking spots on the streets cannot be designated to one business and not a business that is right next door. There is not space available in the downtown area to provide off-street parking for every business.

Chehalis Councilor Daryl Lund suggested that the code be left the way it is currently written.

We cant add any more parking, well unless we destroy some buildings. We cant add any more parking downtown, and its pretty darn difficult to ask a business thats wanting to buy a building downtown that they have to provide parking, Councilor Bob Spahr said.

The city could regulate residential and commercial parking to prohibit people from parking in the downtown area for long periods of time by hiring a code enforcement employee to write tickets downtown.

The council decided not to change the code at this time but plans to continue conversations about parking in the future by creating a subcommittee composed of councilors Spahr, Jerry Lord and Lund.

Mortar shelling in Afghanistan kills at least 10 civilians

Fire breaks out at West Virginia oil refinery in US

Iran ready to help improve the defense capability of Syria

European Parliament head proposes to strengthen sanctions on Russia

UK PM gets married in London

Armenia reports COVID-19 new 81 cases: for people die

EU countries invite US to issue joint statement against Russia

2 people die in Armenia road accident

Nigeria: Students taken hostage a month ago are released

61 quakes recorded in Congo per day

Syrian MFA: EU lost credibility due to blind obedience to US policy

Armenia ex-minister of emergency situations hospitalized with heart attack

Mher Grigoryan: Clarification of border points is possible only after withdrawal of Azerbaijani troops from Armenia

Suspicious deal: Whether there was profit from buying DNA IDs?

Armenia ex-president says current authorities are trying to blame Russia for defeat in war

4 people killed in Afghanistani bus attack

Robert Kocharyan: This war could not have happened, it was a consequence of the policy of the authorities

Kocharyan: I have to ask people how it happened that overwhelming majority elected this leader

Armen Gevorgyan presents 'Armenia' bloc program: We offer the concept of a working country

Biden's administration proposed to leave unchanged amount of financial support to Armenia

US Embassy in Baku calls on Azerbaijan to immediately release Armenian POWs

Luxembourg MFA calls on Azerbaijan to immediately release all Armenian prisoners

Russia peacekeepers climb to Armenia Gegharkunik Province village positions

Biden strongly condemns manifestations of antisemitism in US

Iran intensifies its diplomacy amid Armenia-Azerbaijan border tensions

Armenia acting PM on forthcoming snap parliamentary elections: We hope to get 60% of votes

Lukashenko accuses West of destabilizing situation in Belarus

Armenia Central Electoral Commission chief on snap elections: No legal basis for postponing, suspending any function

Armenias Pashinyan is met by Yerevan district residents chanting against him

We are ready to be fully engaged in negotiation process to resolve Karabakh issue, says Armenia acting PM

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan gives interview to Russia TV channel

Armenia acting premier: We are ready to start withdrawing troops at any moment

Canada MFA expresses concern over 6 Armenian soldiers capture by Azerbaijan troops

There are omissions in registration documents of political forces that applied to Armenia Central Electoral Commission

Armenia Central Electoral Commission chief: There is activeness in Yerevan for the past day or two

Three new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Group of US Congress members threaten Azerbaijans Aliyev regime with sanctions

Chicago mayor is sued for allegedly refusing interview with white reporter

Iran exports oil to US for first time after long interval

"Armenia" bloc top 50 MP candidates are announced

42 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Sri Lanka public beach is covered in charred plastic pellets due to fire in container ship

US preparing list of targeted sanctions on Belarus authorities

China believes it will own America by 2035, Biden says

15 al-Shabab militants killed in Somalia

Newspaper: Armenia political forces that applied for running in election impatiently await CEC decision

Newspaper: Changes are expected in Artsakh

California prisoner who considers himself Satanist beheads cellmate, dismembers his body

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM's "mutually beneficial" proposal to collapse state system?

Armenia National Security Service Reserve Officers' Union members meet with His Holiness Karekin II

EU is ready to help Armenia and Azerbaijan with border delimitation and demarcation

ARF-D member on Nikol Pashinyan: 103 years ago Armenia's founding fathers would have executed him for treason

Iran President hails brotherly ties with Azerbaijan

Robert Kocharyan on years of his leadership in Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia

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"Armenia" alliance of political parties paying tribute to founder of First Republic Aram Manukyan

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

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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

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Bashar al-Assad wins Syria presidential election

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Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

Sawfish have disappeared from half of the world's coastal waters and the distinctive shark-like rays face complete extinction due to overfishing, according to a new study by Simon Fraser University researchers, published in Science Advances.

Sawfish, named after their unique long, narrow noses lined by teeth, called rostra, that resemble a sawblade, were once found along the coastlines of 90 countries but they are now among the world's most threatened family of marine fishes, presumed extinct from 46 of those nations. There are 18 countries where at least one species of sawfish is missing, and 28 more where two species have disappeared.

According to SFU researchers Helen Yan and Nick Dulvy, three of the five species of sawfish are critically endangered, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species, and the other two are endangered.

Their teeth on their rostra are easily caught in fishing nets. Sawfish fins are among the most valuable in the global shark fin trade and rostra are also sold for novelty, medicine and as spurs for cockfighting.

The current presence of all sawfishes world-wide is unknown, but Dulvy warns complete extinction is possible if nothing is done to curb overfishing and to protect threatened habitats, such as mangroves, where sawfish can thrive.

"Through the plight of sawfish, we are documenting the first cases of a wide-ranging marine fish being driven to local extinction by overfishing," Dulvy says. "We've known for a while that the dramatic expansion of fishing is the primary threat to ocean biodiversity, but robust population assessment is difficult for low priority fishes whose catches have been poorly monitored over time. With this study, we tackle a fundamental challenge for tracking biodiversity change: discerning severe population declines from local extinction."

The study recommends that international conservation efforts focus on eight countries (Cuba, Tanzania, Columbia, Madagascar, Panama, Brazil, Mexico and Sri Lanka) where conservation efforts and adequate fishing protections could save the species. It also found Australia and the United States, where adequate protections already exist and some sawfish are still present, should be considered as "lifeboat" nations.

"While the situation is dire, we hope to offset the bad news by highlighting our informed identification of these priority nations with hope for saving sawfish in their waters," says Yan. "We also underscore our finding that it's actually still possible to restore sawfish to more than 70 percent of their historical range, if we act now."

Explore further Study finds growing numbers of critically endangered sawfish in Miami waters

More information: Helen F. Yan et al, Overfishing and habitat loss drive range contraction of iconic marine fishes to near extinction, Science Advances (2021). Journal information: Science Advances Helen F. Yan et al, Overfishing and habitat loss drive range contraction of iconic marine fishes to near extinction,(2021). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abb6026
The project aims at improving the quality and value of agro-exports to meet the regulations of importers.

Around 60% of Vietnams agro-forestry-fisheries exports are expected to be processed, significantly contributing to its total growth of 6%-8% annually by 2030, according to the latest plan approved by the Prime Minister.

The project, aiming to promote the export of agricultural, forestry and fishery products by 2030, sets an export value of around US$60-62 billion, including US$25 billion from major farm produce, US$17 billion from forestry products and US$15 billion from seafood.

Among agricultural exports, about 40% of the products will be national brands and 70% will have traceable origins.

The plan will also improve the quality and value of agricultural exports to meet the regulations of importers, as well as assisting Vietnamese exporters in protecting intellectual property right, safeguarding their positions and brands in the international market.

Positive signs

In January, export growth increased by 27.1% compared to the same period of last year, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD).

Despite many difficulties caused by Covid-19, most of the main commodity groups such as seafood, wood and wooden products achieved good results in terms of value last month.

Regarding seafood, the global demand for shrimp is likely to rise, especially in the context of complicated developments relating to the pandemic. Shrimp exports are expected to gain robust growth and reach more US$4 billion in revenue in 2021 providing that Vietnamese enterprises take full advantage of free trade agreements, according to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP).

To promote the export of agricultural products, the MARD in coordination with localities has promoted the issuance of codes for farming areas, associated with geographical indications, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong said. The ministry also has planned to change the way of doing business, consumption and export of key products.

The ministry will coordinate with the Ministry of Industry and Trade, relavant agencies and enterprises to improve market forecasts and promptly inform localities and enterprises so that they could adopt appropriate production and business plans.

Hanoitimes


Do You Have Insomnia?

Trouble sleeping can be a warning signal of other serious physical problems

There used to be an old wives tale that suggested older people needed a lot less sleep than younger people. But according to The National Institutes of Health, older adults only need one hour less sleepthe recommended amount is 6 1/2 to 7 hours per night. Unfortunately, almost half of adults age 60 and older experience insomnia, a form of sleep deprivation that can last anywhere from days to weeks to months.

According to the National Sleep Foundation, normal sleep is NREM sleep or non-rapid eye movement sleep. There are four stages, beginning with light sleep and progressing to deeper sleep. During REM sleep, or rapid eye movement, our breathing becomes irregular and shallow; our eyes move rapidly; limb muscles become immobile, and vivid dreaming may occur. The entire NREM-REM cycle usually lasts around 90 minutes and can take place four to five times during a night of normal sleep.

Its important to understand this process because as we age, we tend to spend less time in the all-important restorative REM phase. And as annoying as insomnia can be, it can actually serve as a warning signal of other serious but unrecognized physical problems. In fact, according to Dr. Alon Y. Avidan, the director of the sleep clinic at the University of CaliforniaLos Angeles David Geffen School of Medicine, insomnia is a symptom, not a diagnosis. In older adults, sleep issues can be triggered by conditions ranging from arthritis and asthma to COPD and prostate problems. And if prescription drugs (like diuretics or antidepressants) or behavioral issues (like an inactive lifestyle or late-night eating) are present, then the problem of sleep deprivation needs to be addressed holistically.

In addition to a full physical checkup, it can help to establish a regular bedtime routine that avoids factors that could interfere with fallingand stayingasleep. Taking a hot bath before bed and drinking a glass of warm milk to help induce sleepiness are two options. And many sleep experts feel that its important to avoid alcohol before bedtime because even though it can make you sleepy at first, it can make it difficult to stay asleep.

Because we are diurnal creatures, the presence of light can directly affect the quality of our sleep. With a price tag of $24.95, Lighting Science has created a GoodNight light bulb specifically to help induce sleep with a depleted blue spectrum light. The company has an entire line of biological bulbs that are designed to give off light that will complement (rather than disrupt) a persons circadian rhythm. And in 2016, Apple introduced a feature called Night Shift that reduces the amount of blue light that is emitted from the products screens. Philips has developed a line of smart bulbs called Hue that can be connected with a wireless network and smart-home systems like Amazon Alexa and Nest.

Peter J. Hauri, a sleep specialist at the Mayo Clinic, urges patients to practice good sleep hygiene. His suggestions include:

Limiting naps to less than 30 minutes a day (preferably in the early afternoon)

Avoiding stimulants and sedatives

Getting moderate daily exercise (preferably in the morning or early afternoon)

Avoiding heavy meals and minimizing liquids for 2 to 3 hours before bedtime

Getting exposure to bright light or sunshine during the day

Going to bed only when sleepy

It pays to avoid prescription sleep aids (like Ambien, Rozerem and Sonata) becauselike all medicationsthey can have unforeseen side effects.

Mark Zielinski, who teaches psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, has conducted extensive research on the brain signals that tell the bodys major systems to shut down each night. Doctors today know that people who suffer from interrupted or reduced sleep are at higher risk of developing a variety of challenging health issues. These include diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and even obesity.

Matthew Walker, professor of neuroscience and psychology at the University of CaliforniaBerkeley, told Alice Park at Time magazine, Sleep is the single most effective thing you can do to reset your brain and body for health. Obviously, Shakespeare really knew what he was talking about when he wrote, O sleep,/ O gentle sleep,/ Natures soft nurse.

Marilyn Murray Willison has had a varied career as a six-time nonfiction author, columnist, motivational speaker, and journalist in both the UK and the U.S. She is the author of The Self-Empowered Woman blog and the award-winning memoir One Woman, Four Decades, Eight Wishes. She can be reached at marilynwillison.com. To find out more about Marilyn and read her past columns, please visit the Creators Syndicate webpage at www.creators.com. Copyright2020 Creators.Com


Some people who are already in custody have not been released to attend Naas District Court.

A man who is already serving a term was scheduled to be before the court on January 27 but did not turn up.

Sgt Jim Kelly said that the Prison Service is reluctant to produce prisoners without a court order, adding that the defendant is in custody on other matters.

Defending barrister Aisling Murphy said he should have been released to attend and applied for the case against him to be struck out. Ms Murphy said that the man is due for release in March.

He is coming to the end of his term and he is now facing this. He is entitled to have the case dealt with as expeditiously as possible, she said.

Most of the new restrictions about attending court arise from the fear of the spread of Covid-19 and many cases are now dealt with by videolink connecting Naas courthouse with the prison where the defendant is detained  in this case the Midland Prison.

Judge Desmond Zaidan also pointed out that the service has objected to the use of a room within the courthouse in Naas because of concerns about the stairs leading to the room.

Judge Zaidan refused to strike the case out, pointing out that the man is on bail on these charges.

However, he made an order directing that man attend court on February 2.

Last year, the PS introduced a number of measures in prisons across Ireland to prevent the spread of the virus, including a reduction in prisoner numbers and cell-sharing.

The Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT) said that addressing the overcrowding in prisons in a short period of time was an extraordinary achievement.

Before the outbreak of the pandemic, 75 prisoners were sleeping on mattresses on the floor because of a lack of space, the Press Association and The Journal reported.

A report carried out by the IPRT found that coronavirus measures improved some standards within prisons.

It found that the Covid response revealed that the majority of closed prisons across the State were overcrowded and unsafe.

At the outset of Covid-19, there were more than 4,200 prisoners in custody in Ireland.

Following the outbreak of the pandemic, the Irish Prison Service and the Department of Justice reduced the prison population by 10% to 3,807.
Employers can exempt salaried employees from overtime laws if they earn more than $35,568 and they primarily perform office or nonmanual managerial work, plus exercise discretion or independent judgment in their jobs. In retail, roles such as assistant store director raise questions because those employees can end up shouldering extra work after overtime-eligible hourly workers are sent home at the end of their shifts  a burden magnified early in the pandemic, when stores were especially busy and short-staffed, Conway said.

Last week, the first of two Southern Adventist University students was awarded the 2021-2022 Morning Pointe Scholars Endowment Scholarship. Southern alumni and co-founders of Morning Pointe Senior Living Greg Vital, president, and Franklin Farrow, chief executive officer, presented the scholarship to Leroy Cox, junior health services and senior living administration major, during an event hosted by the universitys School of Business. The second award recipient is Brittany Franks, senior nursing major.Receiving this scholarship came as a surprise, and it means everything to me, Mr.Cox said. My long-term goal is to not only work in the health administration field but also make a difference wherever I am. I want to be known for more than just doing my job the right way; I want to be a person who everyone respects and knows to be a God-fearing individual.Mr. Vital and Mr. Farrow established the scholarship in 2017 to support the education of future caregivers and healthcare administrators while increasing awareness of occupations within senior living communities.As people live longer and stay healthier, the need for senior care and its services continues to grow, and we think that Southern has a unique opportunity to help prepare the next generation of leaders for senior care and geriatrics, Mr. Vital said. The universitys programs parallel Morning Pointes mission of providing affordable, compassionate senior care throughout the Southeast. Along with our commitment to education, we want to help provide for those students who might need some financial assistance and show our appreciation to Southern for its work and leadership in this area.
OTTAWA  A respected microbiologist says its unacceptable that it took 18 days for Manitoba health officials to discover they had a carrier of the U.K. variant of COVID-19.

OTTAWA  A respected microbiologist says its unacceptable that it took 18 days for Manitoba health officials to discover they had a carrier of the U.K. variant of COVID-19.

"For us to just be waiting 18 days to get sequencing is insane," said Dr. Kelly MacDonald, who argued the province has to be more transparent about how it searches for variants.

The province said since the case emerged, it has stepped up screening to detect possible variants.

Dr. Kelly MacDonald, infectious disease research chair for the University of Manitobas microbiology department.

But MacDonald and her colleagues say the province could speed up the process by leaning on technicians at universities and other labs in Manitoba.

"If its a money or a manpower issue, that is not an adequate excuse," said MacDonald, the infectious disease research chair for the University of Manitobas microbiology department, who stressed she was not speaking on behalf of the university.

Variants that have taken hold in the United Kingdom, South Africa and Brazil appear to be more infectious due to genetic changes that make spike proteins better at binding to cells than the original COVID-19 virus.

Manitobas first known case of a variant involves a Winnipegger who came home to Manitoba on Jan. 19, after visiting Africa and then Europe.

"For us to just be waiting 18 days to get sequencing is insane."  Dr. Kelly MacDonald

The traveller took a test for COVID-19 two days later. It came back positive and was sent for sequencing, a process that involves dissecting the gene structure to look for mutations. In Manitoba, the procedure is conducted for each case linked to international travel.

Scientists at the National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg found the B.1.1.7 variant, which has taken hold in Britain, and informed the province on Monday evening, 18 days after the test.

Dr. Brent Roussin, Manitoba's chief public health officer, said Tuesday officials believe no other case emerged from that traveller.

JOHN WOODS / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES The Canadian Science Centre for Human and Animal Health, home of the National Microbiology Laboratory in Winnipeg.

The province said that since that case was found, it has scaled up screening for variants, which is a faster, but less specific procedure, compared with sequencing.

"Basically anything that comes back positive in Manitoba, our provincial lab is able to screen for the B.1.1.7 variant," said Dr. Jazz Atwal, acting deputy chief public health officer, on Wednesday.

Specimens that are suspected of having a variant are then sent for sequencing, where it is determined whether there is a variant, and if so, which one.

The major problem with doing sequencing is not the actual equipment; it's the expertise to analyze the data.  Dr. Kelly MacDonald

A Health Department spokeswoman said the Cadham Provincial Laboratory expects to get equipment this week that will eventually allow it to screen for all variants, instead of just the U.K. variant.

"(The lab) intends to be screening most or all cases for specific variants in the next week or two," the spokeswoman wrote.

That implies that not all positive cases are currently screened, unlike in Ontario and Minnesota.

Meanwhile, Manitoba is selecting about five per cent of positive samples to be fully sequenced, a process that currently takes weeks. Other provinces have plans to do so for 10 per cent of samples, but not Manitoba.

CP A battery of pipettes on a robot used for gene sequencing. (Helix via AP)

MacDonald said the screening and sequencing processes would take less time if technicians with laboratory skills, such as at universities, were included in the effort.

"We've got lots of people, and Red River (College) is pumping out people who have molecular skills," she said, noting that private labs have also hired people to help screen for variants.

"The major problem with doing sequencing is not the actual equipment; it's the expertise to analyze the data."

Dr. Jeffrey Marcus, a University of Manitoba biology professor, said hes puzzled none of his colleagues has been asked to help the province with sequencing.

We do have the equipment here in the province that could be potentially deployed, to deal with this some of this stuff more quickly.  Dr. Jeffrey Marcus, University of Manitoba biology professor

Instead, the province relies on the weeks-long process conducted by the national lab, which he said gives these highly contagious variants more time to wreak havoc.

"That could buy us a couple of weeks of warning, and that would result in our ability to clamp things down that much sooner," Marcus said.

"We do have the equipment here in the province that could be potentially deployed, to deal with this some of this stuff more quickly."

The province has so far declined to do interviews about its process for detecting variants.

Atwals statement on Wednesday was the first time the province disclosed that it screens COVID-19 samples for variants, after spokespeople dodged this question in written queries from the Free Press.

MacDonald said Manitobas pandemic response is constantly cloaked in secrecy, leaving both the public and experts scratching their heads.

"Its all about transparency, sharing with the public some transparency that you're taking into account these things and working on them," she said.

dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca


With the help of the international Gemini Observatory, a Program of NSF's NOIRLab, and other ground-based telescopes, astronomers have confirmed that a faint object discovered in 2018 and nicknamed "Farfarout" is indeed the most distant object yet found in our Solar System. The object has just received its designation from the International Astronomical Union.

Farfarout was first spotted in January 2018 by the Subaru Telescope, located on Maunakea in Hawai'i. Its discoverers could tell it was very far away, but they weren't sure exactly how far. They needed more observations.

"At that time we did not know the object's orbit as we only had the Subaru discovery observations over 24 hours, but it takes years of observations to get an object's orbit around the Sun," explained co-discoverer Scott Sheppard of the Carnegie Institution for Science. "All we knew was that the object appeared to be very distant at the time of discovery."

Sheppard and his colleagues, David Tholen of the University of Hawai'i and Chad Trujillo of Northern Arizona University, spent the next few years tracking the object with the Gemini North telescope (also on Maunakea in Hawai'i) and the Carnegie Institution for Science's Magellan Telescopes in Chile to determine its orbit. [1] They have now confirmed that Farfarout currently lies 132 astronomical units (au) from the Sun, which is 132 times farther from the Sun than Earth is. (For comparison, Pluto is 39 au from the Sun, on average.)

Farfarout is even more remote than the previous Solar System distance record-holder, which was discovered by the same team and nicknamed "Farout." Provisionally designated 2018 VG18, Farout is 124 au from the Sun.

However, the orbit of Farfarout is quite elongated, taking it 175 au from the Sun at its farthest point and around 27 au at its closest, which is inside the orbit of Neptune. Because its orbit crosses Neptune's, Farfarout could provide insights into the history of the outer Solar System.

"Farfarout was likely thrown into the outer Solar System by getting too close to Neptune in the distant past," said Trujillo. "Farfarout will likely interact with Neptune again in the future since their orbits still intersect."

Farfarout is very faint. Based on its brightness and distance from the Sun, the team estimates it to be about 400 kilometers (250 miles) across, putting it at the low end of possibly being designated a dwarf planet by the International Astronomical Union (IAU).

The IAU's Minor Planet Center in Massachusetts announced today that it has given Farfarout the provisional designation 2018 AG37. The Solar System's most distant known member will receive an official name after more observations are gathered and its orbit becomes even more refined in the coming years.

"Farfarout takes a millennium to go around the Sun once," said Tholen. "Because of this, it moves very slowly across the sky, requiring several years of observations to precisely determine its trajectory."

Farfarout's discoverers are confident that even more distant objects remain to be discovered on the outskirts of the Solar System, and that its distance record might not stand for long.

"The discovery of Farfarout shows our increasing ability to map the outer Solar System and observe farther and farther towards the fringes of our Solar System," said Sheppard. "Only with the advancements in the last few years of large digital cameras on very large telescopes has it been possible to efficiently discover very distant objects like Farfarout. Even though some of these distant objects are quite large -- the size of dwarf planets -- they are very faint because of their extreme distances from the Sun. Farfarout is just the tip of the iceberg of objects in the very distant Solar System."

###

Notes

[1] The Gemini North observations of Farfarout were done on 1 May and 2 May 2019 Universal Time, using Director's Discretionary Time.

More information

NSF's NOIRLab (National Optical-Infrared Astronomy Research Laboratory), the US center for ground-based optical-infrared astronomy, operates the international Gemini Observatory (a facility of NSF, NRC-Canada, ANID-Chile, MCTIC-Brazil, MINCyT-Argentina, and KASI-Republic of Korea), Kitt Peak National Observatory (KPNO), Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory (CTIO), the Community Science and Data Center (CSDC), and Vera C. Rubin Observatory (in cooperation with DOE's SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory). It is managed by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA) under a cooperative agreement with NSF and is headquartered in Tucson, Arizona. The astronomical community is honored to have the opportunity to conduct astronomical research on Iolkam Du'ag (Kitt Peak) in Arizona, on Maunakea in Hawai?i, and on Cerro Tololo and Cerro Pachon in Chile. We recognize and acknowledge the very significant cultural role and reverence that these sites have to the Tohono O'odham Nation, to the Native Hawaiian community, and to the local communities in Chile, respectively.

Links

University of Hawai'i press release

NAOJ/Subaru press release

Minor Planet Circular 2021-C187

Photos of Gemini North telescope

2018 talk mentioning Farfarout by Scott Sheppard

"Beyond Pluto: the Hunt for a Massive Planet X"

Contacts

Scott Sheppard

Earth and Planets Laboratory

Carnegie Institution for Science

Tel: +1 202-478-8854

Email: ssheppard@carnegiescience.edu

David Tholen

University of Hawai'i

Email: tholen@hawaii.edu

Chad Trujillo

Northern Arizona University

Email: chad.trujillo@nau.edu

Amanda Kocz

Press and Internal Communications Officer

NSF's NOIRLab

Cell: +1 626-524-5884

Email: amanda.kocz@noirlab.edu
FICCI

The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) has welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modis acknowledgement of the role of Indian industry and business.

Expressing his appreciation over the PMs statement, Uday Shankar, President, FICCI said, "While this speaks of the vision of the Honble Prime Minister in the role played by the industry in nation-building; it also puts an enormous responsibility on the business community to rise up to keep national interest above everything else."

The FICCI president also added that the PM's acknowledgement comes as a much-needed shot in the arm for entrepreneurs and the business community, especially at a time when Indian industries are making attempts to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The statement reiterated the contribution of the private sector to the GDP and employment in the country and said that a 'national consensus must be created' to ensure members of the private sector get their due credit for creating jobs and contributing to the economy.

"FICCI is thankful to the Prime Minister for recognizing the contribution of Indian entrepreneurs and emphasizing the role of public-private partnership in building our great nation, said Mr Shankar.

On February 10, Prime Minister Modi in his reply to the Motion of Thanks on the Presidents address in the Lok Sabha, very clearly stated the importance of the private sector in the Indian economy.

Modi said it was not right to malign wealth creators as they were important for generating employment in the country. Wealth creators are required in the country. How else can wealth be distributed, who will create employment, the PM asked.
Note to the economy: How soon you can recover is the subject du jour. This mornings news, like every mornings offerings, brings some answers and more questions. The positive recent news: Pfizer is ramping up production big time. CVS and Walgreens are going to start giving vaccine shots too. Government policy and funding combine with capitalism go to work on the rescue.

However, the questions are piling up. Dr. Fauci weighed in on mask wearing and let us know we should not plan on them coming off for a long timeuntil we reach the Holy Grail of herd immunity. The day that some 70-80% of us have the shots plus 14 days. That day he has cautioned may be many months or years away. Basically according to him, We dont know.

One of the key issues with reaching herd immunity is that with so many deciding, (based on conspiracy theories or their own personal concerns) some 30% of Americans may not get vaccinated. That so many pundits are telling us will delay the loosening of social distancing and mask restrictions. Or not

Tomorrow I get my second shot of the Moderna vaccine. Fourteen days later my friend - a world-famous infectious disease expert - tells me I am good to goto do anything. After her second shot she has rejoined the world.

I live in a blue state science-based communityor so I would like to think. We dont do maskless grocery shopping here, or whoop it up in public after team victories. We practice our own brand of ignoring science. For example, to keep myself fit at 69 and away from co-morbidities, I run several miles in a nearby park. There is often a 15mph wind blowing. Even if I am 20 feet from someone I pass I see them run into the woods to avoid me. People who live together walk in the park, wearing masks. This is not science but pure fear, the opposite side of the coronavirus is "it's just the flu minimizing crowd.

So here is the science I see coming down the pike. My mask comes off two weeks after everyone who wants a vaccine gets one. By April or May there may be more vials of vaccine than arms to inject them into. Instead of being kicked offline for an appointment we may be begged to show up for one.

At that point we have reached voluntary herd immunity.

An illustrative digression. In my state you must wear a helmet to drive a tiny 50cc Vespa. In nearby Rhode Island you can ride a 1200cc Harley Hog with just a bandana on your head. RI has decided that you know the risks of head injury or death and have decided that you would rather not ride with a helmet. RI has even decided that it will in one way or another pay for all the extra traumatic head injuries. These are all fact-based decisions. We may not all agree it is good science but there it is.

It seems the same for the COVID 19 vaccine. If it is available and you choose not to be vaccinated fine, but I am under absolutely no obligation to minimize your risk of catching COVID. Conversely, no one is entitled to change my behavior because you have delayed herd immunity or are concerned about the effects of the vaccine. I only have an obligation to observe COVID safety protocols to the unvaccinated that cannot get vaccinated. Once they can, they choose to put the risk of COVID 19 solely on themselves, I am fine with that.

For sure there are going to be hundreds of articles about new variants. They already appear daily. There will be more stories about vulnerable people who cannot tolerate vaccines and what to do with the kids. Every conceivable what if will be written with click bait headlines to keep us in masks and from close contact. That is what journalists do to stay employed.

However, I am going to go with the science. If everyone who wants to be vaccinated can be, then neither I nor them can be sickened with COVID 19. Let the economy restart not with debt creating stimulus but with activity based real person to person transactions.

Jonathan Russo been an executive in the New York media world for over 40 years and resides in Manhattan.

Demetrius Curry has spent the last couple years chasing a dream.

His startup, College Cash, allows brands to petition users to create photo and video marketing content highlighting their product or service, with the wrinkle being that content creators are paid by the brands in the form of credits that go directly toward paying down their student loan debt. This model awards the brands involved a level of social good will and tax benefits.

The Dallas-area founder was inspired to tackle the student loan debt crisis after talking with his daughter about the prospect of eventually paying down her own loan debt. Curry has spent the past two years building out the nascent platform, tracking down brand partners, navigating accelerator programs, enticing users and pounding the pavement to find investors willing to bet on his vision.

College Cash has raised $105,000 to date, and is hoping to eventually wrap the funding into a $1 million seed round.

Filling out the round has been its own challenge for Curry, who has struggled at times to find opportunity, even among historic levels of capital flowing into the startup ecosystem, a distinction that has been less noticeable for black founders that still make up just a small percentage of VC allocation. In the aftermath of last summer's protests against police brutality, a number of venture capital firms issued statements decrying institutional racism and pledging to back more underserved founders, spinning up new programs for diverse founders.

Demetrius Curry, CEO of College Cash

While Curry says he appreciates the scope of the problem and the good intentions of those making the statements, he believes that venture capital networks still have a lot to learn about what being an "underserved" founder means, and that plenty of the existing efforts feel like "lip service." He says that even as Silicon Valley continues to idolize dropouts from prestigious universities, stakeholders have less interest in recognizing the accomplishments of founders who fought their way through poverty or found opportunity in geographies where opportunities are harder to come by.

Story continues

"You can't look for something different if you're looking in the same places," Curry tells TechCrunch. "When you look at the topic of 'underserved founders,' it's not only a skin color thing, it's also about where they came from and what they've been through."

Curry says that it can be frustrating to compete for early-stage opportunities when investors aren't willing to meaningfully adjust their parameters. Of particular frustration to Curry has been navigating the world of "warm introductions" to even get a foot in the door for programs meant for diverse founders, or applying for early-stage programs geared toward the "underserved" only to be told that they weren't far enough along to qualify.

"Think about how much we had to go through to even get in the room with you," Curry says. "I've sold plasma to pay a web hosting fee, nothing is going to stop me."

College Cash's mission of expanding opportunities for people struggling to manage their student loan debt is personal to Curry, who saw his life turn around after going back to school.

Decades ago, fresh out of the military, Curry said he had a random conversation with a stranger while eating at a Hardee's -- the discussion about what more he wanted from life ended up pushing him to to go back and get his GED and later a business degree. What followed was a career in finance that eventually led toward his recent entrepreneurial pursuits with College Cash.

The platform is firmly an early-stage venture at the moment, but Curry has big ambitions he's building toward. His next effort is building out a College Cash tipping integration with gig economy platforms, with the aim that users of those platforms could ultimately opt to tip a worker and route that money directly toward paying down that person's student loan debt.

Curry says the team at College Cash has been working with a "national gig economy platform" to run a pilot of the integration and has run focus groups showing that users are more likely to tip when they know that money goes toward erasing loan debt.
Senate President Anca Dragu on Thursday stated, following a meeting with the representatives of the Romanian Association of Banks, that USR PLUS and the coalition government will focus on ensuring "an easy access to finance for SMEs."

"Together with Silvia Dinica and Claudiu Muresan, we have discussed with the representatives of the Romanian Association of Banks on priority topics for USR PLUS and the coalition government. We are currently focusing on ensuring an easy access to finance for SMEs. We are the country with the lowest entrepreneurial footprint in the EU, although we have a generation of entrepreneurs active in the market, which is why one of our priorities is to implement new solutions to support entrepreneurship. Moreover, we must become a predictable system without legislative measures that affect financial brokerage and require substantial changes in the business environment," Dragu wrote on Facebook.
DUBLIN, Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Research Report on the Automobile Tire Industry in China, 2021-2025" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

According to this report, China's automobile industry has developed rapidly since the access to WTO. China has been the world's largest automobile manufacturer and distributor for 12 years from 2009 to 2020. In the meanwhile, China is as well the world's largest producer and exporter of automobile tires.

Demand for automobile tires can be classified into OEM demand from whole-vehicle manufacturing and replacement demand from automobile aftermarket. In developed countries, there is scarce potential for growth of new automobile sales due to the high market saturation. Therefore, the demand for aftermarket becomes the major driving force of the tire industry.

The analyst figures out two factors that drive the automobile tire industry in China: domestic market and export demand. On the one hand, both production volume and reserve volume of automobiles continue to grow in China. In 2019, the production volume of automobiles reached 25.72 million, representing a CAGR of 6.4% from 2009 to 2019. In 2019, the automobile reserve volume exceeded 1.9 million, representing a CAGR of 15% from 2012 to 2016. These two figures were far higher than the global average figures.

On the other hand, the remarkable cost advantage of Chinese tires over international competitors is correlated with an upward trend of tire export from China. In 2016, the export volume of Chinese automobile tires was 3.31 million and the export value was USD 11.46 billion. Continuous increases in the export of Chinese tires have led to huge international trade barriers faced by Chinese tire export enterprises. However, the cost advantage of Chinese tires is favorable to maintain the export volume at a high level in a short time.

The analyst states that China has established an integrated tire industry chain. Except for natural rubber mainly relying on imports, there are a large number of manufacturers of other raw materials of tires such as synthetic rubber, steel cord and carbon black in China. Chinese enterprises are also competitive in producing tire molds, manufacturing machines, etc. Some major global tire manufacturers have entered China and they perceive China as an important global production base. Nowadays in China, over half of the domestic tire market is dominated by foreign-invested enterprises. Moreover, these foreign-invested enterprises occupy most market shares of OEM for whole vehicles that are highly profitable.

According to incomplete statistics by the analyst, the number of Chinese tire manufacturers has exceeded 500 by the end of 2020. A majority of domestic tire manufacturers are characterized by small-scale enterprises that produce in a small volume, facing risks of closing down or being acquired. In order to avoid increasing domestic labor costs and trade barriers, some domestic tire manufacturers start to acquire tire enterprises or establish plants overseas. A survey by the analyst demonstrates that enterprises such as Sailun Jinyu Co., Ltd., Linglong Group, Zhongce Rubber Co., Ltd. and Double Coin Holdings Ltd. have established tire plants in Thailand, Vietnam, etc.

Although China has been the world's largest new automobile market since 2008, automobile reserves per capita remain low, with the automobile reserve volume being less than 200 per thousand persons and lower than the figure of 600-1000 per thousand persons in developed courtiers. It is estimated that China's annual economic growth rate will remain over 5% from 2021 to 2025. The production and sales volume of tires will present an annual growth rate of about 5%. Similarly, the automobile reserve volume will continue to climb, stimulating domestic demand for tires.

According to this analysis, the outbreak of the COVID-19 epidemic has had an adverse impact on China's tire manufacturing industry in the first quarter of 2020. However, since April 2020, China's tire manufacturing industry has gradually recovered. Although due to the impact of the epidemic, global and Chinese automobile production has declined, reducing the demand for tires in the new car market, the demand for tires in the aftermarket remains high. In 2019, China's tire export volume was about 500.6 million, and the CAGR from 2015 to 2019 was about 3%. The analyst expects that due to the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic in 2020, China's tire exports will slightly decline.



From 2021 to 2025, the CAGR of China's tire exports will remain at least 2%. The analyst predicts that the biggest risk facing China's tire industry in the future is due to the rising costs of China's manpower, land, and energy, causing tire manufacturing companies in China to move to Southeast Asian countries such as Vietnam.

Key Topics Covered:



1 Relevant Concept of Automobile Tire Industry

1.1 Definition and Classification of Automobile Tires

1.1.1 Definition

1.1.2 Classification

1.2 Analysis of Automobile Tire Manufacturing Industry Chain in China

1.3 Manufacturing Process of Automobile Tires

1.4 The impact of COVID-19 on the Automobile Tires

2 Development Environment of Automobile Tire Industry in China, 2017-2021

2.1 Economic Environment

2.1.1 Global Economy

2.1.2 Chinese Economy

2.1 Policy Environment

2.2.1 Relevant Policies in Automotive Component Industry in China

2.2.2 Relevant Policies in Tire Manufacturing Industry in China

2.2 Development Status of Automobile Industry in China

2.2.1 Production and Sales Status of Automobiles

2.2.2 Vehicle Reserve Volume

2.3 Development Status of Global Automobile Industry

2.3.1 Production and Sales Status of Automobiles

2.3.2 Vehicle Reserve Volume

3 Development Status of Global Automobile Tire Industry, 2019-2021

3.1 Overview of Industry Development

3.2 Market Overview

4 Development Status of Automobile Tire Industry in China, 2019-2021

4.1 Development of Automobile Tire Industry in China

4.2 Analysis of Automobile Tire Industry Chain in China

4.2.2 Carbon Black

4.2.3 Steel Cord

4.3 Supply Status of Automobile Tires in China

4.3.1 Analysis of Production Capacity of Automobile Tires in China

4.3.2 Production Volume of Automobile Tires in China

4.4 Demand Status of Automobile Tires in China

4.4.1 Overall Demand

4.4.2 Demand of OEM (Vehicle Manufacturing) for Tires

4.4.3 Demand of Aftermarket for Tires

4.5 Import and Export Status of Automobile Tires in China

4.5.1 Import of Automobile Tires

4.5.2 Export of Automobile Tires

4.6 Overseas Layout of Chinese Automobile Tire Manufacturers

5 Analysis on Competition of Automobile Tire Industry in China, 2019-2021

5.1 Barriers to Entry of Automobile Tire Industry in China

5.1.1 Technological Barriers

5.1.2 Capital Barriers

5.1.3 Brand Barriers

5.1.4 Sales Channel Barriers

5.2 Competition Structure of Automobile Tire Industry in China

6 Analysis on Major Global Automobile Tire Manufacturers, 2017-2020

6.1 Bridgestone

6.2 Michelin

6.3 Goodyear

6.4 Continental AG

6.5 Pirelli

6.6 Sumitomo Tire Corporation

6.7 Hankook Tires

6.8 Yokohama Tire Corporation

6.9 Cheng Shin Rubber Co., Ltd.

6.10 Cooper

6.11 Toyo Tire Corporation

6.12 Kumho Group

6.13 Giti Tire Co., Ltd

6.14 Zhongce Rubber Co., Ltd.

6.15 Triangle Tire Co., Ltd.

6.16 Shandong Linglong Rubber Co., Ltd.

6.17 Aeolus Tire Co., Ltd.

6.18 Qingdao Doublestar Tire Co., Ltd.

6.19 Prinx Chengshan (Shandong) Tyre Co., Ltd.

6.20 Sailun Jinyu Co., Ltd.

6.21 Guizhou Tire Co., Ltd.

6.22 Jiangsu General Science Technology Co., Ltd.

6.23 Xingyuan Tire Group Ltd.

6.24 Shandong Hengfeng Tire Co., Ltd.

6.25 Double Coin Holdings Ltd.

7 Prospect of Automobile Tire Industry in China, 2021-2025

7.1 Factors Influencing Development of Automobile Tire Industry in China

7.1.1 Driving Forces and Market Opportunities

7.1.2 Risks and Challenges

7.1.3 Development Prospect and Market Opportunities

7.2 Forecast on Competition Pattern of Tire Industry in China

7.3 Forecast on Supply of Automobile Tires in China, 2021-2025

7.3.1 Forecast on Production Capacity of Automobile Tires in China, 2021-2025

7.3.2 Forecast on Production Volume of Automobile Tires in China, 2021-2025

7.4 Forecast on Demand for Automobile Tires in China, 2021-2025

7.4.1 Forecast on Entire Demand for Automobile Tires in China, 2021-2025

7.4.2 Forecast on Niche Demand for Automobile Tires in China, 2021-2025

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/auvsu5

Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



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SOURCE Research and Markets

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Goody's campaign can be seen on over 100 OUTFRONT digital panels throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn, and on one of the largest billboards in Times Square. OUTFRONT Studios, OUTFRONT Media's in-house creative agency, developed the campaign's creative. Using QR codes featured in the campaigns creative, consumers will be able to download the app and use an applied code to shop from an array of gifts to send instantly to someone, all in one seamless mobile experience. For any terms and conditions, visit https://get.ongoody.com/bemine1 .

"Goody launched during a global pandemic and we wanted to debut our brand in the most iconic, romantic place in the world," said Jon Allen, Creative Director at Goody. "With the biggest billboard in Times Square and a hundred additional touch points throughout the city, Goody shows how to send a gift with love across the city and country in a New York Minute."

"The dynamic capabilities OOH offers are just one of the many reasons it continues to be top of mind for established and start up brands," said Jodi Senese, Chief Marketing Officer at OUTFRONT Media. "With Goody utilizing both a highly instagrammable Times Square asset and QR codes on our street-level assets, the brand is directly connecting the IRL and URL experiences. We just LOVE it."

Website references included in this press release have been provided as a convenience, and the information contained on such websites is not incorporated by reference into this press release.

About OUTFRONT Media Inc.

OUTFRONT leverages the power of technology, location and creativity to connect brands with consumers outside of their homes through one of the largest and most diverse sets of billboard, transit, and mobile assets in North America. Through its technology platform, OUTFRONT will fundamentally change the ways advertisers engage audiences on-the-go.

https://www.outfrontmedia.com/

Contact:

Investors: Media: Gregory Lundberg Courtney Richards Senior Vice President, Investor Relations PR & Events Specialist (212) 297-6441 (646) 876-9404 [email protected] [email protected]

SOURCE OUTFRONT Media Inc.

Related Links

http://www.outfrontmedia.com


Mike Sonko's daughter Salma Mbuvi has penned an emotional letter to his troubled dad who's currently in police custody, insisting he is the 'kindest, purest, and most gentle person'.

In a missive she shared via social media, Mbuvi also appears to suggest his outspoken dad is 'innocent' of all charges leveled against him by the state.

"You could be the kindest, purest, and the most gentle person, but that won't stop the world from throwing dirt at you," she wrote.

"It won't stop them from misusing your emotions to best fit their own. It won't stop them from accusing you of things you never did. But the thing is none of this should stop you from being who you are. Never dull your own light because of others. Don't ever harden your heart for a world like this because it's simply not worth it."

"Salma also spared a paragraph in the letter for his father's haters, referring to people who'd apparently thrown dirt at his father, but remained confident the current challenges shall pass.

"You are the way you're because this world is in need of souls like you. People will do anything to make themselves feel better, even if it means destroying you. Your sensitive nature will catch onto the cruelty of this world, but remind yourself that them throwing dirt at you doesn't say anything about you, but it says a whole lot about them. Take a deep breath and smile," she wrote.

Sonko who was impeached as Nairobi governor in December is currently battling a number of charges including assault, causing actual bodily harm, robbery with violence, destruction of property, and terrorism.

He has been detained for the past week and police have since formally requested the court to allow him to be detained for 30 more days.

Former vice-president Kalonzo Musyoka has since asked President Uhuru Kenyatta to pardon Sonko, while his family has stood by him all this while.
NSW hospitality venues will be allowed twice as many customers from Friday while Queensland and South Australia tighten their borders in response to Victorias growing COVID-19 cluster.

From midnight Friday, venues can welcome one person per two square metre and staff can do away with masks after NSW marked its 25th day of zero community transmission.

Three new cases were recorded in hotel quarantine and 16,397 COVID-19 tests were conducted.

Patients were covered in plastic to be transported from the Holiday Inn to the Pullman Hotel. Credit:Joe Armao

In Victoria, the cluster linked to Melbournes Holiday Inn quarantine hotel grew to 13 cases on Thursday, with five new cases recorded among close contacts of hotel workers. Two of those cases were announced at 11pm on Thursday. The Health Department said both were household primary close contacts of previously announced cases.
When the opportunity to join the St. Lukes University Health Network came up nearly 20 years ago, Easton Hospital said, no thanks.

Both St. Lukes Hospital and Easton Hospital were holding their own, according to St. Lukes Vice President of Development Robert Martin. Martin was on the St. Lukes team trying to negotiate the acquisition of Easton Hospital back in 2001.

Easton Hospital was looking for an infusion of investment capital but it was by no means in trouble, Martin said.

Easton Hospital was a powerhouse. It was a peer of our Bethlehem campus both in our size and stature and complexity of care, Martin said.

Easton Hospital at the time was a nonprofit community hospital. Its board chose a sale to the for-profit Community Health Systems of Tennessee over the nonprofit St. Lukes. The transaction was for $120 million. Most of that money went to pay off debt, bonds, litigation and other expenses, according to Paul Brunswick, chairman of the Two Rivers Health and Wellness Foundation. About $16 million was left for the nonprofit conversion foundation Brunswick now chairs. The foundation gives healthcare-related grants.

Flash forward to today. St. Lukes University Health Network is one of two major players in the Lehigh Valleys health care industry with more than 16,000 employees throughout the Valley and extending into neighboring communities. Easton Hospital needed an $8 million state bailout to stay open. Its once-spurned suitor, St. Lukes, made the purchase it was denied nearly 20 years ago at a much better deal.

So what happened?

Its complicated, Martin said.

Changing times

When Easton Hospital made the deal with Community Health Systems, it faced the same problems all hospitals faced. Health care was changing, Martin said.

In the mid-1990s, HMOs turned insurance upside down, he said. The HMOs paid hospitals more money to keep patients out of hospitals than in them. That led to more outpatient procedures and outpatient care. Medicare also changed its reimbursement rates.

In 1995, the state eliminated the law requiring a certificate of need to open a new hospital. Until then, you had to prove the number of beds in your hospital was necessary to your community. Then suddenly any hospital who wanted to get into the business could get into the business. Your franchise went away. This was life-changing if you were a single hospital, Martin said.

New technology was costly but essential in order to remain competitive and provide first-rate care.

MRIs came about. They were expensive, about $2.5 million a clip, Martin said.

Easton Hospital found itself in need of investment for renovations and innovations. Martin said St. Lukes made a serious offer to acquire the hospital but Easton Hospitals consultant recommended a for-profit company.

After one deal fell through, the hospital agreed to be acquired by Community Health Systems of Tennessee, Martin said.

We made the decision to go with Community Health Systems. It went very well, said Brunswick, an advertising executive who at one time chaired Valley Health, an umbrella corporation that oversaw the hospital, its physician practices and other assets.

Since the hospital was now for-profit, the Two Rivers Health and Wellness Foundation was spun off as its charitable arm. Brunswick said the foundation has given out millions of dollars in health-related grants since 2001 and still has $16 million in the bank.

Community Health Systems took care of Easton Hospitals capital needs with a multi-million-dollar program.

By 2004, $70 million in renovations were underway for a hospital expansion, parking deck and renovations for the emergency and surgery departments, including the OB/GYN and cardiac care units.

Easton Hospital was the largest hospital owned by Community Health Systems.

They did very well, Martin said. For the next five, six years they did an effective job managing it.

They rescued us, said Bruce Miles, a family practice doctor with Easton Hospital. They took us over and gave us a new chance on life.

He remembers how rooms with two to four beds were now made into private rooms. The new owner tore down the nurses' residence and put in a parking deck.

Failing to keep up

Eventually, though, new economic factors came into play against Easton Hospital.

Nearby St. Lukes University and Lehigh Valley health networks were gobbling up physician practices and expanding. Hospitals realized that the added expense of paying doctors made up for itself in patient referrals, Martin said.

Doctors realized it was getting too expensive to go it alone. Malpractice rates skyrocketed in the 1990s, Martin said. Courts were handing out multi-million-dollar awards, he said. Easton Hospital was late to jump on this trend of acquiring physician practices.

After 25 years as a sole practitioner, Miles became an Easton Hospital doctor in the mid 90s.

When (Easton Hospital) realized St. Lukes and Lehigh Valley Hospital were talking to their lead doctors, they made me a nice offer to join them, Miles said.

He had always worked with Easton Hospital and remains proud to be a part of its team. He was born at Easton Hospital. His mother was a nurse there.

The hospital means everything to me. I want to see it go on in perpetuity, said the Easton native.

General surgeon Robert Bloch joined Easton Hospital 17 or 18 years ago to cut his malpractice premium in half.

Thats a staggering amount, he said. He also saved money on office staffing and supplies. Joining a larger network would also make it easier to comply with the Affordable Care Act years later.

In the meantime, St. Lukes and Lehigh Valley continued to build. Easton Hospital at one time considered building an off-site campus for doctors, but by the time they finished on-site renovations, they couldnt afford it, Martin said.

While St. Lukes was doubling and tripling in size, Easton Hospital was shrinking, Martin said. The larger the disparity, the longer Community Health Systems pondered how much to invest in Easton. The Tennessee chain had more than 100 hospitals and limited resources to spread around.

If you think of it in terms of a family, the family went from having one child to having 100 children, Martin said.

Community Health Systems didnt return a message seeking comment.

The Steward years

By 2017 the hospital was losing money and Community Health Systems wanted to sell. Martin didnt blame the board for what led to the hospitals decline.

It wasnt mismanagement on the part of Easton Hospital. It wasnt that the board wasnt thoughtful and committed. Im sure in 2001 when they chose Community Health Systems they thought they made the right decision, Martin said.

Standalone hospitals were common back in 2001, according to St. Lukes spokesman Sam Kennedy. But as healthcare changed Easton Hospital was left without resources nearby from which to draw.

It wasnt crazy for Community Health Systems to think it could have a standalone facility here in the Lehigh Valley not really connected to their community hospitals, Kennedy said. Thats the way it worked back then. Over subsequent years, the industry evolved in ways that people didnt imagine back in 2001.

The Easton Hospital sale in 2017 was part of an eight-hospital deal with Steward Health Care of Dallas, according to a news release at the time from Community Health Systems. Four of the hospitals were in Florida. One was in Ohio. The other two hospitals were in western Pennsylvania. So Easton Hospital wasnt near any other Steward properties. Martin speculated the hospital was a throw in as part of the larger deal.

When Steward bought Easton Hospital, they bought a package of hospitals. I dont think Steward was specifically looking for a hospital in the (Easton) area.

Miles was on the hospital board when Steward arrived.

He remembers going to meetings and receiving note cards with improvement ideas from Steward.

They had very progressive ideas for rejuvenating the hospital but after three years it just couldnt work, Miles said.

Easton Hospital CEO Linda Grass said she was brought in from Ohio by Steward in November 2018 to serve as CEO and assess the viability of turning Easton Hospital into a competitive, stable hospital.

I was very much encouraged to align with a major health system in the Lehigh Valley, realizing that we probably would not be able to do it alone, Grass said. She quickly turned to St. Lukes for a partnership by which St. Lukes provided open heart surgery and care for stroke patients to Easton Hospital. The partnership wound up becoming an outright purchase.

During her time in Easton, Steward closed the hospitals cardiology and neonatal intensive care units.

Steward did its best to make Easton Hospital work, according to Steward spokesman Darren Grubb.

Easton Hospital had been struggling for many years before Steward acquired it in 2017. ... Despite Stewards significant investment of close to $15 million, and while operating the hospital at a substantial loss  more than $25 million in the first five months of 2020 alone -- patient demand stayed extremely low and the facility remained highly underutilized.

Kennedy agrees Steward tried its best.

The folks at Steward were not out to sabotage local hospitals, Kennedy said. They didnt want Easton Hospital to fail. They knew in order for it to continue to serve the community it needed a new partner.

St. Lukes swoops in

By 2020, the hospitals financial trouble and the COVID-19 outbreak threatened its survival. Steward told the state of Pennsylvania in March it would need a $40 million bailout or would have to close. Steward would have to make do with $8 million in federal stimulus funds. Neither the state nor Steward wanted the hospital to close at the start of a worldwide pandemic.

Even after it was determined that the long-term viability of Easton Hospital as a standalone facility was simply not feasible, Steward went above and beyond to keep Easton Hospital open during the COVID-19 pandemic -- including offering to operate the hospital free of charge as a public service for patients and the Lehigh Valley community, Grubb said.

Finally, St. Lukes University Health Network purchased the hospital for $15 million on July 2.

We are pleased that the hospital will continue to serve the community as part of a larger, integrated and well-established local hospital system, Grubb said.

Easton Mayor Sal Panto Jr. lamented the hospitals loss of prestige and resources under its for-profit owners. He questioned Community Health Systems' decision to sell off the physician practice The Joseph Group and criticized Stewards closure of cardiology.

But hes looking forward to a rebirth under St. Lukes. So are Miles and Bloch.

St. Lukes just gave Easton a new life. I think about this every day, said Miles, who decided to postpone his retirement to enjoy the new resources St. Lukes provides.

St. Lukes bought us in the middle of a COVID-19 epidemic. Thats remarkably courageous to take a failing facility thats losing money. Kudos to them, Bloch said.

He said the already great Easton Hospital doctors and nurses are happy to join forces with a proven leader in the area.

Its damn good care and Im proud to be part of it, Bloch said.

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

Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com.
With the rise of antibiotic resistance, this study is more important than ever, said Dr. Paul A. Rhodes, CEO of Specific. Along with our 6 evaluations currently underway in France, we look forward to the results of this study as we enter the European market."

Specific Diagnostics today announced it has entered into an evaluation agreement with the NRC (National Referecnce Centre) for Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) at Bicetre Hospital (INSERM UMR1184 RESIST unit), Paris, France. The study is being led by Dr. Laurent Dortet, an Associate Professor at Hopital Le Kremlin Bicetre, France, and will evaluate the ability of the Reveal System to detect and characterize resistance of Gram-negative bacteremia samples, particularly those superbugs that exhibit resistance to carbapenems, the most powerful antimicrobials available.

With the rise of antibiotic resistance, this study is more important than ever, said Dr. Paul A. Rhodes, CEO of Specific. Along with our 6 evaluations currently underway in France, we look forward to the results of this study as we enter the European market."

Two evaluations will be completed at Kremlin Bicetre under Dr. Dortets leadership, along with his co-director Dr. Thierry Naas, during the four-month agreement. The first will validate the recently reported (Tibbets et al, medRxiv) accuracy of Reveal with clinical samples, and the second will be focused on confirmation and characterization of the Reveal Systems sensitivity in the detection and quantitative characterization of carbapenem resistance in a set of carbapenem-resistant samples maintained by the French National Reference Centre for carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales.

Were excited for the opportunity to evaluate the Reveal Systems capability to detect and characterize resistance to the carbapenem class of antimicrobial agents in carbapenem-resistant organisms which arise in the French hospital system, said Dr. Laurent Dortet, co-Director of the CRE NRC, Frances national center for surveillance of these superbugs. Having a same-shift phenotypic susceptibility test for blood infections could allow life-saving escalations of therapy for this deadly condition.

Specifics Reveal furnishes a phenotypic MIC directly from a positive blood culture sample in an

average of 5 hours, according to a recently announced study (Tibbetts et al, medRxiv

2021). Based upon arrays of nanoporous sensors responsive to the volatiles emitted by growing

microorganisms, the Reveal system has the high throughput, low cost, broad and flexible

antibiotic menu, and ease of use suitable for wide adoption.

About Specific

Specific Diagnostics has developed in vitro diagnostic systems based upon a unique, patented metabolomic signature technology that enables rapid detection and identification of microorganisms as they grow in culture. Its first commercial application applies this fundamental new platform to the rapid determination of antimicrobial susceptibility directly from positive blood cultures, as well as isolate dilutions. Specific is based in Mountain View, CA, with subsidiaries in Ireland, France and the UK.

For press inquiries, please contact: press@specificdx.com


A man in his 40s is due before a sitting of Dublin District Court this morning, charged in connection with the attempted armed robbery of a financial institution on Baggot Street Lower, Dublin on December 23.

Shortly before 3pm on that date a lone male entered a bank on Baggott Street lower armed with a suspected firearm. Its understood he threatened staff and demanded cash before leaving the scene empty handed. An imitation firearm was recovered from the scene along with clothing discarded by the suspect at a nearby location.

Following a lengthy investigation including media appeals and the use of DNA analysis a suspect was identified. During an operation in the Dublin 8 area yesterday led by uniformed Gardai and the Serious Crime Unit from Pearse Street Station , a man in his 40s was arrested in connection with the incident. He was taken to Pearse Street Garda Station and detained for questioning under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984.

The man has since been charged and is expected to appear before a sitting of Dublin District Court at 10.30am this morning.
New Delhi, Feb 11 : A total of 4,13,752 beneficiaries received Covid vaccine nationwide on Thursday, the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry said.

As per the provisional data, only 20 per cent healthcare workers took the vaccine shots on the 27th day of immunisation in the country.

"As per data received till 7 p.m. today, 4,13,752 beneficiaries received vaccines today. Of them, 3,28,148 beneficiaries were frontline workers while the count of healthcare workers remained 85,604," a ministry official said.

Meanwhile, 47 adverse event following immunization (AEFI) have been reported in the day.

The cumulative number of healthcare workers and frontline workers covered with the Covid-19 vaccines has reached 74,30,866.

Of the cumulative coverage, 5,790,832 are healthcare workers and 1,640,034 are frontline workers.

The ministry said that the data shared is preliminary and the final reports for the day would be completed by late on Thursday night.
PTI

Home Minister Amit Shah on February 11 launched a scathing attack on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for blocking the Centres cash benefits for poor farmers while promising to give Rs 18,000 in bank accounts if BJP comes to power in the state.

Did you get Rs 6,000 in your bank accounts? Shah asked the crowd assembled at the launch of the fourth phase of the Poriborton Yatra from Rash Mela Ground in Cooch Behar.

The crowd responded with No. To this Shah said, How will you get the money from Modiji when Mamata didi doesnt send the list of beneficiaries and bank details.

Continuing his attack, Shah said that the West Bengal chief minister was scared of Prime Minister Narendra Modis popularity and hence was blocking central schemes.

Dont worry. Bring BJP to power. We will ensure in the first cabinet meeting that we credit Rs 18,000, including Rs 12,000 you lost, in your bank accounts, Shah said, asking the chief minister why is she blocking money of poor farmers.

"Are you scared that when they (farmers) get the money, they will appreciate Modiji," Shah said addressing Mamata Banerjee.

The home minister was referring to the PM Kisan scheme, under which Rs 6,000 per year in three equal instalments is provided to small and marginal farmer families having a combined landholding of up to two hectares.

After refusing to implement the scheme for more than a year, the West Bengal chief minister had last month agreed to roll out the cash benefit scheme in the state

Last week, the CM said her government has sent names of 2.5 lakh farmers to the Centre for inclusion in the scheme but they were yet to get any benefit. She sought to know why the Union government was yet to disburse any cash benefits to the eligible beneficiaries.

In the address, Shah also invoked the "Jai Shri Ram slogan" issue, a flashpoint in the poll-bound state since January.

"If ''Jai Shri Ram'' is not chanted in India, will it be raised in Pakistan?" Shah said accusing Mamata Banerjee of getting angry at ''Jai Shri Ram'' slogan.

She will begin chanting it by the time assembly polls are over," he said.

At an event last month attended by the Prime Minister, Mamata Banerjee had refused to continue with her speech after some people from back rows shouted the slogan. Top BJP leaders, including PM Modi have referred to the issue in public addresses.

Shah also laid out poll promises of the BJP in West Bengal. The BJP government, he said, will spend Rs 500 crore and build a Rajbanshi Cultural Centre in this region as a tribute to the legends of Rajbanshi community. He also promised building a tourist circuit, which will have the Madan Mohan mandir in Cooch Behar and other mandirs from the region as well.

The BJP kicked off the month-long Parivartan Yatra on February 6 ahead of the assembly elections in West Bengal due in April-May.
Diamonds havent always been a girls best friend. Before the 1930s, they were no more synonymous with weddings than opals, rubies and sapphires which had been routinely used in engagement rings for centuries. It really wasnt until DeBeers -- the South African mining company which has historically controlled around 85 percent of the international diamond market -- launched its "A Diamond Is Forever" marketing scheme in the 1940s that demand for the sparkly stones skyrocketed.

An estimated 142 million carats of rough diamonds were dug out of mines worldwide in 2019 -- often at reprehensible environmental and human costs. Pulling just one carat of diamond out of the ground demands workers to move close to 100 square feet of soil, resulting in nearly 6,000 pounds of waste material and up to a ton of released carbon dioxide. Strip mines, such as the Mir mine in Eastern Siberia below, can be seen from the ISS.

Alexander Ryumin via Getty Images

I dont need science to tell that [lab-grown diamonds] is less bad than [the Mir mine in Siberia], diamond merchant Alexander Weindling told The Guardian last March. My eyes tell me thats a lot worse for our planet. We dont need to dig these huge holes in the earth any more that are visible from space. We used to hunt whales. We dont do that anymore do we?

In Africa, where 65 percent of the worlds diamonds are produced, mines routinely employ child and teen laborers at slave wages in dangerous working conditions. The practice grew so egregious in recent decades that in 2003, the international community had to establish the Kimberly process to help prevent so-called blood diamonds -- those produced in war zones and whose sales funded those fighting efforts -- from reaching market. However the process is riddled with loopholes which have largely defanged its enforcement.

Today, if you have a child working for $3 a day doing backbreaking work waist deep in a river sifting for diamonds, that's called artisanal mining, Ryan Shearman, Founder and CEO of Aether Diamonds said in a recent call with Engadget. It's not called child abuse, and that skates through the Kimberley Process because the proceeds from that diamond sale didn't go to fund a local warlord.

The natural diamond industry has also faced a series of economic challenges in recent years including a glut of inventory in 2019 -- despite diamonds values constantly being touted as due to their rarity -- and the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw demand for diamonds plummet in 2020. Prices for high-quality 1-carat stones still managed to rise about 12 percent in 2020, year over year, however lower quality and smaller size diamonds have seen their values drop between 15 and 27 percent over the same period.

"If you are in that top end, the demand is still there because the people who go for these types of goods feel the pressure of the market downturn less," Gus Simbanegavi, CEO of Bluerock Diamonds BRD.L, told Reuters.

That sure seems like a lot of trouble for a material weve known the atomic makeup of since 1797 and have been able to grow under laboratory conditions for nearly 70 years. General Electric was the first company to commercialize the process. In 1941, GE partnered with the Norton and Carborundum companies and managed to heat carbon samples to 5,430 degrees F at pressures in excess of 510,000 PSI before it temporarily paused the project for WWII. The program resumed in 1951 and, by 1954, had succeeded in creating the first commercially viable lab-grown diamond. Those first few batches were sold as heatsinks for electronics for use in research. Gem-quality lab-grown diamonds wouldnt arrive in jewelry displays until the 1980s.

LIONEL BONAVENTURE via Getty Images

These days, diamond labs around the world grow more than 100 tons of the mineral annually. They're identical [to natural diamonds] at the atomic level, Shearman said. They have the exact same chemical, mechanical and optical properties, and there's not a human being on the planet that can tell the difference. The only way you can do so is by essentially running a chemical analysis -- and lab grown diamonds are in fact more pure than what comes from the ground.

Aethers products are especially unique given the novel method of their creation. We are utilizing direct air capture technology to pull harmful atmospheric CO2, Shearman explained. We then take that through a bit of modern alchemy, and the proprietary manufacturing process we've developed, to turn it into gem grade diamonds.

Each one of the air capture reactors Aether uses is reportedly able to absorb up to 50 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year, however the company has pledged to suck 20 metric tons of CO2 -- thats more than the 16 metric tons your average American generates in a year -- for every carat of diamond that it produces. From start to finish, growing such diamonds takes around 12 weeks in total.

The problem with most lab grown diamonds, other than Aether diamonds, is that they still need to source their carbon from somewhere, Shearman said. Oftentimes, that comes from fossil fuels which is obtained via drilling and fracking. And so, as much as lab grown diamond brands out there claim to be sustainable, a lot of it I'm afraid is greenwashing language, because even if they're using environmentally friendly power (which most of them aren't) they're still relying on fossil fuels for their carbon and that's a finite resource.

The company is careful in where it sources the rest of its materials as well, from the metal used in setting the stones to the packaging that theyre shipped in. We either use ultrasuede that is created from plant biomass or we use New Zealand wool for inserts in our ring boxes, Aether CMO Robert Hagemann added. And then [we use] all FSC certified interior cardboard structures for our pieces. We also do carbon offsets for the logistics.

In addition to being more ecologically friendly, Aethers grown diamonds are far less expensive than their natural counterparts. That means that even at the low end of the market, say, a diamond solitaire ring that would cost $13,000 to $15000 at the Zales in your local mall would only set you back just $7000 were the gems made in Aethers lab.

Aether Diamonds

Aethers efforts could have a disruptive effect on the global diamond market, an externality that the company is hoping for. If we take more market share, it's going to put those types of companies that are abusing these people out of business, Hagemann said. That's good and bad. It's good because it ends something that probably shouldn't be happening to begin with, but bad because the formerly exploited workers are now out of a job.

To counter this, the company is looking to work with NGOs and nonprofits on retraining efforts or perhaps establishing a footprint for solar power generation... there's a lot of different ways we can come in and have a positive benefit in areas that have had this historical negative impact, Hagemann said. That's a big goal for us.

Looking ahead, Hagemann and Shearman hope to make Aethers entire operation -- not just its diamonds -- carbon negative by 2023. To do so, the team plans to vertically integrate its various stages of production. The more we control around our supply chain, the better off we'll be with limiting our overall carbon footprint, Shearman noted. The company also hopes to start employing wind as a power source, being able to integrate sustainable power generation on site is something that we've talked about since the earliest days of the company. Eventually Aether wants to reach a level of efficiency where the company can push any excess energy production back to the local municipal grid.
Kids want to fish? You don't know how yourself? Here's a little help
Heres a troubling development: A survey released Thursday by the conservative American Enterprise Institute (AEI) found that the vast majority of Republicans not only dont think Joe Biden was legitimately elected, nearly 40 percent of them think political violence is justifiable and could be necessary. Those GOP respondents justifying violence said they agreed with the statement: If elected leaders will not protect America, the people must do it themselves, even if it requires violent actions. Republicans gravitating towards violence while explicitly legitimizing it as a political tool is a dangerous precedent for the country. I think any time you have a significant number of the public saying use of force can be justified in our political system, thats pretty scary, Daniel Cox, director of the AEI Survey Center on American Life, told NPR.

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When it comes to the election, the divide between what Republicans believe and what everyone else is seeing is stark. Two-thirds of Republicans say the election was not legitimate; thats in contrast to nearly all Democrats (98 percent) and 73 percent of independents who say the election was on the level. That sense of Republican grievance, razor sharp after four years of Donald Trump, is noticeable everywhere in GOP attitudes about the country and themselves. Seventy-nine percent of Republicans agree that the political system is stacked against more traditionally minded people, AEIs summary of the poll results found. A majority (55 percent) of Republicans support the use of force as a way to arrest the decline of the traditional American way of life.

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Democrats were not immune to this type of thinking, but significantly fewer (22 percent)along with 35 percent of independentssaid they would support violence to stop the disappearance of traditional American values and way of life.
In every part of our nation, bookstores have faced big changes in 2020 and 2021. Black booksellers have had to bear the brunt of those changes, from temporary closings to an explosion of orders of titles about race in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd and the resurgence of the Black Lives Matter movement. Theyve also seen an influx of white customers seeking to become allies in the fight for social justice.

Founded in 1959 in West Philadelphia, Hakims Bookstore & Gift Shop is one of the oldest continually operated Black bookstores in the country and the oldest African Americanowned bookstore on the East Coast. Its founder, Dawud Hakim, died in 1997 at the age of 65; his daughter, Yvonne Blake, is now the owner. The age and history of the venue make it more of a cultural center than a bookstore, even as its neighborhood gentrifies. When the pandemic hit, Hakims faced a huge loss.

We were closed from March 16 until the middle or the end of June, Blake says. We had to stop our book signings. We were having after-hours meetingspolitical meetings. When we were allowed to reopen, we could only accommodate three or four customers at a time. After the murder of George Floyd, the web business just took off. We got orders every day, for all kinds of books, especially the race-conscious books: Stamped from the Beginning, So You Want to Talk About Race, How We Fight White Supremacy, Resist, and White Fragility. That opened us up to a whole lot of people we didnt know before.

But as Hakims online business boomed, there was a stark realization that a tragedy of immense proportions was driving it. I have ambivalent feelings about it, Blake says. I dont know why it took the murder of a man on TV to get people to wake up and realize what African Americans have been complaining about forever. Some of the books have been here for yearsmy father sold some of them in 1959and now theyre interested?

Unlike Hakims, MeJah Books in Claymont, Del., just north of Wilmington, has been able to operate during the pandemic. I wasnt closed; I shortened my hours, says owner Emlyn DeGannes. Even though the hours were shortened, this bookstore has always served as a place of communication. During the pandemic, we would meet outside the bookstore and talk.

MeJah, which has been open for 19 years, also found itself balancing the needs of its core readership with the needs of those outside it. I had white readers calling and asking for certain books and suggestions, and also stating that they wanted to do business with a Black bookstore, DeGannes recalls. For her, serving white readers was more about opportunity than anything else.

I am proud of the literature Im representing, DeGannes says. And as much as I say to others that I am a Black bookstore owner, I also have a bookstore that carries all genres of books from across the globe. I represent books from the African diaspora. There was a young white man who came from New Jersey and purchased 70 copies of So You Want Talk About Race. I dont know who he thought he was going to meet, or if he thought he was not going to be accepted. But before he left, he said, Im so happy that I came to visit with you. I think he was expecting some resistance, or he wasnt expecting love. Its about humanity and respect. I introduce my white customers to books they would not pick up.

In Oklahoma City, Belle Books Boutique & More handles the challenges of online business and mixed readership differently. Located near the Ralph Ellison Library, the bookstore, which opened in 2020, is co-owned by Kenyetta Richard and Courtney Strickland, and sells books for young adults, teens, and children, along with a potpourri of T-shirts, hats, boots, sunglasses, and masks.

We do three pop-up events per month, Strickland says. We go to where people are.

The store also sells a lot of childrens books online for homeschooling. We probably sold 40 copies of LeBron Jamess childrens books, Strickland notes. Hair Love is a title that we cant keep in. We also partner with the Ralph Ellison Foundation on a monthly basis. And we do virtual readings of childrens books based on the virtues that Ellison taught, [including] self-love and voting.

The bookstores white readership is different, in that many of its readers are interested in books about mixed-race children. They buy books like I Am Mixed, because they may have children who are biracial, Strickland says.

Strickland and Richard also own Belle Publishing, a publishing services company that offers an array of street literature self-published by local African American authors. The pandemic has been beneficial to our company, because people have more time on their hands, and this idle time has allowed [authors] to think about publishing unfinished projects, Strickland says. Weve picked up 15 new clients.

Located in Oakland, Calif., Sistah Scifi is a multipurpose bookstore that exclusively features sci-fi and fantasy books written by Black and Native American women. Its bestselling authors include Tomi Adeyemi, Octavia E. Butler, Nalo Hopkinson, Nnendi Okorafor, and Nisi Shawl, and, like Belle Books, it also caters to a diverse clientele. Im proud to say that most of our readers are of the [African] diaspora, says founder and CEO Isis Asare, but people who are not of the diaspora are actively looking to read more diverse authors.

Asare, who was born in Harlem to Ghanaian parents, opened the bookstore in Seattle in 2018 before relocating to the Bay Area the following year. When shelter-in-place [protocols] started impacting Black businesses across the board in June of last year, more people were searching more actively for Black bookstores and Black businesses online, she says. People were reading more and consuming more content. One customer would buy hundreds of dollars worth of books from me at a time, so that was great.

Before Covid, Sistah Scifis online events were sparsely attended, but that has not been the case since the pandemic. We will have a watch party in [February], and we already have 30 registered attendees, which will double before the event happens, Asare says. And were seeing the same levels of engagement for our book club discussions. Im also one of the organizers of the Octavia E. Butler Slow Read-Along. Were reading her full body of work over the course of a year and a half. And for those events, weve seen over a thousand [registrants]. That probably would not have happened outside of Covid.

What is evident now, Asare says, is that the virtual dimension of her store will be here long after the virus is defeated, and it will expand the number of book lovers she reaches. I think its been great to have the virtual eventsto not just read the books but to discuss them in a very deep way, across the world on a much bigger scale than we were able to before Covid. It feels like a cultural shift in behavior, and Im really excited to be a part of that change and that movement.

Eugene Holley Jr. writes about jazz and African American culture.

Return to the main feature.
A protester gestures in front of the burning 3rd Precinct building of the Minneapolis Police Department in Minneapolis on May 28, 2020. (Julio Cortez File/AP Photo)

Owners of Minneapolis Diner Burnt in George Floyd Riots Suing City and Mayor

The owners of a popular Minneapolis restaurant are suing the city and Mayor Jacob Frey over their response to riots, triggered by the death of George Floyd, that burnt down their restaurant.

Kacey White and Charles Stotts, owners of the Town Talk Diner and Gastropub, claimed that Frey and other city leaders did not react adequately to protect business owners and residents from looting and damage in the riots.

Mayor Frey and the city did not respond to the severity of the unrest and the danger to Minnesotans and did not adhere to guidelines for confronting and combating rioters, the lawsuit states. As a result of Mayor Freys failure and failed leadership of the city, Kacey and Charles suffered more than $4,500,000 in damage, it adds, according to local media outlet the Daily Minneapolis News.

The diner was looted and vandalized for the first time on the night of May 27, after rioters ignored authorities request to leave the area. They vandalized Lake Street, which is the major business street in the area, according to the lawsuit.

The plaintiffs said they found their restaurant far worse than they could have imagined, with broken windows and burnt interiors. They climbed into the restaurant to see more [and] prevent damage on May 28.

Mayor Frey failed to acknowledge the gravity of the situation or fight the lawlessness, the lawsuit states. Mayor Frey made the decision [on May 29] to evacuate the Third Ward, remove police officers from the neighborhood, and leave Lake Street citizens to defend themselves and their property.

A few hours after police left their precinct, the historic building that the diner was in was burnt to the ground, as were many stores in the area.

The lawsuit was filed on Monday in Hennepin District Court.

The City of Minneapolis released a statement from City Attorney Jim Rowader on Wednesday, refuting the allegations.

Rowader said that Frey took quick and decisive action, requesting support from the Minnesota National Guard immediately upon the police chiefs request to do so, and as soon as there was any discernible risk of civil unrest and damage to businesses.

Likewise, that same evening the Minneapolis Police Department submitted a detailed request outlining scope of the need and a mission plan for the additional support, Rowader said. The city has provided plaintiffs with these documents, and we are hopeful that they will amend their complaint given this clear and documented evidence.
An influential immigration advocacy group representing Indian-Americans on Thursday urged the Biden administration not to issue the most sought-after H-1B work visa to any individual born in India, till the time the discriminatory country-cap on green cards or permanent legal residency is removed.

The current per-country cap on issuing of green cards in the US has resulted in Indian professionals, mostly from the IT sector, having to wait for decades for their legal permanent residency. Issuing new H-1B visas to more Indians would add to this agonising painful wait for green cards, Immigration Voice said in a statement.

The statement came in response to the Biden administration's decision to allow employers of holders to begin registration online for the H1-B Visa lottery, starting March 9th this year, for the fiscal year 2022.

Under the system, over 60,000 additional Indian nationals will unwittingly be lured to enter the this year (and every year) to engage in a life of indentured servitude where their very existence and the lives of their families will be completely subject to the whims of their employer, new administrations, or even individual immigration adjudicators having a bad day, said Aman Kapoor, president of Immigration Voice.

The membership of Immigration Voice called on the Biden administration to use its authority under INA Section 212(f) to exclude any new individual born in India who are not currently in the legally from obtaining a new for the first time in Fiscal Year 2022, he said.

Moreover, Immigration Voice calls to stop issuing such new H-1B visas until the discriminatory per county limits on Employment-Based green cards are finally lifted and immigrants from India are no longer treated as indentured servants in the United States, Kapoor said.

In the current system, the only people who benefit are unscrupulous employers, staffing companies across various industries who profit enormously from maintaining the status quo, and immigration lawyers who profit from being able to process the maximum number of immigration applications possible by keeping Indian immigrants tied to an endless line of renewals of applications while also double-dipping to keep the Green Card pool open for people from other countries, he said.

Immigration Voice is a national non-profit organisation with over 130,000 members, who are taxpaying, law-abiding, high-skilled immigrants, that advocates for the alleviation of restrictions on employment, travel, and working conditions faced by legal high-skilled immigrants in the US working as doctors, researchers, scientists, engineers, and other high-skilled professionals at many of America's hospitals, universities and Fortune 500 companies.

As mandated by the Congress, each year, the US issues 85,000 new H-1B visas. Of these, approximately 70 per cent of those new visas (or nearly 60,000 visas) are issued to workers from India, Immigration Voice said.

At the same time, discriminatory per-country limits established during the time of segregation, restrict Indian nationals to receive only 8,400 of the 120,000 employment based green cards available each year, Kapoor said.

The non-partisan Congressional Research Service says that this discriminatory and arbitrary cap on the number of Indian nationals who can receive lawful permanent residency each year has created a backlog of over one million people waiting for green cards, with a wait time of over 195 years, he said, adding that in fiscal year 2030, the line is expected to grow to 436 years.

A majority of the Green Card backlog consists of women and children, who will eventually die in these backlogs. Needless to say, the per-country limits on the employment-based green card system are, in fact, 100 per cent, an Indian Exclusion Act'. In reality, this implies a de facto ban on employment-based green cards for any new Indian national entering the on an H-1B visa, Kapoor said.

It means that if Vice-President Kamala Harris' mother had come to the United States today, under such a system, she would never have gotten a Green Card in her lifetime. The course of Shyamala Gopalan's daughter's life would have been entirely different if she had been preoccupied with her mother's possible deportation, as opposed to living her life as an American, Kapoor 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.)
Dhaka, Feb 11 (UNI) Seven Bangladeshi expatriates have been burnt to death in a fire that broke out at a sofa factory in Medina of Saudi Arabia.

Mohammad Mohsin Hossen, Legal Assistant of Bangladesh Embassy in Riyadh, confirmed the incident on Wednesday night.

Of the deceased, two were identified as Mizan and his brother Arafat, hailed from Chattogram.

The reason behind the fire could not be known yet.

According to the witnesses, the fire broke out at the factory on early Wednesday.

UNI MAZ ASN
"Senator Marco Rubio introduces bill to suspend gun rights of anyone who has ever been 'investigated' for domestic terrorism," The Unz Review reported Sunday. "The Senate bill, named the Terror Intelligence Improvement Act, was reentered last week in hopes of exploiting the hysteria surrounding the January 6th Capitol protests. The law intends to violate the civil liberties of American citizens who are not charged or convicted of a crime if somebody is deemed politically dangerous."

"Reentered"?

Yes, Rubio tried this before in 2016 as a "kinder, gentler" alternative to a bill being pushed by then-Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid. No doubt the rationale is if Republicans throw a scrap of flesh to the circling pack of Democrat jackals, it will satisfy them and keep them from pushing through something worse.

Like that works in nature.

You don't give the gun-grabbers an inch because they will take it and then come back for more. They always have and you'd have to be an idiot not to see it. Their end goal has also been clear for anyone willing to admit the truth to the lie about "commonsense gun safety laws" and see them for what they are (and what their early "leaders" have admitted to  incremental steps on the way to total disarmament).

And while Rubio's bill makes noises about "due process," those are just that. It would still remove guns from citizens not only not convicted of any crime, but not charged with any. And who among us has the financial resources to take on the government's virtually limitless reserves in the hopes that the judge won't be a robed Democrat apparatchik, and/or that the Roberts Supreme Court would hear our appeal if he was? .....
opinion

The world is drifting steadily toward a climate catastrophe. For many of us, that's been clear for a few years or maybe a decade or even a few decades.

But others have known that a reckoning was coming for much longer. A Swedish scientist first calculated in 1896 that adding carbon dioxide to the atmosphere could lead to warmer global temperatures. By the 1930s, scientists were measuring the increase, and in the late 1960s, they had documented the impact of melting ice in Antarctica. By 1977, Exxon-Mobil had recognized its own role in the warming of the ocean, the polar ice melt and the rising sea level.

For obvious reasons, Exxon-Mobil launched a massive public disinformation campaign to muddy the science and downplay the danger. But in retrospect, it needn't have bothered. Because even after the facts became incontestably clear, the world did shockingly little to protect itself. In the first 17 years after the Kyoto protocol committed its signatories to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, global emissions continued to rise. Decades of studied ignorance, political cowardice, cynical denialism and irresponsible dithering have allowed the problem to grow deeper and immeasurably harder to solve.

But today, we are at an important turning point. The changing climate is no longer an abstract threat lurking in our distant future -- it is upon us. We feel it. We see it. In our longer and deeper droughts and our more brutal hurricanes and raging, hyper-destructive wildfires. And with that comes a new urgency, and a new opportunity, to act.

Climate change is now simply impossible to ignore. The temperature reached a record-breaking 90 degrees in Anchorage this summer and an unprecedented 108 degrees in Paris. We can watch glaciers melting and collapsing on the web; ice losses in Antarctica have tripled since 2012 so that sea levels are rising faster today than at any time in the last quarter-century. Human migration patterns are already changing in Africa and Latin America as extreme weather events disrupt crop patterns, harm harvests and force farmers off their land, sending climate refugees to Europe and the United States.

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It's often difficult to attribute specific events to climate change but, clearly, strange things are happening. In India, entire cities are running out of water, thanks, scientists say, to a dangerous combination of mismanagement and climate change. In Syria, the civil war that has killed hundreds of thousands of people and displaced more than 11 million is believed by many scientists to have been sparked at least in part by climate-related drought and warming. Closer to home, two invasive, non-native mosquito species that have the potential to transmit viruses, including dengue, Zika and yellow fever have recently been found in several California cities.

According to NASA, 18 of the 19 warmest years ever recorded have occurred since 2000. The last five years have been the hottest since record-keeping began in 1880. July set an all-time record.

Here's another reason we're at a turning point (at least in the United States): An election is coming.

* Here's another reason we're at a turning point (at least in Africa): A catastrophe is looming.
UK scientists say a new screening technique called 'Prostagram' could catch an extra 40,000 prostate cancer cases a year.

The non-invasive, 15-minute scan is based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), which uses strong magnetic fields and radio waves to produce detailed images of the inside of the body.

Prostagram is modelled on breast cancer screening, where women are routinely offered a mammogram scan every three years as part of a national programme.

This breast cancer screening is credited with saving some 1,300 lives a year, reducing the death toll by more than 10 per cent, and it's hoped similar results will be seen with Prostagram.

The new scan would suit men who are reluctant to be tested for prostate cancer due to the intrusive nature of the current examination technique  a rectal examination.

There are more than 49,000 prostate cancer cases per year and it is now the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the UK.

Following a successful trial in hundreds of men, experts have called Prostagram 'a game-changer' that will bring 'vital' mass screening for men 'a step closer'.

Scientists at Imperial College London have developed a new fast scan, or Prostagram, for the early detection of prostate cancer potentially saving thousands of lives per year

'Prostagram has the potential to form the basis of a fast, mobile national screening programme for prostate cancer and could be a game-changer,' said senior study author Professor Hashim Ahmed, Chair of Urology at Imperial College London.

'Prostagram also has the potential to detect more aggressive cancers earlier and pass over the many cancers which don't need to be diagnosed.

'By finding these aggressive cancers at the earliest opportunity, men have the opportunity to be offered less invasive treatments with fewer side effects.'

A 'landmark' trial of Prostagram, involving 408 men, has been detailed in a paper published in Jama Oncology.

The trial marks the first time that any scan has been accurate enough to be considered for use as a prostate cancer screening test.

The men, aged between 50 to 69 years, were invited for prostate cancer screening, using both the new scan and other established methods, from October 2018 to May 2019.

WHAT IS A PSA TEST? There is no universal screening for prostate cancer, but many men opt for a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test. PSA is a protein produced by the prostate, and concentrations in the blood often increase if someone has prostate cancer. But there are other reasons why PSA levels may be raised, such as a benign growth or an infection or inflammation. And in some people with cancer, levels are not raised at all. If high PSA levels are detected, men can be referred for a biopsy, during which up to 20 samples of tissue are taken from the prostate to be examined. But as biopsies sample only about one per cent of the gland, there is a 30 per cent chance that the cancer could be missed. Biopsies are also carried out with a needle, so carrying a small risk of infection afterwards. Advertisement

Results showed that Prostagram picked up twice as many prostate cancers compared to the standard PSA (prostate specific antigen) blood test.

In total 4 per cent of volunteers had aggressive prostate cancer, of which around 75 per cent were identified by Prostagram and only 41 per cent by PSA.

Screening for prostate cancer using PSA testing can lead to problems of under-diagnosis and over-diagnosis, according to the team.

Over-diagnosis of unimportant cancers caused by PSA that are unlikely to harm those affected during their lifetime could provoke unnecessary medical interventions with unpleasant side-effects including urine leak or erectile dysfunction.

At present, some 12,000 men die each year from prostate cancer  compared to around 11,000 for breast cancer  and over the course of the last decade the number of deaths has overtaken that of breast cancer.

While breast cancer screening is routinely offered to women from 50 years, there is no equivalent screening programme for prostate cancer.

This is because PSA has also been shown routinely to miss aggressive life-threatening cancers.

About 15 per cent of men with aggressive prostate cancer can still have a normal PSA level, and, as a result, screening for prostate cancer using PSA blood tests is not recommended in any country.

The Imperial College London researchers have pointed out that their study sample was well represented by black men, who are at increased risk of prostate cancer.

The study enrolled 132 black men  making up 32.4 per cent of the total participants.

Graph shows the rise in UK breast cancer and prostate cancer deaths in recent years. Prostate cancer

One in four black men will get prostate cancer in their lifetime and one in eight men who are not black will develop prostate cancer  although why it is more common in black men is unknown.

Plans for an extensive trial covering 20,000 men are well advanced and will proceed in the coming months subject to funding.

If results from this study are similar or better than those revealed today, there is then a clear pathway to the widespread implementation of Prostagram into the general population.

Dr David Eldred-Evans from Imperial College London discussing the results of a prostagram with a trial participant

Creating a national screening programme for prostate cancer could make a major difference in reducing the number of men dying from this disease.

'The encouraging results of this research study bring a mass screening programme for prostate cancer, equivalent to mammogram testing for women, a step closer,' said Dr David Eldred-Evans, fellow researcher at Imperial College London and developer of the Prostagram.

'A major achievement for the trial was the recruitment of ethnic minority and lower socio-economic participants broadly equivalent to their proportion within the community, which could be replicated in future general population screening trials.'
Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) has launched ground forces drills in the southwest of the country near the Iraqi border.



IRGC Ground Force Commander Brigadier General Mohammad Pakpour said on February 11 that drones, helicopters, and artillery are to be used in the drills, dubbed Great Prophet 16, according to Press TV.



It was not clear how long the drills would last.



Iran has increased its military drills in recent weeks as tensions built during the final days of the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump.



Tehran is also trying to pressure U.S. President Joe Biden's new administration to reenter a 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers.



In January, the IRGC conducted exercises in which ballistic missiles targeted simulated targets in the country's central desert and the Indian Ocean, state media reported.

The previous week, the Iranian conducted short-range missile exercises in the Gulf of Oman following an IRGC naval parade in the Persian Gulf.



Trump withdrew the United States from the nuclear pact in 2018 and reimposed crushing sanctions on Tehran.



In response to the U.S. moves, which were accompanied by increased tensions between Iran, the United States, and its allies, Tehran has gradually breached parts of the pact saying it is no longer bound by it.

The Biden administration has expressed willingness to return to compliance with the accord if Iran does, and then work with U.S. allies and partners on a "longer and stronger" agreement, including other issues such as Irans missile program.



Iranian officials insist that the United States should make the first move by returning to the agreement, which eased international sanctions in exchange for curbs on Tehran's disputed nuclear program.



They also say that the country's missile program is off the table.

With reporting by AP and Press TV
Last year, Union County approved preliminary plans to build a new county government complex in Elizabeth at a cost of up to $145 million.

In Bergen County, officials moved ahead on a major $80 million renovation of the historic Bergen County Justice Center.

But a New Jersey developer alleges both counties broke the law in their handling of the two multi-million-dollar projects, filing separate lawsuits that called into question how the contracts for the publicly funded efforts were being awarded.

In the complaints filed earlier this week in state Superior Court in Bergen and Union counties, Wayne-based Dobco claimed that the projects were conceived without any intent on awarding the contract to the lowest responsible bidder.

The company sought restraining orders against both counties.

Our position is that the Local Public Contracts Law is intended to avoid corruption, favoritism, and to promote competition, said attorney Greg Trif of Morristown, who represents Dobco.

According to the lawsuits, Dobco said the counties ignored the public bidding requirements of New Jerseys Local Public Contracts Law by instead going through the states Local Redevelopment and Housing Law in the soliciting of requests for the design and construction of the projects.

In both cases, a county improvement authority was used as the vehicle to redevelop the properties.

It is not clear whether improvement authorities acting as redevelopers are bound by the states mandates on bidding under the Local Public Contracts Law. Experts say the issue has not been successfully challenged in court.

But according to Dobcos court filings, state law requires every contract awarded by the counties, and their improvement authorities, with few exceptions, to be awarded to the lowest responsible bidder after public advertising.

The complaint said that when county improvement authorities use public funds to construct public facilities, they are obligated to comply with the public bidding requirement.

David Minchello, an attorney to the Union County Improvement Authority, dismissed the claim, or any assertion that the board or the county did anything wrong.

Both the County of Union and the Union County Improvement Authority have engaged in a multi-year process to review its space needs and ensure open and transparent competition in the selection of a developer of a new administration building, Minchello said in a statement. Dobco voluntarily participated in this competitive process, without objection, and was not selected to move forward for consideration. It is disappointing that they have now sought meritless litigation in an attempt to reinsert themselves into the selection process and gain an unfair advantage over their competitors.

He added that the county and improvement authority have complied with all applicable laws and look forward to defending its process in court.

A Bergen County spokesman said the county and the Bergen County Improvement Authority do not comment on pending litigation.

However the BCIA redeveloper designation for the countys historic courthouse will ensure the highest level of necessary expertise and savings to taxpayers, said Michael Pagan.

He said overall restoration project of the courthouse project is a multi-year endeavor that started prior to the countys current administration taking office, and encompasses multiple phases of renovation and rehabilitation of the entire court facility.

___

Local journalism needs your support. Subscribe at nj.com/supporter.

Ted Sherman may be reached at tsherman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TedShermanSL.
The court asked the Crime Branch wing of the Kerala Police probing the case not to arrest the three till they are served notices as per the criminal procedures.

A bench of the Kerala High Court on Wednesday gave relief to Bollywood actor Sunny Leone and two of her close aides from being arrested on a complaint filed by an event manager in Kochi in an alleged cheating case.

Early this month in the state capital, the actress was questioned by the Kerala Police at a private resort in the same case, where she explained the entire sequence of events and claimed she had done no wrong.

R. Shiyas who conducts events in and around Kochi had filed a complaint with the Kerala DGP that Sunny Leone had taken Rs 29 lakh from him while promising to attend various inaugural functions in the state but failed to do so.

The complainant said that her manager had taken money in several instalments from 2016 onwards, promising to attend five functions. But the same did not happen and he, subsequently, complained to the police.

According to her, while admitting that her manager had taken the money and she had given dates several times, the event manager could not comply with her dates and, hence the issue arose.

With the relief from the court, Sunny Leone and her associates will have to cooperate with the police probe team.

For more stories click here: Kollywood l Malayalam l Bollywood l Telugu
To the extent that Joe Biden drew votes, a very big reason was the expectation from parents and students that he would re-open the public schools, currently on extended shutdown over COVID concerns. That was his promise, that was a signature issue, with many pixels spilled in multiple spots on Biden's campaign website supporting the claim that he was serious about re-opening schools.

Now that he's in office, too bad for those who actually believed him.

Instead of re-opening the schools, Biden's re-drawn himself a goal line for school re-opening so pathetic, so wretched, so insignificant that it's actually lower than what's already going on now in school reopenings.

School re-openings, it seems, no longer mean school re-openings the way normal people see them. In Bidenland, school re-openings mean lots and lots more Zoom school, with just lip service, a little grope maybe, to the idea of re-opening.

According to the Washington Examiner:

President Biden hopes to have the majority of students learning in school at least one day a week by April 30, press secretary Jen Psaki said in a press briefing. "His goal that he set is to have the majority of schools, so more than 50%, open by day 100 of his presidency," Psaki said. "And that means some teaching in classrooms. So, at least one day a week. Hopefully, it's more, and obviously, it is as much as is safe in each school and local district." Asked what that meant for teachers and in-person instruction, Psaki clarified that teachers should be in the classroom at least one day a week. "Teaching at least one day a week in the majority of schools by day 100," Psaki responded, confirming that she was referring to "in-person teaching."

Fox News pointed out that the "goal" was complete bee ess, given that 66% of schools, actually, are already open. Unless Biden means to shut a few, to crow about that magic 50%-plus majority claim (which may easily be lower than the current 66%), any enactment of the Biden plan would mean no progress whatsoever on school re-opening. That train has already passed. Biden voters just got stiffed.

Yet Biden claimed that school reopenings were a "priority," in sharp contrast with Orange Man Bad, who, Biden claimed, "didn't have a plan." Teachers' unions come first, and too bad about students, because as with all things Biden, it's about the cash. According to Washington Post columnist Marc Thiessen:

[I]n 2020, teachers unions gave $43.7 million in political contributions, 98 percent of which went to Democrats. The No. 1 recipient of teachers union cash? Joe Biden.

Fact is, teachers' unions are the Biden priority, so now he's trying to pee down his voters' legs and tell them it's raining with his school re-opening "goal." Voters are supposed to be happy with those miserable crumbs in a box full of Zoom.

Biden has a creepy habit of conflating what teachers' unions want with what parents want, which are two grossly different things. There's no such thing in his mind as balancing competing interests. Unity, you see. Notice the conflation, emphasis mine:

Trump has done effectively nothing to help schools or child care providers reopen, perhaps the single most important step to get parents back to work. While schools stay closed, parents are struggling and students, especially low-income students and students of color, are falling behind. Biden would mobilize the federal government, in cooperation with educators, child care providers, unions, communities, and families, to take decisive action.

Memo to families: You don't count; you're just filler. You're there for the pictures. You're there for the show. Biden is never going to re-open schools so long as teachers' unions have the final word.

And to Biden, the teachers' unions and their money are so important that they are actually allowed to defy what Biden calls "the science." Biden claimed that he would "follow the science" from the Centers for Disease Control.

Here it is on Biden's own campaign website:

Working with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and the National Institutes of Health to share with educators and families evolving scientific insights into how COVID-19 affects children. Biden has called for scaling up COVID-19 pediatric research partnerships to address glaring gaps in our knowledge.

Turns out that the CDC has stated that schools could re-open safely. According to Thiessen, they're actually defying the "science":

[H]is handpicked director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Rochelle Walensky, said last week that "schools can safely reopen" and "vaccination of teachers is not a prerequisite for the safe reopening of schools," the Biden White House slapped her down, with press secretary Jen Psaki insisting that Walensky was speaking in her "personal capacity." No, she wasn't. Walensky was speaking in her capacity as a government scientist during an official briefing of the White House covid response team. And her comments came just days after a team of CDC scientists published a review in the Journal of the American Medical Association of numerous studies which show "there has been little evidence that schools have contributed meaningfully to increased community transmission." Indeed, the CDC researchers pointed out one study of 17 Wisconsin schools found that after taking basic mitigation measures, "COVID-19 incidence was lower in schools than in the community." According to data compiled by Brown University Economics professor Emily Oster, in the last two weeks of January, the covid-19 case rate among students attending in-person school was just 0.45 percent and 0.88 percent among staff, compared with a community case rate of 10.57 percent during the same period.

Indeed, the politicized agency apparently was trying to do Biden a political favor for his poll numbers by finally admitting the obvious about school reopenings, something they would never have done for President Trump. But Biden couldn't take the favor, because teachers' unions told him no.

Why does this matter? Because in contrast to a lot of rubbish promoted in the press and beyond, school re-opening was and is a very big deal for a lot of voters, as evidenced in a lot of studies that have made the mainstream press.

Here's a straight analysis piece from the New York Times that ran on Oct. 22:

Several recent polls have suggested the issue is a leading concern for many voters. A Politico and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health survey released last month found that schools and education was the second most important issue for likely voters, after the economy and jobs. And a poll conducted this month in Michigan for The Detroit Free Press found that reopening schools and the economy was the top issue concerning voters, followed by the public health crisis posed by the coronavirus.

What's likely is that a lot of people figured that Biden could "talk to" the teachers' unions about re-opening schools and get the CDC to lighten up and quit trying to Get Trump with their constant lockdown orders...if they could just get him in the saddle. He wouldn't be like Trump, arguing with these people. He'd get them to go along. Voters knew that the COVID lockdowns were politicized, and with Biden on the same ideological spectrum point as the lockdown lobby, there'd be no more need for lockdowns. Just look at the twists and turns of California's Gov. Gavin Newsom, who's facing a likely recall based on his bid to Get Trump, shutting much of California's small business economy down in his bid. Voters could see it.

Biden, see, would make the teachers' unions come around, the voter logic went. Biden would get the CDC to start admitting to reality and end the perma-lockdown...

What they weren't counting on is Biden's loyalty being absolutely lashed to the mast of the teachers' unions. Trump was the kind of guy who would defy them and attempt to make them re-open schools, which is something Biden complained about. But Biden's the kind of guy who will coddle them and hand them billions and billions (which Trump did already), through his big COVID relief package, while attempting to gaslight voters into thinking the minor re-opening of schools is a good thing and the teachers' union wants just as fervently as anyone to re-open, which it doesn't. The teachers unions want a free ride, bottomless funding, and each demand met accompanied by a higher demand. Biden is now trying to tell voters that the tiny crumbs he's offering are a good thing, rather than an abject failure from a puppet to teachers' unions.

What's vivid here is that even the establishment seems to be on to it. Multiple columns, even from the left side, are starting to appear in the New York Times and the Washington Post about the necessity of re-opening schools. WaPo columnist Matt Bai, who's written pretty good books chronicling the SEIU and its pillow-talk relationship with the Democratic Party, urges Biden to privately take on the teachers' unions (likely knowing that Biden lacks the courage to go public). Bai knows there's a problem:

You don't have to be a parent to understand the growing perils of what's euphemistically known as "remote learning." It is basically a hollow and socially isolating echo of real school that has dragged on for almost a year now in scores of large districts.

Bai points out that most people can see that essential workers, such as cops, firefighters, nurses, National Guard, and retail store workers (added as an afterthought), have been on the job dangerous in (far more) dangerous conditions, but teachers' unions think they are special. If they are essential workers, he argues, they need to act like it and get on the job.

The implicit warning, with these multiple warnings from the establishment press, here, here and here, are that school re-opening is a very big deal with voters. If Biden fails to re-open schools and instead plays puppet with his teachers' union campaign contributors as their bought man, no amount of gaslighting is going to save him. He's failing to deliver on his promise, and even the Biden voters are going to notice. And right now, his great school re-opening claim nonsense is thin ice for him. He's one miserable excuse and moved goalpost after another.

Image: Pixabay / Pixabay License.
Transport and logistics experts attempting to navigate customs changes brought about by Brexit have criticised a support scheme managed under a 200m contract awarded to a consortium led by a multinational IT firm.

The two-year contract to run the Trader Support Service (TSS) was awarded to a group led by Fujitsu and was announced last September.

But witnesses told MPs those charged with easing problems created by Brexit and the NI Protocol have no experience of customs issues or logistics.

There is no consistency in the information received, and it is often contradictory, the managing director of a customs broker firm told the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee.

Fujitsu declined to comment, referring questions to its client HMRC.

Revenue officials didn't immediately respond to a request for comment on the criticism.

In a parliamentary written answer, it was reported that approximately 700 staff had been hired to staff call centres.

Overall, witnesses told MPs the introduction of customs checks, declarations, tracing and tracking had thrown up big challenges, but they are working on dealing with them.

However, staff at ports here, including those attached to the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), attracted praise for their efforts.

"Apparently, it is neither Armageddon nor Nirvana," said committee chair Simon Hoare.

"There was an identifiable downturn at the start of the year - stockpiling, Covid etc - but things appear to be getting better, stock picking up."

He added that "uncertainty of process is actually the key", but that "businesses are proactively using the grace period".

They would, however, welcome "a time-limited extension", the Tory MP added.

Michael Gove, the Cabinet Office minister responsible for Brexit, will meet today with European Commission vice president Maros Sefcovic, during which an extension is likely to be discussed.

Sarah Hards, business development manager for AM Nexday, a Larne-headquartered retail distributor, said TSS staff were "very, very pleasant", but she felt "their training just really has not been in-depth enough".

She added: "It is not their fault - brought into this role and no previous experience in customs and logistics whatsoever - so they fail to grasp what you are talking about, even after a long conversation.

"Maybe it would be good to have someone with customs or logistics experience."

Stephen McAnaney, managing director of Armagh-based Allied Fleet Services, a customs broker, said DAERA staff were doing a "fantastic job", but this was not mirrored by TSS.

"While the guys have tried to be helpful sometimes, the information coming across is conflicting," he said.

"Callers could speak to one person and they maybe give you an answer, then think, and phone back and you get a complete reverse answer, so there is no consistency."

Seamus Leheny, policy manager of Logistics UK, the freight transport representatives, told the Belfast Telegraph that everyone is learning on the job, including the TSS, retailers and manufacturers.

But he echoed points made by those delivering testimony to the committee, saying there was a real lack of preparedness in Britain.

Of approximately 25,000 businesses registered with TSS prior to January 1, only 55% were from Britain. There was a surge following the transition period.

"They were unaware, unprepared or, most worrying, unwilling to deal with the hassle when NI is only three per cent of the economy," Mr Leheny said.

In testimony to the committee, Ian Davies of Stena Line said there had been huge market disruption, with a large drop in freight bound for, or coming from Northern Ireland, now going through Dublin.

He estimated trade by his company through Dublin, one third of which is linked to Northern Ireland, had dropped by around 50%.

Movement directly between Britain and Northern Ireland had risen, Mr Davies added.
On Tuesday, a Polish court found Professors Barbara Engelking and Jan Grabowski, two of the most renowned historians of the Holocaust in Poland, guilty of defamation and spreading inaccurate information. The two historians had been sued by the niece of Edward Malinowski, the mayor of a Polish town during World War II, for a passage that appears in their 1,700 page Night Without End about the genocide of Jews in Nazi-occupied Poland. In the 2018 volume, testimonies are quoted which suggest that Malinowski was implicated in the local massacre of Jews by German soldiers. Engelking and Grabowski were ordered to write an apology to the niece for allegedly defaming her uncle and providing inaccurate information.

Holocaust historians Professors Barbara Engelking and Jan Grabowski (Source: Wikipedia, Facebook)

The trial represents a new milestone in the assaults on historical truth and democratic rights by the Polish state and the ruling Law and Justice Party (PiS). In addition to the trial against Engelking and Grabowski, a journalist, Katarzyna Markusz, is threatened with a three-year prison sentence for defaming the Polish nation, because of a passage she wrote on Polish complicity in the Holocaust.

These actions are part of a state-orchestrated campaign, aimed at promoting anti-Semitism and far-right forces. In 2018, the Polish government passed a law criminalizing any mention of Polish collaboration in the Holocaust. Since then, historians have faced increasing pressure, including threats of lawsuits, along with hate mail and death threats from far-right forces which feel so emboldened that they often do not even hide their names anymore. While the lawsuit against Engelking and Grabowski was brought by Filomena Leszczynska, it was heavily backed and driven by the Polish League against Defamation, a far-right outfit that is directly funded by the state. For many years, the League has been harassing Holocaust historians with threats of lawsuits.

Engelking and Grabowski have correctly denounced the trial as an attack on historical research and free speech and will appeal the verdict. The guilty verdict was meant to not just discredit their historical work. By legally ordering them to apologize to the niece of Malinowski, the court also tried to force these historians to lend legitimacy to the campaign by the Polish state that is trying to whitewash Polish anti-Semites from any involvement in the Holocaust.

Both Engelking and Grabowski have authored some of the important studies in Holocaust research that have appeared in recent decades. Engelking is renowned as one of the worlds top experts in the history of the Warsaw Ghetto and is the chair of the International Auschwitz Council.

The two-volume Night Without End (2018), which they edited together and which formed the basis of the trial, provides an extensive analysis of the life and fate of 140,000 Polish Jews in the countryside in the Nazi-occupied General Government of Poland. The work highlights, in particular, the role played by the Polish police (Blue police), a force that the Polish right has long sought to whitewash.

Professor Dariusz Stola, who was forced out as a director of the POLIN museum of the history of Polish Jews, denounced the trial: No book is without mistakes, but academic discussion, not a court trial, is the right place to deal with them. This book is a result of solid, meticulous research. If one can sue its authors, one can sue half of the historians who deal with the 20th century.

Eva Schlotheuber, representative of the German associations of historians, warned, It has enormous potential to intimidate others, especially younger historians, if scientifically founded research results are debated not in scientific or public discourse, but in front of a court.

In an interview with Krytyka Polityczna from 2020, Grabowski, who is a professed admirer of the socialist Zionist historian Emanuel Ringelblum, said: The goal of our opponents is that we stop publishing books. I would very much like to see some kind of social solidarity awaken against this background. ... An attack on history is an attack on all of us.

He also called out the de facto complicity of Polands liberal opposition party, Civic Platform (PO), in enabling the right to dominate the field of history. History in Polandand this pains mehas been largely appropriated by the Polish right and extreme right. ... I have a great deal of resentment towards the so-called democratic and liberal elites who, by neglecting history, have handed over this very importantas it turned outarea in the hands of mythomaniacs and myth-makers. This disregard for history as an important battlefield was visible at the beginning of this century, when the left was in power. Nothing changed in this matter during the rule of the centrists from PO.

The political trial of two of the most renowned Holocaust historians internationally has vast implications and must be opposed by all politically conscious workers, intellectuals and youth. The PiS government is at the forefront of the assault on historical truth and democratic rights, and the state build-up of the far-right that is underway internationally. In neighboring Germany, the German ruling class has bolstered neo-Nazi terror networks and the neo-fascist Alternative for Germany (AfD), while the government is backing figures like Jorg Baberowski, a professor at Humboldt University, who has declared that Hitler wasnt vicious. In the US, former president Donald Trump, acting with the backing of much of the Republican Party, instigated a fascist coup on January 6, whose most critical aspects are now being covered up by the Democratic Party.

At stake in the fight to defend historical truth is the political arming of the working class for its struggle today against fascism and its root cause, capitalism.

During the war, Poland was the main site of the Nazi-led genocide of European Jews. All the major death camps, including Auschwitz, Treblinka, Bezec and Sobibor, were located in Nazi-occupied Poland. 90 percent of Polands pre-war Jewish population of 3-3.5 million were murdered, making up roughly half of the total of 6 million murdered European Jews. Among those murdered were many outstanding socialist intellectuals and working class leaders, including Abraham Leon, a leading figure in the Belgian Trotskyist movement; Solomon Ehrlich, leader of the Polish Left Opposition; as well as the socialist Zionists Emanuel Ringelblum and Abraham Lewin, to name but a few.

Research into the Holocaust in Poland is intrinsically bound up with research into the history of the workers movement. For instance, a major volume of documents by the Polish Trotskyist movement appeared in 2018 as part of the publication of the complete archives that Emanuel Ringelblum had compiled in the Warsaw Ghetto.

While the genocide was led and organized by the Nazis, they could rely upon the collaboration of local nationalist and anti-Semitic forces throughout Eastern Europe, especially in Poland, Ukraine and the Baltic states. Historically, modern anti-Semitism emerged as a central ideological weapon of the bourgeoisie against the revolutionary working class movement. In Poland, a multi-ethnic country before the war, the highly combative workers movement was based largely in the Polish and Jewish working class. Hence, anti-Semitism acquired a particular intensity in the countrys ruling class and far right.

In the early and mid-1930s, the Polish government, inspired by the anti-Semitic legislation in Nazi Germany, implemented far-reaching anti-Jewish measures, while allowing fascist bands to terrorize Jews on the streets and in the universities. The Polish PiS government is basing itself politically on the traditions of these forces, and is systematically promoting and collaborating with their modern-day equivalents. In trying to preempt any serious historical research into the history of Polish anti-Semitism and the Holocaust, the Polish state seeks to both historically whitewash the crimes of the far right, and preempt the long overdue reckoning with the powerful but tragic history of the working class movement in Poland.

I was determined to find a firm that wanted to add my unique perspective to its investment decisions. Volitions deep partnership with portfolio founders on the brink of scale, and its work hard, laugh often philosophy made it a natural choice.

Volition Capital, announced today that Jennifer Fleiss joined its leading technology and consumer growth equity firm as a venture partner. Fleiss, who previously co-founded Rent the Runway, will focus on investments in disruptive, high growth Internet and consumer companies.

A proven entrepreneur and intrapreneur, Fleiss brings more than 10 years of experience founding and scaling digitally-native businesses from the ground up. Prior to Volition Capital, Fleiss co-founded and operated two companies: Rent the Runway and Jetblack. Jetblack was the first portfolio company in Walmarts technology incubator, disrupting traditional ecommerce with a personal shopping service over text message and voice.

Previously, Fleiss co-founded Rent the Runway, a business that has transformed the retail industry by making designer clothing rentals a convenient and accessible luxury experience for millions of women. During her time at Rent the Runway, Fleiss wore many different hats, serving as President, Head of Logistics, Head of Business Development and Head of Special Projects. She remains a Rent the Runway board member and adviser.

Jennys experience as a founder and operator of category-defining consumer companies will be invaluable as we continue to grow our firm, said Larry Cheng, Managing Partner, Volition Capital. She brings a founder mindset, vast professional network and people-first approach to investing that will strengthen our commitment to make a positive and meaningful impact on the lives of our founders, portfolio companies and the world around us.

Leveraging deep domain knowledge and experience in the trenches as a founder & operator, Fleiss has advised and invested in several emerging technology and consumer companies while also serving on the boards of Apollo Global Managements SPAC, Shutterfly and Party City. Fleiss has been honored with numerous recognitions including Inc. Magazines 30 Under 30; Fortune Magazines 40 Under 40 and Most Powerful Women Entrepreneurs; and Fast Companys Most Influential Women in Technology.

I was determined to find a firm that wanted to add my unique perspective to its investment decisions, said Fleiss. I also sought a firm early in its trajectory where I could make a real impact, whose approach I valued, culture I identified with, and whose team I wanted to spend time with. Volitions deep partnership with portfolio founders on the brink of scale, and its work hard, laugh often philosophy made it a natural choice. I look forward to working with my new colleagues and partnering with other founders that aspire to greatness.

Volition Capital, founded in 2010, primarily invests in founder-owned, capital-efficient businesses that aspire to lead their markets. The firms portfolio spans software, Internet, and consumer sectors with current investments including Arteza, Assent Compliance, Burst Oral Care, ButterflyMX, Connatix, GRAX, LoanLogics, Medly Pharmacy, Recycle Track Systems, Securonix, and Tracelink, and has produced notable exits including Chewy, GlobalTranz, Insite Software, iPipeline, Velocify, and VisualIQ. For a full summary of portfolio companies visit: https://www.volitioncapital.com/portfolio/.

About Volition Capital

Volition Capital is a Boston-based growth equity firm that principally invests in high-growth, founder-owned companies across the software, Internet, and consumer sectors. Founded in 2010, Volition has over $1.1 billion in assets under management and has invested in over 30 companies in the United States and Canada. The firm selectively partners with founders to help them achieve their fullest aspirations for their businesses. For more information, visit http://www.volitioncapital.com or follow us on Twitter @volitioncapital.

Burma Myanmar Military Rounds Up Former Election Commission Officials

Polling station officials in Yangon publicly count ballots after Myanmar voters went to the polls on Nov. 8, 2020. / Htet Wai / The Irrawaddy

YANGONMyanmars military regime has rounded up dozens of officials of the ousted governments Union Election Commission (UEC) for questioning, making good on its vow to investigate what it claims was mass electoral fraud in the November poll.

On Wednesday and Thursday, many UEC officials at the state, regional, district and township levels in Rakhine, Ayeyarwady and many other parts of the country were taken away from their homes. UEC offices have been sealed off by police since last week.

The exact number of officials rounded up is not yet available, but is believed to be in the dozens.

The military staged a takeover last week, claiming that the general election late last year that brought a landslide victory to Daw Aung San Suu Kyis then-ruling National League for Democracy was stolen, contrary to the assertions of local and international election observers. The military proxy Union Solidarity and Development Party did very poorly in the election. While seizing power, the military arrested the countrys elected leaders, President U Win Myint and State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

Following the takeover, the junta abolished the UEC and launched investigations into its senior members.

In his first speech to the nation as coup leader, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing said this week that the regime had reformed the UEC and was inspecting the voter lists used in the election, in accordance with the law.

We will release the findings as soon as possible, he said.

On Thursday, the ruling National League for Democracy condemned the roundup as lawless and called on the military regime to halt it immediately.

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Opinion differs as to who originally came up with the description of newspapers as the first rough draft of history.

Its often attributed to Phil Graham, publisher and subsequently co-owner of The Washington Post, who used the phrase in a speech in London in 1963.

A more likely contender, however, is Alan Barth, an editorial writer at the Post for 30 years, whos believed to have coined the phrase in a column in 1943.

In this age of round-the-clock TV news channels and digital media, history doesnt require quite as many drafts as it once did.

Who needs to wait around for retrospective historical accounts to be written when you can see events like the storming of the Capitol Building in Washington unfold before your very eyes just by watching CNN?

But theres still a place in this crazy world for good, solid, well-researched, expertly-crafted television documentaries like BBC2s Trump Takes on the World.

You may think you dont need yet another programme about the worst ever US president, since weve all spent the last four years simultaneously fascinated and repulsed by his behaviour.

You may even feel, entirely reasonably, that if you catch so much as a brief glimpse of that bloated orange face on your TV screen one more time, youll scream until you rupture a few blood vessels.

But this three-parter from veteran documentary producer Norma Percy, whos been making incisive and compelling films for the BBC, PBS and other broadcasters for 35 years, is worth the effort.

The subject is Trumps foreign policy, which was guided by his agenda of America First (he claimed ignorance of the terms fascistic roots in 1930s US politics).

The first episode focused on his bull-in-a-china-shop behaviour at the G7 and G20 summits, when he pulled America out of the Paris Agreement and seemed to come within a whisker of withdrawing from NATO, too.

The quality of the talking heads  including so-called adults in the room like John Bolton, James Mattis, HR McMaster and KT McFarland, who were expected to put a brake on the then-presidents worst impulses  is top-notch.

The other world leaders had their first close-up encounter with Trump during this period, and the experience rattled all of them. The anecdotes and insider accounts ranged from the comical to the genuinely disturbing.

Former French president Francois Hollande, wearing an expression of amused bafflement throughout, recalled trying to raise several important matters at his first meeting with Trump. The encounter never got beyond Trump blathering on about his love of French food, wine and culture.

Malcolm Turnbull, the former Australian prime minister, said Trump buttonholed him at the G7 summit and, like an excited child, asked: Do you want to see my skiff? Its really cool!

Turnbull, bewildered, assumed Trump meant a boat, but he was referring to his SCIF (sensitive compartmented information facility), a shipping container-like room where, Trump said, no one can hear you  not even the Chinese. When Turnbull followed Trump inside, he discovered French President Emmanuel Macron was already there.

There were several stories here of Trumps contemptuous attitude to his peers and how it threatened decades-old alliances. He considered Angela Merkel and Theresa May weak and losers.

All the NATO leaders were deadbeats  although Macron impressed him with a bone-shaking alpha-male handshake to match his own.

Perhaps most telling of all, though, was former under secretary of state Thomas Shannons account of the White House lunch held for May, during which Trump, upon learning Vladimir Putin had phoned, without anyone telling him, flipped out twice, throwing huge temper tantrums, his face turning from orange to red.

Still, better a red face than a red nuclear alert.

TRUMP TAKES ON THE WORLD (BBC2) ****

New Delhi, Feb 11 : The Supreme Court on Thursday said that death due to custodial violence is abhorrent and not acceptable in a civilised society.

A bench comprising Justices Ashok Bhushan and Ajay Rastogi said: "The custodial violence on the deceased which led to the death is abhorrent and not acceptable in the civilised society. The offence committed by the accused is a crime not against the deceased alone but was against humanity and clear violations of rights guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution." The observation was made by the top court, as it declined to compound the 1988 offence of two Odisha policemen, accused of assaulting a man, who later succumbed to injuries.

Criticising custodial torture, the bench said the beating of a person in the police station is the concern for all and causes a sense of fear in the entire society. However, the top court reduced the sentence of two septuagenarian accused and directed that enhanced compensation of Rs 3.5 lakh each be paid to the family members of the deceased.

The bench pointed out that police is protector of law and order and people look forward to it to protect their life and property. "When the protector of people and society himself instead of protecting the people adopts brutality and inhumanly beat the person who comes to the police station, it is a matter of great public concern," the top court said in a 35-page verdict.

The accused police officers, a police station in-charge and senior inspector, had mercilessly beaten up the man at the police station. The victim later succumbed to the injuries. These police officers moved the top court against the conviction upheld by the High Court and sought commuting of the offence.

The bench said: "We, thus, are of the considered opinion that present is a case where this Court is not to grant leave for compounding the offences under Section 324 of IPC as prayed by the counsel for the appellants." The bench observed that offences which affect the public in general and create fear in the public in general are serious offences, and it established the accused have mercilessly beaten the deceased in the premises of the police station, which cannot be overlooked.
The United Fire Fighters of Winnipeg has had precious little to say about the allegations that two of its members refused to provide medical support to an Indigenous woman because of an inherent racial bias.

The United Fire Fighters of Winnipeg has had precious little to say about the allegations that two of its members refused to provide medical support to an Indigenous woman because of an inherent racial bias.

Throughout this story, which the Free Press first exposed last October, the UFFW and its mercurial president Alex Forrest have declined comment. Even when we reported the confidential details of an independent review of the incident in question, which concluded racial bias was involved, Forrest remained silent.

However, two things happened to change all that.

First, the two firefighters in question were suspended from their jobs pending a formal disciplinary hearing. They had, remarkably, been allowed to continue working after the incident was reported to the Winnipeg Fire and Paramedic Service.

United Firefighters of Winnipeg president Alex Forrest said he will defend the firefighters at the centre of the allegations. (Ruth Bonneville / Winnipeg Free Press files)

And second, Mayor Brian Bowman threw a gauntlet down at the feet of the UFFW, challenging the union and its president to take a stand on the issue of systemic racism.

A little more than an hour after Bowman issued that challenge, Forrest ended his five months-long silence and returned fire.

In his own news release, Forrest said Bowman's comments were inappropriate given the fact that an internal disciplinary process was still unfolding. Forrest also said he would not be making any "statements at this time until after all of the issues and information is addressed and the disciplinary meetings have concluded."

But right after promising to refrain from making any comments or reaching any conclusions, Forrest did just that.

The two firefighters in question "have been tried and convicted before the full facts were dealt with," Forrest wrote, adding that the UFFW would be "defending our members to the fullest extent possible and we believe that our members will be vindicated."

Forrest's response is hardly surprising, given the UFFW has a legal and moral obligation to defend its members. However, there were some alarming aspects to his news release.

After months of silence, he entered the debate only after the mayor called him out. More importantly, even when he finally did have something to say, he failed once again to acknowledge that systemic racism exists and that his union is committed to making it a thing of the past.

Mayor Brian Bowman (left) and Winnipeg Fire and Paramedic Service Chief John Lane were forced to hold a press conference after the allegations of racism came to light. (John Woods / Winnipeg Free Press files)

Some might call a statement like that little more than lip service, and they wouldn't be wrong. But it's still important for key public figures such as Forrest to be seen and heard taking a stand on something this important.

Bowman's motivation for challenging Forrest is hardly altruistic; the mayor, along with WFPS Chief John Lane, were feeling the heat after it was learned the firefighters in this incident were allowed to continue working up until last week; the public challenge to the UFFW was an attempt to change the channel.

Still, Bowman made a good point: where does the UFFW stand in the debate on systemic racism? Given the details revealed in the third-party investigation of this incident, that is a question that should follow Forrest for some time.

In that report, we learned the two firefighters and two others from their crew provided false statements to the investigator and then changed their stories after being shown video evidence that disproved their accounts. And that one of the firefighters kept referring to the incident in question as "just another call in the North End" while expressing concern that "Black Lives Matter had made martyrs out of career criminals."

It's also important to note the paramedic involved in this incident had made previous complaints about some of the same firefighters posting racist comments on social media, with one calling him a "sand (N-word)" during a face-to-face confrontation.

The paramedic also claimed that after filing his complaint, he received threatening phone calls, including one that warned him that if his house caught on fire, he shouldn't expect any help from the fire department.

With evidence like this now out in the public domain, the hill Forrest and the UFFW must climb to full vindication is not insurmountable, but it has become exceedingly steep.

The union must defend its members and ensure due process is followed; of this there is no doubt. But how the union defends its members and, more importantly, what it says in public about the broader issues are extremely important.

Right now, the UFFW has done nothing to suggest that it believes systemic racism exists or that it has any role to play in fighting it on the front lines of the fire and paramedic service.

The UFFW is hardly alone in this kind of dangerous posturing. Across Canada and the United States, police unions have become a potent political force that have frustrated attempts by government to combat systemic racism and the unbridled use of deadly force in confrontations with people of colour.

There is no easy way for the UFFW to balance its legal obligation to defend the firefighters with the moral obligation we all have to fight systemic racism. But at the very least, it could start with a full explanation of where the union and its president stand on the issue.

For the sake of the community, and the firefighters who genuinely do not allow racism to affect them in the commission of their duties, the UFFW and its president better find a way to become part of the solution.

Right now, they are both fully and completely part of the problem.

dan.lett@freepress.mb.ca
Traffic restrictions programmed for 14 February to battle air pollution in Rome.

Rome motorists are to be prohibited from driving within the fascia verde (green belt) on Sunday 14 February from 07.30 to 12.30 and from 16.30 until 20.30.

Known as domeniche ecologiche (Ecological Sundays), the traffic restrictions are designed to curb air pollution in the capital, with the next one programmed for 14 March.

There are a number of exemptions to the traffic ban including electric cars and vehicles, with special permits for disabled drivers.

Sunday 14 February is St Valentine's Day and temperatures in the capital are set to drop significantly this weekend, with the risk of snow.

For details see city website.

Photo Wanted in Rome
Egypt's Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly and his Jordanian counterpart, Bishr Al-Khasawneh, made a visit to Downtown Cairo to inspect the ongoing development works at Tahrir square.

Madbouly explained to Al-Khasawneh details surrounding the project, which will extend to sites in and around the square like Omar Makram Mosque, the Mogamma government building, the Egyptian Museum, the historic building that formerly housed the foreign ministry, and the newly established Tahrir parking garage.

Madbouly said the ongoing development, part of a greater development scheme for historic Cairo, is expected to restore the 150-year-old square to its former glory, adding that it will become a civilised facade symbolising the spirit of ongoing development in the old capital.

The inspection came after a joint meeting between the prime ministers of the two countries, in the presence of a number of ministers, to discuss ways to help strengthen relations between Egypt and Jordan to encourage joint industrialisation and commercial exchange.

Madbouly said the project will involve painting the facades of buildings, planting trees to create green spaces, and decorating the entire square with pure light LEDs to create a festive atmosphere.

The square is already home to a 17-metre obelisk that weighs 90 tons, dating back to the reign of the ancient Egyptian Pharaoh Ramses II, and four ram-headed sphinx statues from Luxors Karnak Temple, turning it into an open-air museum commemorating Egyptian history and celebrating pharaonic heritage.

The project is funded by the Ministry of Housing, Utilities, and Urban Communities in coordination with Cairo and the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities as part of the plan to showcase Egypts civilisation.

Short link:


New Delhi, Feb 11 : E-commerce giant Amazon has moved the Supreme Court against the Future-Reliance Retail deal.

On February 8, the Delhi High Court had stayed the implementation of status quo ordered by a single-judge bench on the Rs 24,713-crore deal between Future Retail Ltd and Reliance.

The e-commerce company has challenged this Delhi High Court Division Bench order, which stayed the implementation of the "status quo" on the deal.

The Division Bench of Chief Justice D.N. Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh noted: "There was no reason to seek a status quo order from single-judge bench. Statutory authorities cannot be restrained from proceeding in accordance with law".

The bench also observed that Future Retail Ltd is not a party to the Arbitration Agreement and hence, the group of companies doctrine cannot be invoked.

"Observations are only prima facie. Single judge not to be influenced," the High Court had noted. Earlier, Future Retail Ltd had moved the division bench to appeal against the status quo order passed by Justice J.R. Midha.

According to sources, Amazon filed an appeal in the top court after the high court dealt a blow to the US firm by revoking a previous court decision that effectively blocked the deal.

In its plea, Amazon contended that the division bench should have waited for a detailed single-judge order and urged the top court to stay this order.

Amazon had moved the Delhi High Court last month for enforcement of the Emergency Award. It had alleged that Future Group's Kishore Biyani as well as other promoters and directors were "deliberately and maliciously" disobeying the Emergency Award in spite of their participation in the arbitration proceedings.
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52 further deaths from Covid-19 have been confirmed this evening by Department of Health officials.

33 of these deaths occurred in February, 12 occurred in January, six were in December or earlier and one is still under investigation.

The median age of those who died was 83 years and the age range was 55 - 96 years.

The newest figures bring the total number of Covid-19 related deaths here to 3,846.

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) also confirmed 866 new cases of the virus here.

The total number of cases confirmed in Ireland since the outbreak began is now 206,801.

14,265 cases have been confirmed in the last two weeks alone.

The 14-day incidence rate of the virus is now 299.6 per 100,000 population. The seven-day incidence rate is 129.2

As of 8am this morning, 984 Covid-19 patients were hospitalised, 172 of whom were in ICU.

44 additional hospitalisations have been reported in the past 24 hours.

Of the cases notified today:

401 are men;

463 are women;

65% are under 45 years of age;

The median age is 35 years old;

281 are located in Dublin;

63 are in Galway;

56 are in Kildare;

47 are in Meath;

39 are in Cork;

and the remaining 380 cases are spread across all other counties.

The HPSC also noted that validation of data has resulted in the denotification of previously confirmed Covid-19 cases.

The figure of 206,801 cases reflects these denotifications.

As of February 8, 242,353 doses of Covid-19 vaccine have been administered in Ireland - 154,900 people have received their first dose, and 88,453 people have received their second dose.

Deputy CMO 'cautiously optimistic' about national Covid picture

Speaking at this evening's briefing, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Dr Ronan Glynn said he was "cautiously optimistic about the epidemiological situation across the country."

"This positive momentum has been achieved through the dedication of people across the country in recent weeks.

"However, incidence and mortality rates are still very high, and the significant risk of community transmission of the virus remains, especially for those most vulnerable to Covid-19 infection."

Dr Glynn said it remained "of vital importance" that people continue to stay at home and to work from home where at all possible.

Chair of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee, Professor Karina Butler said that news of 242,353 vaccines doses being administered was "a wonderful achievement."

Prof Butler thanked all vaccine administration teams for their dedication and hard work.

"We hope that as our vaccination numbers go up, we can offer more protection those who are vaccinated and ultimately the wider population," she said.

But, until that time, all of us, including those of us who have received our Covid-19 vaccines, must maintain our adherence to all of the other public health measures like washing our hands and social distancing.

Chair of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee, Professor Karina Butler said that news of 242,353 vaccines doses being administered was "a wonderful achievement." Picture: Sam Boal / RollingNews.ie

Chair of the NPHET Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group, Professor Philip Nolan said that the HSE's move to has begin to test close contacts of confirmed cases was "positive."

This clearly shows that we are back in the containment phase of this pandemic.

However, Prof Nolan noted that positivity rates among household contacts was quite high, close to 30%.

This, he said, was a timely reminder to the public to immediately isolate ourselves if they have any symptoms.

He also urged people to continue to limit social contacts.

"Do not visit another persons household unless you are providing essential care, he said.

National Clinical Director Health Protection HSE - Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC), Dr Lorraine Doherty said that the Covid-19 find-test-trace-isolate process was "vital" to efforts to halt the spread of the virus.

"We all need to contact our GP as soon as symptoms occur, to go for a test, trace our contacts if our test is positive and prevent further infections.

"It is important to remember that everyone can access testing free of charge. Testing and contact tracing are vital to our ongoing collective efforts to minimise the spread of Covid-19, she said.
The momentum against the coup picked up when associations of civil servants refused to work for the military.

by Vijay Prashad

On February 1, 2021, Myanmars militaryknown as the Tatmadawinvoked Article 417 of the 2008 constitution, dismissed State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi, and arrested her and other members of her National League for Democracy (NLD) party. Condemnation of the coup was swift, although there would be reason for hesitancy in the reaction: Aung San Suu Kyi, who had been the face of the democracy movement until her release from house arrest in 2010, ruined her reputation when she came to the International Court of Justice in 2019 to defend her countrys genocide against the Rohingya people. No longer is Aung San Suu Kyi the unalloyed symbol of democracy and human rights.

Within Myanmar, protests against the coup continue. Tens of thousands of people, many wearing red (the color of the NLD), have taken to the streets across Myanmar, not only in the more congested cities but also in the countryside, to protest the coup.

The momentum against the coup picked up when associations of civil servants refused to work for the military. While this wave began with medics, it escalated to involve workers in the railways and education, and workers in the social welfare and construction ministries. Staff in the Department of Social Welfare released a statement that read, We will get back to work only after power is handed back to the democratically elected government.

By the second week of February, protests entered Myanmars typically quiet capital city of Naypyitaw, with motorcycle parades and demonstrations at the main marketplaces. Myanmars military built this city as the capital and shifted all administrative offices from Yangon to this interior town in 2005. Naypyitaw was built with the intention that it would remain a military stronghold, safe for the rulers of the country who would not be disturbed by the messiness of democracy. However, in the elections of 2015 and 2020, the militarys election vehicle, Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), did not prevail even in Naypyitaw, where the NLD won handily. It demonstrates the appetite among Myanmars public for a democratic process.

Coup Nation

Myanmars military seized power of the countrys institutions in 1962. It has not yet turned over control to civilians. The 2008 constitution, written substantially by the military, provides a legal fiction to hang over military domination. One in four seats in the parliamentthe Pyidaungsu Hluttawis held by a person nominated by the military. The military continues to hold the Cabinet portfolios for defense and home affairs, both held till the coup by lieutenant generals in the Tatmadaw.

The constitutions Article 417 allows the military to declare a state of emergency and dismiss the civilian fig leaf. This is exactly what the military did on February 1. What happened that day was both a coup and not a coup; it was a coup because the military dismissed the civilian government and took power, but it was not a coup because the military did not hand over power after the 2010 elections (the militarys USDP ran unopposed and took over the government, exchanging fatigues for suits).

General Min Aung Hlaing had hoped to become the head of government after his term as commander in chief of Myanmars army ended. As it is, General Min Aung Hlaing controls a substantial part of the economy through the Myanmar Economic Holdings Limited (MEHL), an army conglomerate, and through the businesses of his children Aung Pyae Sone and Khin Thiri Thet Mon. Sources in Yangon told me that in 2015 General Min Aung Hlaings close associate U Than Htay was put in charge of the USDP, ensuring that it became an instrument of General Min Aung Hlaing. The general took the defeat of the USDP in the November 2020 election personally; it was this animus that led to the tens of thousands of cases of election fraud alleged by the USDP against the NLD.

Before the November 2020 election, General Min Aung Hlaing warned the candidates not to be swayed by foreign influence. This was seen in Myanmar as a threat to the NLD. Accusations of fraud in that election did not carry weight even with the election commission. On January 26, military spokesperson Major General Zaw Min Tun said that the military would act if the accusations were not taken seriously. This is precisely what they did a few days later.

Caught Between the U.S. and China

China and Myanmar share a 1,300-mile border, with China being Myanmars largest investor and one of its key economic partners. A decade ago, the United States government attempted to wean Myanmar away from its links to China and to reorient its economy toward the United States. This became part of U.S. President Barack Obamas pivot to Asia. In 2007, Derek Mitchell, who would later become Obamas special representative for Myanmar, co-authored an article that pointed out that sanctions had been ineffective and that a new road map was needed to reform the military.

Myanmars military had its own road map: it created a new constitution in 2008, held elections in 2010 that brought the USDP to power, released Aung San Suu Kyi from prison that year, and allowed her to run for elections in 2015. Obama went to Myanmar in 2012, and then the U.S. removed sanctions in October 2016, hoping that these moves would signal a shift from Myanmars links to Beijing toward Washington.

But this did not happen. Neither the military nor Aung San Suu Kyi could logically break trading ties with its neighbor. In May 2017, Aung San Suu Kyi went to Beijing to sign an agreement to bring Myanmar into Chinas Belt and Road Initiative. In mid-January 2021, Chinas Foreign Minister Wang Yi visited Naypyitaw to discuss the Belt and Road projects as well as Chinas assistance to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. On the agenda was the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor, including the China-Myanmar Border Economic Cooperation Zone, New Yangon City, and the Kyaukpyu Deep Sea Port. Wang Yi met with both Aung San Suu Kyi and the military leadership, both of whom spoke warmly about Myanmars relations with China.

Washingtons attempt to push out China from Myanmar had no bearing on the February 1 coup; both the military and NLD are committed to the strategic link with China. But it does not help that this new cold war has deepened the instability that marks Myanmars history since 1962.

The people are on the streets now in the midst of what they are calling a drum revolution. With each passing day, more and more people are joining the call for a return to civilian rule, even if this means going back to the status quo with the military pulling the strings in the background.

This article was produced by Globetrotter.

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.

Click here for updates on this story

Salem, Oregon (KPTV) -- The pandemic has taken a toll on many people's mental health, that includes families, students and teachers in our schools. FOX 12 recently sat down with a school psychologist to talk about how he's helping them cope with the challenges of COVID-19.

The request for support has definitely escalated," said Jed Thomas. "I think that the needs have always been there, but theyve really been amplified with COVID.

Thomas is a school psychologist for Salem-Keizer Public Schools. A typical day on the job for him means meeting and supporting teachers and administrators, particularly those with behavioral and emotional needs.

"In the spring time, I spent probably a lot more time helping teachers recognize that this was something that is more to be reassuring and kind of be a sounding board and listen for some of the anxiety and frustration that was there," said Thomas. "Part of it was around just being unfamiliar with how they were going to be successful and reaching kids in a virtual learning kind of setting.

Thomas also works with families looking for support with their kids at home.

Both with CDL and just some of the general emotional challenges that come up during this time," said Thomas.

The main concern he hears now: 'How are kids going to integrate back into normal life again after being out for so long?'

Ive talked and tried to concentrate on the things that teachers have been working on, in a very positive vein, to help build skills and really talk about the challenges as a springboard for building resilience with kids," said Thomas. "But the challenge is still very real for parents about coming back and having their kids prepared and I know teachers want to do the best in making sure that transition happens smoothly.

As for the transition back into the classroom, Thomas said it won't be easy for everyone.

I think it will be a challenge for many and I think it will take time and my only caution would be that we not rush the expectations, but move in a fashion that allows kids to kind of adapt and allows teachers to adapt and families to adapt," he said.

Salem-Keizer Public Schools plans to slowly get kids back in the classroom in a hybrid model starting early next month.
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I'm Winston Gieseke, philanthropy and special sections editor for The Desert Sun in Palm Springs, and I'm pleased to announce that we have made it to Wednesday. And I hope wherever you are that it's as beautiful as it is here in the desert. Here are some of today's headlines.

In California brings you top Golden State stories and commentary from across the USA TODAY Network and beyond. Get it free, straight to your inbox.

Newsom: South African variant of COVID-19 identified in California

California has identified its first two cases of the South African variant of the coronavirus, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Wednesday. The cases were found in Alameda and Santa Clara counties, both in the San Francisco Bay Area. In total, the state has fewer than 1,500 identified cases of different variants, the governor said.

It was a dim note in an otherwise upbeat press conference, as Newsom announced that California's infection rates, hospitalizations and cases continue to fall rapidly.

Fewer than 5% of people tested are now turning up positive results and daily confirmed infection cases have dropped to about 8,400 from a high of more than 50,000 a month ago, he said. More than 5 million vaccine doses have been administered.

However, scientists and health officials fear the variants could be more contagious, less responsive to treatments and more likely to re-infect people who already had the virus. The South African variant was first identified in the United States late last month in South Carolina.

'Hero pay': Who's getting it and who wants it

Irvine is the latest city in Southern California to approve a raise for grocery store workers due to the risks they face from possible exposure to COVID-19. CBS Los Angeles reports that the Irvine City Council approved an ordinance that will require large supermarket and drug stores to pay employees an additional $4 per hour in hazard  or "hero"  pay for at least the next 120 days.

Story continues

But Irvine is not alone. Long Beach also approved a temporary $4 increase with similar terms, as did the city of Montebello. And last week, the Los Angeles City Council voted to move forward with the preparation of an ordinance that would raise the compensation of its own grocery workers $5 per hour.

As a result of the added wage expense, Kroger Co. announced it will close two Southern California supermarkets, a Ralphs market and a Food 4 Less, on April 17.

Despite the pushback, the City of Coachella is considering following suit and even extending the controversial benefits to farmworkers. If approved, Coachella would become the first city in the nation to require the premium pay for farmworkers, according to city leaders.

Up north, meanwhile, the San Jose City Council voted 7-3 Tuesday to pay its grocery workers an additional $3 an hour for the next 120 days, according to The Mercury News. A $5-per-hour wage increase was approved last week by the Oakland City Council.

On the flip side, the California Grocers Association, a group representing hundreds of grocery stores in California, has sued every city which has approved hero pay for workers, claiming the ordinance interferes with the collective bargaining process between grocery stores and unions representing workers.

Make a sick kid smile on Valentine's Day

Go ahead ... make someone's day this Valentine's.

Sunday is Valentine's Day. And regardless of what you think of this greeting card holiday, receiving a piece of mail with a big heart on it can certainly make someone's day  especially a child who's stuck in the hospital.

This year, abc7.com is encouraging folks to help turn a frown upside down by sending a Valentine's Day card to a kid at Children's Hospital Los Angeles.

It's easy: Visit chla.org/valentine and choose one of three V-day dinosaur cards ("You're T-rrific!", "You're Dino-Mite!" or You're the TriceraTOPS") and then add a personal message. The cards will be hand-delivered to each patient, along with a goody bag and balloons in the hopes of giving them an extra sweet Valentine's Day.

It's completely free, and it actually raises money for the hospital. For each card sent before Feb. 12, an anonymous donor has pledged to donate $1, up to $25,000.

Sacramento considers allowing apartments in single-family home neighborhoods

Work is done on an apartment building under construction in Sacramento on Feb. 8, 2019.

In Northern California news, the City of Sacramento is close to approving a plan that would make it the first city in California, and among the first in the nation, to put an end to zoning that allows only one single-family home on a property. If approved, the plan would permit up to four homes to be built on lots.

The Los Angeles Times reports that "Sacramentos effort to dramatically alter its streetscape reflects the capital citys rapidly broadening identity." The city, which was once populated primarily by state government employees, has enjoyed a housing surge of people working in the fields of healthcare and technology. While this has benefited the city's arts and cultural scene, it has resulted in drastic rent increases as well as increases in the homeless population.

Sacramentos Democratic mayor, Darrell Steinberg, is in favor of the proposal, as is a group of activists concerned that housing costs will spiral as they did in the Bay Area.

Sacramento should be a pioneer in saying yes to more homes for all, the organization, which calls itself House Sacramento, wrote last month to the City Council.

While the city officials are uncertain how many new homes the proposal would create, either by building new homes or subdividing existing ones, it is believed it will be fewer than 100 per year.

Bite-sized news bits

Should porch pirates pay penalty with prison? Fun alliteration aside, should serial package thieves face prison time? That's a discussion resulting from a law currently being considered in the California Senate. The Sacramento Bee reports that Senate Bill 358, introduced by Sen. Brian Jones, R-Santee, would allow a porch pirate with two or more convictions of misdemeanor package theft within a three-year period to be charged with a felony.

Light rain expected in SoCal this weekend. Some light rain could hit Southern California, reports The Press-Enterprise, though a pair of expected storms are expected to be relatively minor. Look for the first drops on Friday, with more on Saturday and Sunday.

After half a century of earthquakes, Californias aging dams face new problems. The Los Angeles Times reports that Federal engineers have found that three major dams in Southern California  Whittier Narrows, Prado and Mojave River  are structurally unsafe and could collapse, causing significant floods that could potentially inundate millions of people downstream. It's estimated that upgrading the 62-year-old Whittier Narrows Dam could cost an estimated $600 million.

RIP Larry Flynt. And lastly, we say goodbye to publisher and self-proclaimed First Amendment champion, who died Wednesday at age 78.

In California is a roundup of news from across USA Today network newsrooms. Also contributing: abc7.com, CBS Los Angeles, The Mercury News, The Press-Enterprise, The Sacramento Bee. We'll be back in your inbox tomorrow with the latest headlines.

As the philanthropy and special sections editor at The Desert Sun, Winston Gieseke writes about nonprofits, fundraising and people who give back in the Coachella Valley. Reach him at winston.gieseke@desertsun.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: South African variant of COVID-19 identified in California, Newsom says


A memorandum of understanding is expected to be signed between the UK and EU over financial services in March (Ian West/PA)

Amsterdam overtook London as the largest financial trading centre in Europe last month as Brexit-related changes to finance rules came into force.

An average of 9.2 billion euros (8.1 billion) worth of shares were traded on Euronext Amsterdam, alongside Dutch divisions of CBOE Europe and the Turquoise exchange in January, according to data from CBOE Europe first reported by the Financial Times.

Following the end of the Brexit transition period, US banks wanting to buy European stocks would no longer be able to trade via London.

The Turquoise trading platform, owned by the London Stock Exchange Group, had already moved to the Netherlands, and follows around 7,000 jobs that have shifted in the financial sector from the UK to the EU since the referendum.

Expand Close Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey says the EU must not dictate rules to the UK over financial services (Tolga Akmen/PA) PA / Facebook

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Reasons for the shift include the EU saying it does not recognise UK exchanges as having the same levels of supervisory status as its counterparts in the Netherlands, France and Germany.

Without an equivalence deal being struck, around 6.5 billion euros (5.7 billion) of deals shifted overnight to the EU  including the fees that come with them.

The shift is unlikely to see more jobs lost from the City of London, but tensions remain high between London and Brussels as banking regulators continue to thrash out a memorandum of understanding over future rules.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said Chancellor Rishi Sunak must do more to protect the City following Brexit.

Speaking to reporters at Heathrow, he said: Our financial markets are hugely important. I was very worried when I saw the Brexit deal that there was almost no provision for financial services.

So what I want is to see progress here. The Chancellor said that he would look after the City of London on financial services; he needs to make good on that promise because we absolutely need to protect our financial services.

Fragmentation of share trading across financial centres is in no-ones interests Downing Street spokesman

The Prime Ministers official spokesman told a Westminster briefing: The UK exchanges remain some of the biggest and deepest in the world and we continue, as we have done, to believe in open, global markets and firms ability to choose where to trade.

Despite the fact that we have supplied all of the necessary paperwork and are one of the worlds most pre-eminent financial centres with a strong regulatory system, the EU still havent granted us full equivalence.

This has meant that a number of EU shares that were previously traded on UK venues have moved to the EU venues on advice of the European regulator.

But our position is fragmentation of share trading across financial centres is in no-ones interests, so we remain open to discussions with the EU about this.

Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey warned on Wednesday evening that the UK would not be forced to follow EU rules to the letter and that sensible agreements over what constitutes equivalence were needed.

Giving the governors annual Mansion House speech to the City, he said: The EU has argued it must better understand how the UK intends to amend or alter the rules going forwards.

I'm afraid a world in which the EU dictates and determines which rules and standards we have in the UK isn't going to work Andrew Bailey, Bank of England governor

This is a standard that the EU holds no other country to and would, I suspect, not agree to be held to itself. It is hard to see beyond one of two ways of interpreting this statement, neither of which stands up to much scrutiny.

He added: Im afraid a world in which the EU dictates and determines which rules and standards we have in the UK isnt going to work.

Mr Bailey also warned that the UK should avoid becoming a low-tax, low-regulation country and said it would be a mistake for the EU would cut off London from its financial systems.

The governor said: I cant predict what will actually happen exactly because its not within our control, but I think we have to state the argument for why its important to have global standards, global markets and safe openness. And if we all sign up to that, there isnt a need to go in that direction.

A memorandum of understanding is expected to be signed between the UK and EU over financial services in March.
STORY LINK GBP to ZAR Exchange Rate Tumbles to Months Worst despite UKs Vaccine Optimism

GBP Exchange Rates Benefit from Vaccine Optimism, Limiting Losses

The UK vaccination campaign has reached nearly 20% of the population, the highest in the Western world. While Prime Minister Boris Johnson asked for patience, the UK is heading toward opening the economy. Moreover, the Pound may continue benefiting from upbeat expectations for fourth-quarter growth figures due out on Friday.

ZAR Exchange Rates Benefit from Rise in Emerging Market Sentiment

GBP/ZAR Exchange Rate Forecast: Could UK Growth Report Help GBP/ZAR Recover?

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Despite broad demand for the Pound in recent weeks, the British Pound to South African Rand (GBP/ZAR) exchange rate has been tumbling. Investors are buying the South African Rand on market sentiment even more than the Pound, despite South Africas own mixed coronavirus pandemic outlook. Investors have been more willing to take risks on global vaccination hopes, as well as low US Federal Reserve rate hike expectations.While the Pound was bullish last week, GBP/ZAR actually saw sharp losses. GBP/ZAR tumbled from 20.76 to 20.38 last week alone, and this weeks movement has seen continued bearishness.GBP/ZAR did attempt to rebound when markets opened on Monday, but advance attempts have been limited and at the time of writing on Thursday the pair is trending near lows of 20.23.These are the worst GBP/ZAR levels since the beginning of the year, over a month ago.Investors have been selling the Pound against the strong South African Rand in recent weeks, but the Pound has actually been rather appealing against other majors.Hopes that Britains economy will recover from the coronavirus pandemic before other major economies do has been the primary cause of Pound strength in recent weeks.This is because Britains vaccination rollout is further ahead than those of other economies.According to Yohay Elam, Analyst at FXStreet:However, some uncertainties have been weighing slightly on the Pound and limiting its appeal against some stronger rivals.For example, there are rising fears that existing coronavirus vaccinations are not as effective against newer strains of the virus. Vaccine producer AstraZeneca has said that vaccines for these new strains could take over 6 months to develop.This is making analysts more anxious that it will be quite some time before Britain is able to leave lockdown and economic normalcy will return.Concerns over fresh post-Brexit trade tensions between the UK and EU are also limiting the Pounds strength and making it easier for the Rand to gain.The South African Rand is a currency that is often correlated to risk and emerging market sentiment. As a result of this, the Rand has seen strong gains in recent weeks as markets become more confident in buying emerging market assets.Today, the South African Rand is one of the best performing major currencies on markets.Investors are buying the Rand ahead of a State of the Nation speech from South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa. Markets are cautiously optimistic that Ramaphosa could hint at more government support to help the nation tackle the coronavirus pandemic.On top of this and global coronavirus recovery hopes boosting market sentiment, the South African Rand is also benefitting from this weeks South African data.South Africas business confidence data from SACCI beat forecasts yesterday, and todays production results were also notably better than forecast.Whats more, South Africas latest manufacturing PMI data from Markit printed at 50.8. This was the best figure since December 2016.The South African Rand could remain strong through the end of the week, but there is potential for the Pound to recover before markets close.Friday will see the publication of the weeks most notable UK ecostats. This slew of data includes trade balance and production results from December, as well as business investment and growth data from Q4 2020.Stronger than expected UK Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth data for the end of 2020 could boost Britains outlook. This could bolster Sterling appeal and help GBP/ZAR to recover this weeks losses.On the other hand though, weaker than expected UK growth data could worsen concerns about the coronavirus pandemics impact on Britains economy. This could lead to fresh losses in the Pound and make GBP/ZAR even lower at the end of the week.The South African Rand will be driven more by overall market sentiment. Any surprises from South African President Cyril Ramaphosas State of the Nation address could also influence the Pound to South African Rand exchange rate.

International Money Transfer? Ask our resident FX expert a money transfer question or try John's new, free, no-obligation personal service! ,where he helps every step of the way, ensuring you get the best exchange rates on your currency requirements.

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Press Release

February 11, 2021 POE: BAYANIHAN 3 AN EMPTY PROMISE WITHOUT FUND SOURCE Sen. Grace Poe said the Filipino people will be holding an empty promise if another sequel to the Bayanihan law is passed, but without appropriate funds. "I agree with any initiative that will help our people reeling from this pandemic, anything that the government can give," Poe said in an interview. "I would like to know where we will be able to source the funding for that because even in Bayanihan 2, a portion of the appropriation is under unprogrammed funds. How are we going to source it, where are we going to spend it? We have to know the real score so that we will not make empty promises to the people," she stressed. Several bills have been filed seeking the passage of a Bayanihan 3 to secure an additional stimulus package to help rev up the economy hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. Before passing a new stimulus law, Poe said the public must also know how the current Bayanihan 2 funds are being used as part of the COVID-19 response. "Let us consider that Bayanihan 2 was extended, therefore, we still need to get a proper accounting of what was spent in Bayanihan 2if there are any savings or deficit," Poe said. "Another important question that should be raised is where are we exactly going to source the funding for this?" she added, noting that the country is currently saddled with P10 trillion debt in 2020 and is programmed to borrow P3 trillion more this year. Poe also added that passing new taxes to fund the measure may not be feasible, citing the backlash from the recent hearings on the Private Motor Vehicle Inspection Centers (PMVICs). "Lalung-lalo na sa panahon ngayon, sa pandemyang ito, ngayon pa nila tataasan ng ganyang kalaking singil na hindi naman mapupunta sa ating mga kababayan ang pera," said Poe on the timing and prohibitive increase in the PMVIC fees. Poe said the government should first make an inventory of unreleased and unused funds from Bayanihan 2 as well as slow-moving funds under the 2021 National Budget to assist distressed sectors. Bayanihan 2 or Bayanihan To Recover As One Act was signed into law in September 2020 with an appropriation of P165.5 billion. It was supposed to expire in December 2020 but was extended until June 2021 which means that government agencies may still release or use the remainder of the fund until the law's new expiration. A total of P386.1 billion was also released under the earlier Bayanihan to Heal as One Act or Bayanihan 1 passed at the onset of the COVID-19 quarantine. Both laws were previously funded by cutting non-implementable government programs and projects or by taking out new loans. Poe also reiterated her call that the approach of the government on recovery should be centered job-generation. "The best strategy is still to make sure Filipinos have jobs. Cash aid is a one-time benefit, in contrast to employment which can give them a secure income."
Panthera has a board comprised of highly experienced mining industry executives

What it does

( ) is a gold exploration and development specialist

What it owns

The company owns gold exploration assets in West Africa, India and Germany

Whats the latest

Panthera Resources PLC returned exceptionally high-grade gold in soil anomalies from the recently completed sampling programme at its Bido project in Burkina Faso, West Africa.

Panthera is earning up to 100%, allowing for any government interest, in the Bido project.

The survey took 1,166 soil samples on lines 200 metres apart with samples every 50 metres along lines, together with assays.

The work identified a northwest-trending zone approximately 2,500 metres long.

What does the chief executive say?

"The survey results are excellent and confirm that this area has the potential for high-grade mineralisation, said Mark Bolton, managing director of Panthera.

The next stage of work will involve infilling gold in soil sampling of some of the better anomalies, detailed geological mapping and rock chip sampling, and possibly some trenching and geophysics. Subject to these results, we anticipate a drilling programme mid-2021."


New research from Trinity College Dublin suggests that older adults can be more focused, less impeded by anxiety and less mentally restless than younger adults.

The team at the Trinity College Institute of Neuroscience (TCIN) (today, Wednesday, 10th February 2021) show that older adults appear to mitigate the negative aspects of cognitive decline by increasing motivation and adopting more efficient strategies to suspend the wandering mind when the focus is required.

The study, published in the journal Psychology and Aging (American Psychological Association) is the first to adjudicate between competing theories of age-related mind-wandering dominant in the field. It highlights the influential roles of affective and motivational factors in driving age-related differences in unintentional mind-wandering and provide reasons to be less persuaded by previous cognitive resources accounts.

The human mind has a natural and frequent tendency to wander. In everyday life, our thoughts often stray from the here-and-now. Mind-wandering is broadly defined as the mental state whereby our attention shifts away from a task or our current environment to unrelated and self-generated mental content.

Recent research within healthy ageing populations has demonstrated a confusing yet consistent finding of the reduced mind-wandering frequency with advancing age.

Although different theories have been suggested to explain this finding, previous studies have been afflicted by varying methodological challenges for capturing incidences of mind-wandering.

As such, the neuropsychological mechanisms underlying age-related differences in mind-wandering remain unclear. Further, there is a lack of research exploring the mechanisms underlying different mind-wandering dynamics; specifically, mind-wandering that occurs with and without intention.

Considering the phenomenon of global population ageing, and in light of the reported benefits (e.g. creativity, problem-solving) and costs (e.g. poorer sustained attention and clinical outcomes) of mind-wandering, it is important to investigate the impact of ageing on mind-wandering.

Sustaining our attention is an important ability that underlies much of our cognition and its decline is linked with an increased risk of falls, a factor contributing to the loss of independence and reduced quality of life in older adults.

Therefore, research on different attentional states is vital for shaping our understanding of the brain and the natural ageing process and may help inform future interventions targeted at promoting healthy ageing.

The 'Dockree Lab' team at TCIN, in a collaboration with Prof Alan Smeaton from Dublin City University, investigated whether the nature and frequency of mind-wandering changed with age, and explored the specific mechanisms underlying unintentional and intentional mind-wandering.

They employed a multi-faceted methodological approach whereby healthy younger and community-dwelling older adults completed a series of standardised cognitive and neuropsychological tasks and performed a computerised sustained attention task that periodically asked participants to report on their current mental state.

Compared to previous studies, the task was well-suited to measure mind-wandering as the task was non-demanding and presented gradually unfolding targets that placed greater reliance on endogenous attentional control.

Key Findings

Older adults exhibited a lower tendency for mind-wandering, both unintentionally and intentionally than younger adults. In total, older and younger adults reported mind-wandering 27% and 45%, respectively, in response to the thought probes throughout the task.

Younger and older adults demonstrated similar task performance; although, older adults performed with less variability indicating overall better focus.

Despite poorer performance on standard cognitive tests, older adults exhibited lower levels of anxiety and depression, fewer subjective attentional difficulties, and greater task-related motivation than their younger counterparts.

The analyses also highlight the adaptive qualities of older adults who were able to reduce their unintentional mind-wandering through their lower levels of anxiety and greater task motivation than the more mentally restless younger group. Contrary to executive resource accounts of mind-wandering, the cognitive variables did not further contribute to this model.

The team observed an association between intentional mind-wandering and increased false alarms on the task, which was mediated by more inconsistent responding, particularly in the young who were more restless in their approach. Considering that younger adults' higher variability did not incur a relative cost to their performance compared to older adults, they have more resources available to adaptively switch between focus and more explorative mind-wandering states.

Older adults, on the other hand, exploit greater focus toward the task, with less bias toward mind-wandering. We suggest this is an adaptive quality of successful ageing - when context demands it, older adults suspend the wandering mind to mitigate potential costs.

The team suggests that dispositional and strategic factors be considered in future studies exploring mind-wandering across the lifespan. The research, therefore, highlights the nature and correlates of different mind-wandering dimensions and provides new insight into how unintentional and intentional mind-wandering processes change with age.

Age-related cognitive decline in later life represents a leading cause of disease burden and loss of functional independence. Despite these challenges, there is a consistent and perhaps, puzzling finding of reduced mind-wandering with advancing age. Our research, supported by the Irish Research Council, provides new insight into the influence of the natural ageing process on mind-wandering. We highlight the adaptive strategies and positive qualities adopted by older adults that led to a beneficial reduction in their mind-wandering and equivalent performance with younger adults. Dissecting the mechanisms underlying different cognitive processes may be important indications of successful ageing." Catherine Moran, Study Lead Author and PhD Candidate, School of Psychology, Trinity College Dublin

Dr Paul Dockree, Associate Professor, Psychology and co-author/lead investigator said:

"'Old and absentminded' is a phrase, which is recognised in common parlance, but it does not hold universal truth. Our research suggests that older adults can be more focused, less impeded by anxiety and less mentally restless than younger adults. Importantly, older adults appear to mitigate the negative aspects of cognitive decline by increasing motivation and adopting more efficient strategies to suspend the wandering mind when the focus is required. This research is in keeping with Trinity's Research Theme of Ageing, which promotes a more in-depth understanding of cognitive changes as we age, with a view to establishing a more age-friendly and inclusive society."
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Theatrical performers and members of Myanmar's myriad ethnic minorities joined ongoing large and enthusiastic protests Thursday against the junta that took over the government last week.

Tens of thousands of demonstrators, if not more, have marched daily in Yangon and Mandalay, the country's biggest cities.

The participation of ethnic minority marchers in Yangon, many dressed in the colorful traditional garb of their regions, underlined the depth and breadth of the opposition to last week's military coup.

Large rallies also have been taking place in the capital Naypyitaw and many other cities and towns.

Participants have included factory workers, civil servants, students and teachers, medical personnel and other people from all walks of life.

Buddhist monks and Catholic clergy have been visible, as have LGBTQ contingents behind rainbow flags.

While much attention has focused on protests in Myanmar's major heartland cities, large daily protests have also taken place in the far-flung border areas home to minorities such as the Shan, the Karen, the Kachin, the Kayah and others.

Ethnic minorities have long been the targets of repression by the military, which has used brutal counterinsurgency tactics to crush their decadeslong aspirations for greater autonomy.

The resistance to the coup received a major boost from abroad from United States President Joe Biden, who ordered new sanctions and promised more measures to come.

Biden urged the military to relinquish power it seized and demonstrate respect for the will of the people.

Dressed in a graduation cap and gown, 20-year-old student Win Lei Thukha was among protesters who welcomed the news Thursday.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
Photo taken on Feb. 9, 2021 shows the shipment of the Chinese vaccine donation in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei. Brunei's Ministry of Health said in a press release on Wednesday that the country received a batch of Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine donated by China on Tuesday and is reviewing a vaccination program. (Photo by Jeffrey Wong/Xinhua)

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- Brunei's Ministry of Health said in a press release on Wednesday that the country received a batch of Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine donated by China on Tuesday and is reviewing a vaccination program.

In March 2020, at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Brunei provided assistance to China, which underscored the close bilateral cooperation towards managing the pandemic, the ministry said.

The ministry said they are still reviewing the plans for the distribution of the vaccine in accordance with the recommended priorities.

According to the Chinese embassy in Brunei, the sultanate's Second Minister of Foreign Affairs Haji Erywan attended the handover ceremony on Tuesday and held a discussion with Yu Hong, Chinese ambassador to Brunei.

Haji Erywan expressed his gratitude to China, saying that this is the first batch of COVID-19 vaccine received by Brunei, which is considered a gift given by the Chinese people to the people of Brunei, reflecting the long-term traditional friendship and deep mutual trust between the two countries.

He said that the Chinese vaccine would play an important role for Brunei to overcome the epidemic. Brunei is willing to take the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries and the 30th anniversary of China-ASEAN dialogue relations as an opportunity to promote bilateral relations and China-ASEAN relations to a new level, he added.

Ambassador Yu told Haji Erywan that China's COVID-19 vaccine assistance to Brunei reflects a new climax of bilateral cooperation against the COVID-19 pandemic.

"At present, global COVID-19 vaccines are mainly distributed to a few developed countries, although the vaccines are crucial for all countries to restart their economies. Under such circumstances, China's vaccine assistance to Brunei highlights the true friendship between our two countries," the ambassador said during the discussion.

Yu said that China has been earnestly acting on its pledge that once developed and deployed, Chinese vaccines will be made a global public good, contributing to the accessibility and affordability of vaccines in developing countries.

"China is providing vaccine aid to 53 developing countries, and we have exported and are exporting vaccines to 22 countries. China also actively participates in the WHO-led COVAX and decided to provide 10 million doses of vaccines to the program, mainly to meet the demand of developing countries," Yu said.

"China supports domestic companies in conducting joint R&D and manufacturing with foreign partners, and in exporting vaccines to countries that are in urgent need of vaccines, have certified Chinese vaccines, and authorized their emergency use," she added.

According to the ambassador, China's vaccine assistance to Brunei "fully reflects the high level of the China-Brunei strategic cooperative partnership and the true friendship between the two peoples."

Yu expressed hope that the vaccine assistance will help contribute to the final victory of Brunei in the fight against the COVID-19 epidemic.

Brunei reported one new imported case of COVID-19 on Wednesday, bringing the national tally to 183.

A total of 42 imported cases have been confirmed since the last local infection case on May 6, 2020. At present, Brunei has recorded 280 days without COVID-19 local infection cases. Five active cases are still being treated at the National Isolation Center and all of them are in a stable condition.

There have been three deaths resulted from COVID-19 in Brunei and 175 patients have recovered.

[ Editor: WPY ]
Pay-per-mile car insurance policies are not for everyone. However, they are an attractive option for drivers who drive a few miles per day.", said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company.

Compare-autoinsurance.org has launched a new blog post that presents some pieces of information about pay-per-mile car insurance and its advantages.

For more info and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.org/pay-per-mile-car-insurance-will-help-you-save-a-lot-of-money/

Pay-per-mile car insurance is a type of insurance policy that is composed of a base rate that is calculated using factors such as drivers age, credit score, driving history, the kind of car the policyholder drives, gender and other factors, and the number of miles the policyholder drives. To calculate how many miles a policyholder drives, insurers use an in-car device that tracks the number of miles it logs each month. Drivers who are not driving at all will only pay the base rate. However, drivers who venture on the open roads will pay a monthly premium that reflects their mileage that includes a daily mileage ceiling above which the policyholder wont be charged.

Policyholders thinking to switch to a pay-per-mile plan should consider the following:



Who should get this policy. The pay-per-mile basis on which premiums are calculated makes this policy an unattractive option for policyholders who drive a lot. For this reason, people who log a lot of miles behind the wheel are less likely to purchase pay-per-mile insurance. On the other hand, this is a great option for people living in urban areas, or for people who dont have to use their cars that often.

How much money drivers can save. It all depends on how many miles they drive. To check how much they can save, policyholders can get quotes from traditional auto insurance providers and pay-per-mile insurers and use their estimated annual mileage as a predictive marker in calculating how much each option might cost them.

The differences between pay-per-mile and pay-as-you-drive policies. Pay-as-you-drive policies use a telematics device to track the drivers driving patterns. The devices track speed, hard braking, and a few other factors to determine how much a driver is eligible to save for safe driving. On the other hand, pay-per-mile insurance is only calculated using a base rate and a per-mile rate. How recklessly a driver drives do not affect the cost of pay-per-mile insurance.

Can it be canceled. Although policyholders can cancel their pay-per-mile policy whenever they want, many providers charge a fee when doing so. However, this fee can be waived if the policyholder switches to a traditional, unlimited miles policy.

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In late January, Alex Jones made a huge mistake.

For weeks, hed been trying to deflect blame for the Jan. 6 attack at the U.S. Capitol by pointing fingers at invented provocateurs. The InfoWars host took turns blaming antifa, QAnon believers and certain militia groups, tailoring his narratives as new information about the siege came to light. On Jan. 27, hed settled on blaming the boogaloo boys, a pro-militia extremist ideology that believes in agitating for an armed revolution.

So when Jones invited Mike Dunn, the 20-year-old leader of a Virginia faction of the boogaloo boys, it was clear he wanted to put Dunn on the spot for the violence at the Capitol. Instead, Jones ended up platforming Dunn, someone who is more extreme  and confident  than himself.

We go there armed. We disobey the law. We stand against the tyranny, and we see people like you, Alex, who used to be my hero as a young man, we see you bending the knee to it repeatedly, Dunn said.

Jones, who has been on the radio spewing conspiracy theories longer than Dunn has been alive, squirmed as Dunn turned the interview on him. How am I not standing against tyranny, fighting against evil legislation, marching, going out and having events? Jones shot back.

Because you talk, Dunn responded. We go out there, we actually disobey. We stand there armed. We dont bootlick like a lot of you and Republicans do.

For decades, Jones has been one of talk radios most prolific and lucrative liars. But his prominence among Americas far-right media figures is slipping as the next generation of listeners demands increasingly extreme rhetoric and dangerous, real-life action.

Angelo Carusone, president of Media Matters for America, a left-leaning watchdog organization that studies conservative media, argues that over the past four years, the ecosystem has changed irrevocably. Where once narratives were driven by a few influential people  Roger Ailes at Fox, Rush Limbaugh on talk radio, Jones in the conspiracy space  now chaotic talking points are originating instead from anonymous message boards like TheDonald (which was kicked off Reddit and found its own home elsewhere) or 4chan.

Right now, there is no center of gravity, Carusone said. Its entirely atomized.

[They feel] the traditional conservative voices failed them, he added.

After months of being reassured Trump would secure a second term, many on the right feel unmoored by their current reality: Trump is definitively out of office, Democrats control the White House and Congress, and theres no white knight on the horizon to change any of that. While some are content to trust the former president has a secret plan to get back into power, others are increasingly convinced only violent action will bring about the revolution they seek.

A lot of people in the [far right] community are pissed because they trusted the plan, Carusone said. The reality was they were ready for violence, and the only thing holding them back was the plan.

For obvious reasons, this is an alarming trend. For many on the far right, places like Fox News and InfoWars are no longer reflective of their increasingly violent and accelerationist fantasies. Recently, Fox News wannabe Newsmax learned this the hard way; after fact-checking MyPillows Mike Lindell as he repeated debunked election fraud claims, Newsmax was vilified by the far right for what they saw as a capitulation to mainstream narratives.

Raw with disappointment after Trumps exit, some are moving away from talk radio and TV into darker corners of the internet  and the recruitment of these disaffected former viewers is underway. In one pro-Hitler group on Telegram (boasting some 9,000 members), Carusone said he saw a coordinated effort to seize audience from other platforms.

When Parler shut down, the more influential people in the group were admonishing the others to knock off the pro-Hitler stuff, Carusone said. This is our moment to explain to people what the Jews did. You cant just show them a picture of Hitler, that will turn them off.

Everybody at every level understood there was audience to capture, he said.

A January Mother Jones story reported similar recruiting tactics by the Proud Boys, an anti-immigrant, far-right group who self-describe as "Western chauvinists."

Parler being shut down has sent tens of thousands (or more) of people to telegram. All of them are seeking refuge and looking for answers since their Q-bullst lied to them, read one post in a Proud Boys Telegram group. Now is our opportunity to grab them by the hand and lead them toward ideological truth.

Sensing the shift, right-wing media personalities are now taking their cues from those spaces, allowing the most popular online narratives to shape their content. And that online rhetoric, devoid of fact-checking, accountability or even real names associated with it, is inherently more radical than anything once aired on talk radio.

You see Tucker leaning into this in his programming.  One of the things that struck us is that his producers were going to places like TheDonald subreddit and saying, Here we are, Carusone said.  They were actually building programming, not all of their programming, but they were beginning to build programming from these fever swamps.

More fringe platforms, like InfoWars, are even using those anonymous, unverified boards as pseudo-intel. Jones regularly speaks about antifa contracts; his source for the so-called contract was a post on 4chan, a message board infamous for trolling. Theyre using these comment boards as sources, Carusone said. Theyre reporting things they see there as information. ... I think youre gonna see more of that.

But for Jones, that pandering may be too little, too late. Removed from every major social media platform, buried under lawsuits for vilifying the victims of the Sandy Hook massacre and now deemed too weak for his most extreme listeners, the extreme ecosystem he fostered for decades is moving on without him.
Zelensky, G7 ambassadors arrive in Donbas

Zelensky will be briefed about the situation on the front line and able to talk with the military.

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London, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th Feb, 2021 ) :AstraZeneca said Thursday that its profits had doubled in 2020, as the World Health Organization approved the pharma giant's jab for over-65s and global immunisation efforts gained momentum.

Mass Covid-19 vaccination programmes are being ramped up in many countries -- according to an AFP tally, more than 155.7 million people in at least 91 countries had been vaccinated by 1000 GMT on Thursday.

But so far, the rollouts are being hampered by limited supplies and AstraZeneca's jab has been in the spotlight after a number of European countries refused to authorise it for the over-65s -- the demographic most vulnerable to Covid-19.

It was also at the centre of a diplomatic spat between the EU and Britain earlier this year over supply problems.

Nevertheless, the WHO backed AstraZeneca's coronavirus shot on Wednesday -- including for over-65s and in places were new virus variants are circulating.

The AstraZeneca shot forms the bulk of doses being rolled out around the world -- especially in poorer countries -- under the Covax programme.

"It is likely that the vaccine will be found to be efficacious in older persons. The trial data indicate that the vaccine is safe for this age group," said WHO expert Alejandro Cravioti.

He said the WHO was awaiting more specific data on the vaccine's efficacy in over-65s, but that it "would not be appropriate" to wait with "thousands of people dying".

WHO chief scientist Soumya Swaminathan said the benefits of using the AstraZeneca shot would "far outweigh" any risks even in nations with new variants.

On Thursday, AstraZeneca said its 2020 earnings had doubled, even without taking into account sales of its vaccine which was only approved for use at the end of last year.

"Despite the significant impact from the pandemic, we delivered double-digit revenue growth," CEO Pascal Soriot said as the group announced net profits of $3.2 billion in 2020.

"The progress of the Covid-19 vaccine demonstrated what we can achieve." - 'False sense of security' - But even as inoculation drives get under way across the globe, the WHO's Europe director Hans Kluge warned against a "false sense of security", saying most European countries were still vulnerable.

"Vaccines are essential, but as of now, they are not sufficient to control the pandemic," Kluge said.

"Time and again have we seen countries reopen too fast and lose hard-earned gains," Kluge stressed.

The WHO director also reiterated a call for an equitable distribution of vaccines to include poorer countries, citing it as a "moral imperative" but also a means of mitigating risks.

"Unfair access to vaccines can backfire. The longer the virus lingers, the greater the risk of dangerous mutations," Kluge said.

On Thursday, the West African state of Equatorial Guinea said China had donated 100,000 doses of its Sinopharm jab to help it launch a vaccination campaign.

The vaccines were ceremonially handed over at Malabo airport on Wednesday to Vice President Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, the presidency said.

As Ukraine struggles to launch its own immunisation campaign, its government has banned vaccines produced in bitter rival Russia.

A resolution posted on the government's website Wednesday banned the registration of vaccines from "aggressor states", a designation Ukraine has applied to Russia since 2015.

Ukraine's pro-Western leadership has repeatedly rejected calls from pro-Moscow politicians to approve Russia's Sputnik V jab.

Ukraine has been fighting separatists backed by Russia in its Donetsk and Lugansk regions since 2014 following Moscow's annexation of the Crimean peninsula.

- 2.3 million dead - The coronavirus has infected more than 107 million people and killed at least 2.3 million since the outbreak emerged in China in December 2019, according to an AFP tally.

And with infection numbers continuing to rise, governments are extending restrictions.

In Ireland, Prime Minister Micheal Martin said the current lockdown was set to be extended until April.

"Certainly we are looking at a continuation of high levels of restrictions until the Easter period," Martin told state broadcaster RTE.

In Germany, too, the government agreed Wednesday to continue a partial lockdown until at least March 7, even as Germans grow increasingly weary of the tough restrictions.

With most Europeans still living under various curbs on their activities, the EU slashed its growth forecast for 2021, but Brussels said that a powerful rebound was near.

"We remain in the painful grip of the pandemic, its social and economic consequences all too evident," the EU's Economy Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni said.

"Yet there is, at last, light at the end of the tunnel," he said.
Tensions were high during Thursday night's premiere episode of Wife Swap Australia.

The Duncan family, based on the Gold Coast, and the Walker parents, who are from country NSW, swapped lives for a week.

But when the couples reunited for 'Judgement Day', things became heated between Angeline Walker and her husband Bob.

'That's not what we're about!' Angeline Walker (pictured) was sent into a rage after her husband Bob turned on her during an intense final meeting on Wife Swap on Thursday

Angeline and Bob live on a bus with their eight children and believe in no structure or school.

Tenille Duncan was determined to set up a schoolroom and teach the children how to count and read.

During the final meeting, the fitness fanatic mother told Angeline she was shocked to learn the kids didn't attend school.

'I couldn't get my mind around unschooling,' Tenille said.

'I would like to see changes': Angeline and Bob (left) live on a bus with their eight children and believe in no structure or school. But during the final meeting, Bob insisted the pair consider sending their kids to school

Angeline's husband Bob also seemed to be on Tenille's side adding: 'They actually all enjoyed it.'

'I personally would like to see changes, especially with the basics like reading and learning maths,' he continued.

An unimpressed Angeline snapped back: 'I don't think I'm keen on that actually,'

'I couldn't get my mind around unschooling!' Tenille Duncan (pictured) was determined to set up a schoolroom and teach the children how to count and read during her week with the family

'I think we need to sit down and have a chat,' Bob replied. 'No, I don't,' Angeline said.

After returning home, the couple continued arguing about whether their eight kids needed to attend school.

'If they want to do school that's fine but that's not what we're about,' Angeline said.

'No, that's what you're not about, because I am kind of about that,' a frustrated Bob concluded.
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A cozy, candlelit Valentines Day dinner can turn up the heat on romance. A pandemic and a gust of frigid air can keep that celebration at home, putting a chill on restaurants plans for a long-awaited profitable evening.

And so as the global health crisis continues to hammer retailing and pull budgets and attention spans in other directions, analysts are predicting a lukewarm Valentines Day for stores and restaurants. For restaurants already struggling with coronavirus-era capacity restrictions, this weekend brings a double whammy with a cold, wet snap pushing people from patios.

The weather is our biggest enemy, said Ben Berg, who through Berg Hospitality owns Turners, the Annie Cafe and B&B Butchers. If it rains, people dont go out. If they even think theres going to be ice and snow, were finished.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Tomlinson: Texas restaurants, retailers expecting a blue Valentines Day amid COVID-19

The forecast aside, a survey from Lending Tree, an online borrowing platform, found 40 percent of Americans plan to skip Valentines Day this year, and a separate study by market research firm Numerator found only 48 percent of respondents plan to buy gifts this year, down from 68 percent last year.

Restaurants, too, will feel the pain, according to Numerators survey, which found only 17 percent of respondents planned to eat out this year, down from 45 percent last year. Valentines Day is normally one of the biggest events of the year for restaurants, but this weekend theyll be forced to contend with 50 percent capacity restrictions in their dining rooms while reeling from weather-related cancellations.

With everything the hospitality industry has been through, to have this thrown on top of them is disappointing, said restaurant consultant David Littwitz, noting restaurants are like hotels in that they need to nearly fill their dining rooms in order to make money.

Weather-related cancellations are already pouring in, said Wafi Dinari, owner of Ouisies Table in River Oaks. By Thursday afternoon, he had received 37 cancellations for Saturday night but has so far been able to replace them through his wait list.

Berg said his restaurant group has been capitalizing increasingly on takeout packages, especially as people are catching on to booze to-go. This way, he said, he did 20 percent more in sales on Thanksgiving and New Years Eve than he had last year. Still, he said he expects sales to be down between 10 percent and 20 percent this year, depending on how bad the weather gets this weekend.

Chris Williams, owner of Lucilles, said he expected his Valentines Day business will be down significantly.

Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer

Because we lost the patio, were gonna take a significant hit, he said. It looks like well do 30 percent down of what we did last year.

Restaurateurs arent the only ones taking a hit.

Rex Solomon, owner of Houston Jewelry on Westheimer, said he had hoped more stimulus checks would have gone out by now. They havent, and hes planning on taking a hit of between 20 percent and 30 percent this weekend compared with last year.

The good news

While restaurants and jewelry stores are more likely to feel the pinch, the outlook is rosier for those peddling lower-priced gifts such as flowers and candy. Those retailers are also more likely to weather the pandemic well, as people are still buying candy and flowers as a way to cheer each other up in dark, socially distant times.

Theres a lot of, Were thinking of you, hope your day is better, said David Brown, owner of David Brown Flowers. People are not only thinking of themselves, theyre thinking of other people more than ever before.

Brown said hes as busy as he would expect to be this week. In fact, hell likely have to turn away orders, he said, approaching his saturation point Wednesday afternoon.

Elaine Nevarez, owner Elaines Florist, said her sales were looking slightly lower than last years, attributing that more to the holiday landing on a Sunday than to the pandemic.

In the floral industry, when Valentines Day falls on a Sunday its historically slower than when it falls on a weekday, she said.

Sales to corporate accounts have softened, she said, as events are canceled and people arent working together in offices, but individual sales have picked up as people who cant visit each other send flowers instead.

Weve had a little bit of a renaissance in the floral business because of the pandemic, she said.

The cold weather will keep more people home this weekend, softening in-person sales, said Venky Shankar, research director for Texas A&Ms Center for Retailing Studies. And even though more people are ordering delivery during the pandemic, Shankar questioned whether that would help or hurt the romance of gift-giving.

Now if you just pick your mobile phone up, he said, it doesnt look like youve worked hard.

amanda.drane@chron.com

twitter.com/amandadrane
Merck announced an investment of 18 million at its site in Tempe, Arizona, USA. Merck previously leased the 28,000 square-meter facility from Lexington Tempe L.P.

This investment gives Merck the flexibility to invest in its production facilities and strengthen its R&D capabilities in its global network of high-tech locations.

Weve operated out of Tempe for almost ten years. By purchasing the facility we are demonstrating our clear commitment to the site. We want to retain top talent in the area, being within close proximity to our west-coast customers is very important for us as well, said Jeff White, President of EMD Performance Materials, the US-based Performance Materials business of Merck. Also from an economic point of view the purchase makes sense. It came at a reasonable price which allows more long-term planning into future R&D and production investments, further strengthening our position in the electronics market, he continued.

As part of this transaction, Merck acquired Lexingtons ground leasehold interest in the facility, which is located within the Arizona State University Research Park.

"We are proud to have Merck purchase its ASU Research Park facility," said Morgan R. Olsen, ASU Research Park board president and executive vice president, treasurer and Chief Financial Officer. "Mercks investment at the ASU Research Park will expand its access to our talented students studying at one of the world's leading research universities and positively impact our local economies for years to come.

The facility houses more than 180 employees who support the Semiconductor Solutions business in the areas of manufacturing, R&D, administration, sales and marketing. In recent years, nearly an additional 10 million USD has been invested in the facility to enhance its manufacturing and R&D capabilities.

Prior to the purchase, the facility had been leased by the Versum Materials business for over nine years. Versum Materials was acquired in 2019 by Merck.

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Ms. Etuk was studying at the University of North Texas in Denton and going to in-person classes. Her mother said that even though Ms. Etuk had worn a mask and had tried to maintain distance from other people, she developed a bad cough that turned out to be a symptom of Covid-19.

She blamed herself, saying she made a mistake in going back to school, Ms. Clinton said. She said that sometimes students pull their masks down, so they cover their mouths but not their noses.

Her daughter was hospitalized for almost three months before she died.

Helen Otobong Etuk was born on Feb. 22, 2000, in Dallas. Her mother works as a health care consultant. Her father, Bassey Etuk, an Army veteran, was not involved in raising her.

In addition to her mother, Ms. Etuk is survived by three older brothers, Jeffrey, Jeremy and Joseph Ayisire, and an older sister, Linda Ayisire.

A tossed beer bottle was all it took for Alrick Banton to pull out a 9-mm handgun and open fire in a Winnipeg hotel last year, killing 20-year-old Yassin Ahmed and seriously injuring two of his friends, a judge heard this week.

A tossed beer bottle was all it took for Alrick Banton to pull out a 9-mm handgun and open fire in a Winnipeg hotel last year, killing 20-year-old Yassin Ahmed and seriously injuring two of his friends, a judge heard this week.

"The facts are absolutely chilling," Queens Bench Justice Chris Martin said, before sentencing Banton, 29, to life in prison with no chance of parole for 10 years.

WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES Yassin Ahmed, 20, was a youth worker who immigrated to Canada from Sudan at age 10.

"This was, as I see it, as close to cold-blooded murder as it can be in the circumstances."

Ahmed, a youth worker who immigrated to Winnipeg from Sudan when he was 10, was shot twice in the back during a melee Jan. 12, 2020, at the Windsor Hotel.

Banton, who immigrated to Winnipeg from Jamaica the same year as Ahmed, pleaded guilty Tuesday to second-degree murder and two counts of discharging a firearm endangering life.

Court heard Ahmed and Banton crossed paths roughly 20 minutes earlier, when Ahmed and two friends tried to get into the Red Sea Bar on Portage Avenue. Ahmed made it through the door, but his two friends were left waiting outside before Ahmed got into an argument with some of Bantons friends, who shoved him into a washroom.

"There is evidence of a previous conflict between Mr. Ahmed and that group, the exact details of which are unknown to the Crown," prosecutor Neil Steen told court.

The bar owner called police and told everyone to leave. Security video showed Banton arguing outside with Ahmeds friends, before Banton and his group made their way to the Windsor Hotel on Garry Street.

Ahmed and his friends followed Banton to the hotel. Once inside, Ahmed threw an empty beer bottle at Banton and one of his friends, missing them.

"Mr. Banton immediately (drew) a 9-mm handgun and began firing," shooting Ahmed two times in the back as he fled outside, Steen said.

Ahmed collapsed in a nearby parking lot, as did one of his friends, who was shot in the abdomen.

Ahmeds second friend collapsed in the hotel vestibule, after he was shot in the leg. Banton was chasing Ahmed outside when he stopped by the wounded man and shot him a second time in the abdomen.

Banton was later preparing to shoot the man a third time, but put his gun away when the injured man said "he had already been shot and was down," Steen said.

Banton fled the hotel and was arrested two weeks later.

The two injured victims have both since recovered from their injuries.

"This was a vicious and wildly violent response to a relatively minor altercation," Steen said, describing the double shooting of the one victim as a "borderline execution."

Banton claimed he began carrying the gun for protection after being threatened by an "armed group" a year earlier.

"Unfortunately, this was Mr. Bantons way of feeling safe," said defence lawyer Mitchel Merriott.

"The prevalence of guns on the streets is something that contributed to this situation. With the presence of guns, situations can escalate faster than they otherwise would."

Prodded by Martin, Banton offered a perfunctory apology to Ahmeds family and no explanation for his actions.

Banton had no prior criminal convictions, but his ability to illegally secure a gun and ammunition, along with his apparent proficiency at shooting the weapon, "belies the fact of how you are a person of good character," Martin said.

"You killed a man who was contributing to this community a refugee starting a new life," the judge said.

Banton is a permanent resident, and will face deportation proceedings if and when he is released from prison.

dean.pritchard@freepress.mb.ca
As the impeachment trial against former President Donald Trump proceeds, Republicans remain unconvinced even after listening to hours of Democrats' arguments, reports said.

CBN News reported that many republican senators remain unconvinced despite spending hours listening to House Impeachment Managers accuse Trump of "inciting insurrection" during the violent riot on Jan. 6 in the U.S. Capitol. The basis for "inciting the insurrection," as they say, was Trump's speech during the Save America Rally that called on supporters to "fight" and for repeatedly challenging the results of the elections.

As per CBN News, the House Managers have to convince 17 Republicans--or at least two thirds of the Senate--to convict trump of the impeachment charges. Trump is the only president in America's history to undergo impeachment twice and to be put on trial even after leaving the presidency.

CBN News cited Missouri Senator Josh Hawley for finding the prosecution "predictable" after being presented with publicly-available information. Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson found the trial "tedious" and just wants to "be done with this." Oklahoma Senator Jim Inhofe commended the Democrats for putting "a real good team together" though he found that they didn't say anything that "has changed any votes."

In similar news, Newsweek reported on South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham declaring that the number of "not guilty" votes were actually "growing" after what transpired on Wednesday's hearing.

"The 'Not Guilty' vote is growing after today. I think most Republicans found the presentation by the House Managers offensive and absurd," he said in Twitter.

The 'Not Guilty' vote is growing after today.



I think most Republicans found the presentation by the House Managers offensive and absurd.  Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) February 11, 2021

Newsweek said the House managers played "graphic, never-before seen video footage" on the Capitol violence and linked Trump with the "extremist right-wing group" Proud Boys whom he allegedly instructed to "stand back and stand by" during the September 2020 presidential debate and to act under his "orders" last Jan. 6.

"The managers have got this cockamamie idea, an absurd theory that Donald Trump was monitoring the Proud Boys website and other far-right websites and he and Dan Scavino knew this was going to happen and they encouraged it. That is Looney Tunes," Graham stressed.

As per Newsweek, there were seven Proud Boys present in the said riot who were charged already. One of those arrested testified that Trump ordered him to be there.

CBN News added that House prosecutors would not call witnesses especially since Trump has declined to testify while Biden has announced to reporters previously that he will not be watching the trial. He has been avoiding giving weight on the trial and have declared through Press Secretary Jen Psaki that he would "not be a commentator" to it. Instead, Biden will focus on his COVID-19 relief bill's approval in Congress.

Meanwhile, Fox News' Hannity broadcasted that the "Democrats impeachment obsession has completely backfired against Capitol Hill" because it "violates their own standards, they themselves would be guilty of inciting insurrection" not to mention that the "impeachment trial is devoid of facts."

It also reported that Hawley raised as "a provocative choice" California Representative Eric Swalwell's appointment as House impeachment manager since he is "somebody who's part of a Chinese espionage ring."

After the second day of the trial, the GOP and the Senate Republicans took to twitter to voice their contradiction to what is happening in Congress.

"With round two of impeachment underway, Americans can see the Democrats' political games on full display. Meanwhile, Republicans continue to fight to get people back to work," GOP said.

To which the Senate Republicans added, "The Senate should work together to defeat coronavirus. The Senate should work together to rebuild our economy. The Senate should NOT spend countless hours on another impeachment trial. We can't afford to waste time. And it will only divide us further."
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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.  Detectives are investigating the death of a man Wednesday night in Northeast Albuquerque.

Albuquerque police spokesman Gilbert Gallegos said police responded sometime before 8:45 p.m. to the 8600 block of Zuni SE, near Wyoming, after a body was found.

He said officers found a man with trauma who was pronounced dead at the scene.

Officers noticed several items of evidence that indicated suspicious circumstances Gallegos said.

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................................................................

Its known as the seven minutes of terror.

The most critical  and dangerous  part of a Mars rover mission is entry, descent and landing. The spacecraft must slow down, survive maximum temperatures of around 2,370 degrees Fahrenheit, find a safe landing spot and then lower the rover using a jetpack-powered sky crane.

And due to an 11-minute one-way time lag, NASAs Perseverance rover will take this seven-minute journey to its new home alone. Back on Earth, its caretakers will wait, in terror, to learn if Perseverance landed safely or crashed.

With these landings, everything has to go right, said Al Chen, the missions entry, descent and landing lead. You can have success stolen from you at the last second, and theres no partial credit.

Perseverance is taking this treacherous journey to determine if Mars once supported tiny lifeforms. It will collect rock and soil samples that a future mission could return to Earth. And it will prepare NASA for the human exploration of Mars; testing new technologies, including spacesuit fabrics developed at NASA's Johnson Space Center, and collecting data on environmental conditions including pressure, temperature and humidity.

The rovers launch: NASA's Perseverance rover is headed toward Mars

NASA/JPL-Caltech

But first, the rover must land. And Chen said the emotions wont be limited to terror.

There will be anticipation for a goal thats consumed years of his life and, on many occasions, interrupted his sleep with nightmares of the parachute failing. There will be dread because, maybe this time, Mars has it out for them.

Quiet confidence starts bubbling up as the rover begins its entry and descent. That turns to hope as the minutes pass without catastrophe.

Finally, its pure elation.

When 10 years of your life goes into seven minutes going right, and those seven minutes go right, I dont think theres a feeling in the world like this, Chen said.

That was how he described landing the Curiosity rover in 2012. Hell relive those feeling this week.

Perseverance launched on July 30, and NASA should know if it successfully landed in Jezero Crater on Thursday around 2:55 p.m. CST. This crater has an ancient delta that was formed where a river once flowed into a body of water the size of Lake Tahoe and deposited rock, sand and potentially organic carbon. Perseverance will search this delta for biosignatures  patterns, textures or substances that require the influence of life to form.

I much appreciate the efforts of the engineering team to get us to a dangerous landing site, Ken Farley, the missions project scientist and a professor of geochemistry at Caltech, said during a news conference. It is a spectacular landing site.

Ken Ellis/Chronicle

Exquisitely complex and sophisticated

Mars madness Three spacecraft from three different nations are reaching Mars within days of each other. The United Arab Emirates' Hope orbiter arrived Tuesday and will provide information about the planet's weather and atmosphere. China's Tianwen-1 orbiter and lander/rover combo arrived Wednesday. Goals for its mission include mapping the planet's geological structure and investigating water-ice distribution. NASA's Perseverance rover is scheduled to arrive Thursday, and it will search the planet for signs of past microbial life. See More Collapse

Perseverance will be the third vehicle to reach Mars this year. The United Arab Emirates Hope probe and Chinas Tianwen-1 spacecraft are already orbiting the planet. China plans to lower a lander/rover combo to the surface later this year.

Prior to these arrivals, NASA said only about 40 percent of Earth-to-Mars missions have been successful. NASA most recently experienced this bitter disappointment in 1998 and 1999 with the Mars Climate Orbiter and the Mars Polar Lander. The Polar Lander carried the Deep Space 2 probes, which were also lost on arrival.

A navigation error caused the Mars Climate Orbiter to disintegrate in the Martian atmosphere. It turned out commands from Earth had been sent in English units without being converted into the metric standard. The Mars Polar Lander is thought to have failed because a sensor malfunctioned and signals falsely indicated that the spacecraft had landed. The main engines shut down prematurely, and the lander fell to the Martian surface.

But from such failures comes great success. NASAs Spirit and Opportunity rovers landed in 2004, and then Curiosity reached the planet in 2012. Curiosity was roughly five times heavier than Spirit and Opportunity. It was the first time a rover had guided entry, meaning it had some ability to maneuver and wasnt just falling to the surface. Curiosity had the largest supersonic parachute ever used on another planet, and it was the first rover to be lowered to the surface by cables suspended from a sky crane.

There was so much new on Curiosity that people rightfully questioned whether wed bitten off more than we could chew, Chen said.

Fundraising to accelerate human exploration: Pearland nonprofit's pitch: $100 equals one mile to Mars

Perseverance is even bigger and more complex.

Its dimensions  about 10 feet long (not including the arm), 9 feet wide and 7 feet tall  are similar to Curiosity. But at 2,260 pounds, Perseverance is 278 pounds heavier than its predecessor.

Its cameras will capture high-definition video of a vehicle landing on another planet. Its microphones will capture the sounds of wind and Perseverances wheels rolling along the Martian surface.

Attached to its belly is a small helicopter, called Ingenuity, that is set to have the first powered flight on another planet. And the MOXIE technology demonstration will turn the Martian carbon dioxide atmosphere into oxygen. This technology could be useful on future missions for breathing and, more importantly, to make propellant for launching rockets off the Martian surface and back to Earth.

Were carrying really an exquisitely complex and sophisticated set of new instruments to the surface of Mars, Matt Wallace, the missions deputy project manager, said during a news conference. Theyre going to allow us to do the best job we can to understand that environment we land on and to take the best samples, very limited number of samples, that can come back on that Mars Sample Return mission.

New technologies

Two of the new technologies will be crucial to the rovers safe landing. The range trigger will calculate the distance to where Perseverance wants to land and then open its parachute at the proper time to make that landing. Curiosity deployed its parachute when it reached a particular velocity, without considering where it was.

Then terrain-relative navigation will allow Perseverance to select a safe landing spot. Cameras will observe the surface of Mars as Perseverance makes its descent, and these photos will be compared to maps that have been loaded onto the rover. This allows Perseverance to know where it is and, more importantly, where its safe to land.

Previous rovers, including Curiosity, had to land in large, flat, rock-free areas. But with range trigger and terrain-relative navigation, Perseverance can land at a site surrounded by craters, rocks and a cliff.

When the scientists look at this site, they see the great scientific potential, Chen said. When I look at this site, I see danger.

Ken Ellis/Chronicle

Another scientific finding: Mars once had a climate similar to Iceland, Houston researchers find

Entry, descent and landing, or EDL, is officially the seven minutes spent traveling from the top of the Martian atmosphere to the planets surface. The Do EDL command, however, was sent on Friday.

The spacecraft enters the Martian atmosphere traveling 12,500 mph. Friction between the spacecraft and the atmosphere will initially slow the vehicle, and heat it, as the spacecraft steers itself toward Jezero Crater.

Its traveling at roughly 1,000 mph when its 70.5-foot diameter parachute is deployed. This will slow it to about 200 mph. And when the spacecraft is just over a mile from the surface, it jettisons the parachute and ignites the rocket-powered jetpack.

The jetpack maneuvers away from the falling parachute and then slows down to 1.7 mph. About 66 feet above the surface, cables start to lower the rover to the ground.

These cables will keep the jetpacks rocket engines away from the landing site. Rocket engines might kick up debris that could damage the rover. Or, when landing a vehicle as heavy as Perseverance, the amount of thrust required for a gentle landing could inadvertently dig a hole the rover cant drive out of, trapping it in that one spot for eternity.

So the rover will dangle beneath cables, which are cut once its wheels touch the ground. The jetpack will then fly a safe distance away before crashing into the planets surface.

On Earth, the team will be monitoring sensors that indicate the rover wheels are on the ground and not moving, meaning Perseverance isnt sliding down a hill or whatnot. And to ensure the jetpack hasnt fallen on top of Perseverance, the team will wait until a stable signal has been emitted from the rovers radio for longer than it would take the jetpack to fly away.

Only then can those seven minutes of terror turn into elation.

andrea.leinfelder@chron.com

twitter.com/a_leinfelder
[February 11, 2021] Healthy Northeast Ohio Welcomes Lake and Summit Counties to its Population Health Website

CLEVELAND, Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Healthy Northeast Ohio , the online resource for regional population health data in Northeast Ohio, is happy to announce new partnerships with Lake and Summit counties. These additions expand the reach of Healthy Northeast Ohio to seven counties in the region, providing free access to population health data with nearly 250 indicators from more than 30 data sources, along with evidence-based practices and information about regional health resources and activities. The regional sharing of data among partners through Healthy Northeast Ohio helps to expand community health knowledge and improve population health efforts. Through Healthy Northeast Ohio, new partners in Lake and Summit counties will be able to: View over 250 demographics variables available at the state, county and zip code levels

Access more than 225 health and quality-of-life data indicators

Map and visualize data, and generate tailored data reports

Examine zip-code and census-tract level maps of socioeconomic need

Browse a database of over 2,000 evidence-based practices and programs

Visit county-specific pages with local data, priorities, health improvement strategies and resources

Track progress towards county goals

Utilize a community health needs assessment creation tool



Donna Skoda , health commissioner for Summit County Public Health. "We know how important shared goals are to community health improvement and this opportunity allows our partners to see how we are accomplishing this, not only at a county level, but at a regional level as well." The Healthy Northeast Ohio region includes Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Portage and Summit counties. Healthy Northeast Ohio's repository of population health data allows for hospitals, public health departments, community-based organizations and philanthropic agencies to work collaboratively to improve community health outcomes. Launched in 2019, Healthy Northeast Ohio is a joint effort between The Center for Health Affairs and the Cuyahoga County Board of Health and is funded through a grant from the HealthComp Foundation.

"The Lake County General Health District is pleased to partner with Healthy Northeast Ohio," said Ron Graham, health commissioner of Lake County General Health District. "This platform brings secondary data together, allowing for consistent comparisons for public health practitioners and the general public." "Healthy Northeast Ohio is pleased to welcome Lake and Summit counties to the platform," said Patricia Terstenyak, MPH, director of community health for The Center for Health Affairs. "We continue to appreciate the community health efforts made by all of the partners in the seven-county region." In the coming weeks, county-specific training webinars will be offered to familiarize partners with the new content and features in order to optimize their utilization of the site. The trainings will be held on Feb. 18 for Lake County and on Feb. 23 for Summit County. The webinars are free and open to all but registration is required. About The Center for Health Affairs The Center for Health Affairs: With a rich history as the nation's first regional hospital association, The Center for Health Affairs has served as the collective voice of Northeast Ohio hospitals for more than 100 years. The Center works collaboratively to increase the efficiency of healthcare delivery, providing insightful healthcare information to the public and undertaking initiatives aimed at improving the health of the community. The Center's business affiliates include CHAMPS Oncology, CHAMPS Group Purchasing and The Essentials Group. Press Contact

Lynn Eastep

2165010051

http://www.neohospitals.org View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/healthy-northeast-ohio-welcomes-lake-and-summit-counties-to-its-population-health-website-301227344.html SOURCE The Center for Health Affairs

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February 14, 2021, marks the 97th anniversary of Northside Neighborhood House, the mission of which is to promote the independence of residents north of the Tennessee River within Hamilton County by providing a hand up through education and assistance.

The NNH was founded in 1924 by a group of women who saw their neighbors living in poverty on the banks of the north shore in downtown Chattanooga. They were living in shacks and needed bedding during the cold winter months. Instead of just bringing blankets from their homes, the women also taught skills such as quilting, nutrition, and budgeting. They then opened a settlement house to meet other needs. Ninety-seven years later, the NNH is still a safe space for neighbors to turn to when they are in a difficult place.

We are honored to continue the work of those dedicated ladies who were determined to assist their neighbors by listening to their needs and responding by connecting them to resources and programming, says Rachel Gammon, CEO. This past year led to an increased demand for our services and supports, unlike any weve seen in recent history and definitely within my 20+ years of serving this community. As 2021 unfolds, our vision is to continue to support our neighbors when they need us most, while forging greater access and opportunity for those living in the historically under-resourced northern portions of Hamilton County.

The NNHs main office is on Minor Street and offers case management and HiSET classes. The Coffee Community Collective in Soddy Daisy provides case management support, offices for partner agencies to provide their programming, and a large space that can be used by local groups. The NNH also oversees CommUNITY School programs located at Hixson Middle, Soddy Daisy Middle, Sale Creek Middle/High, Red Bank High, and a hybrid program at Red Bank Elementary and Middle. The three thrift stores operated by NNH are located in North Chattanooga, Red Bank, and Soddy Daisy.

To help celebrate the agencys Founders Day, make a donation to the NNH by visiting www.nnhouse.org/donate.
Vancouver, BC -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/11/2021 -- A free space optic is a communication system where the medium between transceivers is free space. The medium can be air, outer space, or vacuum, this system can be used for communication purposes, and it is less economical. The global free-space optics (FSO) communication technology market had a valuation of USD 390.0 Million in 2019 and is projected to reach USD 3,507.8 Million by 2027, at a CAGR of 33.3%.



Market Drivers

The rising demand for fast and secure communication is expected to drive the global market of free space optics (FSO). The demand for digital connectivity with high bandwidth, which FSO can provide, is estimated to boost the market further in the forecast period. The growing use of free space optics technology in the defense industry is also one of the primary drivers of the market as the medium for communication in FSO technology is free space.



Regional landscape

North America is expected to have the largest market share in the forecasted period due to the rising need for satellite applications. The Asia Pacific is projected to show significant growth driven by the rapid progress of the IT and telecommunications industry. The rise of 4G connectivity in countries like India is also expected to propel the region's FSO market.



You Can Download Free Sample PDF Copy of Free Space Optics Communication Technology Market at https://www.emergenresearch.com/request-sample/231



Key Highlights From The Report



In March 2019, Mynaric AG, the manufacturer of laser communications terminals, announced that it raised USD 12.5 Million of investment from a mystery constellation venture that plans to setup 1,000 terminals.



Due to the rising need for applications for wireless communications and navigation, the satellite segment is expected to dominate the market over the forecasted period.



It is expected that the data transmission segment will hold the largest market during the forecast period. Free Space Optics technology can provide optical bandwidth connections that can transfer data via an invisible light beam, such as video, documents, and audio.



Over the forecast timeframe, the telecommunication segment is anticipated to dominate the market with a CAGR of 33.5%, due to the increasing demand for high bandwidth.



As the need for satellite application applications is increasing rapidly, North America is expected to hold the largest market over the forecast timeframe. The region of Europe is expected to experience stable growth due to the presence in the region of major market players, especially in countries such as Germany and France.



Due to the rapid growth of the IT & telecommunications industry, Asia Pacific is anticipated to witness substantial market growth.



Key participants include L3Harris Technologies, Inc., Mostcom Ltd., Airlinx Communications, Inc., fSONA Networks Corporation, SA Photonics, Inc., Mynaric AG, Plaintree Systems Inc., Lightpointe Communications, Inc., Trimble Hungary Ltd., and IBSENtelecom Ltd., among others.



#Free Space Optics Communication Technology Market Report to grow your business needs: Now Purchase @ https://www.emergenresearch.com/request-sample/231



Platform Outlook (Revenue, USD Million; 2017-2027)

Airborne

Terrestrial

Satellite



Application Outlook (Revenue, USD Million; 2017-2027)

Disaster Management

Last Mile Access

Data Transmission

Storage Area Network



End-Use Outlook (Revenue, USD Million; 2017-2027)

Healthcare

Defense

Telecommunication

Others



Here are the questions we answer...

At what rate will the Free Space Optics Communication Technology Market grow? What will be the value of the market in 2027?

What are the key technologies driving the Free Space Optics Communication Technology Market?

What would be the impact of Free Space Optics Communication Technology Market across different regions?

What are the strategies adopted by players to enter the APAC region?

What is the critical application of the Free Space Optics Communication Technology Market in the different sectors?

What are future growth strategies in the market?



Read more@ https://www.emergenresearch.com/industry-report/free-space-optics-communication-technology-market



Table of Content

Chapter 1. Market Synopsis

1.1. Free Space Optics Communication Technology Market Definition

1.2. Free Space Optics Communication Technology Market Research Scope & Premise

1.3. Free Space Optics Communication Technology Market Methodology

1.4. Free Space Optics Communication Technology Market Estimation Technique

Chapter 2. Executive Summary

2.1. Summary Snapshot, 2019-2027

Chapter 3. Indicative Metrics

Chapter 4. Free Space Optics Communication Technology Market Segmentation & Impact Analysis

4.1. Free Space Optics Communication Technology Market Product Segmentation Analysis

4.2. Industrial Outlook

4.2.1. Market indicators analysis

4.2.2. Market drivers analysis

Chapter 5. Free Space Optics Communication Technology Market By Method Insights & Trends

Chapter 6. Free Space Optics Communication Technology Market By End-Use Insights & Trends

Chapter 7. Free Space Optics Communication Technology Market By Application Insights & Trends

Chapter 8. Free Space Optics Communication Technology Market Regional Outlook

Chapter 9. Free Space Optics Communication Technology Market Competitive Landscape

Chapter 10. Company Profiles

Continue
What do the above-mentioned powerful individuals have in common?

William Blount (1749-1800) was a signer of the United States Constitution, originally from North Carolina and served as the only governor of the Southwest Territory. He would eventually be elected as one of Tennessees initial United States Senators in 1796.

He also was a land spectator and obtained millions of acres in Tennessee and the West.

Blount was responsible for the creation of the City of Knoxville, named after United States Secretary of War Henry Knox, and he built a mansion in that community that still stands as a historical structure.

He was instrumental in conducting a census to determine whether the minimum requirement of 60,000 residents to establish a state could be reached with the population in the territory being determined to be 77,000, and when the state of Tennessee was admitted to the Union in 1796, Blount became a U.S. Senator.

He was an alleged conspirator in a plot to allow the British to gain control of Florida and Louisiana, which he foolishly outlined in a letter.

It reached the hands of President John Adams who thought it constituted a crime and turned it over to the Senate, which led to a bizarre set of historical facts.

Blount fled from Washington to Tennessee while the House and Senate debated whether he should be impeached. He would return to Knoxville where he would remain popular and served in the State Senate until his death on March 21, 1800 from an epidemic.

Scott Raulston Schoolfield (1905-1982) was a trial lawyer, criminal judge, and politician from Hamilton County who was elected criminal judge in 1950 as a reform candidate. He served eight controversial years until 1958 when he was brought to trial in the Tennessee General Assembly on 32 acts of illegal and unethical acts arising out of the McClellan Committee hearings in Washington on racketeering in four Southern states by labor unions - primarily the Teamsters Union under the leadership of James Hoffa.

Schoofields feud with Governor Frank G. Clement in the 1954 gubernatorial election would play a part in the initiation of an investigation headed by veteran Nashville trial attorney Jack Norman and future political aspirant John J. Hooker, Jr. and assisted by leaders of the Chattanooga and Tennessee bar associations.

Schoolfield would eventually stand trial in the Tennessee Senate on 24 charges upon a lot of hearsay evidence in a donnybrook and media circus that lasted six weeks and ended on July 12, 1958.

Donald J. Trump is the 45th President of the United States and was succeeded by Joe Biden who was sworn in office on January 20, 2021.

His background and history have been both praised and vilified by his millions of supporters and opponents and is ongoing and will continue into the future and will affect the nation for many years.

What do these three men in history have in common?

The answers are much more complex than an article can cover but there is a connective theme running throughout the lives and political careers of all three.

1. Blount was accused of criminal conspiracy and faced Impeachment charges beginning in early 1798. His trial in the Senate was delayed until January 1779 but Blount refused to attend and fled to Knoxville. On January 11, 1779, the political body by a vote of 14 to 11 voted to dismiss the indictment brought by the House of Representatives on the ground that impeachment did not extend to senators.

2. Schoolfield was found Not Guilty on the most serious charge of accepting a bribe from the Teamsters Union for dismissing 13 of the 32 charges. He was convicted of three minor charges of 1. Cussing out an assistant district attorney at a private club across the street from the Hamilton County Courthouse; (2) engaging in partisan politics; and (3) accepting a 1950 Pontiac automobile paid for by money raised by his court officer from private citizens, lawyers, and bail bondsmen.

A supplemental motion to ban him from holding any future elected office in Tennessee failed by a vote of 19-12 which was one vote short of the required two-thirds majority vote. One of the 33 senators had been ill and absent during the entire six-week trial and another Senator from Davidson County had conveniently exited from the Senate Chamber before the last vote.

As a result, Schoolfield would face disbarment charges from the practice of law, and then run for and win various public offices over the years until 1974.

Because Hamilton County had grown into the same population total as Knox County that had passed a Private Act that authorized a non-lawyer judge in the General Sessions Court, the Chattanooga/Hamilton County voting public could do the same.

Schoolfield filed his qualifying petition at 4 p.m. on the last eligible day and was elected as one of the three new judicial officers in that court.

He would be re-elected in the fall of 1982 and would die of a heart attack on Oct. 5 of the same year.

Donald J. Trumps unexpected rise to the presidency of the United States after a career as a busy developer of hotels, airlines, casinos, and as a television performer has been both colorful and controversial as an elected Republican to the High Office. His Presidency was filled with controversy from the beginning. Impeached on one occasion and defeated by Democrat Joe Biden in the November 2020 General Election, he now faces another impeachment charge arising out of the Jan. 6, 2021 riots at the Capitol in Washington.

Legal questions surround the trial as to whether a president who has been voted out of office can be impeached?

Like Schoofield, Trump will also be confronted with the issue of whether he can be banned from running for President or any other federal office in 2024 or later.

In order to pass such a lifetime ban, 17 Republican Senators will have to vote with the Democrats to obtain the necessary votes that are needed to prevent any future political candidacy by Donald J. Trump.

Blount, Schoolfield and Trump are individuals that are a part of history who will be remembered as popular and controversial politicians and had dark chapters in their careers of public service in the area of Impeachment while in office.

* * *

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)
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 criminal trial involving former staff of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) failed to proceed on Monday and Tuesday for different reasons.

On Monday it failed because the Judge did not come, while on Tuesday there was no interpreter to interpret the proceeding.

On Monday, both the prosecution and defence lawyers sat for about an hour waiting for the judge to appear, but they were told to come on Tuesday.

When they came on Tuesday, Babucar Sallah, who is the 4th accused person in this trial chose to testify in the Mandinka Language. The interpreter came, but told the court his voice was down.

The case was adjourned to next week Monday at 1 pm for hearing. Sallah will open his defence on Monday.

The seven accused persons are standing trial on 25 criminal counts including murder, torture and conspiracy. They denied culpability. The accused persons have been in detention for 4 years now.

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- ReStalk, Inc has entered into a licensing agreement with Sustainable Fiber Technologies (SFT) of Renton, WA, enabling the company to utilize the Sustainable Fiber Technologies' suite of IP to process hemp into cellulose pulp and biopolymers.

Samples of ReStalk Hemp Pulp & Packaging.

"Consumer demand for new sources of sustainable packaging is accelerating worldwide. Along with forest-based fibers, we see tremendous interest in hemp and similar alternative agricultural fibers. We believe ReStalk has the potential to successfully address unmet demand for hemp fiber and take green packaging to the next level," commented Warren Pullen, EVP at Central National Gottesman, the global leader in pulp, paper, packaging, tissue and non-wovens distribution.

ReStalk looks to position itself as the largest supplier of American manufactured hemp pulp to be used in a variety of applications, most notably, sustainable packaging. "Throughout the last several years ReStalk has searched for a technology partner that would allow us to manufacture a superior pulp product at scale with minimal environmental impact. After comparing yields and footprints with a host of technologies, SFT has proven to be best in class worldwide. We're thrilled to be moving forward as the first licensee to use hemp as the primary feedstock," noted ReStalk's President, Benjamin Cassou.

This partnership allows SFT to work closely with ReStalk for the development of hemp-based pulp and board products. "ReStalk is an excellent company with the foresight into both the paper and packaging arena. Their team and expertise of hemp cultivars makes ReStalk a perfect licensee for the Phoenix Process," said Mark Lewis CEO of SFT. "Domestically, the demand for hemp pulp has never been higher, it provides a quality non-wood fiber that competes with softwood fiber," added Lewis.

ReStalk's initial project with the SFT license will be building a 100 Ton Per Day pulp mill. "We're eager to provide the infrastructure needed to stabilize this re-emerging crop. This project will strengthen the supply chain and manufacturing of hemp's downstream products here in the US. We're excited to get to work and lay the foundation for a more regenerative model of production," added ReStalk Chief Strategy Officer, Lucas Hildebrand.

As the pandemic caused by COVID-19 continues to disrupt global supply chains, the need for scalable sustainable solutions has never been more necessary. This mill will position ReStalk as the largest supplier of American manufactured hemp pulp to be used in a variety of applications.

"We've received very encouraging responses from a variety of CPG brands and Fortune 500 companies seeking U.S. sourced green packaging. We look forward to serving the many American companies actively looking to integrate regenerative materials into their product offerings to achieve their respective sustainability goals," noted Cassou.

ABOUT:

ReStalk, Inc implements regenerative solutions by transforming agricultural waste into valuable products. Initiatives adopted by Restalk are focused on capitalizing and developing new applications around the legal hemp industry. Contact [email protected] for more information.

Sustainable Fiber Technologies is a world leader in non-wood pulping and paper-making. SFT currently has mills being built in both Europe and North America. www.sustainablefibertechnologies.com

Central National-Gottesman Inc. is one of the world's largest distributors of pulp, paper, packaging, tissue, newsprint and plywood. The company employs over 3,000 in more than 150 locations in 48 cities across North America and in 26 countries around the world, including 43 warehouses and 53 retail stores.

SOURCE ReStalk, Inc
The Organised Labour has criticised the federal government over its fresh move to increase petrol pump price following the rise of crude oil price above $60 per barrel in the international market.

Timipre Sylva, the minister of State for Petroleum Resources, on Tuesday at the official launch of Nigerian Upstream Cost Optimisation Programme, urged Nigerians to be ready to bear the pains of the proposed hike.

The minister said with no provision of subsidy in the 2021 budget, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), cannot continue to bear the cost of under-recovery.

But reacting to the admonition in a telephone interview with Daily Trust, President of TUC, Quadri Olaleye, wondered why the government is always in rush to increase fuel price any time there is a rise of crude oil at the international market.

According to him, the government never for once deemed it fit to bring down the price of petrol when there is a fall in price of crude oil in the international market.

"Why is it that the government is always in a hurry to implement an increase any time crude oil price rises in the international market? Last time when the price went down in the market, Nigerian government didn't reduce the price of PMS.

"Why are they now rushing to increase it? They need to be intelligent with it if they want more problems in this country. Besides, we are still expecting the report of the technical committee set up last time by February 22. So, why the rush?" Olaleye queried.

The union leader said the organised labour would not disclose its strategies on how to fight the government this time around if it tries to inflict more pains on Nigerians the way it had been doing through some of its anti-masses policies including increment of price of fuel.

Several calls to the mobile phones of President and Secretary of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Ayuba Wabba and Emmanuel Ugboaja respectively, were not answered neither did they respond to a text message from our correspondent.
Olivia Bowen has slammed influencers for posting bikini pictures on the beach and making lockdown 'harder for everyone.'

The Love Island star, 27, believes even if people are abroad for 'work purposes' they shouldn't 'flaunt' their lifestyle on social media during a time in which the rest of the population is struggling due to coronavirus.

In an exclusive interview, Olivia urged her fellow reality stars to resist 'rubbing it in people's faces' as the UK endures its third lockdown in a year.

'Don't blast it online': Olivia Bowen has slammed influencers for posting bikini pictures on the beach and making lockdown 'harder for everyone'

Olivia told MailOnline: 'You have to make sure you are going out there for the right purposes, like for work and I do feel there's a lot of flaunting going on, which makes it harder for everyone.

'People are going to do what they're going to do but the fact that it is online and we see it makes it harder. If you are going to go for work purposes, don't blast it online and rub it in people's faces.

'You don't have to share; do you know what I mean? You don't have to share you in a bikini on the beach.

'It's just not a necessary thing and it doesn't look like work. It's a hard one but at the end of the day people are going to do what they want and we've just got to let them get on with it.'

'It's just not a necessary thing': TOWIE's Yazmin Oukhellou is one of the stars facing criticism for flying to Dubai amid the pandemic and alleging she relocated for 'work purposes'

TOWIE's Yazmin Oukhellou, 26, is one of the stars facing criticism for flying to Dubai amid the pandemic and alleging she relocated for 'work purposes.'

James Lock, 34, who split from Yazmin last week, blamed Priti Patel for 'inciting hate' on influencers  after the Home Secretary hit out at stars for 'showing off in the sun' despite the country being told to stay home.

Olivia, who found fame in 2016, insisted she isn't tempted by jobs overseas or the prospect of a holiday until the government confirm it is safe to travel.

She added: 'We absolutely love our holidays, we are always in bikinis and shorts but I'm more concerned about seeing my family and going to restaurants.

'I would love to go on holiday but I'm quite homely at the moment and when we get there, we get there.'

'I'm more concerned about seeing family': Olivia insisted she isn't tempted by jobs overseas or the prospect of a holiday until the government confirm it is safe to travel

Olivia, who is married to Love Island co-star Alex Bowen, 29, was praised last week for sharing unaltered lingerie pictures, which showed her psoriasis.

Despite the strength she showed in posting the image, Olivia admitted she has been struggling with the skin condition behind the scenes.

She said: 'Half the reason I did that was because when I last had this at 17 I was so insecure. I went on my first girls' holiday when I had it and being in a bikini I just felt awful.

'When it started going all over my body again I thought if I had seen someone like me online with that I wouldn't have felt the same way so it was worth doing.

'It's not to say I haven't had my bad days. Last week I was crying my eyes out because it does make you feel insecure and you lose confidence but doing that I know I'll help someone else with it.'

Olivia and Alex have teamed up with Just Eat on their new Breakaway competition that gives Brits the chance to enjoy takeaway independence this Valentine's Day.

To avoid any unwanted 'bickers' on Sunday, the couple has agreed to order individual takeaways, after new research from Just Eat showed 45 per cent of people would rather order separately than compromise.

Olivia said: 'We have had bickers about takeaways and what we fancy, we never fancy the same thing and have ordered different things before, so when we heard about this Just Eat campaign we thought this is a bit of us because you can choose two different takeaways and not argue about what we're getting.

'It is hard because there isn't much you can do and you don't really want to cook so it will be nice to get a takeaway and chill. We might dress up a little bit in jeans and a dress to make ourselves feel good, rather than trackies, which is what we're wearing every day.'

Alex & Olivia Bowen have teamed up with Just Eat as part of its Breakaway campaign giving Brits the chance to go their separate ways this Valentine's Day so they too can enjoy takeaway independence

To be in with a chance of winning one of 50 40 vouchers  split in to two 20 vouchers  email justeatbreakaway@justeattakeaway.com and describe why you deserve a 'breakaway' meal

For more information on how to enter and the T&C's please visit Just Eat's website
February 11 : Sanjay Dutt and Maanayata Dutt marked their thirteenth wedding anniversary by sharing adorable messages for each other on social media.

Handsome hunk Sanjay Dutt took to his social media profile and penned a sweet note to wife Maanayata Dutt. The 'Kaante' star shared a picture with wife in which the duo is seen twinning in black ensembles. He wrote, "11.02.2008Loved you then. Love you even more now @maanayata. Happy anniversary"

Wife Maanayata Dutt also shared a throwback picture with a beautiful note. She wrote, Another year of fully accepting the dark and the light within each other...another year of holding on together......happy anniversary to my best grip in this world #love #grace #positivity #dutts #throwback #beautifullife #thankyougod

The couple got married in 2008. They share 9-year-old twins daughter Iqra Dutt and son Shahraan Dutt.

On the work front, the actor was last seen in Alia Bhatt and Aditya Roy Kapoor co-starrer 'Sadak 2.' He will be seen in a series of films which include, 'KGF: Chapter 2' and 'Bhuj: The Pride of India,' 'Shamshera' and 'Prithviraj'.
Organizes auction for highly sought after domain names

POMPANO BEACH, Fla., Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The most important form of digital real estate for a business today is a domain name, especially in the midst of this Covid-19 pandemic. RightOfTheDot, LLC has organized a unique live and online premium domain name auction that will bring together a collection of the most valuable digital real estate assets ever offered anywhere.

RightOfTheDot, LLC the leading Internet domain name sales, brokerage, auction, consulting and advisement firm in the domain industry, led by world renown serial entrepreneur Monte Cahn is pleased to announce an unprecedented live and online domain name auction featuring some of the most desirable domain names available anywhere.

On February 25, 2021, RightOfTheDot, and bestselling author and World Champion Auctioneer Wayne Wheat will take the gavel to auction off 75-100 super premium domain names. The live auction will occur on February 25, 2021 beginning at 12:00 PM CST at https://ROTD.hibid.com/, preceded by a timed online auction with hundreds more domain names available. The live auction will be webcast in real time from a live video production studio in College Station Texas.

Some of the domain names being offered include: RESTAURANTS.COM, NAMES.COM, SORORITY.COM, CATS.COM, ASIAN.COM, SHORTS.COM, AUTOLOANS.COM, SMARTPHONE.COM, BRONCOS.COM, ADVERTISINGAGENCY.COM, PUBLISHING.COM, DATASTORAGE.COM, AUTOMOBILE.COM, SHOPPING.CLUB, COLLEGE.ORG, FINALSCORE.COM, EXCHANGERATES.COM, VACCINATING.COM and many others. These domain names represent some of the best names ever offered in one place.

Monte Cahn and RightOfTheDot have a long history producing record-breaking domain name auctions in live and online venues all over the world. Past auction sales include: SLOTS.COM $5.5million, CREDITSCORE.COM $3million, COMPUTER.COM $2.2million, AUTOS.COM $2.1million, SENIORS.COM $1.8million, DATING.COM $1.7million, SCORES.COM $1.2million, SUPER.COM $1.2million, GREAT.COM $900k, OL.COM $900k, LEADS.COM $435k, HOMECARE.COM $350k SINGLE.COM $290k, WINE.CLUB $140k and many more 4-8 figure domain sales totaling more than $550million over the past 25 years!

"As increasing numbers of businesses move online, especially due to Covid-19, premium domain names will continue to increase in desirability and value as business owners recognize their need to have a memorable domain name to stay competitive," said Monte Cahn, President/Director RightOfTheDot, LLC. "These live and online premium domain auctions present a unique opportunity for business owners and investors to obtain some of the best, one-of-a-kind domain names available anywhere!"

In order to bid on a name, you will need to sign up for a bidding account here: rotd.hibid.com.

About RightOfTheDot, LLC

Led by Domain Industry Pioneer Monte Cahn, RightOfTheDot is a licensed business & domain auction company, Internet consulting and advisement firm specializing premium domain auctions, sales, brokerage in new and existing Top Level Domains. RightOfTheDot also specializes in Contention Resolution Services, board advisement, premium domain market positioning, sales and services. Monte was Founder and former CEO of Moniker.com, former President of SnapNames.com and former Sr. VP of DomainSponsor.com. Monte Cahn and RightOfTheDot have been involved in more than 1000 live and online auctions and $550 MM in domain sales since 1995.

Contact: Monte Cahn, 954-288-6810, monte@rightofthedot.com

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1437132/RightOfTheDot_Auction.jpg
An urgent warning has been issued as scammers targeted at least 200 Australians while pretending to be the Australian Taxation Office in a new tax return scam.

The Government's Scamwatch service raised the alarm on Wednesday to remind Australians the ATO will never threaten people with arrest.

'Yesterday we received almost 200 reports of recorded or live cold-calls claiming an issue with the victim's tax return or TFN', Scamwatch said.

200 reports were filed to the Government's Scamwatch service as scammers pretended to be the Australian Taxation Office (pictured) in a new tax return scam

An urgent warning has been issued as scammers targeted almost 200 Australians while pretending to be the Australian Taxation Office (pictured: stock image)

'The ATO will never threaten you with immediate arrest or send unsolicited pre-recorded messages to your phone.'

Scamwatch said these scams are common and are used to frighten vulnerable people such, including threatening to take their lives.

'The scammer may call you and pressure you into paying immediately, threaten you with arrest, or say they will send the police to your house if you refuse.'

Fraudsters are also known to ask for payments of outstanding tax debts while pretending to be from trusted organisations such as Australia Post, ATO and banks.

If the scam is sent by email, it commonly includes an attachment or link to a fake website to download or open a file that could infect computer malware.

Scamwatch is encouraging Australians to remain vigilant, and look for warning signs when they receive an 'out of the blue call' from alleged government officials.

Scamwatch is urging Australians to remain vigilant and look for warning signs, especially if they recieve calls from an unknown number (stock image of unknown number)

Scamwatch reminded Australians that the Australian Taxation Office (pictured) will never threaten with arrest

'Don't be pressured by a threatening caller. Stop, think and check whether their story is true,' Scamwatch said.

'If you receive a phone call from someone threatening you and asking you to pay a fee, hang up and do not respond.'

Australians have already lost $511 071 as of January 2021, with 2,494 reports filed to Scamwatch.

A staggering 95% of scams that threaten a person's life or immediate arrest are made over the phone.
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A woman who married a man she met while writing to inmates on death row, has revealed they've managed to have a baby together - despite conjugal visits not being permitted at his prison.

Sigrid, 39, who is from France but now lives in Florida, spoke to Truly about the challenges she's faced since beginning a relationship with Alan Wade, 33, who was convicted in 2005 of robbery, kidnapping and first-degree murders of Reggie and Carol Sumner, a retired couple living in Jacksonville, who he buried alive.

Alan and Sigrid met after she began writing to prisoners because she's against the death penalty and have now welcomed a son, although Sigrid has not revealed how she managed to fall pregnant with her husand behind bars at Union Correctional Institution.

Even in states that allow conjugal visists, they are banned on death row.

'We don't want to say how my son was conceived. I think it's important that we can sit and explain to my son how he was conceived before someone else does it for us,' she said.

'I like to respond that he's in prison but I'm not. It was really hard, but we managed and now we have a son,' Sigrid said.

Sigrid, 39, who is from France but now lives in Florida, revealed the challenges of raising her son while his father is on death row in an interview with Truly. Pictured: Sigrid, Alan Wade and their son

Who can have conjugal visits in the U.S? Only four states across the U.S permit conjugal visits, despite activists and families arguing it helps to sustain family bonds. According to Felonies.org, conjugal visits currently only exist in California, New York, Connecticut, and Washington. Those against the scheme claim it encourages an increase in babies being fathered by inmates and claim it is expensive to run. Prisoners crimes are usually assessed when deciding who should be entitled to conjugal visits and in some states the participants have to be married. Visitations can range in length from one hour up to 72 hours and vary in frequency. Inmates are strip searched and may be required to have more searches during their visit. In New York, those who test positive for alcohol and drugs can be banned from conjugal visits for a year. Conjugal visits are only allowed in a medium or lesser-security correctional facility, where the prisoners are likely to be released soon. Advertisement

'I met my husband first as a pen pal. When people learn about my relationship most of the comments I have is that I don't care about the victim.

'It's hard to be in a relationship that's based on something so tragic. My family were not happy, they were really scared for me, they're like, "He's the worst person ever''.'

Alan Wade was convicted alongside Tiffany Ann Cole, Michael James Jackson and Bruce Kent Nixon on July 8 2005 for robbery, kidnapping and the first degree murders of a retired couple living in Jacksonville.

The foursome had planned to rob Reggie and Carol Sumner just days before the crime, after Tiffany past on information about the pair that she had gathered while being their neighbor.

In preparation, the group found a place to dig a large hole and purchased materials including rubber gloves, duct tape and a large role of plastic.

Wade and Nixon gained entrance to Reggie and Carol's home by asking to use their phone.

They then tied up the victims and began searching for financial documents. Reggie and Carol were then walked to their Mazda car and driven to the large hole, where they were buried alive by Wade and Jackson.

The crime was discovered after the couple's daughter reported being unable to contact her parents. Investigators found evidence after tracking the group down in a South Carolina hotel and noted that $8,000 from the Sumners account had been made payable to Alan Wade.

Since being convicted of his crimes, Alan has tried to motion for a mistrial citing 12 issues including that his trial counsel was ineffective during jury selection and argued against a number of testimonies given.

Documents from his trial shared by Court Listener reveal he also mentioned his history of using drugs, mental health disorders and feelings of abandonment, but his appeals to date have failed.

Revealing how they got to know each other, Sigrid explained: 'Pretty quickly we started writing all the time.

Sigrid (pictured) explained that she met Alan after deciding to write to inmates because she disagrees with the death penalty

Sigrid said they spoke for a year before Alan proposed to her during a visit to the prison. Pictured: Alan and Sigrid's son

'After six weeks he wrote back. The first words were, "I love you".

'When I started to realize that I was having feelings for him and him for me, we both got scared because it wasn't only a prison relationship but also a really long distance relationship because I was in Europe.

'We took a step back and tried to stop writing to each other and we were both miserable.

Sigrid explained she keeps all of their correspondence in boxes, saying: 'My husband is Alan, he's been in prison for 15 years with 12 on death row.

'I believe in second chances and rehabilitation.

Sigrid keeps the letters (pictured) from Alan, who is serving a sentence for murder and burglary in boxes

Sigrid said many of her relatives didn't reply to announcements about their wedding (pictured)

Alan proposed to Sigrid during one of her visits to Florida State Prison, a year after they began talking.

Speaking about their 2016 wedding, she said: 'He made a little speech, saying how much he loved me and how much I mattered to him, that he really wanted to spend the rest of his life with me.

'It's bittersweet when I look at the pictures. Seeing us together and holding hands, it makes me really nostalgic and I really hope I can have that again soon.'

According to The Tampa Bay Times, inmates on death row are escorted throughout the prison in handcuffs and rarely leave their cells, with the exception of medical issues, visits, exercise and interviews with the media.

A petition was recently set up calling for conjugal visits to be permitted to married couples, with those who've signed complaining that they're unable to hug or kiss their loved ones.

Sigrid revealed her friends and family don't approve of her choice of husband, saying: 'I think they found out his name and looked him up.

'That's when they all disappeared. They were really scared for me and I think they were being worried who he was and if he's being honest with me.

'I sent out maybe 60 wedding announcements to my own family and I got maybe four "I got your card" and a couple of congratulations.

'That was it. I got a few people who deleted me from their Facebook account. I understand that it's really hard to understand.

Sigrid (pictured) revealed she speaks to Alan once a month on the phone and visits last six hours

'I want people to understand he makes me happy and I don't get why it bothers people so much.

'People who are supposed to love me, they're bothered because someone is loving me right and making me happy.'

Sigrid said she's only able to speak to her husband on the phone once a month.

Speaking to Alan, she added: 'It's harder than I think we both thought it would be.'

'People stigmatize you just for being in a relationship with me. But I know people who judge you that way are a waste of skin anyways,' he replied.

Sigrid explained visits last six hours but leaving him in the prison always makes her feel sad.

Sigrid said she's sends videos of their son (pictured) to Alan, revealing she loves her husband unconditionally

Speaking about her son, she added: 'I try to send short videos but it's not the same. I will tell him that his dad is not who people are going to tell him he is, that he's an amazing person.

'Really caring and sweet, that he loves him very, very much.'

Sigrid revealed it's challenging raising her son alone and she's aware many people who live in the town may have heard about the case.

'It scares me to say who my husband is. I don't know how to approach it,' she said.

'Being with Alan definitely changed everything in my life because I've really embraced who I am completely and loved unconditionally by someone who I love the same.

'And now we have the little guy here. This is something I would never have wanted with anyone else.'
NJ Transit lost its eighteenth employee to the coronavirus, Francesco Frank Prifitera, assistant manager of the agencys locomotive shop in the massive Meadowlands Maintenance Complex, officials said Wednesday night.

We lost another long serving member of our family, said Kevin Corbett, NJ Transit CEO and president who made the announcement at Wednesday nights board meeting. We are grateful for his many years of service.

Prifitera, 54, of Hamburg, worked at NJ Transit rail operations for more than 31 years, officials said.

Prifitera was among those who kept NJ Transits diverse fleet of electric and diesel locomotives running, including some that have been running in the state for half a century hauling commuters.

Board chairwoman and Transportation Commissioner Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti extended her sympathy and paid tribute to Prifitera as one of the frontline workers who kept the state moving despite the coronavirus.

The virus has claimed the lives of NJ Transit employees from bus drivers and conductors who are the public face of the agency to those who do equally important jobs behind the scenes, such as Prifitera, who keep the equipment in repair and moving.

Statewide, the seven-day average for new coronavirus cases is declining. New Jersey has lost 22,250 residents to the pandemic so far, state officials said Wednesday.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription.

Larry Higgs may be reached at lhiggs@njadvancemedia.com.
The mahapanchayats will be held in UP's Moradabad, Haryana's Bahadurgarh, and Rajasthan's Sri Ganganagar, Hanumangarh and Silkar this month, a farmers leader said

New Delhi: The Samkyukta Kisan Morcha, an umbrella body of protesting farmer unions, on Thursday announced that 'kisan mahapanchayats' will be organised across the country in February against the Centre's three agri laws.

The SKM made it clear that it will not call off the ongoing protest until its demands to repeal the laws and bring legal guarantee for minimum support price on their crops are met.

In a statement, the protesting farmers' body said that its teams are planning the programmes of the state-wise mahapanchayats.

The move comes a day after it announced a four-hour nationwide 'rail roko' (rail blockade) on 18 February to press for their demands.

Protesting farmer leader Darshan Pal said a mahapanchayat will be held in Moadabad (Uttar Pradesh) on Friday, followed by Bahadurgarh bypass (Haryana) on 13 February, Sri Ganganagar (Rajasthan) on 18 February, Hanumangarh (Rajasthan) on 19 Februrary and Silkar (Rajasthan) on 23 February.

Thousands of farmers, mostly from Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh, have been camping at the three Delhi border points, Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur, for over 75 days.

In a statement, Pal alleged that the government is not serious to fulfil the "fair and genuine" farmers' demand of 'karza mukti, pura daam'.

The unions also claimed that the Haryana government has proposed to install CCTV cameras at the Tikri border protest site.

Meanwhile, Swaraj India leader Yogendra Yadav, who has been actively involved in the agitation, issued a statement terming as "baseless" the allegation made by Congress member Ravneet Singh Bittu blaming him for the Republic Day violence in Delhi.

Speaking in the Lok Sabha on 9 February, Bittu claimed that Yadav had incited the farmers which lead to the violence on 26 January.

At the Singhu border protest site, the unions have begun strengthening the infrastructure by installing CCTV cameras for enhanced security, electric fans to beat the heat in the coming months, and laying separate optical fibre line for wi-fi facility in case there is another internet shutdown.

These are some of the measures taken by the agitating farmers to prepare for a long haul as a resolution of the stalemate over the new farm legislation seems unlikely anytime soon.

"We are strengthening our communication and other infrastructure to continue the agitation for a long period," said Deep Khatri associated with managing logistics at the Singhu Border protest site.

To increase security measures and keep miscreants at bay, 100 CCTV cameras with digital video recorders are being installed at the main stage used by the Morcha and also at some identified spots across the protest site's stretch on the GT Karnal Road.

The protesting farmer unions have been alleging that the laws will weaken the minimum support price mechanism and end mandi system.

But the government says the new legislations offer more options to farmers to sell their crops, and will help raise their incomes.


FOR THREE DECADES, starting in 1935, the German-American artists Josef and Anni Albers made 13 trips to Mexico; on each one, they studied the pyramids and crumbling palaces of civilizations predating the European invasions that began in the 16th century. They were drawn to the grecas, ribbons of complex geometric patterns that unfurled in sand-colored stone mosaics across the high walls at Mitla, an ancient Zapotec archaeological site in the southern state of Oaxaca. These buildings and landscapes inspired Anni to create works such as the iconic 1968 wall hanging she designed for the lobby of Mexico Citys Hotel Camino Real.

Twenty years later, when Mario Chavez Gutierrez, 40, began weaving his first rug at the age of 8, his father, Juan, a master weaver in the Zapotec village of Teotitlan del Valle, pointed him toward Mitla as well, instructing him to recreate its stepped fret patterns. By practicing those designs, his father said, he could learn the basic techniques for the familys two-meter-wide wooden treadle loom. Gutierrez mastered his craft by copying his familys designs, eventually combining them with new ones introduced by the 1980s when American rug vendors were commissioning Oaxacan weavers to make Navajo-style rugs. Gutierrez continued to refine his skills until he could render difficult curves  relatively uncommon in Zapotec weavings  flawlessly.

In 2015, the Oaxaca City-based designer and textile artist Daniel Villela, 37, happened upon Gutierrezs work at the shop Huizache, run by a local artisans collective. Soon after, he approached Gutierrez with a series of drawings hed made of a traditional poncholike garment known in much of Mexico by its Indigenous name, quechquemitl. The asymmetrical patterns hed envisioned crisscrossed the garments in straight lines and diagonals, alluding to the imperfect grid of his city. Villela was eager to collaborate with an artisan whose own work riffed on traditional patterns. These contemporary designs force you to break your technique and rebuild it, Gutierrez says. And when you successfully confront those challenges, you start to find them in every piece you make after.

Kids want to fish? You don't know how yourself? Here's a little help
Police failed to warn a man murdered outside a west Belfast school about a threat linked to dissident republicans, the High Court was told on Thursday.

Jim Donegan's family believe he would still be alive if the information had been passed on before he was gunned down in December 2018.

The Police Ombudsman is investigating how the potential threat against him was handled. The victim's son is taking action against the PSNI over the route taken to notify the watchdog.

Mr Donegan (43) was shot dead in his car at the gates of St Mary's Christian Brothers School on the Glen Road.

His family subsequently discovered the PSNI was aware of a specific threat linked to him, their barrister said.

The information was that "dissident republicans intended to target an individual who regularly collected his child from school on the Glen Road".

Fiona Doherty QC told the court: "The issue at the heart of this case is the fact he (Mr Donegan was never informed of this."

The alleged failure was said to relate to how information was entered on police systems.

Despite the ongoing Ombudsman probe, Cris Donegan is seeking a judicial review of the internal PSNI process.

He contends that there was an obligation for the referral to be made by one of two other legislative routes: where it appears that the conduct of an officer may have resulted in someone's death, or where an officer's behaviour could justify disciplinary proceedings.

In an affidavit, the victim's son expressed shock at finding out information was not passed on.

"I believe if this information had been provided to my father, then he would still be alive today," he said.

"Any previous threats relayed to my father from the PSNI were of a generic nature. This threat was far more detailed."

The family was also informed by police that the gunman was seen at the scene of the murder the previous Thursday, the court heard. "If the threat had been relayed at the appropriate time, my father could have changed his routine and taken further appropriate actions to minimise the threat," Mr Donegan added.

Claiming an error of law in how the Ombudsman came to be notified, Ms Doherty suggested it could have meant no independent investigation took place.

"Is this court seriously being asked to accept there is absolutely no chance that a member of the police force involved in this debacle may have behaved in a manner which would justify disciplinary proceedings?" she asked. "That's just not a tenable argument."

Tony McGleenan QC, for the PSNI, countered that the challenge was academic.

He stressed how the police investigation into the murder and the watchdog inquiry into the alleged failure to pass on information were both continuing.

"This case is about a simple question of whether the PSNI should have used a different method of alerting the Ombudsman," Mr McGleenan told the court.

Counsel pointed out that within two days of discovering the suspected failure, a senior officer made a notification.

Disputing the grounds of challenge, Mr McGleenan argued that the circumstances surrounding the murder were clear.

"The death of Mr Donegan was caused by a criminal element who conducted a most brutal assassination," he said.

"It is acknowledged that there was a failing in police systems in terms of the communication of a threat.

"That was identified and it was alerted to the Ombudsman, but it cannot be said to have resulted in the death."

Mr Justice Humphreys told the court that he hoped to give his decision in the case later this month.
"COVID-19 has driven customer interactions online in record numbers. As digital transformation accelerates, the risk of online fraud has also multiplied in a way that we believe will permanently alter the online landscape," said Mark W. Begor, CEO of Equifax. "The combination of Kount solutions with Equifax differentiated data assets and cloud capabilities will enable us to quickly take advantage of new fraud prevention and digital identity offerings to deliver for our customers and drive Equifax growth. Our strong 2020 financial performance and balance sheet allowed Equifax to reinvest our outperformance in Kount while continuing to look for attractive acquisitions to strengthen our data assets and solutions."

The Kount Identity Trust Global Network uses AI to link trust and fraud data signals from 32 billion digital interactions, 17 billion devices, and five billion annual transactions across 200 countries and territories. As more signals are collected and combined with Kount's AI-driven analytic insights, the Network becomes more predictive, helping to prevent digital fraud and protect against account takeovers in real time while enabling personalized customer experiences.

"The combination of Kount and Equifax will help more businesses around the world to better protect their digital presence and their customers against emerging threats while offering a frictionless customer experience," said Sid Singh, president of United States Information Solutions (USIS) at Equifax. "This acquisition further positions Equifax as a major global player in Digital Identity Trust, which is increasingly important as ecommerce and consumer finance converge, and both require establishing accurate trust levels in real time."

Kount, an Equifax company, is now part of the USIS business unit at Equifax. Kount CEO Bradley Wiskirchen has assumed the role of Senior Vice President and General Manager of the new Boise, Idaho-based division of Equifax USIS.

"By joining Equifax, Kount is teaming up with a trusted brand with a large global presence, enabling us to further accelerate growth, innovation and fraud protection across the entire customer journey," said Wiskirchen. "We are excited for how this new combination will elevate digital experiences and identity trust by offering Kount's industry-leading solutions alongside an expansive set of Equifax data, analytics and products."

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. All statements that address our performance and events or developments that we expect or anticipate will occur in the future, including statements relating to shareholder value, future operating results, and expected growth and performance, and similar statements about our outlook and our business plans are forward-looking statements. We believe these forward-looking statements are reasonable as and when made. However, forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from our historical experience and our present expectations or projections. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those described in our 2019 Form 10-K and subsequent SEC filings. As a result of such risks and uncertainties, we urge you not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date when made. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

ABOUT KOUNT

Kount's Identity Trust Global Network delivers real-time fraud prevention and account protection and enables personalized customer experiences for more than 9,000 leading brands and payment providers. Linked by Kount's award-winning AI, the Identity Trust Global Network analyzes signals from 32 billion annual interactions to personalize user experiences across the spectrum of trust  from ensuring frictionless experiences to blocking fraud. Quick and accurate identity trust decisions deliver safe payment, account creation, and login events while reducing digital fraud, chargebacks, false positives, and manual reviews.

ABOUT EQUIFAX INC.

At Equifax (NYSE: EFX), we believe knowledge drives progress. As a global data, analytics, and technology company, we play an essential role in the global economy by helping financial institutions, companies, employees, and government agencies make critical decisions with greater confidence. Our unique blend of differentiated data, analytics, and cloud technology drives insights to power decisions to move people forward. Headquartered in Atlanta and supported by more than 11,000 employees worldwide, Equifax operates or has investments in 25 countries in North America, Central and South America, Europe, and the Asia Pacific region. For more information, visit Equifax.com

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Kate Walker for Equifax USIS

[email protected]

SOURCE Equifax Inc.

Related Links

https://www.equifax.com/


BRAVE Longford woman Lynsey Bennett has safely arrived in Mexico, where she hopes a clinic there will help save her life.

Lynsey is now in Cancun and will soon start pioneering treatment in a specialised hospital.

The 32-year-old and her pal Martin Guilfoyle flew into Mexico city from connecting flights from Dublin and had an overland 30-hour drive before settling into their hotel in the seaside city of Cancun.

She said that the hope for cancer clinic hotel is 'not too far' of a walking distance from her hotel.

Lynsey also stressed that she was told by her driver that Cancun is very safe.

Because they rely on their tourism so much to survive, that its actually very very safe in Cancun, she confirms. We have been treated like absolute royalty.

Lynsey last week settled her High Court action over the alleged misinterpretation of her cervical smear slides.

The single mum has planned her own funeral, and has set up a trust fund for her two daughters Zoe (12) and Hailee (7).

Reverend Simon Scott has helped Lynsey plan her funeral, in which she wants Dermot Kennedys version of the Van Morrison song Days Like This played at it.

He sat there writing pages and pages of everything that I wanted said and done and he had no problem, she tells Sundayworld.com. I had said if anything happened me and if we were still in Covid times, making sure I would be OK, He said he absolutely, he would link in and do everything that he had to do. He supported my friends and I sent them messages and phoned them and checked in with them, and honestly he is just a remarkable man.

The dignified young woman manages to join her services every weekend despite all that is going on in her life.

So we have online services, we all go onto zoom calls, she notes. Sometimes you might call out the prayers or the answers to the prayers and then he had asked me just to use some videos, that would be you tubes of some of the prayers.

She believes in the power or prayer.

I believe that everybody when they are in a time of need, or someone that they love is in a time of need, she reflects.

The amount of people who have said that they are praying for me and Im so grateful and I so appreciate that, its just an amazing thing that somebody is willing to take, no matter what their religion is or faith is, and the amount of people who will say Im not religious but Im praying for you, and I just think its gives people some hope and its so comforting people knowing that.

Asked how she can believe in a God that oversees tragedies that befall the likes of her, she pauses and then says: I dont really go into thoughts like that. I have never ever once turned around and said why me?. Ive often said sure why not me?.

I think that sometimes things happen and you are maybe that you are given it because you need to help other people. I think people learn from peoples pain and peoples misfortune, so thats how I view it. I dont go into the why me and the negative thoughts, I try to stay away from that as much as I can.

Lynsey has met other women affected by the cervical smear test scandal, including Vicky Phelan.

I have actually met Vicky in person and we do send messages every so often and I have met loads of the other women, she confirms. I have had huge support and phone calls and messages. I had gone to a few of the meetings, but I had spoken up because I had such a horrendous experience at my RCOG (Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists) meeting, so people had reached out to me and they have been so amazing.

She is accompanied during her stay in Mexico by Spin FM radio presenter Martin Guilfoyle.

I have known Martin for the last couple of years, he ended up covering to support me for one of my appointments, he recalls. He had said when I told him I was sick again that if there was anything he could do just ask.

One of the days in November I was going to a new hospital to a new consultant and didnt really want to go to the appointment alone, and he was upset listening to me explaining all that happened. I just mentioned it to him I was going to Mexico and that I could actually bring a companion, he said that he would never let me go to an appointment on my own again and said Im going to ask work can I go.

Lynsey appeared on RTEs First Dates show last year, and was paired with a local lad called Liam.

We went for a walk in Longford park run, we also had a cuppa in the Longford Arms and we also had another meeting as well, she smiles. But it wasnt romantic. It was such a lovely date and Liam had even messaged me after the court case when it was on the news and just saying all the best. I was so grateful that I got to have such a lovely experience on First Dates and we can truly remain friends because he isnt too far down the road.

Online dating is something thats last on her list.

For me a relationship is just not possible with what my prognosis is and the fact you cant meet anyone, she stresses.

But all my friends know that two years ago there was someone that came into my life that has always stayed around. That means an awful lot to me and even though we are not being romantic, he is a great support to have. His name is Ted and it would be hard to find someone who is as good a man as he is.

Lynsey also chuckles when told she could pass for a Scandanavian model, shes so good looking.

Everybody says that, she chortles. One time I went to Andrea Roches open day. We got some social pictures, but it never went any further. Im always asked how long am I living in Ireland, and I always say since 1988.
Staff reporters Marshall Reid and Amber Gaudet contributed to this report.

PAUL BRYANT can be reached at 940-566-6881 and via Twitter at @paulbryant_DRC.

ZAIRA PEREZ can be reached at 940-566-6882 and via Twitter at @zairalperez.
Border between Scotland and England on the A1 north of Berwick upon Tweed - Iain Masterton /Alamy Live News

Nicola Sturgeon has been urged to ditch her plan to force all international travellers into Scotland to stay in quarantine hotels after experts warned it would be pointless if the land border with England remains open.

The First Minister on Thursday insisted she would press ahead with proposals to require all people arriving from outside the Common Travel Area to spend 10 nights under state supervision in a hotel, rather than just those coming in from 33 red list countries, as is the case in England from Monday.

However, she was warned that her policy made no sense due to a gaping loophole that means people could arrive into English airports from non-red list countries and then travel to Scotland by road or rail to isolate at home. This would allow travellers to avoid the need to spend 1,750 being confined to a hotel room under state supervision.

Matt Hancock appeared to reject the SNP proposal for the UK government to find Scots and make them isolate in England - Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP

The SNP Government had said it wants the UK Government to agree to identify Scottish residents flying into English airports and then force them to isolate in hotels south of the border. However, no deal has been struck and Matt Hancock, the UK Health Secretary, said a Scot arriving into Heathrow from a non-red list country could simply go home and isolate there.

Professor Hugh Pennington, emeritus professor of bacteriology at the University of Aberdeen, was an early advocate of quarantine hotels, which have proven successful in countries such as Australia and New Zealand.

However, he said Scotland adopting a blanket policy on its own would be daft given there was a 96-mile open border with England which would have far less draconian rules.

There is an obvious loophole and its very difficult to close, Prof Pennington said. You cant have border guards at Gretna, it would just be impossible to do administratively.

If theres a policy and they havent worked out the details, then its a daft policy. I think they will just have to live with the English system - there are hardly any international flights arriving into Scotland now anyway.

Story continues

In Australia and New Zealand they dont have different policies internally about this. Were one island, so you really have to have the same policy for England, Scotland and Wales.

Professor Hugh Pennington criticised the plan - Corbis Historical/Colin McPherson

He added: Its up to the Scottish Government, if they want to do things differently, to persuade the UK Government to come along with them. You can have a different policy for Orkney, Shetland, the Western Isles, but England, Scotland and Wales really should have a uniform policy.

Ms Sturgeon insisted she would retain her tougher quarantine rules even if an agreement with the UK Government was not reached by Monday, when the rules are due to come into force.

However, she admitted Scotland would have more of a back door vulnerability if divergent regimes remain in place.

Ms Sturgeon said that she could be asking the police to do more than they are doing right now in terms of the checks coming into the country from next week

She refused to expand on the specific role the police would play or comment on whether this could mean enforcement of a hard border where all passing motorists were checked. Her ministers have previously refused to rule out border checks.

We haven't taken those decisions, Ms Sturgeon said. So I would just be speculating. And secondly, actually, enforcement would be a matter for the police.

Nicola Sturgeon is facing questions over the plan - pool/ REUTERS

Mr Hancock ruled out extending a requirement to quarantine in hotels to all UK travellers, and appeared to reject the SNP call to put a system in place that would ensure Scottish residents arriving into English airports had to follow Ms Sturgeons rules and isolate in a hotel.

Asked what would happen if someone who lived in Edinburgh arrived into London Heathrow from Madrid, with Spain not on the UK red list, Mr Hancock said they should go home and quarantine there.

Its about having a proportionate approach, Mr Hancock said. For everybody arriving in the UK, there is a robust system in place. Whether thats in a hotel or at home, you have to quarantine for 10 days. Thats the approach were taking.

If you require a hotel quarantine for people coming from anywhere, that includes countries where there arent any cases.

A Police Scotland spokeswoman said: We have maximised our visibility in communities and on roads across Scotland, including the border area to provide reassurance, deter anyone who might be considering breaching coronavirus regulations and, where necessary, enforce the law.

We will continue to work with the Scottish Government to support the collective effort to combat the spread of coronavirus.

At this time there are no plans to establish road checks anywhere across Scotland simply to enforce coronavirus regulations.
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A Romanian threat researcher detailed in a published report Wednesday how he broke into IT systems belonging to some of the largest corporations in the world. His assaults successfully targeted Apple, Microsoft, Tesla, PayPal, Netflix and more than 30 other corporations.

Alex Birsan advised the companies in advance that he would be testing the security of their systems, but did not provide them with details beforehand.

Birsan accomplished the tasks by launching a relatively simple attack mode: He replaced private code packages routinely activated by servers with public code packages. When searching for a code package, automated systems used by companies tap into public repositories. If a Javascript, Ruby or Python module is required to execute a particular function, company servers will automatically swap a public module for its own in-house one if it detects an identically named package it believes is a newer version.

His exploit, Birsan told BleepingComputer, exposed "vulnerabilities or design flaws in automated build or installation tools [that] may cause public dependencies to be mistaken for internal dependencies with the exact same name."

Birsan took advantage of this vulnerability by injecting code into packages stored in public repositories such as GitHub. He termed the intentional duplication of names and subsequent swapping of files 'dependency confusion.'

He first had to determine the names companies used for the code files so he could create counterfeit files with the same names, but he found that task to be relatively easy. Shopify, for instance, automatically installed a forged file from Birsan that he correctly guessed was "Shopify-cloud."

"The success rate was simply astonishing," Birsan said an online assessment of his exploits Wednesday.

"We were able to automatically scan millions of domains belonging to the targeted companies and extract hundreds of additional javascript package names which had not yet been claimed on the npm registry," Birsan said.

Such planted by a malicious actor could wreak havoc throughout a company's network, disrupt operations, steal data or attempt to extort money.

Birsan's code was not malicious; he retrieved only basic information about each computer his code impacted including username, hostname and current path of each unique installation. The program notified Birsan when his code was activated by target companies.

"Along with the external IPs, this was just enough data to help security teams identify possibly vulnerable systems based on my reports," Birsan said, "while avoiding having my testing be mistaken for an actual attack."

In return Birsan collected 'bug bounty' cash that companies pay out to researchers who uncover vulnerabilities. The total from several companies that paid him topped $130,000.

Birsan came up with the idea when a colleague, Justin Gardner, examined an internal JavaScript package managing file and wondered what would happen if an identically named file were placed in a public repository. They soon discovered that whichever file had the most recent build number would be tapped by the company's server.

Most of the affected companies were able to quickly patch their systems following notification of the breach.

But Birsan says he believes that dependency confusion on open-source platforms remains a problem.

"Specifically, I believe that finding new and clever ways to leak internal package names will expose even more vulnerable systems, and looking into alternate programming languages and repositories to target will reveal some additional attack surface for dependency confusion bugs," he said.

 2021 Science X Network
Two truck drivers out of more than 2,100 have tested positive for Covid-19 since a mandatory system of checking HGV operators destined for French ports came into operation at the end of last month.

This means the positive test percentage is lower than 0.1pc.

As countries battled the third wave of Covid infection after Christmas many introduced restrictions on those crossing their borders or entering through ports and airports, and the French government introduced a law that came into force on 28 January requiring truck drivers arriving in France on direct ferries from Ireland to show a negative Covid test result.

Following a rapid procurement process the Department of Transport contracted Irish company RocDoc Ltd to provide free tests for commercial drivers travelling to France.

Three new test centres with port proximity at Dublin airport, and at Holmestown and Gorey in Co Wexford, were established in addition to testing at an existing facility at Cork Airport, and the rapid-testing began the day before the law came into effect.

The antigen-based nasal swab test means that drivers can have their result within an hour, and often in half that time.

The result is sent electronically to their phone which they then use to allow them to board the ferry destined to France.

Once a driver has created an online profile with RocDoc future tests become more efficient and less time-consuming because they are already on the electronic system.

Tests can be booked in advance, but there is also a system to deal with drivers who turn up without an appointment.

To date, over 2,100 antigen tests have been undertaken between January 27 and February 9. This testing is separate to the public health Covid testing, said a Dept of Transport spokesperson.

There have been two positive test results to date. For any positive cases a driver is referred for a free Covid-19 PCR test and required to follow public health guidance. If the PCR test result is positive, drivers must continue to follow Irish public health guidance and self isolate in accordance with public health guidelines. For drivers not resident in Ireland, self isolation facilities are available in Rosslare, they added.

Despite fears from hauliers groups that the testing system would cause delays it is believed to be working efficiently.

It is working well, and if the French want to test our drivers it keeps the ferries safe and least each truck driver knows that the other drivers on board are Covid-free too, said Eugene Drennan of the Irish Road Haulage Association

The low test positivity rate also shows that truck driver have been safe operators taking the precautions necessary and maintaining high standards of hygiene, he added.

The Dept Transport has said the operation of the test centres will be kept under close review.

Ireland is still advocating that all EU Member States should adhere to the EU Green Lanes recommendation that essential transport workers should be exempt from such tests, in the interest of keeping essential supply-chain running, said the Department spokesperson.

It is unclear how long the law requiring testing of truck drivers entering France will remain in place.

Because the test centres are modular in construction they can be erected and dismantled quickly.

The Dublin Airport facility, which caters mainly for drivers using Dublin Port, is situated in the long-term blue car park where there is space for 200 trucks and drivers are tested in one of 32 testing bays.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 11, 2021) - Golden Independence Mining Corp (CSE: IGLD) (OTCQB: GIDMF) (FSE:6NN) (the "Company") is pleased to announce the appointment of Duane Andersen as Permitting Manager for the Independence project. Mr. Andersen will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of the permitting process for the Independence project and will work closely with the Company's consultants EM Strategies and Dyer Engineering.

Mr. Andersen has over 40 years of technical, regulatory and compliance experience in the mining industry having most recently been a major contributor in the permitting process for the HudBay Minerals Inc. Rosemont copper project in Arizona, containing a proven and probable reserve of 5.3 billion pounds of copper and 79 million ounces of silver. Prior to that, Duane was part of the team involved in the permitting process for the Hycroft Mine in Nevada, containing a proven and probable reserve of 12 million ounces of gold and 481 million ounces of silver. He is the founder and principal of Duane Andersen & Associates.

Rosemont mineral reserve source: "NI 43-101 Technical Report Feasibility Study Updated Mineral Resource, Mineral Reserve and Financial Estimates Rosemont Project Pima County, Arizona, USA For HudBay Minerals Inc. Dated: March 30, 2017 Prepared by: C Meagher". Hycroft mineral reserve source:" Technical Report Summary Heap Leaching Feasibility Study Hycroft Project Winnemucca, Nevada, USA Prepared For: Hycroft Mining Corporation Dated: July 31, 2019 Prepared by: S. Newman, R.F. DeLong, B. Miller Clarkson, T. Carew and M. Hartmann".

"We are very excited to have Duane join our team." commented Golden Independence CEO Christos Doulis. "His extensive experience in permitting projects in the US fits well with our plan to fast track the Independence project to the PEA stage during 2021."

R. Tim Henneberry, PGeo (British Columbia), President and Director of Golden Independence Mining Corp., is the qualified person who has reviewed and approved the technical content of this news release on behalf of the company.

About Golden Independence Mining Corp.

Golden Independence Mining Corp. is an exploration company currently focused on exploring the advanced-stage Independence Gold Property located in the Battle Mountain-Cortez Trend, Nevada and the Champ precious metal property near Castlegar, British Columbia. The Independence Gold Property benefits from over US$25 million in past exploration, including over 200 holes drilled, and is located adjacent to Nevada Gold Mines' Phoenix-Fortitude mining operations in the Battle Mountain-Cortez trend of Nevada.



FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:

Christos Doulis, Chief Executive Officer

Telephone: 1.647.924.1083 Email: christos@goldenindependence.co

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/74157
The Premier and WA Health have moved to allay concerns over why the person in charge of Perths hotel quarantine system took leave while inquiries into how a hotel security guard caught COVID-19 are ongoing.

On Wednesday night, it was revealed Deputy Chief Health Officer and state health incident co-ordinator Dr Robyn Lawrence had taken leave and was due back on March 1.

WA Premier Mark McGowan and WA Health have moved to allay concerns over the absence of the states hotel quarantine boss. Credit:Peter de Kruijff

The timing of the leave raised eyebrows in the state opposition, with Opposition Leader Zak Kirkup demanding answers on why Dr Lawrence was absent during the inquiries.

But on Thursday, WA Health director general David Russell-Weisz said Dr Lawrence had two weeks planned leave for many months with an additional week recently added.
Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi received on Thursday a written message from Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz that tackled bilateral cooperation on regional and international issues.

The message stressed the deep historical ties between the two countries and the kingdom's keenness to promote strategic cooperation on multiple levels, affirming the importance of continuing joint work and intensive coordination with Egypt on various regional and international issues.

The message was conveyed by Saudi Minister of State and Cabinet Member Essam bin Said who met the Egyptian president in Cairo earlier today, Presidential Spokesperson Bassam Rady said in a statement.

During the meeting, El-Sisi conveyed his greetings to King Salman, reaffirming the "special and strategic" relationship between Egypt and Saudi Arabia and what it represents as a "foundation" for the stability of the region.

He also highlighted the "delicate" circumstances and challenges that the Arab countries are going through, the statement noted.

It was agreed during the meeting to continue to reinforce bilateral cooperation and consultation in various fields to achieve the common interestsof the Egyptian and Saudi peoples, as well as the Arab solidarity bonds.

The meeting was attended by head of Egypt's General Intelligence Service Abbas Kamel, and the kingdom's Ambassador in Cairo Osama bin Ahmed Naqli.

Short link:


File image: Indian Army trucks in Ladakh region (Image: AP Photo)

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh informed Parliament on February 11 that India and China have agreed to disengagement on the northern and southern banks of the Pangong Lake in eastern Ladakh. The two sides have been locked in a stand-off along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the region since May 2020.

Our sustained talks with China have led to agreement on disengagement on the north and south banks of Pangong Lake. After this agreement, India-China will remove forward deployments in a phased, coordinated manner, Singh said.

China will keep its troops to the east of Finger 8 at the north bank of Pangong Lake and India will keep its troops at its permanent base near Finger 3, Singh said.

"These are mutual and reciprocal steps and any structures that had been built by both sides since April 2020 in both north and south bank area will be removed and the landforms will be restored," Singh added.

Speaking in the Rajya Sabha, Singh said that some issues regarding deployment at the LAC are yet to be resolved. He added that bilateral relations between the two nations can only develop, and the border dispute can only be resolved, through dialogue.

China has positioned heavy artillery and large number of soldiers along the LAC. Our forces have also adequately and effectively done counter deployments, Singh reiterated, adding that Indian forces continue to be positioned along the border despite harsh weather conditions.

The defence minister informed the Upper House that India has asked China to accept and respect the LAC, not take any steps to unilaterally change the status quo at the border and follow the rules of engagement, and stated that all compromises should be completely agreed upon by both sides.

This came a day after the Chinese defence ministry announced that frontline soldiers from India and China at the southern and northern banks of the Pangong Tso in eastern Ladakh had started synchronised and organised disengagement from February 10.

This move is in accordance with the consensus reached by both sides at the 9th round of China-India Corps Commander Level Meeting, Chinese Ministry of National Defences Spokesperson Senior Colonel Wu Qian had said in the statement. India had not immediately comment on the matter.

Singh is also expected to address the Lok Sabha about the present situation in Eastern Ladakh at 5.30 pm on February 11.

Both sides have deployed thousands of troops along the LAC since May 2020 when border tensions started simmering between the two neighbours  especially along three friction points in the eastern Ladakh region.

The LAC is the de-facto border between the two countries in the region. In June 2020, Indian soldiers were killed in the Galwan Valley as the stand-off escalated into a violent face-off. While there were fatalities on the Chinese side too, the number was not revealed by Beijing.

Both sides are known to have stationed heavy artillery and deployed fighter aircraft in close proximity to the LAC as a precautionary measure even as they work towards disengagement.
[February 11, 2021] Live Remote Supervision of Neuroendovascular Surgery Enabled by Olympus MedPresence

Olympus announced today its cloud-based virtual medical presence platform known as MedPresence was critical in allowing the first use in the U.S. of a novel intracranial vascular implant for treatment of a brain aneurysm. Because the device is the subject of a clinical trial, the U.S. FDA (Food and Drug Administration) required supervision of the procedure by a physician already familiar with the device, i.e., a proctor. By using MedPresence, a proctor in Canada with extensive experience placing the implant was able to supervise the procedure taking place in the neuroangiography suite at Lahey Hospital & Medical Center in Burlington, MA. This use-case is described in detail in the recent article, "International teleproctoring in neuro-interventional surgery and its potential impact on clinical trials in the era of COVID-19: legal and technical considerations," published in the Journal of NeuroInterventional Surgery on December 20, 2020. The authors call out the potential for continued use of remote supervision (tele-proctoring), beyond COVID-19 emergency use, to increase the ability of physicians to test and train on new medical technologies without the time and logistical constraints related to proctors' availability, case schedule, and applicable travel restrictions. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210211005514/en/ MedPresnce proctor view during an intracranial vascular implant case. By using MedPresence, a proctor in Canada with extensive experience placing the implant was able to supervise the procedure taking place at Lahey Hospital & Medical Center in Burlington, MA. The views were configured remotely and included a live digitally subtracted roadmap (top left) and unsubtracted (top right) images in various planes. A pan-tilt-zoom camera (bottom left) provides a view of the operator's hands and equipment and demonstrates the radial access. A fixed camera mounted to the ceiling provides an overview of activity in the room (bottom right). (Figure reproduced from Journal of NeuroInterventional Surgery, International teleproctoring in neurointerventional surgery and its potential impact on clinical trials in the era of COVID-19: legal and technical considerations, Emanuele Orru', Miklos Marosfoi, Neil V Patel, Alexander L Coon, Christoph Wald, Nicholas Repucci, Patrick Nicholson, Vitor M Pereira, Ajay K Wakhloo, Published Online First: 21 December 2020, Copyright notice 2021 with permission from BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.)



Using MedPresence, the treatment team, led by Dr. Ajay Wakhloo, Chief of NeuroInterventional Radiology at Lahey Hospital & Medical Center, was able to securely broadcast clinical information including multiple real-time advanced imaging modalities to Dr. Vitor Mendes Pereira, Professor of Medical Imaging and Surgery at the University of Toronto. In view of COVID-related travel restrictions, Dr. Pereira was unable to attend the procedure in person, but with the real-time, uninterrupted image live stream, he was able to supervise remotely the placement of three intracranial vascular implants.

?Healthcare facilities interested in using MedPresence for teleproctoring and other telecollaboration can find more information here: https://medical.olympusamerica.com/products/medpresence "We were pleased the study showed the success of teleproctoring for this procedure using a cloud-based virtual medical presence platform. The proctor was able to reference audiovisual data at the highest quality so critical in the cerebrovascular domain from multiple sources to provide step-by-step guidance in the placement of the devices, with no delays or interruptions," said Dr. Wakhloo. "This study demonstrated that teleproctoring has a great potential to expand patient access to novel neurointerventional procedures and technologies, particularly in fields where specialists are few, and proctors routinely need to travel nationally or internationally in order to provide much needed training to other physicians, often resulting in delay of care," said Dr. Emanuele Orru', a neurointerventional radiologist at LHMC and corresponding author of the study. In this case, high-resolution audiovisual data from the clinical sources and room-context cameras, including fluoroscopy, digital subtraction angiography, the operator's hands, and room surroundings, were streamed to Dr. Pereira, providing him with the situational and spatial awareness he needed to supervise the procedure safely and confidently. This information was encrypted and streamed securely through the MedPresence cloud-based system, with no protected health information transmitted or stored, consistent with HIPAA requirements. "When we are working in microns, as we are in neurointerventional surgery, the fidelity of the image and sound provided remotely needs to be very high," said Dr. Pereira. "The MedPresence interface provided all of the detailed information I needed to guide Dr. Wakhloo and his team during the procedure." Using MedPresence, specialists, senior clinicians, and technical experts can consult virtually on cases, providing accurate, well-coordinated input. Enabling features of the MedPresence platform include: Direct Clinical Source (News - Alert) Data : Connects consultants outside the procedure room with clinical data sources and information, such as video from the endoscopic medical tower or C-arm.

: Connects consultants outside the procedure room with clinical data sources and information, such as video from the endoscopic medical tower or C-arm. Immersive Two-Way Audio, Video with Telestration: Integrates clinical information with interactive capabilities, allowing collaborating teams to draw, using a stylus or fingertip, directly on the screen of any device ( iPhone (News - Alert) , iPad, PC). ?

Integrates clinical information with interactive capabilities, allowing collaborating teams to draw, using a stylus or fingertip, directly on the screen of any device ( iPhone (News - Alert) , iPad, PC). ? Secure, Cloud-Based Platform?: Provides layers of security and privacy not available in standard web-sharing technology. A telecollaboration platform such as MedPresence provides technical capabilities health care providers need to be able to consult with one another remotely. Being able to consult virtually allows clinicians to complete the testing and training needed to safely treat their patients using new devices. Disclosures: Wakhloo is a grant recipient of Philips (News - Alert) Medical and serves as a consultant for Olympus and Stryker. About Olympus Olympus is passionate about the solutions it creates for the medical, life sciences, and industrial equipment industries. Olympus' Medical business uses innovative capabilities in medical technology, therapeutic intervention, and precision manufacturing to help healthcare professionals deliver diagnostic, therapeutic, and minimally invasive procedures to improve clinical outcomes, reduce overall costs, and enhance the quality of life for patients. Olympus' Medical portfolio includes endoscopes, laparoscopes, and video imaging systems, as well as surgical energy devices, system integration solutions, medical services, and a wide range of EndoTherapy instruments. For more information, visit https://medical.olympusamerica.com/. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210211005514/en/

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Two of Jeffrey Epstein's financiers have been accused of acting like 'captains' in his pedophile operation and forcing some of his foreign victims into arranged marriages with his American victims so the foreign girls could gain entry to the US.

Darren Indyke and Richard Kahn are being sued in the US Virgin Islands by attorney general, Denise George.

She wants to freeze the assets that belong to Epstein's estate, claiming they are being mismanaged to avoid paying his victims while estate executors and attorneys continue to collect paychecks from it.

In an amended complaint filed on Wednesday, George alleges that Indyke and Kahn were both complicit in Epstein's operation. She claims the men facilitated sham marriages for Epstein victims so they would be able to travel with him to the US.

Caribbean prosecutors have accused Richard Kahn (left) and Darren Indyke (right) of acting as 'captains' in Jeffrey Epstein's pedophile ring and facilitating sham marriages between his foreign victims and American victims

They were mostly eastern European, the suit claims, which was who Epstein 'focused on' after being convicted of soliciting child prostitution in Palm Beach in 2007.

Epstein killed himself in jail in August 2019 while awaiting trial for child sex trafficking

'These womens immigration status and language barriers made them more isolated, dependent, and vulnerable to Epsteins abuse and manipulation,' the compaint says.

The complaint also describes how Epstein preferred victims who couldn't speak English because it meant they 'spoke less'.

According to the complaint, one of Epstein's victims was flown between New York and Palm Beach dozens of times between 2004 and 2017 after being taken to the US.

George claims that she was then forced into a sham marriage with another victim to stop her from being deported.

She says Epstein threatened bodily harm against three of his American victims to get them to marry three foreign victims and that 'in each instance, Indyke and Kahn knowingly facilitated the fraudulent and coerced marriages, performing and securing the legal and accounting work involved and enabling a fraud that would further bind Epsteins victims to him and enable Epstein to continue to control and abuse these victims sexually.'

Epstein's home on Little St. James in the US Virgin Islands. Prosecutors there are suing his estate to stop them from 'mismanaging' funds that are intended for his victims

One unnamed victim who is quoted in the lawsuit said many girls who she saw at Epstein's island did't speak English, which was 'Epsteins preference since they spoke less.'

The two executors deny any involvement in the sex trafficking operation.

In a statement, they said: 'Neither Mr. Indyke nor Mr. Kahn had any involvement in any misconduct by Mr. Epstein of any kind, at any time.

US Virgin Islands Attorney General Denise George is suing Epstein's estate

'It is enormously regrettable that the Attorney General chose to level false allegations and to unfairly malign the co-executors reputation without any proof or factual basis.'

George sought the freeze after the Feb. 4 announcement that the administrator of the Epstein Victims Compensation Program would temporarily halt payouts because most of the estates estimated $240.8 million of assets, down from a peak of around $634 million, were illiquid.

She said that her 'worst fear' was realized when the payments stopped and that the estate is being mismanaged.

'The Estate has found its way to pay for lawyers, landscaping, and helicopter fees, but not the brave women who have stepped forward to participate in the compensation fund.

'It is, unconscionably, another promise made and broken by Epstein and now, his Estate,' she said.
Toyota has revealed that its debuting three electrified versions of its vehicles in the US this year. While the automaker didnt name the models of the vehicles its launching, it did say that two of them are fully electric, while the other is a plug-in hybrid. Its a step towards one of the companys goals, which is for 40 percent of all new vehicles sales to be made up of electrified models by 2025. The automaker is also aiming to sell electrified Toyota and Lexus (its luxury brand) models around the world in the same year.

Back in December, the company teased a new all-electric EV coming out this year in the European market. Its around the size of a RAV4 or a Forester and is based on its upcoming e-TNGA platform, which will serve as the modular architecture for its electric vehicles. Toyota didnt say whether that same vehicle is one of the three, but its worth noting that the model in the right photo looks like the RAV4 Prime plug-in hybrid it launched last year.

In its announcement, Toyota also shared some results from an internal research evaluating the environmental impact between a full-electric and a plug-in hybrid vehicle. The company found that the greenhouse gas emissions of currently available full-electric and plug-in models are roughly the same when you factor in pollutants created by electricity production. Also, the production of plug-ins may even generate less greenhouse gases, since they typically have smaller batteries.

The key point is that a BEV and PHEV can provide similar environmental benefits, the company wrote. By having a diversified product portfolio with multiple forms of vehicle electrification, Toyota can let consumers choose the model that best suits their usage needs and cost profile while maximizing the total contribution to GHG reduction.
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LONDON, Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- 9fin, the AI-powered data and analytics platform for fixed income, announces its partnership with the European Leveraged Finance Association (ELFA). The partnership will allow ELFA members to benefit from 9fin's expertise in covenants and related market trends.

ELFA is a trade association for European leveraged finance investors. It aims to create a more transparent, efficient and resilient leveraged finance market by establishing and enhancing industry best practice, promoting transparency and facilitating engagement between market participants.

Steven Hunter, Co-founder and CEO of 9fin commenting on the partnership said: "9fin's raison d'etre is to bring transparency to the leveraged finance market, so we were delighted when the opportunity arose for us to partner with the ELFA. We believe our technology, data, and analysis can help ELFA members shape a more transparent and better functioning credit market."

Sabrina, CEO of the ELFA, commented: "9fin's ability to deliver fast, actionable covenant information to investors will provide significant value to our members, and supports our mission to deepen market engagement on important issues. Its market insights and understanding of the implications of covenants will also be used to complement our educational resources. We look forward to working with them in the coming year to increase transparency for leveraged finance investors."

9fin contact:

Steven Hunter

Email: team@9fin.com

ELFA media contacts:

Gilly Lock / Chloe Retief

Powerscourt

Tel: +44(0)7711 380 007 / +44 (0) 7507 785 103

Email: elfa@powerscourt-group.com

About 9fin

9fin is the faster, smarter way to find leveraged finance intelligence.

Through an AI-powered data & analytics platform 9fin centralises everything that's needed to analyse a credit or win a mandate in one place. Helping subscribers win business, outperform their peers and save time.

Product offerings include: News Alerts, Financials, Covenants, Comparables, Deal Predictions, ESG and Search.

9fin is trusted by seven of the top 10 Investment Banks, Funds managing over 52bn of High Yield AUM and award winning advisory and law firm franchises.

To find out more about 9fin's offering across the high yield, leveraged loan and distressed debt market, or to trial the 9fin platform, visit 9fin.com, follow @9finHQ on Twitter, or subscribe to 9fin's newsletter.

About the European Leveraged Finance Association (ELFA)

The European Leveraged Finance Association (the ELFA) is a trade association comprised of European leveraged finance investors from over 35 institutional fixed income managers, including investment advisors, insurance companies, and pension funds. The ELFA seeks to support the growth and resilience of the leveraged finance market while acting as the voice of its investor community by promoting transparency and facilitating engagement among European leveraged finance market participants. For more information, please visit the ELFA website: www.elfainvestors.com.

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Kids want to fish? You don't know how yourself? Here's a little help
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Iran and Russia agreed to jointly produce Russian COVID-19 Sputnik V vaccine in Iran, Iranian Ambassador to Russia Kazem Jalali announced Wednesday.

"Our talks over the joint production (of Sputnik V) have concluded and we will soon witness the manufacturing of this vaccine in Iran," Jalali was quoted as saying by Press TV.

On Tuesday, Iran began its first round of nationwide vaccination using the Sputnik V it received from Russia last week.

The second batch of the Russian vaccine will arrive in Iran on Friday, said Jalali at the high-level meeting between representatives of the Iranian and Russian health ministries in Moscow on Wednesday.

A 10-member delegation of pharmaceutical officials from Iran, led by Iran's Food and Drug Organization chief Mohammad Reza Shanehsaz, is in Russia to monitor the manufacturing processes of Sputnik V in its preparations for joint production of the vaccine in Iran.
Pangong Tso lake is seen near the India-China border in India's Ladakh area, on Sept. 14, 2017. Indian Defense Minister, Rajnath Singh said on Feb. 11, 2021 that India and China will disengage from a ten-month-old military standoff at the Pangong Tso. (Manish Swarup/AP Photo)

India, China Agree to Pull Back From 10-Month Military Standoff

NEW DELHIIndia and China have agreed to pull back their troops from the Pangong Tso lake along their disputed border in the western Himalayas after a 10-month military standoff, Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh told that nations upper house of Parliament on Feb. 11.

The implementation of this agreement will substantially restore the situation to that existing prior to commencement of the standoff last year, Singh said.

Bilateral relations between the neighboring countries have deteriorated since a bloody clash in the Galwan valley on June 15, 2020. That created an intense military standoff along the de facto border in the Ladakh area, particularly at the lake, two-thirds of which sits in China-controlled territory.

Following last months ninth round of high-level military talks, troops from both sides began to pull back from the lake on Feb. 10; Singh said the disengagement would be completed in 48 hours.

We hope the steps will eventually lead to the restoration of the status quo. I want to remind the House that we have not lost anything, he said.

The sides will also remove all the military structures built after April 2020 and patrolling will be suspended. The patrolling will be resumed after the two countries reach an agreement subsequent to high-level military and diplomatic talks, said Singh, who applauded the Indian army for its efforts.

Our nation will always remember the sacrifices made by our brave soldiers, which have been the foundation of this disengagement at Pangong Tso Lake, he said.

Retired Maj. Gen. G.G. Diwedi, who has served in Ladakh and had also served as Indias Defense Attache in China, North Korea, and Mongolia for three years, told The Epoch Times that Pangong Tso lake is of immense strategic value because its an avenue through which military forces move toward Chishul Bowl and Leh, the capital of Ladakh. He emphasized that disengagement means many things.

It is a complex and tedious process, involves pulling back troops and equipment deployed, as per preset time frame, supervised through verification mechanism, he said. In case the April 20 status quo is restored, it will definitely mean success for India.

A view of Pangong Tso lake in the Ladakh region on July 27, 2019. (Mukesh Gupta/Reuters)

Experts Warn India

Dr. Satoru Nagao, a non-resident fellow at Hudson InstituteWashington, D.C. told The Epoch Times that the tensions are most likely called off only temporarily.

China will negotiate with India and ease the tension temporarily. However, in spring, the condition will be set for China to restart their provocation, said Nagao, whose primary area of research is the security cooperation between India, China, and the United States.

Nagao said the winter session is extremely cold in the Ladakh sector where temperatures ranged on Feb. 11 from minus 4 degrees Celsius (about 25 degrees Fahrenheit) to minus 17 degrees Celsius (1.4 degrees Fahrenheit).

Before the next round of provocation, China wants their soldiers to take a rest, he said, while explaining the disengagement operations.

Retired Lt. Gen. Kamal Davar, the first director general of Indias Defence Intelligence Agency and a former deputy chief of the Integrated Defence Staff, warned that India should be cautious.

India has to remain consistently assertive and not fall prey to the machinations of the wily Chinese, said Davar, a former general commanding officer of the Indian forces in Ladakh.

We must stick to our stand of Chinese pullback to pre-April 2020 positions. They have to vacate their transgressions in Depsang Plains, too, he said. The Depsang Plains, which are 239 miles north of the Pangong Tso lake, is another area of military concern.

An Indian army convoy moves on the Srinagar- Ladakh highway at Gagangeer, northeast of Srinagar, Indian-controlled Kashmir, on Sept. 9, 2020.(AP Photo/ Dar Yasin)

Global Matters of Geopolitics

China decided on military disengagement after observing U.S. President Joe Bidens recent responses to related geopolitical issues in the region, Nagao said.

China is exploiting the situation of the U.S. transitioning from Trump to Biden, he said, noting that there are concerns about Bidens ability to continue a strong policy toward China.

For example, if India and China clash like in June 2020, will the Biden administration clearly support India like the Trump administration? Nagao asked.

Meanwhile, China is making its moves on the chessboard, he said.

China is trying to persuade other countries by softening its stance and by easing the tension temporarily. However such kind of a stance doesnt mean a promise to stop [future] provocation, he said. If China understands that Biden will not support India clearly, China can provoke its neighbor again, anytime.

The Tokyo-based expert referred to a Biden speech this month, in which he mentioned that America is back.

He mentioned Europe, Middle East, Afghanistan, and China, etc. But he didnt mention India, Southeast Asia, the Indo-Pacific, and QUAD, except for Burma. I understand from this remark that his idea is traditional American foreign policy, said Nagao.

By traditional foreign policy, Nagao suggests that the United States under Biden will focus more on Europe and the Middle East.

In the near future, the Biden administration will adjust the situation and create a more updated edition of his foreign policy. But before that China will get a chance, he said.

THE Ministry of Communications and Information Technology has instructed telecom companies to go countrywide and ensure their services reach the citizens.

Equally, the companies have been asked to improve capacity of their communication towers, especially in areas experiencing poor communication networks.

Speaking in Parliament on Wednesday, the ministry's Deputy Minister, Eng Kundo Mathew, said the government is determined to ensure the whole country is covered by stable communication networks.

He made the note, while answering a supplementary question by Special Seats Member of Parliament, Grace Tendega (Chadema) who wanted to know when the government would avail stable communication in villages of Kalenga constituency, Iringa region.

The MP further said due to unstable communications, Kalenga constituency residents have been struggling to communicate and access some services offered by mobile phones in vain.

"The government has tasked all mobile network service operators to improve scope of their investment and connectivity, and that their network should be available across the country," he said.

Earlier, the main question was asked by the Mbulu Rural MP Fratei Massay (CCM) who sought to know the fate of constructing communications towers in Endahagichen, Ndamilay, Mwadan, Mahong, Endaghadat, Qamtannat in his constituency, located in Manyara region.

In response, Eng Mathew said the government through the Universal Communications Services Access Fund (UCSAF) would add the mentioned villages in the tender to be announced in this financial year 2020/21.
Turkey unveiled its space program and plans to go to the moon on Tuesday, the day a United Arab Emirates space probe reached Mars orbit.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan promised a lunar voyage within two years, saying, We will go to the moon in 2023.

Erdogan made the comments during a Turkish Space Agency meeting. The agency, which was founded in 2018, outlined a 10-year plan for Turkish space exploration. The first goal is to reach the moon in 2023, the centennial of modern Turkey. Other goals include sending a Turkish citizen to space, the state-run Anadolu Agency reported.

The UAE Hope Probe reached Mars orbit Sept. 9. Hope launched in July and is the first Mars mission from the Middle East. The Emirates received considerable media attention and praise for the endeavor.

Turkey and the UAE are geopolitical rivals. They are on opposing sides on the Qatar diplomatic crisis, the Libyan civil war and energy exploration in the eastern Mediterranean, among other issues. Turkey is a strong ally of Qatar, while the UAE took Saudi Arabias side in the Gulf feud. In Libya, the UAE backs the Libyan National Army against Turkeys ally the Government of National Accord. In the Mediterranean Sea, the UAE supports Greece and Cyprus in their dispute with Turkey over drilling rights.

In the Middle East, only Israel has successfully reached the moons orbit. Israel sent a small lunar lander to the moon in 2019, but it crashed on the surface.

February 11 : Actor Vicky Kaushal is channelling his inner uber-cool attitude on the latest cover spread of Grazia India Magazine February cover spread.

Manmarziyaan actor has turned cover star for leading style and fashion magazine, Grazia India for entire month of February.

Actor Vicky Kaushal took to his social media and dropped the summer special edition cover page. He captioned it, February with @graziaindia!

Sporting a pink tweak shirt, with white inner and gold chain around his neck, definitely the summers have arrived but Vicky is all set to raise the hotness level. The official handle of Grazia India also shared the same.

They captioned it, From delivering a heart-breaking monologue that tugged at our heartstrings to fighting on the frontlines in one of the best war movies of our time  can you guess who our February 2021 cover star is?

Meanwhile on the work front, Vicky Kaushal has a series of interesting, varied and massive projects. He will next portray the freedom fighter Udham Singh, who assassinated Michael O'Dwyer, in a biopic directed by Shoojit Sircar.

He will be further seen in the biopic of the Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw helmed by Meghna Gulzar. He also reunited with Aditya Dhar in an action film about the mythological character Ashwatthama titled The Immortal Ashwatthama which is planned as trilogy and it is his first superhero film, produced by RSVP.
[February 11, 2021] Transact's Practices for Security, Confidentiality and Availability Stand up to Scrutiny as Company Successfully Completes Annual SOC 2 Type 2 Examination, PCI DSS Assessment, and Penetration Tests

While the pandemic environment has introduced new security risks and elevated current ones, Transact's practices for security, confidentiality and availability continue to stand up to scrutiny. Today Transact, the leader in innovative payment solutions for a connected campus, announced the successful completion of its annual SOC 2 Type 2 examination, PCI (News - Alert) DSS assessment, and penetration tests. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210211005564/en/ As a best practice, Transact regularly tests the effectiveness of the various security measures through a combination of automated scanning systems and penetration tests. Transact has a longstanding reputation for strict adherence with relevant regulations. Transact's SOC 2 Type 2 examination covered Transact's cloud-hosted products related to the AICPA Trust Services Criteria for Security, Confidentiality and Availability; providing assurance that controls were designed and placed into operation over a period of time. The PCI DSS assessment covered the company's procedures for managing payment card information for its Payments and TS SaaS (News - Alert) products. Lastly, penetration testing evaluated the performance of the company's cybersecurity controls for those same products in a real-world scenario. "These achievements reflect Transact's commitment to data security, while giving them a competitive edge in their industry," said Danielle Kucera, Co-Founder and Quality Director, 360 Advanced, Inc., the third-party auditor. "Our integrated engagement not only allows Transact's clients insight as to how Transact safeguads customer data, but also provides critical feedback regarding the operational effectiveness of controls."



"It is a point of pride that our technologies are compliant with all relevant regulations and that we go above and beyond industry requirements for data security," said Brian Austin, Chief Technology Officer, Transact. "Our compliance and information security efforts include regular daily, weekly and annual testing to identify and address weaknesses and validate corrections." "We highly value the feedback we get from our auditors at 360 Advanced," continued Austin. "Their strong technology backgrounds and focus on service providers help us raise the bar for our data security, confidentiality and availability practices."

In addition, the company recently received its annual Attestation of Compliance (AoC) for the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS). The AoC, which was also completed by third-party assessor 360 Advanced, documented that Transact has upheld security best practices to protect cardholder data. The company has maintained full compliance with the PCI program since its creation in 2006. Transact is also certified as a Level 1 Service Provider under both VISA Cardholder Information Security Program (CISP) and MasterCard (News - Alert) Site Data Protection (SDP). Further, Transact successfully completed its Nacha ACH Rules Compliance Audit that confirmed compliance with NACHA rules for safeguarding customers' sensitive financial and non-financial data and ensuring ACH transactions are handled smoothly and securely. For more information, visit www.transactcampus.com and www.360advanced.com. *** About Transact Transact is the leader in innovative payment solutions for a connected campus. Its highly configurable, mobile-centric campus technology ecosystem simplifies the student experience across the full spectrum of student life. Transact's offerings include integrated solutions for tuition and other student expense payments, multi-purpose campus IDs, and campus commerce. With a long-standing reputation of serving the higher education community, Transact proudly assists millions of students each year with its innovative products and solutions. For more information, visit www.transactcampus.com. About 360 Advanced 360 Advanced is "Making Better Businesses" through their Cybersecurity and Compliance offerings. Services provided include SOC 1, SOC 2, SOC 3, SOC for Cybersecurity, SOC for Supply Chain, CSA STAR, HIPAA/HITECH, ISO 27001, PCI-DSS, HITRUST CSF, Microsoft (News - Alert) SSPA Attestation, Penetration Testing, GDPR, CCPA, CMMC and more. In certain states, 360 Advanced may operate under the name of Hiestand, Brand, Loughran, P.A. to meet State Board requirements for CPA firms. To learn more about 360 Advanced, visit www.360advanced.com. For more information on compliance solutions, contact Jim Brennan at jbrennan@360advanced.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210211005564/en/

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With more snow predicted for New Jersey in the coming days, you may be breaking out your shovel yet again.

In New Jersey, every municipality has different shoveling rules, such as how quickly sidewalks must be cleared and how wide the paths must be.

Heres what you need to know for the next winter storm.

Are there fines for not shoveling my sidewalk?

Many municipalities have fines for not clearing walkways within a certain period of time after snowfall has stopped. Each town has different penalties.

In Summit, for instance, fines are $50 for property owners that do not shovel within 24 hours after snowfall and a $75 fine if someone pushes snow into the road, said city spokeswoman Amy Cairns. There is a 15% surcharge if the city needs to clear the property.

Morristowns rules are a little more complicated. If someone doesnt shovel the sidewalk in front of their property, the public works department will come by and do it. The cost of the removal work as nearly as can be ascertained is sent to the citys Tax Assessor, a lien is placed on the property and collected as taxes, according to the local ordinance.

How quickly do I need to clear my sidewalks?

Again, each town has different rules.

In Jersey City, business owners must remove snow from their property within eight hours after snowfall, or eight hours after sunrise if the snow fell overnight, according to the citys website. Residents must do so within four hours after snowfall ends, or four hours after sunrise.

Other towns are more relaxed.

The small borough of Haledon in Passaic County requires residents to remove snow 24 hours after a storm ends, and mandates that fire hydrants be cleared of snow too.

How wide do I need to make the path?

Each town has its own rules.

Summit, for instance, requires residents to clear the sidewalk by a width of at least two feet on single family or two family residential lots, and a width of at least four feet on all other lots, Cairns said.

Woodbridge requires property owners to shovel at least a 3-foot wide path, according to the township ordinance.

Do towns actually enforce these ordinances?

Its rare for towns to enforce such ordinances, says personal injury lawyer Gerald Clark, of the Belmar-based Clark Law Firm.

Weve been doing this a long time (and) Ive never heard of a town coming in and fining someone for failing to clear ice and snow, Clark said.

Warnings are more typical.

Woodbridge spokesman John Hagerty said the township believes a reminder is enough to address snow removal issues. He did not know if any summons were issued so far this year.

We dont want to unduly punish property owners. However, we will utilize the summons enforcement if the reminder warning goes unattended and snow is not removed from the sidewalk or public area, he said in an email.

Over the past two storms, several Summit residents and businesses received warnings to remove snow, but no summons were issued, Cairns said.

We give people a notice first, and then consider a summons if there is a continued lack of compliance, she said.

Can I report someone for not shoveling?

Typically, police or public works offices dish out snow removal tickets, but enforcement varies by town.

Summit officials have a website to report neighbors who arent compliant, found here. Someone without Internet access could call the police non-emergency number.

Can I be sued for not shoveling my sidewalk?

In short, no.

If someone slips and falls on a residential sidewalk, any lawsuit filed against the homeowner would likely be considered frivolous and thrown out by a judge, Clark said.

However, under New Jersey case law, commercial businesses can be sued if a person is seriously injured from falling on a sidewalk that wasnt shoveled, he said. Any settlement is typically paid through the business insurance policy, he said.

It should only be if youre seriously hurt, he said.

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

Avalon Zoppo may be reached at azoppo2@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @AvalonZoppo.
The family of tragic teen Noah Donohoe believe a member of the public has a photograph which may be key to shedding light on what happened to the St Malachy's pupil on the day of his disappearance.

Niamh Donohoe, Noah's aunt, has released a statement on social media asking for the person who she believes is in possession of the photograph, believed to show a person who the family alleges may have assaulted the 14-year-old prior to his death, to contact either the police, her familys legal representatives, or her family directly.

In the statement, Niamh directly appeals to the person who her family believes may be in possession of the photograph on a mobile phone to "make contact" and bring the phone to Noahs mother's legal team.

She also says her family are aware of the identity of the person who allegedly has the photo on their mobile phone.

She explained: The handset that contains the [photo] is as important as the picture to corroborate the time and date it was taken. You are aware of who you are as are we. You are the person that could change the direction of this investigation.

We will continue to appeal to your conscience and moral duty every day if need be. You're not in any bother, no one needs to know your identity.

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Niamh added that if the person did not want to contact police or the law firm that they can contact Noahs mother or herself directly.

Please understand the info you have as vital to us getting answers or not.

Also to any business owners and householders along the length of Royal Avenue and further along the route that Noah took Please contact us regarding CCTV or phone images that you may have. We are not just looking for images of Noah, we are looking for images of other individuals too. CCTV can be retrieved after it has been overwritten We are happy to meet with anyone that has any info or CCTV that may help. You will not be wasting our time. If the PSNI wont do it we will.

Please, please do the right thing.

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The legal representatives of Fiona Donohoe have also said that they have received information Noah may have been assaulted before his disappearance as he made his way through Belfast city centre.

It is understood some of that information alleges that a person attacked Noah.

Expand Close Fiona Donohoe (R) next to her sister Niamh (L) were overwhelmed at the public support as they continue their search for justice for Noah / Facebook

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Whatsapp Fiona Donohoe (R) next to her sister Niamh (L) were overwhelmed at the public support as they continue their search for justice for Noah

Noah's family believe someone has a photo of that person on their phone, but not of the attack itself, and that the photo could be key in finding out more about the teenager's movements on June 21 before he entered a storm drain in the Northwood Road area of north Belfast.

Noah's body was found almost a week later on June 27 and the cause of death determined was drowning.

The family's legal team also released a statement in regards to their belief that a photograph does exist, saying: It is believed that a member of the public has photographic evidence showing Noahs alleged attacker.

We appeal to the person who has the photograph on the phone to bring the phone the police.

The phone is the key evidential exhibit, more so than the photo.

The PSNI also confirmed that they have launched a separate investigation into access to the storm drain network which is owned by the Department for Infrastructure.
A delegate casts her vote in the electoral process to choose members of parliament into Somalia's House of the People in Mogadishu, Somalia, on 6 December 2016.

Somalia's President Mohamed Farmaajo has scheduled another meeting with federal state leaders in the latest attempt to resolve an impasse that saw the country miss key election deadlines.

But his call to host a meeting in Garowe, the capital of the semi-autonomous Puntland state, was quickly met with accusations of ambush by the hosts, threatening to derail the actual meeting due on February 15.

A statement issued by Villa Somalia, Farmaajo's official residence in Mogadishu, said he was calling for the meeting to discuss pending issues.

"HE Mohamed Abdullahi Farmaajo President of the Federal Republic of Somalia shall, on Monday 15th Feb 2021, host a Federal and State Level Summit on the implementation of the 17 Sep Elections Agreement," Villa Somalia said on Tuesday night.

"The leadership convention will be held in Garowe, Puntland State of Somalia."

The call for a meeting appeared to heed the counsel of the international community who had suggested that only dialogue between the stakeholders will resolve the stalemate that has seen the country unable to hold elections before Farmaajo's presumptive term expired on Monday.

The UN Security Council, gathering virtually for an emergency meeting on Tuesday night, said Somalia's leaders should "work together in the interests of the people of Somalia to reach consensus on the arrangements for the conduct of inclusive elections, with a view of holding them as soon as possible."

A similar call had been made earlier by the African Union Peace and Security Council which said Somalia's trajectory from years of war depends on an agreeable election timetable.

But Puntland President Said Abdullahi Deni said that while he welcomed another meeting, the choice of the venue was an ambush.

"The mandate of the FGS [Federal Government of Somalia] ended on 8th Feb; therefore, the Government of Puntland suggests that the consultative meeting should be held in Mogadishu with participation of FMS [Federal Member States], political stakeholders and international partners," Deni said on Tuesday night.

Villa Somalia did not immediately clarify on how Garowe was chosen, but Puntland and Jubbaland are the two states that have mostly opposed certain clauses of an election agreement known as the Dhusamareb III Agreement.

The bone of contention is the implementation of an agreement signed on September 17, 2020 following a series of talks in Dhusamareb, the capital of Galmudug state.

If the meeting goes on in Garowe without the participation of Puntland officials, Farmaajo would have scored key points against Deni in the eyes of the international community, argued Dr Abdiwahab Sheikh Abdisamad, a Kenyan analyst of the Horn of Africa politics.

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"He is making Deni look guilty so that if he sabotages the meeting, he will be a spoiler in the eyes of the international community," Abdisamad told The EastAfrican on Wednesday.

The squabble is about who should be in the electoral commission to conduct the polls with some opposition groups saying the established team is composed of the President's cronies.

Jubbaland and the Federal government have also bickered on troop deployment to Gedo while the stakeholders have also not agreed on election dates and exact venues.

Yet this may also be a signal on the strength of federal states against Farmaajo's government.

Of the five federal states, Hirshabelle, Galmudug and South West have routinely formed a coalition of the willing backing Farmaajo's decisions. They are also led by Presidents elected under Farmaajo's tenure but whose polls were seen as unfair and are seen as weaker than the FGS. Jubbaland and Puntland, the older and stronger states, have, on the other hand, often pulled in the opposite direction.

On Saturday, Jubbaland President Ahmed Madobe accused Farmaajo of "lacking a single factor of normalcy", saying Villa Somalia had changed position on issues concerning Gedo that the two sides had earlier agreed on.


There is a lot of information to parse through these days, particularly when it comes to COVID-19.

Enter the Houston Chronicles COVID-19 Help Desk. Each week, a Chronicle reporter will take readers questions about how the virus works and what to expect with the vaccine.

Ive been vaccinated. Is it safe to visit friends or family who have not been vaccinated?

Everything is a risk-benefit decision, said Dr. Prathit Kulkarni, assistant professor of medicine in infectious diseases at Baylor College of Medicine.

But he recommends erring on the side of caution. While the two major vaccines being distributed in the United States have shown high rates of efficacy against the virus, public health experts say that social distancing, mask wearing and other precautions should remain in order.

One big reason: There are many unknowns about how the virus spreads, particularly when it comes to asymptomatic carriers. Kulkarni said that research is ongoing into the spread of the virus between those who do and dont show symptoms. And vaccines have only shown to prevent transmission one-way, meaning anyone who hasnt been vaccinated could still become infected. Kulkarni said roughly a quarter of all people carrying the virus are asymptomatic.

How effective are current vaccines to new strains of the virus?

At least three new strains of the virus have been detected, including those that have been traced back to South Africa, Brazil and England. And already, two of the three have appeared in the Houston area.

Already, local researchers have found evidence that the Pfizer vaccine is effective in battling the South African an UK variant. On Tuesday, researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch and the pharmaceutical company Pfizer/BioNTech published a study in the medical journal Nature Medicine showing that the vaccine can neutralize those two SARS-CoV-2 strain mutations.

And health experts say the new variants shouldnt change your vaccination plans.

We dont need to overreact, said Robert Bollinger But, as with any virus, changes are something to be watched, to ensure that testing, treatment and vaccines are still effective. The scientists will continue to examine new versions of this coronaviruss genetic sequencing as it evolves.

Bollinger, a medical doctor at John Hopkins University, continued: These variants seem to spread more easily and quickly than other variants, which may lead to more cases of COVID-19. An increase in the number of cases will put more strain on health care resources, lead to more hospitalizations, and potentially more deaths.

I didnt have a reaction to my vaccine. Does that mean I have antibodies?

Kulkarni, the Baylor disease expert, said it is difficult to make any correlation between someones reaction to the vaccine and potential antibodies.

Since the rollout of the two major vaccines, a handful of people have reported side effects ranging from a sore arm to allergic reactions. But those are rare. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported only 11 cases of anaphylaxis in response to the COVID-19 vaccine among 1 million vaccinations.

Common side effects for the shot include pain and swelling on your arm near the injection site, as well as fever, chills, fatigue and headache, according to the CDC. But dont stress about that too much.

COVID-19 vaccination will help protect you from getting COVID-19. You may have some side effects, which are normal signs that your body is building protection, the CDC reports.

These side effects may affect your ability to do daily activities, but they should go away in a few days.

I'm 60 and have type 1 diabetes. Depending upon where I look, it appears that I may or may not be eligible now for vaccine. What's the answer?

Not yet. The first phase of the states vaccination plan includes those who have Type 2 Diabetes, but not Type 1. Among the preexisting covered under the current phase are cancer, kidney disease, chronic pulmonary disease and heart conditions such as coronary artery disease.

Have questions for the Health Desk? Ask us here.

Robert.Downen@chron.com
The first CMEs rooftop solar energy project in Tan Son Nhat airport

CME has inaugurated the first phase of rooftop solar power project at Tan Son Nhat International Airports cargo terminal. What benefits does the renewable energy bring to such urban projects?

This is the first renewable energy project to be installed at an airport in Vietnam that has been fully licensed regarding the design, review, and installation by Ho Chi Minh City Department of Fire Fighting and Prevention.

The project meets the rigorous accreditation requirements of AFRY in Sweden, one of the worlds leading energy consultancy firms. This project has brought the image of a dynamic and modern international airport which is using clean energy in order to protect the environment. The project will provide 1.5 million kWh of electricity annually, meeting 40 per cent of Saigon Cargo Service Corporation (SCSC)s electricity needs and saving about 15 per cent of energy costs. In addition, the operation of a solar rooftop system is expected to help SCSC save over $65,000 a year in costs and about $1.4 million over 25 years of use while also generating significant savings on operating costs.

Solar energy is a development trend worldwide, and especially in the south of Vietnam. The advantages of this system are exploiting the natural radiation and available industrial roof area to generate clean energy. This energy becomes more necessary than ever to improve the quality of life, develop a sustainable economy, and create great recognition from the environmentally-conscious for business branding.

What obstacles have you faced to when constructing renewable energy projects in big cities?

In cosmopolitan cities, the density of people and production activities are always in high frequency and continuous. In addition, construction ground is often limited which leads to requiring highly technical, safety requirements. Lack of one of those things could have a huge impact on the daily operations of the business.

Therefore, technical criteria for design and construction of the operation, maintenance, and supervision systems include detection of potential failures that may affect system operation while electrical and fire safety are both reviewed and implemented with the highest quality to ensure quick construction progress which does not affect the normal operation of factories.

For the project in air cargo terminal at Tan Son Nhat as well as others invested by CME, we always have careful preparation for our execution  from the selection of equipment from top tier qualified suppliers, engineers, and reputed constructors, ensuring security and safety for a project in the inner city, especially in the airport.

CME also works closely with the facility owners in each step of implementation to meet progress with the highest quality. In fact, the solar rooftop system project at SCSC was inaugurated and put into use after 10 weeks of construction with excellent performance and no impact on the operation of the facility during the construction process.

So after Tan Son Nhat international Airport, where will CMEs next investment lead to?

CME has cooperated with many corporate customers, including foreign-invested enterprises (FIEs) and domestic enterprises in many fields (footwear manufacturing, garment, logistics, pharmaceuticals, iron and steel, among others). CMEs projects are located in many provinces across Vietnam and have a common vision to enhance sustainable development and increase efficiency.

In the coming time, we would like to expand our business through direct connection and introduction of this investment model to potential partners and customers, especially factory owners in industrial zones, FIEs, large domestic enterprises, and those with sustainable development orientation, increasing efficiency.

CME would like to accompany and implement all necessary solutions to help customers consume as much green energy as possible with lower electricity costs - a real win-win for both customers and the environment.
Lucasfilm, a unit of Walt Disney, said it has no plans to work in the future with Gina Carano, The Mandalorian star who posted comments on social media that many criticised as anti-Semitic.

Gina Carano is not currently employed by Lucasfilm and there are no plans for her to be in the future, the company said in a February 10 statement. Nevertheless, her social media posts denigrating people based on their cultural and religious identities are abhorrent and unacceptable.

Gina Carano has been dropped from The Mandalorian cast after her social media post likened the experience of Jews during the Holocaust to the US political climate. Credit:AP

One image she posted on Instagram, since deleted, included that of a half-naked woman being chased down the street during the Holocaust, according to entertainment website Deadline.

Jews were beaten in the streets, not by Nazi soldiers but by their neighbours  even by children, Carano wrote. Because history is edited, most people today dont realise that to get to the point where Nazi soldiers could easily round up thousands of Jews, the government first made their own neighbours hate them simply for being Jews. How is that any different from hating someone for their political views.

BETHESDA, Md., Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The third annual Medical Genetics Awareness Week will be celebrated April 1316, 2021. Through Medical Genetics Awareness Week, the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) aims to promote awareness of the importance of medical genetics professionals on the healthcare team, including medical geneticists, laboratory geneticists, genetic counselors, nurses and physician assistants. The theme of Medical Genetics Awareness Week is "Celebrating the Contributions of the Entire Medical Genetics Team to Patient Care and Public Health."

New for 2021 are high-quality face masks and a Zoom virtual background to help individuals "Share Your Medical Genetics Pride." Participants can share their pictures to social media wearing a Medical Genetics Awareness Week face mask (free for ACMG members) or a Medical Genetics Awareness Week hashtag button; using a new Medical Genetics Awareness Week Zoom virtual background; or displaying a Medical Genetics Awareness Week sticker.

Since 2019, Medical Genetics Awareness Week has brought together people from across the globe to celebrate the important work of medical genetics professionals. Medical Genetics Awareness Week is celebrated to recognize the critical contributions that medical genetics healthcare professionals make in the diagnosis, management and prevention of genetic diseases, and the difference these professionals make in the lives of patients and families. Medical Genetics Awareness Week is also intended to educate other healthcare professionals and students and trainees on who medical geneticists are, how they are trained and what they do in the clinic and laboratory.

Also new for 2021 are themed days that will include a Diversity Day and a Student and Trainee Day. Follow Medical Genetics Awareness Week on social media by searching the #MedicalGeneticsAwareness hashtagand sign up to receive news and updates about Medical Genetics Awareness Week by clicking here. Log in (or create a free ACMG account) and, on the privacy preferences page, opt in to receive news and updates about Medical Genetics Awareness Week.

"Medical genetics and genomics is now deeply wedged into nearly all disciplines of medicine," said ACMG President Anthony R. Gregg, MD, MBA, FACOG, FACMG. "It is a natural extension that we remind the public and all healthcare professionals that those of us who practice medical genetics in clinics, clinical laboratories and research environments work tirelessly and with great enthusiasm. Our singular common goal is to bring accurate genetic information to the bedside that will improve people's lives."



Events related to Medical Genetics Awareness Week will be held during the ACMG Annual Clinical Genetics Meeting  A Virtual Experience, April 1316, 2021, but participants don't need to be a meeting registrant to participate in the week's activities. The ACMG Annual Meeting is the largest conference specifically for clinical and laboratory geneticists in the United States. Those interested in collaborating with ACMG to celebrate Medical Genetics Awareness Week, holding their own events or becoming an "ambassador" for medical genetics are invited to email ACMG Communications Coordinator Reymar Santos at [email protected] for more information.



"Medical genetics is for all of us," said Max Muenke, MD, FACMG, ACMG's chief executive officer. "I am delighted to celebrate my colleagues in this important field: genetic counselors, laboratory geneticists, medical geneticists, and other allied healthcare professionals who are committed to optimal patient care."

Visit the Medical Genetics Awareness Week web pages on ACMG's website for resources and tips designed to support the week's celebrationsand to join the Medical Genetics Awareness Week email list. When posting on social media, participants are encouraged to tag @TheACMG and include the following hashtags in posts related to Medical Genetics Awareness Week:

#MedicalGeneticsAwareness

#IamaMedicalGeneticist

#FutureGeneticsProfessional

#IamaLabGeneticist

#IamaGeneticCounselor

#IamaGeneticsPA

#IamaNurseinGenetics

#IamaGeneticsNP

About the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) and ACMG Foundation

Founded in 1991, the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG) is the only nationally recognized medical society dedicated to improving health through the clinical practice of medical genetics and genomics and the only medical specialty society in the US that represents the full spectrum of medical genetics disciplines in a single organization. The ACMG is the largest membership organization specifically for medical geneticists, providing education, resources and a voice for more than 2,400 clinical and laboratory geneticists, genetic counselors and other healthcare professionals, nearly 80% of whom are board certified in the medical genetics specialties. ACMG's mission is to improve health through the clinical and laboratory practice of medical genetics as well as through advocacy, education and clinical research, and to guide the safe and effective integration of genetics and genomics into all of medicine and healthcare, resulting in improved personal and public health. Four overarching strategies guide ACMG's work: 1) to reinforce and expand ACMG's position as the leader and prominent authority in the field of medical genetics and genomics, including clinical research, while educating the medical community on the significant role that genetics and genomics will continue to play in understanding, preventing, treating and curing disease; 2) to secure and expand the professional workforce for medical genetics and genomics; 3) to advocate for the specialty; and 4) to provide best-in-class education to members and nonmembers. Genetics in Medicine, published monthly, is the official ACMG journal. ACMG's website (www.acmg.net) offers resources including policy statements, practice guidelines, educational programs and a 'Find a Genetic Service' tool. The educational and public health programs of the ACMG are dependent upon charitable gifts from corporations, foundations and individuals through the ACMG Foundation for Genetic and Genomic Medicine.

Kathy Moran, MBA

[email protected]

SOURCE American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics

Related Links

www.acmg.net


Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe has asked Kenyans to forfeit flowers for a special gift this Valentines.

Speaking during a blood donation campaign drive, the CS urged Kenyans to donate blood saying a blood donation certificate is better than flowers.

If there is a gift that would be a fantastic gift to give to Kenyans on Valentines day; it would be blood, Kagwe said.

He said if is someone offered flowers on Valentines, the recipient should also ask for a blood donation certificate.

If asked to choose between flowers or receiving a blood donation certificate, forfeit the flowers., he advised.

Kagwe noted that 98 percent of Kenyans can donate blood comfortably and operate normally adding that doctors recommend regularly donating blood.

At the same time, the CS lauded the leadership of the National Blood Service parastatal led by Dr. Nduku. Kagwe said he has noted the significant improvements the parastatal has made after Dr. Nduku took over.

Some of the challenges the parastatal was facing would be comical if not so tragic because we hear Kenyan blood banks have been servicing places like Mogadishu because the previous management overlooked loopholes tainting our image, he said.

According to CS Kagwe, blood donation is a vital part of the Universal Health Care. He said the ministry had recommended several measures to boost Kenyas blood bank including predicating transparency and efficiency in ICT to track blood from the donor to the recipient and introduction of blood policy as a bill in Parliament.

The CS said the ministry will also start training and staffing personnel and move National blood services from a parastatal in the Ministry of Health to an independent institution.

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Editor's note: Marcie Bianco is a writer and editor living in California. She is currently writing a book on freedom, equality and feminism. The views expressed here are those of the author. Read more opinion on CNN.

(CNN)  A unique confluence of events this past weekend put a laser focus on how so many men have capitalized, for their own career success, on both society's pleasure in consuming accounts of women's suffering and our propensity for denigrating "nasty women."

On Friday, the documentary "Framing Britney Spears," produced by the New York Times about the pop star's controversial life, premiered on FX and Hulu exposing in new ways and for new audiences the extent to which Spears' health and career suffered as she was hounded by the media and battled with her father, with whom she has been in a multi-year legal battle for control of her life.

Spears' father, Jamie, has been her conservator for 13 years, exercising authority over her financial decisions and affairs (an arrangement she petitioned to change in August). The documentary takes viewers through that, as well as back to Spears' childhood and rise to fame, emphasizing how as a celebrity she was hyper-sexualized and subjected to questions about her body, her virginity and other topics that male pop stars of the era rarely faced. She is shown being relentlessly pursued by paparazzi and being shamed in the media as a bad mother to her then-infant son.

Many celebrities and other viewers reacted strongly to seeing Spears' pain on screen, expressing support and tweeting with the hashtag #FreeBritney. At the same time, in advance of Super Bowl LV on Sunday, many people were tweeting about #JanetJacksonAppreciationDay (as Jackson fans have done often since the 2004 "wardrobe malfunction," to try to reclaim Super Bowl celebrations in her name).

What do these developments share in common? Among other things: an expression of society's attitude toward the bodies and lives of famous womenA unique confluence of events this past weekend put a laser focus on how so many men have capitalized, for their own career success, on both society's pleasure in consuming accounts of women's suffering and our propensity for denigrating "nasty women."and Justin Timberlake, whose relationship with both women exemplifies (whatever his own intention) how men benefit from a cultural acceptance of misogyny.

Timberlake and Spears had been a legendary star couple. They performed together on The Mickey Mouse Club as children and dated for four years before splitting in 2002, just as Timberlake was launching what would become his blockbuster solo career and two years before he, while performing with Janet Jackson at Super Bowl XXXVIII, botched a "costume reveal" and briefly exposed Jackson's breast on live television. Both Timberlake and Jackson apologized afterward, but Jackson suffered severe consequences to her career, including being blacklisted by Viacom, while Timberlake's thrived. Most notably, in the immediate aftermath, Timberlake was invited to attend the 2004 Grammy Awards while Jackson was not.

Driven largely by discussion of the Spears documentary and Janet Jackson Appreciation Day, social media lit up with conversations about Timberlake's relationship with Spears and public humiliation (even if inadvertent) of, her idol, Janet Jackson, as platforms for his career. The layering effect of these conversations effectively reframed Timberlake's launch and establishment of his solo music career. The documentary specifically highlighted how Timberlake appeared to control the media narrative about his breakup with Spears, complete with claims that she cheated on him and broke his heart -- expressed in his debut solo album, "Justified." According to a recent Buzzfeed report, Timberlake is receiving a high volume of criticism on Instagram, along with demands he apologize to Spears. Timberlake did not respond to Buzzfeed's requests for comment.

What the documentary suggested to me is the very real possibility that Timberlake's solo career was laid on the societal shaming of Britney Spears. Examine the sequenced releasing of songs and his media promotion of the 2002 album, which centered on the couple's breakup. "Like I Love You," a modest success that musically situated Timberlake as a Michael Jackson wannabe, set the ex-boy bander up in popular culture as a devoted Romeo. In the next act, the second single "Cry Me a River" presented Timberlake as a heartbroken victim of a deceitful, cheating woman -- in the video, this woman is portrayed as a Britney doppelganger.

The actress who played this part, Lauren Hastings, was a Spears lookalike. Spears herself alluded to this in a 2011 interview with Rolling Stone, in which she revealed that Timberlake called her to tell her "by the way, you're in a video that's coming out." After seeing the video, Britney added, "I should've freakin' said no to this s**t!"

In perhaps the least subtle turn of these events, during a 2002 interview with Barbara Walters about his life, Walters asked Timberlake "what went wrong" in his relationship with Spears to prompt their (then-recent) breakup. Timberlake recalled telling Spears that he would always love her and promising that he would never say "specifically" why they broke up. When Walters pursued the question, alluding to the possibility that Spears had been unfaithful, Timberlake said "We're not perfect, I don't judge anybody." The interview then cuts to Timberlake performing an unreleased song (notable since the interview was promoting his recently-released solo debut album) called "Don't Go (Horrible Woman)." Along with a statement of the woman's relative worthlessness, the lyrics included the words: "Hey girl / At least you gave me another song about a horrible woman / And that's you, but it's true." The move was widely interpreted as a reference to Spears.

The chiastic effect -- Britney's downfall, Justin's ascent -- was replicated a few years later, this time, with Spears's idol, Janet Jackson as Timberlake's foil. While Jackson was publicly vilified after their joint Super Bowl performance, Timberlake's initial response seemed to border on gleeful: "We love giving you all something to talk about," he told "Access Hollywood" the night of the Super Bowl performance. Three years later, in 2007, he acknowledged to MTV that he "could've handled it better," adding that he considered himself a member of a community of artists, and "if there was something I could have done in her defense that was more, that I could have realized, then I would have." He also said: "If you consider it 50-50, I probably got 10% of the blame, and that says something about society...I think that America's harsher on women. And I think that America's unfairly harsh on ethnic people."

"That says something about society." Here is, in my reading, Timberlake's unintentional reveal: He knows how society treats women, that society, to quote Jude Ellison S. Doyle, loves a female celebrity "trainwreck." He knows the compounding effect that the media has through the relentless negative portrayals, stereotyping, and shaming of women. And, yet, despite this awareness, the extent of any semblance of accountability only goes as far as him recognizing that misogyny exists in society -- intensified through the media -- to systematically penalize and silence women.

While not ultimately responsible for Spears' fate, Timberlake encouraged and profited from a broader culture that celebrates and derives pleasure and profit from women's suffering. And this is what the documentary makes astoundingly clear.

"There was too much money to be made off her suffering," New York Times critic-at-large Wesley Morris observes in the documentary about how an entire industry was built on this kind of exploitation. Or, as gossip blogger Perez Hilton quips, "Thank you, Britney Spears -- being bad is good for my business."

Denying accountability is a quintessential strategy to maintain dominance in society. "The oppressors maintain their position and evade their responsibility for their own actions," Audre Lorde wrote in an essay published in "Sister Outsider." Men keep their power through this denial, which grants them limitless currency to continue to do as they please.

This denial, arguably, is the bastion of American "freedom"  a deliberate bastardization of the concept to mean the right of a person to do anything they want.

From Timberlake to former President Donald Trump and beyond, men's ability to dismiss or impugn women for profit depends on their ability to benefit from or weaponize misogyny and then deny it is what they are doing. The cultural conversations about misogyny have changed over the past two decades, in large part thanks to the #MeToo movement. Yet, despite this paradigm shift, what remains unchanged is society's failure to adopt the language and tools of accountability.

If the societal change necessary for dignity and justice is to occur, we must move from awareness to accountability. To be clear, accountability is not about being "canceled," as those angry that they are finally being held to account for their actions often claim. Awareness of how one's actions have affected other people is the first step of accountability.

Because accountability takes time and includes consequences, it is not as easily palatable as the effortless, rhetorical "sorry if...." Understanding the consequences of your actions and your power in situations can lead to discussions about, to quote the writer Sarah Schulman, your "duty to repair" the real harms created. Self-critical reflection means understanding your complicity in systems and discourses that perpetuate misogyny and working with others to change them. And, if his 2018 book "Hindsight"  in which, without mentioning Spears, he explains "Cry Me a River" by reiterating he was " scorned" and "pissed off" when he wrote it -- is any indication, it appears that Timberlake has done very little repair work in terms of the harm he's done. With the documentary's release and calls for his response and apology on social media, the opportunity has presented itself for Timberlake to fully take responsibility for his actions.

Without accountability, there no end in sight to the many forms of misogyny that continue to injure women. But, as evident in the documentary, Spears and women like her continue to find ways to speak up about the harms they experience. To listen to Spears speak repeatedly about her desire for freedom, to be, in her words, "liberated," indicates her own awareness of her situation: "When I tell them the way I feel, it's like, they hear me, but they're really not listening. They're hearing what they want to hear. They're not really listening to what I'm telling them."

It is amazing to think that someone who is able to differentiate between "hearing" and "listening" is considered by some unfit to control her own life. Even more, the question not only for Timberlake but for all of us who live in this society is: Will we now listen to her? Will we listen  really listen  to women?
The Civil Protection Unit (CPU) has started delivering aid to 130 families in Beitbridge whose houses were recently destroyed by heavy rains.

The CPU's focal person from the District Development Coordinator's (DDC) office, Mr Jahson Mugodzwa said yesterday that they had so far assisted 83 homes.

He said the rains had not only affected houses, but had also affected infrastructure such as major roads linking the town and the rural component of the district.

Mr Mugodzwa said aid was trickling in from various stakeholders and that in some cases, the families will be helped to rebuild their homes.

"We have conducted assessments in the affected areas with the assistance of the Disaster Rapid Response teams which are chaired at ward level by the local councillors," he said.

"Out of the 130 families who are affected by this disaster, we have managed to mobilise aid for 83 of them with the assistance of other players. Efforts are underway to reach out to everyone who was affected," he said.

The official said some of the people received non-food items including, mosquito nets, blankets, hygiene kits (for both men and women), soap, and jerry can.

Mr Mugodzwa said others were given US$250 to buy some material to rebuild their homes, while those in dire need were also assisted with food hampers. He said most of the affected houses were built from either mud and poles or mud and farm bricks. These, he said were constructed during drought in the last three years when there were very little rains.

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"As we continue to mobilise help, we want to also urge members of the community to build houses or structures that are adaptive to climate change to avoid the recurrence of such disasters," said Mr Mugodzwa.

He also appealed to the local business community and those in the construction sector to assist the affected families to rebuild new standard homes. In some instance, he said some people had moved into their relatives or neighbour's homes in the interim.

"This is putting a strain on the community and at the same time we have scaled up the drought relief program so that we augment food and nutrition to those families who are food insecure," said Mr Mugodzwa.

He said the worst affected areas were in Ward 2 (Dite, Tshabili), Ward 4 (Tongwe, Matshiloni), Ward 5 (Tshigomele, Makvhane, Lutumba), Ward 6 (Malala), Ward 7 (Masera), Ward 8 (Shashe), Ward 10 (Zezani) and Ward 15 (Shabwe). Meanwhile, World Vision Zimbabwe's area coordinator for Beitbridge, Mrs Pretty Dube said they had responded to the call by the CPU and that they will construct a two-roomed house for a family of 23 members in Malala, Ward 6.

Nagpur:

The Nagpur Rural Police on Sunday arrested Salim Shaha, a BJP worker who was allegedly beaten up by cow vigilantes earlier this week, under the Maharashtra Animal Preservation (Amendment) Act for possession of beef.

Shaha was beaten up by some people on July 12 on the suspicion that he was carrying beef. Police had said on Saturday that as per the forensic laboratory report, the meat which he was carrying that day was beef.

Superintendent of police (Nagpur Rural) Shailesh Balkawde told that Shaha was arrested last night, and produced before Narkhed magistrates court in the district which sent him in police custody for one day.

Police will ask for extension of his custody tomorrow, the SP said, adding that a case has been registered at Jalalkheda Police Station.

Shaha (34), a resident of Katol town in Nagpur district, was returning home on his motorcycle when a group of five or six men accosted him at a bus stop in the Bharsingi village on July 12. They allegedly assaulted him on the suspicion that he was carrying beef. Shahas family, however, said he may not have known what he was carrying.

Also Read: No heed paid to PM Modis advice, another man lynched to death in Jharkhand

The family was initially reluctant to talk about the forensic report, stating that it was already in trouble.But Salim may not have been aware of what he was carrying, a relative said.

The Nagpur (rural) unit president of the BJP, Rajiv Potdar, had said Shaha would be dismissed from the party. After Shaha was beaten up and taken to a hospital, four menAshwin Uike (35), Rameshwar Taywade (42), Moreshwar Tandurkar (36) and Jagdish Chaudhari (25)--were arrested and booked under charge of voluntarily causing grievous hurt.

Also Read | Junaid Khan lynching: Haryana Police arrests four including 50-year-old Delhi govt employee

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Google has expanded the censorship on its search engine, but done so quietly, although it did recently publish a list of censored categories on its support website. Many of these categories are euphemisms to suppress conservative content. The CEO of Google's parent company, Alphabet, testified under oath to Congress that Google does not do this but he clearly lied as Google's own support website now admits it.

No one who wants an honest search, and certainly no conservative should ever be using Google. There are other and more honest search engines out there like DuckDuckGo and Bing.

Then there is Wikipedia which has just announced a left wing tilted "Code of Conduct". That is not really surprising given that its co-founder recently blasted Wikipedia for having

become "badly biased to the left".
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 11, ARMENPRESS. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian sent congratulatory letters to Irans Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and President Hassan Rouhani on the 42nd anniversary of the Islamic Revolution.

The letter addressed to Hassan Rouhani reads:

I am sure that our friendly relations, which are based on centuries-old traditions, will continue developing and strengthening both at the political and economic sectors by overcoming all obstacles.

In the current complex situation of the region the relations between Armenia and Iran have become important more than ever, and their drastic development is the imperative of the day.

President Sarkissian wished his Iranian counterpart good health and all the best, and to the good people of Iran  peace and welfare.

The letter sent to the Supreme Leader of Iran says:

In the current complex situation in the world and in particular in our region Armenia and Iran should consistently develop the bilateral cooperation in different areas, and the success of which is the centuries-old friendship between our countries.

The Armenian President expressed confidence that the deepening of the political dialogue will contribute to peace and stability in the region.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
Troopers seized 293 pounds of marijuana following a vehicle pursuit reported in El Cenizo, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.

At about 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, a trooper attempted to pull over a 2005 Ford pickup traveling south on mile marker 724 of U.S. 83. DPS said the vehicle refused to stop, and a chase ensued.
Sofia Richie appeared to be making the most of the sunny California weather on Thursday afternoon.

The 22-year-old model wore a pair of very short shorts when she was spotted leaving a West Hollywood gym with a female friend.

The daughter of American Idol judge Lionel Richie added a zip-up sweatshirt and a pair of UGG boots.

Hot stuff! Sofia Richie placed her jaw-dropping legs while leaving a West Hollywood gym with a friend on Thursday afternoon

Richie was dressed in a half-zip sweater featuring faded black lettering across its front.

She kept a white hair clip attached to the bottom portion of her outerwear.

The fashion designer kept a black crossbody bag clipped across her front to ensure that her belongings were within reach during her workout.

The model notably wore a pair of black short shorts that allowed her to place her impressively toned legs on full display as she ventured out into public.

Workout attire: The model wore a half-zip sweater and a pair of black short shorts during her time at the fitness center

Richie kept her feet comfortable in a pair of black socks and light blue UGG-style boots.

Her gorgeous blonde hair cascaded down onto her shoulders and perfectly contrasted with her outfit.

The social media personality wore a pair of wide-rimmed reflective sunglasses and a grey facial covering while stepping outside.

Taking precautions: The social media personality wore a gray facial covering to keep herself protected against any potential exposure to COVID-19 during her time in public

Richie has made a point of showing off her gorgeous legs in several of her promotional photo shoots.

Last week, she posted a photo to her Instagram account showing her relaxing at the bottom of a staircase with her cute pup Hershula.

Her jaw-dropping lower body was on full display as she modeled a few articles of clothing from Victoria's Secret's Valentine's Day collection.

Leggy display: Last week, the model posted a sultry snap to her Instagram to promote Victoria's Secret's Valentine's Day collection

Earlier this year, she also posted a leggy snap to her Instagram account to promote the women's clothing brand PrettyLittleThing.

In the photo, the model wore an oversized trench coat and stuck out her lower limbs to contrast her beautifully tanned skin with the shade of her clothing choice.

Richie also uses her Instagram to give her 6.5million followers a look at her body in more informal settings.

Late last year, she shared a snap of herself relaxing against a picturesque cliffside setting.

Her simple caption for the post read, 'My element.'

Working it: Richie often utilized her beautifully tanned body to contrast with the clothing that she is given for photoshoots
By Bay City News

The family of a Nebraska college student who died by suicide as a result of his allegedly mistaken belief that he had incurred a massive financial loss trading in stock options has brought a lawsuit in Santa Clara County Superior Court against the securities trading platform Robinhood.

The suit claims that Robinhood Markets Inc. and its affiliates are responsible for the 20-year old's death because, among other things, they targeted young investors and allowed them to trade in financial products without ensuring that they understood the risks.

In an unusually dramatic complaint filed Monday, the plaintiffs recounted the life story of Alex Kearns, who "was shy as a little boy but outgoing and active in high school."

Replete with anecdotes that paint Kearns as a fun-loving but earnest boy growing up in Napierville, Illinois, the complaint describes him as a "true goofball with a terrific sense of humor" who was loved by his classmates and community.

In one anecdote, the complaint describes Kearns attending an awards ceremony as a high school senior. He did not win an award, but because "Alex was too deserving to go home without one, Alex's fellow students and teachers surprised him by calling him to stage, while everyone in the room gave a standing ovation. Cheering and shouting filled the bleachers and room by all, showing their love for Alex."

Kearns won a scholarship to University of Nebraska-Lincoln where he enrolled in the R.O.T.C. program.

According to the complaint, Kearns opened a Robinhood stock trading account while still a high school student. "Within only a few months, despite being only eighteen years old and having little or no income, Robinhood approved Alex for trading in options."

Many of the complaint's allegations about Kearns' option trading are stated to be on "information and belief." Information and belief is the legal phrase used in a complaint to indicate that while the plaintiff does not have first-hand knowledge, he or she believes the allegation to be true.

According to those allegations, Kearns initiated a "spread trade" in which he simultaneously sold and purchased options for the same stock at different prices. According to the complaint, Kearns believed that by doing a spread trade, his maximum loss in the worst case would be less than $10,000. While that would be a lot for him -- the total "cash he had in the world" was $30,000, according to the complaint -- nevertheless he would have been able to absorb it.

On June 11, 2020, the complaint alleges, the holder of the options that Kearns had sold exercised the options, "thus obligating Alex to purchase the underlying [stock.]"

Just before midnight on that date, Kearns received an email from Robinhood that showed his cash account to have a negative balance of $730,000.

Four hours later -- at 3:26AM -- Robinhood sent notice that Kearns had to deposit $178,000 to his account.

Kearns tried to contact Robinhood several times that night and again in the morning of June 12, but allegedly he could not reach a live person and only received auto-generated replies.

The complaint alleges that Kearns, swept up in desperation and panic, rode his bike to a railroad crossing "and ran in front of an oncoming train, killing himself."

He left a note that stated "If you're reading this, I am dead. How was a 20 year old with no income able to get assigned almost a million dollars' worth of leverage? ... You could fill an ocean with the amount of tears I've shed typing this. Please, please take care of yourselves. The amount of my guilt I feel as I commit to this is unbearable - I did not want to die."

In tragic irony, according to the complaint, it turns out that Kearns killed himself over a misunderstanding.

The communications from Robinhood only covered one part of the spread trade.

"In reality," the complaint states, "Alex did not owe any money; he held options in his account that more than covered his obligation, and the massive negative balance would have been erased by the exercise and settlement of the puts he held."

In recent weeks, Robinhood has attracted a tsunami of attention after a large group of retail traders -- self-organized on Reddit and trading on the Robinhood platform -- began to bid up the price of retail video game seller GameStop that had been heavily shorted by hedge funds betting the company's share price would fall.

The situation turned into one of the big stories of the new year as an army of small buyers drove GameStop's price to record highs, in the process squeezing the hedge fund traders and forcing them to cover billions of dollars of short positions, generating massive trading losses.

The complaint argues that Robinhood is responsible for Kearns' death by allowing him to trade in financial products that he was too young and unsophisticated to understand. According to the complaint, Robinhood targets young investors and does not rigorously evaluate whether the investments they are approved to make are appropriate for them.

One section of the complaint goes through medical literature to argue that young adults -- those in the 18- to 25-year-old cohort -- do not have a fully developed "pre-frontal cortex" and as a result their decision-making is highly influenced by emotion as opposed to reason.

While the company's website offers a "commitment" to help and support investors ("Our dedicated team of customer support professionals are available to answer your questions," it states), the complaint focuses on Kearns' inability to get help in the hours between the time he learned of the negative cash balance and the time he killed himself.

Tenev and Bhatt issued a "Founder Letter" after Kearns' death, committing the company to improvements in education and user interface, and stating they were "personally devastated by this tragedy."

Copyright  2021 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.
CAIRO  Despite the negative effects and repercussions of the outbreak of the coronavirus on global trade, the Suez Canal recorded revenues of $5.61 billion in 2020  the third-largest total in the history of the canal.

The canal recorded its highest revenues in 2019 with $5.8 billion, and its second-highest in 2018 with $5.7 billion. This raised questions as to how the canal achieved these revenues amid the difficult circumstances and whether or not it will be able to increase such revenues in 2021.

Suez Canal Authority Chairman Osama Rabie said last month that the canal had $5.61 billion in revenue in 2020 despite the difficult circumstances caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

He said 18,829 ships passed through the canal during this same year with a total net weight of nearly 1.17 billion tons, thus achieving the second-highest tonnage in the history of the canal after 2019. That year witnessed 18,880 ships with a total net weight of nearly 1.21 billion tons pass through the canal. The difference between the years was 51 ships and 38.1 million tons.

The Suez Canal is the fastest navigation route connecting Asia to Europe. It is 193 kilometers (120 miles) long and is one of the main sources of foreign currency for the Egyptian economy.

Several experts and observers told Al-Monitor that the total revenue for 2020 is a success for the Suez Canal Authority and the marketing plans it put in place to counter the negative effects of the coronavirus. These experts expect an increase in revenues this year.

Suez Canal Authority spokesman George Safwat told Al-Monitor that last year's revenues were the result of hard work and planning.

Safwat said that after oil prices started dropping in early January 2020, the authority started to contact world shipping lines to try to figure out what this might mean in terms of the maritime movement of goods. The authority's economic unit was tasked with gauging the situation and developing a general perception of all scenarios and how to deal with them. He said that by the end of the month, the canal had drawn up plans to deal with the negative effects of the coronavirus.

Safwat said the canal authority contacted shipping lines all over the world to make offers that included reductions in transit fees for all types of ships  be they transporters of vehicles, goods, containers, dry bulk or even tourists  in order to provide incentives and encourage them to pass through the canal. He said these incentives were warmly welcomed by various shipping lines.

He said the authority placed emphasis on "green marketing," as large fee reductions were offered to ships fueled by natural gas to reduce harmful emissions to the atmosphere. This step, he added, lured shipping companies that support this trend as the biggest natural gas-powered ships passed through the canal, helping increase the number of canal patrons and positively affecting revenues.

Also, we targeted distant markets that do not [usually] deal with the Suez Canal, such as the eastern coast of the US, Australia and South America, and we provided them with significant reductions in traffic fees, which increased the number of ships passing through the canal to 18,829 ships, of which about 4,087 came from the new markets with revenues of $930 million, accounting for about 16% of the total revenues achieved in 2020, he said.

He said the Suez Canal Authority's digital transformation also provided incentives to many shipping lines to travel through the canal, as an electronic platform was established for making reservations and paying traffic fees; this allowed many ships coming from long distances to clearly see what their costs and savings could be.

He also said, We will work on increasing the canals revenues this year, which are determined by the global trade movement in the wake of vaccines aimed at stopping the spread of the coronavirus in the world, and we have plans to deal with all scenarios to preserve and increase the canals historical revenues by providing further incentives.

Some say the canal could have done more.

While Rashad Abdo, the head of the Egyptian Center for Economic and Strategic Studies, praised how the Suez Canal Authority kept revenues up in 2020 despite the pandemic, he said the canal could have done even better. He said the authority's failure to use international companies that specialize in marketing and promotion likely meant that Egypt missed out on an opportunity to increase the number of ships passing through the canal and a subsequent boost in revenues.

Abdo said greater world economic activity in 2021 amid an increase in oil prices will significantly contribute to an increase in the canals revenues this year.

Ahmed al-Shami, an adviser on maritime transportation at the Transport Ministry, also expects Suez Canal revenues to increase this year in light of the rise in global trade this year, due in part to the rollout of vaccines for the coronavirus.

Shami told Al-Monitor that a good market analysis and the eventual increase in global trade and oil prices last year contributed to the development of promotional marketing plans that contributed to Egypt's efforts to get as many ships pass through the canal as possible.

He said the incentives and price reductions offered by the Suez Canal are not only aimed at preserving its current customers but at luring new customers and achieving higher revenues, and that all this in turn would pump more foreign currency into the Egyptian economy.
Incidents of violence and restrictions towards journalists and media workers covering protests in Myanmar have been documented, as hundreds of thousands of people demonstrate against military rule following the coup on February 1. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) condemns the threats to press freedom violations and calls for safeguards to protect the safety of reporters admid the protests.

Police in Myanmar reportedly used water cannons, rubber bullets, live ammunition and teargas to disperse protesters. Than Htike Aung, a reporter with local news website Mizzima, was hit with rubber bullets at a demonstration in Naypyidaw on February 9, but was able to return to work the next day. Over 27 anti-military protesters were arrested in Mandalay on February 9, including a journalist from Democratic Voice of Burma, who was detained after filming people beaten at a rally.

In a statement issued on February 7, the Myanmar Press Council protested the militarys imposition and restriction of press freedom. In particular the council condemned the blocking of frequencies used by the Democratic Voice of Burma and Mizzima News. Several journalists have also reported being tailed by security officers. Many journalists covering sensitive issues such as ethnic conflicts and military businesses have gone to ground during the current period of uncertainty.

The first widespread public protest against the military coup took place on February 2, as residents of Yangon banged pots and honked car horns to convey their dissent. Since then, public protests have intensified, with tens of thousands taking to the streets in both cities and rural areas..

On February 8, in direct violation of international law, military authorities enforced general restrictions on gatherings in 36 townships and implemented an 8pm  4am curfew. Despite the restrictions people continued to demonstrate in largely peaceful protests in the days following.

A woman, identified as Mya Thwe Thwe Khine, was expected to die from a gunshot wound to the head, sustained during a protest in Naypyidaw. A video posted online, verified by Human Rights Watch, depicts a police vehicle firing a stream of water at Khine, who turns briefly before a loud crack is heard and slumps to the ground. Doctors confirmed the wound was consistent with that of live ammunition. Khine remains in a critical condition.

The commander in chief of Myanmars armed forces, Min Aung Hlaing, addressed the nation in his first televised address on February 8, repeating claims of election fraud and stating the military would hold elections and transfer power to the winner. The Ministry of Information also broadcast a statement on public television the same day, which denounced the ongoing protests. Democracy can be destroyed if there is no discipline, said the statement.

United States President Joe Biden announced the imposition of sanctions on Myanmars military leaders, which will prevent military leaders accessing funds totaling USD 1 billion, while maintaining support for health care, civil society groups and other programs to aid citizens of Myanmar. The United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHCR) will also hold a special session on February 12 to discuss the situation, which currently has the support of 45 states.

On February 11, the IFJ joined the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) in the Global Noise Barrage for Myanmar, encouraging worldwide participants to generate noise at 8pm Myanmar time, share hashtags #Workers4Myanmar and #SaveMyanmar and send letters to consulates and representatives from Myanmar to protest the military coup and its dire implications for press freedom.

The IFJ said: The reports of violence and suppression of protests have dire implications for freedom of expression and the right to peaceful assembly. The IFJ stands in full solidarity with our journalist and media colleagues as well as all citizens of Myanmar protesting the military imposition of power and calling for an immediate return to democracy.
The target of the first significant raids by the Criminal Assets Bureau in 2021 are a family-based gang who have been described as a mini Rathkeale Rovers crew whose criminal base in the southeast has grown significantly in recent times.

Senior sources say the gang has made tens of thousands of euro from tarmac scams across Europe, the US and Canada and have been laundering the cash as well as significant money for one of the biggest drug dealing gangs based in the region.

Gardai announced that CAB had frozen 16 bank accounts containing 540,000 in total, following search operations in Tipperary and Kilkenny.

This is a crew that have invested in at least two pubs, multiple houses and apartments as part of a money laundering scam which is very international in its dimension, a senior source said.

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The Sunday World can reveal that a number of suspected main players in the gang are facing money laundering charges in Sweden.

Expand Close CAB officers targeted four residential properties and a business premises where they seized a 201 Volvo XC90 and financial documents. / Facebook

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Whatsapp CAB officers targeted four residential properties and a business premises where they seized a 201 Volvo XC90 and financial documents.

It is not just Sweden that this gang have their tentacles, intelligence indicates that they are also known to law enforcement in the United States and Canada as well as a number of EU states, the source said.

The gang operates nationwide and overseas by posing as tradesmen and quoting a "good price" for jobs ranging from laying tarmac to cleaning gutters.

Because of their international tarmac scams, the gang whose base is a Co Tipperary town, have been compared to the infamous Rathkeale Rovers gang but gardai say there are no major links between them and the Limerick gang.

This crew do their own thing  like other similar crews they are not overly involved in organised burglary but in saying that a key member is up on charges for a burglary in south Dublin, the source said.

They are heavily involved in laundering money for other criminal networks, including those based in south Kilkenny and Waterford city.

Sources said the links the gang have with one of the most prolific drugs trafficking networks in the southeast is particularly concerning with the tarmac crew suspected of now engaging in wide-scale money laundering for them.

Investigations have established there are around 20 core members aged from early 20s to late 60s.

Sources said there will be more arrests and searches as part of this probe.

In the operation, CAB officers targeted four residential properties and a business premises where they seized a 201 Volvo XC90 and financial documents.

The search operation targeted an Organised Crime Group (OCG) originating in the Munster and south Leinster region with considerable links across the continent of Europe, a Garda spokeswoman said.

Over the course of the investigation, assistance was sought from and provided by Europol. Fund transfers in excess of 4m were identified from other jurisdictions to Irish bank accounts linked to members of the OCG.

The search operation involved searches of four residential properties and a business premises. It was conducted by Criminal Assets Bureau personnel supported by the Emergency Response Unit and assisted by local Divisional personnel and the Garda Dog Unit.

This morning's operation has resulted in the freezing of 16 bank accounts linked to members of the OCG. The accounts contain cumulative funds of 540,000, she added.
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THE High Court has dismissed a bid by a former Human Resources Director with the University of Limerick's to halt an investigation into his alleged role in the suspected misuse of funds regarding the college's pension scheme.

The application was made on behalf of Dr Thomas Foy, who claimed that the continuation of the university's investigation would have resulted in him suffering "irreparable reputational damage."

He also claimed that the probe breached a settlement arrangement that he entered into with University of Limerick (UL) prior to his departure as the college's HR director in June 2018.

He had entered into talks with the college after issues arose over the university's use of funds in 2017, following an RTE Primetime Investigates broadcast, entitled Universities Unchallenged, concerning the financial affairs of several third level institutions.

In a judgement Mr Justice Michael Twomey dismissed Dr Foy's application for injunction halting the university's probe, which if granted would have remained in place pending the outcome of the full hearing of his case against UL.

Dr Foy had failed to establish that he has a strong case that the investigation amounts to a breach of the settlement agreement, the Judge said.

The judge added that the balance of justice favours allowing UL to continue the investigation into matters of serious concern, and takes precedence over Dr Foy's concern of suffering further reputational damage.

The judge said that there was "considerable public interest" in the matter, and noted that allegations that large sums of public money had been misused at a publicly funded university had come to light in the 2017 RTE programme.

The programme, he said he resulted in the Dail's Public Accounts Committee held meetings about the financial accounts of the third level institutions mentioned in the broadcast.

The allegations also resulted in a number of reports being commissioned by bodies including the Higher Education Authority, and the Auditor General regarding the college's practises, the Judge added.

The investigation in this case arose after the UL decided to probe the applicant's alleged role in the transfer of years of pensionable service from one UL employee's pension with their former employer to that person's pension with the college.It is alleged that the unlawful transfer of those additional years to that employees' pension amounts to a loss of 200,000 to UL.

Dr Foy, who after leaving his role as HR Director remains employed by UL, had argued that the investigation breached the settlement letter he entered into following a mediation process with UL in July 2018.

That letter, he claimed was a full and final settlement of all matters and concerns raised by UL, he claimed.

Opposing the application UL denied the 2018 settlement agreement with Dr Foy ever prohibited it from investigating the alleged pension payment.

It argued that it should be allowed to continue its investigation, which it commenced last year is being conducted by an independent person.

In a written judgement Mr Justice Twomey said the court was satisfied not to grant an interlocutory injunction halting the injunction.

The court said that he had not made out a strong case that the settlement letter contained a provision that UL could not investigate him over the allegations at the centre of the probe.

The judge said that in a sworn evidence Dr Foy had claimed that what was in fact a draft settlement agreement from the mediator, amounted to an agreement with UL that it would not pursue him for matters arising out of him discharging his duties as UL's Director of HR.

This testimony was now accepted by Dr Foy to be 'false' the judge said, adding that it was "hard to understand how such a false averment could be made" as it was "irreconcilable with the evidence." before the court.

While Dr Foy, "did not attempt to deliberately mislead the court," the judge said that such a false averment case doubts over the reliability of Dr Foy's other recollection of how the terms of the settlement letter came to be negotiated.

The matter returns before the court later this month.

This was no phone call transcript, no dry words on a page open to interpretation. This was a horde of extremists pushing over barricades and beating police officers. This was a mob smashing windows and pounding on doors. This was a mass of marauders setting up a gallows and shouting, Take the building! and Fight for Trump!

As the United States Senate opened an unprecedented second impeachment trial of former President Donald J. Trump on Tuesday amid the echoes of history, the House managers prosecuting him played powerful video images of last months deadly assault on the Capitol that made abundantly clear how different this proceeding will be from the first.

Where the case against Mr. Trump a year ago turned on what might have seemed like an abstract or narrow argument about his behind-the-scenes interactions with a far-off country, Ukraine, the case this year turns on an eruption of violence that Americans saw on television with their own eyes  and that the senators serving as jurors experienced personally when they fled for their lives.

Rather than a judgment of where foreign policy turns into political excess, this sequel trial amounts to a reckoning over Mr. Trumps very presidency. At issue in the Senate chamber over the coming days will be many of the fundamental aspects that defined Mr. Trumps four years in power: his relentless assaults on truth, his deliberate efforts to foment divisions in society, his shattering of norms and his undermining of a democratic election.

BEIJING, Feb. 10 -- As the COVID-19 pandemic is still raging all over the globe, many believe vaccines are light at the end of the tunnel.

"If pandemics are microbial wars, then vaccines are our preferred weapons of mass salvation," wrote World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in a recent Foreign Policy article.

Several developed and developing countries have joined the COVID-19 vaccine race, and in a short span of time, offered a variety of selections.

Vaccines developed by Moderna, Pfizer-BioNtech and AstraZeneca are popular amid shortages in the West, while Russian's Sputnik V as well as vaccines made by China's Sinopharm and Sinovac Biotech, despite approvals and welcomes in the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Africa, Latin America, and Central and Eastern Europe, met with some suspicion in the West.

Unfortunately, the main ground for that doubt does not come from a scientific perspective, but political and ideological ones.

Some Western politicians see China as one adversary, particularly in the science and technology domain, and Russia as another.

Those with a Cold-War mindset tend to overlook the proven safety and effectiveness of Chinese and Russian vaccines. They dismiss them in media, confuse the public out of habitual prejudice, and eventually turn a blind eye to the fact that Chinese and Russian vaccines, like all other effective ones, can play a role in the global fight against the pandemic.

In fact, vaccine research and development has always been the priority of both China's and Russia's response to the unprecedented health crisis.

With arduous efforts of their researchers, Chinese experts have provided substantial scientific data and solid clinical evidence to prove the accountability of their jabs.

A paper published on Lancet this week said that interim results from late-stage trials showed that Sputnik V had an efficacy rate of 91.6 percent.

Both countries have collaborated with other countries and the WHO in an open and comprehensive manner since the start of the pandemic and in every battle with the coronavirus through both information sharing and material assistance.

The "Western" vaccines, cleared by rich countries already, are not enough to meet the demand of their own, and even more scant for the rest of the world.

Thus, Chinese and Russian pharmaceutical companies are filling the gap in developing countries with genuine goodwill, wider accessibility, and fairer rollout.

As the world is struggling with the unceasing COVID-19 pandemic, there is a danger of deepening mistrust towards the made-in-China and made-in-Russia. Political games can only do harm, while science-based decisions can save more lives.
The court was hearing a plea by a Muslim couple, seeking protection from their families, who were against their marriage owing to the age difference between the man and the girl

Chandigarh: The Punjab and Haryana High Court has held that a Muslim girl who is less than 18 years old but has attained puberty is free to marry anyone as per the Muslim Personal Law.

A bench of Justice Alka Sarin gave the verdict relying on various court rulings and the article 195 in ''Principles of Mohammedan Law'', an authoritative textbook by prominent Muslim personal law jurist Sir Dinshah Fardunji Mulla.

Quoting provisions of article 195 in Mulla's authoritative treatise on Muslim personal laws, the bench observed that a Muslim girl on attaining the age of puberty was competent to enter into a contract of marriage with a person of her choice.

Article 195 in the book explains the 'capacity (eligibility) for marriage' under the Muslim Personal Law, the bench pointed out, adding that "as per this provision, every Mahomedan (Muslim) of sound mind, who has attained puberty, may enter into a contract of marriage".

In the absence of evidence, a Muslim girl is presumed to have attained puberty on completing the age of fifteen years, the bench said, quoting the provisions of article 195. "Lunatics and minors who have not attained puberty may be validly contracted in marriage by their respective guardians," the bench further elaborated. The bench said the marriage of a Mahomedan, who has a sound mind and has attained puberty, is void if it has been brought about without his consent.

Justice Sarin gave the ruling on 25 January on a plea by a Muslim couple, seeking protection of their life and liberty from their respective families, who were against the marriage due to age difference between the man and the girl. The man was 36 years old while the girl was aged only 17 years.

The couple told the court that they fell in love about two years ago and solemnised their marriage on 21 January this year as per the Muslim rites. The counsel for petitioners argued that in Muslim law, puberty and majority are one and the same thing and that there is a presumption that a person attains majority at the age of 15 years.

The counsel further argued that a Muslim boy or Muslim girl who has attained puberty is at liberty to marry anyone he or she likes and the guardian has no right to interfere. The petitioners also alleged in the court that their life and liberty are in "grave danger" from their relatives due to which they have also sought protection from the Mohali''s senior superintendent of police.

The judge after the hearing said the court has taken note of the judgements cited on behalf of the petitioners and also the fact that the girl in the instant case is aged more than 17 years. The judge further said the marriage of a Muslim girl is governed by the Muslim Personal Law.

Both the petitioners are of marriageable age as envisaged by the Muslim Personal Law, the court said. "In any event, the issue in hand is not with regard to the validity of the marriage but to address the apprehension raised by the petitioners of danger to their life and liberty at the hands of private respondents (their relatives) and to provide them protection as envisaged under Article 21 of the Constitution of India," the judge said.

Article 21 of the Constitution provides for the protection of life and personal liberty and lays down that no person shall be deprived of his or her life and personal liberty except as per the procedure established by law. "The Court cannot shut its eyes to the fact that the apprehension of petitioners needs to be addressed. Merely because the petitioners have got married against the wishes of their family members, they cannot possibly be deprived of the fundamental rights as envisaged in the Constitution of India," the judge observed while directing Mohali SSP to take the necessary action as per law regarding protection to their life and liberty.
By Sayo Sasaki, KYODO NEWS - Feb 11, 2021 - 11:31 | All, World, Japan

With the United States announcing plans to reimpose sanctions on Myanmar over a coup earlier this month, Japan remains cautious about invoking punitive measures against the Southeast Asian country, fearing sanctions may affect Japanese businesses operating there and drive the military closer to China.

While the European Union is also considering slapping sanctions on Myanmar, Japan has been stepping up efforts to persuade Myanmar's armed forces, which seized power in the Feb. 1 coup, to free civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other detainees and return to the democratic process.

Anti-military protests have been growing in Myanmar, and if the United States and the European Union go ahead with sanctions and urge Japan to follow suit, that would put Tokyo, a key U.S. ally, in a difficult position, according to experts.

Japan has long maintained ties with Myanmar, making it the only country among so-called Western nations to have connections with both the military, known as the Tatmadaw, and Suu Kyi's party, the National League for Democracy.

In a sign of Japan's close ties with the two sides, Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi met with both Suu Kyi and Min Aung Hlaing, military chief who led the coup, when he visited Myanmar last August.

"If the United States and other countries impose sanctions on Myanmar, they will not only increase the clout of China, a Myanmar neighbor, but could also result in the loss of a key security base in the Indo-Pacific region," said Yohei Sasakawa, chairman of the Nippon Foundation in Tokyo.

Sasakawa headed a Japanese monitoring group to the November election in Myanmar, which gave the NLD an overwhelming 396 of 476 seats in parliament -- a major factor that is believed to have driven the Tatmadaw to overthrow Suu Kyi's elected government.

"If the United States goes for economic sanctions, Japan as its ally will be in a difficult position," he wrote on a blog dated Feb. 2.

On Wednesday, President Joe Biden said the United States will sanction Myanmar military leaders -- with a first round of targets to be identified soon -- and impose strong export controls to force the military to reverse course.

Kavi Chongkittavorn, a Bangkok-based regional affairs expert, said Japan should send a "strong message" to Myanmar to release Suu Kyi, and that Tokyo should urge Washington to pursue "constructive engagement" with the military without putting back in place significant sanctions it imposed on Myanmar during decades of dictatorship.

"The United States and Japan have to coordinate their approaches -- a good cop and a bad cop approach," said Kavi, a senior fellow at the Institute of Security and International Studies at Chulalongkorn University, in an email.

Other experts have also warned against hastily deciding on sanctions against Myanmar, a country that had been promoting democratic reforms since the first civilian government was voted in in 2015.

"Targeted sanctions, already in place, can continue against the generals, and broaden to others involved in the state of emergency. Signals must warn against them taking more oppressive steps," said Simon Tay, chairman of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs.

Min Aung Hlaing and several other generals were already slapped with U.S. sanctions for their involvement in the crackdowns on the Rohingya Muslim minority.

"In contrast, if they show signs of relenting, then dialogue should be fostered. But broad sanctions, as previously used by the West, should be avoided," Tay said in an email. "They harm ordinary citizens. They also will push the military to rely more on China."

China has been strengthening ties with Myanmar by helping construction projects such as pipe lines and ports under the Belt and Road Initiative, a massive cross-border infrastructure scheme critics say is intended to draw countries deeper into Beijing's economic orbit.

Beijing has declined to condemn the generals, insisting that other countries should not interfere in Myanmar's internal affairs. China's official Xinhua News Agency referred to the coup as a "major cabinet reshuffle."

Besides continuing dialogue and engagement, some scholars were more in favor of Japan clearly expressing its views about the Tatmadaw's takeover of government.

"Japan and other countries provided support to hold what is regarded as a fair election," said Mie Oba, a professor of international relations at Kanagawa University in Japan, referring to the November election.

"But if Myanmar's military calls it rigged, Japan must protest it," Oba said in an interview. "I think the Japanese government should halt ongoing aid projects, do something close to a sanction."

According to the Foreign Ministry, Japan extended massive official development assistance totaling about 190 billion yen ($1.8 billion) in fiscal 2019, by far the largest among the 30-member Development Assistance Committee of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.

Since Japan does not have a law that requires the government to impose sanctions on individuals on the basis of human rights violations, the only feasible option Japan has is to halt or reduce its economic assistance to Myanmar.

In the past, Japan suspended new projects in Myanmar over three occasions in connection with the house arrest of Suu Kyi but resumed full-fledged economic assistance from April 2012 following the country's shift to civil rule in 2011.

Private investments have poured into Myanmar in line with the democratic reform. As of January this year, 436 Japanese companies were operating in the country, up from 53 in March 2012, according to the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Myanmar.

"Japanese businesses have invested into the Thilawa Special Economic Zone near Yangon and elsewhere so they would certainly call for a stable relationship with Myanmar, even under the military rule, and I can understand their logic and feeling," Oba said.

"But the Japanese government must think about whether that is appropriate for itself," she said.

Related coverage:

Biden says U.S. to sanction Myanmar military leaders over coup

Japan, U.S. "strongly condemn" violence against protesters in Myanmar

Japan, Indonesia share concerns over Myanmar situation after coup
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North Korean leader Kim Jong Un speaking during the third-day of the 2nd plenary meeting - STR/KCNA VIA KNS/AFP via Getty Images

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has ordered tougher legal supervision to support his development plans, state media said Thursday, as he works to salvage an economy battered by the pandemic and other challenges.

Kim faces what appears to be the toughest crisis of his nine-year rule as the already-troubled economy is hit by pandemic-related border closings that have sharply reduced the North's external trade, a spate of natural disasters last summer and persistent U.S.-led sanctions.

During the party congress, Kim described the difficulties as the "worst-ever."

Kim spoke Wednesday during a ruling Workers' Party meeting this week convened to follow up on decisions made at the ruling party's congress in January, where he admitted previous economic plans had failed and announced a new five-year development plan.

Kim "stressed the importance to strengthen legal supervision and control over the establishment and executive process of the national economic plan," the official Korean Central News Agency said.

He said prosecutors and other law enforcement organizations must do more to ensure the economic plan is correctly executed and "stage a strong legal struggle for checking all kinds of illegal practices revealed in economic activities." Kim added that "all sectors and units should obey them unconditionally," KCNA said.

The new five-year plan centres on building a stronger self-supporting economy, reducing reliance on imports, making more investments in the metal and chemical industries and increasing production of consumer goods.

But some analysts say the new plan still lacks substance, noting that North Korea's difficulties result from decades of mismanagement, self-imposed isolation and the sanctions imposed because of its nuclear program.

North Korea's push to boost legal control over the economic plan shows Kim is "desperate to report progress over the new five-year plan to secure a stability of the Kim Jong-un government," said Kim Dong-yub, an analyst from Seoul's Institute for Far Eastern Studies.

He said punishment for those embroiled in alleged corruption, negligence and incompetence will likely be harsh.

Kim's Wednesday speech on the third day of the plenary session of the party's Central Committee followed earlier secessions where he criticised government agencies for "passive and self-protecting tendencies." State media said Kim also set forth unspecified future action to be taken by agencies responsible for external and South Korean affairs. He made no mention of the United States and the deadlocked nuclear diplomacy.

The following list includes recent reports from the Midland County Sheriffs Office and the Midland Police Department. Compiled by reporter Mitchell Kukulka.

Tuesday, Feb. 9

10:08 p.m.  Officers responded to a car-deer crash in the area of Bay City Road and Fast Ice Drive.

7:41 p.m.  A deputy was dispatched to the MidMichigan Medical Center-Midland for a report of a cat bite. A cat had bitten an 81-year-old woman on her right and left hands.

7:38 p.m.  An 87-year-old Jerome Township woman reported her intoxicated 55-year-old son took the TV remote and hid it from her. Deputies made contact with the woman and located the remote. Deputies reminded the woman about the eviction process, due to an ongoing dispute between she and her son.

7:09 p.m.  Officers responded to a car-deer crash in the area of Waldo Avenue and James Savage Road.

6:49 p.m.  Officers responded to a car-deer crash in the area of Poseyville Road and St. Charles Street.

4:13 p.m.  Officers responded to a vehicle crash in the 3700 block of Robinhood Terrace.

3:01 p.m.  Officers responded to harassment complaint in the 1400 block of Springfield Drive.

2:45 p.m.  Officers responded to a vehicle crash in the 2700 block of North Saginaw Road.

11:27 a.m.  Officers responded to a vehicle crash in the area of West Andrews Road and Eastman Avenue.

11:12 a.m.  A deputy was dispatched to the area of West Isabella Road near South Alamando Road for the report of a two-vehicle traffic crash.

10:39 a.m.  Officers responded to a report of domestic assault in the 4500 block of North Saginaw Road.

9:29 a.m.  Deputies responded to a Lee Township residence in reference to a vehicle theft complaint. The complainant said his pickup truck was stolen from his driveway sometime during the night. There was a "be on the lookout" notice put out for the pickup truck, and deputies followed up in the area with attempts to locate the vehicle. The vehicle was entered into the Law Enforcement as stolen. The investigation is ongoing.

7:17 a.m.  Officers responded to a vehicle crash in the area of North Saginaw Road and Sturgeon Creek Parkway.

3:30 a.m.  Deputies responded to a vehicle crash in Porter Township.

1:17 a.m.  Deputies responded to a car-deer crash in Lee Township.

Monday, Feb. 8

10:06 p.m.  A deputy, Edenville Fire and EMS were dispatched to a Edenville Township residence in reference to a 49-year-old man overdosing on heroin. Deputies administered Narcan and man was transported to the MidMichigan Medical Center-Midland ER.

8:44 p.m.  A deputy euthanized an injured deer on a Lee Township roadway.

7:39 p.m.  Deputies responded to a car-deer crash in Lee Township.

3:41 p.m.  Deputies responded to a referral from the Department of Health and Human Services regarding alleged drug abuse by minor children, as well as alleged physical abuse. The Department of Health and Human Services made contact with the children, ages 15 and 16. The 15-year-old boy denied being abused, and the 16-year-old refused to cooperate with an interview. The mother of the children denied the allegations.

3:24 p.m.  A deputy helped the United States Secret Service investigate an incident involving a 33-year-old Edenville Township man who made threats over social media towards president Joe Biden.

3:06 p.m.  A deputy spoke with a 22-year-old Hope Township man regarding a fraud of $75 from his checking account. There are no suspects.

2:41 p.m.  A deputy was dispatched to a Jerome Township residence to speak with a 61-year-old man regarding damage to his 1998 Ford Econoline van. A unknown suspect had broken three small windows out of the driver side of the van. There are no suspects.

9:37 a.m.  Deputies responded to vehicle crash in Jerome Township.

8:54 a.m.  A deputy was dispatched to the area of West McNally Road near North Alamando Road for the report of a single-vehicle traffic crash.
Suzanne Lucios 4-year-old son Roman had his outfit picked out as soon as he heard the news that in-person learning at Chicago Public Schools would resume on Thursday: a T-shirt with a big dinosaur, his favorite animal.

One more day! he told his mother Wednesday morning.

Roman had already gone back to his pre-kindergarten classroom exactly one month ago, when the first wave of students was due back for in-person learning under the districts school reopening plan. The arrival of that moment excited him so much that he marked the family calendar in their Archer Heights home with a star next to the date.

But the prekindergarten and special education students ended up returning for just over two weeks. Then they went back to remote learning after the Chicago Teachers Union voted not to show up to classrooms, citing members belief that the enduring coronavirus pandemic rendered in-person learning unsafe without more mitigation and teacher vaccines.

Roman struggled to revert back to at-home classes and paying attention to a screen, and Lucio worried about setbacks in his development.

To Lucios relief, the union announced early Wednesday that its members have backed the pending agreement on moving forward with a reopening plan that will allow in-person classes to resume Thursday for that first wave of students, including Roman.

Lucio said her son most looks forward to seeing his teachers, whom he considers his friends.

Were going to go to bed extra early tonight, and believe me, he will be up before anyone in this house, ready to go to school tomorrow, Lucio said on Wednesday.

Myra Nussbaums two daughters cried out, Yay! I cant wait, upon Wednesdays news of in-person classes coming back. The Ukrainian Village mother said she saw them grow frustrated with remote learning, which often keeps them on mute even as they are calling out for their teachers.

The news of the CTU and CPS deal gave Nussbaum optimism after feeling like her childrens sense of normalcy was upended by the heated negotiations. Her first-grade daughter Fiona, who is set to return in March, has begun humming to herself and developed breathing tics to cope with staring at a screen all day, Nussbaum said.

Story continues

They just dont feel like theyre being seen and theyre too young to understand the environment of a Zoom class, Nussbaum said. Its too much for them, so I think its created a lot of anxiety.

Her pre-kindergartner, Winter, was only one of a handful of students who opted to return to the classroom on Jan. 11 at Columbus Elementary School. Her mother said there have been no issues with in-person classes, and Winter was just glad to be sitting in a school building.

Even if they were the only kid in class, they would just be excited, Nussbaum said. Theyre not getting out much, so the idea of being able to go to school is second only to going to Disney World at this point.

Yemisi Taylor, a mother in Austin, said her pre-kindergarten son Reginald sorely needed to return to in-person learning at Willa Cather Elementary School back in January. He is in an individualized learning plan program, and upon going back to his classroom, his teacher informed Taylor of Reginalds learning regression since the pandemic started.

When Reginald then went back to remote learning later that month, school once again became a frustrating routine of Taylor and her husband trying to get him to focus on the computer. And as a gregarious boy, he missed the one-on-one attention with teachers and playtime with friends.

Its almost impossible to keep a 4-year-old focused on a computer screen for, let alone a day, but even an hour at a time, Taylor said. That doesnt include when you have the kids who have special needs.

Taylor and Reginald were delighted upon hearing he could return to classrooms on Thursday, but the joy was mixed with some exasperation for Taylor. She wonders why the deal had taken until now and whether politics played a role.

Lucio, the Archer Heights mother, agreed negotiations dragged on way too long, and children became collateral damage. But she said she isnt surprised.

Well, we are in Chicago, Lucio said. I believe the Chicago way is to go through political rhetoric before we can get anything done for anyone.
Supreme Court on Tuesday stayed AP High Courts order castigating the wisdom of state government, picture used for representational purposes only (Image source: PTI)

NEW DELHI: Supreme Court on Tuesday stayed Andhra Pradesh High Courts order castigating the wisdom of state government, Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy and that of lawyers representing the government.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Sharad A. Bobde, Justice A. S. Bopanna and Justice V. Ramasubramanian stayed the AP High Court order dated December 30, 2020, on an appeal by the Andhra Pradesh government.

Senior lawyer Sajan Poovayya, assisted by advocate Mahfooz Ahsan Nazaki, appeared for the AP state.

The High Court, vide the December 30 order, questioned the wisdom of government, the Chief Minister and advocates representing AP on different counts, including conduct of some lawyers representing the government.

The critical observations of High Court followed an application by the state government seeking recusal of a judge on grounds that the said judge had prejudged the issue without hearing the state government.

Jagan Mohan Reddy government was aggrieved with observation in course of an earlier hearing when the court questioned the decision of AP state auctioning certain state properties, wondering whether the state had become bankrupt.

How could the government auction properties of the state, has the government become bankrupt to auction government properties; we will declare there is a breakdown of constitutional machinery in the state and hand over administration to the central government.

This was the statement made by one of the members of the bench, which has been disputed.

The petition of Andhra Pradesh government said perusal of contents of the unprecedented order turned out unrelated to the issue raised in the matter. This would show that the High Court has not stopped merely at castigating the government, its functionaries and advocates appearing for the government. It even went on to cast aspersions on the top courts collegiums on mere ipse dixit (an assertion without proof) of the judge.
VANCOUVER BC / ACCESSWIRE / February 10, 2021 / Beretta Ventures Ltd. (the "Company") (TSXV:BRTA.H) announces that it has closed its previously announced non-brokered private placement, in which it raised gross proceeds of $400,000.

This placement consisted of 8,000,000 common shares of the Company at a price of five cents per common share (the "Offering"). All common shares issued in connection with this Offering are subject to a hold period expiring June 10, 2021. No finder's fees were payable in connection with the Offering. The Company intends to use the proceeds of the Offering for repayment of debt and for general working capital purposes.

The Company further announces that Scott Ackerman and Rick Cox have been appointed as directors of the Company, replacing Walter Henry and Tom Hussey, who have resigned as directors of the Company. In addition, Scott Ackerman has been appointed CEO, CFO and Corporate Secretary, replacing Mario Miranda, who remains as a director of the Company. The Company wishes to thank the outgoing directors for their service to the Company.

In addition, 343,665 founder's shares currently held in escrow have been transferred within escrow to the new directors.

Related Party Participation in the Offering

Scott Ackerman, an insider of the Company, subscribed for 1,005,000 common shares in the Offering for a total of 12.56% of the Offering. As an insider of the Company participated in this Offering, it is deemed to be a "related party transaction" as defined under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101").

The Offering is exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 (pursuant to subsection 5.5(b) and 5.7(1)(b)) as the Company is not listed on the markets specified in MI 61-101 and neither the fair market value of the common shares distributed to, nor the consideration received from interested parties exceeded $2,500,000.

The Company did not file a material change report more than 21 days before the expected closing of the Offering because the details of the participation therein by related parties of the Company were not settled until shortly prior to closing of the Offering and the Company wished to close on an expedited basis for business reasons.

Early Warning Report

Immediately prior to the Offering, Scott Ackerman of Vancouver, BC held 171,666 common shares of the Company, representing 10.59% of its issued and outstanding common shares as constituted prior to the Offering. As a result of the Offering, Scott Ackerman has ownership and direction or control over 1,176,666 common shares of the Company, representing 12.23% of the issued and outstanding common shares of the Company. Neither the Company nor, to the knowledge of the Company after reasonable inquiry, Scott Ackerman, have knowledge of any material information concerning the Company or its securities which has not been generally disclosed.

As a result of the Offering, each of Vancouver, BC based The Emprise Special Opportunities Fund (2017) Limited Partnership (LP2017"), 685733 B.C. Ltd. ("685733"), and 8185735 Canada Corp. ("8185735") has ownership and direction or control of 1,915,000 common shares of the Company, representing 19.90% of the issued and outstanding common shares of the Company, respectively. Immediately prior to the Offering, none of LP2017, 685733 or 8185735 owned any securities of the Company. Neither the Company nor, to the knowledge of the Company after reasonable inquiry, LP2017, 685733 or 8185735, have knowledge of any material information concerning the Company or its securities which has no been generally disclosed.

LP2017, 685733 and 8185735 have individually acquired the above-noted common shares for investment purposes. Independently, LP2017, 685733 and 8185735 may in the future take such actions in respect of its holdings in the Company as they may deem appropriate in light of the circumstances then existing, including the purchase of additional securities of the Company through open market purchases or privately negotiated transactions or the sale of all or a portion of their individual holdings in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions to one or more purchasers, subject in each case to applicable securities law.

This news release is issued pursuant to National Instrument 62-103 - The Early Warning System and Related Take-Over Bid and Insider Reporting Issues, which also requires a report to be filed with the applicable securities commissions or similar regulatory authorities in Canada, which report will contain additional information with respect to the foregoing matters (the "Early Warning Report"). A copy of the Early Warning Report will be filed on SEDAR under the Company's profile at www.sedar.com.

The Company currently does not have an active business and will be seeking a business opportunity that will constitute a Qualifying Transaction under the policies of the Exchange. The Company also intends to submit an application to the Exchange requesting that trading be reinstated.

On behalf of the Board,

Scott Ackerman

CEO, CFO, Corporate Secretary and Director

For further information:

Beretta Ventures Ltd.

1600 - 609 Granville Street

Vancouver, BC V7Y 1C3

(778) 331-8505

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.

This news release may include forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. All statements within, other than statements of historical fact, are to be considered forward looking. 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 or developments may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, exploitation and exploration successes, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. There can be no assurances that such statements will prove accurate and, therefore, readers are advised to rely on their own evaluation of such uncertainties. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements except as required under the applicable law.

SOURCE: Beretta Ventures Ltd.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/629220/Beretta-Ventures-Closes-Financing-and-Announces-Management-Changes
New Delhi, Feb 12 : The Delhi Police on Thursday said that Civil Defence volunteers, who on their own have no power to prosecute for Covid violations, are doing so and are mistaken as Delhi Police personnel.

"Misconduct, if any, are attributed to Delhi Police. FIRs have also been registered in this regard and miscreants have been arrested," said a senior police officer.

The Delhi Police said this happens because the Civil Defence volunteers have uniform which resemble Delhi Police uniform and often the civilians mistake them for real cops.

The Delhi Police have appealed to the people to verify their identity before accepting any challans.

On Thursday, the Delhi police issued 31 challans for mask violations.

The 'perfect weekend activity' has launched ahead of Valentine's Day, with many dubbing it the ideal date idea.

Those in Sydney can now enjoy fully-catered picnics complete with Aperol Spritz cocktails, charcuterie and cheese and dessert.

The picnics are available from the Terrace on the Domain, and cost $80 per couple.

Australians have been served up with the 'perfect weekend activity' just in time to make the most of the last warm summer evenings

Included in the picnic basket are two pre-mixed Aperol cocktails, sopressa, mortadella, pickles, olives, focaccia, brie, cheddar, homemade apple and fig chutney, and two paninis.

There is also a tiramisu for each person and fresh and dried fruit.

The menu is available Wednesday through to Saturday for lunch and Wednesday to Sunday for dinner but have to be booked 24 hours in advance.

The offering comes as Aperol launch their pre-mixed beverages across Australia.

The beverage is popular in Australia - after being a staple in bars in Venice, Italy for years

The pre-made drink comes in a pack of three, with each bottle containing approximately 1.3 standard drinks.

It is best served cold with a slice of orange, according to the pack.

The Italian drink has soared in popularity in Australia over recent years because of its refreshing qualities.

The three-pack can be purchased from Dan Murphy's for just $17.50 - and according to customers the Aperol, prosecco and soda ratio is 'perfect'.

The concept appears popular with Aperol lovers online.

On Instagram one woman said the drinks are 'the only way to kick off the weekend.'

The three-pack can be purchased from Dan Murphy's for just $17.50 - and according to customers the Aperol, prosecco and soda ratio is 'perfect'

'This is the best news ever,' another said.

Others simply tagged their friends and promised to share one of the drinks 'soon'.

'We are sorted for the next picnic in the park,' said another.

Even Bachelor in Paradise star Keira Maguire commented on a video of the drink in keen anticipation. 'My faves,' she said.

The drinks are available to people over 18 at bottle shops across Australia.
Bosses at Arla said empty dairy shelves have been avoided despite the company tackling teething issues following Brexit.

The dairy giant told PA that it has seen cost rises and an increase in paperwork since the start of the year but has been able to avoid major disruption amid the trade agreement with the EU.

Ash Amirahmadi, managing director of Arla UK, told the PA news agency that the trade deal helped the company avoid major tariff impacts, although it is too early to work out the full cost impact of Brexit.

We are very positive that a deal was done and that provided a level of stability, he said.

We are now looking past the deal and are happy to see how things are progressing, other than a few teething issues.

Customers will see that weve been able to keep supply really strong and makes sure we dont have empty dairy shelves.

Expand Close Arlas UK managing director Ash Amirahmadi (Arla/PA) / Facebook

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Whatsapp Arlas UK managing director Ash Amirahmadi (Arla/PA)

Nevertheless, he said the company has had to deal with 25,000 extra bits of paperwork as a result of the countrys exit from the EU.

The group said Brexit has added some initial cost, as the company also takes on additional cost pressures from the pandemic and challenging farming conditions.

Costs for its farmers have jumped on the back of a poor harvest last year and very wet weather, which is impacting the current growing season.

It said this had resulted in less grass and cereals for cows to eat over the winter when they are indoors, with an estimated 6% increase in production costs as a result.

Arla stressed that it also pumped investment into safety protocols following the onset of the pandemic, with distancing measures and full pay for isolating colleagues.

However, it has seen the pandemic drive a shift towards greater customer retail demand as more meals are eaten at home.

It said sales for cheese and butter have been particularly strong over the past year as changes towards more homeworking resulted in extra breakfasts and lunches being eaten at home.

Arla UK posted revenues of 2.12 billion for 2020, up from 1.95 billion in the previous year.

It reported a 13% jump in branded revenues as sales of its Lurpak and Cravendale brands grew by double figures as customers sought well-established names.

Simon Ho, UK finance director, said: Im very proud that we can look back at our 2020 results and see the positive impact of our flexible approach to business, in what was a very challenging year.

Around 50% of Arlas products were impacted by production decisions needed to keep our colleagues safe during coronavirus and to ensure there was enough dairy in fridges to help feed the nation.
Embattled Ghanaian actor and comedian, Nana Yaw Oduro Boateng popularly called Funny Face has revealed plans to take a legal action against Ghana Police for brutalizing him and manhandling him after he was arrested for firing shots.



Videos showing moments some police officers of the Kasoa Millineum City Police station dragged Funny Face on the ground during his arrest went viral on social media sparking an uproar.



Taking to his Instagram account, the father of three lamented over how the beatings he received by the police officers left him with a blurred vision and pains in his left ear.



The self-acclaimed children president said he is going to sue Ghana Police 5 million dollars for the humiliation and pain caused him.



He shared a video of himself dancing and captioned it:



My mood now? knowing very well am abt to be filthy rich from some fools called GHAyana police .. Am suing dem 5 million dollars? ???? or @funnyfansofficial .. u say make we increase am? ??????????????????????????? my left ear sef Dey pains me .. my vision is blared I cant see well  only women pioto i dey see well? saaaaawwwwww .. now we catch KWadeeiii level  USA USA USA USA .. yabodam fucking ?????? stilllllllllllll  ONE MAN THOUSAND  ????  GYE NYAME  ??? @funnyfansofficial we are RICH ?????????????? @brashizzle is da hype man ??

Source: Eugene Osafo-Nkansah/Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Complaint seeks forfeiture of Iranian oil aboard tanker based on connection to terror group

The United States filed a forfeiture complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia alleging that all oil aboard a Liberian-flagged vessel, the M/T Achilleas (Achilleas), is subject to forfeiture based on U.S. terrorism forfeiture laws.

The complaint alleges a scheme involving multiple entities affiliated with Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the IRGC-Qods Force (IRGC-QF) to covertly ship Iranian oil to a customer abroad. Participants in the scheme attempted to disguise the origin of the oil using ship-to-ship transfers, falsified documents, and other means, and provided a fraudulent bill of lading to deceive the owners of the Achilleas into loading the oil in question. The complaint alleges in part that the oil constitutes the property of, or a source of influence over, the IRGC and the IRGC-QF, both of which have been designated by the United States as foreign terrorist organizations. The documents allege that profits from oil sales support the IRGCs full range of nefarious activities, including the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and their means of delivery, support for terrorism, and a variety of human rights abuses, at home and abroad. The forfeiture complaint filed today serves as a reminder that the IRGC and IRGC-QF continue to exert significant control over the sale of Iranian oil, said Assistant Attorney General John C. Demers for the National Security Division. As we have demonstrated in the past, the department will deploy all tools at its disposal to ensure that the IRGC and IRGC-QF cannot use profits from the sale of Iranian oil to fund terrorism and other activities that threaten the safety and security of all Americans. The U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Columbia will continue working with our law enforcement partners to stem the flow of illicit oil from Irans Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Qods Force, said Acting U.S. Attorney Michael R. Sherwin. We will use all available tools, including our jurisdiction to seize and forfeit assets located abroad, to combat funding for terrorists and those who would do harm to the United States. This latest civil forfeiture action exemplifies the remarkable work of this multi-agency task force that works tirelessly toward furthering our shared goal of protecting the homeland from regimes that threaten our national security, said Special Agent in Charge Peter C. Fitzhugh for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcements Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), New York. This investigation sends a message that the attempted circumvention of U.S. sanctions by the IRGC-QF will not be tolerated. HSI will continue to work with our partners and utilize the full scope of our authorities to disrupt the attempts of hostile countries and regimes to generate profits from oil sales used to support terrorism and the proliferation and delivery of weapons of mass destruction. Iran uses profits from its petroleum sector to fund the malign activities of the IRGC-QF, a designated terrorist group, said Special Agent in Charge Michael F. Paul of the FBIs Minneapolis Field Office. The FBI will continue to prioritize the enforcement of sanctions, and we applaud the efforts of our agents and partners on this investigation. A civil forfeiture complaint is merely an allegation. The United States bears the burden of proving that the oil in question is subject to forfeiture in a civil forfeiture proceeding. Funds successfully forfeited with a connection to a state sponsor of terrorism may in whole or in part be directed to the United States Victims of State Sponsored Terrorism Fund (http://www.usvsst.com/) after the conclusion of the case. HSI New York and the FBIs Minneapolis Field Office are leading the investigation of Iranian petroleum shipments. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael P. Grady and Brian P. Hudak of the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Columbia and Trial Attorney David Lim of the Counterintelligence and Export Control Section of the National Security Division are prosecuting the case. The Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Sections Program Operations Staff of the Justice Departments Criminal Division has provided extensive assistance throughout the investigation.




A U.S. Postal Service mail carrier in Massachusetts is facing a federal charge after authorities said he stole gift cards from peoples mail.

Brian Thibodeau, 48, was indicted on one count of theft of mail by an employee of the U.S. Postal Service and was arrested Thursday. He appeared in Boston federal court and was released on conditions.

Beginning in 2001, Thibodeau worked for many years as a letter carrier in the Saugus Post Office, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office. It is alleged that, in 2020, Thibodeau stole customers gift cards sent in the mail and spent them for his personal use.

Federal investigators said Thibodeau admitted to stealing approximately $2,000 worth of gift cards from postal customers on his route.


Justice Department political leaders repeatedly stymied efforts by federal prosecutors in Manhattan to obtain a search warrant last year for the digital records of Rudy Giuliani, former president Donald Trump's personal lawyer, frustrating career government attorneys and effectively leaving the decision to the incoming Biden administration, people familiar with the matter said.

The move, first reported Wednesday by CNN, ultimately may have a limited impact on the ongoing federal investigation of Giuliani, as officials said prosecutors could simply renew their request. Like others, they spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a case that remains politically sensitive.

Still, the passage of time is unhelpful to any investigation, as documents could be destroyed and witnesses' memories may fade. And the matter will present a critical first test for President Biden's Justice Department, where officials are trying to separate the institution from political matters and restore public faith that it will enforce the law impartially.

Spokespeople for the Justice Department and the Manhattan U.S. attorney's office declined to comment. Robert Costello, an attorney for Giuliani, did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but he told CNN he had not been contacted by federal prosecutors and did not believe his client had done anything wrong.

Giuliani has rigorously defended his activities as above board.

The investigation came to light in October 2019 after federal prosecutors in Manhattan charged two of Giuliani's associates, Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman, with a scheme to funnel foreign money to U.S. politicians while trying to influence U.S.-Ukraine relations.

Parnas and Fruman had been working with Giuliani to investigate then-candidate Joe Biden. Separately, Giuliani was paid $500,000 for consulting work by a company Parnas co-founded, Fraud Guarantee, that remains a focus of federal prosecutors.

People familiar with Giuliani's case have said previously that investigators were scrutinizing the former New York mayor's consulting business and examining donations made to America First Action, a pro-Trump super PAC set up by his advisers and allies after the 2016 election, as well as its affiliated nonprofit. Investigators were looking for evidence of several possible crimes, including foreign lobbying registration violations, destruction or alteration of documents, aiding and abetting federal crimes, and foreign contributions to U.S. candidates, according to people familiar with the matter.

By summer 2020, prosecutors decided they had probable cause to get a warrant to examine Giuliani's communications, people familiar with the matter said. Mindful they were seeking the communications of a lawyer in a politically sensitive case, Manhattan prosecutors approached leaders at the Justice Department in D.C. seeking approval to move forward. They were rebuffed, people familiar with the matter said, though they offered varying explanations as to why.

One person familiar with the matter said the request was considered to have come too close to the presidential election, noting that Justice Department policies and tradition prohibit taking public steps in a case with potential electoral ramifications.

Others, though, said the prosecutors first approached senior officials at a time when those policies do not normally apply, and that Justice Department officials expressed other objections.

The case sat for months, though after November's election, prosecutors in Manhattan renewed their bid for a search warrant, people familiar with the matter said. Officials in the deputy attorney general's office again turned them down, the people said.

One person said officials harbored concerns about the strength of the evidence, and that the renewed request was coming during Trump's bid to challenge the election results. Giuliani played a key role in that effort.

Career Justice Department officials, though, felt their probable cause for a search warrant was strong, people familiar with the matter said. They noted that even amid Trump's post-election challenges, department leaders approved issuing a subpoena and taking other steps in another politically sensitive investigation: that of Biden's son Hunter.

The extent to which Giuliani faces serious legal jeopardy remains unclear; people familiar with the matter cautioned that just because investigators wanted to search his devices is not by itself an indication he will be charged with a crime. Giuliani was notably not among those who Trump pardoned before leaving office, despite widespread speculation that the outgoing president might do so.

The investigation represents a remarkable downfall for a former U.S. attorney who was once dubbed "America's mayor" and widely praised for his leadership of New York City in the wake of 9/11. In the 1980s, Giuliani had led the same federal prosecutor's office now leading the investigation into his conduct.

Giuliani once fancied himself a possible secretary of state for Trump, and he served as the president's personal lawyer during the special counsel investigation into possible coordination between Trump's 2016 campaign and Russia to influence that year's election. All the while, he maintained a lucrative consulting and legal practice while working for the president, taking on clients from all over the world while wielding considerable influence inside the U.S. government.

His eclectic efforts raised some alarm inside Trump's administration. At one point, then-Attorney General William P. Barr, warned Trump that Giuliani had become a liability. But Trump never distanced himself, even as Giuliani's legal woes seemed to intensify and questions mounted about possible conflicts between his work for the president and his work for foreigners.

For his part, Giuliani has insisted he kept the two roles separate.

- - -

Jacobs reported from New York. The Washington Post's Julie Tate contributed to this report.
(Natural News) After promising to shut them all down because Orange Man Bad, the White House occupier known as Joe Biden has decided to instead reopen the border cages that are used to imprison the children of illegal aliens and other unaccompanied minors.

Directly contradicting what he spewed all across the campaign trail known as his basement, China Joe ordered his regime to reopen a U.S.-Mexico overflow facility in Texas that has chain link fencing cubes inside of it, which is where illegal alien children are kept.

CNN immigration reporter Priscilla Alvarez tweeted that the Biden regime reopened the facility because of an increase in apprehensions and reduced capacity limits at other facilities due to Covid-19.

When commenters flooded Alvarezs Twitter account to point out the hypocrisy of Biden doing exactly what he criticized President Donald Trump for doing, several commenters suffering from extreme cognitive dissonance defended the move as necessary to ensure the safety of the unaccompanied children.

Holy s***, everyone that replies to you is insane, wrote one angry person named David Jones to Alvarez.

You cant have children walking around unaccompanied. These are kids with no parents no nothing. The article even states they try and find a sponsor within the states while their case is tried. Holy s***.

Interestingly, these same folks said the opposite when Trump was officially in charge of the border cages. Back then, Trumps haters squealed that keeping children in cages, even for their own safety while their cases were sorted out, was cruel and unusual punishment.

Now that Xiden is doing it, everyone is just fine with children being kept in cages because they have nowhere else to go and cannot just be thrown back out onto the street. Amazing how that works, eh?

Facts: Obama made the cages and Biden signed off on them

While working under Barack Obama as vice president, Beijing Biden actually signed the compact responsible for creating these border cages in the first place.

As tens of thousands of illegal immigrant children were being trafficked across Americas southern border under their watch, Obama and Biden set up the process that allowed some of them to be apprehended and held like caged animals.

This is part of Obamas legacy, by the way. The border cages are all his, and yet those who hate Trump and blame him for the cages have shut their ears, eyes and minds to the truth that is right in front of them, if only they were willing to investigate.

When Obama was occupying the White House, the complicit media made sure to call them overflow facilities, if they even mentioned them at all. While Trump was in office, they were always to be referred to as cages while being paired up with images of children with shiny silver blankets lying on concrete floors.

With Biden at the helm once again, illegal immigration is on the rise as this latest usurper-in-chief sells out what remains of America in order to please his foreign masters.

Joe Biden has encouraged more illegal immigration, writes Bonchie for Red State.

That means more children will cross alone in an attempt to be placed with family members. It also means more children will cross with people who arent actually their parents. That means you need more detention facilities.

Whenever a child is removed from his or her parents, it is important for our readers to remember that the Ninth Circuit Court is to blame, not Trump.

Further, almost all children that are in these facilities long term are there because they were unaccompanied in the first place. Every single one of those details was as true under Trump as they are under Biden, Bonchie says.

More related news about mainstream media deception can be found at Propaganda.news.

Sources for this article include:

RedState.com

NaturalNews.com
A sombre group of elected lawmakers convened to debate a question that would have high stakes for former president Donald Trump.

At issue was whether Mr Trump had flagrantly violated commitments hed once pledged to uphold, and if he should be held accountable for comments that his lawyers are now seeking to downplay.

The setting? A virtual meeting of the Palm Beach, Florida, town council.

While many Americans  including Mr Trump himself  were following the impeachment proceedings in the US Senate, elected officials in the affluent island community were preoccupied by a different argument about the former president.

After discussing an inlet sand transfer and the purchase of a municipal generator, they turned their attention to whether Mr Trump should be allowed to continue living at Mar-a-Lago, the private club where he has been in self-imposed exile since leaving

the White House.

As The Washington Posts Manuel Roig-Franzia previously reported, Mr Trump struck a deal with the town of Palm Beach in 1993 when he sought to turn what had been a sprawling single-family home into a private club.

Members would be permitted to stay at Mar-a-Lago for only seven days at a time, preventing anyone from making it a permanent residence. Mr Trump himself didnt intend to live there, his attorney assured the town council, except that he will be a member of the club and would be entitled to use its guest rooms.

Neighbours contend that by making Mar-a-Lago his primary residence  and spending the past three weeks there while reportedly licking his wounds  Mr Trump is flouting the terms of that 1993 agreement.

But their main concern is that the presence of the former president will detract from what an attorney on Tuesday described as the genteel atmosphere of Palm Beach.

We feel that this issue threatens to make Mar-a-Lago into a permanent beacon for his more rabid, lawless supporters, added Philip Johnston, who represents a group called Preserve Palm Beach, according to the South

Florida Sun Sentinel.

Palm Beachs millionaires and billionaires treasure their privacy, and Mr Trumps frequent visits during his presidency  which meant that entire streets were blocked off and traffic came to a standstill  were an ongoing source of frustration.

But his Florida attorney, John B Marion, argued that Trump is a technically an employee of Mar-a-Lago, making him exempt from the rule that limits how long members can stay on the premises.





Read More

 Washington Post
LONDON : Tesla boss Elon Musk is a poster child of low-carbon technology. Yet, the electric carmakers backing of bitcoin this week could turbo-charge global use of a currency thats estimated to cause more pollution than a small country every year.

Tesla Inc revealed on Monday that it had bought $1.5 billion of bitcoin and would soon even accept it as payment for cars, sending the price of the cryptocurrency though the roof.

So, whats the problem, you may ask? Bitcoins virtual, so its not like its made from paper or plastic, or even metal.

The digital currency is created when high-powered computers compete against other machines to solve complex mathematical puzzles, an energy-intensive process that currently often relies on fossil fuels, particularly coal, the dirtiest of energy sources.

At current rates, such bitcoin mining" devours about the same amount of energy annually as the Netherlands did in 2019, the latest available data from the University of Cambridge and the International Energy Agency shows.

Bitcoin production is estimated to generate between 22 and 22.9 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions a year, or between the levels produced by Jordan and Sri Lanka, according to a 2019 study in scientific journal Joule.

The landmark inclusion of the cryptocurrency in Teslas investment portfolio could complicate the companys stated zero-emissions ethos, according to some investors, at a time when ESGenvironmental, social and governanceconsiderations have become a major factor for global investors.

We are of course very concerned about the level of carbon dioxide emissions generated from bitcoin mining," said Ben Dear, CEO of Osmosis Investment Management, a sustainable investor managing around $2.2 billion in assets that holds Tesla stock in several portfolios.

We hope that when Teslas bitcoin ventures are over, they will concentrate on measuring and disclosing to the market their full suite of environmental factors, and if they continue to buy or indeed start mining bitcoin, that they include the relevant energy consumption data in these disclosures."

Tesla did not respond to a request for comment.

Green coin

Still, its not all eco-doom and gloom, and Teslas bet on bitcoin comes amid growing attempts in the cryptocurrency industry to mitigate the environmental harm of mining. This movement could be advanced by billionaire entrepreneur Musk, who this week separately offered $100 million for inventions that could pull carbon dioxide from the atmosphere or oceans.

The entrance of big corporations into the crypto market could also boost incentives to produce green bitcoin" using renewable energy, some sustainability experts say. They add that companies could buy carbon credits to compensate too. Yet, in the shorter term, Teslas disclosure of its bitcoin investment, made in a securities filing, could indirectly serve to exacerbate the environmental costs of mining.

Other companies are likely to follow its lead by buying into the currency, investors and industry experts say. Greater demand, and higher prices, lead to more miners competing to solve puzzles in the fastest time to win coin, using increasingly powerful computers that need more energy.

Bitcoin has already jumped as much as 18% just over the past one week, breaking through the prior top of almost $42,000.

Even before announcing Teslas bet on bitcoin, Musk said he was a supporter of bitcoin on a social audio app and made multiple tongue-in-cheek references on Twitter to Dogecoina Shiba Inu-themed crypto started as a jokesending prices soaring.

Mastercard Inc. is the latest mainstream firm to embrace digital assets this week, announcing plans to begin allowing cardholders to transact in certain cryptocurrencies. The company is also actively engaging" with central banks around the world on their plans to launch new digital currencies, Mastercard said in a blog post on Wednesday.

Mastercards plans to integrate crypto payments represents another indicator of the deep structural shifts taking place in our financial infrastructure," said John Wu, president of Ava Labs. Incumbent payment platforms are embracing digital currency solutions that are more equipped for the borderless, internet-enabled economy."

Twitter Inc. has also done some upfront thinking" around how to handle bitcoin, including if employees and vendors ask to be paid in the cryptocurrency and whether the firm needs to have the digital asset on its balance sheet, CFO Ned Segal said in an interview on CNBC.

These are just the early innings of corporate adoption, as digital currencies are beginning to play a larger role in robust balance sheet management," said Nathan Cox, chief investment officer at Two Prime, an investment firm specialized in digital asset and derivative strategy management.

Detractors, though, maintain that speculators are behind bitcoins rise and the bubble will once again burst. Besides, while Teslas $1.5 billion crypto investment does seem large, it is a drop in the ocean compared to the holdings of Americas blue-chip corporates. The purchase is worth just 0.05% of about $2.79 trillion of cash and cash-equivalents held on the balance sheets of S&P 500 members, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

Wall Street Bets, the popular Reddit forum at the center of the recent retail investor frenzy, is talking about cryptocurrencies as well. The unverified Twitter account Wallstreetbets mod" posted a call this week to buy bitcoin and marijuana stocks.

Experimental projects

Its (bitcoin) not an (environmentally) sustainable investment and its hard to make it sustainable with the kind of system it is built on," said Sanna Setterwall, a consultant at corporate sustainability advisory South Pole.

Estimates on bitcoins reliance on fossil fuels versus renewables vary, with detailed data on the bitcoin mining industrys energy mix hard to come by.

Projects from Canada to Siberia are striving for ways to wean bitcoin mining away from fossil fuels, or at least to reduce its carbon footprint, and make the currency more palatable to mainstream investors.

SJ Oh, a former bitcoin trader based in Hong Kong and a self-professed tree hugger", was aware that his passion for the environment was somewhat at odds with his day job. So, a year ago, he co-founded Pow.re, a firm that runs green bitcoin mining operations in the Canadian subarctic.

Located in Labrador, Pow.res machines run on hydropower, with plans to repurpose the heat generated by the mining to serve local agriculture, heating and other needs, he said.

Overwhelmingly, I do think there will be a concerted effort by the bitcoin industry to be environmentally friendly," said Oh, who believes Musk and his company can come up with better methods. Tesla is one of the greenest companies on the planet so Im sure theyll figure it out."

Other projects aimed at reducing bitcoins carbon impact include that run by an arm of Russian gas producer Gazprom in the Khanty-Mansi region of Siberia.

There, power generated by flare gasa by-product from oil extraction usually burned offis used for cryptocurrency mining. The process leaves a lower carbon footprint than coal power, said Gazprom Neft, the unit behind the project.

In theory, blockchain analysis firms say, it is possible to track the source of bitcoin, raising the possibility that a premium could be charged for green bitcoin. Stronger climate change policies by governments around the world might also help.

Its not so much bitcoin that is the problem," said Yves Bennaim, the founder of 2B4CH, a Switzerland-based cryptocurrency think-tank. People are saying its energy intensive, therefore, its polluting. But that is just the nature of the energy we are using today. As bitcoin goes up, there will be more incentive to make investments in renewable sources of energy."

Central bank scrutiny

However, it is early days for such green projects, and some ESG experts say bitcoin could have a tough task being accepted by mainstream investors en masse in the foreseeable future.

I still think the big players will refrain from bitcoin for these particular reasonsone being very a negative climate angle to it, given the way its mined, and two, the compliance and ethical issues related to it," said Sasja Beslik, head of sustainable business development at Bank J. Safra Sarasin in Zurich.

Beyond the mounting ESG concerns, the most important wild card remains regulatory scrutiny from central banks. US treasury secretary Janet Yellen, speaking at a forum for financial sector innovation, warned that misuse of cryptocurrencies was a growing problem. Yellen has previously raised concerns about the use of cryptocurrencies in illicit financing.

A top Bank of Canada official this week termed the recent spike in cryptocurrency prices as a speculative mania," and said such assets dont have the qualities to become the money of the future.

In a speech on payments innovation, Deputy Governor Tim Lane said costly, energy-intensive verification methods and unstable purchasing power makes cryptocurrencies like bitcoin a flawed" method of payment.

The recent spike in their prices looks less like a trend and more like a speculative maniaan atmosphere in which one high-profile tweet is enough to trigger a sudden jump in price," said Lane, according to prepared remarks provided to reporters.

For several years, the Bank of Canada has been analysing which circumstances might lead Canada to decide to issue a digital currency as a sort of contingency should the need arise. In his speech, Lane said the shift to online activities caused by the pandemic is forcing the central bank to accelerate those efforts.

Our view remains unchanged: a digital currency is by no means a foregone conclusion," said Lane. That said, the world has been changing even faster than we expected."

The Bank of Canada is monitoring scenarios where it could decide to issue its own digital currency. For example, if the use of cash is restricted or eliminated or if private cash-like assets were to make serious inroads.

Stablecoinswhose value is pegged to some external assetcan be more stable than cryptocurrencies, Lane said. But if demand for such cash-like securities does surface, it should be central banks who issue them, he said.

Only a central bank can guarantee complete safety and universal access, and with public interestnot profitsas the top priority," according to Lane. We will issue such a currency only if and when the time is right."

The China angle

While regulation and central bank forbearance will remain tricky issues well into this decade, industry players and academics warn that the dominance of Chinese miners and the lack of motivation to swap cheap fossil fuels for more expensive renewables means that there arent any quick fixes to the emissions problem either.

Chinese miners account for about 70% of bitcoin production, data from the University of Cambridges Centre for Alternative Finance shows. They tend to use renewable energymostly hydropowerduring the rainy summer months, but fossil fuelsprimarily coalfor the rest of the year.

Every miners objective is making a profit, so they dont care about what kind of energy they use, if it is generated by hydro, wind, solar or burning coal," said Jack Liao, CEO of Chinese mining firm LightningAsic, adding that government incentives for miners to favour renewable energy might help.

Others are less optimistic that significant change is on the horizon. Production of renewables is extremely volatile. Its not ideal as a consistent form of power," said Alex De Vries, the founder of research platform Digiconomist. The problem is that the miners that will last the longest will be the ones using cheap fossil fuels, simply because it is the cheapest and more stable source." reuters

Bloomberg contributed to the story.

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Biden said he has approved a new executive order enabling US to immediately sanction the military leaders who directed the coup, their business interests, as well as close family members

US President Joe Biden has announced a series of sanctions on the military leaders of Myanmar in response to their recent action to overthrow a democratically elected leadership in a coup.

"Today I'm announcing a series of actions that we're taking to begin imposing consequences on the leaders of the coup. The US government is taking steps to prevent the generals from improperly having access to the $1 billion in Burmese government funds held in the United States," Biden told reporters at the White House on Wednesday.

Biden said he has approved a new executive order enabling US to immediately sanction the military leaders who directed the coup, their business interests, as well as close family members.

"We will identify a first round of targets this week. We are also going to impose strong export controls. We are freezing US assets that benefit the Burmese government, while maintaining our support for healthcare, civil society groups, and other areas that benefit the people of Burma directly," Biden said.

As protests grow, violence against those asserting their democratic rights is unacceptable, Biden said the US is going to keep calling it out. The people of Burma are making their voices heard. And the world is watching, he said.

In his first public address on Myanmar, which the US and several other western countries continue to call it by its previous name of Burma, Biden demanded that military must relinquish the power it seized and demonstrate respect for the will of the people of Burma as expressed in their November 8th election.

Last week, the United States helped bring together the UN Security Council, which issued a strong statement in support of Burmese democracy. This week, the administration will use its renewed engagement on the Human Rights Council to strengthen the world's commitment to human rights in Burma, he said.

"Today, I again call on the Burmese military to immediately release the democratic political leaders and activists that they're now detaining, including Aung San Suu Kyi. And also Win Myint, the President, he said.

Biden said that the assault on Burma's transition to democracy remains an issue of deep bipartisan concern. We've consulted at length, for example, with Senator McConnell, who's had a very keen interest in this, and his team. We welcomed their helpful insights, he said.

Senator Bob Menendez, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, welcomed Biden's announcement that his administration will take concrete and targeted measures to demonstrate to the Burmese military that their actions are unacceptable.

"As I've said before, there must be real consequences if Aung San Suu Kyi and the rest of Burma's elected leaders are not immediately freed and allowed to resume their rightful place at the head of a civilian government, he said.

Meanwhile, Congressman Gregory Meeks, Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, and Ami Bera, Chairman of the Asia, the Pacific, Central Asia, and Nonproliferation Subcommittee, on Wednesday held a briefing on the situation in Burma.

"Members expressed concern for the safety of those illegally detained by the military and expressed support for the administration's commitment to review the reimposition of sanctions, among other policy options, to hold the Burmese military accountable for the coup, they said in a joint statement.

"We urge the Burmese military to accept the will of the people and will continue to engage the Biden administration and likeminded partners and allies to support Burma's progress toward democracy, the two top lawmakers said.

State Department Spokesperson Ned Price told reporters that as protests grow, Burma's military leaders need to know that violence against those who peacefully assert their democratic rights will not be tolerated. The United States will take note of those who stand with the people of Burma at this moment of crisis, he asserted.

Price said the US stands with the people of Burma and support their right to assemble peacefully, including their right to protest peacefully in support of the democratically elected government, the right to freedom of expression, including the freedom to seek, receive, and impart information both online and offline.

The fact that we continue to see these demonstrations throughout the streets in Burma indicate where the Burmese people are, what their aspirations for democracy are. We will stand with them, he said.
Officers responding to a ShotSpotter alert found Quiles unresponsive on a sidewalk at the Trumbull address, shot in the head. He was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where he was pronounced dead just before 8 a.m., according to police and the Cook County medical examiners office.
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'Return' Offers Parents a Game Plan for Bringing Their Children Back to the Catholic Faith "Return" by Brandon Vogt, now available through Word on Fire, addresses the crisis of disaffiliation in the Catholic Church



NEWS PROVIDED BY

Word on Fire Catholic Ministries

Feb. 11, 2021



IRVING, Texas, Feb. 11, 2021 /



The statistics are troubling: 6.5 people leave the Catholic Church for every one that joins, and 50% of young people who were raised Catholic are no longer Catholic today. The Catholic Church is hemorrhaging young people. Behind these statistics are countless stories of wounded families. Millions of mothers and fathers are longing for their prodigal children to come home to the Church, crying: "Where did we go wrong?"



The passive wait-and-see approach is no longer an option. "Return" looks at the real reasons why our young people drift away and offers a game plan to bring them home.



Brandon Vogt is the Senior Content Director at Bishop Robert Barron's Word on Fire Catholic Ministries. He's the author of ten books, several of which have been #1 Amazon bestsellers and have earned First Place awards from both the Catholic Press Association and the Association of Catholic Publishers. He also hosts the weekly Word on Fire Show podcast with Bishop Barron, as well as "The Burrowshire Podcast" with Fr. Blake Britton. Vogt's work has been featured by NPR, Fox News, CBS, EWTN, Vatican Radio, Our Sunday Visitor, National Review, and Christianity Today.



"Despite all the challenges facing the Church today," Vogt notes, "from COVID to the sexual abuse crisis fallout, I still think our biggest problem remains attrition. We're hemorrhaging young people from the Churchand of course COVID isn't helping that trend. This is the problem for Catholic parents and leaders of our generation, the greatest challenge of our time: How do we propose the Gospel to our young people in a compelling way? How do we convince our kids that Catholicism is true, good, and beautiful? And if they've already drifted from the Church, how do we draw them back? I think this book can help. For parents nearing despair over their fallen-away children, this book offers more than mere inspiration and hope, good as those things are. It offers a clear, practical game plan that works."



Word on Fire Catholic Ministries exists to draw people into the Body of Christ, which is the Church, and thereby give them access to all the gifts that Jesus wants his people to enjoy. To be most effective in this mission, Word on Fire places an emphasis and urgency on the use of contemporary forms of media and innovative communication technologies.



Return: How to Draw Your Child Back to the Church

by Brandon Vogt

February 9, 2021

Paperback, 216 pages

Word on Fire

wordonfire.org/return/



SOURCE Word on Fire Catholic Ministries



CONTACT: Will Sipling, Communications Director,

866-928-1237,



Share Tweet NEWS PROVIDED BYFeb. 11, 2021IRVING, Texas, Feb. 11, 2021 / Christian Newswire / -- Bishop Barron's Word on Fire Catholic Ministries has released Brandon Vogt's book "Return: How to Draw Your Child Back to the Church." The book's release is accompanied by a free small-group study guide produced by Word on Fire for parishes, families, and other small groups to use while reading the book together.The statistics are troubling: 6.5 people leave the Catholic Church for every one that joins, and 50% of young people who were raised Catholic are no longer Catholic today. The Catholic Church is hemorrhaging young people. Behind these statistics are countless stories of wounded families. Millions of mothers and fathers are longing for their prodigal children to come home to the Church, crying: "Where did we go wrong?"The passive wait-and-see approach is no longer an option. "Return" looks at the real reasons why our young people drift away and offers a game plan to bring them home.Brandon Vogt is the Senior Content Director at Bishop Robert Barron's Word on Fire Catholic Ministries. He's the author of ten books, several of which have been #1 Amazon bestsellers and have earned First Place awards from both the Catholic Press Association and the Association of Catholic Publishers. He also hosts the weekly Word on Fire Show podcast with Bishop Barron, as well as "The Burrowshire Podcast" with Fr. Blake Britton. Vogt's work has been featured by NPR, Fox News, CBS, EWTN, Vatican Radio, Our Sunday Visitor, National Review, and Christianity Today."Despite all the challenges facing the Church today," Vogt notes, "from COVID to the sexual abuse crisis fallout, I still think our biggest problem remains attrition. We're hemorrhaging young people from the Churchand of course COVID isn't helping that trend. This is the problem for Catholic parents and leaders of our generation, the greatest challenge of our time: How do we propose the Gospel to our young people in a compelling way? How do we convince our kids that Catholicism is true, good, and beautiful? And if they've already drifted from the Church, how do we draw them back? I think this book can help. For parents nearing despair over their fallen-away children, this book offers more than mere inspiration and hope, good as those things are. It offers a clear, practical game plan that works."Word on Fire Catholic Ministries exists to draw people into the Body of Christ, which is the Church, and thereby give them access to all the gifts that Jesus wants his people to enjoy. To be most effective in this mission, Word on Fire places an emphasis and urgency on the use of contemporary forms of media and innovative communication technologies.Return: How to Draw Your Child Back to the Churchby Brandon VogtFebruary 9, 2021Paperback, 216 pagesWord on FireSOURCE Word on Fire Catholic MinistriesCONTACT: Will Sipling, Communications Director,866-928-1237, communications@wordonfire.org

[February 11, 2021] Ritchie Bros. achieves strong pricing in US$47+ million auction in Houston, TX

A record 14,900+ bidders from 71 countries registered for the February auction, up 68% YOY HOUSTON, Feb. 11, 2021 /CNW/ - Ritchie Bros.' 100% online auctions continue to drive strong results for consignors in 2021. This week, the company sold more than 4,600 items located at its Houston, TX auction site to online buyers around the world for US$47+ million. The two-day auction attracted 14,900+ bidders, which is up 68% from the same auction last year and a new record for the site. "With our auctions 100% online we are really able to flex our digital muscle and show how Ritchie Bros. is uniquely positioned to drive demand like no other," said Alan McVicker, Regional Sales Manager, Ritchie Bros. "Continuous innovations in our online experience and marketing approaches are driving significant increases in online page views to our websites, pre-registrations for our events, and PriorityBids on items. All of these are great indicators for the momentum building into our massive Orlando auction next week and all our upcoming events, including our next Texas auction in Fort Worth on March 17 and 18." Total equipment pageviews for the Houston auction were up 70% year over year, while per lot pageviews were up 112%. Once online, customers added items to their watchlists, which were up 110% per item. The auction also saw 33,000+ PriorityBids placed on items ahead of the auction. More than 650 consignors sold equipment in this week's Houston auction. Equipment highlights included 315+ truck tractors, 115+ excavators, 85+ skid steer loaders, 50 dozers, and more. Specific sales highlights include a 2000 Liebherr LR1400/1 400-ton crawler crane that sold for US$505,000 to a buyer from Utah; a 2013 Caterpillar D8T dozer that sold for US$290,000 to a buyer from Texas; and a 2018 John Deere 460E 6x6 articulated dump truck that sold for US$220,000 to a buyer from Manitoba, Canada. "We attracted a record number of registrants and achieved strong pricing across all equipment categories," added Mr. McVicker. Approximately 61 percent of the equipment in the Houston auction was purchased by out of state buyers, including 13 percent sold to international buyers from as far away as Australia, Germany, and the United Arab Emirates. AUCTION QUICK FACTS: HOUSTON, TX (FEBRUARY 2020) Gross Transaction Value (GTV): US$47+ million Total Registered Bidders: 14,900+

Total Number of Lots: 4,600+

Total Number of Consignors: 650+



RitchieBros.com. About Ritchie Bros.:

Established in 1958, Ritchie Bros. (NYSE and TSX: RBA) is a global asset management and disposition company, offering customers end-to-end solutions for buying and selling used heavy equipment, trucks and other assets. Operating in a number of sectors, including construction, transportation, agriculture, energy, oil and gas, mining, and forestry, the company's selling channels include: Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers, the world's largest industrial auctioneer offers live auction events with online bidding; IronPlanet, an online marketplace with featured weekly auctions and providing the exclusive IronClad Assurance equipment condition certification; Marketplace-E, a controlled marketplace offering multiple price and timing options; Mascus, a leading European online equipment listing service; and Ritchie Bros. Private Treaty, offering privately negotiated sales. The Company's suite of solutions also includes Ritchie Bros. Asset Solutions and Rouse Services LLC, which together provides a complete end-to-end asset management, data-driven intelligence and performance benchmarking system. Ritchie Bros. also offers sector-specific solutions including GovPlanet, TruckPlanet, and Kruse Energy, plus equipment financing and leasing through Ritchie Bros. Financial Services. For more information about Ritchie Bros., visit RitchieBros.com.

Photos and video for embedding in media stories are available at rbauction.com/media. View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ritchie-bros-achieves-strong-pricing-in-us47-million-auction-in-houston-tx-301226730.html SOURCE Ritchie Bros.

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Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen acknowledged the pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong in a Lunar Year message on February 10 and urged them to keep faith and dont give up. She said that even though democracy is not perfect, it is human kinds best system. Democratic Taiwan has appeared to become a safe haven for many Hong Kong residents who fled the city under the Chinese governments control over the stringent clampdown on the dissent after Beijing introduced a new tough security law last year following several months of demonstrations.

Tsai, President of Taiwan, the island that China still considers to be its own territory, offered a sense of support for the protesters who led the gruesome, lengthy independence movement in Hong Kong that joined China under One Country, Two Systems arrangement. Taiwan Presidents remarks can irk China as Beijing has denounced the island for encouraging violence and criminality.

In a message on Wednesday, a day before Thursdays Lunar Year eve, that also marks the most important holiday in the Chinese-speaking world, Tsai expressed gratitude towards many friends who speak Cantonese and follow her on Facebook. The language is most widely spokes by Hong Kongers.

Please believe that although the democratic system is perhaps not perfect, it remains to date the best system for human society. Please keep the faith and dont give up, she said in Mandarin, then switched to Cantonese to say happy new year.

Read - Taiwan Says Ties With US Strong Amid Threats From China

Read - Taiwan Concerned About Chinese Military Presence

Tsai expresses best wishes to China

On Tuesday, Taiwan President even extended her wishes to China for the new year while also stressing that she would not give in to Chinese pressure. Tsai reiterated a call for dialogue to resume with the Chinese government, a move previously dismissed by Beijing outrightly. China has also blamed Tsais democratic government for triggering the current tensions between the island and the mainland. Meanwhile, China has also stepped up its military activity near Taiwan especially in the recent months and last week, the Chinese government official noted that independence means war.

Read - China Flags Taiwan As Core Issue, Asks US To Rectify 'mistakes' Of Trump Admin's Aggressive Policies

Read - China Flags Taiwan As Core Issue, Asks US To Rectify 'mistakes' Of Trump Admin's Aggressive Policies


According to the charges, staff asked Ulrich if they could help him when he entered the clinic, but he pulled out a handgun and shot one staff member in the back and another in the abdomen. He then went into the clinics interior and shot a third person twice in the upper leg as that person was trying to flee, and he shot a fourth person six times, including in the chest, abdomen and back.
VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / February 11, 2021 / (TSXV:DEV.P) CT Developers ("CT" or the "Company"), a capital pool company, is pleased to announce that it has entered into a definitive agreement dated February 10, 2021 (the "Definitive Agreement") with Magna Mining Corp. ("Magna") and 2813443 Ontario Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company ("Subco"), which shall govern the Company's qualifying transaction (the "Qualifying Transaction") pursuant to Policy 2.4 - Capital Pool Companies (the "Policy") of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "Exchange"). The Definitive Agreement supersedes the non-binding letter of intent dated November 3, 2020 (the "LOI") entered into between CT and Magna.

Overview of the Qualifying Transaction

Pursuant to the Definitive Agreement, the parties will complete a three-cornered amalgamation (the "Amalgamation") whereby Magna will amalgamate with Subco and, pursuant thereto, all of the common shares of Magna (the "Magna Shares") will be cancelled and CT will issue 1.625 common shares in the capital of the Company (the "CT Shares") in consideration for each such Magna Share so cancelled (the "Exchange Ratio"). Prior to the completion of the Amalgamation, CT will complete a consolidation on the basis of 4 pre-consolidation CT Shares for each post-consolidation CT Share (the "Consolidation"). In addition, each convertible, exchangeable, or exercisable security of Magna shall be exchanged for a convertible exchangeable, or exercisable security, as applicable, of CT on substantially the same economic terms and conditions as the original convertible, exchangeable or exercisable security of Magna based on the Exchange Ratio.

On the closing of the Concurrent Financing (as defined below), the number of CT Shares to be issued by CT to acquire Magna is anticipated to be 61,570,304 CT Shares (which shares will be issued on a post-Consolidation basis). Following completion of the Qualifying Transaction, it is anticipated that there will be approximately 63,717,434 CT Shares issued and outstanding, with holders of Magna Shares holding approximately 96.63% of such shares, current holders of CT Shares holding approximately 2.96% and the Agents (as defined below) holding the remaining 0.41% the outstanding CT Shares.

The Amalgamation is not a Non Arm's Length Qualifying Transaction pursuant to Section 2.1 of the Policy and, as such, the Company is not required to obtain shareholder approval for the Amalgamation. However, the Company intends to hold its annual and special meeting of shareholders to approve certain matters ancillary to the Amalgamation, including a name change, the Consolidation and change in the board of directors effective upon closing of the Qualifying Transaction ("Closing"), as well as standard annual meeting business. The Company has called the annual and special meeting for March 1, 2021.

Upon completion of the Amalgamation, CT will continue the business of Magna with Magna as its wholly-owned, operating subsidiary. Effective on Closing, it is anticipated that the name of CT will be changed to "Magna Mining Inc." or such other name as may be acceptable to Magna and the Exchange.

It is anticipated that all of the current officers and directors of CT will resign from their respective positions with CT. It is currently anticipated that, subsequent to the Closing, the insiders of CT will include: Jason Jessup, as a director and Chief Executive Officer and Derrick Weyrauch, as a director and interim Chief Financial Officer, and the following directors: Vern Baker, Carl DeLuca and John Seaman.

All CT Shares issued pursuant to the Qualifying Transaction, except those certain CT Shares issued to U.S. persons who are affiliates (as defined in Rule 144(a)(1) under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act")) of Magna at the time the Qualifying Transaction is submitted for vote or consent by the shareholders of Magna, will be freely tradable under applicable securities legislation but may be subject to Exchange imposed restrictions on resale.

Certain of the CT Shares to be issued to the holders of Magna Shares pursuant to the Qualifying Transaction, including up to 100% of the securities to be issued to "Principals" (as defined under applicable laws), may also be subject to escrow provisions imposed pursuant to the policies of the Exchange.

None of the securities to be issued pursuant to the Qualifying Transaction have been or will be registered under the U.S. Securities Act, or any state securities laws, and any securities issued pursuant to the Qualifying Transaction are anticipated to be issued in reliance upon available exemptions from such registration requirements pursuant to Section 3(a)(10) of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable exemptions under state securities laws. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities.

No finder's fees are payable in connection with the Qualifying Transaction.

Conditions to the Qualifying Transaction

Completion of the Qualifying Transaction is subject to the following conditions:

Receipt of all required consents or approvals;

Receipt of conditional approval from the Exchange;

Completion of closing on or before May 31, 2021, or such other date as may be agreed upon between Magna and the Company;

No prohibition at law existing for the completion of the Qualifying Transaction;

Escrow agreements having been entered into pursuant to the policies of the Exchange;

Approval of the Amalgamation by the shareholders of Magna;

Approval by shareholders of CT of the Company's stock option plan, amendments to the Company's by-laws, proposed name change and Consolidation;

The representations and warranties of each of Magna and CT being true and correct as of the date of Closing;

There being no material changes for either of Magna or CT from the date of signing the Definitive Agreement to the date of Closing;

All necessary corporate proceedings of each party having been completed and all required closing documents of each of the parties having been delivered as of the date of Closing;

Completion of the name change and Consolidation; and

Resignation of the current directors and officers of CT and the appointment, as directed by Magna, of incoming directors and officers.

Sponsorship of a qualifying transaction of a capital pool company is required by the Exchange unless exempt in accordance with Exchange policies. The parties will be seeking a waiver of any requirement for a Sponsor, but in the event a waiver is not available, will seek a sponsorship relationship for this transaction with an Exchange member firm, and will update the markets accordingly.

Concurrent Financing

In connection with the Qualifying Transaction, Magna entered into an engagement letter dated November 24, 2020 with Canaccord Genuity Corp. ("Canaccord"), as lead agent and sole bookrunner, on its own behalf and on behalf of a syndicate of agents which may be formed (the "Agents"), pursuant to which the Agents have agreed to sell, on a commercially reasonable efforts private placement basis, up to 10,770,000 subscription receipts (the "Subscription Receipts") of Magna at a price of $0.65 per Subscription Receipt (the "Issue Price") for aggregate gross proceeds to Magna of up to $7,000,500, or such other amount as Magna and the Agents may agree (collectively, the "Concurrent Financing"), of which up to $2,000,000 may be issued to investors on a president's list (the "President's List"). Each Subscription Receipt will entitle the holder thereof to receive, without payment of any additional consideration and without further action on the part of the holder thereof, one Magna Share and one-half of one Magna Share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a "Magna Warrant") upon satisfaction of certain escrow release conditions ("Escrow Release Conditions"). Each Magna Warrant will be exercisable into one Magna Share at an exercise price of $1.00 per Magna Share for a period of 18 months from the date on which the Escrow Release Conditions are satisfied, subject to the right of Magna to accelerate the expiry date of the Magna Warrants, if at any time following the date that is four months and one day following the closing date of the Concurrent Financing, the daily volume-weighted average trading price of the Magna Shares for any 10 consecutive trading days is greater than $1.50 per Magna Share (being $0.92 per CT Share after giving effect to the Amalgamation). In connection with the Amalgamation, each Magna Share and Magna Warrant issued upon conversion of a Subscription Receipt will be converted into securities of CT based on the Exchange Ratio. As a result, up to 17,501,250 CT Shares (at an effective price of $0.40 per CT Share) and 8,750,625 CT Warrants (with an exercise price of $0.615) will be issued in connection with the Amalgamation to subscribers under the Concurrent Financing.

In connection with the Concurrent Financing, Magna has, subject to regulatory approval, agreed to: (i) pay to the Agents, a fee of 6% of the gross proceeds of the Concurrent Financing (less the proceeds from investors on the President's List), payable in cash or Subscription Receipts, or any combination thereof at the option of the Agents; (ii) pay to the Agents, a cash fee of 3% of the proceeds from investors on the President's List; (iii) issue to the Agents compensation warrants ("Compensation Warrants") equal to 6% of the aggregate number of Subscription Receipts issued under the Concurrent Financing (less the number of Subscription Receipts issued to investors on the President's List); and (iv) issue to Canaccord that number of Subscription Receipts as is equal to 1.5% of the aggregate number of Subscription Receipts issued under the Concurrent Financing.

Each Compensation Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to acquire one unit (a "Broker Unit"), each Broker Unit consisting of one Magna Share and one-half of one Magna Warrant, at an exercise price equal to $0.65 for a period of 24 months following the date on which the Escrow Release Conditions are satisfied. Each Compensation Warrant will be converted into an equivalent security of CT based on the Exchange Ratio and will have an effective exercise price of $0.40.

The net proceeds of the Concurrent Financing, following satisfaction of the Escrow Release Conditions, will be used for exploration expenditures at the Shakespeare Project and for general working capital purposes.

Summary of Financial Information of Magna

The following table sets out selected financial information of Magna derived from the audited financial statements of Magna for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2020. Further information will be included in the filing statement being prepared in connection with the Qualifying Transaction, which will be filed on www.sedar.com in due course.

Balance Sheet As at September 30, 2020 Current Assets Total Assets Total Liabilities Total Shareholder's Equity $286,440 $983,706 $1,322,789 $(339,083) Income Statement Period ended September 30, 2020 Revenue Total Expenses Net Income (Loss) $120 $125,791 $(69,049)



For further information, contact:

CT Developers Ltd.

Norm Eyolfson, CEO

416.884.8601

n.eyolfson@gmail.com

Magna Mining Corp.

Jason Jessup, CEO

Jason.jessup@magnamining.com

All information contained in this news release with respect to CT and Magna was supplied by the parties, respectively, for inclusion herein, and CT and its directors and officers have relied on Magna for any information concerning such party.

Completion of the Qualifying Transaction is subject to a number of conditions, including but not limited to, Exchange acceptance and if applicable pursuant to Exchange requirements, majority of the minority shareholder approval. Where applicable, the Qualifying Transaction cannot close until the required shareholder approval is obtained. There can be no assurance that the Qualifying Transaction will be completed as proposed or at all.

Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the management information circular or filing statement to be prepared in connection with the transaction, any information released or received with respect to the transaction may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. Trading in the securities of a capital pool company should be considered highly speculative.

The Exchange has in no way passed upon the merits of the proposed transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release.

Neither the Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

This news release contains forward-looking statements relating to the timing and completion of the Qualifying Transaction, the future operations of the Company and Magna and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "will", "may", "should", "anticipate", "expects" and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact, included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding the Qualifying Transaction and the future plans and objectives of the Company and Magna are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the expectations of the Company and Magna include the failure to satisfy the conditions to completion of the Qualifying Transaction set forth above and other risks detailed from time to time in the filings made by the Company and Magna with securities regulations.

The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company and Magna. As a result, the Company and Magna cannot guarantee that the Qualifying Transaction will be completed on the terms and within the time disclosed herein or at all. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company and Magna will update or revise publicly any of the included forward-looking statements as expressly required by Canadian securities law.

SOURCE: CT Developers Ltd.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/629402/CT-Developers-Ltd-Enters-into-Definitive-Agreement-with-Magna-Mining-Inc
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), South West Zone has called on President Mohammadu Buhari to declare the Miyetti Allah ...





The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), South West Zone has called on President Mohammadu Buhari to declare the Miyetti Allah Castle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) as a terrorist group, threatening to unleash terror on killer Fulani herdsmen in the region.

The association said this was as a result of the alleged killings, kidnapping, raping and maiming of residents of the South West region by suspected killer-Fulani herdsmen.

In a statement jointly signed by the Chairmen of NANS in Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo States on Wednesday, the students umbrella body in Nigeria warned some Northern leaders and governors to call killer herdsmen to order or face the wrath of students in the South West region.

The student body lamented the rising insecurity in the South West region, following the persistent attacks by herdsmen on Yoruba land, calling on the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu, to be more proactive in curbing same.

President Mohammadu Buhari should immediately proscribe the Miyetti Allah Castle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) for shielding killer-Fulani herdsmen and promoting the wanton killings and destruction of property in the South West region.

The association said it has video evidence of Fulani herdsmen killing and maiming in the South West, adding tha,t we will no longer condone such dastardly acts on our people.

If the activities of these marauding Falani herdsmen in Yoruba land is not checked by the Federal Government, the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies, we will unleash terror on Fulani herdsmen who are killing our people on a daily basis.

We are declaring total war on the killer-herdsmen in the South West region. We can no longer fold our arms and watch these criminal elements continue to kill our people.

We will no longer do nothing while these strangers destroy Yoruba land. We will fight them with everything we have, the statement read.

The students leaders called on all the Governors of the South West States to rise up to the challenge of tackling the rampaging Fulani herdsmen head on.

According to them, students are being exposed to attacks by the marauding herdsmen, who they said have turned campuses to grazing fields at Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY), Abeokuta and the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB).

They noted that, many parts of the South West region, notably, Igangan in Oyo State, Imeko, Eggua and Iselu in Ogun State, Ilesha-Akure express road, Ife-Osun express road, Eti Ooni river and Esa Oke-Ekiti express road have been turned into war zones, where people are being kidnapped, raped and slaughtered following persistent attacks by marauding Fulani herdsmen.

Of note is the recent Igagan incident, where Fulani herdsmen have dominated the community, perpetrating their heinous acts.

We want to sound a note of warning to these killer herdsmen to desist from their persistent attacks on Yoruba land as nobody has a monopoly of violence. We are ready to match these attackers of Yoruba race with the same violence that have subjected us to.

However, we want to enjoin our brothers and sisters to continue to maintain peace and calmness. We are for a united Nigeria and we continue to demonstrate the Omoluabi and leadership traits we are known for in the South West, it was said.

While re-emphasizing that the South West is the most peace-loving zone in Nigeria, NANS said it would not hesitate to kick against all forms of threats against the peace of the region, saying, we may have to resort to the part of violence if the need be.

The students called on the Federal Government to urgently do the needful in order to curb issues that can lead to tribal war and disintegration.

It was gathered that the statement was jointly signed by Kehinde Damilola Simeon, Ogun NANS Chairman; Comrade Akinteye Babatunde, Ondo NANS Chairman; Opakunle Mayowa, Oyo NANS Chairman and Agbogunleri Micheal, Osun NANS Chairman.
Uganda's Covid-19 Response Hampered By 'Overpriced' Vaccine

The government's plan to procure 18 million doses of Covid-19 vaccine to cater for nine million Ugandans seems to have come at a heavier price than first thought. The costing of one dose of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine has caused an outcry among medical experts and the public, with some accusing the health ministry of inflating the prices. The country will reportedly pay U.S.$7 per dose for the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, while South Africa is paying U.S.$5.25 and the EU U.S.$2.16. The planned rollout will see the vaccine administered to people aged 50 and above, those with underlying health conditions, health workers, security personnel, teachers and other essential social services providers. The cost of the vaccine does not include international transportation and handling costs. As of February 11, 2021 Uganda has recorded 39,911 Covid-19 cases, 14,470 recoveries and 328 deaths.

Tre James Rudolph, 24, was arrested in December and charged with murder and having sex with a child under the age of 10

A man charged with the rape and murder of a three-month-old baby girl has been refused bail.

The baby died in hospital after being found unresponsive at a unit in Hamilton South in Newcastle's west on August 4.

Tre James Rudolph, 24, was arrested on December 16 and charged with murder and having sex with a child under the age of 10.

The arrest came after a crime scene was set up at the home and New South Wales police launched Strike Force Giffen to probe the baby's death.

Rudolph was represented by Aboriginal Legal Service solicitor Elana Scoufis at Newcastle Local Court on Wednesday but did not appear himself by video link, The Newcastle News reported.

He has not yet entered a plea to either charge.

The police prosecutor has asked for the matter to be adjourned for four weeks.

Rudolph's (left and right) arrest came after New South Wales Police launched Strike Force Giffen to probe the baby's death

His case will be heard in court again in March.

Officers from the Newcastle City Police District had established a homicide investigation in October to investigate the circumstances behind the infant's death.

Rudolph was arrested at a property in Maitland following extensive subsequent inquiries and taken to Maitland police station - where his bail was first refused.
The news that fewer than a third of Melbournes office workers returned to their desks in January would hardly be surprising to anyone who has ventured into the city. The CBD is still a long way from the bustling hub it once was.

Recent COVID-19 outbreaks in hotel quarantine  forcing the return of mask wearing inside offices  is hardly going to entice more people to reacquaint themselves with their physical workplace in the near future. But that is unlikely to be the only reason.

While some are keen to return to the office, it is difficult for others. Credit:Joe Armao

The Property Council of Australia, which carried out the survey, found that 35 per cent of respondents put a new-found preference for greater flexibility, afforded by working from home. That was the motivating factor behind their reluctance to return to the office. A much smaller percentage cited concerns about the safety of workplaces.

Such sentiment would indicate that getting people back to the office is going to take much more effort from companies than they may have thought. While current restrictions in Victoria limit private offices to 50 per cent of workers at any one time  it was meant to increase to 75 per cent until the recent outbreaks put a stop to that  it would appear that is not the greatest barrier to returning to work. There are many factors at play.
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Hi, my name is Lee Isaac Chung. And Im the writer director of Minari. So this is a scene that happens at the very beginning of the film as the family pulls up onto a plot of land, and they find this trailer home sitting there. The first person who we see getting out of a vehicle is Steven Yeun, who plays Jacob. And I filmed that wanting to evoke the feeling of a man getting off of his horse. We see coming out of the station wagon Monica played by Han Yeri and then coming out of the back of the station wagon are the two kids. Theres Anne played by Noel Kate Cho and David played by Alan Kim. So we start off the scene with three different perspectives. That was the unique challenge of this scene, start off with the father, start off with the mother, and then you see the kids perspectives. And each of them has a very different take on what this new place is. Jacob sees it as a place of opportunity. You know, he looks at the land. Hes thrilled with this new place of promise. Monica sees something that she had not signed up for. She didnt know that she was going to have to come here. She sees a house without stairs, a house in the middle of nowhere. And the kids, theyre just having fun. They see a house on wheels. So this was my way of trying to start off the film with three different unique perspectives. And to me, thats what a family is. A family has different perspectives. And somehow, they converge in a very funny way. Once we got into the field, we were all pretty aligned on the way that everybody should be approaching this new land. Jacob sees it for all its magic, and hes very excited. Steven was so good at showing his perspective of how much he loves this place, how much he sees the potential in it, you know. When I was writing this scene, I just loved that Jacob bends down, digs his hands into the dirt, and says, look at the color. And that was a moment that just came to me as I was writing this script. And I felt this joy for him. I just felt like a deep sympathy for him as well. With the direction that I gave Yeri as she plays Monica, I basically told her most of the time, theres not going to be dialogue for what she has to deliver. Everything that she has to convey has to be through her looks, her expressions, her gestures. And I told her everything that she does has to be very subtle. Garden of Eden is big. With the two kids, I just told them to go out and have fun. We didnt want what they were doing to feel staged but to always feel as though were capturing them as children.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-11 00:17:52|Editor: huaxia

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Photo taken on Feb. 9, 2021 shows the shipment of the Chinese vaccine donation in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei. Brunei's Ministry of Health said in a press release on Wednesday that the country received a batch of Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine donated by China on Tuesday and is reviewing a vaccination program. (Photo by Jeffrey Wong/Xinhua)

BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- Brunei's Ministry of Health said in a press release on Wednesday that the country received a batch of Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine donated by China on Tuesday and is reviewing a vaccination program.

In March 2020, at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Brunei provided assistance to China, which underscored the close bilateral cooperation towards managing the pandemic, the ministry said.

The ministry said they are still reviewing the plans for the distribution of the vaccine in accordance with the recommended priorities.

According to the Chinese embassy in Brunei, the sultanate's Second Minister of Foreign Affairs Haji Erywan attended the handover ceremony on Tuesday and held a discussion with Yu Hong, Chinese ambassador to Brunei.

Haji Erywan expressed his gratitude to China, saying that this is the first batch of COVID-19 vaccine received by Brunei, which is considered a gift given by the Chinese people to the people of Brunei, reflecting the long-term traditional friendship and deep mutual trust between the two countries.

He said that the Chinese vaccine would play an important role for Brunei to overcome the epidemic. Brunei is willing to take the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries and the 30th anniversary of China-ASEAN dialogue relations as an opportunity to promote bilateral relations and China-ASEAN relations to a new level, he added.

Ambassador Yu told Haji Erywan that China's COVID-19 vaccine assistance to Brunei reflects a new climax of bilateral cooperation against the COVID-19 pandemic.

"At present, global COVID-19 vaccines are mainly distributed to a few developed countries, although the vaccines are crucial for all countries to restart their economies. Under such circumstances, China's vaccine assistance to Brunei highlights the true friendship between our two countries," the ambassador said during the discussion.

Yu said that China has been earnestly acting on its pledge that once developed and deployed, Chinese vaccines will be made a global public good, contributing to the accessibility and affordability of vaccines in developing countries.

"China is providing vaccine aid to 53 developing countries, and we have exported and are exporting vaccines to 22 countries. China also actively participates in the WHO-led COVAX and decided to provide 10 million doses of vaccines to the program, mainly to meet the demand of developing countries," Yu said.

"China supports domestic companies in conducting joint R&D and manufacturing with foreign partners, and in exporting vaccines to countries that are in urgent need of vaccines, have certified Chinese vaccines, and authorized their emergency use," she added.

According to the ambassador, China's vaccine assistance to Brunei "fully reflects the high level of the China-Brunei strategic cooperative partnership and the true friendship between the two peoples."

Yu expressed hope that the vaccine assistance will help contribute to the final victory of Brunei in the fight against the COVID-19 epidemic.

Brunei reported one new imported case of COVID-19 on Wednesday, bringing the national tally to 183.

A total of 42 imported cases have been confirmed since the last local infection case on May 6, 2020. At present, Brunei has recorded 280 days without COVID-19 local infection cases. Five active cases are still being treated at the National Isolation Center and all of them are in a stable condition.

There have been three deaths resulted from COVID-19 in Brunei and 175 patients have recovered. Enditem
WASHINGTON - Dire harm from Donald Trumps false and violent incitements will vex American democracy long into the future unless the Senate convicts him of impeachment and bars him from future office, House prosecutors insisted Thursday as they concluded two days of emotional arguments in his historic trial.

In this image from video, a video from Donald Trump is shown to senators as House impeachment manager Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., speaks during the second impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump in the Senate at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021. (Senate Television via AP)

WASHINGTON - Dire harm from Donald Trumps false and violent incitements will vex American democracy long into the future unless the Senate convicts him of impeachment and bars him from future office, House prosecutors insisted Thursday as they concluded two days of emotional arguments in his historic trial.

Making their case, they presented piles of new videos of last month's deadly Capitol attack, with invaders proudly declaring they were merely obeying the presidents orders to fight to overturn the election results as Congress was certifying his defeat to Democrat Joe Biden. Trump is accused of inciting the invasion, which prosecutors said was a predictable culmination of the many public and explicit instructions he gave supporters long before his White House rally that unleashed the Jan. 6 attack.

If we pretend this didnt happen, or worse, if we let it go unanswered, whos to say it wont happen again? argued prosecutor Rep. Joe Neguse, D-Colo. Even out of office, Democrats warned, Trump could whip up a mob of followers for similar damage.

Trumps defence will take the Senate floor on Friday, arguing that as terrible as the attack was, it clearly was not the president's doing. The proceedings could finish with a vote this weekend by the senators who are sitting as impeachment jurors.

Michael van der Veen, lawyer for former President Donald Trump, removes his coat as he arrives on the third day of the second impeachment trial of Trump in the Senate, at the Capitol, Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021, in Washington. (Michael Reynolds/Pool via AP)

The Democrats, with little hope of conviction by two-thirds of the evenly divided Senate, are also making their most graphic case to the American public, while Trumps lawyers and the Republicans are focused on legal rather than emotional or historic questions, hoping to get it all behind as quickly as possible. Five people died in the Capitol chaos and its aftermath, a domestic attack unparalleled in U.S. history.

Trump's second impeachment trial, on a charge of incitement of insurrection, has echoes of last years impeachment and acquittal over the Ukraine matter, as prosecutors warn senators that Trump has shown no bounds and will pose a continuing danger to the civic order unless he is convicted. Even out of the White House, the former president holds influence over large swaths of voters.

The Democratic House members acting as prosecutors drew a direct line Thursday from Trump's repeated comments condoning and even celebrating violence  praising both sides after the 2017 outbreak at the white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia  and urging his rally crowd last month to go to the Capitol and fight for his presidency. He spread false claims about election fraud and urged his supporters to stop the steal of the presidency.

Prosecutors used the rioters' own videos from that day to pin responsibility on Trump. We were invited here, said one. Trump sent us, said another. Hell be happy. Were fighting for Trump.

They truly believed that the whole intrusion was at the presidents orders, said Rep. Diana DeGette of Colorado. The president told them to be there.

In this image from video, security video is shown to senators as House impeachment manager Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., speaks during the second impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump in the Senate at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021. (Senate Television via AP)

At the White House, President Biden said he believed some minds may be changed after senators saw chilling security video Wednesday of the deadly insurrection at the Capitol, including of rioters searching menacingly for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Vice-President Mike Pence.

Biden said he didnt watch any of the previous days proceedings live but later saw news coverage.

Though most of the Senate jurors seem to have made up their minds, making Trumps acquittal likely, the never-before-seen audio and video released Wednesday became a key exhibit.

Senators sat riveted as the jarring video played in the chamber. The footage showed the mob smashing into the building and rioters engaging in hand-to-hand combat with police, with audio of officers pleading for backup. Rioters roamed the halls chanting, Hang Mike Pence, and eerily singing out, Where are you, Nancy? in search of Pelosi.

Videos of the siege have been circulating since the day of the riot, but the graphic compilation offered a moment-by-moment retelling of one of the nations most alarming days. And it underscored how dangerously close the rioters came to the nations leaders, shifting the focus of the trial from an academic debate about the Constitution to a raw retelling of the assault.

This image from video shows one of many slides presented by Democrats prosecuting the impeachment of former President Donald Trump in the Senate at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021. The video, which showed Trump's supporters chanting "Fight for Trump!" after they stormed into the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, was used by prosecutors as they sought to connect the mob with Trump and make the case that the president had incited them to insurrection. (Senate Television via AP)

Trump attorney David Schoen took issue, saying that the presentation was offensive and that the Democrats havent tied it in any way to Trump.

He told reporters Thursday at the Capitol that he believed Democrats were making the public relive the tragedy in a way that tears at the American people and impedes efforts at unity in the country.

And by Thursday, senators sitting through a second full day of arguments appeared somewhat fatigued, slouching in their chairs, crossing their arms and walking around to stretch.

One Republican, Sen. Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma, said during a break: To me, theyre losing credibility the longer they talk.

The goal of the two-day presentation by prosecutors from the House, which impeached the outgoing president last month a week after the siege, was to cast Trump not as an innocent bystander but rather as the inciter in chief who spent months spreading falsehoods and revving up supporters to challenge the election.

This attack never would have happened but for Donald Trump, Rep. Madeleine Dean, one of the impeachment managers, said as she choked back emotion. And so they came, draped in Trumps flag, and used our flag, the American flag, to batter and to bludgeon.

Trump's lawyers are likely to blame the rioters themselves for the violence.

The first president to face an impeachment trial after leaving office, Trump is also the first to be twice impeached.

His lawyers say he cannot be convicted because he is already gone from the White House. Even though the Senate rejected that argument in Tuesday's vote to proceed to trial, the issue could resonate with Senate Republicans eager to acquit Trump without being seen as condoning his behaviour.

While six Republicans joined with Democrats to vote to proceed with the trial on Tuesday, the 56-44 vote was far from the two-thirds threshold of 67 votes needed for conviction.

Associated Press writers Jonathan Lemire and Kevin Freking in Washington, Nomaan Merchant in Houston and Michelle L. Price in Las Vegas contributed to this report.
Political activists including exiles from Myanmar hold pictures of democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi as they head towards the Myanmar embassy to stage a protest in Bangkok on November 7, 2010. (Christophe Archambault/AFP/Getty Images)

Australias Ambassador to Burma Speaks to Detained Advisor of Aung San Suu Kyi

Australias ambassador to Burma (also known as Myanmar) has spoken with Sean Turnell, the detained economics adviser to the deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi, Foreign Minister Marise Payne has said.

Our ambassador and professor Turnell discussed his health, welfare and the conditions in which he is being detained, Senator Payne said in a statement on Thursday.

We continue to call for Professor Turnells immediate release, and for his rights and welfare to be upheld, Payne said. We are pressing the Myanmar authorities for regular consular access to Professor Turnell.

Turnell, a highly regarded academic from Sydneys Macquarie University, is the director of the Myanmar Development Institute in the capital Naypyitaw and has served as an advisor to Suu Kyi since December.

Turnell said on Saturday he was being detained in the first known arrest of a foreign citizen since the Feb. 1 military coup.

I guess you will soon hear of it, but I am being detained, Turnell told Reuters on Feb. 7. Being charged with something, but not sure what. I am fine and strong and not guilty of anything.

Turnell had previously written on Twitter that he was safe. But that he was heartbroken for what the coup meant for Myanmar.

Thanks everyone for your concern yesterday. Safe for now but heartbroken for what all this means for the people of Myanmar. The bravest, kindest people I know. They deserve so much better. pic.twitter.com/RA2YvCOEF7  sean turnell (@SeanTurnell) February 1, 2021

Turnells wife Ha Vus has stood by her husband, writing on social media he had done nothing wrong. We all know that wherever he is now he will be worried.

He worked for Myanmar by using his knowledge of economic from 20 years. He is someone who brings job opportunities and jobs to Myanmar people, she said.

However, Turnell has been vocal in his criticism of the Burmese military which he believes is resistant to change and has become ensconced in the public service after the end of military dictatorship.

The military will not easily eschew the power they have held on to for decades; the military budget remains completely separate from the national budget, and the civilian arm of government has no say on the militarys spending decisions.

Former Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Alexander Downer has said that it may very difficult to get Turnell out of Burma.

Its not easy to make representations to the Myanmar military, I know from experience, Downer said.

I think we would have almost no leverage, he said. It would depend on personal relationships that the ambassador has developed, and other staff in the Australian Embassy.

Rebecca Zhu contributed to this report.
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Iran exports oil to US for first time after long interval

"Armenia" bloc top 50 MP candidates are announced

42 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Sri Lanka public beach is covered in charred plastic pellets due to fire in container ship

US preparing list of targeted sanctions on Belarus authorities

China believes it will own America by 2035, Biden says

15 al-Shabab militants killed in Somalia

Newspaper: Armenia political forces that applied for running in election impatiently await CEC decision

Newspaper: Changes are expected in Artsakh

California prisoner who considers himself Satanist beheads cellmate, dismembers his body

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM's "mutually beneficial" proposal to collapse state system?

Armenia National Security Service Reserve Officers' Union members meet with His Holiness Karekin II

EU is ready to help Armenia and Azerbaijan with border delimitation and demarcation

ARF-D member on Nikol Pashinyan: 103 years ago Armenia's founding fathers would have executed him for treason

Iran President hails brotherly ties with Azerbaijan

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

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
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Reporters Without Borders (RSF) is calling for an independent and transparent investigation into the beating of Bulgarian freelance journalist Dimitar Kenarov while in police custody in September 2020.

We condemn the Sofia polices refusal to reexamine this journalists arbitrary and violent arrest, and the absurd and dystopian narrative, worthy of George Orwell, being used by the authorities, Pavol Szalai, the head of the Paris-based media freedom watchdogs European Union and Balkans desk, said in a statement on February 11.

Szalai said a new independent investigation is needed to establish the facts and to ensure that the authorities do not tolerate such behavior towards journalists covering demonstrations.

Kenarov, who has worked for international media such as the BBC and RFE/RL, was detained while covering an anti-government protest in Sofia on September 2.

The journalist was badly beaten, handcuffed, and held for more than five hours without being able to speak to a lawyer, RSF said.

But Prosecutor-General Ivan Geshevs office on January 22 refused to open an investigation into the violent arrest, according to the Association of European Journalists.

RSF cited findings of a police investigation according to which Kenarov was invited to the police station after provoking a difference of opinion with police officers.

The police conducted an internal investigation into suspicions that police officers hit Kenarov but, according to the prosecutors office, were unable to identify those responsible, according to the group, which noted that other journalists were the victims of police violence during the September 2020 rally.

Bulgaria is ranked 111th out of 180 countries in Reporters Without Borders 2020 World Press Freedom Index -- the lowest place among the EU's 27 member nations.
The EU has rejected the UK governments calls to redraw the Brexit deals Northern Ireland protocol, as a senior European Commission official said it was the only way to protect the Good Friday Agreement.

A letter from the European Commissions vice-president, Marcos Sefcovic, inflamed tensions on the eve of his meeting with Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove on Thursday in London, where they are due to discuss the problems faced in Northern Ireland as a result of the new trading arrangements.

Mr Sefcovic expressed concerns over teething problems over the implementation of the protocol in the letter to Mr Gove on Wednesday, but added that it was now our mutually agreed legal obligation.

The EU briefly triggered Article 16 during a row over Covid-19 vaccines, before quickly withdrawing. Unionists in Northern Ireland have since called for it to be ditched.

The protocol was designed to prevent a hard border with Ireland but has resulted in additional checks for goods crossing from Great Britain into Northern Ireland, which led to empty supermarket shelves and disruption at the border last month.

Article 16 overrides part of the protocol which prevents a hard border on the island of Ireland, and was intended as an emergency measure only.

Unionists regard the new checks as a border in the Irish Sea separating Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK.

Northern Irelands first minister Arlene Foster urged Mr Gove and Boris Johnson to act on their unionist beliefs, adding that it is important that they realise that part of the United Kingdom is being treated differently.

She told ITV's Peston: And actually if you look at the protocol it talks about respecting the fact that the sovereign territory of the United Kingdom as one, it also talks about respecting the internal market of the United Kingdom.

"I don't believe that the European Union is doing either of those things and so I believe it is up to our Government to challenge them on that and the fact that they are separating out Northern Ireland from the rest of the United Kingdom."

Mrs Foster described the issues with the protocol as fundamental and said: You cant even get a pot plant from Great Britain into Northern Ireland at the moment which is absolutely incredible.

Mr Sefcovics letter was criticised by UUP leader Steve Aiken, who said it reeks of arrogance and intransigence.

He said the letter will to the opposite of protecting the Belfast Agreement and defusing tensions.

But Mr Sefcovic made it clear in his letter that the commission regards the protocol as the only way forward.

"The protocol is the solution agreed by the UK and the EU to these challenges: it is the only way to protect the Good Friday (Belfast) Agreement, preserving peace and stability and avoiding a hard border on the island of Ireland," he wrote.

"It is designed to ensure clarity and predictability for people and businesses, while minimising the disruption inevitably caused by the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union. It is a balanced outcome after years of difficult negotiations and is now our mutually agreed legal obligation.

"I therefore agree that our shared objective is to work tirelessly in order to make the protocol work. It requires full and faithful implementation by both parties.

"The Union's commitment to the objectives of the protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland, as a cornerstone of both the Withdrawal Agreement and the relationship between the European Union and the United Kingdom, is unwavering."

He also used the letter to set out concerns over the implementation of the protocol, writing that Border Control posts (BCPs) are not yet fully operational and official controls not performed in compliance with the Withdrawal Agreement protocol and EU rules.

Mr Sefcovic said the UK has not yet fulfilled its obligation to provide real-time access to all its IT systems, in particular access to key customs IT systems.

However, he wrote that he is convinced these are teething problems, for which we should be able to find swift solutions.

A UK government spokesperson said: "It is disappointing that the Commission has failed to acknowledge the shock and anger felt right across the community in Northern Ireland from its decision to trigger Article 16, and the need to take urgent steps to restore confidence as a result.

"The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster will underline the need for such action and political leadership in this regard when meeting with Vice-President Sefcovic in London tomorrow.

SRINAGAR, India (AP)  China and India are pulling back front-line troops from disputed portions of their mountain border where they have been in a standoff for months, both countries said.

The troops began the disengagement on Wednesday at the southern and northern banks of Pangong Lake in the Ladakh region, they said.

India and China will remove forward deployments in a phased, coordinated and verified manner, Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh told Parliament on Thursday.

Chinas Defense Ministry said in a statement Wednesday that both sides had started a synchronized and organized disengagement.

The tense standoff high in the Karakoram mountains began in early May, when Indian and Chinese soldiers ignored each others repeated verbal warnings, triggering a yelling match, stone-throwing and fistfights at the northern bank of Pangong Lake, where contested ridges push into the glacial lake from eight directions and are referred to as fingers.

By June it escalated and spread north in Depsang and Galwan Valley, where India has built an all-weather military road along the disputed frontier. Tensions exploded into hand-to-hand combat with clubs, stones and fists that left 20 Indian soldiers dead. China is believed to also have had casualties, but has not given any details.

Since then, both countries have stationed tens of thousands of soldiers backed by artillery, tanks and fighter jets along the de facto border called the Line of Actual Control, or LAC, with troops settling in for the harsh winter.

Each side accused the other of instigating the violence. They started military and diplomatic talks on ending the crisis, which has dramatically changed the India-China relationship.

China in its brief statement did not provide details on the disengagement. Singh said the Chinese side will keep its troop presence in the northern bank area to east of Finger 8.

India claims all eight fingers at Pangong Lake but its military presence extends up to Finger 3. The area between Fingers 4 and 8 was traditionally patrolled by both sides before the situation escalated in May, though China claimed the area.

Story continues

According to India, Chinese soldiers occupied the area between Fingers 4 and 8 last year. India responded in August by occupying at least three uninhabited mountaintops on the lakes southern bank, during which the two sides fired warning shots for the first time in 45 years, raising the specter of a full-scale military conflict and leading Beijing to furiously demand that Indian troops withdraw.

Reciprocally, the Indian troops will be based at their permanent base near Finger 3, Singh said. A similar action would be taken in the south bank area by both sides.

Singh said the two sides also agreed on a temporary moratorium on military activities on the lakes northern bank. Patrolling will be resumed only when both sides reach an agreement in diplomatic and military talks that would be held subsequently, he said.

Lt. Gen. D.S. Hooda, who was head of the Indian militarys Northern Command from 2014 to 2016 under which the Ladakh region falls, said the agreement is a significant step toward comprehensive disengagement and finding some solution to the existing issues between the two countries."

He said it would take a while for the two nations to rebuild trust and put in place new agreements. The ongoing crisis has led to a great deal of mistrust and a complete breakdown of agreements and protocols that kept peace along the control line, he said.

But some Indian experts said the development meant the Indian government had accepted Beijings position over the contested territory.

Talk about mutual withdrawal from Pangong positions is just a smokescreen!, tweeted Ajai Shukla, a former Indian military officer and a defense commentator.

From the start, Chinas real military objective in East Ladakh has been Depsang. Theres not a word to be heard about that, he said.

Depsang, one of the most strategically important areas in the region, is where India has the worlds highest landing strip and where, according to Shukla, the Chinese military has entered 15 to 18 kilometers (9 to 11 miles) inside Indian-held areas.

The LAC separates Chinese- and Indian-held territories from Ladakh in the west to Indias eastern state of Arunachal Pradesh, which China claims in its entirety. LAC is broken in parts where the Himalayan nations of Nepal and Bhutan border China. It divides areas of physical control rather than territorial claims.

India claims the Chinese-controlled Aksai Chin plateau as part of the Ladakh region. According to India, the control line is 3,488 kilometers (2,167 miles) long, while China says it is considerably shorter.

Relations between the two countries have often been strained, partly due to their disputed border. They fought a border war in 1962 that spilled into Ladakh and ended in an uneasy truce. Since then, troops have guarded the undefined border and occasionally brawled. They had agreed not to attack each other with firearms.

The current standoff is over disputed portions of a pristine mountainous landscape that boasts a glacier that feeds one of the largest irrigation systems in the world and is a critical link in Chinas massive Belt and Road infrastructure project.

India unilaterally declared Ladakh a federal territory and separated it from disputed Kashmir in August 2019, ending Indian-administered Kashmirs semi-autonomous status. It also vowed to take back the Aksai Chin Plateau.

According to some Indian and Chinese strategic experts, Indias move exacerbated existing tensions with China, leading to the June border clash.

China was among the first countries to strongly condemn the move at international forums including the U.N. Security Council.

___

Associated Press writer Huizhong Wu in Taipei, Taiwan, contributed to this report.
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. attends the 2019 Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Ripple of Hope Awards at the New York Hilton Midtown in New York on Dec. 12, 2019. (Greg Allen/Invision/AP)

Instagram Bans Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Over COVID-19 Vaccine Claims

Facebook-owned Instagram this week banned Robert Kennedy Jr. from the photograph sharing service over claims he circulated regarding COVID-19 vaccines.

We removed this account for repeatedly sharing debunked claims about the coronavirus or vaccines, Facebook said in a statement to news outlets.

Kennedy founded the Childrens Health Defense organization and regularly highlights safety concerns about vaccines. In recent posts on other social media websites, he has noted a lawsuit against Merck alleging its HPV vaccine caused infertility and a research article (pdf) that suggests the messenger RNA technology used in COVID-19 vaccines could cause more disease than the epidemic of COVID-19.

Hes also posted stories about post-COVID vaccination cases of thrombocytopenia, a rare blood disorder.

Facebook didnt cite specific posts.

Kennedys account on Facebook itself remains active. A company spokesperson told news outlets that there are no plans at this time to remove that account.

Childrens Health Defense didnt respond to a request for comment.

Facebook announced earlier this week that it was expanding efforts to remove false claims on Facebook and Instagram about COVID-19 and vaccines.

COVID-19 is the disease caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus.

A 3D-printed Facebook logo is seen placed on a keyboard in this illustration taken March 25, 2020. (Dado Ruvic/Illustration)

In addition to promoting reliable information about the disease and vaccines, Facebook said it was adding to the list of false claims it would remove. The claims include allegations that COVID-19 is manmade or manufactured, claims vaccines are not effective at preventing the disease they are meant to protect against, and claims that vaccines are toxic, dangerous, or cause autism.

The expansion came after consultation with the United Nations World Health Organization, which is closely tied to the CCP, and other leading health organizations, Facebook said.

Kennedy, 67, the son of Robert F. Kennedy and the nephew of former President John F. Kennedy, is an environmental activist who has stirred controversy with his crusading against vaccines and other sensitive topics in the modern world.

Three family members in 2019 penned an op-ed calling their relative part of a misinformation campaign surrounding vaccines, alleging he was complicit in sowing distrust of the science behind vaccines.

While cheering Kennedys advocacy against multinational organizations, the relatives said Kennedy was correct about vaccines having side effects but alleged the benefits far outweigh them and that numerous studies from many countries by many researchers have concluded that there is no link between autism and vaccines.

I grew up in a milieu where we argued every night at the dinner table, Kennedy later told Town & Country magazine when asked about the piece. We were encouraged to argue and to maintain friendships with each other, all of our family love, so I dont think its had any effect. Its just that we differ about these things.

In a blog post on Childrens Health Defense, Kennedy said his relatives defamed me and that Politico, which published the op-ed, declined to print my thoroughly sourced reply. The New York Times also declined to publish a rebuttal following another critical op-ed, he wrote last month.

Neither of these long critiques by my family members cite a single example of a factual error by me. Their complaint is that I question official pronouncements about vaccine safety, he said.

Its a bad omen for democracy when citizens can no longer conduct civil, informed debates about critical policies that impact the vitality of our economy, public health, personal freedoms and constitutional rights. Censorship is violence and this systematic muzzling of debate which proponents justify as a measure to curtail dangerous polarization is actually fueling those divisions.

Chennai: Owing to ensure physical distancing and Covid-19 safety norms there would be 25,000 additional polling booths in Tamil Nadu and the voting time will be extended by an hour. This means that the total voting booths would go up from over 68,000 to 93,000. The announcement to this effect was made by Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora, during his two-day visit, along with a team of election officials to review poll preparedness in the state.

He emphasized that efforts would be taken to ensure inducement-free and Covid-19-safe elections. The parliamentary by-poll to Kanyakumari constituency is also to be held along with the Assembly elections to 234 seats.

Regarding requests to hold the election in the last week of April, the CEC said that many political parties had asked for the same due to exams, intense summer and festivals among others. The CEC added that all sensitivities would be taken into consideration before announcing the election dates.

When asked about the effectiveness of the election commission's actions against malpractices, the CEC replied that it was on display when the Vellore lok sabha poll was rescinded and the R K Nagar by poll was rescinded twice.

It was also added that the two special expenditure observers and district level observers would be deputed for Tamil Nadu.

However, the CEC also expressed unhappiness over the functioning of the state excise department which had not adequately cracked down on malpractices and only caught the small culprits, while the big fish were spared. He said that a report on this was sought from the Additional Chief Secretary, Home who also looks after finance dept.

The CEC added that he had met and discussed with several officials regarding the smooth conduct of polls in the Southern state.

Live TV

The golden-mantled ground squirrel (Callospermophilus lateralis) is a popular sight among tourists in the Rocky Mountains--the small rodent is a photogenic creature with a striped back and pudgy cheeks that store seeds and other food.

But there's a reality that Instagram photos don't capture, said Christy McCain, an ecologist at the University of Colorado Boulder. In a new study spanning nearly 13 years, she and her colleagues discovered that the ground squirrel has joined many other small mammals in Colorado's Rocky Mountains that are making an ominous trek: They're climbing uphill to avoid warming temperatures in the state brought on by climate change.

"It's frightening," said McCain, an associate professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. "We've been talking about climate change in the Rockies for a long time, but I think we can say that this is a sign that things are now responding and responding quite drastically."

The golden-mantled ground squirrel, which is often confused for a chipmunk, lives in conifer forests in the Rockies and several other western mountain ranges.

"It is likely one of the most photographed mammals in Rocky Mountain National Park as it poses and preens on rocks near the roadside and in campgrounds," said McCain, also curator of vertebrates at the CU Museum of Natural History. "They hibernate in winter, are territorial in the summer, and they make distinctive alarm calls to notify each other of nearby dangers."

Her latest research, published this week in the journal Ecology, takes a deep dive into the squirrel's fate, and that of 46 other species of small mammals from the Front Range and San Juan Rockies--from mice to shrews and even the yellow-bellied marmot (Marmota flaviventris).

The team reports that, on average, the ranges of these critters seem to have shifted by more than 400 feet up in elevation since the 1980s. Montane mammals, or those already living at higher elevations like the ground squirrel, have taken the biggest brunt--moving up by 1,100 feet on average. It's a significant change that, if it continues, could wind up squeezing many of these animals out of Colorado entirely.

And while many of these small creatures won't ever show up on Colorado postcards, McCain said that they may be bellwethers for larger and increasingly urgent changes in the Rocky Mountains.

Passion for mountains

For McCain, the project is, in many ways, a culmination of her lifelong love of mountains.

It began in the mid-1990s when she was serving in the Peace Corps in Honduras. There, McCain was taken by how much the tropical nation's mountains resembled layer cakes: As she climbed up in elevation, mountain ecosystems transformed around her, sometimes dramatically.

"Every place you went to, there were completely different birds," she said. "The changes are so stark."

But that layer cake nature may also be the downfall of mountain ecosystems in the face of climate change. Colorado has warmed by nearly 3.5 degrees Fahrenheit since the 1980s because of human-caused climate change. As the state heats up, many scientists have predicted that ponderosa pine forests and other mountain ecosystems will have to move higher to find cooler weather. Some animals, and even entire communities, may be pushed to the tops of mountains with nowhere else to go.

McCain and her colleagues wanted to find out if that upward shift was already happening in the Rockies.

Beginning in 2008, her team visited multiple sites in Colorado's Front Range and San Juan mountains to collect records of the current ranges of 47 species of rodents and shrews. They included rare animals, such as the pygmy shrew (Sorex hoyi), which weighs less than a quarter and ranks as North America's smallest mammal. The endangered Preble's jumping mouse (Zapus hudsonius preblei), known for its long tail and big feet that are useful for swimming, also made the list. In some cases, McCain said, the habitats were so remote that the researchers traveled using horse trains to carry their equipment.

"We had to get used to really unpleasant conditions," McCain said. "We put up with being wet in the mountains and being hot in the desert, flash floods and lightning storms."

The group then compared the findings from their surveys to roughly 4,500 historic records from museum collections in the Front Range and San Juan mountains dating back to the 1880s. They included animals stored in CU Boulder's own museum, which houses nearly 12,000 mammal specimens from Colorado.

Drastic action

The results showed a complex response to climate change and other pressures. Some of the animals in the survey, McCain said, moved down in elevation, not up, while others actually saw their ranges increase since the 1980s.

But most of the study mammals shifted uphill--and not by a small amount. That was especially true for those already living at high elevations. Before 1980, the pygmy shrew, for example, was never detected above 9,800 feet in elevation. Today, its maximum extent is more than 11,800 feet. The golden-mantled ground squirrel similarly hiked up by 650 feet, or 200 meters, in the Front Range and 2,300 feet, or 700 meters, in the San Juans.

"I was expecting that we would see something between 100 to 200 meters, but we saw a lot more," McCain said. "This is way bigger than the change that has been determined in other mountain regions around the world."

The study, McCain said, paints a stark picture of a mountain range in crisis. But it's one with a silver lining: There may still be time to protect the West's iconic ponderosa pine forests, alpine meadows and scraggly tundra--but only if Coloradans and people around the world act now to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.

"It's a wake-up call," McCain said. "We have to start taking this seriously immediately if we want to have healthy mountains and ecosystems."

###

Other coauthors on the new study include Tim Szewczyk, a former graduate student at CU Boulder now at the University of Lausanne, and Sarah King of Colorado State University.
A man wears a double mask as he walks in Times Square in New York City on April 6, 2020. (Kena Betancur/Getty Images)

CDC Recommends Double Masking in New Guidelines With Surgical, Cloth Combo

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) released new guidance on Wednesday urging Americans to take steps to improve their masks and their fit to prevent getting and spreading COVID-19.

[N]ot all masks provide the same protection, the CDC explained in its guidance. When choosing a mask, look at how well it fits, how well it filters the air, and how many layers it has.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki had earlier in the day referred to a new CDC study that compared the effectiveness of double masking with a cloth and surgical mask, and knotting and tucking surgical masks.

[T]he study does show that if a person has a loose-fitting mask that they should consider options to improve that fit and this includes nose wire, knotting the ear loops on your mask, wearing a cloth mask over a medical procedure disposable masksomething we do hear quite a bit, she said.

Director of the CDC, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, said that the study found a knotted and tucked surgical mask or a double mask combination of cloth over surgical mask were found to significantly improve the wearers protection.

The study, which was conducted in a laboratory under simulated coughing and breathing, found that both adjustments improved protection from aerosolized particleswhich may contain the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, also known as COVID-19.

It found that wearing an unknotted medical mask blocked less than 50 percent of particles compared to more than 80 percent protection if both source and receiver followed the guidance.

In the breathing experiment, having both the source and the receiver wear masks modified to fit better reduce the receivers exposure by more than 95 percent compared to no mask at all, she said at a press briefing Wednesday.

The CDC guidelines do not recommend double masking with two surgical masks or KN95, and says that with any double masking, make sure you can see and breathe easily.

Walensky said research has shown that CCP virus infections and deaths have decreased when everyone in a community is required to wear masks. But with hospitalizations and deaths still elevated, it is important to make sure that people are wearing their masks effectively.

New data released from the CDC today underscores the importance of wearing a mask correctly and making sure it fits closely and snugly over your nose and mouth, Walensky said.

In this image from video, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, speaks during a White House briefing on the Biden administrations response to the COVID-19 pandemic, in Washington, on Jan. 27, 2021. (White House via AP)

We continue to recommend that masks should have two or more layers, completely cover your nose and mouth, and fit snugly against your nose and the sides of your face, she added.

In his first week in office, President Joe Biden issued an executive order mandating the wearing of a face mask on all federal lands and buildings. The president and first lady have also made many public appeals to Americans on the importance of mask-wearing via social media platforms and TV ads during the holidays and this years Superbowl.


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Interim political head of the Five Star Movement (M5S), Senator Vito Crimi addresses the media at the Quirinale palace in Rome on Jan. 29, 2021. (Alessandra Tarantino/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Italys 5-Star Gets in Tangle Over Draghi

ROMEItalys 5-Star Movement struggled on Feb. 10 to quell its deep divisions over Mario Draghis drive to form a government that risks tearing apart the anti-establishment party and delaying the creation of the Cabinet.

Party leaders who met Draghi on Feb. 6 and again on Feb. 9 had sounded upbeat about the prospects of joining the broad-based administration, which he is putting together to tackle the coronavirus health emergency and economic slump.

With pledges of support from a host of groups, including the League, Forza Italia, and the Democratic Party, Draghi doesnt need 5-Star votes. However, the movement has the largest number of lawmakers in both houses of Parliament, and its absence would undermine his efforts to build a national unity alliance.

As usual for such a major decision, 5-Star had been expected to hold an online ballot of members to take the final decision. But the leadership had to postpone the poll set for Feb. 10 after hitting fierce opposition from some of its lawmakers.

Saying yes or no to Draghi would be too simplistic  We need to vote on a programme, party chief Vito Crimi told Corriere della Sera newspaper in an interview on Feb. 10.

A new prime minister normally only reveals his program to Parliament once his ministers have been sworn in. It wasnt immediately clear if 5-Star was expecting Draghi to disclose all or part of his plans early in order to guarantee their support.

5-Star was born in 2009 as an anti-system, anti-euro protest party, and it has formed the backbone of the last two coalition governments, which both collapsed following rows with allies.

Superfluous

Posts on the party blog suggest many members are uneasy at the prospect of hooking up with a former president of the European Central Bank, despite calls from the movements founder, Beppe Grillo, to endorse the initiative.

Grillos appeals angered some party stalwarts and around 1,000 took part in a stormy Zoom call on Feb. 9 to denounce Draghi, party sources said.

I dont recognize Grillo anymore. I used to love him. He made me feel passionate. I suggested (on the call) that we should call in an exorcist and liberate him, Maria Muscara, a councillor in the southern region of Campania, told Reuters.

5-Star sources say a sizable number of its 92 senators dont want to support Draghi and might rebel even if Grillos stance is eventually backed by an online ballot, putting the future of the group at risk.

One source said lawmakers were unhappy at the idea of joining another government that included the right-wing League, its coalition partner between 2018 and 2019. They are also worried that their voice will be lost in a broad-based government.

We will be superfluous. They will be able to govern without us, a 5-Star lower house deputy said, declining to be named.

Another lawmaker, who also asked for anonymity, said that if they were to back Draghi, they would need public assurances that he would put many issues close to their heart in his program, including green policies, income support initiatives, tax cuts, and a prominent state role within the national motorways.

There was no immediate comment from Draghi or his aides.

Politicians expect Draghi to see the president before the end of Feb. 12 to confirm he has sufficient backing to form a government and to present a list of ministers.

By Angelo Amante & Giuseppe Fonte

Attorneys for Fletcher Fair, left, the aunt of Dijon Kizzee, have filed a claim against L.A. County. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

Attorneys for the family of Dijon Kizzee, who was shot and killed by Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies last summer in a case that spurred large protests, have filed a legal claim against the county alleging it failed to properly train the deputies on the use of force.

"Mr. Kizzee did nothing to justify this use of serious and unreasonable force against him," the attorneys wrote in the claim. "He was not suspected of having committed violence against any person. The deputies far outnumbered him, and were better trained and equipped to detain and handcuff him without shooting him 16 times."

The claim  filed on behalf of Kizzee's father, Edwin, and his aunt Fletcher Fair  is a precursor to a lawsuit and seeks $35 million in damages. It alleges that deputies decided to stop and detain Kizzee, a Black man, because of his race, "as opposed to any legitimate law enforcement reason."

The Sheriff's Department declined to comment on the claim, citing pending litigation, and referred The Times to a recording of a news briefing last year about the homicide investigation, which is ongoing. The Times previously reported that the deputies involved in the shooting, who were not identified in the document, were a trainee and his supervisor.

At the news briefing last year after the shooting, sheriffs officials said Kizzee, 29, was riding his bike on the wrong side of the street when he was stopped by two South L.A. deputies. Capt. Kent Wegener at the time said Kizzee made a U-turn in front of deputies, dropped his bike on the sidewalk and ran.

When one of the deputies caught up to Kizzee, Wegener said, Kizzee struck thedeputy in the face and a pistol dropped to the ground from clothes he was carrying. Officials said the weapon recovered from the scene was reported stolen in Las Vegas in 2017.

He bends over, reaches, picks up the gun and is shot as he stands with the gun in hand, Wegener said at the time. You will see that the deputy struggling with Kizzee does not arm himself until Kizzee bends down to pick up the gun he dropped.

Story continues

Much of the altercation is caught on video. But parts of the struggle with deputies right before the shooting, including the moment that Wegener said Kizzee picked up the gun, are partially obstructed by a wall and difficult to make out.

The deputies fired 19 shots. Kizzee was struck 16 times, according to a coroner's autopsy.

Kizzees family and activists have said the shooting wasnt warranted and disputed the agency's account.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
A notorious hotel in Los Angeles that is known for a host of suicides, mysterious deaths and grisly murders is the subject of a new, true-crime Netflix series.

The first time someone took their own life in The Cecil Hotel, in downtown LA, California, was on January 22, 1927, when guest Percy Ormond Cook, 52, shot himself in the head after failing to reconcile with his wife and child.

By the 1960s, so many untimely demises had taken place there it was reportedly nicknamed The Suicide by local residents, who claimed it had insanity within its walls.

But its the tragic, unexplained death of Canadian college student Elisa Lam eight years ago that has inspired the new four-episode docu-series, Crime Scene: The Vanishing at The Cecil Hotel, out on February 10.

Directed by Joe Berlinger, who released "Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes" in 2019, it centres on events that took place in January and February 2013, when the 21-year-old Lam was staying at the re-branded Stay on Main budget hotel.

After being captured on CCTV behaving erratically in an elevator, the Vancouver native went missing, and was found 19 days later naked inside the buildings rooftop water tank, after guests allegedly reported that the water tasted odd. The CCTV footage of Lam later went viral.

Berlinger told The Independent this week that her murder was "one of the first that really captured the world of amateur investigators worldwide".

He added: Even though the case is closed, some still believe the wrong conclusions have been reached, and theres a lot of allegations and conspiracies.

Amy Price, the Cecil's general manager from 2007-17, during the time Lam went missing, told USA Today that there were thousands of 911 calls and about 80 deaths during her decade working there.

On her first day, Price was given a tour by a maintenance manager.

"Along the way, he would just point and say, Someone died here, someone died there," she said.

"Suicides. Overdoses. Murders. At one point I think I just asked him: Is there a room here that maybe somebody hasnt died in?"

With a gruesome history like The Cecils many have wondered over the years why its still open and why anyone would choose to stay there.

But as always, theres a price for everything, and the hotels selling point has always been its 700 cheap rooms, still available at $36 a night.

It was built in the 1920s, right around the corner from the aptly named Skid Row, that, during the Great Depression, became a magnet for the citys homeless, sex workers, drug addicts and the generally down-and-out.

One of the most famous, unsolved murders in the US, later known as the Black Dhalia, reportedly began in its bar in 1947.

Elizabeth Short, 22, a wannabe Hollywood Star with no credits to her name, was seen drinking there in the days before she was found in the Leimart Park neighbourhood, chopped in half, with a Glasgow smile; a cut that runs from the corners of your mouth up to your ears.

It was where serial killer Richard Ramirez, more commonly called The Night Stalker, was staying in a $14 a night room when he was arrested in August 1985 for the sexual assaults and murders of dozens of people.

Ramirez reportedly threw his bloody clothing in a rubbish bin behind the hotel and walking back inside naked. It was an act considered so low down on the scale of colourful guests that it famously didnt immediately raise the suspicion of staff.

A second serial killer, Jack Unterweger, was also a frequent visitor to The Cecil in the 1990s when he was suspected of killing nearly a dozen of women, mostly sex-workers, in both the US and his home country Austria, by strangling them with their own bras.

He was arrested in Miami after fleeing the hotel and was extradited to Austria where he killed himself in prison in 1994 after being found guilty of nine murders, including three in Los Angeles.

Over the years the hotel routinely featured on true crime podcasts and Most Haunted Hotels lists.

In 2015, American Horror Story, written by Ryan Murphy, dedicated its entire fifth season to the hotel. In the series, Lady Gaga, Sarah Paulson, Kathy Bates and Angela Bassett star in 'Hotel'; a show about blood thirsty vampires and demonic ghosts who live in the Cortez hotel that is filled with suicides, overdoses and murders.

But the most tragic of all deaths might be that of an unnamed baby boy.

He was born in 1944, to the surprise of his teenage mother, Dorothy Jean Purcell, 19, when she was staying at the hotel with her 38-year-old partner.

Ms Purcell, who reportedly didnt know she was pregnant, claimed she believed him already dead, and threw him out the window.
Mumbai, Feb 11 : In a huge embarrassment, the Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari was reportedly barred from boarding a state government aircraft to fly to Dehradun and then onto Mussoorie for an official function, airport sources said here on Thursday.

The incident happened around 9 a.m. at Mumbai Airport when the Governor and his aide reached to take the state government aircraft to Dehradun.

However, there he was reportedly informed that there was no permission for him to take the flight, though the reasons are not clear.

Unfazed, Koshyari, who hails from Uttarakhand, and his aides immediately booked a scheduled commercial flight to Dehradun which is expected to depart around noon.

Despite repeated attempts by IANS, Raj Bhavan and government officials remained incommunicado, but it is learnt that the Governor is scheduled to address an official ceremony at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration in Mussoorie on Friday.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
This month, Hearst Television is celebrating Black history by having courageous conversations. The fight for civil rights and justice goes back generations and has looked different each decade. Were speaking with community leaders, elders  those who have lived through victories and troubled times, to talk about their experiences, and compare them with what we still struggle with today.



A civil rights activist from Mississippi became the youngest Freedom Rider nearly 60 years ago and almost lost his life in the pursuit of equality.

Hezekiah Watkins, 73, now spends his days working at the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum. Hes not just an employee, hes a part of history.

Cecil Hannibal, a reporter at sister station WAPT, spoke with Watkins about his past.

I remember watching the evening news. I would see dogs biting individuals. I saw individuals being spat on. I saw individuals being beaten and I could not understand why, Watkins said of growing up during the civil rights movement. But I keep hearing these words, Freedom Riders.

The Freedom Riders traveled throughout the South protesting segregation and Jim Crow laws. In 1961, they came to Jackson, Mississippi. Watkins, who was just 13 at the time, disobeyed his mother and went to see the peaceful protest, only to be arrested and sent to prison.

They didnt give you any charges. They didnt give you any explanation. Nothing. When I got there, they took me directly to a cell, Watkins said. I said, I havent done anything. Oh yeah, youve done something. You wouldnt be here if you hadnt done anything. Did they give you a date? A date for what, sir? Did they give a date to kill your ass?

At just 13, Watkins was put on death row. After five days in prison, he said Mississippi Gov. Ross Barnett ordered his release.

From that moment on, Watkins spent his life working as an activist organizing boycotts and registering Black voters in Mississippi. He was arrested more than 100 times, often with unnecessary force.

Im sure youve seen the video of George Floyd. When you saw that, what came to your mind? Hannibal asked Watkins.

To see the officer just pin his knee on his neck, and just like he forgot all about it. Treated him like he was just not human, Watkins said. But it made me sad. It made me want to do something, but then you ask yourself, What could you do?

Watkins was asked where the country goes from here.

The way to go was to register to vote, and thats what we started on. By registering and voting, the results are here in Mississippi. I like to say, The pudding is in the pie, Watkins said. Based on what we started years ago, and based on what is happening now, and to answer your question, sir, yes, sir, things are much better.



Watkins recently wrote a book about his experiences during the civil rights movement and he continues to work at the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum as a counselor.


(Bottom left to right) Student Government presidential candidates Andrew Gryce and Richard Vega answer moderator questions, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021, at the Student Government Presidential Debate via Zoom.
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 10th February, 2021) Tehran and Moscow have reached an agreement to jointly produce the Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine, Iran's ambassador to Russia, Kazem Jalali, said Wednesday.

"Negotiations on the joint production of the vaccine have come to an end. In the near future, we will see joint vaccine production in Iran," the ambassador said during a ceremony to mark the 42nd anniversary of the Islamic Revolution in Iran.

Iran began its COVID-19 immunization program, using Russia's Sputnik V vaccine, on Tuesday.

A recent peer-reviewed study published in The Lancet journal stated that Sputnik V, which was developed by Russia's Gamaleya Research Center of Epidemiology and Microbiology, showed 91.6 percent efficacy, based on Phase 3 clinical trial interim data. The vaccine, which is built on a human adenoviral vector platform, was registered by the Russian government on August 11.

Denis Logunov, the deputy director of the Gamaleya center, said Wednesday that roughly 1.7 million people have already received both doses of Sputnik V.
Superintendent William R. Hite Jr. on Thursday doubled down on his assertion that Philadelphia public schools are safe for children to return to in-person learning Feb. 22.

I can confidently say that our schools are ready to open with the proper safety protocols in place, Hite said at a news conference at Nebinger Elementary in South Philadelphia. The time for reopening is now.

The district is in a standoff with its teachers union, which has directed teachers not to report to school buildings because of COVID-19-related safety concerns. A mediator is weighing whether the district met the terms of its reopening agreement with the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers.

Susan E. Coffin, a Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia physician and infectious disease specialist who joined Hite, said in-school instruction can resume safely, even inside old Philadelphia buildings, if schools are vigilant about mask-wearing, social distancing, and having staff and students stay home if theyre feeling ill or have known exposures to COVID-19.

It is possible to have an in-person education during this period, Coffin said. I think actually were entering a moment when its more possible than ever.

Hite suggested one solution to getting teachers back in buildings would be opening some schools and working on improving conditions in others where there are problems. Philadelphia students have been out of buildings since March.

 READ MORE: Philly teachers dont report to school buildings for a second day; teacher vaccinations expected to start Feb. 22

Right now, this is an all-or-nothing conversation, Hite said. If there are schools that people are worried about, let us mediate those schools.

Teachers were supposed to return to work Monday; instead, thousands stood outside school buildings, rallying and teaching from tents and beach chairs. Hite had threatened discipline for teachers who did not report but was forced to back down when the city intervened, telling teachers they did not have to show up until the mediator weighed in.

The mediator, Chicago doctor and public health expert Peter Orris, held his first session with the PFT and School District on Wednesday, Hite said. He noted that a state mediator is also involved.

We were hoping to be in mediation a week or so ago, the superintendent said.

Both sides began exchanging documents last week, but theres no current timetable for when Orris might rule.

Hite said it was possible the Feb. 22 return for 9,000 prekindergarten through second-grade students could get pushed back, based on what and when the mediator rules.

Nebinger, the site of Hites first in-person news conference during the pandemic, is one of 32 district schools that lack mechanical ventilation and are using window fans to promote airflow.

 READ MORE: In public protest, thousands of Philly teachers pushed back against reopening schools

The fans have been controversial, derided as an inadequate fix for years of environmental problems, but Hite said they were never intended to be permanent.

I know the fans may not look pretty or fancy, but scientifically, they do the job we need them to do, Hite said.

Teachers have raised concerns about temperature controls inside rooms equipped with the window fans; district officials said building engineers will do two or three checks per day inside each occupied room, and if the temperature falls below 68 degrees, children will be relocated to another room.

The district has a history of environmental problems; some schools have routinely lacked basic supplies like soap and hot water. Teachers say subpar building conditions are slow to be addressed; at some schools, children and staff wear coats through the winter, and at others, everyone sweats.

Leading reporters on a tour of Nebinger, building engineer Joan Turrell used a gauge to check the temperature in one prekindergarten classroom. It was 84 degrees.

Turrell has worked at Nebinger for 18 years, and had kept reporting there through the pandemic, she said. Hite pointed out that building engineers, cafeteria workers, and some others have been in schools for months.

No one said they werent safe for them to return, said Hite.

About 50 Nebinger students signed up to return Feb. 22 two days a week, Hite said; citywide, only about a third of those eligible to return in the first wave chose in-person instruction. Teachers will be responsible for instructing both the children in the classroom and those working remotely.

Classrooms will look different when schools do reopen. Desks are spaced far apart  Nebinger rooms have glass partitions to keep children apart, and while the PFTs agreement does not require them in every classroom, they will be provided for small-group instruction, Hite said. Every room has a section with personal protective equipment  sanitizer, masks, face shields.

Bright yellow stickers in hallways remind children to keep six feet apart. Every floor has a hand-sanitizing station. Materials will not be shared.

Class sizes will be small; the largest in Nebinger will have nine, school staff said. Each room has a sign outside saying how many people can safely occupy the space.

Hite said Thursday that the district will allow members of the public to tour buildings to help them gain confidence in school safety, but the details of the scheduled visits havent been worked out.

We think the best and safest place for them to be is in school, said Hite.

Still, fears remain for many.

Lea DiRusso, a longtime Philadelphia teacher, was diagnosed with mesothelioma, a deadly, asbestos-linked cancer, in 2019; she spent her career at Nebinger and Meredith, another South Philadelphia school. Teachers hold up DiRussos case and environmental and financial missteps on a major construction project at Benjamin Franklin High as reasons why they cant trust officials promises, particularly around building safety.
Gareth Bale was left out of the Tottenham Hotspur squad for their 5-4 defeat to Everton in the FA Cup on Wednesday evening, leading to yet more questions about his situation at Spurs.

The Welshman has had similar struggles in London as he had endured at Real Madrid, and Jose Mourinho is now having to regularly bat away questions about the player, just as Zinedine Zidane had to previously.

Mourinho confirmed that Bale's absence at Goodison Park wasn't because he has been ruled out due to injury problems, but a decision taken by the Welshman himself.

"He didn't train on Monday, but he did on Tuesday," Mourinho said after when asked about Bale. "But I was told that he'd rather stay in London. That's what he wanted.

"He wanted to work with the physios for a few days to strengthen the area he had discomfort in.

"I want to be clear: it's not a clear injury, but he doesn't feel 100 percent. He's uncomfortable."

Small mammals climb higher to flee warming temperatures in the Rockies

The golden-mantled ground squirrel (Callospermophilus lateralis) is a popular sight among tourists in the Rocky Mountains--the small rodent is a photogenic creature with a striped back and pudgy cheeks that store seeds and other food.

But there's a reality that Instagram photos don't capture, said Christy McCain, an ecologist at the University of Colorado Boulder. In a new study spanning nearly 13 years, she and her colleagues discovered that the ground squirrel has joined many other small mammals in Colorado's Rocky Mountains that are making an ominous trek: They're climbing uphill to avoid warming temperatures in the state brought on by climate change.

"It's frightening," said McCain, an associate professor in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. "We've been talking about climate change in the Rockies for a long time, but I think we can say that this is a sign that things are now responding and responding quite drastically."

The golden-mantled ground squirrel, which is often confused for a chipmunk, lives in conifer forests in the Rockies and several other western mountain ranges.

"It is likely one of the most photographed mammals in Rocky Mountain National Park as it poses and preens on rocks near the roadside and in campgrounds," said McCain, also curator of vertebrates at the CU Museum of Natural History. "They hibernate in winter, are territorial in the summer, and they make distinctive alarm calls to notify each other of nearby dangers."

Her latest research, published this week in the journal Ecology, takes a deep dive into the squirrel's fate, and that of 46 other species of small mammals from the Front Range and San Juan Rockies--from mice to shrews and even the yellow-bellied marmot (Marmota flaviventris).

The team reports that, on average, the ranges of these critters seem to have shifted by more than 400 feet up in elevation since the 1980s. Montane mammals, or those already living at higher elevations like the ground squirrel, have taken the biggest brunt--moving up by 1,100 feet on average. It's a significant change that, if it continues, could wind up squeezing many of these animals out of Colorado entirely.

And while many of these small creatures won't ever show up on Colorado postcards, McCain said that they may be bellwethers for larger and increasingly urgent changes in the Rocky Mountains.

Passion for mountains

For McCain, the project is, in many ways, a culmination of her lifelong love of mountains.

It began in the mid-1990s when she was serving in the Peace Corps in Honduras. There, McCain was taken by how much the tropical nation's mountains resembled layer cakes: As she climbed up in elevation, mountain ecosystems transformed around her, sometimes dramatically.

"Every place you went to, there were completely different birds," she said. "The changes are so stark."

But that layer cake nature may also be the downfall of mountain ecosystems in the face of climate change. Colorado has warmed by nearly 3.5 degrees Fahrenheit since the 1980s because of human-caused climate change. As the state heats up, many scientists have predicted that ponderosa pine forests and other mountain ecosystems will have to move higher to find cooler weather. Some animals, and even entire communities, may be pushed to the tops of mountains with nowhere else to go.

McCain and her colleagues wanted to find out if that upward shift was already happening in the Rockies.

Beginning in 2008, her team visited multiple sites in Colorado's Front Range and San Juan mountains to collect records of the current ranges of 47 species of rodents and shrews. They included rare animals, such as the pygmy shrew (Sorex hoyi), which weighs less than a quarter and ranks as North America's smallest mammal. The endangered Preble's jumping mouse (Zapus hudsonius preblei), known for its long tail and big feet that are useful for swimming, also made the list. In some cases, McCain said, the habitats were so remote that the researchers traveled using horse trains to carry their equipment.

"We had to get used to really unpleasant conditions," McCain said. "We put up with being wet in the mountains and being hot in the desert, flash floods and lightning storms."

The group then compared the findings from their surveys to roughly 4,500 historic records from museum collections in the Front Range and San Juan mountains dating back to the 1880s. They included animals stored in CU Boulder's own museum, which houses nearly 12,000 mammal specimens from Colorado.

Drastic action

The results showed a complex response to climate change and other pressures. Some of the animals in the survey, McCain said, moved down in elevation, not up, while others actually saw their ranges increase since the 1980s.

But most of the study mammals shifted uphill--and not by a small amount. That was especially true for those already living at high elevations. Before 1980, the pygmy shrew, for example, was never detected above 9,800 feet in elevation. Today, its maximum extent is more than 11,800 feet. The golden-mantled ground squirrel similarly hiked up by 650 feet, or 200 meters, in the Front Range and 2,300 feet, or 700 meters, in the San Juans.

"I was expecting that we would see something between 100 to 200 meters, but we saw a lot more," McCain said. "This is way bigger than the change that has been determined in other mountain regions around the world."

The study, McCain said, paints a stark picture of a mountain range in crisis. But it's one with a silver lining: There may still be time to protect the West's iconic ponderosa pine forests, alpine meadows and scraggly tundra--but only if Coloradans and people around the world act now to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions.

"It's a wake-up call," McCain said. "We have to start taking this seriously immediately if we want to have healthy mountains and ecosystems."

###

Other coauthors on the new study include Tim Szewczyk, a former graduate student at CU Boulder now at the University of Lausanne, and Sarah King of Colorado State University.

This story has been published on: 2021-02-11. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
1. Roads. The citys roads are a mess. Significant resources are needed to fix them.

2. Public safety. The crime rate is too high. Police pay and resources come first.

3. More city programs. The city must invest more in city programs and services.

4. Comprehensive plan. The city needs to focus on rebuilding and rebranding.

5. Cut city spending. City officials must get serious about trimming the budget.

Vote

View Results
Australians can now get their sweet fix from a pop-up cupcake vending machine - which offers six different desserts at the push of a button.

The 'cupcake ATM' has been set up by The Mason Baker in Brisbane, and has caused a stir online.

'Hopping in my car from Toowoomba right now,' one woman wrote when she saw a picture of the bright pink vending machine on Instagram.

Scroll down for video

Australians can now get their sweet fix from a pop-up cupcake ATM - which offers six different desserts at the push of a button

The ATM was set up last Friday in the Fortitude Valley, and has a flashy display which shows off the variety of cupcakes served inside.

One video shows a lineup outside the ATM as people patiently wait for their turn to use the novel machine.

'Oh my goodness, this is fabulous,' one woman wrote.

The ATM is stocked every Friday and Saturday from 5pm, according to the baker - but will only be there until the end of February.

'This is such a cool concept. Would drive to one if you had it in Victoria,' another cake fan said.

'I'll be testing this out for our kid free weekend away,' another person said.

The ATM is stocked every Friday and Saturday from 5pm, according to the baker - but will only be there until the end of February

The ATM was set up last Friday in the Fortitude Valley, and has a flashy display which shows off the variety of cupcakes served inside.

Another person simply said 'shut up and take my money'.

The Mason Baker rose to fame in 2018 after owner James Willis secured a $100,000 investment on hit show 'Shark Tank'.

The now 28-year-old former Coles worker shocked the show's judges when he presented his idea for the company.

Instead of sending flowers, the concept sees an overnight delivery of assorted cupcakes in secured mason jars, ensuring the delicacy arrives in prime condition.

The company still does gift boxes - posting the glass jars around Australia.
I read with disbelief and shock, an

article obviously written by the national chairman of the Peoples' Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus which carried the byeline of his media adviser, Ike Abonyi and published on Thursday, January 28, 2021.

I waited for these few days before responding to the publication to see whether Secondus would reprimand Ike Abonyi or at least put out a disclaimer, disassociating himself from the disrespectful write-up.

His failure to do any of the above is therefore a confirmation that the PDP national chairman either wrote, supervised or endorsed the publication.

It is surprising that the national chairman of the PDP could throw decorum to the wind to publicly attack no less a personality than Goodluck Jonathan who apart from being a former president produced by the PDP, is still the leader of the party, going by PDP books.

In the article titled: "Jonathan's 2023 Selfish Gamble," Secondus or Ike Abonyi expressed disappointment that Jonathan has not come out to tell Nigerians and the world that he has no interest in returning to the office as president of Nigeria as well as rebuke those calling on him to contest the 2023 presidential election.

Although the PDP national chairman grudgingly acknowledged that Jonathan has become a global icon and international statesman as well as the huge sacrifices, he made in 2015 when he conceded defeat and handed over power to then Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (Now President and Commander-in-Chief), he wondered why the former president is now romancing with northerners who, he said, ganged up against him in 2015.

"Some water may have passed under the bridge for the heavy twist in the tongue which ostensibly is intended to appeal to certain northern sentiments. Something must have happened for him to be dining

with the same people who ganged up and threw him away, could it be that he is the man who will do their bidding now or they are setting him up for the usual use and dump?" he had questioned.

I am responding to this writeup as a Nigerian who loves and admires the former president who is also my hero. Knowing Jonathan, it would not be surprising if he told his media aides not to respond to any of such attacks. But

since I don't work for or with him, I do not bear the burden of waiting to get clearance before responding to anyone that attacked the former president, as I would continue to do, henceforth.

In my latest book titled "Dear President Goodluck Jonathan (An Open Letter)" which was presented to the public on December 15, 2020 at the International Conference Centre Abuja, I suggested

that it would be good if Jonathan

should play less politics in Nigeria

to enable him concentrate on waging peace across countries as well

as helping those in need through

his Goodluck Jonathan Foundation as he is currently doing. But those were what they should be- suggestions.

Because as I also stated in the book, Jonathan has the right to pursue his destiny.Therefore, if God says Jonathan's

assignment for Nigeria is not yet

completed, not even Jonathan himself can stop the wave. Otherwise, he would be given the biblical Jonah treatment and sent to Nineveh through the belly of a fish.One question I would like to ask

Secondus at this point is- what right does he have to direct Jonathan to rebuke those calling on him to contest the 2023 presidential election when the former president has equally ignored those that

have called him all manner of insulting names over the years?

If Secondus does not want to hear the name "Jonathan," when it comes to politics, there are millions of people, including highly placed citizens that

believe in the former president's capacity to reconcile the country as well as take it to a new height based on his experience on the job as well as those he has garnered since 2015 when he left office.

Having said that, many politically enlightened Nigerians know why

Secondus cannot be comfortable with any person asking Jonathan to run for president in 2023, especially under the PDP umbrella.Going through Secondus's (or Ike Abonyi's) piece, one would easily see the level of frustration and outright anger that motivated the vituperations. As the Managing Editor of Daily Times newspaper then, I personally travelled to Port Harcourt in 2018 to cover the PDP

National Convention. We heard

stories of the huge financial inducement that went the way of some top PDP leaders by particular aspirants seeking to fly the party's presidential flag for the 2019 election.

Now that another party convention is not too far away, it is very clear that some people in the party desperately want to fence some aspirants out in order to narrow the race to their target money-bag(s) aspirants. They are therefore applying blackmail and other dubious tactics to harass and intimate decent politicians out of the race- the

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overall aim is to make the final financial kill before leaving the office, thereafter. We know all these.In the article, Secondus attempted to pitch the South East against Jonathan by saying the former president should have outrightly said that he will not run in 2023 and

that the office should be left for the zone that has not produced a president. This is coming from the mouth or brain of the same Secondus, whose leadership has refused to respond to the call to declare that the PDP presidential ticket would

go to the South, the reason why Governor David Umahi has decamped to the All Progressives Congress (APC) with speculations that more South East governors would follow.

Maybe Secondus has not heard. Let me therefore tell him what people are saying- that the PDP leadership which he heads, is not interested in winning elections, but is more concerned with what would enter their individual pockets from conventions and state primaries.

- Melah writes from Abuja
She is the owner of swimwear brand, Swim Society.

And Montana Brown was her own best advertisement on Wednesday, as she shared a sneak peek at the latest range of bikinis and swimsuits on Instagram.

The Love Island star, 25, looked sensational in the reel posted to her social media, which offered a look at some of the brand new designs available.

Beach babe! Montana Brown was her own best advertisement on Wednesday, as she shared a sneak peek at the latest range of bikinis and swimsuits on Instagram

The reality personality showcased her taut midriff in a skimpy baby blue bikini, which featured delicate gold detailing and ties on the hips.

Montana showcased her natural beauty for the shoot and went make-up free, while also styling her brunette locks in a loose carefree fashion.

The TV star oozed beach chic as she slipped into a white and yellow lemon print two-piece, while posing up a storm for the camera.

She caption the video: 'Swim Society coming soon...'

Looking good! The TV star oozed beach chic as she slipped into a white and yellow lemon print two-piece, while posing up a storm for the camera

Vintage vibes: Other items from Montana's collection include chic 1950s-inspired strapless swimsuits, which are belted around the middle

No feeling blue! Celebs on the Farm's Montana modelled the swimwear garment in pale blue and black, both of which looked equally stunning

Other items from Montana's collection include chic 1950s-inspired strapless swimsuits, which are belted around the middle.

Celebs on the Farm's Montana modelled the swimwear garment in pale blue and black, both of which looked equally stunning.

Another pice included a pale pink asymmetric bikini top, which was teamed with a pair of matching high-waisted bottoms.

Pink lady: Another pice included a pale pink asymmetric bikini top, which was teamed with a pair of matching high-waisted bottoms

Montana recently took to Instagram Stories during the day to show her fans her beauty regime and told them she's embracing her natural tresses.

While speaking to the camera, Montana penned over her clip: 'Actually quite like my frizzy hair'.

It comes after Montana thanked her followers for sending her 'lovely messages' and supporting her decision to travel in the midst of a global pandemic.

All natural: Montana recently took to Instagram Stories during the day to show her fans her beauty regime and told them she's embracing her natural tresses

Feeling myself: While speaking to the camera, Montana penned over her clip: 'Actually quite like my frizzy hair'

She wrote: 'Just wanted to say a thanks to everyones lovely messages. Its hard to know where the line is with posting content and I really dont want to be upsetting anyone.

'I get the odd message with people being quite angry. I travelled well before lockdown, Ive stayed out here because I can work from abroad and I started my business last year in lockdown and Id like to give it a fighting chance to be honest.

'Sending love to you all, I am going to continue posting and again, its not my intention to be insensitive to anybody as I know this is an awful time for a lot of people. Sending love.' (sic)

Thanks! It comes after Montana thanked her followers for sending her 'lovely messages' and supporting her decision to travel in the midst of a global pandemic

She wrote: 'Just wanted to say a thanks to everyones lovely messages. Its hard to know where the line is with posting content and I really dont want to be upsetting anyone'

Montana recently slammed 'insensitive and irresponsible' influencers who have jetted abroad for 'work trips' during the Covid pandemic, despite facing criticism herself.

She told The Sun: 'I do think it is insensitive and irresponsible to put on social media that you're partying or with a large group of people, as it's rightly seen as wrong by people who are losing family members and losing their businesses.

'A lot of people's worlds are crashing down around them. We have a social responsibility to stick to the guidelines in some capacity and just be aware that other people are going through hell.'

The reality star, who has been in Barbados since December, also insisted her trip was completely different from the ones she fiercely judged.

She said: 'I travelled before there was a national lockdown to see my family, so it was legal for me to travel. I spent Christmas out here. I've been here ever since and haven't moved. I actually haven't dealt with that much hate online because of that.'
New Delhi, Feb 11 : A housemate cries out for help. Another being shut up while speaking of the need for a psychiatrist. Someone else whines about bad memories haunting them after stepping into the Bigg Boss house again. These are a few instances of the ongoing season 14 of Bigg Boss 14, and these are not one-off.

Year after year, week after week, we have seen a captive bunch of housemates act in a way that is far from normal, serving up their quirks, insecurities and instabilities for voyeuristic consumption and big ratings.

Housemates have mentioned how the situation even brings out suicidal tendencies at times. Behavioural scientists compare life in the house to living in prison, adding that while the show itself promotes aggressive behaviour and normalisation of abuse, it also reflects perversion among viewers who savour such "humilitainment".

Which makes us one wonder -- can the show have lasting effect on the mental health of contestants, as also the audience watching it? Can engaging in such activity week after week in a captive domain or, as audience, deriving pleasure out of watching such activity, be deemed 'normal'? Earlier this week, evicted contestant Jasmin Bhasin, who has returned to the house to support boyfriend Aly Goni, was seen taunting housemates for their earlier comments. When she tried to explain, she broke down and admitted that all the bad memories of her stint in the show had come back to her.

In another instance, Rubina Dilaik blurted out about harbouring suicidal tendencies, having temper issues and having a strained relationship with her parents in the past.

Perhaps staying locked away for months does that to you, too. You want to exorcise your inner demons. Rubina after all spoke of her need to consult a psychiatrist, following which her husband, the now-evicted Abhinav Shukla, asked her to not mention these things on camera.

"Bigg Boss is an interesting social experiment with people living in a closed space with no connection with the outside world. Even during the pandemic (when people were locked inside the house) people had a connection with cellphones, but in the (Bigg Boss) house that is also not there," Sunil Mittal, Director, Cosmos Institute of Mental Health and Behavioural Sciences (CIMBS), told IANS.

Mittal compares life in the house to "living in prison".

"It has a huge impact on the mental health of people who are inside, and the people who are watching it," added the psychotherapist, who feels that the show promotes bullying, aggressive behaviour and normalisation of abuse.

"It normalises a certain language. I agree that abusing and cuss words are used in real life, but (what about) the context with which it is used in the show. Then there is heightened drama for TRP," he added.

According to Radhika Bapat, clinical psychotherapist, shows such as Bigg Boss appeal to the voyeur in people.

"There is perversion in looking through a peephole and gaining access to information. They say 'there is a charm about the forbidden that makes it unspeakably desirable'. There is also the psychological term 'humilitainment', that is used with such reality 'dramas', which is the tendency for you and me as viewers to be attracted to spectacular humiliation and subjugation of real people," Bapat told IANS.

The drama, as pointed by Mittal, has a ripple effect in real life, too.

"The dramatised behaviour becomes a norm for people who are watching it, because we become what we see and hear. People imbibe the language, body language and aggressive behaviour," Mittal said.

"It glorifies and justifies bullying behaviour, and brings out the worst side of people locked inside the house. People watch it for voyeuristic pleasure. There is also a lot of body-shaming. I remember one of my young patients called her aunt 'moti bhains' (fat buffalo) because she saw someone calling that to someone in the show. Once, they were given a task of a mental hospital where they had to make fun of the 'patients'. So it justifies aggressive behaviours, dramatised hysterical behaviour and language, and brings pressure on the contestants, because of which they break down and weep," added Mittal.

Then there is the difficult task of getting out of the Bigg Boss zone for the contestants, once the show is over.

"It is like leaving an institution that is like jail, with people opting for rehab to come back to normal life," said Mittal.

Bapat feels "when people forget the line between this reality television 'show' and their own reality, consciously or subconsciously, it can wreak havoc in their personal lives. One must be mindful of the difference between real and reel drama".

To avoid that, Samir Parikh, Director and Head of Mental Health and Behavioural Sciences Department at Fortis Healthcare in New Delhi, stresses on the need for media literacy.

"They need to have an ability to understand that it is something that is being portrayed, and does not exist in real life. It is a scenario being created, and if you are able to understand that, then it is fine," he said.

(Sugandha Rawal can be contacted at sugandha.r@ians.in)

Latest updates on Bigg Boss Season 14

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text


Photo: BC Gov Flickr

Premier John Horgan is calling on British Columbians to be a good neighbour and help seniors register for vaccinations against COVID-19.

Residents 80 years old and up are next in line to receive vaccinations after vulnerable populations and workers most at-risk of contracting the novel coronavirus are inoculated this month.

Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said on Monday that elderly residents would be receiving vaccination instructions in the coming days and weeks.

The province will open pre-registration two to four weeks before someone is eligible for an appointment.

Those looking to pre-register will be able to do so via phone, mobile device or computer, however, the finer details still remain sparse.

Horgan said Wednesday (February 10) hed like to see British Columbians reach out to elderly or isolated neighbours with limited access to technology and in need of assistance with planning their vaccinations.

I'm hoping that you'll contact your elderly neighbor, let he or she know that vaccines are on the way and help them register, help them get to a clinic. That will be well advertised, he told reporters.

I'm hopeful we'll see a positive vaccine rollout in the very near future. We were hoping to be well advanced at this point. Events beyond our control have put us back a little bit, but we have confidence that the commitments from the federal government for Pfizer [Inc. (NYSE:PFE)] vaccines this week, and next week and beyond will get us on track.

Canada is facing ongoing vaccine shortages amid delivery delays from both Pfizer and Moderna Inc. (NYSE:MRNA)  the only two manufacturers with COVID-19 vaccines approved for use in the country.

No Pfizer shipments arrived in the country the last week of January, and Canada is only receiving 82% of the previously expected deliveries for the weeks of February 1 and February 8.

Earlier this week, Health Canada approved the use of extracting six doses per vial of Pfizer vaccine using specialized syringes.

Five doses had previously been the norm.

As of Tuesday, Maj.-Gen. Dany Fortin, the vice-president of logistics and operations at the Public Health Agency of Canada, was not able to confirm the number of Moderna doses set to be delivered the week of February 22 following delays the preceding three weeks.

Federal officials have repeatedly said theyve received assurances from the manufacturers the country is still on track to receive the previously guaranteed doses  six million between the Pfizer and Moderna  by the end of March.

Vaccinations for the broader population are set to roll out beginning in April, as will an expected increase in delivery of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.

After elderly British Columbians 80 and above, Indigenous seniors over the age of 65 and other hospital staff receive vaccines by the end of March, the province will move onto those who are 75-79 years old.

Vaccinations will then carry on in descending five-year age brackets.

Mobile clinics, in-house visits and digital records are set to play a critical role in the provinces efforts to administer doses to 4.3 million eligible British Columbians by the end of September Those under 18 are not yet eligible but that may change as more vaccines are approved.

The current timelines are based only on the availability of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, however, Canada has secured orders with additional manufacturers that be may granted regulatory approval in the weeks and months ahead.

Clinics will be set up beginning in March across 172 B.C. communities in partnership with municipalities, businesses and volunteers.

At peak immunization capacity, the province will be relying on 715 full-time immunizers across all five health regions as it seeks to administer about 100,000 doses per day.

Those immunizers are expected to see 140 patients a day to administer doses.

Mobile sites will also be deployed where necessary and home visits will be made possible for those unable to attend clinics.
U.S. military personnel who have experienced sexual assault are twice as likely to leave the military within 28 months of an attack, according to a new Rand Corp. report.

"Sexual assault and sexual harassment are associated with a wide range of harms to individual service members, but this study highlights another negative impact of these crimes -- higher rates of attrition and associated harms to force readiness," Andrew Morral, senior behavioral scientist at the nonprofit think tank and lead author of the report, said in a Rand news release on Tuesday.

"We estimate that sexual assaults and harassment of service members that occurred in a single year were associated with the premature loss of at least 16,000 person-years of service over the following 28 months."

Read Next: A 'Disturbing Pattern' of Deadly Army Black Hawk Crashes Has Lawmakers Asking Questions

The report, "Effects of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment on Separation from the U.S. Military," showcases the findings of the 2014 Rand Military Workplace Study, which the organization conducted for the Pentagon. Completed in 2019, the Rand document was "recently cleared for publication by DoD's Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office," according to the news release.

The report estimates that 5,600 of the 21,000 service members estimated to have been sexually assaulted in fiscal 2014 left the military within a 28-month period.

"Although some of these service members would have left the military even if they had not been sexually assaulted, our analyses suggest that there were 2,000 ... more separations than would be predicted had these individuals not been assaulted," the report states.

Researchers at Rand estimate that 28,200 of 117,000 service members estimated to have been sexually harassed in fiscal 2014 also separated from the service over the next 28 months, according to the report.

The report comes just after two months after the release of an explosive report from an independent panel that reviewed the command climate at Fort Hood, Texas, in the wake of the disappearance and murder of Spc. Vanessa Guillen.

The Fort Hood review found that the leadership was permissive of an environment that allowed sexual assault and sexual harassment to persist at the base. Then-Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy relieved or suspended 14 senior leaders as a result of the report, which included nine findings and 70 recommendations.

Former Under Secretary of the Army James McPherson said that the service would take a hard look at its flawed Sexual Harassment and Assault Response Prevention, or SHARP, program as a result of the independent review.

Rand researchers found that separations from the military following sexual assault or sexual harassment are "disproportionately voluntary" and that "men are especially likely to seek voluntary separations following a sexual assault or sexual harassment," according to the news release.

"This trend harms military readiness as well as the wallets of affected service members.  Because military compensation is weighted toward retirement and deferred benefits, those who leave the service early may forgo considerable compensation," according to the Rand release.

Researchers also stressed that the report likely offers a narrow view of the problem of service members leaving the military after sexual assault and harassment.

"It is likely that the actual numbers of military separations caused by sexual assault and sexual harassment are underestimated because this study only reflects a 28-month window of time and thus only a fraction of all the sexual assault and sexual harassment experiences during the careers of the service members included in the 2014 study," according to the report.

The authors of the report recommend that the Pentagon prioritize sexual harassment training, prevention and response and continue to study how reporting a sexual assault affects separation.

-- Matthew Cox can be reached at matthew.cox@military.com.

Related: Army Must Take 'Hard Look' at Sexual Assault Prevention Program, Fort Hood Review Finds


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Mohamed Ghanem, spokesperson for Egypts Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation, said in a phone-in to a show on Wednesday that the Canal Rehabilitation and Lining Project is witnessing very high implementation rates.

The first phase of the project, launched several months ago in several governorates, saw the completion of the rehabilitation and lining of more than 900 kilometers of irrigation canals, said Ghanem.

He added that the project aims to complete 7,000 kilometers before the middle of next year at a total cost of EGP 18 billion.

Mahmoud Al-Saadi, the supervisor of the project, said that the General Irrigation Department at the irrigation ministry is working with engineers, technicians, and contractors to implement the project.

Ghanem added that the next phase of the project, as per President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi's directives, will continue the rehabilitation and lining of the remaining irrigation canals across the country.

Minister of Irrigation Mohamed Abdel-Aty explained that the project will rationalise the use of water resources, one of the goals of Egypts national water resources strategy, which is intended to resolve Egypt's water-related issues by the year 2037.

Only when we improve irrigation processes, give farmers greater access to water and adopt modern irrigation techniques, will we begin to see positive implications on crop yield and productivity, said Abdel-Aty.

He added that the rehabilitation of irrigation canals, a labour-intensive project, will help achieve the state's goals in eliminating unemployment and providing job opportunities.

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Artist's impression of the protoplanetary disk with magnetic field lines. Credit: Jean Favre CSCS.

In the last 25 years, scientists have discovered over 4000 planets beyond the borders of our solar system. From relatively small rock and water worlds to blisteringly hot gas giants, the planets display a remarkable variety. This variety is not unexpected. The sophisticated computer models, with which scientists study the formation of planets, also spawn very different planets. What the models have more difficulty to explain is the observed mass distribution of the planets discovered around other stars. The majority have fallen into the intermediate mass categoryplanets with masses of several Earth masses to around that of Neptune. Even in the context of the solar system, the formation of Uranus and Neptune remains a mystery. Scientists of the Universities of Zurich and Cambridge, associated with the Swiss NCCR PlanetS, have now proposed an alternative explanation backed up by comprehensive simulations. Their results were published in the scientific journal Nature Astronomy.

Two contrasting forces...

"When planets form from the so-called protoplanetary disk of gas and dust, gravitational instabilities could be the driving mechanism," Lucio Mayer, study co-author and Professor of Computational Astrophysics at the University of Zurich, and member of the NCCR PlanetS, explains. In this process, dust and gas in the disk clump together due to gravity and form dense spiral structures. These then grow into planetary building blocks and eventually planets.

The scale on which this process occurs is very largespanning the scale of the protoplanetary disk. "But over shorter distancesthe scale of single planetsanother force dominates: That of magnetic fields developing alongside the planets," Mayer elaborates. These magnetic fields stir up the gas and dust of the disk and thus influence the formation of the planets. "To get a complete picture of the planetary formation process, it is therefore important to not only simulate the large scale spiral structure in the disk. The small scale magnetic fields around the growing planetary building blocks also have to be included," says lead-author of the study, former doctoral student of Mayer and now Research Fellow at the University of Cambridge, Hongping Deng.

...that are difficult to grasp simultaneously

However, the differences in scale and nature of gravity and magnetism make the two forces very challenging to integrate into the same planetary formation model. So far, computer simulations that captured the effects of one of the forces well, usually did poorly with the other. To succeed, the team developed a new modeling technique. That required expertise in a number of different areas: First, they needed a deep theoretical understanding of both gravity and magnetism. Then, the researchers had to find a way to translate the understanding into a code that could efficiently compute these contrasting forces in unison. Finally, due to the immense number of necessary calculations, a powerful computer was requiredlike the 'Piz Daint' at the Swiss National Supercomputing Centre (CSCS). "Apart from the theoretical insights and the technical tools that we developed, we were therefore also dependent on the advancement of computing power," Lucio Mayer says.

A decades old puzzle solved?

Against the odds, everything came together at the right time and enabled a breakthrough. "With our model, we were able to show for the first time that the magnetic fields make it difficult for the growing planets to continue accumulating mass beyond a certain point. As a result, giant planets become rarer and intermediate-mass planets much more frequentsimilar to what we observe in reality," Hongping Deng explains.

"These results are only a first step, but they clearly show the importance of accounting for more physical processes in planet formation simulations. Our study helps to understand potential pathways to the formation of intermediate-mass planets that are very common in our galaxy. It also helps us understand the protoplanetary disks in general," Ravit Helled, study co-author and Professor of Theoretical Astrophysics at the University of Zurich and member of the NCCR PlanetS, concludes.

Explore further Simultaneous simulation of gravitation and magnetism of a protoplanetary disk

More information: Formation of intermediate-mass planets via magnetically controlled disk fragmentation, Nature Astronomy (2021). www.nature.com/articles/s41550-020-01297-6 Journal information: Nature Astronomy Formation of intermediate-mass planets via magnetically controlled disk fragmentation,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41550-020-01297-6
Superstitions in Italy are largely themed around death. Here is a list of the most important ones.

1) The Broom

Looking to brush up on your Italian superstitions? Heres one to get you started: Singles, dont let a broom touch your feet when someone is cleaning the floors. If you do, you will never be swept off your feet and get married.

2) The Black cat

Speaking of married, this particular wives tale translates across cultures: the black cat. Most Italians would give pause, and the truly superstitious might throw a hissy fit, before they would cross paths with one. On the other hand, its considered a good bit of feline fortune if you happen to hear a cat sneeze.

3) The hat

Hold on to your hats for this next oneor at least dont set them on the bed! Traditionally, when the sick were on their deathbeds a priest would come to receive their final confessions. The priest would remove his hat and set it on the bed so that he could put on the vestments. Thus, a hats temporary resting place is associated with eternal rest, a thought that keeps Italians from sleeping peacefully.

4) The number 13

The number 13 is considered lucky in Italy. Associated with the Great Goddess, fertility and the lunar cycles, the number is thought to bring prosperity and life  quite the opposite view than that of the western world.

5) The number 17

However, your number might be up if you keep encountering 17. Italians dislike the number so much that some hotels dont have a 17th level. But after hearing its associations this might not floor you. When written, the 1 mimics a hanged man and the 7 a gallows. Furthermore, 17s rearranged Latin numerals spell VIXI. Often engraved on headstones, the word means he lived and thus tempts death to make that statement true of you.

6) The horns

Thats even more reason to grab life (or hold on to it) by the horns. Another way to protect yourself against ill fate is to make the sign of the horns. To form le corna, first make a fist and then unfurl only your index and little fingers to point them at the ground. (If you point them at the sky, you may unintentionally be calling someone a fool, an action that could bring you more bad luck.)

7) The glass full of water

If you violate this next rule, youll be in trouble. Never raise a toast with a glass full of water as it is bad luck. Also, be sure look fellow toasters in the eye when clinking glasses and dont slip up by forgetting to take a sip before setting your drink down.

8) The salt

Take this next superstition with a grain of salt. The well-seasoned superstitious know not to spill salt or olive oil for fear of bad luck. This conception may have begun as a trick to motivate people to handle the previously expensive goods with care.

9) Sitting down to table in 13

Now for the dish on a different superstition. Although 13 is considered lucky, sitting down to a table with 12 others is an ill omen. At the Last Supper Jesus ate with his 12 isciples before one of them, Judas Iscariot betrayed him. With this rule, Italians aim to avoid a similar turning of the tables.

10) The hearse without a coffin

This piece of hearsay drives people crazy. In Italy, if you follow a hearse that isnt carrying a coffin, you are in deaths wake and soon people might be attending yours! However, if the hearse bears a body, it isnt in pursuit of another passenger, so you are safe, just like if you pass a hearse driving in the opposite direction.

And an extra superstition, just for good luck!

11. Even those with nerves of steel are susceptible to superstitions. In Italy, to prevent a lousy turn of fortune people practice tocca ferro and touch iron if they think something bad is going to occur. The good news is that if you can keep all these superstitious rules in Italy, youll be golden!

Sarah Barchus
Former Jackass star Bam Margera has shared a troubling video rant slamming the prank franchise and admitting he has previously been dealing with suicidal thoughts.

Margera, 41, asked fans to boycott the upcoming Jackass 4 movie in a series of concerning clips uploaded on Thursday, before he accused the production of controlling his life when he was still involved.

The MTV personality, who has long struggled with substance abuse, went on to talk about considering suicide, revealing he went so far as to look up how to tie a noose online.

As Margera started the clip, which has since been deleted but was captured by TMZ, he slurred: 'Who the f*** cares if I'm drunk as hell or not?'

Lots to say: Bam Margera admitted to having suicidal thoughts while railing against Jackass in a drunken social media rant

He later admitted to chugging a glass of wine and seven beers before sharing his thoughts.

According to Magera, he was shut out of production of Jackass 4 - the uber popular prank film franchise of which he has been a key part.

'I'm not in 'Jackass 4,' and if anybody cares about me don't go see their movie because I will make mine way f**king radder if you just Venmo me a dollar,' he sated.

'Jackass has put me through f***ing hell on f***ing wheels for a year-and-a-half, keeping me in Pennsylvania, I couldn't leave,' he went said, claiming he had to take multiple breathalyzer checks per day and had to take urine tests randomly while working on previous Jackass projects.

He also said he was forced to take his antidepressant medication in front of someone from Paramount Pictures 'every single day.'

Bam pointed out how different fellow Jackass-er Steve-O - who has been sober for over a decade - has been treated, remarking on how he's been allowed to work and travel freely.

He went on to complain about all the money he's shelled out on rehab in hopes of returning to Jackass.

Inebriated: As Margera starting the clip, which has since been deleted but was captured by TMZ , Bam slurred: 'Who the f*** cares if I'm drunk as hell or not?'

Watching over him: 'Jackass has put me through f***ing hell on f***ing wheels for a year-and-a-half, keeping me in Pennsylvania, I couldn't leave,' he went said, claiming he had to take multiple breathalyzer checks per day and had to take urine tests randomly while working on previous Jackass projects

Bam also worried that they would use his ideas in the movie without featuring him, prompting him to beg fans 'If anybody cares about me don't go see their movie' and ask for money to fund his own project.

'Jackass was everything to me,' he sobbed, before retching and appearing to vomit.

He seemed slightly more lucid in a following video, where his worried wife Nicki Boyd was captured.

While pitching his competing project, Bam casually mentions how his wife found him looking up how to tie a noose online before turning the camera on her.

His ideas: Bam also worried that they would use his ideas in the movie without featuring him, prompting him to beg fans 'If anybody cares about me don't go see their movie' and ask for money to fund his own project

Scary: While pitching his competing project, Bam casually mentions how his wife found him looking up how to tie a noose online before turning the camera on her

Struggles: Bam has had a tough few years, dealing with multiple arrests, hospitalizations and stints in rehab

But he said things have been looking up since he moved to Oceanside, California, got off antidepressants, met new friends and started skateboarding again.

Bam has had a tough few years, dealing with multiple arrests, hospitalizations and stints in rehab.

In 2019 he was detained for trespassing after a bizarre incident in the lobby of a Los Angeles hotel.

The arrest lead to his fourth stint in rehab. During that stint he was hospitalized with edema.

And he suffered more misfortune last month when his Bentley was stolen while he was at the gas station and then taken on a high-speed chase which ended when the car was crashed into a house.
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Phuket business leaders appeal ban on independent sourcing of COVID vaccine

PHUKET: Key leaders of Phuket business associations have filed a joint request addressed to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha to reconsider the ban on local administrations and private businesses from buying Thai-government-approved vaccinations for COVID-19.

COVID-19Coronavirushealthtourismeconomics

By The Phuket News

Thursday 11 February 2021, 03:53PM

Phuket Chamber of Commerce President Thanusak Phungdet speaks to the press after submitting the formal request yesterday (Feb 10). Photo: Eakkapop Thongtub

Phuket Chamber of Commerce President Thanusak Phungdet and Phuket Tourist Association President Bhummikitti Ruktaengam together handed the formal request to Phuket Governor Narong Woonciew yesterday (Feb 10).

Present to witness the handing over of the formal request were representatives of 12 other business and trade associations, representing the Thailand Hotels Association Southern chapter, the Phuket Real Estate Association, the Patong Hotel Association, the Kata-Karon Hotel Association, Phuket City Development Co Ltd (PKCD), the Phuket Boutique Hotel Association, the Health & Wellness Phuket Spa Association, Andaman Guide Association, the Private Educational Association of Phuket and the Phuket Travel Agents Association.

Also present on behalf of the Phuket Provincial Government to receive the formal request were Phuket Vice Governors Phichet Panaphong and Piyapong Choowong.

Governor Narong said the formal request would be forwarded to the Office of the Ombudsman.

The request was filed after the Department of Local Administration issued an order on Monday (Feb 8) to clarify that local administrations and private-sector organisations cannot currently purchase or distribute COVID-19 vaccines by themselves.

In the first stage, only the central government can purchase, manage and distribute the vaccines under the vaccine management plan, in order to distribute to the targeted group of people and be able to follow up on their symptoms after being injected, the order stated.

Consequently, at this stage, we do not permit private sector and local administrations to directly purchase the vaccine from the producers, it added.

We want them to reconsider and allow Phuket local administrative organisations [municipalities and OrBorTor] and the private sector to be able to directly purchase COVID-19 vaccine from producers, Mr Thanusak said.

So that our tourism and economic situation will recover this year, as we plan to welcome foreign tourists in October under the project #PhuketFirstOctober, he added.

Patong Municipality, Phuket City Municipality and Chalong Municipality last month all confirmed their intent to independently source COVID-19 vaccinations in order to vaccinate all people registered as living in their areas.

Leading representatives of key Phuket industry and trade organisations have together pushed for reopening Phuket to foriegn tourists come Oct 1 as a way to help restart the islands economy, which is heavily dependent on tourism.

The plan relies on at least 70% of the islands population being vaccinated for COVID-19.

Without any form of restarting the islands economy, many more people are expected to see their incomes plunge below the poverty line.
Formula One requires incredible skill - but Lewis Hamilton has got nothing on this Chinese driver!

In a nail-biting video, reminiscent of a Top Gear challenge, the driver is seen tentatively reversing backwards on a crude bridge made of two flimsy tree branches which are little more than giant sticks.

With incredible precision and bravery, he eventually manages to cross the ditch and reach the other side.

In a nail-biting video, reminiscent of a Top Gear challenge, the van driver in Yunnan, China is seen tentatively reversing backwards on a crude bridge made of two wooden planks

The footage was captured on Tuesday in Kunming of southern Yunnan province.

It was posted on Kuaishou, a Chinese video-sharing platform, by Lao Kun, a car enthusiast who witnessed the astonishing moment.

In the two-minute clip, the two sticks clearly struggle to carry the weight of the white van, but the driver shows his skill and nerves of steel.

He slowly reversed the vehicle onto the makeshift bridge stretched across the water before carefully edging backwards.

In the two-minute clip, the two sticks clearly struggle to carry the weight of the white van, but the Chinese driver (pictured right), Mr Zhang, shows his skill and nerves of steel

Within just over a minute, the Chinese man eventually drove backwards to safety and he reached the other side of the ditch.

The cameraman rushed to congratulate the motorist, Mr Zhang, who seemed relaxed and unfazed about what he had just accomplished.

Social media users expressed their amazement at the man's cautious driving skills over the feeble bridge.

One terrified viewer wrote I was scared watching this honestly whilst another called the man driver of the year.

A third commenter exclaimed: Wow! I honestly think that was nuts. Although really amazing, I don't know why he was willing to do it in the first place.
Nataliia Kolga* is 67 years old. She lives alone in the village of Maiorske, located only 200 meters away from the contact line in eastern Ukraine.

The armed conflict in eastern Ukraine has been going on for almost seven years. Despite some progress after the July 2020 ceasefire, civilian houses are still often damaged by the ongoing shelling. Nataliias home was not spared either. A majority of families relocated to safer areas, including her son who has a family of five children and is now struggling to meet ends in another part of Ukraine.

In the neighbourhood, Nataliia is known for her kindness towards abandoned animals. Many families could not bring their pets along and left them behind. I took care of 15 cats and 4 dogs, and found new homes for the majority of them, says Nataliia.

I dont want to leave Maiorske. My son and his wife hardly make ends meet, and I dont want to put any additional burden on them. All I want is to stay in my own home which holds memories of the best years of my life, she adds.

Before retirement, Nataliia worked at the local railway station. In her free time, she performed as a ballet dancer in a local amateur group. Like many retirees in Ukraine, she is entitled to a very small pension of about USD 80 per month. Her pension mostly covers the monthly cost of the medicine she needs.

One critical problem Nataliia had to face during winter months were damaged windows in her house. In 2014 and 2015, the fighting was very intense in the area. On several occasions, windows in the building shattered due to blast waves caused by ammunition explosions. Nataliia was unable to afford proper window replacement and had to use composite boards to cover holes. During winter, she could hardly keep her home warm.

This winter, UNHCR together with its partner NGO Humanitarian Mission Proliska helped Nataliia to solve the problem by installing modern windows in her apartment. Thermal insulation improved significantly. May God bless the people who made it possible! I didnt expect someone would help me, this is a miracle. It is significantly warmer in my home now and I feel much better, said Nataliia.

Shelter interventions in Maiorske started back in 2019. The village, like several others along the contact line, saw many of civilian houses damaged by hostilities. People used their own resources or humanitarian aid to patch the holes. However, such repair works did not meet basic standards and could not ensure insulation. Most people living in villages along the contact line are extremely vulnerable. The average income for an elderly person is less than USD 100 per month, which makes it impossible to cover existing needs.

Thanks to funding from the Government of Japan, UNHCR Ukraine implemented shelter interventions to improve living conditions in villages near the contact line. Jointly with its partner NGO Proliska, UNHCR identified 28 households and provided them with cash grants that were used to cover the installation of new windows through local contractors. In total, 47 people benefited from this support and had proper windows installed in their homes, ensuring protection from cold winter temperatures in affected villages.

Tetiana and Yurii Rozhkovy also live in Maiorske with their 11 and 13-year-old children. Most of the apartments in their multi-store building are abandoned: central heating does not function and pipes bursted because of frost. To keep warm, the family purchased a small stove. Nevertheless, without proper windows, it was very difficult to keep a safe temperature in the apartment.

Due to COVID-19 quarantine, our two sons had to switch to remote learning. We were desperate to make sure that home was warm enough so that they would not get sick. We are very grateful to donors for their support, said Tetyana and Yurii.

Olena Kolomiyets is a 67-year-old single woman living in Maiorske. In 2015, a shell hit and damaged windows of her apartment. Olena could not afford to replace the window frames. I covered windows with plywood boards, carpets, blankets, pillows and rubber sheets but it did not provide proper thermal insulation. Sometimes during the cold season, the temperature would go as low as -20C. Such conditions are life-threatening. Since the window was replaced, I was able to survive freezing temperatures. It is significantly warmer in my apartment and I spend less money on heating.

In 2020, with the funding from the Government of Japan, UNHCR jointly with its NGO partners repaired over 170 houses of conflict-affected families living near the contact line.

*All names have been changed for protection reasons.

Photos: UNHCR/Artem Getman

This article was edited by Sarah Vallee. Find volunteering opportunities at https://www.onlinevolunteering.org/en

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Bloomberg

(Bloomberg) -- This time is different may be the most dangerous words in business: billions of dollars have been lost betting that history wont repeat itself. And yet now, in the oil world, it looks like this time really will be.For the first time in decades, oil companies arent rushing to increase production to chase rising oil prices as Brent crude approaches $70. Even in the Permian, the prolific shale basin at the center of the U.S. energy boom, drillers are resisting their traditional boom-and-bust cycle of spending.The oil industry is on the ropes, constrained by Wall Street investors demanding that companies spend less on drilling and instead return more money to shareholders, and climate change activists pushing against fossil fuels. Exxon Mobil Corp. is paradigmatic of the trend, after its humiliating defeat at the hands of a tiny activist elbowing itself onto the board.The dramatic events in the industry last week only add to what is emerging as an opportunity for the producers of OPEC+, giving the coalition led by Saudi Arabia and Russia more room for maneuver to bring back their own production. As non-OPEC output fails to rebound as fast as many expected -- or feared based on past experience -- the cartel is likely to continue adding more supply when it meets on June 1.CriminalizationShareholders are asking Exxon to drill less and focus on returning money to investors. They have been throwing money down the drill hole like crazy, Christopher Ailman, chief investment officer for CalSTRS. We really saw that company just heading down the hole, not surviving into the future, unless they change and adapt. And now they have to.Exxon is unlikely to be alone. Royal Dutch Shell Plc lost a landmark legal battle last week when a Dutch court told it to cut emissions significantly by 2030 -- something that would require less oil production. Many in the industry fear a wave of lawsuits elsewhere, with western oil majors more immediate targets than the state-owned oil companies that make up much of OPEC production.We see a shift from stigmatization toward criminalization of investing in higher oil production, said Bob McNally, president of consultant Rapidan Energy Group and a former White House official.While its true that non-OPEC+ output is creeping back from the crash of 2020 -- and the ultra-depressed levels of April and May last year -- its far from a full recovery. Overall, non-OPEC+ output will grow this year by 620,000 barrels a day, less than half the 1.3 million barrels a day it fell in 2020. The supply growth forecast through the rest of this year comes nowhere close to matching the expected increase in demand, according to the International Energy Agency.Beyond 2021, oil output is likely to rise in a handful of nations, including the U.S., Brazil, Canada and new oil-producer Guyana. But production will decline elsewhere, from the U.K. to Colombia, Malaysia and Argentina.As non-OPEC+ production increases less than global oil demand, the cartel will be in control of the market, executives and traders said. Its a major break with the past, when oil companies responded to higher prices by rushing to invest again, boosting non-OPEC output and leaving the ministers led by Saudi Arabias Abdulaziz bin Salman with a much more difficult balancing act.Drilling DownSo far, the lack of non-OPEC+ oil production growth isnt registering much in the market. After all, the coronavirus pandemic continues to constrain global oil demand. It may be more noticeable later this year and into 2022. By then, vaccination campaigns against Covid-19 are likely to be bearing fruit, and the world will need more oil. The expected return of Iran into the market will provide some of that, but there will likely be a need for more.When that happens, it will be largely up to OPEC to plug the gap. One signal of how the recovery will be different this time is the U.S. drilling count: It is gradually increasing, but the recovery is slower than it was after the last big oil price crash in 2008-09. Shale companies are sticking to their commitment to return more money to shareholders via dividends. While before the pandemic shale companies re-used 70-90% of their cash flow into further drilling, they are now keeping that metric at around 50%.The result is that U.S. crude production has flat-lined at around 11 million barrels a day since July 2020. Outside the U.S. and Canada, the outlook is even more somber: at the end of April, the ex-North America oil rig count stood at 523, lower than it was a year ago, and nearly 40% below the same month two years earlier, according to data from Baker Hughes Co.When Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz predicted earlier this year that drill, baby, drill is gone for ever, it sounded like a bold call. As ministers meet this week, they may dare to hope hes right.More stories like this are available on bloomberg.comSubscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.2021 Bloomberg L.P.
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I embrace all this history, says Otero. I have always tried to mold my creativity and my lifestyle around moments like this. Indeed, the more time he spends in the studio, the more traces of past occupants he discovers: 19th-century wrought-iron candlesticks in the attic; a forgotten hand fan stashed in the bench of an upright piano; a concealed mural behind the organ. As he uncovers the buildings past, he has found himself increasingly revisiting his own. Oteros practice is rooted in the idea of layering, a concept that informs both his innovative technique of creating craggy canvases from cut-up strips of dried oil paint and also his subject matter, which is derived from repeated examinations of his memories. Being here has put me in a place where Ive been thinking a lot about back home, he says, referring to Puerto Rico, where he was born and lived until he left in 2004 to attend the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. The paintings he has made since taking over this space, many of which are on display in a new exhibition at Lehmann Maupin, are less abstract than his previous work. They depict pieces of furniture  a sofa, a bathtub, a dining table  that act as gravitational centers for larger clusters of what he describes as glimpses of feelings or composited moments from his childhood.

Otero still remembers the experience of going to church with his Catholic grandmother each Sunday when he was young, first in San Juan and later, when the family moved, in the northern town of Bayamon. Though he doesnt consider himself religious, the aesthetics of those buildings have left a permanent imprint on his imagination. It was their high ceilings, the windows, the light, he says, but there was also a certain creativity in the way they were curated: the stained glass, the sculptures, the pews, the ornaments. So, while he admits that as an artist, theres always a romanticized idea of making work in an old factory or loft, one can also sense that, no matter how long and necessary the search, he would have chosen a church over a warehouse  the baroque and impractical over the utilitarian  every time.
There was a marked decline in trade activities during January with economic fundamentals falling to the lowest level in over two years, according to a business environment analysis conducted by Stanbic Bank.

The analysis conducted under the monthly Purchase Managers Index (PMI) for the month of January, indicates that election fears slowed down company orders, which is a key measure of economic performance.

The slowdown scaled back on purchasing activities, forcing the Purchase Managers Index to fall below the 50 mark, the first time since it was launched about two years ago.

General business activity, according to the index suffered under election related uncertainty as businesses deployed a wait and see approach before they could place orders.

During the period running through January, the index fell to 49.8 from 51.2 in December.

The business environment had been improving since the lifting up of the lockdown in June that had been imposed by government in April to control the spread of Covid-19.

However, the January PMI ends a six month sequence of expansion.

Respondents, according to the index, said elections could have been the cause of a slowdown in business while others blamed a mixture of Covid-19 and electioneering. The index also noted a further scaling down employees as companies continue to suffer the blunt of Covid-19, which has been ravaging the country since February.

The index, which sources data from 400 respondents, noted that manufacturers, services, wholesale and retail sectors all registered a decline in new orders during January.

During the period, companies also reported a general increase in the price of goods and services as many attempted to pass on high cost burdens to customers. The index noted an increase in the prices of cement, paper, stationery, sugar and other food products.

However, the survey indicates that despite some signs of weakness at the start of the year, companies remain confident that output will rise over the next 12 months.

For instance, in the agriculture and industry sectors, output rose whereas in construction, services, wholesale and retail decreased.

Ms Ferishka Bharuth, the Stanbic Bank Africa Regions economist, said that whereas there was a general decline in business activities, agriculture and industry registered increased activity.

"New orders dropped in January, thereby ending a six-month sequence. Respondents said, a lack of client activity around the election period was one factor acting to reduce new business. The election period also dampened activity at some monitored companies, but overall output continued to increase. Growth was recorded in the agriculture and industry categories, but falls were seen in construction, services and wholesale and retail," she said.

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The PMI is a composite index, calculated as a weighted average of five individual sub-components, which include new orders (30 per cent), output (25 per cent), employment (20 per cent), suppliers' delivery times (15 per cent and stocks of purchases (10 per cent).

Readings above 50 signal an improvement in business conditions, while below 50 show a deterioration.

Optimism

Whereas there was a drop in business activity during January, confidence around new order inflows, particularly following the election period, presents optimism with at least 84 per cent of respondents expressing a positive outlook.
Lead Democratic impeachment manager Jamie Raskin is prosecuting the case against Donald Trump for incitement of insurrection.

The second impeachment trial of Donald Trump commenced on Tuesday with an impassioned plea from DemocraticHouse managers that the former president must be held accountable for the nightmare of the 6 January riot at the Capitol.

The ex-presidents lawyers mounted a mostly procedural defence, arguing that the Constitution prohibits the Senate from putting former officials on trial.

The four-hour debate on the constitutionality of the trial kicked off a week of proceedings that are all but certain to ultimately result in the presidents acquittal, with most Senate Republicans indicating they have made up their minds not to penalise Mr Trump through the impeachment process.

Here are the three things you need to know from Day One of the second Trump impeachment trial.

1. Democrats denounce a January Exception to impeachment

Laser-focused and obviously well-drilled, Democratic impeachment managers Jamie Raskin of Maryland, Joe Neguse of Colorado, and David Cicilline of Rhode Island presented an initial triptych on Tuesday of Mr Trumps incitement of the Capitol insurrection, his delight as the mob was sacking the legislature, and the victory lap he took on Twitter when the dust had begun to settle.

The three managers speeches all converged on a central thesis: the Senate must not create a January Exception for impeachment by disqualifying itself from holding a former president accountable for actions taken in his final days in office. Impeachment represents Congress sole statutory check on a rogue president.

[The Trump teams] argument is that if you commit an impeachable offence in your last few weeks in office, you do it with constitutional impunity. You get away with it Mr Raskin, the Democrats lead manager, said.

In other words, conduct that would be a high crime and misdemeanor in your first year as president and your second year as president and your third year as president and for the vast majority of your fourth year as president, you can suddenly do in your last few weeks in office without facing any constitutional accountability at all. This would create a brand new January exception to the Constitution of the United States of America. A January exception.

Story continues

Such an exception would be the American founding fathers worst nightmare, Mr Raskin said, arguing that the framers of the Constitution knew the period right before the transfer of power from an incumbent president to his successor was the most vulnerable time for democratic governments.

Going beyond the logic of the Trump teams defence, Mr Neguse and Mr Cicilline elaborated on the actual text of the Constitution as well as historical precedent, which they argued both support the practice of post-service impeachments.

The Constitution says nothing about former officials being immune from impeachment trials.

The Trump teams argument to scrap the trial rests on the notion  widely discredited by constitutional scholars spanning the political spectrum  that the primary consequence of an impeachment conviction (removal from office) is a moot point for Mr Trump, who vacated the White House on 20 January.

Mr Neguse mocked Mr Trumps lawyers for using portions of a 2001 paper from constitutional scholar Brian Kalt to support their claim that post-service impeachments are unconstitutional.

But, Mr Neguse continued, Kalt himself clarifies in that same paper that removal is not the sole end of impeachment. If an official is convicted, he or she can be barred from ever holding public office again.

Furthermore, Mr Kalts paper  the one cited by Mr Trumps own lawyers  sides with the impeachment managers position that the Senate can conduct post-service impeachment trials.

The January exception is a purely fictional loophole, Mr Cicilline said during his portion of the opening argument.

Mr Neguse concluded his remarks: Presidents cant inflame insurrection in their final weeks and then walk away like nothing happened. And yet that is the rule that President Trump asks you to adopt. I urge you, we urge you, to decline his request, to vindicate the Constitution, to let us try this case.

2. Managers invoke GOP authorities

Throughout their opening presentation, the Democratic impeachment managers appealed to conservative legal scholars and even the past statements of Republican senators to make their case.

The vast majority of constitutional scholars, whove studied the [constitutionality] question and weighed in on the proposition being advanced by the President  this January exception   agree with us, Mr Raskin said.

That includes the nations most prominent conservative legal scholars, including former 10th Circuit Judge Michael McConnell; the co-founder of the Federalist Society, Stephen Calabresi; Ronald Reagans Solicitor General, Charles Fried; [and] luminary Washington lawyer Charles Cooper, Mr Raskin said, among hundreds of other preeminent American legal thinkers.

The Democrats opening presentation kicked off with a video reel chronicling the chaos at the Capitol on 6 January, splicing together publicly available clips from the very rioters who perpetrated the violence at the legislature that day.

The Democrats video also included a floor speech from January from Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell in which the Kentucky Republican condemned the attack on the Capitol and held Mr Trump responsible for having fed lies to the mob about the 2020 election results.

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, Mr McConnell says in the clip.

Congress had been in the process of certifying Joe Bidens electoral victory from November.

3. Senators forced to relive a nightmare

An impeachment trial is fundamentally different from a criminal trial for several reasons.

Impeachment is an inherently political process. Whereas, the penalty for criminal conviction can include stripping a defendant of his liberty, his property, and even his life, an impeachment conviction results in banishment from office and potential prohibition from holding office in the future.

The Constitution does not outline any evidentiary standard for the Senate to consider during an impeachment trial, something a judge would typically hand down to a jury at a criminal or civil trial.

This second impeachment trial of Mr Trump is most extraordinary in that the senators sitting as the nominal jury are effectively their own judges and witnesses to the events and actions being prosecuted by the impeachment managers.

Reporters in the chamber noted visceral reactions to the Democratic impeachment managers harrowing 10-minute video compilation of the 6 January attack on the Capitol.

Democratic Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey placed his hands over his eyes during footage of a Capitol police officer firing a bullet into the neck of a woman, Ashli Babbitt, who was trying to climb through a window into the Speakers lobby at the House of Representatives, according to Politico reporter Andrew Desiderio. She was one of five people to die during the insurrection.

Several senators rubbed their eyes as the video showed a mob crushing Washington DC police officer Daniel Hodges inside a doorway.

Democratic Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia reportedly shook his head during a clip of Mr Trump telling his supporters "we love you" as the insurrection was underway.

Around 2.30pm on Tuesday, USCP officer Eugene Goodman entered the Senate chamber where the trial was taking place. Mr Goodman is the officer who has been hailed as a hero for diverting dozens of protesters away from an entrance to the Senate floor as senators fled down a side stairwell.

The impeachment managers argument sought to stir raw emotions within the chamber, to remind senators that they were the targets of this attack inspired by Mr Trump.

During his portion of Tuesdays presentation, Mr Cicilline quoted GOP Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who a day after the attack said: They could have killed us all. They could've destroyed the government.

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PROVIDENCE, R.I. [Brown University] -- One thing that decades of social science research has made abundantly clear? Americans in urban areas live in neighborhoods deeply segregated by race -- and they always have.

Less clear, however, is whether city-dwellers stay segregated when they leave home and go about their daily routines. That's a question to which Jennifer Candipan, an assistant professor of sociology at Brown University, was determined to find an answer.

By analyzing geotagged locations for more than 133 million tweets by 375,000 Twitter users in the 50 largest U.S. cities, Candipan and a team of researchers found that in most urban areas, people of different races don't just live in different neighborhoods -- they also eat, drink, shop, socialize and travel in different neighborhoods.

"Most of us can sense that segregation is about more than where people live -- it's also about how they move," Candipan said. "With the recent availability of data from global positioning systems, satellite imaging and social media, we've been able to start quantifying that segregated movement in cities. In combination with existing measures, we've been able to provide a fuller picture of racial inequality and segregation in America's cities."

Candipan, who is affiliated with Brown's Population Studies and Training Center, teamed with Harvard University social scientists Nolan Edward Phillips, Robert J. Sampson and Mario Small on the study, and the results of their analysis were published on Wednesday, Feb. 10, in Urban Studies.

Candipan said that hundreds of studies, including two of her own published in Urban Affairs Review and Urban Studies, have demonstrated that for generations, racist hiring practices, housing policies and social settings have kept people of color -- particularly Black and Hispanic people -- residentially separated from whites. But before the proliferation of mobile devices, it was relatively unknown whether that separation extended to people's regular movements. Candipan is part of a new wave of social science researchers who are using data collected from millions of smartphones and wearable devices to uncover and solve social inequities.

"It's an exciting time in research: Not only do we have location data we didn't have before, but we also have computing capabilities to process that data and perform analyses," Candipan said. "We can now answer questions about segregation and mobility in a systematic way and offer new metrics that can be used in future research."

Using data collected between 2013 and 2015 from Twitter -- where millions of urban Americans leave behind valuable clues about where they eat lunch, work out and socialize each time they post a tweet -- Candipan and her colleagues developed what they called a Segregated Mobility Index, or SMI, for each of 50 cities in the U.S. Candipan explained that each city scored somewhere between 0 and 1 on the SMI. If a city were to score 0, it would indicate total interconnectedness, with residents regularly visiting neighborhoods that don't resemble the racial and ethnic composition of their own with a frequency that corresponds with the diversity of the city. If a city were to score 1, it would indicate total racial segregation, with residents failing to visit any neighborhood that doesn't resemble the racial makeup of their own.

The team found that cities with the highest SMIs -- in other words, the highest levels of segregated movement -- were those with large populations of Black residences and troubled legacies of racial conflict, including Cleveland, Philadelphia and Atlanta. Detroit's SMI was the highest at 0.5. By contrast, the cities with the lowest SMIs tended to have proportionally smaller Black and Hispanic populations and proportionally larger white populations: Denver, Minneapolis, Seattle. Portland's was the lowest at 0.11. SMIs of the largest, most racially diverse American cities, including New York, Los Angeles and Chicago, fell somewhere in the middle.

Candipan says it's not a coincidence that each city's SMI correlated directly with the size of its non-white population, and particularly its Black population. She and her colleagues believe that one likely explanation for the pattern is "minority group threat" -- a phenomenon in which an area's dominant racial group segregates itself, and excludes other groups, out of fear of one or more non-dominant groups. Scholars have previously cited minority group threat as a major reason for residential segregation.

"Some cities have long histories of preventing people of color from living in majority-white neighborhoods through racist housing policies and racial restrictive covenants," she said. "It makes sense that we see that segregation borne out in people's movement as well. If you live in a city with segregated neighborhoods, you're more likely to move in segregated social circles and spend time in neighborhoods full of people who look like you, and avoid places where you've been excluded."

The bad news, Candipan said, is that the Social Mobility Index shows U.S. cities are even more deeply segregated than previously understood. The good news is that the patterns the researchers illuminated in the study could help provide city policymakers with a roadmap toward more integrated, equitable futures.

For example, the fact that residential and mobility segregation seem to go hand-in-hand -- the more segregated a city's housing, researchers found, the higher its SMI -- indicates that providing more affordable housing options would go a long way toward diversifying neighborhoods and movement, since Black and Hispanic Americans are disproportionately likely to live at or below the poverty line.

That connection between residential segregation and high SMI also suggests that increasing public transportation options could help. Candipan said that in some cities, people of color live on the margins of the city limits, miles away from affluent neighborhoods and the city center -- and without good transit options, they can be cut off from job opportunities and cultural experiences in those areas.

"This country has a legacy of racial discrimination at a structural, endemic level, and it is clear that to this day, racial hierarchies remain and white Americans remain on top," Candipan said. "It's time for us to recognize the extent of that segregation and to try to fix it -- because at the very least, everyone should be able to go where they want, when they want."

###

Funding for this study was provided in part by National Science Foundation grants SES #1637136 and SES #1735505.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-11 15:36:13|Editor: huaxia

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China has encouraged people to stay local for the Spring Festival, or the Lunar New Year holiday. For many people who stay put in the city of Jinan in east China's Shandong Province, many local Spring Festival galas have been poised for them to enjoy. #GLOBALink

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Kraft Heinz Co said on Thursday that it plans to sell its nuts business - including most Planters and Corn Nuts products - to Hormel Foods Corp for $3.35 billion. Kraft Heinz shares were up 3% in early trading. The Chicago-based company has been trying to streamline its portfolio and focus on more accretive brands, having faced criticism for years about losing out to private label products because it is in too many categories to focus on key brands. In September, Kraft Heinz said it would sell its natural cheese business to French dairy company Groupe Lactalis for $3.2 ...
THIS article is based on a submission to the Future of Media Commission by the Equality Expert Group (EEG), a collective of experts drawn from a variety of fields, public and private, seeking to support equality and diversity in Irish social, economic and cultural life.

In the midst of todays information crisis, the media industry is having a long-awaited moment of reckoning that can only be solved by embracing radical change. After decades of disruption in the way people consume and pay for quality news and information, the trust and connection between people and journalism has suffered.

You need only look to the United States where a quarter of all newspapers have gone out of business in the last 15 years, creating news deserts that have left 1,800 communities without a local news outlet at the start of 2020.

As you pare back the layers of complexity tied up in the medias trust problem, youll find a diversity problem. A woman problem.

This will be a theme discussed at todays Future of Media Commissions hearings in an address by one of our Equality Expert Group members. We are former journalists, politicians, campaigners, policy wonks and entrepreneurs who think the Irish media can and must do better in terms of representation.

Unarguably, there is acute under-representation and marginalisation of women, from senior management and staff to contributors. This extends to the failure to give equality of access to female experts and creative talent as initiatives such as Women on Air, WhyNotHer?, Sounding The Feminists and Covid Womens Voices attest.

This is in spite of women making up the majority of the population.

We know gender equality is critical to the operation of a fair and functioning democracy, which requires the full  and equal  participation of men and women.

Yet across Europe, women represent only about a quarter of those heard, read or seen in the news. The under-representation of women in media is well documented at an international level. But we lag behind. There is a dearth in Ireland, of regular, detailed and publicly accessible data.

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We have some sense of the scale of our problem thanks to the work of Women on Air, to a small number of studies and to the participation of Dublin City University in the 2015 Global Media Monitoring Project, which revealed women struggle to comprise even a third of media professionals here.

All of this matters because the absence of womens voices  highlighted repeatedly in Ireland during the Covid-19 crisis  has profound implications for both public policy as well as public and private attitudes towards women and girls.

Media commentary and debate often shape the first draft of public policy.

When half the population is excluded from this vital space, then our needs, concerns and voices are ignored to everyones detriment.

At a minimum, we believe the State should hold media providers to account by funding and overseeing a triple-lock system of tracking, measuring and reporting gender equality.

We need to adopt and implement national indicators in the media and maintain verifiable data systems, because what gets measured gets done.

RTE should be obliged to publicly publish and report its gender equality status and implementation of gender equality policy to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland and/or any future regulator.

Private sector media should also be subject to regulatory obligations to regularly and publicly furnish  in their annual accounts  details of its monitoring of, and compliance with, gender equality measures.

Those metrics should also be reported, by private sector media, to the relevant government department charged with responsibility for the media.

On its own, this State-supported tracking, measuring and reporting could have transformative impacts, as the exemplary scorecard style reporting of bodies such as Balance for Better Business and European Movement Ireland have shown.

The good news is we do not need to reinvent the wheel to improve gender equity in, and across, the media.

The technology to track and trace, as the outstanding work of experts such as Dr Naomi Harte, Associate Professor in Digital Media Systems in the School of Engineering in Trinity College has shown, is at our fingertips.

So too is the expertise of the Central Statistics Office, which can be leveraged to level the playing field by adding its monitoring heft across media.

We can look to the United States where Report for America is placing emerging journalists into local newsrooms to report on under-covered issues. Let us also look to the BBCs 50:50 Equality Project which is creating content that fairly represents our world, or even to simple tools from the Financial Times which automatically warns if an article quotes too many men.

Some of these ideas dont require new budgets, just targets, leadership and greater willpower.

We know what is at stake. We know that when one group dominates, we all suffer.

We know how a divisive, non-diverse media that has lost sight of its public service remit can lead to crises of institutional governance and trust, as recent controversies in the US, UK and other democracies have shown.

As well as the risks, we also know the rewards of a public service media that reflects the interests of all of the public it serves.

When we uplift women, we raise the boats for us all.





Carol Hunt, Aine Kerr, Dearbhail McDonald, Noelle O Connell, Jillian van Turnhout and Margaret E Ward all contributed to this article.
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THE Federal Government through the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed yesterday said it was unfair to criticize Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State, for granting amnesty to bandits terrorizing the state.

According to the minister, the Federal Government would not stop any governor from addressing the security challenges in ways peculiar to his state.

Zamfara State governor had granted amnesty to Auwalun Daudawa, a notorious bandit who led his gang to abduct over 300 schoolboys from Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, in December last year.

The amnesty programme which involves de-radicalisation of criminals and their reintegration into the society has been embraced by the Federal Government and some state governments.

For instance, the Federal Government granted amnesty to 600 repentant Boko Haram terrorists last year, a development that attracted nationwide outrage with civil society organisations censuring the government for pampering ruthless and bloodthirsty marauders who were supposed to be punished after committing unprintable crimes in Nigeria's North-East states, especially in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa.

Recall that Governor, Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State, also faulted the proposition of renowned Islamic scholar, Sheikh Abubakar Gumi, who after meeting with some bandits in Zamfara, asked the government to grant them amnesty like was done for militants in the Niger Delta region.

However, Mohammed who spoke on AIT's 'Kakaaki', said the nature of the problem differs from state to state and the governors as chief security officers of their states were in the best position to deploy the best solutions to tackle the issues.

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He insisted that there was nothing wrong with granting amnesty to criminals if the purpose was to restore desired peace in affected areas.

Mohammed said: "When you are fighting insurgency, you use both kinetic and non-kinetic means). Granting amnesty to notorious drug barons, militants is not a new thing, it is not unique to Nigeria.

"You need to be in the shoes of the Zamfara State government or governor to appreciate what the issues at stake are (and) why he has done that. Don't also forget that the state governors are their own chief security officers. When you are dealing with insurgency, kidnapping, banditry, you are interested in the bigger picture; how do we restore peace? If granting amnesty to one notorious kidnapper is going to give me peace in my state, I might take that decision. If granting amnesty to one repentant warlord would help me capture a thousand bandits, I might take that decision."

Don't just look at what is in the public place, understand the very high complexity of managing insurgency and banditry.

Vanguard News Nigeria
A little girl is battling serious injuries in hospital after the car she was in ploughed into a hospital.

The young child was a passenger in the red SUV when it smashed into the glass entrance of Perth Children's Hospital about 8.20pm on Wednesday.

The collision caused the front entrance's glass doors to shatter as emergency workers at the hospital rushed to help.

Scroll down for video

The young girl was a passenger in the red SUV when it smashed into the glass entrance of Perth Children's Hospital about 8.20pm on Wednesday

First aid was administered to the child and the 64-year-old man as they remain in hospital.

The child suffered serious injuries, police said, and has undergone surgery overnight - remaining in a serious condition.

An investigation is underway with initial reports suggesting the driver suffered a medical episode behind the wheel.

'At this time, it is believed the driver of the vehicle may have suffered a medical episode in the moments prior to the crash,' a statement read.

'However further medical assessments are being undertaken.'

Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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The police in Lagos said it has arrested Tina Essi of Orijamogun Street, Oreyo, Ikorodu, for the alleged murder of a 49-year-old male identified as Christian Akparie.

This is contained in a statement released by Olumuyiwa Adejobi, the police spokesperson on Wednesday.

Miss Essi, the daughter of the owner of the house, had a fight with the male tenant over electricity bill before his death, the police said.

The fight occurred on January 31 and the tenant died on February 6, after suffering severe pains, the statement said.

Police preliminary investigation revealed that on 31st January 2021, an argument, over the payment of NEPA Bill, ensued between the landladys daughter, Ms Tina Essi, and the deceased, both of the same address, which led to a fight.

After the fight, the deceased had continually suffered severe pains but unfortunately, on Saturday 6th February 2021 at about 7 a.m. while the deceased was being rushed to the General Hospital, Ikorodu, he gave up the ghost, the police said in the statement.

Mr Adejobi, a Chief Superintendent of Police, said police officers attached to Ikorodu Division of the command were contacted and they arrested the suspect immediately.

The statement said the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, Hakeem Odumosu, urged the relatives of the deceased to remain calm as the police will do the needful to have justice done in the matter.

The Commissioner ordered that the suspect be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, SCIID, Panti for thorough investigation. The suspect is presently cooling her feet at the State CID, Panti, Yaba, the spokesperson said.

A 'scumbag' hurled disgusting anti-Semitic abuse at a cowering Jewish couple on a London bus.

The shocking incident took place after the unidentified man boarded the bus in Stamford Hill on Monday, and allegedly became angry when he was held up by the victim's stroller.

Footage captures the man shouting 'I will batter the f**k out of them. This is our f***ing country. I'm a f***ing Englishman, go back to your own f***ing damn country' at the couple.

The pair, who are Hasidic Jews, tell the man 'we are English' before he continues: 'This is our country, not your country.'

The clip continues to show the female victim explaining: 'We want to go away because of people like you.'

The man, who is stood by the central doors of the bus, responds: 'Yeah so have some f***ing respect then, f***ing damn c***s'.

Footage captures the man shouting 'I will batter the f**k out of them. This is our f***ing country. I'm a f***ing Englishman, go back to your own f***ing damn country' at a Jewish couple in Stamford Hill, London

The passenger continues his tirade, shouting 'go f*** yourself' as he exits the bus at Bethune Road in Stoke Newington at around 12.45pm.

A witness to the abuse, who was onboard the bus and is also Jewish, told the Mirror the couple were 'scared to death' following the incident.

The man, 27, said: 'The couple were scared to death. It seems like that scumbag tried to take advantage of them because they were disabled.

'I've never seen anything like it. I was shocked and scared.

'As a Jew I've had people shouting at me from cars in the past but this continued for a good few minutes as if it was an acceptable thing to do.'

He explained it appeared the man launched his furious rant because the couple were slow to enter the bus,

The Metropolitan Police spokesman said: 'On the evening of Monday 8 February 2021, police were made aware of a video clip of a racially aggravated incident that took place on a bus near Manor House tube station at around 12.45hrs that day.

The pair, who are Hasidic Jews, tell the man (pictured) 'we are English' before he continues: 'This is our country, not your country'

The passenger continues his tirade, shouting 'go f*** yourself' as he exits the bus at Bethune Road in Stoke Newington at around 12.45pm

'Initial enquiries were carried out from officers from the Central East Command.

'Given the incident occurred on a bus the investigation it has been passed to the Mets Roads and Transport Policing Command to investigate.

Neighbourhood Superintendent for Hackney, Andy Port, said: 'We take all forms of hate crime seriously whether that be a crime based on a persons race, religion, sexual orientation, disability or prejudice against a person who is transgender.

'We deplore any form or hate crime and will do everything in our power to bring to justice those responsible.

'Should anyone have any information with regards to the incident please contact 101 quoting CAD 5662/8Feb or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.'

It comes as a Holocaust survivor and rabbi had his hat knocked off and was abused in a vile anti-Semitic attack on a bus in North London.

The attacker, a woman, allegedly said to the pensioner: 'I hate you Jews, it's not your place, you took our money'.

Thankfully the man wasn't injured but had his hat knocked off his head in the attack aboard a 76 bus just before 5pm on Tuesday.

When police arrived, the suspect had fled and no arrests have yet been made. The bus route runs from Tottenham Hale through Stamford HIll to Waterloo.

A spokesperson for the Met Police said: 'Police were called to Stamford Hill, N16, shortly before 5pm on Tuesday February 9 to reports of a religiously-aggravated assault.

'Officers attended. It was reported a man had been assaulted by a woman on a bus, who also used anti-semitic language.

'The man's hat was knocked of his head but he did not suffer any injury. The suspect had left the scene before police arrived.

'Enquiries are ongoing. There have been no arrests.'

Imagine an airline advertisement that asks potential customers the question: Do you always need to meet face to face? We all have to fly now and then. But next time think about flying responsibly.

It doesnt sound like an ad that would make it past a board meeting at Ryanair. Maybe it sounds like something that might be produced in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Even at that, it seems a stretch than any airline would come up with such an advertisement.

Like responsible drinking advertisements, it starts with the supposition that too much alcohol (or flying in this case) is a bad thing.

But KLM put out that ad in 2019, long before the coronavirus had hit. It was the airlines contribution to what it said was creating a more sustainable future for aviation. The ad had to be pitched to the board of the airline three times before they approved it.

The entire aviation industry is reeling from the impact of the virus. Tens of thousands of job losses around the world, idle planes and different views about when international air travel can bounce back, all point to enormous uncertainty.

In Ireland we have seen Aer Lingus receive a 150m loan from a state investment fund and airline trade unions are warning about irreparable damage with thousands of jobs.

Returning to international travel in huge numbers is a given once the impact of global vaccine programmes is felt. We cant wait to get on plane and go somewhere when we are confident it will be safe to do so.

But what about business travel? When will that be back?

Airlines are caught in a perfect storm with the future of business travel. It typically accounts for just 10pc to 12pc of airline passenger numbers but 55pc to 75pc of profits for top airlines, according to McKinsey consultants.

Microsoft founder Bill Gates believes 50pc of pre-Covid business travel will disappear for good. For some airlines thats a third of their profits gone. Less high margin business travel will result in higher fares for the rest of us.

Business travel is in the eye of the perfect storm. Successfully working from home has transformed the attitude of many executives. If you dont need to go to the office, you dont need to travel as much either.

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Virtual meetings have been shown to work  up to a point. But the bigger issue is sustainability and carbon footprint. More big corporations are making commitments to go carbon neutral and even carbon negative. The pandemic has accelerated that process.

Consultancies Deloitte and PwC said last year that sustained business reductions in travel would be central to meeting their net zero goals. EY recently announced a commitment to being carbon negative globally.

Chief financial officers (CFOs) in big corporations will make decisions about what travel is necessary, based on their budget allocation.

A CNBC Global CFO Council survey found that over 50pc of CFOs in Europe and North America believe business travel will never return to pre-Covid levels. The figure for Asia Pacific was 34pc. The combined total put the global figure at just under half.

The CNBC survey for tech executives showed they were a lot more optimistic with just 20pc believing business travel would never return to pre-Covid levels. But the tech industry is different. It is full of people who work for super profitable or at least super-valued companies, that have not had to do a serious cost-cutting exercise in years - if ever.

McKinsey found there were certain sectors where business travel would recover better than others. It identified Europe and North America as being hardest hit.

Those of us who dont do business travel, might not give a toss what happens. But wait until the collapse in business travel starts affecting how much you pay for your holiday flights.

In Ireland, before Covid, we had a strong level of inward business travel. Even during the dark days of the last recession, the fact that FDI was sustained and grew, shielded it from the worst.

In 2007 at the height of the last boom we had 8m foreign visits to Ireland, with 1.2m of those for business travel. In 2015 we had 8.6m visits of which 1.44m were for business purpose, according to CSO figures. In 2019 we had 10m visits of which 1.48m were business travel.

Business travel globally has grown in recent years despite the availability of online alternatives like Skype, FaceTime and email.

Business people are divided about the future of corporate travel. Some believe the absence of business travel, which is down 95pc according to some airlines, has underscored where relationships matter the most. `

Management teams have to ask themselves can they continue to operate successfully and in a sustainable way without forging new relationships. It is easier to Zoom people you have met before. Somebody might need to go and see them some time.

Could that deliver a post-Covid boost for business travel? It might be overstretching it, especially in sectors which have been badly hit and budgets will be shot to pieces.

If business travel never reaches pre-Covid levels again, it raises questions about the future model for the airline industry. Some business trips will be essential. Companies will not care too much about the price if it has to be done.

We could see the return of fewer, but more expensive business travel journeys. The day of the elite high flyers could return.

Short haul, low cost carriers like Ryanair, should be least affected.

But even industry body IATA estimated that air fares could go up by 54pc as the industry struggles to regain financial stability.

Vaccine or not, flying will not be the same again.
Deadline to appeal revaluation approaching

Residents who are interested in appealing a revaluation of their property can apply for a formal public hearing before the towns Board of Assessment Appeals. Applications will be posted on the boards website. Residents must apply for their appeal by Feb. 19.

The Connecticut General Statutes require each town in the state to do a revaluation every five years. The revaluation analyzes all sales in Fairfield between Oct. 1, 2019, and Oct. 1, 2020. They will correspond to the tax bills that will be due beginning in July of 2021.

Visit gis.vgsi.com/fairfieldct/ for valuation information, which is updated each Friday. Updates, and information are also posted at: fairfieldct.org/taxassessor. First Selectwoman Brenda L. Kupchicks public information session with Municipal Valuation Services, LLC, and the Town Tax Assessor, Ross D. Murray is also available on the towns YouTube channel.

Fairfield launches Love Local BINGO contest for small businesses

Fairfields Department of Community and Economic Development with the Fairfield Chamber of Commerce, and more than 45 local businesses, has launched Love Local BINGO to support local businesses in the town.

Download BINGO game boards at: experiencefairfieldct.org/Bingo, or pick up a game board at one of the participating Fairfield restaurants, or stores. People may choose to play either or both cards and submit by March 5.

Visit and make a purchase at one of the participating Fairfield restaurants or stores during the month of February to make BINGO. Receipts should be kept. Once the people have BINGO, they should take and upload a picture of their winning game card, and the receipt(s) at: experiencefairfieldct.org/Bingo, and complete the online entry form for a chance to win prizes. A list of the participating business establishments, more information about the contest, and the complete rules for it, are also posted at: ExperienceFairfieldCT.org/Bingo. Boards and receipts can also be dropped off or mailed to the Fairfield Community & Economic Development, along with the persons name, email and phone number.

One winner from each board will be chosen at random from among all qualified entries to win a $250 Shop Fairfield Love Local Community eGift Card from the towns current program. Other prizes will also be awarded. There will only be one winner per household.

Live-in companion wins award

Precious Bobson, a live in companion, at the homecare agency, Assisted Living Services Inc., was recently awarded the agencys $5,000 Platinum Caregiver Award for October. The agency has locations in Fairfield and Cheshire. Bobson has also received a crystal statue, and certificate of merit, all of which comes with the award. See the video of the celebration on YouTube.

Bobson is from East Hartford, Conn.

Fairfield residents artwork on display at museum

Fairfield Resident Harrison Gordons artwork is on display through Feb. 28 at The Katonah Museum of Art (KMA) as part of the Museums 38th Young Artists 2021 exhibition. The Museum of Art celebrates the work of high school senior artists in what has become a perennially popular exhibition. Nearly 350 pieces of artwork are on view from more than 30 schools.

Visit the museum's website to reserve general admission tickets. The Museum of Art is located at 134 Jay St. in Katonah, N.Y.

Tax assistance available

AARP, (American Association of Retired Persons), Tax Assistance is taking appointments through the Bigelow Center for Senior Activities.

People who would like to register to have their taxes done by AAPR tax volunteers should call 203-256-3166, and give their name, and best number for where they can be reached, to Nora, who will then give the persons name, and phone number to the volunteers preparing the persons taxes.

The people will then receive a call from one of the tax preparers to set up a time for giving information to the volunteer.

Fairfield resident now leads one of CTs largest insurance firms

Daniel F. Keane of Fairfield, President of ACBI Insurance in Shelton, recently welcomed Kim DiMatteo of Bethany as the new Senior Vice President at ACBI Insurance. DiMatteo Insurance in Shelton merged in early 2021 with ACBI Insurance to become one of the largest insurance firms in Connecticut with their combined 3,000 clients and 40 employees.

Foundation Source announces Sunil Garga, President, CEO

Foundation Source, the largest provider of comprehensive support services to private foundations, has announced Sunil Garga will be the new president and chief executive officer.

Garga replaces Susan Friedlander Calzone.

Foundation Source is located in Fairfield.

Food drive this weekend

A group of concerned residents who started weekly community food drives in response to the COVID-19 pandemic last March will hold their 26th community food drive from 10 a.m to noon on Feb. 13 in front of Berkshire Hathaway, 1583 Post Rd. Saturdays food drive will benefit nOURish of Bridgeport, which is now distributing groceries to over 200 families each week, through their drive-up and pick-up appointment system.
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Kraft Heinz Co. (KHZ) announced Thursday that it has agreed to sell its Planters snack nut portfolio to Hormel Foods Corp. (HRL) in a cash transaction of $3.35 billion. The proposed transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2021, subject to regulatory review and approval. The transaction includes most products sold under the Planters brand, including single variety and mixed nuts, trail mix, Nut-rition products, Cheez Balls, and Cheez Curls, as well as Corn Nuts branded products. The transaction also includes global intellectual property rights to the Planters brand, subject to existing third-party licenses in certain international jurisdictions, and to the Corn Nuts brand. It also includes three dedicated Corn Nuts production facilities located in California, Arkansas and Virginia. These facilities and their employees will continue to operate in ordinary course. The business being sold contributed approximately $1.1 billion to Kraft Heinz's net sales for fiscal year 2020, primarily in the U.S. segment. For Hormel, the acquisition of the iconic Planters brand is a continuation of its evolution as a global branded food company. The transaction also provides Hormel a tax benefit valued at approximately $560 million, equating to an effective purchase price of $2.79 billion. It expects to attain synergies of approximately $50 million to 60 million, to be realized by 2024. 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.
Driving PA Forward argues a drivers license provides the basic human right of an identity and that driving is a basic need.

This organization is lobbying for all undocumented persons (Read: illegal immigrants) to be able to get a Pennsylvania drivers license. Anybody else see the irony here?

They disregarded any and all laws governing access to the U.S.A. but they want to be able to legally drive a vehicle. There was a time (not that long ago) when this idea would have been ridiculed for the idiocy it represents. Nowadays, it would actually fall under the category of will probably be enabled because why not? Anything you can think of that subverts common sense is greeted with open arms by the Democratic Liberals who are somehow managing to take down the U.S.A. from the inside. This is on par with a person committing a crime with a stolen handgun, then wanting that handgun to be considered as legally owned by them. (Not the best analogy, but you get the idea.)

As an unidentified person wrote:If you want to bring America down, you have to undermine three things: their spiritual life, their patriotism and their morality.

The party that now holds sway in Washington D.C. has been successfully putting that concept into effect for years now and are finally starting to see the culmination of their efforts.

Gary Stump Sr.

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

(Formerly of Bethlehem)
With prayers for a swift end to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Year of the Ox will be ushered in on Friday with hopes high for a more prosperous time ahead.

Many festivals, parades and concerts were cancelled due to coronavirus, but the Lunar New Year was still celebrated in smaller, more domestic ways.

A monk prays at a Buddhist shrine erected in a square in Melbournes Chinatown. Credit:Chris Hopkins

Wayne Tseng, president of the Chinese Precinct Chamber of Commerce, which includes Melbournes Chinatown, said: While we were planning to deliver a message of recovery for 2021 Lunar New Year, we were still finding ourselves in the middle of the pandemic.

And so new ways to celebrate Lunar New Year in this new COVID world have been adopted, such as roving entertainers, in-store acts and online festivities, he said.
There are only a few episodes left until the conclusion of Better Call Saul, but questions about whatll happen to the titular character remain. While we know hell eventually become the shady lawyer we met in Breaking Bad, his fate after leaving New Mexico to become Gene Takovic is still a mystery.

As Better Call Saul Season 6 approaches, actor Bob Odenkirk has opened up about the final episodes, teasing theres going to be a lot of insanity happening in Saul Goodmans life.

Bob Odenkirk | Jesse Grant/Getty Images for AMC

What we know about Gene Takovic so far

In the final season of Breaking Bad, Saul, believing hes going to be arrested for his dealings with Walter White, fled New Mexico for Nebraska. In flash-forward scenes in Better Call Saul, we learn hes using an alias and living an ordinary life as a Cinnabon employee. But eventually, that life is also upended.

After becoming suspicious of a cab driver, Gene went home and started to pack his valuables, including some diamonds viewers knew nothing about. He leaves and goes into seclusion, using a police scanner over the next few days to see if hes actually been made. When nothing happens, he returns home. But as it turns out, Gene was right: the cab driver definitely knew who he was.

One day, the driver, Jeff, approached Gene during his lunch break, explaining he used to see Sauls billboards when he lived in New Mexico. He comes off as friendly, but theres something about that interaction that left Gene suspicious of Jeff. He decides its time to call The Disappearer again, but when they got on the phone, Gene changes his mind. Hes going to settle this himself.

About the redactions: This was AMCs script.

Vince and Peter keep some secrets even from us. We found out when you did! #BetterCallSaul #FYC pic.twitter.com/Y8jG10Izx0  Better Call Saul (@BetterCallSaul) January 28, 2021

RELATED: This Better Call Saul Fan Theory Says Kim Wexler Is Saul Goodmans Shadow Partner in Breaking Bad

Glimpses of Gene can be rare. But when asked if viewers will get to see more of him beyond the scenes at the opening of each season, Odenkirk told The Wrap, I do, yeah. I think we will. Youre going to see a lot of insanity, as the wheels come off the cart.

But at the same time, he said he hopes Gene will be able to use some of his past lessons as Jimmy and Gene to pull through.

Id like to think he learned something about how to manage yourself and your inspirations, your drives, in the course of all these adventures, including Breaking Bad, Odenkirk added. Well see what Gene, how he behaves as a more experienced person having lost everything  at least one time. I wonder what Gene will do to protect himself, or to strike back at the world.

The Wrap noted in its report that filming is supposed to begin sometime in March. Theres no official release date yet, but it seems possible we could have new episodes by late 2021 or early 2022. In the meantime, read more about season 6 here.
Believers are urged to pray for boldness, strength and wisdom as the government and mainstream media now consider Christians and conservatives to be "extremists."

The Intercessors for America (IFA) are calling on Christians across the U.S. to continue praying for the nation especially the believers who are likely to be caught in the crossfire of being labeled as an extremist.

A few weeks ago, the Department of Homeland Security has declared a "nationwide terrorism alert" against potential threats from those who oppose the presidency of Joe Biden who they now consider as "anti-government extremists."

According to the DHS, the "extremists" could incite violence due to "perceived grievances" or "false narratives."

"Information suggests that some ideologically-motivated violent extremists with objections to the exercise of governmental authority and the presidential transition, as well as other perceived grievances fueled by false narratives, could continue to mobilize to incite or commit violence," the DHS said.

While preparing for a possible attack is much needed in every government, the DHS admitted to not having any specific information to indicate a credible plot that could happen sometime soon.

The new alert, which will last until April 30, has been fueled by the fact that so-called "domestic terrorism" has allegedly grown over the last four years, which is also the time when Trump still held his office as president of the United States.

In a separate interview, a former DHS employee has painted Christians with "radical faith" and strong beliefs more dangerous than terrorists from leftist and Islamic groups.

Civil libertarians now predict that there are some who might use the recent attacks to revive the legislation on domestic anti-terrorism. If this happens, it could potentially harm innocent Americans especially conservative Christians.

Rob Dreher, a conservative, predicted how things can play out in the future.

"I believe that Christians - conservative Christians - are going to be targeted too and there will be no discrimination between us peaceful conservative Christians and those who want violence.

"We're going to see people designated as terrorists - people who have no interest in terrorism at all who do not support violence, but who simply question the way things are done in this country and they do so from the right," said Dreher.

Dreher adds that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Americans are more than willing to be controlled due to having a "mindset of fear." He explained that thanks to Big Tech and the media, more people are open to "being told what to do by the government."

The ones that will be most affected in the crossfire are the traditional Christians and conservatives. As a warning, Dreher mentioned how the communist government in China has tried to conform its citizens by rewarding good communists with full access to all they need and restricting those who oppose them.

"I think we're going to see an informal version of that happen right here in America and the hammer is going to come down on conservatives and traditional Christians," Dreher added.

Right now, believers must not let fear rule their hearts but instead rise in faith to push back against the attempts to remove their voices especially when they call out sin and wrongdoing in every area.

"They want to remove our voice by painting us as extremists. Do you feel the need to apologize or back down from standing for biblical values in our nation?" the IFA asks believers.

"No, me neither. Let's keep standing!" the IFA said.

This is the best time for Christians and believers all across the nation to stand in prayer and ask God for strength and wisdom to keep standing for God and Biblical values in America, especially now that Christians are being labeled as extremists worse than terrorists.
The new Intuitive Machines mission control center will resume a long-held Houston tradition: Guiding landers to the surface of the moon.

And while its landers wont be carrying people, the companys missions will still be historic.

Houston-based Intuitive Machines will be one of the first companies to own and operate a lunar lander. Its delivering commercial cargo and NASA-provided payloads to the moon this year, and it will carry a NASA ice-mining experiment to the moon as soon as next year.

Testing the lunar lander in Houston: Actual rocket science: Inside the hundreds of hours of testing for this engine's 15 minutes of flame

To build its control center, called Nova Control, Intuitive Machines hired an expert from NASAs Johnson Space Center.

I was super excited at the opportunity to create a control center from scratch, said Troy LeBlanc, the vice president of control centers for Intuitive Machines.

LeBlanc previously used NASAs mission control as a flight controller. He also worked on the actual hardware and software used to run mission control, and he led efforts to modernize and upgrade the agencys systems.

Right before leaving NASA, LeBlanc helped renovate and restore the Apollo Mission Control Center. He got a chance to work with flight controllers and directors who put men on the moon.

All of this knowledge was used to build Nova Control, and he made some adjustments to NASAs approach.

At NASA, flight controllers sit in a theater-like setup, with their desks in rows that face a large monitor at the front of the room. Intuitive Machines designed its mission control in a circular configuration. Its mission controllers sit at computers facing the circles outside. In the center of the circle is a table, and the controllers can swivel their chairs toward the table for easy collaboration.

Some of these mission controllers will not be needed after the lander reaches the moons surface. So they can leave and create open seats for people monitoring the landers payloads. This, too, is designed to boost collaboration. At NASA, people associated with payloads often sit in another room or at another NASA facility, LeBlanc said.

But for those unable to travel to Houston, Intuitive Machines is using the cloud to help payload operators access data from their own offices. A copy of its control system is stored in the cloud, where it can be easily accessed from anywhere.

I always hoped that I would be part of NASA when a crewed mission put astronauts back on the moon, LeBlanc said. But this opportunity to work on an uncrewed lander came up at a great time for me to make a change of career and be participating in a historic return to the surface, even if its an uncrewed system.

andrea.leinfelder@chron.com

twitter.com/a_leinfelder
Aidan Ryan

Edelman brings on Aidan Ryan as VP with the firms U.S. crisis and reputation risk advisory team, effective Feb. 12. Ryan comes to Edelman from Goldberg Segalla, where he led the crisis and litigation communications practice, advising clients in a range of private industries, government and the nonprofit sector. Based out of Edelmans D.C. office, Ryan will work remotely from Upstate New York.

Lesleigh Irish-Undewrwood

MetroPlusHsealth appoints Lesleigh Irish-Underwood as its first chief brand and external relations officer. Irish-Underwood joins the company from United Way of New York City, where she was senior vice president and chief marketing officer. Before that, she held marketing and advertising leadership roles at Kensington Publishing, the Knopf Publishing Group of Random House and Pearson. At MetroPlusHealth, Irish-Underwood will be responsible for brand strategy, including product marketing, strategic communications, media relations, community and government relations, member experience, special events, and data-driven marketing innovation. Lesleigh has that rare combination of strategic thinking, creativity, and management expertise needed to lead the next stage of our brand evolution, said MetroPlusHealth President & CEO Talya Schwartz, MD.

Tom McAlister

BECK Media & Marketing promotes Tom McAlister to president and makes him the companys first-ever partner. McAlister was previously managing director at the firm and has led campaigns for clients including ZipRecruiter, National Geographic and Facebook Watch. He established and continues to lead BECK Purpose, the companys pro bono corporate social responsibility initiative. McAlister has also served as head of content marketing at Hulu and director of publicity initiatives at Warner Bros. Television. In his new role, McAlister oversees all of BECKs account teams and operations across its locations in Austin, Atlanta, New York City, San Francisco, and the companys headquarters in Santa Monica. Tom is a world-class creative marketing and communications strategist, and Im so grateful that our clients will continue to have access to his counsel, said BECK Media founder and CEO Todd Beck.

Abigail Quesinberry

French/West/Vaughan has promoted Abigail Quesinberry to vice president, social media & influencer marketing; Nicole Lavric to paid media director; and Danny Nowell to content strategy director. Quesinberry has been with FWV since 2015, previously serving as director of social media and influencer marketing. Lavric joined the agency as paid social manager in 2019. Nowell came to FWV from Team Epiphany in 2019. We are extremely fortunate to have such a talented team of professionals across our paid and social media departments, especially as trends and offerings rapidly change and transform in these areas, said FWV chairman and CEO Rick French.
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The Foreign Secretary has branded Chinas decision to ban BBC World News an unacceptable curtailing of media freedom.

Dominic Raab said the move will damage Beijings reputation in the eyes of the world.

China last week threatened to retaliate after UK regulator Ofcom stripped state TV channel China Global Television Network of its UK broadcasting licence.

The decision was based on technical issues but rooted in complaints about CGTNs role in persecuting critics of the ruling Communist Party.

Chinaas decision to ban BBC World News in mainland China is an unacceptable curtailing of media freedom. China has some of the most severe restrictions on media & internet freedoms across the globe, & this latest step will only damage Chinaas reputation in the eyes of the world.  Dominic Raab (@DominicRaab) February 11, 2021

It was thought that the BBC, which is only available in some hotels, businesses and residential compounds for foreigners in China, could become a target.

Beijing has previously criticised the BBCs reporting on coronavirus in the country, as well as allegations of human rights abuses against the Uighur minority in Xinjiang.

Mr Raab said in a statement: Chinas decision to ban BBC World News in mainland China is an unacceptable curtailing of media freedom.

China has some of the most severe restrictions on media and internet freedoms across the globe, and this latest step will only damage Chinas reputation in the eyes of the world.

The BBC said in a statement: We are disappointed that the Chinese authorities have decided to take this course of action. The BBC is the worlds most trusted international news broadcaster and reports on stories from around the world fairly, impartially and without fear or favour.

(Newser)  Alabama is seeking to carry out what would be the first execution by a state in 2021, that of a 51-year-old inmate convicted of the shotgun slaying of a police detective's sister decades ago. The 11th US Circuit Court of Appeals issued a stay blocking the Thursday night execution, but the state is expected to appeal that decision, the AP reports. Willie B. Smith III was scheduled to receive a lethal injection for the 1991 murder of Sharma Ruth Johnson in Birmingham. Prosecutors said Smith abducted Johnson, 22, at gunpoint from an ATM, stole $80 from her, and then took her to a cemetery where he shot her in the back of the head. Judges on the 11th Circuit stayed the lethal injection to give time to consider defense claims that the state failed to give the man, who has an IQ of below 75, required assistance with forms impacting the timing of his execution.

story continues below

The Alabama attorney general's office in court filings disputed that Smith is disabled and called it a last-minute maneuver to delay the execution. If the execution goes forward, it would be the first by a state in 2021 and one of the few at the state level since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic last year. According to the Death Penalty Information Center, no state has had an execution since last July 8. The court also issued a separate ruling on religious grounds saying Alabama cannot execute Smith unless they allow his personal pastor in the execution chamber. In the past, Alabama had routinely placed a prison chaplain in the chamber who would pray with an inmate if requested. The state stopped that practice after Muslim inmates asked to have an imam present.

(Read more Alabama stories.)
He bowed out of public life at the last General Election, but the best of Sir Vince Cable may be about to come.

Rather than content himself with knocking out another memoir (his first version appeared in 2010), the former Strictly star and erstwhile leader of the Liberal Democrats has, I can disclose, persuaded his second wife, Rachel, to unlock her diaries in readiness for a tell-all his-and-hers joint book.

Sir Vince, 77, who wears two wedding rings  one commemorating his marriage to his late first wife, Olympia Rebelo, and the other honouring his union with Rachel, whom he married in 2004  admits the inspiration for the idea came from across the political divide.

Weve seen Sasha Swires diaries which caused a bit of a scandal, he says, alluding to what one critic described as the viciously funny Diary Of An MPs Wife, by the spouse of former Foreign Office Minister Sir Hugo Swire. My wife is more generous in her judgments, muses Sir Vince, perhaps thinking of Swires observations about Michael Gove and his slinky, which, she alleged, comes down the stairs before the rest of the body.

The former Strictly star and erstwhile leader of the Liberal Democrats has, I can disclose, persuaded his second wife, Rachel, to unlock her diaries in readiness for a tell-all his-and-hers joint book

Sir Vince, who says that the book will have the flavour of Swires work, explains that Rachels diaries were jotted down when his party was in bed  figuratively, at least  with the Conservatives, in the Coalition government led by David Cameron. Were using my wifes diaries because she had more time to reflect on what was going on.

Rachels liberal values extended far enough to sanction her husbands appearance on a Strictly Christmas special in 2010, at a time when he was Business Secretary. Paired with the beguiling professional dancer Erin Boag, his foxtrot earned him a score of ten out of ten.

Ive discovered in lockdown I have a vast collection of papers in my loft, he explains of researching the new book, and Ive started working through them.

At least well know which bits to skip.

Rachels liberal values extended far enough to sanction her husbands appearance on a Strictly Christmas special in 2010, at a time when he was Business Secretary

Will Boris Johnson take advice from David Camerons ex-spin doctor, Andy Coulson? The former newspaper editor, who served almost five months in jail on phone-hacking charges, has returned to the fray as a crisis consultant and is taking aim at the PMs Covid strategy.

There was a mistake quite early on, says Coulson. I love the old Churchill line that scientists should be on tap, but not on top.

I think that we put too much power in the hands  from a communications point of view  of the scientific community.

Strictly on top of lifes juggling act

Strictly Come Dancing co-host Tess Daly admits juggling motherhood with work often sends her in a spin.

My biggest challenge is keeping all the plates in the air as a working mum, says the 51-year-old, who has two daughters with TV host Vernon Kay (pictured with her above).

Being there for everything, not missing any of the special school-related occasions, being there when my kids need me  and they need you more than ever when they get older  but also doing the job that I love defines me as a person.

Strictly Come Dancing co-host Tess Daly (right) admits juggling motherhood with work often sends her in a spin

Downton Abbey creator Julian Fellowes admits his penchant for writing about the upper class has caused rifts in his family.

In a Zoom meeting this week for The Trollope Society, of which he is president, the Oscarwinner confessed: [Anthony] Trollope and I share a fascination with money and status and marriage.

I have a very Left-wing brother who always criticises me for it. Lord Fellowes has three brothers: actor David, Nicholas and playwright Rory, though did not disclose to which one he was referring.

He [the brother] says: You and your marriage and money! Everyones got to have marriage and money!

And I say: No, not everyones got to have it. Just everyone in something Ive written. 

How brave Salma got back in the saddle . . .

Nearly killed by a horse at the age of 21, Hollywood star Salma Hayek, who vowed never to ride again, reveals she has finally found a way to get back in the saddle.

Just lately I shot a film called The Eternals, and I ride a horse in that. It kind of healed my anxiety about riding, says the 54-year-old, who will play superhuman Ajak in the forthcoming Marvel film, alongside Angelina Jolie.

Describing her past traumatic accident, which took place in her native Mexico, the wife of luxury goods billionaire Francois-Henri Pinault, adds: The horse went insane. He was banging me against the rails and tried to kill me on the ground. I gave up riding.

Nearly killed by a horse at the age of 21, Hollywood star Salma Hayek (pictured), who vowed never to ride again, reveals she has finally found a way to get back in the saddle

A Bridgerton too far for author Julia?

Big-budget bonkbuster Bridgerton may have captivated Netflix audiences, but fans shouldnt hold their breath for more of the books, as the author, Julia Quinn, claims shes had enough of the Regency era in which its set.

When I finished the last novel, I had been in this world for so long and I needed to stop, explains Quinn, 51. Then I went back and inhabited the same world  I did some prequels.

So many people then said: We want to read about their children. I did not want to do that. I mean, the fashions were awful.

Pint-sized, I wish! says HRH Jenna

Actress Jenna Coleman, who plays Queen Victoria in the ITV royal drama, laments not being able to gobble down comfort food like the portly monarch used to do.

Ive got a gluten allergy, so theres so much stuff I cant eat, says the 34-year-old (pictured left). Im so used to it now, but to begin with it was hard, because I was that person in the restaurant who couldnt eat certain things, or walk down the street and get a takeaway pizza.

It really changes your life because you cant be carefree in that way. I dont even like beer, but I would love just to have one.

Actress Jenna Coleman (pictured), who plays Queen Victoria in the ITV royal drama, laments not being able to gobble down comfort food like the portly monarch used to do

Ronnie Woods former wife Jo Wood admits shes struggled to find love since her rock n roll marriage ended in 2009. Guys say to me I have set the bar too high by being an ex-wife of someone from the Rolling Stones, says Jo, 65. They are really scared of that.

Ive had to say: Im a normal girl, I promise!
Shenandoah, IA (51601)

Today

Partly cloudy skies this morning will become overcast during the afternoon. High 67F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy skies. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low around 50F. Winds light and variable.
A west Alabama teen was killed, and three others injured in a Wednesday-night crash in Hale County.

The crash happened at 8 p.m. on Alabama 25, about four miles south of Greensboro, said Senior Trooper Reginal King.

Authorities said 28-year-old Jeremy Oneal Hogan was driving a 2019 Chevrolet Impala that left the road, struck a guardrail and overturned in a creek. The teen, whose identity was not released by troopers, was not using a seat belt and was pronounced dead on the scene.

Hogan and two other juveniles were injured and taken to DCH Regional Medical Center in Tuscaloosa. The crash remains under investigation.
Authorities are asking for help finding a woman suspected of hitting a police officer with a stolen car Saturday in Hillsboro.

The Washington County Sheriffs Office said Hillsboro officers were called Saturday morning to check on a woman in a car parked at an Old Navy store on Northeast Evergreen Parkway. They confirmed the car was stolen and tried to take the driver, identified by the sheriffs office as 37-year-old Linsey Gail Perry, out of the car in order to arrest her.

But Perry backed up the car with her drivers door open, the sheriffs office said. The open door hit an officer, who was smashed against a parked car.

Perry fled the scene, the sheriffs office said. The car was found abandoned in Beaverton later that day.

Authorities urge anyone who knows Perrys location or has information to call 503-846-2700. They also urge anyone who sees her to call 911.

 The Oregonian/OregonLive

Complements TGOD's existing distribution agreements with other medical cannabis distributors

Further expands TGOD's distribution within the medical market and provides opportunities for future growth as the Canadian medical market continues to evolve

In line with TGOD's strategic decision to shift its medical business to a wholesale model

TORONTO, Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - The Green Organic Dutchman Holdings Ltd. ("TGOD" or the "Company") (TSX: TGOD) (US: TGODF), a leading producer of premium certified organically grown cannabis, is pleased to announce that it has signed a supply agreement with CannMart, a subsidiary of Namaste Technologies Inc., making its certified organic medical cannabis products available via CannMart's online medical cannabis sales platform.

"Working with established players such as CannMart expands our distribution footprint within the medical cannabis market, while allowing TGOD to focus medical resources on research and innovation," commented Sean Bovingdon, TGOD's Chief Financial Officer and Interim Chief Executive Officer. "Their reach and scale facilitate access to cannabis treatments for patients across Canada."

"We are pleased to welcome TGOD to CannMart.com and look forward to working closely with them to expand their reach to Canadian cannabis consumers," commented Chad Agate, CTO and VP, Marketplace of Namaste Technologies. "We continue to leverage our Marketplace Platform, VendorLink, as we are increasingly seeing the added value Namaste's innovative technology can bring to organizations such as TGOD."

Under the two-year term agreement, TGOD will provide CannMart with a broad portfolio of certified organic medical cannabis products, including premium dried flower, RIPPLE dissolvable powder, gummies, and teas.

About The Green Organic Dutchman Holdings Ltd.

The Green Organic Dutchman Holdings Ltd. (TSX: TGOD ) (USOTC: TGODF) is a premium certified organically grown cannabis company focused on the health and wellness market. Its organic cannabis is cultivated in living soil, as nature intended. The Company is committed to cultivating a better tomorrow by producing its products responsibly, with less waste and impact on the environment. Its two Canadian facilities have been built to LEED certification standards and its products are sold in recyclable packaging. In Canada, TGOD sells dried flower and oil, and recently launched a series of nextgeneration cannabis products such as hash, vapes, organic teas and dissolvable powders. Through its European subsidiary, HemPoland, the Company also distributes premium hemp CBD oil and CBD-infused topicals in Europe. By leveraging science and technology, TGOD harnesses the power of nature from seed to sale.

TGOD's Common Shares and warrants issued under the indentures dated November 1, 2017, December 19, 2019, June 12, 2020, October 23, 2020 and December 10, 2020 trade on the TSX under the symbol "TGOD", "TGOD.WT", "TGOD.WS", "TGOD.WR","TGOD.WA" and "TGOD.WB", respectively, and TGODF trades in the US on the OTCQX. For more information on The Green Organic Dutchman Holdings Ltd., please visit www.tgod.ca .

Cautionary Statements

This news release includes statements containing certain "forwardlooking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law ("forwardlooking statements"). Forward looking statements in this release include, but are not limited to, statements about distribution agreements, statements about the growth of the medical market and statements about the future of medical cannabis treatments. Forwardlooking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "continue", "expect", "project", "intend", "should", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "potential", "proposed" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. These statements are only predictions. Various assumptions were used in drawing the conclusions or making the projections contained in the forwardlooking statements throughout this news release. Forwardlooking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties (including market conditions) and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forwardlooking statements, including those risk factors described in the Company's most recently filed Annual Information Form available on SEDAR. The Company is under no obligation, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation, to update or revise any forwardlooking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable law.

Neither the TSX nor the TSX's Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of Toronto Stock Exchange) accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

SOURCE The Green Organic Dutchman Holdings Ltd.

Related Links

www.tgod.ca


A UK-grown sustainable feed that can replace soya in dairy cow rations has scooped this years Royal Dairy Innovation Award.

NovaPro, a high energy rumen-protected protein made from UK rapeseed, won the award during Wednesday's Dairy-Tech Online.

The Royal Dairy Innovation Award is an annual award that recognises new and innovative technologies in the dairy sector.

With proven performance benefits including improved intakes and milk yield, Trident Feeds' NovaPro can also provide a cost-effective alternative to soya.

Trials run by the University of Nottingham found rations containing NovaPro produced an additional 1.7 litres of milk per cow per day compared to a soya and rape ration, with no significant effect on milk constituents.

On-farm trials also showed improved protein utilisation, with a significant reduction in milk urea nitrogen levels, meaning less nitrogen pollution on farm.

Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers (RABDF) Council Member Tim Downes, who judged the award, said NovaPro was a British-owned solution to reduce soya use.

NovaPro is making the best use of a product from rape oil production and something that is economically strong," Mr Downes said.

"The figures presented to us suggest milk yield and health are at least as good as when feeding soya.

Dr Michael Marsden, Product Development Director at Trident Feeds said: We believe NovaPro will have a huge effect on the protein supply to the dairy industry and the ability to lower the environmental footprint of the dairy ration.

The award's runner up was Carbon Check, a package enabling farmers to accurately monitor, record and benchmark carbon levels within their soils.

Another runner up was Lely Sphere, which is a housing system separating manure and urine allowing farmers to make more precise applications, reduce fertiliser use, and cut ammonia emissions.
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Enrollment at Oregons public schools tumbled this fall, led in large part by the number of families opting to have their 5-year-olds skip virtual kindergarten in the midst of the pandemic.

White families were significantly more prone to do so than families in other racial and ethnic groups, an analysis by The Oregonian/OregonLive found.

The states public schools saw a 4% drop in enrollment overall, but a 16% decrease in the number of kindergartners. Among white students, Oregon schools saw a steeper kindergarten drop: 18%.

Latino kindergarten enrollment dropped by 9% from last year and Black enrollment was down 7%. There were also 5% fewer Asian students in kindergarten this year.

Oregon Department of Education officials attribute the drops to the statewide pivot to virtual learning. Officials believe next years numbers will rebound when in-person learning resumes, the agency said in a release.

Lillian Duran, the associate dean for academic affairs at the University of Oregons College of Education, said economic factors likely play a role in the gulf between the drop in white enrollment and the decrease in percentage of Black and Latino children entering kindergarten this year.

While some parents had the means to enroll their children in private schools, some of which have offered some form of in-person instruction for months, and others could afford to keep their children in costly preschools for another year, others felt they had fewer options.

K-12 enrollment in Oregon over 5 years.

It could be that some families just dont have other offerings for their child, Duran told The Oregonian/OregonLive.

Oregon Department of Education enrollment data, unlike the figures the agency releases for graduation rates and test scores, does not include statistics on how many students come from homes that qualify for financial assistance from the state. Spokesperson Marc Siegel said the agency collected socioeconomic data on this years students but hasnt updated its district totals.

Its not data we consider final and accurate, he said.

Because Oregon is one of 13 states where kindergarten isnt compulsory, enrollment numbers present a litany of questions over what classrooms will look like when districts begin offering in-person instruction.

The state may see more split-age kindergarten classes, with a number of 6-year-olds joining children who turned 5 just in time to enroll. First-grade teachers may also see a wave of children who have never set foot in a physical classroom before.

Duran said her worry is potentially separate and unequal circumstances.

More concerning, I think, is the resulting segregation by age and background of our classrooms, Duran said.

While statewide figures show white kindergarten enrollment dropped about twice as much as that of either Black or Latino students, those gulfs were wider among some Portland-area districts.

There were 32% fewer white children enrolled in kindergarten in the Tigard-Tualatin districts schools this year, compared to 11% fewer Latinos. Districtwide, kindergarten enrollment dropped 23%.

The David Douglas district saw a decrease of 8% among Black kindergartners versus 15% for Latinos and 30% for white students. Overall, the district saw a 19% decline in the number of kindergartners in fall 2020 versus the prior year.

In Portland Public Schools, the states largest district, those gaps were much narrower, largely because so many children of color were held back from kindergarten along with white 5-year-olds.

The district reported a 16% drop in kindergarten enrollment this year. The decrease was about 21% among white children compared to 16% for Black children and 17% for Latinos. The district enrolled 5% fewer Asian students this year.

Kindergarten enrollment changes, Portland metro

Chief of Systems Performance Russell Brown told The Oregonian/OregonLive he expects those dips were a result of parents opting to have their children sit out a year of virtual school in hopes that this fall marks a return to classrooms.

The district works with Portland State University to track population shifts within its boundaries and project enrollment from year to year. Brown said that based on preliminary information, hes planning as if our students will return post-pandemic.

As educators plan for the next wave of students to enter classrooms, Duran, the University of Oregon researcher, said she hopes districts provide teachers with ample training in how to incorporate small lessons at home to keep students engaged as they make up for a years worth of practice lost to virtual learning.

I think kindergarten teachers are going to need more professional development in how to embed instructional activities, learning opportunities in the home, she said. Think of eating, dressing, other caretaking routines. Make sure theres a bridge from home to school.

Duran said shes seen a disconnect between the level of engagement preschools have with families and how often elementary schools cater to their needs. As districts plot reopening plans, she said input from families of color, in particular, will be essential.

If you want to close a trust gap, number one, is starting to listen to families and validate their experiences, she said. Educators and administrators need to actually act on their input rather than gathering it just to check a box.

The Oregon Department of Education requires districts to engage with communities before making reopening decisions. The agency also mandates that districts offer families the option of remaining in virtual learning for the remainder of the academic year.

And even though the majority of Oregons public schools saw a decrease in enrollment, some saw the opposite.

Coos Countys North Bend district had 28% more students than last year, largely a function of the 50% spike in enrollment at Oregon Virtual Academy. Kindergarten enrollment more than tripled there, from 59 last year to 205 in the fall.

You can see why if a family has other options, they might put their child in another experience this year, Duran said.

The Santiam County district, which holds the charter for Oregon Charter Academy, similarly saw an 18% increase overall as the virtual schools enrollment jumped 22%. Until last year, the school was called Oregon Connections Academy.

Kindergarten enrollment in Portland-area districts

And in Scio, where the local district charters Willamette Connections Academy, total enrollment surged 229% as participation in the virtual program went from 81 last year to 2,159 this year.

The increases in the number of families shifting to public online charters doesnt begin to fully account for the enrollment decline across brick-and-mortar schools.

Duran said shes curious to know just how many parents opted for their child to sit out the year; how many chose to enroll their children in private schools, which tend to have limits on how many additional children they can enroll year to year; and what other options families chose in an effort to circumvent a year dominated by virtual learning.

No one keeps a definitive count of Oregon students who are so disengaged they arent involved in any mode of schooling.

As Duran noted of all the possibilities, Those kids are somewhere.

--Eder Campuzano | 503-221-4344 | @edercampuzano | Eder on Facebook

Eder is The Oregonians education reporter. Do you have a tip about Portland Public Schools? Email ecampuzano@oregonian.com.

A supermum-of-16 has offered a glimpse into what it's really like to quickly 'pop to the shops for bread and milk' for her growing family.

Jeni Bonell and her husband Ray, from Queensland, have a super-sized family consisting of nine sons and seven daughters, aged between six and 31.

The 51-year-old mother usually does on a massive supermarket shop at the start of the week to stock up on pantry staples, spending an average of $450.

However, the stock would only last the family half the week. And so she would return to the store mid-week to pick up essential items such as milk, bread, fresh fruits and vegetables.

In her latest shop, she picked up six bottles of 3L milk, three loaves of sliced bread and an array of fresh fruits and vegetables.

The haul included 2kg carrots, four punnets of strawberries, two punnets of blueberries, 1kg grapes, 400g of cherries, 600g of grape tomatoes, 4kg potatoes, two salad kits, a punnet of peaches and a bag of apricots.

A supermum-of-16 has offered a glimpse into what it's really like to quickly 'pop to the shops for bread and milk' for her growing family

Australia's supermum-of-16 Jeni Bonell has offered a glimpse into what it's really like to do a grocery shop to feed her growing family (pictured Ms Bonell on one of her many shops)

The items in Jeni's latest grocery haul 6 X bottles of 3L milk: $21.54 ($3.59 each) 3 X Coles Grape Perino Tomatoes 200g: $13.50 ($4.50 each) 3 X loaves of sliced white bread: $8.98 ($2.99 each) 2 X 2kg white potatoes: $14 ($7 each) 4 X strawberries: $14 (2 for $7) 2 X 1kg carrots: $4 ($2 each) 2 X continental cucumbers: $2.80 ($1.40 each) 1 X 1kg gourmet tomatoes: $4.90 2 X blueberries: $8 ($4 each) 1 X cherries: $7.55 for 400g 2 X 500g grapes: $14 ($7 each) 2 X salad kit: $10 ($5 each) Peaches: $2.50/kg Apricots: $6.90/kg Estimate total: $132.67 Advertisement

'When you just need milk, bread and some fruit and vegetables,' she wrote on Facebook, alongside a huge grocery haul of her 'quick shop'.

Her latest grocery bill came to an estimate total of $132.67.

Dozens of people were amazed with her shop, with one joking: 'You don't need to join a gym. So much weight training going on, lifting the milk jugs.'

Other parents shared what their typical shop looks like in their home.

'My family is the same but theres only ten of us here, just a couple of days essentials. Love the fresh veggies and fruit,' one mother wrote.

And another added: 'Makes me smile. We are over the hump. 11 kids, but four married now and we have more grandkids than kids.'

Her latest haul comes after she previously shared what her weekly grocery shop usually looked like.

'Let me explain how I grocery shop... I don't shop just for the food for that week. I actually stockpile,' she said in her YouTube video last year.

To keep her costs down each week, the mother said she buys homebrand ingredients, stocks up on half-price products and buys meat and fresh produce in bulk.

'So I tend to buy up whatever we need to make meals for that week to add to our supplies or if I have something that I find that's on special or half-price or it's a great bargain, then I will buy up on that product and we will stockpile it,' she said.

'We've bought certain ingredients to go with certain meals that we are going to make this week - and the rest of it is basically we are just filling the cupboards back up to what fits in the pantry.'

Jeni and her husband Ray, from Queensland, have a super-sized family consisting of nine sons and seven daughters, aged between six and 31

Earlier this year, the mother said joked that she 'looked like a panic buyer herself' after filling three shopping trolleys with essentials during her regular shop

To keep her grocery costs down each week, Jeni said she buys homebrand ingredients, stocks up on half-price products and buys meat and fresh produce in bulk

Despite coming home after filling up two shopping trolleys to the brim, Ms Bonell said the stock would only last the family half the week.

And so she would normally have to return to the supermarket to purchase fresh produce such as fruits, vegetables, meat and milk in a few days time.

With every shop, Ms Bonell said she always comes back with toilet paper.

To make spaghetti for her family's dinner, she usually buys 1.5 kilos of homebrand spaghetti. For the sauce, she cooks 1.5 kilos of lean beef mince with 700 grams of homebrand pasta sauce, which she would cook with 500 grams of mushrooms.

Normally the family would drink through 50 litres of milk per week, but Ms Bonell said last year they are trying to cut back on the dairy.

'We're trying to pull back on milk for a little bit just for budget sake so [I bought] six three-litre bottles, and we're trying to get by with just 12 three-litre of bottles per week,' she said. This means the family is currently drinking 36 litres of milk a week.
The economic dislocation caused by Britains exit from the European Union (EU) is making itself felt, threatening serious political consequences for Prime Minister Boris Johnsons Conservative government and the Brexit agreement.

At the centre of the crisis is Northern Ireland. According to the Northern Ireland Protocol agreed between the UK and the EU, Northern Ireland remains within the EUs single market for goods, meaning import and export checks must be carried out on goods travelling between Britain and Northern Ireland. This effectively placed a customs border down the Irish Sea, rather than between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Irelandan EU member statewhich would have compromised the Good Friday Agreement ending the armed conflict in the northern six counties.

Vehicles at the port of Larne, Northern Ireland, Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2021. Authorities in Northern Ireland have suspended post-Brexit border checks on animal products and withdrawn workers after threats against border staff. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)

The EU implemented import checks immediately after the deal came into effect on January 1, a few days after it had been ratified by the UK Parliament. This created serious hold-ups for goods travelling from Britain into Northern Ireland, leading to shortages of products in major supermarkets.

While the initial shortages have been largely overcome, warnings are being sounded about what will happen when additional checks are imposed in AprilNorthern Ireland is currently in a grace period exempting it from certain EU import rules.

In January, the chief executives of the UKs major supermarketsTesco, Sainsbury's, Asda, Iceland, Co-Op and Marks & Spencerwrote to Gove to request an urgent intervention by the government ahead of the April cliff edge. They said in a joint letter that Northern Ireland could face significant disruption to food supplies because the current proposals, increased bureaucracy and certification in such a short time scale are unworkable. This appeal was echoed yesterday by several Northern Ireland business leaders, speaking to the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee.

The seriousness of the situation is indicated by Cabinet Secretary Michael Goves meeting with European Commission vice-president Maros Sefcovic today, where he will seek an extension of the grace period to 2023. Gove has attempted to leverage the fallout from the EUs aborted attempt to override the Northern Ireland protocol late last month (using Article 16 of the Brexit agreement) in connection with ongoing vaccine trade wars. He accused the EU on Monday of putting its integrationist theology ahead of the interests of the people of Northern Ireland.

Multiple Whitehall and EU officials have confirmed that the EU is only likely to agree to an extension of three to six months. Johnson has told MPs that the UK government is prepared to invoke Article 16 to ensure there is no barrier of any kind in the Irish Sea.

The inter-imperialist conflicts left unsolved by the Brexit deal are inflaming sectarian and national conflicts left unsolved by the Good Friday Agreement. The pro-British and Protestant Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Arlene Foster wrote in the Telegraph last week to insist, the Northern Ireland Protocol has not worked, cannot work and needs to be replaced. She concluded by raising the spectre of greater division in Northern Ireland and threatening that the UK government should remember, not a single unionist party in Northern Ireland supports this flawed Protocol.

Speaking in the UK parliament, DUP MP Ian Paisley demanded that Johnson Be the unionist we need you to be and use all of the instruments at his disposal to remove the impediments to trade in Northern Ireland. The protocol has betrayed us and made us feel like foreigners in our own country.

On February 1, customs inspections were suspended at Belfast and Larne ports, and inspectors, local council and EU officials sent home amid reported threats from loyalists. Threatening graffiti referring to border staff as targets was found, and the chief of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) called on the region to step back from the brink in terms of community tension. The PSNI later said they had no evidence of credible threats.

Sinn Fein member of the Northern Ireland Assembly (MLA) John ODowd said port staff were being used as pawns in a very cruel game of half-truths and manipulation, arguing that the DUP were talking up threats to advance their agenda of scrapping the Northern Ireland protocol. Mary Lou MacDonald, president of Sinn Fein, has said, Brexiteers should not be surprised at the fact that Brexit is disruptive and called for a sensible informed conversation between the British government and the European Commission to iron out and mitigate those initial problems.

The scope of the Brexit crisis is not limited to Northern Ireland. Shortages across the Irish Sea are an initial warning of the situation facing the rest of the UK. The Johnson government chose not to immediately begin import checks on goods entering from the EU, in large part because it did not have anywhere close to the required infrastructure in place to carry out the necessary procedures. They are due to come into force in several phases, the first two this April and July.

Adam Shuter, joint managing director of transport company Exact Logistics, told the Guardian the situation has got disaster written all over it. I dont think the systems are robust enough to be able to process the information quickly enough. Accounting firm KPMG has said that businesss biggest headaches are to come.

Tim Morris, chief executive of the UK Major Ports Group, and Richard Ballantyne, chief executive of the British Ports Association, warned at the end of January that lack of funding from the government meant ports were falling behind on infrastructure plans to make themselves ready for the new regime. Morris stated, We need urgent action from the government to show flexibility either on the July 1 deadline or what is required on that date. The alternative is to accept potentially serious implications for traffic flows through the ports this summer.

There has already been serious disruption of UK exports. The Road Haulage Association (RHA) reported February 1 that the volume of exports going through British ports to the EU fell by 68 percent this January compared to last. The government fiercely disputed this claim, citing traffic figures, but the RHA counters that 65-75 percent of vehicles are returning to the EU empty due to hold-ups in the UK, or because their UK contractors have stopped exporting.

According to a survey of supply chain managers by the Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply, more than half of UK companies trading with the EU suffered delays in January, with more than a third reporting delays of multiple days. Nearly a quarter believed they would run low on stock in weeks if the situation does not improve.

Some businesses, especially small and medium sized, are being threatened with ruin by the increased bureaucracy costs of exporting to the EU and the extra charges applied to their products as they enter the union.

These initial losses are likely to be dwarfed by the ultimate impact on Britains services sector, 80 percent of the UKs economic output, which was left out of the Brexit deal. As an indication, the Centre for Economics and Business Research reported yesterday that London, accounting for 40 percent the UKs export earnings from services, stood to lose 9.5 billion a yearand more if no deal on services is ever reached.

The governments response to this expanding crisis will be to proceed more viciously with its plans to slash workers conditions and hand out massive corporate tax breaks through the establishment of free ports. This will be coupled with nationalist outbursts against its imperialist rivals in the EU and repression of social anger at home. Supply disruptions and shortages were part of the disaster scenario outlined in the governments  Operation Yellowhammer , drawn up as part of a series of plans for massive police and military deployments against the unrest flowing from a no deal or hard Brexit.

The working class in Britain must oppose this reactionary agenda with its own political programme of unified class struggle with the European and international working class.

Princess Leonor de Borbon y Ortiz, the elder daughter of King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia, and heir presumptive to the throne of Spain, will complete her Bachillerato (the post-16 stage of education in Spain prior to university) in Wales in the United Kingdom. Thats according to a press release issued by the Spanish Royal Household on Wednesday. The 15-year-old, who holds the official title of Princess of Asturias, will study the two-year International Baccalaureate program with the United World College (UWC) education movement at UWC Atlantic College.

According to the statement from the royal household, in order to be accepted into the college, Princess Leonor had to undergo a selection process required by the Spanish Committee of the UWC. This process consists of an initial pre-selection phase, which is done anonymously by each candidate, followed by a final phase of different tests, which is completed remotely.

UWC Atlantic College in Wales is a boarding school located in a medieval castle. Like the other students, Princess Leonor will attend as a boarder. According to the royal household, the school is characterized by its open and critical spirit and has no religious, political or other kinds of leaning.

According to the royal household, UWC Atlantic College is characterized by its open and critical spirit and has no religious, political or other kinds of leaning

Up until now, Princess Leonor has studied at the private school Nuestra Senora de los Rosales, which her father attended and where her younger sister, the Infanta Sofia, is also currently enrolled. The cost of the Bachillerato in Wales is 67,000 (76,500), and will be covered by King Felipe and Queen Letizia. Princess Leonor will start the course between the end of August and the beginning of September. In its statement, the royal household said the move, which marks a new stage for the princess, is compatible with the progressive development of her institutional commitments to Spain. King Felipe informed Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez of the decision. This is the first substantial change in Princess Leonors education, which until now has closely followed her fathers path. King Felipe, however, waited to finish his Bachillerato before leaving Spain to continue his studies.

Over the last 12 months, Princess Leonor has taken on a more prominent role in public. She accompanied King Felipe on official events and took part in several initiatives relating to the coronavirus pandemic, including a video, in which she and her sister thanked health workers for their efforts in fighting the virus. Last year, one of Princess Leonors classmates tested positive for coronavirus and her entire class had to be quarantined. After self-isolating and being tested for the virus, the 15-year-old returned to school.

When Princess Leonor comes of age, she will also begin to receive military training. As was the case with her father, these courses will be specifically designed for her to allow her to spend time with the navy, the army and the air force. The Spanish Constitution outlines that the king or queen of Spain is also the head of the armed forces.

Leonor is leaving Spain, like her granddad A television news banner regarding the announcement of Princess Leonors imminent studies in Wales sparked heated controversy on Wednesday. When reporting the story, the news program La Hora de La 1 on Spains state-owned public service TV broadcaster TVE showed an image of Princess Leonor with a banner reading Leonor is leaving Spain, like her granddad. The message was a reference to Spains emeritus king, Juan Carlos I, who left Spain last year amid a scandal over his alleged financial irregularities. On August 17, the royal household confirmed that the former monarch is in the United Arab Emirates.



The banner was heavily criticized on social media, with users calling it an attack against the monarchy and children rights. Political parties, such as the conservative Popular Party (PP), and media organizations also spoke out against the message. In response to the controversy, the interim manager of TVE, Rosa Maria Mateo, offered an apology for the serious mistake and said that those responsible for it would be relieved from their posts. The banner was heavily criticized on social media, with users calling it an attack against the monarchy and children rights. Political parties, such as the conservative Popular Party (PP), and media organizations also spoke out against the message. In response to the controversy, the interim manager of TVE, Rosa Maria Mateo, offered an apology for the serious mistake and said that those responsible for it would be relieved from their posts.




Police in Connecticut are on the hunt for a 29-year-old Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduate who has been named a person of interest in the fatal shooting of a Yale graduate student last weekend.

New Haven police chief Otoniel Reyes said at a news conference on Wednesday that Qinxuan Pan should be considered armed and dangerous. Pans last known address is in Malden, Massachusetts.

Investigators want to question Pan in connection with the killing of Kevin Jiang, 26, a student of Yales School of the Environment, who was shot multiple times and found lying outside his car on a New Haven street on Saturday night.

Police interviewed Pan a short time after the killing, but let him go without any charges.

Police have said they were looking into whether Jiang was killed in a road rage incident following a car crash.

Jiang, a Seattle native, had gotten engaged just a week prior to his girlfriend of one year, Zion Perry. Perry was previously an undergraduate student at MIT where Pan works as a researcher in computer science and artificial intelligence.

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Police in New Haven, Connecticut, have named MIT graduate Qinxuan Pan, 29 (left), a person of interest in the shooting death of Yale student Kevin Jiang, 26 (right)

Pan, who is wanted on two warrants, one accusing him of stealing a vehicle out of Massachusetts and another for possession of a stolen vehicle in Connecticut, is a person of interest in Jiangs slaying, Reyes said.

'He is not a suspect at this time,' Reyes said. 'We are not prepared to identify him as the shooter at this point.'

A short time after Jiang's death, police in North Haven responded to the Best Western Hotel on Washington Avenue after getting a call about a suspicious car and a man, identified as Pan, acting oddly, reported New Haven Independent.

Officers questioned Pan and left him at the hotel. He later fled in a car that was determined to have been reported stolen out of Massachusetts.

Pan is believed to be out of state. Local, state and federal law enforcement officials are looking for him.

'We do not expect that he is in Connecticut,' Reyes said. 'However, what I will say is that anythings possible at this point. We are not ruling out that hes in Connecticut, however, we are exploring leads that he is somewhere nationwide.'

Pan works as a researcher in computer science and artificial intelligence at MIT, where Jiang's fiancee, Zion Perry, (pictured with him) was an undergraduate student

On January 30, Jiang shared a video on his Facebook page, showing him popping the question to Perry while on a hike to celebrate their dating anniversary. He wrote: 'She said YES!'

According to his Facebook page, which has been dormant since 2016, Pan is a native of Shanghai, China, who works as a researcher in computer science and artificial intelligence at MIT, where Perry, Jiang's fiancee, was an undergraduate student.

When asked about a possible romantic rivalry involving Pan, Jiang and his fiancee, Chief Reyes said on Wednesday that investigators are 'certainly not ruling it out.'

Pan graduated from MIT with undergraduate degrees in computer science and mathematics in June 2014 and entered the prestigious school's graduate program two months later.

Perry earned a Bachelor's degree in bio-engineering from MIT in 2016.

Jiang was found shot dead next to his rear-end damaged Prius at about 8.30pm on Saturday in New Haven.

'We are looking into whether or not Mr. Jiang was actually targeted in this incident,' Reyes told reporters on Monday. 'We have developed information suggesting that this incident may actually not have been a random act, and that he in fact was targeted.'

Pan is wanted on two warrants, including for possession of a stolen vehicle. He works as a researcher in computer science and artificial intelligence at MIT

'We are looking into whether or not Mr. Jiang was actually targeted in this incident,' New Haven Police Chief Otoniel Reyes said at a press conference on Monday

Police were initially looking at the possibility that Jiang was shot after a car crash, as his Prius had rear-end damage

With the killer still at large, the tight-lipped chief did not offer much further information.

But he did suggest that neighbors had seen interactions earlier in the day that shed light on the murder of Jiang.

'Additional callers reported seeing much during that day - we do not want to give that information because the investigation is ongoing,' Reyes said.

Chief Reyes said that it was 'too early to establish any motive whatsoever.'

New Haven police said 911 callers reported hearing at least seven gunshots at 8.30pm near the intersection of Lawrence and Nicoll streets in the East Rock neighborhood.

Responding officers found Jiang lying in the street and he was pronounced dead. The case is being investigated as a homicide.

Jiang was a second-year student at the Yale School of the Environment

Police said 911 callers reported hearing at least seven gunshots at 8.30pm on Saturday near the intersection of Lawrence and Nicoll streets in New Haven

The New Haven Independent reported that Jiang, who lived in West Haven, was found near his Prius, which had rear-end damage, raising the possibility that the shooting came after a car accident and was a targeted, rather than a random, act of violence.

A neighbor said she was in her living room when she heard two shots, followed by a pause, and then at least five more shots.

'When we finally looked outside, there was someone lying in the middle of Lawrence Street,' she told the New Haven Register.

Salovey, the Yale president, said his staff had been in touch with Jiangs family.

'I wish to convey to them and to all others who loved Kevin my sincere condolences,' Salovey said. 'Kevin was an extraordinary young man.'

Just a week before his slaying, Jiang got engaged and posted a video on his Facebook page that captured the moment he went down on one knee and popped the question while the pair were on a hike.

Jiang and his girlfriend, MIT graduate Zion Perry (right), had been dating for a year

'She said YES!; Jiang wrote ecstatically in a status update on January 30. 'Zion sweetheart - youve really made a huge impact in my life! Ever since I met you, God has been working in my heart and changing my heart for the better, helping me become more generous and kinder to others . You are the most kind, beautiful, forgiving, patient, faithful woman Ive ever met. I love you more than words can say.'

According to his LinkedIn profile, Jiang served as a tank operator in the US Army and was in the Army National Guard.

The 26-year-old veteran earned a degree in environmental studies from the University of Washington before starting his graduate studies at Yale in 2019. He was a member of the Class of 2022.

'I know this tragedy comes during a year that has already been filled with so much sorrow,' School of the Environment Dean Indy Burke wrote in a statement on Sunday. 'Please know that we in our school stand ready to support you.'

Jiang served as a tank operator in the US Army and was in the Army National Guard

After serving his country and earning a Bachelor's degree in environmental science from University of Washington, Jiang in 2019 started his graduate studies at Yale

Jiang, like his fiancee, was a devout Christian and an active member of a New Haven church

New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker addressed Jiang's killing and other violent crimes that have been committed in the city, vowing to 'be relentless in efforts to provide justice for all of the victims, their families and loved ones,' reported Fox61.

Jiang was a devout Christian and an active member of Trinity Baptist Church, where he had been volunteering his time every week for the past two years.

'Earlier this week, I had agreed to officiate Kevin's wedding,' Co-Pastor Greg Hendrickson wrote in a Facebook post. 'Now, we will be officiating his funeral instead. As a community, we are grieving deeply right now. But Kevin lived by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

'Above all he looked forward to Jesus promise of the resurrection from the dead. Though his earthly life was cut short, he used the time that he had on earth to the fullest. His example inspires us to do the same.'

On his Facebook profile Jiang wrote: 'Life is a gift that I am so thankful for.'

Jiang would have celebrated his 27th birthday this week. His death marks the sixth homicide in New Haven so far this year.

Anyone with information about Jiang's murder is urged to contact the anonymous New Haven Police tip line at 1-866-888-TIPS.
UAE and Kuwait government agencies are targets of a new cyberespionage campaign potentially carried out by Iranian threat actors, according to new research.

Attributing the operation to be the work of Static Kitten (aka MERCURY or MuddyWater), Anomali said the "objective of this activity is to install a remote management tool called ScreenConnect (acquired by ConnectWise 2015) with unique launch parameters that have custom properties," with malware samples and URLs masquerading as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) of Kuwait and the UAE National Council.

Since its origins in 2017, MuddyWater has been tied to a number of attacks primarily against Middle Eastern nations, actively exploiting Zerologon vulnerability in real-world attack campaigns to strike prominent Israeli organizations with malicious payloads.

The state-sponsored hacking group is believed to be working at the behest of Iran's Islamic Republic Guard Corps, the country's primary intelligence and military service.

Anomali said it spotted two separate lure ZIP files hosted on Onehub that claimed to contain a report on relations between Arab countries and Israel or a file relating to scholarships.

"The URLs distributed through these phishing emails direct recipients to the intended file storage location on Onehub, a legitimate service known to be used by Static Kitten for nefarious purposes," the researchers noted, adding "Static Kitten is continuing to use Onehub to host a file containing ScreenConnect."

The attack commences by directing users to a downloader URL pointing to these ZIP files via a phishing email that, when opened, launches the installation process for ScreenConnect, and subsequently uses it to communicate with the adversary. The URLs themselves are distributed through decoy documents embedded in the emails.

ConnectWise Control (formerly called ScreenConnect) is a self-hosted remote desktop software application with support for unattended access and conducting meetings with screen-sharing features.

The ultimate goal of the attackers, it appears, is to use the software to connect to endpoints on client networks, enabling them to conduct further lateral movements and execute arbitrary commands in target environments in a bid to facilitate data theft.

"Utilizing legitimate software for malicious purposes can be an effective way for threat actors to obfuscate their operations," the researchers concluded. "In this latest example, Static Kitten is very likely using features of ScreenConnect to steal sensitive information or download malware for additional cyber operations."
LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / February 11, 2021 / Reviv3 Procare Company (OTCQB:RVIV), an emerging global e-commerce brand in the premium hair care products industry, today announced the official launch of its new investor relations website http://investors.reviveprocare.com, reflecting ongoing efforts to provide up-to-date information for shareholders and prospective investors.

The new website has been designed to be more dynamic, user friendly and content rich, best showcasing a fully revamped suite of investor relations materials, information and tools - including a press release feed, current share price, SEC filings, corporate governance information, an IR calendar and a revised investor presentation.

"Our new investor portal will give us an enhanced investor-facing online presence that highlights our core products as well as value-added information for our shareholders," said Jeff Toghraie, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Reviv3 Procare. "As we continue to grow and reaffirm our commitment to the capital markets, we hope this will serve as a valuable, informative hub for current and prospective investors seeking information on our company.

"The investor relations pages provide our shareholders and investors with current, easily accessible information about our operations, business strategy, stock price and more, reflecting our ongoing efforts to enhance our shareholder communications. We are proud of our recent progress, including a record setting second quarter fiscal 2021, realizing 139% sequential revenue growth and six months sales of nearly $1 million, setting the stage for continued execution going forward," concluded Toghraie.

About Reviv3 Procare Company

Reviv3 Procare Company (OTCQB:RVIV) is an emerging global e-commerce brand in the $90 billion hair care products industry. The Company is a predominantly direct-to-consumer marketer of premium hair and skincare products under its in-house Reviv3 Procare brand - selling products in the United States, Canada, the European Union and throughout Asia. To learn more, please visit the Company's website at www.reviv3.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains a number of forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. The use of words such as "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "plans," "confident that" and "believes," among others, generally identify forward-looking statements.

These forward-looking statements are based on currently available information, and management's beliefs, projections, and current expectations subject to a number of significant risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, among other things: (i) Reviv3's ability to grow net sales and adjusted EBITDA as anticipated; (ii) our ability to fund our operating expenses (iii) potential difficulties or delays Reviv3 may experience in implementing its cost savings and efficiency initiatives; (iv) Reviv3's ability to compete effectively with other hair and skincare companies (v) the concentration of Reviv3's customers, potentially increasing the negative impact to Reviv3 by changing purchasing or selling patterns (vi) changes in laws or regulations in the United States and/or in other major markets, such as China, in which Reviv3 operates, including, without limitation, with respect to taxes, tariffs, trade policies or product safety, which may increase Reviv3's product costs and other costs of doing business, and reduce Reviv3's earnings. Potential investors are urged to consider these factors carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof. Except as required by law, Reviv3 does not assume any obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, even if new information becomes available in the future.

Investor Contact:

Lucas A. Zimmerman

Senior Vice President

MZ Group - MZ North America

949-259-4987

RVIV@mzgroup.us

www.mzgroup.us

SOURCE: REVIV3 PROCARE COMPANY

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/628527/Reviv3-Procare-Announces-Launch-of-New-Investor-Website
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Continued strong revenue growth and operational efficiency

2021 Second Quarter Highlights:

Positive Adjusted EBITDA 1 of $3.6 million

of Consolidated net revenue of $18.3 million

54% net revenue growth quarter-over-quarter

52 active retail SKUs with 9 new SKUs introduced in Q2, with presence in all 10 provinces

Completed fourth shipment of medical cannabis to Israel through its Truverra brand

through its Truverra brand Maintains a strong liquidity position, including a cash balance of $41.9 million pro forma including net proceeds of $21.5 million from the unit offering subsequent to quarter end

TORONTO, Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - The Supreme Cannabis Company, Inc. ("Supreme Cannabis" or the "Company") (TSX: FIRE) (OTCQX: SPRWF) (FRA: 53S1) today announced its financial and operating results for the three months ended December 31, 2020.

Supreme Cannabis' Management Discussion & Analysis ("MD&A") and condensed interim consolidated financial statements ("Financial Statements") for the three and six months ended December 31, 2020 ("Q2 2021"), along with all previous public filings of the Company may be found on SEDAR at www.SEDAR.com. All figures are in Canadian dollars.

Beena Goldenberg, President and CEO of Supreme Cannabis, commented:

"Supreme Cannabis continued to execute on its strategy of accelerating revenue and controlling our costs in the second quarter of fiscal 2021, which resulted in record revenue and EBITDA performance. Consolidated net revenue grew by 54% compared to Q1 to $18.3 million, while recreational net revenue  which is a significant area of focus for the Company  grew by 70% compared to last quarter to $12.7 million. Our revenue growth was attributable to distribution gains, improved fulfilment and an overall strengthening of our internal processes. We continued to exercise disciplined cost control across the business, resulting in Supreme Cannabis generating positive Adjusted EBITDA of $3.6 million, up from $0.3 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2021."

Ms. Goldenberg continued, "Supreme Cannabis' standout performance in the second quarter of 2021 not only highlights that our strategy is working, but the traction and market penetration we achieved in the quarter positions us for further profitability and growth. Our increased sales and marketing efforts in partnership with Humble & Fume Inc. ("humble+fume") enabled Supreme Cannabis to secure 3,446 net new listings during the second quarter, up from 2,258 new listings in the previous quarter. We are a top-10 player in Canada in flower and 7ACRES is a top-5 player in pre-rolls. We are also in the top three in concentrates. This reinforces the traction we're gaining with consumers. While we built strong momentum throughout the quarter and made good headway in matching supply to demand, we acknowledge that there is more work to be done in becoming sustainably profitable. As we continue our transformation into a premium cannabis CPG company, we remain committed to the continuous improvement and maturation of our internal processes and will keep offering compelling brands and high-quality products at several points of value and preference."

Ms. Goldenberg concluded, "Subsequent to quarter end, we took the opportunity to strengthen Supreme Cannabis' balance sheet and improve our liquidity by raising $21.5 million in net proceeds from an equity financing and an additional $4.2 million through our at-the-market equity program. These transactions not only strengthen the Company's balance sheet but also put us in a strong position to fund growth initiatives and capitalize on strategic opportunities that have the potential to maximize shareholder value."

__________________ 1 Adjusted EBITDA is a NonGAAP measure and does not have a standardized meaning under GAAP. As a result, it may not be comparable to data presented by other cannabis companies. For an explanation and reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to related comparable financial information presented in the Financial Statements prepared in accordance with IFRS, refer to the "Results of Operations" and "NonGAAP Measures and Additional Subtotals" in the MD&A.

Select Financial and Operational Results.



Three months ended Financial Highlights (in 000's $) Dec 31, 2020 Sept 30, 2020 Gross revenue 21,627 13,977 Net revenue 18,311 11,867 Gross margin, excluding fair value items (1) 8,349 (2,153) Gross margin 2,318 (11,340) Operating expenses 8,434 6,547 Net income (loss) (7,909) 29,768 Net comprehensive income (loss) (7,909) 29,768 Adjusted Gross Margin (2) 9,034 6,236 Adjusted EBITDA (2) 3,640 266 Cash 20,383 20,366

1. Gross margin, excluding fair value items, is an Additional Subtotal presented by the Company. The Company defines gross margin, excluding fair value items as the gross margin before recording fair value changes on growth of biological assets and realized fair value changes on inventory sold or impaired. More information on changes in fair value of biological assets can be found in "Changes in fair value of biological assets" in the MD&A. 2. Adjusted Gross Margin and Adjusted EBITDA are NonGAAP measures and do not have a standardized meaning under GAAP. As a result, they may not be comparable to data presented by other cannabis companies. For an explanation and reconciliation of Adjusted Gross Margin and Adjusted EBITDA to related comparable financial information presented in the Financial Statements prepared in accordance with IFRS, refer to the "Results of Operations" and "NonGAAP Measures and Additional Subtotals" in the MD&A.

Revenue

Overall net revenue increased 54% to $18.3 million in Q2 2021 from $11.9 million in Q1 2021.

Recreational net revenue rose to $12.7 million, an increase of 70% quarter-over-quarter as a result of distribution gains, improved fulfilment and higher sales as the Company's products continue to be well received by the recreational cannabis consumer. In particular, a 98% increase in sales volumes and a 3% higher average selling price per gram from the Company's dried flower and pre-rolls drove the increased recreational net revenue.

Wholesale net revenue, which includes the Company's sales in the international medical cannabis segment, in Q2 2021 was $5.6 million, up 28% quarter-over-quarter, driven by a 14% increase in average selling price per gram and a larger contribution from international flower sales volumes. Wholesale volumes grew by 12% as the Company continues to forge longer-term relationships in the domestic market. The growth was also driven by a 34% increase in international medical sales with the Company strengthening its relationship with Breath of Life International Ltd., Israel's largest and leading producer of medical cannabis.

Gross Margin

In Q2 2021, Adjusted Gross Margin was 49% compared to 53% in Q1 2021, primarily due to product mix and higher production costs from scaling of operations and investments in supply chain. Adjusted Gross Margin for Q2 2021 excludes impairment charges of $0.7 million recorded in production costs compared to $8.4 million of impairment charges recorded in production costs in Q1 2021.

Adjusted EBITDA

The Company generated a positive Adjusted EBITDA of $3.6 million compared to an Adjusted EBITDA of $0.3 million in Q1 2021 due to a significant increase in revenue and consistent cost control.

Balance Sheet, Liquidity and Cash Flow from Operations

Supreme Cannabis ended the quarter with a total cash balance of $20.4 million and a working capital surplus of $43.1 million.

Subsequent to quarter end, the Company took steps to significantly reinforce its balance sheet and launched an overnight marketed public offering ("the Offering") of units of the Company (the "Units") at a price of $0.19 per Unit (the "Offering"). Each Unit comprised of one common share of the Company and one half of one common share purchase warrant of the Company (each full common share purchase warrant, a "Warrant"). Each Warrant is exercisable to acquire one common share of the Company (a "Warrant Share") until January 29, 2024 at an exercise price of $0.23 per Warrant Share, subject to adjustment in certain events.

On January 29, 2021 the Company announced the closing of the Offering of 121,049,000 Units for total net proceeds to the Company of $21.5 million, including the full exercise of the over-allotment option granted to the underwriters in connection with the Offering. The net proceeds from the Offering will be used to fund growth initiatives, as a reserve for strategic opportunities, and for working capital and general corporate purposes.

Subsequent to quarter end, the Company also issued 21,560,500 shares under the at-the-market equity ("ATM") program for net proceeds of $4.2 million. Pursuant to the terms of the Offering, the Company will pause the use of its ATM program.

Including equity issuances subsequent to quarter end from the Offering and ATM program, the Company had a pro forma total cash balance of $41.9 million.

Operating and Capital Expenditures

In Q2 2021, the cost realignment efforts taken in the second half of fiscal 2020 continued to benefit the Company. Operating expenses in Q2 2021 rose by 29% over the previous quarter to $8.4 million, primarily driven by Q1 2021 benefiting from a recovery of $2.1 million related to the cancellation and forfeiture of 10.0 million stock options. As such, excluding the impact of the cancellation and forfeiture of the options, the Company's operating expenses decreased by approximately 2% quarter-over-quarter. The Company continues to consolidate and streamline its facilities and production expenses.

The Company's capital expenditures in Q2 2021 decreased to $0.3 million, down 25% quarter-over-quarter. With the completion of construction projects at the Company's Kincardine, Ontario ("Kincardine Facility") and Langley, British Columbia ("Langley Facility") facilities, capital expenditures for the remainder of fiscal 2021 are expected to be minimal and will be focused on productivity enhancements justified by nearterm cash flow returns.

Brand and Product Developments in Q2 2021.

Supreme Cannabis introduced 9 new SKUs to the market during Q2 2021:

7ACRES Craft Collective

Craft Collective 3.5g Whole Flower Pink Kush #4

Craft Collective 3.5g Whole Flower Ice Cream Cake #2

Craft Collective 3x0.5g Pre-Rolls Pink Kush

Hiway

2x1g Pre-Rolls Indica

2x1g Pre-Rolls Sativa

14g Whole Flower AAA Hybrid

14g Whole Flower AAA Hybrid II

14g Whole Flower AAA Hybrid III

14g Whole Flower AAA Sativa

Subsequent to quarter end, the Company launched four SKUs:

Hiway 1x 0.5g Pre-Roll

Blissco 0.5g Pur Cloud CBD 510 Vape Cart

Blissco Pur Cloud Vape kit (0.5g cart + battery)

7AC Craft Collective 3x 0.5g Pre-Rolls Ice Cream Cake

The following SKUs were launched on the Medical Cannabis by Shoppers online sales platform in February 2021:

5g Whole Flower Jean Guy

5g Whole Flower Sensi Star

5g Whole Flower White Widow

2x 0.5g Pre-Rolls Jean Guy

2x 0.5g Pre-Rolls Sensi Star

2x 0.5g Pre-Rolls White Widow

Distribution.

Overall, Supreme Cannabis shipped 41% more product in Q2 2021 compared to Q1 2021. The provinces of Quebec, Alberta, Ontario and British Columbia generated the majority of the Company's sales.

Distribution to the recreational market on a gram equivalent basis was 87% higher in Q2 2021 compared to Q1 2021.

Key to growing Supreme Cannabis' presence across Canada is the Company's sales agency agreement with humble+fume. Through this partnership, humble+fume is deploying a team of sales professionals that will drive distribution, brand advocacy and budtender education for all Supreme Cannabis brands at the store level. Since tracking commenced in April 2020 until the end of December 2020, humble+fume has created over 7,300 new listings for Supreme Cannabis products, including 3,446 new listings in the second quarter of 2021, up from 2,258 the previous quarter. In the second quarter of 2021, over 246 new retailer locations started carrying the Company's products.

While Supreme Cannabis and its brands achieved significant traction and revenue growth in the recreational market in Q2 2021, the Company is monitoring its sales and marketing efforts in light of the new restrictions put in place during the second wave of COVID-19 and will optimize its in-store marketing and spend accordingly.

In the second quarter of 2021 the Company also announced that it had entered into a supply agreement with Medical Cannabis by Shoppers Inc., a subsidiary of Shoppers Drug Mart Inc., to offer Truverra-branded medical cannabis products through the Medical Cannabis by Shoppers online sales platform accessible to patients across Canada. Truverra's dried flower and pre-roll offerings are now available for purchase, with full-spectrum CBD oil coming soon.

The Company also expanded its international medical cannabis shipments, completing its first shipment of medical cannabis to Australia in a private label transaction subsequent to quarter end.

Operations.

The Company continues to make incremental improvements at its core facilities in Kincardine, Ontario and Langley, British Columbia, to enhance production, processing and operating efficiency.

At the Kincardine facility the Company continued to optimize growing conditions, reducing harvest times and finding efficiencies in drying and trim, achieving a 6% decrease in time from clone to dock and a yield improvement of 3.6%. The Company also made significant improvements to its labelling processes and have initiated commissioning on a second pre-roll label machine.

Subsequent to quarter end, a pre-roll autocone machine arrived on site and will be put into production in in the coming months.

At the Langley Facility, the Company's continuous improvement program continues to yield positive results. The Company is focused on improving the quality of its oils by using carbon filtration to optimize its distillation process, resulting in a 7% improvement in the potency of distillates.

Outlook.

The Company continues to focus on near-term revenue and reaching sustainable profitability based on its accelerated transformation into a premium Cannabis CPG company, its streamlined and right-sized operating structure, and its enhanced offering of high-quality brands.

The Company has a robust and growing product line that addresses consumers' needs at a variety of price points and form factors.

The Company has efficient and effective coast-to-coast sales coverage with the humble+fume sales partnership.

The Company has substantially completed the right-sizing of its operating structure with the right teams in place to deliver against objectives efficiently.

Supreme Cannabis remains focused on cost containment, driving efficiencies, and is fully-funded to execute on all planned initiatives.

Second-quarter 2021 earnings conference call and webcast.

The Company will host a conference call to discuss its second-quarter fiscal 2021 results at 8:00 AM Eastern on Friday, February 12, 2021. Interested parties can join the call by dialling 647-427-7450 or 1-888-231-8191. The conference ID number is 9983683. The call can also be accessed through the following webcast link: https://bit.ly/3qZirpD.

A recording of the conference call will be available for replay two hours after the call's completion. To access the recording, please dial 416-849-0833 or 1-888-859-2056 and the replay code 9983683. The recording will be available until March 12, 2021.

About Supreme Cannabis.

The Supreme Cannabis Company, Inc., (TSX: FIRE) (OTCQX: SPRWF) (FRA: 53S1), is a global diversified portfolio of distinct cannabis companies, products and brands. Since 2014, the Company has emerged as one of the world's most premium producers of recreational, wholesale and medical cannabis products.

Supreme Cannabis' portfolio of brands caters to diverse consumer and patient experiences, with brands and products that address recreational, wellness, medical and new consumer preferences. The Company's recreational brand portfolio includes 7ACRES, Blissco, 7ACRES Craft Collective, Sugarleaf and Hiway. Supreme Cannabis addresses national and international medical cannabis opportunities through its premium Truverra brand.

Supreme Cannabis' brands are backed by a focused suite of world-class operating assets that serve key functions in the value chain, including scaled cultivation, value-add processing, automated packaging and product testing and R&D. Follow the Company on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube.

We simply grow better.

Forward-Looking Information.

Certain statements made in this press release may constitute "forward-looking information", "future oriented financial information" or "financial outlooks" (collectively, "forward-looking information") within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information may relate to anticipated events or results including, but not limited to: progressing towards becoming a premium cannabis CPG company; expected capital expenditures for the remainder of fiscal 2021; offering of additional products through the Medical Cannabis by Shoppers online sales platform; the implementation of the pre-roll autocone machine in the coming months at the Kincardine Facility; the Company's ability to grow near-term revenue and reach sustainable profitability; the Company's focus on cost containment and ability to execute on all planned initiatives; and other statements that are not historical facts. Particularly, information regarding our expectations of future results, targets, performance achievements, prospects or opportunities is forward-looking information. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may", "will", "expect", "believe", "estimate", "plan", "could", "should", "would", "outlook", "forecast", "anticipate", "foresee", "continue" or the negative of these terms or variations of them or similar terminology. Forward-looking information is current as of the date it is made and is based on reasonable estimates and assumptions made by us at the relevant time in light of our experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that we believe are appropriate and reasonable in the circumstances. To the extent any forward-looking information in this press release constitutes "future oriented financial information" or "financial outlooks", within the meaning of applicable securities laws, the purpose of such information being provided is to demonstrate the potential of the Company and readers are cautioned that this information may not be appropriate for any other purpose. However, we do not undertake to update any such forward-looking information whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under applicable securities laws in Canada. There can be no assurance that such estimates and assumptions will prove to be correct.

Many factors could cause our actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements or future events or developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking information as discussed in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's Annual Information Form dated September 24, 2020 ("AIF"). A copy of the AIF and the Company's other publicly filed documents can be accessed under the Company's profile on the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval ("SEDAR") at www.sedar.com. The Company cautions that the list of risk factors and uncertainties described in the AIF is not exhaustive and other factors could also adversely affect its results. Readers are urged to consider the risks, uncertainties and assumptions carefully in evaluating the forward-looking information and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such information.

Non-GAAP Measures and Additional Subtotals.

This news release contains certain financial performance measures that are not recognized or defined under IFRS ("Non-GAAP Measures") including, but not limited to, "Adjusted EBITDA" and Adjusted Gross Margin". As a result, this data may not be comparable to data presented by other cannabis companies. For an explanation and reconciliation of these measures to related comparable financial information presented in the Financial Statements prepared in accordance with IFRS, please refer to the "Results of Operations" section in the MD&A. The Company believes that these Non-GAAP Measures are useful indicators of operating performance and are specifically used by management to assess the financial and operational performance of the Company.

The Company defines Adjusted EBITDA as net income (loss) excluding amortization of property plant and equipment & intangible assets, share based payments, restructuring charges, impairment of inventory in production costs, fair value changes on growth of biological assets, realized fair value changes on inventory sold or impaired, net finance expenses, gain on settlement of convertible debentures, loss on modification of debt, gain on settlement of contract, gain or loss on disposal of property plant and equipment, unrealized and realized gains or losses on investments and income taxes.

The Company defines Adjusted Gross Margin as gross margin excluding inventory impairment, fair value changes on growth of biological assets and realized fair value changes on inventory sold or impaired.

The Company presents additional subtotals in its Financial Statements prepared in accordance with IFRS. The additional subtotals include, but not limited to, gross margin, excluding fair value items in its statements of comprehensive loss ("Additional Subtotals"). The Company defines gross margin, excluding fair value items as the gross margin before recording fair value changes on growth of biological assets and realized fair value changes on inventory sold or impaired. More information on changes in fair value of biological assets can be found in "Changes in fair value of biological assets" section of the MD&A.

Non-GAAP Measures and Additional Subtotals should be considered together with other financial information prepared in accordance with IFRS to enable investors to evaluate the Company's operating results, underlying performance and prospects in a manner similar to Supreme Cannabis' management. Accordingly, these Non-GAAP Measures and Additional Subtotals are intended to provide additional information and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS.

SOURCE The Supreme Cannabis Company, Inc.

Related Links

https://www.supreme.ca/


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British tech tycoon Mike Lynch faces being pursued by American authorities for years even if his extradition is blocked, his lawyers warned yesterday.

The 55-year-old businessman is fighting US authorities who want to try him for fraud charges.

Yesterday, one of his lawyers, Christopher Morvillo, admitted that even if the extradition attempt fails, Lynch could be arrested in future if he travels outside the UK to an area with an extradition treaty with the US.

Wanted: Tech tycoon Mike Lynch is fighting US authorities who want to try him for fraud charges

Morvillo said: Those charges would remain pending in the event that he was apprehended.

His comments came during the second day of a hearing at Westminster magistrates court.

The entrepreneur is accused of cooking the books at his software company, Autonomy, before it was sold to Hewlett Packard for 7billion in 2011.

He denies the allegations and is urging a judge to block the extradition on the grounds that the allegations are best dealt with here.

While appearing as a witness, Morvillo also predicted that if Lynch was extradited he would probably not face trial until mid-2023.

He can secure bail for a hefty price tag of 7million.

The hearing continues.

Barely three days after former Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalithaas aide VK Sasikala returned to Chennai, authorities in different parts of the state have launched a crackdown against the jailed leader and her family members. The expelled AIADMK leader returned to the state days after completing her four-year jail term in Bengaluru in a corruption case.

Properties in Kanchipuram, Tanjavur, Tiruvarur and Chengalpet districts have been seized. The administration has seized over 144 acres worth Rs 300 crore in Kanchipuram, over 26,000 square feet in Tanjavur, while assessing nearly 1,050 acres in Tiruvarur that belonged to a company owned by Sasikala and her family members. These properties were bought by companies between 1994 and 1996.

The crackdown on Sasikalas properties were launched following court orders received in disproportionate assets cases, district officials said in official statements. However, the timing of the raids has raised eyebrows as they come four years since the former AIADMK leader was convicted in the cases and with only three months remaining for the election.

Chief Minister EK Palanisamy, however, said there is nothing political in this move and the government is only following of a court order.

These seizures not in any way related to politics. The courts have given their rulings and those who have to take action based on that are doing their job. This isn't political at all.

Earlier, the ruling AIAMDK leadership had said Sasikala and those backing her had nothing to do with the party and that it was illegal on their part to use the party flag as she returned to Tamil Nadu to a grand reception.
Annual US$88.6 billion illicit capital flight loss needs to be seen as missed development opportunities.

Illicit Financial Flows (IFFs) exact a toll on development for the rich and poor alike, but in Africa the poorest populations are paying the highest price. According to the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in a report published in September 2020, Africa loses about US$88.6 billion in illicit capital flight every year - equivalent to 3.7 per cent of the continent's gross domestic product.

IFFs, broadly speaking, are illegal movements of money from one country to another. These financial activities may involve revenues from illegal activities, tax avoidance, abusive profit-shifting, trade mis-invoicing, human and drug trafficking, corruption, among others.

"They represent an example of systemic inequalities as they disproportionately impact the poorest and most vulnerable groups," says Munir Akram, Permanent Representative of Pakistan and President of the U.N.'s Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).

The billions lost annually to IFFs are almost equal to Official Development Assistance (ODA) and Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) flows to Africa combined. Funds lost in illicit capital flight leave vulnerable countries with inadequate infrastructure, erratic power supply, and limited access to health, education and broadband internet service for their citizens, among other deprivations.

The estimated $88.6 billion that Africa loses annually is not just a number. It should be looked at through the lenses of missed development opportunities, lost livelihoods and increased poverty. Ms. Cristina Duarte, UN Under-Secretary-General and Special Adviser on Africa

UN Under-Secretary-General and Special Adviser on Africa Ms. Cristina Duarte, says: "The estimated $88.6 billion that Africa loses annually is not just a number. It should be looked at through the lenses of missed development opportunities, lost livelihoods and increased poverty."

This means seeing it in the context of the millions of people that could have been lifted out of poverty; the enormous number of job opportunities that could have been created for Africa's burgeoning youth population; the thousands of hospitals and schools that could have been built; and how all these could have translated into strengthening stability and cohesion for societies and communities on the continent.

Another UNCTAD report estimates the funding gap to reach the SDGs by 2030 in Africa is $200 billion per year, almost the combined amount of the IFFs and improved tax collection.

"Illicit financial flows and corruption are inhibiting African development by draining foreign exchange, reducing domestic resources, stifling trade and macroeconomic stability and worsening poverty and inequality," explains Mukhisa Kituyi, Secretary-General of UNCTAD.

"African governments - in concert with Africa's private sector actors - should take the lead in strengthening stolen asset recovery, setting new standards for avoiding illicit flows and committing to more concerted actions to combat the negative impact of illicit financial flows on African economies," Mr. Kituyi says.

IFFs as matter of governance

Besides the considerable amounts drained annually, IFFs can also become the tinder that fuels conflicts and threatens peace and security in Africa. Goal 16 of the SDGs calls for the significant reduction of illicit financial and arms flows, strengthening the recovery and return of stolen assets and combating all forms of organized crime. It also calls for the substantial reduction of corruption and bribery in all their forms and encourages the development of effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels.

#IllicitFinancialFlows rob Africa of $89 billion each year, says @UNCTAD's Economic Development in Africa Report 2020. Curbing this capital flight could cut almost in half the continent's #GlobalGoals financing gap, https://t.co/55eYKoPfW0 #UNCTADEDAR pic.twitter.com/8tgkJiNpbc -- UNCTAD (@UNCTAD) September 28, 2020

Additionally, Aspiration 7 of the African Union's (AU's) Agenda 2063 calls on the continent "to take full responsibility for financing its development" and in order to achieve this goal, it must "eliminate illicit capital outflows and promote the involvement of civil society organizations to track and bring back any illicit capital outflows."

Global partnership for a global problem

Given the cross-border nature of IFFs, action is needed at the global level.

In 2019, the UN launched the High-Level Panel on International Financial Accountability, Transparency and Integrity for Achieving the 2030 Agenda (FACTI).

This panel has been tasked to review current challenges and trends related to financial accountability, transparency and integrity, and to make evidence-based recommendations on making systems more comprehensive, robust, effective, and universal in approach. Their first report with their findings is due to be launched on 25 February.

The AU has also been very active on this front. The AU Commission dedicated the year 2018 to "Winning the Fight against Corruption: A Sustainable Path for Africa's Transformation," in a concerted effort to combat poor financial governance, misallocation of budget resources, obstacles to productive investment, and the growth of systemic inequality across the continent.

The AU and its Member States are also in strategic partnerships to address existing and emerging challenges and gaps in the fight against the outflows. These include the African Tax Administration Forum (ATAF), the Global Forum on Transparency and Exchange of Information for Tax Purposes, and the Financial Action Task Force.

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In December 2020, the AU launched a 7 million (US$8.4 million) Multi Donor Action with the European Union and the German Federal Ministry of Economic Development and Cooperation to combat the scourge of IFFs on the African continent.

Recently and to support the AU and international community's efforts in this fight, the UN Office of the Special Adviser on Africa (OSAA), on 10 December 2020, in partnership with the AU Permanent Observer Mission to the UN organized an event entitled: "AU Silencing the Guns Initiative - The Role of Illicit Financial Flows in Fueling Instability in Africa". The event brought together more than 250 experts from different sectors to discuss ways in which IFFs drive conflict and ways to mitigate it.

Participants at the event concurred on the need to prioritize the elimination of offshore tax havens. By providing storage and access to ill-gotten wealth at short notice, IFFs and secrecy jurisdictions encourage perpetrators of violence.

To put an end to this practice would require addressing the long chain of people involved, namely, lawyers, accountants, banks and also some lenient laws turning a blind eye on the dubious origins of the funds. Only a global response can address this global issue. As long as there is a single tax haven left on the planet where the IFFs can transit and prosper, no lasting solution is possible.
Director Hitchcock, when interviewed, also explained his intent for the building suspense of the scene: Now the local bus comes and just as it pulls up  and this is a matter of timing  just before it gets to the stop, the man (also waiting at the stop) says to Grant Thats funny. And Grant says Whats funny? He says That planes dusting crops where there are no crops. Before this can be gone into in any way at all, that man is on the bus and gone. So now youve got the third phase. The audience says Ah, the airplane. "

By Vikki Katz, Amy Jordan and Katya Ognyanova

March will mark the one-year anniversary of most U.S. colleges and universities sending their students home to avoid the campus spread of COVID-19. Since then, many undergraduates have had no choice but to continue their coursework online. Students have been praised by administrators for being resilient and flexible as they adjusted to remote learning. But what if students resources and capacities to adjust were fundamentally unequal, right from the start?

We surveyed 3,000 undergraduate students at Rutgers and dozens of other universities around the country in April and May 2020  the earliest weeks of remote learning  to capture an extraordinary learning experience as it was unfolding. Heres what we found:

Six in 10 students reported challenges due to inadequate internet or digital devices, and they were much less likely to feel confident learning remotely. Many of those same students (four in 10) also reported being under-connected prior to the pandemic. But when college went remote, they also lost the access to Wi-Fi and campus computer labs that had helped them cope. These students had a harder time pivoting into remote instruction. Their ongoing struggles with internet connections too slow to livestream and digital devices that were unreliable made it harder to feel confident that they could keep up.

The two-fifths of students whose financial circumstances had worsened since the pandemic hit and the one-quarter who reported that their families were financially insecure were most likely to report being under-connected. That is not surprising; the price tag on broadband internet and laptops is too high for many students and families to maintain consistent connectivity and device upkeep  and that was true before the pandemic put millions of people out of work.

The early days of remote instruction were also a real struggle for faculty. They worked hard to develop new ways to teach, often struggling themselves with internet instability and novel software. But our data show that one-third of students who felt they could communicate easily with their faculty were also significantly more likely to feel confident that they could learn to use online learning platforms, keep track of assignments, and understand what instructors expected from them.

In fact, feeling connected to instructors explained more of students confidence that they could master remote learning than whether they were under-connected. While vaccines offer the welcome prospect of a more normal fall semester, Rutgers will be one of many that retain at least some remote instruction. Our research clearly shows that students need two kinds of connection in remote coursework: consistent, high-speed internet and digital devices on the one hand, and feeling a personal connection to instructors who guide their learning, on the other.

While digital access provides the infrastructure that students need to manage remote learning well, meaningful communication with instructors provides the supportive learning framework that students valued even more deeply.

What do universities need to do right now to ensure that students have the connections they need?

First, university leaders owed their students a swift plan to ensure that they had adequate internet and devices when classes went online last March. Few offered it. Students are completing coursework in parking lots, connecting to public WiFi networks. We must do better when digital access will define who can successfully complete their college education.

Universities should immediately offer students a monthly subsidy for home broadband access as part of their financial aid packages, loaner laptops as needed, and dedicated campus support staff to assist when something inevitably goes wrong with either.

Second, supporting students means providing better support for their instructors. Professors and teaching assistants need clear, easy guidelines for organizing their remote instruction and communicating regularly with their students in ways that are personal, but also time-efficient. And administrators need to find meaningful ways to address just how tired and burned out their faculty are, especially those who are simultaneously managing their own childrens remote learning at home.

The definition of flexibility is being able to bend without breaking. Students have been resilient and committed over this past year, despite facing major challenges. But tangible support from university administrators is long overdue; we cannot risk that remote learning will break the promise of higher education for our students.

Vikki Katz, Amy Jordan, and Katya Ognyanova are professors in the School of Communication and Information at Rutgers-New Brunswick. Their new article on digital inequality, faculty communication, and undergraduate remote learning appears in PLOS ONE.

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TS Tirumurti, India's envoy to United Nations said that it was essential that they dont lose sight of the ease with which the proscribed Haqqani Network and its supporters, especially the Pakistani authorities, had worked along with prominent terrorist organizations like Al-Qaida, ISIL K, Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, etc. in South Asia.

India yesterday i.e. February 10 called out Pakistan at the United Nations Security Council over its links with terrorist organisations such as Al Qaeda, ISIS and ISIL. It also criticised Pakistan for offering its land as a safe haven for these organisations and patronising them.

These remarks by India were made at the UNSC meeting as part of the 12th report of the UN Secretary-General on the problems caused by Islamic terrorism towards international peace and security.

The Indian diplomat asked the UNSC report to also entail information about the terrorist wings under ISIL, ISIS and Al Qaida such as Lashkar-e-Taiba, Hizbul Mujahideen and Jaish-e-Mohammed.

Also read: In first call with Xi Jinping as US Prez, Biden voices concern about Hong Kong crackdown, need for free Indo-Pacific

Also read: US to sanction Myanmars military leaders following coup: US Prez Joe Biden

TS Tirumurti, Indias envoy to United Nations said that it was essential that they dont lose sight of the ease with which the proscribed Haqqani Network and its supporters, especially the Pakistani authorities, had worked along with prominent terrorist organizations like Al-Qaida, ISIL K, Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, etc. in South Asia.

He further said that the world was fully aware that those groups also perpetrated terrorist activities from safe havens in Pakistan, including through violent attacks in Afghanistan that had disrupted the peace process.

Also read: Ladakh standoff: No compromise on Indias sovereignty, says Defence Minister Rajnath Singh
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Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has pledged to begin processes to make Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, a conventional university where courses outside technology would be offered.

Mr Makinde said this on Thursday after receiving the report of the state negotiating committee on the institution at his office in Agodi, Ibadan, Oyo State capital.

This comes months after the government and its counterparts in Osun State agreed that Oyo State should be in charge of the institution following a history of industrial action over non-payment of workers salaries.

Mr Makinde said since the LAUTECH Ogbomoso 2020 Bill had been signed into law, the state would apply to necessary authorities to change the university from a technology university to a conventional university.

According to the statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES by the governors spokesperson Taiwo Adisa, a College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences campus of LAUTECH would be opened in Iseyin, Oke Ogun.

Mr Makinde applauded the committee, led by Ayodeji Omole (Oyo), and Olu Aina (Osun) for ensuring that Oyo takes ownership of the school.

You will recall that I promised that we will announce the creation of a higher institution of learning in Iseyin. A decision has been taken and that decision is that the College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences will open its campus in Iseyin this year.

When we inaugurated this committee on November 27, 2019, we were barely six months in office. We gave the members a clear mandate: to secure a divorce from Osun State in a manner of speaking and get Oyo State sole ownership of LAUTECH. Today, I am happy to officially receive your report. I see that you have returned as brave warriors, having fulfilled your mandate.

On behalf of myself, the Oyo State Executive Council, the staff and students of LAUTECH, the people of Ogbomoso in particular and the good people of Oyo State as a whole, we say thank you for getting the job done.

Even, when we were on the campaign trail, we had always known that there were no two ways around resolving the incessant strike actions and other issues related to LAUTECH ownership. We had several engagements with stakeholders. We were not insisting on parting ways because we do not love our brothers and sisters from Osun State. As I have said on several occasions, this severance of relationship is not going to negatively impact the students and staff from Osun State but it had to be done for the sake of easier administration and to move LAUTECH, as an institution, towards our goal of a world-class university.

In fairness to all, this was the only solution. So, let me, once again, use this opportunity to thank my brother, the Executive Governor of Osun State, His Excellency, Governor Gboyega Oyetola, for putting aside all differences, especially partisan politics all through these negotiations. We appreciate his applying wisdom in taking his time for what is best for the staff and students of LAUTECH, Mr Adisa quoted his principal to have said.

Speaking further, he said I want to commend the versatility of the NUC on the negotiations. I am pleased to say that I have signed the LAUTECH, Ogbomoso Bill 2020 into law. So, it is now time to move forward with our plans. We will apply to the NUC to convert from a University of Technology to a conventional university, so that a course such as law can be taught at the institution. A lot has gone into the report and we want to give you the assurance that, even though the assignment is finished, we will continue to call on you either individually or collectively to keep on advising us on the path forward for LAUTECH, Mr Makinde said.
New Delhi, Feb 11 : Failing to win even one of the nine district chairpersons and vice chairpersons posts for which elections have now been completed in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), valley-based traditional ruling parties, National Conference (NC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have begun to level allegations of 'horse trading.

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz New Delhi, Feb 11 (IANS) Failing to win even one of the nine district chairpersons and vice chairpersons posts for which elections have now been completed in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), valley-based traditional ruling parties, National Conference (NC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have begun to level allegations of 'horse trading.

Interestingly, both, Farooq Abdullah's NC and Mehbooba Mufti's PDP, have repeatedly hailed the democratic process held in November-December 2020-the first in Jammu and Kashmir after abrogation of Article 370 on 5 August, 2019-as free and fair. Their caveats have been strictly limited to the PDP youth leader Waheedu-ur-Rehman Parra's detention in a terror funding case. Parra, who won from Pulwama during his detention, was arrested in the thick of the elections in Kashmir.

After the results were declared for 278 of the 280 DDC seats in the 20 districts in J&K on 22 December 2020, both, NC and PDP, played up the victory of their conglomerate, Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD), on 108 seats. These included 67 seats won by NC and 27 seats captured by PDP. As many as 50 winners were independent. On the other side, BJP emerged as the single largest party and its friendly Apni Party (AP) grabbed 12.

After declaration of the results, PDP's tally has come down to 25. Its candidate Khalida Bibi, who had been declared elected from Larnoo Anantnag, has lost to an independent candidate, Sajida Begum, in the recounting of votes. Elected from Kagan in Ganderbal, Tasmeena Adil has also resigned from PDP.

Significantly, there is no legal restriction on resigning or joining a different party during the course of elections and after declaration of results in the absence of an anti-defection legislation.

All the parties have simultaneously approached over 50 independent councillors and are attempting to seek their support. This has already worked in Srinagar, Shopian and Budgam districts in the valley. While Srinagar and Shopian have been grabbed by AP, Budgam has gone to an independent candidate, Nazir Ahmad Khan. In Budgam, NC had apparently support from an independent in addition to 8 of its own councillors. However, during the process of the secret ballot, 7 votes each were found for NC's Abdul Ahad Dar and the independent Nazir Ahmad Khan. Khan turned victorious in the draw of lots.

NC's vice president and former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah tweeted: "Shopian DDC election, even Srinagar for that matter, aren't really a surprise. These people have been buying & selling elected representatives since 1984. Practice makes perfect!" '1984' is obviously referenced to the year in which the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's Congress party brought down Farooq Abdullah's NC government, engineered a split in his party and installed Ghulam Mohammad Shah as Chief Minister. The AP founder, Altaf Bukhari, and his businessman father Syed Mohammad Iqbal Bukhari played a key role in the coup d'etat.

The PDP president and former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday posted on her Twitter handle: "Disgusting that senior officers in admin & police have taken it upon themselves to violate the mandate of people. By scrapping Article 370, BJP had already murdered insaniyat & Kashmiriyat. Now by manipulating DDC results, they've put the final nail in the coffin of Jamhuriyat".

With a sarcastic reference to the former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee's famous doctrine, Mehbooba added: "So much for Vajpayee ji's vision of insaniyat, Kashmiriyat & jamhuriyat. Not surprised at all by recent DDC Chairmanship results. Two months were given to buy & intimidate the DDC members". This is her first allegation that money and muscle was used to "buy & intimidate" the DDC members.

But even during the election of the councillors, which by admission of the two parties have been "fair", the NC and the PDP have performed too badly in their traditional strongholds. While NC got just one seat out of 14 in its bastion of Srinagar, the PDP bagged not more than 2 out of 14 in the Mufti's home district of Anantnag.

District Election Officers as well as the officials at the State Election Commission dismiss all such allegations as 'fallacious and preposterous'. "It's characteristic of them to level such allegations of rigging and horse trading to hide their own reverses and popularity deficit. They are habitual of it since long. When they win, they call it peoples' verdict. When they lose, they call it rigging", said a senior official. He asserted that all elections in Jammu and Kashmir after 1974 have been free, fair and transparent.

While the BJP and its partner AP have captured 6 of the 9 districts in the first two phases, they are confident of winning 5 to 6 more in the remaining phases on February 10, 12 and 13. As of now, all the four districts in Jammu have gone to the BJP. It has also a thumping majority in Samba and Reasi and is confident of winning the support of four members of different parties in Ramban. In Kashmir, BJP's partner, AP, has already grabbed the two districts of Srinagar and Shopian and it is working hard to snatch victory from NC and PDP also in Anantnag and Bandipora.

Peoples Conference (PC) and Communist Party of India Marxist (CPM) have captured one each district in Kashmir-Kupwara and Kulgam, respectively. As of now, both NC and PDP have drawn a blank. However, in the remaining phases, NC has apparently good prospects in Ganderbal, Anantnag, Ramban, Kishtwar and Rajouri districts. The PDP is better placed only in Pulwama district.

These election results will have a remarkable psychological impact on the Assembly elections whenever held in the Union Territory.

(This content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com)
In-form wicketkeeper batsman Mohammad Rizwan hit a maiden T20 international hundred as Pakistan edged out South Africa by three runs in a thrilling last-over finish to the series opener in Lahore on Thursday.

Needing 19 to win off the last over, Bjorn Fortuin (17 not out) and Dwaine Pretorius (15 not out) managed 15 as pacer Faheem Ashraf held his nerve to keep South Africa down to 166-6 in 20 overs.

Rizwan's 64-ball 104 not out featured six boundaries and seven sixes -- the most maximums by a Pakistan batsman in a T20I -- to lift the hosts to 169-6.

He also ran out the tourists' top-scorer Reeza Hendricks (54) in the 18th over.

Hendricks and Janneman Malan (44) had given the visitors a solid 53-run start by the seventh over, before leg-spinner Usman Qadir took two wickets in successive overs to derail South Africa.

South Africa's most experienced batsman David Miller (six) and skipper Heinrich Klaasen (12) also failed to lift the tempo.

Hendricks's fifth T20I fifty included eight boundaries and came off 42 balls, while Malan hit eight fours and a six off just 29 balls.

For Pakistan, Qadir took 2-21 and fast bowler Haris Rauf finished with 2-44.

Rizwan carried his bat through Pakistan's innings.

Rizwan, who scored his maiden Test hundred in Pakistan's second Test win in Rawalpindi earlier this week, added 68 for the second wicket with Haider Ali who made 21.

It lifted Pakistan -- sent in to bat -- from a disastrous start which saw skipper and star batsman Babar Azam run out off the second ball of the match for nought.

Azam hit a drive off spinner Fortuin and ran for a single but the bowler threw down the stumps at the non-striker's end with a direct hit.

"There was pressure as our best batsman had got run out so early," said Rizwan, who scored 89 in Pakistan's last T20, in New Zealand in December.

"I kept one end and since it was an important match I had to deliver and I am so happy that I scored a hundred."

Story continues

Rizwan held the innings together, changing gears in the 11th over when he hit three sixes off pacer Junior Dala to reach his fifty.

On his way to a hundred he was dropped twice on 83 and 96, but he smashed medium pacer Andile Phehlukwayo over the deep mid-wicket boundary for his seventh six to bring up the milestone.

Rizwan is only the second Pakistan batsmen to score a T20I century after Ahmed Shehzad, who achieved the feat in Dhaka against Bangladesh in the World T20 seven years ago.

Klaasen said South Africa were disappointed to come up just shy.

"It was a very good game but we are disappointed with the result. Hopefully we fight hard and come back in the next game," said Klaasen.

Phehlukwayo was the best South Africa bowler with 2-33.

The remaining two matches will be played on Saturday and Sunday, also in Lahore, as the teams continue their preparations for the T20 World Cup later this year in India.

sh/jc/iwd
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-12 01:22:47|Editor: huaxia

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BERLIN, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- German carmaker Volkswagen has teamed up with U.S. technology company Microsoft to accelerate the development of automated driving, the two companies announced on Thursday.

The aim is to jointly build a cloud-based Automated Driving Platform (ADP) to develop driver assistance systems and automated driving functions more efficiently, according to their joint statement.

"By combining our comprehensive expertise in the development of connected driving solutions with Microsoft's cloud and software engineering know-how, we will accelerate the delivery of safe and comfortable mobility services," said Dirk Hilgenberg, chief executive officer (CEO) of Volkswagen's software company Car.Software Organization, in a statement.

Volkswagen and Microsoft have already been working together on the Volkswagen Automotive Cloud (VW.AC) since 2018. The VW.AC engineering team in Seattle, United States, has already implemented data exchange between vehicles and the cloud via Azure edge services.

The cloud connection would also enable Volkswagen to provide updates and new features independently of the vehicle hardware in the future, according to the statement.

Volkswagen is planning to invest around 27 billion euros (32.8 billion U.S. dollars) in digitization by 2025 and increase its own share of software development in cars from ten percent to 60 percent.

On Wednesday, the German government approved a bill to bring autonomous driving into regular operation in defined operating areas in the country. The Ministry of Transport (BMVI) noted that the goal was to allow autonomous driving functions in traffic by 2022. Enditem.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP)  A North Carolina man appeared in federal court on Thursday on a charge of threatening President Joe Biden and others through phone calls to the White House and other agencies, a federal prosecutor said.

David Kyle Reeves, 27, of Gastonia was arrested on Feb. 5, but the criminal complaint wasnt unsealed until the court hearing in Charlotte, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of North Carolina.

The charge against Reeves carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine,

Authorities said Reeves made multiple phone calls to the White House switchboard between Jan. 28 and Feb. 1 and made threats against the president and others who were not identified in the news release. Reeves also made threats in phone calls to the U.S. Secret Service and the U.S. Capitol Police, officials said.

Court documents alleged that in one of the phone calls, Reeves threatened to kill everyone in the White House and added I am going to chop your heads off. He also told a Secret Service agent that no punishment would stop him and that it is not against the law to threaten people, officials said.

U.S. Magistrate Judge David Keesler ordered Reeves to remain in custody. He is being held at the Mecklenburg County jail. Kevin Tate, the attorney assigned to represent Reeves from the Federal Defender's Office, couldn't be reached for comment on Thursday.
Federal Deficit to Hit $2.3 Trillion in 2021, Budget Office Says This briefing has ended. Follow our latest coverage of markets, business and the economy.

The federal deficit will top $2 trillion this year, the budget office predicts. Several federal trust funds, including those for Social Security and for the nations highways, are expected to remain solvent for years longer than projected in September. Credit... Lucy Nicholson/Reuters The federal budget deficit is on course to reach $2.3 trillion for the 2021 fiscal year even if Congress does not pass another economic rescue bill, an amount slightly lower than the $3 trillion level it topped last year but still the second-highest deficit since World War II, the Congressional Budget Office said in new forecasts released Thursday. Yet the updated projections show an improving fiscal picture for the government than what the budget office forecast last fall. The budget office now sees the U.S. economy recovering faster than it previously expected, buoyed by stimulus and the ability of American businesses to adapt to the pandemic. The 2021 deficit projection has grown compared to the offices September forecasts, largely as a result of a $900 billion economic aid bill Congress passed in December. But projected deficits for the ensuing several years have shrunk by even more as a result of faster-than-expected economic growth, which is projected to increase tax and other federal revenue. Those projections are likely to fuel efforts by President Biden and congressional Democrats to speed passage of a $1.9 trillion aid package, which includes money to fight the coronavirus and help for struggling households and businesses. Republicans have objected to the size of the package, saying it is not necessary to spend that much at this point in the recovery and that it will further bloat the federal deficit. But Democrats, who are preparing to pass as much of the package as they can without Republican support, are likely to point to the C.B.O.s forecasts as justification for approving more aid. Still, the report highlights just how much money the United States is borrowing to finance all its spending. The budget office now expects the total amount of federal debt to reach 105 percent of the size of the nations economy by 2030, down slightly from its September forecast of 109 percent. The total debt grew to larger than the size of the nations economic output last year as a result of the pandemic recession and trillions of dollars in federal spending to combat it. Officials at the budget office said that another set of reports to released on Thursday afternoon would show that several federal trust funds, including those for Social Security and for the nations highways, were now expected to remain solvent for years longer than the office projected in September. The report also now forecasts that the deficit will dip briefly below $1 trillion in the 2023 and 2024 fiscal years, before rising again in the second half of the decade. From 2021 through 2031, the deficit is forecast to average $1.2 trillion per year.

Disney+ has nearly 100 million subscribers worldwide. The success of The Mandalorian has helped feed the growth of Disney+. Credit... Disney Plus, via Associated Press Disney on Thursday reported a 98 percent decline in quarterly income, the result of steep losses at its coronavirus-devastated theme park division. But the companys fledgling Disney+ streaming service is now closing in on 100 million subscribers worldwide, enough to easily convince investors that Mickey Mouse is well positioned for the future, despite the pandemic. Over all, Disney pulled off a slim $29 million in profit, or 2 cents a share, down from $2.13 billion in the same period a year ago. The companys vast theme park business was the most troubled, with more than $2 billion in operating losses in the companys first fiscal quarter, which ended Jan. 2. That was the result of major properties that remain closed, like Disneyland in California, and a substantial decline in attendance at the flagship Walt Disney World in Florida, which is capping daily attendance at 35 percent of capacity as a coronavirus safety measure. Other Disney divisions  moviemaking, the ESPN cable network  mostly had results where the negatives (the cancellation of movies) were offset by positives (sharply reduced film marketing costs). Revenue totaled $16.2 billion, a 22 percent decline. Wall Street had expected per-share losses of 41 cents and revenue of $15.93 billion. From a stock market standpoint, Disney has had a year of extremes. In March, when the company first closed theme parks, postponed movies and, for a time, operated its sports cable network without any major live sports to broadcast, shares declined 38 percent. But investors have been remarkably forgiving since then, even as Disney reported quarter after quarter of doomsday financial results. Disney shares closed at $190.91 on Thursday on the New York Stock Exchange, by far a nominal high. Even some senior Disney executives have been slack-jawed by the surge  the best of times, the worst of times. Analysts say investors are overlooking near-term losses and focusing on the potential of Disney+, which now has 95 million subscribers worldwide, the company said. It had only about 30 million subscribers a year ago (and did not exist a year and three months ago). Increasingly, streaming is looking like a two-company game, at least at the top, between Disney and Netflix, which had a long head start. Disney+ has benefited from the pandemic, stepping in to sell a monthly subscription to homebound families. But the upstart service also found a megawatt hit, The Mandalorian, straight out of the gate. A plethora of original television series and movies are headed to Disney+ this year. Even so, there is one not-so-minor asterisk on the heady subscriber numbers: Average monthly revenue per paid Disney+ subscriber declined 28 percent, to $4.03. That is because Disney+ has signed up millions of subscribers in India by offering them an almost-giveaway price.

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Whos hiring? Job postings show demand in many fields despite the pandemic. A nurse updated patient information at a Santa Maria, Calif., hospital this week. The health care field is among those seeing an increase in hiring. Credit... Daniel Dreifuss for The New York Times Wanted: Health care workers, delivery drivers and technology professionals. Even as the job market struggles to find a footing, employers are putting out the welcome mat in certain fields, according to economists from two of the countrys biggest online job sites, ZipRecruiter and Indeed. There are clear differences between different industries, said Julia Pollak, a labor economist at ZipRecruiter. Besides the strength in industries that benefit from the stay-at-home trend, like warehousing and deliveries, hiring in tech and professional and business services has been showing signs of life recently. Businesses are looking to the future and are somewhat optimistic, Ms. Pollak said. AnnElizabeth Konkel, economist at Indeed Hiring Lab, added that demand for pharmacists is up 23 percent from a year ago while openings for drivers have jumped 18 percent. It all ties directly back to the pandemic, Ms. Konkel said. Nevertheless, there have been important regional differences in hiring. In cities where many people are working remotely, like Washington, Seattle, Boston and San Francisco, there have been fewer postings in some fields than in places where more workers are back in the office. People arent popping into their local coffee shop on their way to work or stopping into a store to pick something up when they work at home, Ms. Konkel said, and that affects hiring. Openings at restaurants are down from a year ago, she added, as are positions in arts and entertainment as well as hospitality and tourism. At ZipRecruiter, the energy industry has shown an increase in job postings after steep losses when the pandemic struck. Manufacturing, too, has recorded more openings lately. Some of the losers are finally coming backing a bit, Ms. Pollak said. But so many industries cant possibly resume while the pandemic is going on.

Bloomberg News is laying off nearly 100 journalists as it restructures its newsroom. Bloomberg L.P., the parent of Bloomberg News, makes the majority of its money from expensive subscriptions to its terminal business. Credit... Marcus Yam for The New York Times Bloomberg News, the giant financial news company founded by the billionaire Michael R. Bloomberg, will lay off dozens of employees as it restructures its newsroom.



Bloombergs editor in chief, John Micklethwait, announced the changes in a memo sent to staff on Thursday, saying that the newsroom had lost stories because we moved too slowly and needed to have more accountability. The memo was reviewed by The New York Times.



Teams waited for somebody to back-read a piece or ignored the requests from the News Desk to get a blast out quickly, he said, referring to the newsrooms term for copy-editing an article or a news flash. Managers spent too much time setting up conference calls when they should just have been writing.



Mr. Micklethwait wrote that the reorganization of the newsroom would include layoffs. The company will cut about 90 newsroom positions globally, according to a person with knowledge of the matter. Most of those to lose their jobs will be editors, the person said, asking not to be identified because the information was not public. This was not a step that we took lightly, Mr. Micklethwait wrote. But we have always sought to make the newsroom better  to make us more nimble, to improve our content, and to help us chronicle capitalism in an even more comprehensive way. He said that the new system would mean most editors would now report to managing editors, who would allocate them to individual stories, and would also get rid of unnecessary back-reading or re-editing. Mr. Micklethwait said that despite the layoffs, the company was looking to hire in priority areas like data journalism, and was aiming to end the year with as many journalists as it had before the pandemic. Bloomberg News has more than 3,100 editorial and research employees, making it one of the largest news organizations in the world. It has largely avoided the mass layoffs that have plagued the media industry in the past year. Bloomberg L.P., its parent company, has about 20,000 employees. Bloomberg L.P. makes the majority of its money from expensive subscriptions to its terminal business, but Axios reported this week that Bloomberg Media expected to bring in a minimum of $100 million this year from consumer digital subscription revenue.

Microsoft calls for laws forcing tech companies to share more revenue with publishers. Microsofts call for internet regulations is the latest example of fracturing within the tech industry as it comes under greater scrutiny. Credit... Carlo Allegri/Reuters



Microsoft on Thursday called for the United States to adopt competition laws that would force tech platforms like Facebook and Google to share more revenue with news publishers, drawing a brighter line between itself and the tech giants who oppose the idea. Brad Smith, Microsofts president, said tech companies must do more to support independent journalism. He said some executives were motivated to speak out because of the misinformation that spread widely around the U.S. election and the decline of news organizations over the last two decades. As a guide to the kinds of laws the company had in mind, he pointed to Australias proposed legislation for news publishers to negotiate jointly for higher fees from digital platforms. Publishers are left with nowhere else to go, so at the end of the day, they are forced to accept scraps on the table without any compensation for the fact that they produce a substantial portion of the meal on the other side of the table, Mr. Smith said in an interview. Microsofts call for internet regulations is the latest example of fracturing within the tech industry at a time when it is undergoing increased scrutiny. Google and Facebook have fiercely fought the Australian proposal and have threatened to abandon all or part of their services in the country should the news publishing law go into effect. Salesforce.com, Apple, and IBM have pushed for regulations over the business models of Facebook and Google that mine user data for advertising. Bills in the Senate and the House of Representatives have already been introduced to help news publishers jointly negotiate on fees for publishing their material on platforms like Google and Facebook. The coordination would most likely violate antitrust laws against collusion, but lawmakers have called for an exemption to address the emergency in local news, where 2,000 news organizations have shuttered since 2000. Mr. Smith said he and Satya Nadella, Microsofts chief executive, recently called Australias prime minister, Scott Morrison, and praised the proposed competition legislation for internet platforms as a meaningful attempt to shore up journalism. They added that even if Google left the country, Microsoft would not. Microsofts Bing search engine also hosts news in Australia. The tech sector is not a monolith, Mr. Smith said.

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Executives from Reddit and the hedge fund Citadel are expected to testify at next weeks GameStop hearing. Credit... Carlo Allegri/Reuters Kenneth C. Griffin, the billionaire hedge fund manager, may be among the executives who testify at next weeks Congressional hearing about the recent madcap trading in shares of GameStop that bruised many big investors, a person with knowledge of the matter said. Mr. Griffins firm, Citadel, was a central player in the GameStop drama both because of its investments and the role of its sister company, Citadel Securities, as a market maker in stocks. It was asked to make an executive available for the Feb. 18 hearing scheduled by the House Financial Services Committee, this person said, but the company is still waiting to hear whether the committee will call Mr. Griffin or another executive. Steve Huffman, Reddits chief executive said on Thursday that the social-media network also planned to participate. Many of the small investors in GameStop gathered on Reddits WallStreetBets message board to egg each other on as they bid up the stock last month. Citadel had told the committee that Joseph Mecane, a senior executive at Citadel Securities

who oversees the trading services it provides to companies like Robinhood, could appear instead, said the person. Citadel Securities is separate from the hedge fund and also founded by Mr. Griffin. A representative for the House committee did not respond to requests for comment. Rep. Maxine Waters, the California Democrat who heads the committee, has said that she wants Vlad Tenev, the chief executive of Robinhood, to testify at the hearing.



She has also said she was considering asking the hedge fund Melvin Capital to testify.

Citadels hedge fund business and a group of partners invested $2 billion in Melvin after Melvin sustained enormous losses from a wager that shares of GameStop  which climbed from less than $100 to nearly $500 in just a few days  would fall. Partly as a result of its bet against GameStop, Melvin ended January down more than 53 percent, The New York Times reported earlier this month, while Citadel, which had also bet against GameStop during its rise, ended the month down 3 percent. Mr. Griffin was also exposed to the GameStop rally through Citadel Securities. Robinhood, the free online trading firm that fueled much of the trading in GameStop by amateur investors, makes money by sending buy and sell orders to Citadel Securities, which pays Robinhood for the order flow. Kate Kelly and

Senators urge Janet Yellen to prioritize a $20 bill redesign with Harriet Tubman. A conceptual design of a new $20 note that was produced by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing depicting Harriet Tubman. The effort to make Harriet Tubman the face of the $20 note got a bipartisan push this week as two senators urged Treasury Secretary Janet L. Yellen to prioritize the planned redesign that stalled during the Trump administration. Senator Jeanne Shaheen, Democrat of New Hampshire, and Senator Ben Sasse, Republican of Nebraska, sent a letter to Ms. Yellen this week making the case that Americas currency should reflect the diversity of the country. They lamented that the plan put in place by the Obama administration in 2016, to unveil a $20 note design in 2020 with Ms. Tubmans image on the front, was not carried out by former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. We hope sincerely that is no longer the case, and encourage the prioritization of Ms. Tubman before working on other redesigns, they wrote. We stand ready to offer any support for your efforts to ensure this towering figure in our nations history receives the recognition she has deserved for so long. The Biden administration said last month that Ms. Yellen would be studying ways to speed up the process of adding Harriet Tubmans portrait to the front of the $20 bill. Its important that our money reflect the history and diversity of our country, Jen Psaki, the White House press secretary, said. A Treasury spokeswoman did not respond to a request for comment about whether the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, which the department oversees, had resumed the redesign featuring Ms. Tubman. Work on the redesign had started under the watch of former President Barack Obamas Treasury secretary, Jacob Lew, but Mr. Mnuchin said that enhancing the security features of the new notes took priority over changes to the imagery. Mr. Trump had previously expressed his disapproval of the idea of replacing President Andrew Jackson, a fellow populist, with Ms Tubman, a former slave and abolitionist. The Advanced Counterfeit Deterrence Steering Committee laid out plans in 2013 for the redesign of the $10 and $5 notes to occur before the $20. Ms. Shaheen and several House Democrats have been vocal supporters of the initiative to replace Mr. Jackson with Ms. Tubman as the face of the $20. Few Republican lawmakers have expressed public support for the change.

Trumps second impeachment trial draws a larger TV audience than the first. A congressional aide watching former President Donald J. Trumps impeachment trial, which drew more than 12 million viewers on Tuesday and Wednesday. Credit... Erin Schaff/The New York Times More than 12 million people have watched live television coverage of the second Senate impeachment trial of former President Donald J. Trump, an audience larger than the one for the first trial a little more than a year ago, according to Nielsen. An audience of 12.4 million tuned into the three major cable news stations and the three major broadcast networks on Tuesday afternoon, when prosecutors started making their case on the Senate floor. Eleven million watched the opening arguments in the impeachment trial on Jan. 21, 2020. Last year, viewership fell sharply on the second day of trial coverage, to 8.8 million. That was not the case on Wednesday. With NBCs figures not yet available, the audience for the other five broadcast and cable networks stood at 12.3 million, Nielsen reported. Some media executives had forecast that a trial of a president no longer in office would not attract a large audience. But many Americans are working from home because of the coronavirus pandemic. And as a television spectacle, the second trial has been a sharp contrast with the first. Last years deliberations centered on presidential abuse of power and obstruction of justice. This time around, prosecutors presented chilling, never-before-seen security footage of the storming of the Capitol on Jan. 6 to help them make the case that Mr. Trump pushed his supporters toward violence. Interest in the trial was highest on MSNBC, which features a lineup of anchors and analysts who are highly critical of the former president; the network averaged an audience of three million on Tuesday and 3.5 million on Wednesday. CNN had 2.8 million viewers on Tuesday and 3.2 million on Wednesday. CNN also drew the largest audience between the ages of 25 and 54, the demographic most important to advertisers. Fox News, with its prime-time hosts supportive of Mr. Trump, had the lowest viewership of the three major cable news networks, and its audience dropped to 1.2 million on Thursday from two million on Wednesday. The overall audience for the trial coverage was smaller than the number of viewers who watched other recent big political events. Nearly 40 million tuned in for President Bidens Inaugural Address, and more than 21 million watched as the networks projected that he was the election winner in November. Audience figures for last years impeachment trial fluctuated day to day. The Senate vote, which resulted in an acquittal, attracted the largest audience, nearly 14 million viewers.

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Learjet, once a symbol of luxury that musicians sang about, will end production this year. A prototype Learjet 23 executive jet on a test flight, in 1964. Credit... Hulton Archive/Getty Images The Learjet luxury aircraft made famous by Frank Sinatra and immortalized in songs by Pink Floyd and Carly Simon is going away. Bombardier, the Canadian company that makes the plane, said Thursday that it would stop building the plane at the end of the year  more than half-a-century after it was introduced  as it shifts attention to its more profitable and larger Challenger and Global aircraft. The move comes after Bombardier exited the business of making planes for airlines last year and completed the sale of its rail unit last month, all part of an effort to return to profitability with a more singular focus on private aircraft. With our strategic repositioning now complete, we are very excited to embark on our journey as a pure-play business jet company, Eric Martel, Bombardiers chief executive, said in a statement. The company also announced plans to cut 1,600 jobs, or about 10 percent of its work force. Bombardier said Thursday that it lost $568 million last year and hoped to cut costs by more than $400 million by 2023. The Learjet decision comes just months after the company announced the first delivery of the planes latest model, the Learjet 75 Liberty. The jet was originally designed with a focus on performance by William Lear, an engineer. It entered service in 1963 and went on to play a key role in ushering in an era of luxury private flight. Mr. Sinatra reportedly bought his in 1965, using it for trips to and from Las Vegas and making it a symbol of ultimate luxury for the rich and powerful. More than 3,000 Learjets have been sold since its inception. But the jet has struggled in recent years because buyers of private jets considered it cramped and not as luxurious as other planes. Bombardier, which acquired the Learjet business in 1990, delivered just 11 to customers last year.

HBO Max will become available in Latin America in June. WarnerMedia will expand its streaming platform HBO Max beyond the United States this summer. The company, which unveiled its streaming service in May and ended the year with 17.17 million activated users, said on Thursday that HBO Max would become available in 39 territories across Latin America and the Caribbean in June. By combining HBO with the very best of WarnerMedias series and film catalog, as well as locally produced content from master storytellers in Latin America, HBO Max will offer fans in the region an unforgettable and enriching entertainment experience, Johannes Larcher, the head of HBO Max International, said in a statement. Similar to how it operates in the United States, WarnerMedia will give current HBO GO customers instant access to HBO Max and will phase out the HBO GO service. WarnerMedia gave a boost to HBO Max  and shocked some in Hollywood  when it announced in November that all Warner Bros. movies in 2021 would debut simultaneously in theaters and on the streaming service. The initiative took effect in 2020; Wonder Woman 1984 debuted on Christmas Day and helped drive HBO and HBO Maxs total subscriber base to 41 million, a level it reached a full two years faster than our initial forecast, according to John Stankey, the chief executive of AT&T, WarnerMedias parent company. The company also announced that an HBO-branded streaming service will debut in Europe later this year.

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The British pound climbs to three-year high. The British pound has been on a quiet ascent. This week, it surpassed $1.38, a level it hasnt seen against the U.S. dollar in nearly three years, and it is up nearly 2 percent against the euro this year. Britain has been under a strict lockdown, but its trade deal with the European Union and quick vaccine rollout has helped the nations financial assets, including stocks, perform well. In the past week, it was pushed higher after the Bank of England painted an optimistic picture for the economic recovery this year as soon as the lockdown is lifted. It is forecasting the British economy will return to its pre-pandemic size by early 2022. The central bank also said it had no imminent intention of introducing negative interest rates, which caused the pound and bond yields to jump higher. How many U.S. dollars one British pound buys That said, the pounds rise may face obstacles. The Brexit trade deal has thrown up a number of hurdles as exporters contend with new customs requirements and retailers reconsider supply chains. The tension between London and Brussels seems to have worsened over the future of financial services and trading arrangements for Northern Ireland. Despite the markets relief that the U.K. and the E.U. managed to strike a trade deal in December, it is becoming obvious that Brexit is casting long shadows, Jane Foley, a currency strategist at Rabobank, wrote in a note. Looking ahead we continue to see both political and economic hurdles for GBP and anticipate a fairly rocky ride in the coming months, she said, using the abbreviation for the pound. Elsewhere in the markets Stock indexes on Wall Street edged higher, with the S&P 500 rising about 0.2 percent.

Shares in Pinterest rose more than 7 percent. The Financial Times reported late on Wednesday that Microsoft made an approach to buy the social media company in recent months, but the talks are not active.

Stocks in Europe were mixed. The Stoxx Europe 600 gained about 0.4 percent.

Catch up: ArcelorMittal, the giant steel maker, announces a change at top. ArcelorMittal, the worlds largest steel company, said Thursday that Aditya Mittal, the companys president and chief financial officer, would succeed his father, Lakshmi Mittal, as chief executive. Lakshmi Mittal, who founded the company, will become executive chairman. Aditya Mittal said on a call with reporters that he wanted to focus on reducing carbon emissions from steel production.

Mr. Peanut has a new home: Kraft Heinz sells Planters to Hormel for $3.35 billion. Planters will join a growing collection of food brands at Hormel. Credit... Jon Elswick/Associated Press Thats not peanuts. On Thursday, Kraft Heinz said it had agreed to sell its nuts business, including the iconic Planters brand, to Hormel Foods for $3.35 billion in cash. At Hormel, Planters will be added to a growing collection of food brands, including the peanut butter brand Skippy, which Hormel acquired in 2013, and Justins nut butter, which it acquired in 2016. The pandemic has been a sales boon for Kraft Heinz, which had some of its factories working three shifts during periods in the past year to meet high demand for products like its Kraft Macaroni & Cheese. On Thursday, Kraft Heinz reported that net sales in the fourth quarter rose 6.2 percent to $6.9 billion. For the full year, Kraft Heinz said net sales rose 4.8 percent to $26.18 billion. The company said it expected to see flat-to-positive growth in net sales in 2021. Kraft Heinz, the result of a 2015 merger that created one of the largest food companies in the world, was struggling ahead of the pandemic. Its stock had slumped, underperforming other food companies, as sales and profits sank, in part because consumers had begun to favor less-processed, healthier foods in recent years. But during the pandemic, consumers, who were now cooking and consuming more meals at home, sought comfort foods and gravitated toward many old-school brands within Kraft Heinz and other food companies. Pepsico, a rival of Kraft Heinz, also reported a jump in fourth-quarter earnings on Thursday. The snack giants revenue rose 8.8 percent from the same period a year earlier, to $22.46 billion, powered by consumers munching on Cheetos and Doritos during the pandemic. For Kraft Heinz, the food boom has provided a good opportunity to shed businesses. Last September, it sold its natural cheese business to Frances Groupe Lactalis for $3.2 billion. The nuts business, which contributed roughly $1.1 billion in net sales to Kraft Heinz for the past year, had been neglected inside the company and had lost market share to competitors, including private-label brands. Adding insult to injury, for a Super Bowl ad last year, the company killed off and held a funeral for its monocled mascot, Mr. Peanut, who was created in 1916 when a schoolboy, Antonio Gentile, submitted a sketch to win a contest for the brand. At a funeral, attended by other brand avatars like the Kool-Aid Man, a baby peanut emerged from the ground, first squeaking like a dolphin, before proclaiming, Just kidding. Im back.

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A Reddit forum is helping the unemployed navigate an antiquated and disorganized system. As unemployment claims shot up early in the pandemic, so did posts on r/Unemployment, one of the many topic-based forums on the site known as subreddits. The subreddit once typically had fewer than 10 posts a day, but it quickly ballooned to nearly 1,000 posts a day in April and May, Ella Koeze reports for The New York Times. As the crisis wore on, posts and comments surged in the weeks following changes to benefit programs. In January, nearly 10 months after the first lockdowns, the forum had one of its busiest weeks ever, driven by delays in payments and uncertainty around legislation signed late last year. As hiring stalls and the economy shows signs of slowing again, the continued popularity of r/Unemployment underscores how the system remains broken for so many people. According to the Labor Departments most recent count, nearly 18 million Americans are receiving some form of unemployment benefits, and more than one million filed new claims last week. Thats down from the peak of more than 30 million over the summer, but it still represents a number that federal and state assistance programs that are outdated and cobbled together are still struggling to handle. Post after post on r/Unemployment conveys bureaucratic problems with endless variations: how to file a claim depending on your circumstances, what to do if you made a mistake on your claim, what different statuses on your claim might mean, how to navigate confusing and glitch-prone online portals and even how to speak to an actual person to get issues resolved.

A new three-month sign-up period for Obamacare begins Feb. 15. People who missed open enrollment for Affordable Care Act health insurance late last year will get another opportunity to sign up, starting in mid-February, Ann Carrns reports for The New York Times. President Biden signed an executive order last month creating an extra, three-month enrollment period starting Feb. 15. Consumers can again shop for coverage on HealthCare.gov, the federal insurance marketplace, which serves three dozen states. Typically, people may sign up for coverage outside open enrollment only if they can document special circumstances, like the birth of a child, a marriage or divorce, or the loss of health insurance. (They can generally enroll in A.C.A. plans within 60 days of losing health coverage. If theyve lost their job recently, they can apply for coverage now.) Open enrollment on HealthCare.gov ended on Dec. 15. (Dates for state marketplaces vary.) The extra sign-up window is expected to mimic open enrollment, said Cheryl Fish-Parcham, director of access initiatives at Families USA, a health insurance advocacy group. You dont have to prove that you had a change in circumstances.
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Last June, the Lincoln Project was on a high.

Led by several prominent former Republican consultants, its slickly produced ads attacking President Donald Trump made it perhaps the best known of the so-called Never Trump organizations.

The group tried to claim a higher moral ground in an effort to purge Trump from the GOP. Money flowed in by the tens of millions of dollars from donors eager to help.

But within the organization, a grave threat was emerging.

In June 2020, members of the organization's leadership were informed in writing and in subsequent phone calls of at least 10 specific allegations of harassment against co-founder John Weaver, including two involving Lincoln Project employees, according to multiple people with direct knowledge of the situation.

The email and phone calls raise questions about the Lincoln Project's statement last month that it was 'shocked' when accusations surfaced publicly this year. It's also the first known suggestion that Weaver targeted a Lincoln Project staffer.

Despite the early warning, the group took no action against Weaver and pressed forward with its high-profile work.

For the collection of GOP consultants and former officials, being anti-Trump was becoming very good for business. Of the $90 million Lincoln Project has raised, more than $50 million has gone to firms controlled by the group's leaders.

Accused predator: John Weaver is alleged to have targeted a 14-year-old boy and two members of the Lincoln Project's own staff - with its leaders warned in June 2020 but dong nothing then saying they were 'shocked' when revelations emerged publicly in January

Who's who of Republican names: The Associated Press revealed that $27 million was paid to a small firm controlled by Galen and another $21 million paid to a firm run by Ron Steslow. Steve Schmidt received then repaid $1.5 million. The Lincoln Project parted with Jennifer Horn, last week, claiming in an unusual public statement that she was seeking a $250,000 signing bonus and a $40,000-a-month consulting contract. Horn said that she left following revelations of Weaver's 'grotesque' behavior and divergent views with existing leadership about how to move forward.

Big names: Rick Wilson is a longtime Florida Republican operative while George Conway's wife Kellyanne's role as a top Trump aide made their marriage a source of fascination. Their daughter Claudia is now a Tiktok star and auditioning for American Idol

What they said in January: The Lincoln Project's statement is now in questions over revelations members of its leadership were warned about Weaver

There is no evidence that the Lincoln Project buried the allegations against Weaver for business reasons. But taken together, the harassment allegations and new revelations about spending practices raise significant questions about the management of one of the highest-profile antagonists of Trump.

The revelations threaten the stature of not just the Lincoln Project but the broader coalition of establishment-oriented Republican groups hoping to pool their resources to excise Trump from the party.

Lincoln Project co-founder Steve Schmidt insisted that he and the rest of the group's leadership were not aware of any internal allegations of wrongdoing involving Weaver.

'No Lincoln Project employee, intern, or contractors ever made an allegation of inappropriate communication about John Weaver that would have triggered an investigation by HR or by an outside employment counsel,' Schmidt said. 'In other words, no human being ever made an allegation about any inappropriate sexualized communications about John Weaver ever.'

Weaver declined to comment for this story, but in a statement released late last month to Axios he generally acknowledged misconduct and apologized.

'To the men I made uncomfortable through my messages that I viewed as consensual mutual conversations at the time: I am truly sorry,' he wrote. 'They were inappropriate and it was because of my failings that this discomfort was brought on you.'

The Lincoln Project launched in November 2019 as a super PAC that allowed its leaders to raise and spend unlimited sums of money.

Response: George Conway said he had not received any payment and was unaware of harassment allegations against John Weaver, one of the other co-founders

Its founders represent a who's who of prominent Republican strategists on cable television, including Schmidt and Reed Galen, both former advisers to John McCain; conservative attorney George Conway; former New Hampshire GOP chair Jennifer Horn; Florida-based veteran political ad maker Rick Wilson; and Weaver, who has long advised former Ohio Gov. John Kasich.

Backed by its founders' commanding social media presence, the organization quickly attracted a massive following of Trump critics in both parties that exceeded even its own founders' expectations.

Since its creation, the Lincoln Project has raised $90 million.

But only about a third of the money, roughly $27 million, directly paid for advertisements that aired on broadcast and cable, or appeared online, during the 2020 campaign, according to an analysis of campaign finance disclosures and data from the ad tracking firm Kantar/CMAG.

That leaves tens of millions of dollars that went toward expenses like production costs, overhead - and exorbitant consulting fees collected by members of the group.

'It raises questions about where the rest of the money ultimately went,' said Brendan Fischer, an attorney with the nonpartisan Campaign Legal Center in Washington. 'Generally speaking, you'd expect to see a major super PAC spend a majority or more of their money on advertisements and that's not what happened here.'

The vast majority of the cash was split among consulting firms controlled by its founders, including about $27 million paid to a small firm controlled by Galen and another $21 million paid to a boutique firm run by former Lincoln Project member Ron Steslow, campaign finance disclosures show.

But in many cases it's difficult to tell how much members of the group were paid. That's because the Lincoln Project adopted a strategy, much like the Trump campaign they criticized, to mask how much money they earned.

While several firms did collect payments, Weaver and Wilson are not listed in publicly available records. They were likely paid as subcontractors to those firms, an arrangement that avoids disclosure.

Schmidt collected a $1.5 million payment in December but quickly returned it.

'We fully comply with the law,' Schmidt said. 'The Lincoln Project will be delighted to open its books for audit immediately after the Trump campaign and all affiliated super PACs do so, explaining the cash flow of the nearly $700 million that flowed through their organizations controlled by Brad Parscale and Jared Kushner.'

The Lincoln Project parted with one co-founder, Horn, last week, claiming in an unusual public statement that she was seeking a $250,000 signing bonus and a $40,000-a-month consulting contract. Horn said that she left following revelations of Weaver's 'grotesque' behavior and divergent views with existing leadership about how to move forward.

Public records reveal that the unexpected success of the Lincoln Project has extended a lifeline to some founders who have spent much of the past decade under financial distress.

Over the past decade, Weaver has repeatedly failed to pay taxes, defaulted on loans and faced lawsuits from creditors seeking to collect. In October, he paid off $313,000 in back taxes owed to the IRS dating back to 2011, records show.

A separate case in Texas is still pending over $340,000 back rent his family owes after shuttering a children's boutique they operated, records show.

Others used the money earned during their time with Lincoln Project to refinance homes, or purchase a new one.

Schmidt purchased a $1.4 million 'Mountain Modern' custom home in Kamas, Utah, with five bedrooms, seven baths and a 'stunning' view of the Uinta Mountains, according to property records and real estate listings. He is currently trying to resell the home for $2.9 million.

Steve Schmidt purchased a $1.4 million 'Mountain Modern' custom home in Kamas, Utah, with five bedrooms, seven baths and a 'stunning' view of the Uinta Mountains, according to property records and real estate listings. He is currently trying to resell the home for $2.9 million.

Flipping: Steve Schmidt bought his home in Kamas, UT, for $1.4 million and it is now on the market for $2.9 million. This is one of its seven bathrooms

Views: The 'mountain modern' is a five-bedroom home built in 2014. Schmidt has it on sale for double what he bought it for

Roomrated: Steve Schmidt has consistently scored 10 out 10 for his kitchen shots on the cult Roomrater twitter feed

Style: The Utah home is in the popular 'mountain modern' style

But as money flowed into the group, multiple people with direct knowledge said allegations against Weaver were repeatedly raised inside the organization, long before leaders acknowledged them publicly in late January. Those with knowledge insisted on anonymity in order to disclose private communications.

Last June, someone working for the Lincoln Project payroll sent an email to Steslow, one of the organization's co-founders, detailing numerous cases of sexual harassment involving Weaver that spanned several years. While the AP has not seen the email, its contents were confirmed by four people who had directly seen it.

Schmidt did not confirm the existence of the email, saying only that if one existed, it was not shared with anyone on the organization's board or leadership.

But multiple people familiar with the situation say that Steslow immediately raised the email with Galen, who helped manage day-to-day operations at the time, and the Lincoln Project's corporate counsel Matthew Sanderson. Steslow also encouraged his colleagues to remove Weaver from the organization.

Those allegations and others were discussed on subsequent phone calls with organization leaders in June and August, and employees were assured that the alleged incidents would be investigated. Weaver went out on medical leave in August, but as the presidential campaign moved into the summer and fall, there was no formal resolution.

The Washington Blade reported earlier this week details of another set of internal communications over the summer indicating that Lincoln Project leaders were aware of allegations against Weaver and preparing to respond to media reports.

The allegations against Weaver followed a similar pattern in which the 61-year-old married father of two would allegedly send private messages to young gay men on Twitter. They often began with references to work before shifting to things like their personal appearance, workout routines and favorite sexual positions.

At least two Lincoln Project employees were targeted last year, including an intern who was finishing law school, and a communications staffer. There is no allegation of physical contact.

Already, Trump's allies have begun seizing on the Lincoln Project's problems to discredit the broader Never Trump movement.

An unrelated group known as the Republican Accountability Project this week is running television ads across 19 states pressuring 22 Republican senators to vote to 'convict and disqualify' Trump in the ongoing impeachment trial. The group has also launched a $1 million billboard campaign calling for the resignation of key Trump allies who voted to block the certification of the election results.

One of the Republicans targeted in the billboard attack, Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., falsely conflated the groups in a fiery response through an adviser.

'The Never-Trump movement is doing all they can to distract the press from their massive sexual abuse and harassment scandal,' Stefanik adviser Alex DeGrasse said. He called the billboard campaign 'next-level desperation.'
California could become the first state in the United States to make removing a condom without consent during sex illegal, classing it as sexual battery.

Democratic Assembly member Cristina Garcia on Monday introduced legislation that would add nonconsensual condom removal  otherwise known as 'stealthing'  to the state civil code.

If passed, nonconsensual condom removal would be classed in California as sexual battery and allow a victim to look for damages. It would not lead to jail time.

'I have been working on the issue of "stealthing" since 2017. And I won't stop until there is some accountability for those who perpetrate the act,' Garcia said in a statement.

'It's disgusting that there are online communities that defend and encourage stealthing and give advice on how to get away with removing the condom without the consent of their partner, but there is nothing in law that makes it clear that this is a crime.'

California Assembly member Cristina Garcia on Monday introduced legislation that would add nonconsensual condom removal  otherwise known as 'stealthing'  to the state civil code

Garcia is arguing that 'stealthing' should be made illegal in the state

Garcia told the Washington Post that she had introduced the bill as she wanted to ensure that 'A, victims have a legal course for justice and B, we have something in the books that facilities a discussion with all people, especially our youth, whether it's parents, educators, whether it's even the public safety system'.

'Having something in the books allows us to do the education to hopefully create a consciousness that we shouldn't do certain things,' Garcia added.

'Stealthing' is used to describe the nonconsensual and intentional removal or tampering with the condom during sexual intercourse.

The violation can occur between people who have already consented to sexual contact or are in a relationship.

According to civil rights lawyer Alexandra Brodsky, the act is experienced by many as 'a grave violation of dignity and autonomy'.

In an article she wrote for the Columbia Journal of Gender and Law in 2017, Brodsky explained that victims could have concerns about pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections, and emotional trauma, among other issues.

'Survivors spoke not only of betrayal but of their partners' wholesale dismissal of their preferences and desires,' she wrote.

'There are people that just don't believe this is a problem,' Brodsky also told the Washington Post.

Stealthing was recently depicted in HBO's 'I May Destroy You' which was praised by both Brodsky and Garcia.

Garcia, pictured above, already introduced similar bills in 2017 and 2018 but they failed

'Sexual assaults, especially those on women of color, are perpetually swept under the rug,' Garcia said.

'So much stigma is attached to this issue, that even after every critic lauded Micheala Coel's I May Destroy for its compelling depiction of the horrors of sexual abuse including of stealthing, it got zero Golden Globe nominations. That doesn't seem like an accident or coincidence to me.'

'Not just pop culture depictions of nonconsensual condom removal but discussion of its impact can really be powerful, both broadly in raising awareness and in giving survivors a vocabulary to express what happened to them,' Brodsky added.

'Without language, without media, without depictions, I think it's easy for survivors to feel like they're the first person this has ever happened to, or that this is just part of sex. Not that this is a violation, that they have the right to decide to have sex with a condom and that agreement was broken.'

The new legislation was welcomed by the National Domestic Violence Hotline who said that 'stealthing is disrespecting someone's trust for the other person's sexual gain'.

'It violates the trust you placed in the other person and the agreement you had with that person to respect each other's bodies and feelings,' they added.

Garcia's bill would alter the California civil code to say that a person is guilty of sexual battery if they cause 'contact between a penis, from which a condom has been removed, and the intimate part of another who did not verbally consent to the condom being removed.'

Garcia has said that the practice is an 'illegal act' and culprits should be held accountable

If passed, nonconsensual condom removal would be classed in California as sexual battery and allow a victim to look for damages, as pictured. It would not lead to jail time

The civil code already includes sexual battery as 'intent to cause a harmful or offensive contact'.

Garcia already made attempts to pass a similar bill in 2017 and 2018, but it died amid push back from groups including the American Civil Liberties Union and the California Right to Life Committee

Garcia's bill will now be referred to policy committee next month where the legislative process will begin.

It is unclear if the modified version of the bill will be supported by the groups and lawmakers who argued that it previously had unclear legal standing and carried a risk of clogging the criminal justice system.

In 2017, the California Attorneys for Criminal Justice noted that the previous bill's language was 'very vague'.

'It is easy to imagine a case where the person may adjust a condom during sex, with a neutral intent, with an undesired result of accidental insemination,' the group added.

Chloe Neely, a victims' rights attorney with the Fierberg National Law Group, told the Post that cases involving consent such as these are very hard to prove.

'It's difficult for a jury to understand that consent is fluid and not a rigid on-off switch,' she said.

'That really helps victims and gives them a tool to hold those accountable who have violated them, and oftentimes jail is not necessarily the answer, and not something someone who has been violated wants to see as an outcome,' Neely added of the new bill.

Garcia, pictured speaking above, was a leader of the #MeToo movement in the California Legislature but has also faced her own allegations of sexual misconduct in 2018

Garcia had said that she hopes other states will follow the model set with the state's stealthing bill.

'In California, we like to pride ourselves with the idea that we are leaders in national discussions, and we start with bills  whether it's on climate change or menstrual equity,' she said.

'At a minimum, they allow for the discussion to continue.'

Attempts were made in 2017 to introduce a similar bill in Wisconsin but failed.

The same year, Democratic Reps. Ro Khanna, from California, and Carolyn Maloney, from New York, asked the House Judiciary Committee for a hearing to learn more about the practice as they argued that it is sexual assault.

'Consent is not up for discussion; it is a requirement for the entirety of any sexual interaction. Stealthing violates an agreement between partners and is a dangerous form of sexual assault,' said Khanna at the time.

'The implications of the practice of nonconsensual condom removal are far-reaching with respect to the ongoing national conversation on the definition of consensual sex.'

Garcia was a leader of the #MeToo movement in the California Legislature but has also faced her own allegations of sexual misconduct.

She took a three-month voluntary leave of absence in 2018 as a complaint of inappropriate touching by a former legislative staffer was investigated.

The claim was not substantiated but Garcia was found to have been 'overly familiar'.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 11, 2021) - Ely Gold Royalties Inc. (TSXV: ELY) (OTCQX: ELYGF) ("Ely Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it will be presenting at the Virtual Investor Day III ("VID III") February 17-18, 2021 hosted by IR.INC and FTMIG.

Mr. Trey Wasser, the President and CEO will provide an in-depth update on the Company at 10:30 am EST on February 17, 2021. VID III is a completely interactive experience for feature companies and stakeholders. Feature companies will have 30 minutes to outline their investment opportunity, while stakeholders and the audience will be invited to engage via direct Q&A, polls and other interactive tools after and during each presentation. To register for VID III, please click the link: https://www.bigmarker.com/series/virtual-investor-day-confere2/series_summit.

About Ely Gold Royalties Inc.

Ely Gold Royalties Inc. is a Nevada focused gold royalty company. Its current portfolio includes royalties at Jerritt Canyon, Goldstrike and Marigold, three of Nevada's largest gold mines, as well as the Fenelon mine in Quebec, operated by Wallbridge Mining. The Company continues to actively seek opportunities to purchase producing or near-term producing royalties. Ely Gold also generates development royalties through property sales on projects that are located at or near producing mines. Management believes that due to the Company's ability to locate and purchase third-party royalties, its strategy of organically creating royalties and its gold focus, Ely Gold offers shareholders a favourable leverage to gold prices and low-cost access to long-term gold royalties in safe mining jurisdictions.

About IR.INC

IR.INC Capital Markets Advisory & Services works with its clients to develop and deploy strategic plans and build industry alliances while providing shareholder introductions and solutions. The Company also provides a number of traditional Investor Relations Services. You can find out more about IR.INC here www.irinc.ca.

About FTMIG

Follow the Money Investor Group is a financial portal that provides content and information needed to navigate the ever-changing capital markets. Our global community of visitors and investors are able to use our platform to discuss and collaborate daily on all facets of their current and potential investments. Our goal is to help retail investors make the right financial decisions that fit their individual needs. You can find out more about FTMIG here www.ftmig.com.

Disclaimer

Follow the Money Investor ("FTMIG") is an online investor community that connects investors and public companies. Both FTMIG and IR.INC are not registered as a broker, dealer, exempt market dealer, or any other registrant in any securities regulatory jurisdiction and will not be performing any registerable activity as defined by the applicable regulatory bodies.

Both FTMIG and IR.INC and their affiliates do not endorse or recommend any securities issued by any companies identified on, or linked through, this conference. Please seek professional advice to evaluate specific securities or other content discussed during this event. Links, if any, to third party sites are for informational purposes only, and not for trading purposes. FTMIG and IR.INC. and their affiliates have not prepared, reviewed or updated any content on third party sites and assume no responsibility for the information posted on them.

For further information, please contact:



Joanne Jobin, Principal

IR.INC | Capital Markets Advisory & Services

jjobin@irinc.ca

www.irinc.ca



Karl Boyd, President

Follow the Money Investor Group

kboyd@ftmig.com

www.ftmig.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/74035
NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / February 11, 2021 / Strattner Group Corp. (OTC PINK:SCNG) also known as Strattners announces its growth strategy for its private equity business of the first half of 2021.

CEO Timo Strattner said that the "Company sees increased interest in our company due to our participation in the LD Micro conference. We received a trademark registration for Strattner with the view to make Strattners a high growth private equity firm."

Strattners core business is the investment adviser business Strattner Capital Management LLC and the wholly owned private funds. The Company's internal analysis recommends to obtain licensing from the FCA in the UK and FINRA in the US as management identified a rapidly growing demand for financial services in corporate debt, convertible bond and alternative credit markets.

Timo Strattner said that in the first two quarters of 2021 Strattners we are looking to capitalize on our current asset portfolio held in our wholly owned private funds. The Company is actively working on developing a corporate client base for its alternative credit business.

By the end of the first two quarters, we aim to have generated at least $1,000,000 of revenue from our core activities.

About Strattners

Strattner Group Corp. also known as Strattners is a publicly-traded parent company of the Strattner portfolio of brands. The core business is its alternative asset manager and private fund business which manages a diversified portfolio of brands and subsidiaries.

Contact:

Name: Investor Relations

Phone: +1 (917) 210-1062

Address: 30 Wall Street, 800, New York, 10005

Email: investor.relations@strattners.com

Forward Looking Statements

This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements and information, as defined within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and is subject to the Safe Harbor created by those sections. This material contains statements about expected future events and/or financial results that are forward-looking in nature and subject to risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements by definition involve risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company, to be materially different from the statements made herein. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation or intention to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in the Company's expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

SOURCE: Strattner Financial Group

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/629271/Strattners-Grows-Private-Equity-Business
We would all agree that the police do not enjoy a favourable perception among the common people, who often consider them to be unapproachable orbiased. However, a recent incident may help you look at them in a different light. According to news agency ANI, a policeman in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, took the Covid-19 vaccine in the garb of the Hindu god of death 'Yamraj'.

As per the tweet shared by the agency with a picture of the policemen in this attire, his aim was to spread awareness about the importance of vaccination.

See the post here:

Madhya Pradesh: Donning the garb of 'Yamraj', a policeman took COVID-19 vaccine in Indore yesterday to spread the message that every frontline worker should take COVID-19 vaccine when their turn comes. pic.twitter.com/61rVcOkMmX ANI (@ANI) February 11, 2021

This is not the first instance where policemen donned Yamrajs attire to spread awareness about coronavirus. In April last year, when the lockdown was imposed, a Bengaluru cop dressed up as the Hindu deity to deter the citizens from violating the curfew while informing them about the deadly virus. The video was shared by the Bengaluru police and went viral on social media. It showed Yamraj and Yamdoots, his messengers, travelling on a police van and later patrolling the streets of Bengaluru to scare off citizens from hitting the streets amid lockdown.

Policemen in Chennai also used creative ways to keep people away from the streets during the freshly imposed lockdown. Rajesh Babu, a police inspector from Chennai, donned a specially designed coronavirus helmet while on patrol to caution people to follow social distancing. Covered in red spikes with bulbs on the end, the helmet looked like the microscopic image of coronavirus.

Meanwhile, India reached a tally of 68,26,898 on Wednesday in terms of the number of people vaccinated against Covid-19 in the first phase. According to union health ministry joint secretary Mandeep Bhandaria, 2,15,113 shots were administered on Wednesday till 6 pm. India will start distributing the second dose of coronavirus vaccine from February 13. The nationwide vaccination drive started on January 16.

Also, 11,067 fresh Covid-19 cases and 13,087 discharges were registered on Wednesday. With this, the total number of cases in the country has reached 1,08,58,37.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has recommended the use of AstraZeneca (AZ)-Oxford COVID-19 vaccine even against the highly transmissible variant that is circulating in South Africa.

The recommendation comes even as South Africa paused the rollout of the vaccine after a study found it to be less effective against the SARS-CoV-2 variant called 501Y.V2 or B1.351 circulating in that country. South Africa is now considering trading its doses of AstraZeneca-Oxford COVID-19 vaccine, and begin vaccination using Johnson & Johnson jabs instead.

WHO also backed the use of AstraZeneca-Oxford COVID-19 vaccine for people of 65 years and above, even as many European countries have blocked the vaccines use for people in that age group.

What is WHO's justification for backing AstraZeneca-Oxford University vaccine against the South Africa variant?

Preliminary analyses from the Phase 1/2a clinical trial of the vaccine in South Africa indicate marked reduction in vaccine effectiveness against mild and moderate disease due to B1.351 based on a small sample size and substantial loss of neutralizing antibody activity.

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

WHO says the study was designed to assess the efficacy against disease of any severity, but the small sample size did not allow a specific assessment of vaccine efficacy against severe COVID-19. One of the major outcomes of clinical trials of AstraZeneca-Oxford University vaccines was its ability to protect against severe infection, even if the person is infected by COVID-19.

"So we have an absence of evidence from that trial about whether or not the AZ product has efficacy against severe disease, hospitalization and death and that is the outcome of most interest and most impact for early rollout of vaccines," says Dr Katherine O'Brien, Director, Immunization Vaccines and Biologicals at WHO.

O'Brien says the Strategic Advisory Group for Experts (SAGE) at WHO has reviewed the evidence presented to them. The assessment from SAGE (was) that there is a plausible expectation that the vaccine will have impact efficacy against severe disease, despite limited data.

WHO also adds that the vaccine will generate a more enduring T-cell response. "There are different ways that the immune system responds to vaccines. One is by producing antibodies, but another component is the T cells and the evidence that was presented to SAGE provided a view that the maintenance of the T-cell response will be quite strong against this variant," O'Brien explained.

WHO has recommended that South Africa proceed with the use of the AstraZeneca vaccine in the context of collecting information that is needed to fill in some of the gaps for this product with the variant that is in circulation. WHO says that B1.351 may not still be the dominant strain circulating in countries outside South Africa.

What did WHO say on the use of vaccines for 65 years and above?

This was another contentious issue with the AstraZeneca-Oxford University vaccine, as many experts have expressed concern whether it works against people aged 65 and above. The late-stage clinical trials conducted by AstraZeneca have relatively small numbers of participants in this age group. There were only a few cases of COVID-19 in this age category, and thus the confidence interval on the efficacy estimate is very wide.

While more data is expected soon, WHO believes that the immune responses induced by the vaccine in older persons are well documented and like those in other age groups.

"This suggests it is likely that the vaccine will be found to be efficacious," the SAGE committee concluded.

WHO says that even with the possibility of low efficacy, it still believes that the AstraZeneca vaccine would be beneficial for people above 65 years, given its ability to offer protection against severe COVID-19. Older adults are at high risk of developing severe disease and death due to COVID-19.

"Older adults are identified as a priority group in the WHO SAGE Prioritization Roadmap. This Prioritization is supported by vaccine impact modelling work, even for vaccine efficacy that is substantially below that observed among younger adults administered AZD1222. Taking the totality of available evidence into account, WHO recommends the vaccine for use in persons aged 65 years and older, the world body noted.

What will be the impact of WHO's recommendation on COVID-19 vaccination?

The WHO recommendation will help clear concerns among many countries about using the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine in the backdrop of new SARS-CoV-2 variants and limited data on people above 65.

COVID-19 vaccine of AstraZeneca has already been granted conditional marketing authorisation or emergency use in over 50 countries, including India. It's a vaccine that's been widely in use, given its availability, affordable price of less than $3 per dose, and ease of logistics.

As per the interim plan of COVAX, about 336 million doses of AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine will be available from February end.

About 240 million of those doses will be supplied by Serum Institute of India (SII), which has a license with AstraZeneca to manufacture and distribute the vaccine in India and other low-and middle-income countries.

COVAX facility, which is co-led by WHO, Gavi, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) and the UN Children's Fund, plans to cover at least three percent of the total population of 145 countries in the first half of the year, enough to protect the most vulnerable groups, such as healthcare workers.

In comparison, 1.2 million doses of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is available for distribution under COVAX. Pfizer vaccine is expensive and requires -70-degree centigrade cold chain to store the vaccine. India too has deployed the AstraZeneca vaccine for internal consumption and for giving it to neighbouring and friendly countries as part of her vaccine diplomacy.
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

Periods of rain. High 51F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a half an inch..

Tonight

Rain. Low near 45F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a half an inch.
Earlier, Twitter verified MFA Russia's Crimea office account in a move already protested by Ukraine.

Twitter has verified the accounts of the Russian Interior Ministry's offices in occupied Crimea and the city of Sevastopol.

The blue verification badge was granted on February 11.

So far, Twitter has not publicly commented on grounds for verification green light.

"Verified" batch for Russia-manned Crimean Twitter accounts: Latest

Twitter has recently verified the account of the Russian Foreign Ministry's representative office in the city of Simferopol (Crimea).

Ukraine's First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Emine Dzhaparova (Dzheppar) called it "unacceptable".

Ukraine's Embassy in the U.S. said it was working jointly with the MFA Headquarters and the Consulate General of Ukraine in San Francisco to have the Russian foreign ministry's Crimea office account on Twitter deactivated. Ambassador Volodymyr Yelchenko has sent a relevant appeal to Twitter management.

Russian occupation of Crimea

Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimea in March 2014 after its troops had occupied the peninsula. An illegal referendum was held amid the aggressive takeover on the issue of the peninsula's accession to Russia. De-facto Crimean authorities claimed that 96.77% of the Crimean population had allegedly supported the move.

Read alsoNATO stepping up support for Ukraine in Black SeaOn March 18, 2014, the so-called agreement on the accession of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol to the Russian Federation was signed off in the Kremlin.

Western powers never recognized the Crimea annexation attempt and imposed sanctions on Russia over aggression against Ukraine.

Ukraine's parliament voted to designate February 20, 2014, as the official date for the start of the temporary occupation of Crimea.

Reporting by UNIAN
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NNPA Holds Roundtable with White House Senior Advisor, Cedric Richmond

Marking Black History Month, the roundtable set many questions before Richmond with racial equity in mind.

On Thursday, February 4, the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) recognized the beginning of Black History Month with a virtual conversation with White House Senior Advisor Cedric Richmond.

We look forward to the next briefing, in the meantime, were going to count on you, I want you to count on us, its reciprocity, said Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr., president and CEO of the NNPA. Were going to do our job and help you get the message out.

He continued, We know that the American Rescue Plan is so important and if there is anything, we can do to help get it through Congress in terms of raising public awareness, you can count on us.

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We are the team that can do outreach in our community and with that Ill just say we thank you for this opportunity, said Karen Carter Richards, publisher of the Houston Forward Times and chair of the NNPA. Were looking forward to more briefings so that we can get this information out to our communities.

Let me start off for thanking NNPA for what you do, said Richmond. Not everybody knows it, so I will take a second and just let people knowyou tell the unvarnished truth, you give it to us unedited and in many places, that is the most reliable news that people can get, whether picking up a copy when they leave church local corner store or grocery store or, in my case, theyre leaving their Black bank in New Orleans, this is where they pick up the information that they know that they can trust.

The virtual roundtable was attended online by members of the NNPA including publishers, editors and journalists. On the table for discussion were a variety of topics including the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 Census, the American Rescue Plan and federal advertising with the Black Press. Richmond was asked questions by Chavis submitted from members of the NNPA. This is the Q&A from the recent roundtable which can be seen on the NNPA Facebook Page.

Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr.: Right now, the CDC has messaging dollars that theyre spending to get the message out helping human services also, what can we do to engage more of the Black Press to help the administration get this word out? I think that in the past, at least over the last four years, there was very little, I mean less than a crumb off the table that came from these agencies that are spending money to get word out, like on COVID-19, but the Black Press has been relatively left out. How can we correct that?

Cedric Richmond: We have to reach everybody in this country. [The NNPA] reach people that other newspapers, other outlets, other means of communication does not reach and you reach it with a level of credibility that others may not have. It is vital for us to get our hands around this that we include you and were not going to ask you to do it for free and there are some things, we are going to ask you to do for free in terms oof public service announcements on certain things, but to the extent that were advertising, I think [NNPA] should be a key component because again, in Black and Brown areas, there are outlets that are unique to them that we should be advertising at.

BC: Can you confirm that the Biden/Harris administration will ensure that President Bidens recent executive orders on racial justice and equity will be enforced and specifically implemented by all of the administrations cabinet departments, agencies and other federal instrumentalities with respect to a whole of government commitment to advertising with African American and other people of color news and media businesses?

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CR: This is part of where I would say let past actions give you an inference. Let me start with saying how serious the president is on racial equity. On his first day, one of his executive orders was establishing a whole of government plan on racial equity and that is holding every agency, every department accountable and finding out where we are now and moving towards progress. We are absolutely dead serious about racial equity.

BC: Has the Biden/Harris administration received a comprehensive list of issues that impact the quality of life of the African American community, such as, a national Black Agenda, if so, can you share with us the major issues of that agenda that have been raised and if not, are you open to receiving a national Black Agenda for consideration?

CR: Yes, we have received many policy papers on what can and should be done to help the African American community. They all provide blueprints for addressing those issues, from the Urban League to NAACP, to Color of Change to Black Lives Matter, to the Black Lives Movement. Everybody has been thought leaders on getting us to an agenda. Were focusing on a number of areas. When you talk about equity, the president is very clear, equity does not start and end with criminal justice reform. It ends with helping our entrepreneurs and our small businesses have access to capital. I like the fact that we are looking at a number of issues because far too often, when it came to a Black Agenda, people thought it started and ended with criminal justice reform and we know it does not.

BC: How will the Biden/Harris administration increase support for HBCUs and what steps will you take to bridge the widening education gap?

CR: Its important that we triple Title 1 funding, that would be a key component to not, leveling the playing field, but actually creating some equity in that space and making sure that the communities who need the money the most get the most. How do we get them more money? We get them more money, we put more money in the budget for them. We do the things that are necessary to help them and president made that commitment during the campaign, he knows the value of HBCUs in this country. The other thing [President Biden] knows and this administration knows is the great talent that HBCUs have producedthe technology and the contribution that HBCUs have made to society with limited funds compared to other public universities. We know it, were going to invest in it because they are doing an excellent job with limited funding and we want them to do an even greater job with their fair share of funding.

BC: This week, the president has met with republicans, hes met with democrats about the American Recovery Act, about the $1.9 trillion thats on the table for legislation. Can you explain to Black America how important the $1.9 trillion figure is and where does the Black community fit in this if its passed by the Congress of the United States?

CR: Its really important when we start talking about money for mobile vaccination clinics, when we start talking about using community health centers or so that we can get to every neighborhood to make sure people have access to the vaccine, were also talking about increasing the Earned Income Tax Credit, increasing the child tax credit, those two things alone would reduce child poverty in this country by almost half and so thats a fundamental and monumental to change in communities of color and the Black community. Theres a large list and part of our American Rescue plan is the importance that racial equity is written throughout that also because as we look at COVID-19, we know that its African American communities, Brown communities that are bearing the brunt of it more likely to not survive it and then if you look at the economic aspects of it, were bearing the brunt of that also and so we want to make sure that we deal with it all. Also, you have to look at children and getting them back in the classroom because parents cant go to work if they have to do virtual schooling and so thats $130 billion dollars in the plan so that we can get children back in the classroom in a safe manner so that we protect the teachers and their families that they go home to and those are things that were going to have to do in terms of testing, in terms of smaller classroom sizes, better ventilation and the infrastructure of partitions and not to mention, the most popular part of the plan, which is $1,400 checks to put in peoples pocket right now to help them through these hard times and so those are all key components that I think go across the board, but are valuable to the African-American community.

Danny Bakewell, chairman and CEO of the Bakewell Company, publisher of the L.A. Sentinel and L.A. Watts Times Newspaper and chairman emeritus of the NNPA, stressed the importance of the Black Press advertising with the federal government. He made it a point to let Richmond know our newspapers are actually dying on the vine.

Its one thing to say we need to support COVID, to give the proper messages to Black people, we can do that, we consistently do that, I cant impress upon you enough these publishers on this call, we need advertising, that is the lifeline and life blood of our Black businesses going forward, said Bakewell. Theres no Black community, no entity within the Black community, the Black Church, Black business, everybody comes first and foremost to the Black Press, even before youre known nationally, theyre known within the Black community because of the Black Press.

We need help.

Richmond made it clear during the roundtable that getting a hold on the pandemic was a top priority for the president. He stated the importance of the Black Press in getting the message out better than other media outlets and in working more with them in the future.

In order for us to heal and get pass this health pandemic and economic crisis, people have to take the vaccine, said Richmond. Ive had it, my mother has had it, and so, look, I believe in the science, but part of what its going to take is us being very transparent, giving the facts of how the science of this vaccine, both Moderna and Pfizer were created over 10 months, when vaccines usually take a couple of years, were willing to do all of that and we have to do it in outlets people believe and were going to give [NNPA] the science, were going to give you the facts so that you can make those determinations.

Richmond continued, We want to make sure that we spend all of our effort, time and energy right now on making sure we can past this pandemic because it is no secret that when America has a cold, the Black community has a flu. So, we have to look at this in a comprehensive manner and we cannot do it without the help of the NNPA.

For more information, please visit nnpa.org

NNPA Roundtable Discussion
Stepping down: Adam Tan has left his role with jet lessor Avolon. Photo: Giulia Marchi/Bloomberg

THE chairman of Dublin-based aircraft leasing giant Avolon  HNA joint chief executive Adam Tan  has stepped down from the role to assist the re-organisation of the troubled Chinese conglomerate.

HNA is an indirect shareholder in Avolon. Bohai Leasing owns 70pc of Avolon, while HNA owns just over 52pc of Bohai.

HNA is facing bankruptcy after a years-long spending spree that saw it splash out tens of billions of euro on a range of assets.

It owns Hainan Airlines, considered HNAs flagship business.

Three units of HNA claimed recently that about 8bn had been embezzled by shareholders.

Bohai Leasing acquired Avolon in 2016 as a flood of Chinese money entered the aircraft leasing market. A 30pc stake in Avolon was bought by Japanese financial services group Orix in 2018.

Avolon, one of the worlds biggest lessors, said yesterday that chairman Adam Tan, who has served as chairman since 2016, as well as non-executive director Daniel Chen, have stepped down from the board to concentrate on the re-organisation of the HNA Group.

HNA units, including the Hainan Airlines, will spend this year negotiating to bring in strategic investors, a HNA Group executive told Reuters earlier this month.

Avolon, whose chief executive is Domhnal Slattery, said yesterday that Chris Jin has been appointed to the chair at the leasing company. Hes the former CEO of HNA Capital. Rachel Bai and Yi Shen had been appointed to the Avolon board as nominees of Bohai.

Releasing full-year results yesterday, Avolon said that it ended 2020 with $6.9bn (5.69bn) of available liquidity.

Its lease revenue last year fell 13pc to $2.28bn. It posted a 37m loss for the year compared to a $725m profit in 2019.

The company raised $4.4bn of debt during 2020 at an average cost of 3.7pc.

The lessor has an owned and managed fleet of 572 aircraft and has 270 jets on order.

While many markets remain in lockdown in early 2021, the roll-out of vaccines is progressing, noted Mr Slattery.

We expect 2021 to be 2020 in reverse and to see a pick-up in travel in the second half of the year, he said, pointing out that the company ended the year with the strongest liquidity position in its history.

Earlier this week, an executive officer of Orix, Hitomaro Yano, told analysts that he remained upbeat about Avolons prospects.

He pointed out that Hainan Airlines is Avolons single largest customer and that while some money owed to Avolon by the carrier are overdue, the amount is relatively small.

Hainan Airline, once it's rehabilitated properly, we believe that it's going to be a positive factor for Avolon, said Mr Yano.

He also said that given Avolons liquidity position there was no concern over cash management at the lessor.

Mr Yano also said that Orix is not planning to impair the value of its stake in Avolon for now.

"We will be carrying out the stress test and also the impairment test and with, of course, the accounting, auditing firm checking against it, he said. But as of now, we are not planning any impairment. And we would imagine that it would be within the limit of our anticipations.
Regional

Manipur Christian leaders urge govt not to demolish churches

Correspondent IMPHAL, Feb 11 | Publish Date: 2/11/2021 1:50:13 PM IST

All Manipur Christian Organization (AMCO) on Thursday appealed to the Manipur government to drop its plans of removing churches constructed at public places in and around Imphal.

AMCO alleged that none of the Churches across the state were included when the Manipur government regularized 188 worshiping places constructed at public places.

Addressing a press conference here, AMCO president Rev Prim Vaiphei said that as none of the churches were included in the list of the worshiping places, there were apprehensions of churches being removed in and around Imphal.

He said that there are around 44 churches in and around Imphal. Of these, 14 each are in Lamphel and Langol areas, six in Game Village area, nine in Tribal Colony and one in Leimakhong area.

Most of these churches were constructed prior to the Supreme Court guideline/direction with cut-off date as October 29, 2009 for regularisation of existing unauthorized construction in the name of temple, church, mosque or gurudwara among others at public parks and other public places, he claimed.

Vaiphei protested against the alleged governments favouritism of religion saying that it was a step-motherly treatment towards Christians in the state.

Despite repeated requests to regularise the churches, the state government failed to hear the demands of the Christians.

He pointed out that the state government had already regularised a total of 188 worshiping places of different religions and at the same time served eviction notices to churches. As such, there were always apprehensions among Christians of churches being demolished at any time.

He claimed that churches in the state have been playing a big role in spreading the message of living together in peace and harmony among different communities living in the state.

This is not justice on the part of the governance. There is no justice in this land. Governance partiality to religion will bring no good result, he said.

Meanwhile, he appealed to the Christian community in the state to perform prayers in their respective churches on coming Sunday to protect the churches from demolition and prevent any untoward consequences that would be coming up if the government goes ahead with its plan.

Derry councillors have called on Ulster University to be open and honest about student numbers at Magee campus after the Vice Chancellor gave the impression of continuous growth.

Speaking at a Council meeting last week, UU Vice Chancellor Professor Paul Bartholomew said there are 4,498 students at Magee this year.

Professor Bartholomew went on to say that student numbers were up 85 on five years ago and up 930 compared to 2008/09.

The implication was continuous growth over the past decade.

He added, thats significant and some people might find that surprising.

FOI responses obtained by the Derry News prove there has not been continuous growth.

Rather than increasing by 85 over the past five years, numbers at Magee have dropped by 600 since 2015.

In 2014/15 students at Magee totalled 5,098 of which 3,383 were full-time  that is the highest theyve ever been.

Over the past ten years student numbers at Coleraine have remained consistently higher than Magee despite the town being around one quarter of the size of Derry City.

This year is the first time Magee's numbers have crept above Coleraine. (Updated from today's paper because the latest figures were provided after its publication).

However, three times as many administrative staff are based at the County Derry campus.

Meanwhile, Ulster Universitys Belfast campuses have over 15,000 students.

SDLP Councillor Rory Farrell, who was at last weeks meeting, said it is important that Ulster University is open and honest about student numbers at Magee.

The Vice Chancellor quoted figures that suggested sustained growth at the campus since 2008, but neglected to tell us that numbers have fallen by 600 since 2014/15.

Our interim ambition is 10,000 students at Magee, as detailed in New Decade, New Approach, and this will require a co-ordinated approach by Ulster University and the Executive, he added.

People Before Profit Councillor Shaun Harkin described the comments made by Professor Bartholomew as disappointing and extremely concerning on a number of fronts.

He seems to be completely out of sync with the commitments in Stormont's New Decade New Approach to increase Magee to 10,000 students.

He also implied there's been continuous growth in student numbers over the last decade.

As referenced by both representatives, Professor Bartholomew told councillors that growth to 6,000 students is broadly achievable.

That is the target by 2022/23 with the addition of Health Science courses, the medical school, a new paramedics course and growth in existing courses, he suggested.

However, he said 6,000 would be the ceiling unless there are wholesale changes to the way higher education is funded in Northern Ireland.

To do that would require the removal of the maximum student numbers cap which would likely result in increased student fees in Northern Ireland.

IRISH GOVERNMENT

Public representatives were underwhelmed by the aspiration for 6,000 students.

The ambition has been 10,000 full-time students at Magee and that is the New Decade, New Approach (NDNA) commitment.

Simon Coveney (below), Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence, along with British MP Julian Smith published the NDNA text to restore devolved government in NI.

Recently, in a direct response to a Derry native on Twitter, Mr Coveney reaffirmed his commitment to the North West.

He gave assurances that he has not forgotten about Derry and said the Irish Government will fully follow through on commitments made.

The Irish Government promised to invest in new higher education provision in Derry and capital investment to support expanded provision at Ulster University Magee Campus.

The Derry News asked the Mr Coveney and the Irish government whether it is now going to take a more active role in delivering a full-sized NW university and what practical steps it will take.

A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said the Irish Government welcomes the development of plans for ambitious new higher education provision at the UU Magee Campus in Derry, including in the context of the UK Governments City Deal and Inclusive Future Fund initiative which is being advanced by Derry City and Strabane District Council.

This investment has the potential to increase access to third-level education for young people on a cross-border basis, enable further cooperation between third-level institutions in the North West and underpin broader economic development and opportunities in the region.

Senior officials from the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science and the Northern Ireland Department for the Economy recently met and discussed Higher Education provision in the North West region.
Hong Kong began its traditional Lunar New Year celebrations on with nearly 200 people in prison for their role in the 2019 protest movement.



Since protests began to escalate in spring 2019 against plans by chief executive Carrie Lam to allow the extradition of alleged criminal suspects to face trial in mainland Chinese courts, later broadening to include demands for fully democratic elections and greater accountability, more than 190 people have been sent to jail, mostly on charges linked to "illegal assembly."



Meanwhile, more than 50 opposition politicians and activists arrested last month in a city-wide crackdown on dissent under a draconian national security law imposed by the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) were required to report to local police stations as part of their bail conditions amid fears they could be rearrested while doing so.



Some said they had eaten an early New Year meal with their families just in case.



"I'm just glad that I get to go back home and eat the New Year meal at home with my family," democracy activist Lester Shum told reporters after reporting to a police station, and remaining out on bail.



Lee Cheuk-yan, who heads the Hong Kong Alliance in Support of Democratic Patriotic Movements in China, said he too remains on bail, but is "very upset" that bail was recently denied to pro-democracy media mogul Jimmy Lai and to outspoken radio talk show host Wan Siu-yin, who are both awaiting trial on "national security" charges for comments made online.



"[Those behind bars] can't get together with their families; I feel very sad about that," Lee told RFA. "Naturally, this isn't just in Hong Kong ... there are many stories about our democratic comrades-in-arms in mainland China who are separated from their families."

'A pirated version of the rest of China'

Lee said hopes were now beginning to fade that Hong Kong could influence the rest of China with its former brand of freewheeling economics, partial democracy and rule of law.



"We never thought Hong Kong would itself turn into a pirated version of the rest of China," he said. "The saddest thing is that instead of Hong Kong changing China, the [ruling] Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has turned the full force of its power on us, and is transferring its dictatorship to Hong Kong."



On Jan. 6, around 1,000 national security police officers were dispatched to arrest 53 people who took part in or helped to organize a primary election in July aimed at selecting pro-democracy candidates for Legislative Council (LegCo) elections that were then postponed by the authorities.



Former Democratic Party chairman Wu Chi-wai was among them, but had his bail revoked because he refused to hand over his British National Overseas (BNO) passport to police.



Current party chairman Lo Kin-hei visited Wu in the Lai Chi Kok Reception Centre on , saying that he appeared in fairly high spirits, and that the food there wasn't too bad.



But he said it was hard to have a genuinely festive new year celebration under the current national security crackdown on peaceful dissent and political opposition.



"Things are going to be very difficult for a long time," Lo told RFA. "All we can do now is protect ourselves as much as possible, and prepare, together with the people of Hong Kong, for possibly worse times still to come."



As the city prepares for the Year of the Ox, there are signs that the authorities are planning to legislate to bring the city's legal and political systems more closely into alignment with those in mainland China, which has actively rejected the separation of powers and judicial independence, saying all institutions should obey the CCP.



Coercive legislation

If all of the legislation passes the Legislative Council (LegCo), now devoid of political opposition, China's national flag will soon be flown in Hong Kong's schools and kindergartens, which will be required to hold a flag-raising ceremony once a week.



Comments criticizing visitors from mainland China on social media will be outlawed under amendments to equal opportunities laws.



Chung Kim-wah, deputy head of the Hong Kong Public Opinion Research Institute (PORI), said such laws will only serve to encourage rebellion in Hong Kong, however.



"The more coercive the legislation, the greater the sense of rebellion in Hong Kong, because that's the kind of place this is," Chung said. "They should first recognize the impact of the regime's behavior."



"This could have the opposite effect to the one that is intended."



Current affairs commentator Johnny Lau said the new measures would impose a "superficial kind of unity" on Hong Kong.



"I think what most people see is Carrie Lam doing various things to try to get re-elected [for a second term as chief executive]," he said, in a reference to a limited vote by a Beijing-controlled Election Committee.



As of , Hong Kong police had arrested 10,200 people in connection with the 2019 protest movement, of whom 3,450 have been prosecuted.



More than 1,000 cases are still working their way through the judicial system, with more than 190 sentenced and around 100 currently awaiting trial.



Reported by Man Hoi Yan, Lau Siu Fung and Chung Yut Yiu for RFA's Cantonese and Mandarin Services. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie.
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REGGIO CALABRIA, FEB 11 - Italian police on Thursday seized some 212 million euros from a Calabrian businessman believed to be linked to two top clans in the Calabria-based 'Ndrangheta mafia, Italy's richest and most powerful organised crime group. They said Domenico Gallo, 65, was suspected of being close to the Piromalli and Zagari-Fazzalari clans. As well as various financial assets, police seized 13 financial companies, stakes in other firms, 11 pieces of property including farms and factories and a luxury villa, a luxury car and 12 luxury watches. Informants have told police that Gallo managed to secure a raft of public-works contracts by bringing together mobsters, civil servants and wheeler-dealers over several decades, earning himself the nickname 'Tarmac Billionaire'. Since 1985, police investigations have listed him as a leading figure in the web of relations between 'Ndrangheta and the local and national political and administrative worlds. 'Ndrangheta is Italy's richest and most powerful mafia thanks to its control of the European cocaine trade. All its activities have been estimated to be worth the equivalent of at least three per cent of Italian GDP. Its tentacles have spread from its southern Italian base to central and northern Italy, northern Europe, North and South America and Australia, among other areas. Its influence is especially strong in the affluent northern Italian regions of Lombardy, Piedmont and Emilia-Romagna, but it has also spread to Lazio and Rome. The other mafias in Italy are Cosa Nostra, and the Camorra in Campania. There is a smaller mafia in Puglia, the Sacra Corona Unita (United Holy Crown, SCU), which is generally considered less dangerous and expansive. The biggest ever trial into 'Ndrangheta started in Lamezia Terme in mid-January. The trial delves into the activities of the 'Ndrangheta clans in Vibo Valentia and their links to the political, institutional, economic and rogue Masonic worlds controlling all aspects of local life in Calabria. It is the biggest mafia trial in Italy since the so-called 'maxi-trial' of Cosa Nostra in Sicily from 1986 to 1992. The trial, which is expected to last around three years, has over 300 defendants who are facing hundreds if charges. The defendants include local politicians, businessmen, police and other institutional figures accused of helping 'Ndrangheta hold sway over Calabrian life. (ANSA).
The Institute for Fiscal Studies, a Think Tank, owned and financed by Dr. Kwabena Duffuor, the beneficial owner of the now in receivership, Unibank Ghana Limited, and a former Finance Minister and Governor of the Bank of Ghana, has petitioned the Appointments Committee of Parliament not to approve the nomination of Ken Ofori-Atta as finance Minister in the 2nd term government of President Akufo-Addo.



According to the six (6) page petition of the Institute for Fiscal Studies, they are of the view that Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta, the former Minister of Finance, has caused financial loss and created potential financial crisis for Ghana in the last four years as Finance Minister that makes him unsuitable to be the Finance Minister for the second time the think tank claims in the petition submitted to Parliament.



The Institute says in their petition that five main issues have led them to draw the conclusions they are making.

One is the charge of fiscal mismanagement. Ghanas debt stock shot up last year as the global pandemic led to revenues dropping and COVID-related expenditures increasing.



Two, the IFS criticizes Mr. Ofori-Atta over the issuance of sovereign bonds and, what they describe as its damaging implications. Thirdly, the think tank cites weak domestic revenue mobilization. The fourth issue is the Agyapa Royalty deal, which seeks to minutiae royalties from some 16 mining concessions in the country through dual listing.



They see the selection of Databank as transaction advisor in partnership with the main transaction advisor. Imara, in the process of listing Agyapa on both the London Stock Exchange and the Ghana Stock Exchange, as posing a conflict of interest situation.



The Finance Minister is a co-founder of Databank, which was founded 30 years ago and has won 8 annual awards as the best securities company in Ghana. Information available to Asaase News, however, confirms that Databank pulled out of the transaction last December, three days after the general elections, and a day after the president was declared as winning a second term.



Ironically, Dr. Kwabena Duffuor also sought to do a similar deal of monetizing Ghanas gold royalties around 2010-2012 when he was finance minister, but the preferred structure then did not work and was abandoned after the 2012 elections, when he was replaced by his deputy, Seth Tekper.



Dr. Duffour, a former Governor, also founded Star Assurance and Unibank and both did legitimate business with Government when he was Finance Minister. The fifth issue raised is the move by the Akufo-Addo Government to set up the National Development Bank, to be dedicated to be actively driving the transformation agenda of the Ghanaian economy.



The four years of Ken Ofori Atta as Minister of Finance witnessed a very poor fiscal management in Ghana, leading to uncontrollable rising public debt with serious implications for debt sustainability, raising concerns about a new sovereign debt crisis in the country, IFS claims.



The Institute argues that Ghanas development cannot be tied exclusively to the issuing of foreign loans which have serious implications for macroeconomic performance, domestic savings, and foreign exchange. It would, in fact, be suicidal and a dangerous experiment that will harm future generations for the country to have gone for a US$50 billion century bond proposed by Ken Ofori Atta without a blueprint that carefully outlines the development priorities of the country and how the funds will be used to add value to the vast resources of the country. Ghana cannot continue to always service its debt with new debt.



The IFS has taken issue with some of the equity options for the yet to be set up bank. Ken Ofori Atta is also busy trying to establish a national development bank, using funds borrowed from international financial institutions and part of the deadly covid-19 pandemic funds which have been mobilized to protect lives and livelihoods. The sad aspect of this is that government will in the end not be the majority shareholder of the bank.



Based on the above facts and developments, the IFS is of the view that Ken Ofori Atta has caused serious financial loss and created potential financial crisis for the country in the last four years as a Finance Minister. Ghana cannot afford to have Mr. Ofori Atta re-appointed as a Finance Minister for another four years Dr. Duffuors think tank said in the conclusion of the petition.

Source: asaaseradio









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My name is Drew Cusumano and I'm a senior Mizzou student studying Journalism with an interest area in Sports TV & Radio Broadcasting. If you need to contact me you can e-mail me at dvc62f@mail.missouri.edu
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Authorities are searching for a 21-year-old man who last week fell into the Houston Ship Channel, according to Texas EquuSearch.

Cody Hansen is believed to have drowned after falling into the channel Feb. 5 between Baytown and La Porte, said EquuSearch.
Educators and activists are challenging how Black history is taught in American schools and calling for a more complex understanding of Black history. (Photo: Getty)

While Black History Month is a time to celebrate Black culture, it can also call attention to the problematic framing of American history  which, experts say, excludes much of Black history.

We go from Christopher Columbus to the Pilgrims to the first colonists and then the pre-Civil War. It gets to the point where it is so reductive, it becomes a lie, Dr. Joy Banner, director of communications at the Whitney Plantation, a Louisiana museum that focuses on the lives of enslaved people, tells Yahoo Life. Slavery is only used as the thing that may or may not have been the real reason behind the Civil War.

In school, Banner says she was taught that the American Civil War was not about slavery.

The focus of our history becomes rooted in the Civil War, but slavery was 246 years,

This country was built on the backs of the enslaved people. If you do not learn about the journey of Black people, you will not understand American history. Dr. Joy Banner, the Whitney Plantation

says Banner. People think slavery was a monolith, but the system was adapting and changing throughout that 246 year period.

Banner says students need a more complex and in-depth understanding of how large the concept of slavery and Black history is. Our blood, our sweat, our tears, our skills and our expertise are in the bones of this country, she says.

The argument for reparations to Black Americans is based on the promise of 40 acres and a mule to the formerly enslaved following the Civil War. This land redistribution plan was halted after president Abraham Lincolns assasination, and previously enslaved people were stripped of land ownership once Andrew Johnson took office.

Experts are revising school curriculum to challenge inaccurate narratives about Black history (Photo: Getty)

[While] learning about the Civil War, we dont talk about reconstruction and we do not talk about the radical Republicans that were very progressive and committed to reconciling this country, Banner says.

People think slavery was about hatred. Slavery was about opportunity, and the exploitation of Black labor, she says. This country was built on the backs of the enslaved people. If you do not learn about the journey of Black people, you will not understand American history. 

Story continues

Some say part of the problem is the marginalization of Black historians and Black educators in America.

Black history was not written from the perspective of Black people or Black scholars, Steven Becton, the chief officer for diversity, equity, and inclusion for Facing History and Ourselves, tells Yahoo Life. It was written by Eurocentric scholars, so you are going to get a Eurocentric view that does not tell the whole story and includes inaccuracies.

For example, Becton challenges the common narrative Black people were ill-prepared for their newfound freedom and uninterested in voting during the Reconstruction Era.

That couldnt be further from the truth. Right after the chains of slavery were broken, Black folks started their civic participation, Becton says.

President Abraham Lincoln signed the D.C. Emancipation Act on April 16, 1862, ending slavery in the District of Columbia and providing immediate freedom to the enslaved.

Following the Civil War, which resulted in both the end of the confederacy and the abolishment of American slavery, the Reconstruction Era birthed the rise of the Ku Klux Klan.

We were voting in large numbers during the Reconstruction Era until domestic terrorism, including lynching, suppressed our vote, he says. We are still dealing with the legacy of that [violence] today.

The Emancipation statue, depicting a slave breaking the chains of captivity as Abraham Lincoln reads the Emancipation Proclamation. (Photo: Getty)

Becton says revising curriculums to challenge inaccurate narratives about Black history is a good place to start, and it is not revising history, it is getting history right.

There is nothing more central to American history than the experience of Africans in America, Becton says. The contributions of African Americans should be integrated all of the time, and taught in more than just history class, because we have contributed across the disciplines.

However, he would like to see Black history being taught in a way that addresses the context of the struggle instead of using common redemptive narratives.

We need to talk about Nat Turner, the Black Panther Party and the Tulsa Race Riots, says Becton. Until we face these troubling moments in history, we wont understand the legacies of present-day suffering.

The erasure of Black womens historical contributions also needs addressing, Becton says: We hear about Rosa Parks, but not enough about Barbara Jordan and Ella Josephine Baker. Thats a huge injustice and it is troubling.

1969 gathering of Black Panther members in Oakland, CA. (Photo: Getty)

Even during the era of American slavery, Banner emphasizes Black people were able to form cohesive communities and count on one another for survival.

Think about the fathers raising biracial children that were obviously not theirs and loving them, or the kids that were sold away from their families and how our communities rallied together to care for them, she says.

Becton views Black history as a celebration of Black love and Black joy. We are a people that took scrap food and turned it into a delicacy, that is the celebration of Black joy. I want young people to know we are fully worthy of loving ourselves, no matter what American history books say.

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

Determine your states standards for history education. Learn about your local process for changes to school standards and add your voice to that conversation. Petition for Black history to be taught honestly, and all year. Request emphasis on the Reconstruction Era, a transformative and pivotal period in American history that is often omitted from curriculum. Pledge to Participate in the Black Lives Matter at School Initiative.

LEARN MORE:

Yahoos Black Lives Matter Hub: for resources, news, links and videos

Whitney Plantation : educates the public about the history of slavery and its legacies.

Zinn Education Project : an organization that aims to teach students a more complex version of American history

The Langston League : creates culturally responsive instructional material to students and more

Facing History: Uses lessons of history to challenge teachers and students to stand up to bigotry.

READ MORE:


Democrats making the case that Donald Trump should be convicted of inciting the siege at the US Capitol will focus on Thursday on the damage wrought by the riot and the former president's role in inflaming the rampage.

The House of Representatives has charged Trump, a Republican, with inciting an insurrection by exhorting thousands of supporters to march on the Capitol on Jan. 6, the day Congress gathered to certify Democrat Joe Biden's election win.

The House managers who are prosecuting the case in the US Senate spent much of Wednesday recounting the events that led to the riot and highlighting the threat to former Vice President Mike Pence.

On Thursday, they planned to illustrate the "terrible toll" of the riot and Trump's "role in assembling, inciting and inflaming the insurrectionists," a House aide said.

Senators on Wednesday were shown searing security footage the pro-Trump mob stalking the Capitol hallways chanting "Hang Mike Pence!" and searching for Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Previously unseen videos showed the view from inside the Capitol as rioters smashed windows and fought with police, coming within 100 feet (30 m) of the room where Pence was sheltering with his family. The mob had set up a gallows outside.

The footage, which also included body-camera views of brutal attacks on Capitol police, showed Pence and lawmakers being hustled to safety steps ahead of an advancing mob. The attack on the Capitol resulted in the deaths of five people, including a police officer.

Trump had repeatedly said Pence had the power to stop the certification of the election results, even though he did not.

"The mob was looking for Vice President Pence," Representative Stacey Plaskett said, narrating footage that showed the crowd threatening Pence and searching for Pelosi.

"President Trump put a target on their backs and then his mob broke into the Capitol to hunt them down," she said.

Democratic Representative Joaquin Castro pointed out that during the rampage, Trump tweeted that Pence "didn't have the courage to do what should have been done." A video showed rioters spreading word of Trump's tweet to one another on bullhorns.

PLANTED THE SEEDS

House managers said Trump had planted the seeds for the riot by encouraging violence and making false claims the election was stolen long before Jan. 6. They also said he did little to stop the violence as it spiraled out of control, despite pleas from many Republicans to ask his supporters to stop.

Democrats face a difficult task in securing a Senate conviction and barring Trump from ever again seeking public office. A two-thirds majority in the Senate must vote to convict, which means at least 17 Republicans would have to defy Trump and his continued popularity among Republican voters.

On Tuesday, the Senate voted largely along party lines that the impeachment trial could move ahead even though Trump's term ended on Jan. 20. Six of 50 Republican senators broke with their caucus to side with Democrats.

"I am holding out hope that the forcefulness of this argument will still sway some. I believe there are more Republicans that are open to conviction than is publicly clear at this point," said Democratic Senator Chris Coons.

But while several Republican senators said the footage showed on Wednesday was emotional, many added it did not change their minds.

"I didnt see a case there that a prosecutor can make in court against the president," Republican Senator Roy Blunt said.

Trump's lawyers, who will have 16 hours to deliver their defense, said the video and other evidence presented by Democrats had not made the case for his culpability.

"We know a mob breached the Capitol and wreaked havoc in the building. Im waiting for them to connect that up to President Trump and so far that hasn't happened," said Bruce Castor, Trump's lawyer.

The Senate trial could conclude as early as Saturday or Sunday, according to a senior Senate aide.

Trump is the first US president to be impeached twice and the first to face trial after leaving office. His first impeachment trial, which stemmed from his efforts to pressure Ukraine to investigate Biden, ended in an acquittal a year ago in what was then a Republican-controlled Senate.

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Pristine Property Management Team. "A successful team is a group of many hands and one mind." Bill Bethel

Expertise.com awarded the well-regarded Best Property Management 2020 & 2021 ranking to Pristine Property Management, LLC (PPM) in recognition of the companys commitment to exceptional owner & tenant service.

Expertise.com finds and reviews the top service professionals in over 200 industries across the U.S. Every month, Expertsie.com researches more than 60,000 businesses to help customers find the best-qualified professional for their needs. The rating companys research process is always evolving to keep up with industry changes. They are therefore confident when they say a provider is one of the best.

Pristine Property Management, LLC (PPM) is honored to receive this recognition, which is a testament to our high service standards, and that we are amongst the most experienced, reputable, and trusted Property Management companies in Miami and Fort Lauderdale. Our foundation is guided by the philosophy that each property is managed as if it were our own. By choosing a select residential investment clientele, we have a manageable ratio, which enables us to focus on low operating costs, and identify quality tenants. We specialize in preserving property, limiting vacancies, and being solution-driven while providing exceptional customer service.

Pristine Property Management has grown exponentially in 2020, with approximately 100 new doors and attained over 160 Google Reviews which is a testament to the high standard of service we offer to our Owners and Tenants. We are members of the Better Business Bureau, Miami Association of Realtors and the Broward, Palm Beach & St. Lucie Realtors Association, and the National Association of Residential Property Managers.

Apart from being listed in Miami, we also provide impeccable service in Ft. Lauderdale with over 40% of our units (single-family homes, condos, and multifamily) in Broward County.

Pristine Property Management LLC (PPM) was established in 2011 and has an impeccable management team  Alekxey Sabido broker, Eddie Miller CEO and Ivan Ramirez the senior property manager. Plus, an impressive team of professionals dedicated to finding creative solutions to various property management challenges. Alekxey and Eddie the founders are investors, landlords and property managers. As industry leaders, they are frequent guest speakers for various groups. Eddie is the past president of the National Association of Residential Property Managers SE Florida and an advisory board member of the Dade Real Estate Investors Association.

David Schoen, defense lawyer for former President Donald Trump, speaks on the first day of former President Donald Trump's second impeachment trial at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Feb 9, 2021. (congress.gov via Getty Images)

Democrats Have Failed to Tie Capitol Breach to Trump, Says Defense Attorney David Schoen

David Schoen, former President Donald Trumps defense attorney, told reporters on Thursday that the Democrats, while making a movie, have failed to tie the Capitol breach to Trump.

I think theyre making a movie, Schoen said. You know, they havent in any way tied it to Donald Trump.

And I think its offensive. Quite frankly, its antithetical [to] the healing process to continue to show the tragedy that happened here that Donald Trump has condemned, and I think it tears at the American people, quite frankly.

A reporter asked the attorney why they broke from the trial to do a live shot.

Its more of the same thing. Theyre showing the same repetitive videos. [Making] points that dont exist.

Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) told Fox on Wednesday that although the Democrats highlighted Trumps fight like hell remark numerous times, they obviated completely another section of Trumps speech where he told protestors to be peaceful.

Peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard, Trump said on Jan 6.

The one line from the presidents speech that wasnt in the Democrats video is the line thats most important, and thats where the president said, Peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard, Jordan said.

Another lawyer representing Trump in the impeachment trial, Bruce Castor, said House Democrats hadnt presented any new information in the nearly eight-hour session on Wednesday.

Yesterday, we said we didnt dispute that the breach of the capital is a terrible thing, and that mob violence is something that President Trump abhors. So we didnt learn anything today we didnt already know, its a matter of fact. I wonder why we sat through eight hours of videos that are under dispute, Bruce Castor told reporters as he walked to his car after the session ended.

Although new footage was presented during the trial, no new evidence of the alleged incitement was presented.

Attorney for former President Donald Trump Bruce Castor speaks to reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington on Feb. 10, 2021. (Joshua Roberts/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)

Castor said that the defense team wont make any adjustments to the presidents defense based on what was presented Wednesday.

I dont know what the public has seen and I dont think the Democrats revealed anything the public hasnt seen from a different angle; I think it was all angles, he said.
Bengaluru, Feb 12 : As part of the ongoing five-day National Horticulture Fair 2021, farmers from the Northeast, Maharashtra and Goa on Thursday participated in a virtual interaction programme with scientists from the Bengaluru-based Indian Institute of Horticultural Research and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).

They discussed fruit tree canopy management and the rhizome rot disease in banana plantation. Assam is one of the top 10 banana producing states in the country, with Maharashtra holding the top position.

The experts said that banana being a succulent, evergreen and shallow rooted crop, it requires large quantity of water for increasing its productivity.

"Water management is important for maintaining banana crops. In winter, irrigation should be provided once a week, while in summer it should be given at an interval of twice weekly or 10 days, depending on the climate. However, during the rainy season, water should be provided only if required, otherwise excess irrigation will lead to root zone problems, such as rhizome rot disease," the experts said.

They added that the farmers should take steps to decongest its water flowing channels.

Another expert said that the moment a farmer notices such disease in his plantation, he must remove such plants and immediately clean the area thoroughly besides taking steps to bury the rotten plants deep in the field instead of dumping them.

"As the bacteria of this disease multiplies easily, it will spread to other trees easily. Therefore, disposing of such trees is of utmost importance to prevent this disease from spreading to other plants." The experts also added that the yield automatically improves if the trees are pruned properly, as it helps absorb sunlight adequately.

"Many farmers do not take canopy management seriously and as a result of this, fruit bearing trees produce less fruits. Canopy management should be taken up from the first year of plantation of these trees," the experts said.
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Coronavirus vaccine centres may be standing idle because of rigid rules urging local health bosses to stick to the priority list, a Nobel prize-winning scientist fears.

Sir Paul Nurse, director of the Francis Crick Institute in London, claimed hundreds of volunteers have been left 'standing around with little to do' at his centre's make-shift clinic, forcing them to close at weekends.

The 72-year-old said they were 'not alone', however, and that other hubs across the capital were running low on patients to vaccinate.

Writing in a piece for The Times urging the UK to speed up the vaccination roll-out, he questioned whether 'adherence to moving through the priority groups' was so 'rigid' that it was slowing progress.

Ministers have blamed 'lumpy' supplies of vaccines for fluctuations in vaccination speed in recent weeks. With only two types of jab available in the UK and both companies have to reorganise their factories, the NHS cannot get hold of enough doses to give every vaccination site a constant supply.

Some GP surgeries offering vaccinations are closed on Sundays and some areas' deliveries are being redirected to allow areas lagging behind to catch up.

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said today that the country may have to start reducing appointment numbers so it can preserve Pfizer vaccine stocks for people who will need second doses beginning in March.

Sir Paul Nurse also asked whether officials were purposely limiting appointments in some areas to 'ensure every part of the country progresses at the same rate' and to 'avoid criticism of a postcode lottery'.

It comes as ministers are hunting for the final two million vulnerable Brits who have not yet come forward for their Covid vaccine.

The Francis Crick Institute's vaccination centre in London is standing idle because of rigid priority rules Sir Paul Nurse (pictured) has said

The Government has made it its mission to inoculate the 15million Brits most at risk of dying from the coronavirus by Monday, which includes everyone over 70, care home residents, their carers and frontline NHS staff, as well as patients classed as clinically extremely vulnerable, such as those with terminal illnesses.

But while 13million in the most vulnerable categories have had the jab, including 90 per cent of over-70s and care home residents, the Prime Minister yesterday warned there is still a group numbering roughly twice the population of Birmingham who had yet to receive one.

Sir Patrick Vallance warned last night that lockdown loosening plans will have to go even slower if large numbers of vulnerable people remained unvaccinated.

WHY CAN'T WE VACCINATE PEOPLE FASTER? The UK's vaccination programme, while rocketing ahead at a rate of around 400,000 people per day this week, is being held back from going faster by limits in supply, Government ministers say, and there may also be bottlenecks in delivery at the weekends, with some GP surgeries not offering jabs on Sundays. SUPPLY Nadhim Zahawi, the vaccines minister, was pressed today on how long it would take to complete vaccination of the 31million people in the nine priority groups. He said: 'I don't want to commit to a date without going through it with a very fine toothcomb with the whole team, because our limiting factor is the supply of vaccines ultimately. 'With any manufacturing process, especially one that is new, there are challenges around that, as we've seen in Europe and as we saw in the early days in the UK as well.' Pfizer and AstraZeneca, the manufacturers of the jabs being used in Britain, have both faced manufacturing problems in recent weeks. Pfizer had to scale back its deliveries in January while it upgraded its factory in Belgium, and AstraZeneca took longer than expected to reach its 2million doses per week target for the UK because early batches were less fruitful than expected. AstraZeneca, which manufactures in the UK, has also been embroiled in a bitter row with the EU over cutting back the continent's supplies  although both the company and the UK Government have insisted this hasn't hit British stockpiles. Matt Hancock yesterday described the UK's 'lumpy supply' when asked about a dip in vaccination numbers on Sundays. DELIVERY Lower jab numbers on Sundays has emerged as a trend in recent weeks and doctors have admitted not all GP surgeries offering vaccines are open on a Sunday. Several GPs, who asked not to be named, told MailOnline that a large number of practices shut on Sundays and do not offer appointments  despite No10 insisting the immunisation drive is 24/7 operation. It echoed claims made by Scotland's national clinical director yesterday who said the closure of surgeries on Sundays was hampering the vaccine rollout north of the border. The Royal College of GPs said said family doctors were 'doing everything they can' to get the vaccine to those who need it most, with 'some' but not all practices providing services seven days a week. Economists from the Institute for Economic Affairs told MailOnline that there is 'no incentive' for family doctors, who've been juggling the vaccine rollout and battling Covid on the frontlines of the second wave, to work seven days a week. It suggested GPs be offered commission on every jab done on a weekend. RIGID ADHERENCE TO PRIORITY LIST Francis Crisk Institute scientists Sir Paul Nurse said in a piece for The Times that 'adherence to moving through the priority groups' may be so 'rigid' that it was slowing progress in the vaccine rollout. Until February 15, the Government will not vaccinate anyone outside the top four priority groups, which include everyone over 70, NHS and care staff and extremely vulnerable people. But while some areas rattled through these quickly, others have made slower progress. Being unable to expand into younger groups means the groups that are ahead will face a bottleneck in the number of people available for vaccination, and their pace will slow down. Advertisement

Some areas of the country leading the way in the vaccine roll-out have taken it on themselves to start jabbing under-70s  including in Manchester and London.

But No10 has not officially given local health teams the green light to move onto the next stage of the roll-out, which includes everyone else above the age of 50.

Until February 15, the Government will not vaccinate anyone outside the top four priority groups, which include everyone over 70, NHS and care staff and extremely vulnerable people.

But while some areas rattled through these quickly, others have made slower progress. Being unable to expand into younger groups means the groups that are ahead will face a bottleneck in the number of people available for vaccination, and their pace will slow down.

Critics yesterday said the UK's roll-out had 'hit a wall' and urged the Government to expand jabs to a wider audience to reach six million people a week.

Addressing the claims, Sir Paul suggested Britain could devolve decision-making to individual vaccination centres when national referrals are low.

This would allow centres to prioritise other important groups including teachers, police officers and firefighters to receive jabs when slots remain vacant.

He said it is important to act soon because 'every day that is missed costs lives and livelihoods'.

Writing in The Times, Sir Paul said: 'Speed is essential. Vaccinating faster will slow the spread of infection and reduce the risk of variants arising because larger numbers of people will be vaccinated more rapidly.

'Increasing flexibility, developing agility, empowering the local, will get more patients through the door and get the virus more quickly under control.

'Science has provided us with the tools to move forward. There is no time to be lost  we must vaccinate even faster.'

Crick scientists have joined NHS colleagues in an effort vaccinate up to 1,000 people a day but are at most injecting 300 patients daily.

Sir Paul said leftover vaccines have been left unused in the fridge at the vaccination centre, which has been forced to close on weekends because it has no patients.

Other Covid vaccination centres across London are experiencing similar demand shortages, he said, and problems extend out of the capital and even out of England.

Nicola Sturgeon said today that Scotland rollout - which has come under fire for being slower than England's - had now reached a million people.

'By Sunday, we expect to give vaccines to 70,000 more people than we originally anticipated in the deployment plan,' she said.

'This is due to the higher vaccine take-up rates than we had anticipated.

'These two factors combined with the need to preserve some stocks for second doses, mean we have to ensure we don't schedule more appointments than our vaccine supplies allow.'

Ms Sturgeon said that this might result in a reduction of appointments that can be scheduled.

However, she added that if vaccine supplies increase in that time, they would 'very rapidly' be able to accelerate the programme again.

She said that Scotland is still on track to meet all targets set out  including that all over-50s should expect to receive their first dose by mid-May.

Despite its small population in the global standings, the UK has administered a whopping 13.5million out of 146million doses given out internationally  almost 10 per cent of all the world's jabs so far.

Another 414,973 Britons received their first or second dose of the Covid vaccine on Tuesday, up 10 per cent on the 376,922 jabs recorded the same time last week.

But this was a marked slowdown from the week before when the number administered jumped by 20 per cent.

The Adam Smith Institute think-tank told MailOnline that while the programme had been a success so far, there was 'no excuse' for blips, because 'the virus doesn't sleep - the virus keeps spreading'.

Nicola Sturgeon said that the number of vaccination appointments being offered north of the border could be scaled back, blaming high uptake and Pfizer manufacturing problems
In this screenshot taken from a Congress.gov webcast, Impeachment Manager Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas) speaks on the second day of former President Donald Trump's second impeachment trial at the Capitol in Washington on Feb. 10, 2021. (Congress.gov via Getty Images)

Democrat Prosecutors Make Opinions Impeachable

Commentary

No man ever thought of impeaching a man for an opinion.  Gov. Edmund Randolph, speaking for the Constitution at the Virginia Ratifying Convention, 1788

Edmund Randolph would have been astonished at Day #2 of the Trump impeachment trial, as the prosecutors repeatedly called for conviction because Trump had dared to express his opinions.

One of those opinions, floated before the election, was that hed win if the balloting was conducted fairly. Thus, Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas) charged Trump with telling his supporters, the only way he could lose the election is if it was stolen.  He truly made his base belief [sic] that the only way he could lose was if the election was rigged.

Whats the political reality? First, candidates on the campaign trail routinely predict victory, even when they know the odds are stacked heavily against them. Its an expression of confidence. Any admission of uncertainty on this score is virtually a concession statement. And we all know that if Trump had admitted the slightest possibility of defeat in an honest election, within minutes the mainstream media would have been proclaiming his imminent political demise.

Second, predictions of victory from non-corrupt candidates always presume the election will be honest. Candidates usually dont have to say this, because our elections usually are honest.

But Trump had good reason to suspect this election wouldnt be: To begin with, states were adopting mail-in ballots with weeks-long voting periods. That blatantly violated the mandate for a single-day election in a federal statute (pdf) passed under the Constitutions Same Day Clause. Further, election officials in swing states were fiddling with voting and counting procedures without the consent of their state legislatures. Finally, Trump likely knew of the powerful national conspiracythats Time Magazines wordfor biasing election procedures and information flow against him.

So where was the harm in predicting victory so long as the election was honest?

Another impeachable Trump opinion was one he expressed after the election: That the vote had been stolen from him. Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) argued that Day after day, [Trump] told his supporters false outlandish lies that the victory, that the election outcome was taken and it was rigged. And he had absolutely no support for his claims. Rep. Joe Neguse (D-Colo.) made similar statements.

In an impeachment trial, if the House managers claim that the accuseds alleged lies form a basis for conviction, then they have the burden of provingby clear and convincing evidencethat the statements were, in fact, lies. In this trial, they need to introduce clear proof that (1) the election was clean and (2) Trump knew it was clean when he said it was not.

Theres no sign that the prosecutors will dare introduce any such evidence. Theres too much contrary evidence that the election was not honestor at least that the official returns were not accurate. Ive already alluded to the illegally long voting times, unauthorized procedural changes, and Time Magazines reported conspiracy. There are plenty of additional indications of ballot box stuffing and other irregularitieseven if one discounts theories about rigged voting machines.

We dont know whether those irregularities changed the results. But Trump certainly had the right to believe they did. If he had the right to believe it, then the First Amendment protected his right to tell others.

Oh, but lead House impeachment manager Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) doesnt think the First Amendment applies. Of course, it wouldnt apply if Trump were deliberately inciting violence: But in a part of his Jan. 6 speech that Raskin and the other prosecutors always omit, Trump told the crowd to proceed peaceably. Anyway, the charge that Trump deliberately incited violence was abandoned weeks ago when an earlier draft of the Article of Impeachment was amended to drop it: By then, it had become clear that others planned the violence well before Trumps speech. The final version of the Article alleges only that violence was foreseeable.

But Raskin has another ground for claiming the First Amendment doesnt protect Trump: that he was the President of United States and he swore to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution. He had an affirmative binding duty, one that set him apart from everyone else in the country, to take care that the laws be faithfully executed.

You can see where this is going. Anyone who assumes a state or federal office takes an oath to defend the Constitution. If Democrats think your expressed opinions violate that oath, the First Amendment doesnt apply to you. How convenient!

According to the impeachment managers, Trump stirred up violence by saying, first, that he was going to win unless there was election fraud, and, later, that he lost because of election fraud.

To see if this holds water, lets get hypothetical for a moment: Before all the votes were counted, Joe Biden famously told his supporters, Were going to win this race. Now, we know that there were plans for massive street riots throughout the country if Biden lost. If Bidens prediction turned out to be inaccurate and the streets erupted, would the House Democrats have held Biden responsible for the violence?

Next, lets get real: For months last year, state and local officeholders allowed thugs to inflict violence and destruction on a scale that dwarfed the Capitol break-in. Some officeholders even celebrated the events. (Remember Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkans summer of love?)

How many of the House managers called for the removal of those negligent officers? How many supported President Trump when he deployed law enforcement to protect federal monuments from the mobs?

I was amused to note that twice in these proceedings, Raskin felt the need to tell us he is a former law professor. Heres how he did it yesterday:

And this little diversion caught my eye because Ive been a professor of constitutional law in the First Amendment for decades.  Last week, 144 constitutional scholars  released a statement calling the presidents First Amendment arguments, legally frivolous.

Parenthetically, I might note this: The fact that Raskin was a law professor makes even worse his ethical violation in sending a letter directly to an opposing attorneys client (the invitation to testify). But set that aside.

More importantly, theres a dirty little secret about law professors that this writeralso a former constitutional law professor who taught First Amendment lawhereby shares with you: The public letters issued by lists of law professors on controversial political issues usually arent worth a puff of hot air.

One reason is that most law professors work in lefty hothouses where contrary opinions are rare and discouraged. Many hate Trump and will sign anything to hurt him. A second reason is because law professors are notorious among academics for palming off their preconceived political opinions as scholarship. A third reason is that even most constitutional law professors know relatively little about the background, history, and real meaning of the Constitution: They mostly teach and write about court cases.

So forget the law professors. If only Edmund Randolph were here to talk sense to us today!

Robert G. Natelson, a leading originalist scholar, is the author of The Original Constitution: What It Actually Said and Meant and several articles on impeachment. He is a former constitutional law professor and senior fellow in constitutional jurisprudence at the Independence Institute in Denver.

Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times.
Posted Wednesday, February 10, 2021 5:48 pm

On Tuesday evening, the Centralia City Council heard reports, given by four organizations that were allocated CARES Act funds, on how that money was used to help the community through the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Centralia-Chehalis Chamber of Commerce, Lewis County Public Health and Social Services, the Centralia Downtown Association and the Riverside Fire Authority each gave the council an update.

Centralia-Chehalis Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Alica Bull reported that they have been using the funds to purchase and distribute personal protective equipment to local businesses.

Bull said the chamber was able to provide supplies to about 80 Centralia businesses. The supplies included hand sanitizer, gloves, masks, plexiglass dividers, ultraviolet disinfection lights and touch-free thermometers to be used at various businesses such as daycares, funeral homes, dentist offices and assisted living homes.

The value of each box is over $500 a box, so theres a lot of good product in there, Bull said.

Meja Handlen from Lewis County Public Health and Social Services told the council how the CARES Act funds helped the county get the night-by-night shelter up and running. The money provided for the purchase of two sets of washers and dryers that can be used to wash the bedding and clothing of those staying in the shelter.

The night-by-night shelter has been open 98 days now and has served 1,764 persons. That means individuals in a night, coming in, not sleeping in doorways and having a warm, safe place to stay, had the opportunity to launder their clothes, Handlen said.

The other washer and dryer set was placed at The Salvation Army. Handlen shared a story of a single parent who has been living off and on out of their car due to being laid off from their job. The parent contacted the county looking for help to get their child ready to go back to school.

We connected them with the washing facility so the parents went in, washed the students clothes and were very excited when after the first day of school the student said I was excited to be there, my teacher said I looked awesome and I learned a lot,' Handlen said.

She said she was happy the county is able to provide a laundry facility to those who may not have access.

Riverside Fire Authority Fire Chief Mike Kytta told the council how the CARES Act funds, matched with funds from their EMS Levy, allowed them to purchase an automated chest compression system.

This is a device that is used on patients that have experienced a cardiac arrest. In a typical year, we respond to between 20 and 30 cardiac arrests in the city limits alone, Kytta said.

The CPR administered by the automated chest compression system, Kytta said, is superior to CPR administered by response personnel because of the consistency of compressions and for the fact that a machine doesnt get tired.

The Centralia Downtown Association (CDA) used the CARES Act funds allocated to them to provide numerous small business grants to Centralia businesses to develop their website or for social media marketing.

The CDA also distributed 17 grants of up to $5,000 to businesses that showed their financials to prove that they had been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

I will say that it was pretty shocking to see how much money our businesses have lost in the last year. It made me wonder if this $5,000 grant was going to be effective, but I heard over and over again that it really made a difference for people, CDA Executive Director Teri Zambon said.

The CDA also updated its website to show the offerings of Centralia business to provide online shopping.

The organization hired a professional photographer to take photos of the local businesses for the website.

Zambon said that very few businesses in downtown Centralia closed amid the pandemic.

It is really impressive that we have been able to hold our ground. Most cities in Washington are not in this position right now, she said.
Ukraine to take into account European Parliament's recommendations on need to complete reforms in rule of law, good governance, fight against corruption  MFA

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine welcomes the report on the implementation of the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU adopted by the European Parliament and says that Ukraine will take into account the recommendations on the need to complete the initiated reforms, in particular in the areas of the rule of law, good governance and the fight against corruption.

"The report notes that Ukraine has made significant progress in fulfilling its obligations under the Association and Integration Agreement with the European Union. The Ukrainian side will carefully consider the recommendations on the need to complete the initiated reforms, in particular in the areas of the rule of law, good governance and the fight against corruption," the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said in a statement released on Thursday.

The ministry said this report is not only a comprehensive examination by the European Union of the Association Agreement implementation, but also contains important signals across the entire spectrum of relations between Ukraine and the European Union in the context of the further development of political association and economic integration of Ukraine with the EU.

The Foreign Ministry also said that Ukraine is grateful to the European Parliament's MPs for condemning the destabilizing actions of Russia, its military presence in Ukraine, the militarization of Crimea, the illegal actions of the Russian Federation aimed at seizing control over the Kerch Strait, in particular the construction of a bridge without Ukraine's consent.

"The appeal of the European Parliament's MPs is extremely important to release all Ukrainian political prisoners and prisoners of war in Russia, Crimea and in the parts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions not controlled by Ukraine," the Ukrainian foreign ministry said.

In addition, the European Parliament once again stressed that Ukraine has a European perspective and recognized the right of Ukraine, in accordance with Article 49 of the Treaty on the European Union, to apply for EU membership, subject to all Copenhagen criteria and principles of democracy, fundamental freedoms, human and minority rights, as well as ensuring the rule of law.

"Ukraine shares the vision of the European Parliament on the need to update the parameters of the Association Agreement and the EU-Ukraine Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area, taking into account the development of the legal framework, the needs of economic development and the prospects for sectoral integration. The report shows the success of the implementation of the Association Agreement and strong support from the European Parliament regarding the further deepening of Ukraine's integration with the EU," the ministry said.
SENEFFE: A plant in Belgium said to be the cause of big cuts in AstraZenecas COVID-19 vaccine supplies to the European Union said on Wednesday it had produced all doses required under a contract it has with the Anglo-Swedish firm.

The factory, which U.S. firm Thermo Fisher acquired from Novasep in January, has been identified as the cause of the cuts by AstraZeneca in internal meetings, several EU officials have said.

We have complied with all the contractual requirements we have with AstraZeneca," Thermo Fishers vice president for the EU, Cedric Volanti, told a news conference on Wednesday, when asked about possible production problems the plant had faced.

AstraZeneca was not immediately available for a comment.

AstraZeneca on Jan. 15 announced cuts in its supply of vaccines to the EU in the first quarter, which EU officials said amounted to a 60% reduction to 31 million doses through March.

EU officials repeatedly said AstraZeneca had told them the cause of the problem were production issues at the Novasep factory in Belgium, acquired by Thermo Fisher on Jan. 15.

Volanti declined to comment on the number of doses the company has committed to producing for AstraZeneca and underscored that the change of property had had no negative impact on the production capacity of the factory.

When asked whether the Belgian plant, located in Seneffe at an hour drive from Brussels, sold doses to Britain, Volanti said the company sends vaccines to an Italian facility that bottles them before delivering to clients.

EU Industry Commissioner Thierry Breton said he was confident about the production capacity of the Thermo Fishers plant in Belgium.

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
Scientists traditionally search for aliens by listening for radio signals coming from distant planets, but NASA proposes a new method that looks for pollution.

Scientists suggest that if an exoplanet is inhabited by a technological civilization, its atmosphere will be filled with nitrogen dioxide gas (NO2) because 76 percent of NO2 emission on Earth are due to industrial activities, such as burning fossil fuels.

In the new study, the American space agency began by determining if NO2 pollution produces a signal that can be detected with current or future telescopes.

The team found that for an Earth-like planet orbiting a sun-like star, a civilization producing the same amount of NO2 as ours could be detected up to about 30 light-years away.

However, it can only be done with about 400 hours of observing time using a future large NASA telescope observing at visible wavelengths  but the similar amount of time was conducted for the Hubble Space Telescope for the famous Deep Field observations.

Scientists traditionally search for aliens by listening for radio signals coming from distant planets, but NASA proposes a new method that looks for pollution. The team found that for an Earth-like planet orbiting a sun-like star, a civilization producing the same amount of NO2 as ours could be detected up to about 30 light-years away

Ravi Kopparapu of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, said: 'On Earth, most of the nitrogen dioxide is emitted from human activitycombustion processes such as vehicle emissions and fossil-fueled power plants.'

'In the lower atmosphere (about 10 to 15 kilometers or around 6.2 to 9.3 miles), NO2 from human activities dominate compared to non-human sources. Therefore, observing NO2 on a habitable planet could potentially indicate the presence of an industrialized civilization.'

Some 4,000 planets have been discovered to date that are orbiting a star, which could be suitable for life or have been habitable and technological civilizations are living there and thriving.

However, many of these mysterious exoplanets are far away and astronomers can only use powerful telescopes to probe the atmosphere.

Scientists suggest that if an exoplanet is inhabited by a technological civilization, its atmosphere will be filled with nitrogen dioxide gas (NO2) because 76 percent of NO2 emission on Earth are due to industrial activities, such as burning fossil fuels

And that is why NASA wants to look for NO2 in planets' atmospheres.

'A sign of technology on an exoplanet, called a technosignature, could be what's considered pollution here on Earththe presence of a gas that's released as a byproduct of a widespread industrial process, such as NO2,' NASA shared in a statement.

For this study, the team used computer modeling to predict if telescopes could detect the pollution on distant planets.

After discovering NO2 can be identified up to 300 light-years away, NASA then found that stars which are cooler and far more common than our Sun will produce a stronger, more easily detected NO2 signal.

This is because these kinds of stars produce less ultraviolet light that can break apart NO2. More abundant stars increase the chance that an extraterrestrial civilization might be found.

Since NO2 is also produced naturally, scientists will have to carefully analyze an exoplanet to see if there is an excess that could be attributed to a technological society.

Giada Arney of NASA Goddard, a co-author of the paper. 'On Earth, about 76 percent of NO2 emissions are due to industrial activity.'

'If we observe NO2 on another planet, we will have to run models to estimate the maximum possible NO2 emissions one could have just from non-industrial sources.'

' If we observe more NO2 than our models suggest is plausible from non-industrial sources, then the rest of the NO2 might be attributed to industrial activity.'

'Yet there is always a possibility of a false positive in the search for life beyond Earth, and future work will be needed to ensure confidence in distinguishing true positives from false positives.'

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London: Meghan Markle has lashed out at dehumanising journalism after a court ruled her privacy was breached by a British newspaper which published a letter she sent her estranged father.

The summary judgment handed down on Friday (AEDT)means the former actress will avoid embarrassing courtroom testimony from her father, Thomas Markle, in her rolling case against The Mail on Sunday.

The Duchess of Sussex has secured a key victory in her battle against a British newspaper. Credit:AP

The Duchess of Sussex is suing the masthead and its publisher Associated Newspapers for breach of privacy and infringement of copyright over the printing of portions of a handwritten letter she wrote following her 2018 wedding to Prince Harry.

The letter was written after Thomas Markle sensationally joined forces with the paparazzi to stage fake photographs in exchange for cash. She accused her father of causing pain and pleaded for him to stop speaking with the press.

WASHINGTON  Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., ran down a hallway at the U.S. Capitol to escape Trump supporters who violently forced their into the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, new security footage shown during the impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump Wednesday showed.

Schumer and his protective detail came just yards away from the rioters, U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., one of the House impeachment managers, said as video footage played in the Senate chamber. The video was one of many examples of new videos and audio shown during the trial as the managers prosecuting the case against Trump laid out details of the attack on the Capitol and Trump's actions leading up to it.

Schumer spoke to press during a break for dinner Wednesday evening after the video played. He said he thought many senators didn't feel like eating after what they saw.

"The gut-wrenching bravery of our police officers is incredible. It was compelling. And I just hope that our Republican colleagues have an open mind as they look into seeing what we've seen today," he said.

He thanked the Capitol Police officers who protected him.

The video showed Schumer hustling with his detail through the Capitol and then quickly retreating down the same hallway, before police pulled glass doors closed behind them and barricaded them with their bodies.

Like most senators, Schumer was in the U.S. Senate chamber when Trump supporters breached the building.

As video played of the mob gaining access to Senate chamber, showing how close they were to some of the senators in the room, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., looked visibly upset during the trial. She watched with her hand pressed against her forehead for several minutes.

Many senators said they were emotional watching the in-depth recap and graphic videos depicting a violent insurrection that they witnessed and experienced first-hand.

"I mean, it's, every time you see it, it's riveting," said Sen. Mike Braun, R-Ind. "I think I've seen most of it before. But now it's just as kind of hard to take now as it was then."

"It was reliving that day with some additional detail that just reinforces my belief that it was a terrible day for our country and that there's no doubt that it was an attempt to disrupt the counting of the electoral votes," said Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine.

On Jan. 6, senators were locked down in the Senate chamber to keep them safe for a number of minutes before they could safely be moved to a safer place. While they waited, an officer with an orange police sash across his torso stood on the floor with what appeared to be a semi-automatic weapon, positioning himself between then-Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Schumer. Soon after, law enforcement officers hustled McConnell, Schumer and other congressional leaders away to secret, secure locations.

Together in the secure location, McConnell congratulated Schumer for the first time on becoming the Senate's next majority leader, according to a source familiar with the conversation. Earlier that day, two Georgia Democrats won U.S. Senate races giving Democrats 50 seats in the Senate. Then, McConnell and Schumer planned how to resume the certification of the 2020 presidential election results after the building was cleared of rioters.
Owners of bars, restaurants and non-essential shops, as well as museums and cinemas, hope to be able to reopen until 6pm in 17 municipalities in Malaga province (Malaga city, Marbella, Velez-Malaga, Estepona, Coin, Genalguacil, Pizarra, Alameda, Benamocarra, Alfarnate, Cartajima, Casares, El Borge, Farajan, Ojen, Teba and Villanueva de Tapia) from Saturday, as they eagerly await Fridays review of the Covid-19 incidence rate.

This Thursday (11 February), all of the towns had 14-day cumulative incidence rates for Covid-19 of below 1,000 per 100,000 inhabitants, the threshold set by the Junta de Andalucia to order the closure of non-essential business.

The potential return to work comes earlier than expected for some municipalities, after the regional government changed its method of reviewing the infection rates and imposing restrictions this week.

Now the authority will meet once a week with its committee of advisors - on Thursdays (though this week on Friday) - instead of twice, and, when measures have to be taken, these will be reviewed - and lifted when possible - after seven days and not the previous 14. From next week, the measures confirmed on Thursdays will come into force the following Saturday.

The limits for restrictions to come into force remain the same: when a towns 14-day cumulative incidence per 100,000 inhabitants is above 500, its municipal borders are closed, with only justified movements to other towns allowed. This still affects most of the main towns on the Costa del Sol.

The closure of non-essential business, in force once the rate passes 1,000, will could affect only ten towns from Saturday - Villanueva del Trabuco, Canillas de Albaida, Canete la Real, Algatocin, Arriate, Benaojan, Cortes de la Frontera, Montejaque, Ronda and Jubrique.
PORTLAND, Ore.  Oregon's "School Exclusion Day" for child immunizations is fast approaching, and families will need to ensure that their students are current on their shots  whether they are currently learning in person or not.

Exclusion day is February 17, and Oregon requires that students be caught up on their required immunizations to continue attending school or childcare. The fact that many Oregon districts still have only limited in-person learning due to coronavirus adds another wrinkle to the annual requirement.

According to the Oregon Health Authority, schools have the option to block remote learning access for kids who do not have current immunization records as of February 17.

The immunization requirement still applies to the usual list of vaccines, depending on age or grade. Those include the DTaP, Polio, Varicella, MMR, Hepatitis B, Hepatatis B, Hib, or Tdap vaccines. It does not include coronavirus vaccines, which are not currently required or approved for children.

Immunization is the best way to protect children against vaccine-preventable diseases such as whooping cough and measles, said Stacy de Assis Matthews, school law coordinator in the OHA Public Health Division. Just two years ago, we saw several measles cases in the Northwest. We dont want another disease outbreak of on top of COVID-19. Immunizations are the most effective way to stop the spread of measles, to keep kids and school communities healthy and safe."

If a child's school or childcare vaccination records are not up-to-date on February 17  and if they are attending in-person  they will be sent home, OHA said. According to the agency, local health departments sent more than 21,000 letters to parents and guardians last year, informing them of the need for updated immunizations. A total of 3,268 were kept out of school or childcare until the necessary information was turned in.

This year, those letters should have been mailed on or before February 3.

Parents who are seeking immunizations for their children should their health care provider, local public health department, or dial 211 for information. Public health agencies are barred from turning someone away due to the inability to pay for a required vaccine.

Oregon currently allows non-medical exemptions to getting immunized for philosophical or religious reasons, with the requirement that the parent or guardian watch an online educational video or speak to a healthcare provider in order to obtain certification that they have been advised on the risks.

A bill seeking to end non-medical exemptions foundered in the Oregon legislature after a walkout by Republican lawmakers and the resulting deal to secure a major funding bill for Oregon schools.
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, said that the UAE will continue to carry out distinguished diplomatic work and maintain its prestigious position at the regional and international levels.

The UAEs top diplomats statement came as His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai - in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces- announced a cabinet reshuffle affecting Ministerial positions at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, where Khalifa Shaheen Al Marar and Sheikh Shakhbout bin Nahyan Al Nahyan have been appointed Ministers of State, and Dr Anwar Gargash and Zaki Nusseibeh have been appointed as advisors to the President of the UAE, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, a WAM report said.

The President also awarded the Order of the Union to Dr Anwar Gargash for his dedicated work to support the country's foreign policies and strengthen the UAEs diplomatic relations at the regional and international levels. Zaki Nusseibeh was also honored with the Order of the Union for his long cultural and diplomatic career serving the UAE.

Sheikh Abdullah affirmed that both Khalifa Shaheen Al Marar and Sheikh Shakhbout bin Nahyan Al Nahyan have been chosen as Ministers of State due to their experience and outstanding achievements at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

"Al Marar has worked in the diplomatic service since 1978. Sheikh Shakhbout, who is part of the new generation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, has proven his ability by consolidating relations with the brotherly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, to which he served as Ambassador, and for which he was the subject of much praise."

Sheikh Abdullah added: "Their Excellencies will join the other Ministers of State in managing the foreign policies of the UAE, in support of the political positions of the UAE and its relationships with international partners. Together they will work to strengthen the UAEs position and build diplomatic capacity to uphold the interests of the State and its citizens abroad."

He extended his appreciation and gratitude to both Dr Gargash and Zaki Nusseibeh for their outstanding service to "our beloved country", noting that they will now serve the nation through new and important roles, and that the UAE will remain appreciative of their valuable efforts.-- Tradearabia News Service
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Catalan MEP Toni Comin (Junts party) has expressed his displeasure with EU foreign policy representative Josep Borrell, a view shared with a large part of the European Parliament in debates this week, with the Union's relations with Russia being placed under further strain since Borrell's visit to the Kremlin last week.

In a parliamentary session on Tuesday, which for EU technical reasons has only now been published, Comin questions the position represented by the former Spanish Socialist minister Borrell.

He also points out the incongruity of Borrell demanding peace in Yemen, given his political career: "You talk about human rights in Yemen, but in 2019 Spain continued to sell weapons to Saudi Arabia with your endorsement, Mr Borrell, when you were Spanish foreign minister: we have said this time and time again from this chamber: you cannot defend human rights without credibility."

The crises in Yemen and Russia

Comin linked the crisis in Yemen with that in Russia over the Navalni case and concluded, speaking directly to Borrell, who was just a few metres away: "Are you not ashamed to go to Moscow to demand the release of Navalni without speaking about the political prisoners in Catalonia? It is this incongruity that is destroying international respect for the EU as a democratic power. If Russia has humiliated the EU, it is because of its own silence about what is happening in Spain. For how long will you continue to hide behind your role in the EU. Spain is going to lead the European Union to diplomatic disaster and you are the face of that."

While Borrell's facial expression projected a mixture of indifference and astonishment, Comin continued his intervention, ending with a final reproach: "We've had enough of this irresponsibility, commissioner". The EU foreign policy representative met with criticisms from many parliamentarians in the session, which was centred on the question of how to achieve peace in Yemen.

Speaking to the Parliament himself, commissioner Borrell reiterated "that a political solution for Yemen is needed in order to achieve stability" and emphasized European humanitarian aid and the United Nations' "peacemaking efforts". "The EU will help to the limit of our capacities - our role is a modest one," said the European foreign policy chief.

New Delhi, Feb 11 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a charge sheet against five office bearers of the Popular Front of India and its student wing, Campus Front of India (CFI) including arrested National General Secretary of the CFI K. A. Rauf Sherif in connection with its money laundering probe.

This is the first charge sheet filed against the PFI by the ED, which is probing multiple cases against the organisation, in connection with money laundering and the use of such funds in various unlawful activities.

An ED official said that the financial probe agency filed a charge sheet in a Special PMLA court in Uttar Pradesh's Lucknow.

The official said that the court has taken cognizance under PMLA.

The official said that Atikur Rahman, National Treasurer of CFI, Masud Ahmed, Delhi General Secretary of CFI, Sidhique Kappan, a journalist associated with PFI and Mohammad Alam, a CFI/PFI member, were arrested by the UP Police at Mathura while they were on their way to Hathras to disturb communal harmony, incite violence and spread terror.

He said that as the agency was already probing several other cases against PFI, it once again registered a fresh case on the basis of the Uttar Pradesh Police FIR.

The official said that the money laundering probe revealed that the visit of these PFI/CFI members was on the instructions of Rauf Sherif and funds for the same were also provided by him.

Rauf Sharif was arrested by the ED on December 12 last year while he was trying to flee from the country.

The official said, "Probe established that Rauf Sherif entered into a criminal conspiracy with PFI members stationed in Gulf countries to fraudulently transfer money raised abroad by PFI in the guise of payments related to business transactions." He said that the money was laundered through different layers and eventually reached Rauf Sherif and his associates belonging to PFI and CFI.

The official claimed that the 'proceeds of crime' amounting to around Rs 1.36 crore were obtained as a result of criminal activity relating to the offence of criminal conspiracy. Part of it was used by PFI/CFI office bearers or members or activists in India for their continuous unlawful activities which included, but were not limited to, funding of anti-CAA protests, inciting violence and fomenting trouble which led to the Delhi riots in February 2020.

The official added that in the charge sheet the purported visit of PFI/CFI members to Hathras with an intent to disturb communal harmony, incite communal riots and spread terror has been mentioned.

The official said, "Part of the proceeds of crime was projected as untainted money and was used for the purchase of land and was thus parked to enable its future use by PFI/CFI." He claimed, "More than Rs 100 crore have been deposited in the accounts of PFI over the years, and a very large part of the same has been deposited in cash." He said that the source and disbursal of these funds is under investigation.

"The PFI has been continuously indulging in various scheduled offences under PMLA ever since the Narath arms training case of 2013 investigated by the NIA in which members of PFI and SDPI were convicted of "organising a terrorist camp and entering into criminal conspiracy to impart training to the youth in use of explosives and weapons, with an intention to prepare them for terrorist activities," the official said.

He said that the involvement of PFI and its related organisations in the commission of such scheduled offences and the money transfers and cash deposits have significantly increased since the said incident in 2013.

"Further investigation has revealed that PFI has been involved in anti-CAA protests and several PFI members or activists were also arrested by the Delhi Police in connection with their investigation in the Delhi riots case," he said.

The official said that searches conducted at the offices of PFI led to the seizure of incriminating documentary evidence which revealed that PFI has been collecting huge amounts of funds abroad through PFI members or activists specifically appointed for this purpose. Targets for foreign collection of funds have also been fixed.

These funds have been remitted to India through hawala or underground channels and through remittances sent to the accounts of members or activists or office bearers of PFI and related organisations and also to their family members and associates, he added.
A cruise line worker allegedly stabbed to death by her jealous ex-boyfriend after he saw her on a Tinder date with another man was working a secret job arranging sex work for escorts abroad, a court heard today.

Cristina Ortiz-Lozano was knifed 23 times by spurned lover Abdelaziz El Yechioui Ourzat in a 'frenzied' attack after he spotted her enjoying a night out with a partner a month after she dumped him.

Today at Winchester Crown Court, Hants, jurors heard that police found evidence on phones belonging to the 28-year-old that she had been involved in 'putting men in touch with escorts' in France and the Middle East.

Prosecutor Kerry Maylin said Miss Ortiz-Lozano, who worked for Norwegian Cruise Lines in Southampton, owned several mobile phones which had been used to arrange 'sex work'.

Cristina Ortiz-Lozano, pictured, had been involved in 'putting men in touch with escorts' in France and the Middle East

Ourzat, pictured on CCTV, stalked his former girlfriend while she was out on a Tinder date, the court was told

A jury has been told that Ourzat had been caught on CCTV 'hiding in the shadows' outside a pub where Miss Ortiz-Lozano had gone with a man she had met on the popular dating app

She said: 'Miss Ortiz Lozano was involved in arranging escorts for men in France, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Yemen.

'There were images of women in revealing garments and conversations about escort and sex work.'

She added that the phones included lists of women's names, prices and locations.

A jury has been told that Ourzat had been caught on CCTV 'hiding in the shadows' outside a pub where Miss Ortiz-Lozano had gone with a man she had met on the popular dating app.

He then allegedly trailed the couple as they returned to her house before following her inside and stabbing her 23 times with a kitchen knife while her date waited outside.

The jury also heard today how Ourzat had been treated for stab wounds at Southampton General Hospital.

The 30-year-old told police following his arrest that Miss Ortiz-Lozano stabbed him first before he killed her.

Ms Maylin said Ourzat had suffered three stab wounds to the left hand side of his chest and two stab wounds to the right hand side of his neck, but that none of his injuries were 'life threatening'.

Ms Maylin also told the court that Ourzat, who worked as a baggage handler at the city docks, had been receiving treatment for depression and anxiety since March 2019 and began seeing a psychiatrist after his dog died around that time.

She said he had been taking anti-depressant medication since March and was still taking this in September, at the time of the killing.

The jury has heard that the couple met at school in Spain and had been together for about 12 years before Miss Ortiz-Lozano ended the relationship.

But she 'couldn't deal with his volatility and his drunkenness' any longer after Ourzat, who is of Moroccan descent, was arrested for drink driving in August 2019, the court heard.

When Spaniard Miss Ortiz-Lozano told Ourzat to leave, he went on a rampage around the house, damaging the bedroom and bathroom they shared, ripping light fixtures and radiators out of the walls, the jury was told.

Ourzat allegedly trailed the couple as they returned to her house before following her inside and stabbing her 23 times with a kitchen knife while her date waited outside

Police at the scene in Portswood, Southampton, Hants where Cristina Ortiz-Lozano was killed

He was arrested for criminal damage and then allegedly breached his bail by sending her emails in which he called her a 'b****' and a 'wh**e'.

Following the breakup, Miss Ortiz-Lozano met 30-year-old hotel receptionist Vincente Breso-Biosca on Tinder and went on a date with him in September 2019 to Sprinkles ice cream parlour and the Giddy Bridge pub in Southampton.

But while sat outside the pub, he said his date's face changed 'drastically' and she seemed scared like 'somebody terrified of an animal'.

'She said she had seen her ex-boyfriend and wanted to leave immediately,' he said.

Ms Maylin showed the jury CCTV images of Ourzat watching the couple as they sat outside the pub and stalking them on their walk home. She said he was 'hiding in the shadows' so that they did not see him.

Mr Breso-Biosca said that Ourzat was 'outside on the street, waiting for her' when they got back and followed her inside her house while Mr Breso-Biosca waited outside.

The court heard how he heard Miss Ortiz-Lozano scream so ran inside the house to find her laying on the kitchen floor with Ourzat on top of her with one hand on her throat and one hand grabbing a knife.

Ourzat told police he was stabbed first by Miss Ortiz-Lozano before he killed her. The court heard how he was treated for three stab wounds in his chest and two in his neck at Southampton General Hospital following his arrest.

He denies murder but admits manslaughter by diminished responsibility.

The trial continues.


A French religious worker who survived COVID-19 celebrated her 117th birthday on Thursday.

Sister Andre is a nun who lives in a retirement home in the southern city of Toulon. She also is believed to be the worlds second-oldest person.

A spokesman for the retirement home, David Tavella, said Sister Andre tested positive for COVID-19 in the middle of January. She was separated from others at the home, but experienced few signs of the disease. Her survival story made news across the world.

Sister Andre, whose birth name is Lucile Randon, was to take part in a celebration with a small number of people at the home. Tavella said plans called for a big meal and a special religious observance in her honor.

Some of Sister Andres family members were also expected to join a video call with her. Its a big day, Tavella said. She is in great shape. I went to see her this morning. She is really happy. She wanted me to tell her the (plan) for the day again, he added.

The meal was to include some of Sister Andres food favorites, including a special chicken dish and Baked Alaska for dessert. All of it washed down with red wine, because she drinks red wine, Tavella said. Its one of her secrets of longevity.

As for loading up the cake with candles, Tavella said they had stopped trying that a long time ago. Because even if we made big cakes, Im not sure that she would have enough breath to blow them out. You would need a fire extinguisher.

Tavella added that when people around the world started talking about Sister Andres story, he realized it was because we all need a bit of hope at the moment.

Sister Andre was born on February 11, 1904. She survived two World Wars. The Gerontology Research Group confirms details about people thought to be 110 or older. The organization lists her as the worlds second-oldest living person. The oldest person on the list is Japans Kane Tanaka, who turned 118 on January 2.

When recently asked if she had been scared to have COVID-19, Sister Andre told Frances BFM television, No I wasnt scared, because I wasnt scared to die. She added: Im happy to be with you, but I would wish to be somewhere else -- join my big brother and my grandfather and my grandmother.

Im Bryan Lynn.

The Associated Press and Reuters reported on this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the reports for Learning English. Mario Ritter, Jr. was the editor.

We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page.

___________________________________________________________

Words in This Story

nun  n. a woman who is a member of a religious community and who usually promises to separate from the rest of society in order to serve God

positive  adj. in a medical test, positive means the person being tested has a disease or condition

dessert  n. a sweet food that is eaten after the main part of a meal

longevity  n. living for a long time

candle  n. a long shaped piece of wax with a piece of string in the middle that produces light as it slowly burns

extinguisher  n. a device containing water or other substances that is designed to put out a fire

scared  adj. frightened or worried
Last summer, as the COVID-19 pandemic surged and any work environment that wasnt deemed essential shut down, Jersey City native and founder of the SALT Foundation, Claudia Wheeler, was meeting the virus economic fallout head-on in the form of a drive-thru pantry.

The SALT Foundation has been providing fresh healthy food to those struggling with food insecurity since before the pandemic, and has become a major and ongoing provider to the network of community fridges in Jersey City. Earlier this week by phone, Wheeler recounted the lessons she learned as she was providing food to those in need.

Doing the food distributions and the drive-thrus that Ive done, I was actually asked the question, What is it that you look at or what do you use as a way to say, Okay, yes, Im going to give this person food or No, Im not going to give certain people food, Wheeler said.

But Wheelers vision wasnt trying to sift through cars in a food giveaway drive-thru. Food insecurity is pretty much everywhere, she said.

Across class, across demographics. The (coronavirus economic fallout) did something not just to those who are already at a deficit, it did something to those who are several levels higher as well, Wheeler said. Even though I work along with several food banks, sort of piggybacking off of what they do, I think Im getting more into the nitty-gritty of whats out there and whats needed  those who are just so insecure with their food and just needing someone thats within the community in the trenches with them pretty much to just help them without judging; not needing to see their identification, not needing to see anything but you just have a need, you just have a family to take care of, and this takes off the table having to pay out for it.

During those days where supermarkets were limiting the number of people who could be in a store, Wheelers drive-thrus allowed people who were afraid to have contact with other people get food.

And of course they couldnt see my big smile behind my mask, but they saw it in my eyes.

Wheelers smile, along with the food her foundation is helping to distribute, reflects a key part of her foundations mission. Shes not just trying to feed people. Shes also an educator, and in a world where a sense of community is often lacking, shes trying to stoke it.

Salt is actually a preserver from the beginning. Way before refrigerators, the way to preserve anything was to use salt. And part of what I want to make sure happens is not only the community is preserved, but the family and the individual is preserved.

Whats worth preserving is also part of what a well-rounded education entails, and Wheeler recognizes the role education plays in that process being more widespread.

Education is not just the academics, she said. Math, reading, social studies  thats not the only part of education that an individual would need.  Its building around the whole person. Whats healthy to eat? How do you help one another? How do you make our community better? How do you keep the streets clean? Everything. Its a big, big picture.

As Wheeler and SALT have risen to the challenge of constantly helping to stock Jersey Citys community fridges  Once we fill it up, its pretty much gone. Mutual aid is definitely needed, and I hope other communities try to do it as well  its always done with the most nutritious food they can get.

I could easily go just anywhere as a 501c3 and just say, Give me what s left over so I can help those in the community, Wheeler said. But partners like Trader Joes, Wegmans and N.J. farms that take part in gleaning (where a percentage of what is grown every year is given to the community, Wheeler said) -- all of these entities help to not only provide communities with food, but ... you want to keep them healthy as well.

Why would I want to give them something that is pretty much slowly deteriorating them because of how its processed or whats processed in it? Wheeler said.

Wheeler herself is someone wholl have a French fry from McDonalds. But I choose to make sure for myself and my own family, we eat as healthy as possible. And for what I would for myself, my body and my family, I want to do for my community  the families in my community, the individuals in my community.

To learn more about the SALT Foundation, including news on upcoming food giveaways and ways you can donate or help, visit http://www.thesaltfoundationinc.org/.

Update, Feb. 13: Tomorrow, Feb. 14, SALT will be giving out free bags of healthy food in Teaneck at the First Seventh-Day Adventist Church, 405 East Englewood Ave. The giveaway begins at 1:30 p.m. until all supplies are distributed. Follow SALTs website and social media feeds for updates on healthy food giveaways scheduled on Feb. 21 in Somerset and Feb. 27 in Jersey City.
BOOK OF THE WEEK

We Are Bellingcat

by Eliot Higgins (Bloomsbury 20, 272 pp)

The desk sergeant Phil Esterhaus in the classic Eighties cop TV series Hill Street Blues would famously end each morning roll call with a warning to his officers as they headed out onto the streets of New York: 'Hey, let's be careful out there.'

These days every one of us needs to heed that as we switch on our computers and launch ourselves onto the internet.

One of the sadnesses of the modern world is that the invention that was supposed to open up endless possibilities for information and enlightenment has turned into a dark place of fake news and destructive conspiracy theories, a swamp in which it is easier to sink and drown than to find solid, reliable ground.

A glimmer of light is offered by an international collective of investigators and researchers who go by the odd name of Bellingcat  founded by an Englishman, Eliot Higgins, with nothing but a laptop in the front room of his home in Leicester just seven years ago.

Eliot Higgins, 42, (pictured) was a college dropout with no specialist training as a techie but ended up revealing the details of the Novichok poisonings

He became convinced that the truth can be ferreted out from the infinite spaces of the internet if only you know where and how to look  and, most importantly, if you refuse to take anything at face value, but demand corroboration and proof on every controversial statement and claim you come across.

The liars, the propagandists, the naysayers, the cheats and bullies can be beaten, but it takes eternal vigilance and transparency to do so.

In this absorbing and challenging book explaining his mission, he acknowledges that 'the digital era is viewed as a wrecking ball, smashing journalism, civility and politics'. But, he asserts, with a breath-of-fresh-air confidence: 'At Bellingcat, we do not accept this cyber-miserabilism. The marvels of the internet can still have an impact for the better.'

Higgins, 42, was a college dropout with no specialist training as a techie or a journalist, but, bored by his undemanding office job, filled his time first with online gaming and then, drawn to the intricacies of international affairs by the 9/11 attack on the Twin Towers, with obsessively surfing the net. 'News was happening so fast,' he recalls. 'I wanted to know more.'

He began trawling news blogs and chat sites, message boards, podcasts, search engines, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and so on. From a plethora of openly available sources, he was discovering details about world events  notably the civil war in Gaddafi's Libya and the so-called Arab Spring  that conventional journalism often missed. From these sources he could construct what was happening as if he were there  a war correspondent operating from his own living room.

Salisbury Novichok poisoning suspects Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov are shown on CCTV on Fisherton Road, Salisbury on 4 March 2018

He tweeted out his findings, posted them on message boards and published them on a blog, picking up followers who then joined him in his digital detection, creating what he calls 'my community of fact-finding obsessives'.

One particularly valuable technique he used was 'geolocation' which, put simply, matches features shown on a video, such as a distinctive building or a road configuration, with the satellite image view on Google Earth. With this technique, the team were able to show with certainty that it was a Russian missile, not a Ukrainian one, that in 2014 brought down a Malaysian Airlines passenger jet over Ukraine.

Scanning through endless hours of video footage posted on the internet by ordinary Russian soldiers inadvertently disclosing their whereabouts, they eventually tracked the movement of the mobile missile launcher from its base in Russia to the place where it was fired. The proof of Russian culpability brought outrage from the Kremlin, and attempts to undermine Bellingcat's credibility.

The Russia Today TV channel cast aspersions on Higgins personally, describing the rise of citizen reporters like him as 'a dangerous trend'. Higgins's reply was unequivocal. 'They are right. We are dangerous to those who falsify evidence.'

Far from backing off, he formed Bellingcat into a proper organisation, crowd-funded by donations from research institutions and sympathetic supporters. It has a small number of paid staff but a network of volunteers, with no political agenda but bound together by a simple credo. As Higgins puts it: 'Evidence exists and falsehoods exist, and people still care about the difference.'

At first, Bellingcat's reach remained fairly limited, but then came its big breakthrough: it outed the Kremlin secret agents who, in 2018, poisoned Russian exile Sergei Skripal and his daughter with the nerve agent Novichok on British soil.

There was an international outcry after the attack in the quiet cathedral city of Salisbury  it left the Skripals fighting for their lives in hospital and led to the death of a local woman, Dawn Sturgess. But for six months Scotland Yard was unable to come up with hard evidence, while smug Moscow protested its innocence.

Eventually the British police unveiled surveillance camera images of two burly Russian men arriving at Gatwick Airport, travelling by train from London to Salisbury and loitering outside the Skripals' house. They were named as Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov.

We Are Bellingcat by Eliot Higgins (Bloomsbury 20, 272 pp)

The Kremlin threw up its hands in mock horror. These men were nothing more than tourists. On Russian television, all doe-eyed, they explained that they were salesmen for a sports-nutrition company and had gone to Salisbury to gaze in awe at its world-famous, 123-metre cathedral spire. It was as if Vladimir Putin, Russia's leader, was flicking two fingers at Britain.

For Higgins and co, this was a red rag to a bull. With just the two men's faces to go on, they set out to use their specialist skills to discover who they really were. Digging deeper than ever before, vital clues turned up in a leaked database of flight manifests showing the details of the two passengers who had flown into Britain.

Their passport numbers were suspiciously only three numbers apart, suggesting they were recently made fakes. The two had also claimed on television that their trip to Salisbury was a long time in the planning. Yet the manifest showed they had booked their Aeroflot flight to London only the night before they left.

Deeper and deeper Bellingcat went, mining every possible lead, until eventually the truth came out. 'Petrov' and 'Boshirov' were not the innocent tourists they claimed to be, but Alexander Mishkin, a military doctor, and Colonel Anatoliy Chepiga of the GRU, Russian military intelligence. Not spire-admirers at all but spies, sent by Putin to take out Skripal for daring to defy the Kremlin.

Predictably, Moscow rubbished the identifying of the hit squad, but the rest of the world had little doubt who to believe.

It was a major victory for the mice over the predatory cat, a fulfilment of the promise contained in Bellingcat's odd name: its origins are an ancient fable about the mice who protected themselves from a marauding cat by fixing a bell around its neck so they would always know it was coming.

'Be warned' is its message to the powerful and the corrupt around the world of whatever political persuasion. Bellingcat is on your tail, wringing out the lies and ringing out the truth.
COVID-19 testing information for west-central Illinois counties:

Morgan County

Jacksonville

Days and times: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 10 a.m.-1 p.m. (Note: No testing this week because of inclement weather.)

Location: Drive-through testing site located at the intersection of Dunlap Court and Morgan Streets.

Details: No appointment necessary. Photo ID and insurance card requested but not required.



Brown County

Mount Sterling

Days and times: By appointment.

Location: Brown County Health Department, 120 E. Main St. 217-773-2714

Details: Testing eligibility determined by telephone screening.



Cass County

Beardstown

Days and times: Monday-Friday 9-11:20 a.m.

Location: Cass County Health Department, 8590 St. Lukes Drive. 217-323-2182

Virginia

Days and times: Monday-Friday 1-3 p.m.

Location: Cass County Health Department, 331 S. Main St. 217-452-3057

Details: Testing by appointment only and is limited to those who live or work in Cass County. Schedules subject to change.



Greene County

Carrollton

Days and times: By appointment. Open seven days a week.

Location: Boyd Rural Health Clinic, 800 School St. 217-942-3600

Details: Testing performed if medically indicated, pre-op with doctors order, or return to work. Must call and leave message with name and callback number.



Jersey County

Jerseyville

Days and times: By appointment.

Location: Jerseyville Community Hospital Walk-in Clinic, 903 S. State St. 618-498-2273

Details: Testing performed if medically indicated.



Macoupin County

Gillespie

Days and times: By appointment.

Location: Maple Street Clinic, 109 E. Maple St. 217-313-5078

Details: Drive-through free testing. Register by phone or online at mcphd.net.



Pike County

Pittsfield

Days and times: By appointment.

Location: Quincy Medical Group, 320 N. Madison St. 217-277-4001

Details: Testing performed if medically indicated.

.

Days and times: Monday-Saturday 7 a.m.-7 p.m.

Location: Illini Express Clinic, 101 E. Washington St. 217-277-3504

Details: Testing performed if medically indicated. Register upon arrival.



Scott County

Winchester:

Days and times: Mondays and Fridays 9-11 a.m. (Note: No testing this week because of inclement weather.)

Location: Scott County Health Department, 335 W. Cherry St.

Details: Schedule subject to change. See Facebook page for updates.
Offer widely oversubscribed: 2.5 times the total amount of the capital increase

Strong support from French and international leading shareholders and investors

Regulatory News:

MedinCell (Paris:MEDCL) (FR0004065605 MEDCL), a clinical stage pharmaceutical company developing a portfolio of long-acting injectable products in various therapeutic areas (the "Company"), is today announcing the successful completion of its 29.8 million capital increase via a placement with French and international qualified investors through an accelerated bookbuilding process (the "Offering

Bryan, Garnier Co. Limited1 and ODDO BHF SCA are acting as Joint Global Coordinators and Joint Bookrunners.

Buoyed by very strong interest during the book building process, the capital increase was priced at a modest discount of 8% to the closing price of the Company's shares on the Euronext Paris regulated market on February 10, 2021 and accounted for 10,9% of the Company's share capital through the issuance of 2.414.255 new shares.

"We are sincerely grateful to all the investors who have again placed their trust in us and to those who have just joined us. We have completed with great success a capital increase on what we regard as highly favorable terms, with a small discount respecting the interests of all our shareholders", stated Christophe Douat, CEO of MedinCell."We are excited about continuing to expand and ramp up our portfolio and further developing our people-centric pharma model that aims at having a real impact on patient health around the world.

"These new resources will boost our solid cash position, which amounted to 27.5 million at September 30, 2020, and provide a major opportunity to step up the pace of our development ventures," added Jaime Arango, Chief Financial Officer of MedinCell."They will cover the Company's funding requirements out to mid-2023.

Summary of the rationale behind the Offering

The proceeds from the issue are intended to provide the Company with additional resources for the purposes of:

funding formulation and R&D activities along with pre-clinical and clinical trials for several of the Company's programs in various therapeutic areas such as organ transplantation, pain management, prevention (prophylaxis) of Covid-19 and its variants, and animal health;

accelerating development of its technological platform for other applications; and

covering the Company's general corporate purposes.

Principal terms and conditions of the Offering

The gross proceeds of the Offering totaled 29.8 million.

MedinCell issued a total of 2,414,255 new ordinary shares, each with a par value of 0.01, to qualified investors pursuant to article L. 411-2(1) of the French Monetary and Financial Code in accordance with the 22nd resolution voted by its Combined Shareholders' Meeting on September 10, 2020. The order book was higly covered (2.5x) as a result of strong demand from institutional investors, french and International, who were already shareholders (notably Credit Mutuel Innovation) or not.

The new shares accounting for around 10.9% of the Company's share capital on an undiluted basis prior to the Offering were issued by order of the Company's Management Board pursuant to and within the limits of (i) the authorization of the Company's Supervisory Board granted to the Management Board in the context of the Offer and (ii) the delegation of authority granted by the Company's shareholders' meeting to the Management Board at the date of this press release.

The issue price of the new shares was set at 12.33 per share, representing a discount of 8.0% to the closing price (13.40) of MedinCell shares on February 10, 2021.

For illustrative purposes, a shareholder holding 1% of MedinCell's share capital prior to the launch of the Offering would now own 0.902% interest.

To the best of the Company's knowledge, the Company's ownership structure before and after completion of the Offering is as follows:

MedinCell's ownership structure on an undiluted basis Pre-Offering Post-Offering Number of

shares share

capital Voting rights voting

rights Number of

shares share

capital Voting rights voting

rights Nguyen family 4,044,524 18% 8,089,048 22% 4,044,524 16% 8,089,048 21% Total Management Board Supervisory Board F. Sturtz 1,934,655 9% 3,869,156 11% 1,934,655 8% 3,869,156 10% Employees 950,154 4% 1,867,367 5% 950,154 4% 1 867 367 5% Credit Mutuel Innovation 1,469,452 7% 2,364,020 7% 1,526,224 6% 2,420,792 6% BNP Paribas Developpement 1,066,358 5% 2,003,684 6% 1,090,688 4% 2,028,014 5% Funds managed by Seventure Partners 1,106,989 5% 1,106,989 3% 1,106,989 4% 1,106,989 3% Former employees, consultants and affiliates 5,381,712 24% 10,700,961 30% 5,381,712 22% 10,700,961 28% Other registered shareholders 80,878 0.4% 80,878 0% 80,878 0% 80,878 0% Treasury shares 10,555 0.1% 0% 10,555 0% 0% Total Free float including: 6,142,936 28% 6,142,936 17% 8,476,089 34% 8,476,089 22% Mirova 2,074,432 9% 2,074,432 6% 2,074,432 8% 2,074,432 5% TOTAL 22,188,213 100% 36,225,039 100% 24,602,468 100% 38,639,294 100%

Admission to trading of the new shares

The new shares will rank for dividends immediately and will be admitted to trading on the Euronext Paris regulated market under the same ISIN code FR0004065605 MEDCL. Settlement-delivery of the new shares and their admission to trading on the Euronext Paris regulated market are scheduled for February 15, 2021.

Standstill commitment

MedinCell has entered into a 90-day standstill commitment from the settlement-delivery date of the Offering, subject to the customary exceptions, restricting its ability to issue any new shares during said period.

MedinCell has today notified shareholders party to the shareholder agreement of July 13, 2018 (the "Agreement"), who currently hold 55% of the Company's share capital, that the co-ordinated disposal procedure provided for by the Agreement has been suspended for a maximum period of 30 days.

Underwriting of the Offering

The Offering has not been underwritten. That said, the Offering is covered by a placement agreement between the Company, Bryan, Garnier Co. Limited2 and ODDO BHF SCA acting as Joint Global Coordinators and Joint Bookrunners.

The placement agreement may be terminated by the Joint Global Coordinators and Joint Bookrunners at any time up to (and including) the settlement-delivery date of the Offering, scheduled to be February 15, 2021, subject to the customary terms and conditions for this type of agreement.

Should the placement agreement be terminated in accordance with its terms, all investor orders placed as part of the Offering would be null and void.

Prospectus

In accordance with article L. 411-2(1) of the French Monetary and Financial Code, no prospectus requiring the AMF's approval will be issued concerning the Offering.

About MedinCell

MedinCell is a clinical stage pharmaceutical company that develops a portfolio of long-acting injectable products in various therapeutic areas by combining its proprietary BEPO technology with active ingredients already known and marketed. Through the controlled and extended release of the active pharmaceutical ingredient, MedinCell makes medical treatments more efficient, particularly thanks to improved compliance, i.e. compliance with medical prescriptions, and to a significant reduction in the quantity of medication required as part of a one-off or chronic treatment. The BEPO technology makes it possible to control and guarantee the regular delivery of a drug at the optimal therapeutic dose for several days, weeks or months starting from the subcutaneous or local injection of a simple deposit of a few millimeters, fully bioresorbable. Based in Montpellier, MedinCell currently employs more than 130 people representing over 25 different nationalities.

Disclaimer

This press release contains forward-looking statements that relate to the Company's objectives. While the Company considers such forward-looking statements to be reasonable, such forward-looking statements are based solely on the current expectations and assumptions of the Company's management and involve risk and uncertainties, which may result in different outcomes than those contained in the forward-looking statements.

This press release and the information contained herein are only for information purposes and do not constitute an offer to sell or subscribe to, or a solicitation of an offer to buy or subscribe to, shares in the Company in any country, including France.

The distribution of this press release may be subject to legal or regulatory restrictions in certain jurisdictions. Any person who comes into possession of this press release must inform him or herself of and comply with any such restrictions, and as the case may be, to abide by such restrictions. This press release does not, and will not, constitute an offer nor an invitation to solicit the interest of public in France.

This announcement is an advertisement and not a prospectus within the meaning of regulation (EU) 2017/1129 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 June 2017 (the "Prospectus Regulation

In France, the offering of the Company's securities as described above will be carried exclusively through an offer to the benefit of qualified investors, as defined in Article 2(1)(e) of the Prospectus Regulation and in accordance with article L. 411-2 (1) of the French Monetary and Financial code (code monetaire et financier) and applicable regulatory provisions. No prospectus will require to be approved or subject to approval from the AMF (Autorite des Marches Financiers).

With respect to Member States of the European Economic Area other than France (the "Member States"), no action has been taken or will be taken to permit a public offering of the securities referred to in this press release requiring the publication of a prospectus in any Member State. Therefore, such securities may not be and shall not be offered in any Member State (other than France) other than in accordance with the exemptions of Article 1(4) of the Prospectus Regulation or, otherwise, in cases not requiring the publication by MedinCell of a prospectus under Article 3 of the Prospectus Regulation and/or the applicable regulations in such Member State.

In the United Kingdom, this press release has been prepared on the basis that any offering of the Company's securities in the United Kingdom will benefit from an exemption under Regulation (EU) 2017/1129, which is part of UK law under the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (the "UK Prospectus Regulation"), regarding the obligation to publish a prospectus for offerings of the Company's securities. This press release is not a prospectus within the meaning of the UK Prospectus Regulation.

This press release and the information it contains are being distributed to and are only intended for persons who are (i) investment professionals falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the "Order"), (ii) high net worth entities and other such persons falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order ("high net worth companies", "unincorporated associations", etc.) or (iii) other persons to whom an invitation or inducement to participate in investment activity (within the meaning of Section 21 of the Financial Services and Market Act 2000) may otherwise lawfully be communicated or caused to be communicated (all such persons in (i), (ii) and (iii) together being referred to as "Relevant Persons

This press release is only being distributed to Relevant Persons and any person who is not a Relevant Person should not act or rely on this press release or any of its contents. Any invitation, offer or agreement to subscribe, purchase or otherwise acquire securities to which this press release relates will only be engaged with Relevant Persons.

This press release and the information it contains are not intended to be distributed, directly or indirectly, in the United States of America and do not, and will not constitute an offer to subscribe for or sell, nor the solicitation of an offer to subscribe for or buy, securities of MedinCell in the United States of America. Securities may not be offered or sold in the United States of America absent from registration or an exemption from registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), it being specified that the securities of MedinCell have not been and will not be registered within the U.S. Securities Act. MedinCell does not intend to register securities or conduct a public offering in the United States of America.

This press release may not be published, forwarded or distributed, directly or indirectly, in the United States of America, Canada, Japan or Australia. The information contained in this document does not constitute an offer of securities for sale in the United States of America, Canada, Japan or Australia.

1 Acting via Bryan Garnier Securities SAS.

2 Acting via Bryan Garnier Securities SAS.

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A Northern Ireland council has written to MLAs, saying that Stormont should cover the costs of TV licences for pensioners.

Last year the BBC confirmed plans to end free TV licences for most over-75s. It means more than three million households - including around 75,000 in Northern Ireland - have had to start paying the 157.50 fee.

Only those receiving Pension Credit benefit are exempt.

The motion was proposed at a meeting of Fermanagh and Omagh council by independent councillor Donal O'Cofaigh.

He said: "This tax on our elderly guarantees income by their need to have a television. It adds further financial hardship, particularly given those who are housebound and doubly impacted by Covid-19 restrictions which have left many alone, isolated and without communication or engagement."

The motion called on the Executive to adopt a similar approach to the transition from Disability Living Allowance to Personal Independence Payment, by providing matched funds of any loss.

While acknowledging the issue sprang from Westminster, Mr O'Cofaigh added: "Absent any movement, we need Stormont to act. The cost would be an estimated 20m, and that's a lot, but over 200m is unspent and likely to go back to London.

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"In the overall Stormont budget 20m would be relatively small, but the impact would be huge many elderly people are already choosing between heating or eating. Some won't be able to pay and could potentially fall into legal threat."

Seconding, independent councillor Emmet McAleer said: "It's a vast amount for senior citizens but a relative drop in the ocean for Stormont. With the money in line to be returned to the Treasury, I don't think it's a major ask. Hopefully, we can instigate this."

Sinn Fein's councillor Sheamus Greene said his party in totally in favour of free television licenses for over 75s, but expressed concerns that the motion asked the Executive: "To take 20m out of their budget to subsidise the BBC, I find that an extraordinary ask."

UUP councillor Alex Baird said that after Westminster withdrew the initiative, the BBC were forced to pick up the tab.

"They now can't afford it so somebody's going to have to pay. It should be Westminster and maybe that's the direction we should go. But half a loaf is better than no bread and if the over-75s end up getting free TV licences, we can lobby Westminster subsequent to that."

Mr O'Cofaigh added: "Westminster has undermined our older people and the only weapon we have to change that is Stormont. They have the power to take this on.

The motion passed unanimously and Councillor O'Cofaigh urged other councils to follow Fermanagh and Omagh's lead.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-10 21:28:48|Editor: huaxia

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Representatives from Chinese Embassy, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to Ethiopia, Ethiopian National Disaster Risk Management Commission pose for group photos at the donation ceremony in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Feb. 10, 2021. The Chinese government on Wednesday donated much-needed humanitarian assistance in support of the WFP operations in the East African country. The donation, comprising 4,000 metric tonnes of maize, is said to cover food ration for about 268,000 Internally Displaced People (IDPs) in Ethiopia's drought-prone Somali regional state, it was noted. (Xinhua/Michael Tewelde)

ADDIS ABABA, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese government on Wednesday donated much-needed humanitarian assistance in support of the United Nations World Food Program's (WFP) operations in the East African country.

The donation, comprising 4,000 metric tonnes of maize, is said to cover food ration for about 268,000 Internally Displaced People (IDPs) in Ethiopia's drought-prone Somali regional state, it was noted.

Paul Turnbull, Deputy Country Director of WFP to Ethiopia, said as the Somali region is where most of WFP's responsibilities for relief operations lay, "it's very, very important that we maintain our contributions into the Somali region."

Noting that the food distribution in the region has just started in the first week of February, Turnbull commended China's support to the WFP's humanitarian operations in the country.

"I would like to thank China for the interest in WFP's activities in Ethiopia. This has been received over a few years," he said, adding that "we would like to thank you for this recent contribution as well as the contribution that's being distributed at the moment."

According to figures from the WFP, over the past five years, China's contribution to the WFP has enabled the purchase of about 13,000 metric tonnes of food in Ethiopia.

Zhao Zhiyuan, Chinese Ambassador to Ethiopia, said that the Chinese government has donated about 16 million U.S. dollars to the WFP's Ethiopia operations since 2015, including the latest 2 million U.S. dollars food assistance program.

"As the Chinese saying goes - when disaster strikes, help comes from all sides. WFP Ethiopia has done a lot to resolve food shortage for the stressed population," Zhao said.

He also emphasized that China is Ethiopia's major development partner as well as a firm supporter of WFP's operations.

"China will continue its good working relations with WFP and other international organizations, and the Ethiopian government to promote long-term development of Ethiopia and improve people's lives," the ambassador added.

The latest donation by the Chinese government is said to have come at a critical time as the WFP faces a funding shortfall, and urgently requires about 325 million U.S. dollars to maintain operations in Ethiopia from March to August 2021.

Tadesse Bekele Fanta, Senior Disaster Risk Management Advisor at the Ethiopian National Disaster Risk Management Commission (NDRMC), also hailed China's humanitarian support to the Ethiopian people.

"The People's Republic of China has been very supportive to the people of Ethiopia in terms of addressing the humanitarian caseload," Fanta said.

According to Fanta, Ethiopia is presently "in a very critical situation," in which about 12 million people are at a higher risk of possible need of humanitarian support.

Conflict, drought and seasonal floods have contributed to internal displacement in Ethiopia's Southeastern Somali regional state and elsewhere. The WFP provides food to about 1.1 million IDPs across the country. Enditem

Cafe owners have sparked outrage after serving up a bowl of Shreddies drenched in orange juice and topped with squirty cream.

In a bizarre TikTok video, twins Alan and Gary Keery, who co-own London's Cereal Killer Cafe, show how to take your breakfast to the 'next level'.

The hipster cafe, famed for serving bowls of classic American cereals that cost up to 7.90, was a popular location for those looking to indulge in bowls of breakfast within the confines of a 90s themed setting.

Since lockdown forced its closure, the pair have been sharing unique cereal combinations on the social media site, including Coco Pops with small balls of cream cheese and milk, or making a latte out of the cereal.

In one video, they share their unique combination with Shreddies as they pour the cereal into a bowl.

Twins Alan and Gary Keery, who co-own London's Cereal Killer Cafe, have been sharing unique cereal combinations on the social media site and in one clip replaced the milk on their Shreddies with orange juice

Instead of pouring milk on top, they instead add orange juice, explaining: 'We all know that some cereals taste better with orange juice.'

And they don't leave it there. They then proceed to serve the breakfast with a dollop of Anchor squirty cream.

They continued: 'Try adding some cream and turn this normal bowl into a tasty dessert.'

At the end of the clip, they dig into the Shreddies, ensuring all three elements are on the spoon.

And they don't leave it there, topping the breakfast food with a pile of Anchor squirty cream, saying: 'Try adding some cream and turn this normal bowl into a tasty dessert'

At the end of the clip, they dig the spoon into the 'dessert', scooping a bit of all three elements of the unique combination

TikTok users were outraged at the suggestion of mixing orange juice, cream and cereal, with one saying: 'How do I un-watch this.'

Another said: 'I would rather pass away,' while a third wrote: 'I might be sick.'

Another user added: 'No - just when I thought it wouldn't get worse, you added whipped cream.'

TikTok users were outraged at the suggestion of mixing orange juice, cream and cereal, with one saying: 'How do I unwatch this' [sic] and another saying: 'No - just when I thought it wouldn't get worse, you added whipped cream'

One TikTok user said: 'mixing dairy and orange juice? yeah no.'

Others weren't convinced the recipe was serious, with one saying: 'This has to be a joke, surely,' and another adding: 'Uhhh this is satire right.'

Another simply asked: 'You ok?'

But one wasn't so opposed to the idea, commenting: 'I feel like this isn't right but I'm gonna try it anyway.'

Others weren't convinced the recipe was serious, with one saying: 'This has to be a joke, surely,' and another adding: 'Uhhh this is satire right'

Another wasn't so opposed to the idea, commenting: 'I feel like this isn't right but I'm gonna try it anyway'

In July, Alan and Gary Keery, co-founders of the cafe, confirmed that their two establishments in Brick Lane, Shoreditch, and Camden, have permanently closed after the Covid-19 crisis rendered their business 'not financially viable'.

In a statement on Facebook the brothers said: 'After 5.5 years we will be saying Cheerio to our Cafes, for now.

'After a long period of closure due to Coronavirus, and with the future of the hospitality industry looking very uncertain, we have made a decision that our Cafes on Brick Lane and Camden will not reopen their doors.

But it's not all bad news, you can still buy all the awesome unique and hard to find Cereal we are famous for on our website. Cereal Killer will carry on as an online store selling the world's best boxes of Cereal, we also have loads of toppings and a Cereal subscription box for the cereal super fan.'

Co-founders of London's Cereal killer cafe, Alan and Gary Keery (pictured), announced that they will be shutting down their two venues in Brick Lane, Shoreditch, and Camden in July

When they first opened, the cafe was challenged for selling basic bowls of cereal for 3.20 just a stones throw away from the borough of Tower of Hamlets- one of London's poorest areas.

Meanwhile other bowls, which included extras like marshmallows, were selling for as much as 7.90.

In an interview on Channel 4 in 2014, co-founder Gary Keery was asked by a reporter on the news channel whether he thought it was a lot to charge for a bowl.

The restaurateur seems surprised by the question, responding: 'I think it is quite cheap for the area'.

When challenged by the interviewer, who pointed out that the cafe was in one of the poorest parts of London , Mr Keery justified the extraordinary cost, explaining that many of the brands were 'imported from America'.

The brothers opened their first Cereal killer cafe in Brick Lane (pictured is the interior of the cafe in Brick Lane), Shoreditch, in 2014

In 2015, the cafe was vandalised by members of an anti-gentrification protest - because of its position in one of London's poorest boroughs.

Just a few years later in 2018, the cafe fell foul of hygiene inspectors who said a 'major improvement' was needed to improve the establishment's one star health and safety rating.

Inspectors looking into restaurants and cafes in Tower Hamlets said the cafe had to take action to 'ensure food sold or served is safe to eat' after it gave it a very low one on the 'scores on the doors' system.

Speaking about the rating at the time Alan Keery said the cafes score had been due to a leaky kitchen roof.

He told The Docklands and East London Advertiser: 'We had the rating when we relocated to our new Brick Lane site, and due to a leak when the premises was vacant, it caused the kitchen ceiling to crack. This was resolved and we are waiting on a new inspection.'

By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 02/11/2021



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host Chris Harrison has apologized for defending Matt James ' frontrunner Rachael Kirkconnell , who has come under fire for liking offensive social-media material and alleged racist behavior in her past, "in a manner that perpetuates racism."Following a tense Tuesday interview with the first Black ette star, Rachel Lindsay , on Extra in which Harrison tried to defend Kirkconnell and dismiss the allegations that have been attached to her for about six weeks, Harrison has issued an apology.Harrison took to Instagram on Wednesday and wrote, "To my Bachelor Nation family -- I will always own a mistake when I make one, so I am here to extend a sincere apology. I have this incredible platform to speak about love, and yesterday I took a stance on topics about which I should have been better informed.""While I do not speak for Rachael Kirkconnell , my intentions were simply to ask for grace in offering her an opportunity to speak on her own behalf," Harrison continued."What I now realize I have done is cause harm by wrongly speaking in a manner that perpetuates racism, and for that I am so deeply sorry."Harrison also apologized to his "friend" Lindsay "for not listening to her better on a topic she has a first-hand understanding of."He proceeded to "humbly thank the members of Bachelor Nation who have reached out to me to hold me accountable.""I promise to do better," host concluded.The Kirkconnell controversy began shortly after premiered in early January when a TikTok user named Maddy Bierster accused Kirkconnell of bullying her in high school for dating Black men.Kirkconnell was subsequently additionally accused by other fans of cultural appropriation and liking photos with offensive and racist content on Instagram, such as a friend standing in front of a house displaying the Confederate flag.And earlier this month, photos emerged of Kirkconnell with her sorority sisters attending an antebellum plantation-themed "Old South" fraternity formal at Georgia College & State University back in 2018.Reality Steve spoiler blogger Steve Carbone reposted two photos from the party February 5 on Twitter and tweeted how this was "unacceptable" and "wildly ignorant" of Kirkconnell to do.Lindsay asked Harrison to address the social-media controversy during his Tuesday interview with Extra, and Harrison took a strong stance in Kirkconnell's defense and ultimately dismissed the heavy backlash against Matt's Season 25 frontrunner."I haven't talked to Rachael about it. This is where we all need to have a little grace, a little understanding, a little compassion," Harrison began."Because I have seen some stuff online -- this judge, jury, executioner thing where people are just tearing this girl's life apart and diving into her parents and her parents' voting record. It's unbelievably alarming to watch this."Harrison continued in his interview, "I haven't heard Rachael speak on this yet. And until I actually hear this woman have a chance to speak, who am I to say any of this?"In regards to the Old South party Kirkconnell apparently attended, Harrison said, "I saw a picture of her at a sorority party five years ago and that's it. Like, boom.""'Okay, this girl is in this book now and she's now in this group.' And I'm like, 'Really?'"In response to Harrison, Lindsay countered, "The picture was from 2018 at an Old South antebellum party. That's not a good look. It's not a good look.""Well, Rachel, is it a good look in 2018 or, is it not a good look in 2021?" Harrison argued. "Because there's a big difference.""It's not a good look EVER," Lindsay insisted. "She is celebrating the Old South. If I went to that party, what would I represent at that party?"Harrison noted that he didn't disagree with Lindsay on that, but he went on to explain his perspective."You're 100 percent right in 2021. That was not the case in 2018," Harrison said."And again, I'm not defending Rachael. I just know that, I don't know, 50 million people did that in 2018. That was a type of party that a lot of people went to. And again, I'm not defending it. I didn't go to it."Harrison told Lindsay that people aren't "looking under the same lens" in 2021 as they were several years ago."My guess? These girls got dressed up and went to a party and had a great time, they were 18 years old. Now, does that make it okay? I don't know Rachel, you tell me," he explained, adding, "Were we all looking through [that lens] in 2018?"Lindsay called that "the problem.""You're right -- we weren't looking through those lenses and we should have been, and just because it was a popular party doesn't necessarily make it right," Lindsay noted.Harrison said Kirkconnell probably hasn't spoken on the controversy yet because "you can't please everybody," and he recalled seeing something "that said this person is a registered Republican, therefore they are 'this.' And I'm like, 'Whoa, whoa, whoa!'"Lindsay acknowledged "that's ridiculous" and then Harrison continued, "We have to be so careful when we start labeling people.""The woke police it out there, and this poor girl Rachael, who has just been thrown to the lions, I don't know how you are equipped when you've never done this before to be woke enough, to be eloquent enough, to be ready to handle this. And my guess is, this woman needs a little time," Harrison suggested."We don't give people time to have some perspective and try to drink this in for a second and see how it affects their lives and then speak on it. She will speak, my guess, and when she does, I'm going to hear her out."Lindsay said Kirkconnell allegations surfaced six weeks ago when Matt's season premiered and she hasn't said a word yet."Reasonable people aren't on social media, and that's what you're dealing with," Harrison said.Lindsay pointed out that Kirkconnell dating a Black man adds complexity to the situation."Where is the narrative of her falling in love with Matt? Where is that in this social conversation we're having?... When you are trying to react to something on social media, there is no grace. There is no understanding... It does not matter what Rachael says or does," Harrison shared.When asked whether franchise will speak on the issues, Harrison admitted that burden belongs to Kirkconnell first."We're not in the business of dealing with every problem that you have. That's not how this works. We don't have the time of day to handle everything that people come up with on social media," Harrison said.He added, "Rachael will have her time to speak... and I will push her. I will make it uncomfortable. I will try to hold her feet to the fire as much as I can, and then you guys will be the judge and the jury and figure out where everything falls after that."A fan later tweeted about the interview and wrote, "@TheRachLindsay is so generous and giving to this franchise. We do not deserve her."The former attorney and Season 13 ette star replied, "My days are numbered."franchise has been under scrutiny for its lack of diversity for years, with Lindsay often speaking out publicly about the issue and holding the show and its production accountable.Matt was named the first Black star in 25 seasons of the series in June 2020 after Lindsay publicly expressed her dissatisfaction about franchise's lack of diversity and her status as its only Black lead in 18 years of broadcast in a blog post earlier that month.However, ABC subsequently insisted the network already picked Matt as 's Season 25 star before Lindsay expressed outrage over the franchise's lack of diversity."It wasn't a response to that," ABC reality chief Robert Mills said. "We could have made this announcement earlier or later." Click here to read what Matt James had to say about the allegations against Kirkconnell. Click here to read spoilers on how far Kirkconnell made it on Matt's edition.Interested in more news? Join our The Bachelor Facebook Group
The tussle between Maharashtra governor and the Uddhav Thackeray government was again out in the open on Thursday when Bhagat Singh Koshyari was denied permission to use the state government aircraft to fly to Dehradun.

The governor waited for over two hours at the Mumbai airport lounge, then 15 minutes in the aircraft before the captain informed him that the permission to fly had not been received yet, following which Koshyari booked a commercial flight to Uttarakhand.

Sources said that the governor's office had informed the government about the visit a week ago, and the permission not coming in yet was "quite unusual".

Reacting to the controversy, deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar said that he does not know whether the governor was given air service or not, but he will go to the Ministry to get the information.

A major war of words broke out between the Maharashtra governor and CM Thackeray last year in October over the reopening of places of worship in the state, which had been shut since March in the wake of lockdown following coronavirus. Koshyari had written a sarcasm-filled letter calling the chief minister a "votary of Hindutva who had turned secular".

Earlier in April, the governor had refused to accept the state cabinet's recommendation to nominate Thackeray to the state legislative Council. Thackeray was facing a constitutional issue as he had to get elected to either of the two houses of legislature within six months of swearing in as the CM.

Koshyari was often seen taking a tough stand on issues and differing with the state, sometimes even summoning officials. He refused to accept state's decision to not hold examinations for final-year students. He met actor Kangana Ranaut who complained to him against Sena-ruled civic body's move to demolish parts of her office. He also met a retired naval officer who was assaulted by Sena workers for circulating a post against CM on social media.
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Rajya Sabha MP Kesava Rao's daughter was elected as the 17th mayor of Greater Hyderabad after the elections were held at 12:30 pm on Thursday for the posts of mayor and deputy mayor. Less than a month before the election, the BJP wrested, albeit by the narrow margin of 1,079 votes, the Dubbaka Assembly seat from the ruling TRS in a byelection that was held along with the 2020 Bihar Assembly election. The TRS had won the seat by a huge margin in 2018.

According to a local media report, the GHMC has 150 wards but it encompasses 20 per cent of the total seats in the Telangana Assembly  24 of 119 seats. The boundaries of the GHMC are also spread across five of the States 17 Lok Sabha seats: Seven Assembly segments each from the Hyderabad and Secunderabad Lok Sabha seats, five segments from the Malkajgiri, three from the Chevella, and one from the Medak constituency. In the 2019 Lok Sabha election, the BJP led in seven out of these 23 segments.

GHMC has made elaborate arrangements for conducting the oath ceremony and mayoral elections. All members have been asked to follow Covid-19 protocol. A total of 193 electors, including 149 ward members and 44 ex-officio members will elect the Mayor and Deputy Mayor.

All the 150 newly elected councillors of the city Corporation will be sworn in at the Council hall.

There has to be a quorum of 50 per cent, or 97 members, to conduct the polls. Whichever candidate secures more votes will be elected as the Mayor. The whole process will be video-graphed, a report in the New Indian Express stated.

If the election cannot happen due to the absence of a quorum, the meeting would be postponed for an hour by the president officer. If the same happens after an hour, the meeting will be held on the next day, the report further said.

BOSTON , Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Sappi North America, Inc., a leading producer and supplier of diversified paper, packaging products and pulp, today announced that its Ultracast Viva release paper is nominated for the Green Product Award 2021 in the fashion category. Over a thousand applicants from 51 countries were screened for this year's nomination, which will award companies and start-ups that have distinguished themselves by their sustainable practices and product results.

Ultracast Viva is a textured release paper made specifically for high-fidelity PVC, PU, semi-PU and solvent-free casting systems that are used in the manufacturing of coated fabrics. This first-of-its-kind product embodies Sappi's forward-looking sustainability practices in alignment with the company's global goals for environmentally-friendly manufacturing.

"We're thrilled to have been selected as a nominee for this industry-leading award," said Mark Hittie, Director of Release Strategy at Sappi North America. "We are committed to pushing the industry forward through sustainable product innovation. Ultracast Viva was designed to further support new production practices in the textile industry, and we're proud to offer products that allow customers to meet heightened sustainability standards."

With Sappi's nearly 80 years of experience creating textures, Ultracast Viva brings to market performance improvements that are more compatible than ever with green chemistry systems, including benefits from its reduced curl, increased reusability and easier handling with expanded temperature limits. The production of this texture is designed for companies who are invested in using sustainable options to create release paper and materials.

"Ultracast Viva release paper is a good example for the level of quality and passion our nominees are contributing to a more sustainable future," said Nils Bader, Director of the Green Product Award.

Since 2013, the Green Product Award has honored those products and services that promote sustainable innovation. Over 45,000 votes have already been cast for the Green Product Audience Award, where the winner is decided by a public vote. Voting will remain open until Feb. 14. To vote for Ultracast Viva, please visit https://www.gp-award.com/en/produkte/ultracast-viva.

Winners will be announced at the Green Products Award ceremony during the digital show and congress from April 14-16, 2021.

To learn more about Sappi North America, please visit www.sappi.com. For information about the Green Product Award visit www.gp-award.com/en/gpaward.

About the Green Product Award

The international Green Product Award is rewarding products and services, good in design, innovation and sustainability since 2013. The aim of the award is to share good examples for the public and to provide feedback and networking opportunities for the participants. The Award showcases 11 categories of Architecture & Tiny Houses, Building Components, Circular Materials, Consumer Goods, Fashion, Handicraft, Interior & Lifestyle, Kids, Mobility, Sport and Workspace.

The Green Concept Award  held in cooperation with IKEA-Stiftung - strictly focuses on concepts, materials and prototypes, not on the market yet. The yearly nominees represent the upcoming trends of sustainable innovations.

About Sappi North America, Inc.

Sappi North America, Inc., headquartered in Boston, is a market leader in converting wood fiber into superior products that customers demand worldwide. The success of our three diversified businesses  high-quality graphic papers, pulp, and packaging and speciality papers  is driven by strong customer relationships, best-in-class people and advantaged assets, products and services. Our high-quality graphic papers, including McCoy, Opus, Somerset, and Flo, are the key platform for premium magazines, catalogs, books, direct mail and high-end print advertising. We are a leading manufacturer of dissolving pulp with our Verve brand, a sustainable fiber, which is used in a wide range of products, including textile fibers and household goods. We deliver sustainable packaging and speciality papers for luxury packaging and folding carton applications with our single-ply packaging brands, Spectro and Proto, and for the food and label industries with our specialty papers, LusterPrint and LusterCote. We are also one of the world's leading suppliers of casting and release papers with our Ultracast, PolyEx and Classics lines for the automotive, fashion and engineered films industries. Customers rely on Sappi for high technical, operational and market expertise; products and services delivered with consistently high quality and reliability; and, state-of-the-art and cost-competitive assets and innovative spirit.

SOURCE Sappi North America, Inc.

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Bindi Irwin is experiencing unexpected heartache ahead of the arrival of her first child, a daughter, with husband Chandler Powell.

The Wildlife Warrior, 22, revealed her distress about a member of Australia Zoo undergoing 'life-saving surgery' in a post to Instagram on Thursday.

'Today I got to spend time with beautiful Kate the koala,' the soon-to-be first-time mother wrote alongside a picture of the marsupial on a ventilator.

Oh no! Bindi Irwin (right) shared her heartbreak on Thursday, ahead of the arrival of her first child with husband Chandler Powell

'She arrived at our Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital after she was attacked by a dog.

'The team discovered that she had severe injuries to her torso, preventing her from breathing properly.

'After receiving life-saving surgery to repair her injuries, she is now recovering in the Intensive Care Unit.'

Bindi then detailed Kate being a mother to 'a little joey in her pouch', which she 'bravely protected' from the dog attack.

'Today I got to spend time with beautiful Kate': The Wildlife Warrior revealed her distress about a member of Australia Zoo undergoing 'life-saving surgery' in a post to Instagram on Thursday

Touching: Bindi (pictured), who will soon give birth to her first child with husband Chandler, then detailed Kate being a mother to 'a little joey in her pouch'

'Now Kate and her baby will remain in care until they are ready to return to the wild. Please send good vibes as they continue to heal,' she wrote.

Her heartbreaking post comes just weeks before Bindi is expected to give birth to her first child, a daughter, with 24-year-old Chandler.

The couple announced their pregnancy news five months after they got married at Australia Zoo in March 2020.

Just married: Bindi and Chandler (left) announced their pregnancy news five months after they got married at Australia Zoo in March 2020

Bindi posted a photo of her and Chandler on Instagram where they were holding up a baby-sized version of their Australia Zoo outfits.

'Baby Wildlife Warrior due 2021. Chandler and I are proud to announce that we're expecting! It's an honour to share this special moment in our lives with you,' she wrote.

'Though I'm still in my first trimester, we really want you to be part of our journey from the beginning of this new life chapter. We couldn't wait to share the news as this beautiful little being has become the most important part of our lives.'
NEW DELHI : Delhi-based vaccine maker Panacea Biotec Ltd is in advanced talks with Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) to manufacture the Sputnik V vaccine, two people aware of the discussions told Mint on condition of anonymity.

The management of Panacea and RDIF are in the process of finalising the final contours of the deal. All important details like number of doses that Panacea will manufacture and technology transfer are being discussed," one of the people cited above said.

The Russian company is gearing up to soon start technology transfer for the two-dose vaccine, and vaccines produced by the Indian company could be sold in both domestic and export markets, the person said.

The Sputnik V vaccine involves two shots using two different human adenovirus vectors that transport the spike protein gene of the novel coronavirus to the cells. The jabs are given three weeks apart.

RDIF chief executive officer Kirill Dmitriev has said that he expects Indian manufacturers to produce about 300 million doses or more of Sputnik V in 2021.

Panacea Biotecs pact will be in addition to the one RDIF signed with Hetero Group in November for the Hyderabad-based company to produce 100 million doses per year.

Panacea Biotec managing director Rajesh Jain declined to comment on the matter, while queries sent to an RDIF spokesperson on Tuesday evening were unanswered at the time of publishing. Sputnik V has the highest efficacy for vaccines that will be available in India with an interim efficacy of 91.6%.

Dr Reddys Laboratories, which is the commercialisation partner of RDIF in India, plans to approach the Drugs Controller General of India V.G. Somani next month to seek an emergency use licence. Dr Reddys is currently conducting a phase 2 and 3 bridging study aimed at showing that the vaccine will work in India just like it does in Russia, where the original developer Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology is conducting the phase 3 trial, which showed an interim efficacy result of 91.6%.

Unlike Hetero, which is repurposing its biologics facility to produce the vaccine, Panacea Biotec already has dedicated facilities. Drug substances for bacterial, viral and recombinant vaccines are made at Lalru in Punjab, while vaccine formulations, which are finished products, are made at Baddi in Himachal Pradesh.

The Baddi plant has a capacity to package 600 million vaccine doses per annum, making the company one of Indias largest vaccine manufacturers. Unlike other Indian vaccine makers, Panacea Biotec has so far been quiet in terms of covid-19 vaccines. The company had in June signed a pact with US-based Refana Inc for global development, manufacturing and distribution of a whole inactivated virus-based covid-19 vaccine, similar to Bharat Biotechs Covaxin. But the partnership was terminated due to delays in project timelines and difficulty in moving ahead with the joint venture", the company said two months later.

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The International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague ruled Feb. 5 that despite Israeli objection it can investigate alleged war crimes perpetrated in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Since then, Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi has been busy calling his counterparts across the globe. He is campaigning relentlessly against the ruling.

Shortly after the decision, Ashkenazi published a harsh reaction, stating that it turns the ICC into a political tool of anti-Israeli propaganda. "We call upon all nations that value the international legal system, and object to its political exploitation, to respect the sovereign rights of states not to be subjected to the Courts jurisdiction. The State of Israel will take every necessary measure to protect its citizens," he added.

A first public opportunity came on Feb. 8, when Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias arrived in Jerusalem, to conclude an agreement with Israel over mutually opening frontiers for people vaccinated against the coronavirus. Diplomatic sources confirmed that the issue of the ICC was discussed at length in the private meeting between the two ministers.

The same evening, Ashkenazi spoke over the phone with Secretary of State Anthony Blinken. Ashkenazi did not need to convince Blinken. Shortly after the ruling, State Department spokesman Ned Price made it clear that the United States objects to it, reminding everyone that Israel is not a state party to the Rome Statute. "We will continue to uphold President Biden's strong commitment to Israel and its security, including opposing actions that seek to target Israel unfairly," tweeted Price.

After the phone call with Blinken, Ashkenazi tweeted, "I thanked him [Blinken] for the administrations public support of Israel in the face of the outrageous decision by judges of the ICC. I emphasized to the Secretary of State that the tribunal's decision is fundamentally wrong, discriminatory, and that it jeopardizes the rare opportunity to promote peace in our region."

Later that day, Ashkenazi spoke with German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas. "I emphasized the severity with which Israel views the decision of the judges of the International Criminal Court. I made it clear that the decision damages the prospects for promoting peace, and strengthens extremists in the region," tweeted Ashkenazi.

The next day, Ashkenazi continued hammering his anti-ICC message. On his list were Canada, Hungary and Cyprus. Ashkenazi congratulated newly appointed Canadian Foreign Minister Marc Garneau for taking up office, and thanked him for his countrys support on the ICC issue. He then spoke with Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto. "I thanked him [Szijjarto] for Hungarys position regarding the wrong decision of the judges of the ICC," he tweeted. Last but not least, Ashkenazi spoke with Cypriot Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikos Christodoulides, who is set to travel to Israel on Feb. 14. Ashkenazi will then get yet another public opportunity to bring up the issue.

The phone calls to Haas and Szijjarto paid off. "Our legal view on jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court regarding alleged crimes committed in the Palestine territories remains unchanged: The court has no jurisdiction because of the absence of the element of Palestinian statehood required by international law," said Haas. The Hungarian minister reacted in the same way. Similar to Israel, Hungary does not agree with this decision. During the legal procedure we already signaled that, according to our position, Palestine does not have criminal jurisdiction over Israeli citizens. We have always supported Israels right to defend itself. We believe that peace in the region can only be achieved through negotiations based on mutual respect. The decision of the ICC does not take us closer to this," said Szijjarto.

Feb. 10 was the tour of Australia and the United Kingdom. Ashkenazi thanked Australian Minister of Foreign Affrairs Marise Payne for "Australia's clear and decisive stance that the decision of the ICC is fundamentally wrong." With British Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs Dominique Raab Ashkenazi "made clear Israels total opposition to the decision of the ICC."

Clearly, Ashkenazi started his diplomatic campaign the easy way, by calling Israels traditional allies. Germany and Hungary had already expressed last year their objection to the ICC judging Israel. Ashkenazis test will be when he contacts those who support the ICC stance. Still, Ashkenazis engagement in this campaign is to his credit. The foreign minister had already announced he will not run in the March 23 elections, so he could have taken a more relaxed course of action. Clearly, even on his way out, Ashkenazi does not want an investigation by the ICC opening on his watch.
Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) speaks on the first day of former President Donald Trump's second impeachment trial in Washington on Feb. 9, 2021. (Congress.gov via Getty Images)

House Democrats Wrap Up Impeachment Argument, Say Trump Should Be Convicted

House Democratic impeachment managers wrapped up two days of arguments on Thursday, making the final case that former President Donald Trump should be convicted in his impeachment trial.

We humbly, humbly, ask you to convict President Trump for the crime for which he is overwhelmingly guilty of. Because if you dont, if we pretend this didnt happen, or worse, if we let it go unanswered, whos to say it wont happen again? House impeachment manager Rep. Joe Neguse (D-Colo.) said in his closing remarks.

When President Trump stood up to that podium on January 6, he knew that many in that crowd were inflamed, were armed, were ready for violence. It was an explosive situation. And he knew it, Neguse said, without providing evidence of how Trump could have known.

The former presidents attorneys are scheduled to make their arguments against his impeachment starting on Friday.

Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), the lead impeachment manager, thanked members of the Senate for the close attention they paid to the trial and said the protestors breached the Capitol building on Jan. 6 on behalf of Trump.

Senators, America, we need to exercise our common sense about what happened. Lets not get caught up in a lot of outlandish lawyers theories here. Exercise your common sense about what just took place in our country, Raskin said, likely referring to arguments that Trumpbecause he doesnt hold office any longercannot be convicted in an impeachment trial.

House Impeachment manager David Cicilline (D-R.I.) speaks on the Senate floor in Washington on Feb. 10, 2021. (congress.gov via Getty Images)

The argument that a former president cannot be convicted slated to be a centerpiece of Trumps lawyers arguments Friday. His attorneysBruce Castor and David Schoenare also expected to say that Trumps speech to protesters on Jan. 6 was protected under the First Amendment. At one point, the former president told them to make their voices heard peacefully and patriotically.

Earlier in the week, Schoen and Castor received blowback from some conservatives, including Republican senators, for how they laid out their arguments.

But despite this, the Senate trial is widely expected to result in Trumps acquittal as the Senate needs 67 votes to convict.

Trump, for his part, has been unusually silent during the trial. The former presidents social media accounts were banned in the days following the Capitol breach and he has made few public statements, instead relying on his attorneys to make arguments for him.
Last year, Palm Springs proved that the time-loop conceit from Groundhog Day still had some laughs in it. The Map of Tiny Perfect Things shows its a perfectly fine pretext for teenage treacle.

Adapted by Lev Grossman from his 2016 short story, the movie begins with its timeline already on repeat. Mark (Kyle Allen), a 17-year-old aspiring art student, has found that foreknowledge hasnt gotten him any closer to a date. Then one day  or, technically, that day  he spots Margaret (Kathryn Newton), clearly out of place at the public pool he knows well. Shes stuck in the same loop. And better to loop together than loop alone.
Bollywood actor Sara Ali Khan has been signed as the first brand ambassador of an online beauty brand and her fans just can't keep calm. In a recent BTS video released by Purplle.com, the diva gets all chatty and speaks about how she found her perfect match, referring to the brand.

The video was released as a part of the brand's recent campaign #GoPurplle where Sara reveals the wide range of products offered by brand along with its two-day-no-questions-asked Return Policy. The campaign is based on the brand's core principle of 'Beauty for All'.

Purplle.com offers about 6,000 authentic make-up products and 5,000 natural and exotic products -- all below the range of Rs400, making it cheap and affordable for all. It also offers free delivery to customers on their first order.

Talking about Sara Ali Khan as the brand ambassador, Purplle.com co-founder and CEO Manish Taneja said that the actress "exemplifies the confidence and determination of a strong new-age woman". He went on to say that Sara is a role model to young girls who look up to her as a fashion icon.

"With a robust communication plan, Purplle will reach the heartlands of India to take its vision forward, the company said.
State House, Freetown, Wednesday 10 February 2021 - Deputy Head of Mission to the Federal Republic of Germany, Madam Fatmata Kargbo, has taken leave of His Excellency President Dr Julius Maada Bio at State House.

She said she is humbled by the appointment to serve the country abroad and thanked President Bio for the confidence reposed in her to serve again. She assured of a cordial working relationship with her boss, the head of mission, to ensure the best out of the mission.

President Bio congratulated the new deputy head of mission and encouraged her to effectively represent the country and the head of state, citing her experience as a basis for growth and success.
Local students, teachers and parents have spent nearly a year trying to deal with a pandemic.

Most Americans have never encountered such an interruption in education. But 92-year-old Oswald Anders of Midland remembers something at least as traumatic while growing up in Nazi Germany.

Germany was losing the Second World War in 1943 when Oswald, today a resident of Kings Daughters Home in Midland, was drafted into the army at age 15.

Like a pandemic that does not discriminate in the selection of its victims, Oswald was swallowed up into an army support unit with the rest of his school classmates. He said most of the students were already 16 years old, but he was barely 15.

One month after my 15th birthday, I was drafted, he told the Daily News in a phone interview from Kings Daughters.

So, Anders and his friends were sent from their hometown of Karlsruhe, Germany, to a location near Vienna. They were trained to operate the anti-aircraft guns that brought down Allied planes attempting to bomb a nearby German chemical plant.

Anders duty was to assist the radar operator, and he did so for many months away from home, family and school.

But education did not stop completely. Anders said his teacher also was drafted, named a corporal and, in addition to leading the student-soldiers, tried to continue their education.

We would have class out in an open field, weather permitting, Anders said.

A blackboard was set up, and students mostly studied chemistry and physics. But it wasnt easy maintaining concentration in the outdoor classroom. Besides dealing with the weather, Oswald said there was always a chance an alarm would signal an incoming wave of bombers, and the students would have to rush to operate their huge 88 mm cannons.

If the attacks came at night, then the students would be too tired the next day to participate in schooling.

Anders said many students also were more interested in news they could pick up about the happenings back home, and how the war was progressing, than in concentrating on science lessons.

For a year and a half, Anders was a young soldier, obligated to defend the nation as Germanys war machine was stopped and turned back. Like most German cities, his hometown was bombed and left in rubble.

The war ended in May 1945, but it took years for life to return to normal. Anders was discharged just before the advancing American, British and French forces crossed the Rhine River and began to occupy western Germany.

But education for a 16-year-old, once again, took a back seat to something else  finding food.

Anders said he spent many days on his bicycle looking for food packages left behind by American soldiers. Many soldiers simply opened up their bricks of rations, took out the cigarettes, and tossed the other items on the ground.

He said he found many of those abandoned parcels and took the leftover cans and boxes of food back home.

I would cruise the city on my bicycle, he recalled.

In the months after the German surrender, he said virtually every able-bodied resident helped with the manual labor of clearing the town of rubble. The task of clearing the ruins took months, and even years in the larger cities.

You have to imagine that my hometown, especially the downtown, was one big field of rubble. Everybody who had hands was collaborating on this effort to some degree.

Normal school also was slow to return, as the Allies wanted to make sure that teachers were screened, and Nazis were no longer leading classroom instruction.

In 1945, Anders finally found a way to further his education. The teen was accepted into an American military student program.

They put me in touch with a student at St. Johns College in Maryland, Anders said.

While Anders was unable to maintain much of a formal education, he was urged to follow a St. Johns tradition to read 100 great books by great authors and to report his findings to a proctor. The liberal arts college still maintains 100 books on a reading list that it insists are fundamental to growing ones overall knowledge.

Anders began looking for the books in his fathers library and anywhere else in Karlsruhe that he could find them.

Aristotle, Homer, Plato, Ptolemy  those were the authors that Anders was seeking out.

So, I started picking up books in the library. Then I just read probably 20 or so, he said.

Anders later received a scholarship to study at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. He also attended the University of Michigan for an advanced degree and began a 30-year career as a research scientist at The Dow Chemical Co.

He and his wife, Edith, eventually raised three sons in Midland.

But to this day, the St. Johns reading list and the message of its authors receives plenty of credit from Anders.

He was so impressed with those books that he insists that students of Midland enduring todays pandemic would reap similar benefits  if theyre looking for an additional way to supplement their learning.

The message is to find ways to become an educated person, he said. These great books go all the way into modern times.
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New Delhi:

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday asked the political parties to isolate those seeking an escape route by dubbing action against graft as a political conspiracy. He apparently indicated the recent graft cases against leaders of the Trinamool Congress and RJD.



Action against corrupt politicians is a must, PM Modi said while addressing an all-party meet ahead of the Monsoon Session of Parliament beginning on Monday.



"When the law takes its course against those who loot the nation, then we have to unite against those who seek an escape route by dubbing such an action as a political conspiracy," the PM Modi tweeted.

ALSO READ: PM Modi asks states to take stern action against cow vigilantes, says no one can take law and order into their own hands



Every political party should disassociate itself from corrupt leaders, PM Modi said. For the past few decades, the reputation of the political class has been at stake due to the behaviour of some politicians, he added.



The Prime Minister said, "We will have to assure the people that not all politicians are tainted." His remarks came at the backdrop of TMC and RJD dubbing action against their leaders over alleged corruption.



Opposition parties have often alleged that successive governments have used the CBI and other agencies as a political tool to arm-twist political rivals.



With PTI inputs.

ALSO READ: Court rejects plea for CBI probe against PM Modi for alleged inaction on charges of corruption

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Two new businesses  a pharmacy and a barber shop  opened in downtown Freeland this week, each filling what their owners believe is a niche, while a third new business plans a March opening.

Freeland Pharmacy opened at 617 Centre St., where Vercuskys Pharmacy operated until 1979.

Jim Laputka, chairman of the Freeland Business Development Authority, said Freeland Pharmacy owner Harshil Patel has eight others in eastern Pennsylvania, including three in Hazleton.

He is full service, but primarily a delivery store, Laputka said. He hired three local people  a pharmacist, and a counter and delivery people.

Patel said his delivery service is free, as are his bingo packs in which pharmacy personnel separate a persons prescriptions into their individual doses. Patel said he came to Freeland to fulfill a need.

The delivery is free, and there are no tips for the drivers, Patel said. We had quite a few customers from Freeland coming to our Hazleton stores. We came to know there was only one pharmacy in Freeland.

The stores opening, which happened Monday, was held up by COVID-19, fulfilling state regulations and insurance, Patel said. The new stores phone number is 570-526-2400. It will be open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday to start, but once it gets busy, then well go with more people and expanded hours, Patel said. Next week we will be doing COVID testing, and soon, we will have the vaccine.

Laputka said Patel has rented three spaces in the Freeland Park-A-Lot year-round for his customers and help.

He has given the Freeland Police and Freeland Fire Department several hundred masks and supplies for the virus, Laputka said. Hes the kind of entrepreneurish person that any community would want to bring in and make welcome. Hes already signing up customers.

Patel owns and operates the former Yocums pharmacies on Broad Street and Church Street in Hazleton, and another pharmacy on Juniper Street, as well as one in Berwick and four in the Lehigh Valley.

Romes Barber Shop

Freeland has a new barber shop at the corner of Centre and Main streets. Romes Barber Shop opened Tuesday owned by Akbar Burgos.

I named it after my grandson, Burgos said. I was inspected on Friday, and opened Tuesday. I came into this town and I noticed they didnt have a barber shop. I felt it was something that was needed.

He said he sees seniors citizens who have to travel to Hazleton or Wilkes-Barre by bus.

(They) cant come back until a certain time because of (bus) schedules, he said about the inconvenience.

The shop is open from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday for people who want to get a haircut early, before they go to work.

Call 570-709-4026 for an appointment, Burgos said.

Shellys Beauty Supply and Hair Salon

A beauty salon will be located on one side, and a beauty supply store on the other side of the former Videomania double storefront on Centre Street, a few doors down from the barber shop.

Pedro Mauna and his wife Shelly are getting the building ready for the two new businesses.

We hope to be open by the end of March, Mauna said. Shelly is a hair stylist. We will be doing hair, manicures, pedicures and skin care. We will be hiring some people. We will have three hair stations, three stations for nails, and so on.

Aside from the Centre Street businesses, Laputka said the couple is developing two apartments above the businesses and six apartments in the former Belekanich building, 409 Ridge Street.

The 600-block of Centre Street  between Front and Main streets  has been a hub of business activity over the last few years. Aside from tearing down three buildings to make way for the new parking lot, Woodies Restaurant was remodeled and reopened, and a new deli and grocery store opened across the street.
The year began with a wave of optimism on the back of the UK's vaccine rollout.

But as the Government imposes draconian travel restrictions and there are warnings that summer holidays may have to be written off, optimism about a rapid recovery and a revival of consumer and business confidence  in spite of the build-up of a wall of 125bn of savings  is endangered.

My daily inbox is inundated with anxious emails from business groups. The least that could be hoped for is that the Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Business Secretary Kwasi Kwartang try to sprinkle stardust over recovery prospects.

As the Government imposes draconian travel restrictions and there are warnings that summer holidays may have to be written off, optimism about a rapid recovery is endangered

Not surprisingly, the airline and airport industries are in despair, arguing survival is harder by the day, with almost zero revenue and a huge cost base.

As a result of paralysis in the skies, Rolls-Royce is planning to mothball aero-engine plants with an impact on a critical supply chain. The UK's entrepot and services-driven economy is gasping for breath.

Promised help for the Events Industry Alliance, which comprises exhibition and conference organisers, venues and suppliers, is stuck.

An estimated 1.4billion of Government grants remain locked up in local authority bureaucracy, with many smaller players facing bankruptcy.

The British Beer and Pub Association is demanding a road map to recovery with sales down 56 per cent and Food to Go services stymied.

The concern must be when the hospitality industry emerges from hibernation not only will there be far fewer outlets but many will have fallen into the hands of ruthless short-termist profiteers.

The triage system for the smallest businesses, in the shape of Bounce Back loans, is in danger of leaving a legacy of 'zombie' firms, killing entrepreneurship.

It is terrific that International Trade Secretary Liz Truss has just concluded new preferential trade arrangements with fast-growing India.

But it won't be much good if our manufacturing and service industries are holed below the waterline.

Green fingers

The speed of adoption of environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) ideas is amazing to see.

It is changing big oil before our eyes, with BP and Shell going headlong into new technologies, from offshore wind to hydrogen. Fund managers from US giant Blackrock to Britain's M&G are moving in a sustainable direction.

An ESG creed is manna for heaven for policy makers deemed to be made of the right stuff.

Not so long ago, Chuka Umunna was seen as a potential leader of the Labour Party before a political journey saw him driven out to join a new party Change, off to the Lib Dems and then out of politics.

He is now finding a new home at JP Morgan as ESG chief for Europe and the Middle East. His arrival is no accident. The bank's chairman and CEO, Jamie Dimon, is embracing the ESG agenda.

But he and activist investor John Harrington have been less than successful in persuading JP Morgan's board that it is time for the most blue-blooded of US banks to change its status to a 'public benefit corporation' which reaches a broader range of stakeholders, including workers and customers.

Efforts to persuade US companies to reshape generally have had a poor reception  but at least Bank of America is promising a shareholder vote.

The danger for Umunna is that, cut off from New York in Europe, he will not have clout to change much.

He comes with very different credentials to former Bank of England Governor Mark Carney, who has joined Brookfield Asset Management to lead the 400billion fund's ESG strategy.

Carney, the first central banker to demand finance prepares for climate change, is Boris Johnson's adviser to the Cop26 summit scheduled for Glasgow in November, and recently delivered on-message Reith Lectures. Those are impressive credentials.

Old timer

An early task for a Mario Draghi-led government in Italy will be what to do about 64 per cent state-controlled Monte dei Paschi di Siena, the perennially sick bank which has run up losses of 1.5billion and wants further state backing to merge with Unicredit.

That the Tuscan lender has survived after countless rescues since the financial crisis is because no government has felt confident enough to pull the plug on the world's oldest bank. Time to put it out of its misery.
Two international studies of a consortium including more than a dozen institutions the world over, including Empa, published today in the journal Nature show levels of CFC-11 emissions, one of many chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) chemicals once widely used in refrigerators and insulating foams, are back on the decline - less than two years after their shock resurgence in the wake of suspected rogue production in eastern China was widely publicized.

"The findings are very welcome news and hopefully mark an end to a disturbing period of apparent regulatory breaches", says Luke Western from the University of Bristol, a co-lead author of one of the studies. "If the emissions had stayed at the significantly elevated levels we found, there could have been a delay, possibly of many years, in ozone layer recovery. On top of that, since CFC-11 is also a potent greenhouse gas, the new emissions were contributing to climate change at levels similar to the CO2 emissions of a megacity."

A mysterious increase

The production of CFC-11 was banned globally in 2010 as part of the Montreal Protocol (see box), a historic international treaty that mandated the phase-out of ozone-depleting substances. Thereafter, CFC-11 emissions should have steadily fallen. In 2018, however, some of the same scientists behind the recent more reassuring discovery found an unexpected jump in emissions had begun around 2013, prompting alarm at the time that production of the banned substance had resumed in an apparent violation of the Montreal Protocol.

The first sign of something untoward was spotted by an international atmospheric monitoring team led by Steve Montzka from the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The team noticed that since 2013, CFC-11 concentration had declined more slowly than predicted, clearly indicating an upturn in emissions. Their results suggested that some of the increase was from eastern Asia. These unexpected findings were confirmed the following year by an independent global measurement network, the Advanced Global Atmospheric Gases Experiment (AGAGE; see box). Thus, the global data clearly suggested new emissions. The question was where exactly?

The answer lay in the measurements at AGAGE and affiliate monitoring stations that detect polluted air from nearby regions. Using data from Korean and Japanese stations, it appeared around half of the increase in global measurements originated from parts of eastern China. "We estimated that up to around 100'000 metric tons of CFC-11 have been newly incorporated into foams in China in the last seven years. This would correspond to a cargo train of 50 km length filled with the substance", says Stefan Reimann from Empa, the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, a co-author of the 2019 as well as one of the two new studies.

Research results with a punch

Further investigation by media and environmental campaigners exposed usage of CFC-11 in the manufacture of insulating foams in China. Chinese authorities took notice, and at meetings of the Montreal Protocol in 2018 and 2019, they confirmed some banned ozone-depleting substances were identified during factory inspections, but only in very small amounts relative to those inferred from the atmospheric data. According to their reports, arrests, material seizures, and the demolition of production facilities ensued.

The scientific teams have continued to closely monitor atmospheric levels, and the latest evidence, reported in the two new papers in Nature on global CFC-11 emissions and eastern Chinese emissions, indicates that those efforts have resulted in dramatic emission declines. "This new analysis shows the importance of independent validation of international environmental treaties. Without the measurements in this region of the world, it would not have been possible to pin down emissions in this specific region", says Reimann, adding that there are still large parts of the world, which are not covered by similar measurements.

To quantify how emissions have changed at regional scales, the scientists compared the pollution enhancements observed in the Korean and Japanese measurement data to computer models simulating how CFC-11 is transported through the atmosphere. With the global data, they used another type of model that quantified the change in emissions that is required to match the observed global CFC-11 concentration trends.

Back to normal

At both the regional and the global scale, the findings were striking; Emissions had dropped by thousands of tons per year between 2017 and 2019. In fact, the team estimates this recent decline is comparable or even greater than the original increase, which is a remarkable turnaround.

Whilst the findings suggest the rapid action in eastern China and other regions of the world has likely prevented a substantial delay in ozone layer recovery, any unreported production will have a lingering environmental impact. And since the estimated eastern Chinese CFC-11 emissions could not fully account for the inferred global emissions, there are calls to enhance international efforts to track and trace any future emitting regions.

The necessity of independent verification

As a direct result of these findings, the Parties of the Montreal Protocol are now taking steps to identify, locate and quantify any future unexpected emissions of controlled substances by expanding the coverage of atmospheric measurements in key regions of the globe. What applies to CFC-11 also applies to other synthetic gases, as demonstrated by another recent Empa study, published in the journal PNAS. These findings emphasize the need to be on the lookout before new environmental threats develop on a large scale (see box).

What's more, says Empa's Stephan Henne, also a co-author of one of the new studies: "This method of checking for emissions could prove to be very helpful, when in the not-so-distant future several countries will have to dramatically reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emissions because of their commitments to the Paris Agreement." The scientific community is currently working hard on observation and modelling systems that will allow independent emission estimation for the major greenhouse gases on country level, he adds, thereby fostering mutual trust among the signatory countries.

New ozone-destroying chemical detected in the atmosphere

An international team of scientists, led by Empa's Martin Vollmer, has spotted three new ozone-depleting chemicals in the atmosphere, they reported in a recent issue of PNAS. The team analyzed air samples gathered around the world by the AGAGE network of measuring stations. The team found a hydrochlorofluorocarbon compound, HCFC-132b, which had never before been detected in the atmosphere. Looking at archived air samples, HCFC-132b first showed up around 20 years ago. Since then, atmospheric concentrations of the chemical, which seems to be coming from factories in East Asia, have increased steadily. What is mysterious: There is thus far no known practical application for HCFC-132b.

###

A controversial ruling by the Court of Appeal last October that child murder victims cannot be named publicly was met with immediate frustration and anger.

The impact of that decision was that the media could not name a deceased child victim of crime, because of a provision of the 2001 Children Act.

The ruling applies, or is triggered, by court proceedings, in that it only comes into effect once a person is charged.

But it was not just the media affected by the ruling. The legal effect meant the families of such victims were also precluded from speaking and therefore had a gagging order placed on them.

Many leading advocates on behalf of victims highlighted the unfairness of this ruling.

As happened in a recent high-profile case of a young child in Dublin, because of the ruling, they were able to be named by their family and the media in the immediate aftermath of the killing, but once a suspect was charged, the publication of his or her name came to a sudden halt.

The absurdity of the lacuna in the law as determined by the Court of Appeal was apparent the morning after the judgement was handed down.

Listeners to Today on RTE radio, hosted by Philip Boucher-Hayes the day after the judgement, heard an interview with the mother of murdered children, who the presenter was not allowed to name because of the ruling. This was despite her appearing on the programme several times before and being named. More importantly, her murdered children were also not allowed to be named.

As the presenter explained: Justice George Birmingham handed down a decision that he recognised would be seen as surprising and a departure from current practice.

He ruled that a dead child cannot be identified when somebody has been accused of killing them, and under the 2001 Child Act, that applies not just to the specific case that they were looking at, but all cases where a child has been killed.

"This now leaves us in the situation that we can no longer name, not just child victims, but also the person that murdered them, and any other surviving parent for fear that that child be identified.

So, for reaction to this situation, Im joined by the parent of murdered children, he said, in a very bizarre introduction.

The unnamed mother responded by saying good morning.

Normally, I would name you but Im advised legally, and please dont think that Im being glib in saying this, I can only refer to you as mother of murdered children during the course of this interview, but we have spoken to you on this programme before, havent we?

"And Im also advised that we obviously cant name the children but nor can we name the person that murdered them or, indeed, your relationship to that person. How does that leave you feeling this morning? he asked her.

I feel very uncomfortable. I have been interviewed quite a number of times and I have been comfortable with that. I have never had to censor myself but I have to do that this morning, the mother said, pointedly.

Judge Birminghams ruling emanated from an application from the Director of Public Prosecution, who had sought the judge to make an order saying Section 252 of the Children Act 2001 makes it an offence to publish anything that could identify a child who is an alleged victim of an offence, including a deceased child.

As president of the three-judge Court of Appeal, Judge Birmingham found the High Court judges had acted properly in restricting the coverage.

For clarity, section 252 states that in any proceedings for an offence against a child ... no report which reveals the name, address or school of the child or includes any particulars likely to lead to his or her identification ... shall be published or included in a broadcast".

Judge Birmingham said it was almost beyond argument that the court proceedings were in respect of an offence against a child. He said it is not possible to interpret Section 252 as not including a deceased person who was a child at the time of death.

In his judgment, Judge Birmingham said: I appreciate the media may find the ruling surprising and that they may say that it involves a radical departure from what had been a long-established practice. They may say that the outcome is an undesirable one and may be in a position to make that argument with some force.

Nonetheless, the language of the statute is clear and unequivocal and, enjoying a presumption of constitutionality as it does, must be given effect to.

He said that if change was required and if it was desired to return to previous practice where it was possible to report cases involving the deaths of children, "then it is a matter requiring intervention by the Oireachtas".

While the outcome may not be a particularly welcome one, I am of the view that the interpretation of the section in issue by the High Court judge was correct, and accordingly, I would dismiss the appeal, he concluded.

Thankfully, this week, the Cabinet approved a new law which will remove the gag on the families of victims of murder and manslaughter and to allow them to be named.

Justice Minister Helen McEntee said amendments to the Childrens Act that would allow the child victims of murder and manslaughter to be named could be completed in a matter of weeks.

She said that with the support of all political parties and independent TDs and senators, the new legislation could pass swiftly through both houses of the Oireachtas.

The Cabinet approved a draft of the Childrens Act, drafted by Senator Michael McDowell with amendments by the Government that would allow the Act to apply retrospectively.

Mr McDowell and Fianna Fails Jim OCallaghan had both tabled Bills in the aftermath of a significant ruling by the Court of Appeal last year, which found Section 252 of the act taken literally meant those affected could not be named.

Speaking to the Irish Examiner, Mr McDowell said he was very happy that his Bill is being progressed and said it was fine by me that amendments are being tabled by the government.

He said it was grossly unfair that those affected by such crimes were not allowed to speak and he commended Ms McEntee for taking up the issue.

I have dealt with Helen McEntee and she sees the unfairness of the current situation. The Governments hearts are in the right place on this one."

Ms McEntee deserve credit for moving relatively quickly in correcting this anomaly but it would be wrong to simply see this as a victory for the media.

The primary concern was that those most directly affected by the gagging order get their voices back.

Within a matter of weeks, it appears that this will happen. This is most welcome.
The Daily Beast

Screenshot/YouTubeA Christian diet guru and six other people are presumed dead after her small plane crashed into the waters of Tennessee lake on Saturday morning. Authorities were called to the Percy Priest Lake around 11 a.m., not long after the plane took off from the nearby Smyrna Rutherford County Airport. Late Saturday evening, investigators said they believed all seven passengers had perished. The cause of the crash is still under investigation. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Joe Lara (@joelaraofficial) The plane, a Cessna C501, belonged Gwen Shamblin Lara, founder of the Remnant Fellowship Church and author of The Weigh Down Workshop, and her husband William J. Lara, who went by Joe. The couple lived in nearby Brentwood and had registered the plane via their company JL&GL Productions LP. The aircraft has not been located, but Tennessee Highway Patrol told News Channel 5 that officers located debris consistent with a Cessna C501 and that a small plane had been seen descending into the water near a boat ramp early Saturday.Laras daughter, Elizabeth Hannah, sent a text message to members of the Remnant Fellowship Church saying that her mother and father were aboard the aircraft when it was forced to make a quick, controlled landing. All the planes passengers had ties to the church, including Hannahs own husband Brandon, according to her text. The others aboard were David and Jennifer Martin and Jonathan and Jessica Walters, according to authorities.My brother and I are asking for immediate prayers right now, as we have just gotten word that Gwen and Joe Laras plane had to go down, Hannah wrote before authorities said everyone appeared to have been killed. More information to come, but be in prayerand be at peace, the message continued. GOD IS IN CONTROL, and we will not stop moving forward with WHAT GOD WANTS with this church.Read more at The Daily Beast.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.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-11 06:55:37|Editor: huaxia

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The Ministry of Labour and Employment has decided to shelve its plan to allow social media platforms such as WhatsApp to be used for salary communication of employees under the new Labour Codes that are due to be implemented from April.

According to a report by Mint, the anomaly will be corrected and the government will remove social media and WhatsApp from wage communication draft notification, labour secretary Apurva Chandra said. This comes amid concerns over WhatsApp's new privacy policy introduced last month. The core issue related to WhatsApps data-sharing procedures with Facebook, with many users concerned that the updated policy would mandate sharing of sensitive profile information with WhatsApps parent company.

ALSO READ | WhatsApp Seems To Be Answering All The Wrong Questions About The Scary New Privacy Policy

We will amend that portion. We value the privacy concerns of employees. The drafts will be finalized soon and you will see that social media, including WhatsApp, will not be there in the final standing orders," Chandra told Mint.

Earlier, the labour ministry had proposed to use WhatsApp and other social media" platforms for salary communication.

The move came amid growing concerns over data privacy and raised the fear that it may facilitate access to financial and social security details of workers by social media platforms.

The draft orders were put in the public domain for comments. It will be finalised and made part of the Industrial Relation (IR) Code Act after a month.

ALSO READ | New Labour Codes May Allow 4-day Work Week But With Longer Hours

All payment including wages to the workers shall be paid by crediting in the bank account of worker on electronic mode or digital form. Intimation to the payment made to a worker shall be sent to him through short messaging service (SMS) or e-mail or social media communication, such as, WhatsApp or by issuing a slip," the Union labour ministry had said in the draft standing orders for the services, manufacturing and mining sectors.

Using social media for salary communications will not only compromise the employee-employer confidentiality agreement, but could also lead to financial profiling, surveillance of bank details, and data theft.
Lawmakers on marijuana study committee plan out-of-state site visits

Lawmakers want a firsthand look at legal cannabis operations in response to South Dakotans voting to loosen their state's pot laws last fall.

A screen capture of one of the accounts that Twitter withheld (Image source: Twitter)

New Delhi: The government on Wednesday expressed "strong displeasure" over Twitter's delay in taking prompt action against accounts and hashtags spreading misinformation and provocative content around the farmers' stir, as the IT Ministry made it clear that the company must comply with the country's laws irrespective of the platform's own rules.

Twitter has suspended over 500 accounts, and blocked access to several others within India while refusing to block accounts of "news media entities, journalists, activists and politicians" citing the need to uphold freedom of expression.

During a virtual interaction between IT Secretary and senior officials of Twitter, the government told the microblogging platform that as a business entity operating in India, it must respect the laws and democratic institutions and take strong action against "well-coordinated" campaigns "designed to create disharmony and unrest" in the country.

Slamming the delay by the platform in complying with government orders on taking down provocative content around farmers' stir, the IT Secretary also expressed dissatisfaction over Twitter's "differential treatment" in case of the US Capitol Hill siege, where it had taken prompt action.

"Secretary reminded Twitter about the action taken by Twitter during the Capitol Hill episode in the USA and compared that with the disturbance in Red Fort in India and its aftermath. He expressed dissatisfaction over Twitter's differential treatment in the two incidents," the IT Ministry said in a statement.

The government questioned the manner in which Twitter "officially allows fake, unverified, anonymous and automated bot accounts to be operated on its platform" and said it raises doubts about its commitment to transparency and healthy conversation on the platform.

Twitter was represented by Monique Meche, Vice President Global Public Policy and Jim Baker, Deputy General Counsel and Vice President Legal.

The "deep sense of disappointment" at seeing Twitter "side not with 'freedom of expression' but rather with those who seek to abuse such freedom and provoke disturbance to public order" was conveyed to the company, the statement added.

The Secretary also flagged the issue around a 'toolkit' that was shared on its platform amid the farmers' protest, and said the chain of events had made it evident that a strong social media campaign was planned in a foreign country around the agitation.

"Misuse of Twitter's platform for execution of such campaigns designed to create disharmony and unrest in India is unacceptable and Twitter must take strong action against such well-coordinated campaigns against India, through compliance with the applicable law of the land," the statement said.

Twitter representatives were reminded that while the government values freedom of speech and expression and takes criticism in its stride, such freedom is "not absolute" and subject to reasonable restrictions under the Constitution.

The Secretary emphasised that India remains investor-friendly with conducive business environment and open Internet.

"Twitter, as a business entity working in India, must also respect the Indian laws and democratic institutions. Twitter is free to formulate its own rules and guidelines, like any other business entity does, but Indian laws which are enacted by the Parliament of India must be followed irrespective of Twitter's own rules and guidelines," the statement asserted.

He further stated that lawfully passed orders are binding on any business entity.

"They (orders) must be obeyed immediately. If they are executed days later, it becomes meaningless," the statement said, pointing out that it was disappointing how Twitter had "unwillingly, grudgingly and with great delay" complied with the substantial parts of the order.

The Secretary took up the issue of 'farmer genocide' hashtag with the executives and expressed strong displeasure on the way Twitter had acted after an emergency order was issued to remove the hashtag and content related to that.

"Spreading misinformation using an incendiary and baseless hashtag referring to 'farmer genocide' at a time when such irresponsible content can provoke and inflame the situation is neither journalistic freedom nor freedom of expression as envisaged under Article 19 of the Constitution of India," the statement said.

Despite the government drawing Twitter's attention to such content through a "lawful process", the platform allowed the content with this hashtag to continue, which was "extremely unfortunate", the statement said.

The statement noted that Twitter leadership affirmed their commitment towards following Indian laws and rules.

The executives expressed their continuing commitment towards building Twitter services in India and that they have also requested for better engagement between the Indian government and the company's global team.

Twitter did not respond to e-mailed queries on the meeting.

[February 11, 2021] Podium Appoints John Foreman as Chief Product Officer and Tim Milliron as EVP of Engineering

LEHI, Utah, Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Podium , the leading customer messaging platform for local businesses, today announced the appointment of John Foreman as chief product officer and Tim Milliron as executive vice president of engineering. These executive appointments come on the heels of other recent key hires as Podium continues to scale and modernize the way that business happens on a local level for over 90,000 businesses. "John and Tim have some of the sharpest minds for driving product success in the industry, and we feel very fortunate to bring their outstanding experience to our team," said Eric Rea, co-founder and CEO at Podium. "In recent months, we've introduced several talented people with specialized knowledge in critical areas of growth for us in the coming year. At this crucial point in time for many local businesses, we're looking forward to the impact that these new hires will help drive." Foreman joins Podium from his most recent post as the chief product officer at Mailchimp, where he started in 2011 as the chief data scientist, working his way up until he was guiding all product strategy and operations. His background includes authoring a book on demystifying data processes along with analytics work for large businesses (Coke, Royal Caribbean, Intercontinental Hotels) and the government (DoD, IRS, DHS). "Having seen Podium grow from a reviews product to a robust interaction management platform, I'm looking forward to helping drive the next phase in it product evolution," said Foreman. "Eric and the team have put together an amazing company, and I can't wait to be a part of what's next."



Tim Milliron joins Podium from his most recent role as vice president of engineering at TripActions, where he led development at three international sites and helped drive product strategy and direction. With a background that includes key positions at some of Silicon Valley's most innovative companies, Milliron was executive vice president of product development at Lytro and continued leading multi-site engineering teams at Google following its 2018 acquisition of Lytro. Before that, he held engineering and product leadership positions at Twilio and worked for over a decade at Pixar as a technical director and director of engineering. He graduated summa cum laude from Princeton University with a bachelor's degree in computer science. "Podium's products have always been game-changers for our customers, enabling them to realize their business vision in new ways," said Milliron. "I'm incredibly bullish on Podium's vision to empower businesses to reach and interact with their customers like never before."

These new additions follow Podium introducing Gyre Renwick as its new chief revenue officer in June 2020. Renwick joined following long stints at Lyft as vice president of Lyft Business, and Google, as head of industry for healthcare. Podium also introduced several other executives recently, including: Hally Pinaud , head of product marketing

, head of product marketing Former head of product marketing at Gainsight

Omar Nagji , senior vice president of strategic sales

, senior vice president of strategic sales Former vice president of enterprise at Alto Pharmacy

Tasha Bishop , executive vice president of customer success

, executive vice president of customer success Former vice president of customer success at Smartsheet For more information about how Podium can help local businesses maximize online reviews, visit www.podium.com . About Podium Podium is a customer messaging platform that enables companies with a local presence to conveniently connect with their customers at critical touchpoints to help them strengthen their business. By conveniently facilitating millions of customer interactions, such as driving customer-generated online reviews and providing improved customer messaging tools, Podium serves more than 90,000 local businesses in the United States, Canada and Australia. Headquartered in Lehi, Utah, and founded in 2014, Podium is currently backed by YC Continuity, Sapphire Ventures, Alkeon Capital, Recruit Co. Ltd., IVP, Accel, Summit Partners and GV. To learn more, visit www.podium.com or contact us at press@podium.com . View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/podium-appoints-john-foreman-as-chief-product-officer-and-tim-milliron-as-evp-of-engineering-301226779.html SOURCE Podium

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AKRON, Ohio  Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan announced Thursday a series of changes to his cabinet and reorganization of duties in some city departments triggered by the upcoming retirement of the longtime director of Neighborhood Assistance.

Horrigan plans to incorporate the Neighborhood Assistance Department into a joint effort with the Public Service Department and the appointment of a Deputy Director of Public Service, the city said in a news release.

Director of Neighborhood Assistance John Valle is set to retire Feb. 28 after more than 37 years of working for the city. He is the only person to ever hold the job.

With Valles retirement, Horrigan has elected to better reintegrate the core neighborhood services housed under both the Public Service and Neighborhood Assistance departments, but plans to maintain two separate departments.

The city is aligning the leadership and functions of these offices under a unified team of Chris Ludle, director of public service, and Eufrancia Lash, who has been deputy director for both public service and neighborhood assistance since January 2020. With Valles retirement, Lash will become deputy director of public service for neighborhood assistance.

The changes are expected to allow the Public Service and Neighborhood Assistance departments to be better able to share data, direct resources and manage services performed in our neighborhoods, Horrigan said in a news release.

This unified leadership team is part of my vision to continually improve communication, coordination, and customer experience, Horrigan said. Public Service and Neighborhood Assistance both deliver services that keep our neighborhoods clean and livable. The goal of this integration is to achieve better outcomes for residents by bringing together many of the most important City services under one umbrella.

Horrigan has also appointed James Aitken to be deputy director of public service for operations. Aitken has worked 34 years for public services, beginning as a seasonal sewer maintenance worker. He moved up the ranks to eventually be acting sewer superintendent, overseeing the citys sanitary, storm and combined sewer collection systems.

As the City works tirelessly to achieve critically important modifications to the final projects within its federally-mandated consent decree, Jims extensive experience and institutional knowledge will be invaluable to our team, Horrigan said.

Horrigan lauded Valle for his years of service to Akron.

Valle was elected to City Council in 1984 and served to 2000, including a two-year stint as council president from 1996 to 1998. Valle was appointed to be clerk of council in 2001. In 2006, then-Mayor Don Plusquellic selected him as Deputy Director of Public Service.

Plusquellic appointed Valle as Akrons first Director of the Department of Neighborhood Assistance in 2012. The office manages housing code compliance, nuisance compliance, the vacant building registry, community services and the mayors 3-1-1 helpline.

John Valle is a highly accessible public servant who has earned the trust, respect, and admiration of residents, city workers, and community partners alike over the course of his distinguished career with the city, Horrigan said. John is a problem solver who cares deeply about Akron. He is known for returning phone calls from residents, and is someone who wouldnt hesitate to personally visit a home or business to address a concern.

Among Valles successes, Horrigan cited:

Development of a robust 3-1-1 call center and online portal.

Creation of the citys Vacant Building Registry.

Partnering with the non-profit KABOOM! to build several new playgrounds.

Successfully implementing multi-million-dollar grants to abate poisoning from lead paint in Akron homes.

I thank John for his service and wish him and his family the very best in his next chapter, Horrigan said.

It has been an honor and privilege to serve the residents of the City of Akron the past 37 years, said Valle. Ive always strived to provide the best customer service possible to our residents and I thank all the city employees who helped me achieve this goal.
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The Czech Republics prime minister visited Serbia on Wednesday to find out more about the Balkan nation's mass inoculation program with Chinese and Russian vaccines that have not yet been approved by the European Union's drug regulator.

Czech leader Andrej Babis has been seeking vaccines outside the EUs common program after deliveries from EU-approved Western drug companies have been delayed.

With a team of experts, Babis last week also visited Hungary, which has been the first EU country to give a green light to the Russian vaccine.

Thanks to the Chinese and Russian vaccines, Serbia is currently second in Europe after Britain in the rate of the vaccination rollout per capita.

I have been trying to gather as much information about other vaccines that have not been approved, Babis said in Belgrade after meeting with Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic.

Babis told reporters before the trip that the Czech Republic is not ready to use the Russian Sputnik V vaccine before it wins the EU nod from the European Medicines Agency.

He said in Belgrade on Wednesday that his EU nation wants to be ready once the approval comes in.

We should abandon politics and talk about people's health, because the (virus) situation in the Czech Republic is not good.

The Czech Republic, a country of 10 million, has recorded over 1 million infections and seen more than 17,600 confirmed virus deaths.

Serbia so far has vaccinated more than half a million people, mainly with the Chinese Sinopharm vaccine, Russia's Sputnik V and to a lesser extent with the Pfizer-BioNTech shot.

The populist Serbian leadership has cultivated close ties with China and Russia, which are both vying for influence in the strategically important southwestern European region.

Brnabic said the country's experience with all three vaccines has been excellent.

Babis' visit included a tour of a mass inoculation center in Belgrade. Officials have announced a new round of mass vaccinations with the expected arrival later Wednesday of 500,000 more doses of China's Sinopharm vaccine.

The Czech Health Ministry has announced that a Moderna vaccine delivery scheduled for Monday will be delayed one week and that only half of the expected dozes, 44,000, will arrive.

Image credit: AP

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
National Cathedral criticized for hosting Max Lucado due to his views on homosexuality

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The Washington National Cathedral has come under fire for hosting Max Lucado, a prominent author and pastor who holds biblical Christian views on marriage, as a guest preacher.

Max Lucado was invited by the Episcopal Church's Cathedral Church of Saint Peter and Paul in the City and the Diocese of Washington to preach at a virtual service Sunday.

A backlash among members of the Episcopal Church, a denomination known for politically liberal views on marriage and sexuality issues, quickly followed.

Critics of Lucado cited his previous written opinions about same-sex marriage as a cause for concern in a petition asking Dean Randy Hollerith to "rescind Max Lucado's invitation to preach.

Lucado is not an Episcopalian. He serves as pastor of Oak Hills Church, a nondenominational Christian church in San Antonio, Texas.

"Lucado's teachings and preaching inflicts active harm on LGBTQ people," the petition contended. "To cite one example, in 2004 he wrote of his fears that homosexuality would lead to 'legalized incest' and likened same-sex marriage to incest and bestiality."

"Fear-mongering and dehumanizing messages from powerful speakers like Lucado have been used to justify rollbacks of LGBTQ rights and to exclude LGBTQ people from civil protections and sacred rites, the petition continued. To our knowledge, Lucado has not publicly renounced these views.

Mentioning that the remains of Matthew Shepard, a gay college student who was murdered in 1998, were entrusted to the cathedral, the petition maintained that inviting a man who preaches the kind of dangerous theology that promotes oppression of and violence toward the LGBTQ community does not honor that trust nor serve his memory."

The petition went as far as to accuse Lucado of causing "serious harm.

Ultimately, leaders at the cathedral let Lucado speak.

Hollerith responded to the petition, emphasizing the importance of enabling dialogue with people who hold views members of the congregation may disagree with.

"When we only engage with those whom we agree on every issue, we find ourselves in a dangerous (and lonely) place, Hollerith stated in a letter to petitioners. My hope is that all churches and faith communities will find ways to open their doors to perspectives different from their own."

The dean assured that the cathedrals commitment to the LGBT community is unshakable and unchanged.

"We believe the Gospel calls us to nothing short of full embrace and inclusion, the letter stated.

Hollerith shared why the cathedral invited Lucado to preach.

We have to come out of our corners, find common ground where we can, and find ways to live with and see each other as the beloved children of God that we are, he stressed. We have all grown too accustomed in our silos and echo chambers. In order to start the process of rebuilding, we need to hear from each other.

Jim Naughton, who formerly served as canon for communications for the Episcopal Diocese of Washington, told Episcopal News that he thought it was "incredibly disrespectful" for the Washington National Cathedral to "give its imprimatur to him" and "extend the prestige of its pulpit" to someone with his views.

An openly gay Episcopal priest who spoke with Episcopal News claimed that "Max Lucado's theology has a body count, adding, "It feels deeply disrespectful for an Episcopal church ... to publicize Lucado without any mention of this."

Lucado's sermon did not touch on the issue of same-sex marriage.

Instead, it focused heavily on the Holy Spirit, which he described as "the surest antidote for trepidation" and "the calming presence of God in the world today."

"The presence of the Holy Spirit changes everything," Lucado added. "If you have said yes to Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit has said yes to you. And when you receive Christ, you receive the presence of the Holy Spirit in your life."

Lucado urged viewers of the Sunday Sermon to "just say yes and welcome the presence of the Holy Spirit into your life."

Following Lucado's appearance at Washington National Cathedral Sunday, Kathleen Moore, who organized the Change.org petition, issued a statement expressing solidarity with "Those who are hurting today and those who will continue to hurt as a result of this decision."

As of Tuesday afternoon, the petition had amassed more than 1,600 signatures, which Moore described as "a record of the voices Dean Hollerith and Washington National Cathedral chose not to hear."
Dylan Farrow has revealed she still 'freezes up' if she sees things that remind her of Woody Allen, almost two decades after she first accused him of sexual abuse.

Dylan, now 35, was seven years old when she first claimed to her mother Mia Farrow that she had been sexually abused by Allen, Farrow's boyfriend of 10 years who had adopted her as a child.

Speaking in an interview with Elle magazine to promote her new book Hush, Dylan, whose brother is #MeToo journalist Ronan Farrow, explained she still has panic attacks prompted by triggers associated with Allen.

She said she might freeze up if she sees a face with thick glasses - Allen's signature look - or she hears jazz music, which is closely associated with the director.

'Its a process,' she said. 'I try to take the mindset that I have a 100 percent success rate of getting through every single one of the panic attacks Ive ever had; none of them have killed me.'

Dylan Farrow has revealed she still 'freezes up' if she sees things that remind her of Woody Allen, almost two decades after she first accused him of sexual abuse. Pictured, Dylan with her mother Mia Farrow in April 2016

Dylan, now 35, was seven years old when she first told her mother Mia Farrow that Allen, her mother's boyfriend of 10 years who had adopted her as a child, had sexually abused her after taking her into an attic. Pictured, Woody Allen with Dylan in 1988

Dylan has also distanced herself from Allen, saying, 'I dont feel like I have a father.'

Allen has vehemently and repeatedly denied molesting Dylan and has pointed to investigations that cleared him of wrongdoing. Criminal charges have never been filed.

Dylan first came forward about Allen in 1992, the same year that news of Allen's affair with his adopted daughter Soon-Yi Previn made headlines. The pair went on to marry in 1997.

'Theres no support group for people whose sisters marry their fathers,' Dylan said. 'Or is he my brother-in-law? And is she my stepmom? Ive got to joke about it!'

The accusations led to a viscous - and very public - custody battle.

Experts from the Yale-New Haven Hospital Child Sexual Abuse Clinic, who interviewed Dylan nine times in the seven months after the accusations were first made, concluded Dylan was not sexually abused and that she had either made it up or had been encouraged by her mother.

The judge in the case called into question the researchers methods. Their findings are also re-examined in an upcoming four-part documentary series 'Allen v. Farrow', which features footage of seven-year-old Dylan accusing Allen.

Some continue to doubt Dylan and she said she still receives messages from Allen's fans on Twitter, who say the abuse never happened.

Woody Allen and Mia Farrow with their children, including Soon-Yi Previn, who Allen married in 1997

Mia was granted full custody of Dylan in 1993 and moved her whole family to the same Connecticut farm where they have spent lockdown.

Dylan, now a mother of four-year-old daughter Evangeline, said she was largely able to move on from the court case.

'I sort of treated it as out of sight, out of mind, and I did that for about 20 years,' she said. 'But then he was up for an Academy Award, and no one cared.'

That was in 2014 when Blue Jasmine was nominated for three Oscars, including a Best Screenplay for Allen.

Against the advice from her therapist and loved ones, Dylan decided to write a New York Times essay about the abuse that called out the Hollywood stars who continued to work with Allen - Cate Blanchett won the Best Actress Oscar for Blue Jasmine that year - despite the allegations.

In 2017, in the wake of the #MeToo movement, in which her brother Ronan was a central figure, she wrote a second essay, for the Los Angeles Times, which questioned once again how Allen was still able to make movies when others like Weinstein had been stopped.

Mia and Allen split after Mia discovered naked photos of her then 21-year-old adoptive daughter Soon-Yi in Allens apartment. Allen and Soon-Yi are now married

She explained it was like finally giving a voice to her younger self.

'[At age seven,] I wasnt, obviously, given a platform, and I was not in an emotional state to take advantage of a platform. I was literally a child,' she said.

'And its easy when you are a white man with a considerable amount of clout, power, and wealth to silence a voice like that, pin the blame on my mom, and spin the story for 20-plus years.'

She continued: 'I guess Im just way more vindictive than anybody gave me credit for. And I say that because its not entirely a bad thing. Vindictive women can get stuff done.'

The court case between Farrow and Allen, and the allegations that triggered it, are to be explored in an explosive new four-part HBO documentary series.

'Allen v. Farrow' delves into one of Hollywood's biggest scandals, drawing on home movies, police evidence, court documents and recorded conversations to explore the allegations, including a taped recording of a then seven-year-old Dylan accusing her father.

The tape has been the source of much debate with some citing it as evidence of the abuse and others as evidence Dylan was led by Farrow to make the accusations.

'It took a long time for Dylan to feel comfortable and safe sharing that video. And once she shared it, there were parameters about whether she would be OK with us actually using it,' filmmaker Amy Ziering told the New York Times.

'It was incremental. We are not about contributing to anyone elses pain.'

In his 2020 memoir, Allen again denied abusing his daughter.

He said he 'never did anything to her that could be even misconstrued as abusing her; it was a total fabrication from start to finish.'

The same memoir had been dropped by its original publisher Hachette after staff staged a protest against it. Dylan thanked the staff who 'took a stand.'

She has maintained that she was abused and her allegations have been embraced in the #MeToo era.

Two separate investigations were conducted in the 1990s and no charges were brought against Allen.

'Allen v. Farrow,' from filmmakers Kirby Dick, Amy Ziering and Amy Herdy, will debut February 21 on HBO, with episodes airing weekly
Four years after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan assumed sweeping powers, he has wrong-footed his opponents once again by calling for a new constitution, sparking accusations of trying to set up a diversion from the country's woes.

Taking seemingly everyone off guard, Erdogan mentioned early last week during one of his near-daily speeches that "it may be time for Turkey to reopen the debate about a new constitution".

The timing aroused immediate suspicions over the intentions of a man who has been at the apex of Turkish political life since 2003, first as prime minister and since 2014 as president.

The 66-year-old Turkish leader is facing a sudden burst of student protests, an economy that was under strain even before the coronavirus pandemic struck last year, and polls showing a melting support base.

The current constitution was changed in a controversial 2017 referendum which created an executive presidency.

It went into force barely a year later when Erdogan won re-election, with the amendments allowing him to consolidate his power.

Since then the only politicians demanding constitutional changes have been members of the opposition, all calling for a return to the previous parliamentary democracy.

Few think this is what Erdogan has in mind.

"This is only an attempt to change the agenda so that the economy, the pandemic, farmers' concerns, traders' worries and rights violations aren't discussed," Idris Sahin, deputy chairman of the opposition Democracy and Progress Party (DEVA), told AFP.

DEVA was launched last year by Ali Babacan, a former Erdogan ally who won the West's trust as economy minister.

- 'Not sincere' -

Sahin dismissed Erdogan's move as "absolutely not a sincere idea", describing it instead as a belated response to opposition parties' attempts to dilute the executive presidency.

He surmised that the president's team realised that "for the first time, they weren't setting the agenda. They lagged behind the opposition."

Story continues

Last month, Babacan and Kemal Kilicdaroglu of the main opposition CHP party agreed to work together on a "strengthened parliamentary system".

Aware of these efforts weeks before the president took his stand, Erdogan's coalition partner Devlet Bahceli of the ultranationalist MHP branded attempts to tinker with the executive presidency as "proof of desperation".

Bahceli also suggested changing the law on political parties, further fuelling speculation that he wields outsized power despite being Erdogan's junior partner, and was a major instigator behind the president's call for a new basic law.

The MHP leader soon also backed the move.

But, like DEVA's Sahin, a Western diplomat was sceptical that Erdogan is angling for actual changes.

"In the short term, the main objective seems to be to divide the opposition by forcing parties to take a stance on the constitutional debate which will probably be framed along the lines of 'with or against Turkey'," the diplomat told AFP.

- 'Not serious' -

Some think that if Erdogan does have anything specific in mind, it could be about scrapping an electoral rule that requires a presidential candidate to garner more than 50 percent of the vote to avoid a second round.

"At this stage, this is not a serious or a well-developed proposal," said Galip Dalay of the Robert Bosch Academy and Chatham House.

But "if he goes for the change of constitution, his main goal would be to change the requirement of the election of the president," Dalay said.

Aysuda Kolemen of Berlin's Bard College agreed, projecting a scenario in which the opposition would have to rally behind a single candidate to challenge Erdogan in the next presidential vote, expected in 2023.

"If they can't, Erdogan can win again," Kolemen said.

But nothing is certain. Last week, the independent newspaper Cumhuriyet said the 50 percent-plus-one threshold would remain unchanged.

- Tough sell -

Either way, Erdogan faces an uphill struggle to get any new constitution approved.

Under Turkish law, changes require 400 lawmakers to pass without a need for a referendum. With 360 votes, a proposal can be put to the people.

Since Erdogan's AKP party and the MHP have only 337 votes, they would need to work with at least some of the opposition to get changes through.

Another question is whether the public would support a new basic law.

"Selling a new constitution just four years after a profound overhaul is not going to be easy," the Western diplomat said.

DEVA Party's Sahin voiced similar thoughts.

"The changes are so new. Won't people ask, do you want a constitution for you or for society?" Sahin asked.

"Unfortunately recent constitutional changes turned into something done for one man's welfare and future. So it's not possible for the public to support it."

bur-raz/zak/gd

Production recently wrapped on season two of The Bureau of Magical Things in Queensland.

Prolific childrens producer Jonathan M. Shiff told WorldScreen about navigating through COVID-19 restrictions.

We had to, first, revisit all the stories that Id spent a year and a bit writing and falling in love with. That sort of dynamic is part of normal filmmaking, he said. Being a creator and being a producer sometimes is in conflict. Youve got to find the synergy and the pathway, and I found I had to approach it the same way. We need to move this forward and do the best story we can do. We had to rewrite scenes, move interiors to exteriors to be safer, strip out cast that were not critical to the scene to be sensible about it. We had to reduce the number of extras. We had to reimagine sets. Its very counterintuitive to everything I learned in 30 years of filmmaking. We had to take the ceiling off sets. Sets that were designed to be small and intimate had to be opened up a bit. Sets that were very open and expansive had to be made smaller for less cast. There was a lot of work on that.

There was a certain elevation of focus that you get out of working in a pandemic. When youre at war with a virus that can hurt you and your family, you come in focused on doing the very best you can and more because youve given up a lot or youre risking a lot to be [there]. And I think, possibly, The Bureau of Magical Things season two might be my best work. I, personally, feel it was the most challenging and probably the best job.

Returning cast include Kimie Tsukakoshi as Kyra, Elizabeth Cullen and Julian Cullen as elf brother and sister, Mia Milnes and Rainbow Wedell as fairies, Jamie Carter as Kyras human friend and now a member of The Bureau, and Arnijka Larcombe-Weate as Kyras problematic bestie oblivious to the magical world.

They are joined by Christopher Sommers (Sweet Tooth, The Water Diviner), Nicholas Bell (Mission Impossible II, Wanted), Steve Nation (Neighbours) and Tasneem Roc (Harrow, Rake, Reef Doctors).

Asked about managing the increased costs around filming during COVID, Shiff said, Some of it was covered internally. A lot of it was covered by Australian government subsidies, which we were very blessed to receive, and Screen Australia and Screen Queensland elevated their investments. We were very blessed to be working in concert with ZDF and ZDF Enterprises and so on. And Nickelodeon. But largely, it was, frankly, the Australian government assistance that helped us muddle through and without that, I think it wouldve been quite difficult to conquer it.

The series will screen on 10 Shake.

The Bureau of Magical Things season 2 is a Jonathan M. Shiff Productions project for Network 10, ZDF and Nickelodeon. Major production investment from ZDF Enterprises, Screen Queensland and Screen Australia. It is presold to Network 10 Australia, German public broadcaster ZDF and Nickelodeon, and is distributed worldwide by ZDF Enterprises.

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TOKYO (AP)  The long saga of Yoshiro Mori appears to be near the end.

Japan's Kyodo news agency and others reported on Thursday  citing unnamed sources familiar with the matter  that Yoshiro Mori will step down on Friday as the president of the Tokyo Olympic organizing committee.

The move follows his sexist comments about women more than a week ago, and an ensuing and rare public debate in Japan about gender equality. They also come just over five months before the Olympics are to open.

A decision is expected to be announced on Friday when the organizing committee's executive board meets. The executive board is overwhelming male, as is the day-to-day leadership.

The 83-year-old Mori, in a meeting of the Japanese Olympic Committee more than a week ago, essentially said women talk too much and are driven by a strong sense of rivalry. Mori, a former prime minister, gave a grudging apology a few days after his opinions were reported but declined to resign.

This is more than just another problem for the postponed Olympics, which have made the risky choice of trying to open on July 23 in the middle of a pandemic with 11,000 athletes  and later, 4,400 Paralympic athletes.

More than 80% of the Japanese public in recent polls say the Olympics should be postponed or canceled.

Mori's remarks have drawn outrage from many quarters and have put the spotlight on how far Japan lags behind other prosperous countries in advancing women in politics or the boardrooms. Japan stands 121st out of 153 in the World Economic Forums gender equality rankings.

Though some on the street have called for him to resign  several hundred Olympic volunteers say they are withdrawing  most decision makers have stopped short of this and have simply condemned his remarks. Japan is a country that works largely on consensus with politicians  often elderly and male  acting behind the scenes and leaking trial balloons to sense public sentiment.

His replacement is reported to be 84-year-old Saburo Kawabuchi, a former president of the Japanese soccer association.

Story continues

Here are samples of comments and observations about what has been playing out as pressure has mounted on Mori.

___

AKIO TOYODA, president of Toyota Motor Corp.

Toyota is one of 14 so-called Olympic TOP sponsors that pay about $1 billion every four-year cycle to the International Olympic Committee. The company seldom speaks out on politics, but this week Toyoda said: The (Mori) comment is different from our values, and we find it regrettable." Toyota and Coca-Cola are also major sponsors of the torch relay, which is to being on March 25. Toyota has not called for Mori to resign. but its comments have received headline attention.

___

YURIKO KOIKE, governor of Tokyo Metropolitan Government

Koike called Mori's comments a major issue for the Olympics. She is one of the few powerful female politicians in Japan and has worked closely on the Olympics. She said she will skip an Olympic meeting next week with IOC President Thomas Bach, Mori and the national government. I dont think holding talks under the current circumstances will produce a positive message, she said. I will not attend the meeting.

___

KOICHI NAKANO, political scientist at Tokyo's Sophia University

'Koike, as a natural populist, smells political gains by making use of her standing as a prominent female politician. Koike is no feminist, but she knows that being a woman in a very conservative, male-dominated Japan can be used to her advantage. By refusing to attend the meeting she can indicate that she is more in touch with the widely shared sentiment in the Japanese society that Mori should resign.

___

INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE

The IOC accepted Mori's apology and said the case was closed. Then it waited almost a week to issue a more forceful statement and said his remarks were absolutely inappropriate. It pointed out that the local organizing committee also called the remarks inappropriate. The IOC has not called publicly for Mori to resign. Most of its statement about Mori focused on how it says it has improved gender-equality in the Olympics over the last 25 years.

___

MIZUHO FUKUSHIMA, head of the Social Democratic Party

Opposition leaders have been pressuring Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga to convince Mori to step down. There are some unconfirmed reports in Japan that former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe could replace Mori. Mori got his job in 2014, when Abe was prime minister. We must tell the world that Japan is a country committed to making a gender-equal society, Fukushima said. He (Mori) must step down.

___

Associated Press writers Yuri Kageyama and Mari Yamaguchi contributed to this report.

___

AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/olympic-games and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Former President Donald Trump was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize on Feb. 1 by an Estonian member of the European Parliament, Jaak Madison.

In a post on social media, Madison said: In the last 30 years, Donald Trump is the first president of the United States, who during his tenure, has not started a war. Additionally, he signed several peace agreements in the Middle East which have helped provide stability in the region and peace.

Madison was referring to the Abraham Accords, a joint statement between Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States  and later, wit...
ROME, FEB 11 - Italy's borrowing costs hit a new all-time low on Thursday amid continued optimism on the expected government of former European Central Bank President Mario Draghi. The yield on the 10-year Treasury bond fell to a new low of 0.47%. The spread between Italian and German 10-year bond yields fell to 93 points. (ANSA).
Manama, Feb 10 (UNI) Bahrain approved Russia's Sputnik V Covid-19 vaccine for use in the country under the emergency procedure, the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) said on Wednesday.

"The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF, Russias sovereign wealth fund) announces the approval of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine against coronavirus by the National Health Regulatory Authority (NHRA) of the Kingdom of Bahrain.

The vaccine was approved under the emergency use authorization procedure without additional clinical trials in the country," the RDIF said in a press release.

Bahrain is the 24th country to have registered Sputnik V.

UNI XC-GNK
After Javi Marroquin ended his marriage to MTVs Teen Mom 2 star Kailyn Lowry  with whom he shares one son, seven-year-old Lincoln  he dated her Teen Mom castmate, Briana DeJesus, before moving on to Lauren Comeau from Maine. Comeau moved to Delaware for Marroquin. The pair became engaged and had a son, Eli, before breaking up more than once due to alleged infidelity on Marroquins part.

Most recently, Comeau emotionally took to Instagram Live to accuse Marroquin and Lowry of having an inappropriate relationship behind her back. So Teen Mom 2 fans were confused when they caught a glimpse of Comeau and Marroquin appearing to attend a marriage sermon together at their Delaware church on Instagram.

Juelia Kinney, Javi Marroquin, and Kailyn Lowry | Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for WE tv

Lauren Comeau and Javi Marroquin have an on-again, off-again relationship

After the demise of Marroquin and Lowrys four-year marriage in 2016, he moved on from the Teen Mom 2 star and Coffee Convos podcast host to Comeau in 2017.

Comeau and Marroquin have dated off and on since 2017. Their son, Eli, was born in 2018. They broke off their brief engagement the following year, after Marroquin admitted to cheating on his bride-to-be in the bathroom of his home with a CrossFit co-worker.

Since then, Marroquins relationship with Comeau has gotten even more complicated. In a fall 2020 episode of Teen Mom 2, Lowry accused her ex-husband of trying to hook up with her in the WaWa parking lot during a routine custody drop-off.

RELATED: Teen Mom 2: Kailyn Lowry Says She Has a Weird, Unspoken Loyalty to Javi Marroquin That She Doesnt Understand

The Teen Mom 2 star was accused of cheating on his girlfriend with Kailyn Lowry

On Jan. 19, 2021, Comeau headed to Instagram Live to accuse Marroquin and Lowry of going behind her back throughout her three-year relationship win her sons father. The allegations seemed to be based at least partly on the MTV stars choice to buy his ex-wifes black Suburban, although Comeau didnt give further details.

I have dealt with my fair share of betrayal and pain my whole life, Comeau said, according to InTouch. But what I learned today, what I found out today  from the kids, nonetheless  just makes me feel like the last three years, theyve just been waiting for this to happen.

Marroquin vehemently defended himself against the allegations. The Teen Mom 2 star confirmed his breakup from 29-year-old Comeau, but he insisted that it had nothing to do with 28-year-old Lowry or any of his exes.

While I have tried to avoid a he said/she said situation [by] staying quiet, the accusations Lauren made against me this afternoon on Instagram are false, 28-year-old Marroquin said. My only focus right now is creating healthy co-parenting relationships with both Lauren and Kail for the sake of my boys and bettering myself.

Javi and Lauren were recently photographed at a marriage sermon

Given Comeau and Marroquins complicated romantic history and recent split, many Teen Mom fans were surprised to see them together again on Sun., Feb. 7  at a marriage-themed sermon, no less.

A joyful snapshot of the former couple in their Super Bowl jerseys, as well as Lincoln and Eli, was prominently displayed on the Instagram account of UNITED Church at Delaware. MTV fans were particularly intrigued by the sermon topic: making marriage work.

It was a beautiful snowy morning at UNITED Church as Pastor Kenneth opened our current marriage series, I Still Do, with a powerful message, the caption read. There are many good things in life, one of them being marriage. With any good thing comes myths. God has intentionally designed marriage to be enjoyed, clearly laying out how we can live a full and fruitful marriage.

Some Teen Mom 2 fans took this as a sign that Marroquin and Comeau might be trying to make things work. But, according to The Sun, Marroquin took to the comments to insist that the couple was only positively co-parenting.

We have always gone to this church, at this service, Marroquin pointed out, adding: Because we are no longer together doesnt change when we go to church or that we have a child together so we go to the same service at the church so we can see the boys on each others week.

Still, not all fans were convinced. Some wondered if the exes might be trying to work through their relationship problems, while others accept the MTV stars explanation.
Two Indian climbers have been banned from mountaineering in Nepal for six years for lying they had reached the summit of Mount Everest.

An investigation found that Narender Singh Yadav and Seema Rani Goswami's 2016 climb had been faked, after it was certified by the tourism department at the time.

The pair, reportedly a couple from neighbouring India, and their team leader were banned by Nepal after an investigation was launched when they could not provide verifiable evidence of their summit.

Yadav was slated to win India's prestigious Tenzing Norgay Adventure Award, but when the news broke Indian mountaineers and the media reacted with outrage.

Analysis was shared that showed photographic evidence the climber had used to 'prove' he reached the top of the world's tallest mountain was in fact doctored.

Pictured: The fake photo reportedly used by the couple to 'prove' that they reached the summit of Mount Everest - the world's tallest mountain - in 2016. Narender Singh Yadav and Seema Rani Goswami, as well as their team leader, have been banned by Nepal from mountaineering

The award was subsequently retracted from Yadav, and an investigation was launched leading to their summit certification being revoked.

Speaking on Wednesday to AFP news agency, a spokesman for Nepal's tourism ministry said their investigation and enquiries with other climbers found the couple 'never reached the summit'.

'They couldn't produce any evidence of their ascent to the peak they even failed to submit reliable photos of them at the summit,' Adhikari said.

Another ministry spokesman told The Indian Express newspaper: 'In our investigation, we found that they had submitted fake documents [including photographs].

Reaching the summit of Mount Everest (pictured), standing at 29,029 feet (8,848 metres) in the Himalayas, is considered to be an outstanding feat for mountaineers globally

Pictured: Documentation showing Narender Singh Yadav's mountaineering credentials

'Based on the documents and the conversation with the officials concerned, including sherpas [expert Nepalese mountaineers], we reached this conclusion.'

In addition to the six-year ban of the two climbers and their team leader Naba Kumar Phukon, that starts retrospectively from May 2016, Seven Summit Treks which organised the expedition has also been fined 50,000 rupees (just under 500).

Their supporting Sherpa was also fined 10,000 rupees (100).

Reaching the summit of Mount Everest, standing at 29,029 feet (8,848 metres) in the Himalayas, is considered to be an outstanding feat for mountaineers globally.

Climbers that reach the summit have often gone on to become motivational speakers, or have written books about their journey to reach the peak.

Currently, the system requires photos and reports from team leaders and government officers stationed at the base camp as proof of reaching the summit.

But the potential rewards mean the system is open to attempts at fakery, and this is not the first time climbers have been banned for doctoring photographs.

In 2016, another Indian couple - both police constables - were banned for 10 years for faking photographs that they claimed showed them at the top of Everest.

The couple superimposed themselves and banners onto photos that had been taken by another Indian climbers - Satyarup Siddhanta - at the summit.

Following Wednesday's announcement, Yadav, Goswami and Phukon have been yet to comment on their ban.

The potential rewards for reaching Everest's summit mean the system is open to attempts at fakery. Pictured left: A real photo of people on the summit. Right: A doctored version of left

Left: A real photo of people on the summit of mount Everest. Right: A doctored version of left

Mingma Sherpa from Seven Summit Treks told Al Jazeera: 'It is a good decision from the government and a warning to others.

'Back then, everyone had said that they reached the summit so we reported it. But the mountaineering industry is based on trust and we must maintain it.'

Approximately 800 people climb Mount Everest every year. More than 300 people have died attempting to reach the summit since New Zealander Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa mountaineer Tenzing Norgay first reached the summit in 1953.

Approximately 800 people climb Mount Everest (pictured) every year. More than 300 people have died attempting to reach the summit since New Zealander Sir Edmund Hillary and Sherpa mountaineer Tenzing Norgay first reached the summit in 1953

Meanwhile, fears are growing for three climbers missing while attempting to summit the world's second-highest mountain, K2, 900 miles away from Mount Everest.

Helicopters failed to spot them on the second day of searching, the Alpine Club of Pakistan said Sunday.

Climbers John Snorri from Iceland, Juan Pablo Mohr from Chile and Muhammad Ali Sadpara from Pakistan lost contact with base camp on Friday.

'A second helicopters search has found no sign of missing climbers,' Karrar Haidri, the club secretary, told AFP.

The helicopters' crew traced the route up to a height of 23,000 feet, he added.

Pakistani mountaineer Ali Sadpara, left, is one of the three climbers missing on the K2 mountain

Iceland's mountaineer John Snorri, second left in front row, is also missing on the mountain

Chhang Dawa Sherpa, their expedition manager, said he was part of one search team trying to trace the mountaineers.

'The search team went through the Abruzzi and other routes, we had less weather visibility above C 4 (camp 4), unfortunately, no trace at all,' Sherpa said in a statement.

Sajid Sadpara, son of Muhammad Ali Sadpara, who had last seen his father at K2's final technical difficulty 'bottleneck,' said the chances of survival were bleak.

'The chances of surviving for two-three days at 8,000 (metres) in winters are very low,' Sadpara told reporters.

On Friday a Bulgarian mountaineer was confirmed to have died on K2.

On Friday a Bulgarian mountaineer was confirmed to have died on K2. He is the third mountaineer to die on K2's slopes this year

Conditions on K2 are harsh: winds can blow at more than 200 kilometres per hour (125 miles per hour) and temperatures can drop to minus 60 degrees Celsius (minus 76 Fahrenheit).

With Pakistan's borders open and few other places to go, this winter an unprecedented four teams totalling around 60 climbers have converged on the mountain.

Unlike Mount Everest, which has been scaled by thousands of climbers young and old, K2 is much less travelled due to its tough conditions.

One climber dies for every four who succeed in reaching its summit through its steep rock faces, glacier climbs and devastatingly brutal weather.
NEW HAVEN  For former residents of the now-demolished Church Street South housing complex, its been a long time coming.

A judge has approved an $18.75 million settlement of a class-action lawsuit filed in 2016 on behalf of residents and former residents of the apartment complex that had existed opposite Union Station.

Superior Court Judge Linda Lager, presiding over the case on the states complex litigation docket in Waterbury, issued a final approval in the case.

The plaintiffs attorney, David Rosen, and representatives from the Massachusetts-based landlord Northland Investment Corp. submitted the settlement, which came out of a mediation process, in October, according to court documents.

We think the settlement is actually going to help people; help them take care of their families, Rosen said Tuesday.

It may help some of them find better living accommodations. It may help children have their needs, educational and otherwise, met more fully, Rosen said.

Northland, in a written statement, said, We would like to thank the Honorable Judge Linda Lager for her continued guidance in helping the parties reach this resolution, and Mediator and Retired Judge Jonathan Silbert for his ongoing work with the parties.

The settlement has always been about the Church Street South families, and we hope it will contribute to helping them move forward in a positive way, the statement said.

The case involved plaintiffs Personna Noble, Luz DeJesus, Yomaly River, Rosa Rodriguez and Christina Foster, their children and a putative class of current and former residents of the Church Street South housing complex, against defendants Northland Investment Corp., Lawrence R. Gottesdiener  the chief executive and chairman of the board at Northland  Church Street New Haven LLC, DeMarco Management Corp. and Wm. M. Hotchkiss Co., according to the settlement.

Under the settlements terms, former Church Street South tenants who qualify will receive up to $20,000 per person, depending on how long they lived at the complex after December 2013. (A family of four could receive up to $80,000, a family of five could receive up to $100,000, etc.)

They also will be eligible for payments from a $2.65 million dedicated fund for enhanced injuries if they demonstrate to a panel of special masters, which Rosen said has been formed as part of the settlement, that they sustained serious property damage or mold-related injuries while living there.

Former residents also will get preferred rights to rent affordable apartments at any new complex that Northland, which began demolishing Church Street South in June 2018, builds at the site. We know theyre working on it, Rosen said. We know theyre working with the city of New Haven to come up with a plan that works for everybody.

Lager found Friday in her order approving the settlement that it was is fair, adequate and reasonable, was the result of intensive, informed, arms-length negotiations conducted by the parties with the assistance of a capable and highly experienced mediator and it does not improperly grant preferential treatment to any individual or segment of the Settlement Class.

According to Rosen, a total of 872 people have come forward so far with claims that they lived at Church Street South during the period covered by the settlement, of which 743 so far have been shown to be qualified.

Of those, 294 so far have filed claims that they sustained enhanced injuries, Rosen said. Those claims have to be reviewed by the panel of special masters, he said.

According to the terms of the settlement, people found to be on the rent rolls are eligible to receive between $8,000 and $20,000 depending on how long they lived at Church Street South. People who were not on the rent rolls will receive a flat $5,000 if they can prove they lived there with a government-issued document, he said.

In their lawsuit, plaintiffs alleged that they and others who lived at Church Street South from Dec. 19, 2013, to Dec. 19, 2016, suffered, by reason of conduct of Defendants ... injuries consisting of diminution in rental value, interference with tenancy rights, emotional distress, property damage, illness, and physical injury.

The defendants in the case have at all times denied, and continue to deny, all allegations whatsoever of any wrongdoing, negligence, fault, or liability, and assert that their actions have been lawful and proper in all respects and in compliance with all applicable legal duties, the settlement states.

... But in order to avoid the uncertainties, risks and expense of further litigation, they have agreed to settle and terminate all existing or potential claims against them pursuant to the terms and provisions of this Second Amended Settlement Agreement, the settlement says.

As part of the settlement, Rosens law firm is being paid reasonable fees and expenses not to exceed $2.85 million.

In the event the Court awards Class Counsel Fees and Expenses in an amount less than $2.85 million, 83 percent of the difference between the amount awarded and $2.85 million will deposited into the Base Payment Fund, and 17 percent of such difference will be deposited into the Enhanced Payment Fund, it says.

mark.zaretsky@hearstmediact.com
A police constable from Madhya Pradesh got vaccinated for COVID-19 on Wednesday while dressed as Yamraj- the God of Death. Jawahar Singh decided to dress up as Yamraj to spread the message of taking the COVID-19 jab without hesitation among the frontline workers. Singh was administered the vaccine at a government hospital in Indore.

Dressed in a black costume and adoring gold headgear, Jawahar Singh stated that every frontline worker should take the Covid-19 vaccine without fail, news agency ANI reported. Singh's story of him getting the vaccine while dressed as Yamraj has gone viral on social media.

Madhya Pradesh: Donning the garb of 'Yamraj', a policeman took COVID-19 vaccine in Indore yesterday to spread the message that every frontline worker should take COVID-19 vaccine when their turn comes. pic.twitter.com/61rVcOkMmX - ANI (@ANI) February 11, 2021

This was not the first time that Singh had dressed up as Yamraj in public. In April last year, Singh had stepped out on the streets of Indore whiles dressed as Yamraj to spread awareness about the novel coronavirus pandemic. A video of him sitting on the bonnet of a moving car and announcing instructions through a loudspeaker had gone viral on social media last year.

#WATCH Madhya Pradesh: A Police Constable in Indore dressed up as 'Yamraj' to spread awareness on #Coronavirus in the city. He is appealing to people to "stay at home". (17.4.2020) pic.twitter.com/1sfBaiYATF - ANI (@ANI) April 17, 2020

Inspector-General of Indore Zone - Harinarayanachari Mishra has told ANI that police officials in Indore are currently being administered the COVID-19 vaccine shot. "The priority is being given to the officials and staffs who are above 50 years of age," Mishra told.

There are currently 1,951 active COVID-19 cases in Madhya Pradesh while 2,51,121 patients have recovered from the coronavirus till now, according to data provided by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Thursday.

The Ministry states that 70,17,114 healthcare and frontline workers have been vaccinated for COVID-19 in the country thus far.

Also read: British health expert warns UK COVID-19 variant will 'sweep the world'
Taunting the Modi government with a "ham do, hamare do" barb, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said that the ongoing protest against three contentious farm laws is not just limited to the farmers, and that the laws will have to be withdrawn because the stir has now got the support of the entire country.

He said that the farmers are only showing a "torch" through the ongoing over 75-day long farmers' protest, and the whole country is now preparing to stand against the government and its way of administration.

Speaking in the Lok Sabha on Budget 2021-2022 discussion, the former Congress President alleged that the government is only focussing on the benefit to private companies.

Declining to name them, he said that "you know who those are".

"The farmers and labourers of the country will not stay back. You will have to take back the three farm laws. This movement is not only limited to farmers, it has been the movement of whole country against 'ham do, hamare do'," he said.

Gandhi said the livelihood of farmers, labourers, small businessmen will be hit if these laws will be implemented. "The food security system of the country will be finished completely, economy will be ruined, and there will be no employment."

He also mentioned how demonetisation, GST and Covid has already hit the common people, farmers and labourers.

His attack was vehemently criticised by the treasury benches who requested Speaker Om Birla to expunge such comments.

Amid the uproar, Rahul Gandhi said he has chosen to speak only on the "intent and content" of the three laws as suggested by Prime Minister in his speech on Wednesday in the lower House.

Beginning with the first farm law, he said it gives authority to each person to purchase as much agriculture produce as he can, and asked who will go to Mandis if unlimited purchase will be done outside. "So, the purpose of the first law is to finish all Mandis."

The content of the second law, Gandhi said, allow anyone to store grains, fruits and vegetables as much as he wants. "The purpose is to end essential commodities and begin hoarding."

About the third law, he said it will not allow farmers to settle matter in courts if anyone will seek clarification on Minimum Support Price (MSP).

"The intent of the first law is to give selling rights to its first friend."

"Who will face the consequence? It will be a common man."

Gandhi then said that the "second friend of the government will have the right to purchase and store the agriculture produces in silos".

Quoting Prime Minister's Wednesday speech in which he said that these laws will be "optional, not compulsory", he leader said: "These laws will give three options -- hunger, unemployment and suicide."

Meanwhile, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi requested the chair to restrict his speech only to the Budget discussion citing a Parliament ruling. Congress leader in the house Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, however, cited another ruling of Parliament, saying "discussion on general thing is allowed".
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South Korea's top nuclear envoy held phone talks with a U.S. diplomat over the Korean Peninsula issue, Seoul's foreign ministry said Wednesday.

Noh Kyu-duk, special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs, talked over the phone with Sung Kim, acting U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific affairs.

During the phone dialogue, they traded opinions concerning the denuclearization of and the peace settlement in the peninsula.

Denuclearization talks between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the United States have been stalled since the second DPRK-U.S. summit ended without agreement at the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi in February 2019.

Canada's Versature Rebrands as net2phone Canada

Up until very recently, Canadian company Versature, a provider of cloud-based business VoIP communication solutions, operated as Net2Phones Canadian subsidiary. Now, the company has announced it is rebranding itself as net2phone Canada. All thats changing is the name: the company will continue to provide Canadian firms with cloud communications solutions and service.

"Our new name aligns perfectly with our mission," said Jonathon Moody, President and COO of net2phone Canada, in a statement. "We are focused exclusively on providing our Canadian clients with powerful communications and collaborations solutions while leveraging net2phone's global infrastructure and technology development platforms."

Newark, New Jersey-based net2phone acquired Versature in September of 2018. The latter company was a an SaaS-based business communications solutions and hosted VoIP provider serving the Canadian market. At the time of the acquisition, Versature announced plans to expand more in Canada through investing in partner and direct channels, recruiting talent and developing more innovative communications technology solutions.

Now, net2phone Canada says it plans to offer businesses across Canada an easy transformation to untethered, unified communications across devices and channels. By leveraging the power of the cloud, net2phone enables intelligent conversations with customers, suppliers, collaborators and employees wherever they are located and using whatever device they prefer.

The acquisition is occurring at a time when more organizations are finding it necessary to implement flexible business VoIP solutions to accommodate home-based workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The biggest challenge we faced in the shift to work from home was delivering that personal touch you just can't get over email," said Michael Parwicki, CEO of MYCOR Insurance Solutions, a net2phone Canada customer, in a statement. "So, we decided to ditch our old phones for a new virtual system that wouldn't hold us back. In no time, net2phone Canada had us safely up-and-running with everything we needed for our laptops and mobile phones, enabling our teams to seamlessly transition to untethered communications."

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Edited by Maurice Nagle
NEW YORK, Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- On February, 15th at 6 pm ET, the Renew Democracy Initiative is hosting a virtual pro-democracy rally with Lt. Col. (Ret.) Alexander Vindman, Garry Kasparov, Miles Taylor (NYT's 'Anonymous'), Zimbabwean pastor and democracy activist - Evan Mawarire, Fmr. Congresswoman Barbara Comstock, Kind Bar Founder - Daniel Lubetzky, World Poker Champion - Annie Duke, and others. This will be a positive, inspiring occasion as we celebrate the virtues of democracy and discuss how to move forward from the assault on democracy that occurred on January 6th. The event will be moderated by Uriel Epshtein (Executive Director RDI) and Daniel Miller (Director of Content & Strategy RDI).

Renew Democracy Initiative (RDI)

The rally offers a unique approach that will be organized around the four basic building blocks of American democracy: 1) Civic Duty, 2) Freedom, 3) Opportunity, and 4) Fairness. American history is full of contradictions between the nation's values and its reality but it remains a story of people always striving to be more free. But this tension between reality & aspiration has never been clearer than now, as we face the greatest challenges to democracy since the Civil War.

By elevating the voices of those who have fought back against authoritarian forces, sometimes at great personal risk, RDI seeks to reexamine, reaffirm, and revitalize the American commitment to these fundamental ideals.

The event will also feature some of the best video submissions from the #RenewDemocracy social media challenge, launched by LTC (Ret) Alexander Vindman, which asked participants to share in a short video what democracy means to them. The campaign has thus far garnered hundreds of submissions from across the world, millions views, and 10 million impressions on Twitter alone. At least 4 million more people who thought deeply about what democracy means to them.

At a time when democracy is under attack at home and all around the world, RDI's Virtual Democracy Rally seeks to renew America's commitment to democracy and the four values of civic duty, freedom, fairness, and opportunity that have kept it safe and increasingly prosperous for 245 years.

Press Contact:

Uriel Epshtein

Executive Director

Renew Democracy Initiative

[email protected]

(202) 760-0286

SOURCE Renew Democracy Initiative (RDI)

Related Links

https://www.rdi.org/rally



Mumbai, Feb 11 : In a piquant situation, Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari was forced to deboard from a state government aircraft at Mumbai Airport as he planned to fly to Dehradun and then go to Mussoorie for an official function, officials said here on Thursday.

Even as a massive political slugfest erupted between the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) and Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's office broke its silence on Thursday evening and pointed fingers at the Raj Bhavan.

The CMO said the government had informed Raj Bhavan on February 10 (Wednesday) that permission for the official plane had not yet been granted and thereafter, the Governor's secretariat should have properly enquired about the availability of the government aircraft.

Taking a serious note, the CMO has directed that "responsibility should be fixed" on the concerned Raj Bhavan staffers for the lapses which resulted in an embarrassment to the Governor.

The incident happened around 10 a.m. at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai when Governor Koshyari accompanied by his ADC and an OSD, sat on a flight operated by the state government.

After the Governor had boarded the aircraft, a 6-seater Cessna Citation XLS, he was informed that there was no permission for the flight, though the exact reasons are still unclear.

Unfazed, Koshyari - who hails from Uttarakhand - and his aides immediately returned to the departure lounge and booked a scheduled commercial flight to Dehradun which departed Mumbai at around 12.15 p.m. and he reached his destination after a couple of hours.

In a statement, Raj Bhavan said that the Governor was to preside over an official Valedictory Function of the 122nd Induction Training Programme of IAS Officers at the prestigious Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, Mussoorie on Friday morning at 10 a.m.

It said the Governor's secretariat had written to the state authorities and also informed the CMO, seeking permission for the use of the government aircraft way back on February 2.

However, declaring that the government had not erred in the matter, the CMO countered why the Raj Bhavan secretariat did not confirm the issue of permission before putting an eminent person like the Governor in such an awkward situation.

"After being informed by the CMO a day in advance, the Raj Bhavan secretariat was expected to confirm the clearances before making arrangements for the Governor to go to the airport. Since this was not done, the Governor was unable to travel to his intended destination in the government aircraft," the CMO said.

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, when asked on the matter, said he was not aware of the developments but would enquire with the concerned officials in Mantralaya before commenting.

Shiv Sena Chief Spokesperson and MP Sanjay Raut said that he had spoken with the CM and "rules were followed by the government", without elaborating.

Other senior Sena leaders like Industry Minister Subhash Desai and Transport Minister Anil Parab, Nationalist Congress Party leaders like Chhagan Bhujbal and others largely feigned ignorance, while Congress' Mumbai Guardian Minister Aslam Shaikh said, "we respect the Governor and he cannot be insulted," but wondered if there were any technical issues or the ATC process was not completed in the matter.

Several BJP leaders slammed the MVA government with the Leader of Opposition (Assembly) Devendra Fadnavis saying: "What has happened is indeed unfortunate The Governor is not a person, the Raj Bhavan is a Constitutional post. I have never seen such an egoistic government." Others who attacked the Shiv Sena-Nationalist Congress Party-Congress included state BJP President Chandrakant Patil, Leader of Opposition (Council) Pravin Darekar, city and state spokespersons, MPs and MLAs.

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.
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Nolan Quinn contributed to this post.

Fighting between government forces and an Igbo separatist group risks adding yet another challenge for the Buhari administration. The emergence of an Igbo paramilitary force highlights the growing breakdown of any federal government monopoly on the use of force in the face of multiple security challenges.

Even in good times, security is fragile in the former Biafra. Insecurity has multiple dimensions. The Igbo people are Nigeria's third largest ethnic group. They were the losers in the 1967-70 civil war in which they tried to establish a separate, Igbo-dominated state, Biafra. Many Igbo continue to believe that they are disadvantaged in Nigeria, and there continues to be residual support for Biafran independence, though not among the Igbo "establishment." Conflict over land and water, once largely restricted to the Middle Belt, is spreading to the south, where it frequently acquires ethnic and religious overtones. Many Igbo--mostly Christian--believe they are targeted by the Muslim Fulani herdsmen bringing their flocks south in search of better pastures. Criminal activity is widespread and often the Igbo attribute it to the Fulani.

Many residents of the former Biafra are alienated from the federal government and see the Buhari administration as Muslim-dominated and as enabling Fulani atrocities. Added to this mix is Nnamdi Kanu's Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a separatist movement that reflects and facilitates popular discontent. The federal government, recalling the civil war, is bitterly opposed to Igbo separatism, as is most of the Igbo establishment. The government has long sought to defang the IPOB and silence Kanu, sometimes through illegal or quasi-legal methods. He, in turn, has used alleged Fulani depredations as a means of attacking the Buhari administration.

Starting in August 2020, violence between IPOB and the federal police and the army has escalated. In that month, the Nigerian police killed up to twenty-one civilians at an IPOB meeting in Enugu State. In response, the IPOB promised retaliation and urged its members to practice self-defense. In December, Kanu announced the establishment of a paramilitary wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), allegedly to protect the Igbo against the Fulani.

For the federal government, a non-state sanctioned, paramilitary organization in the old Biafran heartland was unacceptable, and it moved against ESN camps. In late January 2021, serious fighting broke out in the town of Orlu in Imo State, leading to significant numbers of displaced persons. Fighting stopped when Kanu declared a cease-fire, saying that he was redirecting ESN efforts against "Fulani raiders." (He also claimed that the federal forces had withdrawn from Orlu.)

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Supporters of the ESN, including in the Igbo diaspora, justify it as being like Miyetti Allah in the north and Amotekun in Yorubaland in the west. Both are paramilitary operations outside the federal government's legal purview but with some ambiguous level of government approval. The north and the west were on the winning side in the civil war, and that may help account for the federal government's greater tolerance for their paramilitary organizations than for one associated with the Igbo.

The escalating fighting in IPOB strongholds carries the risk of radicalizing the population and building support for the IPOB. Credible evidence suggests police assaulted residents in Orlu, and some police perpetrators have been arrested. The commissioner of police for Imo State has apologized. But as recently as December 2020, IPOB was saying that ESN forces were merely a "vigilante" group protecting the Igbo against the Fulani. Now Kanu has an organized wing, the ESN, and believes he has the authority to order a cease-fire in a fight with federal forces. Violence is escalating, and the outcome is unpredictable.

Blog posts represent the views of CFR fellows and staff and not those of CFR, which takes no institutional positions.

Bengaluru, Feb 11 : Voice AI startup Vernacular.ai on Thursday said it strengthened its workforce by four times in financial year 2020 as it announced the appointment of two new members to its leadership team.

Gangadhar Kodandaram has been appointed the Chief Revenue Officer and Ankit Jain as Vice President for Product Management.

Both Kodandaram and Jain will work directly with Sourabh Gupta, CEO and Co-founder of Vernacular.ai, to grow the business and spearhead global expansion starting with the SouthEast Asian markets.

Prior to joining Vernacular.ai, Gangadhar was with Microsoft India building the healthcare vertical.

Jain brings to the new role over 10 years of experience in product management.

"As we continue to make headway towards becoming the world's most immersive Voice AI platform, we are glad to have new leaders like Gangadhar and Ankit back this dream, bringing to the table their multifunctional expertise in emerging technologies," Gupta said in a statement.

Besides strengthening its workforce, Vernacular.ai said it has also stayed on schedule with appraisals, bonuses and promotions to ensure their employees are taken care of, and stay motivated to succeed.

The company said that it will continue with this strategy, hiring aggressively in 2021 to expand its workforce by 2x, closing key leadership positions and senior roles.

Vernacular.ai provides an AI-based voice automation platform -- Vernacular Intelligent Virtual Assistant (VIVA), that helps accelerate engagement strategy and utilises speech recognition and natural language understanding (NLU) technology.
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GUWAHATI: With a focus on assembly polls in Assam and West Bengal, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday met influential Koch-Rajbongshi leader 'Maharaj' Ananta Rai and spent about an hour at his home in western Assam's Chirang district bordering Bhutan. The Koch-Rajbongshi people are living in Assam and West Bengal and claim to have over 18.5 lakh voters in the two states.

Shah arrived in Guwahati early on Thursday from Delhi by a special flight and flew to Chirang along with Assam Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to meet met Rai, one of the founders of the Greater Cooch Behar Peoples' Association (GCPA), an apex body of the Koch-Rajbongshi people.

"Good days are ahead for the Koch Rajbongshi people. We are happy that the central minister came to meet us," Rai told the media after his meeting with Shah, who later flew to Guwahati enroute to West Bengal, where he attend several election related events, including "Poribortan Yatra" in Cooch Behar.

Rai without detailing his discussion with the Home Minister said: "We have discussed many socio-economic issues. We are with the NDA (National Democratic alliance)." Assam Bharatiya Janata Party President Ranjeet Kumar Dass and Cooch Behar BJP MP Nisith Pramanik were also present in the meeting between Shah and Rai.

Rai claims to be a successor of the erstwhile Koch-Rajbongshi royal dynasty and an influential superior of the community.

According to Rai, the Koch-Rajbongshi community with a total population of over a crore is categorised as Scheduled Caste in West Bengal and Other Backward Class in Assam. They mostly reside in western Assam and in seven districts of North Bengal, especially in Cooch Behar. Many in the political circles believe that during his visit, Shah might have sought support from Rai and his community in view of the ensuing Assembly polls in Assam and West Bengal.

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There is really no way we can prevent the rest of the world from taking interest in our domestic affairs, especially if we wish to be at the high table of the international community. (Photo:AP)

Can tweets by international pop star Rihanna, teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg and other global celebrities in support of Indias protesting farmers destabilise this country of over 1.3 billion people?

Or should we look within? Is foreign meddling the real threat facing us or is Indias real challenge the deepening domestic polarisation on just about every front?

Successive governments in India have pointed at the foreign hand in times of crisis. I entered journalism in the 1980s when one regularly heard of the invisible foreign hand that was out to dismember our country. In many of her public speeches, then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi spoke of the dark spectre of foreign forces out to destabilise India.

Rajiv Gandhi, who came to power in 1984 with a huge majority after his mothers assassination, also talked of the invisible foreign hand trying to derail Indias development.

Back then, there was no Twitter or social media or troll armies, and no virtual slugfests. But on government-run Doordarshan and All India Radio and in sections of the print media, there was no escaping allusions to these dark, powerful and invisible forces out to get us.

Cut to the New India. The foreign hand is back. The ruling BJP sees comments from global celebrities in support of the ongoing farmers protests as part of a deep conspiracy against the country. Prime Minister Narendra Modi says India has been seeing increased FDI but there is a new FDI that has emerged -- Foreign Destructive Ideology. Modi says India needs to be protected against it.

Is the world really out to get us? Or should we get used to the fact that in a networked globalised world, nothing is local anymore? As protests erupted across the United States following George Floyds death at the hands of the police on the streets of Minneapolis, the Black Lives Matter movement resonated around the world. Support for BLM led to demonstrations in a number of countries. In a more recent example, the coup in Myanmar has been denounced by individuals around the world, including in India.

There is really no way we can prevent the rest of the world from taking interest in our domestic affairs, especially if we wish to be at the high table of the international community. If we so eagerly lap up foreign praise, can we afford to be so prickly about the foreign gaze when the comments are adverse? If Indians rejoice at going up the World Banks ease of doing business 2020 survey, they cant totally shrug off slipping in the Economist Intelligence Units 2020 Democracy Indexs global rankings.

The problems will not go away simply if foreigners stop talking about it. And as for us, stopping and reversing the current trend of polarisation is vital, for the simple reason that no country or society can make real progress if social cohesion starts eroding.

Leaving aside the foreign gaze for a moment and looking within, we cannot but help notice a deeply polarised and fractured nation, with deepening domestic political divisions. That is the real challenge, and that challenge cannot be surmounted by simply choking protests or forcibly shutting up views that clash with those of the government of the day. There must be a dialogue. The government must stop its storm troopers -- from ministers to those on the streets -- from statements and actions that polarise further. Else, social cohesion will become even more fragile.

The Global Risks Report 2021 brought out by the World Economic Forum lists social cohesion erosion among the highest-likelihood and highest-impact long-term risks facing our pandemic-battered world. As public health gaps, digital inequality, educational disparities and unemployment -- risks that result from a complex combination of existing inequalities and the impact of the pandemic - - affect vulnerable groups the most, they may further fray social cohesion, it says.

Too many people have little left to lose. The global recession, the report notes, is now expected to force as many as 150 million more people into extreme poverty, increasing the total to 9.4 per cent of the worlds population. This setback in the global development agenda will heighten vulnerability to future shocks and threaten the erosion or collapse of states, it warns.

Our government also admits that the economic shock caused by the ongoing pandemic is severe. It is now hoping for a V-shaped economic recovery. No such recovery will be possible without the vibrant pluralistic democracy that is key to Indias power. If democracy is our calling card, we must also listen to critical views and voices without feeling the need to link them with ulterior motives. Getting prickly about criticism will only worry the whole world even

more.

There is a debate about the potential impact of American concerns about the state of democracy and liberalism in India on the US-India relationship, pointed out Tanvi Madan, director of the India Project and senior fellow at globally renowned think tank Brookings, in a January 2021 essay titled Democracy and the US-India relationship.

Often commentators argue there will either be no effect because of Indias utility for the US or major impact because of the incoming Biden administrations emphasis on values, Madan added. The answer is likely to lie somewhere in between. A pragmatic Biden team will likely recognise that India will be key to their objectives vis-a-vis issues like the Indo-Pacific and China, climate change and global health security.

However, questions about Indias trajectory as a pluralistic democracy could directly or indirectly affect the pace and tone of the relationship  especially if they are accompanied by doubts about Indias capabilities, economic growth and policies, and willingness to play a balancing role versus China.

Indias handling of the ongoing farmers protests has taken a lot of sheen off the countrys image, coming as it does on the back of many other illiberal measures. This is unfortunate for many reasons, including the fact that India is getting a few things right even in these fraught, polarised times. Take Indias vaccine diplomacy. India has supplied low-cost coronavirus vaccines to many countries across the world. With the US and Europe preoccupied with Covid-19 and many nations looking to India for a Covid-19 antidote, Delhi can score valuable points, as G. Parthasarathy, a former diplomat, noted in a recent commentary.

The bottom line: we must get our act together. At the end, a country does not rise or fall because of the foreigners gaze but because of what its insiders do or fail to do.
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From the unmade bed to the cluttered kitchen counter, these photos could be taken of almost any family home.

So it might surprise you to learn that these modestly decorated rooms belong to a woman whose father is worth 3.625billion.

Holly Branson, 39, the oldest daughter of Sir Richard and his wife Joan, lives in London with her husband Freddie Andrewes and their three children: six-year-old twins Etta and Artie, and daughter Lola, two.

Unlike other heiresses whose families are similarly wealthy, Holly has chosen to give her children a relatively normal upbringing - although they do enjoy getaways to their grandfather's private island.

Mum life! Holly Branson, 39, the oldest daughter of Sir Richard and his wife Joan, lives in London with her husband Freddie Andrewes and their three children: six-year-old twins Etta and Artie, and daughter Lola, two. Pictured, Holly offers a glimpse at an unmade bed in an Instagram snap shared last week revealing her business-casual work from home outfit

Family kitchen: The children with their advent calendars at the kitchen counter before Christmas. Unlike other heiresses whose families are similarly wealthy, Holly has chosen to give her children a relatively normal upbringing

Working from home! Holly shared a photo of her desk covered in bits and pieces - including a bobble hat, empty water glass and a fruit and nut bar - as she joined colleagues at Virgin for a virtual Christmas party

Look who it is! Holly's youngest daughter Lola points at her grandfather Sir Richard on the screen as they watch Don't Look Down, the 2016 documentary about his attempts to break world records flying in a hot air balloon

The mother-of-three has won praise from her followers (she has 96,600 on Instagram) for her lockdown posts about homeschooling, remote working - she is Virgin's Chief Purpose & Vision Officer' - and the struggle of keeping children busy at home

Snaps show the children having tea parties with their stuffed animals, cuddling up in front of the TV, and 'cleaning' the windows with wet wipes.

In an Instagram snap taken on a Tuesday morning last month, Holly is seen sitting on the living room floor on her laptop while one of her children is watching something on an iPad next to her, headphones on.

'11am - pyjamas are on - the screens are out... One of those days!,' she wrote in the caption. It struck a chord with other parents, with one mother writing: 'Thank god you have them too, you have just made me feel a lot better about myself.'

Understated: Photos reveal a simple, pared back interior design style. Pictured, the large white sofas in the living room

Practical living: The open plan kitchen has space for a dining table, where the twins had a lesson with their grandmother Jill before lockdown restrictions changed. Holly's Instagram page regularly offers homeschooling tips to parents

'One of those days!' In an Instagram snap taken on a Tuesday morning last month, Holly is seen sitting on the living room floor on her laptop while one of her children is watching something on an iPad next to her, headphones on

Last week Holly took a selfie showing her standing on her unmade bed wearing tracksuit bottoms and a dressy black top. She wrote: 'Verified Eight hours of back to back video calls today... Business on top, pure comfort on the bottom. Excuse the messy bed!'

The background of the photo offers a glimpse at Holly and Freddie's simple, traditional taste in interior design. There is a simple whitewashed wood dresser and a grey and white heart print on the wall.

A similar pared back scheme is seen in other areas of the house too, with white sofas in the living room and a white family kitchen.

Her husband of nine years Freddie, who works as part of the investment team at Virgin Management, rarely appears in the photos, Holly couldn't resist sharing a snap to mark his most recent birthday.

She means business! Etta joined her mother in the home office to watch 'papa' Richard Branson on a Virgin video call

Comfortable and cosy: The family's living room covered with presents for Etta and Artie's sixth birthday in December

Picnic time! Holly shared this sweet snap of her children enjoying a snack with their reindeer friends shortly before Christmas

The couple began dating when Holly was 18 after meeting at a mutual friend's birthday party. They waited 11 years before tying the knot on Sir Richard's Necker Island in December 2011.

The wedding took place in the ruins of the Big House on Necker after it was destroyed in a fire a few months previously.

Holly has spoken of how she went through 'difficult and distressing' years trying to conceive, revealing she had gone through two failed rounds of IVF, suffered two miscarriages and had considered surrogacy and adoption before falling pregnant with the twins.

Etta and Artie were born in December 2015. Youngest daughter Lola was born in December 2018.

The Democrats and House managers are playing to a different jury in this case than in any previous impeachment trial of an American president, said Ken Gormley, the president of Duquesne University and the author of books on impeachment, presidents and the Constitution. Regardless of the outcome of the trial, the first paragraph of historical accounts of the Trump presidency is likely to say that he incited a mob attack on Congress after refusing to accept the results of an election.

If Mr. Trump is not convicted, the managers want to ensure that he remains so politically radioactive that he cannot be the same force he once was  if not the pariah they think he ought to be, then at least a figure that many mainstream Republicans and their corporate donors keep at arms length. In effect, if the Senate will not vote to formally disqualify him from future office, they want the public to do so.

Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, one of Mr. Trumps more outspoken Republican critics, touched on that on Wednesday after the House managers played a searing sequence of never-before-seen images of the mob he inspired ransacking the Capitol. Given what the country has now seen, she said the prospects for a Trump comeback campaign in 2024 appear vanishingly thin.

Frankly, I dont see how after the American public sees the whole story laid out here  not just in one snippet on this day and another on that, but this whole scenario that has been laid out before us  I dont see how Donald Trump could be re-elected to the presidency again, Ms. Murkowski told reporters. I just dont see that.
Zara, the flagship of Spain's Inditex fashion empire, has launched a range of clothing, accessories and toys for mans best friend.

The Galician multinational has unveiled a new collection of affordable items to keep the legion of fans of the fashion brand happy.

Beds and bandanas are among the range now available for pampered pooches.

Available in different sizes to suit all breeds. / ZARA

The clothing range offers a wide range of sizes from XS for smaller dogs to XL for the larger breeds.

For the chilly days you can choose from several models of Zara coats  including a bright yellow raincoat and trendy padded jackets.

Prices range from 7.95 euros for a small accessory up to 35.95 euros for a large, padded bed made of a cotton and linen blend with a handle to allow you to move it easily.

The bandanas can even be personalised with the dog's name for just one euro more.

Its not the first time that the fashion giant has launched a pet line but this year the range is larger and more affordable.
It was with "pain in my heart," rector Konstantin Markelov said on January 29, that he announced the expulsion of three Astrakhan State University students for attending opposition protests.

But "the law is the law," he said in an open letter posted to social media. "Think a hundred times when they urge you to join unsanctioned demonstrations."

The university in southern Russia prompted an uproar with its decision, a case still rare in Russia despite an increasingly harsh crackdown on dissent following nationwide rallies in support of jailed opposition politician Aleksei Navalny on January 23.

Now two of the students -- Vera Inozemtseva and Aleksandr Mochalov -- are suing the university and demanding their reinstatement. "I see my expulsion as a case of political repression," Inozemtseva told RFE/RL in an interview.

She and her legal team will argue that the decision violates the school's own charter as well as their right to freedom of assembly under the Russian Constitution.

"They can't properly justify the decision aside from issuing abstract statements," said Yaroslav Pavlyukov, the lawyer representing the students. "They say the rules of their code of conduct have been violated. What rules? They don't say."

Target Demographic

The fallout from the protests in late January and early February has convulsed Russia's student community, a target demographic in the Kremlin's campaign to rein in political activism among young people and shift their allegiance away from the opposition and toward the state.

Thousands took part in the recent protests, and millions watched pro-Navalny videos uploaded by students to the TikTok video app, with many of the clips filmed in school classrooms or university corridors.

The clampdown was swift. In Siberia, lecturer Aleksei Alekseyev was fired from the Novosibirsk Energy And Technology College for a social-media post encouraging people to attend a January 23 demonstration as a "good excuse to meet and discuss the fate of the country."

In the Volga River city of Samara, the state university redacted its Code of Ethics to ban participation in anti-government rallies by both students and teachers, a move that is expected to serve as an example for other schools going forward.

Students also say they've been pressured or even deceived into taking part in pro-Kremlin parades that, according to news outlet Meduza, have been recorded and posted online under instructions passed down from President Vladimir Putin's administration.

Nevertheless, the incident in Astrakhan has turned heads.

"We know that students are often threatened with expulsion for joining protests, but actual expulsion happens very rarely," Pavlyukov said. "We need to prove this is illegal and unjust."

Of the three expelled students, 22-year-old Inozemtseva is the only seasoned opposition activist. She worked in Navalny's regional political campaign in 2017, ahead of his attempt to challenge Putin in the 2018 presidential election, from which he was barred due to criminal convictions on charges he says were fabricated. She has also joined multiple protests in the past, including a series of rallies in March 2017 that prompted the Kremlin to launch a similar preemptive campaign in Russia's schools.

Inozemtseva says that on January 23, as she was on her way home from the protest in Astrakhan, she was abducted by masked men in civilian clothing who confiscated her belongings. She says she later discovered that calls for anti-government rallies were posted to her social-media accounts while her phone was in police custody.

Since her expulsion she has publicly campaigned for the resignation of Markelov, the Astrakhan State University rector, and has gained support from Yabloko, an opposition party that has petitioned the Education Ministry to strip Markelov of his position, citing evidence dug up by Dissernet, an anti-plagiarism group, that large parts of his doctorate thesis were taken from other academic articles.

"A person who built his so-called academic career on a fake dissertation cannot be a guarantor of the rights and freedoms of his university's students," Yabloko said in a statement.

Inozemtseva said that if her lawsuit is successful, her victory in Astrakhans courts will be instructive to other students who find themselves expelled or pressured to renounce opposition views in the future.

"It will give them a guarantee that no student can be thrown out for their political views," she told RFE/RL.

But the scale of the recent anti-government protests, which most estimates say brought out some 100,000 people on two consecutive weekends, has fueled a fraught and tense climate ahead of parliamentary elections expected in September, and a sense among activists that the authorities will tolerate no dissent.

"Since the case has a political undertone, I don't know how it will play in our courts," Pavlyukov said. "But in any case, we have to try."
An SwRI scientist used a new model to estimate Mars' bombardment history. This new model indicated that some of the most prominent terrains associated with ancient water activity may be hundreds of millions of years older than previously thought, important data as NASA's Perseverance rover prepares to land in one of these craters. The image shows a computer simulation indicating a hypothetical evolution for an early Mars heavily battered by cosmic impacts. Credit: SwRI

A Southwest Research Institute scientist has updated Mars chronology models to find that terrains shaped by ancient water activity on the planet's surface may be hundreds of millions of years older than previously thought. This new chronology for Mars, based on the latest dynamical models for the formation and evolution of the solar system, is particularly significant as the days count down until NASA's Mars 2020 Perseverance rover lands on the Red Planet on February 18, 2021.

Unlike on Earth, where terrains are commonly dated using natural radioactivity of rocks, scientists have largely constrained the chronology of Mars by counting impact craters on its surface.

"The idea behind crater dating is not rocket science; the more craters, the older the surface," says SwRI's Dr. Simone Marchi, who published a paper about these findings accepted for publication in The Astronomical Journal. "But the devil is in the details. Craters form when asteroids and comets strike the surface. The rate of these cosmic crashes over the eons is uncertain, hampering our ability to convert crater numbers to terrain ages. I took a fresh look at this and built on recent developments in the way we understand the earliest evolution of the solar system."

Scientists have used radiometric ages of precious lunar rocks brought back by the Apollo missions to calibrate a lunar crater chronology. This lunar chronology is then extrapolated to Mars, and this is where things get tangled with the earliest evolution of the solar system. Our understanding of the time evolution of lunar and Martian impact rates has greatly improved in recent years. The present model improves upon how the critical Moon-to-Mars extrapolations are done.

The Jezero Crater on Mars, the landing site for NASA's Mars 2020 mission, shows evidence of water carved channels and transported sediments. Colors highlight the distribution of clays and carbonates. An SwRI scientist updated Mars chronology models and predicted that these surfaces could have formed more than 3 billion years ago, which means they are hundreds of millions of years older than previously thought. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS/JHU-APL

"For this paper, I looked particularly at the Jezero Crater because that is the landing site for the Mars 2020 Perseverance rover," Marchi said. "These surfaces could have formed over 3 billion years ago, as much as 500 million years older than previously thought. NASA plans to have Perseverance gather and package surface samples that can be collected by a future mission for return to Earth for radiometric dating. That could provide vital ground-truth data to better calibrate our chronology models."

Jezero Crater has a diameter of about 30 miles located within the 750-mile-wide Isidis Basin, created by an earlier impact. The latter cut a wide portion of the Borealis Basin's rim, perhaps the largest and oldest impact basin on Mars. This coincidence of nested craters is of particular interest as samples from these terrains may return information about the timing of these consecutive impacts.

Furthermore, Jezero Crater hosts clay-rich terrains and a fluvial delta, indications that the crater once hosted a lake. This makes the Jezero Crater an ideal place to fulfill the Mars 2020 mission's science goal of studying a potentially habitable environment that may still preserve signs of past life. As such, understanding the timeline of these surfaces is particularly important.

The new model also provides a revised age for Isidis Basin, now estimated to be 4-4.2 billion years old, providing an upper limit for the formation of Jezero Crater and water activity at this location on Mars.

The new paper "A new Martian crater chronology: Implications for Jezero crater" appears in The Astronomical Journal.

Explore further Video: Flight over the Mars 2020 Perseverance rover landing site

More information: Simone Marchi, A new martian crater chronology: Implications for Jezero crater, The Astronomical Journal arXiv:2102.05625v1, Journal information: Astronomical Journal Simone Marchi, A new martian crater chronology: Implications for Jezero crater,arXiv:2102.05625v1, arxiv.org/abs/2102.05625
The Nigerian police lied when it said only one cow strayed into the compound of the Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka, the professor has said.

Mr Soyinka, in a statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES, narrated how the cattle invaded his home, how they were removed and how the police took time to arrive the scene after they were invited.

The police in Ogun had claimed in a statement Tuesday that only one cow strayed into Mr Soyinkas compound.

The entire place was inspected by the DPO and it was established that it was just a case of stray cow as nothing was damaged or tampered with, the police said.

Mr Soyinka has now said that the narrative of the police is false.

I thoroughly resent the police version which suggests that the cows never invaded my home: home is not just a building; it includes its grounds. And it was not a stray cow, or two or three. It was a herd  we have photos, so why the lie? It is so unnecessary, unprofessional and suspiciously compromised, Mr Soyinka wrote.

Read Mr Soyinkas full statement below.

PRESS STATEMENT

MAD COWS AND EVEN MADDER NARRATIVES

The most distressful aspect of my recent interaction with cows and herders is that it has created a most unwanted distraction from the ongoing life and death Nigerian narrative. One has to take time off to deal with distortions and Fake versions, while students are being reportedly waylaid and killed and/or kidnapped in Ondo and farmers are being slaughtered in my own state. In short, the killings continue even as panels are being launched to enquire into immediate past human violations. For those who truly seek details of the Ijegba incident, I hereby affirm that I was never physically attacked, neither did I attack any cows. The cows and herders did however attack my property  and not for the first time.

The police need to be very, very careful, learn to be straightforward with public information. Failure to adhere to that obvious, basic form of conduct means that the public will lose total confidence in security agencies and constantly bypass them in times of civic unrest, no matter how trivial or deadly. How on earth could the police claim that my property was not invaded by cattle? It was. My groundsmen knew the drill and commenced the process of expelling them. Fortunately, I was then driving out and was able to lend a hand by vehicle maneuvering. Both cattle and herdsmen were flushed out of my property.

Once they were outside the gates, I came down from the vehicle and beckoned the herdsmen to come over. At first, they pretended not to understand, then, as I approached, fled into the bush. We thereupon arrested the cows, confining them to the roadside, while I sent my groundsman, Taiye, to the police to come and take over. Since they took rather long in responding, I summoned a replacement and proceeded to the police station. On the way, we met a detachment, turned round, and together we returned to the scene of crime. The police wanted to commence combing the bush for the fugitives but I stopped them  what was the point? Keep the cows, I advised, and the owner will show up. Of course, that owner eventually did.

I thoroughly resent the police version which suggests that the cows never invaded my home: home is not just a building; it includes its grounds. And it was not a stray cow, or two or three. It was a herd  we have photos, so why the lie? It is so unnecessary, unprofessional and suspiciously compromised. The police suggest that I have nothing better to do than to go accosting cows on the public road  to what end? If the police demand proof, the next time such an invasion takes place, I warn that there will be no lack for cadaver affirmation and the police will be officially invited to join in the ensuing suya feast. So please, let us get serious!

Getting serious means seeking with a sense of urgency, ways of terminating mayhem, impunity, and the homicidal culture being imposed on us through some near cultic business minority who just happen to trade in cattle. It means not giving up on peaceful solutions, but also being prepared for the worst. Those of my line of thought have been working on various ways of sensitizing the nation to the very real and imminent danger issuing from this cattle aberration. The menace, I repeat, challenges us as a cohesive entity and as communities of free individuals, committed to the dignity of existence. Cattle imperialism under any guise is an obscenity to humanity. So let me serve notice that we are about to commence a process of public sensitization; we hope even the police will join hands with the agenda as it progresses.

A special practical plea: now that the railways are being resurrected, let us make cattle wagons a priority. I grew up with the regular sight of those practical conveyances. It is time to bring them back.

Wole SOYINKA

ARI.

Kemta Housing Estate

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Abeokuta, Ogun State

Feb. 11, 2021
New Delhi, Feb 11 : Actor Varun Dhawan urges people to gain a perspective toward sustainability and move towards the change.

"Sustainability is a lifestyle choice, and everybody should move towards those changes. My idea of sustainable fashion is to use products that are organic and generate minimalistic wastage," he tells IANSlife.

The actor, who recently got married to his longtime girlfriend Natasha Dalal, suggests people to read more about the topic and adapt to the changes.

"There are a lot details around sustainable lifestyle on the Internet. My only tip for all the consumers will be to read about sustainable lifestyle, gain perspective and adapt to the changes as per their own requirement," says Varun.

Varun advises: "Buy products which provide you comfort and make conscious changes to adapt to a more sustainable lifestyle." The actor is the brand ambassador of Reebok and has launched its "Write Your Legacy" campaign.

"I believe mentally connecting with a brand is a really important factor for me to endorse them. I feel we share the same belief in terms of fitness and performance and that is something inspires me to be a part of a brand like Reebok," Varun says.

(Puja Gupta can be contacted at puja.g@ians.in)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
MYRTLE BEACH  Delta Airlines plans to launch a nonstop flight to Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport in April, the airport announced Thursday.

The airline will fly daily from Myrtle Beach International Airport to MSP starting April 12.

The new service is "wonderful news for the Grand Strand," said Scott Van Moppes, director of airports.

Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport is a global hub for Delta Airlines, and will provide passengers from the Grand Strand even more convenient options for traveling to Minneapolis/St. Paul, destinations across the United States and internationally. Delta has been an integral partner of the Myrtle Beach International Airport and our local community and we thank them for their continued support.

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The European Parliament (EP) has encouraged the Ukrainian authorities to ensure the independence and continued work of key anti-corruption institutions, reiterating that delivering tangible results in the fight against corruption is essential.

This is outlined in the Justice, Freedom and Security section of the report on the implementation of the EU Association Agreement with Ukraine backed by the European Parliament. Rapporteur was Michael Gahler (Germany).

"Delivering tangible results in the fight against corruption is essential in order to maintain a high level of support for the reform process among citizens, as well as to improve the business environment and attract foreign direct investments," the EP said in the resolution.

The EP is concerned, however, by the outcome of the 27 October 2020 ruling of the Constitutional Court, which created a legal gap in the Ukrainian anti-corruption architecture and seriously weakened the National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NACP).

"The EP urges the Ukrainian authorities to act as soon as possible to reinstate a fully operational, effective and comprehensive institutional architecture to fight corruption and stresses the importance of ensuring the independence of the High Anti-Corruption Court (HACC) and other anti-corruption institutions," the MEPs said in the resolution.

The EP is pleased with the work of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and regrets attempts to attack and undermine anti-corruption institutions by members of the Verkhovna Rada, in particular attempts to dismiss the Director of NABU.

The EP welcomes the draft Anti-corruption Strategy for 2020-2024 and expects that the Verkhovna Rada will soon adopt this comprehensive strategy.

In addition, is deeply concerned by the high degree of systematic political pressure and by the acts of intimidation perpetrated against the Chairman of the National Bank of Ukraine and urges the Ukrainian authorities to refrain from exerting political pressure on independent economic institutions and enforcement authorities.

The EP urges Ukraine to ratify the International Criminal Court's Rome Statute and the Istanbul Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence.
COLUMBUS, Ohio - A state employee who was in charge of comparing coronavirus-related deaths from two different databases got overwhelmed as fatalities began to mount, and fell so far behind that there may be 4,100 deaths that werent reported to the public.

This is according to Ohio Department of Health Director Stephanie McCloud, who talked to a selected group of reporters Thursday about the death data discrepancy the department recently discovered -- and revealed shortly before 6 p.m. Wednesday -- that could push the states death toll to close to 16,000 from Wednesdays 11,856.

Cleveland.com/The Plain Dealer and some other Ohio media members werent on the call, but the health department sent an audio recording of McClouds remarks later.

During the surge, they began to fall behind, McCloud said, adding that the employee primarily responsible either didnt appreciate how far they were behind or the gravity of being that far behind. McCloud said that the person never raised the issue to top management, and certainly not up to my level so that we could get additional resources deployed.

Deaths are reported to two separate offices within the Ohio Department of Health:

-To the Bureau of Infectious Diseases, which has a database to which hospitals, health districts and urgent care clinics upload infectious disease information, including deaths, one to three days after they occur;

- To the Bureau of Vital Statistics, which also has a database for physician-signed death certificates. Funeral homes and others send the information to the state, which forwards it to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC determines whether to code the death as U-071, which is the COVID-19 code. Those codes are then returned to the Bureau of Vital Statistics, which builds a spreadsheet of coronavirus-positive deaths by matching these cases to ones already reported in the infectious disease database --including removing some cases if the federal government ultimately determines they were not coronavirus-caused. This whole process can take one to six months.

McCloud said that the employee began to fall behind on reconciling information from the two databases in October, with it becoming more of a problem in November and December. The death certificate database apparently has around 4,100 more COVID-19 deaths than the infectious disease database.

The health department has brought in resources to manually check the deaths between the databases. Itll take about a week.

Until we do the reconciliation, we wont know the exact number. We think this is the correct number, she said. Its possible it is a little higher. It is possible it is a little lower.

Its an open question whether anyone will be held accountable.

We are starting what is our standard administrative review process as to how the issue arose and why it was not flagged sooner, McCloud said. And Im really not able to comment on anything more until thats completed.

More coverage:

Ohios overnight curfew expires, as coronavirus hospitalizations hold below 2,500

721 new coronavirus deaths reported as Ohio works to correct huge error: Thursday update

Gov. Mike DeWine to give coronavirus briefing after huge death data disparity found: Watch live

Ohio Department of Health underreported coronavirus deaths by thousands: Capitol Letter

Ohio reports 3,281 new coronavirus cases; 348,247 vaccines completed: Wednesday update

Gov. Mike DeWines budget proposals could help Ohioans struggling with mental health, addiction during pandemic

As Biden administration eyes Ohio for mass vaccinations, state not yet releasing list of potential sites


A top climate change official in Massachusetts resigned from his post Wednesday night over statements he made last month that have since been criticized by the governor and advocacy groups alike in which he said the commonwealth needs to break the will of consumers.

Undersecretary for Climate Change David Ismay, who found himself in hot water when a video of his controversial comments surfaced, sent his resignation to Secretary Kathleen A. Theoharides, the secretary of energy and environmental affairs.

It is with great regret that I submit my resignation, effectively immediately, from the position of Undersecretary for Climate Change in the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, Ismay wrote.

As the state undersecretary for climate change, Ismay stated, he worked diligently to ensure the health and welfare of residents across Massachusetts in the face of the global climate crisis. The resignation letter was shared with MassLive.

Serving the people of Massachusetts as part of the Baker-Polito Administration has been the honor of a lifetime, and I am proud of the equitable climate solutions we achieved together, he wrote.

Ismay made the comments that ultimately led to his resignation while addressing the Vermont Climate Council at its yearly meeting on Jan. 25.

He was discussing the states efforts to decrease carbon emissions when he said the only major group of polluters left were residents, who he referred to as, the person across the street, the senior on fixed income.

In the video of Ismays comments, which was published by the right-leaning Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance on Feb. 4, the climate official can be heard saying it is time to turn the screws on residents and break their will, so they stop emitting.

The clip ends with him saying, We have to break your will. Right, I cant even say that publicly.

Addressing the comments in his resignation letter to Theoharides, Ismay wrote, I would like to apologize, again, for my comments at last months Vermont Climate Council meeting. My inability to clearly communicate during that discussion reflected poorly on the governor, on you, and on our hardworking staff.

Ismay added that while his comments were interpreted by some as placing the burden of climate change on hardworking families and vulnerable populations, his intent was the opposite.

In the entirety of my remarks, and as I have elsewhere, I was urging caution in order to minimize such impacts out of a sincere concern that overly aggressive emissions targets may have unintended and harmful consequences on those we most need to protect, he wrote.

Republican Gov. Charlie Baker criticized Ismays at a press conference a day later, where he also discussed his veto last month of a sweeping climate change response bill, the State House News Service reported.

First of all, no one who works in our administration should ever say or think anything like that, Baker said of Ismays comments. Secondly, Secretary Theoharides is going to have a conversation with him about that. And third, one of the main reasons we didnt sign the climate bill when it got to our desk was because we were specifically concerned about the impact it was going to have on peoples ability to pay for many of the pieces that were in it, which means it also doesnt represent administration policy or position.

Several Massachusetts state representatives, seven Republicans and a sole Democrat, have since penned a letter to Baker calling for him to dismiss Ismay. They described the climate officials comments at the Vermont meeting as insensitive and offensive.

Let us be perfectly clear: these comments are callous, insensitive, and point to a major, insurmountable disconnect between this appointed member of your administration and the very public he is supposed to be serving, the lawmakers wrote.

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Days after the state opened a hotline to offer seniors support in making COVID-19 vaccination appointments, a Massachusetts lawmaker says more is still needed.

That access process is still too confusing, state Sen. Eric Lesser said Wednesday. People basically have to undergo an obstacle course to get their appointment scheduled.

Lesser, along with state Sens. Anne M. Gobi, Cindy F. Friedman, filed emergency legislation, that had more than 60 co-sponsors from both parties, to improve the vaccination booking portal a day after the website for booking appointments at the states large-scale vaccination sites was unveiled.

We were getting calls from seniors, and even people who arent seniors, that the process was completely confusing, Lesser stated. It was frankly an obstacle course.

The state unveiled a color-coded Google Map which features more than 100 vaccination sites across the state, including high-volume sites, grocery stores and sites open to residents of specific towns.

From clicking on the map, users are then directed to a separate website to make appointments.

Vaccinations offered at the states super vaccination sites - including at Gillette Stadium, Fenway, the Eastfield Mall in Springfield and the Doubletree Hotel in Danvers - are booked through a website set up by the state.

Seniors and their loved ones told Lesser of their struggles to use the website, which led to some guesswork about availability.

If that location was busy, Lesser explained. You have to go back and do the whole thing over again.

David Thompson, property manager of the Eastfield Mall meets State Sen. Eric P. Lesser at the former enterance of the Eastfield Mall vaccination site in Springfield. (Douglas Hook / MassLive)

The Longmeadow Democrat toured the Eastfield Mall vaccination site Wednesday with David Thompson, property manager of the Springfield Mall, as well as meeting with Curative Site Director Dean Shultis.

Charlie Coggins, a 75-year-old who received his first dose of the vaccine Wednesday at the Springfield site, shared similar frustrations.

The website is not easy, said Coggins. Its not intuitive. You should be able to schedule your appointment first. Once you have the appointment then you fill in the documentation and all the forms and stuff.

He said that he is relatively computer literate, and he worries that others that are in their 80s or 90s would struggle to make a booking.

The Oxbridge native described to MassLive that not only did he have issues with the Walgreens booking system that emailed for vaccination in Connecticut, which is closer to his home.

Booking was terrible, Coggins told MassLive.

Charlie Coggins, a 75-year-old who received his first dose of the Pfizer vaccine at the Eastfield Mall in Springfield on Wednesday. (Douglas Hook / MassLive)

Using the Walgreens pharmacy website, he attempted to book his appointment in Massachusetts. He was informed that all the sites were fully booked and was directed to Putnam across the state border.

I got the appointment and it was confirmed, so, I thought great. Im all set, said Coggins. Less than 24 hours before I got there, I got an email from Walgreens that said, were sorry. It is for Connecticut residents and we cant give it to you.

This happened a week ago and had it not been for the confusion, Coggins said, he would have been vaccinated already.

The current registration process offers not only separate appointment websites for the different vaccination sites, but appointments become available at different times.

Currently, large-scale vaccination sites post large batches of appointments once a week on Thursdays. The number of appointments available will be dependent on the amount of doses allocated to Massachusetts by the federal government.

CVS Health is posting new appointments online daily. Some smaller vaccination sites have created waitlists and contact those eligible when appointments become available.

Legislation filed by Lesser and other lawmakers seeks to creating a one-stop, online sign-up for COVID-19 vaccinations for both desktop and mobile registration. It also requires a 24/7 hotline to help answer questions in multiple languages.

Somebody who wasnt proficient with computers, didnt have access to computers or lived in a community without internet access at all was completely out of luck, said Lesser. We flagged these issues privately for the Department of Public Health multiple times. I didnt think that they acted with urgency on it. So, we filed emergency legislation.

Within 24 hours, 60 legislators had signed-on and co-sponsored the bill, Lesser stated.

We saw the governor announced the 211 call center and we saw some improvements to the website, said Lesser, and added it still isnt enough.

A state call center was launched Friday to help residents book appointments, open 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Call center workers speak English and Spanish with translation services available on request for other languages.

Olivia Adams, a 28-year-old Arlington software developer took matters into her own hands and did something the entire state government didnt. She created a website where residents can see what appointment times and locations are available on one simplified page.

Adams, who develops software for Athenahealth, was part of Bakers Friday statement saying that state officials were open to talking with Adams about her project. She was able to develop the site while on maternity leave and caring for her 2-year-old son.

A Harvard University analysis published this week gave the state multiple Fs on its response to the pandemic.

The analysis, published Tuesday by the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at the Harvard Kennedy School, gave Massachusetts Fs on three of four key COVID-19 performance measures: deaths per capita, vaccinations per capita and vaccinations as a percent of doses available.

According to the analysis, Massachusetts ranked 48th out of all 50 states in the country in deaths per capita, 42nd on vaccinations per capita, 44th on vaccinations as a percent of doses available and 33rd on months to finish vaccinating eligible individuals.

At a press conference Wednesday, Baker and Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders announced two more super vaccination sites opening in Massachusetts, in Dartmouth and Natick. The Dartmouth site will also be operated by Curative.

Frankly, it doesnt make all that much of a difference, said Lesser. If people cant access or book the appointment because the process is too confusing.

Steph Solis, Jackson Cote and Benjamin Kail contributed to this story.

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I-69 Crash Leaves Graves Deputy Injured

By West Kentucky Star Staff

A Graves County deputy sheriff was injured late Wednesday night when his cruiser was struck by another vehicle.



At approximately 11:30 pm, Sgt. Richard Edwards and Deputy Ben Doran were investigating a single vehicle collision on Interstate 69, near the 21-mile marker. While they were parked on the shoulder with the cruisers emergency lights flashing, another vehicle, driven by 31-year-old Altarro Sherrill of Mayfield, lost control on the ice and sleet covered roadway and struck Sgt. Edwards' cruiser in the left rear.



Sgt. Edwards, Deputy Doran and a civilian involved in the initial collision were inside the cruiser when it was struck. Sgt. Edwards was later transported to Jackson Purchase Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries. He was treated and released a short time later.



Deputy Doran, Sherrill and the other civilian were not injured.

GRAVES COUNTY -
The Federal Government has vowed to crush any fresh strike at Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos by #EndSARS protesters. It warned Nigerians a...

The Federal Government has vowed to crush any fresh strike at Lekki Toll Gate in Lagos by #EndSARS protesters.

It warned Nigerians against participating in any protest to block the toll gate.

It said all security agencies have been put on the alert to curtail any protest.

It said protests are constitutionally allowed only in designated places but not toll gates.

It confirmed intelligence report which showed that the latest protest might be hijacked to cause violence nationwide.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alh. Lai Mohammed spoke in Abuja against the backdrop of a renewed protest at Lekki Toll Gate as from Saturday.

The Minister said: However, any further resort to violence in the name of #EndSARS will not be tolerated this time.

 The security agents are ready for any eventuality. A situation in which six soldiers and 37 policemen were murdered in cold blood by hoodlums will not repeat itself.

 The attack, looting and razing of 269 private and public property will not happen again. The killing of 57 civilians will not be re-enacted.

 No government anywhere will allow a repeat of the kind of destruction, killing and maiming wrought by the hijackers of #EndSARS protests last year.

 After all, only one policeman  (plus four others)  was killed in the invasion of the US Capitol in January, yet the FBI has continued to hunt down and prosecute the perpetrators. No life is more important than the other.

Mohammed warned those planning the protest to shelve it.

He said intelligence report indicated that some of those planners are non-Nigerians

He added:  We therefore strongly warn those who are planning to re-occupy Lekki Toll Gate on Saturday to desist.

 We know that many of those who have been loudest on social media in advertising the plan to reconvene in Lagos on Saturday are not even in Nigeria.

They are elsewhere around the world fanning the embers of violence and inciting gullible people back home. No one should fall for their antics.
The Prosecutor General's Office (PGO) of Ukraine has prepared an inquiry asking Canada to send an audio recording published by CBC News, which may contain information about the possible deliberate destruction of a Ukraine International Airlines passenger aircraft in Iran in January last year.

This will be the fourth inquiry from the Ukrainian side, Deputy Prosecutor General Gyunduz Mamedov said, Ukrinform reports with reference to the PGOs press service.

We hope that Canada, without undue expectations, will provide Ukraine with the audio recording of negotiations that was published in the media. We look forward to receiving the audio file, because the processes of examining a recording and conducting phonetic expertise can be launched in parallel: in Canada and in Ukraine. And, consequently, the investigation will go faster to establish the truth and restore justice, Mamedov said.

He also recalled that on January 8, the Prosecutor General's Office initiated criminal proceedings into the cases of premeditated murder, destruction of other people's property and violation of air traffic safety rules.

Earlier, Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine Yevhen Yenin said that the preliminary investigation bodies and the Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine were examining an audio recording of negotiations with the likely participation of Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif regarding the possible reasons for the destruction of the UIA plane near Tehran in January last year.

Canadas CBC News learned that the Canadian government and security agencies were reviewing an audio recording in which a man - identified by sources as Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iran Mohammad Javad Zarif - discusses the possibility that the destruction of Flight PS752 was an intentional act.

On January 8, 2020, Ukraine International Airlines plane (Flight PS752) heading from Tehran to Kyiv crashed shortly after taking off from the Imam Khomeini International Airport. There were 176 people on board  nine crew members (all Ukrainians) and 167 passengers (citizens of Ukraine, Iran, Canada, Sweden, Afghanistan, Germany, and the UK).

On January 11, Iran admitted that its military had accidentally shot down the Ukrainian passenger jet. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) accepted full responsibility for the downing of the Ukrainian airliner.

On December 29, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky awarded the flight PS752 crewmembers the titles of Hero of Ukraine with the Order of the Golden Star.

On January 5, 2021, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said that Ukraine had received from Iran a draft technical report on the circumstances of the crash of flight PS752, and should prepare its comments by the end of February.

ish

The Tanaiste has been accused of trying to wriggle out of helping businesses against insurers.

Sinn Feins Pearse Doherty said the Government should be backing small firms against insurance companies which are refusing to cover Covid-19 business disruption claims.

He called on Leo Varadkar to support his call for the Central Bank to intervene and review business disruption insurance.

Last week the High Court ruled that four publicans were entitled to compensation from FBD Insurance for disruption to their businesses due to the pandemic.

Dont you wriggle out of the situation. The reality is... you washed your hands of it. You did nothing. Absolutely nothing Pearse Doherty

Mr Doherty said many other insurers were trying to get out of paying valid claims for business disruption insurance, adding: It needs to stop.

Theres two options here: either the Central Bank intervene, as Ive been calling for as far back as March, or there is going to be a wave of litigation at a cost that is too much for many small businesses.

Business interruption risks becoming the tracker mortgage scandal of the insurance industry.

Mr Varadkar said the Central Bank as an independent regulator does not take direction from the Government.

You don't say those kinds of things because you're stupid, you're not a stupid man. You say those things because you hope other people are stupid and you believe that they may think that the government has the power of intervention Leo Varadkar

Youve called on the Government to intervene to direct the Central Bank to do something, he said.

You dont say those kinds of things because youre stupid, youre not a stupid man. You say those things because you hope other people are stupid and you believe that they may think that the Government has the power of intervention  it doesnt.

The Central Bank is independent.

Any calls that you make to Government to somehow intervene or direct the Central Bank to do something is totally disingenuous, and its an attempt by you to mislead people in small business to pretend that youre on their side.

The Tanaiste also told the Dail that the Central Bank was aware of the issue but would have to make a determination itself.

Mr Doherty described Mr Varadkars response as shocking.

SHOCKING a Leo Varadkar refuses to back @PearseDoherty's call for the Central Bank to act against insurance companies who are refusing to cover Covid claims by small businesses despite a High Court ruling last week. #DAil pic.twitter.com/PvhVPwNk5H  Sinn FAin (@sinnfeinireland) February 11, 2021

The Donegal TD added that he had met the Central Bank privately.

Ive provided them documentation in relation to how insurance companies are wriggling out of policies, theyve asked for that documentation, there is nothing preventing us as members of the Oireachtas, or indeed you as minister, from sharing the same type of information and supporting my request, Mr Doherty said.

The Central Bank will make their own decision but dont you wriggle out of the situation.

The reality is, and you led the Government last year, you washed your hands of it. You did nothing. Absolutely nothing.


By Ritah Kemigisa

The ministry of finance has moved a proposal to start taxing cash withdrawals from commercial banks.

In a February 9th, 2021 letter, the treasury deputy secretary Patrick Ocailap has asked the Bank of Ugandan Governor Emmanuel Mutebile to give his opinion on the matter, not later than tomorrow, Friday, February 12th.

According to the ministry, whereas mobile money withdraws are subject to a 0.5% excise duty, at the counter, agency banking and ATM withdrawals are not subjected to the same tax.

Ocailap says taxing cash withdrawals will not only improve tax compliance and increase revenue but will also encourage cashless transactions which will promote e-commerce.

Ocailap says the decision follows a budget consultative meeting held on February 5th, 2021at the ministry between the Uganda communication commission, URA, Telecom operators and bank of Uganda.
A New York man has been charged with strangling and raping a woman in her own home before breaking in to the property again two days - this time wearing terrifying clown makeup, prosecutors say.

Joseph T. Johnson, 33, of Wyandanch, was charged with 13 counts including rape, strangulation, and multiple burglary counts.

He is accused of a wild rampage, which began on September 19 with the breaking into several parked cars at Wyandanch train station between 1am and 3am.

Later the same day, Johnson allegedly broke into a woman's home in Wyandanch where he raped and strangled her, stealing money as he left.

The traumatized woman installed several surveillance cameras in and around the property, Suffolk County district attorney, Timothy Sini, said on Wednesday.

Johnson's Facebook page featured numerous photos of him in clown makeup. He has been charged with 13 counts and faces 40 years behind bars if convicted

Joseph T. Johnson, 33, of Wyandanch, New York, is accused of going on a 72 hour rampage

Johnson allegedly put clown makeup on his face before returning to the home two days after the attack. He is shown in pictures on his Facebook page

Two days after the attack, on September 21, the woman was alerted that the cameras had been turned off.

The cameras were found to have been damaged or turned away from the home, and the wires to the cameras' recording unit inside the house had been cut.

Video surveillance captured before the cameras were damaged allegedly showed Johnson, wearing clown face paint, at the residence.

Johnson appeared to have something of a clown fetish: his Facebook page featured numerous photos of him in clown makeup.

Johnson appeared to have a clown fetish: his Facebook features a series of poses in makeup

Johnson, in clown makeup again, decorated his Facebook pages with clown emojis

Johnson's fetish for clown makeup was not explained by prosecutors

Johnson was identified from the surveillance video by a Suffolk County Police Detective and was arrested.

DNA testing confirmed his being inside the house and raping the woman, authorities said.

'This is an extremely disturbing case,' said Sini.

'As alleged in the indictment, this defendant went on a crime spree that escalated from breaking car windows to breaking into the victim's home twice in the span of 72 hours, raping and repeatedly strangling the victim while threatening her life.

'This is a dangerous individual and a convicted sex offender who is now off our streets thanks to the excellent work of the Suffolk County Police Department and Assistant District Attorney Ferron Lien.'

Justice Chris Ann Kelley, acting Suffolk County Supreme Court justice, set bail at $500,000 cash, $1 million bond, or $5 million partially-secured bond.

He is being represented by the Legal Aid Society and is due back in court on March 9.

If convicted, Johnson faces up to 40 years in prison, if sentenced consecutively.

A Kildare town man found in possession of drugs on two occasions received consecutive custody terms at Naas District Court on January 28.

Kevin Hennessy, 28, whose address was given at Campion Crescent, Kildare town, was prosecuted for possessing cannabis worth about 280 on June 21, 2019, at Campion Crescent; and for having cannabis herb, MDMA and cocaine worth about 500 at Dublin Road, Kildare on May 1, 2019.

The court heard that the defendant had a number of previous convictions including for drug offences.

Solicitor David Gibbons told the court that the defendant had been previously in a long term relationship and had given up drugs.

However, the relationship broke down when his grandfather died and he went off the rails and back on drugs.

At one point, the defendant said he used drugs every day of the week and was selling some of it to friends.

Mr Gibbons also said that the defendant was now back on the rails and does not use drugs.

He said he is doing an online course with the aim of becoming a forklift driver.

The court also heard the defendant had broken his back a few years ago and this had been an impediment for him. Judge Desmond Zaidan imposed two six month terms.
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The last time Maryam Kamalmaz spoke with her father, she was eating breakfast with her children and mother at her home in Grand Prairie, Texas. Majd Kamalmaz had phoned them in February 2017 from Lebanon, where he ran mental health clinics for refugees.

Kamalmaz, a clinical psychologist born in Syria who came to the United States as a child, told his daughter he would be leaving for Damascus in a few days to visit with relatives following the death of his father-in-law. His family told him not to go, but Kamalmaz assured them the trip would be brief and his flight back to the United States was already booked.

Days after that phone call, Kamalmaz was stopped at a government checkpoint near the Syrian capital. His wife and five children havent seen or heard from him since.

The Kamalmaz family, which on Monday will mark four years without their beloved father, is counting on the new administration in Washington to bring him home, particularly Joe Biden because he cares about reuniting families, said Kamalmazs son, Ibrahim.

Kamalmaz and freelance journalist Austin Tice, who disappeared while covering Syrias civil war in 2012, are among roughly half a dozen US citizens believed to be held by the Syrian government or allied forces. Because the United States and Syria lack formal diplomatic relations, the Trump administration quietly attempted various backchannels to free the Americans  none of whom Damascus publicly acknowledges its holding.

The Kamalmaz family was thrilled to learn that two Trump administration officials  Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs Roger Carstens and Senior White House Counterterrorism Adviser Kash Patel  had traveled to Damascus last year for secret, high-level negotiations on the hostages. The US officials returned empty-handed but paved the way for further dialogue.

With Trump having broken the ice, having violated the taboo of negotiating with the Assad regime, it opens the possibility in the future when the time is right for the Biden administration to negotiate about the US hostages in Syria," said Randa Slim, senior fellow and director of the Conflict Resolution and Track II Dialogues Program at the Middle East Institute.

A spokesperson for the State Department declined to say whether the administration would consider direct engagement with the Syrian government to free the missing Americans, but it did say that bringing home American citizens held hostage or wrongfully detained is a top priority for the Biden-Harris administration.

Hostage advocate Diane Foley, whose son James Foley was murdered by the Islamic State in 2014, said shes encouraged by the level of access the families have to senior Biden officials. Earlier this month, Secretary of State Antony Blinken held a 90-minute video call with missing Americans' loved ones.

That was a first  for our Secretary of State to begin his tenure by looking at the issue of innocent Americans who are held hostage abroad, said Foley, adding that she raised Kamalmazs case directly with national security advisor Jake Sullivan.

The Kamalmaz family is in regular contact with US government officials, including at the State Department and the FBI-led hostage recovery cell. Lebanese spy chief Maj. Gen. Abbas Ibrahim, who successfully negotiated with Syria for the release of American tourist Sam Goodwin in 2019, has also gotten involved.

The family is also conducting their own search efforts, retracing Kamalmazs steps and scouring Syria for anyone who might have seen him. In March, their sources confirmed Kamalmaz had been moved from a detention facility inside Syria to an undisclosed location.

But the trail went cold and they havent been able to verify where their father, a 63-year-old with diabetes and other health concerns, is being kept  or even if he's still alive.

These people have tried to facilitate returning our father home, but after a certain point they say that for all the money in the world, they cant do anything, Ibrahim said. The overwhelming feedback is that its a political situation.

After two years of working behind-the-scenes to free him, the Kamalmaz family took their story public in January 2019, believing that increased awareness could help their father, just as he helped so many.

For more than two decades, Kamalmaz traveled around the world helping victims of wars and natural disasters, often using a stress management method known as HeartMath. In 2013, he opened a program in Lebanon for refugees fleeing neighboring Syria. Just before he disappeared, he was working to open a center focused on the elderly.

Last year, the family received a rare glimmer of hope. A former prisoner reached out with information on Kamalmaz, having stumbled across their Arabic-language Facebook campaign.

He saw my fathers face and said he cried when he remembered him, said Maryam, without specifying where or when the man saw her father in order to protect his identity.

The former prisoner described Kamalmaz as someone who touched his heart. He recalled how Kamalmaz went out of his way to help the other inmates with their anxiety and stress.

That is who he is, and thats what we always knew he would be doing in there, said Maryam. When I think back about my father, the lives hes touched and the amount of work hes done, Im just astonished.

A 23-year-old man accused of sexually assaulting a woman while she was out running in Dublin has been remanded in custody.

The unemployed man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was arrested over the incident on the night of Feb. 3 last in the Coolock area.

Following consultation with the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), he was charged on Tuesday night and appeared before Judge Treasa Kelly at Dublin District Court on Thursday.

He is accused of sexual assault contrary to section two of the Criminal Law (Rape) (Amendment) Act, 1990.

Detective Garda Niall Gibbs told Judge Kelly that the accused made no reply when charged.

The man did not address the court.

Defence solicitor Michael Kelleher told Judge Kelly that there was no application for bail at this stage.

Judge Kelly remanded him in custody to appear at Cloverhill District Court next Thursday via video-link.

His solicitor asked if the garda had a view on reporting restrictions in this matter.

Judge Kelly reminded the media that nothing should be published that would identify the complainant.

She ordered that the defendant should not be named either because the case was at an "early and delicate stage".

Legal aid was granted to the man who has not yet indicated how he will plead.

Directions from the DPP need to be obtained to determine if the case should be dealt with at district court level or in the circuit court which has tougher sentencing powers.
Malcolm Marshall is a name that evokes both respect and fear among the Indian diaspora. Respected for his exploits and feared for how well he delivered those exploits  fierce, swift, and too fast to respond to at times!

His Barbadian compatriot, Rihanna did the same. Well, not quite with blaring vocals this time, but through a tweet that was as loud as her acoustics, and one that much like a Marshall bouncer, left India ruffled and for some a bit bruised.

The response in India was eclectic and cantankerous at the same time with both sides of the aisle alleging that the other had concocted their own version of propaganda.

A Joe Biden administration with Tony Blinken at the foreign-policy steering wheel has signs of the United States returning to a concerted effort of more global engagement, particularly with oomph and a focus on multilateral discourse. Perhaps in this spirit, diplomacy was emphasised in the message from Washington DC, through a statement released by the US Embassy in New Delhi stating, Washington has also welcomed steps that would enhance the efficiency of Indias markets.

There is a slight conundrum here.

For too long, Washingtons bugbear with India has been a market that has too much regulation, government intervention and tight-controls that eschew the US free-market enterprise system, and counters a Reaganism outlook which states that the government has no business being in business.

While the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has long abjured Washingtons epithet of India being a democratic counterweight to China, DC sees India for the allure of a large market for US multinationals to expand horizons and enrich their coffers.

Perhaps in this spirit, Washington also lucidly added, we recognize that peaceful protests are a hallmark of any thriving democracy and note that the Indian Supreme Court has stated the same. We encourage that any differences between the parties be resolved through dialogue.

For long Washington has taken a central role in expressing concern when it comes to freedom to protest and government heavy handedness across the globe.

In the run-up to the US elections, there was an overarching concern in India that the US under a Democratic administration may take a more vociferous tone with India, particularly with regards to sensitive topics such as Kashmir and issues pertaining to human-rights and right to peaceful protests.

But the recent imbroglio of the Capitol Hill attacks, and Washington's close bonhomie with New Delhi, will see the Biden administration take a more cautious approach, one that espouses its concern for democratic norms, but respecting Indias independent integrity to handle its internal affairs.

Polarisation may have temporarily shifted from the policy of the farm laws to the politics of the diatribe and censure that India may have received overseas. The MEA likened the vandalism at the Red Fort on Republic Day to the January 6 attack on the US Capitol, and maintained that there was a temporary Internet shutdown to quell any imminent violence.

While India counters external excoriation and Washington, which has long-held access to information as sacrosanct to democracy, the US is still unlikely to get further involved, and statements will reflect anodyne homilies.

The new-old administration (perhaps to facetiously refer to a new administration with old Barack Obama-era appointees) is wiping the slate clean. Furthermore, Bidens 100-day agenda is a race to vaccinate people, as the US continues to suffer a healthcare morass and an economic downturn.

There is the unspoken hangover of the reputation of the Donald Trump administration, one that didnt particularly convey Washingtonian values in its own post-election cycle. The dystopia insidiously unfolded with false accusations of election rigging, and bellicose rallies that ensued in the Capitol Riots, and that then led to Trump being impeached for a second time.

Washington does not have the political currency to make grandiose statements; instead regular concerns will be laced with prosaic and benign verses as evinced from the diplomatic cable.

The new administration is also cognisant that in 2019 Trump made a faux pas seeking to appease the White House press corps and his guest, Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, in agreeing to mediate the long-standing Kashmir kerfuffle.

Washington today understands the limits to lecturing to a strategic partner, especially in internal matters that does not have immediate geopolitical repercussions. Furthermore, with a dereliction of multilateralism as evinced under the Trump administration and an economic and healthcare crisis at home, the Biden administration would likely be more concerned on soybeans and other US Agri-exports to China, than Indias farm laws.
The distraught wife of a mother who mysteriously disappeared before New Year's Eve has tearfully pleaded for her to return home.

Amy Schulkins, 36, was last seen at a home in Caboolture South, north of Brisbane, on the night of December 30 before she 'vanished off the face of the earth'.

Her wife Rebecca Schulkins, with whom she shares five children, broke down as she pleaded for Amy to come back to her at a press conference on Thursday.

Amy Schulkins (left) and her wife Rebecca (right) at their wedding in September, 2019. Ms Schulkins, 36, was last seen at a home in Caboolture South, north of Brisbane, on the night of December 30 before she 'vanished off the face of the earth'

'Amy, we love and miss you very much,' Rebecca said.

'Dakota, Mika and Matilda are beside themselves with worry. Zoe and Jensen are very sad but being little they don't understand what's going on.

'We just want to know that you're safe, I just need to know that you're safe Amy.

'I wonder at night if you're cold, if you're hungry. I love you so much, it's just you and me always. Please come home.'

The couple share five children aged five to 15, with one of them only finding out about their mother's disappearance on TikTok.

Rebecca said Amy was 'a bit distant' on the day she went missing but her partner said she was 'just tired'.

'She was in a funny mood, something I hadn't seen before ever in our four and a half years together,' Rebecca said.

Rebecca (pictured), who shares five children with Amy, broke down in tears as she pleaded for partner to come home at a press conference on Thursday

Amy's father Allan said his son set up a GoFundMe to raise money for a reward for his daughter's safe return.

The GoFundMe page has so far raised $2,600 of its 10,000 target.

A Facebook page to find Amy now has 26,000 followers of amateur sleuths who want to help find the mother-of-five.

Police on Tuesday shared a photo of the Amy driving her white Nissan Patrol at Caboolture just before midnight on the night she went missing.

The four-wheel drive was clocked on CCTV travelling along Lower King Street heading towards the Bruce Highway.

Police released the last known photos of the mother-of-five, showing her behind the wheel of her white Nissan Patrol at Caboolture just before midnight on the night she went missing

Queensland Police said the 36-year-old appears to have 'vanished off the face of the earth'

Amy was last seen leaving their home on Caboolture South after previously visiting a property on Morayfield Road in Burpengary.

The mother's disappearance sparked a state-wide police search.

Police described Amy as a 'high risk' person, and said they had no 'starting point' to work with in their search for her.

Amy had about $300, food and a tank of petrol with her before she disappeared.

Ms Schulkins' sudden disappearance has captured the hearts of thousands of Australians who have banded together to find her

'We have followed up every reported sighting and there's been a lot of incorrect feedback,' Sergeant Richard Curran told the Sunshine Coast Daily.

'Zero positive sightings, either not been here or someone else. It's frustrating.

'We are doing all we can but it's like she completely vanished off the face of the earth.'

Amy's sudden disappearance garnered an outpouring of community support from Australians who banded together to find her.

The Search Team for Amy Schulkins Facebook group has locals offering to pay for drones to canvass the area for traces of the missing mother.

Amy's wife Rebecca took to the page to address theories about her wife's disappearance.

'Has she run away with another woman? Maybe. Doubtful, but maybe. We don't see her abandoning her children (or me for that matter),' she wrote.

Rebecca didn't shed any light on why Amy rammed someone's gates on the night she vanished.

'Whatever transpired that night doesn't lessen the fact that my wife is still out there,' she wrote.

She said that while the couple had been drinking on the night of her disappearance, Amy wasn't drunk.

Volunteers have already combed through bushland across Mount Hallen, Crossdale, Lowood and Atkinsons Dam - 100km west of Brisbane.

Volunteers have already combed through bushland across Mount Hallen, Crossdale, Lowood and Atkinsons Dam - 100km west of Brisbane

The campaign describes Amy as a 'loving and devoted' wife and mother with the 'most infectious spirit and laugh'.

'Although the financial strain of searching for someone could never compare to the emotional one, it is a significant additional stress at a time when a family should be able to focus only on their missing loved one,' the page reads.

Creators of a Go Fund Me said Ms Schulkins said they won't stop until Ms Schulkins is found.

They created the page on behalf of Ms Schulkins' partner Rebecca.

'We need all the support we can find from generous and kind hearted people just like the 6000 new friends on our search team,' the page reads.

'We won't stop until we find Amy, and we believe someone out there has seen or knows something that will help us find her.'

Anyone who has seen Amy or has further information about her whereabouts is urged to contact police

Ms Schulkins has a large distinctive sleeve tattoo on her arm of a woman's silhouette against a sunset

Sgt Curran said Queensland Police's investigation will focus on doorknocking and looking over Bribie Island beach CCTV footage.

Officers have spoken to her family and friends, who have been assisting police with their enquiries.

Ms Schulkins is caucasian, about 160cm tall and of a larger build with short spiky brown hair and blue eyes. She was last seen wearing boxers and a white singlet.

She has a large distinctive sleeve tattoo on her arm of a woman's silhouette against a sunset.

Anyone who has seen Amy or has further information about her whereabouts is urged to contact police.
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Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) has signed today a one-year commercial agreement with the leading global liner shipping company Hapag-Lloyd aiming at increasing the number of containers in Saudi ports, a media report said.



The move will contribute to increasing the total number of transshipments in Jeddah Islamic Port, reported Saudi Press Agency (SPA).



Mawani aims through this agreement to enhance the role of Jeddah Islamic Port as a link between the worlds three continents, making it a global logistics hub. The agreement will contribute to promoting the role of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as a leading hub for logistic services. It also represents the confidence of international shipping lines in the operational capability of the Saudi ports.



The Saudi ports currently acquire approximately 20% of the transshipment market in the region, as well as 80% of the total transshipment market in the Red Sea. They also target to acquire more than 50% of the transshipment market by the end of 2030, consolidating the Kingdoms strategic position as a global logistics hub, in line with the objectives of the Kingdoms Vision 2030, being represented in the National Industrial Development and Logistics.








Washington, DC has reported its first cases of two highly contagious 'super COVID' variants that are sweeping the United States.

Dr LaQuandra Nesbitt, director of the District of Columbia Department of Health, announced on Thursday that three residents are confirmed to have the UK variant and one patient has the South African variant.

No information about the residents, including ages, sexes or ethnicities were released, nor is it clear if they had any travel history.

Nesbitt said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notified her last night about the variants being detected in the nation's capital and said there may be many more cases because not every positive test undergoes genome sequencing.

'This was a matter of not if but when...This is not surprising to DC Health, but just another opportunity to remind us to be cautious of our behavior,' Nesbitt said.

At least 950 cases of the variants from the UK, South Africa and Brazil have been reported across 35 states and DC, according to a DailyMail.com analysis of state and federal data.

So far, there have been two deaths, one in New Jersey and another in Alabama, both linked to the UK variant, known as B 1.1.7.

It comes as a staff member at a Michigan prison became the first person in the U.S. to test positive for B 1.1.7. inside a corrections facility.

On Thursday, Washington, DC announced its first cases of coronavirus variants, with three confirmed to have the variant from the UK and one resident with from South Africa for a total of 950 cases in the U.S. (above)

All the variants have mutations in their spike protein (circled in yellow) that makes it more contagious, capable of reinfection and potentially more immune to vaccines

Dr LaQuandra Nesbitt (above), director of the DC Department of Health, said the CDC notified her of the cases last night and said there may be many more

Of that 950 total, there are 937 in 34 states and DC that have been linked to B 1.1.7., with more than half of those cases reported in Florida and California.

Meanwhile, there are now 10 confirmed cases of the South African variant, known as B.1.351, in three states and DC.

Concerns have arisen in the past few weeks over variants of the virus, which appear to be more infectious.

The UK variant was first discovered in the county of Kent in September 2020, announced as a 'variant of concern' in December, and now accounts for at least 61 percent of all cases in Britain.

Most researchers estimated that the virus is about 70 percent more infectious.

However, some studies suggest it could be twice as infectious while more moderate projections say its transmissibility is only about 56 percent higher.

Officials in the UK, including Prime Minister Boris Johnson, say the variant may be 30 to 40 percent more deadly, but there is currently no data to support these claims.

There have been two deaths linked to the variant in the U.S.

The South African variant was was also first announced in December, and shares mutation with the UK variants.

In January, President Joe Biden invoked a travel ban on people coming from South Africa in an effort to stop importation of the new variant.

Dr Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, says that the South African variant is the most concerning one because it might render vaccines less effective due to mutations that help it 'hide' from antibodies developed after vaccination or a previous bout of COVID-19.

Preliminary findings suggest that all five of the leading vaccine candidates offer some protection against the variants, but the degree has varied.

A staff member at Bellamy Creek Correctional Facility in Ionia, Michigan (pictured), became the first person to test positive for the variant inside a U.S. prison

Last month, Moderna announced that it's vaccine works well enough to be protective against the South African variant, but lab tests suggest the antibodies ay be 60 percent less potent against the virus in vitro, or in a cell culture.

Results from Novavax's late-stage study in the UK showed 95.6 percent efficacy against the originally circulating variant and 85.6 percent against B 1.1.7.

But in South Africa's mid-stage study of about 4,000 participants, the Novavax shot was not as protective and was found to be just 49.4% effective its variant, 501Y.V2.

In a paper released last week, the vaccine developed by AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford was found to be 74 percent effective against B 1.1.7.

However, the findings did not address whether or not that protectiveness extends to B.1.351.

In a recent White House press briefing, Fauci said the variants are projected to become more dominant in the U.S. by the spring,

At the same briefing, Dr Rochelle Walensky, director of the CDC, said every COVID-19 case in the U.S. should be treated as if it were a case of the variant.

The news of the variant comes on the heels of a report that a case was just detected inside a U.S. prison for the first time.

An employee has been confirmed to be infected the UK variant inside the Bellamy Creek Correctional Facility, in Ionia, Michigan.

Michigan prison officials said once the presence of the variant has been detected, daily testing was ordered of all inmates an staff.

As of Thursday, approximately 500 prisoners and 100 correctional officers at the facility have tested positive for COVID-19 and one inmate had died.

'The MDOC will be taking extra steps to identify where this variant is present amongst staff and the prisoner population and we will continue to do everything we can to keep the prisoners, our staff and the community safe,' Michigan Department of Corrections Director Heidi Washington said in a statement.
[February 11, 2021] Siemens Government Technologies Chosen for Electronic Security System Maintenance & Services on Florida's Space Coast

Siemens (News - Alert) Government Technologies (SGT), Inc. - the federally-focused U.S. arm of technology powerhouse Siemens - has been awarded an initial task order for a contract valued up to $21 million by the U.S. Army Engineering and Support Center, Huntsville, for electronic security maintenance and support of vital operations conducted by the Space Force 45th Space Wing on Florida's Space Coast. Utilizing the Army Corps of Engineers' Utility Monitoring and Control Systems fifth generation (UMCS V) contracting vehicle, SGT will leverage smart infrastructure expertise to provide maintenance and support for electronic security systems in support of orbital vehicle launches and range operations at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS), Patrick Air Force Base (PAFB) and Kennedy Space Center. The 45th Space Wing has a distinguished history and legacy dating back to the 1940s. As one of two space launch wings for the U.S. Space Force, the 45th Space Wing provides support for NASA, the Air Force's Technical Applications Center and 920th Rescue Wing and the Naval Ordnance Test Unit. Taken as a whole, these organizations are ultimately responsible for U.S. national interests in space exploration, strategic defense and deterrence missions. "Our team at the Cape has more than 49 years of collective experience in supporting the unique needs of our Space Force customer for fire and electronic security, with thorough knowledge of the systems installed for safe, secure and reliable operations," said Tina Dolph, president and CEO of Siemens Government Technologies. "We look forward to meeting our customers' highest expectations for new efficiencies without compromise for safety or security, and, we have just the teamin place to support the pioneering men and women who are defining our future in Space security, science and exploration."



SGT has an established track record of applying Siemens' deep portfolio of building automation, utility monitoring and control systems and enhanced security systems at military installations around the world. In November 2019, SGT was selected as one of 14 companies qualified to participate on the UMCS V contract vehicle - a seven-year, multiple award contract with a $1.2 billion ceiling. Under UMCS V, SGT delivers a range of services inclusive of heating, ventilation, chiller/boiler controls, utility metering, automated controls, as well as fire alarm, protection and electronic security. About Siemens Government Technologies

Siemens Government Technologies is the wholly-owned, cleared U.S. subsidiary of Siemens Corporation whose mission it is to secure and modernize the largest infrastructure in the world, the U.S. Federal Government. It does so by being the leading integrator of Siemens' innovative products, technologies, software and services in the areas of digital engineering and modeling, efficient and resilient energy solutions, and smart infrastructure modernization. About Siemens Siemens Corporation is a U.S. subsidiary of Siemens AG (News - Alert) , a global technology powerhouse that has stood for engineering excellence, innovation, quality, reliability and internationality for more than 170 years. Active around the world, the company focuses on intelligent infrastructure for buildings and distributed energy systems and on automation and digitalization in the process and manufacturing industries. Siemens brings together the digital and physical worlds to benefit customers and society. Through Mobility, a leading supplier of intelligent mobility solutions for rail and road transport, Siemens is helping to shape the world market for passenger and freight services. Via its majority stake in the publicly listed company Siemens Healthineers, Siemens is also a world-leading supplier of medical technology and digital health services. In addition, Siemens holds a minority stake in Siemens Energy, a global leader in the transmission and generation of electrical power that has been listed on the stock exchange since September 28, 2020. In fiscal 2020, Siemens Group USA generated revenue of $17 billion and employs approximately 40,000 people serving customers in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210211005778/en/

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MINNEAPOLIS, Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- OurFamilyWizard, the world's leading provider of co-parenting communication technology, announced today that it increased the amount of financial aid provided to its user base by over 35% in 2020 compared to the previous year.

Over $710,000 in fees were waived throughout the year, enabling nearly 8,000 parents to access the platform for free or at a significantly reduced cost. This assistance came as part of a consistent effort by the company to help ensure that any parent who could benefit from using its tools to support healthier co-parenting communication can do so regardless of financial standing.

"2020 was an especially challenging year for countless families, and many faced financial hardships that were unforeseeable at the start of the year," said Nick VanWagner, CEO of OurFamilyWizard. "Making OurFamilyWizard accessible to more families who need it through financial assistance programs has been a core tenet of the organization since its inception. As the company continues to grow, we will always strive to uphold this practice."

OurFamilyWizard brings together all of a family's shared parenting details into one secure location. Unlike traditional email or text messaging, tools within the platform provide frameworks that help parents reach clear agreements on matters such as scheduling and expenses. Timestamps on every entry are made to prevent conflict and misunderstandings, which can reduce the risk of parents going back to court.

Aid to parents is provided largely through OurFamilyWizard's fee waiver program, which offers annual subscriptions to low-income parents at no cost or reduced rates. The company also offers a special program for military families, which provides subscriptions at a significantly reduced rate to veterans, retired or active-duty military members. Financial aid provided to parents through programs like these has been an ongoing initiative for the company for nearly two decades.

Parents who are interested in learning more about these programs can find detailed information on the company's website. In addition to these programs, OurFamilyWizard offers a wealth of information on its website to help families navigate the transition into co-parenting, including blog articles and a directory of family law and co-parenting resources across the country.

About OurFamilyWizard

OurFamilyWizard is the world's leading co-parenting communication platform, offering tools for families to support more seamless and successful parenting across separate homes. Since 2001, more than one million parents and family law practitioners have trusted OurFamilyWizard's co-parenting platform to help divorced or separated families effectively manage shared calendars, expenses, messaging, files, and other critical family information.

Press Contact

Sara Klemp

[email protected]

612-294-0431

Related Links

OurFamilyWizard website

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PENSIONERS should get State help to switch from traditional solid fuels to wood pellets and biomass, according to Offaly-based TD Barry Cowen.

Deputy Cowen's proposal won the unanimous backing of the Fianna Fail parliamentary party at a meeting on Wednesday night.

What the TD called a bespoke heat retrofitting pilot programme would have its cost capped at 7,000 and would be overseen by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI).

Deputy Cowen said his proposal is compatible with the programme for government and should be implemented in advance of the retrofit programme currently in operation.

It's imperative that we offer alternatives rather than imports, said the TD for Laois-Offaly.

Deputy Cowen's proposal comes in the wake of Bord na Mona's announcement that it is ending peat production, a move which will see briquettes coming off the market in the next three years.

As part of the Bord na Mona and the ESB's decarbonisation programmes, a retrofitting scheme  which aims to make homes more energy efficient - has been introduced for local authority houses across the Midlands.

Separately, the SEAI has a number of grant schemes in place for home insulation, heat pump systems, heating controls and solar systems.

However, the grants only cover a fraction of the cost in most cases.

So-called deep retrofitting of a single house can cost up to 50,000.

According to 2016 figures from the Central Statistics Office, oil is the most commonly used home heating fuel in Offaly, but peat remains a very important source, with nearly 38% of homes being centrally heated by burning it.

That makes Offaly households far more dependent on peat than any other county, including neighbours Westmeath (19.6%) and Laois (16.1%).

The 33-unit social housing scheme built by Offay County Council at Blundell, Edenderry, uses an air to water heat pump system with underfloor heating downstairs.


Marilyn Burdon (pictured) was shot dead by her partner Charles Bisucci inside her luxury Melbourne mansion in August 2017. Bisucci then turned the gun on himself

The grieving children of a woman shot dead by her partner in a shocking murder-suicide say she would still be alive had police not left the killer's propensity for violence go unchecked.

Marilyn Burdon, 70, was brutally executed by 69-year-old former lawyer Charles Bisucci inside her $2million mansion in Kew, inner Melbourne, in August 2017.

Her death is currently being investigated by the Coroners Court of Victoria, where her three children appeared on Thursday seeking answers over their mother's killing.

Bisucci had owned 16 guns before he was permanently banned from holding a firearms licence because of a history of domestic violence, News Corp reported.

The death of Ms Burdon at the hands of Charles Bisucci (pictured) is currently being investigated by the Coroners Court of Victoria. Bisucci owned 16 firearms, 15 of which were transferred into the names of friends when he was banned from having a firearms licence

But 15 of his guns were allowed to be transferred over into the names of friends, where Bisucci still had access to them.

The gun used to commit the horrific murder was registered in the name of one of Bisucci's friend. There is no suggestion friends had any involvement in the killings.

Ms Burdon's daughter Natalie Burdon told the court it was 'alarming but not uncommon practice' for an individual prevented from holding a firearms licence to easily transfer ownership to a friend - and the practice should cease.

'We believe that firearms and weapons seized by Victoria Police from a prohibited person - or any individual who has a firearms licence cancelled - should be destroyed,' she said.

She said there was 'no reason' why someone should be allowed to own as many as 16 guns.

Ms Burdon's other daughter Rebecca Burdon told the court there had been 'lack of communication between agencies that we believe, as a community, are here to protect us'.

The bodies of Bisucci and Ms Burdon were discovered in separate rooms of her luxury house on Princess Street, Kew (pictured, police at the scene)

Those agencies included Victoria Police and psychiatrists who worked with Bisucci, she told the court.

'The extent of his duplicity, propensity for controlling behaviour, firearms, and violence went unchecked,' she said.

'Had the true picture of Mr Bisucci been available for all to understand prior to the 21st of August, 2017, we believe our mother would still be here today.'

She said the family had battled to seek answers over Ms Burdon's death and pushed hard 'for law enforcement and the courts to look beyond the case of it simply being a murder-suicide'.

The family have vowed to not let Ms Burdon's death be in vain and said the 'pain in our hearts is indescribable' following her killing.

The findings of the inquest are set to be delivered at a later date.
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RALPH SMITH STUDIO

Buffalo Wild Wings will give thousands to two San Antonio non-profits as they open two new Buffalo Wild Wings GO locations in San Antonio on February 19 and 25.

The GO restaurants are a new pandemic friendly concept for the well known chain  they focus exclusively on to go orders of their popular wings.
Moldovan lawmakers rejected President Maia Sandu's choice of a new government on February 11, paving the way for an early election that pro-Western Sandu has welcomed as an opportunity to consolidate her power against the Moscow-leaning Socialist party.

A former World Bank economist, Sandu defeated Socialist Igor Dodon in a presidential election in November 2020 on a pledge to fight entrenched corruption and improve relations with the European Union.

But she has accused parliament, which is still dominated by Dodon's Socialists and their allies, of attempting to sabotage her presidency and sees snap polls as a way of cementing her hold on power.

Sandu last month nominated Natalia Gavrilita, 43, as prime minister. Gavrilita was finance minister during Sandu's short-lived tenure as prime minister in 2019.

Gavrilita on February 11 failed to garner a single vote in parliament.

Under Moldovan law, Sandu is allowed to nominate a candidate to be prime minister, who has to be confirmed by parliament. If parliament rejects her choice twice in the space of 45 days, Sandu can dissolve parliament and set a date for a new election.

The November presidential election was seen as a referendum on two divergent visions for the future of the Eastern European country of 3.5 million people that is sandwiched between Ukraine and Romania.

Since the November election, Sandu has called for the withdrawal of Russian troops from Moldova's Moscow-backed separatist region of Transdniester, prompting the Kremlin to warn it could lead to "serious destabilization.

Moldova, with a population of about 3.5 million, is one of Europes poorest countries and is sharply divided between those who support closer ties with Russia and those who advocate links with the European Union and, especially, neighboring EU member Romania.



Most of Moldova was part of Romania until World War II, when it was annexed by the Soviet Union, and a majority of its population is ethnic Romanian.

With reporting by Reuters and Interfax

STEPANAKERT, FEBRUARY 11, ARMENPRESS. No radical change has taken place in the entry procedures to the Republic of Artsakh, Foreign Minister of Artsakh Davit Babayan said at the Parliaments session, in response to the question of Vice Speaker Gagik Baghunts.

We continue granting entry visas to the citizens of those countries who need to obtain respective permit. In addition, there are countries whose citizens are not required to get an entry visa, however, they need to visit Artsakhs permanent representation in Armenia and get a respective document which will allow their entry to Artsakh. The necessity of further regulating this process is connected with the concern of the Russian peacekeepers according to which some terrorist groups may enter into Artsakh. If they manage to carry out any action in Artsakh, the responsibility is also on the Russian peacekeeping mission. Therefore, the entry procedure should be further regulated, he said, adding that the documents of the foreign citizens are also sent to the Russian peacekeepers. They have more opportunities to know whether that visiting person is involved in any terrorist group or not, he added, noting that all these regulations will increase the security level.

Babayan stated that the entry of Diaspora-Armenians to Artsakh will not be restricted in any way. They just will need to wait a day, so that the list is presented in order to avoid problems, the Artsakh FM said.

On February 10 Artsakhs Foreign Ministry has issued a statement, informing that for security reasons, the entry procedure of foreign citizens to the territory of the Republic of Artsakh in the post-war conditions has been updated.

Citizens of foreign countries wishing to visit the Republic of Artsakh must first apply to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Artsakh to obtain a permit to enter Artsakh. This procedure applies both to foreign citizens who need an entry visa, and to citizens of visa-free countries.

Taking into account security considerations, information about applications is also transmitted to the Russian peacekeeping forces.

After the approval of applications, the foreign nationals who submitted them are informed about it and after receiving their visas at the Permanent Representation of the Republic of Artsakh in Yerevan, they can leave for Artsakh.

As for the timing, corresponding works are being carried out to improve the mechanism. The entry permit is issued within 3 or 4 working days. Sometimes the process may take longer, in which case the foreign national who submitted the application will be notified about it.

The mechanism is already in progress. In recent days, representatives of a number of foreign media and international organizations have arrived in the Republic of Artsakh under this procedure, the statement says.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
Officials of the Edward Francis Small Teaching Hospital (EFSTH) have informed the National Assembly Select Committee on Health that the inadequate supply of needed daily consumables is posing a serious challenge to them in their resolve to fight against COVID-19.

The officials told the committee during its ongoing visit to the disaster hotspots and COVID-19 testing centers to see the true state of affairs in the aforesaid areas.

Professor Ousman Nyan, Chief Medical Director (CMD) of EFSTH, said both the sanatorium and Ndemban clinic fall under the purview of the EFSTH, adding that as an institution, they have a liaison person for the intra institution arrangements and intra institution team that deal with COVID-19 matters.

"With the increase in numbers of COVID-19 patients, Ndemban center has good number of patients. Most of them are asymptomatic patients," he said.

"One of such challenges at the Bakau center is the oxygen which is why we still transfer the symptomatic patients to the Sanatorium center which has facilities for giving oxygen treatment as appropriate."

Prof. Nyan said with the second wave of COVID 19, the institution has been sensitized and strengthened for infection control and security among others for control of infection. He stressed that cases are increasing with the second wave, but said they have not seen increase in severe cases yet.

Dr. Sheikh Omar Bittaye, Coordinator of the COVID- 19 Taskforce, told the committee that they do issue a weekly report to the CMD, stating the number of screen, positive cases, and the number of deaths. He said at the end of the first surge, they conducted a study to review all the patients they have admitted in the EFSTH.

Bittaye said they have detected that people at over 60 years are more risk to be affected and may die of the COVID-19 diseases.

He said diabetic patients are also at risk of dying and that those who have an oxygen circulation in less than or equal to 93 percent are also at high risk of dying of the disease.

Bittaye said the challenges they are facing include motivation. He called for the motivation of junior staff because without that, some of them may be reluctant to continue offering health care delivery service because it is risky.

"The other challenge is that though oxygen has been continuously given, but we need more of the consumables, such as facemasks and breathing mask etc. to go along with oxygen. We have them but we need more of them," he said.

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Malang Ndong, the Admin Director, said at the moment, the monthly risk allowance for the staff working at the sanatorium is D2500. However, he said they are working towards ensuring that the allowances are increased.

Horeja Saine, Cheif Matron, said they are faced with challenges such as allowances, working tools regarding consumables which are needed by the healthcare workers to protect themselves in their work.

He said they are constrained with consumables such as gloves and masks, saying these tools are inadequate but needed to protect medical workers and families.

Amadou Camara, law maker and member of the select committee, told the officials that they have taken note of the concerns raised, while assuring EFSTH Officials that they will take up the issues raised by the staff, especially on the need to allocate distinctive subvention for the health sector, in a bid to address the challenges facing them.

Ousman Sallah, Chairperson of the Health Committee, also informed the officials that the visit was not a witch hunting exercise but a fact finding mission to ascertain the state of the targeted areas, identity challenges and devise means of providing remedies to the challenges.

As the country is in the second wave of COVID-19, he said their visit was also aimed at knowing what is in place to support the health care workers, such as the needed laws for the legislature to approve.
No more than 20% of the population has immunity to coronavirus (COVID-19) disease; it is far from the formation of herd immunity, experts from Kyiv School of Economics (KSE) said.

"No more than 20% of Ukrainians have immunity, 40% of intensive care beds are filled. The KSE simulation refutes the widespread misconception that Ukraine will soon receive natural herd immunity to SARS-CoV-2. For this, at least 70% of the population must be ill. Ukraine should urgently strengthen the detection system [testing and contact tracing] in order to respond in time to a possible new outbreak, the threat of which is amplified by new types of the virus and the consistently high workload of resuscitation of COVID-19 patients," Head of the Health Economics Center at Kyiv School of Economics Pavlo Kovtoniuk said.

According to the KSE, currently in Ukraine, approximately 13-20% of population has been infected with COVID-19, among medical workers this figure is 13.4%.

The KSE noted that the most critical situation with the spread of COVID-19 in Ukraine is in Zakarpattia region. Ivano-Frankivsk and Chernivtsi regions are in the risk zone.

The experts also said that in Ukraine, as before, there is a high rate of positive cases among all tested - 18%.

The KSE believes that Ivano-Frankivsk, Zakarpattia and Chernivtsi regions can become the epicenters of a new outbreak of COVID-19, in these regions new hospitalizations for a long time exceed the discharge of patients by 20-70%, while last week nationwide in Ukraine approximately the same number of patients with COVID-19 was hospitalized and discharged from hospitals.

As reported with reference to the data of the Synevo medical laboratory, on the basis of the conducted tests, indicating immunity to coronavirus disease, 52% of Ukrainians have IgG antibodies to COVID-19. The Dila medical laboratory estimates that immunoglobulin G is already detected in about 50% of the COVID-19 tests that the laboratory conducts.
Zanzibar  Zanzibar President Dr Hussein Mwinyi yesterday outlined 10 major issues that he had achieved during his first 100 days in office, detailing how he laid the foundation for his much-touted blue economic model.

Dr Mwinyi touted Blue Economy as one of the best ways to develop Zanzibar during campaigns that finally earned him a five-year term as occupant of the Zanzibar State House.

The Blue Economy concept was first highlighted at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (Unctad), held in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil in 2012.

Unctad defines the Blue Economy to be the economic and trade activities that focus on the ocean-based marine environment, associated biodiversity, ecosystems, species, and genetic resources whilst ensuring conservation.

And, speaking yesterday, Dr Mwinyi said his administration and the Government of Oman have struck agreement that details how the two governments will work together to implement the blue economic model, focusing primarily on fisheries, tourism, oil and gas as well as seaweed farming.

Speaking during a press conference at the Zanzibar State House, Dr Mwinyi said in implementing the blue economic model, his government started talks with different stakeholders on how to create the necessary infrastructure that will enable the model to thrive.
A 16-year-old girl who allegedly fell in love with her stepfather and helped him murder her mother and her nine-year-old sister, has been arrested.

Fabricio Arena, 34, was arrested by Brazilian authorities Monday and confessed to murdering his wife, Cristiane Arena, 34, in November 2020 during a fight, and then her nine-year-old daughter Karoline Guimaraes a month later when she kept asking about her missing mother.

His 16-year-old stepdaughter, who told police she had hated her mother, is also implicated in their deaths and was arrested. She has denied killing her mother or sister.

On Tuesday, she led the police to their bodies, which had been buried beneath under a concrete patio next to a pool at their home in the Sao Paulo city of Pompeia, Brazil, according to G1.

Brazilian authorities are investigating 16-year-old girl who allegedly fell in love with her stepfather, Fabricio Arena, and helped him murder her mother, Cristiane Arena, and her nine-year-old sister, Karoline Guimaraes, in late 2020. Their bodies were found buried in the backyard of their Sao Paulo home on last Monday

Fabricio Arena was arrested by Brazilian authorities Monday and confessed to murdering his wife, Cristiane Arena, in November 2020 during a fight. He also told investigators that he killed his nine-year-old stepdaughter, Karoline Guimaraes, by choking in December after she has complained about her mother's disappearance. Authorities also arrested his 16-year-old daughter, with whom he had been involved in a relationship with, according to the police chief of the Sao Paulo city if Pompeia. The teen's participation in the crime was allegedly fueled by her hate for her mother

The teen is not being named as a minor and alleged victim of sexual assault at the hands of her stepfather.

Claudio Anunciato, the police chief of Pompeia, said teenage girl's hate for her mother was the driving factor in her decision to help Fabricio murder her mother.

'She had problems with her mother. She didn't like her mother, as she reported,' Anunciato said. 'Then she fell in love with the guy and they agreed to kill the mother.'

Fabricio, who married Cristiane in December 2015, was apprehended Monday while working at his construction job in Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul.

He confessed to investigators that he had killed his wife with a knife as an act of self defense in the midst of a fight.

Brazilian authorities in Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, take Fabricio Arena into custody on Monday after apprehending him at a construction site where he was working

Cristiane and Fabricio Arena were married in December 2015. On Monday, he was arrested and confessed to murdering her during what he described as a fight that took place in November2020. He also admitted to killing his stepdaughter, nine-year-old Karoline Guimaraes

Fabricio Arena (top right) told authorities on Monday that he killed his wife, Cristiane Arena (top left), during a fight in November 2020 and then murdered her daughter, nine-year-old Karoline Guimaraes (lower left), by choking her in December. The woman's 16-year-old daughter (lower right) is being investigated by the police for her alleged role in the double murder

He also admitted to choking nine-year-old Karoline Guimaraes in December after the girl had repeatedly asked about her mother's whereabouts.

'First he killed the woman because the daughter did not like the mother, and he already had a fight with her,' Anunciato said.

'They were in love. And then they killed the girl, not because nobody liked the girl, but to hide the crime. The girl's death was so as to not bring up the first homicide.'

The Civil Police is also investigating Fabricio for allegedly raping the teen.

He told the police he had been involved in a relationship with the teen after she turned 15 in 2019.
Former New York Yankees reliever David Robertson will take the next step in his comeback on Thursday. MLB Networks Jon Heyman reports the David Robertson showcase is (today). Heavy attendance expected. One of several accomplished closers still on market.

Last month, MLB.coms Mark Feinsand was the first to report on Robertsons planned return in 2021. The Boston Globes Peter Abraham reported Robertson could be destined to sign with the Red Sox: Robertson has a home in Rhode Island and has said in the past hed be interested in playing in Boston.

Introducing Yankees Insider: Get exclusive news, behind-the-scenes observations and the ability to text message directly with beat writers

Robertson began his MLB career in 2008, pitching out of the bullpen and helping the Yankees win the 2009 World Series.

He left as a free agent following the 2014 season, signing a four-year, $46 million contract with the Chicago White Sox. But the Yankees re-acquired Robertson before the non-waiver trade deadline in 2017 as part of the deal bringing reliever Tommy Kahnle and third baseman Todd Frazier to the Bronx.

Following the 2018 season, Robertson signed a two-year, $23 million contract the Philadelphia Phillies, but he only pitched in seven games before going down with an arm injury. He missed all of the 2020 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery.

Robertson, who was an All-Star in 2011, has a 2.90 ERA over 12 MLB seasons.

Get Yankees text messages: Cut through the clutter of social media and text during games with beat writers and columnists. Plus, exclusive news and analysis every day. Sign up now.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a subscription.

Mike Rosenstein may be reached at mrosenstein@njadvancemedia.com. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here.
Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, was the obvious place for Marie and Francisco Brugueras to settle. Thats where Mrs. Brugueras  then Marie Shaub  lived with her family after immigrating from Russia as a teenager.

She and Mr. Brugueras, who is from Puerto Rico, met at business school at the University of Chicago. They lived in Manhattan for 10 years, then returned to Bay Ridge when they were planning to have children, to be near Mrs. Bruguerass mother.

The couple lived in a two-bedroom rental with their twins, Nicolai and Vera, now 8. There was no place to store the double stroller, which they would haul up to the third floor. And their need for space only grew when they learned they were having a third child, Maia, now 7. So they bought and renovated a detached, two-story Bay Ridge house, with a shared driveway and a garage they used for storage.

But as the children grew, the house seemed to shrink. The family struggled with closet space. The front door opened to a tiny vestibule off the kitchen, and bigger and bigger coats were populating our kitchen in the winter, Mrs. Brugueras said. All of the stuff the kids take off ends up in the kitchen, and I spend an inordinate amount of time moving it.

The couple, now in their early 40s, dreamed of a house with separate bedrooms for the children, a spot for a baby grand piano and a home office for Mr. Brugueras, who works in finance.

We love historical properties, Mrs. Brugueras said, although the kind of brownstone they longed for, with original details, had always been out of their price range.

[Did you recently buy or rent a home in the New York metro area? We want to hear from you. Email: thehunt@nytimes.com]

In Bay Ridge, brownstones are one-offs and are surrounded by architecture that is much later, she said. Bay Ridge is not brownstone Brooklyn by any means. It has a lot of free-standing homes and was developed a lot in the 30s.

One day, browsing Zillow, Mrs. Brugueras found a lovely brownstone for sale, which sparked the hunt for a bigger home. Their budget was around $1 million.

Most of the brownstones they saw were attached, and few had driveways. But the couple found themselves relying less on their car, and the children no longer needed car seats, so they asked themselves whether they could cope with street parking. They decided they could.

They also didnt care about yards, most of which seemed to be filled with mosquitos and noise from the neighbors.

Among their options:
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

Periods of rain. High 51F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a half an inch..

Tonight

Rain. Low near 45F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a half an inch.
New York sues pro-life activists for harassing Planned Parenthood staff, patients

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The state of New York has filed a lawsuit against a pair of pro-life activists that it claims have blocked access to a Planned Parenthood abortion clinic and harassed the staff and patients.

New York Attorney General Letitia Jamesfiled the complaint Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York against Bevelyn Beatty and Edmee Chavannes.

According to the complaint, Beatty and Chavannes engaged in obstructive, threatening, harassing, and violent activity against the Planned Parenthood of Greater New Yorks Manhattan Health Center in New York City.

The suit alleges that the two frequently held protests at the clinic throughout 2020 by standing near the entrances and shouting at close range to staff and patients as they access the facility.

The filing claims that Beatty and Chavannes pounded on and screamed through the clinics glass windows.

Furthermore, the legal filing states that Beatty slammed a staff members hand into a door, slapped a volunteer in the face and threatened to knock a clinic escort unconscious.

Chavannes was accused of screaming threats in a staff members face while maskless.

They were both accused of physically blocking the health center's main and side entrances and preventing staff and patients from entering.

The attorney generals office accused the two women of weaponizing the threat of the coronavirus to impede access to the facility since they did not wear face masks.

The complaint seeks to force the two activists to pay compensatory damages for each violation of state law, civil penalties authorized under the law and legal costs the state incurred to carry out the lawsuit.

The complaint also asks for the right to secure a buffer zone around the abortion clinic to guarantee safe access to the facility.

Despite the clear protections under the law, these individuals used violent and illegal tactics to harass, threaten and block women from entering Planned Parenthood,James said in a statement.

Let me be very clear: no person, no business, and no government body has the right to deny or limit a womans access to an abortion, and I will continue to do everything within my legal power to support the reproductive rights of women.

As black pro-life activists have long voiced concern with Planned Parenthood founder Margaret Sanger's history as a proponent of eugenics, Planned Parenthood of Greater New York announced last summer the removal of Sanger's name from its Manhattan clinic because of the woman's racist legacy."

Beatty and Chavannes, who are black and founded At The Well Ministries, had a run-in with the law last summer when they were arrested for defacing Black Lives Matters murals in New York City.

Viral videos of them from last July showed them smearing black paint over a yellow BLM street mural. They called the BLM organization a domestic terrorist organization.

Vote the ungodly, demonic, anti-Christ people out of this nation, Beatty was quoted as saying at the time, adding that onlookers should stand with your police force, vote for Trump, vote Republican, vote for Christians and stand up Christians.

The Staten Island Advance reported at the time that Beatty and Chavannes were charged with criminal mischief but released later that day.

In 2019, New York passed the Reproductive Health Act, which codified the controversial U.S. Supreme Court decision Roe v. Wade and expanded abortion access.

Last month, the state was sued over the law by a group of residents. An attorney for the plaintiffs claims that the law has dangerous ambiguities regarding domestic violence issues and how abortion is deemed medically necessary.

The lawyer argued that the law eliminated all criminal penalties for the killing of an unborn child, meaning theres not a separate homicide charge for the murder of a wanted, near term child.

This is not the first time Attorney General James came to the defense of an abortion clinic.

She defended a 15-foot buffer zone in front of an abortion clinic in Rochester. In January 2020, a judge ruled that the city could continue to enforce a 2005 order that established a sidewalk buffer zone outside a local Planned Parenthood facility.

According to James office, she is also litigating a case involving the Choices Womens Medical Center in Queens.
OTISVILLE, MI -- LakeVille High School has transitioned students to virtual learning following an increase of COVID-19 cases in the building.

LakeVille Community Schools, a small district with facilities in Genesee and Lapeer counties, announced the high school would be closed effective immediately in a Wednesday, Feb. 10 letter from Superintendent Mike Lytle to families.

Students will switch to a virtual learning platform through Friday, Feb. 19, returning to face-to-face instruction on Monday, Feb 22.

All after-school programs are also canceled until further notice.

Related: Lapeer High School returns to remote learning after surge in COVID-19 cases

The closure is to allow students to quarantine per guidelines from the Genesee County Health Department, Lytle wrote. During the closure, additional cleaning will take place in the school.

Anyone with questions or concerns is asked to contact Lytle or school administrators.

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has urged all schools to return to offering an in-person learning option by March 1.

As of Thursday, Feb. 11, the states seven-day average case count for COVID-19 has hit its lowest point since Oct. 9 and its lowest average positivity rate since Oct. 11.

The statewide seven-day average positivity rate is now 3.9% compared to 4.4% a week ago. Meanwhile, the seven-day average of new daily cases is now 1,000 new cases a day, a 32% drop compared to an average of 1,465 a week ago.

Read more on MLive:

Read Whitmers $5.6B plan to fund coronavirus recovery for Michigan schools, economy

Clio schools ups pay, incentives in face of bus driver shortage exacerbated by COVID-19

How are Genesee County schools handling snow days amid COVID-19 pandemic?

Thursday, Feb. 11, coronavirus data by Michigan county: Only 3 states have lower per-capita case count than Michigan

Flint parents urged to use free Early On evaluation services for infants and toddlers

Kettering students work to compete on Discovery Channels BattleBots

Flint schools to honor the tradition of snow days even with students learning remotely
[February 11, 2021] Social Leverage Acquisition Corp I Announces Pricing of $300 Million Initial Public Offering

Social Leverage Acquisition Corp I (the "Company") announced today that it priced its initial public offering of 30,000,000 units at $10.00 per unit. The units will be listed on the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE") and trade under the ticker symbol "SLAC.U" beginning February 12, 2021. Each unit consists of one share of Class A common stock and one-fourth of one redeemable warrant. Each whole warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one share of Class A common stock at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment. Only whole warrants are exercisable. Once the securities comprising the units begin separate trading, the shares of Class A common stock and redeemable warrants are expected to be listed on the NYSE under the symbols "SLAC" and "SLAC WS," respectively. The Company, led by Howard Lindzon, Paul Grinberg and Douglas Horlick, is a blank check company formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. The Company intends to focus its search on innovative and mission-driven businesses in the financial technology, enterprise software or consumer technology sectors. Barclays and BofA Securities are acting as joint book-running managers for the offering. The Company has granted the underwriters a 45-day option to purchase up to an additional 4,500,000 units to cover over-allotments, if any.



barclaysprospectus@broadridge.com and BofA Securities, NC1-004-03-43, 200 North College Street, 3rd Floor, Charlotte, NC 28255-0001; Attention: Prospectus Department; by telephone at 800-294-1322 or by email at dg.prospectus_requests@bofa.com. A registration statement relating to the securities became effective on February 11, 2021. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

The offering is expected to close on February 17, 2021, subject to customary closing conditions. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking statements," including with respect to the proposed initial public offering and search for and/or completion of an initial business combination. No assurance can be given that the offering will be completed on the terms described, or at all, or that the Company will complete an initial business combination. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous conditions, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including those set forth in the Risk Factors section of the Company's registration statement and preliminary prospectus for the Company's offering filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the " SEC (News - Alert) "). Copies of these documents are available on the SEC's website, www.sec.gov. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release, except as required by law. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210211005940/en/

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Berlusconi spent night in Milan hospital after falling in Rome.

Silvio Berlusconi, the former Italian prime minister and media magnate, is recovering from light injuries sustained after he fell at his Roman residence on 10 February, reports news agency ANSA.

The 84-year-old billionaire reportedly bruised his side in the fall, choosing to return to Milan where he checked into a clinic overnight.

Berlusconi was discharged this morning and is currently "at home, at work, voting remotely at the European Parliament," according to a statement released by his centre-right Forza Italia (FI) party.

The three-time premier had travelled to Rome earlier this week to attend the second round of government-formation consultations by premier-designate Mario Draghi , and voiced his strong support for the veteran economist.

Berlusconi was recently hospitalised in Monaco with heart problems and last year he contracted covid-19 , an experience he described as "the most dangerous ordeal of my life."

Photo AFP
LONDON, UK, Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Funds advised by Apax Partners (the "Apax Funds") today announced the signing of a definitive agreement to acquire a majority stake of Herjavec Group (HG), an award-winning global Managed Security Services Provider (MSSP) and cyber operations leader. Founder & CEO, Robert Herjavec, will remain as a significant stakeholder and the firm's Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The financial terms of the transaction (which is subject to applicable regulatory approvals) were not disclosed.

Founded in 2003, Herjavec Group has been recognised as one of the world's most innovative cybersecurity companies with the sole mission of protecting enterprises globally from evolving cyber threats. Earning accolades from industry analysts including Gartner, Forrester, IDC and MSSP Alert, Herjavec Group has developed a reputation globally for attracting top security talent, and continuously advancing its cyber services which include Cybersecurity Advisory Services, Architecture & Implementation of best of breed technologies, Identity & Access Management, 24/7 Managed Security Services, Threat Management and Incident Response.

The Apax Funds, in partnership with HG's management team, will look to build on the company's impressive growth rate by accelerating international expansion efforts, augmenting HG's talented team with additional threat & identity resources, and further advancing the HG Identity and HG SOAR proprietary platforms. The Apax Tech team have a deep understanding of the cyber security market through the Apax Funds' prior investments in Sophos, a world-leader in the space and Coalfire, a cybersecurity advisory business which was acquired by the Apax Funds in 2019.

Robert Herjavec, Founder & CEO of Herjavec Group, said: "I couldn't be more thrilled to welcome the Apax Partners team to Herjavec Group. Over the past seventeen years, HG has remained steadfast in our mission to make enterprises around the world more secure. We have succeeded in that effort by developing an industry-leading 24/7 Managed Security Services practice, by advancing our proprietary IP, by diversifying our offerings to include Advisory, Managed Detection & Response, Identity and Incident Response services, and by hiring what I fundamentally believe is the very best team in the world. This acquisition and the growth funding that results is a testament to our entire team, and to our loyal customer base who has entrusted us with their mission critical assets. I am excited for this next phase in our growth trajectory as we continue to earn their trust by expanding our localized support models, deepening our Managed Security Services offerings and furthering our platform development to drive incremental automation, efficiency and security ROI."

Rohan Haldea, Partner at Apax Partners, said: "Under Robert's leadership, HG has grown into an impressive business, providing critical cybersecurity solutions with a special focus on customer service. In an increasingly complex cybersecurity and IT market, where we are seeing ever more sophisticated cyber-crime, HG is a trusted partner that relieves the burden from internal enterprise security teams. We are excited to partner with Robert and team as we look to drive the business forward, investing in continued product innovation and growth acceleration while maintaining the company's number one priority: its customer centricity.

Dentons US LLP are serving as legal counsel to Herjavec Group and Kirkland & Ellis LLP is serving as legal counsel to Apax. Momentum Cyber is serving as financial advisor to Herjavec Group in connection with the transaction. UBS Investment Bank and Stifel are serving as financial advisors to Apax.

About Herjavec Group

Robert Herjavec founded Herjavec Group in 2003 to provide cybersecurity products and services to enterprise organizations. HG has been recognized as one of the world's most innovative cybersecurity operations leaders, and excels in complex, multi-technology environments. Herjavec Group's service expertise includes Advisory Services, Technology Architecture & Implementation, Identity Services, Managed Security Services, Threat Management, and Incident Response. Herjavec Group has offices and Security Operations Centers across the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and India. For more information, visit HerjavecGroup.com or contact a security specialist at: info@herjavecgroup.com.

About Apax Partners LLP

Apax Partners LLP ("Apax Partners") is a leading global private equity advisory firm. Over its more than 40-year history, Apax Partners has raised and advised funds with aggregate commitments of more than $60 billion. The Apax Funds invest in companies across four global sectors of Tech & Telco, Services, Healthcare and Consumer. These funds provide long-term equity financing to build and strengthen world-class companies. For further information about Apax Partners, please visit www.apax.com.

Apax Partners is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the UK.

Media Contacts: For Herjavec Group, Erin McLean, +1-647-535-3126, emclean@herjavecgroup.com; Kristin Glover, +1- 416-844-9591, kglover@herjavecgroup.com; For Apax Partners, Katarina Sallerfors, +44 20 7666 6526, Katarina.Sallerfors@apax.com; Luke Charalambous, +44 20 7872 6494, Luke.Charalambous@apax.com; Matthew Goodman, James Madsen, Greenbrook, +44 20 7952 2000, apax@greenbrookpr.com

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Pich Samreth is a security guard working at a private company nearby the Phnom Penh International Airport. Last week, he was watching a breaking news broadcast of the arrival of Chinese-made vaccines on his mobile phone. Pich Samreth, 54, said he was hesitant to get vaccinated but would do it only if the government made it mandatory. My life is important because my family depends on me," he said, But, if our leaders get vaccinated first, and they are fine, maybe I could follow them. Pich Samreths apprehension over the first batch of Sinopharm vaccines was shared by other Phnom Penh residents, which was being used to vaccinate priority groups starting Wednesday. In January, Hun Sen said he accepted Sinopharm vaccines because Cambodia could not wait longer to start inoculations  an about-turn from his earlier decision to only accept vaccines recognized by the World Health Organization. The government has encouraged senior government officials, including members of the prime ministers family and the Cambodian Peoples Party leadership. But, the public has been skeptical of the effectiveness of the Sinopharm vaccine. After volunteering to be the first to get the vaccine, Hun Sen backtracked after Chinese doctors said only people within the age bracket of 18 to 59 years should get vaccinated, disqualifying Cambodian seniors from getting the shot.

Then Or Vandine, a Health Ministry secretary of state, held a press conference on Monday giving a long list of pre-existing conditions and health conditions that would exclude people from getting inoculated. The reversals and lack of clear information have made Phnom Penh residents weary of the only vaccine on offer in the country for now. Cambodia will get vaccines from the COVAX Facility, which will be the AstraZeneca candidate from Indias Serum Institute of India. The government has said it was open to buying additional vaccines from other pharmaceutical companies. Bun Sovanrith, a 30-year-old tuk-tuk driver, said he would only be vaccinated with shots approved by the World Health Organization. He said the country wasnt in an emergency that it needed to desperately get vaccines before they were approved by the WHO. "I have no plan to get vaccinated, he said, referring to the Sinopharm vaccine. The vaccine is not yet recognized by WHO, so I dont trust it yet." He would be willing to spend his own money to get the vaccine as long as it was approved by the WHO. Or Vandine said that Cambodia had carefully considered the pros and cons of the vaccine before approving the emergency use of the Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine last week. The vaccine is around 79 percent effective, according to the manufacturers of Sinopharm. "Our decision is not compromised," she told journalists after she got vaccinated on Wednesday.

"Why do I dare to get vaccinated? Because I have already studied the vaccine, she said, adding that the vaccine had been developed thoroughly. Or Vandine did not provide an answer when VOA reporters asked if Cambodia had obtained data and analysis from the vaccines Phase 3 trials and if this information would be made public. The WHOs Cambodia office did not respond to the request for comment. The global health body has not provided any comments on the use of the Sinopharm vaccine or Cambodias decision to accept the shots from China. The Pasteur Institute in Cambodia, which is in charge of testing for COVID-19, said they were not part of the vaccination drive started by the government. There was no need to consult IPC as we are not part of the vaccine initiative but we concentrate on diagnostic (PCR testing) and research activities not related to vaccine operational response, said Laurence Baril, who heads the laboratory. Dr. Chhea Chhorvann, the head of the National Institute of Public Health, said his team was part of the countrys COVID-19 response and had conducted training at the Health Ministry, but played a few roles in the vaccine rollout. Technically, although we do not have [information about] specific side effects for the vaccine, we know the general side effects of a vaccine because most vaccines are developed based on the same principle, he said.
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More proof the worst of the second Covid wave has passed emerged today as Test and Trace data showed cases fell by a quarter last week and separate figures revealed infections dropped in every region and age group.

With all key metrics now indicating England is well past the peak, pressure is mounting on Boris Johnson to ease lockdown drastically when he announces his 'route map' out of the shutdown on February 22.

Today's Test and Trace report showed 149,000 people referred to the scheme were diagnosed with the disease in the week up to February 3  down 24 per cent on the previous week. It is the lowest weekly number since England came out of its second national lockdown and before the second wave spiralled out of control.

Meanwhile, Public Health England's weekly surveillance report showed Covid cases are continuing to fall in every English region and among every age group.

The West Midlands has the highest rate at 237.6 per 100,000 people, down from 326.8 in the previous week. The South West has the lowest rate at 120.3, falling from 176.5.

Infections are highest among 30 to 39-year-olds, the figures show, at 265.3 cases per 100,000 people. For people aged 80 and over, who are most at risk of dying from the virus, the rate fell from 294.6 to 200.5.

PHE's report also found 145 out of 149 local authorities (97 per cent) recorded a drop in the weekly rate of coronavirus cases and one area remained unchanged in the seven days to February 7.

Rutland in the East Midlands saw the largest increase with infection rates doubling to 463 per 100,000, while Calderdale in West Yorkshire reported a 17 per cent rise to 192.

Rutland's outbreak is thought to be being partly fuelled by an outbreak of the disease among prisoners at HMP Stocken, believed to have accounted for around half of all cases in its county area.

Middlesbrough recorded a slight uptick of 5 per cent, taking its rate to 373 per 100,000 and there was a 3 per cent increase in Bolton, where the rate rose to 283.

East Sussex saw the biggest drop in infection rates, followed by the London borough of Haringey, the Isle of Wight and Thurrock in Essex.

Hospital admissions and death rates are also dropping by about 25 per cent week-on-week, according to official statistics published on the Department of Health's coronavirus dashboard.

The number of people who tested positive for coronavirus through the NHS Test and Trace programme fell by a quarter last week. Today's report showed 149,000 people referred to the scheme were diagnosed with the disease in the week up to February 3, down 24 per cent on the previous week

Public Health England's weekly surveillance report showed Covid cases are continuing to fall in every English region

The report also showed infections are highest among 30 to 39-year-olds at 265.3 cases per 100,000 people. For people aged 80 and over, who are most at risk of dying from the virus, the rate fell from 294.6 to 200.5

A sea of blue - representing local authorities where the weekly Covid case rate is lower than 190 per 100,000 - has washed over the country thanks to the brutal lockdown curbs

The Test and Trace report also revealed more than 80 per cent of close contacts of infected patients were reached and asked to self-isolate  a threshold set by SAGE which is key to the programme be successful at thwarting outbreaks.

Only four areas saw a spike in infection rates during first week of February All but four areas in England saw coronavirus infection rates fall during the first week of February, official figures revealed today in yet more evidence the second wave is firmly in retreat. Public Health England's weekly surveillance report found 145 out of 149 local authorities (97 per cent) recorded a drop in the weekly rate of coronavirus cases and one area remained unchanged in the seven days to February 7. Rutland in the East Midlands saw the largest increase with infection rates doubling to 463 per 100,000, while Calderdale in West Yorkshire reported a 17 per cent rise to 192. Rutland's outbreak is thought to be being partly fuelled by an outbreak of the disease among prisoners at HMP Stocken, believed to have accounted for around half of all cases in its county area. Middlesbrough recorded a slight uptick of 5 per cent, taking its rate to 373 per 100,000 and there was a 3 per cent increase in Bolton, where the rate rose to 283. East Sussex saw the biggest drop in infection rates, followed by the London borough of Haringey, the Isle of Wight and Thurrock in Essex. Advertisement

The scheme managed to hunt down 87 per cent of Covid patients, about 130,000, and 94 per cent of their close contacts, or 265,000.

But there were still almost 20,000 people who tested positive and could not be traced, plus everyone they'd come into contact with during their illness.

The figures also highlight the Test and Trace programme is still failing to turn around Covid tests within 24 hours, despite Boris Johnson promising last June that everyone who took a PCR swab would get a result inside a day.

But figures show the average turnaround time for a home testing kit is 35 hours. In-person swabs are faring much better, with 97 per cent of results sent out in a day.

Health Minister Lord Bethell said: 'More people than ever before have had a Covid-19 test this week and have also received their test result quickly and conveniently despite the demands on the service.

'These numbers are hugely impressive and have an enormous impact on the spread of the virus.'

It comes after Britain yesterday announced 13,013 more coronavirus cases and 1,001 deaths yesterday, with both metrics down significantly from last week.

Covid infections were down by a third on last Wednesday's figure, while fatalities shrunk by a quarter compared to the tally a week ago.

The number of Covid patients in hospital has also fallen by more than a fifth in a week, with just over 26,000 beds now taken up by sufferers compared to almost 40,000 at the peak last month.

Meanwhile, Department of Health officials revealed another 415,000 vaccines were administered on Tuesday, with more than 13million Brits having now received their first dose.

With all the key statistics now pointing towards a quickly shrinking epidemic, and with the vaccine rollout steaming ahead, pressure is mounting on the Government to start dropping the most brutal lockdown curbs.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has promised to lay out a 'route map' out of the national shutdown on February 22, with schools expected to be the first to go back sometime after March 8.

If the country follows the Israeli roadmap for defeating coronavirus then it suggests Britain will only begin

Britain will only begin to emerge from lockdown at the end of May, if it follows the Israeli roadmap for defeating coronavirus.

Israel has started implementing a three-stage plan to exit draconian Covid restrictions  similar to the blueprint Boris Johnson is set to lay out on February 22.

Israeli officials hope to let non-essential shops, gyms and libraries reopen within a fortnight.

But ministers will only give the move the green light on February 23 if 90 per cent of over-50s have been vaccinated and at least a third of the country have had their booster dose. Infection rates must also continue to plummet.

Under the same lockdown-easing plan, pubs, cafes and restaurants won't be allowed to welcome customers again until March 9  by which time 95 per cent of over-50s must have been jabbed. Four million Israelis  roughly 45 per cent of the country  will also need to have had their top-up jab.

More than three million people were tested by NHS Test and Trace this reporting week, the highest number ever in a single week

The figures also highlight the Test and Trace programme is still failing to turn around Covid tests within 24 hours, despite Boris Johnson promising last June that everyone who took a PCR swab would get a result inside a day

The scheme managed to hunt down 87 per cent of Covid patients, about 130,000, and 94 per cent of their close contacts, or 265,000

Were Number 10 to follow Israel's model, non-essential shops wouldn't reopen until late May because of how long it would take to vaccinate the 17million Britons aged 50-70 who are next on the NHS priority list. Pubs, restaurants and hotels would have to wait until early June.

Schools could start from roughly the middle of May, as per the Israeli system which requires 70 per cent of over-50s to be fully vaccinated before kids go back to class. But the Prime Minister has pledged to reopen schools from March 8.

These dates for the UK are borne out in modelling by the University of Warwick which was passed to Sage a few weeks ago.

It argued that the best way for Britain to prevent another surge in Covid deaths was to keep the national lockdown going until the end of May and then recommence the social distancing rules in September until the end of 2021.
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Ministers are hunting for the final two million vulnerable Britons who have not yet come forward for their Covid vaccine, warning that having large numbers of unprotected people could delay the easing of lockdown.

The Government has made it its mission to inoculate the 15million Brits most at risk of dying from the coronavirus by Monday, which includes everyone over 70, care home residents, their carers and frontline NHS staff, as well as patients classed as clinically extremely vulnerable, such as those with terminal illnesses.

But while 13million in the most vulnerable categories have had the jab, including 90 per cent of the over-70s and care home residents, the Prime Minister has warned there is still a group numbering roughly twice the population of Birmingham who had yet to receive one.

Sir Patrick Vallance warned last night that lockdown-loosening plans will have to go even slower if large numbers of vulnerable people remained unvaccinated. This would mean there is always the threat of a rapid spike in deaths and hospitalisations, he said.

There are concerns that social care workers are more reluctant to come forward or have been missed because of shift patterns and that some elderly people are having trouble booking appointments or reaching vaccination centres.

GPs are now being paid commission to inoculate the housebound in their homes and family doctors are being urged to make personal calls to all their older patients who have not received their injection. Roving teams will hunt for care home staff who have been missed and drive-through centres have been set up to give them a more flexible way to get their jab without leaving their cars.

Meanwhile, data suggests up to twice as many black, Asian and ethnic minority Brits are turning down the vaccine compared to white people, which is believed to be due to a mistrust in Government. The NHS is working with local faith and community leaders to tackle vaccine hesitancy and counter anti-vaxx propaganda online.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said this morning despite the concerns, the Government is 'confident' of meeting its target.

Speaking directly to the two million vulnerable Brits yet to be vaccinated, Boris Johnson told last night's Downing Street press conference: 'Now is the moment to do it.'

So far Number 10 has batted away calls to start injecting younger people if those in the priority groups are turning them down or missing appointments. The PM said the reason for this was 'not so we hit some numerical target, but to save lives, prevent serious illness, and so the whole country can take another step on the long and hard road back to normality'.

But some areas of the country leading the way in the vaccine roll-out have taken it on themselves to start jabbing under-70s.

Motorists roll up to have Covid jabs through their car windows yesterday  as Boris Johnson appealed to the remaining two million most vulnerable Britons to get vaccinated. Pictured: A healthworker administers a vaccine at a drive-through centre at Queen Margaret University near Edinburgh on Wednesday

Speaking directly to the two million vulnerable Britons yet to be vaccinated, Boris Johnson told last night's Downing Street press conference: 'Now is the moment to do it'

There are concerns that social care workers are more reluctant to come forward or have been missed because of shift patterns and that some elderly people are having trouble booking appointments or reaching vaccination centres

Warning that poor uptake could mean lockdown would need to be extended, Sir Patrick told last night's briefing: 'There will be a significant number of people in high-risk groups who havent yet been vaccinated.

'Those people remain at risk, and so its important we go cautiously in opening up in order to be able to measure the effects.

'One of the things that is really crucial in this is to get enough information to know the trajectory we are on and to not jump ahead of it. Because we are at very high levels and that can take off very quickly. The virus isnt going to be particularly interested in dates.'

Drive-through centres have been set up in St Albans, Hertfordshire, and at Queen Margaret University near Edinburgh, where Mary Foster was one of the first to have the jab yesterday.

The retired home help worker said: 'I think this is great, I'm really excited and I think people who don't want to be vaccinated should think again.'

The centre at the university can vaccinate about 720 people a day, seven days a week.

It comes as Britain yesterday announced 13,013 more coronavirus cases and 1,001 deaths, as the winter wave continues to be brought under control by draconian lockdown restrictions.

Wednesday's Covid infections are down by a third on last week's figure, while fatalities have shrunk by a quarter compared to the tally a week ago.

The number of Covid patients in hospital has also fallen by more than a fifth in a week, with just over 26,000 beds now taken up by sufferers compared to almost 40,000 at the peak last month.

Meanwhile, Department of Health officials revealed another 415,000 vaccines had been administered on Tuesday, with more than 13million Brits having now received their first dose. With five days still to go, Britain is now cruising towards the Government's target of injecting the 15million most vulnerable by February 15.

With all the key metrics now pointing towards a quickly shrinking epidemic, and with the vaccine rollout steaming ahead, pressure is mounting on the Government to start dropping the most brutal lockdown curbs.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has promised to lay out a 'route map' out of the national shutdown on February 22, with schools expected to be the first to go back sometime after March 8.

Figures also show Britain has dished out 10 per cent of the entire world's coronavirus vaccines and more than France, Germany, Italy and Spain combined.

Drive-through centres, which allow motorists to be vaccinated without leaving their cars, have been set up in St Albans, Hertfordshire, and at Queen Margaret University (pictured) near Edinburgh

The centre near Edinburgh at the university can vaccinate about 720 people a day, seven days a week

Despite its small population in the global standings, the UK has administered a whopping 13.5million out of 146million doses given out internationally  almost 10 per cent of all the world's jabs so far.

According to the statistics compiled by the Oxford University-based research platform Our World in Data, this puts Britain in third place behind only the US and China, which have far larger populations.

The figures also show more doses have been dished out here than in France, Germany, Italy and Spain combined. European commission president Ursula von der Leyen yesterday issued a grovelling apology for the EU's jab shambles, admitting the bloc acted 'late' and was 'over-confident'.

Former Prime Minister Tony Blair yesterday said the speed with which Covid jabs were developed and rolled out was an 'inspiration' but added that it was 'unfair' poorer countries were missing out due to a lack of a global strategy.

Number 10's pandemic response has come in for widespread criticism on the whole, although ministers have been roundly praised for their vaccine rollout being one step ahead of the rest of the world. Ministers spent more than 6billion developing and procuring the jabs  a fraction of the 200-plus billion spent on supporting businesses during the economically-crippling lockdowns  despite no guarantees any would work.

But critics have warned against getting too complacent as latest figures from the Department of Health suggest the Covid drive has plateaued. The number of doses given to Brits on Monday rose by just one per cent compared to the same time last week, hovering at around 350,000.

Another 414,973 Britons received their first or second dose of the Covid-19 vaccine yesterday, figures published yesterday reveal, up 10 per cent on the 376,922 jabs recorded the same time last week.

But this was a marked slowdown from the week before when the number administered jumped by 20 per cent.

Boris Johnson last night suggested summer holidays for Britons who have had both Covid jabs are on the horizon.

The top 30 countries where the highest number of doses of the Covid-19 vaccine have been administered, with the UK in third place. The data was from Our World in Data, which monitors the vaccines rollout across the world

And this is the number of doses administered as a percentage of the population covered. Experts have said to achieve 'herd immunity', where the virus stops spreading', around 85 per cent need to be vaccinated. The data is from Our World in Data

The Prime Minister said the Government was looking at 'all kinds of apps and all kinds of possibilities' for unlocking travel as the vaccine rollout is ramped up.

He confirmed ministers are in talks with other countries and the aviation industry about an international certification system.

But he added: 'When we're in that different world, which I hope will be as soon as possible, then all kinds of apps and all kinds of possibilities will be open to us.'

However, the row over travel and holidays look set to continue after advice from the Government descended into farce last night as ministers bickered over whether it is safe to book a summer break in the UK this year.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps sparked a furious backlash after declaring yesterday morning: 'People shouldn't be booking holidays right now  not domestically or internationally.'

As anger mounted, Downing Street appeared to distance itself from Mr Shapps at lunchtime, saying it was a 'choice for individuals'.

But Boris Johnson, who earlier this month said he was 'optimistic' about the prospect of summer holidays, appeared to change his mind yesterday.

The Prime Minister told a Downing Street press conference it was 'just too early for people to be certain about what we will be able to do this summer'.

On a chaotic day, Health Secretary Matt Hancock then revealed to Tory MPs he has already booked a holiday in Cornwall this summer. Whitehall sources told the Mail that, despite the cautious message from the PM, Chancellor Rishi Sunak and Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden are working on packages to promote holidays in the UK.

One insider said: 'We are going to strain every sinew to let people have a holiday this summer.'

Another senior Tory said: 'We are in danger of making 'holiday' a dirty word when it should be exactly the sort of aspirational thing we are celebrating.'

Britain has made 'great strides' in vaccination programme, Boris Johnson says as UK has dished out 10% of all the world's Covid vaccines and reached 13million people  but he urges over-70s to come forward with 2m left to hit Monday's target

BySam Blanchard Deputy Health Editorand Luke Andrewsand Emily Webber For Mailonline

Britain has made 'great strides' in its vaccination programme, Boris Johnson said yesterday as he urged all unvaccinated over-70s to come forward so the UK can hit its target to reach 15million people by Monday.

Despite its small population in the global standings, the UK has administered a whopping 13.5million out of 146million doses given out internationally  almost 10 per cent of all the world's jabs so far.

The Prime Minister, speaking from a Downing Street press conference last night, said: 'With less than a week to go until the target date of Monday the 15th, there's no doubt we've made great strides, with just over 13 million people now vaccinated in our United Kingdom, including one in four adults in England, over 90 per cent of everyone over 75 and over 90 per cent of eligible residents of care homes for the elderly.

'But that still leaves nearly two million people  a population roughly twice the size of Birmingham  that we still hope to reach. Now is the moment to do it.'

According to the statistics compiled by the Oxford University-based research platform Our World in Data, this puts Britain in third place behind only the US and China, which have far larger populations.

The figures also show more doses have been dished out here than in France, Germany, Italy and Spain combined. European commission president Ursula von der Leyen yesterday issued a grovelling apology for the EU's jab shambles, admitting the bloc acted 'late' and was 'over-confident'.

Former Prime Minister Tony Blair yesterday said the speed with which Covid jabs were developed and rolled out was an 'inspiration' but added that it was 'unfair' poorer countries were missing out due to a lack of a global strategy.

Boris Johnson said at a Downing Street press conference tonight that Britain had made 'great strides' in its vaccination programme but that there were still 2million more people to reach by next Monday to hit the February 15 target of 15million

Number 10's pandemic response has come in for widespread criticism on the whole, although ministers have been roundly praised for their vaccine rollout being one step ahead of the rest of the world. Ministers spent more than 6billion developing and procuring the jabs  a fraction of the 200-plus billion spent on supporting businesses during the economically-crippling lockdowns  despite no guarantees any would work.

Ursula von der Leyen issues grovelling apology over EU's vaccine shambles Ursula von der Leyen yesterday issued a grovelling apology for the EU's vaccine shambles, admitting the bloc acted 'late' and was 'over-confident'. The European commission president also conceded its rollout was still not 'where we want to be' in a humbling speech in Brussels. However, she defended trying to thrash out at unified approach for the 27 member states, even though she has likened it to a 'tanker' compared to the UK's 'speedboat'. UK government figures last night showed 12,646,486 people have now received initial jabs, with another 516,392 having had their booster. By contrast the EU as a whole has administered fewer than 18million doses to its population of around 450million people. Globally there are around 4.6million jabs being given every day, with around one in 10 of those happening in the UK. Speaking at an EU Parliament plenary session, Ms von der Leyen said: 'We are still not where we want to be. We were late to authorise. 'We were too optimistic when it came to massive production and perhaps we were too confident that, what we ordered, would actually be delivered on time.' Advertisement

The UK Vaccines Taskforce, run by venture capitalist Kate Bingham, played a key role in secure huge numbers of doses of vaccines ahead of international competition. And the running of the Covid vaccine programme through the NHS, which operates a successful national flu vaccination scheme every year, has smoothed over the rollout.

But critics have warned against getting too complacent as latest figures from the Department of Health suggest the Covid drive has plateaued. The number of doses given to Brits on Monday rose by just one per cent compared to the same time last week, hovering at around 350,000.

The Adam Smith Institute think-tank told MailOnline that while the programme had been a success so far, there was 'no excuse' for blips, because 'the virus doesn't sleep - the virus keeps spreading'. Despite concerns, Britain is within touching distance of delivering on its goal of vaccinating 15million of the most vulnerable by mid-February, which paves the way for the UK become one of the first countries to drop lockdowns completely.

Another 414,973 Britons received their first or second dose of the Covid-19 vaccine yesterday, figures published yesterday reveal, up 10 per cent on the 376,922 jabs recorded the same time last week. But this was a marked slowdown from the week before when the number administered jumped by 20 per cent.

It comes Department of Health figures yesterday suggested the UK's second wave is still shrinking. They announced another 13,013 cases, 32 per cent lower than the same time last week. A further 1,001 deaths from the virus were also reported, 24 per cent lower than last Wednesday. This took the total number of Covid deaths to 114,851.

Speaking at last night's Downing Street briefing, chief scientist Sir Patrick Vallance said it was 'really critical' that everyone who is offered a vaccine accepted it.

Boris Johnson said that if the speed of vaccination the supplies can be kept consistent, the Government planned to have reached everyone over the age of 55 by the end of April.

James Lawson, author of the study Worth a Shot: Accelerating Covid-19 Vaccinations, and fellow at think-tank the Adam Smith Institute, yesterday urged ministers not to be complacent because of early success.

'While the Government has made significant progress since January in boosting the amount of daily doses we can't be complacent,' he told MailOnline.

'We need to keep up the pace, keep accelerating and ultimately should be aiming to even double or triple the number of doses that we are doing compared with yesterday.

'There is ultimately no excuse for slowing down. We can't use the excuse of weekends and weather because ultimately the virus doesn't stop for weekends, the virus doesn't sleep - the virus keeps spreading so we do need to accelerate.'

He added that ministers must make the most of the time before second doses need to be delivered, which will mean vaccinators can reach fewer Britons with first doses every day.

Former Prime Minister Tony Blair (left) said the speed with which Covid jabs were developed and rolled out was an 'inspiration' but added that poorer countries were missing out due to a lack of a global strategy. Ursula von der Leyen (right) yesterday issued a grovelling apology for the EU's vaccine shambles, admitting the bloc acted 'late' and was 'over-confident'

Surge testing has been set up in parts of the country where the South African variant of the coronavirus has been found, or variants with similar concerning mutations that could reduce the efficacy of vaccines

Oxford Covid vaccine IS safe and 'likely effective' for over-65s, World Health Organization rules Oxford University and AstraZeneca's vaccine is safe and 'likely effective' for people over the age of 65, the World Health Organization said yesterday. The WHO has officially recommended the use of the vaccine in adults of all ages and said that doses should ideally be spaced by between eight and 12 weeks. The statement is a hit back against European countries that criticised the jab and refused to use it among their older populations, claiming there was not enough proof it worked. Countries including Germany, France, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Spain, Poland and Italy decided not to roll out the vaccine to older people. News reports from Germany in January sensationally claimed that the vaccine was only eight per cent effective among over-65s, but it later emerged that ministers had put an inaccurate percentage on clinical data that was so vague it was meaningless. However yesterday, Dr Alejandro Cravioto, a director at the WHO, said in a briefing that the jab could be given 'without an upper age limit'. Dr Cravioto said there was 'no reason' that places with the South African variant of the virus should not use the vaccine to keep down hospital admissions and deaths with the virus, in the wake of a study suggesting it may be less effective against it. Advertisement

'The intent behind doing the first dose is to get the maximum coverage of vulnerable groups and that is something we are supportive of - at the same time they should be extending to a wider audience,' he said.

'The worry we have got is without the number of doses increasing on a daily basis you are going to see a slowdown in the number of new doses being given out or first doses being given out as we catch up on second doses.

'For every person we give a second dose to we can't give another first dose out. We do have a worry that if they don't increase the capacity to distribute doses then we are going to see a slowdown either in the number of people who get their second dose or in the people who get a first dose - neither of which is ideal.'

Department of Health figures show the vaccination drive ramped up by at least 25 per cent every week over the first three weeks it was opened  as nurses and volunteers rushed to get Britain moving again.

But it ticked up by just one per cent on February 8, the latest day data is available, when 356,291 doses were administered compared to 352,935 on Monday last week.

Our World in Health data shows Britain has dished out 35 times more doses of Covid vaccines than Germany, which is leading the jabs drive in the EU. Germany has managed 337,000 doses so far, followed by Italy at 270,000, France at 222,000 and Spain's 217,000.

The figures also reveal a sharp disparity between the drive in different continents, with the whole of Africa having given out 17,600 doses so far.

Tony Blair yesterday called on countries around the world to co-ordinate their vaccine strategy saying they have an 'opportunity to learn the lessons from the early vaccine rollout'.

'The speed with which Covid-19 vaccines were developed and are being rolled out has been an inspiration,' he said.

'In just six weeks, the world has already administered 134million shots, with a current rolling average of over 4.5million doses per day. But the unequal distribution of those vaccines is both unfair and unsustainable.

Elderly people and patients with underlying health conditions are among the top four priority groups which make up 15million set to be vaccinated by February 15

'The main challenge has been the lack of any global strategy to co-ordinate and maximise production, and then ensure their swift and equitable distribution to every country in the world.

Nicola Sturgeon branded 'ridiculous' over demand that England quarantines ALL international arrivals heading to Scotland Nicola Sturgeon was facing fury yesterday after her Government demanded English authorities quarantine all travellers flying into England if they were planning to go to Scotland. The First Minister was accused of trying to extend Scottish laws south of the border with the demand that would force England to lock people up in hotels for 10 days even if local rules said they did not need to. Under plans unveiled by Health Secretary Matt Hancock last night, only arrivals from 33 Red List nations would be required to stay locked in a hotel for 10 days in England. Scotland however, is forcing all international arrivals into its airports to undergo the stay at a cost of 1,750. Scots Transport Secretary Michael Matheson last night confirmed the SNP government in Edinburgh wants Boris Johnson to adhere to Scotland's policy for travellers heading north of the border via England. Tory MP Peter Bone said Ms Sturgeon needed to clarify what her government was demanding. 'If someone arrives in England and then travels to Scotland they have to abide by the Scottish laws but it is wrong for the First Minister of Scotland to try and impose her laws on English airports,' he told MailOnline. 'That's ridiculous and bears no logic. If that is what she means I think the UK Government should firmly reject that idea. 'She should clarify ... and make it clear that quarantine rules will apply once someone goes into Scotland.' Passengers arriving at UK airports have to fill out a 'passenger locator form' in the 48 hours before arriving in Great Britain. Advertisement

'Given the potential for vaccine resistant strains to develop in any part of the word and then spread globally, the whole world is in peril if we allow this situation to persist.

'As more vaccines achieve regulatory approval and new vaccines to deal with new variants arrive, the world must be prepared. Closed borders are not sustainable in the medium or long term.

'We need to create a globally co-ordinated vaccine strategy now, bringing together representatives from science, medicine, the pharmaceutical industry, manufacturing, financiers, distribution and logistics to consider how to accelerate vaccine production and oversee allocation and procurement processes with governments.'

It comes after Ms von der Leyen yesterday issued a grovelling apology for the EU's vaccine shambles, admitting the bloc acted 'late' and was 'over-confident'.

The European commission president also conceded its rollout was still not 'where we want to be' in a humbling speech in Brussels.

However, she defended trying to thrash out at unified approach for the 27 member states, even though she has likened it to a 'tanker' compared to the UK's 'speedboat'.

Globally there are around 4.6million jabs being given every day, with around one in 10 of those happening in the UK.

Speaking at an EU Parliament plenary session, Ms von der Leyen said: 'We are still not where we want to be. We were late to authorise.

'We were too optimistic when it came to massive production and perhaps we were too confident that, what we ordered, would actually be delivered on time.'

Ms von der Leyen also said she was sorry for the confusion over the threat to suspend the Northern Ireland protocol in order to block vaccine exports - which was humiliatingly dropped.

'The bottom line is that mistakes were made in the process leading up to the decision,' Ms von der Leyen said.

'And I deeply regret that. But in the end we got it right.'

Ms von der Leyen said she still believes that 70 per cent of the EU's adult population can be vaccinated by the end of summer, swiping at pharmaceutical companies for not keeping pace with scientific advances.

'Industry has to match the groundbreaking pace of science,' Ms von der Leyen said.

'We fully understand that difficulties will arise in the mass production of vaccines.

'But Europe has invested billions of euros in capacities in advance, and we urged the member states to plan the vaccine rollout. So now we all need predictability.'

Despite the chaos, the three groups of MEPs stuck with Ms von der Leyen's approach of member states moving together.

'The key decisions were right,' Manfred Weber, leader of the Christian Democrat European People's Party, said.

The Socialists and Democrats party leader Iratxe Garcia said: 'Fiasco, catastrophe, disaster: they ring very true to our citizens.'But she added that her party would stick with Ms von der Leyen on the bloc moving together. 'Criticism is necessary but with a constructive spirit,' she said.

Most of us forgot to celebrate, but Australias national paid parental leave scheme turned 10 years old on January 1. You blink, and theyre all grown up, right? Well, right  but also wrong.

Its well worth celebrating a decade of paid leave for working parents  lets face it, usually mums. But the scheme still has a way to go before its fully fledged.

First, the good news.

Illustration: Dionne Gain Credit:

In 2010, the Rudd government announced a historic national reform to grant 18 weeks paid leave  at the minimum wage  to the eligible primary caregivers of babies born on or after January 1, 2011. Before that, there was the baby bonus, initially a lump-sum cash payment to all new mothers, regardless of income. The bonus was later means-tested and paid fortnightly, then phased out with the introduction of the paid parental leave, or PPL, scheme. In 2013, a further dad and partner payment was introduced to give the partners of eligible PPL recipients two weeks of leave, again paid at the minimum wage.
[February 11, 2021] MassHousing Extends Sagent Partnership For 3 Years to Automate the Future of Mortgage Loan Servicing

Sagent, a fintech company modernizing mortgage and consumer loan servicing for America's top banks and lenders, today announced a three-year partnership extension with MassHousing. The extension represents an eight-year collaboration on Sagent's loan servicing platform. Boston-based MassHousing was created in 1966 to deliver financing for affordable housing in Massachusetts. Committed to innovation, agility and staff development, MassHousing provides responsible lending products and housing opportunities through unwavering dedication to the communities it serves. MassHousing enables its team to relay expert, personalized loan guidance while empowering homeowners to take control of their financial futures through a self-service experience. Throughout 2020, MassHousing leveraged intelligent automation within Sagent's LoanServ and Account Connect platforms to manage its portfolio during an unprecedented industry environment. The future of LoanServ, a real-time system of record, and Account Connect, a branded consumer-facing dashboard for homeowners, will allow MassHousing to continue to serve as a valuable partner to homeowners by anticipating their needs, resolving their problems, and earning their trust throughout the entire life of the loan. "At MassHousing, we're committed to building a data-driven culture that inspires our team to provide an impactful customer service experience and helps our borrowers have confidence in managing their loans in good times and in times of hardship," said Kevin Mello, Director of HomeOwnership Servicing and Operations at MassHousing. "With Sagent, we can execute on a sound fintech strategy that integrates workflow automation as a core part of our servicing operations." The extended partnership is rooted in Sagent's ability to deliver an agile product that serves the most important needs of the modern servicer. By proactively responding to wider industry, market, and economic trends, Saent has anticipated the future of loan servicing and built a product that will be as impactful tomorrow as it is today.



"The loan servicing process needs to be seamless, efficient, and digitally accessible from a consumer perspective, regardless of the current market cycle," said Dan Sogorka, CEO and President at Sagent. "A year ago, that might have seemed like a lofty goal. Now, it's a reality for MassHousing, and we'll continue to facilitate servicer-customer support throughout the next chapter - whatever that may be." Sagent's LoanServ platform powers customer-facing teams by keeping critical data at their fingertips and streamlining reporting in real time. As automation eliminates multi-day processes, LoanServ enables a better customer experience and lowers servicing costs.

Account Connect allows borrowers to interact with their loans through intuitive workflows and a clear self-service interface. As they manage payments, access up-to-date loan information and initiate loan actions like borrower assistance, borrowers take control of their financial futures and ensure support teams remain available for specialized questions or high-priority concerns. As the housing industry's modernized, consumer-first loan servicing system of record, Sagent powers America's top bank and nonbank lenders to engage, care for, and retain 12 million borrowers and growing. More on products To learn more about Sagent's innovative approach to mortgage servicing visit sagentlending.com, and for more information on MassHousing, visit masshousing.com. About Sagent Sagent modernizes the lending and homeownership experience for loan servicers and consumers. Servicers use our flexible, scalable, and configurable solutions to engage borrowers and earn customer loyalty, lower servicing costs, ensure compliance, and increase the value of servicing rights throughout full market cycles. Sagent is a joint venture that combines Fiserv Inc.'s decades of market-leading fintech expertise with Warburg Pincus' (News - Alert) skill in growing technology companies. Visit www.sagentlending.com to learn more. About MassHousing MassHousing (The Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency) is an independent, quasi-public agency created in 1966 and charged with providing financing for affordable housing in Massachusetts. The Agency raises capital by selling bonds and lends the proceeds to low- and moderate-income homebuyers and homeowners, and to developers who build or preserve affordable and/or mixed-income rental housing. MassHousing does not use taxpayer dollars to sustain its operations, although it administers some publicly funded programs on behalf of the Commonwealth. Since its inception, MassHousing has provided more than $25 billion for affordable housing. Visit masshousing.com to learn more. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210211005616/en/

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Baghdad, Feb 11 : Iraq's Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) has sent invitations to embassies of 52 countries to monitor the country's elections slated to take place on October 10, a poll official told the media.

On Wednesday, Jumana al-Ghalai, spokeswoman of the IHEC, told the al-Sabah newspaper that the Commission's law allows the recruitment of international observers to monitor the election process to ensure its transparency, reports Xinhua news agency.

October's elections will decide the 328 members of the Council of Representatives who will in turn elect a new President and Prime Minister.

"The IHEC is currently continuing its preparations for holding the elections on the scheduled date," the newspaper quoted al-Ghalai as saying.

Meanwhile, Abdul-Hussein al-Hindawi, advisor to rime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, told the newspaper that the UN's role in the polls is only to monitor the electoral process and not to supervise or run it.

"The Iraqis are the ones who manage the elections in all their stages, and the role of the UN is to monitor and evaluate, not to supervise," al-Hindawi said.

The invitation by the IHEC came to ensure the integrity of the elections in accordance with international standards to restore the citizens' confidence in the electoral process, as many Iraqis believe the 2018 parliamentary elections were marred by fraud and irregularities.

On January 19, the Iraqi government approved October 10 as the new date for the elections to allow the IHEC more time to complete preparations.

The last parliamentary elections in Iraq were held on May 12, 2018.

Generally, public debt arises when government spending is more than its revenue, so it, therefore, borrows  either domestically or externally or both  to close the gap.



Government budgets capture spending plans against expected revenue on yearly basis and at all times account for legacy debts of past governments too.



As a result, a previous government's legacy debts must always be carried on by a new government as arrears. This is well captured by the adage, "Government is a continuum."



It is this practice that bequeathed to President Akufo-Addo substantial arrears owed to contractors and other government service providers in excess of GH11 billion, of which the Auditor-General validated only GH6 billion.The government also inherited energy sector take-or-pay contractual commitments of over GH6 billion a year, and financial sector toxic assets valued at GH21billion.



Simply, with Ghana's tight fiscal space coupled with budget rigidities, Mr Ken Ofori-Atta, on assumption of office as Finance Minister in 2017, had to creatively look for resources to pay for legacy debts and their associated high interest payments in addition to finding additional funds to execute government's bold plans of Free SHS, agricultural modernisation, among others.



Public debt stock



It is within this difficult context that the success of Mr Ofori-Attas stewardship in containing the public debt, accelerating economic growth, and passing a Fiscal Responsibility Act must be analysed.



The public debt stock at the end of November 2020 stood at GH286.9 billion, representing 74.4 per cent of Ghana's Gross Domestic Product (GDP), as against GH122.6 billion at the end of 2016.



Between 2012 and 2016 the total public debt stock more than tripled from GH36bn ($8.6bn) to GH122.6bn ($29.3bn), representing a cumulative rise of 24.7 per cent of GDP over the period (from 47.8 per cent to 72.5 per cent).



This meant about GH4 billion of domestic debt matured per month at a time when the countrys tax revenue per month averaged just about GH2.2 billion.



The situation was bad and so for the first time in sub-Saharan Africa, Ghana needed a World Bank Partial Risk Guarantee (PRG) to issue a Eurobond in 2015.



A report published by the Jubilee Debt Campaign in 2016 revealed that Ghana was in a debt crisis because the country was losing around 30 per cent of government revenue in external debt payments annually.



The external debt payment was expected to stay well above 20 per cent of revenue until at least 2035.



Faced with this situation in 2017, Mr Ofori-Atta announced a debt re-profiling agenda, and Ghana issued its first 15-year domestic bond in April, 2017.



Interest savings arising from the re-profiling of domestic debt were estimated at GH612 million for 2017.



This re-profiling ensured that Ghanas debt stock was innovatively added on to at a lowered rate of debt accumulation.



Over the past four years, the government worked hard to grow the economy from the 3.4 per cent growth rate in 2016 to 6.8 per cent before the emergence of COVID-19 in March 2020. The strategy was to move Ghana Beyond Aid and improve on the living standards of all Ghanaians.



An asset quality review carried out by Bank of Ghana (BoG) in 2015 and 2016 revealed severe challenges with solvency, liquidity and asset quality in Ghanas banking industry, with some banks in serious difficulties to meet demands of customers.



A regulatory crackdown on poor business practices and weak capital positions in the financial sector resulted in a series of market exits at the time.



Though this came at a high price, this necessary act has, however, made Ghana's financial sector now more robust and sustainable with strong corporate governance structures.



Debt management strategy



Indeed, Mr Ofori-Atta had to borrow GH21.6 billion to pay for the banking sector clean-up. In doing so, he protected the savings of 4.6 million depositors and 81,700 investors while creating a financial architecture that is now pro-growth.



In the last four years, the government also paid some GH12 billion in excess energy capacity charges inherited in 2017, and has kept the lights on.



It also has settled a substantial part of the GH11billion outstanding arrears bequeathed to it.



The government has also invested in excess of GH15.7 billion in its key flagship programmes.



Successes



These flagship programmes are meant to lead to real economic transformation; strengthen human capital through enhancing access to health care, education and skills development; modernise agriculture and industry; deliver infrastructure across the country  including a revitalised railway sub-sector; and create decent jobs for the teeming unemployed youth and graduates.



The finance ministry's better management of the countrys debt under Mr Ofori-Atta is evident in the stabilisation of the cedi against major trading currencies over the past four years and the favourable credit ratings from Fitch and Moody's, as well as increased investor confidence in the economy.



In fact, the relative stability of the cedi alone helped save Ghana's purse by limiting rates of exchange on interest charges on foreign- denominated loans.



The story can't be told without appreciating that had it not been the governments containment of the debt level and risks, then just like some nations, Ghana too would have been on its knees following the outbreak of COVID-19.



From an estimated 0.9 per cent in 2020, the countrys growth rate has been projected at around four per cent in 2021. This suggests the future looks bright in managing the nation's public debt and the economy in general.



To address the increasing debt service cost, the Ministry of Finance rolled out a number of solutions to help reverse the trend and reduce its impact on the economy.



The measures include the use of low-cost debts to retire comparatively costly ones, the development of a robust domestic debt market to create space for low-cost debts, and an increased resort to bilateral and multilateral sources for loans without compromising on prudent level of risk.



Concern for debt sustainability is well accounted for in the GH100 billion Ghana Coronavirus Alleviation & Revitalisation of Enterprises Support (CARES) programme.



The need to better the lot of citizens through government expenditure in the midst of dwindling revenues means government has to borrow and use the money well for the development of the country.



Though the debt stock has been on the rise, the government, from all indications and available data, is seen to have better managed the countrys debt situation.



The writer is the Managing Partner, White Hall Advisors









Source: graphiconline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Egypt has made strenuous efforts to grant immigrants rights equal to those of Egyptian citizens, said Laurent De Boeck, chief of Egypts Mission of the UN International Organisation for Immigration (IOM).

In his speech at the House of Representatives' Human Rights Committee meeting on Wednesday, Boeck said, Many reports indicate that Egypt is leading the region in the immigrants file with its activities and discussions as well as its legislation to combat human trafficking and migrant smuggling.

Egypt hosts approximately six million immigrants from more than 58 countries, including 245,000 asylum-seekers, half of whom are Syrians, Boeck had told Al-Ahram Arabic newspaper in an interview in 2019.

Boeck lauded Egypt's achievements in this regard, saying, Were closely coordinating with the ministries and institutions to ensure that the immigrants comprehensively understand their rights and duties.

The IOM operates 40 programmes for the governance of illegal immigration with a budget of $25 million, said Boeck.

Addressing the issue of irregular immigrants file, Boeck emphasised that the IOM is interested in the employment of skilled Egyptian workers abroad.

For instance, he said, Germany said it is looking forward to recruiting skilled and experienced Egyptian workers.

The IOM has 480 country offices and sub-offices worldwide.

Their key responsibilities are to analyse national migration issues and emerging trends and implement projects and programmes to address them.

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According to a news published on February 11, 2021 by Paramount Maritime Holdings, its subsidiary Nautic Africa, has announced the launch of its new flagship 35m Sentinel vessel, the second of the new enhanced class.

According to a news published on February 11, 2021 by Paramount Maritime Holdings, its subsidiary has announced the launch of its new flagship 35m Sentinel vessel, the second of the new enhanced class.

Follow Navy Recognition on Google News at this link

New flagship 35m Sentinel vessel (Picture source: Paramount Maritime Holdings)

Following the successful completion of sea trials, the multi-purpose vessel is destined for the Gulf of Guinea where it will be utilised for International Oil Company (IOC)-related assignments as well as escourt patrols for larger vessels that have experienced an escalation of pirate attacks within 200 NM of the W African coastline.

Nautic Africa also announced that larger naval versions (40m and 47m ) of the vessel have been made available due to rising interest from navies, and will be offered globally to bolster military and fishing patrol operations across EEZ waters.

The new flagship 35m Sentinel class maritime vessel, wholly designed with class leading features and manufactured in Africa, sets a new benchmark in innovative protection.It is fully compliant to the standards of naval and oil and gas (O&G) industries and International Oil Companies (IOCs) operating on the waters of the African continent and beyond.

With insecurity throughout the Gulf of Guinea steadily climbing, in large part due to the regions diverse natural resources; transnational piracy, oil bunkering and terrorism continue to be a serious threat to the regions stability.

This vessel has been optimised for peak coastal operation performance, mobility and protection. The 35m Sentinel offers outstanding speed, with a range of 1150 nm cruising at 20 knots along with being capable of reaching a maximum speed of 28 knots, supported by three CAT C32 ACERT 1600 hp engines and fixed pitch propellers.

Further distinguishing this vessel is its exceptional ballistic protection (Wheelhouse STANAG KE Level II, Deck-house STANAG KE Level I), complete with a lifesaving Super Shield composite wheelhouse structure and an internally clad main deck to a height of 2m. The highest levels of safety and ballistic support (for example, protection from typical assault rifle calibres) are thus ensured for the full crew, security personnel and passengers on board.

The client is a licenced Nigerian company with a 100% indigenous holding, with a product range tailored to meet specific and general requirements of major international oil companies (IOCs) operating within Nigerias Blue Economy such as Chevron, ENI, Exxon-Mobil, Shell, Total and Tullow.
With ex-officio member votes, the TRS' strength goes up to 88, MIM to 54 and BJP to 49, taking the grand total to 193

Election for the posts of Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, which witnessed pitched battle between ruling TRS and BJP in

December last, will be held on Thursday and K Chandrashekhar Rao-led outfit has fair chances to bag both the positions as a single largest party.

The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) party bagged 56 divisions, while BJP secured 48 divisions and MIM won in 44 divisions and Congress won in two divisions, in the 150-seat civic body.

The BJP's strength has come down to 47 following the death of one of its members. The saffron party, which gave run for TRSs money has also decided to put up its candidates for both Mayor and Deputy Mayor, its chief spokesperson K Krishna Saagar Rao said.

"BJP is contesting for both Mayor and Deputy Mayoral positions in the spirit of democracy and to oppose the opportunist, dubious election of TRS party's design to attain Mayor position through backhand deal with AIMIM. TRS did not get people's mandate to run GHMC, the mandate was fractured and leaned massively towards BJP," he told PTI. TRS sources said their Mayoral and Deputy Mayoral candidates names will be given to its members in sealed covers.

The Lok Sabha MPs and MLAs, who have their vote in the city are ex-officio members of the corporation. Besides, MLCs and Rajya Sabha members, who have their

vote in the city, have to give an option, choosing the GHMC, to be able to vote, official sources said.

According to GHMC sources, there are 44 ex-officio member votes in the GHMC and TRS has 32 followed by MIM 10, BJP 2 who are eligible to vote taking the total number of votes to 194.

With ex-officio member votes, the TRS strength goes up to 88, MIM 54 and BJP 49 leading to total 193. There has to be a quorum of 50 percent (97) of the members to conduct Mayor Elections and whichever candidate secures more number of votes will be elected as the Mayor.

The election will be held at 12.30 PM on 11 February and an hour earlier all the 150 corporators would be administered the oath, the Telangana State Election Commission (SEC) said on Wednesday.

Further, if for any reason the elections are not held on 11 February, it will be held the next day, the SEC had said.
[February 11, 2021] NYMBUS Expands Industry Advisory Board with Two New Appointments

NYMBUS, a leading provider of banking technology solutions, today announced the appointment of two new members to its Industry Advisory Board, effective immediately. The company welcomes industry leaders James Robert Lay, Founder and Chief Operating Officer of the Digital Growth Institute, and Hunter Young, Founder and President of the HIFI Agency and host of The Financial Experience Podcast. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210211005652/en/ James Robert Lay (Photo: Business Wire) The highly regarded executives join during a pivotal time as Nymbus continues to disrupt the financial services landscape with its unique GROW model that creates new digital revenue streams for banks and credit unions. Together with existing members Rilla Delorier and John Janclaes, the combined team of Advisors will provide diverse layers of guidance as Nymbus continues to advance as the preferred fintech partner for growth. "We warmly welcome James Robert and Hunter, who together bring a wealth of digital banking experience and transformational marketing insights for guiding our partner institutions o succeed," said Jeffery Kendall, CEO and Chairman of Nymbus. "By strengthening our Advisory Board with their combined knowledge and respected viewpoints, we look forward to further assisting any size bank or credit union to grow its reach, revenue and profitability."



James Robert Lay: James Robert Lay is one of the world's leading digital marketing authors, speakers, and advisors for financial brands. As a digital anthropologist based in Houston, TX, James Robert is the author of the bestselling book, Banking on Digital Growth. He is also the founder and CEO of the Digital Growth Institute where he has guided more than 520 financial brands on a mission to simplify digital marketing and sales strategies that empower banks and credit unions to generate 10X more loans and deposits. James Robert has been named one of the Financial Brand's " Top Global (News - Alert) Financial Services Influencers to Follow," a CUNA "Credit Union Rock Star," and a CU Times "Under 40 Trailblazer." His insights have been featured in leading media outlets including Entrepreneur.com, US News and World Report, Quartz, The Financial Brand, American Banker, CU Times, and CU Journal among many others and frequently shares his research and insights at industry events and universities throughout the United States.

Hunter Young: As founder of HIFI Agency, Hunter Young has built a career in helping financial companies find clarity in a chaotic digital world. He is a visionary on brand strategy, media approaches and digital acquisition, and regularly teaches marketing and leadership courses for a variety of state bank associations and universities. Prior to HIFI, Hunter served at BB&T Bank (now Truist) where he led the Global Digital Web team responsible for millions of customers' online experiences. He then developed and led the marketing and customer intelligence teams at one of the fastest growing community banks in the U.S., First Bank of North Carolina, which grew from $2 billion to nearly $6 billion in assets during his time there. For more information, please visit nymbus.com. About NYMBUS Nymbus enables banks and credit unions of any size to grow and attract new market segments by delivering a full suite of banking technology, including Loan Origination, CRM and Digital, along with the operational resources to launch and run a new digital bank. Whichever growth path you choose, Nymbus buys back decades of lost time and accelerates your ability to engage and support the entire customer journey. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210211005652/en/

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According to an adviser to Irans parliament speaker, Amir Hussein Abdollahian, Irans supreme leader sent a letter to Russian President Vladimir Putin about the need to strengthen ties and the status of the nuclear deal.

Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf travelled to Moscow to personally deliver the letter from Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. According to Abdollahian, who published the note on Khameneis website Khamenei.ir, This trip was timed for when there are new tenants in the White House and sends Iran's allies the message that we will not be delayed any longer with White House's games with respect to the nuclear deal.

The United States exited the nuclear deal, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), in 2018 and reapplied sanctions on Iran, severely impacting the country's economy. Iran, citing Article 37 of the agreement, took steps to reduce its compliance with the JCPOA but technically remained within the agreement. Now the two sides are debating which will return to full compliance first.

The letter also emphasized the need to focus on Asia. The 21st century is the Asian century, Abdollahian wrote, adding that many Asian countries including Russia, China, India, Pakistan, Malaysia and Indonesia have significant roles to play and many of them have not yet realized their full capabilities.

Abdollahian also addressed a domestic controversy over Ghalibaf not personally meeting with Putin, writing that due to the urgency of the letter Putin wanted to immediately read it rather than waiting for the mandated health protocols. After reports that Ghalibaf was to personally meet with Putin, Iranian media outlets reported that due to quarantine requirements, the planned meeting with Putin would not take place. Ghalibaf instead delivered the letter to his Russian counterpart. Abdollahian insisted that the meeting with Vyacheslav Volodin was done while Volodin was acting as Putins adviser and not as his title as the head of Duma  in an apparent effort to elevate the status of the meeting.

The fallout led to highly partisan gloating in Tehran, where supporters of Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif shared pictures of Zarifs previous meeting with Putin. Ghalibaf, a conservative politician and former presidential candidate who some suspect still harbors presidential aspirations and was perhaps looking to use this trip to elevate his stature, has been critical of the Hassan Rouhan administration's domestic and economic policies.

Perhaps Tehran chose to reveal the letter's contents because of the controversy over what some took as a snub of Ghalibaf. In Irans look east policy, Russia, along with China and India, have been major focus points for the country in terms of increasing ties and trade. After the US withdrawal from the nuclear deal and many countries in Western Europe avoiding trade with Iran, Iran has been forced to seek alternative partners.
TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / February 11, 2021 / AirIQ Inc. ("AirIQ") (TSXV:IQ), a supplier of wireless asset management services, today announced its financial results for the three months and nine months ended December 31, 2020, reporting increases in recurring revenue of 11%, total revenue of 4%, gross profit of 13%, gross margin of 6%, operating profits of 16%, net income of 15%, cash balance of 5% and working capital of 6%, when compared to the same period the previous year.

"We are very pleased with our results this quarter, representing increases in almost all of our key operating metrics," stated Michael Robb, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. "Despite the ongoing uncertainty due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company continues to move forward through the dedicated work of our team and the broadening of our product offering, such as the previously announced camera and battery operated devices," continued Mr. Robb.

Highlights for the three months ended December 31, 2020 compared to December 31, 2019 are as follows:

Recurring revenue increase of 11% or $80,564 to $822,678 from $742,114

Hardware and other revenue decrease of 37% or $44,778 to $77,168 from $121,946

Total revenue increase of 4% or $35,786 to $899,846 from $864,060

Gross profit increase of 13% or $71,294 to $635,434 from $564,140

Gross margin increase of 6% to 71% from 65%

Operating profits increase of 16% or $27,743 to $198,824 from $171,081

Net income increase of 15% or $9,049 to $71,359 from $62,310

Cash balance increase of 5% or $89,817 to $1,909,657 from $1,819,840

Working capital increase of 6% or $122,410 to $2,148,960 from $2,026,550 (Working capital is defined as total current assets, less total current liabilities, excluding deferred revenue and lease obligation. Deferred revenues, and lease obligations are non-cash items.)

Business Review

The Company is focusing its efforts and resources on revenue growth and profitability by continuing to offer leading-edge technology solutions for existing and new customers. We continue to focus on recurring revenues, gross profits and improving cash-flows to build a sustainable business. Recently, the Company announced the launch of a fully integrated camera and telematics solution to penetrate an under-served market which is anticipated to drive further recurring revenue growth in the future.

Normal Course Issuer Bid

The Company filed a Notice of Intention to Make a Normal Course Issuer Bid (the "Bid") with the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV") commencing March 27, 2020 and ending on March 26, 2021. Pursuant to the Bid, the Company proposed to purchase through the facilities of the TSXV up to 1,491,447 common shares, representing approximately 5% of the then issued and outstanding common shares of the Company. The Company's broker for the Bid is Hampton Securities Limited.

During the three months ended December 31, 2020, the Company purchased 123,000 common shares under the Bid for a total of $41,205 or $0.335 per common share (three months and six months ended December 31, 2019 - nil common shares were purchased), plus an additional $1,230 in broker fees were paid for the repurchase of the shares (December 31, 2019 - $nil).

Subsequent to the quarter end, the Company repurchased for cancellation an additional 107,000 common shares pursuant to the Company's normal course issuer bid described above. The repurchase price per share was an average of $0.3326 per share for an aggregate consideration paid of approximately $35,584 plus a broker fee in the aggregate of $1,070.

Subsequent Event - Stock Option Exercise

Subsequent to the quarter end, on January 20, 2021, options for a total of 101,077 common shares in the capital of the Company were exercised for an aggregate consideration of $10,162 and 101,077 common shares were issued from treasury.

As of February 10, 2021, the Company has a total of 29,700,024 common shares issued and outstanding.

Overview

The Company's unaudited consolidated condensed interim financial statements include the accounts of AirIQ and its subsidiaries, AirIQ U.S. Holdings, Inc., AirIQ U.S., Inc., and AirIQ, LLC. All inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated on consolidation.

Financial Statements & MDA

The Company's unaudited consolidated condensed interim financial statements for the three months and nine months ended December 31, 2020 and 2019 including notes thereto, and Management's Discussion and Analysis for the same period are being filed with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities on today's date, and will be available on the Company's website (www.airiq.com) and on the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval ("SEDAR") website (www.sedar.com). The Company's financial statements include the accounts of AirIQ and its subsidiaries, AirIQ U.S. Holdings, Inc., AirIQ U.S., Inc., and AirIQ, LLC. All inter-company balances and transactions have been eliminated on consolidation.

About AirIQ

AirIQ currently trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol IQ. AirIQ is an intuitive web-based platform that provides fleet operators and vehicle owners with a suite of asset management solutions to reduce cost, improve efficiency and monitor, manage and protect their assets. Services are available online or via a mobile app, and include instant vehicle locating, boundary notification, automated inventory reports, maintenance reminders, security alerts and vehicle disabling and unauthorized movement alerts. AirIQ's office is located in Pickering, Ontario, Canada. For additional information on AirIQ or its products and services, please visit the Company's website at www.airiq.com.

Forward-looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking information based on management's best estimates and the current operating environment. These forward-looking statements are related to, but not limited to, AirIQ's operations, anticipated financial performance, business prospects and strategies. Forward-looking information typically contains statements with words such as "hope", "goal", "anticipate", "believe", "expect", "plan" or similar words suggesting future outcomes. These statements are based upon certain material factors or assumptions that were applied in drawing a conclusion or making a forecast or projection as reflected in the forward-looking statements, including AirIQ's perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments as well as other factors management believes are appropriate in the circumstances. Such forward-looking statements are as of the date which such statement is made and are subject to a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause actual results or events to differ materially from future results expressed, anticipated or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to, changes in market and competition, technological and competitive developments and potential downturns in economic conditions generally. Therefore, actual outcomes may differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are provided for the purpose of providing information about management's current expectations and plans relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. Other than as may be required by law, AirIQ disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any such forward-looking statements, whether as a result of such information, future events or otherwise.

* * *

For more information please contact

AirIQ Inc.

Michael Robb

President and Chief Executive Officer

T: (905) 831-6444

E: mrobb@airiq.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.

SOURCE: AirIQ Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/629171/AirIQ-Announces-December-31-2020-Quarterly-Results-Reports-Double-Digit-Growth-in-Recurring-Revenue
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DENVER  Two Democratic lawmakers in Colorado said Thursday they will introduce a bill to establish guidelines on how the state can share personal information with federal agencies after emails showed workers at the Division of Motor Vehicles provided data to immigration authorities.

The proposal by state Sen. Julie Gonzales and Rep. Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez came after an immigrant rights group obtained emails through an open records request that they say shows improper communication between DMV employees and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The emails included requests from ICE agents for identifying information on applicants for drivers licenses under a law that allows individuals who cannot demonstrate lawful presence in the U.S. to apply for a license, according to the Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition.

ADVERTISEMENTSkip



................................................................

Other emails showed that staff within the DMV fraud investigations unit contacted ICE to identify people and their immigration status.

The emails were inappropriate and unprofessional and the employees involved were counseled and given training to address their actions, said Meghan Tanis, a spokeswoman for the Colorado Department of Revenue and the Division of Motor Vehicles.

While these actions were within our statutory authority, the language used was not in alignment with the ideals and values of the department, Tanis added.

Following the disclosure, the DMV will require supervisor approval for federal agency requests for personal information and any DMV-initiated contact with any federal agency, Tanis said.

ICE maintained that cooperation with local law enforcement is essential to protecting public safety. The agency referred other questions to the DMV.

Arash Jahanian, director of policy and civil rights litigation at the Meyer Law Office in Denver, said hundreds of families were potentially affected by the data sharing.

When allowed, ICE mines the personal information entrusted to state agencies to carry out its lawless mission, turning state officials who should be serving and protecting their residents into ICEs henchmen to the detriment of the community, Jahanian said.

Under the planned bill, personal information on file with the state could not be used for immigration enforcement. Personal information would only be disclosed to law enforcement with a warrant, subpoena or another order signed by a judge.

Gonzales, who represents a Denver district, said health and economic concerns involving the pandemic, combined with the trauma of immigration policy under the Trump administration, has caused families and individuals in the country illegally to withdraw and lose trust in local government.

It is our responsibility in the state to ensure that all Coloradans have trust in our state agencies. That trust has been broken and its on us to make it right, Gonzales said.

The lawmakers said they plan to introduce the bill after the legislative session begins on Feb. 16.

___

Nieberg is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.

VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / February 11, 2021 / United Lithium Corp. (CSE:ULTH)(OTCPINK:ULTHF)(FWB:0UL) ("ULTH" or the "Company") is pleased to announce, further to its news release dated December 6, 2020, that it has entered into a definitive agreement (the "Agreement") with Leading Edge Materials (TSX-V: LEM) ("Leading Edge Materials") and Leading Edge Materials subsidiaries, Tasman Metals AB ("Tasman"), Tasman Metals Ltd. ("Holdco") and Bergby Lithium AB ("Bergby"), to acquire (the "Acquisition") 100% of the issued and outstanding share capital of Bergby. Bergby holds a 100% interest in and to the mining licenses comprising the Bergby Lithium project (the "Project"), located in central Sweden, 25km north of Gavle.

Purchase Consideration

On and subject to the conditions set forth in the Agreement, the Company will deliver the following consideration for the Acquisition:

payment of $250,000 in cash on the closing date of the Transaction (the "Closing Date"); issuance of 1,031,864 common shares in the capital of ULTH (each, a "ULTH Share"); issuance of 400,000 common share purchase warrants (the "Warrants") with each Warrant entitling Leading Edge Materials to acquire, for a period of 36 months, one ULTH Share at an exercise price equal to approximately $0.485; payment of an additional $250,000 in cash on the date that is 6 months following the Closing Date; grant to Leading Edge Materials of a 2% net smelter returns royalty on the Project, which shall be subject to a buyback right in favour of ULTH for $1,000,000; and subject to Leading Edge Materials acquiring certain additional mineral claims in the region of the Project prior to March 21, 2021 (the "Bonus Date"), the issuance of such additional number of common share purchase warrants ("Bonus Warrants") as is equal to $250,000 divided by the 10-day volume-weighted average trading price of the Purchaser Shares on the CSE as of the date immediately preceding the Bonus Date (the "Bonus Price") with each Bonus Warrant entitling Leading Edge Materials to acquire, for a period of 36 months, one ULTH Share at an exercisable price equal to the Bonus Price.

The Company will also commit to Leading Edge Materials to exercise reasonable commercial efforts toward spending $1,000,000 on exploration work on the Project within 18 months from the Closing Date.

The ULTH Shares to be issued pursuant to the Acquisition shall be subject to an escrow restriction whereby 20% of such ULTH Shares shall be released after each subsequent four (4) month period following the Closing Date.

Upon completion of the Acquisition, Leading Edge Materials will, at its sole cost, make available to the Company the part-time services of its Chief Geologist to provide geological support in exploring the Project for a period of 12 months following the Closing Date.

Property Details

The Bergby lithium project, located in central Sweden, 25km north of Gavle, was staked in 2016 and is consists of three exploration permits covering a total of 1903Ha. A prospecting campaign with mapping and sampling was undertaken and identified an extensive lithium-mineralized spodumene pegmatite boulder field and outcrops. The discovery was followed up with two separate drilling campaigns in 2017 totaling 1525m of drilling through 33 drill holes to a maximum depth of 131.1m over an approximate 1500m strike length along intersections of potential lithium mineralization.



Figure 1- Bergby Property Location - Sweden



Figure 2 - Berbgy lithium-rich pegmatite and cesium soil samples

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

United Battery Metals,

Michael Dehn, President, CEO, and Director

For further information, please contact the Company at:

michaeldehn@unitedlithiumcorp.com

www.unitedlithiumcorp.com

About United Lithium Corp.

United Lithium Corp. (CSE:ULTH) is an exploration & development company energized by the global demand for lithium. The Company is targeting lithium projects in politically safe jurisdictions with advanced infrastructure that allows for rapid and cost-effective exploration, development, and production opportunities.

The Company's consolidated financial statements and related management's discussion and analysis are available on the Company's website at www.leadingedgematerials.com or under its profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws relating to statements regarding the Acquisition, and the Company's business and plans, including with respect to undertaking further acquisitions, completing the Acquisition of Bergby, Leading Edge Materials acquiring certain additional mineral claims prior to March 21, 2020, spending $1,000,000 on exploration work on the Project within 18 months from the Closing Date and carrying out exploration activities in respect of its mineral projects. 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 Acquisition does not complete as contemplated, or at all; that the Company does not complete any further acquisitions; that Leading Edge Materials does not acquire the certain additional mineral claims in the region of the Project prior to March 21, 2021; that the Company does not spend $1,000,000 on exploration work on the Project within 18 months from the Closing Date; that the Company does not carry out exploration activities in respect of its mineral projects as planned (or at all); and that 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 and makes no reference to profitability based on sales reported. The statements in this news release are made as of the date of this release.

The CSE does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release

SOURCE: United Lithium Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/629315/United-Lithium-Corp-Signs-Enters-into-Definitive-Agreement-for-the-Acquisition-of-100-of-the-Bergby-Lithium-Project
Past exposure to seasonal coronaviruses (CoVs), which cause the common cold, does not result in the production of antibodies that protect against the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, according to a study led by Scott Hensley, PhD, an associate professor of Microbiology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

Prior studies have suggested that recent exposure to seasonal CoVs protects against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. However, research from Hensley's team, published in Cell, suggests that if there is such protection, it does not come from antibodies.

We found that many people possessed antibodies that could bind to SARS-CoV-2 before the pandemic, but these antibodies could not prevent infections. Although antibodies from prior coronavirus infections cannot prevent SARS-CoV-2 infections, it is possible that pre-existing memory B cells and T cells could potentially provide some level of protection or at least reduce the disease severity of COVID-19. Studies need to be completed to test that hypothesis." Scott Hensley, PhD, Associate Professor of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania

The researchers examined blood samples banked before the pandemic from hundreds of people. They found that more than 20 percent of these pre-pandemic samples carried "cross reactive" anti-CoV antibodies that could bind not only to ordinary cold-causing CoVs but also to key sites on SARS-CoV-2. However, these cross-reactive antibodies could not neutralize the infectivity of SARS-CoV-2, and were not associated with better outcomes in people who later went on to get COVID-19.

The scientists also found from blood testing in different groups that both children and adults on average tend to have similar levels of cross-reactive anti-CoV antibodies -- implying that these antibodies are not the factor that confers protection against severe COVID-19 among most children.

The COVID-19 pandemic, after more than a year of global spread, has resulted in more than 100 million reported infections, of which more than two million have been fatal. Although some risk factors, such as age, are clear enough, scientists still don't fully understand why some people become deathly sick with COVID-19 while others escape with mild illness or even no symptoms.

Antibodies have been considered one possible explanation. Ordinary seasonal coronaviruses, of the type that cause colds, have long circulated in the human population. An obvious hypothesis is that some of the antibodies elicited by these common infections cross-react with the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, providing some measure of protection, at least against severe COVID-19 illness.

In one set of analyses that Hensley and colleagues conducted, they examined blood samples collected from 263 children at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, and from 168 adults at the Penn Medicine Biobank. The samples had been taken in 2017, more than two years before the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic started.

The researchers found that most of the 431 samples contained antibodies to ordinary, seasonal CoVs. Some samples, about 20 percent, contained anti-CoV antibodies that were "cross reactive" with SARS-CoV-2, binding tightly to sites on its outer spike protein and/or its nucleocapsid protein -- the two coronavirus proteins that are most accessible to the immune system of infected hosts.

Hensley and colleagues separately analyzed blood samples banked before the pandemic from 251 people who later went on to test positive for SARS-CoV-2, and a control group of 251 people -- matched for age and other relevant characteristics -- who did not test positive for the novel coronavirus. Again, they found that greater than 20 percent of the pre-pandemic samples contained anti-CoV antibodies that could cross-react with the SARS-CoV-2 spike and/or nucleocapsid proteins.

Yet similar proportions of the infected and uninfected groups had these cross-reactive antibodies, implying that they provided no protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection. Moreover, in the group that later went on to be infected with SARS-CoV-2, levels of cross-reactive anti-CoV antibodies in their pre-pandemic blood samples did not correlate with measures of COVID-19 severity such as the need for hospitalization or ICU care.

In a third set of tests, the researchers analyzed blood samples from 27 hospitalized COVID-19 patients, and found that levels of these cross-reactive anti-CoV antibodies were strongly boosted during the course of COVID-19 illness.

The researchers recommend that larger studies be done to definitively resolve the question of whether pre-existing anti-CoV antibodies can protect against SARS-CoV-2 viruses. They also suggest that further studies examine other types of immune response, such as the T cell response, to see if these provide a measure of cross-reactive protection following seasonal CoV infection.

In the meantime, though, they say their results suggest that the shared sites where some antibodies bind both to seasonal coronaviruses and to SARS-CoV-2 are generally not vulnerable sites where SARS-CoV-2 can be neutralized.
A state Department of Health report on Kadima Rehabilitation and Nursing notes that a licensed practical nurse was allowed to work even though she tested positive for COVID-19.

The administrator for the Drums facility, however, denied that finding and dismissed other claims written in the departments Dec. 21 report.

By January, 31 residents and 20 staff members tested positive for coronavirus. Two residents died but administrator Tiffany Perna said the virus was brought to the building by a person transferred from a hospital  and not by staffers.

Regardless, the states investigation found Kadima out of compliance with a number of regulations.

The health department doesnt comment on specific facilities but spokeswoman Maggi Barton said they are given the chance to dispute claims and formulate correction plans.

If something was inaccurate, they would be able to reflect any changes or current practices in that plan and when working with the department, Barton said.

Facilities receive reports within 10 business days of investigators departure date.

They have 10 calendar days to submit their plan of correction as well as an informal dispute resolution. If changes are made as a result of the IDR, the facility is issued a new survey report, Barton noted.

The department waits 41 days until it makes the surveys available to the public.

There are multiple steps in the survey process that have timeframes associated with them. Surveyors writing deficiencies, facility responding with a plan of correction, IDR, therefore, the 41-day period allows for the survey report to be properly assessed and assisted before posting, Barton noted.

Because of the wait period, the Dec. 21 report wasnt published to the departments website until last week.

In the report, the investigators wrote that Perna said the nurse continued to work at the facility and tested positive during weekly employee testing. The NHA stated that all the facility residents were exposed to (the nurse) due to the low number of residents at the facility.

In a statement issued through a New Jersey public relations firm Saturday, Perna called the findings incorrect and said the nurse didnt work after the positive test. She also noted that no residents tested positive until a month later.

Kadimas plan of correction regarding the employees positive test result, which was submitted to the department, includes reeducating the facilitys director on complete testing log records. The plan also calls for a weekly review of testing logs, and frequent audits to ensure accurate and complete documentation.

The department also flagged Kadima for not properly sectioning off a quarantine unit from a non-quarantine unit, and for failing to provide housekeeping services, soap and towels.

In its corrective plan, Kadima noted that it had fixed the separation between the units, and would amp up its housekeeping.

Perna, in her Saturday statement, noted that the deficiencies are considered minimal citation/no harm.

The department has several levels of citations, ranging from minimal to severe.

As for compiling reports, Barton said investigators can spend a few to many days at a facility.

The length of a survey depends on multiple factors including but not limited to the type of survey, how many complaint allegations, how large the facility is, how many observations and the time of the observations needed, as well as the interviews needed, she noted.

Inspectors also deemed the facility out of compliance in September but a report filed Nov. 13 shows that Kadima corrected the deficiencies to earn compliance.

State Rep. Tarah Toohil, R-116, Butler Twp., recently expressed concerns about Kadima and asked the department to move all residents to other facilities.

The Department of Health itself does not typically force the movement of residents; this is done in consultation with the clinical staff at the facility, and the technical advice of partners, Barton noted.

But as part of response to outbreaks, Barton said some facilities have transferred residents to other facilities or alternate care sites established through the RRHC/RCAT (Regional Response Health Collaboration Program/Regional Congregate Care Assistance Teams) programs as a way of decompressing the strain on these facilities.

Barton previously noted that the Pennsylvania National Guard can help with outbreaks. Last month, the Guard spent six days at Kadima while employees were out with COVID-19.

In the meantime and in response to Toohils complaint, the department confirmed that a team from its Scranton field office would investigate the facility.
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(Natural News) For years, Silicon Valley has made censorship one of its top priorities, with no protest from the complicit mainstream media. However, now that communist China is the one silencing people, all hell is starting to break loose.

Amy Chang Chien and Amy Qin, writing for The New York Times, published a story the other day openly criticizing China for its crackdown on the social media app Clubhouse. Chinese people had begun to use the open forum to talk about prohibited subjects like the Uyghur Muslim genocide.

Suddenly, people living in China were able to communicate with people living in Taiwan, all thanks to Clubhouse. The party did not last too long, though, as the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) intervened and put a stop to it.

Clubhouse, Chien and Qin explain, gave Chinese people a unique opportunity to discuss contentious topics, free from the usual constraints of the countrys tightly controlled internet.

Within days, the Chinese censors made their move and cut off mainland China from communicating with Taiwan via the app. Many mainland users reported receiving error messages when attempting to use Clubhouse, which is similar to what happened when Parler was shut down here in the United States.

Thanks to Chinas intervention, Chinese people are now only able to access the Clubhouse platform by using a virtual private network (VPN) to tunnel through the Great Firewall.

To many users in mainland China, it was (a) brief window into an unfettered social media, Chien and Qin explain.

Under Chinas leader, Xi Jinping, the government has been ramping up its efforts to assert near-total digital control over what its citizens read and say online. Government-paid commenters and nationalist trolls frequently flood Chinese social media with propaganda and vitriolic messages that make it difficult to have open, public discussions about topics deemed sensitive by the government.

When America becomes communist China, will the media finally speak up?

While it is commendable that Chien and Qin are addressing the issue at length, where were they the past several years when Facebook, Twitter, Amazon, Apple, Google and YouTube started aggressively doing the same thing to Americans?

There are now so many topics that are off limits on traditional social media that we might as well be living in communist China. And yet the Times and nearly all other mainstream news outlets have nothing to say about it.

The great thing about Clubhouse that made it an especially useful tool for people living in China is that it has audio chatrooms that disappear once a conversation ends. This is crucial in a country where saying the wrong thing can land a person in the gulag.

Again, though, the very same thing is now happening in America and the media is nowhere to be found in condemning it. In fact, many fake news outlets are cheering on the censorship because they hate President Donald Trump and his supporters, and want to see them punished.

In China, residents are not able to access Twitter, Facebook or Instagram at all. These traditional social media apps are all banned, as Chinese people are only allowed to use government-approved platforms like WeChat and Weibo.

Clubhouse is exactly what Chinese censors dont want to see in online communication  a massive, freewheeling conversation in which people are talking openly, says Xiao Qiang, founder of China Digital Times, a website that tracks Chinese censorship.

Its also a reminder that when there is an opportunity, many Chinese have a desperate need to talk to each other and to hear different viewpoints.

More of the latest news about the medias censorship double standard can be found at Censorship.news.

Sources for this article include:

Archive.fo

NaturalNews.com

"Prevent Unauthorized Transactions in your demat / trading account Update your Mobile Number/ email Id with your stock broker / Depository Participant. Receive information of your transactions directly from Exchanges on your mobile / email at the end of day and alerts on your registered mobile for all debits and other important transactions in your demat account directly from NSDL/ CDSL on the same day." - Issued in the interest of investors." | "KYC is one time exercise while dealing in securities markets - once KYC is done through a SEBI registered intermediary (broker, DP, Mutual Fund etc.), you need not undergo the same process again when you approach another intermediary." | "No need to issue cheques by investors while subscribing to IPO. Just write the bank account number and sign in the application form to authorise your bank to make payment in case of allotment. No worries for refund as the money remains in investor's account."

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Orange County Board Drops Rule Restricting Commenters From Addressing Individuals

Southern California residents who want to make public comments during meetings of the Orange County Board of Supervisors can now address individual members by name, instead of having to address the board as a whole.

The rule requiring all public remarks to be addressed to the entire board had stood since being adopted in 1971, but was finally dropped last month in response to an American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) lawsuit after years of legal wrangling. The suit argued the rule violated First Amendment rights to free speech.

Supervisor Don Wagner told The Epoch Times that the procedural change wont affect much during public discussions.

Theres going to be no difference in the way meetings run, Wagner said. As I can remember, it wasnt particularly enforced. There are members of the public who are always busily calling us out by name.

Wagner said that the rules are in place to help the board focusnot to silence people.

If youre going to come and address the Board of Supervisors, and youve got something that matters to you and it matters enough that you want to address the board and you want us to listen, its generally not a good idea to come in and start calling people names, he said.

Wagner noted one public commenter often purposely mispronounces Supervisor Andrew Dos last name in an attempt to annoy him. He said the best way for a commenter to advocate for a position is to make a point with a logical, clear argument, not personal attacks.

Its not a good idea to come in and say, Wagner, you are just the village idiot. Its better to say, Board, heres whats going on, heres what you ought to do differently, rather than single anybody out, he said, adding that he values the opinions of those constituents.

Supervisor Doug Chaffee told The Epoch Times that he also doesnt think the removal of the rule will change the behavior of public commenters.

Before you can say Stop talking, [public commenters have] already said what they wanted to say, Chaffee said.

The boards 1971 rule stated, All remarks and questions shall be addressed to the Board as a whole and not any member thereof. No question shall be asked a Board member or a member of the County staff without first obtaining permission of the Chairman.

Chaffee said the rule was created originally to prevent personal attacks.

They wanted broader discussion about issues of concern to the whole board, because the board acts as a whole, Chaffee said. An individual does not create any kind of policy for the countyit has to be a board actionso the idea was to address the entire board about concerns the board could take action on.
Utility companies owe millions to this state regulatory agency. The problem? The agency cant track what its owed.

This article was first published on ProPublica.

The California Public Utilities Commission does not have a good understanding of how much money its owed or even who owes it money, a new state audit found, validating some of the concerns raised by the agencys former executive director, who was fired last year after alleging that $200 million in fines and fees was missing.

The audit, conducted by the states Department of Finance, found that much of the $200 million that former executive director Alice Stebbins said could not be accounted for had been collected, but it called the agencys billing system inaccurate and incomplete.

The audit also uncovered an additional $147.3 million in surcharges that were not properly tracked by the CPUC, a sprawling state agency that regulates electric, gas, telecommunications, railroads and transportation companies.

State officials said the findings justified their contention that the $200 million was not missing, but that it simply had not yet been collected. Officials argue some of the payments were not yet due, some were tied up in appeals and some were in the process of being gathered.

Your report identifies a number of internal control weaknesses that we are working to strengthen, wrote Marybel Batjer, the president of the commission, in a letter responding to the Feb. 1 audit. We are reassured that your report does not support assertions that the CPUC failed to collect $200 million in fees and surcharges from our regulated entities.

But Stebbins said the audit proved that the agency had little idea of how much it was owed until she exposed its lackluster accounting procedures.

Stebbins had alleged that the CPUC was not doing a good job tracking whether utilities were paying mandated surcharges on customer bills, particularly phone bills; those surcharges fund assistance programs for poor and disabled people. Instead of the CPUC monitoring debts and collections, it allowed companies to self-report what they owed.

This to me amplifies the issue where Batjer is trying to downplay it, Stebbins said of the audit.

The CPUC has said that Stebbins was fired because she violated state personnel regulations, including in the decision to hire the auditor who first contended that there was $200 million in outstanding fines and fees. An investigation by ProPublica and the Bay City News Foundation discovered flaws in the State Personnel Board investigation that led to her dismissal. Stebbins has denied any wrongdoing and has filed a wrongful termination suit against the agency.

Stebbins said she first told commissioners about the missing money in January 2020. The Department of Finance audit found that between July 2019 and June 2020, the CPUC had collected $131 million of the $200 million it was owed. A department spokesman said he could not be more specific about when the CPUC received the payments, so its not clear if that happened before or after Stebbins raised her concerns. The audit found $21.9 million may be uncollectable because the companies involved have gone out of business. The CPUC is continuing to try to gather the remaining balance.

The audit also found that the agency does not keep track of who owes money or how much they owe, and it isnt taking necessary steps to collect it.

For example, the audit found that not all revenue is tracked by the agencys accounting office. The CPUC, which has an annual budget of $1.7 billion, told the auditors that it was too difficult to monitor all the money owed to the agency.

The CPUC also does not keep close track of the companies that owe fines and fees, the audit found. This means the agency may be logging debts from companies that no longer exist or have accounts on their books that do not accurately reflect the amount due. The CPUC is required by law to review its balances quarterly to see if any debts should be discharged. But it only does so sporadically, and in some cases, the CPUCs contact information for debtor utilities was out of date.

The Department of Finance auditors attempted to verify balances for 34 CPUC debtors and found that nine believed they owed a different amount than what was in CPUC records and six were no longer in business, despite the CPUC recording that they owed $21.9 million.

Meanwhile, money owed as a result of some penalties for regulatory violations isnt tracked at all. The CPUCs communication division made a verbal agreement with the accounting office in 2018 to not record outstanding citations because the debtors may no longer be in business.

The audit also found that the CPUC doesnt do enough to hold utilities accountable for the debts they owe. The commissions primary collection method is to send letters, but they werent sent on time and, in some cases, werent sent at all, the audit found. The CPUC also did not pursue cases against bankrupt companies, nor did it pursue punitive actions like revoking utilities permits or charging interest and penalties.

Finally, the Department of Finance found that the CPUC didnt track an additional $147.3 million in revenue from gas consumption surcharges collected by the state Department of Tax and Fee Administration. The funds were to be transferred to the CPUC quarterly, but the CPUC didnt try to identify whether any of that money was outstanding.

A spokeswoman for the agency emphasized that it was not unusual to have outstanding or unpaid bills from companies.

This is a normal practice; every public sector organization that collects money from external entities has accounts receivables, said the spokeswoman, Terrie D. Prosper, in response to follow-up questions about the audits findings.

Bernard Azevedo, the terminated CPUC auditor who first alleged that $200 million was outstanding, said in an interview that he has been worried all along that the CPUC has little idea of what it is owed. He said the Department of Finance report confirms this.

People pay for this on their telephone bill, they pay for it on their utility bill for gas, electric and water, Azevedo said. But the companies are keeping the money.

This story was co-published with the Bay City News Foundation, which was a member of the ProPublica Local Reporting Network in 2020.
Human rights experts for the United Nations have called out more than 50 countries for failing to repatriate thousands of women and children associated with the Islamic State who are stranded in camps in northeast Syria.

The list of 57 countries includes Great Britain, China, France, Iran, Lebanon, Russia, Turkey and the United States. Referred to as a list of shame by one UN special rapporteur, the states have failed to bring home people living in camps that are facing deteriorating security and humanitarian situations. Treatment that borders on torture or being degrading is said to be rampant at the camps, a UN report found.

"The number of countries concerned and the disastrous humanitarian conditions in the camps highlight the need for collective, sustained and immediate action to prevent irreparable damage to people in vulnerable situations who are being held there," human rights experts at the UN said in a statement.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Syria estimates that about 10,000 foreigners still live in camps such as al-Hol in northeast Syria, which houses over 64,000 people.

An unknown number of people have died due to the conditions, said Fionnuala Ni Aolain, the UNs special rapporteur on protecting human rights while countering terrorism.

In October, Kurdish authorities in charge of al-Hol said they would free 24,000 Syrians. The effort, however, has moved slowly and so far only 800 have left the camp. Observers also warned that the release could help the Islamic State regain territory in the region.

Some governments have been reluctant to repatriate citizens because of the security risk they pose. Since the US-led coalition forced the Islamic State out of its last stronghold in Baghouz, Syria, in March 2019, the debate on repatriation has fallen from the global radar. There is also the mounting challenge of reintegrating these individuals once they arrive home.

Despite these challenges, some countries have attempted to bring citizens home. In December, Germany and Finland repatriated five women and 18 children. Upon arrival at Frankfurt Airport, one of the women was arrested on suspicion of being an Islamic State member, among other crimes, according to Germany broadcaster SVR. The children were not allowed to return to Germany by themselves because it is not legally possible to repatriate children without their mothers, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said.

Lorenzo Vidino, the director of George Washington Universitys Program on Extremism, said, There is, generally speaking, a consensus on the moral duty to repatriate the children irrespective of the difficulties that come with that.

UN-appointed human rights investigators reported appalling conditions in the camps in September. In addition, UN experts expressed concern at a highly personal data collection process that took place in the camps in July.

Women and children were asked for personal data in an environment where consent could not be freely given, the experts said. It was also not clear who would have access to this data and how it might be used.

We fear that this exercise was in fact aimed at identifying third country nationals who may pose a security risk, read a statement by the independent experts appointed by the Human Rights Council. This information could be further communicated and used by states of origin, as a basis for deciding the further course of action for their nationals.


Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - February 11, 2021) - Hill Street Beverage Company Inc. (TSXV: BEER) ("Hill Street" or the "Company")- The Company announces that further to its press release dated February 9, 2021, Terry Donnelly, has resigned as a director of the Company.

For further information:

Jack Fraser, Chairman of the Board

jack@hillstreetbevco.com

Follow Hill Street on Twitter https://twitter.com/hillstreetbevco

and on Facebook http://facebook.com/hillstreetbevco

Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Not for dissemination in the United States.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/74239
HPE GreenLake selected to bring cloud speed, agility and scalability to Lineas' IT Infrastructure

Europe's largest private rail freight operator chooses HPE GreenLake and HPE Nimble Storage dHCI to drive the development of a high-performing sustainable transport system

Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) today announced that Lineas, the largest private rail freight operator in Europe, has selected HPE to provide next-generation IT infrastructure in an as-a-service model to support their transformation from a conventional freight company into a high-performing, efficient and sustainable transport system for the European logistics industry. The HPE Nimble Storage dHCI solution, delivered with HPE GreenLake, provides Lineas with an agile and easy to manage platform that enables the company to respond to its customers' needs for increased delivery quality and faster IT resource deployment.

Headquartered in Belgium, Lineas offers premium rail products and total door-to-door logistics solutions across Europe. The company's previous IT infrastructure and technology operated in a traditional, siloed environment and was reaching its limit in terms of sizing and performance. The platform also required the implementation of a disaster recovery system mode to ensure Lineas' business continuity.

Lineas chose HPE as its technology and service partner to boost performance, drive efficiency and ensure that its infrastructure was ready to support business growth, as the company looked to expand into new markets and industries. HPE was the ideal partner, as it offered the right mix of infrastructure and an as-a-service model that met Lineas' increased demands for flexibility, scalability and cost efficiency with pay-per-use billing and need for additional capacity when required.

"We were looking to enter new markets to drive growth across our business and needed a complete technology infrastructure that is uniquely tailored to our needs with a scalable pay-per-use as-a-service model," said Maurice Peterse, Head of IT Infrastructure Service Management at Lineas. "We expect the new infrastructure generate optimizations for our organization and bring even greater value to our end-customers. "

The end-to-end HPE solution and migration services, delivered by HPE Pointnext Technology Services, are built from the ground up and delivered through HPE GreenLake. The as-a-service solution delivers direct value to the business enabling new projects that take advantage of the internet of things, artificial intelligence and machine learning such as improving operational efficiency through better track and tracing of the wagons and locomotives.

The HPE GreenLake as-a-service solution is based on HPE Nimble Storage disaggregated hyperconverged infrastructure (dHCI) which is designed from the ground up to deliver the HCI experience, but with more flexibility and better resiliency and performance than traditional HCI. The solution designed for Lineas supports virtualized workloads, client virtualization, database workloads, DevOps Kubernetes and S3 scalable storage services, based on Scality with HPE Apollo 4200 Gen10 Server. This environment is automated and orchestrated by HPE OneView, while the operations and management are handled by HPE InfoSight, the industry's most advanced AI for infrastructure.

"We are delighted to join Lineas on its journey to modernizing its operations with HPE Storage solutions, and opening up to new opportunities and markets," said Bart Wellens (Country Lead Services, Consumption Growth) at HPE. "The HPE GreenLake deployment provides delivery reliability, financial predictability and operational flexibility and delivers direct value to Lineas to ensure their expansion ambitions are realized.

HPE GreenLake Cloud Services provide customers with a powerful foundation to drive digital transformation through an elastic as a service platform that can run on-premises, at the edge, or in a colocation facility. HPE GreenLake combines the simplicity and agility of the cloud with the governance, compliance, and visibility that comes with hybrid IT. HPE GreenLake offers a range of cloud services that accelerate innovation, including cloud services for compute, container management, data protection, HPC, machine learning operations, networking, SAP HANA, and storage, VDI, and VMs. The HPE GreenLake Cloud Services business is rapidly growing with over $4 billion USD in total contract value, over 700 partners selling HPE GreenLake, and more than 1000 customers in all industry sectors and sizes including Fortune 500 companies. For more information on HPE GreenLake, please visit: https://www.hpe.com/us/en/greenlake.html

About Lineas

Lineas is the largest private rail freight operator in Europe with headquarters in Belgium and sites in France, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy and Spain. The company's mission is to offer such superior rail products and services that customers shift the transport of their goods from road to rail, thereby improving their supply chain while decreasing their negative impact on climate, mobility and air pollution. Lineas' flagship product is the Green Xpress Network, which provides daily, fast and reliable rail connections between major European hubs, combining different types of cargo into one train. The GXN offering was launched in 2014 and now has over 20 connections.

Lineas employs over 2.100 people and owns a fleet of 250 locomotives and 7.000 wagons. The company's shareholders are independent private equity group Argos Wityu together with Lineas management (90%), and SFPI/FPIM, a financial institution working in name of the Belgian Federal Government (10%).

For more information, visit: www.lineas.net

About HPE

Hewlett Packard Enterprise is the global edge-to-cloud platform-as-a-service company that helps organizations accelerate outcomes by unlocking value from all of their data, everywhere. Built on decades of reimagining the future and innovating to advance the way we live and work, HPE delivers unique, open and intelligent technology solutions, with a consistent experience across all clouds and edges, to help customers develop new business models, engage in new ways, and increase operational performance.

For more information, visit: www.hpe.com

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210211005368/en/

Contacts:

Editorial contact:

Benjamin.Lesueur@hpe.com

Benjamin Lesueur, HPE
A disagreement between matatu operators in Kajiado has resulted in a strike, leaving hundreds of commuters plying the Ngong-CBD route stranded on Wednesday morning.

As a result of the impromptu strike, a lack of public transport vehicles forced passengers to source for alternative means of transport with most resorting to using the motorbike (bodabodas).

The strike began early morning with operators complaining over the introduction of Super Metro Sacco matatus along the route.

The operators allege the new matatu Sacco began plying the route on Monday despite protests from operators as to how the matatu Sacco, known to ply the Nairobi and Kiambu routes, was cleared to operate in Kajiado County.

Ngong matatu operators chairman Steve Biko said the matatu Sacco has also denied locals a chance to get employed even as its crew lowered fares from Sh100 to Sh80.

He vowed all matatus down their tools until their grievances are addressed.

"We are not opposed to having Super Metro Sacco operate the Ngong route but they must follow the due process. If that is not done then they will not operate here," he said.

Attempts by police from Ngong Police station to restore normal operations have since proved futile.

Officers from Kajiado County who tried to pacify the operators were also chased away with the operators saying they will only listen to Governor Joseph Ole Lenku.
She's no stranger to flaunting her incredible figure in skimpy ensembles on her social media.

And Amber Turner was at it again on Wednesday as she slipped into a skimpy lace lingerie set and matching suspenders as she posed for a sizzling Instagram snap.

The TOWE star, 27, set pulses racing as she perched on the side of her bar in the skimpy black and blue number, which she teamed with a pair of black stockings.

Wow: Amber Turner, 27, set pulses racing on Wednesday as she slipped into a skimpy lace lingerie set and matching suspenders as she posed for a sizzling Instagram snap

Amber oozed confidence as she modeled the Nikki Intimates underwear, which allowed her to perfectly showcase her cleavage and washboard abs.

The stunner wore her blonde locks in loose curls that cascaded over her shoulders, while she highlighted her features with a sweep of dewy make-up.

Captioning her sizzling snap, Amber penned: 'Beauty attracts the eye, But only personality captures the heart .'

Amber recently spoke of her plans to have a baby with her TOWIE beau Dan Edgar.

Broody: Amber recently spoke of her hopes of having a baby with her partner Dan Edgar, 30, and said their six month break-up in 2018 strengthened the relationship they are now in today

The reality stars confirmed she hopes to have a child with the 30-year-old and said their six month break-up in 2018 strengthened the relationship they are in today.

Amber told New! Magazine: 'Us breaking up for six months was the best thing thats ever happened, Dan and I are really happy, were living together now.

'Its one little happy relationship for sure.'

Of the future, she said: 'Dan and I are going to buy a place together. We definitely want to have a baby and get married.'

When the couple split in 2018, Amber was left heartbroken to learn the TOWIE star had a fling with Chloe Sims while the two were filming in Thailand.

But Dan didn't pursue a relationship with Chloe and instead rekindled his flame with Amber.

Jet-setting lifestyle: The reality star has recently returned to the UK after spending time away in Dubai on a work trip with Dan

Speaking about their time apart, Amber said: 'Sometimes relationships need that break for people to really realise whats important.'

Amber has recently returned to the UK after spending time away in Dubai on a work trip with Dan.

The couple returned before a travel corridor to the United Arab Emirates closed on January 29th.

Ministers are understood to have been increasingly concerned about social media 'influencers' and other celebrities turning up in exotic destinations while the rest of the country is in lockdown.

One government source told MailOnline that people appeared to have been exploiting grey areas about what counts as 'essential' work trips.

'It is quite clear there are some high profile people getting away with it and what they are claiming as work is not,' they said.
Award-winning banking, finance and insurance executive Patience Akyianu has joined Hubtel as a Non-Executive Director.



Hubtel is one of Africas fast evolving fintech-shopitality platforms, and largest messaging service provider with operations in Ghana and Kenya. The company has been expanding in innovative ways focused on helping retailers sell and deliver to nearby communities.



In August of 2020, Hubtel was given regulatory approval by the Bank of Ghana to operate as a licensed Enhanced Payment Services Provider. This also followed the company's international certification for PCI-DSS and ISO 27001 bank card information security and general management standards.



The inclusion of Patience Akyianu to the leadership of the company brings her impressive wealth of expertise as a solid executive with over 26 years of experience in Finance, Banking and Insurance.



Patience is currently the Group CEO of Hollard Ghana Holdings, a subsidiary of Hollard International - South Africa, and a Director on both boards of the companys subsidiaries, Hollard Insurance Ghana, and Hollard Life Assurance Ghana.



She was also the first Ghanaian woman to become the Managing Director of Barclays Bank in Ghana (now ABSA Bank).



In a chat from his base in London, the Chairman of Hubtel, Hans Nilsson, said that ....we are very very excited to have a Director of that kind of calibre on our board. A company with the type of ambition that Hubtel is pursing needs the experience and advice of people who have done it at the highest levels. And thats exactly what we know we will get with someone like Patience.



Under her visionary leadership, the Hollard brand has now gained prominence and visibility in Ghana and has introduced some innovative products, including Ghanas first virtual insurer, a Chatbot nicknamed Araba Hollard.



Her tremendous leadership skills and execution capabilities have been recognized with prestigious awards and accolades including Marketing Woman of the Year 2019, Outstanding Group CEO of the Year 2019, Woman of Excellence 2019, and Best Woman CEO of the Year 2018.



Patience is a certified professional accountant and a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, Ghana. She is also on the board of Ecobank Ghana Limited, and a founding member of both the Executive Women Network and the International Womens Forum, Ghana.



She is married to Lawyer Kwame Akyianu and has two children, Awurama Ampima Akyianu and Nana Banyin Kojo Akyianu.

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
On a typical weekday before the coronavirus pandemic, tens of thousands of commuters passed through the Journal Square train station in Jersey City on their way to and from New York City. The station is one of the busiest on the Port Authority Trans-Hudson, or PATH, train line that runs under the river between New York and New Jersey. Last spring, during the height of the lockdown, ridership through Journal Square plummeted to less than 3,000 people per day and has yet to return to pre-pandemic levels.Erin Vinson, a 34-year-old who works as a training coordinator at a safety school for construction workers, is one of those still using the station. On weekday mornings, Vinson rides her electric scooter about a mile from her apartment to Journal Square and then takes the PATH to downtown Manhattan. Her scooter stays behind in Jersey City, locked in a shelter on the sidewalk outside the station. Each morning, Vinson swipes a card to unlock the door to the shelter  a perforated aluminum hut, wrapped in advertising for a nearby burger shop and topped with potted plants  and leaves her scooter alongside the few bikes also parked inside. Its a brilliant idea, Vinson says of the system. Everything about it is easy. The parking hut is operated by a startup called Oonee (pronounced ooh-nee, after the Japanese word for sea urchin), which builds modular parking shelters, called pods, for bikes and scooters. Shabazz Stuart, a 31-year-old Brooklyn native, came up with the idea for Oonee in 2015, while working for a business improvement district in the borough. He was commuting by bicycle  about a two-and-half-mile trip from his apartment in Crown Heights to downtown  and had his bike stolen three times in a span of five years. After the third, Stuart decided there had to be a better way. So he and co-founder J. Manuel Mansylla began working on designs for a modular parking pod that wouldnt create an eyesore on a city sidewalk. We need to give people secure bike parking, Stuart says, and not just one or two spots. For now the Oonee pod in Jersey City is one of two; the other sits at the Atlantic Terminal in Brooklyn near the Barclays Center arena. On Thursday the company announced plans to install two mini pods in New York City this spring. Swedish scooter sharing company Voi, one of the bidders currently seeking a contract to operate scooters in New York, has agreed to pay $25,000 to fund the two installations. Oonee plans to ask riders to help decide the location for these initial curbside pods, each about 7 feet long and able to hold as many as seven bikes. The companys aim is to build a dispersed network of hundreds of pods across the city, with the larger walk-in versions set in high-traffic areas and the smaller lockboxes dotting residential blocks.

In New York we have more than 3 million free curbside parking spaces, Stuart says. Do we want to provide people with access to bike and scooter parking? Or do we want to preserve the space for cars only?

In the long term, Oonee aims to bring its pods to other cities and, once they attract enough users, to offer a larger set of services through the companys app. If riders, for instance, pop a tire on the way to work, Stuart wants them to be able to use the app to arrange for a mechanic to come to the pod and fix the flat the same day. He also plans for users to be able to buy bikes and scooters, as well as accessories and insurance, through the app.

Oonee would contract with third-party providers for these services and take commissions of about 15% on the transactions, making the company, Stuart says, into a one-stop shop, right on your phone, for everything related to bike or scooter ownership. Whereas many European cities, including London and Paris, are building out comprehensive bike-parking networks through government spending, Oonee is attempting to build one through an e-commerce business model.

In the U.S., bike parking is a problem riders are mostly left to deal with on their own, with sporadic support from employers, property managers, universities, and local governments. If you are lucky, your office or apartment building might have a secure bike room; your college might install lockers or racks; or your city might be one of those with bike parking stations near commuter trains. But even for riders blessed with adequate parking where they live and work, trips to the grocery store, gym, or coffee shop are a crapshoot.

As bike sales have surged in the U.S. since the coronavirus outbreak, thefts, inevitably, have followed; but its hard to say if thieves have kept pace with buyers. Nationwide, last year, riders added 241,356 bikes to the Bike Index, a nonprofit registry service, bringing the total to more than a half-million. Of the more than 240,000 registered last year, 16,022 were reported stolen. In 2019, riders registered 114,215 bikes, with 10,288 of them reported stolen. So though thefts have risen by almost 56%, registrations are up 111%.

These numbers capture only a fraction of the problem. Project 529, another bike-registration service, estimates that more than 1.7 million bikes are stolen in the U.S. each year and that only 15% to 20% of those thefts get reported to police. The company, co-founded by former Microsoft executive J. Allard in 2013, uses data from its own registry of 1.8 million bikes in North America  along with the sparse collection of academic literature on the subject and input from city police departments  to reach these figures, which, Allard acknowledges, are educated guesses. Many bike thefts, he notes, are part of burglaries from home garages, and apartment complexes that dont always show up in police tallies.

Whatever the case, bike theft, by most accounts, remains rampant and largely unchecked. The rising popularity of e-bikes, which often cost thousands of dollars, has only made the problem worse. At Bike Index, which asks users to enter an estimated value for their bikes, the average value of stolen bikes is about $1,500. Its not uncommon to see $5,000 e-bikes in here, says the services co-founder Bryan Hance.

Oonees first public pod was installed in downtown Manhattan in the fall of 2018 and closed less than a year later after the company and the New York City Department of Transportation could not agree on guidelines for advertising on the structure. We had to take that one down after 10 months because we were operating basically a charity, Stuart says. We had $900 in the bank. Relationships with the realty company where the Brooklyn pod is located and with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, landlord at the Jersey City train station, have gone better. In an emailed statement the Port Authority said it is proud of Oonees innovative solution at Journal Square and looks forward to continuing to work with the company.

Oonees walk-in pods cost about $80,000 to build and are free to anyone who signs up for the app and provides proof of identity. Vinson in Jersey City, who signed up for the service last summer after purchasing her scooter, says she was surprised there was no charge. I expected to pay $20 or $30 a month. While Stuart says Oonee may someday charge fees for bikes and scooters left in pods for more than a day two, he is committed to running a low-cost service: If you are going to occupy public space, having an egalitarian structure is very important.

Oonee gets its revenue, which it shares with the property owners, from the advertising space on the shelters. The two pods already in operation, Stuart says, bring in more than enough money to cover their upkeep. Most of the smaller lockboxes, he says, will not have advertising, though those placed in commercial zones may have digital screens. Revenue from the ad-bearing pods, he anticipates, will be enough to offset the cost of the others.

Each walk-in pod comes equipped with a security camera. Oonee insures the bikes and scooters inside against theft and, if one is stolen, passes along the payout to its owner. Riders use their own locks to secure their bikes to racks inside. So far, Stuart says, riders have parked in Oonees pods more than 60,000 times with only a single theft, which came after someone used a fake ID to gain access in Brooklyn. Vinson in Jersey City has used the pod hundreds of times without incident. Shes eager, she says, for Oonee to expand its services. My scooter is due for a service, and finding someone who actually does that around Jersey city is not an easy thing, she says. To be able to book an appointment to have someone come and do it in the pod while Im at work would be sensational.

In January, Oonee joined the Brooklyn-based start-up accelerator Urban-X, which provides $100,000 in funding and access to outside experts in design and product development. Stuart says hes using that support to prepare the company for more fundraising later this year. Hes looking to raise $2 million to $3 million to expand operations and begin building the e-commerce platform he anticipates can turn his humble three-person operation into a multibillion-dollar company.

One of the biggest difficulties, Stuart says, is that many investors are not accustomed to hearing pitches from people like him: a black man from a single parent household who never had the kinds of friends and family who might participate in a friends and family fundraising round. While black people represent 13 percent of the U.S. population, less than one percent of founders who receive venture capital are black. When I go to investors and do this as a black man, says Stuart, I think theres some reticence.

I dont know if this company is the answer, says Reilly Brennan, a founding partner at the San Francisco venture capital fund Trucks, which passed on an opportunity to invest in Oonee in 2018, but one of the things about transportation that Im always obsessed with is that its the real estate and parking aspects that make these systems work. So far, Brennan says, nobody has figured out how to make bike parking into an amenity that people will pay for.

From a purely economic point of view, says Christopher Cherry, a professor in the department of civil and environmental engineering at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, bike parking facilities often dont add up: The value of the property stolen each year is less than the cost to build and maintain the shelter. Id rather have ubiquitous racks everywhere than really nice, high-tech racks in a couple of places, Cherry says. A few years ago he helped his university revamp its bike parking by putting racks near the front doors of most buildings. Many riders, he says, had refused to go out of their way to use racks, instead locking their bikes to the nearest pole or tree.

If Oonees pods are ever to serve more than a handful of commuters, in other words, they will have to be dotted all across any city where the company operates. The average range is two or three blocks before people say, Oh, its not worth it,' Stuart says. So we need to have hundreds, if not thousands, of smaller facilities on city streets. Reaching that scale will require working with hundreds of property developers and local governments, building and maintaining thousands of pods, and coordinating with a wide array of local service providers. Its a radical vision, Stuart says. Its an ambitious vision. I dont deny that. But those are the ideas that are worth doing, in my opinion.

Copyright 2021 Bloomberg.

Career changing I was in my early forties when I switched from teacher to florist  I was thinking about it for a while but inclined to feel it was not possible to change.

Im the daughter of a policeman with three brothers and three of us became teachers; I didn't have proper career guidance at school. I suppose I never consciously thought about it.

I was working with a targeted group of teenagers to try to keep them in school, and with children with learning difficulties. I loved it but after twenty years I wanted to do something else with my life.

In the end it was a snap decision. I met my cousin Orla for coffee in Bunratty and was telling her about a florist course in the UK. She told me to book it immediately.

The following Monday I flew off to Cambridge for an intensive week-long course  the English were a bit serious but they softened up and I really enjoyed it. I had tried furniture upholstery and considered counselling but floristry was different; I felt sure this was for me.

I did a few more courses in the UK and then one with the enterprise office in Clare about setting up a business and things just fell into place.

Through word of mouth I heard a respected florist was for sale in Galway and a friend passed on my number. I took a career break, as a safety net, but nearly three years later the shop is thriving.

A bed of roses

The men of Ireland are great, so generous. They get a hard time, but from what we see, they are really trying their best to liven things up in their relationships.

We are so busy with Valentines Day and have plenty of flowers in. I took Monday off because I could be here till 5am this week; Irish men are last-minute. It was just as crazy at Christmas.

In the first lockdown we closed for three months which in hindsight was good for us as I got time to think about where we were going and put a new website together  the wedding orders are flying in.

Since we are back we are fairly hammered every day. I never push customers to go for a more expensive bouquet  I want them to be comfortable and within their budget  but I am finding many are spending more in the pandemic.

Dutch flower power

I leave my home in Ennis at 8:30am for the one-hour commute up the motorway. Im very lucky I have a colleague here to open the shop for me.

Over coffee and a slice of toast with pate and a chat we look at the orders for the day.

We dont have drops-ins at the moment which frees us up to work more quickly, though we miss the customers. The phone is constantly ringing. Some people are still not comfortable ordering online.

I answer the emails and we start making up the bouquets for delivery. The van goes in the morning and afternoon. I would leave around 6pm but it could be later depending on business.

I have two suppliers from Holland who call to the shop each week and I have a wholesaler in Limerick, Fitzgeralds, who arrives on Friday and Saturday.

The Dutch truck is here Monday morning  it's like a moving shop and we can order online. The boys fly over and collect the truck and go around Ennis and Galway supplying florists.

We have a great relationship with them and there is a good bit of banter. They have a great selection and I try to diversify and mix it up. Out with the chrysanthemums.

Ive started making shop installations with artificial flowers and recently did a pub in Oughterard. But, unfortunately, I source my supplies from England so I might have to look to other countries depending on the price. Otherwise, Brexit has had no impact.

Expand Close Pick of the bunch: Niamh Crowe, right, with her colleague Olwyn Sherlock at Keane's florist shop in Galway. / Facebook

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Whatsapp Pick of the bunch: Niamh Crowe, right, with her colleague Olwyn Sherlock at Keane's florist shop in Galway.

Buying an existing business

There were a few teething issues but we got through it. I bought the business but rented the premises from the previous owners and luckily we did not have to pay rent when we were closed.

The former business was well established but I am bringing a new theme  vintage as opposed to traditional. We are not into hat boxes, thats not a criticism of florists who are, but we are more rustic.

With the business I was so lucky to inherit a florist with twenty years experience, there is a buddy of mine who is a teacher and works Saturdays, and I have a stream of students I take on and train. We usually have three people working at a time.

Im not tied to Interflora but I link up with different local craft people like Galway Crystal for vases and there is big demand for skin products and chocolates and Im thinking about introducing a nice wine.

Helping hand

I work five days, usually Monday to Friday, but if there is a special request Im available.

We had a customer in Australia send flowers and chocolates to her aunt who had Covid. When she sadly passed away, her niece rang me and asked if I could locate the purple flowers her aunt had loved for her funeral. I contacted my supplier in Limerick and we arranged them for the next day. I have my own way of interacting with people  I am good with understanding what they want to say with their flowers.

The bright side

The people of Galway have been great, Im from Ennistymon and live in Ennis and get a lot of business from these areas.

In an ideal world I would have a quirky little building, but we are based in a retail park with a gorgeous vegetarian cafe next-door and a Dunnes, Mr Price and a fruit & veg shop beside us. Its like a scene from Eastenders some days.

Im not a penny-pusher or a control freak; I can delegate and am blessed with the people I work with  I am happy to arrive each morning.

I tend to look for the positive and put the best foot forward. My parents taught me youll be happier if you dont focus on the doom and gloom. In lockdown I would post an upbeat picture every day.

Working so long with disadvantaged families, I appreciate what I have and Im lucky to have found a second career perfect for my personality. I want a healthy business but big profits are not my interest.

It was probably a bit easier to switch careers without children but I would love if other people see that I did it, that it is possible and never too late.

I could not have done it without the support of my husband Richie though. He works with the council and manages a few parks as a facility manager. We share an interest in biodiversity so in time our vision is to grow our own flowers in tunnels. I have a plot of land I inherited where we could do this but slowly, slowly.

Hes a massive help to me. Im blessed because he has an acumen for the financial side. He goes to meet the accountant and then tells me the lie of the land. We are like yin and yang.
In this week's installment of our celebration of Black history, we take a look at one of the first civil rights lawyers in north Mississippi. Reporter Sydney Darden spoke with Kenneth Mayfield about his journey fighting for Black rights in Mississippi during a time of harsh racial divide.

Posted: Feb 11, 2021 7:04 AM

Rittenhouse lived in far north suburban Antioch when he shot the three men but has lived at an undisclosed location since his November release  a move his lawyers attribute to threats on his life. The dispute kicked off last week when prosecutors argued Rittenhouse violated the terms of his release by listing the Antioch address on his bond paperwork and not updating the courts on his new home.
The Hindu pranama  shortened to pranam  which entails touching an older persons feet is often cited to prove Indias reverence for age. That may be true, but the sentiment was somewhat more pragmatically demonstrated the other day when I telephoned a health clinic here in London to inquire about anti-Covid-19 vaccinations.

They asked my date of birth and promptly gave me an appointment within two days for the first of two jabs. A third now seems likely with scientists suggesting that the AstraZeneca vaccine (which I took) is not effective enough against new ...
NEW DELHI: Micro-blogging platform Twitters Indian rival Koo is leaking its users personal sensitive data, a French security researcher Robert Baptiste has claimed.

Robert Baptiste, who goes by the pseudonym Elliot Alderson (@fs0c131y on Twitter, has claimed that the new Indian micro-blogging app exposes its users' personal data.

Baptiste claimed that he spent 30 minutes on Koo at the request of users on Twitter and found that the microblogging platform was exposing sensitive information of its users, such as email addresses, names, gender, and more.

The French security researcher also posted a series of tweets to detail his findings about the Indian app Koo. Proving his point further, Baptiste posted a screenshot suggesting that it was fairly easy for him to access the personal information of Koo users.

You asked so I did it. I spent 30 min on this new Koo app. The app is leaking of the personal data of his users: email, dob, name, marital status, gender, ... https://t.co/87Et18MrOg pic.twitter.com/qzrXeFBW0L  Elliot Alderson (@fs0c131y) February 10, 2021

Baptiste confirmed that the Indian app leaked personal data of its users including email, date of birth, marital status, and gender. In more screenshots, Baptiste also suggested that Koo had a domain registered in the US with the registrant based in China.

This comes after the new micro-blogging platform gained some prominence after the government warned Twitter to block some accounts related to the ongoing farmers' protest - a move partially rejected by Twitter. It may be noted that several leading Indian politicians and lawmakers have endorsed Koo and urged their followers to switch to the Made-in-India application from Twitter.

After Twitters refusal to block some accounts over provoking tweets related to the ongoing farmers' protests, a trend has begun in favour of the home-grown Indian app. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and other government departments have come up with verified handles on Koo.

Top Modi government ministers politicians like Piyush Goyal, Ravi Shankar Prasad and BJP leaders including Sambit Patra, Tejasvi Surya etc have begun rallying against Twitter by informing that they have switched to Koo.

They have even urged their followers to join them on the new Indian app. Koo, which is available on desktop, iOS, and Android, offers a Twitter-like experience in Indian languages. The app had won the government's Digital India Aatmanirbhar Bharat Innovate Challenge last year, which was meant to encourage local app development.

Koo has been developed by Aprameya Radhakrishna, who is also the Co-Founder and CEO of the platform that was launched in March last year.

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STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Black History Month may look a little different this year.

Organizations have adapted their Black History Month events this February to be virtual so you can still celebrate black history, achievement, and culture while social distancing.

From book clubs to panel discussions and performing arts, theyve got it all! Below are some of the Staten Island based Black History Month events taking place this month.

To Be Young, Gifted, Black, and Presumed GuiltyIs it us? Or is it just us? Saturday, February 20, 7:00 PM

Moms of Black Boys United, Staten Island and the Staten Island NAACP Youth Council present a multi-generational round-table examination of the social impact of mass incarceration of black youth on Staten Island.

Register here to attend the virtual event.

Black History Month Drum Circle Sunday, February 21, 2:00 PM  3:00 PM

Join the Staten Island Urban Center, Alkebulan Consciousness Rising, and the Staten Island Afro American Historical & Genealogical Society, in celebrating Black History Month with a drum circle at Snug Harbor!

The celebration will take place in Shinbone Alley near the Landfill Fashionista exhibit and the Staten Island Museum parking lot.

Registration is required to attend. To register, visit the Snug Harbor website.

Feel free to bring your favorite percussion instruments from home to join in the celebration!

Book vs. Movie: Hidden Figures Tuesday, February 23, 3:30 - 4:30 PM

Which was better, the movie or the book? Dongan Hills Library will host the virtual discussion about the book turned film, Hidden Figures, which is based on the true story of four female African-American mathematicians that worked for NASA during the Space Race.

Register online to access the Google Meet

Online Book Discussion: Negroland: A Memoir Wednesday, February 24, 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM

Join the West New Brighton Library staff to discuss Schomburg Center Black Liberation Reading List selection: Negroland: A Memoir by Margo Jefferson

Register for the event on the NYPL website

Circulo de lectura: La vida secreta de las abejas Tuesday, February 23, 6:00 - 7:15 PM

This book club event, hosted by the South Beach and Port Richmond libraries, will discuss the novel The Secret Life of the Bees. Please note that this event will be in Spanish.

Register to join the virtual conversation on the NYPL website.

Adult Book Discussion: Celebrate Black History Month Wednesday, February 24, 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

Join the Mariners Harbor Library staff to discuss your favorite African American authors and books. All genres welcome!

Register for the virtual event on the NYPL website

Open Book Hour: Whats the Big Idea? Thursday, February 25, 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM

Every month, Port Richmond Library hosts an open conversation on a specific idea or value. This month readers will discuss and relate what they are currently reading to the idea of Justice.

Register on the NYPL website to join the discussion

Black History Month Celebration Friday, February 26, 7:00 PM

Join Councilmember Debi Rose as she hosts her annual Black History Month celebration virtually. The event will feature musical performances, poetry, and more.

Digital flyer for Councilwoman Debi Rose's annual Black History Month celebration event (Courtesy of the Office of Councilwoman Debi Rose)

Untold Stories of the Titanic: The Black Passenger Saturday, March 6, 6:00 PM  8:00 PM

Tune into the Noble Maritime Collections livestream in partnership with Kellie Carter Jackson, a nineteenth century historian in the Africana Studies Department at Wellesley College, as they tell the story of Jospeh Lemercier Laroche, a Haitian engineer, that was on the Titanic when it sank in 1912.

Viewers can access the livestream on Noble Maritimes website or their Facebook page.

If you do not see your event on this list, please email galves@siadvance.com so we can share it.
PERUGIA, FEB 11 - Cardinal Gualtiero Bassetti, archbishop of Perugia and president of the Italian Bishops Conference (CEI), said in a message on World day of the Sick Thursday that "now is not the time for polemics and divisions: the world of politics, too, is called to find unity in addressing the epochal emergency (of COVID-19)". He added: "It is to the world of healthcare that we look with admiration and trepidation". Ex European central banker Mario Draghi is expected to head a national unity government to lead Italy out of a COVID epidemic that has brought on its worst recession since WWII. (ANSA).
Face masks will only be mandatory on public transport and twice as many customers will be allowed in restaurants as New South Wales eases its restrictions.

Face coverings will be optional in hairdressers, beauty salons, places of worship and hospitality venues across Greater Sydney, Wollongong, Central Coast and Blue Mountains from Friday.

Commuters will still need to wear face masks when catching public transport, taxis or ride share cars.

Indoor and outdoor venues will now be able to seat one patron for every two square metres instead of one every four square metres.

Face coverings will be optional in hairdressers, beauty salons, places of worship and hospitality venues across Greater Sydney, Wollongong, Central Coast and Blue Mountains from Friday

Commuters will still need to wear face masks when catching public transport, taxis or ride share cars

Gyms will maintain the 'four square metre' rule, while caps on weddings and funerals remain at 300.

Only 20 guests will be allowed to dance at weddings and singing in public remains capped to five people.

NSW on Thursday recorded 25 consecutive days without a local COVID-19 case - three days short of eliminating the virus in the community.

Only three cases were diagnosed in hotel quarantine from more than 16,000 tests across the state on Wednesday.

But NSW Health on Thursday evening called on anyone who had entered the state from Victoria since January 27 to check the Victorian government's venues of concern and follow the relevant health advice.

A cluster associated with the Holiday Inn quarantine hotel in Melbourne has grown to 13 people. NSW health officials are tracking down people who were at the Holiday Inn between January 27 and February 9.

Anyone at the hotel in this period must get tested and isolate for 14 days regardless of the result.

But NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian said on Friday she'd resist closing the NSW-Victoria border too hastily.

Indoor and outdoor venues will now be able to seat one patron for every two square metres instead of one every four square metres

NSW on Thursday recorded 25 consecutive days without a local COVID-19 case - three days short of eliminating the virus in the community

'It's an evolving situation, but not a situation where the government can't really get on top of it ... I have confidence that they will. In NSW we had a similar situation before Christmas,' she told Nine's Today show.

'There's no reason for us to close the border.

'The one and only occasion where we have closed the border was to Victoria and that is when they had in excess of 150 cases a day ... we are nowhere near that.'

Meanwhile, contact tracers are still hunting for the source of a COVID-19 infection in a returned traveller who tested positive two days after completing the required 14 days of hotel quarantine.

NSW Health is investigating the possibility it is an old infection from overseas.
President Biden turned up at the Pentagon yesterday for some purpose or other, perhaps to make the remarks to Defense Department personnel in the video below (about 10 minutes). The White House has posted the text of Bidens remarks here.

With a vacant look in his eyes, Biden observes: Before I begin, I have some welcome news that the Saudi government has released a prominent human rights activist, Loujain al-Hathlou  -loul  excuse me, l-o-u-l  from prison. Thats loul  not lol. Silence!

A bit further into his remarks Biden refers to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin as Senator Austin. Biden stares vacantly into the prompter persists throughout. He occasionally slurs his speech. He occasionally misreads his text. I will never, ever dishonest you  dishonor you, he vows at one point. He pronounces Tuskegee with a hard g and then a soft g. Sorties becomes sortays. I wonder what the little boy who said the emperor hasnt got anything on might have to say.

Oh, and what about the content? The Democrat dogma is pathetic: There is no aspect of our agenda of the 21st century leadership where the women and men of the Defense Department do not have a role  whether its helping curb the pandemic here at home and around the world; or addressing the real threats of climate change that already is costing us billions in impacts on our bases, on our national security; or being part of an ongoing fight for racial justice.

The obligatory racial theme is not shortchanged. Beau Biden appears as a sort of motif in the remarks. As the president drones on, he makes these 10 minutes feel more like 10 hours.
MUSKEGON COUNTY, MI  As the COVID-19 vaccine continues to trickle out in Muskegon County, new cases are dropping but the number who are very sick hasnt budged in the past week.

The health department is wrapping up vaccinations of teachers and will move to childcare workers, said Public Health Muskegon County Director Kathy Moore.

They are among high priority groups, along with older residents who continue to suffer from serious illness, Moore said.

The number of COVID patients hospitalized at Mercy Health in Muskegon remains at 14, according to the health systems website. Thats the same number reported a week ago.

Of those, six are in intensive care, according to state figures. Thats one more than was reported a week ago.

The nursing homes still house most of our severe and fatal cases, Moore said.

Of 294 deaths the county reported as of Tuesday, Feb. 9, 75 percent were age 70 and older, and nearly half were individuals age 80 and older.

Related: Thursday, Feb. 11, coronavirus data by Michigan county: Only 3 states have lower per-capita case count than Michigan

Vaccinations of those living in nursing homes continues, with completion not expected until the end of the month, Moore said. CVS and Walgreens pharmacies are vaccinating those residents.

Im holding my breath until theyre completed, Moore said. Im not exhaling just yet.

While citizens ages 70 and over comprise most deaths, it is middle-aged people who are accounting for many of the newly diagnosed cases, she said. Those ages 45 to 64 comprise 30 percent of new cases, she said.

Tracing has found no recent outbreaks in the county, defined as two or more new cases originating at one place, Moore said. It will be another week before health officials know if the reopening of bars and restaurants have had a negative impact, she said.

Starting Sunday, Feb. 7, bars and restaurants reopened for indoor service until 10 p.m. However, those establishments must limit customers to 25 percent of their capacity.

The health department currently is focusing on vaccinating individuals age 85 and older as well as teachers, and municipal first responders, Moore said. Mercy is targeting people ages 75 to 84 while the Meijer store in Norton Shores  the only Meijer in the area giving vaccinations  is giving shots to those 65 and older, Moore said.

The health department, Mercy and Meijer are sharing information about vaccinations they are giving, Moore said. They share names of those who have been vaccinated so they can be removed from waiting lists, she said.

Still, a waiting list that Mercy and the health department both use has 33,000 names on it, she said.

While the infrastructure is in place for large vaccination clinics  including locations and volunteers to administer the vaccine  a lack of doses continues to frustrate local officials along with others throughout the state.

Related: Nearly 1M Michigan residents have received a COVID-19 vaccine as supply increases

One of the more challenging aspects of the vaccine rollout is that providers dont know ahead of time how much vaccine they will receive, Moore said. That makes planning very difficult, and requires those seeking a vaccination to be ready to move quickly if they receive an alert that its their turn to get one, she said.

Most vaccine waiting lists for West Michigan can be found at one website: vaccinatewestmi.com/register. Meijers waiting list is at Meijer.com

As of Tuesday, Feb. 9, there had been 24,325 vaccine doses administered in Muskegon County, an increase of 3,678 from the prior week, according to state figures.

Some residents have gotten their shots in other counties, as state figures show 26,013 vaccine doses administered to Muskegon County residents.

The health department is working with several community organizations, including the NAACP, City of Muskegon Heights and Latinos Working for the Future, to identify individuals for future vaccination clinics that will target racial and ethnic minorities, Moore said.

Officials with Mercy Health St. Marys on Wednesday, Feb. 10, expressed concern about ethnic and racial disparities in whos receiving the vaccine. They said during a press conference that of 22,000 doses of vaccine distributed, 3 percent were to Black residents and 3 percent to Hispanic residents.

Related: Mercy Health Saint Marys seeks to boost COVID-19 vaccines for people of color

Muskegon County figures show that about 10 percent of COVID cases have been among Black individuals, who, according to the Census, make up about 14 percent of the population.

The growth in new COVID-19 cases in Muskegon County slowed to 40 in the past week, bringing the cumulative total to 10,221 as of Wednesday, state figures show.

The county reported 294 deaths as of Tuesday. A week earlier, it reported 291 deaths. The state placed the number of total deaths at 296 on Wednesday.

There were 643 active cases of COVID in the county, Moore said on Thursday. She said shed prefer that number be under 300.

Ottawa County reported a total of 21,729 cases as of Wednesday, an increase of 266 over the previous week. The county reported 1,649 active case.

There have been 332 deaths, an increase of three since the previous week, Ottawa County figures show.

Oceana County has had 1,757 cases as of Wednesday, an increase of seven over the previous week, according to state figures. The number of deaths remained at 47.

Also on MLive:

Muskegons 2021 St. Patricks Day parade is canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic

New cell tower at Muskegons Pere Marquette beach should help with phone dead zones

Muskegons 5th marijuana shop uses Rair process to grow plants without dirt

If youre looking to sew up the left, Im sure youre looking for A.O.C.s endorsement, said Donovan Richards, the Queens borough president.

With registered Democrats far outnumbering registered Republicans, the June 22 Democratic primary is likely to determine the citys next mayor. Despite that compressed time frame, a number of strategists and other top potential endorsers appear to be holding their fire at least until there is more clarity around which candidates have staying power. Ms. Ocasio-Cortez could make a similar calculation.

My observation is, it seems that she would make an endorsement when a candidate really lines up with her values and she feels like she could make a big difference, said Susan Kang, a political science professor at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice who is a steering committee member of the New York City Democratic Socialists. The mayoral race is a little bit of a black box.

Interviews with more than a dozen elected officials, party leaders, activists and strategists across the city suggest that there is little expectation that Ms. Ocasio-Cortez will endorse in the mayors race anytime soon  if she does so at all.

Ms. Ocasio-Cortez has been intensely focused on a range of federal priorities, from pressing for additional Covid relief to confronting the aftermath of the pro-Trump insurrection at the Capitol. But she suggested on Tuesday that the mayoral race, as well as other New York City contests including City Council races, was absolutely of really important interest.

Its definitely something that Im paying close attention to, she said Tuesday night, after holding a virtual town hall meeting. And of course, we want to make sure that we are also being very receptive to our community in this process.
Supporters of an opposition figure, who is accused of rape, come to blows with police on Monday in the capital Dakar.



Controversy has dogged Ousmane Sonko over media reports that an employee of a beauty salon had filed rape charges against him.



Sonko finished third in the 2019 election, which saw President Macky Sall win a second term in office, and is considered a future presidential contender in the West African state.



The 46-year-old head of the opposition Pastef party denies the allegation on Twitter, saying its a political plot created by the president.



He had visited the salon to receive massages to relieve back pain and said the rape accusation was an attempt at political liquidation, adding that two people had always been present during the massage.



I explicitly accuse Macky Sall of fomenting this political plot against me, he said.



The dozens of protesters surrounded Sonkos home on Monday and hurled rocks at police officers.



We are here today to send a strong message to President Macky Sall. To tell him that we will not accept that Sonko be sacrificed today as we did with the other opponents, said protester Moustapha Diop.



Sonko is a national heritage that carries a social project to bring Senegal out of its rut. We will not accept today that he should be gagged, intimidated, persecuted or taken away as we have done with the others. 



Sonko reportedly refused to attend a police summons on Monday, saying he had parliamentary immunity- but said he would speak to investigators if it was lifted.



I left everything to take part in this protest because Sonko is worth the cost, said protester Fama Sonko.



They want to silence Ousmane Sonko, but it wont work. Sonko is the only opponent we have left in Senegal. All the Senegalese youth believe in him.



Sonkos current whereabouts are unknown. Senegals government was also not immediately available for comment.

Source: Africanews/AFP









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A Taiwanese national security official recently cautioned citizens against using a Chinese face-swapping app, saying that it could use the data for financial fraud or create personal files for Chinese law enforcement. The app called Quyan has gained popularity in Taiwan. It uses photograph uploaded by a user to edit their face onto celebrities, creating deep fakes videos that make the users look like actors.

The app is developed by Shenzhen Xinguodu Intelligence Co, also known as Nexgo, which create hardware and software processing electronic payments, including biometric services. After an investigation of the application, the Taiwanese official said it poses grave security threat, especially because it requires facial recognition and e-mail verification use. According to Taipei Times, to sign up for the app, users are required to verify their e-mails address and upload a clear photograph of their face without wearing glasses or anything else that could obstruct the camera view of the users facial features.

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Taiwanese advised to use app with caution

The Taiwanese official believes that the firm could sell data it collects through Quyan for use with payment software, allowing payments to be made through facial recognition. The national security official added that by requiring e-mail confirmation, the app is able to obtain other personal information that could be used in conjunction with biometric data to make payments or obtain financial information. Further, they also did not rule out that the data are being sent to Chinese law enforcement to create files on users.

The Taiwanese official has advised citizens using the app to exercise caution, especially if they link accounts to their e-mail, browse Chinese websites or express political opinions online. It is worth noting that China has been accused of stealing data by several countries, including the US and Canada. Canadas intelligence chief David Vigneault has even warned Canadians that they are being "aggressively" targeted by hostile foreign governments seeking political, economic and military advantage.

(With inputs from ANI)

READ: Taiwan Concerned About Chinese Military Presence

READ: China Flags Taiwan As Core Issue, Asks US To Rectify 'mistakes' Of Trump Admin's Aggressive Policies
Lawmakers on marijuana study committee plan out-of-state site visits

Lawmakers want a firsthand look at legal cannabis operations in response to South Dakotans voting to loosen their state's pot laws last fall.
New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah addressed a public meeting at Coochbehar in poll-bound West Bengal on Thursday (February 11, 2021).

In his fiery speech against the ruling Mamata Banerjee-led government, the BJP leader said that BJP's march cannot be stopped by anyone. He claimed that more than 130 BJP workers were allegedly killed by TMC goons, and said that no action has been taken.

"TMC"goons" cannot stall BJP's march to power in West Bengal and once our government comes to power, each of the murderers will be sent to jail," he said.

Further, taking pot shots at the rising corruption in West Bengal Shah said the 'Parivartan Yatra' will end the corruption propogated by 'Bua-Bhatija' attacking Mamata Banerjee, and her nephew Abhishek.

Amit Shah warned the TMC government saying, "All schemes of Narendra Modi that you and your nephew have stopped now, you will not be able to stop after May as you won't remain the Chief Minister."

Earlier on Thursday, Amit Shah visited the residence of Ananta Roy, the chief of Greater Coochbehar Peoples' Association (GCPA), in Assam's Chirang district, and is reported to have discussed matters related to the welfare of the Koch-Rajbongshi community.

Shah, who had arrived in Guwahati on Wednesday night, was accompanied by BJP national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya, North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) convenor Himanta Biswa Sarma and Assam BJP president Ranjeet Dass during his visit to Roy's residence at Chatipur.

Assembly elections in Bengal and Assam are likely to be held in April-May.

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The Plainview City Council officially recognized retired Fire Marshal Philip Mize during a regular scheduled meeting this week.

Mayor Charles Starnes started the meeting by reading a special proclamation recognizing Mizes 31-year career with the Fire Department.

Mize was hired on Dec. 26, 1989 and his last day as fire marshal was Jan. 21, 2021.

For the record, it seemed like a really short time, Mize said during the presentation.

He didnt intend to stick around this long, he noted.

The Plainview Fire Department showed up to the meeting clad in uniforms to watch the presentation. Mize was presented with the badge he wore during his tenure with the department and with a plaque.

During Mizes career, he has taught investigation and code inspection classes, he holds a Master Certification for fire fighter, is an arson investigator, and worked code inspections and is a peace officer. He is also an advanced EMT.

Mize is also credited with playing a key role in bringing the Shattered Dreams Program to Plainview, which was created to help show teens the consequences of drinking and driving. The program was introduced to Plainview in 2005 and received a mayoral proclamation.

Mize is married to Rebecca and they have three daughters, Heather, Ashley and Malissa.

Philip has been a dedicated public servant to the community, said City manager Jeffrey Snyder. So dedicated that we were able to get him to come back.

Mize will now oversee building inspection and code enforcement for the city of Plainview.
A push by the Mexican government to strengthen state control over the energy sector by promoting state-owned companies could result in higher electricity prices, BloombergNEF has warned, as it would reduce renewable energy generation.

The Mexican Energy Ministry last year published a policy that required the grid operator of the country to buy electricity from CFE before it buys from private companies, many of which had invested in solar and wind generation capacity. The ministrys argument was that prioritizing electricity from CFE ensured the reliability of the grid, but Mexicos antitrust regulator disagreed and took the case to the Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court ruled against the changes proposed in the policy, saying they would prioritize the state utility, CFE, over private companies, and this was unconstitutional. Meanwhile, however, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has sent a bill to the countrys parliament seeking to change the way companies invest in new generation capacity. If the bill becomes a law, the Supreme Court will likely strike it down as well, according to analysts.

According to BloombergNEF, this prioritization of CFE over private companies will harm end-consumers: the state utilitys electricity is more expensive than the output of private companies that generate power from solar and wind installations, and even their thermal power plants are more efficient than CFEs, according to BloombergNEFs head of research for Latin America, James Ellis.

In an economically efficient system, wind and solar would always be dispatched first, Ellis said, as quoted by Bloomberg. CFE arent developing wind and solar and they have a very old fleet of plants. Even their thermal plants are less efficient then their private counterparts.

The President, on the other hand, has argued that the bill seeks to keep electricity prices for end consumers low.

If the bill passes and the Supreme Court does not declare it unconstitutional, it will likely lead to an increase in Mexicos emissions, the BloombergNEF report also said.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:

Fifty eight steps. That was the distance between United States senators and a vicious mob that invaded the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, said Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Dublin, one of the House managers in the impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump. Swalwell and his fellow managers made a compelling case Wednesday that Trump incited the deadly riot and thus should be convicted and permanently barred from ever holding office again. They brought it home to the senators, serving as jurors after being witnesses and potential victims of the crowd whipped up by the 45th president.

Perhaps the most damning evidence against Trump  and it was abundant  was the way the managers juxtaposed the timeline of the presidents tweets with the violence at the Capitol. They showed how Trump was disparaging Mike Pence on Twitter about the same time he was being rushed out of the chambers ahead of the mob. And they highlighted Trumps disregard for this attack on democracy, even as it escalated on national television, in inescapable condemnation.

Another strong takeaway from the managers presentation, which included previously unseen footage, was the remarkable courage and professionalism of the outnumbered officers. Americans had seen the video of Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman quick-thinking move to guide rioters away from the Senate chambers into the direction of his fellow officers. On Wednesday, the managers showed Goodman directing Sen. Mitt Romney out of harms way, a precariously close call.

It would be in defiance of all conventional wisdom for 17 GOP senators to vote for conviction. Many have made no secret that they have made up their minds. But historys verdict, not only of Trump but of his enablers, will be unforgiving.

Trumps much-panned legal team will get its shot on Friday. The managers have set a high bar. Our editorial

What else were saying in editorials

Tribute to a titan of his time: George Shultz was the definition of gravitas. It wasnt just the lofty Cabinet titles he held: secretary of State, Treasury secretary, Labor secretary, director of Office of Management and Budget. It wasnt merely the two American presidents he officially served  Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan  and myriad other leaders, local to global, in government and business, who sought his wise counsel. It was the way he commanded any gathering, whether one on one or a packed auditorium, whenever he began speaking in his distinctive measured, almost humble way with the force of an erudition and vision that had been honed over a lifetime of leadership at the highest levels. Read the editorial

Guest opinions

Rajni Dronamraju and Debbie I. Chang: During times of lockdown, children often cant rely on other adults  child-care providers, teachers or even primary health care practitioners  to offer support and intervention. In the long-term, unless we act swiftly and with coordinated efforts, we are facing a massive public health crisis as these children and families suffer potentially lasting mental and physical effects of stress and adversity. Read their piece

Larry N. Gerston: Fast forward a couple of decades to Gavin Newsom, where we find similarities and differences with the (Gray) Davis era, after which I wrote Recall: Californias Political Earthquake. Like his predecessor, Newsom is haunted by a crisis not of his doing. Read his piece

Emil Guillermo: The San Francisco Board of Education is gambling when it talks about a lottery for Lowell High. After 35 years of neglecting the lack of racial equity in its schools, the board needs a better plan that doesnt involve destroying one of the jewels in all of public education. Read his piece

Oliver Dunford: No one doubts that businesses are suffering, but the San Francisco ban ignores the suffering of landlords who  like their tenants  are also businesses that need income to pay bills. Read his piece

Letter of the Week

Pam Rolph of Pacific Grove had this creative suggestion for the Californias unemployment benefits scandal. Is Gov. Gavin Newsom listening?

The Employment Development Department needs help. Why not give businesses a chance to barter taxes owed for tech help, with computer resources for filing and processing claims, and call centers? The EDD needs quick help at scale; it doesnt need, hopefully, a permanently inflated staff. Once past the pandemic, though, families could still use internet access to maintain and develop job skills and networking with the larger community. Companies rolled out remote access almost overnight for their employees; we could use their help to quickly strengthen internet access to government services. EDD has failed to succeed on its own; why not use proven California resources to resolve the terrible claims backlog?

And please check out our other letters of the day responding to this and other matters. You can send us a letter via this form.

Where to follow us

We have a Twitter channel, Opinion Central (@sfc_opinions). Please add it to your stream. Youll catch our editorials and opinion pieces, as well as our drive-by comments on assorted subjects in the news. Follow me on Twitter: @JohnDiazChron

Just a reminder

The Chronicles editorials represent the collective judgment of our Editorial Board, which includes the publisher as well as the writers and editors from the opinion team. Our editors and reporters on the news side are not involved in those decisions (including election endorsements). They are charged with reporting fairly and objectively without regard to our editorial positions. It is one of the core values here at Fifth and Mission streets.

Opinion Central is a thrice-weekly newsletter from John Diaz, The Chronicles editorial page editor, and the rest of the Editorial Board. Follow along on Twitter: @sfc_opinions
In the Pacific Northwest, several species of salmon are in danger of extinction. The Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office has released a report on the state of salmon populations in the state's watershedsand the findings predict a grim future.

The report was commissioned by the Governor's Salmon Recovery Office, established by the state legislature in 1998 in response to the Salmon Recovery Planning Act. Its findings showed that 10 to 14 species of salmon in the northwest are "threatened or endangered," and five species are "in crisis."

The findings, though alarming, are in line with population trends over the last few decades. The once prolific salmon populations in Washington State have been declining for years, and populations are now estimated to be at about 5% of historic highs.

The five species of salmon and steelhead that the report found to be most at risk are Snake River spring/summer chinook, Puget Sound chinook, Lake Ozette sockeye, Upper Columbia River spring chinook, and Puget Sound steelheada sampling that covers a wide geographic area in the state.

There are a variety of factors at play in the dipping salmon stocks, many of them linked to habitat loss and climate change. In the Northwest, glacier loss is a pivotal factor. Glaciers feed the rivers in which the salmon spawn with cool water, a process that is critical for the salmon to reproduce successfully. "Melting glaciers means that cool water is no longer available from glaciers at the right time," Daniel Pauly, a professor at University of British Columbia's Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, said in an interview with GlacierHub. "If you disrupt this cycle, you wipe out the fish."

Average stream temperature in Washington State is projected to warm by between 3.6 and 10.5 degrees Fahrenheit by the end of the century, due to rising air temperature and glacier and snow pack loss.

Increasing water temperature has a particularly pronounced effect on salmon because of their spawning practices. Salmon are anadromous, meaning they are born and mature in rivers and brooks before migrating to the ocean to live out their adult lives. When it is time to reproduce, salmon return from the ocean to the place they were bornan upriver journey that can be thousands of miles long. After they reach their birthplace and spawn, they die.

"Salmon are extremely sensitive to temperature," said Pauly, who has researched the effect of temperature change on marine life extensively as principal investigator with Sea Around Us, a research initiative that investigates the global impact of fisheries. He explained that in warmer waters, salmon metabolism increases and they require more oxygen, making the journey difficult for the migrating fish. "When they try to make these already challenging river ascents under oxygen stress, it becomes impossible."

Decreasing salmon populations have ripple effects for other organisms as well. Many predators, including sea birds, orca whales and grizzly bears depend on salmon as their prey. Even trees suffer. Trees along the banks of salmon-rich rivers in the Northwest get up to 80% of the critical nutrient nitrogen from the decomposing carcasses of salmon that have completed their spawn.

Humans, too, have relationships with salmon for food, culture, and industry. From the mid-nineteenth to mid-twentieth centuries, commercial salmon fishing was a major business and canneries dotted the rivers of Washington. Now commercial salmon fishers struggle.

Salmon have a long history of value. The fish have been central to the lives of the first peoples of the Northwest for millennia. Today, Northwest salmon are just as important to the people of the region as ever.

The harvest of coho and chinook salmon has dropped since the mid-1970s. Credit: Washington State Governors Salmon Recovery Office

"All salmon are important to the tribes, the region, and the ecosystem," said David Troutt, a salmon biologist and natural resources director of Nisqually Tribe, told GlacierHub. "But the most important to the Nisqually people are the late/winter chum salmon. They are the center of Nisqually traditions and culture."

In his 34 years working with the Nisqually Tribe, one of the sovereign tribal nations of the Salish Sea, Troutt has witnessed salmon populations drop. "Seeing the rapid and devastating collapse of this incredible and critical salmon in the Nisqually River is heartbreaking," said Troutt. "Their numbers have gone from regularly exceeding 50,000 adult salmon in the Nisqually to about 5,000 last year."

Troutt sees firsthand the devastation of habitat loss and climate change. "From elevated stream temperatures and lack of flow in the summer, to increased frequency and magnitude of flooding events, to sea level rise and its impact on restoring habitat in the Nisqually delta, to the complete disruption of the food web and offshore flows in the ocean are all killing our salmon," said Troutt. "Some of these factors can be mitigated but others are affecting ecosystem processes on a larger regional/global scale and cannot [be mitigated]."

The Nisqually River near its glacial origins. Credit: Mount Rainier National Park

The salmon population decrease in the Pacific Northwest is just one example of how climate change is disrupting fish populations around the globe. "People wonder about each species separately," said Pauly. "All fish are affected [by rising temperatures.] We see fish moving towards the poles in both hemispheres. When you model fish behavior as a response to predicted warming of ocean water you see a pattern that shows this movement happening all over the world."

The population changes aren't surprising to Pauly. "This is what happens when temperature increases," he said. "The fish are looking for the temperatures that they are attuned to, and if those temperatures are farther north, they move farther north. If you make a map from high arctic Alaska to California, the salmon stocks in California are essentially dead. Oregon is not in good shape. Washington is not in good shape. The salmon are not doing well in [British Columbia], either. They are doing well only in arctic Alaska."

Efforts to restore salmon populations are underway across Washington State. Watersheds are being restored. Riparian zones, the banks and vegetation that surround rivers and provide crucial shade and food for young salmon, are being repaired, replanted and protected. Blockages that prevent salmon from navigating waterways to their spawning ground are being removed. Since 2005, 3,300 salmon obstacles, like dams, roads, and water storage have been removed. So far, though, the pace of restoration has been too slow and the salmon are still in grave danger. "The salmon are telling us that we are failing in our recovery efforts," said Troutt.

A dam blocking salmon passage on the Nooksack River in Northern Washington is destroyed. Credit: City of Bellingham

"By far and away the most promising and sustainable efforts are the community-based, watershed focus, 'bottom up' approach to salmon recovery," said Troutt. "This system has engaged thousands upon thousands of friends and neighbors within their communities to come together and act for salmon."

These efforts, paired with a cooperative global response to climate change, may be just enough to save salmon populations if they are prioritized. "Where people are the source of the problems, they are also the source of the solutions," said Troutt. "Engaged, informed, and enthusiastically energized citizens are the promise that we can restore salmon."

Explore further Water and genes flow between the two largest Baltic salmon rivers

This story is republished courtesy of Earth Institute, Columbia University http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu.
Branding West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee a "failed administrator", Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday said the upcoming assembly elections in the state will be a contest between Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "development model" and her "destruction model". He said the BJP's 'Parivartan Yatra' is not for changing a chief minister, MLA or minister but ending infiltration and transforming West Bengal's condition.

READ | BJP's 'Parivartan Yatra' not to change West Bengal CM but to end infiltration, says Amit Shah

Addressing a rally in the North Bengal town of Coochbehar, Amit Shah said the yatra is also aimed at ending corruption patronised by "Bua-Bhatija" combine. The BJP has been accusing Banerjee and her nephew Abhishek, the Lok Sabha MP from Diamond Harbour, of "institutionalising corruption". He also spoke about the killing of BJP workers and warned that the perpetrators will be thrown behind bars.

Claiming that Mamata Banerjee will not be the chief minister after May (by when the assembly elections will get over), Shah said she too would start chanting "Jai Shri Ram" by then. "This 'Parivartan Yatra' is not for changing a CM, MLA or a minister. It is for ending infiltration, it is for ending violence and building 'Sonar Bangla', it's for the transformation of Bengal.

"You vote the BJP to power in Bengal. Leave alone illegal immigrants, not even a bird from across the border will be allowed to enter the state," Shah said addressing a rally before flagging off the fourth of the five 'Parivartan Yatras' planned by the BJP ahead of the assembly polls. Shah claimed large-scale infiltration into Coochbehar district, which shares border with Bangladesh, has caused significant changes in its demography.

The upcoming assembly polls, he said, will be a fight between the "Vikas (development) model of the Narendra Modi government and Mamata Banerjee's Vinash (destruction) model". He asserted the BJP will bag more than 200 of the state's 294 seats. "Mamata didi will lose election even only on the issue infiltration," he said.

Referring to the January 23 incident, when Banerjee declined to speak at an official event attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to observe Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's 125th birthday after 'Jai Shri Ram' chants greeted her, Shah said her stand was aimed at appeasing a particular community.

"Such an environment has been created in Bengal that raising Jai Shri Ram slogan has become a crime. Why does she get angry after hearing Jai Shri Ram? Mamata Didi, if Jai Shri Ram is not chanted here, will it be chanted in Pakistan?" he said. "You get angry over it because you want to appease a particular section of people for vote bank politics. I am telling you (people) that by the time election ends Mamata didi will also start chanting Jai Shri Ram," he said, mocking Banerjee.

Listing out the names of some BJP workers allegedly killed in political violence in the state, Shah alleged that the Mamata Banerjee government has created an environment of fear and panic, but the BJP is ready to take on the "goons" of the ruling TMC. "You think that we can get intimidated by the TMC goons? They cannot stall BJP's march to power. Once we are in power, every perpetrator of violence that led to the killing of BJP workers will be thrown behind bars," he asserted while claiming that TMC goons have so far killed more than 130 of its workers.

Lashing out at "dynasty politics" in the TMC, Shah alleged that Banerjee has been working only for the welfare of her nephew instead of the masses. "The Modi government works for 'jan kalyan' (public welfare), while the Mamata Banerjee dispensation is bothered only about 'bhatija kalyan' (nephew's welfare). Her only agenda is to make her nephew the chief minister," he said.

The BJP leader said Banerjee deprived people of the benefits of many central schemes and was always "quarrelling" with the Modi government. "The people of Bengal have made up their mind to elect a BJP government. At its very first cabinet meeting, the new BJP government will take a decision to transfer Rs 12,000 to the bank accounts of each farmer which they could not get as Mamata di refused to join the PM Kisan scheme," he said.

Reaching out to the Koch Rajbonshi community in North Bengal, Shah announced a new 'Narayani Sena Battalion' in central paramilitary forces and said its training centre will be named after 'veer' (brave) Chila Roy (a prince and younger brother of King Nara Narayan of Koch Dynasty).

Reaching out to the Rajbongshis, who have a sizeable population in West Bengal's Coochbehar and parts of Assam, he said a tourist circuit and Thakur Panchanan Memorial Centre will also be set up. Panchanan Burman is an icon of the community. Rajbonshi voters are a deciding in factor in many of the 56 assembly seats of North Bengal.
"Jewish Nobel" recognizes the preeminent filmmaker's commitment to Jewish values, extraordinary contribution to cinema and philanthropy, dedication to preserving the memory of the Holocaust and preventing future genocides NEW YORK, Feb. 10, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Genesis Prize Foundation today announced film director, producer, and philanthropist Steven Spielberg as the 2021 Genesis Prize Laureate. The annual $1 million Genesis Prize, dubbed the "Jewish Nobel" by TIME magazine, honors extraordinary individuals for their outstanding professional achievement, contribution to humanity, and commitment to Jewish values. The award recognizes Spielberg's outstanding achievement as one the most influential filmmakers in the history of cinema; his social activism and prolific philanthropy; and his principled stance against anti-Semitism and all forms of intolerance. The Prize also recognizes his extraordinary work to preserve the memory of the Holocaust and prevent future genocides through film, public advocacy and philanthropy.A For the first time in the history of the Genesis Prize, the voice of global Jewry was a major factor in Laureate selection. Two hundred thousand Jews on six continents cast their votes for the 2021 Laureate; millions more engaged on social media. While the Prize Committee had the ultimate discretion about the selection of the recipient of this prestigious award, the fact Spielberg received the most votes was a major determining factor. "The Genesis Prize celebrates Steven Spielberg's unique talent, his commitment to making the world a better place, and his unparalleled contribution to teaching the post-war generations about the horrors of the Holocaust," said Stan Polovets, Co-Founder and Chairman of GPF. "We are delighted to welcome Steven Spielberg to the distinguished family of Genesis Prize honorees, which includes such luminaries as Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Natan Sharansky, and Michael Bloomberg." This is the latest in a series of prominent awards bestowed on Spielberg, which among others include the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award of the United States; Legion d'Honneur, the highest order of the French Republic, and Germany's Federal Cross of Merit. "Spielberg is a great Jewish visionary and storyteller," said the legendary human rights activist Natan Sharansky, who was awarded the Genesis Prize in 2020. "Key Jewish themes are often woven into his narratives: importance of identity and belonging, maintaining humanity in a ruthless world, caring for the other, and honoring the moral obligation to do the right thing. His talent makes them universal: told by Spielberg, these stories come alive in people's hearts across the globe." Steven Spielberg becomes the 9th Genesis Prize honoree. All previous Laureates chose to direct the $1 million Prize award to philanthropic causes about which they were passionate. Sharansky, who preceded Spielberg as the Genesis Prize Laureate, directed his $1 million award to support individuals and organizations working to alleviate the Covid-19 health crisis and prevent future pandemics. "Congratulations to Steven Spielberg on this important Jewish award," said Isaac Herzog, Chairman of the Jewish Agency for Israel and Chairman of the Genesis Prize Selection Committee. "He is an example of great Jewish talent, whose extraordinary work in film and philanthropy is infused with the values of his people a a quest for justice, compassion, humanism, and a heartfelt desire to make the world a better place." About the 2021 Genesis Prize Laureate Steven Spielberg is widely considered to be the most successful film director in the history of cinema. His films grossed $10bn and his imagination has captivated tens of millions of people around the world. After establishing his reputation with blockbuster films such as Jaws, ET, Jurassic Park and Indiana Jones, he began to explore serious topics such as justice, slavery, women's rights, corruption, and morality of war in films such as Saving Private Ryan, Lincoln, The Color Purple, The Post, Munich and Bridge of Spies. His films also have delivered compelling narratives of Jewish history and present day events a the Holocaust, terrorism, and the maturing of the State of Israel. Spielberg's 1993 masterpiece Schindler's List has had a profound impact on humanity's perception and awareness of the Holocaust. Fifty years after the Shoah, Spielberg's film fostered a strong emotional connection with this tragedy for a vast, global audience a touching the post-war generations in a way that no other medium could. Spielberg channeled all of his proceeds from Schindler's List to fund philanthropic causes a both Jewish and non-Jewish. In 1994, he established the USC Shoah Foundation, dedicated to preserving Holocaust survivor testimonies. Concerned with prevention of genocide, the Foundation also works to preserve the memory of other 20th century genocides a in Cambodia, Armenia and Rwanda. A Over 55,000 survivor testimonies have been recorded to-date. Spielberg and his wife Kate Capshaw founded the Righteous Persons Foundation, which has made more than $100 million in grants to various Jewish organizations. Through the Wunderkinder Foundation, Spielberg has given extensively to health, arts, youth and education. About the Genesis Prize and Prior Laureates The Genesis Prize is a global award that celebrates Jewish achievement and contribution to humanity. Launched in 2013, the Prize is financed through a permanent endowment of $100 million established by The Genesis Prize Foundation. Previous Genesis Prize laureates are former New York City Mayor and philanthropist Michael Bloomberg (2014); actor, producer and peace activist Michael Douglas (2015); Itzhak Perlman, virtuoso violinist and advocate for individuals with special needs (2016); sculptor and advocate for the rights of refugees Sir Anish Kapoor (2017); Oscar-winning actress and social activist Natalie Portman (2018); owner of New England Patriots and founder of the leading foundation to combat anti-Semitism Robert Kraft (2019); and legendary Jewish leader and human rights activist Natan Sharansky (2020). In 2018, the Genesis Prize Foundation honored U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg with its inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award for her contribution to social justice! and equa l rights. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1436786/Steven_Spielberg.jpg
The Daily Beast

Screenshot/YouTubeA Christian diet guru and six other people are presumed dead after her small plane crashed into the waters of Tennessee lake on Saturday morning. Authorities were called to the Percy Priest Lake around 11 a.m., not long after the plane took off from the nearby Smyrna Rutherford County Airport. Late Saturday evening, investigators said they believed all seven passengers had perished. The cause of the crash is still under investigation. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Joe Lara (@joelaraofficial) The plane, a Cessna C501, belonged Gwen Shamblin Lara, founder of the Remnant Fellowship Church and author of The Weigh Down Workshop, and her husband William J. Lara, who went by Joe. The couple lived in nearby Brentwood and had registered the plane via their company JL&GL Productions LP. The aircraft has not been located, but Tennessee Highway Patrol told News Channel 5 that officers located debris consistent with a Cessna C501 and that a small plane had been seen descending into the water near a boat ramp early Saturday.Laras daughter, Elizabeth Hannah, sent a text message to members of the Remnant Fellowship Church saying that her mother and father were aboard the aircraft when it was forced to make a quick, controlled landing. All the planes passengers had ties to the church, including Hannahs own husband Brandon, according to her text. The others aboard were David and Jennifer Martin and Jonathan and Jessica Walters, according to authorities.My brother and I are asking for immediate prayers right now, as we have just gotten word that Gwen and Joe Laras plane had to go down, Hannah wrote before authorities said everyone appeared to have been killed. More information to come, but be in prayerand be at peace, the message continued. GOD IS IN CONTROL, and we will not stop moving forward with WHAT GOD WANTS with this church.Read more at The Daily Beast.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.
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New Delhi: India's largest lender State Bank of India has launched a very convenient facility for its customers looking to get home loans.

State Bank's new facility caters to new home loan customers who can get all information on home loans by giving a missed call on 7208933140. SBI has said that it has witnessed spectacular growth in Home loans in December 2020 with the highest sourcing, sanctions, disbursements, and growth that the bank had ever registered.

SBI offers home loan customized to suit the requirement of individuals with home loans such as Regular Home Loan, SBI Privilege Home Loan for government employees, SBI Shaurya Home Loan for army and defense personnel, SBI MaxGain Home Loan, SBI Smart Home, Top-up Loan for existing customers, SBI NRI Home Loan, SBI FlexiPay Home Loan for a loan of the higher amount and SBI HerGhar Home Loan for women.

Maintaining its leadership in the home loan segment intact, the State Bank of India (SBI) has reached another landmark by crossing the Rs. 5 trillion (5 Lakh crore) mark in its home loan business. The bank has set its sight on achieving a home loan AUM of Rs. 7 trillion by FY 2024.

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Going forward, SBI is also looking at implementing AI, Cloud, Blockchain, and machine learning which can play a pivotal role in propelling not only the home loan business of the bank but also other businesses. The bank is gearing up to initiate a co-lending model for home loans which will help boost SBIs footprints in the unorganized sector. With the use of cutting-edge technology, a vast network of branches, dedicated to Central Processing Centers (CPCs) in 215 centers, banks digital and lifestyle platform, YONO, and other enablers, SBI has hit Rs. 5 trillion marks in the home loan business
El presidente @FSagasti verifico la partida del segundo lote de vacunas contra la COVID-19 desde Beijing y el monitoreo del proceso de vacunacion, en el Centro de Operaciones de Vacunacion, ubicado en el Puesto de Comando FAP. #PongoElHombro pic.twitter.com/InGnivyic2
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[February 11, 2021] Proposed acquisition of controlling stake in Magma Fincorp Limited by Rising Sun Holdings, a company controlled by Mr. Adar Poonawalla and fresh capital raise of INR 3,456 crores through a preferential allotment

MUMBAI, India, Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Rising Sun Holdings Private Limited ('Rising Sun Holdings'), a company controlled by Mr. Adar Poonawalla and Magma Fincorp Limited ('Magma Fincorp') today announced a transaction for preferential issue of equity shares of Magma Fincorp which will result in a controlling stake being taken by Rising Sun Holdings and an open offer as per Public Announcement made under SAST guidelines. The preferential allotment is for an aggregate value of INR. 3,456 crores, subject to shareholders' and other regulatory approvals. As part of the transaction, Magma Fincorp proposes to allot 45,80,00,000 shares to Rising Sun Holdings, and 3,57,14,286 shares to Mr. Sanjay Chamria and Mr. Mayank Poddar. The preferential allotment represents 64.68% of MFL's enhanced equity share capital post the issue. Based on current shareholding, Rising Sun Holdings would hold 60.0% stake in the entity post issuance and the existing promoter group stake would get reduced to 13.3% post issuance. The Net Worth of Magma Fincorp shall increase to over INR. 6,300 crores post the issuance. Following the preferential issue, Rising Sun Holdings would be classified as 'Promoter' of Magma Fincorp. Magma Fincorp Ltd and its subsidiaries shall be renamed and rebranded under the brand name 'Poonawalla Finance', subject to regulatory approvals. Subsequent to the completion of the preferential allotment, the existing financial services business of Poonawalla Finance is proposed to be consolidated into Magma Fincorp subject to compliance with extant regulations. Rising Sun Holdings intends to nominate Mr. Adar Poonawalla as the Chairman of the Board of Directors and Mr. Abhay Bhutada, presently Managing Director & CEO of Poonawalla Finance, as Managing Director. Mr. Sanjay Chamria would continue as the Executive Vice Chairman of the Board. The management team will be further strengthened through the appointment of a professional CEO & COO from amongst the best in the industry, with substantial experience of running large financial services' businesses. Rising Sun Holdings values the strength of the existing network and employees of Magma Fincorp, and the acquisition of a controlling stake along with huge capital infusion is expected to have a positive impact on the business operations, including for customers, employees, lenders and other stakeholders. Mr. Adar Poonawalla and Magma Fincorp clearly believe that the transaction would be in the best interests of all the stakeholders and post transaction, the Magma Fincorp would be uniquely placed to leverage the vast opportunities in the lending space with expected reduction in borrowing cost. Strong corporate backing and substantial fund infusion is likely to have a postive effect on the credit rating of the company as well. This infusion would also enable Magma Fincorp to further invest in its Housing Finance subsidiary and General Insurance joint venture, as required



Economic Laws Practice is acting as the tax and transaction advisor, Khaitan & Co is acting as the legal advisor and Axis Capital Limited is acting as the merchant banker to the open offer to Rising Sun Holdings. Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu India LLP is acting as the exclusive financial advisor to Magma Fincorp, Wadia Ghandy & Co is acting as legal advisor and Vinod Kothari & Co is acting as Corporate law Advisors to Magma Fincorp.

Commenting on the proposed transaction, Mr. Adar Poonawalla, Director, Rising Sun Holdings Private Limited said, "I am excited at this opportunity to infuse majority capital for controlling stake of Magma Fincorp. I see an unlimited potential in India in the financial space as our economy is poised to grow in double digits and this ties in with our Group philosophy of serving the needs and dreams of the nation, and financial service plays an important role in supporting and fuelling the growth of our country. This transaction is subject to statutory and regulatory approvals." Commenting on the proposed transaction, Mr. Sanjay Chamria, Vice Chairman and Managing Director, Magma Fincorp Limited said, "Considering the positives in the deal by way of huge capital infusion, strong brand value and ability to attract top notch talent, the Board of the Company has rightly decided to accept an offer for a substantial equity infusion into the Company. This would help in propelling the Company into a higher growth trajectory, benefiting from potential lower cost of funds, improved credit rating and with additional leveraging of the huge distribution network, will eventually improve the overall RoE. We are proud to be associating with one of the country's finest & reputed business groups and hope to together take the Company to new heights." About Mr. Adar Poonawalla Mr. Adar Poonawalla, is the CEO of Serum Institute of India. An innovator at his core, Mr. Adar Poonawalla has been dedicated to developing affordable children's vaccines and providing the same across the globe. He joined the Serum Institute of India in 2001, after graduating from the University of Westminster in London. Then exporting its products to 35 countries, Poonawalla concentrated on the company's international market and on getting new products licensed and pre-qualified by the World Health Organization, for supply to United Nations Agencies including UNICEF and PAHO. As of 2015, the company now exports its products to over 140 countries worldwide, out of which 85 percent of its revenues are from the overseas. In 2011, he became the CEO of Serum Institute with complete control of the day-to-day operations of the company. In 2012, he played a major role in the acquisition of Bilthoven Biologicals, a Netherlands-based government vaccine manufacturing company. Poonawalla is also associated as a board member of the GAVI Alliance, which is the global Vaccine Alliance. He initiated and launched Serum Institute's Oral Polio Vaccine in 2014, which addressed a global shortage of Polio vaccines at that time, and every year plans to launch a new vaccine for public health starting 2017. In 2014, it was reported that he also planned to expand the product portfolio to include vaccines for dengue, flu and cervical cancer. He is the recipient of many business and philanthropy awards from CNBC TV18, CNN TV18, Economic Times, Hurun and many others, to name a few in the recent past. About Magma Fincorp Limited Magma Fincorp Limited ("Magma") a Mumbai-based non-deposit taking non-banking finance company (NBFC), is registered with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). The Company started operations nearly three decades back and is listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange Limited and the National Stock Exchange in India. Magma a financial conglomerate offers a bouquet of financial products including commercial finance, agri finance, SME finance, mortgage finance and general insurance. Magma is focused on the rural and semi-urban sector with a widespread coverage and presence across 21 States and 298 Branches. Magma's customer base has crossed 5 million and manages a loan book of INR. 15,006 cr. For more information please log on to: www.magma.co.in For media queries contact: Diana Monteiro

Email: diana.monteiro@magma.co.in Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1437296/Magma_Logo.jpg

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1437299/Poonawalla_Finance_Logo.jpg

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Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - February 11, 2021) - Omai Gold Mines Corp. (TSXV: OMG) ("Omai" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it will be presenting at the Virtual Investor Day III ("VID III") on February 17-18, 2021, hosted by IR.INC and FTMIG.

Mario Stifano, CEO and Director of Omai, will provide an in-depth update on the Company at 2:30 pm EST, February 18, 2021. VID III is a completely interactive experience for feature companies and stakeholders. Feature companies will have 30 minutes to outline their investment opportunity, while stakeholders and the audience will be invited to engage via direct Q&A, polls and other interactive tools after and during each presentation. To register for VID III, please visit https://www.bigmarker.com/series/virtual-investor-day-confere2/series_summit.

About Omai Gold Mines Corp.

Early prospectors identified Guyana's vast mineral wealth 130 years ago, and at the heart of the country's gold mining history is the Omai mine: a multi-million-ounce deposit that was once South America's largest producing gold mine. We're building on this past success with new tools, relationships and vision to bring this under-explored gold district back to life, providing a unique opportunity for all stakeholders to participate in value creation. Avalon Gold Exploration Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Omai Gold Mines Corp., holds a 100% interest in the Omai Prospecting License covering 4,590 acres, including the past producing Omai gold mine.

About IR.INC

IR.INC Capital Markets Advisory & Services works with its clients to develop and deploy strategic plans and build industry alliances while providing shareholder introductions and solutions. The Company also provides a number of traditional Investor Relations Services. You can find out more about IR.INC here www.irinc.ca.

About FTMIG

Follow the Money Investor Group is a financial portal that provides content and information needed to navigate the ever-changing capital markets. Our global community of visitors and investors are able to use our platform to discuss and collaborate daily on all facets of their current and potential investments. Our goal is to help retail investors make the right financial decisions that fit their individual needs. You can find out more about FTMIG here www.ftmig.com.

Disclaimer

Follow the Money Investor ("FTMIG") is an online investor community that connects investors and public companies. Both FTMIG and IR.INC are not registered as a broker, dealer, exempt market dealer, or any other registrant in any securities regulatory jurisdiction and will not be performing any registerable activity as defined by the applicable regulatory bodies.

Both FTMIG and IR.INC and their affiliates do not endorse or recommend any securities issued by any companies identified on, or linked through, this conference. Please seek professional advice to evaluate specific securities or other content discussed during this event. Links, if any, to third party sites are for informational purposes only, and not for trading purposes. FTMIG and IR.INC. and their affiliates have not prepared, reviewed or updated any content on third party sites and assume no responsibility for the information posted on them.

For further information, please contact:



Joanne Jobin

Principal

IR.INC | Capital Markets Advisory & Services

jjobin@irinc.ca

www.irinc.ca



Karl Boyd

President

Follow the Money Investor Group

kboyd@ftmig.com

www.ftmig.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/74040
As with most other events during the COVID-19 pandemic, the 11th annual Winnipeg Real to Reel Film Festival is different this year.

As with most other events during the COVID-19 pandemic, the 11th annual Winnipeg Real to Reel Film Festival is different this year.

The event, which runs Feb. 14-28, is normally held at the North Kildonan Mennonite Brethren Church. This year, the festival  which aims to "encourage, challenge and inspire people to a greater understanding of the human journey"  is moving online (www.winnipegfilmfestival.com).

"It makes me wonder what will happen," organizer Paul Boge said of the uncertainty of attendance figures.

At the same time, it offers new opportunities.

"People can tune in any time and watch any time," he said, noting the festival will run for two weeks this year, not six days, as in the past. "Now people dont have to show up in person at specific times to watch a film."

It also will extend its reach to people outside of Winnipeg. Boge said it also may be more welcoming for "those who might be reluctant to attend an event at a church."

The festival arrives at the perfect time  when so many people are feeling discouraged and disheartened amid the pandemic, he said.

"I would argue that now is the best time to have cool, clean, compelling films that will encourage you and inspire you in your life," Boge said.

"We miss connecting with others, getting together. Since we cant do that, the next best way to connect is through stories. They can connect us with others and inspire us in our faith."

Among the 50 films being offered this year is Justified Journey, a documentary that follows a Wisconsin man as he discovers his heritage within Americas still-unresolved slave history amid the wider struggle for black equality and equity.

Life Jacket tells the stories of refugees stranded in a camp on the Greek island of Lesbos, describing their struggle for basic human rights and better living conditions and education.

Through Mr. Emancipation, viewers will learn about Walter Perry, a Canadian who organized the largest U.S. Emancipation Day celebration  in Windsor, Ont., from 1936-67.

Other films include Against the Tide, a documentary about the Christian faith standing up against atheism; Handmade in Bangladesh, which tells the stories of average working people who live in a rich cultural heritage of artisan handicraft and creativity; I am a Mennonite, about who Mennonites are and what they believe; The Science Fiction Makers, about Christian science fiction; and The Great Disconnect, which details the impact of social media on our lives.

Returning to the festival is Volendam: a Refugee Story, a locally produced film about the Mennonite exodus from Europe after the Second World War.

The festival will also feature pre-recorded interviews with filmmakers.

Passes to the Real to Reel film festival are $10 for unlimited viewings.

faith@freepress.mb.ca
The New York Times has killed a column by Pulitzer-winning Bret Stephens, pictured, that took issue with paper's handling of a star health reporter, who resigned after using the N-Word

The New York Times has killed a column by Bret Stephens that was critical of the executive editor who initially said 'intent' doesn't matter after the resignation a star health reporter over his use of the N-word.

Pulitzer-winning Stephens wrote to colleagues on Thursday about his piece focusing on the saga surrounding Donald McNeil Jr's resignation last week.

He said: 'If you're wondering why it wasn't in the paper, it's because AG Sulzberger spiked it.'

Sulzberger is the chairman of The New York Times Company and the publisher of The New York Times.

The Times had initially allowed veteran journalist McNeil Jr. to keep his job after complaints he used the racial slur during a company funded school trip to Peru in 2019.

Management said last week it had conducted an investigation and decided not to fire him because they believed he showed 'poor judgment' but did not use the words with 'hateful or malicious' intent.

But McNeil Jr. was forced out after 150 Times employees out of 4,500 signed a letter saying they were 'deeply disturbed' by the paper's handling of the incident. Out of those 4,500, only 1,600 are journalists.

Executive editor Dean Baquet and managing editor Joseph Kahn had initially said: 'We do not tolerate racist language regardless of intent.'

Stephens had planned to question those comments by Baquet and Kahn in his column titled 'Regardless of Intent' due to run Monday. The New York Post has since obtained a copy of his column and published it in full.

He noted that his column was not about the 'particulars of McNeil's case' and wasn't an argument about the 'ugly history' of the racial slur.

'This is an argument about three words: 'Regardless of intent.' Should intent be the only thing that counts in judgment? Obviously not. Can people do painful, harmful, stupid or objectionable things regardless of intent? Obviously,' the conservative commentator wrote.

'Do any of us want to live in a world, or work in a field, where intent is categorically ruled out as a mitigating factor? I hope not.'

The Times had initially allowed veteran journalist McNeil Jr. to keep his jobafter complaints he used the racial slur during a company funded school trip to Peru in 2019.

Stephens argued that journalists often try to perceive intent, among other things, in order to 'teach both its practitioners and consumers to be thoughtful'.

'There is an elementary difference between citing a word for the purpose of knowledge and understanding and using the same word for the purpose of insult and harm. Lose this distinction, and you also lose the ability to understand the things you are supposed to be educated to oppose,' he wrote.

The Times had initially allowed veteran journalist McNeil Jr., pictured, to keep his job. But he was forced out after 150 Times employees signed a letter saying they were 'deeply disturbed' by the paper's handling of the incident

He went on to a reference a quote from Republican political player Lee Atwater that uses the racial slur, which the paper has now cited 'at least seven times' in print - with the most recent time being in 2019.

Atwater was a former chairman of the Republican National Committee and a GOP strategist who worked with Ronald Reagan and George Bush on their presidential campaigns.

The quote was said back in 1981 while Atwater was speaking about the s-called Southern strategy, which he explained as a GOP campaign that used fear of crime and lawlessness to tap into white Southern voters' opposition to racial integration and equality without using overtly racist language. In explaining the strategy to an interviewer, he used the N-word six times.

Stephens argued in his column that the Times hasn't previously been shy about citing racial slurs - like the one used by Atwater - in order to explain a point, asking: 'Is this now supposed to be a scandal?'

'Would the ugliness of Atwater's meaning have been equally clearer by writing 'n, n, n'? A journalism that turns words into totems  and totems into fears  is an impediment to clear thinking and proper understanding.'

In the column Stephens also wrote: 'Every serious moral philosophy, every decent legal system, and every ethical organization cares deeply about intention.

NYT executive editor walks back 'intent' comments Executive editor Dean Baquet and managing editor Joseph Kahn had initially issued a statement,saying: 'We do not tolerate racist language regardless of intent' after journalist Donald McNeil Jr. was forced out. Baquet on Thursday walked back on his intent comments, saying during a staff meeting: 'Of course intent matters when we are talking about language in journalism. 'In our zeal to make a powerful statement about our workplace culture, we hamhandedly said something that some of you saw as threatening to our journalism. 'It was a deadline mistake and I regret it. 'The author and his purpose also matter, the moment matters. The slur we've been discussing is a vile one. I've been called it. But it appears in our pages and it will no doubt appear in our pages again.' Baquet confirmed the N-word will continue to appear in the Times but should not be 'used for effect'. Advertisement

'It is the difference between murder and manslaughter. It is an aggravating or extenuating factor in judicial settings. It is a cardinal consideration in pardons (or at least it was until Donald Trump got in on the act). It's an elementary aspect of parenting, friendship, courtship and marriage.

'A hallmark of injustice is indifference to intention. Most of what is cruel, intolerant, stupid and misjudged in life stems from that indifference.'

Stephens ended his column by saying: 'We are living in a period of competing moral certitudes, of people who are awfully sure they're right and fully prepared to be awful about it. Hence the culture of cancellations, firings, public humiliations and increasingly unforgiving judgments. The role of good journalism should be to lead us out of this dark defile. Last week, we went deeper into it.'

Times Opinion editor Kathleen Kingsbury later told NBC it had been her decision to shelve the column after consultation with the publisher.

Kingsbury told the Daily Beast she 'did not feel that this piece rose to her high bar'. DailyMail.com has contacted The New York Times for comment.

Editor Kingsbury said in a statement: 'I have an especially high bar of running any column that could reflect badly on a colleague and I didn't feel that this piece rose to that level.

'Bret and I had a professional conversation to kill the column on Monday night and he expressed his disappointment and we moved on.'

Baquet on Thursday then walked back on his intent comments: 'Of course intent matters when we are talking about language in journalism.'

He added: 'In our zeal to make a powerful statement about our workplace culture, we hamhandedly said something that some of you saw as threatening to our journalism.'

Baquet, who is black, confirmed the N-word will continue to appear in the Times but should not be 'used for effect'.

He added: 'The author and his purpose also matter, the moment matters. The slur we've been discussing is a vile one. I've been called it. But it appears in our pages and it will no doubt appear in our pages again.'

Stephens told colleagues AG Sulzberger, right, 'spiked' his column. Times Opinion editor Kathleen Kingsbury, left, later said it had been her decision explaining she 'did not feel that this piece rose to her high bar'

Executive Editor of New York Times Dean Baquet is pictured. Baquet and managing editor Joseph Kahn had said: 'We do not tolerate racist language regardless of intent.'

The resignation of McNeil and the handling of the allegations against has sparked chaos in the NYT newsroom.

One reporter told Vanity Fair: 'The McNeil thing is the most explosive scandal I've seen at the paper. It's chaos.'

Writers and staff have been engaged in a battle in a private Facebook group and on Twitter with McNeil's supporters saying management were 'bullied by a vocal minority' and he should have been given the 'benefit of the doubt'.

Former Times labor correspondent Steven Greenhouse hit out at those 'far more willing to sympathize with these privileged 15- and 16-year-olds than with a long time colleague' while others said his career shouldn't have ended over 'one word'.

Times crossword columnist Deb Amlen hit back at Greenhouse in the Facebook group, writing: 'Why is it that the focus in discussions like this almost always [is] on ruining the perpetrator's life, and not those who were harmed by [his actions].'

Times Magazine contributor Robert Worth said leadership at the paper 'make a decision' and are 'then are bullied by a vocal minority into changing their minds', adding: 'This is not the NYT I know.'

Writers and staff have been engaged in a battle in a private Facebook group and on Twitter with McNeil's supporters saying management were 'bullied by a vocal minority' and he should have been given the 'benefit of the doubt'

The row between NYT staffers then spilled onto Twitter, above

Scandals that rocked the New York Times in 2020 June 7: New York Times' opinion editor, James Bennet, resigned following a controversial op-ed from Senator Tom Cotton. The opinion piece, entitled Send in the Troops, advocated using federal troops to quell unrest across the US caused by the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. Bennet, who had revealed in a meeting that he had not read Cotton's piece before it was posted online, had defended it following the initial protests, saying it was important to hear from all points of view. Yet more than 800 staff members signed a letter protesting its publication. Bennet then resigned from his position after the Times disowned the incendiary opinion piece. Following a review, the newspaper said Cotton's piece should not have been published, at least not without substantial revisions. July 14: One of Bennett's hires, conservative opinion editor writer Bari Weiss, announced she had quit in a scathing letter that slammed the newspaper for fostering an 'illiberal environment' that allowed her to be bullied by coworkers. Weiss, who joined the Times in 2017, said the paper of record was among the media institutions now betraying their standards and losing sight of their principles as she accused them of only publishing stories that 'satisfy the narrowest of audiences'. In her lengthy resignation letter addressed to publisher A.G. Sulzberger, Weiss claimed that intellectual curiosity and risk-taking was now a 'liability' at the Times. The controversial editor and writer said the opinions of those on Twitter had become the newspaper's 'ultimate editor'. Weiss also accused the outlet of creating a 'hostile work environment' for employees that essentially had anything other than left-of-center views. She says this mentality resulted in her being constantly bullied by coworkers who have called her a 'Nazi and a racist' because of her 'own forays into wrongthink'. Staffers had previously called for Weiss to be fired after her tweets regarding the Tom Cotton scandal. September: Trump repeatedly criticized the New York Times 1619 Project claiming it seeks to 'change our history'. Trump was asked about instructors using the project, named after the year the first ship with African slaves arrived in the U.S., to teach slavery in America and whether he wanted the subject to be taught. 'We grew up with a certain history and now they're trying to change our history. Revisionist history,' Trump claimed. Senator Cotton was also caught up in this incident, introducing legislation that would ban schools from teaching the curriculum through the Saving American History Act of 2020. Advertisement

The row between NYT staffers spilled onto Twitter after reporter Michael Powell tweeted a statement from free speech group PEN which read: 'For reporter Donald McNeil Jr. to end his long career as a result of a single word, risks sending a chilling message.

'That the paper apparently altered its course ... as a result of public pressure is a further worrying signal.'

Race reporter John Eligon replied: 'The paper didn't alter course cuz of 'public pressure.' Legit concerns were raised by Black employees who worked alongside Don.

'It's disheartening that a colleague I've worked with & respected would tweet this & speaks to how isolating it is to be Black at a mainstream news org.

'You often wonder what your white colleagues who are lovely to your face are actually thinking or saying about you  or people like you  behind your back.'

In a letter to staff Friday, Donald McNeil Jr. announced he was standing down from the paper after 45 years saying he 'originally thought the context in which I used this ugly word could be defended' but now realized 'it cannot.'

The Times has been rocked by a number of scandals of late. The same day McNeil Jr. resigned, audio producer Andy Mills also announced he had left the paper in the midst of sexual harassment claims and the Caliphate podcast embarrassment.

The week before the allegations surfaced against McNeil Jr., it emerged the Times had ended the contract of editor Lauren Wolfe following a tweet about Joe Biden's inauguration.

Wolfe, who joined the paper last May, had tweeted days earlier that she had 'chills' watching Biden's plane landing at Andrew Air Force Base shortly before his inauguration.

'Biden landing at Joint Base Andrews now. I have chills,' she posted.

McNeil Jr. broke his silence over the 2019 incident in an email to the Times staff Friday announcing his exit where he issued an apology to both his colleagues and the students on the trip.

'I should not have done that,' he said. 'Originally, I thought the context in which I used this ugly word could be defended. I now realize that it cannot.'

McNeil Jr. admitted his use of the racial slur was 'deeply offensive and hurtful' and that his initial thoughts he could defend his actions also showed 'extraordinarily bad judgement.'

The veteran journalist described the 2019 incident saying he said the N-word when asked by one of the students whether he believed a classmate should be suspended for using the racist slur.

'On a 2019 New York Times trip to Peru for high school students, I was asked at dinner by a student whether I thought a classmate of hers should have been suspended for a video she had made as a 12-year-old in which she used a racial slur,' he said, according to the Washington Post which obtained a copy of the note.

'To understand what was in the video, I asked if she had called someone else the slur or whether she was rapping or quoting a book title. In asking the question, I used the slur itself.'

He extended his 'sincerest apology' to the students on the trip as well as his colleagues who he said he 'let down.'

'For offending my colleagues - and for anything I've done to hurt The Times, which is an institution I love and whose mission I believe in and try to serve - I am sorry.

'I let you all down,' he wrote.
( ) - soon to be renamed as Challenger Energy Group  has appointed BPs former country manager for Trinidad to its board.

Robert Riley will join the company as a non-executive director.

The appointment of Riley comes as the company is putting its focus on production-led growth, primarily in Trinidad. He brings significant in-country experience as he was previously BPs chief executive and chairman for Trinidad.

We are focussed on resetting the company and positioning it for future value growth, consistent with a simple strategy: increasing production and generating cashflow, said BPC chair Bill Schrader. Robert brings a wealth of industry, legal and commercial experience, and specifically in regards to the oil and gas sector in Trinidad and Tobago.
In the day of history and hope that President Biden articulated in his inaugural speech, many in the cannabis industry hoped his new administration would absorb the words from our American treasure, Amanda Gorman, who told us what just is isnt always justice.

Nothing makes the young poet laureates point better than the federal governments cannabis policy, itself a monument to injustice.

We know that President Bidens immediate focus needs to be on the nations crisis agenda: turning back the pandemic, restoring our economy and repelling the attacks on our democracy. We only expect that once the administration gains the upper hand in the American renewal, it can find the time and create a space to unwind the drug war, starting with a rethinking of national cannabis policy.

Compared with the other issues that it confronts, this should be an easy challenge. The president, after all, would be aligning himself with the vast majority of the American public. According to a post-election Gallup Poll, a full 68% of Americans favor the expanded legalization of cannabis. Red state, blue state, purple state  it doesnt matter. Voters in South Dakota and Montana were among four states, along with Arizona and New Jersey, that on Nov. 3 fully legalized cannabis for adult use. The number of states legal for adult use has climbed to 15, plus the District of Columbia. All but six states, meanwhile, have approved medicinal use of cannabis.

For Biden, this could be his Nixon-to-China moment.

The former senator from Delaware legislatively helped construct Americas incarceration state that continues to lock up hundreds of thousands of people on cannabis-related charges, a number that remains disproportionately comprised of Blacks and Hispanics. As president, he can right that wrong. He can start by administratively removing marijuana entirely from the Controlled Substances Act of 1970, under which the substance is still listed as a Schedule 1 drug that is more dangerous than methamphetamine and fentanyl.

Biden wisely, in his winning presidential campaign, admitted that I havent always been right on the issue of cannabis. As president, he can move beyond that admission to embrace a position of uninhibited cannabis reform.

Hes talked about decriminalization  good. Expungement of criminal records for cannabis use and possession  terrific. Support for the use of medical marijuana  of course.

These reforms are all necessary and welcome. But they represent only a starting point, toward the establishment of a rational cannabis policy.

First and foremost, the government needs to take cannabis off the list of controlled substances, so scientists can research it, so the government can regulate and tax it, so entrepreneurs can gain access to the countrys banking system.

If President Biden needs cannabis policy advice, he need look no further than his vice president. Kamala Harris, after years of opposition to cannabis as San Francisco district attorney and as California attorney general, co-sponsored a bill as a U.S. senator in 2018 to end the federal prohibition on marijuana.

Making marijuana legal at the federal level is the smart thing to do and its the right thing to do, she tweeted.

We agree, and, apparently, so does Xavier Becerra, Bidens selection for secretary of Health and Human Services. Becerra, when he was Californias attorney general, signed on to a statement with 33 other top cops in their states that endorsed a bill in Congress to allow cannabis entrepreneurs access to the federal banking system so that they could get loans and accept credit cards from their customers. Easier for the IRS to track, too.

The continued exclusion of the licensed cannabis industry from the federal banking system is untenable  and unwise, Becerra said in a news release last year.

Biden also can turn to Vanita Gupta, his pick to be associate attorney general, and Kristen Clarke, his nominee to head the Justice Departments Civil Rights Division. Both have advocated for the full legalization of cannabis.

We are confident that President Biden and his experienced and competent team can come to the right decision on cannabis, to achieve justice for the wrongly and harshly punished, and to expand the market potential of what already is a $67 billion industry.

We can build back a better national cannabis policy, if only, in the words of Amanda Gorman, were brave enough to see it.

Dale Sky Jones is chancellor of Oaksterdam University, the first cannabis institution educating more than 50,000 people from over 40 countries.

About 90 people were hospitalized with COVID-19-like symptoms in central China in the two months before the disease was first identified in Wuhan in late 2019, according to World Health Organization investigators, who said they pressed Beijing to allow further testing to determine whether the new virus was spreading earlier than previously known.



Chinese authorities performed antibody tests on about two-thirds of those patients in the past few months, according to the investigators, and said they found no trace of infection by the virus. But members of the WHO team probing the pandemics origins said any antibodies could have subsided to undetectable levels during the delay, Wall Street Journal reported.



"Further studies are needed," said Peter Ben Embarek, the food-safety scientist who led the WHO team, which wrapped up a four-week visit to China on Wednesday.



Team members said they urged China to conduct wider tests on blood samples collected in autumn 2019 around Hubei, the province that is home to Wuhan, to look for evidence about when the virus was first circulating. Chinese authorities said they hadnt yet obtained necessary permissions to test samples, many of which are held in blood banks, WHO investigators said.



Chinas disclosures to the WHO raise questions about the possibility that Covid-19which has now killed more than 2.3 million peoplewas already spreading in China as far back as October 2019 and that earlier detection could have helped contain the outbreak before it became a global pandemic. Beijing says the first patient identified in China developed symptoms on Dec. 8, 2019.
President Joe Biden signs executive orders related to immigration at the White House in Washington on Feb. 2, 2021. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

Biden Cancels Trump Emergency Order to Fund Border Wall

President Joe Biden has informed Congress that hes rescinded the emergency declaration made by former President Donald Trump to fund construction of the wall on the southern U.S. border.

I have determined that the declaration of a national emergency at our southern border was unwarranted, Biden said in a Feb. 10 statement. I have also announced that it shall be the policy of my Administration that no more American taxpayer dollars be diverted to construct a border wall, and that I am directing a careful review of all resources appropriated or redirected to that end.

Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) criticized Bidens reversal of the 2019 declaration.

President Biden can pretend theres no emergency at our southern border, but his policies are drawing surges of illegal aliens. Americans will pay the price for the Presidents free and open borders, he wrote on Twitter on Feb. 11.

Other Republican lawmakers criticized the administration for halting construction on the wall while ignoring the barbed wire fencing that surrounds the U.S. Capitol.

The same Democrats who told you we dont need a wall at the southern border, wont take the wall down protecting them at the US Capitol, Rep. Jodey Arrington (R-Texas) wrote on Twitter.

Bidens move to end the border emergency declaration comes after the Supreme Court granted the Biden administrations request on Feb. 3 to cancel upcoming oral arguments over two legal challenges to Trumps signature immigration-related policies.

Hours after becoming president on Jan. 20, Biden signed Presidential Executive Order (EO) 10142, in which he declared that building a massive wall that spans the entire southern border is not a serious policy solution, describing the project as a waste of money that diverts attention from genuine threats to our homeland security.

Trump ordered $2.5 billion in military drug interdiction funds redirected to the construction project on the U.S.Mexico border.

Meanwhile, 50 Republican Congress members sent a letter to Biden on Feb. 9 asking him to reverse his Jan. 20 executive order on immigration and border security. Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), who signed the letter, said there is a crisis brewing at the southern border.

Based on information from sources on the ground, this week Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents have seen the average daily flow soar to more than 3,500 migrants, up from 2,000 earlier last month, the letter says (pdf).

In contrast, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) previously called Trumps border wall effort ineffective and said the routing of military funds to the project as wasteful.

After Biden signed his immigration EO on Jan. 20, Rep. Linda T. Sanchez (D-Calif.) announced she will lead the Houses legislative efforts on immigration reform, along with a group of her colleagues she called The Closers.

The Closers are a group of Democratic congresswomen dedicated to immigration reform and include Reps. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-Calif.), Nydia M. Velazquez (D-N.Y.), Judy Chu (D-Calif.), Yvette D. Clarke (D-N.Y.), and Karen Bass (D-Calif.).

On Day One of the Biden administration, were wasting no time. We are getting to work and we will get this done, Sanchez said in a statement.

In working with President Biden, The Closers and I will: prioritize a path to citizenship for the millions of people seeking home and refuge in this country, treat our undocumented population humanely, restore family unity, and work to mitigate the root causes of migration, she added.

Matthew Vadum contributed to this report.
Qins path started in college, too. He had been a math whiz who planned on becoming a physicist, he told a website, DigFin, in a profile published in December, just a week before regulators closed in on him. He described himself on his LinkedIn page as a quant with a deep interest and understanding in blockchain technology. In 2016, he won acceptance into a program for high-potential entrepreneurs at the University of New South Wales in Sydney with a proposal to use blockchain technology to speed up foreign exchange transactions. He also attended the Minerva Schools, a mostly online college based in San Francisco, from August 2016 through December 2017, the school confirmed. Crypto bug He got the crypto bug after an internship with a firm in China, he told DigFin. His task had been to build a platform between two venues, one in China and the other in the US, to allow the firm to arbitrage cryptocurrencies. Convinced he had happened upon a business, Qin moved to New York to found Virgil Capital. His strategy, he told investors, would be to exploit the tendency of cryptocurrencies to trade at different prices at various exchanges. He would be market-neutral, meaning that the firms funds wouldnt be exposed to price movements.

And unlike other hedge funds, he told DigFin, Virgil wouldnt charge management fees, taking only fees based on the firms performance. We never try to make easy money, Qin said. By his telling, Virgil got off to a fast start, claiming 500 per cent returns in 2017, which brought in more investors eager to participate. A marketing brochure boasted of 10 per cent monthly returns -- or 2,811 per cent over a three-year period ending in August 2019, legal filings show. His assets got an extra jolt after the Wall Street Journal profiled him in a February 2018 story that touted his skill at arbitraging cryptocurrency. Virgil experienced substantial growth as new investors flocked to the fund, prosecutors said. Missing Assets

The first cracks appeared last summer. Some investors were becoming increasingly upset about missing assets and incomplete transfers, the former head of investor relations, Melissa Fox Murphy, said in a court declaration. (She left the firm in December.) The complaints grew. It is now MID DECEMBER and my MILLION DOLLARS IS NOWHERE TO BE SEEN, wrote one investor, whose name was blacked out in court documents. Its a disgrace the way you guys are treating one of your earliest and largest investors. Around the same time, nine investors with $US3.5 million in funds asked for redemptions from the firms flagship Virgil Sigma Fund LP, according to prosecutors. But there was no money to transfer. Qin had drained the Sigma Fund of its assets. The funds balances were fabricated. Instead of trading at 39 exchanges around the world, as he had claimed, Qin spent investor money on personal expenses and to invest in other undisclosed high-risk investments, including initial coin offerings, prosecutors said. So Qin tried to stall. He convinced investors instead to transfer their interests into his VQR Multistrategy Fund, another cryptocurrency fund he started in February 2020 that used a variety of trading strategies -- and still had assets.

Loan sharks Loading He also sought to withdraw $US1.7 million from the VQR fund, but that aroused suspicions from the head trader, Antonio Hallak. In a phone call Hallak recorded in December, Qin said he needed the money to repay loan sharks in China that he had borrowed from to start his business, according to court filings in a lawsuit filed by the Securities and Exchange Commission. He said the loan sharks might do anything to collect on the debt and that he had a liquidity issue that prevented him from repaying them. I just had such poor cash flow management to be honest with you, Qin told Hallak. I dont have money right now dude. Its so sad. When the trader baulked at the withdrawal, Qin attempted to take over the reins of VQRs accounts. But by now the SEC was involved. It got cryptocurrency exchanges to put a hold on VQRs remaining assets and, a week later, filed suit.

Asset recovery By the end, Qin had drained virtually all of the $US90 million that was in the Sigma Fund. A court-appointed receiver who is overseeing the fund is looking to recover assets for investors, said Nicholas Biase, a spokesman for acting Manhattan US Attorney Audrey Strauss. About $US24 million in assets in the VQR fund was frozen and should be available to disperse, he said. In South Korea when he learned of the probe, Qin agreed to fly back to the US, prosecutors said. He surrendered to authorities on February 4, pleaded guilty the same day before Caproni, and was freed on a $US50,000 bond pending his sentencing, scheduled for May 20. While the maximum statutory penalty calls for 20 years in prison, as part of a plea deal, prosecutors agreed that he should get 151 to 188 months behind bars under federal sentencing guidelines and a fine of up to $US350,000. That fate is a far cry from the career his parents had envisioned for him - a physicist, he had told DigFin. They werent too happy when I told them I had quit uni to do this crypto thing. Who knows, maybe someday Ill complete my degree. But what I really want to do is trade crypto. Bloomberg
T

he University of Yangon has long been at the centre of protests against military dictatorship in Myanmar, and things are no different after this months coup.

When the military - or Tatmadaw - seized power in 1962, students at what was then Rangoon University organised a series of demonstrations against the juntas policies. In what would become a grimly familiar pattern, these were violently suppressed by the new ruler General Ne Win, who had studied, but failed to get a degree, at the institution.

It is the universitys involvement in the events of 1988 though that are most keenly seared into the nations consciousness.
The PSNI has confirmed that an investigation is ongoing into an officer who wore an RUC badge on his cap while conducting searches in the Creggan area of Derry.

An 'internal investigation' was launched on December 10 after video footage emerged of the officer wearing the badge.

The badge itself consists of a poppy with a harp in the centre and crown atop the words Royal Ulster Constabulary.

On that day, detectives from the PSNIs Terrorism Investigation Unit (TIU) were searching a house in the Ballymagowan area in connection with New IRA activities.

Afterwards, Sinn Fein MLA Karen Mullan raised the issue with Derry City and Strabane's District Commander describing it as totally unacceptable.

Chief Superintendent Darrin Jones confirmed that the wearing of the badge was in breach of its rules.

He said: "The badge worn on the officers cap is in contravention of the Corporate Appearance and Protective Equipment Standard set by the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

Independent Councillor for the area, Gary Donnelly, said he views the PSNI as an extension of the RUC and it therefore came as no surprise.

I have been consistently highlighting the nefarious nature of British policing in Ireland.

No amount of cosmetic changes, fake accountability bodies or changes to religious make up can cover up the reality of their actions on the ground.

The fact that one of those taking part in this raid was wearing an RUC crest only confirms what Republicans have been saying, that the PSNI are only a continuation of the RUC, he added.
After a few years of instability, in-fighting and inattention from Houston ISD leaders left the districts Student Congress on the brink of collapse, a new group of high schoolers want to rebuild the organizations voice in HISD.

Their effort, however, faces an immediate challenge: the HISD administration.

District officials are asking the board of trustees Thursday to sever ties with the seven-year-old Student Congress, arguing that adult alumni have seized control of the group and irreparably damaged its relationship with key administrators.

The squabble pits the administration of Texas largest school district against a small band of current students and several HISD graduates, who disagree over the best route for giving teens a greater say in key district decisions after years of scant activism.

Rather than repairing its relationship with HISD Student Congress, district officials want trustees to support the creation of a new student advocacy organization. The group would meet at least four times per year with senior HISD leaders, receiving support from a district liaison.

In statements over the past week, HISD administrators said the alumni remain an intractable force in Student Congress, highlighted by efforts to banish current students from the body and a refusal to communicate with district leaders.

They also noted that Student Congress typically lacks representation from all high schools, including many campuses with higher percentages of lower-income, Black and Hispanic students.

The district would like to ensure that students have a voice on issues that impact the educational experience and would like all voices from all of the districts high schools represented, HISD administrators said in a statement. The Student Congress has not met these needs, so the district is taking action to ensure student voices are heard moving forward and in the long-term.

Student Congress advocates are fighting back against the moves, claiming the HISD leadership is misleading board members and attempting to quash students voice. HISD Student Congress has no formal authority to dictate policy, but the organization is designed to serve as a sounding board for students and administrators on important district issues.

We really just want to build a community among students who are interested and invested in our future, said Jazmin Alvarez, a junior at Eastwood Academy and Student Congress leadership team member. At this point, student voice really is needed, especially in our administration.

The Student Congress new leadership team boasts 12 members from seven of HISDs nearly 50 schools serving high school-age students. Six of the seven campuses with representation traditionally rank among the highest-scoring in the district. The students are recruiting new members, hoping to attract a more diverse range of members.

The fractured relationship reflects the Student Congress inability to independently govern itself over the past few years, as well as the HISD administrations lack of institutional support for the student-led body.

Originally founded in 2014 as a grass-roots advocacy group, HISD Student Congress membership dwindled to a handful of students by 2020. The decline came as HISD leaders provided limited guidance and minimal financial resources to the organization, some former members said.

Tensions within Student Congress boiled over last year when current students tried to rebuild the body and impeach the organizations speaker, arguing in part that she kowtowed to former Student Congress leaders. The kerfuffle ended with Zaakir Tameez, an original Student Congress founder who graduated from HISD in 2015, attempting to ban the reform-minded teens from the group, three of the students said.

The people who are the ones controlling the Congress are not the high school students. Its controlled by college students, said David Dzul, a junior at DeBakey High School for Health Professionals, who received a banishment notice.

Tameez declined to comment on whether he issued such an order, citing concerns related to an unspecified ongoing investigation.

Ultimately, Tameez and a few other alumni devoted to supporting HISD Student Congress tried in late 2020 to reconstitute the organization with a new group of high schoolers, who now meet roughly once a week to map out revitalization plans.

Still, the continued involvement of HISD alumni in Student Congress has rankled district administrators, who described the graduates actions as alarming.

Based on some concerns over the past several years, its better to start anew, HISD Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan told trustees last week.

Some Student Congress alumni and current HISD high schoolers, however, are skeptical of the administrations intentions. They argue HISDs lack of support for the organization in recent years bodes poorly for elevating the voices of the districts nearly 200,000 students.

Student Congress has been brushed aside, undermined, neglected, Tameez said. And then the moment Student Congress is gaining new momentum, the district is perhaps apprehensive about that new momentum and seeks to cut that relationship off with Student Congress and create something that is well within their administration.

Athena Haq, a sophomore at the Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts and Student Congress member, said she worries about HISD administrators influencing a district-organized student advisory board. HISD officials originally said their body would operate under the direction of, and in conjunction with, district administration, though they changed that language this week to in collaboration with administrators.

Its just not authentic student voice if its facilitated by non-students, Haq said.

Some HISD trustees urged administrators and Student Congress leaders to hash out their differences ahead of Thursdays scheduled vote, but an agreement appears unlikely.

Several students and alumni said neither side has contacted the other, while HISD administrators did not directly respond to a question about any attempts in recent days to communicate with Student Congress. HISD officials said Student Congress leaders have been unresponsive in the past to district outreach, a claim the alumni denied.

If trustees vote to break ties with Student Congress, the organizations new student leadership still plans to keep the organization intact, even without a direct line to HISD leadership.

Regardless of how the vote goes, Student Congress is going to continue working just as we are now and we hope to recruit more, as weve been doing over the past weeks, Haq said. I see really big potential for Student Congress.

jacob.carpenter@chron.com
For 1961, the Parkwood was available with a choice of three engines, namely a 235 (3.9-liter) straight-six and two V8s  283 (4.6-liter) and 348 (5.7-liter).The wagon youre looking at here still features the original 283 under the hood, though the current owner has already rebuilt the engine. They added only some 750 miles (1,207 kilometers) to the car since the project was complete, so it should feel almost like a new engine.The 283 is mated to a 3-speed manual transmission that shifts properly, so overall, youre getting a wagon with a powertrain thats ready to rock.As you could easily figure out on your own from the photo gallery here, and originally listed on eBay by seller louiews6 , the Parkwood looks great overall. Still, some signs of rust have already appeared, and you should deal with them first thing after getting the car.The light rust shouldnt necessarily be a concern if its fixed fast, so overall, this one-owner, all-original wagon requires just small fixes to the exterior to be brought in tip-top shape by a new owner.The seller explains everything is working, including the turn signal and the wiper blades, and the total mileage for the car is 119,000 miles (191,511 kilometers). The interior comes with both good news and bad news. While itll require so many fixes, some new parts, such as the carpet and the headliner, go with the car.Since its such a rare find, the Parkwood has already generated some buzz on eBay, so the car received 17 bids in the few days online, with the highest right now getting close to $13,000. The auction is set to come to an end in a little over nine days, and the reserve is yet to be met.If you want to inspect the wagon in person, its parked in Redwood City, California.
Graves Kidnapping Cases Bound Over to Grand Jury

By West Kentucky Star Staff

Preliminary hearings were held Wednesday for 48-year-old Chad Jones and 47-year-old Stephanie Thomas, both of Mayfield. The judge found probable cause and bound both cases to the grand jury.



MAYFIELD - The cases against two Graves County residents charged with kidnapping are headed to a grand jury.

Jones was arrested Feb. 2 after Graves County sheriff's deputies determined that he had pointed a firearm at a woman. Jones had also allegedly put the gun in the woman's mouth and forced her to get in a vehicle and travel back to his home. Jones is charged with kidnapping  adult and 1st degree wanton endangerment.



Thomas was arrested Jan. 10 at a home on Central Road after she allegedly assaulted another woman, dragged her by the hair inside the home, threatened her and forced her to stay. Thomas is charged with kidnapping, 4th degree assault and 3rd degree terroristic threatening.






Zach Iscol has twice fought to secure a U.S. visa for interpreters who fought alongside him in war zones. He's been successful only once.

A decorated former Marine Corps officer, Iscol was able to vouch for Iraqi linguist Khalid Abood and his family, who faced death threats in Baghdad -- but only after an aggressive lobbying campaign that culminated in testimony on Capitol Hill in 2007.

"The day I testified, Abood got refugee status," Iscol told Miitary.com this month. "[Then-Sen. Arlen Specter] said, 'Do we need to hold a hearing for every single translator?'"

Read Next: Top Enlisted Airman Says She'll Keep Connecting Online After Social Media Blunder

An estimated 100,000 Iraqis and 17,000 Afghans still await adjudication in special programs designed to grant safe passage to the U.S. for interpreters who served faithfully -- and at great risk -- alongside American troops. A new executive order from President Joe Biden calling for a detailed review of the program designed to help them is being hailed as an important step to address systemic failures, communication gaps and delays that can stretch for years.

The executive order, released Feb. 4, calls for a joint review of the special immigrant visa, or SIV, programs serving Iraqi and Afghan allies, to be completed by Secretary of State Antony Blinken in consultation with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas.

A report to be delivered to Biden within six months will assess and provide the following:

Agency compliance with law around SIV programs

Any undue delays in processing applications, including those due to understaffing

A plan to provide "training, guidance and oversight" in processing of SIV applications

A plan to track the progress of senior program coordinators

Whether the right guidelines exist for reopening or reconsidering visa applications.

Additional elements of the order call for reviews of existing procedures with an eye to ensuring the process gives applicants a fair opportunity; providing alternate procedures for cases where the requirement of employer verification is not possible; ensuring these verification requirements do not cause undue delays; and setting in place anti-fraud measures.

While Congress has consistently approved thousands of visas every year for Iraqi and Afghan interpreters, and the backlog of demand exceeds that allowance, program delays and stringent application requirements mean many of those visas go unused.

According to the State Department, 11,500 visas have been approved since the start of fiscal 2018 for Afghan interpreters and their families.

Betsy Fisher, director of strategy for the International Refugee Assistance Project, said she had counted 6,285 visas issued since then.

"Roughly 5,200 visas are just sitting there, waiting to be issued, while the security situation in Afghanistan, by all accounts, has been deteriorating," Fisher said.

A quarterly report released Jan. 30 by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction documented Taliban violence escalating in Kabul and the southern part of the country and reported that thousands of Afghan civilians had to flee their homes. Operation Resolute Support reported 5,500 Afghan civilian casualties in the last half of 2020 alone.

A separate visa program allotted 4,000 spots for Iraqis serving with Americans in 2020; as of the end of September, only 123 had been resettled, according to the organization Human Rights First.

Fisher said communication breakdowns and incomplete oversight were to blame for some of the problems.

"We see all sorts of errors and snafus," she said. "Congress removed an eligibility requirement in late 2019, and we're still seeing rejections on the basis of that requirement."

Add to that the difficulty interpreters in war zones have gathering required documentation, such as proof of employment.

"Sometimes, we've actually seen that the [interpreter's] supervisor is dead before the chief of mission at the embassy in Kabul gets around to processing [the visa application]," she said.

In December, more than 1,000 Afghan and Iraqi visa applicants signed a petition directed to Biden, then president-elect, asking him to fix the problem, The Washington Post reported.

James Miervaldis, an Army veteran and chairman of the board of the organization No One Left Behind, said he was "over the moon" with the reporting and changes directed in Biden's mandate.

"We could not have hoped for a better executive order," he said. "This answered all of our concerns."

No One Left Behind advocates for interpreters in the SIV programs and also seeks to provide housing and financial help to successful applicants after they arrive in the U.S.

Miervaldis, a former Army staff sergeant, spent three years working to help his own Afghan interpreter secure a U.S. visa, even though he says the application was supported by a letter of recommendation from then-U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan James Cunningham. Despite well-placed advocates, including veterans in Congress who have labored on behalf of their own former interpreters, Miervaldis said delays and breakdowns have only gotten worse as years pass.

"It's an interagency problem. No one agency owns all parts of the process," he said. "No One Left Behind has been working on some high-priority cases. And even then, even though we have high-level people involved with letters of recommendation, nothing's getting through."

Iscol, who went on to co-found the military news website Task and Purpose and is currently running for New York City comptroller following a brief mayoral campaign, has been working for 15 years to bring over another Iraqi interpreter, nicknamed Frank, who was shot and wounded alongside U.S. troops in Fallujah in 2004. Frank's application has been in limbo, he said, despite letters of recommendation from multiple generals.

While Iscol's other former interpreter, Abood, died in the U.S. in 2011, he still stays in touch with his widow and children, including two daughters who are now officers in the New York Police Department.

Iscol said he's hopeful that the Biden-ordered review, and particularly the assessment of visa application requirements, will bring meaningful change.

"When the U.S. government makes something a priority, they can do it. Like any organization, it's about holding people accountable and making getting translators over here a priority and clearing the system," he said.

" ... Frank and Abood, they wore the Marine Corps uniform in combat. And there doesn't seem to be any real effort on the part of the bureaucracy to help them."

-- Hope Hodge Seck can be reached at hope.seck@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @HopeSeck.

Related: As Violence Soars, Time Runs Out for Afghan Interpreters

MUSKEGON, MI  The fifth marijuana shop to open in the city of Muskegon offers a unique product: plants grown without dirt.

Rair uses aeroponics, a pesticide-free process that suspends the marijuana plants in the air and mist is sprayed directly on the roots to grow clean cannabis, said the companys CEO Patrick Frakes.

Ashley Hubbard, the companys head of cultivation, fine-tuned the technique at Rairs growing and processing facility in Jackson. The in-house products include a range of cannabis flower, concentrates and edibles.

One of the reasons were called Rair is because were growing in the air and were trying to be a different kind of company, Frakes said.

Rairs Muskegon store, 1871 Peck St., opens on Thursday, Feb. 11 for medicinal sales with the hope of offering recreational marijuana by the weekend pending final license approval from the state.

About $1.5 million was invested into gutting and renovating the once-vacant building in Muskegons cannabis corridor.

Being part of the rebirth of Muskegon is something that excites us, said Frakes.

Related: Craft cannabis shop starts selling recreational marijuana in Muskegon Township

Pictures of the city hang in the lobby of the store, which Frakes describes as upscale and homey. The Muskegon location employs 12 people from the area.

Rair joins a slate of marijuana shops in Muskegon County, including four others in the city that have opened on West Laketon Avenue, Park Street and Peck Street. In nearby Muskegon Township, officials have approved licenses for seven shops, and 10 dispensaries were recently granted initial approval in Muskegon Heights.

Muskegon offers everyone an equal opportunity to succeed, because of its commercial overlay district, Frakes said.

Competition is something thats here to stay in Michigan, Frakes said.

Rair differentiates itself through its use of aeroponics and investing in the community, according to company officials. The company also focuses on equity, which is evidenced through the three women running the major divisions of cultivation, processing and retail.

Rair opened its first store in Bay City last year, and there are plans to bring four more shops to West Michigan this year in Lowell, Big Rapids, Kalamazoo and Reed City.

Rair is open every day from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. The company will also offer delivery starting in March.

More on MLive:

New cell tower at Muskegons Pere Marquette beach should help with phone dead zones

Great Lakes ice cover growing rapidly after arctic outbreak; See with your own eyes

Largest coat drive by far collects 1,500 items for Muskegon County clothing pantries
COVID-19 cases have leveled off somewhat in Bexar County after an alarming spike in January, but health experts are concerned that the onset of bitterly cold weather could keep people homebound for days and hasten the spread of the virus within families.

The San Antonio Metropolitan Health District on Wednesday reported 660 new cases, down from 1,348 the day before.

Officials also reported three new deaths that occurred over the last two weeks - two Hispanic women ages 70 to 79 and a Hispanic male over 80.

The seven-day rolling average of new COVID cases stood at 884down from 935 on Tuesday. The average was 1,510 a week ago.

During the January surge, some days saw more than 2,500 new cases in a 24-hour period.

There were 855 coronavirus patients in San Antonio hospitals as of Wednesday evening, Metro Health reported. They accounted for more than 21 percent of all hospitalizations.

The total number of patients included 342 in intensive care, one more than on Tuesday, and 198 on ventilators, the same as on the previous day.

The pandemic has claimed 2,365 lives in Bexar County since early 2020, though health officials acknowledge that some additional COVID deaths, especially those at home, could have been attributed to other causes.

During the daily televised coronavirus briefing Wednesday, Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff lauded Facebook and other social media sites for stopping some of these terrible lies about COVID-19 vaccines and deleting posts that say the vaccines are toxic or might cause infertility.

I hope theyll clamp down on such statements, Wolff said.

Wolff and Mayor Ron Nirenberg said they were encouraged by the slow, steady increase in the number of people vaccinated, even though supplies of vaccine continue to fall far short of demand.

Wolff said that about 24,600 doses of vaccine will be administered this week and that roughly 100,000 have been administered so far in the county.

Nirenberg said that Walmart and H-E-B pharmacies soon will receive shipments of vaccine.

As expected, with Bexar County reporting its first UK variant cases this week, Comal County reported its first two on Wednesday. Officially known as the B.1.1.7 variant, the United Kingdom strain is not thought by health experts to be more lethal but is considerably more infectious than the original strain.

Some 40 cases of the UK variant have been found in Texas since January  first in Houston, followed by others in Dallas and Austin.

Vaccines appear to be effective against it, health officials said.

The new strains arrival in South Texas coincides with the opening on Thursday of the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo. The annual two-week event is proceeding despite Wolffs request for a postponement.

To limit the potential spread of the virus, rodeo officials have scaled back attendance and are requiring masks, social distancing and temperature checks. They say theyve also installed touchless bathroom fixtures, antiviral lighting and ventilation, and contact-free payment options at the county-owned Freeman Coliseum.

bselcraig@express-news.net
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San Francisco, 11 Feb 2021: The Report Antibiotics Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Drug Class (Cephalosporin, Penicillin, Fluoroquinolone, Macrolide, Carbapenem, Aminoglycoside, Sulfonamide, 7-ACA), By Action Mechanism, And Segment Forecasts, 2021 - 2028

The global antibiotics market size is expected to reach USD 57.99 billion by 2028, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. It is expected to expand at a CAGR of 4.5% from 2021 to 2028. High usage of antibiotics and inappropriate prescription behavior of antibiotic drugs worldwide are the major factors anticipated to drive the market. Moreover, rising awareness among patients and healthcare professionals and increasing involvement of regulatory bodies in the R&D activities of new therapies to treat infectious diseases are expected to propel the market growth over the forecast period.

An increasing number of public-private collaborations, wherein funding and innovative R&D approaches are provided by public agencies to firms developing antibiotics, is expected to boost the product pipeline. For instance, in December 2018, Eisai Co., Ltd., and Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited announced an agreement with GARDP for the development of novel antibacterial compounds.

Betterment in the approval process of antibiotic drugs is expected to boost the market growth over the forecast period. In February 2020, Merck received acceptance for a review of supplemental New Drug Application (sNDA) from the U.S. FDA for RECARBRIO (imipenem, cilastatin, and relebactam) intended for HABP/VABP. This submission is anticipated to reinforce the continued dedication of the company to R&D pertaining to antibiotic therapies that address unmet medical needs.

Government reforms such as the Generating Antibiotics Incentives Now Act in the U.S. are projected to propel market growth in the coming years. This is further expected to facilitate the development process of advanced drugs. According to the Pew Charitable Trusts, about 30% of the outpatient oral antibiotic drug prescriptions are unnecessary and most of these prescriptions are for disease conditions against which antibiotics are not significantly effective, such as non-bacterial infections and acute respiratory conditions.

The market is highly competitive and major market players have almost similar market share. Pharmaceutical players are adopting strategies, including mergers & acquisitions, collaborations, and strategic alliances, to gain a competitive advantage. The major pharmaceutical companies are collaborating for developing novel therapies to reduce the cost burden of the drug development process. In December 2019, Appili Therapeutics signed an agreement with Saptalis Pharmaceuticals for the reformulation of antibiotic metronidazole. According to the agreement, Saptalis will be responsible for manufacturing, marketing of ATI-1501 in the United States. Moreover, in October 2018, Paratek Pharmaceuticals, Inc. entered into a license agreement for the development and commercialization of Seysara (sarecyline) with Allergan.

A group of key pharmaceutical players has launched AMR Action Fund worth USD 1 billion in July 2020. This fund is expected to support the research of innovative and novel antibiotics and is formed in collaboration with the European Investment Bank, the Wellcome Trust, and the World Health Organization.

Due to the lack of commercial success for newly developed antimicrobial drugs, government and non-government bodies have adopted strategies to incentivize antibiotic drug R&D activities. For instance, the government in alliance with BARDA is supporting several companies to boost the R&D activities in new therapies for infectious diseases. BARDA has also been associated with pharmaceutical companies, such as GSK, Tetraphase, and Basilea Astra Zeneca. CARB-X is investing around USD 109 million to support the early-stage development of potential therapeutic candidates.

Access Research Report of Antibiotics Market @ https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/antibiotic-market

Antibiotics Market Report Highlights

By action mechanism, the cell wall synthesis inhibitors segment accounted for the largest share of 52.1% in 2020 and is anticipated to maintain its lead over the forecast period

Based on drug class, the cephalosporin segment held the second-largest share in 2020. Pipeline candidates in cephalosporin drug class such as Fetroja (cefiderocol), cefilavancin, and ceftobiprole are anticipated to drive the segment in the forecast period

The others' drug class segment is expected to grow at the fastest rate during the forecast period. The segment consists of various existing classes of antibiotics as well as some newly developed drugs, such as tetracycline, carbapenem, imidazole, peptides, lincosamides, and monoclonal antibodies

Asia Pacific was the largest regional market in 2020 and is expected to witness the fastest growth in the coming years owing to the rising consumption of antibiotics and high disease prevalence

North America emerged as the second-largest regional market in 2020 owing to government initiatives for the development of new therapies and better reimbursement scenario

List of Key Players of Antibiotics Market

Merck & Co., Inc.

Allergan plc (AbbVie)

GlaxoSmithKline plc.

Pfizer Inc.

Melinta Therapeutics

Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd.

Tetraphase Pharmaceuticals

Paratek Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Nabriva Therapeutics plc

Spero Therapeutics

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More than 100 people gathered in an east Birmingham park to remember a 30-year-old father of four who was gunned down over the weekend outside of his apartment.

Ladarius Bloxom, they said, was smart, hardworking, business-minded and, most of all, family oriented. He started his own lawn care business in 2020 and by years end had grown that business to 250 customers.

He had big plans, but those plans were cut short Sunday afternoon when Bloxom stepped outside of his apartment to talk with someone about fixing a car and instead was ultimately met with gunfire.

The shooting happened about 1:15 p.m. in the 2900 block of Gallant Drive. Police arrived to find the victim lying unresponsive in a grassy area and Bloxom was pronounced dead on the scene.

The Birmingham Police Departments Crime Reduction Team on Wednesday afternoon took Ladarius Hayes, 30, into custody on the citys west side. Hayes is charge with capital murder in Bloxoms death. The charge is capital because Hayes reportedly robbed Bloxom after the shooting.

Police said there was a verbal dispute before the fatal shooting. And just two days before he was killed, Bloxom had posted this on Facebook: Hayes Family from Tarrant I aint beefing wit yall Please leave me alone I no yall gone put da police on me yall already did I do not wanna go to jail.

He was trying to tell these boys to leave him alone,' said his cousin, Francine Horton, who was also the secretary for Bloxoms lawn care business. He didnt want to beef with nobody.

We were getting ready to go strong and harder,' in the business, Horton said. He was all about his grind and leaving a legacy for his kids.

Were devastated,' Horton said. This wasnt supposed to happen.

Wednesdays vigil was held at Tom Bradford Park. Bloxoms mother, Latoya Lee, spoke to the crowd and thanked them for the love and support theyve shown the family over the past three days.

In attendance were Bloxoms three daughters and one son, all under the age of 12. His youngest daughter wore a t-shirt bearing her fathers photo and these words: R.I.P Daddy. I love you and miss you.

Lee was among the large, and visibly upset crowd, that gathered Sunday at the apartment complex when Bloxom was killed. She said as she looked at her sons body on the ground, God ministered to her.

God said, Im going to take Darius home,' she said.

My son was trying to move. He was moving. He didnt know how or where or when but he was going to make peace with his enemies, and he was going to move,' Lee said. He thought he was going to move into an apartment. He thought he was going to move into a house, but he moved into his mansion in Heaven and thats something to shout about.

Thats why Im not crying,' she said. Because my son sits next to his Father in Heaven and hes saving a spot for me. Thats something to give me joy as I hurt.

Im at peace. I dont wish nothing on the other family. Even though they took my son, I prayed for them, she said. I did, but I dont now have hate in my heart for them. Gods going to deal with that situation.

I didnt have to do nothing,' she said. I asked God to handle that situation and as of today, he did that.'

Lee said her son was loved. And he loved to make people laugh.

He touched everybody out here in a special way,' she said. Keep spreading love. Were living in a hating world.

'

Photo: The Canadian Press

Lawyers for Inuit hunters blocking an airstrip and road at an iron ore mine in Nunavut say the group will end its protest.

The blockade started a week ago after seven hunters travelled two days and over 150 kilometres to get to Baffinland's Mary River mine site.

It ended after the regional Inuit organization and land-claim body offered the hunters a face-to-face meeting, which they accepted.

The hunters, who call themselves the Nuluujat Land Guardians, were protesting Baffinland's proposal to double its output and build a 110-kilometre railway to the ocean.

The hunters are to stay at a nearby cabin until at least Friday, then make the journey back to Pond Inlet where they will meet with local leaders.

On Wednesday, a Nunavut judge ordered the hunters to clear the airstrip so mine workers could fly home.
Charisma Carpenter accused director and producer Joss Whedon of being emotionally abusive on set  and said that while he found his misconduct amusing, his actions traumatised her.

Prominent film and TV creator Joss Whedon, who faced a claim of abusive behaviour on the set of Justice League, drew criticism Wednesday from actors who worked with him on Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

The first and most direct allegations came from Charisma Carpenter, who said in a social media post that Whedon has a history of creating toxic and hostile work environments, including the one she experienced on Buffy and while she was pregnant.

Sarah Michelle Gellar, who starred as the title character on the 1997 to 2003 series, responded to Carpenters post with a supportive if an opaque online message of her own.

While I am proud to have my name associated with Buffy Summers, I dont want to be forever associated with the name Joss Whedon, Gellar wrote. She is focused on her family and the pandemic and planned no further statements at this time, she said, adding, I stand with all survivors of abuse and am proud of them for speaking out.

Representatives for Whedon didnt immediately respond to a request for comment from the writer, director and producer.

Among Carpenters allegations: During her pregnancy, Whedon called her fat, joked about firing her and, at one point, called her into a meeting during which he allegedly asked if she was going to keep it, apparently a reference to her pregnancy, and attacked her character and religion. She said she was unceremoniously fired from the role of Cordelia the following season.

Michelle Trachtenberg, who played Gellars sister, went on social media to thank Gellar. I am brave enough now as a 35-year-old woman.To repost this, she wrote and alluded to his not appropriate behaviour she experienced as a teenage actor.

Amber Benson, who appeared as Tara on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, also responded to the allegations, saying in a post that the show had a toxic environment that started from the top.

In her post, Carpenter said she was prompted to come forward after actor Ray Fisher, who was in 2017s Justice Leagueas the character Cyborg, alleged last July that Whedons behaviour toward the cast and crew was abusive, unprofessional and unacceptable.

Whedon, known for his writing and directing on the first two Marvel Avengers movies, was brought in during post-production on Justice League. He oversaw extensive reshoots, editing and visual effects on the film for director Zack Snyder, who had stepped aside after the death of his daughter.

Fisher said Whedons behaviour was enabled by Geoff Johns and Jon Berg two producers on the film who were executives running DC Films for Warner Bros at the time. Berg left the studio in 2017.

Parent company WarnerMedia launched investigations into the accusations, which concluded in December. The company said then that remedial action had been taken, but did not go into specifics.

Fisher has continued tweeting about the matter, turning his focus to DC Films President Walter Hamada, who he accused of undermining the investigation and not taking his claims seriously. Last month his character Cyborg was removed from appearing in the upcoming Flash film, which Carpenter said was the last straw for her.

In its January statement, WarnerMedia said Fisher was offered the chance to return as Cyborg, but given his statement that he will not participate in any film associated with Mr Hamada, our production is now moving on.
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I know from personal experience that its not true when people say there are some traumas that marriages do not overcome. But its a theory that gets kicked around a lot. My wife, Sherri, and I have been married for 25 years. We have five children  one daughter and four sons. Our youngest is William Brawner Burgess, who weve always called Brawner.

In 2008, I was speaking at a conference in Tennessee to a group of about 7,000 young people. I had been a follower of Christ for twelve years. In our pre-marriage counseling, Sherri and I had repented of our sins and become followers. At the time, I was learning how to take my faith in Christ and implement it into a daily radio show. Everything seemed to be coming together.

That day, between the fourth and fifth sessions, I saw a missed call from Sherri. I called back and she was frantic. Brawner, only two years old, somehow got out of the house, fell into our swimming pool and drowned. At that moment, doctors were trying to revive him, so she asked me to get everyone to pray.

I was a five-hour drive away from home. Even an airplane wouldnt get me there any quicker than driving, so I just drove. I couldn't have been more surprised that something like took place. It was unlike anything we had ever experienced. I just had to get to Sherri.

Sherri is a godly woman, a blessing to me. God has used her to make me a better man. She is not a woman who doesn't know scripture. But in her time of despair, without her husband, watching doctors trying to revive our son, she said words just came out of her mouth, and she heard herself say, Not my will be done Lord, but your will be done.

As soon as she said it, the doctor looked at her and said, We have to stop. Our child had died, his earthly death. The Psalmist clearly said in Psalms 139 that God knows everything about us. When he weaves us together in our mother's womb, he knows every day that we will live.

Sherri began to experience the God who is close to the brokenhearted. She said our pastor showed up, family members and friends, all tried to comfort her. But they could not replace having her husband there, the childs father.

For me, if there was ever a woman that I would have felt would not need her husband at such a time, it would be my wife. I think and wonder about this a lot. What if I had decided not to grow in my faith? What if I had decided not to learn the word of God or be discipled? In that moment when my wife was asking, Who is God in the middle of this?, what if I had never taken the time to find those answers? Where would we be now?

Today, we've been married for 25 years and our marriage has not just survived, it has thrived. You know why? Because it really isn't true that the death of a child destroys most marriages. It's something psychologists came up with, but it isn't the truth. No great trauma, even the death of an earthly child, destroys a marriage. It only reveals the weakness or the strength of that marriage, and whether or not it's truly attached to and lives under the authority of Jesus Christ.

Why has our marriage thrived in spite of our devastating loss? Not because Sherri Burgess has some superpower or Rick Burgess has keys to something that isn't available to you. The reason we're here today, and thriving, serving and advancing God's kingdom, and the reason our marriage is stronger than ever is because of Jesus.

John chapter 15 tells us to abide in him so we can produce his fruit, because apart from him, we can do nothing. I encourage you to get your marriage under the authority of Christ, at the foot of the cross. Start with your wife to pursue Jesus. Being the spiritual leader of your home is not an option. Your wife and your family will pay a price if you dont. If you havent devoted yourself to present yourself spotless and blameless and at peace with God, then your marriage might pay a price.

As you pursue Jesus and meet each other at his feet and under his authority, your marriage can withstand any attack, including the earthly death of a child. If you have the answers and you really know God, then your marriage can withstand anything. What is the key to having a marriage that cannot be destroyed? Jesus.

Take the next step to a great marriage by joining me for Promise Keepers Mens Marriage Challenge designed with tons of game-changing marriage content with men in mind. Any man, anywhere, at any time, can join the challenge through the free Promise Keepers app.

For more information, visit promisekeepers.org/marriage/
West Bengal: After left and Congress activists demonstrators clashed with police during a rally in Nabanna in Kolkata, the Left Front Chairman Biman Bose on Thursday (February 11) announced a 12- hour West Bengal bandh.

The clash between the two injured many, including some police personnel. The announcement stated that the bandh will be conducted by the Left and associate parties from 6 AM on Friday (February 12).

Left calls for a 12-hour bandh in West Bengal on Friday from 6 AM to 6 PM to protest over todays incident wherein left party members were beaten up and water cannons were used against them by police during march to Nabanna in Kolkata, Biman Bose said in a statement condemning the event.

The incident took place when Left and Congress activists were demonstrating against low job opportunities in the state.

Following the clash in condemnation of the brutal attacks on students and young men and women by the police force of the Trinamool Congress government, Biman Bose called for the 12- hour West Bengal bandh.

The way police unleashed atrocities on the participants in the march to Nabanna, it created a situation somewhat akin to the historic Jallianwala Bagh incident, Bose said in a statement.

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Replacing NJ Transits much maligned former customer advocate should be accompanied by a strategic plan to make customer service better, similar to what a transit agencies did in Los Angeles, suggested a transit advocacy group.

The L.A. Metro 2020 customer experience plan was introduced last month and lists 20 areas identified for improvement, which could service as a blueprint for NJ Transit and provide marching orders for the next customer advocate, said Janna Chernetz , Tri-State Transportation Campaign deputy executive director, who introduced the idea at Wednesdays NJ transit board meeting.

The Customer Advocate position at NJ Transit remains vacant. This second bite of the apple is an opportunity to get it right, Chernetz said. Looking at what other agencies have done can be a good start for inspiration and best practices.

The position remains unfilled after former Customer Advocate Stewart Mader resigned on Oct. 2, 2020 under criticism by the people he was hired to represent and legislators who wrote the reform bill that created the position.

The job of customer advocate was created by the NJ Transit reform bill, signed into law by Gov. Phil Murphy in December 2018. Mader was hired in April 2019 and hailed as a good fit because of work he did establishing the PATH rail riders council for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

Mader came under repeated fire by commuters and a leading legislator for functioning as more of an advocate for NJ Transit than for riders, with tweets and videos that promoted the agencys accomplishments. He drew a $127,000 annual salary.

Riders complained that Mader should have been answering commuter inquiries during service disruptions and delays instead of making promotional videos. He also was dogged by revelations that he applied for the job a month before Gov. Phil Murphy signed the law that created the position.

Chenetz compared the customer service plan to NJ Transits 10-year strategic and five-year capital plans that were developed last year after being recommended in an audit ordered by Murphy in early 2018.

The customer experience would benefit from a similar special effort, Chenetz said. I am hoping NJ Transit would consider such a plan, built upon robust NJT rider feedback, and best practices of other similar positions, with the goal of identifying key areas with a customer driven focus.

The idea drew favorable reaction from board members and riders who spoke at the evening phone meeting.

The public is waiting for a customer advocate, said Adam Reich, a rider who spoke during the meeting. The L.A. Metro is a good model.

The L.A. Metro plan identified areas of customer concern and complaints, from reliability to communication to ancillary issues of homelessness and racial equity. It recommended solutions and ways to involve riders in them.

Im intrigued by developing a customer service plan. We recognized that a capital plan was a major accomplishment. There would be value in developing a customer service plan, said Robert Gordon, NJ Transit board member. The idea of analyzing problems and putting together a plan to resolve them would be a good exercise for the new customer advocate, Gordon said.

NJ Transit CEO Kevin Corbett said he hadnt seen the L.A. Metro plan, and would have to read it before responding.

Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg, D-Bergen, expressed dissatisfaction with the agencys interpretation of the customer advocate position that was in the reform law she co-authored. She and co-sponsor Minority Leader Tom Kean Jr., R-Union, have a bill pending that redefines the job description and strives to make it more independent from agency administration by reporting right to the board of directors.

That bill, which cleared the state senate transportation committee in December, also gives the board more autonomy, including the power to hire the customer advocate, the CEO and other senior executives, and select a chairperson. The bill is before the senate budget committee.

While Corbett said NJ Transits customer advocate was patterned after similar positions at other agencies, the positions scope is being discussed by the governor and legislature.

The legislature and governor are trying to work through it and were open to anything that will make people feel theyre being listened to, Corbett said. The governor said he wants something that makes people feel its an independent advocate, which is difficult when they are on a government payroll.

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

Larry Higgs may be reached at lhiggs@njadvancemedia.com.
OTTAWA - A Supreme Court ruling means Sen. Mike Duffy can't sue Parliament's upper chamber for suspending him over expense claims, but he plans to push ahead with legal action against the RCMP for its role in the affair.

Senator Mike Duffy leaves the Ottawa courthouse on Wednesday, June 27, 2018. The Senate is urging the country's top court to dismiss Sen. Mike Duffy's challenge of a ruling that prevents him from suing the upper chamber for suspending him. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Patrick Doyle

OTTAWA - A Supreme Court ruling means Sen. Mike Duffy can't sue Parliament's upper chamber for suspending him over expense claims, but he plans to push ahead with legal action against the RCMP for its role in the affair.

The top court said Thursday it will not hear Duffy's challenge of an Ontario Court of Appeal ruling that prevents him from pursuing a lawsuit against the Senate.

Duffy had been seeking $7.8 million in damages from the Senate, RCMP and federal government.

Duffy's lawyer, Lawrence Greenspon, said while the Prince Edward Island politician is disappointed by the top court's decision, the lawsuit is not over.

"This decision removes one of the defendants, but it doesnt remove the others, including the RCMP against whom Sen. Duffy will continue his civil action," Greenspon said.

Duffy filed the suit following a high-profile investigation of his expense claims, which culminated in the senator's acquittal on 31 criminal charges in 2016.

He alleges the federal attorney general is liable for the RCMP's negligent investigation and decision to lay the charges against him.

In late 2018, an Ontario court ruled the Senate's decision to suspend Duffy was protected by parliamentary privilege, a ruling upheld on appeal, effectively blocking his bid to sue the upper chamber.

In their submission to the Supreme Court, Duffy's lawyers said he was the victim of arbitrary abuse of power by public officials, which is anathema to the rule of law.

Lawyers for the Senate argued parliamentary privilege plays a vital role in maintaining the separation of powers between the legislative, executive and judicial branches considered crucial to Canadian democracy.

As usual, the Supreme Court gave no reasons Thursday for refusing to grant Duffy leave to appeal.

Duffy was named to the Senate on the advice of then-prime minister Stephen Harper in 2008, but he left the Conservative caucus in May 2013 and now sits with the Independent Senators Group.

He was suspended in late 2013 without pay, a move that Greenspon argues was politically motivated.

Greenspon says Harper's office threatened Duffy that he would be kicked out of the Senate unless he admitted to inadvertently abusing his expense account and repaid $90,172 in housing expenses.

The Senate maintains it was exercising legitimate authority to discipline one of its own.

Following Duffy's acquittal, the Senate refused to reimburse his lost salary or cover his legal fees and demanded that he repay almost $17,000 in disputed expenses.

Duffy's submission to the top court said three key questions remain unanswered:

 To what extent do the fundamental Canadian constitutional principles of the rule of law limit the scope of the Senate's immunity in a case such as this?

 Does the Senate have statutory authority to remove a senator's salary, housing and per diem allowances for days residing away from his home province?

 Does the unelected Senate have exclusive jurisdiction to adjudicate charter claims against it?

"No privilege exists or is of sufficient scope to oust the jurisdiction of the courts or to immunize the Senates misconduct in this case," Duffy's lawyers argued.

The Senate, on the other hand, said these questions are settled, given that privilege shields parliamentary decisions about the use of resources by, and discipline of, members.

Duffy's argument amounts to an assertion that matters otherwise clearly protected by parliamentary privilege will lose that protection, and invite judicial review, if the actions are alleged to be sufficiently wrongful, the Senate submission said.

"This argument has been repeatedly considered and uniformly rejected by this Court and across other Commonwealth jurisdictions."

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 11, 2021.

The first India Toy Fair will be held virtually from February 27 to March 2, the government announced on Thursday.



The website for the India Toy Fair 2021 which was launched on Thursday will enable children, parents, teachers, exhibitors, etc. to register themselves to participate in the virtual fair which will showcase various facets of the Indian toy ecosphere.



According to officials, it is the first ever digitally accessible exhibition and platform which will provide an opportunity to explore and buy a variety of toys from over 1,000 exhibitors across states and union territories, and participate in insightful webinars, panel discussions and activities, and network with various stakeholders from the toy industry.



"About a year back, complaints were received about poor quality, cheap toys being imported into the country, adversely affecting the Indian toy industry," Union Minister Piyush Goyal said at the launch of the website.



"The matter was examined by a committee which found that 30 per cent of the imported plastic toys were having large amounts of chemicals and heavy metals, way beyond the prescribed levels. Other toys were also found to be deficient in quality. This led to the issue of quality control order for toys. This initiative will ensure that Indians get access to quality toys," he said.



Education minister Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank', said, "Indian toys have been the building blocks of a happy childhood and play-based, discovery-based and activity-based learning plays an integral role in bridging the gap between day-to-day studies and practical hands-on learning which is a prime focus of the new National Education Policy." Stating that the Indian toy industry is a source of livelihood for many artisans and micro enterprises, Union Minister of Textiles and Women and Child Development Smriti Irani said that six ministries of the Union government have joined hands to make the fair a "grand success".



"In a big boost to the toy manufacturing industry under the Aatmanirbhar Bharat campaign, this initiative is being taken to bring transformative change in the industry by being 'Vocal for Local'," she said.



The main attractions of the fair include a virtual exhibition with over 1,000 stalls, knowledge sessions with engaging panel discussions and webinars on diverse topics by experts on areas including toy-based learning, craft demonstrations, competitions, quizzes, virtual tours, product launches, etc.



For the education sector in particular, the knowledge sessions involving various experts will focus on areas emphasised in the NEP 2020 such as play-based and activity-based learning, indoor and outdoor play, use of puzzles and games to promote critical thinking and overall on how to make learning more engaging and enjoyable.



The exhibitors include Indian businesses engaged in creating happy childhoods and educating through play as well as NCERT, SCERTs, CBSE along with their schools and teachers, IIT-Gandhinagar, National Institute of Design, and University in Ahmedabad.




3 1 of 3 Dan Tepfer /Hearst Connecticut Media Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Dan Tepfer /Hearst Connecticut Media Show More Show Less 3 of 3





MILFORD  Two Bridgeport police officers received minor injuries Tuesday after police pursued a Toyota van believed to have been involved in an armed robbery into Milford.

Bridgeport Emergency Management Director Scott Appleby said around 4:48 p.m. an attempted robbery was reported, during which a firearm was displayed,
A delegate casts her vote in the electoral process to choose members of parliament into Somalia's House of the People in Mogadishu, Somalia, on 6 December 2016.

Somalia's opposition groups are calling for an urgent meeting with President Mohamed Farmaajo and other stakeholders in an attempt to resolve the electoral impasse that saw the country miss key poll deadlines..

But the grouping, known as the Council of Presidential Candidates, wants the conference held on their terms, including that President Farmaajo attends as a candidate and not as a sitting head of state.

The Council on Wednesday said there was a need to resolve outstanding issues from the September 17, 2020 electoral agreement, known in Somalia as the Dhusamareb III Agreement.

Led by former President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed, his successor President Hassan Sheikh Mohamoud and ex-Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khaire, the Council said the meeting should be held in Mogadishu, not elsewhere.

On Tuesday, Farmaajo had called for a meeting of all federal state leaders after an earlier meeting last week ended in a stalemate. He set the new meeting for February 15 in Garowe, Puntland.

Puntland and Jubbaland states accepted the invitation for the meeting but disagreed on the venue, asking Farmaajo to relocate the meeting to Mogadishu and include all stakeholders, including political parties, aspirants, civil society activists and the international community.

"I welcome Puntland's position that the conference should be held in Mogadishu as the term of President Farmaajo has come to an end in order for all political stakeholders, including the parliament Speaker, opposition candidates and civil society, to participate," said Senator Ilyas Ali Hassan, Secretary of Foreign Affairs of Himilo-Qaran, the political party led by former President Ahmed.

Somalia is in a stalemate over the election dates after leaders failed to agree on the composition of the election commission and other contentious issues.

The latest debate is on whether Farmaajo is still legally in office. The Constitution says a presidential term lasts four years from the day a new President is sworn in. Farmaajo was elected on February 8, 2017 and sworn in on February 17, 2017. His opponents, as well as Puntland and Jubbaland, have said his term ended on Monday this week.

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However, a motion passed by the bicameral federal parliament on September 26 last year said all incumbents must remain in office until their successors are elected and sworn in.

But even if Farmaajo were to remain President, his opponents seem determined to chip away at his influence.

"Farmaajo doesn't have a mandate to convene a meeting," said Abdishakur Abdirahman, leader of Wadajir Party and one of the presidential aspirants.

"He has lost credibility and lacks commitment. He's an obstacle to the implementation of the 17 September agreement. CPC (Council of Presidential Candidates) will only accept the outcome of a conference they are part of. Farmaajo can take part just like any other candidate," he added.
Michigan restaurants can reopen inside again, but the state has mandated restrictions in hopes of keeping dining rooms from becoming COVID-19 superspreading hubs.

Two of the requirements include collecting information from customers for contact tracing purposes and doing a daily health screening on all employees.

New technology from Midland-based company BYOD helps restaurants do both.

BYOD has partnered with the Michigan Restaurant and Lodging Association to give its Guest Protect and Temp Protect technologies to all MRLA members for free. Non-members can get the tools for $25 each, per month.

Guest Protect allows customers to take a photo of a QR code, then fill out their basic information at their table. The data is encrypted and stored via Amazon Web Services Cloud storage.

The form takes about 20 seconds to fill out, and shows a finished screen for customers to show their server. It can also direct users to the restaurants website, said BYOD CEO Dave Dittenber.

The information is only viewed if theres a COVID outbreak at the restaurant and the health department is looking to warn people potentially exposed.

By doing it electronically, it prevents congestion at the front of a restaurant and lightens the load on hosts.

Dittenber also owns four restaurants in Midland and Bay City: Old City Hall, American Kitchen, Tavern 101 and Molasses  which started using the tools this fall before the Nov. 18 dine-in ban started.

For us, it was so much more convenient to not have more pieces of paper floating around that we needed to take care of, Dittenber said.

The other tool is called Temp Protect, which is an app for employees, so they can take a five-question survey every day to do the state-required health screening. The technology can connect to Bluetooth thermometers, or the number can be entered manually from traditional thermometers.

BYOD is a new company and is looking to launch its main Virtual Restaurant Manager tool later in 2021. It pivoted to creating the contact tracing and health screening tools when the pandemic hit.

Dittenber is on the MRLA board of trustees. The MRLA isnt paying BYOD to provide the tools to its members  its part of a mutual marketing agreement, Dittenber said.

The company is in talks with other states restaurant associations as well as in-state and out-of-state universities interested in the technology, he said.

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President Uhuru Kenyatta has announced he is ready to retire when his term of office expires in 2022.

The President has however added he will strive to ensure a thief does not succeed him in office.

He did not substantiate, nor did he mention whom he was referring to.

The Head of State was addressing a crowd that stopped his convoy in Nairobi on Wednesday.

The President said his desire is to see Kenyans working together in peace and harmony to uplift themselves and develop their beloved country and, not have unnecessary political competition.

"I have no problem going home next year. But my aim is to ensure all those who will take over from me will not be thieves and harass citizens. My aim is to make sure they will have the urge to unite the country," he said.

President Kenyatta also told the crowd that he was not particularly bothered by people who go around insulting him.

"Tell those who are insulting me, I do not care. My purpose is to serve Kenyans. I will ensure I fulfill my promise to them," said Kenyatta.

This is the second time in less than a month that the President has directly referred to thieves within the political circles.

On the other occasion, he suggested, during a radio interview, that there were people who are opposing the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) and yet the same people were stealing Sh2 billion daily from the public coffers.

Again, the President did not name anyone.
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According to Stratistics MRC, the Global Fertigation & Chemigation market accounted for $36.42 billion in 2017 and is expected to reach $74.66 billion by 2026 growing at a CAGR of 8.3 % during the forecast period. Some of the key factors such as increasing demand for quality food products and improved plant growth, yield, and quality of crops are driving the market growth. However, basic supplement application doses and high introductory speculations are the restraining factors for market growth. Moreover, strong progress in new and emerging markets will provide ample opportunities for the growth of the market.



Fertigation is a farming practice wherein compost is blended with water system water and is splashed equally on field crops through dribble framework or sprinkler framework. Horticulture assumes an essential job in generally speaking monetary advancement of nations. High return guarantees sustenance security, be that as it may, changing climatic conditions has prompted the advancement of new innovations that could fulfill nourishment need among developing populace. Fertigation and Chemigation market includes trickle water system and sprinkler water system that prompted higher harvest yield alongside less work escalated in nature.

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By Agri Input, fertilizer segment is likely to grow during the forecast period due to the growing demand for crop inputs for nutrition, fertilizers are projected to grow at a faster rate in comparison to pesticides. By geography, North America is constantly enhancing mainly due to the increasing vehicle production in the country and rising demand for the lightweight and connected vehicles in the region.



Some of the key players in this market include Lindsay Corporation, Valmont Industries, Inc., T-L Irrigation Co., Jain Irrigation Systems Limited, Rivulis Irrigation, Rain Bird Corporation, Nelson Irrigation Corporation, The Toro Company, Netafim, and EPC Industrie Limited.



Irrigation Systems Covered:

 Drip Irrigation

 Sprinkler Irrigation



Agri Inputs Covered:

 Insecticide

 Fertilizer

 Herbicide

 Fungicide

 Other Agri Inputs

 Crop Types Covered:

 Orchard Crops

 Field Crops

 Forage & Turf Grasses

 Plantation Crops

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Applications Covered:

 Greenhouse Irrigation

 Landscape Irrigation

 Agriculture Irrigation

 Other Applications

Regions Covered:

 North America

o US

o Canada

o Mexico

 Europe

o Germany

o UK

o Italy

o France

o Spain

o Rest of Europe

 Asia Pacific

o Japan

o China

o India

o Australia

o New Zealand

o South Korea

o Rest of Asia Pacific

 South America

o Argentina

o Brazil

o Chile

o Rest of South America

 Middle East & Africa

o Saudi Arabia

o UAE

o Qatar

o South Africa

o Rest of Middle East & Africa

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No certainty teachers will get shots soon, health department warns

While teachers and other school employees will join the long line of North Carolinians waiting for Covid-19 vaccines on Feb. 24, the Henderson County health department warned that it's far from certain that teachers would actually begin getting shots that day.

Overwhelmed by the demand for shots from the pool of more than 30,000 residents, the county Public Health Department instituted a waiting list people could access on line. In Henderson County and statewide, the supply of vaccines has allowed providers to inoculate a small fraction of the total number of eligible seniors.

"Gov. Roy Cooper announced yesterday (Feb. 10) that he would open Group 3 starting with teachers and childcare workers on Feb. 24 and expand to others in Group 3 on March 10," the health department said. "In the press conference, it was implied that school staff/childcare workers would be vaccinated starting on Feb. 24 (rather than waitlisted). It is unclear at this point whether or not there will be a separate allocation (of doses) to accomplish this. Henderson County Department of Public Health and key partners are working to understand what the impacts may be to current vaccine operations."

Those over 65 will share their priority status with teachers, child-care workers and anyone working in Pre-K-12 schools beginning Feb. 24. The state has vaccinated only 40.7 percent of senior citizens. North Carolina was home to 1.7 million adults over 65 among a population of 10.4 million people, as of 2018. The state has distributed 1.01 million first doses to seniors, health care workers, and long-term care residents or workers. That leaves 1,060,000 seniors waiting for a shot.

Only health care workers, long-term care workers, and those older than 65 now qualify for a Covid-19 vaccine. But Gov. Roy Cooper plans to expand eligibility for the shots. Education workers can get their shot starting Feb. 24, and other essential workers will qualify March 10.



Under Coopers plan, the state wont require applicants to present any identification or proof that they are educational workers. The system will rely partly on honesty, said Cooper.



Cooper says this approach gives the state two weeks to ramp up vaccinating its senior population. He also said he expects the states supply of doses to increase during this time.



That gives the state two more weeks to vaccinate those 65 and older as the supply is increasing, Cooper said. We do know that we want to get to our front-line workers as soon as we can.



Cooper did not answer questions about the timing of his announcement.



Hundreds of parents protested school closures in front of the governors mansion this week. Cooper began urging schools to return to the classroom a day after the protest. But he still refuses to mandate reopening via legislative action or executive order.

Most North Carolinians dont approve of the states vaccine rollout, according to an Elon Poll released Tuesday. Republican lawmakers are pushing to require schools to reopen their classrooms to students. The Senate passed a bill to mandate school reopening, but the local branch of a nation teachers union, the N.C. Association of Educators, opposes the bill. Most Democratic lawmakers voted against it.



Cooper emphasized that vaccinating teachers wasnt necessary to safely reopen schools.



The research, scientific and health evidence shows you can safely have students in the classroom if safety protocols are followed, even without vaccinations, Cooper said. Cooper did not say which essential workers would qualify for a vaccine in March in addition to teachers and remaining population of seniors.



Everybody deserves a vaccine, Cooper said. And when you have tremendous demand, millions of people needing a vaccine, youre dealing with thousands of shots, thats very difficult to prioritize.

* * * * *

Julie Havlak of the Carolina Journal News Service contributed reporting.
Scientists have discovered a signal that causes roots to stop growing in hard soils which can be switched off to allow them to punch through, a finding which may have huge implications for agriculture.

Researchers from the University of Nottingham have discovered that roots do not stop growing in hard soils because of physical obstruction, but instead as a reaction to the plant hormone ethylene.

Ethylene is given off by plant roots, but in compressed soils is more likely to stay concentrated around the root, triggering a response by the root to stop growing.

The scientists believe that developing varieties that are less sensitive to ethylene will allow roots to continue growing in harder soils and potentially punch through to untapped resources.

This could prove to be a gamechanger, with hard and compacted soils a major challenge for modern agriculture that can reduce crop yields over 50% by reducing root growth.

The breakthrough

Professor Malcolm Bennett is a plant scientist from the University of Nottingham, who has been leading this research alongside Professor Sacha Mooney, an expert in soil physics.

They have been working together for ten years and say that their collaboration has been crucial.

The benefits of plant and soil scientists working together is illustrated by our papers discovery that plants sense soil compaction through assessing the external structure of the soil surrounding the root," Prof Bennett said.

Prof Mooney runs a research group at the University of Nottingham that uses X-ray scanners to look at plant roots in situ, meaning the relationship between the roots and the surrounding soil structure can be properly studied.

This has allowed them to make what is a very surprising discovery: Everyone expected that plants would detect compacted soil using some form of mechanical sensors.

"But instead, roots actually monitor changes in levels of the gaseous signal ethylene, which is something completely unexpected.

"Roots constantly release ethylene, but it is not able to diffuse away in soil that is more compacted due to the compressed pore spaces, eventually causing roots to stop growing, Prof Bennett said.

The pair said that they did not actually set out to find compaction resistant crops but came across this discovery during their research.

The initial breakthrough came when Bipin Pandey (a researcher in the team) showed me pictures of roots grown in compacted soils that looked just like they had been exposed to ethylene, he added.

The obvious next step was to see what happened when we grew roots that are less sensitive to ethylene in compacted soil, and to our amazement found they were able to punch through the hard soil.

The next steps

The obvious next stage is to use the new knowledge about ethylene to breed crops that are compaction resistant.

Prof Bennett explains that the work they have done so far has been on plants which are easy to genetically manipulate.

He said: We initially worked on rice as it provides a model for cereal crops and Arabidopsis which is a close relative of oilseed rape.

Professor Malcolm Bennett is a plant scientist from the University of Nottingham

"These are very different plants, separated by over 100 million years of evolution, yet they both use the same ethylene based mechanism to sense soil compaction.

"This gives us confidence that altering ethylene sensitivity in plants will deliver resistance to compaction in many major crop types. The next stage is rolling it out into wheat and other cereal crops.

Professor Mooney flagged that they also need to test their discovery on a wider range of soil types because not all soils compact in the same way.

We have done most of our testing on loamy sand soils and some clay textured soils, but we need to further investigate what happens on a wider range of soils, such as silt based soils, to see what impact that has, he said.

Now that the scientists know about the ethylene response, there is the potential to use genetic engineering to create less ethylene and compaction sensitive varieties.

Professor Bennett said: To use these technologies would be really interesting, subject to public acceptance.

"For example, we could use gene editing to switch off the ethylene response just in the tissue that is important for soil compaction responses.

Why is this transformative?

This technology holds huge potential for farmers in the UK. Europe has over 33 million hectares of soil prone to compaction which represents the highest proportion in the world, according to researchers.

The irony is that people tend to focus on the issues in the developing world, but this is a major issue in the developed world, Prof Bennett said.

Prof Mooney noted that: Soil compaction in Europe is some of the worst anywhere in the world and is slow in the uptake of conservation agriculture approaches compared to other regions.

There are also climate change benefits to this discovery: Compaction alone can reduce yields by up to 25%, and when this is combined with drought as much as 75% can be lost because the roots cannot reach the lower soil profiles.

"If the topsoil dries out there can be catastrophic losses, Professor Bennett explained.

Both researchers are keen to stress that this technology is far from an alternative to good soil management, instead it is a tool that can be used hand in hand with it.

We are not suggesting that farmers abuse the soil and just get around it by using this development. Nobody is in the market for accepting soil compaction and this should be used as just another tool to handle the effects of that, Prof Mooney added.

However, he also noted that this development is not just limited to soils suffering from compaction, but that it could also be transformative in normal hard soils.

Our subsoils are generally very hard and provide barriers to growth," Professor Mooney explained.

"Processes to reduce tillage actually lead to harder soils, especially in the initial years, so the implications for this are not simply about something that is going to be beneficial once a field has been run over a number of times.
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Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

SANTA FE  The state House is again backing a bill that would add a dose of sunshine to New Mexicos capital outlay process, with new optimism that the Senate will agree.

The proposal, House Bill 55, won approval 65-1 early Thursday  at least the third time similar legislation has passed the chamber with broad support in recent years.

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But the measure has repeatedly failed to make it through the Senate, which has 11 new members this year following the 2020 election, perhaps leading to a different reception.

The legislation is jointly sponsored in the House by Reps. Matthew McQueen, D-Galisteo, and Kelly Fajardo, R-Los Lunas.

This is truly a bipartisan bill, McQueen told his colleagues. We think this is the year it will also pass the Senate.

The proposal would require the Legislature to publish a list of capital projects approved each year with details on which legislators sponsored each project and how much funding they allocated to it.

Under the current system, the final projects are published, but not how much each legislator allocated.

As legislators I think our No. 1 job is to be transparent and accountable to our constituents, Fajardo said.

Rep. Miguel P. Garcia, D-Albuquerque, slammed the proposal and was the lone dissenting vote. It was designed to placate lazy bones media members, he said, and legislators should be permitted to decide whether to release their list of projects.

New Mexicos capital outlay process has faced criticism for years, centering on a lack of coordination between state and local governments, the absence of transparency and whether all of the money actually addresses serious state needs rather than frivolous projects.

House Bill 55 has an emergency clause, meaning it would take effect immediately.
On Wednesday, Facebook published a short statement on its Newsroom blog entitled, Reducing Political Content in News Feed, that says the company is moving forward with testing the depoliticization of its platform.

Written by Aastha Gupta, Product Management Director, the statement reveals specific measures that will be taken in the next few months to restrict political content on Facebook as mentioned by company CEO Mark Zuckerberg during a conference call with investors on January 27.

This Oct. 23, 2019, file photo shows Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg testifying before a House Financial Services Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington.

As reported here on the World Socialist Web Site on Wednesday, it is clear from everything that Zuckerberg said in his earnings call, along with statements by US government officials and the capitalist press on the subject, that the primary target of the depoliticization of Facebook is progressive, left-wing and socialist political content on the platform.

The Newsroom post further reinforces this analysis. Gupta writes, As a first step, well temporarily reduce the distribution of political content in News Feed for a small percentage of people in Canada, Brazil and Indonesia this week, and the US in the coming weeks, and that the testing is necessary to explore a variety of ways to rank political content in peoples feeds using different signals, and then decide on the approaches well use going forward.

Gupta goes on to say that Facebook will determine how effective these new approaches are by surveying people about their experience during these tests. Both Guptaand Zuckerberg previouslyclaim unconvincingly that Our goal is to preserve the ability for people to find and interact with political content on Facebook, while respecting each persons appetite for it at the top of their News Feed.

The reference to the appetite is tied in with the claims made by Facebook that moderation of the flow of political posts on Facebook is necessary because one common piece of feedback we hear is that people dont want political content to take over their News Feed.

However, Gupta reports that Facebook made an analysis in the US, and political content makes up about 6% of what people see on the platform and that even a small percentage of political content can impact someones overall experience.

The News Feed is the primary stream of content seen by users each day on their Facebook accounts. It can include a variety of content posted by friends of users, such as profile changes, photos, birthdays and comments on any number of topics. The News Feed also includes corporate advertisements and other types of promoted content, including posts from political parties and organizations, government officials and news publishers commenting on contemporary events, along with shares of this content by individual users who can make their own comments about it.

Gupta did not disclose the actual number of the small percentage of people in the four countries that would have their political content throttled in News Feed. Since there are more than 500 million Facebook users in these countries (137 million in Brazil, 140 million in Indonesia and 244 million users in the US and Canada), even 1 percent would mean that more than 5 million users who would have their political content manipulated.

A report in the Washington Post included the comments of Facebook spokesperson Lauren Svensson, who said the countries were selected because they had the most complaints about seeing too much political content. Svensson also told the Post that using a machine learning model that is trained to look for signals of political content and predict whether a post is related to politics. Well be refining this model during the test period to better identify political content and may or may not end up using this method longer-term.

Neither Svensson nor Gupta explained precisely what the term signal means in connection with the artificial intelligence algorithms used by Facebook and the political content posted by users.

That the purpose of the new Facebook policy is to be directed against left and socialist political content is revealed by the fact that neither Gupta nor Zuckerberg referred to the use of the platform by the far-right and fascist political organizations and individuals who stormed the U.S. Capitol on January 6on behalf of Donald Trump and the majority of the Republican Partyto overturn the results of the 2020 presidential elections.

While there is ample evidence that the fascists used Facebook and other social media platforms to both organize and livestream their January 6 insurrectionincluding the promotion of advertisements for weapons accessories and body armor next to false information about the stolen election and posts by patriot and militia groupsthis is not the focus of Facebooks new initiative.

Instead, Gupta spotlighted the need for controlling content about the deadly pandemic, writing, COVID-19 information from authoritative health organizations like the CDC and WHO, as well as national and regional health agencies and services from affected countries, will be exempt from these tests. Content from official government agencies and services will also be exempt.

The emphasis on reducing political content about the pandemicwith no mention of the conspiracy theories of the extreme rightreveals that the primary concern of Facebook and its advisors from within the ruling establishment is the growing mass political opposition to the placing of the profit interests of the capitalist class above the health and lives of the working class.

An indication of this political censorship of socialist views was demonstrated concretely on Wednesday when shares of the World Socialist Web Site article entitled  British Medical Journal calls pandemic response social murder  were labeled by Facebook as False Information. In a direct reference to a phrase used by Friedrich Engelsco-founder with Karl Marx of scientific socialismthe prestigious journal, which has been published since 1840, termed as social murder the willingness of politicians and experts to allow tens of thousands of premature deaths for the sake of population immunity.
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Anand Mahindra

Industrialist Anand Mahindra said he has invested in IIT Madras-incubated space technology startup Agnikul Cosmos.

The Mahindra Group Chairman said he has made a personal investment in the company.

"AGNIKUL is a startup that will build launch vehicles to carry micro/nanosatellites to low earth orbit on demand. They recently test-fired a fully 3D printed semi cryo rocket engine at IIT Madras. Terrific champions of the future. I've personally invested in the company," Mahindra said in a tweet.



Sir, its an absolute honour to have your support. Thank you for believing in us and our vision.

 AgniKul Cosmos (@AgnikulCosmos) February 10, 2021

Agnikul replied to Mahindra's tweet, thanking him for his support.

Agnikul recently said it successfully test-fired India's first 3D printed rocket engine - Agnilet. Unlike other rocket engines that have several components, Agnilet is comprised of a single part.

Agnikul is building a small rocket that is capable of taking up to 100 kg to orbits around 700 km high.

In December 2020, Agnikul signed an agreement with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) to utilize the space agency's expertise and facilities to build its rocket. This was the first pact signed after the government opened the space technology industry to private players.
Addressing Rajya Sabha, Union IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said that the government is actively working against fake news and has developed a platform to bust the same. Whenever fake news is entered on the platform, the correction is updated on the same. The minister also warned social media platforms against the spread of fake news.

No further details about this fake new busting platform have been made available yet, though. Business Today has reached out to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and is awaiting details on the said platform.

"Social media has played a big role in the Digital India programme. We respect the right to criticism. One can criticise from the Prime Minister to the government as is a part of India's Constitution. But if social media is being misused to spread violence and fake news, we will take action against them," said the IT Minister.

ALSO READ: Do business in India but follow laws too, Ravi Shankar Prasad to Twitter

He further highlighted the election procedure of India is duly respected. The Election Commission of India has done a fabulous job that if someone misuses social media to unscrupulously affect the election, strict action will be taken against them. For this, even governments will work along with the Election Commission of India.

Amidst the recent controversies surrounding various leading social networking and messaging platforms, the minister said they can work and earn in India but reminded them to follow the Constitution of India.

"We have immense respect for social media as it has empowered the citizens. But today, I want to clearly state that be it Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn or WhatsApp they are free to work in India, but they need to abide by the Constitution of India and laws of India," added Prasad.

ALSO READ: Nationalistic Koo app's parent has Chinese investor

The minister also mentioned that when a platform is formed, they create their own laws to inspect what's right and wrong. But it will not work if they do not abide by the law and Constitution of India.

Prasad's comments come after a high-level meeting between senior MeitY officials and global leadership of Twitter, where the ministry accused Twitter of delayed action against flagged accounts which allegedly spread misinformation using the hashtag #FarmerGenocide. Ajay Prakash Sawhney, Secretary, MeitY, had welcomed Twitter to do business in India but raised doubts about its commitment to transparency and healthy conversation on this platform.

ALSO READ: MeitY welcomes Twitter to India, keeps it on a short leash though
Crown Resorts CEO and board director Ken Barton has become the highest-profile sacrifice in the wake of a scathing review of the casino giant.

Mr Barton agreed to resign after meeting with company chair Helen Coonan on Thursday, The Australian reports.

The chief executive had been under pressure after a damning inquiry report made findings against him, leading the NSW regulator to suggest he had to go.

Crown director Andrew Demetriou (pictured with Symone Demetriou) tendered his resignation saying in a statement he was stepping down 'to give Crown the best possible chance of becoming suitable to the NSW regulator'

Pictured: The luxury six-star hotel Crown Towers at Sydney's Crown Casino - which opened its doors to the public for the first time in January

The Victorian regulator had also asked him to explain why he was still suitable to be associated with Crown's Melbourne casino.

Fellow Crown director Andrew Demetriou also tendered his resignation on Thursday, saying in a statement he was stepping down 'to give Crown the best possible chance of becoming suitable to the NSW regulator'.

'In taking this decision I believe the comments directed at me in the report are unfair and unjust and I will defend my reputation at every opportunity,' he said.

Crown is promising 'root and branch' changes to satisfy the NSW Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority, which is threatening to deny it a Sydney gaming licence.

Crown chair Helen Coonan acknowledged on Thursday the report into the group's activity that found 'serious conduct, culture and compliance issues that clearly do not accord with our values'.

'While we have already taken a number of important steps to improve our governance, compliance and culture, I recognise from the commissioner's report we have much more to do,' she said.

Billionaire casino magnate James Packer (pictured with Kylie Lim seen at Club 55 beach in St Tropez, France on June 24, 2018) recently stood down after the inquiry

CEO and board director at Crown Ken Barton handed in his resignation on Thursday

'We do not underestimate the scale of the problem and appreciate there is a need for 'root and branch' change. This change has commenced.'

On top of Mr Barton and Mr Demetriou, two directors aligned to majority shareholder and non-director James Packer have quit Crown's board after the inquiry also criticised the billionaire.

As chief financial officer, Mr Barton lobbied for bank accounts to stay open despite knowing of concerns money was being laundered through them.

He also misled shareholders about an information-sharing agreement with Mr Packer.

Mr Demetriou was sprung reading from prepared notes as he gave evidence to the inquiry, but initially denied he had done it even after he was caught.

ILGA chair Philip Crawford said on Thursday it was 'obvious' from reading the report that Mr Barton and Mr Demetriou needed to make a swift exit.

'More people have got to go,' he told Sydney radio 2GB.

Gaming regulators have denied Crown Resorts a casino licence for their $2.4billion casino in Sydney. Complex pictured under construction in March

The Sydney Crown Casino is now in limbo and it remains unclear as to what will happen with the venue

Victoria's gaming regulator said on Thursday it would write to both men and demand they explain why they remain suitable to be close associates of Crown Melbourne.

Mr Crawford has urged the company to move quickly before the liquor licences for Crown's Sydney operation expire in April.

The ILGA board will meet on Friday.

Ms Coonan said she is committed to working with Mr Crawford to reform the company for the sake of the more than 20,000 people who worked at Crown.

Mr Crawford welcomed the departure of directors Guy Jalland and Michael Johnston from the Crown board on Wednesday.

Another director, John Poynton, will stay on but will no longer be a nominee of Mr Packer's private company Consolidated Press Holdings.

Luxury with a view: Pictured is a room inside Crown Towers. An opulent 2000sqm spa is connected to the hotel

Pictured is the lobby of Crown Towers. An apartment in the Sydney resort reportedly starts at a whopping $9.5m for a two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment

'That's a really positive start. Just what we're going to do with Mr Packer and his 36 per cent (shareholding) is something we'll be discussing,' Mr Crawford said.

The report into Crown by Commissioner Patricia Bergin recommended an overhaul of the company's board and management if it wanted to open its Sydney casino.

It noted Crown facilitated money laundering and failed to act when made aware of the issue.

Mr Crawford endorsed one of the broader policy recommendations in Ms Bergin's report on Thursday, a card that would require users to register before gambling as a measure to combat money laundering.
Biden nominee grilled for calling religious opposition to HHS birth control mandate extreme

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President Joe Bidens nominee to serve as the Office of Management and Budget director was grilled during a confirmation hearing Tuesday for calling opponents of the Obamacare contraceptive mandate extreme during a Senate confirmation hearing Tuesday.

Neera Tanden, who currently heads the liberal think tank Center for American Progress, appeared before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

Several lawmakers asked her about her previous tweets disparaging Republicans, many of which have since been deleted.

In addition to expressing concerns about her past comments about Republicans, Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., asked Tanden to weigh in on her characterization of opponents of one of the most controversial aspects of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, as extreme.

One statement that you made about people that have  personal religious convictions about contraception, like Little Sisters of the Poor and others, (you) called them a successful political cudgel helping isolate extreme  advocates from the mainstream, Lankford said. Help me understand how the personal religious beliefs of some Americans could be a successful political cudgel.

President Biden said he wouldnt tolerate disrespect in the White House. Yet his nominee for OMB Director has tweeted more in the past four years than President Trump and its pretty hostile. pic.twitter.com/yHzwQLvFvu  Sen. James Lankford (@SenatorLankford) February 10, 2021

Lankford was referring to comments made by Tanden in a 2012 article for The New Republic, a liberal publication.

Tanden asserted that [b]efore it was made into a religious issue, contraception was a subject where a majority of Americans were firmly on the side of womens rights: Most people viewed it as a basic health protection, not a controversial issue.

Thats why it was also successful as a political cudgel, helping isolate extreme anti-choice advocates from the mainstream, she wrote at the time.

Tanden told Lankford that she feels badly for anyone offended by my language.

I think in that regard, I was more speaking to people who politicized religion, not people who believe in religion, she responded. Im a person of faith myself and deeply respect people of all faiths and all faith traditions.

Lankford, a conservative Baptist, said that Tandens context didnt seem to be about people that used religion as a cudgel.

It seemed to be that the personal beliefs of those individuals became the cudgel, Lankford argued. Thats the part that threw me in that.

Tandens article came at a time when the Obamacare contraceptive mandate, which required employer-sponsored healthcare plans to cover employees birth control, was the subject of intense debate in the United States.

Tanden was not only an outspoken supporter of the Obamacare contraceptive mandate, but she also helped craft it.

Democratic National Committee Vice Chair Grace Meng and DNC Asian and Pacific Islander Caucus Chair Bel Leong-Hong explained in a statement after her selection as OMB Director that she is one of the architects of the Affordable Care Act.

They praised her for expanding access to health care for millions of Americans, including no-pay birth control for more than 55 million women.

Lankford also grilled Tanden on her past partisan use of social media to attack Republican politicians, insulting some of them ascriminally ignorant, corrupt, and the worst. Lankford contended that some of her actions seem to drift out of the partisan issues.

In her prepared remarks shared with the media, Tanden said she regrets the language she used and takes responsibility for it.

"Over the last few years, its been part of my role to be an impassioned advocate, she explained. I understand, though, that the role of OMB director calls for bipartisan action, as well as a nonpartisan adherence to facts and evidence.

When she was questioned by Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, she apologized for her tweets.

I recognize the concern. I deeply regret and apologize for my language," she said.

Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., pressed Tanden on her contention that our budgets should reflect the values of a nation built on human dignity.

He asked her about the views of human dignity held by tens of millions of Americans who consider themselves pro-life. He argued there is a bipartisan commitment reflected in the Hyde Amendment not to spend federal dollars on government-funded abortions. He asked the nominee if she will ask to preserve the Hyde Amendment in the presidents budget request next

President Biden has supported repeal of the Hyde Amendment, and so  I will anticipate how that operates in the budget process. But that is a position that he took in the campaign and has held, she responded.

On Wednesday, the pro-life activist group Susan B. Anthony List sent out a series of tweets urging Biden to withdraw his nomination of Tanden to head the Office of Management and Budget.

Maintaining that Tanden is out of touch with the American people on abortion, the group took issue with Tandens description of efforts to defund Planned Parenthood as partisan attacks on womens access to critical health services.

Additionally, the group slammed Tandens reference to undercover videos of Planned Parenthood officials discussing the harvest and sale of aborted fetal body parts as doctored videos released by anti-abortion extremists.
New York City transit workers are demanding that the 24-hour subway schedule be resumed after several reported being assaulted during the overnight hours when trains are shut down for COVID-19 cleanings.

The union representing Metropolitan Transportation Authority workers who operate the citys public buses and subways are assaulted, harassed, spit upon, and in severe cases nearly killed by assailants in largely empty stations.

On August 5, Reggie Frazier, a father of three who lost his 21-year-old daughter last year to COVID-19, was sweeping up at the Dyckman Street subway stop in the Inwood section of Upper Manhattan at around 2:15am - more than an hour after the last trains stopped running for the day.

Yo, man, no trains after 1am, Frazier, 61, told a man who wandered into the station, according to THE CITY.

MTA worker Reggie Frazier (left), 61, is seen above with his daughters Shalae, 16, and Shaleah, 7, who is holding a photo of their sister, Shaimeek, 21, who passed away in April of COVID-19.

On August 5, Frazier tore a tendon in his right knee and was beaten by an assailant with a milk crate as he was sweeing up at the Dyckman Street subway station in the Inwood section of Upper Manhattan at around 2:15am

According to Frazier, the man responded: Shut the f*** up, Ill punch you in the face.

I said, I dont want to fight you, man, Im at work, Frazier told THE CITY.

But he grabbed a crate and started swinging.

The man attacked Frazier with a milk crate. As Frazier tried to escape, he tore a tendon in his right knee. Since that day, he has not returned to work.

I wasnt sworn into this job to take beatdowns, he said.

The man identified as Fraziers assailant, 36-year-old Ramon Garrido, was arrested and charged.

On Christmas Eve, Narinder Kumar (right), 70, an MTA station agent, was pushed onto the subway tracks at the Nassau Avenue G subway stop in Brooklyn at around 3am. Kumar was lucky to be alive though he suffered a fractured spine and head injuries. Fortunately, he missed the electrified third rail. He is seen with TWU Local 100 Vice President Robert Kelley

In May, the MTA shut down subway service between 1am and 5am each night so that the train cars could be thoroughly disinfected.

In the 116-year history of the New York City subway, it has halted overnight service just a handful of times, including extreme weather events or worker strikes.

Overnight service was also briefly suspended in the wake of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in Lower Manhattan.

Transit workers say that the empty train stations put them at greater risk.

According to the MTA, five subway workers have been assaulted between 1am and 5am since the abbreviated schedule went into effect last spring.

By comparison, there were just four attacks on employees between those hours between May 2019 and January 2020, when the trains were running on a full schedule.

But workers unions claim that the actual number of incidents in which transit employees are harassed and threatened is higher, though they are not counted since they dont rise to the level of an assault as defined by state law.

Since August, the MTA has counted a total of almost 300 instances of harassment against transit workers during all hours of the day.

They assault us when the trains are running, they assault us in the middle of the night when there are no customers, said Eric Loegel, a Transport Workers Union Local 100 vice president.

Its a problem thats grown disproportionately out of control.

On Wednesday, the head of the MTA, Pat Foye, told New York City Council members that 24-hour subway service will resume once Governor Andrew Cuomo declares the pandemic over.

We are aware of the inconvenience that it causes for many of our customers - essential workers, first responders, women and men of color - but that decision will be made at the state and federal level, and not by the MTA, Foye, a Cuomo appointee, told the New York Post.

Cuomo ordered the overnight closures of the subways after a large number of the citys homeless population began living in the deserted stations.

The governor said that the closures were necessary since the coronavirus was capable of surviving for three days on plastic and steel surfaces that are common on trains and buses.

But city lawmakers disputed the claim, saying public health experts have determined that the virus does not spread easily through surfaces. They called the overnight subway shutdowns hygiene theater.

Noel Quintana, 61, was on his way to work in Harlem last Wednesday when an unknown attacker kicked his bag and then whipped out a box cutter and slashed him across the face on a Manhattan subway

The NYPD is seeking the attacker, who was wearing a Louis Vuitton face mask and fled the L Train at the 1st Avenue stop on 14th Street

Foye said that the governor and the MTA were responding to the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Federal Transit Administration.

In November, the New York Police Department said that it would add around 200 cops on its patrols of subway stations after a series of disturbing incidents.

Noel Quintana, 61, was on a Manhattan subway that was taking him to work in Harlem last Wednesday when an unknown attacker kicked his bag and then whipped out a box cutter and slashed him across the face from ear to ear.

Last Thursday morning, another woman was pushed in front of a train at Union Station in Lower Manhattan.

The woman, in her 40s, miraculously survived by rolling between the tracks as the train passed over her.

A suspect, Aditya Vemulapati, was held at the scene by transit workers and is charged with attempted murder, felony assault, and reckless endangerment. His last known address is in Michigan and he is believed to be homeless.

According to the NYPD, there were 16 subway pushing incidents in all of 2019. So far this year, there have been just as many.

On Christmas Eve, Narinder Kumar, 70, an MTA station agent, was pushed onto the subway tracks at the Nassau Avenue G subway stop in Brooklyn at around 3am.

Kumar was lucky to be alive though he suffered a fractured spine and head injuries. Fortunately, he missed the electrified third rail.

The alleged assailant, Jhonathan Martinez, 27, was trying to get onto one of the trains, which are only available for first responders and transit workers during the overnight hours.

Metropolitan Transportation Authority workers clean a subway car at the Wakefield - 241 St station in The Bronx in this May 2020 file photo. The MTA has vowed that 24-hour subway service will resume once Governor Andrew Cuomo declares that the COVID-19 pandemic is over

Martinez was charged with assault, harassment and reckless endangerment.

Alexander Jaiserie, a 23-year-old MTA train operator, told THE CITY that he and a conductor were assaulted in the early morning hours of July 10 after their empty No. 7 train pulled into the Flushing-Main Street station in Queens.

Leaving Willets Point, we heard of a disturbed person causing problems at Flushing Main and a request for police to come to the station, he said.

So we knew there was somebody causing issues and to be aware of that.

According to Jaiserie, a man on the platform blocked him and the conduct from leaving the trains first car.

As they tried to walk between subway cars, the man pounced. He then lunged once again at the two transit workers as they emerged onto the platform.

The man fled and no one has been charged.

Subway crimes are down more than 50 percent so far in 2021 from the same period last year - but ridership is down roughly 70 percent in the pandemic, suggesting the crime rate per passenger may have actually increased.

A push for modernised infrastructure and aspiration for a mega economy are the top discourse that will hold as the Ehingbeti, the state's iconic summit begins shortly.

In this piece, Daily Trust dissects expectations from the summit where at least 150 speakers are billed to debate solutions with a goodwill message from President Muhammadu Buhari.

Since the inaugural summit in 2000, Ehingbeti has gained useful insights from business and political leaders, economists and development experts coming from far and near.

The 2021 edition of the summit is slated to hold from Tuesday to Thursday next week. However, it was not held for five years, which was from 2015 to 2019. Even this current one was planned for 2020 before the COVID-19 pandemic and the EndSARS protests shifted it.

Although some economic analysts feel the vacuum created by the five-year failure to hold the summit may have reduced its significance, the private sector-led conversation has garnered attention so far, climaxing at the event proper next week.

Other analysts believe that its relevance remains especially with the implementation of some of the consensus reached during the pre-2015 summits.

Some of these are the modernised bus terminals across the state and hundreds of mass transit buses procured to partly tackle the transportation challenges, that are clear pushes by was towards embracing the realities of its megacity status expressed by representatives of the UN-Habitat at one of the planning sessions that heralded the inaugural edition of Ehingbeti.

Lagos before 2000 was awfully chaotic. Aside from the throbbing of infrastructural deficit, the population was growing at a riotous rate. This was the beginning of the 4th republic, after 16 years of military rule. Democracy ushered in relief, and citizens began to aspire to a decent life after a long era of repression.

The new aspiration put Lagos under pressure because it was the only state in Nigeria, with the possibility of restoration.

However, the Chairman of Citibank Nigeria and a Lagos State Commissioner for Economic and Budget Planning in 1999, Mr Yemi Cardoso, aptly captured the reawakening of the state through the Ehingbeti summit.

He said, "The state of things was scary. We had to keep late nights at Akodo resort, brainstorming on how to get tonnes of waste off the streets of Lagos. The disorderliness intensified by the transportation system then was an eyesore.

"With an enduring commitment, the leadership of the State encouraged and supported a rigorous planning process, propelled by a clear vision about the projected development, with tangible milestones", he explained.

According to officials, Ehingbeti has proven that tough and sincere conversations are paths to building an enduring relationship and an engendering atmosphere of mutual trust. This was enabled with a gust of ideas at the different Working Groups. But the implementation of these ideas requires committed partnership to translate into executable projects.

Another pioneer and private sector champion of the Lagos summit is Prof. Patrick Utomi. In his remarks ahead of the latest edition, the economic analyst said: "When we began all these conversations in some of the cabinet retreats, I took a different position; I took the view that Lagos should aim to be the core of a megalopolis."

The need for partnership with the private sector is imperative now more than ever, especially in funding to projects' implementation. Officials say cities like Boston, New York, and London are functional because businesses pay taxes and rates for the government to carry-out the social and infrastructural constructions that make cities great, this is also expected of business owners in Lagos.

"The public and private sectors are partners in progress. The relationship between them is mutually reinforcing, such that the health of one is the vigour of the other," an official noted.

It was this kind of argument at an earlier edition of the summit that birthed the 4th Mainland Bridge project, which requires huge funding to execute even though it has been flagged off.

"In the last two decades, Ehingbeti has played a pivotal role in the transformation of Lagos State, with useful inputs into Lagos State Development Plans (LSDP)" said Sam Egube, Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget and Co-chair of the Steering Committee.

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"Our realities from 2000 when the first Ehingbeti held, after 20 years have significantly changed. As a state, we now have to cater to the infrastructural needs of more than 22 million population and ensure that Lagos remains on the path of continuous growth."

For this year, the Ehingbeti theme is: 'For a greater Lagos: Setting the tone for the next decade'. There are high hopes that the summit will rekindle the conversations that will enable optimisation of the inherent opportunities in Africa's 6th largest economy.

The Lagos Economic Summit Group (LESG), with this edition of Ehingbeti, under Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, is strengthening the existing relationship between government, and emphasising that greater private sector participation in governance is a prerequisite for a functional state.

Records show that Ehingbeti is the first institutionalised economic forum by any state in Nigeria, contributing much to the evolution of Lagos State into a major economy in sub-Saharan Africa.
Discussion of HCQ has fallen under a censorship umbrella that captured several other treatments known to help boost the immune system and lessen other viral infections.(Stock Footage Inc/Shutterstock)

New Research Review Says HCQ Plus Zinc Reduces COVID-19 Deaths

Hydroxychloroquine has been one of the most controversial treatments for COVID-19 throughout the pandemic. Now a new research review finds this inexpensive drug offers a safe treatment for many people infected with the virus.

Early on in the COVID-19 pandemic, doctors around the world reported high success rates using an inexpensive treatment protocol of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and zinc, typically in combination with an antibiotic to treat secondary bacterial infections.

HCQ is a zinc ionophore, which means it helps zinc get inside your cells where it can block viruses from replicating. The FDA issued an emergency use authorization in March 2020 that allowed chloroquine phosphate (CQ) and hydroxychloroquine sulfate (HCQ) to be used to treat patients hospitalized with COVID-19. The order did not mention zinc and described using HCQ for its own antiviral properties. The order was based on initial experimental usage in hospitals that showed promising results.

That authorization was withdrawn in June 2020 when the FDA deemed HCQ unlikely to produce a meaningful antiviral effect with potential risks outweighing the benefits.

The change came on the heels of a study by Oxford University in the United Kingdom that found HCQ underperformed its routine treatment protocols.

Unfortunately, problems in research methodologies assessing the effectiveness and risks of HCQ have left lingering doubts. Those problems include questionable dosing and the absence of zinc, arguably the more important element of any HCQ treatment protocol. The new review was published in the January 2021 issue of The American Journal of Medicine. It finds early use of HCQ and zinc can reduce hospitalizations and deaths from COVID-19.

While HCQ is is a relatively inexpensive generic drug with little major payout for drug makers, hundreds of millions of dollars have been invested in other antivirals and vaccines that drug companies hope to see a return on.

Politicizing Medicine Has Grave Consequences

Discussion of HCQ has fallen under a censorship umbrella that captured several other treatments known to help boost the immune system and lessen other viral infections. That happened when Google and its video platform Youtube began filtering search results. Youtube CEO Susan Wojcicki made that move public in April when she told CNN that the video platform would be removing information that is problematic.

She said that would include anything that is medically unsubstantiated..

So people saying take vitamin C; take turmeric, well cure you, those are the examples of things that would be a violation of our policy, she said.

Anything that would go against World Health Organizations recommendations would be a violation of our policy, she said.

The problem with the policy is that it ended up censoring validated information and politicizing public health.

While alternative medicine practitioners had already seen this type of censorship, for many conventional doctors it was their first taste of what its like. Many have been absolutely floored by it. As just one example among many, July 23, 2020, Dr. Harvey A. Risch, professor of epidemiology at Yale School of Public Health, published an op-ed in Newsweek in which he expressed his dismay and frustration:(3)

I have authored over 300 peer-reviewed publications and currently hold senior positions on the editorial boards of several leading journals.

I am usually accustomed to advocating for positions within the mainstream of medicine, so have been flummoxed to find that, in the midst of a crisis, I am fighting for a treatment that the data fully support but which, for reasons having nothing to do with a correct understanding of the science, has been pushed to the sidelines.

As a result, tens of thousands of patients with COVID-19 are dying unnecessarily  I am referring, of course, to the medication hydroxychloroquine.

When this inexpensive oral medication is given very early in the course of illness, before the virus has had time to multiply beyond control, it has shown to be highly effective, especially when given in combination with the antibiotics azithromycin or doxycycline and the nutritional supplement zinc.

The medical review(4) published in the American Journal of Medicine finds early use of HCQ and zinc is a safe and effective treatment. The authors include Risch, as well as a long list of medical doctors from hospitals around the world.

The Importance of Early Outpatient Treatment

The review, titled, Pathophysiological Basis and Rationale for Early Outpatient Treatment of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) Infection, points out that:(5)

In the absence of clinical trial results, physicians must use what has been learned about the pathophysiology of SARS-CoV-2 infection in determining early outpatient treatment of the illness with the aim of preventing hospitalization or death 

Therapeutic approaches based on these principles include 1) reduction of reinoculation, 2) combination antiviral therapy, 3) immunomodulation, 4) antiplatelet/antithrombotic therapy, and 5) administration of oxygen, monitoring, and telemedicine.

The authors stress that Most patients who arrive at the hospital  with COVID-19 do not initially require forms of advanced medical care, and that, therefore, it is conceivable that some, if not a majority, of hospitalizations could be avoided with a treat-at-home first approach.

They also stress that since it can take up to a week to get PCR test results back, its important to start treatment before results are known. For patients with cardinal features of the syndrome (i.e., fever, body aches, nasal congestion, loss of taste and smell, etc.)  treatment can be the same as those with confirmed COVID-19, they say.

Of course, that is only true in cases where the treatment is safer than the risk of the disease, and they believe that is true for HCQ.

The Case for HCQ and Zinc

In terms of early drug treatment for patients who are quarantining at home, the authors recommend using a combination of HCQ and zinc lozenges, along with several other drugs (depending on your symptoms).

While I will review those here, keep in mind that I do not necessarily recommend using all of them, as in some cases there are safer alternatives. At the end of this article, I will summarize my personal at-home treatment recommendation, which I believe is among the absolute safest and most effective.

That said, in his paper, Risch and his co-authors explain the rationale for using HCQ and zinc as follows:(6)

Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) is an antimalarial/anti-inflammatory drug that impairs endosomal transfer of virions within human cells. HCQ is also a zinc ionophore that conveys zinc intracellularly to block the SARS-CoV-2 RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, which is the core enzyme of the virus replication.

The currently completed retrospective studies and randomized trials have generally shown these findings:

1.when started late in the hospital course and for short durations of time, antimalarials appear to be ineffective

2.when started earlier in the hospital course, for progressively longer durations, and in outpatients, antimalarials may reduce the progression of the disease, prevent hospitalization, and are associated with reduced mortality 

A typical HCQ regimen is 200 mg bid for 5 days and extended to 30 days for continued symptoms. A minimal sufficient dose of HCQ should be used, because in excessive doses the drug can interfere with early immune response to the virus 

Zinc is a known inhibitor of coronavirus replication  This readily available nontoxic therapy could be deployed at the first signs of COVID-19. Zinc lozenges can be administered 5 times a day for up to 5 days and extended if needed if symptoms persist.

The amount of elemental zinc lozenges is <25 percent of that in a single 220-mg zinc sulfate daily tablet. This dose of zinc sulfate has been effectively used in combination with antimalarials in early treatment of high-risk outpatients with COVID-19.

Its worth noting that in areas where hydroxychloroquine is hard to get a hold of, the nutritional supplement quercetin may be a useful (and perhaps even better) substitute, as its primary mechanism of action is identical to that of the drug. It also has antiviral activity of its own.

Zinc Is a Crucial Key

While much attention is placed on HCQ, it in and of itself is not the answer. Zinc is. Both HCQ and quercetin are zinc ionophores, meaning they shuttle zinc into the cell,(7,8) and theres compelling evidence to suggest the primary benefit of the HCQ protocol actually comes from the zinc, which effectively inhibits viral replication.9

If given early, zinc along with a zinc ionophore should, at least theoretically, help lower the viral load and prevent the immune system from becoming overloaded. The problem is that zinc does not readily enter cells, which is why a zinc ionophore is needed.

Evidence of this was presented in a September 2020 study(10) in the Journal of Medical Microbiology. In it, they compared outcomes in hospitalized COVID-19 patients treated with one of three regimens: HCQ alone, Azithromycin alone, or a triplet regimen of hydroxychloroquine, azithromycin, and zinc.

While the addition of zinc had no impact on the length of hospitalization, ICU duration, or duration of ventilation, univariate analyses showed it did:

Increase hospital discharge frequency

Decrease the need for ventilation

Decrease ICU admission rates

Decrease the rate of transfer to hospice for patients who were never admitted to the ICU

Decrease mortality

The authors said that after adjusting for the time at which zinc sulfate was added to their protocol, there was a 1.53 increased odds ratio of being discharged home.

This study provides the first in vivo evidence that zinc sulfate in combination with hydroxychloroquine may play a role in therapeutic management for COVID-19, the wrote.

Another paper that addressed the crucial role of zinc was published in the September 2020 issue of Medical Hypotheses:(12)

Besides direct antiviral effects, CQ/HCQ [chloroquine and/or hydroxychloroquine] specifically target extracellular zinc to intracellular lysosomes where it interferes with RNA-dependent RNA polymerase activity and coronavirus replication.

As zinc deficiency frequently occurs in elderly patients and in those with cardiovascular disease, chronic pulmonary disease, or diabetes, we hypothesize that CQ/HCQ plus zinc supplementation may be more effective in reducing COVID-19 morbidity and mortality than CQ or HCQ in monotherapy. Therefore, CQ/HCQ in combination with zinc should be considered as an additional study arm for COVID-19 clinical trials.

Antibiotics, Steroids and Other Treatment Additions

In addition to HCQ and zinc, Risch(13) et.al also recommends using one of two antibioticsazithromycin or doxycyclineprimarily to address secondary bacterial infections. Azithromycin also has antiviral properties and anti-inflammatory effects, while doxycycline has multiple intracellular effects that may reduce viral replication, cellular damage, and expression of inflammatory factors.

According to the authors, COVID-19 studies that used azithromycin found markedly reduced durations of viral shedding, fewer hospitalizations, and reduced mortality combination with HCQ.

People with known or suspected arrhythmias, and anyone taking a contraindicated medication, should get a thorough workup and review of baseline electrocardiogram though, before receiving HCQ and/or azithromycin. For those worried about azithromycins effects on the heart, doxycycline is a better alternative as it has no ill effects on your heart. On the downside, it can cause gastrointestinal upset and esophagitis instead.

An important side note here is that while not addressed in this paper, all antibiotics have the drawback of disrupting your gut microbiome, and should therefore be used only if absolutely needed.

Risch(14) et.al also recommends using corticosteroids, which have immunomodulating effects and help reduce the effects of cytokine storms. As explained in their paper:

In COVID-19, some of the first respiratory findings are nasal congestion, cough, and wheezing. These features are due to excess inflammation and cytokine activation.

Early use of corticosteroids is a rational intervention for patients with COVID-19 with these features as they would be in acute asthma or reactive airways disease  One potential dosing scheme for outpatients starting on day 5 or the onset of respiratory symptoms is prednisone 1 mg/kg given daily for 5 days with or without a subsequent taper.

Other treatment additions include:

Colchicine, a nonsteroidal antimitotic that has been shown to reduce D-dimer levels and improve outcomes in hospitalized COVID-19 patients

Antiplatelet agents such as aspirin (81 mg daily) or heparin to treat the abnormal blood clotting sometimes seen in COVID-19

Supplemental oxygen if needed

To reduce the risk of self-reinoculation (since the virus is airborne), they also recommend opening windows and/or spending long periods of time outdoors (away from others) without a face covering.

The figure below, from The American Journal of Medicine and republished in Science Direct,(15) illustrates the different approaches to home care suggested depending on whether you are healthy, have a single comorbidity or several, and at which point in the disease process, the various drugs should be administered.

Hydroxychloroquine Has a Proven Safety Profile

While media headlines have painted HCQ as a life-threatening drug, it actually has a very robust safety profile that goes back decades. In a paper published in the American Journal of Epidemiology,(16) Risch reviewed several large-scale studies demonstrating the safety of the medication.

In his Newsweek article,(17) he also pointed out that the adverse event reports cited by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration when it warned HCQ might cause cardiac arrhythmia, especially when administered with azithromycin, were from patients who had used HCQ for very long periods of time for the treatment of chronic conditions such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis. The same risks simply do not apply when youre taking HCQ for a few days or weeks.

Even if the true rates of arrhythmia are tenfold higher than those reported, the harms would be minuscule compared to the mortality occurring right now in inadequately treated high-risk COVID-19 patients, Risch wrote.(18)

This fact is proven by an Oxford University study of more than 320,000 older patients taking both hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin, who had arrhythmia excess death rates of less than 9/100,000 users  A new paper in the American Journal of Medicine by established cardiologists around the world fully agrees with this.

Indeed, the so-called evidence that HCQ causes lethal heart problems has been shown to be fraudulent. One study was retracted after it was discovered the data had been manufactured, and other large-scale trials were all using toxic doses.

While doctors reporting success with the drug were using standard doses around 200 mg per day for either a few days or maybe a couple of weeks, studies such as the Bill & Melinda Gates-funded(19) Recovery Trial used 2,400 mg of hydroxychloroquine during the first 24 hoursthree to six times higher than the daily dosage recommended(20)followed by 400 mg every 12 hours for nine more days for a cumulative dose of 9,200 mg over 10 days.

Similarly, the Solidarity Trial,(21) led by the World Health Organization, used 2,000 mg on the first day, and a cumulative dose of 8,800 mg over 10 days. These doses are simply too high.

Meanwhile, a July 1, 2020, retrospective analysis(22,23,24) of 2,541 patients in Michigan found use of hydroxychloroquine alone cut mortality by more than half, from 26.4 percent to 13.5 percent. Patients received 400 mg of hydroxychloroquine twice on day 1, followed by 200 mg twice a day for the next four days.

No adverse heart-related events were observed. Hydroxychloroquine in combination with azithromycin had a mortality rate of 20.1 percent, and azithromycin alone had a mortality rate of 22.4 percent. The azithromycin was dosed as 500 mg on day 1, followed by 250 mg once a day for the next four days.

According to the authors,(25) The combination of hydroxychloroquine + azithromycin was reserved for selected patients with severe COVID-19 and with minimal cardiac risk factors. Unfortunately, zinc was not included in this trial.

Physicians who have been using these medications in the face of widespread skepticism have been truly heroic, Risch wrote in Newsweek.(26) They have done what the science shows is best for their patients, often at great personal risk.

I myself know of two doctors who have saved the lives of hundreds of patients with these medications but are now fighting state medical boards to save their licenses and reputations. The cases against them are complete without scientific merit 

As all know, the medication has become highly politicized. For many, it is viewed as a marker of political identity, on both sides of the political spectrum. Nobody needs me to remind them that this is not how medicine should proceed  Reality demands a clear, scientific eye on the evidence and where it points

With that in mind, evidence that HCQ could be useful against SARS-CoV-2 goes as far back as 2005, when the article Chloroquine Is a Potent Inhibitor of SARS Coronavirus Infection and Spread was published in the Virology Journal.(27)

According to this study:(28)

 chloroquine has strong antiviral effects on SARS-CoV infection of primate cells. These inhibitory effects are observed when the cells are treated with the drug either before or after exposure to the virus, suggesting both prophylactic and therapeutic advantage.

In other words, chloroquine functioned as both a prophylactic (prevention) and a treatment against SARS coronavirus. This is precisely what many doctors have found with HCQ as well  a drug that is very similar to chloroquine but has a safer profile  when used against SARS-CoV-2.

Dr. Joseph Mercola is the founder of Mercola.com. An osteopathic physician, best-selling author, and recipient of multiple awards in the field of natural health, his primary vision is to change the modern health paradigm by providing people with a valuable resource to help them take control of their health. This article was originally published on Mercola.com

(1) Gates Notes April 30, 2020

(2) Anthraxvaccine.blogspot.com June 27, 2020

(3) (17) (18) (26) Newsweek July 23, 2020

(4,5,6,13,14) The American Journal of Medicine January 2021; 134(1): 16-22

(7) PLOS ONE 2014; 9(10): e109180

(8,9) Preprints April 6, 2020 DOI: 10.20944/preprints202004.0124.v1

(10) Journal of Medical Microbiology September 15, 2020; 69(10)

(11) medRxiv May 8, 2020 DOI: 10.1101/2020.05.02.20080036 (PDF)

(12) Medical Hypotheses September 2020; 142: 109815

(15) Science Direct January 2021

(16) American Journal of Epidemiology May 27, 2020, kwaa093

(19) Age of Autism June 16, 2020

(20) Uptodate.com Hydroxychloroquine

(21) The Solidarity Trial

(22) International Journal of Infectious Diseases July 1, 2020 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2020.06.099

(23) Epoch Times July 2, 2020

(24) Just the News July 3, 2020

(25) International Journal of Infectious Diseases July 1, 2020 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2020.06.099, Patients

(27,28) (Virology Journal 2005; 2: 69

(29) Science, Public Health Policy and The Law July 2020; 1: 4-22 (PDF)
Rome announces feasibility study into city's first cable car project.

Rome's city council has given the green light for a "technical-economic" feasibility study into the capital's first cable car project, potentially paving the way for construction works to begin in 2022.

The contentious scheme, pushed by Rome mayor Virginia Raggi ever since before her election in 2016, is designed to alleviate traffic congestion between the western suburbs of Casolotti and Boccea by connecting commuters to the Battistini metro station.

The project would cover four kilometres and include seven stops between Casalotti and Battistini, reports Italian news agency ANSA.

City authorities are due to meet with officials from Italy's transport ministry in the coming days, according to media reports.

The next step is the final design, financed by the state, which would be the basis for the tender, within an estimated time frame of 18 months.

"It is a useful and modern transport system already tested in many other cities," said Raggi on 10 February - "It will be a little revolution for the mobility of the whole area."

However Raggi's announcement of the feasibility study has been criticised as "propaganda" by opposition politicians as the mayor prepares to seek a second term in office in upcoming municipal elections.

Raggi was also ridiculed on social media, following the announcement, for her reply to a critical comment on her official Facebook page.

"If the cable car is no longer needed, it can be dismantled and reassembled elsewhere," read the comment, written either by Raggi or her social media manager.

The gaffe led to numerous headlines and a sea of ironic comments, with the project being re-christened the "follivia," a play on the words for folly and cable car.

Many people also took to social media to ask if the cable car and its infrastructure would be assembled out of Lego.

The mayor's comment was subsequently removed but not before careful observers took a screenshot for posterity.
1. Roads. The citys roads are a mess. Significant resources are needed to fix them.

2. Public safety. The crime rate is too high. Police pay and resources come first.

3. More city programs. The city must invest more in city programs and services.

4. Comprehensive plan. The city needs to focus on rebuilding and rebranding.

5. Cut city spending. City officials must get serious about trimming the budget.

Vote

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Ornellaia 2018 Classic & Special VdA label The 2018 vintage resulted in wines of particular harmony; synergy and interaction among the varied terroirs on the estate created proportion and complexity. The outcome is a rounded and silky wine in which all the elements blend together in an expression of grace and beauty. - Axel Heinz

Ornellaia, one of the worlds iconic wine estates, is excited to reveal the unique character of Ornellaia 2018 and announce the artist chosen to interpret this character for the 13th edition of the estates Vendemmia dArtista project.

The 2018 vintage resulted in wines of particular harmony, comments Axel Heinz, Estate Director of the Bolgheri winery. Synergy and interaction among the varied terroirs on the estate created proportion and complexity. The outcome is a rounded and silky wine in which all the elements blend together in an expression of grace and beauty. In tribute to this sense of proportion and symmetry, Axel Heinz has called the character of Ornellaia 2018 La Grazia.

Belgian artist Jan Fabre was called upon to interpret this trait in his role as an eclectic and innovative figure on the international art scene. Continually seeking convergences across a range of disciplines, Fabre offers an original and personal interpretation of visual art, taking cues from theatre, literature and the world of symbolism.

Ornellaia 2018 La Grazia is the expression of a perfectly balanced vintage. After unusually hot, dry seasons, the earth finally received the rainfall and winter cold needed to rest and reset the vines lifecycle. The spring enjoyed occasional showers, which renewed the protective layer of the vineyard, while the summer proved dry, encouraging fruit set and culminating in veraison on clear, sunny days in late July. Healthy grapes benefitting from a superb balance of acidity and sugars were harvested between August 31 and October 8.

Taking inspiration from Ornellaia 2018 La Grazia as a divine gift of nature and a balance of symmetry and proportion, Jan Fabre used his trademark style and coral, the precious golden red of the Gulf of Naples, for the sculptures that top three Salmanazars (9 liters): A Candle of Mercy, The Crown of Kindness, and The Heart of Virtue. I believe that art should conciliate ethical values and aesthetic principles, explains the Belgian artist. For this reason, I decided to use forms such as the heart, crown, candle and wings in the sculptures for Ornellaia 2018. These are symbols of passion, virtue and purity, which come alive by means of twigs and red coral pearls; in A Candle of Mercy or The Heart of Virtue they liquefy, like the melting grace of Ornellaia wine.

In addition to the coral artworks for the 111 precious large formats of Ornellaia, Jan Fabre has also designed a special label for the 750ml bottles and a site-specific installation for the winerys dining room Orciaia: a set of drawings inspired by the sculptures and their symbolism.

Accompanied by the other large formats, only one of the three Salmanazars of Ornellaia 2018 La Grazia, The Crown of Kindness, will be auctioned by Sothebys in September 2021. Collectors around the world will be able to place bids online on the lots and have their purchases delivered directly from the evocative Bolgheri winery.

For the third consecutive year, profits will be given to the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundations Minds Eye project.

Jamie Ritchie, Worldwide Head of Sothebys Wine says: This is our 13th partnership with Ornellaia for their annual Vendemmia dArtista project, which is so special to us because it supports worthy artistic causes and combines the brilliance of the estates wines with the visual ingenuity of the artists who take part. With its emphasis on the senses, the Minds Eye project has been the ideal beneficiary these past three years. We look forward to offering a range of bottles from the 2018 vintage La Grazia, illustrated by Jan Fabre, in our online sale later this year, headlined, as ever, by a unique Salmanazar. As in previous years, we expect the lots to attract an international group of bidders who wish to purchase these exclusive bottles and enjoy unique experiences.

The profits made by Vendemmia dArtista allow the Minds Eye program to be extended both on site at the Guggenheim as well as online and ensure that its excellence continues to guide museum programming in different parts of the world.

With the continued support of Ornellaia, the Guggenheim has been able to amplify the reach and resonance of our Minds Eye program, said Richard Armstrong, Director of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and Foundation. Ornellaia has helped us remain connected to our visitors through increased access programming and the creation of a new digital sensory guide that shares the experience of being at the museum with an ever-widening global audience. We speak for the many beneficiaries of Ornellaias generosity in expressing real gratitude.

Giovanni Geddes da Filicaja, CEO of the Bolgheri winery says: Since the introduction of the Vendemmia dArtista project in 2009, we have donated more than 2 million euros. It is deeply rewarding to see the program develop and know that the work we are doing gives the blind and persons with low vision an opportunity to discover contemporary art through the use of the senses. At the same time, the Minds Eye program will soon offer the possibility to extend the same model not only to other museums belonging to the Guggenheim Foundation, but also to art institutions in the rest of the world, thereby making art accessible to even more people.

About Ornellaia - http://www.ornellaia.com

Ornellaias philosophy considers the birth of the wines to be the truest expression of their terroir. The grapes for Ornellaia are selected by hand, and picked in the estate's vineyards in Bolgheri, on the Tuscan coast. The varying natures of the estate's terroirs, marine, alluvial and volcanic, are ideal for the cultivation of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. The Estate extends over 115 hectares along the Tuscan coast, just a short distance from the medieval hamlet of Bolgheri and the famed cypress-lined avenue Viale dei Cipressi. The constant work of the Ornellaia team and the ideal microclimatic and geological characteristics have brought the wines great international success since the first vintage of Ornellaia in 1985. In 2001, the 1998 Ornellaia was declared Wine of the Year by the American journal Wine Spectator. In 2011 the German publication Der Feinschmecker awarded Ornellaia its most sought-after award, the Weinlegende. Ornellaia has received considerable recognition in the national and international press, and is consistently ranked among the top estates by Wine Advocate, Wine Spectator, James Suckling, Antonio Galloni, Bruce Sanderson and the Italian Wine Guides: Gambero Rosso, Espresso, and Veronelli

About Vendemmia dArtista

The Ornellaia Vendemmia dArtista project celebrates the exclusive character of every new vintage of Ornellaia. Every year, starting with the release of Ornellaia 2006 in May 2009, a contemporary artist crafts a site-specific artwork and a set of limited-edition labels, inspired by a word chosen by the Estate Director, Axel Heinz, to describe the personality of the new vintage.

A label styled by the artist features on one of the six 750ml bottles in every case of Ornellaia. As in previous years, the project includes a limited edition of 111 large-format bottles (100 Jeroboams - 3 liters, 10 Imperials - 6 liters and 1 Salmanazar - 9 liters) which are numbered and signed personally by the artist. Every year, a selection of these bottles is auctioned by Sothebys and the profits go to support the Minds Eye program at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation.

About the Minds Eye program

The Minds Eye program, created by Guggenheims Education Department, assists visitors who are blind or have low vision in experiencing art by using all the senses. This approach promotes the development of creative impressions, emotional connections and memories, whose perception endures over time. As in art, the appreciation of fine wine requires the involvement of all the senses. It was this shared idea that resulted in Ornellaia lending its support to develop this particular program. Donations collected through Ornellaia Vendemmia dArtista project enable the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation to further the activities of the Minds Eye program aimed at distributing the model in other art institutions, ensuring that its excellence continues to guide the museum programming for the benefit of the blind and persons with low vision all over the world.
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has announced that it has awarded the contract to launch the initial elements of the lunar outpost for its Artemis mission to the Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX), which is owned by multi-billionaire Elon Musk.

SpaceX Gets NASA Contract Again

According to the NASA blog, SpaceX will be lending its Falcon Heavy rocket to the United States space agency to deliver the agency's Power and Propulsion Element (PPE) and the Habitation and Logistics Outpost (HALO), which are the initial elements of the Gateway.

The outpost's foundation will be built by Maxar Technologies and Northrop Grumman Space Systems, respectively.

Based on the announcement, NASA is planning to launch both the PPE and HALO in March 2024.

They are expecting to launch SpaceX Falcon Heavy containing both the elements from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida.

The overall cost for the mission is nearly $332 million, which already includes the launch service and other mission-related costs, as per the space agency.

Read Also: Mars Medicine: NASA Shares FPSD Agrobacterium Technique to Help Sick Astronauts

The Foundations of the Gateway

According to Space.com, the lunar outpost will serve as a docking station to NASA spacecraft that will be visiting the moon, such as the Orion spacecraft that will ferry the astronauts to the Gateway.

The PPE is a 60-kilowatt class solar electric propulsion spacecraft that will provide cosmonauts under the Artemis mission with power, attitude control, high-speed communications, and can also be used to control the Gateway to different lunar orbits, which should make it easier to access different points of the moon.

Meanwhile, the HALO is a pressurized living quarter where the astronauts who are visiting the Gateway will reside and work.

The HALO will serve as the docking outpost and the command and control center.

It will provide support science investigations, supplement life support systems aboard the Orion, distribute power, and provide communications for visiting lunar surface expeditions and vehicles

A Pit Stop to the Moon

The Gateway, which is roughly one-sixth of the size of the International Space Station (ISS), will then be the first long-term orbiting outpost around the moon and will be vital for the upcoming Artemis mission, providing sustainability and support for the astronauts that will be taking part in the expedition on the lunar surface.

Furthermore, it will serve as a pit stop before reaching the lunar surface.

The European Space Agency (ESA) will also be collaborating with NASA and will provide the service module for the Gateway, which will include vital life support elements such as water and oxygen, temperature controls, and electricity.

ESA officials wrote in their website that the life support systems they will provide to the Gateway can support astronauts for 90 days at a time.

As of now, NASA has paused the search for a human landing system that will be transporting cosmonauts from the Gateway to the moon, but it is expected that reviewing for the bids will resume soon.

This is the second contract awarded to SpaceX this week, with the first as the $98.8 million worth contract to launch NASA's SPHEREx astrophysics mission.

Related Article: SpaceX 'Resilience' ISS Mission Breaks a Record: Four Astronauts Spend Most Days in Space

This article is owned by Tech Times

Written by: Nhx Tingson

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
China has accused Australian universities of providing low-quality education in an attack many believe is politically motivated and designed to raise concerns about the $38billion higher education sector Down Under.

The Chinese Ministry of Education slammed a number of Australian universities, claiming they were failing to sufficiently invest in teaching.

Australian universities are now expected to come under the scrutiny of a special taskforce the ministry will establish to audit joint partnership courses as the relationship between the two countries worsens, The Australian reported.

China has already crippled many Australian industries with trading tariffs, including beef, barley and wine, with fears the highly-profitable education sector could be next.

'In order to strengthen the quality assurance and improve the sustainable development of Australia-China joint co-operation programs, the degree centre (of the ministry) will launch a special evaluation taskforce in due course,' the ministry said.

China has accused the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (students are pictured) and other Australian universities of providing 'insufficient investment in high-quality educational resources in Chinese-Australian co-operative education'

China says it will establish a taskforce 'to strengthen the quality assurance and improve the sustainable development of Australia-China joint co-operation programs'. Pictured, Swinburne University

The ministry said a review from the past five years found Australian universities were not up to scratch with their educational investment.

'Since 2016, it has been found that Australian universities such as the University of Southern Queensland, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Griffith University, Swinburne University of Technology and other(s) have insufficient investment in high-quality educational resources in Chinese-Australian co-operative education,' the ministry said.

The comments come after the Ministry of Education warned Chinese students to carefully consider their country of study, warning they risked physical attack in Australia. International students are currently locked-out of Australia due to Covid-19 border closures.

China has joint university partnerships with other countries including the United States, United Kingdom and Canada - but only Australia has been singled out by the ministry.

More than 100 degree programs are offered in China through the Australian-Chinese university partnership.

There are concerns among the higher education sector China's comments are politically motivated designed to spark concerns about the quality of education offered in Australia.

More than 100 degree programs are offered in China by Australian universities through partnerships with Chinese universities

The University of Southern Queensland said it had not provided any of the courses since 2018, while RMIT said it was aware of the ministry's comments and they welcomed 'engagement with external quality reviews of our programs'.

Swinburne University said it was working to ensure Australian and Chinese regulations are adhered to at all times.

Griffith University said China has 'not had any concerns raised in relation to our joint programs' and was 'seeking more information on this matter through the Australian embassy in Beijing'.

The higher education sector is worth about $38billion to the Australian economy but has been struggling due to the border closures preventing international students from returning.

Universities Australia this month warned more job losses are on the cards because of the ongoing economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Australian higher education sector's peak body estimates about $1.8billion in operating revenue was lost in 2020 compared with the year before

The sector is preparing to lose another $2billion this year, largely due to international students unable to travel to Australia (stock image)

The sector's peak body estimates about $1.8billion in operating revenue was lost in 2020 compared with the year before.

Compared with universities' pre-pandemic budgeted revenue for 2020, the loss amounts to more than $3billion.

The sector is preparing to lose another $2billion this year, largely due to international students still unable to travel to Australia.

Tensions between the countries have escalated in recent months, with an opinion piece in The South China Morning Post blaming Prime Minister Scott Morrison for further alienating the relationship between Australia and China.

'Principled or impetuous, Australian leaders should have known the implications of their stance, yet they acted against the country's national interests,' Winston Mok wrote.

'Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison's recent overture of dialogue with China was promptly rebuffed  with good reason. While he said Australia was "committed to engaging with China", this statement was preceded by highlighting Australia's participation in Quadrilateral Security Dialogue and the Five Eyes intelligence alliance.'

Prime Minister Scott Morrison (pictured) has come under fire amid claims he has been further alienating the Australia-China relationship

Australia and China have been engaged in trade disputes for about a year. Australia has also led calls for an inquiry into the origins of Covid-19 and the boycotting of Huawei.

In December, Australia referred China to the World Trade Organisation over its 80 per cent tariff on barley imposed last May.

Beijing claims the tariffs are needed because Australia has been selling barley below the cost of production in a practice known as dumping, which Canberra denies.

China last year also blocked most of Australia's top exports such as coal and meat.
A suspect who allegedly murdered his girlfriend and her mother over love conflict has turned himself in to police in Binh Phuoc Province in southern Vietnam.

Binh Phuoc officers confirmed on Wednesday that Tran Cong Minh, a.k.a. Minh Bao, a 32-year-old in the province's Hon Quan District had surrended himself.

Minh is the prime suspect in the alleged murder of Tran Kim Phuong, 65, and Pham Thi Thuc Hung, 30, who lived in Tong Cui Lon Hamlet, Phuoc An Commune, Hon Quan District.

The incident occurred in Phuong and Hungs house at around 4:30 pm on Tuesday.

According to preliminary information, neighbors heard loud screams coming from Phuongs house and ran over to discover the two bodies of Phuong and her daughter.

Police officers investigate the crime scene in Binh Phuoc Province, Vietnam. Photo: V.T.

Evidence at the scene indicated that Huong had passed away with severe wounds all over her body.

Phuong with same injuries was rushed to the hospital but she succumbed to her wounds at the infirmary.

According to police officers, Minh turned himself in the day after the incident.

At the police station, Minh confessed that his motive for committing the crime came from the love conflict between him and Hung.

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opinion

As development and democracy are deprived of a destination but are endless roads of consistent actions and consequences through which the state is adjudged, Obasanjo admonished all to keep pressing for a viable democratic space in Africa. "Leadership re-arming," as he puts it, will ensure that Nigeria remains the bastion of hope for Africa and the entire black race.

In the pre-interview article I wrote about the "Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse", I promised to get our distinguished former president, His Excellency, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, on the Toyin Falola Interviews where, as someone who had been at the frontline tackling this post-colonial contraption, his thoughts on managing these horsemen could be heard. Well, I did. And as expected, the meeting, held on Zoom and broadcast live on YouTube, was fantastic. The insights covering the two hours and thirty-minutes meeting reflect critically on the African predicaments in the 21st century and how to move out of the quagmire. The elderly statesman responded to questions ranging from the post-colonial formation and implications of African borders, democracy, the Chinese presence in Africa, corruption and leadership, youth engagement in governance, the restructuring debate in Nigeria, insecurity, elections, and lots more. If that terrific marauder in the name of COVID-19 had restricted our social activities in the realm of physical contact, the ingenuity of Eric Yuan, Steve Chen, Mark Zuckerberg and others brought us even closer. Eminent persons in the academy, media, public service, public space, as well as students and youth from Europe, America, and Africa, were thrown into the loop of the meeting and posed their questions to Chief Obasanjo.

It was even more interesting in that those from the intellectual community, like Richard Joseph, who have critically written about Obasanjo's administration and involvement in the Nigerian story, were present to further get a hold of the wisdom from the proverbial horse's mouth. But like the scribe summing his teaching to his students, the Ebora of Owu would tell all to remain calm and not be given to despondency, as the key to breaking the niche of the four horsemen remains with the people. From the precarious abyss-looking Nigerian condition to which the likes of the brilliant former Deputy Governor of the Central of Bank of Nigeria, Dr. Mailafia Obadiah, were worriedly concerned to the systemic and increasing Chinese presence in Africa, which bothered the Dean of the Veronica Adeleke School of Social Sciences at Babcock University, Professor Olajumoke Yacob-Haliso, and the significance of youth involvement in the democratisation of Africa, which falls within the constituency of youth curiosity, given the cliche about the leaders of tomorrow, the above sums up Baba's admonition and response to questions raised at the meeting. Liberalism and liberal democracy, he argued, are built on contesting interests that must be taken into consideration by the state. Therefore, in the case of Chinese activities, Africa cannot reasonably develop a phobia for colonisation now, having been birthed from the process. But instead, these states can build solid structures and systems that protect the interests of their people in their bilateral and unilateral deals with Beijing.

From the realist perspective, the school of thought in which Obasanjo addressed the issues of the time, Beijing will not close a deal with Africa or any African state with the paramount aim of changing the poverty dynamics in the region but in China. All developed countries stepped on the path of development when the states began to realise the potentials of their populations in engineering this process and initiated networks and systems that could help annex these potential entities. Tellingly, a different story cannot follow in Africa, as development is essentially people-oriented. What a Chinese is worth abroad, like the American, is a plus or minus to the image of the Chinese government. China will protect this, even in the face of dire consequences for any of its partners, be it in India, the Philippines, Samoa, Taiwan, or any part of Africa. The simple and fundamental principle of state relations is that, as Obasanjo himself has long opined in one of his past writings, there is no permanent friend or enemy, but only permanent interests. Obasanjo posits that until this becomes the morning rhyme of those at the helm of state affairs in Africa, before launching out to sign papers in which details are, at best, ambiguous, and at worse, "classified," China will keep seizing ports, state media houses, and other notable infrastructures in Africa as part of the preparation and for the potential realisation of a second colonisation to "teach us a lesson."

From the discussion, since most of what make up the norms of social relations, engagements and expectations in many African states, especially in the south of the Sahara, are pragmatised by people who have not seen their state constitutions before, let alone read and digested the frames for their conduct or territorial integrity, the artificiality of African boundaries, though it might not be the best thing to happen to Africa, cannot and should not ordinarily have been the bane of post-colonial African predicaments. The problem of this, which in the case of Nigeria was finalised by the 1914 restructuring of the British colony, lies heavily on the manipulation of these boundaries for political gains.

The former president recalled his experience in the southern part of Cameroon during his early days in the military, following a mission designated to his platoon, the 5th Battalion, to root out terrorists hideouts in the area and capture the leader. A family tried to cross what the state regarded as the border, but which the people regarded as the next village. This is indeed the story of many, like the people of Ketu in the present-day Republic of Benin, who were forced to live according to a new identity by colonial machinations but still maintained pre-colonial relations with their relatives and neighbours in present-day Nigeria. In the long-expression, virtually all the cultural groups that made up each "artificial" state in Africa have had varying levels of relations in the past and fought together for independence. Yet, ethnicity pitched towards religious differences choke the post-colonial system.

Even though Africa has been badly treated in modern history and has contributed immensely to the advancement of cultures and civilisations around the world, Baba concludes that "the world owes us nothing," but we owe ourselves a lot. Leadership in Africa needs the thorough attention of the people, the youth especially.

According to Obasanjo, rethinking political leadership in Africa thus requires all hands on deck for a debate on how to shift this space to illuminate good tidings for the population of Africa. From his own experience, he suggests that a firm root in economic matters and how the global system works should be made imperative for the recalibration of leadership and selection of people's representatives in African states. This is more so considering that, like the rest of the world, Africa has grown past the age where direct democracy could be practiced at the village square, and the representative democracy practiced can only serve well if the few elected or appointed to lead the people are fully equipped with the ability to pursue their responsibilities which, due to the de-territorialisation of states and peoples in the recent times, will inevitably be moulded and remoulded by global realities. It is imperative to add too that losing touch with these two important factors -- economics and world politics -- cost Africa its independence. Until their lands were forcibly taken from them and their titles, prestige, and livelihood threatened by the aggressive encroachment of Europeans, post-1500 leaders in Africa were hardly aware of what was coming for them.

The 19th century unveiled the masquerade, and the rest is added to an already horrendously marginalised history of the people. Even though Africa has been badly treated in modern history and has contributed immensely to the advancement of cultures and civilisations around the world, Baba concludes that "the world owes us nothing," but we owe ourselves a lot. Leadership in Africa needs the thorough attention of the people, the youth especially. In this case, the youth cannot complain of unemployment, the porous educational system, and neglect by the state when they are the ones who spearhead the manipulation of elections or refuse to take an active part in governance. On a general scale, the people of the state, through their unions and associations, cannot continue to demand their share of the national cake when the rots that obfuscate the adequate flow of this cake across the table persists because of their actions and inactions. To the political elites, keeping these rots have become the only thing of importance to protect as they serve their purpose of keeping many in poverty and distracted from issues affecting them, so as to recycle themselves through the sheer ignorance that oozes from this system. Like many have said, President Obasanjo reiterates that nobody will hand over change to the people; they have to take it.

In as much as the problem with Africa goes beyond leadership but transcends to followership -- the people, among whom leadership is taken -- it will be insanity driven by macabre intent to lay the leading role in the reinvention of a society in the hands of the masses. The masses, as we know, share a mob orientation which deprives them of the ability to process information or ideas rationally and independently. And it was in the realisation of this that the state emerged and the idea was sustained. Since the whole population cannot make collective decisions but chaos without a guiding authority, it behooves the peoples' representatives to flock this population along the path of a social form and consciousness that fits into the well-conceived national interest/plan of the state. No doubt the people have a role to play, and that is to ensure that the right people are given positions of power. As the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, noted in 2018, the world is suffering from a "trust deficit disorder." This is even worse in Africa and other third world countries. Bridging the huge deficit of trust between African leaders and their subjects will require developing a national strategy or a grand norm to which all is committed.

In the modern world, nothing retrogresses a nation more than policy inconsistency. There are two ways to this in Africa, as elsewhere. One is the failure of the political leaders to follow through on their campaign promises and demands of a policy -- if it were to be a viable one, anyway. The other is the lack of continuity in government. Whereas both scenarios are deeply at play in the Nigerian case, some African states like Cameroon and Uganda still suffer the consequences of the former. It was to the latter that Obasanjo concentrated as he responded to the question about the stunted growth of the Nigerian project and why his administration failed to lift Nigeria out of the Third World narrative. He cited the example of how his successors left equipment worth millions of dollars, meant for the generation of increased electricity supply in the country, to damage at the port where they had arrived from the United States. More unfortunate is that to get these expensive gadgets working again, they have to be taken back to the States for servicing at another huge cost to the country. Yet, the country wallows in darkness, limiting the choices of investors, and ensuring a weakling local industrial drive.

Another case in point is the relegation of cocoa production, which had increased from about 150,000 metric tons per year to about 400,000 during his eight-year rule as a civilian president. Only about half of this is left in the yearly production of the country. Subsequent leaders have seemingly acceded to the plea of President Kufuor of Ghana to Obasanjo during his tenure, to leave cocoa production for Ghana, since Nigeria is blessed with oil. He cited these and many more as examples to drive home his point about the tedious task of leadership, which he described as an obligation to serve God. As he noted, "You cannot serve God without serving humanity." Of course, the call to lead is the call to serve through the three tenets he gave as justice, fairness, and equality. To achieve this in the face of a blinking democratic future in Africa is, as he said, to inject new tonic into the democratisation process of states in the region. This tonic, we have highlighted above in the reinvention of state-societal relations. We are reminded that though democracy might not be a perfect model of governance, and the applicability of this form of government in Africa over the years is only a matter of metrics or magnitude that only vary from one place to the other in their deficient forms, it is still the only system that could generate a sense of belonging among the people.

Many have identified the restructuring of the governance morphology in Nigeria as the way forward from its peculiar mess. While Obasanjo agreed with this, he emphasised the ambiguity of the restructuring movement to articulate his stand on the issue. "What you call restructuring, I call devolution of power, resources, and responsibilities."

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As development and democracy are deprived of a destination but are endless roads of consistent actions and consequences through which the state is adjudged, Obasanjo admonished all to keep pressing for a viable democratic space in Africa. "Leadership re-arming," as he puts it, will ensure that Nigeria remains the bastion of hope for Africa and the entire black race. The country is not only blessed with a population that makes it the largest concentration of Black people in the world but also of natural endowments and towering, stellar figures. Many have identified the restructuring of the governance morphology in Nigeria as the way forward from its peculiar mess. While Obasanjo agreed with this, he emphasised the ambiguity of the restructuring movement to articulate his stand on the issue. "What you call restructuring, I call devolution of power, resources, and responsibilities." This came up when he was reminded that he had the opportunity to effect this change, to which he responded by reminding all that never at any time had the country had it this bad economically, socially, and politically, breathing life to the restructuring debate. More so, restructuring had been consistently taken by the state from the colonial times, one of the earliest forms of which was mentioned earlier in the 1914 amalgamation of the northern and the southern protectorates.

Obasanjo's government adjusted the allocation formula for states but failed to encourage a structure that could make these states self-sufficient and contributing entities to the federal government coffers. Therefore, as he admitted in the meeting, the restructuring needed now would mean that federating units are viable enough on their own to take more responsibilities from the concurrent list. With the pace of insecurity and the rise of local militias and the reign of vigilante groups in various parts of Nigeria, he described state policing as an overdue part of the imminent restructuring of Nigeria but disregarded the need for a National Guard on the ground that creating more security units will not resolve the insecurity in the nation. This is given precedent in the making of the various units of the Nigerian police and their effectiveness in the face of the outcry by the people to scrap some of these units like the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), which had turned into Special Robbery Squad.

Bringing together people from different walks of life in a meeting like this with President Olusegun Obasanjo can only attune to the depth of discussions and analysis, some of which have been adumbrated here. Our next guest on the Toyin Falola Interviews is Dr. Awolowo Dosumu to examine the legacy of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, to be followed by Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah. Both will offer resourceful engagement with the African condition in the world and the way forward from another front-runner in the African project.

We thank President Olusegun Obasanjo and the distinguished members of the audience for the time joyously spent with us on the interview. We look forward to more insightful interactions like this soon.

Toyin Falola is professor of History at The University of Texas at Austin.

(This is a report on the interview conducted with President Obasanjo on Jan. 31st, 2021) For its entire recording, see https://youtu.be/8_ue5Hvi1vY)

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New Delhi: India's Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla will visit Russia next week and this visit will be for a couple of days which will see a number of bilateral meetings. The visit comes even as both sides have been engaged at multiple levels, from cooperation against COVID-19 pandemic to defence.

The visit, in the works for some time, will be the first foreign visit of the top Indian diplomat in 2021. The focus will be on the India-Russia annual summit in 2021, with Russian President Vladimir Putin's India visit. Russia and India have an annual bilateral summit level mechanism that alternates between the two countries.

PM Modi had visited Russia's Vladivostok in 2019 for the summit, while 2018 saw the visit of President Putin visiting Delhi for the annual summit. In 2020, the summit could not take place due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Russia and Japan are the only two countries with which India has this mechanism.

A multilateral focus will also be there since India and Russia are part of the BRICS and New Delhi being the chair of the grouping this year. 2020 saw Union Defence Minister visiting Moscow twice, first for the 75th anniversary of Victory Day and then for the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) defence minister. Union External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar visited the country too for the SCO FMs meet.

Russia will be delivering the S-400 missile system by the end of 2021, in what will be a significant defence-related development between New Delhi and Moscow. The USD 5 billion deal was signed in October 2018 by both countries. While this is the first visit of the Foreign Secretary in 2021, 2020 saw him travelling to Bangladesh, Myanmar, Maldives, Nepal, France, Germany, UK amid the COVID019 pandemic.

At Donald Trumps impeachment trial yesterday, several Democrats highlighted a tweet that the former president sent the day before the attack on the Capitol, blasting GOP senators as too feckless to help him overturn the election.

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 DC, Trump wrote, referring to supporters already arriving to disrupt Congresss counting of electoral votes.

As the Democrats noted, Trump regularly pressured the GOP Surrender Caucus to help steal the election. Yet, in so doing, they portrayed Republicans largely as passive targets of his rage  without mentioning the extensive work Republicans actually did do to help him overturn the outcome.

Similarly, at another point, Democrats hammered Trump for cheering on Texas supporters who menacingly surrounded then-candidate Joe Bidens campaign vehicles on a highway. Left unsaid was that some Republicans listening as jurors  such as Florida Senator Marco Rubio  also cheered them on.

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The moments captured an important tension at the heart of Trumps impeachment trial. Democrats have made a strategic decision that if they refrain from implicating the GOP in Trumps misdeeds, then some might be more gettable as votes to convict Trump. But the result is this: a large part of the story simply isnt being told. The role in this whole saga of the GOPs ongoing radicalisation, and its increasing comfort with anti-democratic tactics, openly authoritarian conduct and even political violence, is largely going unmentioned.

Whether they are saying so or not, the case the Democrats are making most definitely does implicate much of the GOP. At every stage in all the corruption and misconduct theyre documenting, Trump enjoyed support and even active enabling from the majority of influential figures in his party.

An essential component of the case against Trump is that his assault on democracy began months before January 6. As Democrats graphically detailed yesterday, through much of the 2020 campaign Trump lied that Democrats were in the process of stealing the election, and that if he lost, it would be an inherently illegitimate outcome.

This effort accelerated after the election, as Democrats also detailed. He filed frivolous lawsuits, spread bizarre conspiracy theories, and even pressured election officials to corruptly change results in his favour. For weeks, he told his supporters the election had been stolen from them, and urged them to descend on the Capitol to set things right.

Democrats are now making a powerful case that all this added up to perhaps the most grave betrayal of the Constitution ever perpetrated by an American president. But if thats so, you must also conclude that the Republican Party amounted to a mass of co-conspirators in that betrayal.

It doesnt matter that Trump castigated them for not doing enough. They did do an extraordinary amount, both through sins of commission and omission alike.

Even as Trump spent months throughout the summer and autumn clearly telegraphing his plot to use mail delays to try to invalidate millions of legal votes, very few Republicans criticised this or said it was unacceptable.

Then, when Biden did win, most of them wouldnt even say explicitly that Biden won for many weeks. It wasnt until six weeks after the election that Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell finally admitted Biden was the victor. He and other Republicans delayed for the cynical purpose of keeping GOP voters energised in the Georgia run-offs.

Then on top of that, large swathes of the GOP supported a lawsuit designed to invalidate millions of votes based on fictions to pave the way for state legislators to send separate electors, swinging the election to Trump. And then, even after the attack, more than 100 House Republicans voted to invalidate Biden electors, carrying forward Trumps effort to overturn the election and keep himself in power illegitimately.



Democrats may or may not be making the strategically correct decision in refraining from telling this tale. But either way, a reckoning with the arguably bigger and potentially more consequential story  ongoing GOP radicalisation  has been postponed. And it isnt going away.
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Dramatic footage shows the moment three Cuban nationals were rescued from an inhabitable island in the Bahamas by the US Coast Guard on Tuesday before being detained by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.

Members of the Coast Guard helicopter crew are seen in the video hoisting the two men and a woman into the aircraft during Tuesday's rescue. The group, who had been stranded on the island for 33 days - and even ate rates to survive - were then transferred to the Lower Keys Medical Center in Florida with no reported injuries, according to a statement from the Coast Guard.

By Wednesday, the three Cuban nationals were moved to an immigration facility in Pompano Beach, US Customs and Border Protection said, where they were being held.

According to Border Patrol, agents learned the woman was married to one of the men and the trio had fled Cuba in a makeshift boat with hopes of landing in the Florida Keys, but instead the boat suffered mechanical failure.

Authorities did not say why the trio fled Cuba or if they were trying to arrive in the US to seek asylum or be with family members.

A crew member is seen on the ground helping each person into the basket so that they could be hoisted to safety

In this image, one of the Cuban nationals is seen being lifted into the aircraft. The trio was stranded on a deserted island in the Bahamas for 33 days before being rescued by the Coast Guard on Tuesday

Members of the Coast Guard helicopter crew are seen in the video hoisting the two men and woman, who are now in ICE custody, into the aircraft during Tuesday's rescue

The trio (pictured) told rescuers that they ended up on the island about five weeks ago after their boat capsized in rough waters and they swam to shore

The group, who said they survived on conchs and rats, were spotted by officers on Monday.

The officers saw them waving flags during a routine air patrol of the waters around Anguilla Cay, an uninhabited Bahama Banks' island between Cuba and the Florida Keys.

They told rescuers that they ended up on the island about five weeks ago after their boat capsized in rough waters and they swam to shore.

Coast Guard aircraft commander Mike Allert told WPLG-TV that they appeared in 'dire straits due to a lack of fresh water on the island'.

The saga began on Monday when the first helicopter crew spotted the group and dropped a radio down to them.

A second crew was then dispatched to the area to bring the victims water and food. Neither aircraft was able to make a water landing so the victims had to wait another day to be rescued.

One of the castaways, who officials said were Cuban nationals, is seen next to a pile of supplies air-dropped by the Coast Guard before the rescue

The Coast Guard said officers spotted the people waving flags on Monday during a routine air patrol of the waters around Anguilla Cay, an uninhabited Bahama Banks' island between Cuba and the Florida Keys

The Coast Guard posted a video on Twitter of a helicopter crew dropping a package with food, water and a radio down to the castaways on Monday. The crew then returned on Tuesday to airlift the trio and transport them to the Lower Keys Medical Center

Lt Riley Beecher, a Coast Guard pilot, told the Sentinel that he was finishing up the last hours of his 24-hour shift when he spotted the castaways.

After dropping the radio, Beecher made the 150-mile trip back to the Coast Guard Air Station at the Miami/Opa-locka Airport.

'When we dropped the first radio [canister], you could see the relief on the woman's face as she put her hands on her face  that they had been found and help was on the way,' Beecher told the Sentinel.

After Beecher left, Lt Justin Dougherty and his crew were on their way to drop off food to the trio.

'Departing was not easy to do, but we left telling them that someone would be coming to help  whether it was a cutter or aircraft  we let them know that they are going to be in good hands as well,' Lt Justin Dougherty said.

A crew then returned on Tuesday to airlift them and bring them to the Lower Keys Medical Center before they were transported to the ICE facility.
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DENVER  Denver Mayor Michael Hancock has told the citys board of ethics in a letter that his trip last year to Mississippi was a mistake but not a violation of the ethics code.

Hancock had made a Thanksgiving trip to visit family despite sending messages on social media and to city staff asking them to avoid travel because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Stay home as much as you can, Hancock tweeted about an hour before he boarded his flight. Host virtual gatherings instead of in-person dinners. Avoid travel if you can.

Hancock later apologized for his actions and acknowledged he disobeyed his own public guidance.

As a public official, whose conduct is rightly scrutinized for the message it sends to others  I apologize to the residents of Denver who see my decision as conflicting with the guidance to stay at home for all but essential travel, he tweeted.

A complaint to the citys Ethics Board was filed in January by Denver resident Tonia Wilson.

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Hancock said in his letter that Wilsons complaint seems to rely on incorrect facts and/or assumptions, KCNC-TV reported. He did not specify what parts of the complaint were incorrect.

Wilson said the mayors decision to travel while telling constituents to stay home was unethical and showed that he abus(es) his office for his own benefit and for the benefit of his immediate family members.

The ethics board had voted unanimously in January to seek a formal response from the mayor.

I regret my decision to travel over the Thanksgiving holiday, Hancock wrote in his formal response. It was a mistake for which I have taken responsibility and apologized to the people of Denver.

The ethics board will meet again on Feb. 17 and is expected to consider the ethics complaint.
Remember that the outcome has already been decided and the Democratic Party doesn't have the votes to convict the former Prez.



The footsie detail has been confirmed by quite a few news outlets.



Here's our favorite write-up on the topic . . .


In the weeks since Patrick Edward McCaughey III was arrested for his involvement in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, few details about this Connecticut mans personal life or background were known. The 23-year-old, who was caught on camera as part of the mob trying to breach the building, was charged with assaulting two Capitol police officers with a dangerous weapon, among additional charges.

Government lawyers called him violent and asked the court not to release him on bond, stating that he remains a danger to the community, a flight risk and that evidence against McCaughey is strong and compelling. They also argue that there are no conditions or combinations of conditions that can ensure the safety of any person and the community while also ensuring he appears in future court proceedings.

Now, as friends and family push for McCaugheys release, a new, contradictory picture emerges. Here, two Patrick McCaugheys appear: the one who allegedly crushed a police officer between two doors with a stolen riot shield, and Pat, the young man who quietly helps his community and never got in trouble.

In eight character letters from friends and employers express surprise regarding any involvement at the Capitol. McCaughey  Pat  is described as a respectful, hardworking young man, a gentleman who did work on neighbors houses, volunteered for community events, worked consistently for the Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra, and loved his now-deceased cat, Gracie. The letters, filed in court this week, are part of a push to get McCaughey released from custody. A bond hearing is scheduled for Friday at 3 p.m.

Several letters described him as kind and thoughtful. He was a person who came to the rescue of two neighbors whose car broke down on a 100-degree day and made friends with another neighbors elderly dog.

I believe that he was at the wrong place at the wrong time, wrote Felicia Clem, who said shes known McCaughey for six years and worked with him at a local non-profit.

Pat does not belong in jail, wrote neighbors Mary and John Griffin.

I was both troubled and surprised to hear about his recent case as it seemed the antithesis to Patricks demeanor, wrote another neighbor, Jane Marie Grassi. McCaughey had been a good friend to Grassis son and a dog-sitter over the 15 years theyve known him, she said.

The letters come as he faces a series of charges including two counts of assault with a dangerous weapon, civil disorder, obstruction of an official proceeding, engaging in physical violence, disorderly and disruptive conduct, among others.

The letters not only serve as character references, but also paint a more intimate portrait of McCaugheys life. As a dual citizen of Germany and the US, he enjoyed German dinners on Christmas Eve with his family, had a gentle bond with his mother, and liked to cook. He often worked alongside his father, also named Patrick McCaughey, doing manual labor. Together, they worked on several projects for New Canaan Forge, LLC. At least two neighbors said that he worked on their houses or did odd jobs for them in the past. And from the fall of 2013 until May of 2018, he worked for Ridgefield Symphony Orchestra.

I cannot imagine what brought him to be involved in this event, wrote Catherine Hazlehurst, McCaugheys supervisor at the symphony. This is not the character of the young man I got to know and who I still believe him to be. There is so much good in him.

Hazlehurst went on to say that McCaughey stood out among other workers and was responsible beyond his years. She considered recommending that he take over her job as concert manager if she stepped down.

By all accounts, this is a different picture from the one portrayed in videos of the event and in the governments legal filings.

Government lawyers say that McCaughey voluntarily joined the mob  entering the West Terrace Tunnel at 2:49 p.m., leaving, and then returning at 3:05p.m.  and that there was no evidence that McCaughey was pushed into the tunnel by others, that his move toward the front to physically engage the police line was compelled by others, or that he tried to turn back from the mob.

Prosecutors also allege he said several things to the officers that were caught on camera including: Come on man, youre going to get squished just go home, Just go home, Dont try and use that stick on me boy, and Get out of our house. They add that he was aware of the affressive situation in the tunnel  as evidenced by the fact he was there, left, and then returned again.

McCaugheys lawyer, however, wrote that he had heretofore lived a spotless existence and simply decided to do a most American thing  to protest and petition his government for redress for what he and millions of other Americans perceive to be legitimate grievances about the Presidential Election.

The proposal from McCaugheys lawyer for release would be a real estate bond for his fathers New York house which carries a value of about $450,000, in addition to surety bonds in the amount of $250,000. McCaugheys father would also be willing to post an additional $150,000 surety bond, according to the proposal, and accept a lien in favor of the government on a property he owns in Maine worth about $150,000. McCaughey would be willing to wear a GPS tracking device, seek and obtain employment right away, surrender any passport in his name and limit his travel to Connecticut and the Southern District of New York.

Still, prosecutors argue that McCaugheys dual citizenship makes him a flight risk and that he remains a danger to the public.

He knew what was going on inside and could have chosen not to contribute to the violence taking place inside the tunnel. Instead, he chose to return and to fight, legal filings stated.

At one point, the McCaughey described by friends appeared to emerge as he assisted one of the officers he had been engaged with.

This moment of humanity  or regret  was another opportunity for McCaughey to stop and to walk away from the violence that day. Again, he chose not to, government lawyers said.

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Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-11 23:51:54|Editor: huaxia

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HARARE, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- Zimbabwean Information Minister Monica Mutsvangwa on Thursday sent her warm wishes to the Chinese people on the occasion of the Lunar New Year 2021.

The Chinese New Year 2021 will start on Feb. 12, and according to the Chinese lunar calendar, it is the year of the ox.

"The ox is regarded as a symbol of diligence, dependability, strength and determination, qualities that have long characterized our bilateral relations.

"Already, we are seeing opportunities for renewed vigor in the robust connections between China and Zimbabwe.

"On this auspicious occasion, I would like to wish Chinese leaders and people here endurance, strength, health, and as much happiness as these times can allow," Mutsvangwa said in an interview with Chinese media.

The year of the ox comes against the background of the global COVID-19 pandemic that has seen the two countries strengthening their cooperation in fighting the pandemic.

"Following the policy guideline and dovetailing our respective grand strategies for development, China and Zimbabwe will unlock enormous potential in our bilateral cooperation," said the minister. "The prospects are exciting and ours to shape. In solid steps, let's march forward together like the oxen. In unity, we will triumph." Enditem
According to the International Trade Commission document attached at the end of this story, SK Innovation has been hit by a limited exclusion order prohibiting the entry of certain batteries, cells, modules, packs, and components thereof. The order permits the battery division of the third-largest conglomerate in South Korea to import components for domestic production for the F-150 Electric and ID.4 for four and two years, respectively, after which Ford and Volkswagen have to change the supplier.There is, however, a bit of a catch. President Joe Biden may reverse the ruling in the next two months, and SK Innovation may be given a second chance because the current administration is very fond of electric vehicles.Now know as LG Energy Solution, the battery division of LG Chem is supplying Tesla, Chevrolet, Hyundai, and Kia at the present moment. SK Innovation, meanwhile, is setting up two factories in Georgia while the competing company operates a joint venture with General Motors in Ohio.As far as the F-150 Electric is concerned, the Blue Oval will offer rear independent suspension , a dual-motor drivetrain, and more ponies than the all-new Raptor. The Ford Motor Company describes the newcomer as the most powerful F-150 yet, which pretty much confirms that were looking at more than 500 horsepower and tire-scorching acceleration estimates.The Volkswagen ID.4 is a little more dare I say it vanilla, just like any other crossover designed to appeal to the masses. That may change with the ID.4 R at some point in the future, but the German automaker hasnt confirmed if a go-faster incarnation is on the horizon to complement the Tiguan R.
Tom Hallberg covers a little bit of everything, from skiing to long-form feature stories. A Teton Valley, Idaho, transplant by way of Portland and Bend, Oregon, he spends his time outside work writing fiction, splitboarding and climbing.
The Spare a Rose campaign encourages people to donate the $5 cost of each rose they would have given to someone on Valentine's Day to Life for a Child. Life for a Child believes that no child should die of diabetes and this campaign is critical to help it achieve this goal. The funds raised from the campaign enable the charity to partner with diabetes centers in countries such as Mauritania, Jamaica and India to provide critical supplies, including insulin and testing supplies, as well as much needed diabetes education. Every $5 dollars equates to one month's supply of insulin for a young person and the program currently supports over 22,000 young people in 43 countries.

Ascensia has committed to match their employees' donations up to a maximum of one rose for every one of the company's 1,700 employees. To date Ascensia and its employees have collectively donated over $40,000 to Spare A Rose, making it the largest corporate supporter for this campaign to date. This donation is equivalent to providing life-saving insulin supplies to almost 670 children for a year, who otherwise would have nowhere else to turn.

Rob Schumm, President of Ascensia Diabetes Care, explained: "While people around the world will be buying flowers and cards for their loved one this Valentine's Day, many of our employees will be choosing instead to donate to the Spare A Rose campaign. This is testament to how many employees at Ascensia are passionate about making a difference to the lives of people living with diabetes, both professionally and personally."

Dr. Graham Ogle, General Manager of Life for Child, explained the importance of companies providing support for Spare a Rose: "The tremendous efforts from employees at Ascensia has had a huge impact on our ability to save the lives of children with diabetes across the world. Many children in less resourced countries are walking a tightrope with their diabetes management and often do not have the basic supplies to keep them alive. Through the generous employee donations and company matching we have received from Ascensia, we are able to provide crucial supplies and education that enable more children to have access to the care they need for their diabetes."

Rob continued: "We are proud to have been an avid supporter of this worthwhile campaign, which not only raises funds for insulin and testing equipment, but importantly also helps to highlight the plight of many children with diabetes in countries, where they do not have access to these essential supplies. The work of Life for a Child is literally saving the lives of children around the world and I implore more people to donate, so that together we can make a difference."

Donations to Spare a Rose can be made at https://lfacinternational.org/sparearose/.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1436733/Ascensia_Diabetes_Care.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/749389/Ascensia_Diabetes_Care_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Ascensia Diabetes Care

Related Links

https://www.ascensia.com


Gipson, who testified against Elizondo and Salgado at their federal trial, would often feed the officers fake stories about people she had personal grudges against in exchange for off-the-books payment, Rocquemores filing alleges. The cops would then illegally use anonymous dummy informants to lie to judges, get search warrants and execute raids where they would plant evidence, she alleges.
Three Congressmen braved Midland freezing cold Wednesday to turn up the heat on the Biden administrations energy policies.

Congressman August Pfluger, whose 11th District includes Midland and Odessa, was joined by House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy of California and House Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Bruce Westerman of Arkansas to tour a Diamondback Energy drilling rig.

Following the tour, Pfluger told media there was one message from the tour: Dont mess with Texas, dont mess with our jobs, dont mess with our livelihoods, dont mess with our energy independence.

Without what those on the drilling rig behind him do, Pfluger said, this nation would be cold, dark and hungry.

What those on that drilling rig and others like it have done, he continued, is lift a billion people around the globe out of poverty by providing access to reliable, affordable, clean energy.

McCarthy decried the fact that with the stroke of a pen signing executive orders to cancel the Keystone XL Pipeline, President Biden had eliminated 1 million jobs that included not only the union workers involved with the pipeline but ancillary jobs at hotels and restaurants.

In the Permian Basin, he said the moratorium on oil and gas leasing and drilling permits on federal lands would result in lost jobs and housing foreclosures. Replacing them with solar panels doesnt add up, he said.

Whats worse is it makes our adversaries stronger and us less safe, he said, adding that it puts money in the pockets of adversaries while costing US jobs.

Beyond the jobs, McCarthy said, it is an issue of affordability because the cost of energy is part of the price of everything consumers buy.

Westerman commented that while the moratorium on federal lands does not directly impact Texas as it does New Mexico, you better believe theyre coming after you.

He also noted that domestic energy has its environmental benefits. We all breathe the air, we all drink the water. All of us want clean air, clean water and to make the environment better. Conservation comes from conservative and a real conservative means being a good steward of our resources. We can have a clean environment and a strong economy; theyre not mutually exclusive.

The three called on President Biden to reinstate the Keystone XL Pipeline and lift the moratorium on oil and gas activity on federal lands. McCarthy said there were a number of bills proposed  including one by Pfluger  to support oil and gas activity, and he called on Democrats to join Republicans in supporting the industry and its efforts to provide reliable, affordable, plentiful energy with a lower environmental footprint than nations that would be expected to supply energy to the US.
Lucknow, Feb 11 : The Uttar Pradesh government will cover nearly two lakh frontline workers across 75 districts in the vaccination session taking place on Thursday and Friday.

Additional Chief Secretary (Health and Family Welfare) Amit Mohan Prasad said that so far, nearly 15,000 frontline workers have taken the Covid-19 vaccine.

"In the next round, slated to take place on Thursday, over 2,000 sessions would be organised across 75 districts," he said.

Officials engaged in the vaccination process stated that on an average 100 persons would be covered per session. At this rate, the target is to cover two lakh frontline workers on Thursday.

The department has listed about eight lakh frontline workers for the vaccination.

Prasad further said that the session for frontline workers will continue on Friday as well while health workers who missed their vaccine could also take the jab on February 15.

Officials said that those who received the vaccine on January 16 will get the second dose on February 16.

Officials have urged the listed beneficiaries not to miss their vaccine as there was negligible risk of side effects.

Health officials stated that barely one in 1,500 is having mild side effects.

"India's vaccination experience so far has been very positive and encouraging. Also, both Covisheild and Covaxin are among the safest vaccines. In fact, only one in 1,500 of those who are vaccinated are having problems after vaccination, and that too, mildly," said a senior officer.
State House, Freetown, Wednesday 10 February 2021 - Dr Austin Hinga Demby has today subscribed to the oath of office as Minister of Health and Sanitation before His Excellency President Dr Julius Maada Bio, and assured that he is bringing a wealth of experience to the job.

Before his recent appointment, the US and UK trained health expert, with specialties in microbiology, epidemiology, and biostatistics, served as Deputy Director, Office of Global Health at Health Resources and Services Administration in the United States. He had also worked with the Centres for Disease Control and Preventions abroad for many years

Dr Demby described the ceremony of his swearing-in as a milestone, adding that with his wealth of experience having served in various parts of the world, he was confident and determined to deliver. He thanked the President for the opportunity to help him transform the health sector of the small west African nation.

"Mr. President let me assure you that I am ready for the job and I am willing to give my best. If someone is ready 100%, I am ready 200%. Sierra Leoneans are resilient people and they have demonstrated that during various challenging times such as Ebola and now COVID-19," he said.

In his brief remarks, the President congratulated him and wished him well, adding that his was a daunting task but with which he was remarkably familiar after helping the country during the Ebola outbreak in 2014/15 and now with the COVID-19 pandemic.

He reminded the new minister that the country was battling with the COVID-19 and that he was taking up a ministry with challenges which he must surmount to ensure that the government realised a major pillar of its human capital development.

A child remains in hospital after being seriously injured after a car crashed into the entrance of Perth Childrens Hospital on Wednesday night.

The crash happened about 8.30pm when a red Hyundai SUV smashed through the glass panels near the main entrance of the hospital.

The car crashed into the entrance of Perth Childrens Hospital on Wednesday night. Credit:Nine News Perth

A child inside the car was seriously injured while the driver, a 64-year-old man was also hurt.

Medical staff rushed to provide emergency first aid but both the driver and the child remained in hospital on Thursday morning.
Montreal, Quebec--(Newsfile Corp. - February 11, 2021) - Quebec Precious Metals Corporation (TSXV: QPM) (OTCQB: CJCFF) (FSE: YXEP) ("QPM" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it will be presenting at the Virtual Investor Day III ("VID III") February 17-18, 2021 hosted by IR.INC and FTMIG.

Mr. Normand Champigny, the CEO will provide an in-depth update on the Company at 12:30 pm EST, February 17, 2021. VID III is a completely interactive experience for feature companies and stakeholders. Feature companies will have 30 minutes to outline their investment opportunity, while stakeholders and the audience will be invited to engage via direct Q&A, polls and other interactive tools after and during each presentation. To register for VID III, please click the link: https://www.bigmarker.com/series/virtual-investor-day-confere2/series_summit.

About Quebec Precious Metals Corporation

QPM is a gold explorer with a large land position in the highly-prospective Eeyou Istchee James Bay territory, Quebec, near Newmont Corporation's Eleonore gold mine. QPM's flagship project is the Sakami project with significant grades and well-defined drill-ready targets. QPM's goal is to rapidly explore the project to advance it to the mineral resource estimate stage.

About IR.INC

IR.INC Capital Markets Advisory & Services works with its clients to develop and deploy strategic plans and build industry alliances while providing shareholder introductions and solutions. The Company also provides a number of traditional Investor Relations Services. You can find out more about IR.INC here www.irinc.ca.

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U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday announced sanctions against military leaders in Myanmar.

Biden said his administration was taking steps to prevent Myanmar's generals from having access to 1 billion U.S. dollars of government funds held in the United States.

The United States would identify the first round of sanctions targets this week and impose export controls, Biden said.

He also called on the Myanmar military to immediately release detainees, including President U Win Myint and State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi.

A one-year state of emergency was declared in Myanmar after U Win Myint and Aung San Suu Kyi were detained by the military on Feb. 1.

The military had demanded the postponement of new parliamentary sessions, alleging massive voting fraud in the November 2020 general elections, which saw the National League for Democracy win a majority of seats in both houses of parliament. Myanmar's Union Election Commission dismissed the allegation.
Mumbai: Actor Sanjay Dutt has made a sweet declaration of his love for wife Maanayata Dutt on their 13th wedding anniversary. The 'Munnabhai' actor took to Instagram to post an adorable picture of the couple standing with their arms wrapped around each other.

The lovebirds were dressed in black with Maanayata donning a saree with gold rims and Dutt with a long kurta. The picture seems to have been clicked at their residence.

Adding to the cuteness, Sanjay wrote in the caption, 11.02.2008 Loved you then. Love you even more now @maanayata_dutt Happy anniversary.

Maanayata and Sanjay Dutt share an unbreakable bond with each other. Last year, when Dutt was diagnosed with stage 3 Lung Cancer, Maanayata firmly stood by him and helped him through the challenging battle. Fortunately, Sanjay Dutt is cancer-free now as announced by him in October last year.

Sanjay Dutt and Maanayata got married in 2008 in a Hindu ceremony in Mumbai and on October 21, 2010. The duo is blessed with twins, Shahraan and Iqra.

Dutt also has a daughter named Trishala from his first marriage with Richa Sharma. However, his daughter currently resides with her maternal grandparents in the US.
Energy giant AGL will cut costs and look at possible changes to its business model after posting a $2.3 billion loss for the first half of 2021 against a backdrop of plunging wholesale energy prices.

Chief executive of the $7 billion power provider, Brett Redman, warned investors the company expects factors including policy measures to underwrite new build of electricity generation and lower technology costs to have an impact on wholesale energy prices for the longer term.

AGL chief executive Brett Redman. Credit:Louise Kennerley

The outlook remains challenging, he said.

Last week the company revealed $2.7 billion in writedowns, primarily related to historical contracts signed with wind farms when wholesale power prices and renewable energy certificates were priced much higher than they are today. Spot and forward energy prices are currently at levels not seen since 2015, Mr Redman said.
Why it is not yet time to write Sasikalas political obituary

Day after Sasikala's premature exit from politics, theories abound on her decision

Injustice: Sasikala's name 'deleted' from voters list, says her legal counsel

Sasikala's properties seized in Tamil Nadu

India

oi-Briti Roy Barman

Chennai, Feb 11: Three days after V K Sasikala, former Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalithaa's aide, returned to Chennai after completing her four-year jail term in Bengaluru in a corruption case authorities in different parts of the state have launched a crackdown against the jailed leader and her family members.

Sasikala's properties in Kanchipuram, Tanjavur, Tiruvarur and Chengalpet districts have been seized.

The administration has seized over 144 acres worth Rs 300 crore in Kanchipuram, over 26,000 square feet in Tanjavur, while assessing nearly 1,050 acres in Tiruvarur that belonged to a company owned by Sasikala and her family members. These properties were bought by companies between 1994 and 1996.

The crackdown on Sasikala's properties were launched following court orders received in disproportionate assets cases, district officials said in official statements.

But the timing of the raids has raised speculations as they come four years since the the expelled AIADMK leader was convicted in the cases and with only three months remaining for the election.

However, CM Palanisamy, said there is nothing political in this move and the government is only following a court order.

Notably, after travelling for 24 hours from Bengaluru to Chennai, when thousands of her supporters gave her a grand reception, 'Chinamma' has not had a visitor in a week.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Thursday, February 11, 2021, 23:29 [IST]
FLINT, MI -- The Genesee County Election Commission has rejected three separate sets of petition language aimed at recalling Flint Mayor Sheldon Neeley.

The commission voted unanimously on each proposed recall petition Thursday, Feb. 11, saying each would be unclear to voters.

I dont think the people to whom the petition is presented should have to guess..., said Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton, one of three members of the commission voting Thursday.

Leyton replaced Chief Probate Judge Jennie Barkey for the hearing and Leslie Raleigh, chief deputy clerk of the county, replaced Clerk-Register John Gleason. County Treasurer Deb Cherry is the third member of the commission.

Flint resident Arthur Woodson filed the proposed recall language against Neeley.

In the first petition language, Woodson stated Neeley signed a resolution which was presented to the Flint City Council on Nov. 23, 2020, authorizing a company to provide excess general liability insurance coverage. In another, Woodson said Neeley failed to deliver a required State of the City address during his first 12 months in office, and in the third proposed language, he said Neeley should be recalled because he was copied on an email from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy -- a violation notice concerning lead and copper monitoring of city water.

In December, the Election Commission also rejected recall language proposed from Woodson that targeted Neeley.

Its clear and factual ... No ifs, ands or buts about it, Woodson said of his petition language at one point in Thursdays hearing.

Woodson also challenged whether Leyton should vote on the petition language because his office would typically defend the Election Commission if he appeals its decisions.

Cherry said state law allows for the county prosecutor to sit as a member of the panel.

Neeley appeared at the commission meeting Thursday, but he did not speak. He was represented by Flint attorney Archie Hayman.

The mayor has said attempts to recall him have amounted to petty politics and personal agendas.

Read more on MLive:

Election Commission denies attempted recall of Flint Mayor Sheldon Neeley

Flint mayor targeted for recall for not yet delivering a State of the City address

Sheldon Neeley sworn in as Flint mayor, starts appointing staff
54 Senators Send Bipartisan Letter to Biden Criticizing Human Rights in Turkey

Yesterday, a bipartisan coalition of 54 Senators addressed a letter to President Joe Biden, expressing their concern over a deteriorating human rights record in Turkey. The letter cited Turkey's recent trends towards authoritarianism, in particular the jailing of journalists that oppose the government and its military involvement in Syria and Armenia.

The United States has increasingly condemned Turkey in recent years under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. According to the Senate letter, since the failed coup against him in 2016, Erdogan has been cracked down on domestic opposition, by systematically "[silencing] or [coopting] critical media outlets, [purging] independent judges and [replacing] them with party loyalists and [jailing] scores of journalists." However, the letter fails to mention the domestic crackdown on Christianity, by which the government has systematically deported Christians from Turkey. International Christian Concern (ICC) published a report last Fall on Turkey that outlines this persecution in greater detail.

Nevertheless, the Senators do specifically mention Turkish involvement in Azerbaijan's aggressions against Armenia in the recent war over Nagorno-Karabakh. This war is just one piece of Turkey's broader geopolitical goals in the region. Turkey and Azerbaijan are closely allied, in part due to their shared ethnic histories as Islamic Turkic nations. Armenia is the oldest Christian nation in the world, and sits directly in between Turkey and Azerbaijan, hindering the unification of the two Turkic nations. As displayed by the war crimes committed against Armenian civilians and the continued Turkish denial of the 20th century Armenian genocide, this conflict has much broader implications.

ICC published a report on the war, entitled The Anatomy of Genocide: Karabakh's Forty-Four Day War, and is currently running a petition calling for the release of Armenian prisoners of war who remain in Azerbaijani captivity despite the conclusion of the war last Fall.

The Senate letter, led by Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), is a manifestation of the bipartisan nature of this issue as well. In a time of great division in Congress, both Democrats and Republicans have continually united around a joint condemnation of Turkey's human rights abuses. The Senators hope that the United States will be able to bring an end to these abuses as a key ally to Turkey and a fellow member of NATO.

The Biden administration has continually expressed a desire to strengthen American alliances moving forward. Additionally, President Biden seems especially poised to address Turkey's abuses, due to his close relationship with the Greek Orthodox Church and appointment of Secretary of State Antony Blinken. This would be in stark contrast to President Donald Trump's approach to Turkey, as the his administration largely ignored President Erdogan's abuses, due to Trump's personal relationship with the Turkish president. Many advocates for religious freedom and human rights in Turkey celebrate the Senate letter to Biden and are optimistic about its chances for positive change.
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Today, much like last year, Guam wont be collectively gathering to thank and honor the troops who never came home. But that doesnt mean this Read more
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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.
New Delhi: The Crime Branch of Delhi Police has launched a massive hunt for actor-turned-activist Deep Sidhus three close friends for their alleged involvement in the Red Fort violence during the farmers tractor rally on the January 26.

According to sources, the Crime Branch is now searching for the actors three friends who went to the Red Fort along with him on the Republic Day. Sidhu was arrested for his alleged role in the violence that took place at the Red Fort and other parts of the national capital during the farmers' tractor parade.

The actor-activist was sent to seven-day police custody on Tuesday by a court here following his arrest a day earlier from Karnal bypass in connection with the violence at the Red Fort.

Following his arrest, he was handed over to the Crime Branch, which is probing the case in connection with the violence and vandalism at the historic fort. On the first day of police remand, the focus of investigation remained on how Sidhu reached the Red Fort and his activities there on the day of the incident, a senior police officer said.

According to the sources, Sidhu had told the Crime Branch officials that he stayed somewhere near Singhu Border on January 25. Deep Sidhu has told police that he had no "bad intentions" and went to the historic monument as everybody was going there.

The Punjabi actor then went to the Singhu border on January 26 and reached Red Fort at around 11 AM. Delhi Police had told Metropolitan Magistrate Prigya Gupta that Deep Sidhu was the main instigator. He allegedly instigated the mob not to follow the permitted route of the Kisan parade and to breach barricades with tractors on January 26.

Delhi Police told the metropolitan court that there is video evidence to show that Deep Sidhu entered Red Fort with supporters carrying lathis and flags. Delhi Police also told the court that he was at the rampart of the fort where the religious flag (Nishan Sahib) was raised by the protesters.

Meanwhile, another accused in the January 26 Delhi violence case, Iqbal Singh, was arrested by Special Cell from Hoshiarpur in Punjab on Tuesday night. The violence took place when tens of thousands of farmers broke barriers to storm the national capital on January 26 during their tractor parade to highlight their demand for repealing the new agri laws.

However, their parade dissolved into unprecedented scenes of anarchy as they fought with police, overturned vehicles and delivered a national insult hoisting a religious flag from the ramparts of the Red Fort, a privilege reserved for the tricolour.

Thousands of protesting farmers who reached ITO from the Ghazipur border clashed with police. Many of them driving tractors reached the Red Fort and entered the monument, where the religious flag was also hoisted. Over 500 police personnel were injured and one protestor died during the violence.

Live TV

District Chief Executive (DCE) of Ada West, Mr Adzoteye Lawer Akrofi has denied any involvement in recent shooting in the area by some youth in protest of the ongoing Songhor Lagoon development project undertaken by Electrochem Ghana Limited (EGL).



In a recent video circulating on social media, the DCEs name was mentioned to have allegedly led the group of persons to carry out the shooting.



But in an interview with the Ghanaian Times, Mr Akrofi said, the allegations were false, baseless, unfounded and malicious.



He added that the video was only meant to tarnish his hard earned reputation and distract the people from trusting in the life-changing Songhor project and should be ignored.



On the said date of the shooting, Mr Akrofi recounted that, he was engaged in meetings and official duties the entire day that he did not have any chance to step out to lead the shameful act.



I had meetings with contractors, Management of the Community Water and Sanitation (CWSA) and other agencies involved in developmental projects in Ada West, all in the interest of the people, he narrated.



After all this, how would I get the chance to step out and lead a group of people against another developmental project, he asked.



He indicated that, legal action would be taken against individuals trying to denigrate his hard-earned reputation adding that, his office was rather attacked by some hoodlums on the said date when he had closed from office without any provocation.



He said he was committed to ensuring the Songhor project was fully executed to give the area the needed revenue to develop.



He also urged EGL to engage all stakeholders across the board to avoid such unwarranted shooting activities going forward.



On last weeks shooting incident, he said all 14 persons who sustained various degrees of injuries have since been discharged from the Ridge Hospital.



Meanwhile, three persons arrested for attacking the Ada Police Command will be processed for court on charges of assault and unlawful entry.

Source: The Ghanaian Times









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Delirium, a form of acute brain dysfunction, is widespread in critically ill patients in lower resourced hospitals, and the duration of delirium predicted both mortality and disability at six months after discharge, according to a study published in PLOS ONE.

Working with partners in Zambia, Vanderbilt University Medical Center researchers evaluated 711 hospitalized critically ill patients; delirium occurred in 48.5%. The findings shed light on the impact of delirium on a patient's recovery -- and even whether a patient is likely to live or die.

There have been limited data on the prevalence and outcomes of delirium in low- and middle-income countries, despite there being high numbers of critically ill patients. The mitigation of delirium and post-acute support of patients with delirium is a growing public health concern in the U.S. and Europe as the number of patients in intensive care units surged with the rise of COVID-19 cases.

"There is a driving unmet need to understand what happens with people's brains in critical illness in low- and middle- income countries as well as with HIV in all settings. The necessity is now urgent because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Delirium has become the epidemic within the pandemic -- and it's the strongest predictor of long-term acquired cognitive impairment after critical illness. These are bread and butter issues people care about: will I live or die and if I live, what will I be like as a person," said Wesley Ely, MD, MPH, co-director of the Critical Illness, Brain Dysfunction, and Survivorship Center at VUMC and senior author.

Patients with delirium had a higher six-month mortality, 44.6%, than patients without delirium who had a 20.0% six-month mortality. Compared to no delirium, presence of 1, 2 or 3 days of delirium predicted higher odds of six-month mortality of 1.43, 2.20, and 3.92, respectively. A similar relationship was found between duration of delirium and odds of worse six-month disability, assessed using the WHO Disability Assessment Schedule.

The study adjusted for age, sex, education, income, Universal Vital Assessment (UVA) severity of illness score, HIV status, and current antituberculosis treatment in adult patients who spoke English, Nyanja, or Bemba at the University Teaching Hospital, a 1,655-bed national referral hospital in Lusaka with about 17,500 acute admissions annually.

The prevalence of HIV in the study cohort was 45.4% while 27.2% of participants had a history of tuberculosis, suggesting delirium is an important clinical issue impacting the lives of hospitalized patients with HIV and tuberculosis in Sub-Saharan Africa. The high mortality and disability associated with delirium in this medically and socioeconomically vulnerable patient population spotlights an urgent global health issue.

"Acute brain dysfunction can have a variety of drivers, yet we know that delirium can itself lead to poor outcomes. In other parts of the world delirium is recognized as a major public health concern, while in lower resourced communities the magnitude of the problem has been obscured by acutely pressing issues such as HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis. Our research suggests it's widespread and may present an opportunity to improve the lives of critically ill patients in low- and middle-income countries in the future as well as advocate for global critical care equity during the COVID-19 pandemic," said Justin Banerdt, MD, MPH, internal medicine resident at Yale School of Medicine, and corresponding author who led the study on the ground in Zambia while a MD/MPH student at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.

The next step is to see which interventions are effective in resource limited hospitals, said Douglas Heimburger, MD, MS, professor of Medicine and core faculty at the Vanderbilt Institute for Global Health. He leads projects with grant funding from the Fogarty International Center of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

"I'm glad for the opportunity to bring attention to the implications that delirium has on patients and communities with solid evidence. The takeaway is that delirium needs to be treated alongside the underlying and driving issue. It's an important message that needs to be a call to action so we can save and improve more lives," said Heimburger.

###

The study is part of a long-standing collaboration with the University of Zambia. It was supported by the Vanderbilt-Emory-Cornell-Duke Consortium for Global Health Fellows (NIH grant 2D43 TW009337), the Vanderbilt Medical Scholars Program, and the Vanderbilt Institute for Clinical and Translational Research (grant UL1TR002243).
JERUSALEM - Is Biden ghosting Bibi?

Since President Joe Biden took office, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, or "Bibi" as he is known here, has been waiting for the traditional courtesy call from the Oval Office. After all, both Presidents Donald Trump and Barack Obama reached the prime minister within days of taking their oaths of office.

But three weeks into his term, as Biden has worked deep into his Rolodex of world leaders without dialing Netanyahu's Balfour Street office, much of Israel's political class is ready to declare it a full-blown diplomatic snub. In the president's "thundering silence," some see a long-feared frosty tumble from the warm embrace Netanyahu enjoyed with Trump.

"Biden and his aides aim to tell Netanyahu: 'You're nothing special,'" security analyst Yossi Melman wrote in the daily Haaretz. "'The personal connection and chemistry you had with Donald Trump not only fail to advance your standing in Washington, they're an obstacle.'"

Officials in both capitals have dismissed the idea that Biden's call log carries any coded rebuke of Israel or its head of government. The White House says that Biden is dialing region by region and that the Middle East is coming up.

The president's first calls, to Mexico and Canada, and to European and Asian capitals, addressed issues including immigration, trade, climate change, NATO and containing China, according to reports. The White House has also been consumed by a raging pandemic and economic crisis.

"There's no reason for any drama," said Dan Shapiro, the U.S. ambassador to Israel during the Obama administration, who expects Netanyahu's phone to ring soon. "Biden took office at a time of national emergency that no president has faced since FDR. The calls he has conducted reflect those priorities."

Netanyahu himself downplayed the possibility that he was being slighted by the new president. The prime minister noted that he and Biden have known each other for decades and that he called Biden soon after he was declared the winner of the election in November.

"He is making calls to world leaders according to the order he sees fit," Netanyahu said when questioned about Biden during an appearance with the Greek prime minister in Jerusalem this week. "The Israel-US alliance is strong and so is our friendship of almost 40 years, though we may not agree on everything."

Asked about when Biden might place the call, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Thursday that he "looks forward" to speaking with Netanyahu. "He's obviously somebody that he has a long-standing relationship with, and obviously there's an important relationship that the United States has with Israel on the security front and as a key partner in the region. But he'll be talking with him soon," Psaki said. She added that she did not have a specific date or time.

Netanyahu has built his image as a political colossus in part by touting his speed-dial relationships with leaders around the world, and in Washington in particular. In three previous elections, he boasted of commanding a near hotline to Trump via then U.S. Ambassador David Friedman, the president's former bankruptcy lawyer.

The Trump White House seemed willing to help. Several major concessions to Netanyahu, such as supporting the annexation of the Golan Heights, were announced shortly before Israeli voters went to the polls.

Now, with Israel's fourth election in two years scheduled for March 23, the contrast with a White House that hasn't, yet, made a phone call must sting, according to those who know the prime minister.

"There is no doubt that he is not happy about this," said Aviv Bushinsky, Netanyahu's former chief of staff and media adviser. "I think Netanyahu will see it as a lack of respect."

The U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem declined to comment.

The no-phone-call chatter reached a pitch Wednesday when Israel's former United Nations envoy, Danny Danon, tweeted a list of countries Biden has already called leaders of and attached a number for the prime minister's office (one that had been disconnected, as it turned out). "Might it now be time to call the leader of Israel, the closest ally of the US?" he asked.

Many political commentators saw that as an attempt to humiliate Netanyahu by Danon, who is viewed as a possible future Netanyahu rival. But there has been fear within their Likud party that Biden's victory will mean a return to the chilly relations Israel had with the Obama White House.

Those years were fraught with sniping over Jewish settlements in the West Bank, including the announcement of a major settlement expansion in the midst of a visit by then-Vice President Biden. The acrimony was capped when Obama chose not to veto an anti-settlement resolution in the U.N. Security Council at the end of his term.

Worries have only grown as the new president has populated many of his top diplomatic and security jobs with Obama alumni as well as Biden's promise to resume nuclear negotiations with Iran, another point of friction from the previous era.

"It's starting to sound like that old music again," Bushinsky said.

While both sides have said the long personal relationship between two leaders who call each other "my old friend" will ease the tensions, the growing contretemps around the first phone call has confirmed fears that Israel already has slipped in importance.

Israelis, Bushinsky noted are finely attuned to the standing accorded their leaders in the United States, by far Israel's most important international partner. In non-pandemic times, the public here would be waiting for the prime minister's first visit to Washington and poring over the details of protocol.

"Did they fire the cannons? Did he stay at Blair House? Israelis pay attention to these things," Bushinsky said. "Now he can't go there, but not even a phone call? It is an issue."
Hope in Northern Mozambique As Insurgents Run Out of Food

Mozambican police sources say recruits were attracted to the insurgent cause, not because of any religious or ideological conviction, but because they have been promised large sums of money. These reports are in line with claims made in January 2021 that the militants are running out of food. A man who escaped from a camp in Mocimboa da Praia district told the independent newssheet "Carta de Mocambique" that "there are no conditions for survival" in the bases. Cabo Delgado province has seen a significant increase in militant activity in 2020. At least 900 civilians have been killed, and over 150,000 more have fled Cabo Delgado since the insurgency began in 2017.
It's the last tolerated prejudice. But Femail's had enough. It's time we called out those day-to-day moments when we're patronised for no longer being young...

I am neither a fan nor a hater of Mary Beard, 66, but my goodness is it unfair the way she is trolled on Twitter. It's such a flagrant example of sexism, yes, but also ageism.

Most of the abuse she receives pivots on the fact she has never bothered trying to look younger than she is. Her long, grey hair, in particular, is something a lot of her anonymous bullies (they're always anonymous, the cowards) find intolerable.

Her response, I think, has been dignified and admirable.

Here Christa D'Souza (pictured) discusses how Mary Beard, 66, is trolled on Twitter

As she pointed out recently, this problem is nothing new. It is, in fact, just the modern day version of medieval witch-hunting. She's right. Western society has a tradition of being wrong-footed by women when they get beyond childbearing age. And, as Mary puts it, women with long, grey hair have been making society anxious for thousands of years.

Her suggestion is for older women not to succumb to this modern-day witch-hunt, but instead to use this primitive societal fear to our advantage by being even more assertive.

Remember, we have the power. I'm getting the T-shirt now.

People enjoy a meal as restaurants return to outdoor dining in the Village in downtown Claremont on Jan. 31. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times)

People are eating on restaurant patios in Los Angeles County again, but a challenge to a previous outdoor dining ban is still winding through the courts.

At issue is whether county officials need to provide data to back the dining restrictions they imposed to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

A three-judge panel for the California 2nd District Court of Appeal on Wednesday appeared to be leaning toward a collective no, though it has three months to issue a decision.

Justice Brian Currey said he did not believe there is a statutory requirement that the county conduct an analysis to support its actions.

It's my view that on these facts that  the lower court shouldn't have disturbed the decision of the county, Currey said.

Both Presiding Justice Nora Manella and Justice Thomas Willhite Jr. said they agreed with Currey's points.

It doesn't strike me as requiring some leap of logic to conclude that this raises a significant risk of transmitting this fatal disease  and I don't see this as a case where the county was indifferent to the consequences, which  are severe," Manella said later in the hearing.

The judges' comments rang as a refutation of an L.A. Superior Court judges ruling on Dec. 8 mandating that the county perform a risk-benefit analysis to keep its restrictions in place.

The California Restaurant Assn. and a downtown L.A. restaurant, Engine Co. No. 28, filed separate lawsuits in late November seeking to lift a ban on outdoor dining instituted as COVID-19 cases began to surge.

Palmilla Cocina Y Tequila on Pier Plaza in Hermosa Beach returned to outdoor dining Jan. 29. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times)

About 6,000 restaurants have gone out of business, and 150,000 employees have had their livelihoods disrupted during the pandemic, according to Dennis Ellis, an attorney for the restaurant association.

Noted criminal defense attorney Mark Geragos represented Engine Co. No. 28, which he owns.

When he issued the Dec. 8 ruling, Judge James Chalfant suggested he was not satisfied with the generalized arguments made by the county for a measure that caused widespread financial harm.

Story continues

County officials appealed Chalfants ruling, and the appeals court justices paused it while litigation continued.

At the time, there was little practical effect. The state slapped its own ban on outdoor dining in early December as part of a regional stay-at-home order, superseding the county order.

After the state rescinded that order on Jan. 25, the county announced that it would again allow outdoor dining but with revised rules.

Under the new county rules, outdoor dining and wine service seating must be limited to 50% capacity, with tables positioned at least eight feet apart.

Outdoor seating is also limited to six people per table  and everyone sitting together must be from the same household, the health order mandates.

According to some experts, there is growing evidence that the ban played a role in turning around a deadly surge of the coronavirus.

In L.A. County, the stay-at-home orders and outdoor dining ban were followed by a drop in the transmission rate.

You did the right thing at the right time, said Ali Mokdad, an epidemiologist at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington. The winter is working against all of us, but at least you preempted a much bigger surge of cases by doing what you did.

Other lawsuits by California restaurant owners have taken varying paths.

A federal suit brought by a Sherman Oaks restaurant owner against Gov. Gavin Newsom over the state ban is still alive.

However, a similar lawsuit by about 50 Napa and Sonoma County restaurants and wineries was dropped once the state rescinded its regional order.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Most African countries should still roll out the Oxford/AstraZeneca Covid vaccine despite questions over its use against a variant that emerged in South Africa, the continent's health watchdog said Thursday.

"We will not be walking away from AstraZeneca vaccines at all," John Nkengasong, director of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), told a press conference.

The variant detected in South Africa has now been found in six other countries across the continent, Nkengasong said -- Botswana, Comoros, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique and Zambia.

But there have been no "systematic studies over time" demonstrating that the variant is dominant in any of them, he said.

"This is a good vaccine without the variant, and the variant will only impact if the variant is overwhelming in the country," he said.

In the vast majority of African countries where the variant has not been detected, "we recommend that they proceed with the rollout of the AstraZeneca vaccine," Nkengasong said.

"For countries that have not identified this variant, there is absolutely no reason why it should not be used there."

South African authorities said Sunday they were delaying the start of a much-anticipated vaccination campaign -- scheduled to have begun this week with a first batch of one million Oxford/AstraZeneca doses -- after a study showed the jabs failed to prevent mild and moderate infection from the South African variant.

On Wedneday, the government said it would begin the inoculation campaign with Johnson & Johnson shots, and was considering trading its AstraZeneca stockpile.

But South African health experts have also suggested vaccinating several thousand people with AstraZeneca to see if it protects against severe cases of the variant.

Africa has so far been hit less hard by the coronavirus pandemic than other continents, recording around 3.5 percent of global cases and 4 percent of global deaths, according to Africa CDC data.

Story continues

But many African countries are currently battling damaging second waves while straining to procure sufficient vaccine doses.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has described as "realistic" the goal of vaccinating around 30 percent of the continent's population by the end of the year.

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Sare Gubu Basiru residents, in the Sandu District, Upper River Region north (URR/n), one of the leading cattle farmers in The Gambia have complained over what they called a lack of sufficient drinking water for their cattle.

This rural settlement has approximately three thousand cattle. It has only one small-tank borehole for all the livestock including goats, sheep, and cattle which the residents described as insufficient for them.

Every dry season the higher percentage of the village's cattle and sheep have to be taken to Nianija, Niani and Sami districts in search of water and feedings due to lack of sufficient water at the village.

Speaking to The Point exclusively at Sare Gubu village recently, Alhagie Sura Bah, village head described the inadequate water supply for their livestock as one of the most horrible challenges for cattle owners in the village.

He said the cattle owners cannot retain cattle in the village in the dry season due to lack of water. On this note, he said all cattle owners have become nomad at other parts of the country where they can get sufficient water easily.

"Most of our farmlands are infertile now because the cattle hardly stay in the community. If water was available we would have allowed the cattle to stay so that we have enough green manure on the farmlands," he lamented.

He opined that to mitigate the challenge for the cattle owners there is an urgent need for government to provide them with a proper water-borne pipe to ensure sufficient water for the livestock.

Mamadou Alhagie Sura Bah, a cattle owner noted that the River Gambia at Sandu District could have been the best source of water for the livestock. However, he said, the cattle cannot access the river due to a lack of cattle tracks between the village and the river.

"Whenever we want to take our cattle to the river, rice farmers would stop us, and return the cattle to the village. Sometimes our cattle will stay for two days without drinking water," he noted.

He decried that the borehole available for the cattle in the community is not sufficient for their sheep and goats much more their thousands of cattle.

Bah claimed that for the past five decades, the cattle farmers of Sare Gubu have been nomadic at Central River Region north (CRR/n) communities in search of sufficient water which he said is due to insufficient water in the community.

The cattle farmer then called on government to work hand in hand with local authorities to provide them with cattle tracks to the rice field in order to mitigate their water constraints.

In the 2018-2021 National Development Plan (NDP), President Barrow-led government designed to bring quality assurance mechanisms development to strengthen access to the export market, increase production and productivity using sustainable land and water management practices to address hunger and food security needs.

Tijan Bah, cattle owner also expressed dismay over the insufficient water supply for their livestock, saying most of their pregnant cattle usually have miscarriage in the dry season due to thirst.

"If we remain in this community, our cattle will get sick as a result of severe thirst. This usually pressures us to go on nomadic at river nearby communities at the Central River Region north (CRR/n) so that we have access to water," he said.

Tijan described going itinerant to CRR/n as unfavourable to the cattle rearers as they encounter severe suffocation in that zone because they have to travel about twelve (12) kilometres to reach the River Gambia.

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Lawyer Basiru L. Bah, a lecturer at the University of The Gambia (UTG), who is a resident of Sare Gubu Basiru, described this nightmare as a gross violation of the Constitution, gross violation of government social contract with the residents and gross violation of government political mandate to provide the cattle farmers with enough water.

"There should be no taxation without representation. If we are paying tax, the government should filter that money back to the taxpayers.

"Whenever quarter () of that tax is brought back to URR all the challenges would be fixed but what happens? Nothing comes back or if it comes, it's very little, and in fact, that is given to communities like Basse and other villages. And they do not pay tax more than us. Maybe their population is bigger than us but the amount of livestock we have and the amount of money we pay is more than other large communities," he argued.
Safer Streets for Seniors and Lower-Income Neighborhoods



Weve been deeply involved with the City of Philadelphia's Vision Zero program, which is a multi-agency effort to tackle the public health issue of traffic deaths and reduce them to zero by 2030," Stuart explains. "This issue is of particular importance to the aging community because, according to our analysis of police data, 32 percent of those killed in traffic crashes in 2020 were over 50. Most traffic deaths occurred in census tracts identified as above average for indicators of potential disadvantage, as defined by the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission."

The efforts have raised public awareness about the public health crisis of traffic fatalities. "Before Mayor Jim Kenney made traffic safety a priority, fatal traffic crashes were not being systematically addressed and there wasn't a focus on the disproportionate impacts in low-income neighborhoods and on communities of color," Stuart says. "Now an intradepartmental task force is looking at the problem from engineering, planning and education standpoints."

The city's Vision Zero program hasn't yet generated a declining trend in traffic death. "In fact, in 2020, the number of traffic fatalities rose by nearly 80 percent, making it the highest in 23 years," says Stuart. "There is clearly more work to do.
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Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism.
Authorities Probe Rare Blood Disorder Among Some COVID-19 Vaccine Recipients

Federal officials are investigating after some COVID-19 vaccine recipients have developed the rare blood disorder thrombocytopenia, with at least several cases resulting in death.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is investigating and assessing the reported cases, an agency spokesperson told The Epoch Times via email.

At this time, we have not found a causal relationship, the spokesperson said. We will update the public as we learn more about these events.

The blood disorder was listed by the FDA last year as a possible adverse event outcome from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, alongside other serious adverse events such as Guillain-Barre syndrome and death.

Several dozen case reports of post-vaccination thrombocytopenia have been submitted to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), a passive reporting system managed by the FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Approximately 44.7 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in the United States as of Feb. 10.

In one case, a 56-year-old male in Florida, who was injected with Pfizers vaccine, was rushed to the hospital several days later, after noticing small blood tinged spots. He was diagnosed with thrombocytopenia.

A 36-year-old Pennsylvania woman said she woke up in early January, about two weeks after getting Pfizers vaccine, with blood blisters all over her mouth and went to the emergency room. She was admitted and diagnosed with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), a version of the disorder.

The most high-profile instance involved Dr. Gregory Michael, a 56-year-old Miami doctor who died 16 days after receiving a vaccination against the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, which causes COVID-19.

Michaels wife, Heidi Neckelmann, wrote on Facebook that the doctor was admitted to the emergency room, where medical workers found his platelet count to be zero. Thrombocytopenia causes a low platelet level and, in adults, typically requires medical treatment.

Michael was taken to an intensive care unit, where he was diagnosed with acute ITP, caused by a reaction to the vaccine, his wife said.

A nurse prepares a Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for administration at Jerome Mack Middle School in Las Vegas, on Jan. 29, 2021. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

No one has contacted me from Pfizer or any health agency. All I know about the investigation is what is posted in the different news articles, which is that it is under investigation, she told The Epoch Times in a Facebook message.

Dr. Jerry Spivak, professor of medicine in the Hematology division at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Maryland, didnt evaluate Michael and doesnt have knowledge of his treatment.

However, based on the rapid onset, severity, and the similar time course of thrombocytopenia in several other patients within the same time period, exposed to the same vaccine and all being men, which is unusual for immune thrombocytopenia, I think that a very strong argument can be made to the extent that, until proven otherwise, the association [with the vaccine] has to be considered real, as opposed to coincidental, Spivak told The Epoch Times via email.

Vaccine-induced thrombocytopenia is a recognized rare event but no one should die from it. Dismissing this event as coincidental or merely possible does an injustice to Dr. Michael, to scientific inquiry, and harm to others who may experience the same adverse event. So, yes, until proven otherwise, I consider this a COVID-19 linked event, added the doctor, who has himself been vaccinated and advises others to get a vaccine because he believes the benefits outweigh the risks.

A Pfizer official told The Epoch Times that the preliminary investigation into post-vaccination cases of thrombocytopenia indicates theres no connection between the vaccines and the disorder, but noted that the FDA and other federal health agencies are responsible for the investigations.

We take reports of adverse events very seriously. We are aware of cases of thrombocytopenia in recipients of our COVID-19 vaccine as reported to the VAERS  and/or reported to Pfizer. We are collecting relevant information to share with the FDA. However, at this time, we have not been able to establish a causal association with our vaccine, a spokesperson added via email.

To date, millions of people have been vaccinated and we are closely monitoring all adverse events in individuals receiving our vaccine. Serious adverse events, including deaths that are unrelated to the vaccine, are unfortunately likely to occur at a similar rate as they would in the general population.

Moderna, the only other company that has received emergency authorization for a COVID-19 vaccine in the United States, didnt immediately respond to a request by The Epoch Times for comment.

Authorities stressed that VAERS is a passive system, meaning anyone can submit reports. However, at this stage in the vaccination process, its the primary public-facing system concerning adverse events following vaccination. There are plans to implement stronger systems in the coming months.
House Bill 133 aims to extend Medicaid coverage to eligible new mothers. The House version of the bill calls for a one-year extension, whereas the Senate version calls for a six-month extension. Advocates say the bill could reduce the states maternal mortality rate. Currently, the state offers Medicaid for two months after giving birth. Should Texas extend Medicaid for eligible new mothers for six months or one year?

You voted:

The matter is linked to a case against Khan under the Arms Act, in which the actor was accused of keeping arms with an expired licence and using them for poaching

The Jodhpur District and Sessions court on Thursday dismissed the Rajasthan government's plea against actor Salman Khan in the blackbuck poaching case. The state government had accused the actor of submitting a false affidavit regarding his arms licence in 2003, reports said.

District and Sessions judge Raghvendra Kachhwal pronounced the order, which had been reserved for three days after the completion of arguments on 9 February. Khan was present in the court through video conferencing on Thursday.

The matter is linked to a case against Khan under the Arms Act, in which the actor was accused of keeping arms with an expired licence and using them for poaching.

Speaking to reporters after the order on Thursday, Khan's counsel HM Saraswat said, "We are happy that the court rejected the application of the state and absolved Khan of the allegation of a false affidavit. There was not much substance in the matter and the allegation had been made against him just for the purpose of harassment."

"We had replied in 2006 itself that no false affidavits were presented and such pleas are being furnished only to disturb him."

This is the second time that the actor has been freed from the allegation. Earlier, the court of the chief judicial magistrate had also absolved him of the charge, after which the state had challenged the decision in the district and sessions court.

Khan had filed the affidavit in the court in 2003 stating that he had lost his arms licence. The prosecution had argued that he had submitted a false affidavit as his licence was not lost but submitted for renewal.

"We argued that it was not intentional to submit this affidavit as Khan was a busy actor and had no exact idea about his licence at that time," said Saraswat.

He argued that if the accused has submitted a false affidavit by mistake and he has no advantage of such an act, he should be forgiven and absolved from the allegations.

Saraswat also presented some citations from the apex court in support of his arguments wherein the accused had been absolved of allegations of the submission of false affidavits or evidence in the court after admitting the mistake and tendering an apology.

Though the public prosecutor contended that it was an act of misleading the court purposefully stating that Khan knew that his licence was not lost, Judge Kachhwal rejected his arguments and provided relief to Khan by absolving him of the allegation.

Khan was arrested in 1998 for hunting two blackbucks in a village near Jodhpur. A case under the Arms Act was registered against him, and the court had demanded the submission of his arms licence. However, in 2003, Khan told the court that his licence had gone missing.

On Tuesday, Khan reportedly apologised for submitting a false affidavit to the Jodhpur session court in 2003.

With inputs from PTI

India and Russia have concluded an air-bubble arrangement and it will come into effect from Friday, the Russian Embassy said.

Under the pact between the two countries, special international passenger flights can be operated by their airlines into each other's territories under restrictive conditions.

We would like to inform that the Russian and Indian sides have concluded an air bubble arrangement coming in to effect on February 12, 2021, the Russian Embassy said in a statement on February 11. We also would like to emphasise that the entry of tourists from Russia is not yet possible.

Scheduled international flights continue to remain suspended in India since March 23 last year due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, special flights have been permitted under air bubbles since July last year.

According to the statement, three categories of passengers would be permitted to travel from India to Russia under this bubble: Stranded citizens of Russia; any Indian national or Nepalese national or Bhutanese national holding a valid Russian visa; seamen planning to work in Russia.

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 statement said four categories of passengers can travel from Russia to India under this bubble: Indian nationals or Nepalese nationals or Bhutanese nationals stranded in Russia; all overseas citizen of India (OCI) cardholders and person of Indian origin cardholders holding passports of any country; seamen from Russia; Russian nationals intending to visit India for any purpose (including the dependents holding appropriate visa), except tourism.

India has formed air bubble arrangements with around 24 countries, including the US, UAE, Bahrain, Canada, France, Germany, Kenya, Bhutan, Afghanistan, Iraq and Japan since July.
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Highly certain and credible offer delivering immediate 23% premium to Inter Pipeline shareholders





Brookfield Infrastructure willing to consider increasing its offer if granted access to due diligence





Brookfield Infrastructure reports an aggregate economic interest in 19.6% of the issued and outstanding shares of IPL, making Brookfield Infrastructure IPLs single largest investor

BROOKFIELD, NEWS, Feb. 10, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P. (NYSE: BIP; TSX: BIP.UN), together with its institutional partners (collectively, Brookfield Infrastructure), announces today its intention to pursue a privatization transaction in respect of Inter Pipeline Ltd. (IPL or the Company), pursuant to which it will offer to acquire all of the outstanding common shares of the Company (IPL Shares) not already owned by Brookfield Infrastructure, at a price per IPL Share of C$16.50 (the Offer).

Under the terms of the Offer and subject to proration, each IPL shareholder will have the ability to elect to receive, per IPL share, C$16.50 in cash or 0.206 of a Brookfield Infrastructure Corporation (NYSE: BIPC; TSX: BIPC) class A exchangeable share (BIPC Share). The share exchange ratio has been calculated based on the closing price of the BIPC Shares on February 10, 2021, the last trading day prior to this announcement. The Offer is fully financed, with a maximum cash consideration of approximately C$4.9 billion (representing 76.2% of the Offers total consideration) and a maximum aggregate number of BIPC shares issued of approximately 19 million (representing 23.8% of the Offers total consideration).

Financial and Strategic Benefits of the Transaction

Brookfield Infrastructure firmly believes that its Offer is in the best interests of all IPL shareholders and that shareholders should have the opportunity to determine what is best for their investment. Brookfield Infrastructure has a long and successful track record of acquiring large-scale infrastructure companies and believes its Offer is compelling for all IPL shareholders and stakeholders alike for the following key reasons:

Significant Premium to both IPLs Recent Trading Levels and the Companys Analyst Consensus Estimates

23% premium to the closing prices of C$13.40 per IPL Share and C$79.97 per BIPC Share on February 10, 2021, the last trading day prior to announcement of this Offer

28% premium to the 30-day volume-weighted average share prices of C$13.07 per IPL Share and C$84.87 per BIPC Share for the period ended February 10, 2021

10% premium to research analyst forward-looking share price targets, which average C$14.98 per share, as well as a significant premium to the trading levels of IPLs relevant Canadian midstream comparable companies



Immediate Catalyst to Surface Value in a Security that has Significantly Underperformed in the Public Equity Markets

Despite a strong recovery in global equity markets and a return of commodity prices to pre-COVID levels, IPLs share performance and credit profile continues to be strained

IPL has delivered the lowest 1-year and 5-year total shareholder returns among its Canadian energy infrastructure peers

Compelling Valuation and an Opportunity for Immediate Liquidity

Compelling valuation, despite the uncertainty of the timely completion and commercialization of the Heartland Petrochemical Complex (Heartland) anticipated by the Company within the next two years

IPL shareholders will have the option to elect to receive all of their consideration in cash, subject to an aggregate limit of approximately C$4.9 billion, representing 76.2% of the Offers total consideration

Opportunity to Participate in Brookfields Diverse Infrastructure Platform

IPL shareholders have an opportunity to receive an equity interest in a large-scale, global infrastructure company with a long-term track record of delivering compelling returns to shareholders

Brookfield Infrastructure Partners has delivered ~10% annual distribution growth and an 18% annualized total return since inception

Brookfield Infrastructure is Uniquely Positioned to Support IPL Through the Environmental Social & Governance (ESG) Focused Transition

Brookfield Infrastructure is one of the largest owners and operators of critical and diverse global infrastructure networks which facilitate the movement and storage of energy, water, freight, passengers and data

Brookfield is a responsible Canadian-headquartered company, and IPL will remain a standalone company based in Calgary

Brookfield Infrastructure recognizes that ESG sentiment among public investors is evolving at an unprecedented pace and we are confident that, as part of a larger, more diversified organization, IPL will benefit from Brookfields proven capabilities and stewardship around ESG transition investing



Offer Background

Brookfield Infrastructure is currently the largest investor in IPL with an aggregate economic interest in 84,341,555 IPL Shares, representing approximately 19.65% of the issued and outstanding Shares of IPL on an undiluted basis. Brookfield Infrastructure began to accumulate a position in the Company for investment purposes beginning in March 2020.

This position is comprised of beneficial ownership and control of an aggregate of 41,848,857 IPL Shares, representing approximately 9.75% of the issued and outstanding IPL Shares on an undiluted basis, and in addition, a cash-settled total return swap (the Total Return Swap) that provides Brookfield Infrastructure with economic exposure to an aggregate of 42,492,698 IPL Shares. The Total Return Swap affords economic exposure comparable to beneficial ownership but does not give Brookfield Infrastructure any right to vote, or direct or influence the voting, acquisition, or disposition of any IPL Shares.

In September 2020, Brookfield Infrastructure first approached the Company to discuss a collaborative strategic transaction, ultimately leading to the submission of specific indicative privatization proposals to the Companys Board of Directors in November and December of 2020 based exclusively on publicly available information. The offer prices represented significant premiums in the range of 40% to 50% of IPLs trading prices at various times during our discussions with the Company and were predicated on Brookfield Infrastructures ability to conduct confirmatory due diligence to validate the assumptions underlying its proposed price, in particular regarding Heartland. Each indicative proposal submitted to the Company by Brookfield Infrastructure also contained a "go shop" clause to afford the Company an opportunity to proactively canvass the market for a third party offer at a superior price following definitive agreement.

While subsequent correspondence between Brookfield Infrastructure and the Company was positive in spirit, ultimately the Company declined to engage constructively on a privatization transaction citing a view of intrinsic value far in excess of our assessment, largely driven by a more optimistic outlook of future growth and a recovery of commodity prices in excess of current market expectation. Brookfield Infrastructure believes the Companys view fails to recognize the capital market realities facing energy-based infrastructure companies now and in the future.

Consequently, as the largest investor in the Company, Brookfield Infrastructure firmly believes it is in the best interest of all shareholders to be made aware of its efforts in this regard and be given the opportunity to opine directly on the Offer and for the Company to establish a process to facilitate its privatization.

Brookfield Infrastructure remains open to engaging directly with the Company on fair and balanced terms. Brookfield Infrastructure has made prior proposals to the Company in good faith, with an objective of receiving access to confirmatory due diligence to support a valuation for the Company above the Offer, indicatively in the range of C$17.00 to C$18.25 per IPL share. Brookfield Infrastructure has made this Offer based exclusively on publicly available information. Any ability for Brookfield Infrastructure to increase the Offer would be predicated on (i) being granted the ability to perform customary confirmatory due diligence, including but not limited to an ability to substantiate credible growth potential and the Companys publicly outlined timeline and commercialization objectives for Heartland, and (ii) IPL not conditioning our access to diligence on restrictions that would preclude our ability to make any offer directly to shareholders, or otherwise inappropriately limit our strategic alternatives in regard to our current position on an appropriate timeline.

Offer Details

Full details of the Offer will be included in a formal takeover bid circular to be filed with securities regulatory authorities and mailed to IPL shareholders. Brookfield Infrastructure will request a shareholders list from the Company and expects to mail the Offer and takeover bid circular to IPL shareholders as soon as practical upon receipt of this list. The Offer will be open for acceptance for 105 days following the commencement of the Offer and will constitute a Permitted Bid for purposes of IPLs shareholder rights plan as approved by IPL shareholders on May 7, 2020. The Offer is premised on there being 429,219,175 IPL Shares outstanding, on a fully diluted basis.

The Offer will also be subject to certain conditions of completion, including receipt of all necessary regulatory approvals, customary approval by the TSX and NYSE in relation to the issuance and listing of the additional BIPC Shares contemplated by our Offer, absence of material changes to the business and Brookfield Infrastructure owning not less than 66% of the IPL Shares, calculated on a fully diluted basis, after taking up IPL Shares deposited under the Offer and not withdrawn (in addition to the non-waivable statutory condition that more than 50% of the outstanding IPL Shares, excluding IPL Shares beneficially owned by Brookfield Infrastructure, are deposited under the Offer and not withdrawn). Once the twothirds percentage acceptance level is met, Brookfield Infrastructure intends, but will not be required, to take steps to acquire all remaining IPL Shares in accordance with applicable law.

The BIPC Shares included in the Offer are the economic equivalent of units of Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P. (BIP) and are exchangeable for limited partnership units of BIP on a one for one basis.

Advisors

Brookfield Infrastructure has engaged BMO Capital Markets and Barclays Capital Canada Inc. to act as joint financial advisors and McCarthy Tetrault LLP to act as its legal advisor in connection with the Offer. Laurel Hill Advisory Group has also been engaged to act as Brookfield Infrastructures strategic communications advisor and information agent.

Additional Information

Laurel Hill Advisory Group has been retained as Information Agent for the Offer. Shareholders may contact Laurel Hill at:

Toll Free in North America: 1-877-452-7184

Outside North America, Banks, Brokers and Collect Calls: 416-304-0211

Email: assistance@laurelhill.com

Brookfield Infrastructure Partners is a leading global infrastructure company that owns and operates high-quality, long-life assets in the utilities, transport, midstream and data infrastructure sectors across North and South America, Asia Pacific and Europe. We are focused on assets that generate stable cash flows and require minimal maintenance capital expenditures. Investors can access its portfolio either through Brookfield Infrastructure Partners L.P. (NYSE: BIP; TSX: BIP.UN), a Bermuda-based limited partnership, or Brookfield Infrastructure Corporation (NYSE, TSX: BIPC), a Canadian corporation. Further information is available at www.brookfield.com/infrastructure.

Brookfield Infrastructure Partners is the flagship listed infrastructure company of Brookfield Asset Management, a global alternative asset manager with approximately US$600 billion of assets under management. For more information, go to www.brookfield.com.

No Offer or Solicitation

This news release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to buy or sell, or a solicitation of an offer to sell or buy, any securities. The offer to acquire IPL securities and to issue securities of Brookfield Infrastructure Corporation will be made solely by, and subject to the terms and conditions set out in the formal offer to purchase and bid circular and accompanying letter of transmittal and notice of guaranteed delivery.

NOTICE TO U.S. HOLDERS OF IPL SHARES

Brookfield Infrastructure intends to make the offer and sale of the BIPC Shares in the Offer subject to a registration statement of BIPC and BIP covering such offer and sale to be filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Such registration statement covering such offer and sale will include various documents related to such offer and sale. INVESTORS AND SHAREHOLDERS OF IPL ARE URGED TO READ SUCH REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND ANY AND ALL OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS FILED OR TO BE FILED WITH THE SEC IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFER AS THOSE DOCUMENTS BECOME AVAILABLE, AS WELL AS ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS TO THOSE DOCUMENTS, BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN OR WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. You will be able to obtain a free copy of such registration statement, as well as other relevant filings regarding BIP and BIPC or such transaction involving the issuance of the BIPC Shares and the underlying BIP limited partnership units, at the SECs website (www.sec.gov) under the issuer profiles for BIP and BIPC, or on request without charge from Brookfield Infrastructure, at 250 Vesey Street, 15th Floor, New York, New York, 10281-1023 or by telephone at (212) 417-7000.

BIPC is a foreign private issuer and Brookfield Infrastructure is permitted to prepare the offer to purchase and takeover bid circular and related documents in accordance with Canadian disclosure requirements, which are different from those of the United States. BIPC prepares its financial statements in accordance with IFRS, and they may not be directly comparable to financial statements of United States companies.

Shareholders of IPL should be aware that owning BIPC Shares may subject them to tax consequences both in the United States and in Canada. The offer to purchase and takeover bid circular may not describe these tax consequences fully. IPL shareholders should read any tax discussion in the offer to purchase and takeover bid circular, and holders of IPL Shares are urged to consult their tax advisors.

An IPL shareholders ability to enforce civil liabilities under the United States federal securities laws may be affected adversely because Brookfield Infrastructure Corporation is incorporated in British Columbia, Canada, some or all of Brookfield Infrastructures officers and directors and some or all of the experts named in the offering documents reside outside of the United States, and a substantial portion of Brookfield Infrastructures assets and of the assets of such persons are located outside the United States. IPL shareholders in the United States may not be able to sue Brookfield Infrastructure or its officers or directors in a non-U.S. court for violation of United States federal securities laws. It may be difficult to compel such parties to subject themselves to the jurisdiction of a court in the United States or to enforce a judgment obtained from a court of the United States.

NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES REGULATOR HAS OR WILL HAVE APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED THE BIPC SHARES OFFERED IN THE OFFERING DOCUMENTS, OR HAS OR WILL HAVE DETERMINED IF ANY OFFERING DOCUMENTS ARE TRUTHFUL OR COMPLETE. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

IPL shareholders should be aware that, during the period of the Offer, Brookfield Infrastructure or its affiliates, directly or indirectly, may bid for or make purchases of the securities to be distributed or to be exchanged, or certain related securities, as permitted by applicable laws or regulations of Canada or its provinces or territories.



Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-looking Statements

This news release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian provincial securities laws and forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and in any applicable Canadian securities regulations. The words believe, expect, will derivatives thereof and other expressions which are predictions of or indicate future events, trends or prospects and which do not relate to historical matters, identify the above mentioned and other forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release include statements regarding Brookfield Infrastructures intention to pursue the privatization of IPL; Brookfield Infrastructures intention to make the Offer; the proposed terms and conditions of the Offer, including the amount, form and mix of consideration under the Offer, the expected conditions to completion of the Offer, the expected timing of the Offer, the pricing of the BIPC Shares issuable under the Offer, the maximum amount of cash consideration and the maximum number of BIPC Shares under the Offer and the anticipated acceptance period of the Offer; Brookfield Infrastructures intentions regarding the funding of the Offer; Brookfield Infrastructures intention to request a list of IPLs shareholders; the expected mailing of the take-over bid circular in respect of the Offer; Brookfield Infrastructures intention to take steps to acquire IPL Shares not acquired under the Offer; and potential further engagement between Brookfield Infrastructure and the Company, including possibly varying the terms or conditions of the Offer.

Although Brookfield Infrastructure believes that these forward-looking statements and information are based upon reasonable assumptions and expectations, the reader should not place undue reliance on them, or any other forward-looking statements or information in this news release. The actual outcome of future events could differ from the forward-looking statements and information herein, which are subject to a number of known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause actual events to differ materially from those contemplated or implied by the statements in this news release include the ability to obtain regulatory approvals (including approval of the TSX and the NYSE) and meet other closing conditions to any possible transaction, the ability to realize financial, operational and other benefits from the proposed transaction, general economic conditions in the jurisdictions in which we operate and elsewhere which may impact the markets for our products and services, the impact of market conditions on our businesses, the fact that success of Brookfield Infrastructure is dependent on market demand for an infrastructure company, which is unknown, the availability of equity and debt financing for Brookfield Infrastructure, the ability to effectively complete transactions in the competitive infrastructure space and to integrate acquisitions into existing operations, changes in technology which have the potential to disrupt the business and industries in which we invest, the market conditions of key commodities, the price, supply or demand for which can have a significant impact upon the financial and operating performance of our business and other risks and factors described in other documents filed by Brookfield Infrastructure with the securities regulators in Canada and the United States. Except as required by law, Brookfield Infrastructure undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.



For more information, please contact:

Media:

Claire Holland

Senior Vice President, Communications

Tel: (416) 369-8236

Email: claire.holland@brookfield.com Investors:

Kate White

Manager, Investor Relations

Tel: (416) 956-5183

Email: kate.white@brookfield.com





The number of people in hospital in Ireland with Covid-19 remains three times higher than at the peak of the second wave in October, a senior Government official has said.

Liz Canavan, assistant secretary at Department of the Taoiseach, warned that while numbers are falling the country cannot afford them to level out at this point.

She urged people to remember the health system is continuing to operate under "intense pressure".

"Hospital numbers are still at peak levels of wave two and we're still using surge capacity," she said.

"We will have three times the number in hospital today [Wednesday] as we had at the peak of wave two. We need to remember that.

"While the numbers are falling we can't plateau at this point. We haven't come this far to only come this far.

"For now the virus is still with us and with the new variant it is potentially more transmissible than ever and we must continue to keep our guard up."

76 people with Covid-19 at Cork hospitals

According to figures from the HSE, last night 990 people with confirmed Covid-19 were being treated at hospitals around the country.

Fifty-seven people with the virus were being treated at Cork University Hospital, the sixth-highest number nationally.

Elsewhere in Cork, 19 people with Covid-19 were being cared for at the Mercy University Hospital.

Ms Canavan made the comments at a briefing in Government Buildings on Wednesday where she outlined that 1.7% of the population is fully vaccinated against Covid-19.

"We're now 50 days into the rollout of the largest vaccination programme in the history of the state," she said.

"We have delivered 4.9 vaccine doses per 100 people and 1.7% of our population is fully vaccinated.

"Ireland is progressing well with our programme compared to EU states and vaccines are being administered very quickly after their arrival in the country."

Travel concerns

Ms Canavan cautioned against people leaving the country for non-essential reasons as it is a breach of Level 5 restrictions.

Despite the restrictions, she said more than half of the passengers arriving in the country are Irish residents, and two-thirds of those are returning from holiday.

"This is a very concerning statistic," she said.

"While we would all love and need a holiday, now is not the time to travel. Unless you are travelling for a specific essential purpose, please stay at home and follow the guidance."

She said people who arrive in the country must quarantine but they can end the period of quarantine earlier than 14 days if they take a PCR test after five days.

Regulations requiring a pre-departure negative PCR test for all passengers arriving from overseas have been extended so anyone who arrives without a test is obliged to take one on arrival.

Ms Canavan said the same rules and obligations on testing and quarantine apply to people who arrive from overseas via Northern Ireland.

She added that visa-free travel from Brazil and South Africa had been suspended, as had issuing of visas other than in exceptional circumstances.
Mortar shelling in Afghanistan kills at least 10 civilians

Fire breaks out at West Virginia oil refinery in US

Iran ready to help improve the defense capability of Syria

European Parliament head proposes to strengthen sanctions on Russia

UK PM gets married in London

Armenia reports COVID-19 new 81 cases: for people die

EU countries invite US to issue joint statement against Russia

2 people die in Armenia road accident

Nigeria: Students taken hostage a month ago are released

61 quakes recorded in Congo per day

Syrian MFA: EU lost credibility due to blind obedience to US policy

Armenia ex-minister of emergency situations hospitalized with heart attack

Mher Grigoryan: Clarification of border points is possible only after withdrawal of Azerbaijani troops from Armenia

Suspicious deal: Whether there was profit from buying DNA IDs?

Armenia ex-president says current authorities are trying to blame Russia for defeat in war

4 people killed in Afghanistani bus attack

Robert Kocharyan: This war could not have happened, it was a consequence of the policy of the authorities

Kocharyan: I have to ask people how it happened that overwhelming majority elected this leader

Armen Gevorgyan presents 'Armenia' bloc program: We offer the concept of a working country

Biden's administration proposed to leave unchanged amount of financial support to Armenia

US Embassy in Baku calls on Azerbaijan to immediately release Armenian POWs

Luxembourg MFA calls on Azerbaijan to immediately release all Armenian prisoners

Russia peacekeepers climb to Armenia Gegharkunik Province village positions

Biden strongly condemns manifestations of antisemitism in US

Iran intensifies its diplomacy amid Armenia-Azerbaijan border tensions

Armenia acting PM on forthcoming snap parliamentary elections: We hope to get 60% of votes

Lukashenko accuses West of destabilizing situation in Belarus

Armenia Central Electoral Commission chief on snap elections: No legal basis for postponing, suspending any function

Armenias Pashinyan is met by Yerevan district residents chanting against him

We are ready to be fully engaged in negotiation process to resolve Karabakh issue, says Armenia acting PM

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan gives interview to Russia TV channel

Armenia acting premier: We are ready to start withdrawing troops at any moment

Canada MFA expresses concern over 6 Armenian soldiers capture by Azerbaijan troops

There are omissions in registration documents of political forces that applied to Armenia Central Electoral Commission

Armenia Central Electoral Commission chief: There is activeness in Yerevan for the past day or two

Three new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Group of US Congress members threaten Azerbaijans Aliyev regime with sanctions

Chicago mayor is sued for allegedly refusing interview with white reporter

Iran exports oil to US for first time after long interval

"Armenia" bloc top 50 MP candidates are announced

42 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Sri Lanka public beach is covered in charred plastic pellets due to fire in container ship

US preparing list of targeted sanctions on Belarus authorities

China believes it will own America by 2035, Biden says

15 al-Shabab militants killed in Somalia

Newspaper: Armenia political forces that applied for running in election impatiently await CEC decision

Newspaper: Changes are expected in Artsakh

California prisoner who considers himself Satanist beheads cellmate, dismembers his body

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM's "mutually beneficial" proposal to collapse state system?

Armenia National Security Service Reserve Officers' Union members meet with His Holiness Karekin II

EU is ready to help Armenia and Azerbaijan with border delimitation and demarcation

ARF-D member on Nikol Pashinyan: 103 years ago Armenia's founding fathers would have executed him for treason

Iran President hails brotherly ties with Azerbaijan

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

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
Victorian travellers coming to Queensland will need to fill out a border declaration pass from 1am on Saturday, in response to the Holiday Inn coronavirus cluster in Melbourne.

Anyone who has been in a COVID-19 hotspot identified by Victorian health officials, where a confirmed case has visited, will not be allowed to enter Queensland.

Queensland Deputy Premier Steven Miles, the acting Health Minister, confirmed the change on Thursday morning, with the Melbourne cluster growing to 11 cases.

That will allow us to check whether they have been in any of the locations that have been identified by the Victorian contact tracers, whether they are required to get tested, and to notify them that that is the case, and require that they isolate if that is the case, he said.
Now, homeowners in 17 markets can safely and conveniently buy their new home before they sell Tweet this

"The pandemic has accelerated migration to markets like Tucson and Colorado Springs that offer affordability, growing economies and quality of life, often putting homeowners who have to sell their house before buying their next home at a disadvantage to those relocating from expensive coastal markets," said Knock Co-Founder & CEO Sean Black. "The Home Swap provides the advantage of being pre-funded for a new mortgage so a consumer can win in today's fiercely competitive market and still sell their old house on the open market for top dollar."

To enable homeowners to "swap" their current house for their dream home, Knock is partnering with HomeSmart Advantage Group in Tucson and RE/MAX Properties, Inc. of Colorado Springs and Keller Williams Premier Realty in Colorado Springs.

"We are excited to partner with Knock to bring new selling options to Tucson homeowners. The Home Swap allows homeowners to be much more competitive when submitting offers. When they go to sell their old house, they are able to skip the stress of living in their home while it is being marketed and shown for sale, which is even more important today with the pandemic," said Riana King, Head of Business Development, HomeSmart Advantage Group.

"The Home Swap program gives an upper hand to our agents and the buyers they represent. Almost every transaction is selling at or above listing price with multiple offers. If a buyer's offer is contingent on their current home selling, they have little chance. The Home Swap program removes that contingency and will help them win the multiple offer contest," said Tony Clement, Broker/Owner of RE/MAX Properties, Inc. of Colorado Springs.

"We are thrilled to partner with Knock to help our clients ease the stress when purchasing their next home. The ability for our clients to sell their current home after they move into their new home and maximize their profit is a huge advantage. We are grateful to work with a Realtor-friendly company that allows our clients to work with the Realtor they trust," said Derek Wagner, Broker/Owner, Keller Williams Premier Realty.

The Knock Home Swap provides a fully integrated and competitively priced mortgage as well as up to $200,000 in an interest-free bridge loan to cover the down payment on the new home and home prep and up to six months of mortgage payments on the old house.

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Knock is on a mission to empower people to move freely. The Knock Home Swap makes it easy for consumers to buy their new dream home before selling their old one, skipping the hassles of living through repairs and showings, paying only one mortgage at a time, and having home prep covered upfront so their old house sells for the highest possible price. Knock currently offers the Home Swap in 17 markets in six states and plans to nearly double the number of markets it serves in 2021 and be in 75 markets by 2023.

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The emerging contour of Joe Bidens China policy is predicated on a multilateral, issue-based approach with allies and key partners

As he settles down in Oval Office, Joe Biden is striving to differentiate his administrations foreign policy from that of Donald Trumps. That is understandable. The president of the United States has inherited an intense US-China rivalry from his predecessor and feels the need to stamp his own signature on the geopolitical, geo-economic curve that is reshaping the global balance of power.

However, even as Biden announces that America is back and claims major shifts in approach, early signals from the new administration on a key foreign policy tenet  bilateral ties with India  suggest more consistency and continuity with the Trump administration than Biden is willing to admit.

Right from the days of campaigning for the top job, Biden has said that he understands the true nature of the China challenge that has undergone a complete transformation since the time he demitted office as vice-president. This threat to Americas global hegemony arises from a rapidly powerful Beijings rapacious, coercive behavior and its vaulting ambition to shape the world in its authoritarian image. In his policy prescription, Biden has advocated a multilateral approach to tackle China as opposed to what he called Trumps go-it-alone policy.

This policy is presumably at a nascent stage of development, but we do get a glimpse of Bidens approach from the comments, speeches and statements that he and his team have made since the inauguration. Axios reports, quoting NSC spokesperson Emily Horne that from technology to global health to international economics, virtually every team in the new administrations National Security Council will incorporate China into their work as an example of Bidens whole-of-government approach towards China.

During an address at the US Department of State on 4 February  his first major foreign policy speech since assuming office  Biden claimed a clean break with Trumps America First policy to take a more globalist approach.

He declared: I want the world to hear today: America is back. America is back. Diplomacy is back at the center of our foreign policy, and proceeded to stress that Americas alliances are our greatest asset, and leading with diplomacy means standing shoulder-to-shoulder with our allies and key partners once again. He called China our most serious competitor and vowed to compete from a position of strength by building back better at home, working with our allies and partners, renewing our role in international institutions, and reclaiming our credibility and moral authority, much of which has been lost.

In a subsequent CBS interview, published by the US news network on Sunday, Biden said the US need not have a conflict (with China) but there is going to be extreme competition and added, Im not going to do it the way Trump did. We are going to focus on the international rules of the road.

The emerging contour of Bidens China policy, therefore, is predicated on a multilateral, issue-based approach with allies and key partners. This is being hammered down the line by key members of his administration.

For instance, US national security adviser Jake Sullivan has called revitalizing Americas alliances a top priority of Bidens foreign policy for the United States to be able to deal with both great power competition and the transnational threats that the American people face. Sullivan went on to add during a press briefing on 4 February that once we have established this position of strength, we will be able to compete more effectively with our competitors across the board and especially with China, in every domain  economic, diplomatic, technological, security, you name it.

We see this approach reflected in Sullivans conversation with his Indian counterpart Ajit Doval. The White House readout states that Sullivan and Doval discussed the importance of continuing close cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region, promoting regional security, and renewing efforts to collaborate on global challenges, including COVID-19 and climate change. In diplomatic parlance, cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region, promoting regional security and euphemisms for meeting the challenge posed by China in the Indo-Pacific theatre.

Or take US secretary of state Antony Blinken, who has said that we have to be able to approach China from a position of strength, not weakness. And that strength, I think, comes from having strong alliances, something China does not have. As an example of building partnerships, Blinken has already chatted twice with Indian foreign minister S Jaishankar. During the 29 January conversation, Blinken underscored Indias role as a preeminent US partner in the Indo-Pacific and the importance of working together to expand regional cooperation, including through the Quad.

A few days later on 9 February, Myanmar was the focus when Blinken dialed Jaishankar again. The US secretary of state expressed concern over the military coup and the importance of rule of law and the democratic process in Burma but also discussed regional developments, including the value of US-India cooperation across the Indo-Pacific. Both sides look forward to expanded regional cooperation, including through the Quad, and to address the challenges of COVID and climate change, states the White House readout.

Note the emphasis on Quad, the quadrilateral framework of democracies elevated by the Trump administration that new US NSA Sullivan has vowed to carry forward and build on. Sullivan, at an event last month, called the Quad format a mechanism which we see as fundamental a foundation upon which to build substantial American policy in the Indo Pacific region.

In his inaugural conversation with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, US defence secretary Lloyd Austin

On the centrality of US-India partnership in American foreign policy, let us look at a recent statement by the Biden administration. State department spokesperson Ned Price told reporters at a press briefing on Tuesday that India is one of the most important partners in the Indo-Pacific region to us. We welcome Indias emergence as a leading global power and its role as a net security provider in the region. We cooperate on a wide range of diplomatic and security issues, including defense, nonproliferation, regional cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, counterterrorism, peacekeeping, the environment, health, education, technology, agriculture, space, and oceans.

On a question regarding Chinas aggression along the LAC in Ladakh, the US official said, We are concerned by Beijings pattern of ongoing attempts to intimidate its neighbors. As always, well stand with friends, well stand with partners, well stand with allies to advance our shared prosperity, security, and values in, in this case, the Indo-Pacific.

The picture that emerges from these statements is of a US administration that considers alliance-building and partnership-strengthening as a bulwark of its foreign policy, certainly one which it believes will help the US in mitigating the China challenge. Biden claims to be moving quickly to begin restoring American engagement internationally and earn back our leadership position, to catalyze global action on shared challenges. Inherent in these submissions is the assumption that in most cases this approach constitutes a break from US foreign policy under Trumps go-it-alone approach.

This assumption is misleading. In differentiating the grammar of American foreign policy, the new administration has oft-used the common refrain unilateral to define Trumps foreign policy. At least in the Indo-Pacific theatre  the most consequential for the US grappling with Chinas rise  the Trump administration made every effort to carry forward allies and key strategic partners such as India.

Sullivan talks about carrying forward with the Quad framework, a format built on a cooperative approach of democracies. Heres what the White House says on the Biden-Modi telephone conversation on February 8. The leaders agreed to continuing close cooperation to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific, including support for freedom of navigation, territorial integrity, and a stronger regional architecture through the Quad.

The MEA release, while not mentioning Quad, states that both leaders reiterated the importance of working with like-minded countries to ensure a rules-based international order and a free, open and inclusive Indo-Pacific region.

This reliance on the Quad framework primarily as a security tool to mitigate Chinas malevolence in the Indo-Pacific theatre flows from the institutionalization of the format for which the Trump administration deserves plaudits. As Lisa Curtis, former NSC director, tells Axios, the Trump administration elevated the Quad by holding two Quad meetings at the secretarial level, one at the deputy level, and six at the assistant secretary level, said Curtis, demonstrating a strong U.S. commitment to the partnership.

The US strategic framework for the Indo-Pacific, a key national security document prepared in 2018 and declassified by the outgoing Trump administration in January a few days before demitting office, makes it quite evident that contrary to concerns that the Trump administration was veering to a one-dimensional, military-led external policy, there was a clear recognition of the need for holistic engagement to bolster allies and counter China, across the full spectrum from information operations to advanced technology research and infrastructure investment, as Rory Medcalf of the Australian National University writes in ASPI.

The lightly redacted document, believed to be largely authored by then NSC director Matt Pottinger in 2018, calls for aligning US Indo-Pacific strategy with those of India, Australia and Japan. It aims to create a quadrilateral security framework with the three Indo-Pacific democracies and the United States as the principal hubs. It seeks to deepen trilateral cooperation with Japan and Australia, encourage South Korea to play a larger role in regional security issues beyond the Korean peninsula and empower Japan to become a regionally-integrated, technologically advanced pillar of the Indo-Pacific security architecture. The strategic document also seeks to support Indias Act East policy and its aspiration to be a leading global power, highlighting its compatibility with the US, Japan and Australian vision of a free-and-open Indo-Pacific.

These point to a coherent and integrated policy approach towards Indo-Pacific with an aim to curb Chinas predatory rise  and it would seem that Biden has taken a leaf out of Trumps policy. Indeed, in a cover note clarifying the decision to declassify the document, former US NSA Robert OBrien said the Framework seeks to strengthen our wide and diverse network of allies and partners, which has long underwritten stability and peace in the Indo-Pacific. To that end, the Framework reflects the importance of supporting allies and partners complementary approaches to regional engagement.

To sum, the US Indo-Pacific policy  and the US-India relationship as a subset within that framework  is a statement of remarkable bipartisan consensus amid a bitterly polarised US polity. That the domestic political tension hasnt spilled on to the policy arena reinforms the fact that foreign policy is borne out of a nations self-interest. The Biden administration might be making a lot of noises about how different it is from the Trump era, the available evidence, however, suggests congruity and stability beneath the rhetoric.
Hyderabad-based Biological E is planning to manufacture 60 crore doses of Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine a year, according to a Reuters report. In August, Biological E had entered into an agreement with one of the Janssen Pharmaceutical companies of Johnson & Johnson for the manufacturing of the vaccine candidate.

No fresh coronavirus deaths were recorded in the national capital on the evening on Tuesday after a gap of about nine months while 100 fresh cases were registered with the Arvind Kejriwal government asserting that "Delhi's collective will is gradually winning over the infection".
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-11 12:01:10|Editor: huaxia

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ZAGREB, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- Nine years on, cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries has progressed in various fields with trade between the two sides enlarged nearly 85 percent and the number of mutual tourist visits growing nearly five times.

As Chinese President Xi Jinping said at the China-CEEC Summit held via video link on Tuesday, cooperation between China and Central and Eastern European Countries (CEECs) "has served the purpose of supporting our respective development and bettering the lives of our people."

FRUITFUL PROJECTS

Under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), China and CEE countries have made impressive progress in a number of cooperation projects.

Take Hungary's Kaposvar photovoltaic power plant being constructed by China National Machinery Import and Export Corporation for example. The plant, once completed, will be the country's largest solar power station expected to produce 130 million kilowatt-hours of electricity and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 120,000 tons each year.

In Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Stanari Thermal Power Plant built by China Dongfang Electric Corporation (DEC) has generated on-grid power of more than 7 billion kilowatt-hours since it went into operation in 2016, making the country an exporter in European markets.

The plant has directly created hundreds of jobs, Aleksandar Milic, technical director of the power plant said, adding that operation of the plant in northern Bosnia and Herzegovina meets or even exceeds the EU standards, thanks to the energy-saving and emission-reducing technology DEC had independently developed.

In southern Croatia, a Chinese consortium is working on the 2.4 km cable-stayed Peljesac Bridge, which will connect the southern tip of the Croatian mainland to the Peljesac Peninsula, thus giving Croatia its long-awaited territorial continuity and traffic convenience.

In Greece, China's COSCO Shipping investment in Piraeus port over the past decade has made it the top port in the Mediterranean with 5.65 million twenty-foot equivalent units handled at the port in 2019.

The privatization of the Piraeus Port Authority (PPA) has boosted Greece's GDP by about 1 billion euros (1.21 billion U.S. dollars) annually on average in the period 2011-2019, helping lift the country out of its debt crisis.

In about a decade, the PPA is expected to contribute over 375 million euros (454 million dollars) to the country's GDP and provide over 5,500 jobs, according to the Athens-based think tank Foundation for Economic and Industrial Research.

Across Serbia, Chinese investments have created thousands of jobs in sectors such as automobile parts, mining, steel, furniture and others, according to the Development Agency of Serbia.

Among them, the rejuvenation of Smederevo steel factory was most talked about. In 2012, Pittsburgh-headquartered U.S. Steel sold the steel factory to the Serbian government for a symbolic 1 dollar, leaving the company and its 5,000-plus workers in limbo.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic recalled that "the steelworks consumed around 12 million euros of state funds of Serbia every month, and we did not know how to solve this problem." The watershed moment came in 2016 as HBIS Group, China's largest and the world's second-largest steel and iron producer, purchased Smederevo and retained all the employees. Now the company renamed as Hesteel Serbia is the biggest exporter in Serbia.

JOINT WORK DESPITE COVID-19

Despite the raging COVID-19 pandemic, China and CEE countries have never stopped cooperation. When the pandemic broke out at the beginning of last year, China received generous donations from CEE partners. Then as the outbreak ravaged Europe, China returned the favor by donating and sourcing much-needed protective suppliers and medical equipment.

At the virtual China-CEEC Summit, Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic thanked China for helping his country procure protective equipment and other necessities during the pandemic.

"The pandemic has demonstrated the importance of both good governance and multilateral cooperation," he said, adding that "joint effort and solidarity will be crucial for us to deliver the vaccine to everyone, which is the main precondition for ending the pandemic."

Serbia has received the first batch of 1 million doses of China's Sinopharm inactivated coronavirus vaccines. "We know that mass vaccination is possible thanks to the first million doses that arrived from China," said Darija Kisic Tepavcevic, Serbia's minister of labor, employment, veterans and social affairs.

Hungary also reached a deal to buy China's Sinopharm vaccine, which will allow the vaccination of 2.5 million people. Hungary is the first EU member to acquire Chinese vaccine.

CONFIDENCE IN COOPERATION

China's trade with CEE countries has logged an average annual growth rate of 8 percent, which is twice the growth of its trade with Europe as a whole. China's total trade volume with CEE countries reached 103.45 billion dollars in 2020, crossing the 100-billion-dollar mark for the first time.

"Cooperation with China is needed for all European Union countries, including Croatia," Milan Bandic, mayor of Croatian capital Zagreb, told Xinhua. "I see this cooperation on the economic level, without any political conditions."

Expecting a continuing growth of China-CEEC trade, he said "more intensive cooperation between Europe and China in the field of science and research should continue, primarily to ensure larger quantities of COVID-19 vaccines."

"I am convinced that our cooperation through the exchange of good practices offers us a privileged framework for an enhanced and rapid recovery of both Europe and China in the coming period," Plenkovic told the video summit on Tuesday. Enditem

(Shi Zhongyu in Belgrade, Yu Shuaishuai in Athens, Zhang Zhang in Warsaw, Zhang Xiuzhi in Sarajevo, Yuan Liang in Budapest and Yu Tao in Vienna contributed to the report.)
As Solvency II celebrates its fifth anniversary, the European Commission is moving forward with a review of the system that will shape its operation over the coming years. A new report by AM Best, "A Very Particular Regime EIOPA's Solvency II Review Advice," examines some of the Solvency II reform proposals put forward by the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA) and outlines the implications for European insurance companies.

As the commission moves forward with changes to Solvency II, AM Best expects one of the issues under the spotlight will be the discount rates used at long durations. AM Best highlights in the report that EIOPA's proposals make a start in reforming the often-uneconomic nature of these discount rates. Insurers use rates derived from an Ultimate Forward Rate set by regulation. EIOPA's proposals to lower discount rates are expected to have a clearly visible impact in reducing available capital under Solvency II, most particularly for life insurers in Germany and the Netherlands.

However, the effect of changes to discount rates would be offset for many insurers by EIOPA's proposed reform of the risk margin, which would substantially reduce its size for longer duration contracts.

Although U.K. data is no longer included in EIOPA's work, AM Best estimates U.K. annuity writers would see a reduction of the order of 20% or more in their risk margin under the proposals, with an associated increase in available capital. This means that the U.K. review of Solvency II, also underway at this time, is unlikely to be limited by equivalence concerns in its own approach to the risk margin, should such concerns be a consideration.

The European Commission will also be considering EIOPA's proposals to harmonise Insurance Guarantee Schemes (IGSs) across the EU. IGSs operate on a national basis to compensate policyholders following insurer failures. AM Best sees the proposals as a marker of a maturing group solvency supervision system, as without a degree of harmonisation group supervision may be diminished by the actions of national supervisors looking to protect their domestic policyholders.

While EIOPA's advice, if implemented, would have the disadvantage of adding to complexity in the regime, AM Best's believes the proposals make a start in moving Solvency II somewhat closer to providing an economic picture of insurers.

To access a complimentary copy of this special report, please visit http://www3.ambest.com/bestweek/purchase.asp?record_code=305904.

To view a video with Tony Silverman, director, Credit Rating Criteria Research Analytics, AM Best, about the report, please visit http://www.ambest.com/v.asp?v=solvencyii221.

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President Joe Biden formally issued a proclamation on Thursday to terminate a national emergency declaration on the US-Mexico border issued by former President Donald Trump as part of an effort to fund his long-promised border wall.

The former president declared a national emergency along the southern border in 2019, invoking emergency powers that allowed him to use more money than Congress had approved in its spending deal for construction projects along the southern border.

By formally terminating the declaration, Mr Biden was effectively taking one step further towards reversing his predecessors hardline immigration agenda, after having previously signed multiple executive orders aimed at reforming the immigration system.

The White House formally notified Congress of the proclamation this week, noting the president issued the directive in January upon taking office.

Like every nation, the United States has a right and a duty to secure its borders and protect its people against threats. But building a massive wall that spans the entire southern border is not a serious policy solution, the proclamation, signed on Mr Bidens first day in office, reads, adding: It is a waste of money that diverts attention from genuine threats to our homeland security.

The proclamation calls for a pause in construction and funding of the border wall, and directs the secretaries of defence and homeland security to assess the legality of the funding and contracting methods.

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said separately on Thursday many migrants believe the "doors are open" to the United States following the recent election of Mr Biden, while warning that wasn't true and urging migrants not to believe traffickers who tell them they can get legal status immediately.

He noted that he welcomed Mr Biden's policy proposal, but that it would take time to be approved and implemented.

"Now, for example, that there is a U.S. immigration policy to regularise the situation of migrants, Mexicans and our Central American brothers, people think that now the doors are open, that President Biden is going to immediately regularise all migrants," the Mexican president said.

"It is not true that everyone can go now to the United States and they will be regularised, that has not been defined yet," he said. "Our brother migrants should have this information so that they won't be deceived by human traffickers, who paint a rosy picture."

The Mexican leader also cited the recent massacre of 19 people, including at least 14 Guatemalan migrants, as justification for his policy of stopping Central American migrants at Mexico's southern border.He said the massacre showed that it was too dangerous to allow migrants to travel through drug-cartel turf in northern Mexico.

"This was always our argument, that we need to protect migrants, watch out for them," he said. "If they enter (Mexico) and spread out, we cannot keep an eye on them or protect them, and they wind up in the hands of organised crime, they are in danger."

Under pressure from Mr Trump in 2018 and 2019, the Mexican president posted thousands of immigration, military and National Guard agents at Mexico's border with Guatemala to stop caravans of Central American migrants from entering the country.Rights activists say Mexico's policy has exposed migrants to additional dangers, including excessive use of force by law enforcement forces, extortion by criminal gangs and violations of their human rights.

The Associated Press contributed to this report
Electro Optic Systems Holdings Limited (EOS)(ASX:EOS) develops, manufactures and sells sophisticated aerospace technology with a wide range of applications through two business divisions - military and space.EOS' remote weapon systems enable a weapon to be fired rapidly and accurately by a gunner safely relocated away from the weapon. Typically the technology is applied for mounting weapons on the top of an armoured vehicle, and the gunner inside the vehicle. EOS remote weapon systems have been produced in significant numbers for US Army, NATO forces, Australia, and other countries around the world.EOS' space division is as a manufacturer of telescopes and technology to support space surveillance and space debris management, including removal. In space surveillance, EOS's laser tracking systems and computer technology can simultaneously track tens of thousands of orbiting objects - as small as 2 cm in diameter -while its space ablation technology and systems can potentially alter the orbits of objects (e.g. satellites) in spaceEOS has around 140 employees, based in Canberra (Australia), Tucson (Arizona), Singapore and Deggendorf (Germany). The company also has manufacturing centres in Queanbeyan and in Tucson, Arizona.





Anyone arriving in England and found to have lied about a recent visit to a country on the travel ban list faces up to 10 years in prison under new tough coronavirus border policies announced Tuesday by the British government.

Among other measures, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said that from Monday, residents in the U.K. and Ireland arriving in England from the government's "red list" will have to purchase a quarantine package that will cost each individual 1,750 pounds ($2,400). He also announced a series of fines for those not abiding by the rules.

I make no apologies for the strength of these measures because were dealing with one of the strongest threats to our public health that weve faced as a nation, Hancock told lawmakers. People who flout these rules are putting us all at risk."

At present, there are 33 countries, including all those in South America, South Africa and Portugal, from where travel is effectively banned largely because of concerns over new variants of the coronavirus.

However, British and Irish citizens as well as all other U.K. residents, are permitted to enter provided they self-isolate for 10 days after their arrival.

From Monday, they won't be able to quarantine themselves at home, unlike those arriving from countries not on the red list. Instead, they will have to buy  through a dedicated online portal  a package that will include accommodation, food and drinks and testing for the coronavirus on days two and eight of their quarantine period. The enhanced testing regime, which is in addition to the already-mandated pre-departure tests, will be a requirement for anyone arriving in England and anyone failing to do so will be fined.

Hancock, who has responsibility for health matters in England, said the booking system will go live on Thursday and that the government has contracted 16 hotels, for an initial 4,600 rooms.

Those failing to quarantine in a designated hotel face fines of up to 10,000 pounds. The harshest potential penalty of up to 10 years in jail could be assigned to those people who lie about visiting any of the 33 countries on the red list.

Anyone who lies on a passenger locator form, and tries to conceal that theyve been in a country on our red list in the 10 days before arrival here, will face a prison sentence of up to 10 years, Hancock said.

Scotland is tightening its rules on international travel further than England, confirming it will require people arriving on all direct international flights to enter quarantine hotels. Scottish Transport Secretary Michael Matheson said Englands approach is not sufficient.

Lobby groups for the travel industry, one of the hardest hit during the pandemic, said the new measures deepen a worsening 2021 outlook.

Airports and airlines are battling to survive with almost zero revenue and a huge cost base, and practically every week a further blow lands, said Karen Dee, chief executive of the Airport Operators Association, and Tim Alderslade, chief executive of Airlines U.K. Aviation-specific financial support is urgently needed to ensure our sector can get through the year.

How long the measures stay in place will clearly depend on the path of the pandemic and whether the new variants will work to negate the rapid vaccine rollout in the U.K. Already, some 12.65 million people have received their first dose, equivalent to around 20% of the adult population. On Monday, the government is set to announce the next stage of its vaccination rollout beyond the four groups deemed to be at most risk.

The government is hoping that its rapid rollout of vaccines, in addition to its border measures and the national lockdown, will see the number of COVID-19-related deaths fall dramatically. On Tuesday, another 1,052 people were reported to have died across the U.K. after testing positive for the coronavirus, taking the total to 113,850, Europe's highest.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
Egypts Minister of Health Hala Zayed revealed on Thursday in a meeting with the World Health Organization (WHO) that the number of coronavirus infections in Egypt is expected to increase by April.

In a videoconference with the WHO about the latest developments concerning COVID-19 in Africa, Zayed said the Egyptian health ministry expects an increase in infection rates in April but the curve will decline in May.

Egypt entered the second wave of coronavirus in early December, however, in January, the country witnessed a decline in the daily infection rate.

Egypt has so far registered 171,290 cases of coronavirus, including 133,331 recoveries and 9,804 fatalities, since the outbreak of the pandemic in February 2020.

Zayed also revealed that the seventh week in both the first and second waves of the pandemic witnessed a peak in infections and fatalities.

The minister added that Egypt provided $4 million in medical aid to 30 African countries and participated in all the current research related to COVID-19 with the WHO.

Zayed also said that Egypt is finalising contracts to manufacturing COVD-19 vaccines in the country in a way that would allow Egypt to deliver vaccines locally and to African countries at cost.

The minister also thanked COVID-19 Vaccines Global Access (COVAX) for its help in providing vaccines to low and middle-income countries.

COVAX delivered to Egypt its first shipment of Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine in late January.

Egypt managed to provide 95 percent of our needs locally. In addition, we managed to manufacture coronavirus medications like Remdesivir," she said.

Egypt started its vaccination campaign using the Chinese Sinopharm vaccine last month, beginning with medical teams nationwide.

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Yuma News

Yuma, Arizona - Nursing students at Northern Arizona University-Yuma have stepped up in the communitys fight against COVID-19, with a third of enrolled students volunteering to give vaccinations.

The vaccination volunteering on January 26, which is the latest effort in the partnership between the university and the health care community in southern Arizona, started with an email to Jason Bradley, an assistant clinical professor and program coordinator of the NAU-Yuma nursing program. It was 4:28 p.m., and the email asked for volunteers who could be available at 9 a.m. the next day.

Despite that, eight NAU-Yuma nursing students were at the Yuma County Public Health Services District (PHSD) the next morning, masked and scrubbed up and ready to vaccinate Yuma residents who were eligible for the vaccine.

All of this requires that our students provide patient education, they do screenings and they give shots, Bradley said. Theyre really putting their education into action.

Juliana Razo Lugo was one of those students. Shes graduating this spring and saw the vaccination clinics as a way to practice her skills in administering injections while also helping the community. She found herself surrounded by a range of health care providers, including other students.

I was surprised when one of the nurses said she had already gone through this process back in 2010 with the H1N1 virus, which made me realize that this will not be the last time I experience something like this, she said.

The nursing program has longstanding ties with the Yuma Regional Medical Center, the PHSD and Arizona Western College, so participating in community health events like this is not unusual. Bradley actually reached out to Yuma County in December to see how the nursing students could help. That made him the first contact at a last-minute cancellation. Over the course of several clinics, close to 30 nursing students have gotten the chance to volunteer.

Because of the nature of these clinics, almost all of which happened before the semester started, none of the nursing students have gotten any academic credit for these clinics. With more time to plan, these clinic experiences are worked into the curriculum. Bradley is planning to make that happen as clinics become more frequent and more predictable, including getting students who are engaged in virtual learning participating in the clinics, as they would in a normal year.

But this is not a normal year. Professors also changed their first-year curriculum so students learn how to administer shots in the first few weeks, instead of waiting halfway through the semester. Theyre doing all they can to help prepare nursing students to be able to jump in and help their community as much as possible throughout the pandemic.

On the other end of their education, students are jumping into clinical work early. Last fall, Bradley asked if any fifth-semester students wanted to start their final semester early; Yuma Regional Medical Center needed as many health care providers as possible. Ten started their preceptor work a month early to help fill that need.

Its hard; no one will say differently. But the sense of purpose motivating everyone in the health care community is making a difference.

I have seen this myself and heard from the studentsthe vibe, the energy, the atmosphere of these clinics is positive, Bradley said. You can just feel that everyone, while frustrated that more arent getting vaccinated, has a general sense of optimism and positivity around those clinics. I know they see that, they feel that, theyre part of it.

Thats been the experience of Maegan Collins, whos early in her nursing program. Being able to participate in these clinics helped her feel like a real nurse, she said, and she liked seeing how happy people were to get the vaccine.

The NAU-Yuma campus.

I volunteered to administer vaccines because I really wanted to practice my skills, but I also wanted to help the nurses in the community, Collins said. I know with this pandemic the nurses are being run ragged, especially here in Arizona, with the rates being so high. I just wanted to be able to do what I could to maybe give them a break.

Shes more confident in her abilities now, she said, and not just in giving shots. She got first-hand experience in the challenges inherent to health care when a patient fainted after receiving the shot. Shed passed out when getting vaccines before, so the staff was prepared, and the patient was fine. But it wasnt what Collins expected when she volunteered.

Bradley, who is a mental health professional, is keeping a closer-than-normal eye on the students, who are feeling the crunch not only of a drastically different educational experience than any planned on but also preparing to work in health care during a global pandemic. He has seen negative impacts and continually stresses the importance of caring for their mental health.

The students, even though they were glad to be doing something to help, agreed that it wasnt easy.

To be a part of this is sad, honestly; so many people are sick and dying, Collins said. I never thought in my life I would experience a global pandemic. But I am also very grateful to be able to participate in helping to possibly stop the pandemic.

It is satisfying to think that I was part of a chapter in history, but a chapter in history I wish closes soon, Razo said.
NEW HAVEN  New Haven police searched behind the Arbys on Washington Avenue in North Haven Thursday, next to where Qinxuan Pan, the person of interest in Yale student Kevin Jiangs killing, reportedly last was seen.

The police, dressed in plainclothes and accompanied by dogs, searched an area behind a snowbank in the rear of the fast-food restaurant site.

U.S. marshals Thursday also announced a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the location and arrest of Pan, the Massachusetts man wanted for questioning in connection with the killing of the 26-year-old Yale graduate student last Saturday.

New Haven police had announced Wednesday that Pan, 29, was a person of interest in the investigation of the slaying of Kevin Jiang, 26.

New Haven Assistant Chief Karl Jacobson said Pan remained at large Thursday.

The U.S. Marshals Violent Fugitive Task Force was asked by local authorities to assist in locating Pan, the U.S. Marshals Service said in a release Thursday. According to the release, Pan, 6 feet tall and weighing 170 pounds with a medium complexion and short, black hair, could possibly be staying with friends or family in the Duluth or Brookhaven areas of Georgia. They asked anyone with information to contact the U.S. Marshals at 1-877-926-8332.

New Haven police Capt. Anthony Duff said he had no information on what the detectives were doing in North Haven Thursday, but noted that the location previously was disclosed as the place Pan had last been seen.

Rohit Sawhney, general manager of the Best Western Hotel, said Thursday that Pan had come to the hotel and asked for a room around 10:30 p.m. Saturday. He booked it, providing an ID and credit card, but seemingly never entered it, Sawhney said.

He didnt even go to his room. ... The room was not touched, said Sawhney. Why he took the room, I dont know.

Sawhney said the hotel was cooperating with local law enforcement, noting that officers had come to the hotel Sunday to ask about Pan. He said, to his knowledge, no one from the hotel had reported a disturbance concerning Pan Saturday night.

Sawhney noted the hotel has a strict policy about renting rooms.

We are very by-the-book at this hotel, said Sawhney. You dont have a valid ID, you dont have a credit card, you dont have a room.

The manager of North Haven Auto Body, located on the other side of the Arbys, declined to comment Thursday.

North Haven police declined Thursday to explain their interaction with Pan.

Police Chief Kevin Glenn initially said he would provide some details about the matter Thursday, but later reversed course. He declined to comment generally, as well.

We are not going to release anything due to the ongoing investigation. All information will be released through New Haven PD, Glenn said in an email.

North Haven First Selectman Michael Freda noted the volume of people coming through the community in a statement Thursday, and said town police were working collaboratively with their counterparts in New Haven.

We have over 500,000 people coming through North Haven every day, said Freda. (A)nd once our North Haven police department was notified of the suspect being in North Haven, our Police responded immediately to protect our community and worked collaboratively with the New Haven police department to assist them with the investigation of this homicide.

Jiang, who studied at the Yale School of the Environment and lived in West Haven, was shot to death on Lawrence Street in the East Rock neighborhood Saturday night.

City residents held a vigil Wednesday marking his life and those of other homicide victims in the area.

Jiang was engaged to be married to Zion Perry; his fellow students and members of Trinity Baptist Church, where he volunteered, are raising funds to support his family.

A graduate student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Pan last lived in Malden, Mass., New Haven Police Chief Otoniel Reyes said.

Police believe Pan was in the area at the time Jiang was killed, Reyes has said. The department considers Pan a person of interest; at this time, he is not officially suspected of committing the shooting.

Pan reportedly checked into the hotel two hours after Jiang was killed. The shooting occurred around 8:30 p.m. Saturday near Lawrence, Nicholl and Nash streets.

Residents in the area reported hearing multiple gunshots.

I heard the shots and then we saw through our window , Lawrence Street resident Zeenie Malik said Thursday.

Multiple people immediately headed outside, according to Malik.

Reyes said Pan should be considered armed and dangerous. While he is not believed to be in Connecticut at this time, but the department is exploring that possibility.

North Haven police came into contact with Mr. Pan sometime after our homicide, Reyes said. North Haven police were unaware at that time that a killing had taken place, he said.

Massachusetts State Police searched a home in Malden in an effort to locate Pan Thursday, but did not find him, according to the Middesex County District Attorneys Office.

The New Haven Police Department said it would hold its next media briefing on the case at 11 a.m. Friday on the steps of headquarters, 1 Union Ave.

If there were significant developments in the Jiang homicide case, that could change, police said.

william.lambert@hearstmediact.com

The award recognizes Spielberg's outstanding achievement as one the most influential filmmakers in the history of cinema; his social activism and prolific philanthropy; and his principled stance against anti-Semitism and all forms of intolerance. The Prize also recognizes his extraordinary work to preserve the memory of the Holocaust and prevent future genocides through film, public advocacy and philanthropy.

For the first time in the history of the Genesis Prize, the voice of global Jewry was a major factor in Laureate selection. Two hundred thousand Jews on six continents cast their votes for the 2021 Laureate; millions more engaged on social media. While the Prize Committee had the ultimate discretion about the selection of the recipient of this prestigious award, the fact Spielberg received the most votes was a major determining factor.

"The Genesis Prize celebrates Steven Spielberg's unique talent, his commitment to making the world a better place, and his unparalleled contribution to teaching the post-war generations about the horrors of the Holocaust," said Stan Polovets, Co-Founder and Chairman of GPF. "We are delighted to welcome Steven Spielberg to the distinguished family of Genesis Prize honorees, which includes such luminaries as Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Natan Sharansky, and Michael Bloomberg."

This is the latest in a series of prominent awards bestowed on Spielberg, which among others include the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award of the United States; Legion d'Honneur, the highest order of the French Republic, and Germany's Federal Cross of Merit.

"Spielberg is a great Jewish visionary and storyteller," said the legendary human rights activist Natan Sharansky, who was awarded the Genesis Prize in 2020. "Key Jewish themes are often woven into his narratives: importance of identity and belonging, maintaining humanity in a ruthless world, caring for the other, and honoring the moral obligation to do the right thing. His talent makes them universal: told by Spielberg, these stories come alive in people's hearts across the globe."

Steven Spielberg becomes the 9th Genesis Prize honoree. All previous Laureates chose to direct the $1 million Prize award to philanthropic causes about which they were passionate. Sharansky, who preceded Spielberg as the Genesis Prize Laureate, directed his $1 million award to support individuals and organizations working to alleviate the Covid-19 health crisis and prevent future pandemics.

"Congratulations to Steven Spielberg on this important Jewish award," said Isaac Herzog, Chairman of the Jewish Agency for Israel and Chairman of the Genesis Prize Selection Committee. "He is an example of great Jewish talent, whose extraordinary work in film and philanthropy is infused with the values of his people  a quest for justice, compassion, humanism, and a heartfelt desire to make the world a better place."

About the 2021 Genesis Prize Laureate

Steven Spielberg is widely considered to be the most successful film director in the history of cinema. His films grossed $10bn and his imagination has captivated tens of millions of people around the world. After establishing his reputation with blockbuster films such as Jaws, ET, Jurassic Park and Indiana Jones, he began to explore serious topics such as justice, slavery, women's rights, corruption, and morality of war in films such as Saving Private Ryan, Lincoln, The Color Purple, The Post, Munich and Bridge of Spies.

His films also have delivered compelling narratives of Jewish history and present day events  the Holocaust, terrorism, and the maturing of the State of Israel. Spielberg's 1993 masterpiece Schindler's List has had a profound impact on humanity's perception and awareness of the Holocaust. Fifty years after the Shoah, Spielberg's film fostered a strong emotional connection with this tragedy for a vast, global audience  touching the post-war generations in a way that no other medium could. Spielberg channeled all of his proceeds from Schindler's List to fund philanthropic causes  both Jewish and non-Jewish. In 1994, he established the USC Shoah Foundation, dedicated to preserving Holocaust survivor testimonies. Concerned with prevention of genocide, the Foundation also works to preserve the memory of other 20th century genocides  in Cambodia, Armenia and Rwanda. Over 55,000 survivor testimonies have been recorded to-date.

Spielberg and his wife Kate Capshaw founded the Righteous Persons Foundation, which has made more than $100 million in grants to various Jewish organizations. Through the Wunderkinder Foundation, Spielberg has given extensively to health, arts, youth and education.

About the Genesis Prize and Prior Laureates

The Genesis Prize is a global award that celebrates Jewish achievement and contribution to humanity. Launched in 2013, the Prize is financed through a permanent endowment of $100 million established by The Genesis Prize Foundation.

Previous Genesis Prize laureates are former New York City Mayor and philanthropist Michael Bloomberg (2014); actor, producer and peace activist Michael Douglas (2015); Itzhak Perlman, virtuoso violinist and advocate for individuals with special needs (2016); sculptor and advocate for the rights of refugees Sir Anish Kapoor (2017); Oscar-winning actress and social activist Natalie Portman (2018); owner of New England Patriots and founder of the leading foundation to combat anti-Semitism Robert Kraft (2019); and legendary Jewish leader and human rights activist Natan Sharansky (2020). In 2018, the Genesis Prize Foundation honored U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg with its inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award for her contribution to social justice and equal rights.

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1436786/Steven_Spielberg.jpg

Related Links

http://www.genesisprize.org



SOURCE The Genesis Prize Foundation
POTTSVILLE  Instead of taking her case to trial, a Berks County woman admitted Wednesday to a Schuylkill County judge that she burglarized a Pine Grove Township archery club in April 2019.

With the jury waiting in another courtroom to hear her case, Sarah L. Day, 22, of Fleetwood, pleaded guilty to two counts of burglary and one each of criminal trespass, theft, receiving stolen property and criminal mischief.

Judge Charles M. Miller, who was to have presided over Days trial, instead accepted her plea, ordered preparation of a presentence investigation and scheduled her sentencing for 3 p.m. March 31. He allowed Day to remain free on $20,000 straight cash bail pending sentencing.

Miller warned Day that she might not get off easily.

This is not a negotiated plea, he said. These are serious (crimes).

State police at Schuylkill Haven alleged that between April 14 and April 17, 2019, Day and her accomplice, Shaun Marshall, broke into the Swatara Archery Club, 100 Swatara Lane.

They broke in. They stole roughly $30 in cash, $20 in food and beverages, Assistant District Attorney Thomas J. Campion Jr. said.

Campion said Day and Marshall also took a key, went to the clubs garage and took a Toyota Tacoma pickup truck. They later abandoned the truck at a nearby gas station/convenience store, he said.

Marshall already has pleaded guilty and served his sentence, Campion said.

Day said little during Wednesdays hearing except that she understood the terms and consequences of her plea and was entering it knowingly and voluntarily.
FOLLY BEACH  The owner of repeatedly flooded land on a marsh island is suing the city, state regulators and Charleston County for stalling efforts to build there.

Work to prepare the site for new homes was stopped after the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control visited the land in the fall and determined that it had to redraw the boundaries of what was marsh and what was buildable property.

Officials inspected the site in October and November, two months in which the land in question was intermittently flooded by king tides that arrive in the Southeast like clockwork every autumn. Sea level rise has made these events more severe, and they repeatedly washed over some of the future house lots, which are on either side of Bowens Island Road.

The flooding was noted at the time by neighbors and city officials. Folly Beach Administrator Aaron Pope even asked in an October email if the owners were interested in donating one particularly problematic lot to the city's conservancy nonprofit, usually used to hold underwater lots on the beachfront side of Folly Island.

The request was quoted in the lawsuit. Pope deferred questions about the suit to the city's attorney, who declined to comment.

Landowner Clam Farm Partnership LLC said in its Feb. 5 complaint that government officials jeopardized its contract to grade the land and prepare utility lines, then sell it to a homebuilder.

The actions of city, county and state "have effectively precluded the Plaintiff from completing site work and the sale of the Subject Property," the complaint reads. "The Defendants actions have rendered the Subject Property valueless, causing damages to the Plaintiff in an amount likely to exceed ($2 million)."

Clam Farm had a total contract of slightly more than $4 million to prepare and sell the land to developer Stanley Martin Homes, but the sale has not closed, according to the suit. The agreement said that Clam Farm would deliver 26 house lots; 13 of those are at the center of the lawsuit.

Clam Farm has already developed and sold condos on adjacent land at the intersection of Bowens Island and Folly roads. Single-family homes next door were slated as the next phase of that work.

Named in the suit are the city of Folly Beach, DHEC, a DHEC office that issues building permits for sensitive environments, and Charleston County. All defendants declined to discuss the pending suit. None have filed responses.

DHEC told The Post and Courier in November that "critical areas are dynamic ecosystems and subject to change over time. A critical area line was established in 2016 but since that time, the line has moved in some locations at the site."

In DHEC language, a "critical area" is a sensitive habitat where most building is prohibited, including marshlands and active beach.

The suit asks for unspecified damages, legal fees, and rulings that would nullify the recent scrutiny of the property by city, county and state. In addition to attention from state regulators, an attempt by the city to revise plats that record the lots' buildable boundaries and a request by the county to review stormwater plans have infringed on Clam Farm's rights, the company said.

Matthew Tillman, an attorney for Clam Farm, also declined to comment.

The limited liability company holds a land disturbance permit from DHEC dating to at least 2007. It has been valid for so long in part because the S.C. General Assembly extended the life of development permits after the 2008 financial crisis, when many companies suddenly didn't have the capital to carry out building plans.

But the permit will finally expire on Feb. 14, according to the suit, and now, Clam Farm will miss the deadline to complete its work.

Fewer married couples with children considering divorce amid COVID-19 pandemic, survey finds

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The number of married couples in the U.K. considering divorce has declined since the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a survey released by the Marriage Foundation.



According to the UK Household Longitudinal Coronavirus survey, couples considering getting divorced dropped by two-thirds compared to the rate before the pandemic started.



Researchers examined 3,005 parents who filled out a survey for the Office of National Statistics and found that twice as many married couples said their relationship had improved amid the COVID-19 restrictions.

We've looked at a big household study and they looked at 3,000 parents who are both married and cohabiting, actually mums and dads. And in previous years, they've asked similar relationship questions. So we've got a comparison for what people look like before COVID times and then in June and September, said Harry Benson, research director for the Marriage Foundation, in an interview with Premier News.

"What we found is that the degree to which couples, both married mothers and fathers, were seriously considering divorce was down by about half for fathers and about down by 80 percent for mothers. That's really important because this is people who are saying, 'We are seriously considering divorce most or all of the time,' he said.

Sir Paul Coleridge, founder of the Marriage Foundation, told Premier he believed the divorce boom that has been predicted due to COVID-19 is not happening and sees no indication that it will happen.

It seems that the centuries-old marriage vows 'for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health' still resonate and hold good for the majority of married couples who are hanging in there through thick and thin even whilst their relationships are being stress-tested," he said.

"Although the increased level of unhappiness among a small minority of parents most likely reflects the generally stressful and uncertain circumstances of lockdown, most other indicators of relationship stress are showing lower levels compared to normal.

In the United States, divorce rates have been decreasing for many years, and the similarly-predicted surge in divorces did not happen as a result of the pandemic.

In 2019, according to Census Bureau data compiled and analyzed by the Virginia-based Institute for Family Studies, the U.S. divorce rate hit its lowest level in approximately 50 years. The 2019 divorce rate was much lower than in 1980 when the National Vital Statistics reported that 22.6 divorces per 1,000 marriages occurred, the Institute for Family Studies report explained in November. The 2019 rate was, however, higher than the 1960 rate when 9.2 marriages per 1,000 ended in divorce.



The falling divorce rates are happening alongside falling marriage rates, the data showed.

In 2019, 33 out of 1,000 unmarried adults got married, which is slightly below 35 per 1,000 in 2010, and considerably below the 86 per 1,000 rate in 1970.



Institute for Family Studies Research Director Wendy Wang, who wrote the report, told The Christian Post in November that she did not believe the pandemic would have a lasting effect, and that evidence showed divorce rates would decline as a result of it.

In fact, recent survey data shows the pandemic has actually brought more couples closer to each other, Wang said. Also, initial data from some states suggest that divorce filings have declined.

A majority of married Americans say that the pandemic has made them appreciate their spouse more. And half agree that their commitment to marriage has deepened, she added.








Today, Partech Africa publishes its annual report on VC Funding for African Startups. It appears that, in the middle of the global pandemic, the African tech ecosystem is still growing fast, with more deals closed, and is getting a boost from the accelerated digitalization of foundational economic sectors.

More equity rounds in a challenging year

In 2020, more startups have closed deals than in any previous year: 359 deals were closed by 347 startups, compared with 250 rounds in 2019, i.e., a +44% growth YoY. Another very positive signal is the number of seed deals which massively accelerated, reaching 228 deals (+80% YoY). Venture stages (Series A B) are continuing to grow (+11% deals YoY) despite a general erosion of round sizes. Growth stage sees a low deal count and a marked drop in ticket size (-60% YoY).

The effects of the global crisis

Despite the strong growth in activity, the total amount raised by African startups decreased for the first time after nearly a decade of growth: the equity funding raised by African startups in 2020 totaled US$ 1.429 Billion, representing a -29% drop YoY. Another effect of the crisis was the drop in the average deal size of African VC tech equity deals. The absence of mega-rounds explains to a great extent the drop in funding amount.

The monthly breakdown shows that there was no clear and significant impact on activity level attributable to the crisis and, in fact, every month of 2020 saw more deals closed than the same month in 2019.

A resilient ecosystem which already creates value

Investors may have slowed down their processes, and founders delayed their rounds for better times, but the ecosystem still benefitted from a boost and acceleration of digitalization of key economic sectors, such as: Agriculture, Logistics Mobility, Offgrid Energy, and Healthcare.

Key facts:

Country breakdown: Nigeria remains the leader with US$ 307 million invested, while Egypt is first in equity deal count with 86 deals: an +83% growth YoY. 4 countries attracted 80% of the volume invested but 26 countries in total have attracted capital.

Nigeria remains the leader with US$ 307 million invested, while Egypt is first in equity deal count with 86 deals: an +83% growth YoY. 4 countries attracted 80% of the volume invested but 26 countries in total have attracted capital. Sector breakdown: Fintech is the first in total equity funding, with 25% of total amounts, but the highlight is the digital transformation of key economic sectors with Agritech (US$ 179 Million), Logistics Mobility (US$ 157 Million), Offgridtech (US$ 148 Million) and Healthtech (US$ 141 Million).

Fintech is the first in total equity funding, with 25% of total amounts, but the highlight is the digital transformation of key economic sectors with Agritech (US$ 179 Million), Logistics Mobility (US$ 157 Million), Offgridtech (US$ 148 Million) and Healthtech (US$ 141 Million). Founder gender breakdown: Female-founded startups raised 13% of the rounds in 2020 4 points down from 17% in 2019 but they accounted for 14% of the total equity funding, just above 13% in 2019 (+8% YoY).

Female-founded startups raised 13% of the rounds in 2020 4 points down from 17% in 2019 but they accounted for 14% of the total equity funding, just above 13% in 2019 (+8% YoY). Investor breakdown: Africa's tech ecosystem is not only attracting more investors (+24% YoY), but they are also more committed to the market, with 108 of them involved in 2 or more deals, and 22 very active in 5+ deals.

A stable methodology

The fifth Partech Africa annual report on African tech start-ups is based on the same methodology as the previous years: it covers equity deals in tech and digital spaces, and funding rounds higher than US$200K.

Read the full report on Partech's website.

About Partech

Born in San Francisco and Paris, Partech is one of the most active VCs in the world, bringing together capital, operational experience and strategic support for entrepreneurs at seed, venture and growth stages. In 2020, Partech invested in 82 startups across 24 countries in Europe, America, Africa and Asia, and generated US$ 1.3B in aggregate exit value.

About Partech Africa

Headquartered in Dakar, Senegal, Partech Africa is the largest VC fund dedicated to technology startups in Africa. Partech Africa focuses on series A and B equity rounds in startups which are changing the way technology is used in education, mobility, finance, healthcare, delivery, energy, etc.

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WELLINGTON, New Zealand: Even before the 36th Americas Cup sailing race has been concluded, defending champion Team New Zealand is offering cities around the world the opportunity to host the 37th regatta.

Team New Zealand will only get to decide the next venue if it retains the 170-year-old trophy in March. But it is already seeking expressions of interest from cities which might like to stage the regatta, which will probably take place in 2024.

Any move by the team to defend the Americas Cup in a city outside New Zealand would be a major break with tradition and probably quite unpopular at home. Since New Zealand first won the Americas Cup from the United States in 1995, its three defenses have all been held in the waters around Auckland.

National and local taxpayers have poured hundreds of millions of dollars into Team New Zealand directly and into creating the infrastructure for those events.

But Team New Zealand has started circulating a glossy, 48-page hosting guide outlining the requirements and benefits and has reportedly been in talks with 10 cities interested in staging the event.

The hosting guide says Team New Zealands aim is for the 37th Americas Cup to be the most successful  ever seen.

General manager Grant Dalton said Team New Zealand was only exploring the possibility of moving the Cup as a means of raising the funds necessary to keep the team intact. He said rival teams likely will seek to sign Team New Zealands sailors when the current regatta ends.

We would in normal circumstances stay here and God hopes we do end up staying here, Dalton told local website Stuff. Our intent is no more complicated than securing an enduring team.

Dalton said rival teams would strip this team in two minutes if Team New Zealand doesnt act to retain its sailors and shore crew.

We wont even get the boat back to the dock before we get stripped, he said.

Auckland mayor Phil Goff, whose council has spent millions building the infrastructure for the current regatta, said any move to take the Cup from Auckland likely would cost Team New Zealand a lot of support.

Having invested in infrastructure and having made huge efforts to get it completed on time and fit for purpose, both of which objectives have been achieved, we would expect Team New Zealand to take that into account when they decide where the Cup is to be held next time, in the event they win, Goff told Stuff.

___

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EDWARDSVILLE  Abbey M. Rodgers, 30, of Edwardsville, was charged Feb. 10 with aggravated driving while under the influence, a Class 2 felony.

The case was presented by the Edwardsville Police Department.

According to court documents, on May 10, 2019 Rodgers allegedly was found to be driving a motor vehicle while under the influence, and was transporting a minor under 16 years of age. Bail was set at $60,000.

Other felony cases filed Feb. 10 by the Madison County States Attorneys Office include:

 Asante Isaac, 30, of Collinsville, was charged with two counts of burglary, both Class 2 felonies. The case was presented by the Collinsville Police Department. On March 24 Isaac allegedly broke in to motor vehicles in the 400 block of Hesperia and the 500 block of Bell Street to commit theft. Bail was set at $40,000.

 Christina M. Mejia, 33, of Collinsville, was charged with offenses relating to motor vehicles, a Class 2 felony; and unlawful possession of methamphetamine, a Class 3 felony. The case was presented by the Metro East Auto Theft Task Force. On Feb. 9 Mejia allegedly was found to be in possession of a stolen 2020 Nissan Altima, and had less than five grams of methamphetamine. Bail was set at $30,000.

 Matthew S. Franks, 31, of OFallon, Illinois, was charged with retail theft over $300, a Class 3 felony. The case was presented by the Glen Carbon Police Department. On Dec. 26 Franks allegedly took miscellaneous electronic merchandise with a value of more than $300 from the Glen Carbon Walmart, 400 Junction Drive. Bail was set at $15,000.

 Jacqueline C. Hoskins, 50, of Edwardsville, was charged with retail theft under $300 (second subsequent offense), a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the Edwardsville Police Department. On Jan. 3 Hoskins allegedly took clothing, toys, greeting cards and other merchandise with a value of less than $300 from the Edwardsville Target, 2350 Troy Road. Bail was set at $20,000.

 Jasmine M. Hughes, 35, of Edwardsville, was charged with criminal damage to property over $500, a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the Edwardsville Police department. On Jan. 6 Hughes allegedly damaged a 2019 Buick Envision in excess of $500. Bail was set at $20,000.

 Billie D. Miller, 35, of Pontoon Beach, was charged with unlawful possession of a controlled substance. On April 28 Miller allegedly was found to be in possession of less than $15 grams of fentanyl. Bail was set at $20,000.
President Ram Nath Kovind on Thursday said India has been at the forefront in the global efforts to forge a decisive and coordinated response to COVID-19 to ensure collective health and economic well-being.

Addressing an event, he said under the government of Indias vaccine maitri initiative, highly affordable vaccines made in India have already reached several countries, re-enforcing its reputation as the pharmacy of the world.

The president accepted credentials from Ambassador/High Commissioner from the Republic of El Salvador, Panama, Tunisia, the United Kingdom and the Argentine Republic in a virtual ceremony, according to a statement issued by Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Kovind conveyed his good wishes to the envoys on their appointment. He said India enjoys warm and friendly relations with all these five countries and these ties were deeply rooted in a common vision of peace and prosperity.

Kovind also thanked their governments for supporting Indias candidature for the non-permanent seat of the UN Security Council for the term 2021-22, the statement said.

President Kovind said India has been at the forefront in the global efforts to forge a decisive and coordinated response to the COVID-19 to ensure our collective health and economic well-being, it said.

In their comments, the envoys underlined the strong partnership that their countries have with India and conveyed the commitment of their leaderships to strengthen relations with India. The envoys also lauded Indias efforts in providing COVID-19 vaccines to the international community, the statement said.

The envoys present at the virtual event were Guillermo Rubio Funes, Ambassador of the Republic of El Salvador, Yasiel Alines Burillo Rivera, Ambassador of Panama, Hayet Talbi, Ambassador of Tunisia, Alex Ellis, High Commissioner of the United Kingdom and HugoJavier Gobbi, Ambassador of the Argentine Republic, it said.

(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.
(Natural News) Even though Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis issued an executive order last year prohibiting local and city governments from issuing mask mandates, Tampa Mayor Jane Castor, a Democrat, tried to anyway, and now wants to go after violators who were seen at Super Bowl LV with naked faces.

According to Castor, the bad actors who refused to cover their noses and mouths with Chinese plastic will be hunted down by law enforcement and punished for upsetting her.

Another living Cruella de Vil meme who behaves similarly to tyrant Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Castor believes that she holds some kind of sanctioned authority to demand that people cover their faces at her command. Because they said no, she is now out for blood.

I am proud to say that the majority of individuals I saw out and about enjoying the festivities associated with the Super Bowl were complying, Castor bellowed during a recent press conference.

We had tens of thousands of people all over the city; downtown, out by the stadium, Ybor City, down here in Channelside, and very, very few incidents. Im proud of our community, but those few bad actors will be identified, and the Tampa Police department will handle it.

Toxic feminism is destroying America

According to Castor, obeying her orders is a personal responsibility that everyone must embrace. Since Castor is supply[ing] everyone with a mask and advis[ing] them of the science behind it, there is no reason that anyone cannot abide by her mask order.

What Castor obviously fails to recognize is the fact that she has no authority to force anyone to do anything. She is a public servant, or is at least supposed to be one, not a queen who gets to boss people around with a golden scepter.

We really dont want to get into being the mask police, stated Tampa Police Chief Brian Dugan prior to the event, contradicting Castors delusion that local law enforcement is on her side in policing the unlawful mandate.

Even so, Castor has promised that all anti-maskers will be hunted down and punished for the crime of upsetting her and her army of Youth Corps snitches who stood around and tried to hand out masks during the Super Bowl.

Some of these Youth Corps volunteers claim they were laughed at while trying to hand out masks on the street. Most Super Bowl attendees were apparently aware of the fact that Castors mask order has no teeth and is actually illegal.

The problem is too many women in politics, especially leadership positions: the female mayor wants to go after people who werent wearing masks; the male police chief says he doesnt want his dept. to be the mask police, wrote one National File commenter.

Theres been a lot of talk about toxic masculinity in recent years  but as ought to be obvious, the problem is exactly the opposite: the feminization of society and politics.

Others agreed, noting a pattern of power-tripping that has really amped up ever since the Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) was declared to be a global pandemic by President Donald Trump back in early 2020.

Im getting tired of the Covid nazis, one of them wrote. The only reason fans were allowed into the Super Bowl was because its an event that the elites had too much invested in.

Fans are restricted from all other local ball games. Its a double standard. I didnt see Goodell wearing a mask inside press box seats? Are the police going to go after him too? Its a double standard. Elites vs the working class taxpayers.

More of the latest news about the collapse of American society under toxic feminism can be found at Collapse.news.

Sources for this article include:

NationalFile.com

NaturalNews.com
Hyderabad, Feb 11 : Police on Thursday launched a probe into the alleged kidnapping and assault of a pharmacy student on the outskirts of Hyderabad.

The victim, who was returning home from college in Kandlakoya, was allegedly kidnapped by an autorickshaw driver. She was found disrobed and in an injured condition at Jodimetla by some locals and taken to a private hospital at Medipally.

Keesara police under the Rachakonda commissionerate took up the investigation. The victim was brought to Gandhi Hospital for a medical examination and was later shifted back to Nature Cure Hospital.

The investigating officers recorded the victim's statement. Police reportedly picked up four suspects for questioning.

It is suspected that autorickshaw driver was not alone in kidnapping the student and assaulting her. The victim was allegedly given sedatives by the accused.

Medchal child welfare hospital official Jyothi Padma who met the victim at the hospital, said they were waiting for medical reports to know if she was sexually assaulted.

She said the timely response by the police saved the girl.

After the autorickshaw driver diverted the vehicle in wrong direction, the victim had alerted her parents on mobile. They informed the police which swung into action to trace and rescue her. Panicked over this, the accused abandoned her near Jodimetla.

Tribal Welfare Minister Satyavathi Rathod expressed shock over the incident and instructed Rachakonda Commissioner Mahesh Bhagwat to take stringent action against the culprits.
Lucknow, Feb 11 : Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will arrive in Prayagraj on Thursday on the occasion of auspicious day of Mauni Amavasya.

She is expected to visit Sangam and possibly take a holy dip.

Priyanka's visit to the ongoing Magh Mela is yet another step of the Congress towards soft-Hindutva.

On Wednesday, Priyanka had offered prayers at the famous Shakumbhari temple in Saharanpur before she addressed the Kisan Panchayat.

Her two-hour visit to Prayagraj on Thursday afternoon is said to be 'private'.

"She has no political engagements in Prayagraj and it is a private visit," said a party functionary.

Meanwhile, a spokesman of the district administration said that the Congress leader's visit to the Magh Mela was 'ill-timed'.

"She is coming on 'Mauni Amavasya' when lakhs of devotees are already here. It would have been advisable to avoid VIP visits on such occasions," said a district official.

Meanwhile, murmurs of dissent over Priyanka peddling soft-Hindutva with her religious visits, are now getting louder within Congress.

A senior party leader said, "The Congress has always avoided making religious trips in full public view. Late Indira Gandhi would visit temples and religious leaders but her visits were never publicized. There has already been a controversy over Rahul Gandhi's visit to the Kashi Vishwanath temple in 2017." Another leader, belonging to the Muslim community, said that at a time when Muslims are veering towards the Congress, such religious trips would prove detrimental to party interests.

"Our leaders should avoid such visits -- whether it is a temple or a dargah. We are falling into the BJP trap and it would be better to focus on issues that are real, instead of following the BJP path," he said.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
New Delhi:

A minor girl and an Indian Army jawan were killed in a cross-border firing by Pakistan on near the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch's Balakote. Pakistan reportedly violated ceasefire along the LoC in Poonch's Balakote and Rajouri'a Manjakote.

The army jawan killed in the crossfire has been identified as Naik Muddasar Ahmed, a native of J&K's Tral region.

"2 civilians seriously injured, schools closed for an indefinite period of time, evacuation to be done once there is break in firing," said DDC Rajouri.

The incident took places hours before India and Pakistans Director General of Military Operations held talks over the situation along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir. During the telephonic conversation, Indian Army DGMO Major General AK Bhatt took a strong stand against continuous ceasefire violation by Pak army. Bhatt highlighted that all ceasefire violations were initiated by Pakistan. And as such, Indian Army reserves right to retaliate appropriately, he told his Pak counterpart.

Earlier on Saturday, Pakistan resorted to shelling along the Line of Control in Rajouris Manjakote. Soldier, Lance Naik Mohammed Naseer was martyred in the attack.

On Wednesday, two Army jawans were killed on Wednesday as Pakistani troops violated the ceasefire in the Keran sector of Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir.

On Tuesday, three militants were killed in an overnight encounter with security forces in central Kashmir's Budgam district.

#WATCH Ceasefire violation by Pakistan along the Line of Control in Rajouri's Manjakote sector (Jammu & Kashmir) pic.twitter.com/nBeko8KCeZ  ANI (@ANI_news) July 17, 2017

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Texas drivers saw a messy drive Thursday morning as wintry weather arrived.



A 26 vehicle pile-up was reported in Austin following icy conditions, according to Austin-Travis County EMS. Four people had to be transported as a result of the massive accident.

Up in Fort Worth, 30 people were taken to the hospital following a massive car crash Thursday morning, according to a report by the Associated Press.

RELATED: Here's how long you might have to wait for snow this weekend in San Antonio

The Associated Press is also reporting 5 people were killed as a result of that massive crash involving 75 to 100 vehicles.



Julian Castro tweeted his reaction to the news saying, "My heart goes out to the many families who lost loved ones in he pile up on I-35 today in Ft. Worth. Please avoid driving in these conditions if you can."

RELATED: Protect your pets during the cold weather in San Antonio or face a fine, ACS warns



The National Weather Service expanded and extended their winter storm warning through midnight.



"Several counties (including Travis) have been upgraded to a Winter Storm Warning and Winter Weather Advisories have been expanded as well, the NWS said in an email. "Rain, freezing rain, and sleet will continue much of today before gradually tapering off tonight."



As of now, San Antonio is not under any weather advisories. What San Antonians can expect is blustery, rainy, and cold conditions across the area today. Temperatures are forecast to range from the lower 30s to lower 40s.

READ MORE: Many visitors go without masks on the River Walk



The San Antonio Police Department sent out a tweet asking folks to be careful when driving. "Don't rush and safely get to your destination."



NWS also echoing the message, "This cannot be overstated today: PLEASE, DO NOT TRAVEL in the Hill Country and Northern I-35 corridor. Conditions will continue to deteriorate as elevated roadways ice over first followed by other roads."







TxDOT San Antonio urging drivers to stay of the words as well. "Due to current winter weather conditions, we strongly advise drivers to stay off the roads. If you must travel, please use extreme caution."



Candice.Garcia@express-news.net | Twitter @_candicegarcia
Work Program Highlights:



Definition diamond drilling on the TG Zone deposit

Completion of the metallurgical process flowsheet for known mineralization

Delivery of a 43-101 compliant Resource Estimate

Completion of a 43-101 Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) for the TG Zone Resource.

MONTREAL, Feb. 11, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Imperial Mining Group Ltd. ("Imperial") (TSX VENTURE: IPG) is pleased to announce 2021 work program plans for advancing its 100% owned Crater Lake Scandium-Rare Earth Project in northeastern Quebec (Figure 1). Work activities will include definition diamond drilling on the TG Zone deposit area (Figure 2), completion of the metallurgical process flowsheet for known mineralization, delivery of a 43-101 compliant Resource Estimate and completion of a 43-101 Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) for the TG Zone Resource. Total budget for this work is estimated at $2.0 million. In addition, our scandium market development work will continue to identify new applications and consumers for scandium-modified aluminum alloys. These are now in growing demand within the transportation, aerospace, manufacturing, defense and alternative energy sectors.

With our recent successful capital raise, we are well-funded to move forward with advancing our flagship Crater Lake Scandium Project exploration and development plans, said Peter Cashin, Imperials President & Chief Executive Officer. Our exploration team has finalized the drilling plans for the TG Zone and anticipate mobilizing crews later this month. Imperials financial position is the strongest it has ever been with the recent closing of two successful private placements. We will be providing the investment community with regular updates as our plans progress throughout the winter, spring and summer.

WINTER DEFINITION DRILLING AND RESOURCE ESTIMATION PROGRAM

A definition diamond drill program on the TG Zone will commence in late February with 17 to 22 diamond drillholes currently planned totalling approximately 2,500 m (figure 3). A drill hole spacing pattern of 50-100 m will be completed with the objective of outlining a minimum Inferred Mineral Resource of at least 10 million tonnes. This size of resource should satisfy a minimum 2025-year operation depending on the rate of demand growth. There is good potential to expand resources with further drilling on other similar scandium occurrences on the property.

The drilling is anticipated to be completed by the end of April. Once all the lab analyses are received and the drilling data is compiled it will be moved on to an independent engineering group to undertake and deliver an NI 43-101 compliant Resource Estimate for the TG Zone. We would expect results from this work to be delivered in May.

PHASE 3 METALLURGICAL PROCESS DEVELOPMENT

Imperial is making significant progress on the Phase 3 hydrometallurgical development program of its flagship Crater Lake Scandium Project. The program commenced with M.Plan International, based in Toronto, in the Q4 2020. The test work is currently being conducted by M.Plans partner, Dorfner ANZAPLAN GmbH, Hirschau, Germany. The budget for this work was estimated at $175,000 but has been fully capitalized.

The hydrometallurgical development program is being conducted on two, 100 kg bulk samples representing different mineralization types. This bench scale program is expected to produce a simple, cost-effective hydrometallurgical flowsheet for the extraction of scandium (Sc) as 99.5%-purity scandium oxide (Sc 2 O 3 ) and recovery of by-product Total Rare Earth Oxides plus Yttrium (TREO+Y) as a bulk concentrate.

The Phase 3 program has confirmed that the magnetic separation flowsheet developed in Imperials Phase 2 Mineral Processing program was highly effective at recovering the scandium-bearing minerals. The magnetic separation flowsheet produced two mineral concentrates as feeds for the Phase 3 hydrometallurgical program and achieved the following results from MET01 and MET02 samples:

MET01  55% mass pull to concentrate with 98% Sc and 79% TREO+Y recovery.

MET02  69% mass pull to mineral concentrate with 97% Sc and 79% TREO+Y recovery.



Several different digestion methods for bringing scandium and rare earth elements into solution are currently being evaluated and tested.

Imperial Mining Group continues to work with its partners at Dorfner ANZAPLAN to optimize the hydrometallurgical flowsheet to achieve target process recoveries for scandium and rare earth elements of at least 85%.

The hydrometallurgical flowsheet development program is expected to be completed in Q2 2021.

STRATEGIC MARKETING ACTIVITIES

Strategic marketing activities have been on-going since Imperial was established in 2018. The focus has been to communicate: 1) the critical importance of scandium as an aluminum alloy strengthener and, 2) scandiumaluminum alloys importance as a light-weighting material. Just as critical, especially considering Rio Tintos recent announcement to commercialize the recovery of by-product scandium from its Quebec titanium operation, is to show that sustainable sources of scandium are currently in the development pipeline. Increased availability will mitigate manufacturers concerns of supply disruptions, particularly for the automotive, aerospace, defense and alternative energy sectors.

Imperials long-term strategic goals are:

To build a robust demand funnel that would be in excess of Imperials projected yearly production.





To grow margins by exploring new disruptive technologies that will need to utilize scandium- aluminum alloys while concurrently driving growth in traditional markets areas.



The execution of these goals has been accomplished in recent months by focusing on three main areas: Government Relations, interested Industrial End Users and Academic centers of excellence. Imperial has signed Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) with various entities and is actively engaged with appropriate government agencies. Imperials focus is on involvement with one or more critical material development programs with Defense contractors. This would result in non-dilutive funding for Imperial.

Specifically, there are several initiatives underway involving scandium-aluminum material and platform development in the following sectors: Transportation/Automotive, Aerospace, Defense, Space and Renewable Energy (Offshore Wind). Imperial is actively pursuing involvement with these applications in conjunction with the three main areas outlined above. Of particular interest are high margin, disruptive and emerging technologies incorporating laser-melt 3-D printing of Scandium-Aluminum powders

PRELIMINARY ECONOMIC ASSESSMENT (PEA)

With the results from our program activities in hand, Imperial intends to complete an NI 43-101 Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) for a scandium production complex at Crater Lake. The PEA will produce an order-of-magnitude ( + 50%) financial model for the envisaged operation. This work has been budgeted at $125,000.

Results from this work are expected to be delivered sometime in Q3 2021.

QUALIFIED PERSON

The technical content in this press release was reviewed and certified by Dr. Yemi Oyediran, an Ontario-registered P. Eng., Imperial's Manager of Metallurgical Development and by Pierre Guay, P. Geo., Imperial's Vice-President, Exploration, both Qualified Persons as defined by National Instrument 43-101.

ABOUT IMPERIAL MINING GROUP LTD.

Imperial is a Canadian mineral exploration and development company focussed on the advancement of its technology metals opportunities in Quebec. Imperial is publicly listed on the TSX Venture Exchange as IPG and is led by an experienced team of mineral exploration and development professionals with a strong track record of mineral deposit discovery in numerous metal commodities.

For further information please contact:

Peter J. Cashin

President and Chief Executive Officer

Phone: +1 (514) 360-0571

Email: info@imperialmgp.com CHF Capital Markets

Iryna Zheliasko, Manager-Corporate Communications

Phone: +1 (416) 868-1079 x229

Email: iryna@chfir.com

Website: www.imperialmgp.com Twitter: @imperial_mining Facebook: Imperial Mining Group

This press release may contain forward-looking statements relating to the Companys operations or to its business environment. Such statements are based on the Companys operations, estimates, forecasts, and projections, but are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict or control. Several factors could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from those expressed. These factors include those set forth in the corporate filings. Although any such forward-looking statements are based upon what management believes to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot guarantee that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. In addition, the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, for any reason. We also do not commit in any way to guarantee that we will continue reporting on items or issues that arise. Investors are cautioned that this press release contains quoted historical exploration results. These are derived from filed assessment reports and compiled from governmental databases. The Company and a QP have not independently verified and make no representations as to the accuracy of historical exploration results: these results should not be relied upon. Selected highlight results may not be indicative of average grades. 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.

Images accompanying this announcement are available at

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ccd5dbec-3703-4727-8e5d-675eb2ee919a

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/dae95a75-9676-49df-a437-37ae19a3f8a8

https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/349d4024-cbc4-4a61-adfe-4884c0bad889
Re-envisioned Dialog Suite leverages a micro-service architecture to set clients up for success.

CHICAGO, Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- SPLICE Software, (SPLICE), a customer engagement company specializing in automated communication workflows, digital communications and real business results, today announced the full release of an upgraded The Dialog Suite Platform. The upgraded platform is built on a micro-services architecture and will better support future product growth while allowing partners and affiliates faster access to specific products within the suite, including the front end.



The award-winning Dialog Suite includes four key components:

The Dialog Controller  with fully built out Opt-in Management including gamification

with fully built out Opt-in Management including gamification The Dialog Builder  for creation of one-to-one voice and text digital assets

for creation of one-to-one voice and text digital assets The Dialog Director  for voice omnichannel campaign management

for voice omnichannel campaign management The Dialog Dashboard to view and understand data and engagement results

"Our product teams have done an excellent job in re-envisioning and re-building our SPLICE Dialog Suite," said Jenna Ha, Vice-President of Operations at SPLICE Software. "The team took a mix of our best and most frustrating experiences with other industries, including retail and software, to deliver an exceptional experience for our clients and customers. The new suite is upgraded to be more versatile with new and existing integrations and partners, while keeping the heart and magic of our products. After rigorous testing and moving our clients to the new platform, it's clear our partners and clients are excited about the performance and flexibility the new platform offers."

Majesco, a solutions provider for insurance carriers, is a partner with SPLICE. The organization has experienced the impact of the Dialog Suite firsthand with its integration.

"Carriers today are looking for innovative solutions that are quick and simple to implement, while also requiring minimal IT resources," said Sachin Dhamanem, VP of Digital1st at Majesco. "SPLICE makes it easy to set up and integrate their automated notification solutions on any digital platform, including Digital1st Insurance and Majesco Core products, due to their simple and accessible API. Their technical and operations teams are agile and provide a quick turnaround time that ensures rapid delivery."

The upgraded Dialog Suite platform is available now. To find out more about the upgraded Dialog Suite and request a demo, visit www.splicesoftware.com

About SPLICE Software

SPLICE Software is in the business of driving REAL conversations with customers for retailers, insurers, financial institutions, and healthcare providers. SPLICE's Data-Driven Dialogs enable businesses to send automated messages to customers via their channels of choice, including phone, SMS/MMS messaging, email and voice first. For more information on SPLICE, visit our website, connect via LinkedIn or follow us on Twitter at @SPLICESoftware.

Media Contact:

Sami Stansberry

[email protected]

317-250-9839

SOURCE SPLICE Software

Related Links

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Some Calif. Black Churches Will Ignore U.S. Supreme Court; Continue to Abide by CDC Advice

On Friday, Feb. 5, the United States Supreme Court voted 6-3 in favor of allowing California churches to reopen their doors to worshippers. The ruling, which lifted the states ban on indoor, in-person church services, went into effect this weekend.

But some California Black Churches say they will keep their doors closed for now. They will, instead, continue to hold virtual services online, which makes it easier for them to adhere to Centers of Disease Control and Prevention social distancing guidelines.

For the sake of our members, we will continue to abide by CDC guidelines. We know that COVID-19 is real. Our community has been devastated by this virus. We value our members physical and spiritual health, said the Rev. K.W. Tuloss, president of the National Action Network Los Angeles and pastor of Weller Street Missionary Baptist Church, which is in downtown L.A.

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Tuloss says he cant speak for every African American congregation in California, but he can safely say a large number of Black ministers in his network up and down the state will take a wait-and-see approach to reopening. They will prioritize the safety of their church members, he says, over all the benefits of fellowshipping in-person.

Associate Justices Elena Kagan, Stephen G. Breyer and Sonia Sotomayor, the high courts three liberal-leaning members, voted against the request to lift the ban submitted by two California churches  Chula Vistas South Bay United Pentecostal Church and Pasadenas Harvest Rock Church.

Justices of this court are not scientists, wrote Justice Kagan in her opinion regarding the case. Nor do we know much about public health policy. Yet today, the court displaces the judgments of experts about how to respond to a raging pandemic.

The courts more conservative leaning members, Chief Justice John G. Roberts and Associate Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel A. Alito, Neil M. Gorsuch, Brett M. Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett voted to overturn previous decisions upholding Gov. Newsoms ban issued by federal judges in San Diego and San Bernardino, and the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeal in San Francisco.

Since the arrival of COVID19, California has openly imposed more stringent regulations on religious institutions than on many businesses, wrote Justice Neil M. Gorsuch in his opinion against Californias order. California worries that worship brings people together for too much time. Yet, California does not limit its citizens to running in and out of other establishments; no one is barred from lingering in shopping malls, salons, or bus terminals.

Responding to the Supreme Courts decision, the governors office said it is revising the ban, now allowing churches across the state to hold indoor services at 25 % capacity.

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We will continue to enforce the restrictions the Supreme Court left in place and, after reviewing the decision, we will issue revised guidelines for worship services to continue to protect the lives of Californians, said Gov. Newsoms press secretary Daniel Lopez, said in a statement.

So far in California, there have been 3.41 million confirmed COVID-19 cases and 43,987 deaths.

Among African Americans in the state, there have been 101,004 confirmed cases and 2,601 deaths  about 6 % of all mortalities in the state.
As the row over Twitter's non-compliance of the government's notice intensifies, Twitter executives face the possibility of arrest. Top executives of Twitter are now facing arrest under Section 69A of the IT Act if the Centre's demand of banning some handles spreading inflammatory "farmer genocide" hashtags and those supporting pro-Pakistan and pro-Khalistan agendas, are not fulfilled. The Centre has already made it clear that its demand on such accounts is "non-negotiable".

As the Centre's patience on Twitter non-compliance of its orders wears out, the micro-blogging site might knock the court's door in its defence of "right of free expression". After releasing a report on the action taken on the government's orders , Twitter executives Monique Meche and Jim Baker met Union IT secretary Ajay Prakash Sawhney later in the evening.

Sawhney made it clear that lawfully passed orders are binding on any business entity. "They must be obeyed immediately. If they are executed days later, it becomes meaningless," said a government statement after the meeting.

ALSO READ: Centre steadfast on ban call for 257 Twitter handles

The IT secretary has also expressed his deep disappointment to Twitter leadership about how Twitter has "unwillingly, grudgingly and with great delay" complied with the substantial parts of the order. He said in India, its Constitution and laws are supreme. "It is expected that responsible entities not only reaffirm but remain committed to compliance to the law of land," Twitter executives were told.

Secretary also reminded Twitter about the action taken by Twitter during the Capitol Hill episode in the USA and compared that with the disturbance in Red Fort in India and its aftermath.

Expressing dissatisfaction over Twitter's differential treatment in the two incidents, he said Twitter sided not with 'freedom of expression' but rather with those who seek to abuse such freedom and provoke disturbance to public order.

Earlier in the day, Twitter said in its report that after the government orders, it reduced visibility of tweets spreading "harmful content" and permanently suspended over 500 accounts violating its rules. Separately, the company also withheld "a portion" of the accounts identified in the orders under its 'Country Withheld Content' policy.

Twitter said it has not taken any action on accounts that consist of news media entities, journalists, activists, and politicians as it violated "speech and freedom of expression" under the Indian law.

The government didn't take kindly to Twitter releasing a blogpost and turned down its request for a meeting with IT minister Ravi Shankar Prasad. After initially postponing the meeting with the IT secretary, the meeting ultimately happened later in the day.

Twitter officials were conveyed that they must follow the Centre's "immediately".

Also read: MeitY welcomes Twitter to India, keeps it on a short leash though

Some of the accounts that the Centre asked Twitter to ban included Caravan magazine (@thecaravanindia), CPI(M) leader Mohammad Salim, activist Hansraj Meena, Kisan Ekta Morcha and BKU Ekta Urgahan, reported The Times of India. So far, Twitter is said to have blocked 126 accounts of the first list of 257 handles, while it has taken action against 583 accounts from the Centre's second list comprising 1,178 handles.

But the Centre is not happy. The secretary conveyed to Twitter leadership that how Twitter officially allows "fake, unverified, anonymous and automated bot accounts to be operated on its platform", raises doubts about its commitment to transparency and healthy conversation on this platform.

Meanwhile, Twitter executives have affirmed their commitment towards following Indian laws and rules. They have also requested for better engagement between the Centre and Twitter's global team.

ALSO READ: MeitY coochy-coos KOO - India's alternative to Twitter
Specialist detectives were last night quizzing a 22-year-old bank employee who they think may be the inside man for a 1.1m invoice redirect fraud targeting a Dublin-based solicitor and Irish company.

Officers from the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB) have retrieved most of the cash which was stolen from the solicitor as part of a massive investigation.

The young man at the centre of the Garda probe was arrested in the Lucan, Co Dublin, area yesterday and was being quizzed by fraud squad officers last night at Clondalkin garda station.

Could he be the inside man? Yes, that is being seriously looked at, he is being questioned about assisting the activities of an organised crime gang, a senior source said.

Gardai suspect that at a minimum the arrested man was managing a mule account associated with the fraud, but it has yet to be determined if he was an inside man who used his position in the bank to commit the crime.

The Irish Independent can reveal the suspect works in one of the countrys biggest banking institutions.

Invoice redirection fraud happens when a person or a business falls prey to requests, purporting to emanate from trusted suppliers or service providers, into believing that a beneficiarys bank account details have been changed.

As a result of this, funds that are due to be paid out are transferred to a fraudulent account.

The GNECB has said it is now investigating multiple cases of this type of fraud on a daily basis.

In a separate investigation, codenamed Operation SKEIN, the GNECB has identified 90 suspects resident in Ireland and are satisfied that 5m of 6m stolen has been laundered through Irish bank accounts.

In another probe, called Operation Joggle, gardai from the bureau arrested a suspect in Lucan on Tuesday.

Investigators at the Money Laundering Investigation Unit (MLIU) at the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau have arrested a male in his late 20s in connection with an ongoing investigation into international invoice redirection frauds, a Garda spokesman said about that case.

In the course of the investigation it was established that funds totalling 430,000 were transferred in fraudulent transactions from companies in Spain, Belgium, the UK, and Ireland.

"Following a lengthy investigation and with the assistance of the Irish Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), 389,000 of the funds have since been recovered and returned to the companies affected.

Meanwhile, sources say that gardai plan to arrest dozens of so-called money mules in the coming months.

Last September gardai and the banks warned of an increase in the crime, with the industry estimating more than 12m has been laundered using money mules in the first nine months of last year.

Last year the GNECB set up a major investigation codenamed Operation Ransom.

This investigation began after over 200 customers of an Irish bank became victims of a major 2.7m phishing scam, in which they provided their bank details after receiving a bogus text message that led to their accounts being cleared out.
The first EUR 600 million disbursement was transferred to Ukraine in December 2020.

Ukraine may receive the second disbursement of macro-financial assistance (MFA) in the amount of EUR 600 million this year.

This was announced by European Union Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi at a press conference after an EU-Ukraine Association Council meeting on February 11.

Read alsoCooperation with IMF to help receive new tranches from EU, World Bank  finance ministry

"We have provided EUR 1.2 billion [in] macro-financial assistance to help Ukraine in the economy and macro-finances to cope with this crisis. From that we have already disbursed EUR 600 million and we are supposed to disburse a second tranche still this year," he said.

Previous developments

On July 23, 2020, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, during his visit to Brussels, signed a memorandum and a loan agreement on the allocation of macro-financial assistance (MFA) to Ukraine from the European Union in the amount of EUR 1.2 billion.

On December 9, the European Union provided Ukraine with the first MFA disbursement in the amount of EUR 600 million.

Reporting by UNIAN
By Keith Burbank

Bay City News Service

Robberies and assaults against Asian Americans in the Bay Area have them fearful, Asian leaders said at a news briefing earlier this week.

In 2020 in the Bay Area, about 700 cases of racism and discrimination against Asian Americans occurred between March 19 and the end of the year, according to Stop AAPI Hate, a coalition formed to address the issue during the pandemic.

Thirty-five cases were against elderly Asian Americans. Many cases, whether against seniors or others, apparently go unreported.

"Our community is fearful of being in public alone," said Cynthia Choi, co-executive director of Chinese for Affirmative Action, which works to protect immigrant rights, promote language diversity, and remedy injustice.

She said the attacks have made the pain of the pandemic worse.

Late last month in Oakland's Chinatown, a 91-year-old man was pushed to the ground allegedly by 28-year-old Yahya Muslim, who has been arrested on suspicion of the attack and two others in Chinatown.

In late January in San Francisco, two older men died in attacks. One man was Thai. Two Daly City residents have been arrested on suspicion of murder in connection with the deaths.

"Our seniors shouldn't have to live in fear," said Jing Jing He, lead organizer in Oakland for the Asian Pacific Environmental Network, which seeks environmental, social, and economic justice for all people.

The two other people pushed to the ground in Oakland allegedly by Muslim were a 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman who lost consciousness when she fell.

"The attacks are hurting our community," said Judy Young, executive director of the Southeast Asian Development Center, which aims to lift Vietnamese, Laos, and Cambodia people out of poverty.

She said the violence may push Asian Americans further into isolation.

But while the attacks have produced a lot of pain and suffering, the Asian American community is resilient, said Lai Wa Wu, policy and alliance director for the Chinese Progressive Association.

The CPA organizes and educates low-income and working-class Chinese immigrants to band together with other groups for better living and working conditions.

Choi said harassment and attacks on Asian Americans are nothing new.

"It actually defines our experience," she said.

Numerous groups signed a statement denouncing the attacks on Asian Americans and demanded leaders in Oakland and San Francisco do three things help the Asian American community.

They want victims of all languages and backgrounds to receive services that allow them to recover and heal. They want leaders to expand prevention programs and interventions and invest in basic needs, as well as make other investments, to end the cycle of violence. Thirdly, they want to see education that humanizes Asian Americans and other races rather than demonizing or making them scapegoats.

Choi said that in the past there has been an overreliance on law enforcement to address the violence and that doesn't address the root causes and has been harmful to communities of color.

Groups that signed on to the statement said education, resources and support that empowers communities is the solution to the violence.

Copyright  2021 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.
The Louisiana Republican Party sharply denounced Sen. Bill Cassidy, a Republican, when he surprised the state by voting Tuesday to support the constitutionality of former president Donald Trump's second impeachment trial.

In an unsigned statement, the party declared itself "profoundly disappointed" that its own elected leader, the most senior Louisiana Republican in Washington, would support a "kangaroo court" that amounted to an "attack on the very foundation of American democracy."

GOP SHANTIES: Ken Paxton's legal troubles get the sea shanty treatment

But Cassidy, who just started a six-year term after being reelected by a 40-point margin, did not appear bothered by the threat of grass-roots anger back home, joining a growing list of lawmakers who have decided, for politics or principle, to buck the infrastructure at the lowest rungs of the party.

"As an impartial juror, I'm going to vote for the side that did the good job," he said of the Democratic arguments he had heard in trial proceedings.

Since Trump left office, grass-roots Republican activists and state parties have become his vociferous defenders, condemnation and censuring elected Republicans who dare to deviate in any way from full-throated support of the former president. That has created a backlash of its own, as some Republicans - even some who eventually may oppose impeachment - are pushing back against local leadership.

The resulting clashes have laid bare the division in the Republican Party, which some strategists worry will undercut the party's chances in the 2022 midterm elections, when winning House and Senate majorities are likely to hinge on a united party that can draw out Trump's supporters and win converts from among swing voters who were repelled by the former president's politics.

As it stands, the party is still a long way from that sort of unity.

ET TU, NC?: North Carolinians did not appreciate Buc-ee's coming to their state

"I listen to Nebraskans every day, and very few of them are as angry about life as some of the people on this committee," Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., said last week in a video addressed to his own state GOP committee, which was preparing another vote to condemn his criticism of Trump. "You are welcome to censure me again. But let's be clear about why this is happening. It is because I still believe, as you used to, that politics isn't about the weird worship of one dude."

Even Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who was just reelected, has faced censure in five counties in Kentucky, according to Don Thrasher, the chair of the Nelson County Republican Party, one of those that censured McConnell. But Thrasher said the state party, through procedural maneuvers, including votes in executive session, has so far prevented a formal statewide move against McConnell.

"These people are some dirty-trick people," Thrasher said. "It's just awful. Mitch McConnell is a cancer on politics."

Michael Lonergan, a spokesman for the state Republican party, responded by saying that Kentucky had voted overwhelmingly for Trump. "We're proud that every one of our federal lawmakers voted against moving forward with impeachment," he said.

In Michigan, state Senate leader Mike Shirkey, a Republican, faced censure this month by the Hillsdale County party committee for his response to covid-19. After the vote, he went out to lunch with his detractors to chastise and attempt to charm them, in remarks that were recorded at the table and later posted online by one of the participants.

"You are dragging the whole damn county in a bad direction," he told the county party leaders at one point, adding that he had stopped attending their meetings after they became a mess, though he used a more colorful word.

The meeting caused fresh divisions in the party; Shirkey was quoted as saying falsely that the attack on the U.S. Capitol was not carried out "by Trump people" but had been "staged" by other forces, possibly including McConnell, whom he blamed for the lack of security at the Capitol. (Shirkey has since issued an apology for unspecified "insensitive comment," though he was later heard on an open mic saying he did not "take back any of the points I was trying to make.")

In Arizona, the most powerful elected Republican leader in the state, Gov. Doug Ducey, has been openly hostile toward the recently reelected state party chair, Kelli Ward. When she led an effort to censure him last month for his support of the state's election results, his adviser, Sara Mueller, released a statement saying the state party's resolutions were "of no consequence whatsoever."

"The people behind them have lost whatever little moral authority they may have once had," Mueller said. Ducey won reelection in Arizona by 14 percentage points in 2018, even though Democrats won a Senate contest in the state that year.

Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel has told other Republicans that she is not going to mediate the disputes, though she did warn that the censure of Ducey and other Republicans was unhelpful, and she condemned a statement by the Oregon GOP that compared those who voted for impeachment to Benedict Arnold, the American military officer in the Revolutionary War who defected to the British side.

The official stance of the national party, reflected in fundraising and McDaniel's statements, is that the trial in the Senate is unconstitutional, though the national party has not tried to whip Senators to support Trump. State and local party organizations elect their own members and operate with considerable autonomy under the GOP system.

Other Republican leaders have tried to look past the divisions in an effort to foster unity.

"I am already getting calls within the Republican Party at my grass-roots level that we are going to have to start working together," the top House Republican campaign strategist, Rep. Tom Emmer, R-Minn., said Wednesday. "There is some stuff that has to work its way through the system. But I am very confident that we have already started that process and we will be unified."

That has not stopped the steady drumbeat for more resolutions of condemnation. In Illinois, the LaSalle County Republican Party recently voted censure against Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., who supported impeachment, after staging a protest rally at one of his local offices.

"It is all but guaranteed he is going to get primaried," said Larry Smith, the chair of the Lasalle County Republican Central Committee. "I think this is going to be a barn burner."

In Wyoming, Rep. Liz Cheney, a Republican, who also backed Trump's impeachment, has been censured by about half of the state's 23 counties. A vote by the state party last weekend called on her to resign and suggested that there was "ample video evidence" that antifa, a far-left group, and Black Lives Matter instigated the attack on the Capitol, which was actually led by Trump supporters.

"The oath that I took to the Constitution compelled me to vote for impeachment, and it doesn't bend to partisanship, it doesn't bend to political pressure," Cheney said in response during an appearance this week on Fox News Sunday. "It's the most important oath that we take."

The state central committee of the Nebraska Republican Party will meet Saturday to decide whether to censure Sasse, said Kolene Woodward, the Republican chairwoman in Scotts Bluff County. He won reelection to a new six-year term last year by a margin of 41 percentage points, despite regularly criticizing Trump during his presidency.

Numerous counties have moved to censure the senator over his criticism of Trump since the Capitol riot and for statements contradicting the former president's false claims of electoral fraud.

"He left us with the impression that the Trump-bashing would be over, which is why the state party went ahead and endorsed him," said Woodward, who is a high school substitute history teacher.

She laughed off Sasse's video statement criticizing party officials last week.

"In trashing Trump and saying we're just blindly following Trump, there's a big disconnect," Woodward said. "Trump was our voice. He didn't create us. We created him. He was our voice for our agenda in D.C."

Rep. Fred Upton, R-Mich., also is facing blowback for the criticism he has directed at Trump, as well as for his efforts to quarantine extremist elements of his own party. In addition to voting in favor of impeachment last month, he also was one of just 11 Republicans who joined Democrats in stripping Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., of her committee assignments for her past incendiary statements.

Of the two votes by Upton, the one for impeachment has been more of a lightning rod in his southwestern Michigan district, said Scott McGraw, the Republican chairman in Kalamazoo County. Republican leaders, who issued a statement denouncing the vote, have been holding Zoom meetings to discuss constituent anger. Upton's staff has been attending the meetings, and the congressman himself joined for one of the sessions.

"Fred has had this image where he's been a little more moderate at times, and then sometimes he's conservative or portraying himself as conservative," McGraw said. "He's a nice guy. We like him. I personally think he does a really good job."

- - -

The Washington Post's Isaac Stanley-Becker contributed to this report.
LAFAYETTE, Ind., Feb. 10, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Garnering over fifty years of experience in the field of education, Dr. William McBride has led an impressive career. Throughout his acclaimed career, Dr. McBride has gained extensive expertise in the areas of Social and Political Philosophy, Legal Philosophy, and Continental European Philosophy. In his previous years, Dr. McBride taught at Yale University for nearly a decade and has lectured at Northwestern University, Sofia University in Bulgaria, and the Korcula Summer School.



Encountering people with a different professional orientation that they have thought superior to all others, Dr. McBride distinguishes this crucial factor as one of the prime challenges he has faced throughout his career. When asked his advice to newcomers in the industry, Dr. McBride notes the importance of retaining a commitment to the truth as he or she sees it, and not be daunted by initial setbacks, if such there are, in seeking employment.



An academic scholar, Dr. McBride earned an AB from Georgetown University. Thereafter, Dr. McBride attended the University of Lille from 1959 to 1960, where he was a Fulbright Fellow. Later, Dr. McBride attended Yale University where he obtained his Master of Arts degree as a Woodrow Wilson Fellow in 1962. He then went on to receive his Ph.D. at Yale in 1964 and was awarded a Social Science Research Council Fellowship.



Remaining abreast of the latest industry developments, Dr. McBride is an active member of several international and national scholarly organizations including the International Federation of Philosophical Societies (FISP), of which he was President from 2008-2013; the International Council for Philosophy and Human Sciences; and the North American Society for Social Philosophy, of which he is past President.



In light of his professional achievements, Dr. McBride has been recognized by several elite organizations for his exemplary work in the field including Who's Who in America; Who's Who in America Education; Who's Who in the Midwest; Who's Who in the World. He served as the first American Secretary-General and then President of the International Federation of Philosophical Societies (FISP), and gained an immense amount of international connections that led to these positions. Dr. McBride has established himself as a prominent figure in professional philosophy.



A respected voice in his field, Dr. McBride is well-known for sharing his breadth of expertise. He is the author of several written works including "From Yugoslav Praxis to Global Pathos," "Social and Political Philosophy," and "Social Theory at a Crossroads."



In his spare time, Dr. McBride enjoys traveling and considers himself a news bluff.



In looking to the future, Dr. McBride hopes to publish at least one more book, preferably more, while continuing professional involvement globally.



Dr. McBride dedicates this recognition to Gerard F. Yates.



For further information, please visit https://www.purdue.edu/

Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634, [email protected]

SOURCE Continental Who's Who

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Judge Orders Detention for Alleged Proud Boy Whose Lawyer Blames Trump for Capitol Incident

A federal judge on Wednesday ordered an alleged member of the Proud Boys group detained pending trial over his role in the Jan. 6 breach of the U.S. Capitol, with the defendants attorney seeking to portray his client as being spurred to action out of a delusional belief he developed on account of President Donald Trumps contest-of-election rhetoric.

Dominic Pezzola, also known as Spaz, was indicted in federal court in the District of Columbia on charges that include civil disorder, unlawfully entering restricted buildings or grounds, and disorderly and disruptive conduct. Pezzola also faces charges of robbery of personal property of the United States; assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers; destruction of government property; and engaging in physical violence in a restricted buildings or grounds, prosecutors said.

Pezzolas lawyer, Jonathan Zucker, in a court filing on Wednesday, told the judge that his client acted on the delusional belief that the November presidential election was stolen.

Zucker claimed Pezzola was one of millions of Americans who were misled by the Presidents deception, noting there was no rational basis for such a claim.

Trump has claimed repeatedly that he was cheated out of an electoral win, alleging widespread fraud and last-minute changes to election laws under a questionable legal foundation led to a massive expansion of mail-in balloting that was also fraught with irregularities.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Robin Meriweather said it was a close call in deciding whether Pezzola should be detained, but ultimately determined he posed a danger to the community.

The criminal charges stem from allegations that he took part in breaking into the Capitol while lawmakers were assembled for a joint session to consider the electoral college votes for president.

Pezzola was originally charged by criminal complaint and arrested on Jan. 15, according to Justice Department records.

Prosecutors have alleged that, on Jan. 6, Pezzola confronted a Capitol Police officer trying to control the crowd and ripped away the officers riot shield, which he is alleged to have later used to smash a window at the Capitol.

Pezzola was later featured in a video posted to social media showing him smoking a cigar inside the Capitol building, according to the criminal complaint filed against him (pdf).

In the video, the individual states words to the effect of, Victory smoke in the Capitol, boys. This is [expletive] awesome. I knew we could take this [expletive] over [if we] just tried hard enough,' the criminal complaint states.

The case against Pezzola is being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Divisions Counterterrorism Section.

Founded in 2016, the Proud Boys began as a group protesting political correctness and perceived constraints on masculinity. The Proud Boys official website, before it was taken down, described its core values as being pro-gun rights, pro-free speech, anti-racism, and anti-drug war.

Reuters contributed to this report.
(CNN)  NASA is giving SpaceX more than $330 million for a mission that will launch two key pieces of the Gateway, a space station that NASA plans to put in orbit around the moon as part of the space agency's Artemis program.

The Artemis program is the American government's plan to establish a permanent human presence in deep space.

SpaceX will launch "the foundational elements of the Gateway"  including a cylindrical module that will serve as astronaut living quarters and a large, box-shaped unit that will provide power and communications services to the space station  aboard one of its Falcon Heavy rockets "no earlier than May 2024," NASA said in a press release this week.

The deal makes clear that NASA's plans to establish a human settlement on the moon will rely heavily on SpaceX's rockets, which the company has spent years billing as cheaper alternatives to the rockets made by legacy launch providers such as United Launch Alliance, a joint venture between Boeing and Lockheed Martin.

The Falcon Heavy, which looks like three of SpaceX's workhorse Falcon 9 rockets strapped together, made its debut in 2018, and drew widespread attention for SpaceX CEO Elon Musk's decision to use his cherry red Tesla roadster as a dummy payload for the Falcon Heavy's inaugural launch.

Musk's car is still in orbit around the Sun.

NASA's Artemis program seeks to return a man and a woman astronaut to the lunar surface by 2024, marking the first time humans have set foot on the moon since NASA's Apollo program ended nearly five decades ago. The Artemis name pays homage to that lineage: In Greek mythology, Artemis is the twin sister of Apollo.

The Gateway space station is a key part of NASA's vision for that mission as well as countless future missions, as the agency is looking to establish a permanent lunar habitat. The Gateway, which will be about one-sixth the size of the International Space Station, will provide astronauts with a command center, work and sleeping quarters. Spacecraft that carry astronauts on lunar journeys will be able to dock with the space station, and from there, they'll be able to board a lunar lander that will ferry them from the Gateway to the lunar surface.

SpaceX  in addition to having its own, separate plans to establish a human settlement on Mars  is expected to support NASA's Artemis program in other capacities. NASA awarded SpaceX a contract for Dragon XL  an upgraded version of the capsule SpaceX currently uses to take astronauts and cargo to and from the ISS  to take supplies to the Gateway station.

SpaceX is also one of several companies competing for the contract to build NASA's Human Landing System, the vehicle that will shuttle astronauts from the Gateway to the moon's surface.

This story was first published on CNN.com SpaceX just got a big contract to launch two pieces of a future Moon space station
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Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

SANTA FE  Los Alamos National Laboratory announced Wednesday it will open an office in Santa Fe big enough to house 75 employees with space to hold meetings, events and conferences.

LANL signed a 10-year lease at the recently renovated Firestone building at West Alameda and North Guadalupe that has gone through iterations as a tire shop, bank, music venue, restaurant and, for the past 2 years, the headquarters for tech startup Descartes Labs.

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A news release announcing the lease signing says the building will serve as a hub for community and economic development activities.

It will facilitate the Laboratorys educational partnerships, workforce development initiatives, recruiting, and technology transfer, it says. It will also give the Laboratorys technology transfer division  the Feynman Center  access to additional meeting space in Santa Fe to foster new technology collaborations from both local and national sources.

The news release plays up LANLs longtime association with the city of Santa Fe. The first floor of the 28,000 square foot building will include a conference center named for Dorothy McKibbin, who staffed the once-secret Manhattan Project headquarters just a few blocks away.

This building will act as an additional entrance point for the Laboratory, just as Dorothy McKibbins office at 109 East Palace in Santa Fe did decades ago, LANL director Thom Mason said in a statement.

Not everyone is happy about LANL having a presence in Santa Fe  especially those opposed to nuclear proliferation. While LANL conducts research into a wide variety of scientific fields, much of its work centers around the development of nuclear weapons.

Last year, about 50 people attended a rally at City Hall urging the city to keep LANL and the National Nuclear Security Administration  the federal agency that oversees the lab  out of plans for the development of the Midtown campus.

Opening up a facility for weapons of mass destruction in the heart of the Royal City of Holy Faith of St. Francis is repugnant and affects the reputation in Santa Fe in a very negative way, said Greg Mello, executive director of the Los Alamos Study Group, who helped organize last years rally. No one should be confused about what LANL is and how its connected to violence across the globe.

People at the rally carried signs that read No LANL in Santa Fe, LANL: Toxic Science and Mayor Webber, listen to the people.

A city spokesman declined an interview, instead issuing a statement that said in part LANLs many agencies bring specialized business assistance in a variety of ways to our community.

Nuclear Watch New Mexico responded to LANLs announcement with a news release of its own. It refers to a recent report by UNMs Bureau of Business and Economic Research that measures the labs economic impact as a net loss for county governments surrounding Los Alamos in terms of providing basic services like roads, parks and policing.

I doubt Santa Feans will be fooled, said Jay Coghlan, the groups executive director. Weve heard before the Labs empty promises of economic benefits while it tries to obscure the fact that expanding nuclear weapons production will always be its bread and butter. The Lab may not get what it wants in that a downtown LANL office will likely become a lightning rod for controversy.

LANL recently issued a news release that said it spent $413 million with small businesses in New Mexico during fiscal year 2020.

The Santa Fe City Council on Wednesday was expected to pass a resolution requesting that the National Nuclear Security Administration perform a new environmental impact study at LANL and suspend expansion of the production of plutonium pits  the triggering device in nuclear warheads  until the National Nuclear Facilities Safety Board certifies that all nuclear safety issues are resolved.

Meanwhile, a spokesman for Descartes Labs said the company shifted to a remote working structure during the pandemic but it will keep its headquarters in Santa Fe.

When we are able to reopen an office, we will lease another office in Santa Fe, the company said in a statement.
Obesity is killing more people than smoking each year as junk food grows more popular than cigarettes, a study reveals.

The percentage of deaths attributable to smoking are estimated to have fallen in England and Scotland from 23.1 per cent in 2003 to 19.4 per cent in 2017.

But deaths caused by excess weight rose over the same period from 17.9 per cent to 23.1 per cent.

Data shows percentage of deaths attributable to obesity has risen from 19.4 per cent in 2003 to 23.1 per cent in 2017 and has surpassed the percentage of deaths attributable to smoking

It coincides with a fall in smoking rates from 26 per cent in 2003 to 18 per cent in 2017 and a rise in obesity from 23 per cent to 29 per cent.

The study of 192,239 adults with an average age of 50 suggested fat overtook smoking as a contributory cause of death in 2014.

Obesity has also likely accounted for more deaths among older adults since 2006.

The study estimated fat contributed to 3.5 per cent more deaths than smoking among over-65s in 2017.

Professor Jill Pell, leader of the Glasgow University study, said policies such as plain cigarette packaging helped reduce deaths attributable to smoking and similar measures are needed to tackle obesity.

She said: 'We knew about the harms of smoking long before taking action to reduce it. We cannot afford to wait so long with obesity.

'For several decades smoking has been a major target of public health interventions as it is a leading cause of avoidable deaths.

'As a result, the prevalence of smoking has fallen in the UK. At the same time the prevalence of obesity has increased.

'Our research indicates that, since 2014, obesity and excess body fat may have contributed to more deaths in England and Scotland than smoking.'

However, the researchers found that while obesity was likely to cause more deaths in older adults, smoking was still more likely to contribute to deaths in younger adults.

Study shows the decline in smoking-related deaths coincides with a fall in smoking rates from 26 per cent in 2003 to 18 per cent in 2017 and a rise in obesity from 23 per cent to 29 per cent

The data showed that among those aged 65 and over and 45-64 respectively, obesity and excess body fat contributed to 3.5% and 3.4% more estimated deaths than smoking in 2017.

However, in the 16-44 age group, smoking was 2.4% more likely to have contributed to deaths than obesity.

Researchers also found that there was a gender division in the statistics.

Obesity and excess body fat was likely to have accounted for 5.2% more deaths in 2017 than smoking in men, compared to 2.2 per cent more deaths in women.

Professor Pell said: 'The increase in estimated deaths due to obesity and excess body fat is likely to be due to their contributions to cancer and cardiovascular disease.

'Our findings suggest that the public health and policy interventions aimed at reducing the prevalence of smoking have been successful and that national strategies to address obesity and excess body fat, particularly focusing on middle-aged and older age groups and men, should be a public health priority.'

The study findings were published in the journal BMC Public Health.
Buffalo, N.Y.  The maintenance supervisor at a state-owned facility for individuals with developmental disabilities pleaded guilty in federal court this week to exposing construction workers at the building to asbestos.

James S. Marshall, 68, of Farmington, pleaded guilty to negligent endangerment under the Clean Air Act.

Marshall was a maintenance supervisor with the Finger Lakes Office for People with Developmental Disabilities. In that role, he was involved in the cleanout of the Hillcrest Building, a OPWDD-owned facility in the village of Newark, in Wayne County, according to federal prosecutors.

The agency solicited bids for the project in November 2014 and awarded the project to a third-party contractor the following month. Marshall was not involved in the awarding of the bid, nor the approval of contract documents, court records said.

Prosecutors said in court documents that Marshall requested asbestos testing to be performed in October 2014. They said Marshall directed an inspector to take four samples from two locations within the 300,000-square-foot building, which all came back negative.

Work began on the cleanout of the building around April 6, 2015. Three days later, Marshall went to the building and told workers that the building had tested negative for asbestos. Prosecutors said Marshall told workers that the asbestos sampler walked through the entire building, even when he knew the sampler had not.

Following that conversation, the crews continued to work in the building, prosecutors said.

Federal officials also charged Marshall with repeating a similar lie to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency while they were investigating in 2016.

Prosecutors said that on April 30, 2015, asbestos was found in the Hillcrest Building in a dry condition and not inside any container.

Prosecutors said Marshall should have been aware of the possibility of asbestos-containing material throughout the Hillcrest Building.

Defendant Marshalls negligence was not without consequence, said Tyler Amon, Special Agent-in-Charge of the EPAs Criminal Investigation Division in New York. Following his failure to properly identify regulated asbestos containing material, he continued to place workers at risk of being exposed to asbestos.

Marshall is set to be sentenced on May 10. He faces up to a year in prison and a $125,000 fine.
Abuja  The federal government yesterday approved a new medium-term debt management strategy for Nigeria for the period of 2020-2023.

The Debt Management Office (DMO) confirmed this in a statement yesterday, saying the approval was made at the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

The medium-term debt management strategy is a policy document that provides a guide to the borrowing activities of the government in the medium-term, usually four years.

It is recognised as one of the best practices in public debt management and is recommended by the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) to ensure that public debt management is driven by a well-articulated strategy that is structured to meet a country's broader macroeconomic and public debt management objectives.

The MTDS, 2020-2023 has been prepared by the DMO in collaboration with relevant stakeholders, including Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Central Bank of Nigeria, Budget Office of the Federation, National Bureau of Statistics and Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation.

Nigeria has had two medium term debt management strategies (2012-2015 and 2016-2019) prior to the current Strategy.

The new strategy had to be re-worked to reflect the global and local economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and incorporates data from the revised 2020 Appropriation Act and the medium-term expenditure framework 2021-2023.

The new MTDS adequately reflects the current economic realities and the projected trends.

The preparation of the MTDS usually involves the consideration of alternative funding strategies available to government as it seeks to meet its financing needs taking into consideration the cost of borrowing and the associated risks, while ensuring debt sustainability in the medium to long-term.

The 2016-2019 MTDS included some Debt Management Targets which were applied in the borrowing activities of the government during the period which led to the high success rates achieved.

Based on the current public debt stock, government's borrowing needs in the medium-term (as stated in the 2021 Appropriation Act, MTEF, 2021- 2023) as well as future global trends, Nigeria's 2020-2023 MTDS, can be summarised as follows: "Borrowing will be from domestic and external sources but a larger proportion of new borrowing will be from domestic sources using long-term instruments, while for external borrowing, concessional funding from multilateral and bilateral sources will be prioritised."

The implementation of the medium-term debt management strategies, over the years, has helped in managing the structure of the growing public debt and ensured debt sustainability as well as effectiveness in public debt management.

With the approval of the Federal Executive Council of the MTDS, 2020-2023, the Strategy will be implemented to support economic development while ensuring that the Public Debt is sustainable.

Govermor Buni Applauds FEC Over Approval Of N8bn For Dam Project.

Meanwhile, Yobe State governor and chairman, Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mai Mala Buni, yesterday commended the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for approving N8billion for Dam project to boost water supply.

The governor said the project which was approved by the Federal Executive Council on Wednesday would tremendously contribute to solving water scarcity in Damaturu, the state capital.

Buni said the project would complement efforts of the state government in addressing water problems of the state capital and its environs.

A statement by his director-general, Press and Media Affairs, Mamman Mohammed, quoted Governor Buni as saying: "I want to specially appreciate President Muhammadu Buhari and the federal executive council for considering and approving the completion of this very important project that would touch the lives of our people.

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"This is another dividend of democracy extended to Yobe State by the President Muhammadu administration. It is important to us because, Damaturu has over the years increased in size and population, and is in need of a corresponding water supply.

"The state government has continuously been making efforts to improve water supply across the state to meet the water needs of the people."

The governor further said a committee on rehabilitation of water facilities was constituted with massive intervention which has improved water supply in all the major towns of the state.

He assured the cooperation of the state government and people of the state to ensure successful completion of the project.
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The Rs 3,800-crore Brookfield India Real Estate Trust initial public offering (IPO) is expected to announce the share allotment on February 11, six days after it closed for subscription.

Backed by a strong response from investors, the offer was subscribed 7.94 times. The reserved portion for institutional investors was booked 4.78 times and that of other investors 11.74 times.

Investors, who will not get shares in the IPO, will receive their money back from February 12 and the listing of units will take place on February 17.

Investors, who subscribed the issue, can check the share allotment on the BSE website, by following these easy steps. Select 'Equity' and 'Issue Name' (Brookfield India Real Estate Trust), Enter 'Application Number' and 'PAN Number', and finally click on 'Search' button to know the application status.

The allotment can also be checked on the IPO registrar's website. Investors can check either through PAN number, Application Number and DP Client ID. One needs to select 'Brookfield India Real Estate Trust' and then enter either 'PAN Number', 'Application Number' or 'DP Client ID', to know the actual application status.

Brookfield REIT is India's only institutionally managed public commercial real estate vehicle and is sponsored by an affiliate of Brookfield Asset Management, which is one of the world's largest alternative asset managers, with approximately $575 billion in assets under management as of September 2020.

Brookfield REIT owns an initial portfolio of four large campus format office parks which are located in Mumbai, Gurugram, Noida and Kolkata with an initial portfolio size of 14.0 million square feet (msf), comprising 10.3 msf of completed area, 0.1 under development and 3.7 msf of future development.

The company will utilise IPO proceeds for repayment of debts availed by its Asset SPVs.

When an investor invests in REIT, it is the same as buying a commercial property. By investing in a REIT, the investor gets three different types of returns such as interest income, dividend income and market price appreciation, said Yash Gupta, Equity Research Associate at Angel Broking.
Ride-hailing major Ola on Thursday said it has selected ABB as one of its key partners for robotics and automation solutions for its electric vehicle manufacturing facility in Tamil Nadu.

Ola will utilise ABB's automation solutions in its factory's key manufacturing process lines, including painting and welding lines, while ABB robots will be deployed extensively for the battery and motor assembly lines, a statement said.

These include ABB's paint and Integrated Dressing robots in its painting and welding lines, and robots for assembly and material handling in the battery and motor assembly areas, it added.

ABB robots will be digitally integrated into Ola's AI-enabled factory to optimise robot performance, productivity and product quality.

The use of ABB's robots and automation solutions will ensure remote digital connectivity and monitoring of the robots that will ride on Ola's proprietary AI engine and tech stack, it said.

"ABB's solutions will be riding on Ola's own proprietary AI engine and tech stack embedded in our scooter mega-factory. We are bringing in global expertise and stitching up partnerships that will help us build out our factory in record speed and roll out the first of our electric scooters in the coming months," Ola Chairman and Group CEO Bhavish Aggarwal said.

Sanjeev Sharma, Managing Director at ABB India and South Asia, said the company''s sustainable robotics automation solutions will complement the vision to build the factory to further the EV journey of India.

"Increased automation and robotics to make shop-floors safer, more productive and of impeccable quality will fast-track India''s transition to one of the leading agile, self-reliant and high-tech manufacturing economies of the world," he added.

In December, Ola announced inking an agreement with the Tamil Nadu government to invest Rs 2,400 crore for setting up its first electric scooter factory in the state. With an initial annual capacity of 2 million units, the factory will create 10,000 jobs and serve as a global manufacturing hub for both India and international markets across Europe, UK, Latin America, Australia and New Zealand.
The PCR test is the most accurate tool to identify SARS-CoV-2. However, valid results are often available only after days. Moreover, the laboratory must be well equipped, have trained personnel and sufficient financial resources. All of this is usually a problem in Africa. A portable suitcase could help. In cooperation with several African universities, scientists at Leipzig University have found that this mini-laboratory provides test results that are almost as good as a PCR test - and almost in real time. The researchers have now published their findings in the journal "Analytical Chemistry".

The compact case could provide rapid coronavirus test results in regions of Africa where testing facilities and medical infrastructure fall far short of European standards. The case is a small, mobile laboratory equipped with a diagnostic device, solar power supply, various reagents, some reference RNA extracts and rubber gloves. "With this tool, a so-called RPA test can be done directly on site, even in the most remote areas. It takes only 15 minutes to get a result," said virologist Dr Ahmed Abd El Wahed from the Institute of Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, who is leading the study at Leipzig University.

Infected people can thus be identified and isolated more quickly. This is an important and life-saving measure in countries that may have to wait a long time for vaccines, and will contribute to bringing the COVID-19 pandemic under control. In the first study at Leipzig University, genome analysis (RPA method, recombinase polymerase amplification) was used to detect an infection with SARS-CoV-2 almost in real time, with an accuracy of 94 per cent. Dr Abd El Wahed explained the mobile lab's simplicity: "A saliva sample or a nasal swab is sufficient for the test and all reagents can be used at room temperature."

Suitcase lab already a success against Ebola

The method that will now be used to conduct coronavirus testing has already been successfully evaluated for several other infectious diseases, for example in Guinea in 2015, during the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. For COVID-19 diagnosis, the mobile suitcase lab has already been implemented in Egypt, Ghana, and Senegal, as well as in five other African countries: the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Madagascar, Nigeria, Sudan, and Uganda. Results will now be evaluated in further studies.

Specifically, the exact performance of the developed SARS-CoV-2 RPA assays will be determined and compared to PCR assays. If the results are comparable, as the preliminary data seem to suggest, the suitcase laboratory could soon be increasingly used in the clinical field to determine SARS-CoV-2.

###

The study is receiving 500,000 euros in funding from the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) and will run until September 2021. Funded by the European Union, the EDCTP is a public partnership between countries in Europe and sub-Saharan Africa. It aims to accelerate the clinical development of new or improved drugs for the identification, treatment and prevention of poverty-related infectious diseases.
The Netherlands and Belgium are jointly replacing the current M-class frigates. Both countries will each receive two ASW Fregates. The intention was that these ships would be identical, but there will now be a (provisional) difference, Jaime Karremann reports on marineschepen.nl: the Belgian ships will not be equipped with 16 launch cells for missiles, but with 8, the Belgian Defense Minister Ludivine Dedonder announced on February 10.

The Netherlands and Belgium are jointly replacing the current M-class frigates. Both countries will each receive two ASW Fregates. The intention was that these ships would be identical, but there will now be a (provisional) difference, Jaime Karremann reports on marineschepen.nl: the Belgian ships will not be equipped with 16 launch cells for missiles, but with 8, the Belgian Defense Minister Ludivine Dedonder announced on February 10.

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The Belgian and Dutch new ship class will be called Anti-Submarine Warfare Frigate (ASWF). (Drawing source: Dutch MoD)

There is an increasing difference between the Dutch team and the Belgian team. Belgian minister of Defense Ludivine Dedonder stated that a "number of compromises" had been decided and that these choices "had no impact on the good relations within the cooperation between the Netherlands and Belgium", Jaime Karreman reports.

Dedonder cited only one example of a cut in the Belgian order: the vertical missile launcher. The frigates in the front part of the ship ('the barge') will have various weapon systems : behind the 76mm Sovraponte gun, there is room for two Mk41 vertical launchers. A Mk41 consists of 8 cells for missiles such as ESSM, SM-2, SM-3, etc. These are expected to be primarily intended for ESSM Block 2 missiles against medium-range air targets. Two of these Mk41s thus give the ship 16 launch cells. And because the ESSM missiles come in a pack of four in one cell, there is room for up to 64 ESSM missiles.

"For Belgium, one of the two launch systems has been designated as provisions for", Dedonder said. The Belgian ships will therefore not have two but one MK41 launcher, provisions will be made for the second, but it will not be purchased and not installed. Only in the event of "a possible changing future threat will the provisions for systems for Belgium be further elaborated in the future." The choice was made by Belgium to stay within the budget laid down in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Netherlands and Belgium.
Norway has deported a truck driver after police caught him driving without the required snow chains on his vehicle twice within an hour.

He has been banned from returning to the country for two years and fined 11,000 Kroner (957).

The man, who was not named, was "careless of the conditions, which represents a great danger," police spokesperson Per Oeyvind Skogmo said in a statement on Thursday.

Police say they stopped the man, who was driving into Tromsoe, a city north of the Arctic Circle and ordered him to put chains on his tires. Officers then pulled him over again for the same reason less than an hour later, as he was crossing a nearby bridge.

Mr Skogmo said that because the man, who is a foreign national, was driving his truck without chains the force "found grounds to open a deportation case". Police did not reveal the trucker's nationality.

The Scandinavian country requires heavy vehicles to use snow chains for more than four months of the year. Truckers must use the equipment from mid-November until the end of March regardless of weather conditions.

The man was made to leave Norway on Wednesday.

New requirements for winter tyres on heavy vehicles came into effect in 2020, with the government stepping up fines for violations of winter equipment requirements.

Additional reporting by AP
New Delhi: It is a very common saying that 'dog is a man's best friend', and time and again, the furry one has proved the proverb right. The latest story backing the above statement has come out from Uttarakhand's Chamoli district which was badly hit by flash floods recently, taking away as many as 35 lives and 204 persons missing.

In this devastated area, a small black Bhutia dog, who was reportedly born at the project site and raised by the workers there has been waiting endlessly for three straight days for men who fed and pet him earlier.

"He must have known that something was wrong. The place was full of strangers who paid no attention to him. We did not know what to do at first. Initially, the rescue workers tried to shoo him away as heavy machinery was brought amid the chaos all around. But he kept coming back to the site," a local resident told Times Of India.

Another local shared, "The dog sits outside the tunnel all day and night waiting for the men he knew. We hope he gets to see them again soon."

The black Bhutia dog is now being fed by people at the site.

The bond between humans and their canine friends has always been special. It is celebrated in various movies like Hachi: A Dogs Tale, Old Yeller, Lassie, Benji, Eight Below among numerous others.
Five million EU citizens have applied to stay in the UK permanently after Brexit - far higher than previous official estimates and larger than the population of seven European nations.

The Home Office has now received 4.9m applications under the EU settlement scheme and granted permanent resident status to 4.3m applicants so far.

Croatia, Lithuania, Slovenia, Latvia, Estonia, Cyprus, Luxembourg and Malta all have populations of less than five million.

An official population snapshot taken in June 2019 had suggested there were 3.4m EU, EEA and Swiss citizens living in the UK.

Immigration experts have previously criticised the quality of the Government's data - which makes it hard to determine how many EU citizens in the UK are taking up the scheme.

The Home Office has now received 4.9m applications under the EU settlement scheme and granted permanent resident status to 4.3m applicants. Pictured is Priti Patel

Cabinet Minister Michael Gove told MPs on Monday: 'It is a great advertisement for this country. People have chosen to stay in unprecedented numbers.'

'It gives a lie to some of the nonsense that was propagated at the time of the Brexit vote that somehow the UK was less welcoming or that EU citizens would leave, or that there would be harm to our universities or to our healthcare sector.'

Around 700,000 foreign workers from across the world are believed to have left Britain during the pandemic between July and September, according to statistics from the Office for National Statistics.

But British official figures show that EU citizens continue to move to the UK and that there is still net EU migration.

People are eligible for settled status if they started living in the UK before the end of the transition period December 31, 2020. The deadline for applications is June 30 2021.

Those granted settled status will be allowed to stay in the UK for as long as they want and can also apply for British citizenship.

Usually, you would need to wait a year after getting settled status to apply for citizenship.

Home Secretary Priti Patel welcomed today's figures, saying: 'They are our friends, neighbours and colleagues and, from the very beginning, we have been clear we want them to stay.

'That is why we put people at the heart of the scheme, knowing that behind these applications are stories of those who have established roots here.

'We promised we would make it as straightforward as possible for them to continue living their lives here.

'So I'm immensely proud that figures will show five million applications to the EU Settlement Scheme.'

Ms Patel will also announced 5.4m of extra cash to help vulnerable EU citizens apply for settled status, The Sun reported.

Poles, Romanians and Italians top the scheme and 91 percent of the applications are from people wanting to stay in England.
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When does a free state become a police state? Is it when government declares itself "essential" but religious worship "selfish"? Or when making a living becomes a crime? Or when free speech rights are afforded only to those who say "correct" things? Or maybe when tens of millions of Americans find themselves unexpectedly labeled as "domestic terrorists" by the military-media complex overnight?

Perhaps the telltale sign is this: simply asking why becomes subversive. Questions become bigger threats than foreign missiles. Words are regarded as weapons legally possessed only by those in power. For all else, they are rendered contraband.

If Congress were transparent, rather than vindictive, and if its members worried more about finding truth than burying it, then lawmakers in D.C. would have spent the last few months quelling doubts about the 2020 election instead of intensifying those doubts with a second, inflammatory impeachment. Alas, we're ruled by unserious people who take their power very seriously.

Consider the following contraband questions Congress will never answer:

Why should the 2020 election be viewed as legitimate if the outcome depended entirely upon the unprecedented use of mass mail-in balloting implemented, in some cases, against state law?

Why is Congress not interested in knowing how many mail-in ballots were counted in battleground states that were either received after legal deadlines or in violation of signature-matching requirements or other safeguards for authenticating voter identity?

Why is Congress so incurious about the reality that Donald Trump won nearly every bellwether county from coast to coast by double-digits on his way to losing the election?

Why is Congress so incurious about how an incumbent president could expand his support by over ten million new voters and increase his share of the minority vote, yet still come up short against an opponent with historically low levels of enthusiasm among his own base?

Why is Congress so incurious about the conspiracy between corporate news and social media to censor negative stories about Joe Biden during the campaign while aggressively deplatforming conservative commentary and online social networks of Trump-supporters for years before the 2020 election?

Why is Congress so incurious about a "secret cabal of wealthy and politically connected elites" who conspired "to manipulate the rules and laws of an election in order to win"?

Why does Congress deem such reasonable questions so threatening?

Why do lawmakers insist on threatening American citizens for thinking critically just because Congress itself abandoned critical thinking long ago?

All of these questions are now too dangerous or too inconvenient for the U.S. government to abide. They are too dangerous or too inconvenient for Google, Facebook, and Twitter to tolerate on their "free speech" platforms. They are too dangerous or inconvenient for our domestic intelligence services to permit a private citizen to say out loud. So spurious criminal charges are leveled at ordinary citizens just as they have been leveled at the president of the United States.

When it becomes natural for politicians to flex the muscles of government with the intent of intimidating citizens, and when governing institutions become more concerned with their own survival than with the security and protection of those for whom they were created, then free speech is always the first liberty summarily executed by those in power.

Benjamin Franklin, though only sixteen years old at the time, said it best: "Whoever would overthrow the liberty of a nation, must begin by subduing the freeness of speech."

Look how fast questioning the legitimacy of the 2020 election became a state offense. In November, doing so was mocked as mere "conspiracy-mongering." In December, it had become a "threat to democracy." By January, it was "insurrectionist." And by February, Congress is holding a Soviet show trial to punish the president; the FBI is busy arresting his supporters; the military is purging MAGA troops from its ranks; and prominent media personalities openly suggest drone strikes against American citizens.

This is not normal in a free country, and it is important to say so. Free people neither fear nor punish debate; open and continuous disagreement is, in fact, a hallmark of all free societies. Anybody who claims that political speech should be punished as criminal incitement is no friend to freedom. Anybody who pretends that words are violence is only looking to police thought.

And make no mistake: everything from the second public inquisition of President Trump to the Department of Justice's decision to stigmatize freedom-minded Americans as terrorists for questioning the 2020 election is entirely about policing thought  not preventing or punishing statutory crimes.

When Representative Cheney impugns President Trump as being the subject of a "massive criminal investigation," she throws "innocent until proven guilty" out the window. When Representative Raskin says President Trump's refusal to testify at these Star Chamber proceedings should be cited as evidence of his own guilt, Raskin torches Americans' Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination in the process. Surely, anti-Trump Republicans and Democrats who find it expedient to discard constitutional rights in order to settle scores and silence critics should never be trusted in positions of power, and surely, any congressperson who seeks to justify the criminalization of speech by appealing to national unity has no intention of governing other than as a tyrant.

What Congress is doing by labeling President Trump's political speech as treasonous is a far greater threat to the country's survival than anything China has in mind for our future. However else this spectacle of a witch trial against the president unfolds, the "greatest deliberative body in the world" proves that it is neither great nor deliberative.

If the former "leader of the free world" can be labeled a "premeditated murderer" and "domestic enemy" for asking questions out loud, ordinary people learn pretty quickly that question marks are too dangerous except when whispered far from prying ears.

So we have two worlds now  the real world that everyone knows is true but must pretend is false and the political world that everyone knows is false but must pretend is true. We have become a country of dissidents trapped within a prison of lies.

When "a man cannot call his tongue his own, he can scarce call anything else his own." Franklin said that, too. And when that is the case, a police state has taken over.

There is a wonderful corollary, however: when the greatest threat to a state's survival becomes questioning its monopoly on truth, then ordinary people become extraordinarily powerful simply by asking questions.

The most dangerous thing to any police state is a person capable of thinking clearly.

Image: Pezibear via Pixabay, Pixabay License.
Nicholas Bomber, Troy Branch Manager, SavATree and Jon Knowlden, Big Twigs Owner SavATree shares our same philosophy and commitment to high-quality standards, making this a great fit. I am confident that we will continue to provide our customers with top quality services.

SavATree, the industry leader in professional tree, shrub and lawn care has announced the acquisition of Big Twigs Arboricultural Services of Orion, Michigan. This will become SavATrees second office in Michigan and 51st branch office.

Big Twigs has been providing a loyal customer base in the Metro Detroit tri-county area with general tree care and plant health care services. In addition to the current service offerings, clients will now have access to a wider range of services including professional lawn care, tick and mosquito treatments, deer deterrents, organic options and consulting services.

Were thrilled to join forces with Big Twigs, a reputable company known for outstanding service, said SavATree CEO Carmine Schiavone. Building density in Oakland, Macomb and Wayne counties will provide clients with an enhanced portfolio of services as we continue to uphold an environmentally responsible approach.

Big Twigs owner Jon Knowlden noted, SavATree shares our same philosophy and commitment to high-quality standards, making this a great fit. I am confident that we will continue to provide our customers with top quality services.

About SavATree

SavATree provides environmentally sensible tree, shrub and lawn care to residential and commercial properties throughout the country. Property programs feature organic and hybrid plant health care, lawn care and general tree careall highly customized to meet the needs of each landscape and steward.

Learn more at http://www.savatree.com
An indigenous legislator has won his battle against wearing a tie in the New Zealand parliament, ending a longstanding dress requirement that he describes as a colonial noose.

Rawiri Waititi, the co-leader of the Maori Party, this week sparred over the dress code with parliament speaker Trevor Mallard, who has the job of enforcing the rules  even though Mr Mallard said he did not personally agree with the tie rule.

Mr Mallard had previously warned Mr Waititi that he needed to wear a tie and then on Tuesday ordered him to leave the debating chamber after Mr Waititi showed up wearing a traditional pendant around his neck called a hei tiki.

I do not recognise the member, he will now leave the chamber, Mr Mallard told Mr Waititi, who responded by saying the issue was not about ties but about culture.

MPs have on occasion used the chambers dress code to protest issues that were of significance to them. Another example when I was first elected to Parliament the Speaker wore the wig every day. The only people who wear them now are visitors to my office. [4/] pic.twitter.com/26AXfsaaJX  Trevor Mallard (@SpeakerTrevor) February 10, 2021

This is a breach of the rights of indigenous peoples, Mr Waititi told reporters afterwards.

We have the right to practise our cultural identity.

But by the following evening, Mr Mallard had changed course.

It happened after a committee meeting during which legislators heard from Maori.

The majority of the committee was in favour of removing the requirement for ties to form part of appropriate business attire for males, the speaker wrote in his explanation, adding that ties would no longer be required.

Mr Waititi hailed the change as a win for Maori and indigenous people around the world.

We are not like everyone else. We are unique. Being Maori is like having superpowers. There is no-one else in the world like us, and we need to maintain who we are Rawiri Waititi during his maiden speech in parliament

And with the rules loosened, several other male legislators followed his lead by not wearing ties on Thursday.

Mr Waititi, a father of five, surprised many people when he won a seat during last Octobers election and arrived in parliament with a jovial but also uncompromising attitude, promising to fearlessly promote the rights of Maori.

Mr Speaker, Maori have had enough of being assimilated and forced to do and look like everyone else, Mr Waititi told legislators during his opening speech in December.

We are not like everyone else. We are unique. Being Maori is like having superpowers. There is no-one else in the world like us, and we need to maintain who we are.

During his maiden speech, Mr Waititi told the story of a tribal member who had been wrongfully hung for a crime he did not commit due to mistaken identity.

Mr Waititi then took off his own red tie as he repeated what he said were the mans last words: Take the noose from around my neck, so that I may sing my song.
A former Scranton school director serving a 14-year sentence for sexting teenage boys wants to be released early because health problems leave him vulnerable to a severe case of COVID-19.

Prosecutors oppose the request filed by Mark Kandel, 61, saying the public would not be served by letting him out from the minimum-security prison in Fort Dix, New Jersey, before his projected release date in April 2025.

Kandel, who served as a school director for nearly two terms before he resigned in 1998 and worked as behavior management specialist at Northeast Educational Intermediate Unit, was sentenced in Oct. 28, 2013, after pleading guilty about four months prior to online enticement of a minor.

Federal prosecutors alleged Kandel sent more than 13,000 messages, most of them sexual, to 17 boys in 2012.

Kandel argued in a motion filed in late December that his sentence should be reduced to time served because he suffers from respiratory issues and other health problems that could leave him vulnerable to serious illness or death if he contracts COVID-19. Issues with his lungs satisfy the extraordinary and compelling criteria needed to justify his release, his attorney Frank Santomauro wrote. Kandel wants a hearing.

Acting U.S. Attorney Bruce Brandler disagrees.

In court documents filed Tuesday, Brandler wrote Kandels medical concerns are outweighed by the seriousness of his crime and the need for the publics safety.

Kandel does not need a hearing because the courts are updated daily of the conditions in federal Bureau of Prisons facilities and surely does not need to hold a hearing to learn about the dangers of COVID-19, Brandlers office argued.

Kandel has simply failed to state a reason as to why a hearing is necessary on these facts, federal prosecutors wrote. The Court surely does not need a recitation of Kandels written argument.

Kandels request is pending.
Some 526 MEPs voted for the report, while 79 were against, another 71 MEPs abstained.

The European Parliament has prepared a new report on the implementation of the Association Agreement between the European Union and Ukraine, in which it has assessed prospects for Ukraine's EU membership and the status of Ukrainian reforms.

The document, prepared by German MEP Michael Gahler (EPP), was adopted at a plenary session on Wednesday, February 10, but the results were announced on February 11, DW's Ukrainian service reported.

Some 526 MEPs voted for the report, while 79 were against, another 71 MEPs abstained.

The previous time a similar report was approved by the European Parliament way back in 2018. The document contains a number of conclusions regarding Ukraine. In particular it highlights corruption, the crisis around the Constitutional Court of Ukraine, the situation in Donbas, and Ukraine's European prospects.

Read alsoEuropean Commission: Widespread corruption continues to hamper Ukraine's reform process

Prospects for Ukraine's membership in the EU

It says that the European Parliament does not recognize Ukraine's prospects for EU membership, not wishing to make it hope for early accession to the Union. This is due to the fact that in the near future neither Ukraine nor the EU will be ready for this. At the same time, the European Parliament adheres to the opinion that Ukrainians should be given a realistic goal.

"Ukraine has a European perspective pursuant to Article 49 of the TEU [Treaty on European Union] and may apply to become a member of the Union provided that it adheres to all of the Copenhagen criteria and the principles of democracy, respects fundamental freedoms, human and minority rights, and upholds the rule of law," the report says.

Some MEPs wanted to delete this clause, but 82 parliamentarians voted for that step, while 575 were against.

Review of EU-Ukraine Association Agreement

The European Parliament notes the significant progress of Ukraine in the implementation of the agreement on association and integration into the EU, and also calls on Kyiv to fully implement the agreement and use its potential. The report also "recalls the necessity for the AA/DCFTA to be updated, to take due account of the evolution of the regulatory frameworks and economic development needs, and to strengthen monitoring mechanisms."

Ukraine and the EU agreed to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the association agreement this year. The European Parliament advises, within the framework of this assessment, to update the provisions concerning trade and sectoral integration of Ukraine into the EU. In particular this concerns digital economy, energy and the fight against climate change.

In addition, according to MEPs, the European Commission and international financial organizations should make Ukraine a detailed "a detailed, conditional and tailor-made economic and investment proposal" to overcome the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fight against corruption in Ukraine

The European Parliament recalled that the level of political, technical and financial support for Ukraine from the EU would depend on "the extent to which it fulfils the commitments it has made to the Union and its Member States, especially as regards the reform process, respect for human rights, minorities and fundamental freedoms, and the establishment of a genuine and effective rule of law."

It says that despite notable progress, widespread corruption continues to hinder the reform process.

One of the toughest points in the report concerns the oligarchy. The European Parliament expressed "its utmost concern about apparent attempts by vested interests to undermine the country's achievements in the fight against corruption and overall democratic reforms, in particular through the recapturing of political power by some Ukrainian oligarchs, which has served to weaken the reform-oriented majority in the Verkhovna Rada."

However, MEPs also saw a positive moment. They praised the relaunch of the National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NACP), first judgements handed down by the High Anti-Corruption Court and its respect of "high professional standards." MEPs are also pleased with the work of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU), "which is arguably the country's most effective anti-corruption institution."

CCU crisis

MEPs recognized the constitutional crisis around the Constitutional Court of Ukraine (CCU) as one of the threats to the ability of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the Verkhovna Rada to carry out reforms.

The European Parliament recognizes "the active efforts initiated by President Zelensky and taken by political stakeholders to restore legislation and the credibility of the Ukrainian anti-corruption architecture," the report says.

Notably, this clause, which was proposed by Lithuanian MEP Petras Aushtrevicius, turned out to be the most controversial in the session hall. As a result, it was backed by 334 MEPs, while 322 voted against.

The European Parliament says it regrets that the judicial system has one of the lowest levels of trust in Ukraine. Therefore, MEPs call on the Ukrainian authorities to speed up its reform and fight corruption, including in the judiciary.

Developments in Donbas

The European Parliament condemns the illegal annexation of Crimea by Russia and the de facto occupation of part of Donbas, and also calls on Russia to withdraw its troops from the territory of Ukraine.

MEPs noted that sanctions against Russia should remain in effect until the Minsk agreements are fully implemented and Ukraine's territorial integrity is restored within its internationally recognized borders. The EU should be ready to tighten sanctions against the Russian Federation if necessary.

The European Parliament points out the importance of creating new sites for the disengagement of forces in Donbas, as well as opening new points of entry and exit along the contact line.

The report underlines that "the conditions for free and fair elections in Donetsk and Luhansk have not been met in the current situation."

The report also "acknowledges the unique experience and expertise of Ukraine, and welcomes Ukraine's participation in common security and defence policy (CSDP) missions, battlegroups and operations, its contributions to EU Battle Groups and its increasing alignment with EU statements and declarations on international and regional issues, as well as its contributions, and congratulates Ukraine on its new NATO Enhanced Opportunities Partner status."

EU-Ukraine Association Agreement

In 2014, the European Union and Ukraine signed an Association Agreement, which marked the beginning of a new period in the development of relations between the EU and Ukraine.

On September 1, 2017, the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU entered into force in full in terms of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area between Ukraine and the EU. Prior to that, it had been applied on an interim basis since 2016.

The agreement is a key tool for closer rapprochement between Ukraine and the European Union: it contributes to deeper political relations, stronger economic ties, and mutual respect for common values.

The Association Agreement's economic provisions on the deep and comprehensive free trade area gives Ukraine an opportunity to expand trade relations and economic development, as it opens up new markets, contributes to the adaptation of legislation, standards, and regulations in various sectors. The latter will help incorporate EU standards in key sectors of the Ukrainian economy.

Reporting by UNIAN
U.A.E. Proclaims Its Hope Mars Mission Is a Collaborative Project for the Entire Human Race

Feb. 10 , 2021 (EIRNS)The homepage of the United Arab Emirates Space Agencys website succinctly answers the question, Why Are We Exploring Mars?:

The red planet has captured human imagination for centuries. Now, we are at a junction where we know a great deal about the planet, and we have the vision and technology to explore further. Mars is an obvious target for exploration for many reasons. From our pursuit to find extraterrestrial life to someday expand human civilization to other planets, Mars serves as a long-term and collaborative project for the entire human race.

In a fascinating interview with Space.com on Feb. 8, the day before Hopes orbital insertion, U.A.E. Space Agency chair and Minister for Advanced Sciences Sarah al-Amiri described how Hope was designed for its mission as the very first holistic weather satellite of Mars, mapping the dynamics of Mars weather system throughout the entire day, in every region of Mars, over the course of an entire Martian year, through the combination of its three key instruments, shifting its orbit (from closer in to farther out), and monitoring Marss lower and upper atmosphere, and the interactions between them.

Our objectives from the get-go, she emphasized, are to ensure that Hopes science is complementary to other missions and [therefore] usable to various science groups, and also new in nature so that it can continue the vast exploration efforts by different nations about Mars.

Hope is a product of national determination and international cooperation which exemplifies how other developing countries and regions can also leapfrog into being space-faring nations. The U.A.E. is a young nationfounded only 50 years agobut its founder, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al-Nahyan, recognized that money is meaningless if not mobilized for the good of man, the countrys oil wealth valueless without national human resources qualified for and capable of building up the country through science and industry. It was that understanding that led far-sighted leaders of the U.A.E. to invite physical economist Lyndon LaRouche to deliver the keynote address to a two-day regional symposium on The Role of Oil and Gas in World Politics, at the U.A.E.s Zayed Centre in June 2002, and to develop both nuclear power and space programs.

Space Agency chair al-Amiri argues that the purpose of U.A.E.s space program is that of stimulating a lot of change within the U.A.E.s economy that today more than ever should have a solid foundation in science. The best way to do that, from what we have been experimenting with as a nation, has been an exploration mission to space.

To develop its Earth-orbit satellite program in the 2000s, the U.A.E. turned to South Korea to jointly design and build its first two satellites, then launched from Kazakhstan. Its Space Agency was founded in 2014, and the goal of sending a probe to Mars by 2021, the 50th anniversary of the nations founding, adopted quickly thereafter. By 2018, the U.A.E. space team was able to design and build a satellite itself. To meet the tougher technical challenges of building a spacecraft for another planet, the U.A.E. Space Agency partnered with three U.S. universities: the University of Colorados Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics in Boulder, Arizona State University, and the Space Sciences Lab at the University of California, Berkeley campus. Hope was then launched to Mars on a Japanese rocket from the Tanegashima Space Center!

A veteran of NASA Mars missions, now based at Northern Arizona University who worked on the design of one of Hopes instruments, Christopher Edwards, told the Wall Street Journal that the Hope mission is like nothing Ive ever experienced in the spacecraft program so far. Theres a huge training aspect to it and a huge collaborative aspect that is like nothing else.

A bill to repeal the Alabama Memorial Preservation Act and allow cities and counties to move monuments without paying a fine failed to win approval today in the House Judiciary Committee.

The committee sent the bill to a subcommittee for more work.

Rep. Juandalynn Givan, D-Birmingham, the sponsor, said she still thinks the bill has a chance to pass.

The Republican-led Legislature passed the Memorial Preservation Act in 2017 in response to removals of Confederate monuments. The law prohibits cities and counties from moving any monuments 40 years or older on public property.

Birmingham, Mobile, and Madison County all moved Confederate monuments last year after the racial unrest that swept the nation after the police killing of George Floyd in Minnesota. The Memorial Preservation Act imposes a $25,000 fine against local governments that move monuments.

Givans bill would repeal the law, which Democrats have opposed from the outset, saying that cities and counties should have the authority to make decisions about monuments on public property. Her bill would let cities and counties transfer ownership of monuments to the Department of Archives and History or the Alabama Historical Commission for public display. The county or city would pay to move the monuments.

Today, Givan offered an amendment that would add more options. Cities and counties could move monuments to cemeteries, parks, or similar places under their jurisdiction, or make an agreement with another local government or state entity for relocating a monument, including Archives and History or the Historical Commission.

Givan said the purpose was to keep from overloading Archives and History. But the amendment failed on a tie vote. The committee then decided to send the bill to a subcommittee.

Givan said she would keep working to repeal the Memorial Preservation Act. The bill allows cities and counties to apply to a committee for waivers to move monuments less than 40 years old, but Givan said most monuments have been in place too long to qualify for that.

With the civil unrest and everything going on, its tying up the hands of municipalities, Givan said. It doesnt matter if you live in a district or jurisdiction that is largely Democrat or Republican. It is a situation in which people want to have the authority to be able to move these monuments without being taxed $25,000.

Rep. Mike Holmes, R-Wetumpka, a member of the Judiciary Committee, wants to strengthen the Memorial Preservation Act by raising the penalty for removing monuments. His bill awaits action in the House State Government Committee.

The committee is expected to meet again in two weeks.
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LAS VEGAS, Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Scenic Las Vegas Weddings, a local wedding destination, tour, and photography business, is pleased to report a significant uptick in rustic outdoor wedding bookings, due in part to the new open-air chapel at Nelson's Ghost Town, located 1 hour from the Vegas Strip.

Adventurous outdoor wedding chapel at a real Nevada Ghost Town and Mine. Have your wedding in a unique open air wedding chapel and then have wedding photos shot around the numerous back drops of this amazing location. Enjoy a stress free and COVID free wedding when you book an all-inclusive wedding that includes you Minister, Photographer, video of ceremony, flowers and free limousine Transportation.

Couples looking to get married are now forgoing the traditional big weddings and instead opting to elope to Las Vegas to exchange their vows in one of several scenic outdoor destinations. The recently constructed open-air chapel at Nelson's Ghost Town allows them and their wedding party to have a beautiful and memorable ceremony while still adhering to social distancing best practices.

In its heyday, Nelson was a nefarious mining boomtown that had a reputation for violence and bloodshed. Nowadays, it's a premier wedding destination and tourist attraction that beckons both Hollywood movie studios and love-struck couples looking to tie the knot in a rustic setting.

"Nelson is continually growing, expanding, and building new amenities. It's our second most popular location after Valley of Fire," says Scenic Las Vegas Weddings owner Trey Tomsik. "With California movie studios shut down for COVID-19, a lot of them are using Nelson for their productions. So, I'm seeing a huge spike in both domestic and international couples who have seen Nelson featured in a movie and are looking to get married at this iconic destination."

In addition to planning, performing, and photographing outdoor weddings, Trey also owns and operates a Vegas Tour company. "Couples who are interested in this area will often take my Nelson's Ghost Town tours and then return to get married in this amazing desert location," Trey continued. "Nelson will only grow in popularity as they continue to add new features and landmarks that attract couples who are looking for a unique and memorable wedding experience."

About Scenic Las Vegas Weddings

Established in 2000, Scenic Las Vegas Weddings is a full-service Las Vegas destination wedding firm that offers couples the chance to get married and have photos taken in one of several iconic Las Vegas outdoor locations. The company was founded by Las Vegas native Trey Tomsik who has a lengthy career as a professional wedding photographer. For more information on Scenic Las Vegas Weddings or to speak to Trey, please visit our website at https://www.sceniclasvegasweddings.com/.

Media contact:

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(702) 515-1100

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The consistency of the gold anomalism, the geological setting and the presence of artisanal workings highlight the potential of this project," said chief executive Bernard Aylward.

( ) has unearthed high grade gold in a surface sampling programme at the Dabakala concession, Cote d'Ivoire.

The explorer told investors that geochemical sampling completed in December saw grades of up to 6.14 grams per tonne and an extensive surface gold anomalism has been defined in the east of the concession.

It extends for over 10 kilometres of strike length, the company statement highlighted.

Additionally, it noted that extensive artisanal mine workings were identified during the sampling programme and the anomalism extends beyond and parallel to the workings.

The company is planning a field inspection of the anomalism later this month.

Chief executive Bernard Aylward described the sampling results as very exciting for Kodal.

The exploration is currently at an early stage with sampling completed on a wide spacing in an under-explored region of Cote d'Ivoire, Aylward said.

The consistency of the gold anomalism, the geological setting and the presence of artisanal workings highlight the potential of this project for Kodal as we continue to develop our gold portfolio and demonstrate the value of the assets.

At the same time, the company added that a field reconnaissance team is at the Fatou project to review historical drilling and proposed drill hole sites.

Aylward added: Kodal is preparing for a very busy drilling and field exploration season this year, and our priorities remain to define JORC Compliant Mineral Resources at the Fatou Project, undertake drilling at the Nielle Project, and undertake field review and reconnaissance drilling at Dabakala to provide further geological information on the extensive gold anomalous zone that we have identified.

The Kodal chief meanwhile noted that the company is maintaining regular communications with the Mali Transition Government to monitor the progress of the mining licence application for the Bougouni Project, the companys flagship lithium project.

We will communicate developments to the market as soon as there are updates to share with investors, he said.

We continue to regard our Bougouni Lithium Project as our key focus and believe it will be the company's first opportunity to develop a mining operation in Mali. I look forward to providing updates when possible."
Hoax and time-wasting calls to the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service are on the rise, figures show.

Crews are receiving nearly 14 false or unnecessary reports every day on average.

In the 12 months to last April, staff identified 5,025 malicious or hoax calls - just under a third of the overall total handled by the service since 2016.

More than half of incidents in the last year (2,607) involved callers hanging up and providing no details, while in 1,003 cases nothing was found at the scene.

There were 515 incidents where the caller or an individual was present at the scene but no medical treatment was required; while 411 calls were deemed by the ambulance service as "clear misuse of 999 system".

In 489 incidents, a patient was in the care of NIAS staff but absconded from the scene.

The figures, disclosed following a Freedom of Information request by the Belfast Telegraph, show a steady increase in misuse of the emergency service from 2016/17, when 4,583 hoax calls were logged.

The following year the number dipped slightly to 4,536 before increasing to 4,548 in 2018/19.

Overall, the NIAS has handled 18,692 hoax calls from 2016-17 - a figure branded deeply worrying.

A spokesperson for the NIAS said the impact on genuine calls cannot be quantified.

"The direct costs of a traditional double-crewed accident and emergency ambulance are approximately 85 per hour," they said.

"The costs that cannot be quantified in relation to calls that do not require an ambulance response are the inevitable delays caused to genuine ambulance emergencies when crews are responding to such calls.

"There are also the additional pressure and risks to ambulance staff and the public in responses under blue light conditions to such calls."

The ongoing impact of the Covid crisis has also deepened concerns that the NIAS' resources should not be hampered by hoax callers.

UUP MLA Alan Chambers, who sits on the Stormont health committee, said those who misuse the service are potentially putting other lives at risk.

"Even before the pandemic struck, the health service was experiencing extreme pressures. The NIAS performs an absolutely vital role within the NHS and hoax calls are something it can well do without," he said.

The North Down MLA continued: "Any time an ambulance is sent out to a false alarm it means that ambulance is not where it should be and not in a position to respond to a genuine emergency.

"This is not just an inconvenience for someone who is waiting additional time for an ambulance to reach them, but in the most serious of circumstances, it could well be placing people's lives at risk."

Alliance MLA Paula Bradshaw, who also sits on the health committee, urged the public not to misuse the service as the vaccine roll-out continues.

"It is important now more than ever not to waste first responders' time, when they are often the first line of care," said the South Belfast representative.

People Before Profit MLA and health committee member Gerry Carroll also voiced concern.

He said: "Health care workers, including those in the ambulance service, shouldn't be wasting their time dealing with these kinds of calls but instead be allowed to do what they do best - provide essential/emergency care to those who need it."

In an official statement in Chandigarh, Punjab's Social Security, Women and Child Development Minister Aruna Chaudhary said a medical examination conducted after Nodeep Kaur's arrest revealed injuries on her body and private parts

Chandigarh: Punjab minister Aruna Chaudhary on Thursday urged the National Commission for Women (NCW) to intervene and ensure the release of 23-year-old labour rights activist Nodeep Kaur. Kaur, whose bail was denied by a Sonipat court earlier this month, is lodged at Karnal jail in Haryana.

Kaur, who is a member of Mazdoor Adhikar Sangathan, is facing charges of attempt to murder and extortion. Along with others, she was arrested for allegedly gheraoing an industrial unit and demanding money from the company in Haryana's Sonipat, the Haryana police had earlier said.

Social Security, Women and Child Development Minister Aruna Chaudhary appealed to the NCW that the Punjab government, through the State Women's Commission, will lend legal assistance to Kaur.

The Haryana government should be directed to arrange a meeting of a delegation of the Commission with the labour rights activist, the minister said.

In an official statement in Chandigarh, the minister said a medical examination which was conducted after Kaur was arrested revealed injuries on her body and private parts, which endorsed the fact that she was sexually assaulted in police custody.

However, the Haryana Police has outright denied these charges. Meanwhile, the Punjab State Commission for Women, on Thursday sought a status report from the Sonipat Senior Superintendent of Police by 15 February in Kaur's matter.

Chairperson of Punjab State Commission for Women Manisha Gulati said Kaur, a resident of Giadarh village of Muktsar district in Punjab, was arrested from the Kundli border. She said through a written communique, the SSP Sonipat has been directed to get the case of Kaur investigated by a senior officer.

"The SSP has been asked to submit a detailed investigation report within five days by 15 February," she said in a release.

On 8 February, the Punjab State Commission for Scheduled Castes had asked an additional chief secretary in the state to intervene in the matter and ensure relief to her at the earliest.
Not often in the recent past has Parliament been invaded by an outbreak of civility. But when it did, as in extremely emotional speeches by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Rajya Sabha Opposition Leader Ghulam Nabi Azad of the Congress, it augured well for a sense of dignity and decorum to be ushered back into Indias increasingly polarised polity. Before a Prime Ministerial image makeover, Modi was stateliness personified, as in his opening speech as PM to both Houses of Parliament. Since then, in a fractured political scene, he has been seen more in confrontational mode, attacking opponents in India and when he goes abroad and in the House too when he mocked Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul.

The spirit of give and take seemed to have evaporated in Parliament with many sessions lost to the in the Well attitude of the Opposition ranged against the intransigence of the Treasury benches when it came to lending an ear to diverse points of view. Civil debates on national issues have been few and far between but the ruling BJP is not the only party guilty of reducing Parliament into a non-functional laggard. This could change, much as it should, during the debate on the farmers stir and into the future when political parties on sharply divergent ideological paths can be expected to only drift further apart thanks to the compulsions of poll politics and the seeming need for harsh language at the hustings.

Clever interpretations of acronyms appear to be the current fad as politicians attack each other, which is why such fulsome praise of opponents, which Modi and Azad showered on each other on the eve of the former Kashmir CM retiring from Parliament, is to be seen as a breakthrough. Brushing aside cynical views of the use of words of praise being opportunistic and rare, we must wish that civility stays in Parliament where government and Opposition members meet most often and in debates that make the legislature one of the pillars of democracy. Politicians of all hues would do well to remember that cordiality costs nothing and that the nation and the Constitution always come first.
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

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Controversial case against Russian hematologist postponed until spring

 AGN Moskva, Andrey Lyubimov

16:07 11/02/2021

MOSCOW, February 11 (RAPSI)  The Moscow City Court on Thursday rescheduled review of a controversial case against well-known hematologist Elena Misyurina over the death of a patient for March 4, RAPSI learnt from the courts press service.

A judge adjourned the hearing thus giving the defense time for additional studying of the case papers.

According to case papers, in 2013, Misyrina conducted a diagnostic procedure, bone marrow trephine biopsy, for a patient, who died soon afterwards. A court found the doctor guilty of violating safety regulations that led to the patients death and sentenced her to 2 years behind bars in January 2018.

Misyrina denied wrongdoing and her defense insisted that the procedure was not related to the tragedy.

Misyrinas case caught public attention with many medical professionals expressing support for the defendant and saying that the procedure could not cause the patients death. Thus, as the Russian Presidents Council for Human Rights stated, over 600 doctors asked the body to intervene in this case.

Following that, Misyurina was released from detention under travel restrictions.

In April 2018, the Moscow City Court overturned the sentence because of violations committed during the investigation and returned the case to prosecutors.

In late 2020, the Second Cassation Court of General Jurisdiction invalidated the Moscow City Courts ruling.
Our new development center in Vilnius will support building complex solutions involving innovative new software, applications, cloud back-ends, firmware, and hardware all under one roof.

Softeq Development Corporation (Softeq) has announced the opening of a full-stack development center in Vilnius, Lithuania. This move is part of the companys strategic plan to cater to a larger pool of companies across Europe and other adjacent regions. In Vilnius, Softeq envisions building a team of up to 150 software, hardware, and firmware specialists over the next three years.

Established in 1997, Softeq initially focused on technical software (hence, the company name), and gradually grew to offer full-cycle engineering services ranging from programming on the driver and OS level to building complex end-to-end ecosystems, including IoT solutions. In 2008, the company expanded its presence globally by opening a development center in Minsk, Belarus. Softeq firmly established itself in Europe after acquiring NearShore Solutions GmbH and opening an office in Munich, Germany. In November 2020, the company opened the Softeq Innovation Lab to help global enterprise intrapreneurs discover and develop early-stage transformational business ideas powered by technology.

The new base in Vilnius will serve as a go-to development center for the companys EMEA clients, covering all potential requests from hardware and firmware design to application development and support.

Softeq helps clients make the transition to digital across an entire spectrum from early-stage ideation in our Innovation Lab to end-to-end engineering services provided by our growing development centers. Our new development center in Vilnius will support building complex solutions involving innovative new software, applications, cloud back-ends, firmware, and hardware all under one roof, explains Christopher A. Howard, Founder & CEO of Softeq.

The decision to establish a development center in Lithuania came as a part of the companys plan to cater to a larger pool of European companies. Softeq expects the Vilnius office to function as a primary development location for its Central European and United Kingdom market efforts.

We were looking for an EU location that could serve as a strategic development center, suitable both for local talent sourcing and for the relocation of staff from our Minsk-based center. So our main criteria were investment climate, ease of doing business, long-term stability, and the availability of a local talent pool relevant for our expertise, Sergey Mustafaev, HR Director, says.

The company's current plans in Lithuania include the creation of 150 new jobs and the establishment of local hardware and QA laboratories. The company will be looking at hiring across various roles, including Java, JS, C++, and .NET developers, AI/ML and Schematic engineers, PCB designers, DevOps, Manual and Automation QA specialists.

The range of positions Softeq is looking to fill is impressive. No less impressive is the ability of the local education system to produce world-class professionals that match the standards of global companies with an astounding track record of developing next-generation tech solutions, says Mantas Katinas, General Manager of Invest Lithuania.

As part of its transition from the traditional IT outsourcing model, the company recently launched the Softeq Innovation Lab in Houston, Texas. A joint venture between Softeq, MIT, and Boundless Technology, the Softeq Innovation Lab organizes creative sessions led by renowned US scientists, futurists, entrepreneurs, and technology experts. In the future, the company plans to collaborate with Lithuanian universities in a similar fashion.

ABOUT SOFTEQ

Founded in 1997 in Houston, TX, Softeq Development Corporation provides early-stage innovation ideation and technology development solutions to enterprise companies and innovative startups. As a full-stack software and hardware development service provider, Softeq bridges technology gaps in knowledge-intensive projects and builds end-to-end IT solutions from the ground up. To help clients make the transition from analog to digital, the company provides expertise in a variety of trending technologies including the Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, Industrial Automation, Robotics, Blockchain, and AR/VR. The company designs IT systems and connected devices for increased security and scalability. Softeq customers include Verizon, Epson, Microsoft, Lenovo, AMD, Disney, Intel, NVIDIA, Hella, and others. Learn more at softeq.com
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'Truth is truth': GOP congresswoman who voted for Trump reveals why her faith also led her to vote to impeach him

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Truth is truth. Thats just one of the mantras embraced by Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, who represents Washington's 3rd Congressional District.

It was Herrera Beutlers quest for truth  rooted in her Christian faith  that she said compelled her to buck the Republican Party line last month and vote to impeach former President Donald Trump  a decision that has sparked frustration among some constituants.

But the congresswoman told the Edifi With Billy Hallowell podcast that she stands by her decision to put truth above politics, adding that the hardest part about the political dilemmas before us is seeing so many people who know better not live it out.

Im just honest enough to believe that truth is truth, she said. Truth actually overcomes fear.

Herrera Beutler said she understands the fear and frustration some have after Trumps loss  emotions that are driving people to turn to harsh political rebukes and rhetoric. But she also offered a rare perspective among political leaders: that faith must be the antecedent to everything else.

Listen to Herrera Beutler reveal why she voted to impeach Trump:

The congresswomans message is particularly pertinent amid ongoing discussion and debate over the proper place for politics among Christians personal priorities.

There is no king but king Jesus.  When anybody or anything creeps onto the throne in your heart, dont be surprised if God Almighty shakes it, she said. Were the salt and the light and if we lose our saltiness, what good are we?

Herrera Beutlers take on Trump, politics, and faith is unique for a plethora of reasons. First and foremost, shes among those who believe there were problems with the way the elections happened in places like Georgia and Pennsylvania. She also voted for Trump in 2020.

But the events surrounding the Jan. 6 assault on the Capitol changed everything. Herrera Beutler said she turned to her faith in the wake of the seige, rather than relying on a political blueprint  and falling prey to personal re-election fears.

When I looked at the days events, the things I lived through  I talked to primary sources myself. I tried reaching out to the White House as it was happening, saying, The president needs to get on the TV, she said. Ultimately, it came down to a set of facts.

Herrera Beutler specifically broke down some of the specific events surrounding Trump and the assault that left her in dismay.

Over the course of those three hours  what the president didnt do, to me, was the most compelling, she said, adding that she desperately tried to reach White House officials as well as her own leadership to compel the president to tell protestors to halt the attack.

One of the specific acts that stunned Herrera Beutler was Trumps decision to tweet an attack at [former vice-president] Mike Pence in the midst of the chaos. She saw this tweet as especially problematic considering the intense anger being misdirected at the former vice-president based on inaccurate claims over his faux ability to further delay election results.

But thats not all, as Herrera Beutler alleged that Trump also phoned senators who were under lockdown, urging them to further delay the Electoral College count.

The president was making phone calls to senators as theyre in lockdown, Herrera Beutler said. Theyre still locked down, because there are people still being attacked in the Capitol, and the president isnt calling to say, Are you OK? What can I do? Hes calling, and you know what he says? He says, Can you do what you can to further delay this?

Herrera Beutler said the collective events of the day led her to break ranks as one of just 10 Republicans in the House to vote to impeach the former president. And she knows not everyone in her district is happy about the decision.

Republicans in my district, theyre the ones who brought me to the party, Herrera Beutler said, adding that it was her love for America that led her into politics in the first place.

Even if Herrera Beutler loses her seat in 2022 over her impeachment vote, she stands by it, and is hoping people see the role of truth and faith at the center of it all.

If I lose my seat and all 10 of us who did this get reprimanded  if more people who believe that Jesus really is who he said he was and he really came to offer us life and take away our shame  and out of this we get more people living that way, its all worth it, she said.

In the end, Herrera Beutler wants to see Christians hold themselves and one another to account, while also following Jesus example when it comes to interacting with political and ideological opponents.

Everywhere you look in the Gospel  everywhere that [Jesus] went, He was abundantly gracious and loving to people who were doing the opposite of what He wanted, she said. The only people He was hard on were the religious leaders.

Listen to the full discussion here.
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Presidente @FSagasti: Las felicito por sus logros y agradezco su dedicacion. Sigan trabajando y poniendo en alto el nombre del Peru. Ustedes son la muestra de que las mujeres tienen mucho que contribuir al desarrollo de nuestras capacidades en ciencia, tecnologia e innovacion. pic.twitter.com/jzEF40txZ9
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A few weeks into my first semester of seminary, I should have been listening to the class lecture and discussion. But my mind wandered as a I sketched down notes for possible dissertation topics. I could hardly stop myself, because my first classes, with all of the reading, lectures, and discussions were sparking an immediate and unabating desire to dive into the deep things of God. A decade later, after receiving my Master of Divinity degree, saying wedding vows to the girl of my dreams, taking the pastorate of an urban local church, starting and stopping a Doctor of Ministry degree, and welcoming two kids into the world (with another soon on the way), I finally started my first seminar in a PhD program.

I chose a modular program, which allowed me to continue in my primary calling as a husband, father, and pastor in South Florida, while traveling 3-5 weeks a year for intensive seminars. Now, another half-decade later, I have two more diplomas to hang on my study wall and an additional honorific in front of my name. I am now, technically, Rev. Dr. The order matters, because the Reverend of a pastor is more prestigious than the Doctor of an academic or professional degree. Herein we learn a lessona pastor should not be more respected because of a doctorate.

A pastors credibility sits upon the shoulders of their ordination, as the people of God affirm that the pastor has been called by the Spirit of God to the ministry of the Word of God. While I value education (I now have two Masters degrees and a PhD), I dont believe a pastor necessarily needs a PhD, or an MDiv, or even a BA to minister effectively. A pastor needs to love God and his Word, with a longing to shepherd and theologically shape Gods people. For example, my brother-in-law leads a church in California near my hometown. He doesnt have a degree, but he has been wonderfully fruitful in ministry, because he is a student of Scripture and a tremendous preacher, leader, and pastor.

All of that prefaces and caveats my argument that as evangelical PhD programs proliferate, we should celebrate and encourage pastors to get as much education as they can, PhDs included. Here I want to unpack this point by addressing not merely the what (the earned doctorate and Dr. honorific), but also the who, how, and why.

What is a PhD Designed to Do?

A PhD is designed to train scholars to contribute to academic discussions. Traditionally, this pointed a small number toward a trajectory of academic professorates. But this is changing. PhD programs are becoming easier to get into (we can admit that), and the number of PhD graduates vastly outnumbers the available higher academic teaching positions, especially in evangelical life. By default (and, I believe, in Gods good design) the vast majority of evangelical leaders who earn a PhD will deploy their training in the local church (or another ministry), but never as a full-time professor. Here I believe God may be salting his church with formally trained theologians to shape his church for the frontline of mission in this generation.

Who Should Get a PhD?

Qualified pastors who have the personal, financial, intellectual, ministerial and academic bandwidth to pursue a PhD should feel free to do so. And as they do, if their experience mirrors mine, they will connect to a life-giving network of new friends, mentors, and colleagues. In important ways, my PhD program kept me in ministry during a very lean and difficult season. In the week-long on-campus intensive section of each seminar, I found community and collegiality with godly, smart friends and mentors who refueled my heart for the ministry back home.

How Does a PhD Shape Those Who Pursue It?

Personally, the PhD allowed to me to stretch intellectual muscles I dont always use in the pastorate in the same way, and it shaped me to be a better, more thoughtful pastor, preacher, and church planting missionary. I went into the program knowing the chances of a full-time teaching job were slim, aware that I was most likely going to use my degree in the local church and teaching as an adjunct professor (something I started doing a decade before earning my PhD). Nevertheless, doing a PhD taught me habits of reading, writing, thinking, and, yes, even praying that will shape me for the rest of my life. This formation will, in turn, theologically shape the people I pastor for decades.

Why Should a Pastor Do (or Not Do) a PhD?

To put it spiritually (or dare I say mystically), I pursued and earned a PhD because I could not escape a longing to dive into the deep things of God, to sit and soak in a single subject, studying it in depth for months and years strung together. I started a Doctor of Ministry degree a couple of years after seminary, but my wife (who both knows me and is smarter than me) knew I would not be content. We met in my first year of seminary, and I had talked about doing a PhD from our earliest conversations. A Doctor of Ministry degree focuses on ministry practices, while the PhD focuses on academic research. She pushed back against me doing what she knew I would not ultimately be content to do. She was right. To say this another way, I felt inescapably called to get a PhD, and this sense was confirmed in a variety of ways, through the people of God and the providence of God. To say this yet another way, one which sounds less spiritual but is true nonetheless: I pursued a PhD because I really wanted to.

My PhD cost me a lot. We sold our house, we moved in with family, and five years later we just recently became homeowners again. I spent hours and days and weeks away from my wife and kids, time which I did not have to spend but chose to. My wife (and kids so far as they could understand) supported me completely, even when it was expensive and difficult. Personally, I would spend every hour and penny to do my PhD program again. I cant calculate the ways the PhD journey shaped me, the connections and doors it helped to open, or the joy it sparked as I sought after God and his Word in a community of colleagues. I cant calculate the benefit of my kids learning by example that education matters, and my kids learning that they should do hard things that cost them something, because they saw their dad do that. Without a doubt, I am a better pastor, a better missionary, and a better Christian because of my PhD program.

I know a common place of academic wisdom says that you shouldnt do a PhD unless you get a stipend, that you shouldnt give your money to a school churning out more degrees than Fahrenheit. Some argue that the multiplication of more easily earned PhDs from evangelical institutions dilutes the value of the degree. I understand these arguments. Even now, certain programs certainly provide more rigor and prestige than others, and a pastor who might pursue a PhD should consider carefully which program may provide them with the best formation for life, learning, and leading.

With all of that said, I believe the benefits of a doctorally educated evangelical pastorate outweighs the drawbacks. While not all pastors or even most pastors need a PhD, the PhD journey forms habits of reading, writing, thinking, and praying that will benefit both the pastor and the congregation for a lifetime, whether or not the degree is deployed in a traditionally academic way. The PhD journey opens up new networks of friends, mentors, and colleagues, both professionally and personally. The PhD journey humbles the pastor to learn again and more deeply how to learn and in turn how to teach and disciple the church more faithfully. Most importantly, the PhD journey, done correctly, draws the student into the depths of God, both in his eternal, ineffable triune life and in his wonderful works in the world.

In summary and on balance, I believe the increased availability and pursuit of a PhD for pastors in the evangelical world is worth celebrating, and (granting the unique circumstances of every individual and congregation) we should encourage those inclined to pursue additional formal education to do just that, up to and including a PhD.
A New Skate Park on N. Oregon Coast: Pacific City's Will Incorporate a Dory Boat

Published 02/10/21 at 5:09 PM PDT

By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff

(Pacific City, Oregon)  Pacific City will soon join a handful of Oregon coast towns with their own skate parks, as the Nestucca Valley Community Alliance (NVCA) along with Moment Surf Company and the Cape Kiwanda Longboard Classic (CKLC) will begin construction of phase one this week. The groundbreaking for the project begins February 12.

Dreamland Skateparks out of Lincoln City is spearheading the project and its design, a firm known around the nation for innovative skatepark designs. It will be simply Pacific City Skatepark. They are shooting for phase one to be completed by summer and the skate park then ready for shredding.

Features will include a brick bank, an ocean wave-like structure that allows for all kinds of new tricks, anti flat bumps and an actual Dory boat. The old Dory will be recycled and implanted into the holes, becoming another section to skate or bike in.

Pacific City Skatepark will be located close to Cape Kiwanda in what is now an overflow parking lot.

This project is the culmination of a decade long dream and fundraising effort to provide more recreational opportunities for the areas youth. NVCA said it is incredibly grateful to Moment Surf Company, Pelican Brewing, Dreamland Skateparks and everyone who has supported CKLC and the Pacific City Skatepark.

Lisa Macy-Baker has recently taken the position of NVCA board president.

Thankfully, Dreamland was available and willing to begin the skatepark project with the funds we have available now, she said. Although the skatepark is only a part of our masterplan, and we are far from fully funded, were so excited to start seeing some visible progress.

The project has raised over $20,000 in 2021 from parking donations. NVCA was also recently awarded a Tillamook County Transient Lodging Facilities Grant for $74,000 which will help to provide utilities and infrastructure to the park. The Cape Kiwanda Longboard Classic and Brewfest, usually held in August and organized by Moment Surf Company and Pelican Brewing, serves as the primary fundraiser for the skatepark that will be located at the northeast end of the community park.

NVCA is a non-profit all volunteer organization that is developing a Community Park at the Cape Kiwanda Drive location. Park plans include a skate park, playground, interpretive center, and hiking trails. Community volunteers and donations are essential to the success of this project. The mission of the NVCA is to bring education opportunities and recreation venues to the community. Visit the NVCA website at http://www.nestucca.org where you can donate and volunteer. Watch the Facebook page for more information and to keep up-to-date on future events.

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In a court filing last year, Orleans Parish Sheriff Marlin Gusman boasted that his jail was "one of the most modern and functional" in the United States, and he blasted federal monitors for trying to impose the unattainable goal of "jail utopia."

But in a new report on conditions at the lockup, the monitors detail inadequate suicide precautions, persistent violence, illegal drugs and deputy turnover, all of which call into question Gusmans assertion that he is ready to exit the sprawling reform agreement governing jail operations. In some areas, the monitors said, the jail has backslid since their last report in July, which struck a more positive note.

Indeed, another man committed suicide inside Gusman's jail in August. In a report filed Tuesday, the monitors said:

The jails short-staffed medical contractor often relies on poorly trained deputies for suicide watches

Inmates under observation often obtain supplies they could use to harm themselves

Mayor LaToya Cantrells cuts to the health contractors budget threaten to make the situation worse.

Overall, the jails current suicide prevention practices are extremely problematic and fall short of the requirements in Gusmans 2013 reform agreement with the federal government, the monitors said.

+2 Orleans Parish Sheriff Marlin Gusman to regain control of jail, but remain under oversight Orleans Parish Sheriff Marlin Gusman can have his jail back, a federal judge ruled Wednesday, but the lockup will remain under a court-mandate

While some of the regression is due to the strain put on the system by COVID, much is due to a failure to follow the policies and procedures that have been put in place, the monitors said.

'Jail utopia' elusive

In May 2020, Gusman told the judge who oversees his reform agreement with the U.S. Justice Department that he was ready to regain control of the lockup from a court-appointed compliance director, Darnley Hodge Sr.

Gusman also argued it was time to end the overall reform agreement, known as a consent decree. He complained that the experts appointed by U.S. District Judge Lance Africk to oversee the reform agreement would stop at nothing less than jail utopia. Contrary to the monitors, Gusman said, the lockup fully met the standards of the Constitution.

On Aug. 5, Gusman won a partial victory. Africk agreed to transfer control of the jail from Hodge to the sheriff. However, the sheriff tabled his larger request to terminate the consent decree.

The latest report from the monitors covers the period of April 1 to Sept. 30, when Hodge was nominally in control. But the monitors said that once it became clear Hodges days were numbered, Gusman collaborated more in the operation of the jail. Hodges formal last day was Nov. 27.

Far from jail utopia, the monitors said, the lockup failed to meet the consent decrees minimal standards. Suicide precautions emerged as one of the biggest areas of concern - even though "grossly inadequate" suicide prevention practices helped drive the creation of the consent decree in the first place.

Employees of the jails private medical contractor, Wellpath, are working overtime shifts to watch inmates at risk of harming themselves. But even with frequent use of overtime, the monitors said, Wellpath is short-staffed. One staffer often watches five or more people in harms way, a ratio the report calls insufficient and dangerous.

Due to a lack of space, the jail often places incarcerated people in cells that aren't designed to eliminate suicide hazards, the report said.

Meanwhile, deputies are tapped to provide as much as 30% of suicide watch shifts, according to the report. Monitors who toured the jail, said deputies routinely stated that they did not understand what their duties were.

The jails larger contraband problems filter down to the cells where inmates are supposed to be under closest observation, the monitors said. Incarcerated people on suicide watch managed to obtain blankets, pens, clothing, chemicals and medications that they could use to harm themselves.

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+5 In terse order, New Orleans judge rejects city bid to suspend jail building construction Saying he was tired of waiting for officials to begin building, a federal judge rejected New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrells bid to halt const

That risk was underlined by the Aug. 18 death of Robert Rettman inside the jail, two days after his arrest. Orleans Parish Coroner Dwight McKenna on Wednesday ruled Rettmans death a suicide caused by asphyxia due to hanging. Rettman had traces of drugs including fentanyl, clonazepam, buprenorphine, chlordiazepoxide and phenobarbital in his system at the time of his death, according to a toxicology report.

Rettmans was one of three deaths at the lockup last year. Another man died of an overdose, and a third died of natural causes, according to the coroner.

Under the consent decree, the jail is required to review its mistakes after inmate deaths or suicide attempts. But the monitors said those reviews are often perfunctory.

Two recent suicide attempts prompted no review at all, which jail officials said was an "oversight." The monitors said that "for patients attempting self-harm, morbidity reviews are insincere and defensive, without self-critical analysis. These reviews are remarkably complacent."

Gusmans office didnt respond to a request for comment Wednesday on how it will improve suicide precautions.

City contract scrutinized

Separately, the monitors also raised alarms about New Orleans' latest contract with the jails private health provider, the Tennessee-based company Wellpath.

Gusman and former Mayor Mitch Landrieu fought over who had the authority to ink the contract, with Landrieu ultimately winning that legal battle.

Last spring, Cantrells administration renegotiated the contract. The amended contract, which took effect May 1, reduced spending on an annual basis from $17.8 million to $15.6 million, said William Kissel, a senior regional vice-president for the company. The savings came from a reduced number of mental health professionals, said Kissel, who testified at a court hearing in October.

The Cantrell administration said it sought the smaller contract because of the declining inmate population during the coronavirus pandemic. However, the larger decrease hasn't translated into a decline in the jail's mental health caseload. Dr. Jeffrey Rouse, who treats patients at the jail, testified in an October consent decree hearing that after an initial drop in March and April, the number of his incarcerated patients taking psychiatric medications surpassed the pre-pandemic total.

The monitors zeroed in on the new contract as a cause for concern. They said they worried that budgetary cuts in staffing will exacerbate the current serious problems with recruitment and retention of nursing staff at all levels, particularly when it has been so difficult to provide timely services with current staff.

The Wellpath contract was set to expire at the end of January, Kissel said. Cantrell spokesman Beau Tidwell said City Hall is preparing to put the contract out to bid.

Current staffing is a result of Wellpaths proposed staffing plan, which their experts believed was sufficient to meet consent decree requirements at the time proposed, Tidwell said. The city is actively working to issue a request for proposals for medical and mental healthcare services at OPSO. As we work to accomplish that, we are coordinating with Wellpath to continue providing services consistent with consent decree requirements."

John Kerry, President Joe Biden's new climate czar, took a private jet to accept an environmental award in Iceland in 2019. "It's the only choice for somebody like me, who is traveling the world to win this battle," he unironically told a reporter when asked about it.

Over time at the Philadelphia shop City Planter, between being wedged in an indoor jungle and shuffled around amid inventory shipments, some foliage would fall to the wayside and start down the precipitous path of neglect.

Usually we try to rehab them because I think a lot of plant people are hoarders, so we cant throw things away, said Sue White, who owns the Northern Liberties-based business with her husband, Peter Smith. So we were amassing this collection. (Along with dinged-up pots and cuttings propagating in various glassware.)

With this growing pile of stuff during the COVID-19 pandemic  also a year of racial and social reckoning  Smith and White started the Garage, an online yard sale of sorts, to sell steeply discounted plants in need of TLC and well-worn or blemished pots.

And City Planter, taking inspiration from other city businesses, has donated all the proceeds to regional organizations.

Historically, when there is a global crisis, usually what happens is there is a little bit of a downturn when it comes to large checks, said David Semerad, cofounder of Kindest, which specializes in online fund-raising for nonprofits. When it comes to individuals and the amount of people who care about whats going on in the world, it actually goes up by a lot.

The average personal donation was about $608 in 2020, with the amount of charity increasing nationally by 25% in the last holiday season compared with 2019, according to a report Kindest shared. Pennsylvanians gave an average of $489 last year, up from $420 in 2019. In New Jersey and New York, the averages were a respective $337 and $439 in 2020. Kindest scrutinized the weekly spending of 900,000 Americans based on releases from consumer finance apps, and matched it to more than 150 charitable groups.

Recipients of the Garages proceeds have so far included West Philadelphias Mill Creek Urban Farm and the Lenape Nation of Pennsylvania, an Easton, Pa.-based nonprofit. The latter provides education about the Lenape Nation, which historically lived in the Mid-Atlantic  a broad geographical swath that extends from New York and covers present-day Philadelphia and its suburbs. European colonizers illegally and violently seized the land from the Lenape in the 18th century and forced its tribes to migrate west.

Caring for plants and caring about your community are really similar, White said. It takes a certain kind of person to take on plant care as a career, and that kind of empathy extends to the community, as well.

As of late January, City Planter, which publicly posts receipts from the Garage donations, had donated $631 to the Lenape Nation of Pennsylvania and $1,083 to Mill Creek Urban Farm, which is run by people of color.

The cuttings sell for a few dollars each. White said the Garage was also motivated by the popularity of plant purges from houseplant hobbyists on social media. Occasionally, theyll sell for $20, $25, and there will be some really good finds. So its like a regular garage sale. Sometimes you find a treasure.

About two miles away from City Planter, the tattoo studio and graphic design company True Hand Society created a line of merchandise emblazoned with Leave Philly Alone early in the pandemic and donated $10 from the sale of each T-shirt, sweater, pin, or flag. Customers chose where to send the donation from a list of more than 75 local recipients that included the ACLU of Pennsylvania, Fishtails Animal Rescue, Sang Kee Peking Duck House, and Women Against Abuse. By the end of 2020, it placed greater focus on giving to Black-owned businesses.

It came up as a way to promote shelter in place and social distancing, said Mike Ski, the owner of True Hand. And we just thought it was kind of funny because it sounded like Philly attitude, and that was really the gist of it. And like I said, we kind of, like, relinquished our intent to the degree that it remains positive, but allowed people to find their own meaning in it.

As of last month, Leave Philly Alone had raised $90,000. Its ... bananas, Ski said.

The whole thing was premised on a sense of urgency, he said, adding that True Hand allows donation recipients to use the money as they like, which often goes toward paying the bills and staff. We lost a lot of our regular business, so we decided to keep busy and do this.
Round Two: Ice Storm Warning Until 6PM

By National Weather Service

PADUCAH - The National Weather Service in Paducah continues with an ice storm warning that includes western Kentucky and extreme southern Illinois until 6 pm today.More freezing rain, sleet and snow has been falling overnight. Total ice accumulations of two tenths to almost a half inch is possible, with the highest amounts along the southern portions of western Kentucky in the Pennyrile and Jackson Purchase areas.Most of the precipitation will end Thursday morning, but colder temperatures will keep surfaces frozen long after precipitation ends.Increasing winds will add even more bitter wind chills today.While ice accumulations are expected to be higher over parts of western Kentucky, the southern tip of Illinois, and the Delta region of southeast Missouri, dangerous road conditions are anticipated across the entire quad state.Travel is still hazardous at this time. If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency. Prepare for possible power outages. Monitor the latest forecasts for updates.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.
ALBANY  Assembly Republicans continued to press for an investigation into the state's COVID-19 policies in nursing homes in a Thursday morning press conference, highlighting their efforts to peel off Democratic committee votes to issue subpoenas to the Department of Health.

People like to talk the talk about getting accountability and answers, and its time now to walk the walk," said Assemblyman Kevin Byrne, a Brewster Republican. "The Legislature is a co-equal branch of government and we should start acting like it.

The Republicans participating in the event decried their Democratic colleagues and Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, who have described the outcry for nursing home subpoenas as a political gambit to attack the majority party. They said that a closed-door briefing held by Cuomo earlier in the week to provide information about COVID-19 in nursing homes was not enough to answer all of their questions, and because it was only attended by Democrats, it raised the specter of politicizing the issue for Democrats, rather than Republicans.

It seems like theyre circling the wagons and trying to get their stories straight about how theyre going to react to this," said Assembly Minority Leader William Barclay.

Assemblyman John McDonald, a Cohoes pharmacist and chair of his chamber's investigations committee, attended the closed-door meeting.

To me it was a meeting long overdue," he said, emphasizing that he did not want to defend the delay in the information being shared with the Legislature.

"Theres a breakdown in the accuracy of the information, and I will say this, that component I find to be legitimate," McDonald said, adding that tracking people who move from different types of facilities, such as from nursing home to hospitals, can be particularly complex in New York. "As one of the few who is actually a practitioner, I actually understand the difficulties they had at getting to an accurate number."

He said he didn't support hearings being held right now, when the DOH is still collecting information and when the likelihood is at its highest of them being used as a "political witch hunt."

As the process evolves, I am very open to having a hearing. I think its something that we should be having. I also think that its something we should have with all the information," he said.

The crux of the issue is an executive order from Cuomo last March directing that nursing homes must allow COVID-19 infected residents to return to the facilities if they had the ability to do so safely, which he has contended was consistent with federal regulations. Coronavirus then spread through the nursing homes, "like fire through dry grass," in Cuomo's memorable words. The state health department, led by Commissioner Howard Zucker, estimated throughout the pandemic that the ratio of nursing home fatalities in New York was low compared to other states. But those statements took place at a time when the state was not including the deaths of those who contracted the virus in nursing homes and were transferred to hospitals, where they died.

Outside groups and politicians from both political parties demanded a full accounting of the nursing home deaths, and Cuomo didn't provide it for months. Attorney General Letitia James released a report last month finding the governor's administration had undercounted deaths by as much as half. Zucker, after five months of declining to release data on nursing home fatalities, subsequently released the data confirming the attorney general's estimates.

Last week, Assembly Republicans circulated letters in three committees soliciting votes from Democrats to issue subpoenas to Zucker and the health department. If a majority of members in any of the committees agree, they can hold hearings without the approval of the leadership-backed committee chairs.

But Democrats in the Legislature have been reluctant to step forward and join the calls for an investigation.

The GOP assemblymembers were joined on Thursday's conference call by New Yorkers who have had loved ones pass away in nursing homes throughout the pandemic. They equated Cuomo's strict policies against visitation in the nursing homes to his policies for stemming the spread of COVID-19, saying that the emotional toll on their elderly loved ones without having in-person family visitations have also contributed to their deaths.

Vivian Zayas said her grandmother was a lifelong Democrat who had likely voted for Cuomo.

"I stated my mother was a Democrat not as a ploy but as a reminder that Democrat families were also impacted and demand answers for the pain we must presently endure," she said.

Gelsey Randazzo said her grandmother died at Edna Tina Wilson Living Center in Greece, Monroe County. She passed away in December, Randazzo said, after her family was unable to visit her for months. She had stopped eating and drinking. While the death certificate said natural causes, Randazzo and her family feel the true cause was "failure to thrive."

Why cant staff have rapid testing just as theres rapid testing going on at sporting events? You know staff are still reporting to work when theyre sick because theyre shorthanded. Theres so many things that need to be changed and weve been asking for change now for months and were a year in," Randazzo said. "To see everything open up, but the fact that families dont have access to their loved ones in their final season of life is just disturbing on every level to me.
Arusha  Two new judges, including a Tanzanian, have been elected to join the bench at the African Court on Human and People's Rights (AfCHPR).

Their election took place during the Summit of African Union (AU) Heads of State which took place at the weekend.

The virtual summit that brought together continental leaders saw the re-election of Lady Justice Imani Daud Aboud from Tanzania to the bench.

She alongside Justice Rafaa Ben Achour from Tunisia, who was also re-elected, will serve for their second and final term of six years.

The newly-elected are Justice Dumisa Buhle Ntsebeza from South Africa and Justice Sacko Modibo from Mali.

A statement issued by the Arusha-based Court said the re-elected judges will be sworn in June this year during its 61st Ordinary session.

AfCHPR, a judicial organ of the AU, is composed of eleven judges, nationals of AU member States.

They are elected in their individual capacity.

The Court meets four times a year in ordinary sessions and may hold extra-ordinary sessions when the need arises.

Justice Ore said the re-election of the serving judges and those elected at the weekend were enough indicators of their capability to serve the bench.

"The Court is fully convinced of their deep commitment to human rights and to further strengthen protection of human rights in Africa," he said.

The latter justices will replace Justice Sylvain Ore from Cote d'Ivoire who is the current President of the Court and Justice Angelo Vasco Matusse from Mozambique.
In todays edition of the Morning newsletter, David Leonhardt writes:

The number of new coronavirus cases continues to plummet, as does the number of Americans hospitalized with symptoms. Deaths have also begun to decline. And the number of daily vaccination shots has nearly tripled over the last month.

Its been a long time since the virus news was as encouraging as it is right now.

The overall situation is still bad. The virus is spreading more rapidly in the U.S. than in almost any other large country, and more than 2,500 Americans are dying daily. Newly contagious variants may create future outbreaks. For now, though, things are getting better  and a combination of vaccinations, mask wearing and social distancing has the potential to sustain the recent progress.

Here is The Mornings latest virus report card, with help from five charts  and with an emphasis on what will shape the next few weeks.
The boss of toll road giant Transurban has warned that employers will lose talented staff if they refuse to maintain some flexible working conditions after the pandemic passes.

Traffic on Transurbans toll roads in Sydney and Brisbane have already bounced back to pre-pandemic levels, while Melbournes CityLink was this week down only 16 per cent despite private sector offices being limited to 50 per cent capacity and compulsory mask wearing in workplaces.

Transurban boss Scott Charlton expects traffic on his roads (which include Sydneys West Connex, pictured) to exceed pre-COVID levels in the next six months. Credit:Steven Siewert

Chief executive Scott Charlton said on Thursday that traffic was set to exceed pre-pandemic levels within the next six months as more commuters opt to drive to work rather than take public transport because of coronavirus fears.

He said governments and businesses offering workers flexible hours and the ability to work from home would not only ease the peak hour crush, but would be necessary to attract staff who faced spending even more of their lives in gridlock.
A former deputy chief medical officer has rejected calls for coronavirus vaccines to be made mandatory for healthcare workers, saying it is better to convince hospital and aged care staff to get the jab voluntarily.

Nick Coatsworth, who became one of the faces of the federal coronavirus response with daily televised briefings at the height of the pandemic and retains an advisory role with the government, said Australia had historically been good at vaccinating is population.

Former deputy chief medical officer Nick Coatsworth wants Australia to prioritise voluntary vaccines. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

Flu vaccines are required for most aged care and hospital workers under state public health orders introduced early in the pandemic and Prime Minister Scott Morrison has flagged public health authorities would consider similar measures for coronavirus vaccines.

Its not mandatory to work in an occupation, but it can be a requirement of an occupation for public health reasons that certain vaccinations are in place, the Prime Minister said at a press conference in Canberra last month.
Russia and Iran are taking every opportunity to increase their influence in Syria. They recently urged private security companies to open offices across Syria, offering young men large amounts of money to work for them amid deteriorating economic conditions and a lack of job opportunities in the Syrian regime-controlled areas.

The Syrian government had stopped issuing licenses to private security companies when the civil war broke out in 2011, but resumed the authorizations in 2013.

There are over 70 private security companies registered in Syria. These companies provide protection to wealthy individuals and supporters of the Syria regime. They also offer protective services facilities and factories, accompanying convoys and large transfers of cash.

Since 2013 they have expanded the scope of their activities and formed relationships with Russian or Iranian groups. They accompanied high-ranking military leaders or guarded premises for the Russian forces, including oil facilities in Qamishli, Hasakah and Deir ez-Zor. Others protected the Iranian convoys arriving in Syria for religious purposes and even fought alongside Iranian and Russian forces.

The main companies working for the Russian forces include Al-Maham, which is owned by the Qatirji Company which imports oil from the areas controlled by the Syrian Democratic Forces.

Another is the Damascus-based Sanad Guard and Security Services. The company, which has ties to the Russian forces, provides guarding services to oil facilities directly controlled by Russia, like al-Tim and al-Ward and al-Shoula oil fields in Deir ez-Zor.

Al-Sayad Company works with Russian forces to pursue Islamic State cells in the Syrian desert.

Members of the Russian Wagner Group positioned at the Deir ez-Zor military airport oversee training for private security companies affiliated with Russia.

An employee at the Sanad Guard and Security Services told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity, [Private security] offices in Homs proposed that we work for the Russian forces in guarding oil facilities in Hasakah and Qamishli in exchange for $300 per month. The recruit would receive a prepayment of six months before starting, including a 10-day leave every two months. Upon renewal of the contract, the pay is raised to $400 per month. Another option is for the recruit to work in Deir ez-Zor or Idlib in exchange for a monthly salary of $200, with a 10-day leave each month.

He added, The lack of job opportunities and deteriorating living situation in the areas under the control of the Syrian regime forces have pushed many youths to work with the Russian forces, who offer a high monthly salary. They also protect the recruit from conscription by the regimes security branches and grant him more opportunities than those offered by the Syrian army and intelligence.

Another, Al-Qalaa Company, works with Iranian forces is active in al-Bukamal city under the Iranian forces control in Deir ez-Zor governorate and accompanies the convoys of Iranian and Iraqi pilgrims entering Syria. Former officers in the Syrian army and intelligence manage the company under the supervision of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Al-Fajr Company protects oil convoys moving between Iraq and the oil refineries in Homs and Baniass from IS attacks in the Syrian desert.

Political writer and analyst Hassan al-Naifi told Al-Monitor, The conflict of interest between Russia and Iran is no longer concealed as it had been in the past. The [division] of the Syrian territory has prompted each international party to seek the necessary tools to protect its own interests. Iranians managed, before the Russians, to recruit a large number of Syrian youths by appealing to religious affiliations and by offering money. Thus, [Iranians] now have local militias in south Syria as well as in al-Bukamal and al-Mayadin [in east Syria], namely the Abu al-Fadl al-Abbas Brigade and the Fatemiyoun Brigade.

He added, Russians took similar steps, just like Iranians, in Deir ez-Zor and areas controlled by the regime in the east of Syria. They [recruited youth] by offering money and authority. [Russia and Iran] may be seeking to form local militias that would implement their own agendas and plans and use them as pawns in their proxy wars.
Paris, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th Feb, 2021 ) :The arthritis drug tocilizumab reduces the risk of critically ill patients dying of Covid-19, according to results of a study on Thursday which experts welcomed as an "exciting" development.

The Britain-based RECOVERY research programme investigating Covid-19 treatments said their findings could have a significant effect on hospital survival rates during the pandemic.

The study included more than 2,000 patients who received the drug intravenously compared with nearly 3,000 who were given normal care alone, such as oxygen support and ventilation.

More than 80 percent of all the patients were also receiving steroid treatments such as dexamethasone, which had been shown in earlier trials to lower the risk of death.

The team behind Thursday's trial said tocilizumab "significantly" reduced morality.

Of the patients that received the drug, 596 (29 percent) died within 28 days. This compared to 394 (33 percent) of patients who died in the control group.

"So that's a reduction in the risk of death of around about a sixth or a seventh," said Martin Landray, Professor of Medicine and Epidemiology at Oxford University's Nuffield Department of Population Health.

"Mortality is important, but there are other things that matter, too, like the chance of getting out of hospital early," Landray told reporters.

Data showed that treating patients requiring oxygen and suffering from significant inflammation with tocilizumab and dexamethasone reduced mortality by around one third.

Patients on ventilators were found to have a roughly 50 percent lower risk of death when treated with the drug duo.

And, of those patients not on invasive ventilation when entering the trial, tocilizumab was shown to reduce the chance of them progressing to need a ventilator from 38 percent to 33 percent.

"There was very strong evidence that by giving them tocilizumab, we could increase the chance of somebody being discharged alive, within the first month," said Landray.
Mamata Banerjee thinks she is a tiger, but she is a cat: Dilip Ghosh's fresh attack on West Bengal CM

India

oi-Ajay Joseph Raj P

Kolkata, Feb 11: West Bengal BJP chief Dilip Ghosh slammed State Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, saying "she considers herself a tiger but her situation is that of a cat". Ghosh's attack comes amidst a heated atmosphere in the state in the wake of the Assembly elections, due in April-May later this year.

"She considers herself a Royal Bengal Tiger. Real tigers don't call themselves tiger. Now her situation is that of a cat. Even her party members and administrative officers don't fear her," Ghosh said.

Redevelopment of New Delhi railway station taken up on Public-Private Partnership to cost Rs 5,000 crore

His remarks come a day after Mamata Banerjee launched a blistering attack at the BJP, saying that she is not a weak person who can be intimidated by the saffron party. The Trinamool Congress supremo further said that she will live like a Royal Bengal Tiger till the time she is alive.

"There is no reason to think I am weak, I am not a person to be afraid of anything. I am a strong person and will keep my head high as long as I live and till then I will live like a Royal Bengal Tiger," Banerjee said.

"The BJP seems to be a washing machine, those having dirty hands emerge clean after joining it," she said, mounting her attack on TMC defectors.

Amit Shah to flag-off Phase 4 of 'Poribortan Yatra' today.

How Kerala is setting up to prompt reporting of vacancies to PSC

Meanwhile, Union Home Minister and former BJP president Amit Shah will visit the state to flag-off the fourth phase of 'Poribortan Yatra' from Cooch Behar and participate in various programmes today.

Farm Laws: What did PM Modi say on the agricultural laws in the Parliament| Oneindia News

"Shah will visit the historic Shri Madan Mohan Temple and offer prayers. After the temple visit, he will flag-off the fourth phase of 'Poribortan Yatra' from Rash Mela ground in Cooch Behar," BJP Rajya Sabha member and media in-charge Anil Baluni said.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Thursday, February 11, 2021, 9:55 [IST]
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Kids want to fish? You don't know how yourself? Here's a little help

AMP, headquartered just outside of Indianapolis, Indiana, will join forces with Apex as it expands its reach in the Midwest. AMP has provided diagnostic medical physics services to health care providers in its home market and across the country for more than nineteen years.

"When Roy Heltzel from KGHP reached out to me a few years back to introduce me to Michael [Curry], I could sense that the direction he and Keith were taking Apex was the right direction for medical physics, and I wanted to be involved. Sometimes, timing is everything. We continued to stay in touch and, when the stars aligned, we partnered," says Will Breeden, DABR, founder and president of AMP. "I see a lot of opportunity for growth at AMP, and I am excited to work with the Apex Support Group to help manage some of the administrative aspects of the business so that I can focus on expansion and client service. I am also looking forward to working alongside my fellow practice group leaders to bring more quality physics and radiation safety to more communities."

"Will is a well-respected physicist with an exemplary work ethic. He has a clear vision for his practice and has thoughtful ideas about the direction of Apex as a whole. I am looking forward to supporting him and AMP in its next chapter," says Michael Curry, CEO of APP.

"At Apex, we refer to ourselves as one nation made up of many tribes. AMP's addition to Apex is a welcome addition to the nation. Will has a growth mindset and is not anchored to the way things used to be done. He is a leader that we are proud to work with," says Keith Burns, President of APP. "By partnering with AMP, Apex continues to execute on our model of pairing high-quality local physics practices with dedicated world-class business support services. We have strong conviction that this combination delivers the most value to clients and creates the best environment for physicists to thrive."

The addition of Advanced Medical Physics brings the rapidly growing Apex Physics Partners team to 111 members (up from 16 in 2014). APP practices now serve more than 3,200 clients throughout the mid-Atlantic, Midwest, and South, supporting many of the best-regarded health systems, imaging networks, cancer treatment facilities, private practices, and research facilities in the country.

About Apex Physics Partners

Apex Physics Partners (www.apexphysicspartners.com) is a medical physics business services support organization. Through the Apex Physics Support Group, partner physics practices receive an array of support services including client services, accounting/finance, sales, marketing, human resources, recruiting, information technology, data analytics, vendor management, legal, and insurance.

Advanced Medical Physics

Advanced Medical Physics (www.amphysics.com) is a full-service medical physics consulting company specializing in providing diagnostic radiological physics, nuclear medicine physics, and radiation safety, with specialized expertise in all imaging modalities to hospitals and diagnostic imaging centers throughout the Midwest.

Michael Curry

Apex Physics Partners, CEO

(410) 339-5447 x128

[email protected]

SOURCE Apex Physics Partners

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Two camps in Ethiopia's Tigray region housing Eritrean refugees have been shut and the occupants relocated, authorities said on Thursday, after the United Nations said residents had reported attacks, including by suspected Eritrean troops.

The UNHCR refugee agency has called for protection for the residents of the Shimelba and Hitsats camps, which it says were attacked by armed men who killed and abducted refugees. On Feb. 1, it said residents had reported that Eritrean troops had forced some refugees back into Eritrea.

Accusations of an Eritrean military presence are one of the most contentious issues in Tigray, where the central government has claimed victory over a rebellious regional government in a conflict that began in November.

Eritrea and Ethiopia have both denied that Eritrean troops operated on Ethiopian territory. The ousted Tigrayan regional authorities and many residents accuse Eritrea of intervening on the central government's behalf.

Tesfahun Gobezay, director general of Ethiopia's Agency for Refugees and Returnees Affairs (ARRA), confirmed the camp closures, first reported by the state news agency on Wednesday.

The state-appointed human rights commission reported on Thursday that Shimelba and Hitsats had been "destroyed". Tesfahun told Reuters that description was an "overstatement".

"There was a lot of fighting in those areas, not in the camps but in those areas where the camps are located," he said.

"Refugees didn't get the necessary services quickly and also they panicked due to the firing happening around the camps. So they left the camps, and Ethiopian defence forces sheltered them and escorted them to the nearest towns of Tigray," he said.

He said 5,300 refugees had gone to two other refugee camps in Tigray. Others were now in Tigray towns or the capital Addis Ababa.

Chris Melzer, a UNHCR spokesman, said the agency concurred with the conclusion that the camps were now unsafe, "considering the reports of attacks on Hitsats and Shimelba, the reports of abductions, destruction, looting, and killing of humanitarian staff". Decisions to relocate must be voluntary and movements must be organised in safety and dignity, he said.

CAMPS UNREACHABLE

Aid agencies say they have been unable to reach the camps since the conflict erupted in Tigray. Reports from all sides are difficult to verify because communications to the region remain patchy and the government tightly controls access.

The United Nations said on Feb. 1. that refugees who had fled from the two camps spoke of "infiltration of armed actors in the camps, of killings, abductions and also some forced returns to Eritrea at the hands of Eritrean forces".

In December, a United Nations team was shot at when it tried to reach the Shimelba camp. Two diplomatic sources told Reuters the U.N. team had encountered uniformed troops from Eritrea.

The Ethiopian government's emergency task force for Tigray did not immediately respond to questions about the camps, while the prime minister's office referred Reuters to ARRA.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed launched a military campaign in Tigray to remove the region's then-ruling Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), after the government said regional forces attacked federal troops. Abiy has declared victory, but low level fighting has continued in some areas.

Protests broke out in the regional capital Mekelle on Tuesday and continued on Wednesday, with residents blocking roads, protesting against reported killings by Eritrean troops and the failure of elders to stop the war. One person was shot dead after soldiers opened fire on protesters, according to residents and an aid worker.

Eteneshe Nigusse, spokeswoman for a government-appointed interim administration in Tigray, said she needed to check casualty reports with security. She told Reuters "the presence of the Eritrean army in Tigray" was a major issue raised at a meeting of religious leaders, elders and the public on Tuesday.

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Posted Thursday, February 11, 2021 7:47 am

Joseph Wolf was 16 when he was first placed in solitary confinement. It was not punishment. Instead, he said prison staff hoped to protect him from others, he said.

His longest consecutive period in isolation was nine months, according to his testimony before a committee of state senators Tuesday. He believes that time "severely impacted" his ability to understand the world around him and directly led to his suicide attempt after his release from prison.

"Almost a decade later, that long-term isolation embedded hopelessness," Wolf said. "We don't want to encourage hopelessness in the people we return to our communities."

A proposed bill would change how prisoners experience solitary confinement in Washington by putting a maximum limit on the length they could be isolated. It's indefinite now, but under the new legislation the maximum would be 15 days.

That period lines up with the United Nations' Nelson Mandela Rules, which lay out the minimum expectations for treatment of prisoners. Those rules prohibit prolonged solitary confinement, defined as 15 days or longer in confinement that involves 22 hours or more per day without "meaningful human contact."

The bill follows a year during which COVID created long extensions in solitary confinement for some state prisoners.

Jonothan Delay was only supposed to be in solitary confinement for 30 days after he was suspected of sneaking drugs into Airway Heights Corrections Center. When 30 days stretched into seven months, he led a demonstration in the Intensive Management Unit Jan. 11, he said over the phone from Washington State Penitentiary Wednesday.

By Jan. 11, more than 70% of the prisoners at Airway Heights had tested positive for COVID at the time of the demonstration. Now, 92% have tested positive.

As staffing in the kitchen reduced with the prison's growing COVID outbreak, Delay said men in solitary confinement saw their hot meals reduce to daily bologna sandwiches, before those were reduced to hummus sandwiches that often came late and barely filled Delay's belly, he said.

In protest after waiting for another late meal, he and 15 other prisoners clogged their toilets to flood the floor. Corrections officers responded by shutting off the water and pepper spraying them, he said. With no running water to rinse off the spray, the prisoners then waited 18 hours to be allowed out of their cells to shower, according to his account.

Delay said he doesn't know if 15 days is a reasonable cap for prison staff to work through the process of investigating and hearing an infraction, but he said many situations that lead to solitary confinement don't require it.

"The intent of this bill  the agency is really not opposed," said Washington Department of Corrections Secretary Steve Sinclair, head of the agency, at the Tuesday hearing.

As proposed, Sinclair said the legislation creates a significant expense. The agency would've preferred, he said, for legislators to bring ideas to the DOC before moving ahead with such a bill, though others said the department had plenty of opportunity to put forth ideas.

Rachel Seevers, an attorney with Disability Rights Washington, testified that her organization's legislative workgroup presented the bill to the Department of Corrections last year and didn't receive suggestions in response. She called the agency a "system that relies on outside agitation to move forward."

Sinclair said his agency has been working to reform some "restrictive policies" for a decade and has made "significant gains," though the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 threw a wrench in some efforts. He also pointed out that solitary confinement is useful for prisoners who try to escape.

"I'm not defending maximum custody as the way to go. I'm a strong believer we have to change," Sinclair said. "As much I appreciate the legislature's interest in this, it's a little late to the party because this has been a pretty big effort."

Sen. Claire Wilson, a sponsor of the new bill, introduced legislation in 2020 that strictly reduced solitary confinement for juveniles. Wilson said legislators are not coming out of nowhere and haven't received proposed ideas for legislation from the DOC.

"If you put nothing out, you don't have that conversation," Wilson said. "Sans waiting for something to come, oftentimes this is the way to move forward."

Joanna Carns, director of the state's Office of the Corrections Ombuds, said though people often think of solitary confinement as a disciplinary measure, it's actually often used for situations when prison staff "essentially doesn't know what to do with a person." At that point, administrative issues can lead to extensions and then more extensions, as prisoners end up isolated for months longer than originally intended.

Professor David Cloud said he supported the bill based on nearly a decade of work as a research director at Amend, a University of San Francisco program that conducts research and provides training related to changing correctional culture.

"There's overwhelming scientific evidence that solitary confinement is a brutal practice," Cloud said. "It continues to haunt and traumatize people after incarceration."

At the hearing, former prisoners described remembering every crack in the walls of their cell, losing sense of reality, suicidal feelings, and, once released from prison, feeling alien in tasks as small as opening doors.

Richard Carmichael, now 62 and released from prison 18 months ago, lived in solitary confinement for 25 years, he testified. Despite his last three years in prison outside of solitary confinement and the last 18 months as a free man, he said he hasn't recovered. Things that used to be easy are daily or hourly challenges, he said.

"I'm barely able to function out here. I can't even begin to tell you how much harm it causes and it never goes away," he said. "I'm confused a lot, I'm not able to comprehend things very well, I don't want to be around people, I isolate myself still to this day."

He said he has "no conversation" to offer. While other people his age have a lifetime of experiences, close to half of his existence was "completely blank."

Eleven state senators are sponsoring the bill. All are Democrats from the west side of the state.

___

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At the end of 2020 the UAE (United Arab Emirates) ordered two Swedish more GlobalEye AEW (airborne early warning)/ELINT (Electronic Intelligence) aircraft for about $500 million each. These are built by Saab and consists of a Bombardier 6000 business jet carrying a Swedish Erieye long range radar in addition to an assortment of electronic monitoring systems. The UAE already has four GlobalEyes and always indicated a need for more to deal with the growing threat from Iran. The UAE also backs a wider program to link ground and air-based surveillance radars of GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) states (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE) into a cooperative surveillance network that would provide all GCC members with better information on that is going on in the skies over their nations and the Persian Gulf in general. The recent recognition of Israel by the UAE makes possible the incorporation of Israeli data into GCC system,

The UAE ordered their first two Saab AEW aircraft in 2009 and then the new version of Globaleye systems in 2015. Globaleye was still in development when the UAE placed its first order. Given the history of reliability Saab had earned, it seemed a good idea to be first in line. Globaleye completed development and testing in 2019 and the UAE received the first one in April 2020.

Globaleye uses the upgraded Erieye ER radar which can detect aircraft over 400 kilometers distant. Another new feature is the ability to detect ballistic missile launches as well. The first two UAE Erieye systems were carried in the 13-ton Saab 340 airliner, which had a cruising speed of 290 kilometers an hour and was able to stay in the air about five hours per sortie. The later UAE orders carry Erieye/Globaleye in a Canadian Bombardier Global 6000m which is a 45-ton business jet that normally carrier 13 passengers plus a crew of two. The AEW version can carry a payload of 2.6 tons which is sufficient to cover a maritime search radar, the Erieye AEW radar and other electronic sensors

Globaleye includes a maritime search radar as well as upgraded AEW radar. Since a combined AEW maritime search system is heavier and needs more space, as well as operating farther from land, Globaleye is carried in the larger Global 6000 aircraft which has a cruising speed of 900 kilometers an hour and endurance of about ten hours. Like the basic Erieye system, Globaleye can be carried in any number of similar twin-engine jet or turboprop aircraft.

The Erieye system is built around an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar which consists of thousands of tiny radars that can be independently aimed in different directions. This is similar to the AESA radar used on the American JSTARS aircraft, a system that could locate vehicles moving on the ground. The Swedish AESA is cheaper because it's built like a long bar, mounted on top of the aircraft. This means the radar can only see, in a 120-degree arc, off both sides of the aircraft. A 60-degree arc in the front and back is uncovered. The Erieye ER radar can spot large aircraft out to nearly 500 kilometers, and more common fighter-sized aircraft at about 400 kilometers.

The UAE uses these aircraft to manage air campaigns, including the one underway in Yemen since March 2015. The primary use for UAE AEW aircraft is to deter an attack by Iran.
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A Manitoba senator, who is also a residential school survivor, says the federal governments 2008 apology for the harmful legacy of residential schools doesn't go far enough.

A Manitoba senator, who is also a residential school survivor, says the federal governments 2008 apology for the harmful legacy of residential schools doesn't go far enough.

Sen. Mary Jane McCallum wants the red chamber to take its own step toward reconciliation, beginning with a motion that acknowledges the harmful and racist legacy of residential schools, in the wake of Ontario senator Lynn Beyaks resignation last month.

Beyak quit after years of being criticized for describing residential schools in a positive way, posting racist letters to her taxpayer-funded website and making other racist comments. She departed just as McCallum was preparing a motion to have her permanently expelled from the Senate.

"I knew that just removing those offensive letters, those letters of hate from (Beyak's) website would not deal with the overarching issues that she brought forward; the human rights issues, the self-determination, the racial profiling of Indigenous people," McCallum said during a news conference with Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Grand Chief Arlen Dumas on Wednesday.

McCallum tabled a new motion in the Senate on Monday that asks it to acknowledge racism as a "cornerstone" and rampant element of the residential school system and "apologize unreservedly" for the adverse and malevolent effects of that system on Canadas Indigenous peoples.

"This is a unique way to do this because its Indigenous-led by the Senate, but much more important, it's Indigenous-led and came to me... from grassroots leadership and Im doing this on their behalf," McCallum said.

"Its the first motion, its acknowledgement, its understanding."

The senator, from Barren Lands First Nations in Manitoba's far north, said the Senate was too slow to sanction Beyak for her comments, and the call for a Senate apology is a first step towards challenging systemic racism in Canadas upper chamber.

"The prime minister apologized and that was not a true apology because two years later he said there was no colonization, no racism in Canada," McCallum said of Stephen Harper's 2008 apology in the House of Commons.

"It was never enough. I never accepted it."

McCallum said she wants the Senate to take "concrete steps" to address racism within the institution following its apology.

"It leads the charge. If (the) Senate practises it, so will policing, so will the institute of policing, so will the institute of health and it goes (on)."

She plans to table motions about the need to give credit to Indigenous knowledge, the dispossession of Indigenous land, and on violence towards Indigenous women and girls.

julia-simone.rutgers@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @jsrutgers

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The Oklahoma woman who was on the phone with her husband when he fatally shot the couples two teenage daughters and told her How do you like that? before turning the gun on himself on Tuesday has been identified.

Teresa Kaser and her husband, David Kaser, both 56, had been married for more than 30 years and had six children together.

According to police in Sand Springs, Oklahoma, the couple was in the midst of bitter marital strife when David fatally shot his two daughters - Clarissa Kaser, 19, and Crystal 'Grey' Kaser, 14, on Tuesday afternoon.

Police said that David was physically disabled, jobless, and confined to the home where he stayed with his daughters at the time of the tragedy, according to KTUL-TV.

According to Facebook and LinkedIn, Teresa and David once ran a vending machine business from their home, though that business was sold about three years ago.

The business operated out of the same home on South Walnut Creek Drive in Sand Springs where police found the bodies of David, Clarissa, and Crystal on Tuesday afternoon.

DailyMail.com has reached out to Teresa Kaser for comment.

The image above shows the family of David and Teresa Kaser, both 56. David (seen second from right in the blue shirt) was on the phone with Teresa (seen second from left next to David) when he fatally shot his two teen daughters, Crystal (far left), 14, and Clarissa (far right), 19, before turning the gun on himself in what police are calling a murder-suicide. Pictured top row from left to right are the couple's three sons: Vince Kaser, Kenan Kaser, and Calvin Kaser

He called Teresa while she was at work on Tuesday and threatened to kill the two teens as well as himself.

He was upset with her and he was letting her know that, Sand Springs Police Captain Todd Enzbrenner said on Wednesday.

Clarissa had just graduated from Charles Page High School. Crystal was attending ninth grade at Clyde Boyd Middle School, according to police.

Investigators in Sand Springs said they received a call just before 1pm from the girls mother who was at work at the time.

She told police that moments earlier she was on the phone with her husband. During their conversation, he threatened to kill their two daughters as well as himself, police told Sand Springs Leader.

David Kaser, 56, of Sand Springs, Oklahoma was jobless and disabled when he called his wife, Teresa, and threatened to kill their two young daughters, according to police

Teresa, who works some 20 minutes away from the familys home on South Walnut Creek Drive, asked officers to do a welfare check at the home.

Police said Teresa told investigators that she and her husband had been having marital problems for months and that her husband had made threats before, though nothing as serious.

According to police, investigators visited the home in 2017 due to a 'domestic' incident, though no arrests were made.

Teresa told authorities that David had guns in the home.

When officers arrived at the house, they tapped on windows, knocked on the doors, and called the girls cell phones, but got no response.

At that point, police asked the woman to come to the home, according to Enzbrenner.

When she arrived, she gave officers permission to enter the house, Fox 23 TV reported.

Investigators then entered the home and found the man and the couples two young daughters dead. They also found a handgun, according to police.

The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation is assisting local law enforcement agencies with the probe.

Investigators said Kaser fired a fatal gunshot at each of his two daughters - Clarissa Kaser (right), 19, and Crystal 'Grey' Kaser (left), 14

The young girls' brothers paid tribute to their sisters on social media. Kenan Kaser wrote on GoFundMe: 'My sisters loved life, very much. They both had wonderful plans for the future, things looked bright.' He then added: 'My father stole their futures.'

The above image shows the two sisters who were murdered by their father before he turned the gun on himself and died by suicide on Tuesday

Clarissa (left) had just graduated from Charles Page High School. Crystal (right) was attending ninth grade at Clyde Boyd Middle School, according to police

According to Facebook and LinkedIn, Teresa and David once ran a vending machine business from their home, though that business was sold about three years ago

Kenan Kaser, one of the couple's sons, created a GoFundMe crowdfunding page asking the public for help in funeral expenses as well as support for his mother, Teresa, who now must take on her late husband's debt.

'As many of you have seen in the news, there was a nightmarish tragedy in Sand Springs,' Kenan wrote on GoFundMe.

'My father murdered my two sisters, then himself. My family is in complete shock.

'Nobody could have predicted this.'

He added: 'My sisters loved life, very much. They both had wonderful plans for the future, things looked bright.

The image above shows investigators at the scene of a double murder-suicide at a home on South Walnut Creek Drive in Sand Springs, Oklahoma, on Tuesday

According to investigators, the father-of-two fatally shot his young daughters before turning the gun on himself while on the phone with his wife

'My father stole their futures.'

Kenan wrote: 'So I'm here representing my mother and my brothers. My father had multiple debts that now fall to my mother, in addition to all memorial expenses.

'I come here to ask for your generosity in my family's time of need, if you're able to, please consider a donation of any amount, share this, or even just send good vibes and/or prayers. Thank you all for your time.'

Kenan's brother, Calvin Kaser, wrote on Facebook: 'I'm going to be honest, I can't convey how truly devastating this event has been.

'Losing family is always tough, but having half of my closest relatives suddenly ripped out of my life one day so utterly eclipses the sorrow of every other loss, of evey other difficulty, I have ever faced as to make them as nothing but a minor inconvenience by comparison.

'Every member of my family has been gripped by such grief.'

DailyMail.com has sought comment from Kenan, Calvin, and Vince Kaser.

The murder-suicide took place less than a mile away from a similar incident involving a family slightly more than a week ago.

Phillip Daniel Stephen Ross, 31, fatally stabbed his two young children and their mother before killing himself either late on January 29 or in the early morning hours of January 30, according to police.

The gruesome incident took place less than two weeks after police say a triple murder-suicide occurred about a mile away in the same town. Phillip Daniel Stephen Ross (left), 31, fatally stabbed his two young children and their mother sometime between January 29 and 30 in their home in Sand Springs, Oklahoma before killing himself. Anastacia 'Staci' Lynn Smith, 41; River Gale Ross, 4; and Piper Ann Ross (right), 2, died of sharp-force injuries

Anastacia 'Staci' Lynn Smith, 41; River Gale Ross, 4; and Piper Ann Ross, 2, died of sharp-force injuries. Investigators said they were confident that the father's wounds were self-inflicted.

Enzbrenner said that investigators had not yet determined the order in which the stabbings occurred.

Smith's body was found in the back bedroom while Ross and his two kids were in the living room when investigators arrived on the scene in the afternoon hours of January 30.

Investigators said they recovered knives with blood on them but no other weapons were found in the home.

Enzbrenner said that Ross had a history of domestic violence, though none of the complaints made against him appear to have resulted in any convictions.

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MAPS Project Documents Impact of COVID-19 on Higher Ed

Last August, Utah's legislature decreased the budget for higher education in the state by 2.5 percent for fiscal year 2021  presumably a decision influenced by COVID-19. But that's hardly the only state that has seen a reduction in public allocations to colleges and universities. Florida and Kentucky institutions will see drops of 22.5 percent. In New York it will be a 20 percent cut and in Nevada, 19 percent.

Those numbers are being shared through a public data dashboard intended to track the impact of COVID-19 on higher ed in three areas: state, institution and student. The "MAPS Project," as it's called, is being produced by the Sorenson Impact Center, which is part of the David Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah.

The goal of the project, according to the Sorenson website, is to help address "the inequities within higher education, particularly for students from historically underrepresented populations in higher education, first generation students and those from both urban and rural backgrounds."

Besides collecting data state-by-state for higher ed appropriations, the MAPS Project has compiled the results of 30-plus surveys that have been deployed to students nationally and more than 20 surveys that have been deployed at specific institutions.

Student results examine physical health, technological, impact, future plans, support systems, financial outlook and mental health. For example, in the area of technology, the survey results showed three "high-level" findings:

Students identifying as Asian/Asian American, Hispanic/Latinx, and Black/African American were more likely to consider online education;

Students identifying as Latinx/Hispanic and Asian/Asian American were especially concerned about online learning; and

Students with disabilities found online learning less difficult.

Institutional data examines mergers and closures and prioritization measures.

The Sorenson Impact Center is currently recruiting "future and current students" from across the country, in different kinds of schools and with diverse backgrounds, to serve as a cohort that will share their experiences of COVID-19 and how it has affected their education. The website currently provides the stories of six students who have explained how the pandemic is affecting their college experiences, under the title, "I Am Not an Outlier."

The Maps Project is openly available on the Sorenson website.
Michigan Women's Commission Condemns Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey for Repeated Violent, Misogynistic and Xenophobic Remarks

Michigan Women's Commission Condemns Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey for Repeated Violent, Misogynistic and Xenophobic Remarks

February 11, 2021

Media Contact: Erica Quealy, 517-582-2961

Cheryl Bergman, CEO of the Michigan Womens Commission, and Shannon Garrett, Chief Strategy Officer of the Michigan Womens Commission, issued the following statement today condemning Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey for repeated violent, misogynistic and xenophobic remarks.

Theres a difference between the defense of strongly held policy positions and careless resorts to violent, misogynistic and xenophobic bloviating.

Michigans Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkeys latest comments that hes contemplated inviting Governor Whitmer to a fistfight on the Capitol lawn and that hes spanked her hard in legislative negotiations are just the latest from an elected leader who has also referred to the Governor as batshit crazy, said shes doubling down on stupid, and boasted that he wrestled with the Chinese Flu Army.

As we have stated before, reliance on gendered language, sexual imagery and the glorification of violence is both careless and dangerous. Leader Shirkey should need no greater proof than last years disrupted plot to kidnap and kill Governor Whitmer or the January 6th insurrection at the US Capitol to understand how misogynistic, sexist and xenophobic bluster leads to real world violence. If not, he could ask any one of the nearly 42% of Michigan women who experience rape, physical violence and/or stalking in their lifetime.

Leader Shirkey must take violence against women seriously. Napoleonic rhetoric has consequences.

The 15-member Michigan Women's Commission was created by statute in 1968. Commission duties include reviewing the status of women in Michigan, directing attention to critical problems confronting women, recommending ways of overcoming discrimination, enabling women to develop skills, conducting surveys, and recognizing women's accomplishments and contributions to Michigan. Commissioners are appointed by the Governor and serve three-year terms. To learn more about the Michigan Womens Commission, go to michigan.gov/mwc.
Several countries around the world have condemned the Yemen Houthi rebel attack on Saudi airport that caused a plane to catch fire.

The attack targeted Wednesday Abhas international airport, south of the kingdom and hit a civilian jet parked on the tarmac. No casualties were reported.

Egypt condemned the strike, Arab News notes, indicated that it stands with the Gulf country in counteracting these criminal terrorist acts that threaten the security and stability of the Kingdom and the safety of its citizens and residents.

Houthi attacks are a clear and direct threat to regional security and stability, the Egyptian foreign ministry said in a statement.

The attack according to the ministry constitutes a full-fledged war crime, and is an extension of the terrorist attacks carried out by the Houthi militia with Iranian weapons and experts that have targeted residential neighborhoods, airports, ports and energy infrastructure.

Jordan joined the condemnation stressing that the attack targeted civilian facilities and put the lives of innocent civilian travelers at risk.

Regional ally, Bahrain further extended the criticism of Houthis as it called the attack a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law, and expressed its support for any measures taken by the Kingdom to confront these cowardly acts that target civilians.

Kuwait and the U.S also slammed the attack. The Biden administration called on the Yemeni rebels to halt aggressive acts.

We again urge the Houthis to immediately stop these aggressive acts, State Department Spokesman Ned Price told reporters. President Biden has dispatched his new Yemen envoy, Tim Lenderking, to the kingdom to discuss the matter.

The US leader has reversed his predecessors policy in Yemen as he renounced to provide support for Saudi Arabias coalition in the poorest Arab country. Saudi Arabia has been leading an international coalition in Yemen to restore the administration of internationally recognized President Hadi Mansour.

The Biden administration also removed the Houthi rebels from the US terror blacklist but vowed to continue backing Riyadh in defending its territory.
TORONTO, ON- DECEMBER 4 - Children play in the outside on the playground at Ogden Junior Public School in Toronto. December 4, 2020. (Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images)

Ontario's Minister of Education, Stephen Lecce, announced Thursday that the province will be postponing March Break until Apr. 12 to Apr. 16.

"Postponing March Break, not cancelling it, is an important way that schools can help to limit community transmission," Lecce said.

"We recognize that congregation is a key driver of the spread of COVID-19, something we realized over the winter break, and we will not take that risk again with your child, with our staff, with Ontario families."

Lecce said this delay is occuring during particular concerns about COVID-19 variants that are more transmissable and spreading in the community.

Lecce said the province consulted with the teachers unions, trustees' associations, and principal associations but the decision was made to "protect their staff and protect our students."

The province is also stressing that any travel should not occur, even within Canada.

"Please stay at home as much as possible and continue following the direction of public health officials so that we can keep schools open and protect our seniors, frontline health workers and all families," a statement from the education minister reads.

Lecce stressed that although this delay is not mandated for private schools in Ontario, he expects them to follow suit.

"We cannot take these risks for all students in the province," he said. "We are very much expecting cooperation with us."

The Association des enseignantes et des enseignants franco-ontariens (AEFO), the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario (ETFO), the Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association (OECTA), and the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation (OSSTF/FEESO) released a joint statement after the announcement stating that delaying March Break is "not in best interest of students, teachers, education workers, and families."

"The governments decision to postpone March Break does not take into consideration the mental health and well-being of those involved," the statement reads.

Story continues

"The postponement of March Break shows, yet again, the inadequacies of the Progressive Conservative governments planning... Why did Premier Doug Ford reopen the economy when it is clear risks remain? Is he concerned that his stay-at-home orders are ineffective? If so, he should address the real issue: this governments ongoing failure to prevent the spread of COVID-19."

People in Ontario also took to social media to respond to the postponement of March Break in the province.

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Check out our COVID-19 in Canada topic page for latest news, tips, health updates, cases and more.
/Hai-/Khaua Traditional Authority councillor for the Snyfontein area Cedric Thomas says residents foresee no future with the Neckartal Dam being constructed on their grounds.

In an interview with New Era, Thomas said the development of the largest dam in the country has not brought meaningful changes to their livelihood.

"As traditional authority councillor, I represented the Snyfontein community during the environmental impact assessment and consultations, whereby a lot of promises were made to us by government prior to the construction of the dam, of which most are unfortunately not realised till now," Thomas said.

According to Thomas, when government sought approval from them to build the dam, they were promised developmental projects aimed at improving their socio-economic circumstances, including power generation.

"It is indeed saddening to see that now with the construction of the dam completed, government did not come back on promises of resettling or compensating all farmers that were relocated to make way for the construction," he added.

Thomas furthermore alleged that the relevant line ministries of agriculture and environment are now reluctant to come to the table to resolve these issues amicably.

"Despite several communications addressed to government, we are still waiting for feedback for the past 18 months," Thomas said.

According to the councillor, the Snyfontein community feels highly aggrieved, as their human rights have furthermore been violated with the construction of the dam.

"The graves of our ancestors are now totally overspilled and under water, which creates a lot of emotional damage, especially to our elders," he said.

Thomas also said it has been agreed before commencement of the dam construction that the Namibia Heritage Council should first relocate these graves, but this never happened.

"In addition, the auction pens, dip tank and water point supplying the nearby campsite are now also under water and should also have been relocated first," he continued.

The councillor also raised the concern that community members can no more catch fish freely in the catch upriver waters to earn a living.

"This ignorance to address our concerns says a lot; it seems we, as the Snyfontein community, were only good enough to grant permission for the construction of the dam, but now that this was done, we are totally left on our own," he said. The councillor went on that they were furthermore not engaged during the inauguration of the dam last year, which deeply hurts them as a community.

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Jan Kooper, another resident from the area,

echoed Thomas' sentiment that they are now totally forgotten and left on their own by the authorities.

"This dam has rather impacted us more negatively as in the time before its construction," he said.

The community member also raised the concern that they lost some good grazing

for their livestock, as overflowing waters push back into their farmlands at times.

"The bushes and plantations we used to make traditional, cultural medicines are also now overflowed and destroyed, impacting our cultural values," he continued.

"Only some of those relocated were compensated or resettled afterwards."

When approached for comment, //Kharas governor Aletha Frederick concurred there are still some issues to be ironed out between government and the community members, but that some of the relocated residents have been compensated and resettled in the meantime. She also pleaded with the group to be patient, as this is an ongoing process.

"My office is, however, expecting an inter-ministerial delegation soon, whereby all these concerns about Snyfontein will be looked at in order to find amicable solutions accordingly through active dialogue," Frederick said.
An activist, Femi Aborisade, has sued federal and state authorities for their alleged negligence in curbing violent activities of armed herders and other criminals in some parts of Oyo State.

The plaintiff alleged the authorities have failed to secure the lives and property of people living in Ibarapa Central, Ibarapa East, Ibarapa North, Saki East and Saki West Local Government Areas of the state.

He filed the suit at the Federal High Court in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, Wednesday, praying for an order directing the authorities to arrest, investigate and prosecute suspected criminals in the areas.

He asked the court to enforce the fundamental right of the people in the area to life guaranteed by section 33 of the Nigerian Constitution and Article 4 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and Enforcement).

PREMIUM TIMES saw the court document on Thursday showing President Muhammadu Buhari and Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State listed as two of the five defendants.

The other defendants are the Attorney-General of the state, the Attorney-General of the Federation and the Commissioner of Police, Oyo State Command.

Mr Aborisade, who is also a lawyer, argued that the respondents are under a legal obligation to arrest, investigate and prosecute suspected armed herders, suspected armed robbers and suspected kidnappers in the area.

Security conundrum

The Ibarapa and Oke-Ogun axis of Oyo State has been a hotbed of violent activities of armed herdsmen who are often blamed for the rampant kidnapping for ransom, killings and raping of women in the area.

In the absence of decisive action by government, an acclaimed Yoruba warlord, Sunday Adeyemo, popularly called Sunday Igboho, recently evicted some Fulani herders in the area, generating tension across the country.

Mr Aborisade stated in the affidavit filed in support of his suit that he hailed from Itasa in Iwajowa Local Government Area of Oyo State, but that he and other persons living or working in the affected communities have been subjected to untold violent attacks by armed kidnappers and bandits consistently, in an unprecedented degree, particularly in the last three years.

He added, As a result of the violent attacks, several people have been killed while many others have been shot and macheted by the assailants, particularly in the aforementioned Local Government Areas making up Ibarapa and Oke-Ogun geographical areas of Oyo State.

Owing to several violent attacks by armed kidnappers and bandits, I have not been able to visit members of my family living in Itasa, in Iwajowa Local Government Area of Oyo State for the past one year.

Scores of women and girls have been abducted and raped by the armed gangs and bandits in the aforementioned Local Government Areas making up Ibarapa and Oke-Ogun geographical areas of Oyo State, he added.

He said several appeals made by concerned citizens to the respondents to halt the violent attacks on the people have been ignored without any justification.

Mr Aborisade, who is the interim chairman of Alliance for Survival of COVID-19 and Beyond, (ASCAB), an orgainsation chaired by Nigerian lawyer, Femi Falana, said unless his prayers were granted, insecurity, menacing threats to life and property in the aforementioned Local Government Areas of Oyo State will continue unabated.

Prayers

Mr Aborisade prayed for, among others, and order directing the five respondents to arrest, investigate and prosecute suspected armed herders, suspected armed robbers and suspected kidnappers who commit criminal trespass, rape, murder, armed robbery, kidnapping and other criminal offences in the areas.

Besides, he asked the court to issue an order directing the respondents to adopt adequate measures to ensure the protection of the life and property of every person in the mentioned places.

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The plaintiff also asked the court to establish Conflict Resolution Committees (CRC) among the various communities in Ibarapa axis including Igangan, Atisbo, Irepo, Iseyin, Itesiwaju, Iwajowa, Kajola, Oorelope, Olorunsogo, Saki East and Saki West Local Government Areas of Oyo State forthwith.

Although the respondents have yet to file their defence, the spokespersons for the presidency and the Federal Government have always pushed back blames for the insecurity in the country insisting that the situation is better under the current Buhari administration than it was under the past administrations.
The Chief of Army Staff, Major General Ibrahim Attahiru, is open to engagement and constructive criticism from the media, the new Director, Army Public Relations, Brigadier-General Mohammed Yerima, has said.

Yerima spoke yesterday at the Nigerian Army Headquarters while taking over from his predecessor, Brigadier-General Sagir Musa, who was redeployed to the Nigerian Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), Minna, Niger State.

He said such constructive engagement was capable of boosting the morale of the troops at the frontlines and would help them to defeat the insurgents.

"As you all know, nothing boosts the morale of our fighting troops more than the solidarity of all Nigerians, especially media reports that ginger their zeal and fighting spirit and sacrifice to the nation," he said.

The Army Spokesperson stressed that Nigerians should know that crushing the terrorists would be victory for Nigerians.

"We shall be open to constructive engagements and criticisms that will support the military operations against the enemies of the country.

"The Nigerian Army under the current Chief of Army Staff, Major General Ibrahim Attahiru, values your partnership and cooperation," he said.
Allianz Global Corporate & Specialtys (AGCS) North American Aviation team has promoted two executives and hired a new underwriting specialist, effective immediately.

Lamont Rosemond has been promoted to regional head of Aviation Programs and Product Development in North America. He reports to Dave Warfel, regional head of Aviation, North America. Based in Alpharetta, Ga., Rosemond supports and implements product development and growth initiatives. He is also responsible for managing programs, as well as developing and maintaining broker and client relationships within the Aviation line of business. Rosemond joined AGCS in 2014 and has 15 years of aviation underwriting experience.

Joshua Ray has been promoted to General Aviation team leader, Eastern Region. He reports to Dave Watkins, Regional Aviation Product Leader. Based in Alpharetta, Ray handles underwriting placements and strategies within the Eastern Region. He joined AGCS in 2008 and has more than 23 years of aviation insurance industry experience as an underwriter and broker from general aviation to major products manufacturers risks. Ray has been an active pilot since 1989.

Peter Falcone has joined AGCS as an underwriting specialist, reporting to Ray. Falcone joins from AIG Aviation in Atlanta where he was a senior underwriter primarily serving the southeastern US. Previously, he was a broker at Willis Towers Watson as well as a senior client services manager with Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.

Topics Georgia Aviation Allianz
ANN ARBOR, MI  A revised COVID-19 vaccine implementation schedule from the state has dramatically impacted Michigan Medicines ability to provide first-dose vaccinations, officials said.

The revised schedule comes from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, whose officials said its being done to achieve efficiency, effectiveness and equity.

For the week of Feb. 9, this revision has resulted in a low vaccine supply that prohibits Michigan Medicine from opening up any new first-dose appointments, according to its COVID-19 vaccine website. Invitations to schedule first-dose appointments are being deferred until there is enough vaccine supply, officials said.

Michigan Medicine officials are encouraging UM employees age 65 and older, as well as frontline essential workers, to sign up with their local health departments and retail pharmacies for vaccination, according to a news release.

Michigan Medicine can deliver 12,000 vaccines a week, the release states, but does not have the supply to offer first-dose appointments to those eligible for them in the states Phase 1B group, which includes people age 65 and older, teachers and school staff, corrections officers, workers in homeless shelters and others.

Smaller shipments of vaccine received from the state are being used primarily for second doses for those who are due, including vaccinated employees at the Flint and Dearborn campuses, the release states.

Michigan Medicine is working closely with local health departments and systems to facilitate distribution of available doses and will release new appointments to priority groups as supply allows, the release states.

All Michigan Medicine employees fell under the first phase of vaccine distribution, officials said, but many people reached out to MLive/The Ann Arbor News with concerns that vaccinations went to staff working remotely with little to no risk of infection from COVID-19 instead of going to those in the community more susceptible to the virus.

Despite criticism, Michigan Medicine is giving COVID-19 vaccine to non-frontline workers

To vaccinate more rapidly, MDHHS has limited the Phase 1B category to workers who have high levels of personal exposure to the virus, according to its vaccine prioritization guidance. MDHHS also is accelerating vaccination in people age 65 to 74 in Phase 1C, and simplifying the criteria in hopes of making access to vaccine more equitable, the guidance states.

Sixty percent of the states vaccine doses are being sent directly to local health departments and the other 40% is going to health systems like Michigan Medicine, the release states.

Retail pharmacies including Meijer and Rite Aid, will receive a separate allocation of vaccine from the federal government to help speed up the rollout of vaccines, according to the Michigan Medicine release.

As of Feb. 9, Michigan Medicine had administered 56,656 vaccinations, its COVID-19 vaccine dashboard states.

READ MORE:

Vaccination frustration: Washtenaw County has states lowest percentage of vaccinated teachers

A third COVID-19 vaccine is on the horizon, while others move through Phase 3 trials

Majority of Michigan teachers surveyed are in process of getting COVID-19 vaccine

U.K. COVID-19 variant now confirmed in 45 Michigan cases in 10 counties

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NEW DELHI: While confirming that the disengagement of troops has begun at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said that ''not an inch of land will be given to China.'' The Defence Minister made this remarks in Rajya Sabha on the current situation in eastern Ladakh.

The Defence Minister hailed the Indian troops and reiterated that the Indian armed forces remain committed to peace and stability at the LAC and New Delhi want an amicable resolution of the India-China border row.

He added that the Indian armed forces dealt with the situation in eastern Ladakh ''effectively and maintained their edge''. "We are committed to maintaining a peaceful situation at the Line of Control. India has always emphasised on maintaining bilateral ties,'' Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said in his statement on present situation in Eastern Ladakh in Rajya Sabha.

We are committed to maintaining a peaceful situation at the Line of Control. India has always emphasised on maintaining bilateral ties: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh makes a statement on present situation in Eastern Ladakh in Rajya Sabha pic.twitter.com/qIdzYgo2aC  ANI (@ANI) February 11, 2021

"Our security forces have proved that they are ready to face any challenge to protect the sovereignty of the country,'' the Defence Minister said in Rajya Sabha. The Defence Minister further informed the lawmakers that "at present, many fraction areas have come up near the LAC in Eastern Ladakh.''

"China has collected heavy force and arms and ammunition near the LAC and in the nearby areas on their side of the border. Our forces have also adequate and effectively done counter-deployment,'' Rajnath Singh said.

Singh further said that ''our sustained talks with China have led to agreement on disengagement on the north and south banks of Pangong Lake. After this agreement, India-China will remove forward deployments in a phased, coordinated manner.''

The Defence Minister, however, assured the Rajya Sabha lawmakers that the Line of Actual Control (LAC) should be accepted by both the sides. ''We have clarified to China that attempts to unilaterally change the status are not acceptable...Not an inch of land will be given.''

"First, both parties must agree on LAC and respect it. Secondly, there shouldn't be an attempt to change the status unilaterally, by any party. Thirdly, all the compromises should be completely agreed upon by both parties,'' the Defence Minister said in the Upper House.

"Since last year, we have maintained a relationship with China on military and diplomatic levels. During the talks, we told China that we want a solution of the issue based on three principles,'' Singh said in Rajya Sabha.

Calling for a consensus over issues of national importance, the Defence Minister said, ''No matter which party you belong to, the country stands united when it comes to national security.''

His statement comes amid reports of disengagement by the India and Chinese troops at the LAC. According to reports, the disengagement by Indian and Chinese frontline troops from the flashpoints at Pangong Lake in eastern Ladakh began on Wednesday, with officials claiming that the process is taking place in a step-by-step manner.

Soldiers of both the countries were battling minus 30-degree Celsius temperature in some parts of the disputed India-China border. The two countries had deployed thousands of troopers along the disputed Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh.

The disengagement plan on the northern and southern banks of Pangong Lake in eastern Ladakh is based on a consensus reached during the ninth round of Corps Commander level meeting held between the two sides on January 24.

After the ninth round of military talks, follow-up meetings between the ground level commanders happened, leading to the initiation of the disengagement process with thinning of troops from Wednesday.

Sources said that after the thinning of troops, removal of tanks and weapons from the southern part of the lake will happen. Chinas Defence Ministry also issued a statement on Wednesday, saying that frontline troops at the southern and northern banks of Pangong Lake have started synchronised disengagement.

The proposals for disengagement include China moving back to Finger 8 and Indian troops pulling back to the Dhan Singh Thapa post between Finger 2 and 3. This will make Finger 4 a no go zone for some time for both sides.

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As one of the nation's leading dairy processors, Lactalis Canada first began adopting the Blue Cow logo in 2018, and has since committed to rolling it out on hundreds of milk, cream and cheese products under the Lactantia , Beatrice , Black Diamond , Cracker Barrel and P'tit Quebec brands. The Blue Cow will now appear on more than 55 additional products under the Astro and Stonyfield yogurt brands. Lactalis Canada will also feature the logo on the company's digital advertising and in-store (point-of-sale) signage.

"The Blue Cow is widely recognized as a symbol of dairy farmers' dedication and pride in producing 100% high-quality Canadian milk, and their high standards in the areas of animal care, food safety, milk quality and sustainable production," said Pierre Lampron, President of Dairy Farmers of Canada. "As one of the largest processors in Canada, Lactalis Canada's decision to feature the logo on Astro and Stonyfield yogurts speaks volumes about the trust consumers, processors and retailers have in our practices, and we are thrilled to expand our partnership further."

"As long-standing supporters of Canadian dairy farmers and the sustainability of our industry at large, we are pleased to extend our partnership with Dairy Farmers of Canada on the Blue Cow logo initiative with our Astro and Stonyfield brands," said Mark Taylor, President and CEO of Lactalis Canada. "As part of our essential role in feeding the nation, we understand our important responsibility to inform consumers of the high-quality Canadian milk and milk ingredients that make up our healthy and nutritious dairy products."

Inspired by the simple, natural purity of milk, the logo provides clarity to consumers that the milk used in the dairy products they buy was produced with care by Canadian farmers. In just a few short years since its launch, it has already become one of the most recognized and most trusted brands in the country. Eight out of ten Canadian consumers are now familiar with the logo.

The logo is underpinned by proAction, the industry's robust quality assurance program under which Canadian farmers demonstrate high standards in areas such as milk quality, food safety, sustainability and animal care.

ABOUT DAIRY FARMERS OF CANADA

Dairy Farmers of Canada is the national policy, lobbying and promotional organization representing Canadian dairy producers. DFC strives to create stable conditions for the dairy sector in our country. It also seeks to maintain policies that promote the sustainability of Canadian dairy production and works to promote dairy products and their health benefits.

ABOUT LACTALIS CANADA

With 140 years of brand heritage, Lactalis Canada is committed to enriching and nurturing the lives of Canadians by producing nutritious and great tasting dairy products. The company directly employs 3,500 Canadians, supports hundreds of farming families and contributes to the livelihoods of thousands of Canadians who provide essential services to Lactalis Canada's 30 operating sites including 17 manufacturing facilities. The company's iconic brands include Beatrice, Lactantia, Astro, Black Diamond, Cheestrings Ficello, Balderson, Cracker Barrel, P'tit Quebec, aMOOza!, siggi's, Stonyfield, Galbani and President. Lactalis Canada is a subsidiary of Lactalis Group, the world's leading dairy group, headquartered in Laval, France. For more information, visit www.lactalis.ca.

SOURCE Dairy Farmers of Canada

For further information: MEDIA CONTACTS: Lucie Boileau, Director, Communications, Dairy Farmers of Canada, [email protected], 613-220-1724; Sarah Sutton, Corporate Communications Manager, Lactalis Canada, [email protected], 437-249-2730

Related Links

https://www.dairyfarmersofcanada.ca/


Health Officials Urging Holiday Celebrations Stay Within Households, Warn of COVID-19 Variants

As of Monday, February 9, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health confirmed 227 new deaths and 3,353 new cases of COVID-19. There were 4,079 people with COVID-19 hospitalized with of 29% these people in the ICU.

Public Health identified 1,152,239 positive cases of COVID-19 across all areas of L.A. County and a total of 18,360 deaths. Across the Southland: within Los Angeles County shows 1,092,128 cases, within Long Beach with 49,603 cases and within Pasadena with 10,508. According to race and ethnicity, COVID-19 statistics show: American Indian/Alaska Native with 1,904; Asian with 48,111; Black with 38,409; Hispanic/Latino with 522,701; Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander with 4,094; White with 108,876; those of other race and ethnicity with 108,385 and 259,648 under investigation.

We are only weeks away from reducing transmission in L.A. County to a level where elementary schools will be allowed by the state to offer in-class instruction, provided they adhere to all state and county directives, said Barbara Ferrer, PhD, MPH, MEd, director of Public Health. Schools that decide to open will need to require masking, distancing and routine testing. Please do your part to continue to slow the spread so that our recovery journey does not suffer a setback.

So, it seems, no holidays equal no gatherings, which means COVID-19 infection rates drop. The L.A. County Dept. of Health is asking for the public not to gather for the upcoming holidays: Lunar New Year, Valentines Day, and Presidents Day. Statistics showed COVID-19 surged after the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. The public is still being asked to limit social gatherings to their households as we see a decline in COVID-19 after the major holiday surges. The coming weeks will show if guidelines were followed during the Super Bowl weekend.

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These guidelines are all very important to follow especially since we are continually seeing new variants of COVID-19. Again, keep in mind, health officials have stated that mutations and variants are common place when it comes to viruses. Public Health has confirmed five additional cases of COVID-19 variant B.1.1.7. (U.K. variant), which brings it to eight cases in Los Angeles County. The B.1.1.7 variant is more easily transmissible, which means following the well-known health guidelines are more important than ever.

For more information and statistics on COVID-19 in Los Angeles County, please visit http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/

For more detailed information on COVID-19 vaccination plans in L.A. County and to sign up for a vaccination newsletter, visit: www.VaccinateLACounty.com
The three Cubans were bound for the United States on a rickety boat, authorities said, attempting last month to replicate a treacherous sea voyage made by tens of thousands before them.

Yet instead of reaching South Florida, a mechanical failure left them stranded on an uninhabited island in the Bahamas. For more than a month, the three castaways - two men and one woman - reportedly survived off little more than coconuts, conchs and rats.

"It was incredible. I don't know how they did it," U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Justin Dougherty, who shuttled food and water to the trio on Monday, told WPLG. "I amamazed that they were in such good shape when we saw them."

Dougherty and a Coast Guard team undertook a dramatic, two-day mission this week to rescue them from 33 days on tiny Anguilla Cay.

Agency officials said the three Cubans, whose names have not been released, were taken to a hospital in the Florida Keys and are now detained at an immigrant detention center in Pompano Beach, Fla. (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement did not immediately respond to a request for comment.)

While their story of survival on an empty island is an exceedingly rare one, the journey that brought them there is far from it. Since the 1980s, tens of thousands of Cubans have attempted the roughly 100-mile passage from their home country to Florida - first fleeing the Castro regime in crowded fishing vessels, and then in makeshift rafts in 1994 and beyond.

That second exodus prompted the institution of the policy known as "wet foot, dry foot," which had allowed all Cubans who reached U.S. soil to stay in the country, until the Obama administration ended it in 2017.

But that change has not stopped some from attempting the journey anyway amid the shifting tides of Cuban immigration. In fiscal year 2019, the Miami Herald reported, Coast Guard officials intercepted more than 450 Cubans as they tried to reach the U.S. by boat, or right after they arrived.

The three Cubans, two of whom are married, had a similar goal to reach the Florida Keys, a spokesman for U.S. Border Patrol told the South Florida Sun Sentinel.Yet their malfunctioning vessel could only transport them about halfway there.

It is unclear where their boat broke down, or how they managed to reach Anguilla Cay. In their month on the island, which lacks fresh water and suffers fromharsh wind and sun, the castaways developed severe signs of dehydration and fatigue, ABC News reported.

As they lived off coconuts and took partial shelter under some foliage, they also managed to hoist flags off the cay. It was enough to draw the attention of a Coast Guard plane that had been wrapping up a routine patrol around the Caribbean on Sunday.

The Miami-based aircrew was able to provide them with water, food and a radio they used to communicate with the trio, Coast Guard Lt. Ricardo Rodriguez said in a video on Twitter.

"When we dropped the first radio [canister], you could see the relief on the woman's face as she put her hands on her face - that they had been found and help was on the way," the plane's pilot, Lt. Riley Beecher, told the Sun Sentinel.

But with fuel running low, Beecher's plane was forced to head back to Miami, according to the newspaper. It wasn't until the following day - after another shipment of food was sent over - that a Coast Guard helicopter was able to rescue the Cuban castaways, hoisting them up on ropes.

Sean Connett, the command duty officer at Coast Guard Seventh District, praised the coordination of the crews involved in the rescue, noting that it was "a very complex operation" that could have easily worsened.

Petty Officer 2nd Class Brandon Murray simply called it a miracle.

"I cannot recall a time that we saved people who were stranded for over a month on an island," he told the Sun Sentinel. "That is a new one for me."
In the drug case, Kelly said what is written in the case is what he did as a kid and not the adult he has become. As a father of eight children, Kelly requested that the judge sentence him to home detention so he can be there for his children.
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The leader of the Arewa communities in Edo State has refuted a report circulating on social media that some herdsmen have been killed in the state.

The report about the alleged killing is contained in a video said to be in circulation on Twitter and Facebook.

Adamu Isa, the Sarkin Hausa of Edo, who spoke on Thursday in Benin City after a meeting with Governor Godwin Obaseki, said the report on social media was a lie.

We discussed the issue of banditry, herders and farmers crisis and other security challenges and lies being posted on social media that some Arewa members were being killed in Edo.

So, as far as I am concerned, as the Sarkin Hausa of Benin, who is the head of all the Arewa communities in Edo, I have not gotten facts about this story that is being spread on social media.

As far as we are concerned, Edo is a peace-loving place, Mr Isa said.

The Arewa leader said the herder-farmer clash was an old issue in the state. He promised to cooperate with Mr Obasekis administration to ensure the conflict was reduced to the barest level.

Mr Obaseki, in his remark, said some people were trying to play politics with security issues in Nigeria.

From what I have seen, from what I have heard, I have gone round communities, what I could see is just a deliberate attempt by some misguided people to play politics with security in Nigeria.

This is really unfortunate, I went round some communities a few days ago. Yes, there have been some unfortunate incidents and its not unusual at this time of the year, the dry season.

A lot of herdsmen are looking for greener pasture and then stray into other peoples properties and farmlands. We have a system in Edo to check this, and we are just going to reactivate the system, he said.

Every local government area must have a committee to deal with herders and farmers crisis, this committee must have a minimum of three representatives from Arewa community, Fulani and other dominant community in the local government area.

On the other side, you will have the representative of traditional institutions and the security agencies, who are supposed to intervene whenever there is a crisis in those areas, the governor said.

Mr Obaseki disclosed that a command and control centre has been created to allow members of the Arewa community with useful information to volunteer such anonymously.

(NAN)
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By Lambert Strether of Corrente.

Bird Song of the Day

Another city bird  only in New York?

#COVID19

At reader request, Ive added these daily charts from 91-DIVOC. The data is the Johns Hopkins CSSE data. Here is the site.

I feel Im engaging in a macabre form of tape-watching. (A reader asked the source of the data: Johns Hopkins CSSE. DIVOC-91 does allow other data sets to be used, like Our World in Data and The Atlantic, and where they provide visualizations similar to those below, a cursory comparison shows that the shape of the curves is the same.)

Vaccination by region:

Northeast up, others flattening or down. Id hate to think that was a zero sum game of short supply. More on vaccination:

NEW ENGLAND: Smaller Clinics in Mass. Say They Need More COVID-19 Vaccines [NBC Boston]. As Massachusetts races to vaccinate more people, local health departments are begging for more doses to give out in their communities. They say the state is shorting them on their vaccine orders due to supply and it is making the rollout go even slower. Sharon officials ordered 1,000 doses last week, but only got 100. This week, they are not getting any doses. Im very disappointed, because weve been told to prepare, and we have, said Karen Waitekus, the towns public health administrator. But we have no supply. Waitekus said she has a list of 2,500 residents who have pre-registered for the vaccine and are hopeful there will be another vaccine clinic in town. She is concerned many seniors over 75 do not want to travel to the mass vaccination sites, where thousands of appointments are available.  Looks like misallocation rather than supply as such; we saw that North Carolina had the same problem yesterday. (And the seniors are making sense: It makes no sense to coop two people up in a car when neither are vaccinated, never mind the trouble of organizing the ride in the first place. At this point we pause to consider that modulo China, our rollout is the third best in the world, after Israel and the UK So, a global clusterf*ck!

NEW ENGLAND: Can you cross state lines to get a COVID vaccine? These are the rules in New England [USA Today]. If you own a ski house in the White Mountains of New Hampshire or a summer home on Maines Old Orchard Beach, but reside out of state, dont try to get the COVID-19 vaccine there.  Wait. How about the Hamptons? More: Thats the message from several New England states when it comes to who can receive their limited vaccine supply right now. The answer is: residents only. But enforcement mechanisms are few, and no states cite any penalties in place for perceived violators. Whats being referred to as vaccine tourism or hunting, individuals across the country are seeking out the most optimal or fastest ways to receive the coronavirus vaccine  stalking pharmacies and clinics for leftover doses, or crossing state lines for a quicker result. New Englands unique geographic proximity and its unsystematic patchwork of vaccine plans present the possibility that people may try to get vaccinated in a state where they dont live full-time, or live at all.

PA: Lack of targeted outreach, translated materials leaves Latino community behind as Pa. struggles with vaccine rollout [Spotlight PA]. In the weeks since Pennsylvania began its coronavirus vaccine rollout, the Wolf administration has stood by its localized, do-it-yourself system for finding and booking appointments, despite widespread frustration among residents. The relationship that folks have with their provider or with their pharmacists is what was best suited to actually administer the vaccine, acting Health Secretary Alison Beam said in January. And so we are allowing those providers and those pharmacists to be able to use their scheduling systems. But the states patchwork approach has left particularly at-risk residents and communities at a tremendous disadvantage. Older Pennsylvanians, who are supposed to be among the first in line to get the vaccine, are struggling with clunky and disjointed online sign-ups and phone numbers that get them nowhere, while those who are more tech-savvy jump ahead. And more than a month into the rollout, the Pennsylvania Health Department hasnt done any targeted outreach on the vaccine to communities that dont speak English, many of whom have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic. We need numbers where we can call people who speak our language to ask questions and to be able to get answers around the vaccine that understand what were saying, Claudia Garcia of Philadelphia, who cleans houses and provides in-home elder care , told Spotlight PA through a translator.  Just the sort of person youd want to vaccinate first!

PA: In race for COVID-19 vaccinations, older residents in rural Pa. face tough obstacles [SpotlightPA]. [O]lder residents  who are supposed to be among the first in line  in rural areas face more obstacles. They live far away from major chain pharmacies like CVS and RiteAid, and may not have internet or a means of transportation. . In Venango County in the northwest, Commissioner Albert Abramovic said he was worried about connecting residents who dont have internet or cell phone service with appointments. About 21% of the countys 50,000 residents are older than 65, according to Census data, and 22% of households dont have internet access. In Juniata County, 19% of the population is older than 65 and a quarter of households do not have internet access. Some older residents live alone, on old family farms, said Alice Gray, one of the countys commissioners.

Case count by United States region:

Still dropping nicely. Maybe in a couple of months well be back to where we here in the summer of 2020. A thread on causes behind the declining case count:

2/n The basic background is that there are some places across the world where there hasn't been a reportedly huge behavioural change since Nov/Dec last year where cases are dropping, sometimes quite quickly So what's causing this? pic.twitter.com/Pwb4bHW2Ma  Health Nerd (@GidMK) February 11, 2021

Big states (New York, Florida, Texas, California):

I suppose well have to be watching to see the results of the Super Spreader Bowl. And the variants.

Test positivity:

The snow melted or was removed in the Northeast, I suppose.

Nowhere near 3%, anywhere.

Hospitalization:

The South has flattened. Given that hospitalization is probably a more reliable indicator of trouble than case count, I certainly hope thats the not first sign of B117. Hospitalization is discretionary; they may also be reducing their admissions rate  relative to cases we cannot see in this data!  to preserve future capacity; or because hospitals have figured out how to send people home.

Case fatality rate (plus deaths):

The case fatality rate has markedly increased, albeit slowly. I dont like that at all. Deaths plateau, and should really be starting to fall at some point. Maybe this time they wont head back up again. It would be about time.

* * *

CA: No bathrooms. No seating. Endless lines. Struggling seniors face vaccine misery [Los Angeles Times]. The system set up by Los Angeles County seems, in many ways, to be a young persons game: It can take social media skills, technology savvy, reliable transportation and even physical stamina to obtain one of the coveted shots. That leaves some of the countys most vulnerable residents at a serious disadvantage.

Politics

But what is government itself, but the greatest of all reflections on human nature? James Madison, Federalist 51

They had one weapon left and both knew it: treachery. Frank Herbert, Dune

They had learned nothing, and forgotten nothing. Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Perigord

Impeachment

GOP senators signal they plan to acquit Trump despite visceral presentation by House Democrats [CNN]. While they were struck by the impeachment managers presentation, these Republicans said that the House Democrats did not prove Trumps words led to the violent actions. They compared the January 6 riot to last summers racial justice protests and criticized how the trial is being handled.  I have a lot of priors here, I confess, mostly having to do with how many times weve heard liberal Democrats cry wolf; my hermeneutic of suspicion being, in this case, an example of the genetic fallacy. That said, Ive often remarked that digital evidence is not evidence. I wouldnt accept a video presentation as dispostive unless every single inch of it was checked for provenance, something the Democrats did not give the Republicans a chance to do. (IIRC, the House impeachment resolution proffered no evidence whatever). Further, ugly though the seizure is, the ugliness in and of itself is no proof of Trumps intent; the Republicans are correct. What the video seems to be saying, then, is Convict Trump to remove such people from politics. Na ga happen. Finally, and simplifying in a tribalist manner, if the Democrat case is that Repubicans are trying to kill them, then theyre asking Republicans to convict themselves. That seems unlikely. (Its also not clear to me why, if the Capitol seizure is sedition because it interferes with the orderly process of government, or some such, the events in Minneapolis, where a police station was burned down, are not also seditious. Special pleading abounds. (I also very much wonder how many voters are silently saying to themselves that the only real problem is that the rioters didnt go far enough, and over in their minds what a more strategic approach might look like. Of course, if barbed wire comes to define our democracy, that may never happen. Graphic Video of Capitol Attack Leaves Emotions Raw but May Not Change Votes [New York Times].  Graphic, never-before-seen video. Its like pr0n, isnt it? Scanning The Federalist Papers for raw emotion as grounds for impeachment. I havent come up with anything Justice Department says an Oath Keepers leader waited for Trumps direction before Capitol attack [CNN]. The Justice Department is now making clear that a leader among the Oath Keepers paramilitary group  who planned and led others in the US Capitol siege to attempt to stop the Biden presidency  believed she was responding to the call from then-President Donald Trump himself. As the inauguration grew nearer, [Jessica] Watkins indicated that she was awaiting direction from President Trump, prosecutors wrote in a filing Thursday morning. This is the most direct language yet from federal prosecutors linking Trumps requests for support in Washington, DC, to the most militant aspects of the insurrection.  But the issue isnt what the Oath Keepers leader believed; its Trumps intent. (Parenthetically, I am not an expert in militant conservative factions, but I thought the Oath Keepers were both less politically wired and less cray cray than the Proud Boys.) UPDATE Tuberville says he informed Trump of Pences evacuation before rioters reached Senate [Politico]. Sen. Tommy Tuberville revealed late Wednesday that he spoke to Donald Trump on Jan. 6, just as a violent mob closed in on the the Senate, and informed the then-president directly that Vice President Mike Pence had just been evacuated from the chamber. I said Mr. President, they just took the vice president out, Ive got to go, Tuberville (R-Ala.) told POLITICO on Capitol Hill on Wednesday night, saying he cut the phone call short amid the chaos. The existence of the phone call had been previously reported, but the detail that Tuberville informed Trump his vice president was in danger is a new and potentially significant development for House prosecutors seeking Trumps conviction: it occurred just around the time that Trump sent a tweet attacking Pence for not having the courage to unilaterally stop Joe Bidens victory. And Trump never indicated publicly that he was aware of Pences plight, even hours after Tuberville says he told him. Its long been unclear precisely when Trump learned of the danger that Congress and his vice president faced  though it was broadcast all over live television  but Tubervilles claim would mark a specific moment Trump was notified that Pence had to be evacuated for his own safety .  Tommy Tuberville nailing Trump on intent* wasnt on my 2021 Bingo card at all! NOTE * Intent for an action in the articles of impeachment? Apparently not. See next link. (To make my own position clear on all this, if it has not been, I think the House should have censured Trump for inciting a riot, and left it at that.) UPDATE Mike Lee objects to House impeachment managers narrative about Trump phone call [Desert News]. Sen. Mike Lee threw the last few minutes of former President Donald Trumps impeachment trial into momentary confusion Wednesday when he objected to quotes House managers attributed to him. They are not true. I never made those statements. I ask that they be stricken, Lee demanded. Lee said the statements attributed to him about the specifics of the phone conversation between Trump and Tuberville were false and said, Im the only witness. Lees objection caused confusion in the Senate as to how to proceed. Lead House impeachment manager Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., ultimately withdrew the evidence. Raskin said Cicilline was simply reading from a media report of the call, but that the anecdote was not worth defending further. This is much ado about nothing because its not critical in any way to our case, Raskin said.. Tuberville and Trump talked for about five to 10 minutes, Lee said, adding that he stood nearby because he didnt want to lose his cellphone in the commotion. The two were still talking when panicked police ordered the Capitol to be evacuated because people had breached security. As police were getting anxious for senators to leave, Lee walked over to retrieve his phone. Lee said when he later asked Tuberville about the conversation, he got the impression that Trump didnt know about the chaos going on in the Senate chamber. Other than that, Lee did not characterize what Trump and Tuberville might have talked about.

Biden Adminstration

UPDATE Democrats clash over a $15 minimum wage in the Covid relief package [NBC].  Democrats are confronting a growing intraparty dispute over whether the Covid-19 relief bill they are crafting should include a $15-an-hour federal minimum wage, a top progressive priority for years. Two disagreements are brewing between Democrats: first, a procedural dispute over whether Senate rules even allow them to include it in the coronavirus relief bill. And second, a policy division over whether a nationwide wage floor of $15 an hour is too high. The Democratic-controlled House Education and Labor Committee approved a Covid-19 relief bill early Wednesday that includes a wage hike from $7.25 an hour to $15, slowly over four years. The move puts the chamber on course for a clash with the Democratic-led Senate, where limitations of the reconciliation process being used for the Covid-19 bill could force its removal. And even if the move complied with the rules, Senate Democrats appear to lack the votes for it.  If the Democrats want the Capitol to be attacked again, they couldnt be doing a better job. See below under Neoliberal Epidemics. UPDATE Biden under pressure to go nuclear to get minimum wage hike [Politico]. Bidens team is leaning heavily against the idea of having Vice President Kamala Harris use her powers as president of the Senate to keep the minimum wage provision inside the relief package. She could do so if the Senate parliamentarian determines that hiking the minimum wage to $15 an hour does not jibe with budgetary rules that allow a bill to pass with just 51 votes in the Senate. Harris, at that point, could be the tiebreaking vote to bypass the parliamentarian. Early in his presidency, Biden has taken a historic amount of executive actions. But the president still views himself as an institutionalist, and advisers and allies say he is wary of using the Harris nuclear option. A vice president hasnt overruled a parliamentarian in more than 40 years. And while the White House is not ruling out the idea, officials are skeptical that enough Democrats would vote to keep the wage provision in the relief package even if they deployed the option, a person familiar with the White Houses thinking said.  The Senate parliamentarian is, apparently, even more sacred than the filibuster. Gawd forbid that BIden should threaten to close Allegany Ballistics Laboratory (Rocket Center, WV), Camp Dawson (Preston County, WV), and Shepherd Field Air National Guard Base (Martinsburg, WV), all for the sake of party discipline and lifting the rentier boot slightly from millions of working class necks. UPDATE At Least Ive Lived Long Enough to See Bernie Sanders as Chair of the Senate Budget Committee [Charles Pierce, Esquire]. This exchange: SANDERS: I have a letter in front of me from, Im sure you have seen, a number of Republican members of the House concerned about some of the things you said as the head but, of course, your attacks were not just made against Republicans, there were vicious attacks made against progressives. People I have worked with, me personally. So as you come before this committee to assume a very important role in the United States government at a time when we need serious work on serious issues and not personal attacks on anybody, whether theyre on the left or the right. Can you reflect a little bit about some of your decisions and the personal statements that you have made in recent years? TANDEN: Yes, senator. I really appreciate that question. And I recognize that my language and my expressions on social media, you know, caused hurt to people and I feel badly about that. And I recognize its really important for me to demonstrate that I can work with others and I look forward to taking that burden and I apologize to people on either the left or right who are hurt by what Ive said. SANDERS: As you know, its not a question of being hurt. Were all big boys, I dont see too many girls here, big boys who get attacked all the time. But its important that we make the attacks expressing our differences on policy and that we dont need to make personal attacks no matter what view somebody may hold. Can we assume as the director of the OMB, were going to see a different approach, if you are appointed than you have taken? TANDEN: Absolutely. I would say social media does lead to too many personal comments and my will be radically different. Lol, first at the notion that Tanden is capable of self-refection, second that the idea that The Twitter made me do it. Like clockwork: It went from "vote because there's kids in cages" to "shut the fuck up about the kids in cages, you just don't know how government works" https://t.co/GwPTRu1ebj  Dubula (@killerguerilla) February 10, 2021

Realignment and Legitimacy

Theres Nothing Left: Why Thousands of Republicans Are Leaving the Party [New York Times]. An analysis of January voting records by The New York Times found that nearly 140,000 Republicans had quit the party in 25 states that had readily available data (19 states do not have registration by party). Voting experts said the data indicated a stronger-than-usual flight from a political party after a presidential election, as well as the potential start of a damaging period for G.O.P. registrations as voters recoil from the Capitol violence and its fallout. Legal loopholes allow abuse to go undetected at religious boarding schools, advocates say [NBC].  Making Qs theory of child-abusing elites look rather like projection.

Stats Watch

At reader request, I added some business stats back in. Please give Econintersect click-throughs; theyre a good, old-school blog that covers more than stats.

Employment Situation: 06 February 2021 Initial Unemployment Claims Rolling Average Improves [Econintersect]. Market expectations for weekly initial unemployment claims (from Econoday) were 750 K to 878 K (consensus 803 K), and the Department of Labor reported 793,000 new claims. The more important (because of the volatility in the weekly reported claims and seasonality errors in adjusting the data) 4 week moving average moved from 856,500 (reported last week as 848,250) to 823,000

Employment Situation: Older Workers Accounted For All Net Employment Growth In Past 20 Years [Econintersect]. Total U.S. employment grew by 11,767,000, or 8.5%, in the 20 years ending in December 2020.[ 1] All that growth  11,879,000, or 101% of the total  was due to increased employment of people age 60 and older. Meanwhile, the net employment change over the past two decades of people ages 16-59 was -112,000 (-1% of the total change), despite this younger group being 3.8 times as large as the older group in December 2000 and still 2.4 times as large in December 2020.  Sounds like its time to make Social Security live up to its name, and decruft existing Medicare, while were at it.

Employment Situation: Until morale improves:

Employers have cut 582,000 factory jobs compared with the pre-Covid-19 level. With efficiencies, they may not return to that staffing. Well see productivity take a big pop with no significant increase in the workforce. https://t.co/zXCRbX2S69 via @economics @sdonnan @JoeDeaux pic.twitter.com/l2pnOY03cN  Steve Matthews (@SteveMatthews12) February 10, 2021

* * *

Todays Fear & Greed Index: 65 Greed (previous close: 56 Greed) [CNN]. One week ago: 53 (Neutral). (0 is Extreme Fear; 100 is Extreme Greed). Last updated Feb 11 at 12:00pm. A ten point swing back to Green. Mr. Market is really having his mood swings between Neutral and Greed (not Fear). Odd.

Health Care

Public policy and health in the Trump era [The Lancet]. Single payer advocates Woolhandler and Himmelstein among the authors; worth the free log-in. The global COVID-19 pandemic has had a disproportionate effect on the USA, with more than 26 million diagnosed cases and over 450 000 deaths as of early February, 2021, about 40% of which could have been averted had the US death rate mirrored the weighted average of the other G7 nations.  But everythings going according to plan: Life expectancy in the USA was average among high-income nations in 1980, by 1995, it was 22 years shorter than the average of other G7 countries, and by 2018, the gap had widened to 34 years. The extent of difference can also be quantified as the number of missing Americansie, the number of US residents who would still be alive if age-specific mortality rates in the USA had remained equal to the average of the other six G7 nations. By this measure, in 2018 alone, 461 000 Americans went missing, an annual figure that has been increasing since 1980 (figure 2, appendix pp 23).38 Most of the US mortality excess is among people younger than 65 years. If US death rates were equivalent to those of other G7 nations, two of five deaths before age 65 years would have been averted. To put this number in context, the number of missing Americans each year is more than the total number of COVID-19 deaths in the USA in all of 2020.  And: Many of the adverse health and social trends preceded and presaged President Trumps election. His county-level vote share in 2016 was closely correlated with mortality trends. Counties in which more than 60% of people voted for Trump had higher life expectancy in 1980 than those counties in which more than 60% of people voted for Clinton. However, by 2014, the Trump counties lagged more than 2 years behind counties that had voted for Clinton.  As I pointed out back in November, 2016, before economic anxiety became something for liberal Democrats snicker at.

Predicting COVID-19 Outcomes in Emergency Department Patients [JAMA]. A new artificial intelligence algorithm uses chest x-ray severity scores and clinical variables collected during emergency department (ED) visits to predict whether patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) will be intubated or will die. If further validated in larger studies with additional patient populations, the proof-of-concept model could be used to appropriately triage ED patients before they become seriously ill with COVID-19.  Triaged by an algo. Something to look forward to, I guess.

CVS Looks to Simplify Vaccine Site for Federal Pharmacy Push [Bloomberg]. CVS Health Corp. has revamped its website where customers can book appointments to get Covid-19 shots, hoping to avoid the confusion and technical snafus that have bedeviled the early phases of the U.S. vaccine rollout. The nations largest pharmacy chain, with about 9,900 locations, added a feature Tuesday that displays a map of the U.S. highlighting the states where its offering vaccines. When a user clicks on a state, a window pops up showing who is eligible for immunization, which CVS stores are offering vaccines, whether appointments are available and when the data was last updated.  Oh, great. A pop-up. Better tell all the elders whose grandchildren turned off pop-ups in their browsers to whitelist CVS! Seriously, is there something wrong with a simple list, where everything is visible, and that you can print out?

Groves of Academe

Instagram-worthy: Covid-19 predicted to change design of Australian universities [Guardian]. The report, commissioned by telecommunications company Optus and IT company Cisco, claims that universities are moving towards campuses that are cheaper to build after the Covid-19 pandemic. While the report was not written by a university, or a university industry body, Optus said it is based on responses from executives across 80% of Australian higher education and Tafe institutes.'  I believe it. More: Darren McKee, the chief operating officer of Murdoch University in Western Australia was quoted in the report saying: The face-to-face mass lecture is all but dead. The report claims that creating a more Instagram-worthy campus is a new priority of university design.  Fifty-four per cent of education leaders believe students will increasingly be looking for Instagram-worthy experiences on campus , it said. There is general agreement that these changes are driving institutions towards investment in digital  Creating Instagram-worthy moments.  Sixteen universities responded to the survey, including seven of the Group of Eight institutions, and four from the Australian Technology Network of universities  Curtin University, RMIT University, University of South Australia, and the University of Technology Sydney.  And we wonder why university administrators cant collectively mobilize to keep all their students safe in a pandemic.

Zeitgeist Watch

The Great Super Bowl Rings Heist [ESPN]. What is undeniable is that Murphy has been locked up in Bristol County jail for a long time. He doesnt mind it much, he says, mostly because he sees it as an occupational hazard. His routine is static: morning workout, chores, his soap opera from 2 to 3  Ive been watching General Hospital for 35 years  and law library time at night. Most evenings, Star Trek is on the prison TVs (Murphy likes Voyager), and on Saturdays he is able to listen to three hours of House of Hair, Dee Sniders hair metal music show. It reminds him of going to see bands like Poison and Kiss in the 1980s.

Neoliberal Epidemics

Life Expectancy and Mortality Rates in the United States, 1959-2017 [JAMA]. From the Abstract: Between 1959 and 2016, US life expectancy increased from 69.9 years to 78.9 years but declined for 3 consecutive years after 2014. The recent decrease in US life expectancy culminated a period of increasing cause-specific mortality among adults aged 25 to 64 years that began in the 1990s, ultimately producing an increase in all-cause mortality that began in 2010 .  Obama, good job. More: During 2010-2017, midlife all-cause mortality rates increased from 328.5 deaths/100 000 to 348.2 deaths/100 000. By 2014, midlife mortality was increasing across all racial groups, caused by drug overdoses, alcohol abuse, suicides, and a diverse list of organ system diseases . The largest relative increases in midlife mortality rates occurred in New England (New Hampshire, 23.3%; Maine, 20.7%; Vermont, 19.9%) and the Ohio Valley (West Virginia, 23.0%; Ohio, 21.6%; Indiana, 14.8%; Kentucky, 14.7%). The increase in midlife mortality during 2010-2017 was associated with an estimated 33 307 excess US deaths, 32.8% of which occurred in 4 Ohio Valley states.  Across all racial groups. Handy map:

"Working-age mortality rates have increased in 48 states since 2010. The Rust Belt and Appalachia have seen some of the most dramatic increases in death rates for Americans, ages 25 to 64." https://t.co/N1ie9ptOEZ  $ean P. McCarthy (@SeanMcCarthyCom) February 11, 2021

To be fair, these Americans are unlikely to be woke, and so the results of this grand natural experiment are to be expected, and may even be salutary. From the Virginia Commonwealth University press release on the study: The notion that U.S. death rates are increasing for working-age adults is particularly disturbing because it is not happening like this in other countries, [ Steven Woolf, M.D., director emeritus of the VCU Center on Society and Health] said.  This is a distinctly American phenomenon .'  Musical interlude.

Covid-19 vaccination rates follow the money in states with the biggest wealth gaps, analysis shows [STAT]. Connecticut has the most glaring disparity in vaccination rates between its richest and poorest communities  a difference of 65%  according to a STAT analysis of local-level vaccine data in 10 states with the biggest wealth gaps. Four other states  California, Florida, New Jersey, and Mississippi  also have vaccinated a significantly higher proportion of people in the wealthiest 10% of counties The findings back up, with hard data, anecdotal reports from around the country that wealthy people have been able to gain access to vaccines ahead of low-income people. But the analysis also reveals that some states appear to be distributing vaccines more equitably than others. Among states with the greatest wealth gaps, Texas, Tennessee, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, and Illinois did not show a significant county-level income divide in vaccination rates.

Class Warfare

Makes me wonder what the equivalent would be in North Houston. I just dont know:

In the clip below, Subcomandante Marcos explains how his politics changed after going to the mountains of Chiapas to support indigenous struggle. The indigenous simply did not exist for Marxism-Leninism. So it was totally useless as a tool. pic.twitter.com/9h98GsVQy4  Black Socialists in America (@BlackSocialists) January 13, 2021

Everythings going according to plan, but faster this time:

Yikes: While high-income jobs have more than recovered, "employment among low-wage workers remains 14% below pre-pandemic levels and is trending down again." https://t.co/5bF2Exvz47 pic.twitter.com/bEoGgSAXlG  Jeanna Smialek (@jeannasmialek) February 9, 2021

Same as under Obama, how odd:

News of the Wired

John Keats is brought back to life 200 years after his death: Scientists are recreating the famous poets voice, face and clothing in CGI, in the very room in Rome where he died [Daily Mail]. The Victoria and Albert Museum were involved in the clothing selection  it had to match Keats working class background and the final outfits were contentious While the clothing was contentious, the accent was the most difficult part of the project, Michel said, as they had to capture his famous London voice. He had been said by critics to be of the cockney school with low diction and that he made use of inelegant rhymes  think thorns with fawns. So to get his voice correct they turned to Dr Ranjen Sen of the University of Sheffield  a linguistic historian, who said Keats accent would have had distinctive features. Keats would have emphasised the final t in words like fat, cat, sat and mat that would sound put on or exaggerated to modern ears, said Sen. The virtual reading of Big Star will start at 17:00 GMT on February 23, 2021 and will run until just after midnight to give him his full extra day the tombstone promised.  Bright Star, ffs (Bright star, would I were stedfast as thou art, lovely). Was Andrea Mitchell consulting on this project?

Oy, the The O. Sea is the OC:

Sid The Cat Lawyer files a motion:

while this was happening Sid wouldn't get off of Bethany's laptop and he left this input in our daily work notes pic.twitter.com/arK8QIam3y  Down Here For Your Soul (@bombsfall) February 9, 2021

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LL writes: Danish Flag poppy and a few Bee friends.

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The Work

Katie White describes the city's efforts to apply an equity lens to its work.



Committing to Equity

We know we still have much work to do and that equity is a goal we will forever be working toward. We believe the work of Age-Friendly Columbus and Franklin County showcases a commitment to building an age-friendly community through an equitable approach," says White. "This is our fifth year of this work and, over time, we've implemented different strategies to engage and serve diverse elders and communities."

For instance, White explains, "we pilot new programs in our priority neighborhoods, defined as areas densely populated by vulnerable older adults. Over our three years of implementation and through community-based planning approaches, we have piloted neighborhood bus circulators, Villages [see below], tactical urbanism, a transportation program with Lyft [see the video below], a research program called Safe Routes to Age in Place and many other programs. In the early phases, we created a diverse 50+ Residents Council for guidance. Now that we're in implementation, members of the council are leading efforts to implement our action steps."

Representation Matters

"In March 2020 the initiative launched The Positive Aging Campaign, which involved diverse older adults for the photo and video shoots, design and brainstorming phases and message-testing to ensure that our work was inclusive," says White. "We then launched a second campaign highlighting older adults and caregivers through supportive messaging in six languages."

Using Data to Target Investments

Age-Friendly Columbus and Franklin County used data from the Age-Friendly Columbus Findings Report to target its focus groups, pilot programs and other resources to neighborhoods densely populated with vulnerable older adults, where "vulnerability" is defined by 12 indicators including race, income, disability and other measures. Neighborhoods were identified through utilization of a 2014 study called Meeting the Challenges of an Aging Population with Success."
kali9/iStockBy KIARA BRANTLEY-JONES and STACY CHEN, ABC News



(SAN FRANCISCO) -- A reported string of nearly two dozen violent, unprovoked attacks against Asians and Asian Americans in the Bay Area in recent weeks has left the community on edge, advocates say.



While police say the motive for the attacks -- which include robberies and people being assaulted -- is unclear, it comes amid continued concern about anti-Chinese and anti-Asian sentiment surrounding the coronavirus pandemic and its origins in Wuhan, China.



Since the beginning of the pandemic Asian American communities have been the target of and on guard for hate.



Critics say former President Donald Trump helped fuel hate towards China and Chinese Americans over this issue since the beginning of the pandemic, often derisively referring to the coronavirus as the "China virus" or "Kung flu," and continuously blaming China for the pandemic. President Joe Biden has since signed an executive order directing federal agencies to combat coronavirus-fueled harassment and called the attacks on the Asian American community "unacceptable," but still, the violence has not stopped.



In a series of videos taken on Jan. 31, a man in Oakland's Chinatown neighborhood is seen violently shoving three unsuspecting people. The assault left a 91-year-old man, a 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman injured, according to police.



Another surveillance video released by the owner of an Oakland Chinatown shop captured the moment that a man walked up to an Asian customer trying to pay at the cashier, when he snatched their wallet and fled. It was unclear if this was a bias incident.



Carl Chan, president of the Oakland Chinatown Chamber of Commerce, told ABC News that in recent weeks there's been an uptick in violent attacks targeting Asian families, customers and store owners in Oakland's Chinatown neighborhood.



Between March 19, 2020 and December 31, 2020, Stop AAPI Hate -- the nations leading coalition documenting and addressing anti-Asian hate and discrimination amid the COVID-19 pandemic -- received 126 accounts of anti-Asian hate involving Asian Americans over 60 years old, accounting for 7.3% of Stop AAPI Hates 2,808 self-reported incidents.



"There are way too many incidents that have been happening," Chan said. "Many of our seniors, even though they live in Chinatown, some of them are afraid to go out to walk their own streets."



Despite the fact that the motive is unclear, police say they are committed to supporting the community and helping prevent further incidents.



More than 20 attacks reported



Chan has collected more than 20 incident reports submitted by victims to the Oakland Chamber of Commerce in recent weeks as well as surveillance videos showing local stores being robbed and Asian business owners and customers being assaulted.



While some of the incidents have been reported to police, Chan said there are likely many more that have not.



"I think it would be even higher," said Chan referring to the number of assaults being reported. "But, victims are not willing to report incidents."



He said some are afraid of coming forward and others believe nothing will be done to stop the violent attacks. He said some shop owners even told him they did not report robberies out of fear of losing customers due to safety concerns.



On Monday, police arrested Yahya Muslim, 28, who faces charges of assault and elder abuse in three of the 20 incidents reported in a series of unprovoked attacks targeting Asians in Oakland's Chinatown including the assault on the 91-year-old man, according to Oakland authorities.



A motive behind the Oakland Chinatown attacks has not yet been released.



On Feb. 1, Muslim was booked at the Santa Rita Jail in Dublin, California, for charges unrelated to the Jan. 31 attacks. His bail is set at $155,000, according to online jail records. It is unclear at this time if Muslim has hired an attorney or will be appointed a public defender.



"I'm not sure if racism or bigotry is the motivation," Oakland's newly appointed police chief LeRonne Armstrong told ABC News. "I will say that we know that suspects have come to Chinatown specifically to target Asian victims, older Asian victims."



Armstrong said the police department is focused on "supporting our Chinatown community by having an immediate response, having a greater presence.""This violence impacts our entire community. It's had an impact across our city," added Armstrong. "And so we're trying to address violence, not only in the Asian community, but in all communities in Oakland."



'She's traumatized'



The granddaughter of a 71-year-old woman who was robbed on the sidewalk in Oakland, California, learned of the incident when she received a call from her grandmother.Other than a few bruises, the elderly woman did not sustain any major injuries but her granddaughter told ABC News, "She's traumatized."



"It was kind of hard for me to even watch it, she said. "So it's traumatizing for me to even, you know, be outside ... to not look twice or the third time to see if I'm being followed or someone suspicious, just like come up to me, you know what I mean?"



Stop AAPI Hate, a partnership among three organizations dedicated to tracking the rise in attacks against Asian Americans, said it received 2,808 reports of incidents of racism and discrimination across the U.S. between March and December 2020.



Manjusha Kulkarni, the executive director of Asian Pacific Policy and Planning Council, however, said she doesn't believe what happened in the Bay Area is part of a national spike.



"Obviously what's happened in the Bay Area is a concern with those recent attacks, both in San Francisco and in Oakland, so we're obviously going to monitor the situation," Kulkarni told ABC News, adding that there is usually an increase in crimes around Lunar New Year when more people are out and carrying more cash for shopping and red envelopes than usual.



Asian American activists, celebrities rally behind community



Despite Biden's recent efforts to combat violence against Asian Americans, many in the community believe there's been a lack of action from authorities on the matter and a lack of coverage from mainstream media.



Activist and founder of Rise, a non-profit civil rights organization, Amanda Ngyuen, posted a video of the recent attacks on Instagram that went viral. Within hours it was shared by high-profile celebrities like Amy Schumer, Quest Love, Gemma Chan, Olivia Munn and more.



"I did it because I was so tired of living in fear and terror of stepping out of the door and getting attacked by random strangers," Ngyuen said.



Actors Daniel Dae Kim and Daniel Wu also took action and partnered up to offer a $25,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those involved in the attack of the 91-year-old man in Oakland's Chinatown.



Wu, a Bay Area native, said that while Lunar New Year is traditionally a festive, jubilant holiday, the recent attacks have clouded the mood. "That's a sad thing for us, this is normally a time for us to rejoice and to be happy but right now everyone's in fear and anxiety," he said.



Concerned about the recent uptick of violence against Asians, "Crazy Rich Asians" star Chris Pang whos currently in Las Vegas, offered to accompany anyone, particularly elderly Asian Americans who feel unsafe on their commute, or errand runs. While others like fashion influencer and designer, Aimee Song, and actress Olivia Munn joined Ngyuen in calling out the media for more coverage.



"Historically, anti-Asian attacks have not been covered with the same urgency afforded to white communities," read Song's message.



"I implore mainstream media to cover our stories to give credence to our existence, to witness our pain," Ngyuen told ABC News. "When people treat Asian Americans as 'other' and continually, perpetually foreign ... it makes scapegoating and violence happen."



As many in the community struggle to cope, Elaine Dang, who's on the board of Act To Change, a nonprofit organization working to address bullying in Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) youth, said it's important to educate oneself on the current issues and listen to local organizations to see what the best way to move forward is.



On Tuesday, over 40 local organizations and businesses in the Bay Area joined together to release a formal statement demanding action against violence toward Asian Americans. In it, they ask that San Francisco and Oakland increase resources and support for the Asian American community and other minority communities, and "resource cross-community education and healing in Asian American and Black communities that humanizes all of us rather than demonizes or scapegoats any community of color."



"The most powerful tool we have is our voice," Ngyuen said of her continuous fight for visibility and justice for her community. "No one is invisible when we demand to be seen because we're dying to be heard."



ABC News' Kayna Whitworth contributed to this report.



Copyright  2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
The moment the strange, unkempt man walked into his Bergen County restaurant shortly after 3 p.m. on Saturday, Eddie Marin had a feeling something wasnt right.

He said, I want food. I want chicken. And he kept turning his back to me and reaching toward his crotch, said Marin, who co-owns Mis Raices in Teaneck with his wife, Anna.

The man mumbled his words and moved slowly in an unsteady and odd pace, as if he was high on something, Marin said.

At one point, the man pulled an old pair of shoes from one of two bags he was carrying and banged the shoes on a table, Marin said.

Thats when Marin said he saw a gun handle poking out of the mans waistband. As soon as I saw the gun I said, in my mind, Im gonna go after this guy.

The 56-year-old restaurant owner said he lunged at the man, placing him in a side bear hug and holding his arms so he cant grab the gun. As the two struggled, Marin called out for his fry cook, Manny, who was in the back of the restaurant, working in the kitchen.

I said, Manny, this guy has a gun, Marin recalled. The cook bolted into the dining area and joined the struggle.

Together, the men were able to push the intruder out of the doors and into the street in front of the restaurant, which is in the 1200 block of Teaneck Road.

The cook took the gun away and brought it back into the restaurant. Marin said they later discovered the semiautomatic pistol held a loaded clip with one bullet in the chamber.

When the fight was over, the man became belligerent, Marin said. He said he was going to call his lawyer. I told him, Good. Call your lawyer. Im calling the cops.

Teaneck police officers later found a man several blocks away and identified him as the suspect, Police Chief Glenn M. OReilly said in a statement on Thursday.

Christopher Estades, 28, of New York City, was arrested and charged with first-degree attempted robbery and second-degree weapons offenses. He was held at the Bergen County Jail pending a court hearing, police said.

Marin said he and his wife have owned the restaurant, which specializes in Cuban and Puerto Rican dishes, for about five years and that this is the first time theyve had a serious problem.

The couple considers their cook Manny, who asked that his last name not be used, a good friend who has always been there for them.

If Manny wasnt here and I was by myself, this guy could have shot me, Marin said. Ill always be grateful he was here that day.

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.

FREMONT, Calif. and OXFORD, United Kingdom, Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Cerus Endovascular Ltd., a privately-held, commercial-stage medical device company, today announced that it has received Breakthrough Device Designation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its Contour Neurovascular System.

Breakthrough Device Designation is granted to medical devices and device-led combination products that provide the potential for a more effective treatment option for life-threatening or irreversibly debilitating diseases. The designation expedites the traditional development, assessment and review process, and enables medical professionals to get access to new developments quickly.

Indicated for the treatment of intracranial aneurysms, the Contour Neurovascular System, composed of fine mesh braid, represents a unique intrasaccular advancement in the market, as it targets the neck of the aneurysm, away from the vulnerable dome. Additionally, the System is designed to be self-anchored for stability, re-sheathable for precise placement, and because it is deployed across the neck, sizing criteria are less restrictive than other commercially available intrasaccular devices, making it easier to use in the clinical setting.

"Today's news marks another significant milestone in our company's evolution and is the direct result of the commitment and strength of our scientific team, led by Dr. Lori Adels, Chief Compliance Officer," stated Dr. Stephen Griffin, President of Cerus Endovascular. "We anticipate initiating our U.S. clinical trial, under an Investigational Device Exemption, soon and will work aggressively to bring our already CE Mark-approved Contour technology to the U.S. market."

"We look forward to working with U.S. regulatory authorities to expedite the availability of this innovative device that could provide an effective, minimally invasive treatment for bifurcated, intracranial aneurysms, a life threatening condition," noted Dr. Adels. "Under this program, the FDA will provide us with timely, interactive communication, priority review and FDA senior management engagement regarding the development of efficient and flexible clinical trial protocols, through to commercialization strategy and decisions."

Dr. Sam Milstein, Cerus' Chairman, added, "International sales of the Contour System continue to accelerate, as the medical communities abroad recognize the tangible benefits of this device. We look forward to having a similar impact in the U.S. market."

About Cerus Endovascular

Cerus Endovascular is a privately held, commercial-stage, medical device company engaged in the design and development of highly differentiated and proprietary interventional neuroradiology devices and delivery systems for the treatment of acute, life-threatening neurological conditions, specifically, intracranial aneurysms. The Company's CE Marked products, the Contour Neurovascular System and the Neqstent Coil Assisted Flow Diverter, expand the number and types of treatable intracranial aneurysms. For more information, please go to: www.cerusendo.com.

Contacts:

Melody A. Carey

Rx Communications Group, LLC

917-322-2571

[email protected]

SOURCE Cerus Endovascular Ltd.

Related Links

https://www.cerusendo.com/


Uttarakhand tragedy: 36 confirmed dead, 10 identified; 197 still missing

India

oi-Briti Roy Barman

Chamoli, Feb 11: The death toll in the disaster has climbed to 36, while some 197 people are still missing, confirmed by the Uttarakhand Police on Thursday.

Of 36, 10 bodies have been identified so far said the state Government.

The rescue operations at Tapovan tunnel in Chamoli district is continuing for the fifth day today. The district was hit by a massive disaster early on Sunday after a glacier broke off at Joshimath and flooded the Rishiganga and Dhauli Ganga rivers.

The Union Home Secretary chaired a meeting today to review the progress of rescue and relief work being carried out by Central agencies and agencies of the Government of Uttarakhand at the site of the hydro project of the NTPC at Tapovan on the Dhauliganga River.

Drilling operation towards the slush flushing tunnel was stopped after approx 7-8 meters of drill. A hard rock obstructed the cutters to operate. The rescue teams are now removing the slush again as earlier from machines, informed the Indo-Tibetan Border Police.

Uttarakhand Director-General of Police (DGP) Ashok Kumar today informed that DNA samples of the bodies recovered after the glacier burst incident in Chamoli district are being preserved by the state officials.

"We are preserving DNA samples of the recovered bodies. Out of total dead bodies recovered, we have so far identified 10 bodies. All our officers including DIG Law and Order, SP Rudraprayag -- they taking care of the identities of the dead bodies using Whatsapp. Last rites will only be performed after preserving the DNA of the bodies," said DGP, Uttarakhand.

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Story first published: Thursday, February 11, 2021, 20:32 [IST]
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Jerusalem: Israels former UN ambassador sent an ill-tempered tweet to Joe Biden on Wednesday imploring him to call Benjamin Netanyahu, as the US President appeared to give the cold shoulder to his closest security partner in the Middle East.

The Israeli Prime Minister is yet to receive a personal phone call from Biden, who has already spoken to leaders in Britain, France and Germany.

Danny Danon, Israels former permanent representative to the United Nations, sent a tweet to the US president with a phone number for Netanyahus office as he pleaded for the White House to make the call.

Might it now be time to call the leader of Israel, the closest ally of the US? Danny Danon asked in the tweet.
Tehran:

Iran has imprisoned a Chinese-American man for 10 years after accusing him of infiltrating the country and detained President Hassan Rouhanis brother over allegations of financial misconduct, authorities said on Monday.



Hossein Fereidoun's detention comes less than two months after relative moderate Rouhani beat a hard-line opponent to win reelection by running in large part on his record of pursuing greater engagement with the West. They were announced by the judiciary, a pillar of hard-liners influence.



The Chinese-American dual national was identified as Xiyue Wang, a 37-year-old history researcher, according to Mizan Online, a website affiliated with the judiciary.



He was not previously known to be among the handful of Americans detained in Iran.



It was verified and determined that he was gathering (information) and was involved in infiltration, Judiciary spokesman Gholam Hossein Mohseni Ejehi said during a routine press briefing.



Ejehi did not identify Wang by name. But hours after he spoke, Mizan published an article attributed to an unnamed source that revealed his identity and included several photos of him apparently taken from the internet.



The Mizan article said he was born in Beijing and entered Iran as a researcher. It pointed to graduate studies he did at Princeton University in 2013 and 2014 and described him as a fluent speaker of Persian.



In a statement, Princeton said Wang was arrested in Iran last summer while conducting research on the 1794-1925 Qajar dynasty for his PhD in late 19th and early 20th-century Eurasian history.



We were very distressed by the charges brought against him in connection with his scholarly activities, and by his subsequent conviction and sentence, the statement read.



The university said its been working with Wangs family, the US government, private counsel and others to secure his release. It said it was hopeful he would be released upon appeal.



A photo of Wang on Princetons history department shows him posing under a plaque at the entrance of Chinas official Xinhua News Agencys bureau in Kabul, Afghanistan.



Wang was arrested on August 8, 2016, and is accused of passing confidential information about Iran to the US State Department, Princetons Sharmin and Bijan Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Iran and Persian Gulf Studies, the Harvard Kennedy School and the British Institute of Persian Studies, according to Mizan. It alleged he recorded some 4,500 pages of digital documents.



The US State Department was not immediately able to provide details on the case. It said its citizens safety and security is a top priority.

For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
Larry Flynt, founder and publisher of the pornographic magazine Hustler, died on Wednesday, his family said. He was 78.

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Flynt's brother, Jimmy Flynt, and daughter, Theresa Flynt, confirmed to The Washington Post and NBC News respectively that he died Wednesday morning at Cedars Sinai hospital in Los Angeles. A cause of death was not given.

After launching Hustler in the 1970s as an extension of his brand of adult clubs featuring nude hostesses Flynt faced criticism from feminists and anti-porn activists as well as several lawsuits over the magazine's content. He was also shot by a sniper in 1978, leaving him paralyzed.

Born in Maffogin County, Ky., on Nov. 1, 1942, Flynt dropped out of school at age 15 and joined the Army for seven months using a falsified birth certificate then served in the Navy for five years after lying about his age again and was honorably discharged in 1964.

He bought his mother's bar in Dayton, Ohio, in 1965, before branching out into seven other cities that featured strip dancing.

In July 1974, the first issue of Hustler magazine was launched ushering in a more graphic form of the pornographic magazine than its contemporaries.

"Playboy and Penthouse were parading their pornography as art, with the airbrushing and the soft lens. I realized that if we became more explicit, we could get a huge piece of this market," he said in an interview cited by The Washington Post. "I sensed that raw sex was what men wanted. And I was right."

The magazine's content led Flynt to be convicted of obscenity and organized-crime charges in Cincinnati in 1976 and sentenced to seven to 25 years in prison, although he ultimately won a dismissal on appeal.

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Two years later he was shot by white supremacist John Paul Franklin who said he objected to interracial photos featured in Hustler while leaving a courthouse in Atlanta where he faced more obscenity charges.

In 1985, he was sentenced to 60 days in prison for using obscene language before the U.S. Supreme Court, and, in a separate incident, wearing an unauthorized Purple Heart medal.

Rev. Jerry Falwell sued Flynt in 1983 after publishing a satirical ad depicting Falwell boasting about having drunken sex with his mother. The case made it to the Supreme Court which unanimously ruled in 1988 that offensive speech such as the ad was constitutionally protected as long as it did not claim to be factual and that Falwell could not collect $200,000 for inflicting ridicule and emotional distress.

Flynt also launched a bid for president in 1983, running on a platform of fighting sexual repression.

"I want to keep Big Brother out of your bedroom ... if the government can control the single strongest drive you have, they can control anything, and that's the road to fascism," he said at the time.

His life has been the subject of various films and books, including the 1996 film The People vs. Larry Flynt.
Press Release

Nokia partners with Brazilian research group CPQD to develop 5G ORAN solutions

Collaboration to explore Open RAN compliant Radio Intelligent Controller platform to develop innovative 5G use cases

Partnership to focus on development of 5G use cases such as fixed wireless access smart cities and Industry 4.0

11 February 2021

Espoo, Finland - Nokia today announced a partnership with Brazil'sTelecommunications Research and Development Center (CPQD), an independent government-affiliated research body, to jointly develop applications and solutions based on the Open RAN (O-RAN) compliant near-real-time RAN Intelligent Controller (RIC).

The partnership will focus on 5G use cases in cooperation with Nokia's Brazilian mobile operator customers including fixed wireless access (FWA), smart cities, IoT for Industry 4.0, and critical networks, which will be customized for the Brazilian market.

Leveraging Nokia's Service Enablement Platform (SEP), which combines the capabilities of the RIC and multi-access edge computing (MEC), the collaboration is designed to create innovative use cases at the network edge. These use cases utilize Nokia's optimized AirFrame open edge server solution and will allow CPQD to explore the potential of 5G to deliver an enhanced network performance with lower energy consumption, greater reliability, and security.

Nokia's SEP enables innovative use cases at the edge of the RAN. It runs on the edge or far edge datacenter and can share infrastructure with Cloud RAN or other virtualized network functions using open API capabilities to enable an agile and dynamic edge cloud environment for secure innovation with ecosystem and third parties. Nokia's edge-optimized AirFrame open edge server solution provides secured and high-performance ultra-small footprint edge cloud infrastructure for indoor and outdoor environments.

The RIC is a virtualized 5G optimization technology that adds programmability to the Radio Access Network (RAN) and enables artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) as well as new services. It provides a framework for deploying applications from multiple sources. The near-real-time RIC platform provides functions and interfaces that boost optimization, automation, and faster, more flexible service deployments.

Founded in 1976, CPQD is one of Brazil's largest independent research and development institutions in the field of Information Technologies. Its mission is to enhance Brazil's technology-related competitiveness as well as improve the digital inclusion of society. It's the first research center in Latin America to work on applications for the RIC platform.

Frederico Nava, Director of Solutions and Consulting at CPQD, said: "This is an important collaboration that will help to shape the future of 5G networks in Brazil. We look forward to a fruitful and successful partnership with Nokia and look forward to introducing a range of innovative 5G-based use cases to the market."

Ari Kynaslahti, Head of Technology and Strategy at Nokia Mobile Networks, commented: "This important partnership will explore the potential for innovative 5G use cases that will have real-world value in Brazil across a range of different areas, such as smart cities and fixed wireless access. Our RAN Intelligent Controller will play a critical role in this research, helping to explore and trial new cutting-edge use cases that will put Brazil at the forefront in the 5G era."

Resources:

Webpage: Open RAN

Webpage: Nokia AirFrame

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The Minority in Parliament is blaming government for Ghanas increasing coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases.



In the view of the caucus, governments unwillingness to reengage contact tracers after suspending their services in April of last year and reneging on its 50 per cent allowances for frontline health workers are contributing factors to the countrys case count.



At a press conference in Parliament yesterday, the caucus said failure by government to ensure adequate provision of personal protective equipment to schools prior to reopening is also a contributing factor.



President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and his technical team of advisors have not demonstrated enough competence in handling this pandemic contrary to all they have been trumpeting.



Contact Tracing has been abandoned and disappointed health workers have chosen not to join COVID-19 teams due to failure on governments part to fulfil its promises to them, Minority spokesperson on Health, Kwabena Minta Akandoh, told the media.



According to Mr Akandoh, MP, Dwaboso, since Ghana recorded its first case on March 12, 2020, governments handling of the virus has been abysmal.



Ghana, after seeing its active cases reduced to less than 500 before the end of the year is bearing the brunt of the second wave with two different variants  South African and England  reported in the country.



At the time of filing this report, 472 people had succumbed to the virus, with 137 representing 29 per cent of the deaths occurring this year.



The trend of infections and death is worrying and if nothing is done immediately to arrest the situation our outturn with COVID-19 will be a complete disaster, he said.



Information from the Ghana Health Service, Mr Akandoh said, indicated that about 32 per cent of confirmed cases now report to medical centres sick compared to 21 per cent in 2020.



In this regard, he said it was important government engaged contact tracers to trace infected persons before they further spread the virus.



With the discovery of the new variants in Ghana, citizens expected that experienced frontline health professionals would be deployed to man COVID-19 health centres but sadly this has not been the case.



In its recommendation to government, Mr Akandoh urged government to, as a matter of urgency, dissolve the Technical Advisory Team formed in 2020 and recompose a multidisciplinary and non-partisan Technical Advisory Committee to direct the management of COVID-19 in the country.



As a matter of urgency, the government must expand more management facilities and build capacity to handle the many severe cases that are likely to be confirmed.



Schools should be adequately resourced and supported to make the environment safe from COVID-19, he added.

Source: The Ghanaian Times









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The Centre may arrest Twitter's top executives in India stating that its list of accounts sought to be censured over inflammatory content was not negotiable.

The government added that its "patience is running out" over refusal of the company to follow the earlier notice given under Section 69A of the IT Act, Times of India reported.

India had rebuked Twitter on Wednesday for not complying with its orders to take down certain content and warned the social media giant that it needs to obey local laws, even as Indian lawmakers urged their followers to switch to home-grown rival Koo.

Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, in a statement, said, "Secretary expressed his deep disappointment to Twitter leadership about the manner in which Twitter has unwillingly, grudgingly and with great delay complied with the substantial parts of the order. He took this opportunity to remind Twitter that in India, its Constitution and laws are supreme. It is expected that responsible entities not only reaffirm but remain committed to compliance to the law of land."

Also read: After Centre's Warning, Twitter Blocks Accounts with 'Khalistani' Links But Adds 'Free Speech' Rider

The statement came after the IT ministry secretary held a virtual meeting with Twitter Vice President Global Public Policy Monique Meche and Deputy General Counsel and Vice President Legal Jim Baker.

The report added that the US micro-blogging giant, which partially followed the order by taking down around half of the accounts sought to be blocked by the government, may now approach the courts as it holds ground in the defence of right of free expression on behalf of the people we serve.

India has ordered Twitter to remove more than 1,100 accounts and posts that it alleges are spreading misinformation about the widespread protests by Indian farmers against new agricultural laws.

Also read: Govt Asks Twitter to Block 1,178 More Accounts With 'Khalistani' Links, Unhappy with Founder Taking Sides

Twitter Inc riled Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government earlier on Wednesday, after it said in a public blog post that it had not fully complied with the government's order because it believed some of the take-down orders were not consistent with Indian law.

 in keeping with our principles of defending protected speech and freedom of expression, we have not taken any action on accounts that consist of news media entities, journalists, activists, and politicians. To do so, we believe, would violate their fundamental right to free expression under Indian law, it said.

Twitters plea for a meeting with communications and IT minister Ravi Shankar Prasad was turned down and the government did not take kindly to Twitter going public.

Upon the request of Twitter seeking a meeting with the government, Secretary Sawhney was to engage with senior management of Twitter. In this light a blog post published prior to this engagement is unusual, the IT ministry said on Koo, a newly launched Indian social media app.

The government also said, "Twitter is free to formulate its own rules and guidelines. But Indian laws which are enacted by the Parliament of India must be followed irrespective of Twitter's own rules and guidelines."
House Bill 133 aims to extend Medicaid coverage to eligible new mothers. The House version of the bill calls for a one-year extension, whereas the Senate version calls for a six-month extension. Advocates say the bill could reduce the states maternal mortality rate. Currently, the state offers Medicaid for two months after giving birth. Should Texas extend Medicaid for eligible new mothers for six months or one year?

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Furious Tory MPs fumed today that the UK's hugely successful Covid vaccine roll-out will be pointless if it doesn't unlock Britain from brutal lockdown curbs soon  as prominent SAGE scientists called for longer restrictions to drive cases down to almost nothing.

No10's top scientific advisers warned there must be no more than 10,000 Britons infected on any given day  the equivalent of fewer than 1,000 daily cases  before Boris Johnson should start easing the measures, or they claim the country risks allowing new mutant variants to spawn. To dip below the 1,000 mark, cases must drop by at least 15-fold as official data shows around 15,000 Britons are testing positive each day.

They also claimed some restrictions like the Rule of Six and face masks in public places might need to remain in place 'forever' because Covid will become endemic.

Tory MP Marcus Fysh told MailOnline SAGE's demands were 'highly unrealistic' and warned ministers must stick to the hospitalisation and deaths criteria to dictate their lockdown-easing plans 'in order to preserve the confidence that people have in the process'.

He added: 'There are people that are hanging on for dear life in economic terms at the moment, who need us to get back to normal. The whole point of vaccinating is so normal life can operate. If we don't get back to that soon there has not been any point in the vaccinations.'

The Prime Minister has promised to get children back in classrooms by March 8 as part of his 'route map' out of lockdown, which he plans to reveal on Monday, February 22.

But sources suggested today the announcement could be pushed back later in that week, which would throw the March 8 date into jeopardy. The Education Secretary has said schools and colleges will get at least two weeks' notice before pupils return to the classroom in order to give pupils, parents and teachers time to prepare.

However, Downing Street sources said it is now '99 per cent' certain that the blueprint will be published on the Monday after protests from Tory MPs. Former chief whip Mark Harper, head of the lockdown-sceptic CRG group of 70 Tory MPs, said it was crucial No10 doesn't 'backslide' on the promise.

It came after SAGE expert Professor John Edmunds told ITV's Peston that most curbs on daily life  which may include the Rule of Six  are likely to be in force until the end of this year, while less restrictive curbs  like face mask wearing on public transport and indoors  could possibly be in place 'forever'.

The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine epidemiologist issued the stark warning as he suggested a variant of the virus detected in Bristol had the 'potential' to reinfect vaccinated Britons. He said it could be 'very dangerous' to the UK's mammoth jab drive if the mutant strain was allowed to spread around the country.

Tory MP Steve Baker told MailOnline that SAGE was 'floating untested hypotheses in the media' which risked spreading 'despair and despondency', adding: 'Doing so is not science. It is the death of science.

'Perhaps worse, it brings scientists squarely into the political domain, something we would I am sure all like to avoid. I look forward to the Prime Minister's February 22 roadmap out of restrictions so that we can all reclaim our lives once and for all.'

In a further blow to hopes measures could be relaxed by the summer, fellow SAGE expert Sir Jeremy Farrar, head of the Wellcome Trust, said there were still 750,000 cases in England  75 times more than he claimed they should be. For comparison, the figure  the estimated number of people who would test positive on any given day  never dipped below the 14,000 mark during the summer.

He added it was 'not sensible' for ministers to set a date for lifting any restrictions, warning they must be led by the evidence in order to avoid a third major spike in infections.

Despite the warnings from top scientists, all key metrics now show Britain is well past the peak of the crisis. The UK announced another 13,494 coronavirus cases and 678 deaths today, with both measures having fallen by more than a quarter week-on-week. Test and Trace data showed infections fell by a quarter last week and separate figures revealed infections dropped in every region and age group.

Pushing back against growing calls for Britain to be released from draconian curbs soon, Sir Jeremy Farrar, head of the Wellcome Trust and member of SAGE, said there were still 750,000 cases in England  75 times more than he says they should be. For comparison, the figure  the estimated number of people who would test positive on any given day  never dipped below the 14,000 mark during the summer

Sir Jeremy Farrar, a member of Sage, warns the UK's cases need to drop 75 times before restrictions can be eased, in a blow to hopes the lockdown could end soon. SAGE scientist Professor John Edmunds has warned the coronavirus variant first detected in Bristol has the 'potential' to reinfect vaccinated Britons

There are now six variants of coronavirus being investigated by Public Health England, five of which have already been found in the UK

Matt Hancock says Covid vaccine uptake has been 'incredible' Matt Hancock said Britain was on course for an 'easier' exit from lockdown because of the swift uptake Britain is on course for an 'easier' exit from gruelling lockdown measures because of the high coronavirus vaccines uptake, Matt Hancock has said. The Health Secretary revealed today the Government feared only around three-quarters of Britons who were eligible would turn up to get the jab. But he said the response had been 'incredible' with more than 90 per cent turning up for their first dose, and had been above 96 per cent for those aged 75 to 79. Top epidemiologists have warned uptake needs to be at at least 85 per cent to achieve herd immunity, which is when a virus stops spreading in a community because enough people have protection. 'The assumption we had going into the vaccine programme was 75 per cent of people would take the jab, and we're now well over 90 per cent,' he told BBC Breakfast. 'So that has gone far better than my most optimistic projections, and I'm quite an optimistic kind of guy. 'That has gone really very well and that of course does make it easier safely for us together to come out of this. 'The difference between say 80 per cent of people taking this up and 90 per cent is that you actually halve from 20 to 10 the number of people who are unprotected. 'These extra few percentages really, really matter because they reduce the number of people who are not protected.' Department of Health figures show 13million Britons have already received their first dose - as the Government speeds towards its target of getting jabs to the top priority groups by mid-February. But there have been mounting calls for ministers to speed up the programme further, after the figures for Monday showed the number of people who got the jab rose just one per cent compared to last week. Critics caution that not a single second of the remaining six weeks before second doses have to be administered should be wasted. Advertisement

It comes as in another day of coronavirus news:

Top UK scientist claims the more infectious Kent variant of the virus is going to 'sweep the world' after it was already spotted in 50 different countries;

Tory MPs vent their fury over threat to holidays as Matt Hancock says 'nothing is certain' and ministers urge Britons not to book trips;

Boris Johnson urges vulnerable people who are still waiting for their Covid-19 vaccine to come forward;

Government sparks fury after advising that playgrounds are only for people without gardens;

Estimates reveal that if Britain followed Israel's plans to get out of lockdown restrictions would not be lifted until late May at the earliest;

Matt Hancock pledges to make health service 'better' after pandemic with 'bureaucracy busting' reforms merging hospitals, GPs and social care;

Paramedic is left 'heartbroken' after her handbag is stolen from her ambulance at the end of a 10-hour shift on the Covid frontline.

Public Health England has so far found 21 cases of the Kent strain with the vaccine-resistant mutation, with 14 in Bristol, four in Manchester and three 'scattered' across the rest of the UK. The strain is an evolved version of the Kent variant  the dominant type in the UK  which has mutated further to develop a change found on the South African strain that makes vaccines slightly less effective. The alteration, called E484K, is thought to play a key role in helping the strains 'hide' from the immune system.

Top experts, however, insist immunity from the jabs should still be enough to prevent mutant strains causing severe illness  even if they don't block people becoming ill again.

It comes after Health Secretary Matt Hancock today raised the prospect of an 'easier' exit from lockdown because Brits are flocking to get Covid jabs in 'incredible numbers'. He said uptake of the vaccine had been 'far, far higher' than expected, with more than 90 per cent of all those in the top priority groups coming forward to get their first dose.

Sir Farrar issued the stark warning that lockdown could drag on for months while speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

'I appreciate that businesses have to plan and everything else,' he said, 'but the data has to drive us, and in 2020 we lifted restrictions too quickly when the data would not really have allowed that and, frankly, as a result the transmission went back up in this country.'

He added: 'We've made enormous progress  the UK deserves great credit for the science behind the vaccines and the rollout, (with) 30million people now vaccinated in this country.

'But the transmission rate is incredibly high still and we've got to get it lower, we've got to get it  in my view  into the single thousands before we can possibly think of lifting restrictions.'

The figure of 750,000 infections in England comes from ONS estimates for the week ending January 30, the latest for which data is available.

These are established by randomly swabbing thousands of Britons to see whether they are infected with the virus and are then extrapolating the findings onto the population.

The ex-Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt called for the Government to keep harsh curbs in place until it was recording 1,000 cases a day last week.

Department of Health figures show 13,013 new infections were identified on February 10, and 113,336 were found this week alone.

Professor Edmunds insisted there was no reason to believe the Bristol variant is any more infectious than the Kent one, so it was not an immediate threat. But he claimed the 'real worry' was that, as millions more people get vaccinated and the Kent strain is suppressed, the new variant could have an evolutionary edge.

Professor Edmunds also said Britain's borders would need to remain 'pretty tight' and people would need to be 'very cautious' when travelling abroad to avoid importing even more strains that could undermine the vaccine programme.

In a more positive sign, the SAGE scientist said he believes Britain will be 'more or less free' of lockdown measures by the end of this year.

But he warned some of the less-restrictive curbs, like social distancing or occasional mask-use, could be here 'forever'.

Scientists believe coronavirus will now be an endemic disease that countries have to grapple with every winter.

The Bristol variant is the third variant of concern found in Britain, alongside the now-dominant Kent variant and the South African one. A fourth  one of two strains from Brazil  is also listed by PHE but it has not yet been found in the UK.

The E484K mutation appears to give the SARS-CoV-2 virus the ability to partially evade natural and vaccine-triggered immunity.

This mutation initially appears randomly  and it appears to do so fairly often  but sometimes becomes a permanent feature of a variant because it gives it an advantage in that it can reinfect people who would be protected against other versions of the virus.

The number of people who tested positive for coronavirus through the NHS Test and Trace programme fell by a quarter last week (graph pictured). Today's report showed 149,000 people referred to the scheme were diagnosed with the disease in the week up to February 3, down 24 per cent on the previous week

Public Health England's weekly surveillance report showed Covid cases are continuing to fall in every English region

Ministers have already put dreams of a summer break abroad in jeopardy, with the introduction of draconian border controls backed by the threat of ten-year prison sentences for those who try to cheat the system. Pictured: Tourists flocking to the seaside in Benidorm, Spain, in July 2015. Scenes like this are unlikely to be allowed this year

HOW LOW DO CASES NEED TO DROP BEFORE SAGE IS HAPPY? Sir Jeremy Farrar says there must be fewer than 10,000 coronavirus cases in the UK before Boris Johnson can start to lift brutal lockdown restrictions. The ONS estimated there were 750,000 infections in England alone in the week to January 30, the latest date available. Its measure, based on mass swabbing of thousands of Britons, is taken by scientists and ministers as the gold-standard for how many infections there actually are in different parts of the UK. But in order to reach the levels demanded by Sir Farrar infections must drop 75 times from this level. The figures show the prevalence of infection, or the estimated numbers in the UK. The Department of Health publishes daily figures on infections but these represent the incidence, or the total number actually detected. It is thought these only pick up around a third of infections because many cases are asymptomatic and some people don't get tested for fear of being forced to self-isolate. Department of Health figures show there were 15,000 cases on January 30, suggesting there were actually 45,000 new cases on this day. This means infections must drop to 600 a day in order to meet Sir Farrar's steep target. This would mean the Department of Health announcing just 200 cases a day. Advertisement

The fact that the variant cases have been discovered during lockdown, said PHE's Dr Susan Hopkins, was a cause for immediate action because it presented an opportunity to control them while people are not mixing much.

While none of the variants of concern look to be spreading fast out of the areas where they were first discovered, this could change when rules are eased.

Coronavirus swab testing has been scaled up in various parts of England where the worrying variants of the virus have been found.

Neighbourhoods are being visited by officials bearing test kits and walk-through centres have been set up for people with no symptoms in most regions.

The testing is happening in Walsall and Worcestershire in the Midlands, Broxbourne in East Anglia, Maidstone in Kent, Southport in the North West, and in Bristol in the South West.

In London the 'surge testing' is being done in Hanwell, Tottenham, Mitcham and Lambeth.

Although ministers and health officials believe they can get on top of the variant cases with this surge testing and more rigorous contact tracing during lockdown, scientists have warned that the cases they're finding are only the 'tip of the iceberg'.

COG-UK only examines around 10 per cent of positive tests to find out which variant they were caused by.

This suggests that the number of cases of each variant that they find could be multiplied by around ten to get to a more accurate number.

Meanwhile, the original Kent strain is on track to become the world's dominant strain, according to Professor Sharon Peacock from the Covid-19 Genomics UK (Cog-UK) Consortium.

That variant, which is between 50 and 70 per cent more infectious than the original Covid that came out of China, quickly became the dominant one in the UK after emerging in late September. It accounts for about 90 per cent of new infections in Britain.

The Kent variant was responsible for a wave of infections and hospital admissions which plunged the UK into its third national lockdown.

And the strain has been detected in more than 50 countries already, which is probably an underestimate because most nations do not have the capacity to analyse the genetic structure of the virus.

Professor Peacock, who is also an expert in public health and microbiology at the University of Cambridge, said transmissibility of the Kent version was likely to cause scientists difficulties for years to come.

'Once we get on top of it [Covid-19] or it mutates itself out of being virulent  causing disease  then we can stop worrying about it,'she said.

'But I think, looking in the future, we're going to be doing this for years. We're still going to be doing this 10 years down the line, in my view.'

Despite data suggesting the mutant variant may be more deadly, there is no evidence to indicate existing treatments, such as dexamethasone, will not be effective against it.

A study has suggested that people infected with the UK variant are less likely to report a loss of taste and smell.

There are now four 'variants of concern' of the virus that causes Covid-19 identified by government advisers, three of these have been found in the UK, and the fourth is the Brazil variant identified in people who had travelled to Japan.

Analysis is ongoing to establish the impact of these mutations on the virus.

The number of patients waiting more than a year for surgery hit the highest levels since April 2008 in December, NHS England figures published today show

The number of patients on NHS waiting lists hit 4.52million in December, the highest number since records began in August 2007

Covid cases continue to fall in England The number of people who tested positive for coronavirus through the NHS Test and Trace programme fell by a quarter last week. Today's report showed 149,000 people referred to the scheme were diagnosed with the disease in the week up to February 3, down 24 per cent on the previous week The number of people who tested positive for Covid through NHS Test and Trace in England fell by a quarter last week, official figures revealed today. Around 149,000 people referred to the scheme were diagnosed with the disease in the week up to February 3 down 24 per cent on the previous week. It is the lowest number since the week ending December 8, shortly after England came out of its second national lockdown and before the second wave spiralled out of control. The figures are yet more evidence that Britain's second wave is firmly in retreat. Hospital and death rates are also dropping by about 25 per cent week-on-week. The Test and Trace report also revealed more than 80 per cent of close contacts of infected patients were reached and asked to self-isolate  a threshold set by SAGE which is key to the programme be successful at thwarting outbreaks. The scheme managed to hunt down 87 per cent of Covid patients, about 130,000, and 94 per cent of their close contacts, or 265,000. But there were still almost 20,000 people who tested positive and could not be traced, plus everyone they'd come into contact with during their illness. The figures also highlight the Test and Trace programme is still failing to turn around Covid tests within 24 hours, despite Boris Johnson promising last June that everyone who took a PCR swab would get a result inside a day. But figures show the average turnaround time for a home testing kit is 35 hours. In-person swabs are faring much better, with 97 per cent of results sent out in a day. Advertisement

The number of patients waiting more than a year for routine operations on the NHS has hit its highest level since April 2008, official figures showed today.

Almost 225,000 people had went at least 52 weeks without treatment in December, according to NHS England.

For comparison, the figure was below 2,000 for almost every month in 2019, before Britain's health service was slammed by the first wave of the Covid pandemic.

Surgeons today warned tens of thousands of patients waiting to be seen will be in excruciating pain and be unable to get on with 'day-to-day family life or work'.

Leading medics said the shocking data revealed the 'enormous toll' of coronavirus on the health service, and said they really 'hit home what shape the NHS is in and how long the road to recovery is going to be'.

Separate NHS data today also showed the number of A&E attendances is still below levels last year, with thousands choosing to stay away from hospitals over fears of catching coronavirus.

Despite the gloomy figures laying bare exactly how much the NHS struggled during the second wave, the number of Covid patients in hospitals is still falling rapidly.

Department of Health figures show there were almost 27,000 infected Brits needing hospital care on February 8, the most recent day figures are available for. In contrast, the figure almost topped 40,000 during the darkest days of January.

But there are still more coronavirus patients on wards than during the worst spell of the first wave.

The shocking figures come after health bosses yesterday warned waits of more than a year for treatment will become a staple moving forward due to the damage done by the winter Covid wave.

In a letter to the Prime Minister, the NHS Confederation claimed people should not expect non-Covid care to rebound as quickly as it did last summer following the first peak.

It urged the Government to have 'an honest conversation' with the public about the future, warning that patients can expect to be waiting over 12 months for routine operations 'for some years'.

NHS figures published today also showed there were 4.52million patients on the main waiting list, the highest number since records began in August 2007.

And they revealed the total number of people admitted for routine operations fell 25 per cent in December, compared to a year earlier.

Some 190,604 NHS patients received treatment during the month, down from 253,318 at the same time last year.

A total of 1.3million attendances were recorded in January 2021, down 38 per cent from the same time last year when there were 2.1million visits.

The vice president of the Royal College of Surgeons, Tim Mitchell, warned Covid-19 continues to inflict an 'enormous toll' on hundreds of thousands of people who are waiting for operations.

'The number of people waiting over a year for their treatment is now 150 times higher than in 2019,' he said.

'Many are waiting 'in limbo', reliant on painkillers, and unable to get on with day-to-day family life or work.

'These figures show the impact on the NHS of lifting the November national lockdown.

'By Christmas some surgeons were facing the awful job of calling up patients waiting for cancer operations, to tell them they weren't sure when they would have a bed or the staff in place to operate.'

He added: 'After a gruelling December, we're beginning to see infection rates coming down in parts of the country, thanks to the January lockdown.

'However, many staff are burnt-out from what has been a brutal and traumatic year. They will need time and support to recover.

'Looking ahead to spring, we need a 'New Deal for Surgery' with investment in hospital beds and staff, to begin to address the massive backlog of patients still waiting for their operations.'

National medical director for the NHS, Professor Stephen Powis, said doctors and nurses had worked 'extremely hard' under enormous pressure to deliver vital services to patients.

'Even in January, when hospitals admitted almost a third of all the Covid patients they have treated during the pandemic, they were treating twice as many patients with other conditions as they did for those with the virus over the month,' he said.

'But the NHS remains under significant pressure so it is vital that everyone continues to do all they can to stop the spread of the virus by staying at home and following the expert 'hands, face, space' guidance.'

An NHS spokesman added that there was also a 40 per cent fall in waiting times for non-urgent care.
LANSING, MI - Michigan Republican lawmakers share many of the same budget goals as Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Democrats, said Senate Appropriations Chair Sen. Jim Stamas, R-Midland.

However, the devil is in the details, Stamas said.

His Senate Appropriations Committee met jointly with the Senate Appropriations Committee to hear Gov. Gretchen Whitmers $67 billion budget proposal in a Thursday presentation by State Budget Director Dave Massaron.

Read more: Gov. Whitmer proposes biggest-ever state budget at $67B, bolstered by federal dollars

Whereas Stamas expressed concerns that federal aid will commit future budgets to excess costs, House Republicans want a bigger commitment to reopening in-person learning statewide as soon as possible.

One example Stamas mentioned is tuition programs such as Michigan Reconnect ($120 million) and Futures for Frontliners ($60 million), which provide college assistance for adults without a degree. He supports a one-time expenditure with the money available now due to federal help, but is worried about increased recurring costs.

Those tuition programs are ongoing programs, he said. Our concern is that these are one-time dollars that we have. Where do we come up with that $60 million for the next year and the year after? One-time funding is fine, because we have money and we want to get it out. If youre using those one-time dollars for ongoing costs, where does the money come from the following year?

Whitmer told reporters in a Thursday roundtable that she is open to conversations on how to continue funding some of the programs supported by one-time funding in the long-term. However, she said this is a unique moment to reengage the economy, citing budget priorities such as the tuition programs as well as $370 million to help cover childcare costs.

We are still in the midst of this global pandemic and economic crisis that is related to it and caused by it, frankly, she said. As we look to reengage in our economy and we utilize dollars that are one-time investments that will really help us get our economy back on track and get people back to work and give people the ability to get into skills that lead them to better and more recession-proof jobs.

The one-time appropriation concern is understandable, said Senate Appropriations Minority Vice Chair Sen. Curtis Hertel, D-East Lansing. Ultimately, he said he supports much of Whitmers one-time expenditures as a way to help Michigan families.

When I think about our budget, I worry less about our budget as I worry about Michigan families and their budget, he said. These investments help keep them safe, help our economy rebound and those things will help our budget out in the long-term. When Michigan family budgets are going well, Michigans budget will be taken care of.

Republicans such as House Appropriations Chair Rep. Thomas Albert, R-Lowell, found the plan lacking commitment to in-person education.

I dont even think theres anything in there (in terms of) intent language, he said. I heard (Massaron) say theyll simply give the districts money, and hopefully they bring their kids into school. Its interesting that (Whitmer) will focus on $370 million towards childcare, which I have nothing against...to help those in need, but why dont you just send kids to school?

Albert added there are unlimited ways to ensure in-person learning reopens, including putting date commitments in the bill. In his COVID-19 pandemic recovery plan, he tied $2.1 billion in school aid to a provision that would take away Whitmers power to shut down districts and give it to local health departments.

One element of her plan he supported was a $203 million investment to help decrease per-pupil funding gaps between the lowest- and highest-funded districts. It goes along with his idea that a lack of in-person learning negatively impacts children from low-income areas the most, he said.

Read more: Whitmer budget to include K-12 increase of up to $164 per pupil, more funding for higher education

The kids that are going to be most disadvantaged, the most left behind are those that need in-person instruction the most right now, he said. Im concerned her plan doesnt really address that need.

Other concerns included Rep. Tommy Brann, R-Wyoming, saying he couldnt find any language in the budget proposal about small businesses or restaurants. Brann spent his time before politics in the restaurant business, as Branns Steakhouse & Grille has multiple franchises in the Grand Rapids area.

I just didnt even see even the word small business addressed, he said. Weve been shut down by government...I just didnt see it mentioned, and small businesses and restaurants are the backbone of the state.

In terms of FY 21 supplemental appropriations, Whitmer included in her pandemic recovery plan $22 million to waive penalties and interest on businesses that didnt pay their summer 2020 property taxes on time. House Republicans countered with $415 million in direct relief for small businesses and restaurants who lost revenue because of the governors severe and arbitrary COVID restrictions, according to the GOP release.

An element of the plan with bipartisan support was a $175 million deposit into states Rainy Day fund, which was used to balance revenue shortfalls in 2020 due to the pandemic. Stamas said it was a positive part of Massarons presentation, while Hertel found it was a sign that Michigan is in a healthy enough place economically to start saving again.

I think were well placed for a post-COVID world, Hertel said.

Stamas is less optimistic, saying that the state should replenish the fund for future use with the current dollars, but that the relatively positive economic health of the state is propped up by federal money.

Stamas and Hertel expressed confidence that they could deliver a negotiated budget on time to Whitmer due to their good working relationship.

Were close personal friends, and I dont see anything that would delay us working together, Hertel said.

Read more from MLive:

Michigan Senate Republicans unveil $2B plan for spending federal coronavirus money

Whitmer budget to include K-12 increase of up to $164 per pupil, more funding for higher education

More than 19K Michigan residents apply for tuition-free community college in first 24 hours
Chandigarh, Feb 11 (UNI) Punjab Social Security, Women and Child Development Minister Aruna Chaudhary on Thursday urged the National Women Commission (NCW) to immediate intervene for releasing Nodeep Kaur, a member of the Mazdoor Adhikar Sangathan from the state of Punjab, whose medical examination conducted after her arrest revealed injuries on her body and private parts.

Social activist Nodeep Kaur (23) was arrested on January 12 after she had participated in the peaceful farmer's protests at Kundli in Haryana.

Ms Chaudhary said Manohar Lal Khattar led BJP government in Haryana has been trying to annihilate farmers' agitation from day one. Under its threatening theatrics and at the behest of the Union government, the Haryana government forcibly picked up Nodeep Kaur and other labourers, who were peacefully protesting during the farmers' agitation. Kaur has been charged under Section 307 (attempt to murder) and extortion, which is not acceptable at all.

The Minister said the Punjab government will provide legal assistance to Nodeep Kaur for speedy respite to her. She appealed to the NCW that the Punjab Government, through Punjab State Women's Commission, will lend legal assistance to Nodeep Kaur, thus the Haryana government should be directed to arrange a meeting of delegation of the Punjab State Women's Commission with the labour rights activist.

She said the allegations of outraging the modesty of Punjabi trade unionist Nodeep Kaur in police custody as per her family members and not even granting bail after four weeks, is a horrifying moment for the entire womanhood. Abuse of peaceful protesting woman is a mockery of democracy and civilized society, said the minister, adding that the Union government is constantly violating the democratic rights of the people enshrined in Constitution of India and throwing peaceful protesters in jails terming them as anti-nationals, which will not be tolerated at any cost.

The Minister said a medical examination which was conducted after Nodeep kaur was arrested revealed injuries on her body and private parts, which endorsed the fact that she was sexually assaulted in police custody.

UNI DB SY 1644
(CNN) - Pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca expects to increase global vaccine capacity to more than 200 million doses per month by April as the company works hard to improve productivity, it said during a media call on Thursday.

In the call, which followed its 2020 corporate results release, AstraZeneca said that along with its partners it currently produces more than 100 million doses per month.

Its supply chain partners are getting ready to supply more through the COVAX facility, the company added, with an estimated 336 million doses available to 145 countries in the first half of the year, almost two-thirds of which are going to low- and middle-income countries.

Responding to a question about the timeframe for the newly developed vaccines against new coronavirus variants, Mene Pangalos, AstraZeneca's executive vice president of biopharmaceuticals research and development, reiterated that they expect these to be ready in time for next autumn or winter.

In collaboration with the University of Oxford, AstraZeneca is focused on adapting C19VAZ to new disease strains if required and hopes to reduce the time needed to reach production at scale to between six to nine months, by utilising existing clinical data and optimising its established supply chain, the company said in its earnings press release.

AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot said that the development of new vaccines was much faster because the approval will be based on immunogenicity data.

The World Health Organization on Wednesday recommended the use of the current Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine in countries where variants of the coronavirus are circulating. Preliminary analysis showed a slightly reduced efficacy against the variant first spotted in the UK, and another early analysis showed a marked reduction in effectiveness against mild or moderate disease from the variant first spotted in South Africa, it said.

However, that study was small and WHO officials noted theres indirect evidence the vaccine still protects against severe disease.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "AstraZeneca expects to increase vaccine capacity to more than 200 million doses per month by April"

Luxembourg counts 22,000 employees and 3,000 companies in the hospitality sector. Horeca United have planned to take to the streets at 3.30pm on Thursday, 11 February.

The industry has now been shut for 77 consecutive days. Over 1,000 protestors are expected to gather on Place d'Armes this afternoon, which was strategically chosen as the Chamber convenes in the nearby Cercle on Thursday as well. Links Previous protest - article and gallery

Lights On Luxembourg

Horesca reopening and curfew lifting amongst the demands
By Alain Cany-Country chairman Jardine Matheson Vietnam

Vietnam has seen a stronger recovery than regional countries such as Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines as it has a well-developed basic public health system, a strong central government, and a proactive containment strategy for COVID-19 based on comprehensive testing, tracing, and quarantining  on top of experience in handling pandemics like the 2003 SARS outbreak.

The trade dispute between the United States and China has had a cascading effect on Vietnam with its exporters seeing increasing demand for their products, especially in electronics, agriculture, and garments and textiles. The country has emerged as a complimentary investment destination to China for investors benefitting from its plus one strategy which has been accelerated by supply chain resilience and trade disputes.

The Vietnamese government in recent years has substantially invested in building the countrys network of ports, airports, and highways, which helps to move goods and materials to factories and finished products to export locations. The government has also been working hard in creating favourable conditions, which have paid off as these have encouraged foreign investors to expand their manufacturing bases more substantially. The government has also signed and ratified several free trade agreements which either will or already have helped lower export tariffs and promote Vietnamese players in the global marketplace.

We have seen not only labour-intensive sectors like textiles and footwear relocating to Vietnam but the more tech-focused companies such as Foxconn, LG, and Samsung choose Vietnam as their manufacturing hubs.

The South Korean tech giant Samsung, with its factories in the northern provinces of Thai Nguyen and Bac Ninh, and in Ho Chi Minh City, and a research and development (R&D) centre under construction in Hanoi  representing altogether $17 billion of investments and 160,000 Vietnamese workers  is a good example for Vietnams attraction. The country has become one of the biggest investment destinations for South Korean companies, if not the biggest, outside of their home country.

Several of the worlds largest technology corporations plan to expand their production chains to Vietnam after the pandemic, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

Japans Panasonic is planning to move a production line for refrigerators and large-capacity washing machines from Thailand to Vietnam to improve cost efficiency.

Through its key contractor Foxconn, US tech giant Apple expanded production of its AirPods in Vietnam to four million units in the second quarter of 2020, equivalent to 30 per cent of global production. Apple appears to have shifted part of its production from China to Vietnam.

Qualcomm, the worlds biggest supplier of phone chips, offers potential tech transfers. Last June the company launched an R&D centre in Hanoi, its largest in Southeast Asia outside Singapore.

The relocation of companies and factories from China to Vietnam, coupled with the influx of foreign investment, has also pushed the expansion of several industrial zones (IZs) as demand for new factories, warehouses, and industrial land increased dramatically. It is expected that the countrys 260 operating IZs, with another 75 being under construction, will benefit from the rising demand.

One of the countrys largest conglomerates, Vingroup, has jumped onto the industrial land bandwagon by announcing a plan to pour over $400 million into the development of an IZ in the northern port city of Haiphong, seeking to host suppliers for its automaking business.

Haiphong is one of the biggest industrial hubs in Vietnam with significant projects such as DEEP C IZs. As such, the northeastern province of Quang Ninh is emerging as an industrial coastal province and is expected to provide a large amount of industrial land in the future, with the two economic zones (EZ) of Quang Yen and Van Don becoming a growth engine promoting investment for the province. DEEP C is further developing an industrial complex associated with a seaport in Quang Yen EZ to make full use of geographical advantages and utilise the channel to the Lach Huyen deep-sea port complex.

Warburg Pincus, a leading global private equity firm and Becamex, a pioneering developer of large-scale industrial townships in the southern province of Binh Duong, have used $200 million to develop several IZs across the country, focusing on ready-built factories and built-to-suit solutions.

Other local IZ developers, such as KBC, with its operations in the northern provinces of Bac Ninh, Bac Giang, and Haiphong, and Sonadezi, a company primarily developing IZs in the southern province of Dong Nai, are also investing aggressively to meet the rising demand in several sectors.

Although Vietnams infrastructure is expanding rapidly, the development is still far below the needs of the countrys economic and social growth. Additional investments are needed for roads, air, railways, waterways, and urban-public transport. Ports are running at overcapacity, and every day, traffic jams in large cities are the norm; with Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi needing significant investments in roads and airports.

Additionally, investment in education could raise skill levels of the workforce as part of initiatives to increase productivity. A higher-skilled workforce could attract manufacturers exploring Industry 4.0 technologies and help to move the country up the value chain into more productive and higher-earning areas.

Both the government and the business community are embracing Industry 4.0, with developments such as e-government offering national portals and reforms. E-commerce is now firmly established and fintech is beginning to take off. Health tech and education tech will both be adding further legs to Industry 4.0, and the startup and tech scene is beginning to bloom. The government is aware of these needs and is working to address them with greater progress. As a new leadership is about to come this year, and many expect that it will work closely with the business community, many investors both local and foreign are confident in the progress of the country.
People who lost their jobs wait in line to file for unemployment at an Arkansas Workforce Center in Fayetteville, Ark., on April 6, 2020. (Nick Oxford/Reuters)

US Weekly Jobless Claims Hover at Higher Levels

WASHINGTONThe number of Americans filing new applications for unemployment benefits fell slightly last week as the labor market continued to tread water, but a drop in new COVID-19 cases has raised cautious optimism that momentum could pick up by the spring.

The weekly unemployment claims report from the Labor Department on Feb. 11, the most timely data on the economys health, also highlighted labor market scarring, with at least 20.4 million people on unemployment benefits in late January.

Claims remain stuck at painfully high levels, said Robert Frick, corporate economist at Navy Federal Credit Union in Vienna, Virginia. But we are seeing hopeful signs that claims will begin meaningful declines in the next month or two.

Initial claims for state unemployment benefits slipped 19,000 to a seasonally adjusted 793,000 for the week ending Feb. 6. Data for the prior week was revised to show 33,000 more claims received than previously reported. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast 757,000 applications for the latest week.

Unadjusted claims decreased 36,534 to 813,145 last week. Including a government-funded program for the self-employed, gig workers, and others who do not qualify for the regular state programs, 1.148 million people filed claims last week.

Claims remain above their 665,000 peak during the 20072009 Great Recession, though theyre below the record 6.867 million reported last March when the pandemic hit the United States.

The labor market recovery has stalled in recent months as the country battled a resurgence in coronavirus infections, which ravaged restaurants and other consumer-facing businesses. The government reported on Feb. 5 that the economy created only 49,000 jobs in January after losing 227,000 in December.

Glimmers of Hope

Reported new coronavirus cases in the United States dropped 25 percent last week, the biggest fall since the pandemic hit the nation. Infections have now fallen for four consecutive weeks, according to a Reuters analysis of state and county reports.

Should the trend continue and the distribution of vaccines broaden out, that could allow more businesses to reopen.

For now, the slack in the labor market remains immense. The claims report showed that people receiving benefits after an initial week of aid fell 145,000 to 4.545 million in the ended Jan. 30. But the decline in the so-called continuing claims was mostly due to people exhausting their eligibility for benefits, limited to 26 weeks in most states.

At least 4.778 million people were on extended benefits during the week ending Jan. 23. These benefits, which are funded by the government, will expire in mid-March.

Another 1.653 million were on a state program for those who have exhausted their initial six months of aid. That meant 6.4 million people have been unemployed for more than six months.

This is by the far the highest we have seen at any point during this crisis, said AnnElizabeth Konkel, an economist at Indeed Hiring Lab. Long term joblessness is happening right now and is a very real challenge for the recovery.

About 20.435 million people were receiving benefits under all programs during that period, highlighting the labor market scarring. The economy has recovered 12.3 million of the 22.2 million jobs lost during the pandemic.

The Congressional Budget Office has estimated employment wouldnt return to its pre-pandemic level before 2024.

By Lucia Mutikani
MINERSVILLE  The cause of a fire that damaged a historic building in the borough Tuesday and left four adults and three children homeless remains under investigation.

Meanwhile, because the fire was mostly contained to one portion of the structure, built in 1860 and once known as the DiNicola Mansion, Minersville Police Chief Michael Combs said he does not think it will have to be demolished.

I would think theyre going to fix it, or at least I hope so, he said. It would be a shame to demolish it.

Firefighters were called just after 3 p.m. to the intersection of Sunbury and Front streets and found smoke coming from the upper floors at 28 Sunbury St., which is now owned by Teresa Henry DeTurk of the Reading area.

Patty Daley, disaster captain for the American Red Cross Tri-County Chapter, identified those displaced by the fire as:

Third floor: Mary Tuske, 25; and Amanda Henry, 27, and her daughters Mia Tindall, 3, and Okloe Stoudt, 10.

Second floor: Sean Ferrari, 23; and Allison Wildermuth, 21, and her daughter, Chloe Wildermuth, 4.

Daley said the Red Cross assisted the seven with food, clothing and shelter.

Some of them had nothing on their feet, she said.

Combs said no one lived on the first floor, which was basically a sitting area with one portion converted into a small gym.

The chief said that he and Patrolman Rick Clink were among the first to arrive at the scene shortly after the fire was reported.

Combs said the initial call came in as a structure fire with entrapment, but he and Clink in minutes determined everyone made it out of the home safely except for a few cats.

The chief said that he and Clink entered to find the cats but had to leave due to the increasing smoke and the size and layout of the building.

This place is massive and its so confusing, Combs said. We didnt want to get lost in the smoke so we backed out.

Combs said one cat perished and at least one was seen on Wednesday running inside the building.

The chief also said that due to the size and layout of the building, firefighters initially had trouble locating the fire but were able to do so and contain it mostly to a kitchen area on the second floor.

The firefighters worked quick and made a quick stop, he said. No injuries were reported.

Minersville Fire Chief Eric Eichenberg and state police fire marshal Trooper John Burns of the Frackville station are investigating the cause. Neither could be reached Wednesday.

Combs said that DeTurk has insurance on the building and that the insurance company will assist in the investigation.

Were still putting the pieces together and will compare notes with the insurance investigator, he said.

Combs said that as firefighters were fighting the blaze the occupants were taken to the nearby police station for shelter from subfreezing temperatures and the Red Cross was contacted.

Were all grateful to them (the Red Cross) and what they do, he said.

Firefighters from Minersville and the Pottsville Fire Department Rapid Intervention Team responded to the initial call.

When a second alarm was struck the Schuylkill Haven Rapid Intervention Team and firefighters from Llewellyn and Frackville responded.
THE Hospitality Association of Namibia (HAN) has warned the government of a possible crisis if the border between Namibia and Botswana in the Zambezi region is not reopened.

Namibia's side of the border caters for around 3 000 people and mostly international tourists.

The checkpoint in question is the Kasane border post, which was said to be kept closed since last year despite the government announcing it was open.

Kasane is a strategically situated checkpoint and is the key access point to the Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (Kaza).

Some senior government officials believe the border was kept closed after Botswana Defence Force soldiers killed four Namibian fishermen in November last year.

"The issue of the Kasane-Chobe border closure may have been affected by the violation that occurred as a result of civilians reacting after the shooting of Namibians by BDF," a source says.

That incident heightened tensions between Namibia and Botswana, sparking protests in Windhoek and at Katima Mulilo, in which Botswanan flags were burnt and a Botswana-registered vehicle was damaged.

Some sources say the tension could play a role in the border confusion.

There appears to be confusion among Namibian officials on whether the border is indeed closed.

Zambezi regional governor Lawrence Sampofu yesterday said the borders were closed due to Covid-19.

He denied suggestions that the alleged closure is linked to the shootings last year.

"We are waiting for the borders to be opened," he said.

Minister of environment, forestry and tourism Pohamba Shifeta also says the Kasane border was closed due to Covid-19.

But minister of home affairs, immigration, safety and security Frans Kapofi yesterday said he is not aware that Namibia's side of the border was closed.

He said the Namibian side of the checkpoint was opened before the Botswana side.

"Maybe there was a miscommunication," he said.

The home affairs ministry's chief of immigration, Nehemia Nghishekwa, yesterday issued a statement on the matter.

"It is important to note that Namibian border posts are officially open. The only proviso is that we can only operate if the corresponding border post in the other country is also operational. As a result, there is no need for us to have a discussion on when to open," he said.

According to him, the current regulations provide that the minister responsible for immigration will publish the opening of a border post on notification from the neighbouring country's intention to resume operations.

"As it is now, our borders with Zambia and Botswana are open. With South Africa, only the Ariamsvlei and Noordoewer border posts are open, but only for commercial goods and emergencies," Nghishekwa said.

He said the border with Angola is still closed and only operates in case of emergencies.

CONCERNS

There are concerns that the livelihoods of Namibians at Impalila and Kasika across the Chobe River on the Namibian side are at stake.

One of the hardest-hit areas is Impalila Island - an area bordering the Zambezi River in the north and the Chobe River in the south.

Some residents in the area say their trip into Botswana via the Kasane border post usually takes about 10 minutes by boat.

There they would buy goods such as food at Kasane.

The border closure has now forced communities to travel to Katima Mulilo via boat for around eight hours to access the same goods.

Residents say there is no other way to source goods for Impalila Island.

WARNING

Tourism establishments that employ hundreds in the area raised red flags last year already.

They called on the government to urgently open the border between Namibia and Botswana to save hundreds of jobs and the livehihoods of thousands.

HAN sent a letter to Namibia's executive director of international relations and cooperation, Penda Naanda, on 4 February 2021.

"The current climatic situation is fast converting this commercial call to a humanitarian call, and on behalf of the tourism sector in that region and the communities who depend on them (some 3 000 people within three conservancies and four different communities), we feel compelled to repeat our call urgently," the association's chief executive officer, Gitta Paetzold, said in the letter.

Paetzold said road transportation from Ngoma to other parts of the Zambezi region could become impossible as heavy rains continue.

" ... which makes it absolutely crucial for the Kasane border post and the Impalila/Kasika posts on the Namibian side to become fully operational to allow for both human and cargo traffic, as much of the procurement and supply for basic commodities to secure livelihoods of the Namibian people living in that area depend on the Kasane gateway," she said.

Paetzold confirmed the letter to The Namibian and said their concerns are receiving high-level attention.

O&L Leisure managing director Norbert Wurm also wrote a letter last month supporting the plea to open the border at Kasane.

O&L Leisure owns Chobe Water Villas, situated just across the Chobe River from Kasane.

The tourism industry globally has taken a significant knock as a result of the global Covid-19 pandemic, and remote areas, including the Kaza transfrontier region, have been impacted even more.

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"Many tourism operators are at the brink of bankruptcy across the Kaza region and particularly around the Chobe area. We are one of many who are dependent on the Kasane border post for accessibility to the Kasane airport for our guests and for supplies from Kasane town."

TOURISM

Shifeta on Tuesday said the ministry's office relies mostly on the home affairs ministry regarding the operation of border posts.

"They are the only ones who can regulate the closing and opening of the borders, I presume ... " Shifeta said.

"We are doing what we can as a ministry. We should communicate clearly," he said.

Shifeta said issues between Namibia and Botswana are being discussed through the appropriate ministries and offices.

"The two governments will also hold their joint commission on cooperation from 16 to 18 February, where some of these issues will be discussed," he said.

He said the road from Ngoma to Kasika on the Namibian side is still accessible and the business community and their guests or visitors can still use that road.

"From a tourism perspective, yes, this may have an impact, like any other areas, given the impact of Covid-19, and this cannot be referred to as a humanitarian crisis. Normal daily life continues in the area, but Covid-19 is affecting all parts of the world," Shifeta said.
Somewhere J. Edgar Hoover is spinning in his grave whilst wearing a beautiful chiffon dress.



On the bright side, here's a glimpse at law enforcement inclusion which challenges old school misconceptions in order to create new ones . . . Read more:
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Prosecutors on Thursday are expected to wrap up their arguments for the impeachment of Donald Trump, making a final push to convince wavering Senators who were perhaps swayed by their case on Wednesday.

Using previously-unseen video footage, graphic reconstructions and actual audio from January 6, the nine Democrat impeachment managers, who serve as prosecutors, laid out their case.

Starting at noon on Wednesday, they were given 16 hours to try and convince the Senate that Trump was guilty of inciting a violent insurrection.

On Thursday, they will conclude that process and the defense will then begin arguing why it is wrong to convict Trump for the deadly riot.

Donald Trump's rally on January 6 before the riot was not to blame, his lawyers will argue

The Senate, pictured on Tuesday, will hear further arguments for and against impeachment

Congress staffers are pictured barricading themselves in offices during the January 6 riot

David Schoen, lawyer for the former president, argued on Tuesday that the Senate had no jurisdiction to try Trump once he had left office and warned that the impeachment threatened to 'tear this country apart'.

He was voted down, however, and the trial commenced.

On Wednesday night Schoen was coy about the arguments he would make, alongside his colleague Bruce Castor, a former district attorney for Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.

Castor reportedly failed to impress Trump during Tuesday's session, and he will be looking to put on a less rambling, more forceful show when it is the defense's turn.

Schoen and Castor will likely emphasize that Trump on January 6 called on those at his Stop the Steal rally to 'peacefully and patriotically' march for their rights.

Rioters stormed the Capitol on January 6, breaking in for the first time since 1814

They will also argue that mounting evidence of advance planning renders hollow the Democrat argument that Trump incited violence on the day of January 6.

They may seek to accuse Democrats of hypocrisy, bringing in other examples of Democrats urging their supporters to 'fight' for their rights.

Schoen and Castor have previously argued that Trump cannot be impeached as the punishment - removal from office - is irrelevant, as he is no longer in office.

Holed up in his luxury Mar-a-Lago club in Florida, Trump has been gone from power for three weeks.

But the trial has put the flamboyant and deeply polarizing Republican once more at the center of the national conversation - and underlined his still-powerful hold over the base of the Republican electorate.

Some Republican senators have expressed disgust with the pro-Trump riot, openly blasted Trump's refusal to accept defeat to Biden, and acknowledged the compelling case made by the Democrats with the aid of extensive video - an unprecedented development on the Senate floor.

Five people were killed in the riots on January 6, including Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick

'The evidence that has been presented thus far is pretty damning,' Republican senator Lisa Murkowski said.

'Of course it's powerful,' Senator Bill Cassidy, who with Murkowski was among six Republicans in supporting the trial's constitutionality, said of the chilling footage.

But 'how that influences final decisions remains to be seen.'

It is highly unlikely that enough Republicans will join the Democrats to secure conviction in the impeachment trial.

This requires a two-thirds majority, meaning 17 Republicans would need to go along with the 50 Democrats.

Forced off Twitter and other social media platforms following his unprecedented attempt to foment a conspiracy theory about his election defeat, Trump has fewer outlets where he can vent.

But it is also believed that advisors are pressing him to keep back, fearing his reappearance could turn Republican senators against him.

According to US media reports, Trump was privately furious on the trial's opening day Tuesday at what he saw as his own lawyers' lackluster performance.

Unlike Trump's first impeachment trial a year ago, which took three weeks, this one is expected to be over within days.

Beginning on Sunday or Monday, Senators will have four hours of questioning.

The prosecutors will then decide whether they wish to call witnesses.

If they do, the case will drag on.

If not, a final vote will be held next week.
By Job Bwire

By Eve Muganga A Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF) jet ranger on Thursday crashed in Entebbe, near Lido beach moments after takeoff.

Eye witnesses said there were two occupants in the helicopter who were rushed to hospital after the accident.

UPDF spokesperson, Brig Gen Flavia Byekwaso said the helicopter was being piloted by two cadet trainees on a mutual training flight.

Read more:https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/updf-helicopter-crashes-in-entebbe-with-two-cadet-trainees-onboard-3287818
The three-day All-Ukrainian Forum "Ukraine 30. Coronavirus: Challenges and Responses" has ended in Kyiv.

The event, held on February 8-10, was attended by the President of Ukraine, the Prime Minister of Ukraine, representatives of the government and the Verkhovna Rada, journalists, and doctors, as well as a number of experts and high officials, including WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, Head of the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine Matilda Bogner, Lithuanian Minister of Health Arunas Dulkys (all four participated in the forum via videoconferencing), Head of the EU Delegation to Ukraine Matti Maasikas, Representative of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in Ukraine Lotta Sylwander, and Charge d'Affaires of the United States in Ukraine a.i. Kristina Kvien. The official website of the forum does not indicate the exact number of participants, but, in our estimate, there were several dozen or even more.

Three to four thematic sessions were held daily. In addition to the strategy and action plan for vaccination in 2021, the establishment of international cooperation and partnership with the EU in the fight against coronavirus, ensuring greater access of Ukrainians to correct information on vaccination and countering disinformation and fakes, the forum participants also talked about the recovery of the domestic economy, assistance to vulnerable population, adaptation of education, etc.

By the way, President Zelensky informed that in the next few months a series of 30 weekly forums will be held, in particular on security and defense, peace and war, Crimea and Donbas, utility tariffs, agriculture, digitalization, infrastructure, education, science, healthcare and social spheres, industry, ecology, and local self-government...

In the meantime, we offer a selection of the most interesting theses of the forum participants (for convenience, we have divided the selection by day and specific topics).

DAY ONE. HOW STATE COUNTERS CORONAVIRUS

Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine:

About Responsible Citizens

The president believes that fines for ignoring wearing face masks work, but it would be more effective when every Ukrainian realizes his responsibility for the health of others. I would not say that they (fines) do not work, thousands of people (are fined)  every week I receive information at our Covid meeting... There are fines, but in general, everything is in a person's mind... We must work together so that they are aware of the threat. It's like a drunk person driving a car. The problem is not only that he can die, but that other people can die because of him, Volodymyr Zelensky said.

Commenting on the voluntary vaccination against coronavirus in Ukraine, the president said that representatives of some professions, in particular, teachers and doctors who work with patients with coronavirus, have no right to refuse it.

Travel to the EU

Ukrainians will be able to travel to the EU only after being vaccinated against COVID-19. I am sure that Europe will not provide an opportunity according to information from my conversations with European leaders. Europe will not allow people to travel freely unless they are vaccinated. If people want to go somewhere - vacation or business trip, they must be vaccinated," Zelensky said.

He added that after the start of the vaccination campaign, the regime of entry for foreigners to Ukraine should mirror the conditions that other countries will establish for the entry of Ukrainians. "If they allow people to enter a country with some stamps, passports or confirmed vaccinations, then we must do the same," the president said.

Monitoring of Biological Threats

We need to strengthen and create new systems for monitoring biological threats, including research on the spread of pathogens in the animal world that are at risk of spreading to humans. We need to create an accessible, clear and comprehensive system for monitoring and forecasting biological threats in Ukraine and the world," Zelensky noted.

The president also said that Ukraine had something to be proud of in counteracting COVID-19. "At the beginning of the pandemic there was a lack of medical devices and equipment, and we saw empty shelves in the state reserve, but we managed to quickly organize supplies from other countries and later launch large-scale Ukrainian production," Zelensky stressed.

Benefits of Quarantine Measures

According to the president, tough quarantine in spring allowed "to buy important precious time." The mortality rate from COVID-19 in Ukraine is the lowest in comparison with many countries of the world, European countries. We held out longer than others and did not impose a lockdown, and the January restrictions were quite liberal compared to lockdown formats, for example, in Germany, Great Britain, France and other countries. During this time, we managed to significantly increase the number of hospital beds. Today 70% of them are free. More than 80% of beds in Ukraine are equipped to provide oxygen, Zelensky said.

Safe Vaccination

The first stage of vaccination will begin this month. The vaccine will be given to our doctors, the military and the National Guard. However, having solved the issue of vaccine supplies to Ukraine, we faced a new problem  this is mistrust of vaccinations and the refusal of a significant part of the population to get the vaccine. This is a new issue, but I think it is very serious and we all need to address it. I am ready to show people by personal example, like most world leaders did, that vaccination is important, it is safe, it is necessary," Zelensky said.

When asked which vaccine he would be vaccinated with, the president said: "The first one that we get."

Maksym Stepanov, Minister of Health of Ukraine:

UAH 4B for Vaccination

The state budget of Ukraine for 2021 provides more than UAH 3.9 billion for the vaccination campaign, Stepanov said.

The purchase of vaccines by the governments decision will be carried out by the international organization Crown Agents, with which Ukraine has been cooperating since 2015. According to the minister, within the framework of the COVAX Facility, Ukraine expects to receive 8 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine, in particular 117,000 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and from 2.2 million to 3.7 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine during the first and second quarters.

22M Doses of COVID-19 Vaccines

To achieve herd immunity, it is necessary that at least 60% of Ukrainians are vaccinated. The Government and the Ministry of Health are doing everything possible to ensure that Ukrainian citizens have access to vaccines. As of today, we have confirmed delivery of 22 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine. But the burning question remains, are Ukrainians ready for vaccination? That is why, during the forum, one of the main issues was trust in vaccination and ways to increase this trust, the minister emphasized.

According to opinion polls, in November 2020, 55% of Ukrainians were ready to be vaccinated against COVID-19, provided that the vaccine was free. In January 2021, there were already 43% of such people.

Involvement of Celebrities in Vaccination Campaign

Timely and accessible information is a tool to restore confidence in vaccination. First, our common task is to explain to every Ukrainian that people will be vaccinated with a safe vaccine. And here it is important to show awareness and personal example. I hope that influential people will join this process. We will fight fakes and manipulations by our own example (...).The Ministry of Health initiated the creation of a special information portal on vaccination, where everyone will be able to learn about the roadmap of vaccination, its stages, organization of the process, staff trainings and vaccines. There will be dashboards with vaccination statistics. And there will a separate section where citizens can sign up for vaccination," Stepanov said.

Vaccination will be free and voluntary and will start with people at risk.

Viktor Liashko, Chief State Sanitary Doctor of Ukraine:

PCR and Rapid Tests

We can perform about 100,000 PCR tests per day. Today we have WHO-certified rapid tests to determine the presence of coronavirus in the human body at the patient's bedside within 15 minutes. We have 5.9 million rapid tests, Liashko said.

Vaccination of Top Officials

The president as the supreme commander-in-chief will be vaccinated in the second stage. ... There are also persons performing critical functions for the state in the second stage, so the prime minister and ministers can safely get vaccinated even without changing the roadmap. We see this everywhere - the leaders are vaccinated with immunobiological drugs, which will be massively used to vaccinate the population of the countries they lead."

As for the citizens of Ukraine living in the temporarily occupied territories, they will be able to get vaccinated at vaccination points in the territory controlled by Ukraine, but this is starting from the third stage. They will have the same registration procedure as all other Ukrainians - through the portal. They need to know where and on what day they can be vaccinated, Liashko said.

Traffic Light Division of Ukraine

We [the Ministry of Health] will offer the government a new traffic light division for epidemiological risk zones, which will be introduced in Ukraine in mid-February, possibly at the end of February. There will be three or four zones. And they will have beacons showing where the situation is destabilizing and where additional measures are needed, Liashko noted.

The health system's ability to provide care to all who need it will be key to a new adaptive quarantine.

DAY TWO. ECONOMY, EDUCATION, CULTURE AND TOURISM

Denys Shmyhal, Prime Minister of Ukraine:

Defined Contribution Pension System

The prime minister stressed that the introduction of a defined contribution pension system is an important task for the government, as it will allow Ukrainians to receive good pensions in the future and support the economy.

Today the solidarity pension system is exhausting itself as a system that makes it possible to receive decent pensions. Therefore, the introduction of a defined contribution system has two bases. This is, first of all, the provision of decent pensions to our citizens in the future and to all of us, and it is an element of investing in the economy, because the defined contribution pension system is one of the investors in the economies where it exists, Shmyhal said.

According to him, the government intends to work fruitfully together with the concerned committees of the Verkhovna Rada during the year to adopt the necessary legislation for the introduction of the defined contribution pension system.

Mortgage up to 7% and Leasing

According to Denys Shmyhal, the Affordable Mortgage program will be launched in March 2021. I am sure this program will start operating in Ukraine, the mortgage rate will be reimbursed at the level of up to 7%. For Ukraine, we see a perspective in this and understand that the rate should be reduced even more for certain categories of citizens We intend to work in the first half of 2021 and create the possibility of financial leasing and mortgages at 5%, he said.

First Concession Highway

The Ministry of Infrastructure and Ukravtodor are actively working on the implementation of the first concession highway in Ukraine in 2021. This year we want to have the first automobile road, the pilot concession highway, which would start a whole chain of concession automobile road projects for Ukraine... In addition to roads, concession projects may involve bridges and other facilities, Shmyhal noted.

Funding for Medical System

The funding for our medical system has doubled over the last two years. Almost 66,000 beds have been equipped for the treatment of patients with coronavirus. God forbid that they are ever used, but the medical system is prepared. There are almost 57,000 beds equipped to provide oxygen, 6,000 ventilators, medicines, and the moral readiness of our doctors to fight the coronavirus, Shmyhal said.

To date, the mortality rate from coronavirus is 1.8%-1.9%. A significant merit of this is precisely the doctors who managed to develop treatment protocols and save people, the head of government added.

Oleksandr Tkachenko, Minister of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine:

Support Programs for Cultural and Tourism Industry

2020 was a year of challenges for both culture and other spheres. But creative industries, tourism and hospitality suffered the most from the coronavirus. The creative economy employs 4% of the population, generating 4% of Ukraine's GDP. The economic potential is invaluable. However, the quarantine led to a decrease in the consumption of cultural and tourism services by at least half. There is also a significant decrease in the number of people employed in the tourism sector... The exchange of views reveals the problems of the industries, and this allows finding useful and really effective solutions. Among them are grants for institutional support, modernization of the 5-7-9 credit program, and the implementation of 7% of the cultural and tourist VAT rate instead of 20%... Today it is worth moving on to the experience that some European countries have already applied - these are certificates for demand, Tkachenko said.

You are given a certificate so that you can go and buy a book in a bookstore, or a certificate for traveling, so that you can spend a night or two in Ukrainian hotels... This program will be presented shortly and will require amendments to the legislation, the minister explained.

Tourism in Ukraine will not recover soon. According to the tourism industry forecasts, the crisis will last until 2023. It will be possible to talk about recovery at the end of 2023. There are at least two years of challenges ahead, Tkachenko noted.

Serhiy Shkarlet, Minister of Education of Ukraine:

About Distance Education

The educational process should not be interrupted. We must give a chance to those who want to get an education. When the coronavirus infection made offline classes impossible, the first steps we took were to bring the learning process online. These were the first steps aimed at the development of teaching materials, recommendations for organizing blended and distance learning, Shkarlet said.

He also noted that in April, June, October, and December, the state service for the quality of education conducted research on the quality of education, as well as questionnaires of parents, students ... Some 80% were categorically against distance education in April, and in December there were already 54-55%. It turned out that 65-70% of children are ready to continue distance learning, but 55-60% of parents are totally against it, the minister added.

About Typical Educational Program for Grades 5-9 of New Ukrainian School

The working group has been developing a typical educational program for a long time, taking into account the expectations of teachers in various subjects. Considering that we have adopted a STEM concept for 10 years, which is mathematics, computer science, physics, and other disciplines, the emphasis of these teachers is shifting towards STEM education. Arts education emphasizes that more attention should be paid to the humanitarian development of the child. Therefore, there must be a balance of interests... It will not be possible to satisfy the interests of all in full, Shkarlet said.

DAY THREE. INNOVATION AMID PANDEMIC, SITUATION IN OCCUPIED CRIMEA AND DONBAS

Mykhailo Fedorov, Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine:

COVID-19 Vaccination via Electronic Queue

We plan to elaborate a record in an electronic queue for vaccination against COVID-19 through the Diia application in a few clicks. On the basis of the eHealth medical electronic system, a database of citizens who will send an application for vaccination will be formed. Based on the entries in the Diia, in accordance with the vaccine supply plan, the Ministry of Health and the National Health Service of Ukraine will be able to quickly distribute vaccines in accordance with the queue. There will also operate a call center... It is very important to forecast the demand and then effectively organize the vaccination system and logistics," Fedorov said.

Diia App in Pandemic

Over the year, more than 10 million Ukrainians have used the Diia application and portal, where all public services are collected... We have developed the Diia.Vdoma application for self-isolation control. In addition, we launched a unique project, and yesterday the prime minister said that the IMF wants us to share our experience with the whole world Also payments for UAH 8,000 to entrepreneurs and their employees  this could be done through the app in two clicks ... a convenient service, Fedorov said, stressing that 480,000 Ukrainians successfully used the service to obtain financial assistance for business during the pandemic.

Household Registration in a Few Clicks

Already in April we will launch a simplified procedure that can be done online. How exactly? If I am a home owner, then I just open the Diia portal or app and register in a few clicks... If a non-homeowner wants to get a household registration, then the owner must provide consent with an electronic signature in a special message or click "yes" in the Diia app," Fedorov explained.

Also, the ministry promises to launch a special portal through which officials will be able to check the registration of citizens in case of such need.

Paperless Regime

The ministry also plans to launch a so-called paperless regime in Ukraine in September 2021. From September 1, at the initiative of the president, we plan to introduce a paperless regime after the adoption of the law - this is when the state has no right to demand paper documents if the information is in the registers, he said.

The main goal of his ministry is 100% availability of public services online. "The next stage after paperless should be services without the participation of officials," Fedorov said.

Oleksiy Reznikov, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Reintegration of Temporarily Occupied Territories of Ukraine:

Medical Genocide in ORDLO

The mortality rate from COVID-19 in ORDLO is much higher than anywhere else in the world. The occupation administration in Donetsk publishes statistics, according to which the mortality rate from COVID-19 is 8.6% there. This is 4.5 times higher than in non-occupied territory of Donetsk region and on average in Ukraine. In November-December, the mortality rate was 11%. That is, every ninth person died from this disease. And that's not taking into account those who died of pneumonia, which they hide... In the occupied Luhansk, the mortality rate is 8.7%. On the one hand, this means that people simply do not have access to basic care, and there are no medicines, no doctors. On the other hand, the testing level is very low. Only those who have severe symptoms are tested, Reznikov stressed.

Against this background, the occupation administrations are blocking entry-exit checkpoints. "This can be called medical genocide," he said.

Virtual Mobile Number for Residents of Occupied Territories

Now we, together with mobile providers, are working on the introduction of a so-called virtual mobile number in order to provide people with an opportunity to communicate with a free Ukraine without buying local SIM cards, etc. That is, even in a pandemic, we are doing our best to demonstrate to our citizens that Crimea, Sevastopol, Donetsk, and Luhansk are Ukraine, Oleksiy Reznikov stressed.

Myroslav Liskovych, Kyiv
By Michael Holden

LONDON(Reuters) - Meghan, Britain's Duchess of Sussex, will learn on Thursday whether she has won her privacy battle against a tabloid newspaper without the case going to a potentially-embarrassing trial which could see her face off against her father.

Meghan, 39, the wife of Queen Elizabeth's grandson Prince Harry, is suing publisher Associated Newspapers after its Mail on Sunday tabloid printed extracts of the handwritten letter she sent to her estranged father, Thomas Markle, in August 2018.

She says the articles breached her privacy and copyright, and last month her lawyers asked London High Court judge Mark Warby to rule in her favour without the need for trial later this year, arguing the paper had no chance of winning.

Warby is due to hand down his verdict at 1600 GMT.

Meghan wrote the five-page letter to Markle after their relationship collapsed in the run-up to her glittering wedding to Harry in May 2018, which her father missed due to ill health and after he admitted posing for paparazzi pictures.

The Mail published extracts in Feb. 2019, and has argued it did so to allow Markle to respond to comments made by Meghan's anonymous friends in interviews with the U.S. magazine People.

In two days of hearings, her lawyers say printing the "personal and sensitive" letter was a "triple-barrelled" assault on "her private life, her family life and her correspondence" and plainly breached her privacy.

The paper argued the duchess always intended the letter's contents to become public and it formed part of a media strategy, pointing out she had admitted in court papers discussing it with her communications secretary.

If the judge rules against Meghan, it raises the prospect of the duchess, former senior royal aides and her father all giving evidence in court.

"It was only by publishing the text of the letter that I could properly set the record straight and show that what People magazine had published was false and unfair," Markle said in a witness statement in support of the Mail.

The trial had been due to start in January but was delayed until late 2021 at Meghan's request last year because of a confidential reason.

(Reporting by Michael Holden; Editing by Alexandra Hudson)

DGAP-News: TLG IMMOBILIEN AG / Key word(s): Disposal/Real Estate

TLG IMMOBILIEN AG CONTINUES FURTHER SUCCESSFUL DISPOSAL ACTIVITY AFTER DISPOSALS IN 2020 ABOVE BOOK VALUE



11.02.2021 / 18:29

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.





NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION IN OR INTO OR TO ANY PERSON LOCATED OR RESIDENT IN THE UNITED STATES, ITS TERRITORIES AND POSSESSIONS (INCLUDING PUERTO RICO, THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS, GUAM, AMERICAN SAMOA, WAKE ISLAND AND THE NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS), ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES OR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA (THE "UNITED STATES") OR IN OR INTO OR TO ANY PERSON RESIDENT OR LOCATED IN ANY OTHER JURISDICTION WHERE IT IS UNLAWFUL TO PUBLISH OR DISTRIBUTE THIS DOCUMENT.

TLG IMMOBILIEN AG CONTINUES FURTHER SUCCESSFUL DISPOSAL ACTIVITY AFTER DISPOSALS IN 2020 ABOVE BOOK VALUE

Berlin, 11 February 2021 - TLG IMMOBILIEN AG (the "Company" or "TLG") successfully continues its disposal activity in 2021 and is in advanced disposal negotiations of approx. EUR 250 million year-to-date ("2021 Disposals") after signing disposals of approx. EUR 1 billion in 2020.

The 2021 Disposals are being executed through various transactions and comprise office and retail properties in Leipzig, Dresden and Berlin.

The disposals are in line with TLG's strategy to focus on core assets of mainly offices in top German cities. The proceeds from disposals strengthen the Company's liquidity position and can be utilized to fund the share buyback, debt repayments and for other corporate activities.

Further, Mr Ronny Schneider has stepped down from his position as a member of the management board of TLG due to personal reasons in order to pursue further challenges. The company thanks Mr Schneider for his support in this transition period.

Contact

TLG IMMOBILIEN AG

Armin Heidenreich

General Counsel

Hausvogteiplatz 12

10117 Berlin

Phone: +49 30 2470 6343

E-mail: armin.heidenreich@tlg.de

About the Company

For over 25 years, the listed company TLG IMMOBILIEN AG has owned and rented out commercial properties in selected promising locations in Germany. The company continuously develops its portfolio and actively generates value through strategic investments and selected property acquisitions. The portfolio comprises mainly office properties in cities including Berlin, Dresden, Frankfurt/Main, Leipzig and Rostock. The properties of TLG IMMOBILIEN AG stand out not only due to their excellent locations but also because of their long-term rental or lease agreements. Its highly qualified employees guarantee extensive local market expertise at its individual locations. In 2020, TLG merged with Aroundtown SA (AT1) which is the controlling shareholder of TLG.
STEPANAKERT, FEBRUARY 11, ARMENPRESS. President of Artsakh Arayik Harutyunyan received on February 11 a group of families of missing servicemen, the Presidents Office told Armenpress.

The President introduced the ongoing search operations, the results and problems, and heard the views and concerns of the meeting participants. He said both the Armenian and Russian sides, as well as the International Committee of Red Cross and the Azerbaijani side are engaged in the ongoing works. Harutyunyan assured that everything is being done and will be done to find out the fates of missing servicemen and civilians and return the prisoners of war from Azerbaijan.

The meeting was also attended by minister of internal affairs Karen Sargsyan.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
When China and the United States cooperate, both sides gain, and when they fight, both are harmed, Mr. Xi said, according to the Chinese summary. Chinese-U.S. cooperation can achieve many great things that benefit both countries and the whole world. Confrontation between China and the U.S. would certainly be a disaster for both countries and the world.

Mr. Xi said the two countries could also open up more contact in economic, financial, law enforcement and military spheres, and called for re-establishing dialogue to foster mutual understanding and avoid misunderstandings and misjudgments. Greater cooperation, he added, would also help fight the coronavirus pandemic, revive the global economy and maintain regional stability.

But Mr. Xi warned Mr. Biden to tread carefully on what he described as Chinas domestic affair, according to Xinhua. In matters concerning Chinese sovereignty and territorial integrity, Mr. Xi said, referring to Xinjiang, Hong Kong and Taiwan, the U.S. side should respect Chinas core interests and act with caution.

Although it was their first conversation since becoming their nations respective leaders, Mr. Biden and Mr. Xi are well acquainted. In 2011 and 2012, when Mr. Biden was the vice president and Mr. Xi was the heir apparent to Chinas presidency, the two men spent dozens of hours together. In a recent interview with CBS News, Mr. Biden said that he believed he had spent more time with Mr. Xi than he has with any other world leader. I know him pretty well, Mr. Biden said.

Mr. Bidens personal approach to Mr. Xi is likely to be a marked shift from that of President Donald J. Trump, who spent his first three years in office showering the Chinese leader with praise and flattery in pursuit of a grand trade deal he never achieved, before bitterly turning on him last spring after the coronavirus emerged from China and devastated the U.S. economy.
A new genetic study of Native Hawaiians by Charleston Chiang at the University of Southern California and colleagues finds that people who have a greater proportion of Polynesian ancestry in their genomes face a higher risk of obesity, Type-2 diabetes and heart failure. The study is published February 11 in PLOS Genetics.

Previous studies have shown that Native Hawaiians appear to have high rates of cancers and chronic health conditions, especially when compared to other people living in Hawaii. In their genes, Native Hawaiians carry a mix of Polynesian, European and Asian ancestry, but due to the group's small size, there have been few studies of their genetics. To help fill this gap, Chiang and his team examined genome-wide genetic data of about 4,000 self-reported Native Hawaiians to identify regions inherited from Polynesian ancestors, and to find connections to health conditions experienced by the study participants. They found that for every 10% increase in a person's Polynesian genetic ancestry, their odds of being diabetic and having heart failure rose by 8.6%, and 11.0% respectively. A greater amount Polynesian genetic ancestry also was linked to a higher body mass index (BMI), a measure of body fat. These associations could be attributed to both genetic and lifestyle or other non-genetic factors linked with Polynesian ancestry.

The researchers emphasize that they don't endorse using genetic information to define Polynesian ancestry and community membership--that should be determined through self-identity or genealogical records. But they hope that further studies may be able to identify genetic variants and underlying biological factors specific to Polynesian populations, which would allow the election of lifestyle or pharmaceutical interventions to reduce their higher risk of these diseases.

The authors add, "While this study focused on the genetics of an underserved population, we want to stress that genetic factors are not the sole, or even necessarily the major, determinant of complex diseases such as obesity and chronic illness in any ethnic group -- lifestyle, socioeconomic, and other environmental factors could play as big or a bigger role. However, we hope the genetic studies will be a window into understanding the biology behind these diseases, in a way that is targeted and eventually be beneficial to the health of the underserved population."

###

Peer-reviewed; Simulation / modelling

Contact:

Name: Charleston Chiang

Email: charleston.chiang@med.usc.edu

Citation: Sun H, Lin M, Russell EM, Minster RL, Chan TF, Dinh BL, et al. (2021) The impact of global and local Polynesian genetic ancestry on complex traits in Native Hawaiians. PLoS Genet 17(2): e1009273.

https:/ / doi. org/ 10. 1371/ journal. pgen. 1009273

Funding: The Multiethnic Cohort was funded through grants from the National Cancer Institute (U01CA164973, P01CA168530) and National Human Genome Research Institute (U01HG007397). Whole genome sequencing (WGS) for the Trans-Omics in Precision Medicine (TOPMed) program was supported by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI). NHLBI TOPMed: Genome-wide Association Study of Adiposity in Samoans was funded by NHLBI (R01HL093093 [S.T. McGarvey] and (R01 HL133040 [R.L.M.]); WGS (phs000972) was performed at the University of Washington Northwest Genomics Center (HHSN268201100037C) and the New York Genome Center (HHSN268201500016C). Centralized read mapping and genotype calling, along with variant quality metrics and filtering were provided by the TOPMed Informatics Research Center (3R01HL-117626-02S1; contract HHSN268201800002I). Phenotype harmonization, data management, sample-identity QC, and general study coordination were provided by the TOPMed Data Coordinating Center (3R01HL-120393-02S1; contract HHSN268201800001I). This research is also supported by Samoan Ministry of Health and the Samoa Bureau of Statistics. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

Competing interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
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OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs release statement on detention of 6 Armenian servicemen by Azerbaijan

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Two new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

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104 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Armenia acting premier: Our sovereignty, independence cannot be subject of discussion

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Armenia 2nd President Kocharyan: In contrast to kneeling, disgraceful authorities of the day, we have determination

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Representative Jamie Raskin of Maryland, the lead manager in the current impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump, got the proceedings off to an emotional start on Tuesday. First, there was the prosecutions opening video montage of the horrific events of Jan. 6  13 minutes of grisly, bloody footage from the assault on the Capitol by Mr. Trumps supporters.

Then came Mr. Raskins personal recollection of the attack, which had occurred one day after he and his wife buried their 25-year-old son, Tommy, who had died from suicide. For the counting of the Electoral College votes, Mr. Raskin brought his younger daughter and one of his sons-in-law to the Capitol. They were waiting for him in an office off the House floor when the rioters breached the building. Mr. Raskin recalled the horror of realizing that his family was in danger and that he could not get to them.

The family members hid under a desk, sending what they thought were their final texts, he said. They thought they were going to die. Mr. Raskin grew emotional at times, wiping his eyes and stopping to compose himself as he recalled watching rioters use an American flag to spear and pummel a Capitol Police officer.

Mr. Raskin is not the only lawmaker to get personal about that day. On Feb. 1, Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the New York Democrat, spent 90 minutes on Instagram Live, recounting the details of her nightmare: hiding in her office bathroom, searching a colleagues office for gym shoes in case she had to flee for her life, listening to the mob baying at the buildings door.
Bandar Seri Begawan, Feb 11 : Brunei's Ministry of Health said in a press release on Wednesday that the country received a batch of Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccine donated by China on Tuesday and is reviewing a vaccination program.

In March 2020, at the outset of the Covid-19 pandemic, Brunei provided assistance to China, which underscored the close bilateral cooperation towards managing the pandemic, the ministry said.

The ministry said they are still reviewing the plans for the distribution of the vaccine in accordance with the recommended priorities, the Xinhua news agency reported.

According to the Chinese embassy in Brunei, the sultanate's Second Minister of Foreign Affairs Haji Erywan attended the handover ceremony on Tuesday and held a discussion with Yu Hong, Chinese ambassador to Brunei.

Haji Erywan expressed his gratitude to China, saying that this is the first batch of Covid-19 vaccine received by Brunei, which is considered a gift given by the Chinese people to the people of Brunei, reflecting the long-term traditional friendship and deep mutual trust between the two countries.

He said that the Chinese vaccine would play an important role for Brunei to overcome the epidemic. Brunei is willing to take the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries and the 30th anniversary of China-ASEAN dialogue relations as an opportunity to promote bilateral relations and China-ASEAN relations to a new level, he added.

Ambassador Yu told Haji Erywan that China's Covid-19 vaccine assistance to Brunei reflects a new climax of bilateral cooperation against the Covid-19 pandemic.

"At present, global Covid-19 vaccines are mainly distributed to a few developed countries, although the vaccines are crucial for all countries to restart their economies. Under such circumstances, China's vaccine assistance to Brunei highlights the true friendship between our two countries," the ambassador said during the discussion.

Yu said that China has been earnestly acting on its pledge that once developed and deployed, Chinese vaccines will be made a global public good, contributing to the accessibility and affordability of vaccines in developing countries.

"China is providing vaccine aid to 53 developing countries, and we have exported and are exporting vaccines to 22 countries. China also actively participates in the WHO-led COVAX and decided to provide 10 million doses of vaccines to the program, mainly to meet the demand of developing countries," Yu said.

"China supports domestic companies in conducting joint R&D and manufacturing with foreign partners, and in exporting vaccines to countries that are in urgent need of vaccines, have certified Chinese vaccines, and authorised their emergency use," she added.

According to the ambassador, China's vaccine assistance to Brunei "fully reflects the high level of the China-Brunei strategic cooperative partnership and the true friendship between the two peoples." Yu expressed hope that the vaccine assistance will help contribute to the final victory of Brunei in the fight against the Covid-19 epidemic.

Brunei reported one new imported case of Covid-19 on Wednesday, bringing the national tally to 183.

A total of 42 imported cases have been confirmed since the last local infection case on May 6, 2020. At present, Brunei has recorded 280 days without Covid-19 local infection cases. Five active cases are still being treated at the National Isolation Center and all of them are in a stable condition.

There have been three deaths resulted from Covid-19 in Brunei and 175 patients have recovered.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-11 16:30:09|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping's keynote speech at the Summit of China and Central and Eastern European Countries (CEECs) has been echoed widely by experts and officials.

The idea of equality, mutual respect and consultation and cooperation embodied in the remarks will charter China-CEEC cooperation and ensure a better prospect.

EQUAL PARTNERS

"Making decisions through consultation," Xi said in the speech. "China-CEEC cooperation is based on mutual respect and has no political strings attached. All countries involved, regardless of their size, are equal partners in a cooperation mechanism featuring extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits."

Andrey Shvedov, editor-in-chief of Latvia's Russian-language newspaper Segodnya, said for CEECs, China's reassurance that cooperation will be based on mutual respect without entailing political commitments is especially important.

Xi's promise that all countries involved in the cooperation mechanism are considered equal partners regardless of their size, is especially important to Latvia, which is 750 times smaller than China by population and 150 times smaller by the size of territory, Shvedov said.

Marsela Musabelliu, executive director of Albanian Institute for Globalization Studies, said making decisions through consultation "embodies the very spirit of multilateralism, for which China is a fierce advocate in her every foreign policy endeavor."

"Delivering benefits to all cooperation partners is the basis for win-win cooperation, a pillar of international relations that China has promoted constantly," Musabelliu said, saying "synergy appears to be the keyword in the virtual summit."

17 PLUS 1 MORE THAN 18

"Guided by the conviction that 17 plus 1 could make more than 18, we have set up a multi-dimensional cooperation framework," Xi said, saying "Mindful of each other's concerns, we have drawn up plans and decided on projects based on the national reality of each country, and encouraged all countries to find the best way to leverage their respective strengths in cooperation."

Kostas Gouliamos, the rector of the European University in Nicosia, said, "I also strongly believe the fact that by fostering smart initiatives and implementing a balanced synergy which President Xi has eloquently articulated in his inspirational speech, the joint efforts of the holistic cooperation will yield more results and reach a new level of advanced or smart pilot projects."

Gyula Thurmer, president of the Hungarian Workers' Party, said as President Xi said, China-CEEC cooperation could bring tangible benefits in various fields for both sides, realizing "17 plus 1 could make more than 18."

The summit, which was held at the right time, Thurmer said, could orient the future cooperation in the post-pandemic era, and open a wider space for China-CEEC cooperation.

JOINING HANDS IN FIGHTING PANDEMIC

Xi said China will work with CEECs through solidarity, coordination and cooperation, promising that "China will continue to provide vaccines to countries in need to the best of its capability, and do what it can to make vaccines a global public good and promote their equitable distribution and application around the world."

Jelena Begovic, director of the Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering of University of Belgrade, said China's initiative to work together with other countries to fight the pandemic "is a great idea, and I think it's the only way if we want to win this war."

Piotr Gadzinowski, editor-in-chief of the Polish newspaper Trybuna, said that China has joined hands with the CEECs in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic, providing each other with much-needed medical supplies, actively cooperating to resume production, and working together to promote economic recovery, which shows the adherence to the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind.

Ivana Antunovic, senior editor of state-owned Croatian Radiotelevision, said cooperation between Europe and China is now needed more than ever. "In the future, greater cooperation in the field of science and research should be achieved, and the experience of China regarding the production of COVID-19 vaccines should be used," he added. Enditem
A former human resources manager was charged with embezzling more than $600,000 from her South Jersey employer over a one-year scheme, and using the stolen funds to pay for designer clothes and plastic surgery, authorities said Thursday.

Karen OBrien, who worked for Cinnaminson-based SEA BOX, Inc., used the companys credit card to pay for clothes, handbags and other accessories from Saks Fifth Avenue, Gucci, and Louis Vuitton, among other purchases, according to the Burlington County Prosecutors Office.

She also used the company credit card to purchase airfare, rental cars and lodging accommodations for her and others to vacation in Puerto Rico, and even used it to pay for herself and a friend to undergo buttock augmentation procedures at a Las Vegas plastic surgery center, the prosecutors office said in a statement.

OBrien, 41, of Maple Shade, was arrested Wednesday in Gloucester City after being pulled over by police, who discovered she had $30,000 with her during the stop, authorities said. She was charged with theft by unlawful taking and computer-related activity for the purpose of a scheme to defraud.

The investigation began after SEA BOX officials alerted police that OBrien was allegedly stealing from the company, according to the prosecutors office. The scam took place over a 12-month period while OBrien racked up $614,499 in personal expenses using the firms credit card ending in December, prosecutors alleged.

A representative for the company did not immediately respond to a request for comment. OBrien has been terminated from her job, according to the prosecutors office statement. It was not clear if OBrien had retained an attorney. Authorities said she remained in custody ahead of a court hearing.

On its website, SEA BOX, Inc. described itself as a maker and designer of containers and modular buildings for both commercial and military applications.

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Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com.
A Dublin doctor is due to stand trial next year for possession and distribution of child abuse images.

Dr Ronan Keogan (48) of College Square, Terenure faces five charges of possessing child pornography images at his clinic and three charges of knowingly distributing child pornography in 2017.

Dr Keogan previously appeared before Dublin District Court charged with possession of digital images of child pornography at his clinic at Cypress Park, Templeogue, Dublin, on May 15, 2017.

He is also charged that on March 26, 2017, at unknown locations, he did knowingly distribute child pornography for the purpose of distribution, publication, exportation, sale or show. The offences are contrary to section 6(1) and 5(1) of the Child trafficking and Pornography Act, 1998.

The case came before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court this morning when Phillip Rahn BL, defending, told Judge Martin Nolan that his client was seeking a date for a trial of up to four days.

Judge Nolan set a trial date of November 8, 2022. Due to the need for social distancing in courtrooms Mr Keogan, who is remanded on continuing bail, waited outside the courtroom while the brief matter was heard.

A no publicity order was previously imposed on the case at the district court after an application from his solicitor Dara Robinson.

This order was lifted following queries from media organisations when the case came to the circuit court.
Actress Hunar Gandhi, who is currently working in SAB TV's show Maddam Sir, recently tested positive for COVID-19. The actress has currently quarantined herself at home in Mumbai and missing her actor-husband Mayank Gandhi a lot during this tough time. In an interview with Times of India, the Thapki Pyar Ki actress revealed how she got infected with the virus.

Hunar said that she shot for the show Maddam Sir for around 4 to 5 days, but when she returned home on Monday (February 8, 2021), she started developing symptoms. While speaking about the same, the actress said, "I started suffering from a bad cough and developed light symptoms. I rushed to the nearby hospital and got myself tested. I have tested positive for Coronavirus. I have quarantined myself at home and have also informed the production so that the crew members can get themselves tested."

In the interview, Hunar further stated that she is currently staying alone in the house, as her husband jetted off to Delhi to meet her father-in-law. She feels blessed that her mother and brother live in the same building, as they send her food every day. However, she is missing her husband Mayank a lot. While speaking about the same, the actress said, "I am missing my husband Mayank and my pet Amigo but I guess, I can only meet them after two weeks when I test negative."

Talking about her role in Maddam Sir, Hunar Gandhi is playing a negative character in the Gulki Joshi-starrer. The actress is enjoying working with the lead actress and Rahil Azam. She has said that the audience will see a different side of her in the show. Apart from that, Hunar has earlier worked in popular shows like Paramavatar Shri Krishna, Ek Boond Ishq, Patiala Babes and so on.

Also Read : Mayank Gandhi & Hunar Hale Celebrate Holi In Gurgaon!

Also Read : Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi! Mayank Gandhi & Hunar Hale Get Married In Delhi (PICS)
Priyanka Chopra is opening up about a botched nose surgery that went so wrong at the beginning of her acting career that it led to canceled roles and threatened to derail her future.

The Quantico star writes about the procedure in her new memoir, Unfinished. Chopra said she underwent a polypectomy after experiencing what felt like continuous head colds.

While the procedure was supposed to be routine, it wasnt, the actor said, explaining that the doctor accidentally shaved the bridge of my nose and the bridge collapsed when he was trying to just shave the polyp. The results were disastrous.

My original nose was gone. My face looked completely different. I wasnt me anymore, the former Miss World wrote, saying she felt devastated and hopeless.

Every time I looked in the mirror, a stranger looked back at me, and I didnt think my sense of self or my self-esteem would ever recover from the blow, Chopra said. The feeling of despair extended to those closest to her, as well, and continued as knowledge of the surgery became a public affair.

Miss India Priyanka Chopra, then 18, poses for the cameras at the official Miss World photocall in London in 2000. (Photo: HUGO PHILPOTT via Getty Images)

As the actors face became the subject of endless speculation and reports, she learned shed lost two of the roles she was previously cast in and that one role was significantly scaled back due to concern over her appearance on screen.

My career, a career based so much on physical appearance, seemed to be over before it had even really started, Chopra wrote.

Eventually, Chopra made it to the big screen and, as we know now, her career took off. She also underwent several surgeries in an attempt to fix her nose.

Ive gotten accustomed to this face, she said. Now when I look in the mirror, I am no longer surprised. Ive made peace with this slightly different me.

In a previously reported excerpt of her book, Chopra wrote about the shocking plastic surgery advice a director gave her as she was just starting out in her career. He asked her to stand up and twirl for him, before giving her an assessment.

He stared at me long and hard, assessing me, and then suggested that I get a boob job, fix my jaw, and add a little more cushioning to my butt, the Bollywood star said.

Chopra and husband Nick Jonas attend the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles in January 2020. Chopra wrote in her memoir that she lost two of the roles she was previously cast in due to a botched nose surgery. (Photo: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin via Getty Images)

If I wanted to be an actress, he said, Id need to have my proportions fixed, and he knew a great doctor in LA he could send me to, Chopra continued. My then-manager voiced his agreement with the assessment.

But as Chopra has grown older and more assured of herself, she said, shes learned to drown out the noise and conversations like the one above, which are all too common in her industry.

As a teenager, I was meeker. Then, as time went by and I started feeling the support of the world, I started coming into my own as a woman, the actor told Elle U.K. in an interview published last week.

Related...

Bollywood Stars Criticized For Posting About Racial Equality While Endorsing Skin Whitening Creams

Unilever Rebrands Skin Whitening Cream, But Critics Cry Foul: 'Still A Whitening Cream'

Priyanka Chopra Reveals The Shocking Plastic Surgery Advice A Director Once Gave Her

This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated.
Management of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) has presented a brand new Toyota pickup vehicle to the National Pensioners Association (NPA).



The vehicle was handed over at a short ceremony held at the SSNIT Pension House in Accra, today, 10th February, 2021.



The presentation is in response to an earlier request for the Trust to assist the Association to address transportation challenges. The donation is expected to assist the Association in the discharge of their daily activities.



Speaking at the presentation ceremony, the Director-General of SSNIT, Dr. John Ofori Tenkorang noted that the gesture is one more demonstration of the Trusts commitment to make the pensioner the center of all major activities.



He explained that the value SSNIT places on pensioners has guided and helped the Trust to strengthen the relationship that exists between SSNIT and the NPA over the past four years.

I want to assure our cherished pensioners of Managements continuous support for their activities.



Despite the adverse impact of Covid-19 on businesses, we will continue, as I have said, to pay your monthly pensions without fail or delay, he noted.

Earlier, the Corporate Affairs Manager of SSNIT, Afua Sarkodie in her welcome address noted a little above 1.6 Million people, representing about 11% of workers in the country are actively contributing to the Scheme.



This should concern all of us and we must support the Trust to register more people to join the Scheme so that every worker in Ghana after having toiled for several years can retire without angst and in relative comfort, she said.



The Acting General Secretary of the NPA, Mr. Stephen Boakye appreciated the Management of SSNIT for yet another kind gesture to the Association.



He also commended SSNIT Management for previous donations especially the Gh800,000 meant to support the medical care of pensioners under the Pensioners' Medical Scheme (PMS).



We appreciate SSNITs assistance and corporation. The relationship that has existed between NPA and SSNIT over the past years, especially under the current Management has been very cordial. We express our utmost appreciation and state that the vehicle will be used for its intended purpose, Mr. Boakye said.



In November last 2020, the Association honoured the immediate past Chairman of the Board of Trustees of SSNIT, Dr. Kwame Addo-Kufuor and the Director-General of the Trust, Dr. Ofori-Tenkorang for their immense contributions to the welfare of the Association.



The Trust has in time past provided and renovated office accommodation for the Association for their smooth operations.



Key highlights of Director-Generals speech



In 2020 alone, SSNIT spent a total of Gh3.3 billion on benefits payments. This is made up of Gh2.9 billion on pensions and Gh330 million as lump sum payments to other beneficiaries (refund of contributions, Old Age Lump Sum, Survivors Lump Sum and Emigration Benefit). The total expenditure is expected to increase further this year as more workers retire and apply for their benefits.



To meet our obligations towards these pensioners, we have initiated steps to grow the fund and carry out further cost-cutting measures.

Already, the Trust has through cost cuttings made a total savings of over GH512 million since 2017. These include:



i. GH246 million savings on legacy investment transactions.



ii. Net savings of over GH144 million as at 31st December, 2020 from the deactivation of over 11,000 pensioners from the payroll.



iii. Savings of over GH121 million on ICT Support Fees over the period .



This was achieved through annual savings of US$4,456,038.22 and GH4,910,748.



I am happy to say that the days when retirees had to wait for about two months or more to receive their first pension pay are over. We now pay Pensioners within an average of 13 days after receiving their applications. This used to be 47 days in 2016.



Also, pensioners who walk into any of our offices to transact business are now speedily attended to. They do not have to join any long queues before being served due to the introduction of the Pensioners Priority Desk.



About SSNIT



The Social Security and National Insurance Trust is a Statutory Public Trust with the mandate of administering the First Tier Basic National Social Security Pension Scheme under the National Pensions Act 2008 (Act 766).

SSNIT is charged with the responsibility of replacing part of lost income to its contributors and their dependents due to old age, invalidity, emigration or death.



The pension a member enjoys under the First Tier Scheme is dependent on the Basic Salary (on which contributions were made) and the number of months one has contributed to the Scheme.

As at December 2020, the pensioner population of the SSNIT Scheme was about 230 million, with over 1.63 million active contributors.

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Kolkata, Feb 11 : In poll-bound West Bengal, the politics over sloganeering has touched a new low with top leaders targeting their opponents with choicest adjectives to win the vote-bank, at time's hitting much below the belt.

The political temperature between the state's ruling Trinamool Congress and its arch-rival Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has shot up after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said "Hare Krishna Hare Ram, Vidaai Hok BJP Bham", which means that the BJP must disappear from the state's electoral map.

The slogan war intensified against the backdrop of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's birth anniversary celebrations in January this year, when the audience raised 'Jai Shree Ram' slogans at an event attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which Banerjee reportedly didn't like.

Reacting to the slogan politics of Trinamool, newly-inducted BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari coined the slogan, "Hare Krishna Hare Hare, Padma Phool (Lotus) Ghare Ghare", which means lotus will bloom in every household of Bengal.

In a turn of events, former Chandannagar police commissioner Humayun Kabir, who had tendered his resignation and joined the Trinamool Congress on Tuesday, had made headlines by ordering the arrest of three BJP workers for allegedly raising 'Goli Maaro' (shoot the traitors) slogans at a roadshow of Suvendu Adhikari last month.

Similarly, supporters of the state's incumbent formation has composed a 'Khela Hobe' song with DJ music that is being played in every nook and corner of Bengal now. The lingo became popular after Trinamool Congress' Birbhum district president Anubrata Mondal, alias Kesto, popularised the term 'Khela Hobe, Bhoyonkar Khela Hobe' (there will be a dangerous face-off), while hitting out at his BJP counterparts.

Triggering a political face-off, the new joinees of Trinamool who have switched sides coined interesting slogans like: "Unishe Half, Ekushe Saaf", which means Trinamool's vote share came down to half in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls and this year during the forthcoming Assembly elections, it will be completely eradicated.

Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday came down heavily on the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress government in Bengal for not allowing the chanting of the 'Jai Shree Ram' slogan.

Shah said that 'Mamata Didi' gets angry if someone chants 'Jai Shree Ram' in Bengal. The Union minister also said that Banerjee treats people like criminals if they chant 'Jai Shree Ram'.

"Is it an insult to her? When so many people take pride in it, the Bengal CM feels insulted. It's is because she wants to appease a particular community to maintain her vote-bank politics. I want to ask her that do the people from other communities not vote for her in the state? If slogans of 'Jai Shri Ram' are not raised in India, then will it be raised in Pakistan," Shah asked at a rally in Cooch Behar district while kick-starting BJP's 'Parivartan Yatra'.

Even during his visit to Haldia in East Midnapore on February 7, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had criticised West Bengal CM's role as she gets angry with nationalist slogans.

Modi had said: "In Bengal, if you ask Mamata Didi about your rights, then she gets frustrated. She even gets annoyed if slogans of 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai' are raised. But she does not get angry at people who speak against the country."
(Natural News) All Global Research articles can be read in 27 languages by activating the Translate Website drop down menu on the top banner of our home page (Desktop version).

(Article by F. William Engdahl republished from GlobalResearch.ca)

***

The globalist Davos World Economic Forum is proclaiming the necessity of reaching a worldwide goal of net zero carbon by 2050. This for most sounds far in the future and hence largely ignored. Yet transformations underway from Germany to the USA, to countless other economies, are setting the stage for creation of what in the 1970s was called the New International Economic Order.

In reality it is a blueprint for a global technocratic totalitarian corporativism, one that promises huge unemployment, deindustrialization and economic collapse by design. Consider some background.

Klaus Schwabs World Economic Forum (WEF) is currently promoting his favorite theme, the Great Reset of the world economy. The key to it all is understanding what the globalists mean by Net Zero Carbon by 2050.

The EU is leading the race, with a bold plan to become the worlds first carbon neutral continent by 2050 and reduce its CO2 emissions by at least 55% by 2030.

In an August, 2020 post on his blog, self-appointed global vaccine czar Bill Gates wrote about the coming crisis in climate:

As awful as this pandemic is, climate change could be worse The relatively small decline in emissions this year makes one thing clear: We cannot get to zero emissions simplyor even mostlyby flying and driving less.

With a virtual monopoly on mainstream media as well as social media, the Global Warming lobby has been able to lead much of the world into assuming that the best for mankind is to eliminate hydrocarbons including petroleum, natural gas, coal and even the carbon free nuclear electricity by 2050, that we hopefully might avoid a 1.5 to 2 degree Centigrade rise in average world temperature. There is only one problem with this. Its cover for a diabolical ulterior agenda.

Origins of Global Warming

Many have forgotten the original scientific thesis put forward to justify a radical shift in our energy sources. It was not climate change. Earth climate is constantly changing, correlated to changes in the emission of solar flares or sunspot cycles affecting Earth climate.

Around the turn of the millennium as the previous solar-led warming cycle was no longer evident, Al Gore and others shifted the narrative in a linguistic sleight-of-hand to Climate Change, from Global Warming. Now the fear narrative has gotten so absurd that every freak weather event is treated as climate crisis. Every hurricane or winter storm is claimed as proof that the Climate Gods are punishing us sinful CO2 emitting humans.

But wait. The entire reason for the transition to alternative energy sources such as solar or wind, and abandoning carbon energy sources, is their claim that CO2 is a greenhouse gas that somehow goes up to the atmosphere where it forms a blanket that supposedly warms the Earth belowGlobal Warming. Greenhouse gas emissions according to the US Environmental Protection Agency come mostly from CO2. Hence the focus on carbon footprints.

What is almost never said is that CO2 cannot soar up into the atmosphere from car exhaust or coal plants or other manmade origins. Carbon dioxide is not carbon or soot. It is an invisible, odorless gas essential to plant photosynthesis and all life forms on earth, including us. CO2 has a molecular weight of just over 44 while air (mainly oxygen and nitrogen) has a molecular weight of only 29.

The specific gravity of CO2 is some 1.5 times greater than air. That would suggest that CO2 exhaust gases from vehicles or power plants do not rise into the atmosphere some 12 miles or more above Earth to form the feared greenhouse effect.

Maurice Strong

To appreciate what criminal action is unfolding today around Gates, Schwab and advocates of an alleged sustainable world economy, we must go back to 1968 when David Rockefeller and friends created a movement around the idea that human consumption and population growth were the major world problem. Rockefeller, whose wealth was based on oil, created the neo-Malthusian Club of Rome at the Rockefeller villa in Bellagio, Italy. Their first project was to fund a junk study at MIT called Limits to Growth in 1972.

A key organizer of Rockefellers zero growth agenda in the early 1970s was his longtime friend, a Canadian oilman named Maurice Strong, also a Club of Rome member. In 1971 Strong was named Undersecretary of the United Nations and Secretary General of the June 1972 Stockholm Earth Day conference. He was also a trustee of the Rockefeller Foundation.

Maurice Strong was a key early propagator of the scientifically unfounded theory that man-made emissions from transportation vehicles, coal plants and agriculture caused a dramatic and accelerating global temperature rise which threatens civilization, so-called Global Warming. He invented the elastic term sustainable development.

As chairman of the 1972 Earth Day UN Stockholm Conference, Strong promoted population reduction and lowering of living standards around the world to save the environment. Some years later the same Strong stated:

Isnt the only hope for the planet that the industrialized civilizations collapse? Isnt it our responsibility to bring that about?

This is the agenda today known as the Great Reset or UN Agenda 2030. Strong went on to create the UN Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a political body which advances the unproven claim that manmade CO2 emissions were about to tip our world into irreversible ecological catastrophe.

Co-founder of the Club of Rome, Dr Alexander King, admitted the essential fraud of their environmental agenda some years later in his book, The First Global Revolution. He stated:

In searching for a new enemy to unite us, we came up with the idea that pollution, the threat of global warming, water shortages, famine and the like would fit the bill  All these dangers are caused by human intervention and it is only through changed attitudes and behaviour that they can be overcome. The real enemy, then, is humanity itself.

King admitted that the threat of global warming was merely a ploy to justify an attack on humanity itself. This is now is being rolled out as the Great Reset and the Net Zero Carbon ruse.

Alternative Energy Disaster

In 2011, acting on the advice of Joachim Schnellnhuber, of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK), Angela Merkel and the German government imposed a total ban on nuclear electricity by 2022, as part of a 2001 government strategy called the Energiewende or Energy Turn, to rely on solar and wind and other renewables. The aim was to make Germany the first industrial nation to be carbon neutral.

The strategy has been an economic catastrophe. Going from having one of the industrial worlds most stable low-cost and reliable electric generation grids, today Germany has become the worlds most expensive electric generator. According to the German energy industry association BDEW, at the latest by 2023 when the last nuclear plant closes, Germany will face electricity shortfalls.

At the same time coal, the largest source of electric power, is being phased out to reach Net Zero Carbon. Traditional energy-intensive industries such as steel, glass production, basic chemicals, paper and cement manufacturing, are facing soaring costs and shutdowns or offshoring and loss of millions of skilled jobs. The energy inefficient wind and solar, today costs some 7 to 9 times more than gas.

Germany has little sun compared with tropical countries, so wind is seen as the major source for green power. There is a huge input of concrete and aluminum needed to produce solar or wind farms. That needs cheap energygas or coal or nuclearto produce. As that is phased out, cost becomes prohibitive, even with no added carbon taxes.

Germany already has some 30,000 wind turbines, more than anywhere else in the EU. The gigantic wind turbines have serious problems of noise or infrasound health hazards for residents nearby the huge structures and weather and bird damage. By 2025 an estimated 25% of existing German windmills will need replacement and waste disposal is a colossal problem. The companies are being sued as the citizens realize what a disaster they are. To reach targets by 2030 Deutsche Bank recently admitted the state will need to create an eco dictatorship.

At the same time the German push to end gasoline or diesel transport by 2035 in favor of e-vehicles is on course to destroy Germanys largest and most profitable industry, the auto sector, and take down millions of jobs. The lithium-ion battery-powered vehicles have a total carbon footprint when the effects of mining lithium and producing all parts are included, that is worse than diesel autos.

And the amount of added electricity needed for a zero carbon Germany by 2050 would be far more than today, as millions of battery chargers will need grid electricity with reliable power. Now Germany and the EU begin to impose new carbon taxes, allegedly to finance the transition to zero carbon. The taxes will only make electric power and energy even more expensive, insuring the faster collapse of German industry.

Depopulation

According to those advancing the Zero Carbon agenda, it is just what they desire: the deindustrialization of the most advanced economies, a calculated decades-long strategy as Maurice Strong said, to bring about the collapse of industrialized civilizations.

To turn the present world industrial economy backward to a wood-burning, windmill turning dystopia where blackouts become the norm as now in California, is an essential part of a Great Reset transformation under the Agenda 2030: UN Global Compact for Sustainability.

Merkel climate adviser, Joachim Schnellnhuber, in 2015 presented the radical green agenda of Pope Francis, the encyclical letter, Laudato Si , as Francis appointee to the Pontifical Academy of Science. And he advised the EU on its green agenda. In a 2015 interview, Schnellnhuber declared that science has now determined that the maximum carrying capacity of a sustainable human population was some six billion fewer people:

In a very cynical way, its a triumph for science because at last we have stabilized something - namely the estimates for the carrying capacity of the planet, namely below 1 billion people.

To do that the industrialized world must be dismantled. Christiana Figueres, a World Economic Forum Agenda Contributor and former executive secretary of the UNs Framework Convention on Climate Change, revealed the true aim of the UN climate agenda in a February 2015 Brussels press conference where she stated, This is the first time in human history that we are setting ourselves the task of intentionally changing the economic development model that has reigned since the Industrial Revolution.

Figueres 2015 remarks are echoed today by French President Macron at the January 2021 World Economic Forums Davos Agenda where he claimed that under the current circumstances, the capitalist model and open economy are no longer feasible. Macron, a former Rothschild banker, claimed that the only way to get out of this epidemic is to create an economy that is more focused on eliminating the gap between the rich and the poor. Merkel, Macron, Gates, Schwab and friends will do so by bringing living standards in Germany and the OECD down to levels of Ethiopia or Sudan. This is their zero carbon dystopia. Severely limit air travel, car travel, people movement, closing polluting industry, all to reduce CO2. Uncanny how conveniently the coronavirus pandemic sets the stage for the Great Reset and UN Agenda 2030 Net Zero Carbon.

Read more at: GlobalResearch.ca and Propaganda.news
While I do not speak for Rachael Kirkconnell, my intentions were simply to ask for grace in offering her an opportunity to speak on her own behalf, Harrison continued. What I now realize I have done is cause harm by wrongly speaking in a manner that perpetuates racism, and for that I am so deeply sorry. I also apologize to my friend Rachel Lindsay for not listening to her better on a topic she has a first-hand understanding of, and humbly thank the members of Bachelor Nation who have reached out to me to hold me accountable. I promise to do better.

Posted Wednesday, February 10, 2021 5:30 pm

Tim Eyman, who for two decades has been Washington states most prolific conservative activist and political provocateur, committed numerous and particularly egregious violations of campaign finance law, a judge ruled Wednesday, as he barred Eyman from controlling the finances of political committees in the future.

The verdict, in a long-running case in Thurston County Superior Court, could bring an end to Eymans years of running anti-tax initiatives that have had outsize influence on the finances of state and local governments.

Mr. Eymans violations had a significant and material impact on the public, Judge James Dixon ruled. Mr. Eyman has personally benefited economically from these allegations.

Dixon barred Eyman from managing, controlling, negotiating, or directing financial transactions for any kind of political committee.

Dixon issued a fine of more than $2.6 million. Dixon ruled that Eyman himself is a continuing political committee, under the definition in state law, and should have been filing monthly campaign finance reports for years. Eyman, Dixon said, 2,975 days late in filing reports, as of the start of the trial

Attorney General Bob Ferguson, who brought the lawsuit against Eyman, had sought $7.8 million in penalties and also to permanently bar Eyman from controlling the finances of political committees. Ferguson said Wednesday that the $2.6 million fine is the largest in state history for an individuals campaign finance violations.

Dixon read the verdict from the bench Wednesday, speaking slowly and methodically for about 40 minutes. In a sort of preamble, he seemed to try to rebut Eymans arguments that the trial was unfair. Eyman, Wednesday morning, said Dixon would rubberstamp Fergusons arguments.

This court has remained at all times, Dixon said, calm and reflective and has respectfully declined to the sometimes not so subtle invitations to join the contentious nature of the case.

He acknowledges that this case involves politics, but said it is the obligation of the court to apply the facts to the law.

This court means no ill will to Mr. Eyman, he said.

As Dixon read his verdict, Eyman sat, wearing a red long-sleeve T-shirt featuring a cartoon stork (or crane) and the caption Persistence, never give up. He was largely still, his head frequently slumped.

Eyman was charged with laundering political donations to enrich himself; accepting kickbacks from a signature-gathering firm; secretly shuttling money between initiative campaigns; and concealing the source of other political contributions.

In the history of Fair Campaign Practices Act enforcement, it would be difficult for the Court to conceive of a case with misconduct that is more egregious or more extensive than the misconduct committed by Defendant Eyman in this matter, Ferguson wrote in a pre-trial filing.

During a trial that began in November and continued, sporadically, into December and January, Eymans lawyer argued that all campaign money was properly reported and that if there were flaws in reporting, they were not Eymans responsibility.

The sole duty to report, under the statute, is that of the treasurer, Richard Sanders, Eymans lawyer and a former state Supreme Court justice said in his closing argument. Mr. Eyman has no duty to report anything and is legally prohibited from reporting anything. Therefore he cannot be liable if something is misreported by the treasurer.

Sanders had also argued that barring Eyman from controlling the finances of political committees would be an infringement on his First Amendment rights.

But Dixon disagreed. The ruling, Dixon said, does not stop Mr. Eyman from doing what Mr. Eyman wants to do.

He just has to comply with the law, Dixon said. He has to comply with the provisions of the Fair Campaign Practices Act. And he hasnt.

The case has been a long time coming.

Many of the charges mirror a similar case that Eyman apologized for in 2002, after it was revealed hed lied about paying himself from initiative donor funds. He paid $55,000 in fines and was banned from serving as treasurer of a political committee.

This case stems from a 2012 investigation by the states campaign finance watchdog, the Public Disclosure Commission. The case was referred to Ferguson in 2015, and he filed charges in 2017.

In the meantime, Eyman was held in contempt of court for two years for refusing to cooperate with the lawsuit against him, and he paid more than $300,000 in resulting fines.

In 2018, Eyman filed for bankruptcy, claiming that the legal fees and potential fines from the states lawsuit against him had crippled his finances.

Last year, Dixon ruled Eyman had concealed nearly $800,000 in payments that should have been reported over the course of at least seven years.

Eyman has spent decades running initiatives to lower taxes and advance conservative policies in Washington. While he has not always been successful at the ballot box and in court, he has had a profound impact on the states politics and on the budgets of Washingtons cities and counties.

But along the way, Ferguson alleged, Eyman ran roughshod over state laws that require political campaigns to be open about the sources of their funding.

Among many specific instances, Ferguson pointed to a 2010 email from Eyman to Citizen Solutions, the signature-gathering firm he frequently worked with. The email said Eyman had agreed to pay $2 per signature that the firm collected to get one of his initiatives on the ballot, but that he was doing his best to raise money at a rate of $2.50 per signature.

His goal, Eyman wrote, was to pay Citizen Solutions the agreed upon $2 per sig plus $150,000 so that you have an extra $150,000 to provide to me.

Ferguson cited an email in which Eyman asked his accountant about tax requirements for financial gifts. He was told that a person could give each member of Eymans family up to $13,000 without telling the IRS.

A few months later, Ferguson alleged, after Eymans company had paid Citizen Solutions more than $1 million for signature gathering, two officials with Citizen Solutions paid Eyman, his wife and their three minor children $86,000, all in checks below the $13,000 threshold.

Dixon previously found Citizen Solutions violated the law and ordered the firm and its principal, William Agazarm, pay more than $1 million in fines for funneling money to Eyman.
Amanda Burke can be reached at aburke@berkshireeagle.com, on Twitter @amandaburkec and 413-496-6296.
House impeachment managers aired new Capitol security footage showing how the rioters violently breached the Capitol and the threat they posed to everyone in the building during the riots on January 6 as the managers argued that former President Donald Trump was responsible for inciting the rioters.

The footage included Capitol Police officer Eugene Goodman running through the Capitol hallways to respond to the rioters, running into Republican Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah to tell him to turn around to safety.

LIVE UPDATES: Trump's second impeachment trial: Day 2

The managers kicked off their two-day presentation walking through Trump's months of false statements about election fraud and his refusal to concede, arguing that his speeches were designed to anger and incite his supporters, so they were ready to fight when they marched to the Capitol on January 6.

Democratic Del. Stacey Plaskett of the Virgin Islands, one of the nine impeachment managers, walked senators through the security footage, showing where the rioters breached the Capitol and how close they were to Vice President Mike Pence, whom the rioters were targeting.

'They were coming at the urging of Donald Trump to keep Congress, a separate branch of government from certifying the results of a presidential election,' Plaskett said.

'As the rioters reached the top of the stairs, they were within 100 feet of where the vice president was sheltering with his family,' she added, showing footage of Pence being evacuated from the Senate chamber. 'Vice President Pence was threatened with death by the President's supporters because he rejected President Trump's demand that he overturn the election.'

The Democrats' new footage also included urgent police radio messages seeking assistance as the riot was unfolding.

The managers showed security video footage of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's staffers barricading into a conference room before rioters entered Pelosi's office, trying to force open the door where the aides were in hiding. Plaskett showed how the photos of one of the insurrectionists who ransacked Pelosi's office was armed with a stun gun.

The managers charged that Trump engaged in a months-long campaign to falsely convince his supporters that the election was stolen, whipping them into a state of anger over the false belief the results were fraudulent and inciting his followers to violently disrupt the peaceful transfer of power.

'His false claims about election fraud, that was the drumbeat being used to inspire, instigate and ignite them, to anger them,' said Rep. Joe Neguse of Colorado, one of the House impeachment managers. 'The President had spent months telling his supporters that the election had been stolen, and he used this speech to incite them further to inflame them to 'stop the steal,' to stop the certification of the election results.'

'The culmination of Trump's conduct over several months'

House Democrats previewed their case against Trump on the trial's opening day Tuesday, playing a dramatic and visceral 13-minute video that interspersed disturbing video of the rioters breaching the Capitol, attacking police officers and invoking Trump's name with the President's January 6 speech and tweets. It's an effort to try to force skeptical Republican senators to confront the harrowing events of January 6 and Trump's culpability, though GOP senators say Tuesday's 56-44 vote on the constitutionality of the trial signaled there simply wasn't a path to the two-thirds votes required for conviction.

Trump's legal team has argued that the managers are ignoring Trump's comments on January 6 that the protests should be peaceful, while claiming his call for supporters to fight was figurative political speech protected by the First Amendment. They will get the chance to respond to the House arguments Friday.

Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland, the lead impeachment manager, kicked off the House's presentation arguing that the January 6 riot was the culmination of Trump's conduct over several months falsely claiming the election had been stolen. Then after the rioters attacked the Capitol in the deadly riot, Trump praised them, Raskin said.

'He told them to fight like hell, and they brought us hell that day,' Raskin said. 'The evidence will show you that ex-President Trump was no innocent bystander. The evidence will show that he clearly incited the January 6 insurrection. It will show that Donald trump surrendered his role as commander in chief and became the inciter-in-chief of a dangerous insurrection.'

Raskin warned at the outset that some of the video the managers planned to show would be graphic.

The opening hours of the managers' presentation focused on Trump's statements both before and after the election, in which he repeatedly made false claims that the only way he could lose the election was if it was stolen and spread false conspiracies about widespread voter fraud.

'This was never about one speech. He built this mob over many months with repeated messaging,' said Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell of California, one of the House impeachment managers. 'He made them believe their victory was stolen and incited them so he could use them to steal the election for himself. ... This is what he deliberately led to our doorstep on January 6.'

The managers cited statements from rioters in the aftermath, including in federal indictments, saying they were out to kill Pence and Pelosi, and that they were 'following the President's orders,' Neguse said.

The impeachment managers walked through how Trump tried in multiple ways to overturn the election result, from filing dozens of lawsuits to pressuring state election officials, including Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger. Ultimately, the managers argued, Trump turned to the congressional certification on January 6.

The unique nature of the impeachment trial played out in the presentation, as the managers noted at various points that they and the 100 senators who were jurors had been witnesses to the riot. Rep. Madeleine Dean of Pennsylvania choked up as she closed her remarks by describing the loud bang that was heard when she was in the chamber that had been surrounded by rioters.

'So they came, draped in Trump's flag, and used our flag, the American flag, to batter and to bludgeon,' Dean said. 'And at 2:30 p.m., I heard that terrifying banging on those House chamber doors.'

The House presentation will continue into the evening on Wednesday and Thursday. The House team does not think it will need the full 16 hours they have available, senior aides say. They expect to use most of their eight hours on Wednesday but may have a slightly shorter day on Thursday as they finish making their case.

Republicans say they can't be swayed

While the managers' case is likely to hit home for senators who were forced to flee from the rioters on January 6, there nevertheless appears to be no path for Democrats to reach the two-thirds vote necessary to convict Trump and bar him from running for future office.

On Tuesday, the Senate voted 56 to 44 that the trial was constitutional, meaning 44 Senate Republicans voted that the trial itself was unconstitutional. While one Republican, Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, changed his vote as a result of the strong Democratic arguments on the constitutionality of the trial, other Republicans stayed firmly opposed even as they panned the meandering presentation made by Trump's legal team on Tuesday.

'This does not predict my vote on anything else,' Cassidy said Wednesday when asked about the vote on whether to convict or acquit Trump.

House Democrats are urging Senate Republicans to solely consider the merits of the case and separate out their concerns about whether the trial is constitutional. Many GOP senators publicly and privately are signaling to CNN that they won't do that, the latest sign of the high hurdles Democrats face in getting to 67 votes to convict.

'The underlying issue is too critical in my opinion,' Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota told reporters. 'I've continued to say that it is not constitutional to impeach and convict a former president.'

Asked if there's anything the Democratic managers could say that would change his mind, Rounds said: 'I think they would have to go back to the constitutional articles or the constitutional issues in my opinion.'

Texas Sen. John Cornyn, a member of Senate GOP leadership who voted that the trial proceedings are unconstitutional, said that his position on the process will weigh on his final vote on deciding whether to convict Trump.

'As I understand, we have one vote it's guilty or not guilty at the end,' Cornyn told CNN. 'So, it has to be a combination of those two factors.'

GOP Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida said bluntly 'no' he would not judge the merits of the case separately from whether the proceedings are constitutional, something the Senate affirmed in a bipartisan vote on Tuesday.

'No, I don't think that's the job of the Senate: To be trying remove a President who is not in office,' Rubio said when asked if he would judge the case solely on the merits, also pushing back on the idea of barring Trump from ever running for office again. 'It's not about Donald Trump -- it's about the future.'

Trump lawyers will get chance to respond on Friday

Trump's lawyers, Bruce Castor and David Schoen, will have up to 16 hours over two days to make a more detailed case against the impeachment charge beginning Friday, though they aren't expected to use all of that time.

After Tuesday's rambling presentation was criticized by Republicans -- and enraged the former president -- Trump's legal team is scrambling to collect and produce more videos to bolster their arguments, according to a person familiar with the discussions. The move to use more videotape -- and lean away from in-person arguments -- amounts to a tacit acknowledgment that the lawyers Trump has enlisted to defend him during his second impeachment trial are failing to inspire confidence.

Asked if Trump expressed his displeasure over his performance, Castor said Wednesday, 'Far from it,' adding they were not planning changes to their legal strategy.

After Trump's team wraps up, the Senate will have up to four hours to ask written questions to the legal teams, and then the House managers could seek a vote on hearing from witnesses. But it's not clear yet they plan to do so.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell walked his conference through the impeachment timeline on Wednesday during the private GOP lunch, laying out that it was still possible to finish the impeachment trial by Saturday evening, according to GOP Sen. Kevin Cramer of North Dakota.

Finishing by Saturday would mean that they would do senators' questions, closing arguments and the final vote that day -- and push back doing senators' final speeches until later. The ultimate vote has not been decided, in part because the question about whether Democrats will seek witnesses is still not fully resolved, but all signs point to the trial ending this weekend.

Unlike the 2020 trial when many senators from both parties took to the floor and gave speeches before the final conviction vote, Cramer said that fewer GOP senators would speak this time -- a sentiment echoed by many other of his colleagues. The reason, GOP sources say, is not as many GOP senators want to publicly defend Trump. Moreover, senators from both parties are eager to get home for next week's Presidents Day recess.

'I think there is a lot of incentive for that,' Cramer said of trying to end Saturday.

This story and headline have been updated with additional developments Wednesday.
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Allman Brothers Band Recording CompanyAn archival live album featuring a historic performance that The Allman Brothers Band gave on September 28, 1971, in Austin, Texas, will be released on March 26, which also marks the 52nd anniversary of the group's formation.

The album, titled Down in Texas '71, captures the full show that the Allman Brothers played at the Austin Municipal Auditorium. The nine-song performance included renditions of "Statesboro Blues," "Trouble No More," "One Way Out," "In Memory of Elizabeth Reed" and "Hot 'Lanta."

The band was joined on six songs by saxophonist Rudolph "Juicy" Carter, marking the most extensive guest appearance by any musician with the group's original lineup. Carter and Allman Brothers member Jaimoe had previously played together backing Percy Sledge, and it was Juicy who coined the drummer's nickname; Jaimoe was born Johnny Lee Johnson.

The Austin show took place two months after the Allman Brothers Band recorded their famous concert album At Fillmore East in New York City, and just one month before guitarist Duane Allman was killed in a motorcycle accident at age 27.

Down in Texas '71 is available for pre-order now on CD exclusively at MerchMountain.com. A special bundle is also available for purchase that features the CD, a limited-edition Down in Texas T-shirt, and a reflective Allman Brothers Band badge sticker. In addition, the album will be released digitally.

The CD version of Down in Texas '71 features an exclusive interview that Duane Allman and bassist Berry Oakley gave to a Houston radio station in June 1971.

Proceeds from the album will benefit The Allman Brothers Band Museum at The Big House in Macon, Georgia, which is home to the world's largest collection of ABB memorabilia.

Here's the full Down in Texas '71 track list:

"Statesboro Blues"

"Trouble No More"

"Don't Keep Me Wonderin'"

"Done Somebody Wrong"

"One Way Out"

"In Memory of Elizabeth Reed"

"Stormy Monday"

"You Don't Love Me"

"Hot 'Lanta"

Berry Oakley and Duane Allman 6/6/1971 Houston, TX, interview*

* = CD only.

By Matt Friedlander

Copyright  2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
Author and speaker Rachel Hamm called former President Donald Trump to be the "best thing" that happened to Christian churches in America next to Jesus, in response to an article written to paint what he stood for in a bad light.

Christian Headlines reported Hamm appeared on "American Agenda," a Newsmax show which discussed a Vox article written by Trump critic and conservative writer David French where he argued that Trump's presidency is a "catastrophe for American Christianity."

French wrote in his column:

"A significant segment of the Christian public has fallen for conspiracy theories, has mixed nationalism with the Christian gospel, has substituted a bizarre mysticism for reason and evidence, and rages in fear and anger against their political opponents - all in the name of preserving Donald Trump's power."

French wrote his article on Trump's presidency and its perceived ill effects to Christian churches in the U.S. before the attack on Capitol Hill on Jan. 6.

The rest of the column revealed how French sees many evangelicals who have "politicized their faith" by getting into politics with the help of conservative media like Fox News and even talk radio.

Hamm sparked a heated debate in social media about politics and theology when she called President Trump as the next "best thing" that happened to churches and believers in the United States "since maybe Jesus."

According to Hamm, French's article was "ridiculous"

To quote Hamm, "President Trump was the best thing to happen to the Christian church in America since maybe Jesus."

As president of the United States, Trump has championed several causes that are considered a victory for Christian churches including his policies to promote the sanctity of life and religious freedom to name a few. Trump's constant support of laws and policies that align to Christian beliefs have made Christians all across the U.S. enjoy religious freedom compared to Christians in other nations who suffer from persecution because of their faith.

The author and speaker then added that French "is not in touch with what the evangelical church thinks at all."

"We ask God things and He tells us things," Hamm said. "In fact, in the Bible it says, 'I am the Good Shepherd and my sheep know My voice. They listen to me. I speak to them.' And God has spoken to us. He's spoken to us very clearly. ... Donald J. Trump is who He anointed to be president, and he anointed him to be president for two terms."

However, Hamm was interrupted by Newsmax host Heather Childers when she mentioned that the "duly elected president" in the recent election was Trump. The host then mentioned that "we'll see what happens as we move towards 2024 and if he runs again."

As of writing time, the tweet containing the video of Hamm's appearance on Newsmax drew over 324,500 views and over 1,200 comments sparking a much heated debate on the social platform. Many of the comments also threw hate at Hamm, Trump, and even Christians.

Newsmax guest: "President Trump was the best thing to happen to the Christian church in America since maybe Jesus" pic.twitter.com/0m10LFMeZE  Jason Campbell (@JasonSCampbell) February 5, 2021

While French's column called Trump's presidency as a catastrophe for Christian churches, more than half of Christian pastors in the U.S. have supported Trump during the election.

Even after the election, well-known leaders of Christian and evangelical congregations have shown their support of Trump as he fought the battle against the alleged election fraud caused mainly by the Dominion Voting Systems.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - February 11, 2021) - PharmaDrug Inc. (CSE: BUZZ) (OTC: LMLLF) ("PharmaDrug" or the "Company"), a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the research, development and commercialization of controlled-substances, natural medicines such as psychedelics, cannabis and naturally-derived approved drugs, is pleased to announce it has filed an application with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") to receive Orphan Drug Designation ("ODD") for N,N-Dimethyltryptamine ("DMT") in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke patients presenting for emergency medical assistance within 3-hours of symptom onset.

Acute ischemic stroke is characterized by the sudden loss of blood circulation to an area of the brain, resulting in a corresponding loss of neurologic function. Around 85% of all strokes are due to a blockage cutting off the blood supply to the brain. Stroke-related costs in the United States were approximately $46 billion between 2014 and 2015. (Source: CDC).

In pre-clinical research, DMT has been shown to improve ischemic brain injury in rats, both by decreasing brain lesion volume and by improving subsequent motor function recovery. Following acute ischemic stroke DMT activates the sigma-1 receptor (Sig-1R) and critical downstream pathways known to enhance production of anti-stress and antioxidant proteins; the impact of which, specifically diminishes the deleterious impact of hypoxia and oxidative stress to brain cells. Restoration of blood flow to affected regions of the brain through administration of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA aka alteplase), long considered gold-standard treatment for ischemic stroke, often only partially rescues damaged brain regions. As such, the development of novel approaches to treat ischemic stroke, such as PharmaDrug's DMT program, represent a critical development in reducing patients resulting neurological deficit.

"We are building an industry-leading foundation to explore the clinical potential of DMT in rare neuropsychiatric and neurological disorders. With the submission of our orphan drug application to the FDA now complete we will move swiftly to accelerate the research and development of DMT for acute ischemic stroke," said Daniel Cohen, CEO of PharmaDrug. "Additionally, we will continue to broaden our DMT clinical programs by taking advantage of valuable FDA regulatory incentives such as orphan drug, fast track and breakthrough therapy designations."

The Company's psychedelic pharmaceutical strategy will focus on DMT by expanding its product pipeline through licensing, pre-clinical and clinical research, forming research collaborations with academic institutions and industry, broadening its intellectual property portfolio with unique formulations, development of novel uses and delivery systems, and by adding medical and clinical experts to its scientific advisory board.

The Orphan Drug Act grants special status to a drug or biological product to treat a rare disease or condition upon request of a sponsor. This status is referred to as orphan designation (or sometimes "orphan status"). The FDA grants ODD status to products that treat rare diseases, providing incentives to sponsors developing drugs or biologics. The FDA defines rare diseases as those affecting fewer than 200,000 people in the United States at any given time. ODD would qualify DMT for certain benefits and incentives, including seven years of marketing exclusivity if regulatory approval is ultimately received for the designated indication, potential tax credits for certain clinical drug testing costs, activities, eligibility for orphan drug grants, and the waiver of the FDA New Drug Application filing fee of approximately USD $2,400,000.

About PharmaDrug Inc.

PharmaDrug is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the research, development and commercialization of controlled-substances and natural medicines such as psychedelics, cannabis and naturally-derived approved drugs. The Company owns 80% of Pharmadrug Production GmbH, a German medical cannabis distributor, with a Schedule I European Union narcotics license and German EuGMP certification allowing for the importation and distribution of medical cannabis to pharmacies in Germany and throughout the EU. The Company also owns 100% of Super Smart, a Dutch company building a modern adult use psychedelic retail business with an elevated and educational focus. PharmaDrug recently acquired Sairiyo Therapeutics, a biotech company that specializes in researching and reformulating established natural medicines with a goal of bringing them through regulatory and research driven clinical trials.

For further information, please contact:

Daniel Cohen, Chairman and CEO

dcohen@pharmadrug.co

(647) 202-1824

Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Information:

THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE HAS NOT REVIEWED NOR DOES IT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

This news release may contain forward-looking statements and information based on current expectations. These statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results of the Company. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those implied by such statements. Although such statements are based on management's reasonable assumptions, there can be no assurance that such assumptions will prove to be correct. We assume no responsibility to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. The Company's securities have not been registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or applicable state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold to, or for the account or benefit of, persons in the United States or "U.S. Persons", as such term is defined in Regulations under the U.S. Securities Act, absent registration or an applicable exemption from such registration requirements. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of the securities in the United States or any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. Additionally, there are known and unknown risk factors which could cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information contained herein, such as, but not limited to dependence on obtaining regulatory approvals; the ability to locate additional supply of medical cannabis, owning interests in companies or projects that are engaged in activities currently considered illegal under United States federal law; changes in laws; limited operating history, reliance on management, requirements for additional financing, competition, hindering market growth; regulatory and political change. All forward-looking information herein is qualified in its entirety by this cautionary statement, and the Company disclaims any obligation to revise or update any such forward-looking information or to publicly announce the result of any revisions to any of the forward-looking information contained herein to reflect future results, events or developments, except as required by law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/74241
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P

rosecutors, police officers, international airlines and even diplomats in South East Asia have been working with criminal gangs to smuggle millions of pounds worth of endangered rhino horns through border crossings so they can go on to reach customers in China and Vietnam.

In turn, their participation in this already thriving criminal enterprise is strengthening corruption, under-mining governance along the supply chain and weakening security for affected communities.

The annihilation of the rhino by organised groups is deadly and stealthy but the complicit governments, lax laws and the corporate officers facilitating the trade are worsening the crisis.

And the Covid-19 pandemic, which has taken millions of lives across the globe, has not stopped them either.

Speaking exclusively to the Independent, under the condition of anonymity, a former undercover Thai police officer described the current climate of corruption.

Stop the Illegal Wildlife Trade We are working with conservation charities Space for Giants and Freeland to protect wildlife at risk from poachers due to the conservation funding crisis caused by Covid-19. Help is desperately needed to support wildlife rangers, local communities and law enforcement personnel to prevent wildlife crime. Donate to help Stop the Illegal Wildlife Trade HERE

He said: I still believe that corruption is happening even during the pandemic because a lot of people cannot earn money like before when they could come to Thailand for work in the factories and things like that. But the effect of the pandemic has meant many do not have work and can fall into things like this.

Corruption never stops, he added.

The former officer, who previously worked undercover cases in counter-drug trafficking and organised crime for several Thai law enforcement agencies, said that during the pandemic criminals have found loopholes to keep business going even during lockdown and restricted travel.

If we compare the illegal wildlife trade and drug trafficking during the pandemic - both trafficking still took place. If the drugs can be imported from our neighbour country to Thailand, that means the same will be possible for wildlife. So yes corruption, I believe is still on going even during this time in the pandemic.

 Member of the Hydra gang nailed by Freeland records the poaching and selling of rhino horns

Why? Because a lot of people need money, more so during this time where jobs have been lost. Its the same thing for the wildlife people, the wildlife trafficking, they would like to still get money and will not let anything stop them, he said.

His comments come just weeks after a Thai zoo, Songkhla, made headlines when the Zoological Park Organisation of Thailand (ZPOT) reported it would be pursuing action against a zookeeper over exotic animals which have gone missing.

The case first dominated headlines in October, when Suriya Saengpong, the director-general of ZPOT, was shot dead by a zoo veterinarian as he went to follow up on the case of a missing rare albino deer.

Local media reported that the two men argued, after which the vet shot bullets at Siriya and then took his own life.

The killing shed light on possible corruption inside the zoo, where a number of exotic animals, including the horn of a white rhino have reportedly disappeared.

Such horns, which weigh between 2.5kg, are typically worth 45,000 on the black market.

Rhino horn is believed to treat a variety of ailments, ranging from temperature imbalance to cancer, by those who buy it. In fact all rhino horns are made from keratin, a protein also found in our hair and fingernails. Scientists have found no medicinal benefits from consuming the substance, other than mild fever-reducing qualities on a par with aspirin.

( )

But the poaching and illegal trade of the horn - supplying mostly China and Vietnam - has decimated the global rhino population, leaving just 29,000 rhinos left in the world according to recent study by the International Rhino Foundation.

Under-policed and highly lucrative, international wildlife trafficking has become a low-risk trade and China is widely recognised as the worlds largest market for trafficked wildlife products.

At least 5,035 live wild animals were exported to the country from 2016 to 2019, according to a report published last year by the Ems Foundation, although it did warn this was a conservative estimate.

Rhino horns are often smuggled into the country through air or water transport but to move the products into China, a large share of goods cross the border with Vietnam, with smaller amounts from [Myanmar], Malaysia, Laos, and India, reported the United States-China Economic and Security Review Commission in 2018.

This is typically done either through a port of entry or across mountain trails.

Chinas government has strengthened some of its laws and regulations in the past, however, notable legal, enforcement, and cooperation challenges remain.

 Vietnam Embassy caught by SABC in illegal rhino horn transaction

And now, the Independent has partnered with Bangkok-based conservation charity, Freeland, which is dedicated to combating wildlife trafficking, poaching and habitat destruction, as part of its Stop The Illegal Wildlife Trade campaign.

The campaign, which was launched last year, seeks an international effort to clamp down on poaching and the illegal trade of wild animals, which remains one of the greatest threats to biodiversity in the future.

The charity's founder, Steven Galster, said: Corruption facilitates wildlife trafficking in almost every country, but rhino horn trafficking has corrupted more officers than we have ever seen.

It's more expensive than gold and cocaine, easy to conceal, and less risky to get caught with, due to weak laws. Everyone from front line customs officers all the way up to judicial officials and diplomats have been implicated.

So, we have a long way to go to clean up the enforcement chain and stop this trade. But there is hope: honest customs officers, for example, who stopped, inspected, and arrested a corrupt senior prosecutor. And I know many more good officers who are sick of the corruption, but they need high level support to risk their careers and lives to stamp it out.

Officials have yielded a profit of hundreds of thousands of pounds straight into their pocket through tampering with evidence, bribery, leakage from stockpiles and the continuous sentencing anomalies in the courts.

Examples of cases involving officials

In 2017, several cases involving corruption and the illegal wildlife trade took place at Thailands major international airport, according to a report published by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

In the same year, Royal Thai Custom officials seized over 20 rhino horns in the countrys major airport after two civilian travellers arriving from Vietnam and Thailand arrived at the same time as a flight from Ethiopia.

The pair proceeded to pick up two unclaimed suitcases containing illegal wildlife products from the luggage arrivals belt and were met by two police officers and a senior ministry of justice official who attempted to escort them and their suitcases through customs inspections.

But when questioned, a senior Thai official insisted that the bags contained wine and that they should not be inspected and then attempted to bribe the customs officials.

A total of 21 rhino horns weighing 108 pounds, traced back to Africa where the critically endangered species is widely hunted, were found inside the bags.

 Two prosecutors and a senior officer attempt to smuggle rhino horn through airport

The incident led to the arrest of the two travellers and a senior ministry of justice official- they were sentenced each to four years in jail for smuggling and tax evasion. However, no corruption related laws were used to prosecute the official in question.

Some of these gangs work with airport personnel to clear their products through customs, while other groups exploit maritime ports and land border crossings.

Over the past three decades, there have been at least 18 instances involving North Korean diplomats caught trafficking rhino horn and ivory, according to the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime, a Geneva-based network of law enforcement, government, and development experts.

But a report from the organisation also warned the number of cases that slip under the radar are almost certainly higher - this is partly due to the fact that diplomats are often given blanket immunity from stop, searches and arrests which allows them to get away with smuggling illegal goods.

Solutions

According to Freeland, another reason for a lack of action is because many wildlife crimes are committed online or on the phone, but only a small percentage of law enforcers are proficient and tooled up in digital intelligence, and the few that are may not possess investigation skills.

Speaking on whether there has been a push to tackle corruption at a higher level, Mr Galster, said: Generally speaking, there's this sort of good cop, bad cop kind of dynamic and we're seeing more and more good cops teaming up with us in what seems to work in any country that we work in and that is the use of multi-agency task forces.

So that's what we try to develop, because it's really hard for that corrupt person to get away with what they're doing with that many eyes and ears - it just takes one of them to either purposely or accidentally leak, you know, the nefarious activity that's going on.

But it especially becomes difficult [for smugglers] when you bring in different uniforms. So if you have customs, police, anti-money laundering authorities all working against corruption and they start to meet and talk to each other about the same case, then they find something, the corrupt officers and criminals will get very nervous.

Analyst Michael Morantz, who previously worked on illegal wildlife trade at OECD and now tackles the financial aspects of crime at FATF, the global money-laundering watchdog, spoke to the Independent on the possible solutions of tackling corruption.

He said: In a recent wildlife report at the FATF, following the money was the main objective. Whenever you bring rhino horn through an airport or across a land border, a corrupt border official or police officer may get a bribe to let the goods through or to even accompany the smugglers through a customs checkpoint. By following the money trail, investigators can track down those involved, even long after the crime took place.

Corrupt officers are probably doing other things that compromise their integrity, involving other forms of illicit trade. All these activities raise red flags. Anti-corruption units and financial investigators suspicions can be triggered when a bank notices unusual deposits or when we see sudden unexplained wealth  such as new vehicles or properties.

Mr Morantz, who previously worked at the Canada Border Services Agency where he coordinated international affairs for customs, added: This is the other side of the same coin: What happens to the money, and how we trace profits going to corrupt officials, is the important other half of tackling the illegal wildlife trade.
The United State on Thursday imposed sanctions on 10 current and former Myanmar military officials, punishing them over the Feb. 1 coup in the country, and repeated a call for the army to relinquish power.

"Todays sanctions need not be permanent. Burmas military should immediately restore power to the democratically elected government, end the state of emergency, release all those unjustly detained, and ensure peaceful protesters are not met with violence," a White House statement said.

Short link:


A simple recipe for s'mores pies has set mouths watering across social media - and they're remarkably easy to make.

All that's needed are three ingredients - ready-rolled pie crusts, mini marshmallows and a block of milk chocolate - which are all widely available in leading Australian supermarkets such as Coles and Woolworths.

Each crust should be filled with a handful of chocolate, topped with a generous scoop of marshmallows and baked in an air fryer for roughly five minutes until the marshmallow has caramelised into a golden brown.

Scroll down for video

These simple s'mores pies have set mouths watering across social media - and they're remarkably easy to make

Budget-friendly air fryers are sold in Kmart for as little as $49.

Home cooks have been rushing to make the pies since a woman, believed to live in the US, shared the recipe in a Facebook cookery group on Thursday morning.

'S'mores without the mess. So easy,' she wrote in the caption.

The woman said the pies turned out 'just right' after being baked for four minutes at 375 degrees Celsius.

Each crust should be filled with a handful of chocolate (pictured)

Pictures of the pies, which have racked up 1,000 'likes' since they were uploaded online, have drawn dozens of delighted responses.

'Cute idea!' one woman replied.

'I love these so easy and so good,' added a second, while a third wrote: 'Where is that YUM button at?'

Others said they planned to buy an air fryer just to make them.

The recipe is the latest dessert inspired by s'mores - a sweet treat popular in the US made from toasted marshmallow and a layer of chocolate sandwiched between two digestive biscuits - to catch attention on social media.

The pies (pictured) should be topped with a generous scoop of marshmallows and baked in an air fryer for roughly five minutes until the marshmallow has caramelised into a golden brown

In July, Olivia Nash showed amateur bakers how to make biscuits stuffed with marshmallows and white and dark chocolate.

The chef from Dublin, Ireland, uses 100 grams of brown sugar mixed with 125 grams of unsalted butter, 225 grams of self-raising flour, 200 grams of chocolate, one egg and a tablespoon of vanilla extract.

Chocolate squares and marshmallow are then sandwiched between the dough which is baked for 10 minutes at 180 degrees Celsius.

Photos of the cookies have been reposted on social media pages around the world, with many hailing them 'heavenly' and marvelling at the simplicity of the recipe.

Irish baker Olivia Nash's s'mores cookies, made from sugar, butter, self-raising flour, chocolate, marshmallows and a single egg

The cookies (pictured) are a new take on s'mores, a sweet treat popular in the US made from toasted marshmallow and a layer of chocolate sandwiched between two digestive biscuits

'Are they as good as they look and as easy to bake as it reads?!' one woman asked.

A second said she saved the recipe for the next time she can find marshmallows in the supermarket, while a third declared: 'Oh my Jesus lord, I need these.'

Others said the cookies were the best thing posted online in 2020.

A nationwide analysis of data from the first 6 months of the COVID-19 pandemic in Argentina has identified factors associated with increased risk of death or admission to an intensive care unit (ICU) due to the disease, including older age, male sex, coma, seizures, and underlying comorbidities. Daniel Schoenfeld of Centro Diagnostico San Jorge in Puerto Madryn, Argentina, and colleagues present these findings in the open-access journal PLOS ONE on February 11.

Argentina reported its first case of COVID-19 on March 3, 2020, and a national lockdown has been in place since March 20, 2020. As of January 10, 2021, a total of 1,714,409 cases and 44,417 deaths had been reported. However, few studies have examined the clinical characteristics of COVID-19 in Latin America.

To address that knowledge gap, Schoenfeld and colleagues examined COVID-19 patient characteristics and outcomes reported across Argentina in health records from March 3 to October 2, 2020. Out of over 700,000 total confirmed cases, 207,079 patients' health records contained enough follow-up information for analysis. Half of these patients were male, and 80.7 percent were younger than 60.

Most of the 207,079 COVID-19 patients had mild cases and favorable outcomes, but 5,652 were admitted to an ICU and 10,913 died. Increased risk of ICU admission or death was most strongly associated with underlying comorbidities, such as immunodeficiency, chronic renal failure, and liver disease. Other risk factors for ICU admission or death were older age, male sex, coma, dyspnea or tachypnea, and seizures.

The analysis also identified the most common initial symptoms experienced by the patients, including fever, cough, headache, and sore throat. Common co-existing conditions among the patients included hypertension, diabetes, asthma, and obesity.

This analysis was limited to positive cases with complete records, and there may be many additional cases of COVID-19 that were never officially registered. Still, the authors note, the new findings could help inform public health measures to optimize COVID-19 care in low-to-middle income and Latin American countries.

The authors add: "Our study of more than 200,000 people shows the risk of hospitalization in ICU and dying by age, sex and comorbidities in Argentina. Severe cases can be identified based on the predictors we described in the study, and may be useful for setting priorities in the Healthcare process and allocate resources."

###

Citation: Schonfeld D, Arias S, Bossio JC, Fernandez H, Gozal D, Perez-Chada D (2021) Clinical presentation and outcomes of the first patients with COVID-19 in Argentina: Results of 207079 cases from a national database. PLoS ONE 16(2): e0246793.

https:/ / doi. org/ 10. 1371/ journal. pone. 0246793

Funding: "Centro Diagnostico San Jorge. Puerto Madryn" did not play a role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript and only provided financial support in the form of one of authors' salaries. The author contributions roles were reviewed and accurately indicated. The funder provided support in the form of salaries for authors: a. Centro Diagnostico San Jorge pay salary to Daniel Schonfeld. b. Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias "Dr. Emilio Coni", Administracion Nacional de Laboratorios e Institutos de Salud "Dr. Carlos G. Malbran" pay salaries to Sergio Arias, Juan Carlos Bossio and Hugo Fernandez. c. Hospital Universitario Austral pay salaries to Daniel Perez-Chada. d. Department of Child Health, Women and Children's Hospital, University of Missouri, pay salary to David Gozal. The funders did not have any additional role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. The specific roles of these authors are articulated in the 'author contributions' section.

Competing Interests: Commersial affiliation: This does not alter our adherence to PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials.
Anna Stumme, U.S. Naval Research Laboratory electrical engineer makes adjustments to an array inside the anechoic chamber at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C., Sep. 5, 2019. Stumme creates and tests prototype parts developed using traditional and 3D printed methods. Credit: Photo by Jonathan Steffen

U.S. Naval Research Laboratory experts created and tested 3-D-printed antennas and arrays to advance radar technology and enable new applications for the U.S. Navy.

The lightweight and rapid production of 3-D-printed parts make it an attractive alternative to traditional manufacturing that often requires expensive materials and specialized equipment.

"3-D printing is a way to produce rapid prototypes and get through multiple design iterations very quickly, with minimal cost," said NRL electrical engineer Anna Stumme. "The light weight of the printed parts also allows us to take technology to new applications, where the heavy weight of solid metal parts used to restrict us."

Radar systems perform critical functions for the Navy, and remain an important part of maritime navigation and national defense. Parts for antennas and arrays, which are multiple connected antennas working together as one, may unexpectedly break or wear out requiring replacement. Traditionally, parts are ordered or intricately machined out of metal, sometimes taking weeks to produce. 3-D-printed radar parts, such as a cylindrical array, which provide 360-degree visibility, can be produced within hours versus several days using traditional methods due to the reduced machining and assembly time.

In addition to the production benefits, the relatively low cost of 3-D printing materials enable researchers to test multiple versions of parts at minimal overhead. The perfected prototypes can then be machined using traditional methods. Once a prototype is successfully produced, whether 3-D printed or traditionally manufactured, it must undergo rigorous testing before it is used operationally. That's the "super power" said Stumme and her colleaguesthey can quickly perform a variety of tests on new designs using 3-D-printed parts.

"We are not trying to say we need to 3-D print everything and put it on a ship because that is not realistic," Stumme said. "We don't necessarily know how it would hold up in that environment. For us, it's a way to test more design iterations in a short amount of time."

In early 2019, Stumme submitted a paper comparing 3-D printed parts against traditionally manufactured parts at the Antenna Applications Symposium. She won the student paper contest for her research.

New applications

Stumme and her colleagues are investigating how weight-and-size- constrained applications, such as unmanned aerial vehicles or small ships, can benefit from 3-D-printed parts. Many of the 3-D prototypes are printed using light weight nylon in NRL's Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research facility. Once the part is printed, it undergoes a process called electroplating.

During the electroplating process, a thin coat of metal is applied to the printed part. Electroplating provides a conductive surface for the device to radiate as intended; something that isn't feasible with plastic alone. The result is a lightweight prototype that can then be evaluated for a variety of attributes, such as surface roughnessa major factor in the functionality for antenna elements.

Stumme collaborates with NRL materials scientists from the across NRL, who perform critical surface roughness characterization. Surface roughness characterization provides an assessment of the coating on an antenna, and the impact roughness has on its performance.

"Surface roughness is important for wave guides and antennas because it can cause scattering losses and result in a less efficient antenna," said Nick Charipar, head of the Applied Materials and Systems Section. "Antennas radiate and receive waves. So if a wave runs along a rough surface it is distorted and the energy may not go where you want it to go."

Charipar and his team, part of NRL's Material Science & Technology Division, prototype 3-D printed parts for the NRL's Radar Division. Once the part is created, researchers investigate how the material features impact functionality of the radar. Each 3-D printer has unique characteristics that may alter product performance. If researchers can figure out the optimal parameters for specific 3-D printed parts, Stumme and her colleagues agree ships could become self-reliant for those critical parts anywhere in the world.

Next steps

Despite current COVID-19 restrictions, research at NRL continues to thrive from a distance. Later this year, Stumme and her colleagues plan to demonstrate new prototype cylindrical array apertures for an X-band surveillance radar demonstration in a laboratory setting. The X-band surveillance radar is designed to search the area surrounding a particular platform, such as a ship. They are exploring integrating cylindrical arrays into the masts of smaller vessels using microwave photonics and optical fibers.

"Cylindrical arrays are advantageous because they provide full 360-degree visibility," said Mark Dorsey, head of the Antenna Section in the Radar Analysis Branch of the Radar Division and project principal investigator. "Optical fibers are valuable because they can allow for long separations between the antenna itself and where the processing is conducted."

Using optical fibers reduces the number of components required on a Navy ship's mast, further reducing heat and weight constraints. The demonstration will include testing traditionally manufactured and 3-D printed versions of the array to compare performance. Stumme designed both versions.

In 2021, the team is scheduled to perform field testing on the prototype. The demonstration will be in the final year of their four-year effort to make the array more practical to use on smaller platforms, and show how to use arrays easily with optical fibers. Funding for the research is provided by NRL base funding.

Explore further Improving 3-D printing of plastic parts
Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - February 11, 2021) - Braveheart Resources Inc. (TSXV: BHT) (OTCQB: RIINF) ("Braveheart" or the "Company") is pleased to announce positive initial results for the application of ore sorting on the stockpiled mineralized material at its 100% owned Bull River Mine project ("Bull River") near Cranbrook, British Columbia.

Braveheart recently sent samples from a stockpile of mineralized material consisting of copper, gold and silver at Bull River to the TOMRA Sorting Solutions ("TOMRA") facility in Hamburg, Germany. TOMRA designs and manufactures sensor-based sorting technologies for the global mining industry. X-Ray technology ("XRT") was chosen as the most appropriate technique for the Bull River material on the expected differences in atomic densities of copper-bearing material and host rock. Testing is being managed by ABH Engineering ("ABH"), a world leader in ore sorting technology assessment and installation. Brent Hilscher, VP Mineral Processing at ABH, stated: "The exploratory tests for Bull River show an unusually clear density association. The high- and low-grade rocks for this deposit are extremely easy to separate with an XRT system. Further work will focus on defining performance and identifying economic benefits. Results are still preliminary, and work is ongoing. Final results of the ore sorting study are expected in March 2021".

Ore sorting or pre-concentration of mineralized material has the potential benefits of increasing the mill feed grade which can result in an improved net present value ("NPV") of a mining project. Potential benefits include a lowering of operating costs on a unit basis, a reduction in the volume of fine tailings created through the milling process and the overall volume of material transported to the tailings storage facility, a reduction in power consumption particularly in the grinding circuit and a lower overall environmental impact.

Braveheart plans to advance the Bull River mine project in a phased approach wherein a surface stockpile of mineralized material will provide the initial feedstock to an up-graded 700 tonne per day mill. Ore sorting capability could be introduced ahead of the grinding circuit.

Ian Berzins, President and CEO, added, "The initial results are encouraging. Samples originated from mineralized material that was extracted from seven separate sublevels in the underground workings. We engaged Brent to lead this project given he is one of the world's leading experts in ore sorting, with participation in over 50 mining projects and studies. Introduction of ore sorting in the crushing circuit could have a positive impact on the economics of our Bull River project and may be applicable at our newly acquired Thierry copper, nickel and silver project in Ontario."

Qualified person

Braveheart's disclosure of a technical or scientific nature in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Ian Berzins P.Eng., who serves as President, Chief Executive Officer and a director of the Company and is a Qualified Person under the definition of National Instrument 43-101.

About Braveheart Resources Inc.

Braveheart is a Canadian based junior mining company focused on building shareholder value through exploration and development in favourable Canadian mining jurisdictions at or near past-producing properties. Braveheart's main asset is the 100% owned Bull River Mine project near Cranbrook, British Columbia which has a current Mineral Resource containing copper, gold and silver. Braveheart's newest acquisition is the 100% owned Thierry Mine project near Pickle Lake, Ontario containing copper, nickel, palladium, platinum, gold and silver.

Contact Information

Braveheart Resources Inc.

Ian Berzins

President & Chief Executive Officer

M: +1-403-512-8202

admin@braveheartresources.com

Website: www.braveheartresources.com

For more investor information, please contact Braveheart at:

Kevin Shum

O: +1-647-725-3888 Ext 702

M: +1-604-376-0323

E: kevin@jeminicapital.com

E: info@jeminicapital.com

Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release includes certain information that may constitute "forward-looking information" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements about strategic plans, future work programs and objectives and expected results from such work programs. Forward-looking information necessarily involve known and unknown risks, including, without limitation, risks associated with general economic conditions; inability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources, and/or inability to access sufficient capital on favourable terms; and other risks.

Forward-looking information is necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information and the risks identified in the Company's continuous disclosure record. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. All forward-looking information contained in this news release is given as of the date hereof and is based upon the opinions and estimates of management and information available to management as at the date hereof. The Company 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 required by law.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this new release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/74154

A devastating fire engulfed a family's home in New Jersey overnight, killing an 11-year-old girl who bravely tried to rescue her eight-month-old brother from the flames.

Officials in Jersey City said it seems that Desire Reid was trying to reach her baby brother Keyon Robinson, who was sleeping upstairs, and carry him to safety when she was killed.

The children's mother Angie Reid and six-year-old brother managed to escape the burning home.

Desire, pictured left on her 11th birthday, was said to have rushed upstairs to grab her baby brother, right, who was sleeping. The infant died at the hospital less than an hour later

Desire Reid, 11 (far right), purportedly died trying to save her eight-month-old brother, Keyon Robinson (pictured in mom's arms), from a fire that engulfed their Jersey City home overnight

The Jersey City fire chief said temperature inside the burning home was about 1,200 degrees. Photos of the home's interior show charred debris after the deadly blaze

Firefighters responded to the address at around 11.30pm and were met by Angie Reid and her six-year-old son, who had managed to escape

The fire ignited on the first floor of the residence at 470 Martin Luther King Drive in Jersey City sometime around 11pm on Wednesday.

Firefighters who responded to the scene encountered heavy fire and smoke conditions.

After entering the home, they found an unresponsive 11-year-old girl, identified as Desire Reid, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

Keyon Robinson, was rushed to Jersey City Medical Center where he died before 12.25am.

Their mom Angie Reid, and her six-year-old son managed to get out of the burning home before the arrival of the firefighters.

Angie Reid, pictured while pregnant with her third child, works at a post office

The mother reportedly tried to go back inside the burning house for her children but found herself locked out with her six-year-old son

Authorities said it was the six-year-old who woke the mother up and she carried him outside to safety, reported ABC 7 NY. She then reportedly tried to go back for her other children, but the door locked behind her.

Fire investigators believe Reid's daughter, Desire, died trying to save her baby brother, who was asleep in an upstairs bedroom.

'[The fire] went directly upstairs into the hallway,' Fire Chief Steve McGill said, reported Jersey City Times. 'Although there was not a lot of fire on the upper floor, it was probably 1200 degrees up there. Nobody would have survived.'

When firefighters responded to the scene, they were met by Reid and her surviving son, who begged them for help.

Lori Reid, Angie's aunt, told the New York Post the mother-of-three even tried to run back into the burning home herself.

Fire Chief Steven McGill said nobody could have survived inside the burning home

Firefighters found Desire Reid, 11, dead inside the residence, while her baby brother succumbed to his injuries at the hospital

It took firefighters less than 40 minutes to put out the flames, leaving the facade of the grey-and-yellow building covered in soot. Three police officers who were on the scene were treated for smoke inhalation.

'The origin and cause of the fire remain under investigation,' according to a statement from the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office. 'The cause and manner of death is pending with the Regional Medical Examiner.'

Those who know Angie Reid described her as a doting mother to her two sons and daughter who worked at the post office to provide for them.

'They were together all the time,' neighbor Michelle Bey told CBS New York, adding that Desire was a 'good girl.'

Many family members and friends took to Facebook on Thursday to asks for prayers for the bereaved mother.

'Please keep the reid [sic] family,in your prayers especially my cousin Angie Reid,' wrote Keema Chresse Reid in a status update. 'I'm so sorry for your lost cuz [sic] I'm lost for words right now.'

Another relative wrote in all caps: 'GOD WE NEED YOU ASKING ALL PRAYER WARRIORS TO KEEP MY GREAT NIECE Angie Reid IN YOUR PRAYERS.'

A fire ignited inside Angie Reid's home on Martin Luther King Drive in Jersey City (pictured) at around 11pm on Wednesday, killing two of her three children

The fire does not appear to be suspicious, but its cause is being investigated
Press Release

11 February 2021

MUMBAI - The Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL), South Asia's largest hospitality company, reported its Consolidated and Standalone financials for the third quarter ending December 31st, 2020.

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Revenues up by 90% to 615 crore in Q3 vis-a-vis Q2

Reports positive EBITDA of 38 crore for the first time in FY20-21

Signed six new hotels with over 1100 rooms across brands at multiple locations and states in India

Strengthened the company's presence in the Eastern part of India with the signing of three Taj hotels, two in Kolkata and one in Patna

Opened four new hotels across brands including: The Connaught, an IHCL SeleQtions hotel, in the heart of New Delhi Introduced luxury hospitality to the city of Ahmedabad with the opening of Taj Skyline Pioneered a new destination in the East with the launch of Taj Chia Kutir - Darjeeling Opened a new Ginger hotel in Kalinganagar In addition, expanded the ama Stays & Trails portfolio with the opening of four new villas: two in Goa and one in Lonavala, Maharashtra and Thiruvananthapuram Kerala, respectively

Ginger reached a milestone of 75 hotels in its portfolio

hotels in its portfolio Quilon, Taj's award-winning coastal Indian cuisine restaurant in London, retained its Michelin Star for the 14th successive year

KEY CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL RESULTS FOR THE QUARTER ENDED DEC 31st, 2020

Photo: IHCL

Commenting on the Q3 performance, Mr. Puneet Chhatwal, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, IHCL, said, "The third quarter saw stronger recovery driven primarily by leisure demand and resumption of weddings. With innovation at the heart of our strategy, we continued to unlock the potential of our ancillary businesses, creating alternative sources of revenue. Despite challenges, the company opened four and signed six new hotels in the quarter and continued its focus on adopting an asset-light model, which has helped IHCL achieve a 44 per cent managed portfolio, further boosting consistent portfolio growth without additional capital deployment."

Whilst COVID-19 continues to impact the hospitality sector at large, IHCL's performance has shown consistent progress quarter on quarter.

Mr. Giridhar Sanjeevi, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, IHCL, said, "We are seeing positive revenue growth quarter on quarter whilst delivering on spend optimization. We will continue to keep this focus and introduce multiple initiatives to manage operational costs and strengthen the balance sheet."

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION IN Q2 FY 2020-21

CONDE NAST TRAVELLER READERS' TRAVEL AWARDS 2020:

IHCL has been recognized in these prestigious awards basis readers' votes across multiple categories including: Favourite Leisure Hotel In India - Taj Fort Aguada Resort & Spa, Goa Favourite Business Hotel In India - The Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai Favourite Safari Lodge In India - Mahua Kothi, A Taj Safari - Bandhavgarh National Park Favourite Destination Wedding Hotel in India - Rambagh Palace, Jaipur Favourite Spa in an Indian Hotel - Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, Goa Favourite Hotel Loyalty Programme - Taj InnerCircle Favourite Overseas Leisure Hotel - Taj Exotica Resort & Spa Maldives Favourite Heritage Hotel in India - Umaid Bhawan Palace, Jodhpur Presents Favourite Restaurant in an Indian Hotel - Wasabi By Morimoto, The Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai Favourite Hotel Bar In India - Blue Bar, Taj Palace, New Delhi Hotel with the Best Service In India - The Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai

IHCL has been recognized in these prestigious awards basis readers' votes across multiple categories including: TRAVEL + LEISURE INDIA'S BEST AWARDS 2020: Taj Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai was awarded 'Best New Hotel' in these coveted awards

CONDE NAST TRAVELLER MIDDLE EAST HOT LIST 2020 | November 2020:

Taj Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai is one of the featured hotels in these coveted awards

Taj Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai is one of the featured hotels in these coveted awards CONDE NAST TRAVELLER MIDDLE EAST READERS' CHOICE AWARDS 2020: Taj Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai, has been recognized as 'Favourite New Hotel' in the Middle East and North Africa region in these prestigious awards, which celebrate the outstanding achievements of the travel and hospitality industry over the past year basis reader votes, resulting in a list that honours those who have gone above and beyond to create memorable guest experiences

OTHER HIGHLIGHTS IN FIRST THREE QUARTERS OF FY 20/21
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Three new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Group of US Congress members threaten Azerbaijans Aliyev regime with sanctions

Chicago mayor is sued for allegedly refusing interview with white reporter

Iran exports oil to US for first time after long interval

"Armenia" bloc top 50 MP candidates are announced

42 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Sri Lanka public beach is covered in charred plastic pellets due to fire in container ship

US preparing list of targeted sanctions on Belarus authorities

China believes it will own America by 2035, Biden says

15 al-Shabab militants killed in Somalia

Newspaper: Armenia political forces that applied for running in election impatiently await CEC decision

Newspaper: Changes are expected in Artsakh

California prisoner who considers himself Satanist beheads cellmate, dismembers his body

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM's "mutually beneficial" proposal to collapse state system?

Armenia National Security Service Reserve Officers' Union members meet with His Holiness Karekin II

EU is ready to help Armenia and Azerbaijan with border delimitation and demarcation

ARF-D member on Nikol Pashinyan: 103 years ago Armenia's founding fathers would have executed him for treason

Iran President hails brotherly ties with Azerbaijan

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

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

Sunday should have been a day of celebration in Haiti. It marked the 35th anniversary of the fall of the Duvalier dictatorship, and the last day in office of the despised President Jovenel Moise. Instead, it was another day from hell.

Rather than leave office, Mr. Moise claimed that he had foiled a coup. He sent troops in the middle of the night to round up a judge, a senior police officer and more than 20 others. The fragmented opposition, in the meantime, compounded the crisis by installing two presidents  a Supreme Court judge who had been fired by Mr. Moise and a lawyer in Haitis north.

For the long-suffering Haitians, the power struggle promised only more bloodshed and chaos. They have already been battered by recent hurricanes, an earthquake and a cholera epidemic introduced, in a cruel irony, by United Nations peacekeeping forces. Few countries have endured so much, and no others that lie within a few hundred miles of the richest nation on earth.

A plane arrived from the United States on Monday. But instead of help or hope, it carried several dozen Haitians, including a 2-month-old and 21 other children, deported by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. President Biden had ordered a 100-day moratorium on such deportations, but a Texas judge temporarily blocked the order, prompting the agency to defy the administrations wishes and accelerate deportations. More such flights to Haiti are expected through the week.
After Defence Minister Rajnath Singh made a statement in the Parliament on the face-off with China, the Congress on Thursday accused the Narendra Modi-led government of brazenly compromising 'national security' and India's 'territorial integrity'.

Addressing a press conference on Thursday, Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said, "Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scared of even uttering the word 'China', much less ensuring that the Chinese are pushed back decisively from illegal occupation of India's territory in Depsang Plains, Gogra-Hot Springs Sector, Pangong Lake area and Chumur in southern Ladakh."

Surjewala also alleged that Rajnath Singh was trying to mislead the people by not giving full assurance on Chinese withdrawal from Indian territories in the areas mentioned above.

He said the Modi government and the Defence Minister refused to give an unequivocal assurance for restoration of status quo ante along the Line of Actual Control.

Surjewala alleged that the Modi government has always maintained that there has to be 'complete disengagement and withdrawal of troops by the Chinese from the entire Ladakh area'.

Why is the Modi government agreeing to a selective disengagement only in the Pangong Lake area and that too by presumably changing the LAC to India's disadvantage, Surjewala asked.

"Even in the Pangong Lake area, India was occupying Finger 4 and was patrolling up to Finger 8 on the north bank. India's stance has been clear and unequivocal that the LAC is up to Finger 8. As per Defence Minister's statement, Indian troops will withdraw now to Finger 3," Surjewala said.

"Does this not tantamount to redrawing the LAC to India's disadvantage and creating a buffer zone between Finger 3 and Finger 8, i.e., on our side of the LAC? Is this not a blatant compromise of India's territorial integrity," the spokesperson asked.

The Congress leader further asked that will the Prime Minister and the Defence Minister explain as to why the government is agreeing to withdraw the armed forces from the dominant positions in Kailash Ranges where the Chinese are at a disadvantage, without any quid pro quo by China?

"Does it not compromise national security? One of the most strategic and provocative incursions into the Indian territory by the Chinese is in the Depsang Plains. The Chinese have occupied our territory 18 km inside the LAC up to the Y-Junction (bottleneck) and are stopping our armed forces from patrolling up to PP-10, PP-11, PP-11A, PP-12 and PP-13.

"This has also jeopardised one of the most important and strategically placed air strips -- the DBO Air Strip (DBO-Daulat Beg Oldi). India demands answers to the above mentioned questions," Surjewala said.
Washington: High-powered guests at a controversial dinner series hosted by former secretary of state Mike Pompeo were treated to custom-made gifts that cost taxpayers more than $US10,000, according to documents obtained by an independent watchdog this week.

Pompeo spent a total of $US10,433 ($13,456) on 400 engraved pens made in China, embossed with the emblem of the Madison Dinners, an event series that raised concerns within the State Department inspector generals office over its questionable diplomatic value and political overtones.

Former secretary of state Mike Pompeo using a pen. Credit:AP

The Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, a liberal-leaning government watchdog also known as CREW, obtained documents on the customised gifts through a Freedom of Information Act request.

During his tenure as secretary of state, Pompeo emphasised a tough approach to China as an organising principle for former President Donald Trumps administration.
Ahead of polls in West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee threw an open challenge to her rivals at the India Today Conclave East. She talked the boost to industrialisation in the state and shared her thoughts on socio-political climate of the nation.

In some light-hearted moments during the intense conversation, the Chief Minister also shared that she prepared the state Budget while exercising on her treadmill.

"I walk on the treadmill for two hours. I also work while on the treadmill...I prepared the Budget walking on the treadmill," Banerjee said during the conclave on Thursday. "Ideas come as I walk."

ALSO READ: Commitment to privacy for WhatsApp is absolute: Facebook's Ajit Mohan

For the first time, Banerjee presented the Budget statement in the state legislature last week. West Bengal Finance Minister Amit Mitra, who was under medical supervision, had urged Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar and Speaker Biman Banerjee to allow the chief minister to present the Budget for 2021-22 in his absence.

The Budget statement included proposals to the tune of Rs 2.99 lakh crore, with substantial allocations for education and infrastructure. It also had provisions for farm sector and pensions to widows and elderly.

ALSO READ: India Today Conclave: Amit Mitra defends Bengal's growth model, accuses centre of destroying federalism

Speaking on 'Battle for Bengal: The last lady standing', Banerjee targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. "Two people are running the country; they tell everyone that only what they say will be done."

She exuded confidence that her party will once again emerge victorious in the upcoming West Bengal Assembly polls and challenged Shah to contest against her from Nandigram constituency.

ALSO READ: India Today Conclave: Bibek Debroy pins down the problem with Bengal's manufacturing sector
LONDON - Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, won her High Court privacy case against the Mail on Sunday after a judge ruled that the tabloid had invaded her privacy by publishing a letter the former American actress wrote to her estranged father.

It's a major legal victory for the duchess, the wife of Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex. She sued the Associated Newspapers, the owner of the Mail on Sunday and the MailOnline, for invasion of privacy and copyright infringement following articles published in 2019 that featured segments of a five-page letter she had written to her father, Thomas Markle.

The duchess said that she was "grateful to the courts for holding Associated Newspapers and The Mail on Sunday to account for their illegal and dehumanizing practices."

In an emailed statement, she added: "For these outlets, it's a game. For me and so many others, it's real life, real relationships, and very real sadness. The damage they have done and continue to do runs deep."

Mark Warby, the High Court judge, said that the duchess "had a reasonable expectation that the contents of the letter would remain private. The Mail articles interfered with that reasonable expectation."

In his judgment, Warby also wrote: "It was a communication between family members with a single addressee. Precautions were taken to ensure that it was delivered only to him. It was, in short, a personal and private letter. The majority of what was published was about the claimant's own behaviour, her feelings of anguish about her father's behaviour - as she saw it - and the resulting rift."

The judge found that publishing the letter infringed the duchess's copyright, but said that the issue of whether the duchess was the "sole author" of the letter should be determined at trial. He said that there will be a hearing in early March to determine the next steps in the case.

In the handwritten letter that the duchess wrote, after her wedding on May 19, 2018, she pleaded with her father to stop talking to the media, saying, "your actions have broken my heart into a million pieces." The British tabloid quoted from the letter and also printed images of the duchess' elaborate handwritten script.

Associated Newspapers had defended their coverage, saying that the contents of the letter weren't private as alleged and that Thomas Markles had a "weighty right" to tell his version of events to set the record straight.

A spokeswoman for the Mail on Sunday told The Washington Post: "We are very surprised by today's summary judgment and disappointed at being denied the chance to have all the evidence heard and tested in open court at a full trial.

"We are carefully considering the judgment's contents and will decide in due course whether to lodge an appeal."

Since stepping down as senior royals, Prince Harry and his wife have not backed away from taking legal action against media outlets. He recently won a printed apology and "substantial damages" from Associated Newspapers following two articles, in the Mail on Sunday and MailOnline, over claims he had "turned his back" on the armed forces.

Last year, representatives for the royal couple sent a letter to the editors of the four British tabloids saying that they will not "offer themselves up as currency for an economy of click bait and distortion."
Mumbai: Its Valentine week and love is in the air! Its that time of the year when you take a moment to appreciate your partner and all the joy they bring into your life. So, why not make the most of it and celebrate every day of Valentine week as a date night with a feel-good movie?

Going out during the pandemic isnt an option so you might as well snuggle up with your bae, enjoy pizza and wine over a mushy movie! We have the perfect collection of movies that will overload you with romance and excitement.

6 feel-good romantic movies on OTT you can watch with your partner: Here areyou can watch with your partner:

Love Per Square Foot: Starring Vicky Kaushal and Angira Dhar, this is an urban love story which starts off as a cordial relationship but blossoms into love. The two lead characters get to know each other as they work in the same building. Soon, they make a plan to combine their finances to buy a house together since they cant individually afford it. Their love story starts backwards as with love emerging at the end. You watch it on Netflix.

Holidate: As people enter their late 20s, it can be daunting to see their friends dating or getting married if theyre single, especially at family events. Two strangers with the same woes on being single during the holidays decide to be each others platonic plus-ones to all family events all year long. Crazy? We know! Watch to see how the unconventional arrangement unfolds on Netflix.

The Perfect Date: Featuring heartthrob Noah Centineo, this movie will remind you of young love. The plot follows a high school boy who starts a service of going on fake dates with people to fund his college education. He keeps his focus on the money but when he starts catching feelings for a girl, his plan goes for a toss. Watch it on Netflix.

Ginny Weds Sunny: This romantic comedy starring Yami Gautam and Vikrant Massey is a lighthearted film, perfect for unwinding after a long day. Ginny and Sunny meet for an arranged marriage but she rejects him. However, Sunny finds that Ginnys mother is still rooting for him and so they devise a plan to win Ginnys heart. Watch it on Netflix.

To All The Boys - Always And Forever: The third and final instalment to the widely-loved series To All The Boys is finally coming! According to the trailer, it will show the turning point in Lara Jean and Peter Kavinskys relationship as they enter Senior year of high school. Preparing for college applications, they have no clue where they will end up and if theyll end up together or apart. It will release on Friday (Feb 12) on Netflix.

Namaste Wahala: A new age rom-com story which explores the relationship of an Indian guy and Nigerian woman and how their families clash due to different cultures. The movie's name Namaste Wahala means Hello Trouble which is apt as the couple face many fun challenges and difficulties in bringing their families together. The movie will release on Valentines day (Feb 14) on Netflix.

Happy binge-watching guys!
File image: Union Home Minister and BJP leader Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah Thursday termed West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee a "failed administrator" and said the the upcoming assembly elections in the state will be a contest between Narendra Modi's "development model" and the TMC's "destruction model".

He said the BJP's 'Parivartan Yatra' is not for changing a chief minister, MLA or minister but ending inflitration and transforming the condition of West Bengal.

Addressing a rally here in this North Bengal town, he said the yatra is also aimed at ending corruption patronised by "Bua-Bhatija" combine. The BJP has been accusing Banerjee and her nephew Abhishek, the Lok Sabha MP from Diamond Harbour, of "institutionalising corruption".

He also spoke about the political killing of BJP workers and warned that the perpetrators will be thrown behind bars.

"This 'Parivartan Yatra' is not for changing a CM, MLA or a minister. It is for ending infiltration, it's for the transformation of Bengal.

"You vote the BJP to power in Bengal. Leave alone illegal immigrants, not even a bird from across the border will be allowed to enter the state," Shah said addressing a rally before flagging off the fourth of the five 'Parivartan Yatras' planned by the BJP ahead of the assembly polls.

The union minister said the BJP is ready to take on the "goons" of the ruling TMC.

"You think that we can get intimidated by the TMC goons? They cannot stall BJP's march to power. Once we are in power, each and every perpetrator of violence that led to the killing of BJP workers will be thrown behind bars," he asserted.

He alleged that Mamata Banerjee gets angry at 'Jai Shri Ram' slogan, but will herself begin chanting it by the time assembly polls are over.

"If 'Jai Shri Ram' is not chanted in India, will it be chanted in Pakistan? You get angry over it because you want to appease a particular section of people for vote bank politics," he said.

Shah said the upcoming assembly poll will be a contest between the "vikas (development) model" of the Narendra Modi government and Mamata Banerjee's "vinash (destruction) model".

The home minister said while the Modi government works for "jan kalyan" (public welfare), the Mamata Banerjee dispensation is bothered only about "bhatija kalyan" (nephew's welfare).
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke on the phone on Wednesday. This telephone chat between the two leaders puts to rest speculations of straining relationships between the two countries. The two leaders spoke about a host of issues including vaccination, geo-political issues as well as climate change and impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

"Was happy to receive a call from my friend Justin Trudeau. Assured him that India would do its best to facilitate supplies of COVID vaccines sought by Canada. We also agreed to continue collaborating on other important issues like Climate Change and the global economic recovery," tweeted PM Modi late Wednesday night.

Was happy to receive a call from my friend @JustinTrudeau. Assured him that India would do its best to facilitate supplies of COVID vaccines sought by Canada. We also agreed to continue collaborating on other important issues like Climate Change and the global economic recovery.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 10, 2021

Justin Trudeau informed PM Modi of Canada's requirements of coronavirus vaccines from India. PM Modi assured the Canadian Prime Minister that India would do its best to support their vaccination efforts, just as it had done for multiple other countries.

In his reply, PM Trudeau said that if the world managed to win against COVID-19, then it would significantly because of India's tremendous pharmaceutical capacity. He also lauded PM Modi's leadership in sharing the capacity with the world.

PM Modi and PM Trudeau spoke of the common view shared by both India and Canada on many geo-political issues and agreed to continue collaborating closely in fighting global challenges including climate change and economic impact of the pandemic.

The two leaders are also scheduled to meet each other in various international fora later this year.

PM Trudeau had earlier courted controversy over his remarks on the ongoing farmers' protest, saying, "I would be remiss if I didn't start also by recognising the news coming out of India about the protest by farmers. The situation is concerning and we're all very worried about family and friends."

The Canadian Prime Minister's comments were seen as a message for Canada's Sikh population. The Ministry of External Affairs responded by saying, "We've seen some ill-informed comments by Canadian leaders relating to farmers in India. These are unwarranted especially when pertaining to internal affairs of a democratic country. It's also best that diplomatic conversations aren't misrepresented for political purposes."

Also read: Canadian Khalistani outfit behind toolkit on farmers protests shared by Greta, says Delhi Police

Also read: Hello Canada! Trudeau support to India's farm protests contradict Canada's WTO stand
The United States spends more than $200 billion every year in efforts to treat and manage mental health. The onset of the coronavirus pandemic has only deepened the chasm for those experiencing symptoms of depression or anxiety. This breach has also widened, affecting more people.

New research from Carnegie Mellon University, University of Pittsburgh and University of California, San Diego found that 61% of surveyed university students were at risk of clinical depression, a value twice the rate prior to the pandemic. This rise in depression came alongside dramatic shifts in lifestyle habits.

The study documents dramatic changes in physical activity, sleep and time use at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Disruptions to physical activity emerged as a leading risk factor for depression during the pandemic. Importantly, those who maintained their exercise habits were at significantly lower risk than those who experienced the large declines in physical activity brought on by the pandemic. While physical activity resumed in early summer, mental well-being did not automatically rebound. The results of the study are available online in the February 10 issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

"There is an alarming rise in the rate of anxiety and depression among young adults, especially among college students," said Silvia Saccardo, assistant professor in the Department of Social and Decision Sciences at CMU and senior author on the paper. "The pandemic has exacerbated the mental health crisis in this vulnerable population."

Saccardo and her colleagues, Osea Giuntella, Kelly Hyde and Sally Sadoff, examined data gathered from 682 college students who used a smartphone app and a Fitbit wearable tracker for spring 2019, fall 2019 and spring 2020. Their results show large disruptions in physical activity, sleep and computer/phone screen time and social interaction, alongside large declines in well-being. This data set spans the onset of social isolation during the early months of the pandemic, offering an insight into the factors that exacerbated mental health disorders in this age group.

"We used this unique dataset to study what factors are predictive of changes in depression," said Saccardo. "[In the dataset,] we can see that mental health gets worse as the semester progresses, but it is dramatically worse in 2020 compared to the previous cohort."

The team found that participants who maintained healthy habits prior to the pandemic -- scheduled physical active and an active social life -- were at a higher risk for depression as the pandemic continued. The researchers point to a decline in physical activity as the leading risk factor for diminished mental health. However, restoration of physical activity was not met with a rebound in mental well-being.

"We randomized a group of individuals to receive incentive to exercise. While our short intervention increased physical activity among this group, it did not have an impact on mental health. These results open up a lot of opportunities for future research," said Saccardo. "It is an interesting puzzle for future studies to understand why we do not see a symmetric relationship between the resumption of physical activity and mental health."

This research documents how COVID-19 has generated large disruptions in mental well-being among college students, a vulnerable population.

"The results are generalizable to the young adult population, a highly exposed group which has exhibited rising depression rates over the last decades and was dramatically exposed to the disruptions caused by the current epidemic," said Giuntella, assistant professor of economics at Pitt. "We need more work to understand whether similar trends were observed in other age groups."

###

Saccardo and her colleagues published the project titled, "Lifestyle and Mental Health Disruptions During Covid-19." This project received funds from the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL).
The unusual case of an employee who took almost $800,000 from the empire of porn king Con Ange, but insists she did so with full permission, will return to court next month after a magistrate compared the layers of the case to a Russian doll.

Neva Liana Lozzi, 45, is accused of taking $787,571.10 from Mr Anges various companies  which he uses to run about 10 adult stores in NSW, Queensland and Victoria  in hundreds of bank transfers between 2015 and 2020.

Con Ange leaves court this month. Credit:Kate Geraghty

The money was spent on rent for her apartment at Point Piper in Sydneys east, electricity, phone bills, travel and accommodation, transfers to her bank account, and transfers to her husbands business.

Ms Lozzi has been charged with 29 counts of dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception. She has pleaded not guilty.

The Louisiana Republican Party sharply denounced Sen. Bill Cassidy, a Republican, when he surprised the state by voting Tuesday to support the constitutionality of former president Donald Trump's second impeachment trial.

In an unsigned statement, the party declared itself "profoundly disappointed" that its own elected leader, the most senior Louisiana Republican in Washington, would support a "kangaroo court" that amounted to an "attack on the very foundation of American democracy."

But Cassidy, who just started a six-year term after being reelected by a 40-point margin, did not appear bothered by the threat of grass-roots anger back home, joining a growing list of lawmakers who have decided, for politics or principle, to buck the infrastructure at the lowest rungs of the party.

"As an impartial juror, I'm going to vote for the side that did the good job," he said of the Democratic arguments he had heard in trial proceedings.

Since Trump left office, grass-roots Republican activists and state parties have become his vociferous defenders, condemnation and censuring elected Republicans who dare to deviate in any way from full-throated support of the former president. That has created a backlash of its own, as some Republicans - even some who eventually may oppose impeachment - are pushing back against local leadership.

The resulting clashes have laid bare the division in the Republican Party, which some strategists worry will undercut the party's chances in the 2022 midterm elections, when winning House and Senate majorities are likely to hinge on a united party that can draw out Trump's supporters and win converts from among swing voters who were repelled by the former president's politics.

As it stands, the party is still a long way from that sort of unity.

"I listen to Nebraskans every day, and very few of them are as angry about life as some of the people on this committee," Sen. Ben Sasse, R-Neb., said last week in a video addressed to his own state GOP committee, which was preparing another vote to condemn his criticism of Trump. "You are welcome to censure me again. But let's be clear about why this is happening. It is because I still believe, as you used to, that politics isn't about the weird worship of one dude."

Even Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who was just reelected, has faced censure in five counties in Kentucky, according to Don Thrasher, the chair of the Nelson County Republican Party, one of those that censured McConnell. But Thrasher said the state party, through procedural maneuvers, including votes in executive session, has so far prevented a formal statewide move against McConnell.

"These people are some dirty-trick people," Thrasher said. "It's just awful. Mitch McConnell is a cancer on politics."

Michael Lonergan, a spokesman for the state Republican party, responded by saying that Kentucky had voted overwhelmingly for Trump. "We're proud that every one of our federal lawmakers voted against moving forward with impeachment," he said.

In Michigan, state Senate leader Mike Shirkey, a Republican, faced censure this month by the Hillsdale County party committee for his response to covid-19. After the vote, he went out to lunch with his detractors to chastise and attempt to charm them, in remarks that were recorded at the table and later posted online by one of the participants.

"You are dragging the whole damn county in a bad direction," he told the county party leaders at one point, adding that he had stopped attending their meetings after they became a mess, though he used a more colorful word.

The meeting caused fresh divisions in the party; Shirkey was quoted as saying falsely that the attack on the U.S. Capitol was not carried out "by Trump people" but had been "staged" by other forces, possibly including McConnell, whom he blamed for the lack of security at the Capitol. (Shirkey has since issued an apology for unspecified "insensitive comment," though he was later heard on an open mic saying he did not "take back any of the points I was trying to make.")

In Arizona, the most powerful elected Republican leader in the state, Gov. Doug Ducey, has been openly hostile toward the recently reelected state party chair, Kelli Ward. When she led an effort to censure him last month for his support of the state's election results, his adviser, Sara Mueller, released a statement saying the state party's resolutions were "of no consequence whatsoever."

"The people behind them have lost whatever little moral authority they may have once had," Mueller said. Ducey won reelection in Arizona by 14 percentage points in 2018, even though Democrats won a Senate contest in the state that year.

Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel has told other Republicans that she is not going to mediate the disputes, though she did warn that the censure of Ducey and other Republicans was unhelpful, and she condemned a statement by the Oregon GOP that compared those who voted for impeachment to Benedict Arnold, the American military officer in the Revolutionary War who defected to the British side.

The official stance of the national party, reflected in fundraising and McDaniel's statements, is that the trial in the Senate is unconstitutional, though the national party has not tried to whip Senators to support Trump. State and local party organizations elect their own members and operate with considerable autonomy under the GOP system.

Other Republican leaders have tried to look past the divisions in an effort to foster unity.

"I am already getting calls within the Republican Party at my grass-roots level that we are going to have to start working together," the top House Republican campaign strategist, Rep. Tom Emmer, R-Minn., said Wednesday. "There is some stuff that has to work its way through the system. But I am very confident that we have already started that process and we will be unified."

That has not stopped the steady drumbeat for more resolutions of condemnation. In Illinois, the LaSalle County Republican Party recently voted censure against Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., who supported impeachment, after staging a protest rally at one of his local offices.

"It is all but guaranteed he is going to get primaried," said Larry Smith, the chair of the Lasalle County Republican Central Committee. "I think this is going to be a barn burner."

In Wyoming, Rep. Liz Cheney, a Republican, who also backed Trump's impeachment, has been censured by about half of the state's 23 counties. A vote by the state party last weekend called on her to resign and suggested that there was "ample video evidence" that antifa, a far-left group, and Black Lives Matter instigated the attack on the Capitol, which was actually led by Trump supporters.

"The oath that I took to the Constitution compelled me to vote for impeachment, and it doesn't bend to partisanship, it doesn't bend to political pressure," Cheney said in response during an appearance this week on Fox News Sunday. "It's the most important oath that we take."

The state central committee of the Nebraska Republican Party will meet Saturday to decide whether to censure Sasse, said Kolene Woodward, the Republican chairwoman in Scotts Bluff County. He won reelection to a new six-year term last year by a margin of 41 percentage points, despite regularly criticizing Trump during his presidency.

Numerous counties have moved to censure the senator over his criticism of Trump since the Capitol riot and for statements contradicting the former president's false claims of electoral fraud.

"He left us with the impression that the Trump-bashing would be over, which is why the state party went ahead and endorsed him," said Woodward, who is a high school substitute history teacher.

She laughed off Sasse's video statement criticizing party officials last week.

"In trashing Trump and saying we're just blindly following Trump, there's a big disconnect," Woodward said. "Trump was our voice. He didn't create us. We created him. He was our voice for our agenda in D.C."

Rep. Fred Upton, R-Mich., also is facing blowback for the criticism he has directed at Trump, as well as for his efforts to quarantine extremist elements of his own party. In addition to voting in favor of impeachment last month, he also was one of just 11 Republicans who joined Democrats in stripping Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., of her committee assignments for her past incendiary statements.

Of the two votes by Upton, the one for impeachment has been more of a lightning rod in his southwestern Michigan district, said Scott McGraw, the Republican chairman in Kalamazoo County. Republican leaders, who issued a statement denouncing the vote, have been holding Zoom meetings to discuss constituent anger. Upton's staff has been attending the meetings, and the congressman himself joined for one of the sessions.

"Fred has had this image where he's been a little more moderate at times, and then sometimes he's conservative or portraying himself as conservative," McGraw said. "He's a nice guy. We like him. I personally think he does a really good job."

- - -

The Washington Post's Isaac Stanley-Becker contributed to this report.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-11 13:28:28|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- China attaches great importance to Algeria's need of COVID-19 vaccines and has decided to provide a batch of emergency vaccine aid and facilitate the purchase of vaccines for Algeria to meet its urgent needs, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Wednesday.

Wang said this during a phone conversation with Algerian Foreign Minister Sabri Boukadoum.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of China's resumption of its legal seat in the United Nations, and the Chinese people will never forget the important contribution made by Algeria to this end that year, Wang said.

As the world is undergoing major changes unseen in a century, China and Algeria need more than ever to consolidate and carry forward their traditional friendship and jointly cope with various risks and challenges, he said.

China will, as always, support Algeria in following a development path that suits its national conditions and firmly opposes any interference in Algeria's internal affairs by external forces, Wang said.

Noting that the China-Algeria practical cooperation featuring a vast range and fruitful results is a model of cooperation for developing countries, Wang said the two sides have successfully implemented a large number of landmark cooperation projects, which have played an important role in Algeria's economic and social development.

The two sides should continue to jointly build the Belt and Road, promote exchanges and cooperation in various fields and further enrich the China-Algeria comprehensive strategic partnership, he added.

Boukadoum wished the Chinese people a happy Spring Festival and hoped that the bilateral relations will advance in more solid steps and reach a higher level in the Year of the Ox.

Algeria highly cherishes the friendly and cooperative relations between the two countries, and the Algerian people will never forget China's firm support for Algeria in its just fight for national independence and liberation, Boukadoum said.

Algeria opposes any interference in other countries' internal affairs and will continue to strongly support China on issues involving China's core interests, he added.

Algeria is willing to jointly build the Belt and Road with China and deepen practical cooperation in various fields, Boukadoum said, adding that the Algerian side thanks China for providing vaccine aid for it and stands ready to purchase vaccines from China to completely defeat the pandemic at an early date. Enditem
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In a report issued on Tuesday, the Coffee Exporters Council (Cecafe) said the drop followed record coffee exports in 2020, reports Xinhua news agency.

Brasilia: Brazil, the world's leading coffee producer and exporter, exported 3,147,222 60 kg sacks of coffee in January this year, down 9.4 per cent compared to the same month last year (3,474,252 sacks), authorities said.

According to the report, billing in the national currency (Brazilian real) increased 10.2 per cent compared to January 2020 as a result of the real's devaluation against the US dollar.

"We had good results in January, with an increase in billing in reals," Cecafe's president, Nicolas Rueda, said.

Taking into account the harvest period between July 2020 and January 2021, the first month of this year registered an increase of 17.2 per cent compared to the same period of the previous harvest, said Rueda.

According to the report, January foreign sales were lower than the 4,388,120 60 kg bags shipped in December 2020.

The main destination markets for Brazilian coffee are the US, Germany, Belgium, Italy, Japan, Colombia, Russia, Turkey, France and Canada.


Round Two: Ice Storm Warning Until 6PM

By National Weather Service

PADUCAH - The National Weather Service in Paducah continues with an ice storm warning that includes western Kentucky and extreme southern Illinois until 6 pm today.More freezing rain, sleet and snow has been falling overnight. Total ice accumulations of two tenths to almost a half inch is possible, with the highest amounts along the southern portions of western Kentucky in the Pennyrile and Jackson Purchase areas.Most of the precipitation will end Thursday morning, but colder temperatures will keep surfaces frozen long after precipitation ends.Increasing winds will add even more bitter wind chills today.While ice accumulations are expected to be higher over parts of western Kentucky, the southern tip of Illinois, and the Delta region of southeast Missouri, dangerous road conditions are anticipated across the entire quad state.Travel is still hazardous at this time. If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency. Prepare for possible power outages. Monitor the latest forecasts for updates.On the Net:

Their political importance can be gauged from the fact that not only did Amit Shah made a stop at the residence of the community's leader, but Assam's Budget presentation was deferred because the state's finance minister was to accompany Shah

The upcoming Assembly elections in states of West Bengal and Assam have once again brought to the fore the long-standing issues of the ethnic communities. Among these, the focus seems to be primarily on the Koch community. The politically aware group, with sizeable numbers and well-defined demands, inhabit parts of Assam and Bengal.

Their political importance can be gauged from the fact that not only did Union Home Minister Amit Shah made a pit stop at the residence of the community's leader, but the Budget presentation in Assam Assembly was deferred because the state's finance minister was supposed to accompany Shah.

Numerically, the community holds importance in more than 15 seats in north Bengal and several seats in the lower region of Assam. According to The Indian Express, they are estimated to number over 33 lakh in West Bengal and the community asserts it has a population of 70 lakh in Assam.

Who are the Koch Rajbongshis?

Koch Rajbongshi is an ethnic tribe originally from the ancient Koch kingdom. The Rajbongshi tribe is referred to as Koch Rajbongshi, Rajbanshi, or Rajvanshi. The word "Rajbongshi" literally means "royal community".

Their ancestral homeland, the Great Kamatapur was divided into Bangladesh, West Bengal, Assam, Nepal, Meghalaya, Tripura, Bihar and Bhutan, during the British rule and after the Independence. A large number of Rajbongshis now live in north Bengal and West Assam, apart from some limited presence in Meghalaya, Bangladesh and Nepal.

The community is also most politically awakened in the two Eastern states, where a large number of political and non-political organisations are already in place. Most prominent among them are Kamatapur People's Party, Greater Coochbehar Demanding Committee, All Koch Rajbonshi Students Union and Koch Rajbonshi Sanmilani.

This mobilisation was the result of the diminishing social status of this historically affluent class in face of migration of upper-caste Hindus into their traditional habitats. Rajbongshis were traditionally land-owners and the dominant community in north Bengal who took pride in their ruling-class status.

However, things began to change for them drastically, both in Assam and Bengal in the years after India's Independence.

According to a paper authored by Paresh Bora for the Sikkim University, Rajbongshi's were at the unfavourable end of several land reforms undertaken by the subsequent Bengal governments (including abolition of Zamindari system in 1953, distribution of land to the landless 1967, Operation Barga land reforms in 1977). The paper also quotes early literature from upper-caste Bengali Hindus at the time that shows Rajbongshi's were considered socially inferior due to their limited exposure to education. Meanwhile, the immigrant Hindus already exhibited strong sense of a cultural identity and knowledge of advanced agricultural practices. They treated Rajbongshis as antyaj's (inferiors).

"With the gradual settlement of the upper caste Hindu gentry in what were traditionally the Rajbanshi dominated areas of north Bengal, the existing balance in local power structure had changed. The immigrant upper caste gentry in course of time become the most dominant group in the local society, economy, and politics," the paper states.

An article in The Times of India, published before 2016 West Bengal elections states that according to 1971 figures, 80 percent of the north Bengal population were Rajbongshis. Now it has come down to a mere 30 percent.

Similarly in Assam, identity consciousness emerged among many small ethnic groups due to the discriminatory attitude of the Hindu Assamese groups. Rajbongshis further felt alienated in Assam after they were caught in crossfires of ethnic clashes between Muslims and Bodo community in Assam that started in the 90s and raged on till early 2000s. Rajbongshis, who primarily occupied mixed villages and maintained a distinct ethnic and linguistic culture from both Muslims and Bodos were the soft target for both sides, their homes in the path of rampaging mobs.

The Koch Rajbanshis are now constitutionally known as Scheduled Castes in Cooch Behar (North Bengal), Scheduled Tribes in some parts of Maghalaya, Most Other Backward Class (MOBC) in Gaolpara district of Assam, Other Backward Class (OBC) in other district of Assam and caste Hindu in Karbi-Aanglong district of Assam.

What are the their key demands?

According to the north Bengal government portal, their main demand, first articulated in the early 1990s, is the creation of Kamtapur, a separate state that includes their home districts. They also want their native language to be included in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution.

In Assam, they are upset over non-inclusion in the Bodoland Territorial Council even though they consider themselves important stakeholders as Rajbongshi population is present in sizeable numbers in the Bodoland Territorial Administrative Districts (BTAD) areas.

The Koch Rajbongshi community has also been demanding the Scheduled Tribe status in the state of Assam.

Political leanings

In West Bengal, they largely used to support the Left Front during its 34-year rule. When the Trinamool Congress came to power in 2011, many supported the new ruling party. But the Rajbongshis have supported the BJP in the 2014 general elections after the party promised to take a sympathetic view of their demand to recognise the Kamatpuri language.

The BJP again cornered an impressive vote share of 28 percent in the 2016 bypolls in Cooch Behar (approximately 150,000 new voters), according to India Today.

In Assam, the Koch Rajbongshi National Convention (KRNC) had offered their support the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) and the UPPL (United People's Party Liberal) in the BTC (Bodoland Territorial Council) polls held in December 2020.

This time around Ananta Rai, the chief of GCPA in Assam's Chirang district has thrown his weight behind the BJP, possibly after assurance from Shah that the community's long-standing demand of being given the Scheduled Tribes status will be fulfilled.

Rai, who calls himself a descendant of the Coochbehar royal family in Bengal, told media persons that the Union Home Minister held talks with him on the long-pending demands of his community.

Shah, who had arrived in Guwahati on Wednesday night, was accompanied by BJP national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya, North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) convenor Himanta Biswa Sarma and Assam BJP president Ranjeet Dass during his visit to Rai's residence at Chatipur.

"All our pending demands were discussed at the meeting, and now I can only say that good days are ahead for the Koch-Rajbongshi community," Rai said.

Rai also clarified that "his outfit, which has the support of 18.50 lakh members, is already a part of the NDA", when enquired if an alliance with the BJP was in the offing, ahead of the assembly polls in Assam and Bengal. Assembly elections in Bengal and Assam are likely to be held in April-May.

With inputs from PTI
A father and son involved in a Bay of Plenty police operation targeting the Kawerau Mongrel mob will remain in prison.

Kawerau Mongrel Mob leader Frank Milosevic, 52, has been sentenced to 17.5 years imprisonment after being found guilty on 16 drug and money laundering related charges.

He has received a minimum non parole period of eight years and nine months.

Slobodan Milosevic, 30, was sentenced to 16 years and nine months imprisonment with a non-parole period of seven years and 10 months.

Slobodan was found guilty of 19 charges involving methamphetamine and cannabis at an eight week trial in the High Court at Hamilton last year.

Both Frank and Slobodan appeared in Tauranga District Court today via audio visual link from prison.

A third man facing four charges relating to supply, possession and selling of methamphetamine also appeared in court today.

Keith Pryor, 48, was sentenced to six years and nine months imprisonment.

The men were arrested after a six-month police operation in 2017 and 2018 called Operation Notus.

Senior Sergeant Al Fenwick, who was a sergeant in Kawerau during that time, told the Whakatane Beacon Notus was the biggest police operation in the towns history.

The Whakatane Beacon reports that more than 50 people involved in the operation are facing charges.

In court today Judge Mabey said that Frank abused his mana as president of the Mongrel Mob in Kawerau.

"There is no doubt you were head of a substantial drug operation in a community that must have been adversely affected by what you did."

Frank was a serious criminal within a community where he was greatly respected, Judge Mabey said.

Judge Mabey said 30-year-old Slobodan was the right-hand man, with the father and son pair being "effective and well-organised" in their drug activity.

"You are an intelligent, resourceful man with a strong work ethic. If you and your father had engaged in a legitimate business I am sure you would succeed."

After Slobodan received his sentence, people in the public gallery began barking and jeering.

Slobodan is the father of three children, and his partner is due to have a fourth child later this year.
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Wednesday's vaccination updates: 17.1% of Champaign County has received first dose; State to expand eligibility to all with comorbidities, underlying conditions by Feb. 25
Rioters Try Breaking Into Portland Police Association

Rioters attempted on Wednesday evening to break into the Portland Police Association, law enforcement officials said.

A protest began near North Lombard Street and North Campbell at around 5:15 p.m., Portland Police said on Twitter. Participants then attempted to break down an entry door of the Portland Police Association.

We are monitoring the situation, Portland Police said at the time, urging rioters to disperse.

To those participating in the protest, this direction is being given over loudspeaker: stay on the sidewalk, do not try to break into the building or violate any other laws, officials warned. If you do youre subject to arrest and/or use of force including less lethal weapons.

In an update two hours later, Portland Police said on Twitter that all protesters had left the neighborhood after causing some vandalism to the building.

Fifteen officers, three sergeants, and one lieutenant were pulled from patrol duties to protect the building, but ultimately no arrests were made, no force was used, and no one was injured, police said.

The Portland Police Bureau didnt immediately respond to a request for comment by The Epoch Times for more clarification on the incident.

Oregons largest city has been rocked by civil unrest and violent acts since the summer months of last year, 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.

Last month, a crowd, mainly dressed in Antifas characteristic black, smashed windows and vandalized the offices of the states Democratic Party during rioting that took place just hours after the inauguration of President Joe Biden.

At least 150 people, some of whom were seen carrying the flag of the far-left, anarcho-communist group Antifa, gathered and participated in events punctuated by violence and destruction, according to the Portland Police Bureau.

Some spray-painted an anarchist symbol over the Democratic Party headquarters sign, according to footage posted on social media. Some applied graffiti, and later moved dumpsters in the street, lighting the contents of one on fire, police said in a statement.

Journalist Andy Ngo shared footage on Twitter of people attacking a Portland Police officer and flipping a car on its side.

Eight people were arrested in Portland on charges that include rioting and reckless burning. A spokeswoman from the bureau told The Epoch Times in January that police werent aware of their links to any group or their motives.
A substantial proportion of adolescent mental health and behavioural difficulties can be predicted years before they arise, a new study indicates.

A substantial proportion of adolescent mental health and behavioural difficulties can be predicted years before they arise, a new study indicates.

The research, by academics at the University of Cambridge and Royal Holloway, University of London, shows that children who experience certain behavioural challenges, like hyperactivity and anxiety, are more likely to go on to develop poor mental health in adolescence, such as emotional difficulties.

It also finds that children with behavioural difficulties are more likely to experience problems as adolescents if they come from less affluent, or disadvantaged backgrounds.

Levels of adolescent behavioural and mental health difficulties are rising. As healthcare systems worldwide struggle to cope with increasing demand, there is an urgent need to predict which adolescents are most likely to need additional support as early as possible.

The researchers used historical data from more than 6,700 people, collected both when they were 10 and 16 years old. For the first time, this allowed them to plot previously-undocumented connections between a wide range of childhood problems, such as hyperactivity and anxiety, and related but different behavioural difficulties that arise in adolescence.

They combined this information with details about the participants' social and economic backgrounds. Children from wealthier or better-resourced settings were more likely to overcome behavioural problems by the age of 16. Conversely, those from poorer backgrounds were more likely to transition into different difficulties during their teens.

Dr Duncan Astle, from the MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge, said: "At present, adolescent behaviour and mental health difficulties are only treated once they become problematic, which is one of the main reasons why mental health services are overwhelmed. Our work shows how we might begin to develop a way to predict the difficulties of some - perhaps many - young people and intervene sooner."

Professor Anna Vignoles, who co-authored the research while based at the Faculty of Education, University of Cambridge, said: "This type of information is essential if we want a more proactive, preventative model of handling behavioural and mental health problems in young people. The more significant predictors we have, the better we can target support."

The historical data came from the British Cohort Study - an ongoing project which is following the lives of the same group of people born during one week in April 1970. It contains details about behavioural difficulties the participants displayed both at 10 and 16 years old, as well as information about their socio-economic circumstances, such as family income, and their parents' level of education. Few other sources offer such rich data on that scale, which is essential to making a robust assessment of how behavioural problems may change during a person's lifetime.

The researchers described each participant in the study at both 10 and 16 using six broad categories of potential behavioural problems: conduct problems, hyperactivity and impulsivity, inattention, emotional control problems, anxiety, and motor problems.

Next, they used a technique called hybrid hierarchical clustering which gathered together groups of similar profiles in a manner designed to offer the most meaningful interpretation of the data possible. In many cases, children fell into the 'no problems' group; some displayed one specific problem; while others presented combined patterns of difficulties (for example, one group of children exhibited a similar pattern of motor, hyperactivity and emotional problems combined).

The profile groups which emerged were very different across the two developmental stages. Hyperactivity, motor control and conduct issues were prominent in childhood; while adolescents were more likely to display problems related to emotional control, anxiety and inattention.

Dr Joe Bathelt, Lecturer at Royal Holloway, University of London, said: "We often assume that behavioural problems stay the same across development; however, our results show that the presentation can change substantially between childhood and adolescence."

The researchers then looked for cases where a larger-than-expected number of children had transitioned from one specific sub-group at age 10 to another aged 16.

Of those who experienced behavioural problems as children, 55% exhibited no difficulties in adolescence. There were, however, several cases of a clear relationship between specific clusters of childhood and adolescent problems. The main patterns that emerged were:

An unexpectedly high percentage of children with anxiety problems (22%) developed emotional problems during adolescence.

Around a quarter (24%) of children with conduct problems displayed 'a constellation of problems' with anxiety, emotion and inattention in adolescence.

Around 17% of children with combined emotion, motor and hyperactivity problems developed inattention problems in adolescence.

When this data was combined with the participants' demographic context the researchers also found that the 55% of children with behavioural problems who had no problems by their mid-teens typically came from wealthier families, with more educated parents who tended to have higher-prestige jobs. They also tended to have higher cognitive ability, pointing to better educational attainment.

In addition, the data showed clearly that children who developed emotional control problems during adolescence were significantly more likely to come from poorer backgrounds, typically had more siblings, and had parents with lower-prestige jobs.

"It may be that wealthier families have more resources at their disposal and can seek help for children with behavioural disorders," Vignoles said. "Equally, growing up in an unstable environment is a significant predictor of the onset of adolescent behavioural difficulties, and that may be reflected here."

The researchers hope to carry out further studies which will compare the patterns that they recorded with data gathered from more recent generations. "It would be really interesting to rerun this analysis with the Millenium Cohort Study of people born in 2000," Astle said. "We need to bear in mind that what it means to be an adolescent has changed substantially over time, and will probably continue to do so."

###
A doctor in Texas who graduated from Upstate Medical University in Syracuse was fired and charged with theft after administering Covid vaccines that would have expired within hours, according to The New York Times.

The doctor, Hasan Gokal, 48, immigrated to the U.S. from Pakistan as a boy and earned his medical degree from Upstate. He worked at hospitals in Central New York before moving to Texas in 2009, according to the Times.

He worked at hospitals there before becoming medical director for the Harris County Public Health Covid-response team in the Houston area earlier this year.

The county was running a vaccine clinic in December that was mostly intended for emergency workers. Gokal was there to supervise, but turnout was light.

Late in the day, an eligible individual showed up and a worker broke the seal on a new vial, which held 11 doses. It was unlikely enough eligible people would show up at that point to use the remaining doses and Gokal was determined not to waste them, according to the Times.

He eventually tracked enough people down through his phones contact list. The recipients included a women in her 80s with dementia, a man in his 60s with health issues, a mother with a child who uses a ventilator and Gokals own wife, who has a lung condition that makes her vulnerable to Covid.

Though he informed his supervisors of what he had done at the time and filed all the proper paperwork, he was fired several days later, according to the Times. Officials told him he should have returned the doses to the county or thrown them away.

He was later charged with theft, although a judge dismissed the case as groundless. The local district attorney plans to present the case to a grand jury.

Gokals lawyer says his client acted responsibly, according to the Times.

Contact Kevin Tampone anytime: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 315-282-8598
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That couldve been divided up among businesses, Enyia said. We could ask how do we use grants like these and apply for more federal assistance rather than taking on debt. Is there a way we can impose a tax on [larger] businesses so we get X amount of dollars for our small business community? I would like to see an impact plan to see how these [larger businesses] will impact businesses close by. We cant continue to be stagnant. Were really losing time now by not helping our small businesses.



Fat past time for Disney to recast her.

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Goddammit, I spent 45 minutes making this post and got beat to the punch



Anyway, fuck Gina Carano

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Let me know if there's anything you think I should add, please

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Here are some more:



// covid , gina carano

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Gina Carano has the audacity to post shit like this when i havent seen my dad in six weeks because hes fighting covid on a ventilator pic.twitter.com/maxXEeTQpM  miles fett - ia because of school (@pedrosbodyguard) February 10, 2021



hey @starwars remember how yall post against racism and preach inclusivity but employ gina carano and give her a paycheck?? #FireGinaCarano pic.twitter.com/pRtUYrNIbq  brie (@adoreyoupascal) February 10, 2021



In the second one she liked a comment saying institutional racism isnt real, this woman has wormy Tucker Carlson brain



Edited at 2021-02-11 12:21 am (UTC) No worries! There was a LOT of stuff, including stuff I was too exhausted to post about that are currently still up on her story (stuff about her alluding to praising the insurrectionist movement, making fun of the impeachment and praising anti-mask mandates that Iowas pulling right now)Here are some more:In the second one she liked a comment saying institutional racism isnt real, this woman has wormy Tucker Carlson brain

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She is vile and it's frustrating to see people from the show defend her. Dump her ass already, Disney.

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is she the one henry cavill dated?

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yes

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Yes and it says a lot about him despite what people want to think

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Right? Plus his own actions, he recently used Blackout Tuesday as a way to shameless promote his shitty superman movies. I feel like Im always thisclose to making some type of why we should all hate Henry Cavill post.

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A nazi, iirc an animal abuser and a literal teenager, Fire Henry Cavill as well tbh.

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huh, I never would have expected that from him. I just always figured he was more into the "waifish" girl look.

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Tbf, isn't Henry Cavill rumored to be in closet? He was hiring alotta beards to make him look like a bachelor or something.

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I totally forgot about that. I remember the animal abuser and that weird thing with Kaley from TBBT?

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Wait, what?!



Yeah... no. Definitely changes my perception of him. :\

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She needs to go, it's not one stupid thing where maybe you learn and get a second chance it's a pattern of abusive behavior.

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She is just a flagrant asshole, with no interest in tempering her behavior.

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Way to misread history.

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Even if Mandalorian does take out the trash, watch this asshole get a job on Fox News or some other outlet for deplorables. I don't want to put that evil on you all but here go hell come.

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she's a shitty person and she can't even act to boot. writing cara out of the show would be a net gain.

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I thought maybe I was criticizing her acting because of her ugly personality, but I distinctly remember watching the show and thinking she was consistently the weakest actor on the screen.

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Okay this has to be the last straw right? Obviously it should have happened before but she's straight up talking about Nazis now.

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she needs to be jobless and broke

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recasting her would be messy so just kill off her character. wtf is up with disney that they fired james gunn over stupid 10 year old edge lord jokes that he had apologized for but won't fire gina for this (i know they rehired james gunn and i'm not defending the jokes but still)?

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I dont even think it would be that messy. Soaps recast all the time...sometimes really successfully. And her part is not that big.

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soaps i feel are kind of different. and for this it might depend on her contract.

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I'mma go a step further and say her character really isn't even that necessary....

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We're talking about a show featuring a bb space creature and a dude who never takes off his helmet. They can recast her.

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Because Disney is fucking corrupted, and they laid off tons of people while their CEO/BoD pocked so much money.

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TBH they could very easily just take her character back to her Marshal position on Nevarro off-screen and then never take the story to that planet again.

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The part that makes me sick is if she does get fired, the nazis will say it's a Jewish conspiracy. There's been a lot of anti-semitism floating about just this week, and I feel demoralized

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As my best friend says, at least twice a day, goys gonna goy.



To which Ill add republicans continue to show they lack even the most base levels of empathy. Animals show more care and concern for their fellows than republicans do.

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Wild that this Nazi is using what Nazi's did to Jews to point out how the system somehow oppresses Nazi's? Even though we Jews are still actively are being targeted by white supremacy. She's a moron in addition to a piece of shit.

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trying to compare anything to the holocaust that isnt the holocaust is antisemitic full stop



anyway fire this shitheel into the sun

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Ankara, Feb 11 : Turkey's Defence Ministry has confirmed that the country's Navy along its US counterparts conducted a maritime exercise in the Black Sea.

"The frigates TCG TURGUTREIS and TCG ORUCREIS of the Turkish Naval Forces conducted a joint maritime exercise with the USS PORTER and USS DONALD COOK destroyers of the US Navy in the Black Sea," Xinhua news agency quoted the Ministry as saying on Twitter on Wednesday.

"Two Turkish Air Force F-16s and one US maritime patrol aircraft also participated in the maritime exercise," it said.

The training conducted for the fundamental types of naval warfare has "further strengthened cooperation between the naval forces of the two countries and has contributed to their interoperability", the Ministry added.

It recalled that the Turkish naval forces command has been maintaining the "Black Sea Harmony Operation" since March 1, 2004 to contribute to the peace and security of the Black Sea within the framework of the "regional ownership" principle.

As part of the operations, frigates, corvettes, assault boats, submarines and sea patrol planes display their flags and show their presence in the Black Sea, and various observations and expeditions are conducted, it added.

Within the scope of its planned activities, the Turkish Naval Forces conduct joint training and exercises at every opportunity with the elements of NATO, friendly and allied naval forces which have arrived in the Black Sea and regularly participates in the exercises organised by riparian countries, the Ministry added.
Kids want to fish? You don't know how yourself? Here's a little help
"It is a privilege to represent the U.S. Postal Service as we honor the life and achievements of Dr. ChienShiung Wu," said dedicating official Kristin Seaver, chief retail and delivery officer and executive vice president, U.S. Postal Service. "And, we believe that today, the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, is perfect timing for this dedication."

The Chien-Shiung Wu stamp is being issued as a Forever stamp in panes of 20.

Seaver was joined for the ceremony by Vincent Yuan, a scientist at the Los Alamos National Laboratory and son of the honoree; Jada Yuan, granddaughter of the honoree; and Brian Greene, professor of physics and mathematics at Columbia University. The ceremony can be viewed on the Postal Service Facebook and Twitter pages.

"I am elated to have my mother honored by USPS on a postage stamp because I believe it goes beyond recognizing her scientific achievements; it also honors the determination and moral qualities that she embodied," said Vincent Yuan. "It's even more profound that the recognition comes from America, the country of her naturalization that she loved."

The stamp art features a detailed portrait of Wu wearing a black-and-white high-collared traditional Chinese gown known as qipao. The illustration was first drawn in graphite, then rendered in egg tempera paint. The background was painted with the pigment lapis lazuli, a highly valued color historically used in artistic depictions of angels, nobility and religious figures.

The spelling of Wu's name on the stamp reflects how she wrote her own name and referred to herself. It is also how she was known to the scientific community at large. This Romanized spelling of her name is based on the Wade-Giles system, which is all but obsolete for Chinese words and names. The Pinyin system of phonetic notation for Chinese characters is now the standard in both China and the United States.

Art director Ethel Kessler designed the stamp with original art by Kam Mak.

The Chien-Shiung Wu stamp is being issued as a Forever stamp in panes of 20. These Forever stamps will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price.

News about the stamp is being shared on social media using the hashtags #ChienShiungWu and #ScientificWomen.

A pictorial postmark of the designated first-day-of-issue city, New York City, is available at usps.com/shopstamps.

Background

During a career that spanned more than 40 years in a field dominated by men, Wu established herself as an authority on conducting precise and accurate research to test fundamental theories of physics.

Wu moved to the United States from China in 1936 and earned her Ph.D. in nuclear physics in 1940 from the University of California, Berkeley. During her time there, she worked alongside other pioneering nuclear scientists and attained star status on campus and in the physics community at-large.

In 1944, Wu accepted a position under the Division of War Research at Columbia University, where she worked on uranium enrichment and radiation detectors for the Manhattan Project. Conducting highly classified research to produce the world's first atomic bomb, Wu made invaluable contributions to the experimental process of splitting and harnessing the power of the uranium atom.

After the war ended, Wu stayed on at Columbia as a research professor, focusing her experimentation on beta decay. With ingenuity and careful research, she created a more precise spectrometer to finally explain the problem of beta decay, one that had plagued physicists in America and across Europe for decades.

In 1956, theoretical physicists Tsung-Dao Lee and Chen-Ning Yang approached Wu for help in developing a theory that disproved the foundational principle of conservation of parity. Wu created a thoughtful and intricate experiment to test the theory. She observed that in weak interactions, parity is not conserved  a finding that overturned a decades-old, intrinsic element of quantum mechanics and earned the lead physicists the Nobel Prize in Physics.

Wu spent the rest of her career as a respected experimental physicist and determined advocate for women in science. She made enormous contributions to the physical sciences, altering modern physical theory forever.

Postal Products

Customers may purchase stamps and other philatelic products through the Postal Store at usps.com/shopstamps, by calling 800-STAMP24 (800-782-6724), by mail through USA Philatelic, or at Post Office locations nationwide.

The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

Please Note: For U.S. Postal Service media resources, including broadcast-quality video and audio and photo stills, visit the USPS Newsroom. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and LinkedIn. Subscribe to the USPS YouTube channel, like us on Facebook and enjoy our Postal Posts blog. For more information about the Postal Service, visit usps.com and facts.usps.com.

Contact: Mauresa Pittman

(O) 202-268-2220

[email protected]

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U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is expected to speak with his Turkish counterpart, Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, in the coming days, State Department spokesman Ned Price said while reiterating that American policy opposing Turkeys Russian S-400 missiles remains unchanged.

"I would expect the secretary and his Turkish counterpart will have an opportunity to chat, to connect in the coming days," Ned Price told reporters.

Asked whether the United States is considering Turkeys recent suggestion that it may not need to make the Russian S-400 missile defense systems operational all the time, Price said Washingtons policy remained unchanged.

"Russian S-400s are incompatible with NATO equipment, they threaten the security of NATO technology, and theyre inconsistent with Turkeys commitments as a NATO ally," Price said.

Price did not say whether Washington would consider the proposal, reiterating that the U.S. policy remains the same and that Washington continues to urge Turkey not to retain the S-400 system.

"Turkey is a long-standing and valued NATO ally. ... We seek cooperation on common priorities, and as with any ally, we engage in dialogue to address disagreements," Reuters cited Price as saying.
New Delhi:

BJP exuded confidence on Monday that NDA nominee Ram Nath Kovind would win the Presidential elections with a comfortable margin. Voting is currently underway and the opposition claimed that its joint pick Meira Kumar was the best choice in the "clash of ideologies".

"Kovind ji will win (the election) with a respectable and comfortable margin," Union minister M Venkaiah Naidu told reporters ahead of the polling.

Naidu, however, refused to comment on the BJP parliamentary board's meeting to choose the ruling alliance's vice presidential candidate. Let the presidential poll get over first, he said. Another Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said Kovind will register a "decisive victory" and would turn out as an "honest" president, who, he said, will work hard according to the Constitution.

"It would have been better if there was consensus (among all parties over Kovind's nomination). But no issues," hesaid. Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad said the fight between Kovind and Kumar was "one of ideologies" and rated the latter as the best choice for the president's post. "The president should be a person pursuing an ideology under which everybody should be equal for him.

And when thereis a clash of ideologies, I think our candidate (Kumar) is the best," Azad, the Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha,said. Backing Kumar, the CPI(M) urged voters, comprising MPsand MLAs, to pick the "custodian of the Constitution"thoughtfully.

"Hope the electoral college picks the custodian of India's Constitution thoughtfully. Vote to uphold constitutional values of our republic," party general secretary Sitaram Yechury said on Twitter.

Yechury and senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge asked all MPs and MLAs exercising their franchise to vote according to their "inner conscience". "We believe in democracy and that's why we are contesting (the poll). All the voters, including those from the BJP, should also vote as per their conscience," Kharge said. With both Kovind and Kumar belonging to the Dalit community, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati expressed satisfaction that a Dalit leader would occupy the office of the president irrespective of who won the poll.

Mayawati also claimed it was because of her party that the NDA and the opposition had to field candidates from the community. "Winning or losing (a poll) is a different issue. Whoever wins, the good thing is a Scheduled Caste person will be the country's president. And I think it is a good thing for our movement, the party.

"And the NDA, the BJP had to field a Dalit candidate for the presidential poll because of the BSP and the other side (the opposition) too," she told reporters outside Parliament. The voting for the presidential poll began at 10 am and will continue till 5 pm. The result of the poll will be declared on July 20.

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A former Nigerian attorney-general and minister of justice, Mohammed Adoke, has petitioned the Inspector General of Police, demanding probe of an email evidence presented by prosecutors in the Malabu trial in Milan, Italy.

Mr Adoke, in his petition dated February 5, claimed that the evidence presented against him at the Italian court was forged with the intent to interfere with the course of justice.

The petition, titled Forgery of Document for Purposes of Unlawful Interference With the Course of Justice, claimed that although those behind the alleged forgery are unknown, they can be unmasked by the security operatives.

The petition urged the Inspector General to look into the email evidence, as well as another audio evidence earlier presented against him in the trial.

Mr Adokes reaction comes against the background of the Milan courts acceptance of evidence sourced from U.S. banking giant JP Morgan as part of the Malabu OPL 245 corruption trial.

Last week, PREMIUM TIMES reported that the court also accepted evidence of an email allegedly sent by Mr Adoke from the email address of a company allegedly owned by a middleman named in the controversial deal, Abubakar Aliyu.

This newspaper understands that despite opposition by the oil companies, the Milan court accepted the evidence, acquired by Milan prosecutors from UK authorities.

Prosecutors claim that Mr Adoke sent instructions about the transfer of OPL245 1.1$ billion payment by Eni and Shell from the email address of a certain A Group Properties, said to be owned by Mr. Abubakar.

A statement circulated by Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA) last week said the Milan Court denied Mr Adokes claim that the email was not his.

HEDA quoted Milan public prosecutor Fabio De Pasquale as saying that Internal email of senior compliance officer at JPMorgan denies Enis claim that the bank got a green light for the transfer of OPL245 money by SOCA, the UK financial intelligence authority preventing money laundering.

PREMIUM TIMES had penultimate week reported that the prosecutors in Italy requested the Milan court to file documents sourced from U.S. bank JP Morgan and emails allegedly sent by Mr Adoke.

The new evidence accepted by the court claimed that the former AGF shared with JPMorgan an unofficial copy of the resolutions agreements of OPL245 signed by the FGN with Eni, Shell and Malabu.

In his reaction last week, Mr Adoke dismissed the evidence as forged and fake.

The Malabu Scandal

The Malabu scandal is subject to corruption trials in different jurisdictions around the world.

The OPL245 oil block, regarded as one of Africas richest, was controversially awarded to Malabu in 1998 by the then petroleum minister, Dan Etete.

Mr Etete owned 20 per cent of the block through a fictional character, Kwekwu Amafegha, and the block was controversially sold to oil giants, Shell and ENI, in 2011 with a large chunk of the $1.1 billion paid for it ending up in Mr Etetes accounts.

Mr Etete allegedly used a large chunk of the money to bribe officials of both the Nigerian government and those of Shell and ENI.

The Nigerian authorities have charged Messrs Etete, Adoke, and several others linked to Malabu with money laundering in connection with the onward flow of funds from the OPL245 deal.

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Messrs Etete, Adoke, Abubakar and other parties accused in the trial, including officials of oil giants Eni and Shell, have denied wrongdoing.

Petition

In his new petition, filed by Kanu Agabi, the former attorney general claimed that the pieces of evidence against him were unsubstantiated and forged.

He argued that the parties responsible for the petition, investigations, and commencement of criminal trial allegedly resorted to the forgery of both the audio and email evidence, adding that the purpose of introducing the email was to establish a relationship between him and Mr Abubakar.

Mr Adoke expressed shock at what he called the unlawful design and collusion with the prosecutors in Milan, which resulted in the forgery of the evidence.

To establish that the email was forged, Mr Adoke said that at the time it was sent, being June 21, 2011, he was not in office as attorney general of the federation, owing to the dissolution of the Federal Executive Council by former president Goodluck Jonathan.

The former minister claimed he was re-appointed into office on July 2, 2011, adding that within the period the email was allegedly sent, he was abroad and never had any dealings with official matters of the state.

In the same vein, Mr Adoke said the prosecutors claimed the email was sent by Mohammed Bello Adoke but he never signed off correspondences without adding the suffix SAN, which was not contained in the email.

Mr Adoke also claimed that he could never have sent an email from another persons mail while using his name. He described such conduct as nonsensical and distanced himself from the claim.

He argued further that even if he had any reason to use another persons mail, he had a retinue of aides who could help him out.

Mr Adoke recalled that there had been similar evidence presented against him in the past, with respect to a tape of an alleged telephone recording with a certain Carlamaria Rumor, said to be a reporter with RAI TV in Italy, which he denied.

He called on the security operatives to investigate the genesis of the claims and bring those behind the forgery to book, adding that the individuals who initiated the petition, investigation and criminal trial against him may have questions to answer in the alleged case of forgery.
Canada Pension Plan Investment Board ( CPPIB ) has placed several pre-conditions to acquire Japans SoftBank Group Corp.s controlling stake in SB Energy Holdings for an estimated $520 million, said two people aware of the development.

These pre-conditions, also referred to as condition precedents (CPs), include meeting certain project commissioning deadlines, securing new businesses, achieving land possession from the Andhra Pradesh government and reimbursement of safeguard duty for a project in Rajasthan, the people said, requesting anonymity.

View Full Image India's green energy space has seen plenty of deal activity in recent years. Here's a look at the top five deals

The other CPs put by Canadas largest pension fund before it finalizes one of Indias largest green energy deals include getting the Punjab government onboard for buying electricity from a project, a bond issuance as well as SoftBank bearing any future liquidated damages liability.

Bank of America and Barclays are managing the stake sale process, with each CP having a monetary component attached to it.

SoftBank owns 80% in SB Energy, which has a 7.7GW solar power portfolio in India. The rest 20% stake is held by Bharti Enterprises Ltd.

Spokespersons for CPPIB, Barclays Bank India, Bank of America and Bharti Enterprises declined to comment. Queries emailed to SB Energys chief executive officer Raman Nanda, SB Energys country head and president India Rohit Modi and SoftBank Group spokesperson on 4 January remained unanswered till press time.

One of the CPs is about securing around 3GW of solar projects by 2022," said one of the two people cited above.

The deal is going ahead with the parties involved working on completing the CPs," said a second person cited above, requesting anonymity.

The latest valuation of SB Energy is less than the one expected by the sector given SoftBank had invested more than $800 million in the business in the past five years. The stake sale efforts follow SB Energy dropping its plan in July last year to raise $600 million through a dollar bond.

The Economic Times reported on 30 December that currently 75% of SoftBanks stake is being transferred to CPPIB and if the conditions precedent are not met, SoftBank will transfer a 5% stake that it is temporarily holding as security for free to CPPIB.

The transaction comes at a time when Indias solar power tariffs have touched a record low of 1.99 per unit at an auction conducted in December by Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigam Ltd. The rates are expected to decline further. Also, India plans to impose a basic customs duty of 40% on modules and 25% on cells from 1 April 2022.

Mint reported on 6 July 2020 about SoftBanks plan to sell its entire stake, in a change from its earlier approach for finding a significant minority investor, and its separate talks with CPPIB, Canadas Brookfield Asset Management Inc. and Abu Dhabi governments sovereign wealth fund Mubadala Investment Co. for the sale.

Meanwhile, fund-starved power distribution companies going tariff shopping and falling clean power tariffs have put an already-awarded 16.8GW solar and wind energy capacity in limbo.

Despite these issues, there has been growing interest in Indias green economy with several deals in play. Some of the other potential green energy deals in the works as reported by Mint include Brookfield signing an exclusivity agreement to buy Mahindra Sustens engineering, procurement and construction business and 1,200MW of solar assets, state-run NTPC Ltd and SJVN Ltd placing bids to buy out PTC India Ltds 289MW wind power assets, and Norways Scatec ASA, Saudi Arabias Aljomaih Energy and Water Co. and Italys Eni SpA separately scouting for solar assets in India.

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By Sarah N. Lynch

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Five alleged members of the far-right Proud Boys group have been charged with criminal conspiracy in last month's deadly attack on the U.S. Capitol that sought to keep then-President Donald Trump in power, according to a criminal complaint unsealed on Thursday.

Federal prosecutors on Thursday also outlined details of a suspected plot by the anti-government Oath Keepers group to stage a "quick reaction force" outside Washington on Jan. 6 ready "to fight hang to hand" if ordered to do so by Trump.

More than 200 people have been charged with federal offences in the bloody assault on Congress, which claimed the lives of five people at the Capitol and led to Trump's impeachment trial this week on a charge of inciting insurrection.

Democratic prosecutors at the impeachment trial have described how they said Trump laid the groundwork for the attack by falsely claiming he was robbed of re-election by voter fraud, then exhorting his supporters to "fight like hell" to "stop the steal."

Two alleged members of yet another right-wing extremist militia, the Boogaloo Bois, were arrested by FBI agents in Louisville, Kentucky, on Thursday on federal charges of instigating acts of violence through social media.

One of the two, John Subleski, 32, was accused of inciting a riot in downtown Louisville on Jan. 6, "contemporaneous with the Capitol riots," in which he and others pointed rifles at motorists and barricaded a number of roads, federal prosecutors said. The second man, Adam Turner, was accused of directing threats at police officers.

The Louisville charges underscore the dimension of right-wing extremism across the country in the aftermath of the tumultuous 2020 elections.

At the same time the U.S. Justice Department is considering whether to charge members of the groups under the federal Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, known as RICO, normally used against organized crime.

Story continues

In the new Proud Boys complaint, prosecutors charged William Chrestman, Christopher Kuehne, Louis Enrique Colon, Felicia Konold and Cory Konold with conspiring together to block Congress from certifying President Joe Biden's election victory.

It alleges that as far back as December, organizers of the Proud Boys, including its leader Enrique Tarrio, encouraged their members to travel to Washington on Jan. 6.

Tarrio was arrested two days before the Capitol riots on charges of possessing two high-capacity rifle magazines and for burning a Black Lives Matter banner during a December demonstration by Trump supporters.

To date, the United States has charged at least 18 people who are believed to be associated or allied with the Proud Boys.

Prosecutors on Thursday offered more details about the alleged planning, training and coordination that some members of the Oath Keepers undertook after Trump lost the November election.

In a 21-page memo, they asked a federal judge to detain Jessica Watkins, whom they describe as the leader of an Ohio-based militia tied to the Oath Keepers, saying she harbors extreme views that the Biden presidency poses an "existential threat" and actively recruited people to participate in a coup.

Prosecutors quote her on Nov. 17 as telling a recruit that if Biden was president, then "our Republic would be over. Then it is our duty as Americans to fight, kill and die for our rights.

Thursday's detention memo for Watkins suggests that some of Trump's most fervent supporters believed he sought to signal them into action.

In the memo, prosecutors say Watkins exchanged texts with another co-defendant and other unidentified contacts about coordinating a "quick reaction force" which would be there as back-up with guns if needed on Jan. 6.

"We can have mace, tasers, or night sticks," she wrote, noting the armed team would be "outside DC with guns, await ... orders to enter DC under permission from Trump."

Watkins, jailed awaiting trial, has yet to enter a plea and could not be reached for comment. The court docket does not list a lawyer for her.

(Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch; Editing by Scott Malone and Howard Goller)
New Yorkers have learned a lot in recent weeks about how hard COVID-19 hit nursing homes last year. State Attorney General Letitia James issued a scathing report that said the state Department of Health undercounted the deaths of nursing homes residents who later died at hospitals. The department finally responded Wednesday to 20 questions sent by state lawmakers months ago. Hours later, the state met a court-ordered deadline to release data showing how many nursing home residents later died of COVID-19 in hospitals.

This deluge of new information raises as many questions as it answers, according to state lawmakers, critics and experts who say Gov. Andrew Cuomo has withheld key information about the true extent of COVID-19 in long-term care facilities. While his administration appears to be taking a more cooperative approach to satisfying its critics compared to months ago, ongoing controversies over the governors handling of the coronavirus in nursing homes appear to only be getting bigger.

Theres a lot of questions that need more clarity, Assembly Member Ron Kim, one of several Democratic lawmakers who met virtually with Cuomo administration officials Wednesday, said in an interview with City & State. Ive got a feeling that this is just the beginning and its going to still be a hot-button issue moving forward.

Some of the controversies surrounding nursing homes are undeniably political. Republicans say Democrats are not standing up to the governor while Democrats say GOP lawmakers are acting in bad faith. Some outstanding issues, however, come down to clear matters of fact. Here are a few of the questions that the state is just beginning to answer.

What is the total number of nursing home residents who died in hospitals?

According to new data released by the state on Feb. 10 after a six-month legal battle with the Empire Center for Public Policy, a conservative think tank, 4,775 New York nursing home residents died of COVID-19 after being transferred out of their nursing homes. There were an additional 6,344 confirmed deaths of COVID-19 at nursing homes and 2,981 presumed deaths of COVID-19 at nursing homes. The departments response falls short of what was requested, reads a Feb. 10 press release from the center. The records do not fully account for the deaths of some 600 residents that occurred outside of the long-term care facilities, most often in hospitals, in which the COVID-19 diagnosis was presumed rather than confirmed. The state Department of Health has yet to provide dates from those deaths, though a spreadsheet it sent to the center lists the names, county, ZIP code and dates of deaths at a total of 10,188 congregate care facilities.

How much immunity is too much for nursing homes?

Assembly Member Ron Kim, whose uncle died of COVID-19, said the Cuomo administration had a surprisingly conciliatory attitude at a Feb. 10 virtual meeting with Democratic state lawmakers, especially when it came to addressing outstanding concerns about the current legal immunity for nursing homes that legislators approved in March last year, which was then partially repealed in August. It was not a full admittance that they got it wrong, Kim said in an interview. But they recognized that its problematic to get this type of broad immunity to nursing homes. The health department did not exactly put it that way in a written response to lawmakers questions on the matter, but it did acknowledge that the governor signed the proposed changes into law. Whether Cuomo would support additional changes remains to be seen, but Kim said he left the meeting feeling encouraged by the surprising openness of the administration.

Why cant the state make it easier for people to visit their family members?

The state is allowing stadiums to reopen to a small number of fans later this month. Indoor dining is resuming soon in New York City. Yet, it can still be pretty hard for people to see their loved ones at nursing homes. We have been pushing to register at least one or two family members to be an essential worker (who) can go in and visit, Kim said of outstanding efforts to loosen visitation rules, but the Cuomo administration has yet to back that idea. It also remains unclear when visitations can resume at 400 out of the 613 nursing homes in the state. Nursing homes are allowed to resume limited visitation for facilities that have been without COVID-19 for at least 14 days, reads the official health department response to lawmakers. The Department will continue to be guided by science and concern for residents welfare.

Where are these previously unknown COVID-19-only nursing homes located?

Somewhere in the Empire State are 19 facilities that have been exclusively devoted since November to housing as many as 1,941 people who have COVID-19, the state Health Department revealed in its 16-page letter to lawmakers. The homes were established to allow the transfer of MEDICALLY STABLE, BUT persistently positive COVID-19 nursing home eligible patients from Article 28 hospitals to these nursing homes to further their recovery prior to discharge to home or another nursing home, reads the letter, which does not disclose the locations of these sites, who manages them and how many people are currently there.

The Supreme Court has today, February 11, 2021, thrown away request by the Petitioner to cross-examine the First Respondent, Madam Jean Mensah in court.



The court ruled that Jean Mensa will not undergo cross-examination as requested by the petitioner.



































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For the petitioner, the General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketia, and a member of the NDC team in the ECs strong room during the 2020 elections, Dr Michael Kpessa-Whyte, filed their witness statements.Mrs Mensa also filed a witness statement on behalf of the EC, while the Campaign Manager of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in Election 2020, Mr Peter Mac Manu, filed on behalf of President Akufo-Addo.Mr Asiedu Nketia and Dr Kpessa-Whyte were accordingly cross-examined by lawyers for the respondents and were discharged.The petitioner decided to call a third witness  Mr Robert Joseph Mettle-Nunoo, another representative of the NDC in the EC strong room who was also cross-examined and discharged.Consequently, former President Mahama closed his case and the responsibility shifted to the first respondent (the EC) to open its defence by calling its witness (Mrs Mensa).However, lead counsel for the EC, Mr Justin Amenuvor, informed the court that his client (the EC) would not call any witnesses.That meant the EC had decided that Mrs Mensa would not mount the witness box.Mr Akoto Ampaw followed suit and said his client (President Akufo-Addo) would also not call any witness, meaning Mr Mac Manu would not testify.The two lawyers informed the court that they would not adduce any evidence to challenge the petition and so the apex court should determine the petition on its merit and the testimony adduced by the three witnesses for former President Mahama.According to them, the rules of court allowed a defendant to elect or choose to adduce evidence, but they had decided not to exercise that right and would, therefor,e not call any witness to adduce evidence.The petitioner, they argued, should rejoice and be excited that his petition would be determined on its merit, without any input from witnesses who would have presented contrary evidence challenging the petition.If the petitioner has a good case, he should be dancing and happy about the position taken by us, Mr Amenuvor had argued.Lead counsel for the petitioner, Mr Tsatsu Tsikata, however, took the position that the EC had already elected or decided to call a witness when it filed its witness statement.In view of that, he argued that Mrs Mensa could not evade or be shielded from cross-examination.Also, it was his case that as the Chairperson of the EC, Mrs Mensa had a constitutional duty to account to the people of Ghana and how she discharged her duties during the 2020 elections, especially those in contention in the petition.She wants to shield herself from accountability by not submitting herself to cross-examination. She must account for that public duty and the best forum to do that is the Supreme Court, Mr Tsikata added.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Home Minister Amit Shah (Image-PTI)

The Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) will be implemented in India as soon as the ongoing coronavirus vaccination drive is over, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on February 11.

Shah, who is in poll-bound West Bengal at the moment, campaigning for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), defended the contentious legislation and said: Propaganda has been spread that this bill is against the Muslims in India. They are Indian citizens and will always remain. No Muslim in India needs to worry due to CAA.

He reiterated that there is no clause in CAA to snatch the citizenship of his Muslim brothers.

Amit Shah reminded the Matua community (refugees) that the BJP had promised to implement CAA in 2018 and the party fulfilled the promise in 2019. According to a News 18 report, the BJP leader assured them that the Centre will implement CAA once the COVID-19 vaccination process gets over.

Shah was campaigning in Matua stronghold Thakurnagar when he made this promise.

Attacking West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for opposing CAA, the Union home minister asked how can she stop an Act from being implemented after it was passed in Parliament.

West Bengal had become the fourth state to pass a resolution against CAA in January 2020.
The anomaly is coincident with interpreted mafic and ultramafic rocks which are typical host rocks for orthomagmatic nickel-copper-PGE mineralisation.

The company is targeting a diamond drilling program at the anomaly later this quarter.

( ) has increased confidence in the prospectivity of Yarawindah Brook Nickel-Copper-Platinum Group Elements (PGE) Project in Western Australia after assessing the results of a surface geochemical fixed loop electromagnetics (FLTEM) program at the XC-29 anomaly.

This anomaly was identified in an airborne electromagnetic (AEM) survey in late 2020 and consists of three discrete zones over a strike of 1.3 kilometres.

The FLTEM program was conducted over two southern parts of the anomaly and has confirmed the presence of several strong (up to 2,500 siemens), bedrock conductors.

Caspin is confident that the northern portion (XC-29c) also represents a bedrock source and plans to survey this section during a second phase of FLTEM later in the year.

Drill testing planned

The FLTEM program has provided sufficient confidence for drill testing the anomaly with the planned program to comprise of around 500 metres of diamond drilling at XC-29a and b.

The company is well advanced in the permitting process and targeting drilling activities late in the March quarter, subject to rig availability.

Four AEM conductors

A further four AEM conductors have so far been identified that are yet to receive any further advanced exploration and will be prioritised over the coming months once access has been granted.

The XC-34 and XC-35 anomalies were also surveyed in the recent FLTEM program with the survey suggesting that both are likely due to surficial weathering effects and as such have been downgraded against other targets in the project.

These anomalies will be re-assessed after the review of soil geochemistry results.

Modelled FLTEM conductors at XC-29a and XC-29b.

Yenart Prospect geochemistry sampling

The company has completed phase one of geochemistry sampling across the Yenart prospect to complement the reconnaissance traverse of soil sampling which previously returned elevated levels of palladium and platinum up to 13 parts per billion (background is typically <1 ppb) and copper.

This geochemistry program has also been extended north of Yarabrook Hill, the site of most previous exploration for PGEs.

Around 1,800 samples have been submitted for analysis with all results currently pending.

The company believes these results could potentially identify new targets for low sulphide, PGE-rich mineralisation.
Highlights The official Twitter handle of Koo is @KooIndia.

The fake Koo handle that goes by the name @KooAppOfficial has over 19,000 followers.

Union minister Smriti Irani mistakenly followed the fake Koo handle on Twitter.

Koo, the desi microblogging platform, is getting all the attention lately thanks to a tussle between the government of India and Twitter. This was also the reason why a host of ministers from the government joined India made platform recently. The platform also witnessed a surge in downloads and onboarded some important ministries including MeitY which set up an account. However, it turns out that Koo platform is battling for its identity on Twitter.

Aprameya, the co-founder and CEO of Koo platform, tweeted that a fake Koo Twitter handle is getting mentions across the platform and is also considered the official account. "@kooindia is the official handle for #Kooapp. @KooAppOfficial is impersonating and is fake. Please follow only @kooindia," the co-founder tweet said.

Update: Twitter has suspended the fake @KooAppOfficial after the co-founder posted a tweet requesting people to not fall for the fake handle.

The irony is that the @KooAppOfficial is now a more popular Twitter handle on the platform than the original Koo handle and some prominent accounts like Smriti Irani, the Union Cabinet Minister for Textiles and Women & Child Development, is following the wrong handle.

The fake @KooAppOfficial handle is also leading the social media game and thanking people for following it. Late on Wednesday, the fake Koo handle tweeted thanking Miniter Smriti Irani for the follow. "Thank you so much Hon'ble Union Cabinet Minister for Textiles and Women & Child Development @smritiirani ji for following @KooAppOfficial."

Koo co-founder tweeting about the fake account.

At the time of writing this story, the fake Koo handle had over 19,000 followers while the original Koo Twitter handle had around 6,500 followers. It's worth seeing if Koo reports the fake handle to Twitter.

Koo now has a host of official departments and ministries on its microblogging platform. Some of the popular accounts that have joined Koo platform include Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY), MyGov, Digital India, India Post, National Informatics Centre (NIC), National Institute of Electronics and Information Technology (NIELIT), Common Services Center, UMANG app, Digi Locker, National Internet Exchange of India (NIXI) and Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) among others. Notably, the majority of these accounts have also been verified by the platform.



The sudden rise of downloads and onboarding of new users to Koo platform is not surprising. The move was seen by many as a strategic response as an action against Twitter India for not complying with the order for blocking around 257 tweets and Twitter accounts which were tweeting about farmers' protest. The government on Wednesday took a strict stand and asked Twitter India to block 257 accounts. It added that these accounts were non-negotiable.
by Francis Khoo Thwe

Buddhist monks in Pegu and Pakokku pray and march to protect the people from darkness. In Kengtung, Christians in procession with the statue of Our Lady. In Mandalay, the bishop's evening of prayer with priests and sisters. The religious of Saint Joseph of the Apparition distribute food and beverages to the demonstrators. The junta continues with the arrests of democratic personalities. Charges against the Chinese embassy of importing weapons for the junta. Biden launches new sanctions against generals.

Yangon (AsiaNews) - For the sixth consecutive day, demonstrations and strikes continue in the country to contest the February 1 military coup and arrest of the democratic leader Aung San Suu Kyi (the "Lady") and the president Win Myint.

In the economic capital, Yangon, doctors, teachers, students and workers are asking state employees to carry out civil disobedience by refusing to go to work. There are also demonstrations in front of the US and Chinese embassies to demand international engagement against the junta.

Protesters outside the Beijing embassy (in Yangon) accuse China of supporting the military even through importing weapons.

Yesterday, the new US President Joe Biden once again called for political leaders and activists to be released and announced sanctions against the Burmese generals involved in the putsch, first of all Min Aung Hlaing, who took power and who is already targeted by sanctions for the violence against the Rohingya.

At the same time, the repression continues: last night, a close collaborator of Aung San Suu Kyi, Kyaw Tint Swe, was arrested along with four other personalities of the democratic government.

Members of the Electoral Commission, who confirmed the victory of the National League for Democracy (Ndl), the Ladys Party, were also arrested. It is estimated that several hundred people have been put in prison these days.

What is increasingly evident is that the demonstrations against the coup are not just the prerogative of the members of the NDL, but involve all social strata and in particular the religious world.

Today 11 monks from the Buddhist monastery of Pegu, 80 km north-east of Yangon, issued an open letter in which they urge the population to hold high "the light of good" and dharma, and to reject "the path of evil, which drags the country into darkness and destruction.

Two days ago in Pakokku (in the central Magway region), hundreds of Buddhist monks launched a march to urge non-violence and peace for the country. Pakokku is known for many monasteries.

It was from here - as well as from Yangon  that the saffron uprising against the junta rose in 2007 - the demonstrations of Buddhist monks against the military junta. Suffocated through bloodshed, the uprising helped accelerate the transition to democracy.

One young monk, interviewed by AsiaNews, explains: Every day we pray by lighting candles and incense, so that the people are protected from disaster, even from what is happening in these days. We do not want the people to suffer, without peace and in violence.

Demonstrations are also multiplying among Catholics. After the strong criticism directed at the bishops for their communique which prohibited demonstrations with religious symbols, various religious institutes and faithful organized rallies, marches, prayer meetings.

The bishop of Mandalay, Msgr. Marco Tin Win, who days ago went out on the street to support pro-democracy demonstrators, raising the three finger salute, last night organized a moment of prayer in front of the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart together with priests and nuns for peace and justice in Myanmar.

In Kengtung (Shan State), the faithful, priests and nuns carried the statue of the Madonna in procession, reciting the rosary and praying for peace in Myanmar.

The Sisters of St. Joseph of the Apparition are even more explicit: in various districts of Yangon and in other cities they show closeness to the population by distributing snacks, coffee and other drinks to help demonstrators to "recharge their energy and their voice". They affirm this is putting into practice the teachings of the Second Vatican Council contained in Gaudium et Spes: "The joys and hopes, sadness and anguish of today's men, especially the poor and all those who suffer, are pure the joys and hopes, sadnesss and anxieties of Christ's disciples "(1: 1).
Philippines Airlines (PAL), announced on Monday that it would cut almost a third of its workforce by March 12. The restructuring will be used to implement long-held plans of reducing its labour costs and to maintain its competitiveness in an industry drastically reshaped since the onset of the pandemic.

PAL is the largest and oldest carrier airline in the country with 7,000 employees, 71 aircraft, and conducts continuous flights to Europe and the United States. The job cuts will be the second undertaken by PAL since the onset of the pandemic, after terminating 300 positions in February last year. Job shedding has also taken place by rivals Cebu Pacific and AirAsia Philippines, with 1,200 and 260 employees laid off in 2020 respectively.

A Philippines Airlines Airbus A330 (Wikimedia Commons)

As of February 4, all 2,300 PAL employees to be retrenched had been informed by the company, according to a statement. A number of unknown employees had accepted voluntary separation, though it was reported in December that at least 1,600 had refused the offer.

We shall provide separation pay equivalent to one month pay for every year of service and shall also provide employee transition support including outplacement assistance, PAL said.

Internationally, tens of thousands of jobs have been destroyed in the airline industry, with many subsidiary businesses responsible for services such as maintenance, baggage handling and in-flight meal catering also impacted.

According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), global operations will not return to pre-pandemic levels for another several years. Total losses for 2020 were estimated at $US118.5 billion, with projected loses for 2021 at $38.7 billion.

The job cuts at PAL were presaged as inevitable by the company last October, citing the collapse in travel demand and ongoing travel restrictions. With the emergence of the new COVID-19 strains, stricter travel restrictions barring foreign nationals from 30 countries were introduced for all of January.

By the latest figures, the listed operator, PAL Holdings, reported a net loss of P29.03 billion (roughly $US600 million) in the first 9 months of 2020, 269 percent greater than the P7.86 billion ($160 million) in losses it incurred in the same period in 2019.

All flights in the Philippines were grounded last March when President Rodrigo Duterte imposed one of the worlds longest and brutally policed lockdowns. Flights were resumed in June, but with a skeletal workforce at 4 percent capacity of weekly flights. Workers have so far experienced reduced salaries, furloughs and temporary working arrangements.

PAL reported that weekly flights have slowly increased to 30 percent of their pre-pandemic operations.

The government has so far rejected calls for aid to the industry.

Finance Secretary Sonny Dominguez stated in October, We are deep in discussion with them and we are prepared to participate in assistance to the airline industry. But let me point out that whatever assistance we have or we are going to provide will be part only of the entire process. The private sector banks have to cough up the majority of the assistance.

The government does not want to end up owning the airlines, he added.

The company plans to file for creditor protection proceedings in the United Statesreportedly home to 75 percent of its creditorsas well as to complete a $5 billion debt rehabilitation program, the largest in the Philippines history. Twenty of its leased aircraft will be returned, and $505 million will be raised, half proffered by billionaire owner Lucio Tan and the rest by the government and private banks.

Rather than suspending non-essential travel and placing relevant workers on paid leave as the pandemic is brought under control, corporations and the government are exploiting the financial pressures to destroy jobs, wages and conditions. This is an acceleration of a decades-long process of attacks on Philippine Airlines workers, in which workers have been pressured to make sacrifices.

In the midst of the 199798 Asian financial crisis, 5,000 pilots, flight attendants and ground staff were sacked, freeing up capital for new aircraft purchases. In 2011, 2,600 ground staff were sacked to make way for contract workers hired through service providers, with a fraction of the original salaries.

Throughout the whole process, the unions have worked to isolate and suppress the protests of workers. In ending the dispute in 1998, the union covering 1,400 flight attendants refused to call any strike action. The Philippines Airlines Employees Association (PALEA) agreed to give up workers rights to collectively bargain with the company for 10 years in order to free the company to rehabilitate.

As the airline accelerated outsourcing to slash the workforce, the union made fruitless appeals to the government and even to shareholder meetings. It lodged petitions with the Court of Appeals, which, far from being an impartial state body, is a consistent defender of corporate interests.

In July 2019, PAL appointed Gilbert Santa Maria, a veteran of the outsourcing industry, as its new president and chief operating officer. Santa Maria was handpicked by the owner Tan on the condition that he would return the airline to profitability by slashing labour costs.

In response to the latest cuts, the umbrella organization of PALEA, Partido Manggagawa (Workers Party) appealed to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to regulate the sackings.

The DOLE cannot just be a passive collector of statistics of dismissed workers, said national chair Rene Magtubo on February 3. It should be regulating the series of mass firings since it may involve contractualization and union busting.

The party also implored the Duterte administration for urgent action to assist millions of unemployed workers, citing statistics that of the 400,000 retrenched workers reported by DOLE, half were fired in the last quarter of 2020.

The Partido Manggagawa at times postures as socialist and even Marxist and claims to fight for the working class, but its actions and those of PALEA do not in any way challenge the framework of capitalism. Rather the union and party alike function as adjuncts of the airline and the government in suppressing any genuine fight by workers to defend their jobs, wages and conditions.

By Richa Naidu NEW YORK (Reuters) - Kraft Heinz Co said on Thursday that it plans to sell its nuts business - including most Planters and Corn Nuts products - to Hormel Foods Corp for $3.35 billion. Kraft Heinz shares were up 3% in early trading. The Chicago-based company has been trying to streamline its portfolio and focus on more accretive brands, having faced criticism for years about losing out to private label products because it is in too many categories to focus on key brands. In September, Kraft Heinz said it would sell its natural cheese business to French dairy ...
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The police in Lagos have said that no protest would be allowed to hold in the state on Saturday.

Hakeem Odumosu, the state police commissioner, said this on Thursday while disclosing the position of the command to the #OccupyLekkitollgate protest and the counter-protest, #DefendLagos.

Although the right to peaceful gathering and assembly is a right enshrined in the Nigerian constitution, the police boss said allowing both groups to carry out their planned protests will be counter-productive.

Mr Odumosu said the proposed #OccupyLekkitollgate protest slated for Saturday is being championed by some individuals and the command will disallow it.

PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported how some youth planned to occupy the Lekki tollgate following an order to reopen the tollgate by the Lagos Judicial Panel of Inquiry.

A counter-protest was also moved by another section of the youth, using the hashtag; #DefendLagos.

Permit me to state in clear terms that organising any protest in furtherance of the recent violent and destructive Endsars protest will be counterproductive to the ongoing series of inquiries and investigations into many cases related to the Endsars violence and the present security situation of the state, Mr Odumosu said.

The command has gathered intelligence that some hidden agents of destruction and shadow parties that planned and orchestrated the last Endsars violence have concluded plans to cause another set of mayhem in Lagos State and spread same to other parts of the country, tactically and spontaneously, like the recent violence.

Premised on the available intelligence and due threat analyses carried out on the planned protest, the command perceives such proposed protest as a calculated attempt to cause pandemonium, brouhaha and massive destruction of lives and properties under whatever guide and such will not be allowed in Lagos State, the Commissioner said.

Mr Odumosu further said the state was still groaning in the aftermath of the last Endsars violence that left many lives and properties lost.

It is therefore not reasonable to allow same to repeat itself in the state, he said.

The police boss said another reason such gathering will not be allowed is due to the prevailing COVID-19 virus which is rampaging in the country, with Lagos being the epicentre of the infection.

The Command, therefore, warns that, in as much as the police respects peoples opinions and human rights, no protest will be allowed in any part of the state as the security of lives and properties of the government and the good people of Lagos State is paramount and not negotiable, the police boss said.
Agence France-Presse

The successful entry of China's Tianwen-1 probe into Mars' orbit on Wednesday underlined just how far the country has come in achieving its space dream. Beijing has poured billions into its military-run space programme, with hopes of having a crewed space station by 2022 and eventually sending humans to the Moon. The country has come a long way in its race to catch up with the United States and Russia, whose astronauts and cosmonauts have decades of experience in space exploration. But Beijing sees its space project as a mark of its rising global stature and growing technological might.

Here is a look at China's space programme through the decades, and where it is headed:

Mao's vow

Soon after the Soviet Union launched Sputnik in 1957, Chairman Mao Zedong pronounced: "We too will make satellites."

It took more than a decade, but in 1970, China launched its first satellite on a Long March rocket. Human spaceflight took decades longer, with Yang Liwei becoming the first Chinese "taikonaut" in 2003. As the launch approached, concerns over the viability of the mission caused Beijing to cancel a live television broadcast at the last minute. But it went smoothly, with Yang orbiting the Earth 14 times during a 21-hour flight aboard the Shenzhou 5.

China has launched five crewed missions since.

Space station and 'Jade Rabbit'

Following in the footsteps of the United States and Russia, China is striving to build a space station circling the planet. The Tiangong-1 lab was launched in September 2011.

In 2013, the second Chinese woman in space, Wang Yaping, gave a video class from inside the space module to children across the world's most populous country. The craft was also used for medical experiments and, most importantly, tests intended to prepare for the construction of a space station.

That was followed by the "Jade Rabbit" lunar rover in 2013, which first appeared a dud when it turned dormant and stopped sending signals back to Earth. It made a dramatic recovery, however, ultimately surveying the Moon's surface for 31 months  well beyond its expected lifespan.

In 2016, China launched its second orbital lab, the Tiangong-2. Taikonauts who have visited the station have run experiments on growing rice and other plants.

'Space dream'

Under President Xi Jinping, plans for China's "space dream", as he calls it, have been put into overdrive. China is looking to finally catch up with the US and Russia after years of belatedly matching their milestones.

In addition to a space station, China is also planning to build a base on the Moon, and the country's National Space Administration has said it aims to launch a crewed lunar mission by 2029. But lunar work was dealt a setback in 2017 when the Long March-5 Y2, a powerful heavy-lift rocket, failed to launch on a mission to send communication satellites into orbit. That forced the postponement of the launch of Chang'e-5, which was originally scheduled to collect Moon samples in the second half of 2017.

Another robot, the Chang'e-4, landed on the far side of the Moon in January 2019  a historic first.

This was followed by one which landed on the near side of the Moon late last year and raised a Chinese flag on the Moon's surface. The unmanned Chinese spacecraft returned to earth in December with rocks and soil from the Moon  the first lunar samples collected in four decades.

And the first images of Mars were sent back by the five-tonne Tianwen-1 this month, days before it entered the Red Planet's orbit. It includes a Mars orbiter, a lander and a rover that will study the planet's soil. China hopes to ultimately land the rover in May in Utopia, a massive impact basin on Mars.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has called for a framework of laws and norms to govern social networking platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

In an interview with Bloomberg, Nadella said that one-sided actions by the internet companies will yield a long-term solution.

Unilateral action by individual companies in democracies like ours is just not long-term stablewe do need to be able to have a framework of laws and norms, Nadella said in the interview.

Depending on any one individual CEO in any one of these companies to make calls that are going to really help us maintain something as sacred and as important as our democracy, in the long run, is just no way that at least I, as a citizen, would advocate for, he added.

Nadellas remarks come at a time when Twitter and other social networking platforms are facing regulatory scrutiny. They are also under scanner over their censorship policies.

Microsoft does not offer a social networking platform. The company, however, had shown interest in acquiring TikTok in the US. The deal didnt materialise. In India, Microsoft has invested in VerSe Innovation, which offers a TikTok-clone Josh.

Apart from the social networking platforms, Nadella also touched upon Slacks calls for probe into Microsofts alleged unfair practice of foisting its Teams.

I always ask the question, would Slack have even existed if it was not for the free access they had on top of, say, the Windows platform? Nadella added. They didnt have to call Microsoft. They didn't have to go through any of our app stores. They didn't need any of our permission compared to any of the other platforms that they're available on. We perhaps provide the most open platform in Windows and even in Office 365.
Commander of the Libyan National Army (LNA) Khalifa Haftar offered his backing Thursday for a peace process that seeks to end a decade of chaos, after meeting the head of a new transitional presidential council.

The military commander met with Mohammad Younes Menfi, a former diplomat who also comes from eastern Libya, and who was selected last week in a UN-backed process to head the three-member presidency council.

Haftar offered "the support of the armed forces for the peace process, to defend democracy and the peaceful transfer of power," a statement from his office read.

Menfi landed at Benina airport in the eastern Libyan port city Benghazi from Greece on Thursday and went straight to meet Haftar at his headquarters at Rajma, some 25 kilometres (15 miles) outside town.

Oil-rich Libya has been torn by civil war since a NATO-backed uprising led to the toppling and killing of dictator Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.

The country has in recent years been split between two authorities in Tobruk and Tripoli.

A new interim executive was chosen on February 5 by the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum in Switzerland, comprised of 75 participants selected by the UN to represent a broad cross-section of society.

Haftar reiterated a recent pledge of support for the leaders of this new executive authority, who were chosen "so that they can reunite the institutions and lead the country to elections", Thursday's statement read.

Haftar's spokesman Ahmad al-Mesmari had on Saturday congratulated Menfi and Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, who was selected as interim prime minister, alongside "the Libyan people", on the outcome of the selection process.

The prime minister of the outgoing Government of National Accord (GNA), Fayez al-Sarraj, on Friday wished the new executive "success in their mission".

The interim authority is mandated to lead Libya through to elections scheduled for December.

* This story was edited by Ahram Online.

Short link:


reinstated its dividend and named Aditya Mittal as its new chief executive officer as a rebounding steel market helped it shrug off the impact of the pandemic.



Steel demand -- a key barometer for global economic growth -- will increase by 4.5 per cent to 5.5 per cent this year, the company said Thursday in its full-year earnings statement. Steelmakers from India to Japan have flagged a recovery in demand and prices after enduring a difficult year in 2020 as Covid-19 crushed consumption.

It will pay a dividend of 30 cents a share, the company said. The steelmaking giant halted payouts following a collapse in demand last year. It also announced a new share buyback program.

Although we must continue to navigate the Covid-19 challenge, I expect 2021 to be another year of progress for the company, and look forward to working closely with Aditya our new CEO, said Lakshmi Mittal, who takes on the role of executive chairman.

Reinstating the dividend will be a boost for Mittal, the billionaire steel magnate who owns 36 per cent of the company. achieved its debt target as the company generated cash flow with the recovery in the global economy from the initial effects of Covid-19.

The steelmaker has also focused on consolidation, selling its North American operations to Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. and shuttering an unprofitable furnace in Poland. It also sold most of its stake in the beleaguered Ilva mill to the Italian government.

reported fourth-quarter earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization of $1.73 billion.
Nairobi  Kenya has warned against attempts to stir up tension among African Union Mission to Somalia (AMISOM) partner States even as it vowed to continue playing its rightful role alongside its Troop Contributing Countries in order to strengthen regional peace and security.

AMISOM troop contributing countries include Burundi, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya and Uganda.

In a statement issued on Tuesday during an African Union Peace and Security Council (PSC) session convened to consider the situation in Somalia and the activities of AMISOM, Kenya observed the necessity of holding to account the Al Shaabab terrorist grouping, its affiliates and other spoilers in Somalia.

"Kenya also appealed to the Council to guard against attempts at driving fissures among the various stakeholders, friends and partners of Somalia and of the region. Attempts at lessening the positive impact of AMISOM or withdrawal of AMISOM from Somalia was viewed in this light," a statement issued by Kenya's Ministry of Foreign Affairs added.

Kenya has had a tense relationship with Somalia which severed ties with President Uhuru Kenyatta's government after recalling her Ambassador to Mahamed Ahmed Nuur Tarzan from Nairobi.

It also expelled Ambassador Lucas Tumbo, Kenya's envoy in Mogadishu, citing "Kenya's continued interference in the internal affairs of Somalia".

Kenya which was represented by Amb Jean Kamau, its Permanent Representative to the African Union in Addis Ababa and Ambassador to Ethiopia, called for the Peace and Security Council to focus on the vital initiatives that must be undertaken to ensure that consensus is built between domestic, regional and international actors in Somalia.

Amb Kamau refuted assertions of Kenya's interference in the domestic affairs of Somalia as false and misleading.

"Kenya noted that her destiny and that of her neigbours were inextricably linked, given the historical, cultural and linguistic links that connected the countries of the region. To this end, Kenya pledged to continue playing its rightful role in Somalia alongside its Troop Contributing Countries' partners," MFA added.
OLD SAYBROOK  Before the pandemic hit last March, former Old Saybrook resident Ann Kloter made weekly trips to Acton Public Library from her Essex home.

It was awful, Kloter said, remembering how she felt when COVID-19 shut the library down completely for a time.

She describes herself as a decades-long book browser who likes to go on the hunt, for her next great read. She is retired, recently moved to Essex after many years in Old Saybrook, but still frequents the library at 60 Boston Post Road Old Saybrook.

But as it became apparent that COVID would disrupt life for months, Actons staff worked to develop novel ways to go about their ordinary functions.

Its been a challenge, but its been fun, Director Amanda Brouwer said in a recent phone interview.

Were trying different ways to bring people in, weve definitely been a lot more creative, and were happy that we are still here, and able to serve people, Brouwer said. She has been in her position for just over two years.

The library offers a variety of weekly and special-event virtual programs for all ages. Adults can join in a coffee and conversation session, a writers workshop, work on genealogy and more. For young adults theres Dungeons and Dragons, Girls who Code, and YALL (Youth Action Library League) meetings. Special events include paint nights, food explorers and recently a program about eagles with the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protections Richard Taylor that drew 50 people.

It was really great, he (Taylor) explained the differences between the types of eagles, where to find them, what to look for, Brouwer said.

Brouwer also took part in a chocolate program. We talked about chocolate and nutrition, made chocolate bark and truffles, she said. Participants received ingredient lists and used their own supplies. For other craft nights, people pick up supplies curbside, then create together virtually.

Kloter also tuned in to several lectures, including one led by a long-time bookseller who talked about book valuing and told wonderful stories about working at the Strand Bookstore in New York. Some of those online Zoom things were just fascinating, Kloter said in a phone interview.

With what they have outside, and online, theres something for every age group. They put everything in plastic bags so you can see what youre getting, Kloter said of the grab-and-go offerings.

Its really geared toward people who cant get out and do things in a group, and its really keeping us going, Kloter said.

As the pandemic and winter wear on, Kloter is thinking about expanding how she participates with the library, I may be trying puzzles next, she said, and since she does some writing, she may also join in the writers workshop.

In the warmer months, programs for kids were held outside and a big hit. Now that it is colder, Its been tough, because kids are kind of Zoomed-out, Brouwer said. For the youngest children, Zoom is challenging, they like to see other kids in person, and interact directly with the leaders, Brouwer said. Virtual story hours are offered weekly.

Our childrens librarian does a monthly STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Math) grab-and-go, The most recent was owl pellet dissection where kids take apart an owl pellet: a disinfected mass of fur, bones and other items regurgitated by owls.

Participants posted photos of what they found. Their faces were so excited. Pellets are one of those things that are kind of disgusting, but at the same time awesome, Brouwer laughed.

Genealogy meets weekly, and its been growing. People join in to use the resources and they go through their family genealogies and share their family histories, Brouwer said.

The library provides access to Family Search on their computers, and for library cardholders, remote access to Ancestry Library Edition. Contact the library for information.

Having things online makes it easier for people anywhere to access programs, they can just Google topics that are of interest to them, find our programs and join in, Brouwer said. We have someone from Colorado, and one person from Pennsylvania participating in the genealogy program. Our services are available to anyone.

The single most important thing to Kloter was that when she walked back into the library for the first time since the shutdown, the librarians looked up and said, Oh my God, were so glad to see you! Kloter schedules weekly 45-minute appointments so she can gloriously browse, the bookshelves.

We get phone calls just to talk to us. Sometimes theyll call in for some general information, and it just evolves into a chat, Brouwer said.

When we were shut down totally early on, we helped the Estuary with their wellness calls, checking in on people, letting them know what was available, what was going on. People really appreciated that, Brouwer said.

Our librarians have always been a community resource; they are so interested in helping people connect the dots to find what they need. Maybe help with their boredom, or their need to listen to music, Kloter said.

The library continues to provide information about taxes, unemployment/employment issues, community resources and more. The Facebook page posts timely information and can be found through the librarys website.

They have really rearranged things to make it feel special. They use very careful, low risk browsing. Theyre behind plexiglass at the desk, Kloter said. She also appreciates the Staff Picks book section which includes reviews and helps people with their hunts.

Weve gotten so many nice comments. People tell us that this is the first place theyve come back to, Brouwer said, adding, I think its because they appreciate all the work that we do, the cleaning and the precautions. They feel safe here, and its good to know that they appreciate all of what were doing.

For browsing appointments or further information, visit the library online, actonlibrary.org, or call 860-395-3184.

You can email Ann Gamble at amgamble55@protonmail.com.
MILTON KEYNES, England, Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- IrisGuard are delighted with the conclusion reached and published by Clarkson University study in IEEE Transactions on Biometrics, Behavior, and Identity Science (Iris Recognition Performance in Children: A Longitudinal Study) which showed no evidence that irises age over time in children. IrisGuard has held that viewpoint since 2000, when the company launched the world's first ever iris border control system in all ports of exit/entry in UAE and the subsequent joint collaboration with the Cambridge University iris study of 2005, confirming that iris recognition is the most accurate biometric identifier.

IrisGuard is the world leader in iris recognition payment services, providing a secure and scalable system for targeted transfer of assistance payments, EMR management and border control. Their powerful technology authenticates transactions without any other ID, ensuring 100% accurate proof-of-life in real time on a one-to-many basis. They've been leading the way in this sector for the past 20 years.

The IrisGuard AD100 imager system, considered the golden standard of iris camera systems, was used by Clarkson University to confirm that irises do not age. Using the AD100, Clarkson University tracked children aged 4 years and older; the study did not observe any significant effects of aging, which would have resulted in an increase in non-matches over a three-year sampling period.

The built-in automatic pupil-dilation control method, patented and unique part of all IrisGuard's imagers, ensures uniformity between enrollment and subsequent samples, key to this study which analysed dilation and matching performance.

This pupil-control mechanism is extremely important when registering the irises of millions of people for the targeted distribution of assistance payments, EMR management or for border control. Whilst patented in 2011, this IrisGuard-only technological breakthrough has been implemented in all their camera systems since 2007, some 14 years ago. It is one of many patents and use of their know how that only IrisGuard was able to identify and address.

Imad Malhas, Chief Technology Officer and Founder commented: "I am delighted that our dedication and attention to detail to build the most accurate iris recognition cameras has proven its value in this ground-breaking study. We have always known that pupil dilation causes major compromise on scanned data and that for our real-time verification of millions of people with unmatched FAR and over 100 trillion cross matches so far, this level of accuracy was mandatory."

About IrisGuard

A UK based company operating in 11 countries and a trusted long-term partner of the UNHCR, WFP, UN Women, NGOs and retail banks. At the fore-front of driving financial assistance for millions of unbanked who are now able to receive cash from ATMs and mobile cash-out agents, buy their food in supermarkets and receive their regular pension payments, using solely their eyes as a proof of life. They have also integrated with the world's largest Blockchain for humanitarian aid Building Blocks. Their mobile and portable systems are able to operate in challenging environments with poor connectivity requiring only one-time registration thus empowering financial inclusion and gender equality of vulnerable people without bank accounts.

Notes to editors:

For more information on IrisGuard , please visit www.irisguard.com

, please visit www.irisguard.com Images of our products are available on request

Interview with Imad Malhas , CEO also available on request

Media contact:

Eva Mowbray

Director of Marketing

IrisGuard UK Ltd

+44 (0)1908 597114

emowbray@irisguard.com
Mr Weimar said the fresh positive case was new and that he had been made aware of the case for only 30 minutes before the press conference and that health authorities were interviewing the woman. Mr Weimar said authorities had expanded the Sunbury Square Shopping Centre exposure site to include the entire facility. Previously only specific shops and food outlets at the centre were identified as exposure sites. We have now decided out of an abundance of caution to expand the exposure site to the wider Sunbury shopping centre, but at tier two, Mr Weimar said. So were not regarding it as a tier one shopping centre we think the risk is reasonably low. Mr Weimar congratulated Victorians for completing about 22,500 tests in the past 24 hours.

Were incredibly grateful to the Victorian community and to Melburnians, Mr Weimar said. Australias Chief Medical Officer Paul Kelly said both cases were already in quarantine and there was no added risk to the community. I have spoken on several occasions in the last couple of days with my Victorian counterparts and Im very confident that they are doing what they need to do in terms of identifying exposure sites and putting that information out to the community, he said on Thursday afternoon. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video Professor Kelly said he would investigate reports of rule breaches in the Victorian hotel quarantine system but noted the program had resulted in only a few viral incursions into the community around the country.

Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton on Wednesday said the hotel outbreak was now believed to have started after a man used a nebuliser for asthma in his room. That man is fighting for life with COVID-19 in hospital. AMA Victoria president Julian Rait said on Wednesday that it beggars belief that a nebuliser was allowed to be used in hotel quarantine. The medical community knows full well these particular devices are really COVID spreaders, Professor Rait said in an interview Nines Today Show. There are a number of examples, both in Australia and overseas, where we think theyve contributed to outbreaks. New border controls The two new cases on Thursday came as Queensland introduced new border controls for anyone travelling from Victoria. From 1am on Saturday, Victorians will again need to fill out border declaration passes when they enter Queensland, but the border will remain open. Anyone who has visited an exposure site during the times listed by the health department will not be allowed to enter Queensland.

WA has also extended its current border restrictions for another seven days. Anyone entering WA from Victoria will need to be tested and enter 14 days quarantine. South Australia shut its border to Greater Melbourne on Thursday night. Exemptions are available for essential travellers, SA residents, people escaping domestic violence and those who are relocating. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video SA Chief Health Officer Nicole Spurrier said on Thursday it was an evolving situation and it was too soon to say how long the border would be closed, but it may not be long. The two cases discovered on Wednesday involved a worker and a former guest at the Holiday Inn, who tested positive after completing two weeks of quarantine.

The Holiday Inn was emptied and 48 guests were transferred to the Pullman Hotel in Melbournes CBD on Wednesday morning. Transport Infrastructure Minister Jacinta Allan said one of the two cases confirmed on Wednesday afternoon involved a person living in the Coburg, Pascoe Vale and Reservoir catchment area, where fragments of the virus had been detected in wastewater. That does put into context that unexpected wastewater detection that the Minister of Health spoke of yesterday, she said. The case was a person who had tested positive after having left hotel quarantine. Wastewater warnings remain in place for Roxburgh Park, Westmeadows, Glenroy, Reservoir and Coburg, where the fragments were found earlier this week. Residents with symptoms in those areas are being urged to get tested immediately.

Ms Allan said there was no clear timeline yet for when the Holiday Inn would reopen after terminal cleaning. Loading We cannot wait any longer: AMA slams poor PPE standards Australian Medical Association president Dr Omar Khorshid called out the formal Infection Control Expert Group advising the federal government on Wednesday, claiming it had failed in its duties to date to incorporate aerosol transmission into formal guidelines for quarantine hotels.

Last September, [Health] Minister [Greg] Hunt committed to reviewing guidelines for protecting healthcare workers from COVID-19, announcing a partnership between ICEG and the National COVID-19 Evidence Taskforce, specifically focussing on the question of airborne spread, he said. Its been almost six months and Infection Prevention and Control Panel is yet to produce the goods. We cannot wait any longer for ICEG to act. Dr Khorshid called on ministers via the National Cabinet to push hard for better airflow in quarantine hotels as well as N95 masks and eye protection for all workers in hotel quarantine. Doctor questions the nebuliser theory

At least one expert has expressed scepticism over the theory detailed by Premier Daniel Andrews on Wednesday that a nebuliser was to blame for the Holiday Inn outbreak spread. Professor Bruce Thompson, dean of health sciences at Swinburne University and a respiratory expert, said the particles emitted by a nebuliser were quite large. Therefore its heavy and so it will tend to [settle] very, very quickly within the room, he told 3AW. Even if a little bit actually got into the air-conditioning system and travelled down the corridor ... How viable is that virus? And if you only get one little particle, its not going to do a whole lot.

Agartala, Feb 11 : Four Bangladesh-trained Tripura militants on Thursday surrendered to the security forces in the state after they fled from their camps across the border on January 31, police said.

A senior police official said that the four National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) extremists -- Sethi Debbarma (20), Rajib Debbarma (18), Bisharam Reang Lalong (21) and Zawmina Reang (27) -- fled from their camps at Bagaichari under Rangamati district of southeast Bangladesh.

Senior police officials are now interrogating the four militants, who hail from three Tripura districts.

An official statement from the police headquarters said that during preliminary interrogation, it has been revealed that the tribal guerillas have joined the outlawed ourfit NLFT in 2018 and 2019 and then trained in Bangladesh Camp.

"The extremists told the police officials that they realised that their so called fight for independence of Tripura is totally a farce attempt and has no future prospect towards overall development of tribal people of the state. Presently, the NLFT outfit has been facing serious financial and organisational crisis. They also got fedup with the group due to "jhum" cultivation (shifting farming) and other hard fatigue duties at the behest of their leaders who are enjoining luxurious lifestyles," the statement said.

"Feelings frustrated with the present predicament of NLFT outfit and continuous pressures and motivation of Tripura Police, they joined the mainstream of the society," the statement said quoting the surrendered extremists.

The NLFT extremists had recently killed a small trader and kidnapped three border fencing workers in Tripura but released the three hostages after 17 days of captivity.Supervisor Subhash Bhowmik, 48, JCB driver Subal Debnath, 37, and worker Gana Mohan Tripura, 37, were kidnapped by the NLFT ultras from Malda Kumar Para in eastern Tripura's Dhalai district while they were engaged in border fencing work along the international border.

The NLFT militants had whisked away the three hostages to Bangladesh since the crime spot was just along the international border.The government-owned National Building Construction Corporation was assigned the task to put up a barbed wire fence along the India-Bangladesh border to check crimes and infiltration.

Meanwhile, the Tripura police recently recovered the mutilated body of trader Litan Nath 50 days after he was kidnapped at gunpoint by terrorists from the northern part of the state.Inspector General of Police (Law and Order) Arindam Nath told IANS that the slain Nath's body was recovered by the police from a forest in the Khedachara area in North Tripura district.
In 45 years, Lovitt notched up wins in some of the most high-profile cases, for example representing Mark Chopper Read, and gaining an acquittal of a murder charge. He successfully defended Greg Domaszewicz, who was charged with the June 1997 murder of Moe toddler Jayden Leskie.

He was a barrister with a heart of gold who was generous with his time, and helped and guided others, particularly junior barristers, including myself. He conducted about 200 murder trials for the accused and was Australias best-known murder trial lawyer.

Lovitt was admitted to practise law in 1969 and called to the Bar in 1970, where he read with the late John Fogarty AM. He was a leader of the Criminal Bar, serving as chairman of the Criminal Bar Association, of which he was founding and life member. He was appointed silk in 1988 and retired from the Bar in 2015. In 2012, he was named a legend of the Victorian Bar.

Lovitt also successfully defended the sergeant-at-arms of the Gypsy Jokers motorcycle gang in Western Australia, of the murder of Assistant Commissioner Donald Hancock. This case proved Lovitt not only understood reasonable doubt better than anyone, but also knew when the victim had no sympathy with the jury, as was the case with a West Australian jury and Hancock. Hancock had previously framed the Mickelberg brothers for the Perth Mint swindle, and was so feared by fellow West Australian police, that they would not tell the truth about police corruption in WA until after his death.

Lovitt and I shared many anecdotes and stories about West Australian police corruption, as we were two of the few wise men from the east who had the temerity in the 1980s and 90s to challenge West Australian police corruption, led from the front by Hancock.

On the day I was admitted as a barrister and solicitor in WA, I was sitting in an empty Supreme Court courtroom when Hancock arrived, walked straight to me at the bar table, and pointed his loaded gun at my chest. Lovitt and I were both subject to many other WA threats, including the threat of being struck off the roll of counsel in disciplinary proceedings initiated by the WA barristers board. The offence alleged against me was drawing a notice of appeal that claimed the Mickelberg prisoners had been framed by WA police.

Lovitt generously assisted me for about two years while I fought off this charge before the WA barristers board so I could continue to act as Peter and Ray Mickelbergs barrister. When similar threats were made against Lovitt, we used to joke about who would get struck off first. But we never considered looking after our personal interests instead of our clients interests. The prisoners were entitled to be represented in court, and Lovitt and I were the next cab off the rank.

Lovitt was fined $10,000 in 2003 after calling Queensland magistrate Bruce Zahner a complete cretin during a case. He thought it lamentable he couldnt use the defence of truth and in the public interest, as he could have in a defamation case. But perhaps he was joking. Few people could tell if Lovitt was serious when in a social situation, as his court demeanour was often taken to the dinner table, where he was a great companion, and a lover of fine food and wine. His cooking was so good, he could easily have been one of the best chefs in Australia instead of Australias best murder trial lawyer.
Joe Biden, in his first conversation as president with the Chinese leader Xi Jinping, spoke of his concern about Chinas coercive and unfair economic practices as well as human rights abuses in the Xinjiang region, according to a White House account of their telephone call.

Biden also expressed misgivings about the countrys growing restrictions on political freedoms in Hong Kong and increasingly assertive actions in the region, including toward Taiwan, in the call, which took place Thursday morning Beijing time.

Biden, who wished Xi a happy Lunar New Year, was committed to pursuing practical, results-oriented engagements when it advances the interests of the American people and those of our allies, the White House said.

The two presidents, according to the readout of the call, exchanged views on countering the Covid-19 pandemic, and the shared challenges of global health security, climate change, and preventing weapons proliferation.



It is notable that Taiwan was specifically mentioned as one of President Bidens top three concerns in the phone call, said Natasha Kassam, a former Australian diplomat who is now a research fellow at Australias Lowy Institute research group.

Chinas official state news agency Xinhua, meanwhile, cited Xi as saying China and the US should re-establish mechanisms for dialogue so that there would be an accurate understanding of each others policy intentions and to avoid misunderstanding and miscalculation. Confrontation between China and the United States would be a disaster and the two sides should re-establish the means to avoid misjudgments, Xi told Biden.

Xi reiterated during the call that cooperation was the only choice and that the two countries need to properly manage disputes in a constructive manner, according to an account of the conversation reported by Chinese state television.

He also said Beijing and Washington should re-establish various mechanisms for dialogue in order to understand each others' intentions and avoid misunderstandings, the report said.

Xi also told Biden that he hopes the United States will cautiously handle matters related to Taiwan, Hong Kong and Xinjiang that deal with matters of China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, according to an account of the discussions reported by Chinese state television on Thursday.

The call on Thursday Asia time, but Wednesday in Washington, was the first since Biden took office and comes as Beijing and Washington clash over issues from trade, Hong Kong, the South China Sea, Taiwan and reports of human rights crimes against Uighur Muslims in the Xinjiang region.

Xi reiterated during the call that cooperation was the only choice and that the two countries need to properly manage disputes in a constructive manner, according to an account of the conversation reported by Chinese state television.

The Xinhua report said foreign affairs officials from both sides may deepen communication on bilateral relations and major and regional matters. More contact may be carried out among economic, financial, law enforcement and military bodies, Xinhua said. But it also repeated that Taiwan, Hong Kong and Xinjiang issues were Chinas domestic affairs, and said the US should respect Chinas core interests and act with caution.

Taiwan Tensions



The call came as the U.S. and Taiwan acknowledged their first official meeting in Washington under Biden, as Taiwans representative and de facto ambassador to the U.S. Bi-khim Hsiao met with a senior State Department official.

We covered many issues of mutual interest, reflecting our strong and broad partnership, Hsiao tweeted after meeting with Sung Kim, acting assistant secretary in the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs. The U.S. tweeted that it was deepening ties with Taiwan, calling it an important partner.

The status of the democratically run island of Taiwan, which Beijing considers part of its territory, has also re-emerged as one of the biggest flash points between the two sides. Trump oversaw a dramatic expansion of ties with Taipei, including a visit by then-Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar last August.

Chinese leaders usually seek to get their American counterparts to reaffirm the countrys commitment to the One China policy. Trump recommitted to upholding the policy, which recognizes the Peoples Republic as the sole legal government of China, during his first call with Xi in 2017, and State Department spokesman Ned Price said at another briefing that the Biden administration wont change that position.

Biden, in a tweet, said he had told Xi I will work with China when it benefits the American people.



Joint Strategy



The Biden administration will engage with partners in Asia and Europe -- though not out of nostalgia, one administration official insisted before the call, but to develop a joint strategy on restricting sensitive high-tech exports and Chinese investment in critical industries.

A crucial part of the Biden China strategy would involve public investments in American enterprise and innovation to foster U.S. competitiveness. Announcements on those commitments are expected in the coming weeks and months, the official said.

Biden has criticized former President Donald Trump for failing to strengthen U.S. economic muscle and making China policy on the fly. The official acknowledged that it would likely take years for the strategy to play out, so the focus is on making it sustainable.

The Biden team is reviewing actions put in place by the Trump administration, including its imposition of tariffs on more than $350 billion in Chinese goods. While that review continues, the existing tariffs remain in place until decisions have been made on what adjustments to make, the official said.

The new administration plans to be very careful in its initial interactions with the Chinese, but has made its priorities clear through multiple avenues, including a meeting between Chinese ambassador Cui Tiankai and Kurt Campbell, Indo-Pacific coordinator at the National Security Council, according to a second official.

Campbell has also engaged with all allies in the region, most of whom share the U.S.s concerns on Chinas economic and military practices, the official added.

The White House is planning to consult with Congress and allies to work through sources of leverage as its crafting a sharper, more effective trade strategy. Key Cabinet members involved in the review, including the U.S. Trade Representative and commerce secretary, have yet to be confirmed.

While the U.S. president entered the conversation with no illusions, according to an official, he also wants to ensure an open line of communication with Xi and his government. That applies to the entirety of the U.S. government in order to resolve issues on various levels, the official said.

Xi and Biden have pledged to find common ground where they can, including on topics such as climate change. Yet Biden and his team have been clear that they intend to maintain the Trump administrations more adversarial approach to China, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken saying in his confirmation hearing that China poses the most significant challenge of any nation state to the United States.



In a visit to the Pentagon on Wednesday, Biden said he had directed Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to establish a task force to review national security policy with respect to China.

U.S.-China tensions werent eased during a recent call between Blinken and top Chinese diplomat Yang Jiechi, according to two people familiar with the matter. Chinese officials objected to what they said was an overly negative tone to the American summary of the call, while Blinkens team felt Chinas readout put words in the secretary of states mouth over the One China policy regarding Taiwan.

China has generally approached the U.S. cautiously since Bidens election and Trumps unprecedented campaign to challenge the result. While Xi sent Biden a congratulatory message in late November, he hasnt spoken with a sitting U.S. president since last March.

Soon after that last call, Washington and Beijing launched into a series of disputes that saw their relationship sink to its lowest point since the height of the Cold War. In recent months, the two nations have traded sanctions, expelled journalists, closed each others consulates and clashed over everything from Taiwan to the origins of the coronavirus.

Biden has met Xi repeatedly over the years, including as vice president, and until recently touted what he said was his friendship with the Chinese leader. He gave a harsher assessment on the campaign trail last year, calling Xi a thug who doesnt have a democratic -- with-a-small-d -- bone in his body.



China failed to meet its 2020 trade targets under the Trump administrations phase one agreement, buying just under 60% of the $172 billion worth of goods it said it would purchase.

The two countries have also clashed over technology, with the U.S. seeking to curb the growth of Chinese tech champions. The Trump administration used export controls, entity lists and executive orders to block companies including Huawei Technologies Co., chipmaker Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp., ByteDance Ltd. and Tencent Holdings Ltd. from American goods and consumers.


President Hage Geingob has called on private lawyers to do more pro bono work in an effort to improve the accessibility of law and justice to vulnerable sections of society.

Geingob made these remarks during the opening of the 2021 legal year, which was hosted virtually yesterday.

The head of state noted legal practitioners have an important role to play in the administration of justice.

However, there is growing discontent from the public in the manner justice is delivered, saying this requires introspection from all fronts.

"The lack of access to legal services and to the courts to a wide selection of our society should be an indictment on our collective conscience. I, therefore, take the opportunity to encourage our private legal practitioners to do more pro bono work through outreach programmes in remote areas where the need is the greatest," said Geingob.

The President also took note of delays in finalising the review of the Legal Practitioners Act, which is an important catalyst in introducing some aspects of the pro bono culture and redefining legal practice.

The finalisation of the review of the Legal Practitioners Act will provide the much-needed relief to poor communities, said Geingob.

"The provision of free legal advice has the ability to keep a family in its home and may help save a woman or a child from exploitation and abuse," he explained.

Currently, government offers legal assistance through the Directorate of Legal Aid, which he said is not enough.

"We must understand that in times of economic challenges, it is the most vulnerable members of our society who suffer. In this regard, our Judiciary must increasingly become an indispensable and integral role player in the fight against poverty, corruption and inequality," stated Geingob.

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He further added the justice system should be inclusive by effectively deterring and punishing criminal activity without favour or prejudice and by providing outlets for the redress of grievances.

While acknowledging limited resources availed to the Judiciary and the impact it has on its mandate, Geingob said there should be increased efforts to speed up the finalisation of cases and that the overall management of the administration of justice will instil trust in the Namibian public.

According to Chief Justice Peter Shivute, the Judiciary is currently forecasting an overall budget shortfall of N$23.6 million.

Due to the insufficient budget allocation, the Judiciary is experiencing challenges in paying witness fees for the remainder of the financial year as the allocated funds for this expenditure have already been depleted in December 2020, Shivute explained.

"I accept that resources are limited, and more especially now in the midst of this pandemic and no doubt demands on national treasury will be increasing, but the situation is increasingly making it challenging for the Judiciary to deliver speedy justice to the public," noted Shivute.

For the 2019/2020 financial year, the judiciary was allocated just under N$400 million of which N$375.6 million was for all operational needs.

The amount was reduced in the mid-term budget review by almost N$5 million.

Shivute further explained 76% of the budget allocation went to personnel expenditure, leaving only N$89.4 million for the other needs of the Judiciary. As of 31 December 2020, the office has spent 75% of its allocated funds.

Lebanon County Commissioners on Wednesday said they are investigating claims that neighbors called children services against Stephanie and Robert Duncan years before they were charged with abuse that nearly killed one of their five children.

To date, no evidence has surfaced that Lebanon County Children and Youth Services ignored calls, the commissioners said in a carefully-worded statement released Wednesday.

Immediately after the Duncans were charged Feb. 3, PennLive reached two neighbors and a passer-by who said they reported concerns of mistreatment of the Duncan children as recently as 2019. They said they were spurred to call after seeing:

young boys crying outside in freezing temperatures without coats for long periods,

a boy crying outside in the heat without water for hours and

the mother yelling at a child for more than 30 minutes.

The witnesses all agreed, however, that they never saw any physical violence by the parents against the children. That allegedly happened behind closed doors, according to prosecutors.

The children told investigators they were punched, slapped, choked, forced to eat their own vomit, monitored by video surveillance cameras in their own bedrooms and punished for infractions such as drinking water too slowly. Prosecutor Pier Hess Graf said the parents created a household of unspeakable fear, violence, torment, and abuse.

An 11-year-old boy would have died from his injuries and neglect if he had not received prompt medical attention last month, according to court records. The boy has since been released from the hospital and is expected to make a full recovery, Graf said Wednesday.

Stephanie Duncan was charged with 20 felonies, including aggravated assault and strangulation, and her husband Robert Duncan was charged with 18 felonies. The parents also each were charged with 10 misdemeanors, including simple assault and tampering with evidence. They both remained in prison with $250,000 cash bond each.

County commissioners said they found evidence of one possible call against the Duncans in 2019, but it was to the police department, not children services. The call was listed as a neighbor complaint, with no additional information.

The children services agency was not part of that call nor is there information on the specifics of the complaint, the statement said.

PennLive called neighbor Jerry Getz on Wednesday and he clarified that his wifes call a few years ago was to the police department, not children services.

County officials could not elaborate on other calls that children services may have received about the Duncans, but noted the agency maintains a log of all incoming calls so prior calls are logged.

There is additional follow-up being done, the statement said, but, as it stands, we have not found that the CYS agency has ignored calls.

With the ongoing criminal investigation into the alleged abuse inside the Duncans home in the 2700 block of Cedar Run in North Annville Township, county commissioners said they were limited in what they could release. But they wanted to provide some additional information to residents to knock down misinformation that children services had been given specific abuse or neglect complaints that were ignored.

During this time, CYS employees and others are expected to maintain confidentially and cooperate with law enforcement, often resulting in their inability to comment or share information about the case, the statement said.

The commissioners said they have spent the last week cooperating with the district attorney on any claims of contact made with children services as they are highly concerned with determining if any opportunities were missed.

All possible records in our possession have been researched, said Jamie Wolgemuth, county spokesman and chief clerk.

PennLive re-contacted the other two people who said they called in concerns to children services and both confirmed they called the agency directly two or three years ago.

Stephanie and Robert Duncan, of North Annville Township, are charged with multiple counts of aggravated assault, simple assault, tampering with or fabricating physical evidence, endangering the welfare of a child, and conspiring with one another. (Lebanon County District Attorney's Office)

Reuben Peck said his wife Loretta called and they remember getting the phone number for Children and Youth Services from a magnet that was handed out with important local phone numbers on it. They were concerned because they saw Stephanie Duncan loudly yelling at a child.

Dalila Reigel, who drove by the Duncans home twice a day nearly every day said she remembers that she called children services too, after regularly seeing boys outside in the cold without coats.

The children services agency is not responsible for adoptions, which are instead facilitated by private adoption agencies, officials previously said. Wednesdays statement from county commissioners also provided additional information explaining in general terms that any involvement from children services to a foster family would end once an adoption was finalized, unless otherwise ordered by the court.

Its unclear if the Duncans children were ever in the foster system. But prosecutors have said the five children were adopted, with one adoption in Berks County and the rest completed in Lancaster County.

Protecting children and investigating claims of child abuse is one of the most important responsibilities of counties in Pennsylvania. We, as commissioners, along with our Children and Youth staff, take that responsibility very seriously, the county statement said. This case emphasizes the need for every citizen to be part of protecting children, especially in times of isolation like were experiencing right now. Be aware of the signs if something seems off or unusual, report it by telephone to ChildLine (1-800-932-0313). This insures that the tip will be directed to the right place for follow-up.

Staff Writer Jana Benscoter contributed to this report.

READ: Tipsters feel their calls for help were ignored before parents were charged with unspeakable child abuse

READ: Child services were called about toddlers family before 3-year-old died from drug overdose

ChinaAid Founder and President Dr. Bob Fu says major western media outlets were paid to spread the propaganda of the Communist Party of China.

In a Feb. 9, 2021 episode of China Freedom File, Fu discussed the freedom of the press that is non-existent in Mainland China.

"When was the last time did the Chinese Communist Party shown respect for the freedom of the press?" Fu raised in the video after narrating the banning of social media accounts in China on top of the press.

Fu, who is an American Chinese, commended former President Donald Trump for previously banning Tiktok and WeChat in America for being Chinese-owned social media platforms, which were found out to be used by the Communist Party for invading on personal information.

He also revealed the Chinese government's denouncing of Trump's alleged freedom of the press due to the banning of Tiktok and WeChat as mere propaganda since the Chinese government have actually been banning all social media platforms in China "since day one."

"There is no press freedom in China," he stressed. "Now all of a sudden it sounded like the Communist party is interested in press freedom in the United States of America. So folks, we know all the time this is just the Communist Party's game. Even denouncing the U.S. ban is part of the Communist Party's propaganda game."

He revealed that the Communist Party have several prominent departments such as the Department of Propaganda that is "directly" funded with "billions and billions of dollars" by the Communist government.

He also said that they have setup "another specific budget" that funds "overseas propaganda." He cited the BBC report which showed that at least $10B "in that budget alone" was used to fund major media outlets to promote the Chinese Communist party's agenda.

"That's why you have seen in Washington Post to New York Times, including Wall Street Journal, Reuters, and AP--They were all co-opted with this--part of the budget of 'grant oversees propaganda'-they were putting in the name of 'Advertisement'," he said.

To which he added, "You will see every morning that subscribers will receive inserts with full and several pages of news from China--it's all propaganda, painted very fake news picture of how beautiful the Chinese government is and how democratic the Chinese Communist Party is, and how lovely and free-kind-of-life the Chinese's 1.4B citizens are enjoying."

Fu said these news did not speak of the camps where people were maltreated--that "there's nothing" in those inserts about "the 1 million in concentration camps," the "arbitrary arrests," the "hundreds of thousands of churches being banned," the "desecration of crosses," among other human rights abuses.

"Have you seen anything that shows the Communist Party have any regard, respect the dignity of life? After atleast 130M to 300M lives--babies lives--have totally been destroyed by force. This is called forced abortion and all their parents had to suffer under this evil family planning system, undergoing this forced sterilization, this forced abortion. Is that respect for life?" He pointed out, referring to China's One-Child policy.

In their website article regarding the said video episode, Fu said that China's Natural Security Law puts Hong Kong under its "total control." He also asked for prayers for those persecuted in China and Hong Kong.

The monument to Nazi accomplice Garegin Nzhdeh, erected by the separatists in Khojavend, will be dismantled, deputy of the Armenian parliament Arman Babajanyan said.



As Vestnik Kavkaza reported earlier, the monument was erected at the end of January, on the site where the monument in honor of the 70th anniversary of the October Revolution was previously located. Work on the monument started at the beginning of last year, the opening was scheduled for September, but was postponed due to the Second Karabakh War.



Khojavend is located in the zone of Russian peacekeepers' responsibility; their observation post is located near the city.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Although rapidly changing tax laws have come to be expected, the pandemic adds a layer of complexity to 2020 returns. Fortunately, Bryan Bibbo of J.L. Smith Group in Avon offers a number of simple tips that will help ensure the best possible outcome for all Northeast Ohio tax filers.

Many people nationwide missed out on a 2020 stimulus payment. According to Bibbo, the Recovery Rebate Credit will compensate -- dollar for dollar -- those who missed out, whether they owe taxes or not.

Individuals with a young child not previously known to the IRS, young adults who are no longer dependents, persons who earned too little to file in previous years and others who were left out for unknown reasons can claim the credit when they file.

Due to the pandemic, the deadline for filing 2019 taxes was pushed back to July 15, 2020. The IRS therefore paid interest on refunds, as they do annually when unexpected delays are encountered. That interest should be claimed on 2020 returns.

On a related note, last years extended filing deadline should not lull taxpayers into complacency. Ohioans who fail to file by April 15, 2021, could face a penalty of up to $435, which is nearly double the hit from a year ago.

Persons who were on unemployment in 2020 should have had federal taxes withheld, explains Bibbo, though the state is a different matter.

As crazy as it sounds, Ohio unemployment doesnt withhold Ohio taxes, which may mean paying the folks in Columbus, despite the misfortune of being out of work.

Renewable energy sources have received more attention from consumers in recent years. Households that added solar panels, geothermal units and other alternative energy elements can claim energy credits on the 2020 return.

Living situations affect tax burdens in all years

Long-term care premiums should be included on Ohio tax returns. Although certain criteria apply, the premiums often are reimbursed dollar for dollar.

The child tax credit can earn families $2,000 per child under 17 years of age. Those who do not owe taxes will still likely receive up to $1,400 in real dollars, though economic status is taken into consideration.

The dependent tax credit is available for anyone 17 or older, including older relatives living with family. Although the $500 credit is likely a drop in the bucket, it is still worth claiming.

Child and dependent care tax credits are geared toward things like after-school programs and day care for those younger than 13. Again, 20 to 35 percent of such expenses may seem a paltry portion for those who needed to continue working to support their loved ones, but for many families, every dollar counts.

I see people forget this one all the time, says Bibbo.

You have until April 15 to make certain moves to lower taxes owed for 2020

Traditional IRA contributions, designated for 2020, can still be made until the tax filing deadline. Some limits apply, but for many taxpayers, the move is a no-brainer.

Notes Bibbo: If you have a tax bill due, consider contributing to a traditional IRA. Youre investing in your future. Youre putting money in your retirement plan, and that is up to $6,000 or $7,000 you can actually deduct off your income, depending on your age.

Self-employed individuals often owe taxes and can offset a portion of their 2020 tax burden by contributing up to $13,500 to a Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees, better known as a SIMPLE IRA.

A Simplified Employee Pension or SEP allows workers to contribute up to 25 percent of net earnings from self-employment, with a maximum contribution for 2020 of $57,000. Both allow contributions earmarked for 2020 until April 15.

Self-employed individuals should also remember to deduct various home office expenses, though only for actual 2020 costs.

Health Savings Account contributions can be designated for the past year until the 2021 tax filing deadline as well.

If youre on a high-deductible plan, make sure you get some extra cash in there, because anything you put in there, you do get a tax deduction on, Bibbo notes.

Should you see a tax pro?

Unless you have just a few simple documents like W-2 forms for the year, Bibbo recommends using a professional, rather than attempting to wade through arcane tax laws -- an action likely to result in airborne paperwork and damaged computer screens.

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This may sound like a rationalization, given his presidency is living now with a violent, abusive partner in the domestic opposition, but Biden actually is smart to be tackling the GOP elephant in the room. As former President Donald Trumps second Senate impeachment trial unfolds, our friends and foes abroad can see clearly we need to get our own house in order before we start telling other nations what to do.
Union Minister for Electronics and Information Technology Ravi Shankar Prasad told Parliament on Thursday that strict action will be taken if social media is misused to spread fake news and fuel violence.

Speaking in the Rajya Sabha amid a face-off with microblogging platform Twitter, Prasad said: We respect social media a lot, it has empowered common people. Social media has a big role in Digital India programme. However, if social media is misused to spread fake news, violence then action will be taken.

He added, "Work in India. You have crores of followers here. We respect that. Make money but you will have to abide by Indian laws and the Constitution." The minister's statement comes a day after the IT ministry expressed its strong displeasure over Twitter's conduct in the aftermath of Red Fort violence on January 26.

ALSO READ | Top Twitter Officials in India May Face Arrest for Non-Compliance with Govt's Notice to Block Accounts

"We have now flagged Twitter. Our department has engaged with Twitter. That's why I didn't want to comment on this issue outside and chose the House to raise these questions. What is the matter that when there is violence in US Capitol Hill, social media platforms stand by police investigation but when Red Fort is breached, the same platforms go against the Indian government? Red Fort is the symbol of our pride. We won't allow these double standards," the minister said.

On fake news on social media platforms, the minister said that the ministry of information and broadcasting has a cell to bust fake news.

The ministers comments come amid a protracted battle with Twitter over blocking accounts. India rebuked Twitter on Wednesday for not complying with its orders to take down certain content and warned the social media giant that it needs to obey local laws, even as Indian lawmakers urged their followers to switch to home-grown rival Koo.

ALSO READ | Comparing Capitol Riot, R-day Violence, Centre's Warning to Twitter on Blocking Accounts

Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, in a statement, said, "Secretary expressed his deep disappointment to Twitter leadership about the manner in which Twitter has unwillingly, grudgingly and with great delay complied with the substantial parts of the order. He took this opportunity to remind Twitter that in India, its Constitution and laws are supreme. It is expected that responsible entities not only reaffirm but remain committed to compliance to the law of land."

The government conveyed to the Twitter leadership that the "manner in which Twitter officially allows fake, unverified, anonymous and automated bot accounts to be operated on its platform, raises doubts about its commitment to transparency and healthy conversation on this platform".

The IT ministry secretary reminded Twitter about the action taken by Twitter during the Capitol Hill episode in the USA and compared that with the disturbance in Red Fort in India and its aftermath. He expressed dissatisfaction over Twitter's differential treatment in the two incidents.

According to a report in the Times of India, the Centre may arrest Twitter's top executives in India stating that its list of accounts sought to be censured over inflammatory content was not negotiable. The government added that its "patience is running out" over refusal of the company to follow the earlier notice given under Section 69A of the IT Act.
The nurses at Saint Vincent Hospital voted overwhelmingly Wednesday night to authorize their negotiating committee to call for a strike if necessary, according to the Massachusetts Nurses Association.

The votes were cast as the nurses union and Tenet Healthcare, the parent company of Saint Vincent Hospital in Worcester, continued discussions in a meeting Thursday.

For about a year, the union, which represents about 800 nurses at the hospital, has lobbied complaints at Tenet Healthcare regarding staffing restrictions that nurses claim is affecting patient care.

With this vote, our members are sending a powerful message to Tenet Healthcare that we will do whatever it takes to protect our patients and our community in the face of their blatant disrespect and corporate greed, said Marlena Pellegrino, a registered nurse at the hospital and co-chair of the nurses local bargaining unit with the MNA. As nurses, we are legally and morally obligated to advocate for our patients to ensure they are safe and receive the care they deserve.

The vote doesnt mean the nurses will strike but provides the unions negotiating committee the ability to call a strike. If the committee issues its official notice to strike, the hospital will then have a minimum of 10 days before the nurses go out on strike, the union said.

On Tuesday, Saint Vincent CEO Carolyn Jackson told MassLive that thoughts of a strike amid a global pandemic were irresponsible.

We certainly are hopeful that we can reach an amicable resolution to the contract, and that there is no strike Jackson told MassLive on Tuesday. I feel that its irresponsible to even talk about a strike during a global pandemic and we feel we have an excellent offer on the table.

Jackson said the latest offer to the nurses union is a way to boost staffing. New staff, Jackson said, could be lured to Saint Vincent Hospital through the offer, which includes wage increases between 5% and 22% by the end of 2022, retroactive pay, lump-sum payments, enhanced benefits for part-time nurses and hiring of critical care nurses.

We do believe we have an excellent offer on the table that will help us recruit and retain nurses and help us ensure we are able to maintain the ratios in the current contract, which is more generous than most if not all of the hospitals in the commonwealth, Jackson said.

Jackson believes much of the lobbying by the union is to implement nurse-to-patient ratios that were pitched as a 2018 ballot question. Massachusetts voted down the measure by a 70 to 30 margin.

Essentially, the MNA is attempting to push that same legislation on Saint Vincents right now, Jackson said.

Complaints from nurses at Saint Vincent Hospital date back to last February when more than 70% signed a petition calling for safer staffing levels.

A month later, more than 200 nurses attended a negotiation session with management to provide information about the staffing levels.

Last May, after furloughs were implemented, nurses filed a vote of no confidence in Jackson and her management team.

Last month, nurses picketed outside the hospital. In December, more than 400 nurses participated in an information picket to protest the same conditions.

According to the union, nurses have filed 500 reports citing staffing and patient care issues. Jackson acknowledged reports had been filed but wasnt aware of 500. Jackson said the reports were examined and resolved in real-time.

Its something that they send to document what they perceive as an unsafe condition, Jackson said. However, we look at all of them. We take them through to the grievance process. It is my understanding that none of them have reached the level of a second step. Theyve all been worked through and either fixed or dismissed based on their merit.

According to the union, Tenet Healthcare reported 2020 profits of $414 million on Wednesday.

We have tried for months to convince our administration and the Tenet corporation to provide us with the resources we need to keep the public safe, yet they only make things worse, Pellegrino said. While our goal is to avert a strike, should Tenet maintain its obstinance at the table, we will be compelled to take that step because our patients lives are on the line.

Related Content:

Head of Chinese Police Station Shoots at His Superior During Internal Meeting

A violent confrontation that broke out between two Chinese police officers recently went viral on social media.

According to a Feb. 8 notice issued by the police bureau of Zhanjiang city in southern Chinas Guangdong province, a 40-year-old police officer surnamed Xu shot at his colleague surnamed Wu, 46, on Feb. 7 in Xuwen county. Afterward, Xu survived an attempted suicide. Both are currently in the hospital. It is unclear what is the condition of their injuries.

The notice also said that a joint team was sent to investigate the shooting.

The official statement did not provide the full names or titles of the two officers involved, nor the exact location where the attempted murder took place.

Chinese media outlets and netizens later revealed more details about the incident. The Epoch Times could not independently verify the information.

The shooter is reportedly Xu Tongxing, director of the Jiaowei police station in Xuwen county. According to media reports, Xu suddenly broke into an internal meeting for Chinese Communist Party (CCP) members on Feb. 7 afternoon and fired at his superior, Wu Zongbo, vice director of the Xuwen police bureau and member of the bureaus party committee.

Dong Guangping, former Chinese policeman and human rights activist, said incidents of police officers getting into violent clashes are common.

This is nothing new in China, he said in an interview with The Epoch Times sister media NTD, on Feb. 9.

Those working within the CCP system often feel frustrated by the enormous power Party officials wield. Your destiny, your future, your everything is under the control of your superior. You yourself are powerless. With guns in their hands, therefore, police may choose to solve problems by themselves, he said.

He added that authorities are likely keen to minimize the impact of this event because they dont want citizens to hear about the bad publicity.

Jiang Taigong, a China news commentator who runs a popular YouTube channel, said in a Feb. 8 video that the incident was an open demonstration of the shooters desire to kill his rival. The shooting, Jiang believed, suggests that infighting between grassroots officials in China is especially intense.
The Online IP Evaluation service allows business leaders to quickly receive custom recommendations from an experienced intellectual property attorney.

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Photo: Jordin Althaus/NBC

If youre wondering what Brooklyn Nine-Nine might look like after the sitcoms reported rethinking following last summers anti-police-brutality marches, it looks like youll have one season to find out. According to NBC, the Michael Schur and Dan Goor police comedy will come to an end after its upcoming eighth season, which will air during the 20212022 television season.

Following last summers Black Lives Matter marches, sparked by the police killing of George Floyd, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, among many other police shows, was criticized for sidestepping issues of police corruption and the treatment of vulnerable and minority communities by law enforcement. In June, co-star Terry Crews said the show tossed the first four episodes of its upcoming season in the trash. Said the actor, We have to start over.

Andy Samberg echoed that sentiment in July. Were taking a step back, and the writers are all rethinking how were going to move forward, as well as the cast, he told People. Were all in touch and kind of discussing how you make a comedy show about police right now, and if we can find a way of doing that that we all feel morally okay about. Said the Saturday Night Live alum, I know that well figure it out, but its definitely a challenge, so well see how it goes.

Premiering in 2013, Brooklyn Nine-Nine aired on Fox for five seasons before its cancellation, after which NBC snapped up the Sambergfronted comedy for three more, including this years upcoming season eight. Brooklyn Nine-Nine has won two Creative Arts Emmys and a Golden Globe for Best Television Series  Musical or Comedy, nabbing Samberg a Golden Globe and Andre Braugher, who plays the shows stone-faced but kind Captain Holt, four Emmy nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy.
HAMILTON, Bermuda, Feb. 10, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Board of Seadrill Limited ("Seadrill" or the "Company") (OSE: SDRL,OTCQX:SDRLF) today announces that Chapter 11 cases have been filed in the Southern District of Texas in respect of Seadrill and its consolidated subsidiaries (the "Seadrill Group") with the exceptions set out below.

These filings are made in addition to the Chapter 11 cases filed separately for Seadrill GCC Operations Ltd, Asia Offshore Limited, Asia Offshore Rig 1 Limited, Asia Offshore Rig 2 Limited and Asia Offshore Rig 3 Limited, as announced by the Company on February 7, 2021. The Chapter 11 filings do not include Seadrill New Finance Limited and its subsidiaries; Seabras Servicos de Petroleo SA, Seadrill JU Newco Bermuda Limited, Seadrill Member LLC, Seadrill Mobile Units UK Limited, Seadrill Partners LLC Holdco Limited, Seadrill Seabras SP UK Limited, Seadrill Seabras UK Limited, Seadrill Seadragon UK Limited, Seadrill SeaMex 2 de Mexico S de RL de CV, Seadrill SeaMex SC Holdco Limited, Seadrill SKR Holdco Limited, Sevan Drilling Rig VI AS, and Sevan Drilling Rig VI Pte Ltd.

As part of the Chapter 11 cases, Seadrill filed "first day" motions that, when granted, will enable day-to-day operations of the Seadrill Group to continue as usual. Specifically, Seadrill has requested the authority to pay key trade creditors and employee wages and benefits without change or interruption and expects it will pay all suppliers and vendors in full under normal terms for goods and services provided during the Chapter 11 cases. At the point of filing, Seadrill has approximately $650m in cash and does not require debtor-in-possession financing.

The Chapter 11 cases are opened to facilitate a balance sheet restructuring which will enable Seadrill to continue to operate its modern fleet of drilling units. It is expected that this will lead to significant equitization of debt which is likely to result in minimal or no recovery for current shareholders. As a consequence of the Chapter 11 cases, Seadrill will submit an application to the Bermuda Supreme Court for the appointment of Joint Provisional Liquidators under Bermuda law to oversee the Chapter 11 cases in conjunction with the Board of Directors of the Company.

Commenting today, Stuart Jackson, CEO of Seadrill, said:

"This announcement marks the start of the court supervised process that will create a company that is financially sustainable for the long term. We are working closely with our stakeholders to ensure we achieve an outcome that gives us the flexibility to weather the low points in our industry cycles, whilst positioning us well for market recovery.

I would like to thank all our stakeholders for their continued support as we move through this legal process, in particular, our customers, vendors and employees, all of whom demonstrate continued support of our safe and efficient operational delivery."

This press release is not intended to be, and should not in any way be construed as, a solicitation of votes of stakeholders regarding the Chapter 11 proceedings.

The Company has engaged Kirkland & Ellis LLP as legal counsel, Houlihan Lokey, Inc. as financial advisor, and Alvarez & Marsal as restructuring advisor. Slaughter and May has been engaged as corporate counsel. Advokatfirmaet Thommessen AS is serving as Norwegian counsel. Conyers Dill & Pearman is serving as Bermuda counsel.

Further information about the Chapter 11 filing will be available at www.seadrill.com/restructuring.

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This news release includes forward looking statements. Such statements are generally not historical in nature, and specifically include statements about the Company's plans, strategies, business prospects, changes and trends in its business, the markets in which it operates and its restructuring efforts. These statements are made based upon management's current plans, expectations, assumptions and beliefs concerning future events impacting the Company and therefore involve a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this news release. Consequently, no forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. When considering these forward-looking statements, you should keep in mind the risks described from time to time in the Company's regulatory filings and periodical reporting. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for the Company to predict all of these factors. Further, the Company cannot assess the impact of each such factor on its business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to be materially different from those contained in any forward looking statement.

This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.

CONTACT:

[email protected]

020 3745 4960

This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com

https://news.cision.com/seadrill-limited/r/seadrill-limited--sdrl--filing-of-chapter-11-cases-for-seadrill,c3284560

SOURCE Seadrill Limited
On the occasion of 'Mauni Amavasya', Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra will visit Allahabad on Thursday, an auspicious day for taking bath in the holy river Ganga, a party official informed on Wednesday. She will also visit Anand Bhawan before departing for New Delhi.

"The Congress leader will visit the Sangam there and take a dip in it on the auspicious occasion on Thursday afternoon,"the party's media-in-charge Lalan Kumar said.

Priyanka Gandhi In Saharanpur

Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Wednesday had attended Kisan Mahapanchayat in Uttar Pradesh's Saharanpur district amidst the ongoing farmers' protest in the country. In her speech, she attacked the BJP government fiercely, claiming 'the 56-inch chest has a small heart, but it beats for industrialists'. 'The government wants to kill farmers through this law. The farmers are fighting for their rights,' she said.

Sporting a saffron shawl for the speech, Priyanka asserted, "He took 2 airplanes worth Rs 16,000 crore and spent Rs 20,000 crore in the beautification of Parliament but did not give the arrears of Rs 15,000 crore till today. Wake up, what you are expecting from them will not be fulfilled. They make big promises, but their words are hollow." The Congress leader ventured, "Prime Minister insulted the farmers in Parliament, also called them agitators. What does this mean? The farmers are agitating for the soil of their country, for their son who is standing on the border. To call them a traitor, to make fun of them, to call them a terrorist can never be nationalism."

Priyanka also opined that the Prime Minister went to America, China, Pakistan, but could not reach the border of the city in which he lives. In her address, she explained, "this is a movement of your land, 'do not back down'. We stand, stand till these bills are returned. When the Congress government comes, all these bills will be returned and you will get the full support price. We will not break you in the name of religion and caste, we will not divide you, we will add you." She made no mention of the Congress itself proposing similar reforms in its 2019 Lok Sabha election manifesto.

READ | 'Congress Govt Will Undo Farm Laws; We Won't Divide, We'll Add You': Priyanka Vadra In UP

READ | Congress To Take On BJP IT Cell; Rahul Gandhi Looking To Recruit 5 Lakh Keyboard Warriors

READ | Priyanka Gandhi Vadra Denied Permission To Hold Rally In UP's Saharanpur; COVID-19 Cited

READ | Congress Announces Desire To Become No.1 Party In Maharashtra By 2024 Amid Unease In MVA

Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 3 mesi fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili.

The Coiled Tubing market is anticipated to reach over USD 5,694 million by 2026 according to a new research published by Polaris Market Research. In 2017, the onshore location segment dominated the global market, in terms of revenue. North America is expected to be the leading contributor to the global market revenue during the forecast period.

A significant growth in demand for energy, increasing industrialization, and rising demand for horizontal drilling are major factors driving the growth of the Coiled Tubing Market. The demand for coiled tubing is increasing owing to supportive government initiatives, and favorable regulatory framework. Other driving factors include growing demand for natural gas as a fuel and growth in exploration and production activities. Increasing demand from developing nations, development of unconventional oil blocks, and technological advancements are expected provide numerous growth opportunities to the market players during the forecast period.

Get sample copy of this report @ https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/coiled-tubing-market/request-for-sample

North America Coiled Tubing Market generated the highest revenue in 2017, and is expected to lead the global market throughout the forecast period. The high economic growth in the region, growth in drilling and exploration industries, and growing energy demand are factors expected to drive the market growth. The increasing trend of horizontal drilling, increasing demand for oil and gas in production of power and transportation applications, growing urbanization, and increasing industrialization in countries of North America are further expected to support the Coiled Tubing Market growth. Rising shale gas explorations, increasing operating cost for extracting oil from existing wells, rising demand for natural gas as fuel in the region, and supportive regulatory framework are factors expected to further provide growth opportunities during the forecast period.

Well-known companies profiled in the Coiled Tubing Market report include Halliburton Co., Weatherford International Ltd., Baker Hughes, Trican Well Service Ltd, Cudd Energy Services, Schlumberger Ltd., Calfrac Well Services Ltd., C&J Energy Services, Inc., Nabors Industries Ltd., and Archer Limited. These companies launch new products and collaborate with other market leaders to innovate and launch new products to meet the increasing needs and requirements of consumers.

Complete Summary with TOC Available @ https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/coiled-tubing-market

Coiled Tubing Market Size and Forecast, 2017-2026 by Location

Onshore Offshore



Coiled Tubing Market Size and Forecast, 2017-2026 by Operation

Pumping Circulation Logging Others



Coiled Tubing Market Size and Forecast, 2017-2026 by Application

Drilling Well Cleaning and Completion Well Intervention Others



Coiled Tubing Market Size and Forecast, 2017-2026 by Region

North America U.S. Canada Mexico Europe Germany UK France Italy Rest of Europe Asia-Pacific China India Japan Rest of Asia-Pacific Latin America Brazil Middle East & Africa



Avail discount on this report @ https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/coiled-tubing-market/request-for-discount-pricing

About Polaris Market Research

Polaris Market Research is a global market research and consulting company. We provide unmatched quality of offerings to our clients present globally. The company specializes in providing exceptional market intelligence and in-depth business research services for our clientele spread across different enterprises. We at Polaris are obliged to serve our diverse customer base present across the industries of healthcare, technology, semi-conductors and chemicals among various other industries present around the world. We strive to provide our customers with updated information on innovative technologies, high growth markets, emerging business environments and latest business-centric applications, thereby helping them always to make informed decisions and leverage new opportunities.

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Australia is facing an uncertain future when it comes to our continents most precious resource  water.

Thats the daunting warning laid out in a draft report on Thursday by the governments Productivity Commission which highlights the immense challenges facing the nation as it looks to reform national water policy.

If not, a grim future awaits.

The twin trends of population growth and climate change mean Australias drying continent will struggle to cope with our future needs as water scarcity becomes an increasingly pressing issue, the major review finds.

In a worst case scenario imagined in the report, demand for water in the city of Melbourne could outstrip supply in just seven years.

Water has to be stored, distributed as needed and carefully managed. Water is heavily used in some areas while in others the percentage used is fractional. Source: PC

In major cities where readily-available supply sources have already been accessed, ongoing population growth is likely to create significant pressure on water supplies, the report says.

Scenarios developed for Melbourne, for example, include a worst case of demand outstripping supply by around 2028.

Signed in 2004 during the Millennium drought, the National Water Initiative (NWI) has been credited with positive changes in water usage by placing caps on how much water can be taken from river and groundwater systems, improving industry efficiency, and allocating water for the environment. However, the review found the NWI had reached its use-by date.

If we look at the current NWI, it really will struggle in the face of our future challenges, Commissioner Jane Doolan said.

Climate change central to Australias looming water woes

The draft report into the NWI, a federal-state reform agreement which has informed water policy for 17 years, urged governments to make climate change a top consideration with severe droughts and floods set to increase.

Climate projections point to hotter, drier and more extreme weather  particularly in southern Australia. This will likely mean material reductions in water availability for most of the country and an increase in the frequency and severity of droughts and floods across the nation, the report says.

Story continues

Median projections of percentage change in average annual rainfall, potential evapotranspiration and run-off in the coming decades show a drier continent. Source: PC

Planning will need to include climate and population growth, which are set to sap the amount of water available for the environment, urban populations and farmers.

Ms Doolan said an estimated additional 11 million people would be living in Australia's capital cities by 2050.

The NWI needs to be refocused to provide strong guidance on how to adapt water management to best meet our needs in a changing climate, she said.

The droughts and water scarcity experienced during the past 20 years are likely to be a harbinger of things to come.

Urban water management will become increasingly important in the years ahead. Source: Getty

The report insists on a greater focus on urban water management, a more stringent economic criteria for projects, and the end of special treatment for mining and fossil fuel companies.

Among the recommendations is a call for mining and petrol companies to no longer be exempt from planning requirements faced by farmers and other water users.

The report also calls for Indigenous people to be given a greater say in water use to support cultural objectives and economic development.

Federal government slammed for inefficient water strategy

The draft report also launches a scathing assessment of governments' funding decisions around dams, weirs, pipelines and other water infrastructure projects.

It finds seven projects received federal funding without businesses cases or environmental approvals.

The Rookwood Weir in Queensland is used as an example of a funding commitment at odds with Infrastructure Australia's independent project evaluations.

The harshest criticism is reserved for the $484 million Dungowan dam near Tamworth in NSW, which is being funded on a 50-50 basis by the federal and state governments.

Dungowan dam near Tamworth was declared an expensive option to improve water supply. Source: WaterNSW

The dam is estimated to provide an extra six gigalitres of water a year with a current market value of $11 million.

Directly purchasing the same amount of water would cost two per cent of the dam.

Based on the cost of the dam, the extra six gigalitres would be valued at 44 times the current market rates for irrigators.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Nationals leader Michael McCormack have made separate funding announcements for the dam over the past 18 months.

The commission warns maintaining the same approach to funding water infrastructure will unnecessarily burden taxpayers.

with AAP

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play.

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People used to say that hedge funds are a compensation scheme masquerading as an asset class, William A. Ackman, the famed hedge fund manager, told me. You could say the same about SPACs. Ackman himself has a SPAC  in fact, the largest raised thus far. What makes his vehicle different, aside from its $US4 billion size, is a unique arrangement that makes it tougher for him to score a big payday unless the subsequent merger is successful. People used to say that hedge funds are a compensation scheme masquerading as an asset class. You could say the same about SPACs. Hedge fund billionaire Bill Ackman Every friend is launching a SPAC, Ackman said. Its like everyone who had an internet company in 2000. Its like, Oh, yeah, I got one, too. The economics of running a SPAC are, well, SPAC-tacular. Typically, a SPACs sponsor  the person putting up the initial capital  invests a nominal amount in return for 20 per cent of the money raised, so long as the SPAC finds a target company and completes a merger. In other words, if a Wall Street executive or celebrity raises $US500 million from public investors, that person gets a stake worth $US100 million, irrespective of how well the stock of the combined group performs over time.

This is not pay for performance. It is pay before performance. Ackman, to his credit, set his SPAC up so he gets paid only if the company it acquires hits bench marks over time. Companies are racing to go public via SPAC because the sponsor, unlike an IPO, can guarantee them a precise amount of money. What can go wrong? Wall Street is giving publicly traded shell companies blind cheques to buy whatever. Credit:NYSE Just as important, some of those companies could never bear the scrutiny that comes with an IPO. When a company goes public through the traditional IPO process, it must show potential investors its prior financial records. It is not allowed to make projections about its earnings, because regulators have long worried that companies could mislead investors with unrealistic forecasts.

In a SPAC transaction, which is a merger instead of a listing, companies can publish their financial projections, many of which will prove to be inflated. Since many companies merging with SPACs have no earnings, this has become a useful feature. Loading As a guy who was doing deals in the market in 1999, it feels exactly like it did then, said Terence Kawaja, the founder and chief executive of Luma Partners, a boutique bank. Kawaja worked as a banker on the most prominent deal of the dot-com boom: Time Warners sale to AOL. I worry about the public investors, he said. Theyre going, I bought this SPAC, and it went up. Everyones a genius in a rising market. In truth, an index of SPACs has outperformed the broader stock market. Supporters of the model suggest it allows companies to go public earlier than they would in a typical IPO. They say that gives public investors an opportunity to get in early, making the money that had previously gone to wealthy backers.

Some have called the SPAC a new, public form of venture capital. That implies big rewards and real risks. Most venture capital deals fail. The truth is that SPACs are rife with misaligned incentives between the sponsor and other investors, particularly those who come after a merger. JPMorgan Chase crunched the numbers and determined that sponsors, on average, earned a 648 per cent return on their money over the past two years. Buy-and-hold-investors who bought in after an acquisition was made  known as a de-SPAC  made 44 per cent, which lags the return of a standard market index fund. The misalignments are stark. This is not pay for performance. It is pay before performance.

SPAC sponsors say they are putting their reputations on the line, especially if they plan to repeat the process. This is the case for serial sponsors like tech investor Chamath Palihapitiya, veteran banker Michael Klein and buyout specialist Alec Gores. In some cases, sponsors invest some of their own money in the company they are acquiring, better aligning their interests. But remember that they have often already been given 20 per cent of the business, so they are playing partly with house money. SPAC sponsors also try to get established, name-brand investors on board for their launch, which conveys legitimacy to the empty shell. But for some of these investors, it is simply about financial engineering. They have no unique interest in a SPAC, because they have the option to redeem their investments, plus interest, for a modest but predictable return almost no matter what happens with the acquisition. If the deal proves to be a big winner, its a bonus. Loading Uniquely, the sponsor does not have a fiduciary duty to the investors in the acquired company. Very few sponsors seek so-called fairness opinions from third parties to validate the price they are paying for an acquisition. And while mainstream investors increasingly pump extra funds into SPACs at the time of a merger, they typically do so at a lower price than less connected investors. SPACs try to differentiate themselves by promoting the experience of their managers and relationships with companies that they may acquire. But the sponsor must use the money raised in a SPAC within two years, in most cases, or be forced to return it. That provides an incentive to get a deal done, rather than get the right deal done at the right price and time.
I'm not a politics person however how do you get impeached if you're not the president anymore?

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He committed high crimes while president. A senate conviction means he can longer run for or hold any federal office.

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The Senate only needs to vote that it's constitutional, which they did. Impeachment would take away the perks he gets as former president of the United States (bodyguards, pension, office, etc.) and, should half the Senate vote for it, keep him from ever holding public office again.

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He was still president when he was impeached. (Impeachment happens in the House and is basically an indictment. Then the trial happens in the Senate.) This is just the trial for the impeachment.



Also the crimes he committed were done while he was president. Going through this process of impeachment and the trail in the Senate holds him politically accountable for his actions and could prevent him from ever being allowed to seek public office ever again.

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thank you for the knowledge bbs

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He was impeached while he was President. The trial is happening now and is totally constitutional

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He was impeached while president, the then senate majority leader said they had to delay bringing forth the articles of impeachment to when the senate was already scheduled to convene (they could have convened the senate early, but of course mitch McConnell didn't want to) and now one of their arguments is that they brought the impeachment too late b/c trump is no longer president. it is actually stupider than it sounds.

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Wait lmao I didn't get to watch but... Trump's testimony was that he did it?

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no the house managers showed plenty of evidence that he did it

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Trump isnt testifying. His lawyers were supposed to use the first amendment as a defense but they bungled their opening statement so now no one knows what they will do when they speak tomorrow. It really doesnt matter what they say, we can really only count on 5 GOP senators voting to impeach even after the great presentation House Dems are giving

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I read yesterday that the defense plan is to blame the dems for glorifying violence by showing the violent mob that 45 commanded. But lets be real, Moscow Mitch and his ilk arent going to vote to convict, so the defense does not need to do anything, because it doesnt matter.

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six now, i hope other republicans are as "open minded" as the LA senator was.

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Settling into this post and fingers crossed everything goes according to plan and you dont have to worry about 45 running for re-election or getting a presidential pension (I think?)

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really incredible how these people live streamed every waking moment, saying who they were and what they were doing, and people are still like "no it was blm"

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antifa!! sporting the nazi and other fascist symbols they're known for!!

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black bloc protesters wouldn't be caught dead livestreaming their protests lmao

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I was kind of hoping this phenomena would tear the GQP apart with them arguing back and forth with "it was Antifa!!" and "How dare you I was there and I'm a Patriot!!!"



But alas, they have appeared to have turned to just attacking the (second) impeachment.

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I'm so ready to see the presentation today. They've done such a great job presenting the arguments so far.

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I hope this is the first of many many trials against elected officials on this.

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-Lauren Boebert

-who ever was texting the Proud Boys to "seal them in" and "gas the chamber"

-Lindsay Graham

-Ted Cruz

-Josh Hawley

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throw marco rubio for being a little bitch in there too

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Margarine Q Green

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We need to find out what happened to Pressley's panic button. Also there were Congresspeople who said that some Repubs were making fun of them and taunting them during the shelter in place. They must have known they were safe and were just waiting to help the rioters. We need to drag all their asses.

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wait I missed the thing about the texting - what the hell is that!?

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Mike Lee defo doing something shady

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The Republican Party is a cancer upon the nation so imma need Stephen King to jot that one down

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this lady sounds mad as we all should be.



Edited at 2021-02-11 05:28 pm (UTC)

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a compelling argument! especially since the gop talking point yesterday was "well what happened was terrible, but he was being rhetorical"

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and the thing is: does it matter if he was being rhetorical? I genuinely don't know in terms of law, but I'm assuming intent does not matter

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Rhetorical my ass!! They were all huddled watching with glee as it was going down ffs! Assholes. 

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Seriously the House Dems have made such a great presentation so far, and one that especially plays well to the audience watching at home. Hope they stick the landing anyways and that there is an official commission and report on the insurrection coming soon because there is definitely even more evidence out there waiting to be found

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Ran up to the Hill to check in on the trial, and in 10 mins, it was clear that things are as partisan as predicted.



Sen Roy Blunt says Democrats showing that people were planning the attack for months made their case weaker.



Sens Rubio & Graham said their minds are unchanged.  Yamiche Alcindor (@Yamiche) February 11, 2021



I am not surprised but I seriously cannot stand them I am not surprised but I seriously cannot stand them

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ughhh i hate them

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It's absolutely incredible. They could have died and they're still fine with letting Trump get away with it all.

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god I hope they d*e

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@Rubio and Graham

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the dems should have shown the video of graham breaking on the 6th about how 'enough was enough' but they won't. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdnEdL2VE3Q

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that wouldn't change anything. republicans don't care. they say one thing one day and as soon as they get all on message they all say the opposite.

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Just here to relay sth I read on twitter about how going on and on about not having enough votes is an abhorrent normalization of shitting on democracy. The tweet didnt say shitting, thats me.

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I've really enjoyed not having to hear him or see his tweets over the last month. it's peaceful.

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God do I ever agree with you.

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i hope to never hear his voice again

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My mom said that the other night when we were hanging out. My dad was watching the news and she's like, hasn't it been so nice not hearing his voice for the past month or so? It's just nice being able to forget he exists here and there.

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i actually don't know what biden's done in the past week and i love this for me

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wondering if trump pulled a jinx and on a hit mic said "of course I wanted them to do it, I told them to, I wish they had killed mike pence" if they'd still vote to acquit

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Of course they would. They'd pull another "he was joking about injecting bleach hahaha"

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jfc these videos and audio of his supporters beating people on his command

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(CNN)  Elon Musk's Tesla spent the last couple of years trying to win over China in a bid to conquer the world's largest car market. Now the company risks upsetting Beijing's powerful regulators.

The electric carmaker has been summoned by five Chinese regulatory agencies to answer questions about the quality of its Shanghai-made Model 3 cars, according to a statement released Monday by the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR). It said regulators were concerned about several problems with the cars, including "abnormal acceleration" and "battery fires."

The meeting is troubling for Tesla. Thanks to Musk's courting of officials, Tesla had managed to avoid cumbersome restraints imposed on global rivals trying to do business in China. The company opened one of its massive car factories in 2019 to great fanfare in Shanghai, and the country now accounts for a fifth of its revenue.

But for the past few weeks, Tesla has been heavily criticized within China for a series of problems involving its cars, culminating in Monday's announcement.

"[We will] deeply reflect on the company's operational shortcomings and comprehensively strengthen self-inspection," Tesla said in a statement posted on Chinese social media website Weibo in response to SAMR's remarks.

"We will strictly abide by Chinese laws and regulations and always respect consumer rights," the carmaker said, adding that it will "better contribute to the healthy development of China's new energy vehicle market."

It's not clear whether regulators intend to punish Tesla or change anything about the way it operates in the country. But the controversy is a sign of just how seriously Beijing takes regulation, even among companies that it appears to favor.

"It's a slippery slope for Musk," said Dan Ives, a technology analyst at Wedbush Securities. The CEO "had built strong relationships within the country, but he must play nice in the sandbox in China."

Strong support

Tesla has been in China since 2013, but in the past few years it has established a strong relationship with the Chinese government.

When the carmaker was negotiating terms with authorities in 2017 for the construction of its Shanghai Gigafactory, it managed to retain complete control  an unusual arrangement, since its peers were typically required to partner with Chinese firms if they wanted to set up a local business at that time. (China announced in 2018 that it would ease up on the automotive sector's rules on foreign ownership by 2022.)

Since then, Tesla has enjoyed strong government support. It was the only foreign manufacturer without a local partner to win a big tax break for its cars in 2019. The company also resumed production quickly during the coronavirus pandemic in part thanks to local government support.

Musk has also won over authorities and Chinese citizens alike, and is a welcomed guest in the country. He famously danced on stage during the debut of the Shanghai-made Model 3 early last year, which went viral on Weibo. Premier Li Keqiang once even said he would be happy to give Musk a "China green card" after the American entrepreneur said he "loves China very much."

Tesla's inroads into China have paid off. The company sold $6.66 billion worth of cars in China last year, contributing 21% of its revenue, according to a recent company filing. That's more than doubled what it sold in 2019, when it had not yet started making cars there.

A souring perception

But in recent months, the perception of Tesla in China has begun to turn sour. Last November, state news agency Xinhua attacked the company after one of its attorneys wrote to US regulators about a recall in China, blaming "driver abuse."

"Tesla passed the buck to the Chinese users' driving habits and regulatory pressure," wrote Xinhua's Nan Chen in an opinion piece published in Liaowang, a magazine run by the news agency. "This kind of 'Tesla-style arrogance' can't be tolerated."

Criticism escalated last month after a video went viral in China that appeared to show a Tesla employee telling a customer that an overload in the state power grid caused a charging accident that damaged the car. A local branch of the power company in charge of the grid denied it was to blame, and told Tesla that it should "carefully find out the cause" of the car's problems.

Tesla wrote on its Weibo account last week that the video had been edited and that the employee provided "several possible factors" for the car's issues. Even so, the company apologized.

"We are deeply sorry, regarding the misunderstanding caused to netizens and the trouble" caused to power authorities, the company said.

State media outlets, though, piled on after the power grid incident. Xinhua earlier this month blasted Tesla once more for its "arrogant attitude," accusing the company of "passing the buck again."

The Global Times, a state-owned tabloid, also took the company to task.

"Though Tesla is arguably the US company most active in investing in China, the Silicon Valley-born carmaker is far from understanding Chinese consumers, as seen by its attitude in a series of scattered accident reports including explosions, drivers losing control and faulty brakes," read an article published by the Global Times.

Other challenges

Regulatory pressure is not Tesla's only challenge in China moving forward.

The company was the best-selling electric vehicle brand in the country last year, with 135,400 Model 3s sold, according to the China Passenger Car Association.

But competition is getting fierce. BYD unseated Tesla as China's top selling electric car brand last month, and other automakers like Nio, Geely and Xpeng are trying to close in.

While China has welcomed Tesla so far, experts point out that ultimately Beijing has its own ambitions to lead in tech and other fields. In other words: Once homegrown companies are competitive, the country doesn't have much need for foreign firms anymore.

-- CNN's Beijing bureau contributed to this report.

This story was first published on CNN.com "Elon Musk's love-in with China may be over as regulators go after Tesla".
The DRIVRZ message is resonating and capturing more market share each month.

VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / February 11, 2021 / PowerBand Solutions Inc. (TSXV:PBX) (OTCQB:PWWBF) (Frankfurt:1ZVA) ("PowerBand", "PBX" or the "Company"), a comprehensive e-commerce solution transforming the online experience to sell, trade, lease, and finance vehicles, is pleased to announce that the Company's January 2021 financial results have demonstrated the continuation of strong month-over-month growth heading into 2021.

Kelly Jennings, CEO of PowerBand, commented, "Recent consumer research has shown that a growing number of consumers begin their shopping for automobiles online, and nearly half of them prefer to do it alone without any help from friends, family, or dealership salespeople. Our continued month-over-month growth indicates that our DRIVRZ platform messaging is resonating with this type of consumer, as we capture more market share each month. The seamless simplicity of our platform process is providing more online consumers the justification they need to stay connected with DRIVRZ to complete their entire transaction online with us."

The Company continues to experience month-over-month growth. January's gross sales totalled $6.7mm (CAN). This exceeds the $6.1mm in December 2020, an increase of $600k (CAN). The gross margin for the period remained consistent in the range of 60% to 65%. This is a strong beginning for 2021 and with the recent private placement closed Powerband can now accelerate its' expansion plans for North America.

About PowerBand Solutions, Inc.

PowerBand Solutions Inc., listed on the TSX Venture Exchange and the OTCQB markets, is a fintech provider disrupting the automotive industry. PowerBand's integrated, cloud-based transaction platform facilitates transactions amongst consumers, dealers, funders, and manufacturers (OEMs). It enables them to buy, sell, trade, finance, and lease new and used, electric- and non-electric vehicles, on any phone, table or PC connected to the internet. PowerBand's transaction platform - being trademarked under DRIVRZ - is being made available across North American and global markets.

For further information, please contact:

Kelly Jennings

Chief Executive Officer

E: info@powerbandexchange.com

P: 1-866-768-7653

Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Non-IFRS Measures:

This news release contains non-IFRS financial measures; the Company believes that these measures provide investors with useful supplemental information about the financial performance of its business, enable comparison of financial results between periods where certain items may vary independent of business performance, and allow for greater transparency with respect to key metrics used by management in operating its business. Although management believes these financial measures are important in evaluating the Company's performance, they are not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for, or superior to, financial information prepared and presented in accordance with IFRS. These non-IFRS financial measures do not have any standardized meaning and may not be comparable with similar measures used by other companies. For certain non-IFRS financial measures, there are no directly comparable amounts under IFRS. These non-IFRS financial measures should not be viewed as alternatives to measures of financial performance determined in accordance with IFRS. Moreover, presentation of certain of these measures is provided for year-over-year comparison purposes, and investors should be cautioned that the effect of the adjustments thereto provided herein have an actual effect on the Company's operating results.

SOURCE: PowerBand Solutions Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/629297/PowerBands-Month-Over-Month-Growth-Continues-into-January-2021

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President on Thursday said India has been at the forefront in the global efforts to forge a decisive and coordinated response to COVID-19 to ensure collective health and economic well-being.

Addressing an event, he said under the government of India's vaccine maitri initiative, highly affordable vaccines made in India have already reached several countries, re-enforcing its reputation as the pharmacy of the world.

The president accepted credentials from Ambassador/High Commissioner from the Republic of El Salvador, Panama, Tunisia, the United Kingdom and the Argentine Republic in a virtual ceremony, according to a statement issued by Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Kovind conveyed his good wishes to the envoys on their appointment.

He said India enjoys warm and friendly relations with all these five countries and these ties were deeply rooted in a common vision of peace and prosperity.

Kovind also thanked their governments for supporting India's candidature for the non-permanent seat of the UN Security Council for the term 2021-22, the statement said.

President Kovind said India has been at the forefront in the global efforts to forge a decisive and coordinated response to the COVID-19 to ensure our collective health and economic well-being, it said.

In their comments, the envoys underlined the strong partnership that their countries have with India and conveyed the commitment of their leaderships to strengthen relations with India.

The envoys also lauded India's efforts in providing COVID-19 vaccines to the international community, the statement said.

The envoys present at the virtual event were Guillermo Rubio Funes, Ambassador of the Republic of El Salvador, Yasiel Alines Burillo Rivera, Ambassador of Panama, Hayet Talbi, Ambassador of Tunisia, Alex Ellis, High Commissioner of the United Kingdom and HugoJavier Gobbi, Ambassador of the Argentine Republic, it said.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
(TNS)  Legislators are taking action after Gov. Mike Parson's administration resisted calls to let Missourians keep unemployment benefits they were paid in error.The House Special Committee on Government Oversight on Wednesday heard seven separate proposals to forgive the return of unemployment payments mistakenly given to people who did not intend to commit fraud.Committee Chair Rep. Jered Taylor, R- Nixa, said the committee will likely combine several of the bills, some of which are nearly identical, into a single proposal. The committee would then hold a vote on the proposal early next week.Most of the legislation focused on funds from the federal government. Since national stimulus packages have explicitly allowed states to waive repayment, crafting legislation to do so is relatively simple. No committee members or witnesses objected to the idea. A representative of the Missouri Budget Project, a left-leaning think tank, testified in favor of all of the legislation."I don't think there's anybody in this room that, if they're being honest, is in favor of getting money out of Missouri's economy and sending it back to Washington, D.C.," said Rep. Scott Cupps, R- Shell Knob, the sponsor of one of the proposals.Committee members and bill sponsors cited estimates that 75-80 percent of overpayments are federal. Much of the conversation at the hearing focused on what to do about the 20-25 percent that came from Missouri.A proposal sponsored by Rep. Ian Mackey, D- St. Louis, would stop the state from collecting any excess payments, including those from the state.Mackey also said 40 states already waive unemployment overpayments that are the fault of the state, even under normal circumstances.Cupps said the state unemployment money doesn't come from taxpayer dollars, but rather an insurance program that businesses pay into. He argued that not all small businesses could absorb the additional cost that would come from waiving the state repayments.If the federal repayments are waived, returning 20-25 percent of the money over the course of several years, interest-free, would be a much lighter burden for individuals, he said.Rep. Mark Ellebracht, D- Liberty, said that even repaying a smaller amount of money could be more difficult for some individuals than for businesses, which may have lines of credit more readily available to them."I'm asking us to seriously consider as a committee, which one do we value more?" he said.Cupps and Rep. Raychel Proudie, D- Ferguson, said not all business owners are able to handle the added expense. Some of her constituents are business owners who are also single mothers and who have reached their credit limits, Proudie said.Others pointed out that there might be a third option  the state covering the cost of waived repayments so neither individuals nor businesses have to worry about them.Some committee members were initially skeptical of the idea.Cupps, who is also on the House Budget Committee, asked, "Where do you want me to take it from?" when Rep. Tony Lovasco, R- O'Fallon, suggested the Legislature could find about $25 million to give to the unemployment fund.Giving state money to the fund could also ruin its "integrity" by setting the precedent that it is an entitlement program rather than an insurance program, Cupps said.But both Cupps and Rep. J. Eggleston, R- Maysville, expressed openness to the idea that funding could come from federal CARES Act money after Rep. Peter Merideth, D- St. Louis, explained why that could be possible.Though Merideth spoke about state repayments, his proposal is a resolution calling on Parson to forgive the federal repayments.Merideth said he would support legislation waiving the repayments, but "this is not something we actually need legislation to do at all ... the state actually has authority to forgive these overpayments."Parson "may be up to do it if he has our backup and a clear expression from us as a Legislature that that's what we believe," Merideth said.Parson's administration has so far resisted calls to waive repayment of money the government sent to people that turned out not to be eligible.Parson said Jan. 28 that those who mistakenly received payments should "most certainly" be required to return the money. He has held to that position, and Missouri Department of Labor Director Anna Hui defended the stance at multiple committee hearings last week."If they are not eligible, it is not their money," she told the House Budget Committee.


People who have lived in Communist countries, including Christians who fled and became refugees in America, say talks about "deprogramming" Trump supporters are like "flashbacks" of the past.

Michael Beller, a former attorney for PBS, was caught on camera by Project Veritas saying children of Trump supporters should be taken away from their parents and put into re-education camps.

"Even if Biden wins, we go for all the Republican voters, and homeland Security will take their children away," Beller said in the leaked video posted by Project Veritas.

"And we'll put them [Trump supporters' children] into re-education camps," he added.

Michael Beller was fired from his job later, although, several voices in the media are still calling for Trump supporters to be "deprogrammed," CBN News reported.

Eugene Robinson of the Washington Post said on MSNBC, "There are millions of Americans, almost all white, almost all Republicans, who somehow need to be deprogrammed."

"The question is how are we going to really almost deprogram these people who have signed up for the cult of Trump?" also said Journalist Katie Couric on HBO's Real Time with Bill Maher.

Trump supporters are being called "mentally ill," and are being censored, doxxed, de-platformed, blacklisted, and demonetized which was described as "flashbacks" by some who have lived in communist countries, also according to CBN News.

Dale Hurd of CBN News said, "For those who lived under communist dictatorships, what's happening in America has disturbing parallels."

Dr. Bob Fu, Chinese Pastor and Founder of China Aid, a Christian organization dedicated to exposing Communist China's abusive actions against believers, was a student leader during Tiananmen Square pro-democracy demonstrations in 1989. He also proudly attended the Jan. 6th Trump rally at the National Mall.

Pastor Fu says that the call for "re-education" and "deprogramming" of Trump supporters is straight out of the Chinese communist party playbook.

"These kinds of tactics, they all require forced conformity and if you don't comply, then you will be punished. They want to make every American conform one way of ideology and a one way of thinking." Fu said.

When Hugo Chavez took power in Venezuela, Elizabeth Rogliani and her family had to flee the country. Last year, she made a video warning people about the similarities between Antifa and Black Lives Matter rioting in America and the events happening in Venezuela.

She said on her Instagram, "I have already lived through this thing when I was living in Venezuela."

Rogliani also said it's Chavez's tactic to label political opposition as potential domestic terrorists or fascists. This move, she said, is used to stigmatize those who oppose him.

"This calling out the opposition or Republicans as terrorist or fascist, that is the kind of language I saw a lot," Rogliani said, "The late president Hugo Chavez used to call us fascist and terrorist as well."

She believes that one ominous sign for America has been all the Republicans flocking to more secure messaging platforms like Telegram because it is exactly what happened in Venezuela when the democratic opposition was de-platformed and opposition leaders began to be arrested.

"We jumped into Telegram really early on," Rogliani said, "So I find that very interesting how it's happening so fast here,"
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Traffic is the worst.

But what can we do about it? Adding more freeway lanes didn't help. Buses get stuck on the same roads as cars. Elon's car-ferrying tunnels aren't coming anytime soon. The impacts of a devastating pandemic emptied the roads for a while, but that wasn't a solution.

When it comes down to it, L.A. County's crippling congestion stems from the basic economics of supply and demand.

In this case, the demand is getting in your car and driving where you need to go using local freeways. The supply is the space we have to drive on those freeways. Crawling in traffic is the price we pay for all driving the same routes at the same time.

So L.A. Metro is exploring congestion pricing, which aims to reduce demand by charging people to drive on certain roadways or zones at certain times.

The agency launched its study in 2019 and is now exploring four concepts to implement congestion pricing in specific high-traffic corridors or geographical areas.

Santa Monica Mountains Corridor - This would include freeways and other roadways that pass through the Santa Monica Mountains from the 405 Freeway to the 5 Freeway. That includes the dreaded Sepulveda Pass. A variant of this concept would narrow the corridor to the 101 and 5 freeways. Downtown L.A. Freeways Corridor - This would mean congestion pricing on the 110, 10 and 101 freeways that converge in downtown L.A. Downtown L.A. Cordon - This option is based on the center of downtown L.A. as a geographical area, not the roadways. Drivers would be charged for crossing a specific boundary. 10 Freeway Corridor - This would implement congestion pricing for the 10 Freeway and other arterial roadways between Santa Monica and downtown L.A.

One of the four concepts Metro is studying to launch a congestion pricing pilot.(Courtesy L.A. Metro)

Tham Nguyen, project manager for the study, said one challenge is selling the concept of charging drivers to use high-demand roads in car-centric L.A.

"People think that L.A. is unique and the (traffic) problems of L.A. are very unique to our region," she said. "People experience hyper congestion in a lot of places around the world and they've managed to find tools [for] it."

Joshua Schank is chief innovation officer for Metro's Office of Extraordinary Innovation, a department established by Metro CEO Phillip Washington in 2015 to study new transportation ideas, test them and implement them in L.A. County. (Washington is stepping down from his role later this year).

"One of the common misperceptions of pricing is that all of a sudden you have to pay to drive places," Schank said. "No, you have to pay to drive [at] the most congested times on the most congested roads, because everyone wants to go at those times."

One concern being voiced to Metro: how will congestion pricing affect low-income residents who rely on car travel for school, work or child care? Metro officials said they are examining that and other concerns and will work to promote equity so vulnerable populations don't face additional financial burdens.

Nguyen also noted that the concepts are designed to charge for car travel while also creating other mobility options for residents -- like improved bus service, better bike infrastructure and carpooling incentives.

"That's why we really need to work with the communities who are going to be affected by pilot programs like this to figure out: What works for you and what would give you the right mix of alternatives to driving?" she said.

The study group's goal is to select one concept and bring it to Metro's board of directors by next spring. If the agency's leaders sign off, a pilot program is projected to launch in 2025.

Agency officials are holding a series of virtual meetings this month, starting this evening, to share the concepts and pitch the idea of congestion pricing. You can learn more and register to attend here.

WE LOVE TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS
Former Nigerian Minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has expressed gratitude to the United States, President Muhammadu Buhari and Nigerians for supporting her bid to head the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

In a tweet from @NOIweala, the former Nigerian coordinating minister of the economy and foreign minister wrote: "Grateful for the expression of support from the US today for DG @WTO. Congratulations to Madam Yoo of Rep. Korea for a hard fought campaign. Thank You President Muhammadu Buhari @MBuhari & all Nigerians for your unflinching support. Thank you friends. Love to my family. Glory to God."

Her expression of gratitude came after the United States, which had initially opposed her bid, endorsed her candidacy, clearing the path for her emergence as the next head of the World Trade Organisation.

South Korea's Yoo Myung-hee, backed by the US, was Okonjo-Iweala's sole opponent after other contestants withdrew from the race last year. Myung-hee withdrew from the race earlier on Friday.

Okonjo-Iweala had last October secured the vote of 163 of the 164 members of the trade organization, but could not be declared the head of the WTO because the organisation's selection rules stipulate that its DG has to emerge by consensus.

President Muhammadu Buhari had nominated Okonjo-Iweala for the topmost WTO post last June. A high-level campaign team was also inaugurated by the Federal Government to lead the charge for her emergence as the global trade body director general.
I am not a defeatist, but the road to victory often begins with a dismal start. It was so in World War 2, when the Germans and Japanese steamrolled American and British forces in every battle for the first months of the conflict. We suffered terrible and costly initial defeats, but in the end, we won.

So it is now, politically speaking, on the domestic front. We have suffered defeat. Our president has been driven from the White House by a cabal of leftist criminals, by a powerful array of infiltrators and saboteurs and their accomplices in the media, in education, and in the dark state. There is no usefulness in sugarcoating it. The Republic is now in more danger than at any time since the Civil War.

It is fruitless to recount how we got here. Others have retraced the trail from Roe v. Wade to the opening of our borders, to same-sex "marriage," and to the Supreme Courts decision to not even look at the massive evidence of electoral fraud. The question now is not how we got here, but what can we do to rescue the Republic?

At present, not much. Be prepared for more defeats and for darker days ahead. The sun will rise again, but not before much damage, and much suffering, has been wrought by the forces of evil.

Evil. It is not a word to be used lightly. However, we have every reason to regard our enemies not as mere adversaries with a difference of opinion, but as invaders who intend to utterly destroy us. As hyperbolic as that sounds, the assault on our American values proves the case.

Exhibit number one comes to us from the Bible, from the Book of the Revelation, Chapter 13: "And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name."

Being able neither to buy nor to sell results in exclusion from the economy  unemployment, poverty, and eventual starvation. This is the first step that our present-day enemies are already enacting with what we call, the cancel culture. The left is making no secret of this. Leftists have openly announced that they intend to destroy not only President Trump, not only the members of his administration, but even anyone who has ever voiced support for him.

Leftist ideology is a hodgepodge of various and sundry dogmas so complex that only those who have been indoctrinated from childhood can make any sense of them. Worse yet, some of these positions contradict each other, requiring willful doublethink: the ability to switch from one opinion to its opposite as the situation arises. For example, it is now considered politically incorrect to advise women as to how to avoid situations that could lead to rape, because the sole responsibility of prevention is supposed to be on the would-be rapist, not his intended victim. This is in opposition to the idea of empowering women to make their own decisions and to control their own lives.

One might liken the evil empire, which is real, and is growing as we watch, to a mighty oak tree, majestic in its outward appearance, but full of rot within. For a time, that towering oak tree seems invincible to any onslaught from without, but eventually, consumed by decay, it falls of its own weight.

We must live, for a time, in the valley of the shadow of evil. There is no way around it, but only through it. We must recognize that all the historical precedents by which tyranny can be overcome no longer apply. There is no political solution; there is no military remedy. No one, but no one, can predict the future course of events, because there has never been anything quite like this. Never before has a just nation been completely and thoroughly saturated with internal forces devoted to its destruction, even though that will destroy the very forces arrayed against it.

Even so, we will survive. Terrible times will test our faith, and many will fail that test. We are called upon not to kill or destroy, but to continue to practice the virtues that our faith reveals to us. Republican democracy is not a failed experiment. It is being subjected to a furnace that will separate the weak from the strong, the patriot from the fair-weather soldier.

More than this, I cannot say; I cannot foretell, I cannot advise, except for this: be strong, Americans, and know for a certainty that the victory has already been won for us, by Him with Whom all things are possible.
Two children were killed when a fire ripped through a home in Jersey City late Wednesday night, authorities said.

An 11-year-old and an 8-month old died in the blaze on the 400 block of Martin Luther King Boulevard, the Hudson County Prosecutors Office said early Thursday.

Three police officers were treated for smoke inhalation, according to abc7ny.com. Several other people escaped the fire, which also damaged nearby homes, the television station reported.

The Hudson County Regional Arson Task Force is investigating the fire, which broke out at about 11:30 p.m., Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez said.

Additional information will be released later Thursday, officials said.

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JGoldmanNJ.

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The N.J. vaccine hotline is temporarily suspending the booking of COVID vaccine appointments, Health Commissioner Judy Persichilli said at the governors Wednesdays coronavirus briefing.

Representatives will also get new training, she said.

Beginning last evening, we have placed a temporary pause on the call centers ability to make appointments, Persichilli said. We discovered we needed to streamline the system on the agent end and also offer additional training for the agents.

Frustrated callers to the hotline told NJ Advance Media that they were given confusing information by hotline representatives, including that they could not book an appointment over the phone or that they werent eligible even though they are in an eligible group. Others were told they had to use the link for the New Jersey Vaccine Scheduling System (NJVSS) to get a date or that the system was down.

Persichilli said in general, the training will be on the use of the system, with some training about registering people but more training on the appointment scheduling.

We were finding that was not as easy as we thought it was going to be. It ended up with things like double-bookings, which is something we cant have, she said, noting the representatives are doing pretty good on frequently asked questions from callers.

The commissioner noted the call center is new and the state knows the areas where they need more training.

The system itself has had issues and we are directly speaking with Microsoft, who is the vendor, almost every day to work out those bumps, she said.

Gov. Phil Murphy agreed that there were issues with the vendor.

That continues to be an ongoing challenge. It feels like one step forward, two steps back with the vendor, Murphy said.

The governor also said they are considering bulking up staff, which is now at about 250 people.

The system can give out information and help people to pre-register, Persichilli said.

The call center, which is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week, can be reached at (855) 568-0545.

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Statehouse reporter Matt Arco contributed to this report.

Karin Price Mueller may be reached at KPriceMueller@NJAdvanceMedia.com.
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analysis

Gender activists have called on President Cyril Ramaphosa to use his 2021 State of the Nation Address to announce concrete measures to tackle the nationwide scourge of gender-based-violence.

Two sentences of life imprisonment were imposed on Lungile Nxelelwa by the Palm Springs Magistrates' Court on Wednesday 10 February for the murder of his girlfriend, Keneilwe Pule of Sebokeng. Nxelelwa killed Pule in the most brutal manner, using an angle grinder to dismember her.

The brutality of the case added to calls for President Cyril Ramaphosa to announce measures designed to end the scourge of GBV.

"It is important that the president addresses and makes a concrete commitment to ending GBV in [Thursday's] Sona [State of the Nation Address] not only due to the loss of lives, but it is important to put women at the core of budgetary and any post-Covid-19 economic recovery measures," GBV activist Nomahlubi Jakuja said.

Professor Amanda Gouws of Stellenbosch University said, "I think [Ramaphosa] is under great pressure and the women's lobbies in this country will hold him to account. But I do not think [GBV] will be a number one or two priority."

The Commission for Gender Equality welcomed Nxelelwa's tough sentence and made...
Okay, campers, rise and shine!

Here's an inn you can book that will leave you with a distinct feeling of deja vu  because it was used as the Groundhog Day B&B for Bill Murray's character Phil Connors.

The 1993 movie was set in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, but what is now the Cherry Tree Inn in Woodstock, Illinois, was used for the exterior shots of the B&B that Phil woke up in ad nauseam.

The Cherry Tree Inn Airbnb (pictured) in Woodstock, Illinois, was used in the filming of Groundhog Day as the B&B Bill Murray's character stayed in

Loopy: Bill Murray emerges from what is now the Cherry Tree Inn in Groundhog Day

The listing says: 'Relax in our famous and historic Victorian B&B where your enjoyment and comfort is our priority. A fully restored home with all modern amenities. Enjoy great locally sourced food prepared by a wonderful cook every day.

'You may recognize this house from Groundhog Day where Bill Murray stayed. Same house yet anything but stuffy and repetitive!'

Guests seem to agree.

Reviewer 'Remon' wrote: 'This place is a gem. The town is a dream The room I stayed in has a great view from the bay window featured in Groundhog Day. The house is gorgeous with a beautiful wrap-around porch. Great place to eat the delicious breakfast prepared for you every morning. Great coffee [you'll understand this reference if you've seen the movie]!

'If I had to live the same day over and over again... I would want it to be in this place!'

The listing says: 'You may recognize this house from Groundhog Day where Bill Murray stayed. Same house yet anything but stuffy and repetitive!' Pictured is a photo from the Airbnb listing

Cherry Tree Inn has four ensuite guest rooms on the second floor and one ensuite first-floor ensuite room with a private entrance.

If you want to have the street view seen in the movie, then book the Magnolia Suite.

In the movie, TV weatherman Phil Connors travels from Pittsburgh, where his station is based, and visits Punxsutawney to report on the annual February 2 Groundhog Day festival, during which a groundhog is 'consulted' to predict how long the winter season will last.

It's a standard assignment until a blizzard traps Phil and his team in the town and he finds himself waking up every morning in the B&B at 6am to the cries of 'campers, rise and shine' from the radio show programmed into his alarm clock - and reliving Groundhog Day over and over again.

If you want to have the street view seen in the movie, then book the Magnolia Suite (pictured)

Cherry Tree Inn has four ensuite guest rooms on the second floor and one ensuite first-floor room with a private entrance

One reviewer said of Cherry Tree Inn: 'Great place to eat the delicious breakfast prepared for you every morning. Great coffee!'

He uses the opportunity to try and woo his producer, Rita (Andie MacDowell), with extremely mixed results.

It's a classic comedy with many regarding Bill Murray's performance as one of his finest.

Aside from the exterior B&B shots, several other scenes in the movie were filmed in Woodstock and the residents proudly celebrate Groundhog Day every February 2.

Rooms at the Cherry Tree Inn cost from $170 (125) a night. For more information click here . Leisure travel to the U.S from the UK is currently prohibited
Photo: The Canadian Press A Canadian citizen steps past a border marker and walks into the Peace Arch Historical State Park in the U.S., Sunday, Dec. 20, 2020, in Blaine, Wash. Premier John Horgan says COVID-19 concerns about tent gatherings at Peace Arch Park at the Canada-U.S. border should be directed to the federal government, but he's prepared to raise the matter with Ottawa.THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Elaine Thompson

Premier John Horgan says concerns about spreading COVID-19 as people from British Columbia and Washington state meet in a cross-border park should be directed to the federal government.

The border has been closed for months to prevent the spread of COVID, but two Surrey-area members of the legislature say in a letter to Horgan that local constituents are worried as dozens of Canadians and Americans visit inside tents on the U.S. side of Peace Arch Park.

B.C. Liberals Stephanie Cadieux and Trevor Halford say Horgan must contact Washington Gov. Jay Inslee and demand he close public access to the park until it is considered safe for non-essential cross-border travel.

Halford, who represents the Surrey-White Rock riding at the border, says Canadians and Americans are taking advantage of loopholes that permit them to meet in the park and return home without being subject to quarantine restrictions.

Horgan says he regularly speaks with Inslee, but that issue hasn't been raised.

The premier says managing the international border at Peace Arch Park is a federal responsibility, but he's prepared to raise the matter with Ottawa.

The Barn Owl Players are leading the way when it comes to innovative solutions to the challenges facing the future of live performance in a pandemic.

In 2020 local theatre group Barn Owl Players in partnership with Barnstorm Theatre Company created and presented Zoom BOP: Confinement which produced a series of original monologues by artists in the region.

The partnership has gone a step further with a New Writing Project under the banner of Love in Lockdown which was launched in November last and produced 20 new plays, each for two actors.

The outcome was amazing, such talent! The adjudicating panel was spoiled for choice in deciding which pieces to be produced says Cara ODoherty of the Barn Owl Players.

In the end we have 10 short scripts that tackle the theme and setting of lock-down; and we will present them in two productions in March and April 2021, added Philip Hardy of Barnstorm.

The writers and their plays are:

Rosey Hayes - Legacy

Anna Doyle - To be Adored

Niall ORiordan - Flat White

Denise Dowling - Undying

Eithne Reilly - Self-Improvement

Cathy Hogan - Panic Stations

Seamus Norris - Power of Love

Lizzie Kelly  Back Together Again

Tim Slight - Andriod Love

Carmel Furlong - Face Off

Each piece has two characters, and the producers are searching for local actors to participate in the venture.

Philip Hardy explained how the group are making the work with Covid-19.

With restrictions we have to rehearse each show online with director, writer and actors, he said.

Depending on the level of restrictions in March and April the Players will live-stream and film each piece for broadcast.

Local directors are in place and each is choosing actors that suit the various roles. If you are interested to take the challenge of making theatre online contact the producers on philip@barnstorm.ie

For more see Facebook pages for updates and links to our other social media accounts: @barnstormtheatrecompany and @barnowlplayers


Sachin Pilot

Urging the Centre not to make the agri laws a 'prestige issue', senior Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Thursday asserted that the government must let go of its 'stubbornness' to immediately repeal the legislations, and said that when the BJP could not convince its allies like the Akali Dal and the RLP on the issue, how can it expect the farmers to accept the laws.

A day ahead of former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi's visit to Rajasthan to raise the voice of the farmers against the farm laws, he said that the Centre should withdraw the laws and after thorough consultation with farmers and states, come up with a new set of legislations which the tillers would themselves want and is not something that is forced upon them.

In an interview with PTI, Pilot slammed the BJP for stating that the Congress had made a 'U-turn' on the farm laws, saying it was the BJP which was prone to making 'U-turns', while his party was consistent on all issues.

While the Congress supported agri reforms, it did not back laws which are 'contrary to the interest of the farmers', said the former Rajasthan deputy chief minister, who addressed two kisan panchayats in Dausa and Bharatpur recently, which saw a massive turnout.

'First of all, they (BJP) made a U-turn on Aadhaar, then on GST, MGNREGA, FDI and so many issues. The Congress said we want to get new investments (in the agri sector) and technological inputs, want more 'mandis', liberalise the system, but never said we will make laws contrary to the interest of the farmers,' he said.

Stressing that the government should set aside its 'ego'' and let go of its 'stubbornness' to repeal the laws, Pilot said almost all political parties and even the BJP's allies - be it the Akali Dal or Hanuman Beniwal's Rashtriya Loktantrik Party (RLP) - opposed the laws.

Both the Akali Dal and the RLP quit the BJP-led NDA, opposing the farm laws brought in by the government.

'They were not able to convince their own NDA partners, how can they expect the farmers to be convinced by these laws and accept them,' Pilot said.

'I don't think they should make it a prestige issue,' the former Rajasthan Congress chief said.

Asked if there could be a middle path or the repeal of laws was the only option, Pilot said the farmers have explicitly said that they want a complete withdrawal of the laws and the Congress stands firmly behind their demand.

Criticising the three farm laws, Pilot said the first major problem with them is that they were made without consultation with any stakeholder as no farmer unions or state government was involved in the making of the laws.

'Clearly these three laws that the government has made are not in the interest of the farmers because they are protecting everybody but the farmer. You dismantle the 'mandi' system and remove the stock limits, you are obviously encouraging large conglomerates and huge companies who can manage and maintain huge granaries', which could lead to manipulation of the food grain market in the future, he claimed.

Asked about the BJP's assertion that the 'mandi' system will stay and the law only provides more options to the farmers, Pilot said that the BJP had also claimed that the farmers' income will be doubled and Rs 15 lakh will be transferred in the accounts of people, none of which happened.

'The law is in favour of a few individuals which will then control the sector. There is only so much food grain that is grown and harvested, if the government stops or drastically reduces procurement, where will the food security act go, from where will the food come for the supply for the PDS (public distribution system),' the 43-year-old leader said.

He hailed the efforts of former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi and party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra for strongly opposing the laws and standing with the farmers while extending moral support to them in various places.

'Mr Gandhi vehemently opposed the laws and he is coming to Rajasthan to give support to the demand of the farmers to repeal these laws. He is touring three or four agrarian districts and will take part in many 'kisan sabhas' and will meet farmers and give support to their demands,' he said of Gandhi's two-day visit to the state on February 12-13.

Referring to the multi-layered barricading and iron nails studded on roads at the protest sites on Delhi's border points, Pilot said the farmers are sitting at the Delhi's borders for the last 80 days and not a single incident of violence took place as they were agitating on truly Gandhian philosophy, but had to face severe intimidation.

'What happened on Republic Day, every individual has condemned that. We have to investigate how that happened and now they have caught the main accused who is not a farmer,' Pilot said, referring to the violence in Delhi during the protesting farmer's tractor rally on January 26.

'The huge deployment, nails being dug and barricading, gave a sense that the government is attempting to suppress the farmers by oppressive means,' Pilot said.

Thousands of farmers have been protesting at Delhi's borders with Haryana and Uttar Pradesh demanding the rollback of the Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act.

However, the government has maintained that the new laws will bring farmers better opportunities and usher in new technologies in agriculture.
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Ottawa, Feb 12 : Canada is seeing a continued downward trend in daily Covid-19 cases, with a cumulative total of 816,145 cases of Covid-19 and 21,063 deaths as of Thursday afternoon, according to media reports.

Ontario province reported 945 new cases of Covid-19 on Thursday, although case counts from Toronto had been underreported due to an ongoing data migration. The province reported 18 additional deaths, bringing the provincial death toll to 6,614.

Hospitalisations in Ontario stood at 883, with 299 people listed as being in the province's intensive care units, the Xinhua news agency reported.

The Ontario government announced to postpone March Break for students and teachers for a month.

The week-long break, which was originally scheduled for March 15-19, will now take place on the week of April 12.

Quebec province reported 1,121 new cases of Covid-19 and 37 additional deaths on Thursday. Hospitalisations stood at 874, with 143 Covid-19 patients in intensive care, according to an update posted to a provincial site.

The country is seeing a steady decline in Covid-19 activity. "Currently, there are 38,242 active cases across the country. The latest national-level data show a continued downward trend in daily case counts, with a seven-day average of 3,476 new cases daily (February 4-10)," the Public Health Agency of Canada said on Thursday.

Following the decrease in Covid-19 activity, severe outcomes continue to decline as expected for these lagging indicators.

"An average of 3,130 people with Covid-19 were being treated in Canadian hospitals each day during the most recent seven-day period (February 4-10), including 702 of whom were being treated in intensive care units. During the same period, there were an average of 93 Covid-19-related deaths reported daily," added the agency.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-11 22:06:29|Editor: huaxia

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COPENHAGEN, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- Recent declines in COVID-19 transmission and new deaths in the European region in past weeks were referred to as "a false sense of security" by WHO Regional Director for Europe Hans Kluge on Thursday.

"Whilst this is good news, the decline in cases conceals increasing numbers of outbreaks and community spread involving variants of concern, meaning that we need to watch overall trends in transmission carefully and avoid rash decisions," Kluge said during an online press briefing.

The WHO official made particular reference to the troubling coronavirus variant originally found in South Africa, which is now present in 19 European countries and increasingly being linked to outbreaks in the region's local communities.

According to Kluge, the suppression of transmission of all variants at the current juncture required "measured decision-making" as a prerequisite to the effectiveness of any vaccine.

He pointed out that vaccinations currently accounted for just a small part of the European response against the virus, referring to 29 out of the 37 countries currently vaccinating in the European Region having just completed their immunization series and vaccinated 7.8 million people, equivalent to only 1.5 percent of the population.

Addressing the apparent disparity in vaccine distribution in the region, Kluge accentuated the divide between rich and poor countries, warning that "unfair access to vaccines" had the potential to "backfire."

"The longer the virus lingers, the greater the risk of dangerous mutations," he said.

In response to the vaccine disparity, Kluge said that WHO, together with the European Union, would launch a 40-million euro program to ensure effective deployment of COVID-19 vaccines in six countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova.

"Equitable access is a moral imperative, one that mitigates the pandemic's impact on all of us, not just some," he said.

As the world is struggling to contain the pandemic, vaccination is underway in some countries with the already-authorized vaccines. Meanwhile, 242 candidate vaccines are still being developed worldwide -- 63 of them in clinical trials -- in countries including Germany, China, Russia, Britain and the United States, according to the latest information released by the WHO. Enditem
Weeks after pledging to collaborate with a group of clergy sex abuse survivors, the Archdiocese of New Orleans on Thursday announced changes to the way it plans to respond to those who say they were molested by priests and deacons.

Most significantly, Archbishop Gregory Aymond has agreed to appoint an abuse survivor to his Independent Review Board, which reviews molestation claims and advises whether a clergyman should be added to a public list of clerics who are suspected of sexually abusing minors.

He also replaced the archdioceses victims assistance coordinator, who has been roundly criticized by survivors as ineffectual.

The announcement came just weeks before a March 1 legal deadline for new victims of sexual abuse to come forward with claims for compensation against the local church, which filed for bankruptcy last year.

The archdiocese has not disclosed exactly who sits on the Independent Review Board, which is primarily made up of lay professionals. But the archbishop said he will invite a survivor to join the board for the first time on the recommendation of victims advocates, including Kevin Bourgeois, the head of the local chapter of Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests, or SNAP. That appointee will remain anonymous, the archdiocese said.

Previously one of the archbishops harshest critics, Bourgeois started a dialogue with Aymond in December aimed at improving the local churchs treatment of people who disclose clerical abuse, especially those coming forward after years of silence.

Bourgeois, who settled with the church on claims that he was sexually abused by a New Orleans priest as a teen, had particularly harsh words for the archdioceses victims assistance coordinator, Marist Brother Stephen Synan, a pastoral counseling instructor at Notre Dame Seminary.

Aymond has appointed Joey Pistorius, the director of the archdioceses mental health counseling service, to take over the role beginning April 1.

+2 Archbishop Aymond and his fiercest critic make peace, pledge to collaborate on priest abuse crisis New Orleans Archbishop Gregory Aymond and one of the local Catholic Churchs most vocal critics announced a detente Wednesday, pledging to ens

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I can't tell you how many guys that go to our SNAP group every month who have had negative experiences with this guy (Synan), Bourgeois said in an interview last July.

The archdiocese on Thursday defended Synan's work, saying the role was a challenging one. "While some criticized him, many others were grateful for his sensitivity and his pastoral care," an archdiocesan spokesperson said.

The archdiocese has also hired Bourgeois, a licensed clinical social worker, to provide paid training to Pistorius and a team of counselors who respond to disclosures of trauma.

I have a contract to provide in-service training to Joey Pistorius and his team, Bourgeois said. I am not on the inside, I cant stress that enough.

Some other abuse survivors criticized Bourgeois for the Jan. 6 announcement that he and Aymond would work together on the archdiocese's response to new clergy abuse claimants.

But Bourgeois said the national SNAP organization gave its blessing and he decided a more conciliatory approach would help victims better than harsh criticism would. He said Thursdays announcement shows the collaboration has worked so far.

I look at this as a victory from our original conversation of getting rid of Stephen Synan, Bourgeois said.

Aymond said the steps announced Thursday represent the archdioceses continued efforts to earn back confidence from parishioners who have turned away from the church amid the decades-old, ongoing clerical molestation scandal. He also renewed calls made previously to meet with abuse survivors, as long as their claims have either been mediated or settled in court.

We hope to provide a real path forward and an opportunity to rebuild trust in the church and rebuild relationships that may have been broken as a result of the pain of their abuse, Aymond said.
Salary of ESB employees should not be three times higher than that of border guards, police - Avakov

Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Arsen Avakov asks the profile committee of the Verkhovna Rada to pay attention to the fact that the salary of the Ministry of Internal Affairs employees is three times lower than that which the legislators prescribed for the employees of the newly created Economic Security Bureau (ESB).

"We are glad, and we have consistently advocated the creation of the Economic Security Bureau, but somehow it turned out wrong that the legislator provided for the salary for these employees three times higher than that of border guards and police. I ask you to work with this," Avakov said on Thursday during an expanded board of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, addressing head of the profile committee of the Verkhovna Rada Denys Monastyrsky.

Monastyrsky mocked this remark: "This is a question of creating new agencies. Let's look at NABU, SBI, there is perhaps a question of re-creating the police agencies again."

Avakov said that due to such a situation, "someone will work, and someone will receive a salary."

To this Monastyrsky said: "The question of the best operatives and the transfer of investigators is, of course, very acute, I think we will work on this together."
India and have concluded an air-bubble arrangement and it will come into effect from Friday, the Russian Embassy said.

Under the pact between the two countries, special international passenger can be operated by their airlines into each other's territories under restrictive conditions.

"We would like to inform that the Russian and Indian sides have concluded an air bubble arrangement coming in to effect on February 12, 2021," the Russian Embassy said in a statement on Thursday. "We also would like to emphasise that the entry of tourists from is not yet possible."



Scheduled international continue to remain suspended in India since March 23 last year due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, special have been permitted under air bubbles since July last year.

According to the statement, three categories of passengers would be permitted to travel from India to under this bubble: "Stranded citizens of Russia; any Indian or Nepalese or Bhutanese holding a valid Russian visa; seamen planning to work in Russia".

The statement said four categories of passengers can travel from Russia to India under this bubble: "Indian nationals or Nepalese nationals or Bhutanese nationals stranded in Russia; all overseas citizen of India (OCI) cardholders and person of Indian origin cardholders holding passports of any country; seamen from Russia; Russian nationals intending to visit India for any purpose (including the dependents holding appropriate visa), except tourism".

India has formed air bubble arrangements with around 24 countries, including the US, UAE, Bahrain, Canada, France, Germany, Kenya, Bhutan, Afghanistan, Iraq and Japan since July.

(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 rights to rare recordings of songs by artists including Vera Lynn, Glenn Miller and Cole Porter have been snapped by an AIM-listed firm.

One Media IP now has a catalogue of 2,000 tunes by 70 greats, who also include Count Basie and The Andrews Sisters.

Concerts and live recordings by artists, who are being rediscovered by global audiences also feature.

Classic hits: One Media IP has snapped up the rights to rare recordings of songs by artists including Vera Lynn (pictured), Glenn Miller and Cole Porter

Music streaming has soared since the world first went into Covid lockdowns last year and people were forced to stay at home  and companies with song rights are profiting.

People who are over 60  in what One Media described as the 'Dad's Army' generation  are estimated to make up 29 per cent of streaming listeners.

Music licensing business models have boomed.

One Media, whose songs are on platforms like Spotify and Amazon and are used in films and TV, bought the royalties from 21 Vision for an undisclosedsum.

Its stock rose 1.3 per cent, to 7.6p.
More than $55 million to support R&D on clean solutions in the energy, agricultural and resources sectors

OTTAWA, ON, Feb. 11, 2021 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada is making investments that will lay the groundwork for a stronger, greener and more resilient economy, which will create opportunities for all Canadians. A strong economic recovery will be built on Canada's leadership in growing markets in the low-carbon economy. That is why the government is supporting Canadian innovators in clean technology, as the solutions they create will support well-paying jobs for Canadians and help contribute to the global fight against climate change.

Today, the Honourable Francois-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, announced investments of $55.1 million in 20 clean technology companies across Canada through Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC). This funding will support small and medium-sized companies that are developing innovative solutions to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, lessen the environmental impacts of conventional mining methods and support more sustainable agricultural practices.

Today's support also builds on the government's strengthened climate plan, A Healthy Environment and a Healthy Economy, announced by Prime Minister Trudeau on December 11, which included an investment of $750 million over five years to re-capitalize SDTC. This investmentthe single largest investment in SDTC ever made by the Government of Canadawill enable SDTC to support even more Canadian entrepreneurs as they develop and commercialize clean technologies and bring Canadian innovations to the world.

The world is recognizing Canada's leadership in the clean technology space. Eleven Canadian companiesnine of which were funded by SDTCwere recently placed on the 2021 Global Cleantech 100 list.

Quotes

"As Canada continues to navigate the uncharted waters of the global pandemic, our government is making the investments now that will allow us to come together for change to build a stronger, greener and more resilient economy. With today's support, we are securing Canada's leadership in the large and growing global clean technology market and ensuring a more sustainable future for all Canadians."

 The Honourable Francois-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry

"Canada is home to a vibrant cleantech sector that punches above its weight, and our government is committed to supporting their important work. Canada's cleantech companies like those funded today are a critical part of our plan to reduce emissions and create economic opportunities across the country."

 The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Environment and Climate Change

"Today's investment will enable cleantech companies in Canada to grow and scale to meet domestic and global demand for solutions in the net-zero era. From reducing energy consumption, to building the agricultural circular economy, Canadians are leading the world's transition to a green economy  and we are here to help along the way."

 Leah Lawrence, President and CEO, Sustainable Development Technology Canada

Quick facts

The global clean technology market is set to exceed $2.5 trillion by 2022.

by 2022. Clean technology companies currently employ more than 195,000 Canadians in good, well-paying jobs, while helping reduce environmental impacts and meet climate change goals.

SDTC is an independent federal foundation that funds companies with the potential to become world leaders in new environmental technologies and transform the environmental and economic prosperity of Canada .

. As of March 2020 , SDTC-supported companies have generated $2.7 billion in annual revenues, created over 14,600 jobs and brought 126 new technologies to market.

, SDTC-supported companies have generated in annual revenues, created over 14,600 jobs and brought 126 new technologies to market. SDTC-funded technologies are reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 19.3 megatonnes of CO 2 annually.

annually. SDTC has worked closely with the Business Development Bank of Canada and Export Development Canada, providing referrals and sharing due diligence for SDTC-supported cleantech companies, resulting in $535 million in follow-on financing since 2018.

Associated links

Stay connected

Follow Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada on Twitter: @ISED_CA

Follow Sustainable Development Technology Canada on Twitter: @SDTC_TDDC

SOURCE Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada

For further information: John Power, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry, [email protected]; Media Relations, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, [email protected]; Media Relations, Sustainable Development Technology Canada, 343-803-0672, [email protected]

Related Links

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NEW DELHI: Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Wednesday telephoned his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi seeking covid-19 vaccine supplies and lauding Indias role as the pharmacy of the world.

During the conversation, the two leaders also discussed global economic recovery after the pandemic and challenges posed by climate change.

Also Read | Inside the Mindtree makeover strategy

Was happy to receive a call from my friend @JustinTrudeau. Assured him that India would do its best to facilitate supplies of COVID vaccines sought by Canada. We also agreed to continue collaborating on other important issues like Climate Change and the global economic recovery," Modi said in a Twitter post.

A readout of the conversation from Modis office later said: Prime Minister Trudeau informed Prime Minister Modi about Canada's requirements of COVID-19 vaccines from India. Prime Minister assured the Canadian PM that India would do its best to support Canada's vaccination efforts, just as it had done for many other countries already."

Expressing his appreciation, Prime Minister Trudeau said that if the world managed to conquer COVID-19, it would be significantly because of India's tremendous pharmaceutical capacity, and Prime Minister Modi's leadership in sharing this capacity with the world. Prime Minister thanked PM Trudeau for his sentiments."

India has so far sent vaccines to a number of countries  both as gifts as well as on a commercial basis. Some of the countries include the Dominican Republic, Saudi Arabia and Cambodia besides Indias immediate neighbours.

The two leaders also reiterated the common perspective shared by India and Canada on many important geo-political issues. They agreed to continue the close collaboration between both countries in fighting global challenges like Climate Change and the economic impacts of the pandemic," the Indian statement added.

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Axed BBC editorial director Kamal Ahmed lost his 'non-job' after falling out with a rival boss, MailOnline can reveal today.

The BBC has axed editorial director Mr Ahmed and two others from its news board in a 'modernisation' plan - leaving it with no ethnic minority members despite a pledge to increase senior management diversity last year.

The slimmed-down board will remain headed by director of news and current affairs Fran Unsworth, who earns 340,000-a-year, and is alleged to have won a power struggle with Mr Ahmed, who 'had it coming', a source said.

In February last year the BBCs editorial director, earning between 205,000 and 209,999-a-year, agreed a 12,000 fee for a 40-minute appearance at the Aberdeen Standard Investments conference at a time when 450 people were laid off.

There were also claims of hypocrisy because at the time he was involved in an internal review of rules on BBC staff taking speaking engagements for cash, and he was forced to apologise in an email to colleagues, before refusing to accept the cash.

A BBC insider told MailOnline: 'No one working here was very surprised. Most people think he had it coming.

'Kamal had gone to Tony Hall (Previous director-general) arguing that we needed this editorial director role, and Tony created it for him. But most people think it was a non-job. He and Fran (Unsworth) did not get on.

'People didn't like him. They didn't understand how he was elevated so quickly, and many didn't forgive him for that speech to a hedge fund while lots of job losses were being announced here.'

Ahmed had a role as editorial director and oversaw Question Time for his 205,000 salary - but he appears to have lost a power struggle with director of news and current affairs Fran Unsworth (right), BBC insider told MailOnline

In February last year the BBCs editorial director apologised after he pocketed 12,000 for a 40-minute appearance at the Aberdeen Standard Investments conference at a time when hundreds of people were laid off. He then said he would not take the cash

The BBC said it was 'restructuring' the board as part of 'plans to modernise BBC News'

An 80 million savings plan saw the job cuts announced by the broadcaster yesterday afternoon, the 'restructuring' as part of 'plans to modernise BBC News'.

Two other members of the board, Gavin Allen and Jo Carr, have also lost their jobs after the restructuring.

From broadsheet to broadcast: The rise of Kamal Ahmed Kamal Ahmed is a former newspaper man who started his career in Scotland during the nineties. He moved to the Guardian and was appointed executive news editor at the Observer. Ahmed briefly left journalism to become the Director of Communications at the Equality and Human Rights Commission but returned to reporting as business editor of the Sunday Telegraph in 2009. He replaced Robert Peston as the business editor of BBC News in March 2014 and the next year took his role as economics editor. Four years later he was announced as BBC News's Editorial Director in a position created by Fran Unsworth on the News Board. Ahmed previously hit the headlines last February when he apologised for accepting a 12,000 payment for speaking at a banker's conference. He received 12,000 for a 40-minute appearance at the Aberdeen Standard Investment's conference, just days after telling 450 of his colleagues that their jobs were being cut. He came under fire both publicly and within the BBC for his fee for the event and has sent an email to colleagues apologising. Advertisement

In 2019, the corporation said all senior leadership groups should have at least two staff members from minority ethnic backgrounds.

However, Ahmed's departure will mean that the BBC News board is now all-white.

Former newspaper man Ahmed's role was created by Unsworth in 2018 and she said she was 'thrilled he was joining her top team'.

However, the pair are said to have had differences of opinion over the department's editorial direction, leading to his removal.

Reacting to the change, one BBC source told the Telegraph: 'And just like that our news board is all-white again. Not the direction I and many others hoped we would be going in.'

On Wednesday night, an email signed by dozens of BBC staff is believed to have been sent to Mr Davie protesting Ahmed's removal.

Tufayel Ahmed, a journalist and lecturer, said: 'Not even two years ago the BBC made a big fuss about being more inclusive and 'stepping up' by having BAME representation in every leadership team, and now it seems to be back-pedalling on its own promises.

'The BBC's decision to cut its only BAME news board member is particularly worrying because BAME people are being disproportionately affected by job cuts during the pandemic for no discernible reason.

'BAME journalists are already so woefully underrepresented in our newsrooms, especially at senior levels.'

However, a BBC spokeswoman said: 'The final membership of the BBC News Board has not been announced. Two out the eight posts  a quarter  are currently vacant.'

In June last year the BBC said it was committing to spend 100million of the existing commissioning budget on diverse content over three years.

The move, which starts in April 2021, will be backed up by a mandatory 20 per cent off-screen diversity target for production focused on under-represented groups.

What is the BBC News Group Board and what does it do? Kamal Ahmed sat on the BBC News Group Board, the corporation's governance body for editorial issues. It discusses how stories were covered, staffing issues and complaints. But on the BBC's website there doesn't appear to be any agendas or minutes. There is only a list of members. The board will be whittled down from 11 to eight, as there will be three new roles. This is because Mr Ahmed has gone. Two other members of the board, Gavin Allen and Jo Carr, have also lost their jobs after the restructuring. Jamie Angus, currently director of the World Service Group, will become senior controller, news output and commissioning. Jonathan Munro, who is head of newsgathering, will become senior controller, news content and deputy director of news, 'responsible for the production of the journalism that supports the BBC's news programmes and platforms.' The changes to the board will come into effect in March. Advertisement

Within that includes people with a disability or from a BAME or 'disadvantaged socio-economic' background.

Last year the BBC announced its ambition to ensure it has 50% men and 50% women, at least 20% BAME and at least 12% disabled staff, including in leadership.

Tim Davie, the director-general, said on taking the job that diversity was 'mission critical' to the BBC.

Ahmed, whose mother is from Rotherham and whose father is from Sudan, had a role as editorial director which included overseeing Question Time and was paid around 205,000. He joined the BBC in 2014.

He found himself challenged in February last year when Victoria Derbyshire told him to 'reconsider the decision to close our programme'.

It came after he had shared a post about a probe by Newsnight that had resulted in the Government announcing measures to ban putting children under the age of 16 in unregulated accommodation.

Ahmed wrote: 'Investigations matter. Original journalism matters.'

Derbyshire made her feelings known about her programme's cancellation, and has condemned the BBC's claims that it pulled the show off air because it had failed to grow its live audience.

As well as Ahmed, Gavin Allen's 180,000 role as head of news output, overseeing the likes of Radio 4's Today programme, News at Six and Ten and the now-axed Victoria Derbyshire show, will also be closed.

The post of Joanna Carr, who as head of BBC current affairs looked after Panorama and Newsnight and is paid around 165,000, will also go.

In a note to staff, Unsworth said she would 'like to thank them for their outstanding contribution to BBC News to date and we are exploring future options for them'.

Gavin Allen's 180,000 role as head of news output has also been closed as part of the cuts

Unsworth said the new board will help in 'increasing the impact of our world-class journalism, addressing changes in the way audiences consume news, achieving our savings target, and building a diverse culture inclusive of all.'

Who is on the BBC News Board? Francesca Unsworth, director, News and Current Affairs Jamie Angus, Director, World Service Group Alan Dickson, Chief Financial and Operating Officer Anna Gronmark, HR Director Katie Lloyd, Development Director Kate McAndrew, Chief of Staff Jonathan Munro, Head of Newsgathering Naja Nielsen, Digital Director Sarah Ward-Lilley, Managing Editor Advertisement

It comes after the BBC announced cuts to Newsnight, 5Live and other news output as part of cost-cutting plans and an effort to reach the young.

The plans to 'modernise its newsroom' will lead to around 450 job cuts and includes a review of the number of BBC presenters 'and how they work'.

Ahmed previously hit the headlines last February when he apologised for accepting a 12,000 payment for speaking at a banker's conference.

He received 12,000 for a 40-minute appearance at the Aberdeen Standard Investment's conference, just days after telling 450 of his colleagues that their jobs were being cut.

He came under fire both publicly and within the BBC for his 12,000 fee for the event and has sent an email to colleagues apologising.

In the email, he wrote: 'I realise now that I did not think things through sufficiently at the time of the booking and, although I did not break any of the BBC's guidelines on external speaking, it was a mistake to agree to a fee.

'I have told ASI this morning that I will not be taking any payment. I wanted to say sorry that a mistake made by me has become a public and internal issue.'

BBC executives Gavin Allen (left), Naja Nielsen (second from left), Jonathan Munro (second from right) and Kamal Ahmed (right) sat in front of staff on barstools at New Broadcasting House as they cut 450 jobs last year

Days before, Ahmed was one of four senior BBC bosses who sat on bar stools as they announced the job cuts.

He drew criticism after he turned up for the 'bloodbath' announcement wearing a black T-shirt and casual trousers.

This was reportedly out of character for the man who as political editor of the Observer was regarded as the faithful Fleet Street mouthpiece of Tony Blair's spin doctor Alastair Campbell.

BBC broadcaster Victoria Fritz tweeted: 'Got to be the first time I've not seen Kamal in a sharp suit and tie. At least he wore black.'
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 11) - A bill amending the Philippines' 65-year-old Bank Secrecy Law is gaining steam at the House of Representatives, and sailing smoothly off to plenary.

Influential bankers from the Bankers Association of the Philippines (BAP) and the Chamber of Thrift Banks rallied behind a proposal to give the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas more power to examine bank deposits.

The BAP has written House Committee on Banks chairman Junie Cua, proposing that the central bank be allowed to share information from the investigation of deposit accounts with other law enforcement or regulatory agencies to expedite prosecution.

"The direction of your proposed amendments is consistent with our long-standing desire to see a more liberal bank secrecy law," read the BAP's letter to Cua dated Feb. 9 and was read out loud during Thursday's House committee hearing.

The BAP groups the Philippines' largest universal and commercial banks.

Apart from empowering the central bank to share information with law enforcers, bankers want Republic Act 1405, or "The Secrecy of Bank Deposits Law," revisited to include a "safe harbor clause" that will protect lenders from "frivolous suits from depositors in connection with any BSP deposit examination."

The current Bank Secrecy Law is over half-a-century old, having been first passed in 1955  and guarantees absolute confidentiality of bank deposits.

But with exceptions.

Authorities can only have access to deposits if they have a court order, or if the depositor allows it.

Deposits subject of a litigation or impeachment cases are also exceptions to the bank secrecy rule.

For decades, those limitations have prevented the central bank and law enforcers to abate the flow of dirty money until the Anti-Money Laundering Act (AMLA) was passed in 2001.

But even AMLA, and its subsequent revisions, have limitations as it bans sharing of information among the central bank and other domestic or foreign authorities about suspicious transactions unless given a go signal by the Monetary Board.

Wirecard issue, "insider abuses"

The Bangko Sentral told a House hearing that bank secrecy is "dead in most jurisdictions" even in Europe.

"We don't want to be the last man standing," not being allowed to look into bank deposits, said BSP Assistant Governor and General Counsel Elmore Capule.

Capule added that the central bank is not "lifting the law," but needs greater supervisory powers to examine bank deposits.

"There are a lot of insider abuses," the central bank official told lawmakers, adding that litigants are "using the bank secrecy as a shield."

"We don't have the proper legal weapon," Capule said.

Efforts to revise the 1955 bank secrecy law have been revived last year following the Wirecard controversy.

That accounting scandal emanated from Europe but the Philippines entered the fray amid allegations the funds have been coursed through the country's largest banks  something the lenders denied. Some local bank employees were dragged into the issue, with rogue staff appearing to have been responsible for faking documents to certify that Wirecard had assets stashed in Philippine banks BPI and BDO.

Chamber of Thrift Banks (CTB) President Paul San Pedro proposed that the coverage of examination of an erring bank officer's bank accounts should not be limited only within the bank under probe, but all other bank accounts held by that officer who is subject of an investigation.

The argument is that money could easily be moved to other financial institutions so authorities lose the money trail.

"That [proposal for wider coverage] will prevent crimes committed by officers of the bank," CTB's San Pedro told the House committee.

"Because they know that even if the investigation is just within the bank, elsewhere puedeng habulin pati placements mo [placements elsewhere can be looked into]. That will deter commission of crime," he pointed out.

Cua has directed the central bank to fine-tune the wording of the bill, while the committee secretariat was ordered to prepare the committee report for plenary debate.

"Not everyone but every account of that person (under investigation). We are only talking of the application of this law to a very clear set of people para hindi mag-create ng panic [so it won't cause panic]. Kasi pag puedeng buksan any account, then magkakagulo [there will be chaos if any account could be opened]," Cua said.
(Natural News) A relative of a Shanghai-based doctor revealed shocking details about the organ harvesting done by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

Lu Shuping, formerly from Shanghai but now a U.S. permanent resident, revealed the gory truth to the New York-based non-profit group World Organization to Investigate the Persecution of Falun Gong (WOIPFG). The non-profit did not release the details of Lus interview for the safety of the whistleblower, who is now more than 70 years old.

According to Lu, Zhou Qing  the older sibling of his sister-in-law Zhou Yu  formerly worked as the director of the Shanghai Wanping Hospital in the Xuhui district. Lu recalled that during a trip to China in 2002, Qing asked if he could connect her with anyone who needed an organ transplant. She asked Lu after learning that he knew many doctors via his home renovation business.

[Zhou Qings] husband told me in person that she went to a military hospital to do [organ transplant] surgery, Lu said. He continued saying that Qings husband said it was quick money and the sum [for payment] is quite large. While he, Qing and her husband were sitting together one day, Qings husband said: You should get people over from outside [for organ donation]. He further remarked that the organs were in really good quality, all fresh and alive.

The word alive had puzzled Lu at that time. But as he learned about live organ harvesting done in China through news reports, he began to connect the dots.

Shanghai doctor experienced nightmares after doing live organ harvesting

Lu said her sister-in-laws elder sibling had performed several organ removal surgeries as a Shanghai doctor. But she later stopped due to fear and having nightmares.

He prodded his sister-in-law Zhou Yu for more details on what she knew about her elder sisters work. She told the whistleblower that people who were not sedated would scream with all their might in sheer agony when Qing performed the organ removal surgery. [Yu] said anesthesia cannot be used in every place: The area where [the organ] is needed cannot be anesthetized, Lu remarked.

The fresher and the less anesthetized, the better. The quality is guaranteed, you can rest assured, Lu recounted his sister-in laws words. He further commented that his sister told him potential organ recipients kept saying Falun Dafa is good when they first went in [for surgery]. A total of three to five people were usually present inside the operating room, including armed police and military doctors.

Lus revelation adds to a growing list of evidence that an on-demand organ transplant industry with a massive scale exists in China. Adherents of Falun Gong, also called Falun Dafa, are commonly deprived of their organs. Their body organs are then sold for profit and used in transplant surgery. The forced organ harvesting is just one of many actions the CCP has done on the belief systems adherents since it launched a campaign against the movement in 1999. Millions of adherents were arrested and imprisoned into various detention facilities.

Yu repeatedly told Lu not to mention what he learned to other people. She said that money is not that easy to make, he remarked.

Chinas persecution of Falun Gong adherents condemned

The account shared by Lu has similarities to reports by whistleblowers regarding the matter. Two whistleblowers going by the names Annie and Peter first revealed the illegal organ harvesting in China to The Epoch Times in 2006.

Annie said her former husband, who was a neurosurgeon at the northeastern province of Liaoning, removed corneas from Falun Gong practitioners. The victims bodies were then thrown into incinerators after their corneas were extracted. Meanwhile, Peter gave details about a detention facility in Liaonings Sujiatun district. The Sujiatun facility was a location where organs were extracted from living Falun Gong followers.

In 2019, an independent peoples tribunal based in London found that the Chinese government had backed Falun Gong organ harvesting for years. The results of its year-long investigation said that forced organ harvesting had taken place on a significant scale. (Related: Undercover investigators expose mass forced organ harvesting in communist China.)

Former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo also condemned the CCPs nefarious practice of organ harvesting in July 2020. He dubbed the 21-year persecution faced by Falun Gong adherents as having gone on for far too long and called for its immediate end.

Extensive evidence shows the [Chinese] government continues to repress and abuse this community to this day, including reported torture of Falun Gong practitioners and detention of thousands [more,] Pompeo commented. (Related: U.S. lawmakers propose bills to sanction Chinese officials involved in forced organ harvesting.)

Visit Evil.news to read more about the CCPs systematic persecution of Falun Gong followers.

Sources include:

100PercentFedUp.com

TheEpochTimes.com 1

TheEpochTimes.com 2

NationalInterest.org

China.USEmbassy-China.org.cn

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One of Saudi Arabia's most prominent political activists was released from prison on Wednesday, her family said, after serving nearly three years on charges that sparked an international uproar over the kingdom's human rights record.

Loujain al-Hathloul, who pushed to end a ban on women driving in Saudi Arabia, was arrested in 2018 and sentenced to almost six years in prison last December under a broad counterterrorism law.

Human rights lawyer Baroness Helena Kennedy previously wrote in a report that women's rights activists including Loujain were forced to kiss and perform sex acts on their interrogators in jails in Saudi Arabia.

They were also made to watch pornography, threatened with rape, hung from the ceiling, beaten and suffered electric shocks during treatment which 'amounted to torture'.

Louijain was held for 1001 days, with time in pre-trial detention and solitary confinement.

She was accused of crimes such as agitating for change, using the internet to cause disorder and pursuing a foreign agenda - charges that rights groups describe as politically motivated.

'Loujain is at home!!!!!!' her sister Lina al-Hathloul declared on Twitter alongside a screenshot showing a flushed Loujain beaming on a family video call.

Saudi activist Loujain Al-Hathloul (left shortly after being released and right in an undated photo) has been released from jail after spending more than 1000 days in custody

There was no immediate comment from Saudi authorities on her release.

It is thought her silence over her prison ordeal is part of her freedom agreement.

Her release this year was widely expected as the judge suspended two years and 10 months of her sentence and gave her credit for time already served, putting her release date sometime in March.

The release Wednesday, earlier than anticipated, comes as Saudi Arabia faces new scrutiny from the United States, where President Joe Biden has vowed to reassess the U.S.-Saudi partnership and stand up for human rights and democratic principles.

'I have some welcome news that the Saudi government has released a prominent human rights activist,' Biden said in a speech at the Pentagon. 'She was a powerful activist for women's rights and releasing her was the right thing to do.'

Biden had labeled Saudi Arabia a 'pariah' on the campaign trial and promised to reverse former President Donald Trump's policy of giving the country 'a blank check to pursue a disastrous set of policies,' including the targeting of female activists.

The harsh crackdown against women who had pressed for the right to drive before the kingdom lifted the ban in mid-2018 came to symbolize the dual strategy of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The young, ambitious prince has sought to portray himself as a liberalizing reformer while also silencing and detaining activists who long had pushed for change.

The United Nations welcomed al-Hathloul's release but U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said 'it is important that others who are in the same condition as her, who have been jailed for the same reasons as her, also be released and that charges be dropped against them.'

Prince Mohammed cultivated close relations with the Trump administration, which members of Congress say largely shielded the kingdom from censure over its human rights record and instead sought to prioritize lucrative weapons deals.

She pushed to end a ban on women driving in Saudi Arabia and was arrested in 2018 and sentenced to almost six years in prison last December

The suppression of perceived critics and potential rivals has intensified under Prince Mohammed, increasingly attracting international ire since the killing of Saudi critic Jamal Khashoggi inside the SaudiConsulate in Istanbul at the hands of Saudi agents in late 2018.

Although released, al-Hathloul will remain free under strict conditions, her family has said, including a five-year travel ban and three years of probation.

'Loujain is at home, but she is not free. The fight is not over,' her sister Lina wrote on Twitter. 'I am not fully happy without the release of all political prisoners.'

Many human rights activists applauded al-Hathloul's release from prison but urged caution amid the remaining restrictions on her freedom.

'If she is not allowed to leave Saudi Arabia, or is forced to remain on probation, there is no reason to believe she will not be arrested again or forced to remain subject to her country's draconian laws that prevent her from speaking out and demanding her basic rights,' said Abdullah Alaoudh, Gulf research director at Democracy for the Arab World Now, the organization founded by Khashoggi.

The 31-year-old Saudi activist rocketed to prominence in Saudi Arabia for her criticism of the kingdom's guardianship system, which bars women from travel without a male relative, and her outspokenness on human rights issues. She was first detained in 2014 for 70 days when, in an act of defiance, she posted a video online of herself attempting to drive from the United Arab Emirates into the kingdom.

From behind bars al-Hathloul launched hunger strikes to protest her prison conditions and joined other female activists in testifying to judges that she was tortured and sexually assaulted by masked men during interrogations. The women reported that they were caned, electrocuted and waterboarded. Some said they were groped and threatened with rape. Saudi Arabia denies that any were mistreated.

Al-Hathloul's family said that an appeals court Tuesday rejected her claims of torture, citing a lack of evidence. While some activists and their families have been pressured into silence, al-Hathloul's siblings, who reside in the U.S. and Europe, have launched a high-profile campaign calling for her release.

Al-Hathloul's release follows that of two dual Saudi-U.S. citizens who had been detained since 2019: Badr al-Ibrahim, a writer and physician, and Salah al-Haidar, the son of a prominent women's rights activist.

Following intense pressure from Congress, they were both set free, the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee announced last Friday, calling it a 'positive, but long overdue step.'

Al-Haidar, who has a family home in Vienna, Virginia, had faced up to 33 years in prison for alleged Twitter posts criticizing the Saudi government. The Freedom Initiative, a prisoners' rights group, stressed that the release of the men was temporary, pending trial on what it described as 'unsubstantiated' terrorism charges.

Government has dismissed as false and mischievous claims that it does not know which Covid-19 vaccine it should import, saying Zimbabwe will receive its first batch of 800 000 jabs from China on Monday to start the process of immunising 10 million people against the virus.

Reports in some sections of the private and social media had suggested that the Government was not sure which vaccine it intended to procure, and alleged that this would put the whole vaccination process into jeopardy.

Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said in addition to 200 000 donations from the Chinese Government, Zimbabwe had also purchased 600 000 jabs from the same country.

Zimbabwe was now expected to dispatch an aircraft to China on February 13 to collect the vaccines, which were expected in the country two days later.

"The Government of the People's Republic of China has extended a donation of 200 000 SINOPHARM Covid-19 vaccine doses. This vaccine, which has 76 to 86 percent efficacy, has been endorsed by the World Health Organisation and is already being used in several countries," said Minister Mutsvangwa.

"This donation and an initial batch of 600 000 doses which the Government has purchased, are expected in the country by February 15, 2021, and the first week of March 2021 respectively. An aircraft will be dispatched to China no later than February 13, 2021, to collect these vaccine doses.

"Russia has donated some of its Sputnik V vaccines, with negotiations ongoing for the procurement of more vaccines. India has also promised to provide vaccines and Zimbabwe is expecting some vaccines through the African Union vaccination programme."

Minister Mutsvangwa said Government had noted with concern, efforts by some mischief-makers to cause confusion and panic over Zimbabwe's vaccination programme.

"His Excellency, President ED Mnangagwa, when he declared the Covid-19 pandemic a state of disaster, said that Government would be transparent in its response and action plan against the virus.

"Government continues to work with the World Health Organisation and other partners as part of Zimbabwe's response to this pandemic," she said.

Minister Mutsvangwa said the Government had placed an order for the vaccine, adding that key to the response plan was science-based evidence on fighting the pandemic.

Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Coronavirus Zimbabwe By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later.

"Government has already developed a deployment plan, mapping the priority groupings for roll out of the vaccines. No one will be left behind in this fight against Covid-19," she said.

Meanwhile, the world's largest diamond producer, Alrosa, has pledged to buy vaccines for Zimbabwe.

The Russian mining behemoth, which accounts for almost a third of the world's rough diamond production, has a 70 percent stake in Alrosa Zimbabwe with the remaining 30 percent being owned by the Zimbabwean Government through the Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company.

Alrosa chief executive officer Mr Sergey Ivanov yesterday told international media that they would buy and donate the Sputnik V vaccines to Zimbabwe and Angola.

"We intend to provide dozens of thousands of vaccines to each of these countries upon their availability for export. Allowing for time needed to produce the vaccine, we expect first shipments to start from the second half of March," Mr Ivanov told Bloomberg.
CBS News Features Muhlenberg College

A national CBS news crew visited campus in January to film a segment highlighting Muhlenbergs top to bottom efforts to welcome students back safely for the spring semester.

By: Kristine Yahna Todaro Thursday, February 11, 2021 00:53 PM

Nationwide colleges perform overhaul to welcome students back to campus safely. The piece aired in early February on Allison Mintz 23 and Dean of Students Allison Gulati were interviewed for the CBS News segment,more than 185 CBS stations nationwidefrom Hawaii to Maine and Alaska to Texas, and including the New York City station.

Watch the segment here:

About Muhlenberg College

Founded in 1848, Muhlenberg is a highly selective, private, four-year residential, liberal arts college offering baccalaureate and graduate programs. With an enrollment of approximately 2,200 students, Muhlenberg College is dedicated to shaping creative, compassionate, collaborative leaders through rigorous academic programs in the arts, humanities, natural sciences and social sciences; selected preprofessional programs, including accounting, business, education and public health; and progressive workforce-focused post-baccalaureate certificates and masters degrees. Located in Allentown, Pennsylvania, approximately 90 miles west of New York City, Muhlenberg is a member of the Centennial Conference, competing in 22 varsity sports. Muhlenberg is affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

From Asian actors being absent from Best Performance categories at the Oscars, to the scanty budgets allotted to female filmmakers, there seems to be a hypocrisy at play

Three years ago, Natalie Portman presented the best director category at the Golden Globes with a sting in her voice.

Here are the all-male nominees, she said.

This year, for the very first time, a majority of the directors in that category are women. It was announced last week that Chloe Zhao (Nomadland), Regina King (One Night in Miami), and Emerald Fennell (Promising Young Woman) will vie for the best director Globe alongside David Fincher (Mank) and Aaron Sorkin (The Trial of the Chicago 7), and those same filmmakers may well hear their names again when the Oscar nominations are read 15 March.

In a category that has historically overlooked female directors, this feels like progress. After all, only five women have ever been nominated for the best director Oscar, and if Zhao, King, and Fennell all make it in, that number would nearly double in a single year.

But look a little closer, and theres still a pernicious double standard at play: Fincher and Sorkin were given tens of millions to make their films, while the women had to make do with much less. Nomadland cost under $5 million, One Night in Miami was budgeted at $16.9 million, and Promising Young Woman fell somewhere in between.

None of the five women previously nominated for the best director Oscar have had it any better: Jane Campion (The Piano), Sofia Coppola (Lost in Translation), and Greta Gerwig (Lady Bird) made their movies for $10 million or less, and Kathryn Bigelows budget for The Hurt Locker  a scant $15 million  is the most that a female nominee in this category has ever been given.

I dont point this out to sound like a sad trombone in the Oscars orchestra pit, because when history is made during awards season, I believe its worth celebrating. This particular year could produce the most diverse lineup of Oscar nominees ever, as women and people of colour are projected to make up the majority in several top races.

But I know it will be tempting for Hollywood to give out those laurels and then rest on them. For example, in a year that is almost certain to see nominated actors like Riz Ahmed (Sound of Metal), Viola Davis and Chadwick Boseman (Ma Raineys Black Bottom), Daniel Kaluuya (Judas and the Black Messiah), and Leslie Odom Jr (One Night in Miami), academy members may crow that #OscarsSoWhite is a thing of the past.

It isnt that simple, and even this potentially landmark awards season still offers ample proof.

Just look at the Golden Globes most prestigious category, best drama, where none of the years major Black-led films were nominated. Not One Night in Miami, not Ma Raineys Black Bottom, not Judas and the Black Messiah, and not Da 5 Bloods.

Or look to BAFTA, considered the British equivalent of the Oscars, and the groups longlists for each category, released last week. Spike Lees Vietnam-vet drama Da 5 Bloods landed on nine of those longlists  including best film, screenplay, and editing  but Lee was pointedly left out of the group of 20 filmmakers nominated for best director. (If BAFTA voters were trying to send a message to Lee, did they realise the rest of the world was BCCd?)

You could even look to last year, when Parasite made Oscar history as the first film not in the English language to win best picture but couldnt earn a single nomination in the acting categories. Awkwafina and Zhao Shuzhen, hailing from a critics favourite, The Farewell, were similarly snubbed by the academy, and those exclusions led Vultures E Alex Jung to write about an old prejudice at work here that sees Asian people as technical workers.

Thats why Jung felt that filmmakers like Bong Joon Ho and Ang Lee could win Oscars while the actors from their films were wholly overlooked, and its why I wonder about the ultimate fate of the forthcoming Minari, Lee Isaac Chungs moving family drama starring Steven Yeun, Yeri Han and Yuh-Jung Youn. Even though a Korean movie has now won best picture at the Oscars, no Korean or Korean American actor has ever so much as been nominated. Can the actors of Minari break through those long-held biases?

Things look more promising at the Independent Spirit Awards, where Minari scored three acting nominations and was recognised in the screenplay, director, and best feature categories, too. At this ceremony, which will be held days before the Oscars in April, the feature and director categories are exclusively made up of nominated movies directed by women and people of colour.

But is that a road map for the academy to follow as it enacts new diversity guidelines, or is it a reminder of the limits that have already plagued this industry for far too long? To be eligible for the Independent Spirit Awards, a movie must be made for less than $22.5 million. During awards season, directors from underrepresented groups are rarely working with much more.

Zhao, King, and Fennell may still make this years Oscar lineup, but what will happen next year, when even more expensive movies like Steven Spielbergs West Side Story re-enter the fray? Those films had the luxury of waiting out the pandemic for a more advantageous theatrical release, and the best director category could easily tilt back toward the sort of auteur-driven spectacle that men dominate and nominate.

No matter what happens this awards season or the next, voters should remember that progress isnt simply secured  its something you have to keep reaching for. Back in 2014, there were people of colour in most of the acting categories, Alfonso Cuaron (Gravity) won the directing Oscar, and Steve McQueens 12 Years a Slave took best picture.

The very next year kicked off #OscarsSoWhite.

Kyle Buchanan c.2021 The New York Times Company




AMHERST  University of Massachusetts students who rely on off-campus jobs for income are being told that if they cant work remotely, they shouldnt work at all.

A directive sent by the university Tuesday night told students that self-sequestration means students with jobs both on and off campus are not exempt from the order to stay in their dwellings for at least 14 days. The university changed its COVID-19 level to high-risk on Sunday, a decision some parents and students find draconian  and financially painful.

Students can leave their dormitories for grab-to-go meals and to be tested for COVID-19 at the Mullins Center. The directive leaves open the question of whether students performing tasks considered essential services will be allowed to do so in person.

One exemption is for students who are staffing campus testing, vaccination clinics, and laboratories. They can continue in their functions. Otherwise, the high-risk order puts some burden on students and employers to make difficult decisions.

It is our expectation that, where possible, student employees work remotely; and students currently performing remote jobs will continue in those roles. Student employees performing essential functions, such as research, residential life, or transportation, should consult with their supervisors as to how their work schedules will be affected, Brandi Hephner LaBanc, the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Campus Life, said in the message.

The statement said students with off-campus jobs should consult with their employers to see if their job functions can be performed remotely during this period. To be clear, however, students employed off-campus are expected to follow the self-sequester directive to aid in reducing the spread of the virus.

There may be exceptions for jobs deemed essential. The overall policy to protect public health is for students to stay in their residence and not go to work. However, exemptions may be granted, for instance, if a student is working in an essential service, said Edward F. Blaguszewski, director of strategic communications and special assistant to the vice chancellor.

In the message, UMass officials said they understand the potential financial hardship and said grants of up to $300 per student would be available.

The application form will be available on the Bursars website from Friday, Feb. 12 to Feb. 19. Students may also be eligible for state pandemic unemployment assistance, and were instructed to visit mass.gov/pandemic-unemployment-assistance-pua to learn more.

The UMass Amherst Student Government Association is asking administrators to lift restrictions on work. According to SGA President Sonya Epstein, this has left many on-campus student staff unemployed with one days notice.

The SGA said a resolution would be introduced at its undergraduate Senate meeting Wednesday night, and that the Graduate Student Senate supports the preliminary action.

On Tuesday, UMass junior Evan Garber told The Republican he knew of students whose employers had been contacted by UMass officials, and told that students might face repercussions from the university if their employers allowed them continue working.

Asked Tuesday if UMass had actively reached out to individual businesses, Blaguszewski said to the best of my knowledge, the university has not contacted employers.

The university directive did acknowledge a proactive approach with local business  not through direct contact with employers, but through local organizations.

Essentially, it implied that businesses should cooperate with the UMass order, then bring back their student employees once the high-risk status was lifted. That wont be until February 21 at the earliest.

We are reaching out to area employers through the Amherst Business Improvement District and the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce, which includes Hadley and Belchertown, to ask for their cooperation, patience and understanding as we work to contain the recent surge of COVID-19 cases in our campus community, the statement said. As challenging as the situation is at this moment, we know that our current status is only temporary and we urge these businesses to welcome students back, as employees and valued customers, as the public health situation improves.

One parent, who asked not to be identified out of concern for repercussions, questioned whether UMass had the legal authority to ask employers to participate in what he compared to martial law.

Not sure where UMass has the authority to cost these students their jobs, many of whom have to work to survive, the parent said.

He predicted students would leave the school temporarily during the self-sequestration, then come back and re-enter the population and possibly bring back COVID with them.

According to Blaguszewski, that risk explains why UMass is shutting down the campus altogether, out of concern that students would go home, work remotely and, in many cases, re-enter areas of high COVID-19 concentration.

The parent, who lives out of state, said he was aware of one student who was turned away from a local business as a customer because he was a UMass student.

Students and parents have no advocacy. Some are taking out loans theyll be paying back forever, said the parent. The teachers, resident assistants and workers all have unions, but the university is making these unilateral decisions and we have no voice. Its truly unconscionable.
Level 5 lockdown restrictions are set to be extended by at least another six weeks , with only schools and the construction sector likely to be allowed to reopen before Easter.

A refreshed Living with Covid plan will be published the week after next, but senior figures involved in drafting the document say it is unlikely to give definitive timelines or dates for reopening society and the economy.

Subject to Cabinet approval, the current Level 5 restrictions, which are due to expire on March 5, are likely to be extended until at least April 12.

As well as keeping most shops and hospitality venues closed, it is also likely to mean no changes to the current stay at home advisory and the 5km travel limit  although Tanaiste Leo Varadkar is pushing for households to be allowed to meet outdoors after March 5.

The Government is primarily focused on the phased reopening of schools and the construction sector next month, with close monitoring of the impact of increased movement of parents and construction workers likely to dictate whether more restrictions can be eased in April.

But the non-essential retail and hospitality sectors will be closed for several more weeks. Pubs, restaurants, bars and many hotels are not expected to reopen until May or June at the earliest and with a focus on outdoor dining and drinking. But reopening will depend on case numbers, hospitalisations and the reproductive rate of the virus.

The revised plan twill outline a pathway for reopening, but at present it is not intended to give definitive dates or timelines for sectors  with a strong desire in Government to ensure this is the last lockdown of the pandemic.

The revised plan will try and outline a pathway, but it wont be definitive and the Government wants to prevent an open-close-open-close approach, a senior Government source said.

A second senior Government source said it made sense to attempt to reduce daily case numbers to very low levels, while vaccinating high-risk people through to the end of March.

But a third Government source pointed out that some form of restrictions on movement would be needed to ensure mass vaccination centres could operate safely. There will be no grand reopening, the source said. Vaccination plays a really important part in all this, but it cant be threatened either.

Ministers hope improving weather in the spring and summer will pave the way for some easing of restrictions on outdoor gatherings. Mr Varadkar told his parliamentary party last night that Covid-19 case numbers were falling at a rate of 30pc week on week. He said the lockdown was working and this strengthened the case to reopen schools in February and March.

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He said that the revision of the existing Living with Covid plan later this month would take account of the vaccination programme and the emergence of new virus variants. He said the Government would give continuation dates for various pandemic supports schemes that were due to expire at the end of March.

Meanwhile, there was a big jump in the number of family outbreaks of the virus last week in private homes  up by 37 to 72.

The more infectious UK strain of the virus means more close contacts of a person who is infected are testing positive.

People who are close contacts will now be tested twice  including on day 10 of exposure. If their second test on day 10 finds the virus is not detected, they can end their restriction of movement then.

Meanwhile, there were 54 Covid-related deaths and 1,006 newly diagnosed cases yesterday, indicating slow but steady progress is being made in curbing the spread.

The number of Covid-19 patients in hospital has fallen to 1,032 but 173 who are seriously ill remain in intensive care, with 40 more hospitalisations in the previous 24 hours.

Among the new cases yesterday, 516 were in Dublin, 63 in Cork, 46 in Galway, 43 in Meath and 36 in Louth, while the remaining 302 were spread across all other counties.

Covid-19 vaccination figures show 153,654 first doses have been given up to last Sunday; 86,833 people have received the two doses.

Meanwhile, the National Immunisation Advisory Committee is to examine the recommendation from the World Health Organisation that the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine can be given to adults of all ages.
Kim Jong Un admitted North Korea is facing its 'worst ever' difficulties in a rare admission of failure during a Workers' Party meeting on Wednesday.

The dictator faces what appears to be the toughest crisis of his nine-year rule as the already-troubled economy is hit by the coronavirus pandemic, a spate of natural disasters last summer and persistent U.S.-led sanctions.

During the party congress, Kim described the difficulties as the 'worst-ever.'

Kim Jong Un also ordered tougher legal supervision to support his development plans and eradicate various economy-related unlawful acts, state media said Thursday, as he works to salvage the economy.

Kim Jong Un (pictured on February 10) faces what appears to be the toughest crisis of his nine-year rule as the already-troubled economy is hit by the coronavirus pandemic, a spate of natural disasters last summer and persistent U.S.-led sanctions

Kim spoke Wednesday during a Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) meeting convened to follow up on decisions made at the ruling partys congress in January.

Last month, he admitted previous economic plans had failed and announced a new five-year development plan amid pandemic-related border closings that have sharply reduced the North's external trade.

Kim 'stressed the importance to strengthen legal supervision and control over the establishment and executive process of the national economic plan,' the official Korean Central News Agency said.

He said prosecutors and other law enforcement organisations must do more to ensure the economic plan is correctly executed and 'stage a strong legal struggle for checking all kinds of illegal practices revealed in economic activities.'

Kim added that 'all sectors and units should obey them unconditionally,' KCNA said.

North Koreas top prosecutor U Sang Chol told the party meeting that he will firmly implement Kim's order.

He said he'll 'offensively' keep legal watch over agencies violating the socialist economic management order and take 'powerful measures' against any acts hampering efforts to strengthen industries, according to KCNA.

Kim spoke Wednesday during a Workers' Party of Korea (WPK) meeting convened to follow up on decisions made at the ruling partys congress in January. Pictured: North Kim Jong Un (centre) speaking during the third-day of the meeting of the Workers' Party of Korea

The new five-year plan centers on building a stronger self-supporting economy, reducing reliance on imports, making more investments in the metal and chemical industries and increasing production of consumer goods.

But some analysts say the new plan still lacks substance, noting that North Koreas difficulties result from decades of mismanagement, self-imposed isolation and the sanctions imposed because of its nuclear program.

North Korea's push to boost legal control over the economic plan shows Kim is 'desperate to report progress over the new five-year plan to secure a stability of the Kim Jong Un government,' said Kim Dong-yub, an analyst from Seouls Institute for Far Eastern Studies.

He said punishment for those embroiled in alleged corruption, negligence and incompetence will likely be harsh.

Kim Jong Un admitted North Korea is facing its 'worst ever' difficulties in a rare admission of failure during the meeting on Wednesday. Pictured: People wearing masks walk past a poster displayed on a street in Pyongyang marking the 73rd anniversary of the foundation of the Korean People's Army (KPA), seen on on February 8

Kim's Wednesday speech on the third day of the plenary session of the party's Central Committee followed earlier secessions where he criticised government agencies for 'passive and self-protecting tendencies.'

Kim also set forth unspecified future action to be taken by agencies responsible for external and South Korean affairs.

State media dispatches carrying Kim's remarks have not mentioned the United States and deadlocked nuclear diplomacy.

During January's congress, Kim disclosed an array of sophisticated weapons under development and vowed to enlarge his nuclear arsenal to cope with what he called intensifying U.S. hostility.

He said the fate of relations between North Korea and the U.S. depends on Washington.

According to a study released in January, North Korea suffered the worst natural disasters in all of Asia, with four out of 10 people in the country being impacted by storms in 2019.

In the same year, the country also appealed for food aid as the regime cut rations because of drought as well as economic sanctions.
School closings due to bad weather happen quite often, but one superintendent in Missouri Valley, Iowa, got creative -- and entertaining -- with his announcement by way of a musical video.

Brent Hoesing, superintendent of Missouri Valley Community Schools, sang his own rendition of I Will Survive, the song made famous by Gloria Gaynor, the evening of Jan. 24 when icy roads were predicted to close schools the next day, stated KETV abc7.

He wrote this snow day song, singing So Im back, in cyberspace, to cancel school so you can lose those sad looks upon your face. No need to lay out your full clothes, just lay around and watch the Chiefs, because on Monday morning, you wont be learning at MV. So stay home. Dont (!) walk out the door. Just lay around now, cause were not open Monday morn.

This isnt the first time he has serenaded the student body through song as a way to announce school closures. Back in 2018, he sang a version of Let It Go from Disneys Frozen, posting only the audio.

Then in 2019, while donning dark sunglasses, he sang to the tune of Uptown Funk (by Mark Ronson, featuring Bruno Mars). He introduced the song saying there would be no school the next day due to bad weather, following that with Now. I know this is quite some funk were in, so Ive got a little ditty to help us break out of it.

Then with dancing thumbs, he sings were closed (Tuesday), till the snow is cleared by the snowplow man. Were closed (Tuesday), and dont blame me or the weather man Later singing Girls singin halleluiah, boys singin halleluiah, teachers singin halleluiah, another snow day, gonna give it to ya.

You have to listen to believe it. There is probably community theater experience in his past.

Dont worry, he didnt skip the year 2020. Last year, he presented a couple of announcements of school cancelations by singing, one of which was to the tune of Some Things Never Change from Frozen 2.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The heavy security presence at the Ohio Statehouse in the week leading up to President Joe Bidens inauguration cost about $3.5 million, including newly released figures from the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

In the week leading up to Bidens Jan. 20 inauguration in Washington, D.C., the patrol spent about $2.3 million on payroll as part of its security detail at the Ohio Statehouse, and spent another $177,600 on nonpayroll items, which included lodging costs and supply purchases, according to Staff Lt. Craig Cvetan, an OSHP spokesman.

Cvetan said the number includes the Statehouses regular security detail, as well as the extra troopers who were brought in as part of the heightened security measures. He didnt break out costs of the regular detail. But for comparison, the patrol more on security from Jan 13-20 than it did during any single month since since July, when the state spent $3.8 million during a month of heightened security during protests associated with the Black Lives Matter movement, according to state expense reports from OhioCheckbook.com.

Mobilizing the Ohio National Guard in Columbus during inauguration week, including stationing armed troops and military vehicles, cost another $1 million, according to guard spokeswoman Stephanie Beougher. The guard spent another $1.6 million to deploy troops to Washington, D.C. to help with inauguration security.

Gov. Mike DeWine ordered heightened security, which included closing most state buildings in downtown Columbus and deploying the National Guard, in the aftermath of the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol by a mob of Trump supporters who attempted to prevent Congress from certifying the election results. Federal officials had warned of armed protests at state capitols across the country.

But the Columbus protest turned out to be relatively small and without violence. Afterward, DeWine credited the heightened security, which included a visible military presence and metal barricades encircling the Statehouse, for helping keep things peaceful.

DeWine said state officials had received information about a credible threat to state property. Federal charges filed last month against three self-described militia members, two Ohioans and one man from Virginia, accusing them of participating in the U.S. Capitol riot included a description of a message the Virginia man sent expressing his desire to storm the Ohio Statehouse as well.

For comparison, state officials approved an extra $3.2 million last summer for the National Guard to provide additional security in Cleveland and Columbus amid civil unrest and riots following the fatal shooting George Floyd, a Black man in Minnesota who was killed by police.

The State Highway Patrol received an extra $3 million in emergency funding around the same time. The money went to a fund that pays for security at the Statehouse, although an agency request didnt say it was specifically a result of the civil unrest, and the fund also pays to provide security for DeWine and other state dignitaries.

Georgia's district attorney is investigating whether former President Trump's phone call to state election officials violated state law. In audio released from the January call, Mr. Trump is heard asking Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to find him 11,780 votes. Atlanta Journal-Constitution political reporter Greg Bluestein joins "Red and Blue" host Elaine Quijano with more on the investigation.

Video Transcript

ELAINE QUIJANO: Georgia prosecutors are investigating whether President Trump broke the law in his attempts to overturn the state's 2020 election results. During a now released phone call from January, Mr. Trump can be heard asking Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger to find him more votes.

DONALD TRUMP: I just want to find 11,780 votes, which is one more that we have.

ELAINE QUIJANO: Mr. Trump lost to Georgia to now President Biden by about 12,000 votes. On Wednesday, Fulton County's Democratic District Attorney sent a letter to Secretary Raffensperger, as well as Governor Brian Kemp, both Republicans, advising them to preserve all records related to the election. She added that particular care should be given to, quote, "evidence of attempts to influence the actions of persons who were administering the election." Now it comes as House impeachment managers argue it was not only President Trump's words on January 6 that incited the capital riot, but also his allegations of election fraud leading up to the attack.

Greg Bluestein joins me now. He's a political reporter for The Atlanta Journal Constitution. Hi, there, Greg. So what do we know about why this investigation was launched? And what kind of resources are being devoted to it?

GREG BLUESTEIN: Yeah, well the newly elected Fulton District Attorney Fani Willis has been considering this action for weeks now, especially after that tape you just mentioned emerged on January 2. And then today, as you mentioned, she sent letters not only to Governor Kemp and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger but also Lieutenant Governor Jeff Duncan and Attorney General Chris Carr, asking them to preserve these documents. And in the letter, she outlines just how far and how broad this investigation could go. She's looking at potential violations of Georgia law, including election fraud, false statements, conspiracy, racketeering, violation of oath in office, and any involvement in violence or threats related to the election administration.

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So this is a broad, broad outline of what she could be looking at. And she looks like she's going to move pretty quickly.

ELAINE QUIJANO: Well, what kind of charges does the former president potentially face from his phone call with Secretary of State Raffensperger?

GREG BLUESTEIN: Yeah, with the Raffensperger call in particular, prosecutors have indicated looking at is a state law prohibiting the solicitation of election fraud. So if state attorneys, if the Fulton County District Attorney's office can prove that this was a solicitation, that the former president was demanding that Brad Raffensperger commit election fraud, elections experts, legal experts in Georgia say that under state law, there could be a criminal violation right there.

ELAINE QUIJANO: Well, this connects with the arguments House impeachment managers are trying to make, that the attack on the US Capitol followed weeks of false allegations from former President Trump that the election was somehow stolen. Has the Trump team responded to news of this investigation?

GREG BLUESTEIN: Yeah, you're exactly right. This case, this phone call is factored directly into the impeachment proceedings going on right now. And yeah, the Trump Senior Advisor, Jason Miller, responded, basically questioning whether or not the timing was meant to damage the former president's case during the impeachment trial. He said the timing is not accidental, and that it's simply another attempt by Democrats to score political points against the former president.

ELAINE QUIJANO: Finally, Greg, I also want to ask you about Georgia's State Republican Party. After losing the two critical runoff races, which flipped control of the Senate to Democrats, they also lost the general election for the first time since 1992. Now, in June, the party will have the chance to elect new leadership. So who's running and what are their ideas to address these defeats?

GREG BLUESTEIN: Yeah, this would be a big moment for state Republicans because it's not just a matter of who's going to lead the state party, but it's also a matter of how they're going to funnel, how the state apparatus is going to funnel millions of dollars and resources, direct volunteers, and really cast the tone over the 2022 election cycle, when every statewide constitutional office is up for grabs and Republicans will be trying to unseat newly elected Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock. Right now, David Shafer, who's been the Republican chairman of the state party for the last two years, is running for another term.

He faces at least one opponent, Jason Shepherd, who comes from Cobb County, he is a suburban Republican who says that David Shafer fell through on his promises to lead Republicans to victory. There'll also be some other Republicans, I think, getting into this contest as well.

ELAINE QUIJANO: All right, there's always another election to look forward to. Greg Bluestein. Greg, always great to have you. Thank you very much.

GREG BLUESTEIN: Thanks for having me.
On February 10, the Vietnamese Embassy in Israel hosted a virtual gathering to celebrate Tet with the Vietnamese workers and students who are working at Israeli agricultural cooperation centres. The Tet celebration went online to ensure safety for the participants since the COVID-19 situation has become complicated in the nation.

Briefing the OVs on the domestic and international situation in the past year, Vietnamese Ambassador Do Minh Hung laid stress on the critical damage of the COVID-19 outbreak to the world.

However, he said, Vietnam was successful at completing the dual tasks of preventing the pandemic while maintaining GDP growth of nearly 3% to ensure local social welfare.

Talking about the Vietnam-Israel relations, the diplomat underscored bilateral cooperation across trade, aviation and labour, with trade as a highlight with exchange value topping US$1.3 billion, compared to US$1.1 billion in 2019.

The Vietnamese Embassy has paid due attention to the citizen protection work, and it arranged two flights to bring Vietnamese citizens home amidst pandemic, he stressed.

In Austria, the Vietnamese Embassy organised a Tet celebration with the participation of OVs in Austria and Slovenia, and international friends, including Lao Ambassador Sithong Chitnhothinh.

Vietnamese Ambassador Le Dung wished the guest good health and success in the Year of the Buffalo, while hailing the Vietnamese people communitys activities in 2020 such as organisation Vietnamese teaching class, and donation to support flood-hit victims in the central region.

In 2020, Vietnam was a bright spot in the world in repelling the COVID-19 pandemic, he said, adding despite formidable challenges, Vietnam has attained excellent achievements in socio-economic development and foreign affairs.

The country is among very few countries posting positive economic growth, and is a model in the fight against COVID-19, he said.

Regarding the Vietnam-Austria ties, Dung said both countries maintained sound trade relations thanks to the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), adding with 35 effective projects valued US$147.3 million, Austria ranks 44th among 139 countries and territories having investments in Vietnam.

Two-way trade reached over US$3 billion, declining from the previous year due to the fall in purchasing power and COVID-19.

The embassy also presented Tet gifts to Vietnamese people in Austrias Vienna and Linz and Slovenias Maribor.

The Vietnamese Embassy in Switzerland this year celebrated the Lunar New Year by making Chung cake, the traditional food for Tet, to present to Vietnamese expats by post. Ambassador Le Linh Lan sent Tet greetings to the Vietnamese people community in the host nation in a letter, in which she highlighted Vietnams achievements in the past year.

She said the embassy stood shoulder by shoulder to the Vietnamese people community by carrying out a wide range of support activities, helping consolidate a community who always remember the homeland, help each other to overcome challenges, and build a bright future.

Vietnamese expatriates in Laos have rushed off their feet those days to prepare for the traditional Lunar New Year holiday since they could not return to their homeland due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

They gathered to make chung (square glutinous rice) cake - the soul of Tet that reflects the quintessence of heaven and earth through the skilled hands of humans.

Busy with washing dong leaves, marinating the meat, wrapping and boiling the cakes, the Vietnamese expats recalled the old memories in the homeland, and felt the warm Tet atmosphere is around the corner.

Do Van Nam and Vu Thi Tam, who have lived in Laos for more than ten years, said they always come back home to enjoy Tet holiday with their families, and although they have to stay here due to COVID-19, they enjoyed a truly traditional Tet with the chung cake making activity.

The expats hoped that the pandemic is put under control soon so that they can return to their homeland, meet their relatives and friends, and visit famous tourist destinations in the country.

Egypt and Greece agreed on Wednesday on the importance of continued consultations and coordination on bilateral relations and regional developments between the two countries, ahead of their participation in a joint Arab, European forum in the Greek capital on Thursday.

Egypts Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry, who is currently in Athens on an official visit, discussed with his Greek counterpart, Nikos Dendias, bilateral ties and regional issues of common interest, according to a statement by Egypts foreign ministry.

The forum, dubbed the Philia Forum, will see the participation of the the foreign ministers of Greece, Cyprus, Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, according to a statement by the Greek foreign ministry on Wednesday.

The meeting will consider the prospects for enhancing cooperation in sectors of common interest, including the efforts to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic and common security challenges in the wider region, the Greek foreign ministry said.

France, Iraq and Jordan have also been invited to participate, the Greek ministry said.

During their meeting, Shoukry and Dendias expressed their satisfaction with continued political consultation on various levels between Cairo and Athens in order to coordinate stances amid rapid developments in the East Mediterranean region.

The two foreign ministers discussed boosting cooperation in the energy field, with Shoukry voicing Cairos appreciation for Greeces ratification of the East Mediterranean Gas Forum (EMGF) charter.

The charter, signed in September between the energy of six ministers, including Egypt, establishes a vital platform that brings together gas producers, consumers and transit states to boost a sustainable regional market for gas.

The signing of the charter came amid tensions in the Eastern Mediterranean region over Ankara's hunt for gas in the region in violation of the territorial waters of Greece and Cyprus, two close allies of Egypt.

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IIT Madras is internationally renowned for the quality and diversity of its research which is nurtured through various academic programs run by its 16 departments and through sponsored programs. It hosts around 100 excellent laboratories, 37 'Centres of excellence' and India's first university-based research park - IITM Research park - to provide state-of-the-art research facilities to students. The QS World University Rankings 2020 has placed IIT Madras among the top 50 institutions in Asia and among the top 100 institutes globally in Engineering & Technology,

With a faculty of international repute, a brilliant student community and a global alumni network, IIT Madras seeks to attract the best students from diverse backgrounds and offer them an excellent educational experience. The institute has collaborations with 250 foreign universities and also offers 18 Joint Doctoral Degree Programs with internationally renowned partner universities which has lent the campus a distinct multi-cultural flavour.

The institute is residential and has nearly 10,000 students, of whom nearly 3,000 are research scholars. The self-contained, pollution-free campus is located right in the heart of bustling Chennai. Carved out of 632 acres of forested area, it is a verdant retreat which is home to many endangered flora and fauna and a beautiful lake. Campus life for students is never dull with different student clubs and activities, and access to the best sporting facilities.

Highlighting the unique opportunities available for research scholars at IIT Madras, Prof. Preeti Aghalayam, Advisor, DIA, IITM, said, "IIT Madras, with its world-class research infrastructure, strong focus on interdisciplinary work, and inspirational faculty, is an ideal destination for PhD aspirants from ASEAN countries. We are delighted with the opportunity to welcome you to our beautiful campus!"

Applications to the DIA are ongoing and close on 31 March 2021.

For more information visit: https://asean.iitm.ac.in/

Contact:

Ms. Deepa Maria Alexander

Lead - International Academic Programs

Office of Global Engagement

Indian Institute of Technology Madras

global.programs@ge.iitm.ac.in

Phone: +91-44- 22574928

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11 February 2021, 07:00 CET

The Board of Directors of ArcelorMittal today announces that Aditya Mittal, currently President, CFO and CEO ArcelorMittal Europe, will become Chief Executive Officer of the company.

Lakshmi N. Mittal, who founded the company in 1976 and is currently Chairman and CEO, will become Executive Chairman. In this position he will continue to lead the Board of Directors and work together with the CEO and management team.

Commenting, Lakshmi Mittal said:

"Despite the obvious challenges of 2020, ArcelorMittal starts 2021 in a position of comparative strength. Having achieved some key strategic targets, this seems like the right moment to transition to Executive Chairman and the Board unanimously agree that Aditya Mittal is the natural and right choice to be the company's Chief Executive. We have worked closely together since he joined the company in 1997, indeed in recent years we have effectively been managing the company together. He has an unrivalled knowledge of the business and a keen sense of how the company must continue to transform to remain the world's leading steel company. As Chief Executive, he will be taking on the effective day to day running of the company, but we will continue to work very closely together and I remain as fascinated, engaged and committed to the company's long-term success as ever. I am looking forward to this next chapter."

Aditya Mittal said:

"It is an honour to be appointed Chief Executive of ArcelorMittal. Mr Mittal built ArcelorMittal from a greenfield rolling mill in Indonesia to become the world's leading steel company. It is an extraordinary achievement and I am privileged to have witnessed and been part of so much of that journey. I'm excited about what lies ahead. ArcelorMittal is full of incredible people, a company with excellent knowledge and capabilities and a company with tremendous potential.

"The world is transforming at a very rapid pace and this change brings challenges but also many opportunities for ArcelorMittal. The biggest challenge, but also the biggest opportunity, will be to demonstrate that steel can decarbonise and indeed is the perfect material for a circular economy. This will undoubtedly be a critical driver of our strategy in the coming years and decades. That Mr Mittal will remain very involved as Executive Chairman is a great advantage - his wisdom, knowledge and insight will be invaluable and I look forward to us continuing to work very closely together for many years to come."

Bruno Lafont, Lead Independent Non-Executive Director, said:

"This is a well-planned transition and I would expect it be very smooth. Aditya Mittal is without a doubt the right candidate to be the next Chief Executive of ArcelorMittal. His knowledge and experience of the company is second-to-none and this step reflects the role he has increasingly performed in recent years. He has impressed the Board with his forensic knowledge of the business, his leadership skills in all market conditions and his knowledge of the sustainability trends that are shaping and changing the way the global economy operates. We are delighted that Lakshmi Mittal wants to remain fully involved. Over 45 years he created the world's leading steel company from scratch and has arguably played a more influential role in driving progress in the industry than any other individual. With Mr Mittal as Executive Chairman and Aditya Mittal as Chief Executive, supported by strong segment and function leaders, ArcelorMittal is well positioned to succeed in the coming decade and beyond."

As a result of these developments, Genuino Christino will become Chief Financial Officer. Mr Christino joined the company in 2003 and has held the position of Head of Finance since 2016.

BACKGROUND

Lakshmi Mittal founded what became ArcelorMittal in 1976 when he built a greenfield rolling mill in Indonesia. An early believer in the benefits consolidation could bring to the steel industry, he took his first international step in 1989 with the lease and subsequent acquisition of a steel company in Trinidad & Tobago. This was followed by expansion into Mexico, the USA, Germany, Kazakhstan and multiple eastern European countries. In 2004 Mr Mittal combined his two steel businesses, Ispat International and LNM Holdings to form Mittal Steel, while at the same time agreeing to merge with International Steel Group of the United States. This combination meant Mittal Steel became the world's largest steel company, a position that was further reinforced in 2006 when Mittal Steel and Arcelor agreed to merge to create ArcelorMittal. Mr Mittal is widely recognized for his entrepreneurial and business success and has received numerous awards. He sits on the board of Goldman Sachs.

Aditya Mittal joined Ispat International in 1997 from Credit Suisse where he worked in the investment banking division. His first task was to oversee the IPO of Ispat International on the New York Stock Exchange. He subsequently became Head of M&A, leading the company's expansion into Eastern Europe. As CFO of LNM Holdings he led the combination of Ispat International with LNM to form Mittal Steel, of which he became CFO. He identified the opportunity of combining Arcelor and Mittal Steel and led the merger offer which culminated in the creation of ArcelorMittal. As well as being CFO of ArcelorMittal he took up operational responsibilities, first as CEO ArcelorMittal Americas and then as CEO of ArcelorMittal Europe. He was named President in 2018.

Genuino Christino joined Cia. Belgo Mineira in Brazil (currently ArcelorMittal Brazil) in 2003 from KPMG where he worked as an external auditor and consultant for over 10 years in Brazil and in the UK. He was transferred to our head office in Luxembourg in 2009 and has progressively taken over additional responsibilities within finance becoming Head of Finance in 2016. He has been working closely with Aditya on developing and executing the Group's financial strategy.

ENDS

About ArcelorMittal

ArcelorMittal is one of the world's leading steel and mining company, with a presence in 60 countries and primary steelmaking facilities in 17 countries. In 2020, ArcelorMittal had revenues of $53.3 billion and crude steel production of 71.5 million metric tonnes, while iron ore production reached 58.0 million metric tonnes.

Our goal is to help build a better world with smarter steels. Steels made using innovative processes which use less energy, emit significantly less carbon and reduce costs. Steels that are cleaner, stronger and reusable. Steels for electric vehicles and renewable energy infrastructure that will support societies as they transform through this century.

With steel at our core, our inventive people and an entrepreneurial culture at heart, we will support the world in making that change. This is what we believe it takes to be the steel company of the future.

For more information about ArcelorMittal please visit: http://corporate.arcelormittal.com/

President Joe Biden prepares to deliver remarks to Department of Defense personnel at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, on Wednesday February 10, 2021. UPI-Yonhap



The United States will not hesitate to use force if necessary to protect its people and allies, President Joe Biden said Wednesday.



"As your commander in chief, I will never hesitate to use force to defend the vital interests of American people, and our allies around the world when necessary," Biden said during his visit to the Pentagon.



"The central indispensable mission of the Department of Defense is to deter aggression from our enemies, and, if required, to fight and win wars to keep America safe," he added.



Still, Biden said the use of force must always be the last resort.






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Gardai in Cork have seized 80,000 of suspected cannabis following an operation in Rochestown, Co. Cork, on the morning of February 10, 2021.

At approximately 10:35am yesterday, a car was stopped and searched under Misuse of Drugs legislation at Rochestown, Cork.

The search was carried out by the Cork Divisional Drugs Unit as part of ongoing operations targeting the activities of an organised criminal group engaged in the sale & supply of drugs and related crime in Cork City.

During the course of the search four kilos of suspected cannabis was recovered with an estimated value of 80,000 (analysis pending), a number of mobile phones were also seized.

The driver of the car was arrested and conveyed to Togher Garda Station.

He is currently detained under the provisions of Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996 and can be held for up to seven days.

The investigation is ongoing.
In late August Patently Apple posted a report titled "British Actress Keira Knightley will Star and Produce a new Apple TV+ Series based on the book 'The Essex Serpent'." The Essex Serpent follows newly widowed Cora, played by Knightley, who, having being released from an abusive marriage, relocates from Victorian London to the small village of Aldwinter in Essex, intrigued by a local superstition that a mythical creature known as the Essex Serpent has returned to the area.

We're now learning that the American actress Claire Danes will be replacing British actress Keira Knightley, according to Variety who broke the news today.

Danes is one of the most celebrated actresses working today. She is a four-time Golden Globe winner and a three-time Emmy winner. Her Golden Globe wins were for My So-Called Life, Homeland twice, and for the HBO film Temple Grandin. Two of her Emmy wins were also for Homeland, while the third was for Temple Grandin. She is also an accomplished film actress, having starred in projects like Romeo + Juliet opposite Leonardo DiCaprio and The Hours with Meryl Streep, Nicole Kidman, and Julianne Moore.

Deadline added that "Knightley, who has two young children, pulled out of the project in October in what was described in the British press as concerns over childcare during the pandemic."

Archive: Apple TV News
She's not one to shy away from flaunting her killer physique on social media.

And on Thursday, Arabella Del Busso showed off her incredible curves in skimpy lingerie set in what appeared to be a hotel suite.

The 31-year-old, who celebrated her birthday on Tuesday, sizzled in the racy red set, which appeared to be themed for Valentine's Day on Sunday.

She's getting in early! Ex-NRL WAG Arabella Del Busso [pictured] sizzled in a skimpy Valentine's Day themed bralette and matching red G-string on Thursday

Arabella's see-through bralette had white ribbons on it and a matching coloured G-string.

She teamed the risque outfit with red and white thigh-high stockings.

Arabella oozed confidence as she held onto a rose and smiled sensually for the camera.

She positioned herself on a bed with white sheets for the picture, which were covered in red flower petals.

Always on show: Arabella is known for her striking facial features and regularly sharing images of her incredible figure on social media

Her eyebrows were perfectly sculpted and she seemed to have a full face of makeup on for the occasion.

Arabella's long brunette tresses were styled loosely - and she finished her outfit with pearl earrings and a simple french tip manicure.

The former SAS Australia contestant's post sent fans wild on Instagram, with many commenting fire, love heart and clapping emojis.

Talk of the town: The former SAS Australia contestant's post sent fans wild on Instagram on Thursday, with many commenting fire, love heart and clapping emojis

'I think you just may be perfect,' one follower wrote, before another added: 'Wow wow wow!!!'

Arabella celebrated her 31st birthday with fans on Tuesday by uploading a gorgeous post of her posing in a glitzy dress.

'Another lap around the sun,' she captioned the post. 'I am overwhelmed with the amount of love, wishes, gifts and surprises I have been given today. Thank you to each and everyone of you beautiful souls for your endless support.'
The launch of the guarantee-return system (SGR) at national level will greatly contribute to the efficiency of selective collection, the Minister of Environment, Waters and Forests, Tanczos Barna, said on Thursday, after discussions with the General Mayor of the Capital City, on the topic of waste management.

"I am extremely happy that I was able to be part of this team that generated a new beginning in terms of the vision of waste management in Bucharest. It is a new beginning for the Capital City and I am glad to see that all the six districts are here, and the Bucharest City Hall, and I am glad that there is cooperation on this, that there is cohesion and there is a commitment to solving this problem. As for the Ministry of Environment, we will contribute to the efficiency of this system by launching the SGR system at the national level. Definitely, this system will greatly contribute to the efficiency of selective collection," Barna said.

At the same time, he said, work is underway on a national programme through which local public authorities will be helped to build storage centres for bulky waste."We are talking here about construction debris, construction waste, we are talking about furniture, about textiles, about those wastes that are not allowed to end up in household waste," said the head of the Environment.Tanczos Barna mentioned that the next meeting on this topic will take place in two weeks.The Minister of Environment, Waters and Forests, Tanczos Barna, and the General Mayor of the Capital City, Nicusor Dan, met on Thursday afternoon with representatives of public administrations from the districts of Bucharest and Ilfov, to discuss an integrated approach to waste management.

AGERPRES
New Delhi:

Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan on Sunday said all parties have assured that the monsoon session will proceed without any ruckus or uproar.

While talking to reporters after all party meeting, She said all parties want to discuss crucial issues like farmers suicide and internal security sans any disruption.

The Lok Sabha speaker said she is hoping for a fruitful session of Parliament

The Monsoon Session of Parliament will commence from Monday, the day voting for the presidential election is slated to take place.

Want this parliament session to be fruitful, all assured & hoped it proceeds without any noise/uproar:Sumitra Mahajan after all party meet pic.twitter.com/JGD3YflWqa  ANI (@ANI_news) July 16, 2017

The Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs (CCPA) has recommended holding the session from July 17 to August 11, according to sources in the committee.

The CCPA meeting, chaired by Home Minister Rajnath Singh, was held last evening after the NDA's presidential nominee, Ram Nath Kovind, filed his nomination papers.

Also Read: Dokalam, Kashmir unrest unlikely to storm Parliaments Monsoon Session as Modi Govt attempts to bring Opposition on board

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The heartwarming moment a family on a fishing trip spot a kangaroo struggling in deep water and return the animal to safety has been caught on camera.

The struggling kangaroo was spotted by John Taylor and his family in the water of the Western inlet, in Denmark, Western Australia, on January 21.

The family noticed the kangaroo had strayed out of its depths and was struggling to keep its head above the surface.

One of the children on the boat asks if the kangaroo, identified as a Western grey, needed help.

John Taylor and his family noticed the kangaroo had strayed out of it's depths and struggling to stay above the surface in the Western inlet in Denmark, Western Australia

The family speculate if the kangaroo had been chased by a dog into the deep water, as the marsupial continues to fight against the current.

The video cuts to Mr Taylor holding the kangaroo to the side of the boat by it's chin, as the family head towards land.

'How you going there mate?' Mr Taylor asks the kangaroo.

'Hold on buddy,' the driver of the boat says.

Mr Taylor held the kangaroo to the side of the boat by it's chin as the boat slowly made its way to the shoreline

As the boat nears the safety of the shallows, Mr Taylor flips the roo onto its front.

The kangaroo's legs remain limp as the family encourage the animal to stand.

Finally the kangaroo finds its feet and climbs onto a rock at the waters edge, stopping to stare back at the family in the boat.

Mr Taylor, who posted the video described the swimming marsupial as 'a strange sight'.

As the boat neared the safety of the shallows, Mr Taylor flipped the kangaroo onto it's front

'Only in Australia can you go on a fishing charter and catch a kangaroo,' he said.

Mr Taylor said the family noticed the roo was tiring when its head was going underwater as it struggled to swim.

'We then decided that we needed to help it I was able to lean over to take hold of its leg and body We slowly made our way towards the shoreline, gently dragging, and assisting the exhausted animal to the shallows.'

Mr Taylor said the kangaroo was one of the more interesting catches he had made on his fishing charters.

'The children were talking about it for the rest of the afternoon and was the highlight of their holiday, even for these Western Australian kids.'

The kangaroo's legs remained limp as the family encouraged the animal to stand in the shallow water

The video has received nearly 7000 views on YouTube, with online commentators expressing their gratitude to the considerate family.

'Wow. Unbelievably touching video on so many levels. Bravo to the whole family on that boat. Absolutely beautiful,' one commenter said.

'Beautiful, god bless them for helping this little exhausted fellow,' another read.

Kangaroos are good swimmers, and can move through water at a decent speed.

They swim by using dog-paddle motions and use their powerful back legs and tail to tread water and remain balanced.

The marsupials usually only enter the water to cross a river or to avoid a predator, and can use their fore-paws to drown their attackers.
Huddah Monroe has once again been forced to address the never-ending rumors surrounding her private parts as she continues to live large in Dubai since last year.

The popular socialite turned cosmetics entrepreneur fled to the middle-eastern emirate in February just before the first COVID-19 case was confirmed in Kenya.

And as Huddah marks her one-year stay in Dubai this month, speculation about how she is able to fund her expensive lifestyle has resurfaced.

In a Q&A session on Instagram, the OnlyFans content creator faced a question about being a commercial sex worker.

Are you a prostitute? posed a fan.

To which Huddah hit back saying: Thats what sad, jealous frustrated people say when they see a young successful woman doing her thing. They hate on what they dont understand. On the contrary, what I do with my vagina is none of anyones businessThink whatever you want.

Huddah, who last September revealed how much she made on OnlyFans amid claims that she had gone broke, also indicated that she is not in a hurry to return home.

A fan asked: When are you coming home? We miss You

The self-confessed nudist disclosed that she sold her house in Nairobi and she is now a digital nomad.

The world is my home. I no longer have a specific place I call home. Anywhere that I feel at peace at. Content. And happy thats home for me, she said, adding: I no longer have a home in Kenya, I sold it.

Check Out: Huddah Monroe and Sponsors Party in Ibiza With Cristiano Ronaldo (PHOTOS)
Community News Editor / Librarian

Jeannie Maschino is community news editor and librarian for The Berkshire Eagle. She has worked for the newspaper in various capacities since 1982 and joined the newsroom in 1989. She can be reached at jmaschino@berkshireeagle.com.
WINONA, Minn.  The Catholic Diocese of Winona-Rochester has agreed to a $21.5 million settlement with 134 survivors of clergy sexual abuse.

It is my desire and hope that the compensation paid in this settlement will help the survivors heal from the pain they have felt over these many years, says the Most Reverend John M. Quinn, Bishop of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester. We must never forget the tragic anguish caused by individuals who abused their power and positions of authority. We must stay vigilant in our unwavering commitment to protect the youth in our Diocese who rely on priests, deacons, religious, and lay people to keep them safe and provide for their spiritual care.

The Diocese says the settlement with the committee representing the survivors includes resolution of claims against the parishes, schools and other Catholic entities within the Diocese but leaves the door open to possible future action against certain additional insurance carriers that provided coverage to the Diocese in the 1960s and 1970s.

The Diocese says this settlement will allow it to proceed with bankruptcy reorganization. It filed a petition under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code in November 2018.

On behalf of the Diocese, I want to express my sincere apology to all those who have been affected by sexual abuse in our Diocese, says Bishop Quinn. I pledge my continuing commitment to ensure that this terrible chapter in the history of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester never happens again.

The Diocese says since the implementation of its safe environment program, it has conducted over 44,000 background checks and 16,000 clergy, teachers, staff and volunteers have completed its VIRTUS safe environment training and continues to utilize its Ministerial Standards Board to ensure accountability and proper monitoring of interactions between youth and all persons who serve the Diocese.
Steve and Leanne Ford are back! This remodeling duo first rose to fame with HGTV's "Restored by the Fords," and the brother and sister have just resurfaced with a new show, "Back Home With the Fords."

Although their growing renown has the Fords traveling many places (Leanne even rents a place in L.A.), this show focuses on their hometown of Pittsburgh, where they help families feel at home.

In the premiere episode, "Steel City Bohemian," Leanne experiences a blast from her past, reuniting with her old college pal Jenna and her husband, Adam. A lot has changed since college: The couple have two young kids and, needing more space, they've moved into Adam's grandparents' old house just outside Pittsburgh.

They want to make this space elegant yet bohemian, while ensuring that it's family-friendly. Leanne and Steve have $160,000 to make it happen. Here's how the Fords pull it off, which might inspire some upgrades around your own home, too.

A steel handrail is a great way to glam up the stairs

This entryway was not only dated, but with so many doors, it was also confusing. HGTV

When Leanne and Steve first step into Jenna and Adams home, they notice how strange the entryway is.

It's an area that's filled with a dated staircase and too many closets, making the space feel confusing rather than welcoming.

The Fords decide to simplify the space by taking out a closet and opening it up so that guests can see the staircase when they first walk in. Of course, this means they need to give this staircase a makeover, which includes a stylish new steel stair rail.

This new stair railing gives the home a modern look from the first step in the door. HGTV

"We need to show off some Pittsburgh steel," Leanne says. "So were going to do, like, a very magical steel railing here. It has to be special and interesting, but match the vibe of the house.

When the railing is finished, it looks great, particularly to Adam, whose family has worked in steel for four generations. Its a simple piece that gives the home a great first impression.

A rounded fireplace makes an old house look modern

This living room needed some big changes. HGTV

One of the biggest design problems with this house is the fireplace. Not only is it dated, but its also angled strangely on the living room wall. Luckily, Leanne knows how to make the best of it.

The angle that its at was kind of, like, a problem to solve, but it actually created one of my favorite design features in this home," Leanne tells Adam and Jenna. "Steves going to build a grounded surround, and we are going to vertically tile it. A modern, gorgeous, elevated fireplace.

This rounded fireplace can be viewed from the living room and kitchen. HGTV

They knock out the wall with dated paneling, opening up the space so you can see right from the living room to the kitchen and dining area.

The rounded fireplace gives the living room a midcentury aesthetic, while the dark tile makes it look chic and modern. It all fits together so well, the weird old fireplace seems like a bad dream.

Breakfast banquettes can be glamorous, too

This banquette has the right amount of drama. HGTV

One spot Jenna and Adam are especially excited to use is the built-in banquette. They know it'll be the perfect family breakfast table.

Leanne and Steve order some stain-resistant banquette seating that will be perfect for young children, but once the seats are installed, they realize that this banquette looks more glamorous than they imagined.

Its a little bit more 'lounge' than it is 'time for eggs and bacon.' Maybe we run with this vibe that it is and change some stuff up, Steve says.

So they decide to lean into the glam vibe, skipping the traditional table theyd planned to put into the banquette area and replacing it with some smaller statement tables that allow the surrounding seating to really shine.

This spot will still work as a family breakfast table, but it will also be perfect for grown-up cocktail parties. After all, that stain-resistant material will work for grape juice and red wine alike.

Consider different-colored countertops

This old kitchen was certainly cramped. HGTV

When it comes to the kitchen, Leanne and Steve know that they'll need to start from scratch. They gut the original kitchen and create a much bigger, more modern space for this family of four.

Still, they run into one problem when Adam and Jenna can't decide on a counter color.

This kitchen is a big upgrade from the tiny space Jenna and Adam had before. HGTV

"Adam was wanting dark marble and Jenna was wanting light marble," Leanne says.

Her solution? "We literally split the difference. We put dark marble on the island and white Carrara marble for all the other countertops, and they play really well together.

With white walls and black hardware, the mix of black and white countertops looks great in this kitchen. It's a stylish compromise that looks entirely intentional.

You don't have to stick with one type of flooring

This yellow sunroom was due for a change. HGTV

Since Jenna and Adam want their home to have a bohemian look, Leanne chooses light wood floors for most of the living areas. However, she switches it up for the sunroom, laying down the same gray clay tile she uses on the fireplace.

She knows that using the same tile will help the entire home design come together; plus, itll look great in the space.

Itll play nicely with the wood and with these huge windows, Leanne says.

When the sunroom is finished, it looks beautiful. The gray tile brings some depth to this bright room, and the durable material makes it especially kid-friendly.

When the renovation is finished, this space is a gorgeous second living room the whole family will want to hang in.

This tile is durableand Steve and Leanne even include some chalk drawings to show how kid-friendly it is. HGTV

The post Steve and Leanne Ford Are 'Back Home'With a 'Magical' Makeover You Must See appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com.
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Francistown  Nswazi Spar has donated food hampers worth about P6 000 to 20 residents of Ipopeng Ward in Francistown.

The recipients, some elderly and others living with disabilities, received maize meal, sugar, coffee, cooking oil, mayonnaise, tomato sauce and rice.

Speaking during the handover ceremony on Tuesday, Ipopeng Ward Development Committee (WDC) chairperson, Ms Kedibonye Lekang, commended Nswazi Spar staff for the donation.

She noted that the relationship between Ipopeng Ward Community and Nswazi Spar went as far back as 2016.

Ms Lekang said with assistance from Nswazi Spar, some in Ipopeng Ward had an opportunity to attend tree planting trainings, a house built for a needy resident and there had been yearly Christmas food hampers donated to the less privileged.

"We are really grateful for the continuous support we get from Nswazi Spar," Ms Lekang Stated.

Nswazi Spar liquor store manager, Ms Lorraine Ditshane said due to COVID-19 pandemic, last year's recipients did not receive their donations, hence donating now.

She acknowledged that the start of the year was financially challenging for many and hoped the donations would be of help to them.

Ms Ditshane advised the recipients to always comply with health protocols by wearing masks and sanitising hands.

Area councilor, Ms Jenamiso Mojaki, appealed to Nswazi Spar to extend support to Ipopeng Ward schools, some of which were faced with adding numerous challenges.

A parent to one of the recipients, Ms Sarah Maoloka said it was not the first time Nswazi Spar assisted her son who was living with disability.

She said they donated a wheel chair to him, two years back.

Source : BOPA
ASX Limited chief executive Dominic Stevens has warned about the gamification of share trading following the GameStop frenzy, but says it is unlikely to occur in Australia.

Mr Stevens said the wild trading on GameStop shares may highlight the need for investors to understand differences in how low-cost brokers operated compared to more traditional brokers.

He said that low-cost brokers, which were bigger in the United States but played some role in Australia, were often structured in a way that meant the investor did not own the actual underlying stock, which created risks for investors.

I think theres also a question to be asked about the gamification of buying and selling shares, he said.

Its almost like youre buying and selling second to second, and its like as if youre playing a video game, he said.
Ms. Long generally recommends that people getting unemployment benefits choose to have at least 10 percent withheld for taxes to avoid unwelcome surprises.

Youll probably also owe state income taxes on the unemployment benefits, unless you live in one of the nine states that dont have a state income tax or a few others that exempt jobless benefits, including California, Montana, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Virginia. Wisconsin exempts jobless benefits for state residents but taxes benefits paid to nonresidents, according to the Tax Foundation.

Here are some questions and answers about income tax season:

I dont remember getting a receipt for my stimulus checks. How can I confirm the amount I received?

If you didnt get a notice or have misplaced it, check your bank statements to jog your memory. Or, the I.R.S. says, you can find the amounts using an online taxpayer account. If you dont have one already, youll need to create one at IRS.gov/account. This requires you to enter information including an email address and your Social Security number and typically takes about 15 minutes, the I.R.S. says.

Could my stimulus payments affect my state taxes?

Stimulus payments arent taxable, but they could indirectly affect what you pay in state income taxes in a handful of states, where federal tax is deductible against state taxable income, according to the Tax Foundation. At least six states  Alabama, Iowa, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana and Oregon  allow deductions for federal income taxes paid.

Heres an example, suggested by Garrett Watson, senior policy analyst at the foundation, of how a stimulus payment, taken as a recovery rebate credit, might affect tax liability in those states: An individual filer got a $1,000 stimulus payment in 2020 based on her 2019 income, but is actually eligible for the full $1,200 payment, based on her lower 2020 income.

The filer would claim the $200 difference as a credit on her federal 2020 tax return, on Line 30 of Form 1040. This would reduce her federal tax liability dollar for dollar, by $200. So if the filer had owed, say, $3,000 in federal taxes before the credit, she would then owe $2,800.

Absent the credit, she would have subtracted the full $3,000 from her taxable income on her state return, but instead can subtract just $2,800. That means a higher tax liability at the state level  but just on the $200 the filer claims on her federal return, Mr. Watson said.
This is a crisis that reveals Californias conservatism  not the political conservatism that privatizes Medicare, but the temperamental conservatism that stands athwart change and yells Stop! In much of San Francisco, you cant walk 20 feet without seeing a multicolored sign declaring that Black lives matter, kindness is everything and no human being is illegal. Those signs sit in yards zoned for single families, in communities that organize against efforts to add the new homes that would bring those values closer to reality. Poorer families  disproportionately nonwhite and immigrant  are pushed into long commutes, overcrowded housing and homelessness. Those inequalities have turned deadly during the pandemic.

If youre living eight or 10 people to a home, its hard to protect yourself from the virus, Senator Wiener told me. Yet what we see at times is people with a Bernie Sanders sign and a Black Lives Matter sign in their window, but theyre opposing an affordable housing project or an apartment complex down the street.

Once you start looking for this pattern, you see it everywhere. California talks a big game on climate change, but even with billions of dollars in federal funding, it couldnt build high-speed rail between Los Angeles and San Francisco. The project was choked by pricey consultants, private land negotiations, endless environmental reviews, county governments suing the state government. It has been shrunk to a line connecting the midsize cities of Bakersfield and Merced, and even that is horribly over budget and behind schedule.

Smaller projects are also herculean lifts. In San Francisco, for example, it took 10 years to get two rapid bus transit lines through environmental review. Its become common in the state to see legislation like the California Environmental Quality Act wielded against projects that would curb sprawl. Groups with no record of green advocacy use it to force onerous environmental analyses that have been used to block everything from bike lanes to affordable housing developments to homeless shelters.

The vaccine rollout in California was marred by overly complex eligibility criteria that slowed the pace of vaccinations terribly in the early days. Those regulations were written with good intentions, as California politicians worried over how to balance speed and equity. The result, however, wasnt fairness, but sluggishness, and California lagged behind the rest of the nation for the first weeks of the effort. Eventually, the state reversed course and simplified eligibility.

Some conservative outcomes are intended; Californias voters blocked the 2020 ballot initiative restoring affirmative action on purpose. But some reflect old processes and laws that interest groups or existing communities have perverted for their own ends. The California Environmental Quality Act wasnt passed to stop mass transit  a fact California finally acknowledged when it recently passed legislation carving out exemptions. The profusion of councils and public hearings that let NIMBYs block new homes are a legacy of a progressivism that wanted to stop big developers from slicing communities up with highways, not help wealthy homeowners fight affordable apartments. California wants to be the future, but its governing institutions are stuck in the past. Its structures of decision making too often privilege incumbents who like things the way they are over those who need them to change.

Writing this piece, I found myself thinking about Ibram X. Kendis book How to Be an Antiracist. Kendis central argument is that it is policy outcomes, not personal intent, that matter. Racist policies are defined as any policy that leads to racial inequity, he told me when I interviewed him in 2019. And so, for me, racial language in the policy doesnt matter, intent of the policymaker doesnt matter, even the consciousness of the policymaker, that its going lead to inequity, doesnt matter. Its all about the fundamental outcome.
Jodhpur: A Rajasthan woman here claims to have been duped of Rs 12 lakh by three fraudsters who offered to sell her a horse owned by actor Salman Khan. She gave them the money  Rs 11 lakh in cash and the rest through a cheque  but was delivered no horse, according to the complaint she made to police.

The woman also approached court seeking a fair and impartial" investigation. The Rajasthan High Court Thursday disposed of her petition. It asked her to submit her case to the concerned deputy commissioner of police, with a direction to him to decide strictly in accordance with law.

Salman Khan is reputed to be a horse-lover and in the past has posted pictures indicating this on social media. Nirbhay Singh, Rajpreet and another person also allegedly showed Santosh Bhati a picture of the actor with a horse at his farmhouse and told her that this horse was available for sale, the petitioners counsel P D Dave said, referring to her complaint.

The suspects convinced Bhati that they are known to the actor and have sold some of his horses earlier. They told her that Khan wanted to sell the horse and she will be able to rack in huge profit by selling the horse after purchasing, according to Dave. Bhati accepted the deal and handed them Rs 12 lakh as the price of the horse, but when they did not hand her the delivery, she filed a complaint with the police last August, he said.

After no action was allegedly taken on her complaint, the woman moved a petition at the high court in Jodhpur seeking direction to the police to conduct a fair and expedited investigation into the matter. During the hearing, Additional Advocate General Farzand Ali argued before the single-judge bench that the police were already conducting a fair investigation and if any material was brought on record by the petitioner, it would be considered strictly in accordance with the law before completion of the investigation.

Justice Bhati disposed of the petition with direction to the petitioner to submit a representation with the concerned deputy commissioner of police who would decide it in accordance with the law. .
[February 11, 2021] Draganfly and Windfall Geotek Advance Testing of Drone-Based AI Solution for Landmine Detection

Los Angeles, CA., Feb. 11, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Draganfly Inc. (OTCQB: DFLYF) (CSE: DFLY) (FSE: 3U8) (Draganfly or the Company), an award-winning, industry-leading drone solutions and systems developer, today announced that it has advanced field testing of the EagleEye land mine detection solution with Windfall Geotek (TSX-V: WIN) (OTCQB: WINKF).

Windfall Geotek is a mining services company and a leader in the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and advanced knowledge-extraction techniques since 2005 in the mining sector. This test included joint research, AI development, and engineering support for the development of drones and sensor equipment. Every day approximately 10 people around the world lose their lives or are maimed due to an anti-personnel mine ("APM"). This means that about 4,200 people are hurt or killed worldwide every year of which 35-42% are estimated to be children. It is estimated that there are between 60-110 million landmines in the ground right now and an equal amount is in stockpiles waiting to be planted or destroyed. Approximately 82 countries around the world are contaminated by APMs. Source: United Nations, Office for Disarmament Affairs . An estimated US$540,000,000 was spent by industry and government in 2018 to deal with this problem of Landmines and Explosive Remnants of war (identify multiple APM and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in a variety of terrain and contexts). Source: Landmine Monitor Report 2019 . Since 2020, Draganfly has invested in new capabilities in drone-based magnetometer technology and other remote sensing equipment," commented Dinesh Kandanchatha, Chairman of Windfall Geotek. The depth of the Draganfly engineering team, drone services group, and expert advisory in public safety was instrumental to get us to these first tests. Windfall Geotek is the industry leader in AI-based digital exploration for mining. We now have the right mixture of equipment and data to move to the commercialization of an advanced AI-based platform to help solve the global problem of landmines," said Cameron Chell, CEO of Draganfly. The two companies share a mission of saving lives through technology. These tests are critical to helping create a new solution to this age-old problem. The new and expanded revenue streams for both companies in the Defense sector, Public Safety, and other markets are significant and represent an area where combined offering can excel. For years our foundation has support organizations removing land mines, this type of technology and innovation by Draganfly and Windfall is exactly what is needed to solve this global challenge on a massive scale, said Admiral Hayward, former head of the US Navy and member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Watch the video to learn more. About Windfall Geotek  Powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI) since 2005 Windfall Geotek (TSX-V: WIN), (OTCQB: WINKF) is an Artificial Intelligence company that has been in business for over 15 years developing its proprietary CARDS analysis (AI) and data mining techniques. Windfall Geotek can count on a multidisciplinary team tha includes professionals in geophysics, geology, Artificial Intelligence, and mathematics. It combines available public and private datasets including geophysical, drill hole and surface data. The algorithms designed and employed by Windfall Geotek are calculated to highlight areas of interest that have the potential to be geologically similar to other gold deposits and mineralization. Windfall Geoteks objective is to develop a new royalty stream by significantly enhancing and participating in the exploration success rate of mining and to continue the Land Mine detection application as a high priority. Windfall has played a part in numerous past discoveries utilizing its methodology as described at: https://windfallgeotek.com/ .



For further information, please contact: Michel Fontaine

President and CEO of Windfall Geotek

Telephone: 514-994-5843

Email: michel@windfallgeotek.com

Website: www.windfallgeotek.com

Additional information about Windfall Geotek is available under Windfall Geoteks profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor does 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. About Draganfly Draganfly Inc. (CSE: DFLY; OTCQB: DFLYF; FSE: 3U8) is the creator of quality, cutting-edge drone solutions, software and AI systems that revolutionize the way organizations can do business and service their stakeholders. Recognized as being at the forefront of technology for over 22 years, Draganfly is an award-winning, industry-leader serving the public safety, agriculture, industrial inspections, security, mapping, and surveying markets. Draganfly is a company driven by passion, ingenuity, and the need to provide efficient solutions and first-class services to its customers around the world with the goal of saving time, money, and lives. For more information on Draganfly, please visit us at www.draganfly.com . For additional investor information, visit https://www.thecse.com/en/listings/technology/draganfly-inc , https://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/DFLYF/overview or https://www.boerse-frankfurt.de/aktie/draganfly-inc . Media Contact

Arian Hopkins

email: arian@businessinstincts.com Company Contact

email: info@draganfly.com Forward-Looking Statements This release contains certain forward looking statements and certain forward-looking ?????information as ?defined under applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements ?????and information can ?generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as ??????may, will, expect, intend, ??estimate, anticipate, believe, continue, plans or similar ?????terminology. Forward-looking statements ?and information are based on forecasts of future ?????results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and ?assumptions that, while believed by ?????management to be reasonable, are inherently subject to significant ?business, economic and ?????competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Forward-looking statements ?include, but are not ?????limited to, statements with respect to the testing and development of the EagleEye land mine detection solution. ?Forward-????looking statements and information are subject to various ?known and unknown risks and ?????uncertainties, many of which are beyond the ability of the ?Company to control or predict, that ????may cause ?the Companys actual results, performance or ?achievements to be materially different ????from those ?expressed or implied thereby, and are ?developed based on assumptions about such ????risks, uncertainties ?and other factors set out here ?in, including but not limited to: the potential ????impact of epidemics, ?pandemics or other public ?health crises, including the current outbreak of ????the novel coronavirus known as ?COVID-19 on the ?Companys business, operations and financial ????condition, the successful integration of ??technology, the inherent risks involved in the general ????securities markets; uncertainties relating to ?the ?availability and costs of financing needed in the ????future; the inherent uncertainty of cost ?estimates and the ?potential for unexpected costs and ????expenses, currency fluctuations; regulatory ?restrictions, liability, ?competition, loss of key ????employees and other related risks and uncertainties ?disclosed under the ?heading Risk Factors ????in the Companys most recent filings filed with ?securities regulators in Canada on ?the SEDAR ????website at www.sedar.com. The Company ?undertakes no obligation to update forward-?looking ????information except as required by applicable ?law. Such forward-looking information represents ?????managements best judgment based on ?information currently available. No forward-looking ????statement ?can be guaranteed and actual ?future results may vary materially. Accordingly, readers ????are advised not to ?place undue reliance ?on forward-looking statements or information.? Attachment EagleEye



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Market Reports on Saudi Arabia Provides the Trending Market Research Report on RTD Tea in the United Arab Emirates under Food & Beverage category. The RTD Tea in the United Arab Emirates is projected to exhibit highest growth rate over report offers a collection of superior market research, market analysis, and competitive intelligence and industry reports.

Whilst the mandated closure of cafes, restaurants and other foodservice establishments led to a steep decline in on-trade volume sales of RTD tea in the United Arab Emirates in 2020, off-trade volume sales declined as a consequence of the rising health awareness. Due to the sugar content associated with RTD tea, consumers in the United Arab Emirates have been opting more and more for soft drinks that are perceived as healthier such as bottled water and 100% juice.

RTD Tea in United Arab Emirates report offers a comprehensive guide to the size and shape of the market at a national level. It provides the latest retail sales data (2016-2020), allowing you to identify the sectors driving growth. It identifies the leading companies, the leading brands and offers strategic analysis of key factors influencing the market  be they legislative, distribution, packaging or pricing issues. Forecasts to 2025 illustrate how the market is set to change.

Product coverage:

Carbonated RTD Tea and Kombucha, Still RTD Tea.

Data coverage:

market sizes (historic and forecasts), company shares, brand shares and distribution data.

Request a free sample copy of United Arab Emirates RTD Tea Market Report @

http://www.marketreportsonsaudiarabia.com/marketreports/sample/reports/357219

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* Get a detailed picture of the RTD Tea market;

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* Understand the competitive environment, the markets major players and leading brands;

* Use five-year forecasts to assess how the market is predicted to develop.

Table of Contents

RTD Tea in the United Arab Emirates

LIST OF CONTENTS AND TABLES

KEY DATA FINDINGS

2020 IMPACT

COVID-19 leads to a steep decline in on-trade volume sales, whilst off-trade volume sales are affected by the health and wellness trend

Consumers show growing preference for health oriented RTD tea products

Unilever maintains its commanding lead, benefiting from its long presence and wide distribution network

RECOVERY AND OPPORTUNITIES

Health and wellness trend will continue to stimulate innovation

Efforts to differentiate brands via flavour and packaging likely to increase

More brands expected to launch superfruit flavours

CATEGORY DATA

Table 1 Off-trade Sales of RTD Tea by Category: Volume 2015-2020

Table 2 Off-trade Sales of RTD Tea by Category: Value 2015-2020

Table 3 Off-trade Sales of RTD Tea by Category: % Volume Growth 2015-2020

Table 4 Off-trade Sales of RTD Tea by Category: % Value Growth 2015-2020

Table 5 Leading Flavours for Off-trade RTD Tea: % Volume 2015-2020

Table 6 NBO Company Shares of Off-trade RTD Tea: % Volume 2016-2020

Table 7 LBN Brand Shares of Off-trade RTD Tea: % Volume 2017-2020

Table 8 NBO Company Shares of Off-trade RTD Tea: % Value 2016-2020

Table 9 LBN Brand Shares of Off-trade RTD Tea: % Value 2017-2020

Table 10 Forecast Off-trade Sales of RTD Tea by Category: Volume 2020-2025

Table 11 Forecast Off-trade Sales of RTD Tea by Category: Value 2020-2025

Table 12 Forecast Off-trade Sales of RTD Tea by Category: % Volume Growth 2020-2025

Table 13 Forecast Off-trade Sales of RTD Tea by Category: % Value Growth 2020-2025

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

COVID-19 impact on soft drinks

COVID-19 country impact

Company response

Retailing shift

Foodservice vs retail split

What next for soft drinks?

CHART 1 Soft Drinks Off-Trade Volume Sales Growth Scenarios: 2018-2025

CHART 2 Soft Drinks On-Trade Volume Sales Growth Scenarios: 2018-2025

CHART 3 Soft Drinks Impact of Drivers on Off-Trade Volume Sales: 2017-2025

CHART 4 Soft Drinks Impact of Drivers on On-Trade Volume Sales: 2017-2025

MARKET DATA

Table 14 Off-trade vs On-trade Sales of Soft Drinks (RTD) by Channel: Volume 2015-2020

Table 15 Off-trade vs On-trade Sales of Soft Drinks (RTD) by Channel: % Volume Growth 2015-2020

Table 16 Off-trade vs On-trade Sales of Soft Drinks by Channel: Value 2015-2020

Table 17 Off-trade vs On-trade Sales of Soft Drinks by Channel: % Value Growth 2015-2020

Table 18 Off-trade vs On-trade Sales of Soft Drinks (as sold) by Category: Volume 2019

Table 19 Off-trade vs On-trade Sales of Soft Drinks (as sold) by Category: % Volume 2019

Table 20 Off-trade vs On-trade Sales of Soft Drinks by Category: Value 2019

Table 21 Off-trade vs On-trade Sales of Soft Drinks by Category: % Value 2019

Table 22 Off-trade Sales of Soft Drinks (RTD) by Category: Volume 2015-2020

Table 23 Off-trade Sales of Soft Drinks (RTD) by Category: % Volume Growth 2015-2020

Table 24 Off-trade Sales of Soft Drinks by Category: Value 2015-2020

Table 25 Off-trade Sales of Soft Drinks by Category: % Value Growth 2015-2020

Table 26 Sales of Soft Drinks by Total Fountain On-trade: Volume 2015-2020

Table 27 Sales of Soft Drinks by Total Fountain On-trade: % Volume Growth 2015-2020

Table 28 NBO Company Shares of Off-trade Soft Drinks (RTD): % Volume 2016-2020

Table 29 LBN Brand Shares of Off-trade Soft Drinks (RTD): % Volume 2017-2020

Table 30 NBO Company Shares of Off-trade Soft Drinks: % Value 2016-2020

Table 31 LBN Brand Shares of Off-trade Soft Drinks: % Value 2017-2020

Table 32 Distribution of Off-trade Soft Drinks (as sold) by Format: % Volume 2015-2020

Table 33 Distribution of Off-trade Soft Drinks (as sold) by Format and Category: % Volume 2020

Table 34 Forecast Off-trade vs On-trade Sales of Soft Drinks (RTD) by Channel: Volume 2020-2025

Table 35 Forecast Off-trade vs On-trade Sales of Soft Drinks (RTD) by Channel: % Volume Growth 2020-2025

Table 36 Forecast Off-trade vs On-trade Sales of Soft Drinks by Channel: Value 2020-2025

Table 37 Forecast Off-trade vs On-trade Sales of Soft Drinks by Channel: % Value Growth 2020-2025

Table 38 Forecast Off-trade Sales of Soft Drinks (RTD) by Category: Volume 2020-2025

Table 39 Forecast Off-trade Sales of Soft Drinks (RTD) by Category: % Volume Growth 2020-2025

Table 40 Forecast Off-trade Sales of Soft Drinks by Category: Value 2020-2025

Table 41 Forecast Off-trade Sales of Soft Drinks by Category: % Value Growth 2020-2025

Table 42 Forecast Sales of Soft Drinks by Total Fountain On-trade: Volume 2020-2025

Table 43 Forecast Sales of Soft Drinks by Total Fountain On-trade: % Volume Growth 2020-2025

GLOBAL MACROECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT

GLOBAL INDUSTRY ENVIRONMENT

DISCLAIMER

SOURCES

Summary 1 Research Sources

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For example, in the Eastern District of California, which covers the Central Valley up through Sacramento, no new judicial posts have been created in more than 40 years, even as the population of that district grew by more than 5.5 million people. Even before the effects of the pandemic, wait times for civil trials in the Eastern District of California were approaching five years and, for average people seeking relief, there seems to be little or no prospect of ever getting their cases resolved.

It can be nearly impossible for people to get their cases heard in many federal courts because of the colossal logjam of cases. District judges no longer have time to hear oral arguments in many cases. Litigants often are being told that they might want to consider other avenues, like arbitration. Those with deep pockets may be able to wait it out or pay for arbiters to resolve disputes privately, but for most Americans, the current situation is a huge barrier to ever getting justice.

Also, federal judges who are eligible for senior status should take it. Those judges can still handle cases, helping to increase the capacity of the federal judiciary. But by taking senior status, they would also open up their seats and give Democrats a chance to replace them. During the Obama presidency, a number of liberal appeals court judges declined to take senior status when they could have. When they eventually left the bench, it was too late for Democrats because Republicans had taken control of the Senate. President Donald Trump appointed conservatives to take their place.

The importance of the federal courts cannot be overestimated. Criminal prosecutions, civil rights lawsuits, copyright and antitrust matters, claims of religious freedom and countless other matters flow through those chambers. Federal courts also address some of the most pressing problems of our times. They are the last protection against abuses by other branches of government.

The Democrats must make haste and follow the example of their Republican counterparts by making the federal judiciary their urgent priority.

Erwin Chemerinsky is the dean of the law school at the University of California, Berkeley. He is the author, most recently, of The Religion Clauses: The Case for Separating Church and State with Howard Gillman.

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 heres our email: letters@nytimes.com.

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How much of Jeffrey Epsteins remaining fortune will go to his victims?

A year and a half after his death, that is the question at the heart of a bitter court fight between the top law enforcement official in the U.S. Virgin Islands and the two men Mr. Epstein chose to oversee an estate once worth $600 million.

After months of quiet, hostilities resumed over the past week. Denise N. George, the territorys attorney general, accused the executors of mismanaging the estate when they couldnt come up with more money for an independent victims compensation fund. The executors, Darren Indyke and Richard Kahn, said it was partly her fault the estate was having trouble raising cash.

But late Wednesday, the fight escalated: Ms. George said the two men tying up the purse strings had not merely been Mr. Epsteins longtime business associates but for years enabled his sexual abuse of teenage girls.

Mr. Indyke and Mr. Kahn were the indispensable captains of Epsteins criminal enterprise, roles for which they were richly rewarded, Ms. Georges office said in an amended complaint to a civil racketeering lawsuit she first filed a year ago. The suit, which started out seeking tens of millions in damages from the estate, now asks a judge in the Virgin Islands to place the estates remaining assets into a receivership.
Over 26,100 Indian websites were hacked during 2020, compared to 24,768 websites attacked in the previous year, was informed on Thursday.

As per the information reported to and tracked by Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In), a total number of 17,560; 24,768 and 26,121 Indian websites were hacked during the year 2018, 2019 and 2020, respectively, Minister of State for Communications and IT Sanjay Dhotre said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha.

"There have been attempts from time to time to launch cyber attacks on Indian cyberspace," he added.

Dhotre said it has been observed that attackers are compromising computer systems located in different parts of the world and use masquerading techniques and hidden servers to hide the identity of actual systems from which the attacks are being launched.

"According to the logs analysed and made available to CERT-In, the Internet Protocol (IP) addresses of the computers from where the attacks appear to be originated belong to various countries including Algeria, Brazil, China, France, Indonesia, Netherlands, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia, Serbia, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, USA, Vietnam etc," the minister said.

Dhotre noted that CERT-In devises response measures in coordination with its counterpart agencies in foreign countries for resolution of incidents involving systems outside the country.

(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.)
Fake German heiress Anna Sorokin has been released from prison eight months early and is already back on Twitter - and asking for money.

In May 2019, Sorokin - who went by Anna Delvey when she was committing fraud - was sentenced to between four and 12 years in prison. She was given time served for the two years she served in Rikers Island awaiting trial and was let out seven months early on Thursday for good behavior.

She had been in Albion prison in upstate New York but was released on Thursday, sources close to her told Business Insider.

Immediately after her release, Sorokin set up a new Twitter account which used first to troll Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance, who put her behind bars, and then to ask for money on.

First, she tweeted a link to Vance's remarks after she was convicted in 2019, where he said she'd spend time in prison for her crimes.

'Good job,' she tweeted, tagging him in it afterwards.

Then she started asking for jobs and money, before changing the name of the account and deleting some of the tweets after being questioned about them by DailyMail.com.

Sorokin wouldn't speak when contacted by phone through her lawyer on Thursday afternoon because she 'isn't ready' to be interviewed.

Instead, her attorney - Audrey A. Thomas - spoke on her behalf to confirm that she'd been let out 'because of COVID' and that the Twitter account was hers.

Fake German heiress Anna Sorokin (above in her new Twitter bio pic wearing a COVID-19 mask and a Balenciaga hoodie) has been released from prison after serving just under two years for defrauding Manhattan banks, hotels and her friends out of $275,000 in a scheme that won her the name the SoHo Grifter. She is shown at her 2019 trial

Sorokin immediately started trolling Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance

In her Twitter bio, she said: 'I'm back.'

She then tweeted: 'Someone from Fortress Investment Group - I need $720m by the end of the week, DM me,' Sorokin tweeted.

'Looking for a job. Serious offers only,' she added, then: 'My price just went up'.

Her profile photo on the Twitter page shows her wearing a protective COVID-19 mask.

She is also wearing a Balenciaga hoodie.

When asked how she feels about being released and what she plans to do now, Thomas, speaking on her behalf, fumed: 'No comment!'

Thomas herself was arrested on suspicion of stealing $200,000 from the escrow sale of a home she was selling. The status of that case is unclear.

Sorokin was paid $320,000 for consulting on a new Netflix series about her crimes. She has used the money to pay off her victims.

Between 2015 and 2017, Sorokin posed as German heiress Anna Delvey, a character she'd made up to dupe the well-heeled crowds of Manhattan.

From it, she got free hotel stays, free consultancy for a fictitious arts club project which she claimed would be her legacy, and a trip to Marrakesh which cost

She stole a total of $275,000 by obtaining loans and overdrafts then check kiting.

In May 2019, Sorokin - who went by Anna Delvey when she was committing fraud - was sentenced to between four and 12 years in prison

Sorokin is shown at her 2019 trial in Manhattan. She was sentenced to between four and 12 years

She also stiffed a friend - a Vanity Fair photo editor - with the bill for a $62,000 trip to Marrakesh, Morocco.

She pleaded not guilty and maintained her innocence throughout trial, insisting it was all a misunderstanding.

Sorokin was already brushing shoulders with rich people in the years before she came to New York and started dazzling Manhattan's social elite

Her trial took place in Manhattan in 2019 and included tantrums from Sorokin over her wardrobe.

Sorokin's fall from grace seemingly started to unravel when she was kicked out of the 11 Howard hotel.

Her friend Neff, who worked at the hotel, was contacted by a manager at 11 Howard in early 2017 to say they didn't have a credit card on file to pay for Sorokin's lengthy stay.

At that point, Sorokin had racked up $30,000 in charges at the hotel.

When the hotel pressed her for payment, Sorokin told them a wire transfer was on the way and then proceeded to order a case of 1975 Dom Perignon for the staff.

Citibank eventually did send the wire transfer for the full $30,000 amount, which prosecutors said she paid for using money from bad checks.

But the hotel still locked Sorokin out of her hotel room in May 2017 while she was away on a trip to Nebraska because she couldn't provide a working credit card.

Sorokin had chartered a private plane that cost $35,400 to and from the Berkshire Hathaway shareholders meeting in Omaha, Nebraska so she could try and meet billionaire Warren Buffet.

She boasted to friends that she got into a dinner party and spoke to the billionaire herself.

The bill for the charter company, which is popular among New York's elite who use it to fly to and from the Hamptons and Miami, never got paid.

Between 2015 and 2017, Sorokin posed as German heiress Anna Delvey, a character she'd made up to dupe the well-heeled crowds of Manhattan. She is pictured in court in April 2019

A spokesman for Fly Blade said it made an exception for Sorokin because international payments can sometimes take time to come through. In Sorokin's case, she had assured them with doctored confirmation of payment.

'For the flight in question, we received oral confirmation of the funds transfer with routing numbers and all relevant and verifiable account information. This was followed by receipt of a PDF of a Deutsche Bank wire confirmation which Deutsche Bank later determined was doctored,' a spokesman told DailyMail.com.

When Sorokin did not pay, they canceled the return leg of her trip. The jet was also already en-route to Los Angeles, they said, so 'the cost of stopping in Omaha was de minimus'.

Friend, Rachel Deloache Williams, who wrote about her ordeal with Anna in Vanity Fair, went with Sorokin on the Morocco trip. When Sorokin's credit cards declined, Williams was forced to put the $62,000 trip on her work card

During cross examination, Sorokin's attorney questioned her former friend Williams about how she didn't see the red flags other had raised about his client's wealth. He suggested that Williams had turned a blind eye because she was a beneficiary of Sorokin's generosity

Upon her return to New York, she was evicted by police from the 11 Howard hotel.

She moved her luggage to the Mercer hotel just around the corner and then immediately embarked on a $62,000 extravagant trip to Morocco that she had promised two friends that same month.

Williams - the Vanity Fair photo editor - was among those invited on the all-expense paid trip, as well as Sorokin's personal trainer Kacy Duke and a videographer to document the trip 'for fun'.

Many believed Anna was the German heiress she claimed to be given she traveled in celebrity circles and tossed around crisp $100 bill

Sorokin had told her friends she needed to leave the country to allow her tourist ESTA visa to renew.

The flights were paid for by Williams on her work credit card and she assumed Sorokin would reimburse her since she had claimed she would foot the bill for the lavish vacation.

They checked into a $7,000-a-night villa at the five star resort La Mamounia.

Hotel staff insisted on putting a credit card on file because Sorokin had booked their trip without a working one.

Williams, who said she had $410 in her checking account at the time, was forced to hand her credit card over. The balance was more than she earned in a year.

Sorokin had promised to pay her back $70,000 when they returned to New York.

But after months of hassling her for the money, Williams said she reported Sorokin to police and then the New York district attorney's office.

Sorokin was already brushing shoulders with rich people in the years before she came to New York and started dazzling Manhattan's social elite in 2015.

Acquaintances say she'd spent several years playing the part of an art-obsessed German heiress across the world.

She rubbed shoulders with the fashion elite at Paris Fashion Week as early as 2013 and was frequently spotted at London nightspots like the Chiltern Firehouse and Loulou's.

Those who knew of her recalled seeing her at a party in Berlin in 2015 during which Sorokin told guests she had just flown in on a private jet.

As a result of her internship at Purple in Paris, some noted that she appeared to be close friends with its editor-in-chief Oliver Zahm.

By the time Sorokin arrived in New York in early 2016, she seemingly had the social connections to make a name for herself, as well as a designer-clad wardrobe that exuded wealth.

At the time, she had 40,000 followers on Instagram and was regularly pictured at events and parties with well-to-do people.

She quickly went about proving herself to be an impossibly rich heiress who had plans to shake up New York's art world.

Sorokin gave varying accounts of where her wealth actually came from, according to her acquaintances. She told some that her father was a Russian oil billionaire. Others were under the impression that her parents were high up in the German solar energy business

She made a show of proving she belonged and would regularly be decked out in her now signature Celine glasses, Gucci sandals and high-end buys from Net-a-Porter and Elyse Walker.

Sorokin rented a $400-a-night room for several months at Manhattan's expensive 11 Howard hotel. Concierges at the hotel - including Neff Davis who she would later become friends with - were gobsmacked when Sorokin would pass out $100 tips to them and Uber drivers.

She would also splash out on shopping sprees in luxury boutiques, expensive personal training sessions and beautician appointments.

The socialite elite were drawn to her and she would regularly host large dinners for celebrities, artists , CEOs and the like at the lavish Le Coucou restaurant in SoHo.

HOW ANNA MANAGED TO SECURE MONEY: Sorokin sought a $22 million loan from Fortress Investment Group in 2017 to fund her arts club after showing the private equity firm fake documents claiming she had a 60 million euro fortune. They said they would consider it if she put up $100,000 for them to do due diligence, which is basically a background check of her financial records. She managed to get a $100,000 from a different bank, City National, by convincing them to give her an overdraft that she promised to repay within days. Sorokin then gave the $100,000 to Fortress. They spent $45,000 of it carrying out their financial review before Sorokin asked for $55,000 back, claiming she no longer needed their services. She never repaid City National. Instead, she managed to spend the entire $55,000 within a month to fund her lavish lifestyle. She also resorted to depositing bad checks and transferring funds out before they bounced - a process called check kiting. This is how she got the $30,000 to pay 11 Howard via a wire transfer. Between April 7 and April 11, she deposited $160,000 in bad checks into her Citibank account and transferred $70,000 out before they bounced. In August, she opened a different account with a different bank, Signature, deposited $15,000 in bad checks and withdrew $8,200 before they bounced. Advertisement

At one such dinner, Sorokin's concierge friend Neff Davis said she was star struck to find herself sitting next to Home Alone star Macaulay Culkin.

She also once hired a PR firm to organize her birthday party at Sadelle's in SoHo. It would later emerged that she never paid the bill. It is unclear what the cost of the party was in the end.

During her stay at Howard 11, Sorokin struck up a friendship with Davis when she arrived at the concierge desk asking for recommendations for the best food in SoHo.

In an interview with The Cut last year, Davis recalled one instance during their friendship where they went for dinner at SoHo's Sant Ambroeus. Davis said she was forced to pay the $286 bill when Sorokin's 12 credit cards declined.

'The waiter went back to his station and began entering the numbers.

'There were like 12, and I know the guy tried them all,' she said. 'He was trying it and then shaking his head.

'And then I started to sweat, because I knew the bill was mine.'

She said Sorokin paid her back triple the amount in cash the following day.

Another friend, Rachel Deloache Williams, testified during Sorokin's trial that she was under the impression she was a German solar panel heiress.

Williams, who also wrote about her ordeal in Vanity Fair where she worked as a photo editor, said they had met in February 2016 and were friends for 18 months.

She said Delvey often paid for the pair to go to infared saunas in the East Village and they also dined together and worked out with celebrity trainer Kacy Duke, which Sorokin also paid for.

Sorokin's fall from grace seemingly started to unravel when she was kicked out of the 11 Howard hotel.

Her friend Neff, who worked at the hotel, was contacted by a manager at 11 Howard in early 2017 to say they didn't have a credit card on file to pay for Sorokin's lengthy stay.

At that point, Sorokin had racked up $30,000 in charges at the hotel.

When the hotel pressed her for payment, Sorokin told them a wire transfer was on the way and then proceeded to order a case of 1975 Dom Perignon for the staff.

Citibank eventually did send the wire transfer for the full $30,000 amount, which prosecutors said she paid for using money from bad checks.

But the hotel still locked Sorokin out of her hotel room in May 2017 while she was away on a trip to Nebraska because she couldn't provide a working credit card.

Sorokin had chartered a private plane that cost $35,400 to and from the Berkshire Hathaway shareholders meeting in Omaha, Nebraska so she could try and meet billionaire Warren Buffet.

She boasted to friends that she got into a dinner party and spoke to the billionaire herself.

The bill for the charter company, which is popular among New York's elite who use it to fly to and from the Hamptons and Miami, never got paid.

A spokesman for Fly Blade said it made an exception for Sorokin because international payments can sometimes take time to come through. In Sorokin's case, she had assured them with doctored confirmation of payment.

'For the flight in question, we received oral confirmation of the funds transfer with routing numbers and all relevant and verifiable account information. This was followed by receipt of a PDF of a Deutsche Bank wire confirmation which Deutsche Bank later determined was doctored,' a spokesman told DailyMail.com.

When Sorokin did not pay, they canceled the return leg of her trip. The jet was also already en-route to Los Angeles, they said, so 'the cost of stopping in Omaha was de minimus'.
President Joe Biden said Thursday that his first phone call with Chinese leader Xi Jinping since taking office lasted two hours.

"Last night, I was in the phone for two straight hours with Xi Jinping," Biden told reporters -- an unusually long interaction for a US president, with whom even face-to-face meetings rarely stretch beyond an hour.

Biden warned afterwards that if the United States doesn't "get moving" on China policy, "they're going to eat our lunch."

He challenged Xi on human rights, trade and regional muscle-flexing during the call, which aimed at setting the tone for the US-China relationship.

Beijing has tested US ties since Xi came to power, and under former president Donald Trump found itself on the receiving end of trade tariffs as relations frayed.

Biden -- who met Xi during his time as vice president under Barack Obama -- is under pressure to maintain Trump's stance.

Earlier, the White House said the president "underscored his fundamental concerns about Beijing's coercive and unfair economic practices, crackdown in Hong Kong, human rights abuses in Xinjiang, and increasingly assertive actions in the region, including toward Taiwan," during the call.

The two leaders also spoke about the Covid-19 pandemic, climate change and weapons proliferation, the White House said.
Chinese President Xi Jinping chairs the China-Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC) Summit and delivers a keynote speech via video link in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 9, 2021. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)

BEIJING, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- The China-Central and Eastern European Countries (CEEC) Summit has gathered new consensus and provided momentum for further cooperation, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi has told the press.

The summit held on Tuesday via video link, the first diplomatic event hosted by China this year, is the highest-level leaders' meeting since the establishment of the China-CEEC cooperation mechanism, and an important multilateral event held against the backdrop of the global response to COVID-19.

The summit has rallied global consensus concerning the joint response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Wang said, adding many CEE countries see China's proposals for enhancing cooperation in combating the pandemic as a demonstration of China shouldering responsibility as a major country, and have expressed the readiness to deepen cooperation with China in vaccine research and the resumption of work and production.

A China-Europe freight train heading for Belgrade prepares to depart from Wujiashan railway container center station in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province, May 9, 2020. (Xinhua/Xiao Yijiu)

Wang pointed out the summit has also injected positive energy into cooperation between China and Europe.

Calling the summit an example of multilateralism in action, Wang said leaders of CEE countries have expressed their clear desire to uphold multilateralism and support free trade.

Vice Foreign Minister Qin Gang has said the summit, held at an opportune moment, has reached fruitful outcomes and produced a far-reaching impact.

The summit has offered a valuable opportunity for China and CEE countries to jointly tide over difficulties and seek development, and is a milestone in the development of China-CEEC cooperation and a vivid example of China jointly building a community with a shared future for mankind with CEE and other countries, said Qin.
The European Parliament (EP) considers that the Ukrainian electricity market is still not competitive by EU standards, according its resolution on the implementation of the Ukraine-EU Association Agreement by Ukraine.

According to the document posted on the website of the European Parliament, the EP urges Ukraine, therefore, to complete its reform and improve the level of compliance with EU law, first and foremost by enhancing Ukrenergo's independence and avoiding cross-subsidisation.

In addition, the EP calls on Ukraine to upgrade its existing power plants to meet strict European environmental and safety standards.
Third-party logistics service provider Mahindra Logistics Limited - a part of the Mahindra Group -- is in talks with vaccine manufacturers and is in process of capacity creation for Covid-19 vaccine logistics. The company expects vaccine supply to gain traction in the first quarter of 2021-22.

Going forward, the company's vaccine strategy includes blocking capacity with airlines for international freight forwarding, finalising warehousing plans keeping in mind the specific needs of Covid-19 vaccine storage, and helping its transport partners ramp up the capacity of their fleet keeping in mind the transportation needs of the vaccine.

Speaking to BusinessToday.In Rampraveen Swaminathan, CEO, Mahindra Logistics, said, "We are in talks with the Indian pharmaceutical companies involved in the manufacturing of Covid-19 vaccines for logistics solutions. We are already in the vaccine supply logistics and are in the process of ramping up capacity specific to the needs of the Covid-19 vaccine. We expect more acceleration on the Covid-19 vaccine supply front towards the first quarter of the next fiscal when more biotech companies will get regulatory approvals."

The company is looking at both international as well as domestic demand for the vaccine and is in the process of creating capacity for the same. For the international freight forwarding, the company is tying up with multiple airlines and is identifying nations where sponsored vaccination programme will be implemented.

"For international freight forwarding, we have blocked capacity with multiple airlines. We have also expanded capacity with the airlines. We will be looking at markets like South America and Africa among others. Our focus will be on the markets where sponsored vaccination programme will be implemented," Swaminathan added.

On the domestic front, the company is in the process of finalising warehousing contracts to cater to the vaccine supply. "We have identified one warehouse in South India and one in West India. The warehouses will offer temperature-controlled environment for the storage of the vaccines," Swaminathan said.

Once the warehouses are ready, the company will apply for US FDA approvals for the warehouses. Swaminathan expects that the US FDA approval for the warehouses will come in by second quarter of FY22. The third aspect of the company's vaccine strategy is to ramp up programme with its transport partners.

Being asked why the company's Covid - 19 vaccine logistics-related plans are focused around the first and second quarter of the next financial year while the vaccination has already started beginning January 16, Swaminathan said that currently the entire ecosystem is managed by the government. He also pointed out that Serum Institute of India which is manufacturing the Covishield vaccine is the only vaccine maker that is doing it at a scale.

"So by the first quarter of the next financial year, the vaccine supply is expected to be scaled up, thereby creating more demand for logistics service providers," he pointed out.

The company witnessed a good recovery from the Covid lows in the third quarter of the current financial year. The company posted a 17.42 percent increase in the consolidated net profit at Rs 18.40 crore in the quarter ended December. The management attributes the profit to continued traction in the non-auto segments like e-commerce, pharma and cross-border logistics.

To date, apart from SII's Covishield, Bharat Biotech's indigenous vaccine Covaxin is being used in the country to inoculate people against Covid -19. The mass inoculation drive against the virus began on January 16. Over 68 lakh people have been inoculated in the country with an average of slightly over two lakh doses being administered daily.

Also Read: Mahindra Logistics plans to deploy electric vehicles for last-mile delivery
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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 11)  The World Health Organization may "favorably" consider giving the Philippines 900,000 more doses of Pfizer-BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccines, country representative Dr. Rabindra Abeyasinghe said on Thursday.

However, Abeyasinghe clarified he has yet to receive the country's official request for the additional shots.

"We believe that the request will be considered favorably," he told CNN Philippines' News Night. "We have to wait for the request to be received and processed."

On Feb. 3, Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said the government will be asking for 900,000 additional vaccines on top of the 117,000 doses expected to arrive this month.

Testing czar Vince Dizon said in a Thursday briefing there will be "slight delays" in the Pfizer delivery since government officials are still processing the necessary documents.

However, Abeyasinghe, while admitting that the Philippine government is still missing some requirements, said there has been "no delay" as Health Secretary Francisco Duque III informed him the papers will be sent within the day.

"We must acknowledge that the Philippine government has been responding proactively and very fast," the WHO official said. "No sooner than these requirements are fulfilled, we believe that the COVAX can schedule a delivery date."

Abeyasinghe said once COVAX accepts the submission, the vaccines could be shipped "as early as next week."

The Philippines is expected to receive 5.6 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines in the first quarter of 2021 through the COVAX facility, an initiative led by the World Health Organization, along with the vaccine alliance Gavi and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, which seeks to provide over 150 participating countries equitable access to coronavirus vaccines.
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[February 11, 2021] Crown PropTech Acquisitions Announces Closing of $276 Million Initial Public Offering Including Full Exercise by Underwriters to Purchase Additional Shares

Crown PropTech Acquisitions (the "Company") announced the closing today of its initial public offering of 27,600,000 units at a price of $10.00 per unit, including 3,600,000 units sold to the underwriters pursuant to the full exercise of the over-allotment option. The units began trading on the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") under the ticker symbol "CPTK.U" on February 9, 2021. Each unit consists of one Class A ordinary share and one-third of one redeemable warrant. Each whole warrant entitles the holder thereof to purchase one Class A ordinary share at a price of $11.50 per share. Only whole warrants are exercisable. After the securities comprising the units begin separate trading, the Class A ordinary shares and the warrants are expected to be listed on NYSE under the symbols "CPTK" and "CPTK WS," respectively. The Company was formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. The Company intends to concentrate on businesses that provide technological innovation to the broader real estate ecosystem. This includes a focus on businesses that provide technological solutions that make the built environment more accessible, connected, dynamic, efficient, experiential and sustainable. Certain funds and accounts managed by subsidiaries of BlackRock, Inc. have agreed to make an anchor investment in the Company. Th management team is being led by Richard Chera, the Company's Chief Executive Officer and director, co-founder and Senior Managing Director of Crown Acquisitions Inc. and co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of ReWyre; and Dr. Pius Sprenger, the Company's Chief Financial Officer and director, who was formerly an executive of Cantor Fitzgerald and Deutsche Bank. Rasheq Zarif is serving as the lead strategic advisor to the Company.



RBC Capital Markets, LLC acted as the sole book-running manager of the offering. A registration statement relating to these securities was declared effective by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the " SEC (News - Alert) ") on February 8, 2021. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

The public offering was made only by means of a prospectus, copies of which may be obtained from RBC Capital Markets, LLC, Attention: Equity Syndicate, 200 Vesey Street, 8th Floor, New York, New York 10281, or by telephone at (877) 822-4089 or by email at equityprospectus@rbccm.com. Cautionary Note Concerning Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking statements," including with respect to the Company's search for an initial business combination. No assurance can be given that the Company will ultimately complete a business combination transaction. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous conditions, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including those set forth in the Risk Factors section of the Company's registration statement for the initial public offering filed with the SEC. Copies are available on the SEC's website, www.sec.gov. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release, except as required by law. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210211005947/en/

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Heavy smoke, flames and screaming was what met Officer Walter Varey in the pre-dawn hours of Feb. 10 when he stepped inside a home in Lowell that had become the scene of a massive three-alarm blaze.

Varey was the first police officer early Wednesday to arrive at 98 Westford St., the building where the fire erupted, later claiming the life of an elderly man, injuring three others and leaving more than two dozen residents without a home.

When police got to the home at 3:13 a.m., there were several people inside the building and some rushing out of it. What ensued was a harrowing series of events.

The officer could hear screams coming from the second floor of the home and rushed upstairs, where he was forced to crawl due to the suffocating smoke while he called out for signs of life. Varey soon discovered a man, a woman and their child, according to authorities.

He carried the child downstairs to safety and then returned to the second floor to save the parents, all while battling heavy smoke matched by intense heat, officials said.

Although he was only able to see about 6 inches ahead, Officer Varey was able to assist both adults out of the building before being overcome by smoke and having to be assisted out by Officers Andres Bolivar and Matthew Trani, read a statement from the Office of the State Fire Marshal, the Middlesex District Attorneys Office and the Lowell Police and Fire Departments.

While Varey was saving the family inside the home, three of his colleagues from the Lowell Police Department were in the midst of their own rescue outside the building.

Officers Leang Chhor and Joshua Delisle spotted a woman holding a baby in a second-floor window that smoke was pouring out of, according to authorities statement.

Chhor and Delisle told the woman to drop the baby to them, which she did, and the officers were able to catch the child safely, the statement said.

The woman then jumped from the window and was caught without injury by Chhor and Officer Warren Greenhalgh before Lowell firefighters arrived to continue evacuating residents from the building, according to officials.

At that point, the blaze had spread to two other neighboring buildings. Police officers and firefighters were able to help people in both buildings to safety, authorities said.

Firefighters from various units of the Lowell Fire Department arrived to find a very heavy fire condition in the rear of the fire building, Lowell Fire Chief Phil Charron described. Fire department members worked hard in very cold weather conditions to, not only save lives, but also keep fire from extending beyond the fire building and its adjacent exposures. I commend the efforts of our firefighters, and the departments thoughts and prayers go out to the victims of this terrible incident.

In the end, the fire resulted in the death of a 77-year-old man, who lived in the home, and serious injuries to three others. The wounded individuals, a man and two women, were taken to Boston hospitals for treatment, according to officials statement.

First and foremost, I would like to convey my condolences to the victims of this tragic event, said Lowell Police Superintendent Raymond Kelly Richardson.

I would also like to commend Lowell Police Officers Walter Varey, Leang Chhor, Joshua Delisle, and Warren Greenhalgh for their quick response to this fire, he added. These officers placed themselves in harms way in an attempt to save as many people as they could. I am relieved that the officers were not seriously injured; this could have been much more of a tragedy. They put their lives on the line as they continued to enter the building.

Twenty-five people were displaced by the fire. A number of the residents were aided by neighbors, who, officials noted in their statement, were gracious enough to allow them to stay warm in their homes until personnel from the American Red Cross and the Lowell Regional Transit Authority arrived.

The investigation into the fatal fire remains active and open, the statement said. State and local investigators were at the scene Wednesday working toward gaining safe access to the damaged areas.

Related Content: One person killed in Lowell fire, 2 others seriously injured
A new report detailing how police in Portland, Ore., responded to a series of protests several years ago, including under then-chief Danielle Outlaw, said the agencys use of pepper spray and flash-bang grenades unintentionally escalated tensions with the crowd and deepened community mistrust in the police.

The 106-page report, written by the National Police Foundation and released Wednesday, was not explicitly critical of Outlaw, who accepted the job to become Philadelphias top cop at the end of 2019 with a promise to improve police-community relations. In other portions of the document, the authors also credit her with improving tactical aspects of the Portland Police Bureaus response to the second high-profile demonstration she oversaw there, in 2019.

Still, the report is the third to be released in recent weeks evaluating Outlaws leadership during large-scale protests. Two reports analyzing the Philadelphia Police Departments response to last summers demonstrations over the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis said her department was unprepared for mass protests that grew unruly, spanned several days, and featured aggressive tactics by police that demonstrators said contributed to the unrest.

The second report, commissioned by the City Controllers Office and released late last month, said Outlaw had sought to use force including tear gas against protesters before other members of Mayor Jim Kenneys administration ultimately came to agree. Kenney has since said he regrets the use of gas against protesters  which in one instance wafted into residential West Philadelphia as police confronted unrest in the nearby commercial corridor.

After the controllers report was released, Outlaw held a news conference to defend herself and her leadership, and Kenney said she had his full support.

The Police Department did not respond to a request for comment Wednesday. But the Mayors Office reiterated Kenneys backing of Outlaw.

City spokesperson Mike Dunn said Kenneys confidence in the commissioner has not wavered, and that city officials reviewed Outlaws tenure in Portland during her recruitment and interview process, finding that she had overseen the implementation of effective crime-fighting strategies; helped reform use-of-force policies under a federal consent decree; and that Portland police had received national and international recognition for work in community trust-building, crowd management response, and constitutional policing.

What we found was that Commissioner Outlaws tenure in Portland was exemplary, Dunn said.

The report released Wednesday is notably restrained in the language it uses to recount three protests that occurred there in recent years: one in 2017, before Outlaw took over, and one each in 2018 and 2019, when Outlaw was chief. In the reports initial pages, its authors said they did not intend to assign blame or criticize, but to contribute to continual evaluation and evolution of how Portland police respond to protests.

The report largely declines to draw conclusions about allegations of bias by police that made national headlines when the protests occurred. Left-leaning demonstrators claimed that officers had been overly aggressive in using force against them but not protesters from the political right, while conservative commentators later said police had favored antifa demonstrators and allowed them to assault well-known activist Andy Ngo.

The first protest covered in the report that occurred when Outlaw was chief happened on Aug. 4, 2018, when far-right extremists with the Patriot Prayer and Proud Boys clashed with antifascist counterprotesters downtown. The report said that when officers believed counterprotesters were damaging police cars and throwing rocks and bottles, police began using less-than-lethal munitions, including stinger rounds and pepper spray.

Four people were arrested and three were injured, according to the report, which also said that an unspecified number of protesters filed lawsuits over injuries they attributed to police.

In the days that followed the protest, Outlaw was criticized for comparing counterprotesters who had complained about being assaulted by officers to kids who had lost in a schoolyard brawl.

I tell you, Meet me after school at 3:00. Right? Were gonna fight,  Outlaw told Portland radio host Lars Larson. And I come with the intention to fight. And then you get mad because I kicked your butt. And then you go back and you wail off and whine and complain.

The report said Outlaws comments angered some community members and led some to raise questions about the credibility of [the departments] internal review of tactics used during the event.

A year later, on Aug. 17, 2019, far-right protesters including the Proud Boys again organized a rally downtown, the report said. Police that time were more successful in keeping that group separated from a collection of counterprotesters, and the report said that although some demonstrators still complained of bias by police  and although 13 people were arrested and six suffered minor injuries  overall public feedback on the police response has been largely positive. No lawsuits were filed over the police response to the protest, the report said.

The report also credited Outlaw with helping increase coordination between other regional law enforcement agencies ahead of the demonstration. That level of support was uncommon in Portland, the report said, and it contributed to a more organized response.

Staff writer Anna Orso contributed to this article.
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The European Parliament reaffirmed its continued support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, continuing to condemn the illegal annexation of Crimea and the de facto occupation of certain regions in the east by Russia.

This is discussed in the section "Cooperation in the field of the common foreign and security policy (CFSP)" of the resolution on Ukraine's implementation of the Association Agreement, voted by the European Parliament during the plenary session. The spokesperson was deputy from the European People's Party Michael Gahler (Germany).

"The European Parliament Reiterates the Unions unwavering support for and commitment to Ukraines independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders, and its support for the internationally coordinated sanctioning of the Russian Government and agents who are undermining the countrys sovereignty and territorial integrity," according to the resolution.

In addition, the European Parliament ontinues to condemn the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol and the de facto occupation of certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk and calls on the Russian Federation to fulfil its international obligations, to withdraw its military forces from the territory of Ukraine.

The European Parliament also welcomes the resumption of the peace talks under the Normandy four format on 9 December 2019 in Paris after a deadlock of three years.

The European Parliament strongly condemns Russias destabilising actions and military involvement in Ukraine; expresses concern about Russias ongoing build-up of military facilities and installations in the Crimean Peninsula. In addition, the European Parliament condemned Russia's illegal actions aimed at seizing control of the Kerch Strait, as they constitute a breach of international maritime law and Russias international commitments, in particular the construction of the Kerch Bridge and its rail link without Ukraines consent, the laying of underwater cables and the closing up and militarisation of the Azov Sea, which severely hinders Ukraine's economic activities. The European Parliament called on the Russian Federation to ensure unhindered and free passage to and from the Azov Sea in line with international law, and access to the occupied Ukrainian territories of Donbas and annexed Crimea for international non-governmental organizations and international humanitarian organisations and to release of all Ukrainian political prisoners and prisoners of war in Russia, Crimea and the parts of Donbas not controlled by the Ukrainian Government.

The European Parliament also considers it possible for the Commission and the European External Action Service to intensify their efforts towards a peaceful settlement of the conflict.

In addition, the European Parliament called on the EU High Representative, the Commission and the member states to provide the necessary support for the creation of the Crimean International Platform, which will coordinate, formalize and systematize efforts aimed at restoring the territorial integrity of Ukraine.
A thief being sought for stealing at least $187,000 in high-end jewelry from at least three stores in New Jersey last year has been arrested, authorities said.

Michael Larbi, 22, of Dover, Delaware is charged with seond-degree theft by Evesham police, Lt. Joeph Friel said Thursday.

Larbi also stole jewelry from stores in other towns in New Jersey, including Hainesport and Haddon Heights as well as in Pennsylvania, officials said last fall.

Haddon Heights police are still investigating and have yet to file charges against Larbi, according to Chief Michael Scardino. State Police, who patrol Hainesport, also said their investigation is ongoing.

The thief began his spree on Oct. 28 when he swiped more than $77,000 in jewelry from Billig Jewelers on Route 73 south, Evesham police said. Then on Nov. 2, he walked into David Arlen Jewelers in Hainesport and began chatting with a salesperson. While looking at two pieces of jewelry, he grabbed a pair of diamond rings from a display case and ran out, authorities said.

Three days later, the thief struck again when he stole more than than $97,000 in merchandise from a Haddon Heights jewelry store and drove off in a black BMW. Investigators learned about the Evesham and Hainesport thefts while investigating the Haddon Heights incident.

While investigating with other departments in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, Evesham police learned of three similar thefts in Maryland. Police in Maryland recovered physical evidence from one of the thefts there, which lead to a break in the cases in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, according to Friel.

Larbi was taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals Service is Delaware on Wednesday and awaits extradition to New Jersey, Friel said.

Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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The Executive has launched a consultation on options for the future of the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme, including its potential closure.

Economy Minister Diane Dodds has said the preferred option would be closing the non-domestic scheme and paying compensation to legitimate current participants.

The total cost of this option is estimated to be 68.4m with an average boiler eligible for a payout of up to 35,500.

The proposal has gone out to public consultation which runs until April 9.

There are about 1,200 participants in the RHI scheme, many of them poultry farmers.

The botched green energy incentivised businesses and farmers to switch to eco-friendly boilers by paying them a subsidy for the wood pellet fuel required to run them.

But mistakes in its designs saw the subsidy rates set higher than the actual cost of the wood pellets  with applicants finding themselves able to burn to earn.

RHI led to the collapse of Stormont in January 2017 when Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness resigned after First Minister Arlene Fosters refusal to step aside for a proper investigation.

The later probe identified numerous failings across government but rejected claims that corruption had played a part.

When it was published last year politicians such as Mrs Foster were cited, but civil servants and special advisers came in for particular criticism in Sir Patrick Coghlans 276,000-word RHI inquiry report.

The scheme was suspended to new applicants in February 2016 but it currently remains operational for accredited installations, with tariffs supporting generation of renewable heat for a period of 20 years and final payments expected in 2036.

A commitment to shut it down was part of the New Decade, New Approach deal which restored Stormont in January 2020.

Speaking as the consultation opened, Mrs Dodds said: I have always been clear that any decision on the future of the RHI scheme must be fair to both the taxpayer and to the schemes legitimate participants who invested in good faith. The preferred option seeks to meet these objectives. In due course, new support for renewable heat would be brought forward.

I would encourage everyone with an interest in the future of this scheme to have their say by taking part in the consultation process.
If the month ended now, it would rank as the third coldest on record, but we dont think were gonna finish there, Borchardt said Thursday morning. Toward the end of the month were going trend back to normal. It looks like toward the end of next week, we should start to get back to normal.
Farmers protesting at the borders of the national capital for over two months will return home if the government was to include a guarantee through a law for purchase of their crops at an administered price or MSP, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) said in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday. SAD, the oldest partner of BJP, had quit the NDA government over the three contentious farm reform laws.

Participating in the discussion on the Budget for 2021-21, Naresh Gujral (SAD) said the farmers are on the street because they feel the market will be snatched from them. The minimum support price (MSP) based procurement of crops like wheat and paddy by government agencies provides market at the doorstep of farmers, he said, adding the new laws provide for private mandis to come in.

"They (farmers) can take production risk but they cannot take marketing risk," he said. "After these laws, they will have to go to private mandis and will not get MSP." "Who is procuring at MSP? Only state agencies, not private procurers," he said. Farmers want MSP to be enshrined in the law, he added. The Prime Minister has promised that MSP will stay but what is stopping the government from including it in the law, Gujral asked.

The government should guarantee MSP for everything they procure, he said, adding that use of force, water canons and barb fences will not deter the farmers. "Today every farmer is saying 'sarfaroshi ki tamanna ab hamare dil mein hai, dekhna hai zor kitna bazu-e-qatil mein hai'," he said. "These farmers will go home only when they can say 'Fateh, Fateh, Fateh'." Thousands of farmers have been camping at Delhi's borders since November demanding the repeal of three new agriculture laws that they say will end the MSP based procurement of crops like wheat and paddy by the government and usher in big corporates into the farm sector.

They have rejected the government's offer to suspend the reforms for 18 months and have not joined talks after the 11th round of negotiations ended last month. The government has defended the farm laws, saying they are aimed at empowering the small and marginal farmers, who make up for more than two-thirds of the farming community in the country.

It has toughened its stance against the protesters following violence during a tractor rally on Republic Day last month. Three main protest sites have been fortified with concrete barricades, concertina wires and long metal spikes. Gujral said ruling party spokespersons abuse farmers whose children serve in the armed forces. "This demotivates them," he added.
New York, Feb 11 : US President Joe Biden has announced a Pentagon task force to chart Washington's Beijing strategy and followed it up with a stern dialogue with his Chinese counterpart XI Jinping about the Asian giant's "increasingly assertive actions" and served notice that he was committed to an open Indo-Pacific region, according to the White House.

During the phone call with Xi on Wednesday, Biden was also forthright on human rights issues in Hong Kong and Xinjiang and on Beijing's trade practices, according to an account of their conversation from the White House.

In a sign of his recognition of the risks from Beijing's growing power and assertiveness, Biden, while on a visit to the Pentagon, called for a national and international effort to "meet the China challenge and ensure the American people win the competition of the future".

"We need to meet the growing challenges posed by China to keep the peace and defend our interests in the Indo-Pacific and globally," he said.

At the Pentagon, the President also announced the formation of the new task force that will work with a sense of urgency on strategy so that "we can chart a strong path forward on China-related matters".

In his speech at the Pentagon, Biden said that the task force on China will "look at our strategy and operational concepts, technology, and force posture, and so much more".

"The task force will work quickly, drawing on civilian and military experts across the (Defense) Department, to provide, within the next few months, recommendations to (Defense Secretary Lloyd) Austin on key priorities and decision points so that we can chart a strong path forward on China-related matters.

"It will require a whole-of-government effort, bipartisan cooperation in Congress, and strong alliances and partnerships," he added.

Laying out his overall defence position, Biden said that while force should be a tool of last resort, "I will never hesitate to use force to defend the vital interests of the American people and our allies around the world when necessary".

"The central, indispensable mission of the Department of Defense is to deter aggression from our enemies and, if required, to fight and win wars to keep America safe." During his call with Xi, Biden "affirmed his priorities of protecting the American people's security, prosperity, health, and way of life, and preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific", the White House said in the statement issued after his Pentagon speech.

He "underscored his fundamental concerns about Beijing's coercive and unfair economic practices, crackdown in Hong Kong, human rights abuses in Xinjiang, and increasingly assertive actions in the region, including toward Taiwan", it added.

At the same time, Biden is "committed to pursuing practical, results-oriented engagements when it advances the interests of the American people and those of our allies", the White House said.

"The two leaders also exchanged views on countering the Covid-19 pandemic, and the shared challenges of global health security, climate change, and preventing weapons proliferation." Biden's call with Xi came after discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the leaders of key allies in the region -- Japan, Australia and South Korea -- during which they discussed Indo-Pacific issues.

On more immediate matters of concern, like the war in Afghanistan and the involvement in Iraq, from which former President Donald had tried to untangle the US, Biden said without naming the countries that "I will work with Secretary Austin and leaders around the world to bring a responsible end, a responsible end to wars that have dragged on for far too long, while continuing to ensure that terrorist threats cannot endanger the security of the American people".

(Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in and followed on Twitter at @arulouis)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
WASHINGTON  Vice President Kamala Harris and White House aides convened cabinet secretaries and the acting heads of 21 federal agencies on Thursday to begin fulfilling President Bidens promise to mobilize the entire federal government to confront climate change.

Gina McCarthy, who heads the White House office of climate policy, said Thursdays meeting focused on job-creation as well as ensuring that agency leaders understood their role in helping to set an aggressive new target for cutting the United States share of global emissions. The Biden administration wants to announce those goals on April 22.

Over the past four years we have not earned a lot of credibility on climate, Ms. McCarthy, who led Thursdays meeting, said in an interview, adding, Its time we turn that around.

The National Climate Task Force, which Mr. Biden created as part of a series of executive actions during his first week in office, is meant to meet regularly to chart progress on a series of administration goals including eliminating fossil fuel emissions from the electricity sector by 2035; transitioning federal, state and local government fleets to zero-emissions vehicles; and increasing conservation while also increasing renewable energy production on public land and waters.

The estimated connection date range for National Broadband connection in Longford is June 2022 to November 2022, a meeting of Longford County Council has heard.

Pat O'Toole of National Broadband Ireland gave a presentation to councillors at yesterday's meeting of Longford County Council, detailing the plan for the rollout of the national broadband plan.

Mr O'Toole explained that the surveying phase has been completed in Longford and that connection is due to commence in June of next year, starting with Longford town and working outwards in a 20km radius, before expanding to Ballymahon and other areas in the county.

"There are currently 8,698 premises in Longford without high speed broadband," Mr O'Toole explained.

"A total of 2,592 premises will be covered by the Longford town Deployment Area."

A total of nine Broadband Connection Point (BCP) locations and 11 primary schools are in scope to connect to high-school broadband.

Currently, there are three BCPs live in the Longford area, including Colmcille GAA Club, Ballymore Shamrocks GAA Club and Mullingalaghta Community Centre, with plans in progress for BCPs at Abbyshrule Airport, Moyne Latin School, Aughine Community Centre, Corlea Heritage Centre and Carrickedmond GAA Club.

Meanwhile, Fermoyle National School and Naomh Guasachta National School are already connected, with plans to connect Scoil Mhuire Aughnagarron, Killasonna Mixed National School, Naomh Earnain NS Killashee, Muckerstaff National School, Gaigue NS, Scoil Bhride Glen, Forgney NS, St Patrick's NS and Cloontagh Mixed NS.

Local councillors thanked Mr O'Toole for his presentation, with Cathaoirleach of Longford County Council Paul Ross pointing out that broadband was "one of the biggest issues on the ground before the elections".

"Since the pandemic, people are even more reliant on broadband because they're working from home now," he said.

One issue that was raised at the meeting was the placement of poles along roadsides with Cllr Garry Murtagh welcoming the fact that NBI would be using the infrastructure in place already.

However, with 250,000 additional poles planned for the rollout of broadband in Longford, Cllr Murtagh expressed concern about placement of these poles and asked that there be consultation on that "as there are many ESB poles that are very close to the road".

Mr O'Toole explained that NBI had gone through four months of consultation with various organisations, including LGMA and CCMA regarding the location of the additional poles.

"Roads engineers will sign off on the suitability of the locations and then it will go to planning, so we're getting the blessing of the planning office and the roads engineer, but there will be no poles placed on corners and we'll be keeping them back from sight lines at junctions," he said.

"Council officials will have the right of approval and there will be a streamlined process where we will give you a map to show the proposed locations."

Mr O'Toole also explained that there are plans to provide every household with a connection to high speed broadband.

"We gave an obligation to serve every premises. We will not be turning around and saying no, you're too far away. If you're not connected, we will connect you. If the standard option of dropping an overhead cable is there, we'll do it. If there's a pipe, we'll use that," he said.

More information on the roll out of the National Broadband Plan can be found at www.nbi.ie.
Allaying concerns of Chhattisgarh over incomplete phase 3 trials of Covaxin, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Thursday said both this and the other COVID-19 vaccine Covishield are safe and immunogenic and should be used expeditiously to mitigate the impact of the pandemic. Earlier, Chhattisgarh Health Minister TS Singh Deo said he had written to Vardhan urging him not to send Bharat Biotech's Covaxin till the phase-3 clinical trial results are completed while also expressing concern about the absence of expiry date on the vials of the vaccine.

The primary concerns of the state, Deo said on Twitter, are the inhibitions regarding the incomplete third phase trials of Covaxin and the absence of expiration date on the vials of the vaccine. "I have requested him to halt the supply of Covaxin to Chhattisgarh until these issues are addressed to the satisfaction of our Health Department to avoid the wastage of the early expiration doses of the drug," he said in another tweet.

Responding to his letter, Vardhan said he has got the matter examined in the ministry and as per New Drugs and Clinical Trials Rules, 2019, under Drugs and Cosmetics Act , 1940 and in light of urgent need due to COVID-19 pandemic in the country, the Central Drugs Standard and Control Organisation (CDSCO) has granted permission to manufacture the two vaccines based on the prescribed procedure and after due evaluation of pre-clinical and clinical trial data. Only those COVID-19 vaccines that have been granted permission for restricted use in emergency situations by the DCGI i.e.Covishield and Covaxin are being used for COVID-19 vaccination drive in the country.

"Both these vaccines being supplied to the states /UTs are safe and immunogenic and should be used expeditiously to rapidly confer protection to prioratised beneficiaries thereby mitigating the impact of the pandemic at the earliest," he said. "Your concern regarding unavailability of expiry date on Covaxin vial is also completely unfounded and without basis as the same is mentioned on the label of vaccine vials," Vardhan said in his letter.

He further noted that Chhattisgarh has achieved 69.87 per cent coverage of its healthcare workers by giving them the first dose of the vaccine, the state has been able to cover only 9.55 per cent of 2,09,512 frontline workers through the first dose of the vaccine. "You would appreciate that this coverage needs to improve significantly since adequate quantity of both the vaccines are available with the state. I look forward to your continuous oversight and guidance to the ongoing COVID-19 vaccination drive in the state of Chhattisgarh which remains crucial for its success," he said.
In the fall of 2019, not every instructor at Samford University used Canvas, an online learning management system where they can post assignments and videos of lectures.

By the following year, things were different. Its not optional, said Betsy Holloway, vice president for marketing and communications. One hundred percent are in Canvas.

The change, of course, is due to COVID-19. But once the pandemic ends, what elements of the new technology will remain a part of the higher ed landscape? Nearly a year in, administrators at Christian colleges are pausing to assess the real-world experiment with online education.

Recently, a number of schools affiliated with the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU) have signed on to work with CampusEDU, a new ed tech company partly owned by the CCCU, which aspires to usher in the next generation of online classes.

Abilene Christian University, Gordon College, Houghton College, Indiana Wesleyan University, John Brown University, Lipscomb University, Ohio Christian University, Oklahoma Christian University, and two institutions affiliated with the Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE) have partnered with CampusEDU so far.

Darren Campbell, CEO of CampusEDU, compared most online education to the Model T, believing theres a long way to go to build on the basics. Its very text heavy, he said. We believe the future of online education is more graphical.

The company works with institutions to create MasterClass-esque content with highly produced videos of lectures. Current offerings include a New Testament survey taught by Jim Lo at Indiana Wesleyan; Latin I, taught by Ian Drummond at Gordon; and Intro to Computing, taught by Ted Song at John Brown University. Students at participating schools can take courses taught by professors from a partner institution at no additional cost.

COVID-19 is changing the higher education landscape, and were seeing that the flexibility of blending in-person and online education is proving to be an effective model for many of our campuses, said CCCU president Shirley Hoogstra, announcing the partnership. It has become clear that we need to provide extraordinary in-person and extraordinary online courses.

Another for-profit online learning tool, Acadeum, also has a course-sharing consortium, with more than 50 CCCU institutions participating. Through the platform, schools can approve and enroll students in classes developed by other institutions, and then share the data and money for cross-registration.

Rick Ostrander, Acadeums vice president for academic partnerships, said the technology gives students increased flexibility, allows institutions to add courses to their current offerings, and helps schools get online more quickly than if they did it on their own.

Ostrander and Campbell said COVID-19 has been a blessing and a curse. Some institutions have expressed interest in signing up, while others have been busy with day-to-day management.

In some cases, COVID-19 has really kept institutions from thinking about long-term strategic growth initiatives, Ostrander said.

Schools had been slowly building and testing remote-learning infrastructure for years, with traditional undergraduate enrollment declining and growing interest from adult learners taking classes part-time, high school students in dual enrollment, and transfer students requiring greater flexibility with instruction.

By 2013, about 13 percent of all students at CCCU schools were exclusively enrolled in distance education, according to data provided by the CCCU. By 2018, the most recent year available, that had climbed to 19 percent.

Some schools have sought to create a niche for themselves by developing extensive online offerings. Indiana Wesleyan University launched its first online course in 1996. Today IWU National & Global, a separate school for graduate and online degree programs, serves about 9,000 students.

Matt Lucas, chancellor of IWU National & Global, said schools trying to do more online education may find it is more difficult than they expect. Its one thing to provide instruction through a learning management system or Zoom to provide instruction. Its another to offset declining enrollments by recruiting students into web courses, competing with all the other colleges and universities doing the same thing.

It is really hard to have gravitas in this space, Lucas said. Because it is a red ocean. It is a dog eat dog. It has become a commodity to drive down the price of tuition as much as possible.

Colleges will have to stand out to be competitive in the online education market, said education-technology blogger Michael Feldstein in a piece titled Online Learning Student Experience is the New Climbing Wall.

He writes that schools will have to create distinctive and valuable experiences (online) that are just as meaningful and just as easy as bumping into your professor at the coffee shop or meeting your classmates for pizza at the dining hall.

At the same time, Christian administrators and experts told CT they think COVID-19 will make prospective students value in-person education more in the coming years.

Thats the bet that Palm Beach Atlantic University is making. While the Christian school has been growing its online-only degree programsit had five programs in 2017 and will be up to 17 this fallits also doubling-down on traditional, in-person learning, described Melanie Jackson, Palm Beach Atlantic s eLearning director.

In response to the pandemic, the school still offered entirely in-person instruction on campus this academic year, with careful quarantine procedures for students who were exposed to the coronavirus. Also, some students received medical exemptions if they wanted to take classes from home.

It was not entered into lightly, Jackson said. We truly feel like the mission of our university is transformationto aid students to become strong Christian leaders in their communities and in their fields. For many students and for many programs, that transformation for students takes place in the classroom.

Palm Beach Atlantic installed acrylic plastic shields around each students desk and each teachers podium, making the classrooms look oddly futuristic. Faculty still need to be familiar with remote-learning tools for students not in the classroom. Professors stream every lecture on Zoom and post assignments on Canvas.

At Samford, where every professor is required to use Canvas, administrators are also thinking about the value of old-fashioned college, in which a few people engage with each other in a decidedly non-virtual room.

CCCU schools, Samford included, should be able to deliver on that core value proposition, Holloway said. A small class that is highly relational, experiential learning. I think there is going to be an acute desire for that.
Marketing grad programs is hard and its costly. 3E solves for it in a way no one else ever hasor ever could.

Changes to the way we consume information have transformed our expectations of marketing. Rapidly evolving technologies contribute to that changeand to the explosion of solutions that address that change. Successful modern marketing now requires an intricate orchestration of messaging, channels, technology, and data to provide each individual a personally relevant and engaging experience while invoking action.

3 Enrollment Marketing, Inc. has already brought modern marketing to undergraduate higher education, with solutions designed to manage the complexities of the enrollment process, search to matriculation, while delivering stronger outcomes.

Today, with 3E Conversion Graduate, the company now offers the only modern and comprehensive solution to move best-fit graduate students from interest to enrollment.

Graduate recruitment has intrinsic challenges that heighten the complexities of building a robust marketing campaign. Programs are highly specific, which can pose a barrier in generating leads. Audiences are diffuse in their motivations and backgrounds, which can make them difficult to target and identify. And because of these two factors, the path from interest to enrollment isnt necessarily predictable.

With 3E Conversion Graduate, the company overcomes these challenges to achieve three core objectives:



Identify more students for the targeted programs.

Provide those students an engaging and relevant experience.

Streamline processes and increase efficiencies for the admissions office.

Patricia Maben, 3Es president, describes how the company came to develop the solution. In short, marketing graduate programs is hard, and its been costly. It gets equated with digital marketing because grad students are more difficult to find and it is typically happening online. At 3E, as we developed our highly successful undergraduate 3E Conversion solution we saw how the same principles could be applied to a graduate audience. So we set out to build a framework specific to the needs of these audiences.

That framework includes features that are not seen in any other grad-focused solution. Core elements include:

A 360-DEGREE EXPERIENCE ACROSS ALL CHANNELS

Digital advertising has been the default in graduate enrollment marketing, but online strategies for audience-building are complex. 3Es process begins very differently, rooted in a persona-based approach that reflects those diffuse motivations and backgrounds of prospects. From focused digital ads to emails to landing pages to microsites, 3E builds a seamless (and mobile-optimized), student-focused online experience.

A PROPRIETARY EMAIL APPROACH THAT DRIVES LEADS & APPLICATIONS

3E Conversion Graduate powerfully utilizes email across the spectrum of the decision process. Depending on the student, their level of interest, and the timing, content could be building awareness, generating new interest, amplifying the conversation, strengthening engagement, or converting interest into the act of applying.

Further, the companys groundbreaking research and innovations in email deliverability are unmatched in the industry. Their experts keep step with and adapt programs to the ever-changing rules and algorithms that can impact campaign results.

ENGAGEMENT & LEAD SCORING

While the 3E Conversion Graduate campaign is a powerful solution on its own, its top strength for an admission team is the real-time intelligence that it provides. Because engagement and actions are tracked and scored, it helps guide staff in terms of prospect outreach. And for enrollment leaders, the program dashboard monitors the campaign against goals and milestones 24/7 in a modern, easy-to-interpret platform.

3E Graduate Conversion is the only comprehensive graduate enrollment marketing solution in the industry. A modern campaign designed to generate a higher volume of higher quality leads and applications, it builds graduate enrollment with efficiency and impact.

3E is hosting a webinar on Thursday, March 4 at 2 pm ET to outline details of the solution. Register here.

About 3 Enrollment Marketing, Inc

We are modern marketing built for higher ed, and we have transformed enrollment marketing with our solutions. Applying our core principlesimplementing innovations from outside higher ed, streamlining complexities, utilizing cutting-edge tools, and focusing on practicalitywe bring modern strategic solutions to colleges and universities. We are difference makers.

https://3enrollment.com/

https://twitter.com/3Enrollment

https://www.linkedin.com/company/3enrollment/
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The second Trump impeachment trial continues today: Heres everything you need to know, including how to watch, what to expect and more.

When is the Trump impeachment trial? What time does the impeachment trial start?

Former President Donald Trumps second impeachment trial began Tuesday and continues Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021, at 12 p.m. ET, in the U.S. Senate at the Capitol in Washington, D.C. The trial is expected to last into the weekend and possibly longer.

What channel is the Trump impeachment trial on? Heres how to watch:

Live coverage of the impeachment trial will broadcast on PBS, C-SPAN, CNN, Fox News and MSNBC. ABC, CBS, and NBC will also be providing special coverage in their evening and morning newscasts.

The trial will also be streaming live through the apps and websites for ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, NBC and PBS. Free livestreams are also available on YouTube, Facebook, and through Newsy (via FuboTV, Philo, Sling TV and YouTube TV). Heres C-SPANs live online stream:

What is Trump charged with? Will he be convicted?

Trump has been charged with article of impeachment for incitement of insurrection. Hes accused of encouraging a pro-Trump mob to storm the U.S. Capitol, which led to five deaths and dozens of injured police officers. Several insurrectionists have been accused of threatening to kill lawmakers, chanting Hang Mike Pence! and searching for people like House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, as they objected to the results of the 2020 presidential election, which President Joe Biden won, and interrupted Congress Electoral College count.

Two-thirds of the Senate must vote to convict Trump, which appears unlikely as 45 Senate Republicans voted to dismiss the trial. The Senate is currently split 50-50, and Democrats have a slight majority with Vice President Kamala Harris, but Dems would need 17 additional votes to convict the former Republican president.

What to watch for:

According to the Associated Press, lawyers for Trump are arguing that the trial is unconstitutional and that the former president was exercising his free speech rights when he told Make America Great Again supporters to fight like hell.

Tuesdays proceedings began with a debate to dismiss the trial before it even begins; Republicans argued that an impeachment to remove the president from office is irrelevant because Trump is no longer president, though he was impeached by the House before he left office. The Senate voted, 56-44, that the trial is constitutional and agreed to proceed with the trial Tuesday.

The House managers present their arguments first, with each side allowed up to 16 hours to make their case, with up to eight hours per day. Democratic prosecutors painted Trump as the inciter in chief Wednesday, using footage of the Capitol riot and Trumps own words to accuse him of whipping his supporters into a frenzy with the big lie that their votes had been stolen.

This attack never would have happened but for Donald Trump, said Rep. Madeleine Dean, D-Pa., choking back emotion. And so they came, draped in Trumps flag, and used our flag, the American flag, to batter and to bludgeon.

Defense arguments are likely to begin Friday, according to the AP, with arguments that fight like hell did not literally mean to fight with violence.

Witnesses are currently not expected to appear at the trial, presided over by Senate Pro Tem Patrick Leahy (D-VT). Trump has declined a request to testify.

Will any Republicans vote to convict Trump?

Democrats are expected to appeal to Republicans in an effort to sway at least 17 of them to convict Trump, focusing on the threats to their own lives in the Capitol riots. A separate vote could potentially bar Trump from holding future office and would only need a majority.

Susan Collins of Maine, Ben Sasse of Nebraska, Mitt Romney of Utah, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania have all criticized Trump and voted in favor of having the impeachment trial. Those same five Republican senators voted Tuesday that the trial was constitutional, plus a sixth: Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana.

GOP senators retiring in 2022, like Toomey, Rob Portman of Ohio, Richard Burr of North Carolina and Richard Shelby of Alabama, may also be free of political consequences from voting to impeach Trump.

Trump is the first U.S. president to be impeached twice. He was first impeached in December 2019 on two articles of impeachment, for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. Trump was acquitted in January 2020 by the then GOP-controlled Senate; Romney was the only Republican who voted to convict him for abuse of power.

A man was shot and killed Wednesday night in a pickup truck in south central Houston, police said.

Officers were dispatched to the 300 block of N. Bryan Street in Second Ward where they found a man dead in the passenger's seat of a white truck, said Lt. Larry Crowson of the Houston Police Department.

The driver of the truck said someone fired shots, striking his passenger, during an altercation near Anita and Scott streets in Greater Third Ward, Crowson said.

The driver drove several miles to a home on Bryan Street where the victim, who has not been identified, died.

Homicide investigators were dispatched to both scenes and anyone with information is asked to call HPD homicide division or Crime Stoppers.
The transportation infrastructure business of L&T Construction has secured 'significant' order to extend the mainline corridor of the Mauritius Metro by 3.4 km from Metro Express (MEL), Mauritius.

The project involves the construction of a fully integrated light rail based Urban Transit System from Rose Hill Interchange towards Ebene reaching Reduit near the University of Mauritius.

The railways strategic business group of transportation infrastructure business has also secured an order from Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation Limited (UPMRCL). The scope of works includes design, installation, testing & commissioning of ballastless track of standard gauge in 4 corridors in elevated as well as underground sections of Kanpur and Agra Metro Projects along with supply of fastening systems and associated ballasted/ballastless tracks in 4 depots. This order has been secured against stiff competition from various local and major multi-national companies.

L&T is an Indian multinational engaged in engineering, procurement and construction projects, manufacturing, defence and services with over $21 billion in revenue.

On a consolidated basis, the company's net profit surged 115.20% to Rs 5876.54 crore on 12.2% decline in net sales to Rs 31,034.74 crore in Q2 September 2020 over Q2 September 2019. L&T will announce Q3 FY21 result on 25 January 2021.

The scrip shed 1.30% to currently trade at Rs 1532.65 on the BSE.

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

Press Release

11 February 2021

After a year of unpredictability and disappointments, the world can use a bit of joy and stability in 2021. Good news - inspired by the new colors of the year for 2021, a reliable, rock-solid gray and a sunny, sparkling yellow, we have delved into our more than 28 million listings in over 153,000 destinations around the world to present eight spectacular stays in these bold hues to spark your signature style choices over the coming year. Whether that's a fresh coat of paint on the wall, a cheerful new top or a much-needed weekend escape when the time is right to travel again, these gorgeous getaways in the year's most sought after colors offer a kaleidoscope of hope and strength for the months ahead.

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Angad Arts Hotel, St. Louis, Missouri, USA

Angad Arts Hotel  Photo: Booking.com

Angad Arts Hotel  Photo: Booking.com

Located in the heart of St. Louis's Grand Center Arts District, this unique boutique hotel gives its guests the opportunity to rest their heads in various monochromatic rooms in all the colors of the rainbow. With eye-popping attention to detail and uber-stylish decor, guests can immerse themselves in the yellow rooms' wall-to-wall cheer, perfect for a chipper and uplifting stay. Regardless of which shade guests select, each of the Insta-worthy rooms has plenty of awe-inspiring angles to capture the perfect shot that's sure to fill your followers with envy, of course once it's safe to travel again.

Hotel Ottilia by Brchner Hotels, Copenhagen, Denmark

Hotel Ottilia by Brchner Hotels  Photo: Booking.com

Hotel Ottilia by Brchner Hotels  Photo: Booking.com

With a minimalist Nordic design, this sleek yet stoic hotel in the Carlsberg district of Copenhagen is housed in an iconic brewery, making every design (and beer) lover feel right at home. Combining the original elements of the brewery buildings with a cool industrial look, Hotel Ottilia is an aesthetic treat for the eyes. The raw materials in slate grey tones, the impressive lighting installations and the round panorama windows overlooking the square, are only some of the features that make this property a true piece of art.

Hotel Negresco, Nice, France

Hotel Negresco  Photo: Booking.com

Photo: Booking.com

Dating from the beginning of the 20th century, this historic hotel first opened its doors in 1913 and offers uninterrupted views of the beach and the picture-perfect Promenade des Anglais in Nice. Various glimmering shades of yellow feature prominently throughout, whether it's the elegant golden hues that grace the hotel's Napoleon Suite in homage to the elegance of a bygone era, or the crisp and sunny shades that dominate the hotel's newly renovated wing, inspired by the perpetual sunshine for which the Cote d'Azur is beloved. From the ornate Louis XIII style to contemporary art, five centuries of history are exhibited throughout this stylish and stately property, sure to spark a sense of discovery and optimism for the year ahead.

Hotel KOE Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan

Hotel KOE Tokyo  Photo: Booking.com

Hotel KOE Tokyo  Photo: Booking.com

Contemporary design that combines aspects of balance and restraint from traditional Japanese culture with stark, open spaces beckons at the Hotel KOE Tokyo. The subtle shades of ash and stone soothe the senses, while the clean lines exude a quiet stability, creating a peaceful sanctuary in the bustling heart of the vibrant Japanese capital. The ultimate in seclusion and simplicity, the layering effect of the hotel's subdued color palette brings additional depth, making it an oasis for rest and contemplation.

Duxton Reserve, Singapore

Duxton Reserve  Photo: Booking.com

Duxton Reserve  Photo: Booking.com

With shimmering yellow shades popping as dazzling accents throughout this elegant hotel at the center of Singapore's Tanjong Pagar district, the Duxton Reserve features an alluring amalgamation of Chinese, Malay and European styles. The hotel's modern Chinese restaurant Yellow Pot impresses not only with its delicious dishes, but also the attention-grabbing yellow urns and containers which line the walls. A beacon of refinement and luxury, the hotel's expressive use of yellow creates an invigorating and energetic flow throughout.

COMO The Treasury, Perth, Australia

COMO The Treasury  Photo: Booking.com

COMO The Treasury  Photo: Booking.com

Set in a series of historic mid-19th-century buildings in the heart of Perth, the interior spaces of COMO The Treasury invoke a calming sense of neutrality and balance through a clever use of complementary shades of grey. Oozing with style, each of the beautiful rooms captures a comforting minimalist vibe, complete with mid-century armchairs and a cocoon of silver panelling. As a bonus, the hotel's private dining area pairs the property's signature solid grey tones with bubbly, bright yellow accents, creating an atmosphere that captures the best of 2021's colors of the year; equal parts whimsy and durability, and ideal for enjoying some quality time around the table with family and friends, when the time is right again.

Hotel de la Coupole - MGallery, Sa Pa, Vietnam

Hotel de la Coupole - MGallery  Photo: Booking.com

Hotel de la Coupole - MGallery  Photo: Booking.com

Inspired by the vibrant colors favored by local communities in the region of Sa Pa and French Haute Couture, this stunning escape is a travel experience all on its own. The gorgeous Hotel de la Coupole - MGallery, bathed in bold shades of yellow both inside and out, boasts breathtaking views of the Sapa Valley and the impressive surrounding mountainous landscape. With elegant rooms painted in bold golden shades and French-influenced decor, guests can immerse themselves in a world of optimism, enlightenment and creativity.

The Pantone Hotel Brussels, Belgium

The Pantone Hotel Brussels  Photo: Booking.com

The Pantone Hotel Brussels  Photo: Booking.com

For those that yearn for a full palette of colors, this boutique hotel is the perfect place to spend a one-of-a-kind night in Brussels, when it's safe to travel again. The creation of interior designer Michel Penneman and architect Olivier Hannaert, The Pantone Hotel features rooms all decorated in different color themes, featuring exclusive photography in matching shades by Belgian artist Victor Levy. No matter your Pantone preference, this getaway offers something for every design fan, including an on-site store filled with unique gifts in multiple hues, perhaps even including this year's signature shades of yellow and grey.
Europe passed on Wednesday the horrific milestone of three quarters of a million dead to COVID-19.

With the 5,091 fatalities recorded yesterday, the death toll of the continent, including Russia and the Ukraine, reached 751,432 according to figures published by Worldometer. The grim tally was reached just a year short of the first recorded death on the continenta Chinese tourist who was reported dead in a French hospital on February 15 last year.

Clinical staff care for a patient with coronavirus in the intensive care unit at the Royal Papworth Hospital in Cambridge, England, May 5, 2020 [Credit: Neil Hall Pool via AP]

Thousands of deaths are being reported daily on every continent, with global fatalities reaching 2,362,515 Wednesday evening.

COVID-19 deaths as measured by governments are around 20 percent lower than the real figure, according to a study of excess deaths by Nature magazine, meaning that Europe is in reality closer to a million deaths.

Over 31 million coronavirus infections have ravaged Europes population over the last year. In the first three days of this week more than 370,000 new cases were reported, with many of these mutations of the original strain.

The capitalist class is at war with society. Last week, the prestigious British Medical Journal accused the worlds governments of social murder  in their collective response to the pandemic.

The scale of death being witnessed in Europe and across the globe is unprecedented outside of wartime. There were on average about 6,060 deaths a day in World War 1. Over a year after the pandemic started there were 13,000 deaths globally from COVID-19 Tuesday and over 14,000 Wednesday. In the course of 48 hours, Tuesday and Wednesday, 10,500 more deaths were recorded in Europe.

The battles of the Somme and Verdun fought in Europe during World War 1 were among the most terrible events in history, with an estimated 600,000 lives lost as soldiers were wiped out by machine guns and shells for months on end. Today even more lives have been lost to a deadly virus across the continent, with workers still being sent into unsafe factories, offices and schools as the pandemic rages.

This policy has been overseen by governments no matter what their political stripe. All have the same agenda of herd immunity dictated by the oligarchs and major corporations. All are indifferent to threat to the lives and health of millions, especially when this impacts of the working class.

The policy of herd immunity, of letting the virus rip through the population without serious measures of containment, should more properly be called a policy of death. This was most brutally summed up, at the outset of the pandemic, by UK Prime Minister Boris Johnsons former chief adviser Dominic Cummings, as herd immunity, protect the economy, and if that means some pensioners die, too bad.

The pandemic has taken over 120,000 lives in Britain.

With thousands still dying every day, under conditions in which the virus has mutated into even more deadly and contagious strains, and with only a fraction of the population vaccinated, the ruling elite is insisting that even limited lockdowns are ended as rapidly as possible and schools and workplaces are fully reopened.

The terrible consequences can be seen most graphically in Portugal, which, after lifting many restrictions, recently suffered the worst death rate in the world, as the highly contagious British variant rapidly spread throughout the population.

In Britain, a roadmap to end what is termed the last lockdown begins February 22, with the devolved Scottish National Party government already planning to open schools from that date.

In France, schools remain open under its partial lockdown. Last week French universities began to partially reopen to students. In a recent National Security Council meeting, French President Emmanuel Macron said, in a comment leaked to the media, 'I have had enough of those scientists who only respond to my questions about the variants with one single scenario: that of a new lockdown... Everything must be done to avoid a new lockdown.'

Germany reviewed its lockdown yesterday and is moving towards the full reopening of schools and day-care centers. On Tuesday Rainer Dulger, President of the Confederation of German Employers' Associations, told the Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland news station, From the employers' point of view, it would be incomprehensible to continue the restrictive measures without finally identifying a clear and rule-based opening scenario that is also supported by a broad majority.

The message of the ruling class was aired in Britains pro-Tory Daily Telegraph on Wednesday. Philip Johnston, the newspapers assistant editor, declared in an op-ed piece, The Government ought to be honest that our only realistic strategy now is to treat the virus like flu.

He added, The Government needs to be upfront with people about the realities. We will be living with Covid for decades, people will catch it every year and thousands will die. That is what has happened with past contagions and, while we are now in a better position to mitigate, treat and vaccinate, that is what will happen with this one.

In a summing up the universal insistence that profits are all that matters for the ruling class, Johnston wrote of the virus, We cant eliminate it. Well, we can, but the cost would be colossal.

The working class can only oppose the mass slaughter taking place by intervening independently with its own socialist programme.

Rank and file committees must be established in every workplace and ensure that all non-essential production is halted until it is safe to return to work.

Schools and other education settings, which are proven vectors of virus transmission, must be closed and all the resources required for distance learning made available.

Wages and jobs must be safeguarded by seizing the assets and wealth of the pandemic profiteersthe major transnational corporations and the financial oligarchy.

Workers and young people internationally are opposed to working in unsafe conditions. Strikes by pupils have broken out in Germany and have won the backing of teachers and other education staff. But as every experience shows, including the recent struggle by teachers in Chicago in the US, the working class cannot entrust its fate to the rotten pro-capitalist trade unions, which work in alliance with governments of all political denominations to police the homicidal back to work/back to school policies.

This struggle requires a political programme and leadership. The Socialist Equality Parties in Europe and internationally are leading the fight against the pandemic. In a World Socialist Web Site perspective January 31,  Capitalism vs. socialism: The pandemic and the global class struggle , the International Committee of the Fourth International outlined a programme on which the working class is able to intervene and prevent further mass death.

The WSWS perspective insisted that to oppose the capitalist programme, which insists that the response to the pandemic must prioritize saving the financial markets over saving lives, workers must fight for a socialist programme that insists that the response to the pandemic must prioritize saving lives over saving the financial markets.
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Watertown, NY (13601)

Today

More clouds than sun. Slight chance of a rain shower. High around 65F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Low 44F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph.
The Organization for Democracy and Economic Development (GUAM) with the participation of Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan and Moldova) can become a platform for promoting the problem of territorial conflicts on the international agenda, the press service of the Verkhovna Rada administration reports following the 13th sessions of the GUAM Parliamentary Assembly via videoconference.

"The GUAM platform can become a platform for promoting the problem of territorial conflicts on the international agenda. A reboot is required, a new, constructive approach to highlighting and articulating this pressing problem. This, in the opinion of the parliamentarians, will help prevent the escalation of existing conflicts, focus efforts on their solution and prevent the outbreak of new wars," the message says.

According to the Secretary General of GUAM Altai Efendyev, the 13th session of the GUAM PA is transitional, since the powers of the chairmanship are transferred from Azerbaijan to Georgia.

He said that one of the main goals of GUAM's further work is the creation of a free economic zone between the members of the organization and the development of transport cooperation - the creation of a transport corridor within the region.

The Secretary General called on the GUAM members to focus on cooperation and coordination with such international structures as the OSCE, NATO, which is necessary to promote GUAM on the world stage as the main instrument for ensuring stability and security in the region and an important member in the system of regional parliamentarism.

The head of the permanent delegation of the Verkhovna Rada to the GUAM PA Sviatoslav Yurash (Servant of the People faction) stressed the importance of Ukraine's membership in GUAM and various international structures and institutions.

"Ukraine is ready to communicate with all members of the organization and is preparing proposals for cooperation in the future Assembly in Tbilisi and in the Baltic Assembly," Yurash said.

The MP said that at the 12th session of the Parliamentary Assembly in Kyiv in 2019, the issue of creating a Cybersecurity Center was raised.

"We were able to provide our vision, a specific number of organizations that support us. The relationship that has developed between our states is very important for those structures and institutions that are outside the group, and this creates a certain space for the transportation and free exchange of goods, in a certain way connected with GUAM, who would like to work closely with GUAM and ensuring security, from this point of view, is very important," Yurash said.

The session was attended by representatives of the parliamentary delegations of the GUAM member states - Georgia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, Moldova, as well as guests - the President of the Baltic Assembly, the PABSEC Secretary General and the Secretary General of the Parliamentary Assembly of Turkish Speaking States.
A New Jersey man was arrested by the Hazleton police narcotics unit on Monday.

Officers said they seized pounds of marijuana and cash from Matthew P. Martin, 52, Edgewater.

He was charged with a felony count of manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to deliver. Bail was set at $250,000 Tuesday by Magisterial District Judge Alexandra Kokura Kravitz, Pittston, and unable to post the money, he was taken to jail.

Narcotics detectives were conducting surveillance of suspected drug activity when they asked city patrol officers to stop the silver Toyota sport utility vehicle Martin was driving, according to a news release. Police said Martin was stopped after committing moving violations and a court docket shows he was charged with two stop sign and one turn signal infraction.

During the stop, Martin admitted to having a small amount of marijuana, but a search of the vehicle turned up 5 pounds of it, more than $13,000, three cellphones and two Fraternal Order of Police badges, police said.

Narcotics officers said they are committed to aggressively investigating drug offenses, conducting covert surveillance, developing the situation and apprehending those responsible for dealing illegal drugs. They said they will use every asset at their disposal to find law breakers.
Chief accountant of Russian embassy in Israel gets 6 years for $700K embezzlement

 RAPSI, Vladimir Burnov

10:56 11/02/2021

MOSCOW, February 11 (RAPSI)  Moscows Nagatinsky District Court has sentenced chief accountant of Russias embassy in Israel Natalya Zhuravleva to 6 years in penal colony fo embezzling around 50 million rubles (about $700,000) of budget funds, the courts press service has told RAPSI.

Her colleague Anna Sidorova received 8 years behind bars. Irina Los, an employee of the state enterprise Goszaransobstvennost engaged in the foreign property belonging to Russia, was sentenced to 5 years in custody. Also, all the convicts are to pay fines in the amount of 900,000 rubles.

According to the court findings, the defendants have stolen over 49 million rubles from Russias accounts using forged documents and paying fictious contracts on behalf of the embassy.
A first year nursing student at Ulster University has said her family could not believe she had the chance to tell the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge about her experiences working and studying during the pandemic.

Abigail McGarvey (18) from Portstewart said the royal couple were "lovely" and "so easy to talk to" during the video call on Tuesday, in which she told them about a video diary for social media application TikTok she created about her first placement in Causeway Hospital as a student nurse.

In the footage she is seen getting up for a night shift, travelling to work and putting on personal protective equipment (PPE) of a mask, apron, gloves and visor. Later she puts on higher grade protection for working with Covid-19 positive patients.

She said on Wednesday: "They were really comforting and asked us so much.

"They asked about what it's like being a student nurse during the pandemic and what challenges have come up and about my TikTok video and asked did I enjoy doing it."

Expand Close Nursing student Abigail McGarvey / Facebook

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During the call, the Duchess of Cambridge also joined a group of second and third year student nurses from Ulster University's School of Nursing taking part in a practical clinical session.

Student nurses also joined the fight against the pandemic and many opted to extend their placements to support the frontline workforce. The duchess told them they were "needed now more than ever", with the duke describing their placements during the pandemic as a "baptism of fire".

The three students were supervised by lecturer Stephanie Dunleavey as they assessed a mock patient. They told the royal couple they appreciated the invaluable experiences they have gained working on the front line, and the support they received from the university during this challenging period.

Year 3 nursing student Elizabeth (Lisa) Semerdzhieva said working during the pandemic was "frightening at the start" but she couldn't wait to do more. "You can't wait to get back out and practise, to feel like you're helping, you know, because that's what we were born to do really."

Expand Close Stephanie Dunleavey, lecturer in the School of Nursing, Ulster University, and students Elizabeth Semerdzhieva, Rachel Reid and Paige Murray / Facebook

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Whatsapp Stephanie Dunleavey, lecturer in the School of Nursing, Ulster University, and students Elizabeth Semerdzhieva, Rachel Reid and Paige Murray

Speaking with the group, the duchess said: "Nursing is one of the most trusted professions in the country, so you couldn't have chosen a better career choice and it's needed now more than ever.

"You've got almost three generations now - those coming back from retirement but also you guys doing your training who are stepping up. It shows real commitment and real teamwork, and it should really be celebrated, so really well done."

Ms McGarvey has just completed her first placement as a student nurse at the Magee campus, which she said was "absolutely amazing".

"I never wanted to leave," she said. Her first year as a student nurse has been "mad" due to the pandemic and Ms McGarvey said she and her fellow students have been "thrown in the deep end". "But I've loved it and it has confirmed it's what I'm meant to do. I'm so well supported and I haven't struggled at all."

Ms McGarvey has had to live at home for online lectures and said she would have loved to have met new friends on campus in Londonderry, something she also discussed with the Duke and Duchess.

"Even the silly things like Fresher's Week, making friends on campus or Christmas Jumper Day. Making friends is hard anyway, never mind through a screen," she added.

Despite her family not believing her about her royal meeting, she said they soon came round.

"My mum didn't believe me at the start but I'm from a whole family of nurses so they were really proud of it," she said.
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LONDON, Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- As political unrest and economic instability grips parts of Southeast Asia, many high net-worth individuals seek alternative means of protecting their future and that of their families. Second citizenship has been a growing trend in the region in recent years with wealthy investors looking for an insurance policy in the case of a crisis in their home country. A popular option they turn to is St Kitts and Nevis' Citizenship by Investment (CBI) Programme - the longest-standing economic citizenship programme on the market.

Launched in 1984, St Kitts and Nevis has operated its CBI Programme for nearly four decades thus earning it its Platinum Standard moniker. The citizenship acquisition process involves an applicant making a qualifying investment through the Sustainable Growth Fund (SGF) route. The SGF was first introduced in 2018 by Prime Minister Timothy Harris and is recognised as the fastest and most straightforward route to the nation's citizenship.

Once undertaking the multi-tiered due diligence process comprising of both internal and external checks, successful applicants gain citizenship for life with the right to live, work and study in the nation. Perks of St Kitts and Nevis citizenship also include increased travel freedom to 156 countries, including major business hubs, alternative business prospects and the ability to pass citizenship down generations to come.

Investors who choose to reside in St Kitts and Nevis do so assured that they are in a democratic nation committed to improving quality of life. The dual-islands has a low crime rate and boasts stable governance that offers citizens both safety and security. In recent years, St Kitts and Nevis has also ranked number one in the region in the Rule of Law index for order, security, and civil justice.

Micha Emmett, CEO of CS Global Partners, spoke to the importance of political stability. "Last year, when the world entered the lockdown, many people were confined to a country governed with an unstable political regime. The comfort of having a second citizenship and to be able to go to a country where you feel the safety and security of a steady, sensible government is priceless. We've seen St Kitts and Nevis truly stand apart from many other governments in being able to offer that sort of comfort to families," she said.

With parts of the region confronted with waves of unrest and the reminiscences of last year's Hong Kong demonstrations still fresh on people's minds, high net-worth individuals are increasingly pursuing alternative routes to protect their future, wealth and family.

+447867942505, pr@csglobalpartners.com, www.csglobalpartners.com
PHILIPSBURG:--- The letter by the Director for Latin America and the Caribbean Region of the World Bank, regarding PJIA Holding Boards alleged intention to dismiss PJIAs Managing Director, Brian Mingo does not come as a surprise. In fact, had nothing been said by those involved in the reconstruction and financing of the Princess Juliana International Airport when the Holdings intention was made public, that would have been worrisome, said MP Sarah Wescot-Williams in a recent statement.

I have publicly questioned the motives of the Government and the Holding Board of the Airport on this matter and I cautioned that this could have an adverse effect, especially given the manner in which this affair played out in public. It would appear that the Government got the Holding Board to carry out its wishes because this Governments hang-up with the airports reconstruction agreement is public knowledge. In fact, let it be recalled that the airport was one of the issues, some of the current ministers used as Members of Parliament to beat up on their predecessors, notably the Leona Marlin Cabinet Ministers.

MP Wescot-Williams has questioned the wisdom of the move by the Holding Board of the Airport to dismiss its Managing Director and even more so to do it in the way it was done. Her questions were posed to both the Prime Minister and the Minister of TEATT.

Since this Government has developed a habit of selectivity when it comes to answering questions and consenting to meetings of Parliament, I grasped the opportunity of the meeting regarding the law to cut the salaries of (semi) public entities and Government-owned companies, to again question this matter between the Airports Holding and the Managing Director, she said.

The MP stated that the written answer she eventually received from the Prime Minister did not in the least convince her of Governments hands-off in this entire affair. To the contrary, I believe the Government orchestrated it. Now with the communique from the World Bank, the government has to explain its part in this affair. Did the Holding board really act of its own accord? And if so, what is the governments response to all of this?
(Newser)  US and Canadian authorities are celebrating the release of a Saudi women's rights activist after 1,001 days in prison, though allies say she is not yet "free." Loujain al-Hathloul, a 31-year-old activist who attended university in Canada, was arrested in 2014 as she defied a ban on women driving. She continued to fight for women's rights, including the removal of male guardianship laws, before she was detained again in May 2018. She said she endured torture and sexual abuse before finally facing trial in December, per the CBC. She was convicted of agitating for change, pursuing a foreign agenda, and using the internet to harm public order under a vague anti-terrorism law and sentenced to almost six years in prison. However, the judge suspended two years and 10 months of that sentence and gave credit for time served, setting up a March release.

story continues below

Her family confirmed her release, earlier than expected, on Wednesday, sharing a photo of the activist smiling at home, per the AP. Canadian authorities expressed relief at the development. President Biden said al-Hathloul is "a powerful advocate for women's rights, and releasing her was the right thing to do." At the Guardian, Martin Chulov writes that this result was "near the top of Joe Biden's foreign policy to-do list." He also sees it as a "peace offering" from Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia's de facto leader, with his regime worried about frostier US relations now that former President Trump is gone. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch caution that the activist is not free, however, as she is on a three-year probation and subject to a five-year travel ban, per NBC News. "We remain concerned" as she is "still a convicted terrorist in Saudi Arabia solely for her peaceful activism," an Amnesty rep tells the CBC. (Read more Saudi Arabia stories.)

New Delhi:

The entry of Reliance Jio has changed the economic picture of whole telecom sector.As it enters the market, it provided free data and voice call.This prompted many customer to change their network to Jio and as many did so, it left other telecom player in a big loss. For sustaining in the free service market, many others such as Airtel, forced to give free service at less price.

Now some telecom operators are urging Telecom Regulatory Authority of India(TRAI), to fix a 'minimum floor price' for both data and voice calls. TRAI will meet all service provider on 21st of july to seek their views and arguments on the 'minimum floor price'.

Currently the tarrifs are under forbearance, operators virtualy have free hand in fixing the rates and reports plans to Trai in 7 days.

The demand for imposition of a floor price first came up last month, at industry's meetings with the regulator and separately with the inter-ministerial group (IMG).

Highlighting the growing financial stress on operators, Idea Cellular, in its presentation to the IMG had said that the industry has been witnessing losses and negative returns driven by below cost tariffs that are "predatory".

If Trai implements minimum floor price, free data and voice services can come to end.

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During meet with Antony Blinken, Jaishankar thanks US for strong support

India recognised by US as important part of conversation on Afghanistan: Jaishankar

India is seeing optimism post-COVID19: Jaishankar at world summit

India

oi-Briti Roy Barman

New Delhi, Feb 11: Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar said on Thursday the country is now optimistic post-pandemic at World Sustainable Development Summit-High Level Round Table on Rebooting Green Growth.

"After a year of pandemic, we are seeing optimism around us. COVID-19 may have devastated world economy, causing immeasurable damage. Millions lost their jobs and many pushed back into poverty."

The minister further said India has become the fastest-growing solar energy program in the world.

Farm Laws: What did PM Modi say on the agricultural laws in the Parliament| Oneindia News

"India on track to meet its climate change mitigation commitments. We have the fastest-growing solar energy prog in world. We have expanded access to clean cooking fuel to cover over 80 million households that has led to energy saving of about 47 bn kWh/year&reduction of 38 mn tonnes CO2/yr," said the EAM.

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Story first published: Thursday, February 11, 2021, 16:55 [IST]


Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-11 21:46:56|Editor: huaxia

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CAIRO, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- The Arab League called on all the Somali parties to immediately resume the talks to reach a deal that ensures a national election will be held soon, the pan-Arab body said in a statement on Thursday.

"The Arab League closely follows efforts of the political leaders in the government and leaders of federal member states for concluding an agreement on solving the problems that hinder preparations for the public elections," it said.

The Arab League demanded "a deal that would prevent any parallel or partial elections that lack wide national consensus."

It welcomes the call of Somali President Mohamed Farmajo for a new round of consultative talks on Feb. 15 to help break the deadlock in the electoral process.

Farmajo, whose four-year term ended on Feb. 8, has blamed foreign interventions for the failure of the talks despite compromises from his side. He also accused Puntland and Jubbaland states of refusing to support the pre-election deal.

The UN Security Council, the European Union, and the African Union have warned that delays in the election will only increase the risk of instability in Somalia.

It is worth noting that Somalia's semi-autonomous Puntland state welcomed the meeting but said the talks should be moved to Mogadishu to ensure the participation of stakeholders and the international community. Enditem
The 'Senator-elect' of River cess County, Wellington Geevon-Smith is begging the Supreme County to ensure justice in the electoral dispute emanating from the December 8, 2020 Special Senatorial Elections and the National Referendum.

The National Elections Commission (NEC) declared Geevon-Smith(journalist), an independent candidate winner in Rivercess ahead of his main challenger, Steve Tequah. But Mr. Tequah rejected the results announced by the NEC citing 'irregularities and fraud.'

After hearing into the matter, the National Elections Commission called for recount in seven of the polling centers in the county. Following the recount, Geevon-Smith obtained a total of 3,302 votes or 23.3% and his main contender, Steve Tequah got 3,248 votes or 23.0%. This means the vote difference is 54.

Mr. Tequah has again rejected the recount citing 'inconsistency' he said continues to show following the counting process

Addressing reporters in Monrovia Monday February 8, 2021, Geevon Smith announced that he has taken an appeal to the Supreme Court in order to ensure justice following the rejection by Tequah and the delay from the electoral body.

The former Rivercess County Superintendent lamented that what is now happening at the NEC is what he calls 'telephone justice'.

He alleged that somebody somewhere is playing game, but the Supreme Court needs to ensure that he is not denied justice and he must be declared winner following the recount after obtaining 54 votes which he said is more than the normal 50 or below votes that require recount.

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"He has problems with seven polling centers and the NEC conducted a recount. After the recount I won again with 54 votes difference. I won on December 8, but my opponent is still complaining and wants recount in the entire county. This is very bad for our democracy," Geevon-Smith told reporters during a press conference in Monrovia.

The Board of Commissioners of the National Elections Commission (NEC) has Friday ordered another recount in the disputed December 8, 2020 Senatorial election, this time in 104 polling places across the County.

Commissioner Boakai A. Dukuly, said the BOC notes that the recount of 7 polling places out of 111 confirms that an appreciate number valid votes were counted as invalid votes on 8 December 2020 in the Special Senatorial Elections.

"It's essential to our democracy that ballot must be accurately counted, and when necessarily recounted. This BOC believes that in order to assure Rivercess voters that their votes were counted for their respective candidates on 8 December 2020; recounts in the 104 polling places were ordered," Commissioner Dukuly said.

The Board of NEC took the decision Friday following the action of ruling into the bill of Information filed by Independent Candidate Steve Tequah against NEC and Independent Candidate Geevon-Smith.

However Geevon-Smith wants the Supreme Court of Liberia to ensure he gets justice.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-11 10:48:55|Editor: huaxia

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CANBERRA, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- A proposed data superhighway would turn the Northern Territory (NT) into Australia's "digital gateway" to Asia.

The 1.5 billion Australian dollar (1.16 billion U.S. dollar) "HyperOne" project proposed by technology entrepreneur Bevan Slattery would involve connecting all of Australia's capital cities for the first time via 20,000 kilometers of fibre network.

An interconnection point for undersea cables into Australia from Asia would be built in Darwin.

The project would create 10,000 jobs during construction and be capable of transmitting 10,000 terabits of data per second.

According to Slattery it would be the largest private digital infrastructure network of its kind in Australia and would deliver more transmission capacity than any other network.

Michael Gunner, Chief Minister of the NT, said that the project would make Darwin the "key point of digital interconnect between Southeast Asia and Australia's east coast."

"We will be the digital entrance for the rest of Asia into Australia, and we are ready to roll out the red carpet," he told News Corp Australia on Thursday.

"Infrastructure investment at this scale will supercharge Darwin's appeal as a base for both digital start-ups and multinational companies."

Slattery said that his team was in discussions with the National Broadband Network (NBN), Northern Australia Infrastructure Fund (NAIF) and the federal and NT government.

He said that Australia's current data transmission network was built prior to the proliferation of smartphones and was not prepared for future industries.

"HyperOne is big, bold and way overdue," Slattery said in a statement. Enditem

[February 11, 2021] Syniverse and Minu Launch Verified SMS in Brazil

Syniverse, the most connected company in the world, has launched, together with Minu, previously known as Minutrade, its first Verified short message service (SMS) project in Brazil. The collaboration between the two companies will allow Minu to send SMS messages with an additional layer of verification, which gives its customers more confidence in interacting with its brand through text Messages by Google (News - Alert) . This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210211005065/en/ Pablo Mlikota, President of Sales, Americas, Syniverse (News - Alert) (Photo: Business Wire) Companies use SMS messages to share useful information with their consumers. Important details such as resetting passwords, confirming account creation, or confirming appointments are commonly sent via SMS to customers and employees. However, as these communications are often made from random or unknown numbers it can be difficult to trust the source. Some may even come from fraudsters pretending to be institutions that consumers trust and request private information or send links to malicious websites. As part of Syniverse CPaaS Concierge, Verified SMS by Google is a way for customers to confirm the company's identity. The feature works by checking, by message, if the content is verified through Google. When a message is verified, the recipient can see the name and logo of the company, as well as a verification badge. This innovation, a necessary evolution of SMS, was designed to make messages safer and more trustworthy, enabling businesses to enhance conversations with users, build trust, and prevent scams. Verified SMS by Google solves a problem by increasing the user confidence and validity of the message being sent, as it comes from an ID belonging to a verifiable sender and has visible brand information, in addition to automatic link viewing. Companies also receive confirmation that the message has been delivered to customers' devices, resulting in greater visibility to marketing campaigns. Verified SMS by Google is currently available in the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, France, Spain, Philippines, India, Brazil, Italy, and Mexico. CLICK TO TWEET: .@Syniverse, the world's most #connected company, collaborates with #Minu to offer verified #SMS messages via #Messages by #Google to businesses in #Brazil. #mobilemessaging #syniverse #minu https://bit.ly/2WzS6SZ



Supporting Quotes Pablo Mlikota, President, Americas, Syniverse

"Verified SMS by Google is a key component of our Syniverse CPaaS Concierge and allows companies to deepen their relationship with their customers, who come to trust more in the brands with which they interact, which creates loyalty. In addition, these same relationships lay the foundation for companies to produce new revenue streams, with messages designed to increase engagement and conversions for their marketing campaigns. We appreciate the opportunity to work with Minu and solve a business challenge that they will overcome with our Syniverse CPaaS Concierge." Luis Bruno, Marketing Director, Minu

"The implementation of Verified SMS is a new possibility to provide our consumers with a better experience within our services, through the most extensive communication channel in our country. The security layer that this Syniverse CPaaS Concierge offers to SMS increases the possibility of engagement with our consumers, rescuing trust in a channel that has historically suffered from the misuse of bad actors."

Digital Assets [Image] Syniverse logo

[Photo] Pablo Mlikota

[Photo] Luis Bruno

[Image] Minu logo Supporting Resources Read about Syniverse.

Read Syniverse news release titled, Syniverse Launches CPaaS Concierge for Enterprises.

Read and subscribe to the Syniverse blog.

Read and subscribe to Syniverse news releases.

For more information about Syniverse's news and activities, follow the company on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.

Read about Minu.

Follow Minu on LinkedIn. About Syniverse Syniverse is the world's most connected company, revolutionizing how businesses connect, engage, and exchange with their customers. For decades, we have delivered the innovative software and services that transform mobile experiences and power the planet. Our secure global network reaches almost every person and device on Earth. Our communications platform is industry-recognized as the best of its kind. And each year, we process over $35 billion in transactions, revolutionizing how goods and services are exchanged. Which is why the most recognizable brands-nearly every mobile communications provider, the largest global banks, the world's biggest tech companies, and thousands more-rely on us to shape their future. About Minu Minu is a martech company using technology and knowledge of human behavior to promote the flourishing of relationships and value of people and brands. With more than 13 years of experience, Minu has already impacted more than 40 million consumers through its engagement actions and delivers more than $8 million in monthly rewards. Minu's service portfolio includes customized solutions and its own platforms for companies of different sizes and small entrepreneurs, allowing them to create and manage marketing campaigns without the need for technical teams, however, with the availability of more than 100 partners and 700 offers from its catalogue of rewards. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210211005065/en/

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Tributes have been paid to Robert (Bob) Mulligan, the former Mayor of Dungannon, who has passed away.

The long-serving Ulster Unionist councillor died peacefully at his home on Glenhoy Road in Augher on Thursday following a period of illness.

A public representative of 26 years experience, Mr Mulligan served on Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council from 1993, holding the office of Mayor and other senior positions on a number of occasions, until its reformation in 2014.

He then served on Mid Ulster District Council until 2019.

He was also a great community activist, being an elder in Glenhoy Presbyterian Church, a member of the Loyal Orders and an activist within, and for the farming and rural community.

He also had years of experience within the agri-food industry having worked for the Department of Agriculture and the Livestock and Meat Commission.

First Minister Arlene Foster, who knew Mr Mulligan from her days as a young member of the UUP in Fermanagh and South Tyrone, described him as a loyal Ulsterman and dedicated public servant.

The DUP leader said: We were running mates in the 2003 Assembly election and he always made time to speak when our paths crossed.

I express my deepest sympathy and that of my colleagues in the constituency, to the Mulligan family and his wide circle of friends.

Fermanagh and South Tyrone UUP MLA Rosemary Barton described Mr Mulligan as "a real gentleman, who took great pride in representing the community in which he lived."

She added: "He gave of his time very generously and was a dedicated representative who served as Mayor in Dungannon District Council on three separate occasions.

I had the pleasure of working with Bob, as he was affectionately known, on numerous occasions; he had an encyclopaedic memory and was a font of knowledge, which was allied to the ability to get an issue sorted in a fair and equitable manner.

"His continued interest in the work of the council after he retired is testament to how much he enjoyed his time in local government. When meeting any of the councillors socially after his retirement, he was always keen to learn of the latest news from Council.

Whilst he will be greatly missed by his former colleagues in the Ulster Unionist Party, it is in how own home where the loss will be most keenly felt."

Mr Mulligan is survived by his wife Eleanor, children Gael, David, Andrew and Lesley, grandchildren and wider family circle.

Due to current restrictions his funeral will be private to family only.

His family have asked for donations in lieu of flowers to Glenhoy Presbyterian Church, care of F. Martin and Sons, Funeral Directors, Dungannon.
Photo by Carla Waters

Officer Mark Harris is dressed in the new riot gear recently issued to all officers on the department. Harris was dressed in the gear Tuesday night to show the Watseka aldermen what was issued.
(PRAGUE, Czech Republic -- February 11, 2021) The Prague headquarters of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty today demanded that Russia respect its international legal obligations under the investment treaty between the Czech Republic and Russia by treating RFE/RLs operations in Russia fairly, with due process, and in a non-discriminatory manner. RFE/RL has asked Russia to immediately engage in consultations in an effort to resolve their differences.



Russias violation of its obligations to treat Czech investments in Russia fairly began in late 2020, when the Russian telecommunications regulator, Roskomnadzor, selectively applied a recent administrative order to target RFE/RL. Roskomnadzor demanded that RFE/RL prominently label every individual web article and social media post and include a 15-second statement at the start of every video, television, and radio broadcast that RFE/RL is a foreign agent, in an attempt to undermine RFE/RLs reputation for independence and to shrink RFE/RLs large audience in Russia. Because RFE/RL has declined to comply with this discriminatory action, Russia has levied a cascade of fines and court actions against RFE/RLs Moscow bureau and the bureaus general director, resulting in a threat to RFE/RLs operations in Russia. In just a few weeks, Russia has issued over 150 notices of violations for failure to comply with the labeling requirements.



These punitive measures by the Russian government are a nervous reaction aimed at driving RFE/RL out of business at a time when our audience in Russia is skyrocketing, said Daisy Sindelar, acting president and editor in chief for RFE/RL. We intend to use every legal avenue available to defend our operations in Russia, so we can continue to deliver the accurate, unflinching journalism our audiences expect and depend on.



RFE/RLs Prague headquarters has invited Russia to engage in meaningful and immediate consultations in an effort to de-escalate the situation and resolve this dispute. If Russia is not willing to do so, the treaty allows RFE/RLs Prague headquarters to commence international arbitration proceedings against Russia.



RFE/RL operates in 23 countries, including Russia, where its Moscow bureau employs roughly 50 full-time staff members and close to 300 freelance reporters who work throughout Russia to help compile independent reporting on issues of public import. RFE/RL content in Russia currently reaches at least 6.5% of Russian adults, or nearly 6.7 million people, weekly. RFE/RLs Moscow bureau has been operating continuously since 1991.



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Kids want to fish? You don't know how yourself? Here's a little help
Yesterday, we all laughed together at people campaigning to get Twitter banned ON Twitter because, sure, that makes perfect sense.

Yes, using a platform to get that same platform banned in your country just because they want to give people freedom of speech is a totally rational thing to happen recently.

But since there has been so much controversy surrounding Twitter, especially after the company didn't fully comply with the Indian government's order to block multiple accounts, the government has also weighed in on the Twitter debate.

 Reuters

Ravi Shankar Prasad, currently serving as the Union Electronics and Information Technology Minister, discussed the matter in the Parliament today and talked about the consequences of spreading fake news and inciting violence using social media.



After sharing the advantages of social media in India, how it has empowered the common man, he also mentioned that the misuse of it will lead to tough action.

We respect social media a lot, it has empowered common people. Social media has a big role in Digital India programme. However, if social media is misused to spread fake news, violence then action will be taken: Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad in Rajya Sabha pic.twitter.com/M2NTIrh1ia  ANI (@ANI) February 11, 2021

Specifically talking about Twitter, Facebook, WhatsApp, and LinkedIn in the Rajya Sabha, the Union Minister said "you have millions of followers in India, you are free to do business and make money, but you will have to follow the Indian constitution".

While what actions would be taken is unclear, both left and right-leaning people have already come up with lists of people spreading 'fake news' on Twitter and want them banned. A lot of people are still continuing with the Ban Twitter hashtag from yesterday.

Isn't Twitter doing exactly that?

Everyone is on radar, you have been given Freedom of Speech but people are using Freedom of Spoech to abuse Freedom of Speech. That's not right, Twitter has to follow Law of Land.  Indira ka Pappa (@Lehr_you_chacha) February 11, 2021

Hmm.

Kangana tweets are routinely deleted by twitter and even her sister was blocked.   | Karthik  (@karthikck31) February 11, 2021

Okay, then.

Give 1 star  rating to Twitter#BanTwitterInIndia  Vishesh Mann (@be_resistance) February 11, 2021

So much manipulated media.

Yes Sir...and they are also flagging It as manipulated media pic.twitter.com/paT2rJj61E  The Patriot  (@indicheguevara) February 11, 2021

Sure.

Ravi Shankar Prasad sir, you can replace "fake news" with "Amit Malviya". That won't be any problem.  SpiDeY (@Parody_guy10) February 11, 2021

Oops.

Take action against IT cell and abusive trolls which are followed by PM modi abd BJP ministers  Vivek Singh (@singhvivek73) February 11, 2021

Shots fired.

Good to see the government being very critical of their own IT wing, taking responsibility for a change. https://t.co/edtQqrKEMy  Satish (@Naan_Satish) February 11, 2021

Let's hope it doesn't happen.

If not today then tomorrow, Twitter will be banned in India. https://t.co/yIlhRzh4Xd  Prabhasini (@cinnabar_dust) February 11, 2021

Shots fired, part two.

This government came to power by starting digital campaigns against congress and now trying to choke it when it doesnt suit their agenda #kooapp #StandWithTwitterIndia https://t.co/RaRbAAjOyQ  Gaurav Rastogi (@RastogiProfile) February 11, 2021

Hmm.

Kya sir bas baatein hi kartey ho kartey toh kuch ho nahi https://t.co/NdnmKu7GZa  beingatin (@BeingAtin) February 11, 2021

:(

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GRANTS PASS, Ore.  Police say that a Grants Pass caregiver has been charged with second-degree murder after her erstwhile patient died in the hospital as a result of criminal neglect.

On January 14, the Grants Pass Department of Public Safety says that a nursing supervisor at Three Rivers Medical Center called the agency to report a patient with "suspicious injuries believed to be caused by neglect." The woman was in critical condition due to the extent of her injuries.

The patient, 59-year-old Martha Vencill, had been receiving full-time home care due to developmental disabilities. Investigators identified Vencill's caregiver of nearly 10 years as 58-year-old Page Backus. Both Vencill and another person were under Backus' full-time care.

According to investigators, Vencill suffered a fall in her room on January 9. When Backus could not get Vencill back into bed, she left her patient on the floor for nine days, police said.

By January 23, Vencill was in such poor condition that she was brought to Three Rivers Medical Center via ambulance.

"The extent of injuries were determined to be a result of Backus' failure to provide care or seek medical attention for Vencill," GPDPS said.

Detectives arrested Backus on January 26 for one count of Criminal Mistreatment in the First Degree. The other resident under Backus' care was taken from the home and placed in a "safe location."

On the same day as Backus' arrest, Vencill died from her injuries. After continued investigation, a Josephine County grand jury indicted Backus on two counts  both Criminal Mistreatment in the First Degree and a charge of Murder in the Second Degree.

GPDPS said that it was assisted in the investigation by Three Rivers Medical Center, the Josephine County District Attorney's Office, Community Living Case Management and Adult Protective Services.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to call GPDPS at 541-450-6260.
Gettyimagesbank





By Lee Hyo-jin







The number of food poisoning cases in Korea dropped to a record low in 2020, due mainly to enhanced personal hygiene rules and the restricted operation of mass dining facilities spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety.







The ministry released a report on the country's food poisoning cases from last year. A total of 178 cases were reported nationwide, down 52 percent from the previous five-year average of 343.







The number of food poisoned patients marked 53 per 1 million people, down 40 percent from a yearly average of 133 patients per million, seen during the previous five years.







The numbers of both cases and patients marked the lowest the government has ever seen during the entire time that it has been collecting relevant data, since 2002, the Ministry noted.







The Ministry viewed that the dramatic decline was attributable to COVID-19-induced measures, including strengthened personal hygiene rules and the closure of mass eating facilities, such as cafeterias in schools and offices.







The limited operation of eateries and the cancellation of local festivals played significant roles in preventing food poisoning as well, it said.







Among the food poisoning cases in different facilities, the biggest number was seen in eateries with 103 cases, but that figure was less than half of the previous five-year annual average of 210. There were 16 cases reported involving school cafeterias, a big decrease from the former yearly average of 34.







"The initial COVID-19 outbreak made people wash their hands frequently and practice good personal hygiene rules, leading to a notable decrease in the number of food poisoning cases, especially from March to May," the Ministry said in a statement.







The Ministry said that the noticeable decline throughout the summer, when the number of food poisoning cases usually reaches its peak, may be attributable to massive inspections of kindergartens, following a food poisoning case in June at a childcare facility in Ansan, Gyeonggi Province.



A drug-crazed killer who stabbed his childcare worker wife 58 times in a frenzied knife attack in front of a six-year-old girl has died in his maximum security prison cell.

Personal trainer Bulent Sessacar killed Rebecca Sessacar, 25, in a brutal stabbing at a home in Croydon, south London, in 2012.

The fatal stabbing took place days after he was released on bail for domestic violence.

He was jailed for at least 10 years and eight months for manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility - after a court heard he had been abusing steroids and cocaine.

But Sessacar, 36, was found dead in his cell at HMP Woodhill, in Milton Keynes, last month.

A Prison Service spokesperson told MailOnline: 'HMP Woodhill prisoner Bulent Sessacar died in prison on 21 January. The Prisons and Probation Ombudsman has been informed.'

According to the Sun, Sessacar is believed to have suffered a heart attack.

Personal trainer Bulent Sessacar (pictured) killed Rebecca Sessacar, 25, in a brutal stabbing at a home in Croydon, south London, in 2012

He was jailed for at least 10 years and eight months for manslaughter of Mrs Sessacar (pictured) by reason of diminished responsibility - after a court heard he had been abusing steroids and cocaine.

Sessacar, a personal trainer who was abusing steroids and cocaine at the time of the killing, had a history of violence and a police caution for battery of his wife. Pictured: Sessacar and wife Rebecca on their wedding day

Sessacar, 36, was found unresponsive in his cell at HMP Woodhill (pictured), in Milton Keynes, last month

He had not tested positive for Covid-19 and his death is not being treated as suspicious, the paper adds.

Sessacar, a personal trainer who was abusing steroids and cocaine at the time of the killing, had a history of violence and a police caution for battery of his wife.

Two days before he was arrested for assaulting Mrs Sessacar.

But he was allowed to return home after Ms Sessacar said she did not want to press charges.

Mrs Sessacar told a friend that her husband had threatened to hurt her if she did not let him back.

She was stabbed to death at a home in south London on December 20, 2012.

Speaking at a court hearing at the Old Bailey in 2014, Prosecutor Sally Howes QC said: 'Bulent Sessacar killed his wife. He stabbed her repeatedly in a frenzied and sustained attack.

'The killing was witnessed by a six year-old girl who sustained minor injuries as he struggled to push her into a bedroom.'

Mrs Sessacar was found lying in a pool of blood in the front room next to two kitchen knives. One of the blades had broken away from the handle.

She had suffered 58 stab wounds to the head, face, neck and upper back, as well as bruising to her body and a bite mark to her cheek.

When police entered the property, following concerned calls from neighbours, the six-year-old ran into the officer's arms and told them she had witnessed the attack.

Mr Sessacar was arrested at the scene after claiming that he had stabbed his wife after she stabbed him in the leg. He had a knife wound to the thigh.

He sat on the bed rocking back and forward and appeared to have a seizure.

Two forensic psychiatrists concluded that he was suffering from a drug-induced psychosis and a borderline personality disorder.

He denied murder but pleaded guilty to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility.

Ms Howes told the court: 'It appears to the Crown that where we have two highly respected forensic psychiatrists and both are of the view that the appropriate criteria is met, the plea is acceptable.'

Mrs Sessacar (pictured right) had suffered 58 stab wounds to the head, face, neck and upper back, as well as bruising to her body and a bite mark to her cheek. Mr Sessacar (pictured left) was arrested at the scene after claiming that he had stabbed his wife after she stabbed him in the leg.

The incident happened at a property in Croydon, south London, in December 2012

Judge Nicholas Cooke QC said in 2014 that Mr Sessacar would have received a 20-year minimum sentence if it was a murder charge.

He added: 'I am satisfied that you are dangerous and will remain so for an unascertainable period.

'The combination of an untreatable personality disorder and a propensity to abuse drugs against the background of the explosion of violence dictates as much.

'I have therefore been driven to the conclusion I must pass a sentence of life imprisonment upon you.'

Mr Sessacar was told at the time of his sentence he would have to serve at least 10 years and eight months before parole.

The court heard the couple married on June 21, 2005, but separated briefly in January 2012 when Mr Sessacar started seeing a work colleague from a gym in Wandsworth, south-west London.

Miss Howes said: 'He was apparently mentally unstable, suffering from depression and mood swings. He frequently spoke of suicide.'

In March 2012 he moved back in with Ms Sessacar, but his mental state continued to deteriorate and in September he took an overdose.

Mr Sessacar spent several days in hospital and after his release drank heavily and took cocaine on a regular basis.

He was sectioned under the mental health act on September 8 after Mrs Sessacar called police for help during a row with a neighbour.

On December 18 he was arrested after he accused Mrs Sessacar of snorting cocaine and pulled her head back by her hair to 'inspect her nose', said Miss Howes.

He was released on bail the following day after a community psychiatric nurse found him to be in 'good health', but continued to make allegations against his wife.

Miss Howes said: 'There was no condition to keep away from Rebecca Sessacar and she was prepared to have him back.'

Later that day Mrs Sessacar told her friend that her husband pulled his hand across his throat in a threatening gesture and told her 'if she didn't let him back he would hurt her', said Miss Howes.

An hour before the killing Mr Sessacar texted his mistress: 'I am going to A&E, need to go back inside, feel down'.

Mr Sessacar had a previous conviction for grievous bodily harm in 2003 after he threw a glass jar at his boss. He was sentenced to a community punishment order.
(Newser)  Amid a second impeachment, potential criminal cases in two states, and a permanent Twitter ban, a reprieve of sorts for Donald Trump: The Palm Beach Town Council on Tuesday took no action on a bid by some neighbors concerned about property values to have the former president barred from living full-time at his private Mar-a-Lago club. This is a debate that I really think is silly, town attorney Skip Randolph said during the meeting, per the Guardian. A 1993 agreement between the club and the town does not prohibit Trump from living there, he said. Some have argued that the agreement requires Mar-a-Lago to operate as a social club, not a residence, per the New York Times. However, Randolph said that the agreement regulating temporary use of guest suites by members does not apply to Trump because he should be considered an employee of the club.

story continues below

This guy, as he wanders the property, is like the mayor of Mar-a-Lago, Randolph said. Hes always present. During the meeting, Trumps lawyer, John Marion, threatened that Trump would move to one of his other nearby homes, should he be booted from Mar-a-Lago, creating a hassle for neighbors: There would be barriers in front of that property. There would be guards and Secret Service personnel. There would be dogs sniffing vehicles. It would be a horrible imposition for [the neighbors] if they got what they wanted. It remained unclear if the council would revisit the issue at a future meeting, per the Guardian. Phillip C. Johnston, an attorney representing neighbors asked to be permitted to give another presentation in April. And suing the town or Mar-a-Lago are options for the neighbors. This issue threatens to make Mar-a-Lago into a permanent beacon for his more rabid, lawless supporters, Johnston said of Trump, according to the Times. (Read more Donald Trump stories.)
Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton handpicked 53 projects to share in $8.5 million for security cameras and safety lighting ahead of the last federal election, only five of which were in safe Labor seats.

The opposition has asked the Auditor-General to examine the Safer Communities Fund after departmental documents revealed Mr Dutton diverted almost half the total pool of funding away from recommended projects to his handpicked ones in January 2019.

The Home Affairs department warned Mr Dutton he may be criticised if he decided to make funding decisions that do not reflect the order of merit. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

A Home Affairs department briefing to Mr Dutton, released under freedom of information to the ABC, listed the top 70 projects able to be funded with the $17.5 million available.

It also gave him a ranked list of another 211 projects that had passed the selection criteria and recommended he pick 15 as reserves should money become available.
Last week, Alondra Carmona's mother summoned the Houston high school student and her sister to the living room. For months, she had kept a secret from them.

"I haven't actually had a job for three months," Carmona, 18, recounted her mother telling her.

Her single mother, she learned, had been laid off her job at the Port of Houston because of the pandemic, and was now two months behind on rent and faced the threat of eviction.

LEFT BEHIND: After a year of service Texas grocery workers feel left behind in vaccine allocation

Carmona had a solution: Her mother could have all the money she had saved to attend Barnard College this fall - even if it meant she might not be able attend the top school after all.

"Everything was falling apart," Carmona, a senior at YES Prep EastEnd, told The Washington Post. "My mom needed help. So, what am I supposed to do? That's the least I could do... It doesn't compare to everything that she has done for us."

Carmona's tale highlights the impossible choices millions of Americans have faced after losing their income amid the pandemic. While a federal moratorium is supposed to prevent evictions through March, advocates say many seniors, immigrants and other vulnerable groups are unaware of those protections. According to the Eviction Lab at Princeton University, nearly 246,000 evictions have been filed by landlords during the pandemic, including tens of thousands with the moratorium in place.

In Carmona's case, though, the story has a rare happy ending. After her story was featured on local TV and "Good Morning America" on Tuesday, so many have donated to a fundraiser spearheaded by the teenager that she will no longer have to choose between continuing her education or keeping her home.

PUSHED OUT: Third Ward residents say they're being forced from their homes by gentrifying real estate purchasers

Last March, Carmona got a part-time job at a fast-food restaurant in Houston to help her mom, who had injured her ankle and was unable to work. The teenager, who wants to become a pediatric neurosurgeon, set aside the rest of the nearly $250 she made monthly for her college fund, she said. In the months to come, she applied to 11 universities, including Barnard.

In mid-December, Carmona learned she'd gotten into Barnard with a partial scholarship. She would be the first in her family to attend college.

"I was just really excited," she said. "It was just unbelievable because I really thought I was going to get rejected or deferred. I come from a really small school and I thought all the stuff that I did, it wasn't going to be enough."

The scholarship wasn't enough to cover Carmona's full room and board at the New York school, but with the nearly $2,000 she had saved and some extra hours at the fast-food restaurant, she believed she could do it, she said.

She had also hoped Barnard might up her scholarship offer, but a financial-aid officer from the school told Carmona and her mom on Feb. 4 that it was not possible. "I muted myself so that he could not hear me cry," Carmona said.

That same evening, Carmona's mother told the family that she'd been laid off in November. She had hid the news and a debt of nearly $2,000 for two months rent because she did not want to worry them, Carmona recounted.

"I first learned about Barnard and then this," Carmona said. "When she told me that, I was like, 'Now I'm definitely not going to go.' ... I really thought the world was going to end when the news hit me."

The situation worsened on Tuesday, when Carmona's mother found the door locked and a note informing her the family would not be allowed back inside the apartment unless they paid part of the owed rent. Like many tenants, Carmona said, her family was unaware that under the current federal protections the eviction threat was illegal. So, Carmona gave her mom all her savings to pay the back rent.

Meanwhile,Carmona created a GoFundMe page to try to raise the money back. She hoped to get close to $5,000.

But after her story was featured on KTRK and "Good Morning America," Carmona's fundraiser exploded. By early Thursday, the teenager had raised more than $143,000 - enough money to cover her full tuition and living expenses, she said.

She also plans to use some of the money to help her mom until she finds a job, and will continue working at the fast-food restaurant, Carmona said. She is expected to graduate by June and begin classes at Barnard in the fall.

Carmona said she hopes her story gives hope to others struggling in the pandemic.

"I never would have thought in a million years that this would blow up and so many people would be donating," she said. "I want to tell all the first generation, low-income students like me that it is possible."
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Russian luxury accessory brand Caviar has outfitted the iPhone 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max with more lavish enclosures coated with diamonds, gold and fragments of ancient weapons for its latest Warrior-themed collection. This is a continuation of the previous warrior collection unveiled back in October and adds six new models.

The most expensive new model is the Mao edition which gets its name from the Mao long spear used in ancient China during the Han dynasty. It features a 24 Carat gold plate around its back mixed with a mahogany insert and topped with a blood drop shaped ruby stone near the bottom. The Mao model also comes alongside a special amulet with pieces of a genuine Ge halberd dagger axe dating to 400-700 B.C. The Mao iPhone 12 Pro with 128GB storage starts at $36,950 and goes up to $44,720 if you want the 12Pro Max version with 512GB storage.

Another highlight of the new collection is the Apocalypto model which starts at a cool $34,830. It pays homage to the Toltec culture which resided in modern-day Mexico between 9001521 AD. The Apocalypto model features a 24 Carat gold backplate with a Toltec Obsidian arrowhead from around 500 AD centered around the back where youd normally find the Apple logo. This arrow itself is a one of one artifact so it adds to the exclusivity factor.

Other members of the new Warrior series include the Rajan model inspired by ancient Ancient Indian warriors, the Maya version as well as Apache and Zulu editions. Head over to the source link to learn more about Caviars latest exclusive iPhones.

Source
If 2020 taught us anything, its that change is the only constant and the biggest risk is remaining static, -Gino Colangelo, President, Colangelo & Partners

Colangelo & Partners, the leading fine wine and spirits agency in the US, announces that three long-term senior employees have earned junior partner status. Sara Gorelick, who has been with the agency nearly since its founding more than 14 years ago, is now Vice President, Spirits, Junior Partner. Paul Yanon, who has helped build the agencys credentials as the US leader in fine wine PR, is now Vice President, Wine Education, Junior Partner. Juliana Colangelo, who in just five years since moving to the Bay Area has built the agencys enviable roster of leading California wine clients, is now Vice President, West Coast, Junior Partner. Additionally, Colangelo & Partners has hired branding and advertising agency veteran, Aleksandra Trochimiuk as Vice President, Digital, Brand Strategy & Creative.

Throughout her career with Colangelo & Partners, Sara has been instrumental in developing the agencys premium spirits practice. She is a true industry insider, as comfortable talking trends with the worlds finest bartenders as she is leading her agency teams. Paul is a wine savant: one would be hard-pressed to name an esoteric grape varietal from a little-known region about which Paul couldnt speak eloquently  and at length. Industry colleagues and co-workers swear that Juliana has managed to clone herself, seemingly being everywhere at once and racking up numerous accomplishments.

If 2020 taught us anything, its that change is the only constant and the biggest risk is remaining static, said Gino Colangelo, President, Colangelo & Partners. Were always restless, looking to invest, evolve and expand our services to better serve our clients. And everything starts with constantly improving our team.

When the pandemic hit in March last year, Colangelo & Partners quickly adapted and expanded the agencys service offering. With physical events no longer possible, the agency innovated hybrid communications and ecommerce integrated programs, virtual tastings and enhanced platforms for digital engagement. Brand strategy integrated with creative services has been key to the success of many of these new communications vehicles. Aleksandra Trochimiuk, a native of Poland whose career includes stints at multinational ad agencies in Europe including Saatchi & Saatchi, Young & Rubicam and the Havas Group, has been instrumental in helping expand the agencys capabilities in these areas. Aleksandra has years of consumer marketing experience with food, wine and spirits brands. She consulted with the agency on integrated, European Union-funded projects before joining the agency full-time.

When we started over 14 years ago, we never imagined we would have achieved the growth and the leadership position we realize today, said Michael Colangelo, CFO and founding partner of Colangelo & Partners. Through the 2008 recession and now working our way through the pandemic, weve always seen opportunity when others may have seen obstacles. This announcement today is a major milestone in our development.

Colangelo & Partners Chief Operating Officer Felipe Gonzalez-Gordon, who joined the agency as a full partner in April of 2020, added, I was excited to join Colangelo & Partners because of the dynamic leadership team. Paul, Sara and Juliana each offer unique talents to the agency and have a shared commitment to the success of our clients as well as our business. Having Aleksandra on our team greatly enhances our service offering.

About Colangelo & Partners

Colangelo & Partners (http://www.colangelopr.com) specializes in premium wine and spirits, and has long established relationships with the key press that drive these business categories and help determine the industry leaders. Agency principals have years of experience in retail and brand marketing as well as communications, a rare combination that gives Colangelo & Partners invaluable insights into consumer purchasing behavior. The agency focuses on 'closing the loop' between creative communications programs, route-to-market, promotion, publicity and the consumer in order to maximize the efficiency of its communications programs and deliver measurable results. Founded in 2006, the current Colangelo & Partners client list includes global institutional wine marketing organizations as well as leading wine and spirits companies, domestic and international.
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HARRISBURG  The Wolf administration had no system in place to prevent an apparent administrative mistake like the one that derailed a statewide vote on legal recourse for survivors of decades-old sexual abuse, Spotlight PA has learned.

Last week, the Department of State, which oversees elections, disclosed that it had failed to advertise the proposal as required by law. The error prevents the question from appearing on the ballot in May.

The stunning admission devastated clergy sexual abuse survivors and others who are time-barred from bringing litigation under the statute of limitations, and led to the swift resignation of the agencys top official, Kathy Boockvar.

But in the days that have followed, the Wolf administration has declined to provide additional details of exactly what occurred, how it happened, who else was responsible for the error, and whether any other disciplinary action or terminations had resulted.

The Department of State did not have a formal process for managing the advertising of constitutional amendments due to their relative infrequency, Wanda Murren, the agencys spokesperson, told Spotlight PA.

When pressed for more information, Murren said there was an established practice among offices to move resolutions received from the legislature, but provided no detail.

The department did not respond to several requests for information about which offices and staffers within the department were in charge of advertising constitutional amendments, including four proposed changes that the agency properly advertised within the past year.

One source familiar with the process said that, generally, the agencys legislative affairs staff plays a key role in tracking legislation, including proposed amendments, and informing the agencys top lawyers and senior staff of where they stand in the legislative process.

The Republican Party of Pennsylvania has tried to pin some blame for the error on the state Attorney Generals Office, which is in charge of writing the language that eventually is posted at the polls and that explains, in detail, what the proposed amendment is.

But the office does not get involved until late in the process, and a spokesperson said it plays no role in advertising proposed amendments.

In refusing to give details about why the error occurred, the Department of State cited Gov. Tom Wolfs decision last week to ask the Office of State Inspector General to investigate the mistake. Inspector general reports are not released to the public, unless the governor directs them to be.

In late 2017, for instance, Wolf refused to make public a report by the Inspector Generals Office that examined whether the states former lieutenant governor, Mike Stack, and his wife had verbally abused and mistreated state employees assigned to work for them.

A spokesperson for Wolf, a Democrat who has frequently said transparency is a core priority, said the governor would work with the inspector general to make the results of the inquiry public. It is not known how long the investigation will take.

Wolf has described the mistake as human error and said the agency would immediately institute new controls, including additional tracking and notifications of constitutional amendments, to ensure similar failings do not occur in the future.

Under state law, any changes to the Pennsylvania Constitution must pass the legislature in two consecutive sessions. The proposed change is then placed on the ballot for voters to make the ultimate decision.

After each passage, the Department of State is required to advertise the proposed amendment in all 67 Pennsylvania counties.

The legislature, in its 2019-20 session, approved five proposed changes to the state constitution.

One would provide a two-year reprieve in the statute of limitations so older sexual abuse survivors can sue. The measure grew out of a blistering, 2018 statewide grand jury report that documented decades of child sexual abuse and cover-ups in nearly every Catholic diocese in Pennsylvania. Lawmakers were on track to approve it for a second time last month, so that the question could appear on the May ballot.

But the Department of States failure to advertise the proposal means survivors are back to square one. If the legislature wants to continue pursuing the constitutional amendment, it must begin the process again, meaning the question wont be before the voters until 2023 at the earliest.

There are other options lawmakers could pursue.

Last week, state Rep. Mark Rozzi (D., Berks), who championed the two-year reprieve, said there is bipartisan support in the House to use an emergency tactic to get the proposal on the ballot as planned. Leaders in the state Senate, however, did not commit to bringing it up for a vote.

100% ESSENTIAL: Spotlight PA relies on funding from foundations and readers like you who are committed to accountability journalism that gets results. Become a member today at spotlightpa.org/donate.
New Delhi: Stepping up the attack against the government over the three farm laws, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday (February 11) alleged that these legislations would damage country's food security system as also "break the spine of farmers" and that the country is being run by only four people with a 'Hum do, Hamare do' approach.

Rahul Gandhi, who was participating in the debate on Union budget in Lok Sabha, kept speaking on the three contentious agri laws, triggering protests from BJP members with Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi urging Speaker Om Birla to direct Rahul to speak on the budget.

When the Speaker told Rahul to speak on the budget, he said he would talk only on the farmers' issue.

Rahul said the Prime Minister, in his reply to the discussions on the motion of thanks to the President's address, had mentioned that the opposition is talking about the farmers agitation but was not speaking about the content and intent of the laws.

"So I thought let us make the Prime Minister happy and talk of the content and intent of these laws," he said, and alleged that "the intent of these three laws is to allow industrialists to buy unlimited quantities of foodgrains and hoard them as much as they want."

Claiming that these measures will end the 'mandis' and will end the Essential Commodities Act, he said, "the new farm laws will destroy India's food security system and will hurt rural economy. The farmers are not going anywhere but will overthrow the government."

Invoking the family planning slogan, 'Hum do Hamare do', Gandhi attacked the government and said just 4 people are running the country.

"Now four people are running the country...And everyone knows who they are," he said.

The Prime Minister had said that these laws have given options to farmers, "Yes, options are hunger, unemployment and suicide", Gandhi alleged.

The former Congress chief also said the agitation is not of the farmers alone but a movement of the country and the government will have to repeal the laws.

Asserting that the farmers were only showing the way, he warned the Modi government that the ongoing farmers' protests against three agriculture laws will "dethrone" it from power.

In a dramatic move, Gandhi also led his party members and those from the TMC and the DMK to observe a two-minute silence by standing to mourn the death of farmers during the ongoing agitation. Claiming that "200 farmers" have died during protests, he said he was doing this as the government has not paid tributes to them.

Gandhi also accused the government of "destroying the MSME sector and said no new jobs are being created in the country because small industries are dying. Agriculture is a sector of Rs 40 lakh crore. The intent of the laws are to give the monopoly of storing produce to a few persons, and prevent farmers from getting a good price. The idea is to break the spine of the farmers."

As Rahul was speaking, heated exchanges took place between the ruling party members, including ministers and the Opposition, with Joshi citing rules on specific debate and Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury asserting that as per rules, discussion of a general point is allowed and agriculture is related to the budget.

Rahul also said first demonetisation hurt the country, then the GST and then the forced migration of labourers during the lockdown.

"We had asked for a separate discussion on farmers. That was denied. In protest I am going to speak only on farmers and not on the budget. These people did not pay homage to dead farmers. I will observe silence for them, please join me," he said before standing and observing silence for two minutes.

Reacting to Gandhi's action, the Speaker said that running the House was his responsibility and for leading the House on paying homage to those who have lost their lives in any tragedy.

"You all are senior members and this is inappropriate behaviour. You can give me this in writing and let me undertake the responsibility I have been given," Birla said.

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New Delhi: From flexible schedules, forever work from home to part-time work from home, San Francisco-based business software maker Salesforce has various sets of plans for its employees.

Salesforce, the city's largest private employer, has said that it will let most of its employees work from home/work from anywhere even after the COVID-19 pandemic. This could be either full time or at least for part of the week.

Salesforce said its employees could choose to be in office anywhere from one to three days a week and those who don't live near an office or their role/position does require them to be present in office work remotely for full-time. However, those employees whose physical presence is required in the office, will continue to go.

Some salesforce workers in a survey said that they wanted to have some connection to a physical office, while nearly half of them said they wanted to go in only a few times a month.

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#mute

Other major tech companies such as Twitter and Facebook have made similar announcements in 2020. Facebook had let most of its workforce stay home and work through the end 2020 and plans to reopen offices globally not before July. Facebook too will open most of its office from July 6, according to a CNBC report, saying the social networking giant is in the process of determining which employees will be asked to return to the office.
Police in Athi River has launched investigations after a couple was found dead inside their rental home in Athi River, Machakos County.

According to the police, the couple has not been seen in public for a week.

Confirming the incident, Dennies Oganga attached to Mlolongo Police station, said neighbours reported the case to his station.

"We last saw them this past week. We had not interacted with them for long, but I can say they were new to this area," a resident said late Tuesday when police were called in to collect the bodies.

According to Oganga the body of the man was found dangling from the roof of his house while his wife's body was lying on the bed with chains on the neck.

"The house was locked from outside, and the window was partially closed. We found the two decomposing bodies. Investigations have commenced," said Oganga.

The bodies were taken to Shalom hospital mortuary.

Police are yet to know the deceased's identities as they had moved to the area a few weeks ago.

Oganga further asked members of the public to find out ways of sorting out their difference mostly during this Covid-19 period as many are going through a lot of financial challenges and stress.

Dozens of Australian species headed for the extinction cliff including koalas will have their genomes sequenced to help protect them from threats such as disease and climate change.

A $1 million investment from the NSW and federal governments will kick off the program to assess the genetic variation of hundreds of koalas in NSW, Queensland and northern Victoria. The methods will later be applied to as many as 50 other species ranging from frogs to birds and others at risk.

Professor Kathy Belov, Professor of Comparative Genomics at Sydney University, is part of the team that plans to build on the recent sequencing of the koala genome to map the health of the marsupials population across eastern Australia. Credit:Brook Mitchell

University of Sydney researcher Kathy Belov, who helped map the first koala genome in 2018, said the aim was not to breed super koalas but to identify the genetic strength of populations  such as their resistance to diseases such as chlamydia, or their tolerance to the warming climate.

We want to get a sense of what diversitys there, so we can make the best decisions, Professor Belov said.
By David Shepardson

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Ford Motor Co's chief executive, Jim Farley, on Thursday publicly encouraged South Korea's chemicals and electric vehicle (EV) battery maker LG Chem Ltd and SK Innovation Co Ltd to reach a settlement on LG's battery allegations that SK stole trade secrets.

The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) on Wednesday sided with LG Chem, but permitted SK to import components for domestic production of lithium ion batteries for Ford's EV F-150 program for four years, and for Volkswagen of America's electric vehicle line for two years.

"A voluntary settlement between these two suppliers is ultimately in the best interest of US manufacturers and workers," Farley wrote on Twitter, adding that "ITC ruling makes way for @Ford to bring to market our groundbreaking electric F-150."

LG Energy Solution and SK Innovation did not have comment on the matter when reached by Reuters on Friday. Volkswagen declined to comment.

The ITC said the decision would allow the automakers to transition to new suppliers for these programs.

LG Chem's wholly owned battery subsidiary, LG Energy Solution, an EV battery supplier to Tesla Inc and General Motors Co, praised the ruling on Wednesday.

"SKI's total disregard of our warnings and intellectual property rights gave us no choice but to file this case," Kim Jong-hyun, the CEO of LG Energy Solution, said in a statement.

SK Innovation said on Wednesday it regretted the ITC's decision but noted there was a 60-day presidential review period in which President Joe Biden could decide to reverse the ruling. Biden has made electric vehicles and reducing vehicle emissions a top priority. The White House declined to comment.

Volkswagen and Ford previously warned a U.S. legal row between South Korean battery makers could disrupt supplies of the key EV parts and cost U.S. jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Farley said last week on a conference call with analysts that Ford's $22 billion investment in electrification does not include potential investment in battery production, whether through Ford itself or via a joint venture.

(Reporting by David Shepardson in Washington and Ben Klayman in Detroit; Additional reporting by Heekyong Yang in Seoul; Editing by Christopher Cushing)
SHANGHAI, Feb. 11 -- The Spring Festival celebrations being held by Shanghai Disney Resort are benefiting from rapid improvements in technology, which are also injecting energy into the daily operation of the resort, said Joe Schott, President and General Manager of the resort.

The resort is hosting a series of celebratory events from Jan. 19 to Feb. 26 to welcome the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which falls on Feb. 12 this year.

Schott said that the technology applied in the special fireworks show for the Chinese New Year is an upgrade on the resort's routine firework performances, promising better coordination of fireworks, lighting and projection, and presenting visitors with a visual feast.

As Shanghai continues to build itself into a global science and innovation center, the resort is gaining creative power from the metropolis.

The robotics technology developed in Shanghai, for example, allows the resort to manufacture mechanical devices for their animated figures locally, instead of introducing technology and talent from outside Shanghai, said Schott.

Thanks to Shanghai's digital technology, the resort has also become the first Disney resort in the world to launch an online reservation and queuing system during the COVID-19 epidemic to help tourists maintain social distancing.

The Shanghai Disney Resort announced its temporary closure in late January 2020 in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. It reopened to visitors in May, after the epidemic in China became more subdued.

Thousands of Disney employees will stay in Shanghai for the Spring Festival this year, and the resort will take a series of anti-epidemic measures to ensure the safety of employees and visitors, according to Schott.

Opened in June 2016, Shanghai Disney Resort will also celebrate its fifth anniversary this year, with a slew of activities and offerings lined up for visitors.

The key tourist attraction of Zootopia, Shanghai Disneyland's eighth and newest themed land, is under construction. Upon completion, it will be the first-ever land of its kind, featuring a major new attraction that blends Disney's storytelling and technologies in order to bring this fan-favorite movie and its characters to life.
Applegreen is expanding in the US with NY State buy and may do more

Irish forecourt retailer Applegreen has finalised the acquisition of a venture that will spend $301m (248m) redeveloping 27 service areas on the New York State Thruway.

Applegreen will also operate the service areas under a 33-year lease with the New York State Thruway Authority.

The Empire State Thruway Partners (ESTP) consortium had until last year included investors including UK infrastructure giant James Laing.

Stockmarket-listed Applegreen, which is in the throes of being taken private, said its financial plan for the project has been approved by the highways overseeing authority. Final approval has also been secured from the New York Office of the State Comptroller and the New York State attorney general, said Applegreen.

The New York State Thruway is 917km long and its facilities havent been significantly modernised in decades. The service areas feature a total of 84 food and beverage outlets. Total food, beverage and retail turnover for 2019 on the Thruway was approximately $118m (97m).

Although Applegreen now has sole ownership and control of ESTP, it has the ability to add another party to the vehicle after financial close, subject to the approval of the Thruway authority.

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Applegreen said it will explore all options to ensure a sustainable long-term structure for the project.

The redevelopment costs will be funded by a combination of equity from Applegreen and a Private Activity Bond. The company expects the equity element to be funded from debt resources and its not expected to be drawn down until between 2023 and 2025.

Applegreen expects the deal to take ownership of the consortium will be dilutive to earnings in 2021 and 2022 due to the additional debt service costs involved. However, it expects it to be accretive from 2023 once the redeveloped sites become operational.

Opportunities like the New York Thruway concession are going to be essential to reshape the Applegreen business, as fossil fuels start to go into decline, the company told shareholders last month.

The forecourt retailer has an extensive presence in Ireland and the UK. It first entered the US market in 2014 and now has operations in a number of states along the eastern seaboard and also in Wisconsin and Minneapolis.

Its also eyeing a separate significant acquisition on the US east coast, and a smaller deal in the western United States.

Founded in 1992, Applegreen told shareholders in December that it intends to go private.
Kelowna, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 11, 2021) - Fiore Cannabis (CSE: FIOR) (OTCQX: FIORF) ("Fiore" or the "Company"), a licensed multi-state cannabis cultivator, producer and retailer, today announced that it continues to aggressively pursue its program to refocus on core assets in the key operating markets of Nevada and California. The Company recently noted these operations helped it achieve positive Adjusted EBITDA for the month of January.

"We have been able to adapt our company in the past year and get focused on where we can best operate, produce top-quality cannabis product, and serve growing markets. We have an approach to the cultivation, production and retail of cannabis at Fiore that is all about top-quality products, strong branding and generating solid financial returns," said Erik Anderson, President and CEO of Fiore Cannabis.

Anderson noted that the Company is focused on the assets that can deliver strong revenue and margins and thus why its focus has been narrowed to Nevada and California. Recent corporate developments for the Company support this focus as they include the sale of an asset in Lynden, Washington and a letter of intent reached to sell an underperforming asset in Celista, British Columbia. The Celista sale, announced originally in mid-2020, is currently in final stages with an announcement expected in the coming month.

"It's an easy decision to divest assets in Washington and British Columbia and to focus tightly on our core assets. We have opportunities in Nevada and California to expand our footprint and become more vertically integrated. As an example, we are achieving very successful crops from our Apex cultivation and production facility in North Las Vegas as evidenced by recent results. We're currently working with a 10,000 square foot facility sitting on seven acres of property. So we're considering now how we'll expand the facility to boost production further to serve the growing customer base in the Nevada market. We'll plan to do that smartly and in a way that does not dilute our shareholders," said Anderson.

The Company holds a surplus cultivation licence for the Apex facility which can be sold to help fund expansion of the site.

About Fiore Cannabis

Fiore Cannabis (CSE: FIOR) (OTCQX: FIORF) is a publicly traded company that has been investing in the development of medical and recreational cannabis products since 2014. Fiore has expanded its operating portfolio to include cultivation, production and retail offerings in our key North American legal jurisdictions of Nevada and California. For more information, please visit www.fiorecannabis.com.

For Further Information:

Erik Anderson

President and CEO

1-877-438-5448 Ext. 713

eanderson@fiorecannabis.com

Cannabis Industry Involvement:

The Company owns marijuana licenses in California and Nevada. Marijuana is legal in each state; however, marijuana remains illegal under United States federal law and the approach to enforcement of U.S. federal law against marijuana is subject to change. Shareholders and investors need to be aware that federal enforcement actions could adversely affect their investments and that the Company's ability to support continuing U.S.-based operations and its access private and public capital could be materially adversely affected.

Forward-Looking Statements:

This news release contains forward-looking statements or information that relate to our current expectations and views of future events. These statements relate to future events or future performance. Statements which are not purely historical are forward-looking statements and include any statements regarding beliefs, plans, outlook, expectations or intentions regarding the future including words or phrases such as "anticipate", "objective", "may", "will", "might", "should", "could", "can", "intend", "expect", "believe", "estimate", "predict", "potential", "plan", "is designed to", "project", "continue", or similar expressions suggest future outcomes or the negative thereof or similar variations. Forward-looking statements may also include, among other things, statements about the future business strategy; expectations of obtaining licenses and permits; expectations regarding expenses, sales and operations; future customer concentration; anticipated cash needs and estimates regarding capital requirements and the need for additional financing; total processing capacity; the ability to anticipate the future needs of customers; plans for future products and enhancements of existing products; future growth strategy and growth rate; future intellectual property; changes in laws and regulations; regulatory approvals and other matters; and anticipated trends and challenges in the markets in which the Company may operate. Numbers disclosed are unaudited financials and measures of adjusted EBITDA is a non IFRS measure.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/74148
Mortar shelling in Afghanistan kills at least 10 civilians

Fire breaks out at West Virginia oil refinery in US

Iran ready to help improve the defense capability of Syria

European Parliament head proposes to strengthen sanctions on Russia

UK PM gets married in London

Armenia reports COVID-19 new 81 cases: for people die

EU countries invite US to issue joint statement against Russia

2 people die in Armenia road accident

Nigeria: Students taken hostage a month ago are released

61 quakes recorded in Congo per day

Syrian MFA: EU lost credibility due to blind obedience to US policy

Armenia ex-minister of emergency situations hospitalized with heart attack

Mher Grigoryan: Clarification of border points is possible only after withdrawal of Azerbaijani troops from Armenia

Suspicious deal: Whether there was profit from buying DNA IDs?

Armenia ex-president says current authorities are trying to blame Russia for defeat in war

4 people killed in Afghanistani bus attack

Robert Kocharyan: This war could not have happened, it was a consequence of the policy of the authorities

Kocharyan: I have to ask people how it happened that overwhelming majority elected this leader

Armen Gevorgyan presents 'Armenia' bloc program: We offer the concept of a working country

Biden's administration proposed to leave unchanged amount of financial support to Armenia

US Embassy in Baku calls on Azerbaijan to immediately release Armenian POWs

Luxembourg MFA calls on Azerbaijan to immediately release all Armenian prisoners

Russia peacekeepers climb to Armenia Gegharkunik Province village positions

Biden strongly condemns manifestations of antisemitism in US

Iran intensifies its diplomacy amid Armenia-Azerbaijan border tensions

Armenia acting PM on forthcoming snap parliamentary elections: We hope to get 60% of votes

Lukashenko accuses West of destabilizing situation in Belarus

Armenia Central Electoral Commission chief on snap elections: No legal basis for postponing, suspending any function

Armenias Pashinyan is met by Yerevan district residents chanting against him

We are ready to be fully engaged in negotiation process to resolve Karabakh issue, says Armenia acting PM

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan gives interview to Russia TV channel

Armenia acting premier: We are ready to start withdrawing troops at any moment

Canada MFA expresses concern over 6 Armenian soldiers capture by Azerbaijan troops

There are omissions in registration documents of political forces that applied to Armenia Central Electoral Commission

Armenia Central Electoral Commission chief: There is activeness in Yerevan for the past day or two

Three new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Group of US Congress members threaten Azerbaijans Aliyev regime with sanctions

Chicago mayor is sued for allegedly refusing interview with white reporter

Iran exports oil to US for first time after long interval

"Armenia" bloc top 50 MP candidates are announced

42 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Sri Lanka public beach is covered in charred plastic pellets due to fire in container ship

US preparing list of targeted sanctions on Belarus authorities

China believes it will own America by 2035, Biden says

15 al-Shabab militants killed in Somalia

Newspaper: Armenia political forces that applied for running in election impatiently await CEC decision

Newspaper: Changes are expected in Artsakh

California prisoner who considers himself Satanist beheads cellmate, dismembers his body

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM's "mutually beneficial" proposal to collapse state system?

Armenia National Security Service Reserve Officers' Union members meet with His Holiness Karekin II

EU is ready to help Armenia and Azerbaijan with border delimitation and demarcation

ARF-D member on Nikol Pashinyan: 103 years ago Armenia's founding fathers would have executed him for treason

Iran President hails brotherly ties with Azerbaijan

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

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
SANTA MONICA, Calif., Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- When Dr. Ines Poza began tracking minority representation in Super Bowl ads twenty years ago, she found something disturbing. "Celebrities aside, only white men, white women and animals were protagonists, with Blacks or Asians filling in about 10% of background characters." Work testing ad concepts for the Total Market and Latino audiences piqued her interest in studying Super Bowl ads. "I could see the population landscape changing and wondered if this would be reflected in the ultimate ad showcase  the Super Bowl. Back then, not so much."

Poza reports an encouraging shift. "Most ads this year featured a minority as protagonist, had minorities featured as secondary characters, with the majority of ads with celebrities featuring at least one who is also a minority."

While this is positive, Poza notes there is still something troubling. "Almost no one in the ads looks like the nearly 52 million Latinos living in the U.S." explaining, "Aside from two Weather Tech and an Anheuser Busch ad, no one who can readily be identified as Latino was included. Blacks, mixed-race individuals and Asians were featured throughout, which is great, but not Latinos."

The U.S. Census Bureau and Pew Research Center report Latinos comprise about 18% of the U.S. population with Blacks representing 13%, Asians 6% and non-Hispanic Whites about 60%. As the fastest growing minority, Latinos are projected to represent nearly 30% of the U.S. by 2050.

As to why, despite these figures, Latinos were almost completely absent from ads this year, Poza offers, "Advertisers are still trying to figure out how to reach U.S. Latino consumers, thinking multi-racial individuals featured are reasonable proxies. But there's no substitute for meaningful representation." adding, "This was a missed opportunity to connect with the fastest growing consumer segment. Advertisers can and should do better given the ad buy and potential market share the Super Bowl represents."

As for continuing to monitor Super Bowl ads, Poza says, "I'm looking forward to next year!"

Dr. Ines Poza, founder of market research firm Poza Consulting Services based in Santa Monica, CA can be reached at [email protected].

SOURCE Poza Consulting Services

Related Links

https://www.pozaconsulting.com/


MOSCOW, Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- PhosAgro CEO Andrey Guryev was awarded the 15th national Director of the Year Prize in the category "Contribution to the Development of a Culture of ESG".

The aim of the national Director of the Year Prize, established in 2006, is to recognise the personal contribution of directors to the development of corporate governance systems and to promote best practices for the work of boards of directors in Russian companies.

The winners are selected by the Prize's Expert Council from among participants in the annual ratings of best directors prepared by the Independent Directors Association (IDA) and the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RUIE) in partnership with PwC.

The Expert Council includes Alexander Shokhin, President of the RUIE; Andrei Sharonov, Dean of the Skolkovo Moscow School of Management; Alexey Mordashov, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Severstal; Bella Zlatkis, Deputy Chair of the Executive Board of SberBank; Vladimir Gerasimov, Executive Director of Interfax Group; Yury Denisov, Chairman of the Executive Board of Moscow Exchange; Oleg Vyugin, independent director at Rosneft; Andrey Bugrov, Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors of Norilsk Nickel; Alexander Ikonnikov, co-founder of the IDA; Vitaly Podolsky, independent director at LSR Group; Oleg Tsvetkov, Corporate Secretary at SberBank; and Elena Dubovitskaya, Director of Corporate Governance and Sustainability at PwC.

In presenting the award, the RUIE's Mr Shokhin noted that the "Contribution to the Development of a Culture of ESG" nomination, which has been granted for the first time, will become an annual award.

"For a long time, all RUIE members have adopted the practice of regularly submitting non-financial reports and sustainable development reports. It is no coincidence that an RUIE company has won the award this year."

Head of PwC's Corporate Governance Practice Alexey Fegetsyn stressed that thanks to its commitment to the principles of ESG, PhosAgro not only invests in the development of its own business but makes a much broader overall contribution to sustainable development.

"This year marks our company's 20th anniversary, and throughout this entire 20-year period, sustainable development issues have been a key priority for PhosAgro," said Mr Guryev, a member of the RUIE's Management Board. "The three letters of 'ESG' are part of the DNA of our company - they are our mission. The growing focus on these principles is a macro trend that will continue to shape the coming decades. ESG does not only cover our social and environmental policies and aspects of our corporate governance, it shapes our entire lives and those of all the stakeholders around us.

"We are one of the first companies in Russia to create a Sustainable Development Committee under our Board of Directors, which is headed by PhosAgro Independent Board Member Irina Bokova, who previously served as Director-General of UNESCO for eight years. The combination of her expertise and the humanist values that she applies to her work have profoundly influenced me personally and the entire Board of Directors of the company.

"It is gratifying to note that today an increasing number of leading Russian companies are paying attention to ESG issues. That makes this award all the more meaningful for me and for the entire PhosAgro team. I would like to thank the organisers of the Corporate Governance Forum and the Prize's Expert Council for acknowledging our progress."

"This recognition by the Expert Council of the Director of the Year Prize is a well-deserved celebration of Andrey's strategic vision and skills as a Chief Executive and a further validation of PhosAgro's environmentally sustainable Strategy. The Company's commitment to the objectives of the United Nations is an integral part of our 2025 Strategic Plan as we directly contributed to 11 of its 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

"PhosAgro PJSC will continue its investment program in that area as part of its commitment to the Planet's food security and the supply of environmentally-friendly mineral fertilizers free of toxic concentrations of carcinogenic heavy metals and other substances hazardous to human health. PhosAgro PJSC currently distributes its products to 102 countries around the world," said Chairman of the PhosAgro Board of Directors Xavier Rolet KBE, commenting on Mr Guryev receiving the national Director of the Year Award.

In the "Best Corporate Secretary" category, the 15th national Director of the Year prize was awarded to PhosAgro's Corporate Secretary Sergey Samosyuk.

PhosAgro's ESG-related activities were highly rated in 2020 in prestigious Russian and international ratings and awards competitions.

In September 2020, the UN confirmed PhosAgro's LEAD status within the Global Compact, a leading platform for socially responsible business. Only 41 companies around the world have been granted this status.

In October, the Company won the Grand Prix in the "Russian Business Leaders: Dynamics, Responsibility and Sustainability" awards held by the RUIE. The Grand Prix has been awarded only twice in the history of the awards, and both times it has gone to PhosAgro.

In November, PhosAgro was awarded its second IFA Gold Medal for its consistent commitment to continuous improvement and for its application of the best solutions in terms of energy efficiency and resource conservation, occupational health and safety and environmental protection.

In December, a leading authority on climate reporting, CDP, upgraded PhosAgro's rating from C to B-. The influential international agency Sustainalytics, in its annual review of ESG risk ratings, improved PhosAgro's rating considerably - from 43.8 to 26.9 points (moderate risk) - ranking the Company among the top three enterprises in the global agrochemical industry.

About PhosAgro

PhosAgro (www.phosagro.ru) is one of the world's leading vertically integrated phosphate-based fertilizer producers in terms of production volumes of phosphate-based fertilizers and high-grade phosphate rock with a P2O5 content of 39% and higher. PhosAgro's environmentally friendly fertilizers stand out for their high efficiency, and they do not lead to the contamination of soils with heavy metals.

The Company is the largest phosphate-based fertilizer producer in Europe (by total combined capacity for DAP/MAP/NP/NPK/NPS), the largest producer of high-grade phosphate rock with a P2O5 content of 39%, a top-three producer of MAP/DAP globally, one of the leading producers of feed phosphates (MCP) in Europe, and the only producer in Russia, and Russia's only producer of nepheline concentrate (according to the RAFP).

PhosAgro's main products include phosphate rock, more than 50 grades of fertilizers, feed phosphates, ammonia, and sodium tripolyphosphate, which are used by customers in over 100 countries spanning all of the world's inhabited continents. The Company's priority markets outside of Russia and the CIS are Latin America, Europe and Asia.

PhosAgro's shares are traded on the Moscow Exchange, and global depositary receipts (GDRs) for shares trade on the London Stock Exchange (under the ticker PHOR). Since 1 June 2016, the Company's GDRs have been included in the MSCI Russia and MSCI Emerging Markets indexes.

More information about PhosAgro can be found on the website: www.phosagro.ru.
The European Parliament condemns the large-scale and permanent violations of human rights in Crimea temporarily occupied by Russia, and expresses concern about the deteriorating humanitarian situation in eastern Ukraine.

This is discussed in the section "Human rights and fundamental freedoms" of the resolution on Ukraine's implementation of the Association Agreement, voted by the European Parliament during the plenary session. The spokesperson was deputy from the European People's Party Michael Gahler (Germany).

"The European Parliament strongly condemns the large-scale and permanent violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms such as freedom of expression, religion or belief and association, as well as the right to peaceful assembly, perpetrated by the Russian occupying forces in the temporarily occupied territory of Crimea and by the so-called separatist forces in the non-government-controlled areas of Donbas, including forced conscription, deportation, passportisation, restrictions on education rights, arbitrary detention, torture and other harsh detention conditions, as well as restrictive measures such as the unilateral closure of checkpoints and denied access to UN and humanitarian missions, which are particularly worrying during the current pandemic," it said in the resolution.

In addition, the European Parliament is deeply concerned about the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Donbas, which is not controlled by the Ukrainian government, especially amid current coronavirus (COVID-19) emergency.

The European Parliament regrets the worsening human rights situation in Crimea since the beginning of the occupation, as Russia has drastically curtailed the freedoms of assembly, expression, association, access to information and religion since the outset of the occupation.

In addition, the European Parliament took into account the law on supporting the functioning of the Ukrainian language as a national language and asks the Ukrainian authorities to bring the Law in line with international obligations, in particular, with the recommendations of the Venice Commission.

The European Parliament spoke in favor of media reform ensuring the independence, impartiality and accountability of the regulator, transparency in media ownership and equal opportunities for the media with fair competition in the market. The European Parliament also believes that the current draft law on countering disinformation may lead to widespread government interference in the media and journalistic activities to the detriment of media freedom and will not be effective in combating disinformation.

In addition, the European Parliament said with concern that the television media market in Ukraine, although pluralistic, is still characterized by excessive influence of oligarchs and called on Ukraine to develop free and independent media and strengthen media pluralism.

The European Parliament is confident that the EU must continue to support Ukraine in countering hybrid threats and combating disinformation and fake news, including by strengthening independent media and strategic communications in the field of media literacy, in order to increase Ukraine's resilience.

In addition, the European Parliament called on the European External Action Service to promptly put in place a global EU sanctions regime in the field of human rights, which allows the application of sanctions to individuals and companies involved in gross violations of human rights, with particular attention to the situation in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, Crimea and some parts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, and sanctions against persons responsible for other crimes, including corruption; the European Parliament invites Ukraine to follow this example and present its Ukrainian version.
US President Joe Biden on Wednesday (local time) signed an executive order imposing sanctions on the leaders of the military coup in Myanmar.

"Today, I am announcing a series of actions that we are taking to begin imposing consequences on the leaders of the coup. The US government is taking steps to prevent the generals from improperly having access to the 1 billion dollars in Burmese (Myanmar) government funds held in the United States and today I have approved a new executive order, enabling us to immediately sanction the military leaders who directed the coup, their business interests and their family members," he said at the White House.

Biden further said that Washington will identify the first round of targets this week and will also impose strong export controls, along with freezing US assets that benefit the Myanmar government while maintaining support for healthcare, civil society groups and other areas benefitting the people of Myanmar directly.

The President also condemned violence against demonstrators protesting against the coup and called it 'unacceptable'. He also said that the US is ready to impose additional measures and will work with its international partners to urge other nations to join them in these efforts.

"I also call on the Burmese military to immediately release the democratic political leaders and activists and they're detained including Aung San Suu Kyi and Win Myint, the President. The military must relinquish the power it seized and demonstrate respect for the will of the people of Burma as expressed in their November 8 elections," Biden said in his remarks.

Maintaining that the situation in Myanmar remains an issue of deep concern, Biden informed that the US last week had helped bring together the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and issued a strong statement in support of the democracy in the country.

According to New York Times, sanctions were imposed on Myanmar during the 1990s, when a repressive military government ruled the country. However, former President Barack Obama lifted those sanctions in 2016.

Myanmar's military launched a coup on February 1 and detained State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi, Win Myint and other National League for Democracy (NLD) members.

The military also announced a one-year state of emergency in the country, vowing to "take action" against alleged voter fraud during the November 8 general election, which saw Suu Kyi's NLD party secure a resounding victory.

Police forces on Tuesday cracked down on protesters by arresting over 100 demonstrators and firing live rounds and riot control weapons that led to serious injuries.

Police and military personnel on Tuesday night raided the headquarters of the NLD in Yangon, reported NHK World.

(ANI)

Also Read: US Capitol police to hold no confidence vote against senior leadership

CORE Higher Education Group announced today that TTUHSC Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy has successfully launched a Pharmacy Exploration Center to help educate potential student candidates on pharmacy school, the profession of pharmacy, and potential career paths.

TTUHSCs Pharmacy Exploration Center provides digital learning activities to potential students via an accessible and engaging platform with content focused on the TTUHSC Jerry H. Hodge School of Pharmacy, pharmacist career pathways, and even how the pharmacy program is responding to COVID19.

Shannon Staton, PharmD MBA, Senior Director of Pharmacy Relations at CORE reflected on the launch, Recruiting pharmacy students is becoming more of a challenge for pharmacy schools. The CORE team has always made an effort to listen closely to the needs of pharmacy schools and the pharmacy market, and we are excited to partner with Texas Tech to help them with their student recruitment efforts.

Gregory Cianfarani, RPh and CEO of CORE stated, Prospective pharmacy students typically have a very limited and narrow understanding of where a degree in pharmacy can take them. By educating prospects with career-focused content supplied on the RECRUIT platform, we anticipate not only an increase in interest in pharmacy as a career option, but an increase in overall applications and acceptance rates for our schools.

In 2020, CORE launched RECRUIT, a custom recruiting platform designed to help pharmacy programs engage, educate, and excite potential student candidates. With 70% of pharmacy schools currently using technology within the CORE Technology Suite, and major pharmacy chains currently utilizing the RECRUIT platform, CORE continues to position itself as a comprehensive resource in supporting the student journey.

About CORE Higher Education Group:

Headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island, CORE Higher Education Group is a pharmacist owned and operated education technology company providing software applications that help manage the experiential education process for over 200 colleges and university programs across the US and Canada. Since 2006, CORE has grown to accommodate the experiential education, student competency assessment, co-curricular eLearning, recruiting, and digital portfolio needs for pharmacy education, as well as many other health science disciplines.
More than half of all doses of COVID-19 vaccine given in the state as of Feb. 3 were given to white people, according to data released by the state Department of Public Health on Wednesday.

The data also showed that 5.2 percent of doses were given to those identifying as Hispanic, 3.4 percent of doses were given to those identifying as Black and 2.6 percent of doses were given to those identifying as Asian.

The state reported that 6.2 percent of doses were given to those identifying as being of multiple races and 17.6 percent of doses were administered to those who gave their race as other.

Though a release from the state pointed out that there are limitations in the data, it confirmed huge racial disparities in vaccine administration  a concern thats been expressed by many statewide and nationwide.

As we open up the vaccine program to individuals 65 and over, we are redoubling our efforts to ensure that vaccine is reaching the communities and populations who have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, said acting DPH commissioner Dr. Deidre Gifford in a news release. We are reallocating additional vaccine to communities with large minority populations, encouraging our vaccine providers to conduct outreach and implement other measures to ensure that individuals from underserved communities have equitable access to vaccinations.

The data released by the state showed that of the 333,796 doses administered to state residents older than 16, some 187,378  56.1 percent  went to those identifying as white. The disparities remained when the data was broken down into those aged 16 to 74 and those 75 and older.

Among the 16 to 74 population, 54.1 percent of doses went to those identifying as white, while 6.9 percent went to those identifying as Hispanic, 4.3 percent went to those identifying as Black and 3.4 percent went to those identifying as Asian.

However, the biggest disparity was among those 75 and older. In that age group, 59.7 percent of doses went to those identifying as white, whereas 2.3 percent went to those identifying as Hispanic, 1.9 percent went to those identifying as Black and 1.1 percent went to those identifying as Asian.

The state maintained that the data isnt exhaustive for multiple reasons. For instance, though reporting race and ethnicity is required for all providers, there are some gaps, which is the case across all vaccines and not unique to COVID-19 vaccines, the state said in a news release.

Also, providers and individuals have the option of selecting other, multiple races or not reported, which can make analysis challenging, according to state officials. Providers also use multiple means of reporting data to the state, and processing that information can lead to missing or under-reported data.

To address the disparities unearthed in the data, the state reported that it is taking multiple actions including supporting a multi-lingual education and social media campaign to boost vaccine confidence and boosting allocation to what are known as high social vulnerability index communities.

These are communities where multiple factors  including poverty, lack of transportation access and crowded housing  may make it harder to respond to a public health crisis, the report said.

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Last week, the Corporation for New Jersey Local Media announced that the New Jersey Hills Media Group had committed to a partnership to convert all fourteen of the chains newspapers to non-profit ownership. If the transition is successful, New Jersey Hills Media Group will be the largest nonprofit weekly newspaper chain in the country.

CJR spoke to Amanda Richardson, executive director of the Corporation for New Jersey Local Media, about the process of establishing a partnership, the nonprofit business model, and hopes for the future. This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.



CJR: How did the Corporation for New Jersey Local Media get its start?

Amanda Richardson: I got involved with local politics in 2017. And I live in a pretty small town in New Jersey called Harding Township. Im a Democrat. In 2019, I ran against a sitting township committee member named Nick Platt, a Republican who has served the town for a very long time and used to be the mayor. I actually went to high school with his daughter; I knew him. We agreed we were going to run a civil campaign; we werent going to go after each other. I lostits a very Republican town. But we ended on good terms. A few months later, he reached out to me. He had heard that the New Jersey Hills Media Group might be going on sale. Hes a strong newspaper advocate. He had always been interested in preserving local news. He knew I had a background in nonprofits, and Im a lawyer. I have a strong interest in community building. We started talking, and we came up with a bigger mission for this organization. We established the Corporation for New Jersey Local Media last year.

CJR: What has the process of establishing this organization entailed?

AR: We incorporated the organization in New Jersey. Weve applied for a 501c3, which takes a very long time to come through. In the meantime, the Community Foundation of New Jersey is our fiscal sponsor, so that allows us to take donations through their 501c3. We set out with this mission of building strong communities through civic engagement and journalism. I wanted to do more than just fundraise for newspapers, so one of the first things we did was start this community engagement series, bringing together policymakers and journalists on topics of regional and state interest and present them in a way thats accessible for people who are interested in them. Our goal is to make them available to newspapers and other media groups that might be interested in using the content, just as a way of building that civic engagement.

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I have experience forming nonprofits. But I didnt have experience converting newspapers. We started talking to the Lenfest Institute, which owns the Philadelphia Inquirer, asking about their process. And, of course, whats different here is the Philadelphia Inquirer was donated. In fact, the Lenfest Institute was set up by the person who donated it. So we were trying to figure out if you dont have people who are able to donate a paper, but who are interested in keeping the newspapers alive and in keeping that community service going, how can you do that? So our process involves a big community fundraiser, and using that money to purchase the newspapers under the aegis of the nonprofit, and then turning them into a benefits corporation. We spent last year working through the logistics.

CJR: As it stands, establishing these fourteen papers is a goal rather than a reality, right? Where are you in the process?

AR: Right now, were working with a letter of intent, which means if we reach our initial fundraising goal, we will be able to actually sign the purchase agreement and take on the newspapers. And were hoping thatll happen by early spring. So right now, our big focus is on doing meetings with the community, not just because its a way of raising the money, but because its a way of really engaging all of the local communities in a conversation about why local journalism is so important, and to hear from them about what benefits they see from it, and what theyd like to see happen.

There are some really great things happening in New Jersey, like the Center for Cooperative Media. Weve gotten a lot of advice and a lot of support from a lot of organizations in New Jersey. In addition to depending on the Lenfest Institute, weve been looking at the NJ Spotlight non-profit model. Were looking to be cooperative and not competitive, to fill a need not to create more competition.

CJR: What will your business model look like?

AR: Our plan initially will be to take on the newspapers and set up a separate board for the newspapers, because we do want to keep that journalistic integrity. The nonprofit will be the owner, separate from the actual leadership of the newspapers. But were looking for ways to expand. So whats great about being a nonprofit is well be able to go for support from foundations to do things like hiring reporters who are focused on specific topic areas, like the environment. One thing we think is so great about these papers is it is a chain. So in addition to being focused on the local issues, we can look at regional issues as well. These papers are also very established; theres a ton of experience there among editors and reporters. And so we would love to try to establish a fellowship or other kinds of programs that would let younger people who are just breaking into the industry, or who are in journalism school, learn from these people who are working at the very local level. These are all things that you can get grants to do. Thats whats great about the nonprofit; we can pursue grants while were also pursuing community fundraising. And then we also have the traditional revenues that will still be coming in.

CJR: What are some of your big hopes?

AR: We are trying to pay attention and document what the best practices are. Wed like to be able to advise other newspapers about what works and what doesnt work. And if this is a replicable modelwhich we hope it will beto help people do it.

The Journalism Crisis Project aims to train our focus on the present crisis, tallying lost jobs and outlets and fostering a conversation about what comes next. We hope youll join us (click to subscribe).

EXPLORE THE TOW CENTERS COVID-19 CUTBACK TRACKER: Over the past ten months, researchers at the Tow Center have collected reports of a wide range of cutbacks amid the pandemic. Now theres an interactive map and searchable database. You can find it here.

CONTRIBUTE TO OUR DATABASE: If youre aware of a newsroom experiencing layoffs, cutbacks, furloughs, print reductions, or any fundamental change as a result of covid-19, let us know by submitting information here. (Personal information will be kept secure by the Tow Center and will not be shared.)

Below, more on recent media trends and changes in newsrooms across the world:

JOURNALISM JOBS AND OPPORTUNITIES: MediaGazer has been maintaining a list of media companies that are currently hiring. You can find it here. The Deez Links newsletter, in partnership with Study Hall, offers media classifieds for both job seekers and job providers. The Successful Pitches database offers resources for freelancers. The International Journalists Network lists international job opportunities alongside opportunities for funding and further education.

Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today

Lauren Harris is a freelance journalist. She writes CJR's weekly newsletter for the Journalism Crisis Project. Follow her on Twitter @LHarrisWrites.
World Health Organization director general Tedros Adhanom (L) shakes hands with Chinese regime leader Xi jinping before a meeting at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Jan. 28, 2020. (Naohiko Hatta/AFP via Getty Images)

WHO Team Investigating CCP Virus Fails to Find Origin

The World Health Organisation (WHO) team conducting the investigation into the origins of the CCP virus has failed to determine where the virus originated.

Peter Ben Embarek, head of the WHO mission, said further studies are required to determine if the virus was imported or if the virus had been spread directly from animals to humans.

He implied the virus was introduced into Wuhan from elsewhere, as there was no evidence showing a SARS-CoV-2 spread in Wuhan prior to Dec. 2019, despite studies saying otherwise.

The findings indicated that there is no substantial unrecognised circulation of SARS-CoV-2 in Wuhan in the latter part of 2019, Embarek said during the press conference.

Moreover, Embarek decisively dismissed the hypothesis that the disease was leaked from a lab. Rather, he said while accidents do happen, lab leaks were extremely unlikely and did not warrant any future inquiries.

Liang Wannian, head of the China WHO team, said in order for a virus leak to occur, the virus needed to exist in the lab first.

The whole scientific community around the world has refuted the theory that it was engineered by humans, Liang said. There was no existing virus of SARS-CoV-2 [in the labs], therefore, theres no way the virus could be leaked.

Peter Ben Embarek (R) talks with Liang Wannian (L) during a press conference in the city of Wuhan, in Chinas Hubei province on February 9, 2021. (HECTOR RETAMAL/AFP via Getty Images)

The team also suggested one possible source of the contagion could have been frozen food products.

This theory was first put forward by CCP state-run media agency the Global Times in a December article where they asked did the early outbreak in Wuhan originate from imported frozen food ?

However, this hypothesis has already been discounted by the WHO themselves, who say there is no evidence of people contracting the virus from frozen food.

Australian Health Minister Greg Hunt agreed with the dismissal of the lab leak theory, saying he received no advice supporting claims the virus was human created or out of a laboratory.

Its likely to have come from the animal kingdom thats been the strong advice from our medical advisors here in Australia, Hunt told Sky News.

Queensland Nationals senator Matt Canavan said he was not surprised with the teams findings and believes the origin of the virus may remain a mystery.

We needed this inquiry to start pretty much straight away if there was any hope of finding conclusions, Canavan told Today. It would be a lot better for the world to know where these sort of things come from so we can prevent them again.

But thats all spilt milk now. Were probably never going to find out, he said.

The teams visit to China was heavily controlled by the communist state, with journalists kept well away and the absence of a publicly available full itinerary.

Gordon Chang, author of The Coming Collapse of China, said the mission was designed to not find out anything and called it worse than worthless.

This is a parroting of a Beijing narrative, Chang told The Epoch Times American Thought Leaders program. This just shows you that the WHO mission is completely worthlessactually is worse than worthless because its throwing people off the trail.

Protesters, including one holding a sign denigrating the World Health Organization, march to the Kosmos events venue where the World Health Summit was originally scheduled to take place on October 25, 2020 in Berlin, Germany. (Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

An AP investigation found the communist party strictly controlled all scientific research related to the outbreak and barred researchers from speaking to the press. With a tight control on all information surrounding the virus, state-run media outlets have often tried to change the narrative surrounding the origins of the virus.

The CCP has accused countries including the U.S., Italy, Russia, and many more, for being the source of the virus as it has continued to reject calls for a completely independent investigation.

Australias call for the inquiry into the origins of the virus has caused the relationship between the two nations to rapidly deteriorate with China using punitive economic sanctions to retaliate to Australias request for an inquiry.

Currently Australias beef, cotton, timber, lobster, wine, barley, lamb and coal have all been hit with trade blockages and tariffs, prompting calls for trade diversification and less reliance on exports to China.
Eagle FM radiostation owner John Walenga has urged listeners to opt for digital broadcasting after the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia (CRAN) last week confirmed the popular station was only authorised to broadcast in the geographic area of Okahandja. Responding to New Era newspaper, Walenga said it is premature for Eagle FM to pronounce itself on the way forward before a technical committee has revealed their findings.

"Central to the way forward is the satisfaction of the key stakeholder, which are the consumers. In the meantime, we are encouraging our listeners to download our App from their favourite stores, Internet Operating System (IOS) and Android Stores," urged Walenga.

CRAN CEO Emilia Nghikembua in a statement noted that Eagle FM was to broadcast at the frequency of 104.0 MHz, at a maximum power output of 20 Watts. CRAN instructed Eagle FM to cease broadcasting in Windhoek on 1 February 2021, adding the authority will deal with the matter further as a compliance issue.

"Eagle FM is not authorised to provide broadcasting services in the geographical area in Windhoek - and thus, any broadcast in Windhoek constitutes a breach of the license conditions. The station was broadcasting in Windhoek by transmitting at 500 watts from the frequency at Okahandja," said Nghikembua.

To remedy the non-compliance, the CEO explained Eagle FM should apply for an FM broadcasting frequency in the geographical area of Windhoek, with the application due on 15 February 2021.

Furthermore, Nghikembua said the station should apply for an amendment of its current frequency to increase the power output.

"This is subject to the normal licensing procedure and a determination whether such an amendment will not cause interference, or apply for a digital frequency."

The CRAN CEO advised Eagle FM to consider the most appropriate remedy, and submit an application for consideration to CRAN.

She further said the authority is available to meet with the station technical department to clarify issues to ensure eagle FM decides on the desired remedy.
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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.  Officers responding to a shooting in Southwest Albuquerque early Thursday morning found a mans body in the street  he had been shot multiple times. Nearby, police located a crashed car that, according to the mans relatives, was stolen from him in a carjacking that quickly turned into a homicide.

It was one of four deaths investigated by the Albuquerque Police Department in less than 36 hours. Last month, the department saw a surge of homicides that capped the month at 14, with eight of them happening over a nine-day span.

The January total spurred APD to hold a briefing to address the uptick and even jump start an operation into an illicit drug market on social media that detectives believe fueled much of the violence.

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It is unclear if any of the four most recent killings are related and, according to police, no one is in custody.

The most recent incident was Thursday morning, when a person found their brother unconscious on the floor of a Northeast Heights home.

APD spokesman Gilbert Gallegos said police responded around 8:30 a.m. to the home in the 6500 block of Jade Park NE, near San Pedro and San Francisco.

He said they found the man dead upon arrival and his position and state of the scene indicated very suspicious circumstances.

Detectives are in the preliminary stages of their investigation, Gallegos said. He gave no other details.

Hours earlier, Gallegos said, officers responded to reports of gunfire in the 400 block of Timothy SW, southwest of 98th and Central. They found 24-year-old Elias Otero  a former corrections officer at the Metropolitan Detention Center  shot to death in the road.

He said multiple witnesses told police it may have been a carjacking and officers located a crashed and abandoned vehicle several blocks away.

A relative of Otero said he was set up by a girl and subsequently shot to death during a carjacking. The woman, who was at the scene, said Oteros brother ran out and shot at the carjackers as they drove away, causing them to crash in the stolen vehicle.

The woman said she didnt know if any of the suspects had been struck by gunfire.

The night before  at about 8:45 p.m. Wednesday  homicide detectives were called to a suspicious death on the 8600 block of Zuni southeast, near Wyoming.

Gallegos said officers found a man with trauma who was pronounced dead at the scene.

Officers noticed several items of evidence that indicated suspicious circumstances, he said. Gallegos did not give any other details.

And, at about 4 a.m. Wednesday, Gallegos said officers responded to a double shooting at an apartment at 4601 Carlisle NE, near Montgomery.

He said they found a man who had been shot to death, in the head and chest, along with a woman who was shot in the arm and taken to the hospital.

Journal photographer Adolphe Pierre-Louis contributed to this report.
Three speakers will present for a period of 12 minutes each followed by a 5 minute Q&A session.

Questions for the speakers can be submitted before and during the presentations

Proactive will host a Gold Webinar next Tuesday, February 16, showcasing three ASX-listed companies  Yandal Resources (ASX:YRL), Alto Metals ( ) and Horizon Metals ( ).

Each presentation will extend for 12 minutes followed by a 5-minute Q&A session with the webinar to start at 12pm Sydney time and 9am Perth time and to register click here.

Questions for the speakers can be submitted before and during the presentations by email to John Phillips at john.phillips@proactiveinvestors.com or by text to 0431 597 771.

Yandal's portfolio of advanced projects

Yandal Resources managing director and CEO Lorry Hughes will present on the companys portfolio of advanced gold exploration projects within the Yandal greenstone belt in Western Australia.

These projects include the Ironstone Well and Barwidgee Gold Projects, comprising eight continuous mining, exploration and prospecting licences, the Mt McClure Gold Project around 1-kilometre south from Northern Stars Orelia gold deposit and the Gordons Gold Project, where aircore and reverse circulation drilling is continuing.

Hughes will detail the companys upcoming key catalysts and strategic plan to add value during 2021.

Alto's Sandstone Gold Project

Alto Metals managing director and CEO Matthew Bowles will highlight the recently acquired Sandstone Gold Project, which further consolidates AMEs ground position to more than 900 square kilometres.

An aggressive RC drilling program is underway along the Lords Corridor, with a second rig arriving mid-February to accelerate drilling at Lord Henry, Lord Nelson and several other targets.

Horizon's golden progress

Lastly, Horizon Minerals managing director Jon Price will outline its firm focus on gold exploration, development and production in a prolific gold producing region near Kalgoorlie in WA's Goldfields.

The company aims to become a mid-tier gold producer and is taking positive steps to firm up mineable resources at and around the Boorara Gold Project.

To register please click on the following link - https://event.webinarjam.com/register/43/gqy97hxy
Italy invested more in Turkey than any other country last year, as Rome has proven to be a close ally of Ankara amid disputes with other European states.

Turkey received $4.6 billion in direct foreign investment from January to November in 2020. Of that figure, Italy provided the most investment with $970 million, followed by the United States with $769 million, the state-run Anadolu Agency reported on Thursday.

Italy is one of Turkeys closest allies in Europe. In June of last year, Italy and Turkey held a joint military drill in the Mediterranean. That July, Italy and Turkey discussed deepening their economic cooperation during a conference. Like Turkey, Italy supports the UN-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) in Libyas civil war.

Turkeys friendship with Italy is significant because its relations with over European states have soured in recent months. Turkey has a particularly bad relationship with France on the continent. Turkey has energy drilling plans in the eastern Mediterranean in waters that Greece and Cyprus claim as their own. France supports Greece and Cyprus in the dispute. France is also more aligned with Egypt and the Libyan National Army (LNA), which fights the GNA, in Libya.

Turkey has maintained significant economic ties with all of Europe  not just Italy, despite the tensions. Europe as a whole, including France and Germany, accounted for $3.3 billion, or 70.8%, of the foreign investment Turkey received from January to November last year, according to Anadolu.
Google Chrome is the most widely used browser in the world, partly due to the ubiquity of the companys Android operating system and its popularity among web developers on the desktop. The browsers open-source Chromium engine is also used by other browsers such as Microsoft Edge, Brave, Vivaldi, and many others.

However, developers working on Googles popular browser have now announced that the browser engine will, in fact, stop working on older processors. Youd need to be running a very old processor for this to affect you, though. If your computers CPU is more than 15 years old, it will likely lose support for Chrome starting with version 89, a report by TechSpot states.

Also read: Apple iCloud Keychain extension reaches Chrome in Windows, making website login easy

What this essentially means is, if youre running a Celeron M series CPU or an Intel Atom processor that simply cannot meet a new minimum of SSE3 (Supplemental Streaming SIMD Extensions 3) instruction set requirement. Your CPU cannot support the new requirement, so the browser wont install on your computer, the report states.

When Chrome 89 comes along, youll have two options, retire that old computer or turn it into a basic local home server, or just sell it for parts. (TechSpot)

If you attempt to force an installation of the browser on your computer, loading it will simply result in a crash and not load again, the report states, adding that this only applies to Windows computers as other platforms that Chrome runs on already require SSE3 support on the processor, including macOS, Android and ChromeOS. You should see a message starting with Chromium 87, so youll have at least a few weeks before Chrome no longer works on your browser.

Read more: Google patches a major zero-day vulnerability in Chrome

When Chrome 89 comes along, youll have two options, retire that old computer or turn it into a basic local home server, or just sell it for parts. If you still want to use the computer to browse the internet, you can still download Mozillas Firefox browser that doesnt enforce the SSE3 instruction set requirement.
It is widely regarded as one of the worst police investigations in living memory.

Operation Midland saw lives ruined, homes ransacked and reputations trashed on the bogus testimony of a fantasist who was not properly challenged until it was too late.

In a post-Jimmy Savile culture of automatically 'believing' victims, police officers and politicians saw the 'Nick' case as a career-defining coup, seemingly rendering them blind to inconsistencies in Carl Beech's accounts.

He is now serving an 18-year prison sentence for his lies.

But what of those who helped the lies take root, and initially failed to conduct the most basic inquiries to determine their veracity?

The answer is that five years after Midland was shut down not one officer involved in the scandal has received an official sanction or punishment.

As head of Scotland Yard during Operation Midland, Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe regularly defended the probe

LORD HOGAN-HOWE: ENNOBLED

As head of Scotland Yard during Operation Midland, Hogan-Howe regularly defended the probe, refusing to apologise for home raids in 2016.

He commissioned Sir Richard Henriques' review of the scandal but announced his retirement that September, weeks before the judge's scathing findings were made public.

He was elevated to the House of Lords where the register of interests reveals 14 paid posts including advising a legal firm and the Cabinet Office.

Accrued an estimated 5million pension pot and owns an apartment in the Swiss ski resort of Valais.

STEVE RODHOUSE: PROMOTED

'Gold commander' and in overall charge of Operation Midland, then-deputy assistant commissioner Rodhouse approved decision to seek search warrants to raid homes and briefed superiors.

Accused of prolonging Operation Vincente probe into Lord Brittan to keep Midland going.

Cleared by police watchdog and now at the National Crime Agency on a pay package of nearly 300,000.

'Gold commander' and in overall charge of Operation Midland, then-deputy assistant commissioner Steve Rodhouse approved the decision to seek search warrants to raid homes and briefed superiors

DIANE TUDWAY: RETIRED

As senior investigating officer in charge of Operation Midland, the detective chief inspector reviewed and accepted the search warrants despite being aware of discrepancies in Nick's account between his Met and Wiltshire Police interviews.

Made a superintendent in 2018 while under investigation by the police watchdog and the only officer to have a face-to-face interview. Retired on a full pension in 2019 on eve of Nick trial.

As senior investigating officer in charge of Operation Midland, Detective Chief Inspector Jane Tudway reviewed and accepted the search warrants despite being aware of discrepancies in Nick's account between his Met and Wiltshire Police interviews

KENNY MCDONALD: RETIRED

In day-to-day charge of Operation Midland when it was launched, the former detective superintendent infamously told reporters in December 2014 that he, and senior officers specialising in both child abuse and murder, believed Nick's allegations to be 'credible and true'.

Replaced as head of Midland in October 2015 but was cleared by the watchdog of any wrongdoing.

Mr McDonald retired on a full pension in 2019 after 30 years of service. Made no comment yesterday.

In day-to-day charge of Operation Midland when it was launched, former Detective Superintendent Kenny McDonald infamously told reporters in December 2014 that he, and senior officers specialising in both child abuse and murder, believed Nick's allegations to be 'credible and true'

PATRICIA GALLAN: RETIRED

As a Met assistant commissioner at the time of Operation Midland, Miss Gallan received briefings from Mr Rodhouse.

However she has appeared to blame him for blunders, saying he had 'operational control'.

Formerly the highest-ranking black female in British policing, she said she did not approve raids on the homes of Lord Brittan, Lord Bramall or Harvey Proctor.

She was cleared in a judge-led inquiry and retired in 2018. She is now a non-executive director at HMRC.

As a Met assistant commissioner at the time of Operation Midland, Patricia Gallan received briefings from Mr Rodhouse

DAME CRESSIDA DICK

Had oversight of Operation Midland when it was set up, as well as Operation Vincente, a probe into a bogus rape claim against Lord Brittan.

Left the Met for a job at the Foreign Office but returned as 230,000-a-year commissioner in 2017.

Dame Cressida Dick had oversight of Operation Midland when it was set up

ALISON HEPWORTH: RETIRED

The detective inspector authorised the applications used to raid homes before they were submitted to the court.

Told investigators that despite her 'extensive' knowledge of Operation Midland, she could not recall what she knew about inconsistencies in Nick's claims at the time, and insisted the decision to apply for warrants was made 'at a higher level'.

Had already retired on a full pension before the IOPC inquiry started. Provided a written statement to watchdog.

Detective Inspector Alison Hepworth authorised the applications used to raid homes before they were submitted to the court

ERIC SWORD: RETIRED

A detective sergeant working on Operation Midland, Mr Sword made the applications for search warrants used to raid homes and attended Westminster Magistrates' Court to answer questions when they were granted.

He indicated he had no information that might undermine the application.

He admitted he had been provided with a summary of Nick's interviews with Wiltshire Police, which could have highlighted discrepancies, but said he did not read it.

A detective sergeant working on Operation Midland, Eric Sword made the applications for search warrants used to raid homes and attended Westminster Magistrates' Court to answer questions when they were granted

James Townly played a key role in allegations made against Lord Brittan, interviewing the terminally-ill peer under caution in May 2014 as part of Operation Vincente

JAMES TOWNLY: STILL SERVING

The detective sergeant played a key role in allegations made against Lord Brittan, interviewing the terminally-ill peer under caution in May 2014 as part of Operation Vincente.

Months later he became the first Scotland Yard officer to interview 'Nick', where he was taken in by the fantasist's preposterous claims.

DS Townly became Nick's liaison officer and took him on drives through central London to see whether he 'recognised' anything, insisting the star witness was the 'real deal'.

Avoided a misconduct probe. Still serving.

WATCHDOG THAT DIDN'T BARK

Michael Lockwood

A former council leader and accountant, he became the first director-general of the Independent Office for Police Conduct in 2017.

The 185,000-a-year executive ultimately presided over the 'whitewash' report exonerating all five Operation Midland police officers referred over alleged misconduct.

He defended the report in a Guardian newspaper article, maintaining 'shortcomings' were found, but no misconduct.

A former council leader and accountant, Michael Lockwood became the first director-general of the Independent Office for Police Conduct in 2017

He was accused of cronyism in 2019 when it emerged he hired his former Harrow council colleague as his taxpayer-funded 140,000-a-year deputy.

The IOPC said that Mr Lockwood 'declared that he knew the candidate, in accordance with policy'.

Mr Lockwood declined to comment on Lady Brittan's interview yesterday.

Kimberley Williams

Kimberley Williams was appointed lead investigator of the IPOC probe into Operation Midland

Appointed 'lead investigator' of the IOPC probe into Operation Midland just a few years after leaving university.

In her 20s at the time, Miss Williams admitted when taking statements that she had no legal training and was not fully aware of the process for obtaining search warrants.

She is thought still to be in IOPC employment.
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.

Melbourne, Australia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 10, 2021) - Newcrest Mining Limited (ASX: NCM) (TSX: NCM) has updated its Mineral Resource and Ore Reserve estimates for the twelve month period ending 31 December 2020 following a review of all production sources. The review has taken into account divestments and acquisitions, long-term metal prices, foreign exchange rates and cost assumptions, as well as mining and metallurgy performance to inform cut-off grades and physical mining parameters.

Newcrest listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange in October 2020, retaining its primary listing on the Australian Stock Exchange and its secondary listing on PNGX Exchange Market. As a result, Newcrest's Annual Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves Statement has been modified to conform with the 2012 Edition of the Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves by the Australasian Joint Ore Reserves Committee Code (the JORC Code) ASX Listing Rules and National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (NI 43-101) of the Canadian Securities Administrators and TSX reporting requirements.

Key developments in 2020

On 5 March 2020 Newcrest announced that it had completed the divestment of its 75% interest in Gosowong[1]. As such the Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves relating to Gosowong have been removed from the portfolio as at 31 December 2020.

On 10 December 2020 Newcrest announced an initial Inferred Mineral Resource estimate for the Havieron Project, which it owns in joint venture with Greatland Gold Plc. Newcrest's proportional Mineral Resources represented by its equity interest of 40%[2] have been included in the Inferred Mineral Resources for the Telfer Province.

The Red Chris planned work program continued during CY2020. Studies to define the optimum high value plan for open pit and underground mining scenarios are continuing and are on track to be completed within the previously announced three year timeframe (from acquisition in August 2019[3]). This work program will continue during 2021 and is expected to enable Newcrest to report Red Chris in accordance with the JORC Code, with a Mineral Resource estimate in March 2021 and an Ore Reserve estimate by September 2021, on completion of the supporting Pre-Feasibility Study.

Group Ore Reserves

As at 31 December 2020, Group Ore Reserves are estimated to contain approximately 49 million ounces of gold, 6.8 million tonnes of copper, 35 million ounces of silver and 0.12 million tonnes of molybdenum. This represents a decrease of approximately 2.6 million ounces of gold (~5%), 0.1 million tonnes of copper (~2%) and 1.3 million ounces of silver (~4%) compared with the estimate as at 31 December 2019. The Group Ore Reserve estimates as at 31 December 2020 are set out in Tables 11 to 15.

The Group Ore Reserves as at 31 December 2020 includes the following changes as compared to

31 December 2019:

Estimated mining depletion of approximately 2.5 million ounces of gold, 0.1 million tonnes of copper,

1 million ounces of silver and minor molybdenum

1 million ounces of silver and minor molybdenum Removal of 0.3 million ounces of gold and 0.4 million ounces of silver following divesture of Newcrest's 75% interest in Gosowong

Minor changes at Telfer and Lihir due to updated input assumptions for net increase of 0.3 million ounces of gold.

Group Mineral Resources

As at 31 December 2020, Group Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources are estimated to contain approximately 97 million ounces of gold, 17 million tonnes of copper, 87 million ounces of silver and 0.19 million tonnes of molybdenum. This represents a decrease of approximately 4.2 million ounces of gold (~4%),

0.2 million tonnes of copper (~1%) and 2 million ounces of silver (~2%), compared with the estimate as at 31 December 2019. Group Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources are reported inclusive of Ore Reserves.

The Group Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources as at 31 December 2020 includes the following changes as compared to 31 December 2019:

Estimated mining depletion of approximately 2.6 million ounces of gold, 0.1 million tonnes of copper,

1 million ounces of silver and minor molybdenum

1 million ounces of silver and minor molybdenum Decrease at Telfer, post mining depletion, of approximately 0.7 million ounces of gold following removal of 0.3 million ounces of gold from Main Dome open pit at the end of operation and updated metal prices, exchange rates, costs assumptions, resource models, and re-optimisation of the West Dome open pit and Main Dome Underground resources

Removal of 0.9 million ounces of gold and 1.2 million ounces of silver following divesture of Newcrest's 75% interest in Gosowong.

As at 31 December 2020, Group Inferred Mineral Resources are estimated to contain approximately 11 million ounces of gold, 2.3 million tonnes of copper and 5.4 million ounces of silver. This represents an increase of approximately 1.7 million ounces of gold (~20%), 0.1 million tonnes of copper (~5%) and decrease of 0.1 million ounces of silver (~3%), compared with the estimate as at 31 December 2019.

The Group Inferred Mineral Resources as at 31 December 2020 includes the following changes as compared to 31 December 2019:

Increase at Telfer of 1.8 million ounces of gold due to the inclusion of the Initial Havieron Inferred Mineral Resource (~1.35 million ounces of gold reflecting Newcrest's 40% equity interest) and an increase at the West Dome open pit and Telfer underground due to updated metal prices, exchange rates, cost assumptions, resource models and the re-optimisation of the West Dome open pit and Main Dome Underground resources

Minor decrease of 0.1 million ounces of gold and 0.1 million ounces of silver following divesture of Newcrest's 75% interest in Gosowong.

The Group Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources and Inferred Mineral Resources as at 31 December 2020 are set out in Tables 2 to 10.

Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves Assumptions

Updated mining, metallurgical and long-term cost assumptions were developed with reference to recent performance data. The revised long-term assumptions include changes in performance consistent with changing activity levels at each site over the life of the operation and the latest study for each deposit.

Long-term metal prices and foreign exchange assumptions for Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves are set out in Table 1. For long mine life assets the gold price has been increased by US$100/oz for both Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves from those used for December 2019 reporting. Copper and silver metal price assumptions remain unchanged from those used for December 2019 reporting. The AUD:USD exchange rate assumption for long life assets remain unchanged at 0.75 and local currency assumptions for the PNG Kina remain unchanged. In consideration of Telfer's current comparatively short mine life the gold price assumption has been increased by US$200/oz and the copper price assumption has been decreased by US$0.20/Ib for Ore Reserves compared to that used for December 2019 reporting. The AUD:USD exchange rate for Telfer, considering its comparatively short mine life, has been lowered to 0.70 for Ore Reserves and remains at 0.75 for Mineral Resources. Note that Havieron Mineral Resource uses the long term metal price and exchange rate assumptions. Where appropriate, Mineral Resources are also spatially constrained within notional mining volumes based on metal prices of US$1,400/oz for gold and US$4.00/lb for copper. This approach is adopted to eliminate mineralisation that does not have reasonable prospects of eventual economic extraction from Mineral Resource estimates.

Note that the increased long-term gold price assumptions have been applied to re-optimise the Lihir and Telfer operating Mineral Resource and Ore Reserve and Havieron Project and Namosi JV Mineral Resource estimates for this reporting period. Remaining assets of Cadia and the undeveloped projects at Wafi Golpu and Telfer will be progressively re-optimised when the full supporting studies are updated and are currently optimised on the more conservative 2019 gold price assumption.

Table 1





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JORC Code and ASX Listing Rules Requirements

This annual statement of Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves has been prepared in accordance with the JORC Code. Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves reported for the Wafi-Golpu Joint Venture (WGJV) are based on Competent Persons' statements provided by the WGJV and are quoted as Newcrest's 50% interest.

JORC and CIM Comparison

Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves are classified using the JORC Code. The confidence categories assigned under the JORC Code were reconciled to the confidence categories in the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum (CIM) Definition Standards - for Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves May 2014 (the CIM Definition Standards). As the confidence category definitions are the same, no modifications to the confidence categories were required.

There are differences in terminology from JORC compared to the CIM Definition Standards. Terminology differences are the term "Ore Reserves" in the JORC Code is equivalent to "Mineral Reserves" using the

CIM Definition Standards, and the term "Proved Ore Reserves" in the JORC Code is equivalent to "Proven Mineral Reserves" using the CIM Definition Standards. There are no other material differences between JORC and the CIM Definition Standards.

Note that NI 43-101 reporting requirements do not allow for Inferred Mineral Resources to be added to other Mineral Resource categories. Therefore, Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources have been reported separately from Inferred Mineral Resources which is different from past practice.

Mineral Resources that are not Ore Reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. Due to lower certainty, the inclusion of Mineral Resources should not be regarded as a representation by Newcrest that such amounts can necessarily be totally economically exploited, and investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon such figures. Therefore, no assurances can be given that the estimates of Mineral Resources presented in this statement will be recovered at the tonnages and grades presented, or at all.

NI 43-101 Technical Reports

In connection with the TSX Listing, Technical Reports have been prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 for the following operations and projects, which are Newcrest's material mineral properties for the purposes of

NI 43-101:

Cadia Operations, New South Wales, Australia, NI 43-101 Technical Report, Report effective date

30 June 2020.

30 June 2020. Lihir Operations, Aniolam Island, Papua New Guinea, NI 43-101 Technical Report, Report effective date 30 June 2020.

Wafi-Golpu Project, Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea, NI 43-101 Technical Report, Report effective date 30 June 2020.

These reports can be found on Newcrest's website at www.newcrest.com and on Newcrest's profile on the System for Electronic Document Analysis and Retrieval (SEDAR) website at www.sedar.com.

Table 2 - 31 December 2020 Gold Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources





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NOTE: Data is reported to two significant figures to reflect appropriate precision in the estimate and this may cause some apparent discrepancies in totals Refer Mineral Resource Endnotes for additional information on each Mineral Resource listed.

Table 3 - 31 December 2020 Gold Inferred Mineral Resources





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NOTES: Data is reported to two significant figures to reflect appropriate precision in the estimate and this may cause some apparent discrepancies in totals Refer Mineral Resource Endnotes for additional information on each Mineral Resource listed.

Table 4 - 31 December 2020 Copper Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources





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Table 5 - 31 December 2020 Copper Inferred Mineral Resources





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NOTES: Data is reported to two significant figures to reflect appropriate precision in the estimate and this may cause some apparent discrepancies in totals Refer Mineral Resource Endnotes for additional information on each Mineral Resource listed.

Table 6 - 31 December 2020 Silver Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources





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Table 7 - 31 December 2020 Silver Inferred Mineral Resources





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Table 8 - 31 December 2020 Molybdenum Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources





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NOTES: Data is reported to two significant figures to reflect appropriate precision in the estimate and this may cause some apparent discrepancies in totals Refer Mineral Resource Endnotes for additional information on each Mineral Resource listed.

Table 9 - 31 December 2020 Polymetallic Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources





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Table 10 - 31 December 2020 Polymetallic Inferred Mineral Resources





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NOTES: Data is reported to two significant figures to reflect appropriate precision in the estimate and this may cause some apparent discrepancies in totals Refer Mineral Resource Endnotes for additional information on each Mineral Resource listed.

Mineral Resource Endnotes

Cadia East Underground Mineral Resource-JORC Competent Person: Luke Barbetti. Underground block cave operation, Cadia, NSW, Australia. For key assumptions, parameters and methods used to estimate the Mineral Resource refer to Cadia Operations, New South Wales, Australia, NI 43-101 Technical Report, Report effective date 30 June 2020. Ridgeway Underground Mineral Resource-JORC Competent Person: Luke Barbetti. Underground block cave on Care and Maintenance, Cadia, NSW, Australia. For key assumptions, parameters and methods used to estimate the Mineral Resource refer to Cadia Operations, New South Wales, Australia, NI 43-101 Technical Report, Report effective date 30 June 2020. Cadia Extended Underground Mineral Resource-JORC Competent Person: Luke Barbetti. Underground undeveloped project, Cadia, NSW, Australia. For key assumptions, parameters and methods used to estimate the Mineral Resource refer to Cadia Operations, New South Wales, Australia, NI 43-101 Technical Report, Report effective date 30 June 2020. Cadia Hill Stockpiles Ridgeway Underground Mineral Resource-JORC Competent Person: Luke Barbetti. Open pit stockpiles from completed Cadia Hill Open pit operation, Cadia, NSW, Australia. For key assumptions, parameters and methods used to estimate the Mineral Resource refer to Cadia Operations, New South Wales, Australia, NI 43-101 Technical Report, Report effective date 30 June 2020 Big Cadia Open Pit Mineral Resource-JORC Competent Person: Luke Barbetti. Open pit undeveloped project, Cadia, NSW, Australia. For key assumptions, parameters and methods used to estimate the Mineral Resource refer to Cadia Operations, New South Wales, Australia, NI 43-101 Technical Report, Report effective date 30 June 2020. Main Dome Stockpiles Mineral Resource-JORC Competent Person: Ashok Doorgapershad. Open pit stockpiles from completed Main Dome open pit operation, Telfer, WA, Australia. Mineral Resource is reported at a Net Smelter Return cut-off of A$17.8/t milled based on variable gold and copper contributions. West Dome Open Pit Mineral Resource-JORC Competent Person: Ashok Doorgapershad. Open pit operation, Telfer, WA, Australia. Mineral Resource is reported at a Net Smelter Return cut-off of A$20.1/t milled based on variable gold and copper contributions. Telfer Underground Mineral Resources-JORC Competent Person: Ashok Doorgapershad. Underground comprising sub-level cave and Western Flanks, South West and M Reef stoping operations and Vertical Stockwork Corridor

sub-level cave undeveloped project, Telfer, WA, Australia. Mineral Resource is reported at a Net Smelter Return cut-off of AUD53.0/t milled for sub-level caves, A$60.0/t milled for Western Flanks and A$115.0/t milled for M Reefs based on variable gold and copper contributions. Havieron Underground Mineral Resource-JORC Competent Person: Cameron Switzer. Underground undeveloped joint venture project (Newcrest equity 40%, Greatland Gold Plc equity 60%), Telfer, WA, Australia. Mineral Resource is reported at a Net Smelter Return cut-off of A$50.0/t milled based on variable gold and copper contributions. Satellites Open Pit Mineral Resources-JORC Competent Person: Ashok Doorgapershad. Open pit undeveloped project, Telfer, WA, Australia. The Mineral Resource comprised of three deposits (Ironclad, Big Tree and Dolphy) is reported above marginal cut-off grades of 0.20g/t Au in Oxide material and 0.56g/t Au for transitional or fresh material based on dump leach processing. O'Callaghans Underground Mineral Resource-JORC Competent Person: Ashok Doorgapershad. Underground polymetallic underdeveloped project, Telfer, WA, Australia. Mineral Resource is reported at a Net Smelter Return

cut-off of A$$54.9/t milled based on variable copper, tungsten, lead and zinc contributions. Camp Dome Mineral Resource-JORC Competent Person: Ashok Doorgapershad. Open pit undeveloped project, Telfer, WA, Australia. Mineral Resource has been reported above a 0.13% copper cut-off based on dump leach processing. Lihir Open Pit Mineral Resource-JORC Competent Person: Ben Likia. Open pit operation, Aniolam Island, PNG. For key assumptions, parameters and methods used to estimate the Mineral Resource refer to Lihir Operations, Aniolam Island, Papua New Guinea, NI 43-101 Technical Report, Report effective date 30 June 2020. Lihir Open Pit Stockpiles-JORC Competent Person: Ben Likia. Open pit stockpiles from current operation, Aniolam Island, PNG. For key assumptions, parameters and methods used to estimate the Mineral Resources refer to Lihir Operations, Aniolam Island, Papua New Guinea, NI 43-101 Technical Report, Report effective date 30 June 2020. Gosowong Mineral Resource. Gosowong is owned and operated by PT Nusa Halmahera Minerals, an incorporated joint venture company (Newcrest 75%). The figures shown represent 100% of the Mineral Resource at 31 December 2019. On 5 March 2020 Newcrest announced that it had completed the divestment of Gosowong (refer to Market release "Finalisation of Gosowong Sale" dated 5 March 2020) and therefore the resource has been removed. Golpu Underground Mineral Resource-JORC Competent Person David Finn. Underground block cave undeveloped project, Morobe, PNG. For key assumptions, parameters and methods used to estimate the Mineral Resource refer to Wafi-Golpu Project, Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea, NI 43-101 Technical Report, Report effective date 30 June 2020. Wafi Open Pit Mineral Resource-JORC Competent Person Greg Job. Open pit undeveloped project, Morobe, PNG. For key assumptions, parameters and methods used to estimate the Mineral Resource refer to Wafi-Golpu Project, Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea, NI 43-101 Technical Report, Report effective date 30 June 2020. Nambonga Underground Mineral Resource-JORC Competent Person Greg Job. Underground block cave undeveloped project, Morobe, PNG. For key assumptions, parameters and methods used to estimate the Mineral Resource refer to Wafi-Golpu Project, Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea, NI 43-101 Technical Report, Report effective date 30 June 2020. Waisoi Open Pit Mineral Resource-JORC Competent Person Vik Singh. Open pit undeveloped project, Namosi, Fiji. Mineral Resource is reported at a Net Smelter Return cut-off of US$11.0/t based on variable gold and copper contributions. Wainaulo Underground Mineral Resource-JORC Competent Person Vik Singh. Underground block cave undeveloped project, Namosi, Fiji. Mineral Resource is reported at a Net Smelter Return cut-off of US$23.2/t.

Table 11 - 31 December 2020 Gold Ore Reserves





To view an enhanced version of Table 11, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/74178_2832d630b4871916_010full.jpg





Table 12 - 31 December 2020 Copper Ore Reserves





To view an enhanced version of Table 12 please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/74178_2832d630b4871916_011full.jpg

NOTES: Data is reported to two significant figures to reflect appropriate precision in the estimate and this may cause some apparent discrepancies in totals Refer Ore Reserve Endnotes for additional information on each Mineral Resource listed.

Table 13 - 31 December 2020 Silver Ore Reserves





To view an enhanced version of Table 13, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/74178_2832d630b4871916_012full.jpg





Table 14 - 31 December 2020 Molybdenum Ore Reserves





To view an enhanced version of Table 14, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/74178_2832d630b4871916_013full.jpg





Table 15 - 31 December 2020 Polymetallic Ore Reserves





To view an enhanced version of Table 15, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/7614/74178_2832d630b4871916_014full.jpg

NOTES: Data is reported to two significant figures to reflect appropriate precision in the estimate and this may cause some apparent discrepancies in totals Refer Ore Reserve Endnotes for additional information on each Mineral Resource listed.

Ore Reserve End Notes



Cadia East Underground Ore Reserve-JORC Competent Person: Ian Austen. Underground block cave operation, Cadia, NSW, Australia. For key assumptions, parameters and methods used to estimate the Ore Reserves refer to Cadia Operations, New South Wales, Australia, NI 43-101 Technical Report, Report effective date 30 June 2020. Ridgeway Underground Ore Reserve-JORC Competent Person: Geoffrey Newcombe. Underground block cave on Care and Maintenance, Cadia, NSW, Australia. For key assumptions, parameters and methods used to estimate the Ore Reserves refer to Cadia Operations, New South Wales, Australia, NI 43-101 Technical Report, Report effective date 30 June 2020. Main Dome Stockpiles Ore Reserve-JORC Competent Person: Glenn Paterson-Kane. Open pit stockpiles from completed Main Dome open pit operation, Telfer, WA, Australia. Ore Reserve is reported at a Net Smelter Return

cut-off of A$17.8/t milled based on variable gold and copper contributions. West Dome Open Pit Ore Reserve-JORC Competent Person: Glenn Paterson-Kane. Open pit operation, Telfer, WA, Australia. Ore Reserve is reported at a Net Smelter Return cut-off of A$20.1/t milled based on variable gold and copper contributions. Telfer Underground Ore Reserve-JORC Competent Person: Gito Patani. Underground comprising sub-level cave and Western Flanks, South West and M Reef stoping operations, Telfer, WA, Australia. Ore Reserve is reported at a Net Smelter Return cut-off of A$53.0/t milled for sub-level cave, A$60.0/t milled for Western Flanks and A$115.0/t milled for M Reefs based on variable gold and copper contributions. O'Callaghans Underground Ore Reserve-JORC Competent Person: Michael Sykes. Underground polymetallic underdeveloped project, Telfer, WA, Australia. Ore Reserve is reported at a Net Smelter Return cut-off of A$54.9/t milled based on variable copper, tungsten, lead and zinc contributions Lihir Open Pit Ore Reserve-JORC Competent Person: David Grigg. Open pit operation, Lihir, PNG. For key assumptions, parameters and methods used to estimate the Ore Reserve refer to Lihir Operations, Aniolam Island, Papua New Guinea, NI 43-101 Technical Report, Report effective date 30 June 2020. Lihir Open Pit Stockpiles Ore Reserve-JORC Competent Person: David Grigg. Open pit stockpiles from current operation, Lihir, PNG. For key assumptions, parameters and methods used to estimate the Ore Reserve refer to Lihir Operations, Aniolam Island, Papua New Guinea, NI 43-101 Technical Report, Report effective date 30 June 2020. Gosowong Ore Reserve. Gosowong is owned and operated by PT Nusa Halmahera Minerals, an incorporated joint venture company (Newcrest 75%). The figures shown represent 100% of the Ore Reserve at 31 December 2019. On 5 March 2020 Newcrest announced that it had completed the divestment of Gosowong (refer to Market release "Finalisation of Gosowong Sale" dated 5 March 2020) and therefore the reserve has been removed. Golpu Underground Ore Reserve-JORC Competent Person: Pasqualino Manca. Underground block cave undeveloped project, Morobe, PNG. For key assumptions, parameters and methods used to estimate the Ore Reserve refer to Wafi-Golpu Project, Morobe Province, Papua New Guinea, NI 43-101 Technical Report, Report effective date 30 June 2020.

Disclaimer

Forward Looking Statements

This document includes forward looking statements and forward looking information within the meaning of securities laws of applicable jurisdictions. Forward looking statements can generally be identified by the use of words such as "may", "will", "expect", "intend", "plan", "estimate", "anticipate", "believe", "continue", "objectives", "targets", "outlook" and "guidance", or other similar words and may include, without limitation, statements regarding estimated reserves and resources, certain plans, strategies, aspirations and objectives of management, anticipated production, study or construction dates, expected costs, cash flow or production outputs and anticipated productive lives of projects and mines. Newcrest continues to distinguish between outlook and guidance. Guidance statements relate to the current financial year. Outlook statements relate to years subsequent to the current financial year.

These forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause Newcrest's actual results, performance and achievements or industry results to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements, or industry results, expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Relevant factors may include, but are not limited to, changes in commodity prices, foreign exchange fluctuations and general economic conditions, increased costs and demand for production inputs, the speculative nature of exploration and project development, including the risks of obtaining necessary licences and permits and diminishing quantities or grades of reserves, political and social risks, changes to the regulatory framework within which Newcrest operates or may in the future operate, environmental conditions including extreme weather conditions, recruitment and retention of personnel, industrial relations issues and litigation. For further information as to the risks which may impact on Newcrest's results and performance, please see the risk factors included in the Annual Information Form dated 13 October 2020 lodged with ASX and SEDAR.

Forward looking statements are based on Newcrest's good faith assumptions as to the financial, market, regulatory and other relevant environments that will exist and affect Newcrest's business and operations in the future. Newcrest does not give any assurance that the assumptions will prove to be correct. There may be other factors that could cause actual results or events not to be as anticipated, and many events are beyond the reasonable control of Newcrest. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward looking statements, particularly in the current economic climate with the significant volatility, uncertainty and disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Forward looking statements in this document speak only at the date of issue. Except as required by applicable laws or regulations, Newcrest does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any of the forward looking statements or to advise of any change in assumptions on which any such statement is based.

Ore Reserves and Mineral Resources Reporting Requirements

As an Australian Company with securities listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX), Newcrest is subject to Australian disclosure requirements and standards, including the requirements of the Corporations Act 2001 and the ASX. Investors should note that it is a requirement of the ASX listing rules that the reporting of ore reserves and mineral resources in Australia is in accordance with the JORC Code and that Newcrest's ore reserve and mineral resource estimates comply with the JORC Code.

Newcrest is also subject to certain Canadian disclosure requirements and standards, as a result of its secondary listing on the TSX, including the requirements of NI 43-101. Investors should note that it is a requirement of Canadian securities law that the reporting of Mineral Reserves and Mineral Resources in Canada and the disclosure of scientific and technical information concerning a mineral project on a property material to Newcrest comply with NI 43-101. Newcrest's material properties are currently Cadia, Lihir and Wafi-Golpu.

Competent Person's Statement

The information in this document that relates to Group Mineral Resources, Ore Reserves, and related scientific and technical information, is based on and fairly represents information compiled by Mr K. Gleeson. Mr Gleeson is Newcrest's Head of Mineral Resource Management and a full-time employee of Newcrest Mining Limited. He is a shareholder in Newcrest and is entitled to participate in Newcrest's executive equity long term incentive plan, details of which are included in Newcrest's 2020 Remuneration Report. He is a Fellow of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. Mr Gleeson has sufficient experience which is relevant to the styles of mineralisation and types of deposits under consideration and to the activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the JORC Code and as a Qualified Person under NI 43-101. Mr Gleeson has reviewed and approves the disclosure of scientific and technical information contained in this document and consents to the inclusion of material of the matters based on his information in the form and context in which it appears.

The information in this report that relates to specific Mineral Resources, Ore Reserves, and related scientific and technical information, is based on and fairly represents information compiled by the Competent Persons as named in Tables 2 to 15 endnotes. Each of these persons, other than Mr G. Job, was at the reporting date a full-time employee of Newcrest Mining Limited or its relevant subsidiaries, holds options (and in some cases, shares) in Newcrest Mining Limited and is entitled to participate in Newcrest's executive equity long term incentive plan, details of which are included in Newcrest's 2020 Remuneration Report. Mr Job is a full time employee of Harmony Gold Mining Company Limited, Newcrest's joint venture partner in the WGJV.

All Competent Persons named in this document are Members or Fellows of The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy and / or The Australian Institute of Geoscientists, and have sufficient experience which is relevant to the styles of mineralisation and types of deposits under consideration and to the activity which they are undertaking to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the JORC Code. Each Competent Person consents to the inclusion of material of the matters based on their information in the form and context in which it appears.

Authorised by the Newcrest Board Executive Committee

For further information please contact

Investor Enquiries

Tom Dixon

+61 3 9522 5570

+61 450 541 389

Tom.Dixon@newcrest.com.au

Ben Lovick

+61 3 9522 5334

+61 407 269 478

Ben.Lovick@newcrest.com.au

North American Investor Enquiries



Ryan Skaleskog

+1 866 396 0242

+61 403 435 222

Ryan.Skaleskog@newcrest.com.au

Media Enquiries



Tom Dixon

+61 3 9522 5570

+61 450 541 389

Tom.Dixon@newcrest.com.au

Annie Lawson

+61 3 9522 5750

+61 409 869 986

Annie.Lawson@newcrest.com.au

This information is available on our website at www.newcrest.com

[1] Refer to Market Release "Finalisation of Gosowong Sale" dated 5 March 2020

[2] Refer to Market Release "Newcrest signs Havieron Joint Venture Agreement and expand its presence in the highly prospective Paterson Province", which announced that Newcrest has met the Stage 3 expenditure requirement (US$45 million) and is entitled to earn an additional 20% joint venture interest in addition to its existing 40% interest, resulting in an overall joint venture interest of 60% (Greatland Gold 40%). As at date of this release Newcrest has not exercised this right to increase its equity interest

[3] Refer to market release "Newcrest completes 70% acquisition of Red Chris" dated 16 August 2019

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/74178
Catholic Charities staff offer recovery resources at Sonoma County Local Assistance Centers following the 2020 LNU Lightning Complex fires. Photo courtesy of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Santa People and communities affected by disasters often need help assessing and accessing financial aid and other resources that could stabilize their lives and livelihoods, and begin the road to recovery

Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA) receives $1 million from the Center for Disaster Philanthropy (CDP) Disaster Recovery Fund to assist long-term recovery efforts from the recent wildfires. One of the largest that CDP has awarded a single organization, this grant will help Catholic Charities agencies meet the needs of communities across California, Colorado, Oregon and Washington State impacted by the multiple devastating wildfires in 2020.

Sister Donna Markham, OP, PhD, President and CEO of CCUSA said, We are grateful to CDP for recognizing the importance of long-term disaster recovery, enabling Catholic Charities agencies to provide individuals and families with direct aid, home repair, home rebuilding, health care services and other programs that enable long term financial stability.

CCUSA, the official domestic relief agency of the U.S. Catholic Church, deploys disaster response experts to support local Catholic Charities agencies in their work providing direct assistance to affected communities and identifying long-term recovery needs.

People and communities affected by disasters often need help assessing and accessing financial aid and other resources that could stabilize their lives and livelihoods, and begin the road to recovery, said Brennan Banks, director of Disaster Recovery Funds at CDP. This is why we are proud to support CCUSAs efforts to reach communities where the needs from wildfires are greatest or the resources in some of the more rural communities are limited.

The CDP grant is made possible by donations from the CDP Disaster Recovery Fund and support from Google.

About Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA)

Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA) is the national office for Catholic Charities agencies nationwide. CCUSAs members provide help and create hope to more than 13 million people a year regardless of religious, social, or economic backgrounds. To learn more about CCUSA, please visit our website at http://www.catholiccharitiesusa.org.

About the Center for Disaster Philanthropy (CDP)

The Center for Disaster Philanthropys mission is to leverage the power of philanthropy to mobilize a full range of resources that strengthen the ability of communities to withstand disasters and recover equitably when they occur. CDP manages domestic and international Disaster Funds on behalf of corporations, foundations and individuals through targeted, holistic and localized grantmaking. For more information, visit: http://disasterphilanthropy.org, call (202) 464-2018 or tweet us @funds4disaster.

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(Natural News) The parents of Alex Kearns have filed a lawsuit against Robinhood, accusing the company of wrongful death, negligent infliction of emotional distress and unfair business practices. The 20-year-old Kearns took his own life last June after mistakenly believing hed lost nearly $750,000 in a risky bet on the popular stock trading app.

Robinhood states that its mission is to democratize finance and stand up for the little guy. But Kearns parents said in the lawsuit that the company targeted young and inexperienced customers, pushing them to engage in risky trading practices.

This case centers on Robinhoods aggressive tactics and strategy to lure inexperienced and unsophisticated investors, including Alex, to take big risks with the lure of tantalizing profits, stated the complaint filed by his parents Dan and Dorothy Kearns, and his sister Sydney Kearns in a California state court in Santa Clara.

Kearns sought to protect family from financial burden

A sophomore at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Alex Kearns took his life in June, believing he had a negative cash balance of $730,165 on Robinhood.

The suit alleged that Kearns misunderstood the financial statement from Robinhood and was protecting his family from the financial obligation.

In addition, it also stated that Kearns made three attempts to contact Robinhood customer service regarding his balance. But Kearns messages were apparently met with automated replies, according to the suit.

In a note to his family obtained by CNBC, Kearns said that Robinhood allowed him to pile on too much risk even though he had no clue about what he was doing.

How was a 20-year-old with no income able to get assigned almost a million dollars worth of leverage? wrote Kearns. There was no intention to be assigned this much and take this much risk, and I only thought that I was risking the money that I actually owned.

Kearns also wrote that the puts he bought  options that give the owner the right to sell a security at a specified price  and the shares he sold should have canceled out.

In response, a spokesman for Robinhood stated: We were devastated by Alex Kearns death. Since June, weve made improvements to our options offering.

Robinhood under scrutiny for predatory practices

Robinhood, which has become a popular entry point into the stock market for first-time investors, has come under scrutiny for supposed predatory marketing practices and its gamification of investing.

In December of 2020, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) charged the company with misleading customers about how it makes money and failing to deliver the promised best execution of trades.

Securities regulators in the state of Massachusetts filed a complaint against the stock-trading app stating that it aggressively marketed to novice investors while failing to put controls in place to protect them. (Related: Google Play deletes over 150,000 Robinhood app reviews after frustrated users leave one-star ratings.)

They know that their investors are primarily younger. Its because they think there are more unsophisticated investors among them  we heard from some of them, Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin said in an interview with Bloomberg. Theyve exploited the current situation with the pandemic. They contributed to the frothiness of the market, bringing people in who dont know much about it. Theyre not responsible fiduciaries.

The Kearns familys complaint echoes these allegations, saying: Not only did Robinhood permit Alex to open the account, but when Alex was a freshman in college later that year, it permitted him to trade options.

Worse, Robinhood provided almost no investment guidance, and its customer service was virtually non-existent, consisting of automated e-mail replies devoid of any human contact or interaction, it adds.

But Robinhood has disagreed with the allegations stating that it is a self-directed broker-dealer and that it does not make investment recommendations.

Over the past several months, weve worked diligently to ensure our systems scale and are available when people need them, the company said in the statement. Weve also made significant improvements to our options offering, adding safeguards and enhanced educational materials.

Follow Risk.news for more on the various lawsuits Robinhood is facing.

Sources include:

CBSNews.com

CNBC.com

Bloomberg.com
OROVILLE, Calif.  The parents of twin 21-month-old boys, who were locked alone inside their Oroville bedroom with a wired shut door are facing child endangerment charges, according to the Butte County District Attorney.

Butte County District Attorney, Mike Ramsey, said the mother, Courtney Walden, and Father Frank Oliver Jr., came under scrutiny in November after social workers received multiple referrals on the family regarding drug use, domestic violence, and neglect of their children.

Investigators served a search warrant at their home on Nov. 11, 2020, to check in on the children. When no one answered the door, they entered the home after hearing noises behind a bedroom door that had been wired shut from the outside. Authorities then broke into the bedroom.

The children were locked inside without food or water. Ramsey said in addition to being left alone, the house was in deplorable shape and unsafe for the children.

While at the scene, Ramsey said Walden came home and claimed she had only been gone a short while. Investigators say they found evidence that she had been gone for much longer.

Investigators arrested Walden for felony child endangerment.

At that time, authorities were unable to locate the father, Frank Oliver Jr., and a felony warrant for his arrest was issued by the Butte County Superior Court. Ramsey said his investigators continued to work to locate Oliver, using electronic and physical surveillance, until he was found on Feb. 9 and arrested in Oroville. Investigators booked Oliver into the Butte County Jail with a bail of $200,000.

The children remain in the care of childrens services.
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In this article, the foremost developer of onshore wind energy in Rhode Island, Green Development, explores how renewable energy can benefit the environment.

Climate Change

For many individuals, the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about renewable energy is climate change. Scientists from the United Nations say that rising carbon emissions may ultimately result in a catastrophic rise in the sea level, an increasing prevalence of dangerous heat waves, and other environmental destruction forms. Replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy sources is one of the most effective methods that can be used to limit carbon emissions.

The scientific community has observed the global warming trend since the mid-20th century. While certain schools of thought still debate whether the temperature increases directly correlate to humankind's actions, such as the burning of fossil fuels, substantial unbiased research affirms a connection between climate change and global greenhouse gas emission pathways. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reported in its Fifth Assessment that "there's a more than 95 percent probability that human activities over the past 50 years have warmed our planet." As global temperatures continue to rise, an alarming array of environmental impacts could become more prevalent. Increasing renewable energy generation can help us avoid climate change's ecological effects.

Cleaner Air & Water

Renewables like solar and wind are often referred to as "green energy" or "clean energy" because of their vast array of environmental benefits. Generating electricity from these energy sources does not produce toxic waste, air pollution, or greenhouse gas emissions. On the other hand, burning fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas, which together account for over 60% of electricity generation in the U.S., can hurt public health by contributing to air and water pollution. Notable greenhouse gas emissions include carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, sulfur hexafluoride, and nitrogen trifluoride. Power plants that rely on coal or oil are responsible for releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere at unprecedented levels. Why does this matter? Carbon dioxide (CO2) absorbs and radiates heat, an integral aspect of keeping Earth's average annual temperature above freezing and therefore habitable; however, over the past 60 years, the yearly rate of increase in atmospheric CO2 is nearly 100 times higher than natural increases. This staggering phenomenon is contributing to a rise in Earth's average temperature (aka global warming), which, as addressed by the United Nation's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), may prove detrimental to weather patterns, wildlife populations (including oceanic lifeforms), as well as rising sea levels.

Furthermore, through a side-by-side comparison of renewable sources of energy and fossil fuels, the Union of Concerned Scientists has reported that fossil fuels have a substantially more significant impact on public health, water use, air and water pollution, wildlife habitat loss, and overall land consumption. Therefore, if fossil fuels were replaced entirely by renewables, the health and environmental impacts would be significant.

The outlook for renewables is better than ever. In addition to being beneficial for the environment, the International Energy Agency now says that renewable energy is the world's least expensive energy form.

Impact of the Coronavirus Pandemic on Air Quality

Due to the societal change sparked by the COVID-19 pandemic, scientists can observe in real-time how the environment could benefit from a sustained reduction in fossil fuel consumption. Notable decreases have been observed within the United States, which, apart from China, accounts for the most carbon dioxide emissions since the Industrial Revolution. An estimated 42% of the U.S. labor force is now working remotely full-time. Consequently, an unprecedented decrease in industrial activity, driving (fewer commutes), and flying (business travel accounts for ~12% of airline passengers) significantly reduced fossil fuels' need in 2020. As less oil, coal, and gas were consumed, global greenhouse gas emissions fell by 9% compared to 2019. While a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions is beneficial for reducing climate change, there are also more visible impacts from the decline in fossil fuel consumption.

Habitually smog-ridden cities in China and India experienced a rarely seen phenomenon in 2020: clean air and blue skies. As coal-fired power plants were shut down and economic activity faltered, a dramatic decline in toxic air pollution was noted.

Energy Trade-Offs

It is important to note that all forms of energy have trade-offs that should be considered. However, the environmental benefits of renewable energy forms like solar, wind, and water greatly outweigh the potential environmental impacts.

Critics of wind farms often cite aesthetics-disruption of a scenic vista-while others see turbines as objects of beauty and symbols of our renewable energy future. Without proper environmental consideration and coordination, hydroelectric dams could disrupt some aspects of river ecosystems. However, the ongoing processing, transportation, and burning of fossil fuels have visible and invisible impacts, obscuring city skylines, causing numerous health issues, and endangering entire global ecological systems.

About Green Development

Green Development LLC is the leading developer of utility-scale renewable energy projects in Rhode Island, specializing in wind, solar, and battery storage. The company delivers significant energy savings to qualified organizations through the virtual net metering program.

Founded in 2009, the company has built a portfolio of over 70 MW of solar and wind projects, with plans to add 111 MW more in 2021.
While the U.S. Senate hears the second impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump, statehouses nationwide are contemplating bills that at first appear unrelated.

More than 160 bills want to infringe on the rights of voters, a goal Trump shared and tried to violate to stay in office.

The bills want to restrict voting rights by limiting mail ballots and early voting periods and strengthening voter identification laws, as well as allow for zealous voter purges.

For Republicans, such restrictions are key to winning future elections. This will be how they approach the decennial redrawing of district lines in Texas to bolster their wins and weaken, or gerrymander, Latino and Black voting power.

In these matters, Republicans arent always obvious. They argue election integrity is at stake, even in the absence of evidence of voter fraud. Though more than 11 million Texans voted in November, the state prosecuted fewer than 20 voter fraud cases, most of them minor.

Democrats have filed more than 500 bills in state legislatures seeking the exact opposite.

Their bills want to expand voting rights by allowing more people to vote by mail, increasing early voting periods, loosening ID requirements and, generally, giving voters more access to the voting booth.

They see such bills as key to winning future elections, too.

Democrats argue that laws have historically suppressed voting, especially in Latino and Black communities.

Georgia voting advocate Stacey Abrams 2020 documentary, All In: The Fight for Democracy, showed that voter suppression dates back to the nations inception.

These bills are related to what happened in Washington just a month ago.

Those who mounted the deadly attack on democracy wanted to stop the lawful certification of electoral college votes.

Against proof, court rulings and revelations by GOP officials themselves, the insurrectionists  and those at home supporting them  believed Trump when he said he won the election by a landslide and that massive voter fraud cheated him of a second term.

For the record, election results showed President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris won by 7 million votes. Biden-Harris received 81.2 million, the most ever cast in U.S. history, while Trump received 74.2 million.

That Trump incited his supporters was vividly captured in a video presented to Senate jurors Tuesday. Several Republican senators reportedly kept their gazes on papers and phones, as if they might remove evidence by not looking at it.

The Brennan Center for Justice, an independent, nonpartisan think tank, published a paper this month showing that 33 state legislatures have introduced bills to restrict voting access, while 37 states have pre-filed, introduced or carried over 541 bills to expand voting.

Republicans have filed the most voter suppression bills in Arizona, Pennsylvania and Georgia, the crucial battleground states that went to Biden and were most in dispute.

The Brennan study says the Republican-led bills are an unmistakable response to the unfounded and dangerous lies that followed the 2020 election.

A Texas bill wants to strip voter registration powers from county clerks and require the secretary of state to send voter registration information to the Department of Public Safety for citizenship verification.

Texas Democrats filed more than 60 bills expanding voting rights, even if passage will be an uphill battle politically, the Brennan report said.

A Washington Post story said that, in state after state, Republicans have responded to election loses not by rethinking candidates and policies, but by trying to make it harder to vote.

Elections have never been just about policy and politics, but about race and not sharing power.

Donald Trump hasnt been subtle about it. In March, he spoke of levels of voting that if youd ever agreed to it, youd never have a Republican elected in this country again.

Then it got really ugly.

Trump pressed former Vice President Mike Pence to throw out millions of ballots. Seeing no other avenue but force, Trump incited a violent mob.

Good public servants have held the line. Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger rejected Trumps demand to find 11,780 votes.

On Wednesday, Georgia delivered a small measure of justice. Prosecutors opened a criminal investigation against Trump for attempts to influence the administration of the 2020 Georgia general election.

So while the Senate may acquit Trump, more than 500 bills will wage new good fights in statehouses across the country.

eayala@express-news.net
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FOLLY BEACH  In 1987, just moments before bulldozers were about to plow a new road on the island, Charleston historian Robert Bohrn noticed something peculiar.

Sticking out of the earth were the skeletal remains of 19 African American soldiers of the Union's 55th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry.

If it weren't for Bohrn's watchful eye, their stories could have been buried under asphalt. His act has been called by scholars one of the most significant finds in South Carolina history.

On Feb. 11, the 64-year-old Civil War relic hunter was awarded the Order of the Silver Crescent in Columbia by Gov. Henry McMaster and state Rep. Spencer Wetmore, D-Folly Beach, for his contributions to South Carolina history.

The 55th Massachusetts was the sister regiment to the 54th Massachusetts, the Union's all African American regiment that stormed Fort Wagner on Morris Island. Their story was the inspiration for the 1989 Hollywood movie Glory starring Matthew Broderick, Denzel Washington and Morgan Freeman.

The 55th Massachusetts was stationed on Folly Island in 1863 during the siege of Charleston where the unit built forts, cleared trees and maintained supply lines. Many of the soldiers, Bohrn said, died from painful illnesses such as dysentery.

Thinking back to 34 years ago, and with dozens of found Civil War relics under his belt since, Bohrn believes the Folly Beach find was the most significant moment of his career.

"I have spent my life using a metal detector," Bohrn said. "As far as I'm concerned, in my mind it was meant to be. I was supposed to find them within moments of them being bulldozed."

Wetmore, who is still in her first months as a legislator, said she wanted to honor Bohrn's accomplishments.

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Bohrn's research and findings led the reburying of the remains with full honors on Memorial Day 1989 at the Beaufort National Cemetery. In 2009, the archaeologist launched the Friends of the 55th Massachusetts foundation, which raised private funds for a State of South Carolina Historical Marker.

On July 15, 2011, the marker was placed to honor the Black soldiers, and it is still located at the Folly River Park.

Bohrn had not been individually honored for his efforts. About three months ago, Wetmore began the process of nominating the historian for the state's Order of the Silver Crescent, one of the highest civilian honors that can be given to a South Carolinian.

"The discovery happened in my neighborhood," Wetmore said. "There's nothing more important than preserving this type of history. This really tells the story in a way that people will remember and recognize it."

McMaster said Bohrn has added to the history and culture of South Carolina with his findings.

"You're quite deserving of this recognition," McMaster said and cited his achievements.

Bohrn said he hopes more people will engage with Civil War history, especially the roles of African American soldiers. He believes their stories are more relevant now than ever before.

"You can't forget history. These men didn't have a whole lot to gain but a whole lot to lose," Bohrn said. "They gave their lives for not just the Union, but also their families. Their contributions are not recognized as much as they should be."
More than a hundred thousand people have been scheduled so far for the COVID-19 vaccination with the serum produced by AstraZeneca, the national immunization platform informed on Thursday, according to AGERPRES.

It is about 50,978 women and 49,022 men and the exact time when 100,000 appointments were reached was 10:27 hrs.

The new facilities for the administration of the vaccine produced by AstraZeneca were activated on Wednesday, at 12:30 hrs, in the scheduling platform, informed the National Coordinating Committee of Vaccination Activities against COVID-19 (CNCAV).

So far, since the beginning of the COVID-19 vaccination campaign, more than 1.3 million doses of all three vaccines have been brought to Romania, namely 1,111,949 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, 78,000 doses of Moderna and 174,000 doses of AstraZeneca.
Advanced 'indoor salad farm' announces job fair

BrightFarms, which is gearing up to open the largest and most technologically advanced indoor salad farm in the Southeast in April, is holding a job fair to hire 55 employees Friday, Monday and Tuesday at Blue Ridge Community College.

The facility on the French Broad River in the Pleasant Grove community will produce more than 2 million pounds of the "freshest, tastiest and most responsibly grown leafy greens each year for supermarkets throughout the Carolinas," the company says. The greens will show up on supermarket shelves as popular packaged salads like Spring Mix, Arugula, Spinach and unique BrightFarms varieties like Sunny Crunch. All will be branded as Grown in Hendersonville, NC on the front label.

The company is planning to hire more than 55 green-collar workers from the region. Employees will be trained to operate cutting-edge greenhouse technology, and as more U.S. agricultural production moves into greenhouses, these jobs will provide workers with a valuable skillset to compete for jobs in the food sector.

Jobs include:

Seeding & Transplant Crew: Bringing the greens to life in the first phase of the operation.

Harvest Crew: Harvesting the greens and getting them ready for packaging.

Packaging Crew: Packing the greens and getting them ready to be shipped to supermarkets.

Drivers: Delivering our products to customers.

Management: Supervisors to manage key components of the operation.

Administrative assistants: Tasks that span the entire operation, such as: human resources & payroll, vendor management and customer billing.

The job fair will be 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Feb. 12, 15 and 16 at the N.C. Works Career Center, David W. Sinks Building, 130 Eagle Reach Drive, Flat Rock. To set up an appointment, email GROW@brightfarms.com

The general manager of the greenhouse operation is relocating from Virginia and the grower is moving to the area from Ohio.

"Other than those two, everybody else we hire is going to be local," said Matt Grant, a senior communications manager for BrightFarms. Most jobs start at $13 an hour and come with "pretty competitive and pretty awesome benefits" that include a "gold rated health plan" for less than $10 a month, up to 4 percent match of a 401k plan, a $700 contribution to a health savings account, free life insurance and free short-term and long-term disability insurance. Workers will gain marketable skills, Grant added, in advanced greenhouse technology.

"These are high tech green-collar jobs," he said. "We're going to train them to operate technology and machinery they've never been exposed to."

BrightFarms will become the second major grower of produce under roof to start shipping in the span of less than a year. Lakeside Produce last year began shipping tomatoes and mini-cucumbers from its new 15-acre greenhouse on Ladson Road in Mills River. The company plans to triple the glass under roof to 45 acres and eventually employ 300 workers for a total investment of $100 million.

The farms growing salad ingredients under roof were recruited by AgHC, which touts Henderson Countys plentiful sunlight hours, lower humidity and proximity to large population centers to grow fresh vegetables year-round.




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OROVILLE, Calif. - An Oroville man was arrested after detectives found evidence that he downloaded over 600 images of child pornography, according to the Butte County Sheriff's Office.

In 2020, Butte County Sheriffs Office (BCSO) detectives began investigating 22-year-old Jesus Roblescruz of Oroville. Detectives put out a search warrant on a residence on the 3100 block of Columbia Ave. in Oroville on Feb. 3.

Detectives say they confiscated several electronic devices belonging to Roblescruz and located over 600 images of child pornography. Detectives also found evidence pointing to Roblescruz being the one who downloaded the child pornography.

Roblescruz was placed under arrest for a felony count of possessing over 600 images of child pornography. He was booked into the Butte County Jail and is scheduled to be arraigned at the Butte County Superior Court on Feb. 11.
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by Royani Lim

This years Imlek will see few celebrations and family gatherings in Pontianak and Singkawang. Travel has been discouraged to avoid spreading the coronavirus. Matakin will stream celebrations live to facilitate participation. Since the beginning of the pandemic, Indonesia has reported 1.17 million cases with almost 32,000 deaths.

Jakarta (AsiaNews)  Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the people of Pontianak and Singkawang (West Kalimantan province) are preparing to celebrate Imlek, the Lunar New Year, in a low-key fashion.

The event, which starts tomorrow, usually includes decorated streets and family get-togethers with relatives coming from near and far.

The two cities represent the heart of Indonesians Chinese community, and Chinese languages (Teochew and Hakka) are usually heard more often than Indonesian.

The highlight of the festival is cap go meh, which falls on the 15th day of Imlek, a cultural event that draws large crowds of local and international visitors.

This year, however, celebrations will be toned down. Families cannot reunite and streets will be empty because of the coronavirus, which has seen a surge recently, with more 10,000 cases per day.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, Indonesia has reported 1.17 million cases with almost 32,000 deaths.

As noted, this year the atmosphere is very different. Gatherings at home are restricted, the dragon dance was cancelled, as was the Cap Go Meh.

Although inevitable, this decision has left many Sino-Indonesians disappointed, discouraged and sad, especially those living outside West Kalimantan province who were counting on returning, but cannot because of restrictions.

Widya hails from Pontianak, with family in Singkawang. For more than 20 years, she has worked at a bank in Surabaya, the capital of East Java. She did not hide her dejection when she spoke to AsiaNews about her inability to go home.

Frankly speaking, I am deeply sorry for not being able to see my mom due to pandemic travel restrictions. There are important reasons for not traveling on Imlek but this does not make it less harder.

Uung Sendana, president of Supreme Council for Khonghucu Religion in Indonesia (Matakin), agrees, not least because for Taoism celebrating the Lunar New Year is far beyond just a family gathering.

It is a special day to present ones best offerings to God, our ancestors and our respected older relatives, he explained.

During this pandemic, Matakin has publicly urged its members to celebrate Imlek with greater simplicity. At the same time, to reach out to as many people as possible, temple celebrations will be streamed live.

Despite the pandemic with its limitations and restrictions, the desire to experience the festivity is quite alive, especially in the villages and towns around Pontianak, which have not been hit hard by the virus.

For many locals, the latter is not their main concern. For Lily, a teacher from Pontianak, Many people come from neighbouring towns because of the good prices for harvested crops.
Two weeks ago, protests by farmers in India turned violent, even as the country was celebrating the anniversary of its democratic constitution. As thousands marched and drove their tractors through New Delhi, police responded with tear gas and batons, and a young farmer was killed. The protests drew international attention, and a wave of public support for the farmers spread across social media. Indian authorities responded by harassing and even filing sedition charges against journalists, and the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi also demanded Twitter block the accounts of users it said were fomenting hatred and inciting violence, including media outlets like The Caravan, a magazine known for its investigative journalism. Twitter assented to these orders, but later unblocked some of the accounts. Since then, the Indian government has increased the pressure on Twitter, warning that employees who work in the country could face potential jail sentences if the company doesnt agree to the blocks.

On Tuesday, Twitter released a statement saying it plans to continue refusing the governments orders to ban accounts belonging to journalists, media outlets, and politicians who have been critical of the governments policies. Because we do not believe that the actions we have been directed to take are consistent with Indian law, and, in keeping with our principles of defending protected speech and freedom of expression, we have not taken any action on accounts that consist of news media entities, journalists, activists, and politicians, the company said. To do so, we believe, would violate their fundamental right to free expression under Indian law. Twitter added that it continues to advocate for the right of free expression on behalf of the people we serve and that it is exploring its legal options in India. It said that it strongly believes that the Tweets should flow.

That final phrase, the tweets should flow, is more than just a poetic description. Its a very deliberate echo of a much earlier post that expressed a similar message, one that was written almost a decade ago, in the wake of protests in Egypt that would later become known as the Arab Spring. Co-authored by Twitter co-founder Biz Stone and the companys general counsel, Alex MacGillivray, the post was entitled The Tweets Must Flow, and expressed Twitters belief that freedom of expression is essential. Some tweets may facilitate positive change in a repressed country, the post said. We dont always agree with the things people choose to tweet, but we keep the information flowing irrespective of any view we may have about the content. Not long afterwards, Twitters general manager in the UK, described the companys policy by saying it saw itself as the free-speech wing of the free-speech party.

New from CJR: Swe Win on journalism in Myanmar, the coup, and what comes next

As Twitter got larger and played a more prominent role in the social web, this approach came under increasing fire from a number of quarters, including those who believed the company was too slow to respond to complaints about hate speech, harassment, disinformation, and other bad behavior on its platform. And when Twitter started blocking content in Germany and Turkey among other countries several years ago, using its Orwellian country withheld geographic banning tools, it was roundly criticized by free-speech advocates who believed the company was going back on its previous commitment (the removal of Donald Trump and a number of other high-profile accounts for inciting violence and peddling disinformation sparked similar criticism). Despite being forced to remove or block content, however, the company has continued to fight in certain cases for the free-speech rights of its users, including journalists: in 2015, Twitter fought a Turkish government order to block the account of a newspaper that was publishing critical articles about the president.

In India, Twitter has to figure out how to walk a similar tightrope. It obviously wants to continue to do business in a massive market, and it has to be concerned about potential reprisals against both the company and its employees, including fines, prison terms, and other forms of official harassment. But at the same time, it wants to be seen as a platform that supports free speech, and doesnt just cave in to every order from totalitarian states. If the company continues to refuse the governments demands, it could be banned from the country completely, says Jillian York, director of international freedom of expression at the Electronic Frontier Foundation. While this may be the right moral outcome, its obviously not the best outcome for the Indian people. Just another challenge that would have seemed almost inconceivable before the days of globe-spanning social-media platforms.

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Heres more on Twitter and free speech:

Public order : In a meeting with Twitter following its blog post, the Indian authorities expressed their displeasure with the companys decision not to block all the accounts it was ordered to. And they drew a direct comparison with the removal of certain posts during the Capitol riot in the US on January 6th. A press release from the government expressed what it called a deep sense of disappointment at seeing Twitter side not with freedom of expression but rather with those who seek to abuse such freedom and provoke disturbance to public order.

: In a meeting with Twitter following its blog post, the Indian authorities expressed their displeasure with the companys decision not to block all the accounts it was ordered to. And they drew a direct comparison with the removal of certain posts during the Capitol riot in the US on January 6th. A press release from the government expressed what it called a deep sense of disappointment at seeing Twitter side not with freedom of expression but rather with those who seek to abuse such freedom and provoke disturbance to public order. Join Koo : Even as they criticize Twitter, Indias ruling BJP party and its supporters have been actively promoting a competing Indian social platform called Koo as a patriotic alternative. The platform was launched last year and allows users to communicate in eight Indian languages. Many government officials have been promoting their Koo accounts, including senior ministers in charge of the IT ministry, the department that is in charge of ordering Twitter to remove accounts. Hello folks, I am on Koo now, in case Twitter is shut in India for flouting our laws, said Smita Barooah, who helped co-ordinate the BJPs social media campaigns.

: Even as they criticize Twitter, Indias ruling BJP party and its supporters have been actively promoting a competing Indian social platform called Koo as a patriotic alternative. The platform was launched last year and allows users to communicate in eight Indian languages. Many government officials have been promoting their Koo accounts, including senior ministers in charge of the IT ministry, the department that is in charge of ordering Twitter to remove accounts. Hello folks, I am on Koo now, in case Twitter is shut in India for flouting our laws, said Smita Barooah, who helped co-ordinate the BJPs social media campaigns. Modi and the press : The Indian governments crackdown on both journalists and social media platforms like Twitter are just part of a much broader attack on the media in general, as Lewis Page wrote last year for CJR. In mid-April, one of the founding editors of The Wire, a popular independent news website, was served a court summons for making an objectionable comment about a state chief minister. And after a journalist in Mumbai allegedly reported a misleading story, a local court released an order stating that, although the press enjoys freedom of speech and expression, the said freedom cannot be said to be unfettered.

: The Indian governments crackdown on both journalists and social media platforms like Twitter are just part of a much broader attack on the media in general, as Lewis Page wrote last year for CJR. In mid-April, one of the founding editors of a popular independent news website, was served a court summons for making an objectionable comment about a state chief minister. And after a journalist in Mumbai allegedly reported a misleading story, a local court released an order stating that, although the press enjoys freedom of speech and expression, the said freedom cannot be said to be unfettered. Never Trump: Twitter says that Donald Trumps account will never be reactivated, even if he runs for president again, according to comments made by the companys chief financial officer. In an interview on CNBCs Squawk Box program on Wednesday, Ned Segal said that anyone inciting violence on Twitter would not be allowed to return. The way our policies work, when youre removed from the platform, youre removed from the platform whether youre a commentator, youre a CFO or you are a former or current public official, he said. When youre removed from the platform, youre removed from the platform.

Other notable stories:

Marty Baron, the departing executive editor of the Washington Post , admitted to Germanys Der Spiegel that he now believes the newspaper should have been quicker to call out the lies and deception spread by former president Donald Trump. We had to be much more forthright about Trumps mendacity, his lies over the course of the administration, Baron says. We needed to call them that from the very beginning. We were very much operating on good principle but he was exploiting that.

, admitted to Germanys that he now believes the newspaper should have been quicker to call out the lies and deception spread by former president Donald Trump. We had to be much more forthright about Trumps mendacity, his lies over the course of the administration, Baron says. We needed to call them that from the very beginning. We were very much operating on good principle but he was exploiting that. Journalists writing about a murder for hire site were able to warn police and the FBI about a plot to kill a man in Wisconsin, according to a report in the Washington Post , based on documents cited in court. Agents traced the IP address and other information that a woman used to set up the assassination bid, including a Bitcoin wallet that she allegedly created as part of the plot, and she has been charged with using the Internet to hire someone to commit murder.

, based on documents cited in court. Agents traced the IP address and other information that a woman used to set up the assassination bid, including a Bitcoin wallet that she allegedly created as part of the plot, and she has been charged with using the Internet to hire someone to commit murder. The January 6th riot at the Capitol building in Washington was the direct result of a months-long effort rooted in disinformation; promoted by President Donald Trump; coordinated by some of his most fervent, conspiratorial supporters; and incorporating a wide range of supporting groups, according to an in-depth investigation by the Atlantic Councils Digital Forensic Research Lab. The lab constructed a timeline of key events centered on the coordination of Stop the Steal efforts, using material found on social media platforms and online forums.

E. Tammy Kim talked with Burmese journalist Swe Win for CJR, about what its like trying to do journalism in a country that is in the middle of a military coup. He describes being shot in the leg in 2019 while on vacation with his wife and daughter, even before the coup, because an army officer was enraged by something he published in Myanmar Now, the bilingual news outlet that Win leads in Yangon. I got word from some soldiers to be very careful, Swe Win recalled. I had infuriated the top.

Some police officers in Beverly Hills, California have been playing music while they are being filmed by activists, apparently hoping that these video streams will be taken down by hosting companies over copyright infringement claims, according to a report by Vice. Instagram in particular has been increasingly strict on posting copyrighted material. Any video that contains music, even if its playing in the background, is potentially subject to removal by Instagram. The company says short clips are allowed, but its enforcement seems to have been erratic, according to Vice.

A proposed Australian law that would require payment for links and excerpts is riddled with problems, Owen Williams writes for OneZero. If a major platform or web publisher would be charged for the act of linking to an Australian news outlet, it would likely result in sites actively omitting, avoiding, or blocking those links. The regulation would also make basic, existing social media features untenable in Australia, Williams says. A Twitter embed that shows a headline, excerpt, and photo of a news article, for example, would require payment for using media content.

Facebook announced on Wednesday that it has started changing its algorithm to reduce the political content in users news feeds. The less political feed will be tested on a fraction of Facebooks users in Canada, Brazil and Indonesia beginning this week, and will be expanded to the US in the coming weeks, the company said. During these initial tests well explore a variety of ways to rank political content in peoples feeds using different signals, and then decide on the approaches well use going forward, Aastha Gupta of Facebook wrote in a blog post announcing the test.

Nathan J. Robinson, the editor of Current Affairs magazine and a former columnist for the Guardian , writes that he was fired by the newspaper after he posted what he says was a sarcastic tweet criticizing US funding for Israel. The tweet described how funding Israels military was a law in the US, something Robinson says he didnt mean literally, and he says he clarified that in a follow-up tweet. After getting an email from the Guardians US editor accusing him of posting fake news, Robinson says he apologized and removed the tweet, but was fired anyway.

magazine and a former columnist for the , writes that he was fired by the newspaper after he posted what he says was a sarcastic tweet criticizing US funding for Israel. The tweet described how funding Israels military was a law in the US, something Robinson says he didnt mean literally, and he says he clarified that in a follow-up tweet. After getting an email from the Guardians US editor accusing him of posting fake news, Robinson says he apologized and removed the tweet, but was fired anyway. Google News is rolling out a new feature called Showcase to more countries, including the UK and Argentina. The digital news digest includes both free and paywalled articles from more than 120 UK and 40 Argentinian outlets, bringing its tally to 450 publications, according to Engadget. Googles partners include major news wires such as Reuters and business and politics outlets like The Financial Times and New Statesman, and newspapers The Telegraph, The Independent and Midland News Association.

ICYMI: As newspapers close across Chicago suburbs, one local nonprofit newsroom steps in

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.
RELATIVES of nursing home residents are considering legal action over the denial of so-called window visits by some operators of long-term care facilities.

Window visiting is where a visitor stands outside and speaks to a resident at safe distance through an open window or by telephone.

Majella Beattie from advocacy group Care Champions said families are talking to human rights solicitors as a "last resort" after repeated attempts to get access to loved ones.

"Window visits are permitted under all levels of lockdown," she said.

"But we have been inundated with reports from families that they are not getting this access.

Read More

"We have a number of people who are going down the legal route as a last resort.

"They have begged, pleaded and protested and they have no other option."

It is understood that several families are consulting lawyers with a view to starting legal proceedings on behalf of residents who are allegedly being denied visits.

Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) guidelines permit outdoor and window visits at every level of Covid-19 restrictions.

Ms Beattie said families had become frustrated by the disregard for the public health guidance over visits and said dialogue with some nursing homes had been very poor.

"The biggest issue is that a lot of the nursing homes do not know the guidance," she said. "We have relatives fighting for window visits and if they get one the window is closed, the person inside can't hear and they are getting distressed.

"The window is permitted to be open as per the guidelines.

"This is a massive issue and we know from talking to families that this is extremely traumatic."

Ms Beattie said there was a communication problem with nursing homes and said families were struggling to get information.

"They are standing outside banging on windows," she continued.

"Inside, the staff are overrun and they aren't able to give them information.

"Some residents are end-of-life and the families are not getting proper updates.

Read More

"By the time they get in, the person no longer knows who they are.

"A lot of people in nursing homes have an elderly husband or an elderly wife at home and they are deteriorating through lack of contact."

Sage, a support and advocacy charity, said it has been receiving a lot of calls from family members about nursing home visits and window visits.

"Window visits are a very poor substitute for the real thing but they are definitely better than nothing," said Sarah Lennon from Sage.

"We're very aware that some nursing homes have just imposed a blanket ban on window visiting, which is clearly not in the spirit of the HSE/HPSC guidelines.

"We understand there is significant pressure on staff and there may be reasons and risks associated with it, but that is clearly not being communicated to the families who contact us."

It is "causing stress" and "conflict with the nursing home", she said.

"These kind of blanket bans aren't giving the resident choice about when they see their family members."




ALBANY, N.Y. -- The New York State Department of Health has released breakdown of nursing home facility deaths during the pandemic.

The new numbers released show that the state has now included people who were from nursing homes but transferred to hospitals. That increased the states official count from just under 9,000 nursing home deaths to just over 15,000.

Republican State Senator James Tedisco, who represents parts of Herkimer County, along with the Empire Center for Public Policy filed a lawsuit against the Cuomo Administration on behalf of the families who lost loved ones. The goal was to release the data.

To see the raw data that was released, just go to the Empire Center's website.

Senator Tedisco released a statement late Wednesday night that said in part, After Governor Cuomos six months of delay and denial of any responsibility his administration may have, it took a lawsuit by the Empire Center that I was a friend-of-the-court to, and subsequent court order last week by Justice Kimberly OConnor, for the state Department of Health to release additional data on the deaths of New Yorkers from the coronavirus. However, as Bill Hammond of the Empire Center points out, tonights data release by the Cuomo Administration is still incomplete and does not fully account for the dates of the deaths of 600 long term care residents who died in hospitals. Its totally unacceptable that the Cuomo Administration is not adhering to Justice OConnors court order and fully disclosing all the information we have requested. They must release this information immediately.

The New York State Democratic Majority also released a statement on Wednesday. It says in part, "In late January, we made it explicitly clear to the Administration that we expected answers to our outstanding nursing home questions by the time Commissioner Zucker presented testimony at the forthcoming health budget hearing. While we appreciate that our letter from August 2020 has finally been answered and, two weeks ago, nursing home data was released, it is unacceptable that it took so long. Our original letter was sent following 40 hours of hearing testimony and after so many legislators, families, and members of the public demanded answers. As we release this information publicly, we will be reviewing the responses and we look forward to continuing to follow up with the Administration, including at the upcoming budget hearing. We had a very productive meeting tonight with the administration and look forward to continuing this dialogue."

After a tragic January with more than 50 Covid deaths, a consultant at University Hospital Waterford said it hoped the county was finally getting control of the pandemic outbreak there.

In 2020, there were just 1,389 cases in Waterford. However, in January alone there were 3,192 cases and tragically 53 deaths, according to the latest CSO data.

Donncha O Gradaigh, clinical director for Medical Services at University Hospital Waterford, said the first wave was a different experience.

The prevalence in the community was very low, we had one of the lowest prevalence per 100,000 in the country.

We had the luxury of a hospital wing that had not been open yet, we had the ideal facility to manage an infectious illness so we had no concerns about hospital spread.

But in December, local contact tracing showed people having up to 12 close contacts.

Dr O Gradaigh said: All the shops here were open as they were everywhere else, and inevitably people took that as an indication it was reasonable for them to mix more.

When you then add the additional Christmas shopping and the desperation to go out  it was a perfect storm.

As Waterford is a port town, there has been local speculation about the additional impact of the more transmissible B.1.1.7 variant from the UK.

Medically, doctors noticed people were admitted up to 14 days after first showing symptoms, a stage at which previously people would have expected to be recovering.

But Dr O Gradaigh was reluctant to say the illness had changed since the first wave, as the numbers during 2020 were relatively too low for comparison.

As the cases translated into hospitalisations, they reached a peak of 116 Covid patients, and were among the top five busiest in the country. Up to 12 new patients were admitted daily.

Just last Thursday, the HSE reported UHW at the top of the Covid-19 scale, with 102 admitted patients. That had dropped to 64 yesterday.

Dr O Gradaigh said this even affected meal deliveries  pre-Covid it might taken a healthcare assistant 20 minutes to give out 24 meals in a ward, now that can be an hour as staff put on and take off PPE before entering individual rooms.

Staff stepped up to the point of coming in on free weekends to volunteer in areas outside their main work, including as healthcare assistants.

He said: Thankfully we think that this weekend coming is the first weekend we havent needed to ask for volunteers, we are over the worst of it.

And Dr OGradaigh said the public should look behind the daily case numbers in Waterford to see the impact of staying at home. There is a time lag between initial infections and people being released from hospital.

It has taken until now for the improved behaviour in early January to translate into a reduction in the hospital in-patient cohort, he said. "Thanks very much for everything you have done so far.

President of the Waterford Chamber of Commerce Danette Connolly said:

People here are in a state of shock, we were doing so well before. Every family in Waterford has been touched by it.

Ms Connolly, also clinical lead with HomeInstead Senior Care, said a strong sense of community in the county helped tackle the crisis.
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ALBANY  The Catholic bishops of New York sold a lucrative insurance business they controlled and stored the proceeds in a foundation they also administer, keeping billions out of the reach of survivors of childhood sexual abuse.

The move occurred in 2018, with the church selling its Fidelis Care insurance company and moving $4.3 billion of the proceeds into the new Mother Cabrini Health Foundation. At the same time, the Child Victims Act in New York was gaining momentum in the Legislature, a measure that the church had lobbied against for more than a decade. It was ultimately signed into law a year later; and it has exposed the church to thousands of lawsuits alleging sexual abuse of children and, in some instances, the coverup of those incidents and shielding of predators.

It has been the churchs practice across the country for more than a decade to divert swarms of abuse claims into bankruptcy proceedings rather than handling each in individual court proceedings. That strategy allows the church to often avoid public trials or witness depositions, and to handle claims in one court proceeding that potentially will preserve more of their financial assets. Four of the eight dioceses in New York have already declared bankruptcy, as abuse lawsuits continue to pour in across the state.

This is certainly a transaction that is on our radar," said Ilan D. Scharf, an attorney at Pachulski Stang Ziehl & Jones in New York City, which has specialized for years in representing abuse survivors in diocesan bankruptcy cases. "The fact that they are hiding behind what they claim are legal structures that protect these assets is no excuse for them to avoid using that money to help the victims of these dioceses.

Scharf's firm is working on the creditors committee in the Rochester, Buffalo and Rockville Centre bankruptcy cases, meaning they are working to determine the settlement amounts for the abuse survivors.

As existing bankruptcy proceedings develop, or if more begin in the future, the church may have ensured that billions of dollars less would be available to those who say they were sexually abused within the church.

"I will say that if the church and the Mother Cabrini Fund wanted to assist survivors, they could use proceeds from that fund, either by loaning it to various dioceses, or purchasing assets of the diocese, or giving grants to the diocese, to free up money that is otherwise being used for their missions to create liquidity for survivors," Scharf said.

Times Union

In the church's Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings, courts tally the assets held by the diocese and then dole out settlements to creditors, including people with abuse claims, often according to the total dollar value of the assets. If the money is held in a separate corporate entity  like the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation instead of an individual diocese  it wont be counted by a judge because the entity that declared bankruptcy isnt the legal owner, even if theres overlap among who controls the funds.

A lengthy investigation published last year by Bloomberg Businessweek and published reports on dozens of Catholic dioceses that have filed for bankruptcy over the last two decades, have revealed the church commonly uses this alleged shell game tactic. Money is moved from the churchs direct holdings into trusts, pensions or foundations to avoid bankruptcy creditors, but those trusts, while separate on paper, are still controlled by the dioceses.

That strategy, while legal, is frequently scrutinized by lawyers who specialize in abuse cases. Businessweek estimated that the church had shielded about $2 billion from bankruptcy proceedings over a 15-year period. Multiple bishops in New York have been tied to the practice, including Cardinal Timothy Dolan, New York's archbishop and a former president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

In creating Mother Cabrini Health Foundation, the New York Catholic bishops more than doubled Businessweeks estimate from the previous 15 years combined. Jim Stang, founder of Pachulski Stang Ziehl & Jones, aid it "dwarfed" any other single transaction.

These strategies and schemes are well known to those who have sought accountability from the Catholic bishops for harm done by clergy. But now there is a body of evidence that lays this chicanery barethat Catholic bishops across the country are moving and hiding their financial assets the same way they have moved and hidden predator priests for decades. It is deceitful, duplicitous, and dastardly," said Jeff Anderson, of Anderson & Associates, whose firm specializes in abuse cases.

The insurance company and joint foundation are controlled collectively by the New York bishops rather than by a single diocese. It creates a complex and unprecedented legal issue, one that Scharf and Stang described as unique. They said that they are not currently pressing to include shares of Cabrinis assets in court for the three diocesan bankruptcies theyre working on in New York, but that its obviously an asset thats been mentioned.

The Times Union interviewed more than a dozen experts for this story, and none could confidently project how a court would handle whether to count the foundation as diocesan assets. It's an open question.

In my view this isnt so much them hiding things, though they do that sometimes. Its more like hiding them in plain view, Stang said. They just thought they had lots of good defenses for why that money did not have to get disclosed to the demands of abuse survivors.  Most of the time theyre just saying, You cant reach this.

The Mother Cabrini foundation gives grants to charities around the state, including Catholic Charities, which is directly affiliated with the church, and sometimes directly back to the dioceses. The foundation has made $315 million in grants since its formation, said Jonathan Rosen, a public relations professional employed by Cabrini. Rosen said less than 10 percent, which works out to $31.5 million, went back directly to the dioceses, and a total of $37.4 million has gone to Catholic Charities.

The money is used to build homeless shelters, bolster immigrant legal services, create supportive housing and various other nondenominational charitable enterprises. Cabrini donated $2 million for a home for victims of domestic violence in Schenectady, for instance. When the foundation was endowed in 2018 from the proceeds of the sale of the church-controlled insurance company, it instantly became the largest Catholic foundation in the country, according to Guidestar, which tracks nonprofit data.

"Neither the Archdiocese of New York, nor any of the other dioceses of New York, owned Fidelis or controlled its assets, and the decision to sell Fidelis to Centene Corporation was totally and completely unrelated to the CVA in any way," said Joseph Zwilling, the communications director for the Archdiocese of New York, in an email to the Times Union.

While it's true that the dioceses don't legally own or control Fidelis or Cabrini, the bishops, who are in charge of the dioceses, are the controlling members of the nonprofit, and they appoint the board. The CEO is Monsignor Greg Mustaciuolo, former vicar general and chancellor of the New York archdiocese.

And charitable giving is part of the mission of the Catholic church. Meaning that Mother Cabrini's assets, although separate on paper from diocesan assets, are controlled by the bishops and the funds used to support activities the church would be doing anyway, said Jason Amala, an attorney with Pfau Cochran Vertetis Amala, which handles abuse cases, making the foundation effectually an extension of the church.

How did the church amass its fortune? The whole thing is supposedly a charity. Look at the massive wealth theyve accumulated," Amala said, pointing to how Mother Cabrini funds the dioceses directly and Catholic Charities. "So to the extent you can continue to do your 'charitable works,' but use those works to amass huge amounts of money, you cant just use it to paper-over a huge chunk of your overhead.

Fidelis Care

It started in 1993, when the Brooklyn Diocese founded a not-for-profit health insurance business called Fidelis Care. Four years later, the other seven dioceses in New York were brought in, each agreeing to invest in the business. Fidelis became a member organization, where the members included the bishops from across the state and the cardinal. Taking advantage of massive federal and state investment in health care over the last two decades, Fidelis Care grew significantly, becoming the largest insurance provider in New York with more than 1.3 million policies.

This arose because of an unusual set of circumstances where you had something that was not necessarily designed to make money and all of a sudden it became highly profitable because of a change in the law, Stang said.

On a parallel track, activists and lawmakers began pushing for the Child Victims Act in 2006, which would open a look-back window where people could bring lawsuits alleging child abuse outside the statute of limitations, no matter how long ago the abuse occurred. That legislation had the potential of exposing the church to an enormous amount of liability, and the church knew that.

The church spent millions lobbying against the CVA for years as one of their top legislative priorities. The measure stalled for years, often due to the support of Republicans in the state Senate, but it continued gaining momentum. In 2015, the church made the decision to sell Fidelis, saying it was because of future health care policy changes and because of increased competition in the industry. Meanwhile, the CVA inched closer and closer to becoming law, with the Assembly passing it in 2017 for the first time in nine years. It was blocked by the Senate that year, which was controlled by Republicans at that time.

I had senators tell me they got calls from their local bishops demanding that they never pass the Child Victims Act. That it would bankrupt the church and the victims are only after money and you have to protect the church, said Gary Greenberg, a longtime advocate who lobbied for the CVA.

The New York archdiocese opened its own fund to pay victims directly in 2016, and a recently leaked transcript of a December 2017 meeting on the subject with other dioceses from around the state shows that church leaders hoped the fund would have the effect of either scuttling support for the CVA or not allowing survivors who accepted money to later sue the church. The transcript was first reported by ABC News, then was obtained Thursday by the Times Union.

We are already doing this, why bother? Dont reopen the statute. We are taking care of our own problem. I think that is guiding Cardinal Dolan as well, said Kenneth Feinberg, an attorney appointed by the cardinal to administer the victims fund, in a private teleconference with church officials and lawyers. He reiterated several times in the call that this is the goal of the fund, and says they must consider "politically and financially what is the better way to go."

"Looking over this shoulder, he is worried that Albany has come very close to reopening the statute," Feinberg said of the cardinal.

In September 2017, after the breakthrough of the CVA in the Assembly, the bishops voted to sell Fidelis to a large St. Louis health care corporation. After a protracted negotiation with Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo over how much of a cut would go to the state, a deal was finalized in 2018 with the sale generating $3.3 billion, plus a substantial amount of assets held by Fidelis that werent included in the deal.

The deal was approved by the state after the bishops agreed to pay more than $1 billion into the state general operating fund, and it was given final approval two months later by the attorney general. The bishops took their $3.3 billion from the sale, plus another roughly $900 million more in Fidelis assets that werent included in the deal, and created the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation. It, like Fidelis, was a member organization, where the sole members were the bishops, who retained control.

Under New York law, the net proceeds from the Fidelis transaction were required by law to be used for health-related activities for New Yorks needy, similar to Fidelis, said Rosen, the spokesman for the Mother Cabrini foundation.

Nothing in the law would have precluded the foundation from distributing the proceeds to the dioceses if the bishops and state attorney general authorized it, as it says that funds from dissolved charities must go to other tax-exempt organizations, which dioceses are. Instead, the move effectively tossed more than $4 billion from the right hand of the church to the left, maintaining control over the funds, but keeping them in a separate corporate entity so the money wouldn't be counted as assets belonging to the dioceses  and capable of being pried away by abuse claimants.

Timeline of Fidelis sale and Child Victims Act The New York Catholic Church owned a highly successful insurance company called Fidelis, which was founded in 1993. But the bishops sold off Fidelis shortly before the Child Victims Act was passed in New York. Here is a timeline of events. 1993: Fidelis Care New York founded by Catholic Medical Center of Brooklyn and Queens 1997: Fidelis expands statewide and is led by the bishops of the states eight dioceses. 2006: The Child Victims Act is introduced in the State Legislature and appears almost every year for more than a decade but is not passed. 2017: Fidelis reaches an agreement to be acquired by Centene for about $4 billion. 2018: The Archdiocese puts $4.3 billion from the sale proceeds into a new and separate entity called the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation. 2019: The Child Victims Act is passed by the N.Y. state Legislature. The Diocese of Rochester files for bankruptcy protection. 2020: Dioceses of Buffalo, Syracuse and Rockville file for bankruptcy protection. Four of the eight dioceses in New York are in bankruptcy.

'The potential for true scandal'

It proved a prescient decision.

After Democrats took control of the state Senate in 2018, and Cuomo threw his weight behind the Child Victims Act, the bill finally passed in 2019, with Cuomo signing it into law on Valentines Day. Since then, nearly 5,000 child abuse lawsuits have been filed, with thousands naming the dioceses around the state. Four have declared bankruptcy so far.

Businessweek wrote that as a very rough guide, an archdiocese in bankruptcy will settle with clergy abuse victims for roughly half the value of its estate.

Financial records show the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation holds about $3.5 billion in assets. So by that estimate, nearly $2 billion less appears to be available to the thousands of New Yorkers who claim they were abused by church figures over the decades.

The mechanisms theyve used to avoid accountability and shield their assets are not just sinister, but they need to be scrutinized, as this appears to be a longstanding pattern," Anderson said.

Beyond the Cabrini transaction, the tactic of shuffling money to trusts and foundations has been linked to New York bishops and to Cardinal Dolan throughout their careers.

In Rochester, which is now in bankruptcy proceedings, the current bishop was linked to efforts to shelter assets from future bankruptcy creditors, according to local news reports. And In Buffalo, which is in bankruptcy protection, the church shifted about $91 million in 2006 from its main accounts into various trust funds, The Buffalo News reported.

A retired priest who had served on the financial council of the Buffalo diocese later told the paper it was an effort to shield money in the event the (CVA) became law and exposed the diocese to the same kinds of clergy sex abuse lawsuits that other dioceses faced.

A 2019 report from a Buffalo ABC television affiliate revealed a secret document from a local Catholic Charities meeting that planned to move funds that would traditionally have gone directly to the church instead to a separate church-controlled foundation, sheltering it from bankruptcy liability. That maneuver mirrors the much larger creation of the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation.

Albany Bishop Edward Scharfenberger, who served as interim head of the Buffalo diocese, denied last year that the financial maneuvers were designed to shelter assets. Mary DeTurris Poust, spokeswoman for the Albany diocese, when asked for comment directed the Times Union to the Cabrini Foundation.

The state attorney generals office has claimed to be investigating the Catholic church's handling of abuse cases in New York since fall 2018, and the first lawsuit stemming from that investigation was filed against the Buffalo diocese in November last year. The lawsuit accuses the Buffalo diocese of misuse or waste of charitable assets through its cover up of sexual abuse accusations against diocesan priests.

The investigation is ongoing, and the attorney generals office declined to speak with the Times Union for this article, citing the ongoing investigation.

Finally, the practice has been linked most directly with Cardinal Dolan, whose financial maneuver was overturned by a court during bankruptcy proceedings.

Cardinal Dolan has become, not just in Milwaukee, not just in St. Louis, not just in New York, but across this country, kind of a mastermind architect, working with all of his bishops, in using these compensation funds in strategizing around the transfer of assets, and effectively using techniques to shield assets and, frankly, to avoid accountability, Anderson said. I consider him individually as one of the most powerful nemeses to the protection of children and holding the Catholic Diocese and the Catholic Bishops in America accountable.

When Dolan was in charge of the Milwaukee archdiocese, he asked and was given permission from the Vatican to move about $57 million into a trust fund for cemeteries. As victims organize and become more public, the potential for true scandal is very real, he wrote to Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger in 2003. Ratzinger went on to become Pope Benedict XVI.

By transferring these assets to the trust, I foresee an approved protection from any legal claim and liability," Dolan later wrote in a 2007 letter. He has repeatedly denied over the years that he sought to shield assets from survivors.

When the diocese declared bankruptcy years later due to abuse claims, Dolan, having then taken over as archbishop in New York, the Milwaukee diocese declared in court that its assets were between $10 and $50 million, not counting the amount moved into the cemetery trust. The court eventually forced them to include the money moved to the cemetery trust in their list of assets.

It was known what he did out there, said Greenberg, who is an abuse survivor and had been one of New York's most staunch advocates for passage of the CVA. He was brought in knowing that they had this problem, and they knew he would do anything he could to protect the church because he has a record of that. Not worried about victims, just wanting to protect the church and its assets.
Imagine life without your laptop, your smartphone, even such ordinary electronic gadgets as your alarm clock.

The ancestor of them all  a room-sized contraption made of switches, cables, and 18,000 glass containers called vacuum tubes  was unveiled to the public 75 years ago this week, in a lab at the University of Pennsylvania.

Called ENIAC, it was the first all-electronic, programmable computer. Historians, engineers, and tech aficionados are celebrating its creation in a weeklong series of events, starting Thursday. And unlike in some past anniversary celebrations, organizers are recognizing not only the men who built the massive device, but also the pioneering women who programmed it.

With its coding prowess, Silicon Valley can claim to be the center of todays tech world. But with the wartime effort to build ENIAC, Philadelphia laid the groundwork with both sides of the computer equation: hardware and software.

Among the champions of this early history is West Chester-based software executive Jim Scherrer, who is coordinating the week of ENIAC events along with Penn, the University City Science Center, and Unisys Corp.

We think of Philadelphia as the crucible of the computer age, he said.

Scherrer also is president of the Compuseum, an online computer-history organization that seeks to build a physical museum to house ENIAC, the pieces of which are now scattered among a variety of institutions, much of it hidden from public view.

It began with John Mauchly, a young Ursinus College physics professor who thought he could predict the weather. In the late 1930s, he hired students to crunch data from measurements of sunspot activity, but soon saw that he task was beyond human skill, said his daughter, Gini Calcerano.

He quickly realized: Theres not enough time in the rest of the history of the earth to calculate all the data I need, she said.

Mauchly wondered whether the task could be accomplished by some sort of calculating device, and signed up for a course at Penn in the new field of electronics. The lab instructor was J. Presper Eckert, and the two hit it off, forming a partnership that would eventually result in ENIAC: the Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer (pronounced ENNY-ack, not EE-nyack).

Their first application was not weather, but weaponry. The two built their device at the request of the Army, which needed a much faster way to calculate the angles for firing its artillery during World War II. Calculating the trajectory for just one set of conditions  wind speed, humidity, temperature, and terrain  took 40 hours by hand, using differential calculus.

The task was entrusted to 100 women with math backgrounds, who were called computers. Among them was Calceranos mother, Kathleen McNulty, who had majored in math at Chestnut Hill College.

By using a mechanical device called the differential analyzer, they could whittle the calculating time for one trajectory below an hour, but that was still too slow during wartime. Yet despite the relentless efforts by Mauchly, Eckert, and their team, ENIAC was not finished until after the war was over. And McNulty, who would later marry Mauchly, was one of six human computers chosen to make it run.

Conceptually, programming was the same as it is now, breaking down a problem into a series of logical steps and instructions. But there was no Python or Java or other handy language for the women to use in instructing ENIAC. Instead, these first programmers did the job by manipulating wires and switches, said Kathryn Kleiman, a lawyer and historian who is participating in this weeks ENIAC events.

The womens groundbreaking role was largely overlooked for decades afterward, their names omitted from events and in the captions of ENIAC photos. Kleiman helped set the record straight in a documentary called The Computers: The Remarkable Story of the ENIAC Programmers, available at eniacprogrammers.org. It premiered at the 2014 Seattle Film Festival, where women in the audience  software engineers from such tech giants as Google, Amazon, Microsoft  were brought to tears.

In the film, Betty Holberton, one of the six programmers, described their role as sort of like a cross between an architect and a construction engineer.

As for the device itself, other partly electronic computing devices came before it, but ENIAC is acknowledged as the first fully electronic programmable machine. Kleiman calls it the first modern computer.

None of the six programmers is still alive, though Calcerano will share stories of her mother and father at one of this weeks commemorative events. Other presenters include Stephanie Weirich, a computer science professor at Penn, who said she often walks past the universitys small display containing a few pieces of ENIAC. But until preparing for this week, she did not fully appreciate the role of the machines early programmers, she said.

After the era of those first programmers, computer coding became a male-dominated field and remains so, though the tide may be turning, Weirich said.

Im teaching an introductory programming class this semester and its 45% women, the highest its ever been, she said.

The full agenda for the 75th anniversary can be found at eniacday.org. The week is bookended by two free Venture Cafe seminars hosted by the University City Science Center, on Thursday, Feb. 11 and 18.

Two more free events are scheduled for Feb. 15, the 75th anniversary of the day ENIAC was revealed (The Inquirers headline that day hailed it as a mathematical brain). Organizers include the Penn engineering department and Unisys, the corporate descendant of the computer company that Mauchly and Eckert founded after leaving the university.

Like so many other events during the last year, the ENIAC celebrations all are virtual. But in a way, that is fitting, as the technology behind video conferencing would not be possible without that early electronic device at Penn.
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Police have charged the partner of missing woman Ju Zhang with murder.

Joon Seong Tan was charged on Thursday night and is expected to face Melbourne Magistrates Court on Friday.

Police say the investigation into the matter is ongoing. Officers spent hours searching bushland in Melbournes north-east for clues that could lead to the missing woman on Thursday, after Mr Tan was taken into custody for a second time.

Ten days after the Epping mothers disappearance, detectives scoured the Darebin Creek Trail near Ivanhoe for hours on Thursday as the search for the missing woman intensified.
The Biden administration is backing off former President Donald Trumps attempts to ban the popular video app TikTok (Peter Byrne/PA)

The Biden administration is backing away from Donald Trumps attempt to ban TikTok, asking a court to postpone a legal dispute over the proposed move as it reviews national security threats posed by Chinese technology companies.

A court filing on Wednesday said the US Commerce Department was reviewing whether former president Trumps claims about TikToks threat to national security justified the attempts to ban it from smartphone app stores and deny it vital technical services.

Separately, the Biden administration has indefinitely shelved a proposed US takeover of TikTok, according to a Wall Street Journal report.

Last year, the Trump administration brokered a deal that would have had US corporations Oracle and Walmart take a large stake in the Chinese-owned app on national-security grounds.

The unusual arrangement stemmed from a Trump executive order that aimed to ban TikTok in the US unless it accepted a greater degree of American control.

Expand Close targeted TikTok over the summer with a series of executive orders that cited concerns over the US data TikTok collects from its users (Alex Brandon/AP) / Facebook

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Whatsapp targeted TikTok over the summer with a series of executive orders that cited concerns over the US data TikTok collects from its users (Alex Brandon/AP)

White House press secretary Jen Psaki did not deny the Journal report, but said on Wednesday the Biden administration had not taken a new proactive step in the process.

Ms Psaki added the Biden administration was comprehensively evaluating risks to US data, including those involving TikTok. A review of TikTok by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, which considers national security implications of such investments, was ongoing, Ms Psaki said. She didnt offer a timetable for that process.

Mr Trump targeted TikTok over the summer with a series of executive orders that cited concerns over the US data TikTok collects from its users.

But courts temporarily blocked the White Houses attempted ban, and the presidential election soon overshadowed the TikTok fight.

While President Joe Biden has said TikTok is a concern, his administration has not said whether it will continue to try to ban TikTok or force a sale. Mr Biden has so far taken a cautious approach to inheriting Mr Trumps China policies and has not promised to scale back or cancel tariffs and other combative measures.

Expand Close President Joe Bidens administration is said to be reviewing moves Donald Trump made concerning China (Patrick Semansky) / Facebook

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Whatsapp President Joe Bidens administration is said to be reviewing moves Donald Trump made concerning China (Patrick Semansky)

The Biden administration appears to be creating a clearer set of criteria to evaluate which Chinese technology platforms pose a legitimate security risk to Americans, said Samm Sacks, a China expert at Yale Law School.

I dont think they see TikTok itself as a high-priority issue, she said, calling it a hypothetical future threat. This one-off ban on a rotating cast of Chinese tech companies, thats not likely to continue.

In September, Mr Trump gave his tentative blessing to a proposal by TikToks Chinese owner ByteDance that would form a new US arm of TikTok in partnership with Oracle and Walmart, who would make significant investments in the new company.

The arrangement aimed to hand management of the apps US user data to Oracle. CFIUS, however, has not completed its required review of the arrangement. A government deadline for TikTok to sell its US operations has passed.

TikTok has been looking to the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit to review Mr Trumps divestment order and the governments national-security review.
Like many countries around the world, Pakistan is strategizing how to most efficiently get a hold of enough doses of the vaccine against COVID-19. Faisal Sultan, Prime Minister Imran Khans special adviser on national health services, spoke to Radio Mashaal about the countrys plans to vaccinate a majority of its estimated 220 million population.

Radio Mashaal: How many vaccines does Pakistan hope to procure?

Faisal Sultan: Our intention is to have enough vaccines available in the country over the next year or so to allow coverage of about two-thirds or 70 percent of the eligible population. That is people over the age of 18. This is the intended number, but when practically implemented this may be lower.

Radio Mashaal: Is the vaccine coming only from China, or are you looking at other sources?

Sultan: Well be getting it from multiple sources simply because we have a large population and we will have to depend on several sources of vaccines. They wont necessarily be just Chinese but are possible from other countries, too; for example, when we get vaccines from the Covax facility, that will be AstraZeneca.

Radio Mashaal: How much is the Pakistani government budgeting for the allocation of vaccines?

Sultan: The current budget is $150 million, which can be increased as and when required.

Radio Mashaal: Whos next in line for the vaccine after healthcare workers?

Sultan: After healthcare workers and senior citizens, we will continue to go down the list using age as the primary marker of risk, but also stratifying [the remaining eligible people] somewhat by the prevalence of the disease [in their local communities and age groups].

Radio Mashaal: How exactly does the government plan to go about vaccinating a population of about 220 million people?

Sultan: The government plan to vaccinate a majority of the population is based on using the [current] expanded program for immunization and in its cold chain as well as using developed software to track and follow up on people who have received the vaccine. The vaccine will be deployed and administered by the provincial health departments.

Radio Mashaal: Will people have to pay to receive the vaccine, or will it be provided for free?

Sultan: Yes, most of the vaccine deployment will be free-of-charge.

Radio Mashaal: What is the private sectors involvement in vaccine procurement?

Sultan: Most of the vaccines will be procured via the government system. We will allow the private sector to import vaccines in addition to that.

Radio Mashaal: How does the government plan to ensure transparency in the process of obtaining and distributing the vaccine?

Sultan: The methodology to ensure that distribution is fair, transparent, and equitable is based on documentation of administration of vaccines through the national immunization dashboard [a database] and to ensure that the vaccine goes to the right people. And given a country as large as ours, this does require a fair bit of administrative oversight and enforcement and care by the provinces where this would be administered.
HOUSTON (AP)  The day after she gave birth in a Texas border hospital, Nailet and her newborn son were taken by federal agents to a holding facility that immigrants often refer to as the icebox.

Inside, large cells were packed with women and their young children. Nailet and her son were housed with 15 other women and given a mat to sleep on, with little space to distance despite the coronavirus pandemic, she said. The lights stayed on round the clock. Children constantly sneezed and coughed.

Nailet, who kept her newborn warm with a quilt she got at the hospital, told The Associated Press that Border Patrol agents wouldnt tell her when they would be released. She and her son were detained for six days in a Border Patrol station. That's twice as long as federal rules generally allow.

I had to constantly insist that they bring me wipes and diapers, said Nailet, who left Cuba last year and asked that her last name be withheld for fear of retribution if she's forced to return.

Larger numbers of immigrant families have been crossing the U.S.-Mexico border in the first weeks of President Joe Biden's administration. Warning signs are emerging of the border crises that marked former President Donald Trump's term: Hundreds of newly released immigrants are getting dropped off with nonprofit groups, sometimes unexpectedly, and accounts like Nailets of prolonged detention in short-term facilities are growing.

Measures to control the virus have sharply cut space in holding facilities that got overwhelmed during a surge of arrivals in 2018 and 2019, when reports emerged of families packed into cells and unaccompanied children having to care for each other.

Most of the Border Patrols stations arent designed to serve children and families or hold people long term. To deal with the new influx, the agency on Tuesday reopened a large tent facility in South Texas to house immigrant families and children.

In a statement last week, U.S. Customs and Border Protection said some of its facilities had reached maximum safe holding capacity and cited several challenges: COVID-19 protocols, changes in Mexican law and limited space to hold immigrants.

We will continue to use all current authorities to avoid keeping individuals in a congregate setting for any length of time, said the agency, which declined an interview request.

Meanwhile, long-term holding facilities for children who cross the border alone  some sent by parents forced to wait in Mexico  are 80% full. U.S. Health and Human Services, which runs those centers, will reopen a surge facility at a former camp for oil field workers in Carrizo Springs, Texas, as early as Monday. It can accommodate about 700 teenagers. Surge facilities have an estimated cost of $775 per child per day, and Democrats sharply criticized them during the Trump years.

There's no clear driving factor for the increase in families and children crossing. Some experts and advocates believe more are trying to cross illegally now that Biden is president, believing his administration will be more permissive than Trump's.

Many have waited for a year or longer under Trump's Remain in Mexico program that forces asylum-seekers to stay south of the border while a judge considers their case. The White House isn't adding people to the program but hasn't said how it will resolve pending cases. It's also declined to expel unaccompanied children under a pandemic-related public health order issued by Trump.

Others cite the fallout of natural disasters in Central America and turmoil in countries like Haiti.

The U.S. also has stopped sending back some immigrant families to parts of Mexico, particularly areas of Tamaulipas state across from South Texas. The change in practice appears to be uneven, with immigrants being expelled in other places and no clear explanation for the differences.

A law has taken effect in Mexico that prohibits holding children in migrant detention centers. But Mexico's foreign ministry said in a statement that agreements with the U.S. during the pandemic remain on the same terms. The statement noted it is normal that there be adjustments at the local level, but that does not mean that the practice has changed or stopped.

Some pregnant mothers, like Nailet, who have been refused entry to the U.S. cross again while in labor. Their children become U.S. citizens by birthright. The Border Patrol generally releases those families into the country, though reports have emerged of immigrant parents and U.S.-born children being expelled.

In Nailet's case, CBP said an unforeseen spike in the number of families crossing the border near Del Rio, about 150 miles (241 kilometers) west of San Antonio, led to her prolonged detention.

Advocates say officials should have released Nailet quickly, as well as other families with young children, and should speed up processing to avoid delays. Authorities have long resisted what they refer to as catch and release," which they say inspires more immigrants to try to enter the country illegally, often through smugglers linked to transnational gangs.

Still in pain from giving birth, Nailet nursed her newborn in the cold cell. When she told border agents that the hospital said to return on Feb. 1, she says they refused to take her.

CBP says Nailet and her son passed a health check Wednesday evening.

She was released Thursday and taken to a hotel with help from a nonprofit group, the Val Verde Border Humanitarian Coalition, which is one of several organizations receiving larger numbers of immigrant families after they leave government custody.

Dr. Amy Cohen, a child psychiatrist and executive director of immigration advocacy group Every Last One, described how border detention can traumatize a newborn: the cold, the constant light, the stress emanating from their nursing mother.

That is a tremendously vulnerable time, she said. He is consuming the stress that she is experiencing. This is his first exposure to the world outside the womb. This is extraordinarily cruel and dangerous.

A previous rise in illegal border crossings combined with delays in processing families led to horrendous conditions in several border stations in 2019, with shortages of food and water and children in many cases fending for themselves.

The year before, when the Trump administration separated thousands of immigrant families under its zero tolerance" policy, many people were detained at a converted warehouse in South Texas. Thousands of children taken from their parents went into government custody, including surge facilities in Tornillo, Texas, and Homestead, Florida.

___

Associated Press journalists Christopher Sherman and Maria Verza in Mexico City contributed to this report.
Sacramento, CA  Governor Gavin Newsom says the first cases of the South African variant of COVID-19 have been confirmed in California.

One case was in Alameda County and the other was in Santa Clara. Health officials are most concerned about that particular variant because early studies indicate it may be more resistant to the COVID-19 vaccines.

Newsom adds that there have also been 159 cases of the UK variant in California and over 1,200 cases of two known West Coast variants.

The Governor adds, The issue of mutations is top of mind, not only here in the state of California, across this nation, but increasingly around the globe.

Newsom made the announcement yesterday while touting the need to increase vaccinations and plans to increase clinics over the coming weeks. Five-million doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in California to date. Locally, 7,742 doses have been given out in Tuolumne County and 7,742 in Calaveras County.
EMILY ST. LAWRENCE, Chariho girls lacrosse, senior: St. Lawrence tied a school record for goals in a game with nine in a win over Smithfield. St. Lawrence scored 17 goals for the week and has 32 for the season.

CARLY CONSTANTINE, Stonington softball, sophomore: Constantine singled home Shea OConnor with the winning run to hand Waterford, the states No. 2 ranked team at the time, its first loss of the season. For the week, Constantine was 5 for 15.

GREG GORMAN, Westerly baseball, junior: Gorman, a junior, hit a massive home run in a win against Barrington. The homer went over the fence in center field and landed in a nearby road. Gorman was 3 for 3 with four RBIs in the game. He is hitting .571 with 10 RBIs for the season.

BRADIN ANDERSON, Wheeler baseball, freshman: Anderson, a freshman, pitched a complete-game shutout to beat Grasso Tech. Anderson struck out three to earn the first win of his varsity career.

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New Delhi, Feb 11 : Union Textiles and Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani on Thursday attacked former Congress President Rahul Gandhi on his track record in Amethi while intervening in the Budget discussion in the Lok Sabha.

Irani said Gandhi deprived panchayats in Amethi during his tenure as MP. "It is not acceptable for the alleged gentleman to discuss the budget which has provision for rural infrastructure development as he deprived 194 panchayats of 'Panchayat Bhawan' during his tenure in Amethi. I support this budget which fulfills all these needs of Amethi Lok Sabha residents," Irani said.

"Calling constitutionally passed laws as 'black' and not discussing the budget is a violation of the Constitution," she said.

"This budget is the budget to make and make India self-reliant and those who supported the fragment of India in Delhi will never be able to support this budget dedicated to India," Irani said.

Earlier, Minister of State for Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Anurag Thakur took on Gandhi, saying: "Some people remain absent from the House as well as the country." "Rahul Gandhi during the allotted time in Lok Sabha for the Union Budget 2021-22 Discussions refused to discuss the announcements relating to the Budget. He attempted to raise the issue of Farm Bills and categorically stated 'I will not comment on the Union Budget'," Thakur said.

"This was quite surprising since the opposition first asked for the Parliament to convene to discuss the economic situation arising due to Covid-19 and the measures adopted by the government in its Budget," Thakur added.

Thakur questioned Rahul Gandhi's lack of preparedness and said, "I can understand the Honourable Member may not have prepared his Budget Speech. He wasn't here for other speeches." Thakur further said that the Congress had had merely done sloganeering for the poor. "Some raised slogans of Gareebi Hatao, five generations ruled the country but poverty did not go. But the son of a poor man (Narendra Modi) lifted many out of poverty. Some people only make electoral promises and do not deliver." Thakur pulled up Gandhi for his "Hum do Hamare Do" sloganeering and said it refers to "Didi, brother-in-law and his family".
The House of Representatives spokesperson, Rep. Benjamin Okezie Kalu (APC, Abia) says Nigerian lawmakers are among the world's poorest.

Speaking with reporters at the National Assembly, on Tuesday, Kalu said undue pressure from constituents is taking a toll on federal lawmakers.

Kalu said because people misunderstand the roles of lawmakers, they ask them to perform tasks that are the prerogative of the executive.

He spoke after the House adjourned plenary in honour of Ossy Prestige, a lawmaker who died in Germany on Monday.

"Because of the lack of understanding of the role of the lawmakers by the people that elected us, they put us under pressure. They give us roles that are meant for the governors or ministers and then talk you down if you are not doing it.

"They flog you as you don't know what you have come here to do. They don't know that is not what you come here to do. It is an inferred burden. This is one of the poorest parliaments. You don't see them live in luxury. People are receiving a lot of pressure on issues that do not concern them. The pressure coming from our constituents is way out of the scope. These guys are suffering. They are under stress.

"Those who are not supposed to build roads are asking to build roads. Those who are not supposed to build hospitals are asked to build hospitals. Do you know that members of the National Assembly spend their private money to take care of their constituents and the constituents feels that the money they are spending is from the federal government?

"This is killing them. Go and ask any of them, from the Senate to the House of Representatives. They are not finding it easy, but we will keep pushing on because it is national service. People don't understand legislative work. That is why we keep explaining that our jobs is not to build houses, or build roads and hospitals. But are we going to stop? No, we will not stop because we are confident enough to carry the pressure," he said.
Rewind today announced the acquisition of BackHub, the leading Backup-as-a-Service (BaaS) software for GitHub repositories. The strategic purchase expands Rewinds reach and is another significant milestone in the companys mission to protect businesses by backing up their cloud data.

BackHub, a backup service for GitHub, currently protects data for over 1000 customers. GitHub, a subsidiary of Microsoft, is the largest host of source code in the world with over 40 million users and 190 million repositories. It presents a significant opportunity for BaaS products due to the importance of data and compliance with internal and external policies. According to GitHub, 72% of the Fortune 50 are entrusting their code frameworks to the company. Effective immediately, all BackHub customers will now be part of the Rewind portfolio.

GitHub is one of the most popular SaaS applications in the world, trusted by millions to host their source code, said Mike Potter, CEO and co-founder of Rewind. Adding BackHub to our growing portfolio of backup products aligns perfectly with our vision of protecting all the vital data businesses use every day.

Launched in 2014, BackHub saves and protects code and associated metadata of both public and private GitHub repositories. The tool can generate audit logs for compliance and gives users the ability to clone from BackHub directly. During initial partnership discussions, both companies discovered shared values and a vision to protect the cloud. These discussions quickly evolved into BackHub joining Rewinds quickly expanding portfolio. As part of the acquisition, BackHubs team will join Rewind, continuing to help grow and expand the GitHub product.

Rewind shares our value of prioritizing customer satisfaction and our vision to protect every line of code in their repositories, said Daniel Heitz, founder and CEO of BackHub. We are excited to join a growing organization that is poised to make a dramatic impact in data management and protection.

SaaS providers back up their own cloud infrastructure but do not make account-level, business-critical information (such as sales, marketing and financial data) available to their users. According to a recent Oracle report, while half of the businesses surveyed plan to have all their data in the cloud in the next two years, most cloud users have lost data. Rewind gives businesses of all sizes immediate access to usable, comprehensive backups so they can quickly recover from a tiny data-entry error or a massive data disaster.

Recently closing a USD $15 million Series A round of financing led by Inovia Capital, with Ridge Ventures and Bessemer Venture Partners participating, Rewind continues to execute on its strategic objective of offering a BaaS solution for every major SaaS tool used in todays technology stack. Rewind currently provides BaaS solutions for BigCommerce, QuickBooks Online, Shopify, and Shopify Plus, protecting over 33 billion data points globally. Rewind aims to bring new data protection solutions to market faster than any other BaaS provider.

About Rewind

Since 2015, Rewind has been on a mission to help businesses protect their SaaS and cloud data. Today, over 80,000 customers in more than 100 countries use Rewind's top-reviewed apps and support to ensure their software-as-as-service applications run uninterrupted. The Rewind platform enables companies to back up, restore and copy the critical data that drives their business.

New research shows that biodiversity is important not just at the traditional scale of short-term plot experiments--in which ecologists monitor the health of a single meadow, forest grove, or pond after manipulating its species counts--but when measured over decades and across regional landscapes as well. The findings can help guide conservation planning and enhance efforts to make human communities more sustainable.

Published in a recent issue of Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, the multi-institutional study was led by Dr. Christopher Patrick of William & Mary's Virginia Institute of Marine Science, along with Kevin McCluney of Bowling Green State University, Albert Ruhi of University of California-Berkeley, Andrew Gregory of the University of North Texas, John Sabo of Arizona State University, and James Thorp of the University of Kansas.

"Having low biodiversity is like putting all your eggs in one basket and puts us at greater risk of something catastrophic happening," says Patrick. "We've known this for a long time, but never before have we shown this to be true for entire regions and landscapes." The team reached their findings by compiling, analyzing, and modeling data collected over decades and across both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. The analysis focused on abundance and diversity trends within 50 families of terrestrial beetles from the Sonoran Desert, 25 species of submerged aquatic vegetation or SAV within the Chesapeake Bay, and 56 species of fish from small streams in Maryland.

The threats posed by low biodiversity are exemplified by a recent drop in coverage of SAV within the Chesapeake, as recorded by VIMS' long-term monitoring program. "For the past few years, our gains in seagrass coverage were mostly due to the expansion of one species, widgeon grass," says Patrick. "That made us vulnerable. When widgeon grass had a bad year in 2019, we saw the single biggest drop in Chesapeake Bay SAV in the history of the VIMS monitoring program." Program scientists began recording SAV acreage in the bay in 1978.

Patrick says "The lesson here is that promoting biodiversity will increase ecosystem resilience." This is particularly important given increased variability in temperature and precipitation, population sizes, and ecosystem functions--often the result of human influence--which can increase the risk for local extinctions, promote outbreaks of pests or disease vectors, and curtail yields from human fisheries and agriculture.

Patrick notes that he and others at VIMS are already starting to put the findings from the recent study into practice. Researchers from Patrick's lab are collaborating with colleagues at the Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve on a multi-species restoration of SAV in Broad Bay near the Chesapeake Bay mouth in Virginia Beach. "In the past we've only planted one species, eelgrass," he says, "so trying to plant both eelgrass and widgeon grass together is a big change and one that will hopefully enhance the long-term success of the restoration of SAV to Broad Bay."

The team anticipates their findings will benefit conservation efforts within other ecosystems as well. "Understanding the interplay between regional and local controls of ecosystem variability may aid in the design of more effective conservation actions, management practices, and monitoring networks worldwide," says Patrick.

"Our results," he adds, "bolster the argument for conserving biodiversity by showing that it is needed at both local and regional scales to maintain stable delivery of ecosystem services across entire landscapes. We should not only avoid putting all our eggs in one basket, but ensure that we have lots of different kinds of eggs in lots of different kinds of baskets."

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President Joe Biden speaks in the Oval Office of the White House, on Feb. 11, 2021 in Washington, DC. Photo by Doug Mills-Pool/Getty Images)

Biden Says He Had a Good Conversation With Xi Jinping During 2-Hour Phone Call

President Joe Biden said his first phone call with Chinese leader Xi Jinping lasted two hours, during which the two had a good conversation.

The two sides official statements about the call, which took place on Feb. 10, highlighted the leaders contrasting positions.

The White House readout said Biden expressed fundamental concerns about Beijings coercive and unfair economic practices, tightening grip on Hong Kong, rights abuses in Xinjiang, and assertive actions in the Asian region, including toward Taiwan.

Meanwhile, Xi told the United States to act prudently on issues the Chinese regime deems its internal affairs, such as Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Xinjiang, according to a readout from the regimes foreign ministry.

At an Oval Office meeting on Feb. 11, Biden told a bipartisan group of U.S. senators to discuss the need to upgrade U.S. infrastructure. He also said the United States must do more to respond to the China challenge.

If we dont get moving, theyre going to eat our lunch, Biden said. Theyre investing billions of dollars and dealing with a whole range of issues that relate to transportation, the environment, and a whole range of other things. So we just have to step up.

Biden also spoke of his long relationship with Xi: I know him well. We spent a lot of time together over the years I was vice president.

Xi was Chinas vice chair, and thus Bidens counterpart, at the time. The two had spent more than 24 hours in private meetings and 17,000 miles traveling together during that time, according to Biden.

The president has called the regime Americas most serious competitor and vowed to out-compete Beijing. This description has been echoed by Biden officials, who have refrained from casting the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) as an adversary, but rather as a major strategic competitor.

During the call, the two leaders also exchanged views on countering the COVID-19 pandemic, and the shared challenges of global health security, climate change, and preventing weapons proliferation, the White House readout stated.

I told him I will work with China when it benefits the American people, Biden wrote in a Feb. 10 tweet.

Meanwhile, according to the Chinese foreign ministrys readout, Xi told Biden that confrontation would be a disaster, and urged the two sides to re-establish dialogue channels to avoid misunderstanding.

The Chinese leader has maintained a hard line regarding Hong Kong, Xinjiang, and Taiwan, which Xi told Biden were matters of sovereignty and territorial integrity.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki, at a Feb. 11 briefing, said Biden also expressed concerns to Xi about the regimes lack of transparency during the pandemic.

The call was the first between Chinese and U.S. leaders since Xi spoke with then-President Donald Trump on March 27, 2020, nearly 11 months ago. Last year, the former Trump administration drastically increased tough measures against the CCP targeting a range of areas, from its human rights abuses to technology theft to military aggression.

Biden officials have signaled a similarly tough stance toward the regime but emphasized the need to work with allies to confront the challenge, in what they say is a point of departure from the Trump administration. Trump officials have defended its approach, saying it did work with allies in Asia and that engaging in a broken United Nations system wasnt effective.

U.S. officials have also said that the new administration could cooperate with the regime on shared concerns such as climate change.

Xi emphasized cooperation in the call, according to the readout issued by Beijing, telling Biden that cooperation is the only correct choice for both sides. He said the two countries could work together on combating the pandemic, fostering a global economic recovery, and maintaining regional stability.

The Chinese leader emphasized that while the two sides may differ on some issues, it is crucial to show mutual respect, treat each other as equals, and properly manage and handle the differences in a constructive fashion, the statement said.

However, Gordon Chang, author of The Coming Collapse of China, said that when it comes to the Chinese communist regime, cooperation goes only one way.

The Communist Party has been very clear. They say that if you dont cooperate with us on everything, were not going to cooperate on anything, Chang said in a previous interview with The Epoch Times.

He added that the CCP will not allow discussion on a range of topics it deems part of its core interests, including Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Xinjiangwhich the regimes top diplomat has described as a red line.

China is trying to constrict those areas where we can have a constructive discussion, Chang said. I believe you cant have a constructive discussion with them in the first place. But what theyre saying is, you cant talk to us on very much, because everything to us is critical.

On Feb. 10, a senior administration official told reporters ahead of the telephone call that Biden would be practical, hard-headed, clear-eyed in dealings with the Chinese leader.

At the same time, the official said, Biden wanted to ensure that the two countries have an open line of communication, despite U.S. concerns about Chinese behavior.

U.S. officials said the call came at a time when Washington believed it was in a position of strength, after consultations with allies and partners, to lay out its concerns about Chinas aggressive activities and abuses.

They said the administration would look in coming months to add new targeted restrictions on certain sensitive technology exports to China and also that there would be no quick moves to lift the tariffs the Trump administration left in place against Chinese imports.

Psaki, on Feb. 11, said the administration was not in a rush in relation to its reviews of Trump-era China policies.

Biden on Feb. 10 announced the U.S. Department of Defense will conduct a review on how the military will handle the threat posed by China.

Reuters contributed to this report.
The Federal Government yesterday described the petition against President Muhammadu Buhari's Ambassador-appointee, Ingekim Regina Ocheni, as frivolous and unfounded.

Last month, a petition was written by one Mr Chukwura Obikwelu, who accused Mrs Ocheni of alleged corruption, human trafficking, forgery, perjury and others.

However, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a statement by its spokesman, Ferdinand Nwonye, said after meticulous scrutiny of the allegations, it refuted the content of the petition and publication.

"The publication and the alleged petition are purported attempts to assassinate the character of Ambassador Ingekim Regina Ocheni, for acting in her official capacity as a former Director Training & Staff Welfare of the Ministry and in accordance with extant rules.

"The Ministry further wishes to clarify that Amb. Ingekim Regina Ocheni, as Director Training & Staff Welfare, was saddled with the responsibility of handling issues related to the death of Mrs Emmanuella Obikwelu, a staff of the ministry and a former wife to Mr Obikwelu, as expected of her office.

"This eventually led to the handing of the children Mrs Obikwelu had with her ex-husband to their grandparents, Mr and Mrs Godian Amadi, who doubles as her biological parents, whom she had registered as her Next-of-Kin.

"The ministry, therefore, wishes to reemphasize that the children are currently in the custody of their grandparents and parent of the deceased, who she documented as her Next-of-Kin in accordance with extant regulations.

"The agitation instigated by Mr Obikwelu could as such be considered a family affair, which the Ministry or any of its officials should not be dragged into.

"Alternatively, aggrieved persons may wish to seek redress in a court of competent jurisdiction," the statement read.
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Connecticut cities and towns gain in the short term but lose out over the long haul in the new two-year budget Gov. Ned Lamont proposed Wednesday.

Using federal coronavirus pandemic relief dollars and state bonding, municipalities would get an extra $320 million next fiscal year and $220 million more in 2022-23, with a strong focus on the poorest communities.

But Lamont, who had to close a projected deficit of roughly $2.6 billion over the next two fiscal years combined, suspended an ongoing initiative to ramp up education grants to local districts.

He also may have dealt a death blow to a program that was supposed to share more than $300 million annually in state sales tax receipts with cities and towns, and while he did pledge communities a share of the revenues from the proposed taxation of cannabis sales, that represents a tiny fraction of the sales tax receipts they were promised.

This past year has been an exceptional challenge to our cities and towns, Lamont said in his budget address. There isnt a single mayor who in 2019 budgeted for a pandemic in 2020, and they are struggling to build this new reality into an already tight budget for 2021 and beyond.

That said, most of the new money Lamont would distribute to cities and towns wouldnt come out of the states coffers.

More than $400 million in federal relief for local school districts

The largest chunk, by far, involves about $220 million in federal pandemic relief funds that are designated in each of the next two fiscal years for local school districts.

But some legislators are worried, because the money runs out in two years but the problems created by the coronavirus might not go away  ever.

New hygiene and air quality standards, investments in technology and remote learning will become essentials long after the pandemic, they said.

Im a little bit taken aback by the lack of specificity on education reform to at least temporarily address the COVID achievement gap, said House Minority Leader Vincent J. Candelora, R-North Branford.

Still, leaders of municipal advocacy groups praised Lamont for not cutting local aid when Connecticut was faced with another state budget deficit.

Gov. Lamonts proposed budget provides welcome news for Connecticuts small towns, said Betsy Gara, executive director of the Connecticut Council Of Small Towns. Given the ongoing fiscal challenges facing municipalities and the uncertain economic impact that COVID-19 will have on property tax revenues, COST is relieved that the budget does not include any cuts to municipal aid.

Joe DeLong, executive director of the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities, thanked Lamont for targeting most funding on those urban centers hardest hit by the pandemic.

But the CCM leader also questioned Lamonts decision to retreat, at least temporarily, from ongoing efforts to reduce municipal property tax burdens statewide.

Programs put on hold that would have increased relief to towns

Lamonts budget suspended a 10-year program to ramp up Education Cost Sharing grants to local school districts after just three years. Communities were supposed to receive $30 million more next fiscal year and $60 million extra in 2022-23.

But the biggest potential loss involves the ill-fated Municipal Revenue Sharing Account, or MRSA.

Trumpeted loudly by the legislatures majority Democrats when enacted in 2015, it was projected to share about $300 million in sales tax receipts with communities by 2018  and keep growing after that.

But communities ended up getting about one-tenth of that in 2018, and a year later, the program was mothballed because of budget deficits  all with the pledge that it would come back in the 2021-22 fiscal year. Many municipal leaders have been openly skeptical it will ever be restored if not done this year.

According to Lamonts proposal, it wont.

Progressive Democrats in the legislature argued Connecticut could afford to share these revenues if it replenished state coffers by raising income taxes on the wealthy. But Lamont has countered repeatedly that this would drive rich taxpayers from the state.

Ive always said, we dont need more taxes, we need more taxpayers, and they are already paying dividends, as you can see by our balanced budget, Lamont said.

But New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker, whose community will face a $66 million deficit next year unless it cuts spending, increases revenue or both, said the state is painting his city into a corner.

Lets be clear, the governors unwillingness to raise taxes on the wealthy means effectively raising taxes on the working poor in New Haven, the mayor said.

General government aid gets a short-term bump

Still, Lamont did offer municipalities modest funding in addition to the federal pandemic relief channeled to schools.

The governors plan would combine $50 million in state borrowing with another $50 million of its cache of pandemic relief from Washington and give municipalities $100 million extra to cover non-education costs next fiscal year.

But advocates noted thats one-time money, so it really cant be used to lower taxes or support ongoing programs.

It is crucial that towns and cities continue to have a seat at the table to advocate for lasting and meaningful property tax reform, reduce unfunded state mandates and encourage regional service sharing, DeLong said.

Towns can have a share of marijuana revenues

Communities could get new revenues under the governors plan, which states that host municipalities will execute a local excise tax on cannabis sales. Municipalities would add a 3% excise tax to the 6.5% sales tax and 9.5% state excise levy that also would be applied to cannabis sales.

The administration projects this initiative would generate almost $40 million by 2023, with $6 million going to distressed communities.
After the success of his new movie "Space Sweepers," Song Joong Ki is gearing up for another exciting drama project, "Vincenzo."

Newly Released Stills of Vincenzo Cassano

To give a sneak peek to the fans and viewers, tvN unveiled new sets of photos showing the stunning look of the man of the hour. The images depict various unexpected life struggles of Vincenzo, portrayed by Song Joong Ki. These are the things he will encounter when he finally arrives in his original country, South Korea. Showing his strong emotions, Vincenzo can be the most dangerous person you'll ever meet.

In one of the images, he is pointing the gun at someone with cold and ruthless eyes. In the following photo, he looks deadly gorgeous wearing a suit while waiting for someone in the airport. This specific photo caught the attention of the audience, for they will already be seeing Song Joong Ki in a new, captivating character.

Song Joong Ki Looks Gorgeous in a Suit

Song Joong Ki clad in a suit shows that he is ready and confident enough to face his new life in the city. But not long enough, he is already seen having some bruises on his face while sitting in a place nearby the airport.

Vincenzo looks tired and exhausted who went to an unexpected fight.

As the premiere date for the drama is getting nearer, viewers can't hide their various reactions while waiting for the series to finally air. Ahead of the scheduled date, the production crew members are eager to show their support to the project.

One of the representatives from the drama production team shared that the arrival of Vincenzo in Korea will be one of the exciting scenes in the drama. The official also added that it will be the kind of events that are about to unfold and will be beyond the expectations of others.

He concluded, "Please look forward to a new side of Song Joong Ki that you have never seen before."

Joining him in the drama is actress Jeon Yeo Bin who will be playing the role of a brilliant lawyer named Hong Cha Young, and 2PM's Taecyeon to portray the character of an intern Jang Joon Woo.

The threesome will join forces to take down all the villains who cannot be punished by the law. In order to be successful with their goal, they will swiftly use villainous methods.

Song Joong Ki is your newest villain hero as Vincenzo Cassano, so make sure to anticipate this superstar's drama comeback!

"Vincenzo" will kick off on Feb. 20 at 9:00 p.m (KST) on tvN and Netflix.

Meanwhile, check the behind-the-scenes video showing the good chemistry of the cast of "Vincenzo"!

Are you excited to watch Song Joong Ki in his upcoming drama "Vincenzo"? Let us know in the comments!

For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news and updates, keep your tabs open here at Kdramastars.

Kdramastars owns this article.

Written by Shai Collins

The strange social structure of tiny fish called emerald coral gobies may be explained by family loyalty, new research shows.

Coral goby groups contain a single breeding male and female and - as "sequential hermaphrodites" - the subordinate gobies can take over either role if one of the breeders dies.

The puzzle for biologists is why breeders tolerate the smaller non-breeders sharing their space and competing for food.

One explanation is "kin selection" (favouring related individuals).

Reef fish are often assumed to disperse at random after hatching, meaning groups of adults should not be closely related, but the new study finds "positive relatedness" among gobies living close together.

"Groups of emerald coral gobies have a fixed structure in which the breeders are biggest," said lead author Dr Theresa Rueger, of the University of Exeter and Boston University.

"The rest are not sexually mature, and they are even known to refrain from eating to avoid threatening the rank above them in the social order.

"They can't risk being evicted from the group, as this usually means being eaten by predators on the reef."

Dr Rueger added: "Kin selection is commonly seen in birds and mammals, and our study demonstrates the potential for weak kin selection among coral gobies.

"In essence, it makes evolutionary sense to favour a distant cousin over an unrelated individual."

The researchers examined the genes of 73 gobies from 16 groups in Kimbe Bay, Papua New Guinea, and estimated relatedness among all individuals.

They found that gobies were significantly more related to members of their group than to gobies on the wider reef, and gobies in each reef were significantly more related to each other than to those from different reefs.

Like many reef fish, gobies spend their early life in the open ocean - where predators are larger and may not hunt tiny prey - before returning to a reef.

It might be assumed that the movement of larvae is dictated by ocean currents, but recent research has shown they have some ability to select currents and may therefore be able to return to the reef they came from - explaining relatedness among fish on a reef.

Previous research has explained why non-breeders tolerate their situation; gobies join groups for safety, and must then work their way up the social structure or risk eviction and death.

The new study finally offers an explanation for why breeders tolerate non-breeders that share their resources.

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The research team included Cornell University and the University of Wollongong.

This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant agreement No 841263.

The paper, published in the journal Molecular Ecology, is entitled: "Genetic relatedness in social groups of the emerald coral goby Paragobiodon xanthosoma creates potential for weak kin selection."

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PITTSBURGH, Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- F.N.B. Corporation (NYSE: FNB) announced that it has been recognized once again as a Greenwich Excellence and Best Brand Awards winner, receiving 16 national and regional awards in 2020 for middle market and small business banking. FNB was one of the top 10 national leaders in the U.S. Small Business Banking category.

FNB has received more than 65 Greenwich Excellence and Best Brand Awards for its commercial banking client experience during the past decade. The Company further built on these honors in 2020 with three consecutive quarters of recognition as a Greenwich Associates Standout Commercial Bank Amid Crisis for its COVID-19 response.

"The Greenwich Excellence Awards are a special point of pride for FNB because they are based on input from our clients and reflect the dedication, service and capabilities that set our Company apart," said Vincent J. Delie, Jr., Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of F.N.B. Corporation and First National Bank. "It is especially meaningful to be honored in a year that has been a challenge for so many, and we look forward to applying the feedback we receive through this program to continuously enhance the high level of service that we provide to our customers."

To determine its Excellence and Best Brand Awards winners, Greenwich Associates conducted more than 23,000 interviews across the country and evaluated 600 banks.

In the Excellence Awards, FNB was one of only 30 banks recognized in the U.S. Middle Market Banking category.

National

Cash Management - Overall Satisfaction

Likelihood to Recommend

Regional (Northeast)

Likelihood to Recommend

FNB was one of only 32 banks recognized in the U.S. Small Business Banking category.

National

Cash Management  Customer Service

Cash Management  Ease of Product Implementation

Cash Management  Overall Satisfaction

Likelihood to Recommend

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In addition, FNB was one of only 13 banks to receive a Best Brand award in the Small Business Banking category, earning national honors for Ease of Doing Business and Trust.

The 2020 Greenwich Excellence and Best Brand Awards join the extensive third-party recognition FNB has earned for its differentiated culture, which focuses on doing the right thing for the businesses, customers and communities the Company serves. Most recently, FNB was named both a Top Workplace in the United States and a Financial Services Top Workplace by Energage, an independent research firm, based solely on employee feedback  adding to a list of more than 30 honors as a leading workplace. To learn more, visit the Awards & Recognition page in the Newsroom on fnb-online.com.

Greenwich Associates is a leading global provider of data, analytics and insights to the financial services industry. For more information about the Greenwich Excellence and Best Brand Awards and the Greenwich Associates selection process, visit www.greenwich.com.

About F.N.B. Corporation

F.N.B. Corporation (NYSE: FNB), headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is a diversified financial services company operating in seven states and the District of Columbia. FNB's market coverage spans several major metropolitan areas including: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Baltimore, Maryland; Cleveland, Ohio; Washington, D.C.; and Charlotte, Raleigh, Durham and the Piedmont Triad (Winston-Salem, Greensboro and High Point) in North Carolina. The Company has total assets of more than $37 billion and approximately 350 banking offices throughout Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Washington, D.C. and Virginia.

FNB provides a full range of commercial banking, consumer banking and wealth management solutions through its subsidiary network which is led by its largest affiliate, First National Bank of Pennsylvania, founded in 1864. Commercial banking solutions include corporate banking, small business banking, investment real estate financing, government banking, business credit, capital markets and lease financing. The consumer banking segment provides a full line of consumer banking products and services, including deposit products, mortgage lending, consumer lending and a complete suite of mobile and online banking services. FNB's wealth management services include asset management, private banking and insurance.

The common stock of F.N.B. Corporation trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "FNB" and is included in Standard & Poor's MidCap 400 Index with the Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS) Regional Banks Sub-Industry Index. Customers, shareholders and investors can learn more about this regional financial institution by visiting the F.N.B. Corporation website at www.fnbcorporation.com.

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Political Editor

THE country has yet again been plunged into mourning following the death of Lieutenant General (Retired) Douglas Nyikayaramba with President Mnangagwa saying the void he has left will be hard to fill.

Cde Nyikayaramba succumbed to Covid-19 related complications at a local hospital. He was 64.

At the time of his death, Lt Gen Nyikayaramba was Zimbabwe's top envoy to Mozambique and his demise follows that of another diplomat -- the late Cde Jethro Ndlovu -- who was the country's Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The death of the decorated military commander also comes a few weeks after the country lost several liberation war stalwarts in the mould of Dr Sibisiso Moyo, Cde Paradzai Zimondi, Engineer Joel Biggie Matiza, Dr Ellen Gwaradzimba and Major General Collins Moyo in the month of January.

In his statement, the President said the country has lost a veteran of the armed liberation struggle and a revolutionary.

"The news of the untimely death this morning (yesterday) of our Ambassador to Mozambique, Lieutenant General (retired) Douglas Nyikayaramba, at St Annes Hospital in Harare, comes as a great shock to me. When we got to know that he had been admitted to hospital, our hopes and expectations were for his speedy recovery and return to station to Mozambique at the end of his vacation here at home. Regrettably, that was not to be as he succumbed to Covid-19 related complications.

"In the passing on of Lieutenant General Nyikayaramba, Zimbabwe has lost a veteran of the armed liberation struggle, a strong revolutionary cadre who continued to serve his country after independence with utmost loyalty, dedication and commitment to promoting and safeguarding the country's territorial and national interests.

"His track record in the military speaks volumes about the strong leadership qualities he had which resulted in his meteoric rise to the rank of Lieutenant General, the position he held when he retired from the army in 2019. His military achievements are a matter of record and too numerous to mention. The honours, titles and decorations that were bestowed on him in the course of his military service crown it all," the President said.

As a soldier, the late Ambassador distinguished himself, receiving during the course of his illustrious military career numerous accolades such as the Zimbabwe Liberation Medal, Zimbabwe Independence Medal, Commander of the Most Meritorious Order of Mohlomi

He also received a medal for Long and Exemplary Service, and for the Mozambique and Democratic Republic of Congo Campaign as well as the Grand Officer of the Zimbabwe Order of Merit.

During his service in the army he was appointed to several posts in the military that included being the chairman of the Promotions and Appointments of Lieutenant Colonels Board, chairman of Army Schools Welfare Time and Management Committee, chairman Tsenga Lodge Convalescent Centre Finance Committee, chairman ZNA Computer Steering Committee.

From 2012 to 2015 he was appointed to the chairmanship of the ZNA Dress Advisory Committee, Army Projects and from 2015 to 2017 he was the chairman of Promotions and Appointments of Colonels Board B, vice chairman Zimbabwe Defence Forces Benefit Fund (ZDFBF), and during the same time was a member of the ZNA Promotions and Appointments for Brigadier Generals Board.

"Ambassador Nyikayaramba's death has created a deep void which will be difficult to fill, notably, among his family foremost, our foreign services where he was a remarkable ambassador, in the military where he served with distinction and honour, and in civilian portfolios where he chaired several boards," the President added.

Apart from serving in the military, Cde Nyikayaramba was also appointed to civilian posts that included in 1995-1996 being the chairman of the Troika Strategy Planning Group (South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe) on the Lesotho crisis.

In 2000 he was appointed chairman of the NOCZIM logistics Committee Fuel Task Force and from 2002 to 2003 he was a member of the SADC Election Commission Forum.

From 2002 to 2004 Cde Nyikayaramba was Chief Election Officer to the Electoral Supervisory Commission

From 2005 to 2009, he was the chairman of the board of directors of the National Railways of Zimbabwe.

He was also instrumental in the food security cluster as the chairman of the Logistics Sub-Committee to the National Food Security Programme from 2008-2009.

Cde Nyikayaramba was also, from 2010-2013 the chairman of Board of Directors for Global Platinum Resources and in 2011 he was a member of the Thematic Constitution Parliamentary Committee (COPAC) that authored the country's Constitution.

"On behalf of the party, Zanu PF, Government, the people of Zimbabwe, my family and indeed on my behalf, I wish to convey my sincere condolences to the Nyikayaramba family, especially to his wife and children, who have lost a dear husband, father and mentor. May they take comfort from the knowledge that we are together with them during their darkest hour of grief," the President said.

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Cde Nyikayaramba was appointed to become the country's top envoy to Mozambique in July 2019 and prior to that he was a Major-General responsible for Administration in the Zimbabwe National Army.

During his spell as Ambassador to Mozambique, Cde Nyikayaramba played a key role in ensuring the smooth movement of grain imports from Mozambican ports into the country.

And in line with President Mnangagwa's engagement and re-engagement thrust, Cde Nyikayaramba was also pursuing transactional diplomacy to boost the country's economy.

He continued to source investors for Zimbabwe and sought opportunities for companies to explore opportunities in Mozambique, in line with the Second Republic's demand for economic diplomacy to turn-around the country's economic fortunes so as to create jobs and improve the peoples' standards of living.

Ambassador Nyikayaramba, who hailed from Mutoko and left the comfort of his home at the age of 14 to join the liberation struggle distinguished himself as a military commander par-excellence and a patriot during his service to the nation in a period spanning over five decades.
Pace-setter: Dr Morris Brown collected more than 7,000 during his challenge

A retired Castlederg GP has raised over 7,000 for charity by completing an 80-mile walking challenge.

To mark his 80th birthday, Dr Morris Brown walked four miles each day for 20 days to visit landmarks in the town which reminded him of his long career.

He is a committed member of the Church of Ireland in Derg, where he has been a parish reader for 40 years.

In his daily walks he visited the local rectory, where his close friend Canon Walter Quill had lived, then past the old and new surgeries in the town where he worked, as well as Silverdale Nursing Home, which he founded and owned for 15 years with his former medical partner, the late Dr Jim Garvey.

Finally, he visited the old Derg Valley Hospital, where he carried out accident and emergency services throughout the Troubles and where two of his children were born.

He is now hopefully well on the way to reach his original target of 8,000.

The money will be split between the RNLI, which he and his late wife Marguerite supported since he came to Castlederg some 40 years ago. She passed away in September 2001.

The other half of the cash will go to the Castlederg Patient Comfort and Terminally Ill Fund, which has raised around 500,000 over the past 20 years to help those with terminal illnesses.

Dr Brown was founder and chairman of the fund, and is now treasurer.

He was joined on the first and last days of the challenge by his daughter Suzanne, a PE teacher at Lisneal College.

He said: "Because of Covid-19 I realised that I could not have the usual celebration for an 80th birthday.

"So I decided to do something special by raising money for good causes.

"My walk around Castlederg was really worthwhile.

"People were generous in all kinds of ways.

"I sincerely thank everyone who gave me donations and who supported me in any way.

"I still walk between two and three miles a day for recreation and fitness, but in the short-term I don't have any more big fundraising ideas.

"In that respect, maybe it's time to put my feet up for a while!"
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Hundreds of women took to the streets of the Argentinian city of Rojas to protest the murder of an 18-year-old woman by her partner.

Ursula Bahillo was stabbed to death by her former partner Matias Ezequiel Martinez, whom she had denounced for aggression 18 times, said her mother Patricia Nassutti.

The suspect is a police officer on leave for psychiatric problems who is currently hospitalized for a stab wound to the abdomen, suspected of being self-inflicted.

He has been detained and accused of femicide.

Nasutti said they want him to live "so that he can pay his sentence with life and not with death because it would be much easier for him to die".

Ursula, a native of the town of Rojas, about 300 kilometers north of Buenos Aires, was in a relationship with Martinez, who had already been accused of gender violence in the past.

The young woman ended the relationship and denounced Martinez after several attacks.

Although the justice system had imposed a restraining order, the police officer allegedly violated the measure on several occasions.

The victim was intercepted by Martinez in the center of Rojas and taken in her vehicle to a field, where he murdered her with a "butcher's knife," according to authorities.

Since 2015, Argentina has been the epicenter of massive street demonstrations under the slogan "Not one less", which placed the issue of gender-based violence on the public agenda and called for the enactment of laws.

Twelve percent of the 30 murders of women in January were committed by members of the security forces, active or retired, according to the Observatory of Women of the Latin American Matria (Mumala).

No official statistics are available.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
The owner of a Staffordshire Bull Terrier that attacked a 3-year-old girl last month inside a Spring restaurant has been ordered not to keep any dogs in her home as her criminal case proceeds in court.

State District Judge Hilary Unger on Wednesday set bond conditions for Jennifer Romano, also requiring that the 46-year-old woman not have contact with the injured girl or her family.

Romano was booked Monday into the Harris County Jail on felony charges of injury to a child and tampering with evidence. She made her combined bond of $7,500 on Wednesday, according to court documents.

Her attorney, Angela Weltin, said Romano owns several dachshunds that she will no longer be able to keep in her home. She also owned Kingston, the terrier who on Jan. 9 lunged and bit Ronin Waldroup on the face at the Loose Caboose Restaurant, deputies said.

The girl was treated at Memorial Hermann Hospital in the Woodlands for deep lacerations, puncture wounds and tearing to the skin on the right side of her face. She received 14 stitches and may have to receive plastic surgery, court records state.

Weltin on Wednesday called the attack by Kingston, a rescue dog, a tragedy.

Our hearts go out to (Ronin) and her family, Weltin said. We are praying for a swift recovery and full healing. Kingston has since been euthanized. The sad story continues as the rescue dog owner, Jennifer Romano, is charged by the District Attorneys Office with two serious felony offenses arising out of the sorrowful event.

Through their attorney, Maureen Farrell, the girls family said they were grateful that the district attorneys office charged Romano with the felonies.

While the criminal process does not heal Ronin's wounds, it brings the family comfort to know that our community takes seriously the horrible decision Romano made to put Kingston, who had bitten before, in a service vest and bring him into a restaurant, Farrell said. Romano knew the staff would probably not say a word and were likely not trained in the ADA-compliant questions they could and should ask."

The Waldroup familys statement points at whether Romano complied with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Kingston had been wearing a service dog vest during the attack, authorities said, and Romanos doctor had previously stated that her animals helped her with her general anxiety disorder.

Dogs that only provide comfort or emotional support do not qualify as service animals, which the act defines as dogs trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability.

Service dog educator Kaydin Downey said her company, Hamilton at Your Service, LLC, which conducts workshops and consultations about service dogs, was relieved to see charges filed.

Knowing she was roaming free with multiple other animals with potentially more service dog vests of their own, as a witness testified to in court, was frightening to everyone, especially the Waldroups who are trying their best to resume back to normal life, Downey said.

Ronin is still trying her best to cope everyday and though we specialize in disabilities including PTSD and aiding families in offering support and techniques, Cece and James have been doing flawlessly on their own. Ronin has a long journey ahead of her but she has the absolute best parents in the world to support her during this time.

Witnesses said Romano fled the scene after the unprovoked attack, and authorities also said Romano concealed Kingston from deputies while they were trying to seize the dog. Kingston was euthanized following a Montgomery County judges ruling to do so, despite Romanos claims that the dog could be re-trained.

The dog has bitten people in at least two other attacks, including one within the last year, one Harris County investigator said.

The latest attack occurred while both parties stood in line at the restaurant at 26403 Preston Ave. One witness, who arrived at the Loose Caboose with Kingston, told investigators the girl grazed the dog before the incident. He added that Romano told him it was the girls fault, according to charging documents.

Another witness claimed that they saw Ronin Waldroup standing 1 or 2 feet behind the dog before it turned around and bit her face.

In recent years, Romano has also been named in multiple lawsuits surrounding a different pit bull, Gus, who she claimed to be rehabilitating through her now-defunct business, Maggies House Rescue.

In a previous bite case in 2013, a Montgomery County judge ruled that Gus caused serious bodily injury and ordered the dog euthanized.

Staff writer Julian Gill contributed to this article.

samantha.ketterer@chron.com
Couples from Northern Ireland jetting out of Dublin for a holiday are set to be hit with a 4,200 - around 3,700 - on the spot fine.

Fines in the Republic for travelling abroad for a non-essential reason are set to increase to 2,000 (1,788).

People from Northern Ireland also face a 100 (88) for entering the Republic unnecessarily.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin has asked Health Minister Stephen Donnelly to sign off on regulations which will increase the existing 500 (440) fine to 2,000 (1,788) as soon as possible.

The move is part of a number of measures aimed at clamping down on foreign travel as the Irish Government battles to control the third wave of Covid-19.

Mandatory home quarantining is already introduced under law for anyone arriving in the Republic. Legislation for hotel quarantining is expected before cabinet next week, the Taoiseach told the Dail.

The new 2,000 fine for breaching restrictions for travelling abroad will be a major deterrent for people thinking of going on holidays. The 500 fine which was only recently introduced was not seen as enough of a deterrent to stop people travelling abroad.

Gardai have set up roadside checks near Dublin Airport to issue fines to people leaving Ireland for non-essential reasons.

A total of 13,606 passengers arrived into Dublin in the week ending last Friday, it has emerged. Of these 8,218 were Irish residents and the remainder, amounting to 5,388 were non-residents, the Government disclosed.

Of the 8,218 Irish residents, more than two-thirds - 5,241 people - stated that they were returning from a holiday or a visit abroad. These 5,241 passengers account for 39.7% of all passenger arrivals into Dublin Airport, and 63.8% of all Irish resident arrivals into Dublin Airport.

Non-essential overseas travel is a breach of level 5 regulations and "it is important that everyone understands and respects that," a spokeswoman said.

"About 60% of those travelling are returned Irish holidaymakers. There is a sense that 500 is not a sufficient disincentive to travel abroad. That will be increased," Mr Martin told the Dail.

"The Government is considering increasing that to 2,000 to act as a significant deterrent to people travelling because all non-essential travelling should be avoided. It is also the intention to bring forward legislation for approval to Cabinet next Tuesday to deal with mandatory quarantining."

Overall passenger numbers are a tiny fraction of normal levels - below 3% for this time of year, with the 13,600 in the last week comparing with over 230,000 in the week in 2020, before restrictions came into force.

On Wednesday, the Philadelphia Health Department released complicated and flawed ventilation guidelines for restaurants to increase indoor dining to 50% occupancy as of Friday. Philadelphias restaurant community does not support these guidelines. The basic principle here is that COVID-19 does not transmit differently in Philadelphia. Stop punishing us like it does by holding our restaurants to a higher standard than the one applied to the rest of the state.

The top priority of our restaurant operators is the safety of our teams and patrons. The new guidelines  which allow restaurants to open indoors at 50% capacity if they document that their ventilation sufficiently circulates air at least 15 times per hour  fail to protect both. Furthermore, these stipulations afflict businesses that are struggling to survive by requiring significant financial investment to meet unrealistic and unachievable standards. No other type of business in the city will be required to follow these guidelines.

In the fall, restaurants operated at 50% occupancy and without ventilation standards with no documented impact on case counts or outbreaks. We suggest aligning Philadelphias restrictions with the state Department of Healths guidelines, which state that establishments can operate at 50% capacity if they self-certify on their mitigation strategies and safety. The virus does not operate differently in Philadelphia than it does elsewhere in Pennsylvania, so why are our rules so drastically different than the rest of the commonwealths?

 READ MORE: Philly restaurants can expand indoor dining if they boost ventilation. Critics call the plan unclear and unenforceable.

Had the city treated our industry as true partners and allowed for conversation and feedback in this process, these discrepancies could have been addressed and perhaps a simpler solution could have been achieved. We are not asking to expand indoor dining without restrictions. Instead, we are calling on city officials, City Council, and Mayor Jim Kenney to rethink and implement commonsense solutions to work with the restaurant industry to protect diners, employees, and owners. Demanding costly updates to HVAC systems, window fans, or other ventilation equipment creates an impractical barrier for many restaurants.

Professional mechanical engineers and HVAC technicians have voiced concerns with the methodology, equipment, and expected outcomes for airflow outlined in the guidelines, particularly around the accuracy of such measurements and the inability to change a systems set number of air exchanges. While the guidelines may assume that the average restaurant owner could perform such measurements, the professionals disagree. In fact, they emphatically discourage an untrained individual from attempting to make these changes.

The time the citys Department of Health spent creating new guidelines should have been spent clarifying and revising existing standards, enforcing the commonsense existing rules such as mask-wearing, social distancing, and the 50% occupancy allowed elsewhere, and establishing a FAQ page on the Department of Healths website to help operators comply with the intent of existing requirements. Instead, we now have new guidelines that are unenforceable and unachievable  neither of which contribute to the overall safety of diners, employees, or owners.

Qamara Edwards is the director of business and events for Sojourn Philly and Philadelphia chapter president for the Pennsylvania Restaurant and Lodging Association.
Over Donald Trumps presidency, Sen. Bill Cassidy was always a reliable ally, voting with the president 89% of the time and taking a central role in advising the administration on health care policy.

But much of the goodwill he generated among Trump supporters in Louisiana vanished overnight.

A day after voting to allow Trumps impeachment trial to proceed, Cassidy, a Republican, had garnered a rebuke from the Louisiana GOP, a censure from his home parish Republican Executive Committee and the ire of top party officials. A conservative talk radio host in Lafayette held Bill Cassidy day on his show, lobbing insults at the senator and excoriating the vote. A story on the Hayride, a right-wing Louisiana blog, declared his career effectively over.

How Louisiana's Bill Cassidy, John Kennedy voted on proceeding with Trump impeachment trial Louisianas two Republican U.S. senators split their vote Tuesday afternoon as the U.S. Senate rejected arguments that the impeachment trial o

Since the election, Cassidy has been more willing than any member of Louisianas Republican congressional delegation to stray from the party line on Trumps loss in November. He was the first to acknowledge President Joe Biden won the election, on Nov. 24th, as Trumps campaign pushed unsubstantiated allegations of voter fraud.

On Jan. 6, the day a pro-Trump mob stormed the U.S. Capitol, Cassidy was the only Republican member of Congress from Louisiana who declined to vote to challenge the election by objecting to the certification of a states electors.

And unlike his fellow Louisiana senator, John Kennedy, Cassidy hasnt shut the door on voting to convict Trump in the ongoing impeachment trial, saying hell judge the evidence when it is presented.

The backlash to Cassidys vote illustrates the rock-solid loyalty many Louisiana Republicans still have toward Trump, fealty that supersedes the partys support for Louisianas senior senator.

Cassidy joined five other Republican senators Tuesday in voting to proceed with the impeachment trial, rejecting arguments that the proceedings are unconstitutional because the former president is no longer in office. Cassidys vote was perhaps the most surprising of the six Republicans, in that the other five are better known for bucking GOP orthodoxy. One of the six, U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, of Pennsylvania, has already said he wont seek re-election.

Speaking to reporters on Capitol Hill Wednesday, Cassidy conceded the reaction to his vote was mixed.

To those who were negative I replied this was a Constitutional question, Cassidy said. Clearly it had been established it was Constitutional. It is Constitution and country over party. For some, they get it. For others, theyre not quite so sure. Thats to be expected. That doesnt predict my vote on anything else. It does predict that I will listen to these arguments as I did to the arguments yesterday with an open mind.

In a video message released late Wednesday, Cassidy said putting Trump above the Constitution is "not conservatism. That is not Republicanism."

The decision marked a departure from Cassidys vote in late January, when he sided with 44 other Republican senators in a procedural vote that sought to declare impeachment proceedings unconstitutional.

Whether Cassidy is willing to vote to convict Trump is still unclear. He previously said Trumps worst-case scenario would be if evidence emerged that the former president received warnings from the FBI that his supporters were planning to plant pipe bombs and storm the Capitol. If, on the other hand, Trump was found to have merely told his supporters to fight, that likely wouldnt be enough, Cassidy said in late January.

On Tuesday, he repeated that hes approaching the case as an impartial juror.

But even if he votes against conviction, Cassidy has already drawn fury from some Republicans in Louisiana.

Bill Cassidy is a free American; he has a right to make very bad decisions, said Rep. Clay Higgins of Lafayette, one of Trumps most ardent defenders in Congress. Im a constitutionalist. I support your decision to be a journalist for a very bad newspaper.

At a meeting at Dearmans, a burger joint in Baton Rouge, the Republican Parish Executive Committee for East Baton Rouge Parish, where Cassidy lives, voted unanimously Wednesday to censure him. The resolution called the charge of incitement of insurrection a sham and a cruel hoax on the American people.

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Woody Jenkins, the chairman of the committee, said in an interview Cassidys vote was a betrayal.

No one expects someone who is elected with strong Republican support in this state would turn against the president, Jenkins said.

The Republican Party of Louisiana, led by chairman Louis Gurvich, said in a statement it was profoundly disappointed in Cassidy.

+4 Despite Black voter surge, Louisiana Democrats struggled with voter loss in 2020; here's why Fueled by passions over Donald Trump, both mainstream political parties in Louisiana saw significant improvement in voter registration in the 

Mike Bayham, the partys secretary, said he is open to holding a special meeting of the 230-member Republican State Central Committee in March to take up a censure of Cassidy if he votes to convict Trump.

I think people are angry over the procedural vote, Bayham said. Lets be honest, the most relevant vote is what happens at the end of the day, at the end of this process.

Not all Republicans are upset. Michael DiResto, a longtime Republican operative who serves on the state committee, called the attacks on Cassidy mind-boggling.

DiResto in an email pointed to the fact that more than 150 legal scholars of varying political stripes agree the proceedings are constitutional. While some Republicans have accused Cassidy of betraying his voters, DiResto said Republicans are often quick to point out America is a democratic republic, in which voters ask leaders to lead based on their conscience and respect for the rule of law.

So lets be clear: the real offense some folks are seeking to punish is that Sen. Cassidy is acting insufficiently loyal to one man, DiResto said. One man. And if thats the case, it strikes me as the opposite of what it means to be a Republican.

Former U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu, a Democrat, lost re-election to Cassidy in 2014, in a campaign that saw Cassidy hammer her for her support for President Barack Obama. On Wednesday, she praised Cassidy.

I am pleased to see that Senator Cassidy has used both his intellect and his good common sense to guide him here, Landrieu tweeted. Many people in Louisiana are proud of him, including me.

John Couvillon, a Republican pollster in Baton Rouge, said hes seen data that suggests Trumps support is about as high as ever in Louisiana, especially in rural areas. But he noted its easier for a senator like Cassidy to take a vote that may be unpopular with his base when his next campaign is likely more than five years away.

Despite his recent streak of independence, Cassidy is hardly a rogue Republican. In fact, according to FiveThirtyEight, the political news publication, Cassidy actually voted with Trump more often than Kennedy over Trumps four years, siding with the president in 89% of votes to Kennedys 87.5%.

After coronavirus aid meeting with Joe Biden, here's how Bill Cassidy feels about a bipartisan deal A day after joining several Republican senators in a meeting with President Joe Biden about a coronavirus aid bill, U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy Tue

But he expresses more desire for compromise than many of his colleagues in a hyper-partisan era. On the night Cassidy was re-elected soundly to a second six-year term, in November, he sat down with reporters and immediately played up bipartisanship. He said he believes there were Biden-Cassidy voters, which he attributed to his willingness to cross party lines.

Ive worked really hard over the last six years to represent our state no matter who it was, he said at the time. Occasionally Id have someone look at me and say Im a little surprised youre helping me, youre a Republican. I said, I'm your senator, I'm going to help you...Sometimes it ends up paying off.

Assuming he seeks re-election, Cassidy would next face voters in 2026, when he will be 69. He won easily in a jungle primary in November, garnering 59% of the vote. By comparison, Trump won about 58% of the vote in Louisiana.

Since winning re-election, Cassidy has joined a group of 10 Republican senators in negotiating with the Biden White House on a COVID relief package. The group sat down with Biden earlier this month.

Roger Villere, the former state party chairman who now serves as Republican National Committeeman for Louisiana, said hes extremely disappointed in Cassidy. But Villere doesnt believe the state party would censure Cassidy unless he votes to convict Trump -- which he doesnt believe Cassidy will do.

When youve got six years before your next election, that does I guess give you a certain freedom to vote your conscience, Villere said. But you should vote your conscience anyway.
The Finance Minister is being urge to investigate whether Stormont's massive underspend could be used to fund a pension for badly-injured conflict victims.

Earlier this week Northern Ireland's highest court said the Executive has a legal duty to fund the scheme.

Administrations in London and Belfast are in dispute over who will pay the estimated 800m cost of financial support for those most badly-injured during the Troubles.

The Court of Appeal gave the Executive and the Northern Ireland Office (NIO) four weeks to sort out the funding.

Yesterday Finance Minister Conor Murphy revealed 200m of available funding was not allocated to departments this year. He previously said the Troubles payment should be funded by London.

Ulster Unionist MLA and Executive Office committee vice-chair Doug Beattie questioned if the Executive has asked the Treasury to allow them to use the underspend to fund the Troubles pension. He said: "As things stand it is likely the Northern Ireland Finance Minister - Conor Murphy MLA - will return unspent monies to the UK Treasury at the end of the financial year.

"This underspend could easily cover the initial cost of the disablement payment scheme if it is allowed to be carried over to the next financial year.

"So, the question is this: has the Executive Office and the Finance Minister written to the UK Treasury to ask for this underspend to be used in part for this reason - an approximate amount of about 28m?

"If they have not, then why have they not? Why have they sat waiting for a court ruling before trying to solve this issue? If they have written to the UK Treasury then what was the answer, are they receptive to this or what hurdles need to be overcome to make it happen?"

Commenting on the unallocated funding yesterday, Mr Murphy said: "I continue to discuss funding flexibility with Treasury and expect to carry forward any further funding provided into 2021-22.

"However, Treasury have advised this will not include flexibility in relation to the funding received before Christmas. It is therefore important this 200m is now made available for reallocation.

"I continue to urge Executive ministers to bring forwards proposals to use available funding, particularly for those who to date haven't received support."
Posted Wednesday, February 10, 2021 5:38 pm

A bill to significantly restrict the governors emergency powers  sparked by backlash to Gov. Jay Inslees statewide restrictions during the pandemic  received a public hearing this week.

Supporters argued that the issue is a bipartisan one, though of the bills nine sponsors, all are Republicans.

Last year, while Republicans similarly denounced Inslees emergency actions and demanded a special legislative session, Democratic leadership was largely silent on the issue. Inslee has contended that swift action saved thousands of lives, and during press conferences has pointed to the Washingtons low death rate relative to other states.

The bill appears unlikely to make it far through the Washington state Legislature, where both chambers are controlled by Democrats.

A lack of progressive opposition presented at the hearing also indicates that opponents likely dont view the bill as a major threat.

Before the hearing, prime sponsor Rep. Jim Walsh, R-Aberdeen, whose district covers a portion of Lewis County, painted a picture of what he sees as a constitutional crisis.

You know, its a bad thing when one branch of the government, of any government system, has too much authority and too much control over public policy, he said. You end up with public policy that doesnt work for much of the public. And Im afraid thats where we are now.

Walshs bill would require emergency proclamations to be issued on a county-by-county basis using least restrictive means and would limit a state of emergency and 14 days unless extended by the Legislature. Similar restrictions would be put on the secretary of health and local health officers.

Anna Duff, a resident in the 48th Legislative District, said the bill should appeal to Democrats, too, since it would limit the power of a hypothetical conservative governor.

You may agree with every single decision our governor has made during this emergency. But will you always? she said. Now imagine your worst political enemy in charge. What could that person do with these powers? How could you say for sure that he or she would not abuse them?

Jason Mercier, of Washington Policy Center, a free-market think tank, described Inslee as making decisions behind closed doors.

It makes entirely appropriate sense for the executive branch to have time-limited emergency powers to respond to an emergent need, Mercier said. But at some point the peoples legislative branch of the government needs to be brought back into the decision making.

Tietje Miller told lawmakers that while state mandates are backed by science, science is just a theory waiting to be disproven.

Nick Murray, a policy analyst with the Maine Policy Institute, referenced the think tanks recent report, which ranked all 50 states based on their executives emergency powers. In it, Washington ranked among the lowest five states, which bestow their governors the sole authority to determine when and where an emergency exists, and when an emergency ceases to exist.

Murray suggested that reform should hinge on requiring the governor to get legislative approval to extend emergency proclamations  a provision included in Walshs bill.

By outlining a consistent process, the legislature can remove politics from the equation. It can guarantee the people an equal seat at the table, and no matter who the governor may be or the political makeup of the legislature, the process should remain the same, Murray said.

I think this is the bare minimum of accountability in this day in age.

The deadline to pass bills out of committee is Monday, Feb. 15.
Flipkart has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Maharashtra Small Scale Industries Development Corporation (MSSIDC) and Maharashtra State Khadi & Village Industries Board (MSKVIB), to bring local artisans, weavers, craftsmen and SMBs of the state into the e-commerce fold. The MoU to onboard local artisans and entities on the companys flagship initiative Flipkart Samarth was signed in the presence of Honorable Industries Minister Shri Subhash Desai and Minister of State, Industries, Smt. Aditi Tatkare.

The partnership under the Flipkart Samarth program will enable Maharashtras local artisans, weavers, craftsmen and smaller industries to showcase their hallmark products like Khadi, Paithani sarees, wooden toys, handmade artifacts, jewelry and paper products, purses and other key handicraft products to millions of customers across the country, further adding impetus to the governments #Vocal for Local efforts. Flipkart Samarth is a nationwide initiative, which aims to help skilled local artisan communities set up their business on the Flipkart Marketplace in an efficient, transparent and cost-effective manner.

The program seeks to break entry barriers for local artisans by extending time-bound incubation support, which includes benefits in the form of seamless onboarding, free cataloging, marketing, account management, business insights and warehousing support. This will create avenues to increase business and trade inclusion opportunities for these very important segments of society.

The Government of Maharashtra has been leading various state-level initiatives to boost trade inclusion opportunities and provide encouragement to local artisans and handicraft makers. The State government established MSSIDC & MSKVIB to give a new orientation and strength to the development of Small Scale Industries in the State of Maharashtra. They play a vital role in the revival, development and growth of traditional village industries, products and handicrafts of Maharashtra by responding to the diversified needs of rural artisans and marketing their products in India and abroad.

Shri Subhash Desai, Minister for Industries & Mining, Government of Maharashtra, said, MSMEs play a huge role in boosting the economy of the state and are vital to the states socio-economic development. In the post-COVID-19 era, we explored revolutionary measures to get better market opportunities and empowering the handicrafts and handlooms industry.

Smt. Aditi Tatkare, Minister of State  Industries, Government of Maharashtra, said, Partnerships like these will give more impetus to Khadi & Village Industries to scale up and generate livelihood opportunities.

Shri Rajneesh Kumar, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer, Flipkart Group, said, We are excited to have the opportunity to partner with MSSIDC and MSKVIB to enhance social and commercial development of local artisans, weavers and smaller industries while bringing the heritage of the State on the platform. E-commerce can play an integral role in the growth of MSMEs across the country by giving them national market access to 300 million customers that shop on our platform. Flipkart Samarth is a cherished initiative that provides these businesses with the necessary support, and we hope to continue reaching more such local businesses to help them reap the benefits of e-commerce.

Shri Baldev Singh, Principal Secretary  Industries, Energy and Labour, Govt. of Maharashtra, said, We are looking forward to this collaboration to bring valuable business knowledge to our handicraft makers and artisans and promote their hallmark products across India.

Dr. M. Neelima Kerketta, CEO, Maharashtra State Khadi & Village Industries Board (MSKVIB), said, It will be a good platform for providing an efficient solution for marketing village industries products. This will act as a driving force for encouraging rural micro artisans to earn their livelihood in a smart and modern manner.

Shri Pravin Darade, Managing Director, Maharashtra Small Scale Industries Development Corporation (MSSIDC), said, This initiative seeks to break entry barriers for the local artisans and will offer not only long term sustainable livelihood support but would also encourage artisans to conserve & pass on the local arts & crafts skills from generation to generations.

Flipkart Samarth program was launched in 2019 to build a sustainable and inclusive platform for under-served, domestic communities and businesses to empower them with greater opportunities and better livelihood. Flipkart Samarth is now able to support the livelihood of over 7,50,000 artisans, weavers and craftsmen across India and is working towards bringing more such sellers to the platform. Recently, Flipkart also announced the availability of the Marathi interface for shoppers on the platform, bringing it closer to consumers in the state.

Hearing of a graft case facing former Nairobi governor Mike Sonko, who is currently in detention aborted, on Wednesday after police failed to produce him at the anti-corruption court in Milimani.

His lawyer Dr John Khaminwa informed Chief Magistrate Douglas Ogoti that Mr Sonko could not attend court as he was admitted to Nairobi Hospital and heavily guarded by police officers from the Anti-Terror Police Unit (ATPU).

"I do not have good news as my client is still admitted to Nairobi Hospital because of cardiac problems, high blood pressure among other conditions," said Mr Khaminwa.

The lawyer also tabled in court two medical documents from the hospital where Mr Sonko is admitted saying that the doctors have indicated that the condition of the former governor has not yet improved.

He said Mr Sonko was returned to the hospital after his health deteriorated while appearing for a terrorism-related case at Kahawa law courts.

The magistrate is on Thursday expected to rule on whether Mr Sonko will be produced in court in person for the mention of the case.

The graft case was coming for Mr sonko's legal team to inform the court on whether they had obtained all documentary evidence from their former defence lawyers Celcil Miller and George Kethi.

Last week, the magistrate had directed Mr Miller and Mr Kethi to hand in all documentary evidence supplied to them by the prosecution to Mr Sonko's new legal team.

But Mr Khaminwa, who is now Sonko's lead counsel, said the directive is yet to be complied with. He sought an adjournment until in the month of April for Mr Sonko to appear in court.

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But the prosecutions opposed the request for the adjournment and urged the court to issue an order to have Mr Sonko produced in court as they have not been supplied with the medical documents showing that he is admitted in hospital.

"We have not been shown the medical documents by Mr Sonko and we cannot comment on them. Yesterday he was taken to Kahawa and Kiambu law courts and we wonder why he was not brought before you," said the prosecutions side.

The court heard that even the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Ethics and Anti-corruption commission (EACC), who are complainants in the case, have a right to fair hearing under Article 50 of the constitution.

The prosecution subsequently urged the court to issue a production order through the Officer Commanding Gigiri police Station (OCS) that will ensure Mr Sonko is taken before court.

He said they will only respond to Mr Sonko's health status once they are served with the medical reports.

In the case, the former governor is accused of demanding Sh10 million bribe from Web Tribe Ltd through ROG Security Limited as an inducement to facilitate payments by the county government.

Web Tribe Ltd had been contracted by the Nairobi County government six years ago to collect revenue.

The governor is said to have committed the offence between January 10 and 19, 2019 within the city.
The Marine Corps is now giving new moms a full year to meet fitness and weight requirements after childbirth, making it among the military's longest postpartum recovery periods.

And female Marines say while the move is long overdue, it will help build faith with women in the Corps.

"This policy change reinforced [Commandant Gen. David Berger's] statement in his planning guidance that 'we should never ask our Marines to choose between being the best parent possible and the best Marine possible' and his priority to manage talent in the Force," Maj. Sharon Sisbarro said on behalf of the Marine Women's Initiative Team, which works to improve female recruitment and retention in the service. "In simpler terms, Marines appreciated being heard by their leaders."

Read Next: Marine Corps Changes Policy to Give New Moms 1-Year Break from Fitness, Weight Rules

The Marine Corps announced the new policies Monday, about a week after Military.com published a story detailing the career repercussions women faced while pregnant or after giving birth. The changes, which went into effect immediately, extend the time new moms are excused from body composition rules and fitness tests from nine months to 12.

The new policy is meant to allow women to make a fuller recovery, said Capt. Sam Stephenson, a spokesman for Training and Education Command, which directed the changes. It's also meant to eliminate the effect rapid weight loss could have on breast milk production, he said.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that babies be breastfed for 12 months.

"The Marine Corps recognizes that each pregnancy and postpartum period may be different, and that exercise, recovery and rehabilitation may need to be based on the Marine's individual circumstances," Stephenson said. "... While there is no strict medical requirement to extend, a 12-month exemption period alleviates the added stress and potential for premature over-exertion and injury risk for postpartum Marines."

Gunnery Sgt. Julianna Pinder, a combat engineer whose career was negatively affected after she said she was forced to choose between her baby and weight loss, said she's glad to see top Marine leaders giving women more time to recover from childbirth.

"It's not that women are trying to get out of work and beat the system or try to get more time off and be on limited duty forever," she said. "We want to have a career; we want to be mothers. We can do both, but sometimes we just need help."

Pinder said she's not sure the new policy would have saved her career. She was put on the Body Composition Program, or BCP, after having her second child, who had health issues. Pinder was advised to stop cutting weight so she could produce enough breast milk to help her daughter grow, but her leadership didn't help secure a waiver to give her more time to meet the service's physical standards.

She received an adverse fitness report over her BCP assignment, which affected her shot at reenlistment. She left the Marine Corps on Wednesday, but hopes sharing her story publicly helps push more inclusive policies.

Women make up a small percentage of the Marine Corps, but still deserve equal treatment, she said.

"We're not asking for special treatment," Pinder said. "We're asking for fair and supportive treatment, just as a man would be supported."

Feedback from commanders and Marines played a role in developing the new policy, Stephenson said. The command seeks to balance that input with research and scientific evidence to support change, he added.

Training and Education Command hosted several pregnancy and postpartum working groups, he said, and conducted "deliberate, logical, and scientific research; consulted with experts in the field, as well as with Headquarters Marine Corps Health Services, and others across the Marine Corps to inform this policy decision."

"The Human Performance Branch, under Training and Education Command, continuously reviews orders ... and policies in order to ensure a capable, lethal, and agile force," Stephenson added.

The Marine Women's Initiative Team has been advocating to extend the postpartum recovery time for Marine mothers, Sisbarro said. Discussions with Marines revealed that many of them lost the ability to nurse their babies before the recommended one-year mark because they, like Pinder, were cutting calories to drop weight.

"This decision requires the Marine Corps to make an additional investment in these leaders, and they did," Sisbarro said. "The seemingly small policy change did a lot to build trust with Marines."

-- Gina Harkins can be reached at gina.harkins@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @ginaaharkins.

Related: The DoD's Body Composition Standards Are Harming Female Service Members
New Jerseys Supreme Court has rejected a proposal to release hundreds of people from jail who are awaiting trial, but they did say some should have their detention re-considered because of the coronavirus crisis.

The pandemic has kept new trials at a standstill, and all seven justices agreed Thursday that lower courts should consider setting free some people who have already waited six months behind bars and have not been accused of the most serious crimes, especially if health problems put them at greater risk.

COVID-19 has created an ongoing health crisis of enormous proportions for all of society - including individuals held in jail, Chief Justice Stuart Rabner wrote in the courts opinion, and he asked lower courts to move quickly to re-consider cases.

Residents are only locked up before trial when a judge believes they pose a risk to the public or might run away, and almost 5,000 people were in jail waiting for juries to resume as of Monday, according to the court.

Defense lawyers argued for more sweeping change last month.

Anyone locked up for at least six months, which is generally the deadline for a trial to begin, should be released if theyd only been accused of committing a second-degree offense or less, the public defenders office and the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey said.

That would have included around 650 people potentially charged with arson, assault and robbery, among other crimes, lawyers estimated late last year.

The justices disagreed, saying not all second-degree offenses or offenders are alike.

But even if a judge was right to lock up somebody originally, the coronavirus was a good enough reason to re-consider, Rabner said. That was especially true if the time somebody has spent behind bars is as long as the sentence theyd eventually get if convicted, he said.

Were gratified that the court recognized a desperate need to address the crisis, Alexander Shalom, a lawyer with the state chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, said in a statement. With this ruling, the court will ensure that people have some way to challenge their prolonged confinement in an unprecedented environment.

Jennifer Sellitti, a spokeswoman for the public defender, said the decision will help ensure that no person languishes behind bars during a time when jury trials are suspended.

A spokesman for the state attorney generals office, which had opposed any mass release, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

When judges consider a persons health, a generalized fear of contracting COVID-19 isnt a good enough reason for release, Rabner wrote. Instead, courts should examine whether a defendants health has deteriorated since the detention hearing and is now more susceptible to serious health consequences in jail.

Those charged with murder or facing the possibility of life imprisonment should probably not get a new hearing, Rabner added.

Of those awaiting trial behind bars, more than 1,840 have been accused of the most serious crimes, 1,780 have been charged with second-degree offenses, around 1,000 face third-degree charges and fewer than 300 were accused of the lowest crimes, according to court records.

That includes 28 people facing disorderly persons offenses, which generally only result in six-month sentences anyway, the court said.

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Blake Nelson can be reached at bnelson@njadvancemedia.com.

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Jap Invaders Strike East Indies in Full Fury thundered the front page of the Mobile Register on February 17, 1942.

Pearl Harbor was but two and a half months in the past, and the news now grimly focused on Japans sweep through the Pacific and its capture of the British stronghold of Singapore.

Tucked to the side of that newspaper page was a reference to the days holiday. Under News and Views, writer Howard Barney wrote Oh, unhappy Mardi Gras!

A war was savagely under way, Barney noted, and the old-time street party had been put on hold.

The 1942 Mardi Gras would be the first of four successive Carnival celebrations in Mobile to be called off by World War II. And there really wasnt any quibbling about it, at least not any that got chronicled by the local scribes.

There was a global war going on, said Kim Guise, assistant director for curatorial services at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans. There were millions and millions of individuals around the globe engaged in that fight. Sixteen million Americans were in service.

She added, Every family may not have had someone representing them in the service, but every individual was touched in some way. You knew someone who was involved, whether it was someone from your community, from your high school or someone from your church. It really stretched into every home.

The World War II years would, for three-quarters of a century, be the last in which Mobiles Mardi Gras celebration fell by the wayside. Orleans Parish in Louisiana had to call off parades in 1979, during a police strike, but nothing slowed the revelry in Mobile, not Cold War frights or social upheaval or the wreckage scattered hither and yon by Hurricane Frederic.

Related content: Remember Freddie: How Mobiles 1980 Mardi Gras steered recovery through revelry

In 2021, of course, Mardi Gras parades and associated public hoopla in Mobile have more than met their match, succumbing quietly to the coronavirus pandemic.

Already, however, theres optimism for the future. After all, when Carnival time came around in 1946 after World War II, the city enjoyed a show like none before.

The first parades of 1946, its like what it will be next year, said Cart Blackwell, curator of the Mobile Carnival Museum. It was completely over the top.

World War II years, 1942-45

A newspaper advertisement from 1944 highlights the wishes from Adam Glass & Co. for the return of Mardi Gras and the end to World War II.

During the four years of the 40s without Mardi Gras, Americans were under a tight federal rationing system for basics like gasoline, butter, sugar, canned milk, coal, shoes and tires.

Men and women who werent in uniform in a place far away where working hard in home-front jobs. On Mobiles industrial waterfront, some 30,000 toiled at Alabama Dry Dock and Shipbuilding Co.

Guise said that giant Mardi Gras wingdings would have been more or less impossible to arrange even if Mobile or New Orleans or any other city had wanted to. Rationing was one of the factors, certainly with supplies being needed and diverted to other more important projects. But also, manpower to pull off a citywide event was a factor. Money was an issue. And mood, Guise said.

There may also have been the notion afoot that the populace was making a wartime sacrifice, although Timothy Lombardo, assistant professor of history at the University of South Alabama, seriously doubts it.

The idea of sacrifice is more myth than reality, said Lombardo. There was that idea of sacrifice for the war effort, but it did not come without resistance. There were massive black markets for all sorts of things that were rationed.

The government, Lombardo said, often had to resort to massive crackdowns, resulting in enforced sacrifices.

Some smallish Mardi Gras events did occur during the war, such a smattering of the mystic society balls.

The Crewe of Columbus kept its balls going, according to Mobile historian Wayne Dean, who portrays Chief Slacabamarinico during Mardi Gras events throughout the year.

The Order of Juno, in February 1942, hosted a ball titled The Festival of Matrons at the Battle House Hotel, according to newspaper archives. And there were various seasonal events at the Athelstan Club downtown.

Dean, however, said he expects that the balls of that time were intimate affairs, at least compared to the modern-day extravaganzas that pack the Arthur R. Outlaw Mobile Convention Center and the Mobile Civic Center.

You have to look at it as a different time, said Dean. It wasnt like a large percentage of Mobile was involved in the mystic societies and those organizations. You had a good chunk, but not the percentages you have today.

Unsurprisingly, Mardi Gras-themed events during the war took on a patriotic flair. In 1943, the Retailers for Victory Committee organized a special Carnival Bond Drive rally on Canal Street in New Orleans, which Guise said drew 20,000 people and raised over $1 million for the war effort.

But Guise makes a key distinction here: While there may have been certain events, there was no organized Carnival.

Interestingly, in 1945, during the final year of the war, members of the U.S. Army 24th General Hospital stationed in Italy  including graduates or medical staff from Tulane University in New Orleans  performed a parody in pantomime, presenting themselves as the Mystic Krewe of Snafu.

Their theatrical endeavors gave special attention to lampooning two characters: wartime villains Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini. Im sure there was plenty of booing and hissing when they came on stage, said Guise, who wrote about the play on the National WWII Museums website.

Even while Mardi Gras was gone, it wasnt forgotten in Mobile. In the Fat Tuesday edition of the Mobile Register in 1944, an advertisement by Adam Glass & Co., read, In normal times  Mobilians would be celebrating Mardi Gras. The crowds  the noise  the flickering light of multicolored torches. The parades  the comical revelry of maskers  the parties. All of these  familiar to all of us as the annual celebration of Mardi Gras  would be in full swing today, if times were normal  if the war were won.

The advertisement continued, That happy day of normalcy will come again  the day when war has become a subject for historians.

Mardi Gras returns, 1946

A float makes it way down the streets of Mobile during the 1946 Mardi Gras. The parades in 1946 were the first to occurred in Alabama's Port City since 1941. For five years, from 1942-1945, Mardi Gras parades were canceled due to World War II. (Press-Register archives).

With the war won, Mobile resumed its Mardi Gras parades as soon as it could.

Patriotism loomed large over the celebration of 1946.

Two Navy warships, the USS Geary and USS Gyatt, were docked at the foot of Government Street. The two destroyers arrived on the Friday before Mardi Gras Day and ahead of the Crewe of Columbus parade and ball.

The ships welcomed some 10,000 visitors for tours, according to newspaper accounts. On the Sunday before Mardi Gras Day, waves of spectators flowed over the decks and, even a half-hour before visiting hours concluded, the two ships still had lines of spectators that stretched for blocks.

Mobiles civic leadership also tried to bring World War II heroes to town for the 46 Carnival. Acting Mayor Robin Herndon invited celebrated Army Lt. Gen. Jonathan Wainwright, according to the Mobile Register archives. Wainwright had been a Japanese prisoner of war for three years, having been captured after the surrender of the Philippines in 1942. According to newspaper archives, Wainwright was in Jackson, Mississippi, at the time and a city executive wired him insisting that he come to Mobile and witness the Mardi Gras celebration and view the citys famous Azalea Trail.

Theres no record of whether Wainwright made the trip, although the newspaper front pages presumably would have heralded it if he had.

The 1946 parades were a first for Dean. He said he was a 4-year-old boy that Carnival season when he attended his first Mardi Gras parade, that of the Crewe of Columbus.

He doesnt remember the parade but can visualize his grandfather holding me in his arms.

Whatever I saw that night, I liked, said Dean, whose adult life has been immersed in the frivolity of Carnival and the study of its legends and lore. It was my first one, the Crewe of Columbus.

Blackwell, the curator at the Mobile Carnival Museum, said the Strikers Independent Society had actually gotten the 46 Mardi Gras season off to the bang with a bash on Dec. 31.

The Strikers krewe had turned 100 years old in 1942 but hadnt been able to celebrate in style. They had been planning since the 1930s to host a grand ball to honor the 100th anniversary, said Blackwell. They held that long-anticipated ball in December, on New Years Eve.

The final few days of Mardi Gras 1946 consumed the pages of the Mobile newspapers.

On Lundi Gras -- the Monday before Fat Tuesday -- Mayor Herndon welcome King Felix III and his 19 knights as they arrived aboard a Coast Guard cutter. In his official proclamation, Herndon told Felix, All of the subjects of your fair city join me in assuring you that we have anxiously awaited your return after a lapse of five years, so that we might again receive you as the rule of this city, the Mother of Mystics.

Blackwell calls the 1946 Carnival the grandest Carnival year on record.

Lombardo takes it a step further: Those celebrations made absolute sense. It wasnt only just the end of the war, but the end of scarcity and entering a far more hopeful era.

There was at least one disappointment during the 1946 parades. According to a report in the Mobile Register, the political satire proffered by the Comic Cowboys lacked its pre-war wallop. A wartime recess apparently had sapped much of the strength from the lampooning sting of the range-riders usual sizzling swing, the article stated.

The article did find merit with one of the Cowboys missives, however: The best-aimed spear hurled by the Cowboys was a float titled Waiting for my G.I. Loan. Atop the float, were several sad-sack revelers wearing only barrels and pretending to be Army veterans.

Post-pandemic celebration

Historians have recognized the post-World War II Mardi Gras events for the expansion of Mobiles Carnival. In subsequent years, nPirates of Fish River keep Mardi Gras spirit alive despite pandemicew mystic societies formed and more locals got involved with the festivities.

Said Blackwell, It was no longer the realm of older Mobile families. After the war, you had an explosion which diversified and created what we know now is a huge representation of the cross-section of Mobile. It was established in the 40s and the 50s.

Blackwell and others said they can envision something similar happening with the post-pandemic Mardi Gras. For instance, Dean anticipates that the ongoing Yardi Gras will quickly become a Carnival staple.

Blackwell, though, is longing for the return of the rituals that make up Mobiles longest living tradition. He was sifting through his closet a few days ago and noted his formal tails hanging there forlornly. It was nostalgic, Blackwell said. I didnt think Id look at my tails and ever think about actually wanting to put them on.

Related Mardi Gras material:

In lieu of parades, Mardi Gras celebration spreads to neighborhoods

Mobile mayor: City not like New Orleans, bars to remain open on Mardi Gras Day

Pirates of Fish River keep Mardi Gras spirit alive despite pandemic

Big hole in our heart: How downtown Mobile businesses are adjusting to a parade-less Mardi Gras

Clinging to a slice of Mardi Gras tradition as an odd season opens

MoonPie Minute storyteller transfixed Mardi Gras lore in Mobile
Twenty-eight United Nations peacekeepers were wounded in an attack on their base in central Mali on Wednesday, a UN spokesperson said, in the latest violence to hit the Sahel state.

Unidentified militants attacked a temporary base near Kerena, a village in the war-torn centre of country, at around 7 am.

Olivier Salgado, the spokesman for the UN's MINUSMA mission in Mali, said the position was "targeted by direct and indirect fire."

First established in 2013, the 13,000-strong MINUSMA has suffered one of the highest death tolls of any mission in UN peacekeeping history.

Over 230 of its personnel have died since the mission began, and improvised explosive devices killed five peacekeepers last month alone.

Mali /  AFP

The latest casualties were from a Togolese contingent of peacekeepers in Mali, according to the UN.

An official briefed on the attack, who requested anonymity, said that some of the peacekeepers were gravely wounded.

A municipal government official, who declined to be named, also told AFP that militants drove an explosives-laden vehicle into the camp before opening fire.

Mali has been struggling to contain a jihadist insurgency which first emerged in the north of the country in 2012, and has since spread to the centre of the country and to neighbouring Burkina Faso and Niger.

Thousands of soldiers and civilians have been killed and hundreds of thousands more have had to flee their homes.

Four peacekeepers were killed by a roadside bomb in northern Mali on January 14, and one died the following day in a similar blast.

- Cycle of violence -

Central Mali is an epicentre of the Sahel conflict where assaults on soldiers and ethnic killings are common.

Ten Malian troops were killed in the same area last week when Al-Qaeda-affiliated jihadists raided their camp.

MINUSMA troops carry the coffins of four Ivorian comrades who were killed by a roadside bomb in northwestern Mali on January 13 /  AFP

The attack on the UN base comes ahead of several important political summits dedicated to curbing the Sahel conflict.

France and the G5 Sahel -- a military alliance comprising Burkina Faso, Chad, Mauritania, Niger and Mali -- are due to meet in Chad on February 15 and 16.

Signatories of the shaky Algiers peace accord are also due to meet in the northern Malian town of Kidal on Thursday.

Mali's government and several armed groups signed that agreement in 2015. Among other things, it provides for decentralising governance in the vast and ethnically-diverse nation of 19 million people.

Although the implementation of the Algiers accord has been extremely slow, the deal is viewed as one of the few escape routes from Mali's cycle of violence.
Joe Biden has had his first phone call as president with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping (Patrick Semansky/AP)

Joe Biden on Wednesday held his first call as president with Xi Jinping, pressing the Chinese leader about trade and Beijings crackdown on democracy activists in Hong Kong as well as other human rights concerns.

The two leaders spoke just hours after Mr Biden announced plans for a Pentagon task force to review US national security strategy in China and after the new US president announced he was levying sanctions against Myanmars military regime following this months coup in the south-east Asian country.

A White House statement said Mr Biden raised concerns about Beijings coercive and unfair economic practices.

Mr Biden also pressed Mr Xi on Beijings crackdown in Hong Kong, human rights abuses against Uighur and ethnic minorities in the western Xinjiang province, and its actions toward Taiwan.

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In an exchange with reporters in the Oval Office on Thursday, Mr Biden described his talk with Mr Xi as a good conversation.

But the president expressed concern that Beijing would build an advantage as economic competitor if the US did not move quickly to bolster the nations infrastructure, including roads, bridges and public transportation.

We dont get moving, theyre going to eat our lunch, Mr Biden said.

Chinas state broadcaster CCTV struck a mostly positive tone about the conversation, saying Mr Xi acknowledged the two sides had their differences, and those differences should be managed, but urged overall co-operation.

CCTV said Mr Xi pushed back against Mr Bidens concerns on Taiwan, Hong Kong and Xinjiang, saying the issues were Chinas internal affairs and concerned Chinese sovereignty.

He warned: The US should respect Chinas core interests and act with caution.

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Whatsapp President Joe Biden is expected to take a radically different approach to China than that of his predecessor Donald Trump (Steve Parsons/PA)

Mr Biden, who had dealt with the Chinese leader when he served as Barack Obamas vice president, used his first three weeks in the White House to make several calls with other leaders in the Indo-Pacific region.

He has tried to send the message that he would take a radically different approach to China than former President Donald Trump, who placed trade and economic issues above all else in the US-China relationship.

With Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga late last month, Mr Biden underscored the US commitment to protecting the Senkaku Islands, a group of uninhabited islets administered by Tokyo but claimed by Beijing.

In his call with Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Biden emphasised the need for close cooperation to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific.

And in his call with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison last week, the president highlighted that the two nations alliance was essential to stability in the region, the White House said.

Prominent aides to Mr Biden have repeatedly heard from Asia-Pacific counterparts who had become discouraged by Mr Trumps frequently sharp rhetoric aimed at allies, talk of reducing troop levels in South Korea and odd interactions with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un, according to a senior administration official who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Allies in the region have made clear they want a more purposeful and steady approach to engagements going forward, according to the official.
The UTSA Institute of Texan Cultures, or ITC, is a cherished resource. It has the only museum of its kind devoted entirely to preserving and sharing the rich cultural history of Texas and Texans.

The institute began its important work at the 1968 Worlds Fair, where it opened as the Texas State Exhibits Pavilion to showcase the uniqueness and beauty of the states many cultures. The ITC also shared its pioneering research at the fair about the influence of Tejano and Mexican heritage in our region.

Over time, the ITC developed unique programs, created learning and research opportunities, hosted vibrant cultural festivals and amassed one-of-a-kind archives exploring more than two dozen Texan cultures. These distinctive experiences are encouraging greater awareness of and appreciation for the states cultural diversification.

We are especially appreciative of the many staff members, patrons, supporters and volunteers who have contributed to the growth of the ITC and its museum over the years. Their groundwork has served the ITC and our community well, and we look forward to the institutes next 50 years.

Thats why were launching ITC Centennial 2068: Community Stakeholder Visioning, a broad engagement process to shape the ITCs future. We value the ITCs mission, and this initiative will help develop a long-term, feasible and sustainable plan.

We invite Texans  and particularly San Antonians  to participate in this collaborative process. We are especially interested in collecting thoughts around the ITCs mission and scope, engagement with the university, community engagement and sustaining of support, museum facility and location, connection to Hemisfair and land use, and K-12 engagement.

To prepare for new growth, we have begun to align the ITCs operations more closely with UTSAs academic enterprise.

We hope for an institute that will play a greater role in academic programs and faculty efforts, K-12 student education and teacher preparation, and experiential learning programs that prepare students for their careers and future. These efforts will be vital to supporting a downtown campus life while creating space that is accessible to locals and tourists.

The ITC is well-positioned to elevate discourse and visibility around the historical advocacy and equity efforts of Mexican Americans, building on its seminal work for Hemisfair 68 and the initiatives taking place at the university.

To contribute meaningful solutions to the challenges around racial and social injustice, we are compelled to lead cultural discourse that moves the needle toward equity.

We also believe the ITC could have a new role in documenting and examining our cultural history as it occurs through evolving population trends over the next 50 years.

Each year, more and more people move to Texas to take advantage of its economic opportunities. Imagine if the institute captured this unfolding history to examine the states growing cultural composition and identity. The ITCs special collections could be first-choice resources for the state and nation.

There are opportunities to host new educational series at the ITC to help people learn from social and cultural injustices and about differing cultural perspectives. This important programming can encourage new thinking about our future as Texans.

We also want to develop an accessible and compelling in-person museum experience by creating deeper, broader cultural connections, particularly through the use of technology. Todays young people often first come into contact with cultural material online. To sustain the ITC into 2068, we need to embrace this modality to attract new audiences to the ITC and its museum.

Above all, the institutes tremendous assets must be preserved and made accessible to people in every corner of the state for the benefit and enjoyment of generations to come.

UTSA and San Antonio have a special relationship. Supporting the vibrancy of downtown is part of our DNA, and we believe we can find creative solutions at our Hemisfair location to support the ITC and downtown San Antonio. Building innovative partnerships will be essential in determining how to best steward the land for the benefit of the community. In turn, these solutions will help us achieve resource generation and sustainability.

San Antonio is a great city with a great public research university. It deserves a great cultural museum.

The ITC is likewise a unique and irreplaceable treasure that deserves a well-conceived road map for the future.

UTSA is committed to championing the ITC for the next 50 years. We invite you to join us in this important work.

Kimberly Andrews Espy is provost and senior vice president for academic affairs at the University of Texas at San Antonio. Veronica Garcia Rodriguez is interim head curator of the Institute of Texan Cultures.


Singapore, Feb 11 (PTI) Singapore's telecom company Singtel, an associate of Bharti Airtel, on Thursday said that unidentified hackers illegally attacked a third-party standalone system used to share information internally and with external stakeholders.

In a media statement on Thursday, Singtel said it was informed by third-party vendor Accellion that its file sharing system FTA (File Transfer Appliance) was illegally attacked by unidentified hackers.

FTA is a standalone system used to share information internally and with external stakeholders, said Singtel.

Accellion has informed that this incident is part of a wider concerted attack against users of their file sharing system, the Channel News Asia reported quoting Singtel release.

Customer information may have been compromised. Our priority is to work directly with customers and stakeholders whose information may have been compromised to keep them supported and help them manage any risks.

We will reach out to them at the earliest opportunity once we identify which files relevant to them were illegally accessed, said Singapore Exchange-listed Singtel.

The company has since suspended the use of the system, it added. It has also started investigations, and is working closely with cyber security experts and relevant authorities, including the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore.

In a press release, Accellion said it has patched all known vulnerabilities exploited by the hackers and added new monitoring and alerting capabilities to flag anomalies associated with the attack vectors.

Singtel said the breach was an isolated incident involving the third-party system, and that its core operations remain 'unaffected and sound'.

'We have since suspended all use of the system and activated investigations, working closely with cyber-security experts and the relevant authorities, including the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore, which is providing additional guidance,' The Straits Times quoted the telco as saying. PTI GS AMS
Under railways strategic business group of transport infra business

The Railways Strategic Business Group of Transportation Infrastructure business of L&T Construction has also secured an order from Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation (UPMRCL).

Uttar Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation (UPMRCL) is the nodal agency responsible for the implementation of the Kanpur and Agra Metro projects that are being funded through equity participation by the Government of India and Government of Uttar Pradesh and loans from bilateral/multilateral agencies.

The scope of works includes Design, Installation, Testing Et Commissioning of Ballastless Track of Standard Gauge in 4 Corridors in Elevated as well as Underground sections of Kanpur and Agra Metro Projects along with supply of fastening systems and associated Ballasted/Ballastless Tracks in 4 Depots. This order has been secured against stiff competition from various local and major multi-national companies. This win vindicates L&T's position as a leader in Ballastless Track Technology in India.

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)


The Health Protection Surveillance Centre has today been notified of 52 additional deaths related to COVID-19.

33 of these deaths occurred in February, 12 occurred in January, 6 in December or earlier and 1 is still under investigation.

The median age of those who died was 83 years and the age range was 55 - 96 years.

There has been a total of 3,846 COVID-19 related deaths in Ireland.

As of midnight, Wednesday 10 February, the HPSC has been notified of 866 confirmed cases of COVID-19.

There is now a total of 206,801 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland.

Of the cases notified today:

401 are men / 463 are women

65% are under 45 years of age

The median age is 35 years old

281 in Dublin, 63 in Galway, 56 in Kildare, 47 in Meath, 39 in Cork and the remaining 380 cases are spread across all other counties.

As of 8am today, 984 COVID-19 patients are hospitalised, of which 172 are in ICU. 44 additional hospitalisations in the past 24 hours.

As of February 8, 242,353 doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in Ireland: 154,900 people have received their first dose, 88,453 people have received their second dose

Dr Ronan Glynn, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, said: We are cautiously optimistic about the epidemiological situation across the country. This positive momentum has been achieved through the dedication of people across the country in recent weeks. However, incidence and mortality rates are still very high, and the significant risk of community transmission of the virus remains, especially for those most vulnerable to COVID-19 infection. It is of vital importance that people continue to stay at home and to work from home where at all possible.

Professor Karina Butler, Chair of the National Immunisation Advisory Committee said: As of this week, we have administered 242,353 doses of COVID-19 vaccine. This is a wonderful achievement and I want to thank all our vaccine administration teams for their dedication and hard work. We hope that as our vaccination numbers go up, we can offer more protection those who are vaccinated and ultimately the wider population. But, until that time, all of us, including those of us who have received our COVID-19 vaccines, must maintain our adherence to all of the other public health measures like washing our hands and social distancing.

Professor Philip Nolan, Chair of the NPHET Irish Epidemiological Modelling Advisory Group, said: In the last week, the HSE has begun to test close contacts of confirmed cases. This is a positive move as it clearly shows that we are back in the containment phase of this pandemic. However, the positivity rates among household contacts is quite high, close to 30%. This is a timely reminder to us all to immediately isolate ourselves if we have any symptoms, to protect those most important to us. We should also continue to limit our social contacts. Do not visit another persons household unless you are providing essential care.

Dr Lorraine Doherty National Clinical Director Health Protection HSE - Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC), said: The COVID-19 find-test-trace-isolate process is vital to our efforts. We all need to contact our GP as soon as symptoms occur, to go for a test, trace our contacts if our test is positive and prevent further infections. It is important to remember that everyone can access testing free of charge. Testing and contact tracing are vital to our ongoing collective efforts to minimise the spread of COVID-19.
New Delhi, Feb 10 (UNI) Rajya Sabha on Wednesday passed the Major Port Authorities Bill, 2020, ensuring autonomy to 12 major ports in the country.

The Bill sought to provide for regulation, operation and planning of major ports in the country and provide greater autonomy to these ports, replacing the Major Port Trusts Act, 1963.

The legislation provides for the creation of a Board of Major Port Authority for each major port and to replace the existing Port Trusts.

While replying the debate on this Bill, the Union Shipping Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said, "Would a patriot oppose this Bill? This Bill is not for privatisation of ports.

Responding the objections and apprehensions raised by the Opposition, he said, "Have Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra governments not given ports to private companies for development? Did that happen in the tenure of Narendra Modi?" he asked the House on the allegation that the Bill was to privatising the ports of the country.

He also said that the Government developed the Kolkata port on a Public Private Partnership (PPP) model and paid the liabilities for all pensioners. The loss making port is now profitable because of the reforms," he said while citing the benefits of the model.

Minister Mandaviya also said that this Bill will make the major ports more autonomous and provide major thrust in the maritime sector whereas this will help these ports to develop a world class infrastructure as well as deriving a transparent mechanism of their functioning.

Strongly allaying the apprehensions of the opposition, Mr Mandaviya clarified that this Bill would never pave the ways for privatisation of the ports in the country.

He also asserted that the new provisions incorporated will make all major ports more competitive in comparison with the private ports.

Noting that the maritime sector has seen a trajectory of growth in the last six years, the Minister also informed the Members ` that the major ports in the country have recorded double the profit from its figures in the previous regime.

UNI AKS SB 1441


ROCHESTER, Minn. - With two COVID-19 vaccines already being distributed and another on the way, there are still some questions about them. It's a common thing for someone to take some over the counter medicine when they're in pain or not feeling well. But when is the right time to take it when it comes to the COVID-19 vaccine?

A lot of people getting the shot might experience some symptoms, such as mild fatigue to a more severe flu-like feeling. That just means the antibodies are attacking the virus and the vaccine is doing its job. Taking an anti-inflammatory beforehand, like Ibuprofen or Advil, has been shown to reduce the production of antibodies, but there's not enough data to show the pain relievers significantly interfere with immunity.

Dr. Gregory Poland, the infectious disease expert at Mayo Clinic, said while evidence with the COVID-19 vaccine is limited, medical experts can relate it to other vaccines. "If you take nonsteroidals or Tylenol and you're an infant getting your first dose of childhood vaccine, it diminishes the immune response no question," he explained. "It did not do that with subsequent booster doses. Now let's move to adults - the best studies were done with influenza and not much of any clinical effect."

Dr. Poland said taking medication afterwards though is a different story. "If you do develop side effects and they're significant enough where you need to treat them, like I did. I did take a Tylenol," he explained. "Afterwards does not diminish the immune response. So it's only prior to receiving the dose that we have any and I'll call it somewhere theoretical concern."

If you take a daily medication and are concerned about it interfering with the vaccine, you should contact your health care provider first. If you choose not to take any medicine after getting the vaccine, you can hold a cool, wet washcloth on your arm where you got the shot and exercise that arm as much as you can.
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Members of a police oversight body in Northern Ireland have stated a joint commitment to work with the regions chief constable to address challenges arising from policing the pandemic.

The agreed statement from members of the Policing Board came after Simon Byrne fielded their questions for more than two hours on a controversial incident in Belfast when a Troubles survivor was arrested after an atrocity commemoration.

The Police Ombudsman watchdog has initiated an investigation into how police handled the event on the Ormeau Road last Friday.

One officer has been suspended from duty and another repositioned after angry scenes unfolded when they approached some of the attendees to highlight potential coronavirus breaches in relation to the size of the gathering.

Expand Close Mark Sykes stands at the memorial to those killed at the Sean Graham bookmakers shop (Liam McBurney/PA) PA / Facebook

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Whatsapp Mark Sykes stands at the memorial to those killed at the Sean Graham bookmakers shop (Liam McBurney/PA)

The event was commemorating the 1992 loyalist murder of five people at the Sean Graham bookmakers shop.

Mark Sykes, who was shot multiple times in that attack, was arrested during the commemoration.

Mr Sykes, who was detained on suspicion of disorderly behaviour and later released, has admitted swearing at an officer.

Mr Byrne has apologised for how the police handled the incident, claiming the officers involved fell below the expected standards of the PSNI.

The controversy has sparked a political row amid claims from republicans of police discrimination against nationalist communities and counterclaims from unionists that the officers involved have not been afforded due process.

Despite the fallout, unionist and nationalist political members of the Policing Board did reach a degree of consensus on Thursday as they discussed how to work with the police to address issues that have arisen going forward.

Mr Byrne and Deputy Chief Constable Mark Hamilton briefed a scheduled meeting of the boards performance committee on the Ormeau Road event and other recent contentious incidents related to the enforcement of Covid-19 regulations. All board members were invited to attend.

Expand Close PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne has faced criticism for how his service has enforced Covid-19 regulations (Liam McBurney/PA) PA / Facebook

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Whatsapp PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne has faced criticism for how his service has enforced Covid-19 regulations (Liam McBurney/PA)

Afterwards a statement agreed by all members was issued by Policing Board chair Doug Garrett which said: Discussion focused on issues relevant to the incident on 5 February and around wider concerns from recent events.

With the matter under investigation by the Police Ombudsman, the Board is now restricted in public comment on the incident.

That said, board members are agreed that the policing of Covid-19 regulations has proven to be challenging.

All members recognise the environment that policing has had to operate in, and the impact real time policing incidents have had on community views, perceptions and overall morale within the service itself.

The different perspectives and views around policing style, approach and community relationships will need further consideration by the board.

However, there remains a consensus and commitment from all of our board members to work with the Chief Constable as we move forward in dealing with the issues.

On Wednesday, the Police Ombudsman told the police not to make any further public comment on the case while its investigation was proceeding.

I remain strongly committed to enhancing both community policing and confidence in the service PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne

Acknowledging that constraint, Mr Byrne issued a statement after the Policing Board meeting describing the exchanges as constructive.

Regarding the meeting, I welcome the recognition from the board as our accountability body that the Police Service of Northern Ireland is currently operating in a very challenging and difficult environment, he said.

I further welcome the commitment from the board to work with me to address the challenges the police face, not least the potential for a reduction in police officer numbers following our draft budget allocation for 2021-2022.

I remain strongly committed to enhancing both community policing and confidence in the service. I will continue to engage with a wide range of stakeholders over the coming weeks and I will provide updates to the board on progress on a monthly basis.
Egypts food delivery business is worth almost $2.5 billion, says entrepreneur David Buttress who recently invested in Elmenus, an online food discovery and ordering company operating in Cairo and other cities in Egypt.

Only six per cent of such orders are done through online ordering at present, with the rest being done by phone. Elmenus has a 20 per cent share of the online orders, Buttress, also a board member of the company, added.

The Egyptian market is comparable in size to markets like South Africa and Turkey, where the food delivery market is worth $2.8 billion and $3 billion, respectively, Buttress said. Around 25 per cent of Turkish food orders are now placed online, he said, adding that he thinks Egypt will go in the same direction.

The UK market went from zero to 60 per cent food delivery orders online over the past 15 years, he said.

Buttress said he was looking forward to watching the food technology market mature in Egypt in the coming few years.

Covid-19 has had a role to play in accelerating migration to online ordering, he added, saying that Elmenus had seen higher growth in the second half of 2020 because of Covid-19 and the pandemic had accelerated the growth of the industry globally.

He does not expect that growth to slow down when the pandemic is over either, adding that the migration of consumers from telephone to online will not be reversed.

Buttress has been in the industry for 15 years. In 2006, he joined Just Eat, an online food-ordering and delivery service headquartered in London, to help launch its UK business. He led Just Eat in making global acquisitions and investments including MenuLog in Australia and a majority stake in Brazils iFood.

Buttress has been in venture capital over the last four years investing in Europe, the US and Latin America. While he would not disclose the amount of his investment in Elmenus, he said it was the biggest personal cheque he had ever written to any company. The amount would be disclosed later, he said.

Elmenus began as a comprehensive directory providing users with menus and information about restaurants in Cairo. It launched its online ordering service in late 2018, and since then it has grown its revenues by 300 per cent, all with less than $10 million in funding, a company press release said.

The funding included a Series B funding round that raised $8 million led by UAE-based venture-capital firms Global Ventures and Algebra Ventures.

Series A investments are the first round of investment for a company and usually range around $5 million. Series B are the second round of investment, usually raising between $5 and $15 million, while Series C are the later stage of equity investment usually raising more than $15 million. Buttress said that as a private investor he tends to invest in Series C companies.

Elmenus was targeting all consumers, according to Buttress. While the younger generation are digital natives, almost everyone has now got used to using smart phones and applications, he said.

The company plans to spread further across the country. While the major metropolitan areas are the first focus, it will also expand to other governorates.

One of the keys of the companys success was having a local founding team, Buttress said, and another was specialisation. Elmenus specialises in food, and does not try to offer multiple services. It also has Egypt as a priority market unlike other applications that may have other markets as their priority.

For Buttress, it is too early to think about offering shares in the company on the stock market, and he is focused on building the best business possible. The company was working hard to sign up the best restaurants and building the brand and application, he said.

If we do a good job, we will build a company that Egypt can be proud of as a technology company, Buttress concluded.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 11 February , 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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New Delhi: Teddy bears have always been the easiest and cutest gifting option available. But did you ever wonder why and how presenting a teddy bear stuffed toy came into existence? Today we tell you the interesting story behind the christening of the big, fat Teddy bear.

Like so much of our pop culture today, including jeans, burgers, jazz, and hip hop, Teddy Bear is also attributed to the world by the United States of America (USA).

THE LEGEND BEHIND TEDDY BEAR

In 1902, the then President of the USA, Theodore Teddy Roosevelt, went on a hunting trip to Mississippi, after the invitation from the latter's governor, Andrew H Longino. It is said that Roosevelt was not only unable to hunt a bear himself but also refused to kill a bear that was caught by his companions and tied on a tree for him to kill. Roosevelt refused to shoot the tied-up bear himself and declared it to be unsportsmanlike.



This story of Roosevelt unable to kill the bear caught on American media like fire with popular Washington Post cartoonist Clifford K Berryman making a cartoon on The Teddy and the Bear, which appeared in the newspaper on November 16, 1902. Inspired by the cartoon, a Brooklyn couple and the owner of a candy shop, Rose and Morris Michtom, sought President Roosevelts permission to make stuffed bear toys named Teddy Bear. The teddy bear became hugely popular and the couple started The Ideal Toy Company.

In 1905, two bears who were named teddy were given to Bronx Zoo. The teddy bear became so popular that in the same year, Roosevelt used it as his mascot for his re-election campaign.

Today Teddy bears have become a cultural phenomenon. There is a Teddy bear museum in England, ancient teddy bears are sold in auctions, they have appeared in numerous cartoons and movies and simply they are also a timeless gift that is given to kids, friends, and lovers as a memento and a comforting furry toy friend.


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Following in the footsteps of the city of Long Beach, the cities of Montebello and Oakland have passed premium-pay ordinances mandating additional pay for certain grocery store and drugstore employees.

Premium pay or "hazard pay" for grocery employees seems to be the new trend in COVID-19 regulations. This trend continues despite recent lawsuits filed in federal courts by the California Grocers Association, seeking to block the new ordinances in Long Beach, Oakland and Montebello.

The city of Montebello passed its urgency ordinance on Jan. 27. The ordinance applies to grocery and drug stores with at least 300 employees nationwide and more than 15 employees per store within the city of Montebello. The ordinance requires covered employers to pay employees working within the city an additional $4.00 per hour. The ordinance went into effect immediately and will sunset in 180 days unless extended by the city council. The city will also vote on a non-urgency version of the ordinance. This was due to concerns about litigation over the ordinance. A hearing on a preliminary injunction against the Montebello ordinance is scheduled for Feb. 19.

Oakland's ordinance applies only to grocery stores that employ 500 or more employees nationwide. The ordinance requires covered employers to pay employees working within the city an additional $5.00 per hour. Oakland's ordinance will remain in effect until the city returns to the minimal (yellow) risk level under the state of California's tier system. The California Grocers Association lawsuit against Oakland was filed on Feb. 3, alleging violations of the federal and California Equal Protection Clauses and pre-emption by the National Labor Relations Act.

On Feb. 2, the Los Angeles City Council also voted unanimously to move forward with a proposed emergency ordinance that would require grocery and pharmacy retailers with 300 or more employees nationally and 10 or more employees onsite to add $5.00 per hour for all hourly, nonmanagerial employees' wages for 120 days. The vote requested the city attorney to prepare the ordinance and the chief legislative analyst to report on potential economic impacts of the ordinance and potential legal challenges. The city of San Jose and the county of Santa Clara are considering similar ordinances.

Though the federal court denied an ex parte application for a temporary restraining order against the Long Beach ordinance, a hearing for a preliminary injunction of the Long Beach ordinance will be heard on Feb. 19.

Benjamin A. Tulis and Sehreen Ladak are attorneys with Jackson Lewis in Los Angeles.  2021 Jackson Lewis. All rights reserved. Reposted with permission.
Cathay Pacific is to axe nearly all its Australian flights thanks to tough new government restrictions in Hong Kong.

The airline said on Thursday it plans to cull most of it flights to Australia after the Hong Kong government announced it would force all flight staff to undergo 14 days of quarantine when they return to China.

The cull - expected to come into effect on February 20 - means Cathay Pacific's only flights in and out of Australia will be five flights a week between Sydney and Hong Kong.

Cathay Pacific will axe nearly all its Australian flights due to tough new government restrictions in Hong Kong Pictured: Cathay Pacific Airways aircrafts line up on the tarmac at Hong Kong International Airport.

Cathay Pacific will also cancel the majority of its scheduled flights into Vancouver, San Francisco and Frankfurt.

'With effect from 20 February 2021 our Hong Kong-based pilots and cabin crew are required to undergo 14 days of hotel quarantine plus 7 days of medical surveillance when they return to Hong Kong after being on duty,' the airline said in a statement.

'The new measure will have a significant impact on our ability to service our passenger and cargo markets.'

A Cathay Pacific attendant wears a face mask at Hong Kong International Airport. The cull means the airline's only flights in and out of Australia will be five flights a week between Sydney and Hong Kong

The airline will continue running long-haul flights from Hong Kong to Los Angeles, New York, Toronto, London and Amsterdam as well as Sydney.

The reduced schedule will be in place only until the end of February, but Cathay executives have not ruled out extending the flight reductions into next month.

'We are actively managing our crew resources to plan for our flight services for March 2021,' the airline said.

Under the new rules in Hong Kong, pilots and cabin crew flying into Hong Kong International Airport must quarantine for 14 days in a hotel and then spend seven further days being monitored for Covid-19 in the community.

Passengers wearing face masks are seen disembarking flight QF401 from Sydney at Melbourne Airport in November

The decision comes just a month after Emirates went back on its decision to suspend all of its flights to Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane.

The airline said on January 15 the varying 'requirements implemented by the different state authorities' meant it could no longer justify its long-haul flights into Australia's three biggest cities.

A week later though, the carrier said it would restart its flights into Australia from January 25 to January 28.

In October, Cathay Pacific announced 8,500 job losses and shuttered a regional carrier as it grappled with the plunge in air travel due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Amid row over micro-blogging platform Twitter's non-compliance of its order, Union IT and communications minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has said all social media platforms are welcome to work in India but they will have to adhere to Indian laws.

While speaking in the Rajya Sabha, the union minister said: "Whether it's Twitter, FB, LinkedIn or WhatsApp, they are welcome to work in India, have crores of followers, but they will have to adhere to the Indian Constitution and laws."

He said the government respects social media a lot, which has empowered common people. "Social media has a big role in the Digital India programme. However, if social media is misused to spread fake news, violence then action will be taken," he added.

ALSO READ: Centre steadfast on ban call for 257 Twitter handles

He said the Centre has flagged the issues over inflammatory hashtags being allowed to trend on Twitter. What do you mean when you trend hashtags of the genocide of farmers, he asked. The minister indirectly accused the social media platform of bias when it comes to enforcing rules in India. "When something happens in Washington's Capitol Hill, Twitter intervenes. And when it is India, you don't," he said.

As the row over Twitter's non-compliance of the government's notices intensifies, top executives of Twitter face arrest under the Section 69A of the IT Act if the Centre's orders are not followed. The Centre has already made it clear that its demand on such accounts is "non-negotiable".

As the Centre's patience on Twitter non-compliance of its orders wears out, the micro-blogging site may also knock the court's door in its defence of "right of free expression".

Also read: MeitY welcomes Twitter to India, keeps it on a short leash though

After releasing a report on the actions taken on the government's orders on Wednesday, Twitter executives Monique Meche and Jim Baker met Union IT secretary Ajay Prakash Sawhney later in the evening.

Sawhney made it clear that lawfully passed orders are binding on any business entity. "They must be obeyed immediately. If they are executed days later, it becomes meaningless," said a government statement after the meeting.

After Twitter's blogpost explaining actions taken on the government's orders on Wednesday, Twitter executives told the IT secretary that it's committed to following Indian laws and rules. They also requested for better engagement between the Centre and Twitter's global team.

ALSO READ: MeitY coochy-coos KOO - India's alternative to Twitter

Also read: Top Twitter executives in India face arrest for not fully complying with govt orders

A coronavirus liability bill passed in the Alabama Legislature on Thursday.

The House passed Senate Bill 30 with an 86-4 vote.

Gov. Kay Ivey tweeted that she looks forward to signing it into law. The bill was sponsored by Sen. Arthur Orr.

Senate Bill 30 would protect businesses from having frivolous lawsuits slapped against them because of the pandemic.

We spoke to an Alabama attorney about the bill. He said it protects churches, businesses, government entities, health care providers and educational and cultural institutions from being sued civilly over coronavirus.

"There is some accountability. It's not a free pass if these businesses, schools, churches, if they are willful or intention or extremely reckless. If they violate the CDC guidelines for policy and procedures and Alabama Department of Public Health guidelines, then they do open themselves up for liability," said Attorney Tommy James.

James said when the pandemic started, some people approached him about various coronavirus-related lawsuits. He said even without this bill, those claims are hard to prove.

"They would be so hard anyway to prove where someone contracted it, where they were exposed to it, so they are really tough cases anyway," said James.

Senate Bill 30 is retroactive going back to March 13, 2020, so any lawsuit filed against a business about coronavirus since that date can be overturned by this bill if it becomes law.

Bank Account Portability: What Is Preventing This Game-changing Move for Customers?

What is the most effective solution to poor service, mis-selling and harassment by banks which are entrusted with your hard-earned savings? Simple. Bank account portability; or the ability to vote with your feet and switch to a better bank. The idea of bank account portability, which will truly force banks to compete for their customers, has been on the cards since 2012, when the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) initiated the process of creating unique customer identification code (UCIC). Since then, almost every hurdle to implementationtechnology issues, high costs, absence of unique codes, etchaving been substantially addressed; but account portability is nowhere on the cards.

Over the years, banks have used technology to their advantage locking in customers into a complex web of services, such as standing instructions to pay bills, equated monthly instalments, automated roll-over of fixed deposits, auto debits of debit card dues and linkages to trading and demat accounts. They have also made the process of closing accounts a multi-step and long-drawn affair.

Account portability will free bank customers from this enslavement. It will allow them to switch smoothly to another bank with the same account number and all standing instructions (deposit renewals, nomination, direct debits of credit cards, utility bills and equated monthly instalments) intact, without complicated account opening procedures or know-your-customer (KYC) hassles.

Number portability in the telecom sector was successfully implemented in 2014, despite industry resistance. It led to a huge churn initially; but things have settled down after service-providers worked at treating customers well and offered lower tariffs, less opaque subscription plans and eliminated hidden charges. Bank account portability may also lead to an initial churn which could be avoided by giving banks a window to clean up their act with regard to customer services; but things will settle down or the better banks will benefit.

In 2012, the RBI circular introducing the UCIC clearly identified the need for a unique customer identifier across different banks and financial institutions to aid setting up a centralized KYC Registry.

Banks dragged their feet over creating UCIC; but RBI has doggedly pursued this with repeated circulars in 2013 2014 and a focus on compliance (even in cooperative banks) in its annual inspection reports. My sources say that all banks now have UCICs for every customer, allowing them to track all customer relationships and instructions through this single number.

In 2012, RBI had also issued a notification asking banks to permit intra-bank account portability in all cases where KYC was ascertained. It allowed your account number to remain the same anywhere in India, within the same bank. It had then said that bank account portability was possible and could be achieved in three years. The lobbying against it began immediately, raising fears of disruption and fierce competition. Nine years later, most people accept that disruption is good, but apparently not for banks.

In 2015, the Financial Conduct Authority of the UK released a report on models for implementing account number portability and it began to be adopted in Europe too. In India, both, Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) and National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), a centralised payment system, said that inter-bank portability was feasible. This was at a time when the IT (information technology) industry and fintech companies were lobbying for quick and easy on-boarding of customers through Aadhaar and the government was forcing customers to link their bank accounts to their Aadhaar and phones.

In May 2017, then RBI deputy governor, SS Mundhra, announced that bank account portability was not only possible, but would be a far-reaching step towards enhancing competition and improving customer service. He said that digital banking would play a huge role in enabling bank accounts to be ported with the same ease as mobile numbers due to apps like BHIM, IMPS and UPI.

Regular readers of Moneylife would know that the demand for bank account portability was high on our list of demands in a change.org petition in 2017 to highlight how banks were fleecing customers. This campaign was supported by all bank unions. Contrary to reports, unions were never opposed to bank account portability; it is public sector bank (PSB) managements that were against it.

In May 2018, exactly a year after Mr Mundras speech, Zee News reported that RBI had put portability on the back burner for a variety of vague reasons which have never been correctly addressed. A central banker tells me that the Indian Banks Association is delaying implementation on the plea that core banking platforms of banks are not compatible. Interestingly, this has not prevented the government from pushing nine banks into an elaborate merger. And banks havent dared to resist.

RBIs reluctance to push portability is also clear from the reaction of at least two senior former central bankers who are strongly opposed to it. One argues that banking is different from telecom; customers already have multiple bank accounts with different banks (to avoid putting their eggs in one basket). Also, that banking is highly confidential and portability would give a third party (central entity) access to certain information if not all. I strongly disagree with both premises. Yes, customers have multiple bank accounts for safety and that makes it even more imperative that they have the flexibility to switch when they encounter poor service or high charges. The data confidentiality argument is also rather hollowsensitive customer data is already shared with four credit bureaus and can be easily tapped by all potential lenders. Also, when ATM networks can be seamlessly shared across the banking system, why should account migration be an issue?

The second central banker agrees that all big banks are opposed to portability. Consequently, there has never been a frank and holistic debate on the need, desirability, capability, methodology or cost benefit of permitting account portability which is key to implementation. We have not even achieved proper intra-bank portability, especially for domestic and international transactions, he says.

Number portability would give newer banks a fighting chance to compete for customers (especially when the increase in deposit guarantee had de-risked deposits up to Rs5 lakh) and they welcome the idea. But the banking system operates like a closed club and they have no voice, a private banker tells me. The fact is that most hurdles to portability have already been fixed, barring the announcement of a holistic roll-out plan. The two key pillars to portability are the UCIC, which is already in place, and a centralised KYC.

A centralised KYC is already available through CERSAI (Central Registry of Securitisation Asset Reconstruction and Security Interest of India)a central registry which, among other things, operates and maintains a KYC registry, governed under PML (Prevention of Money Laundering) Rules 2005. CERSAIs Central KYC record registry, started in 2016, was to have ended the regular harassment over KYC and beneficial ownership across regulators. It covers RBI, SEBI, IRDAI and PFRDA and already has over 220 million KYC records. CERSAIs CKYC is a 14-digit number linked to ID proof and stored in electronic format. Most importantly, it is painstakingly verified and not limited to self-attested photocopies as with all other KYC requirements. The mystery of why every financial regulator continues to harass investors, depositors and customers with fresh KYC for every new financial relationship will probably be resolved only when someone gets around to filing a public interest litigation (PIL) or class-action suit to demand some answers from our policy-makers.

When CERSAI set up the verified, centralised KYC, another key requirement of portability was also put in place. And, yet, as customers, we neither have portability nor an end to harassment over KYC, while banks continue to take advantage of the fact that customers have little choice to switch. Clearly, the hurdle to portability is not technology but how banks have grown accustomed to treating customers. Will RBI governor Shaktikanta Das bite the bullet and push it through?
The microblogging platform KOO that shot to fame following some ministers joining the platform has been surrounded with questions about its link with China. While the company has cleared the air about Chinese investments in its parent company - Bombinate Technologies Pvt Ltd., it hasn't clarified details around the domain registration.

Hailed to be an Indian alternative of Twitter, KOO has been co-founded by entrepreneurs Aprameya Radhakrishna and Mayank Bidwatka. The parent company is Bombinate Technologies Pvt Ltd that launched Vokal, the Indian version of Quora. The company recently received an investment of $4.1 million led by 3one4 Capital, which is an Indian investor. China-based Shunwei Capital had earlier invested in the company for Vokal. However, Shunwei did not participate in the latest round of funding. Instead, Shunwei (single-digit shareholder) will be exiting fully with the new investors buying their stake.

Existing investors including 3one4 Capital, Kalaari and others will also be buying out some of the stakes. Refuting news about the investment from China in the company, KOO said, "A set of Indian entrepreneurs are seen to be investing in Koo with Ashish Hemrajani from BookMyShow, Vivekananda from Bounce, Nikhil Kamat of Zerodha amongst various others entering the cap table of the company. It is a clear indication that the company is getting more and more Indian money into the company."

While KOO claims itself to be an Indian registered company, ethical hacker Elliot Alderson posted screenshots of the domain (kooapp.com ) registered on April 16, 2017 by Tao Zhou from China. The user is also associated with 100+ other domain names as well. However, when searched on Who.is, we found that the domain (kooapp.com) was registered on October 29, 2019 and the domain's registrant organisation is Bombinate Technologies Private Limited. At the time of the publishing this story, the request to the company seeking clarification on the same elicited no response.

Also Read: Rs 70 crore in UK vs Rs 492 crore in India: Why 5G spectrum prices need revision

Also Read: Donald Trump won't be allowed back on site even if he runs for office: Twitter CFO

Also Read: India Today Conclave: Bibek Debroy pins down the problem with Bengal's manufacturing sector
NEW YORK, Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Carnegie Council is pleased to announce its 2021 Impact Initiatives. These initiatives identify pressing ethical issues, convene leading experts, and produce agenda-setting resources to educate and activate communities globally.

The Impact Initiatives will drive forward actionable real-world solutions in the areas of climate change, migration, artificial intelligence, and foreign policy. Each Impact Initiative is spearheaded by leading experts from academia, government, business, and civil society, who have joined Carnegie Council in the role of Senior Fellow.

"Each day, the world is becoming more connected, and yet, our political and social life continues to fracture. At Carnegie Council, we believe that ethics is at the heart of our greatest global challenges and that by working to empower ethics, we can discover common values and interests that lead to a better future. Our Impact Initiatives seek to achieve just this by creating groundbreaking models of engagement that produce ethics-focused thought leadership and build new active audiences around the globe."  Joel Rosenthal, President, Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs

Carnegie Council 2021 Impact Initiatives and Senior Fellows:

Carnegie Artificial Intelligence & Equality Initiative (AIEI)

AIEI seeks to understand the innumerable ways in which artificial intelligence (AI) impacts equality, and in response, propose potential mechanisms to ensure the benefits of AI for all people. The initiative is particularly focused on the impact of AI on vulnerable communities so that AI can be developed and deployed in a just, responsible, and inclusive manner. AIEI is led by Wendell Wallach, Carnegie-Uehiro Fellow and scholar at Yale University's Interdisciplinary Center for Bioethics, and Anja Kaspersen, Carnegie Council Senior Fellow and former director of the United Nations for Disarmament Affairs in Geneva. As part of the initiative, Wallach and Kaspersen have assembled an AIEI Advisory Board comprised of leaders from the academic, tech, non-profit, and public policy sectors.

Carnegie Climate Governance Initiative (C2G)

The Carnegie Climate Governance Initiative (C2G) seeks to catalyze the creation of effective governance for climate-altering approaches, in particular for solar radiation modification (SRM) and large-scale carbon dioxide removal (CDR). In 2018, the IPCC reaffirmed that large-scale CDR is required in all pathways to limit global warming to 1.5C with limited or no overshoot. Some scientists say SRM may also be needed to avoid that overshoot. C2G is impartial regarding the potential use of specific approaches, but not on the need for their governance  which includes multiple, diverse processes of learning, discussion, and decision-making, involving all sectors of society. It is not C2G's role to influence the outcome of these processes, but to raise awareness of the critical governance questions that underpin CDR and SRM. C2G's mission will have been achieved once their governance is taken on board by governments and intergovernmental bodies, including awareness raising, knowledge generation, and facilitating collaboration. C2G is led by Carnegie Council Senior Fellow Janos Pasztor.

Model International Mobility Convention (MIMC)

The primary goal of the MIMC is to formulate new rules for migration and asylum that can benefit both migrants and refugees as well as their states of origin, transit, and destination. While people are as mobile as ever in our globalized world, the movement of people across borders lacks effective global regulation, which leaves many refugees in protracted displacement and many migrants unprotected in irregular and dire situations. MIMC is working to establish a new normative and legal agenda on international mobility that further entrenches the rights of mobile people and addresses the gaps in current international legal regimes. MIMC is led by Michael Doyle, Carnegie Council Senior Fellow and a University Professor of Columbia University in international affairs, law, and political science. Doyle is joined by an MIMC Leadership Network, an advisory board comprised of academic and policy experts in the fields on migration, human rights, national security, and refugee law and leaders from the public sector and civil society.

U.S. Global Engagement (USGE)

USGE seeks to generate wider discussions on U.S. foreign policy in order to move ethical considerations to the center of policymakers' thinking and to connect global affairs to the daily lives of Americans. For the last five years, post-Cold War bipartisan consensus in U.S. foreign policy  that the sustained deployment of U.S. power around the world is indispensable for maintaining the international system  has been called into question. Today, there are a series of competing narratives providing very different rationales for the degree and scope of U.S. engagement  each resting on a different understanding of what constitutes ethics in international affairs. USGE is led by Nikolas Gvosdev, Carnegie Council Senior Fellow and professor of national security affairs at the U.S. Naval War College and Tatiana Serafin, Carnegie Council Senior Fellow and journalism professor at Marymount Manhattan College. As part of the initiative, USGE recently launched The Doorstep, a new international news podcast that invites listeners to recognize that all global news is local in a borderless internet.

Building upon the above projects, Carnegie Council is also continuously exploring potential new Impact Initiatives for 2021 and beyond. Currently, Carnegie Council Senior Fellow Arthur Holland Michel is working to develop an Impact Initiative examining AI ethics in relation to international security. Further details on this initiative, as well as other projects, will be announced in 2021. To stay up to date on the Impact Initiatives and all things Carnegie Council, please visit www.carnegiecouncil.org.

About Carnegie Council:

Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs is an independent, research-driven nonprofit that generates ethical solutions to global problems. Founded before the outbreak of World War I, we convene conversations, produce materials in a range of media, and share resources for education, impact, and awareness. We are the world's catalyst for ethical action. For more information, please visit carnegiecouncil.org and engage with us on YouTube, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter: @CarnegieCouncil, and Instagram: @Carnegie_Council.

SOURCE Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs

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EGLE grants help small businesses in Michigan realize energy efficiency savings

EGLE grants help small businesses in Michigan realize energy efficiency savings

Small business owners know how hard it is to be successful. Finding ways to cut costs to improve already slim margins is a daily struggle.

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE) is uniquely situated to be a partner with small businesses to help them cut their energy costs. Through its Agriculture and Rural Communities Energy Incentive Program, EGLE's Energy Services has awarded $179,000 in grants in 2018 and 2019 to non-industrial small businesses of less than 500 employees in rural areas.

An upgrade at Bell's Brewery that was funded in part by a grant through EGLE's program recently resulted in the Comstock, Mich., small business being awarded the U.S. EPA ENERGY STAR Challenge for Industry Certification. The grant of $15,000 helped to pay for Bell's Glycol heated CO2 vaporizer upgrade, which was part of a total retrofit project completed this past summer.

The Glycol heated CO2 vaporizer combined two separate systems (fermentation and CO2 vaporization) into one efficient system to save 190,000 kilowatt hours per year, or enough electricity to power 17 homes for one year. Bell's also performed LED lighting retrofits and installed a compressed air leak detection system, both of which contributed to significant overall energy savings for the company.

Bell's is one of the many energy waste reduction success stories through EGLE's Agriculture and Rural Communities Energy Incentive Program. In 2018 and 2019, grantees saved a total of nearly 3 million kilowatt hours of electricity and more than 63,700 million cubic feet of natural gas annually through funded projects that have saved businesses more than $273,000 total.

Program grants are still available and interested businesses can contact EGLE Energy Service's Erica Richard at RichardE1@Michigan.gov or 517-275-1472 for more information.

EGLE also awards grants through its Small Manufacturers Energy Waste Reduction Incentive Pilot Program, which offers matching grants to small manufacturers in Michigan to implement energy efficiency activities. In 2018 and 2019 combined, grantees received $150,500 in matching funds, which reduced their annual natural gas and electricity usage, resulting in annual operational cost savings of more than $183,000. For information, contact EGLE Energy Service's David Herb at HerbD@Michigan.gov or 517-512-3325.

For businesses looking to identify savings beyond energy, EGLE provides free Integrated Assessments. The assessments evaluate opportunities for companies to optimize the use of resources, minimize non-production waste and energy related losses, and increase efficiencies across the board. The Assessment Coordinator, Chris Babcock, can be reached at BabcockC4@Michigan.gov or 517-599-7939.

Like this content? Follow us on Twitter at @MichiganEGLE or on Youtube.com/MichiganEGLE

Take a short survey and let us know what you think about MI Environment.
Kimbal Musk, the younger brother of Elon Musk and a Tesla Inc. board member, sold $25.6 million of shares in the electric carmaker, according to a filing with the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission.

The 48-year-old sold 30,000 shares on Feb. 9 at an average price of $852.12, according to the filing. Tesla shares dropped 5.3% Wednesday to close at $804.82. Tesla soared 743% in 2020 and is up a further 14% this year.
Washington: US Senators risk a repeat of the deadly January 6 assault on the Capitol unless they ban Donald Trump from being able to run for office again, Democrats have argued in the former presidents impeachment trial.

The Democratic impeachment managers concluded their opening arguments in the trial on Friday (AEDT) by saying Trump had glorified political violence for years and showed no remorse for his actions in the lead-up to the Capitol riot.

House impeachment manager Joe Neguse speaks during the second impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump in the US Senate. Credit:AP

Is there any political leader in this room who believes that if he is ever allowed by the Senate to get back into the Oval Office, Donald Trump would stop inciting violence to get his way? Jamie Raskin, the Democrats lead impeachment manager, said.

Would you bet the lives of more police officers on that?
On Wednesday morning, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced more research into the efficacy of mask wearing. The headline: Double masking helps further prevent infection. Modifying your mask may lead to more than 95% protection to double up.

The company said the new products, which will available in March, provide continued validation of CannMart.com as a platform for Canadian cannabis

Namaste said that featuring cannabis products on CannMart.com will give growers a first mover advantage for which they can build their audience at an accelerated rate

( ) ( ) (FRA:M5BQ) announced that it has expanded its offerings available on the company websites CannMart.com to include products from leading licensed producers, such as and The Green Organic Dutchman Holdings Ltd (TGOD), in addition to craft cannabis grower Wabi Sabi Brands.

The company said the new products, which will be available in March, provide continued validation of CannMart.com as a platform for Canadian cannabis.

We are seeing more and more licensed producers and accessories suppliers contacting us to have their products featured on CannMart.com as they realize that this will give them a first-mover advantage on the platform for which they can build their audience at an accelerated rate, Namaste Technologies CEO Meni Morim said in a statement.

He added: This growing validation of our platform is certainly rewarding for our organization. As we witness shifting sands in the cannabis industry dynamics, licensed producers are searching for opportunities to streamline their distribution channels.

We believe companies cannot be everything for everyone, which is why we are here to empower our partners to accelerate the growth of this industry as a whole.

Namaste Technologies chief technology officer and vice president, Marketplace, Chad Agate also weighed in on the announcement, stating: We continue to leverage our Marketplace Platform, VendorLink, as many new companies are increasingly seeing the added value Namastes innovative technology can bring to their organizations.

We look forward to working closely with our new partners to expand their reach to Canadian cannabis consumers, he added.

Namaste Technologies is a cannabis-focused, e-commerce technology company with a goal of becoming the one-stop-shop for everything a cannabis user needs.

The Toronto-based company, which has been described as the Amazon of cannabis, operates the largest global cannabis e-commerce platform with over 30 websites in more than 20 countries under a variety of brands.

In addition to its product offerings of vaporizers, glassware, accessories, and CBD products, the company also owns subsidiary CannMart Inc, which is a key part of its operations that sells online medical and recreational cannabis.

Contact Sean at sean@proactiveinvestors.com
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-11 10:37:37|Editor: huaxia

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MOSCOW, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- Russian astronautics experts praised China's achievements in space exploration after China's Tianwen-1 probe successfully entered the Martian orbit on Wednesday.

The experts told Xinhua that they look forward to closer cooperation between nations, particularly between Russia and China, in interplanetary travels and the peaceful use of outer space.

GREAT SUCCESS

"Tianwen-1 is China's first independent interplanetary mission. We hope for its success. The research results will undoubtedly become an important contribution to science," said Aleksandr Zheleznyakov, a Russian historian of astronautics.

"China's deep space exploration program deserves the highest praise. It is characterized by consistency, balance and ambition," he said.

Zheleznyakov believes that Chinese scientists have already shown great capabilities by landing Chang'e-4 probe on the far side of the moon and bringing to Earth the country's first lunar samples through Chang'e-5 probe.

"Chinese astronautics has been rapidly advancing in recent years. Great strides have been made in lunar missions," said Vladimir Surdin, an associate professor at the Physics Faculty of Moscow State University.

He stressed that exploring Mars is an even more complex task as about half of Mars-bound spacecraft have gone astray.

Surdin expressed hope that Tianwen-1 will successfully land on Mars and its rover will provide new findings to scientists around the world, which will be a "tremendous success."

INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

"Mars has long attracted human attention. Previously, we observed it through telescopes. Today, we use automatic spacecraft and tomorrow a man might fly there," Zheleznyakov said.

"After the moon, Mars has become the next goal of mankind in space exploration. Under favorable circumstances, the first manned expedition might take place in the middle of this century and many of those living today will witness this landmark event," he said.

In his view, it is more economical to implement large projects via international cooperation, which is also the case when it comes to the study of Mars.

Surdin also believes that deep space exploration requires an international partnership since every industrialized country has its own advantages and knowledge exchange is significant.

Both experts hope for closer cooperation between China and Russia in space science as the countries are traditional partners.

"Russia has accumulated tremendous experience in planetary exploration, especially the study of Venus. I hope that our cooperation will strengthen in order to achieve (a) common success," Surdin said. Enditem



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If you have been affected by this story, you can call the Samaritans on 116 123 or visit www.samaritans.org

Katie Price has spoken candidly about how she planned to commit suicide at the beginning of last year after reaching 'crunch point' before entering rehab.

The TV personality, 42, opened up about her mental health struggle during an appearance on BBC Northern Ireland's Nolan Live on Wednesday.

Katie told how she checked herself into private mental health facility The Priory in London at the beginning of 2020 after having suicidal thoughts.

Opening up: Katie Price has spoken candidly about how she planned to commit suicide at the beginning of last year after reaching 'crunch point' before entering rehab

While opening up about her own battle, Katie also discussed her 18-year-old son Harvey's disabilities, which were explored in their new documentary.

During the chat, host Stephen Nolan asked the mother-of-five how she manages to stay strong and whether she has ever felt overwhelmed.

Answering honestly, Katie revealed: 'You just have to get on with it. I went to The Priory last year, because I had a lot of things to deal with, and I think speaking to a therapist just helps you prepare for it.

'I say to anyone out there, if you are suffering with mental health, and this pandemic doesn't help, just talk to someone - if you're feeling low, talk to someone.'

Candid: The TV personality, 42, opened up about her mental health struggle during an appearance on BBC Northern Ireland's Nolan Live on Wednesday

Nolan then asked: 'Do you mind opening up about your mental health? What was crunch point for you?'

Katie heartbreakingly admitted: 'I wanted to commit suicide. I planned it, I did everything Everything was on top of me, it was a build up.

'I'm only human, I'm strong but there's only so much you can take and I could have either committed suicide or got help.'

Katie admitted that her children, Harvey, Junior, 15, Princess, 13, Jett, seven, and Bunny, six, were her reason for seeking help at her lowest ebb.

Love: While opening up about her own battle, Katie also discussed her 18-year-old son Harvey's disabilities, which were explored in their new documentary

She continued: 'Every time I went to do it I thought: 'I can't, I've got kids, sort yourself out', so I asked for help, got help, and I stuck to it.

'I went to The Priory for five weeks and I'm a brand new person now.'

Encouraging viewers to help, she said: 'Don't be afraid to speak, too many people out there commit suicide because they're afraid.'

Katie first spoke about her suicidal thoughts in October last year, when she opened up about feeling like she had hit rock bottom before enterting The Priory.

The former glamour model candidly discussed feeling like a 'different person' before her stay at the private mental health hospital ahead of lockdown.

Speaking on her YouTube channel, Katie explained how she 'had thoughts of killing myself' and knew she would 'die or self destruct' if she didn't get help.

Candid: Katie revealed that she hit rock bottom and had suicidal thoughts ahead of her stint in The Priory earlier this year during a YouTube video

Katie said: 'I had thoughts of killing myself. That's how bad it got for me but you guys don't know that because Katie Price always puts on a brave face.

'Believe it or not Loose Women was my breaking point. I don't know how on earth I used to do it when really I was ill, I was suffering.

'Now I'd love to do Loose Women or shows because I'm such a different person and it's all from being in The Priory.'

During the extremely honest video Katie also explained how before getting help she 'hit rock bottom' and started 'self-medicating'.

Reflecting: The star looked back on her notes from The Priory and said she knew she would 'die or self destruct' if she didn't get help at the time

She said: 'I'm not proud of it but I had nobody close to me to talk too, they'd all betrayed me at some point, there was few people I could trust.

'I wanted to keep everything in and couldn't talk. I just wanted to sleep. I was weak and I let a drug get the better of me and I let people use me.

'Then I had a wakeup call... if I don't get help I'm going to die or self destruct. l had lost me, the kids had lost their mum, nobody believed in me anymore.'

Katie told how she's struggled for years with how people judge her, saying trolls 'have no idea' about who she really is.

Looking to the future: Katie said that she still speaks to her doctor and added 'I'm not ashamed of my mental health'

Tough: The media personality told how she's struggled for years with how people judge her, saying trolls 'have no idea' about who she really is

She said: 'I'm a mother-of-five, I come from a normal working class family, I have built my empire to support my kids purely through hard work.

'So if you wanna knock someone like that, then do it. I might not be the most intelligent person, but I am a grafter.'

However after being in the public eye for so many years, Katie said she has built a wall but this is not 'healthy, as emotions build up'.

Katie also explained how during her time at The Priory she had time to reflect and in one session was told to write down what the word 'rebel' says about her.

Strong: Katie said she is now 'happy' and in a 'very strong' relationship with beau Carl Woods

She read out her answer from a blue folder of her notes, saying: 'Rebel is me in my younger career wearing tiny outfits, going out with people saying 'you can't go out like that' but it was to rebel and get attention.

'But now that side has had an impact and has gave the wrong impression of what I'm really like inside.. people don't get to see real me.'

Towards the end of her candid video, Katie looked towards the future and said she's feeling much stronger now.

Speaking about how she's now feeling more like the old Katie, the star again credited her kids for helping her get through saying 'they're my life and keep me going'.

She said: 'I hit rock bottom but I'm now back up, now you watch me grow, I'm the powerful independent Katie Price I was years ago.

Family: The star credited her children with helping her get through her lowest points (pictured Junior and Princess with their dad Peter Andre)

'I'm in a happy place, very happy, very strong, in a very very strong relationship, I'm in love, and have found my future, so watch this space.'

Katie, who is in a relationship with Carl Woods, offered some advice to her fans who may be struggling with their own mental health, saying 'everything is resolvable'.

Ending her video, and promising another to reveal a letter she wrote to cocaine, Katie said that she still speaks with a doctor about how she's feeling.

She said: 'I'm not in The Priory now but I still speak to doctor, if you have a headache you take a tablet. I'm not ashamed of my mental health.'

If you have been affected by this story, you can call the Samaritans on 116 123 or visit www.samaritans.org
(Natural News) Control the ability to decide whats true and false and you will control the people.

(Article by Luis Miguel republished from TheNewAmerican.com)

Democrat members of the Colorado legislature are ramping up the Orwellism with a proposal that has the ostensible aim of teaching children to differentiate between fake and credible news sources.

Do we even need to ask what types of news sources their legislation would classify as credible?

Whenever somebody starts off a sentence with I read somewhere that this happened, you think, wait a minute, said Colorado State Representative Barbara McLachlan. I think we all need to be a little distrustful about where people are getting their information.

McLachlan and fellow State Representative Lisa Cutter argue that schools should help kids discern between real news and disinformation because many young people today have access to social-media sites where information shared is not always accurate.

They pointed to a Stanford University study that claimed 82 percent of middle-school students couldnt tell the difference between an ad and a legitimate news story online.

Cutter, however, insisted, We dont want to teach kids what to think.

Were not taking a stand that one side is right and another is wrong, or one outlet is good and one outlet is bad, she said. We just want to give them the tools so they can figure it out and understand what makes a credible source and then they can form their own opinions about that information.

Despite Cutters assurance that her proposal wouldnt tell students which outlets are good or bad, the bill would create an online bank of media resources in the Colorado Department of Education that teachers would be able to use to add media literacy to their curriculum.

According to McLachlan, the plan is to incorporate media literacy into every subject in school. So its not like everybody stops and says okay now were going to do a unit on media literacy, the lawmaker said. Its every time you do a research paper, every time youre having a discussion in class and youre referring to an article or something on TV, thats where media literacy will be taught.

Cutter passed legislation two years ago to study media literacy. The Democrat made clear just what type of disinformation she wants to keep students eyes away from.

Theres outside entities that are trying to sow distrust in public health, in vaccines, she said. Theyve traced some of that to China, Russia with election meddling. So I absolutely, firmly believe this will lead to a healthier democracy and society.

Not surprisingly, West Ed  an education nonprofit that prepared the report advising the Colorado Media Literacy Advisory Committee on how to incorporate media literacy education into the states Reading, Writing, and Civics standards  is pro-Common Core.

As always, the Lefts proposals sound harmless or even good on the surface, but conceal a highly political and downright sinister agenda.

The media literacy movement is nothing short of an effort to keep young people, and the public in general, from exploring those scary, bad alternative news sources feeding them right-wing conspiracy theories.

Who will be on the approved reading list? No question, those sources will include the New York Times, the Washington Post, CNN, and the Associated Press  all of which have a definite leftist bias. Past editors and journalists at the New York Times have been very forthright in interviews about their left-wing ideological slant.

Who will be on the blacklist? The New American for one, along with anyone else courageous enough to publish the inconvenient truth about every leftist sacred cow, from climate change to vaccines to mass migration.

You know this is a partisan attack on conservatives because it attacks certain news sources, rather than teaching students how to discern ideological slant from either the Left or the Right and teaching kids how to discern good evidence from poor evidence. The fact of the matter is this: If someone isnt able to verbalize and make a strong case for both sides of a contentious subject, he simply doesnt understand the subject; hence, he is being taught what to think  no matter what some legislators or educators claim.

Its important for Americans to understand that using the media for political and propaganda purposes is not new. It has always been the case. Many today have this mistaken notion that there was a time that only ended a few years ago when journalists were magically fair and balanced.

In reality, political movements (be it the communists, the fascists, the Nazis) and political parties have always created newspapers and other media outlets in order to advance their agendas; in other cases, such outlets are created by business interests to report the news in such a way that is favorable to their dealings. Very rarely are news platforms created by impartial altruists whose only motivation is the propagation of the truth.

Those who want to see the mainstream medias dominion come to an end would do well to go beyond merely complaining about media bias. The MSM will not miraculously decide to change its coverage just because of conservative outrage.

Americans should continue supporting alternative outlets such as TNA, which cover national news, while also working to build, in their own communities, local news platforms that report on state, county, and municipal politics from a constitutionalist perspective.

Read more at: TheNewAmerican.com and Propaganda.news
SUV

There has always been this kind of friendly rivalry between Audi and Porsche, dating all the way back to the development of the RS2, if not further. When it comes to performance cars, Porsche did a lot of the engineering for the new 4.0-liter V8 that's under the hood of the RS6/7, while the e-tron GT also rides on Stuggart underpinnings.More specifically, the 2022 e-tron GT uses the J1 Performance Platform designed by Porsche. So what's the advantage of a Porsche made by Audi? Price could be one of them. The new RS GT model costs $139,900, and for that, the American market model boasts 590 horsepower and 612 lb-ft, with 637 hp available through an overboost function.At that price, the unique Audi RS model is cheaper than both the headline-grabbing Taycan Turbo S and the "regular" Turbo model. Of course, those things are also more powerful, with up to 750 hp on overboost. But we have no doubt that the all-electric quattro accelerates fast enough to give you a mild migraine.Unlike Tesla, which only likes to make a handful of models, German automakers are obsessed with diversity. Having as many cars as possible on one platform is their key to squeezing out a profit from this cutting-edge segment. And that's where these two renderings from Israeli artist superrenderscars come in, proposing two alternative designs for the e-tron GT, one of which makes total sense.We're referring to the e-tron GT Avant idea. Porsche is hard at work creating a shooting brake version of its Taycan. In addition, the RS6 Avant is one of Audi's most iconic models due to its wolf in sheep's clothing attitude to performance. Plus, the German company added a second body style for their first all-electric car, the e-tronOf course, the all-electric RS Avant might not look like what we see in this rendering, which borrows lots of RS6 body panels. The other digital creation of the day is an e-tron GT supercar, which is ironic when you consider the normal 4-door model is already killing the R8 supercar. For the past couple of years, the factory which makes the mid-engined beast has been gearing up for the arrival of EVs.

Anthony Fauci, the nations highest-ranking infectious-disease expert, struck a hopeful tone about vaccine availability in the coming months, predicting Thursday that there could be an open season on doses by April.

"As we get into March and April, the number of available doses will allow for much more of a mass vaccination approach, which is really much more accelerated than what you're seeing now," he said Thursday on NBC's "Today Show."

"By the time we get to April, that will be what I would call, for better wording, 'open season,' namely virtually everybody and anybody in any category could start to get vaccinated," he said.

The remarks echoed his sentiment from days earlier that he expects the pace of vaccinations to improve in the months ahead. He pointed to pharmacies, community vaccine centers and mobile vaccine units as locations where the pace of vaccinations will accelerate.

From there, he said, it could take "several more months" logistically to continue getting shots in arms. He predicted that by the end of the summer, "we could have accomplished the goal of what we're talking about - namely, the overwhelming majority of people in this country having gotten vaccinated."

The remarks from the president's chief medical adviser reiterate his sentiment from days earlier, when he said he expects the pace of vaccinations to improve in the coming months.

 READ MORE: Should Philly use the Linc as mass vaccine site? Its now a political fight.

His timeline also echoes what other experts have recently predicted.

Former FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb said this week that he expects vaccine appointment availability to soon expand.

I think were going to run out of demand sooner than we think. I suspect that in some point in March and certainly by the end of March, were going to have to make this generally available, Gottlieb said Monday on CNBC. That doesnt mean everyone can go and get a vaccine on April 1, but I think everyone is going to be able to go online and get an appointment sooner than we think.
Despite the court-ordered sale, Cox kept filing petitions in an attempt to keep hold of his possessions, including his indentured servants. During a hearing in Sangamon County Court, Nance testified that (despite auction records otherwise) she had given no consent to the sale of any contract: It is not true that I, Nance, voluntarily and of my own free will, agreed to go with Cromwell to his house in Sangamotown, nor is it true I still live with Cromwell by my own choice.
New Delhi, Feb 11 : The Supreme Court on Thursday declined to entertain a plea claiming that in Madhya Pradesh, Muslims were the "main object of policing" during the pandemic, and amid Covid, states should take necessary actions to stop the influx of undertrials to prisons in accordance with the top court order in March last year.

The plea contended that in Madhya Pradesh during the lockdown, a majority of arrests were for low level, low/no harm offences and that the top court verdict in Arnesh Kumar vs State of Bihar is not being followed.

A bench, headed by Chief Justice S.A. Bobde and comprising Justices A.S. Bopanna and V. Ramasubramanian, however, asked the petitioner's counsel to cite specific cases where guidelines laid down in the Arnesh Kumar case were being breached.

Senior advocate Colin Gonsalves, representing Ameya Bokil and others, contended before the bench that it was found that most of the FIRs were filed against people on the streets - pedestrians and persons on two-wheelers.

The plea argued that the proportion of FIRs against pedestrians who are low-risk offenders, increased from 50.28 per cent in the first and second lockdown to 89 per cent during the third lockdown.

However, the Chief Justice told Gonsalves that the petitioners' claims are based on a survey, instead of concrete facts, where it is established that Arnesh Kumar verdict was not followed.

"There is a difference between concrete case and a survey," the Chief Justice said.

As Gonsalves held that these are concrete cases, the bench rebutted him, saying that petitioners' claims are based on a survey.

"Come to us with concrete facts," said the bench. As Gonsalves continued to argue, the Chief Justice said: "Let me put on record, why don't you withdraw and file a fresh petition." The top court in its order said: "Learned counsel for the petitioners seeks permission to withdraw the writ petition with liberty to file a fresh petition. Permission is granted. The writ petition is dismissed as withdrawn with liberty as prayed for." According to the plea, "during the lockdown, 24.45 per cent of all arrested persons were Muslims. 21.5 per cent of the accused persons in FIRs were also Muslims. Given that Muslims account for a mere 6.57 per cent of the population in MP, it is clear that Muslims were the 'main object of policing' during the pandemic".

The plea said in the Arnesh Kumar verdict, the top court had stated that no arrest shall be made unnecessarily by the police and the magistrate shall not authorise detention casually and mechanically and in particular, in relation to offences punishable by an imprisonment of seven years or less.

The petitioners claimed that Madhya Pradesh had previously amended Indian Penal Code to make Section 188 non-bailable in the state, which resulted in people being sent to judicial custody for minor low-risk lockdown violations.

A Texas doctor who was fired from his role as medical director for Harris Countys COVID response team said he was accused of equity violations for administering expiring doses of the Moderna vaccine.

Dr. Hasan Gokal was fired from his public health job and was charged with stealing vaccine doses after he took an open vial from a vaccine site and delivering the ten remaining shots  which would have expired in six hours  to strangers, acquaintances, and his sick wife.

According to Gokal, who immigrated from Pakistan as a child, one county health official suggested the reason was there were too many Indian names in that group.

Gokal told the New York Times in an interview that, ahead of the vaccine rollout, he was told by state health officials that we dont want any doses to go to waste. Period. And in December, after Harris Countys first public vaccination site for emergency workers ended up with an open vial, Gokal said he called a public health official and was given the go-ahead to find takers for the ten remaining doses.

After finding people willing to take the vaccine  no one I was really intimately familiar with, Gokal said  the last person cancelled and Gokal decided to ask his wife, who suffers from pulmonary sarcoidosis, if she wanted the last dose.

I didnt intend to give this to you, but in a half-hour Im going to have to dump this down the toilet, he recalled to the Times. Its as simple as that.

The next day, Gokal submitted paperwork for the people he gave the vaccine to, but was fired several days later. Gokal said officials told him that he should have returned the expiring doses or thrown them out, rather than administer them. One supervisor also questioned the equity of the people he chose to give the vaccine to.

Are you suggesting that there were too many Indian names in that group? Gokal said he asked, and was told yes.

After being fired, Gokal was charged with stealing the doses by Harris Countys district attorney Kim Ogg, even though Gokal said he was never contacted or interviewed about his story beforehand.

Story continues

Last month, a local judge dismissed the case, calling the situation an attempted imposition of the criminal law on the professional decisions of a physician, but the case could still be brought to a grand jury.

Representatives of the community can vote on whether an indictment is warranted, the district attorneys office told the Times.

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A coronavirus outbreak has infected 20 residents and an undisclosed number of staff at Brookdale Napa, a senior living facility in Napa, according to data from the California Department of Social Services.

The data, which was last updated Wednesday, showed that COVID-19 cases among residents had increased from the previous day but did not specify by how much. The data also showed that fewer than 11 staff members have active cases of coronavirus but likewise did not specify the number.

Dr Anthony Fauci has predicted that any American who wants one will be able to get a coronavirus vaccine by April.

'By the time we get to April, that will be what I would call, for better wording, "open season," namely, virtually everybody and anybody in any category could start to get vaccinated,' Dr Fauci said during a Thursday Today show interview.

'Hopefully as we get into the middle and end of the summer we will have accomplished the goal of...the overwhelming majority of people have gotten vaccinated.'

So far, the US has vaccinated about 10.5 percent of its population. About 10 million people have received both doses and 1.6 million shots are being given a day.

Dr Anthony Fauci predicted that any US adult who wants one will be able to get a COVID-19 vaccine by April, and that the majority of Americans will be vaccinated by fall

At its current pace of vaccinating 1.6 million people a day, Biden officials fear it will take nine months for the US to give shots to 75% of its population and reach herd immunity

At that rate, it will take nine months for the US to each herd immunity, but Dr Fauci has remained optimistic about the timeline.

He credited the forthcoming uptick in vaccine doses available from Pfizer and Moderna and potentially from other firms like Johnson & Johnson, whose vaccine is expected to be authorized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the coming weeks.

The US is also now shipping vaccines directly to pharmacies and will start shipping them to community health centers.

Although their shipments have been stable for the past several weeks, according to CDC data, Moderna and Pfizer are expected to have more doses ready to ship in the coming weeks.

The Biden administration is also in talks with other companies to co-produce the shots.

Once more vaccines are available the US will be able to take 'much more of a mass vaccination approach,' Dr Fauci said.

Already, the US is starting to launch these large scale sites. Two additional sites opened in New York City this week, and three are set to open in Texas.

The US is on target to hit President Biden's goal of more than 100 million vaccines administered in his first 100 days in office, a milestone which will come in April.

But he admitted in a CBS News interview that it will be 'very difficult to reach herd immunity much before the end of the summer.'

Members of Biden's COVID response team are warning the White House that even that may be unrealistic, two senior officials told the Daily Beast.

Driving their less optimistic timelines for herd immunity are the potential fragility of the vaccine supply chain and the emergence of more infectious coronavirus variants, including two that may make vaccines less effective.

At the current clip, it will take about nine months for 75 percent of the population to get vaccinated, at which point the nation will likely have herd immunity that reduces the circulation of the virus low enough that unvaccinated people are unlikely to get infected.

But that is dependent upon how many doses Moderna and Pfizer can make of their authorized vaccines, though the supply could get a 100 million dose boost if Johnson & Johnson's one-dose shot is approved.

BIDEN OFFICIALS FEAR IT COULD TAKE NINE MONTHS TO GET 75% OF AMERICANS VACCINATED AGAINST COVID-19 - DESPITE FAUCI'S OPTIMISM FOR HERD IMMUNITY BY FALL

The US may not reach herd immunity and return to some semblance of normalcy until Thanksgiving at the current pace of COVID-19 vaccinations and speed of variant spread, Biden administration officials told the Daily Beast.

That's far later than the end-of-summer target date by which Dr Anthony Fauci has estimated that American life might get back to normal.

Dr Fauci, however, remains 'cautiously optimistic' that that day could come by fall if the general public starts getting vaccines by 'April, May, June,' but admitted he's concerned that variants could stretch that timeline in an interview with the Daily Beast.

So far, 10.5 percent of the US population has received one or more doses of COVID-19 vaccine.

But if American officials were to follow Israel's model of reopening, restaurants, gyms and stores when 90 percent of over-50s are vaccinated, these businesses could be operational as early as June, a DailyMail.com analysis suggests.

Dr Anthony Fauci (left) remains 'cautiously optimistic' that some semblance of normality will return by fall. Although the US is on track to hit President Biden's (right) goal of 100 million shots given in 100 days, officials in his administration are concerned vaccine manufacturing can't keep up with the current pace

Both Pfizer and Moderna are working flat-out to make more doses but their production capacity is limited.

So far, just shy of 66 million doses of the vaccines have been delivered to US states and territories, and about 46 million have been administered.

About 2.15 million doses of Pfizer's shot were allocated for next week in the US, while 3.35 doses of Moderna's vaccine were allocated.

Shipments of Moderna's shot have increased slightly over the weeks since rollout began on December 14. Weekly allocations of Pfizer's vaccine increased slightly in mid-January, and have been stable since.

Pfizer has said it is on track to deliver 200 million doses to the US by May, ahead of schedule and Moderna will deliver 200 million by June.

In an effort to sustain the supply, the Biden administration is considering having other pharmaceutical companies co-manufacture Pfizer and Moderna's vaccines as well as using the Defense Production Act to boost production.

According to Bloomberg's vaccination calculator, the US will need nine months to reach herd immunity, and it could take some countries six years

Merck said Thursday it is in active discussions about signing on to make one or more of the COVID-19 vaccines, after dropping its own shot candidate.

And Israeli pharmaceutical giant Teva is considering doing the same.

Israel, meanwhile, has raced ahead of the rest of the world in its vaccination campaign.

The small nation has already given one or more doses to 66 percent of its population and a quarter have had both doses.

Similar to the plan British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to lay out this month, Israel has a three-phased strategy for reopening after keeping nine million residents under strict measures to slow the spread of coronavirus.

Israeli officials hope to let non-essential shops, gyms and libraries reopen within a fortnight.

But ministers will only give the move the green light on February 23 if 90 percent of over-50s have been vaccinated and at least a third of the country have had their booster dose. Infection rates must also continue to plummet.

If the US was using an identical strategy and kept up its current pace of vaccinations, its 102 million over-50s could be vaccinated by June - about a month later than Britain could reach the same level of immunity.

However the American rollout is much less uniform. While nearly 16 percent of people in Alaska have had on or more doses, half that proportion of people in Alabama have been vaccinated.

States are now broadly vaccinating anyone 65 or over, but some are giving shots to people with underlying conditions that raise their risks from COVID-19 in the next wave, rather than simply stepping down in age groups.

President Biden has pledged to reopen schools by April - within 100 days of the start of his term - but has not otherwise articulated when businesses can reopen, likely because states could reach herd immunity through vaccination weeks or even months apart.
Some of the worlds biggest investors were on the cusp of a multibillion-dollar windfall from their bets on Ant Group Co. Now they are stuck with shares that wont pay off soon.

In 2018, an exclusive group of global private-equity firms and mutual-fund managers including Silver Lake, Warburg Pincus LLC, Carlyle Group Inc. and T. Rowe Price Group Inc. took part in a coveted fundraising by Ant that raised $14 billion and minted the financial-technology giant as the worlds most valuable startup.

More than $10 billion of the money came from international investors, which bought shares in an offshore shell company set up by Ant to raise funds in U.S. dollars. The unusual arrangement came about because in order to secure a payment license to operate Alipay, its highly popular mobile app, Ant had to be domiciled in mainland China. But that also limited the companys ability to raise funds directly from foreign investors.

The global investors agreed to terms that were highly favorable to Ant, and which limited their ability to cash out if the company didnt end up going public, according to people familiar with the matter. Ant also didnt provide a listing time frame or guarantee investors a return while it stayed private, the people added.

The foreign investors didnt receive any voting rights in Ant, which was valued at $150 billion in the June 2018 deal. None was given a seat on Ants board.

The terms of Ants 2018 fundraising, reported by The Wall Street Journal for the first time, show the pitfalls of taking stakes in popular startups that are able to dictate investment terms, and the regulatory unpredictability that comes with investing in Chinese companies.

Last fall, as Ant neared the completion of blockbuster initial public offerings in Hong Kong and Shanghai that were on track to raise more than $34 billion, the international investors were poised to convert their holdings into Ants Hong Kong-listed shares at an over-80% paper profit. The IPOs valued Ant at more than $300 billion, and the foreign investors would be able to sell their shares after the company went public.

Instead, the listings were called off in early November, after Ants controlling shareholder Jack Ma made a controversial speech that rankled Chinese regulators and top government officials.

The deals cancellation closed the avenue for international investors to exit. The terms of Ants 2018 offshore fundraising had stipulated that if a share conversion didnt take place upon Ants listing in mainland China or Hong Kong, the company would redeem the foreign investors shares, according to people familiar with the matter. That redemption would include a 15% compounded annual return from their date of purchase, the people added.

However, those terms were specifically tied to Ant becoming a public company. There was no deadline stipulated for that event, people familiar with the matter said. In contrast, many other startups have granted their investors so-called exit rights" that promise them payouts if the companies dont list within a certain time frame.

The 2018 Ant agreement also had no anti-dilution provisions, the people added, meaning investors could incur losses if the value of Ants business declines.

The deal was probably structured this way because Ant was absolutely the hottest startup at the time," said Rocky Lee, an international partner at law firm King & Wood Mallesons who specializes in China tech deals.

The global investors now face a difficult and uncertain path to profitability, as Ant has come under heavy pressure and criticism from Chinese regulators after expanding rapidly and allegedly taking advantage of regulatory loopholes to generate large profits.

The Hangzhou-headquartered company is now preparing to overhaul its business to fall fully in line with Chinese financial regulations, a change that will likely crimp Ants profitability and growth prospects. Ant and Mr. Ma are hoping to win back favor with Chinese authorities, who will ultimately decide whether the company can revive its IPO plans again in the future.

Practically it means every investor has to patiently wait," said Mr. Lee. They have no right to demand an exit, they dont even have board seats and theres not much influence they can exert on the company as a minority shareholder. Theres really nothing they can do," he added.

Ants transformation into a more heavily regulated company is also likely to be a costly one. Iris Tan, a senior equity analyst at Morningstar, estimates Ant might be worth the equivalent of $162 billion if it converts into a financial-holding company. The company also could need to come up with 100 billion yuan ($15 billion) in funding for its consumer-lending business to comply with new rules, she said.

Ants recent debacle could make some international investors think twice about buying stakes in hot Chinese startups in the future, though others believe there still is significant profit to be made in the sector.

Baillie Gifford, a Scottish investment firm with more than $445 billion under management, invested $262 million in Ant during the 2018 offshore fundraising round, according to the companys listing prospectus.

We are patient investors and dont agitate for an IPO when investing in private companies," a Baillie Gifford spokeswoman said.

To be sure, investors wouldnt have been able to predict that Ant would be barred from going public by Chinese regulators.

All the way until [Jack Mas] speech, the strong consensus was this company had a strong relationship with the government in a way that protected it from disruptive regulation," said Martin Chorzempa, a research fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics.

Ben Dummett contributed to this article.

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text.

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A United States Court Of Appeals For The First Circuit has ruled that travelers can be subjected to in-depth searches of their phones, tablets and laptops if the Customs And Border Protection (CBP) officers deem that necessary. The ruling, by First Circuit Judge Sandra Lynch, says that both types of searchersthat is basic and advanced, are permissible. These smartphone and computing device searches may involve your data being reviewed and copied, after you provide access to your phones PIN or biometrics to the Customs And Border Protection agents after your arrival in the US.

Electronic devices do not fit neatly into other categories of property searches, but the bottom line is that basic border searches of electronic devices do not involve an intrusive search of a person, notes the ruling. This matter was brought to the court by a group of US citizens, including NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory employee Sidd Bikkannavar, who was made to unlock his phone, issued by NASA and contained what is believed to be sensitive material and not to be shared or seen by outside eyes. Most of these checks at US borders were put in place by the Donald Trump administration.

There are significant privacy concerns at play here. In usual circumstances, a search warrant is required for any probable cause or suspicion. Warrantless and suspicionless electronic device searches can give border officers unfettered access to vast amounts of private information about our lives, Esha Bhandari, deputy director of the ACLUs Speech, Privacy, and Technology Project, said in an official statement, confirming that they are evaluating all options available to ensure the privacy rights arent lost when an individual is traveling.

This ruling reverses the decision by a US District Court in 2019 that said reasonable suspicion was required for either basic or advanced searches of a travelers devices. Bloomberg reports that the Brennan Center submitted a brief in the case arguing that border searches of digital devices, whether theyre manual or forensic, should require at least reasonable suspicion, if not a warrant. There are so many things that can be accessed with a basic search, says Rachel Levinson-Waldman, deputy director of the Liberty & National Security Program at the Brennan Center for Justice.
DALLAS, February 11, 2021 -- Structural racism is a public health crisis in the U.S. and worldwide. The scientific publishing community can improve our understanding and address the significant health impacts of structural racism in racial and ethnic disparities research, according to a new statement, "The Groundwater of Racial and Ethnic Disparities Research: A Statement from Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes," published today in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, an American Heart Association journal, from the journal's editors.

It is critical to acknowledge the societal structures - the groundwater, as it is called in "The Groundwater Approach: Building a Practical Understanding of Structural Racism" from The Racial Equity Institute - that have led to disproportionate rates of disease among people from various racial and ethnic groups. Previous research attributes many disparities to issues related to individual factors or local systems not the underlying societal factors, or groundwater.

"Scientific journals are part of the groundwater of the research and health care community. Structural racism underlies the widespread disparities in health and health outcomes that are ubiquitous in the published literature and, thus, must be at the forefront of disparities research," said Khadijah K. Breathett, M.D., M.S., FAHA, lead author of the statement, an associate editor of Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes an assistant professor of cardiology at the University of Arizona College of Medicine, a cardiologist at the University of Arizona Sarver Heart Center and a heart failure specialist with the Advanced Heart Failure, Mechanical Circulatory Support and Cardiac Transplantation Team at Banner - University Medical Center in Tucson, Arizona. "Through this statement, we recognize the imperative to address intentionally the entrenched systematic challenges such as structural racism and share our evolving view of best practices for publishing disparities research."

In the statement, the editors of Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes challenge the scientific research community to take a broader perspective and to methodically examine structural factors including racism when studying racial and ethnic disparities in health. This includes efforts to flag the historical foundation of race - it is a social not a biological construct that was designed to separate one population from another - and to avoid perpetuating racism. Race has served to grant additional privileges to certain populations at the exclusion of others worldwide, and race is rooted in the development of U.S. health structures and health care delivery systems.

To this end, the Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes editorial team developed detailed, specific instructions for authors to encourage consistent framing, terminology and methods aligned with established best practices for scientific research on racial and ethnic disparities in health. A key first principle urges that measuring race and ethnicity be done correctly - enabling people to self-report race and ethnicity. Race categorization after data collection also matters, therefore, describing subjects as white versus non-white inherently reinforces the belief that white race is the standard by which other populations should be measured. In addition, they strongly recommend the inclusion of researchers of diverse backgrounds as a principle to ensure broad perspectives.

The five best practices recommended include:

Develop questions and methodological strategies informed by conceptual frameworks. Explicitly describe rationale and classification for inclusion of racial and ethnic patient populations in the methods section. Form diverse and inclusive study teams and cite their scholarship.

Contextualize discussion of results within conceptual frameworks and models.


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New Delhi : The government and Parliament have great respect for farmers who are voicing their views on the three farm bills, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Wednesday, and made it clear that those who want to continue with the old agriculture marketing system can continue doing so.

Replying in Lok Sabha to the discussion on the motion of thanks to the President's address to the joint sitting of Parliament, Modi staunchly defended the three contentious farms laws and attacked the opposition for "misleading" farmers, saying those who are disrupting the House are doing so as per a "well-planned strategy" as they are unable to digest that people can see the truth.

"Through their games, the trust of the people can never be won," he said, amidst protests by the opposition members.

During his over 90-minute address, the prime minister slammed the Congress as "divided and confused party" for its different stands in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha on the debate.

Seeking to allay apprehensions on the farm laws, Modi said neither any agriculture 'mandi' (market) has shut down after the three laws were enacted nor has the MSP stopped, rather the MSP has only increased which no one can deny.

The prime minister also said the government has offered to discuss clause by clause of the three farm laws and if there are any shortcomings it was ready to make changes.

"This House, our government and we all respect farmers who are voicing their views on the farm bills. This is the reason why topmost ministers of the government are constantly talking to them. There is a great respect for farmers.

"After the laws relating to agriculture were passed by Parliament, no 'mandi' has shut. Likewise, MSP has remained. Procurement on MSP has remained. These facts can't be ignored," he said.

The Congress walked out of Lok Sabha as PM Modi explained the government's stand on the three farm laws.

Modi said the Congress has taken different stands in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. "A divided and confused party like this can do no good to the country," he said.

He said the old agriculture marketing system will continue and those who don't want the new system can continue with the old system.

"Our farmer should become self-reliant, he should get freedom to sell his produce. There is a need to work in that direction," he said, adding agriculture has been a part of India's culture and the festivals have all been associated with planting and reaping of crops.

Noting that the kind of investment farming needs was not happening, Modi said there is a need to bring investment and modernise agriculture to empower the sector.

"I am surprised for the first time a new argument has come --we did not ask, so why did you give. Be it issue of dowry or triple talaq, no one had demanded laws to deal with them, but the laws were made as they were necessary for progressive society," he said.

The prime minister said the NDA government has tried everything to bring changes in the country and asserted that "if the intention is good, then the results will also be good".

Referring to the COVID-19 pandemic, Modi said India has managed the crisis successfully despite adverse predictions and the country has now become a ray of hope for the world.

He said the world post-COVID19 is turning out to be very different and in such times remaining isolated from the global trends will be counter-productive.

"That is why India is working towards building an 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat' (self-reliant India), which seeks to further global good.

"Predictions were made India cannot survive as a nation, but people of our country proved them wrong and we are now a ray of hope for the world," he said.

Complimenting healthcare and frontline workers for their relentless work during the pandemic, the Prime Minister said the way India has managed the coronavirus crisis is a turning point and the world has seen its success.

The address of the President has showcased India's 'Sankalp Shakti' and his words have boosted the spirit of confidence among the people of India, infused new confidence and inspired every heart

"During the discussion on the President's speech, a large number of women MPs took part. This is a great sign. I want to congratulate the women MPs who enriched the House proceedings with their thoughts," he said.
A person crosses the street downtown during the outbreak of the coronavirus disease in Los Angeles, Calif., on Feb. 4, 2021. (Mario Anzuoni/Reuters)

Updates on CCP Virus: WHO Team Investigating CCP Virus Fails to Find Origin

The World Health Organisation (WHO) team conducting the investigation into the origins of the CCP virus has failed to determine where the virus originated.

Peter Ben Embarek, head of the WHO mission, said further studies are required to determine if the virus was imported or if the virus had been spread directly from animals to humans.

He implied the virus was introduced into Wuhan from elsewhere, as there was no evidence showing a SARS-CoV-2 spread in Wuhan prior to Dec. 2019, despite studies saying otherwise.

Instagram Bans Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Over COVID-19 Vaccine Claims

Facebook-owned Instagram this week banned Robert Kennedy Jr. from the photo sharing app over claims he circulated misinformation regarding COVID-19 vaccines.

We removed this account for repeatedly sharing debunked claims about the coronavirus or vaccines, Facebook said in a statement to news outlets.

Pelosi Aims to Finalize Relief Bill by Months End

U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi said on Thursday that she expects lawmakers to complete legislation based on President Joe Bidens $1.9 trillion CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus relief bill by the end of February.

As House committees works to cobble the sweeping bill into place, Pelosi predicted the legislation would become law before enhanced unemployment benefits expire in mid-March and said an address by Biden to a joint session of Congress would come after the measure is done.

Merkel Promises Lockdown Will Not Last a Day Longer Than Necessary

Chancellor Angela Merkel urged Germans on Thursday to have a little more patience after agreeing with regional leaders to extend the countrys CCP virus lockdown until March 7 and said restrictions would not last a day longer than necessary.

Addressing the Bundestag, the lower house of parliament, Merkel said the extension was needed to avoid a third wave due to the risk posed by new virus variants.

South Africa to Vaccinate Health Care Workers With J&J Vaccine as Part of Implementation Study

South Africa will move forward with its phase one vaccination program to inoculate its health care workers with the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) COVID-19 vaccine, though the vaccine has not been granted an emergency authorization usage.

Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said on Feb. 10 that the country could no longer wait to immunize its health care workers as the J&J vaccine has proven effective against the highly transmissible B.1.351 variant of the CCP viruswhich causes COVID-19that was first identified in the country in November 2020.

Hard-Hit Restaurants Feed Doctors, Nurses

At Oregon Health & Science University, the states largest hospital, morale was low. Then, the food started coming: hot and delicious individually wrapped meals from some of the citys trendiest restaurants, a buffet of cuisines from Chinese to Italian to Lebanese to Southern comfort food.

Ive never been more tired, mentally, physically and emotionally. It really has drained me, nurse Henry Valdez said. When these meals started, I was just in awe. One or two times it brought a tear to my eye, the generosity of people, because it has not been an easy yearand the food provided comfort.

Portugal Extends Lockdown

Portugal extended on Thursday a nationwide lockdown until March 1 to tackle its worst surge of COVID-19 infections since the pandemic began as authorities scramble to relieve pressure on overstretched hospitals.

The country of just over 10 million fared better than other nations in Europe in the first wave of the pandemic, but 2021 brought a devastating surge in infections and deaths. Nearly 14,900 people have died of COVID-19, with cumulative infections at 778,369.

Kent Variant Likely to Sweep the World: UK Expert

The CCP virus variant first found in southeast England is on course to sweep the world, a British expert in microbiology has said.

Professor Sharon Peacock, director of the COVID-19 Genomics UK consortium, said that the B117 strain, commonly referred to as the UK variant or the Kent variant, is not just more transmissible than the original strain but has been reported to be slightly more lethal as well, though evidence for its higher lethality is not yet firmly established.

Bidens School Goal Draws Blowback

President Joe Biden is being accused of backpedaling on his pledge to reopen the nations schools after the White House added fine print to his promise and made clear that a full reopening is still far from sight.

Bidens initial pledge in December was to reopen the majority of our schools in his first 100 days in office. In January he specified that the goal applied only to schools that teach through eighth grade. And this week the White House said that schools will be considered opened as long as they teach in-person at least one day a week.

Chicago Begins Return to Classrooms

Chicago parents Willie and Brittany Preston have spent nearly a year wrestling with online school schedules for their six children, often with everyone hovered over devices around the dining room table.

Starting Thursday, theyll get relief. Their youngest daughter, 4-year-old Lear, returns to class as the nations third-largest school district slowly reopens its doors following a bitter fight with the teachers union over COVID-19 safety protocols.

WHO Scientist Thinks Pandemic Started in China

An Australian scientist appointed to the World Health Organisation (WHO) team investigating the origins of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus has said he thinks the contagion originated from bats in China.

Prof. Dominic Dwyer, a microbiologist from Sydney, told 9News after returning home from the month-long investigation that there was very limited evidence it originated outside China. There is some evidence, but its not really very good, he said, adding that the virus likely went from bats through an intermediate animal like a pangolin or a cat where it can replicate.

Surge Takes Toll on Portugals Undertakers

Portugal fared better than others in Europe in the first wave of the pandemic in March-April, but the new year brought a devastating surge in infections and deaths, overwhelming the health service and funeral homes.

More than 14,700 people have died of COVID-19 in Portugal, with cumulative infections since the start of the pandemic at nearly 775,000. I have never felt this emotional, with so many consecutive funerals, funeral parlor worker Carlos Carneiro told Reuters.

Not Perfect, but Saves Lives, AstraZeneca Says of Vaccine

AstraZenecas CCP virus vaccine is not perfect but will have an impact on the pandemic, its chief executive predicted on Thursday as the two-dose shot, developed with Oxford University, has been hailed as a vaccine for the world because it is cheaper and easier to distribute than some rivals.

But its rapid approval in Europe and elsewhere has been clouded by doubts over its most effective dosage and interval between doses. Data also showed it was less effective against a fast-spreading South African variant of the virus, and the company has been embroiled in a row with the European Union over supply delays.

Rebecca Zhu, Zachary Stieber, Meiling Lee, Alexander Zhang, Caden Pearson, The Associated Press contributed to this report.


President of the European Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation (Eurojust) Ladislav Hamran highly appreciates the level of cooperation with Ukraine in the investigation of complex multi-episode crimes, primarily within the framework of joint investigation groups.

As reported on the website of the Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine (PGO), Hamran said this during a meeting with Prosecutor General of Ukraine Iryna Venediktova in The Hague on Wednesday, which was the first meeting at the level of the heads of both departments since the conclusion of the Agreement on Cooperation between Ukraine and Eurojust in 2016.

The Prosecutor General of Ukraine and the President of Eurojust discussed the specialization of prosecutors and the prospects for cooperation within the Eurojust-supported networks on countering cybercrime, the activities of joint investigation teams, as well as the investigation of environmental crimes.

An important aspect of further joint work, the parties also noted the ongoing digitalization in criminal proceedings and the need to ensure the secure transmission of electronic evidence.
(TNS)  Vulnerabilities in New Mexico's Internet infrastructure, revealed by the COVID-19 pandemic, led the New Mexico Department of Transportation to assist with the expansion of rural broadband.The pandemic forced New Mexico to rely heavily on Internet access, making broadband even more essential, Transportation Secretary Mike Sandoval said. Digital expansion has been a passion project of the department for a while, but the urgent need for telecommuting, distance learning and telemedicine has fueled the drive to make Internet access for every New Mexican a reality.The Department of Transportation (DOT) is exploring ways to update fiber optic infrastructure during road construction, a state Department of Transportation news release states.As existing roads are reconstructed, theres an opportunity to install fiber conduit while the road is torn up, so youre not digging twice, which minimizes the impact on the environment, Sandoval said.Building both literal and digital highways will provide innovative, sustainable infrastructure that serves the entire state.DOT partnered with the New Mexico Economic Development Department to conduct a broadband infrastructure assessment to evaluate the connectivity opportunities for rural New Mexico and will identify the same prospects for the states transportation needs, a news release from the DOT read."Additional fiber infrastructure would also enhance the departments Intelligent Transportation Systems, known as ITS, which allows the New Mexico Department of Transportation to install additional digital message boards, cameras and weather sensors, to provide real-time road condition information through the NMRoads application," the news release states.As the one year anniversary of public schools pivoting to virtual approaches, anything that would help students access education is a good thing, Alamogordo Public Schools Deputy Superintendent Cara Malone said."Currently we have some families without Internet or consistent Internet," Malone said. "We have handed out hot spots to those who qualify, which has made a tremendous difference for everyone as we support our students in learning."Alamogordo Public Schools began distributing Wi-Fi-hot spots to households in need on Jan. 4.In summer 2020, Alamogordo Public Schools partnered with Otero County to install Wi-Fi hot spots across the county which help with virtual learning for those who do not have ready access to affordable Internet access.

Ascent Resources PLC - onshore energy firm focused in Caribbean and Europe - Includes Environmental, Social & Governance principles, which involves the reclassification of stockpiled surface mining waste as a valuable asset for reprocessing and commercial sale to industry, governments and metals traders.

Ascent is looking at several potential projects in Hispanic America, South Africa and Australia, with opportunities in gold, silver, platinum, base metals and ferrochrome.

To assist with pursuing this new strategy, the company has raised GBP1 million through an oversubscribed subscription and placing of 10.0 million shares at a price of 10.1 pence each.

Ascent Resources now has 109.4 million shares issued overall.

"This is an important development for Ascent, as we look to broaden our business and identify rapid growth opportunities that add stability and balance to our portfolio. We believe that our skill sets can be very successfully deployed in the opportunity presented by the secondary mining of waste metals, where material volumes with significant economic upside can be reprocessed and sold all within an attractive ESG framework," said Chief Executive Officer Andrew Dennan.

Current stock price: 12.33 pence, up 6.1% on Thursday

Year-to-date change: up 97%

By Dayo Laniyan; dayolaniyan@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
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.

Staff at Texas Southern University and Baylor-St. Lukes Medical Center plan to make the college the main destination for COVID-19 vaccinations in Third Ward.

Most vaccination sites are in Houstons western neighborhoods, according to Texas Department of Emergency Management data. However, Houstons hardest hit neighborhoods during the coronavirus pandemic are spread across the city, raising questions about whether the vaccines are going to people at highest risk of complications.

The vaccination site is in soft launch mode, with hundreds of community members lining up since Tuesday in hopes of receiving a first dose. It will not accept walk-ins. To register, people must visit the St. Lukes Health website at stlukeshealth.org/covidvaccine.

Demand is already high. Roughly 1,200 people had been vaccinated at TSU on Tuesday and Wednesday, as word spread in Third Ward that Pfizer vaccines were available on campus. On Thursday, although gloomy weather kept lines from once again wrapping around the Nabrit Science Building, a diverse crowd of 325 people received vaccinations by 2 p.m., with more still waiting. Although many in line were Third Ward residents, a significant portion had traveled from other corners of the area.

Cecilia Joseph, a Westbury resident, received a text about the site from her brother-in-law, a Texas Southern professor. Joseph has been careful about going out in recent months: She works at a nonprofit that helps low-income families register for affordable health insurance, and her son is a dialysis patient.

Before the text, she had put herself on the citys waitlist in hopes she could get a vaccine. CVS and Walgreens told her to call back later when she asked about COVID vaccines, she said.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Everything you need to know about getting your COVID vaccine in Houston

I was thrilled  Ive been working to see if I can get on the lists, Joseph said.

Over the weekend, Mayor Sylvester Turner criticized the distribution system at a vaccination event at Settegast Health Center in northeast Houston.

COVID-19 has disproportionately affected people of color, but vaccination efforts are not reaching that vulnerable population, Turner said. At a Thursday news conference announcing the initiative, the mayor said he and other mayors have been in touch with Vice President Kamala Harris to talk about boosting equity in vaccinations.

Specifically, the vaccination site is targeted to reach people who are 75 and older, have a chronic illness that puts them at higher risk for complications from COVID-19 and/or are people of color. Picking TSU as the site is a good choice to achieve that mission, said Albert Myres Sr., the chair of the Texas Southern University board of regents, because more than 80 percent of Third Ward identifies as Black or Latino.

Step one cant be the last step, Myres said. We could use many more around the city.

Staff rotated dozens of people through a waiting room, where the recently vaccinated waited for 15 minutes to ensure they did not have an allergic reaction to the vaccine. Moments after Joseph, the Westbury resident, left the room, Ron Carter took her vacated seat to begin the waiting period.

Carter drove 30-plus miles from his home in The Woodlands to get his vaccine after his sister, who lives in Third Ward, texted him about the vaccination opportunity. His extended family has been swapping stories of where to get the vaccine since it began rolling out to the public in early January.

COVID HELP DESK: I've been vaccinated. Can I safely visit friends or family who haven't?

Its worth it, he said of the long drive. This is something worth the investment.

Carter said he was happy to reduce his chances of illness if he contracts COVID-19. Itll also provide a sense of relief for his three children, who are attending college via Zoom at home.

In 11 states that have released racial and ethnic data in vaccine distribution, white residents are being vaccinated at rates two to three times higher than Black residents, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation, a Washington, D.C.-based health policy think tank. Texas, which has administered 3.6 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine as of Thursday, has not released vaccination data by race.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 5.4 percent of those vaccinated so far are Black, while 60.4 percent are white.

These vaccine access issues mirror concerns about COVID testing access that plagued communities last year, said Dr. Jewel Mullen, a professor of health equity at Dell Medical School at the University of Texas at Austin.

Mullen is part of the National Academy of Medicines vaccine allocation advisory committee, which told federal officials in October that the pandemic disproportionately affects people of color. The committee recommended vaccine promotion campaigns in multiple languages, along with financial support for mass vaccination clinics to keep costs low.

We can't expect everybody to find their way to a shop, Mullen said. The shop also has to find their way to people with the information they need to make the decision to receive the vaccine.

Doug Lawson, the CEO of St Lukes, said the vaccination site will help the health system reach underserved communities and communities of color.

Its another step forward in making life better for everyone, Lawson said.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Have questions about COVID or vaccines? Ask us here.

gwendolyn.wu@chron.com

twitter.com/gwendolynawu




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DALLAS, Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- International research firm Parks Associates today announced the topics and call for papers for the firm's CONNECTIONS: The Premier Connected Home Conference, hosting virtual sessions March 24, May 12, May 25-26, July 14, August 18, September 22, and November 9-10. Celebrating its 25th year, CONNECTIONS brings together industry leaders to network, learn, and discuss trends in consumer demand, the latest innovations, and new business strategies for the connected home ecosystems and SMB markets.

Parks Associates: Smart Home Device Ownership

Parks Associates' latest consumer survey of 10,000 US broadband households shows that 34% of US broadband households own at least one smart home device and 23% now own three or more smart home devices, up from 19% in 2019.

CONNECTIONS, sponsored by Airties, Alarm.com, Calix, Cox, and Plume, provides networking opportunities combined with visionary keynotes and conference sessions focused on technology innovations, consumer research, and product and service adoption and trends. CONNECTIONS supporters include CEDIA, Home Grid Forum, SCTE - ISBE, and The Monitoring Association (TMA).

"Smart home adoption has steadily increased, and the dynamics of this market have shifted, from one or two 'hero devices' driving overall adoption to a group of products combining to deliver targeted use cases," said Elizabeth Parks, President, Parks Associates. "As we celebrate the twenty-fifth year of CONNECTIONS, we will explore market trends, the effects of COVID-19 and the elevation of household tech, and strategies to leverage new consumer demands to advance the vision of the connected home."

2021 CONNECTIONS Schedule

March 24

Smart Products - Serving the SMB Market

May 12

Supporting Remote Workers with a Smarter Home

May 25-26

State of the Smart Home

Pro-Installers and Home Technologies

Home Services Opportunities

Sensor Innovation and AI - Driving New Use Cases

July 14

MDUs: Scaling Up

August 18

State of Home Security Market

September 22

Home Networking and Wi-Fi

November 9-10

Smart Home: Battle of the Platforms

Privacy and Security

Europe and the Smart Home

Insurance and Smart Home

Other recent Parks Associates research highlights the shifts in the broadband and consumer device markets:

24% of US broadband households with fixed broadband service are likely to upgrade in the next six months.

43% of US broadband households with children at home are very worried about them falling behind in school.

11% of US broadband households own a smart light bulb, and 9% own a smart plug.

25% of US broadband households plan to buy a connected health device in the next 12 months, and 34% are very interested in sharing data from these devices with a telehealth service.

34% of smart home device owners report having technical problems within the last 12 months.

Executives can submit to speak at www.connectionsus.com. To request data or an interview, contact Rosey Ulpino, [email protected], 972-490-1113.

About CONNECTIONS

Parks Associates' 25th annual CONNECTIONS: The Premier Connected Home Conference will feature multiple virtual sessions hosted throughout 2021. The CONNECTIONS Community includes more than 1,300 senior executives from the smart home, security, connected health, energy, and home automation industries.

CONNECTIONS provides networking opportunities combined with visionary keynotes and virtual sessions focused on technology innovations, consumer research on adoption and trends, product and service forecasts, and evaluation of new business strategies, partnerships, monetization opportunities, and value-added service design. www.connectionsconference.com

Media Contact:

Rosey Ulpino

Parks Associates

972-490-1113

[email protected]

SOURCE Parks Associates

Related Links

http://www.parksassociates.com



The family of prominent Saudi women's rights activist Loujain al-Hathloul, who was released from prison on Wednesday, have vowed to fight for real justice", saying she will not be truly free until her alleged torturers are held to account and the charges and travel ban against her are dropped.

Ms Hathloul, 31, was released after nearly three years behind bars after a Riyadh court suspended a part of her nearly six-year sentence, most of which she had already served.

Her family shared a photograph of her smiling outside of jail and revealed as soon as she was free she immediately purchased ice cream, which she has not had in three years. However, the family said while her release was a cause for celebration, she is still subject to a five-year travel ban and has been put on probation.

They added that behind bars she was subjected to abuse, including electric shocks, waterboarding, flogging and sexual assault. On Thursday her sisters Alia and Lina al-Hathloul claimed that Loujain told them she had been forced to say she was fine in phone calls to her family as her captors held an electric shock machine to her ear.

The Saudi authorities have repeatedly denied the accusations. An appeals court dismissed her claim that she was tortured in jail, citing a lack of evidence, according to her family.

Her sisters have vowed to continue campaigning for the alleged torturers to be brought to justice, naming a top aide of crown prince Mohammed Bin Salman, who they claim was present during the torture.

They also said they would fight to remove travel bans against several family members and would seek reparations for Ms Hathloul for her "illegal imprisonment".

Loujain is not free, she has been temporarily conditionally released, what we want now is that real justice, her sister Lina said. We wont stop until full justice is achieved, she added.

I will only be satisfied when she gets her full freedom, when she is able to come and see me in Belgium, [when] we can travel together [when] she is able to speak about everything that has happened to her.

Ms Hathloul, who fought for womens right to drive and to end the kingdoms oppressive male guardianship system, was detained in May 2018 in a sweep of arrests of rights activists.

In December she was sentenced by the Specialised Criminal Court in Riyadh under broad counterterrorism laws to nearly six years in prison on charges that UN human rights experts have called spurious and rights groups have called a "travesty of justice".

The court suspended two years and 10 months of her sentence, most of which had already been served leading to her release. After she was held incommunicado last year she started two hunger strikes and her sister Alia confirmed that she had lost weight and remained frail.

Although a key western ally, Saudi Arabia is under mounting pressure to improve its human rights record, particularly after the 2018 murder of prominent Saudi journalist and dissident Jamal Khashoggi in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey.

Saudis young and powerful crown prince Mohammed bin Salman was accused of ordering the killing of the Washington Post columnist, an accusation he has repeatedly and vehemently denied.

After the inauguration of President Joe Biden, who has vowed to take a firmer line with Riyadh, the kingdom has faced backlash over the detention of womens rights activists and other political prisoners. Several women activists who were arrested around the same time as Ms Hathloul remain behind bars, including Samar Badawi, Nour Abdulaziz and Nassima al-Sadah.

The White House said earlier this month that Washington will take a tougher line with Riyadh.

A still image from a news conference via Zoom, Top left, Uma Mishra-Newbery, campaign manager for the Free Loujain Campaign, bottom left to right, sisters of Loujain al-Hathloul, and Lina al-Hathloul and Alya al-Hathloul (AP)

Earlier this week the new US secretary of state Antony Blinken defended human rights in his first phone call with his Saudi counterpart Faisal bin Farhan. On Wednesday night Mr Biden said, Releasing [Hathloul] was the right thing to do. The US Senate foreign relations committee said in a tweet that her release was a good first step but insisted that all the charges against her should be dropped and she should be allowed to travel freely.

The family welcomed this support saying that they did not believe it was a coincidence that Ms Hathloul remained behind bars under former US president Donald Trump, who has close ties with the crown prince and was released just weeks after Mr Biden came into office.

Without international pressure, we cannot obtain something in Saudi Arabia, said Alia. I would like to say thank you to Mr President [for] helping my sister to be released," she added.

United Nations secretary general Antonio Guterres also welcomed her release and said that others also behind bars should be freed too, spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

But I think it is important that others who are in the same condition as her, who have been jailed for the same reasons as her, also be released and that charges be dropped against them, he told reporters.

The sisters also called for their release. Lina said the continued detention and harassment of women's rights activists in the kingdom means women empowerment is a lie in Saudi Arabia". She said the decision to allow women in Saudi Arabia to drive as part of the crown prince's reform programme was for his image".

"Structurally the problem is still there - it is giving some sweet to the west to see as reforms and positive changes, inside the country nothing has changed.
Saudi Arabias Tabuk Criminal Court sentenced on Thursday Egyptian engineer Ali Abul-Qasim to 25 years in prison after cancelling a death penalty over his conviction in a drug trafficking case.

The Saudi sentence ends a five-year-long ordeal for Abul-Qasim who was sentenced to death in 2017 by a lower court in the kingdom.

Abul-Qasim, who hails from Aswan governorate, had worked in Saudi Arabia since 2007.

He was convicted in 2017 on charges of importing agricultural equipment from Egypt in 2016 that contained narcotic tablets while working for a contracting company affiliated with the Saudi customs authority.

A Cairo Criminal Court issued a life sentence -- 20 years in jail as per the Egyptian law -- against three others in the same case, on charges of involvement in drug trafficking and smuggling narcotics to Abul-Qasim. The court acquitted three others.

The Egyptian prosecution shared with the Saudi authorities the documents on the case against the drug smugglers in Egypt who had sent a shipment of narcotic pills to the Egyptian engineer in Saudi Arabia.

The Egyptian authorities intensely lobbied their Saudi counterparts to commute the death penalty for Abul-Qasim.

Short link:


Mandates for several new projects have already been won in the new calendar year, including the extension of existing recurring revenue contracts with a long standing client, and a large project for a new client, due for delivery in the first six months of the calendar year.

11 Feb 2021

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*A corporate client of Hybridan LLP

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Whats cooking in the IPO kitchen?

AMTE Power, a developer and manufacturer of lithium-ion battery cells for specialist markets, announced its intention to seek admission to trading on AIM. Admission is expected to take place during March 2021. The Company intends to raise approximately 7 million by way of a placing of new ordinary shares in the capital of the Company. Timing TBC.

, the cross-border eCommerce technology and retail group opening up the world's largest market for brands and retailers, intends to IPO on the Apex Segment Aquis Stock Exchange Growth Market. Admission is targeted for March 2021.

a UK-based provider of premium consumer products based on biosynthetic cannabinoids announced its intention to join the main market (standard) this Spring. Target valuation 20m raising c. 8m to finalise the development and launch of a range of the Company's premium-quality consumer products based on biosynthetic cannabinoids, which is fully compliant under UK law.

Kanabo Group (RTO by Spinnaker Opportunities SOP.L) on the main market (standard). Raising 6m, enlarged mkt cap 23.4m. Kanabo focuses on the distribution of Cannabis-derived products for medical patients, and non-THC products for CBD consumers . Due 16 Feb.

NextEnergy Renewables to launch an IPO on the Main Market. NREN is a differentiated renewables investment company that aims to capture the most attractive private renewables and energy transition infrastructure investment opportunities globally. Targeting a 300m raise. NREN is targeting total returns of 9-11 per cent. per annum (net of all fees and expenses but including the Target Dividend and capital appreciation) . The Company's target dividend yield for the first full financial year to 31 December 2022 is 5.5 pence. Due Early March 2021.

Auction Technology Group is considering an IPO on the Main Market. The Group operates six world-leading online Marketplaces and proprietary global auction platform technology for curated online auctions . In FY20 the Group delivered pro forma revenue of 52.3 million, supported by notable underlying year-on-year growth from both Standalone ATG Group and Standalone Proxibid Group (12.4 per cent. and 40.4 per cent., respectively). For the same period, the Group delivered a strong profitability performance of 22.3 million pro forma Adjusted EBITDA representing a pro forma Adjusted EBITDA margin of 42.6 per cent. Expected March 2021.

Digital 9 Infrastructure launch an initial public offering on the Specialist Fund Segment of the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange, by way of an initial placing and offer for subscription for a target issue 400m. Digital 9 Infrastructure plc is a newly established, externally managed investment trust. The Company will invest in a range of digital infrastructure assets which deliver a reliable, functioning internet. The IPO Prospectus is expected to be published in March 2021.

Cordiant Digital Infrastructure to admit its shares on the Specialist Fund Segment of the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange . Targeting a 300m raise. Cordiant invests in global infrastructure and real assets, running infrastructure private equity and infrastructure private credit strategies through limited partnership funds and managed accounts. Due 16 Feb.

4basebio UK Societas is a specialist life sciences group focused on therapeutic DNA for gene therapies and DNA vaccines and providing solutions for effective and safe delivery of these DNA based products to patients. The Company has been divested from 4basebio AG , a German company listed on the Prime Standard segment of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange . No capital to be raised on Admission. Anticipated market capitalisation on AIM Admission: 14.53m. Due 17 Feb

Cornish Metals (TSX-V: CUSN) intends to list on AIM. The Company is proposing to raise 5m by way of private placement of new Common Shares to advance the United Downs copper-tin project. The Company expects that Admission will become effective 16 February 2021. The Company's Common Shares will continue to be listed and trade on the TSX-V in Canada. Raising 8.2m. 18.7m mkt cap.

Banquet Buffet

* 36.5p 11m ( )

The UK-based residential developer focused on the North West of England, has raised 548,500 at 30p. Further it has exchanged contracts on Plus House, Stockport for 725,000. Completion is expected on 31 March 2021 with the acquisition to be funded through the Placing, Subscription, existing cash resources and the shareholder loan facility.

The property is currently used as an office but has been acquired with the benefit of permitted development planning approval to convert the first, second and third floor into twelve apartments with approximately 2,500 square foot of office space on the ground floor.

Management are exploring revising the planning to add an extension which adds an additional three apartments, this increases the total to fifteen.

The Company expect construction to start in Q2 2021 with completion during Q2 2022 even with the revised extension. The Company expects a development cost of 1.0 million with a Gross Development Value (GDV) on completion of 2.3 million. The costs and timelines are dependent on the permitted development planning approval and do not include the planning extension as envisaged.

MediaZest* 0.13p 1.8m ( )

The creative audio-visual company, updated on new business wins since the beginning of 2021.

Mandates for several new projects have already been won in the new calendar year, including the extension of existing recurring revenue contracts with a long standing client, and a large project for a new client, due for delivery in the first six months of the calendar year. In aggregate these new business wins will generate over 350,000 in revenue and include client engagements which the Directors believe have the potential to grow substantially over the coming months.

MediaZest expects to announce its financial results for the 18-month period ended 30 September 2020 later this month.

Petards Group* 13p 7.5m ( )

The developer of advanced security and surveillance systems, announces a trading update for the year ended 31 December 2020. Against a difficult backdrop, the group were quick to implement a comprehensive restructuring program that they believe will deliver improved results in 2021.

Part of the groups action plan was a strong focus on cash generation which certainly was reflected in the numbers with closing cash of 2.2m. Revenues for the year are expected to be approximately 13m with a slightly improved result compared with the prior year at the adjusted EBITDA level (2019: 0.3m loss).

The year-end order book stood at over 12m of which 10m is currently scheduled for delivery in 2021 with a weighting to the first half of the year.

Petards has recently created a virtual Petards Technology Centre to capitalise upon the wider Group's technical and development expertise. Our strategic objective is to enhance eyeTrain's technically advanced on-train sensing systems. This is envisaged to be achieved through use of "best of breed" third party applications, particularly those related to data capture, transmission and analytics.

While it is presently too early in the year to re-instate market guidance, the Board is cautiously hopeful of improved results in 2021.

IQE 78.15p 626m ( )

The leading supplier of advanced wafer products and material solutions to the global semiconductor industry, today provides an update regarding an ongoing, multifaceted intellectual property legal dispute.

The dispute has been referenced previously in IQEs 2018 and 2019 Annual Reports, where the associated legal costs were listed as exceptional costs.

An arbitration hearing relating to this matter was held in September 2019 and the Tribunals Final Award was delivered in January 2020. The Tribunals award was entirely in IQEs favour. Since then, the parties have been engaged in litigation in U.S. federal court regarding the effect of the Tribunals decision on cases that had been brought against IQE and IQE employees in that court.

The parties have settled the claims out of court and IQE has now received a full and final settlement payment of US$2.5m.

Robinson 157.5p 26.2m ( )

The custom manufacturer of plastic and paperboard packaging, announced that on 10 February 2021 the Company acquired Schela Plast A/S, a Danish designer and manufacturer of blow moulded containers. Total consideration, including earnout, is expected to be 7.7m on a debt free cash free basis.

Highlights:

 Schela Plast specialises in the design and manufacture of plastic blow moulded containers

 Complementary market sectors to those served by Robinson

 Expands geographic reach and creates sales growth opportunities with new and existing Robinson customers - healthy pipeline of new FMCG business

 Acquisition expected to be immediately earnings enhancing

For the year ended 31 December 2020, Schela Plast achieved revenues (unaudited) of DKK 76.1m (9.1m) (2019: DKK 59.6m (7.0m)), and EBITDA (unaudited) of DKK 13.4m (1.6m) (2019: DKK 6.4m (0.7m)).

Warehouse REIT 127.25p 541m (LON:WHR)

-400,000 sq ft deal takes total WHR portfolio past eight million sq ft-

The AIM-listed company that invests in e-commerce urban and last-mile industrial warehouse assets in the UK, announces the acquisition of four modern warehouse units on Boulevard Industry Park in Speke, Liverpool, totalling 390,000 sq ft. The purchase price of 35 million reflects a net initial yield of 5.5%.

Ranging from 74,000 sq ft to 163,000 sq ft, the units are occupied by three separate occupiers spanning the automotive and pharmaceutical sectors. The properties generate a net rental income of 2.1 million per annum equating to a low average rent of 5.31 per sq ft and provide a WAULT of over 7 years.

Boulevard Industry Park is one of Liverpool's most successful and popular business locations, immediately adjacent to Jaguar Land Rover's 300-acre Halewood manufacturing plant and major Astra Zeneca and Seqirus facilities.

Harvest Minerals 2.6p 4.83m ( )

Harvest Minerals Limited, the AIM listed remineraliser producer, announces that it has relinquished its exploration license over, and returned to the National Mining Agency its 100 per cent. interest in, the Capela Potash Project in Brazil, to dedicate its resources and to ensure the continued growth trajectory at its 100% owned revenue generating Arapua Fertiliser Project.

No further expenses, which in recent years had been limited to minimal licence fees, will be incurred by Harvest with respect to Capela and all remaining obligations under the Capela Potash Project Agreement (as defined in the Company's AIM Admission Document) have fallen away.

17.25p 86.6m ( )

Agronomics, a leading listed investor in alternative proteins with a focus on cellular agriculture and cultivated meat, announced portfolio company New Age Meats (trading name for Simply Foods, Inc) has raised a further US$ 2 million via convertible debt. In July 2019, Agronomics completed a subscription of US$ 699,999.34 for 885,739 Series Seed Preferred Shares. Agronomics currently holds approximately 7.0% in New Age Meats on a fully diluted basis. This further raise does not result in a change to the carrying or implied value of Agronomics' holding in New Age Meats.

The full announcement is set out below with no material changes or adjustments.

Kodal Minerals 0.09p 10.97m ( )

Update on the results of the surface geochemical sampling completed at the Dabakala Concession, Cote d'Ivoire, in December 2020. The Company also continues preparations for its 2021 field season to undertake exploration drilling at the Fatou Project in southern Mali, and the Nielle Project in Cote d'Ivoire.

 High grade gold geochemical samples up to 6.14g/t gold returned for the surface at Dabakala Concession, central Cote d'Ivoire;

 Extensive surface gold anomalism defined in the east of the Concession extending for over 10km of strike and multiple interpreted trends;

 Extensive artisanal workings identified during the sampling programme and anomalism extends beyond and parallel to the workings;

 Gold anomalous zone confirmed in multiple phases of sampling and geological reconnaissance identifies geological and structural controls on the gold mineralisation;

 Field inspection of Dabakala anomalism planned for February 2021;

 Field reconnaissance underway at the Fatou Project to review historical drilling and proposed drill hole sites.

Gaming Realms 35.4p 101.6m ( )

The developer and licensor of mobile focused gaming content, announces a pre-close trading update for the full year to 31 December 2020. It expects FY20 revenue and adjusted EBITDA will be c .11.2m and c.3.1m respectively. This reflects a record month in December due to the Company's content licensing business, which has continued to go from strength to strength. It grew by over 100% during FY20 - launching with 26 new partners, including Tier 1 operators DraftKings in the U.S., as well as Sky Betting and Gaming and PaddyPower Betfair in the UK and Europe.

The positive momentum reported above has continued into the start of FY21, with the Company recently announcing the launch of its Slingo content in Italy with both Goldbet and Sisal.

The development of the Group's US strategy has continued into the current year, with the signing of a number of key contracts in the US, including a multi-state contract with BetMGM to provide content through a direct integration. In addition, the Company has been granted a provisional supplier licence by the Michigan Gaming Control Board

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PM Modi is not responding to farmers' demands, who are protesting outside the borders of Delhi for the last 80 days, says Revanth.  DC Image

Hyderabad: Congress party working president and Lok Sabha MP from Malkajgiri A. Revanth Reddy demanded the TRS government pass a resolution in the Assembly against the three contentious farm laws introduced by the Narendra Modi government.

These three farm laws will destroy the future and livelihood of small-scale farmers while corporations will rule the national agriculture sector, he said.

Mr Revanth Reddy, who is on a padayatra from Achampet to Hyderabad, questioned Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao, saying, why did KCR take a U-turn on the farm bills after touring Delhi, though he participated in a Bharat Bandh on January 8?"

Mr Reddy interacted with farmers while on padayatra, dubbed, Rajiv Rythu Bharosa padayatra and explained about the three farm bills. He reminded that because of the Minimum Support Price Act, introduced by the Congress party, farmers are getting MSP for their crop produce.

If any merchant purchases a crop produced below MSP, he will be punished according to law, but due to PM Modis new farm laws, MSP act got scrapped. Along with this, the Modi government removed IKP centers, market yards, Cooperative Society, FCI and CCI, he said.

Mr Reddy was critical of the Prime Minister, sayding, PM Modi is not responding to farmers' demands, who are protesting outside the borders of Delhi for the last 80 days. Even the death of 195 farmers in the protests has not moved the government."

With these farm laws, farmers will become labourers in their own lands whereas corporate companies will dictate terms to farmers. Revanth urged farmers to unite and protest against the farm laws in all villages.

In their interaction with the Parliamentarian, farmers appraised him of their problems, saying, the loan waiver promised the TRS government has been implemented, There is no MSP and no input subsidy also.

Former union minister Balram Naik, former minister Sudharshan Reddy, MLA Seethakka, former MLAs Vem narendar Reddy, Mallu Ravi, Eravath Anil, GHMC corporators, Nizamabad DCC president Mohan Reddy, OU JAC leaders and others participated in the padayatra.
The federal government has said the Kano-Maradi rail line will be completed by 2023.

President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday, held a virtual ground-breaking ceremony for the Kano-Katsina-Jibiya-Maradi rail line project which forms a critical connecting nerve between Nigeria and Niger Republic.

According to a statement from the Presidency, Buhari said: "The entire route encompasses territory inhabited by close to 80 million people across 10 states of the country. The country would earn revenue through expansion of trade and commerce, while the people of Niger Republic will benefit from the ease of transportation logistics at an affordable cost in their import and export business.

"The connection to Niger Republic through rail will also foster trans-Saharan trade and contribute to the expected gains in the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement," the statement said.

The president said more rail projects will be accelerated as he has directed the ministries of transportation and finance to conclude financial arrangements for the construction of West-East Coastal rail line from Lagos to Calabar, linking some major cities in the South-East and South-South.

He said the West-East Coastal rail line will connect Onitsha, Benin, Warri, Yenagoa, Port Harcourt, Aba and Uyo.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, said at the ceremony that the 284 kilometre Kano-Maradi rail line, when completed in 2023, would convey 9,364 passengers and 3,000 metric tonnes of cargos daily.

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He said the project is being handled by the European engineering firm, Messrs Mota-Engil with a completion period of 38 months.

The minister said the preliminary studies for the project started in 2012 with the feasibility studies ready in 2015 and a $1.9 billion cost.

"It was therefore listed among other prioritized railway and railway-related projects," Amaechi said.

He said the project has a 25-kilometre extension to Maradi, Republic of Niger. "The entire network of this project has 15 railway stations of different categories with major stations of approximately 3000 passenger capacity in the cities of Kano and Katsina and stations of standard categories in Kazaure, Daura, Jibiya and Dutse.

"Mr. President has approved the development of railway infrastructure and related projects that are of significance to the nation's socio-economic growth and making Nigeria's economy to become a key player in the region and globally," Amaechi said.

The Minister of Transportation in Niger Republic, Sadou Seydou, who was present at the ceremony in Nigeria, said the project is important for both countries in strengthening transportation, economic development and peace and security.

"This project is also an important landmark in the good relationship between Niger Republic and Nigeria," he said.

Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina, Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano and Governor Badaru Abubakar of Jigawa commended the effort as they called for the timely completion of the project.

By Chris Agabi, Muideen Olaniyi (Abuja) & Abdullateef Aliyu (Lagos)
Mortar shelling in Afghanistan kills at least 10 civilians

Fire breaks out at West Virginia oil refinery in US

Iran ready to help improve the defense capability of Syria

European Parliament head proposes to strengthen sanctions on Russia

UK PM gets married in London

Armenia reports COVID-19 new 81 cases: for people die

EU countries invite US to issue joint statement against Russia

2 people die in Armenia road accident

Nigeria: Students taken hostage a month ago are released

61 quakes recorded in Congo per day

Syrian MFA: EU lost credibility due to blind obedience to US policy

Armenia ex-minister of emergency situations hospitalized with heart attack

Mher Grigoryan: Clarification of border points is possible only after withdrawal of Azerbaijani troops from Armenia

Suspicious deal: Whether there was profit from buying DNA IDs?

Armenia ex-president says current authorities are trying to blame Russia for defeat in war

4 people killed in Afghanistani bus attack

Robert Kocharyan: This war could not have happened, it was a consequence of the policy of the authorities

Kocharyan: I have to ask people how it happened that overwhelming majority elected this leader

Armen Gevorgyan presents 'Armenia' bloc program: We offer the concept of a working country

Biden's administration proposed to leave unchanged amount of financial support to Armenia

US Embassy in Baku calls on Azerbaijan to immediately release Armenian POWs

Luxembourg MFA calls on Azerbaijan to immediately release all Armenian prisoners

Russia peacekeepers climb to Armenia Gegharkunik Province village positions

Biden strongly condemns manifestations of antisemitism in US

Iran intensifies its diplomacy amid Armenia-Azerbaijan border tensions

Armenia acting PM on forthcoming snap parliamentary elections: We hope to get 60% of votes

Lukashenko accuses West of destabilizing situation in Belarus

Armenia Central Electoral Commission chief on snap elections: No legal basis for postponing, suspending any function

Armenias Pashinyan is met by Yerevan district residents chanting against him

We are ready to be fully engaged in negotiation process to resolve Karabakh issue, says Armenia acting PM

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan gives interview to Russia TV channel

Armenia acting premier: We are ready to start withdrawing troops at any moment

Canada MFA expresses concern over 6 Armenian soldiers capture by Azerbaijan troops

There are omissions in registration documents of political forces that applied to Armenia Central Electoral Commission

Armenia Central Electoral Commission chief: There is activeness in Yerevan for the past day or two

Three new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Group of US Congress members threaten Azerbaijans Aliyev regime with sanctions

Chicago mayor is sued for allegedly refusing interview with white reporter

Iran exports oil to US for first time after long interval

"Armenia" bloc top 50 MP candidates are announced

42 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Sri Lanka public beach is covered in charred plastic pellets due to fire in container ship

US preparing list of targeted sanctions on Belarus authorities

China believes it will own America by 2035, Biden says

15 al-Shabab militants killed in Somalia

Newspaper: Armenia political forces that applied for running in election impatiently await CEC decision

Newspaper: Changes are expected in Artsakh

California prisoner who considers himself Satanist beheads cellmate, dismembers his body

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM's "mutually beneficial" proposal to collapse state system?

Armenia National Security Service Reserve Officers' Union members meet with His Holiness Karekin II

EU is ready to help Armenia and Azerbaijan with border delimitation and demarcation

ARF-D member on Nikol Pashinyan: 103 years ago Armenia's founding fathers would have executed him for treason

Iran President hails brotherly ties with Azerbaijan

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

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

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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

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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)

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Shoygu to Harutyunyan: Russia, Armenia strengthen military cooperation

Armenia acting premier: We are 100% honest toward our country

Artsakh President pays tribute at Stepanakert memorial, Shushi Tank-Monument

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Two new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Catholicos of All Armenians visits Sardarapat Memorial, again separate from state officials

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Jerusalem Post: Israel prepares for a new war with Hamas

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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

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Catholicos of All Armenians: Our people shall find strength to overcome this ordeal as well

Armenia First Republic Day event is held under very modest conditions

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Armenia President, then acting premier arrive at Sardarapat Memorial

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France ambassador: I wish Armenia to be able to live its independence in peace, prosperity

Bashar al-Assad wins Syria presidential election
Blackstone recently announced a partnership with Trafigura Pte Ltd for the supply of nickel and cobalt products as part of Blackstones downstream strategy.

( ) is developing the district-scale Ta Khoa Project in Northern Vietnam where the company is drilling out the large-scale Ban Phuc Nickel-PGE deposit.

The company has recently announced two major news to the market.

Firstly there was the divestment of all their non-Ta Khoa projects into a new company. Secondly, on the 22nd January, Blackstone Minerals announces partnership with Trafigura Pte Ltd for the supply of nickel and cobalt products as part of Blackstone Minerals' downstream strategy. Blackstone Minerals is taking steps to become a significant global, green nickel product supplier catering to the battery market.

The divestment and the partnership with Trafigura is a clear sign that Blackstone Minerals is gearing up for the production end of the spectrum. Scott discussed the supply crunch that is coming thick and fast due to the EV (electric vehicle) revolution. This revolution is coming at a faster rate than more industry participants have expected.

Scott Williamson explains what is happening in the EV world.

In this episode of Coffee with , Scott Williamson talks to us about what is really happening in the EV market space. He shares with us some inside understanding of the market and what his partners in the EV race are saying.

The EV revolution is coming thick and fast and a nickel sulphide supply crunch is going to happen.

As we have learnt in previous episodes of Coffee with Samso, the whole exploration side of the Ta Khoa project is on its way up and finding more metal. Scott tells us that this side of the business is basically status quo.

What Scott wants the market to understand is that Blackstone Minerals is being driven to the production side due to market forces. These market forces are getting stronger and it will cause a supply shortage situation which would place the company in a very healthy position in time to come.

Is Blackstone Minerals Limited fairly valued at the moment?

If you ask the average investor, they will find it safe to say that equities are not being reflected with the potential market demand for commodities. This is most likely true to some degree as the market is slowly waking up to the reality of the rush of the EV uptake.

Several years ago, most people were talking about the coming of electric vehicles and the onset of renewable energy. The former is definitely happening with a rush, and from what Scott is telling us, the demand is coming on much faster than the anticipation from the market.

As for renewable energy, I think there is evidence that the uranium boom is not too far away. The widespread use of solar energy and the need for batteries to store the surplus energy is what will drive this side of the market. It will probably not be the driver that could be called a revolution from an industrial need, but it will cause some ripple effects.

So if you look at the current market capitalisation of Blackstone Minerals, you will not be too far off the mark to bet that there is going to be a lot of added value to come.

PODCAST

About Scott Williamson

Managing Director, Blackstone Minerals Limited

Qualifications: BEng (Mining), BCom, MAusIMM

Scott Williamson is an experienced Managing Director with a demonstrated history of working in the mining and metals industry. He is skilled in Open Pit and Underground Mining, Corporate Finance, Investor Relations and Project Planning. A strong business development professional with equity capital markets experience, Scott graduated from West Australian School of Mines and Curtin University of Technology. Scott holds a WA First Class Mine Managers Certificate and is a member of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy.

About Blackstone Minerals Limited

Blackstone Minerals Limited (ASX: BSX) is developing the district-scale Ta Khoa Project in Northern Vietnam where the company is drilling out the large-scale Ban Phuc Nickel-PGE deposit. The Ta Khoa Nickel-PGE Project has existing modern mine infrastructure built to International Standards including a 450ktpa processing plant and permitted mine facilities.

Blackstone Minerals also owns a large landholding at the Gold Bridge project within the BC porphyry belt in British Columbia, Canada with large scale drill targets prospective for high-grade gold-cobalt-copper mineralisation. In Australia, Blackstone Minerals is exploring for nickel and gold in the Eastern Goldfields and gold in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. Blackstone Minerals has a board and management team with a proven track record of mineral discovery and corporate success.

The Ta Khoa Nickel-Copper-PGE Project

The Ta Khoa Nickel-Copper-PGE Project is located 160 km west of Hanoi in the Son La Province of Vietnam and includes an existing modern nickel mine built to Australian standards, which is currently under care and maintenance. The Ban Phuc nickel mine successfully operated as a mechanised underground nickel mine from 2013 to 2016. The Ta Khoa Nickel-Copper-PGE Project Previous project owners invested more than US$136m in capital and generated US$213m in revenue during a 3.5-year period of falling nickel prices. The project was placed into care and maintenance in mid-2016 during some of the lowest nickel prices in the past 10 years.

Existing infrastructure associated with the project includes an internationally-designed 450 ktpa processing plant connected to local hydro grid power with a fully-permitted tailings facility and a modern 250-person camp.

Since commencing maiden drilling in August 2019, Blackstone Minerals has made significant progress at Ta Khoa, drilling over 9,000 m of diamond core in more than 47 holes into the Ban Phuc DSS deposit and the highly prospective King Cobra discovery zone. An initial scoping study evaluating mining and processing options is well advanced, including potential in-country downstream processing to deliver high-value nickel sulfate into Asias rapidly expanding electric vehicle (EV) industry. The recently announced MOU with Asias largest and the worlds second-largest EV battery cathode manufacturer, Ecopro BM Co Limited represents a significant step toward making this a reality.

If you find this article informative and useful, please help me share the information. I try and write about topics that are interesting and have the potential to be of investment value. It is not easy to find stories that fit those parameters. If you or your organisation see the benefit of what is trying to achieve and have a need to share your journey, please contact me on noel.ong@ .com.au.

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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 11)  Makabayan bloc lawmakers filed a bill seeking to launch a probe on the sharp increase in teenage pregnancies in the Philippines.

House Resolution No. 1571 -- filed by Gabriela Womens Party Rep. Arlene Brosas; Bayan Muna Reps. Carlos Zarate, Ferdinand Gaite, and Eufemia Cullamat; ACT Teachers Rep. France Castro; and Kabataan Rep. Sarah Elago  wants the committee on population and family relations to conduct an investigation and to address high rates of teen pregnancies among girls aged 15 and below.

In the resolution, the Makabayan bloc lamented the fact that despite the implementation of Republic Act 10354 or the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012 for almost a decade now, the country has been recording a "rapid increase of unwanted pregnancy among teenagers."

It said the situation should be seen as a "national and social emergency."

The Makabayan bloc cited the latest data from the Commission on Population and Development, which revealed that Filipino minors who gave birth in 2019 increased to 62,510 from 62,341 in 2018.

"Pregnancy among minors is a major health issue, especially for the marginalized sectors who have little to no access to family planning methods, health services and other relevant information on reproductive health, the lawmakers said in the resolution.

They said minors who are pregnant or caring for their newborn babies suffer "worse circumstances" amid the pandemic when the government still implements quarantine controls, including existing age restrictions.

The implementation of Republic Act 10354 should be under review "in order to address the difficulties in implementing an age and development-appropriate sexuality education and other important government programs under the said law," the resolution read.
HUDSON  A Hudson Valley police chief who was put on leave last year after State Police, the Columbia County district attorney's office and the state comptroller's office investigated him for two years pleaded guilty Thursday in Columbia County Court to stealing from the state retirement system and the village of Chatham.

During an online court appearance, Chatham Police Chief Peter Volkmann pleaded guilty to fourth-degree grand larceny for stealing $74,222 from the retirement system and to official misconduct for filing false claims for $18,607 in mileage and expense reimbursement from Chatham.

Volkmann double-dipped while collecting a pension, the state comptroller's office said. Volkmann circumvented the $30,000 annual cap on a state retiree's earnings from other government sources by having 19 municipalities and school districts pay his private company, PF Volkmann & Associates, instead of paying him, the state comptroller's office said. The comptroller did not specify what services Volkmann provided for the payments.

Volkmann retired from serving as a police officer and emergency medical technician with the town of Ossining Police Department before he came to Columbia County, according to a Facebook page for his business which features a number of posts advertising active shooter action plan training.

Volkmann funneled the government payments through his firm from about 2012 to 2019, according to authorities. Volkmann was police chief of Chatham since the fall of 2013 and had been chief of the Stockport police until 2016, holding both jobs simultaneously.

The retirement double-dipping scheme began while Volkmann was the Stockport chief and carried over into his time leading the Chatham Police Department, District Attorney Paul Czajka said.

Forensic auditors from the state comptroller's office Division of Investigations dug into the municipal records as they investigated Volkmann with the assistance of Czajka's office and the State Police. They looked into the retirement payments as well as Volkmann's falsifying mileage and other expense reimbursements from the village of Chatham.

Volkmann immediately lost his job as the village chief of police under state law when he entered his guilty plea, Czajka said. As part of his plea deal, Volkmann must pay $92,829 in restitution before his sentencing.

Czajka described the multi-agency probe as an "extremely complex investigation under difficult circumstances." Czajka prosecuted the case with Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney Ryan Carty.

Columbia County Court Judge Richard Koweek will sentence Volkmann, 57, of Stuyvesant on July 19.

"Instead of upholding the law, Volkmann, the chief law enforcement officer of the village, defrauded the state retirement system and his community. Taxpayers have the right to expect their public officials, including law enforcement officials, will act with honesty and integrity," State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli said.

Volkmann had been on leave since September from his Chatham position. The move occurred days after the village of Chatham was served with a warrant to search Chatham Police Department computers, the mayor told the Times Union in an emailed statement.

Related: Chatham police chief on leave after state investigators search computers

Chatham police chief remains on leave during investigation

Investigators did not confiscate the Chatham computers they searched, Mayor John Howe told the Times Union last fall, but copied information from them.

Volkmann's paid leave was extended in October after village officials said they learned the inquiry was not complete.

He also served as police commissioner for the city of Hudson. He resigned after only nine months in the role which he was appointed to in Jan.. 2020. He left it when the investigation in Chatham became public.

Volkmann was represented by Albany attorney William Dreyer of Dreyer Boyajian who could not immediately be reached for comment.

Volkmann has been at the forefront of efforts to improve drug treatment, work that had earned him recognition.

At his department, Volkmann started the Chatham Cares 4 U initiative, which allows drug users to turn over drugs to the police without punishment and get help finding treatment. As a result of the program, Volkmann was the guest of U.S. Rep. Antonio Delgado at the State of the Union speech in Washington, D.C., last year to bring awareness to the effects of the opioid epidemic on the Capital Region.

Volkmann wrote about Chatham Cares 4 U and the legalization of marijuana in an essay the Times Union published on March 26, 2019. In the piece, Volkmann wrote about the need to connect people with treatment programs, adding: "This issue is personal  I have been in recovery since September 2, 1995."

"I support legalizing and regulating marijuana for adult use because its prohibition has caused much more damage to communities and individuals than its use," he continued in the essay.

"Marijuana prohibition has cost taxpayers billions of dollars and forced law enforcement to divert resources to marijuana arrests, all without improving public safety or reducing usage."
Larry Flynt, who turned Hustler magazine into an adult entertainment empire while championing First Amendment rights, has died at age 78.



Flynt had been in frail health and died of heart failure at his Hollywood Hills home, said his nephew, Jimmy Flynt Jr.

From his beginnings as an Ohio strip club owner to his reign as founder of one of the most explicit adult-oriented magazines, Flynt constantly challenged the establishment and became a target for the religious right and feminist groups.

Flynt scored a surprising U.S. Supreme Court victory over the Rev. Jerry Falwell, who had sued him for libel after a 1983 Hustler alcohol ad suggested Falwell had lost his virginity to his mother in an outhouse.

Flynt's company produced not only Hustler but other niche publications. He owned a video production company, various websites, a Los Angeles-area casino, and 10 Hustler boutiques. He also licensed the Hustler name to independently owned strip clubs.

His publishing and financial successes were offset in equal measure by controversies and tragedies.

Shot by a sniper in 1978, Flynt was paralyzed from the waist down and used a wheelchair the rest of his life. He fought battles with drug and alcohol addiction, and his fourth wife died of a heroin overdose.

His daughter, Lisa Flynt-Fugate, died in a 2014 car crash in Ohio at age 47.

With a fortune estimated at more than $100 million, Flynt spent his later years in the political arena. When Gov. Gray Davis was recalled by California voters in 2003, Flynt was among 135 candidates who ran to replace him. He called himself "a smut peddler who cares" and gathered more than 15,000 votes.

A self-described progressive, Flynt was no fan of Donald Trump. Before the 2016 election, he offered payment of up to $1 million for video or audio recordings of Trump engaging in illegal or "sexually demeaning or derogatory" activity.

In 2017, Flynt offered a $10 million reward for evidence that would lead to Trump's impeachment.

Flynt's life was depicted in the acclaimed 1996 film "The People vs. Larry Flynt," which brought Oscar nominations for director Milos Forman and Woody Harrelson, who played Flynt.

Court Correspondent

Former Minister of Labour and Social Welfare Petronella Kagonye yesterday appeared in court on allegations of fraudulently parcelling out stands to desperate home-seekers.

Kagonye faced four counts of fraud, one of theft and another one for criminal abuse of office when she appeared before Harare Magistrate Mr Stanford Mambanje.

Prosecutor Mr Michael Reza did not oppose bail, saying the investigating officer had written that Kagonye was not a flight risk and was also breastfeeding a 7-month-old baby who should not suffer for the deeds of her mother.

Mr Reza, however, said the court should impose stringent bail conditions.

He proposed that Kagonye be granted $30 000 bail and stay at her given address and should not interfere with witnesses.

He also said she should report once a week on Fridays at the police and to surrender her passport.

Kagonye's lawyer Mr Rungano Mahuni told the court that his client was denying the charges. Mr Mambanje granted bail to Kagonye as submitted by the State.

The matter was remanded to March 30.

On the first count, the complainant is Vaduku Housing Cooperative.

The court heard that some time in February 2014, Kagonye approached the cooperative and informed its members that she owned a piece of land at Solomio Farm yet it belonged to ZB bank

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It is the State case that she went on to tell the cooperative members that she had offered them the land for residential stands.

Kagonye then informed members to pay US$10 per square metre and the value of a stand would be determined by size.

It is alleged that during the same period Kagonye received US$20 000 from Porte Rodgers the chairperson of the cooperative.

On June 12 2014, the court heard that Kagonye received a further US$14 000 through a bank transfer to her company Glorious Real Estates and another US$4 500 in June 2015.

The cooperative suffered total prejudice of US$38 500.

Kagonye used the same modus operandi and fleeced Shingiriro Housing cooperative US$48 500 and a further US$148 500 received from Solomon Mujuru Housing Cooperative after selling them another piece of land belonging to ZB bank.

Kagonye allegedly connived with Nyangui Housing Trust and also defrauded Ruwa residents US$40 000 after misrepresenting that she owned Cloverdale Farm in Goromonzi.

It was further alleged that between June 2018 to July 2020 Kagonye wrote to then Information Communication Technology Minister Supa Mandiwanzira requesting computers to donate to schools in Goromonzi South.

It is the State's case that on June 20, 2018 Mandiwanzira then wrote to Potraz requesting facilitation of the donations through its e-learning project to Goromonzi South schools.

Potraz donated the computers to Kagonye which were collected by her brother Evans Kagonye on her behalf and he signed the collection form.

Potraz made a follow up on the donation, but up to date the computers cannot be accounted for.
THE Trade Union Congress of Namibia (Tucna), has described the prevalence of corruption in the country as an epidemic.

According to the union's general secretary, Mahongora Kavihuha, it is absurd that president Hage Geingob does not admit this reality or is unable to truthfully address the issue.

"Corruption in Namibia is not an issue of compartmentalising in this or that category, it is in your face, it is glaring at you in broad daylight," Kavihuha said at a media conference on Tuesday.

He was referring to the president's first address to Cabinet recently that statistics showed that only 7% of Namibians had participated in bribery in return for services.

"Did the president bother to understand why only 7% of Namibians had participated in bribery in return for services?

"Could it be that the 7% who could afford the bribes are the Fishrot multitudes and their ilk, while the majority of our people are suffering?" Kavihuha asked.

He also touched on the issue of Air Namibia saying the government was pushing its own agenda.

"Air Namibia's problems stem from and are deeply buried in the desire and drive of the government to privatise all national assets at all costs," Kavihuha said.

He added that Tucna will not accept a national budget that does not include a 10% salary increase for civil servants.

Kavihuha said civil servants have gone for six years without a salary increase and this time they will not stand for it.

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"Our demand was a 10% increment this year and we stand by that and the consequences for failure to honour this demand will not be good, to say the least."

He added that they want to see included in this year's national budget strong and cogent proposals on what action will be taken to address the issues of illicit financial outflows, especially with banks and tax-evasion.

"Our advice to town councils and municipalities is to cut out the middleman between them and the people who need services," Kavihuha said.

He said municipalities are empowered by law to provide the services for which they were established and must not outsource these services to third parties who deliver them to the public at exorbitant prices.

"Many new politicians have entered their current space on a promise of progressive service delivery and they can only do so if and when they cut out entrepreneurship and profiteering," Kavihuha said.
A mining official was assaulted by mining mafia on Wednesday while she had gone to seize a tractor trolley engaged in illegal quarrying in Sheopur.

Bhawna Sengar, Assistant Mining Officer was assaulted by mining mafia for seizing a tractor trolley engaged in illegal sand mining from river Parvati. A local resident Jwari Kevat assaulted Sengar with an iron rod forcing the team to flee the spot. Later the police on the complaint of the officer booked Jwari and his son Narendra.

As the team reached the spot where illegal mining of sand was taking place, the fearless miners opened fire on them and fled with three tractor trollies. Police also retaliated forcing the criminals to leave behind a tractor and four trollies on the spot.

The incident comes days after after mining mafia shot dead a forest guard in Dewas district and tried running over an SHO in Morena.

A similar incident was reported last Sunday from Gwalior where mining mafia fired bullets at police personnel.

On Jan 30, the locals had assaulted the forest officers in village Panadi and had fled with tractor trollies seized by the government officers.

Meanwhile another dreaded incident of fearless mafia operations has come to fore on Wednesday. Its reported that mining mafia had fired shots on the joint team of police and forest department.

Taking cognizance of the assault, Superintendent of Police Gwalior Vineet Khanna has written to district collector for suspending arms licences issued in nearby three villagesKaimra, Jarah and Barwasin.

The Gwalior-Chambal region has been in the news for unhindered illegal mining activities. The mafia in the region have been involved in assaulting the government officials including the police.

Such incidents have been reported despite CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan issuing a stern warning for the mining mafia after the forest guard Madanlal Verma was shot dead in Dewas last week on Thursday while chasing timber mafia inside dense forest area.

Besides, a Station House Officer (TI) Sudhir Singh Kushwah was injured as mining mafia running away with the tractor trollies laden with illegally mined sand in village Jalalpur in Morena last week. The incident took place when the officer with his team had intercepted half a dozen tractor trollies laden with illegally mined sand from river Chambal.
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The 1918 influenza pandemic provides a cautionary tale for what the future may hold for COVID-19, says a Michigan State University researcher.

After a decade studying a flu virus that killed approximately 15,000 Michigan residents, Siddharth Chandra, a professor in MSU's James Madison College, saw his research come to life as he watched the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"It was so surreal," said Chandra, who has a courtesy appointment in epidemiology and biostatistics. "All of a sudden, I was living my research."

Chandra's research is published in the American Journal of Public Health with co-authors Julia Christensen, a graduate of James Madison College; Madhur Chandra, Senior Community Epidemiologist with the Ingham County Health Department and graduate of the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at MSU; and Nigel Paneth, professor of epidemiology and biostatistics and pediatrics at MSU.

Using influenza infection and mortality data on Michigan from 1918-1920, Chandra identified four distinct waves. The first large peak was in March 1918. "After a second spike in cases in October 1918, the governor instituted a statewide ban on public gatherings," Chandra said. "Much like the restrictions that were put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic."

After three weeks, the number of cases decreased and the ban was lifted, which led to another peak in December 1918. "The ban didn't stop the spread of the flu. It just delayed the spike in cases," he said.

Chandra mapped the data showing the peaks and spikes in cases from October 1918 and December 1918 and tracked flu virus case growth by county over time. In October, counties in the southern part of the state and near the Mackinac Straits had the highest numbers but by December, the highest numbers of cases were in the heart of the state.

The most surprising piece of data came 18 months later in February 1920, when a statewide explosion of cases created a massive spike even larger than the one in October 1918. For Chandra, it is an educated guess as to the reasons for this delayed increase.

"Assuming it's the same influenza virus, World War I ended in 1918 and the men were coming home to their families," he said. "We had a mobile agent that brought the virus home to infect family members, which would explain the increase in cases among children and the elderly."

Unfortunately, there is not a way to confirm this, Chandra noted. "We would need samples from patients in 1920 from across the state. Then, we would need to compare those with samples from patients in 1918 from across the state, and that's not likely to happen."

The weather may have also been a factor since cool temperatures with low humidity likely provided optimal conditions for the virus to live and spread. Another factor that played a role was the absence of a vaccine.

"In 1918, there was no hope for a vaccine. In 2021, we have a vaccine available," he said.

One of the key insights from the 1918 pandemic that can inform the public health response to the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic is the number of people who are susceptible to the virus. Which means that it is possible that a spike like the February 1920 one will occur in late 2021 or early 2022.

"So many people will remain susceptible until they get vaccinated," Chandra said. "Bad things can still happen a year or two from now even if we see a decrease in the number of cases now. We still have over 200 million people walking around who are susceptible to the virus, including myself."

###

(Note for media: Please include the following link to the study in all online media coverage: https:/ / ajph. aphapublications. org/ doi/ 10. 2105/ AJPH. 2020. 305969 )

Michigan State University has been working to advance the common good in uncommon ways for more than 165 years. One of the top research universities in the world, MSU focuses its vast resources on creating solutions to some of the world's most pressing challenges, while providing life-changing opportunities to a diverse and inclusive academic community through more than 200 programs of study in 17 degree-granting colleges.

For MSU news on the Web, go to MSUToday. Follow MSU News on Twitter at twitter.com/MSUnews
BOULDER, Colo., Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Premier Mortgage Group, a division of Cherry Creek Mortgage, announced today they helped more than 2,600 home owners in Colorado find mortgage solutions to support their financial goals last year amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The company is proud to support Colorado home owners across the Boulder, Ft. Collins, and Greeley communities. Additionally, the company is recognizing Loan Officer Portia Noel's achievement of helping 294 families in 2020!

Last year, record-low mortgage rates combined with the pressure of a new work- and school-from-home culture of the pandemic only increased demand for those looking to purchase a new home or refinance an existing mortgage. During this time of economic uncertainty and constant change, Premier Mortgage Group is committed to supporting their clients and guiding them through one of the largest financial transactions of their lives.

"I'm grateful to have worked with so many people in our community over the years. Whether it be for a purchase or refinance, it's an honor to help people obtain the right mortgage to meet their needs," said Noel.

Premier Mortgage Group is centered around the core values of relationships, service and integrity. Their mission is to serve as trusted home loan advisers and develop lifetime relationships with their customers, partners and each other. Learn more at https://www.pmglending.com.

About Premier Mortgage Group

A Colorado owned and operated company since 1986, Premier Mortgage Group, a division of Cherry Creek Mortgage, LLC, NMLS #3001, is one of the Rocky Mountain Region's most trusted providers of home loans. While enjoying the benefits of our nationwide lending presence, we have the infrastructure to offer the personalized support and decision making of a local, entrepreneurial company. Learn more at: https://www.pmglending.com.

Contact:

Kimberly Holliday

[email protected]

SOURCE Premier Mortgage Group

Related Links

https://www.pmglending.com


Concern over the spread of COVID-19 has delayed some voting in theNewfoundland and Labrador provincial election, postponed school holidays in Ontario and prompted Manitoba to seek vaccine from a Canadian supplier.

A person wears a protective mask after grocery shopping during the COVID-19 pandemic in Toronto on Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

Concern over the spread of COVID-19 has delayed some voting in theNewfoundland and Labrador provincial election, postponed school holidays in Ontario and prompted Manitoba to seek vaccine from a Canadian supplier.

There won't be any polling stations Saturday on the Avalon Peninsula, which includes the capital of St. John's, but voting is to go ahead in other parts of the province. The results will not be released until all ballots have been cast.

"Many election workers have resigned out of fear of interacting with the public on election day," Elections NL said in a news release Thursday. "We cannot hold traditional polls without the support of these people."

Chief electoral officer Bruce Chaulk called for the move after provincial health authorities reported a record 53 new infections and 32 presumptive cases Wednesday. Polling station workers were backing out in droves over fears of contracting the virus.

Since a funeral-related outbreak in the spring, the province had not seen daily case numbers exceed 10 until this week. Another 100 infections were reported Thursday.

In Ontario, Education Minister Stephen Lecce also cited fear of the virus spreading when he announced that March break for students is being postponed until the week of April 12.

Lecce said the decision was made on the advice of public health officials after an increased number of infections following the December holiday break.

Ontario's largest teachers union had called on the provincial government not to postpone March break, saying students, families and teachers need the time off.

Ontario reported 945 new infections, but public health officials warned that number was under-reported.

The pandemic science advisory group warned that the more contagious COVID-19 variants now account for five to 10 per cent of all infections. The group said strong public health measures and vaccinations will be vital to avoid a third wave of the pandemic.

Nationally, there has been a downward trend in daily case counts.

But Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada's chief public health officer, said in a statement that "the risk remains that trends could reverse quickly, particularly in areas of the country where new variants of concern have emerged."

Eight provinces have reported the variants.

On the vaccine front, after weeks of uncertainty in the supply chain, Maj.-Gen. Dany Fortin, head of Canada's distribution efforts, advised that manufacturers have said they will deliver the quantities promised for the end of the first quarter.

Fortin said the slowdown of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine deliveries will end next week as the company has confirmed it will send almost 1.8 million doses over the next month.

Moderna's next shipment, however, will be two-thirds of what was previously expected for the week of Feb. 22. The remaining doses needed to reach two million in the quarter are expected in March.

About 2.5 per cent of Canadians have received at least one dose of a vaccine so far. Only 0.5 per cent have received a second dose.

"Weve had a few hiccups, but overall I think we are still on track, said Dr. Howard Njoo, Canadas deputy chief public health officer.

In Manitoba, Premier Brian Pallister said his Progressive Conservative government has made a deal to buy a Canadian-made COVID-19 vaccine without going through Ottawa.

The deal would see Manitoba buy two million doses of vaccine from Providence Therapeutics. Providence, which operates in Toronto and Calgary, started clinical trials last month and hopes to receive federal approval in the fall.

"We have learned the hard way that we cannot rely on only one source of supply and that supply is somewhere outside of Canada," Pallister said.

He said he wrote to the prime minister and other premiers Thursday to invite them to join the initiative. He doesn't expect pushback from Ottawa.

Alberta Premier Jason Kenney said Thursday he had also spoken with the company and would like to see domestic vaccine production.

Kenney said Providence told him production in Canada would only be feasible with 50 million doses ordered.

"An order of that scale would obviously require co-operation across the country," Kenney said in Edmonton.

Anita Anand, federal minister for public services and procurement, said Ottawa has already secured vaccines for all Canadians to receive a dose by the end of September 2021.

There were 351 new cases of COVID-19 in Alberta Thursday.

Alberta has begun a four-part program to lift restrictions. Dine-in service at restaurants and one-on-one fitness training were among the health limitations eased this week.

Over the past seven days, there have been 24,331 new infections across the country. The seven-day rolling average of new cases is 3,476.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 11, 2021

 With files from Steve Lambert in Winnipeg
A cohort of various Laredo representatives, leaders of the Texas Democratic Party and prominent doctor Ricardo Cigarroa gathered virtually on Thursday to demand more vaccines and resources to battle COVID-19 be sent to Webb County.

Even as Laredo has maintained the highest hospitalization rate in the state for two months and was identified as the No. 1 COVID-19 hotspot in the country by the New York Times, the state has sent far fewer vaccines to the area than it has counties of similar or even smaller size, such as Lubbock and Smith counties.

Lubbock County, which has a population of about 310,000, has received a total of 58,500 vaccines from the state as of Thursday.

But Webb County, with a population over 280,000, has received less than half of what has been sent to Lubbock, 28,600 first doses.

And Smith County, population 233,000, has received 40,250 vaccines, about 40% more than Webb County for a population 83% of its size.

Weve pleaded, weve asked, weve begged the state to give us an answer. And we simply do not get one, said Laredo City Councilmember Alberto Torres.

Laredo Health Authority Dr. Victor Trevino has noted that the states metric for vaccine distribution depends almost solely on the population of medical workers in each county. Laredo, being medically underserved, has thus received an unequitable amount of vaccines.

But Torres chalked up the methodology to pure politics. Webb County has received fewer doses than more Republican-leaning counties because Gov. Greg Abbott is playing politics, he said.

(City Council has) asked for the National Guard to be sent to Laredo. A few days after we submit our request what does he do? He sends the National Guard  but not to Laredo, Torres said.

Abbott also announced this week that mass vaccination sites manned by the Federal Emergency Management Agency would be established in underserved communities in Texas this month, but again, not in South Texas, Torres noted.

Laredo has experienced a surge in deaths, in particular in January and February this year, when the vaccine was already in distribution.

Dr. Cigarroa cast shame on the governor for this.

Its disgusting whats happening with our vaccination process. And let there be no doubt, that the border has been the bastard child of Texas throughout its history. No. 1 in the country, No. 1 in Texas for a month, and no response? he said.

Considering that over 42,000 Webb County residents have tested positive for the virus over the course of the pandemic, that many more were likely unknowing asymptomatic carriers and 27,000 people have received at least one dose of the vaccine  if the state could administer 50,000 vaccines in three days, Laredo would near herd immunity in a month, Cigarroa said.

He begged for federal help to help accomplish this.

The only way were going to do this, Henry (Cuellar), is for the federal government to take over. Because our governor is not going to do it. Hes put his head in the sand, and hes not going to do it, Cigarroa said.

Laredos Rep. Henry Cuellar agreed that the vaccine supply should go straight from Washington to each community, rather than the state deciding how vaccines are dispersed.

This is already happening in the pharmacies distributing the vaccine, with their allotments being sent straight from Washington. Cuellar said community health centers will soon be getting vaccine allotments this way too.

I get it, I get it, I get it. The federal government is starting to bypass and do things directly because its not working with the state. The state had 10 months to work on the logistical issues on the vaccines. Either theyre very incompetent, or theyre making decisions to send vaccines to other places. Its one or the other or both, Cuellar said.

Texas Democratic Party Chair Gilberto Hinojosa blamed incompetence and the governors focus on fringe issues that dont matter to people who are worried about surviving.

On Feb. 1, the Webb County Democratic Party formed a resolution supporting Laredo City Councils actions requesting support from the National Guard, and encouraging local businesses to open for curbside or carry-out services only.

Julia Wallace may be reached at 956-728-2543 or jwallace@lmtonline.com
ROME, FEB 11 - The European Commission said Thursday that, after falling 8.8% in 2020 with the COVID-19 pandemic, it expects Italy's GDP to rise by 3.4% this year. It forecast a sim rise, of 3.5%, in 2022. It said Italy's GDP will not return to its 2019 level by the end of 2022. But the Commission also said that its forecasts do not take account of the Next Generation EU COVID Recovery Fund, which will have a "considerable" effect on growth. (ANSA).
Lawmakers on marijuana study committee plan out-of-state site visits

Lawmakers want a firsthand look at legal cannabis operations in response to South Dakotans voting to loosen their state's pot laws last fall.
WASHINGTON - President Joe Biden is hoping that launching an effort to build roads and bridges can help to unite Democrats and Republicans in a time of sharp partisan divisions.

President Joe Biden speaks during a meeting with lawmakers on investments in infrastructure, in the Oval Office of the White House, Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021, in Washington. From left, Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Okla., Vice President Kamala Harris, Biden, Sen. Tom Carper, D-Del., and Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

WASHINGTON - President Joe Biden is hoping that launching an effort to build roads and bridges can help to unite Democrats and Republicans in a time of sharp partisan divisions.

Biden met with lawmakers from both parties at the White House to discuss infrastructure on Thursday, even as the Senate is holding impeachment proceedings against former President Donald Trump where partisan divisions are on full display.

Ive been around long enough," Biden said, "that infrastructure wasnt a Republican or a Democratic issue.

The president specifically mentioned the potential for improvement projects in the states of the senators attending the meeting, signalling that lawmakers might be willing to co-operate in order to make their voters' lives better.

Biden highlighted the need for repairs to a lot of bridges in West Virginia. Republican Sen. Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, the ranking member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, was among those in attendance. She later voiced her support for a bipartisan surface transportation reauthorization bill that makes long-term investments in our nations roads and bridges.

The president also referenced Route 9 in his home state of Delaware, which he shares with Democratic Sen. Tom Carper, the committee chairman, who was also in the Oval Office meeting Thursday and had discussed these issues with Biden last week.

The American people desperately want us to bring our roads, trains and bridges out of the last century and into the future," Carper said after Thursday's meeting.

Carper pledged to work on a transportation bill that will focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions by cars and trucks and boosting electric cars. Im glad its at the top of the administrations agenda.?

The current authorization bill for surface transportation expires in September, so there is no time to waste,? Carper said, adding that he expects bipartisan support for the reauthorization bill in the Senate.

Also at the meeting were Vice-President Kamala Harris, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg virtually, Republican Sen. Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma and Democratic Sen. Ben Cardin of Maryland.

Inhofe later told reporters that the meeting with Biden was "very good, very good.

One reason is that Ive known the president forever, and weve worked on highway bills before," Inhofe said. The main thing that I want to be careful on is when youre working on infrastructure thats high dollar stuff.

Biden said there are a number of things out there that the American people are looking for us to step up" and do. During the presidential campaign, Biden committed to deploying $2 trillion on infrastructure and clean energy investments over four years.

His campaign pledged that millions of jobs would flow from repairing roads, building electric vehicle charging stations, weatherizing buildings, improving access to public transit and updating the U.S. power grid to be carbon-pollution free by 2035.

Since the pandemic began in February 2020, the United States has lost 256,000 construction jobs, lowering total construction employment to 7.4 million. Still, total construction spending has increased slightly to an annualized rate of $1.49 trillion, according to the Census Bureau. About a quarter of that spending comes from the federal, state and local governments.

Both the Obama and Trump administrations famously promised to invest in infrastructure, only never fully to deliver. The term infrastructure week became something of a joke during the Trump era, when it was associated with a policy push that was meant to take public attention away from controversial remarks or actions by the president.

Biden has been warned that his push for $1.9 trillion in coronavirus relief might hamper a later push to get bipartisan support for infrastructure improvements. In a speech earlier this month to the Senate, Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, said a party-line vote on financial relief would poison the well for infrastructure.

I think its going to be harder if we start off on the wrong foot, if we start off in a purely partisan way, Portman said.

The Kinder Institute for Urban Research at Rice University released an analysis Wednesday about the infrastructure needs of 134 cities. Its survey found cities prioritizing transportation and water and climate projects, but also projects to address the fallout from the pandemic such as broadband access, emergency response and health facilities, and public transit for essential workers.

Mayors and other local regional leaders around the country are very much in alignment with what President Biden has talked about, especially with climate change," said Bill Fulton, director of the institute. "But its clear that the pandemic has changed infrastructure needs.

Boak reported from Baltimore.
There is no list price for the buildings, for which Dinkel said hes received unsolicited offers from developers over the years. Dinkel declined to say how much he expects the property to sell for, except to predict that it will be much higher than the $67,000 the family bought it for in the 1920s.
Restaurants will no longer be allowed to sell pre-packaged meals through arrangements with supermarkets and other outlets, as Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley definitively closed this loophole yesterday.

Rowley said this would not be allowed to continue, as it defeats the purpose of the public health regulations. Restaurants and street food vendors were among those businesses ordered to close to limit the movement of people and curb the spread of Covid-19.
Kids want to fish? You don't know how yourself? Here's a little help
Le My Quynh, senior student at the Hanoi's Academy of Cryptography Techniques, stands on a Hanoi street. Photo by VnExpress/Luu Quy.

Oracle lauded Le My Quynh, an information security senior college student in Hanoi, for detecting four major vulnerabilities to the world's largest database management company.

"Hello everyone, my name is Quynh. I am a senior at the Academy of Cryptography Techniques, Hanoi, and a security researcher, a job focusing on vulnerabilities in the Java platform."

That was how Quynh introduced herself at a security webinar last October.

Over the past five years, the 23-year-old had to repeat this introduction during many lectures since few thought one in her early twenties could detect as many as four vulnerabilities with high severity in less than a year, transforming her into a favorite speaker at various information security events.

The four Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE), the general term for security vulnerabilities, Quynh has found are CVE-2020-14625, CVE-2020-14825, CVE-2020-2883, and CVE-2020-2798. Of these, three vulnerabilities rated 9.8 out of 10 by experts on Oracle WebLogic Server in terms of severity. The other rated 7.2.

Oracle's WebLogic Server application is used by tens of thousands of companies around the world, bringing billions of dollars in revenue to the U.S. technology giant. If not detected early, the vulnerabilities above could be exploited by hackers and might cause unpredictable consequences.

With Oracle publishing a list of vulnerabilities and patches for its products every quarter, the name of the senior college student popped up thrice last year.

Getting hooked by chance

To be able to detect her very first CVE in two weeks, it took Quynh four years of schooling and two months of research.

But she admitted she did not enter this industry because of her passion or with a specific goal, but simply found it "cool."

"I decided to study IT since I have always had a curious mind and the program has a study abroad option," she recalled.

Surprisingly, the first-year college student who loves literature and knows how to play the piano had completed her study program with good results and earned a study slot abroad. But when she achieved her initial goal, Quynh realized she really loved information security and later decided to continue pursuing this field.

At the end of her sophomore year, Quynh learned and sought wisdom from older college students and later earned an apprenticeship at the information security center of state-owned telecom firm Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group (VNPT).

"I was mesmerized and really got hooked. Initially, I just wanted to learn about the field from older students, but later became interested in this industry."

When she discovered the first Oracle vulnerability in late 2019, she screamed for joy, but later worried someone may have detected the flaw before her.

According to Quynh, these are emotions she would never forget since her passion produced results and got recognized.

Dream of heading overseas

To find a vulnerability, information security personnel like Quynh spend months researching the problem and looking back at the discovered vulnerabilities. So sitting in front of the computer for tens of hours a day is not a strange thing for this woman.

Even though finding the problem is already a challenge, proving it a threat is even more difficult, with the hardest step writing codes to hack into the system.

"Just like saying an old lock is bad for securing things. We also need to show how the bad guy can potentially break the lock," Quynh explained.

She said an IT engineer "must really understand the software and vulnerability" in order to detect the CVE.

All the vulnerabilities she found relate to Oracle's WebLogic, which was written using Java programming language.

Focusing and specializing on problems related to serialization in Java, most of the vulnerabilities Quynh has detected are associated with this mechanism. Some errors can be found in a week, while some may take her up to a month to discover.

Once found, it can take months to come up with the patch to fix the CVE, with solutions needed as soon as possible to minimize the impact on clients.

Quynh revealed she wishes to become an influencer in the global information security industry.

"I want to detect even harder vulnerabilities and become a professional information security researcher. I hope to be able to speak in front of a world-class security conference one day."

Quynh spends eight hours every day working at VNPT's information security center and uses her evenings to work on her graduation project.

Despite her busy schedule, she aims to pursue a more balanced lifestyle in and outside of work.

"I always try to keep a positive mindset and manage my tasks, while getting enough sleep and having spare time to hang out with friends on weekends."

Since the process of detecting and fixing vulnerabilities does not yield immediate results, Quynh shared it is important for an information security researcher to persevere.

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PUEBLO, Colo.  The trial of a man charged in the death of his pregnant girlfriend has been put on hold for two weeks after someone in the courtroom tested positive for COVID-19.

Tenth Judicial District Judge Thomas Flesher announced the delay in the trial of Donthe Lucas in Pueblo on Wednesday but did not provide any details about who tested positive, other than that the person had been in court for proceedings this week, The Pueblo Chieftain reported. Local health officials recommended the court impose a 14-day quarantine, he said.

Lucas is charged with murder in the death of Kelsie Schelling. She was last seen in February 2013 headed from her home in Denver to Pueblo to talk to Lucas about her pregnancy. She is presumed to be dead but her body has not been found.

Access to the courtroom has been limited during the trial, with only members of the Lucas and Schelling family and about three members of the public allowed inside. The delay was announced on what was supposed to be the sixth day of the trial.

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Encyclopedia of Iranian herbs, medicinal plants unveiled

02/11/21

Source: Tehran Times

An encyclopedia of herbs and medicinal plants endemic to Iran was unveiled in a ceremony on Wednesday. In this line, data related to 7,400 different plants in the fields of botany and ecology, pharmaceutical plants, and edible plants have been gathered in the encyclopedia along with some 9,000 pictures, ISNA reported.

In terms of pharmaceutical use, the plants have been categorized into 135 sections. For instance, there are 73 plants effective in lowering blood sugar.



Some 2,300 species of medicinal plants are cultivated across Iran, of which 1,738 species are endemic species, Tarahom Behzad, deputy director of the Forests, Ranges, and Watershed Management Organization, has said.



Of the 8,425 species of herbs identified in the country, 2,300 have medicinal, aromatic, and cosmetic properties, he added.



Iran earns some $500 million annually by exporting medicinal herbs, Mohammad Hassan Asareh, an official with the Vice Presidency for Science and Technology said.



About $350 million of the revenue is related to saffron and the rest is related to other medicinal herbs, he noted.



A 10-year plan for the development of technological activities in the field of medicinal plants and the growth of herbal industrial products was prepared by the headquarters for developing medicinal herbs.



The plan is considered as a roadmap in the field of medicinal plants industry, according to the Vice Presidency for Science and Technology.



According to this program, the most important medicinal plants with useful properties are identified, then knowledge-based, creative, and technology companies that are active in the industry are supported.



In order to determine the appropriate indicators for control and expert supervision in the process of production of seeds and seedlings of medicinal plants and the development of required standards, the roadmap was developed.



The main activities of the project are carried out in three fields, one of which is the registration of plant genetic resources, indigenous and local cultivars of medicinal plants.

Level 5 lockdown restrictions are set to be extended by at least another six weeks , with only schools and the construction sector likely to be allowed to reopen before Easter.

A refreshed Living with Covid plan will be published the week after next, but senior figures involved in drafting the document say it is unlikely to give definitive timelines or dates for reopening society and the economy.

Subject to Cabinet approval, the current Level 5 restrictions, which are due to expire on March 5, are likely to be extended until at least April 12.

As well as keeping most shops and hospitality venues closed, it is also likely to mean no changes to the current stay at home advisory and the 5km travel limit  although Tanaiste Leo Varadkar is pushing for households to be allowed to meet outdoors after March 5.

The Government is primarily focused on the phased reopening of schools and the construction sector next month, with close monitoring of the impact of increased movement of parents and construction workers likely to dictate whether more restrictions can be eased in April.

But the non-essential retail and hospitality sectors will be closed for several more weeks. Pubs, restaurants, bars and many hotels are not expected to reopen until May or June at the earliest and with a focus on outdoor dining and drinking. But reopening will depend on case numbers, hospitalisations and the reproductive rate of the virus.

The revised plan twill outline a pathway for reopening, but at present it is not intended to give definitive dates or timelines for sectors  with a strong desire in Government to ensure this is the last lockdown of the pandemic.

The revised plan will try and outline a pathway, but it wont be definitive and the Government wants to prevent an open-close-open-close approach, a senior Government source said.

A second senior Government source said it made sense to attempt to reduce daily case numbers to very low levels, while vaccinating high-risk people through to the end of March.

But a third Government source pointed out that some form of restrictions on movement would be needed to ensure mass vaccination centres could operate safely. There will be no grand reopening, the source said. Vaccination plays a really important part in all this, but it cant be threatened either.

Ministers hope improving weather in the spring and summer will pave the way for some easing of restrictions on outdoor gatherings. Mr Varadkar told his parliamentary party last night that Covid-19 case numbers were falling at a rate of 30pc week on week. He said the lockdown was working and this strengthened the case to reopen schools in February and March.

Read More

He said that the revision of the existing Living with Covid plan later this month would take account of the vaccination programme and the emergence of new virus variants. He said the Government would give continuation dates for various pandemic supports schemes that were due to expire at the end of March.

Meanwhile, there was a big jump in the number of family outbreaks of the virus last week in private homes  up by 37 to 72.

The more infectious UK strain of the virus means more close contacts of a person who is infected are testing positive.

People who are close contacts will now be tested twice  including on day 10 of exposure. If their second test on day 10 finds the virus is not detected, they can end their restriction of movement then.

Meanwhile, there were 54 Covid-related deaths and 1,006 newly diagnosed cases yesterday, indicating slow but steady progress is being made in curbing the spread.

The number of Covid-19 patients in hospital has fallen to 1,032 but 173 who are seriously ill remain in intensive care, with 40 more hospitalisations in the previous 24 hours.

Among the new cases yesterday, 516 were in Dublin, 63 in Cork, 46 in Galway, 43 in Meath and 36 in Louth, while the remaining 302 were spread across all other counties.

Covid-19 vaccination figures show 153,654 first doses have been given up to last Sunday; 86,833 people have received the two doses.

Meanwhile, the National Immunisation Advisory Committee is to examine the recommendation from the World Health Organisation that the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine can be given to adults of all ages.
A Richmond teen pointed a loaded AR-15 style rifle at a Berkeley man in an attempt to take his car  but the man thought the weapon was fake and walked away, police said.

Berkeley police arrested the teen, 15, along with a 17-year-old, on suspicion of attempted carjacking and several weapons charges on Tuesday night.

Police said they found the rifle concealed in the 15-year-old boys clothing, and found a loaded polymer non-serialized handgun  known as a Ghost gun  with a 30-round magazine on the path the 17-year-old used as he fled on a scooter from police.

A man in his 50s told police that he had just parked his vehicle on the 1900 block of Grant Street at 8:50 p.m. when two teenagers walked up to him from behind and demanded the keys to his car.

When he turned around, police said, one of the teens pointed the rifle at him, but the victim believed the rifle was probably a toy gun and walked away. Police said one of the teens followed the victim until he approached a nearby residence.

Police officers later found the teens less than half a mile away near Sacramento and Delaware streets, where police said each teen ran in opposite directions. One ran toward the North Berkeley BART Station, and the other rode away on a scooter toward Hearst Street, through Ohlone Park, police said.

Multiple officers searched for the suspects and found the 15-year-old in the North Berkeley BART parking lot with the AR-15 style rifle in his clothing, police said, and the 17-year-old at Ohlone Park. When police officers searched the path the 17-year-old used to flee on his scooter, police said, they found the loaded polymer non-serialized handgun.

The Richmond teenagers were arrested on suspicion of attempted carjacking and several weapons related violations, police said.

Lauren Hernandez is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: lauren.hernandez@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ByLHernandez

Kenya: Judiciary to Shortlist Applicants in 21 Days Nation, 11 July 2016 Shortlisted candidates for Judiciary jobs will be known in three weeks after the Judicial Service Commission on Monday started scrutinising the applications. Read more 

Kenya: JSC to Kick Off Interviews for Top Judiciary Posts Nation, 9 July 2016 The Judicial Service Commission will convene today to open applications for Kenya's top Judiciary jobs, with lawyers saying they will compile a list of qualities of the candidates. Read more 

Kenya: Senior Lawyers Weigh in On Appointment of Next Chief Justice Nation, 7 July 2016 Senior lawyers on Thursday said that the next Chief Justice should be an "angel" with the highest moral standing as well as an excellent legal mind. Read more 

Kenya: Court Petitioned to Ensure New Chief Justice Is a Woman Nation, 7 July 2016 A man who sued former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga in June for transferring 105 judges wants the new CJ to be a woman. Read more 

Kenya: Deadline for CJ Applications Extended By a Day Capital FM, 5 July 2016 The Judicial Service Commission has extended the deadline for receiving applications to the position of Chief Justice from Thursday, July 7 to Friday July 8, 2016 at 5pm. Read more 

Kenya: Race for CJ Job Intensifies As Deadline Is Extended Nation, 5 July 2016 Supreme Court judge Smokin Wanjala and two Court of Appeal judges have joined the race for the post of Kenya's next Chief Justice as the deadline for submission of applications was Read more 

Kenya: JSC Says Order Capping Sittings to Hinder New CJ Recruitment Nation, 30 June 2016 The Judicial Service Commission has moved to court to challenge a directive that capped the number of paid monthly meetings to eight, saying that the orders will affect the Read more 

Kenya: JSC Wants Njoki Ndungu to Face Probe Committee Capital FM, 28 June 2016 The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) now wants Supreme Court Judge Njoki Ndungu to face a special committee appointed to investigate her conduct. Read more 

Kenya: Search On for New Chief Justice After Willy Mutunga's Exit Nation, 17 June 2016 The positions of former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga, his Deputy Kalpana Rawal and their Supreme Court colleague Philip Tunoi have been officially declared vacant paving the way for Read more 
Kym Marsh paid a heartbreaking tribute to her late son Archie on what would have been his 12th birthday on Thursday.

The actress, 44, and her ex-husband Jamie Lomas, 45, were left heartbroken when their child passed away at just 21 weeks, following a premature birth in February 2009.

Taking to Instagram, Kym talked about her grief as she shared a picture of a lit candle alongside a pair of angel wings and the scrabble letter A.

'You are ALWAYS with us': Kym Marsh paid a heartbreaking tribute to her baby son Archie on what would have been his 12th birthday on Thursday

'12 years. 12 years of wishing. Wishing we had seen you open your eyes, wishing we had seen you smile, wishing we had heard you laugh, wishing we had heard your voice,' Kym wrote.

'Wishing I had heard you say "I love you mummy", wishing above all wishes that you were here, where you belong.

'Too many wishes to write down. Today you should be opening gifts, laughing at silly cards people have sent, blowing out candles on the birthday cake you will eat far too much of!!

'Sulking at me when I tell you it's time to stop playing that new computer game and get to bed.

Truly missed: Taking to Instagram, Kym talked about her grief as she shared a picture of a lit candle alongside a pair of angel wings and the scrabble letter A

Heartbreaking: The actress, 44, and her ex-husband Jamie Lomas were left heartbroken when their child passed away at just 21 weeks, following a premature birth in February 2009

'Arguing with your little sister because you've told her a million times she can't play with your new gifts!!

'Telling me I can't have a kiss anymore because you're now far too cool for that! I would give anything to kiss your little cheek one more time!

'Well, you may not be with us in body but we know you are ALWAYS with us, you're everywhere around us, you're always in our hearts.'

Kym continued: 'Archie you will always be the missing piece of our family. The missing piece of me forever. We miss you. We love you more than words could ever express. Happy birthday our sweet angel boy.'

The former Coronation Street star also posted a sweet message from her daughter Polly, nine.

It read: 'Dear Archie, I wasn't there when you were born but I was told you looked exactly like me!

Little sister: The former Coronation Street star also posted a sweet message from her daughter Polly, nine

'I just wanted to also thank you for my life and how amazing it is I wish I could spend every second with you even if it was just for one day. I love you x from your little sister Polly xxx'.

Kym was married to Jamie for six years and following Archie's death they went on to have Polly. She also has two older children David, 25, and Emilie, 23.

The brunette previously revealed she was in 'floods of tears' when it was revealed her grandson Teddy Archie David Hoszowskyj was named after her late son.

Parents: Kym was married to Jamie for six years and they went on to have their daughter Polly (pictured 2009)

Kym told OK! Magazine at the time: 'I didn't think they would, and nor should they have felt they had to. As far as I knew, he was going to be called Teddy David and I was chuffed with the name David being there...

'But now Archie lives on in Teddy's name. Having a baby boy in the house with Archie's name as part of his means the world to me.'

Emilie kept it secret from her mum that she would be giving her son her late brother's name until after she had welcomed Teddy into the world.

Reflecting on life after Archie, Kym explained on Lorraine in 2018: 'Archie is still part of the family. We celebrate his birthday every year, we send balloons up at Christmas and New Year's for him.'
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Only one in five educators across the United States have been vaccinated for the coronavirus (COVID-19) so far, a new survey from the National Education Association (NEA) found.

The NEA urged state and local authorities to prioritize the 5 million educators who work in the countrys public schools when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved two COVID-19 vaccines. The association recently surveyed K-12 and higher education members to learn about their vaccination rate and access to the vaccine.

Just 18% of its members (or one in five) have been vaccinated so far, the survey found. An additional 17% have actually scheduled an appointment to receive one.

The survey also found that white educators are twice as likely (20%) as Black members (9%) to have been vaccinated.

Also in the findings were 85% of educators believe they should be prioritized for the vaccine. Seventy percent said theyd feel safer working in-person if they got the vaccine.

NEA President Becky Pringle explained that educators want to be back to in-person learning, but only when its safe.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, we have been advocating for the resources to implement CDC-recommended standards and ensure educators are back in person with their students as safely and quickly as possible, Pringle explained. But those CDC standards still arent being met. Most schools, especially those attended by Black, brown, indigenous, and poor white students have severely outdated ventilation systems and no testing or tracing programs to speak of.

The poll of over 3,400 members was conducted from Jan. 27 to Feb. 3.

*** CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE COVERAGE OF CORONAVIRUS IN NEW YORK ***

VACCINES IN NYC

Educators in New York became eligible to receive the coronavirus vaccine beginning Jan. 11  and thousands have already received the shot.

As New York City works to reopen middle schools on Feb. 25, teachers and staff who will return to their middle school buildings will be prioritized for vaccinations over the mid-winter break, Mayor Bill de Blasio said.

You can go here for more information on where to get the vaccine on Staten Island.

FOLLOW ANNALISE KNUDSON ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.
Tourist hotspots like the canals of Venice and the Louvre in Paris should be digitally replicated as a way to tackle overcrowding, a Swiss economist says.

Bruno Frey, 79, a professor at the University of Basel, has written a book called Venedig ist uberall (Venice is Everywhere).

In it, he says technologies like holograms, augmented reality (AR) and multimedia experiences could replicate tourist locations 'even better than the originals'.

Technologies could not only replicate buildings like museums, but the precious historical artefacts that are housed within them.

The digital hotspots would be near to the original locations and try to recreate the sounds and smells, bolstered by exciting and immersive media presentations.

Oxford, Cambridge and Stratford-Upon-Avon, the birthplace of William Shakespeare, could be some of the tourist-heavy English places that get digitally replicated, Professor Frey suggests.

Fancy visiting a digital version of the Louvre? Professor Bruno Frey at the University of Basel says museums and the historical monuments inside could be more interactive than the originals

POTENTIAL LOCATIONS OF DIGITAL COPIES In his interview with Der Spiegel, Professor Frey mentions the following locations that may benefit from digital duplication in tourist-high areas: England London, Stratford-upon-Avon, Cambridge, Oxford Italy Venice, San Gimignano, Vatican City France Paris - the Louvre Austria Salzburg Germany Rothenburg ob der Tauber Denmark Copenhagen Switzerland Zermatt, Lucerne, Interlaken Belgium Bruges Czech Republic Cesky Krumlov Advertisement

Digital locations would help ease the pressure of tourism, which is expected to keep growing rapidly in the next 10 years.

The number of visitors to Europe will rise from just over 500 million people in 2010 to around 850 million in 2030, Professor Frey says.

'We need a new Venice  it could even be better than the original, specially designed for tourists,' said Professor Frey in an interview with Der Spiegel.

'It could be placed very close by, maybe even on the same lagoon, the climate and smells would be very similar.

'It could offer a lot more  multimedia presentations on art history or a carnival that more visitors can attend.'

When asked why tourists would opt to visit a copy in favour of the original, Professor Frey said suggested technology is at a point where the copies  which he dubs 'New Originals'  can look better than the real thing.

For example, the famous Parthenon frieze, a marble sculpture created in the 5th century BC that's housed in the British Museum, could be 'perfectly recreated'.

'The British Museum could simply have a perfect copy made, perhaps even less damaged than the original.'

New Originals are already a huge problem for paintings and sculptures, as experts often find it difficult to identify a fake.

They can offer a much more intense experience, as they can be electronically loaded with additional information.

'Old originals, on the other hand, are often locked away behind showcases, and are too precious to be touched by a visitor,' said Professor Frey.

'[They don't] allow any real educational experience at all - that's exactly what I experienced before the Mona Lisa in the Louvre.'

The Parthenon frieze, which runs on a continuous line around the exterior wall of the cella, is 1 meter high and 160 meters long. The Parthenon Frieze today is divided among several museums in Europe, although British Museum has the largest portion

These New Originals or digital twins, which would be 'cheap and undemanding', would help accommodate the drive in tourism activity that will likely occur post-pandemic.

They also wouldn't totally replace the originals, but complement them, giving tourists a choice.

'Anyone who has ever visited the new Venice and immersed themselves in its history through virtual reality will perhaps want to see the original afterwards,' Professor Frey added.

'But that would be the real fans who really appreciate what they have in the original.

'The rest will have experienced more in the copy than in the original - and will travel home satisfied.'

Oxford, Cambridge and Stratford-Upon-Avon, the birthplace of William Shakespeare, could be some of the tourist-heavy English places that get digitally replicated. Pictured, Shakespeare's birthplace along Henley Street with 'Shakespeare's ghost' in foreground

Tourists clog up towns and cities and the roads leading up to them, leading to the resentment of local people after a comparatively brief window of peace due to worldwide lockdowns.

As an example, the island city of Venice and its lagoon, situated in the Veneto Region of Northeast Italy, gets some 130,000 visitors on some days.

Per year it has registered more than 30 million tourists  a mammoth growth rate compared to 1949, when there were less than half a million  and could hit a yearly rate of 38 million by 2025.

But it's said to be slowly sinking because its 5th century foundations can't take the strain from human footfall  leading to local protests.

'Tourism organisations sometimes fight against these expressions of discontent because they fear for their sales,' said Professor Frey.

The whole city, spread over 118 small islands, is an extraordinary architectural masterpiece, but the brunt of the tourism is taken by the centro storico (historic centre), made up of lots of islets and canals.

Professor Frey: 'The crowd in front of the Doge's Palace was oppressive, and I was right in the middle.' Pictured, a dense crowd packed on Ponte della Paglia, a bridge in Venice, before Doge's Palace (Palazzo Ducale)

Professor Frey said he had taken a trip to Venice right before the pandemic and found the crowd in front of Doge's Palace to be 'oppressive'.

'At the same time, the number of residents in Venice has dropped to around 50,000 today,' he said.

'The living space is becoming unaffordable, the quality of life declines, but also the experience value for the visitors.

'But the biggest impertinence comes from the more than 450 cruise ships that flood Venice with around 1.6 million visitors a year.

'A second Venice or a second Salzburg could allow a deeper immersion in a place [and] the journey of the visitors would cause less ecological damage.'

In April, Professor Frey's book 'Venedig ist uberall' will be published in English under a different title  'Overcoming Overtourism'  by Springer.
WASHINGTON  President Biden announced on Wednesday that he was imposing sanctions that would prevent the generals who engineered a coup in Myanmar from gaining access to $1 billion in funds their government keeps in the United States, and said he would announce additional actions against the military leaders and their families.

It was the first concrete step the U.S. government has taken since Mr. Biden demanded that the generals restore democracy and release Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the nations civilian leader.

Noting that protests were growing, Mr. Biden warned that violence against those asserting their democratic rights is unacceptable and that the world is watching. The president said he had consulted with Senator Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader, and a range of nations across Southeast Asia.
On Tuesday, the government of India began a dedicated endorsement of the homegrown microblogging app Koo in the wake of its stand-off with Twitter regarding a matter of blocking accounts of those tweeting "inflammatory" content.

Koo is a near copy of Twitter but with some key differences - It supports languages other than Hindi and English and allows users in India a list of language options to post content in, making it a potentially attractive option for multilingual India.

The move also comes in the wake of India's tussle with Twitter, a United States-based company that initially refused to take down accounts of persons that were tweeting with certain hashtags that were deemed inflammatory.

Following continued pressure from the government, Twitter has finally started blocking a set of accounts noted by the government for "carrying inflammatory and divisive comments". But not without a blog post in which it spoke out against the impingement of free speech and noted that values that uphold free expression and open internet "are increasingly under threat around the world".

The blog post following the standoff may have preceded the government to push for homemade alternatives.

Twitter, however, is no stranger to facing off with governments. The Jack Dorsey-owned Twitter raised several eyebrows and also earned praise after it blocked beleaguered former US President Donald Trump in wake of the violence at Capitol Hill. Twitter's power to editorialize and selectively silence individuals, no matter if he is the President of the United States or a ground-level activist in India, urged many to look for alternatives.

And it looks like many in India want a homegrown alternative to Twitter.

Eerily familiar?

The emergence and sudden growth of Koo, however, is remarkably similar to that of Parler in the US. The latter is an "alt-tech" microblogging app that positioned itself as the social media platform that promoted absolute "free speech". The app is populated by 'parleys' from white supremacists, conspiracy theorists like QAnon, anti-semites, and supporters of Donald Trump. Many of the users were reportedly those banned from Twitter.

Those who supported Parler claimed it was in favour of free speech as opposed to the "censorship" of Twitter. Created in 2018 by John Matze Jr. and Jared Thomson in Nevada, the app was later revealed to be funded by conservative investor Rebecca Mercer, daughter of well-known hedge-fund manager and Trump-backer Robert Mercer.

READ: What is Koo, Who Made it? Top Ten Questions You Had about Twitter's New Desi Doppelganger

In the months prior to the US Elections in January, Twitter tightened its policies against fake news and started taking down several accounts of Trump and MAGA supporters who were found to be tweeting fake news or sharing unverified content. In response, the microblogging site Parler - often known as an example of 'Alt Tech, grew exponentially in terms of users.

Though its users had been growing since the summer of 2020, the platform witnesses a surge in December which continued till January. Until the Capitol Hill riots.

Parler was found guilty of supporting rioters ahead of the Capitol Hill violence on January 6. Mentions of "civil war" and calls to take action against the swearing-in of President Joe Biden increased manifold in the hours preceding the chaos. Two days after that, Google Play Store removed it from its app store. It was also pulled off of the Apple App Store. At the time, it was one of the top downloaded free apps on both.

In India, the last few years have seen a growing demand for homegrown apps and innovation, especially since the banning of a number of popular Chinese apps including the likes of TikTok and CamScanner following Indo-China border violence.

Many who are known to tweet volatile comments including actors, online activists and journalists have highlighted the need for a medium that allows freedom of speech without the invisible "content moderation" practiced by Twitter.

Earlier in 2020, a Twitter copy-cat app named Tooter also surfaced. Many big political players such as Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself have verified accounts on the platform, which was promoted as "Swadeshi" Twitter. The app failed to take off despite an initial spike in interest and popularity and a majority of Idnians social media users continued to tweet, not toot.

Is Koo like Parler?

Koo is as much like Parler as Parler is like Twitter. It means that though it follows the same structural and stylistic similarities to Twitter, much like Parler does, it is not identical to Matze's app. Koo has not been banned by any app stores so far and is currently enjoying the favour of the government.

But Koo and Parler are not the only apps that have sprung up in the past two years in response to the growing power and popularity of Twitter. Koo was invented by two Indian entrepreneurs 14 years after Twitter hit the app store. Parler and other apps like Mastodon have for some time been trying to displace the Jack Dorsey owned company's market position among the 'Big Tech' companies.

READ: Twitter Users 'Koo-k' Up Jokes and Memes While Migrating to Desi Microblogging App Koo

What made Parler stand out? The truth is, it wasn't the commitment to "free speech" that appealed to its followers but the promise to allows users the space to share fake news, unverified contents, and biased opinions without the regulation of an all-powerful algorithmic editor or content moderator.

In that effect, whether Koo ends up like another Parler depends on the users of the platform. So far, many have congratulated the shift to Koo and called it a victory of free speech, much like fans of Parler claimed in December.

While freedom of speech and censorship do not go hand in hand, content moderation is a key aspect of social media platforms and is essential for the prevention of the spread of fake. Here's to hoping that Koo manages to uphold the tenets of free and fair speech while also ensuring it remains India's Twitter and not become India's Parler.
First-grade students prepare for class at St. Joseph Catholic School in La Puente, Calif., on Nov. 16, 2020. (Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images)

Bidens School Reopening Plan Meaningless, Surveys Indicate

President Joe Bidens promise to reopen schools in 100 days rings hollow as the administration set the bar for fulfilling it so low that the nation has met it already, according to several data sources.

Reopening the schools was one of Bidens core vows before taking office. As late as Feb. 7, he called the situation a national emergency.

But when pressed for what reopening means, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said it would be at least one day a week of at least some in-person instruction at more than 50 percent of the nations schools.

The 100-day window closes on April 29, leaving 44 weekdays before schools break for summer vacation. That means at least half the students have been promised at least 10 days of at least some in-person instruction.

However, as of Feb. 10, more than 40 percent of K-12 students were already attending schools that offer traditional, in-person learning, according to data collected by Burbio, a community tracking firm.

Another more than 25 percent of students were attending schools that offer at least two days a week of in-person instruction, according to publicly available data collected from 1,200 school districts that represent 35,000 schools in all 50 states, Burbio states on its website.

So we show 66.1 percent of U.S. K-12 students currently attending schools that are either traditional in-person every day, or hybrid, Burbios Dennis Roche told The Epoch Times via email.

Almost all hybrid is 2-3 days a week.

Roche said the lowest point for in-person instruction was on Labor Day, when only 37 percent of students were receiving it, according to Burbios Sept. 2, 2020, release.

School is mostly in-person in rural districts and mostly remote in the urban ones, according to a Nov. 24Dec. 28, 2020, survey of a nationally representative sample of 477 school districts conducted by the Center on Reinventing Public Education (pdf).

Nearly 60 percent of rural districts taught pupils in person while 23 percent were in remote-learning mode only. The rest of rural districts were in hybrid mode or different modes grade by grade, the survey of publicly available information shows. Less than 22 percent of suburban districts were fully in-person and more than 33 percent were remote. Urban districts were less than 9 percent in-person and more than 74 percent remote.

The reopening of schools has become a focal point for judging Bidens ability to effectively respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Parents have been struggling to cope with school closures and remote learning, which has proved less effective, especially when parents cant maintain constant supervision. Students are falling behind both academically and in overall well-being. Reports of domestic abuse and child predator activity online have skyrocketed.

Teachers unions have been a major roadblock to reopening as they demand that teachers, and even students, be vaccinated against COVID-19 first. The administration has promised enough vaccines for virtually all Americans roughly by summer, but that would mean many students would lose another semester.

Bidens head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently appeared to greenlight the reopening of schools even before full vaccination, but her comments were discounted by the administration. CDC guidelines for reopening are expected this week.

Bidens reopening plan has been criticized by Republicans.

Schools are already clearing this low, low bar, so what is the White House talking about? asked Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) in a Feb. 9 statement.

Working moms and dads have been at the end of their ropes for months, and some kids have been out of school for nearly a year. When schools are closed poor families and kids with special needs suffer the most. Local, state, and federal officials should be following the science and getting kids back in schools as soon as possible.

Biden is asking Congress for $130 billion in relief funding for schools, but Sasse said federal money should be tied to actual school reopening.
The Saudi government is sending signals that it's ready to cooperate on Yemen and make improvements on human rights in an effort to avoid a crisis with President Biden.

Driving the news: Two events on Wednesday underscored those efforts: prominent women's rights activist Loujain al-Hathloul, who led the fight to allow Saudi women to drive, was released from prison; and Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal Bin Farhan met in Riyadh with the new U.S. envoy for Yemen, Tim Lenderking.

Flashback: On the campaign trail, Biden accused Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of ordering the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, stressed that he wouldn't sell weapons to the Saudis and promised to "make them the pariah that they are."

Now in office, Biden has frozen an arms deal with Saudi Arabia, announced the halt of U.S. support for offensive operations in Yemen, and rolled back Donald Trump's designation of Yemen's Houthi rebels as a terror group.

The other side: The Saudis haven't criticized Biden's moves publicly, and are trying to navigate the new reality through private talks with the administration.

Saudi deputy defense minister Khalid Bin Salman, the crown prince's brother and confidant, seized on the one positive line in Biden's recent foreign policy speech, in which he said the U.S. would help Saudi Arabia defend itself.

Meanwhile bin Farhan welcomed Lenderking's appointment despite Biden's shift on Yemen. On Wednesday they discussed ways to find a political solution to the crisis, according to the Saudi foreign ministry.

The release of al-Hathloul after 2.5 years in prison is another indication that the Saudis want to avoid a clash with Biden over human rights. Her arrest had caused outrage around the world

The important step from the crown prince may ultimately be the announcement on Monday of major legal and judicial reforms that will establish civil law in the country for the first time, in addition to Islamic law.

The absence of applicable legislation has led to discrepancies in decisions and a lack of clarity in the principles governing facts and practices.  This was painful for many individuals and families, especially women, permitting some to evade their responsibilities," the Crown Prince said.

The timing of the announcement looks like a signal to the Biden administration.

Worth noting: Secretary of State Tony Blinken spoke to bin Farhan on Friday, after he'd already spoken to several other Arab foreign ministers. In the call, he stressed the need for the Saudis to take steps on human rights and end the war in Yemen.
Alexei Navalny in the dock before his court hearing in Moscow. Photo: Reuters.

Opposition plans to turn anger over Alexei Navalnys imprisonment into parliamentary seats, at the expense of the ruling United Russia party in elections this year, have suffered a setback a fter an acrimonious outbreak of infighting.

The row began when the veteran founder of Yabloko, a prominent anti-Kremlin party, urged people to turn their back on Mr Navalny, who has clearly emerged as the most high-profile opposition politician after his arrest and jailing sparked nationwide protests.

Everyone must decide whether to support Navalny or not, Grigory Yavlinsky wrote in an article which accused Mr Navalny of being a xenophobic and authoritarian nationalist, which the 44-year-old has denied in the past.

But you need to understand. A democratic Russia, respect for people, and a life without fear and repression are incompatible with Navalnys policies.

Parliamentary elections will be held in September when Mr Navalnys allies plan to encourage people to vote tactically. It has caused upheaval in Yabloko and drawn fierce condemnation from Mr Navalnys allies, some of whom have urged Yabloko to expel Mr Yavlinsky.



Some members criticised Mr Yavlinsky, saying he risked driving voters away at a time when people were looking for an outlet after the protests.

Either our party can represent these people or well be left without voters  the only oxygen for political parties, Lev Shlosberg, a prominent Yabloko politician, wrote in a riposte.

Yevgeny Roizman, the former anti-Kremlin mayor of the city of Yekaterinburg, announced he could no longer run for parliament on a Yabloko ticket.

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.
Restaurants



Treat your Valentine to Dinner at Kaiser Maximilian



Surprise your loved one with a romantic dinner on Saturday, February 13th, at Kaiser Maximilian. Reservations can be made by calling 322-223-0760 or 322-222-5058, or online at KaiserMaximilian.com. Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - Looking for a new way to commemorate Valentine's Day? Surprise that special someone by celebrating this sweetheart of a holiday on Saturday, February 13th with a romantic dinner at Kaiser Maximilian Restaurant in the heart of the Puerto Vallarta Romantic Zone.



Executive Chef Juan Carlos Palomer has created a wide variety of innovative dishes to choose from on a special four-course Valentine's Dinner menu, which will be offered for just $690 Pesos per person (tip not included), in lieu of the restaurant's regular a la carte menu.



To make the evening even more romantic, Kaiser Maximilian offers an extensive selection of wines, available by the glass or the bottle, that pair perfectly with any entrAe, appetizer, or dessert, and are sure to make a memorable impression on that special someone.







Kaiser Maximilian's Valentine's Dinner Menu

(Choose one dish from each course)



First Course

a Vitello Tonnato, cold slices of veal, tuna fish sauce, mixed greens

a Marinated Beets and Carrots, fine greens, goat cheese

a Duck Confit Salad, sherry vinaigrette, squash, pears, winter greens

a Spinach Strudel with mixed greens

a Cesar Salad with crispy potato croutons

a Tuna Carpaccio with mixed greens, cucumber, tomatoes



Second Course

a Smoked Mushroom Cream with quinoa, roasted chilies.

a Onion Soup with white wine, toast and gratinated cheese

a Red Cabbage Cream Soup with roasted duck crust, potato dumpling

a Gnocchi with mushrooms, spinach and truffle sauce

a Crab Cake with avocado purAe, tequila lime glace, glass leeks

a Roasted Quail, mushroom risotto, Parmesan

a Raviolis with fennel filling, prosciutto, mushrooms, tarragon sauce

a Suckling Pig Dumpling, apple & white cabbage, horseradish foam



Main Course

a Red Snapper Fillet with ratatouille risotto and shrimp sauce

a Salmon Fillet with angel hair pasta, mozzarella, asparagus, red wine sauce

a Seared Diver Scallops, squash puree, apple salad, pine nuts, serrano ham, truffle sauce

a Chicken Breast with rosemary, mashed potatoes, mustard seed-sauce, garlic vegetables

a Grilled duck breast with roasted prunes, squash puree, duck sauce

a Beef Tenderloin, creamy gorgonzola cheese, vegetables, mushrooms, potato gratin

a Zwiebelrostbraten, flat pounded beef loin, onion rings, sautAed potatoes

a Roasted Leg of Veal, glazed vegetables, SpAtzle, cream sauce with mushrooms

a Veal Scaloppini with twice-baked potato and creamed spinach

a Wienerschnitzel, breaded pork loin with potatoes, Austrian salad

a Rahmschnitzel, sautAed pork loin scallops, noodles, cream mushroom sauce



Dessert

a Crepe "Heisse Liebe", with vanilla ice cream, raspberry sauce

a Warm Pecan Chocolate Bourbon Tart, vanilla ice cream

a Vanilla Ice Cream covered with a hot crepe, chocolate sauce with pecans.

a Chocolate Pot de CrAme, caramel mousse, sea salt

a Sour Cream Cheesecake, coconut crust, rum poached pineapple

a Apple Strudel with vanilla ice cream

a Sachertorte, chocolate cake with mint ice cream

a Panna Cotta with passion fruit sorbet, marinated berries

a CrAme BrulAe, vanilla cream, caramelized sugar crust



Since an intimate evening of wining, dining and romance is one of the best ways to make your sweetheart feel special, make plans now to surprise your Valentine with a delightful dinner at Kaiser Maximilian on Saturday, February 13, 2021.



To show how much they care for their customers, Kaiser Maximilian has implemented a strict cleaning and disinfectant regimen that goes above and beyond the government's guidelines, and have reduced the number of tables to create safe distances between those dining in the restaurant.



Due to limited seating, reservations are strongly recommended, and can be made by calling 322-223-0760 or 322-222-5058, or online at

Open Monday-Saturday from 8 am to 11 pm for breakfast, lunch and dinner, Kaiser Maximilian Restaurant & Cafe is located at Olas Altas #38B in the Zona RomAntica of Puerto Vallarta. For reservations call (322) 223-0760 or visit KaiserMaximilian.com



Click HERE to read more about Kaiser Maximilian. - Looking for a new way to commemorate Valentine's Day? Surprise that special someone by celebrating this sweetheart of a holiday on Saturday, February 13th with a romantic dinner at Kaiser Maximilian Restaurant in the heart of the Puerto Vallarta Romantic Zone.Executive Chef Juan Carlos Palomer has created a wide variety of innovative dishes to choose from on a special four-course Valentine's Dinner menu, which will be offered for just $690 Pesos per person (tip not included), in lieu of the restaurant's regular a la carte menu.To make the evening even more romantic, Kaiser Maximilian offers an extensive selection of wines, available by the glass or the bottle, that pair perfectly with any entrAe, appetizer, or dessert, and are sure to make a memorable impression on that special someone.a Vitello Tonnato, cold slices of veal, tuna fish sauce, mixed greensa Marinated Beets and Carrots, fine greens, goat cheesea Duck Confit Salad, sherry vinaigrette, squash, pears, winter greensa Spinach Strudel with mixed greensa Cesar Salad with crispy potato croutonsa Tuna Carpaccio with mixed greens, cucumber, tomatoesa Smoked Mushroom Cream with quinoa, roasted chilies.a Onion Soup with white wine, toast and gratinated cheesea Red Cabbage Cream Soup with roasted duck crust, potato dumplinga Gnocchi with mushrooms, spinach and truffle saucea Crab Cake with avocado purAe, tequila lime glace, glass leeksa Roasted Quail, mushroom risotto, Parmesana Raviolis with fennel filling, prosciutto, mushrooms, tarragon saucea Suckling Pig Dumpling, apple & white cabbage, horseradish foama Red Snapper Fillet with ratatouille risotto and shrimp saucea Salmon Fillet with angel hair pasta, mozzarella, asparagus, red wine saucea Seared Diver Scallops, squash puree, apple salad, pine nuts, serrano ham, truffle saucea Chicken Breast with rosemary, mashed potatoes, mustard seed-sauce, garlic vegetablesa Grilled duck breast with roasted prunes, squash puree, duck saucea Beef Tenderloin, creamy gorgonzola cheese, vegetables, mushrooms, potato gratina Zwiebelrostbraten, flat pounded beef loin, onion rings, sautAed potatoesa Roasted Leg of Veal, glazed vegetables, SpAtzle, cream sauce with mushroomsa Veal Scaloppini with twice-baked potato and creamed spinacha Wienerschnitzel, breaded pork loin with potatoes, Austrian salada Rahmschnitzel, sautAed pork loin scallops, noodles, cream mushroom saucea Crepe "Heisse Liebe", with vanilla ice cream, raspberry saucea Warm Pecan Chocolate Bourbon Tart, vanilla ice creama Vanilla Ice Cream covered with a hot crepe, chocolate sauce with pecans.a Chocolate Pot de CrAme, caramel mousse, sea salta Sour Cream Cheesecake, coconut crust, rum poached pineapplea Apple Strudel with vanilla ice creama Sachertorte, chocolate cake with mint ice creama Panna Cotta with passion fruit sorbet, marinated berriesa CrAme BrulAe, vanilla cream, caramelized sugar crustSince an intimate evening of wining, dining and romance is one of the best ways to make your sweetheart feel special, make plans now to surprise your Valentine with a delightful dinner at Kaiser Maximilian on Saturday, February 13, 2021.To show how much they care for their customers, Kaiser Maximilian has implemented a strict cleaning and disinfectant regimen that goes above and beyond the government's guidelines, and have reduced the number of tables to create safe distances between those dining in the restaurant.Due to limited seating, reservations are strongly recommended, and can be made by calling 322-223-0760 or 322-222-5058, or online at KaiserMaximilian.com.



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The Disinfecband is a Wearable Disinfectant-Dispensing Device

LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / February 11, 2021 / Elmer Valdez Vera, a registered nurse and inventor, is pleased to announce the launch of the Disinfecband.

To learn more about the Disinfecband and how it works, please visit https://disinfecband.com/.

As Vera noted, he knows that because of the COVID-19 pandemic, people are trying to keep their hands cleaner than ever through careful washing and/or the use of hand sanitizer.

To help make it as easy as possible for nurses and other healthcare workers to clean and sanitize their hands, Vera was inspired to create the Disinfecband-an on-site, real time, disinfectant-dispensing device that is worn like a bracelet.

"The Disinfecband started out as my response to the COVID-19 pandemic," Vera said, adding that his goal was to create something that could help prevent the transmission and spread of the virus.

The Disinfecband is quite simple to use, Vera said. It will arrive empty for safety reasons, so once the user takes it out of the package, he or she can fill the band with liquid alcohol using the included syringe.

Once the two ends of the band are connected, the user can wear it as a bracelet. When sanitizer is needed, the person merely needs to wrap a finger around the nozzle on the band and pull gently until the disinfectant flows out.

When the Disinfecband is empty, the band can be run under warm water to soften the tubing material and make it easier to pull apart. After it is rinsed out and allowed to dry, the Disinfecband may be refilled again.

In addition to creating the Disinfecband, Vera is also the founder of the Elmer Valdez Vera Foundation, Inc. Through his organization, Vera is striving to provide the Disinfecbands at no cost to nurses and other healthcare workers around the world, so that they may take care of their patients as safely as possible while also staying healthy.

"A Disinfecband bought in United States will help provide two or more bands free for healthcare workers around the world. Proceeds will also be used to provide free Disinfecbands to local businesses," Vera said.

About Disinfecband:

The Disinfecband is an on-site, disinfectant-dispensing device that was created by a registered nurse as his response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The inventor wants to help prevent the transmission of the virus and its spread. For more information, please visit https://disinfecband.com/.

Contact:

Elmer Vera

nursebuddy1@yahoo.com

707-266-4135

SOURCE: Disinfecband

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/629335/Elmer-Valdez-Vera-a-Registered-Nurse-Announces-the-Launch-of-the-Disinfecband
On Thursday, February 11, the European Parliament adopted a report on the implementation of the EU Association Agreement with Ukraine, a draft of which was prepared by MEP Michael Gahler (EPP).

According to an Ukrinform correspondent, 526 MEPs voted in favor of the report, 79 against, and 71 abstained.

The document, which is prepared annually, contains important political messages and assessments both in relation to Ukraines progress in the implementation of the Ukraine-EU Association Agreement and on problematic issues facing Ukraine, as well as the concern of the European side over some retreat of Ukraine in important reforms, in particular in judicial reform, the fight against corruption, and the rule of law.

In particular, the report confirms that the Association Agreement, including a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (AA/DCFTA) between the EU and Ukraine, is the cornerstone of the European Unions relations with Ukraine based on political association and economic integration.

This agreement constitutes a roadmap for reforms, whose full implementation should be considered as enabling a continuous rapprochement towards the Union, leading to a gradual integration into the Unions internal market, and towards fully reaping the potential and benefits of the AA/DCFTA.

The document recognizes that Ukraine has a European perspective pursuant to Article 49 of the TEU and may apply to become a member of the Union provided that it adheres to all of the Copenhagen criteria and the principles of democracy, respects fundamental freedoms, human and minority rights, and upholds the rule of law.

The report recalls that the 22nd EU-Ukraine Summit acknowledged the European aspirations of Ukraine and welcomed its European choice. The European Parliament called on Ukraine to continue implementing key reforms in priority areas, such as the digital economy, energy, public health system and others, especially considering the devastating impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the Ukrainian health system.

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Nestled in the Texas Hill Country lies the small town of Fredericksburg, which has earned a top spot on a Forbes roundup of the the most idyllic small towns in the U.S. to visit in 2021.

Founded in 1846, the Texas small town gem has lured visitors to its rolling hills dotted with bluebonnets and cool bungalow rentals called "Sunday Houses."

Featured on the Forbes list for small town charm include Deadwood, South Dakota; Rockport Massachusetts, Captiva Island, Florida; Elizabeth City, North Carolinaand our own Texas destination, Fredericksburg. These small town jewels provide travelers with a way to get off the grid and enjoy the small town pace.

TEXAS TRAVEL DESTINATIONS: These are the top 5 Texas travel destinations for 2021

"Equipped with spectacular natural beauty and fascinating historic backgrounds, these five towns are the perfect fit for experiencing the quieter side of the United States," Forbes' Jared Ranahan writes.

Fredericksburg, Texas

Named after Prince Frederick of Prussia, Fredericksburg has been affectionately deemed "The Aspen of Texas," according to Fodor's Travel Publication. Tucked in the heart of the Texas Hill Country, the German-influenced town offers attractions that include a wildflower farm, wine tastings and a historic downtown strip filled with eclectic boutiques. Outdoor enthusiasts might want to spend a day hiking Enchanted Rock or hitting the Texas Wine Trail.

"The truth is that its hard not to love the town where you can shop a day on Main Street and still not see everything...Or spend a day touring the Texas Wine Trail in townor afternoon hiking Enchanted Rock, according to Fodors Hill Country editor Debbie Harmsen.

Elizabeth City, North Carolina

Located in the northeastern corner of North Carolina, Elizabeth City has been named one of the "100 Best Small Towns in America." This waterfront small town gem was founded in 1794. Visitors can head out to the beaches of the Outer Banks, Ghost Harbor or Hampton Roads. If you love the outdoors, travelers can explore the 20,000 acres of nearby state parks or head out hiking on the Fenwick-Hollowell Wetlands Trail.

UniversalImagesGroup/Universal Images Group via Getty

Deadwood, South Dakota

If you want a taste of the Old West, Deadwood is a step back in time. The small town destination is nestled among the Black Hills of South Dakota, and the historic downtown area is a perfect spot to stroll through. Travelers can head out to the Black Hills underground mine, Broken Boot Gold Mine or go on one of the historic tours offered by a Wild West tour guide.

John Greim/LightRocket via Getty Images

Rockport, Massachusetts

If lobsters and lighthouses are more of your thing, consider heading to the small coastal town of Rockport. Venture over to the creative district of Bearskin Neck or the cool waters of Halibut Point State Park. Travelers can also head to Gloucester, Manchester-by-the Sea or the historic Salem for their East Coast journey.

Jeff Greenberg/Jeff Greenberg/Universal Images

Captiva Island, Florida

Just off of Florida's Gulf Coast, the idyllic small town gem of Captiva Island boasts miles of sandy beaches and activities including biking, sailing and birding. If you need a peaceful, off-the-grid getaway, consider some of the other barrier islands, like Sanibel Island and Cayo Costa.
YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 11, ARMENPRESS. The opposition Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK)-authored bill on making high treason punishable by life imprisonment passed parliament overwhelmingly 109/1/2 at first reading.

The bill is authored by BHK lawmakers Iveta Tonoyan, Naira Zohrabyan and Vice Speaker Vahe Enfiajyan.

Enfiajyan said that the law will define life imprisonment for espionage for the enemy, conveying state secrets to a foreign state or foreign organizations or their representatives, assisting in conducting hostile activities, collecting and transferring information containing state secrets at the orders of a foreign intelligence agency.

Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan
A paramedic draws a syringe of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine at the mass vaccination centre in Newcastle Upon Tyne, England, on Jan. 11, 2021. (Scott Heppell/AP Photo)

EU Approves CCP Virus Vaccine Shipments to Australia

Australias first shipment of vaccines for COVID-19 has been formally approved and will arrive in the country within weeks.

The European Union has approved the export of vaccines to 23 countries including Australia.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison is tight-lipped on when the vaccines will reach Australian shores, saying he will have more to say in the not too distant future.

He praised the health and foreign affairs ministers for their work in navigating the European export restrictions.

Morrison said he was very aware of the extreme pressures on European vaccine supplies.

Australia has done very well to maintain our supply lines here as has been confirmed by the European Union, he told reporters in Melbourne on Thursday. So we are on track.

The formal approval comes after the EU ambassador to Canberra promised export restrictions would not affect Australias first order of the Pfizer vaccine.

Trade Minister Dan Tehan is confident the jabs will start being administered within weeks.

It is great news and theyll arrive towards the end of February and we are absolutely on track to roll our vaccine program out, he told Nine.

I met with the European Union ambassador last week and he assured me that the vaccines would be arriving as they said they would be.

Its fantastic to get this extra further news that thats the case and that the vaccine rollout will take place as scheduled, he said.

Australia is relying on 20 million doses of the Pfizer vaccine, which are being produced within Europe.

There were fears the order could be jeopardised after the EU placed export controls on vaccines produced in its territory, worried about its own supplies.

But ambassador Michael Pulch this week promised Europe would not delay or block the Australian order.

There is still no confirmed date for when the shipment will leave Europe or when it will arrive in Australia.

By Daniel McCulloch
The confronting moment four masked men stormed an apartment complex and savagely attacked a man with a steering wheel lock has been captured on CCTV.

The terrifying incident unfolded at a unit block on Powlett Street, Heidelberg, Melbourne's northeast, about 1am on Tuesday.

Police said the men, armed with firearms and other weapons, smashed their way through the front of the complex before kicking down the door of one unit.

CCTV footage has been released after a man was savagely assaulted by four masked men in Melbourne's northeast

Police said the four men smashed their way through the front of a Heidelberg apartment complex before kicking down the front door of one unit

A 38-year-old man and a woman, 36, were sleeping inside the property at the time.

The man was dragged out of the bed and viciously assaulted by the men, who were believed to be speaking with New Zealand accents.

He was rushed to hospital suffering from serious injuries after being beaten with the steering wheel lock.

The woman was not physically harmed during the ordeal but she was 'verbally threatened with a weapon', police said.

The offenders ransacked the property, stealing mobile phones, a laptop, medication and wallets, before fleeing

The shocking incident unfolded about 1am on Tuesday while a man and woman were sleeping inside

The offenders ransacked the unit, stealing mobile phones, a laptop, medication and wallets before the four men fled the scene in a white Subaru Liberty wagon.

Police are investigating, including whether the incident was targeted. Investigations into the aggravated home invasion remain ongoing.

A public appeal has been launched to help identify the four masked men.
NEW DELHI: India and China have reached an agreement on disengagement of troops in the north and south banks of Pangong Lake in eastern Ladakh. Confirming the development, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday informed the lawmakers in Rajya Sabha that India has not conceded anything during these talks.

During military and diplomatic talks, both the countries have agreed that both sides should achieve complete disengagement at the earliest and abide fully by the bilateral agreements and protocols, Singh said. "By now, the Chinese side is also fully aware of our resolve. It is, therefore, our expectation that the Chinese side will work with us in full sincerity to resolve these remaining issues," the Defence Minister said.

"The agreement that we have been able to reach with the Chinese side for disengagement in the Pangong Lake area envisages that both sides will cease their forward deployments in a phased, coordinated and verified manner," he said.

The Defence Minister said that the House and the nation have paid homage to the brave Indian soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice and laid down their lives while defending the territorial integrity of India on June 15, 2020 - the day when the foot soldiers of the two sides clashed in the Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh.

India, China disengagement in eastern Ladakh - Heres what has been agreed



-The implementation of the troops disengagement began on Wednesday. It will substantially restore the situation to existing prior to commencement of the standoff last year.

-Chinese troops will move back to Finger 8 and the Indian troops will pull back to the Dhan Singh Thapa post between Finger 2 and 3 of the north bank of Pangong Tso.

-Forward deployment to be stopped in phased, coordinated and verified manner

-As agreed by the two sides, there would be a temporary moratorium on military activities, including patrolling to the traditional areas.

-Patrolling will be resumed only when both sides reach an agreement in diplomatic and military talks that would be held subsequently.

-The Chinese side will keep its troop presence in the North Bank area to the east of Finger 8. Reciprocally, the Indian troops will be based at their permanent base at Dhan Singh Thapa Post near Finger 3.

-A similar action would be taken in the South Bank area by both sides.

-On August 30, India had occupied critical mountain heights on the southern bank of the Pangong Lake like Rechin La, Rezang La, Mukpari, and Tabletop that were unmanned till then. India also made some deployments near the Blacktop. The dominance at these peaks allowed India to dominate Spanggur Gap under Chinese control and also the Moldo garrison on the Chinese side. As per the agreement, the Indian troops will now withdraw from these heights also.

-Any structures that had been built by both sides since April 2020 in both North and South Bank area will now be removed and the landforms will be restored

-The disengagement is a result of a well-thought-out approach and sustained talks with the Chinese side.

-Both sides have also agreed to convene the next meeting of the senior commanders within 48 hours after the complete disengagement in the Pangong Lake area so as to address and resolve all other remaining issues.

Live TV

The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the Kingdom of Morocco met to advance the organisation of the 24th UNWTO General Assembly in October 2021, the first global high-level United Nations event to be held since the beginning of the pandemic.

Led by the Secretary-General, Zurab Pololikashvili, a delegation from UNWTO has concluded an official visit to Morocco to discuss the programme, calendar and facilities to be prepared for this statutory meeting that will focus on Education and Youth, Rural Development and Digital Innovation.

The Minister of Tourism of Morocco, Nadia Fettah Alaoui, and her team accompanied the delegation during this three-day visit and expressed their commitment to organising a historic General Assembly to showcase the importance of restarting international tourism in a safe and more sustainable way.

The Prime Minister of Morocco, Saadeddine Othmani and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Bourita welcomed the UNWTO Secretary-General in Rabat highlighting the importance of the celebration and the high-level support of the host country. The delegation was also received by the Governor of Marrakesh-Safi region, Karim Kassi Lahlou, and other local authorities and representatives of the private sector of the area that will be strongly involved in the preparations for this meeting.

Secretary-General Pololikashvili thanked the Prime Minister and his government for their hard work to ensure that the Assembly will be a success on the back of the unprecedented crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. He said: Tourism is adapting to the new reality and we face the future with optimism and with the backing of our Members. - TradeArabia News Service

Hallmark Names Alexis Kerr to Lead Mahogany Brand

Company intends to expand Mahoganys products and experiences in the market.

Hallmark Cards, Inc. has named Alexis Kerr as the new Vice President of the Hallmark Mahogany Brand, a greeting card line that has honored and celebrated Black culture for more than 30 years. This move comes as the company invests in building the brand to be more than a card line.

Alexis is a proven leader in multicultural brand development and were thrilled shes joining us to lead the growth of Mahogany, said Lindsey Roy, chief marketing officer, Hallmark. We see a great deal of potential in the power of this brand as we work to create products and experiences for our diverse customer base.

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Kerr brings decades of experience in brand and business growth within the automotive industry, primarily with General Motors. Her most recent position was head of multicultural marketing for Cadillac, where she grew the multicultural brand presence by 40 percent and consistently increased sales and market growth.

Mahogany has had an important role in Hallmarks product offering for three decades and has earned a high degree of credibility with customers through its culturally authentic designs and bold words of affirmation. In her role, Kerr will be responsible for growing and elevating how consumers see and experience the brand, and expanding it into new spaces in the marketplace.

Hallmarks investment in Mahogany will help us deepen and strengthen our relationships with existing customers, while also attracting new and diverse audiences, said Kerr. I am excited to lead the team as we help more people live caring and connected lives full of meaningful moments.

Just last week, Mahogany launched a one-million card giveaway in celebration of Black History Month and gave away all the cards in less than two days. Visitors to Hallmark.com/ShareMahoganyCardsreceived a three-card pack featuring two Mahogany cards and one card from the newest Mahogany collection, Uplifted & Empowered. This collection, created by Black writers and artists, captures the beauty, significance and power of Black lives with themes including pride in self/community, support, empowerment, inspiration, faith and solidarity.

Luanda  One more fellow citizen, resident in the Sintra region, outskirts of Lisbon (Portugal), died on Tuesday, victim of Covid-19, bringing to 15 deaths among the Angolan community since the beginning of this pandemic in March 2020 in that European country.

According to the Portuguese health authorities, the 38-year-old woman was being monitored in a Lisbon hospital unit.

According to the source, on Tuesday another five Angolans, living in the same region, tested positive to the disease.

So far in Portugal, there have been 129 confirmed cases of Covid-19 amongst the Angolan community. Of these, 26 remain active and 88 have recovered.

The active cases are being monitored by the Angolan authorities in Portugal, in close collaboration with the Portuguese health services.

According to the Portuguese health authorities, the 38-year-old woman was being monitored in a Lisbon hospital unit.

According to the source, on Tuesday another five Angolans, living in the same region, tested positive to the disease.

So far in Portugal, there have been 129 confirmed cases of Covid-19 amongst the Angolan community. Of these, 26 remain active and 88 have recovered.

The active cases are being monitored by the Angolan authorities in Portugal, in close collaboration with the Portuguese health services.
Not so happily ever after

Lots of fairy-tale stories begin with Once upon a time' and conclude with 'The end.' This ending often comes after the much loved famous phrase even young children can quote together - 'and they lived happily ever after.' These ending emits love, positivity and hope. To sum it up, all things good and all things longed for.

While we are more blessed here in Aotearoa, many countries are still experiencing lockdown with increasing numbers of Covid-19 cases. Even with so much more freedom here in New Zealand, we have all been impacted by 2020. We have been devoid of our much longed for happily ever after to conclude 2020.

No endings

For most of us, 2020 has come to an end without this desired happily ever after. Even though the year came to an end, many of us didnt find closure in lots of things that happened throughout the year. We were thrust into 2021 without proper endings.

As we did not get our happily ever after ending, it felt almost as if the year did not come to an end. The overseas trip we planned were cancelled. The new business venture that was launched was shut down. The money we thought we would save did not materialize because of the retrenchment.

While things came to an end, we did not readily accept the endings since they were not the endings we wanted. We hold on desperately, somehow hoping that if we could just hold on to it for longer, maybe we would eventually receive our happily ever after.

Unfortunately, we are merely being delusional. Dragging out something that has ended does not change that ending. What it does do is to prolong our state of not so happily ever after.

No beginnings

Nursing past miseries and stubbornly refusing to accept the end deny us of a new beginning. We cannot have a fresh start unless we have an end. We need to find closure to put an end to our not so happily after so it doesnt deny us of new beginnings.

Whilst it seems to be common sense that there can be no end without a start, it is less obvious that there too can be no beginning without and end. We often says the sun rises then it sets but it is also because the sun sets that it can ride again the next day. There can be no rising of the sun without the setting of it first.

Regardless of whether our end was a happily ever after or not, putting an end to it is what allows us to start again.

Uncertainties

After an atypical year in 2020, we enter 2021 with less certainty. Whats this new year going to be like? While most of the new years came with its own uncertainties, 2021 has ushered in even more of these with Covid-19 and all its cronies still looms in the background, threatening to dominate again with every chance given.

If theres one lesson that weve all learnt from 2020, it has to be that there is nothing that is certain in this world. There is no saying for sure if Ill still have a job at the end of the year. Nor that Ill be able to fly overseas for my dream holiday. Nor that Ill be able to meet my family and friends as casually as Ive used to.

2020 has stamped into us and reinforced that nothing should be taken for granted in life. Not that we didnt know that before, but we just never thought of it that much till last year happened.

So how can we be certain this new year and start anew?

Certainties

Indeed we are still living in uncertainties but in the midst of these uncertainties, there are things that are certain.

Revelation chapter 1, verse 8 says, I am the Alpha and the Omega [the Beginning and the End], says the Lord God, Who is [existing forever] and Who was [continually existing in the past] and Who is to come, the Almighty [the Omnipotent, the Ruler of all].

We can take comfort that our constant God is the beginning and the end and everything finds its start in Him. Not only is God unchanging in these times of uncertainties, His word is also steadfast. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever (Isaiah chapter 40, verse 8).

Thus, all His promises in the Bible will come to past. We can be assured that Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change (James chapter 1, verse 17).

Trust the certainty of God in our uncertainties and let the sun set on our endings permanently, so it can rise into new beginnings of happily ever after that He has for us this year.

As the song New thing by Hillsong Young & Free goes,

We're ready for the past to pass

We're running where the future is

It's coming like the rising sun

We wanna see Your kingdom

Come do a new thing'




Enlightened ditched the sugar and kept the crunch for this low-calorie and vegan ice cream cone that makes the perfect match for any light, keto or dairy-free ice cream. Enlightened's cones are a low-carb take on the nostalgic classic sugar cone but with half the calories and none of the sugar. Each cone has only 30 calories, 3g of net carbs and 0g of sugar, while traditional sugar cones often contain up to 12g of net carbs and 8g of sugar.

"We are all familiar with that essential question from our local scoop shop: Cup or Cone?" Enlightened CEO and founder Michael Shoretz said. "We kept all of the best aspects of a classic sugar cone--the flavor and crunch--and left out the sugar. Pair it with any ice cream, like our new light Caramel Fudge Pretzel or low-carb P.B. Cookie & Brownie Dough to create a celebratory dessert experience at home."

Enlightened's Sugar-Free Cones (MSRP: $4.99-5.99) are now available online at EatEnlightened.com and Amazon. Shoppers will also be able to find Enlightened's Sugar-Free Cones at Sprouts Farmers Market, Whole Foods, Kroger and many others in the coming months.

About Enlightened

Enlightened is the first and largest brand within Beyond Better Foods, a New York City-based company founded by Forbes Under 30 alum Michael Shoretz in 2012. A pioneer in the frozen dessert category, Enlightened was one of the first low-sugar light ice creams on the market. The brand is widely distributed in US retailers, such as Sprouts Farmers Market, Whole Foods, Kroger, Shoprite, Publix, Walmart and Target. Enlightened is recognized for producing innovative feel-good frozen desserts, including its dairy-free and vegan line introduced in 2018 and the Keto Collection in 2019. Enlightened expanded into new categories in 2020 with collections of Fruit Infusions, keto-friendly Cheesecakes and snackable Dough Bites. Shoretz founded Beyond Better Foods from inspiration from his personal training clients' desire for healthy alternatives to their favorite sweet, salty, spicy and savory treats. Beyond Better Foods now includes Enlightened, Bada Bean Bada Boom and Cloud10.

For more information on Enlightened, visit eatenlightened.com.

SOURCE Enlightened Ice Cream
A personal and intimate act, adoption demands immense intentionality and effort. But does that mean it has to be an isolated, lonely experience? Should the goal be a smooth adoption process that results in a shiny, happy family? Sasha and Mike Parkers stories of adopting five childrengrowing their family from six members to 11answer those questions with a nuanced yet emphatic no.

The story that the Lord has written for ustheres some painful pieces to it, says Sasha. But I think that weve experienced adoption on a level that we would have never really experienced if we were just the parents who had it all together with their formulas. No. We are broken together and honestly I feel like were better, broken together.

On this weeks episode of Adopting Hope, Sasha shares the second part of her familys story (find part one here). After bringing four children into the world biologically, Sasha and MIke found their hearts stirred toward adoption. They welcomed their first adopted daughter, Ella, home from an Ethiopian orphanage. Ella had medical and therapeutic needs during her first few years at home that required a lot of appointments and specialists. Iit was in that time that the Parkers found their community blessing them in ways that would continue to ripple throughout their familys story.

A college student the Parkers befriended began helping their family by taking Ella to some of her physical therapy appointments. She and her family were connected with a ministry and orphanage in Ethiopia. It was run by a Christian Ethiopian couple and most of the children they cared for had lived at the orphanage for six years or more.

One day, this sweet girl came up to us and said hey, you know, have you guys thought about adopting again? There are children waiting for families at that orphanage my family is connected with, Sasha recalls.

Soon, Sasha and Mike saw a picture of a boy named Joseph, who was 12 at the time and was from the area where Ella had lived. They knew he was their son and began the adoption process. A friend in Ethiopia, Maharet, was able to send the Parkers pictures and videos sometimes. And the Parkers began to pray for a family to bring home Josephs best friend, Samuel, trusting that God would raise up a family for him as well.

Lo and behold, he did. A friend of Sashas from as far back as junior high school ended up welcoming Samuel into her family. Despite the fact that Samuels family started the adoption process six months after the Parkers, the boys ended up getting the same court date as each other. Samuel and Joseph flew home on the same airplane. They moved into their new homes just blocks from each other, attended the same schools, and were enrolled in the same grade.

Only God can do that, Sasha marvels. It was a huge gift for Joseph to have his best friend in the same community. It would have been really hard [without that].

It would be easy to stop here, smiling at the near-moviesque glory of this story of family and friendship so intertwined and abundant. But for Sasha, that wouldnt be to tell the whole truth. The whole truth is thisthat even in tremendous beauty, there is brokenness.

It was an adjustment, Sasha says. It wasnt the easiest thing for him to all of the sudden lose everything. He loved Ethiopia. He was very proud of his heritage and his county. So there was definite loss for him. As many little amazing stories as you have, you still have grief, and you still have to navigate the journey together as a family.

Sasha says that brokenness and humility arent opposed to healing, theyre critical to it. You learn things about yourselfyour insecurities, or wounds you have that come out as youre trying to do this really hard job [of adopting]. And thats okay. Were real. We dont have it all together. Its a processand for our children to pick up on that vibe from us as parents [is a gift].

The Parker familys story is not one of idealism nor chaos, but of receiving Gods faithfulness and demonstrating it to others as well. As they help Joseph continue to connect to his culture of origin by visiting their favorite Ethiopian restaurant together, or helping him pursue his dream of majoring in agriculture and returning to Ethiopia one day, they find others in Josephs life replicating small beauties in a broken worldlike when one of Josephs friends from the Wheaton suburbs chooses to celebrate his own birthday with Sam and Joseph at that same Ethiopian restaurant each year.

Some days, brokenness seems so small in the light of beauty. And in others, beauty seems so hard to find in the dearth of darkness. But the mosaic of beauty in broken togetherness? Well, its like Sasha said. Only God can do that.

Adopting Hope is a production of Christianity Today.

Produced by Mike Cosper, Joyce Koo Dalrymple, and Sasha Parker

Edited and mixed by Alex Carter

Theme song Weve Got This Hope by Ellie Holcomb
A man in a full An Post uniform with a firearm took part in a cash robbery of 50,000 outside a post office in Dublin.

Gardai are appealing for witnesses following the robbery in Crumlin Village, which took place at around 11.40am today.

At that time, a cash-in-transit employee entered the premises with a cash box. It was then that an unidentified man came towards this employee and produced a firearm. The cash box was then handed over.

The unidentified man was dressed in the uniform and escaped on a bicycle down Windmill Road, in the direction of the Kildare Road, in Crumlin.

Gardai are asking anyone who may have noticed any unusual activity in the vicinity of Crumlin Village Post Office between 10am to 12.30pm to come forward with information.

In addition, Gardai are appealing to any road users - including motorists, cyclists and pedestrians who were in the area at this time - who may have camera footage (including dash cam) to make this available.

Anyone who has any information in relation to this matter, or who can assist Gardai, should contact Crumlin Garda Station on 01 666 6200, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any other Garda station.
Olympic figure skater Adam Rippon added some gold to his life: a pair of engagement rings.

Rippon and his longtime boyfriend Jussi-Pekka "JP" Kajaala announced their engagement on Wednesday.

The Clarks Summit native posted to his Instagram account, showing off photos of the couple and their gold engagement rings that were bought together in Kajaala's home country of Finland, according to People.

"We got ~*engaged*~," Rippon, who took home a bronze medal at the 2018 Winter Olympics, wrote in the caption.

Rippon also told People that the bands were unboxed together to make the joint proposal even more special.

"I'm excited to marry JP because he's just the best," he told the magazine. "He's kind, he's funny, and he's just as beautiful on the inside as he is on the out (which is a lot). He's my cheerleader and I'm his. I just love him a lot."
After the Opposition's attempt to seek a clarification on the defence minister's statement was stymied by Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu the discussion turned to the budget and farm laws

The Chinese defence ministry's announcement on Wednesday that Indian and Chinese troops were beginning "synchronised and organised disengagement" in eastern Ladakh and the lack of statement on the same from the Indian Army left all eyes on Union defence minister Rajnath Singh in the Budget Session of Parliament on Thursday.

Rajnath, addressing both Houses of the Parliament on Thursday, confirmed that the Chinese Army would pull back its troops to the east of Finger 8 areas in the northern bank of the Pangong lake, and in return, Indian troops would be based at their permanent location at Dhan Singh Thapa post near Finger 3 areas.

After the Opposition's attempt to seek clarification on the defence minister's statement was stymied by Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu, the discussion turned to the budget and farm laws.

In the Lower House, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi caused an uproar with his criticism of the farm laws.

Criticising the intent behind the farm laws, Rahul said the BJP government follows a hum do hamare do policy. "Only four to five people are running the country," Rahul alleged, adding, "The new farm laws will destroy India's food security system and will hurt the rural economy."

Rahul was countered by both Minister of State for Finance Anurag Thakur and Union minister Smriti Irani.

Thakur, taking exception to Rahul's comments, stated that that there is no provision in the farm laws which says that mandis will be closed.

Following are the key updates from the day:

Rajya Sabha

Speaking in Rajya Sabha on Thursday morning, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said India and China would "remove forward deployments in a phased and a coordinated manner" and that senior commanders from both sides would meet within 48 hours after disengagement from Pangong.

"Status quo will be restored," Rajnath added.

FOLLOW LIVE UPDATES ON PARLIAMENT HERE

Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu, disallowing the Opposition's attempt to seek clarification on Rajnath's statement, said, "This is a matter of national unity and security."

"Discussions have been going on for the past 48 hours, and you want to create controversy? It is not good," Naidu added.

Soon after Rajnath made the statement in the Upper House, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi slammed the Centre on Twitter:

No status quo ante = No peace & tranquility. Why is GOI insulting the sacrifice of our jawans & letting go of our territory?  Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) February 11, 2021

Ravi Shankar Prasad slams Twitter

In the backdrop of Centre's row with Twitter, speaking in the Rajya Sabha, Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad Thursday took aim at social media companies.

"We have flagged Twitter, and is in dialogue with them. Why is it that when the police has to act in US Capitol Hill they stand in support, but when a similar action is taken at Red Fort, they oppose it? Freedom of speech is there, but with reasonable restrictions. Why double standards? Prasad said.

"I have a message for social media platforms  freedom is important, but showing revenge sex video, street fights, porn videos, family issues on social media? Revisit unbridled exposure of double-standards of your own guidelines," he added.

'Repeal laws or legalise MSP'

Shiromani Akali Dal MP Naresh Gujral, bringing the discussion to the farm laws, urged the Centre to legalise MSP or to repeal 'black laws' and pledged support to farmers.

"Why not legalise MSP by putting it in the law," he asked.

"The day you do that, the farmers will return to their homes. I must tell the government's spokespersons to stop defaming the farmers. And force will be of no use against the farmers. The farmers will go home only when they can say, 'fateh, fateh, fateh' (victory, victory, victory)," he said.

Adding his voice to the discussion, Samajwadi Party leader Vishambhar Prasad Nishad demanded a repeal of three contentious farm laws and pitched for a new law to make Minimum Support Price (MSP) mandatory for the procurement of agriculture produce.

"The farm bills were drafted on the directions of corporates. When the farmers do not want these bills, why are these being imposed on them? I demand that the farm laws should be taken back and a new law to guarantee MSP should be brought."

Nishad pointed out that there is no special package in the budget for the farmers of the parched Bundelkhand region.

'Budget has nothing for poor'

With the discussion turning to the Budget, former Union minister P Chidambaram, claimed that "incompetent management would undo growth achieved in 3 to 4 years".
U.S. Department of Justice lawyers say Portland police no longer meet four key reforms required under a settlement agreement adopted seven years ago after federal investigators found officers used excessive force against people with mental illness.

They cited inappropriate use and management of force during protests last year, inadequate training, subpar police oversight and a failure to adequately share an annual Police Bureau report with the public as required.

Police used force during last years mass protests that violated bureau policy, with officers conflating active versus passive resistance as the basis for firing rubber bullets and other less-lethal impact munitions, according to a new Justice Department review filed in federal court Wednesday.

Supervisors frequently failed to investigate or analyze their officers use of force, gave blanket approval of force with no real analysis and often cut-and-paste identical or similar language into their reviews, the report said.

PPB repeatedly has asserted that certain impactful events  COVID 19, national political turmoil, and a wildfire season  were beyond its control. True though that may be, those events do not eliminate the Citys obligations under this Agreement and the Constitution, the 78-page report said.

PPB members used force, some beyond policy, the report said. Supervisors approved that force, some without required critical assessment. PPB, as a whole, did not timely assess the crowd control events.

The next court hearing on the status of the settlement and police compliance is set for 9 a.m. Aug. 26 before U.S. District Judge Michael H. Simon.

Document: U.S. Department of Justice report

From May 29 through Nov. 15, during the height of the social justice protests in Portland sparked by the May 25 videotaped death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Portland police used force more than 6,000 times, according to the Justice Department report.

Police sometimes targeted people who attended protests but werent involved in any violence through guilt by association or focused on people simply because they were slow-walking away when ordered to disperse, the report said.

Police also over-relied on a sound truck for providing dispersal warnings and often failed to interview witnesses, the reviewers said.

In one example cited, an officer fired rubber bullets at someone who had run away and was a half-mile from the Justice Center downtown, the site of the nights protest. The officer pointed to the persons furtive conversation, their decision to run and the aggressive character of the crowd at the Justice Center as justification, the report said.

One lieutenant appropriately found the firing of rubber bullets improper, admonishing that officers should take caution in appearing to paint a broad bush in regards to the actions of 150-200 individuals.

The Justice Department assessment marked a dramatic departure from a year ago when it found police in substantial compliance with 190 reforms required by the settlement. The city must comply with all of the reforms for one year before the settlement agreement ends.

Simon approved the settlement in 2014 after a Justice Department investigation found police engaged in excessive force against people with mental illness and fired unnecessary cycles of Taser gun shocks.

Along with the reports findings, the Justice Department directed the Police Bureau to complete a comprehensive after-action review of all crowd-control events from May 29 to Nov. 15, identifying any force used that should be referred for an internal investigation.

The bureau also should add crowd-control training for officers who are part of the Rapid Response Team and Mobile Field Forces, the squads of officers who respond to large protests, the report said.

The City must now engage in the difficult task of acknowledging deficiencies, identifying successes, and rebuilding both community and organizational trust in systems based on constitutional policies carried into execution, Justice Department lawyers Jared Hager, Laura Cowall and R. Jonas Gessler wrote.

The federal findings mirror those identified by the city-hired compliance team of Dennis Rosenbaum & Associates and reflect some of the findings by a separate federal judge who found Portland police in contempt of his court order restricting less-lethal munitions during last years protests.

Rosenbaums team last month also issued an out-of-compliance finding, particularly regarding how police report and review uses of force. Some officer reports, Rosenbaum said, didnt have sufficient information to determine whether their actions were reasonable  ranging from firing tear gas to less-lethal projectiles with paint, powder or pepper spray to shoving people with batons.

One example that appeared in both reports was a video of an officer striking a protester with a baton. Police initially asserted it wasnt a use of potential deadly force because the officer didnt intend to hit the person in the head.

But after Rosenbaum identified it as a problem requiring an internal investigation, police started an inquiry -- though not for several weeks, the federal report noted.

Officers are supposed to fill out data collection reports by the end of their shifts, noting what they did and why, every time they use force. Supervisors are supposed to complete an after-action report that reviews each use of force.

Some supervisors validated uses of force with little or no critical assessment  even uses of force that were captured on video and replayed on (news) media, or later became subject to complaints, the Justice Department report said.

Validation of individual uses of force with little or no discussion of reasonableness of the force used or of de-escalation attempts, stands in contrast to PPBs policy requirements for force investigations.

A Justice Department consultant observed the police response to protests from July 3 through July 5. While the consultant witnessed an orderly police briefing at a command center with arrest protocols shared, the police skirmish lines he saw on the street were chaotic, according to the report.

The federal report also highlighted the lack of direction the Police Bureau received once Mayor Ted Wheeler issued an order on Sept. 10 for police to stop using tear gas for crowd control. There was no additional written guidance given to officers, beyond the mayors press release, the report said.

When Wheeler was asked about this, he told federal investigators that he would allow police to use tear gas in cases when lives were at risk and nothing else could resolve the threat -- and only if he or his designee approved its use.

Yet this explanation contradicted the mayors initial press release, the Justice Department lawyers found. Wheeler serves as the citys police commissioner.

It took more than two months before the Police Bureau adopted a new written executive order on Nov. 30 that provided further guidance to officers.

It says the bureau may use tear gas only upon the mayors or his designees express authorization as police commissioner. It spells out the standard of use as a showing of an immediate risk of death or serious physical injury that cant be safely addressed without a greater application of force.

Justice Department lawyers said police and the city changed use-of-force policies without their review or approval, which is required by the settlement agreement.

For example, police recategorized an officers two-handed use of a baton by calling it a control against resistance, a lower category of force, instead of a strike, a higher category of force. The pushing of someone with a baton that results in the person falling is now called a takedown. The different levels of force impact the auditing and analysis of police force, against to the federal Justice Department lawyers.

The bureau, the report said, also has failed to meet training standards, including annual refresher training to more than half of its officers last year, largely due to the coronavirus pandemic restraints.

The federal lawyers also found unmet requirements for police oversight, pointing to lagging investigations by internal affairs and the citys Independent Police Review office. The office fell short in many cases to meet a 180-day goal to complete its investigations into alleged police misconduct or inappropriate force.

The bureau also didnt meet the requirement under the settlements community engagement mandate to share its 2019 annual report at public meetings in each of its three precincts before bringing it before the City Council. The report came out in 2020 and never was presented at East Precinct, the report said.

Of the reports findings, Police Chief Chuck Lovell said, We will use the valuable feedback to continue to improve and grow as an agency.

-- Maxine Bernstein

Email at mbernstein@oregonian.com; 503-221-8212

Follow on Twitter @maxoregonian
Plus, Bill's Message of the Day, say goodbye to law and order Joe.

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My reputation as a problem solver seems to have never died down even though it has been years since I last showed my abilities. (For the information of the ignorant few I have described my heroic feats in quite unheroic terms on my blog.*) In fact, it is only I who seem to have put aside that glorious chapter of my life behind me, the rest of the world remembers.

The other day a whole lot of people trooped in to my house demanding an audience with me. Everyone wanted to speak to me all at once, the entire surging sea of humanity. Out of that lot a significant number said they were having a problem in taking out their cars out of the parking lot because my driver had parked it in the middle of the exit road. I immediately handed one of them the key to my car to do the needful and they went back seemingly satisfied. Do not quite know why their satisfaction was not full and final.

But there were still some people who would not go away. Their faces seemed familiar and unaccountably in my minds eye they were always hoist on high places - seated on a dais, podium, prime time, media etc. I magnanimously walked up to them and encouraged them to speak to me without fear or reserve. They said, "Could we sit down for a while, they had some more serious issues?"

There was an awkward silence and each one of them hoped to open up after the others had left. Finally a nervous, fidgety fellow spoke. He said in a sepulchral tone, "It is the problem of black money." Ah! Big problem with international ramifications, a problem which others had tried their hands on and failed, a problem which occupies the national mind. That is quite up my street. "What about the others?" In a unique manifestation of "a revolution of moral concern" they said, their problem was also the same.

The gathering had barely seated itself when a man who distinctly smelt of money, without any preamble started reeling out figures related to black money. "Yes, but are these figures inclusive of the black money that you gentleman have secreted at various locations?" He was not clued on to this. All that he wanted was that the money should be brought back without delay. He said that half a dozen times, to underline the urgency of the problem. He kept his two hands in his trouser pocket throughout, not taking them out even once. I thought he had already taken out his hoard of black money and secreted it in his deep pocket. Secretly in some corner of his mind he also wished for his promised 15 lakh out of other peoples black money. But I could see the logic. I could also see that he was speaking for all of them.

I assured them that the problem of locating and confiscating black money was quite a childs play for me but would they like me to go down in history as the biggest bumbling idiot who ever lived. They were shocked beyond words. "You see it is not for the first time in the history of our great nation that such an idea  shall we say Quixotic before Quixote - has come up. In the golden age of Vikramaditya, Kalidas had authored such a proposal to weed out black money and nearly sank the ship of his state. He was immortalized as a fool sawing off the branch he was sitting upon. The rhyme Kalidas kate ghaas (Kalidas cuts grass) became a national ditty. It was the revisionist historians who in order to refurbish the image of Vikramaditya ascribed to Kalidas the authorship of the books he is credited with and the foolish project was consigned to the memory hole. After painstaking research I had been able to establish this little known but very instructive fact of history.

The penny dropped for them instantly. The spokesman said with great finality "We see the point of it."Then he became conspiratorial. "I know, it is difficult; not only difficult it may even be suicidal but my new party is sworn to the idea of doing away with black money."

"That is simple", I said, "make another promise, change the party, change your name, your parents, your face or simply deny that you had made any such promise. Better still say that investigations have revealed that nothing called black money ever existed. "I have tried each one of the options, except the last one, several times during the course of this campaign itself. I will be found out. And I cannot say that black money never existed because like poverty, secularism, nationalism, development etc we will need to exhort the liquidation of black money to lure the masses in all future elections. Parties irrespective of ideological leanings make these promises. Unity in diversity. Please, please do something."

There was a pin drop silence. He was clearly speaking for the collective!

"You mean you just want to be seen to be doing your utmost to clean up, right? Cheat people out of their votes." "Is it not what democracy is all about, a competitive fraud where the cleverest con man wins?" "Well said. Let us go." "Where to?" "To locate, unearth and confiscate black money". "Yes but let us first inform the income tax, enforcement department, the media." "The law ministers famous raid on drug peddlers has already laid down the precedent .Now every law abiding citizen can take upon himself the task of enforcing law according to his own interpretation of it."

As if guided by some demiurge we were standing in front of a modest looking house nestled among imposing palatial houses in a famous colony. An old man came out to investigate what it was all about. My God! Is not he the man I had seen yesterday, on my way to the bank, clutching something close to his chest and looking utterly watchful?

Spurred on we searched his house with a fine tooth comb and soon enough the precious horde of black money, secreted in a black bag ,wrapped in a black shawl and kept in a black box was winking at us.

I smiled at my own problem solving ability which now seemed to be getting automated. Four hundred seventy eight thousand rupees in all! The media was not far behind and my beaming interlocutor was exploiting it as good photo op was struggling to be seen in the forefront of this campaign.

"Four hundred seventy eight thousand million, is that the figure you quoted for black money? We have unearthed the four hundred seventy eight thousand - the million that remains is now childs play, I think the tax authorities can take the small stride after the giant step we have taken today. Let them also claim the credit."

The old man who happened to be a primary school teacher came up with all kinds of receipts to prove its legitimate origin. My interlocutors became nervous. "Now the media will nail our lie." "Impossible, I said; the media have money so much on their minds that on matters concerning money they cannot distinguish black form white."

I was ready for them. "Sir, but on the basis of papers furnished by the old man it seems to be white money." It appears to be white money alright, but actually it is black money gone white, out of fear."

The media got more than it had asked for. Not only was the issue clarified, they had got a catchy headline for tomorrows dispatches.

*http://www.manojenath.in/2009/12/modest-proposal_12.html



India Today magazine once referred to Manoje Nath, a 1973-batch IPS officer, as being fiercely independent, honest, and upright. Besides his numerous official reports on various issues exposing corruption in the bureaucracy in Bihar, Nath is also a writer extraordinaire expressing his thoughts on subjects ranging from science fiction to the effects of globalization. His sense of humor was evident through his extremely popular series named "Gulliver in Patiliputra" and "Modest Proposals" that were published in the local newspapers.
One of Editor & Publishers 10 That Do It Right 2021
This chart shows the number of people testing positive for COVID-19 weekly in different areas of the B.C. Interior. Week 3 at the far right refers to Jan. 23. Infections in the Okanagan have been steadily declining since early December, but they have risen in other areas.
Planned Parenthood worker warns kids claiming trans identity are being used as cash cows

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A Planned Parenthood employee is speaking out against the organization's practices of dispensing cross-sex hormones to trans-identifying teenagers, particularly distressed girls.

The staffer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, recounted in an interview with journalist Abigail Shrier how she felt morally conflicted about the volume of young people coming into the clinic claiming a transgender identity and yet showed signs of emotional and mental health issues. She also expressed great concern over the speed at which they were being prescribed cross-sex hormones, such as testosterone.

The young clients were prescribed hormones with almost no examination of their underlying problems, and medical oversight was practically nonexistent, the staffer alleged.

The Planned Parenthood employee, who said she's fully supportive of abortion rights, noted that abortions were the bread and butter" for clinics. But now, she said, trans-identifying kids are cash cows, and they are kept on the hook for the foreseeable future in terms of follow-up appointments, bloodwork, meetings, etc., whereas abortions are (hopefully) a one-and-done situation.

Shrier is a Wall Street Journal op-ed contributor and author of the book, Irreversible Damage: The Transgender Craze Seducing Our Daughters, an investigative work released last year that examines why, for the first time in approximately 100 years of diagnostic history, the vast majority of young people diagnosed with gender dysphoria are teenage girls. Until recently, this extremely rare condition was almost exclusively seen in young boys.

That an abortion provider is now in the business of dispensing cross-sex hormones to teens is not a surprise to right-to-life advocates who attribute the development to a broader destructive agenda.

"The culture of deaths chief proponent, Planned Parenthood, has no problem putting profits over people," said Mary Szoch, director of the Center for Human Dignity at the Family Research Council, in an email to the Christian Post.

"For years, they have exploited women and killed unborn babies for the sake of making money. They have denied the scientific fact that abortion takes the life of an unborn child. And so, it shouldnt shock anyone that once again, Planned Parenthood is willing to put profits over people."

The abortion giant has recognized that if they can get a teenager to start hormones, they will keep coming back to their clinic, and with each visit, the profits will grow, she added.

"Once again, Planned Parenthood is willing to deny scientific facts  only this time, they are denying that a child with XX chromosomes is a girl, and a child with XY chromosomes is a boy. This isnt much of a stretch for an organization that profits off denying a human being is a person who inherently has the right to life," Szoch said.

"Planned Parenthood began as a eugenic, profits-driven organization that exploited the vulnerable. Their current status as one of the largest providers of cross-sex hormones to females seeking medical gender transition is simply proof that their mission to spread the culture of death hasnt changed," she reiterated.

While Shrier was unable to obtain the figures as to how much money Planned Parenthood is making from selling cross-sex hormones, the drugs linked to the medicalization of gender are nevertheless contributing to their bottom line, she stressed. The organization hasn't hidden its advocacy for "gender-affirming" care and boasts in its public messaging of being a leading provider of such services.

The Planned Parenthood employee added that, based on her recollection, many girls went in with their peer groups, and one to two girls went to the clinic each day to pick up cross-sex hormones.

With one exception, she reported never seeing anyone being denied access to cross-sex hormones.

One of the boys who did confess that he smoked so much weed that he was doubling up on his estrogen  We did end up ceasing his therapy until he saw  I think it was like a substance abuse counselor or something like that. But other than that, we never turned away anybody," she told Shrier.

When asked if the clinic staff ever expressed reservations about the manner in which hormones were being prescribed to girls and whether it was the best course of treatment for their issues, the Planned Parenthood staffer replied: "Yeah. Every day.

She added: I mean, it would be one of those things that would be a conversation among professionals. You know, were nodding our heads, were doing this thing. And then we clock out at the end of the day because we cannot bring it up in discussion with management or the clinic directors or anything because they have these directives from administrators upstate.

Her account of the relative ease with which young people are able to acquire cross-sex hormones dovetails with previous CP reporting wherein a 57-year-old mother went undercover into a Planned Parenthood clinic in Washington state, claimed to be transgender, and was given a prescription for testosterone with few questions asked.

Weeks before this mother went undercover by posing as a gender dysphoric person seeking cross-sex hormones, the woman's 18-year-old daughter, who has a developmental delay, was also prescribed testosterone by Planned Parenthood.

"I was pretty sure her doctors wouldn't do this given her mental health and physical health challenges and her mild learning disability," the mother said to CP.

Under Planned Parenthood's informed consent model, all that is required for patients who come into their locations is for them to sign a document saying that they understand the risks. Planned Parenthood is thus not considered legally liable for any harmful and lasting effects.

In 2015, the FDA released a safety announcement that warned: "Prescription testosterone products are approved only for men who have low testosterone levels caused by certain medical conditions. The benefit and safety of these medications have not been established for the treatment of low testosterone levels due to aging, even if a mans symptoms seem related to low testosterone."

"FDA has concluded that there is a possible increased cardiovascular risk associated with testosterone use. ... Some studies reported an increased risk of heart attack, stroke, or death associated with testosterone treatment, while others did not."

Federal regulations additionally require manufacturers of approved testosterone products to conduct clinical trials to address whether an increased risk of heart attack or stroke exists among users of those products.

The mother told CP that she was prescribed the same dose of testosterone as her daughter.

"This whole thing is maddening, and I don't know what can be done about it," she said, adding that she had written to five different organizations to alert them about what Planned Parenthood is doing.

CP called the regional Planned Parenthood in the Pacific Northwest at the time and inquired about the side effects of cross-sex hormones, especially given scientific literature showing that the prefrontal cortex of the brain isn't fully developed until around age 25. The Planned Parenthood representative said that sounded like "smoke coming out of nowhere," and brain development was inconsequential to starting gender transition hormones.
Paczki Day will be different this year  just like everything else. Oh, there will still be myriad flavors, natch, from traditional (strawberry, custard, cherry) to creative (cannoli, bananas Foster and raspberry hibiscus, with Oreo coming on as the go-to). And there will be lines and waits. Heres everything you need to know to secure the once-a-year fried dough, jelly-filled indulgence.
Precisely because the definition of incitement is so vague, the Supreme Court has placed strict constitutional limits on lawsuits and prosecutions seeking to punish it.

In 1969, in Brandenburg v. Ohio, for instance, the court unanimously overturned the conviction of a leader of a Ku Klux Klan group under an Ohio statute that banned the advocacy of terrorism. The Klan leader, Clarence Brandenburg, had urged his followers at a rally to send the Jews back to Israel, to bury African-Americans, though he did not call them that, and to consider revengeance against politicians and judges who were unsympathetic to white people.

Only Klan members and journalists were present. Because Mr. Brandenburgs words fell short of calling for immediate violence in a setting where such violence was likely, the Supreme Court ruled that he could not be prosecuted for incitement.

The constitutional guarantees of free speech and free press, the court said in an unsigned opinion, do not permit a state to forbid or proscribe advocacy of the use of force or of law violation except where such advocacy is directed to inciting or producing imminent lawless action and is likely to incite or produce such action.

Judge Hale said the account of the rally presented in the protesters lawsuit could clear the high bar. It is plausible that Trumps direction to get em out of here advocated the use of force, the judge wrote. It was an order, an instruction, a command.

He added that the protesters had, at least at an early stage of the litigation, plausibly maintained that Mr. Trump had intended for his statement to result in violence and was likely to result in violence.

But the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, in Cincinnati, reversed Judge Hales decision, ruling that the Brandenburg decision protected Mr. Trump. In the ears of some supporters, Trumps words may have had a tendency to elicit a physical response, in the event a disruptive protester refused to leave, Judge David W. McKeague wrote for the majority, but they did not specifically advocate such a response.
Boeing will exhibit its diverse range of defence products and services capabilities at the biennial International Defence Exhibition and Conference (IDEX) this year in Abu Dhabi.

Held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE and Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, the show will take place from February 21to 25 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec).

IDEX is the largest defence exhibition in the Middle East and North Africa, and is an ideal platform for Boeing and its subsidiaries, Insitu and Liquid Robotics, to highlight their key products and services that complement the regions existing defense capabilities and support its security requirements, said a statement.

I am proud to say that Boeing shares more than 40 years of partnership with the United Arab Emirates, and more than 70 years across the Middle East region. With safety precautions in place by organizers and exhibitors alike, IDEX will be an opportunity for us to engage with our regional customers on their existing and future security needs. Boeing will support the considerable potential for growth in the aerospace sector by offering the right defense capabilities, infrastructure expansion and services at the right time, said Bernard Dunn, President of Boeing Middle East, Turkey and Africa.

Boeing Defense Space & Security (BDS) backlog now stands at $61 billion with 32% of that coming from outside the United States. Looking to the future, over the next five years BDS is pursuing $170 billion across 41 countries in international defense and services opportunities.

Boeing continues to work closely with the UAE and other governments and defence forces in the region who will be present at IDEX, and play a key role in enhancing security in the region.

At IDEX, Boeing will be holding discussions with customers about advanced platforms such as T-7 Advanced Pilot Training System, the KC-46A Pegasus aerial refueling tanker, AH-64 Apache attack helicopter, CH-47F Chinook advanced multi-mission helicopter, F-15EX multi-role combat fighter and the Compact Laser Weapon System (CLWS).

Boeing will also focus on its autonomous systems portfolio, in particular the Integrator ER and ScanEagle by our subsidiary, Insitu, and Wave Glider by our subsidiary Liquid Robotics. In addition, Boeing will also discuss its diverse sustainment and training solutions, including an expansive supply chain and logistics network, in-country partnerships and on-the-ground support, and OEM reach back for its installed base of defense platforms, future deliveries and near term sales opportunities.

The highlights of the portfolio are:

* The T-7 is a new advanced pilot training system, designed to include ground based training and support designed together from the start. Its open architecture and flexible design can evolve as technologies, missions and training needs change. In 2018, the U.S. Air Force awarded Boeing a T-7 contract award for 351 jets, 46 simulators and associated ground equipment worth $9.2 billion.

* The KC-46A Pegasus is a wide-body, multi-role tanker that is revolutionising the air mobility mission, designed to refuel US, allied and coalition military aircraft compatible with international aerial refueling procedures.

* The AH-64E Apache is the most advanced, combat-proven attack helicopter to ever enter production. In addition to the US Army, the Apache is the primary attack helicopter for 17 partner nations around the globe, demonstrating its interoperability as US and international forces operate side-by-side in peacekeeping roles.

* The CH-47F Chinook is the most advanced, affordable, battle-tested heavy-lift helicopter in the world. The tandem rotor design allows the Chinook to devote all of its power to lift, and provides unmatched tactical and combat support mission capabilities.

* The F-15EX is the force of the future. With fly-by-wire flight controls, hypersonic weapon payload capacity and advanced cockpit systems, Boeings F-15EX is prepared to face future threats head-on. Equipped with Open Mission Systems for quick and convenient technology upgrades, it is ready to take on the missions of today and adapt to meet the missions of tomorrow

* The Compact Laser Weapon System (CLWS) is a modular high energy laser (HEL) system that provides proven, affordable battlefield protection for warfighters and is ready today to defend against a growing array of emerging UAS threats.

* The Integrator ER, is Insitus satellite-enabled beyond line of sight (SATCOM BLOS) variant of the Integrator unmanned aircraft system (UAS) for extended range operations.

* The ScanEagle by Insitu, is a long-endurance unmanned aerial system (UAS) that has eyes in the sky at 15,000 ft. 24 hours a day. Built upon more than one million hours of operational experience and innovation, it does not require support systems or infrastructure.

* The Wave Glider designed and manufactured by Liquid Robotics, is the worlds most experienced, long-duration autonomous surface vehicle (ASV). It supports a wide range of sensors and payloads to collect and transmit data in real-time from seabed to space, and is used by defense organizations around the world for anti-submarine warfare (ASW), maritime domain awareness (MDA), and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions.

Given the current environment, Boeing plans to take all the necessary precautions to safely engage with its customers and the media at the show. Access to the booth will be limited and appointments are encouraged, it said. - TradeArabia News Service
She's a highly coveted model who travels the world to appear in major fashion shows.

And Kaia Gerber used an ordinary city sidewalk as her own personal runway as she stepped out in Los Angeles on Thursday morning.

The 19-year-old supermodel flashed her toned physique as she headed into another grueling Pilates class at a private studio.

Out and about: Kaia Gerber used an ordinary city sidewalk as her own personal runway as she stepped out in Los Angeles on Thursday morning

Kaia looked fit as she headed into a sweat session wearing light grey leggings and dark brown UGG ultra mini boots.

She stayed warm in the chilly West Coast winter by wearing a ribbed sweatshirt with a preppy collar.

The daughter of Cindy Crawford juggled a marble print reusable water bottle and her phone in one hand as she slung a brown leather bag over her shoulder.

She must work out: The 19-year-old supermodel flashed her toned physique as she headed into another grueling Pilates class at a private studio in her UGG ultra mini boots

Her dark brown hair was tied back into a low ponytail and wispy curtain bangs framed her face.

She made sure to protect herself and others amid the raging coronavirus by wearing a jet black face mask from Enro.

While Kaia and her boyfriend, Jacob Elordi, haven't been pictured together since last year as he's now underway filming Euphoria, her famous parents reportedly approve of their relationship.

Model behavior: Her dark brown hair was tied back into a low ponytail and wispy curtain bangs framed her face

Lucky in love: When she is not cuddling in bed with Milo or communicating with her impressive Instagram following, Kaia is spending quality time with her actor boyfriend Jacob Elordi; Kaia and Jacob pictured in October

She confirmed her status with The Kissing Booth star on Instagram in October and has the seal of approval from mom and dad.

An insider told People magazine: 'Jacob is very sweet to Kaia. They are always very loving and cute together. Its obvious that Cindy and Rande approve of Jacob too. They spend a lot of time together.'

The source also noted Jacob  who hails from Australia  has 'embraced Kaia's Malibu life and seems to love it as much as she does.'
Burma Myanmar Military Regime Detains More Members of Ousted Govt in Late Night Raids

(Top row from left) Detained Mon Chief Minister Dr. Aye Zan; Minister for the Office of the State Counselor U Kyaw Tint Swe; Rakhine Chief Minister U Nyi Pu; (bottom row from left) CEC member U Htun Htun Hein; CEC member Dr. Myo Aung; and NLD legal adviser U Kyaw Ho.

YANGONAt least six senior figures from the ousted government led by the National League for Democracy (NLD), including a close aide to State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, were detained by the military regime in a series of raids late Wednesday night, following the armed forces takeover of the country.

The latest wave of arrests came after top NLD leaders publicly showed support for anti-coup protesters across the country and denounced the military coup. Nationwide mass protests against the military regime continue in every state and region, despite moves by the Myanmar police to begin cracking down on the demonstrations on Tuesday, using water cannons and opening fire on protesters in some places.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi aide U Kyaw Tint Swe, minister for the Office of the State Counselor under the ousted NLD government, was among those detained Wednesday night.

Dr. Myo Aung, a member of the NLDs Central Executive Committee (CEC) who served as chairman of the Naypyitaw Development Committee, was taken by military personnel from his residence, where he was already under house arrest, the NLD said.

The NLD Central Information Committee confirmed that the chief minister of Rakhine State, U Nyi Pu, was also detained by the military at 11.00 p.m. on Wednesday after the party uploaded a video message in which he condemned the coup and urged the public to keep fighting for democracy.

The list of those detained includes the chief minister of Mon State, Dr. Aye Zan; CEC member U Htun Htun Hein; and U Kyaw Ho, a legal adviser to the party, the NLD said.

Information committee member U Kyi Toe said that following the latest wave of arrests, the NLDs entire senior leadership, including all CEC members, are now in military detention.

This week, the military regime also rearrested the chief ministers of Yangon, Mandalay and Sagaing regions and Karen State, moving them from the government residences where they had been under house arrest. In Kachin State, all of the NLDs state government ministers including the chief minister were arrested by the military last week.

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Britain is prepared to do 'whatever is required' to support its fishermen post-Brexit, Michael Gove said today - as new figures showed exporters are facing increasing problems at the UK borders.

The Cabinet Office minister acknowledged there are 'bureaucratic obstacles' to negotiate and navigate with Brussels, as he was pressed to support 'retaliation' against member state fishing vessels given the current difficulties experienced by the British industry.

Conservative MPs were among those raising concerns over extra paperwork and additional costs faced by UK fishermen despite a free trade agreement with the EU.

Mr Gove came under fire in the Commons as new figures from the Office for National Statistics showed British exporters facing increasing problems with goods leaving the UK.

Fewer than half (45.5 per cent) reported problem-free trade between late January and early February, down from 53.3 per cent in the previous fortnight.

They cited increased disruption at the border and increases in transport costs and customs duties.

The concerns were also echoed by import firms trying to bring goods into the UK.

The Cabinet Office minister acknowledged there are 'bureaucratic obstacles' to negotiate and navigate with Brussels, as he was pressed to support 'retaliation' against member state fishing vessels given the current difficulties experienced by the British industry

What is the new paperwork delaying exports from Britain to the EU? EU customs declarations and extra checks are now required on goods moving from Britain to the EU. This demands time-consuming paperwork which is then delayed further by customs checks. The new red tape includes: Export health certificate - Required for every food item to prove it is safe to eat. Customs export declarations - Describes the goods being exported. Sanitary and phytosanitary checks - For certain live plant and animal products including root vegetables, leafy vegetables and most fruits. Advertisement

Mr Gove was quizzed over the massive problems faced by UK fish exporters and the fleets replying on the, in the Commons today.

Cornish Conservative MP Sheryll Murray told the Commons: 'Fishing exporters in my constituency are having problems exporting to the EU. We signed a deal that said we could export to the EU.

'What action is (Mr Gove) taking to ensure these exports happen without hindrance and will he start boarding EU vessels in retaliation if we still see this obstructive action on the part of the European Union?'

Mr Gove responded: 'What we do need to do is make sure that any bureaucratic obstructions which individual EU member states may still be applying are lifted and of course as I mentioned we will reserve our rights as an independent coastal state to do whatever is required in order to make sure that our fishermen are backed up every step of the way.'

Mr Gove also used Cabinet Office questions to announce a 20 million Brexit support fund to help small and medium-sized businesses 'adjust to new customs rules of origin and VAT rules' when trading with the EU.

For Labour, shadow Cabinet Office minister Jack Dromey urged Mr Gove to apologise for the disruption 'inflicted' upon British businesses.

The DUP's Ian Paisley warned: '(Mr Gove) boasts of his unionist credentials, indeed he even boasted once in my local paper that he could sing the Sash.

'Today he has the chance to protect the union in his meeting with (European Commission vice president) Maros Sefcovic.

'Will he make clear that the Protocol is causing societal and economic damage to the union, and will he press on with the alternative arrangements that he previously supported and signed up to?'

Yesterday the boss of a leading British manufacturer claimed it was now harder to export goods from Britain to France than to Japan because of Brexit.

David Stirling, CEO of Zotefoams, says hauliers are choosing to cross the Channel empty because of the red tape and delays at ports caused by Boris Johnson's deal with the EU.

Mr Stirling, whose south London based firm makes plastic foam for Nike trainers, aeroplanes and the bands in PPE visors, said today it is now 'more difficult to ship to Rouen in northern France than to Japan'.

It came as the Road Haulage Association said that the volume of exports from UK ports fell 68 per cent in January compared with the same time last year, but despite this the Cabinet Office said it did not recognise the figures and claimed 'disruption at the border has so far been minimal'.

Mr Stirling said: 'I'd be more siding with the Road Haulage Association's view to be honest.

He said that 'the amount of paperwork and the uncertainty' around the rules means 'if you miss one bit of paperwork you have to start again', adding: 'Trucks leaving the UK for Europe are generally unwilling to take goods out because they get delayed for so long at borders'.

'It appears to be (easier to bring things in), yes, we export a lot from South London all across Europe but we have found a significant number of hauliers are not willing to pick up goods and take the short hop to Dover. They would rather take the lorries empty, which is ridiculous', he said.
Protocol Officer Momodou Sowe of the State House has on Monday, 8th February testified in the passport scandal case involving Mansa Sumareh and Ebrima J. Sanneh.

The two are standing trial in conspiracy and forgery. Both are accused of conspiring among themselves to procure Gambian diplomatic passport.

Sowe testified for the second time in this criminal trial as the fourth prosecution witness.

Sowe said Sanneg was Protocol Assistant at the Protocol Directorate at the Ministry of Foreign Affiars.

He said he was called by Ebrima J. Sanneh, the 2nd accused person, informing him about an incident that he was involved. Sowe said Sanneh was seeking an advice in how to go about a "mistake" he did.

"He (Ebrima J. Sanneh) said Mr. Mansa Sumareh lured him into creating an approval in favour of somebody else," Sowe said.

Sowe testified that he couldn't recall the name of the person that Sanneh mentioned to him during their conversation vie telephone call.

Witness Sowe testified that Sanneh informed him that he did the processing of the passport, but during the process of enrolment of the diplomatic passport, the approval was stopped because there was no dispatch stamp. Sowe define a dispatch stamp as a thing that is affix on every correspondence dispatch from the records office of an institution.

On cross-examination, Sowe admitted that during the course of the investigation he gave both cautionary and voluntary statements.

The case was adjourned to Wednesday this week at 1 p.m.
LAKE MARY, Fla. and TEL AVIV, Israel, Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- AIO - Verified Financial Identity, a Fintech company based in Tel Aviv, and Finastra, today announced that they have been awarded a USD $1 million grant from the Board of Governors of the Israel-U.S. Binational Industrial Research and Development (BIRD) Foundation for the co-development of a digital customer onboarding solution. Developed by AIO and available on Finastra's FusionFabric.cloud open developer platform and app marketplace, the solution automates the process of establishing the financial identity of a loan applicant in order to meet Know Your Customer (KYC)/Know Your Business (KYB) regulations.

The project received the largest available grant through the BIRD Foundation following a thorough review by BIRD-appointed evaluators from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) of the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Israel Innovation Authority. Driving factors that led to the grant being awarded to AIO and Finastra include the creation of an innovative solution that solves real-world problems and the ease with which financial institutions can leverage that technology.

"It is an honor to be recognized by the BIRD Foundation for a solution that will fundamentally change how financial institutions assess loan applications, bringing tremendous efficiency to what is often an inefficient process," says Yoram Bechler, Co-founder and CEO at AIO. "In the world of COVID-19 there is also heightened demand and urgency for business loans. Our solution enables financial institutions to try to meet that demand, but also make lending decisions that are compliant, timely and cost-efficient. Working with Finastra, and making our solution available on its FusionFabric.cloud platform, we are able to reach more financial institutions, giving them the ability to leverage our customer-friendly mobile and web platform to meet KYC/KYB requirements and assess risk in just a few clicks."

Current manual processes related to loan origination can be costly and time consuming. AIO's solution, which integrates with Finastra's Total Lending suite, speeds up customer onboarding by up to 80% and saves costs by securely automating the collection and verification of digital financial documents. Patented AIO technology maintains data collection with the customer, automatically verifying digital documents. These are then supplied digitally to the financial institution through Finastra's Total Lending.

"This grant from the BIRD Foundation lends credence to a compelling solution, and also to our vision for open collaboration in financial services," said Mike Salfity, Global Head of Finastra Product Strategy and Head of North America Community Markets, Finastra. "We recognize the exciting offerings coming out of startups like AIO, and are committed to providing access to that innovation through FusionFabric.cloud. At the same time, we are able to extend the fintech's reach into the banking ecosystem. With this generous grant, AIO and Finastra will be able to better deliver an even more robust and impactful solution."

The BIRD Foundation promotes collaborations between U.S. and Israeli companies in various technological fields for the purpose of joint product development. In addition to providing grants for approved projects, the Foundation assists by working with companies to identify potential strategic partners and facilitate introductions.

"We are proud to support the project between AIO and Finastra to improve loan origination and reduce time and costs to both loan applicants and financial institutions," said Dr. Eitan Yudilevich, Executive Director of the BIRD Foundation. "The BIRD Foundation will continue to support projects which contain high level of innovation that address present needs."

Several large multinational banks in the U.S. and Europe are currently piloting AIO's financial identity verification solution, with more expected to roll out in the coming months.

finastra.com

About AIO - Verified Financial Identity

AIO is an award-winning Tel-Aviv based Fintech company driving trust in business relationships. AIO accelerates customer screening and onboarding by up to 80% and saves costs through digital collection and verification of financial identity documents. AIO's platform and mobile app enables financial institutions to quickly establish customers' financial identities, meet KYC/KYB requirements, and assess risk levels with just a few clicks. Using AIO's patented technology, digital documents from any trusted data provider worldwide are collected and automatically validated, without the need for integration. AIO's effortless digital experience protects customer data and privacy, increases customer satisfaction, and minimizes fraud.

About Finastra

Finastra is building an open platform that accelerates collaboration and innovation in financial services, creating better experiences for people, businesses and communities. Supported by the broadest and deepest portfolio of financial services software, Finastra delivers this vitally important technology to financial institutions of all sizes across the globe, including 90 of the world's top 100 banks. Our open architecture approach brings together a number of partners and innovators. Together we are leading the way in which applications are written, deployed and consumed in financial services to evolve with the changing needs of customers. Learn more at finastra.com

LinkedIn | Twitter | YouTube

Corporate headquarters

4 Kingdom Street

Paddington

London W2 6BD

United Kingdom

T: +44 20 3320 5000

North American headquarters

744 Primera Boulevard

Suite 2000

Lake Mary, FL 32746

United States

T: +1 800 989 9009

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/967510/Finastra_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Finastra

Related Links

https://www.finastra.com/


The WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) has issued interim recommendations for use of the Oxford/AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine (AZD1222).

While vaccine supplies are limited, it is recommended that priority be given to health workers at high risk of exposure and older people, including those aged 65 or older, SAGE said.

Countries can refer to the WHO Prioritization Roadmap and the WHO Values Framework as guidance for their prioritization of target groups, it said.

Who else can take the vaccine?

Vaccination is recommended for persons with comorbidities that have been identified as increasing the risk of severe Covid-19, including obesity, cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease and diabetes.

Although further studies are required for persons living with HIV or auto-immune conditions or who are immunocompromised, people in this category who are part of a group recommended for vaccination may be vaccinated after receiving information and counselling.

Vaccination can be offered to people who have had Covid-19 in the past. But individuals may wish to defer their own Covid-19 vaccination for up to six months from the time of SARS-CoV-2 infection, to allow others who may need the vaccine more urgently to go first.

Vaccination can be offered to breastfeeding women if they are part of a group prioritised for vaccination. WHO does not recommend discontinuation of breastfeeding after vaccination.

Should pregnant women be vaccinated?

While pregnancy puts women at higher risk of severe Covid-19, very little data are available to assess vaccine safety in pregnancy.

Pregnant women may receive the vaccine if the benefit of vaccinating a pregnant woman outweighs the potential vaccine risks.

For this reason, pregnant women at high risk of exposure to SARS-CoV-2 (e.g. health workers) or who have comorbidities which add to their risk of severe disease, may be vaccinated in consultation with their health care provider.

Who is the vaccine not recommended for?

* People with a history of severe allergic reaction to any component of the vaccine should not take it.

* The vaccine is not recommended for persons younger than 18 years of age pending the results of further studies.

Whats the recommended dosage?

The recommended dosage is two doses given intramuscularly (0.5ml each) with an interval of 8 to 12 weeks. Additional research is needed to understand longer-term potential protection after a single dose.

Is it safe?

While this vaccine has yet to be recommended for an Emergency Use Listing by WHO, it has undergone review by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and consequently meets WHOs criteria for SAGE consideration.

The EMA has thoroughly assessed the data on the quality, safety and efficacy of the vaccine and has recommended granting a conditional marketing authorisation for people aged 18 and above.

The Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety, a group of experts that provides independent and authoritative guidance to the WHO on the topic of safe vaccine use, receives and assesses reports of suspected safety events of potentially international impact.

How efficacious is the vaccine?

The AZD1222 vaccine against Covid-19 has an efficacy of 63.09% against symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection. Longer dose intervals within the 8 to 12 weeks range are associated with greater vaccine efficacy.

Does it work against new variants?

SAGE has reviewed all available data on the performance of the vaccine in the settings of variants of concern. SAGE currently recommends the use of AZD1222 vaccine according to the WHO Prioritization Roadmap, even if virus variants are present in a country. Countries should assess the risks and benefits taking into consideration their epidemiological situation.

Preliminary findings highlight the urgent need for a coordinated approach for surveillance and evaluation of variants and their potential impact on vaccine effectiveness. As new data become available, WHO will update recommendations accordingly.

Does it prevent infection and transmission?

No substantive data are available related to impact of AZD1222 on transmission or viral shedding. In the meantime, we must maintain and strengthen public health measures that work: masking, physical distancing, handwashing, respiratory and cough hygiene, avoiding crowds, and ensuring good ventilation. - TradeArabia News Service
There is a lot of information to parse through these days, particularly when it comes to COVID-19.

Enter the Houston Chronicles COVID-19 Help Desk. Each week, a Chronicle reporter will take readers questions about how the virus works and what to expect with the vaccine.

Ive been vaccinated. Is it safe to visit friends or family who have not been vaccinated?

Everything is a risk-benefit decision, said Dr. Prathit Kulkarni, assistant professor of medicine in infectious diseases at Baylor College of Medicine.

But he recommends erring on the side of caution. While the two major vaccines being distributed in the United States have shown high rates of efficacy against the virus, public health experts say that social distancing, mask wearing and other precautions should remain in order.

One big reason: There are many unknowns about how the virus spreads, particularly when it comes to asymptomatic carriers. Kulkarni said that research is ongoing into the spread of the virus between those who do and dont show symptoms. And vaccines have only shown to prevent transmission one-way, meaning anyone who hasnt been vaccinated could still become infected. Kulkarni said roughly a quarter of all people carrying the virus are asymptomatic.

How effective are current vaccines to new strains of the virus?

At least three new strains of the virus have been detected, including those that have been traced back to South Africa, Brazil and England. And already, two of the three have appeared in the Houston area.

Already, local researchers have found evidence that the Pfizer vaccine is effective in battling the South African an UK variant. On Tuesday, researchers at the University of Texas Medical Branch and the pharmaceutical company Pfizer/BioNTech published a study in the medical journal Nature Medicine showing that the vaccine can neutralize those two SARS-CoV-2 strain mutations.

And health experts say the new variants shouldnt change your vaccination plans.

We dont need to overreact, said Robert Bollinger But, as with any virus, changes are something to be watched, to ensure that testing, treatment and vaccines are still effective. The scientists will continue to examine new versions of this coronaviruss genetic sequencing as it evolves.

Bollinger, a medical doctor at John Hopkins University, continued: These variants seem to spread more easily and quickly than other variants, which may lead to more cases of COVID-19. An increase in the number of cases will put more strain on health care resources, lead to more hospitalizations, and potentially more deaths.

I didnt have a reaction to my vaccine. Does that mean I have antibodies?

Kulkarni, the Baylor disease expert, said it is difficult to make any correlation between someones reaction to the vaccine and potential antibodies.

Since the rollout of the two major vaccines, a handful of people have reported side effects ranging from a sore arm to allergic reactions. But those are rare. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported only 11 cases of anaphylaxis in response to the COVID-19 vaccine among 1 million vaccinations.

Common side effects for the shot include pain and swelling on your arm near the injection site, as well as fever, chills, fatigue and headache, according to the CDC. But dont stress about that too much.

COVID-19 vaccination will help protect you from getting COVID-19. You may have some side effects, which are normal signs that your body is building protection, the CDC reports.

These side effects may affect your ability to do daily activities, but they should go away in a few days.

I'm 60 and have type 1 diabetes. Depending upon where I look, it appears that I may or may not be eligible now for vaccine. What's the answer?

Not yet. The first phase of the states vaccination plan includes those who have Type 2 Diabetes, but not Type 1. Among the preexisting covered under the current phase are cancer, kidney disease, chronic pulmonary disease and heart conditions such as coronary artery disease.

Have questions for the Health Desk? Ask us here.

Robert.Downen@chron.com
WANDERERS and WHS Old Boys opened up a big gap at the top of the Premier League 50-over log after both recorded crushing wins over the weekend.

Wanderers picked up 19 bonus points after beating Mr 24/7 Welwitschia by 181 runs at the coast and now top the log on 82 points from five matches. They are still unbeaten, having won four of those, while one match was rained out.

WHS Old Boys, however, remain close on their heels after a rich haul of 23 bonus points in their 194-run victory against Trustco United last weekend.

On that occasion, a great century by Zane Green, who hit 157 off 135 balls, led them to victory, as Old Boys amassed 348 for five wickets off their 50 overs and then dismissed United for 154.

Old Boys are now only seven points behind Wanderers on 75 points from five matches, of which they won three and lost one, with one match rained out. Their only defeat came when they suffered a narrow three-wicket defeat to Wanderers on 21 November.

CCD Tigers are third on the log on 46 points from four matches, but with a game in hand, they can still close the gap on the leaders.

However, they face a tough assignment on Saturday when they take on Old Boys at the WHS field. In their first round encounter on 31 October, a brilliant bowling performance by Gerhard Erasmus led Old Boys to an emphatic 10-wicket victory.

He took eight wickets for 39 runs to dismiss CCD for 108, before Zane Green and Wimpie Viljoen each scored a half century as Old Boys cantered to victory.

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CCD, however, have a strong batting line-up including national players like Stephen Baard, Nicol Loftie-Eaton and Pikkie Ya France, and along with other promising batsmen like Joshuan Julius, Ramon Wilmot and Wayne Raw, they will be hoping to provide stiffer resistance this time around.

Trustco United are fourth on the log on 27 points from five matches, of which they lost four and only won one.

That victory, however, came against bottom-of-the-log Mr 24/7 Welwitschia and they will be hoping to complete the double when they host the coastal side at Trustco United Park on Saturday.

United have been rebuilding with a young side including promising batsmen like Eben van Wyk, Lohan Louwrens, Tino Chiwara, Shaun Fouche and JW Visagie, and along with a potent bowling line up including the likes of Christiaan Delport, Nyasha Nyashazaidshe, Dickson Vambe and Stefan Bezuidenhout they should start as favourites on their home turf.

Welwitschia have lost four matches, with one no result, and will be desperate to get off the foot of the log with a victory.

In their first round match on 31 October they suffered a comprehensive 57-run defeat, when their batsmen were bundled out for 84 runs.

They, however, have some talented players like Matthew de Gouveia, Mias Strauss, Michael van Lingen, Shalako Groenewaldt and Renier Bosman and could cause an upset.
The International Society for Quality in Healthcare (ISQUA) granted Egypts hospitals international accreditation, a statement by Egypts General Authority for Health Accreditation and Supervision (GAHAS) read on Thursday.

The countrys accreditation by ISQUA, as a leading neutral international quality assurance body, is testament that the Egyptian hospitals comply with the standards of the international authority and follow the highest international standards and specifications applied worldwide.

GAHAS, the national authority that controls and regulates the health sector, will announce the accreditation at a press conference in the presence of the ISQUA representative in Egypt on Thursday.

At the conference, Egypt will receive an official certificate and the countrys efforts will be reviewed, said Ashraf Ismail, head of GAHAS.

In late January, President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi ordered the completion of the country's Universal Health Insurance System (UHIS) nationwide in 10 years instead of the previously scheduled 15-years.

The UHIS is anticipated to be one of the tools to reform the healthcare sector in Egypt.

It was launched in Port Said in early 2018 and will include six phases.

The healthcare system targets serving the citizens with the lowest income in the countrys 27 governorates.

Short link:


Mr Sugandh Rajaram, India High Commissioner to Ghana, has urged Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) to be more innovative to help boost their attraction to foreign investors.



Briefing the media on the last day of a five-day official tour of the Eastern Region, he indicated that the region had lots of business potentials and called for standardisation of the packaging to attract investors.



Mr Rajaram said Ghana was seen as the center of political andeconomic stability in West Africa and added that Indian businesses were ready and prepared to invest in local enterprises to improve the local economy of the country.



He assured that once the COVID-19 situation was stabilised, Indian investors would begin to form partnerships and collaborations with Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) sector to expand job opportunities to further deepen the bilateral relations between the two countries.



He thanked the people of Eastern Region for the wonderful love showed him during his visit, especially Mr Eric Kwakye Darfour, outgoing Regional Minister, who accompanied him throughout his duty tour.



Mr Kwakye Darfour noted that Ghana and India since time immemorial, had always stood for each other and expressed hope that the friendly bilateral relationship between both countries would continue.



He later visited the Royal Senchi and Volta International hotels and the Akosombo Dam to assess areas of possible investment and inspected works on the Tema-Akosmbo-Mpakadan railway system being undertaken by an Indian construction company.

Source: GNA









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The House of Representatives yesterday rejected a motion calling for the adoption of the reports from the 2014 National Conference and the Governor Nasir El-Rufai-led All Progressives Congress (APC) committee on True Federalism as part of documents to be considered in the ongoing review of the 1999 Constitution (as amended).

Instead, the House declared that items contained in the two reports have been itemised by its ad hoc committee on the review of the constitution and the committee was expecting memoranda from the public.

The Green Chamber's position comes barely two weeks after the Senate ad hoc committee on the review of the 1999 Constitution chaired by deputy Senate president, Ovie Omo-Agege, announced that it has adopted the two reports in question for its assignment.

Omo-Agege had on Friday, January 29, 2021, while declaring a retreat for the Senate Committee open, said the sole purpose of the event was to review and analyse reports of the 2014 National Conference and APC ad-hoc committee on True Federalism, including over 280 memoranda received from the public in order to translate them into Bill proposals for the committee.

The deputy minority leader of the House, Hon Toby Okechukcwu, had in a motion on urgent matters of national importance, urged the House committee on Constitution Review to obtain the reports of the 2014 National Conference and the APC Committee on True Federalism within two weeks.

But the deputy Speaker of the House, who doubles as the chairman of the committee, Ahmed Idris Wase, urged the House to step down the motion, saying the committee has its procedure which, according to him, does not include obtaining report from any conference or political party.

He, however, assured that issues contained in the two reports had been shortlisted by the committee for inputs from the general public.

"We have a procedure. The motion is asking us to obtain a report from a political party. This is not part of the procedure; it's the duty of these groups to send in their suggestions to the committee. I want to beg that the motion should be stepped down," Wase said.

In response to Wase's concerns, Okechukcu argued that obtaining the report does not flout the committee's rules.

"I do not think that the approach offends any of our rules. As he (Wase) has said, the committee has advertised. It is better to err on the side of caution. The Kaduna State governor who chaired the APCAPC committee said that since we are reviewing the Constitution, he hopes that we will consider some of the recommendations.

"I am saying this because of the state of the union because with what I am seeing, the state of union is not strong."

Okechuwkwu, however, applied for the motion to be stepped down.

... To Merge Unproductive Agencies

Meanwhile, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has said that at a time of reduced revenue, with pre-existing and worsening infrastructure deficits requiring significant investments, Nigeria cannot afford to keep establishing more institutions that impose a permanent liability on government's incomes.

The Speaker, who spoke yesterday at plenary on resumption of the House for the 2021 legislative session, said it has become more difficult with each appropriation cycle for the government

to meet up with its obligations.

Gbajabiamila explained that the exploding recurrent cost of governance demands that the legislators be more circumspect in the priorities they pursue, particularly regarding sponsoring Establishment Bills in the National Assembly.

He said, "At a time of reduced revenue, with pre-existing and worsening infrastructure deficits requiring significant investments, we cannot afford to keep establishing more institutions that impose a permanent liability on government income.

"I am not unmindful of the realities that often necessitate such legislation, yet we cannot ignore the facts that lie before us. Let us work together to reform and strengthen the institutions already in

existence, and remove those no longer fit for purpose. I believe most sincerely that this is the pathway to a legacy that we can all be proud of".

He further said that in the 2021 legislative year, the House will focus attention on Bills and Motions that improve ease of doing business and unlock economic potentials by stripping away restrictive regulations and ending predatory regulatory practices that deprive young people the opportunity to conquer new frontiers.

Gbajabiamila added that in this age of technology and innovation of daring and enterprise, the government cannot risk implementing policies that handicap the ability of a nation to participate in new markets and profit from emerging industries.

... Constitute 20-man C'ttee To Screen Service Chiefs

The House of Representatives also announced a 20-man committee to screen the newly appointed service chiefs nominated by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The micro-committee comprises three members each from the House standing committees on Defence, Army, Airforce, and Navy.

Chairmen of the four committees and their deputies were made automatic members of the micro-committee with the chairman of the House committee on Defence, Hon Babajinmi Benson, as the chairman of the screening committee.

Speaker Gbajabiamila at the resumption of plenary said the House adopted the system to reduce the number of members who would interface with the nominees due to exigencies created by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Gbajabiamila had earlier read a communication from the president on the nominations of Major-General Lucky E.O Irabor as Chief of Defence Staff; Major-General Ibrahim Attahiru as Chief of Army Staff; Rear Admiral Awwal Zubairu Gambo as Chief of Naval Staff and Air-Vice Marshal Ishiaka Oladayo Amao as Chief of Air Staff, all for confirmation.

Channel Your Grievances To NASS, Lawan Tells Nigerians

Meanwhile, the president of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, has appealed to all Nigerians to take whatever issues they feel strongly about to the National Assembly, especially now that the constitution review is in progress.

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Lawan made the appeal yesterday when a delegation of the Enugu State committee on the creation of Adada state visited him in his office at the National Assembly.

The delegation which included former minister of Information and the immediate past president-general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief John Nnia Nwodo, was led by Chief Vita Abba.

The meeting was facilitated by Senator Chukwuka Utazi who represents Enugu North Senatorial District.

The Senate president told his guests that they were in order by taking their request to the National Assembly.

He said, "You are in order. You are at the right place. This is the people's Assembly saddled with the responsibility and mandate of receiving and listening to Nigerians who desire one form of legislative Intervention or the other to ensure that Nigeria is stable, peaceful, that people live in harmony and trust.

"So your quest for the creation of Adada, you are welcome. We are going to give you every opportunity and support that will be necessary for the creation of the Adada State.

"It is a constitutional and legitimate agitation. Nigerians should take the opportunity of the constitution review process that the 9th Senate and indeed the National Assembly have embarked upon".
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-11 20:05:49|Editor: huaxia

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A timeline of China's Mars exploration

The braking is a key and risky step in the Mars exploration mission, which requires a high degree of accuracy. Only when the braking is performed with precise timing and duration can the probe successfully enter the planet's orbit.



BEIJING, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- Precise braking near Mars has helped China's probe Tianwen-1 successfully enter the orbit around the red planet on Wednesday, according to the country's space scientists.

Yang Yuguang, a researcher with China Aerospace Science and Industry Corporation Limited, told the Science and Technology Daily that the braking is a key and risky step in the Mars exploration mission, which requires a high degree of accuracy.

When a probe is set to be captured by a planet's gravity, the lower its orbit is, the more fuel the engine will save. But if Tianwen-1 brakes in an orbit too close to Mars, the probe may collide with the planet's surface, given that minor errors may exist in its position measurement and control, Yang said.

If the braking time is too long, which results in excessive braking force, the probe will also face the risk of crashing, he said.

"Only when the braking is performed with precise timing and duration can the probe successfully enter the planet's orbit," said Pang Zhihao, an expert on deep space exploration technologies.

The deceleration of Tianwen-1 started with a 3000N engine ignited at 7:52 p.m. (Beijing time) on Wednesday. After about 15 minutes, the spacecraft, including an orbiter, a lander and a rover, had slowed enough to be captured by Mars' gravity and entered an elliptical orbit around the red planet, with its closest distance from the Martian surface at about 400 km, according to the China National Space Administration.

Braking near Mars is different from braking near the moon, which China's lunar probes have successfully achieved in previous lunar missions.

The average distance between Earth and the moon is about 384,400 km, and the communication delay is only about one second. But the distance between Earth and Mars is more than 180 million km, and the one-way communication delay is more than 10 minutes.

"In this case, the ground cannot monitor the spacecraft in real time. Instructions needed to be transmitted in advance and executed independently by the spacecraft," Yang explained.

But slight deviations in the engine thrust and different variables concerning the spacecraft's position, speed and attitude will all add to the complexity of achieving autonomous control, he said, adding that to ensure smooth autonomous control, Tianwen-1 is equipped with multiple sensors to allow for the accurate measurement of flight conditions.

With a weight of more than 5 tonnes, Tianwen-1 is among the world's heaviest planetary probes. But scientists and engineers have managed to equip it with a relatively small engine so as to leave more weight and space for payloads. To make up for the small thrust, they extended the braking time to meet the braking requirements, Yang said. 
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - February 11, 2021) - Royal Road Minerals Limited (TSXV: RYR) ("Royal Road" or the "Company") is pleased to announce further interim drilling results from its follow-up diamond drilling program at the Caribe gold discovery in northeastern Nicaragua.

The Caribe project forms a part of the Company's Strategic-Alliance agreement (see press release; September 6, 2017) with Hemco Mineros Nicaragua ("Hemco" a subsidiary of Colombia's Grupo Mineros S.A. MINEROS:CB) and is located in the highly prospective Golden Triangle of northeastern Nicaragua. Royal Road Minerals is operator of the Strategic Alliance.

Royal Road's exploration team discovered the Caribe project during reconnaissance exploration in February of 2018. Outcrop at Caribe is concealed under soil and laterite cover and there is no previous record of mining or mineralization in the area. Initial grab sampling of strongly weathered and brecciated float material returned anomalous gold with associated anomalous values in molybdenum and copper. Follow-up auger soil sampling was then conducted and successfully identified a strongly anomalous area of gold geochemistry (see Press Release May 15, 2018) where soil and laterite cover was less than 3 meters deep (recent drilling suggests soil and laterite cover can exceed 20 meters in thickness). In 2019 Royal Road and Hemco completed an initial 4-hole, 413 meter, exploratory drilling program at Caribe which returned encouraging results for gold (see Press Release October 7, 2019). A follow-up approximately 2000m diamond drilling program commenced at the project during August of last year and returned initial significant results including; CB-DDH-006, 74 meters at 0.9 grams per tonne and 14 meters at 1.0 grams per tonne and CB-DDH-009, 45 meters at 1.0 grams per tonne and 35 meters at 1.1 grams per tonne gold (see Press Release November 10, 2020 and Table 1). Results for a further 5 exploratory drill holes have now been returned. Significant results include:

CB-DDH-015 63 meters at 1.0 grams per tonne gold ( bogged and abandoned above objective )

CB-DDH-016 100.45 meters at 1.0 grams per tonne gold ( to end of hole and bogged and abandoned above objective )

(not true width and the company does not have sufficient information to make a determination of the true widths of the drill hole intersections)

In the majority of cases, individual drill holes at Caribe have been unable to reach their planned objective due primarily to the effect of highly absorbent clays (formed within the host rock as part of the gold mineralizing process) swelling and arresting the drill rods. The Company has now completed a total of 20 drill holes and has briefly suspended the program in order to exchange the current drilling rig for a more powerful machine with the capacity to drill through the problematic clay and test the continuity of gold mineralization at depth.





Table 1



To view an enhanced version of Table 1, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/4008/74233_royalr2.jpg

Generally gold mineralization at Caribe is associated with elevated molybdenum and copper. Fine free gold is associated with chalcopyrite and molybdenite with traces of bornite and covellite. Molybdenum and copper grades are irregular and related to particular breccia, intrusive and vein phases. Up to 0.4% molybdenum has been returned across a 1 meter sample interval, drill hole CB-DDH-016 returned 6 meters of 0.13% molybdenum and 4.0 grams per tonne gold and CB-DDH-011 returned 5 meters at 0.1% molybdenum and 1.7 grams per tonne gold. The best copper intersection to-date has been 18 meters at 0.15% copper and 0.9 grams per tonne gold from drill hole CB-DDH-006.

Gold, copper and molybdenum mineralization is hosted within a multi-phase broadly trachytic polymictic breccia body and within a porphyritic monzonite intrusion which appears to be emplaced within the breccia body as steeply dipping dykes (see Figure 1). Gold of up to 19.0 grams per tonne has been returned from within the porphyritic monzonite (CB-DDH-009, 130-131 meters). Alteration is predominantly sericite-illite-pyrite overprinted by silica with a late pervasive hematite. Although geological observations are limited to drill core only, the system is interpreted to represent an alkaline gold mineralized diatreme breccia with a possibly associated porphyritic intrusion at depth.





Figure 1



To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/4008/74233_royalr4.jpg

Drill Holes CB-DDH-012, 013 and 014 targeted discrete ground magnetic anomalies to the northeast of the main project area. All drill holes intersected gold and base metal results which management consider to be anomalous (CB-DDH-012 intersected 0.5 grams per tonne gold over a 1 meter interval) but are yet to be placed in geological context.

"In managements view, the evolving geological model and the drilling results to-date imply a significant bulk-tonnage target at Caribe" Said Dr Tim Coughlin, Royal Roads President and CEO. "The arrival of a new drilling rig with the potential to test the depth extent of the mineralizing system is eagerly awaited. We are also working with drilling contractors on a rotary air blast/reverse circulation drilling solution which will allow us to penetrate soil and laterite cover in order to sample and map a wide area around the Caribe project in what appears to be an emerging copper and gold mineralized district".

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

The information in this news release was compiled, reviewed and verified by Dr. Tim Coughlin, BSc (Geology), MSc (Exploration and Mining), PhD (Structural Geology), FAusIMM, President and CEO of Royal Road Minerals Ltd and a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Royal Road Minerals employees are instructed to follow standard operating and quality assurance procedures intended to ensure that all sampling techniques and sample results meet international reporting standards. More information can be found on Royal Road Minerals web site at www.royalroadminerals.com

Quality Assurance and Quality Control:

Diamond drill core is cut in half over 1-meter downhole intervals using a core saw. Samples are prepared and assayed by independent and ISO accredited laboratories of Bureau Veritas Minerals (BVM) and their local subsidiaries. Bagged 1-meter samples are collected from site and delivered to BVM sample preparation laboratories in Managua. Samples are prepared using the BVM codes PRP70-250 plus PUL85, where samples are crushed to 70% less than two millimeters, a riffle split of 250 grams is collected and then pulverized to better than 85 per cent passing 75 microns. Prepared sample pulps are then sent for analysis to BVM labs in Vancouver Canada. Gold is analyzed by fire assay with an atomic absorption finish and a measurement range of 0.005 to 10 ppm. Samples over 10-ppm gold are re-analyzed by fire assay with a gravimetric finish. Multielement concentrations are analyzed by four-acid digestion and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer. Samples over 10,000ppm Cu, Zn, Pb or Mn and 200 ppm W, are re-analyzed with four acid digestion and Inductively Coupled Plasma Emission Spectrometer (ICP-ES). Commercially prepared standards (gold-copper pulps), blanks (pulps and coarse chips) and field duplicates are inserted into the sample stream by Royal Road Minerals for a total of 15% QA/QC to ensure sample precision. In the case of duplicate analyses of a sample, the average of both analyses is used as the final reported value. Unless otherwise stated, gold grades are not capped for calculation of length-weighted averages.

Cautionary statement:

This news release contains certain statements that constitute forward-looking information and forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws (collectively, "forward-looking statements") including statements relating to the Hemco-Mineros Alliance and those describing the Company's future plans and the expectations of its management that a stated result or condition will occur. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company, or developments in the Company's business or in the mineral resources industry, or with respect to the Hemco-Mineros Alliance, to differ materially from the anticipated results, performance, achievements or developments expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include all disclosure regarding possible events, conditions or results of operations that is based on assumptions about, among other things, future economic conditions and courses of action, and assumptions related to government approvals, and anticipated costs and expenditures. The words "plans", "prospective", "expect", "intend", "intends to" and similar expressions identify forward looking statements, which may also include, without limitation, any statement relating to future events, conditions or circumstances. Forward-looking statements of the Company contained in this news release, which may prove to be incorrect, include, but are not limited to, those related to the Hemco-Mineros Alliance, Hemco-Mineros, and the Company's plans exploration plans.

The Company cautions you not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. There is no guarantee that the anticipated benefits of the Hemco-Mineros Alliance and the Company's business plans or operations will be achieved. The risks and uncertainties that may affect forward-looking statements include, among others: economic market conditions, anticipated costs and expenditures, government approvals, and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's filings with Canadian provincial securities regulators or other applicable regulatory authorities. Forward-looking statements included herein are based on the current plans, estimates, projections, beliefs and opinions of the Company management and, in part, on information provided to the Company by Hemco-Mineros, and, except as required by law, the Company does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements should assumptions related to these plans, estimates, projections, beliefs and opinions change.

For further information please contact:

Dr. Timothy Coughlin

President and Chief Executive Officer



USA-Canada toll free 1800 6389205

+44 (0)1534 887166

+44 (0)7797 742800

info@royalroadminerals.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/74233
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A delegate casts her vote in the electoral process to choose members of parliament into Somalia's House of the People in Mogadishu, Somalia, on 6 December 2016.

analysis

As tensions between the federal government and semi-autonomous federal member states escalate, Somalia's February elections are expected to be intensely contested. In this excerpt from our Watch List 2021, Crisis Group urges the EU and its member states to press for fair, transparent and inclusive elections, and to encourage whatever administration takes power after the vote to improve cooperation with federal member states.

The year 2021 will be pivotal for Somalia. Parliamentary and presidential elections due by February promise to be intensely contested. Already, tensions between the federal government and semi-autonomous federal member states have poisoned the air for cooperation on a number of fronts, including work on a provisional constitution and establishment of a national army and police force. The polls risk piling further pressure on the political system and triggering confrontations among various powerful actors. Meanwhile, the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) looks set to begin drawing down at year's end even as Al-Shabaab's insurgency rages on.

To support Somalia at this critical juncture, the European Union and its member states can take the following steps:

Use their diplomatic clout to push for fair, transparent and inclusive elections. Brussels and European capitals should lean on Mogadishu to avoid unilaterally proceeding with the vote, and on federal member states and the political opposition to avoid conducting the parallel polls that some contemplate. Rather, all sides should resume dialogue on election management, particularly on how to address the opposition's complaints over what it says is the incumbent's undue interference. Once parties reach an electoral management agreement, the EU should urge them not to take any challenges to the streets but instead to stick with the dispute resolution mechanism hammered out in September.

To boost inclusivity, the EU and member states should call for a clearer plan for how Somali leaders will fulfil their own commitment to ensuring that women assume at least 30 per cent of elected offices.

Press whatever administration takes power in Mogadishu after the vote to improve cooperation with federal member states. Brussels should push the parties to use a formal institution such as an inter-state commission proposed in the provisional constitution as a regular mechanism for keeping centre-periphery dialogue going. This step will help rebuild trust between Mogadishu and regional capitals, allowing all sides to focus on achieving key aims related to the constitution and a national security plan endorsed at a London conference in 2017.

Signal support for a continued, albeit reformed AMISOM mission. Commit to fund the mission through the end of 2021, while clearly outlining the conditions under which European powers would extend financial support for an external security presence in Somalia in 2022 and beyond.

A Heated Electoral Contest

Somalia's forthcoming elections will be fraught. President Mohamed Abdullahi Mohamed (Farmajo) is seeking to do what no Somali leader has done in recent years: secure a second term in office. He faces stiff resistance from an array of politicians who are united largely by the desire to prevent his re-election. His opponents include heavyweights such as Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and Sheikh Sharif Ahmed, former presidents who both can mobilise major clan constituencies. Meanwhile, the leaders of federal member states such as Puntland and Jubaland are also working to unseat Farmajo, risking a showdown that could pit federal against regional or clan forces if tensions between them do not dissipate.

The run-up to the vote has been marred by poor preparation and missed deadlines amid elite squabbling over management of electoral procedures. Farmajo's opponents have declined to recognise newly formed federal and state electoral committees out of concern that the president has stacked them with loyalists. They are so worried about tampering that they are mulling conducting a parallel poll. The standoff, unless resolved, risks undermining the election's credibility and could trigger violence if the opposition and their supporters either do not participate or reject the vote's outcome.

Far from seeking to build consensus, Mogadishu seems intent on barrelling ahead in defiance of the opposition's protests. On 9 January, Prime Minister Mohamed Hussein Roble announced that voting in the indirect elections, in which clans nominate delegates who in turn select parliamentarians, would proceed in mid-January. The opposition has rejected this unilateral approach, warning that it may lead to conflict. They have urged Somalia's international partners to lean on Mogadishu to change course. The potential showdown carries multiple dangers. It could set off fighting in the capital, where elements of the powerful Hawiye clan strongly oppose Farmajo, and in other areas such as Gedo, where federal forces are locked in a standoff with local counterparts allied to the Jubaland administration. It could also fracture some of Somalia's security units along clan lines.

Post-Election Reconciliation

If Somalia can navigate the elections without major violence, whoever assumes the presidency will still face big challenges, including a deeply divided political landscape. Reconciliation, particularly between the federal government and member states, should be a priority. This fault line has only widened as Farmajo's administration has tried but failed to dominate member states and centralise power. The lesson from the past few years is that such attempts cannot succeed in Somalia's federal system. Instead, they sow discord and impede important national undertakings like finalising the provisional constitution and forming a national army and police force. All such reforms have sputtered in part due to non-cooperation between Mogadishu and member states. Quick progress on these fronts is important as by 2023 a new cycle of state elections will kick off, carrying on toward the next federal election in 2024 and preoccupying many politicians.

Dialogue will be critical. Any incoming administration in Mogadishu - whether Farmajo is re-elected or a challenger prevails - will need to institute a regular mechanism for sustained dialogue with member states, whereby the respective leaderships convene every month or quarter to discuss issues of mutual concern, including cooperation in fighting Al-Shabaab's insurgency. Article 111(f) of Somalia's provisional constitution calls for such an inter-state commission to facilitate federal-member state cooperation. Discussions of thornier questions, such as the nature of power and resource sharing in Somalia's federal model, should also take place as part of a push to finalise the provisional constitution. In addition, federal and state officials should prioritise standing up a national army and police force, with representation from all member states, as prescribed in the 2017 national security plan.

Tensions in the southern region of Gedo, where federal troops dislodged a local administration following a disputed Jubaland election in August 2019, will require special attention. Drawing down the federal forces in Gedo would be a good first gesture toward repairing the damage done by Mogadishu's overreach and a prelude to deeper discussions among the federal government, the Jubaland administration in Kismayo, Mogadishu and Gedo residents on the region's future governance. The Farmajo government committed to this drawdown in discussions with Jubaland regional president Ahmed Madobe in September 2020. The situation in Hiraan, a part of Hirshabelle state where the November 2020 election of a presidential candidate aligned to Mogadishu upset a local clan power-sharing arrangement, will also require dialogue between federal and local officials.

If frictions can be soothed in Gedo and Hiraan, it will be easier to pull Somali elites into discussions about the provisional constitution and national security architecture.

AMISOM

Security nationwide will also be high on the new president's agenda, given AMISOM's proposed drawdown in 2021. The African Union (AU) mission is scheduled to hand over primary security responsibility to Somali forces by the end of the year, while the UN Security Council may further adjust AMISOM's duties when its mandate comes up for renewal in February. The planned drawdown is driven by financial considerations, with the EU insisting that its commitment to cover AMISOM troop stipends is unsustainable. Yet international security assistance in Somalia will be needed after 2021, given Al-Shabaab's continued potency. The insurgency is firmly in control of large swathes of rural south-central Somalia and has infiltrated several cities that the government controls.

Reform of AMISOM thus seems more likely than total withdrawal. Even if the force undergoes budget cuts, one option might be to remodel it to reinvigorate its focus on offensive operations against Al-Shabaab, by increasing the mission's mobile capabilities, for example, while shifting responsibility for its current main task of holding major population centres to Somali forces. Yet discussions of AMISOM's future are taking place amid frictions between external actors, including the AU and UN. Some AU officials believe the UN did not engage the AU sufficiently during a Somalia security assessment that the world body organised itself, rather than jointly as Addis Ababa had expected. The AU in turn viewed the assessment as narrowly focused on AMISOM rather than wider international security assistance to Somalia. The AU plans to conduct its own assessment instead. This disconnect symbolises the lack of coherence among international partners with regard to AMISOM's future.

What the EU Can Do

The EU and member states have contributed significantly toward stabilising Somalia, but much remains to be done.

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First is the election. The EU and European governments, working with the AU and the U.S., should press the federal leadership to convene urgent talks with the opposition to agree upon a consensual way forward before the expiration of Farmajo's mandate on 8 February. All sides should abide as closely as possible by the terms of the September 2020 agreement. They will need in particular to come to agreement over the electoral committees' composition. In addition, and to ensure inclusivity, the EU should prioritise achieving the 30 per cent quota for women's representation in elected office, calling upon Somali stakeholders to present a plan for reaching that goal.

Following an agreement on election management, the next step is to enhance the dispute resolution mechanism called for in the September electoral agreement, limited as it may be within the confines of another indirect electoral process. The EU should press all Somali stakeholders to pursue any challenges to the election results through this mechanism and to commit publicly in advance to abide by its findings. It should urge Somali elites to allow the committee to work independently, as perceptions of manipulation by any party will undermine its credibility.

After the election, the EU should press Mogadishu to reach out to aggrieved member states. It should push to initiate a regular dialogue mechanism for state and national leadership to discuss key issues, citing Article 111(f) of the provisional constitution. The EU can link future budgetary support to Somalia to the establishment of this mechanism, as a means of incentivising regular dialogue.

The EU and European governments should pay special attention to the standoff in Gedo and the brewing discontent in Hiraan. It should call on Mogadishu to fulfil its commitment to draw down forces in the former region and nudge federal and local authorities into dialogue in the latter.

On AMISOM, the EU could commit to new funding through the end of 2021. Then, following deeper collaborative discussions with Somali, AU and UN actors on the future of international security assistance, it could signal its support for the mission's continuation under a reformed mandate. Stating now the possible scope of its financial contributions and the conditions under which it would continue to fund Somali security, including AMISOM, after 2021 will also allow all parties to better understand the limits of support they can expect and to find consistent alternative funding sources for 2022 and beyond.
Cyprus Shipping Deputy Ministry proposes foundation for global seafarers vaccination programme

European Commission and IMO urged to lead on a coordinated approach to solving crew change crisis.

The Cyprus Shipping Deputy Ministry (SDM) has formally proposed a practical, global approach to delivering COVID-19 vaccinations to seafarers in response to the worldwide crew change crisis. Over the past year, the need to class seafarers as key workers has received widespread support, with Cyprus now taking this one step further in suggesting the foundation of a feasible solution to inoculations.



In letters to the EU Transport and Health Commissioners and IMO Secretary-General, Cyprus Shipping Deputy Minister, Vassilios Demetriades outlined the two strands of the proposed programme and emphasised the need for a practical, feasible and collective approach to addressing the issue of seafarer inoculations. The letter emphasised Cyprus determination to work with all interested parties at a global level to enable crew changes to take place, even with stricter measures being deployed during this second stage of the pandemic.



There are challenges with the logistics of a vaccination programme for seafarers, including the country of origin or residence of the seafarers, transport and customer restrictions, availability of the approved or authorised vaccines, the two-stage vaccination process, and the subsequent time required for a seafarer to be considered as inoculated. Therefore, Cyprus believes there should be a distinction on the basis of the duration of the sea voyage. The suggested programme comprises two main strands:



1. For short sea shipping, national measures remain workable and regional cooperation easier to achieve.



2. For deep-sea shipping, Cyprus believes that vessels operating on long-distance intercontinental routes should be designated as an isolated COVID-19 zone; a bubble. The focus should therefore be on seafarers ashore. Cyprus suggests a coordinated global approach to ensure adequate numbers of approved or authorised vaccines, acceptable to all governments, are available to seafarers for inoculation in their country of residence before they travel to join their respective ships.



Vassilios Demetriades, Cyprus Shipping Deputy Minister, explained:



Despite the international and EU efforts to date, crew changes are still very difficult, or not even possible in many countries. A global seafarer vaccination programme would greatly assist the enhancement of crew changes. While we recognise that this is a complex issue in terms of both procedures and logistics, we believe that - by working together - a practical, feasible solution can be found.



Cyprus is determined to work constructively towards the deployment of a global seafarer vaccination programme in the most efficient way and is willing to be involved in discussions to determine a coordinated approach. We hope that regulators and industry alike will be willing to join us.



Cyprus was one of the first countries worldwide that recognised seafarers as key workers and implemented a formal crew change process. These measures resulted in over 10,000 seafarers being repatriated or able to return to work since May 2020. Cyprus continues to prioritise seafarer welfare and is keen to support a practical and coordinated solution to the ongoing crew change challenge.

For more information on the Cyprus SDM and its proposal, please visit the website here.






Bipartisan legislation to address concerns over data privacy and data manipulation unanimously passed out of the Oklahoma House Technology Committee with a vote of 6 to 0.

The Oklahoma Computer Data Privacy Act, House Bill 1602, requires internet technology companies to obtain explicit permission to collect and sell personal data.

The legislation has bipartisan support and is co-authored by more than 40 representatives and senators. The legislations primary authors, Reps. Josh West and Collin Walke, see the bill as an opportunity to claw back privacy rights from companies that continue to abuse them.

The legislation is one of the first opt-in data privacy bills in the country, according to the statement released by the House. The bills authors hope that other states will follow suit so that the practice of data mining without consent ends.

Source: Oklahoma House of Representatives

Topics Legislation Oklahoma Privacy
HARTFORD, Conn., Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Covid-19 pandemic has turned the restaurant industry upside down: Local governments continue to tinker with operating rules, and consumers wonder if it's safe to dine out. Now, a new platform -- DineSafe -- is helping individual restaurants show potential customers the many ways they're keeping customers and employees safe. DineSafe offers transparent, real-time information about cleanliness, to help make more informed decisions about where, and how, they dine out.

"Historically, the dining public has chosen restaurants based on the quality of food, the atmosphere, and the service, but now, safety is the leading factor in where, and if, people choose to dine out," said DineSafe CEO Ryan O'Donnell. "The DineSafe platform is closing the gap between what restaurants are already doing and what their customers actually see when it comes to safety. This is critically important for an industry that employs more than 15 million people in the United States and will be vital for our country's post-pandemic economic recovery."

DineSafe is already working with more than 150 member restaurants to help them achieve DineSafe Certification. One such restaurant is Wood-n-Tap Bar and Grill, which has nine locations throughout Connecticut. Said Wood-n-Tap owner Phil Barnett: "Safety and cleanliness in restaurants is always critical, but now it's a key part of making sure customers have the best experience possible. DineSafe is a great new tool to help us communicate with customers about our efforts to go above and beyond keeping them safe." (Click here for Wood-n-Tap's Hamden, CT DineSafe page).

DineSafe is also building dynamic partnerships with local businesses in the food and beverage industry. One such partner is Hartford Distributors, Inc., a local family-owned beverage distributor that employs more than 200 people. In the months ahead, Hartford Distributors will integrate DineSafe materials and information into their ongoing interactions with local restaurant customers.

The DineSafe Process

First, restaurants sign up to use the DineSafe platform and receive immediate, up-to-date access to federal, state and local COVID-19 related regulations, so they know exactly what's expected when it comes to safety.

Next, member restaurants confirm they're following all regulations by providing daily compliance verifications, including uploading pictures or videos of their work to the DineSafe platform. They can also show how they're going above and beyond as they innovate and find new ways to keep customers and staff safe. Only after they demonstrate their compliance are restaurants certified as "DineSafe" and listed on the platform.

Once a restaurant is certified DineSafe, their safety information is made available to the dining public, so they can judge for themselves where and how they want to dine. In order to remain DineSafe certified, restaurants receive daily prompts that require multiple compliance checks, and can also continually upload pictures or videos to show their safety protocols in action.

Recently, DineSafe was recently featured in the Hartford Business Journal, and also on WTNH news. To learn more visit http://dinesafe.us.

SOURCE DineSafe
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South Africa: Cele commends life sentences for perpetrators of GBV

Police Minister Bheki Cele has commended the police investigators who put together solid cases, which led to the hefty sentences handed out to perpetrators of Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (GBVF).

This follows the numerous life sentences handed down in the past three weeks for crimes committed against women and children.

Cele said the decision by the courts to hand down life sentences to these criminals is a clear message that the whole value chain of the judicial system is tackling gender-based violence with the seriousness it deserves.

These sentences should encourage us as police to continue to put away those individuals who dont belong in our society and at the same time, serve as a lesson that the Judiciary does not take crimes against women and children lightly, Cele said.

Among the most recent sentences include two life sentences handed down to Lungile Nxelelwa for the rape and brutal murder of his girlfriend Keneilwe Pule.

Nxelelwa was convicted by the Palm Ridge Magistrates court for brutally raping and killing Pule before setting her body alight.

In the Eastern Cape, a hefty jail term was handed down by the Grahamstown High Court to Siyabulela Satyo Mnkayo for his two-year reign of terror on unsuspecting women at Alexandria from 2012.

Mnkayo pleaded guilty to 15 counts of rape and robbery with aggravated circumstances, however, the police positively linked him to the crimes by DNA evidence, and was also later connected to other cold rape cases.

He was sentenced to four life terms and 125 years imprisonment on Monday.

Another case includes a Pretoria couple that was sentenced to two double life sentences for rape and abuse of their two minor children, a five-year-old girl, and an eight-year-old boy in 2014.

Police investigations found that the parents performed gory sexual acts on the children, and forced the children to commit sexual acts on the parents and each other.

The couple, a 39-year-old man and 33-year-old woman was found guilty of rape, compelled rape, sexual assault, sexual grooming, flashing, child neglect and possession of drugs.

In Mpumalanga, a double life sentence was handed to Sibusiso Charles Kabini on 30 January 2021 by the KwaMhlanga Regional Court.

According to details revealed in court, the 26-year-old waited for his victims behind a local shopping mall at Kwamhlanga and at knifepoint, and would rape and rob them of their personal belongings.

In one incident, he raped a woman in front of her five-year, whilst on their way to a local clinic.

In Free State, a child rapist was also handed a life sentence on 25 January 2021 for the rape of a five year old girl in Chakaville, Petrusburg. The little girl was lured by the perpetrator to his house and raped her.

The 40 year-old Thabiso Mzoboshe was traced and arrested by the police when the victim shared her ordeal with the mother when she got home.  SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2021-02-11. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
New Delhi:

A Pakistan military court has rejected Kulbhushan Jadhavs mercy plea. The decision now rests with the Pakistan army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa, who is analyzing the "evidence" against him, said ISPR, Pak army's media wing.

The mercy petition was filed before Gen Bajwa in June, said ISPR in a statement issued on June 22.

Earlier, the Ministry of External Affairs had said that there has been no change in Pakistan's position on providing consular access to Kulbhushan Jadhav and visa for his mother. The MEA said that there is no progress on that front.

ALSO READ: Jadhav case: India slams Pakistan over 'confessional video'

However, as per the reports in Pakistani media, the Pakistans Foreign Office said that they are considering issuing visa to Kulbhushan Jadhavs mother on Indias request.

COAS is looking each aspect of #KulbhushanJadhav 's appeal and will decide on merits: Pakistan Army  ANI (@ANI_news) July 16, 2017

So far, Pakistan has dismissed India's consular access request to Jadhav more than 15 times. Moreover, India has accused Pakistan of repeatedly violating the Vienna Convention by doing so.

READ: Jadhav files mercy petition to Army chief, claims Pak army media wing

Till now, India has not received any information on the status of appeal or the petition given by the mother of Kulbhushan Jadhav. Earlier, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Gopal Baglay said it was up to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to decide the future course in the case.

Clemency appeal of #KulbhushanJadhav was rejected by Military Appellate Court. It is now with COAS who'll decide soon: Pakistan Army  ANI (@ANI_news) July 16, 2017

Pakistan claims Mr Jadhav was arrested Jadhav from the restive Balochistan province on March 3 last year. India said the former Navy officer was kidnapped from Iran, where he was conducting a business.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.

A 28-year-old man has been arrested after a hammer-wielding attack outside a Main Street business.

A 28-year-old man has been arrested after a hammer-wielding attack outside a Main Street business.

Police said they believe the man was under the influence of methamphetamine and alcohol when he used a tool to strike an employee's car and smash windows at the H&R Block location at 1070 Main Street around 6 p.m. Wednesday.

A female employee was sitting in her car in the parking lot behind the business, when a man began hitting her vehicle with a hammer, police said Thursday.

When a male employee came out to assist her, the hammer-wielding man chased them, and both employees had to flee inside the business and lock the door. The man smashed the business's windows, trying to get inside, while they held the door shut, police said.

No one was hurt.

Police said the man suddenly left and got on a Transit bus, which officers stopped at Main Street and Higgins Avenue, and arrested a suspect still holding a hammer.

Winnipeg Police Service spokeswoman Const. Dani McKinnon said the attack was likely "quite terrifying" and traumatizing for the tax preparation company employees.

"Somebody was just innocently sitting in their car, I would imagine due to the cold weather, probably warming it up," she said. "The last thing you would expect is to have somebody attack your vehicle with a hammer  so I imagine that would be extremely scary."

A manager at the H&R Block location said Thursday she was not authorized to speak about the incident nor provide public comments, directing questions to the company's head office.

McKinnon said the incident appears to be linked to the city's long-reported meth epidemic.

"This is not just a police matter; we can't police our way out of the meth crisis. We need the help of outside agencies and partnerships," she said.

"At the end of the day, because this was an unprovoked situation, it's just a random, unfortunate situation."

A 28-year-old man has been charged with two counts each of assault with a weapon, mischief under $5,000, and breaching court orders. He was released on an undertaking.

Police had not released his name because the paperwork to lay the criminal charges hasn't yet been sworn in court.

katie.may@freepress.mb.ca
Humans, by nature, are an unforgiving lot. Its more convenient for us to cast blame and guilt than to search for compassion and redemption. I tend to judge first and review evidence later, if at all. In a way, mug shot photos also reveal a telling aspect about all of us  how we gravitate to them, scrutinize them, judge them and never forget them.
SACRAMENTO, Calif., Feb. 10, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- California Gov. Gavin Newsom recently announced that the University of Redlands, along with several other organizations, will participate in the state's newest program to battle the devastating effects of climate change. This program - California Climate Action Corps - is a key part of California's comprehensive climate strategy and deploys trained volunteers statewide to support climate action projects in communities across California.

As the only university selected to participate in the inaugural launch of the program, the University of Redlands welcomed three fellows to campus in late January to assist in developing a plan specific to Redlands.

"From fires and smoke to record high temperatures, nearly every Californian has been impacted in some way by climate change. Even with the bold climate policies our state has enacted, we must -- and can -- do more at every level," Newsom said. "No state has mobilized and organized citizen climate action at scale. California's Climate Action Corps not only aims to do that but to serve as inspiration for similar action across the country and globe."

The University of Redlands' fellows will spend the next eight months launching a new urban forest program through the University's Office of Community Service Learning. By utilizing the Sustainable University of Redlands Farm (SURF) land, the fellows will plan and establish a nursery to grow trees and then work with U of R students and the local Roots and Shoots chapter to distribute them throughout the community.

"Public service and civic engagement are key pillars of the University of Redlands mission," said Tony Mueller, director of Community Service Learning. "As participants in this statewide program, we have the opportunity to create a local program that will not only benefit our community but may become a model for other communities as well. Through this project, we hope to inspire students and the community to take ownership in reversing the harmful effects of climate change in our local neighborhoods and across California."

Provided by Newswise, online resource for knowledge-based news at www.newswise.com

This news release was issued on behalf of Newswise(TM). For more information, visit http://www.newswise.com.

SOURCE University of Redlands

Related Links

http://www.redlands.edu


Dublin, Feb. 11, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Research Report on China's Shipbuilding Industry, 2021-2025" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

Shipbuilding is a modern and comprehensive industry of strategic importance that provides technical equipment to industries such as water traffic, ocean development and national defense.



China's shipbuilding industry has been developing rapidly with the government's policy support and cost advantages since the beginning of the 21st century. China-made mainstream ships including container ships, bulk carriers and oil tankers and high-end ships including liquefied gas carriers have certain competitive advantages on the international market. In the recent decade, the global shipbuilding industry presented a market structure of tripartite China-South Korea-Japan competition.

According to the analyst, in 2020, affected by the COVID-19 epidemic, the global new shipbuilding market remains sluggish. In 2020, pessimistic expectations in the global newbuilding market will increase, new ship transactions will decrease significantly, and the number of new ship orders received by major shipbuilding countries will decline year-on-year. From January to November 2020, China received orders for new ships of 22.52 million dwt, a year-on-year decrease of 8.7%.



Among them, orders for export ships were 19.77 million dwt, a year-on-year decrease of 13.5%, and export orders accounted for 87.8%. In the same period, Japan's orders for new ships dropped by 66.7% year-on-year, and South Korea's orders for new ships dropped by 8.4% year-on-year. The global market share has increased.



From January to November, China's shipbuilding completions, new orders, and hand-held orders accounted for 40.4%, 50.8% and 46.9% of the global market, respectively. The three major indicators are higher than in 2019. The completion of the shipbuilding industry was better than expected.

The COVID-19 epidemic that broke out in early 2020 has had a major impact on China's shipbuilding industry in the first quarter of 2020. In the first quarter of 2020, China's shipbuilding completion volume fell by 27.3% year-on-year.



It will gradually recover from April 2020. From January to November 2020, China's shipbuilding completed 33.24 million deadweight tons, down 2.6% year-on-year. Among them, the completed export ship volume was 30.03 million deadweight tons, a year-on-year decrease of 5.8%, and the completed export ship volume accounted for 90.3%.

On November 15, 2020, the ten ASEAN countries, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand formally signed the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP). RCEP is currently the world's largest free trade zone. In 2019, the 15 member states of RCEP have a total population of 2.27 billion, GDP of 26 trillion U.S. dollars, and total exports of 5.2 trillion U.S. dollars, each accounting for about 30% of the global total. The establishment of the RCEP free trade zone means that about one-third of the world's economy will form an integrated market.

After the agreement comes into effect, more than 90% of the goods trade in the region will eventually achieve zero tariffs, and the tax will be reduced to zero immediately and within 10 years, so that the RCEP free trade zone is expected to fulfill all the goods trade liberalization commitments in a relatively short time.



According to the analysis, After the RECP takes effect, it will greatly promote the import and export trade between the contracting states, thereby promoting the rapid development of intra-regional and external maritime trade. Shipping is still the most important mode of transportation in global trade. The signing of the RCEP agreement may bring new growth momentum to the shipping industry, and the development and growth of the shipping industry will create new market space for the shipbuilding industry.

According to this forecast, if the COVID-19 epidemic can be alleviated in 2021, the global and Chinese shipbuilding industry is expected to recover. If the epidemic continues, the global shipbuilding industry will still be in a downturn in 2021 and may not gradually recover until 2022.



Topics Covered:

The impact of COVID-19 on the global shipbuilding market

Development environment of shipbuilding in China

Sales volume and value of shipbuilding in China 2015-2025

Sales volume and value of shipbuilding in China by section 2015-2025

Major shipbuilding Manufacturers and their market share in China

Export volumes and values of shipbuilding in China

Major export destinations of China's shipbuilding

Prices of shipbuilding in China

Prospects of Chinese shipbuilding Market 2021-2025

Key Topics Covered:

1 Basic Concept of Shipbuilding Industry

1.1 Definition of Shipbuilding Industry

1.2 Classification of Ship Products

1.3 Methodology

1.4 The impact of COVID-19 on the shipbuilding industry

2 Analysis on China's Shipbuilding Industry

2.1 Development Environment of China's Shipbuilding Industry

2.1.1 Economic Environment

2.1.2 Policy Environment

2.1.3 Technological Environment

2.2 Shipbuilding Supply in China

2.2.1 Analysis of China's Shipbuilding Capacity

2.2.2 Main Operational Indicators of China's Shipbuilding Industry

2.3 Analysis of China's Demand for Ships

2.3.1 Overall Demand

2.3.2 Demand in Segment Markets

2.4 Exports of Ships from China

2.4.1 Overview

2.4.2 Major Export Destinations

2.4.3 Export Structure

3 Analysis on Competition in China's Shipbuilding Industry

3.1 Barriers to Entry in China's Shipbuilding Industry

3.1.1 Policy Barriers

3.1.2 Capital Barriers

3.1.3 Technological Barriers

3.2 Competition Structure of China's Shipbuilding Industry

4 Analysis on Major Shipbuilders in China, 2015-2020

4.1 Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Co., Ltd.

4.2 Yangzijiang Shipbuilding (Holdings) Ltd.

4.3 Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Co., Ltd.

4.4 Guangzhou Shipyard International Co., Ltd.

4.5 Nantong COSCO KHI Ship Engineering Co., Ltd.

4.6 CSSC Chengxi Shipyard Co., Ltd.

4.7 Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding Industry Co., Ltd.

4.8 Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding (Group) Co., Ltd.

4.9 Jiangsu New Times Shipbuilding Co., Ltd.

4.10 CSC Jinling Shipyard

5 Analysis on Shipbuilding Costs and Ship Prices in China, 2015-2020

5.1 Analysis of Shipbuilding Costs

5.2 Analysis of Ship Prices

5.3 Labor Cost

6 Forecast on Development of China's Shipbuilding Industry, 2021-2025

6.1 Factors Influencing Development of China's Shipbuilding Industry

6.1.1 Driving Forces and Market Opportunities

6.1.2 Threats and Challenges

6.2 Forecast on Shipbuilding Supply in China

6.2.1 Forecast on Production Capacity

6.2.2 Forecast on Completion of Ships

6.3 Forecast on Shipbuilding Demand in China 2021-2025

6.3.1 Domestic Demand

6.3.2 Forecast on Export of Ships from China, 2021-2025

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/ibl3kq






The spectrum auctions are almost here. On March 1, the DoT (Department of Telecommunications) will begin the auction process for airwaves in the 700 MHz (megahertz), 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2300 MHz, and 2500 MHz bands. A huge amount of spectrum - 2251.25 MHz - will be up for sale. Although after the liberalisation of spectrum any spectrum can be used for any technology (2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G), globally 3300-3600 MHz range is gaining the most traction for delivering 5G services.

Given that the government has not included this band in the upcoming auctions, the 5G services are likely to be further delayed in the country. Though there are chances that operators like Jio and Airtel would use other bands - Jio in 700 MHz and Airtel in 1800 MHz - to launch 5G services instead of waiting for the sale of 3300-3600 MHz airwaves.

In a recent reply to Lok Sabha, minister of state for communications, education and electronics & information technology Sanjay Dhotre said that the reserve prices of spectrum at auction are fixed by the government after considering the recommendations of TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India).

He said that TRAI has analysed the auctions of 3300-3600 MHz band in various countries, and due to lack of adequate comparable data points, international benchmarking may not be appropriate. That's not true. Why?

A recent report presented by Standing Committee on Information technology, headed by Shashi Tharoor, titled India's Preparedness for 5G says that the TRAI's recommended reserve price is way too high as compared to the auctioned discovered spectrum price in other countries in the 3.5 GHz band.

For instance, TRAI has recommended Rs 492 crore per MHz as base price. In comparison, the auction determined price in Italy was Rs 182 crore per MHz, Rs 70 crore in the UK, Rs 35 crore in Australia, Rs 14 crore in Spain and just Rs 7 crore in Austria.

"Considering the stress in the sector and that the 5G ecosystem is yet to be developed, keeping such a huge reserve price for 3.3 GHz to 3.6 GHz will undoubtedly have an adverse impact on the ability of the TSPs [telecom service providers] to fully rollout 5G in the country. The committee is of the view that long-term consumer benefit should be the guiding principle and not short term revenue maximisation," said the report.

To be fair, Dhotre told the Lok Sabha that the government has not yet decided on the reserve prices for auction of 3300-3600 MHz band. But given that DoT usually sticks to the TRAI's recommended prices, the changes are unlikely.

Also read: Airtel, Jio, Voda Idea apply for Rs 3.92 lakh crore spectrum auction

Also read: 5G in India may not roll out in 2021 as country still in beginning phase, says parliamentary panel
Primary care doctors have grown increasingly frustrated with their exclusion from the nations vaccine rollout, unable to find reliable supplies for even their eldest patients and lacking basic information about distribution planning for the shots.

The centerpiece should be primary care, said Dr. Wayne Altman, chairman of family medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine who also sees patients in Arlington, Massachusetts. State officials there are using Fenway Park and Gillette Stadium as mass vaccination sites, rather than ensuring practices like his can inoculate patients who are at high risk from the coronavirus.

If you distribute the vaccine to all these practices and let them go at their pace, it would accelerate this rollout dramatically, Altman said.

The roughly 500,000 primary care doctors in the United States have traditionally administered nearly half of all adult vaccinations, inoculating their patients against pneumonia, flu and other infectious diseases. While most physician offices cant handle storage for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine because of its need for special freezers, doctors say they could easily administer the Moderna vaccine with adequate storage measures, as well as some of the others likely to become available soon.

Were ready, said Dr. Elizabeth Kozak, an internist in Grand Rapids, Michigan. She was approved in early January to deliver the Moderna vaccine. We havent seen a thing, but were ready.

Federal and state officials have focused most of their efforts on large vaccination sites, and are still setting priorities for front-line workers, teachers and people 65 and older. They also are relying on big drugstore chains, like CVS or Walgreens. As part of that strategy, the Biden administration announced last week that it planned to distribute an additional million doses of vaccine to 6,500 pharmacies this week.

The administration has promised to give states three weeks notice about how many doses they can expect, which should help with distribution plans. While supplies are not expected to increase significantly until April, the administration has talked about being able to vaccinate 300 million Americans by the end of the summer.

With the current supply, Dr. Carlos Portu, an internist in Naples, Florida, likens his patients efforts to find the vaccine to whack-a-mole; availability pops up, on a website or on Facebook, only to disappear very quickly.

His elderly patients struggle to check the website of their local Publix supermarket at 6 a.m. every day to try to find an appointment. Some may not even be able to remember their email address, let alone know how to refresh their web browser frequently enough to land a spot.

We vaccinate every single year millions of Americans for influenza, Portu said, adding, Its a shame we havent been given a seat at the table.

Dr. Farzad Mostashari, a former Obama administration official whose company, Aledade, works with primary care doctors like Portu, has witnessed the struggle to get his own parents vaccinated.

We need to use the systems people use normally, he said. A big part of that is going to be primary care doctors offices. They know how to give vaccines and have the trust relationship.

Federal officials say they understand the critical role physicians play, especially in persuading Black and Latino patients who may be hesitant to get the vaccine.

But the largely first-come first-served system, which heavily relies on the ability to sign up for the vaccine by navigating a complicated website or driving to where doses are available, is reinforcing many of the countrys inequities. In many cities, individuals from wealthier, largely white neighborhoods, are taking up more than their representative share of the limited supply of the vaccine.

Primary care doctors have been a loud and frequent voice in the conversation we have had on a path to equity, said Dr. Cameron Webb, an internist who is now a senior policy adviser for COVID equity to the White House. He pointed to the administrations recent efforts to supply vaccines to federally qualified health centers, which serve individuals who are likely to be at the highest risk from the virus and those who live in the most vulnerable areas. Its a critical component to our strategy.

Despite their eagerness to participate, only 1 of 5 primary care physicians said they were giving the vaccine to their patients, according to a survey conducted in mid-January by the Larry A. Green Center with Primary Care Collaborative, a nonprofit. Given the widespread shortages of supply, many could not get the vaccine, and a third of them reported they had not been in contact with their local health department.

Katelin Haley, a family medicine doctor in Lewes, Delaware, is one of the lucky few who just received 240 doses of the vaccine and will be immunizing patients this week. Her staff had been checking every day with the state to see when they could expect a shipment. Chasing the vaccine has been almost a full-time job, she said.

While Haley, who also works with Aledade, is sympathetic to the states struggle to get adequate supplies of the vaccine, she thinks practices like hers need some of the doses. Its a delicate balance to address the states needs and the individual practices needs, she said.

Some physicians, like Altman, have received small amounts of the vaccine but they do not know when they may have enough to immunize all of the patients who qualify. In late January, Altman and his staff vaccinated 200 patients in the practices parking lot, despite the frigid weather. Patients were literally in tears, they were so grateful for our efforts, he said.

The Trump administration left it up to the states to determine how they distributed the vaccines, and the states, and even local communities, are taking different approaches. So much of whether primary care is leveraged depends on the state, said Ann Greiner, CEO of the Primary Care Collaborative.

Although the demand for vaccines is outstripping supply, relying on primary care doctors to vaccinate the public when supply begins to outpace demand later in the year is essential, said Dr. Asaf Bitton, a primary care doctor who is executive director of Ariadne Labs at Brigham and Womens Hospital and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Their involvement will be critical to overcoming vaccine hesitancy and reaching herd immunity.

While some conversations are beginning to take place, they should have been starting to happen six months ago, he said.

In other countries, like England and Israel, where primary care is more central to the overall delivery of health care, doctors are playing an important role in getting the public vaccinated, said Dr. Ezekiel J. Emanuel, a professor of medical ethics and health policy at the University of Pennsylvania and a member of the coronavirus task force set up by President Joe Biden before he took office.

We dont exactly have that system in America, he said, adding that he and his colleagues advised the incoming president of the need for a hybrid approach.

Doctors may also be in the best position to persuade patients who are hesitant to get the vaccine, by being able to talk with them one-on-one and even by making sure to offer the shot as part of a routine visit. A recent Kaiser Family Foundation survey found 8 out of 10 people are likely to rely on the advice of a doctor, nurse or some other provider in deciding whether to get immunized.

We cant have one or two strategies for vaccine distribution, said Dr. Evan Saulino, a family physician in Portland, Oregon. Saulino has talked to patients, including those who are Black or Spanish-speaking, who are not sure they want the vaccine. Some of his patients are distrustful of the government and may not want to get a shot from someone in uniform. One person he spoke with would not go to the drugstore but might consider being inoculated at his clinic.

Kozak, the internist from Michigan, agreed, saying doctors like her could focus their attention on people who cant easily navigate the current setup. We might not be able to do the numbers but we are able to do the more fragile and vulnerable populations, she said.
Lisa Lucas, the foundations previous executive director and a current member of its board, described Dickey as quietly radical and said her experience leading arts and social-justice organizations in the Midwest and Northwest would help further the foundations national ambitions. In recent years, the foundation has expanded its programming by holding readings and other events across the country, and it created a program to donate books to children living in public housing. Through a partnership with several nonprofits and government agencies, including the Department of Housing and Urban Development, it has given 1.4 million books to children in 25 states.

One of the things that the foundation has tried to do is remind and acknowledge that we have a really robust literary culture all throughout the nation, said Lucas, who in July was named the publisher of Pantheon and Schocken Books.

Dickey will become the fourth executive director in the history of the National Book Foundation, which was founded in 1986. It is best known for administering the National Book Awards, which date to 1950 and are among the most prestigious literary prizes in the country, with past winners that include Saul Bellow, Ralph Ellison, Eudora Welty, William Faulkner and Flannery OConnor. Like many arts groups, the National Book Foundation has had to make adjustments to its work during the pandemic and held its awards ceremony virtually last year.

In an interview, Dickey said that in her new position, she hopes to build on the work she was doing at Seattle Arts & Lectures  trying to connect writers with readers and to make sure that books are central to communities  on a national scale.

Books provided a lifeline for her when she was growing up in Clemmons, N.C., where her parents worked as teachers, she said. As a queer kid growing up in a small town, books brought me the world.
After four Louisiana state troopers were arrested Monday and accused of using excessive force, new court records describe a July 2019 traffic stop during which a handcuffed suspect was thrown to the ground, then punched in the head while he remained compliant and showed no signs of resisting.

That incident adds to a growing list of misconduct allegations at Troop F, which patrols the Monroe area and surrounding parishes. Two recent lawsuits accuse troopers of brutally beating Black suspects during other traffic stops, including the May 2019 death of Ronald Greene. A federal civil rights probe is ongoing.

The four arrests earlier this week arose from two previously unreported incidents.

State Police officials have released few details about the arrests, though two warrants filed Wednesday shed some light on one of them. The warrants pertain to the two troopers who were booked into jail in Ouachita Parish: Jacob Brown, 30, and Randall Dickerson, 34.

The other two troopers arrested Monday  Dakota DeMoss, 28, and George Harper, 26  were booked in Franklin Parish, and officials there have not released warrants or other records. State Police also declined to release such records.

All four troopers were arrested on simple battery and malfeasance in office. Brown, who was involved in both incidents, faces an additional count of obstructing justice for allegedly falsifying reports, officials said. Brown was also previously arrested in December and accused of beating Aaron Bowman with a flashlight and causing him serious injuries, including broken ribs, a fractured arm and deep cuts to his head.

It appears the troopers were booked in separate parishes Monday based on where the incidents occurred. Officials in both parishes confirmed Wednesday that all four troopers have been released on bond.

According to the warrants for Brown and Dickerson, the Ouachita Parish traffic stop occurred July 16, 2019, on Interstate 20. The driver, who is Black, had drifted into the adjacent lane and then demonstrated "nervous behaviors" after being pulled over, State Police detectives wrote in the warrants. Troopers asked to search his car, but the man refused to give consent.

That's when Brown was called to the scene with his K-9, according to the warrants. The dog apparently smelled something suspicious on the vehicle and alerted Brown. Meanwhile more troopers responded as backup, including Dickerson.

Troopers then searched the vehicle and found 13 pounds of marijuana in vacuum sealed bags, according to the warrants. Once the drugs were located, Brown placed the driver in handcuffs, which was shown on his bodycam video, detectives said.

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The man immediately complained of his wrist hurting, explaining he had a previous arm injury and asking Brown to turn his hand around inside the cuff, which Brown refused to do: "I don't care," he said repeatedly as the suspect pleaded with him to adjust the handcuffs, according to the warrant. The man was then heard "yelling for help" while Brown threw him to the ground, detectives said.

At that point, Dickerson went over to Brown and the suspect. His bodycam switched off right before he made contact with the suspect, but detectives said another trooper's camera showed Dickerson striking the handcuffed man "with a closed fist five times towards his head and administering a knee strike to his body."

None of the video footage showed the suspect "kicking or resisting in any manner," detectives found. A third trooper eventually loosened the handcuffs and placed the man in a State Police cruiser. He later received medical treatment for minor injuries, according to the warrant.

Brown later told his superiors that the suspect was trying to get out of the handcuffs and escape, but investigators concluded that was untrue and found the use of force excessive and unnecessary.

A Ouachita Parish judge set the following bail amounts: $300,000 for Brown and $200,000 for Dickerson, records show. Officials said both posted bond and were released.

+9 Attorneys highlight similarities in alleged beatings of Black suspects by Louisiana state troopers When he heard about allegations that Louisiana State Police troopers had beaten a Black man to death and then tried to cover up their actions,

Brown also faces charges in the Franklin Parish incident, but it was not immediately clear whether he was booked there too.

That incident occurred in May 2020 following a car chase, according to limited information released by State Police. After troopers used spike strips to stop the fleeing vehicle, the driver "exited the vehicle and immediately lay on the ground in a compliant position." But troopers DeMoss, Harper and Brown nonetheless used excessive force and deactivated their bodycams. They were arrested on simple battery and malfeasance. Brown also falsified reports and faces an additional count of obstruction of justice, officials said.

DeMoss is also a named defendant in the Ronald Greene wrongful death lawsuit. State Police had initially claimed Greene died upon impact after crashing his car during a police chase, but the lawsuit alleges troopers actually beat the man and deployed their stun guns, leaving him "bloodied and in cardiac arrest" before covering up what happened.

Federal investigators launched a civil rights probe after the suit was filed last year. Attorneys for the Green family have demanded complete reform of what they called a cultural problem at Troop F.

Brown now faces charges in three separate incidents, but officials have not said whether he will be fired. His father is the former State Police assistant superintendent and chief of staff Bob Brown. Bob Brown served under former Col. Kevin Reeves, who spent decades at Troop F before being appointed superintendent in 2017. Both recently retired from the force.
Burma China Denies Helping Myanmar Military Regime Build Internet Firewall

A group of protesters stand in front of the Chinese Embassy calling on China to reject the military coup in Myanmar. / The Irrawaddy

YANGONChina on Wednesday rejected reports that it is helping Myanmars military build a firewall to block social media, popular search engines including Google and virtual private networks (VPNs).

This week, an anti-coup demonstration in front of the Chinese Embassy in Yangon has grown daily, with protesters main demand being that China stop supporting the military regime. China has long been known for its cozy relationship with the military in Myanmar. Moreover, China recently refused to condemn the military takeover at the United Nations Security Council.

Chinas denial of involvement in building a firewall came after Myanmar social media users published a list of five cargo flights from Chinas Kunming, the capital of Yunnan province, that arrived at Yangon International Airport on Tuesday, a little over a week after the coup. The list has gone viral, with social media users speculating that China dispatched IT technicians to help the Myanmar military build a firewall.

The military regime is reportedly asking IT communities to review a new draft cyber law that would restrict digital rights, freedom of speech and access to information online in Myanmar. Under the law, all individual electronic data would be under surveillance by the regime.

Internet service providers would be instructed to keep each customers data including internet protocol address, phone number, national identification number, address, and activity history for three years, according to the bill. Moreover, authorities would also be able to access information on personal individual social media accounts at any time, and intercept chat messages sent via social media platforms if they detect suspicious activity, according to the IT experts.

An IT company owner who asked not to be named told The Irrawaddy that only China has the technology needed to support such a firewall for the military regime, adding that IT companies will have to follow the new cyber law if it is enacted.

Under the new law, it would become mandatory for IT companies to provide their users data to the authorities. No one would be safe; we will all be under surveillance [by the authorities]. That is my biggest concern, he said.

Chinas Great Firewall of China is the largest and most sophisticated online censorship operation in the world. It blocks selected foreign websites and limits access to foreign information sources domestically. Foreign IT companies are required to follow domestic regulations if they want to operate in China.

On Wednesday, the Chinese Embassy shared a statement from the China Enterprise Chamber of Commerce saying the rumors were false. It added that the flights between China and Myanmar were regular cargo flights and carried only imported goods such as seafood.

The Chinese Embassy asked people in Myanmar not to spread rumors on social media.

However, many people in Myanmar do believe Chinas denial. Nearly a thousand protesters gathered on Thursday in front of the Chinese Embassy demanding that Beijing condemn the military and stop helping the regime. The protesters held placards reading The world is with us, but China is with the military regime, We want our leader, Respect Myanmar peoples votes and Do not ignore injustice.

Skeptical of the Chinese response to the reports of suspicious flights, a protester outside the embassy on Thursday held a placard reading, Share the Seafood with us RIGHT NOW!

Another protester in front of the embassy said, China has been totally silent about the coup in Myanmar. They still havent condemned the unlawful act by the military, although other international players have.

He added, We want to let them know that we totally reject the coup, and that China should stand with us, not the military.

Last week the military regime banned Facebook, Twitter and Instagramthe most popular social media sites among Myanmar peopleafter a civil disobedience movement against the military coup emerged on the platforms.

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Myanmar Military Regime Detains More Members of Ousted Govt in Late Night Raids

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On the left: a young economist versus a feisty indigenous campaigner. On the right: a sexagenarian former banker. These are the main contenders for Ecuador's presidency in elections on Sunday.

One of the three will replace incumbent Lenin Moreno, who came to power with leftist support in 2017 only to turn a right corner and cut aid in a country in dire economic straits.

- Andres Arauz, socialist protege -

Leading in most polls is 35-year-old former Central Bank boss Andres Arauz.

He is the protege of socialist ex-president Rafael Correa, whose political influence remains strong in Ecuador despite a corruption conviction that disqualified him from running as Arauz's deputy.

Ecuadorean presidential candidate Andres Arauz has described himself as 'the perfect stranger' /  AFP

Arauz is utterly unlike his temperamental and charismatic mentor.

Announcing his candidacy on Twitter last August, Arauz introduced himself as "'the perfect stranger' who knows and loves Ecuador and is committing himself to bringing our people out of the health and economic crisis."

Once a minister in Correa's cabinet, Arauz defines himself as a patriot, a democrat and progressive, and describes Moreno as a traitor to the socialist cause.

Arauz has vowed to pave the way for the political comeback of Correa, who claims his graft conviction is evidence of political persecution under Moreno. Correa is in Belgium, avoiding an eight-year jail term.

Arauz could pardon Correa or seek a judicial review of the case against him.

The presidential hopeful speaks English, French and Russian, and he plays the piano and accordion.

He is married and has a son.

- Guillermo Lasso, free market -

In April 2017, Lasso was only narrowly defeated in his second bid for the presidency by Moreno. Four years earlier, he was beaten by Correa, of whom he remains an ideological rival.

Now aged 65, he will try for a third time, hoping to overcome the 11 percentage points Arauz has on him in opinion polls.

A married father of five, Guillermo Lasso was the youngest of 11 children from a middle-class family, and started working at 15 /  AFP

A married father of five, Lasso was the youngest of 11 children from a middle-class family.

He started working at 15 and rose to become president of the Bank of Guayaquil, his home city, despite never finishing his economics degree.

Lasso, a Catholic, turned full-time to politics in 2012, serving as governor of the province of Guayas and as minister of the economy.

He describes himself as "tolerant" and "democratic." He has vowed to boost foreign investment in Ecuador, cut taxes and create a million jobs.

- Yaku Perez, indigenous ecologist -

A member of the Canari tribe, Perez sees himself as a defender of indigenous peoples rights and the environment and says he has been jailed four times for "defending the water."

The son of uneducated farmworkers, Perez hopes to be "the first son of an illiterate to become president". /  AFP

The 51-year-old lawyer is the face of the indigenous peoples' movement which rose up in 2019 after fuel prices were raised under Moreno. Eleven people died and more than 1,300 were wounded in subsequent clashes.

The son of uneducated farmworkers, Perez hopes to be "the first son of an illiterate to become president".

Perez was born Carlos Ranulfo Perez, but in 2017 legally changed his name to Yaku Sacha Perez, which in Quechua means "Water of the Mountain".

He plays the saxophone and accordion, is an atheist, a vegan and yoga practitioner, and conducted much of his presidential campaign riding a bamboo bike in sandals.

Perez is a university professor, has four post-graduate degrees, and seven published books to his name on indigenous and environmental topics.

Widowed eight years ago, he has two daughters. His current partner is French-Brazilian journalist and activist Manuela Picq.
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The Commissioner of Police in Bayelsa State, Mike Okoli, has ordered a manhunt for kidnappers who attacked speedboats and abducted passengers on the Okpoma/Odioma and Nembe/Brass waterways, Tuesday.

The two incidents occurred simultaneously and six passengers were allegedly kidnapped by gunmen suspected to be pirates.

The police spokesperson in Bayelsa State, Butswat Asinim, disclosed this in a statement issued on Wednesday.

Mr Asinim, a superintendent of police, said a joint operation: operatives from the Marine Police, Navy and Joint Task Force Operation Delta Safe are combing the creeks to rescue the kidnapped victims and apprehend the kidnappers.

The police spokesperson appealed to residents in the state to remain calm and volunteer useful information to security agencies in the state that could lead to the arrest of the kidnappers.

(NAN)
Missionary forced to leave Turkey appeals to ECHR: 'God called us there'

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David Byle, a Canadian-American Christian who was forced to leave Turkey after 19 years because of his evangelistic work, has filed a deportation complaint with the European Court of Human Rights.

Alliance Defending Freedom International announced it filed an application on Byles behalf with Europes top human rights court.

Everyone has the right to choose their religion and to express it publicly and privately. Being forced to suddenly leave the country you have called home for two decades simply because of what you believe is the stuff of nightmares, said Robert Clarke, deputy director of ADF International.

By ratifying the European Convention on Human Rights, Turkey has agreed to protect the right to religious freedom. We are hopeful that the Court will take the opportunity to hear the case of David Byle and hold Turkey to account.

Byle, a street evangelist who holds joint U.S. and Canadian citizenship, had lived in Turkey since 2000. After being arrested several times while conducting street evangelism, he was detained for eight days in 2016, and a deportation order was stopped.

In 2017, Byle was granted an injunction that allowed him to stay until the result of the case was delivered. However, he unexpectedly faced further arrest and was given a new order to leave the country within 15 days.

Then, in 2018, after 20 months in bureaucratic limbo, Byle was arrested and detained overnight by security police in Ankara, the Turkish capital. His detention took place the morning after American Pastor Andrew Brunson was ordered released by an Izmir court and allowed to return to the United States.

Although Byle was initially informed that he would be deported the next day, the long-term resident of Turkey was then released and ordered to leave Turkey within days. He finally departed from Turkey on Oct. 25, 2018.

Though missionary activity is legal in Turkey, authorities alleged Byle was a threat to public order and security and imposed a permanent re-entry ban on the Christian, something he only discovered upon trying to return to his family. Currently, Byle is living with his family in Germany.

According to ADF, Byle shared his faith for years but noticed growing harassment as the police became skeptical of this public display of Christianity beginning in 2007.

Whenever we spoke in public, people were excited to listen and learn. For a long time, we were successfully able to fight the government attempts to stop our ministry, because we were only making use of our right to religious freedom, protected by the Turkish constitution, Byle said.

The government did not want us in Turkey, but plenty of people do. God called us there, he wants the Turkish people to hear about Him and to know that He is doing wonderful things.

ADF charges that Turkey's political scene has caused the government to clamp down even more severely, and Christian pastors and their families are being threatened daily.

According to the legal group, Turkey has created a chilling effect by mistreating Christians, especially missionaries from other countries.

ADF Legal Officer Lidia Rieder called the display of hostility toward Byle and other Christians a deliberate attempt to stifle the spreading of Christianity, and represent an attack on religious freedom.

Davids missionary work, although legal under both the European Convention and Turkish national laws, is at the heart of the authorities decision to deport him and to ban him from the territory of the country, Rieder stated.It is a serious violation to use immigration laws as an instrument to interfere with a persons fundamental right to manifest his religious beliefs.

Though Byles filing is the first case to make its way to the ECHR, at least 63 cases of deportation have occurred since 2019, according to a 2020 report from International Christian Concern.

ICC notes that Byle and ADFs success in bringing the case to the ECHR provides hope for the future of expatriate Christians living in Turkey and has the potential to set a new precedent.

In its 2020 report, Human Rights Watch noted that Turkey has been experiencing a deepening human rights crisis over the past four years with a dramatic erosion of its rule of law and democracy framework.

Turkey is ranked 25 on Open Door USA's World Watch List of 50 countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian.

Since the 2020 World Watch List, the country jumped nine places, reflecting the "increasing and stifling impact of religious nationalism on Christianity and a clear increase in reported violence.

Brunson, who was imprisoned for his faith in Turkey for two years, was released in October 2018 only after the Trump administration imposed sanctions on the country.

Despite severe persecution, Brunson said he believes God is moving powerfully in Turkey, Syria, Iraq and other Middle Eastern regions.

I believe that millions of Muslims will begin to follow Jesus Christ, he said at a National Religious Broadcasters event last year. What God has shown us is that this powerful move will come in difficult circumstances. God allows the things of the foundations we trust in to be shaken to get our attention. He allows it in our country, and He allows it in other places.

There is going to be a harvest in the most dangerous and the most difficult places, and this means that there is risk to those who are going to gather the harvest in those places, he added.
Edison, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/11/2021 -- A new business intelligence report released by HTF MI with title "Global Robotic Process Automation in Finance Market Report 2020 by Key Players, Types, Applications, Countries, Market Size, Forecast to 2026 (Based on 2020 COVID-19 Worldwide Spread)" is designed covering micro level of analysis by manufacturers and key business segments. The Global Robotic Process Automation in Finance Market survey analysis offers energetic visions to conclude and study market size, market hopes, and competitive surroundings. The research is derived through primary and secondary statistics sources and it comprises both qualitative and quantitative detailing. Some of the key players profiled in the study are WorkFusion, Automation Anywhere, Blue Prism, UiPath & Thoughtonomy.



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If you are involved in the Global Robotic Process Automation in Finance industry or aim to be, then this study will provide you inclusive point of view. It's vital you keep your market knowledge up to date segmented by Applications [Asset Management, Fund and Security Services, Retail and Lending Management, Trading and Financial Management, Insurance & Others], Product Types [, Software & Services] and major players. If you have a different set of players/manufacturers according to geography or needs regional or country segmented reports we can provide customization according to your requirement.



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Historical year  2014-2019

Base year  2019

Forecast period**  2020 to 2026 [** unless otherwise stated]



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Top Players in the Market are: WorkFusion, Automation Anywhere, Blue Prism, UiPath & Thoughtonomy



Region Included are: North America (Covered in Chapter 6 and 13), United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe (Covered in Chapter 7 and 13), Germany, UK, France, Italy, Spain, Russia, Others, Asia-Pacific (Covered in Chapter 8 and 13), China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, India, Southeast Asia, Others, Middle East and Africa (Covered in Chapter 9 and 13), Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa, Others, South America (Covered in Chapter 10 and 13), Brazil, Argentina, Columbia, Chile & Others



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 Detailed overview of Robotic Process Automation in Finance market

 Changing market dynamics of the industry

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 Historical, current and projected market size in terms of volume and value

 Recent industry trends and developments

 Competitive landscape of Robotic Process Automation in Finance market

 Strategies of key players and product offerings

 Potential and niche segments/regions exhibiting promising growth

 A neutral perspective towards Robotic Process Automation in Finance market performance

 Market players information to sustain and enhance their footprint



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Major Highlights of TOC:

Chapter One: Global Robotic Process Automation in Finance Market Industry Overview

1.1 Robotic Process Automation in Finance Industry

1.1.1 Overview

1.1.2 Products of Major Companies

1.2 Robotic Process Automation in Finance Market Segment

1.2.1 Industry Chain

1.2.2 Consumer Distribution

1.3 Price & Cost Overview



Chapter Two: Global Robotic Process Automation in Finance Market Demand

2.1 Segment Overview

2.1.1 APPLICATION 1

2.1.2 APPLICATION 2

2.1.3 Other

2.2 Global Robotic Process Automation in Finance Market Size by Demand

2.3 Global Robotic Process Automation in Finance Market Forecast by Demand



Chapter Three: Global Robotic Process Automation in Finance Market by Type

3.1 By Type

3.1.1 TYPE 1

3.1.2 TYPE 2

3.2 Robotic Process Automation in Finance Market Size by Type

3.3 Robotic Process Automation in Finance Market Forecast by Type



Chapter Four: Major Region of Robotic Process Automation in Finance Market

4.1 Global Robotic Process Automation in Finance Sales

4.2 Global Robotic Process Automation in Finance Revenue & market share



Chapter Five: Major Companies List



Chapter Six: Conclusion



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India has not accepted China's 'unjustified claims' on Indian territory: Rajnath Singh

India

oi-Briti Roy Barman

New Delhi, Feb 11: A day after India and China are disengaging from standoff areas along the Line of Actual Control in Pangong Lake, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said in Lok Sabha both nations have reached an agreement for disengagement in the Pangong Lake area to cease their forward deployments in a phased, coordinated and verified manner and it will substantially restore the situation to what it was before the stand-off last year.

The minister also stated India has not conceded anything on the face off issue China.

"I want to assure this House that in these talks we have not conceded anything. The House should also know that there are still some outstanding issues with regard to deployment and patrolling at some other points along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh," said the Defence Minister.

Singh further added both countries achieved complete disengagement at the earliest.

"These will be focus of further discussions with the Chinese side. We have agreed that both sides should achieve complete disengagement at the earliest and abide fully by the bilateral agreements and protocols. By now, the Chinese side is also fully aware of our resolve," he added.

"I want to assure this House that in these talks we have not conceded anything. The House should also know that there are still some outstanding issues with regard to deployment and patrolling at some other points along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh," said Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

"These will be focus of further discussions with the Chinese side. We've agreed that both sides should achieve complete disengagement at the earliest and abide fully by the bilateral agreements and protocols. By now, the Chinese side is also fully aware of our resolve," he added.

Earlier today in Rajya Sabha, Singh said that the multiple rounds of talks ensured that a plan was put in place to disengage at the North and South banks of Pangong Lake.
The number of people arrested under the sedition law in 2019 was 96, but only two were convicted and 29 got acquitted, the Home Ministry told the Rajya Sabha, citing the latest NCRB data on Crime in India, as per a report in TOI.

The report also says 5922 people were arrested under UAPA between 2016 and 2019. However, the number of convictions in that same period is 132, the ministry said.

Junior Home Minister G Kishan Reddy said that "amendments of laws is an ongoing process".

iStock

Further, the total number of the persons arrested and the persons convicted in the years from 2016 to 2019 under the UAPA in the country are 5922 and 132 respectively. The NCRB does not maintain this data on the basis of religion, race, caste or gender, he said as per The Hindu.

This means the conviction rate is a mere 2.2%.



What is UAPA?

Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) is a law aimed at prevention of unlawful activities associations in India. Its main objective was to make powers available for dealing with activities directed against the integrity and sovereignty of India.



Reddy added that 1948 people were held under the law in 2019.

RSTV

In 2019, the most cases registered under UAPA were in Karnataka with 22. Assam took 2nd place with 17.

The Rajya Sabha feels the law is 'weak' in this case and the numbers do tend to support that. If only 1 in 50 people are being convicted, then the process is pretty slow.

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The Biden administration is sending unmistakable signals that it will escalate, not step back from, the aggressive and dangerous confrontation with China initiated by the Obama administration and intensified under Trump.

At a press conference Wednesday during his first trip to the Pentagon since taking office, President Joe Biden announced the formation of a Defense Department task force that will review Washingtons strategy and force posture for confronting the growing challenges posed by China to keep the peace and defend our interests in the Indo-Pacific and globally. Countering China, he added, will require a whole-of-government effort.

This followed an interview broadcast on Sunday in which Biden declared that China was in for extreme competition from the United States. He claimed that his approach need not be one of conflict, yet he sent a pointed public message to Chinese President Xi Jinping, saying: And Im not going to do it the way that he knows.

President Joe Biden speaks at the Pentagon, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, Pool)

Without any explanation, Biden insisted that this was because Xi was sending signals as well. To add to the atmosphere of a showdown, Biden acknowledged that he had yet to speak with Xi since Bidens inauguration on January 20.

That was a stark contrast to Bidens phone conversations with the leaders of US allies, including Canada, Mexico, the UK, France, Germany, Japan, South Korea and Australia, as well as the NATO secretary-general and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Biden said he and Xi still havent had occasion to talk to one another yet. The contrast points to the Biden administrations efforts to assemble a coalition to combat China, economically, diplomatically and militarily, to prevent it from rising to challenge the global dominance asserted by the US through its victories in World War II.

While Biden was recording his interview last Friday, to be broadcast on CBS Face the Nation on Sunday, his administration was conducting further provocative military operations directed against China, focused on two of the most strategically critical flashpoints for potential clashes: Taiwan and the South China Sea.

A US warship, the destroyer USS John S. McCain, sailed near the Chinese-controlled Paracel Islands in the South China Sea on February 5 in a freedom of navigation operation (FONOP) that the US Navy said was the first such mission under Bidens administration. Conducted under the false flag of freedom of navigation, FONOPS involve sailing inside the 12-nautical mile territorial limits around Chinese-occupied islets.

It was the second time that Biden had sent US warships into the South China Sea. Within days of his inauguration, the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt and its strike group entered that sea. That continued a course set by the Obama administration, which conducted two or three FONOPs annually, which Trump increased to as many as 10 per year.

Earlier last week, the USS John S. McCain also sailed through the highly sensitive Taiwan Straitthe narrow passage, barely 180 kilometres wide, that separates mainland China from Taiwan. This is particularly provocative because Taiwan, which has been armed by the US, is so close to major Chinese cities and military facilities. Taiwan was also part of China before it was seized by Japan in 1895 and was then occupied by the US-backed military dictator Chiang Kai-shek after the 1949 Chinese revolution.

China condemned both of last weeks military incursions as infringements on Chinas sovereignty and security, and said it had dispatched naval and air units to the Paracel Islands to follow and warn away the USS John S. McCain.

In his CBS interview, Biden stoked the tensions with Beijing by describing Xi as very tough and without a democratic, small D, bone in his body. That was in keeping with Bidens branding of Xi as a thug during the US presidential election campaign.

These taunts combine provocation with sheer hypocrisy. While the Beijing regime is certainly repressive particularly when it comes to dealing with the struggles of Chinese workers, the US is known around the world for its mass surveillance, anti-democratic interventions, including its support for brutal dictatorships like those in Egypt and Saudi Arabia, and brutal neo-colonial wars.

Bidens interview was matched by a phone conversation last Saturday, in which US Secretary of State Antony Blinken reportedly told senior Chinese foreign policy official Yang Jiechi that the US would stand up for human rights and hold Beijing accountable for its efforts to threaten stability in the Indo-Pacific, including across the Taiwan Strait.

Media outlets called Blinkens performance tough. For his part, Yang said the Taiwan issue was the most sensitive for China and that Washington should not interfere with Chinas domestic affairs in Tibet, Xinjiang and Hong Kong.

Taiwan has become central to Washingtons thrust against China. In the Trump administrations final week, its Secretary of State Mike Pompeo lifted all restrictions on meetings between US and Taiwanese officials, military and civilian, undercutting the 1979 US recognition of Beijing as the sole legitimate government of China.

This prompted an outraged Chinese response, but Taiwans de facto ambassador to Washington, Bi-khim Hsiao, was nevertheless invited to attend Bidens inauguration, indicating that Biden will follow the Trump policy. This was the first time that a Taiwanese representative had been asked to attend a presidential inauguration since formal diplomatic relations between the US and Taiwan ended in 1979.

Bidens interview on Sunday was also in sync with his first foreign policy speech since taking office, delivered last Thursday. Speaking at the US State Department in Washington, Biden sought to differentiate from aspects of Trumps unilateralist America First agenda. But his catch-cryAmerica is backhas the same belligerent content.

Biden declared that his administration would take on directly the challenges posed to our prosperity, security, and democratic values by our most serious competitor, China. He vowed to confront Chinas economic abuses; counter its aggressive, coercive action, and push back on Chinas attack on human rights, intellectual property, and global governance. He said he was ready to work with Beijing, but only when its in Americas interest to do so.

For now, Biden and Blinken have said that some policies are under review. The US still has punitive tariffs on Chinese exports, sanctions on more than a dozen top Chinese officials and bans on Chinese telecommunications companies.

No matter what shifts in approach take place, however, the effort to reverse the obvious loss of US credibility under Trump will mean a heightened offensive against China, the perceived most serious competitor.

This is a bipartisan drive, also reflected in a mounting clamour by both Democrat and Republican leaders, and the corporate media, for a boycott of next years Beijing Winter Olympic Games. This is being accompanied by incendiary and unsubstantiated accusations of Chinese genocide of Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang province. Blinken himself has endorsed those lies, as did Pompeo, his predecessor.

Bidens TV interview reference to Xis supposedly matching confrontational signals is another misleading bid to justify bellicosity toward China.

So far, Beijings response to Biden has veered between appeals for collaboration and nationalist, militaristic responses. On Monday the Chinese state news agency Xinhua published a commentary that said candid and constructive dialogue was needed to better understand each sides strategic intentions and rebuild trust.

On February 5, another government media outlet, the Global Times, welcomed a recent Chinese ballistic missile test as a brilliant reaction to Admiral Charles Richard, head of US Strategic Command, who published an article last week saying the US has sought new ways to deter China and Russia, including the real possibility of a nuclear war.

Such statements and counter-statements highlight the real danger of the reckless US offensive triggering a catastrophic nuclear conflagration.
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Shenandoah, IA (51601)

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Partly cloudy skies this morning will become overcast during the afternoon. High 67F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph..

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Cloudy skies. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low around 50F. Winds light and variable.

A retired cops expertise on DNA and fingerprint evidence wrongly influenced a Manhattan jurys conviction of a sex offender, appellate judges said in a ruling thats forced prosecutors to retry the case.

Clayton Alvarezs 2018 burglary and sexual assault conviction was heavily influenced by the opinions of a retired NYPD detective who sat on the jury at his April 2018 trial, the judges said.

The former cop acted extensively as an unsworn expert witness during deliberations by offering opinions that went beyond the evidence jurors heard in open court, said the ruling by the state Appellate Division.

The Manhattan District Attorneys Office confirmed Thursday it would retry the case.

Before deliberations, judges instruct jurors to focus solely on the evidence presented to them at trial.

But the retired cop provided his fellow jurors with his own takes on the evidence  leading other jurors to wrongly factor his expertise into their decision to convict Alvarez, the appellate ruling issued on Jan. 7 states.

As well as his opinions on DNA and fingerprint evidence presented during the trial, the unnamed former detective also offered the theory Alvarez was lying based on his speech patterns and body language in the courtroom, according to court filings.

In their case against Alvarez, prosecutors charged him with breaking into an apartment and then sexually assaulting a tenant, who was incapable of consent by reason of being physically helpless, according to the 2017 indictment.

Manhattan Supreme Court Justice A. Kirke Bartley Jr. sentenced Alvarez to eight years in prison.

Alvarez is due back in court on Apr. 4.

The Suit-boot ki sarkar jibe by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi aimed at the Narendra Modi-led government during the land acquisition laws (2014) reached its crescendo with the three farm laws (2020). Among other things, these reforms allow farmers to sell their produce to anyone  to the State apparatus under the Minimum Support Price (MSP) regime or to private buyers.

If the big private sector companies were initially the red rag for the communists, soon other opposition parties latched onto this bandwagon, probably with an eye on possible electoral gains.

It redounds to the credit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi that he minced no words in condemning this attitude in the course of his reply, on February 10 in the Lok Sabha, to the Presidents address of the joint session of Parliament last month.

Under Indias first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, the country set store by planning and its adjunct public sector enterprises (PSEs) to occupy the commanding heights of the economy. There were two rationales given  the shyness of the private sector in entering sectors that call for huge investments, and the need for keeping strategic sectors away from the covetous eyes of the private sector.

This Congress worldview was disowned in 1991 by Prime Minister Narasimha Rao when he teamed up with Manmohan Singh to liberalise the economy. Indeed that started the process of unleashing the proverbial animal spirits of entrepreneurs. The automobile and telecom sectors have been sterling examples of the positive potentials of the private sector.

Come to think of it, the suit-boot jibe is not so much at the private sector per se as it is against big corporations. This is because the MSME sector, which political parties of all hues champion, belongs to the private sector. About 85 percent of the GDP attributable to manufacturing comes from the MSME sector. About the same is its contribution to employment or self-employment.

In the event, the attack on the private sector is actually targeting of the large corporate houses who are excellent readers of straws in the wind and give political donations to parties who are likely to be in power. The Congress ire perhaps stems from this fact that about 90 percent of donations through electoral bonds have gone to its rival the Bharatiya Janata Party.

That the PSE did not live up to their expectations would be evident from the following facts and figures.

Employment in Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) grew massively in the 1970s  from 0.7 million in 1971-72 to 1.94 million in 1981-82  driven by nationalisations and political patronage. It further increased in the 1980s, peaking at 2.24 million in 1989-90. Since then it has halved to 1.13 million in 2016-17.

Much of this came through voluntary retirement schemes (VRS) in bloated employers such as Coal India, which saw its numbers decline from about 0.65 million in the mid-1980s to just above 0.3 million end-2017. Another large employer, the National Textile Corporation, the repository of scores of erstwhile private textile mills that had gone sick, closed nearly 80 mills over the past two decades and employment declined by 90 percent in this period.

Even as early as 2001-02, as far as employment is concerned, the share of private sector was 51.2 percent against 44.3 percent of the public sector, testifying to the fact that the economy was slowly moving away from its PSE dependence.

If the PSE contribution to employment generation is dwindling, its track record of profitability has been abysmal. There were 331 CPSEs with a total investment of Rs 12,50,373 crore as on March 31, 2017. Of these, five were agriculture-related and 24 were in the mining sector. The bulk is in manufacturing and generation (96), services (119) and construction (76). While 174 CPSEs made profits (Rs 1,52,647 crore during 2016-17), just 10  largely in the energy sector  accounted for nearly two-thirds of all profits.

About 82 CPSEs made losses amounting to Rs 25,045 crore in 2016-17, with just 10 loss-making companies accounting for 83.8 percent of the total losses, with Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd, Air India Ltd, and Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd being the worst performers. The number of loss-making CPEs has grown from 54 in 2007-08 to 82 in 2016-17. The CPSEs in agriculture are the worst performing, with negative return to equity.

It is strange that the current Congress leadership should decry the role of corporates when its own government in 1991 made the economy leapfrog, thanks to decisive liberalisation measures that unshackled entrepreneurs.

It is also significant to note that Modi, who reportedly relies more on bureaucrats than on his Cabinet colleagues, chose to put them in their place  IAS officers cannot run industries.
Dr Anthony Fauci says there have been 'no red flags' after tens of thousands of pregnant women have received vaccines against COVID)-19.

During a White House briefing on Wednesday, the nation's top infectious disease expert said that expectant months have been given both Pfizer-BioNTech's and Moderna's shots with no unexpected side effects.

'I want to point out that since the EUA 9emergency use authorization) and under the EUA, approximately 20,000 pregnant women have been vaccinated with no red flags, as we say, and this is being monitored by the CDC and the FDA,' Fauci said.

While pregnant women were not included in the clinical trials for either vaccine approved in the U.S., some clinical trials including pregnant women are either about to start or already underway, he added.

Last month, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned that COVID-19 vaccines should not be used on pregnant women - and then walked back its advice and said vaccines can be administered in expectant mothers safely.

It also comes as states such as Illinois and New York expand their eligibility for shots to included pregnant women.

On Wednesday, Dr Anthony Fauci (pictured) said there have been no 'red flags' after 20,000 pregnant women received coronavirus vaccines

Fauci said clinical trials with pregnant women will begin or are underway but will not need tens of thousands, just enough volunteers to show safety and efficacy (file image)

The WHO recommended pregnant women not get vaccinated - and then walked back its guidance - which would haved affected more than three million pregnant women in the U.S. as the country continues to vaccinate about 1.5 million people every day (above)

No vaccine trials to date have included pregnant women - and they are not expected to until after the first quarter of 2021 - meaning there is no safety data, the WHO says.

Researchers want to determine the vaccines are safe and effective in healthy, non-pregnant people before testing them in mothers-to-be and their future children.

'With regard to children and pregnant women, as I mentioned on a prior discussion with this group, the fact remains that we will be starting clinical trials, and some have already started. We will not need to do tens of thousands of people,' Fauci said.

'We will need just enough measured in hundreds to thousands for safety and whether or not we induce an immune response that is equivalent to the immune response that has been proven to be protective under the trials that have now shown to be 94 percent to 95 percent effective.'

Doctors in the U.S. have opposed pregnant women being excluded from vaccine recommendations due to their high risk of severe illness from COVID-19 and say the patients should decide themselves whether or not they want the shot.

In a virtual briefing last month, the WHO's director of immunization Kate O'Brien stressed that clinical trials of the Moderna vaccine are needed on pregnant women.

'There is no reason to think there could be a problem in pregnancy, we are just acknowledging the data is not there at the moment,' she said.

However, the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology has been staunchly against the exclusion of pregnant women from vaccination trials and guidance.

In a statement, the organization wrote that pregnant women should choose themselves whether or not they want to be vaccinated and be informed of any risks.

'Pregnant individuals are more likely to have certain manifestations of severe illness associated with COVID-19 infection such as ICU admission, mechanical ventilation, and death,' the statement reads.

'Further, upwards of half of pregnant individuals also fall into another high-priority category, including frontline workers and those with underlying conditions.

'ACOG continues to urge that for pregnant individuals, the decision to vaccinate must be left to each patient in consult with their trusted clinician.'

There is currently no data on how many women became pregnant during Moderna's coronavirus vaccine trial.

However, during the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) advisory committee meeting on recommending whether or not approve Pfizer's vaccine - the only other shot approved in the U.S. - researchers revealed 23 pregnancies occurred during the trial as of November 14.

Many gynecologists have opposed pregnant women being excluded from vaccine recommendations because pregnant COVID-19 patients are twice as likely to be admitted to ICUs and three times more likely to need mechanical ventilation (above)

Of the pregnancies, 12 were among the vaccine group and 11 were among the placebo group.

In the vaccine group, four were immunized prior to their last menstrual period, four within 30 days after their last menstrual period and four more than 30 days after.

In the placebo group, two wee inoculated prior to their last menstrual period, six within 30 days after their last menstrual period and two more than 30 days after.

No outcomes are known yet aside from one woman in the placebo group who had a miscarriage at less than 20 weeks' gestation.

It is not uncommon to not include pregnant women in vaccine trials.

For example, expecting mothers have never been included in flu shot studies, but have been encouraged by doctors to get it after years of data showing the jab behaved normally in healthy participants.

Doctors say they are concerned about pregnant women not receiving the coronavirus vaccine because millions of pregnant or breastfeeding women make up the workforce.

In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 75 percent of the health-care workforce are female and about 330,000 healthcare workers 'could be pregnant or recently postpartum at time of vaccine implementation.'

What's more, data from the CDC show pregnant COVID-19 patients are twice as likely to be admitted to ICUs and three times more likely to need mechanical ventilation than non-pregnant women with the disease.

Recently, the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine called on the federal government to include pregnant and lactating women in vaccine trials.

Dr Kristina Adams Waldorf, an obstetrician-gynecologist with the University of Washington School of Medicine, told DailyMail.com last month that she believes pregnant women need to be vaccinated

'We are completely puzzled by this statement from the World Health Organization,' Adams Waldorf said.

'And no one quite understands where this recommendation comes from. We have excellent animal safety data, we understand biologically how this [disease] works and we know front and center the risk that pregnant patients are facing,

'One in 80 face a chance of dying. That's real.'
As per reports, India and China have agreed to a monitored disengagement on both banks of the Pangong Tso. China had intruded into Indian territory north of the lake in May last year. The rapid deployment led to the Chinese being blocked in their tracks. Galwan displayed a strong Indian intent of not backing down. The award of war decorations to those who were involved in Galwan conveyed the message that India considered Chinese intrusion as an act of war and would escalate if needed to ensure defence of its territory. The Indian counter actions led to occupying positions on the Kailash Ridge, which gave it a tactical advantage and domination of the Chinese garrison in Moldo as also the Spanggur gap.

Eight rounds of military talks and possibly more online meetings of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on Indo-China Border Affairs (WMCC), failed to find a solution acceptable to both sides. Each round of meeting reduced differences in perception and demands of the other side. Initially, all that China proposed was that India pull back from South of Pangong Tso, which India refused to accept. The ninth round possibly led to a solution acceptable to both sides.

The final disengagement plan would have been discussed at appropriate levels and accepted. This can be gauged from the fact that the last military level meeting was on January 24 and final acceptance issued on February 10, which indicated the depth at which discussions were held and the final solution would have met Indian concerns. The Indian demand had been restoration of status quo of May 2020 and this has been accepted.

Indian counter measures on both banks of the Pangong Tso gave the government confidence that the army would hold onto its positions, aware that any further Chinese push would be met with resistance and could be thwarted. Hence, India never rushed into any agreement through multiple rounds of talks. It matched Chinese deployment in every manner, whether in the form of troops, armour or artillery. It does appear that the current proposal has suited India. The entire process would have been war gamed and every option of monitoring discussed prior to being accepted.

The Chinese Western Theatre Command was, till recently, headed by General Zhao Zongqi, who was known as being anti India. It was under his watch that the Doklam and Ladakh incursions occurred. India held onto its ground in both cases, leading to a stalemate. The solution flowed post his retirement and replacement by General Zhang Xudong. The appointment of Xudong, a relatively unknown general in the PLA, displayed that CMC has taken direct control over the Western Theatre Command. This changed the complexion of talks between the two countries. It could either have signalled a move towards peace or increased hostility. It signalled peace.

Now that the agreement has been reached and announced by both countries, the critical stages of monitoring and actual withdrawal now commence. These include an understanding on the process, time factors and ensuring each phase follows laid down schedules. Galwan was an incident India would never desire to repeat. Further, it was the Chinese who first intruded and subsequently did not adhere to their own proposals of withdrawal reached in earlier rounds. Hence, the onus of ensuring adherence to agreed terms and conditions would remain on China.

Troops on the ground and in close contact would be the last to withdraw. This will ensure that positions currently held by India would remain in its possession till the Chinese have completely pulled back and any attempt to avoid adhering to the agreement would render them more vulnerable. A good start and it should be followed by an equally suitable pull back.

Reaching an agreement has been a positive step. Tensions due to deployment in close proximity have the potential of escalating, an act which both sides have sought to avoid. Now that they have reached an understanding, doors have opened for restoration of peace and tranquillity. However, monitoring the withdrawal and ensuring that agreements are not breached gains prominence. This is the time when officials of both, military and diplomatic cadres, must remain in close contact with each other to ensure that incidents like Galwan do not reoccur. Confirmation of withdrawal should be monitored by electronic means in the initial phases and subsequently by joint patrols.

India has stared down the dragon once again and for this we need to be proud of our armed forces, which have displayed resoluteness, determination and courage. The government, which stood behind the soldiers, must now take a backseat and let the monitoring be done by those on the ground, as they remain aware of the true situation.

(An alumnus of the National Defence Academy, Major General Harsha Kakar is a graduate of the DSSC, LDMC and the National Securities Studies Course at the Canadian Forces College, Toronto)


Khloe Kardashian already 'knew' about her ex-husband Lamar Odom's ex-fiancee Sabrina Parr hookup with her on/off boyfriend Tristan Thompson before the former Laker revealed the gossip while on the Wendy Williams Show on Thursday.

Odom, 41, dropped the bombshell while making some cutting comments about his ex, calling her a 'decrepit reptilian type of woman' and claiming she once told him she had gotten intimate with his 'ex wife's significant other.'

But the news isn't worrying Kardashian, according to insiders who told TMZ the tryst happened way before the 36-year-old mom-of-one met the new Boston Celtics center, 29.

Gossip: Lamar Odom hinted that his ex-fiancee Sabrina Parr hooked up with his ex-wife Khloe Kardashian's baby daddy Tristan Thompson during a chat on the Wendy Williams Show

No surprises: The tryst is reportedly old news to Khloe, as insiders say Tristan already told her and it happened over a decade ago. They're seen in 2018 together above

Lamar wasn't kind while talking about Sabrina, telling Wendy: 'She's a hurt woman. She has a lot of problems that I don't think anyone of us could help her with. She probably needs therapy.'

Talking about how she hurt him over the course of the relationship, he revealed: 'There was some things that always made me look at her out the corner of my eye.'

Then, he recalled the particularly cruel time he claims she said she slept with the partner of Lamar's ex-wife Khloe.

Though Odom didn't name names, intrepid interviewer Williams pressed him for an answer.

He tried to evade the question when asked if it was Khloe's ex French Montana, telling the hostess: 'Come on Wendy you could put that together. I don't say names if I don't have to.'

Ouch: Odom, 41, dropped the bombshell while making some cutting comments about his ex, calling her a 'decrepit reptilian type of woman' and claiming she once told him she had hooked up with his 'ex wife's significant other'

Suspect: Talking about how she hurt him over the course of the relationship, he revealed'There was some things that always made me look at her out the corner of my eye'

Neither a yes or a no: When asked if it was Tristan, he only raised an eyebrow, appearing to suggest Wendy had the right answer without confirming anything

When asked if it was Tristan, he only raised an eyebrow, appearing to suggest Wendy had the right answer without confirming anything.

Thompson doesn't have a clean record when it comes to cheating, infamously caught stepping out on Kardashian just days before she gave birth to their daughter True, now two.

But those close to the situation say there was no infidelity in this case, noting that Sabrina and Tristan's hook-up happened 'nearly a decade ago' during his rookie season in the NBA.

And there were no secrets between the pair, since Tristan is said to have told Khloe about Parr when Lamar went public with her in 2019. He proposed just three months later.

Though Odom is the one making accusations now, he has had a colored past with cocaine and infidelity while he was involved with ex-wife Khloe, who stood by him after a 2015 overdose where he suffered 12 seizures and six strokes.

Rocky road: Though Odom is the one making accusations now, he has had a colored past with cocaine and infidelity while he was involved with ex-wife Khloe, who stood by him after a 2015 overdose where he suffered 12 seizures and six strokes. They're seen in 2012 above

Interesting: Odom claimed his Parr was holding his social media and passport hostage weeks after split and reconciliation in social media last month

Uh oh: He wrote to his 720K followers: 'Unfortunately my social media platforms are being held hostage by my ex and we are working hard to recover my passwords for IG and Twitter~ if any of yall know someone who can get it reset for me hit my brand managers DM ASAP @savvygirlconsulting,' as they are seen together earlier this month in Atlanta

Lamar seems to be at odds with Sabrina since the on/off couple's last breakup.

Last December he accused her of holding his social media and passport hostage weeks after another split and reconciliation.

He wrote to his 720K followers: 'Unfortunately my social media platforms are being held hostage by my ex and we are working hard to recover my passwords for IG and Twitter~ if any of yall know someone who can get it reset for me hit my brand managers DM ASAP @savvygirlconsulting.'

Sabrina was quick to respond as she took to her Instagram Story to share a written statement.

She wrote: 'I find these accusations from Lamar & whoever hes working with extremely disappointing. We are no longer together and havent been for a while. Ive chosen to move in silence about the situation & I suggest you do the same.

'We both know the truth and I assure you no truth is being told on their end. Now if you excuse me, Im going to continue moving on in peace & silence.'
An auto supplier working with Mercedes-Benzs plan to produce electric vehicles is expanding in Tuscaloosa County.

Schnellecke Logistics Alabama will move to a new building near the Mercedes-Benz U.S. International automobile plant in Vance, and plans to add 162 jobs.

Gov. Kay Ivey this week announced a $258,000 grant for the project. The company plans to begin hiring once its 530,000-square-foot logistics warehouse is completed. Within three years, the company plans to have a workforce of 373 people.

The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the grant from funds made available by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Tuscaloosa County is providing a local match of $64,500 for the project.

From the start, Alabamas vehicle manufacturing facilities have produced top-of-the-line automobiles and are poised to continue doing the same as the automobile industry transitions toward electric vehicles, Ivey said.
(TNS) - California is more than eight weeks into a mass vaccination campaign to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, administering tens of thousands of shots a day.The California Department of Public Health on its vaccine tracker reported Wednesday providers have administered 5,089,484 out of about 7.6 million doses that have been distributed to hospital systems and local health offices, an increase of 174,854 from Tuesday. The total grew by about 168,000 from Monday to Tuesday.The state public health numbers don't distinguish between first and second doses. According to U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 81% of California's shots given have been first doses: about 4 million, compared to at least about 929,000 second doses.The COVID-19 vaccines currently available require two shots. Pfizer's shots should be taken three weeks apart and Moderna's four weeks apart.The state changed its guidelines for dose timing this week, now saying that if one cannot get the second shot at those recommended intervals, "second doses may be given up to 6 weeks (42 days) after the first dose."The CDPH vaccination website had previously stated that there was "no maximum interval between the first and second doses for either vaccine.""There is limited data on how well these vaccines work beyond this window. But if the second dose is given after 42 days, there is no need to start over," the website now says.The CDC issued the same guidance in late January, saying the period should only be extended to six weeks if getting the second dose at the three-week or four-week point is "not feasible."The CDC on its tracking dashboard reported that California through Tuesday had administered 12,546 doses for every 100,000 residents. That ranks 32nd among the 50 states and Washington, D.C. Last Friday, California ranked 42nd.California next week will receive 622,100 first doses, up from 593,700 that were allocated for this week, according to the CDC. The state's supply has increased about 5% in each of the past two weekly federal allocations.Hospital systems and public health clinics have been expanding access. Sacramento County last week formally entered the first tier of Phase 1B of the rollout, giving shots to some people ages 65 and older as well as to law enforcement and emergency services workers while also continuing to vaccinate health workers in Phase 1A.Sutter Health, UC Davis Medical Center and Mercy Medical Group are all scheduling appointments for residents ages 65 and older. The county's other major health provider, Kaiser Permanente, continues to offer appointments only for those 75 and older, along with 1A health workers.Here is the latest on vaccine distribution in the Sacramento area:How many doses have been given across Sacramento area?These are the totals for combined first and second doses, administered through Tuesday, as reported by the state public health department, by recipient county of residence. Sacramento: 171,266 (10,923 doses per 100,000 residents) El Dorado: 24,102 (12,482 doses per 100,000) Placer: 65,563 (16,373 doses per 100,000) Yolo: 30,205 (13,508 doses per 100,000)Sacramento is 14% below the statewide average, according to CDPH data. Placer County is 29% ahead of the statewide rate.It's unclear to what extent reporting delays play a factor in county-to-county differences.Sacramento-area health offices, public clinicsLocal health departments in the capital region are receiving several thousand doses of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines on a weekly basis, according to each county.Most county health offices are splitting their direct allocations between their own county-run clinics, non-chain hospitals and other partners, including some Safeway pharmacies.Counties in which multi-county hospital systems, such as Kaiser Permanente or Sutter Health, have little or no presence may be receiving larger direct allocations relative to their populations, which are then distributed to hospital systems that only operate in a single county.Sacramento Phase: 1A (front-line health workers; long-term care residents) and early stages of 1B (adults 65 and older; essential workers in some sectors) Received directly: 138,225, updated Feb. 5 Administered: 114,089 (83% of received)Sacramento County's health department got 16,000 doses of vaccine this week, which are being divvied between its Cal Expo site, private partners and local hospitals.The county has been told it will receive 18,125 doses next week, about a 13% increase.The county is offering vaccine appointments at two clinics for those in eligible groups: one at the Sacramento State campus and one at California Northstate University in Elk Grove.Appointment information can be found via the Sacramento County website at dhs.saccounty.net.Both the Sacramento State and Northstate sites are walk-thru clinics while Urgent Care Now is a drive-thru. All three offer only the Pfizer vaccine, which means a three-week wait for the second dose.The county has also shared a list of partnering Safeway pharmacies that are offering clinics. Those are open for both health workers in Phase 1A and county residents at least 65 years old.El Dorado Phase: 1A and first tier of 1B "with an emphasis on residents 75 and older" Received: 24,325 doses as of Feb. 5 Administered: "Nearly 18,000" (74% of received) as of Feb. 3, according to the county website.The county is offering assistance at its libraries for seniors 75 and older who do not have internet access or who are having trouble navigating the online registration system. A flyer with details can be found here, at www.edcgov/us.Placer Phase: 1A; first tier of 1B "partially in progress" Received: 26,975 first doses and 11,625 second doses, for 38,600 total, as of Jan. 31. Administered: 11,302 total first and second doses administered as of Jan. 29, plus an estimated 4,200 last week for an estimated 40% of the received total, according to a monthly COVID-19 updatePlacer notes that it re-allocated 14,225 first doses and 6,250 second doses to numerous recipients including Tahoe Forest Hospital, Safeway pharmacies, and, during Phase 1A health worker inoculations, to Sutter Health and Kaiser Permanente. Of those not re-allocated, Placer officials say they've administered about 86% through last week.Information on county-run clinics in Placer is available at placer.ca.gov/vaccineclinics.Yolo Phase: 1A and early 1B, for adults 65 and older Received: "About 14,025" total first and second doses, county spokeswoman Jenny Tan said Monday. Administered: 7,603 first doses and 2,796 second doses for a total of 10,399 (74% of received) through last Friday, according to the county website.Yolo County is holding two public clinics later this week for Yolo residents over age 65  one in Woodland and one in Davis  but both have had all their appointment slots filled.More details regarding county-run clinics are available on the county website at yolocounty.org.Hospital systemsHospital systems operating in multiple counties receive their own allocations from the state.Most of the earliest of these shots went to health workers, but priority is being expanded to patients in the 65-plus and 75-plus age groups.Sutter Health has opened its appointments to those 65 or older. Patients of the health system who meet the age criteria can find booking information through Sutter's My Health Online portal.Sutter last week opened centers in Sacramento and Roseville to vaccinate its patients.UC Davis Health officials told The Bee early last week that the system had vaccinated more than 22,000 people so far, including more than 11,000 employees and students plus more than 10,000 patients.It started vaccinations for adults ages 75 and older in mid-January and according to its website is now vaccinating patients 65 and older.Dignity Health's Mercy Medical Group in an update on its website said it has "rapidly scaled" its vaccinations since opening pilot clinics in the Sacramento area early January, and will be giving 2,400 shots this week to patients ages 65 and older.The provider says it will be proactively contacting patients who meet the eligibility criteria.Kaiser Permanente continues to focus initial inoculations on those ages 75 and older due to limited supply, according to its patient website.The provider recently began posting daily updates for Northern California including its total allocation. As of a Tuesday update, Kaiser Permanente says it has received 269,500 doses from the state and given about 251,000  93% of them  to patients.Kaiser Permanente says it has about 693,000 members ages 65 and older living in Northern California."We're starting with adults 75 and older," the vaccination page on the provider's website reads.___(c)2021 The Sacramento Bee (Sacramento, Calif.)Visit The Sacramento Bee (Sacramento, Calif.) at www.sacbee.comDistributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Latvian interior minister says will propose lifting coronavirus-linked curfew on Thursday

Riga, Feb 11 (Sputnik) Latvian Interior Minister Sandis Girgens said that he would propose on Thursday lifting the coronavirus-linked curfew in the country.

The curfew in Latvia is in place between 20:00 and 03:00 GMT on Friday and Saturday.

It is necessary to revise the relevance of the curfew because this restriction was aimed at preventing traditional gatherings during the New Year holidays, especially on the New Years Eve. The goal was reached. On Thursday, I will propose lifting it [the curfew], the minister said on late Wednesday.
NEW ORLEANS, Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- A new campaign featuring a series of community conversations focused on key issues will begin in New Orleans this month, as part of a new community-led effort designed to inspire conversation and action and help make New Orleans a child-centered city.

I am New Orleans, developed in partnership with more than 30 community organizations and supported by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, provides a platform for residents, leaders and stakeholders to powerfully unite to advance racial equity across six key areas: maternal and child health, workforce, food, early childhood education, opportunities and challenges facing young men and boys of color, and generational change.

Community organizations  including the New Orleans Business Alliance, Nola Baby Cafe', Ashe Cultural Arts Center and others (see full list here)  are engaged in leading select conversations, promoting this locally-focused campaign and encouraging others to drive solutions.

The campaign kicks off with its first virtual discussion about equitable economic development at 1 p.m. CT Feb. 24, and the release of a video capturing the voice and vision of community leaders. To learn more about the campaign or register for the event, go to IamNewOrleansVoices.com .

"We're excited to support timely and action-focused conversations around racial equity that bring community voices together to visualize and realize a city where all children and their families can thrive," said Rhea Williams-Bishop, director of Mississippi and New Orleans programs at the Kellogg Foundation.

Asali DeVan Ecclesiastes, executive director at Ashe Cultural Arts Center, said she hopes the community sees themselves in these stories and conversations and adds to the dialog using #IamNewOrleans on social media.

"We want I Am New Orleans to inspire action and encourage collaboration among the community in working toward a more equitable city for our future," said Ecclesiastes. "The possibilities are endless when we join together on a common goal for our children."

The year-long project can be found at IamNewOrleansVoices.com and will include topical videos and live conversations featuring groundbreaking leaders and activists in the community.

"Throughout 2021, this opportunity to uplift New Orleans' voices across several events will advance the progress across the various focus areas positively impacting generations to come," said Troy Glover, director at the Center for Employment Opportunities in New Orleans.

CBS-affiliate WWL-TV 4 in New Orleans will help promote the I am New Orleans conversations, deepening their reporting on racial equity issues, specifically around the opportunities and challenges facing young men and boys of color and maternal and child health.

"We're thrilled to bring I am New Orleans conversations to the forefront of the news cycle, providing greater insight into the current state of the city and sharing how community partners can move forward as one to achieve equity and expanded opportunity," said Tod Smith, president and general manager, WWL-TV/WUPL-TV.

Follow along with the project's scheduled events at IamNewOrleansVoices.com and on WKKF's social platforms (Twitter @WK_Kellogg_Fdn; Facebook @KelloggFoundation; Instagram @kelloggfoundation) and using the hashtag #IamNewOrleans.

About the W.K. Kellogg Foundation

The W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF), founded in 1930 as an independent, private foundation by breakfast cereal innovator and entrepreneur, Will Keith Kellogg, is among the largest philanthropic foundations in the United States. Guided by the belief that all children should have an equal opportunity to thrive, WKKF works with communities to create conditions for vulnerable children so they can realize their full potential in school, work and life.



The Kellogg Foundation is based in Battle Creek, Michigan, and works throughout the United States and internationally, as well as with sovereign tribes. Special emphasis is paid to priority places where there are high concentrations of poverty and where children face significant barriers to success. WKKF priority places in the U.S. are in Michigan, Mississippi, New Mexico and New Orleans; and internationally, are in Mexico and Haiti.

Following New Orleans' recovery from Hurricane Katrina, WKKF in 2008 named the city a priority place for its investments for at least a generation and has staffed offices in the Central City.

For more information, visit www.wkkf.org.

SOURCE W.K. Kellogg Foundation

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SAN JOSE, Calif., Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Bridge Bank today announced it has expanded its Capital Finance group, which provides a full complement of asset-based lending (ABL) and factoring solutions, by adding three key roles to support its national expansion and increased market demand. The group has added several new positions since its new managing director, Timothy Carstens, joined Bridge Bank in April 2020.

Filling the three key roles are Nick Nardulli, assistant vice president of portfolio management, Richard Biers, vice president of portfolio management and Steven Ogus, senior vice president of asset-based lending. The remainder of the positions added are supporting roles that will help manage the recent increase in volume and new relationships, as well as the continued anticipated market demand in the bank's asset-based lending product.

"The current economic environment continues to challenge businesses, potentially putting traditional commercial financing out of reach," said Tim Carstens, managing director of Bridge Bank's Capital Finance group. "Our growing team of experienced are well positioned to help businesses evaluate the merits of the ABL product to help them achieve their near- and long-term goals."

Nick Nardulli is an asset-based lending professional with more than five years of experience. Prior to joining Bridge Bank, he held positions at FGI Worldwide, LLC and TCJ Holdings, LLC. Nardulli is a graduate of NYU and holds certificates from the Commercial Finance Association and Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania/Coursera. Nick Nardulli can be reached at [email protected].

Richard Biers is an asset-based lending and leverage finance professional with nearly 10 years of experience. Prior to joining Bridge Bank, Biers was vice president in PNC Business Credit's Technology Finance Group. Biers started his career at Western Alliance Bank, the parent company of Bridge Bank, after graduating Cum Laude from Murray State University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Finance. Richard Biers can be reached at [email protected].

Steven Ogus is a seasoned banking professional with more than 30 years of experience. Prior to joining Bridge Bank, Ogus was director of business development at Union Bank in San Diego. He has also served as senior vice president at Wells Fargo Capital Finance where he was responsible for developing capital structure solutions for the Southern California and Southwestern regions. Ogus has a Bachelor of Science from State University of New York, Plattsburgh College and an MBA from City University of New York, Baruch College. He is also a member of Connect, Corporate Director's Forum and Association for Corporate Growth. Steven Ogus can be reached at [email protected].

The Capital Finance group at Bridge Bank offers a range of asset-based and factoring solutions, including accounts receivable, inventory and invoice financing, to provide lines of credit and working capital. The group's expertise supports companies in manufacturing, professional services, retail, technology and more that are experiencing unusual market conditions that might hamper their ability to adhere to traditional covenants and credit structures.

About Bridge Bank

Bridge Bank, a division of Western Alliance Bank, Member FDIC, helps business clients realize their ambitions. Founded in 2001 in Silicon Valley, Bridge Bank offers a better way to bank for small- to mid-market businesses across many industries, as well as emerging technology companies and the private equity community. Geared to serving both venture-backed and non-venture-backed companies, Bridge Bank delivers a broad scope of financial solutions including capital, equipment and working capital credit facilities, venture debt, treasury management, asset-based lending, SBA and commercial real estate loans, ESOP finance and a full line of international products and services. Based in San Jose, Bridge Bank has 17 offices in major markets across the country along with Western Alliance Bank's powerful array of specialized financial services. Western Alliance Bank is the primary subsidiary of Phoenix-based Western Alliance Bancorporation. One of the country's top-performing banking companies, Western Alliance was #1 best-performing of the 50 largest public U.S. banks in the most recent S&P Global Market Intelligence listing and ranks high on the Forbes "Best Banks in America" list year after year. For more information, visit bridgebank.com.

SOURCE Bridge Bank

Related Links

http://www.bridgebank.com


MBABANE  A relative of one of the female inmate who escaped at Mawelawela Correctional facility has come out to state that they wished for the teenager to surrender herself.

The teenager, Nokwanda Nyawo (19) from Our Lady near kaMasibambisane Shop and Nothando Dlamini (27) escaped while still awaiting trial at the Mawelawela Correctional Facility last Wednesday night.

It has been exactly a week since the duo escaped and sources close to the matter and privy to the information on the escape of the stated that there were suspicions that the prison break was planned weeks prior.

Trial

One of the sources divulged that the escapees were awaiting trial as the teenage suspect was arrested in connection with alleged theft while Dlamini was put behind bars in connection with a housebreaking and theft charge.

He said according to information that was gathered from the other inmates, the escapees orchestrated the prison break allegedly with some men from outside.

In fact, the insider said the men in question were believed to be boyfriends of the escapees.

The source further divulged that it was observed that they escaped through one of the prisons windows and this was after they damaged the burglar bars from the window and escaped with a blanket from the cell they occupied to protect themselves from being injured by the razor-wired fence which they jumped over.

However, it is worth mentioning that the suspects were arrested for totally different offences which occurred in different occasions.

When this publication spoke to Nokwandas relatives; an aunt who spoke on condition of anonymity, disclosed that they did not know of the teenagers whereabouts ever since she escaped from prison.

She affirmed that Nokwanda had two children aged five and two, but they stayed at their paternal home.

She further disclosed that Nokwanda did not complete school since she quit while still doing her primary education at St Juliana Primary School and then went to live in South Africa with her mother who now resided at her marital homestead at Jericho in the Shiselweni Region.

Nokwanda never stayed with us since she stayed in Pongola, South Africa, where she lived with her mother and we only saw her during Christmas holidays and she is hard to find as she does not have a cellphone, she said.

On another note, the aunt said Nokwandas father was mentally challenged and, therefore, could not be contacted for comment.

She went on to say that when she was arrested on January 21, 2020, the police did not state what she was arrested for and when her family members queried on her arrest they did not get clear answers.

She said the warders had informed them that she was last seen around Nhlangano when updating the family.

On the other hand, when Nothandos mother was called, she referred all questions to her daughter whom she said was old enough to answer questions on her behalf.

She narrated that she did not know her daughters whereabouts ever since she escaped from prison, citing that only God would know and decide her fate.

Rearrested

Worth noting is that once the two suspects are found and rearrested, they will have an additional charge of escaping from lawful custody.

Deputy Police Information and Communications Officer Inspector Nosipho Mnguni preferred not to comment as she referred all questions to the Correctional Services Department.

When contacted, His Majestys Correctional Services (HMCS) Senior Superintendent Gugulethu Dlamini said as of yesterday, they were still on the lookout for the duo.

She further urged the public to contact In Charge Operation Deputy Commissioner General M. Dludlu on 7606 2521 or Officer In Charge ACC F. Mhlanga on 7909 2534 or 7608 1959 if they had any information about the duo.






Question: How does one cram enough candles onto a birthday cake for one of the world's oldest survivors of COVID-19 ? Answer: With 117 candles, you can't.

A French nun who is believed to be the worlds second-oldest person was celebrating her 117th birthday in style on Thursday. There were plans for Champagne and red wine, a feast with her favorite dessert, a Mass in her honor, and other treats to toast Sister Andre's exceptional longevity through two world wars and a recent coronavirus infection.

Its a big day," David Tavella, the communications manager for the nun's care home in the southern French city of Toulon, told The Associated Press. She is in great shape. I went to see her this morning. She is really happy. She wanted me to tell her the schedule for the day again."

It was packed. Some of Sister Andres's great-nephews and great-great nephews were expected to join a morning video call for her, and the bishop of Toulon was due to celebrate a Mass in her honor.

She was very proud when I told her. She said, A Mass for me?" Tavella said.

The menu for her birthday feast included a starter of foie gras, followed by capon with fragrant mushrooms and wrapping up with baked Alaska, the nun's favorite dessert.

All of it washed down with red wine, because she drinks red wine. It's one of her secrets of longevity. And a bit of Champagne with dessert, because 117 years have to be toasted," Tavella said.

As for packing dozens of candles onto a cake, we stopped trying a long time ago," he added. "Because even if we made big cakes, Im not sure that she would have enough breath to blow them all out. You would need a fire extinguisher."

Sister Andres birth name is Lucile Randon. The Gerontology Research Group, which validates details of people thought to be 110 or older, lists her as the second-oldest known living person in the world, behind only an 118-year-old woman in Japan, Kane Tanaka.

Tavella told French media earlier this week that Sister Andre tested positive for the coronavirus in mid-January but she had so few symptoms that she didn't even realize she was infected. Her survival made headlines both in France and beyond.

When the whole world suddenly started talking about this story, I understood that Sister Andre was a bit like an Olympic flame on a round the world tour that people want to grab hold of, because we all need a bit of hope at the moment," Tavella said.

By strange coincidence, Tavella was celebrating his 43rd birthday on Thursday.

We often joke that she and I were born on the same day," he said. "I never tell myself that she is 117 because she is so easy to talk to, regardless of age. It is only when she talks about World War I as though she lived through it that I realize, 'Yes, she did live through it!'"

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text.

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(CNN) -- President Joe Biden spoke with China's President Xi Jinping for two hours late Wednesday, their first call since Biden took office.

"Last night, I was on the phone for two straight hours with Xi Jinping," Biden said Thursday as he met with a bipartisan group of senators to discuss infrastructure in the Oval Office.

"And you all know as well as I do, these folks -- and it was a good conversation I know him well we've spent a lot of time together over the years I was vice president. But, you know, if we don't get moving, they're going to eat our lunch," he added, outlining China's efforts to invest in rail and other transportation.

The introductory call between the leaders of the world's two largest economies touched upon a range of issues against the backdrop of escalating tensions between the two countries.

Biden prioritized economic and military issues, and mentioned potential areas of cooperation, including climate change and nuclear proliferation, while calling China out on a range of issues related to its nefarious use of technology, unfair trade and human rights abuses, the senior official said.

The official said prior to the call that Biden would also call Xi out on human rights abuses of China's Muslim minority Uyghurs and hostile actions toward Hong Kong.

Biden planned to "indicate that this isn't just about American values, it's about universal values," the senior official said before the phone call.

A White House readout of the call released Wednesday evening said Biden "affirmed his priorities of protecting the American people's security, prosperity, health, and way of life, and preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific."

Biden, the readout added, "underscored his fundamental concerns about Beijing's coercive and unfair economic practices, crackdown in Hong Kong, human rights abuses in Xinjiang, and increasingly assertive actions in the region, including toward Taiwan."

The administration is planning a sweeping review of the Trump administration's posture toward China, including its crackdown on unfair trade practices and antagonistic military activities in Asia, all while acknowledging pursuing a robust Indo-Pacific strategy, according to an administration official. This means embracing China where possible, while calling it out in other matters, such as its human rights abuses.

One thing that will remain in place is the Trump administration's tariffs on China.

"We have maintained the tariffs that were laid down over the course of the past few years, not because we think that that trade war was particularly successful, but rather because we believe that we have to very carefully, in consultation with allies and partners, in consultation with the Congress, work through the sources of leverage we have," the senior official said.

Administration officials have also condemned China's attacks on pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong. Last week, the US Navy also sent a guided-missile destroyer through the Taiwan Strait, the first time during the Biden administration a US warship has gone through the waterway that separates China and Taiwan.

The official said that the Biden administration found "deep problems" with the way in which the Trump administration had approached competition with China, and it is one of the issues they are now reviewing as part of a broader China policy.

Biden announced Wednesday that the Department of Defense has established a task force focused on US strategy toward China.

"Today I was briefed on a new DoD-wide China task force that Secretary Austin is standing up to look at our strategy and operational concepts, technology and force posture and so much more," the President said as he visited the Pentagon for the first time since he was inaugurated.

Biden said the task force would draw on civilian and military experts across the Department of Defense and would provide recommendations to Austin "within the next few months" on "key priorities and decision points."

"It will require a whole government effort, bipartisan cooperation in Congress, and strong alliances and partnerships. That's how we'll meet the China challenge and ensure the American people win the competition of the future," Biden said.

While Biden had engaged with Xi in his role as vice president, the call was their first leader-to-leader engagement.

Biden "obviously spent a lot of time with Xi Jinping over the years although this will be their first leader-to-leader call," the senior official said before the call.

"He knows what he wants to lay down with regard to China's actions and policies" and wants to ensure "open lines of communication ... so we can work through challenges," the senior official added.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "Biden speaks with Chinese President Xi Jinping for first time as President"
Health Minister Stephen Donnelly has been urged to introduce Rapid Antigen Testing  and release society and the economy from the grip of lockdown. Photo: Gareth Chaney/Collins

We cant honestly claim we are doing everything we can to get the nation through Covid-19 if we ignore a testing option already proven to identify and stop previously unidentified pockets of the disease. Thats why we signed the letter to Minister Stephen Donnelly to adopt a new solution. Its called Rapid Antigen Testing (RAT), its fast, cheap, simple and ubiquitous.

Dr Mike Ryan of the WHO has previously said move fast, speed trumps perfection  RAT does that.

Lockdowns may slow hospital admissions but it comes with reduced or withdrawn access to healthcare including cardiovascular services, cancer screening and detection (and the subsequent life years lost from those delayed diagnoses), more social isolation, poverty, depression, anxiety, domestic violence, alcohol and drug dependency and developmental regression in children.

Thats independent of concerns around the suspension of basic rights and the cancellation of social and cultural activities that give meaning to life and the economy, which has been deeply damaged  we havent started to assess just how bad that may turn out to be.

Some argue for a zero-Covid strategy but it comes at a catastrophic cost. The policies that would be required to do this are draconian and long lasting, as correctly pointed out by Leo Varadkar.

Antigen tests are a simple, inexpensive, self-administered, point-of-care test. They are a way to slow and stop transmission at home, in offices, building sites, nursing homes or factories. Used as a screening tool, it could prevent future lockdowns and provide us with a clearer and quicker path towards a safe reopening of everything.

They are readily available, easy to learn and anybody can use them.

The key inhibitor of spread is to identify people who are contagious and can transmit the virus if they are symptomatic or not.

The PCR test we rely on now needs time and laboratories. Its slow, expensive and the main reason it wont work in isolation is counterintuitive: its too sensitive, it can return positives months after someone has been infected. The tests ambiguities have led to massive work absenteeism, crippling our health services.

Read More

Antigen tests identify only active transmissible virus, so its more of a contagiousness or infectiousness test. This is why it will disagree with PCR results when a person is no longer infectious. RAT is therefore better than PCR when the goal is mass screening for asymptomatic but infectious individuals.

Antigen tests work in any setting, in 15-30 minutes and find people who have and could spread Covid-19. RAT could help our young people re-engage in education; protect patients and residents in hospitals and nursing homes; reassure our valued teachers their work environment is safe; allow families including young and old to properly and effectively integrate in the way that is so crucial in preventing loneliness, depression and isolation.

Public health isnt just about physical health, as doctors we must remember our Hippocratic oath: first do no harm. Lockdown policies, while appearing inevitable, wreak havoc we cannot measure in ICU bed numbers or daily deaths. They are having the biggest impact on the poorest and most vulnerable in society, including children

While the end results of zero-Covid proposals are attractive, they are fraught with a lack of geopolitical context and an under-appreciation of the damage required to deliver such a prize. It has no empirical founding  we dont know the projected actual gain, just that there will be one. Members of the Independent Scientific Advocacy Group have said we could see 120,000 Irish deaths  this wild hyperbole should not be a basis for serious policy.

The sporadic emergence of isolated Covid-19 cases in Australia and New Zealand during their summer months, along with variants, remind us attempts to eliminate an endemic virus on this island would be scientifically, operationally and politically naive; we are in the EU with a Brexit neighbour on our Northern border.

Those saying RAT is a bad idea should question whether they know better than the European Centre for Disease Control, EU Council and EU Commission, who have all endorsed antigen testing. We need them now to augment public health along with vaccinations.

We can protect the vulnerable, keep the health system operational and have a functional economy; there is another way, but we cant achieve what we dont try.

John Curran, reconstructive surgeon and Martin Feely, vascular surgeon
Top prize in the 2021 HACK COVID-19 hackathon competition went to Rotations, a digital platform to allow schools and businesses to quickly create safe seating charts and schedules to minimize exposure to COVID-19.

During a January weekend, 130 Emory University and Georgia Tech students on 29 teams competed in the HACK COVID-19 hackathon to develop products that help schools and businesses safely reopen in light of the pandemic.

The hackathon competition is a partnership between Emory Global Health Institute (EGHI) and Georgia Tech. Top prize went to Rotations, a digital platform to allow schools and businesses to quickly create safe seating charts and schedules to minimize exposure to COVID-19.

As the winning team, Rotations received a $3,500 cash prize and enrollment in the CREATE-X Startup Launch program, Georgia Techs accelerator that helps students turn project ideas into startups. A total of $21,000 was awarded to the top teams.

Our hackathon model that partners Emory University with Georgia Tech demonstrates the power of bringing together great thinkers from across disciplines and universities to tackle real-world problems, says Keriann Roy, EGHIs operations and evaluation manager, who led the hackathon. As a result of this hackathon, innovative and practical solutions were created for schools and businesses to operate safely during COVID-19.

Innovative solutions like Rotations help solve real considerations around seating and scheduling to maximize use of our facilities while reducing risk of exposure, notes Lindsey Jalil, managing director operations and COVID-19 testing for Delta Air Lines and a hackathon judge. Deltas number one priority is safety. Our operations never stopped during the pandemic, and the health and safety of our customers and employees is being protected through several measures.

The hackathon was created in 2020 by EGHI in partnership with CREATE-X and the Coulter Department of Biomedical Engineering at Emory University and Georgia Tech to encourage multidisciplinary student teams from both universities to address the pandemic. Last years winning team designed a web platform to feed COVID-19 testing results from pop-up facilities into hospital and provider databases.

Our hackathons with Emory allow students from both schools to engage, develop ideas and create solutions that can later be commercialized through a startup incubator like CREATE-X, says Raghupathy Siva Sivakumar, founding director of CREATE-X and interim chief commercialization officer at Georgia Tech. Most importantly, these students want to contribute to helping solve whats arguably the greatest public health crisis of our lifetime. Fostering an entrepreneurial spirit in our students helps them believe that they too can contribute to finding solutions to complex problems, even ones as difficult as COVID-19.

To review the idea pitches, 45 judges were selected based on their expertise in public health, business, technology and operations. The finalist judges who reviewed the top 10 projects were Stephen Chininis, professor of practice at the School of Industrial Design, Georgia Tech; Amir St. Clair, Emorys associate vice president and executive director of COVID-19 response and recovery; Lindsey Jalil, Delta Air Lines managing director of operations and COVID-19 testing; John Avery, director of Advanced Technology Development Center; and Jodie Guest, vice chair of the Department of Epidemiology at the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University.

Additional winners of the 2021 HACK COVID-19 competition included:

2nd place: COVERED, a portable wallet that stores and keeps masks sanitary

3rd place: nonose, a new face mask designed to increase comfort and prevent misuse

Seven teams received honorable mentions for their solutions. Descriptions of their projects and their video presentations are available here.

About Emory Global Health Institute

Founded in 2006 with a mission of advancing Emory Universitys efforts to improve health around the world, the Emory Global Health Institute (EGHI) has supported Emory faculty and student global health projects in close to 100 countries. The EGHI also leads externally funded programs designed to improve the health of the worlds most vulnerable populations. For more information about EGHI, visit globalhealth.emory.edu.

About CREATE-X

CREATE-X is a faculty-led, student-focused initiative to instill entrepreneurial confidence in Georgia Techs students. The broader goal of CREATE-X is to provide the knowledge, skills, abilities and experiences that will give Georgia Tech graduates the confidence to pursue entrepreneurial opportunities and create their own future. Learn more at create-x.gatech.edu.
A screen displays a patient's vital signs during open heart surgery at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore on Nov. 28, 2016. Some experts fear that legislation intended to make it easier for intolerably suffering Canadians to receive medical assistance to end their lives might actually make it harder in some cases and will create confusion among doctors who provide the procedure. (Patrick Semansky/The Canadian Press/AP)

Canadian Senate Amends Assisted Dying Bill, Expands Access to Those With Mental Illness

The Senate voted to give the Canadian government 18 months to expand access to medical assistance in dying (MAiD) to people suffering solely from mental illnesses.

On Tuesday, senators voted 57-21 to amend Bill C-7, which prohibits MAiD for people whose sole medical condition is a mental illness. The amendment would allow people suffering from mental illness to access medical assistance to end their lives..

The amendment sets a sunset time limit, which will repeal the mental illness exclusion clause 18 months after receiving Royal Assent for Bill C-7. Proponents said the intention was to give the federal government, along with provinces, territories, and medical associations, time to come up with appropriate guidelines and safeguards.

Sen. Denise Batters, who voted against the amendment, said one of the basic criteria to access assisted suicide is that ones condition or illness must be irremediable, but the introduction of a sunset clause would mean that the mental illness exclusion would automatically be removed when the specified time period draws to an end.

The term sunset clause is just a euphemism for the sunsetting of vulnerable peoples lives. This will mean that after a short period of time  mental illness will be grounds for being put to death, Batters said.

The sunset clause on the mental illness exclusion was proposed by Sen. Stan Kutcher, who sits on the Independent Senators Group. Kutcher said the exclusion is a violation of the right to equal treatment under the law and is therefore unconstitutional.

He also argued that the exclusion is stigmatizing and discriminating for people with mental illnesses, because it suggests that they dont have the mental capacity to decide when their suffering has become intolerable.

Justice Minister David Lametti said that the exclusion is necessary because there is no consensus among psychiatrists on whether people suffering solely from mental illnesses should ever be allowed access to assisted dying. Lametti said that a wish to die is often a symptom of a mental illness.

Some have suggested the unpredictability of mental disorders is no different than that of physical disorders. This is simply untrue, said Dr. Sonu Gaind, chief of psychiatry and medical director of Humber River Hospital.

It is a false equivalence to equate the unpredictability of illnesses like cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, or disorders with known underlying biology, with mental illnesses that we lack fundamental understanding of, Gaind said.

Until the exclusion is lifted, senators also agreed to another amendment to clarify that it will not apply to people suffering from neurocognitive disorders such as Alzheimers disease, dementia, Parkinsons disease, and Huntingtons disease.

Advance Requests for MAiD

Senators voted on an amendment on Wednesday to allow individuals who are afraid of losing their mental capacity to make advance requests for medical assistance to end their lives.

The amendment to Bill C-7 was approved by a vote of 47-28, with eight abstentions.

Sen. Pamela Wallin, who proposed the amendment, describes the current law as a perverse diagnosis lottery. Someone who is diagnosed with incurable cancer can fortunately receive MAiD, but if the lottery deals you the Alzheimers card, then you may not be allowed to make an advance request because the diagnosis alone may be considered disqualifying.

Wallin, who has a family history of dementia, said she wants to seek the peace of mind that an advance request and consent to it will provide.

I am certainly not alone in this belief. The majority of Canadians have come to the same conclusion.

Proposal to Form Review Committee Rejected

On Monday, senators rejected another amendment aimed at creating a parliamentary committee to review access to MAiD for those with neurodegenerative diseases.

Conservative Sen. Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu, who proposed the amendment, wanted the committee, which was to report back within one year, to look at the issue of advanced directives for such people.

Conservative Senate leader Don Plett proposed on Wednesday an amendment to make it a crime for medical practitioners to discuss assisted dying with a patient unless the patient raised the subject first.

Plett said that his amendment would help alleviate the concerns raised by disability communities about feeling pressured to receive an assisted death.

His amendment was defeated by a vote of 66-18, with one abstention.

With files from The Canadian Press
The High Court has made freezing orders preventing a passenger jet from leaving Dublin airport.

The orders were made in respect of a Moldovan Air Airbus A319 aircraft which arrived at the airport late on Tuesday night.

It was due to return to Chisinau International Airport in Moldova, and over 20 passengers as well as the aircraft's crew were stranded in Ireland as result of the order.

The plane was frozen on foot of 4.2m arbitration award made in favour of a Romanian aircraft leasing firm called Just-US Air Srl against Compania Aeriana "Air Moldova" Srl.

The court heard the airline has had assets seized by Moldova's Agency for the recovery of Criminal Assets in 2019 as part of an investigation into alleged criminal activity including money laundering.

Air Moldova is the country's national airline, and was state-owned until it was privatised in 2018.

Represented by Martin Hayden SC and Martin Canny Bl Just-Srl claims that it obtained an international recognised, final and binding award of 4.2m following an arbitration regarding the lease of an aircraft, by a Romanian arbitrator.

Counsel said that the award has not been paid and it has sought to enforce the arbitration against Air Moldova in this jurisdiction where the airlines has a significant asset, namely the airline's Airbus aircraft.

The aircraft operates a passenger and limited cargo service between Moldova and Ireland.

Counsel said the applicant was seeking the freezing type orders against the aircraft because it fears that the airline may seek to remove the asset from the county and beyond the reach of the US Air Slr.

It said it had concerns arising out of several media reports concerning the Moldovan authority's criminal investigation into the airline and 35m asset seizure, which arose after the airline's privatisation.

The applicant has further concerns, about other reports that creditors of the airline have not been paid, and that last September one of the airline's other aircraft was detained in Turkey over an alleged failure to pay a $2m fuel bill.

The airline's owners have denied in media reports any wrongdoing and say that the investigations have not impacted on its commercial activity.

The freezing style orders preventing the aircraft leaving Dublin were granted on an ex-parte basis last week by Mr Justice David Barniville.

The media was prevented from reporting on the matter by the court until the aircraft had been secured, and the court documents were served on relevant parties, including the aircraft's captain.

When the case returned before the court on Wednesday the judge lifted the reporting ban, and said that the various orders previously granted should remain in place.

The judge, in adjourning the case, praised the applicant's solicitors Crowley Millar for providing assistance to passengers and crew affected by the orders.

As well as seeking the freezing orders the applicant is also seeking permission to appoint a receiver over the aircraft, which it says has been leased by another entity to Air Moldova.

The case returns before the court later this month.
Morocco's premier has rejected as propoganda a claim made this week by pro-independence rebels fighting over disputed Western Sahara that they had killed three of the kingdom's soldiers.

The Algeria-backed Polisario Front said Tuesday it had killed three Moroccan soldiers in the southern Ouarkziz area in the Akka region the previous day in a raid on a garrison that saw it overrun then destroyed.

Moroccan Prime Minister Saad-Eddine El Othmani on Wednesday rejected the claim in a tweet.

"It's yet another example of the media war, backed by 'fake news', that the Polisario separatists are waging to make people believe in imaginary victories," he wrote.

The Far-Maroc unofficial website dedicated to military news said the Polisario claim was "malicious rumour of enemies of the Moroccan nation".

"There is no way to attack Akka except from Algerian soil and under the eyes of the Algerian army, which would mean an explicit declaration of war by Algeria against the kingdom," it said on Facebook.

The claim is the first time the Polisario have said they inflicted losses on the Moroccan army on the kingdom's soil since mid-November, but it could not be verified independently.

Tensions rose sharply between the two sides on November 13 when Morocco sent troops into a buffer zone to reopen the only road leading from Morocco to Mauritania and the rest of West Africa, after the separatists had blocked it the previous month.

The Polisario responded by declaring a 1991 United Nations-backed ceasefire null and void, arguing the road had not existed when the truce was signed and was therefore illegal.

The two sides have since exchanged regular fire along the demarcation line.

The 1991 ceasefire deal was meant to lead to a referendum on self-determination for the Britain-sized territory, home to about one million people.

Morocco has offered autonomy but maintains the territory is a sovereign part of the kingdom.

The Polisario, which fought a war for independence from Morocco from 1975 to 1991, has said it is still willing to join UN talks on the territory's future -- but would not lay down its arms.

The talks ground to a halt in March 2019.

Rabat has won the recognition of its claim to sovereignty over the entire disputed territory from numerous countries, which have opened consulates in Western Sahara.

Short link:




BUFFALO, Minn. (AP)  A man who opened fire at a Minnesota health clinic, killing one staff member and wounding four others, previously threatened to carry out a mass shooting at the facility, according to a police report.

Gregory Paul Ulrich, 67, was arrested in Tuesday's attack at an Allina clinic in Buffalo, a community of about 15,000 people roughly 40 miles (65 kilometers) northwest of Minneapolis. He remained jailed in Wright County on Wednesday and was expected to appear in court Thursday.

County Attorney Brian Lutes said he would charge Ulrich with second-degree intentional murder, four counts of attempted first-degree premeditated murder and possession of explosive devices.

Ulrich has a long history of conflict with medical clinics in the area and had been unhappy with the care he had received, Buffalo Police Chief Pat Budke said.

According to a police report, Ulrich threatened to carry out a mass shooting at the clinic in October 2018, with a doctor telling investigators that Ulrich had talked about shooting, blowing things up, and practicing different scenarios of how to get revenge. He said Ulrich told him he dreamed about exacting revenge on the people who tortured him, referring to issues he had with back surgeries and the medication he was prescribed for them.

Ulrich told police he had just been telling the doctor about his dreams and that he wouldnt actually do anything, and police took him for a mental health evaluation at a facility in Monticello, the report says.

Allina medical staff believed Ulrich might act on the threats and filed paperwork barring him from the company's property, which police delivered to his home the next month.

A criminal charge of violating a harassment restraining order was filed a couple of weeks later. The nature of that violation isn't clear in court papers, but orders filed in that case in 2018 and 2019 prohibited Ulrich from having contact with a man whose name matches that of the doctor named in the police report. It wasn't known Wednesday if the doctor was among the victims of Tuesday's attack, and a call to his home number rang unanswered.

The charge of violating the restraining order was dismissed last April when the prosecutor said Ulrich was found mentally incompetent to proceed.

Budke said Tuesday that Ulrichs history led investigators to believe he was targeting the clinic or someone inside but that it was too early in the investigation to know if it was a specific doctor.

The victims of the attack  all employees, Allina said in an email on Wednesday  were rushed to hospitals following the attack. Hennepin County Medical Center spokesperson Christine Hill said Tuesday night that a person brought to the hospital after being shot at the Buffalo clinic had died. Hill said she could not release any other details.

One of the victims was discharged on Tuesday. The conditions of two of the three who remained hospitalized Wednesday were upgraded from critical to fair condition. The third remained in critical condition.

During a search of the clinic, investigators found a suspicious device and evacuated the building, Wright County Sheriff Sean Deringer said.

It was not immediately clear whether that device exploded, but TV footage showed several shattered plate-glass windows at the clinic. Deringer said suspicious devices were also found at a local Super 8 motel where Ulrich had been staying, and there were at least two shattered windows there as well.

Deringer said Ulrich was well known to law enforcement before the attack, and there were calls for service dating back to 2003.

Court records for Ulrich list a handful of arrests and convictions for drunken driving and possession of small amounts of marijuana from 2004 through 2015, mostly in Wright County, including two convictions for gross misdemeanor drunken driving that resulted in short jail sentences.

A court services agent who conducted a pre-sentence investigation wrote in a June 2019 filing that he had just learned that Ulrich had applied to police for a permit to purchase  apparently meaning a permit to buy a gun  but had not yet been approved. The agent said he highly recommended that Ulrich not be allowed to have use of or possession of any dangerous weapons or firearms as a condition of his probation.

Ulrich also had raised concerns at a local church. According to an August 2019 update on the Zion Lutheran Church's website, the church said it had obtained a no trespassing order for Ulrich after the pastor received a disturbing letter. Church staff were given a picture of Ulrich and told to call 911 if he appeared on any of the church's properties.

___

Ehlke reported from Milwaukee. Associated Press writers Tim Sullivan, in Buffalo, Minnesota, and Amy Forliti and Steve Karnowski in Minneapolis contributed.

___

Mohamed Ibrahim is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.

Once his impeachment trial concludes and former president Donald Trump returns to his business, he will face some obvious challenges, such as declining real estate income and investigations from New York authorities.

But he may also have to finally face two tax issues that have been simmering in the background, either of which experts say could carry significant consequences should they materialise now that he is out of office.

One is a massive income tax refund Trump received before entering office, according to the New York Times, one that has quietly been under a years-long review by the Internal Revenue Service and a little-known congressional panel, the Joint Committee on Taxation.

The refund, which the IRS issued to Trump in 2010 for $72.9 million, according to the Times, could be a nonissue for Trump if the agency rules that it was issued appropriately and he should keep the funds.

But if the agency rules against him, he could be asked to pay it back with interest, handing him a debt of more than $100 million at a time when some of his biggest properties are suffering severe revenue losses and the law firm that handled his tax issues cut ties with him following the attack on the U.S. Capitol.

After the Times story, Trump Organisation attorney Alan Garten issued a statement to The Washington Post saying parts of the story were inaccurate, without identifying them. "Over the past decade the President has paid tens of millions of dollars in personal taxes to the federal government," he said. He declined to comment further on Wednesday.

Steven M. Rosenthal, a tax expert who worked for the Joint Committee on Taxation in the 1990s, said he was not surprised that the IRS and the committee didn't issue a decision while Trump was in office. He said it's more likely they'll move forward now.

"The outcome of all this may be a huge liability for Donald Trump," Rosenthal said. "This is real money."

The other issue Trump faces is the possibility that Democrats, after five years of trying, will finally pry free Trump's tax returns now that the party controls both Congress and the White House. Leading House Democrats are still pursuing a lawsuit seeking six years of Trump's returns. On Feb. 3, a federal judge gave officials in the Biden administration until March 3 to decide whether it plans to comply.

No decision has been scheduled for either issue, but experts say legal and administrative authorities are more likely to address Trump's tax issues now that he is a private citizen, even as Biden administration officials debate how much to hold Trump accountable for past actions while also trying to move the country forward.

"With Trump out of the White House, the IRS and state and local taxing authorities will no longer fear going after him," said Bert Ely, a consultant who has testified before Congress on financial matters.

Because the refund is a private tax matter under federal law, the IRS has not said anything about when a decision will be rendered, or whether it already has. The Joint Committee on Taxation also has provided the public with no information.

"The staff of the Joint Committee on Taxation does not comment on the receipt of any review case, nor comment on when any review case's review has been completed," said Thomas A. Barthold, the agency's chief of staff, in an email to The Post.
Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday said China is ready to offer vaccine to support Ethiopia and Algeria in their fight against the COVID-19 in two separate phone calls with Ethiopian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen and Algerian Foreign Minister Sabri Boukadoum.

In the phone conversation with Mekonnen, Wang said China attaches great importance to its relationship with Ethiopia. Assuring China's expectation of Ethiopia playing a more profound role in regional and international affairs, Wang hoped the country would continue supporting China on issues related to China's core interests.

Wang also revealed China's decision to provide COVID-19 vaccines and funds to the country to support its fight against the pandemic and economic recovery afterwards.

China is going to provide emergency food assistance to the country's Tigray Region as an effort to help the region return to normal life, the Chinese foreign minister added, stressing China sincerely wishes for peace and stability in Ethiopia.

Mekonnen, for his part, extended New Year greetings to all Chinese people. He reiterated Ethiopia's commitment to China-friendly policies and support to China while appreciating China's generous help to the country in its economy and social development.

Chinese medical assistance to Algeria as part of the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, May 12, 2020. /CGTN

In the phone call with Algeria's Boukadoum, Wang hailed bilateral cooperation between the two countries under the Belt and Road Initiative.

Noting that Algeria has made great contributions in helping China resume its legitimate seat at the United Nations 50 years ago, Wang said the Chinese people will never forget Algeria's efforts and called on the two countries to carry on the traditional friendship to jointly tackle all challenges and risks.

In support of Algeria's fight against the pandemic, Wang said that China has decided to offer emergency vaccine assistance to the country. It will also make purchasing vaccines convenient, added Wang.

Boukadoum reiterated the country's commitment to bilateral cooperation and support to China on issues related to its core interests.

He expressed his wish for ties between the two countries to elevate to a higher level in the Year of the Ox.
Obstetrics blood clot prevention study recognised as Healthcare Project of the Year

HIGH WYCOMBE, England, Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- A partnership between Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and Sky Medical Technology (Sky), a UK industry-leading medical devices company, has been recognised at the February 2021 Bionow Awards ceremony, for its use of the innovative geko device in preventing blood clots in high-risk pregnant patients.

The award category, Healthcare Project of the Year, celebrates collaboration. Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust worked in partnership with Sky to carry out a pilot observational study to determine whether Sky's innovative neuromuscular electrostimulation device, the geko, was suitable for blood clot prevention in high-risk pregnant patients where the current standard of care is not suitable.

The current standard of care recommends anticoagulants or mechanical compression which cannot be used by some pregnant patients for a variety of reasons, including severe pre-eclampsia, where patients might need urgent delivery, or post-partum haemorrhage. Two percent of the overall patient population cannot be treated with this current standard of care.

As such, the Barnsley Hospital Maternity Unit worked with Sky to create a study focused on 90 patients who were contraindicated to the current standard of care. All 90 were prescribed the geko, a small watch-sized device that sticks to the leg and increases blood flow, via painless electrical pulses, at some stage during labour - more than half were prescribed geko as the only method of blood clot prevention.

Following the study Barnsley Hospital became the first maternity unit in the UK to adopt the innovative geko device, and two other hospitals have since followed.

Dr Mona Fawzy, Consultant in Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Labour Ward Lead and Deputy Obstetric Lead at Barnsley Hospital, said: "We are delighted to have won. Recognising the need to provide prophylaxis to at risk patients, we embraced the opportunity to examine the role of the geko device in the obstetrics population. Our findings show the geko device is safe and well-tolerated and can be used to protect patients until it is safe to prescribe blood thinning drugs. We are pleased to be the first NHS maternity unit able to provide a blood clot prevention strategy for all high-risk patients in our care."

James Fry, Partner and Head of the life sciences practice for Mills & Reeve, sponsor of the award said: "The work undertaken by Sky Medical Technology in collaboration with Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust showcases yet another stand-out year of achievement for life sciences in the North, where a strong spirit of partnership between industry and the NHS has led to the development of an important new therapy for obstetrics blood clot prevention. We are honoured to sponsor Bionow's Healthcare Project of the Year Award. The companies shortlisted made it a strong category this year but this collaboration has resulted in exceptional read out data and a product that is clearly meeting an unmet clinical need, in a real area of need".

Bernard Ross, CEO of Sky Medical Technology, comments: "I would like to thank Bionow and Mills & Reeve. We are extremely proud to again win in the category: Healthcare Project of the Year. It celebrates the very high priority we place on partnering with our NHS colleagues who, on top of their full-time jobs, and in a challenging environment, are willing to give-up additional time in pursuit of innovation for better patient outcomes."

"Deep Vein Thrombosis is the highest cause of maternal death in the developed world - and I applaud Dr Fawzy and her clinical team at the Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, for leading in the field in embracing a new treatment that ensures all at-risk patients, during pregnancy, can have a safe method of blood clot prevention. It is to them this award goes, for their vision and hard work and I thank them."

About the geko device

NICE guidance (MTG19) recommends use of the geko device for VTE prophylaxis in all hospital patients where standard prophylaxis treatments are impractical or contraindicated. The geko is a neuromuscular electrostimulation device which prevents blood stasis in the deep veins of the calf by activation of foot and calf muscle pumps via stimulation of the common peroneal nerve. Weighing just 10g, silent in operation and with no wires or leads, the battery powered geko is a daily disposable device that is self-adhesive and comfortable to wear. www.gekodevices.com

About Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Barnsley is a 350+ bed hospital serving a population of over a quarter of a million people in the Barnsley area, providing a full range of district hospital services to the local community and surrounding area. These include: emergency department services, outpatient clinics, inpatient services and maternity care, where each year approximately 2,800 babies are born.

Barnsley Hospital champions its clinicians to embrace innovation and partner with industry to pioneer new models of care, so that its patients can be amongst the first to benefit from hugely exciting medical advances. https://www.barnsleyhospital.nhs.uk/

About Sky Medical Technology Ltd & Firstkind and

Sky Medical Technology, the parent of Firstkind Ltd, is a highly innovative UK based medical devices company that has developed a ground-breaking neuromuscular electrostimulation technology platform, OnPulse. The company develops a range of products tailored to the needs of different medical application areas selling both direct and through strategic partnerships or distributors in each major clinical area. Clinical areas of interest include DVT prevention, oedema treatment and prevention and wound healing. The goal in each clinical area is to improve clinical outcomes and patient care whilst saving health system resources. www.gekodevices.com

www.skymedtech.com

Video - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1436626/Sky_Medical_Technology.mp4

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1436627/Sky_Medical_Technology_geko_device.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1340942/Sky_Medical_Logo.jpg

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1436625/Bionow_Award_2020_Logo.jpg
The act of removing a condom during sex without consent, also known as "stealthing," could become illegal in the state of California.

A bill introduced this week by California Assemblymember Cristina Garcia, D, would classify nonconsensual condom removal as sexual battery, and would allow a victim to pursue a claim for damages under the state's civil code.

If passed, experts say the measure would be the first such law in any state to address nonconsensual condom removal explicitly.

"I want to make sure that A, victims have a legal course for justice and B, we have something in the books that facilities a discussion with all people, especially our youth, whether it's parents, educators, whether it's even the public safety system," Garcia told The Washington Post.

"Having something in the books allows us to do the education to hopefully create a consciousness that we shouldn't do certain things," she said.

The bill would amend the state civil code to say that an individual commits sexual battery if the person "causes contact between a penis, from which a condom has been removed, and the intimate part of another who did not verbally consent to the condom being removed."

Awareness of the issue increased significantly about four years ago when Alexandra Brodsky, then a Yale University law student, wrote an article that was published in the Columbia Journal of Gender and Law with research on nonconsensual condom removal, writing that it's "experienced by many as a grave violation of dignity and autonomy."

She wrote about concerns victims had about risks such as sexually transmitted infections and unwanted pregnancy, but also about the emotional trauma, writing, "Survivors spoke not only of betrayal but of their partners' wholesale dismissal of their preferences and desires."

Speaking in an interview this week, Brodsky said there continues to be misunderstanding around the issue.

"There are people that just don't believe this is a problem," Brodsky, now a civil rights attorney, told The Post.

By definition, she said, the violation occurs between people who are already sexually intimate. The victim has already consented to some sexual contact, and this is often occurring in an existing dating or sexual relationship, Brodsky explained. The violation occurs when a condom is removed without consent.

She said that's one reason the depiction of nonconsensual condom removal in the HBO show "I May Destroy You" - a series that boldly explores consent, trauma and recovery - was particularly powerful.

In a news release introducing her bill, Garcia also referenced the HBO series.

"Not just pop culture depictions of non consensual condom removal but discussion of its impact can really be powerful, both broadly in raising awareness and in giving survivors a vocabulary to express what happened to them," Brodsky said. "Without language, without media, without depictions, I think it's easy for survivors to feel like they're the first person this has ever happened to, or that this is just part of sex. Not that this is a violation, that they have the right to decide to have sex with a condom and that agreement was broken."

Garcia has twice before introduced bills related to stealthing. Those prior efforts in 2017 and again in 2018 amended the state's penal code, but the bills either died in committee or didn't get a hearing, according to Garcia's office.

She said she hopes by introducing a measure that takes the civil route, more lawmakers and advocacy groups will support it.

Chloe Neely, a victims' rights attorney with the Fierberg National Law Group, said the California bill would allow for victims to pursue damages, rather than jail time.

She said cases involving consent are "incredibly difficult to prove from a legal perspective. It's difficult for a jury to understand that consent is fluid and not a rigid on-off switch."

Having such a law would codify that idea. By addressing it under the civil code, she added, there's also a lower burden of proof than if it were addressed in criminal law.

"That really helps victims and gives them a tool to hold those accountable who have violated them, and often times jail is not necessarily the answer, and not something someone who has been violated wants to see as an outcome," Neely said.

Brodsky also said such a law would be an important tool in helping survivors.

"I think law, at its best, can express a community norm and how we should treat each other" she said. "I do think a lot of survivors would find affirmation in the fact that this state legislature agreed what happened to them was wrong."

Garcia, known as a leader in the #MeToo movement, faced accusations of sexual misconduct in 2018. An investigation by the California assembly did not find evidence to substantiate the claim that Garcia had groped a former legislative staffer during a 2014 softball game, but found that she used vulgar language in violation of the assembly's sexual harassment policy. A second investigation into the accusations found that Garcia was "overly familiar" with a staff member but that her behavior was not "sexual."

Asked about the investigation, said she "respected the process, and at some point we have to respect the outcome."

"I have always felt like I was attacked to be silenced, like so many folks are, especially women of color. And so for me, it's important that I keep doing the work that I'm passionate about," Garcia said. "I use the soap box for issues that I care about that other people don't want to touch."

Garcia said she hopes the bill can be a model for other states to pursue similar efforts.

"In California, we like to pride ourselves with the idea that we are leaders in national discussions, and we start with bills - whether it's on climate change or menstrual equity," she said. "At a minimum, they allow for the discussion to continue."
Panaji, Feb 11 : Offshore casinos appear to have emerged as a more 'stable' factor in Goa's electioneering and politics than the side-switching politicians.

Even as much political water has flown down the Mandovi river over the last decade, ruling and opposition politicians have come and gone in Goa, but the offshore casino industry has stayed put.

Casinos have also taken centre stage in most of the election campaigns during the period.

A case in point are the upcoming elections to the state's only municipal corporation -- the Corporation of the City of Panaji, an assembly constituency headed by BJP MLA Atanasio Monserrate.

Monserrate had contested the 2019 state assembly Panaji by-polls on a Congress ticket with a key poll promise of doing away with the six offshore casinos -- located in the Mandovi river off Panaji -- within 100 days of being elected. There are currently six offshore casinos parked in the Mandovi river and nine onshore casinos operating from various five star resorts in the state.

He, however joined the ruling BJP well within 100 days, playing a key role in a coup in which 10 Congress MLAs quit the Opposition party to join the saffron party.

His promise to remove offshore casinos from the Mandovi river remains unfulfilled, although Monserrate now believes that offshore casinos were never really a direct issue for the Panaji voters.

"The main issue with casinos is related to the traffic and the parking woes faced by the residents in Panaji. I have understood the issue well now. The concern about casinos is more because of the traffic problem people are facing," says Monserrate as he defended his inability to keep his 2019 poll promise.

Monserrate, however is not the first politician to make a U-turn on the casino issue.

Goa, one of the top beach and nightlife tourism destination in the country, first opened up to casinos in the late 90s under the then Congress regime, which amended the Goa, Daman and Diu Public Gambling Act, to provide licences to one offshore casino and a string of casino licences to five star hotels.

In its 2007-12 stint in power, the Congress-led coalition government granted a string of fresh permissions for offshore and onshore casinos.

Ahead of the 2012 state assembly poll, the BJP, which had led a sustained campaign against the casino industry for several years, had promised that if voted to power its government would rid the Mandovi river of the casinos.

However, after coming to power, then chief minister Manohar Parrikar and later his successor Laxmikant Parsekar did a U-Turn on the promise made in the BJP poll manifesto, by insisting that the casinos will have to stay put because of the quantum of revenue they contributed to the state's coffers.

From 2012 to 2020, offshore and onshore casinos contributed Rs 785.52 crore and Rs 491.76 crore to the state treasury through various taxes and entry fees.

The constant flip flops by politicians on such issues has frustrated activists like Sabina Martins, convenor of the Aam Aadmi and Aurat Against Gambling, an NGO which has been opposing the industry for years.

"Trusting elected representatives to do the needful has not worked. Casinos have come in because of certain amendments made in the legislative assembly. If they have to move out, it has to move via another decision taken there. It is important to get legislators to do the needful," Martins said.
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When the First World War ended, the soldiers who had participated in it and were lucky enough to survive, returned to their homes. As in all wars, some adapted better than others on their return, but many found themselves with the unpleasant situation of being unemployed.

In the case of the Australian soldiers, those who landed on April 25, 1915 in Gallipoli and forced the Ottoman army to surrender in October 1918 with the capture of Gaza and Jerusalem, of the more than 300,000 sent to the front, 60,000 never returned and another 150,000 were wounded, gassed or taken prisoner.

The curves of the Great Ocean Road as viewed from Teddy's Lookout south of Lorne in Victoria, Australia. Photo: Diliff/Wikimedia Commons

So that those who were able to return would have at least some employment, the chairman of the country's roads board, William Calder, proposed using the returned soldiers to build a road connecting the hitherto isolated settlements on Australia's southwest coast.

Study of the layout of what was provisionally called the South Coast Road began in 1918. A route was designed starting from the town of Barwon Heads, hugging the coast west around Cape Otway, and ending near Warrnambool.

In order to undertake the project, a company called the Great Ocean Road Trust was formed, headed by the country's president (who donated 3,000 pounds). The company managed to raise 81,000 pounds through private subscriptions and loans. That money would be paid back by charging drivers a toll for using the future highway. Once the debt was paid off, the road would become public property.

The Great Ocean Road. Photo: Arnas Goldberg/Wikimedia Commons

Construction began on September 19, 1919 with the participation of 3,000 Australian soldiers who had fought in the First World War. The work was done mainly by hand, with explosives, picks, shovels and wheelbarrows and very little machinery. Work advanced at the rate of 3 kilometers a month through the desert, the final sections of rugged coastal mountains being the most dangerous and difficult.

The soldiers took the job as if its a military mission. A reconnaissance team preceded the bulk of the expedition. They housed in tents and had a common dining room and kitchen. The camp had small amenities like a piano, games, newspapers, and magazines.

The first section was completed in 1922, opening to traffic in December. It would take another ten years for the road to be completed, with a length of 243 kilometers between the towns of Torquay and Allansford. It opened in November 1932, and as President Hitchcock had died only a few months before, his car was included in the inauguration caravan and a monument was erected in his honor as father of the Highway.

Map of the Great Ocean Road. Photo: Open Street Map/Wikimedia Commons

Plaque at Big Hill on The Great Ocean Road in Victoria, Australia. Photo: Chris Sherlock/Wikimedia Commons

Traveling the road was quite an adventure as it was only wide enough for one vehicle, even though it was possible to drive in both directions. The new road facilitated the urbanization of the surroundings. Those who lived nearby or built a house in its vicinity could request, for 5 pounds, the creation of a crossing to be able to join the road.

On October 2, 1936, the road became the property of the Victorian State Government, and the toll was eliminated. In the 1960s, with the proliferation of hotels along the Great Ocean Road, as it was called, some sections were widened. Even so, driving along it remains a challenge to this day, and it is considered one of the great scenic roads in the world.

The Twelve Apostles. Photo: Josselin Berger/Flickr

The road runs all along the so-called Surf Coast crossing tropical jungles, beaches, cliffs and gorges. Among the most picturesque places to which it provides access are the famous Twelve Apostles.

In 2004 a parallel pedestrian path, the Great Ocean Walk, was built. And in 2011 the road was listed as Australia's National Heritage Site as the world's largest war memorial, dedicated to the fallen soldiers of the First World War.

This article was originally published in La Brujula Verde. It has been translated from Spanish and republished with permission.
According to the United States Department Of Agricultures (USDA) latest World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) update for the month of February 2021, the 2020/21 global wheat outlook is for greater supplies, increased consumption, higher exports, and reduced stocks. Supplies are raised 0.8 million tons to 1,073.5 million. Global production is increased to a record 773.4 million tons as higher production in Kazakhstan more than offsets reduced production in Pakistan and Argentina. World 2020/21 consumption is increased 9.8 million tons to 769.3 million, mostly on higher feed and residual use for China and increased food, seed, and industrial (FSI) use for India. Chinas 2020/21 feed and residual use is raised to a record 30.0 million tons, surpassing the previous 2012/13 record of 26.0 million.

Projected 2020/21 global trade is raised 1.1 million tons to 194.8 million tons as higher exports for the EU-27+UK and Kazakhstan more than offset lower exports for Argentina. EU-27+UK exports are raised on a strong export pace and improved price competitiveness with Russia. Kazakhstan exports are increased on its pace to date and greater exportable supplies. The largest import change this month is for China, where imports are raised to 10.0 million tons on a continued robust pace. Projected 2020/21 world ending stocks are lowered 9.0 million tons to 304.2 million with most of the reductions due to increased consumption for China and India. However, global stocks remain record high with China and India holding 51 and 9% of the total, respectively.

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The immediate past national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, yesterday said the on-going membership registration of the party is contrary to the party's constitution.

Oshiomhole's position is coming days after the pioneer chairman of the party, Chief Bisi Akande also faulted the exercise. The National Leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu had aligned with Akande's position.

The National Caretaker and Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee under the leadership of Governor Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State has commenced the nationwide exercise to update the registers of the party across its chapters.

Buni's committee was constituted in June last year after Oshiomhole, a loyalist of Tinubu, was sacked following the crisis that enveloped the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party.

Oshiomhole made his position known to journalists shortly after revalidating his membership of the party at Unit 1, ward 10, Iyamho, Etsako West LGA of Edo State.

He said: "APC is governed by a constitution and not by man, the constitution only provides for registration and I registered as a member of the APC in 2014 under the Interim national chairman, Chief Bisi Akande.

"There is nothing in the APC constitution that says a member shall revalidate or renew its membership. Once you register when you joined the party and you have not decamped, you are a member. So revalidation is strange to our constitution.

"I have only done this because I want peace to reign but in doing this, we have to be careful not to create a constitutional breach. So, when people talk about revalidation, we must begin to ask questions because people talk as if the party has no history."

But Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, after revalidating his membership at his country home in Ward 1, Unit 3, Egunrege in Ikenne, Ikenne LGA of Ogun State, said the exercise is important for the party to identify and reach out to members, adding that APC is a grassroots party with focus on the welfare of the people.

"Party registration and revalidation is important because it offers us an opportunity to have a credible roll of members such that we can reach our members from the polling booth level all the way to the wards, local government and federal constituencies.

"The people are the party and the party is the people. Ours is a grassroots party. Our focus is on the welfare, prosperity and wellbeing of all our people," Osinbajo said.

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The VP, accompanied by Niger State Governor and National Chairman of the APC Registration and Revalidation Committee, Abubakar Sani Bello, was received at Mayflower Secondary School, Ikenne by Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun and former governor, Olusegun Osoba and other top members of the party.

On his part, Governor Bello said since 2014 when the party held a similar exercise, it had lost some members and gained others hence the imperative of the 2021 exercise.

Osoba noted that revalidation of Osinbajo's membership of APC at his ward in Ikenne is historic as the town is the home of the progenitor of progressive politics, late Obafemi Awolowo.

In Ekiti State, Governor Kayode Fayemi pointed out that the divergent views expressed by Akande and Tinubu did not portray the exercise as unconstitutional or illegal.

Fayemi, who spoke at his country home, Isan Ekiti yesterday, after revalidating his membership at Ogilolo Ward 11 unit 09, Ekiti State, insisted that the exercise was not illegal.

"The APC Constitution in Article 9 stipulates that our register must be updated every six months. So, Baba Akande never said we should not register or revalidate our membership. He only tasked the leadership on the way it should be done to earn credibility.

"We don't want to deregister anybody, let members revalidate their membership and those who are non-members but interested should also feel free to join us, that is what the exercise is all about," he said.

Meanwhile, governors including Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa), Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe), Muhammad Badaru Abubakar (Jigawa), Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna), Babagana Zulum (Borno) and Abubakar Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi), Tuesday revalidated their memberships at their respective polling units.
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While Mr. Krebs did a good job helping to protect the election, he and others missed the SolarWinds data breach, and its damage is still being assessed (the hack gave the attackers access to some 18,000 entities). The goal of the attack appears to have been simple espionage by the Russians: to glean information and maintain constant access to various networks.

Thats the vanilla of hacking, really. There are lots of other hackers out there, including many at home and in China and other nations. And there are more elaborate and dangerous threats, including ransomware attacks  in which hackers encrypt critical internal information and hold it hostage until a payment is made  on places like hospitals and, perhaps most dire of all, malicious interference in critical infrastructure.

We saw such an attack last week with a hack aimed at poisoning the water system in Tampa. Fla.

It started with a cursor moving on its own, sliding across a computer screen at the water treatment plant in Oldsmar, Fla. Someone had taken remote control of a plant operators machine  and in just a few minutes, they increased the level of sodium hydroxide in the citys drinking water by a factor of 100. After spiking the caustic substance to unsafe levels, the hacker immediately left the system, NPR reported.

The Times reporter Nicole Perlroth, author of a new book about the cyberarms race with the ominous title This Is How They Tell Me the World Ends, predicted such an attack, and worse, in a recent interview with me. Her thinking: While we are good on cyberoffense, our cyberdefenses have been considerably weaker, made more vulnerable because we have the most to steal.

And while we Americans rule the world from a physical military perspective, having aced countries like Russia in the Cold War, our competitors and foes have been able to level the playing field in the digital arena. It makes sense: If you cant beat them, purloin them (and their data).

While Ms. Perlroths book points the finger at a number of strategic errors the United States has made over the decades  including enabling a gray market in cyberweapons and the use of such destructive tools by the United States (remember Stuxnet?  well, you should)  she said to me that Washington has lacked a good deterrent strategy, adding that the problem is weve over-tilted on finding other peoples secrets without protecting our own.

How best to do that will be a big debate in Washington over the next year, as the Biden administration tries to clean up the SolarWinds debacle.

A larger state and public health sector will be permanent features of post-pandemic Ireland, according to Public Expenditure and Reform Minister Michael McGrath.

The minister said that the Covid-19 crisis has forced a change in direction when it comes to health spending.

Our public sector is growing and I think that, coming out of the pandemic, we are going to have a larger state. Were certainly going to have a larger public service, for example in the whole health area, Mr McGrath told an online event on Thursday.

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The size of the public service will rise to between 360,000 and 370,000 people over the course of the next 12 to 18 months, the minister told the event organised by TASC, the think-tank for action on social change.

The Government set aside 4bn for health spending in 2021, to be spent partly on recruiting around 16,000 extra people to the health service.

Mr McGrath said 2bn of the health spend represents a non-pandemic-related step-change decision to increase the capacity of our public health system.

He said maximising EU funds and boosting economic growth will help to pay for Irelands extra spending.

Ireland was the only EU economy to grow in 2020, with gross domestic product (GDP) up 3pc on the back of multinational exports, the European Commission said on Thursday.

Growth fell by an average of 6.3pc across the EU, with large reductions recorded in Germany (-5pc), France (-8.3pc), Italy (-8.8pc), Greece (-10pc) and Spain (-11pc).

The Commission expects the Irish economy to grow by 3.4pc this year and 3.5pc in 2022, a more pessimistic forecast than the Irish Central Banks prediction.

EU economy chief Paolo Gentiloni encouraged governments to continue spending their way out of the crisis, saying Brussels would not dictate how to withdraw support.

Timing is everything. Our message is: Right now, February 2021, do not withdraw these measures prematurely.

The EU has also promised Ireland 853m in grants from its 672bn pandemic recovery fund and just over 1bn from a separate Brexit adjustment fund.

Mr McGrath said the Government would continue spending on Covid-19 supports for as long as theyre needed and as long as we can afford them.

"They are costly, but we can afford them for now, and what we have committed to is that there wont be any cliff edge, he said.

But the Government will eliminate the budget deficit over time in order to be able to borrow and invest.

And Ireland should "remain firmly within the [EU] pack when it comes to spending and borrowing so as not to attract unwarranted attention from bond market investors.

In other words, that we wouldnt be an outlier on the negative side, that we wouldnt stand out as a country that has a much higher deficit than all of our peers.

Mr McGrath also joined calls from EU countries such as Italy and France to change the EUs debt and deficit rules, which have been suspended during the crisis.

He wants capital investment to be accounted for in a manner that is more supportive of countries investing in public capital programmes.
Befitting reply to Chattisgarh Naxal attack will be given at appropriate time: Shah

New security camps to be set up, more ops against Maoists: CRPF Chief

How do naxals procure sophisticated weapons: It was the LTTE which aided them

Naxal incidents down 47 per cent in past 5 years

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Feb 11: The government informed the Rajya Sabha that the incidents of Left-Wing extremism were down by 47 per cent between 2015 and 2020 when compared to the incidents in the preceding six years from 2009 to 2014.

The geographic spread of the naxal violence had been contained to 53 districts across nine states in 2020 when compared to 76 districts across 10 states.

NIA seizes huge cache of arms meant to be used by naxals against security forces

Farm Laws: What did PM Modi say on the agricultural laws in the Parliament| Oneindia News

"The incidents of LWE violence have reduced by 70% from all-time high of 2,258 in 2009 to 665 in 2020. Similarly deaths (civilians + forces) have reduced by 80% from all time high of 1,005 in 2010 to 183 in 2020. The spread has been constricted and only 9 states reported LWE related violence as compared to 10 states in 2013," Union Home Minister for State, G Kishan Reddy said in a written reply.

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Story first published: Thursday, February 11, 2021, 9:09 [IST]
HONG KONG - A man of Nepali descent said he was denied a job after an employer saw his complexion. A woman said people recoiled from her in an elevator, apparently disgusted. A child was turned away from a school that cited a preference for "locals."

Racism, especially against South Asians, is not a new phenomenon in Hong Kong, whose population is 92% ethnic Chinese. But a wave of incidents during the pandemic - including comments from an official who suggested minorities were spreading the coronavirus - is bringing prejudice into sharp relief in this city of astronomical housing prices and extreme inequality.

Adding to the sting, blue-collar workers such as delivery drivers, cleaners and others providing essential services are bearing the brunt.

"I feel angry, but there's nothing I can do," said Ali, a government worker who said he had been a victim of racist behavior and who spoke on the condition of using only his nickname because he feared repercussions.

While Hong Kong's virus cases are comparatively low, the city since November has battled a fourth wave of infections that began in upscale restaurants and dance clubs catering to wealthy women.

In January, authorities began imposing "pop-up" lockdowns in specific neighborhoods. Rather than the dance clubs, which were not immediately forced to close, the ambushes have targeted mostly poor areas with high proportions of minority, often South Asian, residents.

The accounts of discrimination also underscore the barriers faced by ethnic minorities, and policies that fail to take them into account. Many ineligible for Chinese citizenship now face extra hurdles in traveling abroad after the government said it would no longer recognize the British National (Overseas) passport, after Britain granted holders of the document a path to U.K. citizenship.

Due to their culture and religion, ethnic minorities like to have family gatherings where they "share food, smoke, drink alcohol and chat together," public health official Raymond Ho said in a news conference in January, adding that doing so without masks increases the risks. In addition, Ho said, residents in crowded living environments may need to share sanitary facilities, raising the chance of contracting the virus.

The comments sparked frustration. Bista Gandendra Limbu, 31, a Nepali who came to Hong Kong when he was 2, said the Yau Tsim Mong area, the first to come under a 48-hour lockdown last month, is a "mini Kathmandu," fueling impressions that the entire Nepali community is carrying the virus.

"Everyone [in Hong Kong] drinks, everyone hangs out," he said. "But we don't have anyone who can speak up for us."

Carrie Lam, Hong Kong's top local official, said there was nothing to suggest ethnicity contributed to contagion, but that factors included "social behaviors, living conditions and workplace hygiene." More than a quarter of the city's 661 locally transmitted cases from Jan. 4 to 18 involved people of South Asian descent, according to government figures, mostly from the Yau Tsim Mong area.

Lam's intervention did little to defuse prejudice, according to ethnic minority individuals, who say they have since been targeted at work, forced to stay home despite negative coronavirus tests, and shunned by Chinese colleagues and friends.

Limbu, who runs a Facebook page for Nepali people in Hong Kong, said grievances started pouring in, including from a woman who reported that someone spat on her at a subway station.

A retail worker of Nepali descent, who spoke on the condition of being named only as Rai because of safety concerns, said his ethnically Chinese co-workers called him constantly and told him to get tested. (He has taken nine tests, all negative.)

"Suddenly they think we are responsible [for the virus]," Rai said. "They just don't want to listen."

With the economy in dire straits, Rai fears losing his job, especially after getting rejected for more than 100 positions.

Also last month, pro-Beijing lawmaker Elizabeth Quat proposed locking down the city's mostly Filipino and Indonesian domestic helpers on Sundays - their only day off. The government rejected the idea, but Sarah Pun, vice chair of the Union of Nepalese Domestic Workers, said many employers have asked their helpers not to go out.

South Asians began arriving in Hong Kong in the 1840s, when British troops brought Indian soldiers and traders. Later came Sikhs, then Nepalis who had previously worked as Gurkhas, followed by Pakistanis, Filipinos, Indonesians and Thais. The minority population rose by about 70 percent between 2009 and 2019.

But a lack of inclusion and lack of Chinese language skills are major barriers, according to a report by the Zubin Foundation, an advocacy group, and those obstacles result in limited opportunities, bias and discrimination. Of the 836 racial discrimination complaints Hong Kong's Equal Opportunities Commission handled in the past six years, not one led to a conviction.

With a quarter of the ethnic minority population living in poverty, many have no choice but to stay in cramped subdivided apartments and share sanitary facilities, said Shalini Mahtani, Zubin's founder.

"I don't believe Raymond Ho was trying to intentionally demean ethnic minorities," she said. "But because he is in a position of power it gives license for others to operate the same way."

It wasn't the first time the government was criticized for cultural insensitivity. Last month, for the second time in under a year, officials distributed food packages containing pork to Muslim residents affected by a lockdown. Chief Secretary Matthew Cheung said the packages were handed out with more than one group in mind.

Judy Gurung, a Nepali community coordinator of ethnic affairs for Hong Kong's Democratic Party, said her phone rang nonstop after officials announced the lockdown in Yau Tsim Mong. People were scared and, facing language barriers, they were confused on the specifics.

"People didn't know if they could go to work, [if they had] enough halal food, medicine," she said. She recounted her own recent experience in an elevator, where people flinched back from her and stood as far away as they could, with looks of disgust on their faces.

Incidents such as these have reopened old wounds. Limbu recalled how a job interview for a security guard role last year lasted only 30 seconds after the interviewer saw his face and asked where he was from - despite enthusiasm during a prior phone call when Limbu communicated like a native Cantonese speaker. He was then asked to take off his mask. His application was rejected.

The experience reminded him of all the degrading words he has heard used against his community.

"We can still hear these words, even until now," Limbu said.

Rai, meanwhile, is struggling to enroll his son in kindergarten. He tried three to four schools but to no avail, he said; one informed him the school had a "preference for locals." His son was born in Hong Kong.
A second man has been charged with murder over the death of Dinh Lam Nguyen, whose body was found inside a wheelie bin at Glen Brook Dam in January.

Homicide squad detectives arrested and charged a 30-year-old man from Greenmount on Wednesday.

Dinh Lam Nguyens body was found wrapped in plastic in a wheelie bin dumped in a dam in Perths east. Credit:Nine News Perth/WA Police

He was refused bail and is due to appear in the Perth Magistrates Court on Thursday.

Mr Nguyen, 51, was reported missing by his Balga housemate on January 22 after he was last seen leaving the address on January 20.
The duke has been particularly incensed by coverage of his wife, which he has likened to the tabloids relentless pursuit of his mother, Princess Diana, which ended in her death after a high-speed car chase by photographers in Paris in 1997.

In April, after the couple moved to Los Angeles, they notified The Mail on Sunday and three other tabloids  The Sun, The Daily Mirror and The Daily Express  that they would no longer engage with them.

The couple remain a tabloid staple, even if coverage of them has been overshadowed in the last year by the coronavirus pandemic. Recent stories have speculated about whether Meghan would accompany Harry to Britain this summer for a series of celebrations, including the 100th birthday of his grandfather, Prince Philip (the consensus: No, because she does not want to be away from their son, Archie).

For a press corps that clearly misses covering the couple, the lawsuit generated fresh grist, not least about the troubled relationship between Meghan and her father.

Last month, Mr. Markle, 76, submitted a witness statement on behalf of Associated Newspapers, in which he said he decided to release extracts of his daughters letter to correct misperceptions about him in an article published by People magazine, which cast him in an unflattering light.

Meghans letter, he said, actually signaled the end of our relationship, not a reconciliation.

The litigation has not been without setbacks for Meghan. Last May, Justice Warby struck out several elements of her case, ruling that The Mail would not be judged on whether it had acted dishonestly; had stirred up conflict between Meghan and her father; or had published offensive and intrusive articles about her.

Instead, he said, the case would hinge purely on whether the publication of the letter violated Meghans privacy.
Routt High School senior Makenna Baptist and Jacksonville High School senior Hunter Holaway have been accepted to Culver-Stockton College in Canton, Missouri, and will join the incoming fall class.

Baptist also was awarded the Trustee Scholarship, a $14,500-a-year scholarship that is renewable for up to four years, provided Baptist remains in good academic standing.
Participants in the second event of the Billabong Grom Series presented by Oceanbridge have been feverishly watching the subtropical cyclone that is marching down the East Coast of New Zealand this week.

Indications are that the tail end of the swell produced from the cyclone will remain through the weekend with the event being held at Whangamata Beach on the Coromandel this Saturday and Sunday.

This weekend marks the second of three events in the series which started at Mount Maunganui two weeks ago and finishes at Piha, Auckland at the end of February.

Record demand for the event sees a large field of participants from around the country taking part, says a Surfing New Zealand spokesperson.

"Surfers from Whangamata and the surrounding Coromandel beaches are hoping they can put a dent in the impressive display shown by Raglan at the first event.

"Raglans Point Boardriders walked away with four of six titles at Mount Maunganui.

"The Coromandel will be well represented across all divisions with the Groube sisters Chloe and Lola hoping to make their mark in the Under 14 Girls Division after finishing second and third at Mount Maunganui."

Whangamatas Pia Rogers will be keen to find form in the Under 16 Girls Division while surfing in home waters.

Younger brother Ashton goes into the event as the number one seed in the Under 14 Boys Division.

"Despite being hit by his board while surfing last week and receiving eight stitches to his jaw, Ashton has confirmed that he will be ready to surf come Saturday.

"Raglans Kora Cooper (Under 18 Boys), Navryn Malone (Under 16 Boys), Brie Bennett (Under 18 Girls) and Maya Mateja (Under 14 Girls), will all be looking for back to back wins this weekend.

"Cooper leads a stacked field of surfers in the Under 18 Boys Division alongside Jayden Willoughby and Josef Jungwirth also of Raglan, Tom Robinson of Whangarei and Finn Vette of Gisborne."

Gisborne surfer Asia Braithwaite. Image courtesy of Cory / NZ Surfing Magazine.

Gisborne will send another solid team including Vette and Asia Braithwait, winner of the Under 16 Girls Division at Mount Maunganui.

Surfers from Ahipara down to Dunedin will take part this weekend with action taking place at Access 8 on The Esplanade from 8am  5pm daily.

On Friday night, Whangamatas Olympic qualifier Ella Williams will share her knowledge with the female participants in the event.

Williams will host participants for a Q&A before showing the girls the Whangamata line up, imparting her inside knowledge of the break and catching a few waves with everyone in a practice session.

The draw for the second event of the Billabong Grom Series presented by Oceanbridge can be viewed here.

The Billabong Grom Series presented by Oceanbridge offers three of nine events nationwide where grommets can take part before the final in May which caters for the top 16 boys and eight girls in the Under 18 and 16 Divisions.

The 16th edition of the series draws on a long history of fun with all of New Zealands current crop of elite surfers having taken part including Richard Christie (Gis), Paige Hareb (Tara), Billy Stairmand (Rag), Kehu Butler (Mnt) and Ella Williams (WGM).






Having overcome Donald Trumps first line of defense against impeachment charges  that he lost the election he claims he didnt  House impeachment managers on Wednesday set about dismantling the next: that the ex-presidents eternal refusal to accept defeat had nothing to do with his most fervent supporters attempt to reverse it by the last available means.

On Tuesday, an all too narrow majority of senators acknowledged what the Constitution, history and reason dictate: that Trump can be tried despite having left office. That cleared the way for the prosecution to examine how his long-standing and vehement rejection of the election result that required his exit, and the argument that it must be undone at any and all costs, led directly to the violent attack on Congress as it affirmed his defeat.

As the impeachment managers emphasized, Trump laid the foundations of the attack long before he urged his supporters to advance on the Capitol and fight like hell for their country on Jan. 6, the day of the riot. Nor was his incitement limited to two preceding months of denying the outcome of the election and pursuing increasingly extralegal means of overturning the electorates will.

The president was in fact preparing to contest his election loss well before it occurred. Months before Nov. 3, with polls consistently favoring Joe Biden, Trump refused to commit to a peaceful transfer of power and leveled unfounded accusations of rampant fraud in an election that hadnt begun to take place. He told his supporters the only way he could lose the election is if it was stolen, Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, told the Senate. He wanted to make sure his supporters were angry, like the election was being ripped away from them.

After Trumps feared loss was realized, his campaign to steal the election escalated from bringing baseless court claims to pressing state and local officials to exceed their authority and disenfranchise their constituents, culminating with the potentially criminal bullying of Georgias top election official. Weeks before the Capitol riot, Democratic Pennsylvania Rep. Madeleine Dean told senators, Public officials like you and me received death threats ... all because Trump wanted to remain in power.

When that failed, the then-president told his supporters what to do: show up in Washington on Jan. 6 and prevent certification of the election by intimidation or worse. As impeachment manager Eric Swalwell, D-Dublin, noted, This was not one speech, not one tweet. Trump compared the supposedly stolen election to an act of war justifying a fight to the death. He advertised the date of the joint session, told his supporters to be there and anticipated that it would be wild weeks ahead of time. And the night before, he menaced members of the Senates Republican leadership by name on Twitter, pointing to thousands of people pouring into D.C. who wont stand for a landslide election victory to be stolen.

Swalwell and his fellow managers underscored the deadly consequences of this deliberate, planned and premeditated attack with disturbing recordings of the rioters who killed a police officer, injured scores more and were narrowly prevented from doing the same to the senators themselves.

In the immediate aftermath, Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said that the mob had been fed lies and provoked by the president. Since then, McConnell and the other ranking Republicans whom Trump threatened on the eve of the riot, John Cornyn of Texas and John Thune of South Dakota, have voted twice against even holding the present trial. But they still have a chance to stand up for themselves, their institution and their country.

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.
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Global market regulators have thrown their weight behind plans for a new international standards body for company disclosures on climate risks and sustainability, saying it would cut the scope for so-called greenwashing.

The current patchwork of voluntary public and private initiatives for disclosures have at times given misleading and inconsistent information to investors, said Ashley Alder, chair of the International Organization of Securities Commissions or IOSCO.

This can lead to cherry picking and shopping around for reporting standards in ratings this makes greenwashing obviously easier, Alder told a City & Financial conference.

Greenwashing refers to companies painting a more flattering picture of sustainability.

Alder said a stronger global effort is needed and the commitment of U.S. President Joe Biden to tackling climate change will help.

The London-based IFRS Foundation, which writes accounting rules for over 140 countries, will propose a similar body for writing climate disclosures standards in September.

It would build on the IFRS proven standard setting process for financial accounting which rests on a rigorous governance structure to ensure public accountability and widspread acceptance, said Alder, who also heads Hong Kongs markets watchdog.

It addresses head on the problem of noise resulting from a multiplicity of private sector standards addressing the same market, he said.

The European Union and China aim to issue a common ground taxonomy or definition of green and sustainable investments.

This could be the largest single climate finance market, Alder said.

IOSCO, which groups regulators from across the world, including the United States, Japan and Europe, is now engaged in accelerated, far more coordinated efforts to push forward climate finance, Alder said.

International organizations, national authorities and the private sector now have no real option other than to participate. If they dont, they risk getting left behind.

(Reporting by Huw Jones;Editing by Elaine Hardcastle)

Topics Climate Change
In the absorbing four-hour documentary, The Black Church: This Is Our Story, This Is Our Song, host Henry Louis Gates Jr. guides viewers, with his customary grace, through moments of history that are both illuminating and chilling. Its a skill Gates has mastered in other documentaries for PBS, including the superb, Reconstruction: America After the Civil War.

In The Black Church, Gates touches on some topics familiar from his other work, but this time the thread is an exploration of the central role religion has played in the Black community in America. Beginning some 400 years ago and continuing to this moment, Gates makes the case that the Black church has been, as he says, the seminal force in shaping the history of the African American people.

While even casual observers may be aware that such leaders as Martin Luther King Jr., an American Baptist minister, came from the church, the film also shows how Africans imported traditions from their homeland when they were enslaved, and forced to come to the New World.

Despite efforts from some white supremacists  who made it a crime to teach enslaved Black people how to read  many Blacks found meaning in Bible stories, notably God siding with the enslaved, and Moses leading the Hebrew people out of bondage.

As Black people in America came together to create their own houses of worship, often facing threats, violence and arson from whites, the church became not just a religious institution, but a political one.

During the Civil War, as Gates says, hundreds of thousands of Black soldiers, who had joined to fight for the Union, converted to Christianity. After the war, by the late 1860s, Blacks were abandoning the segregated slave pews of other houses of worship, as the film notes.

Henry Louis Gates Jr., inside of Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia, in a moment from "The Black Church: This Is Our Story, This Is Our Song." (Photo: Courtesy of McGee Media/PBS)

While that gave the Black church a powerful role in the community, it was also a reflection of what King said of going to church  namely, that it was the most segregated hour of the week, a reality that has largely continued.

As society changed, so the Black church evolved. When white Southerners passed laws that reversed the gains of Reconstruction, and led to Jim Crow-era legalized segregation and discrimination, many Blacks left the South to travel North.

Though racism was far from absent in the North, the Black church continued to develop, with tensions arising between faith traditions carried from the rural South and the more formal conventions of urban life in the North.

The civil rights campaigns of the 1950 and 1960s also echoed through Black churches, as religious leaders helped mobilize support for boycotts, marches and acts of civil disobedience. Although, again, the faith communities hardly spoke with one voice. The rise of the Nation of Islam, and the public prominence of Malcolm X, whose Muslim faith and calls for Blacks to attain freedom by any means necessary, represented examples of religion and activism that went beyond the Christianity of the more traditional Black church.

The Black Church also points out the failings of that institution. While the majority of congregants were Black women, for example, the power largely remained with Black men. As the civil rights era moved into a new phase of activism, the traditional Black church was dismissed by many as too conservative, intolerant of gay marriage and womens reproductive rights.

The documentary includes interviews with scholars, historians, authors, members of the clergy and celebrities, including musician John Legend, who recalls attending a Pentecostal church in his youth.

The Black Church feels a bit rushed toward the end, as Gates tries to address the ongoing horrors of racial violence, police killings of unarmed Black men, and younger activists finding the Church doesnt reflect their progressive views.

But even with its flaws, The Black Church flows like a river, carrying viewers forward in the tradition of the glorious music that has been an essential element of worship for centuries. As one of the scholars Gates interviews says toward the end of the film, The Black church is fundamental to the African American experience. The African American experience is fundamental to American history. Therefore, Black churches are fundamental to American history.

The Black Church airs from 9-11 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 16 and concludes 9-11 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 17 on PBS.

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-- Kristi Turnquist

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MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 11th February, 2021) The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said on Wednesday in a confidential report that Tehran had started to produce uranium metal, a material that can be used to create the core of nuclear weapons, which was prohibited under the 2015 nuclear deal, The Wall Street Journal reported.

According to the news outlet, Iran produced a small amount of uranium metal on February 8 after importing new equipment to a nuclear facility in Isfahan that is still under the IAEA inspection.

In January, Iranian Permanent Representative to international organizations in Vienna Kazem Gharib Abadi announced that Tehran had begun work on the production of uranium metal.

The news alarmed Western nations which claimed that the production of uranium metal has potentially serious military implications and reminded that under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), Tehran was not allowed to engage in production of uranium metal or conduct research in development in that area for 15 years.

The Iranian parliament ratified in late 2020 the bill on Strategic Action for Lifting of Sanctions in response to the assassination of Iranian nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh. The law effectively absolves the country from its commitments under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action and allows it to enrich uranium to 20 percent purity or higher, which can be used to create nuclear weapons.
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The Colombian Federation of Journalists (FECOLPER) has exposed a sharply worsening human rights situation for journalists, a crisis exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic.

In a new report, Journalists in a pandemic - the virus of indifference published on 9 February, the union documents increasing cases of journalists being regularly threatened by violence, intimidation, illegal interceptions and judicial harassment.

Fecolper denounced the human rights crisis in Colombia, noting that at the time of publication, there had already been 12 mass killings costing 39 lives in 2021. 91 massacres were reported during 2020, which left 381 dead throughout the country. The homicide rate for social leaders is close to one murder per day (310 killings in 2020).

The situation of Colombian media workers is not so different. "There's an evident regression in the causes of violence against journalists; they are spied on in the traditional way and they're harassed on social media. Nor do they stop the stigmatization messages made by political leaders who accuse journalists of spreading misinformation, damaging democracy and polarizing society. At the same time, there are journalists who contribute to this stigmatization, according to Adriana Hurtado, president of Fecolper.

In 2020, the most frequent aggressions against journalists were threats, physical attacks, smear campaigns, legal actions faimed at censoring journalistic work, killings, illegal espionage and journalists forced in to exile. Among the perpetrators, there are groups of power that operate both from governmental bodies and among illegal groups.

A situation worsened by the pandemic

The health crisis caused by COVID-19 exposed journalists to a health risk but also to several violations of their social, economic and labour rights. A survey made by Fecolper revealed that:

- Over 30% of respondents were paid, due to the pandemic, less than the legal minimum wage

- 18% were unemployed (data until August 2020)

- 16% said the media where they worked closed

- 19% of the interviewees said there was a decline in their working conditions

66% of the respondents said they had suffered health problems such as stress, anxiety, exhaustion and muscle pain, sleeping disorders and depression due to the economic crisis unleashed during the pandemic. As a direct consequence of the virus, 112 journalists and media workers were reported as infected by the virus and 36 of them died.

According to Fecolper, Colombia is facing a press freedom crisis and a serious loss of the people's right to freedom of expression and information.

This situation is fueled by different factors, such as the lack of labour protection for journalists, their socio-economic weakness, the indifference or social ignorance on the role of journalists in the construction of democracy, the loss of the rule of law and the impunity and slowness of justice when investigating cases of crimes against journalists.

Fecolper claims that "what happens to journalists is an expression of what is happening in the country in terms of human rights and failures of social justice."

The report was presented to the public on February 11.
Were more than a week into Black History Month and events are still being planned throughout the region to celebrate and honor the accomplishments of the Black community.

Like each year, libraries, historical societies and universities are among those planning the book discussions, panels and other events. Unlike previous years, most events are being held over Zoom due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Here are a few of the events coming up:

BRIDGEPORT

The Bridgeport Public Library is hosting a book discussion with City Librarian Elaine Braithwaite on Dust Tracks on a Road by Zora Neale Hurston. The discussion will be held over Zoom at 7 p.m. on Feb. 25. It is free and open to the public. Visit http://bit.ly/DustTracksOnARoad to register. According to the event description, on that day a Zoom link will be sent to participants. For more information contact Steve Kwasnik at skwasnik@bridgeportpubliclibrary.org or call 203-576-7400 ext. 425.

The University of Bridgeport is sponsoring a number of events for Black History Month, as well as its usual days of service in which university students engage in service projects from Martin Luther King Jr. Day until the end of February.

At 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 16, the university will be hosting a Faith in the Dream Panel over Zoom. According to the event description, the goal is to showcase how local faith leaders from diverse backgrounds keep alive MLKs vision through advocacy and service to underprivileged and a commitment to racial and economic justice. The event will be moderated by Pastor Aaron Best of St Mathews Baptist in Bridgeport. Panelists will be: Pastor Marjo Anderson, Salem Lutheran Church, Bridgeport; Pastor Jeannette Harris, Cross of Christ Lutheran Church, Waterbury; and Rabbi Brian Immerman, Congregation Mishkan Israel, Hamden. For more information contact 203-576-4175 or multicultural@bridgeport.edu.

At 7 p.m. on Feb. 22, via Zoom, Superior Court Judge Sheridan Moore, a UB alum who now serves in the New Haven district, will share her experiences in public service holding a variety of assignments in the Connecticut Judicial system. It will be moderated by Stephane Kirven, assistant professor of criminal justice and human security at UB.

At 7 p.m. on Feb. 25, Maisa Tisdale, director of the Mary & Eliza Freeman Center for History and Community, will share the history of Bridgeports Little Liberia in the South End in a Zoom meeting. Known as Ethiope, then Liberia in the 1800s, the community consisted of a resort hotel, school for children of color, businesses, churches and more. The only structures from that time still standing are the Freeman Houses, owned by Mary and Eliza Freeman, which are on the National Register of Historic Places and are slated for preservation.

For more information contact Melanie Strout at 475-422-1065 or civicengagement@bridgeport.edu.

FAIRFIELD

At 7 p.m. on Feb. 22, Fairfield University will host a virtual 2021 Martin Luther King Jr. Convocation, featuring New York University Associate Professor Dr. Cristina Beltran. The convocation is free and open to the public. This years theme is Striving to Build the Beloved Community: From Dr. King to Black Lives Matter. Beltran is a political theorist and an associate professor and director of graduate studies in the Department of Social & Cultural Analysis at New York University. She is author of The Trouble with Unity: Latino Politics and the Creation of Identity, published in 2010, and, more recently, of Cruelty as Citizenship: How Migrant Suffering Sustains White Democracy. She also provides political commentary on MSNBC. To register, visit fairfield.edu/mlk.

WESTON

At 6:30 p.m. on Feb. 24, the Weston Historical Society will host a lecture over Zoom titled African Americans and the Impact of the Great Migration in the North and South with guest presenter, Dr. Stacey Close, associate provost/vice president for equity and diversity at Eastern Connecticut State University. It will focus on the larger migration and also focus on the migrations impact on Connecticut and the nation. It will be followed by a question and answer session. The lecture is free but there is a suggested donation of $5 to help the nonprofit. Registration is required. Participants will be sent a Zoom link. For questions email the Weston Historical Society at info@westonhistoricalsociety.org.

WESTPORT

The Westport Library is hosting a virtual screening of Westport resident Trey Ellis HBO documentary, King in the Wilderness, at 7 p.m. on Feb. 25. Registrants will be able to view the film for one week prior to the conversation between Ellis and TEAMWestports Harold Bailey. The program is part of Westport READS, which this year is titled: Towards a More Perfect Union; Confronting Racism. The film chronicles the final chapters of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.s life.
AN BORD Pleanala generally host oral hearings for complex cases and the roundabout at ORourkes Cross in Bruree is certainly one of those.

It was held last week after the council submitted the compulsory purchase order (CPO) to acquire land and extinguish rights of way necessary to develop the scheme to An Bord Pleanala for confirmation.

Now that the oral hearing is over, the inspector will prepare a report and recommendation on the case for the board. The decision to confirm or annul the CPO will be made by the board. It is due to be decided by March 30.

This project has a long history.

Back in October 2017, engineers from the Mid-West National Road Design Office unveiled their plan to the then local councillors in the Cappamore-Kilmallock area. It was for a four leg roundabout. The meeting heard that if all goes to plan it could be in situ by 2019/2020. It hasnt.

Councillors expressed reservations about a four leg roundabout. Cllr Mike Donegan strongly recommended that serious consideration be given to adding a fifth leg to the roundabout to go directly into the filling station, and relocating both bus stops to the parking area.

Engineers said there is a 60% higher accident rate on five-leg compared to four-leg roundabouts. One said: We have to design to the TIIs operating standards. In the end, the seven councillors backed the four legs.

In 2018, the councillors said a gun was put to their heads to vote for a four leg roundabout at ORourkes Cross in 2017. All seven said they wanted a five leg roundabout with a dedicated entry to the petrol station.

They called a rare special meeting with Conn Murray, then Limerick Council CEO, in October 2018. They asked Mr Murray to use his executive power to rescind their decision to proceed with a four leg roundabout. Mr Murray said it is a matter of road safety and their original decision was the correct one.

In October 2019, polar opposite legal advice on behalf of the council and Cllr Ger Mitchell was read out at a municipal meeting. Cllr Mitchell said: It is now imperative that the local authority executive instruct their engineers to provide a new Part 8 and a new design to address our genuine concerns.

After delays due to Covid the CPO was made by the council last year and the oral hearing on same last week.

Minister Patrick ODonovan said the oral hearing is a really welcome development on the project.

I have been watching the progress of this from the very start. This is a junction in the centre of the county. It is the main artery east, west, north and south for all of County Limerick  it is of huge importance that it be finished.

I am really anxious that we get an early determination from An Bord Pleanala so that the council will be able to proceed and to draw down funding for the development of the junction, said Minister ODonovan.

He said he regularly get calls from motorists petrified of crossing that road on a daily basis.

I am glad now it has made progress. I will be happier when I see further progress made, said Minister ODonovan, who doesnt have a preference for a four or five leg roundabout.

I am not a roads engineer. I will let the safety of the roads to the road engineering staff. I dont think politicians, unless they have qualifications in civil engineering, should comment on it and for that reason I am not going to comment on it. I defer to their better knowledge. What I am very anxious to see is that it be dealt with and dealt with quickly. It is very important, concluded Minister ODonovan.

When contacted by the Leader, Cllr Ger Mitchell said: I would be delighted to comment but I have to refrain due to advice from the legal team as this matter is now being adjudicated by An Bord Pleanala. When it is appropriate I will comment.
The Oyibi Gonten Mantse, Nii Bortey Kofi Frankwa II, has called on the Ministry of Education to enforce compliance and ensure that all basic schools in the Greater Accra Region study the Ga language.



He said the ministry must also ensure that there were trained teachers available to teach the subject at all stages of the education ladder.



Nii Frankwa, who is also the Regent of the Nungua Mankralo Stool, in an interview with the Daily Graphic yesterday, said he had taken notice of the refusal of some schools in the region to offer Ga as a language at the basic level.



He said some of the schools had based their decision to phase out the teaching of Ga as a Ghanaian language on the difficulty or inability to get qualified Ga language teachers to teach the subject.



We have seen that gradually, some basic schools in the Oyibi area and other parts of the region are not offering the Ga language anymore because of the lack of qualified teachers to take pupils through the subject, so we would like to seek the governments intervention to correct this anomaly with immediate effect, he said.



Heritage



He said the teaching of the Ga language in schools was one way of preserving the heritage of the Ga State.



The government, he said, must, therefore, ensure that there were systems in place to support the teaching of local languages in schools, especially at the basic level.



Some of these things must be done at the national level to ensure that every local language has equal representation in the education curriculum and adequate teachers for that purpose because it cannot be right for schools in a Ga community to offer any other local language and ignore Ga, he said.



Energy Quest Show

Asked what traditional leaders were doing to ensure that the Ga language was not phased out in schools, Nii Frankwa said it was also the responsibility of traditional authorities to pass on culture, including languages, to the next generation through traditional ceremonies such as festivals.



However, he said, it was not part of the duties of traditional leaders to draft teaching curriculums or train teachers to be posted to schools to take up Ga language teaching roles.



That bit is solely in the hands of the government or the Ghana Education Service and the people appointed with the mandate to do so. There is an extent to what the chiefs, for instance, could do because we are in a democratic era and everybody has a role to play in the development of the country.



Beyond offering advice, chiefs are not to be seen as interfering in the works of other people paid to develop the education sector, he said.



Future plans



He said the Ga Traditional Council would, in the future, need to make an official request to the Ghana Education Service to establish its displeasure over the situation, which, he said, could alienate the Ga language.



Nii Frankwa called for unity within the Ga State, stressing that We can only succeed in this challenging situation with a united front, and that is what will happen.



Individual responsibility



Reacting to the situation, a lawyer and a Ga indigene, Nene Kofi Sammy, said indigenes also had a role to play in preserving local languages.



"For people who speak minority local languages, we should realise that the less we speak the language in our homes, the worse off we become. We run the risk of raising an entire generation who will not know how to speak their native language. I think parents have the primary responsibility," he said.





Source: graphiconline.com









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Featured Video
Renowned comedian Daniel Ndambuki popularly known as Churchill and Kiss FMs Felix Odiwuor alias Jalango say they are determined to help Kenyans achieve their dreams through their show Shika Dream.

The comedians launched the show last December and have since come through for a number of Kenyans.

In the show, the duo together with Churchill Show director Terence Macharia aka Terence Creative invite members of the public to submit a 30-second clip in which they reveal their dreams and ambitions.

The trio then vets the submissions and asks their audience to vote for one dream that they wish to see fulfilled. The winner then appears on the show to pitch their dream which is actualised live on Jalango TV, Churchills Facebook page, and on the Shika Dream Show online platforms every Wednesday at 8 pm.

Over the last seven episodes, a host of Kenyans have benefitted, including a butcher who on the premiere epsode got a deep freezer to help preserve his meat and scale-up the business.

The famous Huruma Town Kids also got a filming kit to create content while one Daniel Mwibanda from Kacheliba, West Pokot, got three computers and a printer to enable him to set up a cybercafe.

Churchill, who is the brains behind the empowering concept, said they started the show since many Kenyans were reaching out to them for help.

I believe every dream is valid and no dream is too small. Covid-19 hit almost every Kenyan, affecting some greatly. So we thought of coming up with a platform that will enable Kenyans to share their dreams and pitch to their fellow Kenyans to support them, he said.

Adding: Tumepata submissions nyingi sana, its overwhelming, and we thank the partners who have helped us fulfill some dreams so far.

Churchill said they are committed to helping youth across the country actualise their dreams.

As always, new concepts take a bit of time to sell to Kenyans, but this is one idea that will allow us to touch vulnerable lives thanks to our partners Kenya Charity Sweepstake.

We may not change the world in one day, but we are determined to change a Kenyan family one day at a time, Churchill said.
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The family of a Michigan man killed after a cannon explosion is calling the situation a blameless accident.

On the evening of Saturday, Feb. 6, the cannon exploded in the back yard of a home in Genesee Countys Gaines Township, hurling pieces of shrapnel into the air that killed 26-year-old Evan Thomas Silva, of Hartland.

The family of a Michigan man killed after a cannon explosion is calling the situation a blameless accident. In the evening of Saturday, Feb. 6, the cannon exploded in the back yard of a Gaines Township home, hurling pieces of shrapnel into the air that killed 26-year-old Evan Thomas Silva of Hartland in Livingston County. (Photo provided by Carolyn Jackson)Photo provided by Carolyn Jackson

Carolyn Jackson, Silvas sister, sent the following statement Wednesday, Feb. 10 to MLive-The Flint Journal written by the family about the incident:

We would like to clarify, the accident that occurred resulting in Evan Thomas Silvas death on February 6th, 2021 did not happen at the baby shower, it was at a gathering with friends later that evening. No one is at fault, it was a blameless accident and our hearts go out to all that where there. Evan lived his life with vibrance, charisma and one-of-a-kind-humor. His far reaching influence can be attributed to his warm smile, infectious laugh and larger than life personality. Evan will always be loved and remembered by all he touched. A GoFundMe fundraiser has been established by his Cousin to assist with funeral expenses. We thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers.

By Thursday morning, the GoFundMe fundraiser has raised nearly $14,000 for Silvas funeral expenses.

On Monday, Michigan State Police Lt. Liz Rich confirmed that the cannon incident was not part of a gender reveal.

We suspect that there was too much gunpowder in (the cannon) and if there isnt regular maintenance when youre using explosives, there could be a hairline fracture that you cant see with the naked eye, Rich previously said. It could have been anything like that, but (officers) suspect that there was too much powder and it just fractured the entire cannon and thats what made it explode.

Once all information has been gathered and the police report is completed, Rich said the report will be sent to the Genesee County Prosecutors Office to determine any possible charges.

Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton said his office issued a search warrant over the weekend to gather evidence at the scene. He also said he will not speculate on any possible charges until he sees the full investigation is complete.

It is unclear when the police report will be complete. Police are still reviewing cell phones seized from the event to process if anything was caught on camera, Rich said.

Silva was one of about five people outside the residence where the small cannon-type device was fired to celebrate the babys pending arrival and was the only one hit by shrapnel, according to Michigan State Police.

The cannon blew up upon firing, spreading metal shrapnel that hit Silva, as well as three parked cars and the garage where the baby shower was held.

Silva was standing 10 to 15 feet from the explosion, police said. He was taken to Hurley Medical Center in Flint where he later died from his injuries.

The cannon was designed to fire more like a novelty Signal Cannon, which is intended to emit a big flash, a loud noise and smoke, police said. The homeowner had purchased the cannon from an auction and had fired it several times before the incident took place.

More:

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Jeff Bezos-led Amazon.com took its legal challenge against partner Future Groups $3.4 billion retail assets sale to the Supreme Court on Thursday, as the US firm tries to stop a major rival buying the assets. Amazon alleges that Future Group violated contracts by agreeing to sell the retail assets to market leader Reliance Industries last year. Future denies any wrongdoing. A New Delhi court this week dealt a blow to the US firm by revoking a previous court decision that effectively blocked the deal, and Amazon has now filed an appeal against it in the Supreme Court in New ...
Un A, a North Korean presenter of "Echo DPRK," a YouTube channel believed to be managed by the North Korean regime, introduces goods at a department store in Pyongyang. / Korea Times file





By Kang Seung-woo







North Korea is fighting international sanctions imposed on the country due to its nuclear and missile tests.







This fight against punitive actions has reached YouTube, where its channels have been deleted over claims they violate the platform's terms of service, with the country continuously attempting to revive its propaganda channels.







"Red Star TV," a YouTube channel hosted by a North Korean living in Russia, has been in operation again after suffering its seventh shutdown in January by the Google subsidiary.







However, while reopening the channel, North Korea is emphasizing that "Red Star TV" is an informational project of the DPRK International Solidarity Group, which disseminates "true information" about the latest events in the world and on the Korean Peninsula. The DPRK refers to the official name of North Korea, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.







Whenever its YouTube channels were deleted, North Korea has protested, claiming that the videos were aimed at correcting the international community's misconceptions about the country.







As soon as YouTube deleted "Echo of Truth," formerly "Echo DPRK," last December, Un A, its female North Korean presenter, said the channel neither provided false information nor criticized individuals.







The channel, which had nearly 50,000 subscribers, was reborn in the same month as "Echo of Truth Returns."







"All I know is it was blocked in violation of Google policy, although I don't remember myself blaming anyone or spreading false information in my videos," Un A said in a post of "Echo of Truth Returns."







The replacement channel has also been suspended by YouTube since January.







Currently, a North Korean YouTube channel that still stands out is "New DPRK," which features seven-year-old Ri Su-jin describing the daily lives of children in Pyongyang. The number of its subscribers is 18,000.







The North Korean regime has taken advantage of this new method of propaganda, as its leader Kim Jong-un pursues practical methods of promoting his country.


Saudi women's rights activist released after 1,000 days Loujain al-Hathloul was convicted for women drivers campaign

(ANSAmed) - ROME, 11 FEB - Saudi human rights activist Loujain al-Hathloul, 31, has been released after 1,000 days in prison.



Hathloul became famous worldwide for her campaign in favour of women's right to drive a car in Saudi Arabia.



She was arrested in May 2018, just months prior to women being given the right to drive.



On Thursday, Hathloul's sister, Lina, announced on Twitter: "Loujain is home!", publishing a photo of Hathloul and adding that she spent some 1,001 days behind bars.



Hathloul was convicted last December by a criminal court established to try terrorism cases and sentenced to five years and eight months in prison.



She was charged with "incitement to change the government regime of the Kingdom and having cooperated with individuals and entities to advance a foreign agenda", Saudi sources said.



The sentence raised a wave of indignation and criticism around the world, mitigated by the news that part of her sentence - two years and 10 months - was suspended.



The concession, however, was tied to Hathloul's commitment to "not commit other crimes for three years" and an obligation to remain in Saudi Arabia for the next five years, her family said.



Hathloul's case, from the start, contributed to increasing international pressure on Saudi authorities, who have been repeatedly accused of disregard for human rights, particularly after the atrocious assassination of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi.



Her release could now ease tension on Riyadh, especially with Washington and the new administration of US President Joe Biden, which has already shown that with regards to human rights it wants to conduct a much more severe policy than that of Biden's predecessor Donald Trump. (ANSAmed).




A NET FOR SMALL FISHES by Lucy Jago (Bloomsbury 16.99, 352 pp)

A NET FOR SMALL FISHES

by Lucy Jago (Bloomsbury 16.99, 352 pp)

It's January 1609, and Mistress Anne Turner, a bold, daringly dressed doctor's wife, heads to the chambers of the beautiful, aristocratic Frances Howard.

The 17-year-old countess is married to the unkind, impotent, puritanical Earl of Essex; a politically expedient match which has made her wretched. Keenly aware of the power of appearance, Anne armours Frankie in brilliant, glittering clothes and the two women form a fateful friendship.

Determined to make their way into James I's greedy, vain, lascivious court, their attempt to survive its treacherous currents will end with them on trial for poisoning . . .

Rich in intrigue and incident, with a cast of vividly drawn characters and a wealth of detail on every atmospheric page, this is a fabulously engaging read.

THE COLD MILLIONS

THE COLD MILLIONS by Jess Walter (Viking 16.99, 352 pp)

by Jess Walter (Viking 16.99, 352 pp)

Orphan Rye Dolan, younger brother to the charismatic, alcoholic Gig, wants a job, a home and stability after the months they've spent jumping freight trains as part of an itinerant workforce.

The odds, however, are stacked against him in the hardscrabble world of Spokane, Washington, in 1909. Robber barons, a corrupt police force and exploitation at every corner ensure that Rye will just be one of 'the cold millions with no chance in this world'.

Enter feminist firebrand Elizabeth Gurley Flynn, aflame in her desire to ensure that all workers are treated fairly; a spark plug for civil disobedience, she draws a reluctant Rye into a world of double-dealing and danger.

It's a riotous, propulsive adventure story, packed with captivating characters, whose lives are played out in politically explosive times.

THE SUNKEN ROAD

THE SUNKEN ROAD by Ciaran McMenamin (Harvill 14.99, 272 pp)

by Ciaran McMenamin (Harvill 14.99, 272 pp)

Francie and siblings Archie and Annie grew up in the wild countryside around Fermanagh. When Francie falls in love with Annie, he swears to protect her brother when they head off to World War I, inspired by the 's***e romantic novels about war' Archie read as a boy.

Life in the trenches is bleak, brutal and brutalising and Francie returns to Ireland, to fight in the war of Independence, scarred by the secrets surrounding Archie's death and an unpalatable revelation concerning bullying Crozier, his commander on the Western Front.

On the run, with Crozier hot on his heels, Francie enlists the help of a reluctant Annie, and the two embark on a dangerous journey in this violent and tender story where memorable characters battle love, loyalty and the terrible truths of war.
Silvio Berlusconi spent the night in hospital after an 'accidental' fall at home five months after he survived a 'hellish' battle with coronavirus, a spokesman for the 84-year-old billionaire said today.

The controversial former Italian premier tripped while staying at his residence in Rome, where he had travelled to give his backing to Mario Draghi as the country's next premier amid political drama in the capital.

Berlusconi was bruised on one side and was taken to his home city of Milan for a hospital check-up, and was discharged on Thursday morning, a spokesman said.

The politician and media mogul, who has dominated public life in Italy since the 1980s and is still an MEP, was also hospitalised in Monaco last month due to heart problems.

Silvio Berlusconi, pictured in Rome on Tuesday, had an 'accidental; fall at his residence in the Italian capital and was taken to hospital

Berlusconi, whose third spell as prime minister ended in 2011, had major heart surgery in 2016 and has also survived prostate cancer.

Last September he was admitted to hospital after contracting Covid-19 in what he called the 'most dangerous challenge' of his life.

While in hospital in Milan, he told supporters in a phone call that doctors had said his viral load was the worst out of thousands of patients tested at the clinic.

Describing his 'hellish' case of the virus, he said it was 'very bad' but added that 'I'm giving it my all, I hope to make it and to get back on track'.

True to his word, he was discharged on September 14 and has continued to play an active role as leader of the opposition Forza Italia party.

Since then, Berlusconi has spent much of his time recuperating from coronavirus at his daughter Marina's house in Provence, France.

Last month, his doctor Alberto Zangrillo had him transferred to a hospital in Monaco because of heart problems.

But he insisted: 'I am in good health. Due to the prudence of my doctors I had to go to hospital for some checks.'

Berlusconi, now 84, leaves hospital last September after what he described as a 'hellish' bout with coronavirus

He had travelled to Rome on Tuesday to meet Draghi, the former European Central Bank chief poised to become Italy's next prime minister with Berlusconi's backing.

'We are all required to give up calculations, tactics and electoral interests to put the salvation of the country first,' Berlusconi said of the planned Draghi government.

Berlusconi looked frail as he reappeared in public after months holed up in his daughter's villa.

But his spokesman said that despite his fall, he was working at home today to take part in remote voting for the European Parliament.

Berlusconi was elected to the parliament in 2019, further prolonging his decades-long career in Italian politics.

The former owner of AC Milan, who made his media fortune in the 1960s, he entered politics in early 1994 and served three separate terms as prime minister.

In late 2006 he was admitted to hospital with a minor heart problem after fainting. He underwent successful heart surgery in a US hospital in January 2007.

In December 2004, a young bricklayer hurled a camera tripod at his head, causing a minor injury behind his right ear.

The culprit first said he did it 'because I hate him' but later wrote a letter to Berlusconi saying he had acted in a moment of 'deplorable euphoria.'
The Taoiseach should receive the coronavirus vaccine ahead of Cabinet colleagues to travel to the US, according to a Fine Gael Junior Minister.

Fine Gael Minister of State for Overseas Development Aid and Diaspora Colm Brophy said on Independent.ies Floating Voter podcast that Taoiseach Micheal Martin should be vaccinated to be able to travel to the US for the St Patricks Day visit.

Mr Brophy said that Cabinet Ministers should then be vaccinated as per the vaccine priority list and should be no exception to the list.

I dont think that with the exception of the Taoiseach and for the reason of the US visit, that Ministers should come anywhere different on the list to where they would be based on the criteria outlined by medical professionals, he said.

Read More

Minister Brophy said that he is against changing the order of prioritisation on the vaccine list.

Lots of people make the case all the time as to why we should maybe move this group up here or this group down or change it around. I've always had the same view that we shouldn't and that applies to Ministers as well.

Theres a logical clear exception as to why the Taoiseach should [be vaccinated] - to facilitate St Patricks Day visit.

He also raised the question of if certain Cabinet Ministers were to be vaccinated, how the decision would be made between the Minister for Health or members of Nphet.

Everybody has important jobs, really important jobs.

Where do you vaccinate the people in Nphet, the CMO? Where do you vaccinate the head of the HSE versus the Minister for Health? It just becomes almost an impossible scenario, he added.

Minister Brophy also said on the podcast that the 500 fine for non-essential travel to overseas did not have a sufficient impact for some people, which is why the fine has been hiked to 2,000 in recent days.

For some people, 500 wasnt regarded as a sufficient impact and thats why you have to have that flexibility. I dont think there was anything wrong with choosing 500 as the initial figure.
Twitter has blocked the account of Rajya Sabha MP and Samajwadi Party leader Chaudhary Sukhram Singh Yadav, MediaNama reported on February 11.

Yadav's account has 244 followers. It has become one of the high-profile accounts blocked by the microblogging site in India amid the ongoing tussle over blocking of some accounts related to farmers protest.

The URL of the account (@MPSukhram ) said it has been withheld in response to a legal notice for users accessing it in India. However, users outside the country can see the MPs tweets normally.

Moneycontrol has reached out to Twitter for a response.

It is not clear yet if Yadavs account has been withheld on the directives of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, for allegedly spreading misinformation about the farmers protest.

Twitter had said on February 10 that it had blocked at least 500 such accounts following directives from the Centre.

Yadav told Moneycontrol that his unverified (without blue tick) account, now withheld, was his official account. He said the account has been blocked during the ongoing farmers' protest

If an MP is not given preference, then what can be said of the common man. the 69-year-old politician, who has been chairman of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council from 2004 to 2010, said. Yadav has also been minister of state for public works department and parliamentary affairs in Uttar Pradesh.

He said he will write to IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad about this and also raise the issue before the the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha.

Twitter, on February 10, said that it had not taken any action on many accounts - as directed by the Centre - because it believed it would violate their fundamental right to free expression under Indian law and its own principles of defending freedom of expression.

Twitter's ongoing tussle with the Centre comes in the wake of violence in Delhi on January 26 during a tractor parade of farmers protesting the new farm laws which resulted in the death of one person and injuries to over a hundred people, including police personnel.
Caitlin McCann, an employee of MVHS, has won her defamation lawsuit against former Oneida County Executive candidate, Dave Gordon.

Gordon lost a Republican primary to current county executive, Anthony Picente, in June, 2019. Around that time, Gordon publicly claimed that McCann had an affair with Picente, that the two had a child, and that McCann benefitted financially from the affair with the married county executive.

"Despite Gordon's self-serving claim to the press over a year ago that he had actual evidence of the corruption and affair, he offers none to this Court. Innuendo is not evidence, and an individual who publicly spreads rumors that are not based in fact will be held liable for the damage that he causes," said NYS Supreme Court judge, the Hon. Scott DelConte, in his decision Wednesday. DelConte directed McCann to file a trial note of issue within 60 days, which would pave the way for a trial on damages to be scheduled.

McCann declined comment. We reached out to her attorney, Eva Brindisi Pearlman, and have not heard back.

In his decision, Justice DelConte said the burden of proof lies with Gordon.

"...McCann does not have to prove that Gordon's statements were false; instead, Gordon bears the burden of proving that his statements were true. And Gordon fails to submit any evidence, admissable or otherwise, that Ms. McCann had an affair with Picente, received improper financial gain, or became pregnant with his child."

Gordon disagrees with the judge.

"To show malicious intent, you really have to prove that what was said was not true, and that's up to the plainiff, never up to the defendant in any civil matter,"says Gordon.

Gordon also says it's not over yet.

"I've already filled notice of appeal which means it's been filed with NYS Supreme Court with all the required documents. I have 60 days to perfect that appeal and move it forward. I'm also going to be asking the appelate court for an order to stay on the damages trial."

The judge also dismissed Gordon's defamation suit against Oneida County Executive, Anthony Picente, claiming Picente publicly discussed an old arrest report that should have been sealed. Picente's attorney says it's more difficult for a public figure to prove slander, defamation and libel, than it is for a private citizen, and, that Picente has more important things to do, than go after Gordon in court.

"He will stand on being vindicated by a court of law," says Attorney Robert F. Julian. "I know he does not believe that his role as county executive, especially in this very taxing time when he's organizing the Covid effort, his place is not in the courtroom..."
I had a lot of fun, and I enjoyed every day with my wife, he said with a smile. I didnt want to see her go, but she is in a better place. Im glad to know she made a difference to you. ... To this day and forever she will always be Karen Lewis, my wife.

Chandigarh: Reacting to the illegal arrest of social activist Nodeep Kaur by the Haryana Police, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) senior leader and Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the Punjab Assembly, Harpal Singh Cheema on Thursday said that the journalists and social workers, supporting the farmers were forcibly arrested by the police. He said that this was very unfortunate and an undemocratic move.

"Nothing can be more shameful for a democratic country, that Nodeep Kaur, a social activist who was protesting peacefully with the farmers, who had been fighting for the rights of the farmers and labourers for many years, was forcibly arrested by the Haryana Police on January 12 by registering false case of attempt to murder.

Harpal Singh Cheema

According to the agitators, she was sexually harassed in police custody and had not been released yet. Cheema appealed to the Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh to talk to Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar for the immediate release of Nodeep Kaur and ensure her release.

Lashing out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Cheema said that Modi, first tried to suppress the voice of the agitating farmers. "The whole country saw how BJP leaders called them Khalistani, terrorists, agents of Pakistan and China, to discredit the farmers. They were also attacked, but when the Modi government could not suppress the voice of the farmers, they are trying to crush the farmers' movement by forcibly arresting and threatening the social workers and journalists, by filing false cases against them," he said.

Harpal Cheema

Cheema said that the silence of Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on the arrest of social activist Nodeep Kaur was surprising. "People all over Punjab are campaigning for the release of Nodeep Kaur, but Captain is still silent on her case, " he added. He further said that the Modi government was adopting new ways to discredit farmers and suppress their movement every day.

"Sometimes farmers are subjected to attacks by the goons of BJP and sometimes they are lathicharged. Today, if any of the social activists and journalists speak in support of the farmers, the BJP government arrests them by implicating them in UAPA, treason or other false cases, " he said.

The AAP leader said that hundreds of people of Punjab were still missing since January 26, but the Chief Minister of Punjab did not utter a word on such a serious matter nor did he take any step for the people suffering from the atrocities of the Modi government.

Harpal Cheema"Far from criticizing Modi-Shah, he is now taking the name of Pakistan in the farmers' movement like a BJP leader. Captain's words clearly show that he has done a deal with the Modi government, that is, the release of his son from the ED cases in exchange for ending the farmers' movement, " he added.

Cheema appealed to Captain Amarinder, saying that he can do whatever deal he wants to do with Modi-Shah, but should talk to Haryana's BJP Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar for immediate release of social worker Nodeep Kaur and get her released at the earliest.

A brave cafe owner who tackled a gunman to the ground while he was firing a rifle in the main street of a quiet town has faced court on assault charges that have outraged locals.

In a bizarre misunderstanding, the man with the rifle was a pest controller hired to cull pigeons living on the roof of shops in the picturesque Adelaide Hills town of Strathalbyn.

But no-one had informed the locals, and Hammer'n'Tongs Cafe owner Maurice Behan, 55, leapt into action as terrified residents called Triple 0 and ran for shelter - fearing a madman was on the loose.

A brave cafe owner who tackled a gunman (pictured right) to the ground while he was in the midst of firing off rounds in the middle of a quiet town's main street has faced court charged with assault. (The man pictured left is not the cafe owner)

In a bizarre misunderstanding, the man with the rifle was a pest controller hired to keep the pigeon population down in the picturesque Adelaide Hills town of Strathalbyn

While his actions won the admiration of locals, it did not impress police and he was charged and faced Mt Barker Magistrates Court on Wednesday, the Adelaide Advertiser reported.

Mr Behan's barrister David Edwardson QC told the court that hired marksman Nicholas Adams never produced any permit or identification when approached and asked why he was firing the gun.

'He was walking up and down the main street armed with a rifle equipped with a silencer and telescopic sights',' Mr Edwardson QC said.

'Elderly members of the community and school children took refuge because of their concerns at this activity.'

Mr Edwardson said there were at least seven Triple zero calls made by terrified residents.

Ms Duncan adjourned the matter until April 1 as the prosecution considers whether or not the case will go forward.

Maurice Behan, 55, owns the local cafe Hammer 'N' Tongs in the stunning Adelaide Hills town

Residents in the 6500-strong community have voiced their outrage online over the issue - insisting the popular cafe owner should not have been charged for the misunderstanding.

Many have laid blame for the incident on the pest controller.

'Scared me at the time. Regardless of whether he has a job to do, not providing name/permit when concerned members ask is ludicrous!! And no signage or warning gives people the right to question him,' a Facebook user on the Moving Strath Forward page wrote.

Another said: 'A man walking around the streets with a loaded gun, has the power to calm a situation or add fuel! I'd be more concerned members of the public DIDN'T question him.'

Strathalbyn ward councillor for Alexandrina, Craig Maidment, said in a letter to Mr Behan the pest controller did not follow protocol

'If it had done so then council policy would have dictated that a council officer would need to be present during the pest control operation and appropriate signage and identification would need to be provided,' he wrote.
London:

A teenager has been charged by the British police in case of London acid attacks, as authorities considered whether tougher sentences would curb a spike in assaults with corrosive liquids.

The Metropolitan Police force said late Saturday that a 16-year-old boy faces 15 charges, including grievous bodily harm. The boy, who cant be named because of his age, was arrested after five moped riders were sprayed with a corrosive substance during a 90-minute period last week.

One man was left with life-changing injuries, police said. At least two of those attacked were drivers for food delivery services Deliveroo and UberEATS.

A 15-year-old boy who was also arrested has been released on bail.

Police say the number of reported attacks with corrosive liquids in London rose from 261 in 2015 to 454 in 2016. Some appear related to gang activity or the theft of cars and motorbikes.

Amid mounting public concern, the British government said it is considering increasing sentences for acid attacks to a maximum of life.

Home Secretary Amber Rudd wrote in the Sunday Times newspaper that those who use noxious liquids as a weapon should feel the full force of the law.

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[February 11, 2021] CGTN: China's First Lady Peng Liyuan Writes Letter to German Students

Peng Liyuan, wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping, wrote a letter on Tuesday to students and teachers at Burggymnasium, a public secondary school in Essen, Germany, encouraging them to make a new contribution to strengthening the friendship between peoples of China and Germany. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210211005383/en/ In the letter, Peng wrote that she carefully watched the recorded video of four students from the school's Chinese choir singing the Chinese song titled "After the Pandemic," and she felt the students expressed the good wishes of supporting people of all countries to win the victory against the COVID-19 pandemic early. She recalled that one year ago, the students from the school recorded the Chinese song "Let the World Be Filled with Love" to upport China to combat the pandemic, conveying their friendship to Chinese people. The pandemic is still raging currently, and she said she worried about their health and hoped they and their family members to protect themselves well.



Peng stressed her belief that the snow would melt and the spring is on the way, and if people of all countries join hands, the pandemic will be defeated. She also invited the students and teachers to visit China again for exchange and study after the pandemic and called on them to make contribution to strengthening the friendship between peoples of China and Germany, especially the young peoples.

Burggymnasium is one of the 12 oldest public schools in Germany. It set up the Chinese course in 1994 and organized the students and teachers to visit China for exchange and study multiple times in recent years. In March 2014, when Peng accompanied Xi on a state visit to Germany, she visited the school and sat in on a Chinese class. In October 2016, Peng met the school's students and teachers in Beijing, who were on their study trip to China. Original article: here. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210211005383/en/

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Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-11 01:37:17|Editor: huaxia

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Pakistani President Arif Alvi receives an interview with Chinese media in Islamabad, Pakistan, Feb. 10, 2021. The traditional friendship between Pakistan and China is not only embodied in mutual support and cooperation between the two governments, but also in people-to-people bonds, Pakistani President Arif Alvi said here on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Jiang Chao)

by Li Hao, Jiang Chao

ISLAMABAD, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- The traditional friendship between Pakistan and China is not only embodied in mutual support and cooperation between the two governments, but also in people-to-people bonds, Pakistani President Arif Alvi said here on Wednesday.

"The friendship (between Pakistan and China) is higher than the mountains and deeper than the oceans. And it's long-term. It's deeper. It not only depends on the governments, but also on the people's love for each other," the president said during an interview with Chinese media.

After the outbreak of COVID-19, some Pakistani students in China and their parents felt worried about the epidemic, but their concerns were soon eliminated as the students were taken good care of by the Chinese government, which has demonstrated "one of the best episodes of Pakistan-China friendship," Alvi said.

The Pakistani president said that when he paid a visit to China in March, 2020, "we wanted to give the message to the world that China is a safe country, and we wanted to show the world that China has handled COVID-19 very well."

Alvi extended his gratitude to China for first providing COVID-19 vaccine aid to Pakistan, adding that the donated vaccines are of great importance to his country and Pakistan has already started to administer Chinese vaccines to frontline healthcare workers.

"We are very impressed by the fact that it (the Chinese vaccine) is effective and there is a matter of reassurance (for the frontline healthcare workers)," the president said.

Noting that China also sent medical experts to join Pakistan's efforts to battle COVID-19 last year, he said Pakistan has learnt a lot from the Chinese medical experts on how to handle COVID-19, which has greatly helped the country's anti-epidemic efforts.

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Pakistan and China, Alvi said, adding that both the countries believe that the international relations should be based on principles including mutual respect and non-interference in each other's affairs.

Pakistan and China think alike on many international affairs, cooperate closely in different international organizations and firmly support each other on issues concerning the core interests of the two countries, he noted.

"I am very hopeful for the future of bilateral ties," said the president, adding that "the world has to go towards free trade, the world has to go towards non-hegemonistic intentions, and the world has to go towards peace and peace is built on foundations."

"The world can learn from Pakistan and China's friendship," he said.

Talking about the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Alvi said that CPEC projects have greatly improved Pakistan's infrastructure and energy supply, adding that CPEC, which is currently focusing on industrial, agricultural, socio-economic and poverty alleviation cooperation, will bring a large number of job opportunities to the Pakistani people.

The Pakistani president also extended his congratulations to the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC). He said the CPC has shown great leadership in leading the Chinese people to fight against COVID-19, making unbelievable achievements in poverty alleviation and providing health, which are the "foundations through which Chinese economy has prospered tremendously."

Whether or not a political party can keep vitality forever depends on "the relationship of the party with the real issues and then the interaction with the people," he said, adding that the CPC understands what the Chinese people want and guides the Chinese people towards a better future.

"We are following the Chinese poverty alleviation model while strengthening the education and healthcare system along with the job creation and industrial growth," Alvi said.
The Masinde Muliro University of Agriculture and Technology (MMUST) has kicked off a fresh recruitment process for a new vice-chancellor and three deputy vice-chancellors.

The positions have been advertised by the Public Service Commission (PSC) in the local dailies after the earlier recruitment was derailed by court cases challenging the process.

The positions advertised are those of the vice-chancellor, deputy vice-chancellor (academic and student affairs), deputy vice-chancellor (administration and finance) and deputy vice-chancellor (planning and research).

Those interested in the positions have until March 2, 2021 to submit their applications to the PSC.

Masinde Muliro University has been without a vice-chancellor since November 2018 when Prof Frederick Otieno's term came to an end. Prof Solomon Shibairo is the acting vice-chancellor after his appointment in March 2020.

The absence of a substantive vice-chancellor and deputy vice-chancellors has seen the university go through a turbulent period in the last two years, characterised by student unrest and protests by union members.

The recruitment hit a snag after activist Okiya Omtatah filed a petition challenging the move by the Public Service Commission to include two former University Council members as part of the interviewing panel, claiming the decision had influenced the outcome.

Mr Omtatah had argued that the inclusion of former council chairman Dr Jeremy Bundi and two other members of the University Council had invalidated the results.

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The petition was dismissed by the Labour Relations and Employment Court.

In his judgment, Justice Stephen Radido ruled that the inclusion of the council members in the panel that interviewed the applicants was not illegal and fatal to the recruitment process.

The three candidates who emerged top in the interviews conducted by PSC were Prof Joseph Bosire, Prof Sibilikhe Makhanu and Prof Gitonga Mburugu but the position has been re-advertised.

Union officials at the university had written to Education Cabinet Secretary Prof George Magoha, accusing three council members of frustrating the recruitment process for the vice-chancellor.

The petition came from the Masinde Muliro Chapter of the Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU), Kenya University Staff Union (KUSU) and Kenya Union of Domestic, Hotels, Educational Institutions, Hospitals and Allied Workers (Kudheiha).

The petition, dated June 28, 2020, read in part: "We also wish to note that there is a well-hatched scheme by the council members to create confusion, cause a stalemate and finally petition for the dissolution of the council even before the recruitment of substantive officer holders."

The petition was copied to Dr Peter Wanyanga, the Masinde Muliro University Chancellor.
DENPASAR, Indonesia: A British man jailed for his role in the death of an Indonesian policeman in 2016 on a beach in Bali was released on Thursday after serving his sentence.

David Taylor, 38, was jailed in March 2017 together with his Australian girlfriend, Sara Connor, over the death of traffic policeman Wayan Sudarsa, whose body was found on the islands popular Kuta beach with neck and head wounds.

Taylor left Balis Kerobokan jail dressed in a black T-shirt and with dark glasses and a mask.

He did not comment to reporters before getting into a waiting car, but the head of the prison, Fikri Jaya Soebing confirmed his release.

Fikri said he had been granted 18 months and 15 days of remission.

Taylor is now expected to be taken to the airport and deported to Britain.

Taylor and Connor were tried separately and had told the court a fight had broken out with the policeman over Connors missing purse.

They were charged with assault leading to death and Taylor was sentenced to six years in prison and Connor to four years.

Connor was granted an early release last year due to good behaviour.

Taylors lawyer said after his sentencing his client accepted the ruling.

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A day after Chinas defence ministry announced that the and the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) had begun synchronised and organised disengagement from their nine-month-long confrontation in the Pangong Tso sector, Defence Minister made a similar announcement in Parliament on Thursday, while asserting India has not conceded anything to China.

Our sustained talks with China have led to agreement on disengagement on the north and south banks of Pangong Lake. After this agreement, India-China will remove forward deployments in a phased, coordinated manner, said the defence minister in his statement in the Rajya Sabha.

Rajnath said as part of the settlement, the PLA would remain east of Finger 8 in the North Bank area, while Indian troops would remain west of Finger 3, at their base called Dhan Singh Thapa Post.

Effectively, this designates as a buffer zone a 10-kilometre stretch of territory between Finger 3 and Finger 8. The has patrolled this area since the 1962 war with China but will now be disallowed to.

Perhaps for this reason, refrained from claiming in his statement that the pre-April status quo  a core Indian demand so far  had been restored. Instead, he claimed that the disengagement would substantially restore the situation to that before the standoff began last year.

South of Pangong Tso, the PLA will vacate the features of Helmet and Black Top, while the will climb down from the dominating features of Point 5167, Bump and Magar Hill that India seized at the beginning of August.

I want to assure this House that in these talks we have not conceded anything, Rajnath asserted. The agreement that we have been able to reach with the Chinese side for disengagement in the Pangong lake area envisages that both sides will cease their forward deployments in a phased, coordinated and verified manner.

This move is in accordance with the consensus reached by both sides at the ninth round of China-India Corps Commander-level meeting, the statement from Chinas defence ministry had stated on Wednesday. A 10th round of talks is likely to be scheduled soon, say Army sources.

The disengagement agreement covers only the Pangong Tso sector in Central Ladakh, but makes no mention of Depsang sector, near Daulat Beg Oldi (DBO) in Northern Ladakh, where PLA troops have crossed the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and established themselves 15-18 km inside territory that India has always claimed and patrolled. Since April, the PLA has blocked Indian troops from accessing Patrolling Points 10, 11, 12, 12A and 13 on the LAC.

The Indian Army regards Depsang as a critical sector, since controlling this would provide the PLA with a springboard to capture DBO, cut off India from the Karakoram Pass, and progress operations towards Indias vital Siachen Glacier sector.

Besides Depsang, the disengagement agreement is also silent on the Gogra/Hot Springs sector, where the Indian Army believes China is in encroachment of Indian territory.

The House should also know that there are still some outstanding issues with regard to deployment and patrolling at some other points along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh, said Rajnath on Thursday.

The defence minister acknowledged the grit of Indian soldiers who, along with Tibetan-origin guerrillas of the Special Frontier Force, occupied dominating heights on the Ladakh Range in August. This put the PLA at a disadvantage south of the Pangong Tso Lake and provided India with a vital bargaining chip.

Many strategically important points were identified and our troops positioned themselves at those hill tops and at locations which were very important from our point of view. It is because of this great bravery of our armed forces that we maintained the edge, said Rajnath.

He also saluted the resilience of the Indian soldiers who spent the winter in the freezing conditions of mountain-tops in Ladakh. I would like this House to join me in paying gratitude to our armed forces who have shown grit and resolve under these extremely harsh climatic conditions of Ladakh which has resulted in the present agreement, he said.

While the start of disengagement involves the troops in contact on the front lines in Ladakh, there remain close to 100,000 troops from the PLA and the Indian Army that were deployed behind the front lines as reserves in case fighting broke out. It is likely that these would only be withdrawn after successful disengagement by the troops in contact.

The Chinese aggression since April 2020, including the Galwan River Valley clash on June 14 that killed 20 Indian soldiers and an unknown number of PLA soldiers, has catalysed major organisational and operational changes within the Indian military. One of the biggest has been the realisation that China, not Pakistan, constitutes the main threat to India. An entire Indian strike corps, along with other formations, has been redirected to the LAC as a deterrent to China.
Can Washington Think of Cubas Government as Something Other Than Needs to Be Overthrown?

Since the Cuban Revolution of 1959, the United States government has helped shape the counterrevolutionary forces. It has tried to take over the Cuban opposition, both inside and outside the island.

by Rosa Miriam Elizalde

On February 1, 2021, U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken spoke to MSNBC about the new U.S. governments foreign policy challenges. Blinken threw out, piece by piece, the world chessboard of his predecessor, Mike Pompeo. When asked by journalist Andrea Mitchell if he will revoke the inclusion of Cuba in the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism, the new secretary of states response to a series of actions taken by the outgoing administration was, Were looking at all of them.

The all of them is the series of decisions that Donald Trump took in the last four weeks of his presidency including the bundle of sanctions on Cuba as a poisoned gift for Joe Biden. The sanctions by the Trump administration against Cuba that began in the spring of 2017 under the pretext of sonic attacks on U.S. diplomats in Havanawhich no one has been able to prove to this daywere escalated just before the end of Trumps presidency, with dozens of unilateral measures and the inclusion of the Caribbean country in the list of state sponsors of terrorism.

U.S. Against the Cuban Revolution

The U.S. governments hostility to the Cuban Revolution did not begin with Trump. Nor does it remain at the level of policy orientation of the U.S. presidency.

Since the Cuban Revolution of 1959, the United States government has helped shape the counterrevolutionary forces. It has tried to take over the Cuban opposition, both inside and outside the island. In 1960, U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower circulated a secret policy document with a chilling title: A Program of Covert Action Against the Castro Regime. The paper outlined how the U.S. government was planning a powerful propaganda offensive and further stated that Work is already in progress in the creation of a covert intelligence and action organization within Cuba which will be responsive to the orders and directions of the exile opposition. Finally, the U.S. government had created a paramilitary force outside of Cuba for future guerrilla actions, a force that was evident during the failed invasion of Cuba in 1961 at the Bay of Pigs (Playa Giron).

Richard Bissell of the CIA, who was in charge of the Bay of Pigs invasion, later reflected on the U.S. governments role in the attack on Cuba in his book, Reflections of a Cold Warrior. He said that the CIAs main task in Cuba was to fabricate an opposition that was responsible, appealing, and unified. Bissell planned the Bay of Pigs invasion under Eisenhower (a Republican president) and conducted it under John F. Kennedy (a Democratic president).

Failed Opposition

The U.S. government has failed time and again to create a responsible, appealing, and unified opposition. Despite the expenditure of vast amounts of U.S. taxpayer dollars by Washington, it has not been able to create this opposition inside or outside Cuba.

Failure has not stopped the U.S. government from pursuing the same shameless policy. Trumps State Department officials called dissidents their colleagues. The charge daffaires of the U.S. Embassy in Havana, Timothy Zuniga-Brown, received a call from the dissidents warmly at the U.S. Embassy. This was more important to the U.S. than to offer consular services, which have been suspended due to the pandemic. The closure of consular services has forced Cubans with family in the United States to request a visa for the U.S. in Mexico and Guyana. Zuniga-Brown went further than previous U.S. officials: he began to act as driver and advocate for these opponents, who are members of the San-Isidro Movement (MSI) and have proclaimed their sympathies for former U.S. President Trumpincluding MSI leader Denis Solis.

Zuniga-Brown reminds us of a previous U.S. administrator, Romulus M. Saunders, the U.S. minister to Spain during the administration of U.S. President James Polk. Saunders tried to negotiate a secret agreement with Spain in 1848 to buy Cuba for $100 million; the story about the negotiations, however, got leaked and Saunders failed to secure a deal. Polks Secretary of State James Buchanan said of Saunders that the minister to Spain speaks no language but English, and even this he sometimes murders. Buchanan wished that a more skilful agent could have been chosen, but, in fact, the problem was not Saunders failures but the failure of the policy.

One of Cubas most important intellectuals of that period, Domingo del Monte, called Ambassador Saunders a wimp who was very obtuse and weak. It was almost as if del Monte was defining not Saunders but Zuniga-Brown, as well as the overall U.S. policy in Cuba itself.

Cubas Refusal

The Cuban Revolution rejected the colonial depredation of Cuba, the reduction of the island into a great brothel and a grand casino of the United States. Since 1959, the Cuban people have rejected all attempts to overturn the Revolution and to fabricate an opposition for this purpose.

Che Guevara wrote that the Cuban Revolution became Marxist not because of a preconceived attitude toward Marxism but as a logical solution to the problems posed by imperialism.

If the Biden administration wishes to change Trumps chessboard, it should consider this simple point: on the chessboard, Cuba has always been the queen who is proud of her sovereignty. This attitude has always shaped Cubas politics. It is not by chance that two of Cubas vaccines carry the name Sovereign 1 and Sovereign 2.

This article was produced by Globetrotter.

Rosa Miriam Elizalde is a Cuban journalist and founder of the site Cubadebate. She is vice president of both the Union of Cuban Journalists (UPEC) and the Latin American Federation of Journalists (FELAP). She has written and co-written several books including Jineteros en la Habana and Our Chavez. She has received the Juan Gualberto Gomez National Prize for Journalism on multiple occasions for her outstanding work. She is currently a weekly columnist for La Jornada of Mexico City.
Kyle Rittenhouse, the teenager charged with killing two people and injuring another during demonstrations on the streets of Kenosha, Wisconsin, listens to defense attorney John Pierce during an extradition hearing in Lake County in Waukegan, Ill., on Oct. 30, 2020. (Nam Y. Huh/Pool via Reuters/File Photo)

Teenager Charged in Wisconsin Shootings to Face Judge for Alleged Bond Violations

A teenager charged with fatally shooting two people during protests in Wisconsin last August will go before a judge on Thursday after prosecutors said he should be re-arrested for allegedly violating conditions of his $2 million bond.

Prosecutors accuse Kyle Rittenhouse, 18, of violating his bond terms by not informing the court of his address. They are asking a Kenosha County, Wisconsin, judge to increase his bond by $200,000 and issue a warrant for his arrest.

Rittenhouses lawyers have said threats to his safety prompted him to conceal his whereabouts. They said they would be willing to disclose his address under sealan offer declined by prosecutors.

Kyle Rittenhouse (L) with backwards cap, walks along Sheridan Road in Kenosha, Wis., with another armed civilian., on Aug. 25, 2020. (Adam Rogan/The Journal Times via AP)

Rittenhouse was due to appear before Kenosha County Circuit Judge Bruce Schroeder at 1:15 p.m. CST for a bond hearing, according to court records.

Rittenhouse had traveled on Aug. 25, 2020, from his home in nearby Antioch, Illinois, in a self-appointed role to protect the streets of Kenosha where the police shooting of Jacob Blake had sparked large protests against police brutality and racism.

He has been charged in Kenosha County with first-degree homicide and five other criminal counts related to the shootings, in which two people were killed and a third was wounded.

Rittenhouses legal team has said their client feared for his life when he fired his semi-automatic rifle, and have indicated they plan to argue self-defense.

Rittenhouse was extradited in late October to Kenosha to face the charges.

By Nathan Layne in Wilton
Abuja  In what appeared to be unknotting of the plot in the uncertainty surrounding the political fate of former minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, yesterday affirmed that the former presidential spokesman has joined the All Progressives Congress (APC).

But in a swift response to Bello's claim, Fani-Kayode declared that he remained a bonafide member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Speculations that the former minister was defecting to APC were rife early this week when pictures of his meeting with national chairman of the APC Caretaker/Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) and Yobe State governor, Mai Mala Buni, in the company of the Governor Bello in Abuja surfaced.

Before meeting with Buni, Fani-Kayode had revealed that he had fruitful meetings with Kogi State governor and Senator Smart Adeyemi separately at his Abuja residence.

However, while he explained that his meetings with the APC chieftains was on building bridges to address challenges facing the country, Governor Bello declared to a crowd of APC supporters yesterday that Fani-Kayode had decamped to the APC.

Addressing the crowd in a video that went viral on social media, Bello, who chairs the Sensitisation and Mobilisation Committee of the APC registration and revalidation exercise, said, "Our brother and friend, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode has joined our party in good faith. He's joining our party to add his own positive energy and make contributions into ensuring that APC is a party to beat."

He also pointed out that Fani-Kayode is one of the foundation members of the APC.

The governor added that he was holding talks with the leaders of other political parties besides the PDP.

But in a swift reaction, Fani-Kayode denied dumping PDP where he served as minister of Aviation and later spokesman of former President Goodluck Jonathan's presidential campaign in 2015.

The minister in his tweeter handle said, "Though we have had meetings across party lines and we are in a season of political consultation I have not left the PDP."

After his meeting with the APC leaders on Monday, the former minister met with his former boss, President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday evening at the latter's Abuja residence.

"My team and I had the honour and privilege of spending a wonderful evening with President Goodluck Jonathan in his Abuja home last night. None like him," the minister tweeted on Wednesday without revealing details of the meeting.

Speculations were also rife of Jonathan's political future shortly after Buni led some APC governors to pay him a visit at his Abuja residence last year.

However, the APC national chairman recently dispelled the rumour that the party was plotting to field Jonathan as its candidate in 2023.

Everybody In South East Want To Join APC - Umahi

Meanwhile, the Ebonyi State governor, David Umahi, declared yesterday that APC registration forms sent to the South East are a far cry from what was expected, adding that everybody in the South East wants to belong to the APC.

Umahi who stated this after a meeting with APC caretaker committee chairman, Mai Mala Buni at the party's national secretariat said he has requested for more registration forms for the South East.

Speaking with journalists after the meeting, he described as "world class" the quality of the sensitisation, mobilisation and organisation of the ongoing APC membership registration, revalidationm and update exercise.

The governor who is also chairman of the South East Governors Forum said, "I complained to him that the hundreds of forms at the polling units is a far cry from what we expected. Everybody in the South East wants to belong to the APC."

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Umahi who was visiting the party's national secretariat for the first time since he joined APC last November hailed the party leadership for doing a good job in managing the party.

He said, "The ongoing registration, arrangements and logistics and the intentions are very wonderful. It is first class because I have never seen it in any party administration. So it is important I come to commend him and to also commend the staff who are working with him. This is essentially the reasons why I have come.

"Mr. President has actually helped the South East so much. And in every of my broadcast or media chats I have always enumerated what Mr. President has done for our people. And Ebonyi State is a shining example of the intervention by Mr. President".

Umahi's commendation of the registration exercise comes days after former chairman of APC, Chief Bisi Akande and Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, questioned the legality of the exercise
Lawmakers on marijuana study committee plan out-of-state site visits

Lawmakers want a firsthand look at legal cannabis operations in response to South Dakotans voting to loosen their state's pot laws last fall.
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Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-11 18:33:18|Editor: huaxia

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MALE, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- Maldivian Minister of Tourism Abdulla Mausoom said the government has revised tourism arrival projections from 1 million to 1.5 million in 2021 due to the COVID-19 vaccination, local media reported on Thursday.

Speaking in the parliament, Mausoom said the country's early vaccination program could help boost the tourism sector and increase spent nights to 10 million.

Mausoom said that efforts were made to develop tourist facilities in the north and south of the country, including two new resorts in the island of Addu and the beginning of chartered flights to the Gan International Airport.

The Maldives has allowed 614 tourist facilities to resume operations under health protocols, representing a total bed capacity of over 43,000. Enditem
Burundi marked unity day last week, a few days after sentencing of the coup plotters of 2015 to life imprisonment.

The more than 30 individuals were also fined to compensate the victims of the protests that ensued, resulting in the death of more than 1,000 people.

Although the judgement was delivered on Tuesday last week, it was only made public last Thursday by the Supreme Court.

In the ruling, the court named more than 30 people including former military officials, journalists, leaders of civil society organisations and opposition members. They were found guilty of assassinations, offences against state authority and destruction of property.

"The Supreme Court consequently condemns them to life penal servitude accompanied by an additional penalty of prohibition from exercising a public function, professional or social activity for 20 years," the court ruling reads.

"The above mentioned have to pay the state an amount of 1.15 billion franc ($690,000) compensate the Ministry of Defence 361 million francs ($186,000), compensate the ruling party CNDD-FDD 180 million francs ($93,000) and compensate [Rema FM] one of the private radio stations 4.213 billion francs ($2.2 million)," reads the ruling.

The ruling comes as the country is seeking to repair the damage caused by the 2015 aborted coup and the late president Pierre Nkurunziza's controversial term in office.

Hundreds of thousands of Burundians fled to neighbouring countries and more than 1,000 people were killed according to the UN Human Rights Watch.

President Nkurunziza was at the time in neighbouring Tanzania attending the 13th Extraordinary Summit of the EAC Heads of State, which had been convened to discuss the situation in Burundi. Army general Godefroid Niyombare was the instigator of the coup.
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Things are looking increasingly bleaker for Love Island 2021, as one the top bosses on the show has admitted it might not be able to go ahead this year.

Carolyn McCall, Chief Executive at ITV, was asked recently where the show stands, after the summer series was axed in 2020 amid the COVID-19 crisis.

Her answer: 'I genuinely dont know.'

Not looking good: Things are looking increasingly bleaker for Love Island 2021, as one the top bosses on the show has admitted it might not be able to go ahead this year [pictured: host Laura Whitmore]

As reports The Sun, McCall added: 'We will want to put Love Island on air because its been off air for a little while. We didnt do it last summer.

'We are looking at all our options at the moment. The pandemic makes it hard.'

The show debuted its first winter edition in January 2020, just as the global health crisis began ramping up.

Widespread illness, restricted travel and social-distancing meant the production could not return in its usual summer slot in June.

Bleaker by the dozen: Carolyn McCall, Chief Executive at ITV, was asked recently where the show stands, after the summer series was axed in 2020 amid the COVID-19 crisis. Her answer - 'I genuinely dont know' [pictured: the cast of 2016]

The series usually films in Majorca, with the winter edition shot in South Africa. But travel to both locations are currently disallowed, with Brits unsure as to what summer 2021 will hold.

This comes as it was reported the series could be filmed in Devon or Cornwall, as show bosses prepare to change locations to the UK seaside this year.

According to reports on Saturday, those behind the scenes have been keen to line-up some locations on home shores after the show was postponed last year.

Coming home: This comes as it was reported the series could be filmed in Devon or Cornwall, as show bosses prepare to change locations to the UK seaside this year

A source told The Sun: 'As a precautionary measure, producers have looked at several UK sites to hold the series, so if travel restrictions remain strict they have a back-up plan.

'Cornwall has been optioned, as well as Torquay, the Isles of Scilly and even Barry Island, where Gavin and Stacey was filmed.

'ITV bosses are also worried about a fan backlash against the show if contestants are allowed to go away claiming work reasons but the rest of the country is still stuck at home.'

MailOnline has contacted Love Island representatives, who declined to comment.

Changes: While the summer series is usually filmed in Spain, show bosses may be unable to fly contestants over there because of travel restrictions [pictured: the 2020 cast]

On Friday, Georgia Harrison said that Love Island will go ahead this summer, adding that TV bosses have already started interviewing hopefuls.

The reality star, 26, who appeared in series three of the hit show, revealed it is set for a return in just a matter of months in a new interview with The Sun.

Admitting she's 'jealous' of those applying for the upcoming series, Georgia teased that she knows a few of the people hoping to go into the villa and find love.

It's back! On Friday, Georgia Harrison said Love Island will go ahead this summer, adding TV bosses have already started interviewing hopefuls

She said: 'I've heard of a few people who are in the interview process and it's just so exciting - I wish I could go back in time and be in their position again.

'I don't want you to say who because I might get into trouble for that - they might get dropped. It's just friends of friends - it's just a few people I know.'

Georgia claimed that she'd 'heard from people at ITV' that filming the winter series in the new location was 'a bit of a struggle' and they'd be keen to return to Spain.

Missed: The popular ITV2 show, hosted by Laura Whitmore, has not aired since February 2020 after being postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic [pictured: the 2018 cast]

Applications: It comes after ITV shared they were on the hunt for a new crop of islanders as they invited singletons to apply for a place in the villa at the beginning of the month

She said: 'It would be weird if it was filmed anywhere apart from Mallorca... I think if they had the opportunity, they would go back to Europe.'

It was reported that Love Island bosses were swamped with over 100,000 applications for the upcoming series.

The popular ITV2 show is hosted by Laura Whitmore.

Update 7:55 a.m. Friday

The winter weather advisory for the area continues through 10 a.m. Freezing drizzle is possible in San Antonio and throughout the Hill Country according to the National Weather Service. Freezing drizzle is expected to end late morning and ice could still occur on elevated surfaces.

Update 11:30 a.m.:

The National Weather Service has extended a Winter Weather Advisory to include San Antonio until midnight tonight. This means light freezing rain and sleet are possible through most of the evening. This is due to an upper level disturbance and cold temperatures.

Travel is discouraged. If you are on the roads please use caution for possible ice on the roadways that will make the roads slippery.

If the temps drop in San Antonio to below freezing then freezing rain may occur and accumulations could be seen on roadways.

Update 10:30 a.m.:

The National Weather Service has issued an advisory and warning for areas to the north of San Antonio. A Winter Weather Advisory remains in effect for areas in the Hill Country including New Braunfels, Lockhart and Bandera until midnight tonight. This means watch out for light freezing rain and sleet. This precipitation could also bring a light ice glaze on bridges, roadways and elevated surfaces.

A Winter Storm Warning is also in effect for the cities of Boerne, Blanco and Austin until midnight tonight. This means significant icing is expected with ice accumulations up to one quarter of an inch. Please be careful if traveling around those areas as hazardous conditions are expected.

Be prepared for possible power outages in areas to the north of San Antonio where the advisories and warnings are issued and try to stay off the roadways.

Previous Story:

Get ready for some bone chilling weather coming this week that will especially be felt on Valentine's Day night. This is due to multiple rounds of cold air surges that will make their way to the San Antonio area and provide all the right factors to see some type of winter precipitation. Maybe even snow.

Wednesday (High 54 and Low 46): Currently San Antonio is behind a cold front, therefore our temps will only drop through the evening. San Antonio could will also see rain tonight with possible thunderstorm activity. However, the Hill Country may see freezing rain with temps set to drop in the low 30s overnight. Currently there is a Winter Weather Advisory for the Hill Country from midnight this evening to Thursday at noon. This means that light freezing rain and ice accumulations are possible for cities including Georgetown, Kerrville and Fredericksburg.

Thursday (High 47 and Low 38): The rain will continue through Thursday afternoon with possible rainfall accumulations of 1 inch in isolated areas. Overall, it will be an unpleasant day with high temps in the 40s, rain and a north wind with gusts up to 25 mph. This means the wind chill factor will make temps feel like they are in the 30s and feel like the 20s in the Hill Country. The rain should end by the Thursday evening, but if you think this day will be the coldest  think again.

READ MORE: Metro Health signed up 5,000-plus high-risk San Antonians for COVID-19 vaccines through outreach

Friday (High 46 and Low 38): Partly cloudy skies will allow for a possible peak of sunshine in San Antonio and temps fairly the same as Thursday. This is the day when San Antonians will have a little break from the rain and may want to make your preparations for the freezing temps to come by the weekend.

Saturday (High 42 and Low 34) A slight chance of shower activity is possible with a 20 percent chance of rain for San Antonio. However, the rain could become a wintry mix for the Hill Country. Temps will be near normal for this time of year.

Valentine's Day (High 34 and Low 27): The Arctic air should arrive in San Antonio Sunday night with high temps barely making it just a couple of degrees above freezing. With the combination of dropping temps and the Arctic air a wintry mix event is likely for the Alamo City by the evening. The best chances to see a mix of either freezing rain, sleet, or snow is late evening near midnight.

READ MORE: Protect your pets during the cold weather in San Antonio or face a fine, ACS warns

President's Day (High 32 and Low 24): The wintry mix will continue into Monday morning and start to move out by the afternoon. Since temps will be in the mid 20s for the morning the chance for more wintry mix to include snowfall are possible in the San Antonio area. The Hill Country could possibility see several inches. The forecast could still change as the week progresses but one thing is certain, San Antonio is in for a stretch of literally freezing days ahead.

Teresa Velasco is a digital producer for mySA and the San Antonio Express-News. She has a bachelors degree in broadcast meteorology. She uses data provided by the National Center for Atmospheric Research, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and others for her forecasts.
The cold war between members of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) and other health workers deepened on Wednesday when the Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) asked the leadership of the senate to probe the February 1, 2021, public hearing on the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (Repeal & Re-enactment) Bill 2020.

The Chairman of JOHESU, Comrade Joy Bio Josiah, in response to the earlier statement by the NMA, accusing it of blackmailing the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Dr Ibrahim Oloriegbe, said the allegation was a figment of imagination of the NMA hierarchy.

Josiah, in a statement, said, "For the records and umpteenth time, we assert boldly and responsibly that Dr Oloriegbe who has complained of the tyrannical propensities of a perceived political dynasty until fate and fortune smiled on him in the 2019 senatorial elections when he defeated then incumbent Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, has been more tyrannical than any other medical doctor chairman of the Senate Committee on Health.

"In the last 22 years of our democracy, at least the following, which include late Senator Martins from Rivers West, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa now Governor of Delta State and Dr Lanre Tejuosho from Ogun Central had been Chairmen of the Senate Committee on Health. JOHESU/AHPA or any of the other health professional bodies never accused these medics of bias at hearings."

JOHESU insisted that Oloriegbe at the February 1, 2021, hearing recognised his medical constituents above and over other stakeholders.

"At the public hearing of February 1, 2021, JOHESU vividly declares again that Oloriegbe gave MDCN, NMA and a representative of pathologists the floor three times spanning over 15 minutes, while professions like pharmacy, medical laboratory science, nursing, radiography and JOHESU representatives got two minutes each to canvass their positions.

"We must make the point that a third public hearing at the National Assembly even recognised personal contributions and not only group representations. Attempts to draw Oloriegbe's attention to these facts have always been met by threats of eviction by the sergeant-at-arms."

JOHESU, therefore, asked the senate to probe the February 1, 2021, hearing and reorganise the Senate Committee on Health.

The Senate Committee on Health dismissed accusations of unfair treatment of health professionals during the public hearing.

The Chairman of the committee, Senator Ibrahim Oloriegbe, told Daily Trust on phone that all the associations and unions present at the event were allowed to make presentations.

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The lawmaker also debunked the allegation of giving preferential treatment to one association against others, saying all were treated with fairness despite time constraint.

He said the noise was as a result of inter-professional rivalry among the health professionals, noting that the public hearing was not a platform for unions to play politics.

He said, "We allowed everybody to speak. We also received memoranda from them, which I assured them that their views would be accommodated.

"No association or union was denied from expressing its views on the bills.

"We don't do public hearing for unions or associations to play their politics. All these accusations were as a result of inter professional rivalry among them."

He added that, "We are not part of whatever politics they are playing. I don't have any interest except the interest of Nigeria."
Isreal Afeare, an aide to popular entertainer Davido, has tendered a public apology to Nigerian disc jockey Florence Ifeoluwa Otedola, pro...

Isreal Afeare, an aide to popular entertainer Davido, has tendered a public apology to Nigerian disc jockey Florence Ifeoluwa Otedola, professionally known as DJ Cuppy.

Isreal tendered the apology after DJ Cuppys lawyers demanded an apology from him over his claim that Zlatan didnt make any money from the hit song, Gelato.

This came after Cuppy took to Twitter to reveal that Zlatan has blocked her on WhatsApp and Instagram for over 10 months.

Israel who is Davidos logistics manager and friend to Zlatan, then revealed what allegedly went wrong between Cuppy and Zlatan.

He alleged that Zlatan didnt make a dime from working with Cuppy and that Zlatan was left to fund his bills after Cuppy invited him to Abuja for her fundraiser.





The allegation led to several backlashes, as Nigerians dragged Cuppy for being stingy and greedy.

However, DJ Cuppy accused Isreal DMW of defamation of character and launched legal proceedings against him.

The billionaire daughter also demanded a letter of undertaking to cease and desist from publishing these allegations or similar allegations and also compensation or further actions will be taken against him.

Isreal has now taken to his page where he made the allegation to apologise to DJ Cuppy.

Watch his apology video below:
On Thursday, educators in Sao Paulos municipal public school system went on strike against the reopening of schools, joining some 180,000 colleagues in the state network who began a strike earlier this week. Sao Paulo City Hall had ordered its approximately 60,000 teachers, as well as other school workers, to return to schools today to organize the beginning of face-to-face classes next Monday, February 15.

The strike was called by the unions in the face of massive opposition among educators to the criminal policy of the Sao Paulo City Hall and the state government, both controlled by the Brazilian Social Democratic Party (PSDB), directly supported by Claudio Fonseca, the president of SINPEEM, the largest union in the citys schools.

Brazilian teachers on strike last year in Recife. (Facebook)

A referendum on the strike among SINPEEM members was answered by 5,251 educators, and 90 percent declared themselves in favor of the strike. Workers denounced the union for not properly publicizing the vote.

This event is an important development in the movement among educators in Brazil and internationally in challenging the capitalist policy of putting profit interests above the social interests of preserving lives in the face of the pandemic. Other strikes have been declared in the Brazilian states of Rio de Janeiro and Parana.

COVID-19 has already taken 234,945 lives in Brazil, and thousands of people are still dying every day in the country. On Wednesday, another 1,357 deaths and 60,271 cases were recorded. New, more infectious variants of the virus are spreading rapidly throughout the population, threatening to make these numbers explode.

Sao Paulo is one of the epicenters of the coronavirus in the country. The state surpassed 55,000 deaths from the disease this week, with 332 new deaths recorded Wednesday. Reopening the schools in Sao Paulo means sending 13 million people, or 32 percent of the states population between students and educators, into the streets and enclosed classrooms, with an incalculable devastating potential.

On Tuesday, just one day after ordering the return to in-person classes, the Sao Paulo government declared the closure of seven schools after infected employees had contact with their colleagues. Educators are already reporting COVID-19 infections and deaths in 100 state schools, many of which remain open.

The growth of the teachers strike in Sao Paulo is a powerful response to the coordinated campaign of the media along with the federal, state and local governments to attack the scientific truth that schools are one of the main vectors for the spread of the coronavirus in society.

In an editorial last Sunday, Folha de Sao Paulo, the newspaper with the largest circulation in the nation, insisted that The Time for School had come. The newspaper hypocritically tried to dissociate itself from Brazils fascistic President Jair Bolsonaro, for whom the schools should never have been closed, while defending the same homicidal policy.

Fraudulently characterizing the reopening of the schools as a flexibilization ... necessary and well-founded, Folha claimed, The fears on the part of parents and teachers are understandable, but it is misplaced to view the issue [the reopening of schools] as a dispute between defenders of life and insensitive rulers.

This perspective directly represents the views of the Brazilian capitalist oligarchy, which expanded its fortunes during the pandemic, while inequality reached record levels, clashing with the interests of the working masses.

As the newspaper was forced to admit, the educators strike is supported by working class families, who view the sociopathic measures promoted by the government with suspicion, if not repulsion.

The most recent poll released by PoderData last Sunday points out that 58 percent of Brazilians believe that schools should remain closed, while only 37 percent declared themselves in favor of reopening them. This has been expressed in demonstrations in support of teachers in Sao Paulo, such as a protest by students and their families in the southern zone of the capital against the unsafe reopening of their school, reported by G1 on Monday.

The movement in Sao Paulo is receiving wide support nationally. A strike by educators in Brazils largest state, considered the spearhead of the ruling classs campaign to reopen schools, is agitating educators across the country.

A teacher from Amazonas responded to the World Socialist Web Site article about the strike in Sao Paulo. All solidarity to the teachers of Sao Paulo. In Amazonas, last year, starting in September in the state network, science teachers were ignored, and we were forced to return to the classrooms, and this factor certainly contributed to the sad reality that we are living today. Our routine is to offer condolences to the families of colleagues; educators cannot pay with their lives for the insanity of the authorities. IN-PERSON CLASSES, ONLY AFTER THE VACCINE.

Teachers in Pernambuco, where a strike was launched last September, are protesting the betrayal by their trade union, Sintepe, which is collaborating with the government to reopen schools. One teacher reported, Sintepe sat down with the Paulo Camara government [from the Brazilian Socialist Party, PSB] to draw up the protocols for the return to face-to-face classes and even participated on a commission with people from the government, visiting the schools and giving approval [for] the government to reopen them.

Another Pernambuco teacher questioned, What is the goal of a vaccination, especially now and for COVID? The goal is the defense of life. But for us, the government wants us to be able to teach, simply. The government doesnt care about our health. And here comes Sintepe, with the greatest interest in solving the governments problem, wanting teachers to be vaccinated soon, instead of demanding that they provide income for everyone to stay at home and have quality equipment and internet for distance learning and quality work for the teachers, besides organizing the physical space of the schools for the future, for when classes are back with health and safety.

While education workers argue that the reopening of schools is non-negotiable, that it is not about solving the governments problem but about the defense of life, of providing income for everyone to stay at home. Unions across Brazil argue the opposite.

In Sao Paulo, SINPEEMs strike call stated that the action will continue until measures are implemented to ensure health safety for face-to-face return. The union does not make clear what measures it is referring to. It also advocated its own boards authorization to decide to call a strike during the pandemic period, that is, without a vote by the workers. This self-proclaimed right is an attempted coup against the workers, allowing the union to break the strike at any time.

Workers in Sao Paulo and all over Brazil urgently need to form rank-and-file committees to take the leadership of the movement into their own hands. It is necessary to fight to unify the educators in the municipal and state public networks, in the private network, and in the different states of the country, which are being divided by the unions.
Sudan declared on Thursday 48-hours of state of emergency, curfew and closure of schools in the state of East Darfur, according to Al Arabiya.

On Wednesday, Sudan swore in a new Cabinet that includes rebel ministers as part of a power-sharing deal that transitional authorities struck last year with a rebel alliance.

The swearing-in ceremony took place amid violent protests in several Sudanese cities over dire economic conditions, forcing authorities to impose a curfew and close schools temporarily.

More to follow

Short link:


The Daily Beast

Screenshot/YouTubeA Christian diet guru and six other people are presumed dead after her small plane crashed into the waters of Tennessee lake on Saturday morning. Authorities were called to the Percy Priest Lake around 11 a.m., not long after the plane took off from the nearby Smyrna Rutherford County Airport. Late Saturday evening, investigators said they believed all seven passengers had perished. The cause of the crash is still under investigation. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Joe Lara (@joelaraofficial) The plane, a Cessna C501, belonged Gwen Shamblin Lara, founder of the Remnant Fellowship Church and author of The Weigh Down Workshop, and her husband William J. Lara, who went by Joe. The couple lived in nearby Brentwood and had registered the plane via their company JL&GL Productions LP. The aircraft has not been located, but Tennessee Highway Patrol told News Channel 5 that officers located debris consistent with a Cessna C501 and that a small plane had been seen descending into the water near a boat ramp early Saturday.Laras daughter, Elizabeth Hannah, sent a text message to members of the Remnant Fellowship Church saying that her mother and father were aboard the aircraft when it was forced to make a quick, controlled landing. All the planes passengers had ties to the church, including Hannahs own husband Brandon, according to her text. The others aboard were David and Jennifer Martin and Jonathan and Jessica Walters, according to authorities.My brother and I are asking for immediate prayers right now, as we have just gotten word that Gwen and Joe Laras plane had to go down, Hannah wrote before authorities said everyone appeared to have been killed. More information to come, but be in prayerand be at peace, the message continued. GOD IS IN CONTROL, and we will not stop moving forward with WHAT GOD WANTS with this church.Read more at The Daily Beast.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.
The meetings begin each day not long after dawn. Dozens of aides report in, coffee in hand, joining by Zoom from agency headquarters, their homes or even adjacent offices.

The sessions start with the latest sobering statistics to focus the work: new coronavirus cases, people in hospitals, deaths. But they also include the latest signs of progress: COVID-19 tests administered, vaccine doses shipped, shots injected.

Where the last administration addressed the pandemic with the vernacular of a natural disaster  using the Federal Emergency Management Agencys mantra of a federally supported, state managed and locally executed response  Bidens team is borrowing from the Pentagon and the doctrine of overwhelming force.

Were at war with this virus, COVID-19 coordinator Jeff Zients said in an interview with The Associated Press between Sunday morning meetings on the response. Were taking every resource and tool the federal government has to battle on every front.

It's a strategy facing urgent tests after Biden inherited an inconsistent vaccine distribution plan and with the emerging threats from new virus variants.

The goal Biden aides say, is as simple as it is ambitious: After a year of being on defense they want to take the fight to the virus  to overwhelm the problem, a kind of mantra for the team.

The campaign is being waged in schools and sterile pharmaceutical plants, on the vast blacktop of stadium parking lots and along the sidewalks outside Americans homes. To defeat the virus, Bidens team must oversee a herculean logistical effort to put shots into hundreds of millions of arms, but also overcome vaccine hesitance, politically charged science skepticism and fatigue across all corners of society after nearly a year of hardship.

For Biden, beating back the pandemic is a defining challenge of his presidency, testing his central promise to the American people that he can better manage the outbreak than his predecessor. His team seemingly day by day rolls out an almost dizzying array of new efforts and appeals large and small  everything from building a surgical glove factory in the U.S. by year's end to asking Americans to wear masks while walking their dogs.

The central question for Biden and his team, one that cant be answered yet: Will it all add up to enough?

Theyre taking exactly the right approach, said Dr. Leana Wen, an emergency physician and public health professor at George Washington University who previously served as Baltimores health commissioner. The federal government is taking responsibility, instead of leaving everything to state and local governments and blaming others when things go wrong.

For all of the activity, though, Biden knows that there are more grim statistics to come before Americans can return to any semblance of the before days." Some projections show the death toll could top that of the Civil War by the beginning of summer.

Since he took office, Bidens team has attacked the problem on multiple fronts, unleashed billions of federal dollars to boost vaccinations and testing and developing a model to deploy active-duty troops to supplement National Guard members putting shots into arms. Mass vaccination sites are set to open in California, Texas and New York in coming weeks.

As concerns grow about potentially dangerous virus mutations, Biden aides view the vaccines less as a silver bullet and more as part of a series of moves that taken together offer the prospect of real progress.

Were not going to sugarcoat in any way how hard this is, but were going to demonstrate clear evidence of progress and action, Zients said.

Biden is already well on pace to exceed his goal of 100 million vaccinations in his first 100 days in office. Its an assuredly achievable goal that some consider inadequate but also a break from the off-base predictions of the Trump administration that undercut public confidence.

Wen urged the Biden administration to set a more aggressive goal to increase the pace of vaccinations to 3 million per day. I think they just need to be a lot more ambitious when they talk to the public," she said.

Beyond the focus on sheer numbers of shots delivered, there is question of whose arms.

New distributions to community health centers and a pharmacy program are being rolled out this week to allow the White House to directly steer vaccines to underserved communities.

The idea is not without critics. On a call with the White House on Tuesday, Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson appealed to the administration to work through states rather than alternative distribution avenues.

In one key instance, the more hands-on federal response has meant the Biden White House has taken a step back.

Where the Trump White House got involved in editing CDC guidance for businesses, travel and schools  prompting complaints about meddling  the Biden administration is leaving it to career scientists.

New, more prescriptive federal guidance on schools is expected as soon as Friday. While Biden in December promised the majority of our schools can be open by the end of my first 100 days, his administration now says the goal covers just K-8 schools and will count success as being open just a single day per week.

That's drawing criticism from some Republicans who say Biden is setting the bar too low.

One early success of the Biden plan was born out of conversations with governors frustrated about constantly fluctuating vaccine supplies, which led some states to hold back first doses to ensure enough second shots would be available if deliveries dropped. Bidens team pledged to give states three weeks notice on what's coming.

Bidens national strategy for the pandemic provides the roadmap for the months ahead: more testing, clear guidance, and more and equitable vaccinations.

But the path to a new normal is still unclear. The Biden team is already working with pharmaceutical companies on booster shots for the variants and theyre building infrastructure to ramp up testing, since COVID-19 could be part of life for years to come.

Bidens call for Americans to wear a mask for his first 100 days will undoubtedly be extended, aides say. Other goals are likely to be adjusted upward too.

"Well set the next set of goals as we make progress against the first set of goals," Zients said.

___

Associated Press writers Hannah Fingerhut and Jonathan Lemire contributed to this report.
Can specific foods make your Valentines Day more romantic? We cant make any promises, but history tells us that certain foods have a longstanding reputation as aphrodisiacs. Maybe its because they stimulate the senses in powerful ways, create a sensation of heat, seem quite exotic (and therefore erotic) or um, simply remind us of certain body parts.

Although science may not be behind these theories, most people would agree that love and romance are intangible. They rely on feelings, not logic, and were ready for all the feels on Feb. 14.

If youd like to try foods widely rumored to be aphrodisiacs, heres where to find some scrumptious examples in Alabama.

Artichokes(Image via Pixabay)

ARTICHOKES

Are you brave enough to cook artichokes? If so, youll want to try the whole globe artichokes at Trader Joes in Birmingham. Although youll have to be careful during prep -- watch out for spines! -- Trader Joes offers a simple and elegant recipe for Roasted Lemon-Garlic Artichokes. If you prefer to order out, and your sweetie likes to snack, consider the sinfully rich Spinach & Artichoke Dip (with parmesan cream sauce) at Bricktops in Birmingham. Its a $10 appetizer on the lunch menu, $12 on the dinner menu. Another option: Roots & Revelry in Birmingham has stuffed artichoke (with Alabama goat cheese and roasted tomatoes) on its Valentines Day agenda this year. Its part of a four-course, fixed-price menu with a glass of French champagne, $85.

Asparagus(Image via Pixabay)

ASPARAGUS

Asparagus is a side dish, but it doesnt have to be an afterthought plopped on your dinner plate. Why not try the Farm-to-Table Vegetable Tasting at Cafe Dupont in Birmingham? Priced at $25, it features a mouth-watering selection of asparagus, eggplant, fried mushrooms, fried okra, baby carrots and zucchini, according to a sample dinner menu on the restaurants website. Youll get extra points if your Valentine is a vegetarian. If youre looking for creative ways to cook asparagus, AL.com has posted recipes for asparagus risotto, soup and timbale.

Chocolate(Image via Pixabay)

CHOCOLATE

In 1988, Eddie Murphy comedy Coming to America introduced moviegoers to the sounds of fictional R&B band Sexual Chocolate. In 2006, a clinical study introduced people who read listicles to the sexual properties of actual chocolate. In 2013, Huntsvilles Pizzelles Confections began making an array of post-modern, small-batch chocolates worth lusting after. Specimens include the Sexyback, salted caramel in a dark chocolate shell; the Date Night, milk chocolate ganache with Grand Marnier, orange zest and tamarind; and El Machete, dark chocolate ganache with cayenne peppers, cinnamon, coffee liqueur and vanilla bean in dark chocolate.

Figs(Image via Pixabay)

FIGS

Eating fresh figs is a messy business, and theres really no need to hunt for them out of season. If you want to get figgy with it on Valentines Day, consider dried figs, which can be found at stores ranging from Walmart to Whole Foods, priced from $2-$20. Just open the package and pop a fig into your mouth, or feed it to your loved one. Fun fact to know and tell: Figs arent really fruits, theyre a special kind of inverted flowers. Although many people dismiss figs as a geriatric delicacy or the sticky stuff inside bad cookies, they are, in fact, something awesome: enclosed flowers that bloom modestly inward, unlike the flamboyant showoffs on other plants, Ben Crair explained in The New Yorker. Bite a fig in half and youll discover a core of tiny blossoms.

Honey(Image via Pixabay)

HONEY

Must we explain why something so sticky qualifies as an aphrodisiac? Hippocrates prescribed honey for sexual vigor, according to PBS, and is even a symbol of fertility and procreation in some cultures. So how do we get our hands on a pot? Named best honey farmer by the Alabama Farmers Federation, the Eastaboga Bee Company supplies honey (and other products made from it, plus beeswax) to customers throughout the Southeast. Alabama breweries use the honey in multiple beers, while coffee houses add it for flavoring. Our Alabama wildflower honey comes straight from our apiary, the company site says. This honey has a sweet and mild taste that many consider among the best in the world. Made using Cordovan Italian bees on a family farm in Calhoun County near Lincoln, a 16-ounce bottle of raw Alabama homemade honey will cost you $12.99. Theres also Fayettes Golden Eagle Syrup, a unique blend of corn syrup, high fructose corn syrup, cane sugar syrup, cane molasses and pure honey. Check your local grocer, or grab a 2-pack of 15-ounce jars for $8. And be careful. It can get real sticky real fast.

Oysters(Image via Pixabay)

OYSTERS

While most people wouldnt class 2020 as a great year, Alabamas oyster harvesters did all right: They pulled in nearly twice the previous years haul for the best harvest in at least six years. That means your seafood shop should be able to supply you, and your significant others favorite seafood restaurant should have good stuff on the menu. Some Mobile-area options with oyster right there in the name include the opportunity to compare a variety of farmed oysters at The Hummingbird Way Oyster Bar; a whole slate of options at Wintzells Oyster House, ranging from raw on the half-shell and chargrilled oysters to Oysters Monterey with jalapenos, smoked bacon and melted cheddar cheese; and a seafood platter with fried oysters at The Original Oyster House. And thats just scratching the shell, so to speak. If youre cooking at home and you want to show you went the extra mile, consider buying from one of Alabamas oyster farms, such as Navy Cove Oysters or Murder Point Oysters.

Pomegranate(Image via Pixabay)

POMEGRANATES

These juicy fruits with edible seeds have a long history as a symbol of fertility and a spur for romance. Pomegranates are seasonal, however, and February isnt the right time to find fresh examples. Not to worry; theres always POM Wonderful, a brand of bottled pomegranate juice available in supermarkets and other stores throughout Alabama. (Its typically priced at $3-$4 for a 16-ounce bottle.) The POM Wonderful website offers recipes for several cocktails using the stuff, from a Pomegranate Vermouth Sparkler to a Pomegranate Moscow Mule. For folks who dont imbibe, theres a POM Passion Smoothie.

Spicy chili peppers(Image via Pixabay)

SPICY CHILI PEPPERS

Ready to turn up the heat? We recommend the Shocker Burger at Jack Browns Beer & Burger Joint in Birmingham or Huntsville. Heres the mouth-numbing blueprint: A Wagyu beef patty topped with fresh Jalapenos, fresh Habaneros, house-made Shocker sauce and two slices of Pepper Jack cheese. This ultra-spicy combination hurts so good, and is priced at $8.49.

Strawberries(Image via Pixabay)

STRAWBERRIES

On Valentines Day, we want a dessert thats sinfully delicious. Case in point: the strawberry cake at Edgars Bakery. Its a best seller for the company, which has locations in Birmingham, Tuscaloosa, Huntsville and more. Our famous strawberry cake is made with strawberry infused cake layers and topped with a fluffy strawberry cream cheese icing, the bakerys website says. We assume a 6-inch cake ($26) will be sufficient for an intimate evening, but Edgars has six sizes of strawberry bliss, topping out at a sheet cake that serves 90 people ($108).

Truffles(Image via Pixabay)

TRUFFLES

No, were not talking about candy. Truffles are a rare (and expensive) type of edible fungi, and youll typically find them prepared in delectable dishes at fancy restaurants. To make things easy and economical, we recommend food items thatll give you introduction to the flavor of truffles, such as truffle oil, truffle butter, truffle cheeses, truffle salt, truffle mac and cheese bites, and even truffle popcorn. Youll find those at Whole Foods stores in Alabama, priced at about $3-$30. We also hear wonderful things about Truffle Fresca, a fresh cheese spread with finely chopped black truffles, at Dayspring Dairy in Gallant. (Its $8.50 for a 5-ounce container.)

Watermelon(Image via Pixabay)

WATERMELON

Watermelon in February? Even if you love this sweet and fleshy fruit, its probably wise to skip it. Watermelon is way out of season, and there are other ways to get your watermelon fix. We like the watermelon frozen fruit bars from Outshine or Whole Fruit, available at many supermarkets for $4-$5 per box. In the candy aisles, youre likely to find watermelon-flavored Jolly Ranchers, which some folks use as a sweet vodka infusion. Watermelon vodka shots, anyone?
[February 11, 2021] SR One Adds Venture Partners to Deepen Operational Expertise

SR One, a trans-Atlantic venture capital firm investing in life sciences companies, announced today that Chris Chai and Peter Van Vlasselaer, Ph.D. have joined the firm as Venture Partners. Both individuals have strong track records in the formation and evolution of early-stage biotechnology companies, with an emphasis on drug development, fundraising, and operations. "Chris and Peter bring an extraordinary depth of financial and drug-hunting expertise to our team. As we move forward to build on our newly independent fund and portfolio of emerging life sciences companies, their insight, perspective, and experience will add to the expertise already resident in our trans-Atlantic team," said Simeon J. George, M.D., SR One Chief Executive Officer. "Chris and Peter have long-standing relationships with the firm, having held senior management positions in successful SR One portfolio companies. They bring proven track records as well as a demonstrated ability to create highly productive working relationships with scientific founders, fellow management and other key stakeholders," Dr. George added. Chris Chai, Venture Partner, Capital Markets Chris comes to SR One from Principia Biopharma where, as Chief Financial Officer for seven years, he guided the company from an early-stage private venture-backed company to the public markets and, ultimately, through to its acquisition by Sanofi for $3.7 billion in September 2020. SR One was an early Series A investor in Principia, and remained involved at the Board level all the way through to the acquisition. Chris will focus on eveloping and executing financing strategies for portfolio companies, in particular those advancing from the late-stage private arena towards the public capital markets and beyond. Importantly, his background of over 20 years in executive management at biotech companies and investment banking includes a mix of operating CFO and finance leadership roles at Principia, MAP Pharmaceuticals and CV Therapeutics, as well as at the bulge-bracket bank, J.P. Morgan. He has a Bachelor's degree in Operations Research and Industrial Engineering from Cornell University.



Peter Van Vlasselaer, Ph.D., Venture Partner Peter brings to SR One over 25 years of experience in the biotech industry, including CEO and/or Executive Chairman roles at SR One portfolio companies True North Therapeutics, which he co-founded and was acquired in 2017 by Bioverativ (now part of Sanofi), and iPierian, acquired in 2014 by Bristol Myers Squibb. He will work with SR One to launch new companies as well as to review investment opportunities. Most recently, Peter was the Founder, President, and CEO of ARMO Biosciences, a company he led through to its acquisition by Eli Lilly in 2018 for $1.6 billion, shortly after its IPO. Prior to that, Peter founded and held CEO positions at ARRESTO and AVIDIA, where he led the companies to their acquisition by Gilead and AMGEN, respectively. He has also held executive positions at InterMune and Dendreon. Peter currently serves on the Boards of Amphivena, where he is Executive Chair, Asceneuron (an SR One portfolio company) where he is the Chair, and RGENIX. He has a degree in Zoology and a Ph.D. in Immunology from the University of Leuven, Belgium. He was Postdoctoral Fellow at the Division of Rheumatology at the Stanford University Medical School and DNAX Research Institute. He has authored several peer-reviewed scientific publications and book chapters, and he is an inventor on multiple patents.

About SR One SR One Capital Management is a leading trans-Atlantic biotech venture capital firm that partners with top entrepreneurs, scientists, and investment partners to seek to build elite biotechnology companies. Our mission is to translate ground-breaking technologies into next generation medicines to benefit patients with significant unmet medical needs. The firm in 2020 was spun out of GSK where it was founded in 1985, and has a presence in San Francisco, CA (News - Alert) , Philadelphia, PA, and London, UK. For more information, please visit www.srone.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210211005261/en/

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Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-11 22:31:23|Editor: huaxia

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LUSAKA, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- The Zambian government said on Thursday that its plan to re-launch a national airline is still on despite delays in commencing operations.

Minister of Transport and Communication Mutotwe Kafwaya said the government has done everything that was required to be done in order for the airline to start operating.

He said the government has signed relevant regional conventions as well as taken other important measures required for the airline to start operating.

"We have done everything which means that from a government perspective, we have enabled the environment for Zambia Airways to fly again," he said when he appeared on a live radio program on Hot FM Radio.

He added that the onus was now for the investors in the airline to decide when to start operating, adding that the government has nothing to do with deciding on when it will be launched.

"It is not for the government to determine because the airline is a commercial entity, a joint venture," he added.

The airline is a joint venture between the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), a government investment agency and Ethiopian Airlines.

In 2018 the government entered into a joint partnership with Ethiopian Airlines on a 55/45 deal.

Last year, the government attributed the delay to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Zambia has had no national carrier since 1994, when its airline, Zambia Airways, was liquidated. Enditem


Welcome to my genealogy blog. Genea-Musings features genealogy research tips and techniques, genealogy news items and commentary, genealogy humor, San Diego genealogy society news, family history research and some family history stories from the keyboard of Randy Seaver (of Chula Vista CA), who thinks that Genealogy Research Is really FUN! Copyright (c) Randall J. Seaver, 2006-2021.
Turkey rebuffed on Feb. 11 a US call to free Osman Kavala, a Turkish businessman and philanthropist, saying the United States had no right to tell the Turkish judiciary how to conduct its affairs. But amid all the bluster, Ankaras nerves are growing increasingly frayed in the face of the frosty tone espoused by the newly installed Joe Biden administration. A senior Turkish official told Al-Monitor, We are feeling increasingly squeezed. He declined to elaborate.

The State Department called the charges against Kavala specious in an unprompted and standalone Feb. 10 statement crafted to convey its seriousness. The statement referred to the European Court of Human Rights rulings calling for Kavalas immediate release.

It also mentioned US academic Henri Barkey, who along with Kavala has been indicted on bogus charges of espionage and conspiring to overthrow the government of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Barkey is in the United States and is being tried in absentia.

Taken with the other public statements, this administration is sending a clear signal about the need for Turkey to address rule of law issues. It's challenging Turkey to return to being the kind of country that the United States wants to work with, said a Western diplomat speaking not for attribution.

The No. 1 priority issue for this administration is rebuilding its alliances and partnerships that it felt were undermined by the last one. That will mean a more coherent and consistent approach between the US and its European allies toward Turkey, the diplomat added.

The tougher approach has manifested itself in multiple ways. Secretary of State Tony Blinken has yet to call his Turkish counterpart, Mevlut Cavusoglu. Erdogans entourage is frantically lobbying the White House for a call with Biden. The highest level contact between Ankara and Washington so far was between national security adviser Jake Sullivan and Erdogans chief adviser, Ibrahim Kalin. The White Houses readout of the exchange was hardly effusive.

The State Department has rebuked Turkey twice already  once over the governments brutal repression of protestors at Istanbuls Bogazici University, and over its anti-LGBT rhetoric surrounding the demonstrations. On Feb. 4, State Department spokesman Ned Price took aim at Turkeys Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu over his assertion that the United States was behind the July 2016 attempt to overthrow Erdogan. These remarks and other unfounded and irresponsible claims of US responsibility for events in Turkey are inconsistent with Turkeys status as a NATO ally and strategic partner of the United States, he said.

While Ankara was bracing for change after four years of being coddled by Donald Trump, the alacrity with which the Biden administration has shifted course appears to have caught Erdogan and his lieutenants off guard. Erdogan was hoping to make some kind of a deal with the Biden administration whereby he would act more dovish internationally and continue to get away with democratic backsliding at home, said Berk Esen, an assistant professor of political science at Sabanci University. It wont happen. The governments recent maneuvers include ill-received overtures to Israel. Its also talking of reopening borders and establishing diplomatic relations with Armenia after helping Azerbaijan clobber its eastern neighbor with the help of Syrian mercenaries in Nagorno- Karabakh.

Turkeys main opposition parties have yet to comment on Washingtons new language. The Kurds, however, have aired dismay at the Biden administrations failure to address the plight of the ever-swelling population of Kurdish politicians and activists who are behind bars.

Giran Ozcan, the Washington representative of the pro-Kurdish Peoples Democratic Party (HDP), the third-largest party in parliament, conceded that the strength of its statement on Kavala was very good. However, It fails to mention democratically elected officials who have been imprisoned and deprived of their right to represent their constituents. It seems the State Department is intentionally disregarding Kurdish elected officials, Ozcan told Al-Monitor. They have completely neglected Demirtas and have never mentioned him at all. Ozcan was referring to former HDP co-chair Selahattin Demirtas who has been in prison since October 2016 in yet another example of politically motivated charges. In December, the European Court of Human Rights, whose rulings are binding for Turkey, called for his immediate release. Turkey refused to comply and has brought a fresh case against him.

The administration has set a tone of being interested in such issues. The Kurds should feel encouraged. The administration has only been in office for three weeks, the Western diplomat said in response to Ozcans comments.

The Biden administrations most immediate demand is for Turkey to get rid of its newly acquired Russian S-400 missiles. Should it fail to do so, further sanctions may follow those that were slapped on Turkeys state defense procurement agency in December under the Countering Americas Adversaries Act.

After months of grandstanding, Ankara is starting to blink. Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar signaled in an interview with the daily Hurriyet that Turkey could cede ground if Washington were to ax its partnership with a Syrian Kurdish militia that has links to Kurdish rebels fighting Turkey.

But Washington is in no mood for compromise. US forces will remain in northeast Syria to counter the Islamic State and effectively serve as a shield for the Kurds.

Price said in a Feb. 10 news briefing, We have and continue to urge Turkey not to retain this [S-400] system. They threaten the security of NATO technology, and theyre inconsistent with Turkeys commitment as a NATO ally.

It will not have gone unnoticed in Ankara that Saudi Arabia freed female activist Loujain al-Hathloul after the Biden administration withdrew its support for the kingdoms military campaign against Houthi rebels in Yemen. Earlier this month, the White House said the US president expected Saudi Arabia to improve its human rights record.

Erdogan has bowed to US pressure in the past. In October 2018, Turkey freed North Carolina pastor Andrew Brunson, who was being held on a cocktail of outlandish terror charges, after Trump threatened large sanctions. Similarly, Turkey freed Turkish German journalist Deniz Yucel in 2018 when German Chancellor Angela Merkel threatened similar punishment.

A federal case against Turkeys state lender Halkbank for helping Iran evade billions of dollars in US economic sanctions is set to resume next month, creating further pressure on Ankara to redress its behavior. Will it?

Former Syria envoy Jim Jeffrey contended in an interview with Al-Monitor that when pressed, Erdogan is a rational actor. Jeffrey added, Erdogan will not back down until you show him teeth. You have to be willing, when Erdogan goes too far, to really clamp down on him and make sure he understands this in advance.
Amaravati, Feb 11 : Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy on Thursday asked the senior officials to improve the state's revenue sources so that they can fund Navaratnalu and other welfare schemes as promised in the YSRCP's manifesto.

Reddy instructed officials to expedite mining works, acquired by APMDC in Brahmhadiha coal block in Jharkhand, Suliyari in Madhya Pradesh and Madanpur South Coal Mines in Chhattisgarh in the stipulated time.

"Focus on high revenue mining activities and expedite the works related to silica sand by coordinating with APIIC," said the Chief Minister.

In his instructions to the Forest department, Reddy told the officials to procure permission from the central government to sell the red sanders stocks lying in the state.

He told the forest officials to take steps on a war footing to get the work done with transparency, without room for corruption.

"Officials should focus on revenue generating sources for the state, conduct regular reviews on these and prepare estimates from time to time," said Reddy.

The Chief Minister also directed the state officials to be prepared with the necessary plans for increasing the revenue sources but without building pressure on people.

Andhra is running several welfare schemes such as Nadu - Nedu, Goru Mudda, Amma Vodi, Kapu Nestam and others.
Northern Ireland Water has moved to assure people in Derry that the city's drinking water is safe.

It follows a number of complaints throughout the past week by people reporting that their water 'stinks' due to high levels of chlorine.

One man who contacted the Derry News said he was buying bottled water.

Rory McLaughlin also said his elderly mother, who lives in the Foyle Springs area, had taken ill as a result of drinking the water.

He said: It has been noticeable for about a week. It is really bad, whenever in the shower there is a real stink of chlorine. My mother was ill and couldn't get out of bed.

I went to NI Water straight away and they said there was nothing to worry about. I was advised to pour the water into a jug and put in the fridge for a few minutes or boil the water and it should dissipate.

I put the water in the fridge for over an hour and it was still stinking of chlorine.

I boiled a full kettle so I could drink it the next day. I poured it into a pint glass and you could still smell the chlorine.

Calling for independent tests to be carried out on water supplies, Mr McLaughlin added: Surely when there is any incident like this, there must be independent tests carried out, otherwise NI Water could be telling you the sky is green. I'm just going out to buy some water now, which probably should constitute as an 'unnecessary journey,' but I don't trust NI Water.

Local Sinn Fein councillor Sandra Duffy said the issue first arose last Thursday.

She contacted NI Water and was told they water supplier was aware of the problem and it would be resolved within 24 hours.

Speaking to the Derry News, Cllr Duffy said she had been contacted by people from across the city.

This has been ongoing since last Thursday. Every time NI Water have been contacted they have assured us they have reduced chlorine levels and going to flush the system - but we are now sitting nearly a week later and homes across the city are still experiencing high levels of chlorine in their water.

NI Water say the water is safe but it does not taste very safe. You can understand why people have concerns as it smells so strongly.

A spokesperson at the office SDLP MLA Mark H Durkan said an NI Water official explained that the issue had arisen because a pumping station shut down on Wednesday of last week, February 3 which was related to continuous heavy rainfall.

During the restart process, higher levels of chlorine were flushed through the system, exacerbated by the heavy rain.

In a statement to the Derry News yesterday, NI Water said the chlorine level in the water leaving its treatment works works had remained within set limits 'at all times.'

The spokesperson said: NI would like to reassure our customers that our number one priority is the quality and safety of the drinking water we provide.

Water samples are analysed by a team of scientists based in laboratories in Altnagelvin and Belfast, providing NI Water with its own in-house scientific expertise and knowledge.

We take samples at the water treatment works, at service reservoirs, and at customer taps, to monitor drinking water quality and compliance with the drinking water regulations.

We are aware that a small number of customers have been reporting a chlorine taste and smell in their drinking water supply.

As part of the normal drinking water treatment process, chlorine is added to ensure that the quality of the drinking water is maintained throughout our network.

While the chlorine levels in the water are well within normal levels and are not a cause for concern, we fully appreciate, on occasions, they can make the water taste and smell different and we apologise for any inconvenience that this has caused.

NI Water staff, over the past week, have been checking the water quality and have been flushing the system, to increase the turnover of water in the network.

We have seen the chlorine taste and odour experienced by some customers reduce as a result of this work and expect this to continue over the coming days.

NI Water would like to reassure our customers that water leaving the water treatment works is monitored continually to ensure that the chlorine level at the treatment works and throughout the distribution system remains within set limits, the spokesperson added.
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries  along with seven of its executives including (managing director) and Sudhir Valia (director)  has settled a pending dispute with the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) by agreeing to pay a cumulative penalty of Rs 2.92 crore.

has agreed to pay Rs 56 lakh, while Shanghvi will pay Rs 62.3 lakh, and Valia Rs 37.4 lakh. Other individuals have agreed to pay between Rs 18.5 lakh and Rs 37.4 lakh.

The matter pertains to violation of related party norms and allegations of fund diversion. Two whistle-blowers had alleged that and its wholly owned subsidiary Sun Pharmaceutical Laboratories had been diverting funds through Aditya Medisales, its sole distributor in India. It was further alleged that the diversion continued for several years but had declared Aditya Medisales as a related party only in 2017-18.

ALSO READ: Ujjivan, Equitas small finance banks turn tricky bet amid mounting NPA woes

Based on the allegations, launched an investigation as well as a forensic audit.

It was observed that the pharma major had failed to comply with relevant regulations pertaining to related parties.

According to the order, Sun Pharma had failed to obtain prior approval of the audit committee for transactions with Aditya Medisales. Further, it had failed to obtain shareholders approval despite the transactions with Aditya Medisales qualifying as material related-party transactions. The firm didnt disclose these related-party transactions even in its annual reports.

In March 2020, initiated adjudicating proceedings in the matter. Later, in May, the regulator issued show cause notices to Sun Pharma and the seven individuals.

While the proceedings were on, Sun Pharma and the noticees filed an application for consent settlement  by way of which an alleged wrongdoer can settle proceedings with Sebi without admitting or denying the charges, by paying a settlement fee.

Sebis high-powered advisory committee accepted the settlement plea in December.
LANSING, MI - Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Thursday officially proposed a state-record budget that clocks in at $67.1 billion for the upcoming fiscal year, boosted by one-time federal aid.

Her proposed 2021-22 budget, which runs from Oct. 1, 2021 to Sept. 30, 2022, is a 7% increase from last years $62.8 billion mark with the additional money consisting of one-time appropriations from federal aid and some higher fees. There are no proposed tax increases.

Whitmers budget includes increases for K-12 per-pupil funding, bridge repair, continued wage increases for direct-care workers and childcare assistance. Of the overall total, $11.4 billion comes from the states general fund and $14.1 billion comes from the school aid fund.

The Governors budget plan provides needed investments in our roads and bridges, our economy and our schools, said State Budget Director David Massaron in a statement. I believe this is a plan that reflects the shared values that all Michiganders support, and I look forward to working with the legislature over the next few months to ensure we finalize a budget that works for Michigan.

Whitmers budget includes a 2% funding increase for K-12 per-pupil funding, which would increase spending by $82 to $164 per pupil, for a total spending increase of $203 million.

Read more: Whitmer budget to include K-12 increase of up to $164 per pupil, more funding for higher education

The lowest-funded schools would get an increase of $164 per pupil and the highest-funded schools would get an increase of $82 per pupil under the governors proposal.

This difference in funding levels would bring the funding gap between the highest- and lowest-funded districts down to $336 per pupil.

Whitmer proposed reducing the foundation allowance for cyber schools by $30.2 million in recognition of lower costs from not having to maintain a physical space.

The budget spends $370 million to increase eligibility for childcare assistance and increase hourly rates for childcare providers.

Also included is $360 million to continue the $2-per-hour wage increase for direct care workers, something state health leaders praised.

We cant afford to lose the very workers that are keeping around 100,000 Michigan individuals and their families strong and supported, said Robert Stein, general counsel for the Michigan Assisted Living Association. We are eager to work with the Governor and Legislature to help move this crucial issue forward.

While the budget does not propose the type of tax increase and systemic infrastructure funding boost she reached for in her first budget cycle, it does include $300 million to repair 120 local bridges.

The funding comes on top of the governors move last year to borrow $3.5 billion to fund or expand 122 major new road projects.

In a joint House-Senate hearing on Thursday morning, Massaron noted higher than expected tax revenues, and said that it was a unique budget because much of the proposal was one-time spending.

We have a FY 23 outlook that is an incredibly tight budget, but we have a lot of one-time resources that collectively we have to invest in our residents, Massaron told lawmakers.

Other highlights of the proposal include:

$5 million to fund Michigan Capitol security measures needed to implement a full gun ban. The Capitol Commission previously said they needed less than that to impose a ban, and the Legislature blocked previous attempts to include that appropriation in COVID-19 relief talks.

$6.7 million to expand treatment coverage for Sickle Cell Disease, which disproportionately affects Black people.

$91 million to improve access for behavorial health treatment for Medicaid enrolees and those in the child welfare system.

A $175 million deposit into the states Rainy Day fund, which was used to balance revenue shortfalls in 2020 due to the pandemic

This budget and negotiation is separate from current talks between the Republican-led Legislature and Whitmer on a COVID-19 pandemic recovery plan, which would spend in the current fiscal year. Whitmer proposed a $5.6 billion plan last month, while the House and Senate respectively countered with $3.5 billion and $2 billion plans of their own.

Whitmers is also proposing additional supplemental funding. Her proposals in that realm include $250 million to help K-12 students recover from challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic, $55 million to replace drinking water fixtures in schools, $60 million for out-of-school learning opportunities like summer camps and an additional $127.5 million to both public and private schools for COVID relief efforts.

Read more: Michigan Senate Republicans unveil $2B plan for spending federal coronavirus money

One proposed expenditure that spans fiscal years 2021 and 2022 and comes from the state general fund is $192.4 million for initiatives that aim to help 60% of Michigan residents have a postsecondary degree or credential by 2030. That supports programs like Futures for Frontliners ($60.4 billion) and Michigan Reconnect ($120 million), which provides college assistance for those over 25 without a degree.

After the governor proposes a budget, the House and Senate craft their own versions, and parties usually negotiate on the final product. The final budget must pass the House and Senate and be signed by the governor to become law.

More on MLive:

Michigan Senate Republicans unveil $2B plan for spending federal coronavirus money

Whitmer budget to include K-12 increase of up to $164 per pupil, more funding for higher education

More than 19K Michigan residents apply for tuition-free community college in first 24 hours
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The seal of the F.B.I. hangs in the Flag Room at the bureau's headquaters in Washington, D.C., on March 9, 2007. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Americas Spy-Busters Put Secret-Stealing Chinese Grad Students Under Microscope

The FBI last month arrested Gang Chen, a well-known MIT nanotechnologist, and charged the China-born naturalized American with concealing close and lucrative connections to Chinas scientific and technological establishment on his applications for federal research grants.

Chen, who has pleaded not guilty and is supported by MIT, is not the only prominent academic figure to be arrested and charged with failing to disclose connections to Chinese research institutes. At least half a dozen have been arrested in the last year or so. They include Charles Lieber, the chair of the Harvard University Chemistry Department, who is accused of concealing his participation in an ambitious, state-sponsored Chinese effort to recruit top scientists and engineers from around the world to work in China.

The prosecutions illustrate growing American alarm about Chinese technology theft, an important part of Chinas effort to supplant the United States both as the dominant military power in Asia and as the worlds leader in science and technology. Despite the publicity surrounding the American academics arrests, U.S. officials and analysts say a particular concern is Chinese graduate school researchers with advanced backgrounds.

But this isnt a simple story of a belligerent powers intellectual larceny and espionage. Its a more nuanced problem that the United States largely brought upon itself through its longstanding policy of engagement with China aimed at bringing it into the international fold. One result is a Chinese symbiosis with American universities that includes Chinese financial support for American schools and large subsidies from American taxpayers for both sensitive research and the visiting Chinese nationals who conduct it.

According to Elsa Kania, a specialist on Chinas military affiliated with the liberal Center for a New American Security, the arrests of the academics may deter future violations of disclosure requirements, but they also can be perceived as the U.S. government being unduly harsh in punishing American scientists for research engagement that not long ago was actively encouraged, with limited enforcement of security measures. She spoke in a Zoom interview.

The new focus on academic ties to China is just one part of a larger Department of Justice task force launched by the Trump administration in 2018, called the China Initiative. Under it, FBI field offices and U.S. Attorneys have conducted hundreds of investigations and made dozens of arrests across the country for technology theft, visa fraud, cyber-espionage, and other illicit activities in the United States.

These operations have succeeded in exposing the diversity of the Chinese effort, as John C. Demers, the Justice Departments assistant attorney general for national security, put it in a phone interview. Among its more threatening aspects is a state-directed campaign to send advanced Chinese researchers to the United States while disguising their true identities.

Last July, the FBI arrested four Chinese nationals posing as ordinary graduate school researchers; they were actually Chinese army officers. One of them, Xin Wang, was working in a medical lab at the University of California-San Francisco funded by the National Institutes of Health. Wang admitted to being a major in the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army and employed by a military lab in China. He was deported.

Another of the arrested Chinese, Kaikai Zhao, was studying machine learning and artificial intelligence at the Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering at Indiana University.

What happened after those four arrests was even more revealing about the scope of Chinas clandestine presence in the United States: An estimated 1,000 Chinese graduate researchers abruptly fled the country and returned to Chinaapparently, in the view of American officials, because they had concealed their ties to the Chinese military and were afraid of arrest.

Still, 1,000 researchers represent a tiny fraction of the 360,000 Chinese nationals enrolled in American colleges and universities, many of whom, perhaps the large majority of whom, are engaged in activities above reproach.

U.S. taxpayers subsidize the education of many of the Chinese grad students working in labs and research institutes around the country. At MIT alone, there are generally between 700 and 800 Chinese graduate students at any given time, in addition to more than 100 exchange and visiting scholars. It is standard procedure at most major universities that advanced graduate students in technical fields cover the cost of their studies through salaries from the labs where they work, and the salaries are commonly paid out of grants from such federal agencies as the National Science Foundation, NASA, the Department of Energy, the National Institutes of Health, and others.

Its no mystery who pays for research that goes on at top-level research institutions, one senior professor said in a phone interview, asking not to be named. It comes from domestic grants, not from abroad.

If you have 360,000 undergraduates, thats not much of a risk, Demers said. If theyre graduate students, you look at the fields theyre in, and the more sophisticated they are, the more risky it is. The Chinese are trying to get the latest 5% of cutting-edge research, and only the most sophisticated researchers can do this.

Many academics and China experts say this investment in Chinese-born students helps the United States. In speeches and articles, for example, MITs president, L. Rafael Reif, has argued that international exchanges are of inestimable value to the United States and that substantial numbers of the advanced Chinese students choose to remain in America, where they contribute to the progress of American science.

One study cited by Reif shows that around 80% of the Chinese getting doctorates in the United States are still in the country 10 years after receiving their degrees. Even if some of them maintain ties to colleagues and research institutes in China, Reif and many others argue, the key to scientific supremacy is not impeding someone elses progress, but increasing Americas own investments in research, development and talent.

Attracting foreign students to the United States can help drain talent from competing countries. China, in part to keep that from happening, has rapidly expanded its own graduate education programs. Between 2000 and 2016, the number of people earning doctoral degrees in all fields inside China increased to 34,000, from about 10,000. China now awards more Ph.D.s in the natural sciences and engineering than does the United States.

Still, a major part of Chinas modernization push depends on the acquisition of technology from scientifically advanced Western countries, whether through legal, transparent meansor by espionage and other illicit practices.

The PRC and their leadership still do not believe that theyre going to succeed in their tech breakout without siphoning off massive amounts of tech from the United States, Matt Pottinger, the departing Trump administration deputy national security adviser, said in a Zoom interview. You hear that theyve already broken out, that they dont need us, and there are pockets where thats true, but they lack confidence that they can achieve and sustain a technology edge without significant access to American labs.

The Trump administration took what some former officials call a targeted approach to the Chinese effort to send to the U.S. students who are directly under the control of the Chinese government. Last year, for example, it canceled visas for students directly affiliated with the Chinese military, as well for students coming to the country on Chinese government scholarships that required them to share whatever they learned with the Chinese state.

An estimated 2,000 students were expelled or barred from coming to the countrynot including the thousand who fled on their owna number still representing less than 1 percent of Chinese students in the United States. Nonetheless, cracking down on them, as Pottinger put it, served as a warning shot, and we had info that these people were there basically to siphon technology.

There are cases where we discovered U.S. government grants where the primary interlocutor would be an American, but most of the work was being done by PRC [Peoples Republic of China] nationals, Pottinger said. It was a sign to us of how complacent the screening procedures were for Department of Defense contracts. Sometimes it was really sensitive stuff.

Military modernization is one of Chinas major strategic goals, which include defending its highly contested claim to ownership of virtually the entire South China Sea and prevailing over the United States if war broke out in the Pacific.

The Chinese military has developed a network of its own technical and scientific universities, part of a mission to acquire technology from other countries. One in-depth study of the PLAs activities reveals how large and global in scale this effort is. Alex Joske, a China specialist at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, has found that as of 2018, the PLA had sponsored more than 2,500 military scientists and engineers to travel to universities in technologically advanced countries such as Australia as students or visiting scholars.

This collaboration is  often unintentionally supported by taxpayer funds, Joske wrote, giving examples of this in Australia and Britain, where some universities, still operating under the Wests engagement philosophy, purposely developed technical cooperation with Chinese military institutes. Nearly all PLA scientists sent abroad are Chinese Communist Party members who return to China on time, Joske concludes.

Joske noted that Chinese military publications have a name for this: Picking flowers in foreign lands to make honey in China. Their affiliations in China are often with the National Defense Research University, the major institution promoting the countrys efforts in such areas as hypersonic missiles, cryptography, cyberwarfare, and space-based weaponry, but they may also be members of other military-affiliated institutions, like the Northwestern Institute of Nuclear Technology or the Armed Forces Engineering Academy in Beijing.

In some cases discovered by Joske, Chinese military officers working abroad claim affiliation with non-existing institutions with innocuous-sounding names, presumably to avoid calling attention to themselves on their visa applications. At least five scientists from the militarys Rocket Force Engineering University have traveled abroad as visiting scholars, giving their home institution as the Xian Research Institute, which, Joske says, appears to only exist on paper.

None of the half dozen or so American academics arrested for concealing their connections to China is accused of aiding Chinas military modernization or intellectual theft. The technical charge is wire fraudbecause the grant applications on which the defendants have allegedly concealed their Chinese connections were sent electronically, making it a matter of interstate commerce. Some of the accused professors have also been charged with failing to disclose bank accounts in China or lying on passport applications.

The main charge against Lieber, the former chairman of the Harvard chemistry department, is that he concealed his involvement in the so-called Thousand Talents Program to recruit scientists to China, for which, according to the FBI, he was paid a salary of $50,000 a month by the Wuhan University of Technology, which also gave him a $1.5 million grant to establish a research lab there.

The government has this wrong, maintains Liebers lawyer, Marc Mukasey. He is the victim in this case, not the perpetrator.

In addition to Chen and Lieber, professors from the University of Arkansas, the University of Kansas, West Virginia University, the University of Tennessee, among other schools, have been indicted on similar charges. Their specialties have included biomedical engineering, chemical nanoscience, molecular reactions in coal conversion, and cardio-vascular genetics.

One of these cases is against Simon Saw-Teung Ang, a Malaysian-born American citizen who until 2020 was the director of the High Density Electronics Center at the University of Arkansas. Ang, according to the Justice Department announcement of his arrest, concealed that he received money and benefits from China and was closely associated with various companies based in China during the same time he was receiving grants from various United States Government agencies, including NASA. The government also alleges that he kept his China ties secret because for fear disclosing them might jeopardize his federal grant applications.

The crime alleged against American academics is essentially that they sought to defraud the American taxpayer by concealing required information on grant applications and, in some instances, by double-dippinggetting money from the American government to carry out research that was also being financed by China.

In the case of MITs Gang Chen, the government says he concealed a $19 million payment from Chinas Southern Science and Technology University to help create a new center of science and engineering in Massachusetts. But according to Reif, MITs president, the money was for MIT, not for Chen individually. This is not an individual collaboration, he said. It is a departmental one, supported by the institute.

One hundred faculty colleagues of Chens wrote an open letter of support, saying that the activities claimed by the government to be criminal are actually routine and even innocuous, and that the complaint against Gang Chen is a complaint against all of us.

This article was written by Richard Bernstein for RealClearInvestigations.

Lamin Manjang, the fourth prosecution witness in the case involving Yakumba Jaiteh and Yusupha Jaiteh who were charged with assault and obstruction, testified yesterday before Principal Magistrate Isatou Janneh-Njie of the Kanifing Magistrates' Court.

In his testimony, he told the court that he is a narcotic officer. He stated that he is stationed at Serrekunda Police Statioin. He posited that on the 6th October, 2020, he was on duty at Serrekunda Police Station. He adduced that he joined a team of narcotic officers led by Baba Njie. He added that upon their arrival at Kololi around 10 p.m., they stopped at Queen's Head Bar where they conducted a search.

He further stated that Abdoulie A. Jarju and Ebrima Fadera proceeded to search the suspect. "After we completed the search, we boarded our vehicle and realised that Abdoulie Jarju and Ebrima Fadera were not seen. We heard a shout from them for help," he told the court.

He went on to say that upon their arrival at the scene, they found the suspect, Tijan Macauley was handcuffed. He testified that Yakumba and her father were among the people who held the suspect behind. He noted further that they identified themselves as narcotic officers by showing their warrant cards to them. He added that they were pushing and pulling with the officers.

"Yakumba and her father told Ebrima Fadera and Abdoulie Jarju that Tijan will not go. They were trying to rescue him from the officers," he narrated. He stated that they managed to arrest Tijan and took him into the vehicle, yet Yakumba and her father insisted that he would not be taken away.

"Tijan was at the back of the pick-up inside and Yakumba and her father came there to get Tijan down from the vehicle by pulling him. They almost succeeded in pulling him from the vehicle," he told the court. He noted that they took Tijan into the vehicle.

"When we identified ourselves as narcotic officers, one of the people called Yakumba's name and told her to look at what was happening. Yakumba and her father held Tijan's hand and were pushing and pulling with him," he told the court.

He testified further that Yakumba held Tijan from behind and her father also did the same, saying: "He is not going." He adduced that upon their arrival at the police station, Ebrima Fadera complained that he had some pain. He revealed that Fadera was later escorted to the Kanifing General Hospital for medical check-up. "I then wrote my statement," he concluded.

Defence Counsel L. S. Camara, who was representing the accused persons along with Counsel Yankuba Darboe, tested the credibility of the witness under cross-examination. He asked him:

"Did you make a statement?"

"Yes."

"Your statement was made on the 6th October, 2020?"

"Yes."

At this juncture, Counsel L. S. Camara applied to tender the statement. ASP Jahateh, who was leading the witness, and being assisted by Superintendent Manga, did not raise any objection to the tendering of the document. The application was granted and the statement was admitted by the court.

"You said you wrote the statement yourself?"

"Yes."

"You wrote it on the 6th October, 2020?"

"Yes.'

"Everything would have been fresh in your mind?"

"Yes."

"Did you lie in this court in your evidence?"

"No."

"Did you write in your statement that Yakumba and her father were holding Tijan from behind?"

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"No."

"Did you write in the statement that the accused persons were saying that Tijan will not go?"

"No."

"Did you also write in your statement that the accused persons pulled Tijan from the vehicle until he fell?"

"No."

"Did you write in your statement that somebody asked Yakumba to look at what was happening while her father was holding Tijan?"

"No."

"As a police officer, do you have the obligation to tell the court the truth?"

"Yes."

The case continues on the 11th February, 2021.
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Two members of opposition Republican Party Khatuna Samnidze and Tamar Kordzaia are ready to enter parliament if the ruling Georgian Dream party proposes a bill on zero electoral threshold for proportional list. However, following the voting they would again revoke their mandates.

Samnidze told Netgazeti online media outlet earlier today that the Republican Party remains committed to its previously declared position and refuses the parliamentary seats.

Samnidze and Kordzaia are among the 36 MPs qualified for the parliamentary seats within the United National Movement - Strength in Unity bloc.

Although the Republican Party had not yet discussed the issue with other members of the bloc, Samnidze told Netgazeti that if the Georgian Dream registered the above bill it would also be highly supported by other opposition politicians.

"We will call on the ruling party to register the bill We are ready to participate in the voting," Agenda.ge cited Samnidze as saying

She further noted that the two are not going to use their parliamentary mandates for any other reason but to ensure a legislation excluding a single-party parliament or a state capture.

The constitutional changes aimed to decrease the electoral threshold needs a total of 113 votes of the 150-member parliament which is now comprised of only 96 MPs. As of now only six opposition politicians have taken up their mandates following the recent parliamentary elections in Georgia.

Earlier this month the ruling party MPs did not suspend the mandates of the 51, who refuse to take up their mandates claiming the parliamentary elections were rigged in favour of the ruling party.
After discovering vulnerabilities, the Indian Computer Emergency Response Team(CERT-In) has now issued an advisory to update the Google Chrome browser to the latest version. The last version which is older than 88.0.4324.146 for Mac, Linux and Windows systems has come up with a lot of challenges and issues.

In its advisory, CERT-In said, Multiple vulnerabilities have been reported in Google Chrome which could be exploited by an attacker to execute arbitrary code on the targeted system.

According to Google blog, the security vulnerabilities are not being disclosed "until a majority of users are updated with a fix. This could have a drastic effect on the user as it could help an attacker to execute arbitrary code, could view, change or delete data in the targeted system.

Further explaining the problem, CERT-In revealed, Multiple vulnerabilities exist in Google Chrome due to Use after free in payments, Heap buffer in extensions, Heap buffer in Tab Groups, Use after Free in Fonts, Use after Free in Navigation, Inappropriate implementation in Skia and Heap buffer overflow in V8. An attacker could exploit these vulnerabilities by persuading the victims to persuade a specially crafted website.

Google has already rolled out the beat version of Chrome 89 and it is going to come up with further updates over the coming weeks and days.
Campus censorship being driven by students, not administrators: experts

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Threats to free speech on public college campuses are increasingly being driven more by students than administrators, a panel of experts who spoke at a virtual Baylor University event said Wednesday.

The world's largest Baptist university hosted a webinar titled Free Speech on Campus: Is it in Danger? featuring conservative evangelical writer and former attorney David French, openly gay scholar and author Jonathan Rauch and other advocates for free speech.

The event was held in coordination with the Institute for Humane Studies at George Mason University and the Initiative on Faith & Public Life at the American Enterprise Institute.

Notable conservative evangelical writer and former attorney David French, one of the experts on the panel, said he believed there was a recent shift from free speech threats originating from administrators to the threats originating from students.

French recounted how the speech codes of many public universities that limited student rights began to melt away as they were legally challenged in the 1990s and early 2000s.

A lot of university censorship was top-down. It was a dean stepping in; it was an administrator stepping in, explained French. Around 2014, 2015 you began to see students much more stepping up to demand censorship.

French went on to state that while he believed there were strong formal, legal protections for free speech on campus, the culture of free speech is less secure than its been in a long time.

People are more apt to call for your firing, theyre more apt to call for sanctioning, he continued. Theyre more apt to use the power of social media to swamp you in allegations of racism, sexism, transphobia, etc.

Rauch, the author of several books and senior fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington, agreed, saying he believed we have shifted from an environment where we have a lot of top-down pressure on freedom of speech to a situation where  the administration is defending free speech, often from students who are attacking it.

The problem has morphed from legal culture and speech codes to civic culture and peer pressure of students on each other, continued Rauch, who noted that several polls have shown that most students feel inhibited from giving their opinions.

One example was a 2019 report by the Knight Foundation that found 68% of Generation Z students felt that campus climate prevented them from safely expressing their views. In December, the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education released a study of over 478 colleges that found 88% have policies that restrict free speech in some form.

Rauch attributed this shift to many factors, among them the rise of emotional safety among students, the reasoning being that if you are hurt by words this causes pain, it causes suffering in your brain, the circuits that light up are similar to the circuits that light up if youre subject to physical violence, and thats a form of abuse.

Another factor described by Rauch was the belief that restricting hate speech can make hate go away, when he believed thats never how it has worked.

People like me have relied on free speech to defend and promote our rights, down through history, explained Rauch, author of the 2004 book Gay Marriage: Why It Is Good for Gays, Good for Straights, and Good for America.

Unfortunately, a lot of people, on and off campus, now think that free speech and minority rights are opposed values instead of mutually reinforcing values.

Other members of the panel included Kristina Arriaga, a former member of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, and Thomas Chatterton Williams, a writer and visiting fellow at the American Enterprise Institute.

An alternative to censoring different views on campus championed by both Arriaga and Williams was the idea of engaging in dialogue with those who think differently.

Arriaga, a native of Cuba, gave the example of when she was in college and called a racial slur by another student. In response, she opted to talk to the student directly.

So I walked down the hallway, knocked on the door, and talked to the young woman who had called me this nickname, recalled Arriaga. Turns out, I was the first Hispanic she had ever met.

We had this great conversation. We didnt become best friends, but had I canceled her, I would have betrayed what my family believed when they left Cuba and that is that were not wimpy people simply because were minorities.

Near the end of the event, French added that "Christians should be among the most confident advocates for free speech in the entire United States."

"If you're a Christian," stated French, "you should welcome a marketplace of ideas. That should be your playpen because in that circumstance, you're coming into that marketplace of ideas with a position of confidence that you are seeking truth and that you are advocating for truth."

"What I have found in an awful lot of Christian universities is exactly that kind of confidence in the marketplace of ideas," he added. "I have seen it and it even goes all the way back to my own education."
The European Commission has expressed concern over the case of Hungarys Klubradio, a private broadcaster popular with opposition listeners that will go off the air at the end of the week after losing an appeal to extend its licence.

The case of Klubradio only aggravates our concerns over media pluralism in Hungary, European Commission spokesman Christian Wigand told a press conference on Wednesday.



Wigand said the EC had expressed its concerns over the state of Hungarys media landscape in its rule-of-law report issued last year.



The commission has reached out to the relevant Hungarian authorities over the issue to ensure that Klubradio can continue to operate legally, he said.



Wigand added that the EC would assess the compatibility of the court decision to reject Klubradios appeal with EU law and whether the relevant EU rules had been respected during the legal procedure.



Media freedom and pluralism are part of the foundations of European democracy, Wigand said, adding that the commission would take action over the issue if necessary.



The Budapest Municipal Court on Tuesday rejected a legal challenge by Klubradio against a decision by Hungarys media authority not to renew its licence.



The court said that under the relevant law, the Media Council of the National Media and Communications Authority (NMHH) had no room to consider Klubradios appeal due to repeated offences committed by the broadcaster.



Last September, the NMHH announced that it would call another tender for the 92.9 MHz frequency in Budapest, as it was not renewing Klubradios licence due to its violations of Hungarys media law. The licence will expire on Feb. 14.



The court noted that the Media Councils decision not to extend the licence had been based on its findings of the broadcasters offences which Klubradio had not challenged, which meant its appeal could not be deliberated.



Dunja Mijatovic, the Council of Europes commissioner for human rights, has also expressed concern over the court ruling. Another silenced voice in Hungary. Another sad day for media freedom, Mijatovic said on Twitter.

Czech Republic has already started its vaccination drive against coronavirus. Ministry of Health expects that about 7 million people will be vaccinated by August 2021.

Minister Jan Blatny informed that To date, 382,416 people have received vaccinations, 116,633 of them for the second time. We hope to accelerate the supply of vaccines in April, so that in August about 7 million of our fellow citizens are vaccinated.

About 60 percent of citizens of the nation announced their intention to get vaccinated. Currently, the first stage of vaccination is underway, during which vaccinations are given to people over 80, patients and staff of nursing homes, as well as doctors who directly work with coronavirus patients.

Meanwhile, talking about global corona cases, the cases crosses 107.4 million marks across the globe.. While 79,428,653 have recovered, 2,348,727 have died so far. The US remains the worst-hit country with 27,793,890, followed by India, Brazil, Russia and the United Kingdom. However, it terms of the total number of active cases, US tops the charts, followed by France, UK, Brazil and Belgium.

Also Read:

Argentina's COVID-19 cases top 2 million

Broadsheet to seize Pakistani assets after it fails to pay USD 2.2 million

PM Modi speaks to Canada's Trudeau, promises Covid vaccine supply to Canada
Lawmakers on marijuana study committee plan out-of-state site visits

Lawmakers want a firsthand look at legal cannabis operations in response to South Dakotans voting to loosen their state's pot laws last fall.
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Independent voters dont have a voice in New Mexicos primary elections, and lawyers are financing judicial campaigns.

Two good-government bills addressing these election shortcomings have been introduced in the Legislature, and its time to pass them both and make them law.

House Bill 79, sponsored by Democratic Reps. Miguel Garcia and Daymon Ely and Sen. Katy Duhigg and Republican Sen. Mark Moores, would allow voters who arent affiliated with a major political party to vote in primary elections. This is overdue; in many races primary elections determine the ultimate winner. Candidates from Lea to Rio Arriba counties are often unopposed in the general election, leaving voters from one major political party to decide the next sheriff, county clerk or commissioner.

Under HB 79, independent voters could choose a Republican or Democratic ballot in the primary but keep their status as an unaffiliated voter. The change could greatly boost primary voter participation  more than a fifth of the states voters are registered as independents, also known as declined to state. According to the New Mexico Secretary of States Office, independent voters accounted for 21.7% of registered voters. Time to enfranchise that part of the electorate.

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HB 79 is currently stuck in the House Judiciary Committee after an unusual tie vote Friday blocked it from advancing to the full House. The bipartisan bill has met bipartisan opposition, which is unfortunate. Democrats and Republicans seemingly always agree upon binary elections.

Legislators passed a law last year allowing independent voters to participate in primaries, but only if they agree to register with a political party immediately before casting a ballot. Many voters dont want to do that. They like being independents, and election laws shouldnt diminish their independent voices. The states 295,500 registered independents deserve to have a say in who represents them, as Mario Jimenez of Common Cause New Mexico notes.

Another good-government bill would expand public campaign financing to more types of judicial races; it cleared its first Senate committee last week after several sitting judges testified in support.

Candidates running for state Supreme Court and Court of Appeals have been able to qualify for public financing since 2008, but not lower court judges. Senate Bill 160, sponsored by Duhigg and Majority Floor Leader Sen. Peter Wirth, would allow District Court judges to qualify for public campaign financing after they obtain a number of small contributions from voters to prove their electability.

Under the current system, District Court candidates have to raise private funds for their campaigns. Its an unseemly system often opposed by members of the judiciary, because who donates to a district court campaign? Lawyers, for one  who bill-backer Trish Lopez correctly says shouldnt be financing judges who are presiding over their cases.

Retired Supreme Court Justice Edward Chavez says SB 160 would help remove the appearance courts are a pay-to-play system of justice and re-establish judicial independence. We agree. Its time to end the days of forcing judges to shill for contributions while trying to follow arcane guidelines discouraging them from knowing their donors identities. SB 160 cleared the Senate Rules Committee Friday by a 7-3 vote and now goes to the Senate Judiciary Committee.

HB 79 and SB 160 are much-needed reforms  one to enfranchise more voters, one to remove the compromising nature of judges accepting campaign contributions from attorneys who may appear in their courtrooms. Our judiciary committees need to get both moving to floor votes and on to the other chamber. Every New Mexican who is registered to vote deserves to be heard; helping ensure integrity in judicial races will help restore faith in the legal system.

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.
A Covid-infected woman had three fingers amputated after the disease ravaged her blood vessels.

Gruesome pictures published in a medical journal showed how the unidentified 86-year-old's digits turned black.

Doctors in Italy, who had to cut off her gangrenous fingers, called her case a 'severe manifestation' of coronavirus.

Covid has been found in many patients to cause severe damage to blood vessels, causing dangerous blockages known as blood clots.

While experts are unsure why the virus causes the blockages, the prevailing theory is that it is the result of an immune overreaction called a 'cytokine storm', which sees the body attack healthy tissue.

It is believed the Italian patient had suffered blood clots which cut off supply to her fingers.

Gruesome pictures published in a medical journal showed how the unidentified 86-year-old's digits turned black

When the immune response goes into overdrive, it can damage healthy tissue. if blood vessels are affected they can leak, causing blood pressure to drop and driving up the chance of clots forming.

WHAT'S CAUSING BLOOD CLOTS IN COVID PATIENTS? One in three people who fall severely ill with coronavirus develop dangerous blood clots, which scientists believe is contributing to their deaths. The clots can become fatal if they migrate to major organs, like the lungs, and cut off their blood supply. The blockages can trigger heart attacks, strokes, organ failure and pulmonary embolism, if they migrate to major organs. While experts are unsure why the virus causes the blockages, there are three main theories: CYTOKINE STORM The prevailing theory is that it is the result of a an immune overreaction called a 'cytokine storm'. Cytokines are chemical-signaling molecules which guide a healthy immune response. They tell immune cells to attack viral molecules in the body. But in some people, this response goes into overdrive and immune cells start attacking healthy tissue as well, known as a cytokine storm. As blood vessels become damaged they can leak, causing blood pressure to drop and driving up the chance of clots forming. BYPRODUCT OF INFECTION Other scientists say the surge in strokes may be a byproduct of the way COVID-19 invades the human body. Professor Ian Jones, a virologist at the University of Reading, told MailOnline: 'Covid binds to an enzyme called ACE2 which is on the surface of the cell. 'It simply uses it as a way of attaching itself but in doing so the enzyme function of ACE2 is reduced. 'The consequence of this is an imbalance of hormones called Angiotensin I and Angiotensin II which together regulate blood pressure. 'It could be related to the increase in strokes reported.' VIRUS' UNIQUE SHAPE Dr Robert Bonow, a professor of cardiology at Northwestern University, said it may be the coronavirus' unique shape that is causing the blood-clotting issues. He said the virus' spikes, which latch onto receptors in cells, can also attach to blood vessels. Once they dock onto these blood vessel cells, the viral particles can trigger damage to these as well as to heart muscle, Dr Bonow says. Advertisement

It is not the first time a Covid patient has needed their fingers amputated.

A 54-year-old man from Studio City, California, had two fingers amputated as a result of extensive tissue and muscle damage after contracting Covid on a ski trip with a group of friends in northern Italy last February.

Meanwhile a father-of-two, from Cardiff, Wales, lost his left thumb, a forefinger and a half a finger last year after he contracted coronavirus and spent 61 days on a ventilator.

The Italian woman's grisly case was revealed in the European Journal of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery.

She was put on blood-thinning drugs last March after doctors noticed she had a lack of blood flowing into her heart  which is normally triggered by a heart attack or stroke.

The drugs prevent platelets, blood-clotting cells, from clumping together.



Doctors in Fermo, situated on the Adriatic coastline, 155 miles (250km) north of Rome, swabbed her for coronavirus because of the pandemic and the result came back positive.

However, she had no common symptoms of coronavirus, including a fever, cough, loss or change in smell or taste.

A month later, she went back to hospital after her index, ring and little finger on her right hand had turned black.

She had developed dry gangrene which results when the blood flow to a certain part of the body becomes blocked.

In order to understand what was causing the gangrene, she had a scan to look at the speed of blood flow through her body.

Medics found she had low pressure in the common digital arteries, which are small vessels that travel through the palm of the hand before splitting to provide blood to the fingers.

Doctors gave her heparin, an anti-coagulant medication used to prevent blood clots and treat heart attacks. Surgeons then amputated her three fingers.

Experts examined the dead tissue under a microscope and saw signs of intravascular thrombosis.

Thrombosis is when blood clots develop in the arteries and veins, which can block the heart (causing a heart attack), brain (a stroke), or lungs (pulmonary embolism).

Blood clotting involves a series of steps, the first of which is known as 'activation' which occurs when platelets clump together.

Professor Graham Cooke, involved with the National Institute for Health Research, a research arm of the NHS, said: 'It's important to note Covid is a multi-system disease.

'I think one of the features that seems to separate it from other severe viral disease is this more hypercoagulable state that seems to be associated with later disease.'

A hypercoagulable state occurs when the blood is clotting more than necessary, and can be part of a blood disorder or triggered by medications, cancer, heart attacks or HIV, for example.

It's dangerous because it can lead to the formation of a blood clot in the veins which can travel through the bloodstream and cause deep vein thrombosis  a blood clot in the veins of the pelvis, leg, arm, liver, intestines or kidneys.

It can also cause a pulmonary embolism  a blood clot in the lungs  and raise the risk of stroke, heart attack, severe leg pain, difficulty walking, or even the loss of a limb.

Doctors say they have noticed a considerable amount of Covid-19 patients with blood clotting problems, sparking concern the disease is a vascular infection as well as a respiratory one.

Professor Roopen Arya, from King's College London, estimated in May that as many as 30 per cent of coronavirus hospital patients had blood clots.

'I think it has become apparent that thrombosis is a major problem,' he told the BBC.
The issue of mutations is top of mind, said Governor Gavin Newsom at his Wednesday Covid-19 press conference, not only here in the State of California, but across the globe.

Newsom then confirmed the first cases in the state of the variant first discovered in South Africa. On Tuesday, the governor reported that that variant had not been detected. But he said on Wednesday, as of a few hours ago, two cases have been reportedone in Alameda County and one in Santa Clara county.

More from Deadline

The CDC says the South African variant  also known as B.1.351  seems to be more transmissible. One study also indicated it might be resistant to at least one vaccine.

Officials in South Africa this week halted the rollout of AstraZeneca vaccines  which are not yet being used in the United States  because the vaccinations were found in a clinical trial not to be effective in slowing spread of the South African variant. The mutation also may be less vulnerable to to the effects of antibody drugs or antibody-rich blood drawn from Covid-19 survivors, both of which help combat the virus.

And now that variant is loose in the most-infected state in the nation.

Watch: What to know about South African COVID-19 variant

Shortly after Newsom spoke, California recorded 44,989 deaths due to the pandemic. That made it the US state with the highest number of Covid-related fatalities, surpassing New York which on Wednesday recorded a total of 44,683 deaths.

Originally detected in early October 2020, B.1.351 shares some mutations with the UK variant  called B.1.1.7. Cases caused by B.1.351 had been reported in the US by the end of January 2021.

Story continues

Dr. Anthony Fauci said in January that B.1.351 troubles me. He told CNN last week that the South African variant can reinfect those who have already had it.

It is certainly not the dominant strain [in the U.S.] but if it becomes dominant, said Fauci, the experience of our colleagues in South Africa indicates that even if youve been infected with the original virus, that there is a very high rate of re-infection to the point where previous infection does not seem to protect you against re-infection, at least with the South African variant.

Fauci said in January that continuing Covid-19 mutations were a wake up call.

Covid-19 variants are identified by genomically testing positive samples flagged by labs. The process is expensive and time consuming.

Newsom said on Wednesday that the state had 30 such labs and that they had sequenced over 12,000 samples. That may seem like a lot, but in a state of 40 million, even with likely cases identified by doctors, its comparatively small.

There are 159 confirmed cases in the state of the more transmissible variant discovered in the United Kingdom. Five of those cases were reported earlier this week in Los Angeles.

Theres no way that we dont have a fair amount of [that] variant circulating here, said LA County Health Director Barbara Ferrer. The mutant UK strain is thought to be 30-50% more transmissible. According to a new report, the UK variant is doubling its prevalence among identified cases in the US every 9-10 days.

California also has its own unique strains. Newsom announced that 1,203 instances of the so-called West Coast Variants had been identified in the state. Thats a 20% increase in less than a week. Many of them seem to be in Los Angeles.

At least 50% of our samples have shown the West Coast variant, said Ferrer, before hedging that more research needs to be done.

Dubbed variously B.1.429 and B.1.427, the West Coast Variants, or sometimes called CAL.20C, the new strains are still mysterious.

Watch: What is long COVID?

Dr. Charles Chiu, a virologist and professor of laboratory medicine at UCSF who, in concert with state authorities, has been genetically sequencing test samples to identify new variants said early indications are the CAL.20C might be less susceptible to the currently approved vaccines, but more investigation is needed.

Newsom said on Wednesday that the good news is the state has made tremendous progress on its daily case numbers. Indeed it has.

New cases in the state have plummeted from a mid-December high of over 53,000 daily to just over 8,000 on Wednesday. Hospitalizations and the number of virus patients in the ICU are also down. Deaths, however remain high, with over 500 reported on Wednesday. Mortality is a lagging indicator, however, and hopes are it will drop down soon.

Newsom also said a number of counties moved out of the states most restrictive tier in its Blueprint for a Safer Reopening yesterday. He believes that next week even more will make the jump.

City News Service contributed to this report.

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Attorney General Jeff Landrys lawsuit targeting a reporter for The Times-Picayune and The Advocate who filed a public-records request seeking information about Landrys office is an unfortunate example that likely will encourage egregious behavior by other public bodies, Louisianas leading good-government group said in a deeply critical commentary released Thursday.

The unusual lawsuit, filed Friday, asks a state judge to declare that reporter Andrea Gallo is not entitled to the records she requested  any sexual harassment complaints filed against Pat Magee, the head of the criminal division of the Attorney Generals Office, as well as records showing how the complaints were investigated and resolved. The suit also asks that the matter be sealed, and that Gallo be ordered to bear all costs of the proceeding.

Such suits are rare but not unknown. The Public Affairs Research Councils commentary notes that the city of Monroe and the city of Tallulah have both sued reporters over public records requests.

But Landrys decision to sue Gallo is especially unfortunate, PAR argues, because he is the states leading lawyer and advisor to state and local agencies regarding public records.

Given the offices lofty status, other governmental bodies may be emboldened to follow suit, especially in cases where public disclosure might reveal some misbehavior.

Attorney General Jeff Landry sues Advocate reporter over public-records request Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry on Friday sued a reporter for The Advocate and The Times-Picayune over a public-records request she fil

The problem is not hard to imagine: Each time a citizen seeks public documents that might make a local or state public official uncomfortable or embarrassed, that citizen would be met by a lawsuit to suppress their constitutional right to public access, PAR wrote.

While Gallo is being represented by lawyer Scott Sternberg, who represents the newspaper in many First Amendment matters, other members of the public dont enjoy such protections, the commentary says.

As a result, the commentary argues, such lawsuits are likely to deter citizens from seeking information they are entitled to.

So-called reverse lawsuits against members of the public are used to prevent disclosure and discourage the filing of freedom-of-information requests, PAR wrote. The action is a threat because it can serve as a deterrent to filing requests and can be more costly to the petitioner. The citizen is confronted with a lawsuit  along with its delays and expenses  just for exercising a constitutional right to obtain information.

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Landrys suit has been assigned to 19th Judicial District Judge Tim Kelley.

Read Attorney General Jeff Landry's court files against The Advocate reporter Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry filed a lawsuit Feb. 5 against a reporter for The Advocate and The Times-Picayune over a public records

The suit has its roots in a Dec. 14 request from Gallo, seeking records related to Magee.

Landrys office announced on Jan. 19 that an investigation into allegations against Magee had found that he had engaged in inappropriate verbal conversations that included sexual slang and unprofessional comments about the appearance of some employees. The investigation, conducted by Vicki Crochet, a private attorney hired by Landry, concluded that while Magee had made some employees uncomfortable, he had not inappropriately touched anyone, sought sexual favors or made other sexual overtures.

Magees pay was docked by $20,559 and he was ordered to undergo counseling, Landrys office said.

While the AGs office initially indicated it planned to release more documents relevant to the case, such as any complaints that led to the probe, it then changed its tune. Landrys lawyers argued that parties to the case had a constitutional right to privacy; they also pointed to internal policies that call for such matters to be handled confidentially.

PARs commentary takes no position on whether the records sought by the newspaper are public, saying that is a matter for the courts to decide.

But it argues that Landry should regret the suit and advise other governmental bodies that such reverse suits are bad policy and not in the best interests of open government and citizen rights. The commentary also urges Gov. John Bel Edwards, a frequent Landry adversary, to tell agencies in the executive branch to avoid such suits.

Landrys lawsuit against Gallo has attracted national attention, including a story in the Washington Post. Earlier this week, the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, a national nonprofit, criticized Landrys lawsuit, saying it goes against the spirit of Louisianas public records law, and adding that such efforts only serve to intimidate members of the press and public who ask questions about what their government is doing and how.
Red Velvet Irene is indeed the "original visual" with the incredible look she served during the first press conference for her upcoming movie, "Double Patty."

Actress Bae Joo Hyun, or prominently known as Irene of Red Velvet is finally cementing her acting career through her first big-screen project, "Double Patty.".

On February 10, Irene attended the premiere of the movie "Double Patty" at Lotte Cinema Konkuk University Entrance Store in Jayang-dong, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul.

A press conference was also held, wherein the casts and production team expressed their excitement for the upcoming film.

Red Velvet Irene's Beauty Drew Attention + First Movie Press conference

As this is her first appearance after a resolved attitude controversy, the media and fans were focused on the female lead of the drama, which is Irene.

Indeed, the female idol's unrelenting beauty captured the eyes and interest of the attendees, making several headlines highlighting her elegance and natural beauty.

In the event, the leader of Red Velvet attended the event wearing a black mini dress with a deep wave-shaped neckline. Irene, who produced a natural S-curl hairstyle, matched her chain-shaped earring as well, and her outfit for the day was completed by her organic face.

As she faced the public for the first time without her members since her controversy, the female star confessed, "It's my first time greeting you at a movie premiere, so I'm nervous and shy."

Irene added, "I was embarrassed to see you acting on a big screen." She teased fans that there will be a lot of "Mukbang" scenes (eating shows) and thanks to the cheer and pleasant feedbacks for their roles, she was able to cheer and gain strength.

Also Read: Red Velvet Irene Writes to Fans for the First Time Since Attitude Controversy

Red Velvet Irene and Shin Seung Ho to Record an OST for the Movie "Double Patty"

As the release of the movie is getting nearer, main actors Irene and Shin Seung Ho is set to gift fans two Original Sound Tracks (OST) titled, "White Night" and "Night Sky."

Shin Seung Ho's character will sing "Night Sky," which narrates a cool summer night in Itaewon's streets, while Irene will showcase her perfect vocals with "White Night," a track that reflects the elegance of youth.

The movie "Double Patty," which is set to be released on Feb. 17, depicts the story of a promising wrestler Kang Woo Ram (Shin Seung Ho), and an aspiring anchor Lee Hyun Ji (Irene) having a warm meal after a hard day and giving strength and comfort to each other.

For more K-Pop news and updates, keep your tabs open here at KpopStarz.

KpopStarz owns this article.

Written by Eunice Dawson
Molepolole  Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are now being felt in the corridors of justice.

Some accused persons could not attend court for continuation of trial due to positive cases at Molepolole prison.

One of the prosecutors in the Lentsweletau/Hatsalatladi robbery case, Inspector Future Modisadife told Molepolole Magistrate Court on Monday to postpone the case due to the rising COVID-19 positive cases at prison.

Consequently, Magistrate Alice Rammapodi-Lesedi reschedule the case to April 6, 22, 29 and 30 as per the prosecutor's request.

The postponement, however, did not go down well with Kitso Modisantwa, the first accused in the case, who argued that the prosecution was not doing enough in pushing for completion of the case.

He accused the prosecution of using the corona virus issue as a scapegoat to delay the case that had been dragging on since 2017.

Modisantwa therefore pleaded with the presiding magistrate to consider granting him conditional bail in the interim, adding that his health was also in jeopardy.

Co-prosecutor, Sub Inspector Barulaganye Tiase, said the situation was beyond their control since the world was in the middle of a pandemic that controlled how things were done.

He said they believed what prison officials had told them about the corona situation, corroborating his colleague's statement about the fact that the number of corona cases registered at Molepolole prison had negatively impacted the progression of cases.

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Sub-inspector Tiase, however, maintained his stance against granting the accused bail, positing that reasons for denying the accused bail remained.

In re-scheduling the case, Magistrate Rammapodi-Lesedi said she took heed of the fact that the outbreak at Molepolole prison limited them and did not qualify the accused to be granted bail.

The accused persons are: Kitso Modisantwa, Onkemetse Papiso, Katlego Matlhabaphiri and Koketso Dikobe of Gaborone, Thamaga and Mabalane respectively.

Each faced two counts of robbery and a single count of burglary and theft, offences they allegedly committed in Lentsweletau and Hatsalatladi sometime in 2016.

The four accused persons were alleged to have at or near Lentsweletau and Hatsalatladi, sometime in 2016, robbed Ontiretse Peloyame and George Mhiko of their valuables, including cash, through the use of fire arms.

Source : BOPA
Auwalu Daudawa, the bandits' leader behind the abduction of schoolboys in Kankara, Katsina State, said he agreed to surrender his guns to authorities after he learnt that armed banditry was fruitless and meaningless.

Daudawa spoke to newsmen on Tuesday at the headquarters of the Zamfara State Police Command in Gusau, the state capital.

Credible sources at the Zamfara Government House informed Daily Trust that Daudawa was the one who led dozens of gunmen who snatched 340 students from their hostels of Government Secondary School Kankara, in December, which sparked global outrage.

The repentant bandit was leading a gang of bandits with a base in Dumburum Forest in Zurmi Local Government Area of the state operating in Zurmi-Gidan Jaja and Jibia axes.

He said he believed many of the other armed men in Zamfara forests would soon follow suit, adding that they were looking for an opportunity to surrender their arms.

He explained that, "As armed bandits, we are being harassed by the local vigilante groups known as Yan Sakai and sometimes the security operatives. This harassment is what is prompting us to take up arms, and applying force will never stop the attacks.

"If Yan Sakai continue to carry out extra judicial executions of Fulani in marketplaces or in their settlements, there won't be peace, and I'm telling you this from the bottom of my heart. But we thank Almighty Allah for guiding us to the right path."

Former Local government Chairman arraigned

The Chief Magistrate of Court 2 sitting in Katsina has adjourned the matter of alleged ties with bandits involving a former local government chairman of Jibia in Katsina State to March 25, 2021.

Meanwhile, the embattled former local government chairman, Haruna Musa, was arraigned over five-count charges which include breach of trust and inciting disturbance.

The five charges brought against him by the police are all in connection with last December's abduction of 344 students of Government Science Secondary school, Kankara.

The police First Information Report (FIR) containing the charges indicated that Musa was arrested on February 3, 2021, based on credible intelligence on his alleged links with bandits over the abduction.

"On January 30, 2021, at about 0800 hours as a member of Katsina State Fulani/farmers reconciliation committee entrusted with the mandate of negotiating between bandits/kidnappers/robbers in Katsina State, you breached the trust by deliberately using your Samsung GSM Phone with MTN Number 08032981919 in calling one well known armed bandits' commander residing in Zamfara forest, Zamfara State who masterminded the kidnapping of the students of Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, sometime in December, 2020, instigating him with unverified information regarding the release of the said students," the FIR read in part.

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"As a result of this information to the commander of the armed bandits by you, he informed his gang who are now rising against the government and people of Katsina State, threatening to continue terrorising them for the money to be released to them. All these are contrary to Sections 298, 78 and 47 of the Penal Code Law of Katsina State (2019)," the FIR added."

The two police prosecutors in the case, ASP Isa Litti and ASP EM Garuba, however, told the court that investigation was in progress and requested for a new date for the case to be mentioned.

The Chief Magistrate, Hajiya Aminat Ibrahim, granted the request and adjourned the case to March 25, 2021, and directed that the certified true copy of the FIR be released to Musa's counsel, Barrister Ahmed Danbaba, as requested by him and then directed that Musa be remanded at a correctional centre.
Electronic devices and gadgets are a massive demand in the world, particularly when the pandemic started as everyone was required to transition to a full digital setup at home to connect in school and work. However, this meant that the demand for gadgets rose and so does its components, which did not expect to be hit like the PlayStation 5 and now, the car industry.

Ever since its release in November 2020, Sony and the PlayStation 5 have faced the massive issue of PS5 stock shortage and limited availability to be released on public but has not relayed the reason behind it. However, as the months progressed, it was discovered that Sony has trouble in supplying the different components that make the console.

Sony has been plagued by providing the world with stocks of the PlayStation 5 which still has massive shortages and demand across the world, despite delaying the release in several regions including the UK and Africa. The components that were lacking are reportedly the processor chips that would control the entire console, which is an eight-core AMD Zen 2.

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PS5 Chip Shortage is Shared by the Car Industry

According to CNBC's report, the PlayStation 5's chip shortage has been a problem for months, which directly relates to the reason why it still does not have enough stocks to meet the demand of the public. In the country alone, there are still a massive number of people who hunt the online stores for PS5 stocks, despite already selling millions in North America alone.

However, the PS5 is not the only technology that misses out on chips and processors in the latter part of 2020 and the present times, as the car industry also joins the dilemma. CNBC said that Chevrolet's manufacturing has been sharing the same shortage, with the Bolt EV and Chevy Malibu cannot continue distribution because of the processors.

Despite car companies not competing directly with technology companies like Sony and smartphone brands, Chevrolet and the car industry still sees a shortage because of the semiconductor association's shortage. Semiconductor companies in the world all share the same sentiments of shortage and lack of supplies to produce their processors for the technology industry.

Semiconductor Companies are Also Struggling

Advanced Micro Devices, a.k.a. AMD, and Qualcomm, both share the same sentiments that there are massive shortages in their production, thus causing a backlog among its customers and clients. Initially, it was reported as early as the end of 2020 and has been carried over this year.

According to Tom's Hardware, the PlayStation 5 is currently one of its largest clients that demands chips, and because of the most coveted console of 2020, processor supplies have decreased and raised an alarming shortage. Moreover, AMD relies on TSMC for parts and components, which is also struggling because of its other clients and production.

Related Article: Karma Served? Xbox Series X and PS5 Scalpers Got Their Orders Canceled, Good News for Console Hunters

This article is owned by Tech Times





Written by Isaiah Alonzo

 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
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A BBC sign outside the BBC headquarters in Portland Place, London, on July 2, 2020. (Ben Stansall/AFP via Getty Images)

Beijing Bars BBC World News From Airing in China After UK Bans CGTN

The Chinese regime announced that it is pulling BBC World News off air in China, a week after the UKs broadcasting regulator revoked the licence of Chinese state broadcaster CGTN.

BBC World News, the BBCs international news channel, cant be seen by the vast majority of Chinese viewers and can only be watched in hotels and residential compounds catering mainly to foreigners.

Its broadcasts are subject to regular blackouts when covering sensitive news about China, in particular, stories relating to Tibet, Xinjiang, and human rights abuses.

Chinas broadcasting regulator, the National Radio and Television Administration (NRTA), said on Feb. 11 that BBC World News was found to have seriously violated regulations on radio and television management and on overseas satellite television channel management in its China-related reports.

The BBCs China coverage went against the requirements that news reporting must be true and impartial, and undermined Chinas national interests and ethnic solidarity, the official Xinhua news agency quoted the NRTA as saying.

As the channel fails to meet the requirements to broadcast in China as an overseas channel, BBC World News is not allowed to continue its service within Chinese territory, the NRTA said.

Chinas decision to ban BBC World News in mainland China is an unacceptable curtailing of media freedom. China has some of the most severe restrictions on media & internet freedoms across the globe, & this latest step will only damage Chinas reputation in the eyes of the world.  Dominic Raab (@DominicRaab) February 11, 2021

A BBC spokeswoman responded by saying: We are disappointed that the Chinese authorities have decided to take this course of action. The BBC is the worlds most trusted international news broadcaster and reports on stories from around the world fairly, impartially and without fear or favour.

UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said Beijings decision to ban BBC World News is an unacceptable curtailing of media freedom.

China has some of the most severe restrictions on media and internet freedoms across the globe, and this latest step will only damage Chinas reputation in the eyes of the world, he said in a statement.

It comes exactly a week after the UK broadcast regulator Ofcom revoked the licence of CGTN, or China Global Television Network, an international English-language satellite news channel owned by the Chinese regime and directly controlled by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

A morning commuter walks in front of the China Central Television (CCTV) building in Beijing on Dec. 2, 2015. (Damir Sagolj/Reuters)

Ofcom banned CGTN on the grounds that the station is controlled by a body which is ultimately controlled by the Chinese Communist Party. UK broadcasting laws do not allow licences for media controlled by political bodies.

Within hours, Beijings officials lodged a complaint with the BBC, accusing it of fake news in its reporting on how the CCP had covered up the pandemic and the origins of the CCP virus.

A day later, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin criticised the Ofcom ruling as politicising the issue on a technical point and warned that Beijing reserves the right to make a necessary response.

At the same press briefing, Wang said the BBCs coverage of the Chinese regimes human rights abuses against the Uyghur Muslim minority in Xinjiang was unjust, subjective, and irresponsible.

According to human rights NGO Safeguard Defenders, CGTN and its Chinese-language counterpart CCTV have, on numerous occasions, aired recordings of forced confessions from individuals held by the state under duress. The NGO said that broadcasting these materials amounts to known and intentional distortion of facts and clear lies, in violation of Ofcoms rules on impartiality and accuracy.

Concerns over CCP influence and espionage in the UK have been growing in recent years, in particular among some backbench Conservative MPs.

The Telegraph reported on Feb. 5 that the UK had expelled three Chinese spies who were posing as journalists.

According to the Telegraph report, a senior government source said the three spies worked for three different Chinese media agencies, which were not named.

They were forced to return to China after MI5 uncovered their true identities and that they were intelligence officers for Beijings Ministry of State Security, according to the Telegraph.

Simon Veazey and John Smithies contributed to this report.

About 8.3 million Ugandans (22% of the population) are in the more rarefied world of middle-class.

This excludes, the floating middle-class (FMC), those susceptible to becoming poor in case of negative economic shocks. But can this middle-class deliver national aspirations of attaining middle-income status by 2040 as we advance into the third National Development Plan period (2020-2025).

The latest policy brief from the Economic Policy Research Centre (EPRC), examines whether Uganda's middle-class is capable of fostering the attainment and sustainability of the middle-income status (i.e. the strength of the middle-class), and discusses prerequisites for establishing or driving transition into a stable middle-class that the country can rely on to sustain middle-income status if achieved.

Middle-class connotes a signified secure and aspirational lifestyle. Uganda's middle-class comprises of people whose per capita daily consumption expenditure is between $2-$20 (Shs 7,300-Shs 73,000) in purchasing power parity (PPP) terms.

The brief breaks down the middle-class into three categories. First is the Floating Middle-Class (FMC), these are between the poor and the lower-middle-class.

"This class is vulnerable and highly unstable and can quickly descend into poverty in the event of economic and other shocks. The per capita consumption level for FMC is $2-$4 (Shs 7,300 - Shs 14,600) per day - just above the developing world's poverty threshold of $2 (Shs 7,300) per day."

The second segment is the Lower Middle-Class (LMC). According to the brief, this is composed of those with daily per capita consumption of $4-$10 (Shs 14,600 - Shs 36,500).

This class lives above the subsistence level and can save and consume non-essential goods. The third segment is the Upper Middle-Class (UMC). This has households whose characteristics are closer to affluent households.

The UMC daily per capita consumption ranges between $10-$20 (Shs 36,500 -Shs 73,000). The brief says that out of the total population in 2016/2017, about 8.3 million Ugandans (22 per cent) belong to the middle- class (without a floating category) and if those in the floating category are included (about 13 million), the size of the middle-class rises to 21.3 million, representing close to 57% of the population.

The FMC alone represents 34.8 % of the total population in Uganda. According to statistics from the Uganda National Household Survey (UNHS) 2016/2017, out of the 21.3 million Ugandans in the middle-class, the share of the Floating Class, Lower Middle Class and Upper Middle Class is 61 per cent, 33 per cent and 6 per cent respectively, which means the floating class - is the weakest middle-class category with characteristics closer to the poor.

It constitutes the highest share of the middle-class in Uganda. The EPRC brief notes that the floating class is highly vulnerable

or susceptible to any economic shock, and can quickly descend into poverty. It is an unstable sub-group of the middle-class that cannot be relied upon to attain and sustain the middle-income status, as well as economic growth and development.

Unlike the floating middle class, it is the upper-middle class (which is just six per cent of the middle-class), that is the source

of substantial economic power for the country, capable of providing a stable ground for sustained growth and middle-income status.

"This evidence suggests that the quality of Uganda's middle-class is wanting. It is fragile and highly unstable as it is susceptible to risks and shocks," the brief says.

The brief further reveals that there are four significant drivers of transition into the middle class; Urbanization, which increases

the likelihood of transitioning into the middle-class by three per cent to more than 90 percentage points depending on the category of the middle-class.

Urbanization is expected to drive the middle-class because of the opportunities it presents such as more paying jobs and increase in consumption because the urban class is willing to pay for more premium products.

Smaller households were also found to be vital for a sustainable middle-class since they create opportunities for growth in the middle-class. From the results, EPRC observed that when the household size is too large, the variable reduces possibilities of attaining as well as retaining upper and lower middle-class status.

Education is another fundamental tool the EPRC brief fingered for boosting the middle- class because the movement from lower to higher levels of education increases the probability of becoming middle-class by one to 34 percentage points depending on the middle-class category.

A significant positive change in educational attainment up to post-secondary level (university or tertiary education) is associated with doubling the likelihood of transitioning into the middle-class with an increase of nine to 35 percentage points.

Accordingly, investments in education stimulate higher growth or transition into the middle-class. Results show that as the educational level advances to higher levels, it no longer becomes vital for attaining floating middle-class status. Instead, it

is lower levels such as primary and secondary education that significantly drive movement into the floating middle-class.

Investing in higher educational achievement is significant for attaining higher economic status, such as the upper-middle class. Household economic activities or income-generating activities that households engage in also play an essential role in the middle-class transition.

The key economic undertakings include; commercialized agriculture and economic diversification into non-agricultural enterprises, including property income. The EPRC brief, therefore, gave a policy recommendation that in order to achieve and maintain the middle-income status, it is crucial to build a stable middle- class in the country.

Policy should target breaking the fragility of the middle class and achieving a more resilient one, by focusing on the transition of those in the floating category to lower and upper middle-class categories. Thus, investing in the drivers of middle-class change such as organized urbanization, having smaller manageable household sizes, economic activities including diversification and entrepreneurial development and quality education as a tool for human capital development is vital.

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In July 2020, the World Bank declared Tanzania as a lower middle-income country five years ahead of her schedule having attained the Gross National Income (GNI), the total income earned by the country, of $ 1,080 (Shs 3.9 m) while that of Uganda is still at $780 (Shs 2.8m).

For a country to achieve the lower middle-income status, it must have a GNI, which is above $1,036 (Shs 3.7m). Uganda envisions becoming an upper middle-income country by 2040. To achieve this, according to the brief, medium-term targets are set, guided by five-year National Development Plans (NDP).

One key medium-term target was attaining a lower middle-income status with a per capita income of $1,039 by 2020. Implementation of NDPII was expected to deliver on this aspiration, but the government failed to achieve this.

As a strategy, and as we advance into the NDP III period (2020/21 - 2024/25), the government can leverage on the power of the middle-class to drive the country into the middle-income status.

For this to happen, according to the brief, there should be a sound and sustainable middle- class, given that a strong middle class is critical for achieving and sustaining the middle-income status.
[February 11, 2021] BioUtah and the University of Utah's PIVOT Center Announce Headline Speakers, Agenda for 2021 Virtual Entrepreneur & Investor Life Sciences Summit

BioUtah, Utah's only trade association dedicated solely to the life sciences, in partnership with the University of Utah's Partners for Innovation, Ventures, Outreach & Technology (PIVOT) Center, today announced its agenda and distinguished keynote speaker, J.P. Morgan's Monica DiCenso, for the 2021 Virtual Entrepreneur & Investor Life Sciences Summit (E&I Summit) to be held Feb. 25-26. Ms. DiCenso is the managing director and head of Global Investment Opportunities Group at J.P. Morgan Private Bank. "Ms. DiCenso's expertise on market dynamics, particularly in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, will help set the stage for the two-day E&I Summit and shed light on the investment environment for the life sciences sector," said Keith Marmer, chief innovation and economic engagement officer for the University of Utah. To register and view the full agenda and speakers list, visit eilifesciencessummit.org. Also in the spotlight will be top-tier Utah CEOs of innovative life sciences companies, such as RenalytixAI, IONIQ Sciences and Alucent Biomedical. These CEOs will share their well-honed perspectives on the search for funding. Principals from national venture capital firms, including Bioventures Investors, Kaiser Permanente Ventures, Flare Capital, Exxclaim Capital and Lightstone Ventures, will address changes in attracting investment as well as topics related to operating and developing life sciences companies. Panel discussions on capital raising for early-stage life sciences companies and finding funding in Utah bring together some of the best in the business - from General Inception, Echo Health Ventures and Vita Capital Partners to Park City Angels, Intermountain Ventures and Utah's Small Business Innovation Research office, and more. "We're excited to have such world-class speakers," said Kelvyn Cullimore, president and CEO of BioUtah. "Whether your focus is medical devices, diagnostics or therapeutics, the E&I Summit is designed to showcase all segments of our industry and connect innovators with he larger investment community."



"Bringing BioHive into this year's conference adds a whole new 'buzz' around our industry's robust ecosystem and culture of entrepreneurship," said Katelin Roberts, interim director of BioHive. BioHive is a bold branding initiative of BioUtah which aims to raise the profile of Utah's fast-growing life sciences industry on a national and global scale. BioHive and its efforts to promote the state's thriving healthcare innovation hub, will be prominently featured during the event. The E&I Summit will hold its popular Pitch Competition virtually this year. Ten companies have been selected to pitch their product before a slate of seasoned judges. "We had more than 30 excellent applicants," noted Cullimore. "Choosing only 10 was very difficult." Information on all applicant companies will be available on the Summit platform in a section highlighting all 30 companies.

About BioUtah BioUtah is an independent 501(c)(6) trade association serving Utah's life sciences industry. Its member companies reflect a broad spectrum of the industry with strengths in medical device manufacturing and services, research and testing, biotechnology, biopharmaceuticals, and advanced diagnostics, and healthIT, amongst others; and are a key driver of Utah's economy. BioHive, driven by BioUtah, is an industry branding initiative, in collaboration with key public partners, to bring cohesion within the broader industry and showcase the crucial innovations and contributions of the industry collective that boosts our state's economy and helps patients worldwide. About the Partners for Innovation, Ventures, Outreach & Technology (PIVOT) Center The Partners for Innovation, Ventures, Outreach & Technology (PIVOT) Center leads the University of Utah's centralized and integrated strategy and operation for technology commercialization, corporate engagement and economic development. In doing so, the center serves as a hub for the U to foster partnerships between industry, university and government entities. The center formalizes the U's commitment to broaden its impact on Utah's economy by enhancing local and global collaborations to catalyze innovation. Dedicated to helping the University of Utah's faculty inventors bring their innovations to market, PIVOTCenter is responsible for all aspects of invention management, patent prosecution, licensing, startup formation and support, equity management and early stage funding. The University of Utah was recently ranked 2nd among large research universities for "innovation productivity impact." View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210211005900/en/

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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / February 10, 2021 / Christian Braman is the definition of an entrepreneur. In less than 2 years, Christian has impacted businesses and individuals across the United States and Canada in terms of their Business Management & Development presence. At Valiabiz, their main focus is to help people with all of their business needs and providing full-time business management services.

Furthermore Christian stated, "Many people know they need to invest into their brand and dreams for themselves but don't know a place to go to get everything they need done." Christian and Valiabiz's track record speaks for itself, collectively they've worked with some of the most respected business leaders in the US, as well as on an international level with very large corporations.

When he first started, Christian knew that there was a huge market for the services he wanted to provide. He saw how others were finding incredible success in the business consulting space. Knowing it wouldn't be easy, he took a full dive into the industry at the end of 2019. Christian went on to say "In the beginning it wasn't easy, not even in the slightest. I struggled immensely to get a footing online. It takes awhile to build trust, especially at that time because I had so many things to work on and many people who didn't want to see me shine. But I made it work."

To cap off the entire year of 2020, Christian quickly figured out what strategies worked and how to build a footing across all platforms. The greatest thing about it Christian stated is, "Everything we found to work we did a 180 with and added it to our services for our clients. The same way we've been able to grow our business is the same way we help others grow theirs."

One of the most important things for Christian was to seek out knowledge and mentorship. Mentorship was by far the most valuable thing for him during this journey. Christian explained, "The only investment people need to make is in a quality mentor who helps steer them in the right direction and scale their business." There's so much beauty in mentorship, it's a guide to help you get ahead quicker and not make the same mistakes others made on the same path as yourself.

Leading into the 2nd full year of Valiabiz, Christian and his team have been working hard to remodel their service offerings so that they can stay ahead of the everlasting changes in their industry.

"This is an absolute necessity for us, currently we have so much demand for our services in the marketplace. We're working endlessly to put our service offerings into more streamlined monthly deliverables so that we can help our clients as best as we can. We have a lot of exciting new offerings we are perfecting."

Christian is always focused on the value he brings to his customers. Christian went on to say "We're months ahead of anyone else in our industry, most agencies have outdated service offerings and even worse; nothing that is streamlined and efficient. In order to be a great company, you need to stay ahead of the curve, not just for your own bottomline but to make sure your clients are getting the results they desire."

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SOURCE: Valiabiz

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/629249/Multi-Millionaire-Christian-Braman-Shares-How-To-Take-Over-The-Business-World
Speaking during a webinar organised by the Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS) on multi-domain operations and the future of warfare, Naravane said that everyone has seen how the very imaginative and offensive use of drones in Idlib and then in Armenia-Azerbaijan challenged the traditional prima donnas: The tanks, the artillery and the dug in infantry.

New Delhi, Feb 11 (IANS) Indian Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane said on Thursday that the current weapons of war are fast losing their importance and are being overtaken by disruptive technologies that operate in the cyber and space domain.

He also talked about the showcasing of swarm drone offensive striking multiple targets during the Army Day parade last month, terming it as a strong message to India's adversaries.

India is facing a two-front war situation in the northern and western borders with China and Pakistan.

The Army Chief said that the swarm drone demonstration was a message to India's adversaries that: "The Indian Army is steadily inducting niche capabilities to enhance its combat proficiencies in multi-domain operations."

He said that swarm drones can overwhelm and effectively suppress an enemy's air defence capability, creating windows of opportunities for strike elements.

"It is also no longer necessary to score a physical hit to destroy a target. Offensive capabilities in the digital domain can effectively neutralise satellites and networks, denying them at critical junctures to decisively alter the course of the conflict," he said.

Concurrently, India is also working towards penetrating the anti-access bubble of the adversaries by investing in long-range vectors as also through the smart leveraging of aircraft and aerial platforms, Naravane added.

The Army Chief further explained how disruptive technologies are now driving doctrinal cycles like never before. "It may not be inaccurate. therefore, to infer that technology itself is steadily emerging as a core combat capability," he pointed out.

Large platforms which were once the mainstay of the 20th century battlefield -- the main battle tanks, fighter aircraft and large surface combatants -- have been rendered relatively less significant in the face of emerging battlefield challenges in newer domains, Naravane said.

He then explained that for years the Indian adversaries have studied the attributes, especially the weaknesses of western style militaries in war-fighting, and have developed stratagems to exploit the same.

Naravane said India has been schooled in many of these precepts and had focused on fine-tuning of operational preparedness in hardcore kinetics but the adversaries focused their energies on the ambiguous grey zone, seeking to out-manoeuvre in the competitive spaces short of all out conflict.

"As we fixed our gaze on building core capacities in land, sea and air, they (adversaries) took the battle to the newer domains of space, cyber, and informatics," the Army Chief said.

"With Western militaries focusing on amassing massive combat power through the aggregation of large military platforms, viz, tanks, guns and aircraft carrier led huge naval armadas, our adversaries invested in creating a formidable stand-off enterprise in the form of long range precision fires, PNT (precision, navigation, timing) systems, hypersonic vehicles and robust air defence capacities," Naravane said.

He said that a few years from now, in a typical multi domain operations engagement, a combat group assault on enemy dispositions will be enabled by multiple capacities across domains.

"So, a High Space UAV System or investments in Low Orbit Technologies will provide the combat group commander with complete transparency of the enemy battle space through real time, persistent surveillance," he pointed out.

This could be complemented by a Su-30 reconnaissance mission, hours earlier, with the imagery of key enemy dispositions offloaded into a "tri-service cloud" for instant retrieval.

A cyber strike, as part of preparatory bombardment, will disable enemy radars, command and control apparatus and electronic warfare systems. Having achieved complete mastery over the battle space in terms of visual transparency as also domination of the electromagnetic spectrum, the kinetics are unleashed.

As the traditional fire and manoeuvre elements of the combat group launch the physical assaults, a swarm of offensive drones, based on autonomous, artificial intelligence enabled edge computing and distributed intelligence projects 25 km in depth to neutralise enemy mechanised columns that are moving in for a counter attack.

Through such 'smart convergence' and the 'innovative bundling of technologies' across multiple domains, a futuristic, multi-domain operations enabled Indian Army combat group will achieve its mission with surgical precision, in compressed time frames and at fractional costs.

--IANS

sk/arm
Insurrectionists who stormed the U.S. Capitol sought to kill House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and feverishly searched hallways and her office in hopes of finding the San Francisco Democrat, according to evidence outlined Wednesday during the impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump.

We know from the rioters themselves that if they had found Speaker Pelosi, they would have killed her, said House Delegate Stacey Plaskett, D-Virgin Islands, one of the House managers prosecuting the case against Trump.

The Capitol police deemed the threat so dangerous that they evacuated (Pelosi) entirely from the Capitol complex, rushing her to a secure off-site location as pro-Trump rioters breached the building on Jan. 6, Plaskett said.

Plaskett said court documents in criminal cases that have been brought against alleged rioters and social media posts make clear that their intent was to kill Pelosi and then-Vice President Mike Pence, who had rejected Trumps assertions that he could single-handedly overturn Electoral College votes giving Joe Biden the presidency. Plaskett pointed to a post from one rioter who wrote, Crazy Nancy probably would have been torn into little pieces, but she was nowhere to be seen.

She also cited an affidavit from an FBI agent stating that a group of insurrectionists said that anyone they got their hands on they would have killed, including Nancy Pelosi.

During the second day of Trumps trial in the Senate, House Democrats presented previously unseen surveillance footage showing how the mob roamed the hallway outside Pelosis Capitol office and kicked in the door, looking for the speaker. Although she had been evacuated, her staff was in another room in the office, hiding from the mob.

Eight staff members had barricaded the two doors leading to an inner conference room and crouched underneath the table. One rioter broke down the first door but moved on when he encountered the second door.

We need Capitol police in the hallway, a staffer whispered in a phone call. Theyre pounding on doors trying to find her.

The staffers remained in the room for hours, hiding in fear for their lives, Plaskett said, while rioters rummaged through their offices, shattered a mirror and kicked in doors.

One of the rioters, a man who rested his feet on a desk in Pelosis office, carried a stun gun on his belt, Plaskett said. The rioter left a note stating, We will not back down.

Authorities say the man was Richard Barnett, 60, of Arkansas. He has pleaded not guilty to federal charges including entering and remaining in a restricted building with a dangerous weapon, theft of government property and disorderly conduct.

As the mob spread through the Capitol, rioters shouted, Where are you, Nancy? Were looking for you. Nancy, oh, Nancy, according to a video shown by the impeachment managers.

Again, that is a mob that was sent by the president of the United States to stop the certification of an election, Plaskett said. President Trump put a target on their backs, and his mob broke into the Capitol to hunt them down.

Chronicle Washington correspondent Tal Kopan contributed to this report.

Dustin Gardiner is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: dustin.gardiner@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @dustingardiner
Destruction of farmlands by cattle - and herders - is barely avoidable in Nigeria's outdated open grazing system and criminals are taking advantage.

Before Igangan, 177 kilometres from Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, was propelled to national attention in the past weeks over the forceful removal of the Fulani population in the town by a group inspired by Sunday "Igboho" Adeyemo, a self-acclaimed Yoruba warlord, Taiwo Adeagbo, a local farmer-leader, had collected several photographs, depicting bloodied and savagely hacked human bodies. His collection also includes the photograph of a rape victim, lying sick with a machete cut.

"This woman is 45-year-old and was seriously macheted on the left side of her face after she was gang-raped in the bush by Fulani herdsmen on July 4, 2019," said Mr Adeagbo, the secretary of Ibarapa Farmers' Association. He mentioned the victim's name (withheld) and family compound, as he showed this reporter one photograph after another.

Some of the photographs are from 2013 - underscoring years-long simmering tensions the indigenous population of farmers had endured with the settled and migrant Fulani herders before rising recently to a level of open calls to arms against the herders in Yorubaland, ultimately threatening a civil war, as Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka warns.

Other cases in Igangan are more recent; like that of Fatai Aborode, a large-scale farmer, whose December 2020 murder - by persons whom his farm manager told PREMIUM TIMES he could identify as Fulani - became the focal point to justify the eviction of the head of the Fulani community, the Sarkin Fulani, Abdulkadir Salihu, and his kinsmen.

But misinformation may have contributed to Mr Salihu's misfortune, PREMIUM TIMES found based on interviews with late Mr Aborode's farm manager, Olanrewaju Bolanle, and multiple victims of kidnapping and their ransom bearers.

Then, in another photograph, Alani Olalere lies lifeless, blood-drenched. He was said to have been stabbed by a herder following a disagreement over the destruction of his farmland by cattle.

Destruction of farmlands by cattle - and herders - is barely avoidable in Nigeria's outdated open grazing system commonly adopted by Fulani pastoralists. "Open grazing needs to end, herders must sedentarise, with defined property right ... these are legitimate agitations driven by rigorous evidence of criminalities and destruction of the livelihoods of poor farmers," said Seun Kolade, professor at UK's De Montfort University, and convener of International Alliance Justice and Peace, IAJP, recently formed body in response to the troubles associated with pastoralism.

The spokesperson for the government of Oyo State, Wasiu Olatunbosun, said the Seyi Makinde administration had declared an end to open grazing but regretted: "implementation is where we are having problems. On papers, governors are the chief security officers. They give instructions to the security (police, SSS, civil defence state-level commands) but if such instructions are different from the directive from Abuja, they won't carry out the instructions."

In Igangan, and six other towns that form the Ibarapa zone in Oyo State, farmers have for long faced the horror of having their farms trampled upon and crops eaten by straying cattle. And many times, farmers say, herders wilfully hack away at branches of cashew or cocoa trees or wrench out roots of cassava for cattle to feed.

"They are only concerned about their cattle with no consideration for farmers," said Olusola Afolabi, a farmer. "They act with impunity as nothing comes out when you go to the police, and for years our people are recording losses and abandoning farming because of destructions by herders."

Resisting the herders, who are routinely armed with swords, could leave fatal consequences or serious injuries of the sort inflicted on Mr Afolabi, who had his left arm broken. He had tried to stop a herder, who was advancing towards the heaps of cassava tubers he had harvested.

In addition to reviewing photographs collected by Mr Adeagbo, PREMIUM TIMES' reporter saw various recent victims, among them 26-year old Seun Isiah, who was attacked by people he called Fulani herders at Alasia Village, the day Mr Adeyemo first visited Igangan.

He had to pretend to have died from severe machete cuts before his attackers retreated. Visited at a local clinic, he was found to have lost his physical balance with twisted legs and disfigured head. A photograph of him taken just after the attack is gory, with what seems a broken skull revealing inner parts of his head.

Sarkin Fulani: His real sins

In a typically slumbering rural community, with governance far removed and the police rarely effective, there emerged the Sarkin Fulani of Igangan, Mr Salihu, at the centre of the frictions.

Mr Salihu's father migrated to Igangan some 50 years ago from Ilorin, north-central Nigeria, he told PREMIUM TIMES, and settled at Alagolo Village. In what underscores many years of negligence by successive governments of Oyo State, the land Mr Salihu currently occupied was originally the state's and was reserved for crop farming. Years after their arrival in Igangan, Mr Salihu's family took over the large expanse of land for settlement, the usual way many Nigerians, including Fulani herders, treat land as a common resource.

Residents say it was the same manner another Fulani, Iskilu Wakili, adopted in seizing community land in Ayete some 18 years ago. "We just heard a Bororo was occupying our land and I sent for him but he said land belongs to God," said the Odomofin of Ayete, Saubana Oyewole, whose extended family owns the land Mr Wakili occupies.

Mr Wakili has since formed Gaa Wakili (Wakili settlement), taken more land as he diversified into farming. And since Mr Salihu was evicted from Igangan, Mr Wakili's clan is said to have sacked a number of villages around Gaa Wakili. The affected villages include Kajola, Gbagabgere, Konko, and Dagbere, around his Gaa.

While the villagers are now displaced and taken refuge in the towns of Ayete and Idere, cut off from their means of livelihood, the Amotekun operatives deployed to Ibarapa by Governor Makinde have for several days refused to face Mr Wakili and his men in the bush. They remain at Ayete and a couple of them expressed fears about the quality of their arms compared to sophisticated ones Mr Wakili and his men had used to sack villages.

PREMIUM TIMES saw one of Mr Wakili's victims - Olalekan Ololade - who sustained bullet wounds in the last week of January and is now recuperating with his displaced family at Ile Balogun, Idere.

The spokesperson for the police in Oyo State, Gbenga Fadeyi, told PREMIUM TIMES Saturday night that "inhabitants are back to their abode and normalcy restored to the area," after "massive deployment". But according to the secretary of the farmers association, Mr Adeagbo, the villagers remain displaced.

"Tell him he lied," Mr Adeagbo said, challenging the police claim.

Mr Salihu said he had no comment on Mr Wakili.

Mr Salihu told PREMIUM TIMES that the federal government, during the Sani Abacha junta - "when President Buhari was the PTF chairman" - had converted the land to a grazing area and given it to him. Asked for formal papers, he said they had been burnt when his house was razed. However, some leading Igangan natives insist the land is owned by the state government and remains a reserved area for crop farming.

Before his forced removal from the community by a mob inspired Mr Adeyemo, he had become deeply established in the community as a rallying point for the Fulani population - and the one the Yoruba farmers usually lodged complaints to when hurt by herders.

Some natives say he was the de facto ruler of Igangan, with the town's traditional ruler, Lasisi Adeoye, the Asigangan, weakened by old age and health challenges and, perhaps, limited economic means.

But to the farmers, especially the indigenous Yoruba population, Mr Salihu is seen as an unjust arbiter who largely helped the herders evade justice while leveraging his connections and influence.

In one case before the encounter in which his arm was broken, Mr Afolabi said he was referred to Mr Salihu by the police after he got an eyeful of savagery seeing tons of grains of maize, kept in barns, reduced to flames by suspected herders he had squabbled with over grazing access the previous day.

"At the time, a ton (of maize) was N140 thousand but nothing came out of my report to Sarki (Mr Salihu)," he said, adding that, "and when my arm was broken earlier and I reported to the police area command in Eruwa, Sarki intervened and told the police he had asked me to collect N145 thousand as compensation and insisted the culprit would not be presented.

"But I later used the vigilante to arrest the culprit in June 2019 and take him to the police. He was released to his principal, Buji Koga (a Bororo pastoralist connected to Mr Salihu) without my knowledge but they now said the boy had died."

Ibarapa farmers accused Mr Salihu of allegedly capitalising on the misfortunes visited on them by herders as a tool for blackmailing and extorting the herders: where the farmers would either collect nothing or a small part.

"After Sarki's intervention, we agreed to N200 thousand as compensation for my destroyed tomatoes," said Sunday Aderounmu, a farmer. "The herdsman paid but Sarki only paid me N40 thousand. He then challenged me to go to (police) station)."

Similar allegations were made in separate interviews with farmers but Mr Salihu denied them all. He said, "they are envious of me and they think I was outshining their king because all matters were referred to me and they say that I wanted to turn Igangan to an emirate. All they accuse me of are lies."

But a community group, Igangan Development Advocates, insists Mr Salihu made "woes upon Igangan" thrive. "We are not only denouncing the criminal activities (of) Sarki Salihu, we also seek justice for years of crimes," the group's convener, Oladiran Oladokun, said.

Rampant kidnappings aggravated tensions

While the Yoruba and the Fulani have endured a long time of endless farmer-herder conflicts, tension aggravated as kidnappings became rampant recently. The criminal trend spread to all states in southwestern Nigeria - and indeed other parts of of the country.

So, when in January Mr Adeyemo went to Igangan and issued Mr Salihu and his kinsmen a seven-day ultimatum to leave, he gained massive support so much so that he became an instant hero of the Yoruba. Even when he tore apart foremost Yoruba monarch, Enitan Ogunwusi, the Ooni of Ile-Ife - but later apologised - and fired blistering remarks at Mr Makinde, with a threat to unleash violence on the two leaders, who have expressed opposing views, he remained popular, and millions of naira have even raised to support his mission.

"You may not approve of his method, but Sunday Igboho (Mr Adeyemo) is not the problem, neither is he the instigator," said Mr Kolade, the IAJP convener. He expresses similar sentiments as others, who say Mr Adeyemo is filling a vacuum created by government failure to provide security and give justice to victims.

"We should not ignore debilitating leprosy while focusing all attention on eczema... many like Dr Fatai Aborode have been kidnapped and murdered without consequences," he added.

Lukman Jimoh, a former councillor and car dealer, was kidnapped in the early hours of February 28, 2020, the first time such incident would happen in Igangan. Mr Jimoh said his abductors were Fulani and they spoke Fulfulde, which he basically understands following years of relationship with Fulani.

"They dragged me through the bush and made me walk for several hours before they took me to their leader at 3 AM at Oke Kaun, near Ijio in Iwajowa Local Government," Mr Jimoh said. "They allowed me to contact my people on the third day and they demanded N1,500,000 but my friends were only able to raise a million naira, which they collected at Ibudo Saki, also in Iwajowa, where they also released me."

He said the abductors were seeking information about others in the town perceived to be rich. And eight days after his return, another resident, Wasiu Wahab, a cattle breeder, was kidnapped and held at the same area, Ibudo Saki, where Mr Jimoh was released. He was released the following day after a ransom of N2 million was paid.

Then, late night on March 26, Olusegun Olosunde, a petroleum marketer, was abducted at his station. "It is a day I will never forget. I was exiting mosque when about nine persons appeared and started shooting before they made me walk through the bush. I spent six days with them."

Mr Olosunde did not say his abductors were Fulani because his eyes were covered but Nurudeen Adeoti, who negotiated with them by phone said they were Fulani from their language. Mr Olosunde's abductors collected four million naira, four times higher than what was paid to secure the release of Mr Jimoh, the first victim in Igangan.

It was Mr Adeoti that took ransom to secure the release of Monsuru Aderoju, a prince, abducted in January.

"Those that collected money from me and counted the money in my presence were Fulani," he said.

Between February 2020 and January 2021, when Mr Jimoh and Mr Aderoju were respectively kidnapped, at least eight others also became victims, including two brothers, Shefiu and Saidu Asikolaye, who paid N5 million and N7 million respectively.

Not Just Igangan

Outside Igangan, abductions for ransom and murders have also occurred in other parts of Ibarapa, barely checked. In one prominent case, Sherifat Adisa, a businesswoman, was shot dead in the bush opposite her petrol station at Idere on January 2. The gunmen had attacked the station as she was exiting that evening, her manager, Temitope Onifade, a witness, said. As she tried to run back, she was shot in the leg and then dragged away. But apparently, as she could not walk due to the bullet wound she had just sustained, she was shot dead in the bush just opposite the station.

But the tragedy did not end there. Two children, 11-year-old Omowumi Babarinde and 10-year-old Qadrat Toriola were also shot dead beside the station. Omowumi's mother, Alaba Babarinde, who was minding the two children that night, told PREMIUM TIMES that she was making a call to her older son to pick them up after a visit to a place behind the petrol station when she heard gunshots and tried to run with the children. She said the men she saw before she ran were Fulani.

She also fell, hit by bullets, and only regained consciousness at the hospital, her husband, Idowu Babarinde, told PREMIUM TIMES. Mr Babarinde is a farmer and agro commodity supplier but has now been cut off from his farm at Dagbere, near Gaa Wakili, due to ongoing activities of the Wakili clan.

But individuals of Fulani extraction have also been victims of abductions, especially in other Ibarapa towns. "In 2019 alone, seven of our young men were abducted for ransom," said the Sarkin Fulani of Igboora, Idris Abubakar, who enjoys goodwill among the Yoruba population in the town. "It is not only the Yoruba that are affected." A previous report by PREMIUM TIMES shows how the Fulani have also been victims of abductions.

The Fulani remain in Igboora and were not indiscriminately asked to leave although kaara, the cattle market there, like those in other Ibarapa towns, has been shut.

Mr Abubakar sought unity against crimes, saying, "we will be helping the government with intelligence once we see suspicious movements and activities."

Yoruba Also Involved

A rarely known dimension to the criminalities in Igangan area is the role played by individuals of Yoruba extraction. On-the-ground reporting in Igangan, in addition to disclosures by security sources, showed two individuals, a pair of twins, Taiwo and Kehinde Adeowo, had been notorious for series of alleged crimes, including kidnapping, cattle rustling, and robbery.

In multiple separate interviews, Yoruba residents accused the Adeowo twins of various crimes but alleged they "were working for Sarki to rustle the cattle of foreign Bororo" who were seasonally exploring Nigerian pasture.

"They rebelled after they confronted him (Sarki) and accused him of not giving them due compensation," said Mr Adeagbo, echoing various others. "It was Sarki that helped the police to arrest the two of them."

PREMIUM TIMES confirmed the twins are in police custody in Ibadan, having been arrested since last year. But the spokesperson for the Oyo State Command of the Nigeria Police, Gbenga Fadeyi, declined comment on their case.

Mr Salihu said his assistance to the police in arresting the twins was one of the reasons the Yoruba population in Igangan were displeased with him, adding "they (the Yoruba) are angry because we are exposing the Yoruba involved in kidnappings."

Faced with the allegation that the twins used to be his "boys" and had helped him carry out criminal assignments, he denied any illegal dealing with them but admitted to being previously close to them. He also said the twins used to seek his help when they committed crimes.

"They used to be close to Sarki because their late father was a butcher and all butchers were close to Sarki," Mr Salihu's son, Mohammed, told PREMIUM TIMES.

Mr Salihu also said: "I had no illegal dealing with them but they had previously asked me to help intervene on their behalf when they committed crimes."

The state's information commissioner, Mr Olatunbosun, said, "we are against crimes whether by Yoruba, Igbo or Hausa-Fulani."

Untruths

Some claims made by Mr Adeyemo and amplified by many others as the anti-Fulani agitations intensified are contradicted in substantial parts by our findings.

In one instance, Mr Adeyemo claimed the Sarki, Mr Salihu, was involved in negotiating ransoms and interceding between victims' families and the abductors. He particularly said the Asigangan's child was kidnapped and the monarch paid ransom through Mr Salihu to secure the release of the prince.

Multiple victims of abductions told PREMIUM TIMES the Sarki was in no way involved in ransom negotiations. Also, the said prince turned out to be Mr Aderoju, the last person to be kidnapped in Igangan to date. The Igangan monarch, Mr Adeoye, told PREMIUM TIMES that Mr Aderoju is not his direct son and that the ransom to secure him was not routed through the Sarki Fulani.

In addition, Mr Adeoti, who took the ransom to the abductors at a place called Idi Apa to secure Mr Aderoju's release, said the Sarki played no role in the negotiation or release.

Mr Adeoti said Mr Salihu's oppressive tendencies and involvement in helping herders, who hurt farmers stave off justice, made people suspect he was behind the abductions, which, in fact, were mostly carried out by the Fulani.

In addition, a wife and a child of a monarch, Baba-Iso of Igbole in Igboora, another Ibarapa town, were said to have been abducted. Then, all the Ibarapa monarchs purportedly gathered to beg the Sarki for the release of the abducted royals. After purportedly giving the Sarki two million naira, the royals were freed by their abductors.

But two of the monarchs, who met to support their colleague in raising fund to secure the release of abducted royals told PREMIUM TIMES they had no meeting with the Sarki and he did not provide any help.

"Sarki was not involved in any way," said the Oluaso of Igboora, Jamiu Badmus, of the efforts to free the royals. "We paid the Fulani kidnappers two million naira and I contributed." This was also confirmed by the Asigangan, Mr Adeoye.

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Then, on the murder of Mr Aborode, a PhD holder and large scale farmer, Mr Adeyemo said the deceased was leaving the Sarki's home, where he had gone to complain about the destruction of his farm by herders, when he was seized, tied to a tree, and brutally murdered by herders.

Mr Aborode was indeed brutally murdered

and his remains were left bloodied but he was not returning from the Sarki's house, his farm manager, Mr Bolanle, said. Mr Bolanle and the deceased were returning from the farm at Apodun - not on the same route as the Sarki's Alagolo residence - where their motorcycle was stopped by gunmen.

"They were Fulani; though they used masks, I know from our conversations. They were four and it was around 5:30 p.m. and they started shooting heavily before one of them took me away into the bush, while another one dragged doctor (Mr Aborode) away too," said the farm manager. "Before that, they said they did not want money but wanted to kill him."

The manager said he was released in the bush and that he followed another route to the town to call people for help. Mr Aborode died on the way to the General Hospital in Igboora.

The farm manager said his principal had no problem with the Sarki or the herdsmen before his assassination and that he had just recently purchased bags of salt for the wives of the herders as a philanthropic gesture. He added that his principal had also recently asked Fulani herders from various settlements to freely fed their cows with his stunted maize.

This was corroborated by Mr Aborode's father, who, however, endorsed Mr Adeyemo's intervention against the Fulani herders, citing years of hurting farmers by herdsmen.

Mr Adeyemo could not be reached to comment for this report. Repeated calls and messages were not answered and replied. A lawyer who represents him also did not comment.

Mr Aborode's cousin, Majekodunmi Aborode, a former commissioner in Oyo State, told a virtual gathering monitored by PREMIUM TIMES that the deceased was involved in a court case over the destruction of his farm with the Sarki, Mr Salihu.

The farm manager said he did not know of any court case between his late principal and the Sarki or even any conflict involving both. Mr Majekodunmi rescinded his earlier decision to grant this paper an interview. When he was messaged via WhatsApp, specifically asking him to reiterate his court case claim, he did not comment.

"I don't want to comment on the issue any longer," Mr Majekodunmi said via WhatsApp.

People expressed concerns as the police appear not to have taken any action on Mr Aborode's case, like most others. The deceased's farm manager, Mr Bolanle, said he had not been invited for any investigation, nor has anybody been arrested despite reporting to the local police station. But police spokesperson, Mr Fadeyi, said the state CID is charged with the responsibility of investigating such case discreetly."

Indiscriminate Violence: 'Igboho must not run loose'

Since Mr Adeyemo led residents to sack Mr Salihu from Igangan, residents said incidents of kidnapping and clashes between herders and farmers have stopped. But Mr Adeyemo's intervention has not stopped Mr Wakili from sacking villages in Ayete.

Mr Adeyemo has been to Ogun State and has vowed actions in other south-western states to further a mission that is indiscriminately targeting herders and labelling them criminals amid rapidly growing anti-Fulani sentiments in the south.

"In calling for indiscriminate violence on the Fulani in the region, he has muddled the message, detracting from a more substantive and pressing matter of criminal terrorism that has ravaged Yorubaland," said Mr Kolade. "We need leaders from across Yorubaland to take control of this messaging away from the call for indiscriminate violence, that undermines the legitimacy and urgency of the actual struggle".

Mr Kolade said "legitimate agitations" can be made to end open grazing, ranching of cattle and have them register as other businesses do. "All these will set the stage for flushing out criminals occupying and using forests as hideouts for their campaign of terror."

"This is different from indiscriminate violence in the country where we have Yoruba in different parts of the north. Igboho must not be allowed to run loose with incendiary and ill-considered declarations," the professor said.

Mr Olatunbosun, Oyo's information commissioner, said the government is opposed to "the idea of sending people away," apparently referring to Mr. Adeyemo's declarations.

For Nobel laureate, Wole Soyinka, in an interview with BBC, Mr. Adeyemo, "has responded to the situation in the way he knew how. Somebody reaches an explosion point and he says I cannot take this any longer and he takes unilateral action. The action may be excessive, what matters is that somebody has responded to an unacceptable situation. Any error he makes is for the rest of us to correct by calling him."


Plastic, with its unabated global production, is a major and persistent contributor to environmental pollution. In fact, the accumulation of plastic debris in our environment is only expected to increase in the future. "Microplastics" (MP)--plastic debris <5 mm in size--are particularly problematic in this regard, owing to how easily they can be ingested by marine organisms and eventually find their way to humans. But, it is not just the marine environment that contains MP debris. Studies on agricultural soil have revealed that MPs adversely affect not only the soil quality but also the physiology of soil organisms and, in turn, the interaction between soil and plants. Still, because most studies on MPs have focused on marine environments, it is not clear how abundant MPs are in different types of soils based on the agricultural practice (a source of MP) employed. Moreover, it remains to be determined whether only external sources of MP (sewage, wastewater, and runoff water due to rain) are responsible for the soil pollution.

Scientists from Incheon National University, Korea, headed by Prof. Seung-Kyu Kim, now explore these questions in their latest study published in Journal of Hazardous Materials. "Most studies on MPs have focused on the marine environment, but substantial amounts of MPs can be generated in the agricultural environment via weathering and fragmentation of plastic products used in agricultural practices. We hoped to find out the amount of MPs in Korean agricultural soils and how they change according to different agricultural practices and environmental conditions," says Prof. Kim.

For their study, the scientists examined four soil types corresponding to different agricultural practices: soils from outside and inside a greenhouse (GS-out and GS-in, respectively), mulching (MS), and rice field soil (RS). Of these, the former three samples represented the use of polyethylene film, while the RS sample represented little to no use of plastic. To minimize the effect of non-agricultural sources of MP, scientists collected the samples from rural farmlands during the dry season. They only considered MPs in the size range of 0.1-5 and classified them as per their shapes: fragment (uneven), sheet (thin an even), spherule (round), and fiber (thread-like).

As expected, scientists found the highest average MP abundance in GS-in and GS-out (GS-in > GS-out), but surprisingly, they found the lowest MP content in MS rather than RS. Further, they found that among the different shapes of MPs, fragments dominated GS-in; fibers, GS-out and MS; and sheets, RS. Interestingly, all soils except GS-in had a major contribution from sheets, which hinted towards potential internal sources of fragment-type MPs within greenhouses.

Scientists also observed an interesting trend regarding MP size distribution in the soil samples. They found that, unlike GS-out, MS, and RS (which showed MP abundance only for a range of sizes), GS-in showed an increasing abundance for progressively smaller sizes. They attributed this to the absence of "environmental fate effect," causing the removal of MPs by surface-runoff, infiltration, and wind in the GS-in samples. Prof. Kim explains, "Contrary to previous studies which stress on MPs originating mostly from external sources, our study reveals that MPs in agricultural soil can come from external as well as internal sources, and that their concentration and sizes can be strongly affected by environmental conditions,"

These findings can contribute to an enhanced understanding of the role of agricultural environment as an MP source. Hopefully, assessing potential risks of MPs in agricultural soils and establishing efficient management strategies can help us to reduce the threat from MPs.

###

Reference

Authors: Seung-Kyu Kim (1,2), Ji-Su Kim (1), Hwang Lee (2), and Hee-Jee Lee (1) Title of original paper: Abundance and characteristics of microplastics in soils with different agricultural practices: Importance of sources with internal origin and environmental fate

Journal: Journal of Hazardous Materials

DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.123997 Affiliations:

(1) Department of Marine Science, College of Natural Sciences, Incheon National University (2) Research Institute of Basic Sciences, Incheon National University

About Incheon National University

Incheon National University (INU) is a comprehensive, student-focused university. It was founded in 1979 and given university status in 1988. One of the largest universities in South Korea, it houses nearly 14,000 students and 500 faculty members. In 2010, INU merged with Incheon City College to expand capacity and open more curricula. With its commitment to academic excellence and an unrelenting devotion to innovative research, INU offers its students real-world internship experiences. INU not only focuses on studying and learning but also strives to provide a supportive environment for students to follow their passion, grow, and, as their slogan says, be INspired. Website: http://www. inu. ac. kr/ mbshome/ mbs/ inuengl/ index. html

About the author

Professor Seung-Kyu Kim received a BS in Oceanography, as well as a MS and a PhD in Environmental Chemistry, from Seoul National University in Korea. He is an environmental chemist interested in the environmental fate and transport of environmental pollutants, as well as assessing their human and ecological effects. Over the past few years, his team has assessed the behavior, distribution, budget, and exposure of microplastics and their associated chemicals from freshwater systems to the open ocean. Their research goal is to determine their mass flows on a regional and global scale, through lab- and field-based studies.
The government has constituted a committee comprising members from public and private sectors to look into issues like promoting localisation and boosting manufacturing, Commerce and Industry Minister said on Thursday.

He also said the government is promoting safety and quality of products as it would help promote competitiveness of domestic industries.

He added that India has all the key elements such as ideas and low cost of labour to promote of good quality toys.

"We have a committee which is working on issues like how to increase localisation, how to boost of components. It is a public-private partnership committee," he told reporters here.

He said this while inaugurating a website for India Toy Fair 2021 along with Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank' and Textiles Minister Smriti Irani.

The committee is working on 24 champion sectors including toys and furniture. Sector specific groups have been formed which are working on actionable points with a view to promoting growth of these sectors.

Further, Goyal said the government is taking steps such as raising import duty and issuing quality control order to promote the toy industry.

Talking about the fair, Irani said six ministries are working together to promote the toy sector.

Pokhriyal requested all the children, teachers and parents to participate in the fair, which will witness participation of all stakeholders of the sector including designers.

(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 Gambia Armed Forces Military Police Unit on Monday 8th February, 2021, commenced military police training with the British Royal Military Police.

According to a media release issued by GAF, the course which is expected to last for three weeks is taking place at the Gambia Armed Forces Training School (GAFTS) in Fajara.

Lieutenant Oates and his training team are training sixty (60) personnel of the Gambia Armed Forces Military Police.

During this period, the course participants are expected to be taken through series of military police training such as Statement writing, Interviews, Road Traffic activities, Exhibit care/Forensics, Military and Civil Laws, Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) among other courses.

The training is geared towards enhancing the drive for capacity building of the military police unit of GAF, which is responsible for discipline in the military.

Hence the importance of having such training programs for the unit cannot be overemphasized.

Speaking at the opening ceremony for the commencement of the training, the Deputy Chief of Defence Staff, Major General Mamat O. Cham, challenged the course participants to compete to be the best.

The General further stated "In every organization, discipline becomes a binding sticker."

He said the good behavior they expect from others are the same expected from them, saying as an embodiment of discipline, the military police is expected to be exceptional.

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Speaking at the opening ceremony also, Major A. Dacosta, Acting Commandant of the GAFTS, told the course participants that the course is going to be very challenging, but at the same time rewarding.

Therefore, he encouraged them to put in their best efforts in order to successfully complete the training. He thanked the Royal British Army in complementing the efforts of the Gambia Armed Forces in terms of capacity building.

The head of the Royal Military Police training team assured their full commitment to the successful completion of the training. He added that it is going to be a two way gain, saying as they are teaching, they will also learn from their counterparts.

He further stated that "I can't overstate how important it is for us to come over here and work alongside and with you and the international cooperation that it shows, the benefits which are to The Gambia Armed Forces and to the Royal British Army."

He said as members of the military police, they are responsible for setting example for all other units in both armies.

Not only our behaviors, but our integrity and discipline would be used by other units both in barracks and while on operations, he said.

The training team leader added that the course will also give the participants the knowledge to successfully complete future deployments under the United Nation's missions.
New Delhi: Textiles Minister Smriti Irani on Thursday launched a scathing attack in Lok Sabha on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, accusing him of spreading lies and saying he may not accept the budget, but people will. Making an intervention in the general discussion on the Union Budget in Lok Sabha, Irani said that she did not expect Gandhi to support a budget which intended to promote the government's Atmanirbhar Bharat' drive and unite the country.

Earlier in the day, Gandhi had alleged that the three new farm laws would damage the country's food security system as also "break the spine of farmers" and said that the country was being run by only four people with a 'Hum do, Hamare do' approach. In a dramatic move, Gandhi also led his party members and those from the TMC and the DMK to observe a two-minute silence by standing to mourn the death of farmers during the ongoing agitation against the laws.

Claiming that "200 farmers" have died during protests, he said he was doing this as the government has not paid tributes to them. The BJP fielded Irani, who had defeated Gandhi in Amethi during the Lok Sabha elections, to respond to the Congress leader.

Without naming Gandhi, Irani wondered how could someone construct a building on the edifice of lies and walk away after showing his back. He may not accept the budget, but people will accept the budget which is a budget to unite people and not to break the nation, Irani said amid thumping of desks by BJP members.

She accused the Congress of spreading lies about the MSP, which the government has repeatedly said would continue. Irani wanted to know what the Congress governments did to mitigate the hardships of farmers, especially farmers of Amethi, the traditional parliamentary constituency of the Gandhis.

If someone has done something for the people of Amethi, may it be constructing toilets, building roads or other public facilities, it was (Prime Minister) Narendra Damodardas Modi, she said and emphasised it repeatedly during her speech. The minister said that it was the Modi government which gave free ration to 80 crore people during the lockdown period. Of these 3.18 lakh people of Amethi got free ration, she added.

Irani said that Amethi lacked basic facilities like good hospitals, roads and official buildings, and the Congress government did nothing for years. Many of these projects have been undertaken by the Modi government, she said. On the accusation of the Congress that farmers will lose their land because of the three farm laws, she said that it was a Congress-backed trust which took away the land belonging to farmers in Amethi.

Speaking during the discussion, RLP member Hanuman Beniwal urged the government to withdraw the three farm laws and provide legal guarantee to the minimum support price (MSP). Farmers have a lot of hope from the Modi government and it should respond positively to the demands of farmers who are agitating on the borders of Delhi, he added.

Thousands of farmers have been protesting at Delhi's borders with Haryana and Uttar Pradesh demanding the rollback of the Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020. The protesting farmers have expressed apprehension that these laws would pave the way for the dismantling of the minimum support price system, leaving them at the "mercy" of big corporations.

However, the government has maintained that the new laws will bring farmers better opportunities and usher in new technologies in agriculture.
CARROLLTON  Despite a spate of overdoses and deaths stemming from the use of the pharmaceutical drug fentanyl during the past week, Greene County officials believe its more of a fluke than an indication of a growing problem.

Three people overdosed on fentanyl on Feb. 4 in the county, and two of those people  a Roodhouse man and a Wrights woman  died as a result. A fourth person overdosed on Saturday.

Its kind of rare, Greene County Sheriff Rob McMillen said, adding that they more typically might see one fentanyl overdose in a month. These were just clustered together. Its not common for this county.

McMillen suspects dealers had a lot of the drug on hand or perhaps had just received a new batch, he said.

A Carrollton man survived an overdose after being found unconscious in the Greene County Jail parking lot.

We have video surveillance in our parking lot here and it was right about shift change, McMillen said.

Authorities used the drug Narcan to revive the man, who told Carrollton police where he got the fentanyl, McMillan said.

I believe he cooperated with the Carrollton police, he said.

Chad McAdams, 41, was arrested on a charge of unlawful delivery of a controlled substance. He is being held in Greene County Jail on $50,000 bail. McAdams also had an outstanding warranty from Jersey County for failure to appear in court, which has an additional $15,000 bail.

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid pain reliever that is used to treat severe pain. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it is from 50 to 100 times more potent that morphine.
Mortar shelling in Afghanistan kills at least 10 civilians

Fire breaks out at West Virginia oil refinery in US

Iran ready to help improve the defense capability of Syria

European Parliament head proposes to strengthen sanctions on Russia

UK PM gets married in London

Armenia reports COVID-19 new 81 cases: for people die

EU countries invite US to issue joint statement against Russia

2 people die in Armenia road accident

Nigeria: Students taken hostage a month ago are released

61 quakes recorded in Congo per day

Syrian MFA: EU lost credibility due to blind obedience to US policy

Armenia ex-minister of emergency situations hospitalized with heart attack

Mher Grigoryan: Clarification of border points is possible only after withdrawal of Azerbaijani troops from Armenia

Suspicious deal: Whether there was profit from buying DNA IDs?

Armenia ex-president says current authorities are trying to blame Russia for defeat in war

4 people killed in Afghanistani bus attack

Robert Kocharyan: This war could not have happened, it was a consequence of the policy of the authorities

Kocharyan: I have to ask people how it happened that overwhelming majority elected this leader

Armen Gevorgyan presents 'Armenia' bloc program: We offer the concept of a working country

Biden's administration proposed to leave unchanged amount of financial support to Armenia

US Embassy in Baku calls on Azerbaijan to immediately release Armenian POWs

Luxembourg MFA calls on Azerbaijan to immediately release all Armenian prisoners

Russia peacekeepers climb to Armenia Gegharkunik Province village positions

Biden strongly condemns manifestations of antisemitism in US

Iran intensifies its diplomacy amid Armenia-Azerbaijan border tensions

Armenia acting PM on forthcoming snap parliamentary elections: We hope to get 60% of votes

Lukashenko accuses West of destabilizing situation in Belarus

Armenia Central Electoral Commission chief on snap elections: No legal basis for postponing, suspending any function

Armenias Pashinyan is met by Yerevan district residents chanting against him

We are ready to be fully engaged in negotiation process to resolve Karabakh issue, says Armenia acting PM

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan gives interview to Russia TV channel

Armenia acting premier: We are ready to start withdrawing troops at any moment

Canada MFA expresses concern over 6 Armenian soldiers capture by Azerbaijan troops

There are omissions in registration documents of political forces that applied to Armenia Central Electoral Commission

Armenia Central Electoral Commission chief: There is activeness in Yerevan for the past day or two

Three new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Group of US Congress members threaten Azerbaijans Aliyev regime with sanctions

Chicago mayor is sued for allegedly refusing interview with white reporter

Iran exports oil to US for first time after long interval

"Armenia" bloc top 50 MP candidates are announced

42 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Sri Lanka public beach is covered in charred plastic pellets due to fire in container ship

US preparing list of targeted sanctions on Belarus authorities

China believes it will own America by 2035, Biden says

15 al-Shabab militants killed in Somalia

Newspaper: Armenia political forces that applied for running in election impatiently await CEC decision

Newspaper: Changes are expected in Artsakh

California prisoner who considers himself Satanist beheads cellmate, dismembers his body

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM's "mutually beneficial" proposal to collapse state system?

Armenia National Security Service Reserve Officers' Union members meet with His Holiness Karekin II

EU is ready to help Armenia and Azerbaijan with border delimitation and demarcation

ARF-D member on Nikol Pashinyan: 103 years ago Armenia's founding fathers would have executed him for treason

Iran President hails brotherly ties with Azerbaijan

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

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
Chahid El Hafed, Feb 10, 2021 (SPS) - The head of the Political Secretariat of Frente POLISARIO, Mr. Jatri Adduh said that the African Union has reaffirmed the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republics sovereignty over its entire national territory, represent a significant gain for the struggle of the Sahrawi people towards its independence and freedom.

Jatri Adduh goes on saying, while replying to national media at the Sahara Hora Forum, that the solution to the Sahrawi issue went through the Moroccan recognition of the sovereignty of the SADR over its entire national territory, highlighting, the international community does not recognize Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara.

The inaction of the international community as well as influential countries interests in Morocco encourages him to breach international law and legality in Western Sahara, he added SPS

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A former governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu, has described the first civilian governor of the state, Lateef Jakande, as the last of the political titans.

Mr Tinubu, who was governor of Lagos between 1999 and 2007, made the remark in a condolence statement on Thursday in Lagos.

Mr Jakande died in the early hours of Thursday at 91.

The deceased was a journalist, an administrator and politician who served as the governor of Lagos State between 1979 and 1983.

According to Mr Tinubu, Papa Jakande could appropriately be described as the last of the titans ranking with the likes of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Adekunle Ajasin and Pa Abraham Adesanya.

Others, according to Mr Tinubu, include Bola Ige, Olabiyi Onabanjo, Balarabe Musa and Aminu Kano, among others.

The All Progressive Congress (APC) national leader said the late Mr Jakande was also a mature statesman never given to histrionics or fanning the embers of disunity.

Mr Tinubus statement, titled We Celebrate, Not Mourn Jakande, said: Today, we lost a great soul. Pa Lateef Kayode Jakande exemplified the best of Lagos and Nigeria.

Showing his extraordinary natural ability, Pa Jakande was largely self-educated, yet he rose to become a man of great knowledge and a prominent figure in Nigerian journalism.

The deceased stood as one of the most incisive and brilliant editorialists of his generation who practiced journalism with the most audacious courage in defence of freedom, liberty and equity even in the thick of vicious military dictatorship.

As an accomplished journalist, Pa Jakande shone even more brightly as a governor and true leader of Lagos State.

Whatever we have been able to accomplish in Lagos State is because of the groundwork Pa Jakande set out before us.

He is the inspirational father of modern Lagos State, he said.

Fall of an elephant

According to the former governor of Ogun, Olusegun Osoba, Mr Jakandes death can be likened to the fall of an elephant.

Mr Osoba, who paid glowing tributes to Jakande in a statement in Lagos, said: An Iroko tree, as well as an elephant, has fallen.

He said the late Mr Jakande would be remembered as a personification of the best in journalism and a political colossus.

He singlehandedly founded both the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria and the Nigerian Institute of Journalism.

He was the first black African chairman of the International Press Institute made up of publishers and editors all over the world, Mr Osoba said.

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The former Ogun governor also noted that Mr Jakande was a foundation member of the Nigeria Union of Journalists and the Nigerian Guild of Editors.

He described the deceased as an astute politician who left giant footprints wherever he had the opportunity to serve at the state and federal level.

As governor of Lagos State, he ran a daily political clinic where citizens consulted him on issues, he said.

Rude shock

For the immediate past governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode, the news of Mr Jakandes passing came as a rude shock.

Mr Ambode, in a statement on Thursday by his media aide, Habib Haruna, said the life of Mr Jakande symbolised humility, uprightness and honesty.

He was ripe at age, but we had hoped he would live to celebrate a centenary, Mr Ambode said.

He was an exemplary leader, a perfect gentleman and a man of integrity and character.

According to him, Lagos will forever be grateful to Mr Jakande for his unparalleled service.

When I was in office, I always looked forward to his fatherly advice and encouragement. Aside from that was his visible presence at state events. Even his health condition never deterred him from giving his support.

This shows how he lived a very humble and upright life throughout his sojourn here on earth, Mr Ambode said.

(NAN)

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A convicted child killer who served a life sentence for murdering a 13-year-old girl has been convicted of sexually abusing two young people.

James Junior McKinstry Craig  who was handed a 21-year sentence in September 1998 for murdering schoolgirl Sonia Forsythe  was convicted for historic sex offences following a two-week trial at Belfast Crown Court.

The jury was sworn in last week and were not told about Craigs previous conviction. The trial was the subject of a reporting restriction which was lifted after the verdicts were reached.

As one member could not continue due to medical reasons, after deliberating for around four hours the remaining jurors of four men and seven women returned guilty verdicts on Thursday on five charges committed against two children in the late 80s and early 90s.

The 49-year-old father-of-one was remanded into custody following the unanimously guilty verdicts, and will be sentenced for the offences on March 18.

The verdict marks the second time Craig has been convicted by a jury at Belfast Crown Court. In May 1998 he was found guilty of murdering Sonia Forsythe, who went missing in the Shankill area of Belfast in June 1991.

After beating the teenager to death with a poker in his Sydney Street West flat, Craig then hid her body in his coalbunker for almost five years, before her remains were discovered by workmen in April 1996.

Despite his denials, he was convicted by a jury and a 21-year sentence was imposed.

He was released and was living in Edward Street in Portadown, but was recalled to custody following allegations made by two women who said they were sexually abused by Craig as children.

Following the allegations, Craig was charged with seven counts of sexual abuse against two young girls in the late 80s and early 90s.

He denied four counts of indecent assault and three counts of gross indecency committed against the girls, one of whom was aged between five and eight, and the other when she was aged seven to nine.

During the trial, both complainants gave evidence  as did Craig himself.

The first victim, who is now 40, recalled being sexually abused by Craig and on one occasion, he told her if you do this, I will give you money for ice cream.

As she gave evidence, the woman revealed she went to the police in September 2016, when she made a formal complaint. She told the jury I knew what he was doing was wrong and that she used to tremble with fear.

Craigs second victim, who is now 38, was also abused by Craig as a child  both in his flat where Sonia was killed and in his car.

In the witness box, she said she cried for my Mummy, and that the abuse has left her with nightmares, flashbacks and panic attacks. She recalled being taken by Craig in his car to wasteground at Ballysillan Leisure, where she was abused.

Last week Craig was called to the witness box, where he denied the abuse. As each of the womans allegations was put to him, he either replied that didnt happen or thats made up".

Craig denied being sexually attracted to young girls, and when asked about the claims made by the two complainants, he replied none of them happened.

He denied the second complainant was ever in his car, and when asked about a specific incident of alleged abuse in the vehicle, Craig said it just didnt happen".

Craig was also asked if he had ever acted in an inappropriate way towards either of the girls, and responded by saying not at all". He accused them of making up the allegations, and said none of its true".

During the trial, Craigs defence team told the jury that the women were lying, that the abuse did not happen and that Craig was innocent.

These suggestions  along with Craigs evidence  were rejected by the jury, who returned "guilty" verdicts on two counts of indecent assault and three counts of gross indecent. They returned "not guilty" verdicts on two specimen charges of indecent assault.

After returning the verdicts, the 11 jury members were thanked by Judge Stephen Fowler QC for the careful attention they gave to the case  especially during the Covid emergency.

The judge then remanded Craig into custody for the sex offences, and said he would sentence him next month.

At a tariff hearing that took place in September 1998 after Craig was convicted of murder, Lord Chief Justice Kerr said Craig  who chose not to give evidence at that trial  has not expressed remorse for the dreadful crime".

The Judge also noted at the tariff hearing: There is no clear evidence that there was a sexual motivation for the killing, although there must have been a strong suspicion that the young victim was sexually maltreated before she was murdered.

In 2017, Prateik Babbar opened up about his battle with drug and alcohol addiction for the first time. The actor revealed that his first experience with drugs came when he was 13, which soon turned into an addiction. Following multiple episodes that made him feel like a miserable prisoner of drugs, he finally decided to finally seek professional help. However, the road to recovery was a rocky one.

In a recent interview with ETimes, Prateik talked about getting sober, and trying to re-establish himself in the film industry.

The tabloid quoted the Baaghi 2 actor as saying, "It must have been 2016-17, when I went clean of alcohol and drugs for a few months in a row. I could think with a clear head. That's when I started missing my work. It was something I needed for my soul and that is when I started picking up different kinds of roles. I rebooted myself with plays and short films. I did things for no money at all, at times. I did things for free for people to just remember that I exist and I haven't left the stage yet. I had to test the waters again. Once I did that, there was no looking back. One show, one movie led to another with Mulk (2018), Baaghi 2 (2018) and Chhichhore (2019). It was gradual."

When asked about the responsibility of living up to his mother, late actress Smita Patil's name, the actor said that he does feel a sense of responsibility to live up to her legacy. Prateik called her mother a 'magical woman' who did magical things in a short-lived career and life.

"People may see that as a burden, but I will not call it that. If it's seen as a weight on my shoulders, I'd say it's one that I am proud of. I will carry it till my last breath with absolute pride. My mother was a magical woman, who did magical things in a short-lived career and life. She touched way too many people and she is a part of our country's cinema heritage. I am honoured and fortunate to be her son. It will be an honour to be able to live up to her name, and if I can be a little reflection of her," Prateik told ETimes.

Talking about how he wants to make his late mother proud, the actor told the daily, "I am trying my best to make her proud. That's the reason I am here. I wish I could be a little like her. I wish I can make her parents, my aunt and myself feel a little content in saying one day that this magical woman was my mother. One day, when I am old and frail, I want to be able to look back and say that I really did what I could to make my mamma proud."

With respect to Prateik's upcoming films, the actor will next be seen in Akshay Kumar's Bachchan Pandey and Madhur Bhandarkar's India Lockdown.

ALSO READ: Prateik Babbar-Sanya Sagar's Marriage On The Rocks? Here's The Truth

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By Sultan Anshori

DENPASAR, Indonesia (Reuters) - A British man jailed for his role in the death of an Indonesian policeman in 2016 on a beach in Bali was released on Thursday after serving his sentence.

David Taylor, 38, was jailed in March 2017 together with his Australian girlfriend, Sara Connor, over the death of traffic policeman Wayan Sudarsa, whose body was found on the island's popular Kuta beach with neck and head wounds.

Taylor left Bali's Kerobokan jail dressed in a black T-shirt and with dark glasses and a mask.

He did not comment to reporters before getting into a waiting car, but the head of the prison, Fikri Jaya Soebing confirmed his release.

Fikri said he had been granted 18 months and 15 days of remission.

Taylor is now expected to be taken to the airport and deported to Britain.

Taylor and Connor were tried separately and had told the court a fight had broken out with the policeman over Connor's missing purse.

They were charged with assault leading to death and Taylor was sentenced to six years in prison and Connor to four years.

Connor was granted an early release last year due to good behaviour.

Taylor's lawyer said after his sentencing his client accepted the ruling.

(Reporting by Sultan Anshori; Writing by Stanley Widianto; Editing by Ed Davies and Raju Gopalakrishnan)

SOUTHINGTON  A Texas man was taken into custody at the local truck stop after state police said he is a suspect in a murder in Pennsylvania.

Tracy Rollins, 28, of 3824 Cedar Springs Road, Dallas, Texas was arrested on Wednesday and charged as a fugitive from justice. His bond was set at $1 million.

On Wednesday around 11:30 p.m. state police took Rollins into custody at the TA Truck Stop, 1875 Meriden Waterbury Turnpike. Local police were notified that Pennsylvania state police were investigating a homicide in West Buffalo Township, according to a release. Pennsylvania state police identified Rollins as a suspect in the case.

Pennsylvania police determined he was driving a tractor trailer, which was at the truck stop in Southington, the release said. Local police took Rollins into custody without incident.

lsellew@record-journal.com203-317-2225Twitter: @LaurenSellewRJ
The findings may be practice-changing, and will give oncologists additional information to help guide decisions on whether to offer patients hormone therapy, says senior study author Phuoc Tran, M.D., Ph.D., professor of radiation oncology and molecular radiation sciences and co-director of the Cancer Invasion and Metastasis Program at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center.

San Francisco, CA (UroToday.com) -- A commercially available genomic test may help oncologists better determine which patients with recurrent prostate cancer may benefit from hormone therapy, according to new research from the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center and 15 other medical centers.Researchers studied prostate cancer samples from 352 participants in the NRG/RTOG 9601 clinical trial, which compared radiation therapy alone with radiation therapy combined with hormone therapy. The investigators found that the Decipher test, which measures the activity of 22 genes among seven known cancer pathways, independently estimated the participants risk of metastasis, death from prostate cancer, and overall survival. Researchers say it also guided treatment recommendations for recurrence of prostate cancer after surgery, helping identify patients most likely to benefit from hormone therapy.Results were published online on Feb. 11 in the journal JAMA Oncology.For the study, Tran and colleagues studied prostate cancer samples from 352 men whose prostate cancer recurred after surgery and who participated in the NRG/RTOG 9601 clinical trial of radiation therapy between March 1998 and March 2003. The participants were randomized to receive radiation with hormone therapy (150 milligrams of bicalutamide daily for two years) or radiation therapy without hormone therapy. The researchers ran genetic information called ribonucleic acid (RNA) from the tumor tissue through the Decipher test, which evaluates the activity of 22 genes to predict how aggressive the cancer is and its chances of metastasis.The test uses genomic classifier scores determined from the genomic characteristics of the tumor to stratify patients into three groups. Lower scores correlate with a more favorable prognosis. Of the participants, 148 patients (42%) had low genomic classifier scores, below .45; 132 (38%) had intermediate genomic classifier scores, between .45 and .60; and 72 (20%) had high genomic classifier scores, above .60. These genomic classifiers helped predict the risk of distant metastases, prostate cancer-specific death, and overall survival, even after adjusting for participants age, race/ethnicity, Gleason score, T stage of T1 to T4 to classify the extent of tumor spread, margin status, prostate-specific antigen level and whether they were receiving hormone therapy.Specifically, patients with intermediate and high genomic classifier scores had an 88% increased risk of distant metastases versus those with low genomic classifier scores. The test also demonstrated that patients with lower genomic classifier scores had a 2.4% improvement in overall survival 12 years after treatment with radiation and hormone therapy, compared with an 8.9% improvement among those with higher genomic classifier scores. Additionally, patients receiving radiation therapy soon after recurrence benefited more from hormone therapy. Those with higher genomic classifier scores derived an 11.2% improvement in the 12-year occurrence of distant metastasis and a 4.6% improvement in overall survival from taking hormone therapy.Patients with lower scores do better overall, but they do not benefit as much from adding on hormone therapy because they are low risk. Patients with higher scores have worse disease and, therefore, benefit the most from adding the hormone therapy, explains Tran.The way that we treat many patients in the clinic now is based on pathological and clinical factors, such as age, stage, grade, and imaging, Tran says. Those have been very helpful, but you can only go so far with these rough markers. Hormone therapy, unfortunately, has a whole host of side effects, such as lack of libido, lack of erections, and fatigue, and over time can increase the risk of diabetes, heart attack, or stroke, so you only want to prescribe it if it is clearly beneficial. Our study demonstrated that Decipher is prognostic in its ability to determine cancer metastasis and also prostate cancer-specific survival and overall survival. It also was able to determine the benefit of patients receiving hormones or no hormones. Tran says the information the test provides guides precision medicine efforts to help physicians direct hormone therapies to those most likely to benefit from them.The work was supported by grant U10CA180868 from NRG Oncology Operations, grant U10CA180822 from NRG Oncology SDMC, grant UG1CA189867 from NCORP, grant U24CA196067 from NRG Specimen Bank, and grant R01 CA240582 from the National Cancer Institute and Decipher Biosciences.Other contributors to the work were from the University of California San Francisco Medical Center; Decipher Biosciences, San Diego; the University of Michigan; Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles; Brigham and Womens Hospital, Boston; the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine; Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston; Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia; Emmes Canada, Vancouver; the NRG Oncology Statistics and Data Management Center, Philadelphia; the University of Chicago; Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center, Boston; University College, London; Centre Hospitalier de lUniversite de Montreal; Juravinski Cancer Centre at Hamilton Health Sciences, Canada; the Medical College of Wisconsin; Mayo Clinic; and WellSpan Health-York Cancer Center.Tran reported receiving grants from Astellas Pharm, Bayer Healthcare, and RefleXion, and personal fees for consulting from RefleXion and Ad Board from Noxopharm outside the submitted work. Tran also reported having a patent licensed to Natsar Pharm. These relationships are being managed by The Johns Hopkins University in accordance with its conflict of interest policies.Source: Johns Hopkins Medicine Newsroom. 2021. Genomic Test Helps Estimate Risk of Prostate Cancer Metastasis, Death.



The actor continued to say, Because history is edited, most people today dont realize that to get to the point where Nazi soldiers could easily round up thousands of Jews, the government first made their own neighbors hate them simply for being Jews. How is that any different from hating someone for their political views?

(CNN) -- At least six people were killed and at least 36 people taken to hospitals in a pileup involving dozens of vehicles in poor weather on Interstate 35W in the Texas city of Fort Worth on Thursday morning, officials said.

The crash was one of several reported in the Dallas-Fort Worth and Austin areas during dicey weather conditions Thursday, including freezing rain and accumulating ice.

In Fort Worth, the I-35W pileup -- reported around 6 a.m. CT -- involved 75 to 100 vehicles over a roughly mile-long stretch, Fort Worth police Officer Daniel Segura said.

TRACK THE WINTER STORM

Because of the wreck, I-35 was backed up in both directions from I-30 to I-820 Thursday morning, Fort Worth police said on Twitter.

"We are going vehicle by vehicle by vehicle to make sure that anybody that is still trapped in the vehicles has been extricated if possible," Fort Worth fire spokesman Mike Drivdahl said late Thursday morning.

Areas of light freezing rain and some sleet were in the Dallas-Fort Worth area Thursday morning around the time of the wreck. About a 10th of an inch of ice accumulated just north of Fort Worth, the National Weather Service said.

"The weather conditions are definitely a factor" in the I-35W wreck, Segura said.

With temperatures in the mid-20s Thursday morning, first responders were taking steps to keep people warm -- including those who weren't injured.

"We were able to get a couple of buses from the fire department to actually put some of the victims from the crash -- who were not patients but could've become patients because of hypothermia -- into the buses so they got out of the cold environment," said Matt Zavadsky, spokesman for the MedStar ambulance service.

The area is under a winter weather advisory until 6 p.m. because of ice accumulation, which would result in "very slippery sidewalks, roads and bridges," the weather service said.

"So many traffic/accidents this morning, especially across the DFW Metroplex," the Fort Worth weather office said in a tweet. "These events are so dangerous because the ice is spotty. We can't stress enough that road conditions could go from good to dangerous within blocks. Take it slow out there... #dfwwx #ctxwx #txwx."

In Austin, roughly a 180-mile drive south of Fort Worth, five people were taken to hospitals because of a pileup involving 26 vehicles on State Highway 45 on Thursday morning, the Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services Department said.

Ice had been reported on an overpass where the wreck happened, department Capt. Darren Noak told CNN.

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All but four areas in England saw coronavirus infection rates fall during the first week of February, official figures revealed today in yet more evidence the second wave is firmly in retreat.

Public Health England's weekly surveillance report found 144 out of 149 local authorities (97 per cent) recorded a drop in the weekly rate of coronavirus cases and one area remained unchanged in the seven days to February 7.

Rutland in the East Midlands saw the largest increase with infection rates doubling to 463 per 100,000 people, while Calderdale in West Yorkshire reported a 17 per cent rise to 192.

Rutland's spiralling rate  which has made it the UK's current hotspot  is thought to be being partly fuelled by an outbreak of the disease among prisoners at HMP Stocken, believed to have accounted for around half of all cases in its county area.

Middlesbrough recorded a slight uptick of 5 per cent, taking its rate to 373 per 100,000 and there was a 3 per cent increase in Bolton, where the rate rose to 283.

East Sussex saw the biggest drop in infection rates, followed by the London borough of Haringey, the Isle of Wight and Thurrock in Essex.

The weekly surveillance report confirmed that Covid cases are continuing to fall in every English region for the third week running and among every age group.

The West Midlands has the highest rate at 237.6 per 100,000 people, down from 326.8 in the previous week. The South West has the lowest rate at 120.3, falling from 176.5.

Infections are highest among 30 to 39-year-olds, the figures show, at 265.3 cases per 100,000 people. For people aged 80 and over, who are most at risk of dying from the virus, the rate fell from 294.6 to 200.5.

Meanwhile, today's Test and Trace report showed 149,000 people referred to the scheme were diagnosed with the disease in the week up to February 3  down 24 per cent on the previous week. It is the lowest weekly number since England came out of its second national lockdown and before the second wave spiralled out of control.

The data comes amid warnings from No10's top scientific advisers that infections must plummet to fewer than 10,000 cases before Boris Johnson should start easing brutal lockdown curbs, or the country risks allowing new mutant variants to spawn.

The number of people who tested positive for coronavirus through the NHS Test and Trace programme fell by a quarter last week (graph pictured). Today's report showed 149,000 people referred to the scheme were diagnosed with the disease in the week up to February 3, down 24 per cent on the previous week

Public Health England's weekly surveillance report showed Covid cases are continuing to fall in every English region

But Tory MP Marcus Fysh told MailOnline that SAGE's demands were 'highly unrealistic' and warned ministers must stick to the hospitalisation and deaths criteria 'in order to preserve the confidence that people have in the process'.

He added: 'It is essential they stick to what they have set out. Lockdowns are incredibly damaging to people's lives and livelihoods.'

The Prime Minister has promised to get children back in classrooms by March 8 as part of his 'route map' out of lockdown, which he plans to reveal on Monday, February 22. But sources suggested today the announcement could be pushed back later in that week, which would throw the March 8 date into jeopardy.

The Education Secretary has said schools and colleges will get at least two weeks notice before pupils return to the classroom in order to give pupils, parents and teachers time to prepare.

It comes after Health Secretary Matt Hancock raised the prospect of an 'easier' exit from lockdown because Brits are flocking to get Covid jabs in 'incredible numbers'. He said uptake of the vaccine had been 'far, far higher' than expected, with over 90 per cent of all those in the top priority groups coming forward to get their first dose.

Meanwhile, Department of Health officials revealed another 415,000 vaccines were administered on Tuesday, with more than 13million Brits having now received their first dose.

Covid cases continue to fall in England The number of people who tested positive for Covid through NHS Test and Trace in England fell by a quarter last week, official figures revealed today. Around 149,000 people referred to the scheme were diagnosed with the disease in the week up to February 3 down 24 per cent on the previous week. It is the lowest number since the week ending December 8, shortly after England came out of its second national lockdown and before the second wave spiralled out of control. The figures are yet more evidence that Britain's second wave is firmly in retreat. Hospital and death rates are also dropping by about 25 per cent week-on-week. The Test and Trace report also revealed more than 80 per cent of close contacts of infected patients were reached and asked to self-isolate  a threshold set by SAGE which is key to the programme be successful at thwarting outbreaks. The scheme managed to hunt down 87 per cent of Covid patients, about 130,000, and 94 per cent of their close contacts, or 265,000. But there were still almost 20,000 people who tested positive and could not be traced, plus everyone they'd come into contact with during their illness. The figures also highlight the Test and Trace programme is still failing to turn around Covid tests within 24 hours, despite Boris Johnson promising last June that everyone who took a PCR swab would get a result inside a day. But figures show the average turnaround time for a home testing kit is 35 hours. In-person swabs are faring much better, with 97 per cent of results sent out in a day. Advertisement

With all the key statistics now pointing towards a quickly shrinking epidemic, and with the vaccine rollout steaming ahead, pressure is mounting on the Government to start dropping the most brutal lockdown curbs.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has promised to lay out a 'route map' out of the national shutdown on February 22, with schools expected to be the first to go back sometime after March 8.

If the country follows the Israeli roadmap for defeating coronavirus then it suggests Britain will only begin

Britain will only begin to emerge from lockdown at the end of May, if it follows the Israeli roadmap for defeating coronavirus.

Israel has started implementing a three-stage plan to exit draconian Covid restrictions  similar to the blueprint Boris Johnson is set to lay out on February 22.

Israeli officials hope to let non-essential shops, gyms and libraries reopen within a fortnight.

But ministers will only give the move the green light on February 23 if 90 per cent of over-50s have been vaccinated and at least a third of the country have had their booster dose. Infection rates must also continue to plummet.

Under the same lockdown-easing plan, pubs, cafes and restaurants won't be allowed to welcome customers again until March 9  by which time 95 per cent of over-50s must have been jabbed. Four million Israelis  roughly 45 per cent of the country  will also need to have had their top-up jab.

Were Number 10 to follow Israel's model, non-essential shops wouldn't reopen until late May because of how long it would take to vaccinate the 17million Britons aged 50-70 who are next on the NHS priority list. Pubs, restaurants and hotels would have to wait until early June.

Schools could start from roughly the middle of May, as per the Israeli system which requires 70 per cent of over-50s to be fully vaccinated before kids go back to class. But the Prime Minister has pledged to reopen schools from March 8.

These dates for the UK are borne out in modelling by the University of Warwick which was passed to Sage a few weeks ago.

It argued that the best way for Britain to prevent another surge in Covid deaths was to keep the national lockdown going until the end of May and then recommence the social distancing rules in September until the end of 2021.

Scientists believe coronavirus will now be an endemic disease that countries have to grapple with every winter.

The Bristol variant is the third variant of concern found in Britain, alongside the now-dominant Kent variant and the South African one. A fourth  one of two strains from Brazil  is also listed by PHE but it has not yet been found in the UK.

The E484K mutation appears to give the SARS-CoV-2 virus the ability to partially evade natural and vaccine-triggered immunity.

This mutation initially appears randomly  and it appears to do so fairly often  but sometimes becomes a permanent feature of a variant because it gives it an advantage in that it can reinfect people who would be protected against other versions of the virus.

The fact that the variant cases have been discovered during lockdown, said PHE's Dr Susan Hopkins, was a cause for immediate action because it presented an opportunity to control them while people are not mixing much.

While none of the variants of concern look to be spreading fast out of the areas where they were first discovered, this could change when rules are eased.
The daughter of Stardust campaigner Christine Keegan, who passed away last year, has spoken of the pain of her loss as the 40th anniversary of the horrific fire approaches.

This weekend, Antoinette Keegan, who had fought alongside her mother and others for justice for the 48 victims of the 1981 disaster, will attend a series of poignant commemorative events that will be held in Dublin.

The Archbishop of Dublin will say mass at Bonnybrook Church located near the scene of the blaze in North Dublin on Sunday morning that will be live-streamed.

Families and victims will then take part in a gathering at the scene of the fire in Artane where they will sing the Christy Moore song They Never Came Home which was written about the tragic events of Valentine's Day in February 1981.

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For the first time in 40 years, Antoinette will be marking an anniversary without her mother, Christine, who had never given up the fight for justice.

Ms Keegan, who lost two of her other daughters in the tragedy, Mary and Martina, first fell ill last Valentines Day and passed away in July 2020.

We actually found out on Valentines Day she was sick, Antoinette, who was also injured in the blaze, said.

It's just going to be really tough for the whole lot of us because it still hasn't sunk in that my mam is not here. She had to fight hard all her life.

She had suffered for 40 years from injustice and at the end we wanted to ensure she got everything she deserved. One of her wishes was that she didnt want to go to hospital.

They wanted her to go to the hospice in Raheny but we kept her here in the house and she was in the sitting room with everyone around her, family, her children, her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and at the end we were all there for her.

It was a horrible year last year and now this year, coming up to the anniversary and being without her is going to be heartbreaking. She had done so much to fight for justice for the 48 and her last words were when is the inquest going to start.

Sitting at the end of her bed, I kept telling her, its happening soon mam'. At that stage we didn't know when it was happening so I to kept saying to her, mam, its happening soon. And three weeks after she passed away they announced when the inquest was going to start.

And I said to myself, thats my mam, after doing that for us, from heaven'. Shes still helping, even though she is not here. I still feel her at my right hand, telling me what to do and what not to do.

Some of her sayings Ill hear in my head. Whenever I get annoyed at the government over the latest delay I hear her words, dont get angry, get even. And the truth is going to come out, it always comes out. Dont worry, everything is going to fall into place.

Believe me, I still talk to her and I feel that she is listening to me.

A 633-page report that was published in June 1982 from a tribunal set up to investigate the circumstances of the blaze was roundly dismissed by families.

One of the most troubling findings of Justice Ronan Keane's report was the conclusion the fire was "probably" started deliberately. A finding that the families of the Stardust victims say labelled each dead child a suspected arsonist.

In October of last year a new Stardust inquest began in Dublin District Coroners Court as an investigation into the cause of death of each of the 48 young people, as well what caused the fire, and the actions of the State in the years afterwards.

New inquests into these deaths followed a decision in 2019 by the Attorney General that new inquests were in the public interest and in the interest of justice. After starting late last year they will recommence later this year after delays.

At one of the preliminary hearings, the coroner expressed her condolences to the family and friends of Eugene Kelly, another Stardust campaigner who had also passed away last year.

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Mr Kelly's brother Robert was 17 when he died in the fire at the Stardust Ballroom. Mr Kelly had been involved in the campaign by families to have the inquests reopened.

Antoinette revealed that they have created a video that will be released this week with the images and names of almost all the victims for the first time, which will be posted on their Facebook page.

For the first time in almost 40 years we will have almost all the victims portrayed, she added, as our loved ones, who were human beings and how for the last 40 years they have been forgotten about by those in power.

The Stardust wrecked my dads life and it wrecked my mams life, she added. It wrecked all our lives and weve being living in the Stardust for the last 40 years.

On Sunday Antoinette will attend a socially distanced gathering of families at the site of the fire where they lay down a rose for each victim of the fire, 48 in all, while the names of the dead are read out.





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The European Union will support vaccination against coronavirus (COVID-19) disease in Ukraine with project worth EUR 40 million to provide critical assistance to ensure local readiness and preparedness for safe and effective vaccination of the population in each of the six Eastern Partnership countries, according to a press release from the EU Delegation to Ukraine.

"The European Union [EU] and the WHO Regional Office for Europe will work together in a major effort to support deployment of COVID-19 vaccines and vaccination in Ukraine. The project, funded by the EU and implemented by the Regional Office, will cover all phases  constituting 'end-to-end' support  of COVID-19 vaccine deployment and vaccination. It will also serve as a major investment to strengthen routine immunization system," a press release, posted on the delegation's website on Thursday, said.

The project will be implemented by WHO over a three-year period as part of a EUR 40 million European Union-funded initiative to support the Eastern Partnership countries in preparing for, deploying and monitoring the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines.

"The European Union has stood by Ukraine since the onset of the pandemic. We have provided medical equipment like oxygen concentrators for its hospitals and protective equipment for its frontline workers; we have supported Ukraines small businesses and cultural industry with access to finance; and we have mobilised protection for vulnerable groups like conflict-affected people and women whose livelihoods and personal safety were at risk during the lockdown. The WHO has been a key partner for the EU and now that vaccination is becoming accessible, we are happy to continue working hand in hand to ensure Ukraine is ready to receive and deploy vaccines," Head of the European Union Delegation to Ukraine Matti Maasikas said.

"Thanks to support of the European Union and the World Health Organization we will be able to effectively and coherently carry out all stages of vaccination provided by the National Deployment and Vaccination Plan against COVID-19. It is possible to stop the pandemic in Ukraine and in the world only by joint efforts, so we are grateful to our partners for their help and unity for the common goal of overcoming COVID-19," Chief Sanitary Doctor, Deputy Health Minister of Ukraine Viktor Liashko said.

Dr. Jarno Habicht, the WHO Representative and Head of the WHO Country Office in Ukraine, said: "Vaccines offer hope and protection to those fighting on the frontlines of this pandemic and to those at highest risk. Thanks to this generous support and collaboration with European Union, WHO can scale up its efforts to support Ukraine to ensure that vaccines can reach those who need them most, as soon and as efficiently as possible. Our joint and multi-year actions will support COVID vaccine deployment and vaccination in Ukraine, as well strengthens overall immunisation programme in medium term."

The funds are reported to be used initially to support the first phase of preparation and deployment, with a focus on immediate needs for strategic program areas such as planning, equipment/supplies, health worker training and awareness campaigns.

The project builds on the European Union's and WHO's ongoing support to countries' response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including the joint EUR 35 million EU Solidarity for Health Initiative, aimed to support the partner countries in their fight against the virus and address better the needs of the most vulnerable people.

"Since early 2020, the EU has mobilised over 190 million euro to help Ukraine face the challenges of COVID-19, supporting its health system, frontline workers, small and medium-sized businesses and vulnerable groups. It has activated its Civil Protection Mechanism to transfer medical equipment and supplies from the Czech Republic, Estonia, Poland and Slovakia to Ukraine and is providing emergency Macro-Financial Assistance worth EUR 1.2 billion to Ukraine to help limit the economic fallout of the pandemic," the EU Delegation to Ukraine said.

Finally, the European Union is the largest donor to COVAX, an initiative which is set to provide the first batches of vaccines to Ukrainian frontline workers shortly. These efforts are part of #TeamEurope, the EU's global approach to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.
Churchill College at Cambridge is set to hold a debate on the wartime Prime Minister's 'backward' views on empire and race as part of year-long 'inclusivity' review.

This evening's event titled 'the racial consequences of Mr Churchill' promises to be a 'reassessment' of the leader and will feature a line-up of controversial speakers.

They include Professor Priya Gopal, a fellow at Churchill College Cambridge and staunch critic of the British Empire.

Another is Kehinde Andrews, a professor of Black Studies at Birmingham City University who last year attacked the singing of Rule, Britannia! at the Proms.

The talk is the second in year-long programme of events hosted by the college titled 'Churchill, Empire and Race'.

The college's website states Mr Churchill 'must not be mythologised as a man without significant flaws' as 'on race he was backward even in his day'.

Churchill College (pictured) at Cambridge is set to hold a debate on the wartime Prime Minister's 'backward' views on empire and race as part of year-long 'inclusivity' review

An event titled 'the racial consequences of Mr Churchill' promises to be a 'reassessment' of the leader and will feature a line-up of controversial speakers. Pictured: Winston Churchill

Speakers include Professor Priya Gopal, a fellow at Churchill College Cambridge and staunch critic of the British Empire. Another is Kehinde Andrews, a professor of Black Studies at Birmingham City University who last year attacked the singing of Rule, Britannia! at the Proms

Journalist Dr Madhusree Mukerjee (left) is also due to take part in tonight's talk on Mr Churchill, a free online event. Historian Dr Onyeka Nubia (right) will also appear. He has been credited with developing new strands of British history - including Africans in Ancient and Medieval England

Who are the controversial speakers set to discuss 'the racial consequences' of Winston Churchill? Professor Kehinde Andrews Professor Kehinde Andrews Kehinde Andrews earned a PhD in sociology and cultural studies from the University of Birmingham in 2011 and is now a professor of black studies in the school of social sciences at Birmingham City University. The professor caused fury on Good Morning Britain in 2018 when he claimed Sir Winston Churchill was a 'clear racist' in a heated debate in which Piers Morgan asked him: 'Why do you live in a country that you loathe?' Professor Andrews also said Britain was 'built on racism' and that 'everyone involved in it probably has a really racist past'. The academic also compared Britain's war-time Prime Minister to Nazi leader Adolf Hitler for his treatment of Indians when the country endured a famine in 1943. On January 2019 Professor Andrews was embroiled in controversy again for calling the RAF airmen who bombed Nazi Germany war criminals. He said the decision to build tributes like the Bomber Command Memorial was like 'justifying terrorism'. In August 2019 he appeared on Good Morning Britain to argue that author Enid Blyton was not 'worthy' of the honour of a commemorative coin because 'she was racist her books were racist'. Last year, Professor Andrews criticised the singing of Rule, Britannia! and Land of Hope and Glory at the Last Night of the Proms. He said: 'Some of those songs, particularly those two, are racist propaganda. They celebrate the British Empire which killed tens of millions of people.' Professor Priya Gopal Professor Priya Gopal Professor Priya Gopal is a fellow at Churchill College Cambridge and staunch critic of the British Empire. Professor Gopal, who was born in India, sparked anger last summer after tweeting 'White Lives Don't Matter. As white lives'. A petition titled 'Fire Cambridge Professor for Racism' was also launched on change.org demanding that Professor Gopal be fired by the university for the comment. The university stood by her after she said the comments were 'very clearly speaking to a structure and ideology, not about people'. She said that she had been misunderstood, and that she was clearly not attacking white people. Dr Madhusree Mukerjee Dr Madhusree Mukerjee Journalist Dr Madhusree Mukerjee is also due to take part in tonight's talk on Churchill, a free online event hosted by Churchill College Cambridge. Her books include Churchill's Secret War: The British Empire and the Ravaging of India During World War II. Dr Onyeka Nubia Dr Onyeka Nubia Historian Dr Onyeka Nubia will also appear. He has been credited with developing new strands of British history - including Africans in Ancient and Medieval England. Advertisement

Crtitics last month claimed the programme risked legitimising attempts to rewrite British history.

The first talk - titled 'Churchill, Empire and Race: Opening the Conversation' - saw Professor Gopal speak alongside Professor Richard Toye of the University of Exeter.

One slide featured a list of the controversial things Mr Churchill said during his lifetime.

Another had a list of common arguments in favour of the wartime leader, including that he 'was a man of his time' and his 'achievements outweigh his regrettable comments on race.

Next to it was a list of points stating why these defences of Mr Churchill are wrong, including his many achievements 'doesn't mean that we therefore don't need to talk about his racial views'.

Mr Churchill's grandson, former Tory MP Sir Nicholas Soames, criticized the college, stating: 'It seems to me extremely unlikely young ladies and gentlemen will get a balanced view of Churchill's life.

'I would ask Churchill College to have speakers also there to... bring a sense of proportion to this idiotic debate that's got out of control in all our universities.'

Frank Furedi, emeritus professor of sociology at Kent University, added: 'This is about a plundering of history and a systematic attempt to recant the past.'

Journalist Dr Madhusree Mukerjee is also due to take part in tonight's talk on Mr Churchill, a free online event.

Her books include Churchill's Secret War: The British Empire and the Ravaging of India During World War II.

Historian Dr Onyeka Nubia will also appear. He has been credited with developing new strands of British history - including Africans in Ancient and Medieval England.

On its website, the college states: 'As an educational and research institution we acknowledge the need for, and indeed welcome, an honest and critical engagement with history in all its fullness.

'We accept this will involve some difficult discussions around important historical figures which we will actively seek to facilitate.

'Churchill, as a successful leader in time of war, must not be mythologised as a man without significant flaws; on race he was backward even in his day.

'We aim to lead an ongoing critical dialogue about his own legacy in global history, utilising not only the full depth of our Fellowship, staff and student body but also the rich material contained in the papers of the Churchill Archives Centre.'

There has been renewed focus on Mr Churchill's legacy following the Black Lives Matter movement.

The Churchill monument in Parliament Square was defaced with the words 'was a racist' last June.

And the National Trust was criticised after the charity linked Chartwell, Mr Churchill's family home in Kent, to slavery.

Professor Gopal, who was born in India, sparked anger last summer after tweeting 'White Lives Don't Matter. As white lives'.

The university stood by her after she said the comments were 'very clearly speaking to a structure and ideology, not about people'. She said that she had been misunderstood, and that she was clearly not attacking white people.

Professor Andrews has criticised the singing of Rule, Britannia! and Land of Hope and Glory at the Last Night of the Proms. He said: 'Some of those songs, particularly those two, are racist propaganda. They celebrate the British Empire which killed tens of millions of people.'

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 Mr 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 Mr Churchill, being covered up to protect them 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.

The list - compiled by the Stop Trump Coalition - pinpoints the locations of 125 under-fire landmarks featured on a map.

The first talk - titled 'Churchill, Empire and Race: Opening the Conversation' - saw Professor Gopal speak alongside Professor Richard Toye (pictured) of the University of Exeter

One slide featured a list of the controversial things Mr Churchill said during his life (pictured)

Another had a list of common arguments in favour of the wartime leader, including that he 'was a man of his time' and his 'achievements outweigh his regrettable comments on race. Next to it was a list of points stating why these defences of Mr Churchill are wrong, including his many achievements 'doesn't mean that we therefore don't need to talk about his racial views'

The Churchill monument in Parliament Square was defaced with the words 'was a racist' last June

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

Was Churchill racist? Controversial acts of one of Britain's greatest leaders Winston Churchill is regarded as one of the greatest leaders of all time for uniting Britain during the Second World War and playing a pivotal role in defeating the Nazis. But he had racist views that were common in the British Empire during the early 1900s and has been blamed for several controversial episodes in Britain's history. - He took little action when in 1943, India, then still part of the British empire, experienced a famine in which 3million people died. Churchill even appeared to blame Indians for the famine, claiming they 'breed like rabbits'. The famine was sparked by the Japanese occupation of Burma the year before. - In 1937 he said he had no sympathy for Red Indians of America or the black people of Australia, who were enslaved and succeeded by whites. He said: 'I do not admit that a wrong has been done to these people by the fact that a stronger race, a higher-grade race, a more worldly wise race to put it that way, has come in and taken their place.' - Churchill advocated the use of chemical weapons, particularly against the Kurds and Afghans. In a 1919 war memo he wrote: 'I cannot understand this squeamishness about the use of gas. I am strongly in favor of using poisoned gas against uncivilized tribes.' Advertisement

Outrage over statues 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.

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.

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.

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.'

Spanish GP fans want 'return to normalcy'

Barcelona circuit boss Josep Lluis Santamaria is hoping to welcome spectators to the Spanish GP on 9 May.

The Circuit de Catalunya has confirmed that half-price tickets are going on sale next week, with grandstand seats to be socially-distanced amid the covid crisis and total capacity limited to 50 percent.

"People want to return to normalcy and so we have decided to open the stands with security guarantees," Santamaria told Diario Sport newspaper.

"Many measures will also have to be taken with regard to access and parking.

"It remains to be seen how mobility restrictions will affect Europe, but in case of cancellation, the refund of money will be expedited to the maximum," he added.

At the F1 Commission meeting on Thursday, it is expected that a May 2 race at Portimao will be added to the 2021 calendar, ruling out a Bahrain double-header for now.

"We are trying to adapt to the situation on an ongoing basis," said F1 CEO Stefano Domenicali.

"We're not just working with a plan B, but also a plan C and plan D."

Meanwhile, Barcelona boss Santamaria said negotiations about the next Spanish GP contract are now underway with Liberty Media.

"We are betting on a long-term contract - five years," he said.

"We cannot continue with the large forthcoming investments necessary for Formula 1 with one-year contracts that give no guarantee of continuity," he warned.
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr. Timipre Sylva, yesterday prepared the minds of Nigerians for a higher regime of the pump price of petrol, given the new fortune of crude oil in the international market.

With the price of Brent crude oil still hovering around $60 per barrel yesterday, Sylva said a high cost of petrol will be inevitable and urged Nigerians to be ready to bear the pains of the impending new price regime.

Besides, the federal government yesterday ramped up its plan to achieve the $10 per barrel crude oil production target with the official inauguration of the Nigerian Upstream Cost Optimisation Programme (NUCOP).

Sylva, at the NUCOP inauguration in Abuja, said the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) cannot continue to bear the cost of under-recovery or subsidy, adding that while government revenue has improved following the rise in crude oil price, the gains cannot be frittered on subsidy payment.

According to the pricing template of the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), the landing cost of petrol is over N179 per litre, while the expected Open Market Price (OMP) is about N202 per litre.

However, the product is still being sold for between the N162 and N165 per litre price band.

However, Sylva urged Nigerians to prepare for the pains of the increase, saying that it cannot all be pleasure always.

He said: "Since we are optimising everything, NNPC needs to also think about the optimisation of product cost because as we all know, oil prices are where they are today, $60.

"As desirable as this is, this has serious consequences as well on product prices. So, we want to take the pleasure and we should as a country be ready to take the pain. Today the NNPC is taking a big hit from this. We all know that there is no provision in the budget for subsidy.

"So, somewhere down the line, I believe that the NNPC cannot continue to take this blow. There is no way because there is no provision for it. As a country, let us take the benefits of the higher crude oil prices and I hope we will also be ready to take a little pain on the side of higher product prices."

The minister said of the nine priority areas given to the ministry as its operational mandate, reduction of crude oil extraction cost remains key.

He stated that the cost of oil production in Nigeria is exceptionally high compared to other oil-producing nations like Iran and Saudi Arabia, adding that the development is robbing the country of its desire to attract investments and remain globally competitive.

Sylva listed capital expenditure, operational cost, policy-related elements, weak collaboration, capacity and capability issues, facility reliability, single sourcing syndrome, a high magnitude of crude loss, multiplicity of tariff as some issues that the federal government is battling.

"Average total cost is now below $30/barrel for JV contract and less than $20 for Production Sharing Contracts (PSC). We need to do more. Engagement should reach a consensus on cost reduction.

"We are making a case for shared services. Our target is 3mpd daily production and 40 billion barrels reserves.

"We want to position Nigeria as the best designation for investment in the hydrocarbon sector. The benefits of NUCOP are many. It includes reducing the contracting cycle to three months or less, prompting efficiency, profitability and competitiveness. Its success is dependent on the collaboration of stakeholders," he added.

The minister assured the gathering that the executive will collaborate with the legislature to ensure the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) this year.

NNPC Group Managing Director, Mallam Mele Kyari, in his remarks, said Nigeria must cut production cost if it is to optimise its crude oil resources.

He said: "There's a global energy transition. Less cost-efficient companies cannot survive today. Fifty dollars per barrel production cost cannot survive. There are issues around synergy that we've not achieved.

"There are issues of security. Many companies are hiring their own armies and we can't continue like that. Issues of taxes and others have to be addressed. Our practices must change so that service providers can deliver.

'So, we can achieve economic growth and our partners can derive benefits. It's not CSR but pure business. We must have the best of fiscal environment and policies so that cost of operation can come down and our target is at least $10/barrel.

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'If we do these, tax benefits will increase and the profit margin will increase. This is a task that must be done. This partnership will help the country. Crude has hit the $60 and it comes with a product price increase.

"We are trying to keep the country wet. We are engaging with labour. No provision for subsidy in the budget."

Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Mr Simbi Wabote, said the discussion on cost reduction was long overdue and assured stakeholders of the board's support.

"Cost reduction comes with some pain and what's important is how the business will survive to sustain jobs. Local content is a panacea for cost reduction. There are massive cost savings when Nigerians run the business unlike when expatriates flood the business," he said.

President of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), Mr Festus Usifo, called on the government to review its expatriates' costs, saying that many of them are earning fat pay for jobs that can be done by Nigerians.
By implementing initiatives like this one to attract more underrepresented individuals into the field and plug minority founders into the entrepreneurial ecosystem, we will generate more impactful social and financial benefits for the Central Virginia region." - Chandra Briggman

Activation Capital, an independent authority of the Commonwealth of Virginia focused on advanced technology entrepreneurship, has been awarded a $100,000 grant for capacity building for minority entrepreneur development. The initiative will grow the number of technology-driven businesses led and owned by ethnic minority founders, particularly Black, African American, Latino, American Indian, and Native people.

This initiative will enable direct investments into entrepreneur support organizations (ESOs) to deploy a culturally competent framework for minority entrepreneur development and provide administrative support to ESOs to help improve program sustainability.

Speaking about the grant, President and CEO of Activation Capital, Chandra Briggman, said, "Activation Capital's mission is to help grow tech entrepreneurship. We see an opportunity to expand the pipeline for technology entrepreneurs. By implementing initiatives like this one to attract more underrepresented individuals into the field and plug minority founders into the entrepreneurial ecosystem, we will generate more impactful social and financial benefits for the Central Virginia region."

The new initiative is designed to support a collaborative network of organizations addressing the unique communication, training, and relationship needs of ethnic minority founders. The fund will expand the ESO networks' capacity for distributing tailored programming and connect the diverse founders they serve to the statewide resource-rich entrepreneurship community.

Many entrepreneurs of color need access to capital, broad networks and support to grow their businesses through the challenging times, said Kathryn Fessler, Altrias Sr. Director of Community Impact. Activation Capital plays a critical role in enabling Richmonds Black and Brown business innovators, and we hope our support will help the region become a best place for Black-owned firms.

Upon completing an initial pilot, Activation Capital seeks to build a new grant program. Through matching funds from the public and private sectors, the organization will expand capacity-building efforts to grow minority tech entrepreneurship.

About Activation Capital: Activation Capital engages and connects the many influential players in our innovation ecosystem and strives to give startup founders access to the tools and resources they need to navigate the entrepreneurial process. These resources include the VA Bio+Tech Park campus focused on life sciences and advanced technology companies; the Riverflow Growth Fund, a seed fund; and the Ecosystem Direct Investment Fund (EDIF), which provides grants to entrepreneur support organizations. The Activation Council supports and coordinates these efforts among the many available resources to foster innovation in companies of all kinds. Activation Council brings clarity and perspective in the short term and vision for the long term, generating more collision points that lead to successful business outcomes. Activation Capital provides the resources and connections for any person to develop their idea from start to phenomenal.

http://www.activation.capital
The Pennsylvania Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee is holding a meeting at 7:30pm EST Thursday night, Feb. 11, to discuss the developments in Philadelphia and mobilize opposition to the deadly reopening of schools. Register now and share this link with your coworkers to build the committee! All teachers, support staff and supporters should join the network of Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committees.

Thousands of Philadelphia teachers and support staff protested across the city on Monday and educators are continuing to teach remotely after defying efforts by the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers (PFT) and Democratic Party city officials to restart in-person schooling.

Teachers protest Philadelphia school board plan to reopen. (Source: Facebook/PFT)

Some 2,000 pre-K through second-grade teachers were due to report to school buildings on Monday as part of a plan approved by the PFT to bring in 9,000 students in these grades by February 22, followed by older students. Facing mass opposition from rank-and-file teachers, PFT President Jerry Jordan announced over the weekend that educators could continue remote-only instruction and the city had to back down from any threats to take disciplinary action.

Philadelphia is the 18th largest school district in the US with over 132,000 public school students and 11,000 teachers and support staff. The current seven-day average of daily COVID infections is 3,827 in Philadelphia County, which has seen 113,000 total cases and 2,978 deaths, as of this writing.

On Monday, thousands of educators, families, and students, in a remarkable show of working-class solidarity, battled below-freezing temperatures to protest the districts deadly demand to reopen schools unsafely for the third time.

Protesters demanded safe buildings and vaccinations and expressed their determination to save the lives of teachers, students and the working class communities they serve in the city of 1.6 million residents. Educators mocked School Superintendent William Hite Jr.s plan to install window fans to stop the spread of the disease inside classrooms.

As teachers simultaneously pitched tents to teach their students remotely, they held signs and placards that read, Teaching outside until it is safe Inside, Plans not Fans, Keep Students Safe, Not a Fan of Hites Plan, and We love our students too much to put them at risk for Covid in English and Spanish. Other signs said, Our Teachers, Students, and Families Deserve Safe Schools and Cancer did not kill me. I will not let SDP.

Like Chicago, Washington D.C., Los Angeles and other large cities, the Democrats in Philadelphia are leading the drive to send children back to school in order to get their parents back to work producing profits. This is being backed by the Biden administration and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and its state and local affiliates.

While relying on the PFT to herd teachers and students back into unsafe schools, Mayor Jim Kenney dropped a hint of other methods being considered if teachers continue to resist. Youre not going to be able to force people to go to work, especially in this environment. What are we going to do? Send the police out to pick them up and take them to the classroom?

Kenney has agreed to the unions proposal for the intervention of a mediator and, similar to the wording in the sellout deal agreed to by the Chicago Teachers Union, made vague promises about vaccinating teachers. Like other cities, Philadelphia is facing a shortage of vaccines and in any case unvaccinated students would still be able infect each other and their families.

We agreed to do a mediator, which were doing, Kenney said. Thats the process were following. In the meantime, were getting CHOP [Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia] to vaccinate people. I believe starting on the 22nd, try to get everybody a level of comfort and not do it in a contentious way, the mayor said, sticking to the districts original timeline.

The PFT has promoted the lie that schools can be safely reopened, agreeing to a Memorandum of Agreement on supposed stipulations and metrics needed to be met to bully teachers and students back to school.

In a message on Monday, Superintendent Hite said the district had met and gone beyond the six-point requirements the PFT bureaucrats had requested at the bargaining table.

Ignoring the science, the PFT has continued cordial talks to reopen schools as quickly as possible, each time being met with stiff resistance from the rank and file. Educators, parents, and students admonished the union-backed reopening policy at a boisterous PFT meeting attended over 300 people last week.

A Philadelphia parent speaking to the World So cialist Web Site denounced both the district and the union, saying I really cannot trust you with my childrens health and safety. Your word is not good enough for me.

On Monday morning, Jordan postured as a defender of educators, despite being in backroom negotiations for months to reopen schools. Accompanied by union bureaucrats and local Democratic and city council politicians at Samuel Gompers Elementary School in Wynnefield, Jordan said, The lives of our students and our educators are at stake. The reopening plan is obscene, and its cruel, referring to the ersatz ventilation plans.

Like two peas in a pod, AFT President Randi Weingarten criticized the ventilation plans, yet she has been a vigilant promoter in the reopening of schools since last summer, advocating pseudo-scientific rationalizations and working with the Biden administration to open all K-8 schools by April.

Instead of linking the struggle of teachers with their class brothers and sisters across the nation and globe, Jordan is banking on a mediator to provide a spurious justification to reopen schools. The City of Philadelphia has appointed Peter Orris, a Chicago-based doctor, to decide on the safety recommendations agreed upon between the PFT and district, which is expected soon.

The opposition of Philadelphia educators is part of the growing national and international resistance of educators to the deadly return to schools. This includes the opposition of educators in Chicago and the powerful strike by more than 200,000 teachers in Sao Paulo, Brazil, the largest school district in the Americas. But the bitter experience of teachers in Chicago demonstrates that the biggest obstacle to mobilizing the working class is the unions, which defend the profit system and support Biden and the Democrats.

The most pressing issue for Philadelphia educators is joining the growing national network of Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committees, which is uniting and mobilizing the strength of educators, independently of the unions, to fight to save lives, including the preparation of a political general strike. Educators, parents, and students should attend the Pennsylvania Rank-and-File Safety Committee this Thursday for a genuine working class perspective and strategy moving forward.
The new models will help expand Toyotas portfolio further as far as alternative powertrain vehicles. As it stands, the Japanese brand holds over 40% of the total alternative fuel vehicle market, including a 75% share of the fuel cell market, plus a 64% share of hybrids and plug-in hybrids. The overall goal is to eventually have 40% of new vehicle sales be electrified by 2025 before boosting that figure to nearly 70% by 2030.We continue to be leaders in electrification that began with our pioneering introduction of the Prius nearly 25 years ago, said Toyota Motor North America executive VP of sales, Bob Carter. Toyotas new electrified product offerings will give customers multiple choices of powertrain that best suits their needs.Toyota is also counting all the millions of tons of greenhouse gas emissions that they havent sent out into the atmosphere thanks to their hybrid models. In the U.S. alone, that number stands at approximately 38 million tons of GHG. Furthermore, both Toyota and Lexus will offer buyers at least one electrified option per every single model by the year 2025.We believe the fastest way to lower greenhouse gases in the transportation sector is to offer drivers lower carbon choices that meet their needs, added Toyota chief scientist Gill Pratt. At every price point and with multiple powertrains, we can put more people in cleaner automobiles across North America to have the greatest near-term impact on total carbon emissions.As of right now, Toyotas U.S. range includes a total of ten hybrid models, of which two are plug-in hybrids - the 2021 Prius Prime and the 2021 RAV4 Prime. Then theres the all-new 2021 Mirai fuel-cell electric vehicle, priced from $49,500.
People aged 70 and over should have received both doses of their Covid-19 vaccine by mid-May, the Health Minister has said.

Stephen Donnelly said that despite disruptions to the supply chain, and changing delivery schedules, it should still be possible to vaccinate the entire population by September as planned.

But he warned that this projection is based on highly conditional forecasts.

Vaccination of the over-85s group will begin from Monday, with over 20,000 doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines to be distributed to GPs next week.

Expand Close Vaccination of people aged 85 and over is to begin on Monday, Stephen Donnelly has said. / Facebook

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Whatsapp Vaccination of people aged 85 and over is to begin on Monday, Stephen Donnelly has said.

That figure will rise to 50,000 the following week, Mr Donnelly told the Dail.

He said: The schedule I have would suggest that the group (over 70s) will have finished their second doses by mid-May.

But as always, these things are dependent on the supplies arriving.

If we get the supplies that are forecast, and we know these things go up and down, it would be around mid-May the second dose is complete.

The timeline was criticised by Sinn Fein health spokesman David Cullinane.

He said: I accept that there are supply issues, but the middle of May, for all of the over 70s to be inoculated, its a long time for those most at risk to be waiting.

And I think that will cause concern for many older people.

As of Sunday, 272,000 vaccines have been administered in Ireland, Mr Donnelly said.

Vaccination of the over 85s cohort is to begin on Monday through GPs surgeries.

Alternative arrangements will be made for those unable to travel to their GP, the Minister said.

He said: There will be people who cant make the journey to a GP and local solutions are being put in place for them.

He said: Next week, the plan is to distribute approximately 20,000 mNRA vaccines to the GP network, specifically for the 85 and older group.

Thats about 10,000 doses of Moderna and 12,000 doses of Pfizer.

The following week, were planning to increase that to around 50,000 vaccine doses.

The plan is to increase that again the week after that.

As with all vaccine forecasts, these plans are entirely dependent on supplies arriving in to Ireland.

By working as part of the EU we now have advance purchase agreements in place for almost 16 million vaccine doses Health Minister Stephen Donnelly

Mr Donnelly said that 5,800 vaccinators have been trained to date, but that many more will be needed.

The latest information shows that 85% of people say they will definitely or probably take the vaccine.

Some 3,000 residents and staff in nursing home settings have yet to receive the vaccine, the Dail heard.

This has been complicated by Covid-19 outbreaks, with people unable to receive a vaccine for 28 days after contracting the virus.

The Minister also defended the EU over its handling of the vaccine rollout, which has come in for heavy criticism.

He said: The EU27 approach is the right one for Ireland, and for Europe as a whole.

Without us smaller countries like Ireland would have struggled for contracted supply.

By working as part of the EU we now have advance purchase agreements in place for almost 16 million vaccine doses.

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Whatsapp HSE Director General Paul Reid (Niall Carson/PA)

HSE chief Paul Reid described next week as an exciting new phase of the vaccination programme.

He said Ireland is currently third in Europe in terms of doses per 100,000 of the population, behind Malta and Denmark, and well above the EU average.

Speaking at the HSE weekly briefing, he set out plans for the first 12,000 people from the over 85 age group to be vaccinated in 84 GP practices across 20 counties.

Mr Reid said where some may not have transport to get to vaccination locations, the HSE will work with local authorities, Civil Defence, and the Defence Forces.

The vaccination of GPs will continue this weekend at four sites across Portlaoise, Galway, Dublin and Sligo.

Meanwhile Dr Colm Henry has said there have been 740 reports of side effects of the vaccine, most commonly a sore arm, mild fever and mild flu-like illness.

Work is also continuing on mass vaccination centres.
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Suppose an incumbent American president up for another term decides not to honour the result of the election. Suppose he tries every means available to keep himself in office:

He pressures local officials to find votes, he files dozens of lawsuits challenging the results, he persuades millions of his followers that the election was stolen, and he tries to weaponise the justice department to challenge the election  all to no avail.

The officials resist the pressure, and the courts reject the legal challenges. All that remains are the millions of followers who believe the election was stolen.

In the case of such a president, the most dangerous time is just before the end of his term. This is when  having exhausted other means of remaining in office  he might seek to disrupt the peaceful transfer of power by inciting a violent coup.

The article of impeachment against former president Donald Trump alleges that he did exactly that: After various attempts to overturn the election failed, he incited an insurrection against Congress with the goal of having himself declared the winner of the election.

The remedy sought is to disqualify Mr Trump from holding office in the future. His trial is underway.

But his impeachment trial brief, filed with the Senate ahead of the proceedings, puts forward two theories of the US constitution which, taken together, create what we might call a last-minute violent-coup exception.

The idea that Mr Trumps defence is advancing, intentionally or not, is that presidents can violate their oath of office  or even incite a rebellion  and avoid a Senate trial as long as they do these things close to the end of their time in office.

Mr Trump argues that the impeachment article was drafted hurriedly before a thorough investigation could be conducted. Therefore, its fatally defective because the House of Representatives violated Mr Trumps due process rights to a thorough investigation.

He insists that a thorough inquiry is necessary even if the alleged crime is filmed, broadcast on television and witnessed by members of Congress. Mr Trump also argues that the Senate does not have jurisdiction to conduct an impeachment trial after he leaves office.

While both of these interpretations of the constitution are easily debunked  and legal scholars have debunked them  these two arguments, if relied on, would create a situation where a sitting president can stage a last-minute violent coup as long as there isnt time left in his term for a lengthy investigation into the coup or a trial on the resulting impeachment charges.

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To reach his conclusion that the Senate lacks the constitutional jurisdiction to conduct an impeachment trial of a former president, Mr Trumps brief distorts the plain language of the constitution and defies common sense.

For example, the constitution states: Judgment in Cases of 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.

The plain meaning of this provision is that punishment for a Senate trial can only include removal from office and disqualification from holding office in the future.

The Senate, in other words, cant add on other punishments - such as prison time. Mr Trump, however, interprets that and to mean that he can only be disqualified from holding office in the future if he is first removed from office.

Conviction at an impeachment trial, the brief states, requires the possibility of removal from office. Without that possibility, there cannot be a trial. Thus, as Mr Trump interprets this provision, he cannot be removed from office because he is no longer in office. According to his logic, there is no point in holding a trial, and so the Senate has no authority to conduct a trial.

According to this reasoning, an impeached president could simply resign before a trial to avoid disqualification for future office.

Mr Trumps reading of the constitution also ignores the meaning of all. The constitution states that The House of Representatives shall... have the sole Power of Impeachment, and The Senate shall have the sole Power to try all Impeachments. All means all. The House impeached Mr Trump while he was in office for offences committed in office.

Now the Senate has the power to try that impeachment. The constitution doesnt say: The Senate has the power to try all impeachments so long as the official remains in power at the time of the trial.

Mr Trumps brief also wrongly states that the constitution requires due process in the form of a lengthy inquiry. The former president complains that House Democrats completed the fastest presidential impeachment inquiry in history and that Speaker Pelosi did not grant the president any of his constitutionally mandated due process rights.

He doesnt state what these mandated rights are  because there are no such mandated rights.

While the Bill of Rights affords criminal defendants due process before they can be charged, the constitution contains no such requirements for impeachment. The constitution specifically states that criminal indictment can happen after the impeached president leaves office. That clearly indicates that impeachment is not a criminal proceeding. The Senate trial is where Mr Trump can answer the charges.

If an inquiry might take weeks  or months  a president so inclined has plenty of time to attempt violent insurrections without worrying about impeachment, a Senate trial or disqualification from holding future office.

In making its decision, Congress has to decide what message it wants to send to a future president inclined to find ways to stay in office after the term ends.

The arguments presented in Mr Trumps trial brief even raise the question of whether Mr Trump  who has been through impeachment once before and should know how the process works  calculated that he couldnt be impeached for a last-minute insurrection because hed be out of office before the trial could be conducted.

Either that, or his insurrection would succeed. A president who remained in office by inciting violence would not fear Congress. As the saying goes: Treason never prospers, and what is the reason? Why, if it prospers, none dare call it treason.

Senate Republicans who wish to acquit Mr Trump have a choice: They can ignore the evidence and find that he didnt incite an insurrection, or they can agree with Mr Trump that the framers of the constitution deliberately created a last-minute coup exception.

Or, of course, they could vote to convict. Well see which one they pick this week.

Teri Kanefield is an author who maintained an appellate law practice in California.

West Bengal Finance Minister Amit Mitra, during India Today Conclave East 2021 session on 'ECONOMIC AGENDA: Growth vs populism: The Bengal model', accused the Centre of destroying the federalist polity of India "piece-by-piece". He said the Centre was hurting the country's federalism structure. "On GST compensation, trust is lost. The Centre has cut central schemes in the name of reorganisation. They even cut our devolution, which is a constitutional right. They increased cess and surcharge."

On the state's rising debt, Mitra defended saying, "When we came to power, the debt to GDP ratio was 44 per cent, which now has reduced to 34 per cent. The state's GDP was Rs 4.5 lakh crore when we came to office, GDP is 12.5 lakh crore today," he added.

Mitra said the state government has kept FRBM (Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management) below 3 per cent every day since the TMC government came to power in the state. "FRBM is the proportion of the GDP that you can borrow. That was 3 per cent before the coronavirus pandemic. We have kept it below 3 per cent every day every year. You cannot talk about debt because Nagaland's debt and Maharashtra's debt are not comparable," he said.

On the Centre's disinvestment plan, Mitra said PSUs must be given autonomy and that disinvestment was not the right answer to get rid of loss-making PSUs.

"After privatisation, they are taken over by global organisations. For example, India's largest private bank HDFC Bank has a foreign holding of 77 per cent. ICICI Bank has a foreign holding of 67 per cent. YES Bank, when the anomalies were reported, got investment worth Rs 9,000 crore from state-run bank," he said.

He added that the fiscal deficit of the state was at 2.9 per cent even in the middle of the coronavirus. "What is the Centre at? 9 per cent," he said. Mitra said the state government is providing 100 per cent health insurance to all the residents of the state without taking a single penny from the Centre.

He said populism and populistic deeds are good for the economy. On the Centre's accusations of West Bengal not implementing the central schemes, Mitra compared the Centre's 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' programme with the Bengal government's 'Kanyashree' -- an initiative taken to improve the life and the status of the girls by helping economically backward families. He also said that 80 per cent of Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao funds had gone into advertising.

On investment in the state, Mitra said the state houses Asia's largest leather hub, and that it boasts of all kinds of small, medium, and big factories.

Also Read: India Today Conclave: Bibek Debroy pins down the problem with Bengal's manufacturing sector
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - February 11, 2021) - Appia Energy Corp. (CSE: API) (OTCQB: APAAF) (FSE: A0I.F) (FSE: A0I.MU) (FSE: A0I.BE) (the "Company" or "Appia") today announced that James Sykes will be resigning as Vice-President, Exploration & Development of the Company, effective May 31, 2021.

The Company also announced that Nicolas Guest has been appointed as Project Manager of the Alces Lake, SK Project to actively advance the project on all aspects of an expanding resource and metallurgical testing of the mineralization to determine the eventual recovery and separation processes for REE oxide ("REO") recoveries. Mr. Guest has been granted 200,000 options exercisable at $0.68 per share for 5 years.

Nicolas has had extensive experience and responsibility for the exploration and development of the resources at the Goldcorp/Newmont-Musselwhite Mine, including mine expansion and record annual reserve replacement.

An aggressive program of ground geophysics and surveys followed by a stepped-up diamond drilling program to explore for additional sub-surface high-grade REO occurrences at Alces Lake is in the planning stage for this summer. James will continue to fulfill his obligations as Vice-President, Exploration & Development including providing support and information to Nicolas until May 31, 2021 and will continue to provide consulting services to the Company on an as-needed basis.

James has been with Appia since April 2016, directing the technical team on exploration projects in the Athabasca Basin area of Saskatchewan, in recent years focusing on delineating high-grade critical rare earth elements ("REE") and uranium on the Alces Lake property, as well as prospecting for high-grade uranium. James has had direct and indirect involvement with over 550 million lbs. U 3 O 8 being discovered in five deposits in the Athabasca Basin.

Tom Drivas, CEO of Appia stated that, "James has been instrumental in bringing the Alces Lake project to the stage where it is recognized as having the second highest-grade total and critical REE mineralization in the world. On behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to thank James for his contribution to the development of the exploration programs in Saskatchewan and wish him well in his future endeavours."

About Appia

Appia is a Canadian publicly-listed company in the uranium and rare earth element sectors. The Company is currently focusing on delineating high-grade critical rare earth elements ("REE") and uranium on the Alces Lake property, as well as prospecting for high-grade uranium in the prolific Athabasca Basin on its Loranger, North Wollaston, and Eastside properties. The Company holds the surface rights to exploration for 65,601 hectares (162,104 acres) in Saskatchewan.

The Company also has a 100% interest (subject to a 1% Uranium Production Payment Royalty and a 1% Net Smelter Return Royalty on any precious or base metals payable, provided that the price of uranium is greater than US$130 per pound) in 12,545 hectares (31,000 acres), with rare earth element and uranium deposits over five mineralized zones in the Elliot Lake Camp, Ontario. The Camp historically produced over 300 million pounds of U 3 O 8 and is the only Canadian camp that has had significant rare earth element (yttrium) production. The deposits are largely unconstrained along strike and down dip.

Appia has 92.2 million common shares outstanding, 108.4 million shares fully diluted.

For more information, visit Appia's website at www.appiaenergy.ca

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: This News Release contains forward-looking statements which are typically preceded by, followed by or including the words "believes", "expects", "anticipates", "estimates", "intends", "plans" or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance as they involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. We do not intend and do not assume any obligation to update these forward- looking statements and shareholders are cautioned not to put undue reliance on such statements.

Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

For further information, please contact:

Tom Drivas, President, CEO and Director: (tel) 416-546-2707, (fax) 416-218-9772 or (email) appia@appiaenergy.ca

Frank van de Water, Chief Financial Officer and Director, (tel) 416-546-2707, (fax) 416-218-9772 or (email) fvandewater@rogers.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/74242


Despite the rain falling in Geneva (Switzerland), a detour to the Czapek boutique in the company of its CEO, Xavier de Roquemaurel, brightened things up considerably. WorldTempus was given the opportunity to admire the latest creations from the Geneva brand, hot from the oven and fresh in the shop, having arrived that very morning. So lets cut to the chase, and take a closer look at these new Faubourg de Cracovie watches.

Faubourg de Cracovie Ocean d'Or, yellow gold @ WorldTempus/Jordy Bellido

A new material

The main difference from previous models is the presence of 18 karat gold, used for the 41.5 mm case and the chronograph registers on the dial. The counters are polished to retain their colour and ensure it doesnt degrade as a result of the Newton effect. Previously, Czapek used exclusively steel and titanium. Never one for half measures, the brand has opted to bring in two types of gold: 5N rose gold and 2N yellow gold. In fact, this is the very first time yellow gold has featured on a Czapek wristwatch! The rose gold version comes in an 8-piece limited edition, while the yellow gold version is issued as a mirror piece. You might be wondering what that is, exactly. Well, I had no idea either. Let me explain. In Chinese culture, and more precisely during the Qing dynasty, the concept of duality became very important. Like Yin and Yang, the symbols of complementarity, everything has its opposite. So, in accordance with this mirror principle, these watches come in a pair, but theyre not absolutely identical. Czapek drew inspiration from this historical idea in designing the Faubourg de Cracovie Ocean dOr limited edition, which comes in a matched pair. Each watch has a different dial; they are symmetrical, but not identical.

Faubourg de Cracovie Ocean d'Or, yellow gold @ Czapek

A stunning contrast

The beauty of these pieces, which can be found at the intersection of opposition and harmony, as Xavier de Roquemaurel states, lies in the contrast created between the gold case and the blue dial, which is further accentuated by a blue alligator strap. To be clear: the deep, intense blue of the dial on this 2021 version is not the same as that of the 2019 Faubourg de Cracovie (with its salmon-coloured chronograph counters). I asked the question  and I got the answer. The dial of this new model, with its Resonance guillochage motif, gets its particular shade of blue from a very special technique. Here goes: this unusual shade is the result of an ALD coating process, which involves applying infinitesimally thin layers at a molecular level. The contrast enhances the elegance of the new models, as well as giving them a rather majestic aura. The effect is of almost pharaonic opulence.

Faubourg de Cracovie Ocean d'Or, yellow gold @ Czapek

Beneath this stunning exterior, the automatic integrated chronograph (priced at CHF 46,000) conceals a powerful heart, which is visible through the sapphire caseback: the SXH3 calibre. The COSC-certified movement beats at 36,000 vph or 5 Hz, and its single barrel supplies a power reserve of 65 hours.

Faubourg de Cracovie Ocean d'Or, rose gold @ Czapek

With the entry of these new kids on the Faubourg de Cracovie, the sister collections are bound to feel a touch of jealousy. But I have a feeling we havent heard the last of them. Watch this space.
WABASH VALLEY (WTHI) - On average, American households own more than $45,000 in student loan debt.

That's according to a study from NerdWallet.

As many look for help, the Better Business Bureau is warning you about student debt relief scams. It starts with unsolicited calls posing as the Department of Education.

The scammer claims to offer extremely low payments or loan forgiveness. The BBB says this is completely false.

To learn how you can handle student loan debt, click here.

A handout image from Saudi authorities showed what they said was damage to a Flyadeal Airbus A320-214 at Abha airport after Wednesday's attack

A drone strike launched by Yemen's Iran-backed Huthis on Wednesday left a civilian plane ablaze at a Saudi airport, drawing warnings from the United States days after it moved to delist the rebels as terrorists.

Saudi authorities did not immediately report any casualties from the attack, claimed by the Huthis, the latest in a series of rebel assaults on the kingdom despite a renewed American push to de-escalate Yemen's six-year conflict.

Pictures released by state media showed a blackened gash on the side of a passenger jet after the attack, which occurred on the same day the new US special envoy for Yemen Timothy Lenderking met Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan in Riyadh for talks.

The United States condemned the assault and called on the Huthis to "constructively engage" in President Joe Biden's effort to jumpstart peace negotiations.

"There is no military solution to the war in Yemen. We again urge the Huthis to immediately stop these aggressive acts," State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters in Washington.

Saudi state media released images of what it said was wreckage from a drone, apparently showing engine parts and aerial fins scattered across the tarmac of the airport.

"A cowardly criminal terrorist attack launched against Abha International Airport in Saudi Arabia by the Huthi militia," state-run Al-Ekhbariya television quoted the Riyadh-led military coalition battling the rebels as saying.

"A fire that engulfed a passenger plane due to the Huthi attack on Abha Airport is under control," it added.

Saudi Arabia

The coalition did not say how the attack was carried out, but earlier in the day reported that it had intercepted two "booby trapped" drones in the south.

The Shiite Huthis, who control much of northern Yemen, said they had struck Abha airport with four drones.

Yahya Sarie, spokesman for the Huthis' armed wing, claimed the airport was used to launch attacks on Yemen.

But Yemen's information minister, Moammar al-Eryani, denounced the attack as a "full-fledged war crime" as it endangered the lives of "thousands of civilian travellers of various nationalities".

Abha's international airport, which has been struck by the rebels before, is just over 100 kilometres (60 miles) from Saudi Arabia's southern border with Yemen.

- 'Catastrophe' in Yemen -

The rebels appear to be stepping up attacks on the kingdom and on Riyadh-backed Yemeni forces after the United States moved last week to lift a short-lived designation of the Huthis as a terrorist group.

A photograph provided by Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Media on February 10 reportedly shows the wreckage of an unmanned drone used in an attack on Abha International Airport

The Huthis have resumed an offensive to seize the Yemeni government's last northern stronghold of Marib, according to a government source, with dozens of casualties on both sides.

Price, the State Department spokesman, also called on the insurgents to halt the offensive but said the Biden administration would go ahead and lift the terrorist designation.

He defended the move as a way to improve humanitarian access and said it has "absolutely nothing to do with the reprehensible conduct of the Huthis."

Humanitarian groups were deeply opposed to the blacklisting in the final days of Donald Trump's administration, saying it jeopardised their operations in a country where the majority of people rely on aid and where they have no choice but to deal with the Huthis.

Biden has also halted support to Saudi offensive operations in Yemen's war, which he called a "catastrophe" which "has to end".

A photo taken on June 13, 2019 shows the control tower of Abha airport in the popular mountain resort of the same name in the southwest of Saudi Arabia

Lenderking, the veteran US diplomat appointed to boost efforts to end the war, in his meeting with Prince Faisal discussed a "comprehensive political solution" to the conflict, state-run Saudi Press Agency reported.

Biden said Lenderking would support a UN push for a ceasefire and revive talks between the Huthis and the government.

Saudi Arabia, which entered the Yemen conflict in 2015 to bolster the internationally recognised government, has repeatedly been targeted with cross-border attacks.

Last month, it said it had intercepted and destroyed a "hostile air target" heading towards Riyadh.

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WASHINGTON  President Joe Biden is hoping that launching an effort to build roads and bridges can help to unite Democrats and Republicans in a time of sharp partisan divisions.

Biden met with lawmakers from both parties at the White House to discuss infrastructure on Thursday, even as the Senate is holding impeachment proceedings against former President Donald Trump where partisan divisions are on full display.

Ive been around long enough, Biden said, that infrastructure wasnt a Republican or a Democratic issue.

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The president specifically mentioned the potential for improvement projects in the states of the senators attending the meeting, signaling that lawmakers might be willing to cooperate in order to make their voters lives better.

Biden highlighted the need for repairs to a lot of bridges in West Virginia. Republican Sen. Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, the ranking member of the Environment and Public Works Committee, was among those in attendance. She later voiced her support for a bipartisan surface transportation reauthorization bill that makes long-term investments in our nations roads and bridges.

The president also referenced Route 9 in his home state of Delaware, which he shares with Democratic Sen. Tom Carper, the committee chairman, who was also in the Oval Office meeting Thursday and had discussed these issues with Biden last week.

The American people desperately want us to bring our roads, trains and bridges out of the last century and into the future, Carper said after Thursdays meeting.

Carper pledged to work on a transportation bill that will focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions by cars and trucks and boosting electric cars. Im glad its at the top of the administrations agenda.

The current authorization bill for surface transportation expires in September, so there is no time to waste, Carper said, adding that he expects bipartisan support for the reauthorization bill in the Senate.

Also at the meeting were Vice President Kamala Harris, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg virtually, Republican Sen. Jim Inhofe of Oklahoma and Democratic Sen. Ben Cardin of Maryland.

Inhofe later told reporters that the meeting with Biden was very good, very good.

One reason is that Ive known the president forever, and weve worked on highway bills before, Inhofe said. The main thing that I want to be careful on is when youre working on infrastructure thats high dollar stuff.

Biden said there are a number of things out there that the American people are looking for us to step up and do. During the presidential campaign, Biden committed to deploying $2 trillion on infrastructure and clean energy investments over four years.

His campaign pledged that millions of jobs would flow from repairing roads, building electric vehicle charging stations, weatherizing buildings, improving access to public transit and updating the U.S. power grid to be carbon-pollution free by 2035.

Since the pandemic began in February 2020, the United States has lost 256,000 construction jobs, lowering total construction employment to 7.4 million. Still, total construction spending has increased slightly to an annualized rate of $1.49 trillion, according to the Census Bureau. About a quarter of that spending comes from the federal, state and local governments.

Both the Obama and Trump administrations famously promised to invest in infrastructure, only never fully to deliver. The term infrastructure week became something of a joke during the Trump era, when it was associated with a policy push that was meant to take public attention away from controversial remarks or actions by the president.

Biden has been warned that his push for $1.9 trillion in coronavirus relief might hamper a later push to get bipartisan support for infrastructure improvements. In a speech earlier this month to the Senate, Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, said a party-line vote on financial relief would poison the well for infrastructure.

I think its going to be harder if we start off on the wrong foot, if we start off in a purely partisan way, Portman said.

The Kinder Institute for Urban Research at Rice University released an analysis Wednesday about the infrastructure needs of 134 cities. Its survey found cities prioritizing transportation and water and climate projects, but also projects to address the fallout from the pandemic such as broadband access, emergency response and health facilities, and public transit for essential workers.

Mayors and other local regional leaders around the country are very much in alignment with what President Biden has talked about, especially with climate change, said Bill Fulton, director of the institute. But its clear that the pandemic has changed infrastructure needs.

___

Boak reported from Baltimore.
Michigans top elected Republican, Mike Shirkey, the State Senate majority leader, said on Wednesday that he stood behind previous remarks in which he called the attack on the U.S. Capitol a hoax and indicated he might challenge Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to a fistfight.

Mr. Shirkey was heard speaking on an open microphone in the Michigan Capitol on Wednesday in what he apparently thought was a private conversation. I frankly dont take back any of the points I was trying to make, he said, a reference to recent comments about the Capitol siege, which is the focus of former President Donald J. Trumps impeachment trial in the Senate.

At a restaurant last week, Mr. Shirkey told a group of Republican officials, That wasnt Trump people, referring to the mob that stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6. Thats been a hoax from Day 1, he added. It was all staged.

A video of the lunch was uploaded to YouTube. Mr. Shirkey also made offensive remarks that day about Ms. Whitmer, a Democrat, saying he and fellow Republican lawmakers had spanked her hard in the Legislature. I did contemplate inviting her to a fistfight on the Capitol lawn, he added.
Massachusetts voters mailed in ballots in droves for the 2020 election season, contributing to a record-shattering turnout.

Now lawmakers, advocates and state officials want to make the expanded mail-in voting option permanent. Rep. John Lawn and Sen. Cynthia Stone Creem on Tuesday filed a bill that proposes expanding mail-in voting for good, as well as creating same-day registration and offering educational materials so prisoners eligible to vote know their options.

Look at the difference it made in this election, Creem, a Newton Democrat, said in a phone interview with MassLive.

This isnt changing the eligibility. Its just streamlining the process, she added. Its making it easier and encouraging people to vote.

Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin said he was proposing similar changes. Sen. Becca Rausch, who has advocated for expanded voting options since she took office, filed two more voting bills this week.

Massachusetts voters broke turnout records for the September primary and the general election. The Nov. 3 election drew more than 3.65 million ballots, beating the 2016 record of 3.3 million.

While last years COVID-19 voting law was passed in response to the pandemic, lawmakers and voting rights advocates have pushed for making some of these options permanent. Heres what to know about the proposals that exist so far:

VOTES Act: No excuse mail-in voting, same-day registration

Lawn and Creems bill, HD. 1536, to implement same-day voter registration, make mail-in voting a permanent option for the general public and tweak automatic voter registration.

The bill allows same-day registration at polling places as long as the prospective voter fills out a form and shows either a photo ID or a bank statement or other record that shows proof of residence. State law requires that people register at least 20 days before the day of an election.

The person also has to attest in writing to being a U.S. citizen who is at least 18 years old and is not disqualified by law from voting.

The bill doesnt cover registered voters seeking to change party enrollment for a primary.

Massachusetts would also change when someone can opt out of the automatic voter registration, requiring a registered voter go through local election officials to opt out.

The bill also sets a June 30, 2022, deadline for Massachusetts to enter into an agreement with the Electronic Registration Information Center, also known as ERIC, to help modernize the states voter registration system. A 2018 law requires that Massachusetts join the ERIC system but did not set a deadline.

The bill also would make mail-in voting a permanent option with voters being able to request mail-in ballots for all elections and primaries in the calendar year or all primaries and elections indefinitely.

It would create permanent municipal drop boxes, require correctional facilities to appoint an officer to distribute mail-in ballot applications and other voting materials and would mandate an audit every two years to ensure theres no evidence of fraud.

These reforms should be adopted for all future and state elections, Creem said.

Medford ballot drop boxSteph Solis

Extending vote-by-mail

Creem also proposed a bill that would extend mail-in voting from March 31 to Dec. 31.

The 2020 mail-in voting law was set to end in December. Lawmakers passed legislation through the fiscal 2021 budget that allowed mail-in voting to continue under the law expires at the end of March.

Creem described the bill, SD189, as a temporary measure to let municipalities process mail-in ballots for local elections during the pandemic while lawmakers debate permanent changes to the states voting laws.

Lawn, a Watertown Democrat, said he plans to file a similar bill that extends the temporary mail-in voting options until June so lawmakers have time to debate the permanent reforms.

Educating prisoners on voting options

A third bill filed by Creem, SD. 726, would require correctional facilities to distribute a pamphlet in English, Spanish and other languages about voting rights. The pamphlet would include information about who is eligible and how to register to vote, when and where voting takes place and other relevant elections information.

Expanded mail-in voting, June primary

Rausch, a Needham Democrat, filed a bill that makes mail-in voting a permanent option for the public, even if theyre not sick or out of town during an election. The bill, SD. 39, also requires the state to maintain a central registry of voters, which also tracks residents ages 16 and up who may become eligible to vote. Local election officials would have to share their voting records with the state to build up the registry.

Local election officials would have to notify people of the option to decline to register to vote, pick a political party affiliation and permanently receive mail-in ballots. That would be one of multiple ways a voter could mail in a ballot.

Under the bill, the secretary would have to mail voter status request forms to all registered voters at their mailing addresses, except for permanent voters.

People who voted by mail in both the 2020 state primary and the 2020 general election would be automatically enrolled as a permanent mail voter, according to the bill.

Pierre Boursiquot, a longtime Boston resident, joins the march carrying his mail-in ballot in his pocket.Steph Solis

The state secretary would also have to maintain an online portal where voters could apply to vote by mail, request to become a permanent mail voter or opt out, select a political party or request a mail-in ballot be sent to a different address than the one on file with the central registry.

Galvin would also be required to enter into an agreement with ERIC on behalf of Massachusetts by April 30.

Rauschs bill would also change the state primary from September to the second Tuesday in June, establish permanent municipal ballot drop boxes and call for paid leave of up to two hours for workers seeking to take time to cast their ballots during an election.

Rausch recently filed a separate bill, SD. 969, that would move the state primary up to June.

In another standalone bill, SD. 970, Rausch proposes the central registry of voters. Local election officials would have the option to search the registry in real time at a polling place if voters want to update their information. The voter would be able to change their information if they present appropriate documentation to justify the modification. This bill also sets an April 30 deadline for Massachusetts to join ERIC.

Election day holiday

Another Rausch bill, SD. 967, would make Election Day a legal holiday except for public employees working the elections.

An employee whos eligible to vote would be allowed to take four hours of paid leave to cast a ballot in any local or state election, according to the bill. The employee could take the paid leave during early voting, any applicable mail voting period or on the date of the primary or election.

Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth delivers an update on mail-in ballots ahead of the Nov. 3 election.Steph Solis

Expanded mail-in voting, same-day registration

Galvin also proposed making mail-in voting a permanent option for Massachusetts voters. He has not filed a bill, but he said he is proposing to allow mail-in ballots for any registered voter. Before the COVID-19 voting law, voters were only allowed to mail in ballots if they were sick or could prove they would be out of town ahead of time.

The COVID-19 voting law expanded who is eligible to mail-in ballots, but that expires at the end of March.

Galvin also proposes same-day registration at the polls, rather than cutoff 20 days before Election Day. He also calls for expanding in-person voting so people can cast their ballots on weekends in state elections and primaries. The proposal would extend the early voting period to a week for primaries and 14 days for general elections, as well as allow early voting for municipal elections.

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CHICOPEE  The schools will switch to a new plan for learning during the COVID-19 pandemic that will ensure all students who want to attend class in-person will be able to do so at least twice a week.

The School Committee voted 11-0 with one member absent Wednesday night to change to a hybrid system that will mix two days of in-person learning with three days of remote learning for the majority of the students.

The switch will occur on Feb. 22 after students and staff return from a week off for winter vacation, Superintendent Lynn A. Clark.

This is a great day in the history of Chicopee. Two sides who did not see eye-to-eye came together for the best interests of the students, said Doug Girouard, a School Committee member. Its clear right now that the students are the ones who need it the most.

The special School Committee meeting was called solely to discuss the new plan. It was held remotely because the City Council Chambers, where the School Committee has been meeting recently, was booked for another meeting. However, it was plagued with technical problems that kept kicking off Mayor John L. Vieau, who also serves as chairman, as well as at least two other members.

The plan will divide students into two groups with half learning in-person on Monday and Tuesdays and the other half learning on Thursday and Fridays. All children will learn remotely on Wednesdays and on the other two days they are not in person, Clark said.

Families will continue to have the option of having their children attend school entirely by computer, she said.

There are exceptions to the plan. Children in kindergarten through grade three and vulnerable learners will learn in-person four days a week with Wednesdays being their only remote day. Chicopee Academy will also have all students physically in class four days a week and administrators and staff will have the option of changing to a five-day in-person schedule, Clark said.

Preschool has been operating under a two-day-a-week hybrid system since the start of school and that will continue, she said.

In August, Chicopee Schools had adopted a unique plan that was designed to phase students into full-time in-classroom learning starting with the most vulnerable learners, including those with learning disabilities, those who are learning English, and those who are homeless or in foster care. The youngest children in each building  kindergarteners and students in grades one, six and nine  returned three weeks later on Oct. 5. Career technical education students also returned in early fall under a hybrid model where they had a mix of in-person vocational classes and remote learning.

But the next phases were put on hold when infection rates started increasing, and all children were sent home to learn remotely in mid-November. In-person learning resumed Jan. 19 with just vulnerable students, kindergarteners and first-graders. Some career technical students are returning now.

Some students and parents complained the phased-in plan was taking too long and many children had not been in class for nearly a year. Clark and other administrators formed a task force of teachers, students, parents, principals and others who studied the pros and cons of many different issues and recommend the schools switch to a hybrid model that schools in other communities were following successfully.

But the proposal created controversy as some teachers, especially those who have health issues or have household members who are vulnerable to COVID-19, said they are concerned about returning to school. Other educators argued students were failing, depressed and generally miserable with the current model and should be able to return to class at least part-time.

An implementation committee, made up of members of the Chicopee Education Association, administrators and at least two School Committee members met multiple times in sessions that sometimes stretched four hours hashing out an agreement. Union members approved the agreement shortly before the meeting.

This amendment represents the hard work of the entire implementation committee so a huge thank you to the CEA (Chicopee Education Association) members and the School Committee members and the admin. members. They worked 20 hours or more to make sure we had an agreement, Clark said.

Mary-Elizabeth Pniak-Costello, School Committee vice chairwoman, also thanked everyone, including the mayor and superintendent, for their hard work and for being thoughtful and conscientious in bringing students and teachers back into the schools.

The science says it is safe and our school department has done an excellent job in ensuring our buildings are safe and our staff will be safe, she said. That is our main concern, making sure everyone is safe.

The agreement also calls for each school to have an advisory cabinet made up of people appointed by the principal and the union to review any issues that arise. Clark said the team should also help improve communications.

Teachers are also expected to receive their schedules and other information about returning to the classroom on Thursday. Parents will be notified by email and by phone this week to give them time to plan, she said.

When asked about the expense of returning to in-person learning, Clark said custodians and cafeteria staff who have been on furlough are being recalled and a few teaching assistants will be covering classes so their salaries will be boosted. The schools are also hiring a few substitute teachers who will work full time in the largest buildings and be available if a teacher is ill, Clark said.
SACRAMENTO, Calif., Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- ENTEXS, a Sacramento-based engineering & fabrication company for hemp and cannabis extraction technology, has signed a dealer agreement with worldwide supplier of high-quality laboratory equipment Scientific Solutions, Inc. The agreement broadens ENTEXS' reach in the laboratory market while offering Scientific Solutions' clients a truly hands-free process and capabilities of customization with ENTEXS' in-house fabrication.

ENTEXS, a Sacramento-based engineering & fabrication company for hemp and cannabis extraction technology, has signed a dealer agreement with worldwide supplier of high-quality laboratory equipment, Scientific Solutions, Inc.

ENTEXS strives to provide the best extraction technology available with the best customer service in the industry, while acknowledging that each customer's extraction needs are unique. ENTEXS' technology was developed specifically to address the bottlenecks of the industry, increase processing efficiencies, and lower production costs via its proprietary continuous feed and automation.

"We develop strategic partnerships with companies like ENTEXS, who embody the same principles of customer service, support and excellence over all to help our customers meet their goal and stay up to date with new technology and equipment in our ever-expanding industry," says Nick Spriggs, CFO of Scientific Solutions.

"We develop strategic partnerships with companies like ENTEXS, who embody the same principles of customer service, support and excellence over all to help our customers meet their goal and stay up to date with new technology and equipment in our ever-expanding industry," says Nick Spriggs, CFO of Scientific Solutions.

Scientific Solutions is focused on providing valuable advice in the selection of equipment, laboratory design, equipment installation, staff training, and full facility operational and production management, where working with ENTEXS is complimentary.

"We're excited for the partnership with Scientific Solutions, as they have built a reputation to supply the industry's needs with high-level expertise and customer service," comments ENTEXS CEO, Ali Rashid.

The ENTEXS extraction systems and post-processing modules are available now through Scientific Solutions.

About ENTEXS

ENTEXS provides first-in-class technology with custom in-house manufacturing to evolve constantly and develop machinery for the hemp and cannabis markets' needs. Its patent-pending technology is a hands-free, continuous-feed, closed-loop system with no winterization necessary that increases productivity, yields and quality of each extraction at high capacity, industrial scale. In addition, to complete systems, ENTEXS offers an extraction component catalog and supports system customers with services such as installation, site review, field verification, permitting, operation and more.

For ENTEXS

(888) 960-ENTX

[email protected]

About Scientific Solutions Inc.

Scientific Solutions, Inc. was formed in San Diego, CA, March 2017. We represent 146+ vendors and have sold into over 600 labs nationwide and international. We are authorized resellers for all the major manufacturers, our vision is to help our customers get better pricing and the knowledge to use their equipment when they enter the market, scale up or upgrade their equipment. Our business has evolved to 60% hemp and 40% cannabis. We specialize in helping our clients take an empty facility/building and turn it into a fully functional, profitable processing lab. We also offer installs as well as servicing, support, and train on all the equipment we sell.

For Scientific Solutions Inc.

(844) 404-4588

[email protected]

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ENTEXS AND SCIENTIFIC SOLUTIONS SIGN STRATEGIC DEALER AGREEMENT

ENTEXS, a Sacramento-based engineering & fabrication company for hemp and cannabis extraction technology, has signed a dealer agreement with worldwide supplier of high-quality laboratory equipment, Scientific Solutions, Inc.

Related Links

www.entexs.com

www.scisolinc.com

SOURCE ENTEXS Corporation
Imperial Valley News Center

Release Osman Kavala Immediately

Washington, DC - The United States again calls on Turkey to immediately release Osman Kavala from detention. The specious charges against Kavala, his ongoing detention, and the continuing delays in the conclusion of his trial, including through the merger of cases against him, undermine respect for the rule of law and democracy.

We urge Turkey to abide by the European Court of Human Rights rulings and ensure a just, transparent, and speedy resolution to the case in line with its domestic laws and international obligations.

We also note with concern U.S. citizen Dr. Henri Barkeys inclusion in these unwarranted court proceedings. We believe the charges against Dr. Barkey to be baseless, and we call on Turkey to resolve his case in a just, transparent, and rapid manner.
DOWNERS GROVE, Ill., Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Dover (NYSE: DOV) today announced that its Board of Directors has elected Deborah L. DeHaas as a new independent director effective immediately. Ms. DeHaas's appointment increases the size of the Board to 10 directors, 9 of whom are independent directors. Ms. DeHaas will serve on the Board's Audit Committee.

Richard J. Tobin, Dover's President and Chief Executive Officer said, "I am pleased to welcome Deb to our Board. Her significant leadership, financial and corporate governance expertise, and the wealth of experience she brings will enhance the composition of our Board and enable continued successful oversight of our efforts to drive shareholder value."

Ms. DeHaas was recently named the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporate Leadership Center. She retired from Deloitte as a Vice Chairman and the Managing Partner of the Center for Board Effectiveness in September 2020. She held numerous leadership roles at Deloitte during her 18 years of service to the firm, including as the firm's first Chief Inclusion Officer, as the Regional Managing Partner for the Midwest and Central regions of Deloitte, in which role she led the quality, client satisfaction, growth, marketplace and talent initiatives for over 10,000 professionals in fourteen states, as the Chicago Office Managing Partner, and as a member of the Deloitte US board of directors. Before joining Deloitte, Deb was a partner at Arthur Andersen. She currently serves on the Board and Executive Committee of the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board Foundation Board.

About Dover:

Dover is a diversified global manufacturer and solutions provider with annual revenue of approximately $7 billion. We deliver innovative equipment and components, consumable supplies, aftermarket parts, software and digital solutions, and support services through five operating segments: Engineered Products, Fueling Solutions, Imaging & Identification, Pumps & Process Solutions and Refrigeration & Food Equipment. Dover combines global scale, operational agility, world-class engineering capability and customer intimacy to lead the markets we serve. Recognized for our entrepreneurial approach for over 60 years, our team of over 23,000 employees takes an ownership mindset, collaborating with customers to redefine what's possible. Headquartered in Downers Grove, Illinois, Dover trades on the New York Stock Exchange under "DOV." Additional information is available at dovercorporation.com .

Investor Contact: Media Contact: Andrey Galiuk Adrian Sakowicz Vice President  Corporate Development Vice President  Communications and Investor Relations (630) 743-5039 (630) 743-5131 [email protected] [email protected]



SOURCE Dover

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The boss of toll road giant Transurban has warned that employers will lose talented staff if they refuse to maintain some flexible working conditions after the pandemic passes.

Traffic on Transurbans toll roads in Sydney and Brisbane have already bounced back to pre-pandemic levels, while Melbournes CityLink was this week down only 16 per cent despite private sector offices being limited to 50 per cent capacity and compulsory mask wearing in workplaces.

Transurban boss Scott Charlton expects traffic on his roads (which include Sydneys West Connex, pictured) to exceed pre-COVID levels in the next six months. Credit:Steven Siewert

Chief executive Scott Charlton said on Thursday that traffic was set to exceed pre-pandemic levels within the next six months as more commuters opt to drive to work rather than take public transport because of coronavirus fears.

He said governments and businesses offering workers flexible hours and the ability to work from home would not only ease the peak hour crush, but would be necessary to attract staff who faced spending even more of their lives in gridlock.
Hormel Foods is to pay just over US$3.3bn for Kraft Heinzs Planters snack-nut business, the two US companies announced today (11 February).

Joining brands such as Spam canned meats and Skippy peanut butter, the deal for Planters is a continuation of the companys evolution as a global branded food company, Hormel said.

For Kraft Heinz, the sale of Planters is the companys latest disposal under CEO Miguel Patricio as the ketchup and soup giant focuses on products it believes have better prospects.

Hormel is buying Planters for $3.35bn, with the company saying a tax benefit of $560m leads to an effective purchase price of $2.79bn.

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Planters' net sales were approximately $1bn in 2020, Hormel said.

The deal includes three factories  in Arkansas, California and Virginia  and Hormel added it expects to get synergies of around $50-60m by 2024.

"Planters is an iconic leading snack brand with universal consumer awareness," Hormel chairman, president and CEO Jim Snee insisted. "The acquisition of the Planters business adds another $1bn brand to our portfolio and significantly expands our presence in the growing snacking space."

The sale includes a range of Planters snacks, as well as Corn Nuts branded products. Both companies said the deal is expected to close in the first half of the year.

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"This is another momentous step in our rapid transformation of Kraft Heinz," Patricio claimed. "It will enable us to sharpen our focus on areas with greater growth prospects and competitive advantage for our powerhouse brands."

In September, Kraft Heinz sold a clutch of cheese brands, including Breakstone's and Athenos, to French dairy giant Lactalis for $3.2bn.

That disposal came alongside the announcement of a wider "transformation plan" at Kraft Heinz as it seeks to grow more consistently after a period when its financial performance has been in the spotlight and sales had been under pressure.

In October, the company set out plans to cut the number of its SKUs by a fifth going into the new year to try to improve the company's agility, alongside a focus on fewer but more  it hopes  impactful innovation.

Alongside news of the sale of Planters, Kraft Heinz reported its annual financial results for 2020.

Sales rose 4.8% to $26.19bn, or by 6.5% on an organic basis. Prices increase by 3.1 percentage points, with volume/mix contributing 3.4 points of growth.

Kraft Heinz's operating income was down 30.7% at $2.13bn. The company's net income was $356m, compared to $1.94bn in 2019. Profits were dented by the impairment charges Kraft Heinz recorded in 2020.

DUBLIN, Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- BlueSnap , the all-in-one payment platform which helps B2B and B2C businesses around the world increase sales and reduce costs, has opened a new office in Dublin as the fintech firm expands its global operations.

Dublin was chosen as the location of BlueSnap's new European headquarters thanks to its reputation as a global hub of fintech excellence, home to leading start-up accelerator programs and technological innovation. The new Irish office was set up to ensure there was no disruption to services as a result of Brexit and will play a leading role in supporting BlueSnap's EU customers.

To facilitate the expansion, BlueSnap has secured a Payment Institution license from the Central Bank of Ireland, helping more customers maximize revenue through better global authorisation rates and lower cross-border fees. The fintech will also retain its office in London along with its UK licensing.

Ralph Dangelmaier, CEO at BlueSnap, said: "The opening of our new EU headquarters in Dublin marks an exciting milestone in BlueSnap's international expansion, as well as a sign of our commitment to supporting customers both at a local market level and around the globe. Acting as our European hub, the new HQ in Ireland has already helped us deliver a seamless transition for BlueSnap merchants operating in Europe, as Brexit came into effect at the start of January."

The payments provider has appointed former Managing Partner and Chairman of Arthur Cox, Eugene McCague as its Chairman of EU Operations. McCague brings more than 35 years' experience as a corporate lawyer specializing in restructuring, M&A and corporate governance.

He served as Managing Partner of Arthur Cox, one of Ireland's leading corporate law firms, from 1999 to 2003, and as Chairman and Senior Partner from 2006 to 2013. McCague officially retired from Arthur Cox in 2017.

In his time at the firm, he worked as client partner to some of its largest clients, including Aer Lingus, Bank of Ireland and PaddyPower. McCague will now lead BlueSnap's newly established EU Board which is responsible for overseeing the company's European operations.

Commenting on his appointment, McCague said: "With more businesses than ever opening their eyes to the advantages of all-in-one payment solutions and the operational benefits this can drive, there's a huge opportunity to transform the way firms do business for the better. I'm delighted to be joining BlueSnap at this exciting time in its growth and proud to be driving this step change across Europe."

In addition to its European expansion, BlueSnap has added three more acquiring banks to its global network of banking partners. This provides customers with local acquiring in more regions, meaning higher authorisation rates and lower costs when selling goods overseas.

Unlike legacy payment providers, BlueSnap has built its own proprietary payment routing technology that ensures transactions go to the bank with the highest likelihood to approve a given transaction at the lowest cost in its network. If, for some reason, a transaction is declined, BlueSnap has automatic failover to other banks.

BlueSnap's All-in-One solution is the market's only truly global payment platform, which supports integrated payments, multiple sales channels (Online & Mobile Checkout, Invoice Payments, Subscriptions, Marketplaces, Manual orders). This gives businesses a single connection to multiple global acquiring banks to achieve more sales with higher conversions  and eliminates cross-border fees. Merchants and ISVs (Integrated Software Vendors) can sell anywhere in the world with just one contract, one integration, one unified account, and receive one payout.

About BlueSnap

BlueSnap provides an All-in-One Payment Platform designed to increase sales and reduce costs for B2B and B2C businesses. Our Platform supports online and mobile sales, marketplaces, subscriptions, invoice payments and manual orders through a virtual terminal. With a single integration to our Platform, businesses can accept any payment with ease. The Platform includes access to 110 payment types, including popular eWallets, built-in world-class fraud prevention to protect sales and detailed analytics to help businesses grow. Based in Waltham, MA, BlueSnap is backed by world-class private equity investors including Great Hill Partners and Parthenon Capital Partners. Learn more at home.bluesnap.com.

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(Natural News) Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is going to war against extremism.

(Article republished from Revolver.news)

On Wednesday, Austin decreed that over the next sixty days, the entire U.S. Armed forces must go through a stand-down period in order to address the supposed shadow army of fascists and racists who fill its ranks.

In the military, stand down orders are commands to every unit in the armed forces to temporarily suspend normal operations and hold assemblies in order to address and discuss a specific issue. In 2013, for instance, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel ordered stand-downs across the globe in order to address sexual assault within the military.

What can we expect this time around? A relevant comparison is the time Starbucks closed all its stores for one day to hold propaganda workshops on racism. Because make no mistake: Propaganda is exactly what will come out of this. The reporting by the press is precisely backwards. Austin is not removing extremism from the militarys ranks. He is imposing it.

As Revolver recently explained, the U.S. military has changed dramatically in the past few years, and most of the biggest shifts involve the DOD imposing left-wing ideology on the military. Promotion up the ranks now requires hitting racial diversity quotas. The new military welcomes with open arms mentally unwell transgender troops, and fast-tracks women into demanding combat roles.

Doubtless many soldiers see all this unfolding and are baffled, horrified, or angry. Some may channel those opinions into politics, which is their right as Americans. They are all still perfectly loyal to the United States, but that wont be enough for the new administration. During his confirmation hearings, Austin vowed to purge racists and extremists from the military.

What might that look like? An exclusive report from Breitbart on Thursday described how special forces were threatened with consequences for embracing extremist symbols likePepe the Frog:

Henry told us that if anyone gets caught wearing, buying, selling, affiliated with in any way, any of those things on those list, that the first thing hes going to do is chapter us out of the Army. The second thing is, hes going to handle the investigation by sending it over to the DHS, the source said. He didnt quite outright say that we would be arrested, he used the word detained.' Some of the imagery on the slides clearly refer to hate symbols, such as a swastika or other Nazi-related symbols. However, also included is Pepe the Frog  an internet meme frequently posted by members of the political right to troll the political left. [Breitbart]

The same article reveals that military leadership also warned soldiers against the OK sign, based on the hysterical liberal belief it is a white nationalist symbol.

This isnt a crusade against extremism. Its a witch hunt for the slightest sign of public dissent from the radical ideological experiment the left is running on the military and the entire country. Defense press secretary John Kirby was inadvertently revealing whenhe recently remarked that There may be cultural issues we have to deal with here.

That is exactly what is going on. There is a proud conservative, nationalist, and traditional culture that has been a part of the U.S. military for its entire history. And that culture represents a threat to the ideological project that is the military of 2021, so it must be marginalized and then stamped out. The impact this will have on military effectiveness is irrelevant; actually winning wars barely matters to the military of 2021.

There is a frightening precedent for all of this: The darkest days of Maos China.

After the Communist victory in the Chinese Civil War, Marshal Peng Dehuai was the countrys first defense minister. Although a committed Communist, Peng was also a professional soldier committed to building a strong Peoples Liberation Army. Peng introduced a proper rank system, promoted skilled commanders rather than Communist political apparatchiks, emphasized discipline and proper training, and opposed the growing personality cult centered on Mao Zedong.

But Pengs professionalism and independence were his downfall. In 1959, Peng was politically isolated and then removed by Mao, who replaced him with the more firmly loyal Lin Biao. Where Peng was committed to the PLAs professionalism, Lin was the exact opposite. He undid many of Pengs useful reforms, solely for political reasons. Rank was abolished as a capitalist artifact. Commanders seen as too friendly to the USSR or insufficiently loyal to Mao were purged. Instead of focusing on military matters, about forty percent of a soldiers time was spent on political matters, being indoctrinated in the arcana of Maoism. Quotations from Chairman Mao Tse-Tung, the infamous Little Red Book that became the worlds best-selling non-religious book, began as a text Lin issued for PLA personnel. Eventually, the PLAs indoctrination efforts led to it being labeled the great school of Mao Zedong Thought, and its methods were promoted within the civilian bureaucracy and wider Chinese society.

A 1964 recruitment guide illustrated how decisively politics governed Lins management of the army:

The selection of grass-roots cadres must guarantee that those born to the families of workers, poor peasants and lower-middle peasants form the majority. It should be guaranteed that about 90 per cent of soldiers selected for promotion to cadres [who] are to be sent to schools come from these three categories of families. No one from the exploiting classes may be selected. In two or three years, those from these three categories of families should make up more than 80 per cent of all grass-roots cadres. When enrolling young students from society to train (as cadres), no one from the exploiting classes can be admitted. When accepting graduates from the civilian universities and colleges, about 90 per cent must come from the laboring classes. Those top secret units are not allowed to accept a single individual from the exploiting classes. [Kondapalli 1999]

Swap out laboring classes and exploiting classes for the modern lefts obsessive racial divisions, and Lins policies bear remarkable resemblance to the new racial quotas that permeate the armed forces.

None of this made the PLA a better force for defending China or defeating its enemies. What it did do is make the army more cohesive as a tool for suppressing internal political enemies, which it has done more than once.

The U.S. government already exhibits a disturbing proclivity for the same methods Lin relied on. When the National Guard was deployed in Washington, D.C. prior to Bidens inauguration, the FBI helped vet 25,000 soldiers for alleged extremism (eventually, at least 12 soldiers were dismissed for unspecified reasons), while a Democratic Congressman went on TV to warn that any Trump voters in the Guards ranks were suspect:

.@RepCohen on his concerns w/ the National Guard securing the Inauguration: The [National] Guard is 90 some-odd percent male; and only about 20 percent of white males voted for Biden  there are probably not more than 25% of the people there protecting us that voted for Biden pic.twitter.com/ofQfLuCw8I  Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) January 18, 2021

The U.S. military is being politicized more every day, and with the Democratic Party holding total control of the levers of power, any vestigial conservatism will be stamped out, in the same way rogue conservatives are already targeted for harassment and humiliation in academia and business.

Of course, what is happening with the military is also happening through the entire United States government. Since public institutions cant go out of business and never have to worry about turning a profit or sustaining a loss, they can behave in an unfathomably ridiculous and self-destructive manners without consequence. When an organization can exist forever thanks to politics rather than for achieving any kind of measurable success, then politics is all it has to worry about.

There is one small reason for optimism, though, pointed out on Twitter by Richard Hanania:

Exciting stuff. Hopefully discredit the military in the eyes of the demographic that tends to join. Best hope of American withdrawal from the world. https://t.co/OiXxvU5A9X  Richard Hanania (@RichardHanania) February 4, 2021

Hanania is right. If the U.S. military can be thoroughly humiliated and discredited, then it may at least stop tricking brave, patriotic Americans from throwing their lives away on never-ending wars on the other side of Earth, on behalf of a regime that has declared them and their families domestic terrorists for supporting free speech, free markets, and free elections. As heartbreaking as it is to see a full consolidation of the U.S. military under the direction of the Globalist American Empire, it could just be a blessing in disguise. Every tragedy is an opportunity for those sharp enough to see it and strong enough to seize it.

Read more at: Revolver.news and BigGovernment.news.
Ithaca, NY--The European House Sparrow has a story to tell about survival in the modern world. In parts of its native range in Europe, House Sparrow numbers are down by nearly 60%. Their fate in the U.S. and Canada is less well known. A new study by Cornell Lab of Ornithology scientists aims to clarify the status of this non-native species, using 21 years of citizen science data from the Cornell Lab's Project FeederWatch. The results are published in the Wilson Journal of Ornithology.

"We wanted to find out where and how much House Sparrows might be declining here," explains lead author Liam Berigan, who did this work while at the Cornell Lab and who is now a Ph.D. student at the University of Maine. "We also explored whether the declines would match up with an increase in hawk populations, as is true in European studies. Surprisingly, they didn't."

FeederWatchers record observations during the non-breeding season when House Sparrows gather in flocks. Reports from nearly 12,500 sites were used and cross-referenced with the National Land Cover database to determine whether the U.S. sightings came from rural or urban locations.

Findings for the U.S. and Canada:

Winter flocks in urban areas were larger than flocks in rural areas.

House Sparrows declined in urban areas but remained stable in rural areas.

The study found that declines in House Sparrow populations were no greater when Sharp-shinned or Cooper's Hawks were also present.

From 1995 to 2016, the proportion of FeederWatch sites reporting House Sparrows declined by 7.5% and mean flock sizes declined by 22%.

House Sparrows were introduced in Brooklyn in 1851. They expanded rapidly to become one of the most common species in the U.S. and Canada. Latest estimates peg the population at 82 million individuals. The global breeding population is estimated at 740 million (Partners in Flight).

"When even a bird as common as the House Sparrow is experiencing population declines, this is probably a reflection on the state of the environment," says Berigan. "In Europe, a lack of urban green space and nesting sites are threats. It's likely some of those same factors are at work in North America and contribute to House Sparrow declines here."

###

Reference:

Liam A. Berigan, Emma I. Greig, David N. Bonter. Urban House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) populations decline in North America. Wilson Journal of Ornithology. February 2021.

The National Political Bureau of the Alliance for the Unity of Romanians (AUR), decided on Wednesday to exclude deputy Mihai Lasca because of the latter's failure to announce the party that he is being prosecuted for organizing a criminal group and convicted for bodily harm, the party announced in a press release, according to AGERPRES.

According to the cited source, the party's National Political Bureau analyzed, on Wednesday, the cases of several parliamentarians whose behavior "harmed the interests and image of the party".

Thus, the AUR leadership decided to exclude Mihai Lasca from the party, because, at the time of his inclusion on the candidate lists, "he failed to present to the party leadership the fact that he is being prosecuted for organizing a criminal group and is criminally convicted for bodily harm."

"His criminal past and dishonest behavior towards his party colleagues make Mr. Lasca incompatible with the AUR principles and values. Starting with the date of this decision, he will exercise his mandate as a deputy outside the AUR group," the cited source specifies.

The political support given to MP Diana Sosoaca Ivanovici was also withdrawn, because "she systematically refused to act, both in Parliament and in the public space, in accordance with the strategy of the AUR senatorial group, as well as with the decisions of the party leadership". Consequently, Diana Sosoaca Ivanovici will exercise her mandate outside the AUR senatorial group, reads the release.

The continuation of the steps for the invalidation of deputy Francisc Toba's mandate is another decision made by the National Political Bureau of AUR.

"For future elections, AUR will establish a much more rigorous system of verification and selection of candidates, through which it will no longer be possible to elect to public office persons incompatible with the law or the values of AUR and who do not act in accordance with the decisions of the party's leadership bodies," the release further states.
Aegon Life Insurance, Indias first digital-only life insurance company, elevated Satishwar Balakrishnan to be the Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer (MD & CEO). Satishwar, who joined the company in July 2019 as Chief Financial Officer, will spearhead Aegon Lifes transformation into a digital-only life insurance company.

Under Satishwars leadership, the company has defined a new vision to be at the forefront of the digital insurance wave and use technology to redefine its strategy. By simplifying the customer experience and digitizing all processes, the company is set to become entirely contactless, from policy issuance, to claims, settlement and renewal.

Satishwar Balakrishnan, on his appointment, commented, I am pleased to lead a company that is well positioned to continue to invest in its long-term growth plan. We are pivoting our strategy towards the digital future, taking forward our focus on digitization which started in 2016. We are transforming to become Indias first and leading digital-only life insurance provider and I am glad to be a part of this exciting phase of the company.

Our pioneering foray into digital has been validated over the years and especially in the current scenario where the rest of the industry is now shifting its focus on digital processes. My focus will be on advancing our Do-it-yourself insurance solutions and make them available at affordable costs and to make our entire insurance portfolio a one-click solution for our customers, added Balakrishnan on his new role.

Satishwar brings with him a rich experience of close to two decades in the Insurance and Finance Industry. Prior to joining Aegon Life, he has worked with IndiaFirst Life, Reliance Life and ICICI Prudential Life. He is a Chartered Accountant by qualification.
Nsukka  A decomposing body of a 98-year-old woman identified as Oyibo Ogidi, was discovered Tuesday morning at her Amafor residence in Ovoko, Igbo-Eze South Local Government Area of Enugu State.

The childless woman, according to family sources, was last seen on Friday when she visited her ailing brother in the neighbourhood.

A son of the deceased's brother, Victor Onyeke, who confirmed this development to Vanguard said the family got the news of her death through a community source who, having perceived an unpleasant odour from the deceased's residence, went close and discovered her dead body.

Onyeke further said that the hoodlums, after stabbing her dead on the neck, covered her face with her clothing, before carting away with her handset and other valuables. He further said that apart from the deep cut in her neck, all her body parts were intact.

He also said "She lived alone in her apartment because she didn't bear any child. When we got the news of her death, we were shocked because she was not sick. We rushed to her residence only to discover that her decomposing body was already smelling.

"I discovered that her face was covered with clothing, however, when I uncovered her, I noticed that she was stabbed on the neck region and left to die in the pool of her blood. It was such a shocking revelation.

"At that point, we rushed to the Igbo-Eze South Police Division to make our report about her death.

"After the inspection of her remains, the policemen who came with us confirmed that she was murdered and vowed to fish out the perpetrators.

"Her remains have been deposited at the Bishop Shanahan Mortuary in Nsukka metropolis," he explained.

Meanwhile, members of the community who spoke to Vanguard on the condition of anonymity expressed worry over recurrent cases of murder in the rustic community. They recalled that a 55-year-old man, identified as Joseph Ogbonna was equally murdered in his sleep in the same community, April last year.

They called on both state and local governments to come to their aid and restore sanity to the community, adding that they no longer sleep with both eyes closed.

Vanguard News Nigeria
Washington: The first day of Donald Trumps Senate impeachment trial began with an unforced error from the members of his legal team, who were widely derided for their unfocused and unpersuasive opening presentation.

The Democratic impeachment managers went on the offensive on day two, laying out their case that Trump incited the January 6 assault on the US Capitol and must be convicted by the Senate and disqualified from holding future office.

A video from Donald Trump is paired with police body cam footage, as it is shown to senators on the first full day of Trumps second impeachment trial. Credit:Senate TV/AP

Democratic Party staffers talked a big game in the lead-up to the first full day of the trial on Thursday (AEDT) by briefing reporters: We have the goods, we will be presenting the goods.

The centrepiece of their presentation, the staffers told reporters, was never-before-seen footage that would provide new insights into the extent of what Donald Trump unleashed on our Capitol.
Fairbanks, AK (99707)

Today

Mostly cloudy skies this morning will become partly cloudy this afternoon. High 68F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Partly cloudy this evening with more clouds for overnight. Low 46F. Winds light and variable.

congress.gov via Getty ImagesBy JOHN PARKINSON, ABC News



(WASHINGTON) -- Rep. Stacey Plaskett's life journey has taken her from the housing projects in Brooklyn, New York, to a historic role in the Senate impeachment trial against former President Donald Trump.



Plaskett, a delegate from the U.S. Virgin Islands, is one of nine Democrats tasked with prosecuting the House's impeachment case against Trump. On Wednesday afternoon, Plaskett presented new evidence in the impeachment trial - showing previously unreleased videos of the riot at the Capitol on Jan. 6, contending Trump "fanned the flame of violence, and it worked."



"I want to show you why this violence was foreseeable and why Donald Trump was different than any other politician just telling their fighters -- their supporters, to fight for something. The violence that occurred on Jan. 6, like the attack itself, did not just appear," Plaskett said Wednesday. "You'll see that Donald Trump knew the people he was inciting, he saw the violence that they were capable of, and he had a pattern and practice of praising and encouraging that violence, never, ever condemning it."



Plaskett is a former law student of lead impeachment manager Rep. Jamie Raskin, who was a constitutional law professor at American University. As he introduced her Wednesday afternoon as the first delegate to participate in a Senate trial, Raskin reflected that introducing Plaskett during the Senate trial is "a moment of special pride for me."



"I hope I'm not violating any records or laws saying she was an A student then and an A+ student now," Raskin quipped.



Plaskett, who grew up in Brooklyn and a housing community on Saint Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands, said she was a congressional staffer during the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.



"My office was on the west front of the Capitol, I worked in the Capitol and I was on the House side. This year is 20 years since the attacks of Sept. 11 and almost every day, I remember 44 Americans gave their lives to stop the plane headed to this Capitol building. I thanked them every day for saving my life and the lives of so many others."



Plaskett, a mother of five, sheltered in her office during the siege on the Capitol.



"The chilling evidence shows that Jan. 6, armed and organized insurrectionists trained their sights on Speaker Pelosi," she said. "They sought out the speaker on the floor and in her office, publicly declared their intent to harm or kill her, ransacked her office, and terrorized her staff. And they did it because Donald Trump sent them on this mission."



Copyright  2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
Maharashtra governor waited in the VIP plane before the pilot informed him that the permission to fly wasn't cleared yet, following which Koshyari took a commercial flight to Dehradun

Mumbai: Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari was scheduled to travel by a state government plane to Dehradun in Uttarakhand on Thursday, but permission was not granted for the flight, sources said.

"The governor later took a commercial flight to travel to Dehradun," they said.

When asked about it, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar told reporters in Mumbai that he had no clue and will be able to comment after gathering information. However, the opposition BJP in the state demanded an apology from the Uddhav Thackeray-led government over this.

According to the sources, Koshyari was to leave for Dehradun from Mumbai at 10 am. "The governor has to attend a programme in Mussoorie on Friday. He was scheduled to go to Dehradun first and from there, he was to travel to Mussoorie," the sources said.

"Accordingly, a state government plane was booked earlier. But, the permission did not come till the last moment," a source claimed. "Normally, governors do not wait for the permission to come. He sat in the aircraft. The pilot then said the permission was not given yet," the source said.

The governor's office later booked a seat in a private aircraft and he left for Dehradun at around 12.15 pm, the sources said.

When asked about it, the state deputy chief minister said, "I have no clue about this. I will take details on reaching the Mantralaya (state secretariat) and only then will be able to say anything."

Meanwhile, former Maharashtra minister and senior BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar said the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA-comprising the Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress) government should apologise for "insulting" the governor.

If the state government has purposely denied permission, it is a "blot" on the state's reputation, he said. "If this embarrassment is not intentional, then the state government should suspend the official who failed to issue the flying permission in time to the governor," he said.

"The government should apologise and avoid further escalation of the issue," Mungantiwar said.

Notably, state Congress chief Nana Patole on Wednesday said the MVA government has decided to move court over the 'delay' by the governor in the appointment of nominated members to the Legislative Council.

The Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress coalition government had recommended 12 names for appointment to the Council under the governor's quota to Koshyari in the first week of November last year.

However, BJP leader and former Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday said it was the governor's prerogative to approve or reject names recommended by the state government.
NEW DELHI: With the Government warning Twitter for not complying with its orders to take down certain content and that it needs to obey local laws, several leading politicians and lawmakers have started rallying against the micro-blogging platform and urged their followers to switch to the home-grown Koo App - an Indian rival to Twitter.

All this began after the government ordered Twitter to remove more than 1,100 accounts and posts that it alleges are spreading misinformation about the widespread protests by the farmers against new agricultural laws.

Twitter has irked Prime Minister Narendra Modis government after it said in a blog post ton Wednesday that it had not fully complied with the governments order because it believed some of the take-down orders were not consistent with the local law.

"In keeping with our principles of defending protected speech and freedom of expression, we have not taken any action on accounts that consist of news media entities, journalists, activists, and politicians," it said. The IT Ministry, via a post on rival platform Koo, said late on Wednesday that its top official had expressed "strong displeasure" over Twitters actions to its top officials.

"Twitter is free to formulate its own rules and guidelines," the government said. "But Indian laws which are enacted by the Parliament of India must be followed irrespective of Twitter`s own rules and guidelines," it added.

The IT secretary expressed his deep disappointment over the manner in which the company had "unwillingly, grudgingly and with great delay" complied with only parts of the governments orders, the government statement said.

Twitters moves to defy the governments orders have put the company and its executives at the centre of a political firestorm. New Delhi has previously threatened legal action which could result in fines or imprisonment for Twitter executives responsible for implementing government directives. It also comes after Twitter`s top lobbyist in India, Mahima Kaul, resigned while the company scrambles to contain a growing public relations crisis.

Indian MPs spark exodus to rival Koo

For Twitter, the stakes are high in India, where it had 17.5 million users as of last month, according to German database firm Statista. It is also ardently used by PM Narendra Modi, his Cabinet ministers and other leaders to communicate with the public.

As the row takes a toll on Twitter, many leading Indian politicians and users are joining the home-grown Twitter-like social media platform Koo, which was launched last year.

#kooapp was the top Twitter trend in India on Wednesday with nearly 21,000 posts, followed by #BanTwitter. Twitter, however, declined to comment about some users migrating to Koo. Several people on Twitter, including Trade Minister Piyush Goyal, have posted tweets this week saying "I am now on Koo".

I am now on Koo. Connect with me on this Indian micro-blogging platform for real-time, exciting and exclusive updates. Let us exchange our thoughts and ideas on Koo. Join me: https://t.co/zIL6YI0epM pic.twitter.com/REGioTdMfm  Piyush Goyal (@PiyushGoyal) February 9, 2021

Goyal, who has 9.6 million Twitter followers, has a pinned tweet asking people to connect with him on the rival Indian platform.

Sambit Patra, a national spokesman for Modis ruling party, and its head of IT Amit Malviya also joined Koo on Wednesday. Koo, which has a yellow bird as its logo, said downloads have surged 10-fold in the past two days to over 3 million.

"The last 48 hours have seen the largest number of sign-ups," Koos co-founder Mayank Bidawatka told Reuters. "Ive slept for two hours in the last few days."

The BJP National General Secretary BL Santosh, too, posted a tweet reminding Twitter that it had to adhere to the country's rules.

You state that you are platform . Then you decide what to delete & what not . You have to act acc to law of land . You cant have your own rules . The country is governed based on Constitution not some corporate rules . https://t.co/zHmdv4eC60  B L Santhosh (@blsanthosh) February 10, 2021

"It (Twitter) is picking and choosing what law to follow and what not to...Requesting @GoI_MeitY to act stringently," BJP's emerging star and Bengaluru South MP, Tejasvi Surya tweeted today.

Twitter seems to hold itself above the laws of the Indian State. It is picking and choosing what law to follow and what not to. I had raised this issue in Zero Hour in Lok Sabha yesterday, but zero hour wasnt taken up yesterday. Requesting @GoI_MeitY to act stringently. https://t.co/jGbtzqj84y  Tejasvi Surya (@Tejasvi_Surya) February 10, 2021

Meanwhile, National Conference vice-president Omar Abdullah said on Wednesday that Twitter would be a nicer place if the shift of its users to Indian micro-blogging site 'Koo' gathers pace.

"Twitter will be a much nicer place if the move to Koo picks up pace," Abdullah wrote on Twitter. In the past few days, several central ministers like Ravi Shankar Prasad and Piyush Goyal have been promoting Koo.

Koo App is a Twitter look-alike developed by a Bengaluru-based startup. Government units like the NITI Aayog, too, have logged on to this platform.

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Australian Survivor is headed to Queensland -but moves inland to Cloncurry rather than an island setting.

The 10 series has attracted $3.9 million in funding from the Morrison Governments Location Incentive Program.

Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts, the Hon Paul Fletcher MP, said the production is expected to inject more than $29 million into regional Australia.

Australian Survivor was one of the many worldrenowned productions jeopardised by the COVID-19 pandemic, which is why we are pleased to provide $3.9 million to get the series back on our screens in 2021, Minister Fletcher said.

Local production of the shows sixth season will support businesses in regional Queensland and create 150 employment opportunities for local crew, providing a major boost to the Australian economy.

Beverley McGarvey, Chief Content Officer and EVP of ViacomCBS Australia & New Zealand, said: Rich in history, the town with a heart of gold has a lot to offer and we are thrilled we will be able to showcase Cloncurry and all its natural beauty. With thanks to the Australian Governments Location Incentive Program, we look forward to working with the local community to bring Australian Survivor to life.

Endemol Shine Australia CEO, Peter Newman said, We are delighted to be bringing Survivor home onto Australian soil with the help of the Australian Governments Location Incentive Program. We look forward to working with the local community of Cloncurry to bring their unique and stunning landscape to Australian and international audiences. This is an exciting new chapter for the Australian format.

The production will also work with training institutions, including the Australian Film, Television and Radio School to provide mentorships for emerging talent.

Cloncurry was a hot spot on Burke and Wills inland expedition back in 1861, the birthplace of the Royal Flying Doctors service and is situated next door to ghost town Mary Kathleen. 10 notes the landscape includes iconic red dirt, towering rock formations and spectacular fresh water dams.

The Location Incentive is available for footloose productions, defined as those that would not be expected to film in Australia in the absence of funding support.

Filming is due to begin in coming months and will screen later this year.

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Kathmandu, February 10

The Ministry of Health and Population has informed that the countrys Covid-19 tally has reached 272,349 as of Wednesday afternoon.

The ministry says 134 new cases were confirmed in the country in the past 24 hours. 65 cases were reported in the Valley.

In this period, 3,567 swab samples were tested. So far, 2 million and 104,626 people have been tested in the country.

As of today, 1,753 cases are active.

Of the total cases so far, 268,549 people have achieved recovery whereas 2,047 died, according to the ministry. In the past 24 hours, 118 people have been recovered whereas no deaths have been reported.

Over 50 people are quarantined across the country.
Former Nairobi governor Mike Sonko wants court to bar security agencies from charging him with terrorism and instituting criminal cases against him based on his past conduct.

In a petition lodged at the High Court in Milimani on Wednesday, Mr Sonko wants court to order for his release from "illegal detention" and block his prosecution for "trumped up charges".

He says it will be abuse of the criminal justice system, against public interest and legally frivolous for the police to resurrect cases that they have ignored for more than two decades.

The politician says he is aware that in addition to resurrecting old cases, the State has also reactivated new cases on corruption involving AAR medical insurance contract, assault, forcible entry and terrorism.

He argues that the State want to use the cases to detain him for more than 30 days in unlawful custody arguing that he was spotted wearing a military fatigue, while those clothes are easily available at Gikomba, Eastleigh, Mutindwa, Ngara and Kenyatta Markets.

"The primary objective in resurrecting these cases is to achieve a political outcome of extinguishing my political career as opposed to the criminal objective of prosecuting cases for public interest," he says while describing himself as a well-known politician having been elected as Member of Parliament, Senator and Governor.

He says his current troubles is out of the comments he made at public rallies about 'certain individuals who are currently holding public and State offices' and the charges preferred against him are politically driven with intention to harass and intimidate him.

"My comments were meant to enlighten the Kenyan public with respect to the characteristics of those people who were holding the public and State offices. My comments riled and angered those people," he says without giving names of the said individuals.

Upon his arrest on February 1, he says he was shocked to be arraigned in court with charges not related to the accusations that he had been summoned for at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).

The summons indicated that he was to be questioned for the offence of undermining a public officer.

"I have heard that I am to be charged with terrorism offences which I consider to be absurd," he says.

He reminds court that since 2009 when he was elected Makadara MP to August 2017 when finished his term as Senator, he was enjoying protection by State bodyguards.

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After he became governor in August 2017, Mr Sonko says the government enhanced his safety by deploying more than 20 body guards including two police officers from the Recce Squad who ordinarily protect the President.

"Absurdity of the claim (on terrorism) is that how could I have been conducting acts of terrorism in the presence of all those police officers. My homes in Nairobi, Machakos and Mombasa were all protected by police officers. The question that calls for answers is why the government could invest a lot of resources in protecting a political terrorist. Where was the intelligence network?" he questions.

Mr Sonko adds that his arrest pertaining to the charges of assault, incitement and terrorism and other penal offences is meant to overwhelm him and induce him to submission.

The petition indicates that he is confined in a maximum security facility where the process to visit and seeing is riddled with bureaucratic procedures which are time wasting and unnecessary.

He wants court to issue an order for his release pending the hearing of his petition because he is not in good health. The petition is awaiting directions. He has listed the Inspector General of Police, Director of Public Prosecutions and the Attorney General as respondents, respectively.
First Minister Arlene Foster and Finance Minister Conor Murphy pictured during a press conference in Dungannon this afternoon.

The First Minister Arlene Foster and Finance Minister Conor Murphy pictured during a press conference in Dungannon this afternoon. Photos by Kelvin Boyes / Press Eye.

First Minister Arlene Foster says the curve of coronavirus infection has been pushed down "across all of the health indicators", hailing it as a "significant achievement".

This means that fewer people are catching Covid-19 and fewer patients are needing to be hospitalised or require intensive care support, so more lives are being saved.

Speaking at the weekly Executive press conference in Dungannon, Mrs Foster said the R number is "steadily below 1" in the community, "probably between 0.75 and 0.85".

She described the daily case number of 253, and hospital inpatients falling to 518 from 746 a week ago and the numbers of Covid patients being treated in ICU falling below 60, as "another gradual but positive step forward".

The DUP leader added that the numbers show "we can disrupt the path of this virus but it is still with us".

She said: "The weeks ahead will continue to be difficult but we are right to remain hopeful and have the expectation of better days ahead."

Mrs Foster said a quarter of all adults in Northern Ireland will have received a first dose of a coronavirus vaccination by the weekend, which she described as "excellent progress" and a "significant milestone".

She said next week will be a "key decision point" when the coronavirus regulations will be reviewed.

"We need to see the numbers as low as possible so that we can safely plan for gradually emerging from the lockdown. We all want to see an end of the restrictions but we must approach that with care so we don't lose the gains that we have made," she added.

Appearing alongside Mrs Foster, Finance Minister Conor Murphy also hailed evidence that the pandemic is "beginning to decline".

"Any changes to the restrictions of our behaviours will cause the pandemic to escalate so the restrictions do remain necessary and the actions of the public are still crucially important. The Executive are looking forward to the next phase of our response. There is a collective focus on a managed recovery guided by the medical and the scientific advice," he said.

It comes as a further nine people in Northern Ireland have died after testing positive for Covid-19 and 253 new cases of the virus have been reported.

This brings the death toll to 1,966 and the total number of confirmed cases since the outbreak to 108,027. Some 2,377 people have tested positive in the last seven days.

Of the nine fatalities, eight happened within the current reporting period, from 10am on Wednesday to 10am on Thursday, while the remaining death occurred previously.

Read More

There are currently 518 Covid patients in hospitals across Northern Ireland, with 58 in intensive care and 53 requiring ventilation. Hospitals are operating at 95% occupancy.

A total of 80 care homes are dealing with outbreaks of the virus.

Earlier Health Minister Robin Swann revealed that the Kent variant of coronavirus now accounts for between 40% and 60% of new cases here.

He said the evidence is starting to show that the restrictions introduced after Christmas have had a positive impact in reducing both Covid cases and hospital admissions.

Read More

Mr Swann added that the R rate has dropped below one, compared to early January when it was between 1.5 and 1.9, however it may now have "stabilised and stagnated" - meaning hospital occupancy rates my begin to fall more slowly.

He reiterated the comments he made on Wednesday, that it will be a matter of "baby steps" getting out of lockdown.
NEW ORLEANS, Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- A new campaign featuring a series of community conversations focused on key issues will begin in New Orleans this month, as part of a new community-led effort designed to inspire conversation and action and help make New Orleans a child-centered city.

I am New Orleans, developed in partnership with more than 30 community organizations and supported by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, provides a platform for residents, leaders and stakeholders to powerfully unite to advance racial equity across six key areas: maternal and child health, workforce, food, early childhood education, opportunities and challenges facing young men and boys of color, and generational change.

Community organizations  including the New Orleans Business Alliance, Nola Baby Cafe', Ashe Cultural Arts Center and others (see full list here)  are engaged in leading select conversations, promoting this locally-focused campaign and encouraging others to drive solutions.

The campaign kicks off with its first virtual discussion about equitable economic development at 1 p.m. CT Feb. 24, and the release of a video capturing the voice and vision of community leaders. To learn more about the campaign or register for the event, go to IamNewOrleansVoices.com .

"We're excited to support timely and action-focused conversations around racial equity that bring community voices together to visualize and realize a city where all children and their families can thrive," said Rhea Williams-Bishop, director of Mississippi and New Orleans programs at the Kellogg Foundation.

Asali DeVan Ecclesiastes, executive director at Ashe Cultural Arts Center, said she hopes the community sees themselves in these stories and conversations and adds to the dialog using #IamNewOrleans on social media.

"We want I Am New Orleans to inspire action and encourage collaboration among the community in working toward a more equitable city for our future," said Ecclesiastes. "The possibilities are endless when we join together on a common goal for our children."

Story continues

The year-long project can be found at IamNewOrleansVoices.com and will include topical videos and live conversations featuring groundbreaking leaders and activists in the community.

"Throughout 2021, this opportunity to uplift New Orleans' voices across several events will advance the progress across the various focus areas positively impacting generations to come," said Troy Glover, director at the Center for Employment Opportunities in New Orleans.

CBS-affiliate WWL-TV 4 in New Orleans will help promote the I am New Orleans conversations, deepening their reporting on racial equity issues, specifically around the opportunities and challenges facing young men and boys of color and maternal and child health.

"We're thrilled to bring I am New Orleans conversations to the forefront of the news cycle, providing greater insight into the current state of the city and sharing how community partners can move forward as one to achieve equity and expanded opportunity," said Tod Smith, president and general manager, WWL-TV/WUPL-TV.

Follow along with the project's scheduled events at IamNewOrleansVoices.com and on WKKF's social platforms (Twitter @WK_Kellogg_Fdn; Facebook @KelloggFoundation; Instagram @kelloggfoundation) and using the hashtag #IamNewOrleans.

About the W.K. Kellogg Foundation

The W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF), founded in 1930 as an independent, private foundation by breakfast cereal innovator and entrepreneur, Will Keith Kellogg, is among the largest philanthropic foundations in the United States. Guided by the belief that all children should have an equal opportunity to thrive, WKKF works with communities to create conditions for vulnerable children so they can realize their full potential in school, work and life.



The Kellogg Foundation is based in Battle Creek, Michigan, and works throughout the United States and internationally, as well as with sovereign tribes. Special emphasis is paid to priority places where there are high concentrations of poverty and where children face significant barriers to success. WKKF priority places in the U.S. are in Michigan, Mississippi, New Mexico and New Orleans; and internationally, are in Mexico and Haiti.

Following New Orleans' recovery from Hurricane Katrina, WKKF in 2008 named the city a priority place for its investments for at least a generation and has staffed offices in the Central City.

For more information, visit www.wkkf.org.

Cision

View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/wk-kellogg-foundation-and-30-community-partners-launch-i-am-new-orleans-campaign-to-create-a-more-equitable-future-for-its-children-and-families-301226347.html

SOURCE W.K. Kellogg Foundation
Violence book ends the first two decades of the century. First, the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001 claimed the lives of almost 3,000 innocents. Secondly, the 6 January 2021 storming of the US Capitol took its own unique toll on American life. Though vastly different, 9/11 and 1/6 both hit us hard.

In over four decades Ive lived in Washington, no other events so dramatically impacted the daily life of people in my city. They left us stunned, violated and vulnerable. In the wake of each attacks, we witnessed unprecedented security measures that left parts of Washington looking as though we were under military control. What we had taken for granted could not be longer assured.

A significant difference between the two attacks was the reaction of lawmakers and political leaders. Because the perpetrators of 9/11 were foreigners and the death toll was so staggering, Americans were generally unified. In response to the state of insecurity, Democrats and Republicans in Congress joined forces to expand the reach of law enforcement. In many cases, this meant violating constitutionally protected rights while contributing little to protecting Americans from future attacks.

In the process, thousands of Arab and Muslim immigrants were deported without due process. Thousands more were profiled, denied access to flights, and lost employment and housing opportunities. And the door was opened to intrusive and unwarranted surveillance of Arab citizens and residents  with bipartisan support.

After an exhaustive investigation, a congressionally created commission concluded that the terrorists were not homegrown but were sent here on an evil mission to take the lives of as many Americans as possible. They kept largely to themselves and had no domestic support base. It also became clear that, had the various US intelligence agencies communicated with one another, they might have been able to avert the disaster.

Instead of placing the blame where it belonged, Republicans and Democrats continued to support legislation and practices that singled out Arabs and Muslims, however  as if they had been the cause of the attacks. As a result, many in these communities lived in fear, feeling that segments of the larger public had become suspicious of them. Hate crimes multiplied, as did acts of outright discrimination.

During the decade after 9/11, accelerating after Barack Obamas election, the GOP continued to prey on this fear of Arabs and Muslims, exploiting it as a partisan issue in successive election cycles. It was the Republicans growing use of anti-Muslim sentiment that paved the way for Donald Trumps xenophobic campaign for the presidency.

Unlike 9/11, the 1/6 insurrection and violent assault on the Capitol was a domestic affair  with several far right and anti-government militias coordinating it. As we now know, law enforcement anticipated violence before the inauguration, but appeared unprepared for the magnitude of disruption. As throngs of violent rioters stormed the building, officials were slow to respond, leaving the ill-equipped Capitol police to fend for themselves.

It was traumatising to witness scenes of armed thugs storming the halls of Congress, shattering windows to gain entrance, vandalising offices, beating police and terrorising members. Even more shocking was the fact that this violent insurrection was incited by the president, his son, his attorney and congressmen with the express purpose of overturning the results of the election.

After the National Guard and several area police departments arrived on the scene, the Capitol was cleared, leaving in its wake five dead and dozens wounded as well as significant property damage, and a nation in shock. In the aftermath of this violent insurrection, some guardsmen remained deployed to secure the Capitol and other federal sites.

Despite the trauma of seeing a symbol of our democracy under attack, initial indications of national unity were short-lived. Republicans who supported Trumps claim of electoral fraud initially recoiled in horror at the violence and condemned the former presidents behaviour. A few days later, however, these same partisans were once again backing Trump. While 9/11 brought us together, 1/6 appears to have done the opposite.

After 9/11, I was struck by how many commentators and political leaders foolishly claimed that the terrorist attack posed an existential threat to our country. That was nonsense. Neither Al-Qaedas ideology nor the attacks massive toll ever challenged our guiding values. If anything, it was the discriminatory counterterrorism policies driving our endless war on terror that posed the existential threat to our country. More disturbing is how rarely the term existential threat is used to describe the assault on our democracy by Republican politicians and white supremacist thugs  when that is exactly what it was.

With 70 per cent of Trump voters still believing the election results were fraudulent and little, if any, repercussions for those who incited the violent insurrection seeking to overturn the results of a lawful election, we are facing an existential crisis of historic proportions. With 9/11, our security and rights were put at risk. With 1/6, it is our very democracy that is threatened.

The writer is president of the Arab American Institute.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 11 February , 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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TORONTO, Feb. 11, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- (TSX: PFIA) Picton Mahoney Asset Management announced today that it has declared the February 2021 monthly cash distribution of $0.0276 per unit for the ETF units (ETF Units) of the Picton Mahoney Fortified Income Alternative Fund. Unitholders of record of the ETF Units, at the close of business on February 19, 2021, will receive a per-unit cash distribution payable on February 26, 2021.



About Picton Mahoney Asset Management

Picton Mahoney Asset Management specializes in differentiated investment solutions and rules-based volatility management. Picton Mahoney helps its clients fortify their portfolios based on experience honed over the years through different market cycles and investing environments.

Founded in 2004 and 100% employee-owned, Picton Mahoney is a portfolio management boutique entrusted with over $8.2 billion (as at December 31, 2020) in assets under management. Pioneers of Authentic Hedge investment principles and practices in Canada, the firm offers a full suite of investment solutions, including mutual and alternative funds, to institutional and retail investors across the country.

Commissions, trailing commissions, management fees, performance fees and expenses all may be associated with mutual fund investments. Please read the prospectus before investing. Mutual funds are not guaranteed, their values change frequently, and past performance may not be repeated. Alternative funds can only be purchased through a registered dealer and are available only in those jurisdictions where they may be lawfully offered for sale.

For further information please contact:

Arthur Galloway

Picton Mahoney Asset Management

Tel: (416) 955-4108

Web site: www.pictonmahoney.com

Email: service@pictonmahoney.com
TORONTO - Police say a man has been charged after he presented a fraudulent negative COVID-19 test result to officials at Toronto's Pearson International Airport.

People line up and check in for an international flight at Pearson International airport during the COVID-19 pandemic in Toronto on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2020. Police say a man has been charged after he presented a fraudulent negative COVID-19 test result to officials at Toronto's Pearson International Airport. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

TORONTO - Police say a man has been charged after he presented a fraudulent negative COVID-19 test result to officials at Toronto's Pearson International Airport.

Police say it happened Monday evening at one of the airport's Canada Border Services Agency checkpoints.

They say the man's test result was, in fact, positive.

The accused, a 29-year-old from Stratford, Ont., is charged with using a forged document.

He is due in court on April 19.

Police say he has been taken to a hotel to quarantine.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 10, 2021.
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itel's strategy to move mobile user base from 2G to 4G With around 350 million mobile phone users in India yet to migrate from 2G to 4G network, Transsion India's flagship brand itel is poised to dive into a vast pool of opportunities. CMR insights indicated that the brand is already a leader in the sub Rs 5-7k segment. Read More...

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Disney+ Hotstar's Anupam Gurani joins Lead School as CMO Edtech platform Lead School has onboarded Anupam Gurani as chief marketing officer. He will be responsible for the overall marketing strategy, strengthen the brand reach, and drive accelerated business growth in existing and new markets as well as category management segments. Read More...

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PayNearby revamps brand identity to showcase its 'Zidd Aage Badhne Ki' In line with its vision to create a digitally one nation and connect Bharat with India through financial empowerment at the last mile, PayNearby has unveiled its new brand identity. The company introduced its new brand logo and brand slogan, Zidd Aage Badhne Ki. Read More...

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Aegon Life Insurance elevates Satishwar Balakrishnan as MD & CEO Aegon Life Insurance has elevated Satishwar Balakrishnan to be the managing director & chief executive officer. Balakrishnan, who joined the company in July 2019 as chief financial officer, will spearhead Aegon Life's transformation into a digital-only life insurance company. Read More...

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Booking.com gives a peek into #FutureOfTravel 2020 put a leash on the wanderlust in most of us, as the travel industry came to a standstill amidst the Covid19 pandemic. It was a year of learning for many, as it reminded us to cherish the things we love, including travel. Read More...
Surge Covid testing will be rolled out in Staffordshire after a case of the South Africa variant was detected in a resident with no links to international travel.

The mutant coronavirus strain  which has now been spotted 202 times across the UK  was discovered during routine lab screening after the person tested positive for coronavirus in January.

Stafford Borough Council said there is no evidence of the variant circulating widely in the community, and that the unwell person has since recovered.

Officials added that contact tracing has established they had no known contact with people in their local area whilst infectious, and no links to other areas with known cases of the South Africa variant.

There are fears that vaccines being dished out in Britain are less effective at stopping people becoming ill with the South African variant, after studies indicated they don't block the mutant strain as well as other types of the virus.

But scientists are confident they will still be potent enough to reduce Covid to 'the sniffles' and prevent vaccinated people from being hospitalised or dying  which is their main purpose.

There are now six variants of coronavirus being investigated by Public Health England, five of which have already been found in the UK

Surge Covid testing will be rolled out in Staffordshire after a case of the South Africa variant was detected in a resident with no links to international travel. Pictured: Testing in Lancashire today

The council is now advising everyone in the Stafford borough area to take a Covid tested over the next four weeks, as part of efforts to identify any further cases of the variant.

Dr Nic Coetzee, a consultant in communicable disease control for Public Health England Midlands, said: 'With new variants emerging all the time and spreading more rapidly, it is not surprising that a case of the South African variant has been found in Staffordshire.

'While there is currently no evidence of the South African variant circulating in the community, we want to be proactive in testing people and stopping the spreading of infection.

Surge testing  which involves local officials going door-to-door  has already been deployed in dozens of areas of England in order to sniff out cases of troublesome variants.

For example, extra swabs were dished out to Bristol last week because of a cluster of cases of the Kent variant that had picked up a new mutation also found in the South African strain.

Kent Covid variant is 'going to sweep the world', top UK scientist claims The Kent coronavirus variant may become the most dominant strain in the world, the director of the UK's genetic surveillance programme claimed today. More than 50 countries have already spotted the mutant B.1.1.7 strain, which evolved to become more infectious than the original virus. Professor Sharon Peacock, head of the Covid-19 Genomics UK (Cog-UK) Consortium said the variant 'is going to sweep the world, in all probability'. It is already the dominant strain across the UK but all the evidence suggests current vaccines work against it. But there are fears the variant has started to mutate further to become more like the one that evolved in South Africa, which is better able to resist immunity developed by past infection or from the current vaccines. Professor Peacock said her work sequencing variants could be needed for at least 10 years. Advertisement

'This is a timely reminder to everyone to continue to follow the rules, stay at home, and if they do have essential reasons to leave their home then get tested regularly.'

Community testing for people without symptoms is available seven days a week in every borough and district, and the county council plans to offer additional testing capacity and screening for the variant in Stafford borough.

Dr Richard Harling, the county council's director of health and care said: 'In Staffordshire we are asking everyone who has a legitimate reason for being out and about during lockdown, to make sure they get tested at least weekly at one of our community testing centres for people without symptoms.

'We know that one in three people who have the virus show no symptoms, and this will help us identify more people with Covid who should be isolating, which will help stop the spread of infection.

'In the case of residents who test positive in Stafford borough, we will also check to see whether they have the South African variant.'

The South African variant of coronavirus, known as B.1.351, has mutations on its outer spike proteins that change the shape of the virus in a way that makes it look different to the body than older versions of the virus.

Because the immune system's antibodies are so specific, any change in the part of the virus that they attach to  in this case the spikes  can affect how well they can do so.

Current vaccines have been developed using versions of the virus from a year ago, which didn't have the mutations the South African variant does, so scientists are worried the immunity they create won't be good enough to stop it.

Research published last week claimed that the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine  the main jab being used in Britain's mammoth inoculation drive  appears to only have a 'minimal effect' against the variant.

A study of 2,000 people by the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg found that two doses of the jab may only offer 10-20 per cent protection against mild or moderate Covid.

The study was controversial, however  nobody in the test group developed severe Covid but the researchers said this 'could not be assessed in this study as the target population were at such low risk'. Participants' average age was 31 and they were otherwise healthy.

Scientists working on the vaccine said they still believe it will be protective at cutting the risk of severe illness and death, however.

Oxford and AstraZeneca said they are already working on a booster jab targeted at the South African variant and that it will be ready by autumn.

WHY ARE SCIENTISTS SO SCARED OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN VARIANT? Real name: B.1.351 When and where was it discovered? Scientists first noticed in December 2020 that the variant, named B.1.351, was genetically different in a way that could change how it acts. It was picked up through random genetic sampling of swabs submitted by people testing positive for the virus, and was first found in Nelson Mandela Bay, around Port Elizabeth. What mutations did scientists find? There are two key mutations on the South African variant that appear to give it an advantage over older versions of the virus  these are called N501Y and E484K. Both are on the spike protein of the virus, which is a part of its outer shell that it uses to stick to cells inside the body, and which the immune system uses as a target. They appear to make the virus spread faster and may give it the ability to slip past immune cells that have been made in response to a previous infection or a vaccine. What does N501Y do? N501Y changes the spike in a way which makes it better at binding to cells inside the body. This means the viruses have a higher success rate when trying to enter cells when they get inside the body, meaning that it is more infectious and faster to spread. This corresponds to a rise in the R rate of the virus, meaning each infected person passes it on to more others. N501Y is also found in the Kent variant found in England, and the two Brazilian variants of concern  P.1. and P.2. What does E484K do? The E484K mutation found on the South African variant is more concerning because it tampers with the way immune cells latch onto the virus and destroy it. Antibodies  substances made by the immune system  appear to be less able to recognise and attack viruses with the E484K mutation if they were made in response to a version of the virus that didn't have the mutation. Antibodies are extremely specific and can be outwitted by a virus that changes radically, even if it is essentially the same virus. South African academics found that 48 per cent of blood samples from people who had been infected in the past did not show an immune response to the new variant. One researcher said it was 'clear that we have a problem'. Vaccine makers, however, have tried to reassure the public that their vaccines will still work well and will only be made slightly less effective by the variant. How many people in the UK have been infected with the variant? At least 200 Brits have been infected with this variant, according to Public Health England's random sampling. The number is likely to be far higher, however, because PHE has only picked up these cases by randomly scanning the genetics of around 15 per cent of all positive Covid tests in the UK. Where else has it been found? According to the PANGO Lineages website, the variant has been officially recorded in 31 other countries worldwide. The UK has had the second highest number of cases after South Africa itself. Advertisement
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There will be no jury trials statewide through March 31 due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the Louisiana Supreme Court said Thursday in extending a previous trial moratorium.

The high court on Jan. 12 halted all jury trials until March 1.

Jury trials currently in progress may continue, and grand jury proceedings are not suspended by Thursday's order, the court said.

Beginning April 1, local courts will be responsible for evaluating and determining whether jury trials can be conducted safely within their jurisdictions, the Supreme Court said.

Safety protocols, including strict social distancing and mask mandates, must be enforced to ensure the safety of all participants, the high court cautioned.

Criminal trials involving defendants who are in custody should take priority over all other matters when the moratorium is lifted, the court added, and potential jurors who cite pandemic-related health concerns should be excused.

Last year, the Supreme Court imposed a months-long trial moratorium after Gov. John Bel Edwards issued a statewide stay-at-home order on March 22 in an effort to halt the spread of the novel coronavirus. Lower courts statewide did not hold in-person trials until the summer.
Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 11 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi is likely to attend a public rally here on March 7, the concluding day of statewide Yatra of Bharatiya Janata Party, said party leaders.

The Yatra, to be led by state BJP chief K.Surendran, will be flagged off by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath from Kasargode on February 21.

This is being seen as the launch of the BJP's election campaign for the Assembly polls, likely to be held in April/May.

The state BJP leadership is upbeat about the Yatra as all the top national BJP leaders, including Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and others are expected to take part.

Among those who are expected to take part in the Yatra include national BJP president J.P. Nadda, Union Ministers Ravi Shankar Prasad and Smrithi Irani, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Jyotiraditya Scindia.

Speaking to IANS, state general secretary M.T. Ramesh said the slogan of the Yatra with the polls on the anvil is 'A New Kerala' free from corruption.

"We are expecting a bevy of our top national leaders and confirmation of the visit of Modi is awaited. This Yatra is basically the curtain-raiser event to launch our election campaign. At the moment there is no talk of the list of candidates as it will be taken up at the appropriate time," said Ramesh.

For the state unit of the BJP, the Assembly polls are going to be an acid test to see whether it is able to increase its tally from one seat in the 140-member Kerala Assembly.

Party veteran and former Union Minister O. Rajagopal stunned all when he won from the Nemom Assembly seat in the state capital and opened the account of the BJP in the 2016 polls.

Rajagopal, who is now 91-years-old, is most unlikely to be fielded and, hence it has added pressure to the state unit to produce results.
"This analytics platform enables our customers to collect, manage and analyze vehicle, bike and pedestrian data using an easy-to-use web-based interface," said Rish Malhotra, President and CEO of International Road Dynamics. "Our new platform will be deployed in a large Canadian city that is participating in a Smart Cities pilot project with a goal of fusing data from multiple sensors and data sources to enhance safety for cyclists. This product launch reflects IRD's commitment to innovation and to expanding our suite of software applications. We will continue to invest in products and applications that position us to capitalize on the emerging growth opportunities at the intersection of technology and infrastructure."

"We are very pleased to have already signed up customers in France and Belgium that are interested in using the analytics platform to monitor connected sensors," said Etienne Van den Bogaert, Icoms Managing Director. "We have received very positive feedback on our first installation in the Netherlands and expect to grow this network of connected sensors substantially in 2021. We see adoption of such solutions growing as cities work to meet their environmental objectives and make streets safer for cyclists and other vulnerable road users."

Icoms Detections' microwave sensors and radar speed signs equipped with optional 3G/4G modems are able to transfer data via cellular networks. Using the new analytics platform, data is uploaded to a server in near real time and may be viewed using a web-browser. Alternatively, data from sites may be downloaded in standard spreadsheet formats. This provides transportation professionals with an easy way to acquire device data remotely from multiple locations.

The dashboard views available within the platform offer quick analysis in the form of charts for selected time periods. The traffic reports cover speed, volume and direction. Graphs for the bicycle sensors and radar speed signs include binned speed ranges, while the TMS-SA classifier display includes charts showing the breakdown of traffic by length class.

About Icoms Detections

Icoms Detections is a leading designer and manufacturer of microwave sensors for road traffic management for over 25 years. Icoms is IRD's centre of excellence for all radar technologies providing products to enhance road safety and mobility worldwide.

Icoms Detections

Av. Einstein 11 B

1348 Louvain-la-Neuve

Belgium

Email: [email protected]

About IRD

IRD is a dynamic technology company engaged in developing key components and advanced systems for the next generation of transportation networks. Together with subsidiaries PAT Traffic and ICOMS Detections, IRD supplies Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) to private corporations, transportation agencies, and highway authorities around the world. IRD's systems make highways safer, greener, and more efficient. Known globally as a trusted partner providing sales, service, and installation support on major ITS projects for over 40 years, IRD contributes to creating smarter cities by empowering engineering and urban planning professionals to access reliable traffic data. For more information: www.irdinc.com

About Quarterhill

Quarterhill is a growth-oriented company in the Intellectual Property and Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) industries. Our goal is to pursue an investment strategy that capitalizes on attractive market trends in both ITS and its adjacent markets. Quarterhill is listed on the TSX under the symbol QTRH and on the OTCQX Best Market under the symbol QTRHF. For more information: www.quarterhill.com

Forward-Looking Information

This news release contains forward-looking statements regarding IRD, Quarterhill and their businesses. Forward-looking statements are based on estimates and assumptions made by IRD, Icoms and/or Quarterhill in light of their experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and the expected effects of new business strategies, as well as other factors that IRD, Icoms and/or Quarterhill believe are appropriate in the circumstances. The forward-looking events and circumstances discussed herein may not occur and could differ materially as a result of known and unknown risk factors and uncertainties affecting IRD, Icoms and/or Quarterhill, including: potential risks and uncertainties relating to the ultimate geographic spread of the novel coronavirus ("COVID-19"); the severity of the disease; the duration of the COVID-19 outbreak; actions that may be taken by governmental authorities to contain the COVID-19 outbreak or to treat its impact; the potential negative impacts of COVID-19 on the global economy and financial markets and any resulting impact on IRD, Icoms and/or Quarterhill and/or their businesses. Other factors include, without limitation, the risks described in Quarterhill's February 27, 2020 annual information form for the year ended December 31, 2019 (the "AIF"). Copies of the AIF may be obtained at www.sedar.com. IRD, Icoms and Quarterhill recommend that readers review and consider all of these risk factors and notes that readers should not place undue reliance on any of IRD's forward-looking statements. IRD and Icoms have no intention, and undertakes no obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

SOURCE International Road Dynamics

Related Links

www.quarterhill.com




SEBI headquarters (Representative image)

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has imposed a penalty of Rs 1 crore on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) and Rs 25 lakh each on former CEOs Ravi Narain and Chitra Ramakrishna in the co-location matter. Below we attempt to connect the dots about the SEBI probe and the order.

What is co-location and what triggered the SEBI probe?

The SEBI order pertains to a probe in the co-location matter. Co-location refers to a facility wherein brokers place their servers in the exchange premises to be physically close to the NSE servers. The physical proximity allows these members faster access to NSE servers, which, in turn, helps in executing the buy and sell orders faster.

While many brokers opted for co-location facility, SEBI received a complaint in 2015 that a certain brokerOPG Securitieswas getting access to the exchange data faster than the other members who had opted for co-location. This was against the principle of co-location that was built to ensure that each member gets equal, fair and transparent access to the data.

The complaints triggered a SEBI probe, which, among other things, found that NSE failed in its duties to ensure fair access to each member. It found that former CEOs Ravi Narian and Chitra Ramakrishna were at the helm of affairs when the violations happened and hence were ultimately responsible for the wrongdoings.

Narain was the MD and CEO of NSE from 2000 to March 2013 while his successor Ramakrishna occupied the chair from April 2013 to December 2016. Earlier, she was Joint MD from 2010 to 2013 and deputy MD from 2008 to 2010.

What was the complaint against NSE?

The complaint received by SEBI in 2015 accused NSE of using a so-called Tick-by-Tick data protocol wherein data was delivered one by one instead of a broadcast mechanism that would have ensured everyone got the data at the same time. More importantly, under the Tick-By-Tick mechanism, data was disseminated sequentially in the order in which members connected to the server and the first one to connect to the server with the lowest load would get an advantage in terms of getting the data faster than others.

The complainant alleged that Omnesys Technologiesin which NSE was the second-largest shareholderknew this feature of the Tick-by-Tick protocol. OPG Securities, as per the complaint, hired an individual from Omnesys and also entered into certain arrangements with an NSE datacentre staffer to know when a particular server would be switched on, which had the lowest load and hence give it an advantage over other brokers.

What were the allegations against the two former CEOs of NSE?

The main allegation against the two former honchos of NSE is that while they were in charge of the affairs of the exchange, they failed to act and implement proper checks and balances to ensure that each trading member got a fair and equitable access to data in this specific matter. The extent of unfair access by OPG was possible only through the active connivance of NSE officials, stated the order.

What did the NSE and its former CEOs state in their defence?

While SEBI-mandated teams and forensic audits did state that the Tick-by-Tick system was prone to manipulation while giving unfair access to certain members, NSE, in its defence, stated that the sequential data dissemination did not provide any benefit. The exchange further submitted that more than 50 percent of the members who opted for co-location had access to multiple servers, which proved that NSE was fair and equitable while treating the members.

Narian submitted that he went by the advice given to him by the functional heads, including those in charge of technology and hence should not be held responsible for any alleged wrongdoings. Chitra Ramakrishna said that Tick-by-Tick protocol was already in place when she became the CEO and was discontinued in a phased manner by December 2016  when she was at the helm. In her defence, Ramakrishna said she went by the advice of the technology heads of the exchange.

Why did SEBI drop allegations related to fraud against the three entities?

While the complaints and allegations pointed towards fraudulent activities allegedly done by the exchange and the two former CEOs, the capital market regulator concluded that while there were violations of the regulatory framework, charges of fraud were not established as the initial technology used for co-location facilities were not designed with the motive or ill-conceived idea or design to defraud or induce any other person to deal in securities.

What action has SEBI taken against the three entities?

 NSE has failed to comply with the provisions of SECC Regulations in letter and spirit and Noticee No. 2 and 3 (Ravi Narain and Chitra Ramakrishna, respectively) are vicariously liable for the acts of omissions/ commissions committed by Noticee No. 1 (NSE), stated the SEBI order. While NSE has been imposed a monetary penalty of Rs 1 crore, both Ravi Narain and Chitra Ramakrishna have been ordered to pay Rs 25 lakh each.

The UK chairman of accounting giant KPMG has been ousted after 'woke' staff to who urged him to 'check his privilege' when he told a virtual meeting of 1,500 people to 'stop moaning' about the pandemic.

Outspoken Australian Bill Michael, who earns a 1.7 million salary, reportedly told consultants asking him about pay, pension and bonus cuts to cease 'playing the victim card'.

The 52-year-old also dismissed the concept of unconscious bias as 'complete c**p' and told staff he had been meeting clients for coffee despite lockdown rules, sources revealed.

His warning to staff to 'stop moaning' came after KPMG's annual results revealed that its hundreds of partners still earned an average of 572,000 each in 2020, despite the pandemic that is expected to see hundreds of thousands of Britons lose their jobs.

But Mr Michael later apologised for his comments and claimed they did not reflect his beliefs. But KPMG said he would now step aside while the 'big four' firm investigates.

During the virtual meeting staff took to an anonymous messaging app to vent about Mr Michael's comments.

One wrote: 'There's no such thing as unconscious bias?! Are you joking? Please do your research before just making such statements. Check your privilege.'

Unconscious bias is the theory that people hold stereotypes of others which lead to discrimination in the workplace, but it has also proved controversial with ministers dumping it for civil servants in England when the Government's Equalities Office found there was 'no evidence' that the training improved workplace equality.

Probe: KPMG chairman Bill Michael is said to have told staff worried about potential pay, pension and bonus cuts to 'stop moaning' and stop 'playing the victim card'

Volcanic anger of KPMG's 'woke' workforce after boss tells them to 'stop moaning' Bill Michael's comments to a KPMG town hall meeting on Monday. Staff were also said to be angered after he dismissed the concept of unconscious bias  unintentional discrimination based on stereotypes  as complete c**p. There was volcanic anger in the comments section of the app running the event. One worker responded: Theres no such thing as unconscious bias?! Are you joking? Please do your research before just making such statements. Check your privilege. Another said: He literally said, I know Im breaking the law to meet with people during the pandemic. A third said: People are struggling with serious mental health issues and having our leadership tell us to shut up and pull ourselves up by our boot straps is heartbreaking. Advertisement

A KPMG spokesman said: 'Following the meeting on February 8, the firm initiated an independent investigation into the alleged comments in accordance with its usual procedures.

'Mr Michael has decided to step aside from his duties as chair while the investigation is under way.

'We take this matter very seriously and will not comment further while the investigation is ongoing.'

The move comes after the Financial Times revealed details of what Mr Michael said to the 1,500 members of the finance team during the conference call.

Another person said: 'Did Bill Michael say unconscious bias is just crap? Herein lies the issue. Whilst the training may not be effective, to say it doesn't exist is just reckless.'

Mr Michael also angered some staff when he told them he had been meeting clients for coffee.

Who is Bill Michael? Bill Michael has been at KPMG for 30 years. The 52-year-old Australian took the helm four years ago after working as the firm's Global Head of Banking and Capital Markets. His City expertise featured in the high-profile Treasury Select Committee into Banking Standards following the global financial crash. He also represented KPMG as an advisory council member of the FICC Market Standards Board. He qualified as a chartered accountant in Australia before moving to the UK to work with clients such as JP Morgan, HSBC, Deutsche Bank, Credit Suisse, and Barclays. He has a young family and is a Manchester United fan. Advertisement

One attendee said: 'He literally said, 'I know I'm breaking the law' to meet up with people during the pandemic.'

Another staff member said: 'People are struggling with serious mental health issues and having our leadership tell us to shut up and pull ourselves up by our boot straps is heartbreaking.'

Mr Michael, who was admitted to hospital last spring after catching coronavirus, was speaking to staff who had raised concerns about potential salary, pension and bonus cuts.

Some workers interpreted his message as motivational but many complained that it was insensitive.

'If someone tells you to stop moaning in the middle of a recession and when people are dying... It's incredibly insensitive,' one worker told the Financial Times.

KPMG last year announced an 11 per cent salary slash to the firm's 582 partners to safeguard jobs.

Partners still pocketed an average of 572,000, down from 640,000 the previous year.

Mr Michael himself had his salary shaved down by 14 per cent to 1.7 million.

At the close of the meeting he apologised for some of his earlier comments and later sent a follow up email in which he further expressed regret.

'I know that words matter and I regret the ones I chose to use. I think lockdown is proving difficult for all of us. I am very sorry for what I said and the way that I said it,' Mr Michael wrote.

'Covid has hugely impacted the way we all live and work  many of us very deeply.'

He has been in charge since 2017 and his tenure has been plagued by criticism, including of KPMG's role as auditor of the liquidated government contractor Carillion and of a 'toxic culture' in the office.

KPMG is one of the Big Four accounting firms which includes Deloitte, Ernst & Young and PricewaterhouseCoopers.

The majority of KPMG's 16,000 staff are working from home during lockdown.

The firm reported a 2 per cent fall in revenue in the year to September 30 to 2.3billion.

The majority of KPMG's 16,000 people are working from home rather than the Canary Wharf office (pictured) during lockdown

However, KPMG did not furlough any of its staff during the pandemic, and is even overhauling its offices at the cost of 44million and bolstering remote working technology.

It followed a similar trend among rivals. Deloitte announced a 17 per cent cut in average partner pay to 731,000 last September.

PwC said in December that its partner pay fell 10 per cent to 685,000. EY's average partner pay slipped just 1.8pc to 667,000.

KPMG also added it has put in place 'a range of support measures' to help employees adjust to remote working, including new mental health resources, 'flex' hours and a company podcast to help colleagues stat connected.
Update 1: Baptiste replies back to Koo CEO, claiming that although information like Date of Birth, Gender and Marital Status is not visible to users on the profile page, it was still accessible by him.

@aprameya the screenshots of the 1st tweet has been done on this profile. Where do you see her dob? Her gender? Her marital status? pic.twitter.com/RCkTfJU1Vw  Elliot Alderson (@fs0c131y) February 11, 2021

Also worth mentioning is that Twitter has suspended the official account of the Koo app.

Update 2: Koo CEO has tweeted that the user data claimed as a leak is something that anyone can see by visitng the user profile.

Some news about data leaking being spoken about unnecessarily. Please read this:



The data visible is something that the user has voluntarily shown on their profile of Koo. It cannot be termed a data leak. If you visit a user profile you can see it anyway  Aprameya R (@aprameya) February 11, 2021

Koo, the Indian microblogging platform that is similar to Twitter, has gained a lot of popularity in the past few days since most of the government ministries and officials have been extremely supportive of it. The app, which won the government's Digital India AatmaNirbhar Bharat Innovate Challenge last year, is now accused of exposing users personal data.

This was found by French security researcher, Robert Baptiste or Elliot Alderson (@fs0c131y on Twitter). In the tweet, Baptist said that after spending 30 minutes on Koo at the request of users on Twitter, he found that the microblogging platform exposed sensitive information of users. These included the email address, names, gender, marital status, date of birth and more.

Also read: Want to join Koo? Heres how to create an account on Android and iOS

You asked so I did it. I spent 30 min on this new Koo app. The app is leaking of the personal data of his users: email, dob, name, marital status, gender, ... https://t.co/87Et18MrOg pic.twitter.com/qzrXeFBW0L  Elliot Alderson (@fs0c131y) February 10, 2021

In the screenshots, it is shown that the new social media platform also reveals users Koo count, verified phone numbers and if the account had a verification badge or not. The same tweet showed if users WhatsApp communication is enabled within the app.

In a follow-up tweet, Baptiste says that Koo has a domain registered in the US with a registrant based in China.

Its worth mentioning that Koo is being heavily promoted by government officials including the Union Minister, Piyush Goyal. He even invited users to join him on the app via a post on Twitter. You can download Koo from both Android and iOS app stores. The app has been developed by Aprameya Radhakrishna, who also was responsible for startup Taxi for sure, which later got acquired by Ola.

We had an exclusive chat with the founder and CEO of Koo, Aprameya Radhakrishna. Read what he has to say about this new platform.
An influencer has been arrested in Georgia after she was accused of abusing her dog in an Instagram Live video.

Brittany Johnson, 20, allegedly abused her six-month-old Jack Russell Terrier, Max, in videos posted to the social media app.

She reportedly spraying perfume in the dog's eyes, picked it up by the neck, and claimed to have broken its legs.

Multiple people called the cops to report Johnson's actions to the police.

Johnson, who is from Louisiana and goes by Lovely Peaches online, was tracked down by the police to a Motel 6 in DeKalb County where she was arrested, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

WARNING: GRAPHIC VIDEO

An Instagram influencer was arrested following her abuse of her six-month-old puppy

The Instagram Live video isn't active, but one Twitter user managed to record a snippet

Johnson has racked up hundreds of thousands of followers on Instagram and TikTok

The arrest took place on January 22, after which she relinquished the puppy to DeKalb's animal services voluntarily.

The fate of the puppy is not exactly clear, as one of her accounts posted a message from a private account on January 21, saying 'As I Posted On My Personal Max is no Longer With Us Rip Buddy #6Months on this Earth Keep Me In Prayers.'

That post would suggest that the puppy died, but animal services reportedly took the possession of the dog the next day and the dog is still alive, according to Insider.

Johnson posted a $2,500 bond to be released from jail, though the case is still pending

Johnson posted that the dog died, but police claim it is alive and in animal services custody

Many comments on the post call out Johnson for her alleged actions.

'Please don't get another pet,' one person commented.

'U KILLED HIM,' said another comment, which has over 1,100 likes.

Police say Johnson admitted to making 'statements on her social media about harming or killing her dog to gain more followers.'

Johnson posted a $2,500 bond after she was arrested, but is not allowed to own or care for any animals until the end of her case.

One of her accounts, has over 147,000 followers, while another has over 60,000 followers.

Her accounts were reportedly banned last year after she allegedly made threats against Charli DAmelio, a social media influencer with more than 107 million followers on TikTok.
Each of us is experiencing this historic, horrific set of events  the insurrection, the impeachment  through our own lens. Some are tuning it out  though fewer than might be if a pandemic werent trapping so many of us inside our homes. Some are writing it off as political theater. Some are writing it off as a lost cause.
Cabinet has given its approval for Air Namibia to be voluntarily liquidated.

The intention is to register the resolution with Business and Intellectual Property Authority (BIPA) before 18 February so that Challenge Air (which took Air Namibia over unpaid dues) cannot attach any of the airline's assets.

In leaked documents from a consultative meeting yesterday, Cabinet made the decision that the airline's workers will enjoy preferential treatment and receive their full severance packages from the liquidators.

"We will also explain that Cabinet approved for the employees to receive ex gratia payments equal to the value of 12 months salary and that this amount will be disbursed over a 12 month period," the documents read.

Moreover, the shareholder noted that it will ensure there's no salary payment gap when the liquidation is activated.

"If the liquidator can't pay, the ex gratia payments would be activated," they said.

The public enterprises ministry, finance ministry, the executive committee members of Air Namibia, the board and unions will meet this afternoon for the government to give its stance on the matter and the way forward on liquidation.

"All efforts must be made to protect the assets of the company," the documents added.

The interim chief executive officer has been directed to a detailed plan of action and coordinate a way forward with the board.

Meanwhile, the public enterprises ministry allegedly appointed lawyer Norman Tjombe, business woman Hilda Basson-Namundjebo and businessman James Cumming to the airline's board. However, the Namibian Sun reported that State House has reversed the appointment of the trio.

In a communique yesterday, the Air Namibia management informed the public that all flights with the airline are cancelled and all aircrafts will return to the base.

The reservation system for taking new bookings has also been suspended.

"Affected passengers must register their claims for a refund," the communique noted.A source close to the matter confirmed to The Namibian that it seems the government changed its mind regarding the appointment of the three new directors and have decided to rather appoint two government employees.

Meanwhile, public enterprises minister Leon Jooste told The Namibian that everything will be revealed at a press conference today.
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Niamh Corrigan, Principal with St. Declans School on Northumberland Road welcomes back some of their students including Aoife McCoy (7), Matthew Hayden (13) and Lorna McKinley (12). Photo by Steve Humphreys

When snow appeared on the horizon earlier this week, one parent rang principal Niamh Corrigan to say that if necessary, she would ski to St Declans to get her child to the classroom today.

After weeks of school closures forced by Covid-19, it would have been doubly cruel for the weather to deal a blow to the return plans.

St Declans, on Northumberland Road in Ballsbridge, Dublin, is one of 124 special schools reopening today, the first in the education system to welcome pupils through the doors since they broke for the Christmas holidays.

The reopening protocols mean that, at any one time, only half of its 34 pupils will be on site, alternating on a two-day/three-day-a-week basis. St Declans offers specialised education for pupils with mild social, emotional and behavioural difficulties with the aim of facilitating their return to mainstream schools.

The principal reports a big difference between attitudes to returning to school a month ago, when Covid-19 transmission levels were very high, and now.

Expand Close Niamh Corrigan is principal of St Declan's School in Ballsbridge, Dublin. Photo: Gerry Mooney / Facebook

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Whatsapp Niamh Corrigan is principal of St Declan's School in Ballsbridge, Dublin. Photo: Gerry Mooney

In early January, Ms Corrigan could see anxiety among parents and staff. There were parents who had made the choice that their children would not be returning. Now it looks like all children will be returning and almost all the staff.

Between teachers and special needs assistants (SNAs) the school has more than 20 staff and the principal said they and parents were all very happy with the control measures in place to keep Covid-19 out and to limit the spread of infection if it does manage to breach St Declans boundaries.

According to Ms Corrigan, its been all hands on deck preparing for the return since the Department of Education guidelines were issued last Wednesday.

Having implemented rigorous infection-control protocols last summer ahead of the September return, there was, she said, a sense of deja vu, but this time we are doubling down on our efforts.

Expand Close Niamh Corrigan, Principal with St. Declans School on Northumberland Road welcomes back some of their students including Aoife McCoy (7). Photo by Steve Humphreys / Facebook

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Whatsapp Niamh Corrigan, Principal with St. Declans School on Northumberland Road welcomes back some of their students including Aoife McCoy (7). Photo by Steve Humphreys

Schools reopening now are dealing with a highly transmissible strain of the virus that had not been officially identified in Ireland when they closed before Christmas, so extra precautions are being taken.

That is why a maximum of 50pc of pupils in special schools will attend on any one day, and, at St Declans, while 12 children were allowed in the yard in first term, it is down to six now.

There are big changes for staff too. Last term, some very limited interaction was allowed in the staff room but we are changing that even more, so there will be absolutely no crossover, Ms Corrigan said. Bringing only half the pupils in on any one day has created space in the school to designate areas for staff use, including the PE hall and the library.

It is challenging but we are looking forward to it. Myself and the management team have put in huge levels of work, and we are really delighted about children coming back. Its a start, the principal said.
A Memorandum of Understanding was signed to implement the widespread use of The Prem Rawat Foundations Peace Education Program in Italian correctional facilities." It is a cultural investment that can be beneficial to society as a whole, since it can help to prevent the risk of recidivism.

In recognition of the Peace Education Program as a powerful tool for rehabilitation, Italian officials recently acted to make the innovative workshop series available to incarcerated people across the country.

The Ministry of Justices Director of Inmates and Treatment, Dr Gianfranco De Gesu, signed a Memorandum of Understanding to support the widespread use of The Prem Rawat Foundations (TPRF) Peace Education Program in Italian correctional facilities as a valid tool for educating inmates and their reintegration into society. The nonprofit Percosi Association and other partners will work with the ministry and correctional facilities on implementation.

The move builds off of a September meeting about the Peace Education Program at the Italian Senate with TPRF Founder Prem Rawat, Minister of Justice Alfonso Bonafede, Senator Arnaldo Lomuti and other legislators.

The program has already been offered at 683 correctional facilities across the globe, including several in Italy, with outstanding results. A comprehensive recent study found that 89 percent of 604 incarcerated participants in four continents benefited by helping them feel empowered to face past events, gain a willingness to change, better manage their anger and avoid fighting.

The initiative is an international success. We are talking about an educational path which is already concrete because it has been proven and practically experienced with significant results that we should try to nurture, emulate and reiterate, said Minister Bonafede at the senate. Our objective, of course, is to extend this initiative to other correctional facilities and try to have more and more inmates participate. It is a cultural investment that can be beneficial to society as a whole, since it can help to prevent the risk of recidivism.

As a member of the Italian Senates Justice Commission, Senator Arnaldo Lomuti has also provided key support for implementing the program across correctional facilities, praising it as a way to optimize the rehabilitative path.

The Peace Education Program workshops can be offered in person, virtually, or on inmate tablets by GTL and Edovo. The Prem Rawat Foundation makes the workshop materials available free of charge.

The Peace Education Program is just one of the ways that TPRF advances dignity, peace and prosperity by addressing fundamental human needs.

During the height of the COVID-19 breakout in Italy last year, TPRF worked with the Italian NGO, CESVI, to help provide over 1 million facemasks, 550 ventilators, and critical care to the elderly and handicapped.

Learn more about The Prem Rawat Foundation here.

Press Release

February 11, 2021 IMEE: EARLY VOTING LAW TO SUPPORT VACCINATION ROLL-OUT Senator Imee Marcos has called for the swift passage of a law on early voting to complement the government's mass vaccination program and ensure the smooth and safe conduct of national elections next year. Marcos, who chairs the Senate committee on electoral reforms and people's participation, said the roll-out of vaccines alone is "no guarantee that the 2022 elections would not become a multiple, super-spreader event." "Planning for elections has become more complicated due to the pandemic. As our committee report shall be completed shortly, may I urge President Duterte to certify the urgency of passing an early voting law and make a smooth and safe transition of leadership part of his legacy," Marcos said. "The delay in passing such a law denies the Commission on Elections (Comelec) ample time to plan pandemic-related measures and fix a proper budget to put them in place," Marcos explained. "Run-throughs may be needed. Haphazard preparations and resulting voter confusion will undermine the legitimacy of the elections," the senator added. Marcos filed Senate Bill 1104 in October last year to allow early voting for senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWDs) but said she intends to include health workers, military and police personnel, poll watchers, and the media when the bill is taken up in the Senate. "Expanding the list of groups eligible for early voting will reduce crowding on election day and further mitigate the health risks in next year's polls," Marcos explained. "Moreover, new voting precincts that will accommodate fewer people will need to be created and new voting venues identified, to comply with social distancing and other safety protocols," the senator added. Arrangements for about 400,000 Filipino seafarers as well as voters returning to the provinces amid the differing quarantine protocols of local government units will also need to be settled, she also said. Marcos expressed optimism that the "sluggish registration of new voters" would also improve before the September deadline, if a law for early voting is passed. In 2019, the Philippine Statistics Authority recorded more than eight million senior citizens and PWDs who chose not to cast their votes than flock to polling precincts with the general public.
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Eric Trump and his wife Lara have been photographed back in chilly New York City on the first day of arguments at his father's second impeachment trial.

The couple were pictured getting out of an SUV while accompanied by their Secret Service detail - one of the perks of having an ex-President for a dad.

Donald Trump was impeached by the House last month for inciting the insurrection and his Senate trial started this week.

Eric, 37, and Lara Trump, 38, were spotted back in Manhattan on Wednesday shadowed by the Secret Service

Lara looked glammed up wearing full make up and metallic winter jacket and snow boots

Eric appeared to be carrying with him some warm winter clothing as the couple began to load up the trunk of their SUV

Eric Trump appeared to not want to use a suitcase or duffel bag and instead brought clothes out still on their hangars

Eric popped into a nearby Pret-a-Manger to get a drink while still being escorted by security guards

Lara Trump, seen in the distinctive metal jacket, also helped to load clothes into the back of the trunk of their Suburban

But a world away from Washington, for his son and daughter-in-law, impeachment appeared to be far from their minds.

Lara, 38, looked to be fully glammed up as she was wearing full make up along with a metallic winter jacket and snow boots. Eric, 37, meanwhile, stopped off at a nearby Pret-a-Manger to grab a drink whilst being followed by his bodyguard.

The pair could be seen loading some clothes into their two SUV's before being whisked away once again by Secret Service agents.

Eric Trump was in Lake Placid with his family last weekend to officiate the wedding of two Trump Organization employees at the Whiteface Lodge hotel.

Lara Trump appeared to be wearing the right footwear to navigate New York's still frozen sidewalks as she packed the car

An aide was seen helping her at one point as the couple began to pack their family car before driving away once again

Eric handed the clothes to his wife, Lara, who then set about putting them neatly into the back of the car

Eric was very careful to ensure his boots were placed in a position where they couldn't get crushed by other items in the trunk

Eric and Lara both set about loading the trunk while their driver also attempted to assist by holding one of their bags

The family had some time to take some snow snaps in the frigid temperatures. The couple's two children Eric Jr. and Carolina both accompanied their parents.

In January, following President Trump's departure from Washington D.C., most of the family decamped to Mar-A-Lago in South Florida.

It is unknown what is next in store for Erica and Lara; unlike the other Trump siblings they are not understood to be looking for property in Florida.

The couple have long been based in New York City, where they currently live with their two kids, and it is unclear whether they are planning to try and return to Manhattan life full time.

Interestingly, Eric's sister Ivanka and her husband Jared are thought to be making a move to Florida after it was made clear that they would no longer be welcome in the elite social circles they once ran in while living in the Big Apple prior to Trump's election in 2016.

However, Eric and Lara maintained a far more low-key profile while living in the city, and did not relocate to Washington, D.C. as Ivanka and Jared did early on during Trump's presidency, so it may be that they have more of a chance of returning into full-time New York life.

Eric Trump was in Lake Placid with his family last weekend to officiate the wedding of two Trump Organization employees at the Whiteface Lodge hotel

The couple got dressed up for the occasion and even managed to brave the frigid outdoor temperatures for a quick photo

Lara took a photo with one of the couple's two children outdoors in the snow. This is one-year-old Carolina Dorothy Trump

They may well find the city to be a lonely place however, with Ivanka and Jared looking set to leave, as well as Don Jr. and his girlfriend Kimberly Guilfoyle.

Senior White House advisers Ivanka and Jared have reportedly purchased a $31 million plot of land on Miami's 'Billionaire Bunker' and are believed to be building themselves a home in the exclusive neighborhood.

Jared's brother, Joshua Kushner, and his model wife Karlie Kloss - who is expecting their first child - have also bought a home in Florida.

It's unclear how much Ivanka and Jared will be paying for the condo, but it's safe to say it didn't come cheap. Arte is one of the most expensive complexes in the Surfside neighborhood, with an average rental price of nearly $47,000 per month. Its penthouse sold for $33million to an unnamed private equity executive from New York last month.

Ivanka Trump is pictured leaving the Arte Miami Condo in Miami Beach Florida on Wednesday afternoon heading out to pick up her kids

Almost all of the Trumps have now decamped to Florida - where the President won the election by 51 percent - and where they are expected to carry on with their political ambitions

Ivanka and Jared are expected to use the condo as a temporary home while they build a more permanent one on a two-acre plot they purchased on Indian Creek Island (pictured) - also known as the 'Billionaire Bunker' - for $31.8million late last year

A listing for the plot of land measures it at 1.84 acres with 200 feet of private waterfront.

The rest of the Trump clan is also looking to relocate. Newly engaged Tiffany, far left, is thought to be contemplating a move to the Sunshine State, as is the president's eldest son Don Jr and his girlfriend Kimberly Guilfoyle. Jared and Ivanka seen right

Meanwhile, Don Jr. is thought to eyeing up two properties in Admirals Cove.

Youngest Trump daughter Tiffany is also said to be looking for a property in Miami with her new fiance Michael Boulos.

The Trump's flitting between New York and Florida comes as President Donald Trump has been impeached for an historic second time with a Senate trial now underway on charges of inciting the insurrection.

His children, including Eric, also continue to face questions about their actions at the rally where Trump fired up his supporters with his false claims of election fraud, and urged them to march on the Capitol.

At the rally, Eric also pushed false claims that the November 3rd election was stolen from his father, and he urged House and Senate members to 'have some backbone' and vote against finalizing Biden's election victory.

'Our family didn't get in this fight for just four years. We are in this fight to the bitter end. We are going to take our country back, OK?' he asked.

'Is there any person that actually thinks Joe Biden won this election? No!' Eric Trump said, later proclaiming, 'We need to march on the capitol today and stand up for what's right.'

Eric was joined on stage by Lara who is said to be considering running for Senate in her home state of North Carolina. She asked the crowd to sing 'Happy Birthday' to Eric, who turned 37 that day.

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Thai pro-democracy demonstrators bang pots and pans to demand the release of four activist leaders jailed for allegedly insulting the monarchy, during a protest in Bangkok, Feb. 10, 2021.

Borrowing from protests in Myanmar against the military coup, hundreds of Thai pro-democracy demonstrators banged pots and pans in Bangkok on Wednesday to demand the release four of activists who were jailed a day earlier on charges of violating the countrys strict royal defamation law.

The activists who have led previous protests  Parit Penguin Chiwarak, Arnon Nampa, Somyot Pruksakasemsuk and Patiwat Saraiyam  were charged under the criminal codes Article 112, Thailands royal defamation law known as Lese-Majeste.

There will be a gathering of the poor to hit pans against the dictatorship on Wednesday, members of the Peoples Movement announced on Facebook after the activists were jailed. The gathering was the first anti-government protest in 2021.

Courts and the government are still using Article 112 to get rid of anyone with different political views, Panupong Mike Jadnok, one of the leaders of the Peoples Movement group, told BenarNews.

Today we are here asking them to release our friends.

A conviction for violating Lese-Majeste carries a maximum prison sentence of 15 years.

Thai Lawyers for Human Rights estimated that at least 58 people have been charged with violating Lese-Majeste since the pro-democracy protests began last July. Activists have been demanding that Prayuth step down, that the constitution be rewritten, and the monarchy be reformed.

Orawan, a 55-year-old protester, said Lese-Majeste violates human rights.

It should be deleted. I feel that the parliament is not useful because they do not hear the people, Orawan told BenarNews.

Protestors  joined by Myanmar nationals living in Thailand  had started gathering around 4 p.m. at a Bangkok intersection. About two hours later, police on loudspeakers warned the demonstrators to leave.

By 7:30 p.m., hundreds of protesters moved to Bangkoks Pathumwan police station, and soon after, riot police unleashed tear gas on them. The protest broke up shortly after 9 p.m.

The online legal advocacy group iLaw reported that at least eight people were arrested, including two juveniles, during the protest.

The two are scheduled to appear in juvenile court on Thursday, while the rest were released as the police had not determined what charges, if any, would be filed against them.

Myanmar effect

Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-chas administration is concerned that events in neighboring Myanmar could influence local pro-democracy protests that began last year, said Pittikorn Panyamanee, a human rights analyst at Chiang Mai University.

Prayuth on Tuesday had told reporters he did not want this kind of assembly.

For some people who join and incite something like this, I absolutely do not want it to happen.

Pittikorn said the government realizes the protests could snowball.

This detention may reflect the Myanmar effect because we have seen how in neighboring countries the governments can fear young people joining together [as that can] lead to big problems for the government, he told BenarNews.

The state must listen to the peoples voice although it seems difficult.

Meanwhile, Pita Limjaroenrat, a lawmaker and a leader of the opposition Move Forward Party, said his group was preparing to introduce a bill to protect freedom of expression.

The bill would focus on Article 112, noting it has been used as a tool for prosecuting, harassing, silencing others, he said.

International concerns

On Monday, U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan spoke out about the arrests of protesters in Thailand.

He expressed concern over both recent arrests of Thai protesters and several lengthy Lese-Majeste sentences in recent weeks, in a phone call with his Thai counterpart, Natthaphon Narkphanit, said a statement by a U.S. National Security Council spokesperson.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) and a United Nations (U.N.) agency expressed similar concerns.

The authorities should immediately end their heavy-handed enforcement of the Lese-Majeste law and engage in a dialogue with United Nations experts and others about amending the law to bring it into compliance with Thailands international human rights law obligations, Brad Adams, HRWs Asia director, said in a news release on Wednesday.

The U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights issued a statement calling for Thailand to reconsider the 43-year prison sentence of Anchan Preelert, a 63-year-old former Revenue Department official who pleaded guilty to sharing audio clips on social media that were deemed a violation of Lese-Majeste.

U.N. human rights experts today expressed grave concerns over Thailands increasingly severe use of lese-majeste laws to curtail criticism of the monarchy, and said they were alarmed that a woman had been sentenced to over 43 years in prison for insulting the royal family, said a news release posted Monday on the commissioners website.

We urge the appeal court to reconsider the case of Anchan Preelert in line with international human rights standards and set aside the harsh sentence.

The human rights experts also called for a repeal the Lese-Majeste laws. They urged Thailand to drop charges against people currently facing criminal prosecution and release those who have been imprisoned under the defamation laws.
analysis

Despite huge economic cooperation and unrestrained reciprocal praise, Egypt and China's relationship is more complex and unilateral than either would admit.

When Cairo dispatched its minister of health Hala Zayed along with some medical equipment to Beijing to express solidarity with China in its battle with COVID-19 back in March 2020, the Egyptian government was beaming with pride - both publicly and privately - having found an opportunity to show support to the country that 'has been our ally and generous friend through the years, and stood by us in international forums', in the words of one senior official.

Egypt was the first Arab and African country to establish direct diplomatic relations with the China in 1956 and, just weeks later, Beijing gave its first-ever foreign grant offering $4.5 million to Egypt during the Suez Crisis - a minute amount as far as international aid goes, but one full of symbolism.

In the ensuing decades, the relationship endured and remained positive, growing under Mubarak and skyrocketing under President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi who was more than a little wary of Egypt's Western partners due to their pro-democratic positions, and was seeking to diversify the palette of Egypt's alliances.

Political scientist Nael Shama explains this as being 'a direct result' of Egypt's dissatisfaction with the US administration's reaction to the regime changes of 2011 and 2013, with Egypt's political leaders feeling that 'putting all eggs in the American basket was not sufficient'. At the time, China was just launching its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and beginning to target key regional partners.

The 'big bang' moment came in 2014, with President Al-Sisi's first visit to China, and the signing of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP). Since then, Al-Sisi has visited China six times in as many years and signed at least 25 bilateral agreements. For comparison, Mubarak also visited China six times but over the course of his entire 30-year rule.

Negotiations proceed slowly

Although the heart of Sino-Egyptian relations is economic, is it sustained by political considerations. Chinese negotiators and investment firms are firmly nudged to pursue closer relations with Egypt, but they will not do so at any cost, while Egyptian senior officials and trade negotiators have stated dealing with China is not easy, with negotiators being described as slow in their processes and with far more documentation needed than other countries.

Unlike many bilateral donors who seek to streamline relations with the countries they operate in and therefore establish a standalone and accessible office - such as USAID, the UK's FCDO, France's AFD - China's International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA) has no such representation in Cairo. Instead there is a 'single point person', the economic counsellor at the Embassy.

Egyptian ministries admit that if China had an institution based in Egypt, it would make their lives much easier, as each would be much more aware of other Chinese-Egyptian cooperation projects, which is currently not the case.

Egyptian officials have to systematically approach negotiations with more than a little wariness - when the Chinese asked for government-owned assets to be used as collateral for the electric train project, it was rejected. A ministerial committee reviewing foreign debt was established in February 2013 and is kept abreast of Chinese investment negotiations to avoid various ministries signing separate deals with Chinese entities and accumulating bad debt.

Politics have kept some Chinese engagements in Egypt going even when the economics pointed otherwise, such as the revolving door of Chinese partners in Egypt's New Administrative Capital project. Since the first MoU was signed between Egypt and the China State Construction Engineering Corporation (CSCEC), Beijing's support has remained consistent even when the return on investment was not.

During his January 2016 visit to Cairo, Xi Jinping signed $15 billion worth of deals, partly to be invested in the infrastructure of the planned new administrative capital, and when Al-Sisi returned the visit in September 2017, $11.2 billion in projects were agreed, most notably the electric train connecting the new city to Cairo.

In February 2017 the CSCEC withdrew from the MoU, due to the collapse of the Egyptian pound, only to be marched back to the agreement in 2018 under the patronage of its government. Song Aiguo, China's ambassador to Cairo, attended the signing and highlighted the deal's importance for the BRI framework.

Other actors - most notably the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), the Export-Import Bank of China (EximBank), the China Fortune Land Development Company (CFLD) - have also signed various agreements with Egypt, but financial disagreements then proved too onerous to iron out, and some were suspended or scrapped.

Making the best of disproportionate relations

With Egypt representing less than five per cent of China's trade with MENA countries and only one of almost 140 countries to have signed an MoU, it is unsurprising Beijing has a disproportionate say on the parameters of the bilateral relationship. Egyptian officials and negotiators make the best of an agenda which they have, in effect, little say in.

However Egypt does represent 35 per cent of China's trade with North Africa giving it a potential opportunity for regional leadership with Beijing. But Egypt has never really been in the habit of considering North Africa as a standalone zone of influence or cooperation, even when opportunities for regional cooperation and synergies do occur.

While Sisi stated that the need to 'synergize the development strategies and take advantage of the building of infrastructures and cooperation on capacity to make Egypt a supporting country along the Belt and Road', it is unclear how this would translate into actual policy. Or, more significantly, if anyone in government is clear on how Egypt would like to position itself with the BRI.

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The New Administrative Capital is just one of many Chinese investments in Egypt, and China is also Egypt's first source of imports, dominated by electrical and electronic equipment. With Egypt's exports to China more than doubling between 2010 and 2018 - crude oil, fuel, and distillation products make up 73 per cent - and Cairo's debt to Beijing also on the rise with Egypt estimated to have borrowed $3.4 billion from China between 2000 and 2017, this is a relationship which is clearly growing, not shrinking.

This could therefore mean there is ample room for Egypt to properly formulate its priorities within the alliance, and China's explicit political commitment should provide Cairo with some reassurance that room for negotiation is present. After all, no-one yet even knows if Egypt can lead this bilateral relationship. 'I don't have the full picture' one senior government official told me. 'If the Egyptian government asks for something I don't think the Chinese would reject it. But this hasn't posed itself yet.'

Mohamed El Dahshan, Associate Fellow, Middle East and North Africa Programme
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TANZANIA and other East African Community (EAC) partner states are set to exploit the Pakistan market, with former already exporting raw cotton to the Asian country.

Pakistan High Commissioner to Tanzania and the EAC, Ambassador Muhammad Saleem disclosed in Arusha that last year, Pakistan imported raw cotton worth US$50 million from Tanzania.

Speaking after presenting his letter of credence to the EAC Secretary General (SG), Ambassador Liberat Mfumukeko, the Pakistani envoy noted that other potential export crops from Tanzania and the bloc include palm oil, coconuts and cashew nuts.

"Economic diplomacy for Pakistan is not about our country dumping goods in East Africa. We are seeking a win-win situation for Pakistan and East Africa," said Ambassador Saleem.

He added that education and vocational training were also areas where East Africa would benefit immensely from cooperation with Pakistan. Relations between Pakistan and Tanzania were established in the 1960's, when Pakistan expressed its support for Tanzania in getting independence from British rule.

Among Pakistan's main exports to Tanzania are cement, textiles, rice and sugar, as well as some relatively high technology goods such as machinery and tractors. On the other hand, Pakistan imports mainly tea, raw cotton and hides for leather from Tanzania, along with some imports of tobacco, edible oils and tanning materials.

"Pakistanis constitute the fourth largest population of skilled workers in the Silicon Valley after the US, India and Romania and Pakistan also exports vast amounts of ICT apps to US companies including Apple," said the Pakistan High Commissioner.

Ambassador Saleem said that Pakistan was ready to support EAC's industrialization plans in diverse sectors but especially in areas where his country had built capacity for several decades, namely: sugar processing, textile manufacture, cement and fertiliser manufacturing, and pharmaceuticals.

Ambassador Mfumukeko was of the view that Pakistan, with a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) worth 287bn US dollars (by 2019), is a country that EAC partner states could do a huge business with. The Community will thus explore areas of cooperation with the Asian country.

"Pakistan is a potential huge market that EAC needs to exploit. The two parties therefore, need to explore areas of cooperation and investment," said Ambassador Mfumukeko, adding that EAC would arrange a business delegation to visit Pakistan as soon as feasible.

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Among the potential areas of cooperation discussed by the two leaders were in the agro-based industries namely production of fertilisers and pesticides, textile manufacture, higher education, and the provision of health supplies and hospital equipment.

The Burundian diplomat disclosed that the EAC was undertaking tangible programmes and projects to realise the dream of an integrated region. He cited trade, infrastructure development, and healthcare, EAC centres of excellence and education as among sectors where the Community had recorded significant achievements.

The SG informed the High Commissioner that the EAC was now a Single Customs Territory and that Pakistan businesses setting up in one partner state would therefore be guaranteed access to the wider East African market.

Ambassador Saleem invited the SG to lead a delegation of business-people from the region to visit Pakistan for purposes of exploring potential areas of partnerships in investment. The Pakistan envoy said there was a very strong wave in Pakistan to engage more with the EAC region.

Present at the ceremony was the EAC Deputy Secretary General in charge of the Productive and Social Sectors, Mr Christophe Bazivamo, the EAC Principal International Relations Officer, Ms Suma Mwakyusa and Mr Nafees Wahab, the Administrative and Consular Attache at the Pakistani Embassy in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
India has achieved yet another milestone in its nationwide COVID-19 vaccination programme. India has become the fastest country in the world to vaccinate over 70 lakh (70,17,114) beneficiaries on Thursday. India achieved this feat in merely 26 days whereas it took 27 days for the US and 48 days for the UK to reach these figures.

The total cumulative immunisation coverage of 70,17,114 comprises 57,05,228 healthcare workers and 13,11,886 frontline workers in around 1,43,056 sessions conducted so far. As of February 10, 4, 05,349 beneficiaries including 94,890 healthcare workers and 3,10,459 frontline workers were vaccinated across 8,308 sessions.

According to the Union Health Ministry, 13 states and union territories-Rajasthan, Bihar, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Mizoram, Kerala, Odisha, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Tripura, and Lakshadweep have vaccinated more than 65 per cent of the registered healthcare workers. Of the 13 states that have reported massive vaccinations, Bihar vaccinated more than 79 per cent (79.4 per cent) of the registered HCWs.

On the other hand, states like Puducherry, Nagaland, Manipur, Tamil Nadu, Chandigarh, Meghalaya, and Punjab have reported vaccinations of less than 40 per cent registered healthcare workers. Of these states, Puducherry has reported the lowest performance at 17.5 per cent.

Meanwhile, India has assured to help Canada with COVID-19 jabs under its Vaccine Maitri initiative. Justin Trudeau apprised Prime Minister Modi of Canada's coronavirus vaccine requirements from India and also acknowledged India's role as the pharmacy of the world. PM Modi assured the Canadian Prime Minister that India would do its best to support their vaccination efforts just like it has done for countries like South Africa, Brazil, Kuwait, Seychelles and Muscat.

"Was happy to receive a call from my friend Justin Trudeau. Assured him that India would do its best to facilitate supplies of COVID vaccines sought by Canada. We also agreed to continue collaborating on other important issues like Climate Change and the global economic recovery," Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted Wednesday night.

Also read: COVID-19 vaccination: Health workers who miss scheduled rounds to be shifted to age-specific batches

Also read: COVID-19 vaccination: No provision of insurance for vaccine recipients, says Health Ministry

Also read: 84% willing to get vaccinated for COVID-19 but many fear side-effects: survey
Raritan Valley Community Colleges Arts and Design department will present the virtual concert Jewish Legacy XX: A Musical Project by Paul Cohen and Anna Keiserman, streaming live 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 14, from the Branchburg campus Edward Nash Theatre.

The program is the latest in a series launched to help defray the cost of private instructional lessons for RVCC music majors and is part of the departments MOZAIKA concert series, created to promote multicultural dialogue through the performance of music from the classical canon through the 21st century.

The Jewish Legacy XX project will feature Jewish music from the 20th and 21st centuries, including the Nazi-banned, so-called degenerate music of Jewish composer E. Schulhoff, who died in the concentration camps, and music of the Jewish avant-garde movement created by A. Krein and Leo Ornstein at the beginning of the 20th century  a new music genre that blended traditional Jewish folk and liturgical music with western European and Russian romantic styles. The program also will include music by Israeli composer Paul Ben-Haim and New York City composer Steve Cohen.

To watch the concert, visit facebook.com/RVCCMusic. The concert also will be available for viewing after its initial performance.

Saxophonist Cohen has appeared as a soloist with the San Francisco Symphony, Richmond Symphony, New Jersey Symphony, Charleston Symphony and Philharmonia Virtuosi. His solo orchestra performances include works by Debussy, Creston, Ibert, Glazunov, Martin, Loeffler, Tomasi, and others. He also has performed with such orchestras as the New York Philharmonic, Metropolitan Opera, American Symphony Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra, Santa Fe Opera, New Jersey Symphony, Charleston Symphony, and the Manhattan Chamber Orchestra. Cohen holds MM and DMA degrees from the Manhattan School of Music and has published more than 100 articles on the history and literature of the saxophone. Recent CDs include American Landscapes, Common Ground, New York Rising and Vintage Saxophones Revisited. Cohen is currently on the faculties of Manhattan School of Music, Rutgers University, New York University, Columbia University and the Aaron Copland School of Music at Queens College.

Pianist Keisermans recent debut album, Russian Mosaic, offers rarely heard compositions by Rachmaninoff, Shchedrin, Smirnov and Medtner. Her performance credits include Le Poisson Rouge, Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall and the Fete de La Musique. As a soloist, she has performed works by Rachmaninoff, Haydn, Beethoven and Arensky with the Volgograd Symphony Orchestra. Keisermans awards include top prizes in two international piano competitions in Russia and the 2017 Culture and Art award from the New Russia Cultural Center. She has served as a faculty member at the NYU Steinhardt School of the Arts, at the Rutgers University Extension Division and at William Paterson University. Keiserman received degrees from the Gnessin Russian Academy of Music and the University of Minnesota and recently completed her doctorate in piano performance from Rutgers University, earning the Elizabeth Wyckoff Durham Award for academic distinction and excellence in piano performance.

MOZAIKA concerts are held on the second Sunday of the month at 2 p.m. A post-performance, online discussion with the musicians follows the program.

The concerts are free but donations are accepted for the RVCC Applied Music Fund to help the colleges music majors pay for private lessons on their primary instruments.

For more information, email Keiserman at anna.keiserman@raritanval.edu.

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Gaborone  The Ministry of Infrastructure and Housing Development has welcomed the Administration of Justice's decision to treat as urgent all public tender related cases before the High Court.

According to a press release from the ministry, the effect of the directive is that management and disposal of such cases will be expedited.

The release notes that as one of the few ministries mandated to deliver public infrastructure, the ministry has experienced delays in starting some projects as a result of unsatisfied unsuccessful bidders who sought legal intervention.

It says although the ministry respects the rights of any bidder to seek relief from the courts if not satisfied with a tender award process, it is frustrating to see such cases taking too long to be resolved in the process denying Batswana to benefit from projects such as hospitals, police stations or schools.

With the directive, all public infrastructure tenders would be treated as urgent and therefore disposed of within reasonable time which means delayed award and commencement of projects would be highly minimised, says the release.

However, it notes that the directive does not affect the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Board (PPADB) and the Court of Appeal, which are also legal bodies where appeals by unsatisfied and unsuccessful bidders can be lodged.

The release says the ministry wishes to see these other entities adopting the same position as the High Court in order that delayed disposal of all cases relating to award of public tenders are given priority where they are lodged.

"The decision by the Chief Justice in relation to tender cases before the High Courts of Botswana was a good start that would see other appellant bodies adopting a similar stance," states the release.

The Chief Justice Terence Rannowane has directed through Practice Directive No.1 of 2021 that cases relating to public tenders be deemed to be of exceptional public importance and treated urgently.

Source : BOPA
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Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, he asserted that YSRC supporters won 2,637 out of 3,244 panchayats in the first phase elections. (Photo: DC/Murali Krishna)

VIJAYAWADA: Municipal administration minister Botsa Satyanarayana has claimed that people have overwhelmingly supported YSR Congress government in the first phase of gram panchayat elections by electing candidates owing allegiance to YSRC for the posts of sarpanch and ward members.

Refuting claims of Chandrababu Naidu about Telugu Desam winning majority seats in the first phase, the minister ridiculed that it is only Naidu who can utter such plain lies. Satyanarayana declared that they are ready to prove their claim of winning 82 percent seats in the first phase elections.

Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, he asserted that YSRC supporters won 2,637 out of 3,244 panchayats in the first phase elections, followed by Telugu Desam nominees winning 508 and independents bagging 99 seats. The percentage of elected TD nominees is less than 15 percent, he maintained.

The minister accused Chandrababu Naidu of distorting facts, observing that Naidu was fudging numbers as he was unable to digest his partys massive defeat. He asserted that people have reiterated their faith in Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddys government, who has kept public welfare on top of his agenda.

Giving district-wise breakup of Phase 1 results, the minister said in Srikakulam, of the total 321 seats, YSRC supporters bagged 264, TD 53 and others won 4. Of 344 seats in Visakhapatnam, 269 went to YSRC, 55 to TD and 20 to others. Of 362 in East Godavari, the numbers are YSRC 311, TD 44, and 7 others. Of 239 in West Godavari, YSRC got 170, TD 34 and others 35. Of 225 seats in Krishna, YSRC got 185, TD 37 and others 3. Of 337 seats in Guntur, YSRC got 264, TD 62 and others11. Of 227 in Prakasam, YSRC got 186, TD 35 and others 6. Of 164 in Nellore, YSRC got 133, TD 28 and others 3. Of 206 seats in Kadapa, YSRC got 179, TD 23 and others 4. Of 193 seats in Kurnool, YSRC got 159 and TD 34. Of total 169 seats in Anantapur, YSRC got 146, TD 21 and others 2 and of total 457 seats in Chittoor, YSRC got 371 seats, TD 82 and others 4.
( ) has set itself up for a transformative 2021, following a $5 million capital raise to fund exploration at its flagship Kouri and Kada gold projects in West Africa.

The Kouri Gold Project, in northeast Burkina Faso, has an indicated and inferred mineral resource of 50 million tonnes at 1.3 g/t gold for two million ounces.

The project covers 325 square kilometres of highly prospective Birimian greenstones - major sources of gold and diamonds, stretching across Burkina Faso, Ghana, Mali and Cote dIvoire.

Golden Rim has discovered significant additional gold mineralisation, including a high-grade gold shoot, and the gold inventory at Kouri is expected to continue to grow.

Second project

Meanwhile, the company has secured a second highly promising gold project, Kada, in eastern Guinea.

Samples gathered from the Kada project.

Guinea is one of the most under-explored countries in West Africa and Kada was previously explored by Newmont who completed 39 kilometres of drilling and defined a non-JORC gold resource.

Golden Rim is targeting a maiden mineral resource this year and believes there is considerable upside for the discovery of additional gold mineralisation, as much of the 300 square kilometre area has been poorly explored.

To fund work at the projects - in the short-term a scoping study at Kouri and exploration at Kada - Golden Rim recently secured $5 million through a placement to institutional, professional and sophisticated investors.

Kouri - Golden Rims flagship

Managing director Craig Mackay told Proactive the companys experience and local knowledge would bring the most out of the Kouri project.

It is our second discovery in Burkina Faso, weve operated happily there for a decade, he said.

Our resource update last October showed that, for a company like ours, its a very sizable resource, and weve only explored about 30 per cent of our licensed area.

As COVID hit, we made some high-grade intercepts - in Burkina Faso you get these high-grade shoots, and now we are going back and simply drilling to find out what is down there.

Mackay said Golden Rim expected to complete a scoping study at Kouri in the second half of the year, with infill drilling expected to increase the indicated resource estimate, and this will be preceded by a raft of drilling results in the short-term.

Kada  Golden Rims new discovery

Mackay said Golden Rim was confident it would make good on drilling conducted by Newmont several years ago at Kada in Guinea, saying the project will only add to the companys value.

Were pretty confident we will have a sizable maiden mineral resource estimate in the second half of the year, he told Proactive.

With infill drilling, we will confirm what is down there, and we will fill the gaps left by Newmont.

Even more exciting is that the licence package weve built up has so much unexplored potential - Newmont only drilled about two per cent of what we own, the rest is unexplored.

Guinea is really going to take off, being one of the most unexplored areas in West Africa, and we have airborne geophysics, auger drilling of regional targets and infill drilling all planned for the coming months.

What sets Golden Rim apart

Golden Rim worked hard throughout 2020, making significant progress despite a global pandemic, and Mackay said it was the companys knowledge and experience in West Africa that set it apart from other ASX-listed gold explorers.

Our low value is pretty compelling, he said, when you look at other companies with similar assets to us.

Weve been exploring uninterrupted in West Africa for 10 years and we have a local team, we dont fly expats in and out.

The company also has a silver-lead-zinc-copper project in northern Chile, which Mackay said was on the table.

It is a non-core asset for us but it is sizable in itself, with a measured, indicated and inferred mineral resource estimate of 2.4 million tonnes at 88 g/t silver, 5.0% zinc and 1.4% lead for 6.8 million ounces of silver, 265 million pounds of zinc and 74 million pounds of lead.

It is totally forgotten in our market cap, but it certainly has great potential and is something were looking to divest.

- Daniel Paproth
Uttarakhand governor Baby Rani Maurya, who visited the Tapovan tunnel to take stock of the rescue work, had to face the ire of the kin of those trapped inside the tunnel as well as relatives of those who went missing after the barrage at the same hydel project

Drilling operations started by rescue agencies to establish contact with over 30 people trapped in the Tapovan tunnel in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district were halted for some time on Thursday as the water level in the Dhauliganga river rose again briefly.

Dhauliganga river is part of the Alaknanda river system, which witnessed flash floods on Sunday after part of a glacier broke, bringing with it a deadly mixture of ice, rock and water. The flash floods consumed nearly everything on its path, including portions of the TapovanVishnugad hydel project.

As of Thursday, 169 people remain missing while the toll in the Uttarakhand disaster rose to 35 with the recovery of another body in Gauchar.

In an apparent change in strategy, the rescuers are now also focusing on drilling through the hardened debris in the choked tunnel in Chamoli district, rather than just shifting mounds of silt and sludge heaped there by the sudden flood. The aim, for now, is to set up a life-saving system, possibly to pump oxygen into the blocked tunnel.

The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and the Army are part of the multi-agency rescue effort, which continues even as hopes of finding the trapped workers alive recede with each passing hour.

Hours before the sudden surge in the water level, rescuers had begun an operation to drill through the debris from the mouth of the tunnel to reach life-saving devices to the trapped workers.

But as information on the rise in water level upstream came, rescue workers scrambled out of the tunnel with their heavy machinery. A joint press briefing by the rescue agencies also came to a sudden halt.

Chamoli District Magistrate Swati S Bhadauria said work was temporarily halted as a precautionary measure.

The operation resumed after 45 minutes but officials said they were only sending smaller teams for now to the rescue site.

Rescue ops focus on providing life-saving devices to trapped workers

As concerns mount over the lives of those trapped inside the tunnel, the focal point of the rescue operation remains the 1.5-km "head-race tunnel"  a part of the 2.5-km long network of tunnels.

"A drilling operation was started by the rescue teams at 2 am to peep into the slush-flushing tunnel that is about 12-13 metres below," Vivek Kumar Pandey, the spokesperson for the lead rescue agency, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), said in Delhi.

As the continuous flow of slush and silt remains a major obstacle between the rescuers and those trapped inside, a boring operation by a huge machine is being undertaken to see if this problem can be addressed in a different way and the teams can go further deep inside, he further said.

Drilling through the debris started from around 68 metres inside the tunnel, Garhwal Commissioner Ravinath Raman, who is supervising the massive rescue effort at the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) project site, told news agency PTI.

The focus at the moment is to take life-saving devices such as oxygen cylinders to those trapped by drilling, Raman said and added that the drilling is to be done for 12 metres to access the probable location of those trapped.

Till Wednesday, about 120 metres of slush from the mouth of the tunnel was cleared and those trapped inside were stated to be located somewhere at 180 metres, where the tunnel takes a slip or a turn.

"More slush and water coming from inside the tunnel is making the way ahead difficult," Pandey had said on Wednesday.

ITBP chief SS Deswal had told PTI on Wednesday that his men and those from other agencies will continue with the rescue operation till "any length of time" or till a logical conclusion is arrived at and the trapped workers are located.

He had expressed hope that those trapped inside might be safe with the help of possible air vents in the structure.

An officer said that no doubt that those trapped inside must be in a bad situation without food and water, but there is "hope against hope that they are surviving somehow as the temperature inside the tunnel is about 20-25 degrees Celsius and some oxygen is possibly available to them."

The Public Relations Office (Defence) in Lucknow tweeted:

#UPDATE: #Uttarakhand #HADROps :arrow_right: Chinook helicopters were utilised today to transport men, material & heavy loads towards rescue ops :arrow_right: 14 passengers and 1400 kg load was carried for NDRF and SDRF :arrow_right: 3T load and 5 personnel of BRO were also transported to forward locations pic.twitter.com/X0x2I5xZrb  PRO Defence Lucknow (@ProDefLko) February 11, 2021

Workers at the 480-MW Tapovan-Vishnugad hydel power project of the NTPC got trapped after a surge of water in the Alaknanda river system.

Apart from the over 450 personnel from the ITBP, the NDRF, the SDRF and the Army, the family members of those possibly trapped inside have stayed put outside the tunnel in anticipation of some news.

At the Tapovan press briefing, Garhwal Commissioner Raman was asked about reports of rising water level in the upper reaches of Rishiganga. The official said he had no authentic information, terming it as no more than a "rumour" at that point. Just then, fresh information came in and the press conference dispersed.

"Our strategy is evolving as the situation unfolds," he told reporters later. "We are coordinating with NTPC officials and scientists in running the rescue operation," he said.

Garhwal Range DIG Niru Garg said, "As you can see, all the agencies are working with perfect coordination with a resolve to save as many lives as possible."

When asked about the possible condition of those trapped in the tunnel for over four days, another official said, "I am a technical person. I wouldn't hazard a guess. But as the Governor said, let's all pray to Badri Vishal (Lord Vishnu) that all of them are safe."

Uttarakhand governor faces ire of families

Meanwhile, Uttarakhand governor Baby Rani Maurya, who visited the site to take stock of the rescue work had to face the ire of the kin of those trapped inside the tunnel, reported news agency PTI.

The families waiting for over four days to be reunited with their loved ones broke down before the governor, seeking her intervention to expedite the rescue operations at the tunnel.

The worried relatives also claimed that some of the machines were not working properly, slowing the pace of the rescue effort. Some also claimed that all the effort was focused on the tunnel, and not on finding people who went missing from the barrage at the same hydel project.

Maurya asked them to be patient as relentless efforts were on to rescue those trapped inside the tunnel. "A multi-agency rescue operation has been going on. No effort is being spared. People should be patient," she said.

Rawat okays relocation of 50 families

Even as rescue efforts are underway and the state grapples with the effects of Sunday's disaster, Uttarakhand chief minister Trivendra Singh Rawat gave the go-ahead to relocate over 50 families living in areas extremely vulnerable to natural disasters in four districts of the state.

Rawat cleared the proposal by the Disaster Management Department to relocate and rehabilitate 30 families from Uttarkashi, 13 from Chamoli and four each from Bageshwar and Tehri districts, an official release.

The families belong to Astal village in Uttarkashi, Faldia and Saned in Chamoli, Malladesh in Bageshwar and Bethan in Tehri district, it said.

The chief minister also gave his consent to release the funds required for the purpose, the release added.

AAP MP demands higher compensation

Also on Thursday, AAP MP Sanjay Singh in the Rajya Sabha raised a demand for increasing the compensation to the victims of the flash flood.

"The compensation amount should be at least Rs 25 lakh," Singh said, adding that the compensation should also be paid for the property damaged in the disaster.

The Uttarakhand chief minister had announced a compensation of Rs four lakh to the kin of the deceased while Prime Minister Narendra Modi had approved Rs two lakh ex-gratia from the PMNRF each to the next of kin of those who lost their lives.

Raising the issue through a Zero Hour mention, the AAP MP claimed 173 persons are still missing and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel are carrying out rescue operations.

Police teams continue search operations

Meanwhile, eight teams of the Uttarakhand Police continued searching operation from Reni to Srinagar in the Chamoli district, according to a tweet by the Press Information Bureau in Uttarakhand.

"Search is being carried out by drone and motorboat. Also, a dog squad team of the SDRF is also present at the spot," it said in a tweet.

With inputs from PTI
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Valentines Day isnt just for romantic relationships  its also an opportunity to get revenge.

Several zoos, including the Bronx Zoo and the San Antonio Zoo, are allowing people to name a cockroach after their ex.

NAME-A-ROACH

Returning this year to the Bronx Zoo is Name-A-Roach, giving people the opportunity to symbolically name one of its 10,000-plus giant Madagascar hissing cockroaches after an ex.

The Madagascar hissing cockroaches are the worlds largest roach species  reaching nearly four inches long. They get their name because of the hissing noise they emit as a defense mechanism.

You can name a cockroach for a one-time $15 donation.

The gift comes with a colorful certificate emailed to your loved one announcing a cockroach was named in his or her honor. For a $35 donation, you can send a printable certificate along with a roach plush gift. A $60 donation includes the certificate, roach plush, and a romantic Valentines virtual encounter with a roach and a special surprise animal guest.

All orders can be placed at www.bronxzoo.com/roach.

The Bronx Zoo has been offering Name-A-Roach for Valentines Day since 2011, and thousands of people from around the world have named a cockroach after a loved one or an ex, according to the zoo. Previous names chosen have been inspired by politics, music, movies and more.

Proceeds will help benefit the Wildlife Conservation Society and the Bronx Zoo in its mission to save wildlife in New York and around the world.

CRY ME A COCKROACH

The San Antonio Zoo is letting people name a cockroach after an ex and feed it to an animal on Valentines Day. The Texas-based zoo is hosting its second annual Cry Me a Cockroach event this year, allowing people to name a cockroach after an ex for a one-time $5 donation.

You will be able to symbolically name a cockroach after your ex, and we will serve it up as an enrichment treat to one of our animals for only $5, the zoo said on its website.

And if youre willing to spend just a bit more money, you could even name a pre-frozen rodent for $25, and the zoo will feed it to a reptile. Youll also get a certificate after your purchase to share on social media if youre feeling brave. New this year is a herbivore option that could be fed to one of the zoos mammals.

The best part? You dont need to go to the zoo to join in on the fun.

On Valentines Day, the zoo will live stream its Cry Me a Cockroach feeding frenzy on its Facebook page and website, https://sazoo.org/valentine/, which will include a feast by zoo birds and reptiles. Only names submitted through the San Antonio Zoos website will be featured. All names will be submitted anonymously, and only first names will be displayed during the feeding event.

You can go here to purchase a cockroach or rodent at the San Antonio Zoo.

FOLLOW ANNALISE KNUDSON ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER.


ALBANY  Assembly Republicans continued to press for an investigation into the state's COVID-19 policies in nursing homes in a Thursday morning press conference, highlighting their efforts to peel off Democratic committee votes to issue subpoenas to the Department of Health.

People like to talk the talk about getting accountability and answers, and its time now to walk the walk," said Assemblyman Kevin Byrne, a Brewster Republican. "The Legislature is a co-equal branch of government and we should start acting like it.

The Republicans participating in the event decried their Democratic colleagues and Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, who have described the outcry for nursing home subpoenas as a political gambit to attack the majority party. They said that a closed-door briefing held by Cuomo earlier in the week to provide information about COVID-19 in nursing homes was not enough to answer all of their questions, and because it was only attended by Democrats, it raised the specter of politicizing the issue for Democrats, rather than Republicans.

It seems like theyre circling the wagons and trying to get their stories straight about how theyre going to react to this," said Assembly Minority Leader William Barclay.

Assemblyman John McDonald, a Cohoes pharmacist and chair of his chamber's investigations committee, attended the closed-door meeting.

To me it was a meeting long overdue," he said, emphasizing that he did not want to defend the delay in the information being shared with the Legislature.

"Theres a breakdown in the accuracy of the information, and I will say this, that component I find to be legitimate," McDonald said, adding that tracking people who move from different types of facilities, such as from nursing home to hospitals, can be particularly complex in New York. "As one of the few who is actually a practitioner, I actually understand the difficulties they had at getting to an accurate number."

He said he didn't support hearings being held right now, when the DOH is still collecting information and when the likelihood is at its highest of them being used as a "political witch hunt."

As the process evolves, I am very open to having a hearing. I think its something that we should be having. I also think that its something we should have with all the information," he said.

The crux of the issue is an executive order from Cuomo last March directing that nursing homes must allow COVID-19 infected residents to return to the facilities if they had the ability to do so safely, which he has contended was consistent with federal regulations. Coronavirus then spread through the nursing homes, "like fire through dry grass," in Cuomo's memorable words. The state health department, led by Commissioner Howard Zucker, estimated throughout the pandemic that the ratio of nursing home fatalities in New York was low compared to other states. But those statements took place at a time when the state was not including the deaths of those who contracted the virus in nursing homes and were transferred to hospitals, where they died.

Outside groups and politicians from both political parties demanded a full accounting of the nursing home deaths, and Cuomo didn't provide it for months. Attorney General Letitia James released a report last month finding the governor's administration had undercounted deaths by as much as half. Zucker, after five months of declining to release data on nursing home fatalities, subsequently released the data confirming the attorney general's estimates.

Last week, Assembly Republicans circulated letters in three committees soliciting votes from Democrats to issue subpoenas to Zucker and the health department. If a majority of members in any of the committees agree, they can hold hearings without the approval of the leadership-backed committee chairs.

But Democrats in the Legislature have been reluctant to step forward and join the calls for an investigation.

The GOP assemblymembers were joined on Thursday's conference call by New Yorkers who have had loved ones pass away in nursing homes throughout the pandemic. They equated Cuomo's strict policies against visitation in the nursing homes to his policies for stemming the spread of COVID-19, saying that the emotional toll on their elderly loved ones without having in-person family visitations have also contributed to their deaths.

Vivian Zayas said her grandmother was a lifelong Democrat who had likely voted for Cuomo.

"I stated my mother was a Democrat not as a ploy but as a reminder that Democrat families were also impacted and demand answers for the pain we must presently endure," she said.

Gelsey Randazzo said her grandmother died at Edna Tina Wilson Living Center in Greece, Monroe County. She passed away in December, Randazzo said, after her family was unable to visit her for months. She had stopped eating and drinking. While the death certificate said natural causes, Randazzo and her family feel the true cause was "failure to thrive."

Why cant staff have rapid testing just as theres rapid testing going on at sporting events? You know staff are still reporting to work when theyre sick because theyre shorthanded. Theres so many things that need to be changed and weve been asking for change now for months and were a year in," Randazzo said. "To see everything open up, but the fact that families dont have access to their loved ones in their final season of life is just disturbing on every level to me.
She publicly revealed she was bisexual last year, following a brief stint on Bachelor in Paradise.

And on Tuesday, the ever-candid Abbie Chatfield, 25, opened up on her first intimate experience with a female when she was 19 - which didn't go exactly to plan.

Speaking on her podcast It's A Lot alongside her guest, TikTok star PeachPRC, Abbie began: 'I was in Amsterdam, and I was so f**ked up in a club.

Speaking out: On Tuesday, the ever-candid Abbie Chatfield, 25, opened up on her first intimate experience with a female when she was 19 - which didn't go exactly to plan

'I was with this girl all night, and we were holding hands and stuff - this was before I'd ever got with a girl, ever.'

After screaming with cringe and shouting it was 'so embarrassing', Abbie continued: 'I went to kiss her on the dance floor because I was f**ked up, and feeling feelings.

'But she goes "what the F**K are you doing?" and pushes me away.'

Not ideal: Abbie said that she attempted to kiss the female pal on the dance floor 'but she goes "what the F**K are you doing?" and pushes me away'

She added that the incident made her second guess her sexuality, and question if she was a 'fake'.

'Even when I get with girls, even when I'm having sex with them, I'm like - "am I pretending?"' she added.

Abbie first confirmed she was bisexual in July last year on Instagram, hours after her elimination from Bachelor In Paradise.

Out: Abbie came out as bisexual in a post on Instagram stories, hours after her elimination from Bachelor In Paradise

After a failed romance with Ciarran Stott on the show, Abbie wrote: 'FYI I'm bi so...'

She urged interested women to send her a direct message on Instagram, complaining only men seemed to hit on her.

'Women also pls [please] dm me?' she continued.

Abbie said at the time that she wasn't interested in the men who contacted her, and confessed she was 'very single and very horny'.
UK Needs New Law to Tackle Lobbyists From Hostile States: Report

The UK needs to create new laws that force agents of hostile, adversarial, and authoritarian states to register and disclose their activities in the UK, a new report says.

The report (pdf), published on Wednesday by Conservative MP Bob Seely and foreign policy and national security think tank the Henry Jackson Society, said the UKs archaic Lobbying Act is not capable of dealing with agents and proxies of foreign states.

The UK is influence peddlers paradise at the moment, Seely said on Wednesday during a report-launching webinar.

Hostile state activity, since the 1990s has become more subtle, more complex in many ways, and more broad.

Although its common for governments to use lobbying to influence other countries, a number of hostile, adversarial, and authoritarian statesincluding, but not limited to, China and Russiahave utilised lobbying as part of their operations to undermine the West, the report reads.

These operations take place in the so-called grey zone between peace and war, where the distinction between state and non-state, the public and private domains, have grown increasingly blurred.

The report recommends the UK government adopts new laws to tackle foreign interference from hostile states, including elite capture, media or social media campaigns, and campaigns to influence elections and policies.

The U.S. Foreign Agents Registration Act and the Australian Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme Act (FITSA) are cited as examples after which the UK could model its new laws.

Australian High Commissioner to the UK George Brandis QC told the webinar that he was the attorney general who was tasked by the then-Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to develop the FITSA and the Espionage and Foreign Interference Act.

Both of those pieces of legislation were designed in consultation with the other Five Eyes nations, including, of course, the United Kingdom, he said.

Australian author Clive Hamilton said the legislations has had some effect in his opinion.

In talking about the prophylactic effect,  my perception is, as an expert in foreign interference, Chinese, CCP [Chinese Communist Party], interference in Australia, there does appear to be some change in the modus operandi of China in Australia, he said.

Edward Lucas, a senior fellow at the Center for European Policy Analysis, said that smaller states such as Finland and Czech Republic also have a lot to offer in terms of countering foreign interference, as they have been dealing with this for longer and more deeply than the UK has.
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Britain will only begin to emerge from lockdown at the end of May, if it follows the Israeli roadmap for defeating coronavirus.

Israel has started implementing a three-stage plan to exit draconian Covid restrictions  similar to the blueprint Boris Johnson is set to lay out on February 22.

Israeli officials hope to let non-essential shops, gyms and libraries reopen within a fortnight. But ministers will only give the move the green light on February 23 if 90 per cent of over-50s have been vaccinated and at least a third of the country have had their booster dose. Infection rates must also continue to plummet.

Under the same lockdown-easing plan, pubs, cafes and restaurants won't be allowed to welcome customers again until March 9  by which time 95 per cent of over-50s must have been jabbed. Four million Israelis  roughly 45 per cent of the country  will also need to have had their top-up jab.

Were Number 10 to follow Israel's model, non-essential shops wouldn't reopen until late May because of how long it would take to vaccinate the 17million Britons aged 50-70 who are next on the NHS priority list. Pubs, restaurants and hotels would have to wait until early June.

Schools could start from roughly the middle of May, as per the Israeli system which requires 70 per cent of over-50s to be fully vaccinated before kids go back to class. But the Prime Minister has pledged to reopen schools from March 8.

FOLLOWING ISRAEL'S THREE-STAGE PLAN: Were Britain to emulate Israel's timeline, non-essential shops, gyms, museums and libraries would reopen in late May; but pubs, cafes, restaurants and hotels would have to wait until early June. Schools could start from roughly the middle of May, as per the Israeli system which demands 70 per cent of over-50s are fully vaccinated before kids go back to class

Benjamin Netanyahu Prime Minister of Israel meets Boris Johnson outside Number 10 in September 2019

Israel's 'green pass' to grant freedom to the immune Israel plans to open up some hotels, gyms and other leisure facilities in two weeks for those who have a 'green pass.' The passport will be issued in an official app for smartphones and allow people who have received the jab, recovered from Covid or tested negative in the last 72 hours certain freedoms. Initially dubbed 'Green Passport,' the system has been renamed 'Green Pass' in an apparent bid to head off speculation that it would also enable unfettered travel abroad. From February 23, those with a Green Pass can visit malls, gyms, hotels and museums. From March 6, those with the Green Pass will be allowed to attend larger events and stay at hotels. Advertisement

These dates for the UK are borne out in modelling by the University of Warwick which was passed to Sage a few weeks ago.

It argued that the best way for Britain to prevent another surge in Covid deaths was to keep the national lockdown going until the end of May and then recommence the social distancing rules in September until the end of 2021.

Mr Johnson has said he will unveil his plan for liberating Britain on at the end of February and the Department for Education has signalled an intention for schools to go back on March 8.

If Britain were to go along with Israel's proposals but amend them to require only one dose of the vaccine, then the goalposts could be shifted to a late February date for schools and non-essential retail, and to the middle of March for restaurants and cafes.

Britain and Israel are leading the world in dishing out doses, though the proportion of Israelis vaccinated is far higher at 41.6 per cent compared to 18.6 per cent.

The disparity is starker still if you consider fully vaccinated, or those who have received two jabs: 25.7 per cent for Israel and just 0.76 per cent for Britain.

The British cabinet will also need to consider the efficacy of the vaccines in the UK.

Whereas Israel is exclusively using Pfizer jabs, Britain is heavily reliant on the AstraZeneca vaccine which is not thought to offer the same level of protection.

Pfizer's dose is believed to confer better immunity to the South African and Brazilian mutant variants which are causing grave fears in Downing Street.

However, scientists including Jonathan Van-Tam have pointed out that this will likely not be relevant over the next few months because it is the UK variant which will remain dominant.

Although these mutant strains have already arrived in Britain, until more vaccines are doled out they do not stand a chance of becoming dominant.

It is only when immunity builds up against the foremost variant in the UK that these new mutations will become prevalent, as they are able to overwhelm the vaccine.

The first stage of Israel's three-stage plan began on Sunday when it started easing swingeing lockdown restrictions which it had extended throughout the winter due to a wave of infections, The Times of Israel reported.

Israel's new cases in hospital for the over-60s plunged after the second dose was administered

New positive cases have dived after the second dose and a new lockdown were imposed on Israel

The top 30 countries where the highest number of doses of the Covid-19 vaccine have been administered, with the UK in third place. The data was from Our World in Data, which monitors the vaccines rollout across the world

And this is the number of doses administered as a percentage of the population covered. Experts have said to achieve 'herd immunity', where the virus stops spreading', around 85 per cent need to be vaccinated. The data is from Our World in Data

People are now allowed to travel more than 1,000 yards away from their homes, can visit nature reserves and can buy takeaway food in store  rather than delivery only.

Crucially this stage focuses on reopening education, with nurseries and primary school children to return in cities with 'green' or 'yellow' morbidity ratings  the government's colour coding system throughout the pandemic.

Those children in orange cities can return as long as 70 per cent of the city's population over the age of 50 has been vaccinated.

This first stage of the plan was approved by the cabinet on Tuesday after the preconditions were met for two million people to have had the jab, 80 per cent of over-50s to have had it, under 1,100 critical Covid cases in the country and an R-rate of less than 1.

The second stage of Israel's plan is scheduled for February 23, so long as 3 million people are fully vaccinated, 90 per cent of over-50s are immunised and there are less than 900 critical Covid cases and the R-rate is less than 1.

This stage allows for middle school children to go back to class, as well as sixth formers, in cities with a green or yellow rating, and in orange cities where 70 per cent of the populace has been jabbed.

All non-essential stores will be open throughout the country for all citizens, while malls, gyms, hotels and museums will welcome only those with a 'Green Pass'  a permit given to those who have been vaccinated, recovered from Covid, or who have had a negative test result in the last 72 hours.

The final stage is estimated to begin on March 3, when the health ministry hopes that 4 million of the 9 million population will have been fully inoculated, 95 per cent of those being over 50 years old, and that serious Covid cases and the R-rate are stable and falling.

It allows for cafes and restaurants to reopen, with larger event and hotels opening for those carrying the 'Green Pass.'

It allows for all remaining secondary school children to go back to school in green and yellow cities and in orange if 70 per cent of the population has been vaccinated.

The second and third stages of the plan outlined above remain only in draft phase and have not yet been passed as legislation.

Israel recorded 7,778 new coronavirus infections on Monday, with the fast-spreading British variant blamed for the continued high-rates of infection in the country.

However, they have now vaccinated 40 per cent of the country and more than a quarter of Israelis have received both Pfizer doses.

The country's total death toll from the disease is just 5,257 fatalities.
New Delhi: Two MPs of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Nishikant Dubey and PP Chaudhary submitted a notice for breach of privilege motion in Lok Sabha against All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) MP Mahua Moitra for her comments on former Chief Justice of India in Lok Sabha on February 8.

The two BJP ministers called her remarks as an `adverse statement` and submitted a letter to the Speaker of the House saying, "Mahua Moitra, Member of Parliament, AITC party on February 8, 2021, made an adverse statement in her speech on Motion of Thanks on the President`s Address discussed on the floor of the House with respect to the conduct of the then Chief Justice of India, Shri Ranjan Gogoi in the discharge of his duties."

The letter further stated that the mandate of Article 121 bars Parliament discussion on the conduct of Judges of the Supreme court and High Court while discharging their duties, and Moitra's speech is now available on the YouTube, Twitter handle and other social media platforms.

Therefore, the statement made on the floor of the House relating to the conduct of the then Chief Justice of India while discharging his duties and uploading the same on social media platforms constitutes a breach of privilege of this House by the concerned Member of Parliament," it added.

On February 8, Moitra, during her speech in Lok Sabha while moving a Motion of Thanks to President`s Address made some serious allegations against the judiciary and though she did not take names but the referrence was apparent to a former CJI .

Her remarks pertaining to the judiciary were later expunged from the proceedings.

Live TV
MOSCOW (Reuters) - A European human rights advocate has asked Russia to explain reports police used excessive force to disperse anti-Kremlin protests and committed rights abuses, and reminded Moscow of peoples' right to freedom of assembly.

More than 11,000 people were detained at protests in recent weeks over the arrest and imprisonment of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, according to non-governmental group OVD-Info, which monitors arrests during mass protests.

Dunja Mijatovic, the Council of Europe's Human Rights Commissioner, said the number of detainees was unprecedented, citing OVD-Info's figures.

In a letter addressed to Russian Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev, dated Feb. 5 and published on Thursday, she expressed dismay over reports of police beatings, including attacks on dozens of journalists.

She said many detainees had complained about the lack of food, drinking water, timely access to sanitary facilities, heating and appropriate sleeping places due to overcrowding, as well as being denied legal or medical assistance.

"Such a situation, if confirmed, amounts to inhuman and degrading treatment and should stop immediately," said Mijatovic.

The Kremlin has denied repression by police and said any cases of alleged police brutality are being looked into but that there have been more cases of riot police officers being attacked by protesters than vice versa.

The interior ministry, which is in charge of the police, did not immediately comment.

Navalny was jailed this month for parole violations, charges he said were trumped up and politically motivated. He was poisoned in Siberia with what many Western countries said was a nerve agent. The Kremlin questions whether he was poisoned.

Mijatovic urged Kolokoltsev to use his authority to stop the practice of apprehending individuals exercising their right to peaceful assembly and bring policing of demonstrations in line with applicable human rights standards.

Story continues

The Council of Europe, Europe's main human rights forum, has 47 member states including Russia. All are signatories to the European Convention on Human Rights.

(Removes duplicated word in 9th paragraph)

(Reporting by Anton Zverev; Writing by Alexander Marrow, Editing by Timothy Heritage)
Senator Josh Hawleys wife said she stood on her front porch and confronted some 20 protesters shouting through bullhorns while she held her seven-week-old daughter in what she called an assault on our home.

Erin Morrow Hawley, a conservative lawyer who is married to the Republican from Missouri, described the frightening January 4 incident that prompted her to make a criminal complaint to police in Fairfax County, Virginia.

I was home alone with my then seven-week-old daughter, she told Fox News.

We were curled up on a basement couch shamelessly watching a Hallmark movie (my husband and boys were back home in Missouri) when the sound of angry voices drowned out the TV.

Erin Morrow Hawley, a conservative lawyer and the wife of Senator Josh Hawley, a Republican from Missouri, are pictured above. Erin told Fox News that she confronted protesters outside her home while holding her seven-week-old daughter Abigail in her arms

On January 4, around a dozen protesters descended on the Hawley's Virginia home. The protesters were filmed chanting and shouting through megaphones before writing on the sidewalk with chalk and walking up to the couple's doorstep

Hawley, who serves as the junior senator from Missouri, was out of state at the time, but his wife, Erin, and their baby were inside the three-story home as the demonstration took place in Fairfax County, Virginia

I walked upstairs to see approximately 20 protesters standing in front of our house shouting through bullhorns,' according to Hawley. One of the protesters is seen above

I walked upstairs to see approximately 20 protesters standing in front of our house shouting through bullhorns.

I stepped outside, baby in arms, and asked them to leave, saying we had a newborn and neighbors.

They refused, and I took Abbi back downstairs.

Video from the event shows about a dozen protesters chanting and shouting through megaphones before writing on the sidewalk with chalk and walking up to the couple's doorstep.

The protesters were angered by the senator's plans to object to Electoral College counts confirming that Joe Biden won the Presidential election.

Police were called to the premises and the crowd was dispersed.

At the time, law enforcement officials described the protesters as 'peaceful' and there were no reports of arrests.

The protest of about 15 activists was organized by Shutdown DC. The group posted a more than 50-minute video of what it called a 'Vigil For Democracy.'

While the demonstrators mostly stayed on the public street and sidewalk, at one point four people walked onto Hawleys property to place a pamphlet on his front door.

The group said it was a copy of the Constitution.

The video shows activists writing in chalk on the sidewalk, but it doesnt show any damage to his Vienna, Virginia, home.

Officer Juan Vazquez, a spokesman for the Vienna, Virginia police, said officers responded to the scene and informed the demonstrators they were committing three violations.

The activists left eight minutes later without incident or any arrests.

'It was a minor event,' Vazquez said.

'Basically we got a call saying there was some sort of protest in front of a residence in our town  The group was maybe 15 to 20 people.'

Shutdown DC claimed that there were about 12 activists there.

Erin Hawley filed a police complaint in a Fairfax County court on Friday, with the defendant identified as Patrick Young (pictured). Young, who describes himself on Twitter as an 'organizer, agitator and educator,' says he has heard nothing about the criminal complaint

Josh Hawley, who serves as the junior senator from Missouri, was out of state at the time, but his wife and their six-week-old daughter Abigail were inside the three-story home as the demonstration took place.

I heard yelling and pounding and came back upstairs to see at least three large men at my door blocking my entire front porch and shouting "Come out, come out" into their bullhorns, Erin Hawley told Fox News.

She said she was invited to stay with a neighbor but she declined since I would have had to walk through the protesters, and didnt think it safe.

According to Erin, it took about 15 minutes for police to arrive on the scene.

That seems like a long time when you are alone with a baby, she said. It would have been interminable were my young boys homes.

The couple has two young sons in addition to their infant daughter.

When police arrived, they told the protesters that they were violating laws against graffiti on public property, noise ordinance, and residential picketing.

Erin said: The assault on our home, followed by weeks of personal attacks on our family (from the simple, but sinister, "watch your back," to much more colorful and descriptive texts, emails, and phone calls) are not civil discourse.

They are just meant to frighten.

She added: The protesters left after about another half hour - littering our front lawn with signs and the sidewalk in front of our house with chalk graffiti - but not before threatening to return morning, noon, and night.

Erin said that she then drove to the airport to pick up her two sons, though they did not return home.

I picked up the boys from the airport that afternoon and we went to stay somewhere safe, she said.

Erin Hawley said that she feared for her safety. When she went to pick up her two young sons at the airport later that day, she said they all spent the night in a different home. Elijah and Blaise, the couple's two young sons, are seen above with their parents

Words cannot express how thankful I am that our boys were not with me that night,' Erin Hawley said. They would have been terrified

The boys still think it was a fun, surprise sleepover.

Words cannot express how thankful I am that our boys were not with me that night.

They would have been terrified.

The police spokesman said there were no reports from residents of property damage.

'We dont know of any property that was damaged,' Vazquez said.

'They didnt report it at the time we went there.'

Erin hit out at critics who accused her and her husband of overreacting by calling the family snowflakes.

She mentioned that a spokesperson for the police department described the protest as peaceful even though the spokesperson was not on the scene.

It is true, thankfully, that no one was injured, Erin said.

But the 45-minute video posted by the protesters clearly belies the protesters "candle-light vigil" description.

She added: And wasnt that really the point? Why else would protesters come armed with bullhorns to a family home at dark?

What other purpose to staging a night-time protest if not to terrorize the almost-certainly-to-be-home family?

Hawley claimed his family were 'threatened' and 'terrorized' during by demonstrators

Erin said that in order to protect our home she filed a criminal complaint against the protest leader while noting that he is a self-described agitator.

In her complaint to police, the agitator was identified as Patrick Young.

On Friday, Young told ABC News he had heard nothing about a criminal complaint.

According to the news network, a magistrate found 'probable cause' to issue a misdemeanor summons in the case.

Young subsequently released a statement saying: 'If a summons has been issued, it is outrageous that a rich and powerful person - a United States senator - can go to their magistrate to get a summons to harass a normal person'.

While Erin doesnt make specific allegations against Young, she does claim that her husbands political opponents made threats to her safety as well as those of her children on social media.

Social media may provide anonymity, but it does not make it OK to threaten rape or death, she said.

And it should go without saying that threatening innocent children - one barely two months old - should be off-limits.

Erin said she was appreciative of friends and neighbors who offered her shelter and removed the graffiti from the sidewalk so her children wouldnt see.

All of this makes my heart ache for the world my children - our children - are growing up in, she said.

But all is not lost.

The demonstration did little to deter Hawley from voting against confirming the Electoral College count on January 6 - two days after the protest. He is pictured giving a salute to supporters on the day

Hawley (pictured with President Trump last November) objected to the Electoral College Count confirming Joe Biden won the 2020 election

When I am tempted to fear who might show up at our door, or what the media might say, Ill remember the friend who left home so quickly to be with Abbi and me during the protest that she showed up in socks.

Ill remember the friends who scrubbed our sidewalk in the cold time and again so that our boys would not see the nasty inscriptions.

Ill remember the neighbor who offered her home as a refuge during the protest and the neighbor who took pictures of a serial vandals license plates.

After the protest, the senator subsequently tweeted: 'Tonight while I was in Missouri, Antifa scumbags came to our place in DC and threatened my wife and newborn daughter, who cant travel.'

'They screamed threats, vandalized, and tried to pound open our door. Let me be clear: My family & I will not be intimidated'.

He later added that his family was 'terrorized'.

The demonstration did little to deter Hawley from voting against confirming the Electoral College count on January 6 - two days after the protest.

The Missouri senator even chose to go ahead with his objection to the vote in spite of the siege on the US Capitol Building which occurred the same day.

Hundreds of violent Trump supporters stormed into the building on January 6, just hours after Hawley spoke at President Trump's 'Stop the Steal' rally.

Hawley has been married to his wife Erin since 2010.

The couple has two sons, Elijah and Blaise, and a daughter, Abigail, born in November of last year.

Erin is an associate professor of law at the University of Missouri.
In order for a drug to be effective at the right places in the body, it helps if scientists can predict as accurately as possible how the molecules of that drug will interact with human cells. In a joint research project, scientists from Collaborative Research Centre 1423 at Leipzig University and the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Shanghai have succeeded in elucidating such a structure, namely that of the neuropeptide Y receptor Y2 with one of its ligands.

This is the first time that a molecular blueprint for this receptor is available, which will enable the development of tailor-made new drugs, for example to treat epilepsy or cardiovascular diseases. The researchers' findings have now been published in Nature Communications.

The Y2 receptor plays an important role, especially in the peripheral nervous system and in the brain, as it is considered one of the "satiety receptors". It also plays a role in epilepsy as well as in cardiovascular diseases. If these diseases are to be treated with drugs that block the Y2 receptor, it is important to ensure that the drug can target this receptor precisely and exclusively, because some closely related receptors would have exactly the opposite effect. When developing novel drugs, it is therefore essential to obtain highly targeted compounds and to have precise knowledge of their molecular properties.

Researchers led by Professor Annette Beck-Sickinger and Dr Anette Kaiser at Leipzig University have succeeded in showing on the molecular level how substances can block the Y2 receptor. Working with their colleagues in Shanghai, they were able to explain the crystal structure with a bound ligand, validate it by means of numerous biochemical investigations, and transfer it to other systems.

The new study also reveals that Y2 receptor blockers bind differently than comparable molecules at the closely related Y1 subtype. This will facilitate further knowledge-based development of selective compounds at both receptors.

The investigation of this receptor family with its endogenous ligands as well as other clinically relevant compounds is one focus of Collaborative Research Centre 1423. The CRC 1423 is a research project being funded for four years by the German Research Foundation (DFG), in which four funding institutions are involved: Leipzig University, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Charite - Universitatsmedizin Berlin and the Max Delbruck Center for Molecular Medicine.

Researchers from these institutions with backgrounds in biochemistry, biomedicine and computational science are collaborating on an interdisciplinary basis to gain a comprehensive understanding of the effects of structural dynamics on the function of G protein-coupled receptors. The Collaborative Research Centre comprises a total of 19 sub-projects.
Photo taken on Sept. 24, 2015 shows the national flags of China (bottom) and the United States as well as the flag of Washington, D.C. on the Constitution Avenue in Washington, D.C., the United States. (Xinhua/Bao Dandan)

Chinese Consul General in New York Huang Ping expresses his appreciation for the above dignitaries to send their best wishes on the occasion of the Chinese Lunar New Year. He also highlights the Chinese people's determination and perseverance to write a new chapter in 2021 with their U.S. counterparts.

NEW YORK, Feb. 10 -- U.S. governors, educators, scholars, artists as well as business people have manifested their determination to strengthen the cooperation between the United States and China in the upcoming Year of the Ox, while expressing their appreciation for the contributions made by the Chinese American community to this country.

Steve Orlins, president of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, said that the Ox symbolizes hardwork, persistence and honesty in Chinese culture, and for over 50 years, the committee's work has embodied those qualities.

"In this new year, in the spirit of the Ox, my National Committee colleagues and I will continue to work hard in building U.S.-China dialogues and exchanges, and improving the bilateral relationship," he added.

Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker said he is pleased to join the celebration, and wants to take a moment to wish those in the Chinese community throughout the Commonwealth a very happy Chinese Lunar New Year.

"We are proud to have such a vibrant piece of that culture here in the Commonwealth and especially in Boston. We are grateful for our continued friendship and collaboration," added the governor.

Lieutenant Governor of New York State Kathy Hochul said that she is very proud that New York State serves as the hub of rich culture and diversity, and it's home to more than 600,000 Chinese.

"We recognize that our strength comes through our diversity and that comes through the immigrants who have found their way here and built this country. That is why there is no room for xenophobia or hate in our state," she said.

"New York State stands with the Chinese community because together, we'll defeat COVID-19, and come back even stronger," added Hochul.

Harvard University President Lawrence Bacow conveyed a message that Harvard remains firm in its support of the collaborations that it has developed with scientists and researchers across China, some new and some going back in the years.

"Only by working together in mutual good faith, can we succeed in advancing the frontiers of knowledge and addressing the challenges we face in building a shared future that is safe, free, and fair for all," said Bacow.

"I also want you to know that Harvard remains committed to welcoming to our campus Chinese students and scholars in all fields of study, as we do from scholars and students from all over the world," he added.

Henry Lee, professor emeritus at University of New Haven, on this occasion showed his "deepest gratitude and appreciation" to all the Chinese in the United States.

"You are true the pillar of our community. You are the capstone of harmony. We work hard. We are honest and put the community together in such integrity," he added.

Tony Malkin, CEO, president and chairman of the Empire State Realty Trust, confirmed the message that the Empire State Building will be lit in red on Feb. 10 from sunset until 2 am to celebrate this significant holiday.

"We are proud that this lighting continues to celebrate not only the Lunar New Year, but also the ongoing partnership between the Empire State Building and the Chinese people, and the people of Chinese descent all around the world," he added.

Matias Tarnoposky, president and CEO of the Philadelphia Orchestra, said that the orchestra first connected with the people of China nearly 50 years ago.

"We value the people-to-people exchange through music that has marked our relationship since then. In these unprecedented times, it is important to remember the power the music has to bring us together now and in the future," he said.

"Music is a unifying, equalizing force," he added.

Clive Gillinson, executive and artistic director of Carnegie Hall, said that now more than ever, music serves as an inspiring bridge between peoples and cultures especially during a time of great distancing for most of us.

"May the Year of the Ox bring us all many opportunities to expand our partnership and continue our work together, to advance mutual cultural celebration both here and abroad," he added.

Chinese Consul General in New York Huang Ping expressed his appreciation for the above dignitaries to send their best wishes on the occasion of the Chinese Lunar New Year. He also highlighted the Chinese people's determination and perseverance to write a new chapter in 2021 with their U.S. counterparts.

"In spite of the dark clouds overshadowing China-U.S. relations in the past year, the two peoples supported each other in fighting the pandemic, put hearts together to overcome difficulties and preserve the bonds of people-to-people exchanges," he said.

"The spirit of mutual respect and win-win cooperation continue to prevail. The expectations for a sound and steady development of China-U.S. relations stay strong under new circumstances," he added.

The Chinese Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival, is the most important holiday for Chinese around the world. This year's Spring Festival falls on Feb. 12, which marks the beginning of the Year of the Ox.


In a move that could lead to friction with Ottawa, the Manitoba government has agreed to purchase two million doses of a yet-to-be-approved Canadian-made COVID-19 vaccine.

In a move that could lead to friction with Ottawa, the Manitoba government has agreed to purchase two million doses of a yet-to-be-approved Canadian-made COVID-19 vaccine.

The vaccine candidate is being developed by Providence Therapeutics in Alberta and is a messenger RNA vaccine, similar to approved products developed by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna.

According to the province, the first clinical trial of the vaccine is underway and Health Canada could approve its use later this year. If approved, it would be manufactured and packaged in Winnipeg at Emergent BioSolutions at the University of Manitoba's Smartpark campus.

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Premier Brian Pallister announced Thursday Manitoba is side-stepping the federal government to independently purchase two million doses of a yet-to-be approved COVID-19 vaccine that will be manufactured in Canada.

At a news conference Thursday, Premier Brian Pallister said "the No. 1 limiting factor" in protecting Manitobans from the coronavirus is the availability of vaccines.

"We will do everything we can to protect Manitobans from this deadly virus," he said.

Supply disruptions caused by manufacturing slowdowns at overseas facilities have recently choked the flow of the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech products to Canada.

The federal government has so far controlled the distribution of vaccines in Canada.

Federal officials have suggested vaccine companies prefer to deal with national governments instead of provinces or corporations. The Trudeau government has said it came up with the fairest process possible, and pledged to distribute vaccines to each province and territory on a per capita basis, with some adjustment for vulnerable populations such as remote and Indigenous communities.

"I don't anticipate that there'd be any kind of petulance on the part of the prime minister because a premier was showing some initiative and trying to get some vaccines for the people of his province."  Brian Pallister

Manitoba has long sought to secure its own supplies, and Pallister touted the province's "preliminary agreement" with Providence Therapeutics as "a made-in-Canada" solution.

He noted that health care is, constitutionally, the responsibility of provinces, and he doubted Ottawa would interfere with the purchase.

"I don't anticipate that there'd be any kind of petulance on the part of the prime minister because a premier was showing some initiative and trying to get some vaccines for the people of his province," he said.

Pallister said he has invited other premiers and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to join Manitoba in developing a Canadian-made solution.

Manitoba will release full contract details once the agreement is finalized, he said.

JESSE BOILY / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS The Emergent BioSolutions facility at 155 Innovation Drive where vaccine manufacturing and packaging is planned to be done.

The province will make a downpayment of 20 per cent of the value of the deal and pay an additional 40 per cent once the vaccine is approved by Health Canada. The rest of the money will flow upon final delivery of the vaccine orders, the premier said.

The agreement ensures Manitoba receives the first 200,000 doses of the new vaccine as soon as it is approved for sale in Canada.

The deal also guarantees that Manitoba will not pay more for the product than other governments, Pallister said.

According to the province, if the vaccine is no longer needed by the time it is available, a replacement buyer will be sought.

"If the required clinical testing is done and Health Canada approval is obtained, then I can only see an upside for Canadians to have this capacity domestically"  Dr. Anand Kumar

Dr. Anand Kumar, a Winnipeg intensive care specialist with training in infectious diseases, said the technology involved in manufacturing mRNA vaccines is relatively simple.

"If the required clinical testing is done and Health Canada approval is obtained, then I can only see an upside for Canadians to have this capacity domestically," he said.

MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS FILES NDP leader Wab Kinew.

NDP Leader Wab Kinew also welcomed the announcement, saying the Progressive Conservative government is "being proactive for once" during the pandemic.

The question now is whether the government can deliver on its promise, he said.

While the premier might be trying to pick a fight with Ottawa over vaccine supplies, Kinew said he hopes the federal government doesn't oblige.

"I think we need domestic vaccine production capability here in Canada, and if this helps to accomplish that, then I think that's something we should welcome and support," the Opposition leader said.

Providence's chief executive officer said the company has been talking with other provinces as well.

"I think we need domestic vaccine production capability here in Canada, and if this helps to accomplish that, then I think that's something we should welcome and support."  NDP Leader Wab Kinew

"The provinces are very keen to have security of supply. They're very keen to see this made in Canada," Brad Sorenson said.

Sorenson has asked the federal government for a similar deal but has not received an answer.

In a statement, Public Services and Procurement Minister Anita Anand said, "At no point has the federal government prevented provinces from undertaking their own (vaccine) procurements."

"We have secured vaccines for all Canadians who wish to be vaccinated by the end of September 2021, if not before. Canadas shipment of the Pfizer vaccine for next week is expected to more than quadruple this weeks delivery, with shipments on track to accelerate," she said.

"Our government will continue to support domestic research, development and biomanufacturing of COVID-19 vaccines," she added.

 with files from Dylan Robertson and The Canadian Press

larry.kusch@freepress.mb.ca

danielle.dasilva@freepress.mb.ca

Danielle Da Silva

Reporter Danielle Da Silva is a general assignment reporter. Read full biography

Nkrumah Bonner scored an unbeaten half-century as the West Indies and Bangladesh shared the honours on the opening day of the second and final Test in Dhaka on Thursday.

Bonner struck six fours in a patient 74 not out which guided the West Indies to 223-5 at stumps after skipper Kraigg Brathwaite won the toss and elected to bat first at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka.

"Every innings I play, I put pressure on myself," said Bonner who also scored 86 in the second innings of the first Test in Chattogram.

"We get paid to make runs and to be consistent. That's exactly what I am trying to do."

"I think this wicket has a little more bounce, but it is similar (to Chattogram). So basically it is the same game plan."

Wicketkeeper-batsman Joshua Da Silva was unbeaten on 22 alongside Bonner at the close.

Pace bowler Abu Jayed and left-arm spinner Taijul Islam took two wickets each for Bangladesh, who must win the match to square the two-Test series.

Opener Brathwaite hit a solid 47 from 122 balls as the West Indies seized an early momentum, before the hosts clawed their way back into the contest.

Taijul made the first breakthrough, dismissing John Campbell lbw for 36 to end his 66-run opening stand with Brathwaite. Campbell reviewed the decision in vain after he attempted a sweep off a flighted delivery only to miss the line.

- 'Golden arm' -

West Indies reached 84-1 at lunch but Shayne Moseley dragged a delivery from Jayed on to his stumps soon after to be bowled for seven.

Occasional pace bowler Soumya Sarkar came into the attack and produced his 'golden arm' first ball, inducing an edge from Brathwaite whose attempted cut flew to Najmul Hossain at first slip.

Brathwaite, who hit four fours in his dogged innnings, was suitably disappointed to depart to his first loose shot of the day.

Kyle Mayers, who batted for just under seven hours in scoring his match-winning 210 not out in the first Test, was less of a problem for the Bangladeshi bowlers this time.

Story continues

The 28-year-old from Barbados made just five from 18 balls before nibbling at a wide dleivery from Jayed and edging to Soumya at slip.

At 116-4 West Indies were in a spot of trouble but a 62-run partnership for the fifth wicket between Bonner and Jermaine Blackwood set them back on track.

Taijul took a catch off his own bowling in the final session to remove Blackwood for 28 but Bonner and Da Silva added 45 to take West Indies through to the close.

"If you see the scoreboard, you will find they scored just 223 runs in 90 overs in this wicket," said Jayed who finished the day with 2-46 from 18 overs.

"I think its 50-50 for both teams."

The West Indies lead the two-match series 1-0 after winning the first Test in Chattogram by three wickets.

str/sa/bsp
The third stimulus check has a lot transpiring on the subject of stimulus tests this week. The House is currently debating a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief proposal, which involves a third stimulus check for a maximum of $1,400 per individual. This includes many seniors.

Third Stimulus Check for the Elderly

The massive stimulus package involves much relief for American workers and businesses in the wake of COVID-19. It offers provisions to help senior citizens.

The stimulus check is expected to be received by tens of millions of older adults and can be approved within weeks. However, bipartisan support could be difficult to achieve if former President Donald Trump's current impeachment trial further divides the Senate, reported CNET.

Tax season adds a layer of urgency, which officially commences on Friday. This is when you could claim money missing from your first or second stimulus check even if you do not typically declare taxes, reported Hebergement Webs.

The stimulus bill was previously approved by the Senate. It is slated to be voted on by the House of Representatives on Friday.

It is designated to provide a one-time payment to offer financial assistance to Americans. There is no age cutoff. One would be eligible even if they receive Social Security benefits, so long as they meet the income limits, reported Lehigh Valley Live.

Without GOP support, Democrats could make efforts to pass the bill a different way, with a new series of checks accompanying it.

If you or any of your dependents will qualify for the full amount, there will likely be a number of changes from the first two rounds.

Also Read: Biden, Open to Sending $1,400 Stimulus Checks to Smaller Groups

Who does the IRS Regard as a Senior?

The Internal Revenue Service considers anyone 65 or over at the end of 2019 is regarded as a senior on their taxes that year and beyond.

For the first and second stimulus checks, if you qualify for stimulus funding (and if you did, how much money you could receive) was conditional on if you were regarded as a dependent and on your adjusted gross income, or AGI, from your tax return federal for 2019.

Rules for Senior Citizens

The guidelines for senior citizens will be the same as other people. The federal government will assess your tax return in 2019 to see if you are eligible.

If you have investments or a pension that is taxable, those will impact your AGI, and therefore your qualification for a stimulus check. The same rule applies to interest from a bank account.

Changes

There are many ways that qualifications might be altered with a third stimulus check. President Joe Biden's proposal also includes payment for a maximum of $ 1,400 for all dependent, regardless of age, to be included in the household total. This means if you are supporting an adult child, you could be able to get a higher dunning check balance in the next round if this eligibility is part of the final invoice.

Single taxpayers filers who have altered gross income a maximum of $75,000 will receive a $1,200 benefit.

Related Article: Delayed Stimulus Checks: What You Need To Know

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Cattle farmers in the country have longed complain about lack of water for their animals for far too long. Many a times, government and ministry concern turned deaf ears to calls and plead lodged by these farmers.

We all know the importance of water especially in ensuring nutrient for cattle. Experts believe that water accounts for 50% to 80% of an animal's weight and is involved in every physiological process. Therefore, cattle must have free access to all the quality water they need to consume.

Because without it, feed intake greatly decreases, the animal becomes dehydrated and body functions fail.

However, due to increasing human and animal population couple with the huge demand for water, many people these days are grappling with acute water shortage and on varying magnitude.

It is in the news that farmers of Sare Gubu Basiru in Sandu District of the Upper River Region north are faced with acute water shortage to feed their animal population.

Suffice it to state here that inadequate water supply for their livestock is one of the most horrible challenges for all cattle owners in Africa. In search of water especially in the wet season sometimes lead to clashes between farmers in many developing countries and The Gambia included, even though it is reported on the small scale.

The URR community with a cattle population of approximately three thousand is one of the few areas in the country highly blessed with animals.

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With only one small-tank borehole for all the livestock including goats, sheep, and cattle, it appears that this village need immediate support to save its animal life. Let's not forget about the importance of animals in the development of any nation.

In search of water and grazing lands has forced many farmers in the area to relocate their herds of cattle to places in Nianija, Niani and Sami districts.

We call on Government on the Ministry concern to act immediate and help farmers in this area. To mitigate the challenge facing cattle owners, there is an urgent need for government to provide proper water-borne pipe to ensure sufficient water for the livestock.

Government and the ministries of Environment, Water Resources and Climate Change and Agriculture should make it a duty to construct boreholes and water point for cattle farmers in the area. This will significantly reduce the daily hardship endured by this farmer in accessing water for their herds of cattle.

Until then, these farmers would continue to cry for water to feed their animal. We should remember that any prolonged water shortage in the area may cause the death of many animals, which will certainly reduce the country animal population.

"I do not believe there was ever a life more attractive than life on a cattle farm...."
Catherine Lewis La Torre, who was appointed chief executive of the British Business Bank (BBB) in September, is at the heart of the struggle to keep companies afloat in the pandemic.

The BBB administers the emergency loans offered to businesses to help them weather the crisis.

It is also behind the Future Fund, which is aimed at helping start-up firms with loans that can be converted into equity.

Banking on the women: Lewis La Torre was appointed chief executive of the British Business Bank in September

'We all know how important small and medium firms are for the economy and how important they will be going into the recovery,' Lewis La Torre says.

The BBB, a state-owned economic development bank, was set up by the Government in 2014, with the aim of increasing the supply of credit to small and medium firms to help them grow.

It is sometimes seen as the UK's answer to Germany's highly successful KfW, the Kreditanstalt fur Wiederaufbau, which was set up to fund recovery after the war.

The BBB mainly targets its assistance to companies with a turnover of up to 25million and it doesn't lend directly to firms, but works through the banks. The idea is that it expands access to funding to firms that might otherwise slip through the net of the commercial lenders.

Until last year, however, the BBB hovered largely below the radar.

'The profile has been raised in the past year because of the response to the Covid crisis,' says Lewis La Torre.

'Our balance sheet has increased almost tenfold. We had a balance sheet of 75billion, which is an amazing number compared with where we started the financial year with about 8billion.

'The expansion is largely due to the Covid lending, and the Future Fund, which targets high growth tech businesses.'

The fund, now closed to applications, was announced by Chancellor Rishi Sunak in April.

It offered loans from 125,000 to 5million, subject to matched funding from private investors. She rejects criticism that the UK response was slow compared to other countries.

Alison Rose, left, became chief exec of Natwest in November 2019 while Debbie Crosbie, right, took over at TSB in May 2019

'We were able to do it quite quickly. Maybe we could have done it quicker but now there are 65billion of government guaranteed loans to more than 1.5m small and medium firms, so I think a lot of those concerns in the early days have gone away.'

There has also been alarm over high levels of suspected fraud among applicants for the loans, with stories of crooks setting up bogus firms to apply for debt they have no intention of repaying.

'There is an element of fraud. There has always been fraud and there will always be bad actors. There was a trade-off between rolling out schemes rapidly and putting in controls against fraudulent use,' she says.

'And we need to distinguish between fraud and companies that took out loans in good faith but are unable to repay.'

Lewis La Torre joined the BBB after a 25-year career in private equity. She was born in the Rhondda Valley and still has a slight Welsh lilt, despite having moved to Leicester aged 11.

She studied economics at the LSE, and 'accidentally' moved into venture capital when her first ambition, journalism, didn't work out.

Life took a different turn when, whilst working in Brussels, she met and married a 'very lovely man' in the Italian Military Police. The couple moved to Rome, which 'meant a whole change in my carefully mapped career. I didn't speak Italian and had to learn very quickly.'

She eventually got a job with the private equity division of Italian bank Unicredit, developing activities internationally. The next move was setting up a fund management business in Helsinki 'with a bunch of Finns and Scandis.'

It was there that she had her daughter Vanessa, now aged 16. 'The business was growing very quickly and we decided it was the right time to have children.

'My colleagues at the time were perfectly fine with that, it was the culture of the firm.'

Welsh tech entrepreneur Anne Boden is the founder and CEO of fintech bank Starling

Lewis La Torre is very keen on helping the Prime Minister's agenda of levelling up poorer regions of the country, and getting funding to businesses in areas that have in the past missed out.

'We have set up a number of regional funds in the North, Midlands and South West. They provide microfinance, loans and equity and can structure finance for individual companies.'

She is also conscious that firms led by women sometimes struggle to raise the finance they need to grow, as do those run by BAME founders.

Does it make a difference that there are a number of female chief executives of British banks  herself, Alison Rose at Natwest, Debbie Crosbie at TSB and Anne Boden at fintech bank Starling?

'It is very important that a group of women have made their way to the top, as we are role models. As women too often we are inclined to say it is difficult, we can't do it  but yes you can.

'We are doing research at the BBB into why it is so difficult for women to raise venture capital. There are lots of reasons and no one solution. Entrepreneurs from BAME backgrounds, particularly black entrepreneurs, also find it harder to raise capital.

'Of course it is a huge loss of talent to the economy and a waste. If every entrepreneur with a good idea had the finance they need, what would that mean in terms of jobs and growth? It would be enormous.

With women and with BAME entrepreneurs we are looking at a huge wasted opportunity, huge economic waste.'

Many of the businesses of the future, she says, will be tech-based and will not require large amounts of capital to get off the ground.

'One thing that is positive about the crisis is that it has accelerated tech trends, including virtual working. We can understand more what the future looks like.

'We can't rely on old solutions, the economy has changed and won't look like the past.'

One change is that private debt  lending by non-banks such as venture capital funds or other providers of finance  is likely to be an increasingly important source of funding for firms post-Covid.

A BBB report has found 18.4billion of private debt in 2018 and 2019, the vast bulk of it outside London. She is excited about Sunak's plan to set up a national infrastructure bank.

'Infrastructure is a big part of the building back greener agenda. There is a role we can play in helping small and medium businesses transition to greener business models.,' she says.

Small and medium firms will, she says, fire up the recovery.

'I am an optimist. There is a lot of pent-up demand that will drive the economy. It is our role to make sure the finance for small and medium enterprises is there.

'This has been brutal for many people's lives and livelihoods but we will see a bounce back and heave a collective sigh of relief.'

In his more than two years as secretary of state, Mike Pompeo pulled no punches against China, regularly criticizing it for human rights abuses, military aggressions and the spread of the coronavirus.

But when it came to passing out party favors, Mr. Pompeo relied on the country to help produce the perfect pen.

Documents released on Thursday show that Mr. Pompeo used taxpayer funds to buy 400 specially embossed pens, worth more than $10,000 in total, for guests who attended private dinners at the State Department as he mulled his political future.

The pens were the topic of several weeks of correspondence in 2018 between unidentified State Department employees and a Florida-based vendor who was hired to design souvenirs for the so-called Madison Dinners that Mr. Pompeo and his wife, Susan, hosted.

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Diane Edith Watson: The Iconic Living Legend of Los Angeles Politics

Diane Edith Watson has lived a full life and shows no signs of slowing down. On the morning of our interview, the 87-years-young legendary political icon had already been on the phone with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, was coordinating her pink and green wardrobe for the inauguration of her Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority sister, Kamala Harris, and had already spoken with a cadre of Washington D.C. leaders, all in the hopes that the retired congresswoman was feeling up to making the journey to the January Presidential Inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.

The iconic political leader still spends her days (although quarantined) on the phone talking, mentoring and issuing advice to some of the most influential leaders from Los Angeles to Washington D.C. Over her five decades in public service, Diane Watson has been a school board member, a California senator, a member of the U.S. Congress, and has served as a U.S. Ambassador. She has traveled the world and believes that understanding the culture, mentality and customs around the world, has played a large part in allowing her to understand and succeed in all of her positions, over her long and heralded political career.

In an interview with The Sentinel, Watson spoke about her life and says that the basis of her acts-of-service comes from her upbringing and the support and lessons learned from her family. She was born in Los Angeles in County General Hospital. Her father, William Allen Louis Watson, was one of the first Black officers hired in LAPD and she says her mother, Dorothy Elizabeth ONeal Watson, was an educator and one of the organizers of Holman United Methodist Church on Adams Blvd., although Watson is and has remained, to the day, a devout Catholic and member of Transfiguration Catholic Church.

Watson grew up near 27th Street and Arlington Avenue, in what she describes as a very diverse neighborhood in South L.A., and after graduating from Dorsey High School, attended UCLA. She says she took the bus from her neighborhood to Westwood every day. Because as she explains, In our house, education was a requirement, not an option. And while she is certainly a loyal Bruin, she is and has always been a seeker of education and has gone on to receive a Masters Degree from Cal State Los Angeles, a doctorate from Claremont Graduate School, and completed courses in public policy from Harvard and Columbia University.

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In 1956, after graduating from UCLA, Watson became a public-school teacher in Los Angeles and later rose to the position of assistant principal in 1969. During that time, she also held visiting-teacher positions in France and in Japan. By 1971, Watson worked as a Los Angeles Unified School District health education specialist, where she focused on mental health issues helping students with learning disabilities to transition into the working world.

In 1974, Watson was approached by then Los Angeles City Councilmember David Cunningham and one of her mothers oldest and dearest friends, in an attempt to recruit her to run for a seat on the Los Angeles School Board. A position and a career path that she had no interest in seeking and originally refused. When Dave first came to my office and asked me to run for the school board, I told him no. I wasnt interested in serving on the school board or running for any elected office. But, as history reveals, and as the former school board member jokes, I obviously lost that argument. In 1975, Watson won the election and was sworn in as the first African American woman elected to a seat on the Los Angeles Unified School District Board. Elected during the height of the citys school busing controversy, Watson became the leading proponent of court-ordered busing to end racial segregation throughout the sprawling district.

In 1978, Watson gave up her school board seat to run for the California State Senate, a seat that she overwhelmingly won with over 70 percent of the vote. Watson served in the California legislature from 1978 to 1998. The longtime chair of the Health and Human Services Committee gained a reputation as an advocate for healthcare, for the poor and for children. Watson served as chair of the Senate Health and Human Services committee for over 20 years. It was in that capacity that I witnessed, firsthand, the power of her service to us all as California residents. As the first Black woman elected to the CA State Senate, she fought tirelessly to expand access to healthcare services for those who otherwise couldnt afford it.

She elevated issues such as Black infant mortality and was an early supporter of policies to prevent the tobacco industry from targeting the Black community with advertising. She was a fighter for good her entire career in public service and I will always be grateful for her selfless mentorship, said Mitchell Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. She was the first African American woman in the California State Senate. Although extremely popular and a political favorite throughout her Senate district, Watson left the State Senate in 1998 due to term limits.

However, Watson did not remain unemployed or out of public service for long. Upon leaving the Senate, she was immediately called upon by then, President Bill Clinton, who asked her to serve as the United States Ambassador to the Federated States of Micronesia, a small cluster of four Island states spread across the western Pacific Ocean.

After two years of serving as Ambassador to Micronesia, Watson returned home to Los Angeles where upon immediately exiting the aircraft, she was greeted by a throng of reporters who met her at the luggage area in LAX, where she announced returning home to run in the April 2001 special Democratic primary election for the vacated 32nd Congressional District seat of Julian Dixon, who had suddenly died in office five months earlier. She won with 33 percent of the vote in a multi-candidate field, then carried the district with 75 percent of the vote in the June 2001 special election.

Watson represented the 32nd, which later became the 33rd Congressional District, which stretched from South Central Los Angeles to the wealthy Los Feliz neighborhood. But Watson was such a popular representative of the district, that she ran unopposed in the 2006 election and remained in office until 2011 when she retired. While serving as a member of Congress, Watson was a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and the Congressional Black Caucus, and in 2006 was ranked by the National Journal as the most liberal member of Congress in the nation.

Diane Watson was never a political leader nor was she a teacher who was only about herself; she believed that part of her role as an elected official was not just to take care of herself, but she also felt an obligation to serve as a mentor/teacher who could and would uplift those around her. The list of the former staff members and political leaders she has mentored reads like a whos who of political leaders; todays political mentees include Congresswoman Karen Bass who ran to fill her vacated congressional seat following Watsons retirement in 2011. Prior to becoming a member of Congress, Bass served in the California Assembly and was the first and only African American women to be elected as California Speaker.

Ambassador Watson has long been a mentor to me, back to my days as a community organizer. And like a true organizer herself, she always lifts as she climbs. She saw that the California Assembly had no Black women in office in the mid-2000s and she informed me that I was going to run for that job. She spoke at the ceremony when I was sworn in as Speaker. You know, shes a former school teacher and she has a way of just expecting you to do what she says, kind but absolutely firm. She did the same thing again when she retired from Congress, telling me I would run for her seat. She has always advised and supported me  but it isnt just me. She has played a pivotal role in recruiting, encouraging and supporting Black women in elected office for decades. She is justifiably revered in our community; not just for what she has done in the past but what she continues to do in advancing the interests of our community and making sure our needs get met. Shes an absolute hero and Im honored and privileged to be able to seek her counsel, stated Congresswoman Karen Bass. Current Los Angeles County Supervisor and former California State Senator Holly Mitchell, as well as current Compton City Councilwoman Michelle Chambers, both started their political careers serving on the staff of Diane Watson.

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You may call her Senator, Ambassador, Congresswoman or simply Diane. No matter how you addressed her, you always knew you were addressing a woman who cared and she always seized the opportunity to educate you during any conversation. Her compassion to educating others on public policy was her priority. She always wanted to equip the next generation of leadership with the defense mechanisms necessary to combat injustices and overcome any disadvantages or obstacles in your way. She made sure we understood that our job was to hold ourselves and others accountable for our actions and to fight for justice, equality and the humanity of all we served. Dianes purpose, leadership and legacy has defined why we, as a people, have a right to fight and we must continue to fight and demand our right for EQUAL RIGHTS! I am honored to say I know her; I will honor her teachings in the work that I do for those I serve and I LOVE her for that she has given me throughout our years together, shared

Compton Council Member Michelle Chambers.

Watson says that she was driven to help her staff understand and believe that anything was possible. Because I was often the first elected to a position, I had a responsibility to ensure that my team knew they could and would do whatever they wanted to do. Borrowing a quote from her friend and sorority sister, Vice President Kamala Harris, Watson restated the quote I may have been the first, but I will not be the last, noted the former Senator.

She encourages young and aspiring political leaders to get out and socialize with your neighbors, get to know your community-members and work to understand their lives, their challenges and their expectations. This will help formulate your legislative positions and help you to lead your community on the issues that most matter and will fuel your political career, stated Watson. Following this motto has led the former school board member (ret.), state senator (ret.), U.S. Ambassador (ret.) and U.S. Congresswoman (ret.), to have a full and very successful political career. Although now retired (she says for good), the 87-years-young community icon says that while the pandemic has shut down her many social events and gatherings that she used to attend on a weekly basis, she wants to let her friends and supporters know she is staying safe, doing well and looks forward to the day we can all get back together, soon.


DUBAI : Yemens Houthi rebels on Wednesday targeted an airport in southwestern Saudi Arabia with bomb-laden drones, causing a civilian plane on the tarmac to catch fire, the kingdom's state television reported. The attack threatened to escalate Yemen's grinding war.

No one was hurt in the assault, but the damaged passenger plane at Abha airport served as a powerful reminder of the danger that Houthi rebels pose to Saudi Arabia, which nearly six years ago launched a bombing campaign that has devastated the Arab world's poorest country.

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The Iran-aligned Houthis soon claimed responsibility for the assault, with military spokesman Yehia Sarea stressing that the Houthis consider Abha airport to be a military, not civilian, target.

This targeting comes in response to the continued aerial bombardment and the brutal siege of our country," Sarea said, adding the group attacked with four bomb-laden drones.

Col. Turki al-Maliki, the spokesman for the Saudi-led military coalition fighting in Yemen, said forces earlier intercepted and destroyed two drones launched by Houthis toward the country's south. He condemned the assault as a systematic and deliberate attempt to target civilians."

Photographs later aired by Saudi state television showed the aircraft, a 3-year-old Airbus A320 flown by low-cost carrier FlyADeal. It appeared the drone had punched a hole through its fuselage, with scorch marks on the metal. An anchor on state television said there were no injuries on the ground from the fire. FlyADeal did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Since 2015, the Houthis battling the Saudi-led military coalition have targeted international airports, along with military installations and critical oil infrastructure, within Saudi Arabia. The Houthis repeatedly have used drones against Saudi Arabia, including crashing them into the kingdoms Patriot missile batteries, most recently on Sunday when the coalition said it intercepted five booby-trapped" drones. Those attacks, often striking near the southern cities of Abha and Jizan, have wounded dozens and killed at least one person in recent years.

As recently as late January, U.S. forces stationed at Prince Sultan Air Base near Riyadh trained Saudi troops on how to counter the threat posed by drones, which can fly low to the ground, evade radar and detonate against targets in the kingdom.

In November 2017, the Houthis even reached Riyadhs international airport, deep inside the kingdom. No one was hurt in the attack, which marked the first time that a Houthi missile had come so close to a heavily populated center. Riyadh is around 620 miles (1,000 kilometers) north of the border with Yemen.

Saudi officials have blamed Iran for providing ballistic missiles to the Houthis used in such attacks against the kingdom. Tehran denies arming to the Houthis, despite evidence to the contrary.

The attack late Wednesday afternoon reportedly was the first to impact a civilian aircraft at the facility. Flight-tracking websites showed delayed and canceled flights scheduled to either take off or land at the airport. Flights at Abha airport resumed some time after the attack.

U.S. State Department spokesperson Ned Price said Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with his counterparts in Saudi Arabia after the strike. He repeated U.S. assurances that America intends to help Saudi Arabia increase its ability to defend itself.

Houthi leaders will find themselves sorely mistaken if they think this administration is going to let up the pressure. ... They will come under significant pressure." He said the U.S. would have more to say about that in coming days.

White House spokesperson Jen Psaki condemned the attack, saying the Houthis continually demonstrate a desire to prolong the war."

U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said: Were very alarmed by the reports of drone attacks by the Houthis on the Abha Airport in Saudi Arabia, and we, of course, condemn all attacks that target civilians or civilian infrastructure."

In recent weeks, the Houthis have accelerated their push to wrest control of Yemen's oil-rich government stronghold of Marib and escalated their cross-border attacks on the kingdom. On Tuesday, U.N. envoy Martin Griffiths said he was extremely concerned" about hostilities in Marib, especially at a time of renewed diplomatic momentum."

On Wednesday, Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan met with the new U.S. special envoy to Yemen Timothy Lenderking, Saudi state-run media reported, to discuss efforts to reach a political solution to the conflict.

Yemen's war started in 2014, when the rebels seized the capital, Sanaa, and much of the country's north. Saudi Arabia, along with the United Arab Emirates and other countries, intervened months later to dislodge the Houthis and restore the internationally recognized government. The war has killed some 130,000 people and spawned the worlds worst humanitarian disaster.

President Joe Biden has turned a spotlight on the brutal conflict, declaring last week that the United States would end its support of the Saudi-led military offensive, including relevant" arms sales. The administration has also moved to lift a terrorist designation against the Houthis, citing the need to mitigate Yemen's humanitarian crisis.

But Biden stressed that the U.S. would continue to help Saudi Arabia defend itself against outside attacks, as part of maintaining key security, counterterrorism and military ties with the kingdom, a strategic partner and global oil giant.

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The late Anne Feely (nee Walton)

The death has occurred of Anne Feely (nee Walton), 17 Frenchcourt, Strokestown, Roscommon / Kilkenny City, Kilkenny. Late of Creeve, Elphin and Inchiholohan House, Kilkenny. Peacefully after a short illness at the Midland Regional Hospital, Mullingar. Predeceased by her parents Tom and Breda and her brother Billy. Anne will be sadly missed by her heartbroken husband James, brothers Simon, Tom, Richard, Brendan and Jimmy, sisters Marguerite, Marita, Regina and Angela, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, aunt Margot, uncles Joe and Tommy, nieces, nephews, grand-nieces, grand-nephews, relatives, neighbours and friends.



Anne's funeral cortege will leave Brady's Funeral Home, Elphin on Saturday morning, February 13 at 11.30am to arrive at St Patrick's Church, Elphin for funeral Mass at noon. Burial afterwards in Caldra Cemetery. Anne's funeral Mass can be viewed on https://churchtv.ie/elphin.html and is available on local radio 106.6FM. Due to Covid-19 restrictions and with the co-operation of the family Anne's funeral Mass and burial is private. The family are extremely grateful for your support and understanding at this sad time. If you would like to send a message of sympathy, please click on the 'condolences' link on RIP.ie.

The late Maureen Granger (nee Walsh)

The death has occurred of Maureen Granger (nee Walsh), East Wall, Dublin / formerly of Emil  Mooncoin, Kilkenny) February 9, peacefully at the Mater Hospital. Beloved wife of the Late Mortimer. Maureen will be deeply missed by her loving nephew Thomas and niece Esther, her extended nieces and nephews, many family members and neighbouring friends in the community.

Due to Government advice regarding public gatherings, a private family funeral service will take place. To those who would have liked to attend the funeral, but due to current restrictions cannot, please leave your condolences at the bottom of this page or send on condolences by traditional manner. Please do not send flowers, instead donate to a Charity of your choice to help them continue their valued work for others. The Funeral Service can be viewed on Friday morning, February, 12 at 11.40am via the following link https://www.mcnmedia.tv/cameras/glasnevin-cemetery

PLEASE NOTE:- The above link is provided and managed by an independent streaming company. The Funeral Home accepts no responsibility for its functionality or any interruption to a live service.

The late Thomas Greene

The death has occurred of Thomas Greene, Shanbough, New Ross, Kilkenny / New Ross, Wexford. February 10. Beloved husband of the late Kitty, father of Brid, Pat, Mairead and the late Carmel. Deeply regretted by his loving family, sister Nan, brothers Johnnie and Mikie, grandchildren Tom, Lia and Eva, son-in-law David, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law his many nieces, nephews, relatives, friends and neighbours.

In accordance with Government / HSE guidelines a private family funeral will take place on Friday, February 12 at 11am in The Church of The Assumption Rosbercon with burial afterwards in the adjoining cemetery. Requiem Mass can be viewed on Rosbercon Parish Facebook Page live at 11am https://www.faceboook.com/Rosberconparish

Thomas' funeral cortege wiil leave his residence in Shanbough at 10.40am en route to Rosbercon giving neighbours & friends an opportunity to pay their respects. Please leave a message of condolence at the section at RIP.ie. Thank you for your understanding in these difficult times.

The late Edward (Eddie) Holohan

The death has occurred of Edward (Eddie) Holohan, Donaguile, Castlecomer, Kilkenny and formerly Holohans Newsagents, Kilkenny Street, Castlecomer. February 9 peacefully at his residence surrounded by his loving family. Edward beloved husband of Catherine ( Katty ) and much loved father of Helena, Noreen, Catherine, Eamon and John, grandchildren, great grandchildren, brother, sisters, sisters -in -law, nephews, nieces, relatives and friends.

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 Edward. Private removal will take place to the Church of The Immaculate Conception Castlecomer on Thursday, February 11 at 6pm. Those wishing to support his family may do so by being present, socially distanced on the route from Edwardss home to the Church. Requiem Mass on Friday, February 12 at 11am in The Church of The Immaculate Conception Castlecomer. Interment afterwards in the Crosshill Cemetery. (Maximum of 10 persons permitted in the Church and Cemetery). Requiem Mass can be viewed on the parish webcam at https://www.castlecomerparish.ie/webcam

Those wishing to leave a message of condolence for Edwards family can do so in the condolence section on RIP.ie. The family would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their understanding and support in these difficult days.

The late Elizabeth (Lillian) Lee (nee Mc Inerney)

The death has occurred of Elizabeth (Lillian) Lee (nee Mc Inerney) Late of the Belfry, Thomastown, Kilkenny / Bray / and Limerick. Beloved wife of Frank, much loved mother of Aiden, Maurice, Kathleen and the late Yvonne. Wonderful Nana to her 12 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, dear sister of Anita, Paula, Maureen, Sean, Raymond, Joseph and Aiden. Sadly missed and lovingly remembered by her husband, sons, daughters, step daughters (Suzanne, Catherine and Valerie), daughters in law (Fiona and Catherine), grandchildren, great-grandchildren, sisters, brothers, sister in law, brothers in law, nieces and nephews and extended family and friends.

In keeping with current HSE and Government guidelines a private family funeral will take place on Saturday at noon in the Church of the Assumption, Thomastown, Co Kilkenny followed by burial in St Mary's New cemetery, Thomastown, Kilkenny. Lillian's funeral Mass can be viewed online at https://thomastownparish.ie/webcam/. A message of sympathy can be left by using the Condolence option below. House is strictly private please.

The late Mary Joan (Joanie) Phelan (nee Sheils)

The death has occurred of Mary Joan (Joanie) Phelan (nee Sheils), Richmond, Surrey, UK / late of Nuncio Road, Kilkenny. October 5, 1941- January 12, 2021. Born in New York, Joanie, after the passing of both her parents, along with her brothers Tommy and Mally , moved to live in Kilkenny with their aunt Nellie Hickey and their cousin Hughie Sheils on Nuncio Road. While both her brothers moved back to the US, Joanie moved to England where she married Kilkenny man Leo Phelan. A beloved mother to Leo Jnr, she will be sadly missed by her cherished family, and many, many dear friends, spanning the decades, right across the northern hemisphere, in both directions.

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 Joanie (max of 10 people). Her funeral will arrive at St Patrick's Church on Friday, February 12 evening for reception prayers at 7pm. Requiem Mass on Saturday at 11am. For those unable to attend due to current restrictions, all Funeral Services may be viewed online at www.stpatricksparishkilkenny.com

Those wishing to leave a message of condolence for Joanie's family can do so on RIP.ie. Joanie's family would like to thank everybody for their support and understanding in these difficult days.

The late Kathleen (Kitty) Reid (nee Foran)

The death has occurred of Kathleen (Kitty) Reid (nee Foran), 8 Comeragh View, Mooncoin, Kilkenny. Kitty passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family. Wife of the late Michael, sister of the late Michael. Deeply regretted by her loving son Michael, daughters Ann, Geraldine and Susan, sisters Anna, Mary, Esther, Joanie, Betty, Marcie, Eily and Teresa, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

In accordance with current government guidelines regarding public gatherings. Kittys remains will arrive on Friday at the Church of the Assumption Mooncoin, (via her residence) for private Funeral Mass at noon. Burial after in the adjoining cemetery. Those wishing to leave a message of condolence for the Reid family can use the on-line service at RIP.ie.
The federal government has scheduled another talk with members of the non-teaching staff of universities.

The meeting is to try and resolve the raging dispute between unions in the university system, the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities and Allied Institutions (NASU) and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) over the sharing formula for the N40 billion Earned Allowances recently approved by the federal government.

SSANU and NASU members are currently on strike to compel the government to address their demands.

A notice of today's meeting signed by the Deputy Director, Press, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Mr. Charles Akpan, said the

Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Ngige would host a conciliation meeting between the representatives of the federal government and the Joint Action Committee of NASU/SSANU.

Both ASUU and the other unions are currently embroiled in a tussle over who gets more allocation of the earned allowance.

While NASU and SSANU has accused the Federal Ministry of Education and the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation of unduly favouring ASUU in the disbursement of the fund, the leadership of the academic staff union countered that non-teaching staff were seeking to reap where they did not sow.

A joint action committee of SSANU and NASU listed some their grievances to include alleged discriminatory disbursement of the N40 billion earned allowances, inconsistencies in the implementation of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), non-payment of arrears of national minimum wage, delay in the renegotiation of FG/NASU and SSANU 2009 agreement and non-payment of retirement benefits of outgone members.

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Other issues in contention are the alleged usurpation of the headship of non-teaching units by the teaching staff in clear violation of condition of service and establishment procedures, neglect and poor funding of state universities and non-constitution of visitation panels for universities.

On its part, ASUU had said the N40 billion was meant to settle arrears of earned academic allowances due to its members.

The President of ASUU, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi, said the N40 billion was part of the agreement to end its nine-month nationwide industrial action.

At the last reconciliatory meeting between the federal government and the non-teaching staff unions, both sides agreed to set up a joint committee to resolve the dispute.
[February 11, 2021]

Asset Performance Management Market to Reach $7.52 Billion, Globally, by 2027 at 10.3% CAGR: Allied Market Research

- Increase in demand for automation in customer service and rise in smartphone penetration fuel the growth of the global asset performance management market

PORTLAND, Ore., Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Asset Performance Management Market by Component (Solutions and Services), Deployment Mode (Cloud and On-Premises), Organization Size (Large Enterprise and Small & Medium Enterprises), and Industry Vertical (Food & Beverages, IT & Telecom, Government & Defense, Healthcare & Life Sciences, Mining & Metals, Oils & Gas, Energy & Utilities, and Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20202027."According to the report, the global asset performance management industry was estimated at $3.46 billion in 2019, and is anticipated to hit $7.52 billion by 2027, registering a CAGR of 10.3% from 2020 to 2027.

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Drivers, restraints, and opportunities-

Increase in demand for automation in customer service and rise in smartphone penetration fuel the growth of the global asset performance management market. On the other hand, chances of failure in terms of coming with accurate responses impede the growth to some extent. However, gesture recognition technology and the feature of multi-language support in IVAs are expected to create an array of opportunities in the industry.

Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Asset Performance Management Market:

The outbreak of the pandemic led to growing adoption of remote working culture across the globe and there's also been a surge in the demand for cloud-based applications.

Accordingly, there's also been a steep increase in the need for risk-based maintenance among various industry verticals, which has impacted the global market for asset performance management positively.

Get detailed COVID-19 impact analysis on the Asset Performance Management Market: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-for-customization/7824?reqfor=covid

The software segment to dominate by 2027-

Based on component, the software segment accounted for nearly three-fifths of the global asset performance management market revenue in 2019, and is expected to maintain the lion's share by 2027. This is attributed to the factor that most of the organizations across the globe have started adopting asset performance management software to manage various problems in terms of maintenance of assets and obtain real-time information regarding the failure of assets beforehand. The services segment, on the other hand, would portray the fastest CAGR of 11.7% throughout the forecast peiod, owing to growing adoption of these services as they facilitate a complete view of decision making, business goals, rapid implementation of software, maximize the value of existing installation by optimizing it, and minimize the deployment cost & risks.







The on-premise segment to maintain the dominant share-

Based on deployment model, the on-premise segment contributed to nearly two-thirds of the global asset performance management market share in 2019, and is projected to rule the roost by the end of 2027. Increased adoption of on-premise based asset performance management software in public sector units and the aerospace & defense industry drive the segment growth. Simultaneously, the cloud segment would manifest the fastest CAGR of 12.7% during the forecast period. This is because it does not involve capital cost and requires low maintenance.

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North America garnered the major share in 2019-

Based on geography, North America garnered the major share in 2019, holding around two-fifths of the global asset performance management market, owing to high penetration of industrial internet of things (IIoT) and surge in use of artificial intelligence (AI) technology and other smart connected devices. At the same time, Asia-Pacific would exhibit the fastest CAGR of 14.2% from 2020 to 2027, due to growing need to increase in demand for predictive forecast services to reduce downtime of production.

Official Press Release: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/press-release/asset-performance-management-market.html

Key players in the industry-

ABB Group

Bentley System

GE digital

Infor Inc.

Oracle Corporation

SAP SE

IBM Corporation

SAS Institute Inc.

Siemens AG

Aveva Inc.

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The Daily Beast

Screenshot/YouTubeA Christian diet guru and six other people are presumed dead after her small plane crashed into the waters of Tennessee lake on Saturday morning. Authorities were called to the Percy Priest Lake around 11 a.m., not long after the plane took off from the nearby Smyrna Rutherford County Airport. Late Saturday evening, investigators said they believed all seven passengers had perished. The cause of the crash is still under investigation. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Joe Lara (@joelaraofficial) The plane, a Cessna C501, belonged Gwen Shamblin Lara, founder of the Remnant Fellowship Church and author of The Weigh Down Workshop, and her husband William J. Lara, who went by Joe. The couple lived in nearby Brentwood and had registered the plane via their company JL&GL Productions LP. The aircraft has not been located, but Tennessee Highway Patrol told News Channel 5 that officers located debris consistent with a Cessna C501 and that a small plane had been seen descending into the water near a boat ramp early Saturday.Laras daughter, Elizabeth Hannah, sent a text message to members of the Remnant Fellowship Church saying that her mother and father were aboard the aircraft when it was forced to make a quick, controlled landing. All the planes passengers had ties to the church, including Hannahs own husband Brandon, according to her text. The others aboard were David and Jennifer Martin and Jonathan and Jessica Walters, according to authorities.My brother and I are asking for immediate prayers right now, as we have just gotten word that Gwen and Joe Laras plane had to go down, Hannah wrote before authorities said everyone appeared to have been killed. More information to come, but be in prayerand be at peace, the message continued. GOD IS IN CONTROL, and we will not stop moving forward with WHAT GOD WANTS with this church.Read more at The Daily Beast.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.
Editor's take: Mastercard's pledge to support cryptocurrencies on its network this year is the latest indicator of increased acceptance of digital currencies among major financial firms. So long as consumer adoption pans out and regulatory hurdles don't derail the whole thing, it seems as though the future could be very bright for digital currencies.

Just days after electric automaker Tesla announced a $1.5 billion investment in Bitcoin that sent the cryptocurrencys value to record heights, another major player is gearing up to hit the field.

Mastercard said it is now preparing for the future of crypto and payments, announcing that it will start supporting select cryptocurrencies directly on its network this year. The financial services corporation didnt specify which digital assets it will embrace initially but did note that they will be very thoughtful about which assets they choose to adopt.

"Our philosophy on cryptocurrencies is straightforward: Its about choice. Mastercard isnt here to recommend you start using cryptocurrencies. But we are here to enable customers, merchants and businesses to move digital value  traditional or crypto  however they want. It should be your choice, its your money."

Mastercard said it is looking for four key items when considering what crypto to add to its network. Privacy and security are paramount, as are strict compliance protocols, including Know Your Customer, a requirement meant to snuff out illegal activity and deception in payment networks. The digital assets must also adhere to local laws and regulations where they are used and finally, they will need to offer the stability people need in a vehicle for spending, not investing.

Late last year, PayPal started letting users buy, hold and sell the big four cryptocurrencies on its platform: Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin and Bitcoin Cash. One would think that Mastercard would also be interested in these currencies but only time will tell.

Mastercard said supporting crypto is a big change that requires a lot of work and thus, didnt set a specific date for adoption outside of the general 2021 window.

In related news, Bank of New York Mellon on Thursday announced the formation of a new digital assets unit thatll be led by Mike Demissie. The team is currently developing a client-facing prototype that is designed to be the industry's first multi-asset digital custody and administration platform for traditional and digital assets, including cryptocurrencies.

Masthead credit Wit Olszewski
Did you know that hemp can be used as a sustainable alternative to textiles, wood and even concrete? That it was once so valued as a commodity it was accepted as payment for taxes in the state of Pennsylvania in the USA? Learn more about this versatile crop and how CNH Industrial is supporting its gradual re-emergence in North America from this latest episode in the Behind the Wheel series at: cnhindustrial.com/hempindustry

London, February 11, 2021

The video was shot on location at the New Holland Agriculture facility in New Holland, Pennsylvania, USA. The opening panoramic scenes show the 15 acres of industrial hemp, which was planted at the brand's on-site test farm for educational and analytical purposes. This test plot was used to provide valuable crop and soil data as well as a unique opportunity to study the crop cycle from planting to harvesting, which is the focus of this webisode.

New Holland Agriculture, a global agricultural brand of CNH Industrial N.V. (NYSE:CNHI / MI:CNHI), has been working with partners, the National Hemp Association and Penn State University, in a bid to raise awareness and educate producers about the benefits of this crop and its exciting potential for economic sustainability. The aerial footage of the hemp plantation gives an idea of the scale of this project and shows how New Holland products can be used throughout the entire cropping cycle. This is further testament to New Holland's commitment to help accelerate the return of hemp crops on farms across North America.

Through a series of interviews with experts from the National Hemp Association, Penn State University and the New Holland brand itself, the video highlights some of the benefits, challenges and opportunities associated with the campaign to turn this crop into a valuable commodity once more. CNH Industrial's support of the evolving hemp industry is another demonstration of the Company's commitment to promoting more sustainable agricultural practices.

Find out more about how CNH Industrial is supporting the growing hemp industry at: cnhindustrial.com/hempindustry

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Attachments
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) holds a copy of a 2019 speech by Linda Thomas-Greenfield that was delivered at the 'Confucius Institute' at Savannah State University, during the Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on the nomination of Thomas-Greenfield to be the United States Ambassador to the United Nations, in Washington on Jan. 27, 2021. (Michael Reynolds-Pool/Getty Images)

Cruz Condemns WHO for Parroting CCP Narrative That COVID-19 Didnt Originate in Wuhan Lab

Sen. Ted Cruz criticized the World Health Organization (WHO) for parroting the Chinese Communist Partys (CCP) narrative that COVID-19, the disease caused by the CCP virus, couldnt have initially spread from a Wuhan lab.

Shameful. At the outset of the pandemic, the WHO acted as a propagandist for communist China, echoing the CCPs lies, the Texas Republican said on Twitter on Feb. 10. Now, the WHO concludes that the virus did not accidentally escape from a Wuhan govt lab because  the CCP told them it didnt.

As a team of WHO experts wrapped up their trip on Feb. 9, Peter Embarek, a Danish scientist who led the WHO fact-finding mission, dismissed the claim that the CCP virus may have leaked from a local virology lab as extremely unlikely. Bats, he said, remained a likely source.

The laboratory incident hypothesis is extremely unlikely to explain the introduction of the virus into the human population, Embarek said. Therefore, [it] is not in the hypotheses that we will suggest for future studies.

Days before former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo left office, the State Department released a fact sheet stating that it had reason to believe several researchers from the Wuhan Institute of Virology exhibited COVID-19-like symptoms in autumn 2019, even as a senior virologist at the Chinese facility said otherwise.

The State Department on Feb. 9 cast doubt on the amount of transparency afforded to the WHO team during their time in Wuhan and said that the United States would present its conclusion after reviewing the full WHO report.

The team visited the lab on Feb. 3.

I think the report is shameful, Cruz told Fox News on Feb. 10. The WHO, instead of stepping in as medical professionals, instead of acting quickly to stop this pandemic  just echoed the lies from the Chinese Communist government.

Cruz alleged that the WHO assisted the Chinese regime in covering up the start of the Wuhan epidemic toward the end of 2019, which led to a lack of action to prevent international travel out of Wuhan, resulting in a full-blown pandemic.

The WHO didnt immediately respond to a request for comment by The Epoch Times.

An audit by congressional Republicans in September 2020 concluded that the CCP and the WHO are culpable for the spread of the virus, and the global pandemic could have likely been prevented had they acted differently.

The report by Republican members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee said that the CCP engaged in active coverup efforts of information surrounding the spread of the CCP virus, and the WHO enabled the cover-up by praising the CCP and parroting its talking points.

The Trump administration announced plans to withdraw from the WHO in July last year, amid criticism that the international body was acting at the behest of the Chinese regime.

Former President Donald Trump said the WHO failed to investigate credible reports from sources in Wuhan that conflicted with Beijings accounts about the viruss spread and parroted and publicly endorsed the theory that human-to-human transmission was not happening.

Upon taking office, President Joe Biden reversed Trumps decision to leave the WHO.

Separately, Chinese dissident Yuan Hongbing, an academic and vocal critic of the CCP, condemned the WHOs findings on the source of the pandemic as a farce staged by the Chinese regime, adding that the CCP is likely to leverage them to deflect responsibility for causing the global crisis.

The WHO team has said it could take years for health experts to fully understand the origins of the CCP virus.

Eva Fu contributed to this report.
Bennington, VT (05201)

Today

Rain likely. High 53F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a half an inch..

Tonight

Rain likely. Low 44F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a half an inch.

analysis

An Australian mining magnate has been dealt a bruising legal smackdown by the South African legal system which he sought to 'weaponise', seemingly to bully and silence lawyers and environmental activists. The landmark legal case is set to shape future laws and tame intimidatory legal tactics by corporations, known as SLAPP suits.

Australian mining company chief Mark Victor Caruso will be nursing a bruised ego and legal black eye today after Western Cape High Court deputy judge president Patricia Goliath ruled strongly against him and his company in the preliminary rounds of a protracted legal case in which he has claimed at least R14.5-million in damages for "defamation".

Caruso is the executive chairman of the Western Australia-based mining group Mineral Resources Commodities Limited (MRC) which has claimed punitive damages against three South African environmental attorneys and three community activists for defamation - or a written apology - after they voiced criticism against his company's controversial sand-mining venture at Xolobeni on the Eastern Cape's Wild Coast and the current Tormin operations on the West Coast.

Goliath said it appeared that the legal action for alleged defamation was not aimed at obtaining monetary or financial damages, but rather to silence critics of...
Software and hardware of networked embedded systems have to meet highest requirements in terms of safety, security, real-time capability, energy and resource efficiency. Within the XANDAR project coordinated by Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), eight partners from science and industry will develop a complete toolchain for software development and hardware/software integration for complex applications on future processor platforms, e.g. in autonomous vehicles or future urban-air mobility concepts. The European Commission funds the project with a total of about EUR 5 million.

Most computers work invisibly - as embedded systems in many different applications, such as automobiles, industrial machines, medical apparatuses, and household appliances. Future development of networked embedded systems for complex applications will significantly depend on artificial intelligence and machine learning. The software will not only fulfill special functions, but also has to meet so-called non-functional requirements, such as safety, security, dependability, accuracy, real-time capability, energy and resource efficiency. Autonomous vehicles and drones, for instance, must be protected against breakdown and unauthorized interventions in order to prevent damage to humans, machines, and the environment.

Stepwise Refinement

"The parameters relevant to non-functional requirements must be specified early in the hardware/software design process and implemented consistently in further cross-layer system integration," says Professor Jurgen Becker, Head of the Institute for Information Processing Technology (ITIV) at KIT. The scientist coordinates the new EU project XANDAR (X-by-Construction Design Framework for Engineering Autonomous & Distributed Real-time Embedded Software Systems). In XANDAR, researchers and industry developers will develop a mature toolchain to design software for networked embedded systems based on highly parallel hardware/software platforms with multi-core processors. These may be used in safety-critical automotive and avionics applications. For this purpose, XANDAR proposes the innovative approach "X-by-Construction." This method is a stepwise refinement process from specification to code, which not only generates the correct function automatically, but also considers non-functional requirements. "We will make available to system engineers and programmers a standardized toolchain to control automatized hardware/software integration according to all relevant criteria at early stages of the design process. With X-by-Construction, we will establish a new, integrated method to significantly improve quality, minimize risks, and reduce costs," says Becker, who leads the "Embedded Electronic Systems" team of ITIV.

Eight Partners across Europe

XANDAR started in early 2021 and is scheduled for a duration of three years. The European Commission funds the project with a total of about EUR 5 million under its "Horizon 2020" framework programme. The project consortium consists of eight universities, research institutions, and companies across Europe. KIT coordinates the project. At ITIV, scientists develop the core of the toolchain, enabling the handling of non-functional requirements in all steps of the proposed flow, from model-based design to task parallelization, to the final code on the platform. Other partners are the University of Peloponnese, AVN Innovative Technology Solutions Limited, the Queen's University of Belfast, Vector Informatik GmbH, fentISS, BMW, and the German Aerospace Center (DLR). (or)

###

Contact for this press release:

Johannes Wagner,

Press Officer,

Phone: +49 721 608-41175,

johannes.wagner@kit.edu

Being "The Research University in the Helmholtz Association", KIT creates and imparts knowledge for the society and the environment. It is the objective to make significant contributions to the global challenges in the fields of energy, mobility, and information. For this, about 9,300 employees cooperate in a broad range of disciplines in natural sciences, engineering sciences, economics, and the humanities and social sciences. KIT prepares its 24,400 students for responsible tasks in society, industry, and science by offering research-based study programs. Innovation efforts at KIT build a bridge between important scientific findings and their application for the benefit of society, economic prosperity, and the preservation of our natural basis of life. KIT is one of the German universities of excellence.
Kids want to fish? You don't know how yourself? Here's a little help
A news website and a Sydney radio station failed to get legal advice before publishing reports that breached a suppression order about George Pells sex abuse conviction, a court has heard.

Fourteen news outlets, including The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald, have admitted to a combined 21 charges of contempt of court for breaching a suppression order over reports published or broadcast in December 2018, in the days after Cardinal Pell was found guilty.

Cardinal George Pell. Credit:AP

The cardinal last year had his convictions quashed and was released from prison following a successful appeal to the High Court.

Prosecutors want the media to face substantial fines and convictions but the penalties will be up to Supreme Court Justice John Dixon.
Mortar shelling in Afghanistan kills at least 10 civilians

Fire breaks out at West Virginia oil refinery in US

Iran ready to help improve the defense capability of Syria

European Parliament head proposes to strengthen sanctions on Russia

UK PM gets married in London

Armenia reports COVID-19 new 81 cases: for people die

EU countries invite US to issue joint statement against Russia

2 people die in Armenia road accident

Nigeria: Students taken hostage a month ago are released

61 quakes recorded in Congo per day

Syrian MFA: EU lost credibility due to blind obedience to US policy

Armenia ex-minister of emergency situations hospitalized with heart attack

Mher Grigoryan: Clarification of border points is possible only after withdrawal of Azerbaijani troops from Armenia

Suspicious deal: Whether there was profit from buying DNA IDs?

Armenia ex-president says current authorities are trying to blame Russia for defeat in war

4 people killed in Afghanistani bus attack

Robert Kocharyan: This war could not have happened, it was a consequence of the policy of the authorities

Kocharyan: I have to ask people how it happened that overwhelming majority elected this leader

Armen Gevorgyan presents 'Armenia' bloc program: We offer the concept of a working country

Biden's administration proposed to leave unchanged amount of financial support to Armenia

US Embassy in Baku calls on Azerbaijan to immediately release Armenian POWs

Luxembourg MFA calls on Azerbaijan to immediately release all Armenian prisoners

Russia peacekeepers climb to Armenia Gegharkunik Province village positions

Biden strongly condemns manifestations of antisemitism in US

Iran intensifies its diplomacy amid Armenia-Azerbaijan border tensions

Armenia acting PM on forthcoming snap parliamentary elections: We hope to get 60% of votes

Lukashenko accuses West of destabilizing situation in Belarus

Armenia Central Electoral Commission chief on snap elections: No legal basis for postponing, suspending any function

Armenias Pashinyan is met by Yerevan district residents chanting against him

We are ready to be fully engaged in negotiation process to resolve Karabakh issue, says Armenia acting PM

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan gives interview to Russia TV channel

Armenia acting premier: We are ready to start withdrawing troops at any moment

Canada MFA expresses concern over 6 Armenian soldiers capture by Azerbaijan troops

There are omissions in registration documents of political forces that applied to Armenia Central Electoral Commission

Armenia Central Electoral Commission chief: There is activeness in Yerevan for the past day or two

Three new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Group of US Congress members threaten Azerbaijans Aliyev regime with sanctions

Chicago mayor is sued for allegedly refusing interview with white reporter

Iran exports oil to US for first time after long interval

"Armenia" bloc top 50 MP candidates are announced

42 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Sri Lanka public beach is covered in charred plastic pellets due to fire in container ship

US preparing list of targeted sanctions on Belarus authorities

China believes it will own America by 2035, Biden says

15 al-Shabab militants killed in Somalia

Newspaper: Armenia political forces that applied for running in election impatiently await CEC decision

Newspaper: Changes are expected in Artsakh

California prisoner who considers himself Satanist beheads cellmate, dismembers his body

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM's "mutually beneficial" proposal to collapse state system?

Armenia National Security Service Reserve Officers' Union members meet with His Holiness Karekin II

EU is ready to help Armenia and Azerbaijan with border delimitation and demarcation

ARF-D member on Nikol Pashinyan: 103 years ago Armenia's founding fathers would have executed him for treason

Iran President hails brotherly ties with Azerbaijan

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

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!

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France ambassador: I wish Armenia to be able to live its independence in peace, prosperity

Bashar al-Assad wins Syria presidential election
By Juliet Nalwooga

The Finance minister Matia Kasaija has revealed that he is not aware about the proposed tax on cash withdrawals from commercial banks.

This follows a February 9th making rounds on social media from the treasury deputy secretary Patrick Ocailap to the Bank of Uganda governor in which he is requested to give his opinion about the proposed tax not later than Friday, February 12th.

The governor is also requested to avail data on different categories of withdrawals for further review and determination.

According to the letter, whereas mobile money withdraws are subject to a 0.5% excise duty, at the counter, agency banking and ATM withdrawals are not subjected to the same tax.

However while addressing journalists on the sidelines of a Shs109 billion grant signing event from the Japanese government for upgrade of a maid road in Refugee hosting areas of West Nile sub region, Kasaija said he had not heard of such a tax proposal.

Tax on withdrawal of money, Im hearing it for the first time. I dont know where you are picking it. Yesterday we were talking about tax measures, I have not seen it as one of the tax measures. I will check with my tax officers. Im hearing it for the first time said minister Kasaija.

Ocailap says taxing cash withdrawals will not only improve tax compliance and increase revenue but will also encourage cashless transactions which will promote e-commerce.

The proposal was reached upon during a budget consultative meeting held on February 5th, 2021at the ministry between the Uganda communication commission, URA, Telecom operators and bank of Uganda.
Pateh Bah, a native of Buduck village in Nianija District, Central River Region, has accused Chief Dawda York of illegally seizing their properties.

Mr. Bah said Chief York took all their family lands including rice, groundnut and coose (early millet) farm lands.

He added that some of these farms were taken from them during former Chief Alasan Devid Cham's tenure.

He further said that the lands were confiscated from them in 2015, noting that he had lodged a complaint at Human Rights Office, Interior and Justice ministries.

He also said the Ministry of Justice gave him letters, which he delivered at the Governor's Office and to Chief Dawda York.

He stated that Chief York felled over 170 trees planted in one of the farms after taking it from his family.

He said Chief York in addition destroyed his coose farm, adding that Chief York and his family frequently physically attack his family.

"Our lives are in danger in Buduck," he said, while describing Chief York as corrupt. He further alleged that the chief diverted some items - solar panels that were meant for the village for his family use including two millings machines.

Mr. Bah therefore called on government to take action against Chief York.

When contacted, Chief Dawda York denied the allegations, saying he has no clue about the said lands that Bah is claiming.

Meanwhile, it could be recalled that Chief York was last October named in an alleged bribery scandal.

The Nianija Chief was alleged to have taken more than D80, 000 from one Alhagie Modou Ceesay of Kerr Katim village in Naimina East District of CRR South on various occasions in order to rule in Alhaji's favour in a District Tribunal land dispute he (Dawda York) and three other district chiefs of CRR had presided over.
Chinese vaccines are bolstering optimism around the world while garnering a sterling reputation for their reliability as they become vital to the launch of vaccination programs from Europe to Latin America to Southeast Asia.

Hungary is set to receive its first shipment of Sinopharm doses by the end of the month, the British Daily Mail reported on Saturday.

The country, the first in the European Union to approve a Chinese vaccine, has ordered enough supplies from China's Sinopharm to inoculate 2.5 million people.

The move came after Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban criticized the bloc's jab rollout for "progressing slowly."

As an EU candidate, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Tuesday the country expects to take one of the leading positions in Europe when it comes to the rate of vaccination against the coronavirus, thanks mostly to Chinese and Russian vaccines.

Vucic announced the arrival of an additional 500,000 doses of Chinese Sinopharm vaccines.

The initial shipment in mid-January of a million Chinese vaccines has given Serbia a jump-start in the vaccination rollout in the Balkans and beyond.

"I am proud to say that this will ensure that Serbia takes the first or second position in Europe regarding the number of vaccinated people," said Vucic.

Republika Srpska, or RS, one of the two entities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, has also ordered vaccines from Chinese pharmaceutical firm Sinopharm, Minister of Health and Social Welfare of RS Alen Seranic said on Monday.

"Based on other countries' experiences where Chinese vaccine is already approved, we decided that we also need to acquire a certain number of vaccines from China," said Seranic.

For Latin American countries like Brazil, Chile and Peru, Chinese vaccines provided them a much-needed shot in the arm at a critical moment when a second wave of coronavirus outbreaks has ravaged the region.

Peru launched the first stage of its national vaccination campaign on Tuesday, using vaccines developed by Sinopharm to immunize healthcare workers.

The head of Intensive Care and Intermediate Care Service at the Arzobispo Loayza Hospital in Lima, Josef Vallejos Acevedo, said he was very pleased to have been among the first group of doctors to receive the vaccine at the institution.

"Very pleased, knowing that it marks a historic day in Peruvian medicine, especially in this preventive part in the fight against this disease that has hit us so hard," the specialist said.

Public good

Wang Wenbin, spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said that China has been acting on its commitment of making China-developed COVID-19 vaccines a global public good.

China last week listed Cambodia among the developing countries that will get free doses of the Chinese vaccine.

After receiving a batch of Sinopharm vaccines from China, Cambodia began its vaccination campaign on Wednesday.

Hun Manet, the eldest son of Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen, got the first dose of the jab at the Calmette Hospital in the capital Phnom Penh.

"Finally Cambodia began officially the vaccination program for its people. This is the result of fruitful cooperation between Cambodia and China, the ironclad friends," Hun Sen said on his official Facebook page.

Globally, there were more than 106.9 million confirmed COVID-19 infections, with more than 2.3 million deaths as of early Wednesday, data compiled by Johns Hopkins University said.

The European continent remains under strain as the new variant first detected in the United Kingdom poses a big challenge to the region.

All travelers arriving in the UK from abroad will face a double-testing procedure for novel coronavirus while in a 10-day quarantine, the government announced on Tuesday.

Xinhua, agencies, and Jonathan Powellin London contributed to this story.
Andrew Benintendis time with the Red Sox has come to an end. In a three-team trade finalized late Tuesday night, the Red Sox shipped Benintendi and cash to the Royals, acquiring outfielder Franchy Cordero, pitcher Josh Winckowski and three players to be named later in a deal that also involved the Mets. New York acquired outfield prospect Khalil Lee from the Royals in the swap.

The deal, which was first reported by MLB Networks Jon Heyman and MLB.coms Jon Morosi, will net the Red Sox five players in total, with three still to be determined. Boston will send $2.8 million to Kansas City to cover part of Benintendis $6.6 million salary for 2021, according to MLB.coms Mark Feinsand.

Boston does not yet know the identities of the three unnamed players but has established frameworks with both the Royals and Mets about how and when theyll select them, chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom said. The Red Sox will acquire two more players from Kansas City, who already sent Cordero, and one more from the Mets, who sent Winckowski.

Benintendi, a fan favorite who has been with the Red Sox since 2016, has been involved in trade rumors all winter, with Boston reportedly shopping him for young players. The 26-year-old former first-round pick hit .273/.353/.435 with 51 home runs and 260 RBIs in 485 games with the Red Sox over five seasons.

As recently as 2018, Benintendi looked like a franchise cornerstone for the Red Sox, posting a career year and making a game-saving catch on an Alex Bregman line drive in Game 4 of the ALCS against the Astros. But the Arkansas product regressed in 2019, as his OPS dropped 56 points and his sprint speed decreased rapidly, and had a lost 2020 season in which he hit just 4-for-39 (.103) before suffering a season-ending rib injury on Aug. 11.

Earlier this winter, it became apparent the Red Sox were open to trading Benintendi, who is due to earn $6.6 million in 2021 and counted as a $5 million hit against the competitive balance tax threshold. By making the move, the Red Sox freed up $1.4 million of room under the $210 CBT cap, theoretically giving the club some more room to pursue further additions before Opening Day.

Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom said the Red Sox made the deal in an effort to improve the clubs long-term depth.

With this type of move, a lot of this is about considering opportunities, wherever they may come from, to better address what we need to address long-term and to add depth and talent to the organization, he said. In this deal, we were able to do that in multiple ways, obviously getting quite a few minor-league players and also bringing in Franchy Cordero, who can step in at the big-league level.

We felt we were able to address a number of needs and this puts us on good enough footing that it was worth swallowing hard, taking that painful step of trading a player whos very important to us and very talented, he added.

Cordero, 26, has played 95 major-league games over four seasons with the Padres (2017-2019) and Royals (2020). A left-handed hitter, Cordero has hit .236 with 12 home runs and a .737 OPS in that span and was dealt from San Diego to Kansas City in a deal that sent lefty Tim Hill to the Padres last winter. Cordero has mostly played center field in the majors, though he has experience in all three outfield spots. He joins Alex Verdugo, Hunter Renfroe and top prospect Jarren Duran as the clubs top internal outfield option, though the Red Sox could still pursue a reunion with free agent Jackie Bradley Jr.

Corderos exact fit in the outfield is unclear, but the Red Sox do see a good amount of upside in him. The former Padres prospect has struggled to stay healthy to this point in his major-league career but has above-average speed and power and is under control for three more seasons (one year more than Benintendi, who is set to hit free agency after 2022).

Winckowski, 22, is a former 15th-round pick who was already traded this winter, going from the Blue Jays to the Mets in a deal for left-hander Steven Matz last month. The right-hander was 10-8 with a 2.69 ERA and 7.6 K/9 rate in 127  innings split between Single-A Lansing and High-A Dunedin in 2019 and was ranked by MLB.com as New Yorks 26th-best prospect after being sent to the Mets along with Sean Reid-Foley and Yennsy Diaz on Jan. 27.

With Benintendi traded, all three of the clubs star outfielders from the 2018 championship team are no longer on the roster. The Red Sox traded Mookie Betts to the Dodgers exactly one year ago and Bradley remains a free agent.

The #RedSox today traded OF Andrew Benintendi and cash considerations to the KC Royals, in exchange for OF Franchy Cordero & 2 players to be named later.



Additionally, the Red Sox received minor league RHP Josh Winckowski & a player to be named later from the New York Mets.  Red Sox (@RedSox) February 11, 2021

Related links:

Andrew Benintendi trade: Why did Boston Red Sox acquire 3 players to be named later in deal?

Boston Red Sox trading Andrew Benintendi frees up $1.4M in payroll flexibility; will Chaim Bloom sign another position player before Opening Day?

Andrew Benintendis dismal 2020 Boston Red Sox season is a continuation of an offensive decline that started in August 2018
A lorry arrives at the Port of Dover following the end of the Brexit transition period. Photo: Peter Cziborra/Reuters

Business leaders are urging the UK government to delay planned border checks on imports, warning some firms already face existential problems under new Brexit rules.

Half of exporters surveyed by the British Chamber of Commerce (BCC) said they had faced difficulties since Britain left the single market and customs union under prime minister Boris Johnsons Brexit deal in January.

Companies highlighted increased administration, costs, delays and confusion over how to follow the wave of new UK and EU rules that came into force in January. New customs arrangements, the volume of new paperwork needed, and new rules-of-origin and VAT requirements topped firms concerns.

Some said they would move switch away from international trade altogether, or move operations overseas to avoid the disruption.

Jonathan Kemp, managing director of Merseyside manufacturer and BCC member AEV, said it planned to reduce its UK operations and invest in EU facilities. European customers had urged it to move production to its other Hungarian site to avoid extra paperwork and costs, even on VAT costs they can reclaim.

WATCH: Don't pick a fight with us over City access, BoE boss warns Brussels

READ MORE: UK and EU very far from solving Brexit problems in Northern Ireland

There is no support from government to fund delays or extra stock-holding required to deal with the delays or to assist in extra charges incurred by us or our customers, he said.

For some firms these concerns are existential, and go well beyond mere teething problems, said Adam Marshall, director-general of the BCC.

It should not be the case that companies simply have to give up on selling their goods and services into the EU.

He said the agreement of the Brexit trade deal and finalising of new rules in late December meant companies had been in the dark on the detail right until the last minute.

Marshall called for the UK to resume talks with the EU to reduce unhelpful burdens such as rules-of-origin and VAT requirements.

Story continues

He also urged the government to delay planned border health and safety checks on animal and plant products due from April, and customs checks due from July. This situation could get worse if the UK sticks to its guns, he said.

READ MORE: What a new era of post-Brexit state aid means for the UK

Supermarkets have already warned further disruption to supplies in Northern Ireland is inevitable when new rules are also imposed from April on animal and plant products transported from Great Britain.

The BCC is also calling for the government to work with business leaders to identify the most significant blockages and publish plans to resolve them. Tax credits, allowing firms to offset spending on adapting to new UK-EU requirements, should also be introduced, it said on Thursday.

Several other BCC members shared their experiences of disruption. Yorkshire manufacturer Sound Leisure was told by its freight forwarder to hold off shipping machines to Spain for a few more weeks whilst everything calmed down, according to managing director Chris Black.

A UK government spokesperson said: "Thanks to the hard work put in by hauliers and traders to get ready to leave the EU, there are no queues in Kent, disruption at the border has been minimal and flows are approaching normal levels.

"To support traders and businesses that are currently facing challenges with specific aspects of our new trading relationship, we are operating export helplines, running webinars with experts and offering businesses support via our network of 300 international trade advisers.

We will ensure businesses get the support they need to trade effectively with Europe and to seize new opportunities as we strike trade deals with the world's fastest growing markets and explore our newfound regulatory freedoms."

WATCH: Brexit red tape is leading to shortages in some UK supermarkets
Students have continued to enrol in humanities degrees in high numbers despite fee hikes of more than 100 per cent, amid a broader surge in demand for university places this year.

But many universities cautioned it was too early to assess the impact of the federal governments university funding reforms, which have increased fees for a range of courses while slashing the cost of science, maths, nursing and teaching degrees.

The University of Sydney said demand for places was higher than ever this year, but it was too early to assess the impact of the governments funding reforms on students course preferences. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer

In NSW, there was a 10 per cent increase in the number of students who listed humanities courses as their first preference compared with last year, while demand dipped by around 5 per cent in Victoria, according to data from the states admission centres. In both states, more than a fifth of all applications were for humanities courses.

The University of Sydney said demand for places had been higher than ever this year but the impact of the funding changes would not been known for several years.
A South Jersey man was killed in a one-vehicle wreck Tuesday afternoon in Cumberland County.

John Shelton, 47, of Cedarville, was driving north on County Road 553 in Fairfield Township shortly after 4:30 p.m. when his pickup truck left the roadway and struck a tree near milepost 14.4, according to a New Jersey State Police spokesman.

Shelton was pronounced dead at the scene.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

The road was closed for about 3 1/2 hours following the accident.

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

Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com.

Worcester County defendants charged with operating under the influence of alcohol based on breath tests conducted over the last decade may be entitled to new trials, Worcester District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr. said on Wednesday.

More than 4,700 Worcester County defendants will receive letters in the mail alerting them about the possibility of having their cases re-examined because of problems with Breathalyzer evidence, Early said.

Breath tests between 2011 and 2018 used in criminal trials were declared to be inadmissible evidence in a Northwestern district attorney decision announced on Monday. The letters from the trial court were sent to OUI defendants in Worcester County this week, officials said.

Notices will also be sent to roughly 3,100 residents of Hampshire and Franklin counties convicted between June 2011 and April 2019 of driving under the influence of alcohol. The Hampden District Attorney is also alerting roughly 2,133 people, and in Berkshire another 900 will be notified.

Statewide, there are about 27,000 defendants who may be eligible to challenge their convictions, officials said.

In 2019, the courts found that the Draeger 9510 Alcotest device, used by state and local police, were improperly calibrated over a period of years and produced unreliable results. The problem was made worse after it was discovered that the states Office of Alcohol Testing attempted to hide the full extent of the problem, according to Massachusetts District Court Judge Robert Brennan.

Related Content:
The logos of Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Google in a combination photo from Reuters files. (Reuters)

States Push to Rein In Big Tech as Federal Gears Grind Slow

States are moving with urgency in seeking to rein in alleged abuses by big tech companies, while the federal government is preoccupied with COVID-19 relief and former President Donald Trumps impeachment trial.

Spurred by various motivations such as fighting censorship, shoring up data privacy protections of constituents, or looking to punish or raise revenue from cash-flush companies they say have grown rich by abusing their dominant market position to the detriment of smaller players, states are ramping up measures to take on Big Tech.

In the face of claims that big tech companies are suppressing conservative voices, state Sen. Bryan Hughes (R-Texas) is working with Gov. Greg Abbott and state legislators on a bill that would prevent companies from taking action to moderate user content based on political viewpoints.

Hughes told NTD in an interview that he believes having vigorous and open dialogue on social media is key to healthy political and social discourse.

Right now we have an oligarchy; we have a small group of people in San Francisco who want to control everyones speech. Thats why this is so important, Hughes said.

The bill would allow citizens legal recourse if they are deplatformed or censored.

If youre in Texas and youre punished for your speech, this gives you the chance to go immediately to court and show the judge whats happening and get a declaratory judgment and an order for them to put you back online. It should be a quick process and a process available to every Texan, Hughes said.

It follows a Florida proposal that would seek to penalize social media companies that deplatform candidates during an election. The legislation would fine companies $100,000 a day until the candidates access to the platform is restored. Florida would also require companies that promote a candidate to record such endorsements as a political campaign contribution at the states election commission.

Nebraska is another state that has recently introduced legislation that would fine social media companies for violating Nebraska users free speech rights. The bill was introduced by state Sen. Curt Friesen, a Republican, who told the Omaha World-Herald that he was motivated by a concern over the power of big tech executives to moderate online speech.

They arbitrarily decide whats fit for their platform or not, he told the outlet. I dont think theyve applied it fairly across the board.

On the privacy front, Republican lawmakers in North Dakota on Feb. 10 introduced a bill that would prohibit companies from selling users protected data without their consent. Companies would be required to implement an opt-in so that users provide their express consent for the sale of the data, which includes such information as shopping habits, professional history, or socioeconomic status. Violations would be punished by a minimum of $100,000 if they knowingly break the law.

Virginia is on track to be the second state after California with comprehensive privacy legislation. The state Senate unanimously passed the Consumer Data Protection Act last week, and after the Senate version of the bill is reconciled with the House version, it will head to Gov. Ralph Northams desk for a signature. The bill grants consumers the right to access, correct, delete, or obtain a copy of personal data, and to opt out of the processing of personal data used in targeted advertising.

In Maryland, the Democrat-controlled House is expected to override Republican Gov. Larry Hogans veto of a proposed first-in-the-nation digital advertising tax that would have imposed rates of up to 10 percent on revenue that big tech companies generate by serving up online ads to Marylanders.

But while the Maryland digital tax bill ostensibly targets big tech platforms, much of the burden would fall on Maryland businesses and consumers, according to Jared Walczak of the Tax Foundation, a tax policy nonprofit. The tech industry and business community are widely opposed to the tax.

Federal efforts are also underway to curb the power of Big Tech.

The Justice Department sued Google in October 2020, accusing the company of using anticompetitive tactics, while the Federal Trade Commission sued Facebook in December 2020, alleging the social-media giant abused its market power to stifle competition.

In Congress, the House Antitrust Subcommittee released a 450-page report on Oct. 6 (pdf), 2020, following a bipartisan investigation launched in June 2019, claiming a range of anti-competitive practices on the part of four tech titans: Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Google.

The subcommittees recommendations include increasing enforcement of merger and monopoly laws, enhanced administration of antitrust laws, imposing nondiscrimination requirements, and adopting structural separations.

The report sparked a series of rebuttals from Amazon, Apple, Google, and Facebook.

Amazon, in a blog post, claimed the subcommittees conclusions on the alleged monopolistic practices were fringe notions and regulatory spitballing, while insisting that both small business and customers would suffer as a result of the misguided interventions of lawmakers.

Apple, in a statement sent to TechCrunch, said it vehemently disagrees with the subcommittees recommendations and highlighted its ability to review apps and curate user access to third-party software as bulwarks against potential privacy infringements.

A Facebook spokesperson told TechCrunch that its acquisitions strategy is simply good business that allows the company to innovate new technologies to deliver more value to people, while insisting on the presence of a strongly competitive landscape.

Google said in a statement that it competes fairly in a fast-moving and highly competitive industry. We disagree with todays reports, which feature outdated and inaccurate allegations from commercial rivals about Search and other services.

Masooma Haq and Samuel Allegri contributed to this report.
In the first Coffee with Samso interview with the company in late 2019 the stock was just A$0.04 and today Andromeda is A$0.32 with a market cap of A$635 million.

When I first spoke to ( ) in late 2019, I felt that this was a company with such a simple business - a business that was going to make a lot of money. After talking with James Marsh and learning more about the business, I was convinced that this was better than a A$0.04 stock.

Andromeda Metals is banking that their vast resource of halloysite is going to make them a high-quality kaolin miner for now  and nanotechnology could make them a much bigger company in the near future.

Today, in February 2021, it is now an A$0.32 stock with a market capitalisation of just over A$635 million, and as James highlighted, they are not even in production yet. What is even more intriguing is that there are several other high-value opportunities that are awaiting results that could make this resource company more of a resource technology company.

In this episode of Coffee with Samso, we hear James telling us what is happening with the road to production and what is in store in the coming months.

The market has been anticipating this PFS for a while and the recent share price movement prior to the release was in anticipation of something extraordinary. However, the decrease in share price after the release of the PFS is in no indication of the quality of the PFS.

My thoughts are that the decreasing share price is due to market trading rather than a reflection of poor results from the PFS. In this chat, James highlights all the major points that reflect that the companys path forward is well and truly on track and according to plan.

What viewers should take away from this Coffee with is that the potential upside of Andromeda Metals is just about to be realised and shareholders should know that James is fully invested in this story.

Podcast:

Andromeda Metals Ltd

Andromeda Metals is an Australian Securities Exchange-listed company (ADN) with a focus on developing the Careys Well halloysite-kaolin deposit in South Australia. The company has built a highly prospective exploration portfolio of projects covering 5,374 square kilometres within 19 exploration licences located in South Australia, Queensland and Western Australia.

Andromeda, previously Adelaide Resources, was incorporated on December 23, 1993, and subsequently listed on the ASX on September 11, 1996. The companys head office is in Adelaide, South Australia.

The vision of Andromeda Metals is to be a sustainable industrial minerals producer of high-quality halloysite-kaolin and high purity alumina material, thus providing shareholders with a sustainable financial return on their investment in the company.

James E Marsh

BSc (Hons), MAusIMM

James Marsh is an industrial chemist and holds tertiary qualifications in chemistry and physics. He has extensive experience across a wide range of industrial minerals spanning a 25-year period, including senior technical and marketing roles with two global market leaders.

He previously worked for seven years as business development manager for Active Minerals Australia, part of the Active Minerals International group, a worldwide leader in the production and marketing of kaolin and gel quality attapulgite clay minerals.

Marsh has been instrumental in developing and launching industrial minerals products into established and new applications globally and has a successful track record in general management and sales.

Please let us know your thoughts and send us any comment to info@Samso.com.au. Remember to Subscribe to our YouTube Channel, Samso Media and our mail list to stay informed and make comments where appropriate. Other than that, you can also give us a Review on Google.

For further information about Coffee with Samso and Rooster Talks visit: www.samso.com.au

Samso is primarily a consulting company that delivers digital information to the market in terms of creating organic content.

Samso simplifies your story to customers or investors. Samso creates organic content for you to engage your audience and BRAND yourself to them.

Samso provides bespoke research and presentation for clients to engage their customers or investors.

Organic content allows audiences to feel a real sense of sincerity when you share your business strategy, allowing your business to stand out among the sea of social media traffic.

Working with allows exposing our Insights to over 1.2 million monthly unique views internationally.

Samso has nearly 30 years of experience in developing business ideas and concepts in the Australasian region.

Samso has worked primarily in the mineral resources industry, capital markets and corporate finance. Noel Ong is the founder of SAMSO.

Disclaimer

Samso and affiliated companies accept no responsibility for any claim, loss or damage as a result of information provided or its accuracy. The information provided is general in nature, not financial product advice, see a financial expert before making any investment decision. Your personal objectives, financial situation or needs have not been taken into consideration. There may be a conflict of interest present with commercial arrangements with companies and/or stock held. Samso or an associate may receive a commission for funds raised.
LEXINGTON, Mass., Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Cyteir Therapeutics, a leader in the discovery and development of next-generation synthetic lethal therapies for cancer, today announced the close of an oversubscribed $80 million Series C financing. The company will use the new funds to advance its lead compound, the first-in-class inhibitor of RAD51-mediated DNA repair, CYT-0851, into phase 2 monotherapy trials in hematologic cancers and solid tumors, to initiate trials combining CYT-0851 with other cancer therapies, and to expand preclinical research to identify and advance additional novel cancer therapies.

RA Capital Management led the round with Janus Henderson Investors, Acuta Capital Partners, Ally Bridge Group, Avidity Partners, Ample Plus Fund, and CaaS Capital Management, joined by existing investors Novo Holdings, Venrock, Lightstone Ventures, DROIA Ventures, Osage University Partners (OUP), and another undisclosed U.S.-based, healthcare-focused fund. Cyteir has now raised over $140 million in total to support its novel, synthetic lethal approach to cancer therapy.

"Our unique approach to inhibiting RAD51-mediated DNA repair allows us to potentially target hematologic cancers as well as solid tumors with reduced toxicity as compared to other DDR inhibitors," said Markus Renschler, M.D., Cyteir president and CEO. "This advantage and the speed at which we've advanced our lead program from discovery to the clinic has enabled us to secure interest and investment from multiple, high-tier healthcare investors. We're grateful for their support, which will fund phase 2 studies of CYT-0851 monotherapy scheduled to begin later this year, as well as clinical studies beginning mid-year that will further explore its potential in combination with other cancer therapies."

CYT-0851 is an oral, once daily, first-in-class small-molecule inhibitor of RAD51-mediated DNA repair. Preclinical and early clinical findings support the broad potential for CYT-0851 to selectively target various cancers, including B-cell malignancies such as non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and solid tumors. The findings also suggest there is significant potential to combine CYT-0851 with other therapies that target or induce DNA damage, such as PARP inhibitors and chemotherapy. CYT-0851 is currently being evaluated in the dose-escalation portion of a Phase 1/2 monotherapy trial enrolling approximately 200 patients with solid tumors and hematologic malignancies at leading U.S. cancer centers. Cyteir expects to enter phase 2 later this year.

"We are intrigued by the potential of RAD-51 inhibition, particularly due to early findings suggesting it could be helpful in treating lymphomas and other hematologic malignancies," said Derek DiRocco, Ph.D., partner, RA Capital Management. "This promising mechanism, coupled with the demonstrated efficiency and expertise of Cyteir's leadership team, inspired us to support the next stages of their exciting development program."

Cyteir is leveraging its expertise in DNA damage response (DDR) to create a pipeline of novel, first-in-class drugs that selectively target a key cancer vulnerability. Cancer cells are acutely reliant on DNA damage repair for their survival and growth; inhibiting key DNA-repair pathways causes them to become overwhelmed by their own damage and self-destruct, a validated scientific approach known as synthetic lethality. Cyteir is pursuing a novel application of synthetic lethality based on the discovery that many tumors rely on a specific DNA-repair pathway that is dependent on the protein RAD51 to repair breaks in DNA.

Beyond CYT-0851, Cyteir is actively identifying, prioritizing and evaluating DDR pathway targets based on their role in cancer and whether they have an identifiable patient population that could be predicted to benefit from targeted therapy. The company will use a portion of the Series C financing to initiate IND-enabling studies for CYT-1853, a second-generation RAD51 inhibitor. Cyteir also plans to initiate IND-enabling studies in 2023 for an undisclosed discovery compound targeted for the treatment of solid tumors.

Finally, Cyteir is developing a companion diagnostic assay to identify patients whose tumors overexpress certain cytidine deaminases, which may suggest that their cancer is more susceptible to CYT-0851. The company has received an investigational device exemption (IDE) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to begin evaluating this companion diagnostic in patients.

About Cyteir Therapeutics

Cyteir Therapeutics is a clinical-stage oncology company that is leading the discovery and development of next-generation synthetic lethal therapies to treat cancer. The company is using its expertise in DNA damage response (DDR) biology to create a pipeline of novel, first-in-class drugs that selectively target key cancer vulnerabilities. Cyteir's lead compound, CYT-0851, is currently the most clinically advanced inhibitor of RAD51-mediated DNA repair. For more information, visit www.cyteir.com.

INVESTOR CONTACT:

Lisa Hayes

Vice President, Investor Relations and Corporate Communications

908-868-8926

[email protected]

MEDIA CONTACT:

Michele Parisi

925-429-1850

[email protected]

SOURCE Cyteir Therapeutics

Related Links

https://www.cyteir.com



Loading I want to make it perfectly clear that this will not impact the private sector. This is about the state governments emissions and leading by example, Mr Kirkup said. Our plan will assist companies transition to green exports and independent clean energy operations  if they choose. Mr Kirkup said the Liberals green hydrogen project was expected to attract $16 billion worth of public and private capital investment over the coming decade, on top of the $400 million spent by the state. Its a mega-project, building the largest renewable energy project in Australias history, with wind, solar and large-scale batteries that will transform Western Australias energy system for the next 50 years and give WA fuel security and energy independence, Mr Kirkup said.

Mr Kirkup also wants to set up a Zero Emissions Taskforce for another $50 million and spend another $50 million on supporting industries deemed essential for WA. Curtin Professor Peter Newman. According to the plan, $100 million would be spent on market diversification and another $100 million on attracting companies to the state. In an apparent shift from the pandemic recovery as a major platform to climate change, Mr Kirkup said: What comes next for WA, after COVID-19, when we start to build back? Curtin University sustainability expert Professor Peter Newman said the oppositions plan was doable and would put a firecracker up the state Labor and federal Liberal parties.

Theyve got partnerships with the private sector to enable it, its not a huge amount of money in fact ... its the kind of infrastructure changes that are needed to put us into the world of renewable energy in a much more substantial way, he said. We will now be able to export green steel, green minerals, green hydrogen in itself, but also have a green city that you can live in and say this is a net zero city that is up with the best in the world. All the politicians are going to wake up and say, we didnt expect that and thats got to be welcomed. Its been a bit sleepy this election, well weve woken up. Liberals cannot be trusted on climate Premier Mark McGowan said his party had been working on a range of plans for energy transformation in the past four years which would maintain job security whilst dealing with climate change.

On the eve of the election, suddenly, the Liberal Party that for 10 years has fought any action on climate, any action on renewable, any action on hydrogen, suddenly releases a policy embracing all of them, he said. They cannot be trusted. Should the policies they announced this morning be implemented, all it would mean is many many billions of extra debt, huge increase in family bills, rolling blackouts across the state and huge job losses. The timeframe they put on their policy this morning is totally unachievable. Greens climate change spokesman Tim Clifford, whose party is pushing for 100 per cent renewable energy in WA by 2030, said the major parties needed to rule out using gas in the production of hydrogen.

The Liberals can not be trusted to take climate action and the future of our planet and our community should not be left in the hands of private corporations, he said. This announcement does not include a road map nor a just transition plan for communities. Federal coalition split on coal and emissions The National party at a federal level has been pushing for new investments in coal as Prime Minister Scott Morrison says he wants to get Australia to net zero emissions as soon as possible and by 2050. Mr Kirkup said the state Liberals were not out of step with Mr Morrison who believes there is still decades left for the existing coal industry.

Were not fundamentally at odds at all, the reality is the Prime Minister has set an ambitious target for where Australia needs to be, he said. What were saying is that as a state government we have a target now of 2030, thats for zero emissions for the state government. We have natural advantages here that should be exploited, should be utilised to make sure we can transition to net zero. Coal-fired power closure date for Collie Labor has already sign-posted shutting two of the four operating generators at the Muja Power Station in Collie between 2022 and 2024 but not when the whole facility may be shuttered.

Mr Kirkup said he did not think the Liberal plan to stop coal power by 2025 was his party throwing away its chances at winning the country seat of Collie-Preston. What weve said to the people of Collie is that we want to support them and make sure they have jobs for the future, this is about making sure there is a targeted investment to help re-skill the workforce in Collie, he said. [Providing] $100 million to help those workers there is a not an insignificant investment, were not going to leave anyone behind, this is about the future of WA and the future of Collie. The Liberal plan has suggested coal-fired power stations could have their generators retrofitted to help balance the states electricity system. Outgoing Collie-Preston MP Mick Murray at an impromptu rally against the Liberal energy policy. Credit:WA Labor
The Laredo Ethics Commission on Wednesday voted 3-1 to move forward with an evidentiary hearing to rule whether Blue Cross Blue Shield and former Councilmember George Altgelt violated the citys ethics code.

Although the commission took the vote and closed the meeting, they did not in fact have enough votes to pass these motions. A quorum of five is required to hold an evidentiary hearing or find that a violation occurred, Assistant City Manager Kristina Hale told LMT after the meeting. All five of the members present would have needed to vote in favor for it to pass, but one voted against and one abstained.

The case stems from a separate ethics report filed against Councilmember Dr. Marte Martinez last year. In June 2019 Martinez cast a vote to determine city employees health insurance provider, Blue Cross Blue Shield, for which he is an in-network physician.

The report, filed last February by Altgelt, then-Councilmember Nelly Vielma and Mayor Pete Saenz, alleged Martinez had received about $5,600 from city workers compensation patients since he voted on the selection of the citys group health insurance provider that June.

Typically ethics reports such as this are not made public until the Ethics Commission hears them. However, Laredo Morning Times, KGNS and Our Laredo all obtained copies of the report before it was filed.

The Ethics Commission met in June 2020 to discuss if they should move forward with an evidentiary hearing against Martinez, but voted to dismiss the report, finding that although Martinez had an economic interest in the citys contract with Blue Cross Blue Shield, that he did not knowingly violate the Code of Ethics or do so with ill will.

At this same meeting, the commission voted to investigate two related issues  if Blue Cross Blue Shield should have disclosed the conflict of interest with Martinez; and who leaked the report to the media before the commission had received it.

After months of not meeting quorum, the Ethics Commission met virtually on Wednesday to discuss the merits of these complaints.

Juan Francisco Kiko Tamez, independent counsel hired by the City of Laredo, said Blue Cross Blue Shield failed to disclose that Martinez was an in-network provider with their insurance.

Both the citys ethics code and Texas law require any business seeking a contract with the city to disclose any conflicts of interest. Blue Cross Blue Shield listed Martinez in a directory of in-network physicians, but did not include his name in their disclosure forms that they provided to the city. The contract is worth $26 million, Tamez said.

Its certainly my opinion that Blue Cross Blue Shield should have made that disclosure known in the presentation of its bid, he told the commission.

Tamez noted that Blue Cross Blue Shield has in-house legal counsel and that they should be accustomed to correctly disclosing conflicts of interest. This is different from an individual who has never had experience with this before, such as Martinez, he said.

Aetna also submitted a bid for this contract, and Martinez is also in-network with them, but Aetna did not disclose Martinez as a conflict of interest either. Commissioner Boyer Ornales noted that if both companies messed this up, maybe its a problem the city needs to address.

Tamez also showed the commission screenshots of a text message exchange between Altgelt and a city official the day that Our Laredo posted a copy of the initial ethics report against Martinez to their Facebook page. This officials name was on the report.

The official told Altgelt that they did not give permission for their name to be on the document and asked Altgelt to get Our Laredo to take it down.

Tamez said he could gather from this exchange that Altgelt provided Our Laredo with a copy of the report, but was not able to find if he gave it to other media.

The ethics code states that a city official shall not intentionally disclose any confidential information concerning city affairs, Tamez told the commission.

After the meeting, Altgelt told LMT than an ethics report is a public record, and subject to the Texas Public Information Act.

Were not in Mexico where the guilty go free and the voice of the citizen is silenced. The commissioners that voted in favor of this failed witch hunt are a reflection of their council members and what is wrong with this city, he said.

Julia Wallace may be reached at 956-728-2543 or jwallace@lmtonline.com
A Massachusetts superior court has ruled that a woman can bring claims for medical malpractice and unfair consumer practices against a hospice company for overmedicating her with narcotics and falsely certifying that she was hospice eligible.

Plaintiff Patricia Marble and her husband filed the action against defendant Amedisys, a national provider of hospice services, after becoming suspicious that Marble had lived for five years in hospice care.

Summary judgment records indicated not only that Marble was overmedicated with unnecessary doses of narcotics while continuing to be certified as eligible for hospice care at an Amedisys facility, but that Amedisys had a bonus structure in place that served, in part, as financial incentive for staff to admit and retain hospice patients, according to the Superior Court ruling.

Five Years of Hospice Care

This comes as Marble suffered from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, severe pulmonary hypertension, obesity and congestive heart failure, and her primary care physician, Dr. Eric Poston had initially prescribed medically necessary supplemental oxygen. In May 2007, Dr. Poston determined that Marble suffered from chronic respiratory failure, was permanently disabled and unable to maintain employment.

As a result, he and the hospice medical director of an Amedisys care center in Athens, Tennessee, later decided Marble was eligible for hospice care. She entered hospice care in April 2011 at her home in Tennessee.

After Marble moved to Massachusetts in August 2011, Dr. Poston referred her to Beacon Hospice, which is owned and operated by Amedisys and runs the Plymouth Care Center. Beacon Medical Director Dr. Peter Roos and Eileen McCoy, employees of Amedisys at Beacons Plymouth Care Center, began treating Marble while there.

While in hospice care with Beacon, Dr. Roos prescribed Marble narcotic pain medications including a fentanyl patch, Vicodin and oral morphine. Beacon paid for these medications and was reimbursed by the federal government.

The superior court ruling stated, however, that these high doses of narcotic medication left Marble stupefied, unable to leave the house or have normal relationships with her husband, family and friends.

Amedisys had a Patients Rights Policy under which patients had the right to refuse any treatment, including the use of narcotic pain medication. The policy stated that patients should be prescribed the lowest possible dosage of narcotic pain medication required to get symptom relief, but there was no policy regarding the maximum amount of narcotic pain medication that a patient should receive per day.

In August 2011, Dr. Roos signed a Hospice Initial Certification stating that Marble had a limited life expectancy of six months or less if her terminal illness ran its normal course. He wrote that Marble qualified for hospice based on pulmonary disease due to progressive respiratory failure. The purpose of the certification form was to ensure compliance with Medicare regulations, according to the superior court ruling.

Dr. Roos testified that he believed Marble had a life expectancy of six months or less based on her clinical condition and continued certifying her for hospice care over the course of several years. He said he did not believe her conditions were caused by the narcotics.

In May 2016, however, Marbles family became suspicious that she had lived for five years in hospice care. They decided to have her seen by a physician outside of Amedisys and transferred her to Good Samaritan Medical Center. There, the physicians noted her high doses of opiates.

Marble then signed a revocation of her election of hospice care benefits, stating that she was seeking skilled rehabilitative/services in a skilled nursing facility.

After being weaned off of the narcotic medications, Marble had fewer breathing problems and was no longer confined to her bed or home, the superior court ruling stated.

It was as if someone turned the light switch back on after 5 years, Marble said as reported in the superior court ruling. The ruling added that Marble suffered stress, anxiety, anguish and worry for five years believing that she could die at any moment.

Unfair and Deceptive Practice Allegations

In February 2018, Marble sent Amedisys, Beacon, Dr. Roos and McCoy a Chapter 93A demand letter alleging that their repeated false Medicare certifications constituted an unfair and deceptive practice. The letter demanded $16 million in damages.

Marble then filed this action in superior court against Amedisys, Beacon, Dr. Roos and McCoy in April 2018. The superior court ruling specified that Marble was not suing a Medicare Advantage organization for negligence, but that her lawsuit claimed the defendant hospice providers breached the standard of reasonable medical care in administering unnecessary and dangerous amounts of narcotics that left her in a stupefied state so that she remained in hospice care.

In a January 2018 letter, Dr. James Baker, a certified emergency room physician and certified hospice medical director, said Dr. Roos and McCoy fell below the standard of reasonable care by falsely certifying Marble as eligible for hospice care dozens of times over five years and overmedicating Marble with unnecessary, inappropriate and dangerous doses of narcotics, according to the superior court ruling.

According to Dr. Baker, Marbles medical records did not indicate that her chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was terminal or required opioids. In fact, regular entries in her medical records showed Marble had no symptoms and was not medically declining, Dr. Baker said.

He noted that Medicare regulations require patients to be discharged from hospice care if they are not terminally ill and claimed that the defendants negligently kept Marble in a lethargic state so that she appeared terminally ill.

Evidence of Medical Malpractice

According to the superior court ruling, the summary judgment record contained evidence supporting Dr. Bakers claims of overmedication and false certification of hospice care for Marble.

The evidence also showed that Amedisys provided a financial incentive for staff to admit and retain hospice patients through a bonus structure that was in place from 2011 to 2016, the superior court ruling stated, adding that McCoy received bonuses during the period of time she cared for Marble.

Sandra Cummings, the director of operations for Beacons Plymouth Care Center, received $39,255.39 in incentive plan payments between 2012 and 2015. Amedisys also had a Case Manager Incentive Plan, in which McCoy received bonus pay totaling $1,000 between September 2012 and February 2016, the superior court ruling outlined.

One factor considered under the incentive plans was the number of patients admitted into the Plymouth Care Center. Another factor was the live discharge qualifier, meaning the number of patients who were still alive when they left Beacons care. The lower this number, the greater the potential for a bonus, the superior court ruling stated.

Although the summary judgment record did not show evidence that Dr. Roos received any direct financial benefit, there was evidence that the staff, including Dr. Roos, was pressured to recertify patients for hospice eligibility, according to the superior court ruling.

Brandy Dobbins, a former nurse case manager at Beacons Plymouth Care Center, stated when interviewed by Amedisys in September 2013 that she resigned because she felt pressured to admit and recertify patients who were not terminal and not appropriate for hospice care.

Former nurse case manager Bernadette Montalvo similarly reported that Beacon pressured staff to admit patients who had diseases but were not hospice appropriate. Nurse case manager Randi Karling stated that she felt pressured to admit every patient and has a few patients that she feels are no longer eligible for hospice but have been recertified despite little evidence of decline, the superior court ruling stated.

Amedisys also interviewed McCoy, nurse practitioner Thomas Vivieros and case managers Amy Sanborn and Megan Stone, who said that they had no concerns about inappropriate care. Cummings denied ever pressuring staff to admit or recertify patients as hospice eligible, the superior court ruling said.

That said, the superior court found that the summary judgment record presented a genuine issue of material fact with respect to whether the defendants not only committed medical malpractice, but also injured Marble through unfair and deceptive conduct that was motivated by financial gain.

With this in mind, the superior court denied the defendants motion for summary judgement, allowing Marble to proceed with her claims.

The case is Patricia Marble & another v. Amedisys, Inc. & others.

Topics Claims Massachusetts Medical Professional Liability

A 22-year-old man has been taken into custody by Delhi Police for allegedly murdering his friend following an argument. The incident happened in Delhis Fatehpur Beri area. The deceased has been identified as Shekhar Kharka.

The accused murdered Shekhar after he allegedly made a comment on his ex-wife, who is now in a relationship with another man.

According to a report in Times of India, the accused, identified as Tilak Bahadur is a native of Nepal. He was nabbed by the cops while he was trying to flee the country.

The victim, a resident of Nepals Aanchal Sagarmaatha, was found dead in his room in Aya Nagar on Monday.

"During the course of investigation, we came to know that the victim was a roommate of the accused Tilak Bahadur. Bahadur was found absconding and he became a prime suspect. The accused was likely to flee to Nepal. So teams were dispatched to three different borders of India-Nepal. Around 4 pm on Tuesday, the suspect was caught following a tip-off from Sarda Bairaj check-post in Uttarakhand as he tried to flee," the report quoted Deputy Commissioner of Police, Atul Thakur.

In another incident reported from Uttar Pradeshs Ghaziabad, a Delhi man shot dead his 65-year-old father-in-law. The accused was identified as Trilok Singh Bhati.

According to police, the daughter of the victim was married to Bhati. Soon after the marrage, Bhati started doubtng his wife of having an extra-marital affair which led to persistent arguments between the couple. Their family did everything to resolve their differences but they failed.

A few days ago, the woman came to live with her parents in Ghaziabad against the will of Bhati. This probably angered him, and he decided to kill her father, a police officer said.

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Shankar Datt (Professor of English Literature, Patna University) has a great sense of anticlimax, I know for sure. Or you can say he likes to balance things, presenting both sides of the case. He called me up to write something about my days in Patna College for the souvenir to be taken out on the occasion of centenary celebration of Patna University.

I could quite imagine that he had already persuaded the famous and the illustrious, toppers, gold medalists, record breakers, path breakers, pioneers which my college produces as a routine and in abundance for their memories or memoirs. He wanted to throw in sharper relief the fact that intellectual democracy prevailed in Patna College; it had nurtured non- entities like us also.



So here I am trying to coax my memory. Speak memory, speak! But it wont break its sphinx like silence.

And for good reasons, too. I did not top any examination, I was not even awarded a bronze medal let alone a gold medal. No record breaker, my academic achievements could at best be described as middling middle; neither irredeemably bad nor enviably outstanding.

My presence in the class was not noticed very much, either by my classmates or my teachers, simply because most often I was not there. While some of my friends impersonated me in other classes, thanks to a kindly Hindi professor the shortfall in my lecture in vernacular classes was condoned. He appeared to be a little hypermetropic; he saw great promise in me!

To tell you the truth, the academic curriculum prescribed by the college and the one that I had set for myself did not follow the same trajectory. But of that sometime later. Patna College gave me the honourable vocation of studentship, the status of a boarder in its Jackson Hostel and the university canteen for endless discussion on subjects marked by fatuity, pompousness and self- importance. Taken together all these ensured regular remittances from home which though not princely, was enough to keep me afloat and sometimes allowed me to drown my sorrows in a few drops of alcohol.

After a day fruitfully spent in the canteen, drinking endless cups of tepid lemon tea and smoking cigarettes, time that I should have been legitimately utilized listening to lectures, we were ready  I and my friend, he is no more so I shall call him just my friend- to shift the locale of our earth-shaking discussions to the Coffee House at Dak Bungalow Road.

The call of the Coffee House coffee was irresistible and poets, artists, writers, journalists, students flocked together in the evening. Renu jee (Phanishwar Nath Renu) was the central figure and sometime the Governor Mr. D K Barua would grace the premises. Emergency was a couple of years away). The coffee nicely brewed and stimulating in its own right, enhanced our self-esteem and inflated the worth of our opinions in our own eyes. The ambience aided our self-belief and many a grandiose plan to undertake another revaluation of the English Poetic tradition, F R Leavis was too bloody opinionated and sweepingly magisterial or to debunk T S Eliots Wasteland as the greatest intellectual hoax of our time were conceived and aborted.

Under the influence of the non-communist left and apostates like Koestler, Orwell, and Samizdat literature Anna Andrevina Akhmatavova, Solzhenitsyn and Mandelstam, given prominence in our Bible, the Encounter, we decided that Marx was bound to be relegated to the archeological museum of knowledge.



After the coffee and the exalted company of poets and poetasters, playwrights and confirmed plagiarists my friend, who was a day scholar went home none the worse for having spewed so much gyan, but I was bound to face up to the music for having missed the study period, in the hostel, which was between 6 and 8 PM. My hostel superintendent Professor B K Lal, though a kindly person, was obliged to fine me 25 paisa and I had the ignominy of finding it out from the notice board. It seems he mended his ways later because he found that I was not perhaps capable of mending mine.

Mr. Mahendra Pratap and Mr. Madan Jee were two personalities who could unsettle me. Madanjee was the durban  the janitor  to Jackson Hostel and Mr. Mahendra Pratap was the Principal of Patna College  later the Vice Chancellor of Patna. He was also for some time our Warden. Madan jee was the custodian of the keys to our little kingdom and boarders who came late and we had to keep him in good humour which was quite a task considering that he was a sour-faced, mongrelish fellow who could smile, if he could spare the effort.

To be fair to him, he would not grudge very much all those coming back to the hostel after watching a second show. But after that gentle tapping and calls to admit the straggler would be answered with a growl. The more ferocious his growl would become, the more sheepish the voice on the other side of the Hostel gate would become. Night owls like me were quite experienced in handling him but on this occasion things went awry. Some people said he was not malicious, he was simply snoring. I never found out. Whatever.

I had come into some money, now I dont remember how, some honorarium or something. Money meant celebration and celebration meant beer in Amber, a bar which was patronized by the students. In college I was a pure soul. I used to get drunk on a glass of beer, one half of which was pure froth. There were four or five of us including my friend. As usual he parted company on the Ashok Rajpath, headed for home happy as a lark, in Professors quarters Ranighat. He had no fear because his mother would keep awake listening for the gentle knock on the door as not to disturb his father who was professor in Patna University. To me devolved the responsibility of transporting my humble self, drunk like a lord, to the hostel. It was late, much later than the curfew hour and Madan jee was in no mood to relent. The gambit of growling and sheepish bleating seemed to have arrived at a stalemate. It was particularly chilly night. Locked out I was loitering near the kitchen, wondering whether to try my friend or go to my local guardian when one of the mess servants woke up and opened the lock with the simple expedient of an iron nail.

Mr. Mahendra Pratap was known to a relative of mine and perhaps in a moment of concern, he entrusted him the job of overseeing my education. Mr. Pratap had been to Cambridge and perhaps in those days they awarded the degree merely only on the strength of knowledge of Faery Queene and sundry archaic, boring texts. Mr. Mahendra Pratap crystallized his responsibility towards me to one simple task  judging me for my proficiency in Faery Queene. Lurking near the principals office for some work or the other I blundered into him twice and on both the occasions he tested me on my knowledge of the above text and found me wanting, notwithstanding the fact that it was not part of our syllabus. Or so I thought!

To pursue my lifestyle of careless and peaceful anarchy I had made one rule for myself: I would break all diplomatic relations with texts which did not interest me and mind you I am not an easy person to please! Unfortunately, Spenser* and I were not on speaking terms and my conversation with him was only through intermediaries. On the first occasion I bought my freedom by assuring Mr. Pratap that I will read him. On the second the information on Spenser that I had gathered through my friend deserted me because - all my critical sensibility was concentrated in hiding the cigarette. I cut a sorry figure and earned a well merited rebuke but that alienated me to Spenser forever.



I ran into Mr. Mahendra Pratap one more time, a close encounter of the third kind. It was around one AM. I climbed up to the first floor where my room was and I thought I saw Mr. Mahindra Pratap. I had mixed feelings. Was it an apparition but there were some real people, my hostel mates with him? Should I run away, is it going to be a public shaming for my inability to wade through the Faery Queene? But Mr. Mahendra Pratap spoke to me, or tried to speak to, perhaps he was trying to recall my name. I readily supplemented his memory, Faery Queene, sir. He laughed and addressed me with my proper name. We are all going to drive out these book worms out of their rooms. Man has landed on the moon and these fellows are not even celebrating.

I stood dumbfounded. Disturbing the serious-minded students was one of my most favourite pastimes and now it had been accorded official sanction. A night of revelry and riot led by the Principal was the culmination of my anarchic dreams. We went to the Cavendish Hostel, to the Faraday Hostel and I think then to the BA lecture theatre where Mr. Mahindra Pratap spoke in his inimitable style to us about Neil Armstrong and what his achievement meant for the human race. The word globalist was not even coined then but he was a true globalist.

To me Patna College was not merely a structure made of brick and wood and cement; it was not merely the class rooms and play fields. It was a whole eco system of learning comprising of my teachers, my class mates, the fellow boarders, other students, the folklore about students and teachers who had been part of its glorious tradition, the library. My contact with my teachers was largely beyond the confines of the class in informal settings and I got to know some of them very closely. To them I owe my gratitude for having pulled me from crass ignorance into a little bit of awareness.



But above all it was that ineffable feeling of walking in the shadow of countless intellectual giants, formidable minds who had enriched the life of community in many ways, men who had made history and then become part of history.



*Edmund Spenser was an English poet best known for The Faerie Queene, an epic poem and fantastical allegory celebrating the Tudor dynasty and Elizabeth I.

India Today magazine once referred to Manoje Nath, a 1973-batch IPS officer, as being fiercely independent, honest, and upright. Besides his numerous official reports on various issues exposing corruption in the bureaucracy in Bihar, Nath is also a writer extraordinaire expressing his thoughts on subjects ranging from science fiction to the effects of globalization. His sense of humor was evident through his extremely popular series named "Gulliver in Pataliputra" and "Modest Proposals" that were published in the local newspapers.
Go Red for Women, nationally sponsored by CVS Health, is the American Heart Association's signature initiative to end heart disease and stroke in women. Go Red for Women is working in communities around the country and around the world to help women understand that cardiovascular disease is their greatest health threat and that they should take action to lower their risk.

By featuring bold stories from the 2021 Go Red for Women Real Women campaign at the point of care, PatientPoint and the American Heart Association aim to highlight the urgent need for women of all ages to take charge of their health where and when health is top of mind.

"Too many women, particularly younger women and women of color, remain unaware that cardiovascular disease is their No. 1 killer. The 2021 Class of Real Women is our youngest class yet, highlighting the urgent need for women of all ages to take action," said Mitch Elkind, M.D., M.S., FAHA, FAAN, president of the American Heart Association and professor of neurology and epidemiology at Columbia University in New York City. "We're grateful to PatientPoint for bringing our 2021 Real Women to the physician's office, a place where we hope they can inspire and empower women to work with their healthcare providers to make their health a priority."

2021 Real Women to be featured on PatientPoint waiting room and exam room digital screens include:

Dani Aylsworth , 33 ( Santa Rosa Beach, FL ): Army combat veteran who battled PTSD, addiction and heart failure.

( ): Army combat veteran who battled PTSD, addiction and heart failure. Megan Corbin , 30 ( Crescent City, CA ): A professional dancer who had a heart attack despite being in peak physical shape. Megan's message: heart attacks can happen at any age.

( ): A professional dancer who had a heart attack despite being in peak physical shape. Megan's message: heart attacks can happen at any age. Melissa Sloan-Williams , 39 ( Fenton, MO ): Under constant stress as a registered medical assistant, Melissa developed Type 2 diabetes and had a heart attack in her early 30s.

( ): Under constant stress as a registered medical assistant, Melissa developed Type 2 diabetes and had a heart attack in her early 30s. Steffany Quintana , 26 ( Houston, TX ): Lost the ability to talk, swallow food and walk unassisted after her stroke last year. Steffany hopes her story will raise awareness about the impact of stroke.

"PatientPoint and the American Heart Association share the common goal of empowering and supporting women to achieve better health and that shines through in this collaboration," said PatientPoint Executive Vice President of Content & Creative Kate Merz. "We're proud to bring these incredible stories of survival to our point-of-care platforms to help spark important, life-saving conversations between women and healthcare providers."

About PatientPoint

PatientPoint is a patient engagement solutions company passionately committed to making every doctor-patient engagement better. By harnessing the power of technology, our omnichannel platform more effectively educates and empowers patients, caregivers and staff to deliver improved health outcomes and an enhanced patient experience. For 30 years, hospitals, health systems, physician offices and sponsoring brands have trusted PatientPoint and its more than 450 team members to provide a uniquely integrated experience across care settings. PatientPoint in-office programs reach more than 77,000 unique healthcare providers nationwide. Learn more at patientpoint.com.

SOURCE PatientPoint

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Summerville, SC (29483)

Today

Cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy this afternoon. High 77F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Mostly clear. Low near 55F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph.
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Gina Carano, one of the stars of Disney's popular The Mandalorian, hasn't been shy about her conservative politics. Many (myself included) believe that's why Disney's Lucasfilm fired her  although Lucasfilm falsely insinuating that she was fired for being anti-Semitic.

Back in August, Gina Carano, who once was an MMA fighter (which may explain her courage), stood against the woke BLM mob trying to get all Americans to bow before it. She did that by retweeting the famous photo of August Landmesser, who, in 1936, was the only man in a mob of Nazis refusing to give the Nazi salute:

The woke Twitter mob went after Carano with unrestrained fury. You can read here about the attacks they levied against her and her refusal to back down.

Despite pushing back against woke madness, Carano continued as an actress on The Mandalorian  until yesterday, that is. That's when Disney's Lucasfilm announced that it had terminated her because "her social media posts denigrating people based on their cultural and religious identities are abhorrent and unacceptable." The story that instantly erupted was that Carano had triggered the firing by publishing something anti-Semitic.

My first thought upon hearing this narrative was that Carano had said something derogatory about George Soros. Soros is a man who is genetically Jewish but who has no Jewish identity and who is famously hostile to Israel. He's also used his vast wealth to undercut every traditional American institution, including the rule of law, most recently by funding prosecutors across America who refuse to enforce the law against criminals.

While Soros is anti-Jewish and anti-Israel, leftists try to paint anyone who criticizes his vile value system as "anti-Semitic." Given Carano's unwillingness to toe the woke party line, it seemed likely that she'd challenged Soros, earning the label "anti-Semitic."

I'd guessed wrong. What Carano did was to repost someone else's Instagram statement:

Jews were beaten in the streets, not by Nazi soldiers but by their neighbors...even by children. Because history is edited, most people today don't realize that to get to the point where Nazi soldiers could easily round up thousands of Jews, the government first made their own neighbors hate them simply for being Jews. How is that any different from hating someone for their political views.

Being Jewish myself, I'm struggling to find what's anti-Semitic about that statement. I happen to believe that anti-Semitism is a unique hatred, for it is the oldest, the most widespread, and the most malevolent. However, as I read it, the point of the post isn't to diminish anti-Semitism. Instead, it's saying that, as a prerequisite for destroying those they deem political enemies, governments must first teach their majority population to hate those same people.

The sensible approach to reading the post didn't stop leftists from ginning up hatred against any conservative who dared reference Jews and Nazis in the same sentence. The following tweet, which Snopes dug up to explain why Carano deserved to be fired, is representative (language warning).

as a jewish person, this is fucking vile and unnecessary. gina carano needs to be held accountable. the oppression my people have faced because of our religion and ethnicity is NOT the same as political disagreements. pic.twitter.com/ABuM8kO5hM  sarah  (@leiaswinterfell) February 10, 2021

"Effing vile and unnecessary"? Carano "needs to be held accountable." Do you get the feeling, as I do, that Sarah wants to see Carano destroyed? Can one say that Sarah is teaching people that her political enemies are non-people  they are others who are not deserving of respect, employment...and eventually, perhaps, safety or life?

The same Snopes article says Carano also posted inflammatory statements such as poking fun at California's over-the-top COVID response (which has been better at destroying the economy and its citizens' mental health than at saving people's lives) and repeating that "Epstein didn't kill himself." Add that to her disrespect for the left's pronoun madness, and you have someone who needed to be non-personed.

It would be nice if Carano were to go full Nick Sandmann and sue Lucasfilm for libel. After all, Quilliam v. SPLC and the Sandmann cases establish that relying on "opinion" is not a defense where there is no factual basis for asserting an unforgivable -ism.

As for you, dear readers, if you've been enjoying The Mandalorian, you might want to ask yourself a question: is it more important to watch The Mandalorian or to punish Disney and Lucasfilm for "otherizing" (how's that for a woke word?) a conservative by smearing her as an anti-Semite, making her unemployable and a figure of hate?

And I hope you're not missing the irony of all of this, which is that, if you're looking for anti-Semitism, you will find it at the heart of the Democrat party.

Image: Gina Carano. YouTube screen grab.
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NEW MILFORD Alisha DiCorpo was named superintendent for New Milford Public Schools Wednesday night after a unanimous vote at a Board of Education special meeting.

I am humbled, honored and grateful for the opportunity to continue to lead the New Milford Public School District, DiCorpo wrote in a press release.

DiCorpo served as the interim superintendent starting in October of 2020, taking over after the departure of interim superintendent Paul Smotas.

Prior to that, she was the districts assistant superintendent for four years, arriving in New Milford from Thomastown Public Schools, where she was director of curriculum, instruction and assessment.

DiCorpo has worked in education for more than 20 years, and has, among other teaching credentials, a bachelors degree in education and a masters in educational leadership from Central Connecticut State University.

Much of her work since taking over as interim superintendent has been to rethink schooling in the age of COVID, including re-entry plans for running hybrid and distanced learning plans. DiCorpo has also worked with the district to monitor and contain the spread of COVID in local schools, and has plans to re-open K-5 schools for in-person learning in March.

New Milford has had various school chiefs since long-time superintendent JeanAnn Paddyfote retired in 2016.

Joshua Smith served as interim, then permanent, superintendent after her, until leaving for Region 15 in 2018. Stephen Tracy held the position in the interim from August 2018 until Kerry Parker became the permanent superintendent in June 2019.

Parker resigned after a year to work for a district in Colorado, with Smotas becoming interim school chief for a few months.

A press release from the school district says the search for a new superintendent began in November using HYA Associates to help with the process. After two months of interviews, DiCorpo was the top contender.

The board stated that they believed DiCorpo has devoted significant amount of dedication and energy working for the New Milford school district and that her enthusiasm and passion to New Milfords students and schools is outstanding.

I am looking forward to continuing to work in partnership with our dedicated administrators, teachers, staff, Board of Education members, families, students, community and town agencies in order to help the district continue to grow and thrive, DiCorpo wrote.
Lawmakers on marijuana study committee plan out-of-state site visits

Lawmakers want a firsthand look at legal cannabis operations in response to South Dakotans voting to loosen their state's pot laws last fall.
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Joe Bidens immigration overhaul seeks to allow more skilled foreign workers into the U.S. without stirring widespread protest from labor groups, whose opposition would all but ruin prospects for what is already one of the presidents most precarious priorities.



The sweeping proposal Biden sent to Congress on his first day in office drew quick Republican opposition over its centerpiece: a faster path to citizenship for 11 million undocumented immigrants in the U.S. Another provision would allow more foreign students and workers to enter the U.S. by increasing the number of employment-based green cards.

Business groups view the proposal as a way to increase the supply of coders and other skilled tech workers for U.S. companies without raising caps on programs such as the H-1B visa for high-skilled workers.

Companies like Alphabet Inc.s Google, Apple Inc. and Facebook Inc. have for years pressed to increase the number of tech workers allowed into the U.S., saying they need engineers from countries like India because there arent enough skilled Americans. But efforts to expand the workforce through H-1B visas have drawn a backlash from unions and immigration opponents, who argue that the companies overlook U.S. talent to hire foreigners at lower salaries.

The Biden proposal seeks to sidestep a conflict with organized labor by leaving the annual H-1B quota untouched. The measure instead clears a path for more foreign workers to eventually enter the country by eliminating a decades-long backlog of people waiting for employment-based green cards, which grant permanent legal residence and are capped at 140,000 per year under current law.

This bill, signed into law, would be a tremendous improvement for legal immigration in this country, said Todd Schulte, president of FWD.us, an immigration advocacy group founded by tech industry leaders.

Business group leaders have discussed an immigration overhaul with Democratic and Republican staff in the House and Senate, according to industry officials working on the issue. The talks have focused on finding areas of bipartisan consensus that can help advance an overall package, including keeping science-technology-engineering-math graduates in the U.S.; providing legal status for so-called Dreamers, undocumented immigrants brought to the country as children; and streamlining the employment-based visa system.

QuickTake: Dreamers, DACA and Bidens First Try on Immigration

So far, labor groups are supporting Bidens approach.

AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka praised Bidens framework as bold and said its path to citizenship will help to raise standards for all workers. The labor group declined to comment on the proposed changes to the employment-based visa system.

Service Employees Union, which represents mostly lower-wage workers, as well as United Farm Workers, joined a multimillion-dollar advertising and public relations campaign in support of Bidens immigration plan.

Nandini Nair, an immigration lawyer at Greenspoon Marder LLP, said Bidens approach goes a long way toward satisfying unions concerns.

Youre dealing with the individuals who are already here in the U.S. versus this narrative that foreign workers are coming to the U.S. and taking jobs, Nair said.

Real Tensions



Even so, unions views on the measure could change dramatically as lawmakers hash out details of the legislation.

Bidens proposes to recapture unused visas from prior years and eliminate per-country caps for employment-based green cards, which could benefit Indian information technology professionals who sometimes wait decades to gain permanent U.S. residence. The plan would also exempt spouses and children of green-card holders from the annual quota, which some advocates estimate could double the number of employment-based cards.

There are tensions there that are real, said Ediberto Roman, a law professor at Florida University who focuses on immigration. In terms of skilled labor, I could see some potential impact there.

Theres debate over whether tech companies in the U.S. need to import workers. Engineers and IT personnel are among the hardest positions to fill, according to the Manpower Group, and businesses say that as a consequence, theyre forced to look for foreign workers. But immigration opponents say the U.S. labor pool is sufficient, pointing to the number of Americans who receive degrees in computer science or related fields.

The Biden administration is espousing the tired talking points of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and who benefit from a wellspring of inexpensive sources of labor, said Kevin Lynn, executive director of the group U.S. Tech Workers, which supports lower levels of U.S. immigration and opposes outsourcing jobs.

Lynn said that the coronavirus pandemics devastating effect on the U.S. job market is even more reason to hold off on proposals to open the door to more foreign workers.

Im befuddled why they would push expansionist immigration policies at a time of so much job insecurity, Lynn said.

Bidens immigration proposal stands little chance of passage in its current form because of a longstanding partisan divide over granting undocumented migrants access to citizenship -- a policy derided as amnesty by many Republicans. But the presidents plan likely will be an outline for Democrats in Congress as they write a comprehensive immigration bill.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said Wednesday she wouldnt comment on the measures prospects because it hasnt been formally introduced in Congress.

The White House will have to pull off a balancing act to unite forces on the left -- labor groups and immigrant-rights advocates -- if it hopes to pass the overhaul into law and fulfill one of Bidens core campaign promises. Key Republican senators have already denounced Bidens plan meaning that Biden will need strong support from Democrats.

And a path to citizenship -- not increasing the number of foreign workers -- remains the dominant issue for immigrant-rights advocates, said Lorella Praeli, co-president of Community Change, one of the groups leading the campaign to promote Bidens plan.

We have to continue to build momentum toward winning freedom for all 11 million and reforming and transforming our whole system, Praeli said.

STEM Graduates



Bidens proposal attempts to keep overseas students who earn advanced science and technology degrees in the U.S. by giving them a faster track to permanent residence. It would help guest workers who already hold H-1B visas by making work authorization for their dependents permanent, and preventing their children from aging out of the system.

Bidens plan also acknowledges concerns of labor groups. It grants the Department of Homeland Security the power to raise or lower the number of green cards available based on economic conditions and enact rules to encourage higher wages for non-immigrant, high-skilled visas to prevent unfair competition with American worker.

Companies that employ foreign workers are anxious to see changes to the legal immigration system, especially after Bidens early slate of executive actions stopped short of immediately repealing former President Donald Trumps pandemic-related visa curbs. Bidens orders directed a review of many Trump migration policies with the aim of eventually rolling them back.

Read more: Harvards Sunstein Joins Bidens DHS to Shape Immigration Rules

Business groups, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Business Roundtable and FWD.us, have sought to build support for a broad immigration overhaul that includes a path to citizenship -- especially for Dreamers.

Allowing more skilled foreign workers into the U.S. once enjoyed strong support in the Republican Party, but it may be a less powerful enticement for GOP lawmakers following Trumps presidency. He sought to restrict both legal and illegal migration to the country, hardening the partys stance, and routinely demonized immigrants as threats to both U.S. security and American jobs.

Senator Marco Rubio, who co-sponsored a bipartisan immigration overhaul in 2013 that included a citizenship path for undocumented migrants, denounced Bidens bill as a non-starter that will give blanket amnesty to people living in the country without authorization.


Doctors at a hospital in the southern Vietnamese province of Dong Nai have removed an egg-sized stone from the bladder of a male patient.

University Medical Shingmark Hospital in Dong Nai Province, located in southern Vietnam, announced on Wednesday that its doctors had managed to perform an operation to take a large stone shaped like an egg from the bladder of a 51-year-old man, N.Q.Q.

The stone measured five centimeters in diameter then.

Q. was hospitalized as he suffered severe pain in his lower abdomen and difficulty urinating, doctors said.

Following several tests, doctors detected an abnormally large egg-like stone in his bladder.

Due to the enormous measurement of the stone, it took up to one-third of the bladder.

The stone was as hard as a rock so doctors had to carry out a surgery to pull it out.

The patient then said medical workers had detected a stone in his bladder three months ago but he ignored the diagnosis until it caused adominal pain and painful urination.

Q. is currently making a good recovery from his operation and his bodily functions are now stable, according to Dr. Le Xuan Bao from University Medical Shingmark Hospital.

According to Bao, large bladder stones can cause serious complications for the patient, such as cystitis, kidney failure, bladder cancer, and urinary inflammation.

Doctors advised that people who have difficult urination symptoms should be examined as soon as possible.

Any problems can be detected for early treament as small stones can be treated with endoscopic lithotripsy, helping the patient to relieve pain and recover faster.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
It introduced this new and improved offering after months of extensive consumer research showed that customers were seeking products with increased CBD percentages

HempFusion's new Sleep and Stress CBD offering increases the company's product line to 48

Wellness Inc ( ) (OTCMKTS:CBDHF) (FRA:8OO) reported that it has introduced what it called new and improved Sleep and Stress products with twice the amount of CBD per serving.

The company said the new CBD products, which increases s total product line to 48, aim to support relaxation for consumers by providing more restful nights sleep and easing occasional stress.

Global consumers are becoming increasingly familiar with CBD and its potential benefits to their daily routine, Wellness CEO Jason Mitchell said in a statement.

He added: After conducting months of extensive consumer research, it was clear that the majority of our customers and consumers in the market are seeking products with increased CBD percentages. It has always been HempFusions goal to provide new and innovative products that consumers are looking for.

We are proud to launch our new and improved Sleep and Stress supporting products and are excited by the potential they bring to the CBD marketplace.

HempFusions new products include:

Twice the amount of CBD (300 mg per bottle);

GABA, an amino acid that supports mental relaxation;

ASHWAGANDHA that helps you better deal with daily occasional stress;

CBD and a broad array of other important cannabinoids, terpenes, and more that supports the endocannabinoid system; and

No THC - Tested to contain less than 0.01% 9-THC.

HempFusion Wellness is a health and wellness supplement company utilizing the power of whole-food hemp nutrition. It manufactures, markets, and sells hemp-based cannabidiol (CBD) and probiotic products in the US and Europe.

The Denver, Colorado-based company's family of brands  HempFusion, Probulin Probiotics, Biome Research, and HF Labs  are widely distributed to around 4,000 retailers spread across all 50 US states and select international locations.

In addition, HempFusions wholly-owned subsidiary Probulin Probiotics is one of the fastest-growing probiotics companies in the US, according to data technology company SPINS.

Contact Sean at sean@proactiveinvestors.com

The new line will be available in four varieties including Strawberry and Mango, made with real fruit, and the brand's first non-fruit flavors in the portfolio  Chocolate and Coffee  for a perfect pick-me-up. In fact, Simply Indulgent Coffee bars provide a little boost with 20mg of caffeine, about  the amount in a cup of coffee, in every bar. All flavors of Outshine Simply Indulgent bars are made with no GMO ingredients, high fructose corn syrup, artificial flavors, sweeteners or colors*, rBST** or gluten.

"The Outshine brand strives to help our consumers shine brighter from the inside out with our refreshingly real frozen fruit bars. Our new collection of Simply Indulgent bars are a good source of protein made with the goodness of real milk, providing the indulgence of a dairy-based frozen snack with the simple ingredients and delicious taste expected from Outshine," said Joanna Komvopoulos, Outshine Brand Manager. "We are excited to expand our fruit-based portfolio with the release of two brand-new flavors, Chocolate and Coffee, for those looking for even more indulgent, yet better-for-you options without compromise."

The 6-count, single-flavor boxes are rolling out now and will be available in retailers nationwide by April 2021. Price varies per retailer and product. (SRP): $4.69. To learn more about the Outshine story and other product lines follow @Outshinesnacks on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram or visit https://www.outshinesnacks.com/en.

*added colors from natural sources

**milk and cream from cows not treated with growth hormone rBST

About Outshine Snacks

Outshine snacks are delicious and wholesome frozen fruit bars made with high quality ingredients to refresh consumers from the inside out. With a wide variety of frozen bars and flavors including Fruit Bars, Simply Indulgent Bars and Half-Dipped Fruit Bars dipped in dark chocolate, the Outshine brand offers refreshing snacks made with the goodness of real fruit and juice. Outshine is a registered trademark used under license by Froneri International Limited. Nestle  Registered Trade Mark of Societe des Produits Nestle S.A., Vevey, Switzerland. Other trademarks property of their respective owners, used with permission. For more information, please visit www.outshinesnacks.com, or follow Outshine on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

SOURCE Outshine

Related Links

http://www.outshinesnacks.com


A 13-year veteran of the Pennsylvania State Police has been suspended without pay for helping to run a prostitution, gambling and money laundering scheme in Lackawanna County, authorities said.

State police said Trooper Robert E. Covington Jr., 48, of Olyphant, and three others ran the operation out of Sinners Swing Gentlemens Club in Mayfield Borough. An investigation was launched in November 2018 after state police received a tip of illicit activity taking place at the club, according to a state police news release.

Covington co-owned the club with David P. Klem, 39, of Eynon, state police said. Investigators determined the pair turned the club into a corrupt organization that promoted prostitution, gambling and money laundering, the news release said.

Club manager Michael P. Ball, 49, of Dalton, PA; and employee Deanna E. Tallo, 32, of Troop, are also facing charges for their participation in the operation, according to state police.

State police investigated the case over 17 months with the assistance of the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General.

Covington is a 13-year veteran of the state police assigned to the Bureau of Gaming Enforcement, Pocono Downs Wilkes-Barre Office. State police said he was on restricted duty during the investigation and is suspended without pay while charges are pending.

Members of the PSP take an oath to seek justice without consideration of class, color, creed, or condition, and that means conducting thorough and unbiased investigations into our own troopers when necessary, Colonel Robert Evanchick, commissioner of the state police, said in the news release. The criminal conduct uncovered in this case betrays the trust of the communities we serve, and we hope the investigation and the resulting charges demonstrate our departments commitment to fairness and transparency.

Covington is charged with corrupt organizations, criminal conspiracy, prostitution, gambling, dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities, criminal use of a communication facility, unsworn falsification to authorities, and financial interest statement violation. Klem is facing similar charges.

Ball and Tallo are each charged with corrupt organizations, criminal conspiracy and prostitution. Ball is also charged with gambling.

READ MORE: Ice leads to deadly 75-vehicle pileup in Texas

KKK member who called his crash into protesters kind of funny will spend 3+ years in prison
Foodstuff imports from EU up by over 13% in 2020

In total, imports of agricultural products stood at US$6.9 billion in monetary terms.

Reporting by UNIAN

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LONDON - A newspaper invaded the Duchess of Sussexs privacy by publishing a personal letter to her estranged father, a British judge ruled Thursday, in a major victory for the royal in her campaign against what she sees as media intrusion.

FILE - In this Saturday March 7, 2020 file photo, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex with Prince Harry arrives at the Royal Albert Hall in London, to attend the Mountbatten Festival of Music. A British judge ruled Thursday Feb. 11, 2021, that a newspaper invaded Duchess of Sussexs privacy by publishing personal letter to her estranged father. (Simon Dawson/Pool via AP, File)

LONDON - A newspaper invaded the Duchess of Sussexs privacy by publishing a personal letter to her estranged father, a British judge ruled Thursday, in a major victory for the royal in her campaign against what she sees as media intrusion.

The former American actress Meghan Markle, 39, sued publisher Associated Newspapers for invasion of privacy and copyright infringement over five February 2019 articles in the Mail on Sunday and on the MailOnline website that published large portions of a letter she wrote to her father after her 2018 wedding to Prince Harry.

High Court judge Mark Warby ruled that the publisher had misused the duchesss private information and infringed her copyright.

He said the duchess had a reasonable expectation that the contents of the letter would remain private. The Mail articles interfered with that reasonable expectation.

Meghan said she was grateful to the court for holding Associated Newspapers to account for their illegal and dehumanizing practices.

She said that with this comprehensive win on both privacy and copyright, we have all won.

Associated Newspapers said it was very surprised by todays summary judgment and disappointed at being denied the chance to have all the evidence heard and tested in open court at a full trial.

We are carefully considering the judgments contents and will decide in due course whether to lodge an appeal," said the publishing company, which had strongly contested Meghan's claim.

A trial in the case, scheduled for the fall, would have been one of the most high-profile civil legal showdowns in London for years. But at hearings last month, lawyers for the duchess asked for a summary judgment to settle the case without a trial.

In granting the request, the judge said the publisher's disclosures of large chunks of Meghan's private letter to her father, Thomas Markle, were manifestly excessive and hence unlawful.

There is no prospect that a different judgment would be reached after a trial, he said.

Meghans lawyers said the deeply personal five-page letter was intended to be read by her father alone. Her attorney, Justin Rushbrooke, argued in January that the publisher had no real prospect of winning the case.

For these outlets, its a game, Meghan said in her statement after the ruling. For me and so many others, its real life, real relationships, and very real sadness. The damage they have done and continue to do runs deep.

But the defence argued Meghan wrote the letter as part of a media strategy to rebut a negative view conveyed by her father in indiscreet media appearances, and with help from the communications team in the royal couples Kensington Palace office.

Thursdays ruling means Meghan has won her case on privacy and copyright infringement grounds, but the judge said a limited trial should be held to decide the minor issue of whether Meghan was the sole author and lone copyright holder of the letter.

The defence argues that Jason Knauf, Harry and Meghan's former communications director, was the letter's co-author. The judge said that argument cannot be described as convincing, and seems improbable, but should still be decided at a trial.

Meghan, a former star of the American TV legal drama Suits, married Harry, a grandson of Queen Elizabeth II, at Windsor Castle in May 2018. Their son, Archie, was born the following year.

In early 2020, Meghan and Harry announced they were quitting royal duties and moving to North America, citing what they said were the unbearable intrusions and racist attitudes of the British media. They recently bought a house in Santa Barbara, California.

Mark Stephens, a media lawyer with the firm Howard Kennedy in London, cautioned that the legal saga might be far from over.

The Mail on Sunday almost have to take it to appeal because the state of privacy laws (are) in a mess in this country, and they need a definitive statement, he said. So (Meghan) may not be allowed to walk off the pitch. She may have to go through an appeal yet. So this is just round one.

Danica Kirka in London contributed to this story.
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Whats the first thing you think of when you think of Ohio? Is it low corporate taxes?

Maybe not, but thats part of what JobsOhio wants business owners in Boston, New York City, Seattle and other higher-cost, major U.S. cities to ponder as they consider whether to move elsewhere.

The Ohio is for Leaders campaign launched as a pilot program in September, with a full rollout in January. It involves digital ads and social media, but a major component is billboards, with different messaging tailored toward the markets theyre in. For example, for Times Square in New York City: Your buildings are taller, our taxes are smaller; for Seattle: Live where you can actually afford to save for a rainy day and for Boston, near Fenway Park: 0% state corporate income tax? Thats the ticket. In Austin, its Everything is bigger in Texas, except your house. And so on.

The billboards list a web address, OhioIsForLeaders.com, which contains a YouTube video and a form to contact JobsOhio for more information about doing business in the state. Officials at JobsOhio, which is funded by profits from the states liquor monopoly but exempt from public-records laws, declined to say how much they cost. The ads were produced by Madwell, an agency with offices in Brooklyn. JobsOhio officials said they won out over five other proposals based on what they perceived as the agencys ability to execute the campaign.

Social-media users in Ohio noticed the ads this week. They hit a nerve on the political left after Republican Gov. Mike DeWine used the word progressive earlier this month to describe Ohio, an increasingly politically red state, while touting a proposal to spend $50 million on an ad campaign to attract younger people to move here. To be clear, the JobsOhio billboard campaign is different from DeWines proposal, which has yet to be approved.

I live in Ohio (I know, you arent really asking me) - this makes it quite apparent that everyone else pays taxes here to cover big business paying ZERO, wrote one user. Who would want that? I SURE DONT.

Ive heard from multiple friends in CA that they *are* seeing these ads on TV and online. Theyre mostly from here and find them baffling, wrote another.

This is actually exactly why were doing it, Matt Englehart, a spokesman for JobsOhio, said of the social media conservation, even though some of it was negative. Were excited about talking about it...The purpose is to draw the attention. Its designed to have some fun while were being kind of edgy.

Question for people who live outside Ohio - what do you think of these signs and do they make you want to move/move back to Ohio? pic.twitter.com/neHnAfCIhJ  Jo Ingles (@joingles) February 8, 2021

Renae Scott, managing director of JobsOhio, spoke about the campaign earlier this month during a meeting for TourismOhio, the states official tourism agency.

She said it ran for three weeks at the end of September, calling it bold and cheeky. It involved billboards in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Boston, Chicago and New York.

She said the campaign was designed to attract the attention of people and businesses looking to flee the coasts. She claimed it generated more than 30 million impressions, including media coverage. It was initially designed to leverage positive national attention to DeWines approach to managing the coronavirus pandemic.

We hear about people going to Las Vegas and Austin, Texas, she said. Were making sure the Ohio value proposition is out there.

But are relatively low taxes really the best thing Ohio has to promote itself? Not, say, why someone might actually enjoy living here?

If were talking about corporate taxes in New York or San Francisco, I feel really good about our competitive stance, Englehart said.

DeWine, a Republican, has expressed interest in doing more to promote Ohio for tourism and business since the early days of his time as governor. The idea took a backseat during the coronavirus pandemic, although officials have shifted to trying to promote the state as a few expensive, more densely populated metropolitan areas lose population. The Ohio is for Leaders name hearkens back to the Virginia is for Lovers slogan that dates back to 1969.

Neighboring states like West Virginia (Wild and Wonderful) and Michigan (Pure Michigan) have seen some success more recently with their tourism slogans.

Ohios most recent motto is Find it Here, which has received, lets say, mixed reviews.

Ohio, and other states in the Midwest, grapple with stereotypes that include a Rust Belt reputation, said Casey Newmeyer, an associate professor of marketing at Case Western Reserve University. And some other states have been more successful at branding themselves to outsiders.

I think some of them are pretty good, she said of the JobsOhio campaign. They grab your attention and make you think about priorities, because there are stereotypes about certain places in the United States, Ohio included, that this ad campaign can counteract.

She said it would make sense that Ohio would want to take advantage of a major trend the pandemic highlighted - demonstrating that certain jobs can be done remotely, making it matter less where workers are physically located. She also said the ads clearly are aimed at attracting business.

Some individuals might be turned off by a message focused on a CEO or an entrepreneur or business owner, but at the same time that message is really important for the target its directed at.

Just from some of the things Ive seen, its well done, its smart, and sometimes a little bit of a marketing spend can go a long way to bringing people here, bringing businesses here and making Ohio better off, she said.

Cleveland.com / The Plain Dealer reporter Susan Glaser contributed to this story
Radio communications from the Metropolitan Police Department highlight how, during and and following President Trumps speech, Trump supporters descended on the Capitol, and became increasingly violent. What you are about to hear has not been made public before. In another radio communication between Metropolitan Police officers, you can hear an officer declare that there is a riot at the capital at 1:49 p.m. We are seeing the inside view as the mob approaches from outside and beats the windows and doors. You can see that the rioters first broke the window with the wooden beam that you saw previously, and a lone police officer inside responds and begins to spray the first man who enters, but is quickly overwhelmed. I want you to pay attention to the first group of assailants as they break into the building. The second man through the window is wearing full tactical body armor and is carrying a baseball bat. Others are carrying riot shields. Among this group are members of the Proud Boys, some of whom, like Dominic Pezzola, who was recently indicted on federal conspiracy charges, we will discuss later. In this security footage, you can see Officer Goodman running to respond to the initial breach. Officer Goodman passes Senator Mitt Romney, and directs him to turn around in order to get to safety. On the first floor, just beneath them, the mob had already started to search for the Senate chamber. Officer Goodman made his way down to the first floor. On the left-hand side of the video, just inside the hallway, is the door to the Senate chamber. And watch how officer Goodman provokes the rioters and purposefully draws them away from the door to the Senate chamber and towards the other officers waiting down the hall. The rioter seen carrying a baseball bat in this video is the same one we saw moments ago, breaching the window on the first floor. While all of this was going on, Vice President Pence was still in the room near the Senate chamber. It was not until to 2:26 that he was evacuated to a secure location. This next security video shows that evacuation. His movements are depicted by the orange dot in our model  the red and blue dots represent the location where the mob and Officer Goodman were, and where Officer Goodman led the mob away from the chamber, just moments ago. You can see Vice President Pence and his family quickly moved down the stairs. The vice president turns around briefly as hes headed down. About the same time Capitol Police announced the Capitol had been breached, Speaker Pelosis staff heeded the call to shelter in place. As you can see here, the staff moves from their offices, through the halls, and then enters a door on the right hand side. Thats the outer door of a conference room, which also has an inner door that they barricaded with furniture. The staff then hid under a conference room table in that inner room. This is the last staffer going in and then barricading themselves inside of the inner office. After just seven minutes of them barricading themselves, and the last staffer entering the door on the right, a group of rioters entered the hallway outside. And once inside, the rioters have free rein in the speaker of the Houses offices. In this security video, pay attention to the door that we saw those staffers leading into and going into. One of the rioters, you can see, is throwing his body against the door three times until he breaks open that outer door. Luckily, when faced with the inner door, he moves on. This security footage, which does not have sound, shows a close-up of Trumps mob as they move toward the second floor of the House chamber to stop the counting of votes. This security video shows Ashli Babbitt, followed by others in the mob, turning the corner toward the House lobby doors where the members were leaving. This security video from 2:56 p.m. shows the mob in the House of Representatives wing on the second floor of the Capitol. Insurrectionists who are still inside the building are fighting with the police, who are overwhelmed and trying to get them out. In this security video, you can see how the Capitol Police created a line and blocked the hallway with their bodies to prevent rioters at the end of the hall from reaching you and your staff. Additional security footage shows how leader Schumer and the members of his protective detail had a near miss with the mob. They came within just yards of rioters and had to turn around. Going up the ramp with his detail, hell soon go out of view. Seconds later, they return and run back down the hallway, and officers immediately shut the door and use their bodies to keep them safe. Heres an audio recording from the radio traffic of the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department describing the violence. In a separate Metropolitan Police Department radio traffic recording, you can hear an officer when he realizes that the insurrectionists had overtaken the police line. Hours after members of the House and Senate had left this area, on the west front of the building, the mob continued to grow, continued to beat the officers as they tried to get in. In this new security video, you can see the mob attacking officers with a crutch, a hockey stick, a bullhorn and a Trump flag.
Full statement by Rajnath Singh on Indo-China border row

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Feb 11: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today made a statement in the Rajya Sabha on the India-China border row. Singh said that the multiple rounds of talks ensured that a plan was put in place to disengage at the North and South banks of Pangong Lake.

Ladakh Standoff: Rajnath Singh says India and China have agreed to disengagement| Oneindia News

Here is the full statement of Rajnath Singh on the Indo-China border row:

The House would recall that I had made a detailed statement on the developments in the India-China border areas in Eastern Ladakh during the last session in September last year. I had highlighted that the Chinese side had since April/May 2020 amassed large number of troops and armaments in the border areas adjacent to Eastern Ladakh. It had also made several attempts to transgress the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in various parts. These actions of the Chinese side had been detected and appropriately responded to by our armed forces. The House and the Nation had also paid homage to the brave Indian soldiers who had made the supreme sacrifice and laid down their lives in the cause of defending the territorial integrity of India. I would today like to apprise the House of certain important developments since then.

Since last September, both sides have maintained communication with each other through military and diplomatic channels. Our objective was to effect disengagement and maintain status quo along the LAC so as to restore peace and tranquility.

3. Let me briefly recapitulate the main aspects of the situation on the ground. As the House is aware, China illegally occupied approximately 38,000 sq. kms in the Union Territory of Ladakh, mainly during the 1962 conflict. In addition, under the so-called Sino-Pakistan 'Boundary Agreement' of 1963, Pakistan illegally ceded 5,180 sq. kms. of Indian territory in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir to China. China, thus is in illegal occupation of more than 43,000 sq. kms of Indian territory. It also claims approximately

#WATCH: Indian Army video of ongoing disengagement process in Ladakh. pic.twitter.com/kXjr0SiPN2  ANI (@ANI) February 11, 2021

90,000 sq. kms. of Indian territory in the Eastern Sector of the India-China boundary in Arunachal Pradesh. India has never accepted this illegal occupation of our territory or the unjustified claims.

I would like to add here that India has consistently maintained that while bilateral relations can develop in parallel with discussions on resolving the boundary question, any serious disturbance in peace and tranquility along the LAC in the border areas is bound to have adverse implications for the direction of our bilateral ties. The Chinese side is well aware of our position. In fact, various high level Joint Statements have acknowledged this point that maintenance of peace and tranquility along the LAC in the border areas is a fundamental premise for development of relations.

The actions by the Chinese side since last year have seriously disturbed peace and tranquility.

Consequently they have also had an impact on the overall relationship. In our various high level interactions with the Chinese side, including in my own meeting with Chinese Defence Minister last September, my colleague the External Affairs Minister Shri Jaishankarji's meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister and NSA Shri Doval's conversation with his Chinese counterpart, we have made it clear that the foremost need was to ensure disengagement in all the friction points along the LAC in the Western Sector so as to help restore peace and tranquility.

India-China have agreement on disengagement at North, South Banks of Pangong Tso

I had apprised the House last year that there were several friction areas in Eastern Ladakh along the LAC. In addition, the Chinese side had mobilized a large number of troops and armaments along the LAC as well as in the depth areas. Our armed forces too had made adequate and effective counter deployments in these areas to ensure that India's security interests were fully protected.

I am proud to say that our Armed Forces have responded to the challenges posed by the unilateral Chinese action and have shown valour and courage on both South and North bank of Pangong Tso. Many strategically important points were identified and our troops positioned themselves at those Hill Tops and at locations which were very important from our point of view. It is because of this great bravery of our Armed Forces in the face of harsh adverse climatic conditions that we maintained the edge. Our Armed Forces proved yet again that territorial integrity of our country remains safe in their hands and their grit and determination to safeguard our borders is unwavering.

Over the last year, we have maintained diplomatic and military engagement with the Chinese side. In these discussions, we have maintained the three key principles that determine our approach: (i) both sides should strictly respect and observe the LAC; (ii) neither side should attempt to alter the status quo unilaterally; and (iii) all agreements and understandings between the two sides must be fully abided by in their entirety. To ensure disengagement in friction points along the LAC, it was our view that troops of both sides, who are now in close proximity, should vacate the forward deployments made in 2020 and return to the permanent and accepted bases.

Our approach and strategy for negotiations with the Chinese side has been guided at the highest level by the Hon'ble Prime Minister's resolve that we will not give even an inch of Indian territory. Our tenacity and approach during talks have yielded results.

Since September 2020, based on the policy guidance, military and diplomatic officials of both sides have met several times to work out a mutually acceptable solution for disengagement. Till date, there have been 9 rounds of meetings of the Senior Commanders of both sides. Diplomatic talks have continued in parallel under the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC).

I am happy to inform the House today that as a result of our well thought out approach and sustained talks with the Chinese side, we have now been able to reach an agreement on disengagement in the North and South Bank of the Pangong Lake. It has also been agreed to convene the next meeting of the Senior Commanders within 48 hours after the complete disengagement in the Pangong Lake area so as to address and resolve all other remaining issues.

The agreement that we have been able to reach with the Chinese side for disengagement in the Pangong lake area envisages that both sides will cease their forward deployments in a phased, coordinated and verified manner. The Chinese side will keep its troop presence in the North Bank area to east of Finger 8. Reciprocally, the Indian troops will be based at their permanent base at Dhan Singh Thapa Post near Finger 3. A similar action would be taken in the South Bank area by both sides. These are mutual and reciprocal steps and any structures that had been built by both sides since April 2020 in both North and South Bank area will be removed and the landforms will be restored. It has also been agreed to have a temporary moratorium on military activities by both sides in the North Bank, including patrolling to the traditional areas. Patrolling will be resumed only when both sides reach an agreement in diplomatic and military talks that would be held subsequently. The implementation of this agreement has started yesterday in the North and South Bank of the Pangong Lake. It will substantially restore the situation to that existing prior to commencement of the standoff last year.

I want to assure this House that in these talks we have not conceded anything. The House should also know that there are still some outstanding issues with regard to deployment and patrolling at some other points along the LAC in Eastern Ladakh. These will be the focus of further discussions with the Chinese side. We have agreed that both sides should achieve complete disengagement at the earliest and abide fully by the bilateral agreements and protocols. By now, the Chinese side is also fully aware of our resolve. It is therefore our expectation that the Chinese side will work with us in full sincerity to resolve these remaining issues.

I would like this House to join me in paying gratitude to our armed forces who have shown grit and resolve under these extremely harsh climatic conditions of Ladakh which has resulted in the present agreement. Our Nation will always remember the sacrifices made by our brave soldiers which has been the foundation of this disengagement at Pangong Tso Lake.

I am confident that this entire House, irrespective of political affiliations, is united together for upholding our sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity and national security. And further, this House is one in sending out the same message demonstrating the strength and unity of our Nation to the entire world.

Jai Hind.
[February 11, 2021] Jingsu Pu Rejoins MetLife Investment Management as Global Head of Insurance Strategy & Solutions and Head of Institutional Client Group, Asia Ex-Japan

MetLife Investment Management (MIM), the institutional asset management business of MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET), today announced that Jingsu Pu has rejoined the firm as global head of Insurance Strategy & Solutions and head of Institutional Client Group (ICG), Asia, excluding Japan. Pu joins as a senior member of the global Insurance Asset Management team responsible for leading MIM's efforts on insurance strategy portfolios and solutions globally. Additionally, Pu, to be based in Hong Kong, will spearhead client and business development for MIM's ICG group in Asia, excluding Japan, with a particular focus on Hong Kong, China, Korea and Southeast Asia. He will report to Ruth Farrugia, global head of Insurance Asset Management and Matt Mosca, global head of ICG. Pu first joined MetLife's global portfolio management team in 2010 with responsibility for developing and implementing investment strategies across the company's international general account portfolios. In 2016, he moved to Hong Kong to head the firm's Asia portfolio management group, departing for a short time in 2019 for a brief stint as chief investment officer ata China-based insurance company.



"We're very pleased to welcome Jingsu back to the team in this larger leadership role," said Steven J. Goulart, president of MetLife Investment Management and chief investment officer of MetLife, Inc. "His significant insurance industry knowledge, global experience, and familiarity with our approach will be vital as we continue to build MIM's asset management business and grow our presence in Asia." MIM's Insurance Asset Management group manages investments for a range of life and property and casualty insurance companies globally, and is also responsible for overall portfolio management of MetLife's general account investment strategy and execution. The Insurance Asset Management group provides value-added capabilities including strategic asset allocation, portfolio optimizations, and other insurance advisory services.

About MetLife Investment Management

MetLife Investment Management, the institutional asset management business of MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET), is a global public fixed income, private capital and real estate investment manager providing tailored investment solutions to institutional investors worldwide. MetLife Investment Management provides public and private pension plans, insurance companies, endowments, funds and other institutional clients with a range of bespoke investment and financing solutions that seek to meet a range of long-term investment objectives and risk-adjusted returns over time. MetLife Investment Management has over 150 years of investment experience and as of December 31, 2020 had $659.6 billion in total assets under management.1 For more information, visit https://investments.metlife.com. About MetLife

MetLife, Inc. (NYSE: MET), through its subsidiaries and affiliates ("MetLife"), is one of the world's leading financial services companies, providing insurance, annuities, employee benefits and asset management to help its individual and institutional customers navigate their changing world. Founded in 1868, MetLife has operations in more than 40 markets globally and holds leading positions in the United States, Japan, Latin America, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. For more information, visit www.metlife.com. Forward-Looking Statements

The forward-looking statements in this news release, such as "will," and "continue" are based on assumptions and expectations that involve risks and uncertainties, including the "Risk Factors" MetLife, Inc. describes in its U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filings. MetLife's future results could differ, and it has no obligation to correct or update any of these statements. 1 At estimated fair value. Includes MetLife general account and separate account assets and unaffiliated / third party assets. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210211005667/en/

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Disney has been accused of double standards following the firing of Gina Carano after it emerged Mandalorian co-star Pedro Pascal compared ICE administration centers to Nazi concentration camps.

The company on Wednesday announced it had fired conservative actress Carano over an Instagram post that likened the murder of Jews during the Holocaust to the current U.S. political climate. Lucasfilm called the post 'abhorrent and unacceptable'.

But it has since emerged that in 2018 actor Pascal shared an image of Germany 1944 and what he said was America 2018. He wrote: '#ThisisAmerica.'

Cancel Disney+ began to trend on Twitter shortly after Carano's firing with many pointing to Pascal's comments as evidence of the company's hypocrisy when dealing with conservative stars.

Donald Trump Jr. shared the actor's post, writing: 'Same Movie as @ginacarano, same analogy, though the pic has the wrong date... I'm told it was 2010 under Obama/Biden.

'So does @Disney discriminate against women for doing what their male actors do or is is only discrimination against conservatives?'

Blogger Matt Walsh added: 'Not only did Pedro Pascal, an actor on The Mandalorian, compare the United States and Nazi Germany, but he did so with a photo of "America in 2018" that is not actually from 2018 and also not actually from America.

'He still has his job.'

Right-wing commentator Jack Posobiec said: 'Stop giving money to people who hate you.' He added: 'Disney re-hired James Gunn but fired Gina Carano tells you everything.'

Gunn - a vocal critic of Donald Trump - had been fired in 2018 after offensive jokes about sensitive topics including pedophilia, rape, the 9/11 terror attack and the Holocaust surfaced. He was rehired in 2019.

Pedro Pascal and Gina Carano pictured together in 2019; Disney has been accused of double standards following the firing of Gina Carano after it emerged Mandalorian co-star Pedro Pascal compared ICE administration centers to Nazi concentration camps

In 2018 Pascal shared these two images. He wrote: '#ThisisAmerica'

Carano's post likened the experience of Jews during the Holocaust to the current U.S. political climate. Lucasfilm called the post 'abhorrent and unacceptable'

Others said that they would cancel their membership to Disney+ with the topic trending on Twitter.

The Rubin Report host Dave Rubin said: 'Disney has cancelled @ginacarano, so Im cancelling my @disneyplus. We need to stop giving these people our money and we must build new franchises.'

Fox News contributor Mollie Hemingway wrote: 'We canceled our @Disney subscription tonight.'

'Gina Carano's post made the point that mass violence starts with hatred for your neighbor. This is not only uncontroversially true but also one perspective of the commandment to love your neighbor,' tweeted Daily Caller associated editor Katrina Haydon. 'That idea is not a call to empty niceness. It's how you prevent suffering.'

'Gina Carano was fired for being conservative,' wrote conservative activist and Parkland shooting survivor Kyle Kashuv.

Another Twitter user, John Kelly, added: 'C'mon #Disney. Don't hold to a double standard. Either fire Pedro Pascal or rehire Gina Carano.'

Jason Presti shared Pascal's tweet, adding: 'The Hypocrisy of Disney/Lucasfilm & Cancel Culture! Pedro Pascal wasn't cancelled or fired for this.'

Cancel Disney+ began to trend on Twitter shortly after Carano's firing with many pointing to Pascal's comments as evidence of the company's hypocrisy when dealing with conservative stars

The conservative actress and former MMA fighter fell under heavy criticism after she posted on Instagram Stories that 'Jews were beaten in the streets, not by Nazi soldiers but by their neighbors.... even by children.'

The post continued: 'Because history is edited, most people today dont realize that to get to the point where Nazi soldiers could easily round up thousands of Jews, the government first made their own neighbors hate them simply for being Jews.

'How is that any different from hating someone for their political views?'

A spokesperson for Lucasfilm said in a statement on Wednesday that Carano is not currently employed by the production company with 'no plans for her to be in the future.'

'Nevertheless, her social media posts denigrating people based on their cultural and religious identities are abhorrent and unacceptable,' the statement read.

Talent agency UTA has also dropped Carano as a client following the controversy, according to Variety.

Carano, who played the recurring character Cara Dune on the 'Star Wars' series, deleted the post but it was widely shared online and spurred the #FireGinaCarano hashtag to trend.

Gina Carano is Cara Dune, Pedro Pascal is the Mandalorian and Carl Weathers is Greef Karga

Actress and former MMA fighter Gina Carano has been fired from the cast of the Disney+ Star Wars series The Mandalorian following a controversial social media post

Before news of her termination was announced, Carano posted a picture to her Instagram story that included the phrase 'Jeff Epstein didn't kill himself'

Carano is seen with cast of The Mandalorian at the show's 2019 premiere

Her character appeared in several episodes of the second season of 'The Mandalorian,' a series about a bounty hunter and his quest to unite a powerful, young user of the Force with a Jedi Knight.

Dune, who in the second season is a lawperson on a frontier planet, frequently teams up with the title character to fight an old nemesis: remnants of the evil Galactic Empire.

Carano, a former mixed martial artist whose Dune character used a mix of heavy weapons and her fists to best opponents, had been criticized online for social media posts.

In some, she mocked mask wearing during the pandemic and promoted claims of voter fraud during the 2020 presidential election.

On Wednesday- before news of her termination was announced - Carano posted a picture to her Instagram story that included the phrase 'Jeff Epstein didn't kill himself' - a reference to conspiracy theories that the pedophile billionaire was murdered.

'I bring out the fire in people:' Gina Carano's controversial comments on social media Actress Gina Carano has never been shy of expressing her opinions on social media. Late last year she shared anti-mask tweets, posts in support of Trump's claims about voter fraud and was accused of 'mocking trans people'. Responding to the criticism she said: I bring the fire out in people. I'm not sure why.' These were the latest tweets that sparked attention. In August 2020, she was criticized for blocking accounts supporting Black Lives Matter protests on Twitter. She called her critics "cowards and bullies" but denied accusations of racism. Carano has mocked the use of preferred gender pronouns, listing 'beep/bop/boop' in her social media bio after some expressed outrage that she did not list any pronouns. The move prompted accusations of transphobia. She later deleted the terms, saying fellow Mandalorian actor Pedro Pascal 'helped [her] understand' the meaning behind preferred pronouns. Carano likened the murder of Jews during the Holocaust to the current U.S. political climate in February. On Wednesday- before news of her termination was announced - Carano posted a picture to her Instagram story that included the phrase 'Jeff Epstein didn't kill himself' - a reference to conspiracy theories that the pedophile billionaire was murdered. Advertisement

She also mocked the use of gender pronouns, listing 'beep/bop/boop' in her social media bio after some expressed outrage that she did not list any pronouns in her bio.

Last month, Carano opened up about facing backlash from the Star Wars community over her conservative and anti-mask tweets amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The actress spoke with YouTuber Drunk 3PO in a candid interview about her controversial social media presence.

'People need to be OK with having conversations,' she told the host. 'With having difficult conversations, with having different opinions. What's wrong with having a different opinion?'

She continued: 'Why does everybody have to straight go to demoralizing because maybe they just didn't think the way you did?'

The actress also noted that she is not deterred by critics and stays vocal to prevent them from controlling Twitter and other social media platforms.

'My whole perspective on this is, I've seen people get bullied off of Twitter on both sides,' the former MMA fighter explained.

'I don't like bullying, and If I don't stay present, which I don't even necessarily want to stay present that often, I want to make art, art is my passion, but if I don't stay present then other people win.'

She continued: 'Other people win in bullying people off of platforms and there needs to be a more balanced platform.'

Insisting she won't be silenced, the Texas-born performer pointed out that 'a lot of people are not bothered by' her presence on Twitter and she chooses to focus on her fans.

'I bring the fire out in people. I'm not sure why,' she said just weeks after sharing a snarky meme of two people putting face masks over their eyes like blindfolds.

Fallout from Carano's firing was swift online, and the terms 'Gina Carano' and 'Nazi Germany' began trending on Twitter on Wednesday night as a result of her post.

While those who had called for her firing cheered Lucasfilm's move, conservatives rallied to support Carano and even claimed that her firing was evidence of her premise.

Some celebrated Lucasfilm's move to disavow Carano, saying the was the fate she deserved.

'Turns out that when you publicly support and encourage authoritarianism and fascism, you reflect poorly on your employer and they want nothing to do with you,' one person tweeted.

'Watching Republican after Republican just lose everything because of how s***y of a person they are is my favorite past time,' another wrote.
The Associated Press

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan unveiled an ambitious 10-year space program for his country Tuesday that includes missions to the moon, sending Turkish astronauts into space and developing internationally viable satellite systems. Erdogan announced the program, seen as part of his vision for placing Turkey in an expanded regional and global role, during a live televised event laced with special effects. He said Turkey planned to establish a first contact with the moon in 2023 when the country marks the centennial of the founding of the Turkish republic. The first stage of the mission would be through international cooperation, while the second stage would utilize Turkish rockets, Erdogan said.

Our primary and most important goal for our national space program is the contact of the Republic, in its 100th year, with the moon, the Turkish leader said. God willing, we are going to the moon.

Erdogan also declared Turkeys aim to send Turkish citizens into space with international cooperation, to work with other countries on building a spaceport and to create a global brand in satellite technology.

I hope that this roadmap, which will carry Turkey to the top league in the global space race, will come to life successfully, he said.

Turkey established the Turkish Space Agency, or TUA, in 2018, with the aim of joining the handful of other countries with space programs.

Critics have questioned the governments decision to spend vast sums of money on that goal at a time when the countrys economy is suffering. But supporters say a space program will provide jobs for researchers and is likely to reduce the brain drain of emigrating scientists.

Erdogan did not provide details on how Turkey plans to achieve its goals. Last month, he and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk spoke by telephone and discussed cooperation on space technologies with Turkish companies.

Meanwhile, a metal monolith that mysteriously appeared and disappeared on a field in southeast Turkey turned out to be a publicity gimmick before the event.

The three-meter-high (about 10-feet-high) metal slab with the inscription Look at the sky, you will see the moon written in an ancient Turkic script was found Friday by a farmer in Sanliurfa province. The monolith was near the UNESCO World Heritage site of Gobekli Tepe, which is home to megalithic structures dating to the 10th century BC, thousands of years before Stonehenge.

The structure was reported gone Tuesday morning, adding to the mystery.

An image of the monolith was later projected on the screen as Erdogan said: I now present to you Turkeys 10-year vision, strategy and aims and I say, Look at the sky, you will see the moon.
New Delhi, Feb 11 : Former Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram said on Thursday that the Union government had ignored the poor, unemployed and the MSME sector in the Budget proposals for 2021-22.

"The most deserving were left to their fate -- the poor, farmers, migrant workers, MSME sector, middle class, and the unemployed," he said while speaking on the Budget in the Rajya Sabha.

He said that the Congress "rejected" the Budget since there was nothing in it for the poor. Everybody expected it but cash transfers to the poor was not done, he added.

Chidambaram said that there was no mention of the defence sector in the Budget either and the numbers predicted therein were not correct.

"The Union Finance Minister did not mention defence in her speech, which is unprecedented. The budgetary allocation for defence in 2021-22 is Rs 3,47,088 crore as against Revised Estimates of Rs 343,822 crore in the current year, an increase of just Rs 3,266 crore," the former Union Minister added.

Congress leader Kapil Sibal had on Wednesday initiated the Budget debate and alleged that the government was giving away its assets to four-five big boys.
On-Screen Kisses That Were Never Supposed to Happen

11 Totally Unscripted Lip Locking Moments We Cant Get Over

You gotta hand it to an actor who can really lose themselves in a role. Its those moments that give us iconic scenes like Im walkin here from Midnight Cowboy, the jewelry box scene in Pretty Woman, and Heeeeeeeres Johnny from The Shining. Ring any bells? Well, we hope so. I-con-ic would be an understatement.

RELATED: Cringeworthy Cinematic Sexual Encounters to Avoid Watching With Mom and Dad

Along with producing otherwise action-packed and hilarious moments, improvisation can lead to romantic moments. Thats right, were talking pre-first base: the kiss. Most lip locks that happen on screen are scripted, a product of two characters told to do so as part of an advancing storyline. But sometimes, it just so happens that those on-screen kisses happen without much notice to the people involved.

Here are 11 of the steamiest, funniest, and most controversial on-screen kisses that you would swear were planned.

Steve Carell and Oscar Nunez - The Office

In one of the funniest scenes of the series  and thats saying a lot  Michael hugs Oscar after accidentally calling him a VERY mean gay slur that would get you canceled in 2021. I want you to burn this into your brain, says Michael as leans in for a very, very unwarranted kiss. Despite the excellent physical comedy and timing, the kiss was 100% unplanned and improvised by Carell. If you look hard, you can see the entire cast struggling to keep it together.

Bill Murray and Scarlett Johannson - Lost in Translation

Sofia Coppolas Lost in Translation is a sweet, somber film that manages to turn a story about an emotional (and kinda physical) affair between a young woman and a much older man into a fun romp set in Japan. Its emotional ending is famous for a mysterious line Murray whispers to Johannson as well as the smooch the two actors share together. Turns out the kiss wasnt planned. Apparently, Coppola had only written "He tries to make her laugh, a note that inspired Murray to kiss the lips that every man has thought about at least one in their lives.

Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard - Jurassic World

Jurassic World may not have been perfect, but it gave fans exactly what they needed after the lackluster 2001 dinosaur movie, Jurassic Park III. The story goes it was the last day of filming when the spontaneous urge to kiss came over the actors, prompting a well-deserved and totally surprise kiss. It was funny because that day we were shooting there were 800 background artists, Bryce Dallas Howard told Out in a 2015 interview. We had shot the scene in the way that it was written  there was no kiss. And then on the last day, that happened  what you see in the movie. Howard goes on to say the kiss was met with applause and cheers from the extras on set.

Max Greenfield and Jake Johnson - New Girl

GettyImages / FOX

Boys: we just wanna have fun. Sometimes that source of fun is a surprise kiss with your sexy male co-star. A running gag throughout New Girl involved Schmidt (Greenfield) unexpectedly smooching his buddy, Nick (Greenfield), a joke that was inspired by their real surprise smooches as longtime pals. "I have been kissed the most by Max in two seasons than any girl I've ever dated," admitted Jake Johnson to On Air with Ryan Seacrest. Eventually, out-of-the-blue kisses made it into the characters lives, adding a very fun (though what would be considered COVID-unfriendly) element to their friendship.

Amy Adams and Jennifer Lawrence - American Hustle

American Hustle features Jennifer Lawrence and Amy Adams as Christian Bales sexy wife and mistress. When the two finally meet halfway through the film, Jennifer Lawrence as Rosalyn Rosenfeld gives a powerful-yet-tender kiss to Amy Adams character. The scene plays out scripted, but it was actually Adams idea for the two characters to connect on a more personal level. I dont take credit for a lot of things, Adams told Vulture, but that was my idea. Maybe I just wanted to kiss Jennifer. Shes so cute! Good things happen when great actresses follow their gut.

Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher - Star Wars: The Last Jedi

In what would end up being her final on-screen kiss, Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill shared a tender moment as Luke kisses his sisters forehead. According to Hamill, the kiss just felt right at the time, lending itself to a touching scene thats taken on a completely different meaning since his co-stars untimely death.

Sadie Sink and Caleb McLaughlin - Stranger Things

Netflix

Interestingly enough, then underage Sadie Sink was actually informed about the surprise kiss thatd be taking place between her and her co-star on set. Despite the actresss protests, the Duffer brothers pressure Sink into the kiss, causing some embarrassment for the young actress. Ross Duffer later told Sink in an interview that he was only joking, but was inspired to make her go through with the scene: You reacted so strongly to this  I was just joking  and you were so freaked out that I was like, Well, I gotta make her do it now. The kiss was met with controversy and criticism because why wouldnt it be? Welcome to 2021, where older men should feel shame for making underage girls kiss people against their will.

Emily Blunt and Tom Cruise - Edge of Tomorrow

Edge of Tomorrow has it all: aliens, time loops, Tom Cruise running... and a passionate kiss? Not only was this lip lock unplanned, but one of the screenwriters, Christopher McQuarrie, had made the decision early on to specifically avoid any unnecessary romance. It was actually actress Emily Blunt who decided to kiss her co-star, a moment the cast and crew instantly rallied behind. It just felt right, Blunt told Insider. It felt right and I did it. Careful there, Emily; the last person who touched those lips found themselves in a lifetime contract with Xenu.

Elizabeth Banks and Woody Harrelson - The Hunger Games: Mockingjay  Part 2

Haymitch Abernathy and Effie Trinket are a match made in post-apocalyptic dystopian heaven. As Haymitch (Harrelson) prepares to leave the Capitol to take Katniss (Lawrence) back to District 12, a bleach blonde Woody Harrelson lays a fat kiss on Elizabeth Banks. The kiss wasnt scripted, but rather a joint effort by Banks and Harrelson. We planned that moment, Banks told HuffPost, Woody [Harrelson] and I went into that moment, that wasn't written, we improv'd that. Harrelson admitted that he had always wanted to kiss her, referring to Banks, and knew that scene was the place to make his dream come true.

Tom Cruise and Kelly McGillis - Top Gun

GettyImages / Paramount Pictures

Despite a shirtless volleyball scene that still eludes time, space, and logic, Top Gun remains one of Tom Cruises most iconic roles. Its tough not to root for Maverick (Cruise) along the way; hes the classic bad boy who lives by one set of rules: his own. Also the Air Forces, too. So, why would we think twice about a kiss between Maverick and his love interest, Charlie (McGillis)? Well, stick this in your plane and fly it because that kiss was unplanned. Apparently Cruise forgot his next lines in a scene featuring Charlie telling Maverick she wants to keep her feelings for him a secret, and kissed her. If you look closely, you see Cruise doing some mental gymnastic trying to remember that damn line. Skip to 1:41 and relish his excellent Thetan levels.

Helena Bonham Carter and Julian Sands - A Room with a View

Imagine being Helena Bonham Carter opposite Julian Sands in the 1985 romantic drama, A Room with a View. Cast at the age of 18, Carter reveals how nervous she felt during one particularly romantic scene where a surprise kiss was sprung up on her and Sands. Carter opened up about the surprise kiss in a 2015 interview with Criterion: Its really hard to kiss someone when youre only eighteen and you havent done it that many times, too. So it was hard, that was hard. Carter goes on to say she had to lock lips with Daniel Day-Lewis with her mother and John Malkovich watching on set. If you can think of a worse audience for a kiss, wed like to hear it.

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Related Minister of Information Osama Heikal defends himself in parliament

An eight-page report issued by the Media and Culture Committee at the House of Representatives accused Minister of Information Osama Heikal of poor performance and negligence.

The report, released on Wednesday night and scheduled to be discussed before parliament in a plenary session next Sunday, has also rejected Heikal's policy statement delivered before parliament on 19 January.

"The majority of the committee's members decided at the end of their discussion to reject the minister of information's statement, all insisting that the minister failed to achieve the objectives of the ministry, not to mention that he violated administrative and financial regulations," said the report.

The report said the fact that Heikal also works as chairman of the Egyptian Media Production City (EMPC) is a constitutional and legal offence. "This goes against Article 166 of the constitution and Article 79 of the joint-stock companies' law," said the report.

The report complained that '"it is really deplorable that since he came to office in December 2019, the minister of information has failed to achieve anything significant to improve the financial performance of the EMPC, and that the only thing he did was that he used his position as head of the EMPC to raise his salary to LE100,000 per month," said the report.

The report also stated that Heikal has done a lot of damage to the state's reputation and image.

"The minister's aggressive statements against Egyptian journalists and media people in terms of accusing them of poor performance were exploited by hostile television channels (broadcasting from Qatar and Turkey) to attack the Egyptian state," said the report, adding that "Heikal made another bad announcement when he claimed that the Ethiopian media excelled the Egyptian one in its coverage of the GERD negotiations in Washington last year.

"This is a very bad statement which did a lot of political damage to the state and local media authorities."

According to the report, Heikal's statements raised conflicts between Heikal and Egyptian journalists and media institutions.

"These conflicts denied the Egyptian state the ability to forge a national media strategy that can defend its interests in the face of foreign hostile media outlets," said the report.

It added that "Heikal should have coordinated with local media institutions to settle the debts of the National Press Organisation and the National Media Organisation and to improve the performance of the national radio and television  publicly known as Maspero."

The MPs also criticised Heikal for not building a national media strategy capable of fighting extremist ideologies, containing rumours against the state, and raise the awareness of citizens of the danger of such rumours.

The report said it will not give a final say on whether the information ministry should be scrapped.

"This decision should be left to senior politicians to decide," said the report.

Deputy Chairman of Parliament's Media and Culture Committee Tamer Abdel-Qader said in a TV interview on Wednesday night that all MPs advise that the information ministry be cancelled.

"It is redundant and a waste of public funds," said Abdel-Qader, indicating that the committee's report reveals that the information ministry cost the state LE12 million without offering anything in return.

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US President Joe Biden has expressed his "fundamental concerns" about China's coercive and unfair economic practices, its crackdown in Hong Kong, human rights abuses in Xinjiang and increasingly assertive actions in the region, as he spoke with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping for the first time since taking office.

This was the first phone call between the two leaders after Biden was sworn in as the 46th President of the United States on January 20. The phone call between the two leaders came hours after the Pentagon announced a task force on China.

"Last night I was on the phone for two straight hours with Xi Jinping. And you all know as well as I do, and it was a good conversation, I know him well, we spent a lot of time together over the years I was Vice-president, and you know, if we don't get moving they're going to eat our lunch," Biden told reporters. He said the Chinese were "working very hard" to produce cars with new technology.

During the phone call, Biden shared his greetings and well wishes with the Chinese people on the occasion of Lunar New Year on Friday. Biden affirmed his priorities of protecting the American people's security, prosperity, health, and way of life, and preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific, the White House said in a readout of the call. China claims almost all of the 1.3 million square-mile South China Sea as its sovereign territory.

China has been building military bases on artificial islands in the region also claimed by Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam. "President Biden underscored his fundamental concerns about Beijing's coercive and unfair economic practices, the crackdown in Hong Kong, human rights abuses in Xinjiang, and increasingly assertive actions in the region, including toward Taiwan," the White House said.

The militaries of China and India have been engaged in a tense standoff in eastern Ladakh since early May 2020. Biden had earlier said he would not immediately cancel the trade agreement that former President Donald Trump struck with China nor take steps to remove tariffs on Chinese exports.

His administration is planning a sweeping review of the previous Trump administration's posture toward China, including its crackdown on unfair trade practices and antagonistic military activities in Asia. China has faced severe criticism from Western countries, including the US, over persistent reports of the mass detention of Uighurs and other minorities in Xinjiang.

Biden administration officials have also condemned China's attacks on pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong. China has ramped up a crackdown in Hong Kong after imposing a new law against subversion following major protests in the city. The two countries also have differences over Taiwan.

China resents US support for Taiwan, which Beijing views as a rebel province that must be reunified with the mainland, even by force.

During the phone call, Biden and Xi also exchanged views on countering the COVID-19 pandemic, and the shared challenges of global health security, climate change, and preventing weapons proliferation.

"Biden is committed to pursuing practical, results-oriented engagements when it advances the interests of the American people and those of our allies," the White House said. On his part, President Xi struck a conciliatory tone by saying that the growth of the China-US relations has been the most important development in international relations over the past half-century and more.

Xi stressed that China and the US gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation. Cooperation is the only right choice for both sides, state-run Xinhua news agency reported. He emphasised that while the two sides may differ on some issues, it is crucial to show mutual respect, treat each other as equals, and properly manage and handle the differences in a constructive fashion.

He said the Taiwan question and issues relating to Hong Kong, Xinjiang etc. Are China's internal affairs and concern its sovereignty and territorial integrity, and the US side should respect China's core interests and act prudently. Xi said that confronting a highly uncertain international situation, China and the US should shoulder special international responsibilities and obligations as permanent members of the UN Security Council.

The two sides, he added, should act to conform to the trend of the world, jointly safeguard peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region, and make historic contributions to promoting world peace and development. "You have said that America can be defined in one word: Possibilities. We hope the possibilities will now point toward an improvement of China-US relations," Xi told Biden.

The two countries, he suggested, should make joint efforts in the same direction, follow the spirit of no conflict, no confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation, focus on cooperation, manage their differences, and work for the sound and stable development of China-US relations.

He said the foreign affairs departments of the two countries may have in-depth communications on wide-ranging matters in the bilateral relationship and major international and regional issues. The economic, financial, law enforcement and military authorities of the two countries may also have more contacts, he said. Biden's call with Xi comes after his conversation with the leaders of his key allies and friends in the Indo-Pacific: Australia, Japan, India and South Korea.

with additional inputs from news agency PTI
An Arizona man accused of kidnapping his infant son during a custody dispute that led to the death of the boys mother was arrested on Wednesday, hours after the ten-month-old child was found unharmed.

Eric Maes, 30, of Sun City, was taken into custody after he was spotted in Phoenix and tried to run from officers, police said.

Maes was booked into the Maricopa County Jail on charges of first-degree murder, kidnapping, theft and assault.

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Eric Maes, 30 (left), has been charged with first-degree murder, kidnapping, theft and assault in the killing of Brittany Martie, 30, and the abduction of his son, 10-month-old Abel (right)

Police say Maes jumped into Martie's minivan (pictured) as she was loading her son into the back and sped away

Martie was was to have been dragged hundreds of feet by the vehicle, resulting in her death. Pictured: stains of what appears to be blood are seen on the back of the minivan

The ten-month-old boy named Abel was found in good health, but police said his 30-year-old mother, Brittany Martie, died from injuries suffered when she was thrown from her minivan after it was driven off with her son inside.

Martie was loading baby Abel into her Chrysler minivan in the area of 9200 West Lone Cactus Drive in Peoria at round 6.30pm on Tuesday when a man, later identified as Maes, jumped into the drivers seat and sped away, with the child still in the vehicle.

Police said Maes doesnt have custodial rights to the boy. An Amber Alert for Abel was sent out only after midnight.

Multiple callers to 911 reported seeing Martie grabbing and holding onto the minivan as it was driving down the road.

When officers responded to the scene, they found the mother with life-threatening injuries from being thrown off of the vehicle. She was transported to a local hospital, where she later died.

Martie's 2010 Chrysler Town and Country minivan was later found abandoned near 2500 West Cactus Road with no one inside.

Martie was described as a doting mother to her two children, son Abel and daughter Prudence, age 10.

Police apprehended Maes on Wednesday afternoon after a foot chase (pictured)

At around 1am the following morning, police got a call from a resident in the area of 13000 North 21st Drive reporting that they answered a knock on the door and found an infant on their doorstep.

The child was confirmed to be Abel Maes. He was said to be unharmed and healthy.

Before 3pm on Wednesday, police received a call about a possible sighting of Maes. Officers who arrived at the scene on West Cactus Road attempted to approach the suspect, but he led them on a foot chase, which ended with his arrest a short time later.

According to court documents cited by AZFamily, during questioning Maes said that he and Martie had been fighting inside the moving van when 'she jumped out while they were going 30 to 40 mph.'

Records indicate that Maes previously faced charges related to domestic violence involving Martie (pictured in old mugshots)

He then said he 'turned the van around and while... standing on the sidewalk, he intentionally hit her with the van...'

Martie was later found 'wrapped around a fire hydrant,' according to the documents.

When police later tracked down the minivan, it was found with blood and handprints on the hood.

Family and friends described Martie as a doting and fiercely devoted mother to her two children, a 10-year-old daughter and her baby son.

'Their mom literally fought for them to the death,' her cousin Juliann Davis told 12News.

Loved ones said Martie was in a troubled, on-again, off-again relationship with Maes, who struggled with drug addiction.

Records indicate that he previously faced charges related to domestic violence involving Martie.

'She gave this guy so, so, so many chances, more than he deserved,' Trish Faras, Marties sister, told 12News. 'We begged her and begged her and begged her [to] please get away from him, and when she finally did listen it was too late.'
[February 10, 2021] ION Acquisition Corp 2 Ltd. Announces Pricing of $220 Million Initial Public Offering

ION Acquisition Corp 2 Ltd. (the "Company") announced today the pricing of its initial public offering of 22,000,000 units at a price of $10.00 per unit. The units will be listed on The New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE") and trade under the ticker symbol "IACB.U" beginning on February 11, 2021. Each unit consists of one Class A ordinary share and one-eighth of one redeemable warrant, with each whole warrant exercisable to purchase one Class A ordinary share at a price of $11.50 per share. After the securities comprising the units begin separate trading, the Class A ordinary shares and warrants are expected to be listed on the NYSE under the symbols "IACB" and "IACB WS," respectively. The offering is expected to close on February 16, 2021. The Company is a blank check company incorporated for the purpose of effecting a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, share purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. While the Company may pursue a business combination target in any business or industry, the Company intends to focus on the rapidly growing universe of Israeli companies and entrepreneurs that apply technology and innovation to our everyday lives. The Company is sponsored by ION Holdings 2, LP, an affiliate of ION Asset Management Ltd. Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and Morgan Stanley are serving as joint book-running managers for the offering. AmeriVet Securitie is acting as co-manager for the offering. The Company has granted the underwriters a 45-day option to purchase up to an additional 3,300,000 units at the initial public offering price to cover over-allotments, if any.



The offering is being made only by means of a prospectus. When available, copies of the prospectus relating to this offering may be obtained from: Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Attn: Prospectus Department, 200 West Street, New York, New York 10282, by telephone: 866-471-2526 or email: prospectus-ny@ny.email.gs.com or Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Attn: Prospectus Department, 180 Varick Street, Second Floor, New York, New York 10014. A registration statements relating to these securities became effective on February 10, 2021. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

Cautionary Note Concerning Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking statements," including with respect to the initial public offering and search for an initial business combination. No assurance can be given that the offering discussed above will be completed on the terms described, or at all, or that the proceeds of the offering will be used as indicated. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous conditions, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including those set forth in the Risk Factors section of the Company's registration statement for the initial public offering filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the " SEC (News - Alert) "). Copies are available on the SEC's website, www.sec.gov. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release, except as required by law. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210210006033/en/

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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 11)  There will be "slight delays" in the delivery of 117,000 doses of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines, testing czar Vince Dizon said Thursday, even as he remains hopeful they will arrive within February.

During a Palace briefing, Dizon said the government is still processing some documents before the arrival of the vaccines from US drugmaker Pfizer and the United Kingdom's AstraZeneca.

Dizon refused to disclose further details, but noted the documents were being processed by the Department of Health, with the assistance of the World Health Organization and COVAX facility.

"We were assured na tinatapos na ito as we speak. May slight delays lang sa deliveries nung initial Pfizer [vaccine] na 117,000 [doses]," Dizon said. Officials earlier said that first batch of vaccines may be delivered around the middle of this month.

[Translation: We were assured that they are already finalizing it as we speak. There are slight delays in the delivery of the initial 117,000 doses of Pfizer vaccine.]

But Dizon said the government still expects to receive the initial batch "within February".

The initial batch of the Pfizer vaccines was supposed to arrive by mid-February.

For his part, WHO Country Representative Rabindra Abeyasinghe said there is "no delay" but he admitted that the Philippines is still missing some requirements to schedule the vaccine shipment. He said Health Secretary Francisco Duque informed him that the papers will be sent to COVAX within the day.

"We must acknowledge that the Philippine government has been responding proactively and very fast," Abeyasinghe told CNN Philippines' News Night. "No sooner than these requirements are fulfilled, we believe that the COVAX can schedule a delivery date."

The WHO official said once the requirements are met and cleared, delivery could be "as early as next week."

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire is not worried the delay in Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine shipment will affect the country's inoculation plan.

"Actually, it is a smart time to prepare for this rollout," she said in a briefing on Saturday.

"Ang gagawin na lang natin (what we are going to do) this week [is] we are going to finalize our plans with these hospitals identified to be eligible to receive these vaccines," the official added.

Late last month, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said at least 5.6 million COVID-19 vaccine doses from Pfizer and AstraZeneca, which may reach the country within the first quarter of 2021.

Galvez said the Philippine government secured 9.407 million vaccine doses against the COVID-19 from the two drugmakers.

The government is targeting to start the mass vaccination drive in the country this month. Under the government's immunization plan, health workers will be the first to get the shots.

Teachers and school staff currently on Harris County Public Health's waiting list for COVID-19 vaccines now will be prioritized if there are any "leftover" doses at the end of each day.

Dr. Maria Rivera, who is co-leading the Harris County Health Departments school advisory group during the pandemic, told ABC 13 that educators will be called if others do not show up for their scheduled appointments. The teachers still will need to qualify for vaccines under phases 1A and 1B of Texas' vaccine allocation plan, which include those over the age of 65 and those with preexisting conditions that could make them more likely to suffer more severe cases of COVID-19.

"This is a way to make sure it doesn't go to waste and are always going to people that are eligible," Rivera told the ABC affiliate.

Educators who want to be considered for this priority access must sign up for the Harris County vaccine wait list. Those who fill out the form are asked whether they are employed by a school district, and if so, which one. Currently the county works with the 21 school districts within its borders, as well as charter networks and private schools, to provide resources.

Although some states, including Utah and Arkansas, categorized teachers as frontline workers enabling them to receive some of the first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine along with law enforcement officers and emergency medical services employees, Texas has not yet said when they will be given broad access to the vaccines. Teachers groups, superintendents and some lawmakers have called on the state's Expert Vaccine Allocation Panel to put teachers near the front of the line, but the panel has not yet released the next phase of vaccine recipients beyond phases 1A and 1B.

In the absence of a more robust state plan to vaccinate teachers, Zeph Capo, president of the Texas American Federation of Teachers, said Harris County is taking a step in the right direction.

"We definitely appreciate what the county is doing to get shots into the arms of educators," Capo said. "The more we're able to vaccinate the education workforce, the easier it will be to reopen schools and handle all the things that are currently happening."

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Nothing leaves a mark on the heart quite like rejection. I still remember the first time somebody tasted one of our sauces and said, Ugh, not for me, Lisa Tran says. She just left the sample on the counter, didnt even throw it in the trash can. I went to the bathroom and cried. People can be so blunt, and I didn't know how to not take it personally because our family  well, the sauces we make are so personal.

Fifty years before Tran, 39, stood behind a demo counter in a gourmet grocery store in Portland, Oregon  watching a woman wrinkle her nose at her moms hot chili sauce  Trans grandparents were selling pho on their stoop in the Southern Vietnamese village of Soc Trang. It was a way to make a living during the war, Tran says. My grandfather was a politician in our little village, and my grandmother wasn't very educated, but she was a wonderful cook. She raised pigs and chickens, so she would use the meat from her pigs to buy beef and make pho soup. They called their little stall Pho for the People.

Lisa Tran's grandparents with their pho stall in the village of Soc Trang, Vietnam // Image Credit: Courtesy of Lisa Tran

Lisas parents, Vinh Tran and Mai Nguyen, fled Vietnam on a tiny fishing boat carrying 13 refugees in 1976. Two decades later, they opened Tan Tan Cafe & Delicatessen in the Portland metro area. Tan Tan means New Beginnings, and they were the first Vietnamese restaurant around. The venture began as a deli to showcase high-end Vietnamese meats, but word spread over time, the dishes became more elaborate, and the Tran family set up more tables for guests. In 2017, Lisa launched Tan Tan Sauces  authentic Vietnamese vegan, gluten-free hot chili, hoisin, fish and peanut sauces taken straight from her moms restaurant recipes. The line is now sold in over 300 grocery stores in the Pacific Northwest (and is coming soon to Safeway and Albertsons).

Please just let me do this for a year

Lisas endeavor to bring her familys sauces to the retail marketplace was animated by tensions that exist in many multi-generational immigrant families. Her parents leaned on their cultural traditions to help them make ends meet in the U.S. so their daughter could become a doctor. But Lisa was drawn to the family business, and while she loved the restaurant, she also saw an opportunity to create something bigger. She recognized that her familys cuisine could be branded beautifully, distributed on a wider scale, and even become a more mainstream part of U.S. food culture. But as she pushed toward her entrepreneurial vision, she faced resistance from the very person who created the product she was trying to sell: her mom. My mom couldnt stand the financial uncertainty of it, Lisa says. She was like, You have kids, you are running this restaurant, this is a pipe dream. I don't see any money coming in. You should just go back to the restaurant because at least there you have a paycheck every day. She would've rather opened a bigger restaurant than put that money into the sauces, because she felt like Vietnamese food was too niche, and you have to sell so much to make it big. But I begged her: Please just let me do this for a year and let me see what I can do with it.

Given the traumatic story of how the Tran family came to the U.S., its entirely understandable why Mai would want a safer, less tumultuous path for her daughter. But how often do we follow in our parents' footprints, without even recognizing the path? February 12 is the start of the Lunar New Year, or Tet in Vietnam. Its a holiday for relaxing with family, remembering ancestors, playing games, and eating classic comfort foods prepared in advance. And one traditional Tet dish the Tran family makes every year is Bitter Melon Soup. Bitter Melon is this kind of squash-looking thing with little bumps and nooks and crannies, like an oversized green bean, Lisa says. In Vietnamese its called Kho qua, which means the bitterness of the past. Its symbolic to eat this soup as a reflection on the bitterness and negativity of the past year along with the promise of the new year.

So, in the spirit of Bitter Melon Soup, while looking forward to a new year of luck, Lisa reflected on her familys terrifying, tragic, and ultimately inspiring story of survival  along with powerful lessons learned from their journey into entrepreneurship.

Lisa's dad, Vinh Tran, making Bahn Tet, the New Year Cake // Image Credit: Courtesy of Lisa Tran

Just when they thought all hope was lost

Lisas mom, Mai, and her dad, Vinh, met while trying to escape the first time. When Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City) fell in 1975, Mai was an elementary school principal, and Minh was a seminarian  just months from becoming a priest. Under the new communist regime, educated people were persecuted. Vinh was 23 and Mai was 20, and they both dreamed of starting a better life somewhere else. They happened to buy passage on the same escape boat but were intercepted before getting far. Vinh jumped out and swam away, leaving his jacket behind, and Mai grabbed the jacket to keep warm. She spent nearly two weeks in jail, and when she got out she asked around about who the jacket belonged to. A friend of hers recognized it as Vinhs. My dad was always a leader in his own right, so he was organizing the escape party and collecting money from people and doing all the communications, Lisa explains. My mom went to return the jacket, and my dad fell in love right away. He said she was so beautiful and chubby! In Asian culture, chubbiness is a sign of prosperity and health, so that really caught his eye. My dad loves to tell stories about how he would try to bike her around, but she was so heavy, it was hard for him to go up hills.

Soon the couple was engaged, and in 1976, they tried to escape again  this time with Vinhs younger brother and sister, as well as Mais younger sister. They chose a small fishing boat to avoid attention. They spent the first days of the journey terrified and seasick, but that was just the beginning of the horror to come. Within a few days they were attacked by Thai pirates, Lisa says. The women were raped, and the men were beaten. They were stripped and robbed of their belongings, and all of their food and water was taken. Then they were basically left to die out on the open ocean. Stranded at sea for days, Vinh led the group in prayer. Just when they thought all hope was lost, Lisa says, a Thai fisherman came and was able to feed them and give them water. He pulled them safely to Thailand, a triage point for thousands of other refugees fleeing South Vietnam. Heartbreakingly, once they were ashore, Vinhs younger sister died from internal injuries sustained during the attack. My dad lived with a lot of guilt from that, Lisa says.

For a long time, Lisa says her parents were reticent to talk about their harrowing journey from Vietnam, in part because they didnt see their pilgrimage as exceptional, however traumatic and painful it might have been. Our experience as Boat People is not very unique, she says. Hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese people fled, and when they were able to reach America or Canada or whichever country, they were more focused on the future and assimilating to the culture.

From selling rice cakes in an Indonesian refugee camp to making pho in Portland, Oregon

After some time in Thailand, Mai and Vinh were sent to Galang Refugee Camp on an island in Indonesia, where they stayed for over three years. Living in barracks and having no money and no sense of what was going to happen in the future really shaped who they are today, Lisa says. They got enterprising. My dad would take bark and carve little figurines to sell, and using that money, they would go to the commissary and buy the cheapest thing, which was rice flour. Then my mom would make little rice cakes and fry them up to sell. They were very entrepreneurial.

Vinh Tran and Mai Nguyen at Galang Refugee Camp in Indonesia // Image Credit: Courtesy of Lisa Tran

Despite the poverty and uncertainty, there were happy times during those years. My parents were very beloved there, Lisa says. My dad helped the priests build a church on the island, and my mom and dad were actually one of very few couples who were gifted a wedding at the camp. And then I was born there.

Finally, in 1981, Vinh and Mai made contact with Lisas aunt, who was going to school in Oregon, and she was able to sponsor their immigration to the U.S. The first years were hard. But they joined a church, and one couple helped them apply for a car loan and a mortgage. Members of the congregation also helped Vinh get landscaping work as he took night classes to become a machinist. After graduating with an associates degree, he got a job at Boeing, just a small airplane company back then. With her background in education, Mai spoke French but not English, so she started working as a seamstress while taking ESL classes and eventually got steady temp work in the warehouses of a then-nascent Nike. Mai worked at Nike for nearly two decades, until she retired because she was diagnosed with breast cancer. And after three decades at Boeing, Vinh was laid off, so the family started thinking about other ways to make money.

Mai Nguyen and baby Lisa, just after they arrived in America // Image Credit: Courtesy of Lisa Tran

Lisas aunt and uncle ran a popular Vietnamese meats shop in Vancouver, and they offered to teach Lisas parents how to open one themselves. Vinh and Mai figured, Why not? They took over the lease of an old Mediterranean deli in Beaverton (about ten minutes from downtown Portland) to open Tan Tan Cafe & Delicatessen. Lisa was 15 at the time, and she went to Beaverton High School, which happened to be across the street from the restaurant. In the morning, my parents would take my younger brother and I to the restaurant. We would help them fix things up or whatnot, and then walk across the street to school. After school we'd come back and there was an upstairs room where we would take naps and do our homework.

Your hot chili sauce isnt as good as your moms

As the years went on, Tan Tan Cafe & Delicatessen earned itself a loyal following. Meanwhile, Lisa went away to college and graduated on a pre-med track, even though she knew her heart wasnt in it. My brain is not wired for science, she says. When I was a kid I always played store with my little brother, and I wanted to be a teacher as well. But ever since we were little it was, You're going to be a doctor. So I just never felt like I had the option of doing anything else. But when I didnt get into med school after three rounds of applications, and I wanted to get married, I was just like, I can't do this, you know? So I had a hard, long talk with my mom. And she said, Well, let's open up another location in Vancouver (Washington) for you to manage. So the new restaurant was going to be my project and give me a career.

The family restuarant, in Beaverton, ten minutes from downtown Portland // Image Credit: Courtesy of Lisa Tran

Lisa was excited for the new venture, though she soon discovered there were some inevitable mother-daughter dynamics to contend with. During that time I learned that I had very different managerial skills than my mom, Lisa says, laughing. I was like, let's do timesheets so that people can know what time they came in and out. And lets really do an inventory. Let's write down all of our records and recipes, because regulars at the Beaverton location who just happened to find themselves in Vancouver would say, Why is the peanut sauce a little bit different here? Or, Your hot chili sauce isnt as good as your moms. And I would be like, really? Its the same recipe! And then my mom would be like, Well, are you using a cup of this? Id say, yes. But then it would turn out that my moms cup was not an actual measuring cup, it was whatever tool she had on hand. And with everything, when I would say, Show me how to do this, she would say, No, just let me do it for you. If I said, Can you show me how you did this dessert? My mom would say, No, I'll just make it for you and your brother will bring it along with the weekly meat deliveries. So thats how it always was.

When Lisa became pregnant with twins, she began to wonder how sustainable 14 hours a day, seven days a week restaurant hours would be while raising kids and decided that some formal business training would be useful. She signed up for a class on making a business plan at the local small business development center (SBDC). While there, she saw a flier for a class on Getting Your Recipe to Market.

Over the years, Tan Tan Cafes hot chili sauce had become so popular with regulars that they often sold it in 32 ounce to-go containers for $5 a tub. Customers who bought tubs of sauce for years and years always told us, Why don't you bottle this sauce? Lisa recalls. We probably lost so much money selling those tubs, but we were just happy that people loved it. So I brought that flyer home to my husband and I was like, Let's try it.

With twin babies (Grace and Seth) at home, Lisa took the plunge and signed up for the course. We learned everything from how to demo the product, to getting feedback, how to set up your products, what kind of labels to choose. And the final of the course was to pitch to New Seasons Market, which is kind of like a Gelson's for the Portland area. They ended up loving our sauces so much that Tan Tan was the very first company to go through this program that launched in all of their stores.

So thats how Lisa wound up standing behind a demo counter in a gourmet grocery store in Portland, watching a lady wrinkle her nose at her moms hot chili sauce.

Im just going to kill her with kindness

That unpleasant moment happened early in Lisas demo days, when she was still learning the ropes. But, she says, I got some advice early on that Ive always taken to heart, which is that getting into stores is only half the work. The other half is actually selling the product. And thats so true: Some demo ambassadors stand there on their phones and just kind of stick a spoon in something. We really have to work hard at sharing these flavors with people, because so many consumers don't know what they are.

Coming from a restaurant family, Lisa understood the importance of presentation. So she brought an induction stove to her station and cooked dishes with the sauces right there in the stores. I would actually make a mini-version of our pad Thai, tossing noodles with our peanut sauce, and then glazing tofu with our hoisin and hot chili sauce. Not only were customers drawn to my little table to see a live 'cooking show,' but they were able to taste our sauces and learn how to recreate this super simple recipe at home. Pretty soon I established a lot of wonderful relationships with the staff and employees at New Seasons, and they gave me the prime counter space where people would come in to grab their cart, grab a free cup of coffee and grab a sample.

Image Credit: Courtesy of Lisa Tran

Lisa was under a lot of pressure to make every moment count, because with her parents blessing (albeit a resistant one), shed sold the restaurant in Vermont to launch the sauces line and promised her mom that she would devote one year to getting the sauces off the ground before coming back to work at the original restaurant. Honestly, looking back, I dont know how I made it through that period, she says. I was exhausted, getting no sleep, working through these double demos, picking up the babies and then coming home, feeding them and then taking care of the paperwork portion of the restaurant, because my mom didn't do any inventory. But over time, Lisas dedication, the network she built and the hours she logged demoing began to pay off.

My biggest triumph was when the very first woman  the one who said, This isnt for me, and just left it there  well she came back, Lisa says. It was a lot later, after Id kind of busted my chops and learned more about how to demo. I thought, Im going to kill her with kindness. Anyway, she tried the sample and was like, Oh, this is great. I love this. We had a conversation and then she actually walked away with a sauce. I was so emotional about it. When I got to the car, this time it was tears of happiness and gratitude that I just didn't give up after the first time or when it got hard.

So how does Mai feel now, about her homemade sauces being sold in hundreds of grocery stores across the Pacific Northwest?

Oh my mom is still thinking it's a side hustle, Lisa says, laughing. Every time I tell her I have to leave early because I have a demo or a meeting she gives me this look like, Oh, geez, your thing again  even though she's my partner in all this! I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that our sauces are placed in a little bit more of a premium market and my mom  and our whole family quite frankly  is very frugal. We don't shop normally at these markets. My mom doesn't shop at Trader Joe's because she thinks it's too expensive. She's like, Who charges bananas by one banana?! So even if I got into Trader Joe's, she would not be very impressed. My mom is like, If you get into Costco, then I'll be very excited for you! But were not there yet.

Related: 'Max' Brenner Was Pushed Out of His Own Company, Financially Destroyed, and Banned From Making Chocolate For Five Years. But He Learned: 'Hell Has Benefits.'

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Her Mom Sold Rice Cakes in a Refugee Camp. Now She Sells Her Mom's Hot Chili Sauce in Gourmet Grocery Stores. Her Mom Isn't Impressed... Yet.

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Wolf said public bodies do have the right to "meet behind closed doors" and exclude members of the public for certain discussions that are outlined in the law.

"We certainly think that should be a rare instance. It probably happens more often that it should, in our opinion, but if you are going to go behind closed doors and exclude the public, there's very limited reason that you can do so," he said. "Your motion should be proper so that the public has an idea of what it is that you're talking about behind closed doors."

The most common reason given for an improper session, the report said, was to talk about a "personnel matter." Merely citing that term without any other specifics is not sufficient, Wolf said at the meeting.

"You need to at least state, 'We're going to discuss the hiring of someone, the disciplining of someone,'" he continued. "You don't have to state names, but at least give us a clue or a reason as to what it is that you're discussing."

In addition to the report, the coalition also included copies of opinions from the New York State Committee on Open Government that cover being specific when stating justifications for going into executive session, and a document listing every motion reviewed by the coalition, where every incorrectly held motion was highlighted in bold.

Related Israeli jets hit Hamas targets in Gaza after rockets fired

The Hamas militant group ruling Gaza has replenished its arsenal since a 2014 war with Israel and now has a vast collection of rockets, guided missiles and drones, a senior Israeli military commander said Thursday.

According to Israeli military estimates, Hamas has some 7,000 rockets, as well as 300 anti-tank and 100 anti-aircraft missiles, the commander said.

It also has acquired dozens of unmanned aerial vehicles and has an army of some 30,000 militants, including 400 naval commandos who have received sophisticated training and equipment to carry out seaborne operations, the commander added. He spoke on condition of anonymity under military guidelines.

The smaller Islamic Jihad group, which often acts independently of Hamas, boasts a similar arsenal, the commander said. That includes 6,000 rockets, dozens of drones and anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles, and some 400 naval forces.

Hamas also made use of attack tunnels beneath the Gaza frontier during the 2014 war. Israel has discovered and destroyed around 20 tunnels since hostilities ended, including a large one last October that was still under construction.

The commander said an underground barrier equipped with sensors to detect tunnels is 99% complete and will cover the entire 37-mile (60-kilometer) frontier.

Hamas, which is opposed to Israel's existence, seized control of Gaza from rival Palestinian forces in 2007. Since then, Israel has fought three wars with Hamas and numerous smaller skirmishes with it and Islamic Jihad.

Israel has pointed to Hamas' increasingly sophisticated military capabilities to justify the blockade it has imposed on the coastal strip since the militant group seized power. The blockade has taken a heavy toll on the territory's population of 2 million Palestinians.

Last week, the International Criminal Court in the Hague ruled that its chief prosecutor had jurisdiction to open an investigation into possible war crimes by Israel and Hamas. If an investigation is opened, the prosecutor has said she could look at Israeli military strikes in Gaza as well as Palestinian militant rocket fire and use of human shields.

Israeli officials say they are not deterred. Lt. Gen. Aviv Kohavi, the military chief of staff, warned in a recent speech that in future conflicts, Israel would use heavy force in residential areas where rockets are stored and launched. He said Israeli troops would warn civilians to evacuate their homes before launching such strikes.

*This story was edited by Ahram Online.

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The supermarket price war has erupted again as Sainsbury's slashed the cost of hundreds of items to take on Aldi.

Britain's second largest grocer will cut the cost of 250 popular goods to match the German discounter.

Bosses hailed its 'boldest ever value campaign', adding that it represented a 'significant investment'.

Price war: Sainsbury's is to cut the cost of 250 popular goods to match German discounter Aldi

Sainsbury's, which has 600 supermarkets and 800 convenience stores, will focus cuts on its most popular items, including meat, fruit and vegetables.

Prices will be slashed on 700g of meatballs, down from 3.80 to 3.08, a packet of two haddock fish cakes, reduced from 1.20 to 1.15, and 70g of chorizo slices, down from 90p to 46p.

It is the first part of the plan outlined by chief executive Simon Roberts in November to put food back 'at the heart of the business'.

Roberts, who succeeded Mike Coupe in June, said: 'Our new commitment to match Aldi prices on hundreds of our most popular products will mean our customers can be confident that they are getting the quality they expect from Sainsbury's at great prices.'

The move will squeeze margins as the big grocers battle higher costs from delivering food and keeping staff and customers safe.

The price war is the first part of the plan outlined by chief executive Simon Roberts (pictured) in November to put food back 'at the heart of the business'

Supermarket profits have not soared despite demand rising sharply as they take sales from pubs, bars and restaurants.

Sainsbury's has also paid back 440million of business rates relief, following the lead of Tesco, which paid back 585million.

The decision to slash prices is the latest attempt to thwart the rapid growth of German discounters Aldi and Lidl.

Experts believe consumers, many of whom face job losses and financial uncertainty, will look to save money on food.

Supermarkets are keen to stop the discounters further improving their position and repeating their success after the last recession.

Last year Tesco, which leads the market with 27 per cent share, launched its own Aldi price match scheme.

It also launched its Clubcard Plus which offers discounts for members who pay a monthly 7.99 subscription.

Asda and Morrisons responded by slashing prices on hundreds of products.

But Aldi claims it is at least 24 per cent cheaper than its rivals. A spokesman said: 'Shoppers know that the only place you can get Aldi prices is at Aldi.'

Its sales growth has fallen behind during the pandemic, as its smaller online business has not been able to take advantage of the booming demand for home deliveries.

Figures from analysts Kantar showed that Aldi sales grew 5.7 per cent in the 12 weeks to January 24, compared with 12.2 per cent growth across the UK grocery market.

Aldi says in-store shoppers are still switching to it, and rivals are making a loss on online delivery.

Sainsbury's sales were 12 per cent up for the period after expanding its online delivery capacity from 370,000 weekly slots to 830,000.
Press Release

Outside trading hours - Regulated information*

Brussels, 11 February 2021 (7.05 a.m. CET)

KBC to acquire NN's Bulgarian pension insurance and life insurance businesses

Yesterday, KBC Group and the Netherlands-based NN Group reached agreement for KBC's Bulgarian subsidiary, DZI - Life Insurance EAD, to acquire:

all the shares of NN Pension Insurance Company EAD (Bulgaria)

all the assets and liabilities of NN Insurance Co. Ltd. - Sofia Branch (Bulgaria)



The deal has a total consideration of 77.7 million euros and will only have an immaterial impact on KBC's solid capital position. Upon closure, KBC Insurance's Solvency II ratio - which stood at an excellent 222% at the end of 2020 - will be reduced by approximately 6 percentage points, but remain well above regulatory requirements, while KBC Group's CET1 ratio will be maintained at an outstanding level (17.6% in 4Q2020, Basel III, fully loaded - Danish compromise).

Closure of the deal is subject to regulatory approval and is expected to be finalised in the course of 2021.

The acquisition of NN Pension Insurance Company EAD ('NN PIC') allows KBC's Bulgarian franchise - in the shape of UBB and DZI - to broaden its extensive bank-insurance offering to customers with the addition of high-end pension fund products, while also providing additional cross-selling opportunities for banking and non-life insurance products in a one-stop shop approach.

The acquisition of NN Insurance Co. Ltd - Sofia Branch ('NN Life') will allow DZI - KBC's Bulgarian insurance franchise - to further increase its share of the life insurance market in Bulgaria through a range of traditional life insurance and unit linked insurance products, thus reaffirming its leading position. It will also strengthen DZI's distribution power thanks to NN Life's network of 300 tied insurance agents in Bulgaria's main cities.

NN Bulgaria has developed its pension and life insurance business since entering the market in 2001. It has 138 employees, and boasts a customer base of over 400,000 individuals and 400 corporate entities, and approximately 1 billion euros in AUM.

Pending closure of the deal and the subsequent integration of the entities into KBC's Bulgarian operations, NN PIC and NN Life will continue to honour their commitments to the market while continuing to provide professional service of the highest quality to their customers.

The deal is fully in line with the strategy of the KBC group, which focuses on retail customers, small and medium sized enterprises and midcaps in its core markets of Belgium, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Bulgaria and Ireland.

KBC has been present in the Bulgarian financial sector since 2007. In 2009, KBC redefined its strategy to include Bulgaria as one of its core markets. The acquisition will allow UBB and DZI to further increase cross-selling potential through their already well-established bank-insurance presence in the Bulgarian market, to serve more customers, and to benefit from economies of scale and increased visibility.

Johan Thijs, KBC Group CEO, commented as follows on the deal: "I am delighted with this acquisition in Bulgaria. We've become a strong player in this core market, distinguishing ourselves in our banking, insurance, asset management and leasing lines of business. Since our Group's entry in Bulgaria in 2007 our commitment to the Bulgarian market has been firmly stated many times. Today we are taking a next step and adding pension insurance to our already wide-spread presence in Bulgaria. This means that we will be in a position to offer all types of high-end integrated bank-insurance products to our Bulgarian customers. We're extremely happy to acquire a high-quality concern with an excellent reputation and management team, and we are looking forward to developing it in a responsible manner with our other Bulgarian entities, and so affirm our leading position on the Bulgarian financial market."

Luc Popelier, CEO of KBC Group's International Markets Business Unit added: "This deal further strengthens our already strong position in Bulgaria and is a fine example of our strategic approach to our core markets.We're convinced that NN's customers and KBC's stakeholders will benefit from the amalgamation of our brands."

Peter Andronov, country manager for KBC in Bulgaria commented: "This deal gives our 1.8 million customers access to pension insurance and additional life insurance opportunities, in addition to our broad range of stable, secure and fully integrated financial solutions. Expanding our activities in Bulgaria, building on the competence and dynamism of UBB and DZI, and leveraging our joint product and service offering will help us to achieve our objectives, diversifying our income and ensure future success. I look forward to collaborating with our new staff and management and am convinced that, together, we will affirm our leading position for all our customers and other stakeholders."

For more information, please contact:

Kurt De Baenst, General Manager, Investor Relations, KBC Group

Tel. +32 2 429 35 73 - E-mail: IR4U@kbc.be

Viviane Huybrecht, General Manager, Corporate Communication/Spokesperson, KBC Group

Tel +32 2 429 85 45 - E-mail: pressofficekbc@kbc.be

* This news item contains information that is subject to the transparency regulations for listed companies.



KBC Group NV

Havenlaan 2 - 1080 Brussels

Viviane Huybrecht

General Manager

CorporateCommunication /Spokesperson

Tel. +32 2 429 85 45



Press Office

Tel. +32 2 429 65 01 Stef Leunens

Tel. +32 2 429 29 15 Ilse De Muyer

Tel. +32 2 429 32 88 Pieter Kusse

Tel. +32 2 429 85 44 Sofie Spiessens

E-mail:pressofficekbc@kbc.be (mailto:pressofficekbc@kbc.be)



KBC press releases are available at www.kbc.com (http://www.kbc.com/) or can be obtained by sending an e-mail to pressofficekbc@kbc.be (mailto:pressofficekbc@kbc.be)



Follow us on www.twitter.com/kbc_group (http://www.twitter.com/kbc_group)

Stay up-to-date on all innovative solutions (https://www.kbc.com/en/newsroom/innovation/innovatie-2021.html?zone=topnav)





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First Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine Emine Dzheppar says Ukraine is counting on Belgium's participation in the Crimean Platform summit in Kyiv.

She said this during a meeting with Director General for Bilateral Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Belgium Anick Van Calster on February 10, the press service of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry reported.

During the meeting, the parties discussed the key issues of bilateral cooperation between Ukraine and Belgium, fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, cooperation within the framework of international organizations, and the situation on the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine against the background of ongoing Russian aggression.

Dzheppar informed her counterpart about the worsening situation in the temporarily occupied Crimea. In particular, she noted the increasing militarization of the peninsula, which undermines the safety of the region of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, forced demographic change, and violations of human rights and international humanitarian law by the Russian occupational authorities.

"The first deputy minister expressed hope for the participation of the Belgian side in the inaugural summit of the Crimean Platform in Kyiv on August 23, 2021," the ministry noted.

In addition, Emine Dzheppar thanked Anick Van Calster for Belgium's staunch support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine and its European and Euro-Atlantic aspirations, as well as for the firm stance on the matter of countering Russian aggression during Belgiums non-permanent membership in the UN Security Council in 2019-2020.

She particularly expressed gratitude to the Belgian side for providing medical support in Belgium to the Ukrainian soldiers wounded in action in Donbas.

As reported, the Crimean Platform is a new consultative and coordination format initiated by Ukraine to improve the efficiency of the international response to the occupation of Crimea, respond to growing security challenges, step up international pressure on Russia, prevent further human rights violations, protect victims of the occupying power and to achieve the de-occupation of Crimea and its return to Ukraine.

The Crimean Platform is expected to operate at the level of heads of state and government, foreign ministers, in the dimension of inter-parliamentary cooperation and expert network.

The Crimean Platform is expected to be launched officially at an inaugural summit in Kyiv in 2021.

ish

An employee of social media platform, Sasai, appeared in court yesterday on allegations of defrauding a commodity broker of R1,2 million in a botched cash transfer deal.

Tapuwa Dikanifuniwa appeared before Harare Provincial Magistrate Mrs Vongai Muchuchuti Guwuriro on fraud charges.

He was remanded in custody to today pending determination of his bail application.

The court heard that the complainant, who had free funds in his FNB account, required cash since he acquires most of the goods from South Africa.

It is the State's case that Dikanifuniwa knew that the complainant required cash and devised a plan to defraud him.

The court heard that Dikanifuniwa then convinced the complainant that he had US$81 740 cash, which is equivalent to 1 226 100 rand and needed to purchase various goods from a supplier in South Africa when he did not have the money.

It is the State's case that on November 26 last year the complainant transferred 1 226 100 rands into an FNB account belonging to Sowers Trading that had been given by Dikanifuniwa.

The court heard that the complainant then sent proof of payment to Dikanifuniwa and he acknowledged receipt and promised to give him the cash in three days.

After the three days, the complainant contacted Dikanifuniwa and he promised to pay the money, but failed to do so.

Dikanifuniwa later became evasive and unreachable on his mobile prompting the complainant to report him to the police leading to his arrest on February.
Rep. John Katko warned Thursday that the Republican Party could languish in the minority in Congress if it splits into factions divided over their loyalty to former president Donald Trump.

Katko, R-Camillus, also pushed back on Donald Trump Jr.s assertion this week that he has a better understanding than members of Congress about what Americans want from their representatives.

I dont know how he can say that he knows more about the Republican Party than us who are in the trenches every day, slugging it out, talking not just to Republicans but talking to all Americans, Katko said.

No one person is better than our party, Katko said Our party is a party of Lincoln principlesits not the party of any one person, or any one thought.

Katko made his comments at an editorial board meeting of syracuse.com | The Post-Standard.

Trump Jr. appeared Tuesday night in an interview with Fox News commentator Sean Hannity and said he is more in touch with the pulse of the American people than members of Congress.

The former presidents oldest son also promised to campaign against Rep. Liz Cheney, the third-ranking House Republican, who like Katko voted to impeach the president for inciting the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Katko said the GOPs far-right and moderate members of Congress must work together in the post-Trump era for the good of the Republican Party.

There better be common ground, Katko said. And if theres isnt common ground, were going to be relegated to the minority party for the foreseeable future.

He added, For anybody to think that their views are the only view that should be in a party, thats just being myopic.

In the new Congress that took office last month, Katko chairs the Republican Governance Group, a caucus of about 30 moderate House members. The caucus refers to itself as the governing wing of the GOP.

MORE ON REP. JOHN KATKO

Katko: Capitol riots left cops bloodied, ragged and shell shocked

John Katko has preached bipartisanship in Congress for years. That may finally pay off

Katko among 11 House Republicans who vote to rebuke Marjorie Taylor Greene

Katko: US Capitol attack was much worse than people realized

Rep. John Katko: Establish national commission to investigate US Capitol attack

Got a tip, comment or story idea? Contact Mark Weiner anytime by: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 571-970-3751
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-11 13:59:44|Editor: huaxia

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A female medical worker works at a health centre, Wakiso District in Central Uganda, Feb. 10, 2021. As the world commemorates International Day of Women and Girls in Science on Thursday, female scientists in Uganda are championing the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by Nicholas Kajoba/Xinhua)

KAMPALA, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- As the world commemorates International Day of Women and Girls in Science on Thursday, female scientists in Uganda are championing the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Grace Nambatya Kyeyune, one of the top female scientists in the country leading the clinical trial of a locally-developed drug to treat COVID-19, said on Wednesday she feels great to lead the team.

"I feel great that I am in lead of a multi-skilled team of scientists: medical doctors, pharmacists, chemists, laboratory technologists, botanists, sociologists ... as principal investigator into a natural formulation used by our communities for over 20 years against viral challenges," Nambatya told Xinhua in an interview.

She said an assessment of the formulation's safety and efficacy in adult humans 18-70 years of age is currently taking place at the country's Mulago National Referral Hospital.

"This is history in the making and a milestone prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic," Nambatya said.

The country's president Yoweri Museveni on Jan. 28 launched the clinical trial of the drug involving 128 COVID-19 patients admitted to the Mulago National Referral Hospital.

Besides finding medical solutions to the COVID-19 pandemic, Nambatya, as director of the Natural Chemotherapeutics Research Institute, championed the use of natural or herbal medicine in the country.

Nambatya said she was inspired by Monica Musenero, another female scientist championing the country's fight against the pandemic, managing 23 projects of test kits, vaccines and therapeutics, all as homegrown solutions to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Musenero is the presidential advisor on epidemics and current chairperson of the Presidential Scientific Initiative on Epidemics (PRESIDE). The PRESIDE consists of the country's top scientists who advise the president on measures needed to combat epidemics.

Sabrina Kitaka, a renowned pediatrician, is another scientist involved in the fight against COVID-19 especially among children.

"Specifically for the COVID-19 pandemic, I have written manuscripts, opinion on my social media pages to educate the public and sensitize them on the Standard Operating Procedures," Kitaka told Xinhua in an interview on Wednesday.

Kitaka, carrying out part of research on the impact of COVID-19 on common childhood illness, is a member of the Uganda National Immunization Technical and Advisory Group, which contributes to developing a locally-made COVID-19 vaccine.

More female professionals from other sectors are also striving to combat the pandemic.

Sawuya Namawejje, 35, is a nurse at Kasangati Health Center IV in the central district of Wakiso. She is the focal person of the health center's committee on COVID-19.

"Initially the health center was not handling COVID-19 patients, but when many cases were reported, the center was upgraded to handle some of the cases," Namawejje told Xinhua in an interview.

She said many people who tested positive for COVID-19 with no signs and symptoms came to the center, while those with severe signs and symptoms were sent to Mulago National Referral Hospital for further treatment.

"We still get people visiting the health center without wearing face masks. But most times we have put up stringent measures not to allow them inside," Namawejje said.

Apart from COVID-19 testing, the health center offers other services like treatment of malaria, offering HIV testing and counseling, she said.

Uganda is grappling with the pandemic with most of its health facilities overwhelmed by COVID-19 patients, according to the country's ministry of health.

Figures from the ministry showed that as of Tuesday, the country had registered a cumulative total of 39,911 COVID-19 cases, 14,470 recoveries and 328 related deaths. Enditem
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Alabama lawmakers today heard from supporters and opponents of a bill that would make it a felony to prescribe puberty-blocking drugs or hormones as transgender therapies for minors with gender dysphoria.

They heard from doctors on both sides of the debate and from an 80-year-old who said he came to regret sex reassignment surgery and helps others with the same regrets.

None made a stronger impression than a father who said he could not comprehend penalizing the medical professionals who have helped him and his transgender daughter navigate a difficult journey.

Lawmakers are considering a bill by Rep. Wes Allen, R-Troy, called the Alabama Vulnerable Child Compassion and Protection Act. Eight people spoke at the public hearing before the Alabama House Judiciary Committee. The committee did not vote on the bill and plans to do so in two weeks.

A similar bill, by Sen. Shay Shelnutt, R-Trussville, won approval today in the Senate Healthcare Committee. Allen and Shelnutt proposed the same bills last year.

David Fuller, a sergeant with the Gadsden Police Department, said he was raising three boys as a single dad after his wife died. At age 16, one came out as transgender.

To say I was shocked was an understatement, Fuller said.

But Fuller, who said hes been in law enforcement for 27 years, said he quickly learned that his child needed his support and expert help. He said they found that at UAB.

They made us feel like we werent alone, that we were normal in an abnormal situation and they could help us, Fuller said. And they didnt push anything on us. Just the opposite. They reeled us in at every step.

They made sure it was baby steps. Its been a five-year process now and they havent pushed anything on us. Just the opposite. And they are angels to me. And as a police officer, youre asking me to someday put handcuffs on these people that are heroes in my life? ... Please dont ask me to do that.

Allen said he understands there are children with gender dysphoria but said he was surprised to learn that minors receive puberty blockers and hormone therapy in Alabama.

We should help those children with therapeutic treatment from qualified mental health professionals and not allow these young minors bodies to be permanently damaged, Allen said.

Dr. Den Trumbull, a Montgomery pediatrician, has the same concerns. Trumbull urged lawmakers to pass Allens bill, calling transgender medical treatments for minors child abuse.

Trumbull said its not uncommon for children to have periods of confusion about their gender identity. But Trumbull said that goes away for the vast majority as they get older. He said parents should make sure they reinforce their childs identity with their biological sex, rather than encourage the opposite. Teenagers lack the maturity to make life-changing decisions, such as receiving cross-sex therapy, he said.

Our gender confused children need help. But not this form of misguided therapy, Trumbull said.

Walt Heyer, 80, told the committee that his sex reassignment surgery in 1983 was a mistake. Heyer said he traced his gender confusion to his grandmother putting him in dresses at age 4. He said he now runs a website to help people who regret their transgender treatments and surgeries.

We need to protect our children, Heyer said. We dont need to be giving them hormone therapy. They can deal with these other things when theyre adults and can understand the consequences. And the consequences are severe and irreversible.

But Dr. Morissa Ladinsky, associate professor of pediatrics at UAB Medicine, said medical treatments are part of established, evidence-based standards of care that promote good health for transgender youth. She said transgender people make up about 1.5% of the population.

Theyre real. Theyre ordinary and loving people. Just their inner sense of gender may differ from their sex assigned at birth, Ladinsky said.

Ladinsky said some become aware of that in childhood but for many those feelings arent clear until around puberty.

These youth are not mentally ill. Theyre not jumping on a trend, she said.

Ladinsky said transgender surgeries are never performed on children. She said medications are never prescribed lightly.

Folks, there are not pediatricians traveling around Alabama just writing hormone prescriptions for minors, she said.
has officially suspended all diplomatic ties with as it does not recognise the legitimacy of the new military-led government.

These ties include aid and funds that were intended for the country, said Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern during a press conference on Tuesday, reported Times.

Meanwhile, U Maung Maung Lay, the vice president of the Union of Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry raised concerns that could impose economy-related sanctions and potential blocks in the exchange of payments, which might result in investors pulling out of Myanmar.

"If we can't make payments, it automatically means we can't trade. The withdrawal of investments and cutting off of ties with local businesses will follow suit," he said.

According to information from the Directorate of Investment and Company Administration, New Zealand has thus far invested USD 6.95 million in Myanmar. The country is ranked 46th out of 51 countries with investments in Myanmar, reported Myanmar Times.

Lay also addressed concerns on how the political unrest could affect other foreign investments and the country's economic recovery.

"The global economy was badly hit by COVID-19. It may take seven years or more for the global economy to recover, It will take several more years for the recovery of Myanmar's economy," he said, adding that recent events have tarnished Myanmar's reputation.

On February 1, hours before the newly elected parliament was due to gather, Myanmar's military overthrew the government and declared a year-long state of emergency after accusing State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi's party of election fraud. San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint along with other top officials have been put under house arrest.

According to an earlier report by The Myanmar Times, 90 townships in 30 cities, including 44 townships in Yangon, have been placed under an 8 pm to 4 am curfew since February 8.

However, the curfew has failed to deter the people from participating in protest marches across the country calling for the release of detainees.

Police and military personnel on Tuesday night raided the headquarters of the National League for Democracy (NLD) in Yangon, reported NHK World.

On Tuesday, police forces on Tuesday cracked down on protesters by arresting over 100 demonstrators and firing live rounds and riot control weapons that led to serious injuries.

A woman, who was taking part in a protest in the capital Naypyitaw on Tuesday, remains in a coma after being shot in the head, reported NHK World.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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Almost 33 lakh ineligible beneficiaries of Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN) scheme received Rs 2,326.88 crore, Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar said in Rajya Sabha.

Instances of credentials of block and district officials being misused to approve the applications of ineligible farmers under PM-KISAN were also reported, he informed the Upper House.

Tomar stated that some amount has been recovered from some of the ineligible beneficiaries, while FIRs have been lodged against others in some states.

"The state of Karnataka has informed that 2,03,819 wrong registrations have been identified by the state and FIR lodged accordingly. Tamil Nadu has informed that nearly 6 lakh registrations have been identified as ineligible due to wrongful activity and from these Rs 158.57 crore has been recovered till now. In Gujarat, nearly 7,000 beneficiaries have been identified as ineligible due to wrongful activities in the state," Tomar said in reply to a question.

ALSO READ: PM-KISAN sops reached 20 lakh undeserving beneficiaries: report

"Tamil Nadu has informed that around 16 FIRs have been lodged against the culprits and more than 100 arrests taken place. Gujarat has informed that wrong cases under the PM-KISAN scheme have been found in two districts of Gujarat and FIR filed accordingly. In Gujarat, 55 suspected user IDs have been deactivated. FIR has also been lodged by Karnataka, in this regard," he added.

On measures being taken to remove the loopholes, Tomar stated that the scheme has been integrated with the income tax database so that income-tax payees don't receive the benefits. Income-tax payees are among the groups excluded from the scheme. Besides, those who receive a monthly pension above Rs 10,000, hold a constitutional position, are serving or retired government employee, professionals or institutional landholders are also excluded.

The PM-KISAN portal has been integrated with UIDAI and beneficiaries of states and union territories are now Aadhar authenticated, the minister added. Beneficiaries from Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Meghalaya and Assam have been kept out as they are exempted till March 31, 2021.

ALSO READ: Opposition tells Centre to stop monologue; slams handling of farmers' protest

Standard operation guidelines have been issued for recovering money from ineligible beneficiaries. A refund module has also been developed on the PM-KISAN portal which is used across the states for recovering money from these ineligible farmers.

"As per operational guidelines physical verification of 5 per cent beneficiaries has to be carried by states and union territories. The necessary instructions have been issued to states and union territories. Accordingly, a module for physical verification has also been developed on the PM-KISAN portal," Tomar said.

"Instructions have been issued to states and union territories to carry out the Social Audit component of the operational guidelines of PM-KISAN and display the list of all the beneficiaries under PM-KISAN at every gram panchayat," he added.

Under the PM-KISAN scheme, the Centre provides an income support of Rs 6,000 per year in three equal instalments to small and marginal farmer families having combined land holding/ownership of up to 2 hectares.

ALSO READ: 'MSP was there, is there, will be there,' says PM Modi at Rajya Sabha
After receiving critical acclaim at many film festivals, including the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), director Kamakhya Narayan Singhs feature Bhor is now available for online streaming. He talks about the idea, generating funds for an issue based film and other related struggles.

Idea

When I started working on Bhor, I had two issues in my mind. One was the issue of sanitation in rural India, which was quite burning at that time, and the other was how the last person in the country reacting to this? Is the problem also connected to the caste-based segregation?

Funding

RELATED NEWS Bhor to Bring Out the Plight of Rural Woman at IFFI 2019

As a first-time feature film director, you dont plan on the producer because you need to have a story in place first. Then you need to mobilise whatever you havefriends, resources, well-wishers. With no money to hire a writer, two of my friends--Ranjan Chauhan and Bhaskar--joined in and we worked on the story as a team.

Second thing is that you do not get a big banner, so you convince a new producer. I was comparatively in a better position because I had several years of working experience in television, so I found one.

Casting

Who will do the casting for you? You need the best, you need new and deserving ones. I met Dilip Shankar, he is unconventional, his work in Life of pi and Monsoon Wedding were really good. I even wanted to take some known faces, and some of the characters were written keeping some actors in mind. But the problem was that I wanted my entire cast to live in the village for two months, so they could look and feel rustic. The known established actors did not want to take the risk of investing two months for an unsure outcome. So, we started looking for fresh and new faces. It took us almost six months.

Location was also a big problem because I wanted to shoot in North Bihar, near Kosi river, a beautiful location unexplored in films so far, but logistically it wasnt possible. So, we decided to shoot in a village in Navada district about 100km from Patna, native place of assistant director Bhaskar.

Comparison with Toilet Ek Prem Katha

A bomb dropped on us when a commercial film on a similar subject released. Whoever watched my film they liked it, appreciated it, but despite its treatment, seriousness, all the village humour, all hard work, it did not have a mass appeal as the commercial viability got affect due to the release of the other film.

Our film went to 28 festivals, was well received everywhere, got accolades, the film won Best film on social issues in Boston. I won best director. This was the only Indian film in Cairo film festival, but releasing it here in India was extremely challenging because a commercial film with big budge, and big stars was already released. Here, I would like to recall what Amar Kaushik, my senior in college and the director of Stree, told me. He said that the topic of both the films may be similar, but the way you are telling the story is completely different and new. This gave me hope.

The films lead actor Devesh Ranjan also talked about his journey.

It all started when Dilip Sankar Sir asked me to get auditioned for the character of Sugan. On his advice only I had done my first film as a lead, Vara: A blessing which won several international awards, so I thought of giving it a try.

A two month workshop was scheduled in Bihar, and the day I landed, I was placed in a remote village. As I have worked as a theatre artist for a few years with various theatre groups, I am used to such environments. But in Bhor, authenticity was maintained beyond usual standards. All the cast members were asked to live with local families. We were expected to behave as one amongst them.

While staying there, I started reading their body language, diction and mannerism. Then one day I was thirsty after my tanning session, so I asked for water from one of the big houses in the village. To my surprise, they told me not to enter their house and gave me water in an old utensil. Then I realised that village people had started treating me like the untouchables. Initially, I felt bad but after a while I realised that its how the social system works here.

Bhor is now streaming on MX Player.
A Russian man thought he was about to bury his dead newborn twins... only to discover they were dolls wrapped in a shroud and his wife's pregnancy had been a lie from the start.

Daud Daudov, 33, initially thought his sons - who he was told had died at birth - could be 'alive' and had been swapped with the dolls as part of a baby-selling racket.

A police investigation was opened after he claimed maternity hospital medics had replaced his 'dead newborn twins' with dolls ahead of their funeral.

He even revealed a video from the burial where he unwrapped the shrouds to see his babies for the first time - and discovered the dolls.

Russian Daud Daudov, 33, showed a video from the burial after he unwrapped the shrouds to see his babies for the first time, to his horror revealing dolls

In a video shared by Russian Daud Daudov (pictured) he alleged his sons could be 'alive' and victims of a baby-selling or adoption racket, before he learned that his wife had lied about her pregnancy from the start

The shocked man and his relatives then called police, triggering a scandal over baby abuse in Russia.

But on Thursday the man's wife confessed she did not give birth, and had wrapped the dolls in a shroud for the funeral.

She did so because her husband had been so happy to hear she was pregnant, and she couldn't stop lying, she said.

'The woman went through a medical examination which established that she did not give birth,' said Stavropol governor Vladimir Vladimirov.

'Later the woman in writing confirmed that the whole story was made up. What can I say? I am speechless,' Vladimirov said.

'Now this is down to the family and the law enforcement. I am hoping that people who have wrongly accused our doctors will apologise.'

In a statement the mother, named Laura, admitted that she had faked her pregnancy, along with the birth and death of her newborns, because her husband so wanted to have children.

Her initial positive pregnancy test was not confirmed, she said.

'I saw how happy my husband was when I told him that I was pregnant,' she said. 'I didn't want to upset him and therefore decided to lie to him and to our relatives by faking the pregnancy.

'I didn't have a clear plan. Sometimes I felt as if my tummy was growing, I felt as if I was pregnant.

'In January I went to have a look at babies' cots. It's hard to explain, from one hand I knew I wasn't pregnant, but I couldn't stop pretending.'

She rented a flat near the maternity hospital, bought two dolls and told her family that babies died after birth.

'On that same day my husband told me that we had to bury the babies in Dagestan, at his family's graveyard.

'Then (at the burial) my husband unmasked my lies by finding the dolls instead of the babies. I misled all my relatives and my husband. I am terribly sorry.'

Daudov had claimed in a video statement released by the Interior Ministry that his sons had been born healthy on 3 February at Stavropol perinatal centre in southern Russia.

His wife was initially in intensive care following the delivery, he said, but she had recovered and cared for the 'healthy' babies on 7 and 8 February in her ward at the hospital.

At 3am on 9 February she was told they had died, he said.

The cause for both deaths was given as 'cerebral haemorrhage, aneurysm', he said, calling it a 'a ticking bomb' that 'cannot be checked, except by postmortem.

'But Islam prohibits dissection, we must bury the kids as they are. She went downstairs and saw some men there.

'They gave her psychological help, calmed her down, took the kids, and said: "We will pray for them, wash them, cover them with grave-clothes."'

He claimed that when she was released from hospital she was given the two dead babies and put in a taxi to go home.

'I was at work at that moment. I called her, she answered, started crying and asked me to come home. I asked her what happened and at this moment she told me that we had lost our kids.

'I came home in panic and they were there. I did not leave them from that moment, they were in my sight, constantly.'

He said he mourned but did not unwrap the shrouds until the burial in the family's native region of Dagestan close to another family grave.

'My cousin told me: "Bro, they are still people... we need to do this in a human way. We need to see their faces before we bury them."'

'I opened the face of the first baby and saw there were no eyes. What was this? I began to open the face of the second one. The same. This was a dolla doll.'

He told the police: 'Everyone was shockedthey were both just dolls. In disposable nappies, like real kids After this we called the police.'

He claimed 'my babies are alive', and implied they could be victims of crimes that have allegedly seen new born babies sold for adoption or black market sale while parents are told they are dead.

Pictured left: The funeral held for the 'babies', where it was found they were actually dolls (pictured right). Daudov's wife Laura confessed she did not give birth, and had wrapped the dolls in a shroud for the funeral

In his first response governor Vladimir Vladimirov had said the case 'makes your heart shrink Such grief, and such a situation.'

He vowed to personally supervise the investigation which involved the police and Investigative Committee, which handles serious criminal cases.

'In addition to empathy, the first reaction is a desire to fully understand.'

It then emerged there had been no record of Daudov's wife as a patient or of the deaths of newborn twins.

'In the event of death, the body is handed over to relatives not by a medical facility, but the forensic service after an appropriate study,' he said.

'The relatives have the opportunity to see the body. This is all very strange. I personally will check the situation.'

Later he said that hospital records across his region did not confirm the father's account.

The Vodafone Ghana Foundation in conjunction with the Vodafone Business Unit has donated 200 brand new laptops to the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) to aid in the institutionalization of blended teaching and learning methods across the school.



The donation forms part of a number of philanthropic activities designed to kick-off the Foundations new staff volunteering initiative dubbed Kindred Month which takes place throughout the month of February. It further underscores Vodafone Ghanas dedication to the development of science and technology across the country through innovative interventions and partnerships that also bolster governments national digitalization agenda.



Speaking at the handing-over ceremony, the Vodafone Business Director, Tawa Bolarin, said the donation seeks to democratize access to critical learning tools in an increasingly digital world thereby empowering students to achieve excellence. She reiterated that this has become particularly imperative amid the on-raging COVID-19 pandemic which has necessitated that institutions of learning rethink and restructure their approach to tuition with an emphasis on virtual or contactless class sessions powered by digital platforms.



The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has brought to the fore the reality that in this era, technology has now become an inextricable part of our daily existence and a critical facilitator of progress and success across all sectors and disciplines including education.



In embracing this new normal, however, it is absolutely imperative that we ensure equity of access to the basic digital tools and enablers that will ensure that nobody is left out in the quest for pursuing progress and excellence. It is for this reason that we are here today, subsequent to prior discussions with management of this prestigious University to donate these 200 laptops to ensure everyone is part of the digitalization agenda. As agreed, we believe that the needy students who would benefit from this initiative will be inspired and empowered to achieve greater heights of excellence in their academic pursuits.



Head of Vodafone Ghana Foundation, Amaris Nana A. Perbi who was also present at the brief handing over reiterated that the Foundation remains steadfast and consistent in working towards its goal of digitally connecting communities; leaving no one behind.



Vodafone Ghana Foundation in driving the CSR agenda of Vodafone Ghana will remain committed to dedicating our resources to support communities and create avenues to address key socio-economic concerns of the communities in which we operate. Under Digital Education, the Foundation has sustainable and innovative projects which students can take advantage of. These programmes include Instant Schools, National Coding Programme and ICT Hubs. He also took advantage of the presentation to throw more light on Vodafone Foundations Kindred Month initiative; a staff-led community volunteering drive which would see staff of Vodafone Ghana engage in a plethora of CSR activities throughout the month of February.



The Vice-Chancellor of the KNUST, Professor Rita Akosua Dickson, who received the items on behalf of the school expressed gratitude to Vodafone Ghana Foundation and Vodafone Business for the kind gesture. She noted that the intervention was timely as it had come at a time that the university had taken the bold decision to blend physical class sessions with virtual ones in order to circumnavigate the continued threat of the COVID-19 pandemic.



She averred, Indeed the mandate of churning out the nations new generation of brains cannot be attained without committed partners. Vodafone has over the years proven to be the ideal partner in this pursuit; from your provision of an optimized fibre network accessible to all students, specially designed student data bundle offers to facilitate teaching and learning and now this magnanimous donation that would enable the needy students among us to fully participate in our increasingly virtual class sessions. Wow! All I can say is God bless you and continue to give you the wherewithal to support education in Ghana.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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The commanders of two U.S. aircraft carrier strike groups in a conference call Wednesday dismissed Chinese critiques of their drills this week in the South China Sea.

The strike groups operated side-by-side Tuesday, honing their tactical proficiency and ability to work together, Rear Adm. Doug Verissimo, commander of the USS Theodore Roosevelt strike group, told reporters during the call.

Verissimo said the two-carrier rendezvous occurred more from convenience than any intent to provoke the Chinese, who lay claim to most of the area and object to U.S. naval presence there.

"The fact that we came together in the South China Sea was based on our navigation plan and making the most efficient route to and from our areas," Verissimo said.

The Theodore Roosevelt patrolled the area while the Nimitz last week began its journey home to Bremerton, Wash., after an extended deployment in the Middle East. The Nimitz has been deployed for nearly 250 days.

Nimitz strike group commander Rear Adm. James Kirk said the dual-carrier operation was "not in response to any nation or event," but meant to "improve our readiness levels in the region."

China's state-run Global Times newspaper on Wednesday claimed the exercise had "more symbolic and political meanings rather than military significance" given "the power of China's anti-ship ballistic missiles."

Verissimo dismissed the charge: "from my view at the tactical level, it's not symbolic."

A Chinese arms expert quoted by Global Times said Beijing's DF-26 "aircraft-carrier killer" missiles cover the entire South China Sea and could nullify the U.S. carrier advantage. China has two aircraft carriers to the U.S.'s 11.

"In the event of a war, U.S. carriers need to stay away from the region beyond the range of Chinese missiles," Xu Guangyu, a senior adviser to the China Arms Control and Disarmament Association, was quoted as saying.

The strike groups were not concerned about China's missiles, Kirk said during the call.

"We are always mindful of the capabilities of other militaries and we operate in a way that's respectful of these capabilities, so I don't think worrying is something we do," he said.

"We do prepare for and are mindful of the different military capabilities out there to ensure that we can defend our forces should we be called upon to do that," Kirk said.

The U.S. and China's neighbors in the Western Pacific object to China militarizing islands and reefs in the South China Sea. Beijing claims about 90% of the sea as its territorial waters despite a 2016 international ruling to the contrary.

Verissimo said China's military presence and capacity "has clearly increased" since his prior deployments to the region in 2017 and 2018.

"We've seen an expansion of their military capability; a larger number of aircraft, larger number of ships being utilized on a daily basis," he said on the call. "I wouldn't infer what their intent is ... [but] the number of forces we see in all domains has increased significantly."

In a press briefing Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin accused the U.S. of sending its "vessels and aircraft to the South China Sea to flex its muscles," according to a translated transcript.

Before the two-carrier exercise, the Navy sent the USS John S. McCain through the Taiwan Strait on Thursday and on a freedom-of-navigation patrol in the South China Sea on Friday.

"This is not conducive to peace and stability in the region," Wang said, according to the transcript. "China will continue to take necessary measures to firmly defend national sovereignty and security and work together with regional countries to safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea."
Manitoba has entered into an agreement with Alberta-based company Providence Therapeutics to purchase a made-in-Canada COVID-19 vaccine.

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Manitoba has entered into an agreement with Alberta-based company Providence Therapeutics to purchase a made-in-Canada COVID-19 vaccine.

During a Thursday morning media conference, Premier Brian Pallister said the vaccine currently under development would resemble the mRNA vaccines produced by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna.

According to the company's website, Providence Therapeutics was founded initially to try and develop an mRNA vaccine for cancers but has since expanded its scope to work on a COVID-19 vaccine.

The first round of clinical trials is currently underway for this new vaccine and Health Canada approval is expected later this year.

Though the final contract is still being finalized, the agreement has Manitoba promising to buy two million doses of the vaccine with the first 200,000 doses being guaranteed to be delivered to Manitoba.

The overall price of the agreement was not disclosed, with Pallister saying the final contract would be released to the public when finalized. He did disclose that Manitoba would be paying 20 per cent of its cost up front as a down payment, and then would provide a further 40 per cent when the vaccine is approved by Health Canada.

Once the vaccines are delivered to Manitoba, the final 40 per cent of the payment will be transferred.

The premier said he sent letters to his fellow premiers and the prime minister this morning inviting them to join the plan. He cited frustrations with the federal vaccine procurement process as a large part of the reason the province is seeking its own solution to vaccine supply issues.

Asked about the logistics of the new vaccine, Pallister said the cold chain requirements would be more similar to the Moderna vaccine rather than the Pfizer-BioNTech one, which requires the use of specialized freezers and limits which communities are able to distribute it.

Read more in Friday's edition of the Sun.

 The Brandon Sun
Floridas Governor Pushes Back on Possible CCP Virus-Related Travel Restrictions

Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis is pushing back against a report about a potential CCP Virus related domestic travel restriction for Floridians, calling the idea unconstitutional.

And I think its an absurd report that they would be doing that. I think it would be unconstitutional, it would be unwise and it would be unjust, DeSantis said at a press conference on Thursday.

The Miami Herald reported Wednesday that the Biden administration is considering whether to impose domestic travel restrictions, including on Florida, to stem the spread of the UK variant.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) says it is monitoring the UK variant, known as B.1.1.7, which has recently surged in Florida and California, where over a third of all cases in the United States have been identified.

Meanwhile, DeSantis said he is unclear why the Biden administration would target Florida for travel restriction given the pandemic is far worse in other states and the southern border permits illegal immigrants.

And if you think about it, restricting the right of Americans to travel freely throughout our country while allowing illegal aliens to pour across the southern border unmolested would be a ridiculous, but very damaging, farce, he continued.

DeSantis told reporters that he will oppose any travel restrictions, because Florida is doing better than many other states to contain the virus, with the death rates lower and the rate of vaccinations.

So we will oppose it 100 percent, DeSantis said. It would not be based in science. It would purely be a political attack against the people of Florida, and its unclear why they would even try talking about that.

After DeSantiss press briefing, White House press secretary Jen Psaki addressed the idea of the reported domestic travel restrictions at her daily briefing on Thursday.

We are always considering what steps are necessary to keep the American people safe, but we are not currently in the process of no decisions have been made around additional public health measures that would delayor would change, I should saydomestic travel considerations, Psaki said.

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) on Wednesday wrote a letter to President Joe Biden amid the reports of travel restrictions.

Instituting a travel ban, or any restriction of movement between the states would be an outrageous, authoritarian move that has no basis in law or science. Instead, it would only serve to inflict severe and devastating economic pain on an already damaged economy, Rubio wrote.

Rubio called any travel restriction between states draconian and urged Biden to instead help citizens get access to the vaccine.

Instead of dictating where Americans can, or cannot travel, your administration should instead focus on increasing supply and availability of vaccines, especially to Florida, the third most populous state and a winter retreat, Rubio added.
Peng Liyuan, wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping, wrote a letter on Tuesday to students and teachers at Burggymnasium, a public secondary school in Essen, Germany, encouraging them to make a new contribution to strengthening the friendship between peoples of China and Germany.

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In the letter, Peng wrote that she carefully watched the recorded video of four students from the school's Chinese choir singing the Chinese song titled "After the Pandemic," and she felt the students expressed the good wishes of supporting people of all countries to win the victory against the COVID-19 pandemic early.

She recalled that one year ago, the students from the school recorded the Chinese song "Let the World Be Filled with Love" to support China to combat the pandemic, conveying their friendship to Chinese people. The pandemic is still raging currently, and she said she worried about their health and hoped they and their family members to protect themselves well.

Peng stressed her belief that the snow would melt and the spring is on the way, and if people of all countries join hands, the pandemic will be defeated.

She also invited the students and teachers to visit China again for exchange and study after the pandemic and called on them to make contribution to strengthening the friendship between peoples of China and Germany, especially the young peoples.

Burggymnasium is one of the 12 oldest public schools in Germany. It set up the Chinese course in 1994 and organized the students and teachers to visit China for exchange and study multiple times in recent years.

In March 2014, when Peng accompanied Xi on a state visit to Germany, she visited the school and sat in on a Chinese class. In October 2016, Peng met the school's students and teachers in Beijing, who were on their study trip to China.

Original article: here.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210211005383/en/

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Ballet Kelowna's Valentin Chou is one of the performers in One With, a show premiering online this weekend. Tickets available for free through Ticket Seller.
After a day of negotiations, the UN Security Council has failed to reach a declaration on Syria, according to Zaman Al-Wasl.

The UN Security Council, on Tuesday, failed to agree on a joint declaration on war-torn Syria, capping a day of negotiations, which the UN special envoy for Syria Geir Pedersen called to jump-start the deadlocked peace process.

Russia, Syrias main ally, repeatedly blocked negotiations on the matter, diplomats said, although Moscow did not respond to a request for comment as to why.

The conflict in Syria, which broke out after the brutal suppression of anti-government protests in 2011, has killed more than 380,000 people and displaced millions.

Endless rounds of UN-backed peace talks in the past decade have failed to end the bloodshed, and in recent years, have been largely overtaken by parallel negotiations led by Russia and Turkey.

The current divisions in the international community need to be bridged, Pedersen told journalists earlier in the day following a Security Council videoconference.

Pedersen said that without constructive international diplomacy on Syria, it was unlikely that any track  constitutional track or any other  will really move forward.

Diplomats said the failure to agree on a declaration was due to Russia, which had made demands which were unacceptable to Western nations.

The Russians are asking too much, a diplomat said on condition of anonymity.

The councils monthly meeting on Syria is usually public, but officials kept the session private after a meeting of the Syrian Constitutional Committee in Geneva last month ended with no progress.

Estonias UN envoy Sven Jurgenson lamented the lack of progress.

The aim was not to create a debating club, but to give Syrian people a way out from a 10-year long conflict, he said, according to a copy of his speech that was released after the meeting.

It is clear to everyone that the Syrian government has just taken advantage of these meetings to delay any real reconciliation.

The committee was created in 2019 to modify Syrias 2012 constitution, which directs the organization of elections under UN supervision.

Session five of the Constitutional Committee was a missed opportunity and disappointment, Pedersen said of the January meeting, which included the Syrian regime, the opposition, and civil society.

There is a lack of trust and confidence and a lack of will to compromise  and a lack of political space to compromise too, he added.

Diplomats told AFP that Western powers were unanimous during the Tuesday meeting in decrying the failure of the political process.

One representative accused the constitutional committee of having achieved nothing, and blamed the Syrian regime for delay tactics.

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.
A mile-wide asteroid twice the size of the world's tallest building will pass Earth in March and has been dubbed 'potentially hazardous' by NASA.

The asteroid, named 231937 (2001 FO32), is unlikely to hit the Earth as it will be 1.2 million miles from the planet - five times further away than the Moon.

However, NASA dubs any space rock that comes within 93 million miles of us a 'Near Earth Object', which is three quarters of the 120 million-mile distance to Mars.

The mile-wide by half a mile-long space rock will make its closest approach to our planet at about 16:03 GMT on March 21. It has been branded 'potentially hazardous' as it 'might' hit the planet at some point in the future of the solar system.

Asteroid 231937 is the largest space rock to 'come close' to the Earth this year and at 1.7km is more than twice the size of the tallest building on Earth - the Burj Khalifa.

It should be possible to see the asteroid through an eight inch aperture telescope just after sunset on March 21 by looking slightly above the southern horizon.

Asteroid 231937 is the largest space rock to 'come close' to the Earth this year and at 1.7km is more than twice the size of the tallest building on Earth - the Burj Khalifa

NASA dubs any space rock that comes within 93 million miles of us a 'Near Earth Object', which is three quarters of the 120 million mile distance to Mars

The asteroid was first detected in 2001 by an array of telescopes in New Mexico that are part of the Lincoln Near-Earth Asteroid Research (LINEAR) program.

The MIT project is funded by the US Air Force and NASA and it detected the space rock on March 23, 2001 and has been under observation ever since.

Using those observations astronomers calculated its orbit, found how close it would get to Earth and determined it would be going at 77,000mph.

SpaceReference.org wrote of the asteroid: 'Based on its brightness and the way it reflects light, 2001 FO32 is probably between 0.767 to 1.714 kilometers in diameter, making it larger than ~97% of asteroids but small compared to large asteroids.'

The asteroid and Earth are seen on the left of this orbital map on the 'blue' Earth orbit line - the orbit of the asteroid is visible through the tall white lines

It should be possible to see the asteroid through an eight inch aperture telescope just after sunset on March 21 by looking slightly above the southern horizon. The pink dot is the asteroid and the lighter area is the sky visible from the UK on March 21 after sunset

It may be possible to see the space rock as it hurtles past the planet in March if you have a telescope with an aperture of at least eight inches.

The asteroid will be low in the southern sky, so may be difficult to spot from the norther hemisphere, according to EarthSky.org.

To find it look just above the horizon in the southern sky will glide through the southern constellations of Scorpius and Sagittarius.

It will be visible just above the horizon in the southern sky just after sunset if viewed from the UK and just before dawn if viewed from the southern US.

NASA keeps a close eye on all Near Earth Asteroids to determine whether any could come close to hitting the planet.

A massive mile wide asteroid twice the size of the tallest building in the world - the Burj Khalifa (pictured centre) - will 'skim' past the Earth in March

It is a broad definition - covering any object within about 93 million miles of the Earth - those dubbed 'hazardous' come within 4.6 million miles and are at least 500ft wide.

There are currently no asteroids that pose a significant risk to life on Earth for at least the next century, according to NASA, with just one having a 0.2 per cent chance of hitting the planet in 2185.

In the meantime space agencies around the world are investigating potential solutions for deflecting a future asteroid from hitting the Earth.

NASA has looked at using gravity from a flying spacecraft to 'pull an asteroid' to a new trajectory.


WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - United Airlines announced its plans to add Electric Aircraft taxis to its operation by fiscal 2026. The move is part of the airline's broader effort to invest in emerging technologies that combat climate change and decarbonize air travel.



The company is teaming with Archer Aviation, an air mobility company that makes electric vertical takeoff and landing or eVTOL aircraft, to accelerate production of advanced, short-haul electric aircraft.



Rather than relying on traditional combustion engines, Archer's eVTOL aircraft are designed to use electric motors and have the potential for future use as an 'air taxi' in urban markets. Archer's current aircraft can travel distances of up to 60 miles at speeds of up to 150 miles per hour and future models will be designed to travel faster and further.



Under the deal terms, United will contribute its airspace management expertise to assist Archer with the development of battery-powered, short-haul aircraft.



Once the aircraft are in operation, and after meeting United's operating and business requirements, the airline and Mesa Airlines would acquire a fleet of up to 200 of these electric aircraft.



The new fleet of aircraft, operated by a partner, is expected to give customers a quick, economical and low-carbon way to get to United's hub airports and commute in dense urban environments within the next five years.



United CEO Scott Kirby said, 'Archer's eVTOL design, manufacturing model and engineering expertise has the clear potential to change how people commute within major metropolitan cities all over the world.'



United estimates that using Archer's eVTOL aircraft could reduce CO2 emissions by 47 percent per passenger on a trip between Hollywood and Los Angeles International Airport, one of the initial cities where Archer plans to launch its fleet.



Archer plans to unveil its full scale eVTOL aircraft in 2021, begin aircraft production in 2023, and launch consumer flights in 2024.



United aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 100 percent by 2050.



The airline was an early stage investor in Fulcrum BioEnergy and recently partnered with 1PointFive, a joint venture between Oxy Low Carbon Ventures and Rusheen Capital.



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Aldi has announced the date it will switch its Auburn location from the west side of the area to its busiest commercial strip.

The discount supermarket chain will open its new Grant Avenue location at 9 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 25, it said in a news release. The store is located in the former A.C. Moore in Auburn Plaza.

Aldi's location at 1651 Clark St. in the town of Aurelius will close for good at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 24.

"The new store is a bit larger, so we were able to improve the store layout and design to ensure we provide Auburn customers with the best ALDI shopping experience. It also features expanded refrigeration space for more fresh, healthy and convenient products," Aaron Sumida, Tully division vice president for Aldi, told The Citizen.

Store hours will remain the same  9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily  and the Auburn location will open at 8:30 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays to allow the vulnerable to shop earlier in the day.

All 15 to 20 employees of the Aurelius location of Aldi will transfer to the new store, Aldi told The Citizen. The store is also hiring for a few open positions at careers.aldi.us.

Silvia Depaire France

Originally from Buenos Aires in Argentina, Silvia completed all her school education there before going on a cultural exchange year in California. During her stay in the United States, she began to learn about art, especially urban arts, thanks to the large amount of graffiti that adorns the walls of New York. She also did not miss out on visiting the modern masterpieces preserved in the museums of the capital. When she returned to Argentina, Silvia set her new aspirations to one side in order to satisfy her family and enrolled in a course dedicated to marketing.

A few years later, settled in France and encouraged by her husband, Silvia began attending evening classes at the School of Fine Arts in Nice to learn painting and drawing techniques. Today, a painter in her home studio, in Antony, located in the Paris region, she divides her time between the creation of her paintings and the running of thematic workshops.

Created from acrylic and mixed media, her works underwent an important development to the discovery, of the informal and choreographic world of American artist Paul Jenkins (1923-2012) in 2016. Since then, the young artist has worked with enthusiasm and passion in the practice of flow painting, combining acrylic with various pigments and textures to compose bold, colourful, vibrant and luminous compositions. Deeply attached to the nature and landscapes of her childhood, Silvia is inspired by the elements, in particular water, to translate the transparency of the seabed and the depth of the celestial vault into painting.
The Biden administration on Wednesday said that there is no change in the US' policy on and welcomed the resumption of 4G mobile internet in the region.



"I want to be very clear there has been no change in US policy in the region," State Department Spokesperson Ned Price told reporters following a tweet from the South and Central Asia Bureau of the State Department which welcomed the resumption of 4G mobile internet in



"We welcome the resumption of 4G mobile internet in India's Jammu & Kashmir. This marks an important step for local residents and we look forward to continued political & economic progress to restore normalcy in J&K, tweeted the South and Central Asia Bureau of the State Department.



High-speed mobile internet was restored on February 5 in the entire union territory of Jammu and Kashmir, exactly one and a half years after it was snapped in August 2019 when the Centre had abrogated the special status of the erstwhile state.



Meanwhile, Pakistan on Thursday expressed disappointment at the reference to in the US State Department's tweet regarding the resumption of 4G mobile internet in Jammu and Kashmir.



"The reference is inconsistent with the disputed status of Jammu and Kashmir as recognised by numerous United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions and the community," Foreign Office said in a statement in Islamabad.



According to a 2019 Congressional Research Service report of August 2019, a longstanding goal of US policy in South Asia has been to prevent the India-Pakistan conflict from escalating to interstate war.



This meant the United States has sought to avoid actions that overtly favoured either party. Over the past decade, however, Washington has grown closer to India while relations with Pakistan continue to be viewed as clouded by mistrust, CRS report said.



On a question related to Twitter shutting down some accounts in India, Price said, "Well, I think what I would say generally is that around the world  and this goes back to what I was saying before  we are committed to supporting democratic values, including freedom of expression. I think when it comes to Twitter's policies, we'd have to refer you to Twitter itself." Responding to a similar question, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki told reporters at her daily news conference: "Of course, we always have concerns about crackdowns on freedom of speech, freedom of expression happening around the world and when it doesn't allow people to communicate and peacefully protest."


China has banned BBC World News claiming it is not 'truthful and fair' a week after Beijing's propaganda channel was kicked off British TV screens.

The Communist regime accused the BBC of 'seriously violating' broadcasting regulations, harming Chinese interests and undermining national unity.

Beijing has previously accused the British public broadcaster of 'fake news' on coronavirus and in its coverage of oppression of the Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang.

Last week, Beijing threatened to retaliate after UK regulator Ofcom stripped its state TV channel China Global Television Network (CGTV) of its broadcasting licence.

Chinese state-owned broadcaster CGTN was last week thrown off UK airwaves for its links to the Communist government in Beijing. It was expected that Beijing would make a retaliatory strike against the BBC. Pictured: Chinese officials launching the station in 2016

Off air: Lyse Doucet OBE, the BBC's chief international correspondent and a senior presenter on BBC World News won't be appearing on Chinese screens after Beijing axed the channel

In a statement released on Friday, the Chinese embassy in the UK backed Beijing's decision, claiming that BBC's China-related reports are 'relentless fabrication of lies of the century'.

'BBCs relentless fabrication of lies of the century in reporting China runs counter to the professional ethics of journalism, and reeks of double standards and ideological bias, causing strong indignation among the Chinese people,' the authority said.

'The so-called media freedom is nothing but a pretext and disguise to churn out disinformation and slanders against other countries. All countries without exception exercise necessary supervision over media organizations.

'We urge the BBC to abandon the Cold War mentality, stop fabricating and spreading disinformation, stop unfair, biased and irresponsible reporting, stop malicious attacks and smearing against the Communist Party of China and the Chinese government, and take concrete actions to remove the adverse impact of its related reports,' it added.

The ban followed concern over biased coverage of Hong Kong pro-democracy protests and 'show trial' news reports of a corruption case against Briton Peter Humphrey in China.

Moments after Ofcom published its decision, China announced it had lodged 'stern representations' to the BBC over what it said was 'fake news' coverage of Covid-19.

The Foreign Secretary on Thursday night branded China's decision to ban the BBC an 'unacceptable curtailing of media freedom'.

Dominic Raab said the move will damage Beijing's reputation in the eyes of the world.

Mr Raab said: 'China's decision to ban BBC World News in mainland China is an unacceptable curtailing of media freedom.

'China has some of the most severe restrictions on media and internet freedoms across the globe, and this latest step will only damage China's reputation in the eyes of the world.'

Britain's allies in Washington backed the Foreign Secretary in slamming the move by Beijing.

'We absolutely condemn the PRC's decision to ban BBC World News,' State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters, referring to the People's Republic of China.

'We call on the PRC and other nations with authoritarian controls over their population to allow their full access to the internet and media freedom.'

English-language BBC World News is not included in most TV channel packages in China but is available in some hotels and residences.

China's banning of the BBC was predicted last week after the banning of CGTN, a move which Tory MPs said was 'long overdue.'

Ofcom revoked its licence, under laws which state that any licensee must have editorial control of the programmes shown and must not be controlled by political bodies.

Former Cabinet minister Iain Duncan Smith told MailOnline last week that the Ofcom decision is 'a huge move and long overdue.'

Ofcom found last year that CGTN had breached the broadcasting code by failing to preserve due impartiality in its coverage of the pro-democracy Hong Kong protests. Pictured: Riot police use pepper spray on protesters during a protest against Beijing's national security legislation in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, Sunday, May 24

He added: 'The problem is too many people in the UK who were in positions of power have gone along with it for too long.'

China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs later released a statement accusing the BBC of 'fake news' in its coronavirus reporting.

It said coverage broadcast on January 29 about coronavirus had 'linked the pandemic to politics' and 'rehashed theories about covering up China.'

It alleged the BBC used a clip to say the Chinese virus prevention department had used violence to enforce the law, when it was actually a clip about an anti-terrorism exercise.

The BBC said in response: 'We stand by our accurate and fair reporting of events in China and totally reject these unfounded accusations of fake news or ideological bias.

'The BBC is the world's most trusted international news broadcaster, reporting to a global audience of more than 400 million people weekly without fear or favour and in accordance with our editorial standards.'

Julian Knight MP, chairman of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee, welcomed Ofcom's decision.

'Today's ruling is confirmation that the Chinese Communist Party is the ultimate controller of its broadcasts which is not permitted under UK law,' he said last week.

'CGTN had already breached broadcasting codes with a forced confession, and failure on impartiality over coverage of the Hong Kong protests.

'It should be seen as a strong warning that the power to broadcast carries with it responsibility and accountability. Failing this bar will not be tolerated.'

Ofcom launched an investigation into CGTN - previously CCTV - following broadcasts which showed British journalist Peter Humphrey appearing to confess to a criminal offence, and reported his conviction and an apology.

Mr Humphrey, 64, was jailed for more than two years by a court in Shanghai in 2014, in connection with a corruption case involving pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline.

The two reports from CCTV identified Mr Humphrey but his face was blurred. The 2013 footage was broadcast across Chinese media as well as  astonishingly  in Britain.

Ofcom's investigation concluded that Star China Media Limited (SCML), the licence-holder for the CGTN channel, did not have editorial responsibility for the news channel's output (pictured: China's president Xi Jinping speaks on the station which formerly aired in the UK)

China's star TV presenter James Chau, a Cambridge-educated journalist who counts the Duchess of Sussex among his friends, solemnly introduced the shocking footage to viewers.

But according to Mr Humphrey, the entire broadcast was a lie.

The investigator, who was arrested with his wife and business partner Yu Yingzeng while probing alleged corruption at pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline, insists that the footage masked the truth of his ordeal.

Mr Humphrey claims that he and his wife are innocent and the so-called 'confession' was a sham  confected from doctored footage captured after he had been plied with sedatives.

Speaking previously from his home in Surrey, Mr Humphrey told The Mail on Sunday: 'It was a travesty of my human rights.

'I was stripped of my dignity, drugged, caged and had my words twisted to create the impression I confessed. But I never did and I never will.

'The grief and humiliation I suffered was overwhelming. During that forced confession and the two years I endured in prison, they set out to crush my spirit. I'm left with scars that are still healing.'

After his release, Mr Humphrey complained to Ofcom, alleging unfair treatment and breach of privacy in two news reports on the case aired on CCTV, which has since been renamed CGTN.

In a ruling published in July, Ofcom said it had upheld the complaint, calling it a 'serious' breach of its code of conduct.

It added CGTN's airing of footage of him in custody 'had the potential materially and adversely to affect viewers' perception of him'.

It 'did not take sufficient steps to ensure that material facts had not been presented, omitted or disregarded in a way that was unfair to Mr Humphrey'.

Mr Humphrey, 64, was jailed for more than two years by a court in Shanghai in 2014, in connection with a corruption case involving pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline. He denies any wrongdoing

Ofcom launched a probe into China Global Television Network last July following complaints of two news reports on the case of Peter Humphrey (pictured during a broadcast) in China

He was also not given an 'appropriate and timely opportunity' to respond to the claims and had a 'legitimate expectation of privacy' because he had not given consent.

In 2020, Ofcom found CGTN had breached the broadcasting code by failing to preserve due impartiality in its coverage of the Hong Kong protests.

The media watchdog said the channel often focused on violence by protesters against police officers while ignoring attacks by the authorities on members of the public.

It said the output echoed the views of the pro-Beijing Hong Kong government without providing sufficient balance from those with alternative views.

However, CGTN claimed it was 'particularly challenging' to air pro-democracy views on the Hong Kong protests because those demonstrating were reluctant to talk on camera.

An Ofcom spokeswoman said: 'Our investigation showed that the licence for China Global Television Network is held by an entity which has no editorial control over its programmes.

'We are unable to approve the application to transfer the licence to China Global Television Network Corporation because it is ultimately controlled by the Chinese Communist Party, which is not permitted under UK broadcasting law.

'We've provided CGTN with numerous opportunities to come into compliance, but it has not done so. We now consider it appropriate to withdraw the licence for CGTN to broadcast in the UK.'
President Joe Biden's bid for school reopenings falls headlong against his promise to help teachers who, before returning to schools, are urging more COVID-19 monitoring, vaccines, and other safety initiatives.

The CDC will release guidelines for school reopenings

As Biden nudges schools to welcome more students back to class, the President has promised to follow science while still receiving strong support from teachers and their unions. On the administration's first full day in office, First Lady Jill Biden, a teacher herself, invited the two top teachers' unions' heads to the White House, Bloomberg reported.

Yet the patriotism could be reviewed as soon as this week when the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is expected to release comprehensive guidelines for schools looking to reopen. School leaders worldwide attempted to bring teachers back in classes until more or almost half of them are vaccinated, citing research findings, including work by the CDC, suggesting the likelihood of transmission on campuses is low.

Read also: Report: Biden has Awkward, Flirty Moment After Complimenting a Nurse for Her Youthful Appearance

In the first 100 days, the administration vowed to reopen 50% of U.S. schools at least one day a week-a target that could have been achieved. However, progressing well beyond that aim could be stalled by delays in Congress on a new pandemic assistance package, the recent emergence of new, more infectious coronavirus strains, or teacher union opposition which Biden has guaranteed a place at the table.

Arne Duncan, who served as education secretary in the Obama administration, said the need for school reopenings is desperate. "For any electoral gain, Biden is not doing this. He will possibly take a political hit for this, in fact. He's doing this because the best thing to do is to do so."

For months, the battle over reopening schools has simmered, often separating administrators and parents, worrying that their kids are falling behind in distant schooling academically, against teachers concerned about their welfare. Although the Democrats' preparations for a comprehensive new assistance program are poised to unleash a school-focused spending surge, several states are prepared to reopen long before the money starts to arrive.

In Chicago, for example, after a bitter conflict between teachers and Mayor Lori Lightfoot, the teachers' union voted early Wednesday to support a "tentative agreement" on returning to in-person teaching, CBS News reported.

Read also: Impeachment Trial: Trump Lawyers Argue 'Majority in the House' Is Afraid of Facing Him as Opponent in 2024

According to data gathered by the EdWeek journal, vaccines are a significant issue. The agreement guarantees a limited amount of doses for teachers, who have been given preference in just about half the states. The arrangement also provides guarantees for COVID-19 testing, ventilation, and allocation of masks as well as gloves.

Teachers in Los Angeles are in dispute with lawmakers and health authorities over proposals to restart the community's coronavirus uncontrolled spread.

"When Governor Gavin Newsom says schools are safe to reopen without vaccines, he should also tell us what he thinks a safe number of associated deaths would be," President Cecily Myart-Cruz of United Teachers Los Angeles said last week.

Read also: Biden Says Minimum Wage Increase Won't Likely Be Included in COVID-19 Relief Package

Biden administration sparked conflicts on school reopenings

According to The Hill, the Biden administration sent confusing signals about when and how to expect schools' reopening. The White House often seemed to downplay messages from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), as per The Hill.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki tried to minimize the CDC's report that classified schools as low-transmission coronavirus areas.

Psaki also brushed aside CDC chief Rochelle Walensky for suggesting research supports that teachers could return to classrooms before they have been vaccinated.

At one point, when she said that teachers being vaccinated should not be a requirement for returning to in-person schooling, Psaki said Walensky was talking in her "personal capacity."

Read also: Biden Does Not Want Trump To Receive Intelligence Briefings, Claims He Might 'Slip and Say Something'

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Ive enjoyed working with our team to expand LotVantage into a world class classified and digital solutions platform for our dealers, but with the sale of LotVantage, my executive team and I will be free to focus our efforts more effectively on our other companies, including ThumbStopper.

Thats Us Technologies, parent company of LotVantage, ThumbStopper, and SellerVantage, announced today the sale of LotVantage to leading consumer engagement technology company Digital Air Strike.

Digital Air Strike, based in Scottsdale, Arizona, the leading consumer engagement technology solution provider for more than 7,000 dealerships, will expand upon its existing inventory digital marketing, engagement and targeting solutions with the acquisition of LotVantage. In addition to Digital Air Strikes current marketplace partners, including Facebook, Instagram, and Amazon, they will now enable their dealer customers to syndicate inventory through marketplaces including eBay, YouTube, and Craigslist.

Digital Air Strike is a natural complement to what weve managed to create with LotVantage over the last decade, says LotVantage founder and CEO Matthew Brown. Our focus conquering the divide between busy dealers and syndicating their inventory on the digital channels that matter is lock-step with the strategy that Digital Air Strike has employed to grow their own technology solutions; dealers and resellers will benefit greatly from the one-stop solution theyll receive through the newly joined technologies.

The acquisition of LotVantage will double the size of Digital Air Strikes reseller and channel network and will also provide a new home for former LotVantage employees and customers, providing their dealer and reseller clientele with even more solutions to generate awareness and sales for their dealerships.

The acquisition of LotVantages inventory syndication solutions will continue to expand on our strategy of arming our clients with efficient and effective online marketing solutions that provide meaningful impact for their dealerships, said Alexi Venneri, co-founder and CEO, Digital Air Strike. We are thrilled that our existing platforms complement LotVantages services so well; this makes the transition for employees and customers seamless and beneficial.

With the sale of LotVantage, sister company ThumbStopper will continue to remain a key focus for Thats Us Technologies. ThumbStopper provides organic social media syndication for brands that sell through channel partners, ensuring a brand-approved social presence for thousands of retailers currently on the platform.

The sale of LotVantage is bittersweet for me, says LotVantage founder and CEO Matthew Brown. Ive enjoyed working with our team to expand LotVantage into a world class classified and digital solutions platform for our dealers and resellers, but with the sale of LotVantage, my executive team and I will be free to focus our efforts more effectively on our other companies, including ThumbStopper and SellerVantage.

That's Us Technologies legal representation for the transaction was Nick Foreste of Morris, Manning & Martin, and its financial advisor was Greg Bosl of Endeavor Strategies.

About Thats Us Technologies

Thats Us Technologies is in the business of leveraging technology to create effective efficiencies for their customers. The primary subsidiary of Thats Us TechnologiesThumbStopperhelps brands and retailers generate micro-moments of engagement through the curation, segmentation, and syndication of high-value content across leading social media platforms. ThumbStoppers Brand Manager seamlessly connects branded digital assets to your most likely consumers via native organic social posting and advertising at scale.

About Digital Air Strike

Digital Air Strike is the leading social media, intelligent lead response, and consumer engagement technology company helping over 7,000 businesses increase consumer response and conversions in digital and social media environments while generating measurable ROI. A pioneer in digital response, social media marketing and online reputation management solutions, Digital Air Strike deploys industry specific mobile apps, software, intelligent messaging, and managed service platforms to monitor, engage, improve, and manage consumer interactions for thousands of businesses in the United States, Canada and 33 additional countries, including working with seven of the largest automotive manufacturers. More information on the company is available at http://www.digitalairstrike.com and http://www.facebook.com/digitalairstrike.
(Newser)  Police in New Haven, Conn., on Wednesday identified an MIT researcher as a person of interest in the fatal shooting of Yale grad student Kevin Jiang on Saturday night. They are seeking Qinxuan Pan, 29, a resident of Massachusetts, and they warn the public he should be considered armed and dangerous. "Extreme caution should be used if you come in contact with this individual," they say, per Fox News. Police say Pan, who was last seen at a Best Western hotel in North Haven, Conn., has probably since left the state. Jiang, 26, was fatally shot while operating a vehicle, per ABC News, and police believe he may have been targeted, possibly due to road ragehe had been involved in a car accident before his murder. They are also investigating whether Jiang and Pan knew each other prior to the slaying.

story continues below

The New Haven Independent reports that police actually had Pan, who is not officially a suspect in the case, in their custody shortly after Jiang's deaththey were called to the Best Western on reports of a suspicious vehicle and a man acting oddly by the train tracks behind the hotel. It turned out to be Pan, whom police encountered and questioned, but ultimately released. But they later learned the car he was driving had been stolen out of Massachusetts, and he is now wanted on warrants in both Massachusetts and Connecticut in connection with a stolen vehicle. Pan is a PhD student and researcher at MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory. He got his undergraduate degree from the university in 2013. Jiangs fiancee Zion Perry graduated from MIT last year and is apparently friends with Pan on Facebook, the Yale Daily News reports. (Read more Yale University stories.)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday assured his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau that India would do its best to facilitate supplies of Covid vaccines sought by Canada.

Trudeau, who made a telephone call to the prime minister, said that if the world managed to conquer Covid-19, it would be significantly because of India's tremendous pharmaceutical capacity and Modi's leadership in sharing this capacity with the world, according to a Prime Minister's Office (PMO) statement.

Justin Trudeau

During the call, Prime Minister Trudeau informed Modi about Canada's requirements of Covid-19 vaccines from India.

Prime Minister Modi assured his Canadian counterpart that India would do its best to support Canada's vaccination efforts, just as it had done for many other countries already.

Was happy to receive a call from my friend @JustinTrudeau. Assured him that India would do its best to facilitate supplies of COVID vaccines sought by Canada. We also agreed to continue collaborating on other important issues like Climate Change and the global economic recovery.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 10, 2021

"Was happy to receive a call from my friend Justin Trudeau. Assured him that India would do its best to facilitate supplies of Covid vaccines sought by Canada," Modi said in a tweet.

"We also agreed to continue collaborating on other important issues like Climate Change and the global economic recovery," he said.

Last Friday at 8am, a computer operator at a water treatment plant in Florida noticed the cursor moving across his screen as if being controlled by an invisible hand.

The operator assumed that, as often happened at the plant, which provides drinking water to the small city of Oldsmar (population 14,600), it was just his supervisor remotely checking into the system.

But when the mystery user logged in again a few hours later and began clicking through the plants controls, it rapidly became clear that this wasnt the boss.

For within minutes, the intruder had increased by 100 times the level of sodium hydroxide going into the water supply.

In low concentrations, sodium hydroxide  also known as lye or caustic soda  is harmless and controls waters acidity level. But in high concentrations it can be lethal, causing severe harm to human tissue.

After boosting the amount of it in the water from 100 parts per million to 11,100 parts, the visitor signed out of the system.

A hacker breached the system at the city of Oldsmar's water treatment plant in Florida last Friday using a remote access program shared by plant workers in a bid to poison water supply

As the FBI and Secret Service joined the investigation to identify the perpetrator, and Florida senator Marco Rubio warned it was a matter of national security, it seemed very likely the plant had been hacked by someone with malign intentions.

The hacker appears to have exploited a widely used piece of software called TeamViewer, which allows someone to control another persons computer remotely.

It is a programme often used by IT staff to sort out a colleagues technical issues and normally requires a password.

The incident, say cybersecurity experts, illustrates the terrifying threat to countries critical infrastructure  water systems, power grids, hospitals, transport networks, even nuclear power plants  that has arisen from our obsessive drive to connect everything to the internet.

Across the world, operators of utilities such as water and electricity, and installations from dams to oil pipelines, have adopted systems that allow engineers to monitor them remotely, despite the warnings of cybersecurity experts that doing so leaves this infrastructure, and the people it serves, dangerously vulnerable.

Officials insist the citizens of Oldsmar would have been protected by automatic monitors, which would have raised the alarm about dangerous sodium hydroxide levels before it entered the water supply.

But given that the hacker managed to break into a system that had reportedly been password-protected, such reassurances are not fully convincing.

Security experts say such hacking attempts are actually shockingly widespread but usually go unnoticed or unreported.

Even relatively unsophisticated hackers can access software that allows them to control complex equipment in plants and other facilities via online connections.

Thousands of such control systems can be found on the internet via specialised search tools  and TeamViewer in particular is known to be easily compromised.

And these hackers are not just amateurs giggling in their bedsits. Many are highly trained international cyber-terrorists.

The authorities dont know whether the Oldsmar incident was the work of a mischievous domestic hacker or a sinister foreign agent.

Asked if it constituted an attempted bioterrorism attack, county sheriff Bob Gualtieri replied bluntly: It is what it is.

Small companies with limited funds to spend on cybersecurity are particularly vulnerable.

Larger utility companies often say they know about the risks but their resources are too overstretched, especially since the onset of the pandemic, for them to do without technology that allows staff to accomplish far more than they could otherwise manage.

It isnt simply bioterrorists or criminal blackmailers but governments that are doing this, not only to inflict immediate damage and disruption on enemies but to weaken a potential opponents cyber defences and critical infrastructure in preparation for a future crisis or war.

U.S. officials have long expressed fears of a potential cyber Pearl Harbor in which foreign hackers devastate U.S. infrastructure.

Security experts say such hacking attempts, like the one on the Florida water treatment plant, are actually shockingly widespread but usually go unnoticed or unreported (file photo)

Last spring, suspected Iranian hackers working for the Islamic Revolutionary Guards tried to alter the amount of chlorine in a municipal water plant in Israel, prompting the Israelis to launch their own retaliatory cyber strike on an Iranian port.

Israels digital security chief said at the time: Cyber winter is coming, and coming even faster than I expected.

'We are just seeing the beginning. We will remember this as a changing point in the history of modern cyber warfare.

In fact, the turning point was some time ago  and he should know, because it was Israel and the U.S. that were blamed for the first assault of this kind in 2007, when Stuxnet, a malicious computer worm, devastated Irans nuclear programme by tricking about 1,000 centrifuges into spinning themselves to pieces.

It cropped up again in 2016, when Russia was blamed for using Stuxnet to cripple Ukraines electricity supply.

A fifth of the population was left without power during a viciously cold winter after hackers got into the power grids computer system. Two years later, the Ukrainians said the Russians also tried to hack into a chlorine plant.

U.S. intelligence claims groups of Russian hackers have been quietly probing American energy companies and power grids for weaknesses since 2012.

One, known as Energetic Bear or Dragonfly, has been accused by Washington officials of repeatedly hacking into Swiss, Turkish and U.S. power companies, water treatment centres and nuclear power plants over the past decade.

Last spring, suspected Iranian hackers working for the Islamic Revolutionary Guards tried to alter the amount of chlorine in a municipal water plant in Israel prompting a retaliatory attack

One attempt, in 2017, involved a nuclear power plant in Kansas. While the company said its operations systems were not affected, the hackers collected sensitive data including passwords and logins that experts say could be used for future attacks.

In the same year, hackers used a malicious computer code called Triton, developed by Russias Central Scientific Research Institute of Chemistry and Mechanics, to try to dismantle an emergency lockdown system at a Saudi petrochemical facility.

The attempt failed but security analysts said that, had it got to the next stage, the hackers would have been able to trigger an appalling industrial accident.

Last year, the U.S. government banned the Russian institute from doing business in the U.S.

The Russians are not the only offenders, though. Seven years ago, Iranian hackers tried to interfere with a small dam in New York State.

They were unable to take over control of it because it was under repair at the time.

The blackmail potential of hacking is hardly a secret. In 2017, the WannaCry ransomware virus swept through 150 countries, targeting computers running Microsoft Windows operating system, encrypting data and demanding ransom payments in Bitcoin.

It even infected computers in the NHS, forcing administrators to rush patients to unaffected hospitals. Thankfully there were no confirmed fatalities.

But in Dusseldorf, Germany, last September, a cyber attack took a hospital offline and doctors had to rush one patient to another facility to try to save her life.

She died en route and the attack is now being investigated as a murder.

Factories are increasingly digitalised, too. In 2014, hackers took control of a German steel mill and made the system initiate a sudden, uncontrolled shutdown of the blast furnace. According to a government report, this caused devastating physical damage.

Lesley Carhart, of digital security firm Dragos, says it finds foreign government hackers rooting around in utilities all the time. But for now they are biding their time, she says.

They are going to wait until theyve got a really good reason to poke buttons.

How long before they consider that moment has arrived?
2021-02-10

Maeci

We all have the duty to remember to prevent the repetition of the horrors of the past. The commemoration of the many Italians, thousands of them, mostly civilians, who were barbarously murdered in the foibe caves, interned or forced to flee from Istria, Quarnaro and Dalmatia, is a moral imperative that no one can disregard, and which must encourage each of us to commit ourselves to building a society based on the values of peace and justice.

Remembering that tragedy and its victims must also spur us to look at a united Europe as a precious asset to be defended and boosted, a common home under whose roof even the tragedies of the past can be shared thanks to common European values, as President Mattarella and Slovenian President Pahor demonstrated during their joint visit to Trieste and Basovizza on 13 July 2020.

Former Paducah Mayor Albert Jones Dies

By West Kentucky Star Staff

PADUCAH - Former Paducah Mayor Albert Jones has died.Jones served as Paducahs mayor from 1996 until 2000.Jones was a Korean War veteran who served as Commonwealth attorney, U.S. attorney, and as state representative. The Paducah Board of Commissioners approved an ordinance renaming Henry Clay Park as Albert Jones Park in 2012. He was 91 years old.Paducah Mayor George Bray released the following statement Wednesday expressing his condolences on hearing of Jones' passing:
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Maura Higgins has encouraged women to be kind to each other and to have confidence as she hit out at nasty comments and the over use of filters on social media.

The influencer and former Love Island contestant (30) bared her natural face in an emotional post on Instagram, posing in a simple black satin robe and drawing attention to her glowing skin.



Accompanying Mauras photo was a lengthy caption about the dangers and detrimental effects of social media on young women.



RAW ... like many of us, there are so many times I stop to read the nasty comments in my DMs or online and every single time I cant help but think of the younger generation stepping on the social media bandwagon!

Read More

Us women especially get criticised day in and day out about our bodys, hair, makeup, skin...I could go on forever, she continued.



I am very lucky to be confident inside & out and I want to empower women to do the same.



She warns her followers of the pressures placed on young girls from social media apps, explaining that filters make us feel as though we arent worthy on our own: We dont need to use filters or apps, being yourself is more than enough.



She urges readers not only to be kind to others but to take time to be kind to themselves.



Be comfortable and proud in your own skin, said the Longford beauty.



The vulnerable post was met with overwhelming support from friends and followers alike.



Rozanna Purcell flooded the comments with hearts and applause emojis, while fitness influencer Maeve Madden commented REAL is RARE.

Maura is not the first Love Island alum to preach kindness to followers after leaving the villa.



Co-star Molly-Mae Hague shut down nasty trolls who relentlessly body-shamed her last summer.



While vacationing in Ibiza, shots of the 21-year-old in a bikini were shared on Twitter with vicious accompanying comments.



Molly-Mae snapped back at the bullies, tweeting: I would genuinely love to know who writes these comments? Like how can you actually write s**t like that and sleep at night? Beyond me.

The California Supreme Court on Wednesday declined to review a lower courts decision against Uber and Lyft in a case about whether they misclassified their drivers as independent contractors. Meanwhile a lawsuit related to the same issue was filed this week in Alameda County Superior Court.

The Supreme Court also declined to depublish the lower courts opinion, which had held that drivers should, in fact, be classified as employees rather than freelancers. Depublishing means a decision cannot be cited as precedent in other cases.

Practically speaking, Wednesdays denials will not turn drivers into employees, despite an August preliminary injunction that had called for that action and was upheld in October by the First District Court of Appeals in San Francisco.

Thats because in November, voters passed Proposition 22, which exempts app-based drivers and couriers from a California law, AB5, that makes it harder to claim that workers are independent contractors. Prop. 22 applies to Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, Instacart, Grubhub and similar services.

If Prop. 22 had failed at the ballot, the preliminary injunction could have taken effect early this year.

However, the underlying case filed in May by Californias attorney general and three city attorneys against Uber and Lyft will continue and seek penalties related to the companys past actions.

The lower court judge had said as much.

Even if the ballot initiative passes, it would not moot out the Peoples prayer for remedies for past violations, Judge Ethan Schulman wrote in a scathing order that said the ride-hailing companies had exhibited a prolonged and brazen refusal to comply with California law.

Lyft and Uber did not immediately reply to requests for comment.

Uber and Lyft cant change the fact that they were violating the law for years before Prop. 22 took effect by not classifying their drivers as employees, said John Cote, a spokesperson for San Francisco city attorney Dennis Herrera, one of the plaintiffs in the case. Drivers and the public deserve restitution and penalties for Uber and Lyfts past misconduct, regardless of Uber and Lyft later buying themselves an election. We are going to continue with our case until justice is served.

The attorney generals office said in a statement that it was pleased with the Supreme Courts order and that its case against the companies is ongoing.

No dissents were listed, which means the decision was unanimous, 7-0.

In related news, labor unions and others are pursuing a legal challenge to Prop. 22 on the grounds that it violates Californias Constitution.

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

The same plaintiffs the Service Employees International Union, SEIU California State Council, three ride-hailing drivers and one passenger  filed substantially the same case in January asking for expedited review by the California Supreme Court.

The high court early this month declined to hear the case immediately, but said the plaintiffs were still free to pursue the matter through lower courts, which they are now doing.

The case filed in Alameda County Superior Court alleges that Prop. 22 limits the power of elected officials to govern and takes away workers rights.

During the election, organized labor mounted an unsuccessful $20 million push-back against the $220 million Yes on Prop. 22 campaign backed by gig companies, saying the measure would turn gig workers into second-class citizens.

While lawsuits against California initiatives are common, courts are reluctant to overturn the will of the voters, David McCuan, a professor of political science at Sonoma State University, said at the time the lawsuit was originally filed.

Carolyn Said is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: csaid@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @csaid

State Trooper Hurt in Calloway County Crash

By West Kentucky Star Staff

PADUCAH - A Kentucky State Police Trooper was injured when her cruiser was struck while she was working another accident Wednesday morning in Calloway County.The Kentucky State Police said Trooper Sarah Burgess was investigating a crash on KY 80 near Cook Store Trail, and had positioned her car in the left lane with emergency equipment activated.Trooper Burgess had detained the driver, 33-year-old Sean Alexander of Springville, TN, in her cruiser because he had an outstanding felony warrant.While talking to Alexander, troopers said a vehicle driven by 19-year-old Jameson Rogers of Paris, TN, crossed a bridge on KY 80 and lost control.Rogers' vehicle struck the rear of the cruiser and knocked it into the median.Trooper Burgess was taken to Jackson Purchase Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries.Robbins and his passenger, 18-year-old Aston O'Daniel of Puryear, were treated at the scene.Alexander refused treatment and was booked into Calloway County Jail on the outstanding warrant.
Egypts Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said on Thursday that the countries participating in the Eastern Mediterranean Gas Forums (EMGF) meeting, dubbed Philia Forum, seek balanced relations that achieve stability and end crises to ensure that resources are better utilised.

In a joint press conference held in Athens between the ministers of foreign affairs of the countries participating in the Philia Forum, Shoukry said that the participating countries shun double standards that would only lead to narrow and self-centred interests.

He also added that the participant countries adhere to international principles that conform with the United Nations Charter, and that this is the only way to achieve aspirations.

The Philia Forum kicked off earlier on Thursday with the participation of Greece, Cyprus, Egypt, France, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the UAE.

Shoukry stressed that Egypt is keen on boosting cooperation with Cyprus and Greece to meet peoples' interests, especially amid political, economic and health challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic.

He added that Cairo is keen on bolstering ties with world countries and building up relations based on cooperation in order to achieve stability.

Shoukry also slammed the expansion of foreign forces in Arab territories.

He called on UN Security Council member states, especially permanent members, to shoulder responsibility vis-a-vis advocating all relevant UN principles to guarantee peaceful solutions in settling conflicts.

Saudi FM Faisal Bin Farhan stressed in the presser on the national sovereignty of states and their independence according to international laws and treaties denouncing intervention in other countries affairs.

Emirati Minister of State for International Cooperation Reem Al-Hashimy said that the increase of challenges and crises in the region demand cooperation and coordination to wisely establish a basis for development, security and peace.

Cypriot Foreign Minister Nikos Christodoulides said that the forum witnessed an exchange of views concerning the developments in Eastern Mediterranean and Gulf region.

He also added that the forum did not want to exclude any country and welcomed any country that wanted peace.

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House Bill 133 aims to extend Medicaid coverage to eligible new mothers. The House version of the bill calls for a one-year extension, whereas the Senate version calls for a six-month extension. Advocates say the bill could reduce the states maternal mortality rate. Currently, the state offers Medicaid for two months after giving birth. Should Texas extend Medicaid for eligible new mothers for six months or one year?

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BERLIN (Reuters) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel urged Germans on Thursday to have a little more patience after agreeing with regional leaders to extend a coronavirus lockdown until March 7 and said restrictions would not be kept for a day longer than necessary.

Addressing the Bundestag lower house of parliament, Merkel said the extension was needed to avoid a third wave due to the risk posed by new virus variants.

"I know what we have achieved in our fight against the virus has had, and is still having, a high price," said Merkel.

A gradual fall in new daily infections has raised pressure for an easing of tight restrictions in place since mid-December and Merkel agreed with state premiers on Wednesday that some schools and hairdressers could open sooner than March 7.

Seeking to reassure Germans that the lockdown was helping, Merkel said she was aware this was the most serious curtailment of freedoms in post-war Germany. She knew many people were lonely and worried about money and their future.

"As a democracy we have a duty not to keep the restrictions in place for a day longer than is necessary," she said.

Europe's biggest economy shrank by 5% last year and some business are dismayed at the latest extension and lack of a timetable for easing.

A vaccination programme offered hope for the coming months, said Merkel, adding that she understood people's disappointment with the rollout, which is far slower than in Britain, Israel and the United States.

To avoid a third wave of infections, however, a little more patience was required.

"I don't think that the back and forth - opening up then closing down again - brings more predictability for people than waiting a few days longer," said Merkel.

(Reporting by Thomas Escritt and Madeline Chambers; editing by Thomas Seythal)
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Former Labour MP Chuka Umunna has landed a lucrative job with US bank JP Morgan, years after criticising 'reckless' city wages.

The former shadow business secretary is set to lead the Wall Street giant's environmental, social and governance (ESG) efforts in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

The hiring makes Umunna one of Britain's most senior Black bankers. He joins JPMorgan from PR company Edelman, where he co-led its ESG consultancy.

Umunna was a senior figure in Labour party before leaving to help found the short-lived Change UK party in 2019. He later joined the Liberal Democrats.

Mr Umunna and JP Morgan did not comment on the size of his salary, but in a 2010 article written in The Guardian, Umunna argued bankers' pay should be made public.

In what was a reference to the 2008 financial crisis, he wrote: 'How, after all, can we keep a track on reckless remuneration encouraging risky behaviour if we don't know its true extent?'

Former Labour MP Chuka Umunna has landed a lucrative job with US bank JP Morgan, years after criticising 'reckless' city wages

He also said in a 2018 speech that pay should be linked to 'contribution made', adding that 'pay incentives to deliver quick results are part of our problem'.

Mr Umunna's new job has echoes of his pre-politics career, which began in the city.

He previously worked for JP Morgan in a different, more junior role, and also for Credit Suisse. Mr Umunna was also a lawyer at firm Herbert Smith Freehills.

The former politician left Labour two years ago, when Jeremy Corbyn was leader, after a spell on the back benches.

He had worked under previous leader Ed Miliband as Shadow Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills from 2011 until the start of Mr Corbyn's leadership in 2015.

He did also run to replace Mr Miliband after he stepped down following Labour's 2015 election defeat.

But he then dramatically dropped out of the race, citing personal reasons.

Mr Umunna left Labour along with six other MPs to co-found the new pro-European Union party Change UK.

However, when the new party was hammered at the European elections in 2019, he left in to join the Liberal Democrats, becoming a spokesman on treasury and trade issues.

The former shadow business secretary is set to lead the Wall Street giant's environmental, social and governance (ESG) efforts in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Pictured: The bank's London headquarters at Canary Wharf

But at the 2019 election, Mr Umunna - who had been MP for Streatham - stood as a candidate in the Cities of London and Westminster seat, where he lost to the Conservative candidate.

Although he was on Labour's pro-business wing, Mr Umunna also repeatedly spoke out against corporate excess.

In 2011, he wrote to Barclays demanding that it provide a breakdown of the tax it had paid.

He also accused ministers of not doing enough to tackle bankers bonuses following the financial crisis.

In 2012, he tweeted a quote from an Evening Standard editorial that read: 'A banker's boot on the throat of small businesses is a boot on the throat of the whole economy'.

He also Tweeted: 'It is essential we restore the reputation of the financial services sector given its importance to the UK economy and our global lead.'

And in 2018, he said during a speech that there should be a 'regulatory framework linking pay to the contribution made and what can be considered just and proportional.'

He added: 'Pay incentives to deliver quick results are part of our problem and hamper improvements in productivity which are the best way of increasing the pay of the UK's workforce.'

Umunna follows a well-trodden path of former lawmakers taking top finance roles.

Last year former finance minister Sajid Javid took an advisory role at JPMorgan, while this month one of his predecessors George Osborne was named a partner at M&A firm Robey Warshaw.
Bone staining of the hand-paw isolated from a normal mouse (left) and a diseased mouse (right). The animal model displays malformations of the limbs such as the reduced size (in green) or the absence (in red) of ventral bones. Credit: Lila Allou, MPI f. Mol. Genet.

An international team of researchers discovered a rare genetic disease characterized by severe malformations of the limbs. As the scientists describe in the journal Nature, the condition is caused by a newly identified epigenetic mechanism involving sequences of the genome with previously unknown function. This process could also explain the cause of other congenital diseases.

When the human genome was sequenced 20 years ago, it was almost disappointing to realize that only 20,000 protein-coding genes could be identified. Furthermore, these genes occupy less than two percent of the entire genome raising the question about the function of the other, non-coding part. In fact, scientists once thought the non-coding DNA between genes was "junk," with no known purpose. However, as has been discovered in the meantime, cells use the information "between the lines of the genome" to control which genes become active at what time and at which place.

An international team of researchers in Berlin, Germany in collaboration with human geneticists from Lausanne, Switzerland discovered a new mechanism causing a rare genetic disease that involves such non-coding DNA sequences. As the scientists report in the journal Nature, the transcription of a non-coding DNA segment that is located in the vicinity of the developmental gene engrailed-1 (En1) is an essential factor for the activation of the gene. The En1 gene is known for its major control functions, being responsible for the development of the limbs, the brain, the sternum, and ribs. In their study, the scientists show how the process of En1 activation is controlled specifically in the limbs and how its disruption causes so far undescribed severe congenital limb malformations.

A paradigm for rare diseases

"I expect that there are more congenital diseases with a similar cause that just evaded our attention," says Stefan Mundlos, head of a research group at the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics (MPIMG) in Berlin and Director of the Institute for Medical Genetics and Human Genetics at Charite  Universitatsmedizin Berlin. "More than half of genetic diseases still remain unexplained, so there is great potential in exploring this further."

The three patients included in this study show a striking type of malformation. Their knees are not oriented to the front, some fingers are fused together, and nails grow from the other side of the digits, for example. "It appears that during the development of the limbs, the distinction between the ventral and dorsali.e. the palm and back sideof the extremities has been lost," says Mundlos.

Clinical researchers from Brazil and India first identified the patients and sent their DNA samples to the team of Andrea Superti-Furga at the University of Lausanne for genetic testing. There, the team of human geneticists discovered that a similar piece of non-coding DNA was missing in all three patients. To explore this further, they teamed up with Mundlos' lab in Berlin.

Deleted DNA segment causes the disease

At the MPIMG, scientist Lila Allou took on the search for the molecular cause of the disease. "When we started, we just knew that the three patients had a similar small piece of DNA missing," she says. "But this sequence was in a large gene desert, a region between two genes that we did not know anything about."

Cartilage (blue) and bone (red) staining of the hand-paw isolated from a normal mouse (left) and a diseased mouse (right). The animal model displays malformations of the limbs such as the fused digits in the centre, the polydactyly on the left, and the ventral fused digit on the right. Credit: Lila Allou, MPI f. Mol. Genet.

Nevertheless, this small missing piece was the underlying cause for the disorder, as Allou found out with the help of a mouse model. Using CRISPR-Cas technology, the researcher removed the corresponding DNA sequence in the mouse genome. "Mice with this deletion recapitulated the appearance of the disease to a large extent," says Allou. "The results confirmed that we found the root of the problem."

Further studies in mouse embryos showed that the genetically modified mice had lost the activity of the nearby gene En1 specifically in the limbs. The En1 gene has been known for its developmental importance for decades and its dysregulation was apparently causing the disease. But the mechanismhow exactly the deletion of the DNA segment resulted in the loss of En1 expressionwas still in the dark.

Decoding the non-coding

The scientists discovered that an RNA molecule, which they named Maenli (for Master Activator of Engrailed-1 in the Limb), was transcribed from the region that was missing in the patients. This non-coding RNA site turned out to be the key to the puzzle. RNA molecules in most cases serve as messengers for information. They can contain the blueprints for proteins, but in this case, the information was not translated. "These kinds of transcribed snippets arise all over the genome. It is hard to know which ones are important and which ones are not," says Allou. "Many scientists still regard them as coincidental molecules, but in this case, it was what captured our attention."

The scientist investigated the function of the non-coding RNA by inactivating its transcription. Mice with an inactivated Maenli site showed the same malformations as those with the deletion, indicating that indeed the missing non-coding transcription was the cause of the disease.

Furthermore, it seemed like having an entire correct RNA molecule was not that important for the activation of the developmental gene En1, but rather its transcriptional activity. After Allou replaced the transcribed snippet with a completely different sequence, the mice were still affected, but to a lesser degree than due to a complete inactivation of Maenli. Thus, a different genetic expression at the site was sufficient to activate the En1 genealthough to a lesser extent than the original sequence.

More surprises in the unknown

How the transcribed snippet activates the En1 gene in detail is subject of ongoing research at Mundlos' lab. Nevertheless, the implications of the new findings are extensive already: "Our results impact the scientific fields of human genetics, RNA research, development and gene regulation," says the researcher.

"From a developmental point of view, we identified a new key epigenetic mechanism that decides which cells will give rise to the ventral or palm side of the limbs during development," Allou adds. "But I believe that this work has a wider impact on patient diagnostics with the potential of solving other puzzles of rare genetic diseases."

"More than 90 percent of the genetic variants are found in the non-coding part of the genome but it is very difficult to interpret them for diagnostic purposes," she says. "Our work clearly shows that information that has so far been ignored for the interpretation of genetic variants can be crucial for understanding the molecular cause of diseases." To help unravel other unsolved cases, it will be then critical to take into account all the available genetic and epigenetic data, including data previously regarded as not that important, says the researcher. "What we assume is not worth looking at may in fact hold the answer to major findings."

Explore further The underestimated mutation potential of retrogenes

More information: Lila Allou et al. Non-coding deletions identify Maenli lncRNA as a limb-specific En1 regulator, Nature (2021). Journal information: Nature Lila Allou et al. Non-coding deletions identify Maenli lncRNA as a limb-specific En1 regulator,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-021-03208-9
DEAR ABBY: When my boss hired me as an assistant four years ago, she specifically told me my job was to do whatever the person above me wants. I wasn't allowed to communicate with anyone on the job other than the lady above me. Even though it was tough to watch my supervisor make so many bad decisions and get away with it, I did what was required of me.

Now I have worked my way up and have an assistant of my own. However, my boss has given my assistant much more than she ever gave me when I was in that position. Sometimes I feel like she acts like I'm not valued. I want to point it out, but I don't want to be that kind of person. I love what I do, but I don't know how much longer I can handle being treated this way.

Should I tell her how I feel? She constantly leaves me out of important decisions and then tries to play mind games to make up for it. She is also giving my assistant important information before telling me. I don't know what I should do. -- FRUSTRATED IN OREGON

DEAR FRUSTRATED: Many companies have annual reviews for employees in which subjects like the ones you have raised are discussed. If this isn't the case in your firm, ask for one.

During that conversation, tell your boss that sometimes you feel your efforts aren't valued and why. Remind her that you were instructed not to talk with anyone on the job other than the person immediately above you, and you feel undercut because your assistant is being given important information before it is shared with you. It may clear the air. However, if it doesn't, by all means start searching for another job, since you seem to be considering it anyway.

DEAR ABBY: I am worried about my kids and their social well-being. I understand we are in a pandemic. Our family has been responsible and socially distancing, but it seems like their friends have all been spending time together.

Understandably, my kids are jealous and angry at their father and me for putting restrictions on them. But I am worried about their lack of social interaction and how it may affect their future. One of them has a harder time making friends and doesn't have many things in common with their peers, which led to spending more time at home when there was no pandemic. -- WORRIED MOM IN NEW YORK

DEAR WORRIED: Until the threat of COVID has been resolved, it's up to you as parents to decide how you restrict your children in relation to the pandemic. Of course you want to protect them, even if your choices aren't popular. Kids can be careless. They can forget to pull their masks up and stay socially distanced, and the results can be tragic. But there are relatively safe outdoor activities parents can plan to keep their children from being completely isolated.

As to your child who is less socially adept, this is a subject to discuss with his/her teachers or a child psychologist.

Perhaps you can help by researching online interest groups this child can join that will connect them with other children -- under your supervision, of course.

Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.
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Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-11 22:38:56|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- The following are the updates on the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

- - - -

DOHA -- The Qatari Health Ministry on Thursday announced 448 new COVID-19 infections, raising the total number of confirmed cases in the Gulf state to 155,901, the official Qatar News Agency (QNA) reported.

Meanwhile, 276 more recovered from the virus, bringing the overall recoveries to 147,727, while one death was reported, pushing the tally up to 254, according to a ministry statement quoted by QNA.

- - - -

MUSCAT -- The Omani Health Ministry on Thursday announced 245 new COVID-19 infections, raising the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 136,622, the official Oman News Agency (ONA) reported.

Meanwhile, 206 people recovered during the past 24 hours, taking the overall recoveries to 128,461, while two people reportedly died, pushing the tally up to 1,539, according to a ministry statement quoted by ONA.

- - - -

PARIS -- A study on serum samples of over 9,000 French adults suggests that COVID-19 infection may have occurred as early as November 2019 in France as some sampled between November 2019 and January 2020 tested positive for antibodies against the virus.

The research, led by Fabrice Carrat, director of Pierre Louis Institute of Epidemiology and Public Health, was published in the European Journal of Epidemiology on Feb. 6.

- - - -

KUALA LUMPUR -- Malaysia reported 3,384 new confirmed cases of COVID-19, the health ministry said on Thursday, bringing the country's total tally to 254,988.

Health Ministry Director-General Noor Hisham Abdullah said in a press statement that 15 of the new cases were imported cases and 3,369 were local transmissions. Enditem

Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-11 20:14:23|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping and his U.S. counterpart, Joe Biden, held their first telephone conversation on Thursday since the latter entered the White House in late January, sending a series of positive signals to the world community.

The first one is embedded in the exchange of Lunar New Year greetings between the two presidents.

The Spring Festival is a very important holiday for the Chinese. The telephone conversation between the two heads of state on the eve of the Lunar New Year marks a new starting point for direct communication, symbolizes goodwill, and conforms to the expectations of the Chinese and Americans, as well as those of the wider global community.

The second positive message is a shared will to maintain communication between the two sides. In their dialogue, the two leaders agreed to maintain close communication on China-U.S. relations and issues of mutual interest.

Biden said Washington is prepared to have candid and constructive dialogue with China in the spirit of mutual respect and to improve mutual understanding and avoid miscommunication and miscalculation. Those agreements bear positive significance for Beijing and Washington to dispel misunderstandings and engage in normal dialogue.

Over the past few years, the China-U.S. relationship has encountered the most serious difficulties since the establishment of bilateral diplomatic ties. Some Washington politicians, who remain stuck in the Cold-War mentality, saw in China a grave threat to the United States. They rolled out a raft of policies that meddled in China's internal affairs and damaged the interests of the Chinese people. They even tried to decouple the two countries and advocate for a new Cold War.

With the inauguration of the Biden administration, returning the China-U.S. relationship to the right track has become a common aspiration of the international community.

When viewing the relations between the world's top two economies, one should refrain from having their eyes glued to where the two countries disagree and look instead to the bigger picture.

It is quite normal for Beijing and Washington to disagree with each other on some issues. In the face of those disagreements, the two sides need to respect each other, treat each other as equals, and manage their differences in a constructive fashion. One way to manage those differences is by re-establishing various dialogue mechanisms in order to accurately understand each other's policy intentions.

The third message lies in the recognition of the spirit of cooperation. History and reality clearly show that China and the United States both gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation; dialogue is always better than friction.

Over the past more than four decades since the two countries established their diplomatic relations, bilateral ties have grown into one of the most deeply interwoven relationships in the world that includes broad areas of cooperation and extensive areas of common interest.

Cooperation is in line with the fundamental interests of both sides and represents a popular trend that cannot be reversed.

On the global stage, cooperation between China and the United States can accomplish a great deal. The two countries have together fought terrorism, addressed the 2008 global financial crisis, combatted the Ebola epidemic, and collaborated on the Paris climate accord.

As the world is undergoing a transformation unseen in a century, which is compounded by a raging COVID-19 pandemic, China and the United States must shoulder their responsibilities as major countries to jointly tackle global challenges. They ought to maintain stability in the Asia-Pacific region and promote world peace and development.

Currently, the world's arguably most important bilateral relationship is standing at a new and critical juncture, and head-of-state diplomacy can play an irreplaceable guiding role.

Looking to the future, the two countries should make joint efforts in the same direction, follow the spirit of no conflict, no confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation, focus on cooperation, manage their differences, and work for the sound and stable development of China-U.S. relations. Enditem
Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted on Thursday that the BJP does not believe in political untouchability and values consensus in running the country, as he noted that his government has bestowed state honours on even the ruling party's political rivals to acknowledge their service to the nation.

Addressing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MPs at an event here to mark the 53rd death anniversary of Deendayal Upadhyay, a party ideologue who had founded its progenitor Jana Sangh, Modi said the saffron party always puts "rashtraneeti" above "rajneeti" and gives respect to even its political rivals.

In this context, he said the current government has honoured former president and Congress stalwart Pranab Mukherjee with Bharat Ratna and noted that Padma awards were given to former Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi and former Nagaland chief minister S C Jamir, both from the grand old party.

Modi noted that he had said in Parliament that a government may run with majority but the nation runs with consensus.

He also cited his government's tributes to national icons like Subhas Chandra Bose, B R Ambedkar and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, and observed that any other dispensation would not have done it.

Upadhyay's ideals of "antyodya" (empowering the most downtrodden) and integral humanism are the inspiration behind the government's welfare works and the "Aatmanirbhar Bharat" (self-reliant India) programme to boost the economy, the prime minister said, adding that India has followed the principle of "nation first" in its external policy as well, without being influenced by any pressure.

He urged the BJP units across the country to undertake 75 works for social welfare as the country approaches its 75th year of independence.

Modi also suggested to the party MPs and other leaders to make a list of products they use in their daily lives and see if they can get rid of foreign stuff and instead, use their Indian alternatives.
FRONT PAGE

An article on Monday about steps Senator Chuck Schumer of New York is taking to head off a primary challenge misstated the year that Mondaire Jones defeated David Carlucci in a House primary in New York. It was 2020, not 2018.

ARTS

An article on Wednesday about Joe Allen, who owned restaurants in New Yorks theater district, described incorrectly the actor Justin Ross Cohen. He joined the original production of A Chorus Line after it opened. He was not a member of the original cast.

Errors are corrected during the press run whenever possible, so some errors noted here may not have appeared in all editions.

To contact the newsroom regarding correction requests, complaints or other comments about our coverage, please email nytnews@nytimes.com.
Actor Sidharth Malhotra took to Instagram on Thursday, February 11, 2021, to announce some exciting news with his fans. The actor shared a picture of him as he announced his upcoming film, Mission Majnu, along with his co-star Rashmika Mandanna. Along with the picture, the actor also penned a note revealing details about the same. On seeing this post, fans could not stop themselves from commenting on all things happy and nice.

Taking to his Instagram handle, Sidharth Malhotra went on to strike a pose with Rashmika Mandanna showing off the script from their upcoming movie, Mission Majnu. In the picture, they can be seen all smiles for the camera. Sidharth can be seen wearing a grey shirt along with a brown waistcoat. He completed his look with a pair of watch and opted for a middle parting hairdo and trimmed beard. Rashmika Mandanna, on the other hand, can be seen donning a peach salwar along with a green dupatta. She completed her look with a middle parting hairdo, well-done brows, blush pink highlighter and glossy lips.

Along with the picture, Sidharth Malhotra penned a sweet note revealing details about his views on the film. He wrote, A special one with a special team. #MissionMajnu, day 1  @rashmika_mandanna. Take a look at the post below.

Also read | Rashmika Mandanna Asked If She Gets 2 Crores Per Film, She Denies With A Sarcastic Answer

As soon as the actor shared the post online, fans went all out to flood the comment section with heaps of praise. Some of the users revealed how excited they are for the upcoming movie, while some wished him luck for the same. One of the users wrote, Best of luck Siddie. Looking forward to watching and enjoying this wonderful one, while the other one wrote, So so excited sod  all the best, I know you guys will rock this. Check out a few comments below.

Also read | Rashmika Mandanna Launches Teaser Of Top Tucker, Netizens Hail Her As 'Queen'

About the film

Apart from Sidharth Malhotra, the film Mission Majnu also stars Sharib Hashmi and Kumud Mishra in crucial roles. The movie is about an untold story of India's most audacious and daring covert operation in the heart of Pakistan. Much details about the film have not yet been revealed by the makers and fans are very much eager to know about it.

Also read | Sidharth Malhotra And Rashmika Mandanna Starrer 'Mission Majnu' Takes Off

Also read | Sidharth Malhotra, Neha Sharma Unite For A Music Video 'Thoda Thoda Pyaar', Shares Teaser

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.
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Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

Two young brothers who police say were abducted by their mother Tuesday, sparking an Amber Alert, were found safe at a Northeast Albuquerque hotel Wednesday afternoon.

Elijah Covington, 3, and Javon Rosales, 6, were in the custody of the state Children, Youth and Families Department. Police say their mother, Clorisa Renee Covington, took them from a dental appointment even though she does not have permission or the authority to do so.

The boys were found safe, with Covington, at the Suburban Extended Stay hotel on Wellesley near Menaul NE  a little over a mile from the dentist office where they were last seen. They were returned to CYFD custody, said the Albuquerque Police Departments interim Chief Harold Medina.

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Speaking in front of the hotel after the children were found, Medina said officers worked nonstop to find the boys.

Theyve been working on arrest warrants, theyve been working on phone warrants and other information to help them find the kids, Medina said. We want to thank the community because there has been a number of tips that we received from the Amber Alert.

He said detectives are interviewing Covington and will forward a case to the 2nd Judicial District Attorneys Office. He said she could face an aggravated assault charge that occurred when she took her children.

The Amber Alert sent out Tuesday said Covington is known to spend time with her boyfriend, Fabian Gonzales. Gonzales is awaiting trial in connection with the gruesome death of 10-year-old Victoria Martens in 2016. He is charged with reckless abuse of a child resulting in death and tampering with evidence after prosecutors found he was not present when Victoria was believed to have been killed.

In June, former state District Judge Charles Brown ruled Gonzales is allowed to be around Covingtons two children unsupervised. The issue had arisen when Covington was applying for public housing at Healthcare for the Homeless and Gonzales was seen taking her younger son down the street to a gas station to go to the bathroom and buy a soda.

Gonzales attorney Stephen Aarons said he was upset that his clients name had been dragged through the mud again. He said Gonzales and Covington had been dating and living with each other up until November, and they broke up because CYFD said they would take custody of Elijah and Javon unless they stopped seeing each other. He said Gonzales had not spoken to Covington in days and had not seen her in months.

Aarons said he did not know why the boys were in CYFD custody.

We were surprised to learn that CYFD still had custody since she complied months ago, Aarons said. As far as we know, she has no drug or alcohol problems, very good with her two kids, loves them to death, chose them over Fabian, which Fabian agreed was the right thing to do in a lousy situation.

Gonzales, who can be traced via a court-ordered GPS monitor, was at work Tuesday when the abduction occurred, Aarons said, and the law firms private investigator was working with detectives. Nevertheless, he said, officers searched Gonzaless brothers North Valley home for the children.

Medina confirmed Gonzales was not with the family when they were found.

We did have information that there was a relationship, Medina said. Unfortunately, we dont always have every piece of the puzzle at the time the Amber Alert went out.


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.
Oldest should get vaccine first

The latest statistics show that 13.2% of Bayonne residents are 65 years of age or older. My question to Mayor Davis is why is it taking so long for seniors to receive their vaccines?

I would like to think that the oldest seniors are at the top of the list. I submitted a request for my wife to be vaccinated on Jan. 10. She is 77. I am hoping that she would get her vaccine before anyone younger than her.

As of this date, she has not heard back except for an email acknowledging receipt of her request. There have been very little, if any, updates on this issue except to be patient.

It would be appreciated if there would be a little more transparency in exactly how the doses are being distributed. I am 78 and didnt want to wait. I contacted the VA, received an appointment, and received my first dose recently and was given an appointment for my second dose. Everything was handled seamlessly and professionally and the whole procedure was completed in 40 minutes.

Why cant the city of Bayonne be as responsive to the needs of its seniors? It would also be helpful to publish how many doses are available on a weekly basis..

Ronald Jankowski, Bayonne

160 years of Italian unification

On Feb. 15, the United States pays tribute to George Washington, the first president of the United States and the commanding general of the Continental armies that secured independence from England. February is also an important month in Italian history. It marks the 160th anniversary of Italian unification and independence.

The Risorgimento -- the resurgence of an independent, unified Italy -- came to fruition during February 1861. Italian political and social movements during the 19th century yielded the consolidation of the different states contained within the Italian peninsula into a single independent state: the Kingdom of Italy.

Prior to the unification, the Italian peninsula consisted of independent states, each with its own political goals and ambitions. Additionally, foreign powers -- such as France, Austria-Hungry, and Spain -- exercised political control over several Italian states. The pope also exercised sovereign, autocratic authority over the central part of Italy -- the Papal States -- which included Rome.

On Feb. 18, 1861, Victor Emmanuel II, de facto king of Italy, managed to overcome political obstacles and assembled the very first Italian parliament in Turin. Subsequently, on March 17, 1861, parliament officially proclaimed Victor Emmanuel King of Italy, and on March 27, 1861, Rome was declared capital of Italy -- even though The Eternal City was not yet part of the new kingdom.

Suffice it to say, much like the American Revolution, Italian unification and independence came at a huge, costly price. It was a long, arduous affair that began in the 1820s and, to many, formally concluded in 1871, when Rome was officially designated the capital of the Kingdom of Italy.

Since the birth of the Italian Republic in 1946, Italy has remained a trusted ally, friend, and partner to -- and with -- the United States. It is our hope that the enduring -- and endearing -- relationship between Italy and the United States remains vibrant and continues to flourish in the future.

Albert J. Cupo and John DiGenio, Dante Alighieri Society, Jersey City

Send letters to the editor and guest columns for The Jersey Journal to jjletters@jjournal.com.
The PSAs (below) will be promoted to media and the public by both the CPC and NICB and available for the public to view on YouTube. The 30- and 60-second video spots explain how "windshield bullies" and AOB auto glass scams work and encourage consumers to contact the Florida Department of Financial Services if they believe they have been a target of fraud or abuse.

Broadcast quality PSAs are available for download here.

"Filing a fraudulent insurance claim in Florida is a crime, even if it's a small claim like an auto glass repair or a complete windshield replacement when there was no damage to your vehicle. This is occurring every day in Florida as consumers are being solicited and offered inducements to file false or inflated auto glass insurance claims," said Alan Haskins, Vice President of Government Affairs for the National Insurance Crime Bureau. "NICB supports The Consumer Protection Coalition in warning the public of these scams that take advantage of Florida consumers."

Information compiled by the Florida Justice Reform Institute, using state databases, shows that AOB auto glass abuse continues to be a major problem for Florida consumers, with more than 27,000 lawsuits filed in 2020, an increase over the prior year. Just 30 attorneys accounted for 100 percent of all AOB auto glass lawsuits during the year, with one attorney alone accounting for 8,727 lawsuits. About 37 percent of the lawsuits were filed in Orange County, 32 percent in Hillsborough County, 13 percent in Dade County, and the remainder in Seminole, Volusia, Broward and Duval counties, even though there's no evidence that more windshields are breaking in those counties than others across the state.

"Windshield replacement lawsuits continue to swamp the courts," said William Large, President of the Florida Justice Reform Institute. "Vendors use assignments to seize the policyholder's rights and benefits and file expensive lawsuits based on inflated claims. Many of these lawsuits even happen without the policyholder's knowledge or informed consent. The Legislature acted boldly in 2019 to address a similar problem in property insurance claims, but out-of-control auto glass lawsuits continue to cost consumers more money."

These scams often involve auto glass repair vendors who solicit unsuspecting drivers in public places such as car washes and store parking lots. The vendor will tell the motorist that they have a chip or crack in their windshield that can be repaired immediately, and that they will work directly with the driver's insurer, if the driver simply signs a form. Sometimes the vendors even offer cash or gift incentives to obtain a signature.

What most drivers don't realize is that they are actually signing an Assignment of Benefits contractual document that transfers all their rights and benefits to their insurance claim over to the windshield bully  including the right to sue. The glass repair vendors then often submit claims to the driver's auto insurer that inflate the cost of repairs. When the insurer disputes the bill, the vendor and a law firm they are working with in tandem file suit against the insurer  usually without the knowledge or consent of the auto insurance policyholder, who is completely unaware that he or she is suing their own insurance company.

These auto glass lawsuits are highly incentivized by an existing "one-way attorney fee" provision in Florida law that allows the windshield bully and their law firm to collect legal fees from the insurer if they win the lawsuit, but doesn't allow the insurer to collect fees from the windshield bully if the insurer prevails. The one-way attorney fee statute was originally intended to "level the playing field in disputes between a policyholder and their insurance company, and not to be hijacked by a third party in a commercial dispute.

"AOB auto glass abuse and litigation continues to be a major consumer problem that requires a legislative fix," said Mark Wilson, CEO of the Florida Chamber of Commerce, which spearheads the Consumer Protection Coalition. "We applaud the Florida Legislature for passing reforms in 2019 that are successfully reining in AOB abuse in property insurance, but there is still work to be done on behalf of consumers related to AOB auto glass scams. We stand ready to work with elected leaders to end this problem, which is almost unheard of in other states."

Florida State Senator Linda Stewart of Orlando has filed a bill for the 2021 legislative session, Senate Bill 906, to address AOB auto glass abuse and protect consumers. In the meantime, the CPC and NICB urge consumers who have suffered a cracked or damaged windshield to contact their insurance company or agent prior to signing any repair agreements or other contractual documents with an auto glass repair vendor.

"Tackling AOB abuse not only protects consumers but is essential to the financial health and stability of our state," said Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis. "Scam artists are constantly coming up with new and creative ways to defraud Floridians, and this is no different. Empowering Florida consumers to recognize the warning signs of AOB fraud is vital to ensuring you don't fall victim to bad actors just looking to make a quick buck. These schemes drive up insurance rates for all Floridians and if you feel you or a loved one has been the victim of AOB fraud and abuse, report it immediately at 1-877-MY-FL-CFO or FraudFreeFlorida.com."

SOURCE National Insurance Crime Bureau
Photo: (Photo : Getty Images: Michael M. Santiago / Staff)

A DoorDash driver's minivan was stolen after making a delivery to a San Francisco apartment with his two kids inside.

Jeffrey Fang immediately returned to his minivan late Saturday when unexpectedly, he found a stranger in his driver's seat while he had left the car running. Fang said the stranger shouted at him.

A struggle ensued at about 8:45 p.m. for several minutes, Fang told local news outlets.

He opened the minivan's door and attempted to yank the man out; he told KPIX 5, a CBS news channel. The suspect tried to put the car in reverse, but fiercely Fang said, 'I didn't give in.'

Ultimately, the individual fled the minivan, but not before he grabbed Fang's phone. Fang said, in the process of running after the person to get his phone, he found that his van had been stolen.





READ: How to Teach Child Persistence: Parents, Don't Take Over









Minivan Got Stolen with His Kids Inside

Before his minivan and his two kids, a 4-year-old and a 2-year-old, were found healthy several miles away, more than four hours would have elapsed from Saturday night to early Sunday.

California authorities released an Amber Warning within those hours. The police in San Francisco posted online alerts and released details of the incident through radio channels. Fang's friends and outsiders, members of the San Francisco community, organized online and on foot to locate the girls.

A reporter with KQED, Fitzgerald Rodriguez, shared information about the make and model of the minivan. He posted the number of the license plate and a stock picture of the minivans feature. He posted photos of the babies and retweeted local interviews with Fang as his father pleaded for his kids' safe return.

"Times are hard. If you're going to have to resort to stealing, that's a different matter, but please don't hurt my kids," Fang said in his ABC7 News interview.

"If you are the guy who stole my car: Look, just drop my kids off, safely, please," he added on KPIX 5.





ALSO READ: The Newest Member of the Royal Family Is Here, Princess Eugenie Has Given Birth!









Those posts circulated widely as Fitzgerald Rodriguez exchanged updates with his followers.

Speaking in his capacity as Fang's mate, Fitzgerald Rodriguez said more than 2 million people had seen his initial post.

According to the police, at about 1 a.m., two police officers found the van and the children in the Bayview area of San Francisco, many miles from where the kids are taken to Pacific Heights.

The police said no suspects were identified, and the special victims unit of the police department is investigating.

In Sunday's interview with The Post, Fang said his children later told him that they were sleeping during the ordeal, waking up to see the police arrive to find the van.





READ MORE: Former Disney Executive Launches New App for Coaching Youth Sports





2020 was rife with unprecedented challenges globally: a pandemic, closed borders, seismic shifts in travel trends and endless uncertainty.

Just as in most regions, travel in the Middle East was affected by the havoc the pandemic wreaked, forcing many travel organizations to re-think their strategies and re-adjust to the new reality. But there is also important good news that may help restart tourism to and from the region:

 Israel and the UAE signed an historic US-brokered peace deal opening opportunities for trade and tourism alike.

 Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bahrain and the UAE have agreed to restore full ties with Qatar. All countries, including their flagship carriers and other tourism organisations, gain from the restoration of relations.

 Domestic tourism bounced back quickly, and intra-regional travel continued to grow in popularity, with Dubai topping the top destinations list within the Middle East region.

 Travel sentiment amongst consumers in the Middle East remained strong for international trips. Driven by the desire to visit family and friends, go on beach holidays and take a workcation  all are contributing to the growing demand and plans to travel in the next 12 months.

A report by YouGov provides a synopsis of the consumer trends shaping travel and tourism in the ME region that industry marketers need to track in 2021.

How has travel sentiment fared in the Middle East in recent months?

The Middle East region is leading international travel demand globally, with an average of 35 per cent of respondents in the region planning a trip abroad for leisure in 2021 across the time period measured. A higher proportion of respondents (39 per cent) are hoping to take at least one domestic trip. Compared to other regions, travel sentiment has held firm week-on-week, hinting at consumer confidence in how countries have managed the pandemic and optimism for the new year. Globally, around 23 per cent of consumers are not planning to travel abroad whereas in the ME region this number trailed much lower at 12 per cent.

Although travel in the Middle East region is on a healthy recovery path, consumers here are still preoccupied with the health risks associated with travel  cited as the most significant obstacle to taking a holiday or a business trip. Notably, travel restrictions are less of a concern to those in the Middle East than to consumers in places like the UK or Germany, where government lockdowns are cited as the primary reason for not travelling. Tourism organizations will need to note price sensitivities, as 35 per cent of Middle Eastern respondents also said that the actual price of travel currently prevents them from travelling. That makes sense given the widespread concerns wed seen around the macro-economic climate in many markets.

Across the ME region, the desire to travel is evident and strong across all groups of consumers. Digging into specific travel segments reveals which travel trends are important to each group:-

 The desire to go on vacation is particularly prevalent amongst luxury consumers, who tend to fly business or first-class and stay in five-star accommodations.

 Staycations appeal to consumers on both ends of the pricing spectrum, with luxury and budget travellers alike leading in their appetite to book trips locally (54 per cent and 46 per cent).

 Local travel is also popular amongst those who seek to take a short weekend trip, as well as those who favour travel incentives such as wellness, culture and are keen to reduce their impact on the environment. Domestic travel is less appealing to consumers seeking adventures as they likely prefer to travel further afield.

Despite the recent record numbers of daily coronavirus cases since the pandemic began in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, residents in both Gulf countries feel confident about their respective nations progress in fighting Covid-19. A significant majority of respondents in both countries believe that the coronavirus situation is getting better. However, the most recent spike in the UAE resulted in an increase in the proportion of people feeling the situation in the Emirates was getting worse. Although the vaccine rollout is underway within the region and in many countries worldwide, there are bound to be obstacles for governments to overcome. As a result, the recovery is still fragile and any surges in cases may further dampen travel sentiment. - TradeArabia News Service
MASON CITY, Iowa  A guilty plea is entered for a stolen motorcycle chase.

Lucas Lloyd Heilskov, 37 of Mason City, has pleaded guilty to eluding, 2nd degree theft, and possession of marijuana-3rd offense. His sentencing is set for March 24.

Heilskov was arrested on May 11, 2020. Law enforcement says he was riding a stolen motorcycle and sped away from an attempted traffic stop, hitting 60 to 65 miles per hour in a 25 mph zone. Heilskov was arrested about 20 minutes later and authorities say he had a glass drug pipe, small plastic baggies, and two marijuana grinders containing drug residue in his possession, while some marijuana was found in near him.
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Today, Aman Kapoor, President of Immigration Voice, issued the following statement in response to the Biden administrations decision to allow employers of H-1B visa holders to begin registration online for the H1-B Visa lottery, starting March 9th 2021, for the fiscal year 2022.

Each year, the United States conducts a lottery to admit approximately 85,000 new H-1B Visa workers on what are known as dual-intent work visas." These H-1B visas allow workers to enter the United States to work in high-skilled occupations with the intention of ultimately receiving lawful permanent residency (Green Cards) if they perform well on the job. Each year, approximately 70% of those new visas (or nearly 60,000 visas) are issued to workers from India, many of whom enter the United States with their spouses and minor children, with dreams of pursuing a better life for their family and fulfilling their American Dream by working hard and playing by the rules. At the same time, discriminatory per-country limits established during the time of segregation, restrict Indian nationals to receive only 8,400 of the 120,000 employment-based Green Cards available each year.

As we speak, the non-partisan Congressional Research Service tells us that this discriminatory and arbitrary cap on the number of Indian nationals who can receive lawful permanent residency each year has created a backlog of over 1 million people waiting for Green Cards, with a wait time of over 195 years. In fiscal year 2030, the line is expected to grow to 436 years. A majority of the Green Card backlog consists of women and children, who will eventually die in these backlogs. Needless to say, the per-country limits on the employment-based green card system are, in fact, 100%, an Indian Exclusion Act." In reality, this implies a de facto ban on employment-based Green Cards for any new Indian national entering the United States on an H-1B visa. It means that if Vice-President Kamala Harris mother had come to the United States today, under such a system, she would never have gotten a Green Card in her lifetime. The course of Shyamala Gopalans daughters life would have been entirely different if she had been preoccupied with her mothers possible deportation, as opposed to living her life as an American."

This current de facto ban creates terrible and traumatic real-world consequences. Almost every day, we hear reports that one of our members has died while in the backlog, leaving their spouse and children without immigration status such that they must immediately self-deport to India or face actual deportation or life in illegal status. Every day, we hear from members with homes and families in the United States who are stuck in India because they traveled to perform the last rites for their deceased mother, father, or a relative, and now cannot get a visa appointment, or their visa stamp has been arbitrarily denied by a United States consulate in India. Every day, we hear from members who say they have held the same job for 15 years and USCIS has suddenly declared they dont have the right education to do the same job they have been successfully doing for 15 years. Therefore, they are forced to immediately leave the Unite States with their spouse and kids, or they will all be in illegal status. Every day, we hear from members who say they thought they had two more years of H-1B status left, but the last time they came to the airport, their passport only had 6 months of validity, so their stay was cut short by CBP, and now they are subject to illegal status and are facing a 10-year ban from re-entering the United States. Every day we hear from members saying that their employer is sexually harassing them, and they cant do anything out of fear they will lose their employer-sponsored visa, and their kids will be forced back to India. Finally, and most commonly, every day, we hear from people who cannot resign from jobs where they are exploited by their employers, who cannot get promotions in jobs despite their qualifications, cannot start companies based on their innovative ideas, and cannot develop their own world-changing patents. Due to the per-country limits on Employment-Based Green Cards, the current system is legalized form of indentured servitude that promotes the interest of a handful of employers and perpetrates an industrialized process of wholesale exploitation of skilled Indian immigrants. Such a glorified system of indentured servitude cannot be labeled as a just immigration system.

If the current law is not changed, we will soon have the situation where there will be hundreds of thousands of people in senior citizen status working in Silicon Valley. Companies will be left to decide whether to retain these employees for the rest of their lives so as to not cause their deportation or to terminate their employment and cause their deportation when they are no longer able to perform their jobs due to declining health. Only high-skilled workers that are born in India face such discrimination. Workers from virtually every other country can obtain lawful permanent residency within 1 year of entering the United States. Clearly, the current system has deeply racist outcomes targeting immigrants from India.

This is an unconscionable scenario that has been allowed to exist for far too long by lawmakers looking to score political points rather than actually solve this practical problem that they all purport to care about solving. Under this system, over 60,000 additional Indian nationals will unwittingly be lured to enter the United States this year (and every year) to engage in a life of indentured servitude where their very existence and the lives of their families will be completely subject to the whims of their employer, new administrations, or even individual immigration adjudicators having a bad day. The membership of Immigration Voice has decided they can no longer stand idly by and watch new people unknowingly enter a life of such trauma, despair, and suffering when they think they are actually on a path to achieving the American Dream.

As such, this year, Immigration Voice is now calling on the Biden Administration to use its authority under INA Section 212(f) to exclude any new individual born in India who are not currently in the United States legally from obtaining a new H-1B visa for the first time in Fiscal Year 2022. Moreover, Immigration Voice calls to stop issuing such new H-1B visas until the discriminatory per county limits on Employment-Based Green Cards are finally lifted and immigrants from India are no longer treated as indentured servants in the United States. In the current system, the only people who benefit are unscrupulous employers, staffing companies across various industries who profit enormously from maintaining the status quo, and immigration lawyers who profit from being able to process the maximum number of immigration applications possible by keeping Indian immigrants tied to an endless line of renewals of H-1B visa applications while also double-dipping to keep the Green Card pool open for people from other countries. Equal rights for all would mean a reduction in work by 50% for most immigration lawyers, and so they vigorously act to oppose a bill they should support under any normal humanitarian circumstance.

Until the United States law treats all human beings equally as promised by the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution, and the Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the United States should stop accepting people to come here to live as third-class visitors with no rights other than fulfilling every demand of their employer or suffer the consequences of deportation. Such a situation is unacceptable. If the Biden Administration and Congressional leaders refuse to act to fix this inequity and inequality in the system with a bill that passed both the House and the Senate in 2020, the least they can do is not to expose any more people to this unjust system that only builds cynicism and resentment rather than hope and love for the United States.

There is no purpose in quoting Martin Luther King Jr., Rosa Parks, and President Abraham Lincoln in their daily speeches if Congressional Leaders refuse to live up to the ideals of such quotes. Immigration Voice will be carefully watching the conduct of those in charge. If people do not act quickly to change the status quo, we will view those leaders as endorsing the current racially-biased discriminatory system. Only if they act quickly to end per-country limits or at least end the human suffering of new people entering this horrific system, they will be viewed as our allies in the quest to reduce the human suffering of those in the discriminatory green card backlog.

Immigration Voice is a national non-profit organization with over 130,000 members, who are tax-paying, law-abiding, high-skilled immigrants, that advocates for the alleviation of restrictions on employment, travel, and working conditions faced by legal high-skilled immigrants in the United States working as doctors, researchers, scientists, engineers, and other high-skilled professionals at many of America's hospitals, universities and Fortune 500 companies.

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SANTA FE  A bill that would undo an education funding formula that disproportionately deprives Native American communities of school funds was approved Wednesday by the New Mexico House Education Committee.

School districts surrounded by tribal lands, as well as federal lands like military bases, rely on federal education Impact Aid instead of the traditional land taxes that other communities can raise.

New Mexicos education funding formula has for decades deducted federal Impact Aid from state education funding. In recent years, 75% was withheld under this formula, depriving affected school districts of around $60 million in the 2020 fiscal year.

Chronic underfunding of education for Indigenous students and other vulnerable groups was ruled unconstitutional by a state court in 2018. The ruling was upheld last summer after a motion to dismiss by Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham was rejected.

Instead of deducting the 75%, schools would be able to use the funding for expenses such as language education or capital improvements  items deemed to be deficient in the state lawsuit.

The bill, which passed the committee on a 14-0 vote, has the support of Democratic leadership.

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After initially fighting to preserve the withholding in a separate federal lawsuit last year, the Lujan Grisham administration embraced changing the practice. The administrations education secretary advocated for the change last year and welcomed Wednesdays vote.

Removing the credit for federal Impact Aid is a priority of the Public Education Department and the governor, and equity demands that we get that done as quickly as possible, Public Education Secretary Ryan Stewart said.
The Conversation

Three new spacecraft are due to arrive at Mars this month, ending their seven-month journey through space. The first, the United Arab Emirates' Hope Probe, should have made it to the red planet this week. It will stay in orbit and study its atmosphere for one complete Martian year (687 Earth days). China's Taiwen-1 mission also enters orbit this month and will begin scouting the potential landing site for its Mars rover, due to be deployed in May. If successful, China will become the second country to land a rover on Mars.

The third spacecraft to reach Mars this month is NASA's Perseverance rover, scheduled to land on February 18. It will search for signs of ancient microbial life, but its mission also looks ahead, testing new technologies that may support humans visiting Mars one day.

These missions will join six orbiting spacecraft actively studying the red planet from above:

NASA's Mars Odyssey, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) and MAVEN Orbiter, Europe's Mars Express, India's Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM), and the European-Russian partnership ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter. The oldest active probeMars Odysseyhas been orbiting the planet for 20 years.

Laboratories on wheels

NASA has an impressive track record for landing on Mars. It has operated all eight successful missions to the Martian surface. What began with the two Viking landers in the 1970s continues today with the InSight lander, which has studied the daily weather on Mars and detected Marsquakes for the past two years.

Perseverance will be the fifth rover to arrive at Mars that's capable of venturing across the surface of another planet.

These amazing laboratories on wheels have extended our knowledge of a faraway world. Here's what they've told us so far.

Sojourner, the first rover

Twenty years after Viking 1 & 2 landed stationary probes on Mars, a third spacecraft finally reached the planet, but this one could move.

On July 4, 1997, NASA's Pathfinder literally bounced onto the Martian surface, safely enclosed in a giant set of airbags. Once stable, the lander released the Sojourner rover.

The first rover on Mars could move at a maximum speed of 1 cm a second and was about as long (63 cm) as a skateboardsmaller than some of the boulders it encountered.

Sojourner explored 16 locations near the Pathfinder lander, including the volcanic rock "Yogi." Pictures of its landing site, Ares Vallis, showed it was littered with rounded pebbles and conglomerate rocks, evidence of ancient flood plains.

Spirit and Opportunity  the geologists

A pair of upsized rovers arrived on Mars in early 2004. Spirit and Opportunity were geologists, searching for minerals within the rocks and soil, hidden clues that dry, cold Mars may once have been wet and warm.

Spirit landed in Gusev Crater, a 150 km-wide crater created billions of years ago when an asteroid crashed into Mars.

Spirit discovered evidence of an ancient volcanic explosion, caused by hot lava meeting water. Small rocks had been thrown skyward but then fell back to Mars. Examination of the impact or "bomb sag" showed the rock had landed on wet soil.

Even when things went wrong, Spirit made new discoveries. While dragging a broken front wheel, Spirit churned up a track of soil revealing a patch of white silica.

This mineral usually exists in hot springs or steam vents, ideal environments where life on Earth tends to flourish.

Opportunity  the rover that kept on going

Opportunity arrived at Mars three weeks after Spirit. Its original three-month mission was extended to 14 years as it traveled almost 50 km across the Martian terrain. Landing in the small Eagle Crater, Opportunity went on to visit more than 100 impact craters. It also found a handful of meteorites, the first to be studied on another planet.

The rover was descending into Endeavour Crater when a dust storm ended its mission. But it was along the crater's edge that Opportunity made its biggest discoveries.

Opportunity found signs of ancient water flows and discovered the crater walls are made of clays that can only form where freshwater is availablemore evidence that Mars could well have been a place for life.

Curiosity  the chemist

Curiosity landed in Gale Crater on August 6, 2012, and continues to explore the region today. During the coronavirus pandemic, scientists and engineers have been commanding the rover from their homes.

In a first for space exploration, NASA's Curiosity was lowered to the Martian surface using a "sky crane." After a successful soft landing, the crane's cables were cut and the spacecraft's descent stage flew away to crash elsewhere.

Curiosity is a fully equipped chemical laboratory. It can shoot lasers at rocks and also drill into the soil to collect samples. It's confirmed ancient Mars once had the right chemistry to support microbial life.

Curiosity also found evidence of ancient freshwater rivers and lakes. It seems that water once flowed towards a basin at Mount Sharp, a central peak that rises 5.5km from within Gale Crater.

From being on the surface of Mars, we've learned it was once very different to the dry, dusty planet it is today.

With flowing water, possible oceans, volcanic activity and an abundance of key ingredients necessary for life, the red planet was once much more Earth-like. What happened to make it change so dramatically?

It's exciting to consider what the Perseverance and Taiwen-1 rovers may discover as they explore their own patch of Mars. They might even lead us to the day when humans are exploring the red planet for ourselves.
Maha Governor takes regular airline after CM says no for use of VVIP aircraft

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

Mumbai, Feb 11: In an unusual incident, Governor of Maharashtra, Bhagat Singh Koshyari was denied the use of the state government aircraft to fly to Dehradun. After there was no approval from the Maharashtra Chief Minister, Uddhav Thackeray for the special VVIP flight, the Governor and his entourage decided to board an airline flight to the destination instead.

The Governor reached the Mumbai airport's general aviation terminal at 9 am today in Kalina to board the government Cessna Citation XLS aircraft. Reports said that the Governor's office had sent the Governor's programme to the state civil aviation department. As per protocol the same was forwarded to the Chief Minister's Office for approval.

In most cases, the approval comes at the last minute and hence the Governor and his entourage reached the general aviation terminal at around 9 am. However there was no response from the CMO despite repeated attempts. The Governor then left the lounge and headed for the aircraft.

Farm Laws: What did PM Modi say on the agricultural laws in the Parliament| Oneindia News

This is the time time that such a situation had arisen. Koshyari was seated in the special aircraft for 15 minutes, by which time he was informed about the problem. The Governor then decided to fly to Dehradun on a scheduled airline flight.

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Story first published: Thursday, February 11, 2021, 15:33 [IST]
Mortar shelling in Afghanistan kills at least 10 civilians

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2 people die in Armenia road accident

Nigeria: Students taken hostage a month ago are released

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Robert Kocharyan: This war could not have happened, it was a consequence of the policy of the authorities

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Armen Gevorgyan presents 'Armenia' bloc program: We offer the concept of a working country

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Gina Carano has been let go from the smash hit series The Mandalorian, but fans already have a replacement in mind: Lucy Lawless of Xena: Warrior Princess fame.

Fans of Disney+'s Star Wars series took to Twitter after Carano's firing to advocate for the 52-year-old New Zealander actress, who has already proven she can handle an action series.

Carano's dismissal for an anti-Semitic Instagram post came after Disney+ had already canceled plans to have her character star in a spin-off series, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Face swap: Fans of Disney+'s The Mandalorian are calling on the series to replace fired star Gina Carano, 38, with Xena: Warrior Princess' Lucy lawless, 52. Plans for a spin-off for Carano were also scrapped, according to The Hollywood Reporter

On Twitter, some users had already come up with how to explain Lawless possibly replacing Carano, 38, on The Mandalorian.

'"My lame cousin died from a Wampa attack. Anyway, my name's Lara Dune." -Lucy Lawless in season 3 episode one of The Mandalorian,' joked one person.

Another user wrote, 'Hey @themandalorian and @PedroPascal1 I wonder if @RealLucyLawless is free to drop in...,' while sharing a Photoshopped image of Carano in which her face had been replaced with Lawless'.

Some fans didn't even think it was necessary to create a new character for Lawless to play.

Simple enough: On Twitter, some users had already come up with how to explain Lawless possibly replacing Carano, 38, on The Mandalorian

Picture perfect: One user Photoshopped Lawless' face in place of Carano's

Simple: Some fans didn't even think it was necessary to create a new character for Lawless to play

'They can keep Cara Dune in the Mandalorian. Just get Lucy Lawless to play her instead,' one user suggested.

Lawless is best known for playing the eponymous character on Xena: Warrior Princess, which aired from 1995 to 2001.

The show was a spin-off from Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, though Lawless' program outlasted the original series by three years.

She also had a well-received recurring role on the critically acclaimed reboot that debuted in 2004.

Iconic role: Lawless is best known for playing the eponymous character on Xena: Warrior Princess, which aired from 1995 to 2001

Carano's time on the Mandalorian came to a swift end on Wednesday after Lucasfilm, which produces Star Wars properties, announced she was no longer with the series after she shared an anti-Semitic post on Instagram.

It read: 'Jews were beaten in the streets, not by Nazi soldiers but by their neighbors... even by children... Because history is edited, most people today don't realize that to get to the point where Nazi soldiers could easily round up thousands of Jews, the government first made their own neighbors hate them simply for being Jews. How is that any different from hating someone for their political views?'

Carano has long been open about her right-wing and pro-Trump views on Twitter and other social media platforms.

Done: Carano's time on the Mandalorian came to a swift end on Wednesday after Lucasfilm, which produces Star Wars properties, announced she was no longer with the series after she shared an anti-Semitic post on Instagram; seen with Carl Weathers

Offensive: The post conflated being a modern-day American conservative with being a Jew in Nazi Germany, while showing a poor grasp of the history of Nazi Germany

Not the first time: Carano had shared an anti-Semitic meme in December, but her tweets mocking mask use and claiming the November election was fraudulent were the final straw for Disney, according to THR

Back in November, she came under fire for tweets making fun of mask use to slow the spread of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

She also tweeted out false claims that the presidential election had been influenced by voter fraud.

In December, she shared a repurposed image that had previously been used in Anti-Semitic memes, though the text didn't explicitly reference Jews.

According to a source who spoke to The Hollywood Reporter, Carano was already on the outs with Disney, but the company was simply looking for a reason to give her the boot.

'They have been looking for a reason to fire her for two months, and today was the final straw,' the source said.

Changing its mind: Multiple sources told The Hollywood Reporter that Carano would star in a spin-off, but Disney backed off plans to announce it in December following her controversial November tweets; seen in 2019 in Anaheim, California

Multiple sources told the publication that Disney planned to announce that Carano would star in a spin-off series during its investor's day presentation in December, but it canceled those plans after her November tweets.

The upcoming series Rangers Of The New Republic would have seemed like a logical place to continue her character Cara Dune's story, but she won't be appearing on the show now.

Carano got more bad news on Wednesday after her talent agency UTA also dropped her as a client.

The actress got her start as a mixed martial arts fighter, before earning praise for her lead role in Steven Soderbergh's action film Haywire.

In addition to roles in straight-to-video films, she had a supporting role in Fast & Furious 6 and in 2016's Deadpool.
Each vaccine manufacturer sets "its own price for its product," Stepanov says, commenting on the probe.

Ukrainian Health Minister Maksym Stepanov has said the government is pursuing a transparent policy on COVID-19 vaccine procurement.

"To have some position, I need to understand what exactly they are investigating. I can only rely on statements voiced by law enforcement. Therefore, it's they who you need to ask. I can only say that we pursue a transparent policy, and any contracts concluded to provide Ukraine with vaccines are drawn absolutely transparently  directly with vaccine manufacturers. Therefore, there is nothing more to add on the purchase of vaccines amid massive global demand. And it is clear the whole world is in a situation where they buy vaccines where there is an opportunity to directly negotiate with manufacturers," he told Ukraina 24 TV channel.

Stepanov says that each vaccine manufacturer has "its own price for its product."

"The only thing I can tell you is that the proposals received by the Health Ministry as a result of negotiations is prices varying from US$5 to US$33.9 per vaccine. So that you understand that there are different prices from different manufacturers," he added.

Read alsoNABU probing possible abuse in procurement of Chinese COVID-19 vaccineBackground

On February 3, 2021, the National Anti-corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) launched a probe into possible abuse in the purchase of a Chinese vaccine against COVID-19 manufactured by Sinovac Biotech.

The case has received wide media coverage, since State Enterprise Medical Procurement of Ukraine had initially entered into negotiations on acquiring a vaccine with an estimated cost of about US$3, and came to the final stage of the process. However, later, Health Minister Maksym Stepanov manually stopped the process and instructed that the authorities start talks on the purchase of a Chinese vaccine from Sinovac Biotech.

The announced purchase price of a single vaccine dose has turned out to be one of the world's highest, while the drug's "overall efficacy" during the final stage of trials in Brazil stood at only 50.38%.

Read alsoUkraine bans use of Russian vaccine against COVID-19A preliminary legal qualification refers to the abuse of power or official position, resulting in grave implications (Part 2 of Article 364 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

Reporting by UNIAN
This newspaper reported on a quote from President Joe Biden that made an off-handed reference to cancer alley in Louisiana. Where the presid
"Archaic computer systems mean it is easier and cheaper for UK companies to ship to Europe than it is to send goods here, hauliers say.

Eoin Gavin, of Eoin Gavin Transport Ltd, said Revenue is adding five or six unnecessary administrative steps into the customs process.

Its just absolutely archaic, Mr Gavin told the Irish Independent. Its bureaucracy gone crazy.

It would be the very same as you going into a shop, and instead of them scanning the barcode on the product, they type in the product and the price of very single item you purchase.

Every consignment of goods requires an 18-digit movement reference number (MRN), which needs to be entered manually into the Irish system multiple times, Mr Gavin said.

That requires extra staff, time and money, he said  which British companies exporting into France or the Netherlands dont face.

In France, ferry companies are responsible for checking paperwork and scanning the MRN, and are linked up to the government IT systems.

The customs union rules are the same for every country in the EU. Its how you manage the flow of information, said Mr Gavin.

"Were constantly typing numbers in to the systems here and getting wrong numbers back.

Read More

Eugene Drennan, the head of the Irish Road Haulage Association, said he has raised the matter with the Government and they are working on a solution.

But its going to be a bigger problem once the UK introduces its full customs code in July, with all paperwork and checks to be done at the point of entry.

The big fear is: What we face coming into Ireland, if we face that going into England, then the whole job is haywire, Mr Drennan said. Its really difficult, and Irish exports are in difficulty.

On Monday, Revenue apologised for glitches in the IT system that it said were due to companies filing thousands of customs declarations at the same time.

The news comes as the Port of Rotterdam announced it would close an emergency HGV car park because most goods from the UK were being cleared through customs without delays.

They obviously have a lot of experience with dealing with third countries because there is transport coming in from all over the world, said Dutch MEP Liesje Schreinemacher.

So they have a whole digital system in place already, and they just had to implement it for transport to [and from] the UK.
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.
Prosecutors in Donald Trumps impeachment trial said Wednesday they would prove that Trump was no innocent bystander but the inciter in chief of the deadly attack at the Capitol aimed at overturning his election loss to Joe Biden.

Opening the first full day of arguments, the lead House prosecutor promised to lay out evidence that shows the president encouraged a rally crowd to head to the Capitol, then did nothing to stem the violence and watched with glee as a mob stormed the iconic building. Five people died, including a Capitol Police officer.

To us it may have felt like chaos and madness, but there was method to the madness that day, said Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md.

The days proceedings unfolded after an emotional start to the trial that left the former president fuming Tuesday when his attorneys delivered a meandering defense and failed to halt the trial on constitutional grounds. Some allies called for yet another shakeup to his legal team.

Trump is the first president to face an impeachment trial after leaving office and the first to be twice impeached. The Jan. 6 Capitol riot followed a rally during which Trump urged his supporters to fight like hell, words his lawyers say were simply a figure of speech. He is charged with incitement of insurrection.

Senators, many of whom fled for safety the day of the attack, watched Tuesdays graphic videos of the Trump supporters who battled past police to storm the halls, Trump flags waving. More video was shown Wednesday, including some that hasnt been seen before.

The prosecutors argue that Trumps words werent just free speech but part of the big lie  his relentless efforts to sow doubts about the election results. Those began long before the votes were tabulated, revving up his followers to stop the steal though there was no evidence of substantial fraud.

Trump knew very well what would happen when he took to the microphone at the outdoor White House rally that day, almost to the hour that Congress gaveled in to certify Bidens win, said Rep. Joe Neguse, D-Colo.

This was not just a speech, he said.

Trumps supporters were prepped and armed, ready to descend on the Capitol, Neguse said. When they heard his speech, they understood his words.

Security remained extremely tight Wednesday at the Capitol, fenced off with razor wire and patrolled by National Guard troops.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Biden would not be watching the trial.

Joe Biden is the president, hes not a pundit, hes not going to opine on back and forth arguments, she said.

The difficulty facing Trumps defense team became apparent at the start as they leaned on the process of the trial, unlike any other, rather than the substance of the case against the former president.

As the House impeachment managers described police officers maimed in the chaos and rioters parading in the very chamber where the trial was being held, Trumps team countered that the Constitution doesnt allow impeachment at this late date.

Even though the Senate rejected that argument in Tuesdays vote to proceed to the trial, the legal issue could resonate with Senate Republicans eager to acquit Trump without being seen as condoning his behavior.

Defense lawyer Bruce Castor said Tuesday he shifted his planned approach after hearing the prosecutors emotional opening and instead spoke conversationally to the senators, saying Trumps team would denounce the repugnant attack and in the strongest possible way denounce the rioters. He encouraged the senators to be cool headed as they assessed the arguments.

Trump attorney Schoen turned the trial toward starkly partisan tones, arguing the Democrats were fueled by a base hatred of the former president.

A frustrated Trump on Tuesday revived his demands to focus on his unsupported claims of voter fraud, repeatedly telephoning former White House aide Peter Navarro, who told The Associated Press in an interview he agrees. He is calling on Trump to fire his legal team.

If he doesnt make a mid-course correction here, hes going to lose this Super Bowl, Navarro said, a reference to public opinion, not the unlikely possibility of conviction.

Republicans made it clear that they were unhappy with Trumps defense, many of them saying they didnt understand where it was going  particularly Castors opening.

While six Republicans joined with Democrats to vote to proceed with the trial, the 56-44 vote was far from the two-thirds threshold of 67 votes that would be needed for conviction.

As the country numbs to the Trump eras shattering of civic norms, the prosecutors sought to remind senators and the nation how extraordinary it was to have a sitting U.S. president working to discredit the election.

In hundreds of tweets, remarks and interviews as far back as spring and summer, Trump was spreading false claims about the election and refusing to commit to the peaceful transfer of power once it was over, they said.

As violence mounted in the states in the weeks and months before Trump supporters marched to the Capitol, he could have told loyalists to stand down. But he didnt.

The mob didnt come out of thin air, said Rep . Joaquin Castro, D-Texas.

The public scenes of attack were distilled in highly personal terms, first when Raskin broke down in tears Tuesday describing his family hiding in the Capitol that day. On Wednesday, Neguse, the son of immigrants, recalled telling his father how proud he was to return to Congress that night to finish the work of certifying the election. Castro said as a Democrat from Texas, he knew how hard it is to lose elections.

They also shared comments of the Capitol Police, including a Black officer who described racial epithets being hurled at him by the rioters.

Thats the question before all of you in this trial, is this America? Raskin told the senators.

It appears unlikely that the House prosecutors will call witnesses, and Trump has declined a request to testify. The trial is expected to continue into the weekend.

Trumps second impeachment trial is expected to diverge from the lengthy, complicated affair of a year ago. In that case, Trump was charged with having privately pressured Ukraine to dig up dirt on Biden, then a Democratic rival for the presidency. It could be over in half the time.

The Democratic-led House impeached the president swiftly, one week after the attack. A Capitol police officer was among those who died.

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The Senate on Friday approved legislation to award a Congressional Gold Medal to Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman, who became a national hero for his actions defending the Senate during the siege of the Capitol on January 6.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer paid tribute on the Senate floor to Goodman Friday evening and announced that he would ask the Senate to pass legislation to award him the honor. It passed by unanimous consent.

'In the weeks after the attack on January the sixth, the world learned about the incredible bravery of Officer Goodman on that fateful day,' Schumer said. Senators stood to applaud Goodman, who was in the chamber as Schumer spoke.

'I think we can all agree that Eugene Goodman deserves the highest honor Congress can bestow,' Schumer said.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said he was 'pleased to join the majority leader's request,' and said that January 6 'introduced our nation to a group of heroes whom we in Congress were already proud to call our colleagues and to whom we owe a great debt.' He added, 'If not for the quick thinking and bravery of Officer Eugene Goodman in particular, people in this chamber may not have escaped that day unharmed.'

Goodman, now the acting deputy Senate sergeant-at-arms, was first hailed as a hero after video emerged of him guiding the violent mob away from the Senate chamber, where then-Vice President Mike Pence had been conducting the ceremonial counting of the 2020 electoral votes, on January 6.

The passage of the legislation marks a rare bright spot of bipartisanship amid the ongoing impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump.

New security footage presented during the trial showed brought even more heroic action Goodman to light, including the fact that he potentially saved Sen. Mitt Romney, a Utah Republican and frequent Trump critic, from the violent mob that breached the US Capitol.

'Here in this trial we saw new video, powerful video showing calmness under pressure, his courage in the line of duty, his foresight in the midst of chaos and his willingness to make himself a target of the mob's rage so that others might reach safety,' Schumer said.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi introduced legislation on Thursday to grant the Congressional Gold Medal to US Capitol Police officers and law enforcement personnel who protected the Capitol during the violent insurrection.
The trial of far-right Canadian Armed Forces reservist Corey Hurrenwho was detained last July 2 following an attempt to assassinate Prime Minister Justin Trudeauis being used to cover up the political background, purpose and import of the failed attack. Powerful forces within the state apparatus are working to bury details about what happened from reaching the public in a bid to continue the official propaganda campaign to trivialize the incident, by portraying it as the unplanned actions of a disoriented individual.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Last Friday, Hurren pleaded guilty to eight charges, including seven firearms counts and a count of wilfully causing more than $100,000 in damage to property. The charges were substantially different and lesser than those initially levelled against the 46-year-old military reservist.

When he was first brought before a court last July, Hurren, who is an avowed supporter of the violent and fascistic QAnon conspiracy, was accused of 21 firearm counts and one charge of uttering a threat to kill or cause bodily harm to Trudeau.

The dropping of the latter charge is of great significance. It means prosecutors will not have to present any evidence in court demonstrating that Hurren planned to target Trudeau, even though such evidence is clearly in the hands of the police and prosecution.

Initial media reports on the attempted assassination indicated that Hurren had in his possession a letter in which he denounced Trudeau for allegedly establishing a communist dictatorship and threatened to hold him to account for his governments imposition of coronavirus lockdowns and restrictions on gun ownership. This letter has never been made public and will likely not be submitted before the court as a result of the plea deal and the dropping of the sole charge linking Hurrens actions to any threat to Trudeau.

In the so-called agreed statement of facts submitted to the court last Friday as part of Hurrens guilty plea, the right-wing extremist is allowed to claim, without challenge, that whilst he crashed his pick-up truck through the gates of the estate on which the prime minister was temporarily living and then went in search of him with weapons drawn, he never intended to hurt anyone.

Hurren, it continues, merely wanted to arrest Trudeau, whom he considered a communist who is above the law and corrupt, and show how angry everyone was about the gun ban and the COVID-19 restrictions.

Asked by the judge presiding over his trial what his plan was, Hurren responded, I dont think there was one.

This is all a transparent fraud. Hurrens actions were anything but spur of the moment. While on active military duty, he drove in his truck, laden with firearms, for two days to reach Ottawa from Manitoba. One day prior to Hurrens attack, a rally involving right-wing extremists and fascists on Parliament Hill called for the reintroduction of the death penalty, so it could be applied to Trudeau, while protesters carried placards of Trudeau standing in a gallows. It is not known whether Hurren attended this event, but his calls for the prime minister to be arrested and his absurd attacks on Trudeau as a communist are entirely in keeping with the far-right protesters propaganda.

When police detained Hurren on the grounds of Rideau Hall, Trudeaus temporary residence, he was in possession of five firearms. These included a restricted Hi-Standard revolver, a prohibited International Arms break-open pistol, a prohibited Norinco S12 rifle, a Lakefield Mossberg shotgun, a Grizzly Arms shotgun and a prohibited high-capacity magazine. An additional 11 firearms were found at Hurrens home.

New information provided in a CBC report on Hurrens trial underscores that his intentions were anything but peaceful when he arrived on the grounds of Rideau Hall. Citing from the agreed statement of facts, the CBC wrote, (A)fter crashing his truck Hurren was observed on surveillance video on the morning of July 2, arming himself with a number of firearms before setting out on foot.

An officer approached him near the grounds greenhouse and asked Hurren to place his weapon on the ground. Hurren refused and said he would not disarm, according to the statement.

The officer persisted but Hurren said, I cant do that.

Eventually another officer joined and noted that Hurren had a shotgun in his right hand, pointed at the ground and a second shotgun slung on his back. A long rifle lay on the ground, said the statement.

This underscores that the Crowns case against Hurren is a travesty. Despite his having issued a direct threat to Trudeau and being discovered armed to the teeth on the grounds of Rideau Hall, the prosecution has chosen to entirely exclude from the trial any consideration of Hurrens plans to kill, harm or even arrest the Prime Minister.

Even if one accepts Hurrens assertion that he aimed to arrest Trudeau not kill him, the fact that he was searching for him with arms drawn in the grounds of the prime ministers temporary residence demonstrates that he was at the very least anticipating a potentially violent clash with Trudeaus security detail. Outrageously, all of this is being swept under the rug at Hurrens trial, which will be brought to a rapid conclusion when he is sentenced less than two weeks from now.

The latest developments in the Hurren case underscore the urgency of the Socialist Equality Partys demand, first raised in a statement last month, for all internal investigations into the attempted assassination to be made public. This step is critical in order to lay bare Hurrens political motivations for his premeditated attack and expose any possible accomplices or at least supporters he may have had both within and outside the military. Two internal inquiries have long ago been completed by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, but officials have insisted that they are not for public consumption.

The official narrative of Hurren as a disoriented individual who was overwhelmed by the pandemic and had no intention of harming anyone neatly dovetails with the ruling elites desire to prevent any serious examination of the role of far-right networks and right-wing extremists within the military and state apparatus. Such an investigation would undoubtedly uncover significant support for far-right views, including those expressed by Hurren and the demonstrators on Parliament Hill on July 1.

In recent years, there have been repeated exposures of far-right elements within the Canadian military. These include:

* On July 1, 2017, four serving Canadian military members, all of whom were members of the Proud Boys, broke up an indigenous ceremony in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Although the military investigated the incident, no charges or demotions were ever imposed on those involved.

* In January 2020, Patrick Matthews, a former Canadian combat engineer who had deserted his post just months earlier, was detained by the FBI as a member of the neo-Nazi terrorist outfit The Base. Matthews was briefly detained by the RCMP in August 2019, after he had been exposed by a journalist as a recruiter for The Base, but was allowed to flee to the United States. He was arrested in January 2020 for his involvement in The Bases plot to launch a violent attack on the Virginia State Legislature.

* In July 2020, it was revealed that a neo-Nazi sailor was allowed to rejoin the Royal Canadian Navy despite his involvement with violent white supremacist groups, and his efforts to sell military-grade weaponry to far-right organizations.

* In August 2020, a CBC report revealed that two military reservists, who were members of the same unit as Hurren, were identified by counter-intelligence police four years earlier as supporters of far-right groups, including the Soldiers of Oden and 3 Percenters. One of them described Trudeau as a treasonous bastard and continues to serve as a reservist to this day.

* In early December 2020, a uniformed junior officer addressed an anti-mask rally in downtown Toronto in what was a flagrant violation of the militarys obligation to refrain from engaging in political activity.

No one within the political establishment wishes to expose the true extent of the far-rights infiltration of and support within the armed forces and other state institutions. While all parliamentary parties united behind a New Democratic Party-inspired motion calling for the Proud Boys to be designated a terrorist group late last month, the cynical character of this manoeuvre is illustrated by the fact that not a single politician has raised serious concerns about, never mind demanded an exposure of all the facts surrounding the first attempted assassination of a Canadian head of government by a right-wing extremist in modern times.

The reasons for this are clear. Canadas ruling elite, like the wing of the US ruling class that supports the Democratic Party, is responding to Trumps attempted fascist coup of January 6 by downplaying the threat posed by the far right and extending an outstretched hand of reconciliation to the very political forces responsible for its promotion. In the US, this takes the form of Biden and the Democrats incessant appeals for unity with their Republican colleagues, while in Canada it was shown by the NDP and Liberals joining the Conservatives, a party with extensive ties to the extreme right, to issue a hypocritical condemnation of the Proud Boys.

The authorities attempt to downplay and trivialize Hurrens actions reflects the fear that a full account of what happened, and its broader context and significance, would disastrously discredit the Canadian military, which would be exposed as a hotbed of far-right activity. This would cut across the unanimous push on the part of the ruling class to vastly expand military spending and carry out the largest rearmament program since the Second World War. It would also puncture the ideological propaganda used by the Canadian ruling elite to justify military interventions around the globe: namely the claims that its military is fighting for democracy and human rights.

Even more fundamentally, Canadas ruling elite wants to keep the full extent of far right and fascistic activities under wraps because it wishes to leave open the option of using these reactionary political forces to suppress working class opposition. Under conditions of an unprecedented escalation of social inequality, the spread of joblessness, hunger, and poverty amid the pandemic, and the governments catastrophic response to COVID-19, ruling classes in Canada and internationally are increasingly turning towards authoritarian forms of rule to maintain their grip on power.
Canadian govt officer files injunction against churches suing over COVID-19 worship restrictions

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A Canadian province is seeking a court injunction against three congregations that have reportedly been meeting despite a ban on in-person worship services.

British Columbia Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry filed the complaint against the Free Reformed Church of Chilliwack, Immanuel Covenant Reformed Church of Abbotsford, and Riverside Calvary Chapel of Langley.

The injunction request was filed last week, with it being scheduled to be argued before the British Columbia Supreme Court on Friday, according to CBC News.

As part of its ongoing lockdowns in response to COVID-19, British Columbia has enacted restrictions on various in-person gatherings, including a ban on in-person worship services.

In-person religious gatherings and worship services of any size are prohibited, reads the governments website. You must not attend a service at a church, synagogue, mosque, gudwara, temple or other place of worship.

The provincial did allow for worship services performed via Zoom or Skype, and allowed sanctuaries to be open for individual activities such as guidance from spiritual leaders, contemplation or personal prayer.

Religious leaders may attend the home of a member of their religious community to provide religious services to the occupant, added the government.

Last month, the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms filed a lawsuit against the British Columbia orders, arguing that the faith communities that meet are following public health guidelines.

The faith communities described in filing the petition have gone to extraordinary lengths to comply with health guidelines, including limiting attendance to no more than 50 persons, pre-registering attendees, rearranging seating to ensure physical distancing, providing hand sanitizer and masks, and enhancing cleaning and sanitizing procedures, stated the Centre in January.

Some members cannot access online services. To many in these faith communities, gathering in-person is essential to their spiritual and emotional well-being.

In a petition filed in response to churches' litigation, British Columbia acknowledged that its restrictions limited religious freedom, but added that such freedoms are not absolute.

Protection of the vulnerable from death or severe illness and protection of the health-care system from being swamped by an out-of-control pandemic is also clearly of constitutional importance, stated the petition, as reported by CBC.

Riverside Calvary Chapel, one of the three churches that Henry is seeking an injunction against, has been fined multiple times for meeting in person, reportedly without face masks.

During one such service, which was livestreamed last month, Riverside Assistant Pastor Randy Dyck focused on applying biblical prophecy in the modern day in his sermon.

I never imagined that we would see the likes of something like this that weve experienced in 2020. I never imagined our world would look like this before the Rapture, he stated in his message. But here we are.

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A woman named Jessie (pictured above) is knocking on doors claiming to be collecting donations on behalf of Kids With Cancer Foundation in the city's west and south-west

A children's cancer charity has issued an urgent warning about an alleged bogus collector door-knocking residents for donations.

In January, officers from the Liverpool City Police Area Command launched an investigation after the Kids With Cancer Foundation Australia alerted the public about the matter.

A woman named 'Jessie' was allegedly collecting donations on behalf of the foundation in Sydney's west and south-west.

Inquiries have since revealed the woman is not affiliated with the nominated charity organisation.

A desperate hunt is now underway to track down the woman with the public urged to keep an eye out.

'We once again advise all our supporters to be aware of a woman stealing by promoting herself representing Kids with Cancer Foundation,' the charity posted on social media.

'She was door knocking in Merrylands this week and uses the name Jessie, she carries a made up photo ID with our logo.

'Don't give her any money, we have never used door knockers, anywhere nor at any time.'

The charity added the woman was also spotted in Casula, Mount Pritchard and Pendle Hill.

A desperate hunt is now on to track down the woman (pictured above) with the public urged to keep an eye out

Kids With Cancer Foundation Australia alerted the public about the woman on their social media

She knocked on our door last week, Guildford west,' one person said.

'She was in Pendle Hill door knocking (on Tuesday) night,' another wrote.

The foundation has supported children with cancer for more than two decades by providing financial assistance to children's hospitals which has funded ward refurbishment, salaries, capital works projects and research.

Foundation director Peter Bodman described the alleged fraud is 'pretty low'.

'It's going into somebody's pocket, so it's not going to help the kids in any way, shape or form,' he told 10NewsFirst.

Investigators have since released images of a woman who they believe may be able to assist with their inquiries.

The woman is described as of Caucasian appearance, aged in her 40s to 50s, 170cm tall, of slim build and with blonde hair.

The photo shows her wearing a black jacket, tights and shoes, carrying a black bag and wearing a name tag.

Liverpool City Police Area Command Crime Manager, Detective Inspector Tim Liddiard, said all reports of fraud are thoroughly investigated especially when someone takes advantage of the communitys generosity.
Police in Bangor are hunting two men who robbed an elderly woman while she was out walking earlier today.

Detectives are appealing for information following the incident at the Prospect Road area of the town on Thursday afternoon.

The woman in her 60s was walking towards Hamilton Road at around 1.25pm when she was approached by two men.

It was reported that one of the men forced the woman off the street, by holding her arms and took her to the back of a nearby church in the area.

The second man then took the womans purse before both men made off on foot through the church grounds.

The man believed to have held the woman is described as being in his early 20s, 59 in height and of slim build.

He is described as wearing a black, knee-length parka style coat, a grey hooded top underneath the coat with a light coloured hood, dark coloured beanie style hat, pale blue skinny-style jeans and white trainers.

The second man, who took the purse is described as being aged in his late teens- early 20s, around 56 in height, of slim build and wearing an all grey coloured tracksuit with his hood up and white trainers.

Detective Sergeant McCartan said: "This was an extremely distressing ordeal that has left the woman badly shaken following this incident.

"We are appealing to anyone who witnessed this incident, or who may have dash-cam footage available taken at the time to contact police on 101 quoting reference number 822 11/02/21."

You can also submit a report online using our non-emergency reporting form via http://www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/
Mortar shelling in Afghanistan kills at least 10 civilians

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Iran ready to help improve the defense capability of Syria

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UK PM gets married in London

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Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-11 10:03:41|Editor: huaxia

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HARBIN, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- Heilongjiang Province, part of the country's old northeastern industrial base, saw its number of high-tech enterprises jump by 54 percent year on year amid transformation efforts.

The total number of high-tech companies in the province reached 1,932 last year, according to the provincial statistics bureau.

About 12,000 tech companies were registered in the province last year, and its accumulative number of tech companies now exceeds 40,000, thanks to a three-year action plan to develop tech enterprises.

Investment in high-tech manufacturing increased by 13.7 percent year on year in the province.

Heilongjiang, also an agricultural base in China, reported year-on-year economic growth of 1 percent in 2020, with its GDP hitting 1.37 trillion yuan (212.7 billion U.S. dollars). Enditem

WASHINGTON, Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa issued the following statement on the tragic murder of Teamsters Local 391 member Dylan Wall in Raleigh, North Carolina on February 10, 2021:

"The thoughts and prayers of the 1.4 million members of the Teamsters Union are with Brother Wall's family, friends, colleagues and fellow Local 391 members. Brother Wall was making his deliveries as a package-car driver at UPS when this horrible killing took place. He was a package-car driver in the Raleigh hub, and was a young, energetic and loyal Teamster who was running for shop steward. He was well respected by his brothers and sisters. He was married with a 5-year-old son.

"When one Teamster suffers, we all suffer. We pledge to do all we can to assist the family of Brother Wall."

Contributions to Brother Wall's family can be made at the GoFundMe page "Fundraiser for The Family of Dylan Scott Wall" or at this address gf.me/u/ziitdb.

Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.4 million hardworking men and women throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Visit www.teamster.org for more information. Follow us on Twitter @Teamsters and "like" us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/teamsters.

Contact:

Kara Deniz, (202) 497-6610

[email protected]

SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters

Related Links

http://www.teamster.org


's ( ) Sean Smith joins Proactive London's Katie Pilbeam to discuss the impact of the global pandemic on their overall performance in 2020.

Smith acknowledges that the wine industry has been hit hard, largely due to the impact on the hospitality sector, directly impacting the demand for crop protection products.

He also highlights a number of product approvals which had been expected in the year, and which should have resulted in sales, were delayed.

Despite these challenges, Smith says the firm is positioned for global growth and is confident the investments made into their business resources throughout the firm will bear fruits in coming years.
An Alabama inmate set to die Thursday evening might not be executed, after a federal court granted him a stay on Wednesday night.

Willie B. Smith is set to be put to death at 6 p.m. Thursday for the Oct. 1991 abduction, robbery and murder of 22-year-old Sharma Ruth Johnson in east Birmingham. The execution is set to happen at William C. Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore.

While Smith has several legal cases open, the U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals granted Smith a stay of execution in one. The order states that the court ordered the stay so the judiciary can review Smiths claim, which centers around what his lawyers say is an intellectual disability.

The federal appeals court ruled the stay is in effect until Feb. 16 at 5 p.m. EST; but, the death warrant issued by the Alabama Supreme Court is only valid through midnight of Feb. 11his currently scheduled execution date. Should midnight pass and Smith not have been executed, the Alabama Attorney Generals Office would have to seek a new execution date from the state supreme court.

Read about his other cases here and here.

Smiths attorneys from the Federal Defenders of the Middle District of Alabama got another win from the court also on Wednesday night, when the 11th Circuit reversed a lower courts ruling that didnt allow Smith to have a spiritual advisor with him in the execution chamber.

This appeal presents the question of whether a death-row prisoner is entitled to have his religious advisor present inside the execution chamber at the time of execution, the 11th Circuit order states.

Currently, the Alabama Department of Corrections doesnt allow an inmate to have anyone in the execution chamber when they die; the policy is relatively new, the court states, as before April 2019 the ADOC required its Christian chaplain to be in the execution chamber. That policy was changed after a Muslim inmate, Domineque Ray, requested and was denied the presence of his imam (an Islamic spiritual advisor) when he died. He was executed anyway.

The District Court abused its discretion by improperly inquiring into Smiths religious beliefs and practices... We therefore reverse the District Courts denial of Smiths motion for injunctive relief and grant the injunction requiring the ADOC to permit Smith to have (Smiths religious advisor) present in the execution chamber at the time of execution, the ruling states.

The state had yet to appeal by 8:50 p.m. Wednesday.
Police on Wednesday named a student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology as a person of interest in the slaying of Yale University student Kevin Jiang earlier this month, noting he should be considered armed and dangerous.

Qinxuan Pan, 29, is wanted for questioning in connection with Jiangs killing and has two active warrants out for his arrests, one of which is extraditable, the New Haven Police Department said in a statement.

Pan, an MIT graduate student, was last seen at the Best Western Hotel at 201 Washington Ave. in North Haven, Connecticut. His last known address was at 193 Clifton St. in Malden, Massachusetts, according to the departments statement.

Authorities said they do not believe Pans still in Connecticut. New Haven Police Chief Otoniel Reyes noted, though, anythings possible at this point.

We are not ruling out that hes still in Connecticut. However, we are exploring leads that hes somewhere else, Reyes said at a press conference with local, state and federal authorities. Were exploring absolutely every angle.

MSP investigative units and @MaldenPolice are assisting New Haven Police in searching for QINXUAN PAN, wanted for questioning in a homicide, whose last know address was in Malden. Anyone with info about PAN or who sees him should contact @NewHavenPolice at the # on the poster. https://t.co/gWG1qnCus5  Mass State Police (@MassStatePolice) February 11, 2021

Officers in North Haven, Connecticut came into contact with Pan shortly after Jiangs death, according Reyes. He is accused of stealing a vehicle in the town.

The chief noted Pan is not currently wanted for the homicide, though he is a person of interest in the New Haven Police Departments investigation.

Authorities have yet to disclose a motive for the fatal shooting.

Again, he should be considered armed and dangerous, and we ask the public to continue their efforts to help us in identifying any further witnesses, Reyes said. Any more information that you have is critical to this investigation.

Jiang, a second-year graduate student in the Yale School of Environment, was shot and killed on Lawrence Street in New Havens East Rock neighborhood around 8:30 p.m. on Feb. 6, according to Police. The 26-year-old man, who was from Chicago, was expected to complete his masters degree in environmental science this fall.

He would have celebrated his 27th birthday this week, according to police.

Kevin epitomized the spirit of our school: service, commitment to others, and using science to make a better and safer world, Ingrid C. Burke, a dean at the Yale School of the Environment, said in a statement. Its tragic to lose someone who offered so much promise, and who was beloved by so many members of our community.

Its important that we remain committed to addressing the kinds of ecological and societal challenges he was addressing, honor him and the many great things he accomplished in his all-too-short life, and that we be there for each other, she added.

Law enforcement urged members of the public to use extreme caution around Pan. If someone locates the person of interest, they should call homicide detectives at (203) 946-6304 or the New Haven Police Departments anonymous tip line at 1 (866) 888-8477. The department can also be emailed at ecic@newhavenct.gov.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and personnel from the U.S. Marshals Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Drug Enforcement Administration are assisting the investigation.



Armaan Jain reportedly was summoned in an alleged money laundering case on Thursday (February 11), but failed to appear before the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Notably, Kareena Kapoor Khan and Karisma Kapoor's cousin Armaan Jain is the son of Rima Jain - sister of Late Rishi Kapoor and Randhir Kapoor.

An ED official told news agency ANI, "Enforcement Directorate had summoned Armaan Jain in an alleged money laundering case today. He didn't appear before the agency today."

Meanwhile, it has also been reported that ED had raided Armaan's Mumbai residence, hours before the news of his uncle Rajiv Kapoor's demise was made public. While his mother was allowed to visit the grieving family, Armaan was permitted to leave only for the funeral after the raid concluded.

Armaan Jain's name reportedly cropped up during ED's probe in the money laundering case in connection with Tops Group, a private security company and Shiv Sena MLA Pratap Sarnaik. Apart from the Shiv Sena MLA, his two sons -- Purvesh Sarnaik and Vihang Sarnaik were also summoned by the ED in the case.

Armaan is reportedly a close friend of Pratap Sarnaik's son Vihang, and the police wanted to question the star kid about the commission amount generated through Tops Group and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) deal.

The probe began in November 2020 when ED launched searches at ten properties of Pratap Sarnaik in Mumbai as well as Thane. The agency is reportedly investigating claims of misappropriation in a contract bagged by Tops Group with theMMRDA. The ED reportedly arrested Amit Chandole, an alleged associate of Pratap, and Tops Group Managing Director M Shashidharan in December 2020, under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

ALSO READ: ED Raided Ranbir Kapoor's Cousin Armaan Jain's Residence The Day Rajiv Kapoor Died: Report

ALSO READ: Alia Bhatt Wishes Beau Ranbir Kapoor's Cousin Armaan Jain On His Birthday With A Sweet Note
Tehran, Feb 11 : Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has said that the Islamic Republic will re-embrace its nuclear commitments if the other parties do so.

"The day when we witness the implementation of the (nuclear deal) obligations by the P5+1, we are ready to implement our obligations in the nuclear deal, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)," Rouhani said on Wednesday at an event marking the anniversary of the Islamic Revolution.

The P5+1 refers to the five permanent members of the UN Security Council - the US, the UK, Russia, France, China, plus Germany and the European Union, who signed the JCPOA deal with Iran in 2015 to end the country's controversial nuclear program.

Referring to the "failure" of maximum pressure campaign of former US President Donald Trump against Iran, Rouhani said that "the era of economic war is over, and there is no more war and no maximum pressure".

He called the regional and international players for talks with Iran over diverse issues, saying that "dialogue would be the political path for the world to come to agreement with Iran".

As a result of the US' unilateral 2018 exit from the nuclear agreement, Iran has surpassed JCPOA-stipulated limits on its uranium enrichment level and on its stockpiles of heavy water and low-enriched uranium.

The Islamic Republic has also lifted JCPOA limitations on its nuclear research and development activities.

On January 4, the Iran launched 20 per cent uranium enrichment process as part of the country's Strategic Action Plan to Counter Sanctions which was approved by the country's parliament in December 2020.
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Syracuse, N.Y. -- The states $2 billion plans to transform Interstate 81 could prove an archetypal example of how a federal highway project can both solve transportation problems and rebuild city neighborhoods that lost out when the massive roadways were built.

Thats the feeling that Mayor Ben Walsh said he had today after meeting for an hour with two members of U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigiegs staff.

Overall it was very encouraging, Walsh said this evening. They see I-81 as a prime candidate for a demonstration on how to do federal transportation projects the right way.

The meeting comes as Buttigieg, a former mayor, has said he wants to use infrastructure projects to help the people, businesses and communities -- often home to minorities -- who were displaced or disrupted when the federal highway system was built.

The I-81 project in Syracuse, like many other projects around the country, fits much of that description. The highways construction in the late 1950s and 1960s came during a time of so-called urban renewal, when projects took precedent over part of an African-American neighborhood.

Now the state is proposing to remove an aging 1.4-mile section of elevated highway that splits Syracuse from the University Hill and runs directly over one of the countrys oldest public housing complexes. The plan calls for rerouting highway traffic onto Interstate 481, which loops the citys eastern side. Part of Interstate 690 near I-81 would also come down and be rebuilt to be straighter, with new exits to take people downtown and to Syracuse University and nearby hospitals.

Walsh said todays discussion was about the project -- and also the people it could help.

We talked about our priority to insure that those who live within the shadow of the project benefit from the project, he said. The discussion also involved the push to hire local people to work on the project, which for now is projected to take five years.

The project plans arent final. The current proposal is at the Federal Highway Administration, which is reviewing the work done so far by the states Department of Transportation. When that review is done, a new version of the proposal will be public, which residents and business owners will have the ability to comment on.

Walsh said he also explained that two other options for the project, a tunnel or rebuilding the I-81 elevated highway, had been ruled out after years of study. Those options were also more expensive, Walsh noted.

He said the officials did note the $2 billion price tag would be a hefty investment.

Still, the teardown proposal, which the state calls the community grid has support from Gov. Andrew Cuomo, whos pledged to start construction in 2022. Senate Majority Leader Sen. Charles Schumer also has vowed to help the proposal become reality.

Walsh said the federal officials in todays video meeting were Charles Small, a deputy assistant secretary for intergovernmental affairs and Will Rasky, a special assistant for intergovernmental affairs.

The mayor said the city and federal officials pledged to stay in touch. Walsh said Small and Rasky offered to introduce Syracuse officials to other contacts at the Environmental Protection Agency and Housing and Urban Development, two other agencies that will be involved in the project.

The mayor said its clear Buttigiegs staff is having similar meetings about similar projects around the country. But Walsh said he felt the meeting today showed Syracuse is among the key projects on the minds of federal transportation officials.

They confirmed that this project is very much on their radar, Walsh said.

One of their main goals, the mayor said, is to marry infrastructure projects with improving economic opportunities in the heart of cities, like Walsh argues the I-81 project would.

I believe they came away feeling that it does, he said.

Got a story idea or news tip youd like to share with a Syracuse-area reporter? Please contact me through email, Twitter, Facebook or at 315-470-2274.
MBABANE  In an unusual occurrence, a man in the capital city claims that his wife denies him conjugal rights because she is on fasting for 14 years.

Conjugal rights refer to the rights, especially to sexual relations, regarded as exercisable in law by each partner in a marriage.

*Mandla has since approached the High Court seeking an order declaring his Swazi Law and Custom marriage with *Mary dissolved. He also wants the registrar of Births, Marriages and Deaths to cancel records of the marriage from the registry.

In his court papers, Mandla stated that he married Mary on February 28, 1988. He submitted that he smeared her with red ochre and paid lobola.

He informed the court that two children were born of the marriage and one of them died.

According to Mandla, they established their matrimonial home on the outskirts of Mbabane. He pointed out that during the course of their marriage, he married another woman under Swazi Law and Custom. He alleged that this marked the start of their troubles since Mary did not want him to marry another woman.

He pointed out that under Swazi Law and Custom, he was not required to seek consent from his wife to marry another woman, but had to inform her about his intentions. Mandla alleged that Mary refused to afford him conjugal rights since she would be fasting for 14 years.

My life with the first respondent (Mary) was not the same again. The first respondent did not afford me conjugal rights alleging that she was fasting for 14 years and she would disappear from home without my knowledge, Mandla claimed.

He alleged that in 2016, his wife deserted their matrimonial home to stay in another part of the capital city.

According to Mandla, he and his family met with Marys family on a number of occasions, but she refused to return to their matrimonial home.

Mandla said he then took a decision to terminate their marriage and communicated his intentions to Marys family. He submitted that their families met at the royal kraal and it was stated that they would never see eye-to-eye and should divorce as a result.

The veracity of these allegations is still to be tested in court. The applicant is represented by attorneys from Robinson Bertram.

In her answering papers, Mary, who is represented by S.V. Mdladla and Associates, denied that she refused her husband conjugal rights.

Dysfunction

She alleged that Mandla had an erectile dysfunction, which made it difficult for them to afford each other conjugal rights.

She further accused Mandla of resigning on her behalf from her place of employment in Manzini and promised to take care of the family.

She submitted that in 1999, Mandla informed her of his decision to marry a second wife.

Mary said she questioned her husband on his reasoning to marry a woman who had been smeared with red ochre and had previously failed in marriage.

He informed me that he was taking a second wife who had been in a customary marriage before and had undergone the customary rituals of being smeared with the red ochre by her husband.

Marry

I questioned the applicant with regard to how he could marry a woman who was still legally married under customary law. The applicant became furious and stated that he was taking the second wife without my approval, which he contends was necessary, she said.

Mary informed the court that Mandla went ahead and married the other woman and allegedly deserted their matrimonial home and stopped providing for their children.

She alleged that her husband sold their livestock, motor vehicles and other property. She also alleged that she received death threats from her husband who reportedly sent their herd boy to apply muti on the wheels of her vehicle.

According to Mary, Mandla allegedly also sent a boy she knew from church to attack her.

She alleged that the boy was armed with a knife and firearm and tried to kill her. The boy, according to Mary, disclosed that he had allegedly been sent by Mandla to kill her.

She also submitted that the boy was arrested and his case took about four years to conclude, during which period she went to stay at her parental homestead due to safety reasons.

She said upon return, she found that her husband had allegedly changed locks at their matrimonial home and denied her entry.

The applicant stated that I should return to wherever I came from.

She informed the court that their families held meetings last year to discuss their issues. Mary said, however, no final decision was taken during the meetings.

The third respondent in the matter, attorney general (AG), submitted that desertion is not a ground for divorce in customary law in Eswatini.

*Not their real names
President Uhuru Kenyatta has said the Government is committed to creating a conducive environment for small-scale traders to prosper.

The President said his desire is to see micro, small and medium enterprises growing and creating employment for the many unemployed Kenyan youths.

The Head of State spoke Wednesday at the National Cargo Deconsolidation Centre (NCDC-Nairobi) where he made a follow-up inspection of the Government warehouse which was recently expanded from a capacity of five 40-foot containers to fifteen such containers, serving approximately 400 small scale traders a day.

The President noted the expansion of the warehouse was as a result of the discussions he had with the small-scale importers saying, a country can only be developed when citizens learn to discuss issues and come up with solutions for the benefit of all.

I am grateful today we are here seeing the progress made. I want to thank Kenya Railways and Kenya Revenue Authority for working hard to ensure this facility was completed, the President said.

As part of the Governments commitment to supporting small businesses in the country, the President said the cost of local inspection of imported goods was lowered from 5 to 0.6 percent of customs value.

During my visit on 10th November 2020, you requested me to have the cost of local inspection reduced from 5 percent of customs value to 0.6 percent. This was to reduce the cost of importation and promote growth of your businesses, President Kenyatta said.

As you can see my Administration is ready to facilitate growth of your businesses. Through this new facility, we have the required capacity to continue supporting the growth of your businesses, which I know will also create opportunities for other Kenyans to earn their livelihoods, he added.

The President said NCDC-Nairobi will make it easier for the importers to grow their businesses given its strategic location at the heart of the capital city.

This facility will simplify and facilitate your businesses considering it is at the heart of the city. All traders from Nyamakima, Gikomba and other environs will now be able to access their goods without problems, he said.

At the same time, the President challenged the traders to be faithful in paying their taxes so as to enable the Government to continue providing key services.

He thanked cargo consolidators for supporting the Government to achieve its purpose of helping small scale traders and urged them to continue partnering with the state in ensuring businesses thrive.

To the consolidators who are here, we thank you. If it is not your hard work there was no way goods would be brought here. We thank you for supporting small traders in this country, the President said.

The Head of State cautioned those intending to circumvent laid down procedures saying all consolidators are required to process their cargo containers at the new facility.

I want to caution those with ulterior motives that we wont allow you to do unscrupulous business. If indeed all you are doing is to consolidate cargo and you are making profit, if you are not bringing in illicit arms or illicit goods and drugs why would you not want to bring your container here? the President wondered.

President Kenyatta cautioned politicians against dividing Kenyans saying what the country needs going forward are leaders who engage each other and with Kenyans constructively instead of creating unnecessary tensions.

Addressing a crowd that stopped his convoy in the city centre, the President said his desire is to see Kenyans working together in peace and harmony to uplift themselves and develop their beloved country and, not have unnecessary political competition.

He assured city residents that the Nairobi Metropolitan Service (NMS) will continue to improve infrastructure and provide basic services to all.

We will continue to improve our city. Once the NMS under Major General Mohammed Badi is through refurbishing the roads in the CBD, they will then get into the estates and all areas to improve infrastructure and provide water and sewage services, the President said.

The Head of State who was accompanied by several leaders, among them Starehe MP Charles Njagua Kanyi, told off politicians who continue to insult others, saying the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) is aimed at ensuring all Kenyans coexist peacefully.

PSCU
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-11 13:25:44|Editor: huaxia

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CHANGCHUN, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- Partially-prepared and ready-to-eat meals are gaining popularity as most Chinese plan to stay put during the Spring Festival, a holiday traditionally centered around family gatherings, to reduce the movement of people and curb the spread of the epidemic.

This will be the first time Zhang Han, a native of southern China's Guangdong Province, celebrates the Chinese Lunar New Year away from home.

"I was a little upset that I would not have a decent dinner on the eve of the Spring Festival," said the 26-year-old, who works in Changchun, capital of northeast China's Jilin Province.

"Then I learned many friends purchased partially-prepared food, so I also ordered a six-course New Year's Eve dinner combo featuring Cantonese cuisine on an e-commerce platform. The dinner includes a salt-roasted chicken and a steamed seabass." The young man plans to feast on it with his roommates.

Prices of the combos on major e-commerce channels range from 200 yuan (about 31 U.S. dollars) to thousands of yuan, with the monthly sales of some products already exceeding 10,000. A cookbook or even videos are provided with each dish, helping every customer become a "skilled chef."

"Partially-prepared meals for the eve of Spring Festival appeared several years ago, but their sales soared significantly this year, with the young generation being the main customers," said a seller. "Many people want to have a taste of their hometown despite being far away, but the complicated cooking steps often deter them. The set meal, therefore, is the best choice."

Such products are also well received offline. Many purchase these products and bring them home to cook, and parents buy and send them to their children.

"Staying put to celebrate the Spring Festival can still be wonderful since we've got so many choices," said Zhang. Enditem
By Sangmi Cha

SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called on his ruling Workers' Party to take a more direct role in his new five-year economic plan and blamed the party for past failures in implementing reform, state media reported on Thursday.

The remarks come on the third day of the party's plenary meeting, where Kim had also laid out party plans for South Korea relations and external affairs, as well as plans for each economic sector.

In January, Kim openly admitted that his previous five-year economic plan had failed to meet its goals in almost every sector.

Kim this week stressed the importance of strengthening legal supervision and control over the next five-year plan, which was unveiled at a congress in January, state media KCNA said.

"It called upon the legislation sector to remove irrational elements becoming stumbling blocks to the implementation of the national economic plan and enact and perfect new laws for every sector," KCNA reported.

Kim blamed the party for failing to fulfil its responsibilities and role as "organisers and standard-bearers" in carrying out previous economic policies.

"Legislative bodies including the prosecution organ should increase their role to make sure the national economic plan is properly distributed and correctly executed," Kim told the party on Wednesday in a statement carried by KCNA.

(Reporting by Sangmi Cha; Editing by Sam Holmes)
U.S. House members on Wednesday began drafting the $1.9 trillion coronavirus stimulus bill, including $1,400 per person payments for individuals making up to $75,000 and married couples earning up to $150,000.

The proposal before the House Ways and Means Committee also would provide $1,400 for each dependent, but the payments would cut off entirely for individuals earning more than $100,000 and married couples earning more than $200,000.

We are considering proposals that will give Americans a sense of security in a time of overwhelming uncertainty, said committee chairman Richard Neal, D-Mass. This includes the security of knowing that the second part of their $2,000 check is on the way. For the lowest-income families, this means help affording lifes most basic necessities.

The stimulus payments, supported by President Joe Biden, drew opposition Wednesday from committee Republicans, who said there were better uses for the money.

For example, ranking Republican Kevin Brady of Texas said the same amount of money spent on the direct payments could fund $40,000 vouchers for 10 million jobless workers, or pay the income taxes of more than 85% of workers.

Theres a third round of stimulus checks that many experts admit are more a political stimulus than an economic one, Brady said. Costing nearly half-a-trillion dollars, these checks do little to help Main Street businesses survive or get people back to work.

The various sections of the stimulus bill were farmed out to different committees, which planned to wrap up their work by the end of the week. Lawmakers planned to end their work on Friday, giving the House Budget Committee the following week to put the entire bill together before bringing to the full chamber for approval.

CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Newsletter | Homepage

Republicans on the House Transportation Committee attempted unsuccessfully to shift $10 billion, or one-third, of the $30 billion in federal grants earmarked for public transportation systems like NJ Transit to roads and bridges, allowing more states to lay claim to the funding. Based on previous allocations, NJ Transit could get close to $2 billion.

The amendment was offered by Rep. Bob Gibbs, R-Ohio. The panels top Republican, Rep. Sam Graves of Missouri, said Democrats were rushing through a partisan bill without GOP support. The stimulus legislation is being considered under a procedure known as reconciliation, which prevents a filibuster and allows the Democrats to pass the bill without any Republican votes.

When the Republican in the majority in 2017, Graves twice voted for budget resolutions to allow the GOP, with no Democratic support, to try to repeal the Affordable Care Act and to pass a tax cut that the Congressional Budget Office said would increase the federal deficit by $1.9 trillion over 10 years.

The American people want and expect Congress to work together on bipartisan, well-crafted, commonsense solutions to help our infrastructure and our economy, Graves said.

The House Oversight Committee is scheduled to vote Friday on whether to provide $350 billion in aid for state and local governments. Preliminary estimates showing New Jersey and its municipalities receiving $9.4 billion.

Biden, who proposed the state and local aid, plans to meet on Friday with governors and mayors to discuss the funding.

That means keeping cops, firefighters, public health workers, teachers, and other public servants on the job in the fight against the virus, White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Wednesday at her daily briefing. And that means getting help to cities, counties, and states to get vaccines in arms faster, something many governors and mayors have spoken about.

Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com.

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MIDDLETOWN  When Joshua Morris took over the 106-year-old Italian family market thats been a staple of Main Streets North End for generations, he knew it was a huge responsibility.

The 25-year-old owner of Public Market, an accountant by trade, has worked for the little grocery store at 480 Main St. for most of his adult life, and took over the business nearly two years ago after longtime owner John Passacantando died unexpectedly in August 2015 at 58.

In 1989, Passacantando purchased and revitalized the Italian grocery store, which has catered many parties and business functions. Public Market has been open since 1915.

But Morris this week made the very difficult decision to close up shop after exhausting every effort to find a buyer, he said.

The neighborhood shop sees a lot of foot traffic from those who live in the area and need cold cuts, staples such as milk and eggs, and fresh deli items and household goods.

Morris started there at 18, slicing meat and cheese in the deli part time. He attended college, studied to be an accountant, and left the market at 22 to take a full-time job in his field for two years.

Im deeply saddened. Its losing a dream you worked so hard for so long, said Morris.

Morris said hes usually a very optimistic person, yet cant help but feel he failed. I feel like Ive let down the whole community, he said. I feel like sometimes people think I have a choice, like Im doing it because I dont want to be here. Thats not the case.

Ive tried everything I possibly can, Morris said.

Hes feeling anxiety as closing day approaches. Im shaky. Im on edge, Morris said.

The pandemic drastically changed circumstances for Morris and countless other small businesses. Up until COVID, we were making a profit. We were still in the green. After that, we slowly bled for the rest of the year, even though Morris tried desperately to make ends meet, he said.

While other businesses have been able to remain somewhat viable during the outbreak by leveraging social media, Morris didnt have the free time to do so, even when customers asked him. Its taken a toll on me in all facets of my life  financially, physically, mentally, he said.

He recently began incorporating world cuisines to accommodate the array of people who call the city home, such as Jamaican patties and curry chicken, Morris said.

Public Market has been a favorite of the Italian population for decades. But as time wore on, many have died or moved away with their families, and some of that tradition was lost, Morris said.

He was so committed to helping people that he personally would make deliveries to and from work, dropping off 50-pound bags of flour, meat and fresh vegetables. Many of his customers dont have transportation and rely on the bus to get to larger stores in other parts of town, he said.

The robust catering business dried up once COVID-19 hit, even though Morris was able to remain open throughout pandemic as an essential service, he said.

His lease was structured so payments would increase as time wore on, Morris said, as the landlord gave him a break as a fledgling operation.

Once employees began working remotely due to the pandemic, foot traffic greatly lessened.

Sometimes, I have people who come here three times a day: breakfast, lunch and dinner, he said.

The 14 people he was forced to lay off had been there nearly 30 years, Morris said. Now, four remain, including himself.

Hes very dedicated to the business, he said, adding that he has taken off only a little more than 10 days in the past two years, many of those holidays when the shop was closed.

About a week ago, Morris was dismayed to see a post on the Whats Happening in Middletown Facebook page that said he was closing  before he had even told his family or exhausted every effort to find a buyer, he said.

It made it seem like I said, lets just move on. Thats the part that bothered me the most, because I work really hard here. I really do, Morris said. I have a passion for people and the stuff in here and to make it seem like I dont try hard enough, that pushed me the wrong way.

Morris has continued the tradition of an all-in-the-family endeavor, with his father, Victor, brothers Matt and Tom and, up until recently, his mother, Donna, all helping out at Public Market.

Im so blessed to have multiple family members, he said. Theres no way I could have made it.

Matt Morris, manning the front register Thursday, said hes witnessed the toll the grocery store has taken on his brother. Ive seen all the stress, he said.

Butcher Jonathan Lombardo, 20, has worked in the deli for four years. My father worked for John when he was my age  20, 30 years ago. I knew John growing up, because my grandfather was good friends with him. They were always like family.

When Josh Morris took ownership, the people: Id never seen them so happy, Lombardo said. Everyone was congratulating him and telling him what a big success he is. It was great.

Business slowed down but some of the people kept us alive, Lombardo said. The people, theyre very grateful for what (we)do. We get thanks pretty much every other day, if not every day, saying, thank you for being open all the time. Theyre good people.

Morris intends to donate whatever inventory remains after Wednesdays closure to St. Vincent de Paul Middletown  a last effort to give back to the community that supported him, and the Passacantando family, for so long.

For information, visit publicmarketmiddletown.com.
Two Ernst & Young auditors were told by a German court that they must testify before a parliamentary committee about their accounting work for scandal-ridden Wirecard AG.

The ruling gives EY clarity about how much information it may disclose under professional rules, the accounting firm said in a statement Thursday. While ruling the pair had to testify, the Federal Court of Justice lifted fines imposed on the men, saying the law had been unclear.

EY audited Wirecards books until its collapse last year and has come under fire for a failure to spot that 1.9 billion euros ($2.3 billion) were missing from the payment companys accounts.

Current and former EY partners infuriated the committee in November when they declined to fully answer questions about Wirecard, citing professional confidentiality rules. The lawmakers fined the EY accountants and another auditor from Baker Tilly.

We have always stressed that were contributing to clear up the Wirecard case, but that we need a legally valid lifting of confidentiality rules, EY said in a statement Thursday.

The judges said in their ruling dated Jan. 27 that after Wirecards insolvency administrators waived the confidentiality requirements, it wasnt necessary to get additional clearance from the companys former board members. But since lower courts had issued diverging opinions, the men shouldnt be liable for the fines.

The firm in December handed over files to parliament that were sealed pending the top court ruling. EY said Thursday that it has already contacted the lawmakers to allow them to read the documents.

The committee had declined to fine two other EY auditors because they are being investigated. Those two, including Deutsche Banks top accountant Andreas Loetscher, have the right to remain silent because they are targets of the probes. Loetscher decided to step aside while his probe is pending.

The top court cases are: BGH, StB 43/20, StB 44/20.

Top Photo: A member of the inquiry committee holds a document folder as a parliamentary probe into the collapse of Wirecard AG begins, at the Reichstag building in Berlin, Germany, on Thursday, Oct. 8, 2020. German lawmakers sought to lay some of the blame on Finance Minister Olaf Scholz for the failure to detect wrongdoing at Wirecard, as a parliamentary inquiry into the collapse of the digital-payments company gets underway in Berlin. Photographer: Krisztian Bocsi/Bloomberg

Copyright 2021 Bloomberg.

Topics Germany
On the wintry night of July 1, 2015, American dentist and prominent trophy hunter Dr Walter Palmer, shot and killed Hwange National Park's most famous lion, Cecil.

Dr Palmer used as bait a carcass he dragged for more than 20km to lure Cecil from his main territory in the no-hunting zone, into a farm in Gwayi. There he used a bow and arrow to kill Cecil.

On Sunday, DStv premiers a documentary on Cecil, as his legend lives.

Suffice to say, the huge head of the pride was popular with local and international tourists for flaunting his mane and posing for pictures at very close range. Very rare for a predator of his gait!

On a good day, Cecil would give many a tourist the best picture moment.

He sired more than 20 cubs with a pride that frequented the area around Hwange Main Camp and its fringe area along the Bulawayo -Victoria Falls highway from Cross Jotsholo to Cross Mabale, Cross Dete up to Gwayi Conservancy. Within hours of Cecil's death, the world went agog with the news, drawing the wrath of animal rights practitioners, feline researchers, tourists and ordinary people.

Cecil, was a collard territorial male, and there was suspicion that the collar was used to track him with satellite systems. Dr Palmer denied the charges and was tried and acquitted.

Cecil was used by researchers from the age of about 4 years when a satellite system tracking collar was placed on his neck until he was killed at the age of 13.

Cecil's pride was taken over by another male Xaha, an IsiNdebele name, with some sexual explicit connotations but Xaha itself did not live long as it was killed in another hunt. It was collared too.

It is interesting how the documentary on Cecil will be received by all and sundry on Sunday, February 14 at 7pm, dubbed "The Legacy of the king: Cecil the lion".

This might as well pass as a special Valentine treat for animal lovers.

The story was topical world over and now DStv through the National Geographic channel have started a campaign on wildlife documentary on the lion as the king of Africa.
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Controversial conspiracy congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene cheated on her husband with a polyamorous tantric sex guru, DailyMail.com has learned.

Then after ending her affair with him, the mom-of-three moved on to a gym manager behind her husband's back.

But despite the tawdry flings, Taylor Greene stuck with her husband Perry as she made her unlikely rise that has turned her into the most talked-about Republican in Washington, D.C.

Neither man denied the affairs when approached by DailyMail.com.

Craig Ivey, the tantric sex practitioner, said: 'I will not respond to anything about this,' while the other man, Justin Tway, said: 'I have no interest in talking about anything to do with that woman. Everything with her comes to no good.'

But others say the new representative from Georgia's 14th Congressional District was brazen about her affairs which she carried on a decade ago while working in gyms in Alpharetta, Georgia, some 35 miles north of Atlanta.

Embattled congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Green openly cheated on her husband Perry Greene (pictured) with men at her fitness gym, DailyMail.com has learned

Marjorie's men: The 46-year-old mother of three had an affair with polyamorous tantric sex guru Craig Ivey (left) before moving on to gym manager Justin Tway (right) while working at a gym in Alpharetta in 2012

'It wasn't a secret. Everyone who moved in her circles knew about both the affairs,' one man who worked closely with Taylor Greene told DailyMail.com.

And her boss, billionaire's grandson Jim Chambers, added: 'She socialized a lot with us. I remember one particular pool party where she was lying draped over Craig's lap drinking a beer.

'She was quite open about it,' he added. 'We all thought her marriage was falling apart.

'But then I took my son to her son's birthday party and things seemed totally normal between her and her husband - even if they were a little lukewarm.'

In response to DailyMail.com's request for comment, Taylor Greene called the story ridiculous tabloid garbage spread by an avowed Communist, and another attempt to smear my name because Im the biggest threat to the Democrats Socialist agenda.

Her attorney L. Lin Wood, has previously said that an article about the allegations published by the New Yorker magazine was 'intended to smear her with false accusations, half-truths, misrepresentations, out-of-context statements, and agenda driven lies.'

Taylor Greene, 46, has become notorious since being elected to Congress. She calls herself a 'strong conservative Christian,' who planned to take her 'family values' to Washington.

On Instagram, Ivey calls himself The Tantric Warrior, describing himself as 'Living a warrior lifestyle while finding tantric love'. He also participates in reenactments of medieval battles and teaches sword fighting. Above, he is seen dressed as Zangief' a character from video game Street Fighter II

Since his affair with Taylor Greene, Ivey, 42, has moved to Washington State. His social media photos show his political views are polar opposite to that of the Georgia Republican

Ivey's profile picture on his Facebook page shows him standing stark naked by a waterfall. He has now set up a gladiator bootcamp called The Ludus

Ivey, pictured wearing South Park pajama pants while pumping gas near his Seattle-area home, refused to address his affair with Greene when approached by DailyMail.com

But she has been slammed for her belief in conspiracies linked to the group QAnon which claims former president Donald Trump was sent by God to oust Democrats who are involved in a nationwide ring that traffics, abuses, kills and even eats children.

She has also said that the Parkland and Sandy Hook school shootings were 'false flag' operations aimed at tightening gun control, harassed Parkland survivor David Hogg on the streets and questioned whether the September 11 terrorist attacks were real.

Congress voted last week to remove her from her committee assignments due to her outrageous beliefs and actions.

Rumors of Taylor Greene's affairs have been around since she hit the headlines in the summer by winning the Republican primary for her seat, which covers a wide swath of rural north west Georgia.

Chambers even tweeted out at the time: '@mtgreenee so when you worked for me at CrossFit Alpharetta in 2012, the extramarital affairs you had with Justin and Craig, those were Jesus-approved, right?'

Rumors of Taylor Greene's affairs began to resurface in the summer when she won the Republican primary for her seat. Her former boss at the gym, Jim Chambers, referenced her relationships with Justin and Craig in a tweet in June

He then added: 'I would never choose to doc someone's infidelities...unless they're this person,' and linked to a Marjorie Taylor Greene for Congress page

He then added: 'I would never choose to doc someone's infidelities...unless they're this person,' and linked to a Marjorie Taylor Greene for Congress page.

A New Yorker profile of her said a reporter had seen texts in which Taylor Greene admitted sleeping with one man outside her marriage.

Chambers, whose grandmother Anne Cox Chambers was the richest person in Georgia until she died last year, bought two gyms in the early 2010s.

He really only wanted one in downtown Atlanta, but the previous owner insisted on selling the Alpharetta gym as part of a package. That is where Taylor Greene was already working.

'She was part of the staff I inherited,' Chambers, 36, told DailyMail.com. 'She wasn't someone who needed a paycheck. She was working as a trade - she got free membership and access and the opportunity to learn the business.'

Soon it became apparent that she and Craig Ivey had started an affair.

'I know about it because I was a member of the gym,' said one man who asked not to be identified. 'Certainly she was screwing around.'

Taylor Greene shares three children, Lauren, Taylor and Derek, with husband Perry. Insiders said they believed Greene's marriage was falling apart in the 2010s due to her brazen infidelity, but the pair has remained together

The fitness fanatic had previously worked for Jim Chambers, the grandson of billionaire Anne Cox Chambers, at CrossFit Alpharetta in 2012

'Guys talk and I know there was definitely sex involved. People don't make up stuff like that. They were spending a lot of time together, turning up at the gym in the same car.

'When I would suggest going out, Craig would say he had things to do with Marjorie.'

Soon after, Chambers brought in a new manager for his Alpharetta gym. Justin Tway moved to Georgia from Colorado, to take over with the understanding that he might end up buying it and taking it off Chambers's hands.

Taylor Greene soon set her sights on him, said both Chambers and the second source.

'This seemed much more serious than the affair with Craig,' said Chambers. 'That was more of a flirty thing. But with Justin she seemed to have designs on a more long-term relationship.

'My impression is that she knew he might take over the gym and she wanted to be there right alongside him.'

Former lover Justin Tway told DailyMail.com he had 'no interest in talking about anything to do' with Taylor Greene, adding: 'Everything with her comes to no good'

Insiders said Taylor Greene's affair with Tway seemed to have designs on a more long-term relationship

Tway, 42, still lives in Alpharetta with his wife Sherrie, whom he met long after his affair with Taylor Greene had ended

Tway was pictured at his gym outside Atlanta with his dogs Briggs and Salo on Monday

Eventually Taylor Greene did buy another gym in Alpharetta.

The second source said: 'With Marjorie it always seemed to be a power thing. If anyone was a leader or in a position of power, she would gravitate to them, and that is what it was like with Justin.'

Chambers - whose far-left politics are as opposed to Taylor Greene's views as they could possibly be - said he thought she even might have had designs on him as he was going through a divorce at the time. But he insists nothing happened between them.

Congress voted last week to remove her from her committee assignments due to her outrageous beliefs and actions

Taylor Greene, 46, has become notorious since being elected to Congress due to her controversial views and posts touting QAnon conspiracy theories

She has been slammed for her belief in conspiracies linked to the group QAnon which claims former president Donald Trump was sent by God to oust Democrats

The second source added: 'I don't know whether she was after Jim, you'd have to ask him that one.'

'What I do know is that she was a lot different then to what she is now. I worked out with her a lot and she certainly wasn't saying the insane things she is now. If she had been, I would have had nothing to do with her.'

Since his affair with Taylor Greene, Ivey, 42, has moved to Washington State. He worked in at least two CrossFit gyms in Seattle and has now set up a gladiator bootcamp called The Ludus.

He participates in reenactments of medieval battles and teaches sword fighting.

Ivey's profile picture on his Facebook page shows him standing stark naked by a waterfall.

On Instagram he calls himself The Tantric Warrior, describing himself as 'Living a warrior lifestyle while finding tantric love.'

She calls herself a 'strong conservative Christian,' who planned to take her 'family values' to Washington

In an undated video, Taylor Greene was seen dragging a cardboard cutout of Donald Trump on stage and then rubbing its crotch as she says how great he is

Taylor Greene had shared videos on social media of her doing some deadlifting and captioned: 'Congress is broken ... not working for the American people!It's time to lift the dead weight and kick Pelosi's Congress to the curb in November!'

Medical News Today defines tantric sex as a 'slow, meditative form of sex where the end goal is not orgasm but enjoying the sexual journey and sensations of the body.'

Rocker Sting is its most famous practitioner, claiming he and wife Trudie Styler have seven-hour lovemaking sessions.

Ivey is currently living in a trailer in Renton, Washington, but along with a girlfriend and another couple, he has bought a house in Buckley, an hour south of Seattle, which he says he wants to turn into a polyamorous commune.

When approached by DailyMail.com, Ivey said: 'I have made myself very clear, I will not respond to anything about this again.

He also threatened to call the police on a reporter. 'Please stay away from me and anyone connected with my life,' he said in a text message.

Tway, also 42, still lives in Alpharetta with his wife Sherrie, whom he met long after his affair with Taylor Greene had ended.

The couple run a gym in the city, often taking their 'gym pups', Briggs and Salo, along with them.

Taylor Greene and her husband along with their three children, Lauren, Taylor and Derek, moved from Alpharetta last year when they bought a $610,000 home in Rome, Georgia, so she could live inside her congressional district.

They still own their previous house in Alpharetta, where Perry runs a construction and renovation company that was founded by Marjorie's father.
YES Bank share was trading 1.5% higher in Thursday's session, ranking among the most active banking scrips in terms of volumes on both BSE and NSE. This was after the lender's CEO Prashant Kumar stated that he expects the bank's asset reconstruction company (ARC) business to operationalise within 6 six months and revealed that many foreign firms have shown interest in the bank's ARC business.

"There has been a lot of interest from foreign investors for our ARC business. We are likely to put in the initial capital of 10 billion rupees while the foreign investor will put in nearly 25 billion rupees," Prashant Kumar, CEO of Yes Bank, told Reuters in an interview late on Tuesday.

The stock of the private lender opened higher at Rs 16.45 against its previous close of Rs 16.40. The stock gained 1.5% to the day's high at Rs 16.65 and also hit an intraday low of Rs 16.30. The stock has gained after 2 days of consecutive fall.

YES Bank stock trades higher than 100-day moving averages but lower than 5, 20, 50 and 200-day moving averages.

The share has fallen 8% in a month. Year-to-date, the stock is down 7.6%. However, it has risen 1.54% in one week.

Market capitalisation of the lender rose to Rs 41,340.59 crore. The stock has touched a 52-week high of Rs 87.95 and a 52-week low of Rs 5.55. Share of the private lender, with Rs 2 face value has fallen 55% in one year.

Meanwhile, Brickwork Ratings (BWR) has withdrawn the ratings of Tier I Subordinated Perpetual Bonds (Basel II) of the lender. Brickwork had given a long-term rating at BWR BB+ with a stable outlook on Rs 90 crore instrument.

The lender was placed under a moratorium by the central bank last year, after which consortium of lenders led by State Bank of India stepped in to infuse money into the bank and bail it out from deteriorating financial health to address systemic risk concerns.

Emkay Research gave a 'Sell' rating to the stock and set a target price of Rs 11 for the share, given sub-par return ratios and unfavourable risk-reward with higher valuations.

"We believe that the transfer of NPAs to a separate ARC (somewhat similar to IDBI in 2003) probably means window dressing standalone bank B/sheet,but we need to see the extent of hair-cuts, structure of ARC and recovery record in the ARC, which is not inspiring in case of IDBI SASF," Emkay Research said in its report.

Similarly, ICICI Securities said in a recent note that YES Bank's December-quarter earnings have aggravated fears of its asset quality issues and gave a "hold" rating on the stock with a revised price target of Rs 16.

"The portfolio vulnerability becomes visible from, a spike in standstill non-performing loans or NPLs (from 1.5% to 5%), SMA-2 pool (from 2.4% to 4%), SMA-1 (from 1.6% to 7.3), and additional restructuring outside of this pool at 3.2% over and above the labelled non-performing assets at 22%," it added.

Stocks in news: Aurobindo Pharma, Titan, Crompton Greaves, Bank of India, Bharat Petroleum

Share Market Live: Sensex drops 100 points, Nifty at 15,080; Nestle, TCS, Axis Bank, L&T top losers
No patrolling in disputed area, Chinese PLA to move to Finger 8

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Feb 11: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that both India and China have held military and diplomatic level talks since the past 9 months and this has led to the disengagement at Pangong Tso, which has been a major friction point for the past ten months.

Ladakh Standoff: Rajnath Singh says India and China have agreed to disengagement| Oneindia News

The intention of was to restore peace and tranquility at the Line of Actual Control. Due to the steps taken by China, there has been disturbance to peace and tranquility along the LAC. The foreign minister has met with his counterpart and so have I, Singh said.

There was heavy deployment by the Chinese at the LAC and we too matched them. The Indian security forces have met with every challenge to the situation in Eastern Ladakh, Singh also said.

China has repeatedly made claims on various parts of Indian territory. This has never been acceptable to us, Singh said while adding that we are committed to maintaining a peaceful situation at the LAC. India always emphasised on maintaining bilateral ties.

We have told China that they should respect the LAC and also should not unilaterally take any decisions.

We have also maintained that we want peace, Singh said. We will not let an inch of land go, Singh also said. He also said that the security forces are ready to face any challenge.

China occupied 38,000 sq km after the 1962 war and 5,180 sq km, which was given illegally by Pakistan to China in Ladakh. At the Arunachal Pradesh border, China claims 90,000 sq km of Indian land. India has not accepted these unjustified demands. We have maintained that bilateral relations can prosper only if there are efforts from both sides, Singh further added.

He also said that is happy to announce that India has lost nothing in the dialogue with China. We have an agreement on disengagement on the North and South Banks of Pangong Tso. Our security forced have proven that they are ready to face any challenge to protect the sovereignty of the country, the Defence Minister also said.

Singh also said that China will keep its troops to the east of Finger 8 at the north bank of Pangong Tso, while India will keep its troops at its permanent base near Finger 3.

Singh also said that talks will continue until there is disengagement at all friction points, the Defence Minister also said.

Beijing on Wednesday said that India and China had begun synchronised and organised disengagement from the north and south banks of Pangong Tso. "The Chinese and Indian frontline troops at the southern and northern bank of the Pangong Tso Lake start synchronised and organised disengagement from February 10," Senior Colonel Wu Qian, China's defence spokesperson, said in a written statement.

There was however no official word from Delhi, following the statement. Singh's statement in the Upper House will give more clarity on the situation along the Line of Actual Control, where the two countries are engaged in a standoff since last May.

The last round of talks between the two countries lasted over 15 hours. The talks were aimed at diffusing tensions along the LAC.

#WATCH: Indian Army video of ongoing disengagement process in Ladakh. pic.twitter.com/kXjr0SiPN2  ANI (@ANI) February 11, 2021
Police in East Yorkshire have set up a dedicated rural crime unit to target the growing number of incidents experienced by farmers in the county.

Humberside Police's Rural Task Force will specifically target hare coursing and poaching, as well as offences around hunting with dogs, badger baiting and farm burglaries.

The team will be based at Driffield Police Station, within the Capital of the Wolds, and will consist of four police constables and one sergeant.

The most recent figures available, released in August 2020, show that the cost of rural crime in the UK reached an eight year high in 2019.

While there have been some reductions in crime under lockdown, there are concerns that rural theft is set to escalate as the economic impact of the Covid-19 crisis bites.

The inspector leading the new unit, Jon Powell said: This new team will focus on disruption of criminal activities, apprehension, arrest, charging and prosecution of offenders.

All with the aim of deterring others from committing similar offences - this will send out a clear message that rural, wildlife and heritage crime will not be tolerated.

The team will be building on existing relationships with local rural communities, groups and businesses which will develop and support them in tackling crimes that affect them most.

The Rural Task Force will be working in partnership with Humberside Fire and Rescue utilising drone technology to achieve best evidence of rural offences.

On 27 January 2021, the team worked alongside North Yorkshire Rural Task Force in a joint cross border night time operation targeting night time poaching.
High-profile Republicans who don't agree with the party's far-right creep may be headed for the doors.

Last week, 120 former GOP elected officials, ambassadors, and strategists, as well as members of past Republican presidential administrations reportedly met up in a massive Zoom call. They discussed early plans to form a "center-right breakaway party" to promote "principled conservatism," running candidates in some races and endorsing Democrats, Republicans, and Independents who match their values in others, people involved tell Reuters.

Evan McMullin, the former chief policy director for the House Republican Conference who ran for president as an independent in 2016, co-hosted the call, he told Reuters. "Large portions of the Republican Party are radicalizing and threatening American democracy," he said. "The party needs to recommit to truth, reason and founding ideals or there clearly needs to be something new." Jason Miller, a spokesperson for former President Donald Trump, meanwhile called the group "losers," while Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel indicated in a statement that the party needs to "come together" if it wants to win in 2022.

The conversation comes after the Republican party shed thousands of members in the wake of the Capitol riot. Since January, more than 140,000 people have quit the GOP in the 25 states with readily available registration data, The New York Times reports; 19 states don't register voters by party. Pennsylvania saw 12,000 voters change their affiliations, while Arizona's GOP lost 10,000. Trump narrowly lost those states in 2020, and the Arizona GOP has since taken aim at Republicans who didn't dispute the election results.

More stories from theweek.com

7 scathingly funny cartoons about Republicans' impeachment cowardice

Trump's acquittal is not foreordained

Impeachment isn't what will hurt Trump most


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A Los Angeles Times investigation found that House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., attended his son Connor's wedding  an event that seemingly flouted state COVID-19 restrictions in the midst of a surge.

The wedding was held on Dec. 5 at a venue in San Luis Obispo County.

In videos of the intimate wedding, it appears that guests did not adhere to mask-wearing guidelines for weddings or bans on wedding receptions, either indoor or outdoor. The county, at that point, permitted outdoor weddings  but banned receptions of any kind and required mask wearing at weddings.

The videos also showed individuals including the bride indoors, un-masked, preparing for the wedding.

A caterer for the ceremony told the Times that an estimated 15 people attended the wedding and the following reception. McCarthy confirmed this in a statement to the paper, saying that the event only involved family members.

We spent the majority of the time outside with the dinner following the ceremony in an almost completely open area," McCarthy told the Times in a statement. "We wore masks indoors that day, except in those instances where some had to let makeup dry or when we were eating.

California was in the throes of a COVID-19 surge in early December, exacerbated by the Thanksgiving holidays. A regional stay-at-home order was in effect the next day. Three days after the wedding, California health officials reported a nearly 71% increase of hospitalizations over the span of two weeks.

McCarthy has been an outspoken critic against Democratic leaders who have also brushed off COVID-19 restrictions for personal ends. The Times reported that he attended the wedding the same day he continued his social media crusade against California Gov. Gavin Newsom for his much-criticized trip to the French Laundry.

He was also critical of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., who, in August, was filmed in a hair salon while San Francisco had prohibited them from being open.

At the time, he told Fox News, which broke the story: Pelosis priorities are about herself, not people."

Read the full report here.
Police in Vietnam said Thursday said that a prisoner who died in their custody last month had been severely injured after he fell, contradicting their earlier claim that he had committed suicide.

State-run VNExpress reported Thursday that on Jan. 6, 23-year-old Duong Quoc Minh, detained since Nov. 6 on charges of disrupting public order, fell and hit his head while resisting prison escorts at the Chi Hoa detention camp in Ho Chi Minh City, according to a representative of the camp.

However, in a Jan. 16 report published by local outlet Tuoi Tre, Duongs mother Trieu Ngoc Binh said she received notice from the police on Jan. 6 that said her son had taken his own life and requested that she come to receive his body.

Upon retrieval from the citys forensic center, Trieu said she found many bruises on Duongs body, so she petitioned the citys supreme peoples procuracy, the peoples procuracy, and the director of the police to investigate her sons death.

Dang Dinh Manh, a Ho Chi Minh City lawyer, told RFA Thursday that stated causes of death inconsistent with apparent injuries are common in prisoner deaths.

Normally reports of offenders deaths in detention camps have problems when held up to forensic examinations. Through the forensic examination, many things related to the death can be found, he said.

I dont know anything about this particular case, but it is necessary to ask the police to provide a forensic report. From that report we would be able to know the cause of death, said Dang.

A 2014 report by New York-based Human Rights Watch said that injuries and deaths in custody due to torture and police abuse are widespread in Vietnam.

In some cases, police denied ever detaining subjects who later died in their custody or provided causes of death in custody that strain credulity including dozens of alleged suicides by hanging and electrocution, the report said.

In many other cases, only a vague and unconvincing explanation was given for a death in custody, even in cases where the police felt compelled to inform media, it said.

RFA reported in December 2019 that Dao Quang Thuc, a retired teacher serving a 13-year sentence for his Facebook posts, died in what prison authorities called a stroke, only about a year after his term started.

The prison refused to release his body to his family for burial, telling them to conduct the funeral in the prison on the same day he died. The family was also pressured to allow the prison to perform his autopsy.

Reported by RFAs Vietnamese Service. Translated by Huy Le. Written in English by Eugene Whong.
[February 11, 2021] Barrett-Jackson to Auction 2022 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing VIN 001 and CT4-V Blackwing VIN 001 for Charity During Scottsdale Auction

Barrett-Jackson, The World's Greatest Collector Car Auctions, announced today that VIN 001 of a pair of new exciting high-performance cars, the 2022 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing (Lot #3002) and CT4-V Blackwing (Lot #3001), will be sold to benefit charity during the Scottsdale Auction at WestWorld of Scottsdale, March 20-27, 2021. One-hundred percent of the hammer price from both first-production performance sedans will benefit Black Ambition, a PolicyLink non-profit initiative launched by Pharrell Williams that provides a bridge to success for Black and Latinx entrepreneurs who are launching tech, design, healthcare and consumer products/services start-ups. To date, Barrett-Jackson has helped raise more than $127 million for more than 130 local and national charitable organizations. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210211005762/en/ Barrett-Jackson to Auction 2022 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing VIN 001 and CT4-V Blackwing VIN 001 for Charity During Scottsdale Auction (Photo: Business Wire) "The Cadillac CT5-V and CT4-V Blackwings have seen tremendous attention since their introduction just days ago," said Craig Jackson, chairman and CEO of Barrett-Jackson. "These modern luxury performance sedans combine Cadillac's most powerful engines ever built with a spectacular suspension to set a new standard for comfort and performance. As the last in a line of Cadillacs with a factory 6-speed manual transmission, these two first-production vehicles are destined to be coveted collector cars for generations to come. It is an honor that GM chose to auction these performance sedans as part of the largest docket of VIN 001 and first production vehicles ever offered during one auction." The 2022 CT5-V Blackwing VIN 001 (Lot #3002) is a track-capable, ultimate performane sedan. With a 6.2-liter twin-turbocharged, hand-built V8 engine capable, the CT5-V is capable of 668 horsepower, making it the most powerful Cadillac ever built. Its custom Launch Control with Line Lock delivers a 3.7-second 0 to 60 time, while the 6-speed manual transmission is the last planned manual for General Motors (News - Alert) . Inside, the cockpit balances high-end luxury including carbon-fiber accents and ergonomic performance seats, as well as a high-performance steering wheel with fine leather, carbon-fiber trim and a unique serialized plate that has a laser-etched engraving of a portion of the VIN.



"More than a century ago, Cadillac put the automotive world on notice with the first mass-produced V8 engine," said Steve Davis, president of Barrett-Jackson. "Today, the company has rewritten the rules for performance sedans with the introduction of the 2022 CT5-V and CT4-V Blackwings. We're honored to auction these two VIN 001s with 100 percent of the proceeds benefiting Black Ambition's efforts to support Black and Latinx entrepreneurs." The 2022 CT4-V Blackwing VIN 001 (Lot #3001) is powered by a 3.6-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine capable of producing 472 horsepower for a 0 to 60 time of 3.8 seconds. The CT4-V is the only sedan in its segment to offer a factory 6-speed manual transmission. The nimble sedan comes to a halt using high-performance Brembo brakes. Inside, the driver-focused cockpit balances high-end luxury with high-adrenaline performance and features carbon-fiber accents and ergonomic performance seats.

The winning bidders will own the rights to the first-production 2022 CT5-V Blackwing, VIN 001, and 2022 CT-V Blackwing, VIN 001. Black Ambition's long-term vision is for inclusive entrepreneurship to be the new normal. The startup non-profit initiative, a PolicyLink project, will be led by an all-star advisory team that includes Grammy Award-winning recording artist, producer, songwriter, entrepreneur, investor and philanthropist Pharrell Williams, with support from The Bridgespan Group, a global nonprofit organization that advises mission-driven organizations, nonprofits, philanthropists and impact investors. Click here to become a registered bidder at the Barrett-Jackson March 2021 Auction, or click here to consign a collector vehicle. To purchase tickets to the event (available online only), click here. Join Barrett-Jackson's online conversation on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube #BarrettJackson Barrett-Jackson Commitment to Guest Health and Safety

Barrett-Jackson is committed to the health and safety of all its guests, sponsors, vendors, partners and media during its in-person events. The company is closely following local, state and federal health and safety protocols. To help maintain physical distancing guidelines recommended for live events, the auction arena during Barrett-Jackson's 2021 Scottsdale Auction will be limited to bidders, consignors and their guests. Tickets to the event can be purchased by the general public online in advance only. Media credentials will also be limited to comply with physical distancing requirements. Enhanced live online and phone bidding options will be available for registered bidders. For safety protocols and information about the 2021 Scottsdale Auction, click here. About The Barrett-Jackson Auction Company

Established in 1971 and headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, Barrett-Jackson, The World's Greatest Collector Car Auctions, is the leader in collector car and automotive lifestyle events, which include authentic automobilia auctions and the sale of private collections. The company produces live auction across the country, as well as Online Only auctions throughout the year. With broadcast partners FYI and HISTORY, Barrett-Jackson will feature live television coverage in 2021, as well as all the cars, all the time via the live stream on Barrett-Jackson.com. Barrett-Jackson also endorses a one-of-a-kind collector car insurance for collector vehicles and other valued belongings. For more information about Barrett-Jackson, visit www.barrett-jackson.com, or call 480-421-6694. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210211005762/en/

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Taras Semeniuk

Bring the violence under control so that to create space for reviving civil society. It was the aim of the visit of EU's chief diplomat Josep Borrell to Moscow. At least, it looked in such a way based on his goals.

However, Russian hospitality stunned him. Mr. Borrell probably didnt know that hospitable in the Kremlin could be only a person who would talk about those things that concerned the Russians themselves. For example, the Sputnik V vaccine, the completion of Nord Stream 2 implementation, or how American citizens who captured the Capitol on January 6th are bad. In addition, it is possible to praise the Russians for their success in Syria and so on.

But when you raise the issue of the Crimea, Donbas, or human rights violation and Navalnys arrest, be ready for a portion of thick slop pouring on your head. In fact, it is what the EUs chief diplomat Josep Borrell felt. It was naive to wait for Navalnys pardon after Borrells meeting with Lavrov, but the Europeans have recently demonstrated their wishful thinking.

Under the global trend lets put up with the Russians, the Europeans dont see the main issue  the Kremlin will never strive for peace because the empire feeds only by conquering new territories. It is not a direct occupation; it is a mental one. The Russians task is Europes division and taking over its part that will advocate the pragmatic business interests. It is like Germany or Austria are in favor of launching Nord Stream 2. And in the background of the alternative energy sources development, Russian gas will definitely lose to the sun in the long run.

However, Mr. Borrell quickly recovered from the MEPs fierce criticism and backed up. Moreover, he talked about sanctions amid peaceful statements but the Russians are not interested in it to a large extend. They reached their goal  humiliated European diplomacy, which in 2014 severed practically all political and most of the investment ties with Russia because of the Crimea annexation and the Donbas occupation. Europe itself crawled on knees to the Kremlin for reconciling. We saw the first signals starting from the Russian delegation resumption in the PACE.

And some EU political leaders also visited the Kremlin before Borrell's visit; he said there were 19 of them. It is worth recalling the speech by Emmanuel Macron addressed to the diplomatic corps of the Republic dated August 27, 2019, where he declared the importance of a strategic partnership with Russia.

The criticism of Borrells failed visit and the desire to establish peaceful relations with Russia assuming that people are good while the power is in the devils hands, just indicate a policy of double EU standards. By the way, some MEPs have also started speaking about it.

And the realities just prove it. When it comes to values, The European Union starts expressing concerns and condemnations. However, when it comes to money and economics, the style and dynamics of the conversation are immediately changing. Profit for profit is the engine of the so-called normalization of relations with Russia. And Josep Borrell just became a scapegoat of hot political tailors who played for his resignation and their number was up to 11% (81 MEPs) against other 705 members of the European Parliament.

It only indicates that communication between the EU and Russia will be restored in the long run.

What should we do? I have written before  we have to build pragmatic trade and economic relations with the key EU countries, to develop an original approach. The way to success now is not through Brussels, but through Paris, Berlin, Rome, Madrid, Lisbon, and so on.

In addition to the economy, there are also security issues. These are regional alliances with neighboring countries, which are in NATO. All this is possible in the background of strong internal consolidation in Ukraine, professional and experienced elites in the Government, who will focus on Ukrainocentrism rather than on foreign capitals in the Western or Northeastern version. Nevertheless, this is possible only when we will understand our own strength and will be able to govern ourselves; that is when we will be a classical sovereign state.

Only in this case, we will not grab a sedative during the next meeting of European and Russian officials.

Taras Semeniuk is an analyst with Kyivstratpro
Egypts Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry and his Cypriot counterpart, Nikos Christodoulides, discussed on Thursday in Athens bilateral relations and coordination over regional issues of common interest.

According to an official statement, Egypts Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ahmed Hafez said both ministers affirmed the closeness of bilateral relations in various fields, and the importance of continued coordination between the two countries on regional developments.

The meeting between the two ministers comes ahead of the Athens-hosted Philia Forum between the foreign ministers of Greece, Cyprus, Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, set for later today.

The two ministers stressed the necessity of speeding up the implementation of agreed upon projects on a bilateral level.

They also agreed on the need to speed up implementation of projects agreed upon through the tripartite cooperation mechanism between Egypt, Greece and Cyprus, which was signed in Nicosia in October 2020.

The implementation of tripartite projects would contribute in further bolstering relations between the three countries in various political and economic cooperation fields, the statement said.

The Egyptian foreign minister also praised Cyprus support for the development of relations between Egypt and the European Union on various levels.

Hafez added that Shoukry and Christodoulides have expressed their satisfaction for the ratification of several member states of the East Mediterranean Gas Forum charter, which was signed in September and goes into effect in March 2021.

The forum will discuss further strengthening of cooperation between the countries, pandemic efforts, and common security challenges in the region.

France, Iraq, and Jordan have been invited to participate in the forum, according to the Greek foreign ministry.

Earlier on Thursday, Shoukry met with his Greek counterpart, Nikos Dendia, to discuss bilateral relations coordinate stances on variopus regional issues ahead of the forum.

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There were many Northern California customs I had to learn when I moved here. Getting tire chains for drives to Tahoe was a big one  in the snowy climes of New England, where Im from, we all just have snow tires on our cars. Equally novel to me was San Franciscos propensity toward costume parties. Between Bay to Breakers and the Bring Your Own Big Wheel race,, I had been woefully unprepared for how committed this city is to finding an excuse for dressing up.

But the most gratifying Bay Area initiation rite, by far, was Dungeness crab, which I learned upon moving here is a wintertime holiday ritual for many families. That was a surprise to me, since crack-your-own seafood events were always a distinctly summery pastime for us: bibs, picnic tables, corn on the cob.

Somehow, Id managed never to taste Dungeness during my many visits to California before moving here fulltime, and no one had adequately explained to me how exquisitely different it is from East Coast crab. Dont get me wrong  I love a Maryland blue crab, especially a soft-shell one, dredged in Old Bay and fried. But Dungeness is something else entirely: sweet, saline, nutty. And lumpy blue crab has nothing on Dungeness meats fine, delicate flosses.

I also learned, right away, how precious Dungeness crab can be. The year I moved here, the commercial crab season was postponed for three months because a toxin called domoic acid was detected in the crabs, the result of warm ocean temperatures. Every season, Ive watched my colleagues like Tara Duggan report on the crab-fishing drama (its always something), and saw the desperate lengths to which Bay Area residents will go  and how much theyll pay  for a taste. This year, supply is about one-third of usual, and its going fast.

John Lee / Special to The Chronicle 2018

Lucky for me, I got to crack some legs last weekend, thanks to very kind friends who had reserved crabs from Loch Lomond Live Bait House in San Rafael. Boiled, served with a lemony aioli and consumed alongside sips of a fresh, salty Chardonnay, the crab came about as close to pure, unadulterated pleasure as life can deliver these days.

While I wholeheartedly recommend the Chardonnay I drank  the Oak Ridge bottling from Analemma, an outstanding producer in Oregons Columbia Gorge region  its not widely available in the Bay Area right now. (I bought the bottle when I visited the winery in 2019.) Instead, allow me to recommend a selection of other white wines, with some locally available options, that I believe will shine with a Dungeness crab feast. Wine categories not mentioned but heartily recommended include Austrian Riesling and Gruner Veltliner, Australian Semillon and, of course, Champagne.

And, for the record, California may win the crab contest, but I still prefer the plump, meaty oysters from the East Coast to the Bay Areas little ruffled ones.

Craig Lee / Special to The Chronicle

 Muscadet: This slight, racy white wine from Frances Loire Valley  made from a grape variety called Melon de Bourgogne  is known as a classic pairing for oysters, due largely to its characteristic sea-salt flavor. Although Dungeness crab has a sweeter aspect than most oysters, it still benefits from a briny wine. Domaine de la Pepieres La Pepie cuvee ($23.99 at Tomorrows Wine) is a reliable and delicious example.

 A minerally Italian island white: Im a sucker for Carricante, a white grape grown on Sicily that can taste savory, crystalline and richly textured. They can be hard to find but are worth seeking out, especially if youve gone to the trouble of tracking down some Dungeness. One well-priced bottle is the Carricante from Sicilian producer Calabretta ($28 at Biondivino).

Craig Lee / Special to The Chronicle

 A certain type of Chardonnay: My immediate instinct with crab is to reach for Chardonnay. If youre the type that likes to dunk your seafood in clarified butter, a creamy, vanilla-laden Chardonnay may be just the wine for you, but I consider leaner styles to be a generally more harmonious match, less likely to overpower the seafoods delicate flavors. A perennially excellent value is the Foxglove Central Coast Chardonnay, which sees no oak aging and does not undergo malolactic fermentation; its a deal at $11.99 at Bottle Barn.

 Pinot Gris: Im willing to bet it would be hard to find a Pinot Gris that doesnt pair well with Dungeness crab. These wines tend to be floral, effusively aromatic, even a little bit honeyed, all qualities that would bring out the crabs soft sweetness. I adore the Eyrie Vineyards Pinot Gris, from Oregons Willamette Valley, full of citrus and tropical fruits ($17.95 at K&L).

Aperitifs!

Photo by Kelsey McClellan Photo / Styling by Anna Raben

Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more.

 We published a big feature on the new crop of aperitifs  a gloriously vague term that can now encompass vermouth, liqueurs, amaro, even a distillate of rose petals. California producers are putting a fruity, bright spin on this wine-like category, and Im here for it. Read my piece about these delightful drinks.

 And in the aperitivo spirit, our current Wine of the Week is a fluorescent-pink California sparkling rose from Ultraviolet, whose winemaker Samantha Sheehan also produces the Mommenpop aperitifs. Its a happy, fizzy, easygoing wine, and it transports me to summer.

What Im reading

 San Francisco sommelier Josh Decolongon is the funniest person on Instagram right now, says Madeline Wells in SFGate. Decolongon (@sommeligay), who is a co-founder of the synthetic-wine startup Endless West, truly does have a way of weaving together educational wine information with irreverent humor, and he often conveys some important social commentary around wine culture too.

 Clearing grasslands, shrublands, and oak woodlands to make way for grapevines represents a key driver of habitat loss in California, writes Annelise Jolley in Civil Eats. But its also possible for vineyards to promote biodiversity, and she looks at some California wine growers who are working toward that goal.

 For the second time, E. & J. Gallo is suing Napa winery Long Meadow Ranch over its failure to pay for grapes that it was contracted to buy from a Gallo-owned vineyard, reports Sarah Klearman in the Napa Valley Register. An earlier lawsuit, which concerned grapes that Long Meadow Ranch allegedly failed to pay for in 2019, was dismissed last fall. Gallo, which is the countrys largest wine company, says that its out $420,000.

Drinking with Esther is a weekly newsletter from The Chronicles wine critic. Follow along on Twitter: @Esther_Mobley and Instagram: @esthermob

Syracuse, N.Y.  For six months, state legislators demanded data and explanations from Gov. Andrew Cuomos administration about state policies toward nursing homes during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Finally, on Wednesday, top administration officials agreed to meet and provide some answers --privately -- with six Democratic legislators.

Sen. Rachel May, one of the legislators present, said the 2-hour Zoom meeting behind closed doors' was helpful because it was the only way to get officials to speak candidly.

It was the only way to get that real sense that they would open up and sort of set the defensiveness aside and just answer our questions,' said May, who chairs the Senate Committee on Aging.

As the meeting began at 4 p.m., the legislators were given a 16-page document from Dr. Howard Zucker, the state health commissioner, responding to questions legislators had asked in August. May and other legislators later said it was unacceptable that it took so long' to provide the information.

Republicans were more critical, decrying the secret meeting' with Democrats and demanding more answers. Some GOP legislators have called for Zucker to resign.

Zuckers letter and the meeting with Democrats legislators were the latest response from the Cuomo administration to criticisms of the health departments nursing home policies and frustrations over delays in providing data on fatalities.

That followed the release two weeks ago of long-demanded data on nursing home residents who died in hospitals. The data was finally provided hours after a report from the attorney generals office said the deadly impact of Covid-19 on nursing homes had been grossly underestimated.

State officials now say that 15,049 residents of nursing homes or other long-term care facilities died of Covid-19 as of Feb. 9. The number increased 43% when the full data were released on the day of the AG report.

Also Wednesday, the health department answered an open records request for nursing home fatality data from the Empire Center, a conservative think tank. The Empire Center, which had requested the data in August, won a court order last week requiring the state to produce it by Wednesday. The data is now on the Empire Center website.

May said the meeting with Cuomos team was useful and helped clear the air. Besides Zucker, several of Cuomos top aides attended, including Melissa DeRosa, Robert Mujica, Gareth Rhodes and others.

Six legislators, all committee chairs attended: Senators May, James Skoufis and Gustavo Rivera; and Assembly Members Richard Gottfried, Ron Kim and John McDonald.

We havent been getting this kind of opportunity for real give and take before. I would love it if it would become the model for what they do in public, too,' May said.

May said she told Cuomos team that they should be more transparent with information. There was nothing discussed Wednesday that could not have been said publicly, she said.

I said, look, the public needs to be able to trust public health officials in a public health emergency. The more you look like youre covering up or being cagey about answers, the harder it is to develop that public trust,' she said.

Republican legislators are demanding more than dialogue with the administration at this point. Several have called for subpoenas to demand more information from the health department.

Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay, R-Pulaski, scheduled a news conference this morning calling on legislators to subpoena the Cuomo administration.

During a virtual meeting Tuesday of the committee on Aging, May shot down a motion from Sen. Sue Serino, R-Hyde Park, to subpoena Zucker for testimony and records. May said concerns about nursing home care would be addressed in pending legislation instead.

I think we are moving appropriately as a legislative body, through legislation, to make a difference,' May said.

Serino and other Republicans later accused May of dismissing the concerns of nursing home families by maintaining there was no point to issuing a subpoena. In response, May said she meant that the information would become public this week anyway because the Empire Center would receive the court-ordered records.

Serino on Wednesday blasted May and other Democrats for secretly meeting with the governors team to discuss the issue.'

Both sides accused the other of playing politics.

In his letter Wednesday, Zucker responded to a variety of concerns that legislators raised in August after hearings on the states handling of the pandemic in nursing homes, where thousands of residents died.

Among other points, Zuckers letter to legislators defended the health departments controversial March 25 directive instructing nursing homes to accept Covid-positive patients discharged from hospitals. Critics have blamed that policy for spreading Covid-19 to nursing homes.

As he has in the past, Zucker maintained that the directive followed federal guidance and did not order nursing homes to accept patients if they werent equipped to care for them safely. He also cited a health department study that found no connection between the policy and a surge of nursing home cases last spring.

As for the long delay in providing a full accounting of nursing home deaths, Zucker said it has been difficult to gather accurate data during the pandemic.

The health department, he wrote, similar to numerous other public health agencies across the nation, has encountered challenges in simultaneously providing real-time data to the public while also performing the required verification work to ensure data accuracy.'

Read the full letter below.

Do you have a news tip or a story idea? Contact reporter Tim Knauss of syracuse.com/The Post-Standard: email | Twitter | | 315-470-3023
OXFORD International Education Group and Jacobs University are offering Tanzanian students an opportunity to study for an undergraduate degree at one of Germany's top universities.

The opportunity opens with their new Jacobs University International College announcing it is to welcome its first group of international students in September this year.

Germany has become a destination of choice for international students, with Tanzanian students contributing to this trend.

A total of 100 Tanzanian students enrolled in German higher education institutions in 2018, representing a year-on-year increase of eight per cent and a 15 per cent increase over five years.

A Senior Consultant with the Apollo Strategic Communications, Ms Ishara Callan unveiled to the 'Daily News' that among the first pathway providers to establish an international college with a German institution, Oxford International Education Group's one-year, tailored preparatory programme will equip international students to succeed in their degree studies.

The course will deepen their English language skills, prepare them for the multifaceted academic world, and offer an on-campus living experience.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, students at Jacobs University have been offered blended learning.

Ranked among the Top 300 best universities worldwide, and having the most international outlook in Germany according to Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings, with an international student population of 80 per cent, Jacobs University teaches entirely in English and offers a wide variety of subjects to study; including International Business, Management, Computer Sciences, Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Physics, Chemistry, Industrial Engineering and Robotics.

More details will be published in the Daily News on Thursday
Hyderabad, Feb 11 : Telangana's Information Technology and Industry Ministry K.T. Rama Rao on Thursday termed as "factually incorrect" the statement on Information Technology and Investment Region (ITIR), Hyderabad, given by Union Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology Sanjay Dhotre in the Lok Sabha.

Dhotre was responding to a question by BJP member Bandi Sanjay Kumar on Wednesday.

KTR, as the Telangana minister is known, claimed that in spite of submitting all necessary information, the Detailed Project Report (DPR) and also several reminders in the last six years, the Union Minister chose to mislead the house.

The Union Minister said: "The Government of Telangana was asked to submit the required information to the concerned ministries with intimation to MeitY. No information was furnished by the Government of Telangana." KTR said that it was very unfair on the part of the NDA government and the Telangana BJP leaders to blame the Telangana government despite repeated requests by the state government to the Centre.

He recalled that first such letter was written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi by Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao as soon as the state of Telangana was formed in June 2014.

KTR submitted another detailed memorandum on ITIR to the Centre in September 2014.

He said in 2016 he met the then Union Minister of State for Labour and Employment Bandaru Dattatreya to present the DPR in response to the latter's comments that the Telangana government did not submit a project report for ITIR.

"Though the Telangana government presented a project report on ITIR twice, Union Minister Bandaru Dattatreya commented that we did not submit the DPR. Probably he might have been misguided by officials. To put things straight and make facts clear, I have personally met him, informed him, and also presented the DPR of ITIR once again," KTR had told media after meeting Dattatreya.

Several reminders about ITIR Project were submitted to Prime Minister Modi and Union Electronics and IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad over the last six years. "Yet the NDA government chose to ignore these requests. The intention to discontinue the ITIR Project was very clearly understood by the noncommittal responses of NDA government." Last month, KTR wrote a letter to Prasad requesting funds for the ITIR project. Yet, the union government did not allocate a single rupee in the current year's budget, he said.

"While the facts are thus, it is unfortunate that Union Minister Sanjay Dhotre chose to issue a factually incorrect statement. It is also irresponsible on the part of state BJP leaders to resort to a smear campaign on the Telangana State Government without ascertaining the facts," he added.
(Newser)  The House impeachment managers wrapped up their case against former President Trump on Thursday, arguing that rioters who descended on the Capitol did so because they were obeying the president. One repeated sentiment from the day is expressed in this quote from Rep. Joe Neguse: We humbly, humbly ask you to convict President Trump for the crime for which he is overwhelmingly guilty of. Because if you dont, if we pretend this didnt happen, or worse, if we let it go unanswered, whos to say it wont happen again? Trump's defense team will begin its defense on Friday. Some highlights from Thursday:

Rep. Diana DeGette said the rioters on Jan. 6 were following Trump's directives. Their own statements before, during and after the attack make clear the attack was done for Donald Trump, at his instructions and to fulfill his wishes, she said, per USA Today. Donald Trump had sent them there. DeGette displayed quotes and interviews from those who participated to that effect. "They said so," she said, per Politico. "They were invited here. They were invited by the president of the United States."

story continues below

Rep. Jamie Raskin, the lead manager, warned senators that if Trump is not impeached, the US could see a repeat of the Jan. 6 violence, reports the Washington Post. "Is there any political leader in this room who believes that if he is ever allowed by the Senate to get back into the Oval Office, Donald Trump would stop inciting violence to get his way? he asked. Would you bet the lives of more police officers on that? Would you bet the safety of your family on that? Would you bet the future of your democracy on that?

Raskin also asserted that Trump has a history of inciting violence that predates the riot. He used clips of Trump encouraging backers to rough up anti-Trump protesters at rallies and accused Trump of rhetoric that contributed to an alleged plot to kidnap Michigan's governor. Managers frequently cited Trump's own words and tweets to make similar points. DeGette, for instance, said Trump inflamed domestic extremist groups. This must be our wake-up call, she said. We must condemn it, because the threat is not over. President Trump refused to condemn this type of violence. Instead, over and over again, hes encouraged it. Our response must be different this time.

Rep. Ted Lieu faulted Trump for a "lack of remorse" in the aftermath of the riot, per the Hill. He also echoed a point made by Raskin. You know, Im not afraid of Donald Trump running again in four years," Lieu said, per the New York Times. "Im afraid hes going to run again and lose, because he can do this again."

Raskin said Trump can't use the First Amendment for protection. "President Trump is not even close to the proverbial citizen who falsely shouted fire in a crowded theater," he said, per the Wall Street Journal. "He is like the now-proverbial municipal fire chief who incites a mob to go set the theater on fire, and not only refuses to put out the fire, but encourages the mob to keep going as the blaze spreads."

(Read more Trump impeachment stories.)

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 European Commission on Thursday warned that the Tigray region of Ethiopia could be approaching a famine, as the country's three-month-long conflict continued.

The region is largely cut off from the world as fighting enters a fourth month.

Speaking in Brussels, European Commissioner for International Partnerships Jutta Urpilainen said the EU was "extremely concerned" by the situation in Ethiopia, and announced the bloc would be postponing an 88.5 million euro (107 million US dollars) support payment until there was a "cease of hostilities, unhindered humanitarian access and an investigation of reported human rights abuses".

"The humanitarian situation is getting dangerously critical," she said.

Urpilainen also said the bloc would be allocating 70 million euros (84 million US dollars) to support the Sudanese government in aiding refugees who had crossed over into its territory to escape the conflict in Tigray.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
Left and Congress activists demanding jobs clashed with the police in central Kolkata's Esplanade area on Thursday as they tried to break barricades on their way to state secretariat Nabanna, resulting in injuries to several participants and also the police. Condemning the attacks on students and young men and women by the "police force of the Trinamool Congress government", Left Front Chairman Biman Bose announced a 12-hour West Bengal bandh by the Left and associate parties from 6am on Friday in protest.

"The way police unleashed atrocities on the participants in the march to Nabanna, it created a situation somewhat akin to the historic Jallianwala Bagh incident," Bose said in a statement. The Left Front chairman claimed that more than 150 students and young men and women were injured in the police action while participating in the 'Nabanna abhiyan' programme of the student and youth wings of the Left and Congress demanding jobs and better education facilities.

Bose said that the bandh call has been discussed with the Left Front constituents and the Congress party, with which it has formed an electoral alliance for the coming Assembly elections in West Bengal. The Left-Congress alliance has come up to make the Bengal polls a triangular fight with the TMC and the BJP.

The march to Nabanna started at College Street but was stopped by the police on SN Banerjee Road in the Esplanade area. As the activists tried to head further by breaking the heavy metal barricades, police used water cannons.

Amid slogans against the Mamata Banerjee government, the Left-wing youths and students tried to climb up the barricades, following which police began a baton-charge and also fired tear-gas shells. Some police officials were also reported to be injured in the clashes.

CPI(M) politburo member Mohammad Salim alleged that the Mamata Banerjee government is totally dependent on the police force to suppress protests and demands by the people. "Why is she afraid of receiving a memorandum from jobless youths," he asked in a press conference at the CPI(M) headquarters here after the incident.

Condemning the attacks on the agitators, Congress Rajya Sabha MP Pradip Bhattacharya said that the Trinamool Congress government has lost the people's faith and violent suppression of protests is an indication of that.

The Jodhpur District and Sessions Court in Rajasthan on Thursday dismissed the plea of State Government, where it was alleged that Bollywood superstar Salman Khan had presented false affidavit in connection with Arms Act.

CORRECTION: Blackbuck poaching case: Jodhpur District and Sessions Court in Rajasthan dismisses the plea of the State* Government, it was alleged that Salman Khan had presented false affidavit in connection with Arms Act. Govt's plea was earlier dismissed by the lower court. pic.twitter.com/bFdZ4ONhHN  ANI (@ANI) February 11, 2021

RELATED NEWS EC Says Gujarat Cong MLA Does Not Attract Disqualification for Allegedly Filing False Affidavit

Khan on Tuesday apologised for mistakenly submitting a false affidavit in the Jodhpur session court in 2003, during his hearing in a case related to the poaching of two blackbucks in Jodhpur in 1998. The final verdict in the case was to be pronounced on Thursday.

Salman appeared before the Jodhpur session court for the hearing of his appeal against conviction in the blackbuck poaching case through video conferencing. His lawyer Hastimal Saraswat told the court that the affidavit was mistakenly submitted to the court on August 8, 2003, for which the actor should be forgiven.

During the hearing, Saraswat said, "The affidavit was mistakenly given on August 8, 2003, as Salman had forgotten that his licence was given for renewal because he was too busy. Therefore, he mentioned that the licence had gone missing in the court."

Salman was arrested in 1998 for hunting two blackbucks in Kankani village near Jodhpur. At that time, a case under Arms Act was registered against him and the court had asked him to submit his arms licence.
Those who love Stadia will now have a much easier time getting to their favorite games on the platform if theyre planning to buy new Chromebooks, because it will be pre-installed from here on out. Confirmed by Google back on February 9, via its official Made By Google Twitter account, all Chroembooks now come with Stadia pre-installed.

Which means there is one less barrier of entry to launching a game and streaming it to the laptop. Or in general. Once you have your new Chromebook and boot it up for the first time, all youll have to do is look for the Stadia icon in the app launcher. Its really that simple.

Keeping that in mind, you will still need to set up a Stadia account if you dont already have one. Or at the very least sign in with your existing account as the Chromebook probably wont have you automatically signed in.

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Stadia may be pre-installed on Chromebooks, but its still not available for the new Chromecast

Making Stadia easier to access on Googles Chrome OS laptops is great. Wonderful even. And theres nothing wrong with trying to make it easier for users to play games. But Google is still lacking in one specific area when it comes to Stadia.

The app is still not available on the new Chromecast with Google TV. A device that is similar in functionality to Android TV devices. As well as the Chromecast Ultra.

Unfortunately Google doesnt have any new information about when the Chromecast with Google TV support will be available, all it has said is that at some point in 2021, users will be able to access it from the new device.

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This isnt a proper Android version of the Stadia app

If youre a seasoned Chromebook user then youre likely already aware that many of the apps available are probably Progressive Web Apps.

While some are actual installable apps you get from the Play Store. The pre-installed version of Stadia on these laptops is not the latter. Which means what youre accessing is a shortcut to the Stadia web page that you could just easily bookmark and save to the launcher.

Like you would save a shortcut to a Windows PC desktop. For the most part, theres not a whole lot of difference. But it is worth pointing out so theres no confusion. All that said, if you end up with a Chromebook in the future, Stadia will have its own PWA icon ready to go for you.

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The meeting between the federal government and regional states which was held days in Samareb, the capital of Galmudug has ended last night without agreement.

The main issues discussed included the Electoral Commissions, the Somaliland Electoral Commission, and the Gedo Regional Electoral Administration.

Information minister Osman Dubbe said the Federal Government has shown a lot of compromises and tried to convince regional leaders to accept a deal, but all efforts failed.

Somali President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo left Samareb for Mogadishu after the meeting collapsed.
L.A. Nonprofit Launches Black Economic Development Agenda

A nonprofit organization is launching an initiative to focus its resources and programs on closing the racial wealth gap and empowering Los Angeles Countys Black communities, the group announced today.

It is more important than ever to center Black Angelenos and focus on closing the racial wealth gap through economic empowerment, which is what we hope to provide through this years programs, said Tunua Thrash-Ntuk, executive director of Local Initiatives Support Corporation Los Angeles.

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The groups Black Economic Development Agenda includes its ASCEND L.A.program to provide small businesses owned by women and people of color with capital, market opportunities and executive management education. In 2020, 60% of the programs participants were Black.

ASCEND LA not only challenged me to push myself but also changed my paradigm in how I run my business and set up my infrastructure to be prepared and have the capacity to compete for these multi-million-dollar contracts, said Desiree Saddler of Saddler Consulting Group, a 2020 ASCEND LA graduate.

Even in the year of the pandemic, I now am prepared and have the capacity to compete and deliver and I have even secured a 3-year contract during the program!

More information about the ASCEND LA program can be found at www.ascendla.org/.

LISC LAs agenda also includes the Black Business Excellence Technical Assistance Initiative to provide Black-owned small businesses in the personal care industry with support to bring their business to the next level.

A program offering mid-career professionals year-long leadership and executive management training will also be offered. The Elevate B.L.A.C.K. Leaders program (which stands for Black Leaders Academy Collective Knowledge) also supports succession planning efforts for Black-led community development and L.A. racial justice organizations.

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The nonprofit will also host discussions on racial health, wealth and opportunity gaps on its Changemakers L.A. podcast throughout 2021. The podcasts will explore how communities of color are affected by opportunity gaps, how the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted disparities in crisis support in communities of color and what LISC LA and its partners are doing to help.

More information about the Black Economic Development Agenda can be found at www.lisc.org/los-angeles/BEDA.
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Britain is today braced for two more days of extreme weather as the country plunges further into a deep freeze - after temperatures fell to minus 23C on the coldest night in 25 years.

The mercury dropped to minus 23C (minus 9.2F) in Braemar, Aberdeenshire at 8.13am on Thursday - the coldest February night across the UK since 1955, the Met Office confirmed.

Further freezing temperatures, snow and gusts of up to 40mph are forecast for parts of the UK on Friday as the cold snap continues.

The mercury is expected to drop to minus 15C in parts of central and northern Scotland in the early hours of today, while temperatures in England and Wales hover around minus 5C.

Fifteen weather stations in Britain recorded their lowest temperatures ever for February overnight on Wednesday, with the 'extreme freeze' also causing the mercury to plummet in Kinbrace and Strathallan in the Highlands - which recorded minus 21.3C and minus 18.2C respectively.

The lowest temperature recorded in England and Wales was at Ravensworth, in north Yorkshire, which dropped to minus 13.1C.

And the wintry weather is set to continue into the weekend, with yellow weather warnings for snow and ice still in place for parts of Scotland, Wales and northern England until Saturday.

The Met Office said it was unlikely that any record low temperatures would be set in the coming days, with slightly milder temperatures expected over the weekend. By Sunday, temperatures could reach 10C (50F) in south western areas of Britain and 5C (41F) as far north as Manchester.

However, forecasters have warned there is still a chance of freezing rain elsewhere, with those in the Met Office saying they may yet issue a warning for ice - which would bring 'significant hazards'.

The mercury dropped to minus 23.0C (minus 9.4F) in Braemar (pictured), the coldest temperature recorded in the UK since 1995. Forecasters said the last time a temperature below minus 20C was recorded in the UK was December 23, 2010

Christina Staucean, seven, reaches to touch giant icicles formed in Epping Forest on the edge of London as the cold snap continues to grip much of the nation

A man drives a snow plough through a lane in Braemar, Scotland as temperatures continue to plummet on Thursday

Pictured: Hundreds of icicles hang from the roof of Hopton Tunnel, near Carsington in Derbyshire on Thursday

Pictured: A snow covered car which was stopped by the Roads Policing Unit on the Dunsinane Industrial Estate in Dundee on Thursday

Pictured: A shop with icicles hanging from the roof in Braemar, Scotland on Thursday as temperatures fell past freezing

Icicles at Summerhill Force and Gibson's Cave in Teesdale after temperatures plunged to below minus 22C overnight

The snowy conditions at Clunie Water in Braemar, Aberdeenshire, remained on Thursday - with more snow on the way before the weekend

Eight-year-old Austin Allan and his brother Alfie, 11, in their 10ft igloo which took them and friends two days to complete in Kirkliston, West Lothian

Oli Claydon, a spokesman for the Met Office, explained that some of Britain's temperature records had been broken by 'quite some way' on Wednesday.

'Usually you'd expect records to be broken by point such-and-such of a degree but here we're looking at big differences,' he said.

The temperature in Braemar was the lowest in the UK since December 30, 1995, when -27.2C (-16.9F) was recorded at Altnaharra, Sutherland.

It was also the coldest February temperature since 1955, when Braemar reached -25C (-13F).

In the Capital, temperatures dropped to -5.2C in Northolt, west London, -3.8C at Heathrow, and -1.8C in St James's Park in central London.

Scotland saw the coldest overnight temperatures overall, with -13C recorded in Edinburgh and -21.2C at Kinbrace.

Temperatures drop below freezing across the UK overnight The Met Office recorded the following temperatures across the UK overnight on Wednesday: Braemer, Aberdeenshire -23C Northolt -5.2C Heathrow -3.8C St James's Park -1.8C Sheffield -5.1C Nottingham -6.6C Durham -7.4C Edinburgh -13C Sennybridge, Wales -5.5C And this is the snowfall at 7am on Thursday: 33cm at Aboyne, Aberdeenshire 19cm at Andrew's Field, Essex 16cm at Watersham, Suffolk Advertisement

Across the rest of the UK, Sheffield dipped to -5.1C and it was -6.6C in Nottingham, -7.4C in Durham, and -5.5C in Sennybridge, Wales.

The joint record for the lowest temperature ever recorded in the UK is held by Braemar and Altnaharra, in the Scottish Highlands, which have recorded minus 27.2C on three separate occasions.

A video taken by James Beaumont, 33, in the village of Boat of Garten, near to Braemar, showed a cup of hot water instantly turning to ice when thrown into the air.

A picture posted by Scot Rail showed large blocks of ice that had formed underneath one of its high-speed trains.

'We'll use enormous heaters to melt the ice, but it can take hours,' the company tweeted.

Scattered yellow weather warnings remain in place for parts of Scotland and northern England until Saturday.

Mr Claydon continued: 'There's still a couple of days of cold conditions to get through and a little bit more snow in parts of Scotland but the trend is that the weekend is going to herald a change to milder conditions.'

He warned that there was still a chance of freezing rain on Sunday and said the Met Office may issue a warning for ice, which would bring 'significant hazards'.

Banks of snow were said to be 70cm tall in some areas of Scotland, or waist-deep.

The deepest snow recorded in Scotland for this month dates back to February 17, 1963, where an incredible 91cm fell in Whitchester in Berwick.

Simon Blackett, 66, said: 'I am 6ft7in and the snow is above my knees. Imagine what it's like for a normal-sized person - certainly up to the waist.'

It comes after councils across England urged people to take 'extra care' in the treacherous conditions and several were forced to briefly suspend waste collection services.

Conservative MP Jeremy Hunt, took part in a House of Commons debate wearing a sling, hours after breaking his arm whilst jogging.

The chairman of the Health and Social Care Committee told MPs he had spent the morning at the Royal Surrey County Hospital after slipping in the icy conditions.

The NHS said that, despite the tough conditions, many vaccination centres have remained open, and any missed appointments will be rescheduled.

The cold snap is set to continue into the weekend, with yellow weather warnings for snow and ice still in place for parts of Scotland, Wales and northern England until Saturday (left and right for Friday)

This satellite image shows the snow from space. It shows plenty of snow on the ground across much of Scotland and eastern England under clear skies on Thursday, with cloudier skies gradually moving in from the west

Great Yarmouth's Britannia Pier is covered in snow after days of storms in the Norfolk town

Braemar, Scotland. Yellow weather warnings for areas where wintry weather could cause travel disruption have been issued on Thursday, covering the eastern half of Scotland

Lady the dog in the snow in Braemar, Scotland, where the temperature has now fallen to -23C

Incredible ice formations on a roadside near Sandridge, Hertfordshire on Thursday morning

Locals donned their snow boots and woolly hats - and made sure the dog was wrapped up warm - for a stroll in Braemar Thursday

And the RSPCA urged pet owners to keep a closer eye on their furry friends as temperatures continue to plummet.

Keeping outdoor living areas dry, dressing dogs in comfortable coats and placing a saucepan of hot water on icy fish ponds are among the recommendations issued by the charity amid a bitterly cold February.

Weather warnings issued for snow and ice The Met Office has issued a number of yellow weather warnings for snow and ice, until lunchtime tomorrow, across; Central, Tayside & Fife Grampian Highlands & Eilean Siar North East England Orkney & Shetland SW Scotland, Lothian Borders Yorkshire & Humber South West England Wales Advertisement

Forecaster Clare Nasir said that on Friday and over the weekend the weather is expected to turn 'quite hazardous' as 'an area of cloud and rain' coupled with extremely cold air brings further risk of snow, and 'perhaps even of freezing rain'.

On Saturday, wintry conditions are predicted anywhere from the Cotswolds northwards, extending through Wales, North-West England, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Forecasters say 5-10cms (2-4ins) of snow could fall on high ground, with a maximum of 15cm (6ins) in isolated areas. At lower levels, snowfall is also set to be 'widespread' but limited to 1-4cms (0.4-1.6ins).

In a weather warning, the Met Office said: 'Snow is likely to spread east during Saturday with some accumulations in places and icy stretches of roads and pavements.'

Forecasters warn the snow could temporarily cut off some isolated rural communities and cause power cuts, as well as transport disruption.

The snow is due to turn to rain later in the day as milder air sweeps in behind.

By Sunday, further snow is expected near the coasts of Scotland, North East England and Yorkshire, with 3-8cms (1.2-3.2ins) possible.

Separately, up to 3cm (1.2ins) of snow could fall on the moors of Devon, Cornwall and Pembrokeshire through tonight into tomorrow morning.

Meanwhile thieves suspected of removing metal from the roof of a building could not get away because their van got stuck in the ice.

They were seen behaving suspiciously on top of a building in Ramsgate, Kent in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

An abandoned van was discovered nearby in Chatham Place by officers who attended the scene.

Copper and lead pipes were recovered from the vehicle and three men were arrested.

The loaded van had been unable to move due to the icy conditions, giving the thieves no choice but to abandon it.

Temperature had fallen below zero after Storm Darcy brought heavy snowfall and gale force winds to the UK.

Scraps of copper can be sold for between 3.70 and 4.30 a kilo, while lead is cheaper, selling for between 0.70 to 1.20.

A 43-year-old from Broadstairs, a 33-year-old Londoner and 21-year-old of no fixed address have been released on bail until 4 March while enquiries are ongoing.

The Centrepoint charity for homeless youth has urged people to contact them or Streetlink on 0300 500 0914 if they see people living out in the cold.

Charities have also advised offering anyone sleeping rough a hot drink, meal, blankets or clothing.

The NHS said that despite tough conditions many vaccination centres had remained open, and any missed appointments would be rescheduled.

Several councils in England, including Rugby Borough Council and Southwark Council, in London, were forced to briefly suspend waste collection services due to the weather conditions.

Thurrock Council, in Essex, said more than 100 workers, mostly from street cleaning and waste collection teams, were diverted from regular duties to help clear snow from footpaths and routes to medical centres.

The moat has frozen over outside Leeds Castle in Kent, as the mercury dipped to -7C last night

Marcin Jedrysiak from Portsmouth with a pair of his trousers which froze solid in his garden last night

A frozen Rivelin Lower Reservoir in Sheffield. Scattered snow showers and some sunshine is forecast for large swathes of the UK over the rest of the day on Thursday

Swimmers braved the freezing conditions in the sea at Southsea in Hampshire this morning, following the coldest night in Britain for more than two decades

Last night was the coldest February night across the UK since 23rd February 1955 - including the infamous winter of 1962/1963. The temperature in Braemar (pictured Thursday) fell to minus 23C at 8.13 this morning

Just in time for Shrove Tuesday: Cold snap creates 'ice pancakes' spectacles in lakes Ice pancakes at the Ness District Salmon Fishery Board As freezing temperatures gripped the country, 'ice pancakes' formed in lakes and ponds across the country. According to the Met Office, ice pancakes are a relatively rare phenomenon, where discs of ice 20-200 cm wide are formed creating a unique spectacle. They tend to occur in very cold oceans and lakes and are most frequently seen in the Baltic Sea and around Antarctica and frequently on the Great Lakes of the United States and Canada. They require some rather specific conditions in order to form and can form in one of two distinct ways. In oceans, seas and lakes the discs are created when waves cause forming pieces of ice to knock against each other rounding their edges as they freeze and grow. Small rims are created on the edges as the knocking causes splashing water to freeze and join the rim. They are also believed to form when foam on a river begins to freeze which begin to join together and as they are sucked into an eddy (a swirling current of water) and form into a circular shape as a result. As other bits of frozen foam and ice hit the forming disc they freeze to it and increase its size. Source: Met Office Left, Ice pancakes on the River Kelvin. Right, Ice Pancakes on Maryhill Lock in Glasgow Advertisement

The frozen canal with narrow boats in Little Venice, London - where temperatures dropped to around -4C overnight

A man and his miniature schnauzer test the frozen Rushmere Pond at Wimbledon Common in south London

A motorist was charged with dangerous driving after they were spotted with just a 'porthole' scraped out of their snow-covered windscreen.

The vehicle's front and back windscreen were almost entirely covered in snow, with just its side windows clear, when it was stopped by officers in Dundee shortly before 10am on Thursday.

A small circle of windscreen on the driver's side had been cleared but the rest was covered in a thick layer of snow.

Earlier, police in Edinburgh charged a motorist whose windscreen was mostly covered in ice.

They tweeted a picture of the vehicle, which showed just a small area on the driver's side had been scraped clear.

Police tweeted: 'A pedestrian or cyclist wouldn't stand a chance of being seen. The driver has been cautioned and charged with Dangerous Driving and has been reported to the Procurator Fiscal.'

And a warning has been issued by police after hundreds of people descended on one of Teesside's most popular sledging spots.

The mercury dropped to minus 23C (minus 9.2F) in Braemar (pictured), Aberdeenshire at 8.13am on Thursday

A man clears snow from his car after an overnight deposit of fresh snow in the town of Gravesend in Kent

Hardy swimmers were out in force at the Serpentine in London this morning, in spite of the chill

A woman walks past a Tea Shop with icicles hanging from the roof in Braemar, Scotland

Ice formations on a roadside near Sandridge in Hertfordshire as temperatures remain freezing on Thursday

After Storm Darcy snow come the big freeze - which has brought stunning ice structures to the Derbyshire Peak District

The fountains at Trafalgar Square remain frozen over, as Londoners woke up to a bright and sunny, if cold, start on Thursday

Sledgers and skiers make their way to the top of the Town Moor - a popular attraction in Newcastle

Workmen clear snow in Braemar, Scotland - with more snow flurries expected on the way on Thursday

Frost can be seen over the River Thames at Lechlade on Thames, Gloucestershire this morning

Birds stand on a frozen Rushmere Pond at Wimbledon Common, south London, this morning

Ann Hay from Arbroath, Angus, spent three hours in the freezing cold yesterday building a 12ft long, blue dinosaur out of snow for her grandchildren. The 62-year-old used old food colouring to make her frosty Diplodocus green

An early morning paper delivery through the snow in Kirkliston, West Lothian on Thursday

Pictures capture the moment two bodyboarders ride the splashback on some giant waves. The images, captured by Adam Gibbard, catch the adrenaline-seekers towards the end of their time in the freezing ocean at Newlyn South Pier in Cornwall on Thursday

Cleveland Police has urged the public to stay away from Flatts Lane Country Park, near Normanby, after it became crowded with people. The force said it had received reports of hundreds of people at the park at around 4.30pm on Wednesday.

And while most of Scotland came to a standstill under an amber snow warning, a woman and her daughter made the most of the weather by building an igloo in their garden.

Nicola Black, 29, and her five-year-old daughter Sienna spent around 15 hours building a 4ft tall igloo in their back garden in Aberdeen.

The Bieldside Beehive, as it was christened, features a fireplace, a tablet and even a ceiling light.

Ms Black said this was her second attempt at building an igloo with Sienna, made possible by the blanket of snow swept in with Storm Darcy.
Matt Chandler-led Acts 29 partners with Grimke Seminary to equip diverse church-planting pastors

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In a society rife with biblical illiteracy and moral relativism, the Acts 29 church planting network has partnered with Grimke Seminary to train church planters in theological clarity and cultural engagement.

On Thursday, Acts 29, led by Matt Chandler, announced the partnership with Grimke Seminary, based in Richmond, Virginia. A reformed seminary devoted to training pastors for church ministry, Grimke is named after Dr. Francis Grimke, a biracial man born a slave but was later freed, becoming a pastor and a leading advocate of civil rights.

Together, Acts 29 and Grimke Seminary have three shared pillars:

 Theological clarity: Acquire the knowledge and understanding necessary for a faithful Christian life in all personal relationships and vocational endeavors.

 Cultural engagement: Cultivate a Christ-like heart for the lost and develop the habits of life that promote personal engagement with the people Jesus died to save.

 Missional innovation: Develop the observation, analysis, and application skills necessary for fruitful Christian ministry in a variety of contexts.

Grimke and Acts 29 have the shared mission of building up pastors from all walks of life to serve any and all communities throughout the U.S. and the world, said Chandler, who's also the senior pastor of the Village Church. Im thrilled about this partnership and the fruit it will bear in coming years.

Seminary founder Pastor Doug Logan, who also serves as an associate director of Acts 29 and has 25 years of urban ministry experience, stressed that theology was not meant to stay in the academic realm.

As Christians, we are called to apply our faith to our work and to our daily lives to reach our neighbors and our communities. It is with that heart to help the church that we started Grimke Seminary. We are Gospel-centered, theologically-driven practitioners leveraging our experience to help equip the next generation of church planters.

The partnership comes on the heels of a new Barna report revealing that moral relativism is the majority opinion of Gen Z, with most teens and young adults holding to the belief that many religions can lead to eternal life.

[The] simple fact of the matter is, moral relativism hasn't just crept into the worldview of Gen Z, said Jonathan Morrow, director of cultural engagement and student discipleship at Impact 360 Institute. It is now the majority opinion.

Thomas Schirrmacher, the newly elected secretary-general of the World Evangelical Alliance, told The Christian Post that the biggest crisis facing the evangelical, global church today is the growing lack of biblical literacy worldwide.

Our biggest problem is that Bible knowledge is fading away, Schirrmacher said. This is the utmost problem we have beyond all theological differences, financial problems, and political questions."

Robust theological training of pastors and church leaders, he said, is a critical part of combating this growing problem.

[Its] extremely important, he stressed. Because if evangelicals don't know the Bible any longer, it doesn't make any sense that we are a Bible movement. We have nothing else. We have no pope, we have no structure that keeps us together, no matter what we believe. We need to sit down and study the Bible, know the Scriptures, and be properly equipped for ministry.

Brian Howard, executive director of Acts 29, told CP that while COVID-19 posed unprecedented challenges for the church at large, church plants are ideally situated to reinvent and innovate.

They're not usually burdened by a lot of structures, he said, adding that coming out of the pandemic, churches may be a little bit more decentralized.

I dont think well rely as much on facilities, he said. We've learned that our job is not to get people to our building, but our job is to take Jesus to people. When they can come to our building, great, but if they can't, we still have to take Jesus to people.
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LONDON - Royal Dutch Shell, one of the multinationals that has defined the oil industry, is slowly turning away from the fossil fuel that made its fortune over the decades but also worsened a global climate crisis.

FILE - In this Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2016 file photo, the Shell logo on pumps at a petrol station in London. Global energy company Shell said it plans to eliminate seven refineries and reduce production of gasoline and diesel fuel by 55% over the next decade as it unveiled new plans for reaching its goal of being carbon neutral by 2050. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File)

LONDON - Royal Dutch Shell, one of the multinationals that has defined the oil industry, is slowly turning away from the fossil fuel that made its fortune over the decades but also worsened a global climate crisis.

The company said Thursday that its production of oil peaked before the coronavirus pandemic and will fall steadily as it attempts an ambitious pivot toward less polluting forms of energy. It's a milestone for the company and reflects the urgency facing governments and companies to reduce climate-warming emissions.

Shell unveiled new plans for reaching its goal of being carbon neutral by 2050 that include a 1% to 2% drop annually in oil output. It will eliminate seven of its 13 refineries and aims to cut production of gasoline and diesel fuel by 55% over the next decade.

The plan is part of a wider push, particularly among European oil companies, to overhaul their operations to reduce carbon emissions blamed for global warming while still making money. BP said last year that it wants to eliminate or offset all carbon emissions from its operations and the oil and gas it sells to customers by 2050.

Critics say energy companies have been moving too slowly to cut carbon emissions amid a United Nations drive to limit temperature increases to no more than 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) over pre-industrial levels.

Our accelerated strategy will drive down carbon emissions and will deliver value for our shareholders, our customers and wider society, Shell's CEO, Ben van Beurden, said in a statement.

Shell plans to increase production of liquefied natural gas, low-carbon fuels such as bioethanol and hydrogen as it seeks to eliminate or offset all carbon emissions from the companys operations and the products it sells.

It plans to increase its network of electric vehicle charging stations to about 500,000 by 2025 from 60,000 today and double electricity sales to retail and business customers. Shell said it will invest $100 million annually in nature-based solutions that protect or redevelop forests, wetlands and grasslands that take carbon out of the atmosphere.

David Elmes, a professor at Warwick Business School in England who heads the Global Energy Research Network, said Shell's plan to reduce emissions is ticking all the boxes but the question remains whether the company will be able to make the shift lucrative enough for shareholders used to generous dividends.

The plan includes bets on new technologies such as capture carbon and storage that need a lot of investment.

"Todays plan is certainly a transformation, the question is can they afford it," he said.

Environmental activists said the plan was still not ambitious enough considering the speed with which global emissions need to be cut.

Greenpeace noted that Shell did not say it would cut production outright, just let it fade as the global economy moves toward other forms of power, like renewable energy. It also questioned Shell's reliance on tree-planting to offset carbon emissions as unrealistic.
STEMOs (Stroke-Einsatz-Mobile) have been serving Berlin for ten years. The specialized stroke emergency response vehicles allow physicians to start treating stroke patients before they reach hospital. For the first time, a team of researchers from Charite - Universitatsmedizin Berlin has been able to show that the dispatch of mobile stroke units is linked to improved clinical outcomes. The researchers' findings, which show that patients for whom STEMOs were dispatched were more likely to survive without long-term disability, have been published in JAMA*.

The phrase 'time is brain' emphasizes a fundamental principle from emergency medicine, namely that after stroke, every minute counts. Without treatment, the brain will lose two million brain cells every minute. When dealing with stroke caused by an arterial blockage in the brain, prompt dissolution of the blood clot - known as thrombolysis - is essential.

Ten years ago, a team led by Prof. Dr. Heinrich Audebert (Center for Stroke Research Berlin (CSB) and Charite's Department of Neurology and Experimental Neurology) set itself the aim of further reducing time to treatment by bringing the necessary diagnostic and treatment procedures to the patient rather than the other way around. They did so with great success: Berlin's first purpose-built mobile stroke unit, developed in conjunction with the Berlin Fire Department and MEYTEC GmbH, was launched in February 2011. Following years of research, the team was able to confirm that STEMO-based stroke treatment is safe and, more importantly, reduces time to treatment. Today, the Berlin Fire Department operates three STEMO vehicles. As part of a collaboration between Charite, Vivantes - Netzwerk fur Gesundheit GmbH and Unfallkrankenhaus Berlin, these vehicles cover most of the Berlin area. Data from the now-published B_PROUD study show that dispatch of STEMO mobile stroke units is associated with improved outcomes in patients with stroke.

"In our study, dispatch of a mobile stroke unit was linked to increased survival and reduced risk of disability," says Prof. Audebert. He adds: "The relative odds of these patients having significant disabilities three months after stroke was 29 percent lower than in patients cared for by the conventional emergency medical services. STEMO dispatch therefore results in significantly more stroke patients returning to an independent life after stroke." A selection of voices and opinions on the STEMO initiative - from Michael Muller (Governing Mayor of Berlin and Senator for Higher Education and Research), Prof. Dr. Heyo K. Kroemer (Chief Executive Officer of Charite), as well as the initiative's partners and other supporters - can be found here.

Under the leadership of Prof. Audebert and the study's first author, Prof. Dr. Dr. Martin Ebinger (Medical Director of the Medical Park Humboldtmuhle Rehabilitation Hospital), the team studied cases of stroke emergencies which occurred in Berlin between February 2017 and May 2019. Whether a STEMO mobile stroke unit was dispatched was effectively decided by chance: if one was available within the relevant area, it was dispatched at the same time as the conventional ambulance, enabling the patient to receive treatment before their arrival in hospital. A STEMO mobile stroke unit was dispatched in 749 of a total of 1,543 cases analyzed as part of the study (49 percent). If no STEMO was available at the time of the emergency call, only a conventional ambulance was dispatched to ensure transport to a specialist hospital. In 794 cases (51 percent), patients were cared for within the conventional emergency medical system. Using a standardized protocol, the researchers then determined survival at three months post-stroke and the extent of any neurological impairment affecting the patients.

Results from their comparison of the STEMO and control groups were unequivocal. Not only did a greater number of STEMO patients receive thrombolysis (60 percent vs 48 percent in the control group), they received this treatment on average 20 minutes earlier than controls. After three months, approximately 7 percent of patients in the STEMO dispatch group had died. This figure compared with 9 percent in the conventional ambulance group. Similarly, while approximately 51 percent of patients in the STEMO group reported no stroke-related impairments in day-to-day functioning, the corresponding figure in the control group was only 42 percent. Patients in the STEMO group also scored significantly better on quality-of-life measures.

###

*Ebinger M et al., Association Between Dispatch of Mobile Stroke Units and Functional Outcomes Among Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke in Berlin. JAMA 2021;325(5):454-466. doi: 10.1001/jama.2020.26345

STEMO

STEMOs are special purpose emergency response vehicles which have been designed to evaluate and treat patients with stroke. Fitted with a CT scanner and a small laboratory, these mobile stroke units are manned by a neurologist who is supported by a specially trained emergency response team. STEMOs aim to bring the hospital to the patient. Following the introduction of the first mobile stroke unit in the Saarland area of Germany, the launch of the first STEMO in 2011 made Berlin the first metropolitan city to be served by a specially adapted emergency vehicle with CT scanner and miniature laboratory. Organized by and forming an integral part of the Berlin Fire Department, Berlin's STEMOs use teleradiology solutions to share information with the participating hospitals' (neuro)radiology departments. Following the launch of Berlin's first STEMO mobile stroke unit, the initiative was tested for feasibility, safety, and improvements in time to treatment. Based on pilot data, the STEMO service currently being delivered by Charite, Unfallkrankenhaus Berlin and Vivantes Klinikum Neukolln was adopted for further evaluation as a provisional standard care concept. Categorization as 'provisional standard care concept' carries an obligation to study clinical outcomes. The B_PROUD study was designed to meet this obligation. More than 20 similar projects are currently active worldwide, including in New York, Los Angeles, Melbourne and Bangkok. Berlin is the first city in the world to enjoy multiple mobile stroke units providing near comprehensive cover to its citizens. Berlin's three STEMO units are dispatched approximately 6,000 times a year.

Stroke

In Germany, approximately 250,000 people are affected by stroke every year, around 12,000 of them in Berlin. Stroke remains one of the most common causes of death and, left untreated, will cause lasting disability in more than half of all patients affected. Thrombolysis can only be administered to patients with ischemic stroke, i.e. stroke caused by a blockage in an artery that supplies the brain. It is not suitable for patients with hemorrhaging stroke. The use of diagnostic techniques capable of distinguishing between these two types of stroke is therefore essential.

B_PROUD

The B_PROUD (Berlin Pre-hospital Or Usual Delivery of stroke care) study was a prospective, controlled interventional trial with outcome assessed and evaluated by blinded assessors. The random allocation of patients to intervention groups (randomization) was not possible. Allocation to either the intervention or control group was determined by the availability of the STEMO mobile stroke unit. The degree of neurological impairment at three months post-stroke was determined using the modified Rankin Scale. Quality of life was measured using the EQ-5D questionnaire.
United Airlines Holdings Inc. said Wednesday that it plans to buy up to 200 flying taxis from an electric aircraft startup, as the airline industry seeks new technologies to reduce its carbon footprint.

The purchase would be worth $1 billion, according to Archer, the Palo Alto, Calif.-based company developing the air taxis. The tentative agreement is a stamp of approval for Archer, which said Wednesday that it will go public through a combination with a special-purpose acquisition company in a deal that values the combined company at about $3.8 billion.

United and Mesa Air Group Inc., a regional carrier that is joining with United on the purchase, said they envision using the taxis to whisk passengers over congested highways to hub airports. The taxis, which Archer said will be capable of flying 60 miles at 150 miles an hour, could nearly halve carbon dioxide emissions for passengers traveling from Hollywood to Los Angeles International Airport, United said.

Airlines say technology like flying electric taxis can help them reduce emissions, though they say there isnt currently a substitute for the jet-fuel powered engines that power most aircraft. Batteries cannot match the energy density of jet fuel, and airline executives have said that electric or hydrogen-powered aircraft may only be useful for short trips.

With the right technology, we can curb the impact aircraft have on the planet, but we have to identify the next generation of companies who will make this a reality early and find ways to help them get off the ground," United Chief Executive Scott Kirby said in a statement.

Archer aims to begin production in 2023 and launch consumer flights the following year.

United said that it would help speed the aircrafts development through a strategic partnership, but that the taxis must get regulatory approval and meet the airlines operating and business requirements before a purchase is completed. United and Mesa have the option to buy another $500 million worth of aircraft under the deal.

During the coronavirus pandemic, carriers have grounded planes and slashed flying. United lost over $7 billion last year and has relied on government aid to avoid laying off thousands of workers.

But airline executives including Mr. Kirby have said they expect the environmental costs of travel to weigh more heavily on eco-conscious consumers after the pandemic. Some Europeans have said in surveys that they had cut back on travel before the pandemic for environmental reasons, and policy makers there have considered taxing jet fuel.

Newer airplanes are more fuel efficient than many older models, but until the pandemic hit, emissions were still rising as more people traveled and airlines added flights. Commercial aviation accounts for about 2% of global carbon emissions and about 12% of all carbon dioxide emissions from transportation, according to the International Council on Clean Transportation, a nonprofit research organization.

Carriers have dabbled in biofuel, but cost and availability remain obstacles to wider adoption. Many carriers have relied largely on purchasing carbon offsetsessentially paying to plant trees to remove as much carbon dioxide as their flights releaseto reduce emissions.

United has pledged to become carbon neutral by 2050 and last year said it would invest in a carbon-capture project to suck carbon dioxide out of the air and sequester it underground. Mr. Kirby has criticized carbon offset programs and said more drastic action is needed to combat the effects of climate change.

Archer and Atlas Crest Investment Corp., a special-purpose acquisition company backed by investor Ken Moelis, said they expect their deal to go public to provide about $1.1 billion in gross proceeds to the combined company. In addition to their aircraft order, United is investing $20 million in the startup, while Mesa is investing $5 million. Other investors include auto maker Stellantis NV, and former Walmart Inc. executive Marc Lore.

Also known as blank-check companies, SPACs raise money before they develop a business. They use the proceeds to make an acquisition, usually within a couple of years, that converts the target into a public company.

Dave Sebastian contributed to this article.

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text.

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Space City Weather announced they are developing a weather app, and fans of the website can't wait to use it.

Houstonians often turn to Matt Lanza and Eric Berger of Space City Weather for straightforward predictions and forecasts of our ever-changing weather.
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Energy Department Announces Finalists to Advance to Next Stage of Waves to Water Desalination Prize

Washington, DC - Today, the U.S. Department of Energy announced 10 winners in the ADAPT stage of the Waves to Water Prize, a competition focused on using the power of waves to develop clean energy-powered desalination technologies to help provide potable water to communities in need.

"The innovators in the Waves to Water Prize are developing community-driven solutions to improve the environmental performance of clean energy technologies," said Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Kelly Speakes-Backman. "Under this Administration, our office will support the development and deployment of clean technologies to help America lead the transition to a sustainable, equitable, and inclusive global clean energy economy."

Over three years, the Waves to Water Prize provides innovators a pathway from initial concept to field-testing their wave energy-powered desalination devices. The prize will culminate in an open water test in April 2022, when competitors will launch and test their devices at Jennettes Pier, in partnership with the Coastal Studies Institute.

ADAPT is the third of the five-stage $3.3 million Waves to Water Prize. Competitors in the ADAPT stage had 180 days to design flexible systems to meet the site conditions at Jennettes Pier. The winning teams will receive a cash prize of $80,000 each; project titles and locations include:

Canvasback Desalination System (Aztec, NM);

WEC Powered Desalination System (Sacramento, CA);

Water Duck (Redwood City, CA);

Oneka Snowflake (Fort Pierce, FL);

Ocean Waters (Cambridgeport, MA);

CalWave Hydronode (Oakland, CA);

DUO Powered Waves to Water (Orono, ME);

Wave-Actuated Tethered Emergency Response Buoyant Reverse Osmosis System Desalination (Wake Forest, NC);

MZSP Freshwater Production System (Woodbury, CT);

Ballast, Buoys, and Borrowing from Archimedes (Edwards Air Force Base, CA).

Winners will advance to the next stage of the prize, CREATE. In the CREATE Stage, these competitors will have 180 days to build a functional prototype or proof of concept of their system. The winners will also have the opportunity to work with prize sponsors that will support their progress. Janicki Industries, an aerospace engineering firm, will provide valuable design-for-manufacturing feedback and office hours for the competitors tailored to their projects. The International Desalination Association will provide technical seminars for the teams to support better integration of desalination and commercialization principles into their designs, and to amplify the teams solutions to the international desalination community.

Up to 10 CREATE Stage winners will be selected to share a $500,000 prize pool and will develop a plan to build and deliver their technology for the final stage of the prize, DRINK.
The partnership between Cristo Rey and Jewel came together quickly. School President Preston Kendall said he was looking for a way to do something good for the community since the campus opened its expanded space at a time only a quarter of the student body was there at any one time.

Representative image (Source: Reuters)

Retail fuel prices climbed once again for the third consecutive day reaching new highs on Thursday, February 11 in metro cities across the country.

The petrol price in Delhi was hiked by 25 paise reaching Rs. 87.85 per litre as compared to Rs. 87.60 per litre on Wednesday, according to state-owned fuel retailers. Diesel price in the national capital also raised to Rs. 78.03, increasing 30 paise from the previous day.

In Mumbai, the prices rose to  94.36 per litre and  84.94 per litre for petrol and diesel respectively. The financial capital has the highest fuel prices in the country.

Meanwhile, automobile owners in Chennai shell out Rs. 90.18 per litre and Rs. 83.18 per litre of petrol and diesel. The prices in Kolkata reach Rs. 89.16 per litre for petrol and Rs. 81.61 per litre for diesel.

The difference in prices in states stem from local and VAT taxes imposed in states. Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan told the parliament, last week that excise duty levied by the central government makes up for Rs 32.98 per litre of the price of petrol in Delhi and sales tax or VAT of the state government constitutes Rs 19.55.

Petrol & Diesel Rates May 27, 2021 Petrol Rate in Mumbai May 27, 2021 Current Petrol Price Per Litre 100 100 View more Diesel Rate in Mumbai May 27, 2021 Current Petrol Price Per Litre 92 92 View more Show

The minister had ruled out the possibility of a reduction in taxes on petrol and diesel in order to reduce prices. "There is no such proposal at present," he said in Rajya Sabha on Wednesday. He added that taxes are increased or decreased depending on several factors like the requirement of the government and market situation
Authorities alleged that Dr. Hasan Gokal, who worked for Harris County Public Health, stole a vial containing 10 doses of the Moderna vaccine

The doctor from Texas who was fired and charged after he administered 10 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to acquaintances and strangers - including one to his wife - had just hours to get rid of them, not wanting any to go to 'waste.'

Authorities alleged that Dr. Hasan Gokal, who worked for Harris County Public Health, stole a vial containing 10 doses of the Moderna vaccine while working at a vaccination site at Lyndsay Lyons Park, in Humble, on December 29.

Gokal was fired after an internal investigation by the health department and the doctor shared that he's struggled adjusting after the fallout.

'It was my world coming down,' Dr. Gokal told the New York Times 'To have everything collapse on you. God, it was the lowest moment in my life.'

He had been charged with a misdemeanor count of theft by a public servant, but the case was dismissed by criminal court judge Franklin Bynum.

'In the number of words usually taken to describe an allegation of retail shoplifting, the State attempts, for the first time, to criminalize a doctor's documented administration of vaccine doses during a public health emergency,' Bynum wrote. 'The Court emphatically rejects this attempted imposition of the criminal law on the professional decisions of a physician.'

Gokal was fired after an internal investigation by the health department and the doctor shared that he's struggled adjusting after the fallout. Harris County Public Health in Houston, Texas

Prosecutors have vowed that they plan to take the case to a grand jury, portraying the doctor as a calculated opportunist.

The 48-year-old immigrated from Pakistan as a boy and earned his medical degree from SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, New York. He moved to Texas in 2009 to oversee the emergency department at the hospital after working in Central New York.

In the early days of the pandemic, Dr. Gokal lived in a hotel and then moved apartment out of fear of infecting his wife, Maria - one of the people he gave vaccine to.

The 47-year-old suffers from pulmonary sarcoidosis, a disease in the lungs that leaves Maria winded after doing little activity.

On Dec. 29, Dr. Gokal had been supervising a vaccination event in the Humble suburb for emergency workers. Toward the end, someone came to get a shot and activated the seal for the remaining 10 doses in the vial. The doctor asked workers and police at the event, but most refused or had already had the vaccine.

'I was petrified to go home and bring Covid to my wife,' the doctor said.

Dr. Gokal described being recruited to be the medical director for Harris County Public Health's Covid-response team in April. While the job paid less, the doctor was thrilled the job would allow him to better protect his wife and limit her exposure to the virus, he said, according to the Times.

During a Dec. 22 conference call, state officials advised Gokal to administer the Moderna vaccine to people who worked in health care or to residents in long-term care facilities and then those who were over 65 or with health conditions who had increased risk of getting coronavirus.

The vials, containing 10 or 11 doses, are viable for six hours after the seal is punctured.

Dr. Gokal said that beyond the two groups, the messaging on administering the vaccines was simple: 'Just put it in people's arms. We don't want any doses to go to waste. Period.'

He told the Times that on Dec. 29, he had been supervising a vaccination event in the Humble suburb for emergency workers. The pace of administering the doses was slow, as publicity had been kept to a minimum. No more than 250 doses were administered during the event, which Dr. Gokal explained was the first for the county.

'We knew there would be hiccups,' he said.

As the event began to wind down at around 6.45pm, an eligible person arrived for a shot and started the six-hour time limit for the remaining 10 doses.

Dr. Gokal immediately jumped into action, first asking the approximately 20 workers who were still at the event. Most either refused or had already been vaccinated. Of the two police officers still on site, one had already been given the shot and the other refused.

The doctor claims he then called a Harris County public official in charge of operations, sharing his plan to give out the remaining 10 doses. He said he was told: 'OK,' he said.

So he went home, calling people in his cellphone and asking them if they had family or friends that fit within the criteria After administering 9 doses, he finally gave his wife - 47-year-old Maria (pictured) - a shot. Maria suffers from pulmonary sarcoidosis, a disease in the lungs that leaves her winded after doing little activity

Calling other colleagues but not getting answers, Dr. Gokal started his drive home to Sugar Land and began calling people from his cellphone's contact list, asking if they had older relatives or neighbors who needed to be vaccinated.

'No one I was really intimately familiar with,' Dr. Gokal explained. 'I wasn't that close to anyone.'

When he got home, a woman in her mid-60s with cardiac issues and a woman in her early-70s with a myriad of health problems were waiting outside. Both were given shots of the vaccine.

The doctor and his wife then drove to a nearby Sugar Land home and immunized four people there. Those included a man in his late 60s with health issues; the man's 90-something bed-bound mother; his mother-in-law, a woman in her mid-80s with severe dementia; and his wife, caregiver for her mother.

With six doses down and four to go, the doctor then drove to a housebound woman in her late 70s and gave her the vaccine.

'I didn't know her at all,' he added.

Three people agreed to meet the doctor back at his home, securing the last remaining doses. One was an acquaintance in her mid-50s who works at a health clinic front desk and the other was a middle-aged woman who he hadn't met but whose child relies on a ventilator.

The third would then inform Dr. Gokal that they would no longer be able to get to him in time. It was approaching midnight and time on the remaining dose was running out.

Dr. Gokal was promptly fired after reporting the 10 doses. The officials explained to Dr. Gokal that he had violated protocol, adding that he should have returned the remaining doses or thrown them out, he claims

It was then that the exhausted doctor turned to his wife, who was eligible for the vaccine given her condition.

'I didn't intend to give this to you, but in a half-hour I'm going to have to dump this down the toilet,' he remembered telling her. 'It's as simple as that.'

His wife was hesitant, wondering if it was the right thing to do. The couple had 15 minutes left to act.

'It makes perfect sense,' he said he answered. 'We don't want any doses wasted, period.'

Dr. Gokal would submit the paperwork on the 10 people he vaccinated the following morning. He also told his supervisor and colleagues what he had done and why.

The doctor also said that he was rattled when asked why there appeared to be a lack of 'equity' among those he vaccinated. 'Are you suggesting that there were too many Indian names in that group?' Dr. Gokal recalled asking the official, who he said confirmed that was the case

The doctor was summoned to appear before his supervisor and human resources director, several days later, asked whether he had administered the doses outside of the scheduled time on Dec. 29.

After explaining that he had, following guidelines, he was promptly fired. The officials explained to Dr. Gokal that he had violated protocol, adding that he should have returned the remaining doses or thrown them out, he claims.

The doctor also said that he was rattled when asked why there appeared to be a lack of 'equity' among those he vaccinated.

'Are you suggesting that there were too many Indian names in that group?' Dr. Gokal recalled asking the official, who he said confirmed that was the case.

Elizabeth Perez, director of communications for Harris County Public Health, told the Times that the department was unable to comment on anything relating to the incident or Dr. Gokal's case.

Dr. Gokal shared that he learned of the charges after reporters gathered at his home following news of them from the Harris County district attorney, Kim Ogg.

'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,' Kim Ogg said in the initial release announcing the charges.

'What he did was illegal and he'll be held accountable under the law.'

Ogg said Gokal ignored protocols intended to ensure that the vaccine was given to front-line workers and people at higher risk for COVID-19 complications instead of being wasted, adding that mishandling the vaccine could lead to the county's government funding being cut.

But soon Dr. Gokal began receiving calls from relatives and friends in Singapore, the United Arab Emirates and Pakistan.

'Many were calling me for support, telling me, 'We know you better than that,' he said. 'But there were a lot of people who didn't call.'

The doctor said he has struggled since the fallout. Hospitals have all but ostracized the doctor until he has the case resolved, adding to the already difficult pressure of having lost his job, he said.

Dr. Gokal now spends his time volunteering at a nonprofit health clinic for the uninsured, still haunted by the story tied to his name.

'How can I take it back?' that doctor asked.
US President has expressed his fundamental concerns about China's coercive and unfair economic practices, its crackdown in Hong Kong, human rights abuses in Xinjiang and increasingly assertive actions in the region, as he spoke with his Chinese counterpart for the first time since taking office.

The phone call between the two leaders came hours after the Pentagon announced a task force on China.

This was the first phone call between the two leaders after Biden was sworn in as the 46th President of the United States on January 20.

During the phone call, Biden shared his greetings and well wishes with the Chinese people on the occasion of Lunar New Year.

Biden affirmed his priorities of protecting the American people's security, prosperity, health, and way of life, and preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific, the White House said in a readout of the call.

China claims almost all of the 1.3 million square-mile South China Sea as its sovereign territory. China has been building military bases on artificial islands in the region also claimed by Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam.

President Biden underscored his fundamental concerns about Beijing's coercive and unfair economic practices, the crackdown in Hong Kong, human rights abuses in Xinjiang, and increasingly assertive actions in the region, including toward Taiwan, the White House said.

The militaries of China and India have been engaged in a tense standoff in eastern Ladakh since early May last year.

Biden had earlier said he would not immediately cancel the trade agreement that former president Donald Trump struck with China nor take steps to remove tariffs on Chinese exports.

His administration is planning a sweeping review of the previous Trump administration's posture toward China, including its crackdown on unfair trade practices and antagonistic military activities in Asia.

China has faced severe criticism from Western countries, including the US, over persistent reports of the mass detention of Uighurs and other minorities in Xinjiang.

Biden administration officials have also condemned China's attacks on pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong.

China has ramped up a crackdown in Hong Kong after imposing a new law against subversion following major protests in the city.

The two countries also have differences over Taiwan.

China resents US support for Taiwan, which Beijing views as a rebel province that must be reunified with the mainland, even by force.

During the phone call, Biden and Xi also exchanged views on countering the COVID-19 pandemic, and the shared challenges of global health security, climate change, and preventing weapons proliferation.

Biden is committed to pursuing practical, results-oriented engagements when it advances the interests of the American people and those of our allies, the White House said.

Biden's call with Xi comes after his conversation with the leaders of his key allies and friends in Indo-Pacific: Australia, Japan, India and South Korea.

(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.)
ALEPPO, Syria  During a Jan. 25 phone call to discuss the fate of Druze detainees from Suwayda held by the regime, the regional head of military intelligence for the Syrian regime, Brig. Gen. Luay al-Ali, insulted Sheikh Hikmat al-Hajri, the spiritual leader of the Druze community, prompting him to end the call. No details were provided pertaining to the nature of the insult.

The Sheikhdom of the Unitarian Druze Community in south Syria's Suwayda governorate said in a statement on Facebook, High-ranking figures in the state offered an apology and ensured that this mistake has been mended in all its dimensions.

What happened happened, and fences were mended, as things should be by respecting peoples rightful demands. We hope that everyone would abide by our directives for calm and to avoid escalation and strife, the statement added.

Tension began to escalate in the community, as people were outraged by the insult. People tore up pictures of President Bashar al-Assad and wrote anti-regime phrases and slogans against the Iranian presence in the governorate. People also took to social media to express their anger.

Several local militias in Suwayda, such as al-Fahd Forces and the Sultan Pasha al-Atrash Battalion  both established by the Druze community to fight the Islamic State  demanded an official apology from the regime, Ali's dismissal and the end of the arrests of anyone expressing criticism of the regime.

In a Jan. 26 Facebook post, al-Fahd Forces said, An insult to His Eminence, Sheikh Hikmat al-Hajri, by an arrogant officer is an insult to all the community. Should the competent authorities fail to hold this officer accountable for his behavior, they would be considered participants in the offense. The community would then respond in kind and more. Forewarned is forearmed.

A Druze activist from Suwayda who did not want to be named told Al-Monitor, The village of Qanawat, where Sheikh Hikmat al-Hajri resides in the countryside of Suwayda, has had several visits from official delegations of the Assad regime. These are efforts to defuse tension and mend fences with Hajri. Among the figures that visited Hajri were the Suweida governor, the secretary of the Baath Party branch in south Syria, the police chief in the governorate and a member of the central leadership of the Baath Party, Maj. Gen. Yasser al-Shoufi.

On Jan. 26, the Syrian regime released Siraj al-Sahnawi, a young Druze anti-regime activist from Suwayda who had been detained by regime security forces since January.

In response to the Sahnawis arrest, local militias in Suwayda detained an officer and members of the regime's forces in a bid to pressure authorities to release him. The tactic is a common way for militias to pressure the regime.

On Jan. 31, Assad called Hajri and promised that Ali would no longer command in Suwayda. But the Suwayda 24 news website reported Feb. 1 that Ali went to work in his office in the Daraa governorate, though its sources said that he had been ordered not to intervene in Suwayda's affairs.

During 2020, Suwayda had witnessed recurrent protests demanding the regime's ouster over their poor living conditions. The regime responded by arresting a number of activists.

Ayham Assaf, a journalist from Suwayda living in Greece, told Al-Monitor, Assads apology to Hajri comes in a bid to alleviate the popular anger in the governorate, which has lately seen several protests, most recently against the candidacy of Assad for the presidency. Despite the current cautious calm, the state of discontent persists.

Suwayda has always been a source of concern for the Syrian regime ever since the outbreak of the Syrian revolution. The regime has tried over the years to strong-arm and punish the governorate over the increasing numbers of young men who dodged the [military] draft and the increasing protests against the poor living conditions. In May 2020, protesters called for the ouster of the regime, Assaf added.

He went on, Russia and Iran are always trying to increase their influence in Suwayda. Russia is trying to send a message to the international community that it is capable of controlling the situation in southern Syria and form security forces to stop the expansion of Hezbollah and Iran in anticipation of the upcoming presidential elections slated for mid-2021. This is perhaps evident in Moscows efforts to enlist young people who had backed [a political] settlement by joining the First Brigade of the Syrian army, provided that they serve in the southern part of the country. Russia is competing with Iran, which is also seeking to increase its influence in Suwayda by supporting the [pro-regime] National Defense Forces. Irans role in Daraa has declined to the benefit of Russias presence there.
As the pandemic continues, more and more people who have never needed help are finding their needs rising. Help is out there  you just have to know who to call: 2-1-1 is the number.

The following was submitted by Jennifer Roth of ContactSyracuse.org:

Every hour of every day someone in our community needs help finding basic resources. By dialing 2-1-1, they can be directed to essential information and services they need. The free, confidential, easy to remember phone number connects residents to trained counselors who can help callers access basic needs assistance, community resources and financial stability programs. Counselors also help callers in distress find relief when they are faced with food insecurity, homelessness, a mental health crisis or addiction.

Feb. 11 is celebrated as National 2-1-1 Day to serve as a reminder that help is just a phone call away  24-hours a day, seven days a week.

A partnership between the United Way of Central New York, United Way of Greater Oswego County, United Way of Northern New York and Contact Community Services, 211 CNY brings together organizations in the community to better serve the residents of five counties: Onondaga, Oswego, Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence. In 2020, the 211 CNY call center answered more than 32,000 calls for the five-county region.

You can call 2-1-1, visit 211CNY.com, or text your zip code to 898211.

211 CNY can offer access for those in need to the following types of service organizations:

Basic Human Needs, such as food pantries, shelters, clothing, rent and utility assistance.

Physical and Mental Health Resources , such as health insurance programs, Medicaid and Medicare, maternal health, childrens health insurance programs, medical information lines, crisis intervention services, support groups, counseling, drug and alcohol intervention and rehabilitation.

Employment Supports, such as financial assistance, job training, transportation assistance, and education programs.

Support for Older Americans and Persons with Disabilities, such as adult day care, congregate meals, Meals on Wheels, respite care, home health care, transportation, homemaker services and independent living programs.

Support for Children, Youth and Families, such as childcare, after-school programs, Head Start, summer camps and recreation programs, mentoring, tutoring, protective services.

Volunteer Opportunities and Donations, such as community involvement, volunteer centers, disaster relief, toy drives, food drives, Christmas Bureau Distribution.

Military and Family Support, such as programs that serve veterans and their families, community resources, mental health resources and counseling.

To get connected 24/7 with resources for a variety of things you may be facing, call 2-1-1, visit 211CNY.com, or text your zip code to 898211.

2-1-1 is also available in Madison, Oneida and Herkimer County and in Cayuga County and the Finger Lakes region.

Contact Brenda Duncan anytime: 315-470-2265 | Email | Twitter
Tucker Carlson is on the receiving end of backlash yet again  this time for comments he made comparing George Floyd's death to the Capitol riots.

The Fox News personality was discussing Day Two of former President Donald Trump's impeachment trial for inciting the Capitol riot, in which he claims the initial facts "deviate in very important ways" from what we're being told in the present day. Comparing the events of Jan. 6 to Floyd's death, Carlson accused Democrats of lying about the facts surrounding both incidents.

AT IT AGAIN: Calls to 'Fire Tucker Carlson' after FOX News host slammed for comments about Kenosha protesters

"In many places, the known facts bare no resemblance to the story they're telling, they're just flat out lying. There's no question about that," he said.

After rhetorically asking why they'd lie about the Capitol riots, Carlson tells viewers to "think back to last spring."

"Beginning of Memorial Day, BLM and their sponsors in corporate completely changed this country," he said. "They changed this country more in five months than it had changed in the previous 50 years. How'd they do that? They used the sad death of a man called George Floyd to upend our society."

Carlson falsely claimed that the story we heard about Floyd's death was "nothing more than an utter lie."

RAISING THE FLOOR: A bill raising the minimum wage could be coming to Texas

"There was no physical evidence that George Floyd was murdered by a cop. The autopsy showed that George Floyd almost certainly died of a drug overdose, Fentanyl," Tucker said, falsely.

Floyd had deep ties to Houston's Third Ward before dying in Minneapolis police custody on May 25, 2020. A Hennepin County medical examiner ruled his death a homicide from cardiopulmonary arrest complicating law enforcement subdual, restraint, and neck compression." While it does list fentanyl intoxication and methamphetamine use, neither drug is listed as contributing to his death.

An additional independent autopsy by New York Citys former chief medical examiner declared the death a homicide from asphyxia due to neck and back compression that led to a lack of blood flow to the brain," as reported by the Houston Chronicle's Gabrielle Banks.

In other words, Carlson's claims were false  and Twitter wasted no time calling him out for his comments. Many users accused the television personality of spewing nothing more than conspiracies and inciting violence.

Neither Carlson nor Fox News have released any statements at this time.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-11 23:00:24|Editor: huaxia

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VIENTIANE, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- The Lao Ministry of Health urged officials and people across the country to stay vigilant and help control the spread of dengue fever.

Deputy Director General of the Department of Communicable Diseases Control under the Lao Ministry of Health Sisavath Soutthaniraxay told a press conference here on Thursday that 115 people have been diagnosed with dengue fever since January.

Sisavath suggested five simple measures as the most effective method of dengue control which is being practiced by households across the region.

These measures consist of closing and sealing all unused containers, flushing out all water vessels, placing small guppy fish in water jars as they eat mosquito larvae, cleaning areas around homes, and remembering to do these four tasks each week.

If people fall ill, they should suspect that dengue may be the cause of their illness and get a blood test at a hospital, Sisavath added.

According to the World Health Organization, dengue fever is one of the fastest emerging infections, with Thailand, Laos, the Philippines and Singapore also seeing high incidences. The number of cases in the Western Pacific Region has more than doubled over the past 10 years. Enditem
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3D printing refers to a computer-controlled construction system, in which material is deposited and layered in an organized manner to form a physical object based on a computationally designed plan. The ease of distribution of digital files that then allow one to fabricate an object locally could help to ease the burden faced by healthcare providers in the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

3D printing can be used to efficiently produce personal protective equipment (PPE) such as masks. Image Credit: Lucie Peclova / Shutterstock.com

What is 3D printing?

3D printing has been around in some form for several decades, with early versions developed in the 1980s that could fabricate 3D models from photo-hardening plastics or from sheets of layered powdered metals.

At this time the technology failed to develop great interest and was mostly considered an alternative to metalworking processes that were more focused on the removal of material by milling or laser sintering, rather than adopting new additive processes (manufacturing by addition of metal, instead of by removal). It was not until the 2000s that such processes for metalworking became more commonplace, and the 2010s before suitable plastics were developed to allow quick 3D printing in this material.

Several methods of plastic 3D printing have been developed, one of the most readily available of which is fused filament fabrication. Using this technique, a continuous filament of thermoplastic material is fed into the printer where it is melted and applied to the 3D printed object in a layer-by-layer fashion.

How could 3D printing ease the COVID-19 burden?

The occurrence of the COVID-19 pandemic has burdened hospitals, care centers, and the public with an unprecedented demand for personal protective equipment and specific medical devices. Global supply chains have also been disrupted by the pandemic, making the urgent transportation of physical goods an additional challenge. Digital files suffer no such disruptions, and locally printed items could be an ideal solution to these problems.

The respiratory issues associated with COVID-19 left many in need of ventilator support, highlighting a massive shortage of suitable devices around the world. Several groups and companies responded with 3D-printable alternatives such as splitters that allow multiple patients to use a single ventilator machine, entirely 3D printable ventilators, and adaptors that allow commercially available snorkeling masks to be adapted for ventilation purposes, all of which can be printed and assembled on site.

Similarly, the demand for nasopharyngeal swabs was boosted massively at the start and throughout the pandemic, and several 3D printed options are now freely available to download and print.

The added customization enabled by 3D printing of personal items such as face masks allows well-fitting and comfortable products to be produced, enhanced by technologies such as 3D laser scanning that allow an exact model of a persons face to be digitized and manipulated by computer-aided design. Additionally, 3D printed items are eminently recyclable, and can often be melted back down to their constituent polymers and re-used in 3D printing.

Ventilators can be 3D printed. Image Credit: Dan Race / Shutterstock.com

Other less direct applications of 3D printing relevant to the pandemic include the production of training equipment for healthcare workers who are operating amongst an increasingly diminishing pool of trained personnel. For example, a 3D printed translucent training mannequin has been developed by a Singapore-based company that allows trainees to practice collecting nasopharyngeal swabs.

Temporary emergency shelters have also been 3D printed since before the pandemic, capitalizing on the fast and adaptable nature of 3D printing. In situations where hospitals are overloaded with patients and having difficulty isolating COVID-19 positive patients, such emergency shelters could be deployed in a timely manner, with the added advantage of easy transportation and redeployment if needed.

All devices intended for medical use must comply with a number of safety measures, from simple material toxicity to specific requirements concerning the function of a specialized device. ISO 10993 sets international standards for the biological evaluation of medical devices, to which most governing bodies generally comply, including the FDA.

This standard assesses sensitization and many aspects of toxicity when the device is in contact with various tissues from around the body, including intact or wounded skin, bone, and blood. 3D printed medical devices are no exception, and thus the responsibility for such testing may fall to the 3D file distributor, the end-user that prints the object, or the manufacturer of the filament of thermoplastic material with which the good was produced.

3D printed goods manufacturers may print and distribute the goods directly, and therefore have complete control of the materials used for manufacture, storage conditions, and distribution. Alternately, and in a way that best capitalizes on the advantages of 3D printing, they may simply sell the digital files that allow the customer to print the device themselves.

In this case, the manufacturer cannot be expected to control for the materials used or other conditions of production, passing these responsibilities to the customer. Intellectual property violation and copyright infringement is, and will likely continue to be, a dissuading factor for companies considering the distribution of digital goods, as digital files are easily copied and shared. However, many groups are happy to give away these potentially life-saving products for free during the pandemic.

References

Ayyldz, S. et al. (2020) 3D-Printed Splitter for Use of a Single Ventilator on Multiple Patients During COVID-19. 3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing, 7(4) https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/full/10.1089/3dp.2020.0102

Clarke, A. L. et al. (2020) Coping with COVID19: ventilator splitting with differential driving pressures using standard hospital equipment. Anaesthesia, 75(7). https://associationofanaesthetists-publications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/anae.15078

Dhanani, J. et al. (2020) Increasing ventilator surge capacity in COVID 19 pandemic: design, manufacture and in vitroin vivo testing in anaesthetized healthy pigs of a rapid prototyped mechanical ventilator. BMC Research Notes, 421. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13104-020-05259-z

Callahan, C. J. et al. (2020) Open Development and Clinical Validation 2 Of Multiple 3D-Printed Sample-Collection Swabs: 3 Rapid Resolution of a Critical COVID-19 Testing Bottleneck. medRxiv. https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.04.14.20065094v2

Choong, Y. Y. et al. (2020) The global rise of 3D printing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nature Reviews Materials, 5. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41578-020-00234-

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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 11)  China has increased its donation of COVID-19 vaccines to the Philippines, strictly allocating 100,000 doses to protect Filipino troops from coronavirus, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said on Thursday.

China will give a total of 600,000 doses of Sinovac vaccines to the Philippines. Roque said the doses are set to reach the country on Feb. 23, while the exact date of arrival of Pfizer vaccines from the COVAX facility is still unclear.

"Bagamat di pa natin alam ang eksaktong petsa ng pagdating ng bakuna galing sa Covax facility, ang bakuna galing Sinovac na galing China, nakaukit na sa bato ang pagdating. Feb. 23."

[Translation: While we don't know the exact date of the arrival of vaccines from the Covax facility, the arrival of Sinovac (vaccines) from China is already set in stone  Feb. 23.]

RELATED: PH faces Pfizer vaccine delivery delay

Sinovac has yet to receive an emergency use authorization from the country's Food and Drug Administration.

Duterte has always made known his desire to have the police and the military included in the priority list. Last year, he pointed out that they need to be prioritized because he needs a "healthy" police and military forces.

The President also said early this year he wants free COVID-19 vaccination for soldiers and policemen, and their families.

Uniformed personnel are supposedly fourth in line to receive the limited vaccines based on the government's priority list.
Amazon on Thursday approached the Supreme Court against Future Group's $3.4 billion retail assets sale to Reliance Industries. The E-commerce giant termed a Delhi High Court judgment revoking a previous single judge decision blocking the deal "illegal" and "arbitrary", reported Reuters.

The Delhi High Court had on Monday stayed an order on status quo of the deal and ruling that statutory authorities cannot be restrained from acting in accordance with the law. The order is, however, an interim one and the next hearing is on 26 February.

Also Read | Inside the Mindtree makeover strategy

Amazon has said that the company will face "irreparable harm" is SC does not intervene to block the verdict. "The more progress made to complete Future-Reliance deal, the harder it will be to unravel it," said Amazon.

The HC's order on came over an urgent petition moved by FRL after a single-member bench directed maintaining status-quo over Future's deal with Reliance.

The scheme of arrangement has already received approval from CCI and no objection from SEBI and bourses, following which it had approached NCLT Mumbai on 26 January.

Last month, Amazon had approached the Delhi High Court seeking enforcement of the interim order of the Emergency Arbitrator (EA) at the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) that had restrained FRL from going ahead with the deal with Reliance.

Why is Amazon feuding with Future Group, RIL?

The legal spat between Amazon.com Inc. and its Indian partner began when the e-commerce giant alleged that Future violated a partnership contract with the asset sale to its rival.

Future denies any wrongdoing and says it would collapse if the transaction fails.

The Jeff Bezos-led e-tailer accuses Future and its founder Kishore Biyani of flouting an interim order in October from a Singapore arbitration court that halted the asset sale.

Amazon also recently asked an Indian court to jail Biyani and has petitioned local regulators not to approve the Future-Reliance deal while the arbitration is underway.

The fight is essentially for the dominance of Indias estimated $1 trillion consumer retail market. Future Group is caught in the middle of this tussle between companies helmed by two of the worlds richest men, Bloomberg had reported.

Amazon had bought 49% in one of Futures unlisted firms last year, with the right to buy into the listed flagship Future Retail Ltd. after a few years. But the retailer ran into a severe cash crunch when India went into a lockdown in March to curb the coronavirus outbreak.

In May, Amazon was considering increasing its stake in Future Retail, people familiar with the matter said at the time. But no such transaction materialized quickly and Future cut a deal with Reliance, infuriating Amazon. The U.S. firm claims that its contract with the unlisted Future unit barred a transaction with a number of persons and companies, including Ambani and Reliance.

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On March 3, 5.00 p.m. Pacific Standard Time (PST), historian Joseph Scalice will be delivering an online public lecture, hosted by the Center for Southeast Asian Studies at UC Berkeley, on the subject of the 1971 bombing of the Liberal Party election rally at Plaza Miranda in the Philippines. The bombing marked a critical step toward the imposition of martial law by President Ferdinand Marcos in 1972 and remains one of the most controversial events in the countrys history.

Three grenades were thrown on stage in the midst of the crowded election rally of the bourgeois opposition Liberal Party (LP), killing nine and wounding over a hundred people. Marcos responded by suspending the writ of habeas corpus and carrying out mass arrests, conducting a dry-run for the establishment of military dictatorship a year later.

Joseph Scalice

Dr. Scalice, in his 2017 UC Berkeley doctoral dissertation, Crisis of Revolutionary Leadership: Martial Law and the Communist Parties of the Philippines, 1957  1974, documented how the rival factions of the Philippine elite were engaged in a mad scramble for power prior to the announcement of martial law. There was agreement among all factions of the ruling class that dictatorship was necessary to prevent the mass social unrest of the times from becoming a revolutionary movement.

Scalice detailed for the first time how two rival Stalinist parties, the PKP and the CPP, which had split along the lines of the Sino-Soviet dispute, allied with the rival factions of the elite and subordinated the mass social unrest of the times to the interests of Marcos and the elite opposition.

The PKP, working with the military, staged bombings in Manila in an effort to provide pretexts for Marcos expanding dictatorial powers. The Plaza Miranda bombing, however, did not fit their modus operandi at all.

In a chapter carefully examining the subject of the Plaza Miranda bombing, Scalice established that the overwhelming weight of historical evidence reveals that the CPP was responsible for the bombing. They hailed the repression carried out by Marcos as hastening the onset of revolution, and channeled the mass sympathy occasioned by the bombing behind the Liberal Party ticket, campaigning for their allies in the LP.

The historical lessons of the political machinations of 197072 in the Philippines are of immediate relevance today, as the ruling class around the world responds to the crisis of global capitalism and the pandemic by turning again to authoritarian forms of rule. Scalices lecture promises to be a critical exposure of the politics of Stalinism and the role it played in preventing the emergence of independent movement of the working class in opposition to the danger of dictatorship.

We encourage our readers to register to attend.
Posted Wednesday, February 10, 2021 5:46 pm

Dr. Alan Melnick and Dr. Steven Krager  who are currently providing public health officer services to five Southwest Washington counties  will take over for Lewis Countys Dr. Rachel Wood, who announced her retirement last September.

Although negotiations began months ago, with outgoing county commissioners signaling their approval for Melnick and Krager, the transition this week was rockier.

Newly-elected Commissioner Sean Swope argued that hiring a health officer responsible for several counties embodies the same regional approach that the county is fighting against with the state. County officials  including Public Health Director J.P. Anderson  have been objecting to a bill proposed by the governor to replace local boards of health with regionalized public health jurisdictions, a move they see as stripping away local control.

Like most counties, Lewis County commissioners serve on the local board of health.

We are about to have to fight legislation about regionalized health, and now what were doing is were about to hire someone thats sitting in that same manner, Swope said Monday. Why are we not pursuing someone to focus completely, entirely on Lewis County?

Currently, Melnick and Krager serve Clark, Pacific, Cowlitz, Skamania and Wahkiakum counties.

Swope called for the county to open a public application process in order to hire someone locally.

But according to Anderson, who was directed to scope out a replacement last year, its not that simple. He was joined by Wood in contending that the county is lucky to have Krager and Melnick considering how few health officers are available. News reports last year highlighted the increasing number of health officers retiring, stepping down or being terminated during the pandemic.

Given what I know about the availability of qualified, competent and quite frankly rockstar health officers that we have now in Clark County, its very limited, Anderson told commissioners.

Anderson warned that if the county were to open up an application instead of hiring Krager and Melnick, it could find itself without a health officer in the throes of a pandemic. If an application was launched later on, and Clark County decided not to stay for that, Anderson said the state would likely step in as Lewis Countys health officer.

Wood also chimed in, telling Swope that its not like health officers are a dime a dozen.

She cited Thurston County, which was without a health officer for months after Wood departed.

They were fortunate to get a retired health officer to step in, Wood said, referencing Dr. Diana Yu, who has since re-entered retirement.

Wood also pointed to Mason County, whose health officer planned to depart the state at the end of 2020, but is staying put as the county struggles to find a replacement.

Anderson also said that while Melnick and Krager do operate, to some degree, on a regional level, they are also champions for local control. He contended that regional partnerships and local control are not mutually exclusive.

I do think that part of local control is cleverly leveraging regional partnerships to reach your needs, he said. And the most important thing is we decide when to leverage those regional resources.

While commissioners voted unanimously to approve the agreement with Clark County, Commissioner Gary Stamper also expressed support for looking for a new health officer at some point.

Regarding the transition, Pollock said her biggest concern was how new health officers would navigate Lewis Countys schools  the aggressive reopening of which, despite state guidelines, has been commended by local officials.

Krager said that he and Melnick would largely take a hands-off approach.

We will support them kind of in any decision they make. So we havent made strong recommendations, is how I would put it, Krager said. We generally said we recommend following the states guidance, but also recognize that there are different circumstances within the districts.

Commissioners also questioned whether working for multiple counties would spread Krager thin in his efforts to attend to local needs. During a pandemic, Krager said, most public health workers are working around the clock anyway.

Per the new agreement, Krager will act as Lewis Countys primary health officer, and will work eight hours per week solely with Lewis County. But Anderson said a large chunk of a health officers work is keeping up to date with state guidance and research  hours of work that benefits each county.

The contract begins March 1, and ends at the end of December, with an option to extend. Lewis County will pay $6,775 per month for services, or $67,750 by the end of December.
(Alliance News) - JPMorgan AG said Thursday it was recently asked to invest up to EUR110 million in Dalata Hotel Group PLC on behalf of an unnamed European client, but the client has since pulled out of the purchase.

The US investment bank's German office said it was employed to act as dealer-manager to intermediate the purchase of an investment in Dalata by a European corporate, with multiple minority holdings, at a price between EUR3.50 to EUR3.75 - with a total investment of up to EUR110 million.

Shares in Dalata closed 2.9% higher in London on Thursday at 308.50 pence each.

"The purchaser engaged with certain shareholders of the company to solicit interest regarding the potential purchase, however it has decided not to proceed with the purchase at this time," JPMorgan added.

By Paul McGowan; paulmcgowan@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
 Flash

A batch of China-donated Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines arrived in Malabo, capital of Equatorial Guinea, on Wednesday.

This is the first batch of vaccine aid provided by the Chinese government to African countries, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said Tuesday at a press briefing.

The Chinese aid is the fruit of the excellent relations between the two countries, said Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, Vice President of Equatorial Guinea, who received the Chinese vaccines at the airport.

"Faced with the pandemic, no country, no matter how powerful, is not spared. However, in this context of crisis, only China has extended its hand to Equatorial Guinea, which has become the first African country to receive Chinese vaccine aid, and we are grateful for it ", he said.

During the Extraordinary China-Africa Summit on Solidarity against COVID-19 held in June 2020, African countries were reassured to be the first beneficiaries of Chinese vaccines. China has kept its promise to deliver the vaccines to Equatorial Guinea as soon as possible, which will help it defeat the coronavirus, said Qi Mei, the Chinese Ambassador to Equatorial Guinea.

The safety and effectiveness of Chinese vaccines are recognized by the international community. Despite huge domestic demand for vaccines, China is determined to overcome the challenges to make vaccines an accessible and affordable public product for developing countries, she said.
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They are the sweet treat so popular they have sold out on Amazon and in supermarkets - but you might not even recognise the name.

Little Moons are a Japanese-inspired dessert that consist of mini ice cream balls wrapped in a thin layer of rice flour dough called 'mochi'.

They come in a range of flavours including Alphonso Mango, Sumatran Coconut and Vegan Chocolate, and cost 4.50 for a box of six.

But shoppers across the UK have been left disappointed because they are sold out on Amazon and at supermarkets including Tesco, which has seen a 1,300 per cent spike in sales.

Little Moons are a Japanese-inspired dessert that consist of mini ice cream balls wrapped in a thin layer of rice flour dough called 'mochi'. They come in a range of flavours including Alphonso Mango, Sumatran Coconut and Vegan Chocolate, and cost 4.50 for a box of six

Shoppers across the UK have been left disappointed because they are sold out on Amazon and at supermarkets including Tesco, which has seen a 1,300 per cent spike in sales

The demand for Little Moons has been driven by a viral trend on TikTok that sees users filming their attempts at searching for the treats and experimenting with mixing flavours.

A search for #LittleMoonsMochi on TikTok, reveals almost 8.1 million users have viewed videos about the treats.

The treats, which are stored in the freezer and eaten like a dessert, have proved a hit.

Co-founder Vivien Wong, who created the treat with her brother Howard in 2010, said the brand has witnessed its biggest week of sales ever and is 'working hard' to keep up with demand.

Tesco has had a 1300 per cent increase in sales of Little Moons, compared to 700 per cent the week prior and the treats are currently unavailable from Amazon Fresh.

A spokesperson from Waitrose, told Femail: 'Last week, sales were up 340 per cent, and we've increased our orders and expanded the range of Little Moons into more shops to cope with demand'.

Laura Harricks who is Chief Customer Officer at Ocado, added: 'Since December we've seen a whopping 1279 per cent increase in searches for Little Moons on Ocado.com and that number nearly doubled again after we posted our full range (all 12 flavours  the biggest range of any supermarket) on our Instagram page last week. Vegan passionfruit and mango has proved most popular with our customers so far, with sales up 376 per cent YoY'

Social media users who haven't been able to find the treats in their local supermarkets to get involved in the viral trend on TikTok, have taken to Twitter venting their frustrations.

Vivien and Howard Wong from North London, who founded Little Moons ice-cream bites (pictured) in 2010, have seen a sudden surge in demand thanks to social media

A stream of people have taken to Twitter (pictured) complaining about being unable to find Little Moons ice cream bites in their local supermarket

One person wrote: 'I'm honestly willing to pay triple price for these bloody Little Moons, where are they? Someone must have some?'

Another said: 'I don't think people understand how many times I've been to every Tesco this week and still not found Little Moons.

A third added: 'After a week of trying to find the Little Moons mochi, I have come to the conclusion that they do not exist in Norwich, the bright side of my search is that I have walked 5+ hours in the past week.'

Created in 2010 by siblings Vivien and Howard Wong from North London, the Japanese-inspired ice-cream bites were born of their desire to give mochi, a traditional dessert, a fresh twist.

It took Vivien and Howard two years to master the mochi-making process and perfect the ice cream recipes, working with top chefs and using quality ingredients to create their iconic flavour combinations.

Co-founder Howard Wong, said the ice cream (pictured) is selling out as soon as the freezers are re-stocked and they're grateful to all those posting about it on TikTok

Today the treats are sold in Tesco, Ocado, Waitrose and Wholefoods as well as their own pop-up in Selfridges Food Hall.

The brand currently sells 12 flavours, including Himalayan Salted Caramel, Summer Raspberry and Uji Matcha Green Tea.

Speaking about their unexpected surge in popularity, Howard Wong, Little Moons Co-Founder told Femail: 'TikTok has catapulted our mochi ice cream into being the UK's must-have food of 2021.

'Seeing the British public go to 'Big Tesco' in search of Little Moons in their thousands, and the videos they created being viewed over 100m times, has been incredible.

'Having experienced our biggest week in sales last week, we are working hard to meet the huge demand for Little Moons and working to expand our distribution across the country so customers have an easier time finding us. At the moment, our ice cream is selling out as soon as the freezers are re-stocked.

'Over the last 10 years, we've seen Little Moons grow into an incredibly successful company but the TikTok phenomenon has seen millions of people discover us and we're so grateful to every TikTok user who's made it happen.'
A Perth family-owned hotel has been left in the lurch amid bickering over who will pick up the bill to temporarily house homeless people in the wake of the dismantling of Fremantles tent city.

Perth City Apartment owner Eddie Kamil said the hotel was more than $20,000 out of pocket and warned the business was running out of cash to continue housing and feeding the rough sleepers.

Perth City Apartment Hotel Eddie Kamil with some bread used to feed his guests.

Mr Kamil wants the state government to foot the bill like its doing with other Perth hotels but the Department of Communities refuses to pay, saying the rooms were booked by a private client.

Meanwhile, about 30 homeless people  including pregnant women, families with young children, and people with disabilities  are in limbo, unsure how long they will have a roof over their heads.

In DNA on Thursday, we want to challenge Twitter to suspend the account of Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra for spreading fake news and this action should not be delayed at all. If Twitter does not do this, then it will prove that its policy regarding the fake news is completely false and it is promoting people who feel that they can easily escape by spreading fake news and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra has done the same.

READ | Amid government-Twitter standoff over content, lawmakers urge followers to switch to Koo

She tweeted on February 7 at 9.30 am and deleted the tweet 10 minutes later thinking that this act of hers would not be caught and by doing so, she would also spread fake news. But today in DNA, we want to say that she has been caught and Twitter should not take any time to suspend their account.

READ | 'From India, for the world': Centre replies to Twitter as officials switch to 'Koo' app

In the tweet, she had shared some pictures, in which some people are seen with army personnel. Priyanka claimed that these soldiers have reached the border of Delhi, where the farmers' agitation is going on, directly after getting leave. If you read this tweet carefully, you will know that Priyanka wrote these lies in such a beautiful way that people easily believed it.

However, when our team tried to know the truth behind these pictures, we came to know that it was a very big fake news. Actually, these pictures were not of the farmers' agitation going on the borders of Delhi but were from Ludhiana, Punjab. These pictures were used to spread fake news and most importantly Priyanka also deleted this fake news after tweeting. However, by the time she deleted this tweet, these pictures had spread like fire as on February 7, the fake news was also spread through the Twitter handle of the country's oldest party Congress and this tweet has not been deleted yet.

These pictures were taken on February 6 at the bus stand in Ludhiana and the truth of these pictures is that these soldiers were going on duty for the first time and the family members themselves went there with them to see them off at the bus stand. This proves that Priyanka spread such big fake news and Twitter also did not take any action on it. So today, we demand from Twitter that the way former US President Donald Trump's account was suspended for spreading fake news in America, the same action should be taken on Priyanka as well.

Now we want to tell you something important. On August 24, 1608, the East India Company ship from Great Britain reached a port in Surat by sea. At that time perhaps no one had even imagined that the East India Company of Britain would rule a country 20 times larger than its own country and at that time about one-fourth of the world's population. But contrary to expectations it happened and India was ruled by the British for 190 years.

The East India Company came to India to do business and at that time India was one of the wealthiest countries in the world. There were many princely states and the throne of Delhi was ruled by Mughal emperor Jalaluddin Mohammad Akbar. The British used trade as a ladder to rule India and took care of the kings and Mughal rulers of the time and were given expensive gifts. It was from here that the roots of the British began to strengthen in India and then after the Battle of Plassey in 1757, India was captured by the British and the British kept India as a slave for 190 years and we feel that history is repeating itself once again today.

Today, many technology companies have reached every small and big cities and village of India through the Internet and these companies are doing the same in the name of networking, which was done by the East India Company in the name of trade. They want to swallow countries like India in the name of giving you the freedom to speak and to connect people to each other and we think that they are all signs.

We will analyze these companies and will also tell you how these companies have started challenging the constitutional values of India. To understand this, first you have to understand the stalemate which has arisen between the Government of India and Twitter and we will try to explain it to you in just five points.

Firstly, the Central Government had asked Twitter to close 1,435 Twitter accounts in three different orders because, through these accounts, fake news was being spread among the people with inflammatory messages about the farmers' protests. Secondly, Twitter had to close these accounts as per the government order but these orders did not materialize for long. Twitter did not take the government's order too seriously.

Thirdly, when the government expressed resentment over this, Twitter also responded to this and most importantly, Twitter refused to act on all the accounts stated by the government. Now think to yourself, the courage of these companies has started challenging even a constitutional government.

Fourthly, Twitter itself decided that all those who spread fake news, promote violence and share inflammatory messages are innocent and no action should be taken against them. Fifthly, out of 1,435 people, only 500 people have their accounts closed and Twitter did not take any action on the rest of the people saying that whatever things these people wrote are in accordance with Indian laws. Twitter also called it within the realm of freedom of expression.

Right now I have a letter written by Twitter in my hand, and I want to read and tell you some major points written in it. Today, Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad presented the side of the government on this whole matter in Parliament. Congress leader Randeep Surjewala had claimed in a tweet after the violence in Delhi on January 27 that the police had brutally beaten the farmers during the violence. He also shared a picture with this tweet in which a person is seen seriously injured.

When we tried to know the truth behind the picture, we came to know that this picture is also from 2019. In Delhi's Mukherjee Nagar, an auto driver named Sarabjit Singh attacked the policemen with a sabre, after which Sarabjit Singh accused the police of assaulting him in the police station. But this picture of Surjewala spread this fake news that it is of January 26 violence and the thing to understand here is that Twitter also did not take any action on this fake news.

The leaders of the Congress are not the only ones who run the agenda in the name of false news. The Trolley Times, a newspaper of farmers appearing from the Singhu border in Delhi, has also spread fake news. The newspaper published a report on February 5 which claimed that two bombs were thrown at the Delhi Police near the stage of the Singhu border. This report was denied by Delhi Police but Twitter did not take any action despite this.

There are some more examples of Twitter's Double Standards.

As the company has said in its response to the government that it has not taken any action against media institutions, journalists, social workers and leaders because Twitter believes that doing so would violate these people's right to freedom of expression. But the thing to understand here is that Twitter itself suspended the account of New York Post for one week during the presidential election in America. Because the New York Post exposed Joe Biden's son Hunter Biden's suspected relationship with China. This step of Twitter had a profound impact on the elections there.

According to a study by the National Media Research Center of America, 27 per cent of the voters there did not have any information about this news of New York Post and 13 per cent of these people believed that if they had known about it, they would not have voted in support of Biden. That is, this step of Twitter directly affected the US presidential election. This also casts doubt on the way Twitter works and it also suggests that such efforts can happen during elections in India in the next few years.

Now let us tell you another example. On November 4, 2020, when Donald Trump made a tweet alleging rigging in the US election, Twitter deleted Trump's tweet without delay. But when some politicians in India question EVM machines and try to tarnish the Election Commission image, Twitter does not consider it necessary to act on these leaders.

With this, you can guess the double standards of Twitter.

Now let us tell you what are the views of Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey on these double standards. In an interview in 2018, Dorsey himself believed that more Twitter employees are inspired by the leftist ideology. Then he also believed that such employees of Twitter, whose views are different, do not feel safe in the company and feel afraid to give their opinion.

If we analyze today's digital age, it seems that India has split into two. A part belongs to those who spread any number of fake news but there is no action against them and the second part belongs to those whose account is closed only because they stand with the truth. The digital age has today divided the people of India into verified and unverified users. At present, there are about five crore users on Twitter in the world, which means that there is no Blue Tick in front of their account and the number of people whose accounts have been verified by Twitter is around 28 crore.

Amid this stalemate, an application is being discussed in the country. The name of this app is Koo and many union ministers have created their account on this app. It seems that the government is trying to give a strong message to Twitter.
If we dont end the nonsense now, nothing stops another group of violent rogues from some part of the country from stealing, looting, murdering  even making a secession bid  and then staking a claim for compensation.

The fight against terror in Nigeria has been a theatre of the absurd. What began as a tiny spark of itinerant fanatics taking a pledge against Western education mutated into a full-fledged non-state army currently ranked as the third deadliest globally. Yet, banditry is another fast-growing franchise.

State response has also been as bewildering as it has been absurd. It has ranged from denial to extra-judicial killings and from regional joint task forces to the use of prayer warriors and mercenaries.

And when you thought absurdity had reached its limits, a new idea has been added to the toolbox: Compensation to bandits as incentive for them to lay down their arms.

We dont know how big, yet. But if what the well-known Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, is saying is anything to go by, bandits in Zamfara State, North-West Nigeria, may expect a big payout as compensation to stop the killings.

Its weird that killers, and not their victims, should demand compensation. Its even weirder that the mediator can actually bring the matter to the public, thinking that after years of paying ransom and bribes without results, compensation might finally set us free from criminals.

Its the victims nightmare recompense: A loved one is murdered, and then you watch the perpetrator of the crime paid compensation by the state that is supposed to have prevented the crime in the first place.

Gumi didnt say how much the compensation would be. But anyone who has seen videos of the bandits dressed like the Taliban, armed with automatic weapons and caches of live rounds strapped to their bodies, would know that theyll need to be paid handsomely to forgo their lifestyles of audacious criminality.

As Gumi finished his meeting with over 500 of the bandits in some forest area of Zamfara recently, he said he was sure that if the bandits got some money, and perhaps amnesty to the bargain, they would lay down their arms and we can live happily ever after.

I dont know where the good cleric got that idea from. Perhaps he wasnt listening or didnt believe the chairman of a local government not far from where he met the bandits, who said the community had paid bandits N200 million in ransom, yet things only got worse.

Its not only the local government chairman who has been paying bandits without results. Governor Bello Matawalle has also been paying the bandits  one million naira here, two there  a herd of two or three cows to start them off and a place to lay their heads. Lucky folks.

But the governors token, often targeted at rank-and-file bandits, has proved to be nothing compared to the huge piles of cash the kingpins make from ransom and the pleasure they get from killing for sport.

Apart from the cost in human lives, which means nothing to the bandits, the price in misery for the living has been just as high. Thousands have been maimed, traumatised, displaced and impoverished by the bandits reducing the state, which is bigger in size than Belgium, to a shell of its once thriving self.

How much more can a distressed, impoverished state pay bandits to lay down their arms?

If the price was in human lives, the bandits should have had enough by now. According to a BBC report in July, in the last decade since banditry became a major industry in Northern Nigeria, 8,000 people have been killed in the states of Kebbi, Sokoto, Niger and Zamfara alone.

The highest death toll has been in Zamfara, with a record topped only by Borno State in the North-East, where killings by Boko Haram are in a savage class of their own.

Apart from the cost in human lives, which means nothing to the bandits, the price in misery for the living has been just as high. Thousands have been maimed, traumatised, displaced and impoverished by the bandits reducing the state, which is bigger in size than Belgium, to a shell of its once thriving self.

About two years ago, the state set up a committee headed by a former Inspector General of Police, Mohammad Abubakar, to get to the root of the problem.

The committee found out what most people already know but brought figures, faces and insights that established beyond doubt that banditry was not just a well-organised crime, it was also the most prosperous industry in Zamfara.

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According to the committee, the criminal gangs have made more than N3billion from 3,672 relatives of victims and the gangs also had a network that covered even traditional rulers and influential persons in the State. The committee recommended that a judicial panel should be set up to investigate those involved in the crime.

After the public outrage that followed the report, the bandits took a recess, and government went to sleep. The bandits have since returned in full force, killing over 1,000 people last year alone and raping and looting scores of villages in daylight.

Journalist, Kadaria Ahmed, said in a video broadcast by the BBC, that every day, we bury between 30, 40 and 50 people. With a police-civilian population ratio of 1:1,500 in Zamfara, the communities are on their own.

Perhaps that was why Gumi, who is from Zamfara, took it upon himself to mediate with the bandits. But where did the talk about compensation come from?

Gumi is obviously copying from former President Umaru Musa YarAduas playbook on the Niger Delta crisis. But the militants in the Niger Delta, however despicable and obnoxious, were Nigerians. The bandits, especially those in the Zamfara area, are mostly armed Malian caravans that have taken advantage of weak policing and porous borders to infiltrate the country largely through Katsina.

Its time to end the nonsense and confront the bandits head-on. Im shocked that President Muhammadu Buharis government is not outraged by the billions of naira paid out to bandits for nothing, not outraged by bandits, most of whom have been officially described as foreigners collecting ransom from citizens.

They have slowly but steadily built themselves into an occupying force, routing whole communities along their path, planting flags at one time, and collecting taxes and levies from local communities whose rulers sometimes pledge their loyalty to survive.

A village elder told Amnesty International that he received a call from bandits to tell all villagers close to the forest to vacate their homes and farms and come and pay levies. He said the only way theyd allow the villagers to continue staying is if they paid them five million naira, Amnesty reported the man as saying. Ransom is a way of life in Zamfara.

Whatever Gumis motivation, however, its important to remember that YarAdua did not offer compensation to the militants. He offered them amnesty in exchange for laying down their arms. And even that amnesty was justifiably opposed on the ground that it would form the basis in future for criminal gangs to hold government to ransom.

That precedent has come back to haunt us. Today, there are other franchises of official capitulation and indulgence like Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State paying off criminal herders who lost their cows, while turning a blind eye to other members of the community who were actually the victims.

However well-meaning Gumis intentions may be, it rubs salt in the injury of the thousands of bereaved families to suggest that those who killed their loved ones should be compensated for the bestiality.

If the bandits have squeezed N3 billion from victims families and are not satisfied, if they have extracted over N200 million from just one out of 14 local governments and are not satisfied, if they have rustled cows and looted farms and yet wont lay down their arms, its obvious that nothing short of a seat in the Government House, Gusau, along with the states cheque book, all pre-signed, would appease them.

And for what? What did they lose for which they should be compensated or what offense did the thousands they have killed commit that their memories deserve such brazen indignity?

Its time to end the nonsense and confront the bandits head-on. Im shocked that President Muhammadu Buharis government is not outraged by the billions of naira paid out to bandits for nothing, not outraged by bandits, most of whom have been officially described as foreigners collecting ransom from citizens. And it is clearly not outraged that bandits who have received more in ransom than the government uses to maintain internally displaced persons, still want compensation on top of amnesty.

They want to be paid not just for the atrocities for which they ought to be held accountable, but also because they think that they deserve a flag for making themselves a parallel government. Where does that happen?

If we dont end the nonsense now, nothing stops another group of violent rogues from some part of the country from stealing, looting, murdering  even making a secession bid  and then staking a claim for compensation.

Zamfara is a crime scene. Buhari cannot entertain any suggestion, however well meaning, that those who have monetised criminality should be compensated.

Azu Ishiekwene is the managing director/editor-in-chief of The Interview.


WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - California became the worst affected U.S. state in terms of total cases of coronavirus infection and deaths due to the disease.



The golden state, which is already far ahead of other states in the number of cases, on Wednesday surpassed New York as the US state with the highest number of Covid-19 fatalities since the beginning of the pandemic.



A total of 45,496 people have so far died of Covid-19 in California, which has a rolling daily average of nearly 500 deaths. It eclipsed New York's total of 45,312 deaths. New Jersey has the highest rate of deaths per capita.



For the fourth straight day, the number of new cases reported nationally is below 100000. With more than 93,000 additional people diagnosed with the viral infection on Wednesday, the total U.S. cases rose to 27,285,621, as per latest data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. With 3219 new deaths, the national total rose to 468,103.



COVID-19 hospitalizations are continuing to decline. A total of 76,979 COVID patients are currently admitted in hospitals across the country, according to COVID Tracking Project. Out of this, 16,715 patients are admitted in Intensive Care Units.



For the first time since October 22, no states are reporting more than 400 COVID-19 hospitalizations per million people.



Double masking can significantly improve protection from coronavirus infection, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 'We continue to recommend that masks should have two or more layers, completely cover your nose and mouth, and fit snugly against your nose and the sides of your face,' CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky told a White House briefing, citing research finding.



As per White House COVID-19 Response Team's vaccination progress report, the seven-day average daily doses administered is now 1.5 million shots per day, up from 1.1 million only two weeks ago.



Dr.Fauci said persons 16 to 64 years of age with underlying conditions should get vaccinated because they are more vulnerable to the more severe effects of coronavirus if they do get infected. CDC and the FDA will be starting clinical trials to find the safety of the vaccination of children and pregnant women. He told reporters that the UK variant of the virus might become dominant in the United States by the end of March.



Jeff Zients, the White House COVID-19 coordinator, said that at the President's direction, the administration is moving quickly to get more vaccinators on the ground, including retired doctors and nurses. 'We've deployed hundreds of personnel across the federal government, from FEMA to USDA to HHS and other federal agencies, to support vaccination operations nationwide,' he told reporters.



He also said three new major community vaccination centers will be built in Dallas, Arlington, and Houston - communities hit hard by the pandemic - in partnership with the state of Texas. These sites are expected to start vaccination on February 22.



Separately, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced the opening of two new community vaccination centers in underserved communities in the state.



Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

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During the second day of former President Trumps Senate impeachment trial, Democratic impeachment managers lavished praise on former Vice President Mike Pence for standing up to his then boss and certifying President Bidens election victory.

Vice President Mike Pence showed us what it means to be an American, what it means to show courage, Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Calif., said Wednesday on the floor of the Senate. He put his country, his oath, his values and his morals above the will of one man.

Praising Pences patriotism, Rep. Stacey Plaskett, D-V.I., was similarly effusive.

"Even though the count resulted in the defeat of his party and his own candidacy, Vice President Pence had the courage to stand against the president, tell the American public the truth and uphold our Constitution," Plaskett said.

Lieus presentation came after the impeachment managers had played video of Trump supporters laying siege on the U.S. Capitol, some yelling out calls to hang Mike Pence! In Lieus portion devoted to the former vice president, he began by making the case that Trump targeted Pence after other avenues of overturning the election results had been closed off.

President Trumps actions, time and time again, made clear that he would do anything and pressure anyone if it meant overturning the election results, Lieu said. We watched President Trump use any means necessary to pursue this aim, feverishly grasping for straws and retaining his hold on the presidency, but all his efforts prior to January 6 kept failing and finally, in his desperation, he turned on his own vice president.

Pence was slated to preside over the January 6 certification of the Electoral College vote by both houses of Congress, and Trump, according to Lieu, set about trying to convince Pence to block it.

Rep. Ted Lieu. (Congress.gov via Getty Images)

He pressured Mike Pence to violate his constitutional oath and to refuse to certify the oath. President Trump had decided that Vice President Pence, who presided over the certification, could somehow stop it, Lieu said. As Pence would later confirm, the vice president does not have that power under the Constitution. And President Trump never asked to explain why he thought the vice president could block the certification of election results, he just began relentlessly attacking the vice president.

Armed with Trumps own tweets and videos of his rallies, Lieu built his case that that the president saw Pence as his last hope at remaining in power. Lieu played a video of Trumps Jan. 4 rally in Georgia on behalf of two Republican senators who would go on to lose runoff elections.

And I hope Mike Pence comes through for us, I have to tell you, Trump told his crowd at the rally. I hope that our great vice president comes through for us. Hes a great guy. Of course, if he doesnt come through, I wont like him quite as much.

Lieu also relied on published media accounts of Trumps private efforts to convince Pence to exercise powers the former vice president had concluded he did not have.

Behind closed doors, President Trump applied significant pressure his second in command. Multiple reports confirmed that Trump used his personal attorneys and other officials to pressure the vice president, Lieu said. Trump reportedly told almost anyone who called him to also call the vice president. According to reports, when Mike Pence was in the Oval Office, President Trump would call people to try to get them to convince the vice president to help him and President Trump kept repeating the myth that Pence could stop the certification to his base to anger them, hoping to intimidate Mike Pence.

Former Vice President Mike Pence presiding over a joint session of Congress to certify the 2020 Electoral College results on Jan. 6. (Erin Schaff/Pool/AFP via Getty Images)

Lieu and Rep. Madeleine Dean, D-Pa., both highlighted Trumps tweets that attacked Pence.

On the morning of the rally of January 6, President Trump tweeted, All Mike Pence has to do is send them back to the states and in all caps he wrote AND WE WIN. Do it Mike this is a time for extreme courage! Lieu continued.

The argument from the impeachment managers was clear: Trumps public pressure easily could have gotten Pence killed on Jan. 6. Dean played more of Trumps remarks at the rally that preceded the riot.

All Vice President Pence has to do is send it back to the states to re-certify and we become president and you are the happiest people, Trump told his crowd.

Dean said Trump made that remark despite knowing Pence could not and would not do.

He called out Vice President Pence nine times that day and each time, he got more forceful, Dean said.

But Pence did not, of course, contest the certification of the Electoral College tally.

Thankfully, Vice President Pence stood his ground like our other brave officials stood their ground. He refused the president and fulfilled his duty on January 6, Lieu said. Even after the Capitol was attacked, even after he was personally targeted, even after his family was targeted, Vice President Mike Pence stood strong and certified the election.

____

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An lawmaker in New Zealand has won the battle against wearing a tie in the parliament. Marking an end to a longstanding dress code of Kiwi nations parliament, Rawiri Waititi, the co-leader of Maori Party sparred with Parliament Speaker Trevor Mallard about what he describes as colonial noose. Mallard has the job of enforcing the rules and had reportedly previously warned Waititi over wearing a tie. The Maori Party leader, on Tuesday, was even kicked out of the debating chamber after he showed up wearing a traditional pendant around his neck called a hei tiki.

As per The Associated Press report, while Mallard told Waititi I do not recognize the member, he will now leave the chamber, the Maori Party leader said the issue was not about ties but about cultural identity. He told the reporters, This is a breach of the rights of Indigenous peoples and that We have the right to practice our cultural identity. But, by the following evening, Mallard had changed the course following a committee meeting during which lawmakers heard from Maori.

Read - Woman In New Zealand Found With Nearly 1,000 Cacti & Succulents Strapped To Body

The majority of the committee was in favour of removing the requirement for ties to form part of appropriate business attire for males, the speaker wrote in his explanation and added that ties would no longer be required.

Read - 'Tsunami Alert': NZ Asks Citizens To Clear Waterfront After Earthquake Hits South Pacific

Read - Powerful Undersea Quake Hits North Of New Zealand

Waititi hailed the change in dress code

The Maori Party leader hailed the change as a victory for his community and the Indigenous people across the globe. With the change of rules led by Waititi, several other lawmakers followed the lead by not wearing ties on February 11. A father of five, Waititi surprised many people when he won a seat during last Octobers election and arrived in the parliament with reportedly an uncompromising attitude and pledged to promote rights of Maori.

Mr Speaker, Maori have had enough of being assimilated and forced to do and look like everyone else, Waititi told lawmakers during his opening speech in December. We are not like everyone else. We are unique. Being Maori is like having superpowers. There is no-one else in the world like us, and we need to maintain who we are.

Read - New Zealand MP Thrown Out Of Parliament For Not Wearing Tie, Calls It 'a Colonial Noose'

Read - New Zealand Suspends All 'high-level Military, Political Contact' With Myanmar After Coup


THE TYLER-NIC DEAL BY THE NUMBERS Tyler Technologies likely had more than $1 billion in revenue in 2020, while NIC had $461 million .

in revenue in 2020, while NIC had . Tyler has more than 11,000 customers , while NIC has about 7,100 customers .

, while NIC has about . Tyler has 5,600 employees , while NIC has about 1,000 employees .

, while NIC has about . Tyler and NIC have about 30 offices each in the U.S.

THE GOV TECH MARKET VIEW

In whats most likely the largest gov tech deal ever  one which would bring together a giant of local government software with a giant of state government software  Tyler Technologies is moving to acquire NIC The deal, for which Tyler plans on spending $2.3 billion, still needs approval from regulators and NIC stockholders. But the price per share of both of the companies rose Tuesday following the news, and the acquisition is one Tyler has been working on for a very long time.We actually internally have had conversations at the highest level about NIC for probably 15-plus years just kind of off and on periodically, said Lynn Moore, Tylers CEO. Weve watched them in the market, theyre obviously a leader in the state public-sector space. A really quality company, quality leadership, a company of integrity. So weve looked at them from time to time, and really I would say going back to the summer is when we started getting really serious.I can tell you one of the hardest things for me over the last six, eight months has been trying to keep my mouth shut, he added.Moore said many of the details about exactly how the two companies will come together are either hush-hush because of the pending regulatory approval process or have yet to be worked out. Questions like what the structure will be and how they will work together will have to wait, and the CEO said it will be business as usual through the end of 2021.Our first mission is  dont break any part of whats been their success. And were going to sit down with their team, were going to sit down with Harry Herington and were going to map out what is the best approach and really the timetable for that approach.As large as the two companies are  NIC brought in $461 million in revenue last year, while Tyler likely pulled in more than $1 billion  theres remarkably little overlap. Tylers focus has been on local government needs ranging from courts to open data to finance, while NIC has long been a force in digital services and payments for states.We really dont compete head-to-head with NIC, primarily because our presence in the state market is really pretty small, he said.One thing is for sure: Tyler will be looking to use the merger as a way to expand its footprint in the state market, as well as push further into the federal government These statewide enterprise contracts that they have, which are currently with 31 states  those contracts are pretty open-ended, and for lack of a better term, allow for kind of a hunting license where they can go in and sell to different state agencies, Moore said. They have a few vertical solutions, we obviously have a number of vertical solutions. Its an opportunity where we can get more solutions to government customers.One of those customers is the state of Utah, which has worked with NIC going all the way back to 1998. Dave Fletcher, the states chief technology officer, said Utah runs its payment portal as well as several hundred digital services such as professional licensing and vehicle registration renewal.I interact with them once a week  well, every day usually, on different issues, with as many different services as we have with them, he said. Its generally been a positive relationship.The state has also used the data platform Socrata for more than five years, since before Tyler Technologies bought that company out . So Utah has been through a Tyler acquisition before, and Fletcher said he had no complaints.Obviously Socrata was an important transition for us that we didnt want to lose the capabilities that we already had with Socrata because wed invested so much in what we had, he said. So were cautiously optimistic, I would say, because we want to make sure that we can continue on a progressive path where I think were anxious to speed up the progress of digital government and just want to ensure this doesnt impact that negatively in any way.He said he will be watching to see if NIC continues down a path of creating a standard-based platform for digital services, which allows the state to create services more easily and avoid starting from scratch.The deal is Tylers largest, but is surely the largest in gov tech history as well. Jeff Cook, a managing director at the mergers and acquisitions advisory firm Shea & Co., was involved in another of the largest gov tech deals when CentralSquare came together in 2018. This deal is larger than that one.It could also be a good thing for the gov tech ecosystem as a whole.Whenever we have seen large acquisitions really in any market in software, I think it awakes a lot of companies and investors to the underlying opportunity. So I would say over the long term its going to make a lot more people take notice, and it will likely trigger a cycle of investment, growth and even company formation in this market, Cook said. I look at it as very much a positive.It also speaks to the importance of digital services, especially during the pandemic . With offices shut down and government facing an imperative to keep serving citizens while minimizing risk, Cook said digital services were the fastest-growing segment of gov tech last year.(The NIC acquisition is) a statement to the market that citizen digital services is the future, he said. Were still in the early innings of investments in technology to provide better digital services to constituents, which the pandemic has only accelerated.Moore said its also spiked demand for cloud services, which have been useful during the pandemic because of the relative speed with which they can be deployed.If you look back five years ago, maybe 25 percent of our new sales were SaaS, or in the cloud, Moore said. This past year it was more like 55 percent.Such a large merger is not without pitfalls. Aside from the challenge of aligning company cultures and getting people to work together, theres also the matter of continuing to serve customers well. Moore said hes confident that the deal wont handcuff Tylers balance sheet or its ability to invest in research and development.Still, Cook said, big deals like this can create opportunities for competitors.With any acquisition, I think the integration process can create distraction, he said. With that distraction, where there is an imperative to modernize as these large incumbents are set back a little bit in terms of being able to really lean forward on product development, it does open a window for folks like PayIt to really accelerate their growth  into that market while some of the large folks are distracted.With so much demand for the very services Tyler and NIC are providing, Moore sees a bright future ahead.When I look out at the future of the public sector, whether its local, state and even federal, the future is really all about the cloud, he said. Its the provision of subscription-based essential functionality. Its about delivering digital services to citizens. Its about more and more transaction-based revenue. Its about data and insights.
He called up on his party cadres and Sasikala's supporters to work unitedly and show collective might to emerge victories in the ensuing Assembly elections.

Chennai: Former AIADMK General Secretary V.K. Sasikala's nephew and AMMK General Secretary T.T.V. Dhinakaran said that her mega roadshow marking her return to Tamil Nadu is only a beginning.

In an open letter to AMMK workers and his aunt's supporters, Dhinakaran said the 24-hour mega roadshow was just the beginning. Calling DMK "an evil force", he called upon them to prevent it from coming to power.

Sasikala returned to Tamil Nadu after four years on Monday to a grand welcome by her supporters.

A close aide of late Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa, Sasikala was released from a jail in Bengaluru on January 27 on completing a four-year jail term in a Rs 66.65 crore disproportionate assets case.

The AMMK founder said he was overwhelmed to see the love and affection showered on 'Chinnamma', as Sasikala is fondly called.

"No one expected a six or seven hour journey by road would take the entire day," he said thanking the cadres and Sasikala's supporters for waiting patiently.

He claimed that he received large number of calls and messages appreciating the way the roadshow was conducted in a smooth and peaceful manner. "At a time when political parties mobilise big crowds to create trouble, we conducted the roadshow in a peaceful manner with no untoward incident," Dhinakaran said.

He thanked AMMK cadres for acting in a disciplined manner. He also thanked the members of the public for lining alone the route taken by Sasikala to welcome her with affection and cheers.

The AMMK leader said barring a few overzealous officials, the police personnel also spent several hours on road regulating the traffic and facilitating the movement of the large convoy
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Every pandemic season brings its own sartorial challenges. As many of us forgo indoor hangouts with those we love, our ability to see live human faces and hear live human voices has depended on the fickle whims of the clouds and sun. In spring, there were showers to contend with. Every weekend under COVID is my outdoor wedding, and I forgot to shell out for the backup gazebo, Anna Silman wrote, in the Cut, of having to cancel meetups with friends whenever the forecast suggested rain. In summer, there were heat waves, sudden downpours, and sweat-soaked masks. On the West Coast, autumn brought orange skies and choking wildfire smoke. Rarely in modern history has the average social life expanded and contracted in such perfect sync with the weather.

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If you like leaving your house and hanging out with people, our current season might find you isolated, depressed, shivering, or some combination thereof. The bad news: Weve got about two more months of cold n lonely still to come! The good news: Pandemic winter loneliness is one of the precious few emotional problems fashion can actually solve.

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I spent my formative years in New Hampshire. My family arrived in the Granite State from New Jersey, wholly unprepared for the five consecutive months of icy sidewalks, unmelting snowbanks, and frigid temperatures that awaited us. By the time we discovered L.L. Bean, I was too teenage and image-conscious to wear anything that would have kept me comfortable, preferring my jackets cropped and my bell-bottom hems soaked in salt and slush. I only learned how to dress for winter weather in adulthood, when I realized that feeling cold was a choice: There were, in fact, garments specifically manufactured for this season. All I had to do was buy them.

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In the years since that epiphany, Ive accumulated an arsenal of winter clothing items that have passed the test of my perpetually cold body. Some garments boast high-tech fabrics and meticulous construction, the result of a considerable amount of research and ingenuity marshaled on behalf of professionals who do their work in cold weather. Others are as basic and old-fashioned as evolution itself. Sheep wear wool for a reason!

Most winters, these clothes simply make my life more pleasant, allowing me to bike to work or take a walk in a snowstorm. This year, though, when seeing loved ones almost always means braving the elements, they are one of my few remaining tethers to the outside world. If youve been avoiding social gatherings because being cold makes you miserable, perhaps by now youve realized that youre instead miserable because you havent been seeing your friends. Allow me to share some hard-won wisdom that could help you maintain some social connections until spring.

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One of the oddest things about mainstream bundling strategies is the asymmetry: Its easy to find, and widely acceptable to wear, several layers on top. They tend to fit over one another. But wearing multiple layers of pants is much less common, even though fattier body parts like butts hold the cold and act like ice cubes for your entire body. Its time to end the stigma of thickly bundled lower halves! Start with a pair of wool or synthetic fabric leggings. (I like a pair thats got some of both.) Avoid cotton, which makes for a terrible base layer because it absorbs liquid and holds it against your skinso if you sweat, even a tiny bit, that moisture will freeze you once you cool back down. As my most outdoorsy friend once chided me as I shivered in a cotton thermal shirt on a camping tripI thought thermals were supposed to be warm! Its practically in the name!cotton kills. That phrase applies more to a three-day snowshoeing trip than a conversation on a chilly stoop, but, still, it wont be comfortable for either.

Next, youre going to want to put on some fleece-lined pants. Trust me on this one. I added this Eddie Bauer pair to my repertoire this winter, and they are the first thing I pull on whenever theyre clean. (These seem similar to the ones I got, which are now nearly sold out.) Indoors, or on warmer days, these will be all you need. A warning: Now that Ive experienced fleece-on-leg coziness, regular sweatpants feel like jeans. (I can no longer even imagine wearing actual jeans.)

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While Im here, might I also recommend a pair of unlined waterproof pants, which you can don in all seasons? Weve agreed that wearing a thick coat on top and only one layer on bottom is stupid and wrong. The same logic applies to wearing a raincoat when its precipitating. Why let your legs get soaked? But I digress. Back to winter: If its really cold out, or youre going to be out in the snow, get yourself a set of puffy pants or overalls. The puffier, the better, because air traps warmth. I havent sprung for a pair of down pants yet, but dont these look nice?

Now were ready for the big guns. Last fall, in a moment of panicked pre-loneliness as winter approached, I started browsing heavier outerwear, the kind thats designed for people who spend their entire days in refrigerated warehouses or outside in the cold. Yes, the prospect of wearing industrial-strength workwear to potentially eat a cheese plate in a park seemed a little melodramaticlooking back, this was my equivalent of stocking a basement with water purifiers, assault rifles, and MREsbut who among us hasnt tried to fend off pandemic malaise with products? I tested out RefrigiWears softshell overalls, which feel virtually indestructible (softshell means flexible, not fragile) and are pretty darn comfortable as long as you take precautionary measures to forestall any lower-layer wedgies you will be unable to pick once theyre zipped up. On the last day of January, I wore the overalls to sit outside in a literal snowstorm for 40 minutes, drinking a birthday cocktail with a friend. My Refrigiwear-clad lower half would have been perfectly happy staying out there for much longer.

You should also keep your butt warm with a coat. Dont mess around with those jackets that stop at the hips! In my opinion, if its not precipitating, you cant do better than down. Its light, its warm, and if the coat is long enough, it feels like youre wearing a sleeping bag, in a good way. Check the down fill power: A higher fill power means less down is needed to create loft and warmth, so jackets on the higher end of the spectrum will often be more expensive, but theyll also be lighter, or warmer for their weight. This is worth it! Fill power goes up to around 900, but anything over 600 should be pretty good. Since winter clothes-shopping season is wrapping up, now is the time to trust the geese and get a fluffy coat on sale for cheap-ish.

Speaking of animals that have entirely figured out how to dress for the coldhave you met wool? Wool is a magical fiber that stays warm when wet, unlike killer cotton. If you perspire a bit or even step in a puddle, your wool will not leave you to die. No need to get spendy with merino or cashmerethick-knit boys are perfectly fine. My warmest sweater? A hand-me-down from my sister, 100 percent wool, manufactured by Old Navy of all places, circa 2003. (However: When cheaper wool stands alone, it can get scratchy, so my ultimate winter combo includes a softer synthetic turtleneck under this guy.) My favorite socks? Also wool! In October, due to a series of events I will not recount here, I found myself hiking a snowy mountain in slip-on running shoes. My feet were completely soaked for the better part of six hours. But, because I do NOT fool around with foot warmth and was wearing two pairs of wool socks, my tootsies were still toasty. I swear these socks kept my feet as warm as they would have been in water-resistant boots.

As for your other extremities: Fingers are best served by mittens, because they can cuddle together and share heat, whereas gloves keep them cold and alone. I use an immortal pair of knit ones I got from a mall kiosk in my youth, but these mittens are plenty puffy and weirdly sexy. I sprung for a cashmere hat two years ago, and my ears still love me for it. Normally Id also recommend a balaclava for your cheeks and chin, but luckily the pandemic has been great for facial warmth! Whatever face mask youre already wearing should do the trick.

Now that youre all bundled up, youre almost ready to have friends! The last thing to remember is that clothes arent everything in this seasonal game we call warmth. Dog-sledder Blair Braverman has offered some essential tips on keeping yourself from freezing outdoors, including eating frequent snacks (but not big meals, which will direct all your nice, warm blood to your gut) and peeing often. The smartest among you will use a stand-to-pee device, which makes it possible for people without penises to pee without pulling down their pants. Also, though Ive gotten a lot of pushback from my spouse and friends for this, I have to recommend always tucking in your shirt.

Of course, none of your preparation will matter if your friends are too cold to want to sit outside with you. So make it easy for them. Bring extra blankets and pre-portioned hot beverages to share. If youll be on a deck or stoop, plug in an extension cord and make that blanket an electric one. And buy a hot water bottle in a cute little turtleneck sweater. Carry it around as if youre performing a scared-straight teen pregnancy exercise in health class. Your loved ones may not be able to cuddle your real babies this season, but at least your bag full of near-boiling water will keep them warm.
Then U.S. Vice President Joe Biden (R) and then Chinese Vice Chair Xi Jinping talk during an expanded bilateral meeting with other U.S. and Chinese officials in the Roosevelt Room at the White House in Washington on Feb. 14, 2012. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Biden Outlines China Policy in First Call With Chinas Xi

President Joe Biden spoke to Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Feb. 10 about Chinas unfair economic practices, the crackdown in Hong Kong, human rights abuses in Xinjiang, and assertive actions in the Indo-Pacific region, including toward Taiwan.

Biden and Xi have had a long relationship dating back years. But Wednesday marked the first time Biden interfaced with Xi as president of the United States. According to a readout of the call from the White House, Biden affirmed his priorities of protecting the American peoples security, prosperity, health, and way of life, and preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific.

The two leaders also exchanged views on countering the COVID-19 pandemic, and the shared challenges of global health security, climate change, and preventing weapons proliferation, the readout stated.

The call coincided with the Lunar New Year and Biden shared his greetings.

The call between the two leaders was highly anticipated and the topics covered serve as a brief outline of Bidens priorities for his China policy. In confirmation hearings, several members of Bidens administration would not call the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) an adversary and pivoted instead toward Bidens definition of China as a key global competitor.

The administration of President Donald Trump enacted some of the toughest measures to counter the CCP in decades, including support and recognition of Taiwan and Hong Kong, and forming alliances in the Indo-Pacific to deter the CCPs ambitions in the region. In the last days of the Trump administration, the State Department called the CCPs treatment of Uyghurs and other minorities in Xinjiang a genocide.

The readout of Bidens call doesnt make clear if the president has signaled any change in course from the previous administrations China policy.

Biden said on Wednesday that the U.S. Department of Defense will be conducting a review on how the military will handle the threat posed by China.

It will require a whole-of-government effort, bipartisan cooperation in Congress, and strong alliances and partnerships, Biden said at the Pentagon. Thats how well meet the China challenge and ensure the American people win the competition of the future.

The review, he added, will help chart a strong path forward on China-related matters.

On Sunday, Biden told CBS News that the Chinese regime should expect extreme competition from the United States, although he said the relationship doesnt necessarily need to be based on conflict. We will confront Chinas economic abuses, Biden said, adding the regime is Americas most serious competitor.

Biden, however, said that he will take a different approach to the CCP than Trumpwhose administration frequently criticized the regime for its rampant human rights violations, spreading of disinformation, and acts of non-compliance against the rules-based international order rooted in liberal democratic values.

Jack Phillips contributed to this report.

The Republican delirium drawing the most attention is the partys indulgence of Marjorie Taylor Greene as she turns madness into martyrdom. Mustnt alienate the QAnon caucus! Cant win elections without em, and if Democratic leaders arent exactly cannibals and pedophiles, well, they want higher taxes on the affluent and more Americans enrolled in Obamacare.

But there was a less noted sequence of events that, in its way, said just as much about how lost the party is.

Many House Republicans have been freaking out over the installation of metal detectors along their paths to the House floor. Some of them have bypassed the devices. Others have railed against them with a righteous fury.

Apparently, if you cant pack heat in proximity to Nancy Pelosi, youre living in a totalitarian state. Thats Rep. Debbie Leskos actual interpretation. Lesko, R-Ariz., tweeted that the new security screening was proof that lawmakers now live in Pelosis communist America.

Rep. Devin Nunes echoed that theme. Im not joking  when you talk about the fall of the Soviet Union, what did they start to do? said Nunes, R-California They started to crack down. They started to crack down on people, and thats what you see here.

Im not joking: These lawmakers are ridiculous in ways that illuminate two themes that keep growing brighter  or maybe I should say darker  in Republican politics now. One is the reflexive attempt to divert attention from the florid craziness in their own ranks by screaming communist, socialist or radical left. The other is to claim that theyre protecting freedom when theyre sanctioning nonsense.

How did Sen. Marco Rubio respond to Trumps richly earned second impeachment? By saying that the radical left was out of control. Mind you, the radical right orchestrated the deadly events of Jan. 6, but confronting that head-on is of no political use to Rubio. So, instead: socialism!

And Rep. Ilhan Omar! House Republicans unwilling to recognize Greene as dangerous and unfit for public office said that if Democrats were going to go after her, Republicans should go after Omar. Equivalences dont come any falser.

I have real concerns about the anti-Semitic ring of some of Omars remarks. But I have no memory of her signaling support for the execution of Republican leaders (as Greene has done in regard to Democratic ones), of her publicly harassing the survivor of a horrific crime (a la Greene) or of her signing on to a succession of the most out-there conspiracy theories out there. These lawmakers are as different as water and kerosene.

Many Republicans accepted Greenes speech, during which she disavowed QAnon and the idea that school massacres and the Sept. 11 attacks were hoaxes, as a redemptive apology. It was nothing of the kind. She played the victim, deriding big media companies and cancel culture, and insisting that she never once said any of the things that I am being accused of today during my campaign or since being elected. So were not supposed to be bothered by the promotion of deeply twisted conspiracies just a few years earlier?

I was allowed to believe things that werent true, she said. Allowed to? No, Eager to.

Im a very regular American, she said. If thats true, this country is in much bigger trouble than I thought.

She proceeded Friday to tweet that she had woken up literally laughing thinking about what a bunch of morons the Democrats were for granting her a stage.

Its the way she waves the flag of freedom, saying that she fights for it while being denied it, that perhaps enrages me most, because its such a perversion of that ideal. Michael Tomasky wrote an excellent column in The New York Times about the way in which Republicans, who have long branded themselves the party of freedom, now use the word. He noted that John Stuart Mill, one of the key authors of the Western concept of freedom, recognized that it must stop short of behavior that harms fellow citizens.

Removing Greene from her committees wasnt the death of free speech. Greene remains free to spout bunk. But Congress has the right and the responsibility to make clear that such bunk is dangerous and antithetical to democratic government. What happened to Republicans belief in personal responsibility?

Requiring that people wear face masks in the middle of a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic doesnt repress individualism. It protects individuals. Sensible firearms restrictions arent an insult to freedom. Theyre a bulwark against bloodshed and chaos, protecting the freedom of high school students and others to go about their days without the fear of being shot.

That brings us back to those metal detectors. I can see how  in another, saner country at another, saner time  they might be dismissed as the gratuitous props of a party staging political theater. But context is everything. The new detectors popped up after a violent invasion of the Capitol. Proudly gun-loving Republican members of Congress have bragged about carrying their firearms everywhere.

Why not have the House set a good example for a country that needs as many of them as it can get? Democrats insisted on a vote on fines for House members who avoid security screenings. It passed 216-210, with all Republicans and three Democrats opposing it.

Rep. Greg Steube, R-Florida, had previously delivered a floor speech in which he said that the detectors were atrocities. Once upon a time, that word had meaning. But then, once upon a time, freedom did, too.

FRANK BRUNI writes for The New York Times.
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources will be celebrating President Abraham Lincolns birthday in conjunction with two veterans organizations Friday.

The department will be working with the American Legion Springfield Post 32 for its 87th annual National American Legion Pilgrimage, in which participants will walk to the final resting place of Lincoln and his family.
Security forces used tear gas, water cannons and rubber bullets against protesters, with isolated reports emerging of live rounds also being fired

Yangon: Anti-coup protesters on Thursday took to the streets of Myanmar for a sixth consecutive day, after US President Joe Biden announced sanctions against the Southeast Asian nation's generals and demanded they relinquish power.

There has been an outpouring of anger and defiance since the military ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi last week and detained her along with other senior figures of her National League for Democracy party.

Security forces have used tear gas, water cannon and rubber bullets against the protesters, with isolated reports of live rounds also being fired. Police also ramped up their harassment of the NLD with a raid on its headquarters.

But demonstrators again marched peacefully on Thursday in Naypyidaw  the capital and military stronghold  as well as Yangon, the largest city and commercial hub, which saw tens of thousands flood into the streets.

"Don't go to the office," chanted a group of protesters outside Myanmar's central bank in Yangon, part of an effort urging civil servants and people in other industries to boycott work and put pressure on the junta.

"We aren't doing this for a week or a month  we are determined to do this until the end when (Suu Kyi) and President U Win Myint are released," one protesting bank employee told AFP.

Joining the protest were dozens from the ethnic Karen, Rakhine and Kachin minority groups, marching down Yangon's main Myaynigone junction.

"Our ethnic armed groups and ethnic people have to join together to fight against the military dictatorship," Saw Z Net, an ethnic Karen protester and sound engineer, told AFP.

There are more than 130 ethnic minority groups across Myanmar, some of whom have been forced to flee their homes due to clashes between the military and ethnic armed groups, who agitate for autonomy in various states.

Fresh rallies also cropped up in the cities of Dawei and Mandalay, with protesters carrying signs that said "Restore our Democracy!" and "We condemn the military coup".

US sanctions

Western nations have repeatedly denounced the coup, with the United States leading calls for the generals to relinquish power.

In the most significant concrete action to pressure the junta, Biden announced Wednesday that his administration was cutting off the generals' access to $1 billion in funds in the United States.

"I again call on the Burmese military to immediately release democratic political leaders and activists," Biden said, as he flagged further sanctions.

"The military must relinquish power."

European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has also warned the bloc could impose fresh sanctions on Myanmar's military.

Crackdown deepens

There were more reports of arrests Thursday, including the deputy speaker of the parliament's lower house and a key aide to Suu Kyi, taking the number of coup-linked detentions to more than 200, according to monitor Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.

The military justified last week's power grab by claiming widespread voter fraud in November's polls, which saw a landslide for Suu Kyi's party.

It quickly moved to stack courts and political offices with loyalists as it ended a decade of civilian rule.

Fears are growing over how long the junta will tolerate the protests.

Live rounds were fired at a rally in Naypyidaw this week, critically wounding two people  including a woman who was shot in the head.

Images depicting the woman have been shared widely online alongside expressions of grief and fury.

The military's clampdown on information using internet blackouts  with tech companies ordered to cut communications intermittently  has drawn widespread condemnation.

Concern was also building Thursday that the junta was planning to impose a much harsher and sustained internet crackdown.

Tech-focused Myanmar civil society organisation MIDO tweeted that a draft cybersecurity bill had been sent to telecom companies, which would allow the military to order blackouts and website bans.

It would also require social media platforms to hand over users' metadata.

Norway-based Telenor, which had complied last to block social media platforms where an online anti-coup campaign was proliferating, said it was reviewing the law.
Israels swift vaccination rollout has made it the largest real-world study of Pfizer Inc's COVID-19 vaccine. Results are trickling in, and they are promising.

More than half of eligible Israelis - about 3.5 million people - have now been fully or partially vaccinated. Older and at-risk groups, the first to be inoculated, are seeing a dramatic drop in illnesses.

Among the first fully-vaccinated group there was a 53% reduction in new cases, a 39% decline in hospitalizations and a 31% drop in severe illnesses from mid-January until February 6, said Eran Segal, data scientist at the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel.

Technicians work at Healthcare Maintenance Organisation (HMO) Maccabi's coronavirus disease public laboratory, performing various tests, in Rehovot, Israel

A technician holds a test-tube as she works at a healthcare lab in Israel

In the same period, among people under age 60 who became eligible for shots later, new cases dropped 20% but hospitalizations and severe illness rose 15% and 29%, respectively.

Reuters interviewed leading scientists in Israel and abroad, Israeli health officials, hospital heads and two of the country's largest healthcare providers about what new data shows from the world's most efficient vaccine rollout.

The vaccine drive has provided a database offering insights into how effective the vaccines are outside of controlled clinical trials, and at what point countries might attain sought-after but elusive herd immunity.

More will be known in two weeks, as teams analyze vaccine effectiveness in younger groups of Israelis, as well as targeted populations such as people with diabetes, cancer and pregnant women, among a patient base at least 10 times larger than those in clinical studies.

The charts show there was a big reduction in the number of new cases, hospitalizations and severe illness in the population once they had completed the second dose of the vaccine

Less than 0.06% of those vaccinated were infected with COVID after receiving the injection . Some had mild symptoms after a week of taking the jab but after three weeks there were no new infections

Medical workers, seen through a window of an observation room, wear personal protective equipment as they work inside an underground ward treating patients with the coronavirus dat Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan, Israel

'We do expect further decline in the overall cases and in the cases of severe morbidity,' said Ran Balicer, pictured, chief innovation officer of HMO Clalit

'We need to have enough variety of people in that subgroup and enough follow-up time so you can make the right conclusions, and we are getting to that point,' said Ran Balicer, chief innovation officer of HMO Clalit, which covers more than half the Israeli population.

Pfizer is monitoring the Israeli rollout on a weekly basis for insights that can be used around the world.

As a small country with universal healthcare, advanced data capabilities and the promise of a swift rollout, Israel provided Pfizer with a unique opportunity to study the real-world impact of the vaccine developed with Germany's BioNTech

But the company said it remained 'difficult to forecast the precise time when herd protection may start to manifest' because of many variables at play, including social distancing measures and the number of new infections generated by each case, known as the reproduction rate.

Even Israel, in the vanguard of the global vaccine drive, has lowered expectations of emerging quickly from the pandemic because of soaring cases.

A third national lockdown has struggled to contain transmission, attributed to the fast-spreading UK variant of the virus. On a positive note, the Pfizer/BioNTech shot appears to be effective against it.

'We've so far identified the same 90% to 95% efficacy against the British strain,' said Hezi Levi, director-general of the Israeli Health Ministry.

A technician works at Healthcare Maintenance Organisation (HMO) Maccabi's coronavirus disease (COVID-19) public laboratory

'It is still early though, because we have only now finished the first week after the second dose,' he said, adding: 'It's too early to say anything about the South African variant.'

Israel began its vaccination program December 19 - the day after Hanukkah - after paying a premium for supplies of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine.

Four days later, the more contagious UK variant was detected in four people. While the vaccine is preventing illness in older people, the variant now makes up about 80% of new cases.

Finding themselves in a race between the vaccine and the new variant, Israel began giving shots to those over 60 and gradually opened the program to the rest of the population.

A medical worker, seen through a window of an observation room, wears personal protective equipment as he works inside an underground ward treating patients

Pfizer is monitoring the Israeli rollout on a weekly basis for insights that can be used around the world

Every detail was digitally tracked, down to in which arm the patient was jabbed and what vial it came from.

One week after receiving the second Pfizer dose - the point at which full protection is expected to kick in - 254 out of 416,900 people were infected, according to Maccabi, a leading Israeli healthcare provider.

Comparing this against an unvaccinated group revealed a vaccine efficacy of 91%, Maccabi said.

By 22 days after full vaccination, no infections were recorded.

Israeli experts are confident the vaccines rather than lockdown measures brought the numbers down, based on studying different cities, age groups and pre-vaccine lockdowns.

Israeli experts are confident the vaccines rather than lockdown measures brought the numbers of infections down

A woman receives a vaccination against the coronavirus disease at a temporary Clalit healthcare maintenance organization centre, in Herzliya, Israel

The comparisons were 'convincing in telling us this is the effect of the vaccination,' said Weizmann Institute's Segal.

With 80% of senior citizens partially or fully vaccinated, a more complete picture will begin to emerge as soon as this week.

'And we do expect further decline in the overall cases and in the cases of severe morbidity,' said Balicer, of HMO Clalit.

There may be early signs that vaccinations are tamping down virus transmission in addition to illness

At Israel's biggest COVID-19 testing centre, run by MyHeritage, researchers have tracked a significant decrease in the amount of virus infected people carry, known as cT value, among the most-vaccinated age groups.

This suggests that even if vaccinated people get infected, they are less likely to infect others, said MyHeritage Chief Science Officer Yaniv Erlich.

'The data so far is probably most clear from Israel. I do believe that these vaccines will reduce onward transmission,' said Stefan Baral, from Johns Hopkins School of Public Health in Maryland.

It is unclear whether Israel will be able to keep up its world-leading vaccination pace.

Residents of an assisted living facility dance after receiving their booster shots of the vaccination against the coronavirus disease in Netanya, Israel in January

'When you vaccinate fast and a lot, you eventually get to the hardcore - those who are less willing or harder to reach,' said Boaz Lev, head of the Health Ministry's advisory panel.

The vaccination pace is seen even more crucial with the British variant's rapid transmission.

'In the race between the UK variant spreading and the vaccinations, the end result is that we are seeing a kind of plateau in terms of the severely ill,' said Segal.

The big question is whether vaccines can eradicate the pandemic.

Michal Linial, a professor of molecular biology and bioinformatics at Jerusalem's Hebrew University, said data from past decades suggests viruses become endemic and seasonal.

She predicted this coronavirus would become far less aggressive, perhaps requiring a booster shot within three years.

'The virus is not going anywhere,' she concluded.




Two of the worlds most recognisable oil businesses are officially in transition.

Plc ( ) and ( have in the early weeks of 2021 added detail to strategies that seek to cut emissions and pour investment into alternative energy and fuel businesses.

BP recently pledged to cut its hydrocarbons business by around 40% over the next ten years and kicked off a US$5bn a year renewables investment programme.

Today, Shell told investors that is oil business is past its peak for production and it will manage a decline of around 1-2% per year.

At the same time, it is committing to investments in renewable energy, electric vehicle charging networks, hydrogen fuels for industry, and a reconfiguration of its refining and chemicals businesses with a new emphasis on processing waste materials.

Hydrocarbon business continues with a focus of value over volume and, notably, the messaging around decline is specifically about oil, whereas gas is still very much a part of Shells plans  in the medium term at least.

Shell says its customer-first strategy is demand-led. Chief executive Ben van Beurden noted that the company must give customers the products and services they want and need which now means those that have the lowest environmental impact.

Whether our customers are motorists, households or businesses, we will use our global scale and trusted brand to grow in markets where demand for cleaner products and services is strongest, delivering more predictable cash flows and generating higher returns, the Shell boss said.

Shell meanwhile aims to keep shareholders onside with a progressive dividend policy and share buybacks to return 20-30% of cash flow each year.

If shareholders are sold on Shells strategy, environmental groups are not.

Mel Evans, head of Greenpeace UKs oil campaign, said: Shells grotesque customer first strategy seeks to blame customers first for climate change.

Meanwhile Shell, the powerful oil major, brazenly says it will dodge oil production cuts and will simply let output dwindle. Without commitments to reduce absolute emissions by making actual oil production cuts, this new strategy cant succeed nor can it be taken seriously.

Shell and BP shareholders

The respective net-zero strategies should tick an increasingly important box for the Shell and BP as ESG has become a hot topic, especially among institutional investors and consumer facing pension funds.

In 2020, asset managers like put greater importance on ESG (environmental, social and governance) issues.

, the worlds largest asset manager, specifically decided to screen its active investments against a series of sustainability measures.

Aside from public relations, social conscience and climate emergency there are also solid business motivations for diversification.

Together the two majors produce around 5mln units of a product that has seen a trading swing everywhere between US$30 and US$61 per unit in the last year.

These are businesses that could benefit from more stable and predictable income, for example the utility like business streams like generating renewable energy and selling electricity to EVs via an expanded charging network.

What it means for other producers

There will likely be opportunities for acquisitive independent producers.

BP has already seen a decade of asset divestments and similarly Shell has notably also exited certain geographies by the deal table.

The North Sea and Nigeria are perhaps decent examples of trends that may emerge as the oil majors move reserves and production from their businesses. In both places a number of small producers and solvent small cap oil and gas firms have been able pick-up assets that quickly delivered meaningful volumes and cash flows.

Timing is perhaps key here, as increasingly companies on the lower rungs of the oil and gas industry are favouring production over exploration. It may prove to be a buyers market for the established production assets as they become available.

Oil explorers

Whilst there may be opportunities for those looking to buy production, there are possibly fewer deals to do for exploration projects.

At the very least there are fewer names in the contacts book for would be deal makers and, as capital is assigned elsewhere, big ticket partnerships (farm-outs) may continue to be thin on the ground.

A discovery of a major oil project today likely has a lead time of several years before theyre realized into production, and it is becoming increasingly difficult to model quite where the industry will be even in the medium term.

A strong caveat, meanwhile, remains  which is, as Shell itself emphasized, high-quality projects will still be in demand.

High quality most likely reads as either high yield and/or low-cost per barrel, preferably with higher volumes per well, with smaller footprints, and in the vicinity of existing infrastructure.

For Shell in particular, the emphasis is on gas.

Oil demand drives crude prices up

Shell and BP might be reducing their profile in the oil business but the world still demands the black stuff.

Only yesterday, weekly oil market statistics unexpectedly revealed undersupply, in the short term at least. Stockpile data in America had been expected to show a 1mln barrel build (i.e. that there was excess supply) but instead the numbers showed a 6.6mln barrel draw (an excess of demand).

Even if the pair of blue-chip oiler exited the industry altogether, the demand for oil wont disappear tomorrow.

Crude oil prices have climbed steadily in recent months as the global economy begins to emerge from the disruptions of the pandemic and as vaccines roll-out.

Trading at around US$61 per barrel Brent crude is up nearly 50% since November.

Crude prices are approaching levels that again make an increasing number of oil projects viable, or attractive even.


The Minority is demanding that the practice where military personnel are assigned to civilians as their body guards should stop. According to the caucus, that practice demoralizes the men and women of the Ghana Armed Forces.



Addressing the press in Parliament yesterday, Minority Leader, Haruna Iddrisu, said the constitutional mandate of the Armed Forces is to protect the territorial integrity of the country and not to be carrying bags of public officials.



We are demanding that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the Commander-In-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces, take immediate and necessary steps to demilatarise Ghana.



The Ghana Police Service must be allowed to play its proper and constitutional role of maintaining law and order and, where necessary, collaborate with the Ghana Armed Forces. We find it very despicable that men and women in uniform, particularly in the Ghana Armed Forces, will now be reduced to holding bags of public officials. That is not the Ghana Armed Forces we know.



We want him to restore the dignity, the honour and the respect of the Ghana Armed Forces so that they only intervene in matters of maintaining law and order, the Minority Leader said. His concerns come on the back of pictures circulating on social media showing one of the lawyers of the Presidents legalteam in the ongoing election petiton, Frank Davies, being guarded by a soldier. The pictures also show the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission being guarded by four gun-wielding military personnel.



The Tamale South MP said though they were committed to the safety of every Ghanaian, the military must not be undermined and abused.

Source: The Ghanaian Times









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Weve also published this article in French, the language in which Laudenbach spoke to us  read it here.

Sebastien Laudenbach: Ive never been particularly into animated films, even today. But when I was growing up, I read a lot of comics, and as a teenager I discovered the artists in Metal hurlant [a comics anthology adapted for the U.S. market as Heavy Metal]: Moebius, Bilal, Druillet, Caza 

A public channel in France had programmed Rene Lalouxs Gandahar, which had designs by Caza. So I was curious. On the same evening, they broadcast Gwen, the Book of Sand; I didnt know who had made it.

Watching the two films, I ended up being pretty disappointed by Gandahar and very intrigued by Gwen. They both had their own identity, but whereas Gandahar seemed ultimately quite limited in its approach, Gwen took me to completely new places, on every level.

The design was based around faded tones  a far cry from the saturated hues of the animated films I knew; the story was mysterious, to say the least; the message was strong (even if I wasnt sure Id completely understood it at the time). Everything in this film was new to me.

Back then, I dont think I fully grasped its anti-consumerist, anti-capitalist, libertarian dimension. [Yet] the scene where a mail-order catalogue is read like the Gospel made a particular impression on me. I remember thinking it was an extraordinary idea. Its simple, effective, yet brilliantly staged. The tone (the sound!), the way the officiator speaks, the colors  the mood, basically, that solemn aspect  All that has stayed with me, even though Ive hardly rewatched the film.

At the time, I had no thought of going into animation  I wanted to draw comics. I must have been 16 or 17. Two years later, I was getting started at art school, and chance led me to do animation. Thats when I reconnected with Gwen. Someone told me the story of La Fabrique, the very artisanal studio that had made the film under the direction of Jean-Francois Laguionie. A tiny team of people with ideals.

Ive spent many a holiday in a farmhouse deep in the wild Ardeche countryside, and I liked this idea of a small studio in a village in the Cevennes [which overlaps with Ardeche]. I found it fascinating. Ive had the opportunity to go to Saint-Laurent-le-Minier [where the studio is located], notably while Laguionie was working on Black Mors Island (2004). But I didnt meet Jean-Francois then.

When I watched the film a second time, I knew the story of La Fabrique and this context must have guided the way I saw it. I dont know whether the film has aged well: its rhythm is quite slow compared to contemporary productions  Im thinking of the chase scenes in particular. But the films dynamic still works, in my opinion. Something in it builds, little by little, and ends up grabbing you. [Laguionies 2016 feature] Louise by the Shore has that same calm force, that gentle power, which I think is very close to how Laguionie is himself.

I think I preferred Gwen the second time, because I was judging its aesthetic aspects more sharply, having become a director in the interim. I was realizing how bold this film is, on every level.

I met Laguionie much later, at a round table to which wed both been invited. We perceived a certain similarity in our approaches, and I think the near-solo adventure that was The Girl Without Hands spoke to him, brought him back to this era when he was making Gwen. He directed it aged 4045, after eight or nine shorts, which was the case for me too. Even so, I didnt think about Gwen when I was making The Girl Without Hands. Its only afterwards that it struck me that they were kind of similar in approach.

Even if The Girl Without Hands is much more artisanal and experimental in its production than Gwen, I think both films share a spirit of freedom  in terms of their themes, of course, but also in the way they were made, in a departure from a standardized, established, immutable mode of production. These two films show us that there is another way (and they arent the only ones to do so, of course). In this regard, Gwen really made an impact on the history of world animation, and this is rarely acknowledged. Gwen is like its director: important and discreet.

Im pretty certain that if Laguionie was my age, he could have made a film like The Girl Without Hands on his own, drawing on the freedom that digital tools afford when used in conjunction with traditional drawing. In this sense, we live in a relatively blessed time. Its much easier nowadays to do animation on the cheap. Gwen is essentially made on cel (with some cut-out too), with backgrounds hand-painted on paper. It was all shot on a 35 mm rostrum camera.

Now, we can connect the marks we make on paper with a computer (to take the shot, to do the compositing); this results in a way of working thats very different from back in the day. Nowadays, you can make films on the subway! Thats why, for a good ten years or so, weve been witnessing a boom in different types of animation all across the world. Were in a new golden age 


Today, the AAFP takes a look inward to highlight some of the Academys longstanding efforts toward promoting diversity, equality and inclusion in the specialty.

1965: In April, the Congress of Delegates of the (then) American Academy of General Practice, in a discussion on equal rights for Academy membership, adopts a resolution that, among other things, states that the Congress is unalterably opposed to the denial of membership in county and state chapters of our Academy to any duly licensed physician in the family practice of medicine because of race, color, religion, ethnic affiliation or national origin.

1968: The Academy adopts a resolution identical to the 1965 COD resolution that emphasizes the Academys opposition to discrimination that would deny membership on racial or ethnic grounds.

1970: The Academy adopts a resolution requesting a change in the bylaws that makes membership in the National Medical Association equivalent to membership in a constituent association of the American Medical Association as an eligibility requirement for Academy membership.

1971: The AAFP adopts an amendment to its bylaws stating that prospective members must be eligible to be a member of the constituent state or provincial medical society of the AMA or Canadian Medical Association of the state, territory, or province in which they practice, or hold membership in their countrys recognized medical society. The addition of the phrase be eligible to makes it possible for minorities who were not allowed to become members of some state medical societies to still become members of the AAFP.

1979: The Academy adopts a resolution that calls for the establishment of a Committee on Minority Health Affairs. In its first decade of operation, the committee creates a highly circulated audiovisual presentation titled Family Practice in the Inner City, recommends that the Academy determine the racial and ethnic origins of the membership in future demographic surveys and develops a project for Family Health Month designed to focus on health problems in the Black community.

1985: In response to concerns about underrepresentation in the medical workforce, the Academy adopts a policy that encourages family physicians to serve as positive role models and take an active interest in the educational aspirations of their young patients, especially those from populations that are underrepresented in medicine.

1989: The Academy adopts Health Care for All, a policy with the overarching goal of ensuring health care coverage for everyone in the United States.

1990: The AAFP holds its first Policy Conference of Women, Minority and New Physicians, allowing these constituency groups to interact, learn about AAFP activities and provide opinions on issues of concerns. The meeting is eventually renamed the National Conference of Women, Minority and New Physicians.

1990: The AAFP adopts a revised policy statement on opposition to discrimination that reads: The AAFP recommends for consideration for membership in chapters of the AAFP any student or duly licensed graduate of an ACGME-approved family practice residency program irrespective of race, color, religion, gender, ethnic affiliation or national origin.

1992: The Academy adopts a policy that calls for the active recruitment of minority students at all levels, beginning in elementary school, to increase the number of minorities in family medicine and increase the number of minorities in faculty positions.

1993: The AAFP Congress of Delegates approves a bylaws amendment that seats two delegates each from the constituencies of women, minorities and new physicians.

1996: The Committee on Minority Health Affairs activities are transferred to the Committee on Special Constituencies.

1996: The Academy adopts a policy on physician discrimination stating, among other things, that hiring, credentialing and privileging decisions for physicians should be based solely on verifiable criteria.

1998: The AAFP adopts a bylaws amendment stating that minority physicians will be seated in the Congress of Delegates through the 2010 annual COD meeting.

2001: Warren Jones, M.D., then serving as a captain in the U.S. Navy, become the first Black member of the Academy to serve as president of the AAFP.

2003: The Academy adopts a wide-ranging policy that addresses a number of service-related topics, including prioritizing the recruitment and development of physicians who will practice in rural and urban underserved communities, and support for initiatives that result in medical students and residents choosing family medicine careers in rural, minority and underserved population areas.

2003: The AAFP Board of Directors approves the creation of a student liaison to the Student National Medical Association.

2005: The AAFP adopts a policy stating that the organization will position itself in a leadership role in creating a medical workforce reflective of the patient populations family physicians serve.

2013: The AAFP, in conjunction with the AAFP Foundation, American Board of Family Medicine, Association of Departments of Family Medicine, Association of Family Practice Residency Directors, North American Primary Care Research Group and Society of Teachers of Family Medicine, launches Family Medicine for Americas Health, an initiative designed to, among other things, provide timely and cost-effective care for all patients and reduce health disparities throughout the country.

2014: The AAFP adapts the AMAs Doctors Back to School program, which is designed to encourage young people from underrepresented minority groups to consider family medicine as a career option.

2015: The annual meeting of the National Conference of Women, Minority and New Physicians is officially renamed the National Conference of Constituency Leaders.

2017: Following the results of an AAFP member survey, the Academy establishes the Center for Diversity and Health Equity. A major initiative of the center is The EveryONE Project, a comprehensive resource that provides members with tools and materials to advocate for health equity, promote workforce diversity and reduce health disparities.

2018: To support culturally appropriate, patient-centered care and reduce health disparities, the Academy adopts a policy that recommends educating physicians about implicit bias and developing strategies to address the issue.

2019: In April, the AAFP Board of Directors adopts a position paper, Advancing Health Equity by Addressing the Social Determinants of Health in Family Medicine.

2019: In September, Gary LeRoy, M.D., who operates a practice in Dayton, Ohio, and also serves as an associate professor in the Department of Family Medicine at Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine, officially becomes the second Black person to serve as president of the AAFP.

2019: The AAFP Board of Directors approves a policy stating, among other things, that the Academy opposes institutional racism in all its forms, and supports family physicians to actively work to dismantle racist and discriminatory practices and policies in their organizations and communities.

2020: The Academys Board of Directors adopts a policy on race-based medicine that outlines its opposition to the use of race as a proxy for biology or genetics in clinical evaluation and management and in research.

2020: The Academys Board of Directors adopts a policy stating that continuing educational materials, including those pertaining to patient education and continuing medical education, should promote cultural proficiency, be sensitive to the issues of diverse populations of patients and physicians, and address specific health issues and disparities as they relate to diverse populations.
The developer who once co-owned McLemore Cove in Walker County, Ga., has been indicted on federal charges.

Edmond Cash was arrested along with former bank loan officer Michael Craig Brewster and LaDonna Barton on charges arising out of a scheme to defraud Brewsters former employer, River City Bank in Rome, Ga..

Cash and Delos Yancey acquired the scenic farm from former owner Wayne Rollins. They divided some of the outlying property and sold them for mini farms before finally selling the remainder to the state and county.

Acting U.S. Attorney Kurt R. Erskine said, Bank insiders who allegedly abuse their position to illegally help themselves and their friends should take heed. We will work diligently with our law enforcement partners to root out criminal insiders and hold them accountable.

Treasury invested TARP funds in banks to bring stability, not fund fraudulent bank loans, said Christy Goldsmith Romero, Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program. Todays indictment is another example of accountability for a banker alleged to have committed fraud.

This indictment is an important step to hold a former bank officer accountable for using his position to push forward a fraudulent loan application, along with his co-conspirators, said FDIC Inspector General Jay N. Lerner. We remain committed to working with our law enforcement partners in order to investigate financial crimes which undermine the integrity of our banking system.

According to Acting U.S. Attorney Erskine, the indictment, and other information presented in court: LaDonna Barton allegedly obtained a fraudulent loan from River City Bank. Ms. Bartons loan application, with Cashs assistance, was funneled through Brewster, who was a loan officer at the bank at the time. Due to his position at the bank, Brewster was able to push the loan application through for approval and ensure that his co-conspirators received their requested funds despite their loan application being filled with false statements. Ms. Barton claimed in her loan application that she was seeking to purchase property, when in fact she was just obtaining money for herself and for Cash. The money that was supposed to be used for purchasing property was instead pocketed by Barton and Cash, with Cash allegedly using some of the money to pay other loan payments and business expenses arising from his land development business, the government said.

Brewster, 46, of Huntsville, Ala.; Cash, 79, of Rome, and Ms. Barton, 63, of Menlo, Ga., were charged with bank fraud conspiracy, bank fraud, and making false statements in a loan application. All three were indicted by a federal grand jury on Wednesday.

This case is being investigated by the Office of the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation



Office of Inspector General.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Samir Kaushal is prosecuting the case.
Ukrainians traveled most often to Egypt, Turkey during New Year holidays

During the New Year holidays, over 300,000 Ukrainians, who are subscribers of the mobile network operator Kyivstar traveled across Ukraine and abroad.

This is evidenced by an analytical report based on Big Data from the Kyivstar distributed on Wednesday.

Thus, the top ten cities of Ukraine, where Kyivstar subscribers most actively traveled during the New Year holidays, included: Kyiv, Lviv, Odesa, Vinnytsia, Dnipro, Ivano-Frankivsk, Kharkiv, Ternopil, Khmelnytsky, and Rivne. Tourist mobility peaked on December 28, 2020 and January 3, 2021.

The three most popular ski resorts in Ukraine among the operator's subscribers were Bukovel, Slavske, and Dragobrat. The tourist peak of mobility of Ukrainians who went to ski resorts fell on December 31, 2020, January 1, January 2, January 8 and January 9, 2021.

According to the company, the majority of Ukrainians went abroad to Egypt, Turkey, Poland, Moldova and Romania. At the same time, in 2019, Kyivstar subscribers preferred Poland, Egypt, Moldova, the Czech Republic and Germany.

In addition, according to the data provided, in 2020, new directions appeared among the countries that were visited by Kyivstar subscribers on New Year's holidays, such as the Maldives, Dominican Republic, Bulgaria, and Tanzania.

The company said that the number of tourists who traveled abroad in 2020 fell by 81% compared to 2019.

"Big Data remains a strategic business direction in Kyivstar. Its potential is huge, because analytics helps in the development of various smart ecosystems, including urban ones in terms of tourism potential or infrastructure improvement. And Kyivstar has everything necessary resources for developing the sector: data, technical equipment, a team of analysts and data scientists, innovative technologies and opportunities," the press service of Kyivstar said, quoting New Business Director at Kyivstar Ilya Polshakov.

The operator said that the mobility data for subscriber groups was analyzed from December 24, 2020 to January 10, 2021.

When determining a trip within Ukraine, only one settlement was taken into account, in which the subscriber spent more time, but no less than two days. When determining a foreign trip, only one country was taken into account in which the subscriber spent the most time.
The Russian Foreign Minister and UN Secretary-General have reiterated the need for humanitarian aid to combat the coronavirus pandemic, reports SANA.

Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, discussed on Tuesday with the United Nations Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, means of realizing a political solution to the Syrian crisis and removing unilateral economic sanctions to confront the coronavirus pandemic.

Sputnik News quoted a statement by the Russian Foreign Ministry saying that the two sides discussed, over a phone call, current international issues  namely reaching a solution to the crisis in Syria.

The statement added that both sides underlined the need to increase international humanitarian aid without politicization or preconditions in addition to taking measures to combat the coronavirus pandemic.

It pointed out that Lavrov stressed the importance of responding to Guterres call to suspend and ease the unilateral sanctions.

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.
'Illness-phobic' billionaire Petra Ecclestone has defended travelling to seven countries in lockdown to 'escape coronavirus', claiming that 'others would if they could'.

The heiress, 32, has travelled with her fiance Sam Palmer, 37, and four children from London to Croatia to LA, then Switzerland, Monaco and France, then back to LA and Monaco, then The Maldives and back to Monaco since March last year.

Talking to the Times' T2, Petra asserted she hasn't broken rules and said: 'Were currently in Monaco. For now. Not sure where well be next week . . . Were very Covid-conscious. Weve flown completely around the world to try and miss it. What I think weve realised now is you cant run from coronavirus.'

The couple returned to London from their home in LA just as the pandemic hit last year and they hardly left the house at this point.

'We've flown around the world to try to escape coronavirus': 'Illness-phobic' billionaire Petra Ecclestone has defended travelling to seven countries in lockdown and asserted she hasn't broken rules and claims 'others would if they could' (pictured in Croatia last summer)

They then flew to Croatia to stay on her Formula One boss dad Bernie's yacht for one month in the summer.

But because her sister Tamara, 36, and her father Bernie, 90, were both in Switzerland with their families, they decided to go there so their children could partake in outdoor activities instead of being cooped up at home.

As the virus grew, the family travelled to Monaco after two months because 'it has done very well for coronavirus,' Sam noted.

Getting away from it all: Sam shared this picture of himself with Petra and their four children (who they doesn't picture publicly) on their holiday in the Maldives in January

Envious: The couple haven't been afraid to share pictures from the Waldorf Astoria on their luxury trip, while Brits are forced to stay at home - but they haven't broken the rules

Despite schools being open there, the couple have been home-schooling their children but their nanny-housekeeper contracted coronavirus and so they've been doing everything themselves.

Acknowledging how difficult single mothers would be finding this situation, homeschooling in an apartment, Sam said, 'we can't really complain.'

Petra regards herself as being illness-phobic due to a near-death experience with meningitis when she was aged 14.

Goodbye for now: Back in June, sister Tamara revealed she's been crying non-stop after saying goodbye to her sister Petra in Croatia (pictured with daughter Sophia, six)

'Missing my best friend': Tamara wrote: 'So hard to say goodbye it's always hard but this time especially so with the uncertainty of not knowing when we will see each other next'

Farewell for now: The family had been staying on Bernie's 28million yacht, but Petra, her fiance Sam and her children boarded a private jet to fly back to LA afterwards

Coming home: The recruitment consultant wrote: 'After 4 months a global pandemic, a new baby and 2 different countries.... We are finally on our way home..'

She noted: 'Im a huge hypochondriac. I hate germs and anything that Im not in 100 per cent control over gives me anxiety. So this whole virus . . . it scares me and it isnt great for my anxiety. '

Petra's father Bernie is worth $3.2billion and Petra famously sold her LA home for 97 million in 2019 - Essex born Sam who was new to this lifestyle noticed ways to cut costs and launched a staffing agency to the super-rich as a result.

While the couple, who have been together since 2017, know they get to live a privileged lifestyle, they are unapologetic for the benefits this has given them, particularly in lockdown.

Seeing the sights: The family travelled to London from LA when the pandemic started taking hold in April

Trip of a lifetime: Sam had been littering his Instagram with snaps from their time away in Croatia

Making memories: Petra and Sam appeared to have the time of their lives with the children

Reunited: In August, the family joined up with sister Tamara and father Bernie in G'Staad, Switzerland so they could give their children more of an outdoors lifestyle

A lunch in France: The couple popped to Paris for a bite to eat at La Petite Maison in October

Making it work: While many Brits were kept apart from their families, Christmas was certainly not cancelled for this family in Monaco

WHAT WAS THE COVID SITUATION IN THE COUNTRIES THEY VISITED? London, April The capital was at the epicentre of Britain's first wave in April, recording a peak of 208 Covid deaths a day. Fatalities did not rise above this level during the second wave. The Department of Health also published case figures for this time, but these are considered to be a significant underestimation because the UK's testing scheme wasn't working until well into June. Croatia, June The Eastern European country was suffering less than one death from the virus a day during this month, figures compiled by Our World in Data show. California, July When they touched down in the American state it was registering around 85 Covid deaths a day, which continued to rise throughout the month to 125 by the start of August. The state's infection rate was at about 15 cases per 100,000 people a day, rising to 20 by the next month. Gstaad, Switzerland, August When they stayed here Switzerland was beginning to see an uptick in coronavirus cases, which rose to an average of 300 a day nationwide by the end of the month. But this was well below the peak in November when the country was registering more than 8,000 cases. Monaco, September and October The 202-hectare country on the edge of France recorded less than 10 cases of the virus a day until October 23, when 14 were detected. France, October Covid-19 cases began to take off in France during their visit as the winter months approached. The number registered daily almost quadrupled during October, rising from 110,665 a week on October 5 to 382,553 a week on November 2. Los Angeles, December The 4million-strong city began to feel the full force of the second wave over Christmas. Official data from the LA county health authority reveals Covid-19 cases doubled in this month - from 6,500 to 13,071 cases a day on average. Covid deaths also quadrupled from 39 to 186 fatalities a day on average. Monaco, December As the rest of Europe battled the pandemic with lockdowns and ordering its citizens to stay home, Monaco was still recording less than 15 cases a day according to Our World in Data. The Maldives, January Coronavirus cases in the archipelago continued to rise in January, jumping four-fold from 31.6 to 121.1 a day on average by the end of the month, figures from Our World in Data show. Average deaths from the virus, however, remained below one a day. Monaco, again The 202-hectare country was recording more than a hundred cases a day by February. Advertisement

He added: 'A lot of people get blinded by the wealth. We are parents with four children. I think people think that we sit around eating lobster and bathing in champagne. It couldnt be further from the truth and thats really why we did this [P.S Say Cheese] podcast, to show we are very normal people.'

The couple also touch upon their holiday last month in the Maldives and were asked if they are worried about being judged in these coronavirus times as envious Brits back home remain banned for non-essential travel.

Nothing that, 'were living in a country where youre able to travel', Sam asserted that there is always going to be a wealth divide.

He said: 'Precoronavirus there were people starving in the world. Everyone was still posting pictures of food... Its like the world has to pretend there isnt wealth any more. Theres still the same problems systematically. And I think probably a lot of it theyve turned on to other people.'

And while Petra, who was previously married to bullion dealer James Stunt from 2011-2017, acknowledges that the fact she gets to travel is 'unfair' but said that 'if others had the opportunity, theyd go on holiday too.'

Her sister Tamara was criticised for living in up in G'Staad and then travelling to Dubai, but she maintains she travelled from Switzerland and not the UK, not breaking regulations.

Tamara's husband Jay revealed to MailOnline that the family have no plans to return to London following the dramatic security lapse that led to a multi-million pound jewel heist at her West London home in December 2019.

Jurors at a recent trial related to the burglary heard the home was so huge that security staff did not notice the thieves breaking in through the back garden or plundering several rooms of the house during the hour-long raid.

One guard was not on duty at the property in exclusive Kensington because he had gone to Tesco to buy groceries including vegetables for a roast dinner, the court was told.

Speaking from Dubai about their plans, Jay told MailOnline: 'We do not intend to return to the UK from Dubai.

'There are a host of reasons why we are not going back to London any time soon and security is one of them.

'The truth is we are playing it month by month and watching how the situation develops.'

Meanwhile, Jay denied he and Tamara had broken travel restrictions as he explained:

'We have not broken the lockdown rules to come Dubai, that is not what we have done.

'At the beginning of the outbreak last year we really stuck to the rules.

'From March to May we locked down and did not leave the house [in London].

'We went to Croatia in [June] the summer, but that was only after the rules changed and everyone was allowed to travel.

'From there we went to Switzerland and we stayed there until Christmas when we came here to Dubai.

'There are a host of reasons why are not planning to return to London any time soon.

'Security is one of them but certainly not the only reason.

'There is not a strict plan about when we are going to return to the UK or to Switzerland. Switzerland is in lockdown as well.

'Therefore, my gallery is closed and I can do any work I need to do remotely.

'We are here on an extended holiday while all this stuff is going on.'

Find out more about the podcast @pssaycheese on Instagram. To donate to Petras Place go to petrasplace.co.uk

With his girls: Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone with daughters Petra and Tamara (pictured in 2017)
British television channel BBC World News was barred on Friday from airing in China, a week after Britain's media regulator revoked Chinese state television's licence to broadcast in the United Kingdom.

China's National Radio and Television Administration said an investigation found BBC World News' China-related reports had "seriously violated" regulations, including that news should be "truthful and fair," had harmed the country's national interests and undermined national unity.

The channel, therefore, does not meet requirements for foreign channels broadcasting in China and its application to air for another year would not be accepted, it added.

English-language BBC World News is not included in most TV channel packages in China, but is available in some hotels and residences.

Two Reuters journalists in China said the channel had gone blank on their screens.

Chinas move was condemned by British Foreign Minister Dominic Raab and the U.S. State Department, while the BBC said it was "disappointed".

"Chinas decision to ban BBC World News in mainland China is an unacceptable curtailing of media freedom," Raab said.

"China has some of the most severe restrictions on media and internet freedoms across the globe, and this latest step will only damage Chinas reputation in the eyes of the world."

At a regular news briefing, U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price condemned the decision, adding:

"It's troubling that as (China) restricts outlets and platforms from operating freely in China, Beijing's leaders use free and open media environments overseas to promote misinformation."

Earlier this month, the State Department said it was "deeply disturbed" by reports carried by the BBC of systematic rape and sexual abuse against women in internment camps for ethnic Uighurs and other Muslims in China's Xinjiang region and said there must be serious consequences for atrocities there.

China denies accusations of abuses in Xinjiang and said the BBC report was "wholly without factual basis".

The BBC said it was disappointed by the decision of the Chinese authorities to bar BBC World News from broadcasting.

"The BBC is the worlds most trusted international news broadcaster and reports on stories from around the world fairly, impartially and without fear or favour," the BBC said.

On Feb. 4, British media regulator Ofcom revoked China Global Television Network's (CGTN) licence to broadcast in the United Kingdom after an investigation found the licence was wrongfully held by Star China Media Ltd.

China criticised the ruling as politicised and warned it reserved the right to make a "necessary response".

Short link:


Melbourne, Feb 11 : Two more people linked to Covid-19 outbreak at quarantine hotel in Australia's Melbourne city have tested positive for the virus, bringing the total number of the cluster to 10.

The Department of Health in Victoria state, of which Melbourne is the capital, said on Thursday that the two new cases were both household primary close contacts of the currently infected staff at the Holiday Inn at Melbourne Airport, reports Xinhua news agency.

The Holiday Inn cluster now stands at 10, including a family of three who is believed to contract the virus overseas, three quarantine hotel workers, two household members of the hotel workers and two former guests who exited the facility on February 7.

The state's Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said a working theory was that at least three of the cases were exposed to mist from a nebuliser.

As investigations into the outbreak continued, the hotel was closed on Wednesday for terminal cleaning.

Forty-eight residents were transferred to Pullman Melbourne to quarantine for an extended number of days and more than 135 hotel staff were asked to isolated at home for 14 days.

A planned increase to Victoria's cap on international arrivals was also put on hold.

Other states and territories in the country were also on high alert as the Holiday Inn cluster in Melbourne expanded.

South Australia (SA) has acted swiftly to close its border to residents from Greater Melbourne.

"People wishing to enter SA on or after 12.01 a.m. Thursday having been in Greater Melbourne (including Sunbury) at any time on or after 12.01 a.m. on February 4 are not permitted to enter," the state's latest COVID-19 direction said.

"Exemptions do apply for Essential Travellers, SA residents, genuine relocations and people escaping Domestic Violence with approval prior to entry." Meanwhile, the state of Queensland will reinstate a border pass system for people travelling from Victoria from 1 a.m. Sunday.

Queensland's Deputy Premier Steven Miles said Thursday the border would not be closed at this stage, and Victoria had handled the Holiday Inn outbreak well.

LONDON, Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Mars Food reveals its first Purpose in Action Report, which shares how the company has provided better food today and a better world tomorrow. It also extends Mars Food's purpose commitments to 2025, following its 2016 ambition to deliver one billion more healthy meals to be enjoyed on dinner tables around the world by 2021, which the company has since achieved.

The new targets focus on three key areas of progress: Championing Shared Meals, Opening Access to Better Food and Driving Brand Purpose. These complement the previous commitments, which aimed to bring healthier meals to families through reformulation, inspire families and friends to eat and cook together, and improve sustainable farming practices to the benefit both farmers and consumers.

The report details how, over the past five years, Mars Food has:

Exceeded its target to deliver one billion more healthy meals by 2021;

Pioneered sustainable rice practices and making an industry first commitment to source 100% of its rice from farmers working towards the Sustainable Rice Platform standard;

Partnered with global packaging supplier Amcor, to launch the first recyclable microwavable rice pouch;

Contributed to a 21.3% average sodium reduction on Mars Food's global portfolio (surpassing the 20% target).

Ensured that 100% of is tomato-based sauces include one serving of fruits or vegetables per portion;

In addition, in 2020 Mars Food has donated more than 10 million meals as part of its continued community giving programmes and the $20 million commitment made by Mars, Incorporated to support COVID-19 relief, which have now surpassed $26 million.

Mars Food's new 2025 Purpose Commitments take these goals a step further by ensuring more people across the world, particularly those in need, have access to healthy and sustainable food. Through its brands and actions, Mars is committed to making a positive difference to lives across the world.

Mars Food Global has a new ambition to deliver 5.5 billion meals by 2025 and will take action to:

Open Access to Better Food

 Provide 800 million more servings of vegetables alongside a 30% increase of fibre in all Mars Food products and a 5% reduction of sodium by 2025;

 Ensure 25 million healthy meals are provided to those in need through strategic partnerships;

 Ensure that 100% of its plastic packaging is recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2025;

 Ensure 100% of rice farmers in its supply chain at risk of poverty are reached programs designed to enable them to thrive by 2025;

 Eliminate unsustainable water use in its value chain, starting with a 50% reduction by 2025. Champion Shared Meals

 Create an accessible digital platform that provides mealtime inspiration and conversation starters;

 Raise more awareness around the social value of shared meals and through public health partnerships and endorsements. Drive Brand Purpose with consumers, customers & partners

 Create opportunities that offer everyone a seat at the table through our Ben's Original Seat at the Table scholarship fund and celebration of diverse cuisines & cultures;

 Plant nutritious seeds for every Seeds of Change product purchased, so that our communities can enjoy health, nutritious food;

 Help Australians get together around the table more, living the MasterFoods mantra: Make Dinnertime Matter.

 Donate 2% profits through the Tasty Bite Foundation to accelerate sustainable and inclusive rural development by empowering farmers in India;

 Use the Dolmio brand to help more families enjoy drama-free dinnertimes by providing healthy and tasty products which are quick to prepare.

Furthermore, Mars Food is also reflecting these commitments internally by:

 Supporting its Associates in being able to enjoy dinner at home with their families, whether that's leaving the office on time or switching off at home;

 Making 80% of the Mars Food Volunteering Program activities dedicated to enabling more meaningful meals.

Fiona Dawson - Global President of Mars Food, Multisales and Global Customers said:

"Our Mars Food Purpose  Better Food Today. A Better World Tomorrow  guides our actions because we know that what we eat, where that food comes from and who we share it with are important. Our Purpose in Action report sets out the progress we have made since 2016. We have delivered an extra one billion healthy meals which have been shared on dinner tables around the world; used our brands to celebrate the importance of shared dinnertimes and today 99% of our rice is sourced from farmers working towards the Sustainable Rice Platform standard. I am incredibly proud of these achievements, and despite our progress there is much more that we want to do. I am excited to share our ambitious 2025 goals we have set ourselves to champion the benefits of shared meals, open access to better food and drive our brands' purposes  all so that we can deliver 5.5 billion healthy meals for families around the world to enjoy".

To see the full 2020 Mars Food Purpose in Action Report, click HERE.

About Mars Food

Mars Food is a fast-growing dinnertime food business, making tastier, healthier, easier meals that bring the world to the dinner table. Headquartered in London, Mars Food's portfolio of leading brands includes: BEN'S ORIGINAL , DOLMIO, SEEDS OF CHANGE, MASTERFOODS, MIRACOLI, TASTY BITE, SUZI WAN, EBLY, ROYCO, KAN TONG, ABU SIOUF, RARIS, and PAMESELLO. Our purpose  Better Food Today. A Better World Tomorrow  drives our business to be a leader in health & wellbeing and sustainability. Mars Food is a segment of Mars, Incorporated.

For more information about Mars, please visit www.mars.com.

SOURCE Mars Food

Related Links

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Companies to form a strategic partnership to collaborate on new monitoring solutions for growing international remote cardiac monitoring markets

SHENZHEN, CHINA and ESCONDIDO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / February 11, 2021 / CB Scientific. Inc. (OTC PINK:CBSC)("CBSC" or the "Company"), a provider of innovative products and services for the ambulatory noninvasive cardiac monitoring space, is pleased to announce that it has entered into a collaborative partnership agreement (CPA) with Shenzhen Semacare Medical Technology Co., Ltd. (Semacare), a privately held medical technology company based in Shenzhen, Guangdong, China. Semacare brings their MetaCor real-time remote monitoring device, certified and approved by the National Medical Products Administration ("NMPA') in China, and its associated wireless, waterproof patch electrode, to include their innovative artificial intelligence machine learning algorithm (MetaAI) to CBSC. This partnership will help to further strengthen and diversify both companies by improving CBSC's existing and future digital products and features while helping to expand the outreach of Semacare's MetaCor product offering internationally.

Under the terms of the CPA, the two companies will provide mutual assistance pursuing regulatory approvals for their individual products. CBSC will endeavor to consult and assist Semacare in their efforts towards regulatory approval of the MetaCor monitoring device for CE and US FDA 510(k) registration. Semacare will assist CBSC in the current regulatory approval process with the NMPA in China for the my-Cam monitoring device. During the term of this agreement, mutual efforts will be made towards the joint development of products, including interoperability between Semacare monitoring products and CB Scientific's current and future monitoring solutions. This includes assistance by Semacare to help develop a wireless, waterproof patch solution for CBSC devices. As part of this agreement our two companies will explore a broad scope of joint collaborations and relationships to include the possibility of a future strategic business combination, merger or acquisition.

Going forward, the two companies will share additional information regarding this agreement as new developments occur.

About Shenzhen Semacare Medical Technology Co., Ltd.:

Founded in January 2019, Shenzhen Semacare Medical Technology Co., Ltd (Semacare) is a medical technology company with a goal to lead medical innovation and a mission of "serving mankind through, with and within healthcare". At the core of our operations, we integrate clinical data with artificial intelligence and machine learning technology. By applying top technology to the ultimate product design, we aim to develop optimal user experiences, improve the efficiency of medical systems and optimize the value of life information engineering. Semacare focuses on early detection of cardiovascular diseases through a monitoring and recovering system. By leveraging machine learning technology and incorporating it into sleek hardware, Semacare brings ultimate user experiences to both professionals and patients.

Shenzhen Semacare Medical Tech. Co., Ltd

Room 1308, Block A, Galaxy Century Building, No. 3069 Caitian Road,

Futian District, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China

Phone Number: +86 755 83908999

www.semacare.com

CB Scientific Inc. - Company Contact Information:

340 State Place

Escondido, CA 92029

Telephone number:

(888) 225-0870

Emails:

General inquires: info@cbscientificinc.com

Investor Inquiries: investor@cbscientificinc.com

Company Website and Social Media Outlets:

CB Scientific, Inc. - CBSC, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn

This information disclosure may contain forward-looking statements covered within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements relate to, among other things, plans and timing for the introduction or enhancement of our services and products, statements about future market conditions, supply and demand conditions, and other expectations, intentions and plans contained in this press release that are not historical fact and involve risks and uncertainties. Our expectations regarding future revenues depend upon our ability to develop and supply products and services that we may not produce today and that meet defined specifications. When used in this press release, the words "plan," "expect," "believe," and similar expressions generally identify forward-looking statements. These statements reflect our current expectations. They are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, changes in technology and changes in pervasive markets. This release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 27E of the Securities Act of 1934. Statements contained in this release that are not historical facts may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain. Actual performance and results may differ materially from that projected or suggested herein due to certain risks and uncertainties including, without limitation, ability to obtain financing and regulatory and shareholder approval for anticipated actions.

SOURCE: CB Scientific, Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/629242/CB-Scientific-Inc-CBSC-and-Shenzhen-Semacare-Medical-Technology-Co-Ltd-Announce-Collaborative-Partnership-Agreement
Meat processors representatives have highlighted increases in export costs of up to 40pc due to the loss of frictionless trade caused by Brexit, in a submission to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture and the Marine

The comments come as winter finishers were hit with a shock 10c cut to beef quotes this week on top a 5c cut last week.

However, Meat Industry Ireland (MII) told the committee that increased costs due to new Customs and sanitary/phytosanitary (SPS) processes, delays and disruption in logistics and direct transport cost increases were impacting the industry.

Whilst the increase in direct sailings to Continental Europe has helped provide exporters with an alternative to the UK Landbridge, MII says that it costs between 500 and 800 extra per truck to send exports to Continental Europe direct.

In addition, where exporters are sending trucks to the UK hauliers are facing difficulties filling their trucks for the return journey due to paperwork and logistical minefields, which means they are looking to increase the costs they charge per journey.

MII also expressed concern about the range of further Brexit measures coming in between April and July. For example, from 1st April all products of animal origin will need to be accompanied by a veterinary certificate.

"This will require over 350,000 Export Health Certificates to be issued per annum, with serious potential to cause trade flow disruption and add more cost to exporting," it said.

It also claimed the Brexit challenges compound the difficulties the sector is facing due to the Covid-19 pandemic which has decimated demand for Irish meat products from the food service and restaurant sector on which it is so reliant.

"In the beef sector, this affects steak sales in particular as restaurant, catering, and food service channels account for some 60pc of our steak sales.

"Burger sales are also impacted as fast-food outlets throughout Europe are operating at significantly reduced levels due to national lockdowns in many of our key markets. With summer BBQ season many months away opportunities to promote greater sales volumes through the retail channel are limited," it said.

Meat Industry Ireland Director Cormac Healy said: All agencies and those in the food supply chain have done excellent work to maintain the flow of trade since Brexit kicked in on 1st January, but just because tariff and quota free trade has continued doesnt mean the changes imposed by Brexit arent wide ranging and costly. And we have serious concerns about the potential for disruption when new export certification arrangements come into effect in the UK from 1st April.

We are dealing with the double whammy of COVID-19 and Brexit and both are relevant to the current market dynamics. COVID-19 lockdown restrictions across Ireland, the UK and Europe are leading to a major drop in demand throughout food service channels, and Brexit contingency stockpiles put in place ahead of the Brexit deadline are now being released and reducing demand.

Meanwhile, IFA President Tim Cullinan led an IFA delegation to meet Meat Industry Ireland (MII) on the recent price cuts attempted by factories.

He told the industry representative body the recent attempts by factories to reduce beef prices are not justified based on current market information, and farmers have reacted angrily to these attempts by factories.

He said the Bord Bia Prime Export Benchmark price tracker for the latest week, which is a composite of prices in our main export markets, does not show anything like the cuts factories are trying to enforce here.

Beef prices in the UK are strong and steady, rising over 7p/kg since the beginning of January and with sterling strengthening by 3% over the same period to 87.6p/, market conditions for Irish meat factories are favourable.

Recognising there are clearly ongoing issues with the food service sector due to COVID-19 controls, Tim Cullinan said the supermarket price for beef in the UK strengthened in the past week and sales remain strong as purchasing habits have evolved throughout the past year and are replicated by EU consumers.

The IFA President said MII were left in no doubt that undermining of the market conditions by meat factories is not acceptable.


Oregon lawmakers are on track to introduce the highest number of bills in a decade, suggesting the overwhelming majority of them wont get even a momentary hearing as the Legislature operates mostly online until at least April due to the pandemic.

House Speaker Tina Kotek told reporters this week that she expects the total number of bills could approach 4,000. If that happens, it would be the most pieces of legislation introduced in an Oregon legislative session since at least 2009, according to The Oregonian/OregonLives analysis of legislative data.

Nearly one month into the five-month session, the avalanche of bills reflects the lack of a clear focus for the 2021 session among the states top Democratic leaders. Kotek, D-Portland, has said the states wildfire recovery and COVID-19 response efforts  which lawmakers also worked on in special sessions and emergency board meetings in 2020  continue to be among her top priorities, along with legislation to broadly address homelessness and housing affordability and racial injustice and inequities.

Were really encouraging our (committee) chairs to prioritize, go for the urgent, go for the things that are of most import right now for Oregonians, Kotek told reporters in a question-and-answer session on Monday.

The speaker said it takes more time and planning to hold virtual hearings on legislation.

Kotek has said lawmakers might not meet in-person to hold floor votes on bills until April due to COVID-19. In the meantime, they are holding virtual committee hearings and committee votes and meeting for weekly floor sessions to introduce new bills.

According to The Oregonian/OregonLives analysis, lawmakers had introduced more than 2,100 bills as of Tuesday. Legislative lawyers have completed or are still drafting more than 3,700 legislative measures, Koteks spokesperson Danny Moran wrote in an email Wednesday.

The highest number of bills introduced since 2009 was 3,020 in 2011, The Oregonian/OregonLive found. Only a fraction of the proposals pass each session. In the 2017 session, 2,829 were introduced and 810 passed. In 2019, 2,768 were introduced and 757 passed. Those figures include required resolutions to conclude the sessions.

The House has 23 committees and subcommittees this year, compared with 13 in the last five-month session in 2019. The Senate has 13 committees this year, the same as in 2019.

In an interview Wednesday, Senate President Peter Courtney, D-Salem, said he was surprised to hear the number of bills was so high and concerned about managing lawmakers expectations since most pieces of legislation will not pass.

I cant quite understand where all these bills are coming from or why theres such an increase, Courtney said. Its got me very concerned because were not gonna pass that many bills by a long shot  That always makes the session more difficult, more agitated.

Courtney said some of the legislation was revived after it failed to pass last year when Republicans walked out of the Capitol to kill a climate bill. He also noted that duplicative bills can contribute to the issue, such as legislation that both he and Sen. Bill Hansell, R-Athena, introduced to require insurers to cover proton beam therapy if they cover radiation for cancer. Only one of those bills is necessary, Courtney said.

Meanwhile, at least four bills would require the Department of Transportation to study development of uniform standards for speed bump height and markings, including one for which Kotek is the chief sponsor. Many bills this session could be categorized as instructing state agencies to study a topic and report back to the Legislature in the future.

On Tuesday, the House introduced 68 new bills including House Bill 3153, which would change Oregon laws on public health emergencies that Gov. Kate Brown has relied upon to issue restrictions to slow the spread of COVID-19. It would allow the governor to declare such emergencies for only 14 days, with the ability to extend the emergency once for an additional 14 days. After that, the only option would be for the Legislature to meet to vote on whether to declare an emergency.

Rep. Mark Owens, R-Crane, introduced the bill at the request of Neil Ruggles, the owner of a martial arts business in Washington County who joined state Reps. Werner Reschke, R-Klamath Falls and Mike Nearman, R-Independence, and state Sen. Dennis Linthicum, R-Klamath Falls, to file a lawsuit that claimed the governor abused her authority by issuing stay-home and other coronavirus orders. With Democrats in control of both chambers of the Legislature, it stands little chance of passing.

There are a number of one-off bills with no clear connection to the COVID-19, wildfire and economic crisis that legislative leaders have identified as their top priorities.

Rep. Shelly Boshart Davis, R-Albany, has a proposal, House Bill 3122, to require the Oregon Board of Chiropractic Examiners to remove disciplinary information about chiropractors from its website and other publications under certain circumstances.

Sen. Chris Gorsek, D-Troutdale, has a bill that would also affect transparency. Senate Bill 550 would require governments in Oregon to replace a public employees name with a unique identifier in any public records released, if that employee requested the redaction.

Last week, Sens. Tim Knopp, R-Bend, and Bill Hansell, R-Athena, introduced a proposal to limit local governments regulations of commercial alarm systems and battery charged fences.

Sen. Lee Beyer, D-Springfield, has a proposal  Senate Bill 12  that would require health insurance plans for teachers and state government employees to reimburse those employees and their family members for airfare and an overnight hotel stay so they can purchase 90-day supplies of prescription drugs in Mexico and Canada.

I do think theres a realization sinking in that this is not a session where youre gonna do as many bills as we did in 2019, Kotek said. Im really pushing people to go for urgency, go for quality over quantity in terms of the impact it will have on peoples lives.

Staffer Mark Friesen contributed to this report.

-- Hillary Borrud; hborrud@oregonian.com; @hborrud

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Bengaluru, Feb 11 : Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) - Central Potato Research Institute, (CPRI) Ooty in Tamil Nadu has developed two disease resistant potatoes - Kufri Sahyadri and Kufri Karan - hybrid varieties which at present showing promising results in improving yield by 25 per cent to 30 per cent at laboratory level.

Both of these varieties are resistant to two most commonly affecting diseases like Potato Cyst (Nematode) and Late Blight disease of potato and its best suited for Karnataka climatic conditions.

ICAR-CPRI has set up its stall and displayed various potato varieties during the ongoing five-day National Horticulture Fest 2021 in Bengaluru.

ICAR-CPRI scientist, Priyank H. Mhatre told IANS the CPRI plans to introduce these varieties to farmers next year. "We are still examining stages that are adopted prior to release seeds in large markets," he added.

He added that the potato cyst nematodes are the most wilful and difficult to manage pests of the potato crop.

"We have partially succeeded in controlling this cyst in new varieties. Though the new varieties are in still developing stage but they have shown some promising outcome, which itself is a good sign in controlling this cyst," he said.

He added that both of these crops have passed the laboratory level tests and now field testing is on. "We have identified four or five farmers in Ooty in the vicinity of the CPRI itself. The enterprising farmers are ready to scale up their production to produce more seeds," he explained.

Mhatre said that these two varieties will improve yield capacity about 20 to 25 per cent besides reducing production cost by 30 per cent.

According to him due to the regulatory considerations and potential risk involved in environmental and health hazards, the options for controlling this nematode are becoming increasingly limited.

He added that among the available management options, trap and antagonistic crops offer viable alternatives for controlling PCN species.

"Therefore the present experiments were conducted to determine the effect of locally available nematode trap crop, Solanum sisymbriifolium and antagonistic crops against potato cyst nematodes," he said.

The scientist said that initially, S. sisymbriifolium was evaluated for its trap crop potential against PCN and the results showed that S. sisymbriifolium acts as a resistant crop for both the species of PCN, as no females were observed on the roots of the trap crop up to the end of the crop season.
LANSDALE, Pa., Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The SKF Cooper sealed split spherical roller bearing, the only sealed split spherical roller bearing currently on the market, has earned a 2020 Manufacturer Excellence Award for Innovation in Product Design from the Bearing Specialists Association (BSA). This the third BSA Manufacturer Excellence Award for SKF. The company was honored in 2019 for the SKF Pulse vibration sensor and mobile app, and in 2017 for the SKF Multilog On-Line system.

Both the open and sealed versions of SKF Cooper split spherical roller bearings are designed for easy replacement with little disturbance to the shaft alignment or driveline and eliminate the need to remove attached equipment. This innovative solution reduces mean time to repair (MTTR) and equipment downtime by up to 70 percent, which dramatically reduces customers' cost of repair. The sealed version has a machined seal within the bearing for superior contamination protection. This reduces environmental impact by lowering grease consumption and is ideally suited for harsh application environments - such as conveyor pulleys, stacker re-claimers, and other critical equipment.

"We are honored to be recognized by our industry peers for the innovation and advantages SKF Cooper split spherical roller bearings offer customers. We're proud of the safer working environment this product creates," said Will Hidell, Vice President of Sales, Aftermarket and Channel Management for SKF USA. "More than 40% of accidents in the mining and cement industry occur while workers are examining or maintaining conveyors. By eliminating the need to dismount drive couplings or cantilevered drives during maintenance and replacement, our bearings help create even safer conditions for our customers' personnel."

The Bearing Manufacturer Excellence of Innovation in Product Design Award recognizes companies for innovation and excellence in product design or technology. BSA distributor members reviewed and ranked manufacturer's innovation submissions and three submissions were recognized for their outstanding service to the end-use customer.

For more information or to find an SKF Cooper split spherical roller bearing distributor, visit: https://ter.li/9tt3x5



For further information, please contact:

Caitlin McKay 215-287-7623 [email protected]

SKF's mission is to be the undisputed leader in the bearing business. SKF offers solutions around the rotating shaft, including bearings, seals, lubrication management, condition monitoring and maintenance services. SKF is represented in more than 130 countries and has around 17,000 distributor locations worldwide. Annual sales in 2019 were SEK 86 013 million and the number of employees was 43 360. www.skf.com



 SKF is a registered trademark of the SKF Group.



SOURCE SKF USA

Related Links

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Godrej Consumer Products Ltds (GCPL) earnings for the December quarter are just about in line with Street estimates. Consolidated reported net profit stood at 502 crore, similar to what a Bloomberg poll had estimated.

The companys total operating revenues increased by 10% year-on-year to 3,055 crore. This is also the second consecutive double-digit revenue growth for GCPL. Even so, its performance in Indonesia has been soft in Q3 and thats a disappointment, said analysts. Revenues from Indonesia were flat y-o-y and declined by 2% in constant currency terms. The performance there was impacted by adverse macroeconomic factors; gradual recovery in air fresheners (discretionary category) and higher competitive intensity in wet wipes.

View Full Image Steady growth

India household insecticides (HI) growth remained tepid and was the other disappointment from the resultthe illegal incense sticks menace has not entirely gone away yet, it seems; this caused GCPLs performance to lag its domestic peers like Marico and Dabur India," said analysts from JM Financial Institutional Securities Ltd in a report on 8 February. India HI sales growth was somewhat tepid at 7%, even as it improved from a 4% growth in the September quarter. India soaps sales growth was decent at 15% and growth in hair colours stood at 14%, indicating a smart recovery from a 5% decline seen in the September quarter.

Further, Africas (Africa, US and the Middle East) performance was notable, helped by strong sales growth in South and West Africa. To us, the key result highlight was the strong delivery in Africa - 17% constant currency revenue growth on a soft but not all that weak a base," said JM Financial analysts.

Overall, GCPL managed to keep its earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (Ebitda) margin flattish y-o-y. This is despite a decline in gross profit margins owing to input cost pressures.

Meanwhile, after touching a 52-week high on 20 January, the GCPL stock has declined by 7% so far. The shares are now 2% lower than the pre-covid highs seen in January 2020. Based on Bloomberg data, the stock trades at nearly 40 times estimated earnings for financial year 2022.

While valuations arent too demanding, going ahead, a sustained improvement in performance may help improve sentiments for the stock.

Analysts from Kotak Institutional Equities said: The concerns in HI dont appear to be over yet. While traction at the premium end (electric, aerosols) is decent, GCPL continues to struggle in the mass segment. On the international front, turnaround in the Africa business has been good amidst low expectations. Indonesia business, which was seeing strong momentum till some back, has slowed down due to weak macro and higher competitive intensity." As such, the progress on a turnaround in Africa remains a key monitorable for the stock.

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Were very excited to partner with Nextdoor. says Rachel Gill, Co-Founder & CRO of RenderSEO. Their offering is of extraordinary value, especially during this time where local businesses need our full support.

RenderSEO, a local search marketing technology company, announces today an exciting partnership with Nextdoor, the neighborhood app that connects neighbors to local businesses. The partnership gives RenderSEOs client base of multi-location businesses the ability to easily connect with Nextdoors engaged, hyperlocal users.

Were very excited to partner with Nextdoor. says Rachel Gill, Co-Founder and CRO of RenderSEO. Nextdoor offers an innovative and unparalleled local experience to businesses and consumers alike. Their offering is of extraordinary value, especially during this time where local businesses need our full support.

Nextdoor is the leading app for neighborhoods, bringing people and businesses together to build their very own communities. All users are verified while businesses set up their own business pages. Nextdoor has seen users surge in the last year throughout the global pandemic, where having a local mindset has proven critical. To help support local businesses, Nextdoor recently launched new promotional tools, like free business posts to spark local conversation and recommendations. Sponsored local deals and regional sponsorship opportunities offer businesses the chance to level up their efforts and precisely target their local customers.

With this partnership, RenderSEO clients will be able to share their businesses on the Nextdoor platform, engage consumers, build their local reputation and ultimately increase revenue.

In todays environment, more and more people are focused on local establishments, says Melanie Leblanc, Director of Partnerships at RenderSEO. Nextdoor brings people together in a modern way and helps communities thrive both socially and economically. Solidifying our relationship with Nextdoor was an important step towards success for our team.

ABOUT RENDERSEO

RenderSEO is a marketing technology company with the power to get local businesses found via a one-of-a-kind platform. Launched in 2020, their team of industry experts came together with an important mission: to provide first-class service to clients of all sizes, including agencies and enterprise businesses alike. The RenderSEO technology has been strategically developed to help drive growth at the local level, and it is constantly evolving to stay ahead of industry changes and developments. By tailoring their technology to unique customer needs, RenderSEO helps turn online search into in-store sales. Learn more about RenderSEO at http://www.renderseo.com

ABOUT NEXTDOOR:

Building connections in the real world is a universal human need. That truth, and the reality that neighborhoods are among the most important communities in our lives, have been guiding principles for Nextdoor since the beginning. Today, neighbors rely on Nextdoor to tap into 265,000 neighborhoods around the world, including the United States (1 in 4 U.S. households), the United Kingdom, Germany, France, the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Denmark, Australia and Canada, with many more to come. We recognize that thriving communities are more than just residents. Theyre also made up of the local businesses, nonprofits and public agencies that keep our neighborhoods strong and connected. With more than 50 million local business recommendations from neighbors to date on Nextdoor, its easier than ever to take advantage of the possibilities nearby. Nextdoor is a privately-held company based in San Francisco with backing from prominent investors including Benchmark, Shasta Ventures, Greylock Partners, Kleiner Perkins, Riverwood Capital, Bond, Axel Springer, Comcast Ventures and others. For additional information and images: nextdoor.com/newsroom.

CONTACT

Julia Keshen | RenderSEO

julia@renderseo.com | 617.990.7118
Enhancing Health and Nutrition for Over a Century Nexira generates 90% of its turnover internationally. The U.S. is an essential outlet for food supplements, a country to which we have exported for 40 years, where we have a permanent office. We are carefully watching the acquisition files that arise, Nexiras Managing Director, Mathieu Dondain.

The family-owned Nexira company (http://www.nexira.com), number one in the worldwide acacia gum market, and a leader in natural ingredients for the food, nutrition, and health industries, is recording exceptional figures despite the global health crisis. With its unique ingredients, Nexira has the ability to respond to and fulfill the market demand for natural plant products with proven health benefits.

These results allow the group to pursue its development by independently undertaking ambitious projects: increasing production capacities, making new acquisitions, and continuing its commitment to carbon neutrality with the inavea range, which was recently officially certified as carbon neutral.

In a recent interview with Nexiras Managing Director, Mathieu Dondain, he spoke of the development in the U.S., where Nexira has had an office located in New Jersey since 1982. Nexira generates 90% of its turnover internationally. The United States is an essential outlet for food supplements, a country to which we have exported for 40 years, where we have a permanent office with a dozen employees. We are carefully watching the acquisition files that arise.

Exceptional figures

Nexiras turnover of nearly $150 million (+ 4%) was boosted by the very strong growth of the Health division (+18%) which reached $40.9 million, particularly related to its establishment and ongoing development in the USA (+45%).

The group's profitability reached new heights. These results can be explained by the sharp increase in the profitability of the Health division, which today enjoys international acclaim in the Nutraceutical sector.

These figures represent Nexiras best numbers internationally since its inception, the result of a steady increase in profitability of all the groups divisions, both in France and the U.S.A., while our teams continue to face this health crisis.

Major Events

The strong growth of the Health division of Nexira confirms the development of the nutraceutical markets, due to its product offerings that are particularly suited to strategic categories such as immunity, digestive health, slimming, and stress management.

To support the growth of our Healthcare division, the Lamothe industrial plant has acquired more than 16,000 sq. feet of additional production facilities. The production capacity of Serqueux, the world's largest acacia gum processing unit, has been increased to reach nearly 30,000 tons per year.

As a pioneer in acacia fiber research, Nexira conducts numerous clinical trials and regularly files patents to enhance the health benefits of its natural ingredients. This scientific corporate culture has enabled the company to forge a worldwide reputation for itself in the nutraceutical industry.

The launch of the exclusively organic range inavea which has recently obtained the carbon neutrality certificate further strengthens Nexira's positioning towards health nutrition with sales expected to exceed $12 million within 5 years. This new range also carries Nexira's ambitious goals in terms of carbon reduction by 2025, a strategic focus for the future of the group. Relevant to Nexiras U.S. presence, it is noted that the U.S. has re-joined the Paris Agreement, effective this month.

A Strategic Focus for Nexira: Reducing the Carbon Footprint

The groups 100% voluntary approach is part of a sustainable development logic that Nexira has been pursuing for several decades. With inavea, the new premium brand of organic and sustainable ingredients, Nexira has recently obtained the carbon neutral certificate. It is an ecological but also an economic challenge!

A Voluntary Approach

Today, only companies with more than 500 employees are required to carry out a carbon footprint1. Nexira, which has 250 employees, embarked on a more ambitious process aimed at achieving carbon neutrality in January 2021. This tangible project questions, assesses and challenges an entire organization. This project is an opportunity to promote a whole sector. As the world leader in acacia, we have a corporate responsibility. We must look to the future and uphold strong values, ones that make sense and correspond to our activities. Carbon neutrality is certainly an ambitious project but it is ultimately the concrete expression of all the actions we have been taking for a long time. We hope that as many companies as possible will move in this direction, said Mathieu Dondain.

A Commitment Initiated in the 1970s

For 50 years, the company has been involved in sustainable development by developing and protecting the origins of its natural raw materials*. Nexira works alongside the NGO SOS SAHEL, to prevent deforestation and contribute to the economic and social development of the populations located in these regions of Africa, for example through the pharaonic project of the great green wall.

An Ambitious and Strategic Transformation Process

To meet this ambitious challenge, Nexira is supported by EcoAct, a leading company in environmental and carbon strategies. According to Jean-Baptiste Martin, their interlocutor, "Nexira has set itself an ambitious trajectory in line with the Paris agreements with the same level of requirement and reflection of very large groups."

According to Simon Levesque, Director of Business Development at Nexira, To contain global warming, we must reduce our emissions. Agri-food companies will be forced to do so. They are our clients. We now know from the Paris Agreement that manufacturers will sooner or later have to label the environmental value of their product in order to offer consumers a new criterion of choice. We are now able to supply them with the first range of carbon neutral ingredients."

1 Article L. 229-25 of the Environment Code and Articles R. 229-45 to R. 229-50-1 specify the terms and conditions of the obligation to report greenhouse gas emissions for companies with more than 500 employees every four years.

About Nexira

Nexira is the world leader in acacia gum (+45% market share) as well as a key player in natural plant ingredients and botanical extracts. With a 2020 turnover of $149.7 million, 90% of which is international, Nexira has more than 250 employees at 8 production sites around the world, and 7 subsidiaries, with the main site located in the United States.
(Natural News) For almost a year, the Communist Chinese Party (CCP) would not allow the World Health Organization (WHO) to conduct a third-party investigation into the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV)  the top-secret research center that received U.S. funds for gain-of-function coronavirus research. The WIV is also located at the epicenter of the initial coronavirus outbreak, yet it remained off-limits to the outside world for months.

When the outbreak first began in Wuhan, China, social media companies began to remove any information about the potential lab-origins of the virus, whether it was released intentionally or inadvertently. Chinese scientists have come forward to help uncover a more sinister bio-weapons plot. Dr. Li-Meng Yan made the claim that the communist Chinese regime is directly responsible for unleashing and spreading the Wuhan coronavirus. Former Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo released evidence that 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.

China has WHO scientists right where they want them

Now that US President Donald Trump and Mike Pompeo are out of the way, Communist China is allowing scientists from the World Health Organization to take a closer look at the WIV and sift through data that has already been prepared and analyzed by Chinese scientists.

Under Trumps leadership, WHO was cut off from US funding and pressured to negotiate with the Chinese on an independent investigation into the point of origin for SARS-CoV-2, the Wuhan Institute of Virology. At the May 2020 World Health Assembly, Chinese leaders finally agreed to meet with WHO at a later date. At the event, international leaders put pressure on the Chinese to be more transparent with their gain-of-function virus research. The historic meeting between WHO scientists and the Chinese was finally negotiated months later.

However, shortly after getting access to the WIV, the WHO scientists quickly came to the conclusion that China was not to blame for covid-19. WHO just came out and announced that the new coronavirus did not come from the WIV after all. This is no surprise. Beijing has continued to resist calls for a strictly independent investigation, and finally got everything in order to manipulate WHO scientists into submission. The team of WHO scientists, comprised of experts from ten different countries, arrived on January 14, 2021. They were only allowed on visits organized by their Chinese hosts, and werent allowed to have contact with members of the community. From the beginning, the Chinese government restricted research on the origins of the outbreak and ordered scientists within the WIV not to speak to reporters.

WHO scientist defends China and attacks Donald Trump and US intel

Since the meeting, WHO scientists such as Peter Daszak began to attack the former President and his intel on the Chinese and the WIV. After meeting with the Chinese, Daszak wrote on Twitter: Please dont rely too much on US intel: increasingly disengaged under Trump & frankly wrong on many aspects

Peter Ben Embarek, the leader of the WHO mission, said a virus leak from the WIV is so improbable. It will NOT be suggested as an avenue of future study, he said. In other words, the leader of the WHO investigation is too afraid to stand up the Chinese Party and conduct an actual investigation. Another member of the WHO team, Danish scientist, Thea Koelsen Fischer, dissented to Embarek and said that the team should not rule out the possibility of further investigation as new leads come forward. Embarek, taking the story of the Chinese, asserts that the virus traveled from a bat to another animal and then to humans. He said the only other possibilities include transmission from bats to humans or transmission through frozen food products.

For more on the coverup and the unfolding war with China, check out Pandemic.News.

Sources include:

APNews.com

NaturalNews.com

NaturalNews.com

APNews.com

NYPost.com
New Delhi, Feb 11 : Indian Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Naravane said on Thursday that the current weapons of war are fast losing their importance and are being overtaken by disruptive technologies that operate in the cyber and space domain.

Speaking during a webinar organised by the Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS) on multi-domain operations and the future of warfare, Naravane said that everyone has seen how the very imaginative and offensive use of drones in Idlib and then in Armenia-Azerbaijan challenged the traditional prima donnas: The tanks, the artillery and the dug in infantry.

He also talked about the showcasing of swarm drone offensive striking multiple targets during the Army Day parade last month, terming it as a strong message to India's adversaries.

India is facing a two-front war situation in the northern and western borders with China and Pakistan.

The Army Chief said that the swarm drone demonstration was a message to India's adversaries that: "The Indian Army is steadily inducting niche capabilities to enhance its combat proficiencies in multi-domain operations." He said that swarm drones can overwhelm and effectively suppress an enemy's air defence capability, creating windows of opportunities for strike elements.

"It is also no longer necessary to score a physical hit to destroy a target. Offensive capabilities in the digital domain can effectively neutralise satellites and networks, denying them at critical junctures to decisively alter the course of the conflict," he said.

Concurrently, India is also working towards penetrating the anti-access bubble of the adversaries by investing in long-range vectors as also through the smart leveraging of aircraft and aerial platforms, Naravane added.

The Army Chief further explained how disruptive technologies are now driving doctrinal cycles like never before. "It may not be inaccurate. therefore, to infer that technology itself is steadily emerging as a core combat capability," he pointed out.

Large platforms which were once the mainstay of the 20th century battlefield -- the main battle tanks, fighter aircraft and large surface combatants -- have been rendered relatively less significant in the face of emerging battlefield challenges in newer domains, Naravane said.

He then explained that for years the Indian adversaries have studied the attributes, especially the weaknesses of western style militaries in war-fighting, and have developed stratagems to exploit the same.

Naravane said India has been schooled in many of these precepts and had focused on fine-tuning of operational preparedness in hardcore kinetics but the adversaries focused their energies on the ambiguous grey zone, seeking to out-manoeuvre in the competitive spaces short of all out conflict.

"As we fixed our gaze on building core capacities in land, sea and air, they (adversaries) took the battle to the newer domains of space, cyber, and informatics," the Army Chief said.

"With Western militaries focusing on amassing massive combat power through the aggregation of large military platforms, viz, tanks, guns and aircraft carrier led huge naval armadas, our adversaries invested in creating a formidable stand-off enterprise in the form of long range precision fires, PNT (precision, navigation, timing) systems, hypersonic vehicles and robust air defence capacities," Naravane said.

He said that a few years from now, in a typical multi domain operations engagement, a combat group assault on enemy dispositions will be enabled by multiple capacities across domains.

"So, a High Space UAV System or investments in Low Orbit Technologies will provide the combat group commander with complete transparency of the enemy battle space through real time, persistent surveillance," he pointed out.

This could be complemented by a Su-30 reconnaissance mission, hours earlier, with the imagery of key enemy dispositions offloaded into a "tri-service cloud" for instant retrieval.

A cyber strike, as part of preparatory bombardment, will disable enemy radars, command and control apparatus and electronic warfare systems. Having achieved complete mastery over the battle space in terms of visual transparency as also domination of the electromagnetic spectrum, the kinetics are unleashed.

As the traditional fire and manoeuvre elements of the combat group launch the physical assaults, a swarm of offensive drones, based on autonomous, artificial intelligence enabled edge computing and distributed intelligence projects 25 km in depth to neutralise enemy mechanised columns that are moving in for a counter attack.

Through such 'smart convergence' and the 'innovative bundling of technologies' across multiple domains, a futuristic, multi-domain operations enabled Indian Army combat group will achieve its mission with surgical precision, in compressed time frames and at fractional costs.
The outcome of the UN-sponsored vote on new interim authorities in conflict-torn Libya seems to preclude any discussion of clear winners and losers, and anyone who believes that it fully safeguards Turkeys interests might be making a premature conclusion.

A slate including head of the eastern-based parliament Aguila Saleh and Interior Minister of the outgoing Turkish-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) Fathi Bashagha was widely expected to win the Feb. 5 vote at the Libyan Political Dialogue Forum, being an option that reflected the balance of power between the opposing parties on the ground. Egypt and Russia had raised Salehs profile as an alternative to eastern warlord Khalifa Hifter, and Salehs interim leadership would have been acceptable to Ankara, with Bashagha guaranteeing the protection of Turkish interests as prime minister. Eventually, another group of candidates won the vote, assuming the critical mission of taking Libya to national elections on Dec. 24.

Mohammed al-Menfi and Abdulhamid Dbeibeh, nominated respectively as head of the three-man presidency council and prime minister, have raised no serious concerns among any of the rival parties. Both figures are seen as blank pages that each party hopes to fill in line with its interests.

Everyone, including Ankara, appears happy with the surprise outcome. Ankara is ostensibly free of concern that the new leaders might undermine its military presence in Libya and the deals it has struck with the Tripoli-based GNA, which it backed in the war against the Hifter-led eastern forces.

The candidates for prime minister in all four slates were from Misrata, where Turkish influence is the strongest. This perhaps was the reason why Ankara watched the nomination process quietly, confident it would land on its feet in any case. The elites of Misrata, many of them descendants of Ottoman Turks, are the group on which Ankara relies the most to advance its interests in Libya.

Either way, Menfi is not an objectionable figure for Turkey. He belongs to the Tripoli camp politically and is no fan of Hifter. Dbeibeh, for his part, is an entrepreneur with business ties in Turkey dating back to the Gadhafi era. In his first statement to Turkeys Anatolia news agency, he pledged great solidarity with the Turkish people and state and described Turkey as our real partner. Yet he avoided contentious issues, emphasizing mostly economic ties.

According to Yasin Aktay, an adviser to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the new leadership is supportive of Turkeys role and military presence in Libya as well as the military cooperation and maritime demarcation deals that Ankara signed with Tripoli in 2019. Still, a number of obvious and covert factors stand in the way of concluding that Turkeys interests are guaranteed in Libya down the road.

Above all, the new leadership is a temporary one. All actors need to gauge the outcome of the Dec. 24 elections.

Second, the interim administration  saddled with the arduous task of reuniting Libya and taking it to elections  is unlikely to prioritize ties with Turkey at the expense of disturbing the process. Dbeibeh is already facing Turkish calls to clarify his position on the deals with Turkey.

Given Libyas regional and institutional fragmentation, the new leadership could ill-afford to favor one side and ignore the other. The plan to reunify the country cannot succeed without the cooperation of the eastern camp, which is hostile to Turkey. Hence, the parties might choose to leave the final say on Turkeys military presence and the deals with Turkey to the parliament and government that will emerge from the elections.

Intriguingly, Hifter played a role in the victory of the Menfi-Dbeibeh group. According to The Arab Weekly, Dbeibeh met with Hifter ahead of the vote, and Hifters representatives eventually voted for him.

Turkeys condition for the settlement process was that Hifter should be excluded from the negotiations, which was also why it had acquiesced to the Saleh option advanced by Russia and Egypt. But now, after Salehs failure to be elected, they will have to deal more with Hifter on matters concerning the eastern camp.

Jalel Harchaoui, a Libya expert at the Clingendael Institute in The Hague, told Al-Monitor that Saleh was expected to possess the ability to speak with the military wing, tribes and elites in the east as well as Egypt, Russia and the Gulf bloc, while Menfi, having lived in Tripoli, wields much less clout in that regard for the time being. Harchaoui believes this will bolster Hifter's profile in the east again. According to the expert, Hifter holds two important cards to threaten and pressure Tripoli for concessions: the separatist rhetoric and control of the oil valves.

The House of Representatives, torn between Tobruk and Tripoli, is another platform where the east-west balance has to be observed to ensure a smooth transition. The Saleh-led parliament is the authority that should confirm the new government. The deadlock there could be overcome based on the vote at the Libya Political Dialogue Forum, which the UN sees as a back-up mechanism, but that would undermine the goal of reuniting Libyan institutions. The parliament needs to become functional to work on legislative matters such as a new constitution and a new election law. Yet Tripoli-based deputies want to unseat Saleh who, in turn, is keen on preserving his post and influence. His first condition for confirming Dbeibehs Cabinet is that it should be based in Sirte. Arm wrestling on this issue could derail the process.

Another important point is that Hifters foreign backers have come to follow a new approach that transcends the east-west divide. French President Emmanuel Macron has congratulated Menfi and invited him to Paris. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has called Menfi and Dbeibeh, pledging cooperation. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi  who opened channels with Tripoli after his cease-fire initiative in August, hosted some UN-sponsored talks and sent a delegation to Tripoli last month  has declared his readiness to work with the new administration. The Emirati crown prince, Hifters unshakable supporter, has also made a congratulatory call to Menfi.

In other words, Turkeys rivals in Libya are gradually repositioning themselves in a bid to gain influence over Tripoli. The cease-fire line may be drawn at Sirte and al-Jufra, but the political frontlines are now moving to Tripoli, meaning that Turkeys coordination of its already sparring partners there will become even more difficult.

Meanwhile, neither Turkeys allies nor their eastern opponents appear ready to forfeit their foreign backers. Eventually, both sides might refrain from pushing for the withdrawal of foreign forces as the Oct. 23 cease-fire deal requires.

According to Harchaoui, even if an anti-Turkey easterner gets a seat in the new government and says Turkey should withdraw," this will not make a big impact on Turkeys mission. Likewise, he believes, Russia will keep some Wagner Group presence in central Libya while discussing economic deals with Tripoli. Egypt will also play a double game with Tripoli, though with less leverage, until a new equilibrium is found.

For Erdogan, fending off calls for Turkeys withdrawal is easy. There are fighters from Chad, Mali and [the Wagner Group] over there. You pull them out first and then we can talk, he said Feb. 9 in response to Macrons call for Turkey to leave Libya.

Meanwhile, the eastern forces will have a say also in the redistribution of posts in key bodies such as the central bank as part of efforts to reunify institutions. Harchaoui believes an easterner might end up heading the central bank.

In sum, anyone who sees the outcome of the Feb. 5 vote as fully favorable to Turkey is simply ignoring that Hifters countermove has been on the mark, no matter how hard Ankara has tried to shut him out. The universal messages of support for the new leadership indicate that the Libyan issue has grown more complicated for everyone. None of the local and foreign actors is willing to undermine the process and become a fall guy. The trump cards are currently on hold. Such an extraordinary maturity might be a clue of how clamorous the scene will become after the Dec. 24 elections.
LEVEL 5 lockdown restrictions are expected to be extended by at least another six weeks, with only schools and the construction sector likely to be allowed to reopen before Easter.

A "refreshed" Living with Covid plan will be published the week after next, but senior figures involved in drafting the document say it is unlikely to give definitive timelines or dates for reopening society and the economy.

Subject to Cabinet approval, the current Level 5 restrictions, which are due to expire on March 5, are likely to be extended until at least April 12.

Read More

As well as keeping most shops and hospitality venues closed, it is also likely to mean no changes to the current 'stay at home' advisory and the 5km travel limit - although Tanaiste Leo Varadkar is pushing for households to be allowed to meet outdoors after March 5.

The Government is primarily focused on the phased reopening of schools and the construction sector next month, with close monitoring of the impact of increased movement of parents and construction workers likely to dictate whether more restrictions can be eased in April.

However, the non-essential retail and hospitality sectors will be closed for several more weeks. Pubs, restaurants, bars and many hotels are not expected to reopen until May or June at the earliest and with a focus on outdoor dining and drinking. But reopening will depend on case numbers, hospitalisations and the reproductive rate of the virus.

The revised plan will outline a pathway for reopening, but at present it is not intended to give definitive dates or timelines for sectors - with a strong desire in Government to ensure this is the last lockdown of the pandemic.

"The revised plan will try and outline a pathway, but it won't be definitive and the Government wants to prevent an open-close-open-close approach," a senior Government source said.

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A second senior source said it makes sense to attempt to reduce daily case numbers to very low levels, while vaccinating high-risk people through to the end of March.

However, a third Government source pointed out that some form of restrictions on movement will be needed to ensure mass vaccination centres can operate safely.

"There will be no grand reopening," the source said.

"Vaccination plays a really important part in all this, but it can't be threatened either."

Ministers hope improving weather in the spring and summer will pave the way for some easing of restrictions on outdoor gatherings.

Mr Varadkar told his parliamentary party last night that Covid-19 case numbers are falling at a rate of 30pc week on week. He said the lockdown is working and this strengthens the case to reopen schools in February and March.

He said that the revision of the existing Living with Covid plan later this month would take account of the vaccination programme and the emergence of new virus variants.

He said the Government would give continuation dates for various pandemic support schemes that are due to expire at the end of March.

Meanwhile, there was a big jump in the number of family outbreaks of the virus last week in private homes - up by 37 to 72.

The more infectious UK strain of the virus means more close contacts of a person who is infected are testing positive.

People who are close contacts will now be tested twice - including on day 10 of exposure. If their second test on day 10 finds the virus is "not detected", they can end their restriction of movement then.

Meanwhile, there were 54 Covid-related deaths and 1,006 newly diagnosed cases yesterday.

The number of Covid-19 patients in hospital has fallen to 1,032 but 173 who are seriously ill remain in intensive care, with 40 more hospitalisations in the previous 24 hours.

Covid-19 vaccination figures show 153,654 first doses have been given up to last Sunday.




Pictured: Julia Boiko, 29, who drowned on Thursday after going for a swim in rough surf at a Gold Coast beach

A fundraiser that brought in nearly $30,000 to help pay the funeral costs of a personal trainer who drowned during a late-night swim has been suddenly suspended because it aims to send her body home to Russia.

The lifeless body of Ukrainian national Julia Boiko, 29, washed ashore at Kurrawa Beach on the Gold Coast about 10.30pm last Thursday after she dived into the waves about an hour earlier with British gym manager Jake Jacobs, 32.

Mr Jacobs' body was pulled from the surf by TV weather presenter Luke Bradnam - who had been reporting on the dangerous swells at nearby Narrowneck.

Close friend Helena Santi and the fitness instructor's best friend from Melbourne Iana Burova set up a Go Fund Me page to help fly Ms Boiko's ashes home.

Ms Santi said the website told her it was believed she 'may be raising funds for a cause that is in or connected to a location currently facing sanctions by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the US Department of the Treasury.

Crimea is at the centre of diplomatic tension between the US and Russia after the latter annexed the region in 2014.

The Obama administration imposed economic sanctions against Russia after the annexation, claiming the move was illegal and a form of aggression.

Because GoFundMe is based in the US and Russia is under American sanctions, money cannot be raised to be sent there, or Crimea.

Ukrainian national Julia Boiko, 29, pictured with British gym manager Jake Jacobs, 32. The pair - pictured together above - drowned after going for a late-night swim together

Pictured: Julia Boiko. The personal trainer was swimming in dangerous surf when she drowned

Ms Boiko was working in Melbourne at the time of her death but her grieving mother lives in the Crimea.

After attracting tens of thousands of dollars in donations in a matter of days, Ms Santi said GoFundMe e-mailed her to tell her the fundraiser had been suspended.

In a Facebook post, Ms Santi said when probed further GoFundMe told her the fundraiser constituted 'prohibited conduct' under the platform's policies.

A GoFundMe spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia the page was removed for a breach of the website's terms of service but refused to comment further.

The friend earlier explained the personal trainer had no family in Australia, but that the 'kind soul' had made many friends across the east coast throughout her six years Down Under.

'Julia was one of those people who is full of life - you always knew when she walked in the room. I don't think she had a bad word to say about anyone,' she said.

Her friend Helena Santi said Ms Boiko (pictured) was one of the kindest people she had ever met

The mother-of-one and her partner Gav Correa met Ms Boiko when she moved to the Gold Coast three months ago and the three of them became friends almost immediately.

Ms Boiko became the couple's personal trainer and would arrive at their apartment on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays every week to train after their infant daughter went to sleep.

The couple last saw their friend on Wednesday - the day before she vanished.

'We were just shocked,' Ms Santi said. 'I also do photography and I was supposed to do a shoot with her for her new personal training website, and it never happened.'

'Julia was one of those people who is full of life - you always knew when she walked in the room. I don't think she had a bad word to say about anyone,' Helena Santi (pictured) said

Ms Boiko (pictured) had many friends in Melbourne and on the Gold Coast, but had no family in Australia

'She had so many plans that will never happen.'

After Mr Jacob's body was pulled from the surf, Queensland Surf Lifesaving authorities closed ten beaches along the coast and warned swimmers not to go into the water.

Upon seeing the dead body floating in the ocean, TV weather presenter Luke Bradnam - who was reporting on the dangerous swells at Narrowneck - stripped off his suit and dived in.

Newsreader Melissa Downes told viewers at the end of the first news segment 'our weatherman' had just discovered a body in the surf.

After the break, a shirtless Bradnam appeared on air to confirm he and a boogie boarder pulled the lifeless body of the man from the water.

'It was just an incredible moment,' Bradnam told Daily Mail Australia moments after pulling the dead man from the water.

'We'd seen this boogie board rider motioning to us from the water and he looked like he was in distress.'

British national Jake Jacobs, 32, was last seen entering the surf at Kurrawa Beach, Broadbeach - on the Gold Coast - about 9.20pm on Thursday night

A memorial for Ms Boiko (pictured) was held in Melbourne on Monday. Her body was cremated

'I felt like I had to do something because there didn't look like there was anyone else around who'd be much good.

'I got out there and sure enough, there's a body face down in the water.

'The body boarder was looking like he was in shock and I've never experienced anything like that. I've never seen a dead body before.'

Earlier reports claimed the pair were skinny dipping, with the 32-year-old local's car found at the scene decorated with a 'Get Naked Australia' sticker.

His pile of discarded clothes were also found on the beach.

Ms Santi said her friend was adventurous but sensible and found it difficult to believe she plunged into the very dangerous surf.

She also said the pair barely knew each other.

'I think they had met three or four times - they did sound meditation together, but they didn't know each other well,' she said.

Ms Santi said her friend (pictured) was adventurous, but sensible, and found it difficult to believe she plunged into the very dangerous surf

During the search for the missing pair, acting Inspector John Diggle told the Courier Mail they 'didn't expect to find anyone alive'.

He described the conditions as 'appalling' with huge swells of up to 1.8m.

The ocean was so rough that two officers suffered multiple injuries after they were thrown from the rescue boat.

One of the officers in his 30s suffered rib, facial and back injuries, and an officer in his 40s sustained rib and facial injuries.

Ms Santi was so horrified by the incident she said that she sometimes finds herself in tears.

During the search for the missing pair, acting Inspector John Diggle told the Courier Mail they 'didn't expect to find anyone alive'. Pictured: Ms Boiko, who was found dead

Ms Santi was so horrified by the incident she said that she sometimes finds herself in tears (Ms Boiko pictured)

'I'm bursting into tears int he middle of the shop because it was so unexpected,' she said.

'I do believe there are plenty of good people in this world, but she was really different - literally, no negative thoughts - sincere and genuine. She was the kindest. The world needs people like that.'

'Julia was one of these incredible rare people who just shines from inside, bright and incredibly kind,' Ms Santi wrote on the fundraiser page.

Ms Boiko's mother gave her friends permission to cremate her body in Australia and would like to give all her Australian friends the opportunity to say goodbye at a service held in Melbourne

'This horrible tragedy literally happened the day after we saw each other. I loved her with all my heart.'

Ms Boiko's mother gave her friends permission to cremate her body in Australia and would like to give all her Australian friends the opportunity to say goodbye at a service held in Melbourne.

Ms Santi had urged people to forego their morning coffee to help fund the funeral service, cremation, and to help ship her belongings to her family.

'After we pay all funeral, transportation expenses we will send the rest of the money to Julia's mother,' Ms Santi wrote.



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House Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) urged Instagram users to be optimistic as millions of Americans worry about student loan debt amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Do you think student loan forgiveness ever happening, one person asked Ocasio-Cortez, known as AOC, through an Instagram question and answer feature. I have started to [lose] hope.

The post came days after Democrats re-introduced a resolution to call on President Joe Biden to cancel $50,000 in student loan debt through an executive order.

Dont lose hope! Ocasio-Cortez stated in a story in response. After reminding them that payments have been suspended until the end of September, AOC added: Long term we must forgive and the Biden admin NEEDS to be pushed.

Ocasio-Cortez answers a question about student loans. (Instagram/@AOC)

Ocasio-Cortez said that the Biden administration has indicated that its comfortable with cancelling $10,000 in student debt  though whether any forgiveness would be done through executive action as opposed to legislation is unclear.

AOC added that we NEED at least $50k minimum and there is support for 50k. We cannot take no for an answer. This will all come down to public pressure. We have a window to ORGANIZE and rally for your public officials to demand forgiveness.

The prominent first-term representative also stated that many powerful people exist who WANT you to lose hope so you give up trying and they dont have to deal with people organizing for change.

She may have been referring to lobby groups and conservative voices who have opposed cancellation, including former Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, who called cancellation a truly insidious notion of government gift giving.

We can win

Activists lauded her efforts to keep the pressure on the Biden administration to get cancellation.

Rep. Ocasio Cortez is right, Melissa Byrne, an activist who has been campaigning for student debt cancellation, told Yahoo Finance. We need to fight for full student loan cancellation. And we can win.

Nearly $1.7 trillion in student loan debt is held by roughly 43 million Americans. Payments and interest on federal loans have been paused since March 2020, when the pandemic first started spreading in the U.S.

(Graphic: David Foster)

While Ocasio-Cortez was right in noting the payment suspension on federal student loans, there are many who havent been able to take advantage of that benefit, Alexis Goldstein, a senior policy analyst at Americans for Financial Reform, told Yahoo Finance. These include borrowers with federally-held but commercially-backed loans, as well as private student loan borrowers.

Goldstein stressed to Yahoo Finance that the country is still experiencing massive economic shocks from the pandemic.

According to one study from 2019, the benefits of debt cancellation are cascading: When a group of borrowers had been relieved of their student debt, they started deleveraging, by reducing their reliance on credit other bank accounts, and were also more likely to move, change jobs and also experience a significant increase int heir income.

Goldstein added that cancelling student debt via executive action is a pragmatic tool the admin could use immediately to stimulate the economy while they continue to push for the American rescue plan.

Aarthi is a reporter for Yahoo Finance. She can be reached at aarthi@yahoofinance.com. Follow her on Twitter @aarthiswami.

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In his Facebook tribute, J.J. Sedelmaier wrote:

Vinnie was such a sweet man and one of the head animators I met at my first professional studio staff job at Perpetual Motion Pictures. He shared a corner office with the other Vinny  Cafarelli. He was quick, funny, and warm. When Perpetual Motion split, he freelanced, but I wouldnt work closely with him again until the 1990s when Patrice and I opened [J.J. Sedelmaier Productions]. If Vinnie wasnt able to come by White Plains to drop off/pick up scenes to work on, it was only a short drive from the studio to Vinnies apartment in Port Chester where Id pick up his animation so that the studio could jump in on his tasty animated gems.

Vincent L. Bell was born on October 27, 1931 to the late Vincenzo Iacobelli and Mariee (DiDonato) Iacobelli. He was the second of four sons. Before entering the animation industry, Bell served in the U.S. military during the Korean War.

Bell is survived by his children Scott, Stephen (Lisa), and Leslie, and three grandchildren  Julia, Emily and Liam. He is predeceased by his brothers Michael, Anthony, and John.

Below, weve rounded up five memorable projects to which Bell lent his prodigious talents

In one of his early credits, Bell animated on Terrytoons Sick, Sick Sidney (1958), which marked the official debut of Sidney the Elephant  one of the studios more popular characters in the Deitch era. Bell would also work on the second Sidney short, Sidneys Family Tree, which was produced later the same year.

Bell animated this spot for Sugus candy while at Pintoff Productions. The studio had been set up in the late 1950s by Ernest Pintoff, a writer and filmmaker who had worked at UPA and Terrytoons. Pintoff liked his films brief and boldly designed, encouraging his artists to just whale it out.

With Al Chiarito, Bell animated the amusing 1960 short The Interview for Pintoff Productions. The film enacts a (staged) conversation between a prim interviewer and a disengaged beatnik jazz musician, reflecting Ernest Pintoffs interest in jazz.

A stint at the Hubleys Storyboard Studios in the 1970s saw Bell animate on Dig, an educational short that traces a rocks journey through the earths layers. Bonus: a quirky soundtrack by Quincy Jones.

In 1998, Bell was the directing animator on Conspiracy Theory Rock, a Saturday Night Live segment produced by J.J. Sedelmaier Productions which parodied Schoolhouse Rock! educational series. A humorous satire of corporate influence on the media, it was cut from reruns, giving rise to a theory that it had been banned by SNL network NBC for political reasons. SNL producer Lorne Michaels refuted that (see this Snopes article for more).
What a pathetic, sordid spectacle at the U.S. Senate!

Rivaling the antics of Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) eating a bucket of KFC fried chicken at a scheduled May 2019 A.G. Wm. Barr Mueller Report hearing (in which Barr didn't show up), the Senate joined the harlequins of Commedia de Bologne in a grande farce, apparently serious.

The 50 Senate Democrats have long been infected with a wasting disease of the brain, which presented itself most dramatically at the Kavanaugh Supreme Court nomination hearings. That is where rules of evidence, and due process in the U.S. Constitution, were replaced by Daemonologie, a tract written by James I on finding and prosecuting witches.

James I of England first penned Daemonologie on witches, demons, sorcerers, and assorted goblins in 1597, when he was James VI of Scotland, where he was convinced that apparitions of the occult were subverting his reign.

The most famous English witch-finder was Matthew Hopkins, who examined, prosecuted, and executed over 200 witches in East Anglia. Hopkins penned his own operators' manual on identifying witches, The Discovery of Witches, 1647.

Hopkins was the expert in credentialing witch-finders, an academic industry soon enough visiting Connecticut before 1650, and in full fury at Salem, Massachusetts forty years later.

It would seem the House impeachment managers have taken an extreme liking to James I and Hopkins in persecuting Donald Trump. But it may be too late.

Donald Trump already mastered Hopkins's book, perfecting a sorcerer's guile, appearing in competing realities from psychopath to Russian agent to statesman, to insurrectionist, now private citizen, outwitting Rep. Jamie Raskin, the Cotton Mather lookalike modern Witch-Finder General.

But how to explain the six Republican senators who voted to uphold the fanciful notion that the proceeding was constitutional, rather than an exercise in entertaining spectral evidence, akin to prosecuting sorcery?

Only one answer suffices. A brain-eating toxin has invaded the Capitol.

And only one person escaped its ravages: Chief Justice John Roberts.

John Roberts, maligned and belittled for his squishy jurisprudence, this time was the only person who actually read the U.S. Constitution and abided by its words. Only Roberts had the common sense to socially distance himself from the bonfire of insanity.

And those 44 senators who by their presence sanctioned a "vote" to quash a proceeding that would examine the existence of Donald Trump as a witch should have instead escaped with John Roberts to enjoy a cigar, and a splash of bourbon, along with a game of billiards, or a bowling tournament.
BRUSSELS (dpa-AFX) - Lithuania's producer prices continued to decline in January, figures from Statistics Lithuania showed on Thursday. The producer price index decreased 6.3 percent year-on-year in January, following a 7.9 percent declined in December. Excluding refined petroleum products, producer prices fell 1.4 percent annually in January, same as seen in the preceding month. Producer prices for products sold on the Lithuanian market decreased by 4.8 percent annually in January. Prices for products sold on the foreign market fell by 7.4 percent from a year ago. On a month-on-month basis, producer prices rose 1.4 percent in January, after a 1.5 percent increase in the prior month. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
A schematic phase diagram showing the behavior of the Sachdev-Ye-Kitaev model for different regimes of temperature and system size. From high to low temperature, the model transitions from behaving like interacting particles, to a semiclassical black hole, to a highly quantum black hole. Credit: Kobrin et al.

Over the past few years, many physicists worldwide have conducted research investigating chaos in quantum systems composed of strongly interacting particles, also known as many-body chaos. The study of many-body chaos has broadened the current understanding of quantum thermalization (i.e., the process through which quantum particles reach thermal equilibrium by interacting with one another) and revealed surprising connections between microscopic physics and the dynamics of black holes.

Researchers at University of California, Berkeley have recently carried out a study examining many-body chaos in the context of a renowned physical construct called the Sachdev-Ye-Kitaev (SYK) model. The SYK model describes a cluster of randomly interacting particles and was the first microscopic quantum system predicted to exhibit many-body chaos.

"Our work is motivated by the fundamental question of how quickly information can spread in strongly-interacting quantum systems," Bryce Kobrin, one of the researchers who carried out the study, told Phys.org. "A few years ago, a beautiful theoretical prediction emerged which suggested that in certain high-dimensional systems, information spreads exponentially fast, analogous to the butterfly effect in classical chaos."

In addition to hypothesizing this rapid spread of information in certain high-dimensional systems, previous studies proved that there is a universal speed limit on the rate at which this 'chaos' can develop. Interestingly, the only known or hypothesized systems that reach this limit are closely related to black holes, or more specifically, quantum theories that describe black holes. A major surprise was when researchers predicted that the SYK model also saturates the universal bound on chaos. This insight led to further analyses indicating that the low-temperature properties of the SYK model are, in effect, equivalent to that of a charged black hole.

Although these ideas have been supported by theoretical calculations, verifying their validity and observing quantum chaos in numerical simulations has so far proved to be an enduring challenge. Kobrin and his colleagues set out to investigate the chaotic nature of the SYK model. They did this by simulating the dynamics of exceptionally large systems using cutting-edge numerical techniques they developed. Subsequently, they analyzed the data they collected using a method based on calculations from quantum gravity.

"As a function of temperature, we observed the system change from behaving like ordinary interacting particles to agreeing precisely with the predicted behavior of a quantum black hole," Kobrin said. "By developing new procedures to analyze our results, we determined the rate of chaos and explicitly showed that, at low temperatures, it approached the theoretical upper bound."

Kobrin and his colleagues gathered direct numerical evidence of a new dynamical phenomenon, namely many-body chaos, which translates chaos from classical mechanics to strongly interacting quantum systems. Their findings also highlight the valuable interplay between quantum simulations and quantum gravity theories.

While in their recent study, the researchers used the numerical tools that they created to examine many-body chaos in the SYK model, in the future the same techniques could be applied to other models that are difficult to examine using common analysis frameworks. Ultimately, this could aid the ongoing search for quantum systems that exhibit the same behavior as black holes. Finally, the methods employed by this team of researchers could also inspire the development of experimental techniques to simulate quantum dynamics on controllable quantum hardware, for instance using arrays of cold atoms or trapped ions.

"I am excited to investigate other phenomena at the intersection between quantum information and quantum gravity," Kobrin said. "For example, it is predicted that by coupling together two copies of the SYK model, one can form a so-called traversable wormhole through which information can be communicated. This is a highly counterintuitive result which demonstrates that quantum chaos can, in fact, help move information from one place to another."

Explore further Using the SYK model to examine the fast-charging process of quantum batteries

More information: Bryce Kobrin et al. Many-Body Chaos in the Sachdev-Ye-Kitaev Model, Physical Review Letters (2021). Journal information: Physical Review Letters Bryce Kobrin et al. Many-Body Chaos in the Sachdev-Ye-Kitaev Model,(2021). DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.126.030602

 2021 Science X Network
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The worldwide 3D machine vision market is anticipated to reach USD 4 billion by 2026 according to a new research published by Polaris Market Research. In 2017, the hardware sector dominated the global market, in terms of revenue. Asia-Pacific is expected to be the leading contributor to the global 3D machine vision market revenue during the forecast period.

Browse for full research summary: https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/3d-machine-vision-market

Growing need for automation and increasing need to offer high quality products in the market fuels the growth of the 3D machine vision market. Use of 3D machine vision increases productivity, and efficiency, while saving time and costs. The increasing demand from industries including automotive, healthcare, defense, aerospace, and food and beverage is expected to provide growth opportunities in the coming years. Emerging and untapped markets of developing economies, and rising demand for customized and application specific 3D machine vision solutions further provide growth opportunities to key players in the 3D machine vision market. Increasing investments, technological advancements, and growing research and development further boosts the growth of the market.

Asia-Pacific generated the highest revenue in the market in 2017, and is expected to lead the 3D machine vision market throughout the forecast period. Rapid industrialization and increasing automation in the region drives the market growth. Introduction of new advanced technologies and increasing applications in automotive, aerospace, electronics and healthcare sectors is expected to support market growth. Growing demand from automotive and manufacturing industries for high quality products further augments the market growth.

Request For sample copy of this report: https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/3d-machine-vision-market/request-for-sample

The major players in the 3D machine vision market include ISRA Vision AG, Cognex Corporation, MVTec Software GmbH, Basler AG, Tordivel AS, Sick AG, Stemmer Imaging, National Instruments Corporation, Keyence Corporation, and Microscan Systems, Inc. among others among others. These companies launch new products and collaborate with other market leaders to innovate and launch new products to meet the increasing needs and requirements of consumers.

3D Machine Vision Market Size and Forecast by Component, 2018-2026 Hardware Software Services

3D Machine Vision Market Size and Forecast by Technology, 2018-2026 Smart Camera-Based Systems PC-Based Systems

3D Machine Vision Market Size and Forecast by End-User, 2018-2026 Automotive Healthcare Aerospace and Defense Food and Beverage Electronics and Semiconductors Transportation Wood and Paper Others

3D Machine Vision Market Size and Forecast by Application, 2018-2026 Mapping Robotic Guidance and Automation Quality Control & Inspection Others

3D Machine Vision Market Size and Forecast by Region, 2018-2026 North America US. Canada Mexico Europe Germany UK France Italy Rest of Europe Asia-Pacific China India Japan Rest of Asia-Pacific Latin America Brazil Middle East & Africa



Avail discount on this report @ https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/3d-machine-vision-market/request-for-discount-pricing

About Polaris Market Research

Polaris Market Research is a global market research and consulting company. We provide unmatched quality of offerings to our clients present globally. The company specializes in providing exceptional market intelligence and in-depth business research services for our clientele spread across different enterprises. We at Polaris are obliged to serve our diverse customer base present across the industries of healthcare, technology, semi-conductors and chemicals among various other industries present around the world.

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Further 8.9 million to support creative sector freelancers

This article is old - Published: Thursday, Feb 11th, 2021

Freelancers working in Wales creative sectors will receive a further round of support worth 8.9 million, Deputy Minister for Culture, Sport and Tourism Lord Elis-Thomas has announced.

The new round of support funding from the Cultural Recovery Fund will mean each of the freelancers already supported will receive an additional 2,500 to support them through this extended period of reduced activity.

The 63 million Cultural Recovery Fund has provided essential support to sustain the arts and creative sector, with the hope organisations and individuals will be able to thrive again in not-too-distant future.

The Freelancers Fund has already supported almost 3,500 freelancers in three phases of support.





The Deputy Minister said:

The freelance sector plays a pivotal part in the Welsh economy and I am delighted we are able to provide additional support, which acknowledges the important contribution freelancers make to Welsh cultural life. The pandemic continues to present challenges for cultural and creative freelancers throughout Wales. We applaud their resilience and creativity during this period. We know we will need their professionalism, experience, enthusiasm and vision to help us come together and rebuild after the public health crisis has abated. Some freelancers who have been supported by the fund have been able to continue their creative work during the pandemic.

Lewis Carter, an award winning indie filmmaker from south Wales released a Welsh documentary, Best Foot Forward, on New Years Eve to celebrate and keep the tradition of the Nos Galan Road Races alive despite the alert level four restrictions.

He used the funding for the online release of the multi-award-winning short film, Showdown, which features autistic actors and is released this week.

Lewis said The cultural freelancer grant, meant I was able to pay fellow freelance creatives that worked on my documentary, Best Foot Forward, and boost the online release of my short film, Showdown.

Showdown returns home from its international festival run having received awards from two of Wales most prestigious film festivals, Cardiff International Film Festival, and the Bafta qualifying, Carmarthen Bay International Film Festival.

Angharad Jenkins from Swansea is a freelance musician and member of the Welsh folk group Calan. She lost all of her live work over-night and has used the funding to adapt her practice and to develop new skills which she will continue to use in the future.

Ive grown and moved my private teaching practice online and Ive been delivering 1:1 participatory music sessions for children with special learning needs through Live Music Now. The biggest learning curve for me has been learning to record remotely. Ive been able to work with musicians in north Wales, Scotland, Oxford and as far away as Melbourne, Australia. Ive been able to offer my skills as a session musician, as well as taking on private composition commission, without needing to leave the house. Ive also started singing and writing songs during this time. The slower pace of life has enabled me to think more creatively about my work. I am truly grateful for this lifeline, at such a worrying time. But nothing beats the experience of live music, and I cannot wait to perform live in front of an audience again.

Freelancers who have previously received support will receive a self-declaration letter, which they will need to respond to for the funding to be released. The fund will not be open to new applications but anyone who missed out on the funding originally can apply for the Local Discretionary Grant. More details are available on the Business Wales website.

In further support for the freelance sector, Welsh Government say they are working with key stakeholders on a Freelancer Pledge, which will be a first for the UK.

In developing recovery plans and aspirations, the Freelancer Pledge reaffirms Wales commitment to involving the freelance community in building back fairer.

French President Emmanuel Macron delivered a long-awaited speech on Friday, 2 October, at Les Mureaux, north of Paris, on French Muslims, Islam and the French Republic. Expectedly, the speech, which marks a turning point in the way the French state deals with Islamic affairs in France, raised questions, within France and in the Muslim world, about the inherent political and the philosophical message of the speech.

In the speech, Macron said that Islam is a religion that is in crisis all over the world, whose problems stemmed from very strong hardening of positions among Muslims. He added that what we need to fight is Islamist separatism. It is a conscious, theorised, politico-religious project that materialises through repeated deviations from the values of the Republic and which often result in the creation of a counter-society. He expressed his belief that the ultimate aim of this kind of ideology is to exercise complete control over French society.

President Macron promised that the French government would table a draft law against Islamic separatism by December that would monitor, among other things, foreign financing of Islamic associations and mosques in France, in addition to empowering the government to dissolve Islamic associations that disseminate values and messages that run counter to French laws, and the founding values of the French Republic that have incarnated the revolutionary slogan of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity. Moreover, the French government would establish an institute that would school future imams.

President Macron did not spare French politics and society in the way they have dealt with Muslims in France in the past. He talked about the ghettoization of Muslim communities in France, and the failure to integrate them into French politics and society. He said that where state and society stepped away, politically-motivated associations and organisations stepped in.

The speech, that some sceptics suspect was mainly driven by election considerations, deals with very serious political and social questions related to the future status of French Muslims in France in light of an integration model that many observers say it has been almost non-existent as compared, for instance, to the Anglo-Saxon integration model, particularly in the United States, and the UK to a lesser degree.

Of course, integration of Muslims elsewhere has been made easier by the fact that those Muslims who emigrated to the United States were mostly college graduates, whereas the majority of the ancestors of present-day Muslims in France were uneducated and many of them hardly spoke French when they initially settled in France. The problem was exacerbated by the phenomenon that President Macron called the ghettoisation of Muslim communities in France.

Moreover, the national background of Muslim immigrants differed, too. The majority, if not the totality, of Muslim immigrants to France originated in lands that were previously colonised by France. If we take Algeria as an example, the legacy of French colonialism left its scars on the psyche of those immigrants and their offspring. These factors combined to create a collective mindset among the immigrants that rejected society and state. This gap has been used by outside forces to penetrate Muslim communities and associations within France.

In fact, France has known what President Macron called, and rightly so, consular Islam. He meant that there have been various versions and interpretations of Islam in France, depending on the financiers, the ethnic background of imams and the national background of those responsible for managing French mosques. According to press reports, there are almost 300 Turkish families in Strasbourg, in the east of France, that are completely self-isolated from the outside world; that is, in complete dissociation with French society.

The aforementioned created islands of Islam in France. Maybe this explains why many French politicians, and President Macron included, have talked about creating what they have called LIslam de France.

Needless to say, the idea itself is controversial. Islam as a religion is indivisible in time and place. The intrinsic problem, probably, lies in the interpretation of the sources of Islam, the Holy Quran and the well-established traditions of the Prophet Mohamed. Such interpretations have reflected, from a historical point of view, political, economic and social conditions.

Furthermore, social media has played a greater role in the radicalisation of Muslim youth not only in France but throughout the world, through erroneous interpretations of the true essence of the teachings of Islam. It was no coincidence that hundreds of European Muslims flocked to Syria and Iraq to join the so-called Islamic State terrorist organisation. This deadly journey into the abyss evidences a complete break and rejection, on their part, of political and social values in Europe, including France. The irony is that the enemy for them has been the societies where they were born. They have not identified their future with these societies. If this is the case, then the fault is not only theirs.

The existential question facing France and other European societies is, in fact, how to bring up young Muslim generations believing in a common destiny with these societies. The first step is to persuade them that there are no inherent contradictions between Islam and European values, be it political or social. The second step, which is no less important, is for European governments to take into account the fact that part of the problem, or challenge, lies in their positions taken vis-a-vis Islamist political movements, such as the Muslim Brotherhood.

You cannot coexist with such movements in the long run. By you I mean European governments. The ultimate aim of these movements is to penetrate Western societies, by democratic means, and Islamise them, even if it takes a century or two. Another immediate aim is to pressure Western governments to adopt tougher policies against Arab and Muslim governments that support Islamist radicalism. In both cases, the threats are serious.

For President Macron to succeed in his endeavours, as outlined at Les Mureaux, the draft law expected in December should not be seen as a law against Islam but rather against Islamism, defined as the politicisation of the religion of Islam.

Last, but not least, it is preferable that the European Union develop a common European policy of integration as far as Muslim communities are concerned. As there is a successful Anglo-Saxon model of integration, hopefully Europe would develop one in the years to come.



*The writer is former assistant foreign minister.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 15 October, 2020 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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43% of Ukrainians support the decree of the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky on the enactment of the decision of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) regarding sanctions against TV channels 112.Ukraine, NewsOne and ZIK, according to a survey conducted by Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) from February 5 to 7.

According to the survey about support of the decision of the President and the National Security and Defense Council to ban the broadcast of three TV channels, 43% of those polled, answered that they support it, 40.3% do not support it. So, in the west and in the center there are more of those who support the decision, and in the south, east and Donbas there are more of those who do not support the decision.

Most of supporters are the voters of the European Solidarity, the Servant of the People and the Strength and Honor party, least of supporters are the voters of the Opposition Platform - For Life. The Batkivschyna voters have mixed thoughts.

At the same time, 34.6% of respondents consider the ban as a necessary step to protect the state, while 40.8%, on the contrary, consider this step to be erroneous, which leads to restrictions of human rights. The support is relatively prevalent in the west and in the center; in the south, east and Donbas there are more of those who consider such step as a mistake.

The all-Ukrainian public opinion poll "Omnibus" was conducted by the method of computer-assisted telephone interviews (CATI). Based on a random sample of mobile phone numbers, 2,005 respondents living in all regions of Ukraine were interviewed (except for the Autonomous Republic of Crimea).

As part of the survey, an experiment was conducted, according to which half of the randomly selected respondents were asked one question, the second half - the second question. As a result, about 1,000 respondents answered each question.

The sample is representative for the adult population (aged 18 and over) in Ukraine. The sample does not include territories that are temporarily not controlled by Ukrainian authorities - the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. In Luhansk and Donetsk regions, the survey was conducted only in the territory controlled by Ukrainian authorities.

The statistical error of the sample of about 1,000 respondents (with a probability of 0.95 and taking into account the design effect of 1.1) does not exceed 3.4% for indicators close to 50%, 3% for indicators close to 25%, 2.1% - for indicators close to 10%, 1.5% - for indicators close to 5%.
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Overview

March 9

11AM PT, 2PM ET



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2020 was a year of rapid change and disruption for special district leaders around the country; it was also a year that rapidly accelerated the pace of change and expectations that special district leaders must face in the years to come. In this interactive webcast, well breakdown key trends, technologies, and tactics that special district leaders need to know as they navigate their districts through uncertainty. Well also provide a glimpse of what we have in store with year five of the Special Districts Program.
Production has wrapped on Benjamin Millepied's movie adaptation of the opera Carmen in Sydney, Australia.

Spanish actress Elsa Pataky shared a photo from the wrap party to Instagram on Thursday.

The wife of Thor star Chris Hemsworth looked elegant in a black and white dress as she held up a red fan.

That's a wrap! Production has wrapped on Benjamin Millepied's movie adaptation of the opera Carmen in Sydney, Australia. Spanish actress Elsa Pataky (centre, with Rossy de Palma, left, and Melissa Barrera, right) shared this photo from the wrap party to Instagram on Thursday

She leaned on fellow Spaniard Rossy de Palma, and also wrapped an arm around Mexican actress Melissa Barrera, who plays the titular role.

Elsa, who recently revealed she was playing a character named Gabriella or Gabrielle, wrote in the caption: 'That's a wrap! I'll miss you!'

Carmen, which is based on the opera of the same name, tells the story of a soldier, played by Irish actor Paul Mescal, who falls in love with the irresistible Carmen.

Star power: Elsa, who recently revealed she was playing a character named Gabriella or Gabrielle, wrote in the caption: 'That's a wrap! I'll miss you!'

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 is known for her role as Elena Neves in the Fast and Furious franchise. She also recently starred in Netflix show Tidelands.

Behind the scenes: Carmen, which is based on the opera of the same name, tells the story of a soldier, played by Irish actor Paul Mescal (left), who falls in love with the irresistible Carmen

She married Chris Hemsworth, who is famous for playing Thor in the Marvel movies, 10 years ago.

They relocated from LA to Australia in 2014.

The couple live with their children, daughter India Rose, eight, and twin sons Sasha and Tristan, six, in a $30million mansion in Broken Head, near Byron Bay.
Theres a different kind of buzz with these bubbles.

LEVIA is ready to launch its line of cannabis-infused seltzers, which founders of the Georgetown-based company say is the first of its kind available in Massachusetts.

When we looked at what the landscape was for cannabis beverages about four years ago, there were only really sugary, high-calorie drinks. There were lemonades and juices and teas and things that had as much sugar in them as soda, said Eric Rogers, co-founder and CCO at LEVIA. Here, the ethos in Massachusetts really is trying to lead a healthy, active lifestyle so we wanted to create a product that had no sugar and as close to zero calories, and we were able to achieve that zero-calorie certification.

The seltzers come in 12-ounce cans and have 5mg of THC, zero calories and zero sugar. LEVIA suggests a price of $7 per can. The brand is starting out by selling single cans and hopes to move on to six-packs and cases, said Troy Brosnan, LEVIA co-founder and COO.

LEVIA is waiting on a notice to commence operations from the state Cannabis Control Commission, Brosnan said. Once the commission gives that notice, LEVIA will be able to start operating in three calendar days.

Once able to launch, LEVIA plans to be in more than 40 dispensaries, and in more than 50 by March, Brosnan said. Some of those dispensaries include Fine Fettle and Mission on the north shore, Canna Provisions, The Pass and Rise in Western Massachusetts, Campfire Cannabis, Carolines Cannabis and the Botanist in Central Massachusetts and b\well in Provincetown.

LEVIA is launching with three flavors: Achieve, a raspberry-lime sparkling water with sativa blend; Celebrate, a lemon-lime hybrid blend; and Dream, a jamberry flavored indica blend.

Achieve is your get stuff done, work or play. Maybe youve got a chore list at home that youre trying to hammer through, or going for a hike or taking a yoga class, Rogers said. Then weve got Celebrate, which is more brighten everyones day. That backyard barbeque, that alcohol replacement, where you can socialize and have a drink in your hand but not necessarily experience the detrimental effects of alcohol. And then for those that are looking for more of a relaxing experience, weve got our jamberry Dream, which is much more ease your mind and spirit.

With other consumable THC products, like gummies or chocolates, it can take anywhere from 45 minutes to 2 hours for effects to set in. With the LEVIA seltzers, the onset is much faster, Rogers said. For some consumers, it could be as little as 10 or 20 minutes. The carbonation in LEVIA is light, Brosnan said.

Were really focused on sort of mimicking the familiar consumer experience adults are used to in terms of having a drink and feeling that effect, whether thats coffee in the morning or alcohol in the evening, so theres a familiar timeline they could have that effect versus the ambiguity of waiting 45 minutes, two hours, Rogers said.

The team hopes the seltzers will have broad appeal, Rogers said.

Were looking at consumers who might be looking for a replacement to alcohol, new parents especially. You know, you have a new one at home and you go to have a few drinks and then you wake up in the middle of the night and you do not feel great and that is not an experience many new parents want to really relive, Rogers said. And then, at the other end of the spectrum, looking toward the audience thats nearing retirement, weve got baby boomers, which are some of the most educated and affluent consumers out there, and realize that there are alternatives to treating what ails them.

LEVIA also wants to appeal to new cannabis users and thought that a seltzer could help spark that curiosity, said co-founder Kaitlyn Brosnan, who spearheads the nonprofit part of LEVIAs business.

I know for myself, I wasnt a seasoned cannabis user heading into this and I felt like having a seltzer, knowing the onset and how quickly that was going to happen and not going for a gummy bear or a brownie or a cookie felt more available to me and to, hopefully, the new consumer, she said.

Theres been a big demand for different variations of seltzers recently. Worcester-based Polar Beverages has a cult following for its seltzers, including seasonal selections each summer and winter. And in the last few summers, alcoholic spiked seltzers have exploded in popularity.

Its hard not to look to Polar, thats right in our backyard, and the massive success that theyve had, Rogers said. And then also looking at the likes of LaCroix.

Rogers said LEVIA hopes to hear from consumers about what flavors they like as the team looks toward creating seasonal flavors.

LEVIA is also working on a water-soluble tincture so cannabis can be added to any consumers beverage, Troy Brosnan said.

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The Egyptian government is leading efforts to build a road linking Egypt with nine African countries as part of efforts to boost development and bolster Egypts exports to Africa.

Transport Minister Kamel el-Wazir told the House of Representatives on Jan. 31 that his ministry is working to carry out several road projects to connect with Egypts neighbors.

We will complete the Cairo-Cape Town Road that will cross through nine African countries as part of Egypts efforts to connect with neighboring countries, Wazir said.

The pan-African highway would begin in Egypt from the coastal city of Alexandria and go through Cairo on its way to the Arqin crossing on the Egyptian-Sudanese border.

The road will pass through the governorates of Fayoum, Beni Suef, Minya, Assiut, Sohag, Qena, Luxor and Aswan, to the Toshka junctions to Arqin.

The 10,288-kilometer (6,390-mile) pan-African road would cross through Egypt through Sudan, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Botswana and South Africa, ending in Cape Town.

The 1,155-kilometer [715-mile] section of the road in Egypt would reach Arqin by 2024 and connect from there with Wadi Halfa in Sudan and continue to connect with other countries, Wazir said. He added that the trans-African road is estimated to cost 26 billion pounds ($1.65 billion).

It is not yet clear whether the current tension between Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia over the mega dam project being built by Addis Ababa on the Nile River will hinder efforts to complete the mega road project.

Egypt is also building a 1,102-kilometer [685-mile] route to connect with Chad through Libya at an estimated cost of 22 billion Egyptian pounds [$1.4 billion], Wazir said.

The transport minister said his ministry is also working to construct a 585-kilometer (363-mile) coastal highway from Salloum in western Egypt to Benghazi in eastern Libya at a cost of 3 billion Egyptian pounds ($190.6 million).

This coastal road is very important to Egypt, the Egyptian industry and labor and to all Egyptian companies that will be working in Libya, Wazir said.

The road projects with neighboring countries aim to achieve sustainable development, promote trade exchange with Egypts neighbors and enhance access of the Egyptian exports to the Arab and African markets, Wazir said.

The Cairo-Cape Town Road is being co-funded by the African Development Bank, in cooperation with the UN Economic Commission for Africa and the African Union.

Wazir said in previous statements that his ministry has engaged in talks with the African Development Bank (AfDB) to obtain a loan of 22 billion pounds ($1.4 billion) for the trans-African road project. The cost of the Cairo-Cape Town Road will be funded by the AfDB and from the Egyptian budget, he told MBC Masr channel in February 2020.

The director of the African Development Banks country office, Malin Bloomberg, said in August 2020 on the sidelines of the annual meetings of the bank that trans-African roads help reduce the high cost and time of transporting goods and boost economic integration among the African countries.

The AfDB is keen on supporting the Cairo-Cape Town Road as it will serve large numbers of people and enhance the movement of goods in Egypt and other parts of Africa, Bloomberg said.

He continued, The AfDB intends to increase its support to the transport sector in Egypt, in parallel with other priorities set by the Egyptian government.

In October, Egypt and Sudan signed an agreement to build a cross-border railway network to transport both passengers and goods between the two countries, as part of efforts to increase their trade exchange.

The Cairo-Cape Town Road is a milestone project that will achieve land connectivity and increase trade exchange with African countries, Magdy Salah, a professor of highway and transportation engineering at Cairo University, told Al-Monitor over the phone.

He said the pan-African, cross-border highway would shorten the arrival time of Egyptian goods to African markets, particularly agricultural products. The pan-African road will give a major boost to government efforts to achieve economic development and bolster its clout in the African continent.

Salah blamed lack of funding for the delay in carrying out the road project, which was first unveiled in 2015. It appears that the Egyptian government has now managed to secure the necessary funding for the project and is working hard to complete it by 2024, he said.

In April 2019, President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said during the Second Belt and Road Forum in Beijing that the Cairo-Cape Town Road aims to augment the inter-African trade exchange and investment.

We welcome efforts to boost the current partnership as part of the Belt and Road initiative with China and other parties to contribute in enhancing efforts of the African continent to achieve the goals of sustainable development and improve the living standards of the African peoples, Sisi said.

According to the state statistics agency CAPMAS, in 2019, Egypts trade exchange was $899 million with Libya, $608 million with Sudan, $550 million with Kenya, $173 million with South Africa and $144 million with Ethiopia. The Cairo-Cape Town Road would pass through all five countries.

Egypt is a signatory to several multilateral trade agreements with African countries, including the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Egypt's trade exchange with COMESA reached $3.9 billion in 2019, up from $3.2 billion in 2018, a 19.1% increase. According to Minister of Industry and Trade Nevine Gamae, Egyptian exports to the pan-African bloc rose to $2.8 billion in 2019, up from $2.3 billion in a year earlier.

After long delays due to the coronavirus pandemic, African countries officially began trading Jan. 1 under AfCFTA  the biggest trade deal in the world in terms of the number of participating countries since the establishment of the World Trade Organization in 1994.

The free trade agreement, which was signed in March 2018 in Kigali, Rwanda, is expected to create jobs for more than 1.5 billion people, with a projected trade exchange worth $3.4 trillion.

On Jan. 17, Sisi held talks with AfCFTA Secretary-General Wamkele Mene of South Africa to discuss ways of energizing the trade agreement. According to a presidential statement, Sisi reiterated Egypts full support to the agreement as it represents a promising start to achieve continental integration as well as the desired economic and trade integration for African states.

Abdel Mottaleb Abdel Hamid, a professor of economics at the Cairo-based Sadat Academy, said the Sisi administration is mobilizing resources to double Egypts exports and trade with African countries.

Egypt seeks to increase exports to Africa to $30 billion within a period of three to five years and the Cairo-Cape Town Road will help the government achieve this goal, Abdel Hamid told Al-Monitor.

He credited the Egyptian government for implementing an ambitious plan to revamp road and rail networks across the country with a view to enhancing trade relations with Egypts neighbors.

Egypt has built a 7,000 kilometer (4,350 mile) road network nationwide and is expanding the countrys rapid transit and railway networks as part of efforts to promote business and create an investment-friendly environment.

Egypt signed Jan. 14 a memorandum of understanding with Germanys Siemens to build a high-speed electric railway network connecting Ain Sokhna on the Red Sea coast to New Alamein on the Mediterranean Sea.

These projects serve the government program of creating a favorable atmosphere to attract foreign investments, encourage business and achieve sustainable development as part of Egypts Vision 2030, Abdel Hamid said.
Francisco Jose do Nascimento was a man of the sea.

A 19th century fisherman of indigenous and African descent, Nascimento was appalled by the slave trade in his home state of Ceara, Brazil. In his job as a jangadeiro, work that is intricately associated with poverty, Nascimento was required to carry enslaved Africans and other goods onto the ships that would eventually sell them elsewhere in the country. The disgust inspired him to organize a strike in the port of Fortaleza, one of the largest cities in Brazil, amongst his fellow fishermen and port workers in August 1881. The strike effectively ended the slave trade in Brazil, and symbolized a shift in the abolitionist movement where more common folk were beginning to push back against the institution.

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Less than three years later, in March 1884, enslavement was abolished in Cearafour years before the rest of the country. Nascimento was lauded as a national hero and his name was placed into Brazils Book of Steel, officially honoring him as such. He became one of the few Black faces of the countrys abolitionist movement to be remembered.

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Nascimento became known as Dragao do Mar, which translates to the Sea Dragon, a nickname that evokes an air of mythology around him. But the location of his grave was lost until mid-July 2020 when Licinio Nunes de Miranda, a historian and Ph.D. candidate at the University of Florida, found it in the Sao Joao Batista cemetery in Fortaleza.

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In an interview with Slate, Miranda discusses the importance of Nascimentos legacy, the parallels between Brazil and the U.S., and why he searched through 15,000 tombs during the Brazillian summer.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Youve said that the significance of the strike is that this was a revolt led by common people, so what was the general nature of the abolitionist movement in Brazil?

In Brazil, slavery came to an end because of popular mobilizationunlike the U.S. where there was a civil war. People were going through the streets, protesting. Newspapers attacked slavery. Politicians in the parliament attacked slavery. There were slave uprisings, and slaves fleeing the plantations. It even reached a moment where common people protesting against slavery, helped purchase the freedom of slaves. Then, in 1888, the government enacted a law that abolished slavery, but the state in which the Sea Dragon lived was able to abolish slavery in 1884. So what youre talking about here is popular pressure that led to the government to act against slavery.

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When people think about abolition in Brazil, youre going to have these photos, youre going to have these biographies of white people, white men, men of upper class. They were the ones that people remember. They were the ones that were praised by newspapers at the time, and the Sea Dragon, although he was celebrated, as you can see, the place in which he died and he was buried was forgotten. Not only did he at the time, but he still embodies the struggle of people of African descent against slavery.

It seems as though the abolitionist movement in Brazil made Nascimento one of the movements faces in order to broaden the appeal of ending enslavement. But Jose Napoleao, a freed Black man, led a strike at the Port of Fortaleza that January and he was not elevated to the same status. What does this say about who becomes the face of a movement and how does that translate across the diaspora?

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Napoleao was the Sea Dragons predecessor in the leadership of the port strikes. He was a stalwart abolitionist and used his meager salary to help free other slaves. When the opportunity came, he volunteered to lead the first three port strikes. It was he who chose the Sea Dragon as his successor to lead the fourth and final strike in August 1881.

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The Sea Dragon, at least, earned some praise at that time, although he was later forgotten. Napoleao, on the other hand, was sidelined and ignored. Those who wrote the history of abolition in Brazil were white and members of the upper class, who positioned themselves as the true heroes of the cause. Decades later, some of the surviving abolitionists showed regret for having pushed aside the Sea Dragon and Napoleao, but it was too little and far too late, since both men were long gone.

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This purposeful attempt to ignore the achievements of people of color in the abolition of slavery is one the saddest aspects of Brazils history, and we know the same happened elsewhere. But the rediscovery of the Sea Dragons tomb is a good occasion to remember and to celebrate the key role that people of African descent had on earning their freedom. This is important to mention: their freedom was not given, they fought for it, and fought hard.

How was Nascimentos grave lost? And what motivated you to want to find it?

He died in 1914, and for some reason, the exact location of his grave was forgotten even though hes officially regarded in Brazil as a national hero. So even though you have streets, you have cultural centers, and you have neighborhoods bearing his name, the location of his remains were unknown.

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I was attracted to that problem as I was doing research for my Ph.D. dissertation, which deals with abolition of slavery in Brazil. How can people not know where this man, who was so important in the struggle against slavery in Brazil, is buried? I talked to people, and no one knew. The government didnt know. Activists, mainly from Afro-Brazilian organizations, didnt know. Intellectual scholars, historiansno one knew.

I found out which cemetery, and then I went. It took a long time, because there are about 15,000 tombs in that specific cemetery. I wasnt sure that I would be able to find it because I didnt know if he was buried as a pauper, for example, in a temporary grave or anything like that.

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But one day, in mid-July 2020, I was walking around the tombs and I saw it. A tomb in ruins. It was in terrible shape. I saw a plate with his name, the date of birth, the date of death, all of which were correct. Then I saw the name of his wife, so I knew it was him. I was very excited because I knew I had found a hero.

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How long would you say that it took you to find it, because thats a lot of tombstones to go through!

It took three years. I would go during summer, because although I am Brazilian, I live in the U.S. But I was happy because what happened in the United States last year had repercussions in Brazil; about how people of color are treated in the country. Because, even though slavery is over in Brazil, you cannot say that racism is over. This is important to mention.

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All the issues that exist in the U.S. now, you could say that it also exists in Brazil. Being able to find this mans tomb meant much more than just finding a tomb of someone who did a lot back in the past. He was a man whose entire existence, whose struggle for freedom, for racial equality, and for tolerance represents a loteven to current generations.

What happens now that youve found his tomb? What does that signify going forward?

I hope that current generationsnot only Brazilians, but Americans, and any person who somehow identifies with the struggle against racism, against racists, and against oppressioncan identify himself or herself with the values that this man represented. And not only him, but many other people who fought with him against slavery. There were many people of color who sided with him. When people talk about the Sea Dragon, they all often forget about his wife and his mother-in-law, even though they were, in my opinion, just as important as he was. They would actually help slaves escape. His mother-in-law was accused of housing fugitive slaves. This is big because it shows that it was a struggle that went far beyond gender conceptions.

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How should we connect his legacy to last summers uprisings?

Freedom, racial solidarity, equality, inclusion; those are the values that are universal. The struggle that happened last year, the protests, represent an unfinished fight. The awful consequences of slavery are not over yet, even though I do honestly believe that the United States is walking in the right direction. I think there is much more solidarity, much more compassion, much more tolerance there than before.

Obviously, theres much much more work to be done. Thats a fact, but I do think that its just very profound to connect the legacy of abolition throughout the diaspora to the current pushback against systemic racism happening throughout the diaspora. Do you have thoughts on that?

People of color in the United States and in Brazil have a common origin, which is Africa. So youre talking about brothers and sisters. National borders in the struggle against slavery, against racists, they dont matter. Youre talking about universal values. So I think what happened in Brazil and what happened in the United States and whats happening in both countries now, do matter. We can learn so much about each other. We can actually act together against the perverse legacy of slavery.
MEDFORD, Ore.  The man accused of killing a 23-year-old woman in a Medford motel room in May of 2019 pled guilty in Jackson County Circuit Court on Wednesday, according to the Jackson County District Attorney's Office.

Justin Graham-Yaeger was arrested on May 3 of 2019 after police found the body of 23-year-old Sierra Clemens in a room at the Tiki Lodge in Medford. Clemens had been stabbed to death.

Medford Police said at the time that Graham-Yaeger was discovered hiding in a dumpster of a business several blocks from the scene of Clemens' murder.

A grand jury indicted Graham-Yaeger on charges of aggravated murder, murder, and robbery in the first degree. Graham-Yaeger entered an initial plea of "not guilty" in June of 2019.

On Wednesday, the DA's Office said that Graham-Yaeger pled guilty to a single charge of Murder in the Second Degree. Judge Timothy Barnack sentenced him to life in prison with a 25-year mandatory minimum, restitution for funeral expenses, forfeiture of all seized weapons, and a lifetime of post-prison supervision.

Several members of Clemens' family were in the courtroom, with others joining via telephone. Her mother, father, and younger sister submitted statements to the court.

"Mr. Samuel Clemens noted that Sierra Clemens was the type of person who would give her last five dollars to someone in need," the DA's Office said. "Ms. Poppi West shared how Sierra had an unquenchable thirst for life and adventure; befriending others without judgment. Sierra's sister talked about how advice she had received from her sister still rings in her ears and laments that she will miss the warm soft hugs her sister would bestow upon her."

The DA's Office said that it recommended the maximum possible penalty for Graham-Yaeger.

"The State hopes this resolution brought some sense of closure to Sierra Clemens' family members," the District Attorney's Office concluded.
Financial services firm Mastercard on Wednesday announced that it will begin allowing cardholders to transact in certain cryptocurrencies on its network, becoming the latest company to embrace digital assets.

"We are preparing right now for the future of crypto and payments, announcing that this year Mastercard will start supporting select cryptocurrencies directly on our network," MasterCard said in a blog post.

The firm is also actively engaging" with central banks around the world on their plans to launch new digital currencies.

The company will prioritize consumer protections and compliance in its own plans, Raj Dhamodharan, executive vice president of digital asset and blockchain products and partnerships, said in the post.

Mastercard has already partnered with some of the biggest cryptocurrency firms, including Wirex and BitPay.

Our change to supporting digital assets directly will allow many more merchants to accept crypto  an ability thats currently limited by proprietary methods unique to each digital asset," Dhamodharan said.

This change will also cut out inefficiencies, letting both consumers and merchants avoid having to convert back and forth between crypto and traditional to make purchases."

Mastercards announcement comes after Tesla Inc. said it invested $1.5 billion in Bitcoin this week, sending the cryptocurrency to a record high.

Our philosophy on cryptocurrencies is straightforward: Its about choice," Dhamodharan said. Mastercard isnt here to recommend you start using cryptocurrencies. But we are here to enable customers, merchants and businesses to move digital value."

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The last time anyone celebrated Valentines Day, most of the world was carrying on as in any other year: Couples met at movie theaters, bars were full of dates and restaurants were brimming with lovers sharing candlelit dinners.

Twelve months later, the years most celebrated date night looks drastically different in the shadow of a pandemic that has killed millions, battered economies and upended daily life. Theaters are closed. Most restaurants have limited capacity, if any. Many people are more reluctant to meet strangers or strike up casual conversations.

But glimmers of hope have persisted  for the vaccine rollout, for the end of a painful winter and for new relationships among all kinds of couples, some who found each other in traumatic circumstances. These four couples managed to fall in love, and in some cases get married, despite the odds being stacked against them.

A cab ride with consequences

A few months before novel coronavirus cases started to appear, a trip to the Red Sea and a taxi brought together Maria Saavedra, 37, a law administrator from Luxembourg, and Abdala Ahmed, 27, a businessman from Alexandria, Egypt.
(Newser)  Security footage aired at Donald Trump's second impeachment trial Wednesday shows that Capitol police officer Eugene Goodman was even more of a hero than previously known, impeachment manager Del. Stacey Plaskett said. The video shows Goodman encountering Sen. Mitt Romney and warning him to go the other way, the Washington Post reports. Romney can be seen turning and running in the opposite direction. On the floor below, there was the "mob searching for the Senate chamber," Plaskett said. During a break in the trial, Romney said the footage was "overwhelmingly distressing and emotional," the AP reports. More:

Impeachment managers also showed video of then-Vice President Mike Pence and his family being evacuated from the Senate chamber after rioters had already breached the building, the Guardian reports. Plaskett said rioters at one point came within 100 feet of the room where Pence was sheltering before Goodman led them away.

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Other footage showed rioters using wooden beams to smash their way into the Capitol, coming close to the Senate chamber where the trial is now taking place, the Los Angeles Times reports. "They were just feet away from one of the doors of this chamber, where many of you remained at that time," Plaskett told senators. Footage from security cameras inside the Capitol showed a lone police officer quickly being overwhelmed by rioters.

Plaskett also showed the trial new footage of rioters hunting for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, shouting "Where are you Nancy" as they make their way through the Capitol, the BBC reports. She also showed video of Pelosi's staffers barricading themselves in an office minutes before rioters arrive. "You can hear the terror in their voices as they describe what's happening as they are barricaded inside," Plaskett said. She said Pelosi was rushed to a secure location offsite because some rioters had declared their intention to kill her.

Impeachment manager Rep. Eric Swalwell showed security footage of Capitol police officers blocking a hallway to illustrate how close to danger senators had come. "You know how close you came to the mob. Some of you, I understand, could hear them," Swalwell said. "But most of the public does not know how close these rioters came to you. As you were moving through that hallway, I paced it off. You were just 58 steps away." Swalwell also showed video of violence against law enforcement, including graphic footage of an officer being crushed in a set of doors, and of the shooting of Ashli Babbitt as she tried to climb through a broken window to the House lobby.

Swalwell also showed previously unreleased security footage of Sen. Chuck Schumer, who is now Senate Majority Leader, and his security detail walking up a ramp and then running back down after encountering rioters, CNN reports. "They came within just yards of rioters," Swalwell said.

(Read more Trump trial stories.)
(Newser)  President Biden has reached agreement for 200 million more doses of coronavirus vaccine, officials said Thursday. He had said last month that the administration was close to deals for 100 million doses each from Pfizer and Moderna. That would bring the total US supply to 600 million doses, a 50% jump and a sufficient number to vaccinate 300 million people. The increase probably wouldn't make a big difference in when vaccinations become widely available, the Washington Post reports, but it would head off a vaccine shortfall later this year. Moderna had already committed to providing 100 million doses by the end of March and 100 million more by the end of June. Pfizer has said it can come up with 120 million doses by the end of March and 80 million by the end of Maytwo months earlier than it had projected.

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Johnson & Johnson is waiting for federal approval of its vaccine, which could make a difference in the supply come spring, especially since it only requires a single shot. Supply still lags: Los Angeles is shutting down five vaccination sites, including Dodger Stadium. The city is out of Moderna's product. "Our vaccine supply is uneven, its unpredictable, and too often inequitable," Mayor Eric Garcetti said, per the New York Times. The city hopes to be able to reopen the centers sometime next week. We're vaccinating people faster than new vials are arriving here in Los Angeles," Garcetti said. A delivery schedule for the shipments Biden has secured hasn't been announced. Biden toured the National Institutes of Health on Thursday afternoon, per CNBC, and aides said he'd make his announcement there. (Fauci expects plenty of vaccine to be available by April.)
Crown Resorts chairperson Helen Coonan with Crown boss Ken Barton. Credit:Eamon Gallagher News Corporation reported on Thursday night Crown boss Ken Barton had agreed to resign following a meeting with chairman Helen Coonan. Crown did not respond to questions and Mr Barton could not be reached. However, sources close to the company said Mr Barton had been in discussions with Ms Coonan about his future and expected his resignation would be imminent. The Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation, which the government says may be reformed in light of the review, has instructed Crown to remove former AFL boss Andrew Demetriou as a board member. Andrew Demetriou has resigned from Crown Resorts. Credit:The Age

Late on Thursday, Mr Demetriou advised Ms Coonan of his resignation from the Crown Resorts board, effectively immediately. Loading This was not an easy decision and I have thought carefully about taking this step, the former AFL boss said in a statement. I have always been a team player and supported the greater good. I will therefore step down from the Crown Resorts Board to give Crown the best possible chance of becoming suitable to the NSW Regulator. Asked whether the Victorian Labor Party should continue receiving Crown donations, an Andrews government spokeswoman said: This is a matter for the party, however all donations are declared appropriately.

The NSW report states Crown contributed about $1.4 billion to the Victorian governments revenue base since 2014. Premier Daniel Andrews has consistently emphasised the economic value of the casino, which is the largest single-site employer in Victoria. Tony Robinson, Victorian government gaming minister between 2007-10, said the amount Crown had donated to parties was inconsequential relative to how much they spend during elections. Mr Robinson has been highly critical of the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulations monitoring of Crown. He predicted Crown would halt donations until it attempted to resurrect its brand, and said he never felt pressure to make policy decisions in Crowns favour because of the donations his party received. I dont think it had any influence on the way policy is made, he said.

The federal Labors party secretariat said it would immediately review whether to continue taking money from Crown following the damning findings. Crowns donations to federal Labor are under review, Labors national secretary Paul Erickson said. Labor leader Anthony Albanese declined to comment on the review, with a spokesperson saying it was a matter for the party executive. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video Greens leader Adam Bandt said major parties should go further than banning donations and return money they had already received. The Greens did not receive any donations from Crown at a federal level.

Crown has donated $303,000 to federal Coalition candidates in Victoria, compared to about $250,000 to Labor Party candidates. Loading The state opposition said this week that Mr Andrews was weak on policing Crown due to donations the company gave to Labor. The federal and Victorian Liberal Party secretariats declined to comment on whether they would continue taking Crown donations. The Victorian Labor Party will wait on the results of the federal branchs review of Crowns donations before taking any action. Crown has not donated directly to the state election campaign funds of either major party in Victorian since 2018. Before 2018, Victorian parties were not required to disclose how much they received in donations for state campaigns.

Because of the way federal and state donations laws interacted before 2018, some of the Victorian parties donations declared to the AEC may have been used for state election campaigns. Major parties in WA have said they will not take Crown donations before the states March election, as WA regulators review the findings of the NSW inquiry and potential implications for the companys WA casino licence. Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation chief Catherine Myers said on Thursday she would demand Mr Barton and high-profile director Andrew Demetriou explain why they should be allowed to be involved with the groups flagship Melbourne casino after being heavily criticised in the NSW report. That came hours after her NSW counterpart, Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority chair Philip Crawford, said that Crown needed to part ways with Mr Barton and the former AFL boss Mr Demetriou if it ever wanted to open its new casino at Barangaroo in Sydney. Commissioner Patricia Bergins findings were released publicly on Tuesday afternoon.

Former Supreme Court judge Patricia Bergins report found that Mr Barton was no match for what is needed at the helm of a casino and called Mr Demetrious appearance at her public inquiry unedifying. Ms Coonan said on Thursday that she accepted the criticism from the report was warranted and repeated our unreserved apologies for these shortcomings. We do not underestimate the scale of the problem and appreciate there is a need for root and branch change, she said. This change has commenced. Crown was set to open the gaming floors at its Sydney casino in late December but the regulator blocked it from doing so after evidence of money laundering at Crowns Melbourne and Perth casinos emerged in the Bergin inquiry.

The top five political donors at a federal level in the last financial year included Clive Palmers Mineralogy, Anthony Pratts Pratt Holdings, Woodside Energy, Macquarie Group and the Australian Hotels Association. In 2018, the Victorian government introduced some of the strictest donation laws in the country that limit donors from contributing more than $4000 over a four-year term. Every donation over $1000 must be publicly disclosed. Gambling companies cannot donate to NSW political parties, but they can donate to the NSW branches of political parties so long as the money is used to fund the federal election campaigns rather than state campaigns. This is because federal laws, which do not prohibit gambling donations, apply to donations to federal campaigns. NSW caps donations at $6600 per year for each donor. The federal Labor Party is advocating for a cap on donations for federal elections.
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SANTA FE  Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham traveled to Washington, D.C., on Thursday at the invitation of President Joe Biden to take part in a White House meeting about federal COVID-19 relief measures.

The trip marked the first time out of New Mexico for Lujan Grisham since the pandemic hit the state in March.

It also came just one day after the governor announced a 14-day travel quarantine order for those entering New Mexico from most other states would be phased out, effective Thursday.

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But the travel quarantine order would likely not have applied to her trip to Washington, D.C., since it exempted official business travel, military personnel and those who leave the state to obtain medical treatment.

And a Lujan Grisham spokeswoman said Thursday the decision to lift the travel restrictions was made before the White House invitation was extended.

The governor, who was considered for a Cabinet position in the Biden administration, has been a vocal supporter of the presidents proposed relief package, which is called the American Rescue Plan.

The plan would provide an estimated $350 billion in financial aid to states and local governments and increase vaccine supply.

Before Biden was inaugurated last month, Lujan Grishsam lodged frequent criticism of former President Donald Trumps handling of the pandemic.

In a recent op-ed for Newsweek, Lujan Grisham said she and other Democratic governors were left to fill a galling void of leadership by enacting face mask mandates, imposing travel restrictions and seeking out personal protective equipment for front-line health care workers.

With the Biden administration taking the reins, we are moving into a new phase where we can and will get our arms around the immense logistical challenges of vaccine distribution and ultimately end this heinous pandemic, the governor wrote in her op-ed.

Lujan Grisham, who was recently elected as chairwoman of the Democratic Governors Association, has been working remotely from the Governors Mansion in Santa Fe for the last several months.

She will be part of a bipartisan group of governors and mayors attending the Friday meeting at the White House and is scheduled to return to New Mexico after the meeting ends, according to the Governors Office.

Per the state Constitution, Lt. Gov. Howie Morales serves as acting governor while Lujan Grisham is traveling outside the states borders.
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Project Veritas Responds to Twitter Suspension

Undercover journalism nonprofit Project Veritas says Twitters reason for suspending its account is false.

Twitter suspended the accounts of Veritas and its founder James OKeefe around Feb. 11 after the right-leaning group posted a video of one of its reporters asking Facebooks Vice President of Integrity, Guy Rosen, for a comment in front of his residence.

The account, @Project_Veritas, was permanently suspended for repeated violations of Twitters private information policy, Twitter spokesperson told The Epoch Times via email. The account, @JamesOKeefeIII, was temporarily locked for violating our private information policy. The account owner is required to delete the violative Tweet to regain access to their account.

The spokesperson wouldnt provide further information.

The Veritas video, which is still available on YouTube, shows Rosen being asked by OKeefe about what Rosen said during a Jan. 7 internal Facebook meeting. Veritas obtained a recording of the meeting showing Rosen as saying the following:

We have a system that is able to freeze commenting on threads in cases where our systems are detecting that there may be a thread that has hate speech or violencethese are all things weve built over the past three-four years as part of our investments into the integrity space our efforts to protect the election.

When asked by OKeefe what he meant by freezing comments containing hate speech, Rosen turns around, doesnt respond, and walks on toward his home.

How do you define hate speech? Is it just speech that you hate? Are you freezing your own comments now? OKeefe asks, seeing Rosen enter his home.

Twitter claimed the video published private information, which is false, OKeefe said in a statement emailed to The Epoch Times.

Twitter invited Project Veritas to, and we did, appeal that decision with Twitter. In an apparent act of retaliation for daring to question their authority, Twitter responded to our appeal by suspending our account, continuing to tell us that Project Veritas could delete the tweet and have our account reinstated.

The video briefly shows the street number on Rosens house and a light pole in front of it. It doesnt show the street name or any other information regarding Rosens home address. Veritas blurred license plate numbers of cars in the video.

OKeefe told The Epoch Times in a phone call that Veritas will blur the street number in the video, but questioned how this could qualify as grounds for account suspension since asking public figures for a comment in front of their residences has been standard journalistic practice.

In Veritass video response to the suspension, the street numbers are already blurred.

This is nothing new from Twitterjust last fall Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey admitted in Congress his companys decision to block the New York Post was erroneous while still demanding the Post kneel before them by deleting the tweet, OKeefe said in the release. Here we go againTwitter opting to delete news and demand fealty when their decision is dared to be questioned.

OKeefe was referring to Twitters suppressing a series of pre-election exposes by the New York Post on the dealings of Hunter Biden, son of then-candidate Joe Biden. Not only did the social media firm block users from linking to the story, but it also locked other accounts that attempted to do so. Among them were then-White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany, the official account of the Trump campaign, and the New York Post.

Twitter has claimed its content policing is politically neutral, but evidence indicates otherwise.

OKeefe remained defiant, asking for Twitter insiders to come forward with more information.

I will not kneel. Twitter is wrong. Let them kneel. Be Brave. Do Something, he said.

Update: The article has been updated with response from a Twitter spokesperson.

Upcoming political events in the Bay Area. Events take place online unless otherwise noted:

MONDAY

Alice Walker: Writer and activist reflects on freedom, Black feminism/womanism and writing in community. Hosted by UC Berkeley Department of African American Studies. Noon. More information is here.

TUESDAY

Kamalas Way: Journalist Dan Morain on his new biography of Vice President Kamala Harris. Hosted by the Commonwealth Club. 10 a.m. More information is here.

WEDNESDAY

Condoleezza Rice: A conversation with the former secretary of state, hosted by the Commonwealth Club. Noon. More information is here.

The Purpose of Power book club: Oakland Democratic Rep. Barbara Lee discusses Black Lives Matter co-founder Alicia Garzas The Purpose of Power. Hosted by Mannys. 5 p.m. More information is here.

Black Solidarity Week procession: Third annual Black Solidarity Week procession, starting from the Lake Merritt pergola in Oakland. 5 p.m. More information is here.

THURSDAY

UC President Michael Drake: Discusses challenges for the University of California, including the pandemic and its economic impact and concerns about racial equity, with Mark Baldassare, president and CEO of the Public Policy Institute of California. 11 a.m. More information is here.

Art of liberation: Artist and social justice activist Favianna Rodriguez discusses advancing cultural change through visual activism. Hosted by the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. 6 p.m. More information is here.

FRIDAY

Reparations: On the connections between the incarceration of Japanese Americans in World War II and systemic racism against Black people, and calls for reparations for the Black community. Hosted by the Bay Area Day of Remembrance Consortium. 6 p.m. More information is here.

Executive Order 9066: Day of Remembrance commemorating the order incarcerating Japanese Americans in World War II, featuring speakers from UC Berkeley Muslim Student Association and Nikkei Resisters. Hosted by the UC Berkeley Nikkei Student Union. 6:30 p.m. More information is here.

FEB. 21

New Black reconstruction: A webinar on the components of a new Reconstruction through a multiracial anti-capitalist and feminist movement with militant Black working-class leadership. Hosted by the National Comrades of Color Caucus of the Freedom Socialist Party and Radical Women. 1 p.m. More information is here.

FEB. 22

Rep. Ro Khanna: Fremont Democrat holds a town hall meeting. Noon. Submit question in advance here; join meeting here.

FEB. 23

Daughters of Kobani: Gayle Tzemach Lemmon, adjunct senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, discusses her new book, The Daughters of Kobani, A Story of Rebellion, Courage and Justice, about Kurdish women who fought with U.S. forces against Islamic State in Syria. Hosted by the Commonwealth Club. 10 a.m. More information is here.

Medicare for All: Physicians and health-care reform activists Abdul El-Sayed and Micah Johnson on how to get to a single-payer medical system. Hosted by the Commonwealth Club. 11 a.m. More information is here.

Bias in criminal justice: A discussion about racial bias in the criminal justice system and the new California Racial Justice Act. Panelists include Brandon Greene, director of the Racial and Economic Justice Program of the American Civil Liberties Unions Northern California chapter; Rolanda Pierre Dixon, retired Santa Clara County prosecutor; and Jane Brown, Alameda County assistant public defender. Hosted by Santa Clara University School of Law, the ACLU and Black Law Student Association of Santa Clara University. Noon. Register here.

Erin Brockovich: Environmental activist delivers the Wallace Stegner Lecture on environmental issues can have an impact. Hosted by the Peninsula Open Space Trust. 7 p.m. More information is here.

FEB. 25

The Purpose of Power book club: Black Lives Matter co-founder Alicia Garza discusses her book The Purpose of Power. Hosted by Mannys. 5 p.m. More information is here.

FEB. 26

CSU chancellor: Joseph Castro, chancellor of the California State University system, in conversation about priorities for higher education in California. Hosted by the Public Policy Institute of California. 11 a.m. More information is here.

To list an event, please email Chronicle politics editor Trapper Byrne at tbyrne@sfchronicle.com
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Bob Bennett has been named the Vaccine Operations Director for the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kan. Wyandotte County has created one of the top vaccination centers in the region, serving as a model on how to provide residents with a safe, convenient and accessible way to get vaccinated, said Kansas City, Kan. Mayor David Alvey.

Bob Bennett, president of B2 Civic Solutions and former chief innovation officer (CIO) for Kansas City, Mo., has been named the Vaccine Operations Director for the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kan.

Bennett, who began in this role in December 2020, is overseeing logistics for vaccine delivery and storage, managing distribution, and developing new vaccination sites. He managed a complete buildout of the states first large-scale COVID-19 vaccination site, transforming a vacant Kmart at 7836 State Ave. into a mass vaccine and testing center, currently serving approximately 700 people daily. The center has vaccinated 15,000 people to date.

Wyandotte County has created one of the top vaccination centers in the region, serving as a model on how to provide residents with a safe, convenient and accessible way to get vaccinated, said Kansas City, Kan. Mayor David Alvey.

Bennett and his team are working to build out two more COVID-19 vaccine distribution mega-sites in other parts of Wyandotte County, slated to open this spring.

With our teams dedication to accuracy, speed and safety  plus strong political support and resources from the city and county  we are confident that we have created the best vaccination center in the U.S., said Bennett. As we continue to receive vaccines, we have the infrastructure in place to quickly ramp up distribution. My hope is that by March, we will be open seven days a week, twelve hours a day.

Bennett has responded to a wide range of issues facing communities throughout his career, and has developed a replicable model for identifying, planning and resourcing smart city solutions for communities of all sizes. Bennett is also chair of the Cities Today Institute, which focuses on best practices for sustainable urban development.

The challenges cities face will increasingly be solved by communities and corporations working together, said Bennett. "My goal is to help companies, cities and citizens collaborate, innovate and prepare for the next century. Weve been able to use our experience to develop a highly effective plan for vaccine deployment.

Prior to joining Kansas City, Mo., in 2015, Bennett served in the U.S. Army for 25 years, where his roles included operations executive, strategic planner and educator. He planned, synchronized and coordinated over 500 operations in Africa from 2012-14, and oversaw development and integration of cutting-edge technologies into standing U.S. Army policies and operations.

About B2 Civic Solutions LLC

The B2 Civic Solutions team, led by smart city practitioner and thought leader Bob Bennett, has developed a replicable model for identifying, planning and resourcing smart city solutions for communities of all sizes. Twenty-first century citizens will not wait for cities to modernize; they expect results now. B2 Civic Solutions helps deliver them. http://www.bbcivicsolutions.com.
Louise Roe has admitted she was 'really bummed out' that her husband Mackenzie Hunkin could not join her for her pregnancy scans amid the Covid pandemic.

The TV presenter, 39, and her husband of four years are expecting their second child in May and Louise told how she is keeping her fingers crossed Mackenzie will be allowed in the delivery room by then with the vaccine roll out.

Speaking in a YouTube vlog, she said: 'Mackenzie is not allowed into the hospital with me for the scans which really bums me out. I still get nervous about them.

Difficult: Louise Roe has admitted she was 'really bummed out' that her husband Mackenzie Hunkin could not join her for her pregnancy scans amid the Covid pandemic

'It's a nice thing to see the baby on the screen and hear the heartbeat and it's sad he's missing that. They terrify you by saying partner needs to stay nearby in case we need to get them in quickly to tell them bad news.

'Hopefully by the time I give birth in May, things will be better and he will be allowed in for the birth. I've had friends give birth recently and their husband had to leave after.

'I really hope that's not what we have to face. One thing I just cannot abide by is having to give birth alone.'

Louise and Mackenzie, who are parents to daughter Honor, three, told how they are looking forward to welcoming another girl.

Hopes: The couple are expecting their second child in May and Louise told how she is keeping her fingers crossed Mackenzie will be allowed in the delivery room

The fashion blogger said: 'It's another little girl which I'm very excited about, two little girls.' Speaking to her husband, she added: 'You were brought up entirely around boys and now its almost like you've got your comeuppance.'

Louise filmed the vlog over a period of several weeks from soon after she found out she was pregnant and had not yet told her friends and family.

The presenter detailed the intense nausea and fatigue she felt for the first few weeks of her pregnancy, saying even walking up the stairs left her exhausted.

She said: 'I am almost eight weeks pregnant, nobody knows. I have 24-hour nausea, headache and feel utterly exhausted to the point where walking up the stairs makes me shake a bit and need to sit down.

Nerves: Speaking in a YouTube vlog, she said: 'Mackenzie is not allowed into the hospital with me for the scans which really bums me out. I still get nervous about them'

'I'm so grateful and thrilled to be pregnant again. When I was pregnant before, the first trimester was really hard.

She later added: 'I wake up at three in the morning and I want to throw up. It's quite hard. I'm pushing through each day. I know it probably sounds pathetic, but when you're in it

'Just trying to concentrate or do anything is a bloody nightmare. Most people don't tell anyone until they're 12 weeks so you're just pretending that you're fine.'

Louise told how the nausea left her feeling in such a low mood that her father was worried about her before she announced her pregnancy.

She added: 'Hopefully by the time I give birth in May, things will be better and he will be allowed in for the birth'

She said: 'I am 11 and a bit weeks pregnant now. Still feeling utterly awful, still got 24/7 nausea and I don't want to eat anything, I'm forcing stuff down.

'The fatigue is the worst I've ever experienced. I rarely feel this negative. A lot of people are feeling pretty low right now. I am really grateful to be pregnant but I'm just sharing, trying to be as honest as possible.

'Not telling people, it's got to that stage where I kind of want too now. My dad said I'm worried about you because you seem low. I don't want them to worry too much.'

The TV presenter announced her second pregnancy on Instagram in January, sharing a sweet photo of Honor hugging and kissing her bump.

Tough: The presenter detailed the intense nausea and fatigue she felt for the first few weeks of her pregnancy, saying even walking up the stairs left her exhausted

'We're all very excited and grateful to announce a little addition to the family, is on its way...' Louise told her followers.

Louise and Mackenzie moved back to the UK last year after 11 years living and working in California.

The couple tied the knot in front of 150 friends and family members in a stunning ceremony at Eton College Chapel in Windsor, south-east England, in October 2016, before honeymooning on Italy's Amalfi Coast.

Louise explained the pair developed a 'real connection and bond' during their time working together on Plain Jane.

'My husband and I, we worked together for years', she said. 'We had a real connection and a bond.

It's a girl! Louise and Mackenzie recently revealed they are expecting a baby girl in a heartwarming gender reveal video

'We were both in different relationships, so I don't think we even thought of it that way, but when I look back now, I know that we made each other laugh a lot.

'We just had a good rapport, and I think it was the final series when we kind of realised there was some more going on, but it took us a minute.'

Louise started her career as a fashion journalist, writing for the British editions of ELLE and Vogue, among others, before moving to the US in late 2009.

The TV presenter shot to fame on the second season of MTV reality show, The City, alongside fellow fashionista Olivia Palermo, before going on to host Plain Jane, NBC's Fashion Star and the red carpet during awards season for Access Hollywood.

The European Union is working on a proposal to sanction Russia over the imprisonment of opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who suffered a near-fatal nerve-agent attack that he and Western governments blamed on Russian intelligence services.

EU ambassadors discussed the punitive measures at a meeting on Wednesday, according to two diplomats familiar with the discussion. No member states objected to the proposal, said one of the people, who asked not to be identified because the talks were private.

European Commission spokesman Peter Stano declined to comment on the discussions, but added that "work is ongoing" on possible actions. EU foreign-policy chief Josep Borrell said on Tuesday that the EU's next steps could include sanctions and that he would "put forward concrete proposals."

The sanction discussion comes after Borrell weathered intense criticism over a humiliating trip to Moscow last week, when Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov used a joint press conference to disparage the bloc, criticizing the EU as an unreliable partner. Russia simultaneously announced that it would expel diplomats from Poland, Germany and Sweden for their "recorded participation" in protests against the imprisonment of Navalny. The EU countries reciprocated in kind.

After returning from Moscow, Borrell said that "Europe and Russia are drifting apart."

At Wednesday's meeting, at least 10 ambassadors expressed their disappointment at how Borrell's visit went, according to a diplomatic note seen by Bloomberg. Most of the same governments welcomed that the discussion was shifting to tangible action, including sanctions.

The note added that the EU's foreign ministers could take an initial decision on any restrictive measures when they meet on Feb. 22. The EU's 27 leaders will also be discussing relations with Russia next month. Any decision to apply new sanctions would require unanimity.

A senior Navalny ally urged the EU to show "political will" as it weighs the punitive measures. "The EU doesn't need to build a legal case that can be defended in court -- sanctions are a political decision," Vladimir Ashurkov, who took part in a video call Monday with representatives of the 27 EU nations, the U.K. and U.S., said in a phone interview Wednesday. "If not now, then when?"

The ruble slipped early this year as fears of new sanctions added to pressures, but in the past two weeks the currency has recovered some of the ground lost.

London-based Ashurkov on Feb. 8 sent a sanctions list of 35 Russians including senior officials, state bankers and billionaire oligarchs Roman Abramovich and Alisher Usmanov to U.K. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab.

"If eight are sanctioned, that would be a coup in itself, if 35 are sanctioned that would be huge leap," Ashurkov said.

Spokespeople for Abramovich and Usmanov declined to comment.

Navalny, 44, was detained in mid-January upon return from Germany, where he was treated for the poisoning that he and Western nations blamed on President Vladimir Putin's secret services. The Kremlin denied any role in the nerve-agent attack.

A Moscow court on Feb. 2 sentenced Navalny to two years and eight months for violating probation terms of an earlier suspended fraud conviction. His jailing sparked the biggest anti-Putin protests in years and a violent crackdown with 11,000 arrests and the prosecution of Navalny aides. Russia has repeatedly rejected EU and U.S. calls to free him.

At Wednesday's meeting of EU ambassadors, several governments, including Germany and France, while expressing their disappointment with Russia's behavior and actions, urged to also maintain a longer-term perspective and multi-pronged approach toward the country.

New Delhi:

India and Pakistans Director General of Military Operations held talks over the situation along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday.

During the telephonic conversation, Indian Army DGMO Major General AK Bhatt took a strong stand against continuous ceasefire violation by Pak army. Bhatt highlighted that all ceasefire violations were initiated by Pakistan.



And as such, Indian Army reserves right to retaliate appropriately, he told his Pak counterpart.



DGMO also reiterating that Indian Army is sincere in maintaining peace & tranquillity along LoC.

For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
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According to Stratistics MRC, the Global Tobacco Market accounted for $663.76 billion in 2017 and is expected to reach $1,012.19 billion by 2026 growing at a CAGR of 4.8 % during the forecast period. Introduction of numerous premium tobacco products such as flavoured, long and skinny, coloured and e-cigarettes by the manufacturers are some of the major factors boosting the market growth. However, availability of traditional nicotine replacement therapies such as gum, patches, and lozenges, which help alleviate cravings and higher levels of education along with rising awareness about health concerns related to tobacco consumption such as different types of cancers, cardiovascular diseases, pulmonary diseases, etc. are the restraining factors for the market growth. Moreover, increasing frequency of new flavor launches in hookah tobacco and the rapid emergence of online retail of hookah tobacco will provide ample opportunities for the market growth.

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Tobacco is the common name of several plants in the Nicotiana genus and the Solanaceae (nightshade) family, and the general term for any product prepared from the cured leaves of the tobacco plant. Tobacco contains a colourless volatile alkaloid, nicotine, which is responsible for stimulating brain functions, increasing blood pressure, constricting peripheral blood vessels and raising heart rate. Dried tobacco leaves are majorly used for smoking in cigarettes, cigars, pipes and shisha; and as chewing tobacco, snuff, snus and dipping tobacco.



By type, cigarettes growth is due to the surging population and tax regulations in developing countries. By geography, Asia Pacific is estimated to have a lucrative growth in the forecast period mainly due to an increase in the production of these Tobacco leaves in the region.



Some of the key players in this market include Hongyunhonghe Tobacco (Group) Co., Japan Tobacco Inc., Reynolds American Inc., Philip Morris International Inc., British American Tobacco p.l.c. (BAT), Ltd., Imperial Brands PLC and Altria Group, Inc.

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Types Covered:

 Pipes

 Nicotine Replacement Therapy

 Shishas or Hookahs and Mouassal

 Smokeless Tobacco

 Smoking Tobacco

 Roll Your Own

 Cigars

 Cigarettes

 Other Types

Regions Covered:

 North America

o US

o Canada

o Mexico

 Europe

o Germany

o UK

o Italy

o France

o Spain

o Rest of Europe

 Asia Pacific

o Japan

o China

o India

o Australia

o New Zealand

o South Korea

o Rest of Asia Pacific

 South America

o Argentina

o Brazil

o Chile

o Rest of South America

 Middle East & Africa

o Saudi Arabia

o UAE

o Qatar

o South Africa

o Rest of Middle East & Africa

What our report offers:

- Market share assessments for the regional and country level segments

- Strategic recommendations for the new entrants

- Market forecasts for a minimum of 9 years of all the mentioned segments, sub segments and the regional markets

- Market Trends (Drivers, Constraints, Opportunities, Threats, Challenges, Investment Opportunities, and recommendations)

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The research team led by Masakazu Ohara, graduate student of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at Toyohashi University of Technology (student in the Leading Program doctoral program); Associate Professor Kowa Koida of the Electronics-Inspired Interdisciplinary Research Institute; and Associate Professor Juno Kim of the University of New South Wales (Australia) discovered that when people judge the thickness of an object, objects with glass-like transparent optical properties are perceived to be flatter than they actually are.

It was previously known that objects made of metallic or glossy materials are perceived to be thicker than what they are, but now the current research has identified that transparent properties surprisingly have the opposite effect.

The result of the analysis of image cues that contribute to judgments of thickness indicated that humans may perceive thickness based on image characteristics in the form of regional variations of local luminance contrast.

With this computational model, the types of images in which the shape of 3D objects may be misinterpreted by humans can now be predicted, which may be useful for everyday applications, such as devices to assist with walking in people with low-vision or autonomous driving.

The texture of an object's surface is also extremely important for product development because it appeals to the human senses (e.g., vision, and also touch).

We can infer a lot from a texture's appearance. For example, the awareness that the ground is slippery is related to the gloss and perception of a surface's material composition, but if this perceptual estimate is erroneous, an accident may occur when walking or driving.

Moreover, when surface gloss or transparency is misinterpreted, the bumps on the ground may also be misinterpreted.

Humans identify the texture and optical properties of a surface with just a glance, even though the neural processing required is would be complex. Accordingly, understanding the mechanism by which the eyes and brain provide our experience of texture continues to generate significant interest.

When the human brain observes an object, it attempts to process and understand the illumination that hits the object, the 3D shape of the object, and the optical properties of the surface. Certainly, images are created by physically and precisely combining these three elements.

However, it remains a fundamentally difficult problem to study how these three elements are dealt with by the visual system. There have been numerous reports where perceptions are not necessarily correct. For example, if a surface is glossy and compared to a gloss-less matte surface, it has been reported that the bumps on the object should appear exaggerated (Mooney & Anderson, 2014; Published in Current Biology).

Gloss is an optical phenomenon related to the reflection of light from an object's surface. However, the property of transparent refraction is also an optical phenomenon of objects. Regardless of whether transparency is a fundamental property, investigations had yet to be performed on transparent properties and the perception of 3D objects.

Therefore, this research group compared transparent properties to conventional matte and glossy surfaces to understand how different materials affect the perception of the 3D shape.

Participants in the experiment viewed computer-generated spherical objects displayed on a computer screen, and they were asked to estimate the thickness along the direction in depth. Numerous objects with different thicknesses and surface materials were prepared for comparison.

As a result, objects constructed of transparent material were perceived as flatter than the objects with identical shape but with different material composure. This effect occurred consistently even when: i) the shape of the object had bumps, ii) the virtual lighting environment was changed, iii) the size of the object was changed, iv) the object was moved left and right, and v) the object was observed with only one eye.

The aforementioned results indicate that transparent properties affect human perception of 3D object shape in different ways to diffuse and specular reflection.

The research group also analyzed the images to determine what kind of cues in the object image contributed to the perception of thickness. The factor that resulted in the most accurate estimations of the perception of thickness was the amount of regional variation of local contrast in the image.

Local contrast is the root-mean-square (RMS) contrast of the pixels within a small region of the image, and this computation is similar to that performed by neurons found in the early visual area of the retina and brain. The regional variation is calculated as the variation from the sum of the above RMS contrast values across a wide field of view.

The research team discovered that transparent material properties can cause the 3D shape of an object to be underestimated. However, it is unknown whether these misinterpretations are a simple error or an indirect effect of a separate mechanism altogether. The cause of the misinterpretations will need to be investigated in detail in later research.

Also, the computational model for predicting the perception of thickness is not only useful for understanding neural mechanisms of the human visual system, but it is also linked to predictions of conditions in which humans might misinterpret the shape or texture of objects.

Errors in interpreting the evenness of a surface or whether surfaces are frozen can lead to accidents when walking or driving a car.

In situations where the gloss, transparency, or bumps of a 3D object can be misinterpreted, it can be expected that the computational model could be used in devices to assist with mobility when walking, such as smart glasses, or semi-autonomous driving functions to caution drivers in advance of an accident.
FRANKFURT. More than two thirds of the earth is covered by clouds. Depending on whether they float high or low, how large their water and ice content is, how thick they are or over which region of the Earth they form, it gets warmer or cooler underneath them. Due to human influence, there are most likely more cooling effects from clouds today than in pre-industrial times, but how clouds contribute to climate change is not yet well understood. Researchers currently believe that low clouds over the Arctic and Antarctic, for example, contribute to the warming of these regions by blocking the direct radiation of long-wave heat from the Earth's surface.

All clouds are formed by aerosols, suspended particles in the air, to which water vapour attaches. Such suspended particles or aerosols naturally consist of dusts, salt crystals or molecules released by plants. Human activities cause above all soot particles to be released into the atmosphere, but also sulphuric acid and ammonia molecules, which can cluster and form new aerosol particles in the atmosphere. Model calculations show that more than half of the cloud droplets are formed from aerosol particles that have formed in the atmosphere. For the formation of clouds, it is not decisive what the aerosol particles are made of; what matters most is their size: Aerosol particles only become condensation nuclei for cloud droplets from a diameter of about 70 nanometres and up.

In the atmosphere over the sea, aerosols released by humans play a much smaller role in the formation of low clouds than over land. Besides salt crystals originating from sea spray, aerosol particles over the sea mainly originate from certain sulphur compounds (dimethyl sufide) that are released from phytoplankton and react to form sulphuric acid, for example. At least, that is what previous research concluded.

Scientists from the CLOUD consortium have now studied the formation of aerosol particles from iodine-containing vapours. The slightly pungent smell of iodine is part of the aroma of the sea air you breathe when walking along the North Sea. Every litre of seawater contains 0.05 milligrams of iodine, and when it enters the atmosphere, iodic acid or iodous acid is formed through sunlight and ozone. The scientists simulated atmospheric conditions in mid-latitudes and arctic regions in the CLOUD experimental chamber at the CERN particle accelerator centre in Geneva, including cosmic rays simulated by an elementary particle beam.

Their findings: aerosol particle formation by iodic acid takes place very rapidly, much more rapidly than the particle formation of sulphuric acid and ammonia under comparable conditions. Ions produced by cosmic rays further promote particle formation. For the transformation of the molecular iodine into the iodine-containing acids, not even UV radiation and only a little daylight are necessary. In this way, very large aerosol quantities can be formed very quickly.

Atmospheric researcher Prof. Joachim Curtius from Goethe University explains: "Iodine aerosols can form faster than almost all other aerosol types we know. If ions produced by cosmic rays are added, each collision leads to the growth of the molecular clusters." Curtius added that this is particularly important because global iodine emissions on Earth have already tripled over the past 70 years. "A vicious circle may have been set in motion here: The pack ice thaws, which increases the water surface area and more iodine enters the atmosphere. This leads to more aerosol particles, which form clouds that further warm the poles. The mechanism we found can now become part of climate models, because iodine may play a dominant role in aerosol formation, especially in the polar regions, and this could improve climate model predictions for these regions."

###

The CLOUD experiment (Cosmics Leaving OUtdoor Droplets) at CERN studies how new aerosol particles are formed in the atmosphere out of precursor gases and continue to grow into condensation seeds. CLOUD thereby provides fundamental understanding of the formation of clouds and particulate matter. CLOUD is carried out by an international consortium consisting of 21 institutes. The CLOUD measurement chamber was developed with CERN know-how and is one of the cleanest experimental rooms in the world. CLOUD measurement campaigns use a variety of different measuring instruments to characterise the physical and chemical state of the particles and gases that make up the atmosphere. The team led by Joachim Curtius from the Institute for Atmosphere and Environment at Goethe University Frankfurt develops and operates two mass spectrometers in the CLOUD project to detect trace gases such as iodic acid and iodous acid even in the smallest concentrations.
A urine test based on University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center research could have avoided one third of unnecessary prostate cancer biopsies while failing to detect only a small number of cancers, according to a validation study that included more than 1,500 patients. The findings appear in the March issue of the Journal of Urology.

The MyProstateScore test, which is being commercialized by LynxDX, a U-M startup company, measures levels of cancer-specific genes in a patient's urine. It is based on U-M research that discovered that half of all prostate tumors harbor a certain genetic anomaly in which the genes TMPRSS2 and ERG relocate on a chromosome and fuse together -- creating an on-switch for prostate cancer development.

Currently, one of doctors' best methods for detecting prostate cancer is a blood test for prostate-specific antigen, commonly known as the PSA test. Elevated PSA levels may indicate cancer, but the majority of men with an elevated PSA do not actually have prostate cancer.

To determine which patients do and do not have cancer, men with an elevated PSA test undergo an invasive procedure called a transrectal biopsy. Prostate biopsies are uncomfortable for patients and carry a small risk of complications. MRI scans are also used to detect prostate cancer, but these can also miss cancerous lesions and come with much higher costs and limited availability.

"Our ultimate goal was to determine whether the MyProstateScore test could be a practical, reliable test that could rule out the need for more costly or invasive testing in men referred for a prostate biopsy," says study lead author Jeffrey Tosoian, M.D., M.P.H., a clinical lecturer in urology at Michigan Medicine.

Tosoian and two of his co-authors were founders of LynxDX and hold an equity stake in the company.

Not all prostate cancers are equally worrisome. Many arise later in life and are so slow growing that the best course of action is to simply monitor them. It is patients with these slow growing cancers or no cancer who, despite elevated PSA levels, could be spared from the more invasive or expensive procedures if doctors had better tests, the researchers say.

The validation study included patients seen at academic health centers and in community health settings. Among these 1,525 patients, 338 -- 22% -- had cancers detected on biopsy that were group grade 2 or higher, meaning they were serious enough to warrant immediate treatment.

If the MyProstateScore test had been available to patients in the study, 387 biopsies that found no cancer or slow-growing cancer could have been avoided, the study found. Meanwhile, the test would have missed only 10 clinically significant cancers that would have warranted immediate treatment.

"The data show that this straightforward, secondary testing approach could reduce the use of more costly and invasive procedures following a PSA test," Tosoian says.

###

Additional authors on the study include Bruce J. Trock of Johns Hopkins University; John T. Wei of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Institute; and Todd M. Morgan, Simpa S. Salami, Scott A. Tomlins, Daniel E. Spratt, Javed Siddiqui, Lakshmi P. Kunju, Rachel Botbyl, Zoey Chopra, Balaji Pandian, Nicholas W. Eyrich, Gary Longton, Yingye Zheng, Ganesh S. Palapattu, Yashar S. Niknafs and Arul M. Chinnaiyan of U-M.

The research was supported by the Prostate Cancer Foundation, Early Detection Research Network (UO1 CA214170), National Cancer Institute Prostate SPORE (P50 CA186786), and an NCI Outstanding Investigator Award (R35CA231996). Additional support was provided by the National Institutes of Health/National Cancer Institute Advanced Training in Urologic Oncology Grant (T32/CA180984), a U-M Precision Health Research Scholar Award, the SPORE Career Enhancement Program (CA186786) and the A. Alfred Taubman Medical Research Institute.

Disclosure: Tosoian, Niknafs and Chinnaiyan are co-founders and have equity in LynxDx, which has licensed the urine biomarkers mentioned in this study from Hologic and U-M. Tosoian and Nikafs have leadership roles in LynxDx and Chinnaiyan serves on the scientific advisory board. U-M has been issued a patent on ETS gene fusions in prostate cancer on which Chinnaiyan and Tomlins are co-inventors. The diagnostic field of use has been licensed to LynxDx, which did not fund the study.

Paper cited: "Use of the MyProstateScore Test to Rule Out Clinically Significant Cancer: Validation of a Straightforward Clinical Testing Approach," Journal of Urology. DOI: 10.1097/JU.0000000000001430
DUBLIN, Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Network Virtualization and Softwarization by SDN and NFV Solutions, Applications, Deployment, Service Providers and Enterprise 2021 - 2026" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

This research evaluates the network virtualization and softwarization market involving the implementation and operation of software-defined networking and network function virtualization. The report evaluates both SDN and NFV for communication service providers and enterprises. The report provides SDN and NFV forecasts by solution, application, deployment mode, service providers and enterprise for 2021 to 2026.



Software-Defined Networking



Arising from the demands of pervasive cloud computing and changes in the way ICT groups approach networking, Software Defined Networking (SDN) represents a merging of hardware and software resources and networking functionality into a software-based virtual network.



The key concept of SDN is to move control out of the switches into a dedicated server that has a global view of the network state. This breaks fundamentally with existing principles of layer 2 and layer 3 networking where each switch has autonomous control.



An approach to building computer networks that separates and abstracts elements of these systems, SDN allows system administrators to rapidly provision network connections in mechanized fashion rather than manually configuring. In software architecture terms, SDN requires some method for the Control Plane to communicate with the Data Plane.



Virtualization within a computing context refers to the act of creating a virtual version of a resource including, but not limited to a virtual computer hardware platform, operating system (OS), storage device, or computer network resources.



Various technologies are involved in virtualization including those that allow for interface between platforms over an Application Programming Interface (API). One such API-dependent technology is SDN, which allows network administrators to manage network services through abstraction of lower-level functionality.



Network Function Virtualization



SDN is often mentioned in one breath with Network Function Virtualization (NFV). Although SDN and NFV are often deployed together, they are separate concepts with different aims. NFV is a telecom led initiative that aims to utilize standard IT virtualization technology to consolidate many telecom network equipment types onto industry-standard high-volume servers, switches, and storage.



NFV relocates network functions such as soft switches, HSS, IMS, OSS and BSS from dedicated devices to generic virtualized servers. One could say that NFV does for communications what server and storage virtualization did for computing.



NFV involves implementing network functions in software that can run on a range of industry-standard server hardware, and that can be moved to, or instantiated in, various locations in the network as required, without the need to install new proprietary equipment.



SDN and NFV Interworking



SDN and virtualization are poised to transform network and service architecture thanks to improvements in technologies that offer improved performance and lower costs. However, some data centers use SDN but do not offer NFV as a service. And although a less likely scenario, a service provider can support NFV without having an SDN-enabled network. In short, NFV usually runs over SDN enabled networks, but not all SDN networks need to provide NFV.



Many telecom initiatives, such as the implementation and operation of edge computing, are built upon the pillars of SDN, NFV, and cloud technologies. We see many of these initiatives involving both SDN and NFV evolving to become increasingly applicable to many different CSP and enterprise environments and use case scenarios.



However, many efforts are silo-based, meaning that they are not cross-platform or cross-CSP. This will continue to a certain extent, but we also see a developing need for a federated platform to act as a development environment as well as test-bed and field trial operations in a cross-technology, cross-service provider framework. This platform will address SDN devices, controllers, and applications.

Key Topics Covered:

1 Executive Summary



2 Introduction



3 Technical Overview

3.1 Impact of Internet Protocol

3.2 Evolution of Programmatic Telecom

3.3 Software Defined Networks

3.4 SDN Switches

3.5 Controllers

3.6 SDN Applications

3.7 Deploying SDN

3.8 Network Function Virtualization



4 Standards and Open Source

4.1 OpenFlow

4.2 Open Source SDN Controllers

4.3 Open SDN Switches

4.4 Languages



5 SDN Trends

5.1 SDN Selling Proposition

5.2 SDN Restraints

5.3 Evaluating SDN Interest Level



6 SDN Market Outlook and Forecasts

6.1 Global SDN 2021 - 2026

6.2 SDN by Solution Type 2021 - 2026

6.2.1 SDN by Network, OS, and Application 2021 - 2026

6.2.2 SDN Network Devices 2021 - 2026

6.2.3 SDN Network Devices by Proprietary and White Box 2021 - 2026

6.3 SDN by Implementation Type 2021 - 2026

6.4 SDN by Deployment Model 2021 - 2026

6.4.1 Software Defined Everything 2021 - 2026

6.4.2 Software Defined Datacenter Market 2021 - 2026

6.5 SDN by Market Segment 2021 - 2026

6.5.1 SDN by Service Providers 2021 - 2026

6.5.2 SDN by Enterprise Vertical 2021 - 2026

6.6 SDN Markets by Regions 2021 - 2026



7 NFV Market Outlook and Forecasts

7.1 Global NFV Market 2021 - 2026

7.2 NFV by Solution 2021 - 2026

7.3 NFV by Deployment Type 2021 - 2026

7.4 NFV by Network (Core and Radio) and Customer Equipment 2021 - 2026

7.5 NFV by Market Segment 2021 - 2026

7.5.1 Carrier Grade NFV 2021 - 2026

7.5.2 NFV Markets by Industry 2021 - 2026



8 SDN Migration

8.1 Focus on Business and not Technology

8.2 Agile Migration

8.3 The Migration Process



9 Appendix

Companies Mentioned

Accenture

AT&T

Big Switch

Brocade

Cisco

Dell EMC

Ericsson

Facebook

Goldman Sachs

Google

Hewlett-Packard Enterprise

Huawei

IBM

Juniper

Microsoft

NEC

Nokia

Nokia Networks

NTT

Oracle

Orange

Telefonica

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/pb79a9



Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



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Graduation at Rutgers University will once again be socially distanced.

The university said Thursday that this years commencement events will be virtual, rather than in-person ceremonies, as a result of the continuing pandemic that has so far claimed more than 22,200 New Jersey residents in the now 11-month outbreak.

This decision was a disappointing one to make in light of the difficulties our graduating students have already endured, but public health concerns related to the ongoing pandemic continue to make it unwise for us to plan for large in-person gatherings this spring, said Rutgers President Jonathan Holloway in a statement to the university community. Unfortunately, it is not feasible to create appropriate, smaller ceremonies in a safe and equitable way.

It marks the second year that Rutgers has opted to hold its commencement on-line.

Last year, the university streamed its 254th commencement ceremony live on its Facebook and YouTube channels. NBC News anchor Lester Holt was the keynote speaker, and addressed graduates and their families from his home.

For many students, missing graduation ceremonies after four years of work has been an emotional issue at campuses across the state. Last year, as the pandemic spread, some Drew University students held a mock graduation during their last days on campus, dressing in trash bags and makeshift caps as they accepted fake diplomas.

With the rollout of two effective COVID-19 vaccines, many had hoped that in-person graduations could once again be a coda to their years of study.

But Holloway said despite the optimism brought by the arrival the vaccines, health experts advised that even if the pace of the vaccination rollout increases, our state will not be at a point where it will be safe to gather in large crowds, even outdoors, until mid- to late summer at the earliest.

CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES: Live map tracker | Businesses that are open | Homepage

The Rutgers president added that with more than 18,000 graduating students across the schools campuses, the university did not have the capacity to ensure the health and safety of graduates and guests.

Rather than book and plan for outdoor venues, only to cancel them as May draws near, we have determined that it is better to put our energies into making commencement season as well-designed, creative, and meaningful as possible in a virtual setting, he said.

According to Holloway, each campus will be exploring the most effective ways to honor their graduates by remote means this spring.

The university still hopes to host in-person celebrations later in the year to salute graduates from both 2020 and 2021, he said.

I recognize that this decision will be deeply disappointing to our graduating students and their families and friends, and I am very sorry, he stated in his email to students and faculty. I know you deserve better and wish that we could make it happen in a safe and responsible way this spring. At the point where we can resume holding large in-person gatherings, we will gladly plan for events that celebrate your accomplishments at Rutgers.

___

Local journalism needs your support. Subscribe at nj.com/supporter.

Ted Sherman may be reached at tsherman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TedShermanSL.
Mortar shelling in Afghanistan kills at least 10 civilians

Fire breaks out at West Virginia oil refinery in US

Iran ready to help improve the defense capability of Syria

European Parliament head proposes to strengthen sanctions on Russia

UK PM gets married in London

Armenia reports COVID-19 new 81 cases: for people die

EU countries invite US to issue joint statement against Russia

2 people die in Armenia road accident

Nigeria: Students taken hostage a month ago are released

61 quakes recorded in Congo per day

Syrian MFA: EU lost credibility due to blind obedience to US policy

Armenia ex-minister of emergency situations hospitalized with heart attack

Mher Grigoryan: Clarification of border points is possible only after withdrawal of Azerbaijani troops from Armenia

Suspicious deal: Whether there was profit from buying DNA IDs?

Armenia ex-president says current authorities are trying to blame Russia for defeat in war

4 people killed in Afghanistani bus attack

Robert Kocharyan: This war could not have happened, it was a consequence of the policy of the authorities

Kocharyan: I have to ask people how it happened that overwhelming majority elected this leader

Armen Gevorgyan presents 'Armenia' bloc program: We offer the concept of a working country

Biden's administration proposed to leave unchanged amount of financial support to Armenia

US Embassy in Baku calls on Azerbaijan to immediately release Armenian POWs

Luxembourg MFA calls on Azerbaijan to immediately release all Armenian prisoners

Russia peacekeepers climb to Armenia Gegharkunik Province village positions

Biden strongly condemns manifestations of antisemitism in US

Iran intensifies its diplomacy amid Armenia-Azerbaijan border tensions

Armenia acting PM on forthcoming snap parliamentary elections: We hope to get 60% of votes

Lukashenko accuses West of destabilizing situation in Belarus

Armenia Central Electoral Commission chief on snap elections: No legal basis for postponing, suspending any function

Armenias Pashinyan is met by Yerevan district residents chanting against him

We are ready to be fully engaged in negotiation process to resolve Karabakh issue, says Armenia acting PM

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan gives interview to Russia TV channel

Armenia acting premier: We are ready to start withdrawing troops at any moment

Canada MFA expresses concern over 6 Armenian soldiers capture by Azerbaijan troops

There are omissions in registration documents of political forces that applied to Armenia Central Electoral Commission

Armenia Central Electoral Commission chief: There is activeness in Yerevan for the past day or two

Three new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Group of US Congress members threaten Azerbaijans Aliyev regime with sanctions

Chicago mayor is sued for allegedly refusing interview with white reporter

Iran exports oil to US for first time after long interval

"Armenia" bloc top 50 MP candidates are announced

42 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Sri Lanka public beach is covered in charred plastic pellets due to fire in container ship

US preparing list of targeted sanctions on Belarus authorities

China believes it will own America by 2035, Biden says

15 al-Shabab militants killed in Somalia

Newspaper: Armenia political forces that applied for running in election impatiently await CEC decision

Newspaper: Changes are expected in Artsakh

California prisoner who considers himself Satanist beheads cellmate, dismembers his body

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM's "mutually beneficial" proposal to collapse state system?

Armenia National Security Service Reserve Officers' Union members meet with His Holiness Karekin II

EU is ready to help Armenia and Azerbaijan with border delimitation and demarcation

ARF-D member on Nikol Pashinyan: 103 years ago Armenia's founding fathers would have executed him for treason

Iran President hails brotherly ties with Azerbaijan

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

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


Since the first week of the new administration, many ill-advised executive orders have angered state legislatures. Now, most Trump-appointed US State Attorneys is the next in the unprecedented moves that displeased both Democrats and Republicans.

Another move by the administration widely opposed is an attempt to clean all U.S. state attorneys whom Trump appointed. Overall, both sides are displeased with Joe Biden's demand to vacate replace them with his appointees.

Transition to wholly Biden era

The Department of Justice (DOJ) announced their decision, and the Biden administration is going full gear with a clean slate. Next will be the next state attorneys nominated by those power, reported by Epoch Times.

Just earlier this week, the confirmation of the requested resignation of Trump's appointees began. Media outlets verified this after DOJ officials were cited. Though not all have to resign yet, sources stated.

The state attorney of Delaware, David Weiss, will be still be working as he is on the tax probe of Hunter Biden. John Durham is the special counsel to lead into the Russia Probe; both will stay on indefinitely.

Democrats and Republicans disagree

Last February 9, two Democrats voiced their opposition despite having the same party as Biden. Illinois senators Dick Durbin (D) and Tammy Duckworth (D) aired their grievance that the new administration's clean house move will sack U.S. Attorney John Lausch.

Lausch has been the number one federal prosecutor in the Northern District of Illinois since 2017. Both DEMS think the move to resign most Trump-appointed U.S. State Attorneys should have been under consultation, not without talking about it.

Also read: State Attorneys General Remind Biden Any Unconstitutional Actions Will Not Go Unchallenged

They stated even if they are in with the new administrations' agenda on criminal justice, the replacement of U.S. Attorney Lausch arbitrarily and not asking what they thought about the termination is not appreciated.

One of their reasons for voicing-out disagreement is that non-partisan processes chose the state attorney. Lausch got full support from the committee with full senate confirmation by the DEMS and GOP.

They want the current state attorney to continue, hence their statement.

Another Republican senator from Iowa, Chuck Grassley, sent a letter to the White House and told Biden not to go ahead without home-state senators' advice. He disagrees with the Oval Office's moves, adding prosecutors should be kept in office not asked to resign immediately.

Grassley, in his letter, said that Biden's actions are ill-advised with no alternative state attorneys. He pointed out that there is a process. Home state Senators should be consulted as many of these attorneys might be conducting sensitive investigations.

He added that the president has the right to choose those in his administration and cited a mass termination of all President Trump's appointees is not the law's interest. Having only two staying on, one handles his son's investigation and the Russia Probe.

One question is, why those two? Why the rest gets fired? He added those currently involved should stay to show the DOJ is independent of the White House.

According to sources, Lausch is working on several cases involving former state House Speaker Mike Madigan.

Related article: South Dakota Republicans Sponsor Bill to Null the Executive Orders of Biden

@ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Academic staff at all public universities have laid down their tools demanding payment of their salary enhancement arrears by government.

The arrears date back to 2015.

This comes two days after some universities, including Makerere and Kyambogo, started online teaching for their final year and continuing students following the closure of institutions due to Covid-19 pandemic.

In an interview yesterday, the chairperson of Forum for Academic Staff Association in Public Universities (FAPSU), Mr Deus Kamunyu, said the staff had agreed to lay down their tools effective February 6, adding that the strike had started across all public universities.

Mr Kamunyu said the academic staff want Shs129.24b released for full enhancement of salaries from senior lecturers and below at all public universities.

"As staff associations, we resolved on a sit-down strike, which started on Saturday and the communications are clear. We are going to receive a report from all public universities after this week to know what is on ground," Mr Kamunyu said.

The chairperson of Busitema University Academic Staff Association's Chairperson, Mr Ssali Ssajja, said they have also kick-started their strike.

He said Busitema is slated to start online teaching on March 1.

"As Busitema staff, we have to respect the resolution from FAPSU and if the government doesn't settle the required money, we shall not teach," Mr Ssajja said.

Dr Mugisha Mutabazi, the chairperson of Kyambogo University Academic Staff Association, said there is no teaching taking place at the university.

"We are not teaching because there is a nationwide strike, which was declared in May but was suspended temporarily to allow third year students complete their studies. It was lifted again on February 6 and there is no question about it," Dr Mugisha said.

"We have not heard anything from the government, but it is upon them. We already communicated our positions to them. It was unfair for the government to favour a small group of people at the expense of the majority," he added.

The Vice Chancellor of Makerere University, Prof Barnabas Nawangwe, said he has not been informed about the strike and any staff who will not teach will be dealt with.

"I am not aware about the strike, It has not been communicated according to the law governing trade unions and as far as I am concerned, every member of staff is supposed to be here at work and they are expected to carry out their duties normally. We are monitoring and we shall take necessary action," Prof Nawangwe said.

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He added that the university is set to roll out online teaching for both the continuing and final year students.

The Ministry of Finance Public Relations Officer, Mr Jim Mugunga, yesterday said: "We have engaged lecturers and their leadership before, and so has the Presidency, to explain with clarity matters of budget and revenue sources....The issues they raise are now a matter of the relevant sector to resolve."

Background

President Museveni in 2015 promised increased salaries of teaching staff in public universities that would see a professor earn Shs15m and a senior lecturer earn Shs12.2m.

Government decided to implement this directive in a phased manner for five years. However, in the 2020/2021 Financial Year, government released Shs50b which benefitted only professors and associate professors, who got their 100 per cent salary increment (Shs15m).

The lecturers' increment was not realised till date.
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Normandy Four meeting to be possible after adoption of Joint Steps Plan by all parties of Minsk talks  Zelensky

The study of comments and the adoption of the Joint Steps Plan proposed by the Ukrainian side in the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) will facilitate the meeting of the leaders of the Normandy Four states (Ukraine, Germany, France and Russia), Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

"My attitude towards 'Minsk' is very simple. It needs to be 'taken apart', all the steps must be written down, tied to dates and implemented. We did this. A corresponding document was drafted, which was worked out not in the backroom, but openly discussed with the advisers to the Normandy Four states," Zelensky said after a working trip to Donetsk region on Thursday.

According to the president, "the latest version of this document has already been drafted, in particular, the implementation of steps and Minsk Agreements and sent to all parties."

"We expect that in the near future the parties will adopt the document with comments, and then it will be possible to bring the meeting of the Normandy Four closer," Zelensky said.
[February 11, 2021] Contentsquare Ends Year of Exceptional Growth With Record-Breaking Quarter

Contentsquare, the leading experience analytics company, today announced record growth in 2020, crowned by a historic Q4. Amid a turbulent year for business, the company also added around 200 new logos to its global customer base, closed a $190M Series D funding round, made two innovation-driven acquisitions, and accelerated its geographic expansion - with a fast-growing footprint in the US. This remarkable momentum speaks to the tremendous opportunity of a market predicted to be worth $21.5B by 2025, according to a 2020 MarketsandMarkets report.1 With the Covid-19 crisis forcing most brands to switch to a purely digital approach, the stakes for Customer Experience (CX) have never been higher - neither has the value of customer insight. In a year that crystallized the need for trusted analytics partners, Contentsquare grew its NPS score from 30 to 45. Retently's 2020 NPS benchmarks puts the average Saas score at 30)2, and secured several new multi-million dollar deals with market-leading brands. The pace of digital transformation has touched every industry, and today, having a standout CX is also a key strategic priority for all brands, not just retail. From leaders in the biotech space to multinational automakers, via news media, this past year has seen brands from all fields choose Contentsquare to maximize the digital opportunity in 2021. Many global brands joined the company's client roster in 2020, including BMW, fashion heavyweghts Diesel and Giorgio Armani, SVP Worldwide, and manufacturing giant American Woodmark. Frontier Airlines and hotel group Accor have also adopted Contentsquare to increase their ROI on the heels of a year that has been particularly tough on the travel sector.



"Our record-breaking growth is the direct result of our customer-obsession and aggressive focus on innovation. We work hand in hand with our clients to accurately understand their needs and business priorities, and we feed this understanding directly into our product roadmap," said Jonathan Cherki, CEO and Founder of Contentsquare. "The events of the last year have not slowed us down - in fact, they have crystallized the value of analytics and made it more important than ever for teams to understand their customers and make the most of the digital opportunity." Other 2020 Contentsquare highlights include:

- The company grew its team from 580 to 740 in 2020, with 200+ people in R&D alone, continuing to add leaders to the executive bench with the hire of CMO Niki Hall and Global VP of Corporate Development Travis Burke - It expanded its operations within the APAC region, with the opening of offices in Singapore, Tokyo, Melbourne, and Sydney - It launched Atomic Labs Incubator + Accelerator program, to support the most innovative companies accelerate their growth utilising Contentsquare's network, technology and people - It launched its Experience Partner Ecosystem and completed +75 new technology integrations, including Microsoft (News - Alert) , Medallia, Qualtrics, Optimizely, Kibo (Monetate & Certona), Tealium, New Relic and Datadog - It launched 3 new products, Merchandising, CS Insights and Find & Fix, as part of a multi-product strategy, while enhancing its solution for Apps - To date, the company holds 11 issued patents and has another 26 pending applications, globally - It collected 200 Billion pageviews and 10,000 Billion interactions in 2020, across sites that processed $1.5Billion in transactions daily, in a year that saw the volume of digital traffic explode - It announced the creation of the Contentsquare Foundation, with a mission to expand the availability of accessibility technology to universities, schools and healthcare organizations - It partnered with the French Government Information Service (SIG) to help government teams optimize France's official Covid-19 info site - It was honored in Built In's 100 Best Places to Work NYC list, rewarding the company's investment in employee happiness and commitment to building a strong corporate culture. About Contentsquare

Contentsquare empowers brands to build better digital experiences. Our experience analytics platform tracks and visualizes billions of digital behaviors, delivering intelligent recommendations that everyone can use to grow revenue, increase loyalty and fuel innovation. Founded in Paris in 2012, Contentsquare has since opened offices in London, New York, San Francisco, Munich, Tel Aviv and Tokyo. Today, it helps more than 700 enterprises in 26 countries deliver better digital experiences for their customers. Visit contentsquare.com to find out more. 1 Predictive Analytics Market worth $21.5 billion by 2025 - Exclusive Report by MarketsandMarkets

2 What is a Good Net Promoter Score? (2020 NPS Benchmark) View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210211005562/en/

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POSCO may probably skip the Kadapa venture and the second steel plant it proposed on the vacant steel plant site, for which it had signed an MoU with the RINL in 2019. (Photo:PTI)

Visakhapatnam: Union Minister for Steel Dharmendra Pradhan stated on Wednesday that the South Korean steel giant POSCO has signed an MoU with Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd (RINL) in October 2019 for the setting up of a steel plant in Andhra Pradesh.

In a reply to a question from Rajya Sabha member V Vijaysai, the minister said the non-binding MoU has been signed in October 2019 between RINL and POSCO. Pursuant to the MoU, a joint working group was formed for exchange of information. The share-holding pattern has not been determined at this stage.

However, as per the MoU, POSCO wished to have at least 50 per cent share-holding. The share-holding of RINL would be worked out on the basis of evaluation of RINLs contribution of land for the setting up of the plant, the minister said.

POSCO may probably skip the Kadapa venture and the second steel plant it proposed on the vacant steel plant site, for which it had signed an MoU with the RINL in 2019.

Several changes in the POSCO plans would be seen in the next few months after the cabinet committee on economic affairs recently announced strategic sale of RINL, the flagship company of the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant.

Initially, on a request from the AP government, the Korean company evinced an interest in developing a greenfield steel plant with five million tonnes per annum capacity in Kadapa. Chief minister Jagan Mohan Reddy laid the foundation for the plant in Sunnapurallpalli village in Jammalamadugu mandal in Kadapa district on December 23, 2019. The government signed an MoU with NMDC for supply of ore.

The state government is still looking for investors after POSCO did not evince interest. Only land acquisition process is going on now, a source from Kadapa said.

When the company is getting 22,000 acres of land and Indias only shore-based steel plant on a platter, why should it go all the way to Kadapa or build a new plant in the RINL premises, Ch Narsinga Rao, state president of CITU, asked.

He said the whole state has been waiting to know who could be the final bidder for the RINL.

If it succeeds in taking over RINL, the Korean steelmaker will emerge the market leader and have access to the South East Asian markets besides catering to the domestic needs of special steel through rail and road, Rao said.

This is the second time POSCO is making a bid to build a steel plant in India. In 2005, it signed an MoU with the Odisha government but it had to abandon this due to a delay in getting the pollution control board approvals and there was stiff opposition from the local people. The MoU expired in 2010.
WASHINGTON - CLEO, the world-renowned conference for laser science and photonics applications, will be presented in an all-virtual format, 09 - 14 May 2021. This approach will accommodate speakers and attendees from across the globe with live and on-demand content. CLEO is co-sponsored by the American Physical Society, IEEE Photonics Society and The Optical Society (OSA).

The conference will feature over 2,000 technical presentations of invited and tutorial speakers and contributed talks, plus Special Symposia, Workshops, Applications & Technology Topical Reviews, Short Courses, special events and four distinguished plenary speakers. A virtual exhibition will include industry-focused sessions and companies showcasing market-ready technologies in all areas of lasers and photonics.

"The CLEO Conference has not only been at the forefront of excellence in optics and photonics research, but is also striving for inclusivity initiatives to encourage a more diverse audience," said Tara Fortier, one of the six CLEO General Chairs. "We recognize that the value of offering this innovative conference virtually is not just for participant safety, but also to promote greater accessibility for members of our global community. Improving broad and diverse participation is central to the vitality of our community as we continue to encourage students, early career professionals, researchers and business leaders to engage and exchange in CLEO's groundbreaking content."

The four plenary speakers, representing academia and industry, will address advancements in quantum information science and technologies, quantum computing and optical communications. The plenaries scheduled for Tuesday, 11 May and Wednesday, 12 May will be presented live with a recorded archive available later for on-demand viewing.

In his talk titled "From Quantum Foundations to Quantum Communications and Back," Nicolas Gisin, Professor Emeritus, University of Geneva, will describe the evolution of quantum information science from Bell inequalities to commercial Quantum Key Distribution and Quantum Random Number Generator chips. His talk will take place Tuesday, 11 May 2021.

Margaret Murnane, Director, STROBE, Fellow, JILA, Professor, University of Colorado at Boulder, USA will discuss advances in high harmonic light sources in her plenary presentation titled "Harnessing Attosecond Quantum Technologies." The ability to harness and control short wavelength light has generated powerful new tools for x-ray imaging, manipulating quantum materials and designing more efficient nanoscale devices. Murnane's talk is scheduled for Wednesday, 12 May.

The plenary talk titled "Silicon Photonic Quantum Computing," by Jeremy O'Brien, CEO, PsiQuantum, USA, will highlight the company's approach to fault tolerant quantum computing. PsiQuantum is poised to develop the world's first useful quantum computer using silicon photonic chips to process quantum information with single photons. His talk will take place Tuesday, 11 May.

Many applications of optical communications beyond conventional fiber systems are emerging that harness photonic technologies, especially using photonic-integrated-circuits. Alan Eli Willner, Professor, University of Southern California, USA, will explore advances with optical fiber technologies in his talk titled "Optical Communications: Innovations and Applications Abound."

CLEO's technical presentations cover the range of emerging technologies in laser science, quantum, biophotonics, telecommunications, advanced imaging and more. Monitor the CLEO website for the latest information on conference registration. Register in advance to receive the web link to access the conference.

###

About The Optical Society

Founded in 1916, The Optical Society (OSA) is the leading professional organization for scientists, engineers, students and business leaders who fuel discoveries, shape real-life applications and accelerate achievements in the science of light. Through world-renowned publications, meetings and membership initiatives, OSA provides quality research, inspired interactions and dedicated resources for its extensive global network of optics and photonics experts. For more information, visit osa.org.

Media Contact

mediarelations@osa.org
The invention of Covid-19 vaccines will be remembered as a medical milestone. But many scientists are also seeking a vaccine that could work against all coronaviruses.

Researchers are starting to develop prototypes of whats known as a pancoronavirus vaccine, with some promising early results. Eric Topol, a professor of molecular medicine at the Scripps Research Institute in San Diego, thinks scientists should join together in another large vaccine-creation project.

We have to get a real work force to accelerate this so we can have it this year, Dr. Topol said. He and Dennis Burton, a Scripps immunologist, called for this project on broad coronavirus vaccines on Monday in the journal Nature.

When coronaviruses were first identified in the 1960s, they did not become a high priority for vaccine makers. But in 2002, the coronavirus SARS-CoV emerged, causing a deadly pneumonia called severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS.
Amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), high-risk populations face the threat of developing severe symptoms. These include older adults and those with comorbidities, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, and hypertension.

Now, researchers at the University of Glasgow and the Manchester Metropolitan University in the U.K. report that adults with intellectual disabilities have a higher risk of being infected with SARS-CoV2. The team found that they are also more likely to develop worse outcomes once infected.

The study, published in the pre-print journal medRxiv*, aims to compare COVID-19 infection, severe infection, death, case-fatality, and excess deaths among adults with intellectual disabilities and those without.

Study background

The U.K. is one of the most affected countries due to the coronavirus pandemic. To date, over 3.99 million cases of COVID-19 have been reported in the country.

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines intellectual abilities as impairments in the social, adaptive, and intellectual functioning of a person. There is a global concern that adults with intellectual abilities may be at a heightened risk of COVID-19-related death, but the data is limited.

In the U.S., a study used private insurance claims between April and August 2020 and found that there was a higher COVID-19 case-fatality among people with intellectual disabilities compared to those without.

Another study looked at people with intellectual and developmental disabilities living in about half of New Yorks residential areas. The study showed that the SARS-CoV-2 infection rate is four times higher in these individuals, while the case-fatality rate almost doubled, and the mortality rate was 7.8 times higher.

The study

To shed light on this disparity, the team obtain a record of all adults with intellectual disabilities in Scotland and a 5 percent sample of other adults. They linked the record to COVID-19 test results, hospitalizations, and deaths.

Overall, the team gathered the data of over 17,000 adults with intellectual disabilities.

The study findings showed that compared with the general population, adults with intellectual disabilities were almost twice as likely to be infected with SARS-CoV-2; 2.3 times more likely to develop severe disease; and 2.3 times more likely to die from COVID-19.

Further, the team noted that these individuals had a 25 percent higher COVID-19 case fatality.

In terms of outcomes, people with intellectual disabilities had poorer or worse outcomes among non-elderly age-groups, particularly in people between 55 and 65 years old, males, and those living in less-deprived neighborhoods.

In a nutshell, the researchers concluded that in people under 65, those with intellectual disabilities have a higher risk of being infected with COVID-19, and had worse outcomes when they contract the virus, especially in those under 65 years old.

The team recommends non-pharmaceutical interventions to reduce transmission, particularly among those who care for these individuals. Lastly, they urge countries to include them in the priority list for vaccination, regardless of age.

Our findings are important also for policy-makers, clinicians, and public health physicians to make evidence-based decisions about targeting preventive measures such as shielding, surveillance strategies, criteria for testing, and prioritization for vaccination, the team noted in the paper.

*Important Notice

medRxiv publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or treated as established information.
A crestfallen Sofia Kenin exited the Australian Open in tears Thursday after a straight-sets defeat to Kaia Kanepi ended the world number four's maiden Grand Slam title defence.

The 22-year-old American has struggled to handle expectations in Melbourne and was no match for the in-form Estonian, who won 6-3, 6-2 in 64 minutes in the second round.

"I served really well and my game plan was to play aggressive," said Kanepi, who had 10 aces.

Kenin's return to the scene of her breakthrough Grand Slam title, when she beat Garbine Muguruza in the final, has proved tough after she lost to the Spaniard at last week's Yarra Valley Classic.

She later declared she was troubled by a left groin injury, which she said might have been attributed to the mandatory 14-day hotel quarantine on arrival in Australia.

Moscow-born Kenin has cut an emotional figure and also admitted to playing in tears throughout her first-round clash with Australian Maddison Inglis.

A strong-serving Kanepi proved a bad match-up for Kenin, who had 22 unforced errors and offered little resistance as her title defence ended with a whimper.

Kanepi, however, has been in strong form, finishing runner-up in the warm-up Gippsland Trophy followed by a straight-sets victory over Latvia's Anastasija Sevastova in the Open's first round.

The 35-year-old plays 28th seed Donna Vekic of Croatia next.

tl/mp/th

The Egyptian State Council and the Council of the European Commission for the Efficiency of Justice (CEPEJ) held a virtual roundtable discussion on Thursday on the management system of digital information panels in courts.

The meeting was attended by the chairperson of the State Council, Counsellor Mohamed Mahmoud Hossam El-Din, European Union mission representatives in Cairo, and the secretary-general of the CEPEJ, among others.

The gathering tackled the functions of the digital information panel system in courts in analysing data, statistics and performance indicators, according to a statement by the State Council.

They also touched upon the system's role in assisting decision-makers to find out what the courts need in terms of development, whether at the administrative or technical levels.

Counsellor Hossam El-Din reiterated the significance of continued work to develop tools that help facilitate litigation measures and reduce the time consumed.

He added that the move aims to provide a "befitting and organised" environment for judges to distance them from administrative and logistical complications and allow them to perform their duties.

Also, the new system aims to help ensure the rights of citizens in an easy and quick manner, the statement added.

The roundtable comes within the framework of the cooperation between the State Council and the CEPEJ to exchange knowledge and experience.

Short link:


Its been difficult to track the evolutionary changes of the brain along the way. Our own lineage split from that of Neanderthals and Denisovans about 600,000 years ago. After that split, fossils show, our brains eventually grew more rounded. But what that means for the 80 billion neurons inside has been hard to know.

Dr. Muotri and Dr. Semendeferi teamed up with evolutionary biologists who study fossilized DNA. Those researchers have been able to reconstruct the entire genome of Neanderthals by piecing together genetic fragments from their bones. Other fossils have yielded genomes of the Denisovans, who split off from Neanderthals 400,000 years ago and lived for thousands of generations in Asia.

The evolutionary biologists identified 61 genes that may have played a crucial role in the evolution of modern humans. Each of those genes has a mutation thats unique to our species, arising some time in the last 600,000 years, and likely had a major impact on the proteins encoded by these genes.

Dr. Muotri and his colleagues wondered what would happen to a brain organoid if they took out one of those mutations, changing a gene back to the way it was in our distant ancestors genomes. The difference between an ancestral organoid and an ordinary one might offer clues to how the mutation influenced our evolution.

It took years for the scientists to get the experiment off the ground, however. They struggled to find a way to precisely alter genes in stem cells before coaxing them to turn into organoids.

Once they had figured out a successful method, they had to choose a gene. The scientists worried that they might pick a gene for their first experiment that would do nothing to the organoid. They mulled how to increase their odds of success.
Vietnam reported 49 local coronavirus infections on Thursday, when the Ministry of Health also confirmed 51 recoveries.

Forty-two of the new cases were registered in Hai Duong Province, the countrys current hotbed, five in Quang Ninh Province, one in Gia Lai Province, and one in Hanoi.

Vietnam had spent nearly two months detecting zero local infections before the virus re-emerged on January 28, when the country announced the first two cases.

Five hundred and fifty-three domestic cases have been recorded in 13 provinces and cities since then, including 383 in Hai Duong Province, 59 in Quang Ninh Province, 29 in Hanoi, and 34 in Ho Chi Minh City.

Medical experts linked most of the 34 cases in Ho Chi Minh City to Tan Son Nhat International Airport although they did not know the primary source of transmission.

Authorities have shut down non-essential services like bars, clubs, and karaoke parlors in several provinces and cities, including Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh, to curb COVID-19 transmission.

They have canceled fireworks displays to prevent large gatherings.

Local residents are told to wear face masks in public, wash hands, keep safe distance, avoid crowds, and declare health status.

Vietnamese are celebrating the Lunar New Year festival, the countrys biggest, when family reunions and crowded events are the norm.

Vietnam has documented 2,140 coronavirus patients, including 1,246 locally-transmitted infections, as of Thursday night, according to the Ministry of Health.

The health ministry confirmed 51 recoveries on Thursday, taking the total number of recovered patients to 1,531.

Thirty-five patients have died of the pathogen, most having suffered chronic underlying medical conditions.

At the time of writing, more than 115,000 people are being quarantined in Vietnam after coming into contact with infected patients or entering the Southeast Asian country from virus-struck regions.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!

We are a nation of laws, including one prohibiting insurrection. A citizen charged with and arrested for the crime of inciting insurrection (a felony) in Washington, D.C. would be tried under Title 18 of the U.S. code, with insurrection punishable by a fine, a maximum sentence of ten years in prison, or both.

A sitting president can't be arrested for the crime of inciting insurrection; he can't be incarcerated and tried for any crime whatsoever, under a longstanding legal precedent against indicting a sitting president. Rather, he is charged (impeached) in the House, should our representatives want to remove him from office, and tried in the Senate, where he faces the punishment of removal from office only (no fine or jail sentence).

While some people were dying to see President Trump arrested and incarcerated, forget impeached and removed from office, that's not how things work in America. A president is protected from arrest and incarceration: the U.S. Department of Justice has long held that arrest and incarceration "would essentially incapacitate the executive branch, undermining its ability to 'perform its constitutionally assigned functions.'" Protecting a president makes perfect sense.

The House impeached Trump (Jan. 13) for inciting an insurrection (Jan. 6), though he left office (Jan. 20), removed by the Electoral College, following the destruction of election security measures by clever Democrat party lawyers able to bypass state legislatures in battleground states. If the prosecution did not do a good job of proving their case yesterday (Feb. 10), if their argument, their evidence for inciting insurrection, was nonexistent, and it was, it wasn't for lack of trying.

The problem for the prosecution is that Trump has a strong argument that the words he spoke on Jan. 6  listen to them  are protected under the First Amendment, as are the words of Maxine Waters, Chuck Schumer, AOC, etc., on other occasions, though it's not cool telling your supporters to confront Trump-supporters at the gasoline station, and saying "I will go and take Trump out tonight" is borderline criminal.

Words that incite insurrection aren't protected by the First Amendment. Words that don't are. Listen to Trump's words. Saying "the election was stolen" is engaging in free speech, as is inviting people to "peacefully and patriotically protest" at the Capitol. And even if some of the "stupidest people" in the history of American politics (Mark Levin's words) convince more than half the Senate to think that "the election was stolen" or that "peacefully and patriotically protest" is inciting insurrection  how's that for un-American?  shame on them, but it doesn't matter: it's looking as though at least 34 Republicans will do the right thing and vote for Trump's acquittal, in defense of the liberal ideals of Tolerance and Freedom. T and F will live to fight another day, protected for the time being by those who love America.

Democrats, be nice to any Republicans you might see at the "gasoline station." And vice versa. Gentlemen, help the ladies at the pump. Leftists, take a hike.

Photo credit: YouTube screen grab.
Libby Squire's body was discovered in the Humber estuary almost seven weeks after she was reported missing on February 1, 2019

She had long dark hair, a smile that lit up a room, a boyfriend who adored her and a loving family. Clever and compassionate, Libby Squire's future brimmed with promise.

Then, in January 2019, she seemingly vanished. It was seven weeks before the decomposed body of the 21-year-old Hull University student was discovered in the Humber estuary, her gold necklace bearing the letter L still around her neck.

It would be another seven months before a man would be charged with her rape and murder.

That man was Pawel Relowicz. Yesterday, more than two years after her disappearance, a jury at Sheffield Crown Court finally convicted the Polish butcher of both crimes.

On the night she disappeared, Relowicz, 26, a married father of two who had carried out a string of other sexually-motivated crimes in the months leading up to his attack on Libby, had been searching for women to prey on.

When he spotted the philosophy undergraduate  distressed and vulnerable  he lured her into his car and drove her to a nearby park, where he raped her before dragging her body to the freezing water of the River Hull that bordered the playing field.

How utterly gruelling his 18-day trial must have been for Libby's distraught parents, mother Lisa, 50  a nurse so close to her daughter she described their relationship as 'almost as one'  and father Russell, 55.

That Relowicz, impassive on hearing the verdict in court yesterday and due to be sentenced today, lied consistently about his whereabouts and intentions on the night in question, can only have made their grief harder to bear.

'As a family, today's verdict changes nothing for us,' said Lisa, dressed in black and speaking outside court yesterday. 'There is no closure, we don't get to have Libby back, our lives don't revert back to normal.'

So what happened on the fateful night that Libby died? And why did it take so long for her killer to be held to account?

Relowicz persistently claimed he had been trying to help Libby, who had been turned away from a nightclub for being too drunk on the night of January 31 and was trying to get home.

At first, his Good Samaritan act seemed plausible. Clean-shaven, bespectacled and brought up by a devoutly Catholic mother, he had moved to the UK from Poland eight years ago to build a better life, and had just become a father for the second time.

On Facebook he proudly posted a picture of himself with his pretty blonde wife, who he married in 2018, wearing scrubs and an expression of pride as she cradled their newborn son.

'My son and wife bring me the greatest happiness, I don't need anyone else in life,' he wrote.

That he could have had any involvement in Libby's disappearance was greeted with incredulity by those who knew him.

His mother  who said she would 'rather die than know he is guilty'  described him as a 'kind and loving' man, while his elder sister insisted he had been raised to be 'good' and 'hard-working'.

Relowicz (pictured left and right) picked Libby up just off Hull's Beverley Road at around midnight on January 31, 2019

A colleague at Karro Food group, where he worked in the bacon factory in Malton, North Yorks, recalled a 'quiet, normal person'.

However, a neighbour on Hull's Raglan Street, where the family rented a two-bedroom terraced home, added: 'He was constantly shouting at her. He treated her like a dog.'

Nonetheless, according to her friend, she had 'no idea' of the depths her husband, with whom she also had a four-year-old, could plummet.

With no prior convictions to make him known to police, even they were unaware that Relowicz was behind a string of sexually-motivated crimes until they arrested him in February 2019 in connection with Libby's disappearance.

Footage from CCTV and security cameras had led them to track the car they believed Libby had climbed into on the night she died.

When police began investigating his background, it emerged he had broken into homes in his largely student area of Hull to steal intimate items, secretly watched people having sex and committed indecent acts in public, during what a judge described as a 'campaign of sexually deviant criminality' that left his victims traumatised.

That August  as police continued to investigate him in connection with Libby's disappearance  Relowicz pleaded guilty to nine offences, including three counts of burglary, one of voyeurism and one of outraging public decency.

He was sentenced to eight and a half years at Sheffield Crown Court  reduced on appeal to five years and eight months.

That Libby's path should cross with his that freezing January night was the result of calculated planning on his part.

A second year student living with three other girls, grammar school-educated Libby was a hard worker and, her mother says, possessed of a 'wicked sense of humour'.

But her earlier years had not always been easy. The eldest of four siblings, Libby, who grew up in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, had developed the eating disorder bulimia aged 13 and began to self-harm at around the same time, cutting herself on her legs, arms and chest, causing scars that remained long after she conquered her illness.

Supporting Libby during this dark time brought Lisa closer to her daughter.

'I would help her clean herself up, dress her wounds and would always make sure she had antiseptic wipes and plasters,' she told the court, her anguish hauntingly prescient of the despair to come. 'I always worried about Libby and often feared that one day I would find her dead in her bedroom.'

Aged 15, Libby was referred to her local community adolescence mental health service (CAMHS). Around this time, she met her boyfriend, Connor Pye, on a night out.

Beguiled by what he described as her 'meticulous, caring and methodical' personality, Connor told the court: 'She was like a closed book and this made her very interesting.' With Connor by her side, Libby became more resilient, and their six-year relationship, conducted long-distance after she moved to Hull, grew stronger.

'There was not a minute of a day that we were not in contact,' Connor said in a statement read to court. 'Even when she was in lectures and I was in work.'

Connor, who had messaged Libby to say he loved her just an hour before she disappeared, added: 'We had plans to be with each other for the rest of our lives. We talked about marriage, children, when she finished university.'

So, having fought back from a period of poor mental health during her teenage years Libby was, as Lisa put it, in 'the best place in her life she had ever been'.

She had spent the evening of January 31 drinking rose wine at a friend's house before they left for a night out at student club The Welly. At 11.20pm, after being turned away for being intoxicated, her friends put her in a taxi.

Instead of letting herself into her home on Wellesley Avenue, however, she staggered down the street in the opposite direction, towards Beverley Road. Several witnesses who saw her over the next half-hour recall her sobbing, stumbling and unwilling to accept offers of help.

Her denim mini skirt and faux leather jacket offered little protection against the -3C chill  and in court it was claimed hypothermia had further hindered her capacity for rational thought.

By the time Relowicz laid eyes on her, on Beverley Road at around midnight, she had dropped her keys. With no mobile phone  she had left it at home  she could scarcely have been more vulnerable.

CCTV captured Libby getting into the passenger seat of Relowicz's Vauxhall Astra, before he drove his victim to a nearby park, Oak Road Playing Fields.

Libby's mother Lisa spoke outside court alongside her husband Russell Squire

CCTV captured Relowicz scouting the area earlier in the evening, footage which was played to court. As the prosecution said, he knew 'that this was a quiet dark place where he was unlikely to be disturbed'.

In the minutes that followed, a witness who lives on the edge of the fields heard loud female screams.

He then saw a man run from the river and back to the road. Libby was never seen again. At 2.25am, Relowicz returned to the fields  either to dispose of Libby's body or to ensure he had left no evidence of his crime.

He changed his clothes and the next morning, a neighbour spotted him cleaning his car.

As the search for Libby began, and her distraught mother spoke of her 'utter heartbreak', Relowicz was identified from his Vauxhall picked up on CCTV, and arrested on February 6.

But three days later, he was released pending further inquiries.

It was only when Libby's body was found and the post mortem carried out that sperm cells yielding DNA that matched Relowicz were detected and police had enough evidence to re-arrest him.

By the time Relowicz was charged with Libby's murder that October, he was already in prison for his earlier crimes, details of which were permitted as evidence in court to provide 'context' to his claims that he had been trying to help Libby.

The jury learned his sickening spree had begun in July 2017, when he watched a 23-year-old student having sex with her boyfriend in her bedroom, running away only when she screamed.

Later that night, the student's housemate came home to find a used condom and lacy thong on the front door handle  the first of several obscene calling cards Relowicz left at the scene.

The woman says she became an 'emotional wreck' afterwards.

A week later Relowicz  who watched pornography online before telling his wife he was going out 'running'  had broken into another woman's house, where he left an unwrapped condom near a child's toy, later returning to watch her dancing in the lounge in a bra and leggings.

On another occasion, he broke into a house and watched a naked student drying herself after a shower. After the woman got into bed, she saw a man's face at the window 'staring right at me'. She said: 'I froze, I was so scared.'

Other young women reported Relowicz for committing a sex act on the street in front of them, and on January 26, 2019  just five days before Libby disappeared  he broke into a shared student house through an unlocked window and stole vibrators, condoms, a sex game dice and photographs.

They were discovered in a pink holdall in his car after his arrest, along with several items of women's underwear.

Relowicz insisted sex with Libby had been consensual and that he had left her alive.

His defence argued Libby had wandered off to the river as a 'cry for help' and claimed her mental health troubles had somehow caused her death. But nobody who knew Libby believed her remotely suicidal on the night she died.

Relowicz's mother Marzena said last night that her son had phoned her following the verdicts and 'cried like a little baby' and told her they 'wronged' him.

'I believe him because I know him,' she said. 'Something isn't right there.'

The post mortem could not determine a cause of death, with any potential evidence on Libby's body washed away after weeks underwater. But, as prosecutor Richard Wright QC reminded the jury, 'it is not necessary to demonstrate any particular mechanism of death in this, or indeed in any other case of murder.'

That Libby would have wandered off towards the River Hull after midnight, when she was not only so frightened of water she'd avoid the swimming pool on family holidays but was also scared of the dark, was as inconceivable as her trying to end her life, her mother said.

'I know she would never voluntarily put herself in water, especially moving water, as she would be too terrified,' said Lisa, who added: 'She would never go anywhere in the dark.'

She said of her daughter: 'Libby will always be with us and we are all so proud of our beautiful, caring, wonderful girl. And, although she has been physically taken from us, the memories we have and the love we share will never be taken.'

Detective Superintendent Martin Smalley, who led the Humberside Police inquiry, said it was the most challenging and emotional case of his 30-year career.

He said he wanted to 'wholeheartedly commend Libby's family for their incredible strength throughout the entire investigation and trial', adding: 'I can't comprehend how they must have felt over these past two years.'

In her statement read out to court, Lisa said that during her daughter's earlier teenage years, her mental health was so poor that Lisa 'never really thought I would have Libby for the rest of my life'.

What a bitter irony that Libby successfully fought her demons, only to have the happiness she had finally found cruelly eliminated by the murderous intentions of a truly twisted individual.
[February 11, 2021] Ivanti Announces Erik Randles as New SVP, Global Channels and Alliances

Ivanti, Inc., the automation platform that makes every IT connection smarter and more secure, today announced the appointment of Erik Randles, the company's new senior vice president of global channels and alliances. In his new role, Randles will focus on growing Ivanti's relationships and business with partners, developing a global integrated partner ecosystem in support of Ivanti's hyper-growth strategy. Randles will also launch Ivanti's global partner program later this year. "We're committed to developing an exciting growth-oriented program for our partners as we jointly serve the market. The end goal of our partner program is to drive simplicity, predictability, and profitability as we deliver business value via software and services to our customers," said Jeff Abbott, president of Ivanti. "The Ivanti team is honored to have Erik join our pursuit of building a larger and more capable partner ecosystem. I'm confident that Erik's extensive experience will enhance all that we do with our existing and future network." With over 20 years of experience leading global business development, alliances and channel partner sales programs at both public and private companies, Randles brings with him a distinguished skillset to expand Ivanti's global partner network. He has a proven track-record of success building trusted relationships with partners and developing programs that multiply partner revenue growth at leading technology companies. Randles joins Ivanti from VMware, where he led global business development and alliances for VMware's cloud management SaaS (News - Alert) business. Prior to VMware, Randles led partner organizations at several large public and hyper-growth private companies, including Helett-Packard Enterprise SimpliVity, Symantec (News - Alert) and Veritas.



"Ivanti understands the new and complex IT and security challenges that enterprises are facing today with managing and securing a globally distributed workforce and has developed a unique portfolio of integrated solutions that make the everywhere workplace possible," said Randles. "Our partners play an important role helping our customers achieve their business objectives. I am looking forward to leading a global program that will enable partners to deliver more value to customers and efficiently grow their business with Ivanti." "We are delighted to have the opportunity to work with Erik and his new team at Ivanti as we collaborate on realizing the significant opportunity represented by our partnership," said Rene Klein, senior vice president of Westcon Europe. "We believe the combination of Ivanti's advanced security and service management solutions with our established partner community and digital distribution capabilities can drive sustained growth and profitability for the channel as it addresses the needs of the evolving hybrid workplace."

"As a key strategic partner with Ivanti, we are invested in their products and people and Erik is a welcome addition to the team," said Nathan George, president at Flycast Partners, Inc. "Erik brings a great deal of partner experience to the table and is uniquely qualified to ensure that Ivanti's partners continue to be a key component of Ivanti's strategy. We look forward to great things from Erik!" Randles will host the Ivanti 2021 Q1 virtual channel summit, where he will share more about Ivanti's partner vision and programs. To learn more about Ivanti's global partners, visit here. About Ivanti The Ivanti automation platform makes every IT connection smarter and more secure across devices, infrastructure and people. From PCs and mobile devices to virtual desktop infrastructure and the data center, Ivanti discovers, manages, secures and services IT assets from cloud to edge in the everywhere enterprise -- while delivering personalized employee experiences. In the everywhere enterprise, corporate data flows freely across devices and servers, empowering workers to be productive wherever and however they work. Ivanti is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah and has offices all over the world. For more information, visit www.ivanti.com and follow @GoIvanti. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210211005064/en/

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Neymar's Champions League knockout round curse could continue to hang over him this season, as the Brazilian was forced off injured on Wednesday evening.

Paris Saint-Germain faced Caen on Wednesday and Neymar was withdrawn early.

PSG take on Barcelona in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on Tuesday, February 16 at the Camp Nou.
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Fujitsu Selected to Deliver New 10 Petaflop Supercomputer for World-Class Research Capabilities in Portugal

News facts:

New supercomputer at Minho Advanced Computing Centre, Portugal, will support advanced scientific research and creation of collaborative links with key technology partners

Part of the EUs European High-Performance Computing initiative to create world-class HPC capabilities across Europe by extending petascale supercomputing across the continent

Fujitsu supplying FUJITSU supercomputer PRIMEHPC FX700 with Fujitsu A64FX processor. The technology is used in supercomputer Fugaku, which was jointly developed by RIKEN and FUJITSU, and recently retained No. 1 position in the TOP500 list of fastest supercomputers

Munich, February 11, 2021

Fujitsu has been selected as the prime contractor1 to deliver a new supercomputer as part of a drive by the European Union and the Portuguese government to develop world-class high-performance computing (HPC) capabilities for academic and business researchers.

The new system, named Deucalion after the mythological Greek figure, will be installed at the Minho Advanced Computing Centre (MACC) in Portugal. Funding comes from the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking and the Portuguese Governments Science and Technology Foundation (FCT)2. The EuroHPC program aims to boost innovation and competitiveness in the EU with the Europe-wide availability3 of petascale supercomputing  defined as any computer capable of executing more than one Petaflop, or 1 million billion calculations per second.

The supercomputer will support advanced scientific research in public and business sector applications, including personalized medicine, bio-engineering, weather forecasting, the fight against climate change, and in discovering new materials and drugs. This robust and industry-leading technology will also contribute to the fields of Artificial Intelligence and Big Data Utilization, which will play a vital role in the digitalization of Portugal and Europe as a whole.

In a contract valued at 20 million, Fujitsu will supply MACC with its FUJITSU Supercomputer PRIMEHPC FX700, which incorporates the new Arm-based Fujitsu A64FX processor. This processor is powering vital areas of new research and is the core technology used in supercomputer Fugaku4 which was jointly developed by Japan's leading research institute RIKEN and Fujitsu. Fugaku recently retained its No. 1 position in the TOP500 list of the worlds fastest supercomputers. The Fujitsu A64FX processor offers exceptional energy efficiency whilst maintaining compliance with the Arm v8.2-A Scalable Vector Extension (SVE), the Arm instruction set for high-performance servers.

In a public tender process, EuroHPC and FCT selected Fujitsu due to its HPC technology leadership, specialized consulting and advisory services for HPC customers, and its proven ability to work within the ecosystem of suppliers necessary for successful HPC projects. Fujitsu is partnering with other leading vendors to supply the total solution, including ATOS (x86 systems), DDN (storage), and Mellanox (interconnect). Fujitsu along with Fujitsu Laboratories will leverage decades of expertise in the HPC business to build and perform system integration.

New supercomputer helps create Portuguese knowledge ecosystem for research teams

For Portugal, hosting a petascale HPC system is the first and most important step towards collaboration with key technology partners. The goal is to create a new ecosystem of knowledge for Portuguese academic and industrial research teams. MACC will play a pivotal role in the countrys national research landscape, with this supercomputer at the centerpiece.

Helena Pereira, President of FCT, says: In addition to an x86 platform, we wanted to push the boundaries of research using the energy-efficient Arm processors. The Fujitsu A64FX is an excellent choice, being the first genuinely HPC-enabled Arm processor with the SVE capability. Having a petascale supercomputer located in Portugal will transform researchers ability to access the computing power they need to push their work to the limit. With Fujitsus PRIMEHPC FX700 supercomputer technology, we will be at the forefront of global compute capability for research projects. While power and speed are important, undertaking a technology project on this scale also requires trust across all the partners. Fujitsu has invested the time to work with us, build relationships and understand our precise requirements.

Carlos Barros, Managing Director at Fujitsu Portugal, comments: The new Fujitsu A64FX platform offers customers an exceptionally high-performance computing experience combined with optimal operational and environmental conditions. We are delighted that MACC will be one of the first European customers to experience the benefits this platform can deliver. The project aims to deliver truly world-class computing for researchers in Portugal, and Fujitsu, along with its partners, is excited to be working in close collaboration with MACC in the drive to extend access to the highest levels of HPC in the EU.

High-performance computing is one of the ultimate team games, and success depends on forming strong partnerships. In this respect, Fujitsu works tirelessly to create a culture where partnerships are understood and valued. As a result, we have a long history of collaboration that puts co-creation at the top of the agenda. The MACC project is the latest success story that envelops this collaborative mentality.

Notes to editors 1Following a competitive tender process, Fujitsu was selected to provide the Acquisition, Delivery, Installation and Hardware and Software Maintenance of (a) High-Performance Computing Petascale Supercomputer. 2Fundacao para Ciencia e Tecnologia, a public institution. 3The new supercomputer is one of eight being funded by the EU as part of EuroHPC JU. The programs objective is to foster better science and enhance innovation in Europe by providing access to leading-edge HPC infrastructures and services to a wide range of users from the research and scientific community and the industry and the public sector. It aims to equip the EU by 2021 with an infrastructure of petascale and precursors to exascale supercomputers and develop the necessary technologies and applications to reach full exascale capabilities around 2022/2023. Four more petascale supercomputers will be built in European supercomputing centers: Sofiatech, Bulgaria

IT4Innovations National Supercomputing Center, Czech Republic

Luxprovide, Luxembourg

IZUM, Slovenia These five European petascale supercomputers will soon be complemented by three world-class precursors to exascale supercomputers. 4Supercomputer Fugaku ranked first in the TOP500 list of June 2020, having achieved a LINPACK performance of 415.53 PFLOPS (petaflops) with a computing efficiency ratio of 80.87%. In November 2020, this system retained its No 1 position with an improved LINPACK performance of 442.01 PFLOPS and a computing efficiency ratio of 82.3%. Fugakus peak performance is approximately 3 times that of the supercomputer ranked second in the same TOP500 list.

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For regular news updates, bookmark the Fujitsu newsroom: https://www.fujitsu.com/emeia/about/resources/news/newsroom.html

About Fujitsu Fujitsu is the leading Japanese information and communication technology (ICT) company offering a full range of technology products, solutions and services. Approximately 130,000 Fujitsu people support customers in more than 100 countries. We use our experience and the power of ICT to shape the future of society with our customers. Fujitsu Limited (TSE:6702) reported consolidated revenues of 3.9 trillion yen (US$35 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2020. For more information, please see Fujitsu is the leading Japanese information and communication technology (ICT) company offering a full range of technology products, solutions and services. Approximately 130,000 Fujitsu people support customers in more than 100 countries. We use our experience and the power of ICT to shape the future of society with our customers. Fujitsu Limited (TSE:6702) reported consolidated revenues of 3.9 trillion yen (US$35 billion) for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2020. For more information, please see www.fujitsu.com

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All other company or product names mentioned herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. Information provided in this press release is accurate at time of publication and is subject to change without advance notice.





Date: February 11, 2021

City: Munich
NEW YORK, Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In these challenging times, Metropolis wants to help students find work in this profession and design firms recruit their next superstar architect or designer. Its inaugural Future100 program was conceived as a connector of top, diverse talent with leading design firms.

In 2021, Metropolis is designating the top 100 graduating students (undergraduate and graduate programs) from the best architecture and interior design schools in the United States and Canada. Students were recently notified of their honor and Metropolis will publish the list in the March/April issue and feature it on metropolismag.com/future100 in April.

A call for submissions took place in the Fall of 2020. In response to the low representation of BIPOC professionals throughout the architecture and design industry, Metropolis actively encouraged the inclusion of students from underrepresented groups. Metropolis received a diverse pool of nearly 300 candidates who were nominated by their professor or a professional in the industry. Metropolis vetted nominees based on creativity, rigor, skill and professionalism with the result being 50 architecture and 50 interior design talents who have worked on workplace, hospitality, healthcare, retail, residential, and outdoor projects or completed research projects in sustainability, inclusivity, and technology. The Future100 is a diverse group that represents the industry of tomorrow with 75 of the list female, 1 in 3 BIPOC, and 20% identifying as LGBTQ+.

The Future100 will be graduating from 50 leading architecture and interior design schools, including Columbia University, Cornell, Harvard, Rice University, University of Pennsylvania, Auburn, Kent State University, Pratt, Savannah College of Art and Design, Texas Tech University, and Virginia Tech, among others.

In the announcement letter to the recipients of this honor, Avi Rajagopal, Editor in Chief of Metropolis wrote, "We were blown away by the quality of work you and your peers submitted and we feel that you represent a bright future for our industryone of beautiful, thoughtful, innovate, sustainable, and inclusive design."

One of the Future100 winners, Hannah Koch, an interior design and architecture student from the University of Minnesota posted on LinkedIn, "After what has been a tumultuous year for so many, including navigating the last year of my degree virtually due to COVID-19, I am pleased to announce that I have been selected as one of Metropolis Top 100 Future Designers for 2021I look forward to what life after graduation presents me."

The Future100 Class of 2021, is sponsored by CannonDesign, a global architecture, engineering and consulting practice and NELSON Worldwide, an architecture, interior design, and brand strategy firm. This program is in partnership with Interface, a global manufacturer of commercial flooring with a commitment to restoring the planet and creating a climate fit for life and working with the next generation in doing so.

Metropolis' Future100 is a unique program to spot the next generation of talent who will provide more equal representation for the work being generated across the country and around the world. The whole industry will want to see this next crop of architecture and interior design talent and their new vision for spaces, their breakthrough concepts in sustainability and wellness, and how they tackle the challenges of tomorrow.

About Metropolis:

Metropolis is the architecture and design industry's most compelling content creator/ storyteller, tackling the biggest challenges and opportunities in the industry, including sustainability, technology, and social impact. Audiences come to Metropolis to go behind the scenes, understand breakthrough ideas, and stay ahead of the curve. Primary content areas are print publications, digital platforms, and event series. Metropolis is part of the SANDOW Design Group along with Interior Design, Luxe Interiors + Design, DesignTV by SANDOW, ThinkLab, MediaJet, and NYCxDESIGN.

SOURCE Metropolis Magazine
GLEN CARBON  One of outgoing Mayor Robert Jackstadts final duties may be to select a new village trustee.

During Tuesdays village board meeting, Jackstadt read a letter from trustee Susan Jensen, who has stepped down.

Mayor, on Feb. 1, I was appointed to the position of Assistant States Attorney, Madison County, by States Attorney, Thomas Haine. According to Illinois Case Law, this results in my resignation as trustee for Glen Carbon as of that same date.

I regret that I can no longer represent the citizens of Glen Carbon and work to make our community a better place to live along with you, the other trustees and the amazing personnel of the village. It was an honor and a privilege. Best of luck to all of you, Susan W. Jensen.

With an open seat on the board, Village Attorney Jim Schrempf advised Jackstadt that he has 60 days from Feb. 1 to fill the post. Jackstadt is not running in the April 6 election. Whoever he chooses will serve out the remainder of Jensens term, which expires in April 2023.

Jensen was elected to the board in April 2019 with fellow board members Mark Foley and Bob Marcus. They succeeded outgoing trustees Steve Slemer and Micah Summers.

The appointment is a return to form for Jensen. According to a Dec. 2019 Telegraph article, she was fired from the Madison County States Attorneys Office in December 2017 after submitting what she called a routine order to dismiss charges stemming from a 2014 incident. The subject of the order had been a witness in another case.

Jensen ran for the states attorney job in the March 2020 primary but lost to Haine.

I feel that the people of Madison County deserve an experienced person to run this very important office, Jensen said in her Facebook statement during her primary run. I was a prosecutor for almost 40 years, working in all departments through those years. I was first assistant for 10 years under Bill Haine. I believe that I earned the respect of the police departments and attorneys with whom I worked with and against, the judges I appeared before and the citizens of this county for my integrity, ability, work ethic and the respect I gave to them.

Reach reporter Charles Bolinger at 618-659-5735
The consortium of Kalrock Capital and Murari Lal Jalan is confident of getting the nod for its plan to revive and is not backing out of the resolution process, it said on Thursday.

The two parties issued a joint statement amid delays in approval of resolution plan and speculation of their exit.

In the joint statement, Jalan and Manoj Madnani, board member of Kalrock Capital, said, The Jalan-Kalrock Consortium is committed towards their submitted resolution plan and for the revival of and have no intentions of withdrawing from the ongoing resolution process. The consortium has faith in the Indian judicial system and is confident that their plan would be approved by the adjudicating authority as is, and at the earliest.



The plan submitted by the consortium takes care of all the stakeholders of Jet Airways, including its financial and operational creditors, it added.

According to the plan, the consortium wants to restart as a full service airline with bases in Mumbai, Delhi, and Bengaluru and operate international flights to Europe and West Asia.

Last October the committee of creditors (CoC) approved the consortiums resolution plan, which was then submitted to the National Company Law Tribunal in November. The group had hoped to start operations from summer of 2021 and began talks with aircraft manufacturers and lessors.

However, the plan is yet to receive approval and employee unions have moved the tribunal seeking a copy. The is expected to pass an order on February 22.

There has been unease among Jet employees over the time taken to decide the matter, but lawyers handling insolvency cases say there was nothing unusual in this, considering infrastructure constraints. matters are being heard virtually since the easing of the lockdown.

Creditors, too, have expressed frustration as delay in approval would lead to further devaluation of assets.

Earlier in the month, the CoC had filed an appeal in the National Company Law Appellate Tribunal seeking direction for expeditious hearing of the resolution plan, but it did not get relief.

Kalrock is a financial advisory and asset management company focused on real estate, venture capital and special situations. The firm has partnered with Dubai-based Jalan, who has investments in diverse sectors like real estate, mining, trading, FMCG, across various countries like the UAE, India, Russia, and Uzbekistan.

Variants of nine genes increase the risk of developing Addison's disease, a rare disease in which the immune system attacks the adrenal glands. That is according to the largest genetic study to date on patients with Addison's disease. The findings help increase knowledge about what causes the disease. The study was conducted by researchers at Karolinska Institutet, Sweden, and Bergen University, Norway, and is published in the journal Nature Communications.

"By studying the single largest collection of samples from patients with Addison's disease, we've been able to carry out the first genetic study of the disease that spans the entire human genome," says Daniel Eriksson, doctor and researcher in the experimental endocrinology group at the Department of Medicine, Solna, Karolinska Institutet, who has led the study with doctoral student Maribel Aranda and docent Sophie Bensing at the Swedish Addison Registry. "It shows that variants of nine genes, many of which are central to our immune system, induce a higher risk of developing the disease."

In Sweden, roughly one in 100,000 people develops Addison's disease every year. The disease is autoimmune, meaning the immune system attacks organs and tissues, in this case the cortex of the adrenal glands, which secretes essential hormones such as cortisol and aldosterone. Given that disrupted production of these hormones can be fatal, a swift diagnosis is life-saving.

Why some people develop Addison's disease is unknown, and since the disease is rare, it has been difficult to conduct large-scale genetic studies.

For the current study, the researchers recruited a large number of patients from the Swedish and Norwegian Addison registries. DNA was isolated from more than 1,200 people with autoimmune Addison's disease and more than 4,000 healthy geographically matched individuals as the control group. They then analysed almost 7 million gene variants and found several that were significantly more common in people with Addison's disease.

Several of these variants have previously been associated with autoimmune diseases, but in one gene, the so-called AIRE gene, these variants could be specifically linked to Addison's disease. The AIRE gene is essential to the ability of T cells, an important type of blood cell in the immune system, to learn to tolerate endogenous proteins.

Compared with healthy controls, the AIRE gene, in people with Addison's disease, more often produce an AIRE protein with an additional cysteine, an amino acid that can affect the protein's function, structure and ability to bind zinc ions.

"Many autoimmune diseases have several features in common when it comes to genetic predispositions that govern the function of the immune system, but in this study we also identified distinctive genetic associations that are unique to Addison's disease," Eriksson says. "This is a step forward in our understanding of its pathogenesis."

###

The study was supported by grants from several bodies, including the Swedish Research Council, the K.G. Jebsen Center for Autoimmune Diseases in Bergen, the Torsten and Ragnar Soderberg Foundations, the Swedish Society for Medical Research (SSMF), the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation, the Novo Nordisk Foundation and Region Stockholm.

Publication: "GWAS for autoimmune Addison's disease identifies multiple risk loci and highlights AIRE in disease susceptibility," Daniel Eriksson, Ellen Christine Ryrvik, Maribel Aranda-Guillen, Amund Holte Berger, Nils Landegren, Haydee Artaza Alvarez, Asa Hallgren, Marianne Grytaas, Sara Strom, Eirik Bratland, Ileana Botusan, Bergithe Eikeland Oftedal, Lars Breivik, Marc Vaudel, yvind Helgeland, Alberto Falorni, Anders P. Jrgensen, Anna-Lena Hulting, Johan Svartberg, Olov Ekwall, Kristian Fougner, Jeanette Wahlberg, Bjrn G. Nedreb, Per Dahlqvist, The Norwegian Addison Registry Study Group,The Swedish Addison Registry Study Group, Per Morten Knappskog, Anette Susanne Be Wolff, Sophie Bensing, Stefan Johansson, Olle Kampe, Eystein S. Husebye, Nature Communications, online February 11 2021 doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-21015-8
RAVENNA, FEB 11 - The former husband of a 46-year-old Italian woman found with her throat cut in her home at Faenza near Ravenna on Saturday has been placed under investigation for murder with another as yet unknown person, police said Thursday. Claudio Nanni, 48, a carbody repairer, is suspected of 'pluri-aggravated murder" in the death of Ilenia Fabbri, judicial sources said. Police on Thursday searched Nanni's home and his body shop, both in Faenza. (ANSA).
The ongoing orders from the DND affirm that Power Knots food digesters are best in the market. In addition to reducing greenhouse gasses, our LFC Biodigesters are improving operations and reducing costs for the Canadian military."

Power Knot LLC, the market leader for on site organic waste management solutions announced today that it has fulfilled additional orders for LFC biodigesters to Canadas Department of National Defence, (Le ministere de la Defense nationale, DND). Recent orders for machines add to orders shipped in 2020 and demonstrate the DNDs commitment to Power Knots solutions.

The Canadian government has a strong mandate to reduce carbon emissions and is pushing changes through all governmental agencies. Sending organic waste to a landfill is recognized globally as having a huge negative impact on the environment. After extensive evaluation of all alternatives, the Canadian DND settled on Power Knots LFC biodigesters to help combat climate change. With deployment across military bases throughout Canada, the DND now has purchased six different sizes of LFC biodigesters.

The ongoing orders from the DND affirm that Power Knots food digesters are best in the market. In addition to reducing greenhouse gasses, our LFC biodigesters are improving operations and reducing costs for the Canadian military, said Iain Milnes, President at Power Knot. There are also added benefits of reduced manual labor and improved cleanliness which makes day to day work easier. We look forward to building on our relationship with the DND to help drive their zero food waste initiatives.

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We're honored to serve as a trusted partner to an organization like JonesTrading with such an established presence in the financial services market.

StarCompliance, a leading provider of compliance technology solutions to the financial services industry, announced its new partnership with JonesTradinga renowned broker dealer headquartered in Californiato deliver StarCompliances best-in-class employee conflict of interest software.

Jeremy Bell, Chief Compliance Officer at JonesTrading commented on the firms investment in the StarCompliance software: We chose StarCompliance because we believe in the long-term sustainability of Stars products and services. Were looking forward to rolling out the STAR platform to our employee base and feel confident that it will bring a new level of efficiency to our already well-established risk management program.

StarCompliance has over 20 years of experience building configurable compliance technology, supporting a global client base across a range of financial service disciplines. StarCompliances employee conflicts of interest platform is scalable and easy-to-use for employees at all levels of an organization and helps financial firms reduce risk, gain efficiencies, and drive adoption around their employee compliance programs.

We're honored to serve as a trusted partner to an organization like JonesTrading with such an established presence in the financial services market, remarked StarCompliance Chief Revenue Officer Paul Hebert. Its our mission to make compliance simple and easy, and we look forward to assisting JonesTrading as they continue to optimize current compliance processes with the STAR platform and introduce automation that will save time and further reduce firm risk.

To learn more about StarCompliances software and services, visit http://www.starcompliance.com or email info@starcompliance.com.

--------------------------

About JonesTrading

JonesTrading Institutional Services LLC is the leading global equities and derivatives broker-dealer for institutions. Since 1975 JonesTrading's sole focus has been creating liquidity for institutional and corporate clients on an unconflicted basis. The ability to provide a secure, trusted platform connecting a diverse group of market participants enables the firm to unlock liquidity, providing best-quality execution for larger and more complex trades. Member FINRA and SIPC.

About StarCompliance

StarCompliance is a leading provider of compliance technology solutions. Trusted globally by enterprise financial firmsincluding asset managers, investment banks, broker dealers, PE firms, insurance companies, and stock exchangesthe STAR Platform empowers organizations to achieve regulatory compliance while safeguarding their integrity and business reputations. Through a configurable, 360-degree view of employee activity, the STAR software enables firms to automate the detection and resolution of potential areas of conflict while streamlining daily workflows and increasing efficiency. http://www.starcompliance.com
Ten arrested on Merseyside in joint operation with North Wales Police targeting production and supply of drugs

This article is old - Published: Thursday, Feb 11th, 2021

Ten people have been arrested by Merseyside Police as part of a joint investigation with North Wales Police into the production distribution of Class A and Class B drugs.

A number of warrants were executed at addresses in Formby, Lydiate, Maghull, Walton, Huyton and Liverpool as part of the operation co-ordinated by Merseyside and North Wales Serious and Organised Crime teams.

In June and July 2020 warrants were executed at industrial units based in Aintree and North Wales based on intelligence received that criminals were distributing Class A and Class B drugs to locations across the UK in exchange for cash and high value goods including jewellery and cars.

Officers seized a large quantity of chemicals and substances pictured below) from the units. The yield of the combined material was estimated to be able to produce 3000+ kilos of amphetamine sulphate.





Following an eight month investigation, warrants were executed today and 10 people were arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to supply Class A and B drugs namely cocaine, heroin, cannabis and also on suspicion of conspiring together to produce and supply multi kilo amounts of amphetamine sulphate.

Those arrested are: A 37 year-old man from Halsall, a 40 year-old man from Formby; a 37 year-old man from Maghull; a 34 year-old man from Maghull; a 31 year-old man from Maghull; a 42 year-old man from Ormskirk; a 27 year-old man from Maghull; a 34 year-old man from Walton; a 46 year-old man from Huyton; a 30 year-old man from Knotty Ash.

A quantity of high-end jewellery and cash has also been seized under Proceeds of Crime legislation.

Merseyside Police Detective Inspector Paul McVeigh said: Todays arrests follow an eight month investigation into the production and UK-wide distribution of Class A and Class B drugs.

We will continue to use all our available powers and work with our partners in neighbouring forces to take positive action against serious and organised crime gangs to disrupt this kind of activity.

Intelligence is vital in allowing us to take action against criminals and I would encourage people to continue to come forward with information to assist us in our investigations.

Maura Higgins has encouraged fans to ditch photo filters and ignore 'nasty' online messages, telling them to be 'kind to themselves'.

The former Love Islander, 30, shared a stunning makeup-free selfie to Instagram on Thursday alongside the empowering caption.

In the radiant snap, the star posed up a storm in a slinky gown and went without any of her usual beauty products or tan, instead letting her natural looks shine through.

Stunning: Maura Higgins shared a radiant makeup-free selfie to Instagram on Thursday alongside an empowering caption telling fans to ditch filters and 'be kind' to themselves

Maura exuded confidence as she stared straight at the camera with one hand on the side of her product-free face.

She wore her brunette locks down and styled straight and kept her ensemble simple wearing only a pretty black satin dressing gown and pair of gold hoop earrings.

Alongside her beautiful image, the reality star penned a caption asking her fans to 'be kind' to themselves and embrace their own natural looks.

Maura said: 'RAW ... like many of us, there are so many times I stop to read the nasty comments in my DMs or online & every single time I cant help but think of the younger generation stepping on the social media bandwagon!

Powerful: The Love Island star, 30, explained how she sometimes reads 'nasty' messages in her own DMs and now wants to 'empower women' to feel confident in their own bodies

'Us women especially get criticised day in and day out about our bodys, hair, makeup, skin...I could go on forever. I am very lucky to be confident inside & out and I want to empower woman to do the same.

'We dont need to use filters or apps, being yourself is more than enough although a minority of the online community sometimes try and convince us otherwise.

'Everyone preaches to be kind to others when really we need to also preach how important it is to be kind to ourselves; be comfortable and proud in your own skin.'

It comes after Maura gave a very candid insight into her and boyfriend Chris Taylor's relationship, revealing they enjoy picking at each other's spots.

Glam: Maura usually rocks a more made-up look of tan and makeup (pictured on Wednesday)

In a new interview with Cosmopolitan UK, Maura admitted she and her co-star-turned-partner, also 30, find their 'weird' pimple-popping sessions 'therapeutic'.

The glamour model also insisted she 'hates being single' and described herself as the 'attention taker, not giver' in relationships.

'People will be surprised to know that me and Chris pick at each other's spots all the time', the brunette said. 'Like if we have a pimple or anything, we just get in and we find it very therapeutic. It's a bit weird.'

Sharing her views on dating, the reality star added to the publication: 'I'm definitely a relationship person. I hate being single  I like to have somebody there giving me all the attention, 24/7. I'm the attention taker, not giver.'

'It's a bit weird': Maura Higgins has revealed she and her boyfriend Chris Taylor enjoy picking at each other's spots as she detailed their blossoming romance

The TV star also reflected on how she deals with negativity on social media, as well as her experience on Love Island.

Instagram star Maura stated: 'I'd like to say I don't respond to trolls but, yeah, sometimes I do. I don't even know why. Sometimes, depending on my humour I'm just like 'oh come on' and then I'll just go into a rant.

'Since coming out of the villa I might have blocked maybe six. They're the nasty trolls.'

Maura and Chris both appeared on 2019's Love Island but left the programme as friends.

The Irish beauty was partnered with dancer Curtis Pritchard who she dated for several months after the show.
Elizabeth Hurley was sure to leave a little more to the imagination on Wednesday as she posed for another glam Instagram snap.

She was photographed in a teal sparkling evening gown with a daring thigh split as she posed outside in the snow.

The picture comes in stark contrast to her last wintry snap, which saw her go topless in an open dressing gown and underwear.

Snow white! Elizabeth Hurley, 55, donned a sparkling teal evening gown with a daring thigh split as she posed in the snow - after going topless in her last wintry snap

Her new look, however, featured a statement buckled belt, long sleeves and a leopard print design on the inside of the skirt.

Liz, 55, opted to leave her chestnut locks falling around her shoulders in waves, paired with smoky eye shadow and rose gloss to highlight her pretty features.

She captioned the snap: 'How could I resist?'.

The actress has been pining for warmer climes, sharing bikini snaps from beach holidays via throwback pictures.

Chilly? The picture comes in stark contrast to her last wintry snap, which saw her go topless in an open dressing gown and underwear

Wowza! The Austin Powers actress, 55, showcased her perky assets and risked a wardrobe malfunction as she posed in an open dressing gown and underwear for the fun snap

The actress looked radiant as she posed in one photo, taken early last year in the Maldives, which she shared on Instagram.

She covered her svelte figure in a white crochet beach cover up which she wore over a matching white bikini as she posed up a storm.

The Bedazzled star kept her accessories minimal, only carrying a gold bag and a pair of sunglasses.

Letting her brunette locks fall loose down her shoulders, Elizabeth opted for a fresh-faced look.

On her Instagram Stories, the Austin Powers actress also showed off her incredible physique in a snap of her in a bikini.

She posed in front of a tree and reached up to hold one of the branches to accentuate her toned body.

Gorgeous: The actress has been pining for warmer climes, sharing bikini snaps from beach holidays via throwback pictures

Stunning: She showed off her incredible physique in a snap of her in a bikini and white croquet cover up which she shared with fans on social media

Elizabeth has been keeping her legions of fans entertained by posting more sultry pictures of herself during lockdown.

She looked radiant as she put on a playful display in a series of stunning Instagram snaps recently.

The star showcased her assets in a low-cut fuchsia mini dress while relaxing on a matching pink couch.

Beauty: Elizabeth looked radiant as she put on a playful display in a series of stunning Instagram snaps recently

Referencing the UK's ongoing lockdown, she captioned the post: 'Still at home! #makingthemostofit #stayhomestaysafe'.



It comes after Elizabeth's ex Hugh Grant recently said she deserves a role in the next Paddington movie after she shared a stunning snap of herself posing with marmalade.

The star looked incredible in a white cardigan as she held up two jars of marmalade while joking lockdown had turned her into a 'demented housewife'.

Joke: It comes after Elizabeth's ex Hugh Grant said she deserves a role in the next Paddington movie after she shared a stunning snap of herself posing with marmalade

Alongside the snap, she wrote on Twitter: 'Lockdown has turned me into a demented housewife: 47 jars of marmalade are nestling in my larder and another sack of Seville oranges await me'.

Hugh, who starred as actor Phoenix Buchanan in Padding 2, joked Elizabeth has what it takes to star in the sequel.

Retweeting her post, he simply wrote: 'Paddington 3'.

Hugh and Elizabeth were one of the most famous couples of the nineties, dating from 1987 to 2000.

South Carolina GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham blasted the move by House impeachment managers to connect President Trump through tweets and statements to Proud Boys and other violent extremists who stormed the Capitol.

The presentation by the managers at Wednesday's start of the impeachment trial stretched by to the first presidential debate when Trump took heat for failing to condemn the group and white supremacy when asked about it.

Trump told the far right group at the Sept. 30th debate to 'stand back and stand by' when asked about it by moderator Chris Wallace. As the managers pointed out, numerous Proud Boy members were spotted at the riot, and federal authorities have arrested Proud Boy members in connection with the riot.

'The legal theory they have is absurd  that somehow that Trumps a secret member of the Proud boys,' said Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), scoffing at arguments connecting Trump to the rioters who took the Capitol

Graham, a close advisor to Trump while in office who has blasted the impeachment effort, slammed the argument Wednesday.

The legal theory they have is absurd  that somehow that Trumps a secret member of the Proud boys,' he scoffed.

He said the videos mustered by managers made him 'mad' and said Capitol Police ' had every right to use deadly force, they should have used it. The people in charge of securing the Capitol left the country.'

But he also predicted Democrats weren't picking up support in the court of impeachment, where most GOP senators already appear locked in.

The impeachment trial recounted Graham calling Ivanka Trump pleading her to get Trump to call off his supporters

'You realize that there were people, insurrectionists, that tried to affect the peaceful transfer of power and that should give anyone who loves our republic great pause,' said Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.)

The trial revealed how Sen. Mitt Romney was redirected away from the angry mob by a Capitol police officer

In this image from video, House impeachment manager Del. Stacey Plaskett, D-Virgin Islands, speaks during the second impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump in the Senate at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021

'Well I think there's more votes for acquittal after today than there was yesterday. Because hypocrisy is pretty large for these people, standing up to, you know, rioters when they came to my house, Susan Collins house, I think this is a very hypocritical presentation by the House,' he said.

He was making an argument, derided by some as 'what about-ism,' about protesters who have protested or harassed lawmakers  although Graham's most recent encounter with protesters came at a Washington, DC airport when he was harangued by Trump supporters calling him a 'traitor.'

Impeachment managers stressed the role of members of the Proud Boys, pictured here in Portland, in the riot

Graham also made an appearance at the trial when Rep. David Cicilline (D-R.I.) brought up his pleas to Ivanka Trump to intervene to get the president to call off the mob. Cicilline was constructing an argument that Trump did 'nothing' to call off his rampaging supporters.

'It took him awhile to appreciate the gravity of the situation,' Graham told the Washington Post after January 6th.

Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, who joined five other Republicans in voting that the trial was constitutional Tuesday, made a statement Wednesday connecting the riots directly to the counting of the electoral votes  which relates to the Democratic charge that Trump incited it for his own ends.

'There's so much to say that should be taken away. How do you narrow it?' said Cassidy, who faced backlash from the state Republican Party after his vote.

'You realize that there were people, insurrectionists, that tried to affect the peaceful transfer of power and that should give anyone who loves our republic great pause,' he said.

But there were not signs of any major visible shift in where the votes are, even after managers aired jarring footage of Trump supporters throwing objects and hurling obscenities at Capitol Police officers, bashing in windows, and revealed security footage showing just how close senators and House members were to the job.

One senator who wasn't persuaded by the evidence was Missouri Republican Josh Hawley. He was spotted viewing the proceedings from the Senate visitor's gallery rather than the floor. Senate rules on impeachment are so strict that they mention imprisonment for those who speak out of turn during the proceedings.

Hawley was seen with his feet on the seat ahead of them going through paperwork, NBC reported.

Ashanti Regional Secretary of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Sam Pyne has urged teachers to assist their pupils and students to comply with the COVID-19 safety protocols.



As the country's case count keeps increasing, there are worries over the reopening of schools, particularly those at the Kindergarten and lower Primary levels who are in school due to President Nana Akufo-Addo's announcement last month that they return to the classroom.



Some people have appealed to the President to close down Kindergarten and lower Primary schools but the government insists they have activated precautionary measures to keep the school children safe.



However, there are reports of some students having been infected by the viral disease.



This has ignited discussions on whether or not schools should be closed.



To Sam Pyne, there is no need for schools to be closed again but rather the parents and teachers should keep an eagle eye on their children, so they don't flout the protocols for them to expose themselves to the disease.



Speaking on Peace FM's ''Kokrokoo'', Sam Pyne called on the teachers as well as parents to instruct the children to wear nose masks at all times and practice all other protocols to safeguard them.



"You must instruct the child to wear the nose mask when you see him or her not wearing it. Some of us are 'I don't care'; the issue doesn't concern us. But we must realize that, as a teacher in the classroom, the risk of getting infected, if you don't ensure the children do the right thing . . . you should also remember that the community you reside is the same community the child is," 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.

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Tunis/Tunisia  "The Scientific Committee to Combat the Coronavirus proposed, during its meeting held on Tuesday, to extend the targeted lockdown till March 15," said Wednesday, Committee member Habib Ghedira.

"The committee's proposals will be tabled by the Health Minister to the National Coronavirus Response Authority chaired by the Prime Minister," he stated to TAP.

Ghedira considered that the measures imposed under the targeted lockdown such as the ban on gatherings and the curfew from 8pm to 5am will further control the curve.

"Despite the improvement in indicators, the committee members were unanimous in stressing the need to extend the targeted lockdown," he added.

Over the last few days, the number of hospitalisations fell to 1749 on February 8, compared to 2210 on January 26, 2021.
Ikanik Farms Ships Psychoactive Cannabis Oil to Open Mexican Market

CORONA, Calif., Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Ikanik Farms Inc. (the "Company") is pleased to announce its wholly owned, Colombian subsidiary Pideka SAS ("Pideka"), has successfully completed the first commercial sale and exportation of THC or tetrahydrocannabinol, (the psychoactive ingredient in cannabis) to Mexico, for use in Formula Magistral.

"We are excited to participate in this groundbreaking moment for the cannabis industry and the countries of Mexico and Colombia, as the first Colombian company to export psychoactive cannabis oil to Mexico. We would like to thank both governments for their roles, ensuring this collaborative effort remained a top priority." said Borja Sanz de Madrid, President of Ikanik Farms, International.

Working hand in hand with both governments, the Company was successfully able to obtain all certifications and permissions, needed to legalize the process and complete its 15-step procedure required to export psychoactive cannabis products from Colombia to Mexico.

Ikanik Farms legalized the exportation process of psychoactive cannabis in Colombia, making it the first company to successfully complete a "commercial sale" for export.

Looking ahead, the company will provide cannabinoid solutions through formula magistral in LATAM to treat epilepsy, cancer, pain, nausea, anxiety, insomnia and support the growing demand of the EU marketplace.

"We are proud to have participated in this historic moment and look forward to our growth, servicing the global cannabis market." said Brian Baca, CEO of Ikanik Farms.

Ikanik Farms intends to list on the Canadian Securities Exchange.

About Ikanik Farms

Ikanik Farms is creating a dynamic portfolio of cannabis brands, inspired by its passion for health and wellness, and action sports. Through development of its Colombian operations (Pideka), the Company aims to support global pharmaceutical demand for a variety of cannabis products. The Company's leadership brings decades of expertise in R&D, cultivation, retail, branding, and corporate finance with the ambition to build the most iconic "seed-to-sale", "MNO" Multi-National Operator. Ikanik Farms' operations are currently located in Colombia and California.

Forward Looking Statements

This news release includes "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities laws and United States securities laws (together, "forward-looking information). All information, other than statements of historical facts, included in this news release that address activities, events or developments that the Company expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future is forward-looking information. When used in this news release, words such as "will", "could", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "intend", "may", "potential", "believe", "should", and similar expressions, are forward-looking information, including, but not limited to, Pideka's ability to export non-manufactured pharmaceutical grade cannabis products (i.e. seeds, tissue cultures, biomass and clones) to European markets from Casa Flores, the ability to complete the phases of the construction of the Casa Flores camp and the ability to maintain production at the Casa Flores camp within the permissible limits proposed by the Council of Europe.

Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information, there can be other factors that cause results, performance or achievements not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended, including, but not limited to: Pideka experiencing significant operational delays in production of non-manufactured pharmaceutical grade cannabis products (i.e. seeds, tissue cultures, biomass and clones), to European markets from Casa Flores, delays in construction or significant cost overruns in the construction of Casa Flores, future ineligibility for pharmaceutical exportation into the European Union, changes in laws, a change in management, the inability to obtain additional financing, increased competition, hindering market growth and state adoption due to inconsistent public opinion and perception of the medical-use and adult-use marijuana industry and, regulatory or political change.

There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate or that management's expectations or estimates of future developments, circumstances or results will materialize. As a result of these risks and uncertainties, the results or events predicted in the forward-looking information may differ materially from actual results or events.

Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The forward-looking information in this news release is made as of the date of this release. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise such information, except as required by applicable law, and the Company does not assume any liability for disclosure relating to any other company mentioned herein.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of Ikanik Farms Inc.

SOURCE Ikanik Farms Inc.

Related Links

https://ikanikfarms.com/


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ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey will not turn back from its acquisition of Russian S-400 defense systems despite U.S. sanctions, it said on Thursday, but added it would seek to resolve issues with its NATO ally through dialogue.

In December, Washington imposed sanctions on Ankara for acquiring the S-400s on grounds they threaten its F-35 fighter jets and are incompatible with shared NATO defences. Turkey rejects this and says the systems will stand independently from NATO defences.

Since Joe Biden was elected U.S. president, Ankara has said it wants better ties and again proposed an S-400 joint working group. But Washington has repeatedly rejected that and says sanctions will remain until Turkey no longer possesses the missiles.

Turkey's defense minister said on Tuesday that Ankara would propose only partially activating the S-400s in negotiations with the United States, according to local media.

Speaking in an interview with state broadcaster TRT Haber, presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said the minister's comments had been misunderstood, but did not elaborate, adding talks were being held with Washington over disagreements, but that quick solutions to problems should not be expected.

"The United States has so far said it will not engage in any negotiations over this issue (S-400s). Turkey will not turn back from the Russian S-400 issue," Kalin said.

"When we read the strategic picture the right way, we think we can make advances," he said. "By proposing solution ways, we will be in negotiations," he added, without elaborating.

The United States has also removed Turkey from its F-35 jet programme, where Ankara was manufacturer and buyer, over the S-400s in mid-2019.

Turkey has said its purchase of the S-400s was a necessity, as it had no suitable alternatives from NATO allies.

In a phone call last week that marked the first official contact between the allies since Biden took office, Kalin told U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan the S-400 dispute needed resolving.

Story continues

On Thursday, Kalin said he and Sullivan had agreed to hold another call in the coming days to specifically discuss their disagreements, adding that the two countries' foreign ministers would also speak in the coming days.

The allies are odds over several issues, from the S-400s to Turkey's extradition request for a cleric it blames for a 2016 failed coup attempt, Syria policy, and an Iran sanctions-busting case against Turkish state lender Halkbank.

(Reporting by Tuvan Gumrukcu; editing by Jonathan Oatis and Toby Chopra)
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The average number of appointments for the anti-COVID vaccination with AstraZeneca serum was, in the last 24 hours, of 4,464 people scheduled per hour (74 registrations per minute), the National Coordinating Committee for Vaccination against COVID-19 Activities (CNCAV) informs on Thursday, according to AGERPRES.

"In just 24 hours, the number of appointments on the electronic platform for vaccination with AstraZeneca exceeded 100,000 people, according to data provided to the CNCAV by the Special Telecommunications Service. Of these, 54,454 are women and 52,690 are men. The average number of appointments in this time period was 4,464 people scheduled per hour (74 registrations per minute). The day with the most appointments was Wednesday, when in only eight hours after the opening of the scheduling session, more than 80,000 people have expressed their option to be vaccinated," reads a release sent to AGERPRES.

According to the quoted source, the electronic platform for vaccination registered over 3.6 million accesses, the peak time being between 12.00 and 13.00, with 470,000 accesses.

At the moment, 9,323 people are registered scheduled for vaccination on February 15, when the immunization campaign with AstraZeneca will begin.

The scheduling for the AstraZeneca vaccine started on February 10 and is done for a 20-day session, between February 15 and March 6. Subsequently, each day, new slots will be allocated that will allow appointments for vaccination with AstraZeneca until April 11.

For the good unfolding of the vaccination process, 180 new vaccination offices will be opened at national level, out of which 22 in Bucharest.
Le ministre indien des Affaires Etrangeres fera une visite a Maurice du 21 au 24 fevrier 2021 et son programme officiel a ete note par le gouvernement.

Cabinet has taken note that HE Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, External Affairs Minister of India would be on official visit to Mauritius from 21 to 24 February 2021. During his visit, he would, among others:

(a) pay a courtesy call on the President of the Republic of Mauritius;

(b) have a tete-a-tete with the Prime Minister followed by a working session;

(c) have a meeting with the Minister of Land Transport and Light Rail, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade;

(d) effect site visits to the Supreme Court Building, the ENT Hospital, the COVID Vaccination Centre at Victoria Hospital and a social housing project; and

(e) effect a metro ride from Rose Hill to Port Louis.

Various Memoranda of Understanding/Agreements would be signed during the visit.
Model, actor and fitness enthusiast Milind Soman often makes headlines for his posts on social media with wife Ankita Konwar. However, recently the actor was called out for posting a nude picture on social media on his birthday and it had created a social media stir.

During an interaction with ETimes, Soman reacted to the backlash and said, "I don't know why! It was like people never saw anybody naked before, It is crazy!." He also revealed that the picture was clicked by his wife Ankita.

Talking about the trolls he added, "I don't really notice trolls. Sometimes I look for it, just for fun sake. Even if you look at that (nude) picture, it is not really trolling. I know what is trolling. When I see some people and the response they get on social media, I really wonder - how does it affect their mental health. Because it is such an attack. It is hard to digest when thousands of people are fermenting negativity."

Soman said he can't imagine how other stars deal with the negativity. He also shared that not all response to the picture was negative, "99% of people were like - WOW! This is amazing!" Most of all, Milind said he couldn't understand the negativity because the picture was clicked by his wife and not a professionally hired photographer, or a newspaper.

Milind further added that his photo came as a shock to the netizens "especially those who are new to Internet culture." He said that people who haven't been on the internet for long were suddenly exposed to the world. "For those, I think my picture was a wake up call. Search the hashtag naked on Instagram and there will be 10 million posts. It's just that people have not seen it," said Milind.

The Paurashpur actor concluded by saying, "This is how society is, where everybody has an opinion but again the opinions should not affect anyone."

ALSO READ: Milind Soman On Staying Loyal In Marriage: Relationship Is Not About Sex Really; The Warmth Is Important

ALSO READ: EXCLUSIVE! Paurashpur Star Milind Soman On Censorship Of OTT Content: It Doesn't Make Sense
The good deeds of a kindhearted bagpipe playing pensioner in Laois will be highlighted on RTE this Friday, February 12.

Stephen O'Toole from Kilminchy retirement village in Portlaoise has been cheering up his neighbours in all sorts of ways throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, from playing music, to delivering Christmas gifts and raising money for Laois Hospice.

The Leinster Express highlighted his kindness in a recent story, thanks to his neighbour Paddy Kennedy who contacted us to send a thank you to Stephen. Read it here.

Now the good news has spread further and Stephen will get a big mention, on this Friday's The Today Show with Maura Derrane & Daithi O Se on RTE 1.

The show features a weekly Friday round-up of good news stories from local Irish newspapers, gathered and presented by journalist Billy Keane, and this week Stephen's story is among them.

The show is on from 3.30pm to 5.30pm.
Ancient paintings of humanoid figures, bizarre creatures and familiar animals have been discovered under rock overhang that was once used as shelter 'several hundred of years ago.'

A team from the Jagiellonian University in Cracow, Poland spotted the four paintings while excavating the Amak'hee 4 rock shelter site in Tanzania that was once home to the ancient Sandawe indigenous group, which have been around for 87,000 years.

Although many of paintings show are unknown figures, some depict domesticated cattle, buffalo and giraffes, which suggests the artists lived during the hunter-gather era.

Researches note that most are in good condition, mainly due to a rock overhang that protects them from flowing water and sunlight, but because there currently is not a way to date rock art, the team can only guess when it was painted.

Ancient paintings of humanoid figures, bizarre creatures and familiar animals have been discovered under rock overhang that was once used as shelter 'several hundred of years ago'

The Sandawe are an indigenous group from South Africa and population is still living today.

Early work shows that the group may also have the oldest human DNA lineages and the Sandawe today are considered to be decedents of an original Bushmen-like group, the Gogo.

The group believed caves in hills harbored spirits and would travel to such structures to perform rituals and shout prayers not to disturb the ghosts.

The Amak'hee 4 paintings are believed to center around three images, which includes stylized buffalo heads.

The Amak'hee 4 paintings are believed to center around three images, which includes stylized buffalo heads. These shapes recall the central dip in the profile of the buffalo head from where the two horns rise and then curve outward away from the head, as well as the downturned ears

Pictured is a sketch of the complete mural spotted in the rock shelter at the Amak'hee 4 site in Tanzania that was once home to the ancient Sandawe indigenous group.

The Amak'hee 4 paintings are believed to center around three images, which includes stylized buffalo heads Pictured is another painting that experts say is of a buffalo

A team from the Jagiellonian University in Cracow, Poland spotted the four paintings while excavating the Amak'hee 4 rock shelter site in Tanzania

These shapes recall the central dip in the profile of the buffalo head from where the two horns rise and then curve outward away from the head, as well as the downturned ears.

Who are the Sandawe The Sandawe is an indigenous group of Southeast Africa that lived and still do to this day in Tanzania. The group has been walking the earth for over 87,000 years and is believed to have descended from some of the first humans. They enjoyed dancing, singing and drinking beer. There are some 40,000 Sandawe people living today Advertisement

'Even though in the present religion of the Sandawe peoplewho are descendants of those who created the paintingswe find no elements of anthropomorphisation of buffaloes, nor belief in the possibility of transformation of people into these animals, there are some ritual aspects that offer parallels,' according to the Polish scientists.

'The Sandawe still practice the simbo ritual, the main element of which is entering trance states.'

Another section of the large mural shows small figures that appear to have been speared by horns, with one figure crushing another with its mouth.

Researchers say that based on superimposition, the paintings may have been created from right to left.

Dr. Maciej Grzelczyk, a researcher in the Institute for the Study of Religions at the Jagiellonian University in Cracow, Poland, said: 'The paintings at the Amak'hee 4 rockshelter provide one example of the many rock art sites in the Swaga Swaga area that are locally known but unpublished.'

'Further fieldwork surveys in this area will be carried out to add to the growing body of published data recording rock art sites in this region.'

'Due to degradation of the dye and a lack of, for example, motifs depicting domesticated cattle, it can, however, be assumed that they belong to the hunter-gatherer period, so they are at least several hundred years old,' the researchers said

It also appears that the painter intentionally respected an existing figure by not superimposing the new image onto it.

Instead they incorporating the existing image into the new scene.

'The same technique can be seen in the buffalo painting, where the tail of the buffalo was interrupted in such a way that it would not superimpose on the leg of figure,' reads the study.

Although the team is unable to narrow down an exact date for the paintings, the team analyzed the dye on the rock to uncover clues.

'Due to degradation of the dye and a lack of, for example, motifs depicting domesticated cattle, it can, however, be assumed that they belong to the hunter-gatherer period, so they are at least several hundred years old,' the researchers said.


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(TNS)  Despite support from localagents for the current surveillance blimps in use in theis ending the program that began approximately seven years ago, according toRep.Cuellar, D-, said Tuesday morning thatwill end its use of the Tactical Aerostats andprogram, or TAS, because it is too expensive."It's a self-inflicted wound because you all went ahead and got into contracts with vendors and you are paying too much, and I've been telling you for years to slow down and lower the price," Cuellar said, referring toleadership inThese aerostats, which can reach altitudes ranging between 500 and 5,000 feet, are equipped with radars and high-resolution and infrared cameras. They are also relocatable.Cuellar said he has had a problem with the high-dollar cost paid to the private contractor for years."The balloon is already paid for and all you are doing is paying millions of bucks to bring it up and down," Cuellar said of the TAS contract.In 2019, Peraton, a private contractor that operates the TAS aerostats in the, announced that CBP had awarded it a contract valued up to $185.5 million for one year with an option for four additional years, according to a company news release.CBP has budgeted $29 million a year since 2013, which, over the lifespan of TAS, comes out to approximately $203 million.Indications thatwould end the program surfaced in the fiscal year 2021 budget proposal tothat was made public in"The TAS program, originally established to provide land domain awareness and persistent ground surveillance along the southern border, is comprised of six aerostats and three relocatable towers deployed in theand Laredo Sectors," the budget proposal states.The request says CBP planned not to renew the $29 million in funding because remote video surveillance system, or RVSS, tower deployments will enable CBP to remove the relocatable towers and decommission them.CBP also said the funding for the remaining six aerostats will not be needed in the 2021 fiscal year.However, the congressman, who spoke with localleaders, said local authorities like the TAS program.Cuellar said he's exploring ways to eliminate the use of private contractors to slash the program's cost and haveagents operate TAS. So it's possible the aerostats are not going away for good."So what are they going to do with these aerostats now? So there's a lot of questions once they get fully staffed at Homeland. I want to go into this," Cuellar said.TAS, however, is not the only aerostat program in theThere's also the Tethered Aerostat Radar System, or TARS.TARS works by capturing continuous radar information from lawful and unlawful aircraft, vessels and vehicles that are either entering or approaching, according to theGovernment Accountability Office."TARS provides radar coverage from an altitude of operation up to 15,000 feet and can detect objects within 200 nautical miles," The GAO said in a 2017 report. "The elevated radar sensor on the TARS aerostat mitigates curvature of the earth and terrain masking limitations of common ground based radar systems."TARS is deployed to eight locations throughoutand, with one inThis program is not immediately being discontinued.However, a Government Accountability Report published in 2017 indicates that TARS may eventually be on its way out."According to CBP, TARS are obsolete and no longer manufactured or supported and could be out of service by early 2020. CBP officials told us TARS sites face immediate risks of being out of service earlier than 2020 should a crash occur at a TARS site rendering the radar components inoperable because there are no spare radar systems available. CBP has no specific plans for replacement or modernization of TARS, but is currently undergoing an analysis of alternatives to determine whether the agency should modernize or replace them," the GAO said in a 2017 report.Whilecontrols the information TARS gathers, the launching, landing and maintenance of these aerostats is conducted by the private contractor Peraton, which, on, announced that CBP had awarded it a TARS contract for one base year with four option years valued at up to $277.5 million.And as older technology becomes outdated, new surveillance technology continues to be created that will likely end up being used byin the, which remains one of the busiest areas infor illegal crossings and drug smuggling.In 2019, the-based companyannounced thatselected it as the prime contractor for Winch Aerostat Small Platform, or WASP, aerostats, which are mobile and take two people to operate.The company's 2018 annual report to thesays it entered into an exclusive teaming agreement with CBP to retrofit and propose the production of new surveillance systems, as well as providing the WASP aerostat, engineering support for WASP system integration and field service representatives for maintenance, training, deployment, retrieval and removal, and warranties for WASP."In, the prime contractor awarded us a subcontract valued at $3.8 million for six WASP aerostat systems, which we have previously announced. These WASP powered surveillance systems are expected to be deployed at a CBP Border Patrol Sector on the southern border of," the company said in thestatement.CBP has made no public announcements regarding the use or deployment of the WASP aerostat on the southern border or in the Rio Grande Valley Sector.did not respond to repeated requests for comment regarding the discontinuation of the TAS aerostats.
Lin Wood, a Donald Trump supporter lawyer, has claimed under oath that he has evidence to prove that the former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence is a "traitor."

Wood said that he had already provided the evidence proving Pence's treachery to the U.S. Secret Service in a court filing on Tuesday. The filing was made parts of an effort to remove him as the laswyer for Roslyn La Liberte, which is a defamation lawsuit against MSNBC anchor Joy Reid.

Reid's attorney then noted Wood's claim that Pence is a "traitor" and several other controversial remarks as evidence of his misconduct, according to a Newsweek report.

The Reid suit is being adjudicated in New York state, where Wood is not licensed to practice law. He had previously been granted pro hac vice status, which gives lawyers permission on a case-by-case basis.

Reid's attorney, John Reichman, recently filed a motion to revoke that pro hac vice admission based on alleged misconduct, which includes statements made by Wood ahead of Jan. 6, including the past several months.

Meanwhile, a Delaware judge in January has revoked a prior order that had allowed Wood to represent Carter Page in a lawsuit. In addition, the Georgia State Bar has also been eyeing Wood.

Reid's attorney said in their motion to disqualify that Wood's statements had gone beyond mere hyperbole, according to a Law and Crime report.

"Wood has traveled far beyond that [First Amendment] boundary, encouraging the siege on the Capitol to thwart the vote count, falsely attacking the Chief Justice and the judicial system, filing frivolous lawsuits, and violating with impunity the rules of the legal profession," Reichman was quoted on a report.

Reichman added that the pro hac vice status should be revoked to protect the rule of law and the public's confidence in it.

Related story: Mike Pence To Publicly Receive COVID-19 Vaccine on Friday





Wood's Statements and Claims

One of the most controversial claims that Wood made was the one involving Chief Justice John Roberts. Wood claims that after the election and months before the election Roberts called former president Trump "motherfucker" during an overheard phone call.

Woods said on his since-suspended Twitter account at the time that that might be the most important tweet of his life.

However, as of now, Roberts has not responded to any of Woods's allegations, which Wood cited in his response to the Reichman filing.

Wood said that he has not received a retraction demand from Roberts or his counsel and has not made any claim to data that his statements are false and defamatory.

In addition, Wood has also written on Twitter just days before the Jan. 6 Capitol breach that Pence should be executed by "firing squad" and for "treason."

Trump supporters who illegally entered the Capitol that day caused the former vice president and members of Congress to shelter from a mob, who allegedly chanted "hang Mike Pence," according to an Independent report.

The Georgia State Bar is preparing proceedings against Wood that could cost him his legal license, citing reasons of "mental illness," according to a Forbes report.

Read also: 'One Very Important Question': Trump Campaign Asks Supporters if the President Should Run Again in 2024
CSL is confident it can make an updated version of AstraZenecas COVID-19 vaccine to cover any virus variants that might arise  putting the ball in the medical regulators court for a quick approval.

It comes as the Australian pharma giant prepares to begin the process of bottling the first doses of the life-saving vaccine in the coming days.

CSLs Chief Scientific Officer, Dr Andrew Nash, with a replica of the vial of the cells that will enter a bioreactor to replicate and make 30 million doses of the University of Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine. Credit:Chris Hopkins

A small South African study sent shockwaves around the world this week after it found AstraZenecas vaccine was only about 10 per cent efficacious against the South African variant; that nations government soon paused the roll-out of the vaccine. AstraZeneca has said it is working on a booster jab, which will be released within the year.

Scientists remain hopeful the original vaccine will still provide protection against serious illness and death.
Texass civil commitment program for sexually violent offenders has earned a reputation as an unforgiving place. Much of that is by design.

Each of the 378 men in it has already served his full prison term, some 20 years or longer. After their sentences were up, Texas evaluated them as too likely to re-offend, however, so they were ordered kept locked up indefinitely until ready to rejoin the free world. Their average age is nearing 60.

The programs sole facility, a collection of low buildings and temporary trailers, sits amid fields on the outskirts of the rural Panhandle community of Littlefield surrounded by two razor-wire-topped fences. Buildings are locked and outfitted with security cameras. Even so, many residents must also wear GPS ankle monitors.

The Texas Civil Commitment Office is tasked with striking a difficult balance, protecting the public while providing the men a clear path to rejoin society. But five years after lawmakers overhauled the program, a chorus of critics contends the state still hasnt gotten it right.

Post-prison commitment, which applies only to sex offenders, is constitutional because it is considered treatment, not additional punishment. Yet former staff therapists say Littlefields version of therapy too often fails on purpose.

A program noone ever completed Read the Chronicle's 2014-2015 investigation of the state's previous sex offender treatment program, which nobody completed in its 16 years of existence, houstonchronicle.com/texas-sex-offenders. See More Collapse

Even men who have completed their treatment continue to be held, they say. Counselors say their recommendations for advancement were regularly disregarded.

Every time we as therapists felt someone was ready to go, to move into the community, the administrative side came back with more requirements, to hold them longer, said one. (The therapist asked not to be named because of ongoing work for the state.)

Of the 552 men whove entered the program, 10 have been sprung  the same number who have died in secured nursing homes before they were released. Two of the 10 were let out only after winning court battles on their own.

TIME TO GET IT DONE: Texas Commission on Law Enforcement needs overhaul, officials say

Over the past year, the cost of commitment has been especially acute. Seven Littlefield residents have died of COVID-related complications  a rate 10 times higher than Texas prisoners.

Two months ago, an Austin attorney filed a class-action lawsuit contending residents were being kept locked up with no clear way out. The program is little more than a therapeutic hamster wheel, where patients are forced to retread the same ground and therapeutic modalities for years without hope of actual progress, it stated.

Residents, their families and attorneys say they have puzzled over why the commitment program seems to work so hard to keep the men locked up. For some administrators, say advocates, the reason may be too personal.

Nobody progresses?

In 2014, the Houston Chronicle published a series of articles exposing how dysfunctional the Texas sexually violent predator program had become. Although it was billed as treatment, no offender had successfully exited it. Many had mental illnesses leading them to violate rules they couldnt grasp, sending almost half back to prison.

Legislators overhauled it the following year, renaming it and adding more treatment and legal protections. Today, among the 20 states with sexually violent predator civil commitment programs Texas has relatively few participants compared to its population, according to the Sex Offender Civil Commitment Program Network.

READ THE SERIES: An ongoing commitment conundrum

Steve Gonzales, Staff / Houston Chronicle

Officials say thats because the selection process identifies only truly dangerous offenders. Prior to his scheduled release from prison, an offender convicted of repeat violent sex offenses is evaluated by a seven-member panel for a behavioral abnormality that makes him likely to re-offend. Prosecutors must then convince a jury. About 30 men are committed every year.

Civil commitment costs about twice as much as prison. Because far more men are admitted than released, the programs budget has tripled since 2014, to about $20 million.

While at Littlefield, the men work to advance through a five-tier treatment program. Tier 5s are considered safe enough to live in the community.

During the surge of coronavirus cases in the fall and early winter, however, Everything stopped, said Jennifer Williams, whose son was committed in 2018. They cant use the phone or microwave, no therapy.

It was the latest blow to a program seemingly designed to hinder advancement, four former therapists said in interviews. All described instances in which their clinical judgments were discarded by administrators seemingly intent on keeping residents locked up as long as possible.

Shane Bowyer, who quit in frustration in 2019, estimated his recommendation a resident advance or move to community living had been overridden 20 times. The majority of our therapy was how to cope with how irrationally they were being treated, he said.

It seems that some of these people are completing the therapy and theyre still not getting out, said Bruce Anton, a Dallas attorney. In 2017, he said he was contacted by the family of a Tier 4 resident who had earned an evaluation concluding he no longer posed a risk.

But the agency still found reason to reject his release, Anton said. The man was freed in 2019 after the family hired another doctor who agreed with the no-risk assessment.

PANHANDLE POT ENFORCEMENT: For a price, this Texas DA drops drug charges  and gives the money to local charities

Steve Gonzales, Staff / Houston Chronicle

During a 2018 trial in which a resident claimed he was being unlawfully held, U.S. District Judge Sam Sparks pressed a Littlefield official about the programs low release rate. So are y'all just doing a terrible job, or nobody progresses?

The program manager explained that, with the stakes of a re-offense so high, treatment was considered long-term. Recommendations for residents to move into the community were made by a team of therapists and case managers, she said, with the final decision belonging to Executive Director Marsha McLane.

Marsha is where the buck stops, added William Marshall, a Houston attorney who has represented several residents. If she doesn't want a resident released, it doesn't matter what the treatment provider recommends.

Her desire to keep the men at Littlefield, Bowyer added, seems to be largely personal bias.

Seems like a conflict of interest

Bias is difficult to prove, but at least two people in positions of authority in the civil commitment program have personal backgrounds that advocates said raise questions about their ability to make objective judgments.

McLane was married to a sex offender. According to Williamson County court records, her husband was charged with indecency with a child in 1996. He was sentenced to 10 years of deferred adjudication and ordered to attend treatment. But after allegedly exposing himself to two children in 2004, he was sentenced to six years in prison.

McLane stopped living with him in 1996, records show. Their divorce was finalized in 2004 after 20 years of marriage and two children.

I think its very relevant, said Mary Sue Molnar, director of Texas Voices for Reason and Justice, which supports people on the sex offender registry. It seems odd that she had a bad relationship with someone on the registry and now is in charge of whether a person remains in civil commitment. McLane at least should have disclosed her history before taking the position, she said.

Marshall agreed. I would have liked to have had the chance to ask her about it in depositions for his lawsuits against the agency, he said.

McLane said her ex-husbands behavior had no influence on her work. His actions, having occurred almost 25 years ago, have no bearing on my duties or decision making today, she wrote in an email.

TCCOs deputy director, Jessica Marsh, added that while McLane has the final say of who is released from Littlefield, she relies on recommendations from a team that performs a comprehensive evaluation. McLane has not rejected any final recommendation that had gone through the full review process, Marsh said.

Its unclear who knew of McLanes personal history when she was hired to lead the agency. But Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, who led the effort to overhaul the program, said he considered it irrelevant.

Steve Gonzales, Staff / Houston Chronicle

He believes Marsha does a good job and does not believe that something that happened 30 years ago impacts her ability to do her job, spokeswoman Lara Wendler said in a email. Whitmire was confident the program is operating as intended, balancing public safety with treating the client to prepare for successful reintroduction into the community, she added.

McLane also has the support of her bosses. The Texas Civil Commitment Office board recently voted to raise her salary to $207,000.

Yet advocates, attorneys and former treatment providers noted the panel has its own apparent leanings. Even though Littlefield is considered a therapeutic facility, none of the five governor-appointed positions is occupied by a treatment expert. Three are current or former prosecutors; one is a police chief.

The sole civilian is victims advocate Rona Stratton Gouyton, whose sister was murdered in 1981. After serving his sentence, the killer, Wesley Miller, was committed as a sexually violent predator when Gouyton lobbied lawmakers to expand the law to include offenders whose crimes may not have been prosecuted as sexual offenses but had sexual intent.

Gary Fountain, Freelance / For the Chronicle

Now 58, Miller remains in Littlefield, the facility overseen by his victims sister. It just seems the cards are stacked, Molnar said.

Gouyton said her familys tragedy, as well as her work advocating for victims of sexual assault, brought important and necessary perspective to the civil commitment agency. I take my role as a board member very seriously and would not allow my personal history to impact my decision-making, she said in a written statement.

Confining rather than curing

The civil commitment program has been sued often, with the vast majority of challenges being turned away. But a series of connected lawsuits already has had unusual early successes.

Jonathan Hitts crimes were shocking. In 1999, Hitt, then known as Father Jeremiah, was sentenced to ten years in prison for molesting a child at a Central Texas monastery. A decade later, he was placed in the Sexually Violent Predator program.

At the time, Texass version included intensively supervised outpatient programs. Hitt thrived, according to legal filings. He moved to a halfway house near Austin and worked at a downtown restaurant. By 2014, he had enough money to buy property and a trailer.

When the SVP program was overhauled, Hitt was told that he could remain an outpatient, according to court filings. But in late 2015 he had started a relationship with a woman.

It wasnt forbidden  she was a consenting adult  but Hitts supervisors accused him of not keeping them informed. After failing a polygraph, he was surrounded by police and taken to jail. Days later, he was moved 400 miles away to Littlefield.

Guiseppe Barranco, Photo Editor / Guiseppe Barranco/The Enterprise

Still, Hitt remained confident hed be out soon. He was labeled Tier 4, the final stage before community living. A therapist recommended he return to Austin, according to court documents.

Yet with no sign administrators would release him, in 2017 he sued, claiming that by summarily re-locking him up, TCCO had effectively revoked his years of treatment gains. Despite the long odds  Hitt filed his federal lawsuit without an attorney  in April 2019 a judge agreed he had been wrongly denied a hearing. The case is pending.

Hitt has since filed a second lawsuit. Despite being a Tier 4 on the verge of re-entering the community, it alleges McLane later personally ordered him demoted to a Tier 2 in retaliation for his first lawsuit, guaranteeing additional years at Littlefield. In court filings, McLane has denied it. But Hitt remains there today, five years after arriving.

Now represented by Austin attorney David Gonzalez, Hitt recently asked the lawsuit be converted to a class action, to include other Littlefield residents languishing in the program for no therapeutic reason. TCCO is treating to confine, rather than treating to cure, it said.

If Hitt has not  and cannot  make it out [of the program] no one will. Rather, Hitt and the other Plaintiff Patients have been left to die.

eric.dexheimer@chron.com

Recent reports indicate that attacks by Islamist militants in the Cabo Delgado area of northern Mozambique are dwindling. But the death of the chief of operations this week calls for strategic changes, local media reports.

Commander Eugenio Ussene Mussa allegedly died of Covid-19, but the cause of death was not officially given.

"President Filipe Nyusi thought that with Mussa in charge of that area, maybe they were going to win the battle," Mozambique correspondent Charles Mwangiro tells Africa Calling podcast.

"But with his death now, things are going to change," he adds.

Jihadists calling themselves al-Shabab have been launching attacks in Cabo Delgado province since 2017, but violence escalated last year. At least 2,500 have been killed and more than half a million people have been displaced over the three-year period.

Attacks on the decline?

The government has touted its recent success, especially as it has been dealing with at least 800 strikes by jihadists in the past year alone.

"Insurgent activity remained low in Cabo Delgado last week, while actions by government forces and their allies appeared to increase," according to the US-run ACLED database, which tracks violence in the region. They were referring to the first week of February.

French energy giant Total pulls staff from Mozambique site over jihadist threat

Africa Calling Ep 2: Election woes in Tanzania, Zimbabwe gold smuggling, Mozambique attacks

While reports coming out of the area indicate fighting is on the wane, as militants begin to run out of supplies, correspondent Mwangiro says that the news is only coming from the government, making reporting on the crisis very difficult.

"We used to get reports from the insurgents because they had their own means of communication, such as the social media platforms," he says.

Mwangiro was reporting in Cabo Delgado in November and December, but said that it was difficult to work there.

"They don't want anyone there, and they're saying it's a danger zone," he adds, recounting stories of journalists who were disappeared, tortured and killed in the region.

Outside help

The extremists call themselves al-Shabab, but they are not part of the group that carries out guerrilla attacks in Somalia.

"We don't know what al-Shabab this is," Mwangiro says. "The government has been saying that it's a new group. Some people say there's some local people involved, but no one knows who is fighting who in Cabo Delgado," he says.

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Also figuring into the equation is the planned multi-billion-euro liquid natural gas exploration that is planned off the Afungi peninsula, near the Shabab-controlled area. Workers at the French oil major Total were evacuated in December when fighting broke out near their facility.

The Cabo Delgado incursions have played out around a multi-billion-dollar liquid natural gas (LNG) exploration project off the Afungi peninsula, raising concern among project developers.

However, Total CEO Patrick Pouyanne said this week that their plans were still on schedule to start production in 2024. He said that after jihadists came within 10 kilometres of the site, Mozambican officials pledged to provide protection within a 25-km radius.

Mozambique has asked the European Union for help with training soldiers to fight jihadists, and Portugal said in December it would step in. But Mozambique has been loath to ask for direct help in containing the violence.

Although Southern African Development Community (SADC), a regional body, was slated to hold a summit in mid-January on the current crisis in Mozambique, it was permanently postponed, according to Luza news agency.

"The government has been saying it can control the situation in Cabo Delgado, but it's likely to affect other countries in the region, like Tanzania, Zambia, and Malawi too," says Mwangiro.

"That's why regional leaders have been trying to help with the insurgency in the region," he adds.
Smize! The supermodel and real estate tycoon Tyra Banks has reportedly snapped up a Malibu beach house, according to Variety. The purchase must have her smizing, as in, "smiling with her eyes," a term she invented.

The television personality and home flipper must have flipped for the property, splashing out $4,717,555 for the oceanfront contemporary.

The savvy businesswoman managed to chip away at the asking price, which was $5.5 million when it debuted on the market in November 2020. No doubt shell use the discount to budget for a home makeover of the 1980s-era abode, which is in need of refreshing.

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Malibu beach house (realtor.com)

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Entrance (realtor.com)

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Atrium with skylight (realtor.com)

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Living room with fireplace and built-ins (realtor.com)

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Dated kitchen (realtor.com)

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Ocean views (realtor.com)

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Deck looking over the ocean (realtor.com)

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Casual dining (realtor.com)

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Formal dining room (realtor.com)

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Second level (realtor.com)

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Bedroom (realtor.com)

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Roof deck (realtor.com)

As beach pads go, this one certainly makes waves. The four-bedroom, four-bathroom, two-story home right on the Malibu coastline offers awe-inspiring views of the Pacific.

The entrance features a soaring, two-story atrium topped with a skylight, allowing sunlight to pour in to the open floor plan. The layout features an open kitchen with dizzying gridlike tiles on every surface, and features an island and room for a breakfast table.

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Watch: Matt Damon's $21M Pacific Palisades Home Says 'Big Time'

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In addition, the 4,000 square feet of living space include a den, a bar, and laundry units in the kitchen, the listing notes. A mix of Mexican tile and wood floors run throughout the main level.

The kitchen adjoins a more formal dining room. Just adjacent, the sunny, sunken living room includes a fireplace with a brick surround, built-ins, and glass doors that open to the deck.

Upstairs, the master bedroom includes a fireplace, deck access, walk-in closet, and a bathroom, with more gridded tile covering the counters and even the tub surround.

Multiple decks take full advantage of the water views on all levels, including the roof. A two-car garage completes the property.

The co-host of "Dancing With the Stars" is no stranger to real estate deals. As we've reported in the past, Banks has multiple land holdings.

Her transactions have mostly focused on the posh Pacific Palisades area, where she owns a modern, $7 million contemporary home that she purchased in 2018.

The five-bedroom home offers views of the Pacific Ocean and the Palisades upscale shopping and dining district below. The space includes a backyard with pool, as well as balconies on every level, including a roof deck with a hot tub.

In 2019, Banks scooped up a Pacific Palisades traditional for a little over $3 million, which she had planned to transform into a modern farmhouse-style beach cottage.

However, without refurbishing the dated domicile, she recently sold it for $3.2 million, Variety reported. Perhaps her makeover efforts will now be focused on the Malibu home instead.

Banks has also held on to a swanky New York City condo that she picked up for $10.1 million in 2009, and remodeled at a cost of millions. Located in Battery Park City, the two-floor, 7,000-square foot spread is made up of four adjoining units.

Although she did test out the NYC market with a $17.5 million price tag on her place in 2017, the mansion-sized duplex has since been taken off the market.

We can see why its a keeper: The five-bedroom, eight-bathroom residence offers superstar amenities, including a hair salon, a gym, a 360-degree mirrored dressing room, staff quarters, and Hudson River views.

When not trading in real estate, the creator of Americas Next Top Model recently founded a premium ice cream brand, SMiZE Cream.

Jonathan Macht with Coldwell Banker Realty represented the seller. James Respondek with Sotheby's International Realty represented the buyer.

The post Tyra Banks Snags a Picture-Perfect Malibu Beach House for $4.7M appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com.
Luke Money, Rong-Gong Lin II, Los Angeles Times (TNS)

California now has more COVID-19 deaths than any other state, a distinction reflecting both its large population and the ravages of a winter coronavirus wave that has only recently begun to recede.

All told, 45,007 Californians have died from COVID-19, with 514 fatalities reported Tuesday alone, according to data compiled by The Times.

New York, which was crushed in the pandemics early days by a heavy death toll and became the poster child for how rapidly the virus could spin out of control, has recorded 44,969 fatalities.

The raw numbers, though bleak, dont paint a complete picture. California, with its roughly 40 million people, has reported 114 COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 residents  the 18th-lowest rate among all states.

By comparison, the reported COVID-19 death rate per 100,000 residents is 142 in Texas and 135 in Florida, Times data show.

To further put Californias number in perspective, the state is closer to Wyoming, which has seen 107 deaths per 100,000 residents, than it is to New York, at 229, or New Jersey, which has the highest rate in the nation at 248.

Aside from those overall figures, Californias recent death tolls continue to be high even as other markers trend in a promising direction.

Over the last two weeks, California has announced almost 7,000 COVID-19 deaths, underlining the continuing heart-wrenching impact of the virus.

Although many of those infected experience only mild symptoms, or none at all, a number eventually fall ill enough to require hospitalization. From there, some deteriorate to the point that they need intensive care, and despite the efforts of healthcare workers, some die.

Health officials say the surest way to combat this scenario is to reduce the number of people being infected with the coronavirus in the first place.

Should cases increase, hospitalizations and deaths will increase shortly thereafter and in the weeks ahead, Los Angeles County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said this week. We really cant afford that increase.

Promising news, however, emerged on that front over the last week as California reported an average of 12,278 new cases per day  a 47% decrease from two weeks ago, Times data show.

Thats down precipitously from the worst peaks of the winter surge, when the state was recording nearly 45,000 cases a day.

Despite that decline, the number of daily new coronavirus cases is still substantially higher than before the surge. In early October, California was recording about 3,000 coronavirus cases a day.

More than 3.4 million Californians have tested positive for the coronavirus over the course of the pandemic, though many experts and officials believe the true number of infections is higher than that.

The number of COVID-19 patients hospitalized statewide has also tumbled, from a high of nearly 22,000 in early January to roughly 11,200 as of Monday.

We do see light at the end of the tunnel, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Tuesday. We are seeing real progress.

But the states steps forward are not irreversible, and officials warn California could quickly regress if people begin to disregard infection-prevention protocols such as wearing face coverings while in public and avoiding crowded settings  particularly indoors.

Winter holiday celebrations are in the rearview mirror, but officials are continuing to preach caution for Valentines Day and the upcoming Presidents Day weekend.

Though smaller-scale outdoor gatherings are once again allowed, and couples can enjoy a romantic meal on a restaurant patio, Ferrer said L.A. County residents should still abstain from traveling, if possible, until transmission rates drop.

We strongly advise against any leisure or recreational travel until further notice, she said. The risks are just too great.
Bruce Springsteen was visibly swaying back and forth, had glassy eyes and smelled strongly of alcohol after consuming a shot of Patron Tequila, according to a federal violation notice filed on Thursday.

The sparse, six-page notice and statements of probable cause that was docketed in U.S. District Court in New Jersey offered new details in the months-old arrest, which was only confirmed on Wednesday by the National Park Service.

In the filing, a Park Service officer who issued the violations last November said he saw Springsteen take the drink a little after 4 p.m. on a Saturday afternoon, get on his Triumph motorcycle and then start the engine, before he was approached.

I contacted Springsteen and informed him alcohol is prohibited at Sandy Hook, officer R.L. Hayes, wrote in a statement of probable cause. The Patron bottle that the shot was poured out of was completely empty.

Springsteen told the officer he had two shots of tequila in the last 20 minutes.

The New York Post published a report based on a music industry source that Springsteen was ticketed after taking a shot with fans while he sat on his motorcycle at Sandy Hook. and the Asbury Park Press reported, based on a source, that his blood-alcohol level was well below the legal limit.

Hayes said the musician was put through a series of field sobriety tests, and claimed that he smelled strongly of alcohol and had glassy eyes.

Springsteen was visibly swaying back and forth while I observed his eyes, said Hayes. Springsteen took 45 total steps during the walk and turn instead of the instructed 18.

He added that Springsteen also refused to provide a sample on the preliminary breath test.

The 71-year-old rock legend and Freehold native had been charged last fall with driving while intoxicated, reckless driving, and drinking in an area where alcohol is prohibited. But the matter never came to the attention of the public until days after Springsteen appeared in a high-profile ad for automaker Jeep during the Super Bowl, with a message of national unity amid the countrys polarized political divisions.

The television ad, his first product endorsement, was filmed in Kansas and urged people to find common ground. Days later, an unidentified source leaked the news of Springsteens DUI charges to the celebrity website TMZ.com.

After the story broke, Jeep announced it would pull the Super Bowl ad, issuing a statement that said it would be inappropriate for us to comment on the details of a matter we have only read about and we cannot substantiate. But the company added, its also right that we pause our Big Game commercial until the actual facts can be established.

Springsteen has not commented on the matter and his attorney on Thursday did not respond to requests for comment.

The Nov. 14 arrest occurred in Sandy Hook, a part of the federal Gateway National Recreation Area on the New Jersey coast at the northeast tip of Monmouth County, a spokeswoman for the National Park Service had confirmed on Wednesday.

Springsteen was cooperative throughout the process, Brenda Ling said in a statement.

Why the matter stayed well below the radar for so long may be due in part to the jurisdictional bounds of Gateway.

The sprawling area spans 27,000 acres from Sandy Hook in New Jersey to Breezy Point in New York, and is policed by the National Park Service whose park rangers are federal law enforcement officers.

However, violations at Sandy Hook  such as drunken driving and other traffic matters  are run through U.S. District Court in Newark and adjudicated in a part of the federal courts known as enclave court. Unlike tickets handled in a New Jersey towns municipal court, tickets issued by rangers are typically not public record, according to a spokesman for the U.S. Attorneys office.

A hearing had been scheduled this week for Wednesday, but had been delayed to later in the month.

Springsteen lives in Colts Neck, about 12 miles away from Sandy Hook, and is no stranger to the area, where he has used its beaches as backdrops for several music and film projects, including the album cover for 1987s Tunnel of Love.

Local journalism needs your support. Subscribe at nj.com/supporter.

Ted Sherman may be reached at tsherman@njadvancemedia.com.
Xiaomi will announce two new audio products in India on February 22

Xiaomi India has gone on its official Twitter to confirm an upcoming announcement for February 22. The company will unveil something audio related in India at noon on February 22 under the banner #MiSoundUnveil.

The teaser for the event shows two wired in-ear headphones but those could just be generic images, unrelated to the new products.

Company VP Manu Kumar Jain elaborated on his own Twitter that Xiaomi will bring 2 brand new products at the event.

Did you hear that?



A new sound wave, coming soon.



The #MiSoundUnveil | 12 PM on 22.02.2021



Stay tuned! pic.twitter.com/6wZTUNnZBl  Mi India #Mi10i is Here! (@XiaomiIndia) February 11, 2021

Xiaomi has a fleet of audio devices, so there's no telling what the company has in store. A quick cross-reference between Xiaomi's available headphones for China and India didn't help clear things up either. We'll just have to wait to find out.
Mortar shelling in Afghanistan kills at least 10 civilians

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The Daily Beast

Screenshot/YouTubeA Christian diet guru and six other people are presumed dead after her small plane crashed into the waters of Tennessee lake on Saturday morning. Authorities were called to the Percy Priest Lake around 11 a.m., not long after the plane took off from the nearby Smyrna Rutherford County Airport. Late Saturday evening, investigators said they believed all seven passengers had perished. The cause of the crash is still under investigation. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Joe Lara (@joelaraofficial) The plane, a Cessna C501, belonged Gwen Shamblin Lara, founder of the Remnant Fellowship Church and author of The Weigh Down Workshop, and her husband William J. Lara, who went by Joe. The couple lived in nearby Brentwood and had registered the plane via their company JL&GL Productions LP. The aircraft has not been located, but Tennessee Highway Patrol told News Channel 5 that officers located debris consistent with a Cessna C501 and that a small plane had been seen descending into the water near a boat ramp early Saturday.Laras daughter, Elizabeth Hannah, sent a text message to members of the Remnant Fellowship Church saying that her mother and father were aboard the aircraft when it was forced to make a quick, controlled landing. All the planes passengers had ties to the church, including Hannahs own husband Brandon, according to her text. The others aboard were David and Jennifer Martin and Jonathan and Jessica Walters, according to authorities.My brother and I are asking for immediate prayers right now, as we have just gotten word that Gwen and Joe Laras plane had to go down, Hannah wrote before authorities said everyone appeared to have been killed. More information to come, but be in prayerand be at peace, the message continued. GOD IS IN CONTROL, and we will not stop moving forward with WHAT GOD WANTS with this church.Read more at The Daily Beast.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.
Russian security agents -- including one allegedly linked to the poisoning of opposition politician Aleksei Navalny -- tailed another Kremlin critic in the days and weeks before his two near-fatal poisoning illnesses, the investigative group Bellingcat said in a new report.

The Bellingcat investigation, published on February 11, focuses on two incidents in Moscow in which Vladimir Kara-Murza, a veteran opposition activist who has lobbied Western governments for sanctions against Russian officials, nearly died after suffering what his doctors described as toxicity from an unidentified substance.

Previous reporting by RFE/RL documented how Kara-Murzas mysterious illnesses have been discussed at the top levels of the White House, the State Department, and the U.S. intelligence community, including involvement on the part of FBI Director Christopher Wray.

Citing Russian travel records it obtained, Bellingcat found that in the run-up to both the May 2015 and February 2017 incidents, Kara-Murza had been tailed by agents of Russias Federal Security Service (FSB).

One of the FSB officers whose travel overlaps with Kara-Murzas, Konstantin Kudryavtsev, was previously linked by Bellingcat and partners to the near-fatal poisoning of Navalny in August 2020 in Siberia.

German doctors later concluded that Navalny had been targeted with a substance related to Novichok, a Soviet-era nerve agent that had been used against former Russian intelligence agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter in England in March 2018.

"It is curious that all these people who are now standing up to [Russian] authorities and represent a political danger are going through a sudden spate of illnesses, Kara-Murza told RFE/RLs Russian Service. It has to be said that this method [of intimidation] no longer works because no one believes any more that the current authorities are unconnected with these poisonings.

In December 2020, Navalny published a recording of what he and Bellingcat said was a phone conversation with Kudryavtsev. The man speaking with Navalny in the 49-minute phone call, in which Navalny posed as an FSB official, described details of the operation to poison the opposition politician.

U.S. Alliances

The new Bellingcat investigation states that Kudryavtsevs travel overlapped with Kara-Murzas on the activist's trip to Russias Kaliningrad region two months before Kara-Murzas first illness, in 2015, and on a visit to the Volga River city of Nizhny Novgorod in late 2016, around two months before Kara-Murza again fell ill with poisoning symptoms.

The Bellingcat report could heighten pressure on the U.S. government to release additional information on what it knows about the alleged poisonings of Kara-Murza, who believes he was targeted for his support for the U.S. Magnitsky Act, a 2012 law targeting alleged Russian human-rights abusers with sanctions.

Kara-Murza, who lives in suburban Washington, D.C., has built strong alliances with senior U.S. lawmakers, including the late Republican Senator John McCain, at whose funeral in 2018 Kara-Murza served as a pall bearer.

As RFE/RL previously reported, Kara-Murza sued the Justice Department to obtain records on his case held by the FBI, which launched a criminal investigation into his matter as a case of intentional poisoning.

In response to the lawsuit, the Justice Department has provided Kara-Murza with hundreds of pages of FBI records related to his poisoning and testing that was done on biological samples he provided.

But the testing reflected in those records does not include screenings for potentially exotic poisonings, but rather standard toxicological tests for narcotics and other substances, a toxicologist who reviewed the records previously told RFE/RL.

FBI correspondence and lab reports seen by RFE/RL show that officials also sought the expertise of the national laboratories under the auspices of the U.S. Energy Department, which conduct nuclear, biological, and chemical weapons research, among other things.

The records released so far indicate that U.S. labs tested for radioactive substances, but do not include the results of such testing.

"It's possible that the national-security rationale for withholding them is embarrassment over an inability to determine what agent was used to poison Vladimir," Stephen Rademaker, who is representing Kara-Murza in his lawsuit, told RFE/RL in December 2020. "But given the enormous technical capabilities of the U.S. government, we think it's more likely that they did reach some conclusions about the agent used to poison him.

The new findings should add pressure on Western governments to impose sanctions on Russian officials, Kara-Murza said, something that is under active discussion in U.S. President Joe Bidens administration.

"The story of my poisonings has shown how much the incumbent Kremlin regime is afraid of these personal sanctions, that this is their Achilles heel, because the entire modus operandi of the Putin regime comes down to embezzling funds in Russia only to stash or spend the stolen riches abroad, in the West, he said.

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 11)  President Rodrigo Duterte will certify as urgent the passage of a bill relaxing procurement rules on local governments in the purchase of COVID-19 vaccines, his spokesman Harry Roque said Thursday.

PRRD (President Rodrigo Roa Duterte) will inform Congress that it is an urgent admin bill, Roque told CNN Philippines in a text message.

Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez said in a Senate hearing on Thursday that the presidential certification is in the works.

We are now drafting [the certification] for the President to make this bill an urgent bill so that it would be passed immediately, he said.

Senate Bill 2042 would allow local governments to directly purchase COVID-19 vaccines. A similar measure has been filed at the House of Representatives.

In the Senate version, local governments can make up to 50% down payment on COVID-19 vaccines if required by manufacturers during the period of the state of calamity due to the pandemic, which is in effect until September 12 this year. The Government Auditing Code and a 2005 memorandum order only authorize the President to allow an advance payment of 15% percent of the contract price.

A number of local governments have entered into deals with British-Swedish firm AstraZeneca and the national government to buy vaccines for their constituents. AstraZeneca is asking for a 20% down payment, San Juan Mayor Francis Zamora, who signed a tripartite agreement with the vaccine maker and the national government, said Wednesday.

SB 2042 also exempts local governments from complying with the Government Procurement Reform Act, the Local Government Code, and other related laws to hasten the purchase and administration of anti-coronavirus shots.

But as a safeguard, only COVID-19 vaccines approved for emergency use can be bought.

Proposed amendments

In the same hearing, a Department of Science and Technology official opposed the provision that permits LGUs to directly purchase vaccines not approved for general use.

Dr. Jaime Montoya, DOST-Philippine Council for Health Research and Development executive director suggested that the bill "must emphasize that LGUs will only be allowed to procure their own COVID-19 vaccines with emergency use authorization through a tripartite agreement with the national government."

Montoya said vaccine developers do not usually engage with LGUs for the supply of products still under development or those that have been granted EUA. "They only do so if there is a special arrangement made through the national government," he added.

He also said the bill must specify those responsible for compensating people who might exhibit adverse reactions to COVID-19 vaccines.

He pointed out manufacturers with EUA "are not liable" to provide indemnification to vaccinated people as the development of their product is incomplete.

Galvez said he supports Montoya's suggestions, adding that the national government must provide the indemnification.

He also said the absence of an indemnification law could hamper the delivery of the initial 117,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine made by Pfizer. These Pfizer vaccine shots from the COVAX facility are supposed to arrive this month. COVAX is an initiative led by the World Health Organization, along with the vaccine alliance Gavi and the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, which seeks to provide over 150 participating countries equitable access to coronavirus vaccines.

The significant volumes (of COVID-19 vaccines) given by COVAX and manufacturer[s] can be hindered without an indemnification law, Galvez said.

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said the funds for indemnification could be sourced from the contingent fund under the 2021 national budget. Senator Sonny Angara agreed, saying it will help address the issue of compensation.

Galvez also recommended extending until the end of the year the validity of the proposed law.

More harm than good?

While proponents of the measure see it as a solution to delays in vaccine arrival, a group of healthcare workers warned of graver consequences should it be signed into law.

Healthcare Professionals' Alliance Against COVID-19 opposed the bill's passage, saying it may expose Filipinos to more danger and "make local policy makers liable for wrong decisions." This is because the bill will bypass the required recommendations of experts from the Health Technology Assessment Council, HPAAC said.

The group also warned the bill could lead to maldistribution of supply based on an LGU's capacity to pay rather than the need for the vaccine. To ensure vulnerable sectors and high-risk areas are prioritized, the medical professionals said there should be centralized procurement and distribution by the national government.

Citing the World Health Organization, the group said of the nearly 200 million people who have been vaccinated globally, 75% are from 10 rich countries.

"Meanwhile, at least 130 countries have not vaccinated a single person, the HPAAC said. "We aggravate this inequity by doing the same thing locally  distributing geographically according to capacity to pay."

The alliance also cautioned that the bill could drive increases in vaccine costs.

"Allowing LGUs to directly purchase from sellers or manufacturers will escalate vaccine prices because the country will lose the scale or volume that one buyer has," it said. "At the same time, central government's monopsony power as 'single buyer' is also diminished, likewise resulting in higher prices."

HPAAC said LGUs have important roles in fighting COVID-19, but "procuring vaccines is not one of them." Instead, local governments must focus its efforts and funds on other equally important aspects of the immunization program, such as profiling recipients, hiring and training vaccinators, conducting simulations, and assuring cold chain logistics, among others, the alliance said.
The swift development of effective coronavirus vaccines has been one of the few bright points of the pandemic. Since Britain administered the first fully tested vaccine in December, well over 130 million doses have been delivered around the world - 44 million in the United States alone.

But most countries have yet to see the benefits of this accomplishment. Months into the global vaccine rollout, the pace remains staggeringly unequal, with wealthy countries leaving poorer ones in the dust. And they aren't competing in a vacuum: The success of the former has come very much at the expense of the latter.

"It remains to a large degree a zero-sum game, which means that every dose that goes to the U.S. or the U.K. or an E.U. country is a dose that's off the shelves," said Andrea Taylor, a researcher at Duke University's Global Health Innovation Center who tracks vaccines. "And the shelves aren't going to be restocked for a while."

The zero-sum nature of vaccine supply is rooted in a wide variety of factors, but boils down to the simple fact that manufacturers cannot yet meet demand. The potential consequences are wide-ranging. Unmitigated spread in any country, rich or poor, can lead to variants that may be more virulent or resistant to vaccines.

"As long as the epidemic is ongoing and more virus is circulating, more variants are likely to emerge," said Willem Hanekom, director of the Africa Health Research Institute in South Africa, which earlier this week halted the rollout of a vaccine developed at Oxford University and made by AstraZeneca after a study suggested it may not be adequately effective against a variant widespread in the country.

"The longer this takes, the greater the risk of mutations which could render the vaccines impotent, as is already apparently happening in South Africa, which poses a risk to people everywhere and to the global economic recovery," said Ian Goldin, a professor of globalization and development at Oxford University.

The delayed introduction of vaccines in poorer countries is also likely to lead to a longer pandemic, with a deadlier human toll and more long-lasting economic damage.

Some experts have urged wealthy nations to address the situation head-on, through a policy likely to find little domestic support: the donation of doses to other countries that need them, before fully vaccinating at home.

The idea has sway among those who study global public health and inequality. The first focus should not be on getting an entire country vaccinated, but on working to vaccinate the people who are most at risk around the world, said Sema Sgaier, an assistant professor at Harvard and director of the Surgo Foundation.

"It is not unfair that countries vaccinate their population - they definitely have to meet local demand and open local economies," Sgaier wrote in an email. "But once each country reaches a threshold (e.g. age and risk groups), there should be some sharing."

Beyond sharing their guaranteed orders abroad, countries could relax intellectual property and move to ensure manufacturing resources go to vaccines that are not only successful but also easy to store and transport, Goldin said.

So far, buy-in to this way of thinking remains limited. Norway has offered a plan to donate excess vaccine doses. Mexico, despite recording the third-worst death toll globally, has limited its purchases of the Pfizer vaccine after a U.N. request. Most other nations have not detailed such plans.

The Biden administration has pledged to pursue the idea of donating vials, but has not offered a timeline or other specifics.

The United States would "develop a framework for providing surplus U.S. government vaccine doses to countries in need, once there is sufficient supply in the United States," a State Department spokesperson said. The government has not said how it would define surplus in light of vaccine hesitancy.

The spokesperson said the United States might consider donating excess doses through Covax Facility, a program backed by the World Health Organization that is designed to ensure global access to vaccines. The Biden administration has pledged to support the program, in which the Trump administration did not participate.

Such a move could strengthen Covax, which was designed to attract wealthy donors by placing guaranteed orders among a range of vaccine manufacturers - avoiding the risk of nation-level deals to acquire vaccines that could later prove inefficient. So far, the initiative has struggled to find funding and accrue supply.

"Not only did most wealthy nations not rely on Covax for their vaccines, [but] the portfolio approach that these nations took to their advance vaccine purchases consumed most of the resources and vaccine manufacturing capacity that otherwise might have gone to Covax," said Thomas J. Bollyky, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations.

Speaking from South Africa, where authorities are scrambling to make their own deals after Covax fell short, Hanekom said many nations failed to see that vaccination is a fundamentally global issue. "Thinking that we can protect our own population, when others are not protected? There's incredible risk with that approach," he said.

Some countries have ordered more doses than they need to reach full vaccination. By the end of January, Canada had arranged deals to acquire 338 million doses for its population of 38 million - giving it the potential for 500% coverage, according to Taylor's team at Duke.

Covax announced last week that it plans to distribute 330 million doses to poorer countries in the first half of the year, but that remains a fraction of the total number required. At the same time, wealthy nations with their own supply of vaccines, including Canada, are set to receive doses through Covax.

The effects of and solutions for vaccine inequality are not clear-cut. Canadian officials last week defended their decision to accept 1.9 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine by summer through Covax, arguing that their responsibility was to their citizens first and foremost. Officials told The Washington Post in December that Canada would donate excess doses, but have not given a firm time frame.

The portfolio approach to vaccine acquisition, by which wealthy nations pieced together sets of orders across promising vaccine prospects, may have had some positive knock-on effects for global availability. "The scale of the preorders was staggering," Taylor said. "And what the preorders at that scale allowed was a massive investment in manufacturing early in the process."

Wealthy countries may have helped spur more initial supply, but "we were always going to have demand outstripping supply," Taylor said. But the ceiling could eventually go up. Some drug manufacturers are moving their resources to support rivals after their own vaccine candidates fizzled.

In the United States, where the Biden administration recently announced additional vaccination plans, some believe that supply could soon outpace demand.

"We're going to run out of demand sooner than we think," Scott Gottlieb, a former commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, said during an appearance on CNBC this week.

On the global stage, vaccines made by Russia and China, though initially viewed with skepticism in the West, are already making a difference. Data compiled by the Think Global Health project at the Council on Foreign Relations shows these vaccines already account for much of limited supply in middle- and low-income countries.

The redistribution of doses to the world's most vulnerable could help avert a steep human toll, buying manufactures more time to meet global demand - which they might, in theory, by next year, Taylor said. But the very nature of the virus means any timeline could change.

It may well be shifting under our feet. WHO officials suggested this week that the prevalence of virus variants may necessitate annual vaccinations or booster shots. "That would completely change the picture. It blows everything out of the water," said Taylor. "And I think it's where we're heading."
Lorraine Kelly revealed on Good Morning Britain on Thursday that she was actually the one to propose to her husband Steve Smith.

During a video link with Kate Garraway and Ben Shephard, the host, 62, was asked about her proposal ahead of Valentine's Day.

Lorraine shocked the pair when she told them in was her who popped the question to her now husband.

Lorraine Kelly revealed on Good Morning Britain on Thursday that she was actually the one to propose

Ben said: 'Andi was telling us that Tower Bridge is one of the most popular spots for people to ask for people's hands in marriage. How did Stevie ask you to marry him?'

To which Lorraine replied: 'Do you know what? I think I asked. I think it was me. Isn't that awful? I can't really remember it.

'But I'm sure I was sitting one night and I said, "Do you know what? I think we should". It was one of those.'

Wedding bells: Lorraine has been happily married to Steve for more than 28 years. The couple tied the knot on the 5 September 1992

Romance: During a video link with Kate Garraway and Ben Shephard, the host, 62, was asked about her proposal ahead of Valentine's Day

She added: 'It wasn't very romantic. But actually that doesn't matter.'

Kate told the Scottish presenter she admired how he 'does what he's told from the get-go', while Ben joked: 'It wasn't even a question, was it?'.

Lorraine has been happily married to Steve for more than 28 years. The couple tied the knot on the 5 September 1992.

Surprise! Lorraine shocked the pair when she told them in fact it was her who popped the question to her now husband

Popping the question: She said: 'Do you know what? I think I asked. I think it was me. Isn't that awful? I can't really remember it'

They have one daughter, Rosie, 26.

Lorraine has previously spoke about her nuptials and said she regretted her choice of wedding dress.

She told Hello Magazine: 'It was such a small one, it was wee, it really was.

'All I wanted was men in kilts and pipers. There was no real plan. It was very, very traditional.

'My dress... Uyuy-yuy. It was 1992 so it was kind of like a Princess Diana bouffant thing with big sleeves  oh God. We could all get in it. We could all fit in my dress. I've still got it.'
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[February 11, 2021] Global Communications Group (GCG) Accelerates Digital Transformation Journey with AppSmart

AppSmart, the leading source to find, buy, and manage all business technology services, today announced that Global Communications Group, Inc. (GCG), a leading technology consulting firm, has selected AppSmart as an exclusive commercial partner to fuel growth through digital transformation. Founded in 2002 in Denver, Colorado, GCG is a solution-based, technology consulting firm delivering best-of-breed technologies including cloud, data center, network, systems integration, App Dev, IoT, ERP and more to businesses worldwide over the past 19 years. GCG is the latest business to solidify with AppSmart an exclusive commercial partnership under its innovative AppSmart Invest product. GCG selected the AppSmart platform to provide GCG technology advisors and their customers a significant competitive advantage that few alternatives can match. "Businesses today face unprecedented challenges and they seek to leverage the vision, experience and capabilities of trusted technology experts to help them thrive in a digital world. AppSmart and their technology advisors are leadin the charge for businesses to successfully navigate and adopt digital transformation," said Joel St. Germain, CEO of GCG. "With AppSmart, GCG furthers its mission of delivering the best experience, the most advanced technology and the most complete catalog of technology solutions to its customers and technology advisors. I couldn't be more excited to continue leading GCG through continued explosive growth in the industry."



"Joel and the GCG team have built a remarkable technology business with an unrivaled commitment to advisor and customer experience," said Renee Bergeron, Senior Vice President and General Manager at AppSmart. "We are honored that GCG chose AppSmart and thrilled to work closely with Joel and his team to provide businesses smart access to find, buy and manage all business technology services." To learn more, visit appsmart.com/invest and www.gcgcom.com.

About AppSmart: AppSmart is the #1 marketplace in the world to find, buy and manage all business technology services including connectivity, wireless/mobility, software, infrastructure, energy, managed services, and devices. Thousands of organizations of all sizes and in all sectors, including retail, healthcare, hospitality, manufacturing, banking, education and more, trust AppSmart and our network of Technology Advisors to help them make smarter technology decisions. AppSmart sells services exclusively through our vast network of vendor-agnostic AppSmart Technology Advisors. About GCG: Global Communications Group, Inc. (GCG) is a solution-based, IT consulting firm and technology service distributor that delivers best-of-breed solutions including cloud, connectivity, communications, enterprise applications and cybersecurity. Specifically, GCG Technology Consultants advise their clients on how they can leverage technology to solve business challenges and create competitive advantages. GCG is headquartered in Englewood, Colorado and has business and enterprise clients spanning the globe. 2021 AppSmart, Inc. AppSmart is a registered trademark of AppSmart, Inc.'s affiliates in the United States and other countries. Other brand and product names are for identification purposes only and may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holder(s). View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210211005951/en/

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Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said that he held a "good discussion" with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi on many important issues, including on the two nations' commitment to democratic principles, recent protests, and the importance of resolving issues through dialogue.

Trudeau made a telephone call to prime minister Modi on Wednesday.

Today, I had a good discussion with Prime Minister @NarendraModi on many important issues, and weve agreed to stay in touch. For a summary of the call, click here: https://t.co/vFGa8lkkQV  Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) February 10, 2021

"I had a good discussion with Prime Minister @NarendraModi on many important issues, and weve agreed to stay in touch," Trudeau tweeted.

"The leaders discussed Canada and Indias commitment to democratic principles, recent protests, and the importance of resolving issues through dialogue," the Canadian Prime Minister's office said in a statement, in an apparent reference to the ongoing agitation by farmers in India.

Trudeau in December said that Canada will always be there to defend the rights of peaceful protests, and had expressed concern over the situation, evoking a strong reaction from India.

Justin Trudeau and Narendra Modi

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has also emphasised that the new farm laws have been passed by India's Parliament after a full debate and discussion and urged foreign individuals and entities to ascertain the facts before rushing to comment on the agitation by farmers.

"The Parliament of India, after a full debate and discussion, passed reformist legislation relating to the agricultural sector. These reforms give expanded market access and provided greater flexibility to farmers. They also pave the way for economically and ecologically sustainable farming," the ministry said in a statement last week.

"We would like to emphasise that these protests must be seen in the context of Indias democratic ethos and polity, and the efforts of the Government and the concerned farmer groups to resolve the impasse," it said.
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Editor's Note This article is brought to you by Ochsner Health.

When Kala Gaudet and her husband, Dr. Gabriel Vidal, were redeployed into different roles at Ochsner Health to help treat COVID-19 patients, one of their primary concerns was keeping their family safe. The couple had a toddler son at home and Kala was pregnant with their second child, a girl.

The primary struggle for me was protecting our children and worrying about what would happen if I got sick while I was pregnant or if one of our children got sick, said Gaudet, an RN and Resuscitation Program coordinator with Ochsners Rapid Response team. The challenge was to balance that with patient care while also supporting our team members.

Vidal, the section head of Ochsners Neurology Stroke Center, said the couple made sure to take extra precautions. They used hand sanitizer constantly and took off their work clothes and showered before interacting with their son at home. But trying to keep an active toddler away from potential virus sources was its own challenge.

Anybody who has had a one-and-a-half year old will tell you that they just want to go out and climb and touch everything and put it in their mouth, said Vidal. That was a big no-no. We had to figure out how to do as many things at home as possible.

Gaudet said things became easier when her husband built their son a playhouse with a slide in their backyard. When their daughter was born last summer, both mom and baby were healthy. But things became a little more difficult again around the holidays because the couple decided not to see their families in person.

We knew virus cases were spiking, so we chose to do Christmas at home with just us and the kids, Gaudet said. In a way, it was nice to spend that quality time with just the four of us, but we did really miss our families. The good part is that my kids are so young that they didnt really understand that anything was different, so we were fortunate in that respect.

Once the vaccines were made available, Vidal said he had no skepticism about taking it. Gaudet was a bit more cautious, but still knew she wanted to move forward for herself, her patients and her family. After receiving the shots, Vidal said he had a sore arm for a bit and some slight fatigue, while Gaudet had some minor body aches that lasted for just a few hours.

Ive talked to a lot of people who are skeptical, and I always ask them what they are worried about. They always say their concern is getting sick or having severe side effects, Vidal said. I explain to them that it is safe and its about protecting themselves and the people they love. I talked to a friend who wanted his mom to take it, but he didnt want to take it. I said, You interact with people at your workplace every day. You are the one at risk. If you dont get vaccinated, youre putting other people at risk. Its not just about yourself, but for everybody else.

Vidal, a native of Puerto Rico, said that like other populations, the emotions about the COVID vaccine vary greatly among Hispanics, even though the virus has hit the Hispanic population hard. He attributed much of that concern to a lack of understanding, misinformation and fears about possible side effects. However, he is optimistic that members of the Hispanic community and others will become more receptive to the vaccine as factual information spreads.

Hopefully, the fact that Hispanic physicians are on board with having the vaccine can ease the concerns the community has about it, he said.

As more people have received the vaccines with no complications, Vidal said hes noticed a decrease in the skepticism and more people feeling comfortable with the idea of getting the shots. Gaudet agreed, and said shes also sharing the message that one person may have COVID with few or minor symptoms, but the virus could be deadly to others.

We have seen so many people pass away from this and its not a pretty death, she said. It can happen in a moment. Someone can be talking to their family an hour before and then they code and are gone in the blink of an eye. The idea of knowing you could take simple steps to protect the people you love, that makes it completely worth it for me.

For the latest information on COVID-19, please visit www.ochsner.org.


 Flash

The traditional friendship between Pakistan and China is not only embodied in mutual support and cooperation between the two governments, but also in people-to-people bonds, Pakistani President Arif Alvi said here on Wednesday.

"The friendship (between Pakistan and China) is higher than the mountains and deeper than the oceans. And it's long-term. It's deeper. It not only depends on the governments, but also on the people's love for each other," the president said during an interview with Chinese media.

After the outbreak of COVID-19, some Pakistani students in China and their parents felt worried about the epidemic, but their concerns were soon eliminated as the students were taken good care of by the Chinese government, which has demonstrated "one of the best episodes of Pakistan-China friendship," Alvi said.

The Pakistani president said that when he paid a visit to China in March, 2020, "we wanted to give the message to the world that China is a safe country, and we wanted to show the world that China has handled COVID-19 very well."

Alvi extended his gratitude to China for first providing COVID-19 vaccine aid to Pakistan, adding that the donated vaccines are of great importance to his country and Pakistan has already started to administer Chinese vaccines to frontline healthcare workers.

"We are very impressed by the fact that it (the Chinese vaccine) is effective and there is a matter of reassurance (for the frontline healthcare workers)," the president said.

Noting that China also sent medical experts to join Pakistan's efforts to battle COVID-19 last year, he said Pakistan has learnt a lot from the Chinese medical experts on how to handle COVID-19, which has greatly helped the country's anti-epidemic efforts.

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Pakistan and China, Alvi said, adding that both the countries believe that the international relations should be based on principles including mutual respect and non-interference in each other's affairs.

Pakistan and China think alike on many international affairs, cooperate closely in different international organizations and firmly support each other on issues concerning the core interests of the two countries, he noted.

"I am very hopeful for the future of bilateral ties," said the president, adding that "the world has to go towards free trade, the world has to go towards non-hegemonistic intentions, and the world has to go towards peace and peace is built on foundations."

"The world can learn from Pakistan and China's friendship," he said.

Talking about the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), Alvi said that CPEC projects have greatly improved Pakistan's infrastructure and energy supply, adding that CPEC, which is currently focusing on industrial, agricultural, socio-economic and poverty alleviation cooperation, will bring a large number of job opportunities to the Pakistani people.

The Pakistani president also extended his congratulations to the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC). He said the CPC has shown great leadership in leading the Chinese people to fight against COVID-19, making unbelievable achievements in poverty alleviation and providing health, which are the "foundations through which Chinese economy has prospered tremendously."

Whether or not a political party can keep vitality forever depends on "the relationship of the party with the real issues and then the interaction with the people," he said, adding that the CPC understands what the Chinese people want and guides the Chinese people towards a better future.

"We are following the Chinese poverty alleviation model while strengthening the education and healthcare system along with the job creation and industrial growth," Alvi said.
South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster on Monday removed the head of the State Accident Fund, calling for an investigation into whether she improperly steered a $600,000 government contract to her husbands company.

In a letter, McMaster asked State Inspector General Brian Lamkin to conduct a thorough investigation to determine whether criminal violations of state law have occurred, writing that his office was tipped off in January to allegations that Amy Cofields agency had hired her husband, Jimmy Terrapin, as a contractor.

Cofield has led the agency responsible for workers compensation insurance for nearly 200,000 employees in the state since McMaster appointed her in 2019. She confirmed the arrangement  which calls for her husband to work nearly 40 hours a week at $150 an hour for the next two years, or about $300,000 a year  when questioned by McMasters attorney, the governor wrote.

These procurement actions raise significant ethical and legal questions about the conduct of employees at the State Accident Fund, McMaster said in a statement.

Last year, the fund sought a consultants help with picking and implementing a new software program to handle a case management system. But Cofield said no one responded to an initial request for bids. Cofield told media outlets she knew her husband could do the job and assumed it would be a conflict of interest to hire him, with the process only proceeding once procurement officials approved it.

I would never, never, never, never have done anything wrong and jeopardized this job, Cofield told The State. I love this job.

Cofield told media outlets she was shocked by the removal, suggesting that a disgruntled employee had turned on her and reported the deal, which she said had been sanctioned by procurement officials.

Cofield alleged that Tommy Windsor, a former McMaster aide and now the funds government affairs director, was denied a job as her chief of staff and chose to get back at her by reporting the situation to the governor.

I know he was mad, Cofield told The Post and Courier. Im not happy about his unloyalty.

A spokesman for McMaster had no comment about Windsor or whether he informed the governors office about the contract. Windsor did not respond to messages Monday.

McMaster and Windsor have a long history. In 2003, then-Attorney General McMaster re-hired Windsor as a special investigator, seven years after Windsors resignation over sending a derogatory e-mail. At the time, McMaster called Windsors earlier action a stupid mistake that had been meant as a satirical gag.

The governor said Monday that Erin Farthing, the agencys chief counsel, will serve as acting director until a permanent replacement is nominated and confirmed by the state Senate.

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Topics Workers' Compensation South Carolina
Bitcoin's value hit another record this week after Elon Musk's electric car company Tesla revealed its $1.5billion (1.1billion) investment in the cryptocurrency and said customers would soon be able to buy its vehicles with it.

The virtual currency's value has now soared by 372 per cent in the last year to over $45,000, and remains way out in front of other digital currencies.

But what does Tesla's purchase mean for Bitcoin and the wider cryptocurrency market? Is this investment a sign of how the business world is about to change?

Bitcoin's value hit another record this week after Tesla revealed its 1.1billion investment in the cryptocurrency and said customers would soon be able to buy its vehicles with it

Why has Tesla put its money into virtual currency?

In a filing with US authorities, Tesla said it had changed its investment policy to 'provide us with more flexibility to further diversify and maximize returns on our cash that is not required to maintain adequate operating liquidity.'

Buying Bitcoin and promising to accept it in payment form soon is part of that strategy, as is a possible investment in other reserved assets like gold bullion.

Tesla thinks its Bitcoin holdings are 'highly liquid,' though it admitted that digital currency prices can become very volatile, and could hurt them should they need to be liquidated.

Simon Peters, a cryptocurrency analyst at eToro, says he thinks Tesla's action 'cements a long-term interest in Bitcoin's potential,' partly through its use as a bulwark against traditional currency devaluation.

Will other big corporate names follow Tesla in?

Digital currencies are becoming increasingly popular with businesses, both as a means of transaction and investment.

Twitter founder Jack Dorsey has a lot of Bitcoin on the balance sheet of his mobile payment company Square, while Silvergate Bank revealed in its latest earnings report that it had about $5billion of digital currency, most of it in Bitcoin.

Peters says: 'Twitter has revealed it has laid the groundwork for the integration of Bitcoin into its business, strengthening the long-term prospects for the world's largest cryptoasset.'

'Amid all the doubts around its use in the real world, the simple fact is people want alternatives to the existing financial system. They want democratisation of money and Bitcoin and other cryptoassets represent a chance to achieve that.'

'We would expect many more companies to follow suit by both integrating Bitcoin into payrolls, or by investing in it as part of a diversification of their balance sheets.'

Tesla's announcement sent shares in other virtual currency investors higher, such as software giant MicroStrategy, which bought $250million of Bitcoin in August and now has over 71,000 of them on hand.

Many analysts, including Eric Turner of cryptocurrency research firm Messari, also believe Tesla's investment will encourage more companies to follow suit.

Apple and Google are rumoured to want to get involved, while Paypal is already in the process of rolling out full Bitcoin integration for its millions of users.

Twitter founder Jack Dorsey is a notable fan of Bitcoin. His mobile payment company Square accepts payments in the digital currency

Is Bitcoin on its way to becoming a mainstream asset class?

Cryptocurrencies are still very young as an asset class. They receive plenty of attention, but they remain somewhat of an outsider, still outshone by established players such as stocks, bonds, and cash.

We cannot definitively say if crypto will become as normal an investment as shares and real estate yet. Many skeptics remain, including Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey who recently warned that virtual currency currently lacks the infrastructure to make it viable in the long-term.

Simon Peters of eToro thinks Bitcoin will likely become a mainstream asset. He says: 'Without a doubt, similar moves from the likes of Apple and Google may well be on the horizon'

'Have we landed on what I would call the design, governance and arrangements for what I might call a lasting digital currency? No, I don't think we're there yet, honestly. I don't think cryptocurrencies as originally formulated are it,' he remarked.

Peters, in contrast, believes the coronavirus has accelerated Bitcoin's move into the mainstream. He says: 'With stimulus packages still in place for the foreseeable future, it no longer makes financial sense for companies, whose business is mostly online, to retain large volumes of vulnerable cash reserves.

'Without a doubt, similar moves from the likes of Apple and Google may well be on the horizon. In our view, Bitcoin is becoming a more mainstream investment as part of a well-diversified portfolio.'
By Emilie Munson | Times Union, Albany

Washington  New York could receive as much as $23 billion in federal aid to state and local governments from the coronavirus relief bill that Congress is expected to pass in the next few weeks.

The House version of the bill allocates $12.7 billion for New Yorks state government and $10.6 billion to county, city and town governments, according to proposed allocations shared with the Times Union. Under the House bill, Albany County would get $60 million and the city of Albany would receive $79 million. Local towns are also expected to receive hundreds of thousands of dollars.

A congressional aide, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to share details on unfinished legislation, said the estimates are the maximum New York governments should expect and when the Senate finishes its version, the final tallies could drop.

Asked about the forthcoming aid, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo reiterated his claim Wednesday that its not enough and state government needs at least $15 billion to avoid budget cuts.

There is no distribution formula for that $350 billion that does not get the state of New York $15 billion which is fair, in my opinion, Cuomo said. This state was ambushed by COVID; it came here for three months and no one told us because the federal government failed. We were subjected and victimized by federal negligence. Provide the relief to the places that were damaged.

Cuomo has repeatedly said there is a $15 billion gap between estimated revenue and spending, although others, including state Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, peg the deficit as being far less and likely half that amount.

Cuomo on Wednesday also reiterated a controversial call for the federal government to direct federal aid for schools, hospitals and local governments to the state for distribution. Cuomo made the same claim in a letter last week that was criticized by Democrats and Republicans.

The federal government wants to distribute to schools and local governments and hospitals and all these other entities, Cuomo said. Just give it to the state. Who do you think we fund? I fund the schools and the hospitals and the same entities. In many ways, what the federal government is doing is duplicative, but the state needs $15 billion and thats the actual need.

New York state agencies have already received at least $28 billion through the multiple coronavirus relief bills that have been passed. Those numbers do not include the billions of federal relief sent directly to small businesses, individuals, local governments and health care providers.

Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer, D- N.Y., has insisted that $350 billion in funds to state and local governments be included in the new coronavirus relief package, up from the $160 billion proposed by centrist senators in December.

For nearly a year now, Ive met with local upstate leaders  both Republicans and Democrats  struggling to meet the needs of their communities during a pandemic without adequate federal support, said U.S. Rep. Antonio Delgado, D- Rhinebeck. Last May, I introduced the Direct Support for Communities Act, the only proposal at the time to give federal funding to all localities, regardless of population size. My bill passed the House twice last year, only to stall in the Senate both times. Im proud that my colleagues have once again chosen my bill as the vehicle.

The December coronavirus package passed by Congress included no direct grants to state and local governments, but did provide money to the Federal Emergency Management Agency to reimburse state and local governments for their coronavirus expenses, like paying for vaccine and testing sites. The state has negotiated a deal to get $934 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to cover its projected vaccine costs.

In addition, the coronavirus bill includes billions in direct aid to schools and other forms of relief. Its expected to include $11 billion for K-12 and college education in New York, $1.8 billion for child care providers and $8 billion for transportation authorities.

Many Republicans have opposed large amounts of direct aid to state governments, calling them blue state bail-outs. But Democrats will move ahead with the money in the coronavirus bill that they will pass through the reconciliation budget process, which can be approved by simple majorities, eliminating the need for Republican votes.
Funding Supports New Programs to Boost Postsecondary Success and Career Readiness for Tennessee Students

Nashville, TNToday, the Tennessee Department of Education announced nearly $7 million in grants has been awarded to Tennessee to strengthen computer science pathways and STEM education and help more students be prepared for success after high school. With local, state, and national partners, Tennessee has been awarded the Education Innovation and Research (EIR) early phase grant for $4,000,000 and was one of only four states to be awarded the Out-of-School Time Career Pathway Program grant for $2,900,000.

Thanks to longstanding partnerships with local and national partners, Tennessee is receiving nearly $7 million dollars to strengthen high school achievement, boost postsecondary enrollment and directly benefit Tennessee high school students, said Commissioner Penny Schwinn. These grants will help ensure students are given additional opportunities to earn credit and build critical skills before leaving high school, which we know is essential for the success of our students and our state.

The EIR Early Phase Grant will support a new initiative, the Tennessee SySTEM for College and Career Readiness Project, that will leverage innovative industry-postsecondary partnerships to expand STEM and computer science strategies, including embedded work-based learning opportunities, in 20 high schools across Tennessee. By partnering with regional postsecondary institutions and employers, students will be able to simultaneously earn early postsecondary (EPSO) credit and gain workplace skills that prepare them to enter and succeed in careers in STEM and computer science.

The Tennessee SySTEM for College and Career Readiness Project is developed in partnership with JFF (Jobs for the Future) and the American Institute for Research (AIR), and participating schools will be selected through a competitive grant process that the department will launch this summer.

"JFF is excited to deepen our long-time partnership with the Tennessee Department of Education through the new Tennessee SySTEM for College and Career Readiness Project, said Joel Vargas, Vice President at JFF. It is a privilege to support the state in building on its tradition of innovation by expanding work-based courses in STEM and computer science that improve college and career outcomes for high schoolers."

The Out-of-School Time Career Pathway Programs grant will launch the Tennessee Expansion of Computer Science Career (TEC) Pathways Project, which is aligned with Governor Bill Lees Future Workforce Initiative and will expand computer science and STEM pathways in rural communities across the state.

Led by the department in partnership with the Greater Nashville Technology Council (NTC), the new TEC Pathways Project will bring together five rural school districts and postsecondary and industry partners to help improve the outcomes of rural and high-need students and promote the growth of computer science pathways in rural communities through virtual expanded learning opportunities and out-of-school programs.

Tennessee districts were eligible to apply to participate in the TEC Pathways Project if they met two criteria of the federal grant: be in a rural community and offer out-of-school programs through the 21st Century Learning Center federal program. The five districts that will participate in the TEC Pathways Project are White County Schools, Hamblen County Schools, Gibson County Special School District, Cocke County Schools and Trenton Special School District.

Through the Tennessee Expansion of Computer Science Career Pathways Project, the Greater Nashville Technology Council is grateful to continue the long-standing relationship with the Tennessee Department of Education to expand STEM pathways in rural communities across the state, said Sandi Hoff, Chief of Staff, Greater Nashville Technology Council. The NTC looks forward to coordinating work-based learning experiences, to connect rural students with local tech professionals in our community, so students may explore and train for IT careers and pursue postsecondary education in the tech industry.

For additional information about Tennessees Career and Technical Education initiatives and programs, including Tennessee Pathways, click here. For Tennessee Department of Education media inquiries, contact Edu.MediaInquiries@tn.gov.

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The Daily Beast

Screenshot/YouTubeA Christian diet guru and six other people are presumed dead after her small plane crashed into the waters of Tennessee lake on Saturday morning. Authorities were called to the Percy Priest Lake around 11 a.m., not long after the plane took off from the nearby Smyrna Rutherford County Airport. Late Saturday evening, investigators said they believed all seven passengers had perished. The cause of the crash is still under investigation. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Joe Lara (@joelaraofficial) The plane, a Cessna C501, belonged Gwen Shamblin Lara, founder of the Remnant Fellowship Church and author of The Weigh Down Workshop, and her husband William J. Lara, who went by Joe. The couple lived in nearby Brentwood and had registered the plane via their company JL&GL Productions LP. The aircraft has not been located, but Tennessee Highway Patrol told News Channel 5 that officers located debris consistent with a Cessna C501 and that a small plane had been seen descending into the water near a boat ramp early Saturday.Laras daughter, Elizabeth Hannah, sent a text message to members of the Remnant Fellowship Church saying that her mother and father were aboard the aircraft when it was forced to make a quick, controlled landing. All the planes passengers had ties to the church, including Hannahs own husband Brandon, according to her text. The others aboard were David and Jennifer Martin and Jonathan and Jessica Walters, according to authorities.My brother and I are asking for immediate prayers right now, as we have just gotten word that Gwen and Joe Laras plane had to go down, Hannah wrote before authorities said everyone appeared to have been killed. More information to come, but be in prayerand be at peace, the message continued. GOD IS IN CONTROL, and we will not stop moving forward with WHAT GOD WANTS with this church.Read more at The Daily Beast.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.
Beirut:

More than 330,000 people have been killed in the Syrian conflict since it started six years ago, around one third of them are civilians, monitor said on Sunday. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said it has documented the deaths of 331,765 people across Syria since the conflict erupted in mid-March 2011 with anti-government protests.

Included in the overall death toll are 99,617 civilians, Observatory head Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP, adding that the figures were for the period between March 15, 2011 and July15, 2017.

A total of 18,243 children and 11,427 women were among the civilians killed, the Observatory said. The figures were the latest provided by the Observatory since March when it said 320,000 people, including 96,000 civilians, had been killed.

In its latest report, the Observatory said a total of116,774 members of the regime forces or regime supporters have been killed in Syria since the conflict began.

Of those, it said 61,808 were soldiers and 1,408 were members of the Lebanese Shiite movement Hezbollah, an Iran-backed regime ally. Also killed in Syria since the conflict erupted were 57,000 rebels, including from the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces, an Arab-Kurdish alliance.

In addition, more than 58,000 jihadists, namely from the Islamic State group and Al-Qaeda's former Syria affiliate,were killed, said the Observatory, noting that the figure also includes foreign extremists.

The conflict broke out with peaceful anti-government protests but quickly turned into a fully fledged war involving a multitude of local, regional and foreign powers. The brutal conflict has destroyed much of the country's infrastructure and displaced millions of people, more than half of Syria's population.

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Etherstack Signs new Australian Defence Contract

Sydney, Feb 11, 2021 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Etherstack Plc ( ASX:ESK ) is pleased to report that its subsidiary Etherstack Pty Ltd has entered into a subcontract with EOS Defence Systems Pty Ltd, a member of the Electro Optic Systems Holdings Limited ( ASX:EOS ) group, to supply services in relation to a project with the Australian Department of Defence.The value of services to be provided under the contract is approximately A$500,000 which the Company expects will be fully recognised in FY2021.This award is a second defence contract win by Etherstack, following on from the recently announced A$4.1m deal directly with the Australian Department of Defence.Management has previously highlighted Etherstack's positive exposure to defence and government spending in investor presentations and trading updates. Etherstack CEO, David Deacon said, "We are pleased that the Australian Department of Defence are committing to Australian Industry Content via meaningful awards. Etherstack has had significant international defence wins over the past two decades and it is great to be winning and delivering projects in our home market".About Etherstack Plc

Etherstack (ASX:ESK) is a wireless technology company specialising in developing, manufacturing and licensing mission critical radio technologies for wireless equipment manufacturers and network operators around the globe. With a particular focus in the public safety, defence, utilities, transportation and resource sectors, Etherstack's technology and solutions can be found in radio communications equipment used in the most demanding situations. The company has Research and Development facilities in London, Sydney, New York and Yokohama.

(Newser)  Authorities from the San Antonio Police Department, Bexar County Sheriff's Office, Texas Department of Public Safety, and even the Department of Homeland Security have embarked on a desperate search for a tanker truck that may be crammed with dozens of trapped migrants in a human smuggling operation. Sheriff Javier Salazar tells CBS News a disturbing 911 call came in Monday around 10pm local time from a man who told the dispatcher he and about 80 other undocumented immigrants were crammed into a white tanker, and that they were running out of air. "We are dying," the gasping man says in Spanish, with other voices yelling and crying in the background. "We don't have any more oxygen." After that four-minute call ended, another one came in soon after, with that caller saying even though "we don't see anything" from inside the truck, he believed they were parked on the side of a road "because cars are driving by."

story continues below

KABB has snippets of the graphic calls, which it notes came in to both the police department and the sheriff's office. The outlet, which reports one of the callers indicated others in the truck were already dead, also notes that a white tanker was caught Monday on surveillance video at around 11:30pm, pulling over to the shoulder of I-35 near Von Ormy alongside a black truck before leaving again. KENS 5, which has video, notes officials believe that may be the truck based on cellphone pings they traced to that area after the 911 calls. Salazar tells CBS he's sure they weren't prank calls, saying he'd wager "the rest of my paychecks for the rest of my life ... that this is not a hoax." "That was very real," he said of the calls, which he said were "heartbreaking." "You're literally hearing people that believe they're moments away from death." Anyone with info about the truck is urged to call the police department, sheriff's office, or the DHS hotline at 866-347-2423. (Read more migrants stories.)
(Natural News) Once signed by the Victoria governor-general for royal assent, new legislation passed by the Victorian parliament in Australia will prohibit anything other than full affirmation for child transgenderism.

Known as Change or Suppression (Conversion) Practices Prohibition, the bill will make it illegal to try to change or suppress a persons perceived sexual orientation or gender identity, even if that person seeks out treatment and consents to it.

Similar to a bill passed in Queensland last year, the Victorian legislation prohibits all harmful practices that might offend someone in the LGBTQP community. Such practices include carrying out a religious practice, including but not limited to, a prayer-based practice, a deliverance practice or an exorcism.

Violators of the law, which will take 12 months to come into effect, could face penalties that include fines of up to $200,000 and up to 10 years in prison.

Even a priest merely praying for his parishioner might be deemed as an offender, which is what prompted Monica Doumit, the Director of Public Affairs for the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney, to write a column for The Catholic Weekly about how the new law will impact people of faith.

A parent whose five year old son was insisting that he was a girl would be prevented from seeking any help  medical, psychological, behavioural, spiritual, social or otherwise  to assist their son in understanding and accepting that he was a boy, she writes.

Anything less than affirmation of him as a girl would be prohibited.

Victorian government ignores research proving life-saving benefits of counseling for gender dysphoria

Doumit goes on to explain that mental health interventions will also be prohibited, forcing those who are suffering from unwanted gender dysphoria or same-sex attraction to fend for themselves.

Christian teenagers who had committed themselves to saving sexual activity for marriage would be prohibited from gathering together to support each other to remain faithful to their commitment to chastity, Doumit further warns.

Not only would Courage, a ministry for those Catholics experiencing same-sex attraction but who want to live chastely in accordance with their religious beliefs be banned, the teaching of Theology of the Body would not be allowed, and it is even possible that preaching the same verse from Corinthians that got [Australian Rugby star] Israel Folau sacked could get a cleric imprisoned.

A religious man who is tempted to cheat on his wife would likewise be prohibited from seeking out the counsel of his priest or minister. The same goes for a psychologist who might try to convert a pedophile away from preying on innocent children.

Perhaps the saddest element of the legislation is the total prohibition on those suffering from unwanted LGBTQP attractions from seeking out help. Many former LGBTQPs say the counsel they received was invaluable in helping them to heal and live the lives they actually wanted to live.

Ten years ago I voluntarily sought counsel from Christian psychologists, ministries, support networks and people who had walked before me, says Leah Gray, a self-identified ex-lesbian who was helped as a gender dysphoric child by the resources and ministries that Victorian politicians are trying to abolish.

It was difficult, but I found relief and happiness. Every step of my journey will become illegal under the Victorian governments [bill].

Gray says none of the avenues of support she sought and benefited from were in any way harmful or coercive.

In fact, the counselling I received saved my life, she says. Ex-LGBT people like me are living proof that real and lasting change is possible, that suicides have been prevented, and that it is good for people to have the freedom to choose the type of help and support they want  including (shock horror) the religious kind.

More of the latest news about encroaching LGBTQP perversion can be found at Gender.news.

Sources for this article include:

LifeSiteNews.com

NaturalNews.com


Joe Biden is facing pressures from Jerusalem to reach out to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as the phone line has remained silent between the two since the president took office last month.

'He [Biden] is making calls to world leaders according to the order he sees fit,' Netanyahu told reporters during an appearance with the Greek prime minister in Jerusalem this week, as he downplayed his lack of communication with Washington since Donald Trump left office.

'The Israel-U.S. alliance is strong, and so is our friendship of almost 40 years, though we may not agree on everything,' he continued.

Without providing a date, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said Thursday that Biden plans to holding a conversation soon with Netanyahu  whose nickname is Bibi.

'The president looks forward to speaking with Prime Minister Netanyahu. He's obviously somebody that he has a long-standing relationship with,' White House press secretary Jen Psaki said at a news briefing.

'Obviously there's an important relationship that the United States has with Israel on the security front and as a key partner in the region,' Psaki added. 'He'll be talking with him soon - I don't have a specific date or time for you on that call yet.'

Joe Biden is facing pressures to speak with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after leaving him out of his calls to world leaders within his first three weeks as president

Netanyahu said earlier this week in downplaying the lack of communication with Biden: 'He is making calls to world leaders according to the order he sees fit'

'The president looks forward to speaking with Prime Minister Netanyahu. He's obviously somebody that he has a long-standing relationship with,' White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters Thursday. 'He'll be talking with him soon,' she added without giving a date

On Wednesday, Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon put the pressure on the new administration to reach out to its biggest Middle East ally.

'Joe Biden, you have called world leaders from Canada, Mexico, UK, India, France, Germany, Japan, Australia, South Korea, Russia. Might it now be time to call the leader of Israel, the closest ally of the US?' Danon posted on Twitter.

He, and other pro-Israel entities, are frustrated a call hasn't happened between Netanyahu and Biden yet, claiming it down plays the relationship between the two nations, which was greatly strengthened during Trump's administration.

Israel is still coming to grips with the change in U.S. administration from one extremely friendly to its interests  indicated by Trump moving its Capitol to the holy city of Jerusalem  and one that hasn't made its full stance on Israel clear yet.

Biden's failure to prioritize Netanyahu in his calls with foreign leaders has raised eyebrows in Israel and Middle East experts.

Former Presidents Barack Obama and Trump both spoke to Bibi within days of taking office.

Biden entered his fourth week of presidency on Thursday.

Israel's Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon expressed frustration Wednesday that Biden has not included Netanyahu in his priority of world leaders to call once taking office

'Might it now be time to call the leader of Israel, the closest ally of the US?' Danon posted on Twitter with a picture of then-vice president Biden and Netanyahu along with a list of countries Biden has already called since taking office

Biden, then serving as Obama's vice president, pictured here with Bibi in 2010 during the General Assembly of the Jewish Federations of North America in New Orleans

Netanyahu, who often found himself in complete agreement with the U.S. president for the past four years, will likely face challenges with any Biden departure from Trump's tough policy toward Iran and Palestinians.

In 2015, Trump ended the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran, to the delight of Bibi. He also, during his one-term tenure, reimposed sanctions on the Middle Eastern nation that were previously lifted for Iran limiting its nuclear weapons production activity.

Biden has pledged already to bring the U.S. back into the Iran nuclear deal, but has said he won't loosen any Trump-era sanctions as an incentive for Tehran to return to the negotiating table.
Yves here. Im waiting for VoxEU to run the generalized version of the argument it makes here, The Dangers of Metrics. A bizarre vogue for metrics started in the late 1990s, and it became even more acute in the dot bomb era. Youd see resumes suddenly claiming that the individual increased sales by x% or lowered complaints by y%, when nearly all the time, if you looked at their position, it would be impossible for them to have achieved that on their own. This was shades of resume fabulist Charles Asubonten, who did a brief turn as CalPERS CFO, claiming he was responsible for the increase in stock price as one of his earlier employers. Not only did we describe why that was bunk, Los Angeles Times columnist Mike Hiltzik supplied more evidence.

Another practice weve observed is consultants taking credit for improvements in clients businesses, quantifying those claims, when its impossible for them to take credit unless they sent in a large team and actually ran the operation.

From our 2006 Conference Board Review article, Managements Great Addiction:

Corporate America is obsessed with numbers. Analyst meetings focus on earnings expectations, revenue growth, and margins rather than business fundamentals. PowerPoint presentations look naked if they lack charts and graphs to buttress their three-point message. Lofty corporate mission statements are often trumped by pressure to hit the targets.. This love affair with figures increasingly looks like an addiction. Numbers serve to analyze, justify, and communicate. But they are, fundamentally, abstractions. When numbers begin to assume a reality of their own, independent of the reality they are meant to represent, its time for a reality check. Some are already frustrated with the trend:In a recent McKinsey survey of more than a thousand public-company directors, most said they wanted to hear less about financial results and more about things not so readily quantified, such as strategy, risks, leadership development, organizational issues, and markets. Metrics presuppose that situations are orderly, predictable, and rational. When that tenet collides with situations that are chaotic, non-linear, and subject to the force of personalities, that faiththe belief in the sanctity of numbersoften trumps seemingly irrefutable facts. At that point, the addiction begins to have real-world consequences.

Here, Professor Edmans describes a specific danger of heavy reliance on metrics: promoting short-termism.

By Alex Edmans, Professor of Finance, London Business School and CEPR Research Fellow. Originally published at VoxEU

See original post for references

Policymakers, investors, and stakeholders are demanding that companies report sustainability metrics so that they can be held accountable for delivering social performance. Doing so increases the total amount of information in the market and reduces the cost of capital. However, real decisions depend on not the total amount of information, but the balance between hard (quantitative) and soft (qualitative) information. Since sustainability metrics only contain the former, they distort this balance  skewing managers sustainability investments to ones with short-term payoffs.

Sustainability is the corporate issue of the day. It was the theme of the 2020 World Economic Forum in Davos, and the call for companies to serve the wider society  not just shareholders  has only intensified in the COVID-19 pandemic.

A key challenge, however, is to measure the sustainability of a company. Accordingly, global consortiums are devising an ever-increasing set of sustainability metrics for companies to report. One example is the World Economic Forums framework, released in September 2020 in collaboration with the Big Four accounting firms.

The value of these initiatives is backed up by decades of academic research showing that financial efficiency  the amount of information in financial markets  boosts real efficiency. Focusing on primary financial markets, Bernanke and Gertler (1989) and Kiyotaki and Moore (1997) show that transparency reduces the cost of capital and thus increases investment.

Turning to secondary financial markets, the survey of Bond et al. (2012) discusses how financial efficiency allows managers to glean more information from prices and also increases their incentives to improve fundamental value since their compensation is tied to prices.

However, in Edmans et al. (2016), we highlight that financial efficiency  and thus information disclosure  can sometimes harm real efficiency. Central to our argument is the observation that not all information can be credibly disclosed. Hard (quantitative and verifiable) information can be, such as the number of jobs created, but soft information, such as the quality of those jobs, cannot.

It may seem that this distinction doesnt matter. Even if companies cant disclose soft information, frameworks can at least force them to disclose hard information. Our model shows that such disclosure indeed increases the total amount of information into prices and reduces the cost of capital, consistent with common wisdom. However, we also show that real efficiency (the quality of a firms decisions) depends not on financial efficiency (the total amount of information in prices), but the balance between hard and soft information.

The idea is as follows. If no information is disclosed, the manager will take the investment decision that improves long-term value. However, if companies are forced to disclose hard information, then it will be fully reflected in stock prices, on which the managers compensation and reputation are based. While investors can still gather soft information through analysing a companys fundamentals, doing so is costly, so it will only be partially reflected in prices. Knowing that prices will depend more on hard information than soft, managers will take investment decisions that boost hard information, even if they dont maximise long-term value.

When we originally wrote the paper, our main interpretation of hard information was quarterly earnings, and soft information referred to intangible assets. We used our model to highlight the danger of quarterly reporting, a key topic at the time: the EU Transparency Directive Amending Directive was passed in 2013, allowing companies to stop quarterly reporting, but many companies continued due to it, potentially due to the cost of capital impact.

However, hard information can equally be interpreted as sustainability metrics. Going back to the previous example, consider a company that can invest in either creating more jobs or improving the quality of existing jobs, and that the latter creates more long-term value. Unconstrained, the company will take the latter investment. But if its forced to disclose new job creation, it may be skewed towards the former.

Other examples are as follows:

Disclosure of worker wages may lead to companies providing eye-catching salary raises, rather than meaningful work and skills development.

Diversity metrics reward adding a minority to the board to tick the box, rather than developing a culture that actively encourages dissent.

Highlighting emissions may punish products like semiconductors, which release perfluorocarbons when manufactured, yet may power the solutions to climate change.

We already recognise the incompleteness of numbers when it comes to financial information  hence the arguments against quarterly reporting. We also recognise the incompleteness of non-financial numbers in non-business settings: school league tables based on exam results may turn them into exam factories. But the same problem is overlooked in business settings.

Stakeholder value is often assumed to be long-term, in contrast to shareholder value which is labelled short-term. But stakeholder metrics can be equally as short-term as quarterly earnings, and an excessive focus on them can lead to myopic decisions.

Whats the solution? Not to throw the baby out with the bathwater and allow companies to report nothing; else, they cant be held accountable. Instead, its to recognise the dangers of these metrics and interpret them with caution.

Reporting frameworks should not be prescriptive, but allow companies to opt out of reporting certain metrics if doing so may distort behaviour. Investors shouldnt take sustainability metrics at face value, but conduct their own analysis to understand the context behind them  for example, what a company has done to promote diversity of thinking, beyond improving diversity statistics. This requires investors to take large stakes to begin with so that they have the incentive to do their own research, as studied by an extensive academic literature on blockholders (see Edmans 2014 and Edmans and Holderness 2017 for surveys).

A common question is how do you measure sustainability? As explained in Edmans (2020), this is the wrong question. Sustainability isnt something that you can measure; its something you assess. This involves starting with quantitative metrics but then supplementing them with qualitative information, just as the impact of a researcher is more than her Google scholar count and number of publications in top journals.

Critics argue that such an assessment is subjective and unreliable. They bemoan the inconsistency of ESG ratings, documented by Berg et al. (2020), and argue that greater disclosure will allow sustainability to be objectively assessed. But sustainability, just like a researchers impact, is inherently subjective  theres no getting around the fact that it depends on soft information.

Even the financial value of a company is subjective because it depends not only on current financials but also management quality, competitive position, and strategic outlook. As a result, equity analysts disagree on whether a stock is a buy or a sell and what its price target should be, but no one bemoans this inconsistency. Moreover, the importance of soft information is an attraction, not a drawback.

If sustainability could be measured with a single, unambiguous set of quantitative metrics, there would be no need for human investors, as it could be assessed by machines and priced into the market. For investors to add value, they need to look beyond the metrics and get into the weeds of a company, rather than trying to assess it using an Excel spreadsheet.
Sometime in mid-January, the staff at Ichilov Medical Center in Tel Aviv started to realize that they were on to something. A drug developed by Dr. Nadir Arber, head of the hospitals Integrated Center for Cancer Prevention, really did seem to have a dramatic effect on patients most severely impacted by the coronavirus. It actually cured them, and quickly too.

One of the people now recovering as a result of the experimental drug is a woman from Tel Aviv. She told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity that she received the first coronavirus vaccine shot in December, but shortly after she started to feel ill. According to her, she was infected by her husband, who was himself infected during an open-air prayer service. Her health deteriorated rapidly, and she was admitted to Ichilov. She already suffered from asthma, so by the time she was moved to the intensive care unit, she was already in critical condition. The hospital then offered her family a chance to participate in a study involving an experimental drug, administered by an inhaler, identical to the one used by asthma patients. She said that shorly after she started feeling much better and was sent home three weeks later. While she still requires oxygen, the speed of her overall recovery has been remarkable.

On Feb. 4, Ichilov released the results of its study. They found that the new drug had cured 96% of all those who had received it during the first, experimental stage, involving 30 coronavirus patients, most of them critically ill. Of these, 29 recovered from the virus in 3-5 days.

The drug, known as EXO-CD24, is based on a protein used in cancer research. This protein affects the immune system, which attacks itself in the second stage of the COVID-19 infection, causing severe respiratory problems. The CD24 protein is introduced to the body through the inhalation of exosomes  stable nanovesicles that transport bioactive molecules to target cells  which release it into the lungs. After being inhaled for a few minutes, the protein calms the immune system and causes it to stop attacking itself. This provides considerable relief to the patient.

A statement released by the hospital quotes Arber as saying, Even if the vaccines do what they are supposed to, and even if no new mutations are produced, then still, in one way or another, the coronavirus will remain with us. That is why we developed this unique new drug. It took half a year from when we first came up with the idea and developed the necessary technology to when it was first tested on humans, with a brief clinical pause. The formula is administered locally, but it works throughout the body with no adverse side effects. It is an advanced formula, which can be manufactured quickly and efficiently at very low cost at any pharmaceutical facility in Israel to meet global demand in a very short time. The first stage in our research was successful. The drug is completely safe and effective, and it provides immediate relief to patients. We have already been flooded with phone calls about it from all around the world, and are now awaiting the next stage of our research.

Dr. Shiran Shapira, who manages the lab where the drug was developed, said in a radio interview with Kan public broadcast station that it should be effective regardless of the particular variant of the virus or any new mutations. What makes our drug unique is that it does not attack the virus directly. Instead, it focuses on the immune system, which starts going berserk. For that reason, it makes no difference what particular mutation the patient has.

Once the drug has been thoroughly investigated by Israels regulatory authority and the results of the test have undergone scientific scrutiny, testing will be expanded to a larger sample. It will then be given to thousands more patients, including subjects from a second country. Should the drug prove itself in this advanced testing regimen, and if there are no unanticipated delays, it should receive approval by late summer in an expedited, emergency process.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met Feb. 8 with Arber. Impressed with the medical results, Netanyahu said, "If this succeeds, it will be huge, simply huge. This is of global significance.  If you need anything, say it and we will help you. This little thing could change the fate of humanity."

Shortly after that meeting, Netanyahu met with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, and raised with him the possibility that Greek hospitals would participate in the mass testing stage. During a joint press conference with Mitsotakis, Netanyahu took out of his pocket a vial that contained the new treatment. If youre infected by corona and are seriously ill and have a lung problem, take this, inhale it and you come out feeling good, he said enthusiastically.

Ichilov is not the only place in Israel where coronavirus drugs are being tested. At least five other research centers and pharmaceutical companies are developing drugs of their own. RedHill Biopharma and Pluristem are already in the second stage of testing, while Enlivex Therapeutics is in talks with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to oversee its research and experiments.

Enlivex is testing its drug, Allocetra, at Hadassah Hospital in Jerusalem. Heading the experiment is Dr. Dror Mevorach. This drug is based on healthy cells, which are treated in a laboratory before they are injected into the patient. In most cases, they get the most severe respiratory symptoms of the disease under control quickly by boosting the bodys immune system. It is a method already used on patients who have had a bone marrow transplant or life-threatening sepsis. Mevorach reports that of 21 patients with severe or critical cases of the coronavirus, who were treated with Allocetra, 19 have recovered completely, while the remaining two are in different stages of remission. This study is still analyzing its findings before submitting a report to the Ministry of Health, before it can proceed to more advanced testing.

Enlivex has announced that it would be approaching the European regulatory body for approval of the drug, rather than the FDA. According to Enlivex CEO Shai Novik, this is because in Europe, when dealing with an especially lethal disease, life-saving drugs are approved after the second stage of testing, provided that it involves a control group. He said, If we succeed in this experiment and receive approval at that stage, we will conduct a comprehensive test study across Europe. Then we will take our results to the United States.
Out of the targeted 2,07,382 beneficiaries targeted for Covid-19 vaccination in Uttar Pradesh on Thursday, nearly 49 per cent were inoculated, officials said.



"On Thursday 1721 vaccination sessions were organised during which Covishield and Covaxin were administered. Till 9 pm 1,01,454 personnel were vaccinated which is 48.9 per cent of the target of 2,07,382," an official statement issued here said.



The government has appealed all frontline workers to come for vaccination.



The next session for vaccination will be held on February 12 and 18 in all districts, it said.



On Thursday vaccination, district magistrates, SDMs, senior officials of the administration, revenue and police were vaccinated.

In Lucknow, senior officers, including ADG Law and Order Prashant Kumar, were vaccinated.

In the lead-up to Donald Trumps second impeachment trial this week, Ive been wrestling with a deceptively complex question: does it matter if hes convicted?

His presidential term is finished, and while a conviction would mean he cannot run again in 2024, it might also mean someone of similar political inclinations  only more competent  takes his place (and his voters) instead. In that scenario, a Trump re-run would have been a better result.

National Guard troops walk past the US Capitol building on the first day of hearings to impeach Donald Trump. Credit:Bloomberg

Still, I think a conviction does matter. Not of itself, but because it can only happen with significant Republican help. Democrats condemning Trump for insurrection means little except further polarisation. Republicans doing it is something else entirely.

It would almost certainly tear the party apart and may well drive it into the political wilderness for a generation if a new Trumpist party is created as a result. That is both why it almost certainly wont happen, and why it would be so heroic if somehow it did.
The interest in raising the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2025, as President Joe Biden has proposed, has never been greater -- even as the timing couldn't be worse for America's small businesses.

Although the Senate moved to push through Biden's $1.9 trillion rescue plan without a stepped-up minimum wage increase, Democrats in the House are forging ahead. The latest legislative language coming out of House committees, which are reviewing the provisions that will make up the final text of the bill, now includes boosting the federal minimum to $15 by 2025. The federal minimum wage would bump up to $9.50 this year and increase in steps until it reaches $15 an hour in 2025. Currently, 21 states have a minimum wage no higher than the current federal minimum of $7.25.

Even if the provision doesn't make it in this version, a boost to the federal minimum, which hasn't budged since 2009, will likely be on the agenda later in Biden's tenure. So it may be wise to consider your options now.

Let's start with the bad news.

High wages could certainly cost some jobs -- and indeed some businesses. As the U.S. continues to grapple with the effects of a global pandemic, in which a third of America's small businesses have already shuttered, some that survived may find that contending with higher wages could push them over the edge.

This willingness to close up shop became apparent after Kroger, the Cincinnati-based grocery giant, announced it would shutter two stores in Southern California after the Long Beach city council mandated a temporary $4-an-hour hazard pay increase at grocery stores with at least 300 employees.

For companies that remain open, raising prices is one way to better afford to pay workers more. Doing so, however, could put small businesses at a disadvantage to bigger ones, which tend to be better capitalized and, as a result, can better absorb higher costs, says Karen Kerrigan, president of the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council, a nonpartisan advocacy group in Vienna, Virginia. "Dramatically increasing the minimum wage and imposing other costs would disproportionately burden small businesses," she says, adding that the shock could also imperil the post-pandemic economic recovery. "We encourage the Biden Administration to listen to entrepreneurs as to how new costs and requirements will undermine economic recovery," she says.

Indeed, added pressure on businesses could extend pandemic-related job losses. While employment rates, as of December 20, 2020, were up 2.3 percent above pre-Covid-19 levels for workers making more than $60,000 annually, they were 22.5 percent below that level for those earning less than $27,000 a year, according to the latest stats from Opportunity Insights' Economic Tracker.

A recent Congressional Budget Office report confirms this. The nonpartisan federal agency estimates that raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour would cost 1.4 million jobs by 2025 and increase the deficit by $54 billion over 10 years, as the government would need to spend more on unemployment and health care benefits.

There is good news too.

The same CBO report suggests that a minimum wage increase would lift 900,000 Americans out of poverty by 2025. Besides being a heartening stat, fewer people living on the edge could reduce the need for government services like food stamps. In a 2013 study from economists at the University of California, Berkeley, the fast-food industry accounted for the largest share of workers utilizing public benefit programs, with 45 percent using government assistance.

And if people have more money, they might spend more. A 2020 study from Princeton University shows that providing low-wage workers with more money directly leads to increased consumer demand. That's because they quickly recirculate their wages, says Heidi Shierholz, senior economist and director of policy at the Economic Policy Institute, a nonpartisan think tank in Washington, D.C. Low-wage workers and unemployed people, she says, typically have "no choice but to spend immediately on necessities."

Workers who are paid more also tend to be more productive. They get to the job on time, maybe they stay later if needed. They're happier on the job, too. Suresh Naidu, an associate professor of international and public affairs and economics at Columbia University, notes that, typically, "higher productivity firms manage to -- in the face of minimum wage hike -- expand employment, their turnover falls, and they just become better jobs."

That's the case for Seattle Coffee Works, a chain of four Seattle-area coffee shops founded by Sebastian Simsch in 2006. After voluntarily boosting wages to $19 an hour in 2017, up from $12, Simsch says workers -- who now earn at least $22 an hour after annual wage increases -- are generally happier, turnover is nil, and productivity has shot through the roof. That's remained true even during the pandemic, which Simsch admits has been crushing for the business. The company is now relying on paycheck protection loans, as just three stores have reopened and only one store is producing significant revenue, he says. While Simsch had to let 20 staffers go, he transferred many of his remaining 15 workers to the company's new monthly coffee-subscription service and e-commerce coffee sales. "We're shipping 10 times as many packages as before the pandemic every day," says Simsch, who wants to get his headcount back up into the high 20s by the end of the year. "That's kept us afloat pretty well."

It's also worth noting that American workers are already more productive than ever. In a 2019 research paper, David Cooper, a senior economic analyst at EPI, writes that if the minimum wage had been raised at the same pace as productivity growth since the late 1960s, it would be more than $20 an hour today.

And you do have options.

Tim Ford, a partner in the commercial litigation employment practice at Einhorn Barbarito in Denville, New Jersey, urges businesses dealing with higher labor costs to utilize many of the same strategies that got them through the darkest days of the pandemic.

In other words, you may need to cut staff or, as Ford suggests, you might just reduce your hours of operation, as a number of big and small stores alike have done during the pandemic. That could mean operating for fewer hours each day or reducing the days of the week in which you operate. Analyze your costs and biggest revenue-producing hours, he says. "If labor costs are going to outpace what you're making, you may want to consider reducing the number of days you're open...or the hours you're open in a particular retail location."

There's also the longstanding premise that automation becomes more feasible as wages rise. Lots of companies got a major boost from technology during the pandemic -- whether that meant pushing more sales through a website or adopting touchless technology. So consumers are already largely acclimated to tech. A recent survey shows that 85 percent of shoppers have increased curbside pickup usage compared with pre-pandemic rates. While 91 percent of those polled said they miss shopping in stores, only 28 percent plan to increase in-store shopping in the next six months. (The survey was conducted in July and August 2020 by industry insights firm Incisiv and commissioned by omnichannel service provider Manhattan Associates.)

Naidu cautions, however, that automation may not be the panacea that you might think. "I would have thought, yes, [firms will increasingly automate] until about last week, when this paper came out," he says, citing a five-year study examining the impact of minimum wage increases at more than 10,000 McDonald's locations. The authors, Orley Ashenfelter, a Princeton University economist, and Stepan Jurajda, an economist at Charles University in Prague, weren't able to say whether automation directly stemmed from minimum wage hikes -- even as touchscreen ordering increased to 75 percent of McDonald's in 2019, up from 20 percent in 2017. Instead, they could point to higher prices for Big Macs.
A woman living in Abingdon, Virginia is charged with TennCare fraud and theft of property for allegedly falsely reporting a Tennessee residence to obtain healthcare insurance benefits through the TennCare program.

The Office of Inspector General (OIG), with the help of the Bradley County Tennessee Sheriffs Department, today announced the arrest of 38-year-old Lauren Cole. The charges stem from Cole allegedly living in Virginia but reporting a Tennessee residence. As a result, TennCare paid more than $9,150.00 in medical fees and claims for Cole.

TennCare is reserved for qualifying Tennesseans, Inspector General Kim Harmon said. The Office of Inspector General strives to protect taxpayers hard-earned money by investigating those taking undue advantage of TennCare benefits.

Charges against Cole are class D felonies. The case is being prosecuted by District Attorney General Stephen D. Crump of Bradley County.

The OIG, which is separate from TennCare, began full operation in February 2005 and has investigated more than 5,760 criminal cases leading to in excess of $10.8 million being repaid to TennCare, with a total estimated cost avoidance of more than $163.6 million for TennCare, according to latest figures. To date, 3,102 people have been charged with TennCare fraud.

Through the OIG Cash for Tips Program established by the Legislature, Tennesseans can get cash rewards for TennCare fraud tips that lead to convictions. Anyone can report suspected TennCare fraud by calling 1-800-433-3982, toll-free or by logging on to www.tn.gov/oig/ and following the prompts that read Report TennCare Fraud.
Fuzzy math: In a late-day news release Wednesday, the Ohio Department of Health admitted it underreported coronavirus-related deaths by as many as 4,000, Rich Exner reports. The department, which said it will work to make its count accurate in the coming days, didnt elaborate on the jaw-dropping announcement, except to say there were process issues affecting the reconciliation and reporting of the deaths.

Joshin around: Former Treasurer Josh Mandel, a Republican, became the first candidate to officially declare for the race to succeed retiring GOP Sen. Rob Portman in 2022, Seth Richardson reports. Mandel came out of the gate trying to position himself as the candidate most closely aligned with Republican former President Donald Trump and attacking GOP Gov. Mike DeWine, who he would conceivably share a ballot with in 2022.

An early endorsement? While Mandel did bag an instant endorsement from noted Trump critic-turned-cheerleader Erick Erickson, there was also some confusion with his initial fundraising email that said it was paid for by the Republican Party of Cuyahoga County. Party Chair Lisa Stickan said the Cuyahoga GOP had not endorsed Mandel nor did it pay for his initial announcement. The error, confirmed by the campaign, was due to a vendor using an old disclosure from their 2018 campaign, which they corrected in later emails.

Get out: Nearly 20 elected officials from Rep. Larry Householders district have written a letter seeking Householders ouster, saying his indictment on a federal corruption charge is limiting their voice in Columbus. Per Andrew Tobias, the letter to House Speaker Bob Cupp is signed by all three Coshocton County commissioners and most countywide officeholders, as well several members of the county Republican partys central committee and the mayor and city council president of Coshocton, the largest city in Householders district. Householders district also contains his hometown Perry County and part of Licking County.

Ad blitz: This week, social media users in Ohio noticed -- and in some instances, mocked -- an ad campaign from JobsOhio touting the states low corporate taxes and other attributes in billboards in major cities across the U.S. Tobias has additional details about the Ohio is for Leaders campaign, which the private state economic development arm says is meant to lure businesses from large, more expensive metropolitan areas.

Know your scammers: Jeremy Pelzer has the lowdown on the crooks behind a wave of unemployment fraud scams in Ohio and around the country, as well as how they operate. As he found out, most of the scammers are believed to operate overseas using victims personal information gleaned from massive (and sometimes years-old) data breaches.

Jobless benefits update: Ohios unemployment benefits system has borrowed $1.45 billion to date from the federal government to pay the unprecedented number of claims filed during the coronavirus crisis, Ohio Department of Job and Family Services Director Kimberly Henderson told state lawmakers Wednesday. Henderson noted that the feds wont start charging interest on that borrowed money until March 14. She also said that average call-center wait times have been reduced to 30 minutes for traditional unemployment claims and 8 minutes for federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance benefits.

Mental health check-in: The proposed budget for the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services could see a boost in funding, including in areas that could help people suffering during the pandemic. Laura Hancock has details about budget proposals and how they could help.

Calling the numbers: Nearly 350,000 people had received both vaccine doses in Ohio by Wednesday, Hancock reports. Wednesday also brought 3,281 new cases.

Impeachment update: Before proceedings began on the second day of former President Donald Trumps impeachment trial for his role in the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol in which five people died, both Ohios U.S. Senators spoke out about the case. As Sabrina Eaton reports, Republican Rob Portman argues the Senate cant try Trump now that hes no longer in office, while Democrat Sherrod Brown says leaders who spread lies that incite violence cant be allowed to get away with it.

Its Tim time: In fairly unsurprising news, the National Republican Campaign Committee is including Rep. Tim Ryan, a Niles Democrat, on its list of targets for 2022. The Mahoning Valley has rapidly shifted toward the Republican Party, but the NRCC might not get a chance to go after Ryan if he runs for Senate.

Up in fumes: The 10.5-cent-a-gallon gas tax increase the legislature approved nearly two years ago hasnt reversed the dropping revenues for the Ohio Department of Transportation that were caused by people staying at home during the pandemic. ODOT Director Jack Marchbanks told a House committee the tax increase helped, though his agencys proposed budget estimates $333 million less in revenue over the next two years, Karen Kasler reports for the Statehouse News Bureau.

Lobbying Lineup

Five groups that lobbied on Senate Bill 140, from the General Assembly that ended last year. The bill allows companies to manufacture and people who are not cops to possess brass knuckles, switchblade knifes, springblade knifes and other weapons. It also allows people to conceal carry the weapons. The bill goes into effect April 12, after Gov. Mike DeWine signed it in January. Lobbying forms dont indicate which side someone is lobbying on.

1. American Knife & Tool Institute

2. Ohio Chamber of Commerce

3. Nationwide Childrens Hospital

4. Knife Rights

5. ACLU of Ohio

On the Move

Justin Herdman has re-joined Jones Day as a partner, where he will focus on white-collar criminal defense and investigations. He previously was U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio during the Trump administration, resigning in January.

Birthdays

Thomas W. Bartley, Ohios 17th governor (1812-1885); former Ohio Supreme Court Justice Terrence ODonnell

Straight from the Source

I will be surprised if somebody stands up and speaks on behalf of Mr. Kasich. I dont think theres much love for him right now in the party.

- Christopher McDowell, who has introduced a resolution to the Hamilton County GOP that seeks to condemn former Gov. John Kasich for not attending the 2016 Republican National Convention and appearing in the 2020 Democratic National Convention, among other issues. It also seeks to kick him out of the Hamilton County GOP, which isnt technically possible, but Enquirer reporter Hannah K. Sparling reports the overall effort mhttps://advancelocal.arcpublishing.com/composer/searchay reflect Kasichs unpopularity among Ohio Republicans.

Capitol Letter is a daily briefing providing succinct, timely information for those who care deeply about the decisions made by state government. If you do not already subscribe, you can sign up here to get Capitol Letter in your email box each weekday for free.
Bamako, Mali (PANA) - The Mali-Algeria Joint Committee in charge of monitoring military and technical cooperation started its 14th session on Wednesday in Bamako to review activities of the past year
When I see John and Riley, and the passion they bring as a family working together, it reminds me of what my family has done and gives me hope that the future is bright for family-owned brands.

Zimmerman Shoes and Gunner & Lux are excited to announce the Better Together belt, inspired by vintage leather belts that work with any outfit. This is the first collaboration between two family-owned small businesses. Zimmerman Shoes is the nations oldest childrens shoe company, which is located in Pennsylvania and run by Audrey Zimmerman, a fourth-generation shoemaker. Gunner & Lux is a unique accessory company run by John Petersen and Riley Kinnane-Petersen, a dynamic father/daughter duo.

When I see John and Riley, and the passion they bring as a family working together, it reminds me of what my family has done and gives me hope that the future is bright for family-owned brands, said Audrey Zimmerman.

The collaboration is the result of a longstanding friendship and mutual admiration between two families, and two companies, who are working hard to keep small family-owned small businesses relevant, modern, and thriving. "We knew that working with Zimmerman Shoes on this collaboration would be the perfect fit (literally). We have known Audrey for years; she is one amazing lady boss! We knew we would be in the right hands working with her and utilizing our ideas," added John Petersen.

For Zimmerman Shoes, this is only the second time in 130+ years that the company produced something other than shoes. During the height of the COVID pandemic, the shoe company retooled production to help provide high quality cloth masks to local healthcare workers. This experience showed them the potential to create quality products beyond shoes. As a result, when Gunner & Lux came to Zimmerman with the idea for a belt collaboration that brought both of their skills together, they jumped at the opportunity.

The exclusive piece retails for $50.00 The belt launches February 11th and will be available for purchase at http://www.zimmermanshoes.com.

For more information, email audrey@zimmermanshoes.com or call 1-800-832-7280
LAS VEGAS and VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Feb. 03, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TAAT LIFESTYLE & WELLNESS LTD. (CSE: TAAT) (OTCQB: TOBAF) (FRANKFURT: 2TP2) (the Company or TAAT) is pleased to announce that an article profiling the Company was published earlier today by Forbes, marking the first national mainstream media coverage of TAAT in the United States. Forbes contributor Amanda Siebert, who primarily covers media stories in the Vices category, summarizes her interview with TAAT Chief Executive Officer Setti Coscarella, in which Mr. Coscarella shared his professional background and journey to his current role at the Company. Additionally, the article features Mr. Coscarellas comments on recent events relating to the Company including its engagement with consumer packaged goods (CPG) sales agency CROSSMARK, as announced in the Companys February 2, 2021 press release.



The February 3, 2021 Forbes article can be accessed by clicking here: https://www.forbes.com/sites/amandasiebert/2021/02/03/taat-the-company-on-keith-gills-notepad-making-hemp-cigarettes-that-taste-like-tobacco/

Following a detailed preamble on TAAT and Mr. Coscarella, the article goes into detail about the value proposition of TAAT as an alternative to tobacco cigarettes due to its inherently non-addictive properties. As differentiation points of TAAT among other tobacco-free cigarettes on the market, Mr. Coscarella explains the importance of a tobacco-like taste as well as a competitive price point, which the Company has attained by offering TAAT to legal-aged smokers in Ohio for USD $3.99 per pack, compared to approximately USD $7.00 per pack for Marlboro. As a merchandising tactic, Mr. Coscarella also explains the strategy behind positioning TAAT as a tobacco category product to appeal to legal-aged smokers who could prefer a familiar product format. This practice is likened to producers of plant-based meat analogues whose products are placed in meat sections of supermarkets, to similarly appeal to consumers of meat whose interest may be captured by a product format they already enjoy.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/364b6fe0-7dbd-43d9-8069-19c2dcae07c2

In a February 3, 2021 Forbes article, the Company and the TAAT product are profiled by reporter Amanda Siebert. This article can be accessed by clicking here .

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.

TAAT Chief Executive Officer Setti Coscarella commented, After approximately six months as the CEO of TAAT, it is very fulfilling to see so many things falling into place. In 2021 alone, we have had impressive sell-out and reorder rates of TAAT, submitted international trademark applications in over 50 countries, launched a statewide digital out-of-home promotional campaign in Ohio, and finalized our partnership with a prestigious CPG sales agency that directly services more than 100,000 convenience stores in the United States. Obtaining coverage of TAAT in a national mainstream news outlet such as Forbes is also a tremendous milestone, because it demonstrates positive reception and validation of TAAT as a company that is gaining momentum in the USD $814 billion tobacco industry. On behalf of the entire team, I can say we are very thankful for Amanda Sieberts interest in the product and the company, and we hope this coverage helps to bring additional eyeballs of legal-aged smokers to TAAT.

The Company is also pleased to announce that it will be hosting a live question-and-answer (Q&A) session with Mr. Coscarella on a Facebook live stream at 9:15 am PST / 12:15 am EST on Thursday February 4, 2021. Questions can be submitted in advance by email to investor@taatusa.com , or by placing a comment on the Companys February 2, 2021 Facebook post announcing the Q&A session.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Company,

TAAT LIFESTYLE & WELLNESS LTD.

Setti Coscarella

Setti Coscarella, CEO and Director

For further information, please contact:

TAAT Investor Relations

1-833-TAAT-USA (1-833-822-8872)

investor@taatusa.com

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.

About TAAT Lifestyle & Wellness Ltd.

The Company has developed TAAT, which is a tobacco-free and nicotine-free alternative to traditional cigarettes offered in "Original", "Smooth", and "Menthol" varieties. TAAT's base material is Beyond Tobacco, a proprietary blend which undergoes a patent-pending refinement technique causing its scent and taste to resemble tobacco. Under executive leadership with "Big Tobacco" pedigree, TAAT was launched first in the United States in Q4 2020 as the Company seeks to position itself in the $814 billion1 global tobacco industry.

For more information, please visit http://taatglobal.com .

References

1 British American Tobacco - The Global Market

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Often, but not always, forward-looking information and information can be identified by the use of words such as plans, expects or does not expect, is expected, estimates, intends, anticipates or does not anticipate, or believes, or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, might or will be taken, occur, or be achieved. Forward-looking information in this news release includes statements regarding the potential launch of Beyond Tobacco, in addition to the following: Potential outcomes from the February 3, 2021 article about the Company in Forbes. The forward-looking information reflects managements current expectations based on information currently available and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause outcomes to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking information. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed timeframes or at all. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include: (i) adverse market conditions; (ii) changes to the growth and size of the tobacco markets; and (iii) other factors beyond the control of the Company. The Company operates in a rapidly evolving environment. New risk factors emerge from time to time, and it is impossible for the Companys management to predict all risk factors, nor can the Company assess the impact of all factors on Companys business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ from those contained in any forward-looking information. The forward-looking information included in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company 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 required by applicable law.

The statements in this news release have not been evaluated by Health Canada or the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. As each individual is different, the benefits, if any, of taking the Companys products will vary from person to person. No claims or guarantees can be made as to the effects of the Companys products on an individuals health and well-being. The Companys products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

This news release may contain trademarked names of third-party entities (or their respective offerings with trademarked names) typically in reference to (i) relationships had by the Company with such third-party entities as referred to in this release and/or (ii) client/vendor/service provider parties whose relationship with the Company is/are referred to in this release. All rights to such trademarks are reserved by their respective owners or licensees.

Statement Regarding Third-Party Investor Relations Firms
A 30-year-old woman was fatally shot Wednesday night in Jersey City and two men were critically injured in the same shooting, Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez said.

Raven Harris, of Jersey City, was taken to Jersey City Medical Center after being shot in the area of Old Bergen Road and Neptune Avenue just before 10 p.m. She was pronounced dead at the hospital at 10:27 p.m., Suarez said.

The two other men  a 28-year-old and 29-year-old  suffered serious injuries in the shooting. Both men remain in critical but stable condition at Jersey City Medical Center, Suarez said.

The Hudson County Prosecutors Office Homicide Unit and the Jersey City Police Department are investigating the case, although no arrests had been made as of Thursday morning.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Hudson County Prosecutors Office at 201-915-1345 or to leave an anonymous tip at: http://www.hudsoncountyprosecutorsofficenj.org/homicide-tip/.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is urging Russia to immediately release a journalist and blogger who was detained after attending a rally in support of jailed opposition politician Aleksei Navalny in the eastern region of Buryatia last month.



"Russian authorities should release journalist Dmitry Bairov, drop all charges against him, and allow journalists in Russia cover political protests freely and without a fear of being prosecuted by the state," Gulnoza Said, the media watchdog's Europe and Central Asia program coordinator, said in a statement on February 10.



Said called on law enforcement to "ensure safe conditions for journalists who are doing an important job, not intimidate them with arrests on trumped-up charges."



Bairov is the founder of Respublika Buryatia, a YouTube channel with about 26,000 subscribers in which he and other bloggers post commentary on local sociopolitical issues and alleged corruption. He is also a freelance correspondent for The Communist Of Buryatia newspaper.



On January 28, Bairov was detained in Ulan-Ude, a city in Buryatia, and sentenced to 25 days in detention for his alleged participation in a January 23 nationwide demonstration in support of Navalny.



Bairov denied the charge, saying he was at the rally as a journalist for his YouTube channel and on assignment for The Communist Of Buryatia.



His wife told the CPJ that Bairov went on hunger strike on January 29 to demand a fair trial.



On February 1, the Supreme Court of Buryatia denied Bairov's appeal, after which he continued his hunger strike and also refused to drink liquids, Yekaterina Bartayeva said.



Three days later, Bairov stopped the hunger strike as he was hospitalized with intense stomach pain and fatigue, according to Bartayeva.



She said her husband was discharged from hospital and transferred back to a detention facility in Ulan-Ude on February 8.



In a February 5 hearing, the Supreme Court of Buryatia ruled not to count the days Bairov spent in hospital toward the 25 days of his sentence, Bartayeva said.



Bairov's prosecution came amid an ongoing crackdown on Navalnys associates and protesters calling for his release from prison.



Navalny was arrested on January 17 upon his return to Russia from Germany, where he was being treated for a nerve-agent poisoning that he says was ordered by President Vladimir Putin, which the Kremlin has denied.

On February 2, the anti-corruption campaigner was sentenced to 3 1/2 years in prison for violating the terms of probation while recuperating in Germany in a case that has caused domestic and international outrage.

He had been serving a suspended sentence relating to an embezzlement case that he has called politically motivated. Given credit for time already spent in detention, the court said the Kremlin critic would have to serve 2 years and 8 months behind bars.
Millicent Omanga suggests she will contest the Jubilee Party's decision to expel her.

Omanga who was nominated to the Senate by the ruling party was alongside five of her colleagues expelled on Monday on disciplinary grounds.

Omanga, in a message on social media, also claimed the party is yet to officially communicate the decision.

"I've not received official communication from Jubilee party on my purported expulsion. Just seen it on the media. Assume it's true, it's a stark reminder of the desperation of those who've held the party hostage. We're going nowhere!" she tweeted.

I've not received official communication from Jubilee party on my purported expulsion, and 5 other colleagues, from the party. Just seen it on the media. Assume it's true, it's a stark reminder of the desperation of those who've held the party hostage. We're going nowhere!

- Millicent Omanga (@MillicentOmanga) February 8, 2021

Omanga is among six nominated Jubilee senators who were no Monday expelled by the party's disciplinary committee on grounds of disciplinary violations.

The senators had appeared before the committee last year and this year on grounds of disciplinary matters as per article 13 of the party's law.

Those expelled include nominated Senators: Isaac Mwaura, Seneta Mary Yiane, Waqo Naomi Jilo, Omanga Millicent, Prengei Victor and Iman Dekow

Statement by the Jubilee Party SG Raphael Tuju | 8/02/2021. @AlbertMem pic.twitter.com/cKqbwBqzcG

- JUBILEE PARTY (@JubileePartyK) February 8, 2021
HERIKA MARTINEZ, Contributor / AFP via Getty Images

There was a lot of news about President Joe Biden taking steps toward ending Donald Trumps Migration Protection Protocol, also known as the Remain in Mexico program where largely Central American asylum seekers were forced to stay in Mexico until an often hypothetical future asylum hearing. While this is a positive step long-term, right now it seems little has changed for most immigrants waiting at the border. Most are still being denied a chance to go through the asylum process in the name of stopping the spread of COVID-19. This policy started under the Trump Administration is called Title 42. I know everyone would agree that stopping COVID-19 is important, but this has ended up endangering migrants lives and greatly benefited the cartels who will take individuals over illegally. If any migrant tries to cross illegally without paying the cartels, they could pay the ultimate price.

Many asylum seekers have been waiting months or even over a year in the camps at our southern border. They, are forced to stay in these very hostile and dangerous situations. I have seen these conditions first-hand. On top of that, new migrants are arriving who are also being forced to remain in Mexico as well. This is creating a serious humanitarian crisis especially given the attitudes of many in the Mexican government.

Gurugram, Feb 11 : A dumper driver has been booked for allegedly trying to run over a Road and Transport Authority (RTA) Inspector and others who were carrying out a routine inspection of vehicles on the Gurugram-Faridabad road.

The RTA Inspector, two staffers and two policemen who were checking vehicles overloaded with stones near Ghata T-point had a lucky escape.

The complainant, RTA Inspector Sandeep Kumar was inspecting the area when they spotted the overloaded dumper coming from Ghata village on the Gurugram-Faridabad road on Wednesday night.

As the dumper was carrying stones, they signalled the driver to stop.

The dumper driver has been identified as Shahid Khan, a resident of Dhoj village in Faridabad.

"As soon as we signalled the driver to stop, he accelerated and rammed our government vehicle. The dumper driver tried to run away from the spot leaving the vehicle behind but was overpowered by the complainant and the police personnel on the spot while the helper of the dumper fled the spot along with the driver's phone," Kumar told the police.

A case was registered against the driver under sections 307 (attempt to murder), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) and other relevant sections of the IPC.

"We have registered a case and are currently investigating the matter," said Ranbir, the investigation officer in the case.
WHO Photo:VCG

Taiwan's ineligibility to participate in the World Health Assembly (WHA) is due to the separatist Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authority, and the radical politicization of the WHO will only intensify cross-Straits conflicts, experts said, after two US Republican lawmakers proposed an act that would withdraw funding from WHO until it replaces its leaders and allow Taiwans membership.

Rick Scott, a GOP Senator in Florida, announced on Tuesday that he and GOP Senator Josh Hawley have introduced a WHO accountability act, which would hold the WHO responsible for its role in helping China cover up information regarding the threat of the coronavirus.

Observers believe that the bill is a reenactment of the buck-passing trick adopted in the Trump administration, which blamed WHO and China for the poor COVID-19 handling in the US.

The Trump administration formally withdrew from the WHO in July 2020, but Biden signed an executive order on his first day as US president to reverse Trumps decision.

Wang Jianmin, a Taiwan affairs expert at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Thursday that the views of some radical Republicans are unlikely to guide the Biden administrations policies, as they are only pressuring Biden to be tougher against China.

On the Taiwan question, there is a bipartisan stance in the US: to use Taiwan as a card to contain the Chinese mainland.

The Biden administration also hopes that Taiwan can participate in international organizations and expand its valuable alliance. However, they support Taiwans meaningful participation in international organizations without crossing the redline, Wang said.

The redline is the one-China principle, which was reaffirmed by the US State Department on February 3.

When the pro-reunification party KMT authority ruled the island (2009-2016), Taiwan participated in the WHA as an observer under the name "Chinese Taipei," which was permitted by the Chinese mainland because the two sides of the Taiwan Straits have the 1992 Consensus that recognized the one-China principle.

Since 2017, after the separatist Democratic Progressive Party took power and abandoned the 1992 Consensus, the cross-Straits relationship has been seriously damaged and the island's authority has lost the right to attend the WHA as an observer.

Taiwan's participation in the WHA has to be supported by more than half of the WHA members countries. At present, this is difficult due to the politicization by some politicians from the US and the island of Taiwan, Wang said.

Amid the raging pandemic, COVID-19 vaccine is also being put under political lens. US pharmaceutical Moderna announced on Tuesday that it will supply Taiwan with 5 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine after reaching an agreement with DPP authorities. Modernas vaccine has not yet been approved for emergency use in Taiwan and Moderna said it will start delivery in mid-2021.

Zhu Fenglian, a spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said at a press briefing on January 27 that the DPP authorities on the island of Taiwan have created political obstacles for the use of Chinese mainland vaccines.

"The head of Taiwan's pandemic response agency has repeatedly said that mainland vaccines will not be used, so there are obstacles to this issue indeed, mainly political ones," Zhu said.
Dominican Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his gesture after the latter dispatched 35,000 'Made In India coronavirus vaccine shipment, sufficient to inoculate half of the countrys 72,000 total population. I did not imagine that the prayers of my country would have been answered so swiftly, Skerrit wrote in a tweet, thanking India.

Furthermore, in his address to the Caribbean nation after the consignment of covid vials from India arrived, the Dominican PM stated, One would have thought and understood that in a global pandemic such as this, a nation's size and might would have been the primary consideration. Expressing gratitude for PM Modi, Skerrit said, But to the credit of Prime Minister Modi our request was considered on merit and the equality of our people was recognized.

Even though I trust every word of the bible, I must confess that I did not imagine that the prayers of my country would have been answered so swiftly. Thank You India. @narendramodi pic.twitter.com/S04q5ZV2Py  Roosevelt Skerrit (@SkerritR) February 10, 2021

Good Morning to all Citizens and Residents,



Our nation is ready to launch the largest vaccination campaign in modern history as we have received 70,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine from India.  Roosevelt Skerrit (@SkerritR) February 10, 2021

The vaccine has been placed under the custody of Central Medical Stores and from today morning, we will advance our public awareness campaign to include the registration of persons interested in receiving vaccines.  Roosevelt Skerrit (@SkerritR) February 10, 2021

Read: PM Modi Calls Farmers Protests Sacred; Contrasts 'Andolan Kaari' 'with 'Andolan Jeevi'

Read: PM Modi Flays Congress' Walkout From Lok Sabha; Exposes 'conspirators' & Andolan Jeevis

Under the Vaccine Maitri initiative, India on February 8, dispatched two separate shipments of domestically manufactured Covishield vaccines to Barbados and Dominica. The COVID-19 vials, manufactured by the Serum Institute of India (SII) departed from Mumbai at 11:35 pm. Earlier, having received Indias vaccine consignment, Prime Minister of Barbados Mia Mottley, had thanked Prime Minister Modi and India for the "most generous" donation. "I trust that you are well and safe, Mottley wrote in a letter to PM Modi, cited by ANI. On behalf of my Government and people, I wish to express gratitude to you, your Government and the people of the Republic of India for its most generous donation of the Covishield vaccines (under the auspices of Oxford Astrazeneca), she had further added.

Consolidating our Caribbean connect. Barbados receives Made in India vaccines. #VaccineMaitri pic.twitter.com/Fn0EZK1Zuv  Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) February 10, 2021

A gesture of goodwill, an example of support. Made in India vaccines arrive in Dominica. Consolidating our Caribbean connect. Barbados receives Made in India vaccines," Indias External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar wrote in a tweet, sharing an image of the consignment reached in Dominica.

Heartfelt 'thanks and appreciation' to PM

India, under its generous initiative, has dispatched shipment to neighbouring countries including Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Myanmar, and Bangladesh, being in the forefront to help smaller nations to have access to the vaccine and inoculate its population with Made in India jabs. Dominican PM, last month, had requested PM Modi for a shipment in order to commence the mass vaccination drive for essential workers and vulnerable citizens to protect them against the virus. I would like to take this opportunity to once again express my heartfelt thanks and appreciation to Prime Minister Modi, his government, and the citizens of India," Skerrit further added, expressing heartfelt gratitude for India.

Read: Justin Trudeau Dials PM Modi, Days After Facing Questions Over Procuring COVID Vaccines

Read: 'PM Modi Had Demanded Legalisation Of MSP As Gujarat CM': SAD's Sukhbir Badal On Farm Laws


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Google, Facebook Ask Supreme Court to Make Suing Them More Difficult

Google LLC and Facebook Inc. have asked the Supreme Court in an upcoming case to make it more difficult for prospective class-action plaintiffs to sue them in court.

The friend-of-the-court brief, which also includes eBay Inc., the Computer and Communications Industry Association, the Internet Association, and the Technology Network, was filed in TransUnion LLC v. Ramirez, which is scheduled for oral argument on March 30.

These friends of the court describe themselves in the brief as proven innovators that continue to generate valuable technology through significant investments in research and development, and that are especially susceptible to abusive, no-injury class action litigation similar to the matter before the Court.

The companies products serve large numbers of users and those large user pools make it financially lucrative for plaintiffs counsel to identify individuals who allegedly have suffered an atypical injury for which a statute supplies a private right of action and statutory damages.

Class-action suits begin with a lead plaintiff, who, serving as a representative of a larger group, stands in for anywhere from hundreds to thousands of other individuals in circumstances that are similar, but not necessarily identical.

In 2011, Sergio Ramirez and his wife tried to purchase an automobile. The car dealer obtained a credit report on both would-be buyers, but the report from TransUnion, a consumer credit reporting company, indicated that his name matched one on a terrorist watchlist maintained by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) in the U.S. Department of the Treasury. The dealership refused to sell Ramirez the car so his spouse purchased it by herself.

Afterward, Ramirez asked TransUnion for a copy of his credit report but it didnt contain the OFAC warning. The agency later sent him a copy of the OFAC notice that associated him with two individuals who had different middle initials and dates of birth. The document offered no procedure for challenging incorrect information.

Ramirez retained an attorney who had the OFAC alert deleted from his credit report and then initiated a potential class-action lawsuit claiming TransUnion violated the Fair Credit Reporting Act. The court ruled in favor of the more than 8,000 class members, finding that each member should receive $984 in statutory damages, and $6,350 in punitive damages.

TransUnion argued on appeal that Ramirezs case wasnt representative of the class, most of whom suffered no specific harm from the agencys behavior. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the lower courts ruling in February 2020 but roughly halved the punitive damages. TransUnion asked the Supreme Court to review the case and on Dec. 16, 2020, it agreed to do so. The company is arguing that the U.S. Constitution and the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure prevent a class from litigating unless its members can demonstrate an actual injury.

Silicon Valley is interested in the case because it could be affected by the outcome at the Supreme Court.

When a small group of plaintiffs discovers its members have suffered privacy- or data-related harm at the hands of Big Tech, this can lead many more users to discover that they too have experienced similar harm. The technology companies want the evidentiary bar raised so that every member of the would-be class is required to show similar injuries.

Such a requirement might have prevented the biometric privacy case Facebook settled last month in Illinois from getting off the ground, according to Ars Technica.

In the Land of Lincoln, about 1.6 million Facebook users will receive around $340 each from Facebook after it settled a case in which it was accused of violating a state law by collection of facial-recognition data from users without their consent.

This is money thats coming directly out of Facebooks own pocket, U.S. District Judge James Donato reportedly said. The violations here did not extract a penny from the pockets of the victims. But this is real money that Facebook is paying to compensate them for the tangible privacy harms that they suffered.

Video platform Vimeo and facial-recognition platform Clearview AI also are reportedly facing consumer lawsuits in Illinois.
By John J. Metzler





Myanmar's military coup d'etat overthrowing the democratically elected government has provided the stage for a new morality play in Southeast Asia. We already know the players.



On the one side we see the seemingly virtuous young democracy led by a Nobel Peace Prize laureate being pushed aside by the powerful and corrupt Myanmar military. Then there's the international community, the United Kingdom, the United States and the European Union who quickly condemn the coup makers and demand a return to democracy. Additionally, the neighboring Southeast Asian nations, notably Thailand (with its own military junta), basically shrug.



But the crescendo quickly builds when the U.N. Security Council with the U.K. at the helm, tries to mobilize a powerful condemnation of the military power grab, only to find that key veto holding members, especially China and Russia, provide diplomatic cover for Myanmar's military. Surprised?



U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres condemns the military coup calling it "totally unacceptable."



Christine Schraner Burgener, the U.N. special envoy for Myanmar, addresses ambassadors, "I strongly condemn the recent steps taken by the military and urge all of you to collectively send a clear signal in support of democracy in Myanmar."



So all the players have assumed their traditional places; the West most especially Britain, the former colonial power, and the U.S. in defending democracy and threatening sanctions. The People's Republic of China, the regime's longtime patron, protecting its client state, and the long suffering Myanmar people, on the losing end once again.



Sadly military rule, direct or indirect, has been part of the Myanmar political fabric since 1962. The current coup only reinforces the obvious; that democratic institutions have failed to take root deep enough in Myanmar's rich soil, while the military, through the cohesiveness of power and corruption, has proven a powerful political counterweight.



Since 2015 when fair elections saw the victory of the National League for Democracy, Myanmar has experienced an uneasy coexistence between Aung San Suu Kyi's democratically elected government and the powerful Myanmar military, the Tatmandaw, always lurking in the shadows.



The power sharing marriage of convenience underscored the Junta's mantra of promoting a "Discipline-flourishing democracy."



But Myanmar's road to a quasi-successful democracy faced the hurdles of the 1988 freedom movement when mass pro-democracy demonstrations were bloodily suppressed by the military, the hopeful 2007 Saffron Revolution led by Buddhist monks, and finally the political power sharing agreements between the generals and Aung San Suu Kyi's new government in 2015.



Elections in November 2020, in which the National League for Democracy (NLD) won a landslide, jolted the generals. On the day the new parliament was set to meet in the Disney-like faux capital Naypyidaw, the tanks rolled in.



Aung San Suu Kyi, has been smooth as silk with the foreign press; I recall her U.N. visit a few years back when she evoked the Angel of Democracy. Back home she's known as "Mother Suu" to the Myanmar ethnic majority. But millions of Myanmar people have become disenchanted by her NLD's political incompetence and vindictiveness as well as her government's politely looking the other way to ethnic persecution.



Myanmar, a resource rich Southeast Asian state of 54 million people borders China, Thailand, India and Bangladesh. It's strategically located on the Bay of Bengal.



Yet part of Myanmar's original sin, and this includes the once sainted Aung San Suu Kyi, has been to run a hyper-nationalist Buddhist state at the expense of the country's other ethnic and religious groups; Christians and Muslims. Though Myanmar's democratization has been rightly lauded for a decade, the ongoing tragedy of nearly one million Rohingya Muslims forced from the country into neighboring Bangladesh remains cynically overlooked. So too has been the tragedy of Christian persecution of the Shan and Karen peoples in the north.



While Beijing has historically overplayed its hand in neighboring Myanmar, causing a backlash even from an often collaborationist socialist regime, the fact stands that China's political and economic power remains the central force to be reckoned with. It's all about the Belt and Road, expanding the deep water port of Kyaukphyu, being the primary arms merchant for the military, and holding the majority of foreign investments. Add rackets, gambling, and human trafficking in this pivotal country, and China's calculation becomes clear.



Just weeks before the recent coup, China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with key Myanmar officials, offering support for the military's "deserved role in the course of national transformation and development." Will any sanctions by the Biden administration now push Myanmar's generals totally back into Beijing's arms?





John J. Metzler (jjmcolumn@earthlink.net) is a United Nations correspondent covering diplomatic and defense issues.
MoS External Affairs V Muraleedharan says PLA made several attempts to unilaterally alter status quo along LAC but Indian armed forces 'responded appropriately'

The government on Wednesday said it will continue discussions with China to achieve the objective of disengagement of troops from all friction points and restoration of peace and tranquillity in eastern Ladakh at an early date.

Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan said this in Lok Sabha while replying to a question on details of in-person and virtual meetings between India and China since the standoff began last year.

The minister's comments came on a day the Chinese defence ministry said in Beijing that Indian and Chinese troops started "synchronised" disengagement at the south and north banks of Pangong Lake in eastern Ladakh.

In his written reply, Muraleedharan said the Chinese military made several attempts to unilaterally alter the status quo along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh since April-May last year and Indian armed forces "responded" to them "appropriately".

Indian and Chinese armies are locked in a bitter standoff in eastern Ladakh for over nine months.

"Since April/May 2020 the Chinese side had made several attempts to unilaterally alter the status quo along the LAC in Western Sector. These attempts have been responded to appropriately by our armed forces," Muraleedharan said in replying to a question.

"It has been made clear to the Chinese side that such unilateral attempts are unacceptable. These actions have seriously disturbed the peace and tranquillity along the LAC in the Western sector," he said.

The government often refers to eastern Ladakh as western sector.

Muraleedharan said diplomatic and military engagements with the Chinese side have continued in order to ensure complete disengagement from all friction points and full restoration of peace and tranquillity in the border areas.

He said six meetings of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China border affairs (WMCC) and nine meetings of the senior commanders have been held so far.

"Government will continue discussions with the Chinese side to achieve the objective of disengagement from all friction points and restoration of peace and tranquility in the India-China Border Areas at an early date," he said.

The Chinese defence ministry said the frontline troops of China and India at the south and north banks of the Pangong Lake in eastern Ladakh started "synchronised and organised" disengagement from Wednesday.

There was no official comment by either the Indian defence ministry or the Indian Army on the Chinese statement.

In responding to the question in Lok Sabha, Muraleedharan also referred to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on 10 September in Moscow.

"The two foreign ministers agreed that the current situation in the border areas is not in the interest of either side. They agreed therefore that the border troops of both sides should continue their dialogue, quickly disengage, maintain proper distance and ease tensions," he said.

Muraleedharan said the two foreign ministers also agreed that both sides shall abide by all the existing agreements and protocol on China-India boundary affairs, maintain peace and tranquillity in the border areas and avoid any action that could escalate matters.

To a separate question, he said India received assistance from a few countries including Japan, the US, France, Germany and Israel in the form of medical equipment and grants-in-aid following the coronavirus pandemic.
Chinas broadcasting regulator announced on Friday that the BBC will be banned from airing its programs in China through satellite services, accusing the British news service of biased, inaccurate reporting that has damaged Chinese ethnic unity.

The Chinese announcement came just over a week after the British broadcasting regulator banned China Global Television Network, or CGTN, citing its control by the Chinese Communist Party, and the move appears likely to be seen as a counterstrike against that move.

The BBCs services are already widely restricted by Chinas comprehensive firewall of censorship, and the new ban will affect a limited number of viewers  in international hotels and residential compounds populated mainly by foreigners  who had been able to watch the British broadcaster through the services of a local distributor. Exact viewing figures were unavailable, but a spokeswoman for the BBC estimated that it was available in more than a million hotel rooms.

The announcement from Chinas National Radio and Television Administration did not specify which news reporting was found to have violated Chinese rules. But for days Chinese officials and state media have complained about BBC reports on Xinjiang, the western region of China where Muslim minorities have endured sweeping detentions and draconian controls.
EMILY ST. LAWRENCE, Chariho girls lacrosse, senior: St. Lawrence tied a school record for goals in a game with nine in a win over Smithfield. St. Lawrence scored 17 goals for the week and has 32 for the season.

CARLY CONSTANTINE, Stonington softball, sophomore: Constantine singled home Shea OConnor with the winning run to hand Waterford, the states No. 2 ranked team at the time, its first loss of the season. For the week, Constantine was 5 for 15.

GREG GORMAN, Westerly baseball, junior: Gorman, a junior, hit a massive home run in a win against Barrington. The homer went over the fence in center field and landed in a nearby road. Gorman was 3 for 3 with four RBIs in the game. He is hitting .571 with 10 RBIs for the season.

BRADIN ANDERSON, Wheeler baseball, freshman: Anderson, a freshman, pitched a complete-game shutout to beat Grasso Tech. Anderson struck out three to earn the first win of his varsity career.

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Law enforcement officers involved in the search for Faye Swetlik a year ago and the investigation into her death are still feeling the effects.

The disappearance and murder of Faye Marie Swetlik immediately became, and always will remain, incredibly personal for each of us, Cayce Department of Public Safety Director Byron Snellgrove recently said. And the loss of Faye was a shock to each of us because Cayce is a very safe community.

The girl was reported missing Feb. 10, 2020. She was abducted and killed by Coty Taylor, a 30-year-old neighbor, the Cayce Department of Public Safety said. Taylor died by suicide, and his body was found shortly after Fayes was discovered on the morning of Feb. 13. The Lexington County coroner said she was killed the same day she. was abducted.

In February 2020, a man abducted and killed 6-year-old Faye as she played outside in a neighborhood in Cayce.

Finding Faye

Although the days-long search for Faye included more than 300 first responders, it was Snellgrove who discovered her body shortly after it had been placed in a wooded area near her home in the Churchill Heights neighborhood.

For me, after 65 hours of searching, the memory of finding the small body of Faye Marie Swetlik in a shallow grave on the morning of Feb. 13 will never, ever leave me, Snellgrove said. In the days, months, and now nearly a year after I see how this loss impacted our officers and our staff.

This makes it almost impossible to imagine the worry and the horror that her family experienced at this time. Even as a father and grandfather I cannot fathom what the pain of their loss actually feels like.

But that did not lessen the toll the investigation took on the department.

Cayce Department of Public Safety Director Byron Snellgrove shares with the media, how his department is doing a year after the death of 6-year-old Faye Swetlik. Swetlik was abducted from her yard in Cayce in February, 2020.

Ripple effect

For four days members of the Cayce Department of Public Safety, along with neighboring police and fire departments, as well as agents from the South Carolina Law Enforcement Department and FBI, joined together with the united goal of finding Faye.

There was a fallout after her body was found.

We felt broken as we mourned her loss, said Snellgrove, who declined to comment on either the investigation or the impact that discovering the body had on him. It affected our department greatly.

Story continues

Perhaps the greatest impact was the loss of several veteran officers.

Five officers who were involved in the investigation retired within six months of the discovery of Fayes body.

Snellgrove said an FBI agent told him thats about how many officers the department would expect to lose based on what the federal agency sees in similar investigations conducted by other law enforcement agencies across the nation.

Snellgrove said he did not consider retiring because he still has work to do.

Theres goals and things I still want to do, Snellgrove said.

Snellgrove did say he is one of several officers in the department who underwent counseling since Fayes death. There has been crisis intervention training, debriefings from SLEDs assistance program, and group counseling in addition to one-on-one sessions with therapists for officers who had a significant part in the investigation, according to Snellgrove.

He also keeps a portrait of Faye on the wall of his office. The portrait is beautiful, Snellgrove, and its a constant reminder of Faye, and keeps her in his heart.

An employee of Cayce Department of Public Safety drew a portrait of 6-year-old Faye Swetlik. The portrait hangs in Director Brian Sterlings office. Swetlik was abducted from her yard in Cayce in February, 2020.

Things to learn

In addition to the counseling, Snellgrove said his department is also trying to learn from the process. Cayce DPS officers have been sent to training sessions with the FBI, focused on child abduction cases.

Conversely, the FBI has shared the actions taken by Cayce DPS with other law enforcement agencies, according to Snellgrove.

He said when the FBIs child abduction rapid deployment unit goes around the country to train different departments on how to react to an abduction or missing child, agents are using DPS handling of Fayes case as an example of how things should be done.

All of the interaction and experience has benefited Cayce DPS, Snellgrove said.

We are now much more sensitive to issues that come up with children, Snellgrove said. All of the other cases weve had where a child was involved have turned out very well.

Unfinished business

Snellgrove has said that Taylor was the only one involved in Swetliks kidnapping and death, although the investigation is officially ongoing.

DPS previously said DNA evidence showed Faye was inside Taylors home, where a polka dot childs boot and a soup ladle with freshly dug dirt were found. Faye was last seen wearing polka dot rain boots.

The investigation is still open, and theres a lot of reasons for it being open, Snellgrove said.

He referenced nationwide issues that have had an impact on the Columbia area and Lexington County in 2020, including the coronavirus pandemic and protests following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, as factors that have slowed the process.

The FBI was very involved in our cases. Theres still some evidence thats out there we have not received reports on, its still being looked at. Once we receive that, well close the case, Snellgrove said. I dont think theres anything out there thats going to change any opinion of what we have on the case, or any outcome of the case. Its just another box that we need to check.

Snellgrove said more information could be made available in March, but declined to say what that could include, adding, we can discuss what led to that at a later time.

Faye Swetliks mother, Selena Collins and father Chad Swetlik sit with a portrait of Faye Swetlik and a purple unicorn they purchased her for Valentines Day. Faye was abducted from her yard in Cayce in February, 2020, and later killed.

Supporting the family

The department is doing what it can to help Fayes family, Snellgrove said, and it has a good bond and stays in touch.

The family knows that if theres anything that they need, anything that we can do for them to help in any situation, not just specifically about Faye, that they can call us anytime day or night, Snellgrove said.

Larry Flynt, who turned Hustler magazine into an adult entertainment empire while championing First Amendment rights, has died at age 78.



His nephew, Jimmy Flynt Jr., told The Associated Press that Flynt died Wednesday of heart failure at his Hollywood Hills home in Los Angeles. Jimmy Flynt said his uncle had been in frail health.

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 11)  It's official. The Public Attorney's Office and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples will now defend Japer Gurung and Junior Ramos, the two Aetas facing charges under the controversial Anti-Terrorism Act.

The National Union of Peoples' Lawyers said it had to withdraw as counsel on record after the accused themselves chose PAO and the NCIP during a hearing at the Olongapo City Regional Trail Court on Thursday.

"In that instance we have no choice since it's the matter of right of the accused to choose whoever the lawyer can represent them and defend their case," said Bonifacio Cruz of the NUPL-Central Luzon.

The NUPL maintained it did not force the Aetas to sign the petition to intervene in the legal challenge against the anti-terrorism law, as told by Solicitor General Jose Calida during the Supreme Court's oral arguments last Tuesday. In the petition, Gurung and Ramos said they were tortured by soldiers and falsely charged under the new law, when they were only trying to avoid being caught in the crossfire during a clash between government forces and members of the New People's Army in Zambales in August last year.

Calida claimed the NUPL paid the Aetas 1,000 to sign the pleading, but the NUPL stressed this was from families of the accused. The NUPL said it is ready to be cross-examined.

"Para maganda sa kinabukasan ng kapatid natin na Aeta, why don't they drop the case?" Cruz said.

In a separate statement, the NUPL quoted Gurung and Ramos as saying they are "confused" by recent developments and thanked the lawyers' group for its help.

The military accused the Aetas of being among the NPA members who fired at a group of soldiers in Barangay Buhawen, San Marcelino, Zambales in August 2020, resulting in the death of Sgt. Rudil Dilao. The NPA, the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines, has been designated by the Anti-Terrorism Council as a terrorist organization pending court proscription.

The Supreme Court has denied the Aetas' earlier bid to join 37 sets of petitioners in seeking to junk the Anti-Terrorism Act because of the case filed at the Regional Trial Court of Olongapo City.

It also took note of the petitioners' manifestation bringing to the high court's attention the social media comments made by Lt. Gen. Antonio Parlade, Jr. red-tagging Inquirer.net journalist Tetch Torres-Tupas over the article she wrote on the Aetas petition. Parlade said Torres-Tupas may be held liable under the law for "aiding the terrorists by spreading lies," which according to petitioners constitute a "direct threat" to journalists. The Armed Forces is now investigating Parlade's online remarks.

CNN Philippines' Anjo Alimario and Eimor Santos contributed to this report.
Farmers learning to grow oyster mushrooms pose for a picture in front of a Juncao greenhouse in the suburb of Maseru, capital of Lesotho. (Photo by Wan Yu/People's Daily)

Minning Town is a great Chinese TV drama. It vividly mirrors how Juncao, a Chinese-invented technology using grass to grow mushrooms, has helped poverty alleviation, revealing the huge endeavor made by the Chinese in their pursuit of a better life. Team members who joined poverty alleviation with me in the past, as well as their families, are all binge-watching the drama. We are very proud of what we did back then.

Born in a poor rural region in Liancheng County, east Chinas Fujian province, I know exactly the hardships that farmers are going through. Therefore, to shatter poverty for them is a long-cherished wish of mine. Grass is trivial and even negligible for most of the people. However, China's Juncao technology is powerful. It can not only help farmers shake off poverty and prevent dust storms, but also generate electricity and make paper. It is a "magical tool" of global poverty alleviation that brings a hope of sustainable development to developing countries.

When Fujian paired up with Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region to help the latter get rid of poverty, Juncao technology officially started working its magic in the autonomous region in northwest China. As the then deputy secretary of the Communist Party of China Fujian Provincial Committee, Xi Jinping was in charge of the assistance program. He charted the course for the pairing assistance, which inspired us very much. The Gobi desert in Ningxia hardly hold any rainwater, so growing crops on it is impossible. Juncao, on which edible fungi can be cultivated, has strong roots, so it's able to reduce the wind speed and fix moving sand. It is an optimal choice for poverty alleviation.

A Chinese technician explains cultivation skills to a local mushroom grower in the suburb of Maseru, capital of Lesotho. (Photo by Wan Yu/People's Daily)

Under the promotion of Xi, Juncao technology has been exported to many underdeveloped countries and regions. Based on the successful experience we made in Fujian-Ningxia pairing assistance, we sent experts to foreign villages and even families, taking impoverished people in the aid-receiving countries as the major target of our services. In South Africa and Lesotho, we specifically tailored an innovative fungi-planting method for smallholders by which 1.2 tonnes of mushrooms can be produced each year on just 10 square meters of land. This method has made production possible for farmers who lost their land and impoverished urban residents. Juncao technology is a bridge linking Chinese-foreign poverty reduction cooperation, contributing Chinese schemes and wisdom.

To reduce poverty through technologies is to nurture an endogenous power in the impoverished, which helps minimize the reoccurrence of poverty. As a measure of targeted poverty alleviation, Juncao technology aims to eliminate poverty from the source. If the technology is compared to a fish, in our assistance we not only give the fish, but also create an entire industry that can breed, capture and process the fish. In South Africa, we built an industrial link of oyster mushrooms that any local woman is able to understand easily. Many women even made their first bucket of gold by growing the mushrooms within a week. They not only made money by themselves, but also created a good life for their children. They danced and sang when they reaped their first batch of mushrooms. The genuine happiness made me realize the significance of poverty reduction.

Lin Zhanxi checks mushrooms cultivated with Juncao technology. (Photo by Xinhua News Agency)

The promotion of Juncao technology in impoverished regions not only helped people get rid of poverty, but also blazed a new trail of environmental protection and sustainable development. It offers sufficient material to grow fungi, alleviates the lack of fodders on pastures in dry season, promotes the development of animal husbandry, and sets an example for controlling water and soil loss. In Rwanda, also known as "the land of a thousand hills'' where vegetation and water and soil are on a large decrease, Juncao is planted together with fruits, corns and soybeans in the fields. This method has been very much encouraged by Rwanda Agriculture Board.

Over the past 20 years, China's Juncao technology has sowed its seeds to over 100 countries and regions in the world. Finding solutions to human survival and development through technologies, Juncao is a vivid practice of China to build a community with a shared future for mankind.

Lin Zhanxi shows the strong roots of Juncao. (Photo by Xinhua News Agency)

Lin Zhanxi teaches a lesson to African and Asian postgraduates. (Photo by Xinhua News Agency)

(Lin Zhanxi is the inventor of the Juncao technology and chief scientist with China National Engineering Research Center of JUNCAO Technology.)
The family of Saudi activist Loujain al-Hathloul said Joe Biden's election win helped secure her release after nearly three years' imprisonment, but cautioned she was still far from free.

Hathloul, 31, best known for campaigning against a decades-long ban on female drivers, was provisionally released in the kingdom on Wednesday.

She had been detained in May 2018 with about a dozen other women activists, just weeks before the kingdom's historic lifting of that ban.

The family of Saudi activist Loujain al-Hathloul said Joe Biden's election win helped secure her release after nearly three years' imprisonment

'I would say thank you Mr President that you helped my sister to be released,' Alia al-Hathloul told a virtual press conference.

'It's a fact that Loujain was imprisoned during the previous administration, and she was released a few days after Biden's arrival to power.

'Biden's arrival helped and contributed a lot in my sister's release.'

Biden, inaugurated last month, has pledged to intensify scrutiny of powerful Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's human rights record after the kingdom received something of a free pass under his predecessor, president Donald Trump.

Saudi Arabia, which has detained hundreds of activists, clerics as well as royal family members, abruptly accelerated some political trials - including that of Hathloul - after Biden's election win late last year.

On Wednesday, Biden welcomed the decision to release her, saying it was 'the right thing to do'.

Biden, inaugurated last month, has pledged to intensify scrutiny of powerful Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's human rights record

The US State Department said the activist should never have been jailed.

The release of Hathloul, who is still under probation and is barred from leaving Saudi Arabia, came after her siblings launched a vigorous campaign overseas for her freedom in a major embarrassment for the kingdom.

The siblings posted pictures on Twitter of the smiling activist, who appeared physically weaker and had streaks of grey hair.

When asked what was the first thing her sister did upon her release, Alia said she 'bought an ice-cream', a joy denied to her in detention.

In their first post-release video call with the activist on Wednesday, her other sister Lina al-Hathloul said they could not 'trust her smile'.

'We asked her 'when you were in prison, you said you were fine,'' said Lina.

'She said 'what did you want me to do?... An electric (stun gun was) on my ear... They (prison authorities) were ready to electrocute me'.'

Saudi Arabia received something of a free pass under BIden's predecessor, president Donald Trump

Hathloul's family has alleged she experienced torture and sexual harassment in detention, claims repeatedly dismissed by a Saudi court.

In late December, a court handed Hathloul a prison term of five years and eight months for terrorism-related crimes, but her family said a partially suspended sentence - and time already served - paved the way for her early release.

The women's rights activist was convicted of inciting regime change and seeking to disrupt public order, in what her family deplored as a 'sham' and 'politically motivated' trial.

Saudi authorities have not officially commented on her detention, trial or release.

Her family said the activist is on probation for three years and faces a five-year travel ban, prompting her to refrain from media interviews and limit her presence on social media.

'Loujain is still not free,' Lina said.

While some women activists detained along with Hathloul have been provisionally released, several others remain imprisoned on what campaigners describe as opaque charges.

The detentions have cast a spotlight on the human rights record of the kingdom, an absolute monarchy which has also faced intense criticism over the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in its Istanbul consulate.
When a visiting rooster flew the coop, the people of Cullman stepped up to help reunite the owner with his feathered friend.

It all started when 18-year-old Thomas Ramsey, a student at Copiah Academy in Gallman, Miss., and founder of the Muddy Rabbits Mess, a 32-member military reenactment group and the largest youth group nationally, was returning from a Civil War reenactment in Springhill, Tenn., and stopped for lunch on Jan. 31 at Cracker Barrel in Cullman. With him was his friend Jonas Patrick and his Buff Orpington rooster, Peep.

Peep is a handsome fellow, in keeping with the standards of this heritage breed of chicken: heavy, with a broad body and low stance and having a bold, upright and graceful carriage. Hes been the cock of the walk ever since Ramsey found him on a roadside last summer when he was still a young chick.

Ramsey has been participating in reenactments since he was 14. Its a way, he said, to really connect with history as they reenact wars from the late Colonial time up to World War II. Most of the reenactments he participates in, though, are from the Civil War.

Its a part of history that needs to be represented and we represent it as accurately as we can, he said. Hes been around the country, from Pennsylvania to West Texas, participating in 16-20 reenactments each year. Hell spend three hours a day for six to seven months researching for an event. When hes been part of organizing event, the research kicks up to six to seven hours a day over a multiple months. For one event, he said, I had all my men spend a minimum of 10 months preparing with accents and everything.

The experience, he said, humanizes history. He said hes not focused on being on any particular side of history, but on representing the people and times accurately. I dont like to think of it in terms of who was right, I like to think of it as individuals going to war for whatever reason, he said.

In his research, he said, there have been numerous accounts of soldiers going to war with animals, including camels, and, yep, roosters. Youll read journals of people caring not just fighting roosters but other support animals, he said. In one undisputed account, said Ramsey, a Confederate soldier carried his rooster with him for two years. That particular roosters tale did not end well, though, as he ended up in the bellies of some Union soldiers.

So when Peep entered into Ramseys life, it didnt seem unheard of to take the young bird with him into battle. We were at the house, getting ready for an event and were sitting there playing with him, and were like, lets take him with us, he said.

At the first event, one of Ramseys friends was carrying Peep in a bag by his side, but when the friend got hit, Peep hopped out and just strolled about.

Theres about 10 cannons just blazing and all the rifle fire and hes not going crazy. Hes pretty chill, said Ramsey. Peep is, said the teen, a real solider.

The Springhill event was the third Peep has been part of, and they were headed home when they stopped in Cullman. The young men took the rooster out of the cab of the truck, attached him to his leash and walked him around until their order was called. While they went in to eat, they tied the roosters leash to the bed of the truck as they had done several times before.

But, an hour later, Ramseys friend went outside and came back with bad news: He said, hes gone, man, said Ramsey. At first I thought he was joking; he messes with me like that.

It wasnt a joke, though. Peep had flown the coop.

I went back into the Cracker Barrel and it was very hard for me to say this with a straight face, even though I was panicking: Do you have cameras in the parking lot? I think someone stole my chicken, he said. Someone overheard and said theyd seen Peep wandering in the parking lot.

He called the police and Cullman Animal Control Officer Cooper Harris responded to the call. Harris has been an animal control officer for about five months, and this was only his second call regarding a chicken and the first that involved one that had gone missing.

Id say its very, very, very rare, said Harris.

Ramsey was impressed by Harris dedication to finding Peep.

He spent an hour and half riding around looking for him, said Ramsey. Harris even checked with a nearby farmer to see if hed picked up the roaming rooster, and, with the farmers permission, checked the coop to see if Peep, following the birds of a feather flock together adage, had wandered there on his own. But there was no sign of him.

By this time, Ramsey had posted a missing chicken post and photos to several Cullman Facebook pages. Every five minutes there was someone responding that they were looking for him, said Ramsey.

Ramsey continued on to his home in Mississippi, hopeful that someone would find his feathered friend. Thirty minutes away from his home, he received the news that Jeremy Cox had found Peep. Wherever the rooster wandered to or whatever roads he may have crossed, hed found his way back to the Cracker Barrel parking lot where Cox found him. His adventures continued from there.

Hed changed hands like three times that day, said Ramsey, but it was John Watson, a local farmer whod been posting advice on finding and catching Peep, who drove the rooster to Birmingham where teen and bird were reunited.

Watson said he stepped up to help because its important to him to spread love for a fellow man or woman.

I believe in paying it forward, said Watson. God has blessed my family so much throughout the years, I believe we should be kind to our fellow man. Yes, it was just a chicken, but it was his and he clearly cared for it.

Ramsey agreed that Peep is special. Most of the time I would not drive four hours for just any chicken, said Ramsey. Hes interesting.

Orpingtons are known as docile, friendly and affectionate birds. Ramsey isnt entirely sure thats true. I dont know if its affection or him just knowing how to manipulate the system, he said.

But Ramsey felt like Peep was happy to be back with him. He stood up and kind of jumped when I got him, he said.

Theres no doubt about Ramseys affection for Cullman. I was really impressed; I love yalls town now, he said. I cant think of many places where there are that many people willing to take the time to help out like that.

To continue following the adventures of Peep, you can check out his Instagram page @peep_the_towel.

___

(c)2021 The Cullman Times (Cullman, Ala.)

Visit The Cullman Times (Cullman, Ala.) at www.cullmantimes.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
The Work

Christy Nishita describes the work being done to ensure food access for lower-income, older adults.

Responding to Immediate Needs

"When the Honolulu age-friendly city action plan was developed in 2015, no one could have anticipated COVID-19, the stay-at-home orders and the subsequent ways older adults would be impacted," Nishita observes. "But the plan include the need for public emergency and disaster planning to account for older adults."

When COVID-19 orders affected the citys elders, Age-Friendly Honolulu supported the efforts of the Kupuna Food Security Coalition to ensure that the food needs of kupuna [Hawaiian for older adults] were addressed. Moving ahead, the coalition will build the communitys capacity to prepare for, withstand and recover quickly from disruptions in food supply and access, such as natural disasters and other emergency situations.

"The coalition brings together a diverse cross-sector of nearly 40 nonprofit, government, private and community organizations (see the Partner Organizations box) to collectively address the food needs of vulnerable kupuna," says Nishita, adding that the coalition uses a data-driven approach to examine geographic areas of need by using poverty and working poor definitions. From that, providers target and respond to ensure food access in those high-need areas.

(The Hawaii Public Health Institute provides resources to the coalition and facilitates data-sharing, collaboration, the exchange of best practices, volunteer recruitment and capacity-building to support the food and service providers.)

The coalition has leveraged community partnerships, raised more than $1 million in donations and foundation support, and used federal CARES Act funds to deliver food and meals quickly and effectively to vulnerable kupuna throughout Oahu.

Service provider Lanakila Meals on Wheels estimates that before the pandemic, 1 in 6 kupuna faced hunger every day. To date, the coalition members have provided more than 1.2 million meals and served as many as 8,000 kupuna per week.
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine approved the Procedure for state registration of COVID-19 vaccines and banned the registration of vaccines produced by the aggressor state.

The relevant governments resolution as of February 8, No.95, has been published on the Government portal, Ukrinform reports.

"To approve the Procedure for state registration of vaccines or other medical immunobiological drugs for the specific prevention of the acute respiratory release COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, under the obligation for emergency medical use," reads the document.

By this resolution, the Cabinet of Ministers also prohibited the registration of vaccines or other medical immunobiological drugs for the prevention of the acute respiratory disease COVID-19 caused by coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, under the obligation for emergency medical use, which were developed and/or produced in a state that was recognized by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine as the aggressor state.

As reported by Ukrinform, the Ukrainian Ministry of Health is planning to start vaccination against COVID-19 in February 2021. The ministry plans to vaccinate 50% of the population of Ukraine in 2021-2022.

Ukraine will receive 8 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine within the COVAX Facility. The delivery of the first batch of 117,000 doses of Pfizer vaccine is expected in mid-February.

Ukraine also signed an agreement to purchase 1.9 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine from the Chinese company Sinovac Biotech.

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Contrary to the assertion of Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, his Kaduna counterpart, the Governor Zamfara, Bello Matawalle, has affirmed that he ...

Contrary to the assertion of Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, his Kaduna counterpart, the Governor Zamfara, Bello Matawalle, has affirmed that he will continue to negotiate with bandits who are terrorising his state to convince them to drop their gun and stop their criminal activities.

Speaking in Yola, the capital of Adamawa State on Wednesday, Matawalle said dialogue remains the only option to end banditry in the country.

His position was contrary to that canvassed in an interview with the Hausa Service of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), on Monday by El-Rufai.

The Kaduna Governor had insisted in the interview that rather than negotiation or offer of amnesty, any bandit arrested in his state will be killed.

El-Rufai was reacting to suggestions by Islamic cleric, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi, that the bandits should be granted amnesty and compensated to convince them to end their ongoing killings, looting, kidnapping and other criminal activities across the states in Northwest part of the country.





Gumi gave the advice after his well publicized visits to gun-touting bandits in their forest abodes in Kaduna and Zamfara States.

While affirming his total rejection of Gumis suggestion, El-Rufai said his State is at war with the bandits and eliminating them is the only solution to put an end to their criminality in the North-west region.

Anybody that thinks a Fulani herdsman that is engaged in kidnapping for ransom and is earning millions of naira would go back to his former life of getting N100,000 after selling a cow in a year, must be deceiving himself. Why should we compensate them after killing people, destroyed their houses? Who offended them?, the Kaduna State Governor said.





But the Governor of Zamfara who has been negotiating with the criminals rejected the option of total war against the bandits.

Matawalle who is already implementing an amnesty scheme of cows for guns for so called repentant bandits said dialogue remains the best and only option to douse tension and bring an end to banditry in Zamfara and beyond.

I have been always saying, the best solution and option to tackle banditry is to seek for dialogue with the bandits.

If really we want to end this banditry activity, we have to sit on a round table and negotiate.

Because, through dialogue and reconciliation we are able to secure the release of many people who were under captivity of kidnappers.

So, the best way out for my colleagues, governors, is for them to subscribe for dialogue, the Governor said.





He maintained that the dialogue option was not meant not to fight for those that refused to repent, but the government was using carrot and stick approaches.

The noted that some bandits that prepared for dialogue, government sit with them and listen to their grievances, if any.

But those that refused to take path in dialogue we fight them.

Because, as a governor, my number one priority is to ensure peace and stability, and to ensure people are sleeping with two eyes closed, Mohammed added.
Televangelist Frederick KC Price fighting for life after COVID-19 ravages heart, lungs and kidneys

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A global call for prayers is now circulating for the 89-year-old founder of the 28,000-member Los Angeles-based Crenshaw Christian Center, Frederick K.C. Price, after a weekslong bout with COVID-19 left him with a ravaged heart, lungs and kidneys.

Today, I am calling on all members and friends of Crenshaw Christian Center New York and on everyone everywhere who has been touched by the teaching of Apostle Frederick K.C. Price to join in a worldwide prayer for the Apostle as he faces the health challenges posed by COVID-19. Specifically, we need to pray for the complete restoration of Apostles lungs, heart and kidneys and any other parts of his body that are now under attack as he remains in the hospital, Minister Baltimore Scott, the staff administrator for the center's New York operations, announced in a statement on Facebook Sunday.

This morning in prayer, I called on Father God to remember His faithful son and servant, Frederick K.C. Price and the beacon of light and truth in teaching the Word that Apostle has been to the body of Christ and to the world. I said that our church family, the Body of Christ and the world need Apostle Price more than ever to remain with us as that true beacon of the Fathers Word and example of integrity and truth the world needs so badly now, Scott added.

Officials at Crenshaw Christian Center East did not immediately respond when contacted for further information of Prices condition on Wednesday, but his son, Pastor Fred Price Jr., who is now senior leader of the church, revealed more than a month ago, when his father turned 89, that both of his parents had contracted the new coronavirus.

Happy 89th birthday Dad, I love you and honor you for the measuring stick of a man youve been my entire life. As many of you know my parents both tested positive for Covid-19. Once the frustration and annoyance passed, I reminded myself of their faith and the many challenges theyve overcome. Coronavirus is just another notch on their belts. Thanks for all your prayers; much love and appreciation to you all, Price Jr. noted on Jan. 4.

Just over two weeks later, as he celebrated his sons birthday on Jan. 22, he explained that the situation had grown taxing.

I figured Id also use this as an opportunity to thank everyone for their prayers for Dad as we continue to stand and fight the good fight of faith. I just havent been in a social media mood lately. Forgive the lack of engagement, but things have been taxing. Ive honestly only felt like praying and studying the word with an occasional praise break these past few weeks, he wrote of Facebook.

The Crenshaw Christian Church, also known as the Faithdome, was founded by Price in 1973. With a seating capacity of 10,000, the church building is recognized as one of the worlds largest houses of worship.

Price, who is a proponent of the prosperity gospel, is also known for his global Ever Increasing Faith Ministries television broadcast that started in 1978.



ISIN A-Shares: CNE000000CG9

ISIN H-Shares: CNE1000048K8 (the 'Company' or 'HSH') hereby invites all holders of D-Shares (D-Shareholders) to attend the First Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders 2021

(the 'General Meeting' or 'EGM') and First Class Meeting of D-Shareholders 2021

(the 'D-Shares Class Meeting') on Friday, 5 March 2021 at 14:30 (CST) (corresponding to 07:30 (CET)) at Haier University, Haier Information Industrial Park,

No. 1 Haier Road, Laoshan District, Qingdao City, People's Republic of China (PRC). I. Agenda Items 1. Proposed Amendments to the Articles of Association A special resolution is to be proposed at the EGM to consider and approve the amendments to the Articles of Association, the details are as follow: Reference is made to the announcement of the Company dated 7 February 2021 in relation to the proposed amendments to the Articles of Association. Following the completion of the listing of H shares by way of introduction and the transaction of the privatisation of Haier Electronics by the Company, for the purpose of better realising the synergy, further optimising corporate governance, improving the environmental, social and governance standard of the Company, attracting excellent talents and speeding up the implementation of the Internet of Things Strategy, the Company intends to amend the relevant provisions of the existing Articles of Association in relation to corporate governance. The comparison table for the proposed amendments to the Articles of Association of the Company is set out in Appendix I in Section II of this invitation. The aforesaid resolution has been reviewed and approved by the Board on 7 February 2021 and is now proposed at the EGM for review and approval as a special resolution. 2. Proposed Appointment of International Accounting Standards Auditor for 2020 An ordinary resolution is to be proposed at the EGM to consider and approve the appointment of international accounting standards auditor for 2020, the details are as follows: Reference is made to the announcement of the Company dated 7 February 2021 in relation to the proposed appointment of international accounting standards auditor for 2020. Following the completion of the listing of the H shares of the Company on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on 23 December 2020, according to the relevant requirements of Hong Kong Listing Rules and after taking into consideration such factors including auditor's qualifications, the Board proposes to appoint HLB Hodgson Impey Cheng Limited (the 'HLB') as the international accounting standards auditor of the Company for 2020 to undertake the auditing works in accordance with the international accounting standards. HLB possesses the practicing qualifications of the Hong Kong accountant as well as the experience and capability for the provision of auditing services to companies listed on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. HLB has participated in the international accounting standards auditing works in relation to the listing of the H Shares of the Company by way of introduction, and produced the Company's auditing report for the period ended 30 June 2020 and reviewing report for the period ended 30 September 2020 under the international accounting standards, thus the appointment of HLB can satisfy the efficiency requirements for auditing engagement of the Company for 2020 under the international accounting standards. The audit fee is RMB3.39 million (including audit fee of RMB3.24 million for financial report and audit fee of RMB150,000 for the review of continuing connected transactions). The aforesaid resolution has been reviewed and approved by the Board on 7 February 2021 and is now proposed at the EGM for review and approval as an ordinary resolution. 3. General Mandate for the Repurchase of H Shares A special resolution is to be proposed at the EGM and D Shares Class Meeting to consider and approve the general mandate for the repurchase of H Shares. An explanatory statement as required under the Listing Rules to provide the requisite information of the repurchase mandate is set out in Appendix II in Section II of this invitation. Following the listing of H Shares of the Company on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, the Company intends to flexibly adjust the capital structure based on market conditions. The Company intends to repurchase H Shares through a centralised bidding transaction on the market of Hong Kong Stock Exchange (market trade). All of the repurchased Shares will be cancelled and the registered capital will be reduced. The Board proposes the granting of the general mandate to the Board to the repurchase of H Shares be considered and approved at the EGM and the Class Meetings, and authorise the Board to repurchase H Shares in compliance with the Articles of Association and relevant laws, regulations and rules of the place where its securities are listed, and according to the conditions of the capital market without impairing the ability of the Company to fulfil its debt obligations and operate on an ongoing basis. The number of H Shares to be repurchased shall not exceed 10% of the total number of the H Shares of the Company in issue at the time when this resolution is passed at the EGM and the Class Meetings. It is expected that the total amounts to be repurchased within one year from the effective date of the repurchase mandate will not be less than HK$1 billion. The general mandate for the repurchase of H Shares will be effective upon the approval of this resolution by the EGM and each of the Class Meetings and until the earlier of (a) the conclusion of the 2021 annual general meeting of the Company, unless the mandate referred in this resolution is replaced by a special resolution at the annual general meeting, with or without conditions; or (b) the date on which the mandate referred in this resolution is revoked or varied by resolution at any general meeting of the Company. Meanwhile, the Board proposes to authorise the Board and persons authorised by the Board at the general meeting to take all actions, and sign, complete and submit all documents as it reasonably considers necessary, give effect to or in connection with the general mandate for the repurchase of H Shares. The aforesaid resolution has been reviewed and approved at the Fourteenth Meeting of the Tenth Session of the Board on 9 November 2020 and is now submitted to the EGM and the D Shares Class Meeting for review and approval as a special resolution. The resolution shall be effective subject to the approval at the EGM, the A Shares Class Meeting, the D Shares Class Meeting and the H Shares Class Meeting of the Company, respectively. 4. Proposed Election of Additional Directors An ordinary resolution is to be proposed at the EGM to consider and approve the election of additional Directors; the details are as follows: Reference is made to the announcement of the Company dated 7 February 2021 in relation to the proposed appointment of Directors. Following the completion of the listing of H shares by way of introduction and the transaction on privatisation of Haier Electronics by the Company, to further improve the corporate governance, better realise the synergy and enhance diversity of the Board, the Company intends to elect additional directors, namely Mr. Xie Ju Zhi as the executive director of the Company, and Mr. Yu Hon To, David and Ms. Eva Li Kam Fun as the non-executive directors of the Company. The aforementioned director candidates have been considered and approved at the Board meeting. The term of office shall commence from the date on which their appointments are approved at the general meeting of the Company until the date on which the term of the current session of the Board expires. Upon expiration of their terms of office, they may be re-elected. The biographical details of the aforementioned candidates for the executive Director and non-executive Directors are set out in Appendix III in Section II of this invitation. As at the latest practicable date, save as disclosed in this invitation, in the past three years, each of the director candidates have not held any directorship in any other public companies the securities of which are listed on any securities market in Hong Kong or overseas, nor served other positions in other members of the Group, and do not have any other major appointments or professional qualifications. The director candidates do not have other relationship with any directors, supervisors, senior management or substantial shareholders or controlling shareholders of the Company and do not hold any interest in the shares of the Company or its associated companies within the meaning of Part XV of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Chapter 571 of the Laws of Hong Kong). There is or was no information in relation to the appointment of the director candidates which is required to be disclosed pursuant to the requirements set out in 13.51(2) (h) to (v) of the Listing Rules of Hong Kong nor are there any matters which need to be brought to the attention of the shareholders. If the appointments are approved, the Company will enter into service contracts with each appointed director. The director's fee is the same as that of the current tenth session of the Board (RMB200,000 per annual for each director) The aforesaid resolution has been reviewed and approved by the Board on 7 February 2021 and is now proposed at the EGM for review and approval as an ordinary resolution. 5. Proposed Election of Additional Independent Non-executive Director An ordinary resolution is to be proposed at the EGM to consider and approve the election of additional Independent Non-executive Director, the details are as follows: Reference is made to the announcement of the Company dated 7 February 2021 in relation to the proposed election of additional Independent Non-executive Director. To promote the Internet of Things Strategy of the Company and enrich the diversity of the Board, according to the relevant provisions of the Company Law of the People's Republic of China and the Articles of Association of the Company as well as the opinions of the Nomination Committee under the Board, the Board has agreed that Mr. Li Shipeng ('Mr. Li') is nominated as the independent non-executive director, whose term of office shall be the same as the tenth session of the Board. His qualifications as the independent non-executive directors have been filed with the Shanghai Stock Exchange with no objection. Mr. Li has extensive experience in several sectors, including Internet of Things technologies and artificial intelligence. Not only will his joining be able to promote the diversity of Board members, but also speed up planning and implementation of the Company's strategies of being the Internet of Things ecology brand. The nomination of Mr. Li was made by the Company after taking into consideration of the diversity of Board members in respect of several factors, including cultural and educational background, professional experience, skills and expertise in particular. It is based on the value and contributions that can be made by the candidate to the Board, evaluated on an objective bases, after taking into full consideration of the benefits on the diversity of the Board members, and implemented in accordance with the law, regulations and relevant provisions of securities regulatory authorities. The biographical details of the aforementioned candidate for the Independent Non-executive Director are set out in Appendix IV in Section II of this invitation. As at the latest practicable date, save as disclosed in this invitation, in the past three years, Mr. Li has not held any directorship in any other public companies the securities of which are listed on any securities market in Hong Kong or overseas, nor served other positions in other members of the Group, and does not have any other major appointments or professional qualifications. Mr. Li does not have other relationship with any directors, supervisors, senior management or substantial shareholders or controlling shareholders of the Company and do not hold any interest in the shares of the Company or its associated companies within the meaning of Part XV of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Chapter 571 of the Laws of Hong Kong). There is or was no information in relation to the appointment of Mr. Li which is required to be disclosed pursuant to the requirements set out in 13.51(2) (h) to (v) of the Listing Rules of Hong Kong nor are there any matters which need to be brought to the attention of the shareholders. If the appointment is approved, the Company will enter into service contracts with Mr. Li. The director's fee is the same as that of the current tenth session of the Board (RMB200,000 per annual). The aforesaid resolution has been reviewed and approved by the Board on 7 February 2021 and is now proposed at the EGM for review and approval as an ordinary resolution. II. Appendices to Agenda Items Appendix I: Details of the proposed amendments to the Articles of Association

No. Original provisions Amended provisions 1 Article 200 The Company shall establish a Board of Directors which is accountable to the shareholders' general meeting. Article 200 The Company shall establish a Board of Directors which is accountable to the shareholders' general meeting. The Board of Directors shall comprise nine directors, of whom three shall be independent directors. There shall be one Chairman and one or two deputy chairmen. The Board of Directors shall comprise eight to thirteen directors, of whom three to five shall be independent directors. There shall be one Chairman and one or two deputy chairmen. 2 Article 205 The Board of Directors of the Company shall establish special committees such as strategy committee, audit committee, nomination committee and remuneration and evaluation committee according to the relevant resolutions of the shareholder's general meeting. All members of special committees shall comprise directors. Independent directors shall be the majority in the audit committee, nomination committee, remuneration and evaluation committee and shall serve as conveners. The audit committee shall consist entirely of non-executive directors, shall have at least three members and shall have at least one independent director who is an accounting professional or has the appropriate accounting or relevant financial management expertise required under the Hong Kong Listing Rules. Article 205 The Board of Directors of the Company shall establish special committees such as strategy committee, audit committee, nomination committee, remuneration and evaluation committee, environmental, social and governance committee etc. according to the relevant resolutions of the shareholder's general meeting. All members of special committees shall comprise directors. Independent directors shall be the majority in the audit committee, nomination committee, remuneration and evaluation committee and shall serve as conveners. The audit committee shall consist entirely of non-executive directors, shall have at least three members and shall have at least one independent director who is an accounting professional or has the appropriate accounting or relevant financial management expertise required under the Hong Kong Listing Rules. 3 Article 210 In accordance with the domestic and overseas regulatory requirements, the environmental, social and governance committee under the Board of Directors is mainly responsible for the management of corporate governance, environmental and social responsibilities of the Company and make relevant recommendations to the Board of Directors, which includes:



(I) Guide and review the formulation of the Company's environmental, social and governance vision and strategies, and report and make recommendations to the Board;



(II) Evaluate and classify the Company's environmental, social and governance risks and opportunities, and report and make recommendations to the Board;



(III) Review the implementation of the Company's environmental, social and governance work and internal control system, and report and make recommendations to the Board on their appropriateness and effectiveness;



(IV) Review and monitor the Company's relevant environmental, social and governance objectives and its implementation, and report and make recommendations to the Board;



(V) Review the social responsibility report disclosed by the Company to the public, and report and make recommendations to the Board;



(VI) Conduct research and make recommendations on other major environmental, social and governance matters and emergencies that affect the Company;



(VII) Inspect the implementation of the above matters;



(VIII) Other matters authorised by the Board. (The subsequent provisions number sequence should be reordered in proper sequence upon the addition of above contents.) 4 Article 334 The Articles of Association shall be considered and approved by the general meeting of shareholders of the Company and shall come into force on the date when the foreign shares (H-share) listed abroad are listed on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong. The original Articles of Association of the Company and all amendment thereto shall automatically become invalid upon the date when the Articles of Association become effective. Article 335 The Articles of Association shall come into force on the date when it is considered and approved by the general meeting of shareholders of the Company. The original Articles of Association of the Company and all amendment thereto shall automatically become invalid upon the date when the Articles of Association become effective. 5 The expression of 'manager' in the Articles of Association Amended to 'president' 6 The expression of 'deputy manager' in the Articles of Association Amended to 'vice-president' Appendix II: Explanatory Statement for the Repurchase Mandate This appendix serves as an explanatory statement to provide the requisite information to you for your consideration of the repurchase mandate. Share Capital On 8 February 2021 (the 'Latest Practicable Date'), the total issued capital of the Company was RMB9,027,846,441, comprising 2,448,279,814 H Shares of RMB1.00 each, 6,308,552,654 A Shares of RMB1.00 each and 271,013,973 D Shares of RMB1.00 each. The Company has issued HK$8,000,000,000 Zero Coupon Guaranteed Convertible Bonds due 2022 convertible into the ordinary H shares of the Company (Stock Code: 5024.HK). Such bonds will be convertible into 424,327,258 H shares, representing approximately 4.70% of the issued share capital of the Company as at the Latest Practicable Date and approximately 4.49% of the issued share capital of the Company as enlarged by the issuance of such shares (assuming that there is no other change to the issued share capital of the Company). If the special resolutions are approved at the EGM and the Class Meetings, respectively, the Board will be granted the repurchase mandate until the earlier of (a) the conclusion of the 2021 annual general meeting of the Company; or (b) the date on which the authorities conferred by the relevant special resolution is revoked or varied by special resolution by the Shareholders at the general meeting, the A Shares Class Meeting, the D Shares Class Meeting and the H Shares Class Meeting, respectively (the 'Relevant Period'). Reasons for the Repurchase of H Shares The Directors believe that the flexibility offered by the repurchase mandate would be beneficial to the Company and the Shareholders as a whole. At any time in the future when the Shares are trading at a discount to their underlying value, the ability of the Company to repurchase the Shares will be beneficial to the Shareholders who retain their investment in the Company as their proportionate interest in the assets of the Company would increase in proportion to the number of shares repurchased by the Company from time to time and thereby resulting in an increase in net asset value and/or earnings per Share. Such repurchases will only be made when the Directors believe that such repurchases will benefit the Company and the Shareholders as a whole. Exercise of the Repurchase Mandate The exercise in full of the repurchase mandate would not result in repurchasing more than 10% of the total H Shares in issue on the date of passing the relevant special resolution at the EGM and the Class Meetings on the basis of 2,448,279,814 H Shares in issue as at the Latest Practicable Date and no H Shares will be allotted, issued or repurchased by the Company on or prior to the date of the EGM and the Class Meetings, the repurchased shares would not be more than 244,827,981 H Shares (which may be adjusted based on the conversion of the Convertible Bonds) being repurchased by the Company according to the repurchase mandate during the Relevant Period. Funding of Repurchases In the repurchase of H Shares, the Company intends to utilise self-owned funds or self-raising funds of the Company legally available for such purpose in accordance with the Articles of Association, Listing Rules and the applicable laws, rules and regulations of the PRC. The Directors consider that there will not be a material adverse impact on the working capital or on the gearing position of the Company (as compared with the position disclosed in the audited accounts contained in the listing document of the Company dated 16 November 2020) in the event that the repurchase mandate is to be exercised in full at any time during the relevant period. Prices of H Shares The highest and lowest prices at which the H Shares have been traded on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange during the 12 calendar months preceding the Latest Practicable Date were as follows: H Shares Highest Trading Price Lowest Trading Price Month HK$ HK$ December 2020 28.8 22.60 January 2021 37.30 28.35 February 2021 (up to the Latest Practicable Date) 36.85 32.30 Directors' Undertakings and General Information The Directors have undertaken to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange that, so far as the same may be applicable, they will exercise the powers to make repurchases pursuant to the proposed special resolution to approve the repurchase mandate in accordance with the Listing Rules and the applicable laws, rules and regulations of the PRC. None of the Directors nor, to the best of their knowledge, having made all reasonable enquiries, any of their close associates (as defined in the Listing Rules) presently have the intention to sell H Shares (if any) to the Company in the event that the repurchase mandate is approved by the Shareholders at the EGM and the Class Meetings, and the conditions (if any) to which the repurchase mandate is subject are fulfilled. The Company has not been notified by any core connected persons (as defined in the Listing Rules) of the Company that they have a present intention to sell any H Shares to the Company, nor they have undertaken not to sell any H Shares held by them to the Company in the event that the repurchase mandate is approved by the Shareholders at the EGM and the Class Meetings and the conditions (if any) to which the repurchase mandate is subject are fulfilled. Takeovers Code and the Public Float Requirement If a Shareholder's proportionate interest in the voting rights of the Company increases as a result of the Company's repurchase of shares pursuant to the repurchase mandate, such increase will be treated as an acquisition of voting rights for the purposes of Rule 32 of the Hong Kong Takeovers Code and, if such increase results in a change of control or consolidation of control, it may in certain circumstances give rise to an obligation to make a mandatory offer for Shares under Rule 26 of the Hong Kong Takeovers Code. As at the Latest Practicable Date, to the best knowledge and belief of the Directors, the Haier Group is the controlling Shareholder of the Company, holding approximately 35.15% interests of the ordinary shares of the Company in issue. The Company expects that exercising repurchase mandate in full will not have any implications for Haier Group under the Takeovers Code. The Directors are not aware of any other consequences under the Takeovers Code and any similar applicable laws which would arise from any repurchasing actions under the repurchase mandate. The Directors do not propose to repurchase shares to the extent that would make the public float falls below the minimum requirements under Rule 8.08 of the Hong Kong Listing Rules. Shares Repurchased by the Company No repurchase of Shares has been made by the Company during the six months prior to the Latest Practicable Date (whether on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange or other stock exchanges). Status of Repurchased Shares Pursuant to the Listing Rules, the listing of all repurchased H Shares of the Company will be automatically cancelled and the relevant certificates will be cancelled and destroyed. Under the PRC law, the repurchased H Shares will be cancelled and, if so cancelled, the amount of the Company's registered capital shall be reduced by the aggregate nominal value of the repurchased H Shares accordingly. Appendix III: Biographical Details of the Candidates for the Executive Director and Non-Executive Directors Mr. XIE Ju Zhi (Mr. Xie), aged 54, graduated from Shandong University of Finance and Economics in July 1989 with a bachelor's degree, and joined Haier Group in the same year. Mr. Xie has experience in whole-process product management, product-wide services and product-wide marketing. Mr. Xie had held senior positions in Electrothermal Division of the Haier Group and East China Marketing and Promotion Division of the Haier Group, and served as the Corporate General Manager of the Customer Services of the Haier Group since August 2002. Since July 2012, he has been the Vice President of Haier Group, and he has been in charge of Haier Group's integration of community sales services in first and second-tier cities, and developing the online and offline sales of new household products. From December 2015 to date, he has been managing the newly developed business segments of Haier Group, including water purification, logistics, Haier home and Gooday services and has started to concurrently manage the water heater business since 2019. He was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer and an Executive Director of Haier Electronics since 27 March 2019. Mr. Xie was awarded honorary titles including the Gold Award of Outstanding Contribution Award of China's Home Appliance Services Industry and Outstanding Entrepreneur of Shandong Province. Mr. Xie is also a director of the following subsidiaries of Haier Smart Home: Haier Electronics, Haier Water Heaters Holdings (BVI) Ltd., Haier Washing Machines Holdings (BVI) Ltd., Haier Holdings (BVI) Limited, Qingdao Haier Investment and Development Holdings (BVI) Limited, Bloom Trade Limited, Hong Kong Bolang Housewares Trading Company Limited, Health Water Equipment (HK) Co., Ltd., Qingdao Haishi Water Equipment Co., Ltd. and its certain subsidiaries, Haier Electronics Sales (HK) Company Limited, Qingdao Economy and Technology Development Zone Haier Water Heater Co., Ltd., Chongqing Haier Water Heater Co., Ltd., Wuhan Haier Water Heater Co., Ltd., Zhengzhou Haier New Energy Technology Co., Ltd., Qingdao Haier Smart Electrics Equipment Co., Ltd., Qingdao Haier New Energy Electrical Technology Co., Ltd., Qingdao Haier Intelligent Electronics Co., Ltd., Youshuijia IoT Technology (Qingdao) Co., Ltd., Qingdao Goodaymart Lexinyun Technology Co., Ltd. and Designwelt (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. As at the latest practicable date, Mr. Xie holds 715,444 H shares of the Company. Mr. YU Hon To, David (Mr. Yu), aged 72. Mr. Yu holds a Bachelor of Social Science degree from The Chinese University of Hong Kong. Mr. Yu is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and an Associate Member of Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants. He is a chartered accountant with over 40 years' experience in the fields of auditing, corporate finance (including advisory on IPO, mergers & acquisitions and financial restructuring), financial investigation and corporate governance. Mr. Yu was formerly a partner of Coopers & Lybrand (now merged as PricewaterhouseCoopers) in Hong Kong with extensive experience in the corporate finance advisory assignments in Greater China for Hong Kong corporations, private equity groups and multinationals. Mr. Yu also served as an independent non-executive director and the chairman of the audit committee of Haier Electronics, a subsidiary of the Company, over the past three years. Mr. Yu had served various public offices including being a member of the Listing Committee of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange from 1992 to 1995, a member of the Investment Committee and the Audit Committee of Employees Retraining Board (established under the Employees Retraining Ordinance of Hong Kong) from 1999 to 2020, and a member of the Board of Review (established under Inland Revenue Ordinance of Hong Kong) from 2006 to 2012. Mr. Yu is currently an independent non-executive director of several other companies listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, namely China Renewable Energy Investment Limited (stock code: 987), Media Chinese International Limited (stock code: 685), One Media Group Limited (stock code: 426), Playmates Holdings Limited (stock code: 635), China Resources Gas Group Limited (stock code: 1193), Keck Seng Investments (Hong Kong) Limited (stock code: 184), New Century Asset Management Limited (the manager of New Century Real Estate Investment Trust (stock code: 1275)) and MS Group Holdings Limited (stock code: 1451). Mr. Yu holds 810,000 H shares of the Company. Ms. Eva Li Kam Fun (names that commonly used are 'Mrs. Eva CHENG Li Kam Fun') ('Ms. Eva Li Kam Fun'), aged 68. Ms. Eva Li Kam Fun graduated from the University of Hong Kong with Bachelor of Arts (Hons) and Master of Business Administration degrees. She was conferred with the degree of Doctor of Business Administration, honoris causa, from the Open University of Hong Kong in 2014. Ms. Eva Li Kam Fun is currently the president of Our Hong Kong Foundation. She also serves as an independent non-executive director of Nestle S.A, a publicly listed company on the SIX Swiss Exchange. Ms. Eva Li Kam Fun also served as an independent non-executive director of Haier Electronics, a subsidiary of the Company, over the past three years. Prior to joining the Our Hong Kong Foundation, Ms. Eva Li Kam Fun had a distinguished career that spanned 34 years with Amway Corporation. When she retired in 2011, she held the concurrent positions of Executive Vice President of Amway Corporation and Executive Chairman of Amway China Co. Ltd. responsible for Amway Greater China & Southeast Asia Region. During the last three years, Ms. Eva Li Kam Fun had also been an independent non-executive director of Amcor Limited (a company listed on the Australian Securities Exchange) from 2014 to 2019, and an independent non-executive director of Trinity Limited (a company listed on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange) (Stock Code: 891) from 2011 to 2020. Ms. Eva Li Kam Fun's leadership was well recognised in the business community. She was twice named the 'World's 100 Most Powerful Women' by Forbes Magazine in 2008 and 2009. CNBC awarded Ms. Eva Li Kam Fun with the 'China Talent Management Award' in its 2007 China Business Leaders Awards. In the areas of public and social service, Ms. Eva Li Kam Fun is court member of the Open University of Hong Kong, advisor of the All-China Women's Federation Hong Kong Delegates Association, honorary president of the Hong Kong Federation of Women, and permanent honorary director of The Chinese General Chamber of Commerce. Ms. Eva Li Kam Fun holds 355,200 H shares of the Company. Appendix IV - Biographical Details of the Candidate for the Independent Non-Executive Director Mr. Li Shipeng (Mr. Li), aged 54, holds a bachelor's and master's degree from University of Science and Technology of China, and a PhD degree from Lehigh University, USA. Mr. Li has extensive experience in areas such as Internet of Things technology, and artificial intelligence. Mr. Li is currently the Executive President of Shenzhen Institute of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics. Prior to that, he served as the Chief Researcher and Deputy Dean of Microsoft Research Asia, Chief Technology Officer of Cogobuy Group, and Vice President of iFlytek Group. Mr. Li is a member of the International Eurasian Academy of Sciences and a fellow of the International Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE fellow). He was listed as one of the world's top 1,000 computer scientists by Guide2Research and ranked top 20 in Mainland China in 2020. Mr. Li is a renowned expert in areas such Internet, computer vision, cloud computing, Internet of Things and artificial intelligence. III. Preconditions for attending the General Meeting and the D-Shares Class Meeting and for exercising voting rights Only those shareholders are entitled to attend the General Meeting and the D-Shares Class Meeting and to cast votes (including exercising their voting right by absentee vote) whose names are entered in the Company's share register after close of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange on 24 February 2021 (Record Date) and whose registration for the General Meeting and the D-Shares Class Meeting is received by the Company during the registration period from now on to 4 March 2020, 17:00 (CET) at the following address Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd.

c/o Computershare Operations Center

80249 Munchen

Telefax: +49 89 30903-74675

E-Mail: anmeldestelle@computershare.de in German or English language. Shareholders are advised that they may freely dispose of their shares even after registration to the General Meeting and the D-Shares Class Meeting. The only criterion for participating in the General Meeting and the D-Shares Class Meeting and the number of voting rights to be exercised in relation to the Company is the number of shares held by a shareholder as of the Record Date, i.e. any disposal or other transfer of shares after the Record Date will not have any effect on a shareholder's rights to participate in the meeting or the number of voting rights to be exercised. The same will apply to any acquisition of shares after the Record Date. A person who does not hold any shares on the Record Date and becomes a shareholder only after that date will not have a right to either vote at, or participate in the General Meeting and the D-Shares Class Meeting. IV. Voting through a proxy or by absentee vote 1. Voting through a proxy Shareholders may also have their voting rights and other rights exercised at the General Meeting and the D-Shares Class Meeting by an authorised party after issuing a corresponding proxy. In the case of a proxy, timely registration of the holding of shares concerned is always necessary pursuant to the above rules under III. The Company also offers its shareholders the option of authorising proxies named by the Company. These proxies shall exercise voting rights as instructed in the event of their authorisation and are not authorised to exercise voting rights without a specific instruction from the shareholder. Nor do proxies named by the Company accept instructions to speak, to raise objections to General Meeting or D-Shares Class Meeting resolutions, to ask questions or to table motions. Any issuance of a proxy, its revocation and evidence thereof in dealings with the Company must be in writing. If a shareholder authorises more than one proxy, the Company may reject one or more. Shareholders may also use the registration form for the General Meeting and the D-Shares Class Meeting to issue proxies and instructions. This form is sent to the shareholders duly entered in the share register, along with the invitation to the General Meeting and the D-Shares Class Meeting. The form will also be available for download on the Company's website at https://smart-home.haier.com/en/sm/

Shareholders are asked to use this form as far as possible to grant proxies and to issue instructions. Any authorisations, evidence of proxies and the issuance of instructions to the proxies named by the Company may be posted, faxed or e-mailed prior to the General Meeting and the D-Shares Class Meeting to the above address under III by 4 March 2020, 17:00 (CET) (arriving). Any posted, faxed or e-mailed authorisations, evidence of proxies and instructions to the proxies named by the Company received after this time cannot be considered. Evidence of authorisations can still be submitted in writing on the day of the General Meeting and the D-Shares Class Meeting at the entrance and exit check point. 2. Voting by absentee vote Shareholders may also exercise their voting rights at the General Meeting and the D-Shares Class Meeting by absentee vote. In the case of absentee voting, too, timely registration of the holding of shares concerned is always necessary under the provisions of III above. Absentee votes may be sent to the Company by 4 March 2020, 17:00 (CET) (arriving) to the address mentioned above under III. Shareholders may use the registration form for the General Meeting and the D-Shares Class Meeting for absentee voting as well. This form is sent to the shareholders duly entered in the share register, along with the invitation to the General Meeting and the D-Shares Class Meeting. The form will also be available for download on the Company's website at https://smart-home.haier.com/en/sm/

Shareholders are asked to use this form for absentee voting wherever possible. Absentee voting does not preclude attendance at the General Meeting and the D-Shares Class Meeting. The personal attendance of a shareholder or an authorised third party at the General Meeting and the D-Shares Class Meeting shall be deemed to be a revocation of a previously given absentee vote V. Publications on the Company's Internet page The content of this invitation to the General Meeting and the D-Shares Class Meeting and further documents in relation to the agenda items (including the underlying resolutions and opinion of the independent directors of the Company) are available on the Company's website at https://smart-home.haier.com/en/sm/

Further documents will be uploaded on the Company website before the day of the General Meeting and the D-Shares Class Meeting. After the General Meeting and the D- Shares Class Meeting, the voting results will be made available at the same website address. VI. Total number of shares and voting rights at the time of convening On 8 February 2021, at the time of convening the EGM and D-Shares Class Meeting, the total number of the issued shares of the Company amounts to 9,027,846,441 registed shares with a par value of RMB 1.00 each, comprising of 6,308,552,654 A-Shares, 271,013,973 D-Shares and 2,448,279,814 H-Shares.The Company has issued HK$8,000,000,000 Zero Coupon Guaranteed Convertible Bonds due 2022 convertible into the ordinary H shares of the Company (Stock Code: 5024). Such bonds will be convertible into 424,327,258 H shares, representing approximately 4.70% of the issued share capital of the Company as at the Latest Practicable Date and approximately 4.49% of the issued share capital of the Company as enlarged by the issuance of such shares (assuming that there is no other change to the issued share capital of the Company). Under the Uncumulative Voting Method each of the A-Shares / D-Shares / H-shares grants one vote at the General Meeting and one vote at the respective Class Meeting. The Cumulative Voting Method refers to the voting for the election of Directors, Independent Non-Executive Directors or supervisors where each Share is entitled to the same number of votes which equals to the total number of Directors, Independent Non-Executive Directors or supervisors to be elected, and shareholders may consolidate their voting rights when casting a vote. The cumulative voting method includes the regular voting method where shareholders may cast their votes with partial or all voting rights. The cumulative voting method shall be adopted for items 4 and 5, the voting of Resolution on the Election of Additional Directors and Resolution on the Election of Additional Independent Non-Executive Director. Special Proposals refer to items 1 and 3 according to the Company Law and the Company's Articles of Association. Special proposals are those significant proposals which have to be reviewed and approved by 2/3 (two thirds) of voting shareholders including their proxies at the meeting. The D-Shares Class Meeting Proposal refers to item 3, which is completely inculded in the proposals of the General Meeting as well. The D-Shares Class Meeting Votes: D-Shareholders have the right to vote both at the General Meeting and at the D-Shares Class Meeting. However, given that all proposals of the D-Shares Class Meeting are completely included in the proposals of the General Meeting as well, D-Shareholders may choose to only vote at the General Meeting. If they do so, their voting results will be automatically adopted to the D-Shares Class Meeting in case D-Shareholders do not submit their voting form or submit a blank voting form for the D-Shares Class Meeting. Thus, D-Shareholders only have to specifically vote at the D-Shares Class Meeting if they want to deviate with the D-Shares votes from their votes at the General Meeting. Otherwise, voting at the General Meeting is sufficient for them. Qingdao City, People's Republic of China, February 2021

Haier Smart Home Co., Ltd. The Board of Directors
A Cork man who raped his partner's semi-comatose teenage niece when she was sleeping over at their home after a night out has been jailed for seven years.

The 27-year-old man, who can not be named to protect the victim's identity, was convicted of raping the 17-year-old girl at his Co Cork home on August 27, 2017 by a jury following a trial at the Central Criminal Court sitting in Cork last year. He has no previous convictions.

Mr Justice Alex Owens noted that during the trial the accused man had given evidence that the young woman had been a willing participant but that the reality was different.

He said she had been drinking and was in a comatose condition on the bed when the accused man had pulled down her jeans and raped her, before telling her not to tell anyone.

Mr Justice Owens said it had been a gross breech of trust and he had known full well she was in no condition to resist. He noted the accused man had then tried to cover his tracks and was fully aware he had taken advantage of a semi comatose girl.

He noted that in the probation report the man said the girl had not been intoxicated enough not to know what she was doing and on his account he was the victim of a seduction.

He noted the substantial harm caused to the victim and the seriously damaged relationships within her family. He noted in mitigation the man's previous good character and the testimonials handed into court.

Mr Justice Owens imposed a sentence of seven years imprisonment and ordered four years post release supervision.

In her victim impact statement, the now 21 year old woman, said the offence had left her feeling vulnerable, as well as dirty and violated. She said she had spent a long three years trying to heal only to have to come to court and tell her story again.

She said everyone around her has been effected by the offence and a hole has been left in her family after she had not been believed by her aunt, whom she had grown up admiring.

She said she now hopes to put the offence behind her and hopes that he will never be able to do this to anyone again.

Siobhan Lankford SC, defending, said the accused man is still in a relationship with the girl's aunt and his family is supportive of him.

She outlined he had a good work history but has lost his career as a consequence of his actions. She said he has not come to any garda attention while on bail.
A south-east Queensland mother is accused of killing her baby daughter after the seven-month-old was found lifeless in her home last week.

Emergency services were called to the home in Murgon, 175 kilometres north-west of Brisbane and 70 kilometres west of Gympie, about 9.30am on Friday.

The babys mother was trying to revive her when paramedics arrived. Police said no one other than the pair were home at the time and the mother phoned triple-zero.

Paramedics rushed the baby to Murgon Hospital, where she was declared dead soon after arriving.

The babys 21-year-old mother has been charged with manslaughter. She was refused police bail and was due appear in Kingaroy Magistrates Court on Friday.

A report by a US-based firm claims the letter and other evidence cited by police had been planted in a hidden folder on Wilson's computer by an unidentified cyber attacker

After a report emerged claiming jailed activist Rona Wilson's computer had been tampered with and some evidence planted on it, his lawyers moved the Bombay

High Court on Wednesday for a stay on proceedings against him and his co-accused in the Elgar Parishad-Maoists link case.

The lawyers of Wilson, a prison rights activist, filed a plea in the HC seeking the proceedings against him and his co-accused be stayed in the 2017-18 Pune case and a Special Investigation Team be constituted to inquire into the alleged incident of tampering.

Wilson was arrested in June 2018 following several raids at his residence in Delhi by the Pune police, which probed the case before it was handed over to the NIA.

Before his arrest, the police claimed to have found several incriminating material on his computer, including a letter that he had allegedly written talking of the "need for arms, and a plan to overthrow the current government".

The petition filed in the HC cites a digital forensic report by a US-based firm that claims the letter and other evidence had been planted in a hidden folder on Wilsons

computer by an unidentified cyber attacker who used a malware to control and spy on the laptop.

As per the report cited in the plea, Wilson's computer was infected with a malware, called "NetWire", that was planted through an email on 13 June 2016. The case pertains to the 'Elgar Parishad' conclave held in Pune on 31 December, 2017, which, the police alleged, was funded by Maoists.
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KYODO NEWS - Feb 11, 2021 - 10:40 | All, Japan

A Rome-based U.N. agency that aims to eradicate hunger and poverty in developing countries by investing in rural areas signed an agreement with Japan earlier this month to open its first liaison office in the country.

The International Fund for Agricultural Development plans to open the office in Yokohama near Tokyo, a Japanese Foreign Ministry official said, with an opening date yet to be determined. The body comprising 177 member states currently has liaison offices in Riyadh, New York and Washington.

IFAD President Gilbert Houngbo and Hiroshi Oe, Japan's ambassador to Italy and permanent representative to the IFAD, signed the agreement in Rome on Feb. 3.

"Japan's international leadership role in support of better nutrition is more important than ever if we want to end hunger by 2030," Houngbo said in a statement.

Oe said, "We believe this new office will be a strong hub for broadening and deepening IFAD's engagement with a variety of stakeholders in Japan and leverage better knowledge and partnership for transforming rural livelihoods."

Japan has contributed more than $572 million to the fund since it was established in 1977 to support millions of small-scale farmers to increase output and improve their nutrition.

According to the IFAD, the number of people suffering from hunger has increased due to climate change and conflict since 2015.

In 2019, 690 million people went hungry, while an estimated 2 billion people did not have regular access to safe, nutritious and sufficient food, it said.

The socioeconomic impact of the novel coronavirus pandemic may add 132 million to the number of undernourished people in the world, the body said.
Five years ago, leading up to the 2016 Democratic primary, I wrote about then-Braddock Mayor John Fetterman.

I wondered if a wholly unusual U.S. Senate candidate  big, bald, tatted-up, looking like a biker bar bouncer -- might signal the future of American politics.

I wondered that because he was new and different, and politics seemed old, sullied and getting worse.

Then, as now, the Republican Party was burdened, if not breaking, under the weight of Donald Trump. Then, as always, the Democratic Party was over-pandering to every element of its base.

And Fetterman, liberal, little known, with little money and no shot of winning, was running a straight-talk campaign, based on experience, not anecdotes. He said things need to change. Used specifics to argue that too many people arent treated equally. That too many communities are abandoned.

There was no happy talk. No glitz. There was this large, scary-looking guy in work clothes, with an MBA from UConn and Master of Public Policy from Harvard, pointing at troubling truths.

I wondered if voters listened.

He finished third, behind Joe Sestak and primary winner Katie McGinty, who went on to lose that November to Republican incumbent Pat Toomey.

Since then, and not only because of the coronavirus, lots of communities remain abandoned, and E Pluribus Unum is still more of a motto than a movement.

But now that Fettermans running again, I again wonder if anyone listens.

Theres a difference and a sameness to his candidacy then and his candidacy now.

The sameness is his story of service. From Big Brothers Big Sisters, to AmeriCorps, to 14 years working to resuscitate a dying steel/ghost town outside Pittsburgh.

The difference is hes now better known. As Gov. Tom Wolfs lieutenant governor, he gained name ID, greatly enhanced by frequent national TV appearances, especially during the states starring role in the 2020 election.

He got local notice along the way, using an effort to measure attitudes toward legalizing marijuana, with a statewide tour hitting every county in 2019.

This, naturally, was viewed as a thinly-veiled prequel to a future campaign.

Hes used social media to cement an image of a genuine family guy, often self-deprecating, usually featuring wife Gisele, their three kids and rescue dog Levi -- who has his own Twitter account, @levifetterman.

And he used social media to raise $1 million-plus, mostly in small donations, before formally announcing for Senate on Feb. 8.

All these things make Fetterman the early frontrunner for the 2022 Democratic nomination for a seat Toomeys not seeking again. They also make him a target.

A day after his announcement, state and national news outlets reported Democratic concerns and Republican attention related to an incident eight years ago involving Fetterman, a shotgun and an unarmed Black jogger.

The story, which emerged during the 2016 campaign, is Fetterman, when mayor, said he heard gunshots near his home and saw a masked man running.

The man, Christopher Miyares, claimed Fetterman chased him down then pointed a shotgun at his chest. Fetterman says he didnt point the gun at Miyares but held it so Miyares could see it until police arrived.

No charges or complaints were filed. Fetterman, after the 2013 incident, was twice reelected mayor of Braddock, which is 80 percent Black. The New York Times this week reports Miyares, in 2018, was charged with kidnapping for ransom, terroristic threats, reckless endangerment, and currently is in prison.

Still, expect to hear more of this. And dont be surprised to see TV ads with some exaggerated version of the story if Fetterman wins his partys nomination.

Which is no cakewalk.

Depends who else runs (many are expected) and what the national party sees as its best interest in a 2022 mid-term election likely critical to Senate control.

Not all Democrats, for example, love the idea of two white men (assuming Josh Shapiro is the nominee for governor) at the top of the ticket in a key state thats never elected a Black or a woman Senator or governor.

And how does Fettermans push for legal marijuana, his most prominent public policy offering, play in an older, socially conservative state? I see GOP ads: Hes not the grassroots candidate. Hes just the grass candidate.

Still, Fetterman can be compelling. Sometimes oddly so: in attire, stoner flag on his Capitol balcony, and shameless Sheetz promoter. But always engaging and a good debater, with a huge online following, and an ability to connect across social classes.

No one can say how he fares in a key statewide race with national attention.

But how his assets, traits and personal story get balanced against the politics of the day will determine whether Pennsylvanias ready for a Sen. John Fetterman.

John Baer may be reached at baer.columnist@gmail.com.

PHILIPSBURG:---Member of Parliament (MP) Claudius Toontje Buncamper, leader of the USP faction in parliament, fired off a letter to Minister of VSA, the honorable Richard Panneflek, congratulating the minister and his ministry for the progress being made in combatting the COVID-19 and the planned rollout for the vaccine. The MP outlined his concerns with the number of people who are uncertain about taking the vaccine after reading in the media that 15 elderly persons died after taking the vaccine in the Netherlands. The MP requested that special attention be given to our seniors, particularly as it pertains to providing information about their health risks and the facilities and services available to them. MP Buncamper strongly recommended that the ministry provide an explanation to the seniors regarding the cause of death of the 15 elderly recipients of the vaccine in the Netherlands, as there is no room for fear due to lack of credible information. If we are counting on the vaccine to provide the protection it is intended to provide, then we must ensure that those in the position do so by providing credible information to the public, MP Buncamper wrote in his letter to the minister. We need to get our economy back up and running and one way to do so is to create an environment in which our community is protected. That protection can be achieved by getting everyone vaccinated.

That MP is of the opinion that if we protect our community and lower the risk of our residents getting infected and spreading the decease, we increase the economic opportunities for our people and, sooner rather than later, be in a position to freely welcome visitors from the US, Canada, Europe, and the region back to the friendly island.

MP Buncamper asked the minister to provide a timeline in which he intends to have the population of St. Maarten, registered and unregistered, vaccinated, and to provide insight into the source from which the Netherlands is purchasing the vaccines.

He expressed his surprise to read in the daily papers of Wednesday, February 10, that a collaboration agreement was signed between the countries in the Caribbean Netherlands regarding medical care particularly with respect to medical care at hospitals in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom. The MP stated that while he applauds the collaboration within the Kingdom and favors a relationship in which the countries and entities support each other, he wonders if this agreement has any bearing on the country packages and the COHO which, thus far, are pending handling and approval by parliament. If this is the case, the impression is created that government expects parliament to rubber-stamp the proposed packages and entity, which is starting to become habitual, thus creating an impression that the democratic parliamentary rule is slowly deteriorating. MP Buncamper stated in his letter. It was agreed that the Prime Minister would come to the house of parliament and explain the law and the country package in detail, but the Prime Minister has not been forthcoming with this commitment, while in the media reports the impression is given that the government is proceeding like nobody business. MP Buncamper revealed that The country packages still need to be properly worked out and vetted by the stakeholders and wonders what are the consequences if these signed agreements should the parliament deviate from the proposal currently on the table? Buncamper questioned the role of SMMC in this agreement of collaboration that was recently signed and awaits the ministers response to his questions and concerns.
Why Is This Such A Problem?

Who Are The Scammers?

How The Scams Work

(TNS)  Unemployment benefits fraud has become a major issue in Ohio, as tens of thousands of people are discovering that crooks have used their stolen personal information to collect benefits.Its not just happening in Ohio. Every states unemployment benefits program, to varying degrees, has been targeted by a wave of scammers, who use online forums and messaging apps to buy and sell peoples personal information, as well as tutorials on how to exploit a particular states benefits system for cash.The U.S. Department of Labor estimates that $63 billion  possibly more  has been paid out by state unemployment offices. Californias unemployment system alone says it paid out more than $11 billion to scammers in 2020. But who are these scammers? And how have they been able to collect upwards of $63 billion  including at least $330 million from Ohio? Here are some answers.When the coronavirus crisis hit the U.S. last March, businesses were ordered closed and millions were suddenly thrown out of work. The federal government and states sprung into action, expanding eligibility to people who are self-employed and offering an extra $600 (now $300) per week in emergency benefits.This offered an unprecedentedly lucrative opportunity for scammers, who suddenly could net tens of thousands of dollars in benefits per victim. At the same time, it became easier to successfully lodge bogus claims  applicants could self-attest they qualified for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance benefits, and crooks could avoid employer verification altogether by saying they were self-employed.You basically have a perfect storm, said Blake Hall, CEO of ID.me, a security company hired by a number of states to help crack down on unemployment fraud.State unemployment benefits systems, meanwhile, were largely unprepared for such a deluge of fraudulent claims. Ohios unemployment system runs on computers from 2004 (though the state is preparing to finish a years-long upgrade next year).In addition, until now, unemployment systems anti-fraud efforts were mainly focused on stopping claims from actual state residents who were ineligible for benefits, not overseas criminals using stolen information.At least 70 percent of the bogus unemployment claims originated overseas in countries such as Nigeria, according to Haywood Talcove, CEO of the security firm LexisNexis Risk Solutions, citing data from a dozen states (Ohio isnt one of them) that have hired his firm to help secure their unemployment systems.A large portion of these scams are conducted by organized crime rings with names like Scattered Canary and Yahoo Boys, Hall said. They literally just live in compounds and all they do, 24/7 is try to figure out how to trick people into stealing their identity and, you know, stripping their bank account of funds, he said.However, an increasing number of people in the U.S. have been caught committing unemployment fraud  likely because they read media reports about the overseas fraud, said Parker Crucq, a senior intelligence analyst with Recorded Future, a Massachusetts-based cybersecurity firm.Many scammers also make money by selling step-by-step instructions to others about how to exploit each states unemployment system via online forums and messaging apps such as Telegram. These instructions can sell for anywhere from $5 to $100, depending on the state targeted, according to a Recorded Future report.For an additional charge, the sellers offer to provide victims personal information as well. In other cases, they sell direct access to unemployment relief accounts that have already been set up with a cash balance, the report stated.As a result, the report concluded, Unemployment fraud has become increasingly accessible to threat actors lately and presents a low barrier of entry for fledgling cybercriminals.Scammers also trade information on which states are best to target at a given time. At one point in November 2020, someone on Telegram advised that Ohio and six other states had stopped paying out, according to the report, though within two weeks people resumed selling instructions and stolen information associated with those states.Applicants for unemployment benefits in Ohio must provide a name, Social Security number, drivers license or state ID number, list of recent previous employers, and contact information.To get that information, some scammers rely on large-scale data breaches, sometimes from several years ago, Crucq said. Others send phishing emails to companies or organizations, which allows them to collect employees data.If more information is needed, they turn to websites such as FamilyTreeNow or TruthFinder to fill in the blanks, a Nigerian scammer named Mayowa told USA Today.Once we have that information, its over, Mayowa told the news organization. Its easy money.In some cases, the unemployment funds are sent via direct deposit either to the scammers or to money mules  often unwitting middlemen who could be online romance victims or who replied to ads the scammers posted on job websites and believe they are working for a legitimate international company, Crucq said.Other times, when the state mails out debit cards with the funds, crooks use a variety of techniques to get ahold of the cards  including posing as state officials and asking targets to return the cards to them, and (in some cases) even going to victims homes and threatening them or claiming the card was sent to them by mistake, Crucq said.Once the overseas criminal rings have the money, Talcove said, they often use it for more illegal purposes.Talcove, who serves on the board of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, said the unemployment insurance (UI) funds are also correlated to a recent uptick in human trafficking.I think theres an assumption that people steal this money, then they go to their local mall and they buy some stuff or they buy a car, Talcove said. Theyre using that money to buy drugs. Theyre using that money for terrorism.
ZANZIBAR Chief Justice Omar Othman Makungu has advised magistrates in the Isles to grant bail in bailable offences in order to reduce congestion in prisons or detain centres.

He said that bail is good in petty or minor offences as refusal to grant bail leads to congestion in remand centres, presenting a big load to the government in feeding the prisoners.

"Spare a thought, a person stealing coconut fruits worth five thousand shillings, and he/she is denied bail. Keeping the suspect in prison is more costly," CJ said here during the 10th anniversary of the 'Zanzibar Law Day.'

He said reluctance to grant bail should only be to people with a bad record within the community and in exceptional cases that capture public attention such as armed robbery, economic crime, and sexual offices.

The power to grant bail is a discretionary power vested in judges and magistrates and it is meant to be exercised liberally. But the CJ and leaders in the country have been encouraging granting bail.

The primary purpose of bail is to ensure the accused person's compliance with investigation, and subsequent presence at the trial if they are released after arrest.

During the law week, a section of lawyers visited some prisons centres in Unguja Island with some of the inmates complaining of being denied bail.

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Donald Trump's spokesman has denied that one of his lawyers described the former president as a 'f****** crook,' after The Philadelphia Inquirer on Tuesday recalled a conversation between Michael van der Veen and a client.

Van der Veen, 57, was one of three lawyers drafted in a week ago to represent Trump in his trial, alongside Bruce Castor and David Schoen.

On Tuesday van der Veen's local paper spoke to a former client, Justin Hiemstra, who recalled van der Veen calling the then-president 'a f****** crook'.

Hiemstra pleaded guilty to attempting to hack into the IRS to access Trump's tax returns, in what van der Veen said was a schoolboy prank.

'I'm not sure if [those comments] were made to make me feel more comfortable, or if they were his actual opinions,' Hiemstra told The Philadelphia Inquirer.

'He definitely came off as fairly anti-Trump in the context that I knew him.'

On Wednesday Trump's spokesman Jason Miller sent a letter from van der Veen denying Hiemstra's account.

'The comments about President Donald J. Trump being attributed to me by a former client... are false,' said the letter, signed by van der Veen.

Michael van der Veen, one of Trump's three impeachment lawyers, seen on Wednesday

Michael van der Veen is one of three lawyers defending Trump, alongside Castor and Schoen

Trump, pictured in September, hired Castor, Schoen and van der Veen only a week ago

The impeachment trial of Donald Trump on charges of insurrection began on Tuesday

Van der Veen, based in Philadelphia, is best known for his personal injury, pro bono and criminal defense litigation. Castor, the former Montgomery County district attorney who famously declined to prosecute Bill Cosby, joined his firm in December.

The Washington Post reported that, during Trump's first two years as president, van der Veen donated to prominent Pennsylvania Democrats, including Senator Robert P. Casey Jr., one of the former president's most vocal critics in the chamber.

A year after the Hiemstra case, van der Veen represented Melvin Johnakin, an independent candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives, when Johnakin sued Trump and Postmaster General Louis DeJoy over mail-in voting.

In the suit, filed in August, van der Veen sued 'to preserve and protect the essential right to vote and prevent large-scale disenfranchisement'.

He accused Trump and DeJoy of plotting to slow mail delivery, in particular to disenfranchise urban voters living in minority-populated, largely Democrat districts.

'These actions also arise in an environment subject to repeated claims by President Donald J. Trump that voting by mail is ripe with fraud, despite having no evidence in support of these claims, and lawsuits filed by the Trump campaign to stop mail-in voting in states such as Nevada and Pennsylvania,' van der Veen wrote.

Justin Hiemstra described van der Veen as being 'fairly anti-Trump' when he knew him

The lawsuit was settled as part of an agreement preventing the postal service from implementing many of the proposed changes that could have affected mail delivery.

Van der Veen said politics had nothing to do with his decision now to represent Trump at his impeachment trial, and insisted his previous cases had no bearing on the trial.

'My firm treats all of its clients the same,' he told The Philadelphia Inquirer.

'Whether they're in a trial on a national stage, or whether they're in the Court of Common Pleas. They all get our best representation.'
Community News Editor / Librarian

Jeannie Maschino is community news editor and librarian for The Berkshire Eagle. She has worked for the newspaper in various capacities since 1982 and joined the newsroom in 1989. She can be reached at jmaschino@berkshireeagle.com.
The actress Gina Carano, who starred as Cara Dune in the Star Wars spinoff series The Mandalorian on Disney+, on Wednesday compared hating someone for their political views to the persecution of Jews during the Holocaust in an Instagram post, her latest social media post to create a fan backlash.

Lucasfilm, the company within Disney that owns the show and the rest of the Star Wars franchise, condemned her comments and said in a statement that she was not currently employed by Lucasfilm and there are no plans for her to be in the future.

Nevertheless, her social media posts denigrating people based on their cultural and religious identities are abhorrent and unacceptable, Lucasfilm said in a statement.

Ms. Carano was also dropped by her agency, UTA, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The Instagram post, which re-shared an image from a different account, is no longer visible on her page. It led to thousands of complaints on social media, where many people used the hashtag #FireGinaCarano, not for the first time. (Some conservatives, who viewed her posts as a matter of free speech, countered with #CancelDisneyPlus.)
AS the white pirogue drifted in the waters just off Belle Garden in Tobago early yesterday morning, fishermen working nearby knew something was wrong.

What they saw in the small vessel stunned them.

Fourteen bodies, all of them male, along with a skull and other skeletal remains, were piled inside the vessel as it floated four miles off Belle Garden, police confirmed.

The bodies were all clad in tracksuits and green rain jackets and were severely decomposed, police investigators said.
America by definition is a multiethnic, multiracial democracy that guarantees equal rights, and a legal presumption of innocence, to all its citizens. The racist idea that if we dont aggressively police our southern national border and our urban neighborhood borders, we wont have a country anymore, is based on a profoundly un-American definition of country. But it is the idea that lies at the fundamental core of white supremacist ideology.
(Newser)  TikTok user Tessica Brown has finally become ungluedbut the nickname "Gorilla Glue girl" might stick with her for even longer than the spray adhesive she used as hair spray. The Louisiana woman had the glue removed in a four-hour procedure performed by Beverly Hills plastic surgeon Dr. Michael Obeng, reports TMZ, which has video of the process. He reached out to offer the procedure for free, though a GoFundMe fundraiser has raised more than $20,000 for Brown. Obeng says he used medical grade adhesive remover, aloe vera, olive oil, and a dash of acetone. Brown, who says she made the "bad, bad" decision to use the spray more than a month ago after running out of hairspray, had feared losing her hair permanently, but Obeng was able to save most of it.

story continues below

Brown, who runs a daycare business, tells ET that she hadn't planned to go viral. She says she posted a video on TikTok asking for advice. "Then somebody said, 'Oh, she's just put that on her head on purpose just to get to here,'" she says. "Who in their right mind would say, 'Oh well, let me just spray this in my head and become famous overnight?'" she says. "Who would want them to do that? I needed somebody to tell me how to take this off, that's all it was." She says the attention has hurt her businessand her daughters no longer want her to do their hair. She says reports that she plans to sue Gorilla Glue are untrue. The 40-year-old says she hopes others will learn from her mistake. "If you don't have what you need, don't just use anything," she says. (Read more gorilla glue girl stories.)
The Nagol is Back! VTOs guide to this years Nagol, plus where to stay and play in south, central and north Pentecost.
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A Pennsylvania lawyer threatened to kill Democrats in the U.S. Senate and was on his way to Washington, D.C., with firearms and a large amount of ammunition when he was stopped by state police, federal prosecutors said Wednesday in announcing charges.

Kenelm Shirk III, 71, of Lebanon, was indicted Feb. 3 on a charge of threatening to murder a U.S. official. He pleaded not guilty at his initial court appearance and was locked up pending trial. His lawyer said Shirk had no intent to kill anyone.

Shirk was arrested by Pennsylvania State Police at a gas station near Shippensburg on Jan. 21, the day after Joe Biden was inaugurated president and a little more than two weeks after a violent, pro-Donald Trump mob stormed the U.S. Capitol. A search of Shirks car recovered an AR-15 rifle, two handguns and a box of ammunition, according to police.

An indictment said that Shirk threatened to murder Democratic United States Senators with the intent to impede and/or to retaliate against them on account of the performance of their official duties. Most of the federal court documents in the case are sealed, and it wasnt clear whether prosecutors are alleging that Shirk targeted specific Democrats.

Police began looking for Shirk after his ex-wife reported he had threatened to kill her as well as government officials in the Washington area, according to an affidavit filed in state court. Police spotted his car parked at a gas station just off the interstate, about two hours north of Washington, and arrested him without incident.

After his arrest, Shirk was taken to a hospital for an emergency mental health evaluation. One nurse told police that Shirk threatened to kill his ex-wife, but not today. He also made a comment that he had to get up early enough to beat traffic and make it to government officials houses before they left for work in Washington, the nurse said.

Another nurse reported that Shirk told her hed had an argument with his wife over the results of the recent presidential election, the affidavit said. She said that when hospital staff opened his briefcase to look for his phone, they found 30 rounds of ammunition, $5,000 in cash, rubber gloves, a handwritten list that said guns, ammo, rope, tools, meds, magazines, and a bag filled with about 50 small plastic crosses.

The nurse said Shirk frightened her, and she had a strong gut feeling and instinct that this was more than just a guy who was having a bad day and angry about the election, the affidavit said.

His attorney, Jay Abom, told The Associated Press that the incident began as a domestic dispute, adding that Shirk is a long-time and well-respected member of the legal community and does not belong to any right-wing extremist organization or movement.

Despite appearances and accusations, he never intended to hurt or kill anyone, Abom said.

Before his arrest, Shirk had been solicitor for Akron borough, in Lancaster County.

State charges of terroristic threats were withdrawn after Shirk was charged in federal court.

By MICHAEL RUBINKAM

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State health officials reported another 1,920 COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, which is based on just over 100,000 molecular tests, according to the Department of Public Health.

Health officials also announced another 82 COVID-related fatalities on Wednesday, bringing the deal toll from the pandemic to 14,903.

There have now been 521,045 total COVID-19 cases confirmed in Massachusetts since the pandemic began, with currently 52,372 cases considered active.

There are now 1,358 patients hospitalized with COVID-19, including 309 in intensive care. Another 183 are currently intubated.

The seven-day average of positive tests is 2.82%.

The average age of hospitalized COVID patients rose this week to 72 years old. The average COVID death in Mass. was age 79 and the average COVID positive case was 39.

The latest numbers come as the state announced that officials will let caregivers who accompany people aged 75 or older to a vaccination site get the shot as well.

The initiative begins on Wednesday. Caregivers can sign up for a companion appointment as long as they attest to being the caregiver of the person getting the shot, health officials said.

State officials on Wednesday also unveiled plans to bring super vaccination sites in Natick and Dartmouth online in the coming weeks, bringing the total number of sites statewide to seven. The Natick Mall site will launch on Monday, with the Dartmouth location opening on Feb. 24 at the old Circuit City, officials said.

Beginning on Monday in Massachusetts, restaurants, gyms and museums, among many other businesses and venues, were allowed to increase their capacity from 25% to 40% amid encouraging numbers over the last few weeks. Boston officials on Friday said theyd follow the new state guidance, expanding capacity for those businesses this week also.

Total COVID cases by county:

Barnstable County: 9,408

Berkshire County: 4,675

Bristol County: 53,011

Dukes County: 818

Essex County: 80,057

Franklin County: 1,865

Hampden County: 39,102

Hampshire County: 6,447

Middlesex County: 106,111

Nantucket County: 1,124

Norfolk County: 42,600

Plymouth County: 37,957

Suffolk County: 74,329

Worcester County: 62,062

Related Content:
Acknowledging the growing anxiety many seniors have had in getting COVID-19 vaccines, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolfs administration is directing more resources to help older residents make appointments and get transportation.

In a news conference Thursday, Wolf and Pennsylvania Secretary of Aging Robert Torres said state agencies are working on solutions to help seniors get vaccinated. Seniors are most at risk for serious complications from the coronavirus.

The PA Link to Aging and Disability Resources is deploying more staff to help seniors with scheduling appointments for vaccines or finding transportation. The PA Link hotline: 1-800-753-8827.

The states PACE program, which helps older adults obtain inexpensive prescription drugs, is also beginning an outreach effort. PACE is designating a team of employees in its Harrisburg call center to serve as a special scheduling unit to help its 275,000 PACE/PACENET enrollees obtain vaccines. PACE/PACENET members can call this number: 800-225-7223.

Wolf also said Pennsylvania seniors can contact their countys Area Agency on Aging to get assistance with vaccine scheduling and transportation. Some agencies in western Pennsylvania have worked particularly well with local partners to help seniors get vaccinated, Torres said. (Find contact for information for your county agency on aging here.)

As he has in recent weeks, Wolf has said the state must do more to vaccinate seniors, particularly those who lack computers or arent adept at using them.

We need to do better were working on that very hard, Wolf said.

We know folks need help getting appointments. They need help getting transportation, Wolf said.

Lawmakers and some advocates for seniors have said the pace of the vaccine rollout is too slow. Advocates for seniors living in long-term care facilities have said they need to be given priority since those residents are among the most vulnerable.

The Pennsylvania Health Care Association, which represents long-term care facilities, urged the state to allocate a greater share of vaccines to the states residents in those facilities.

Only less than 20 percent of Pennsylvanias vaccine has been dedicated to the most vulnerable in our nursing homes and long-term care communities thus far, Zach Shamberg, the associations president and CEO, said in a statement. The data is clear: long-term care has been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19, yet, providers, workers and residents still seem to be fighting for prioritization for a life-saving vaccine.

Wolf has said the state needs to do better but Pennsylvania, like other states, doesnt have the supply to meet the overwhelming demand. The chief constraint right now is the supply, Wolf said.

The governor also said most residents and staff at long-term care facilities have been offered the vaccine.

Earlier this week, the health department launched a new online tool, called Your Turn, designed to help people know when theyre eligible for COVID-19 vaccine and help them find a provider. The tool doesnt enable people to schedule a vaccination appointment but offers help to those unsure if theyre eligible for the vaccine.

The program includes a telephone hotline to connect people who lack internet access to the information. It can be reached at 1-877-724-3258, or 1-877-PA-HEALTH.

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Health, more than 1.1 million people have received COVID-19 vaccine doses through Wednesday. The department said more than 335,000 have received the two doses needed to be fully vaccinated.

About 4 million people are eligible for the first phase of the COVID-19 vaccine. Those eligible include health care workers, seniors 65 and over, and younger adults who have certain health conditions or high-risk factors.

The state is receiving about 150,000 vaccines each week, Wolf said.

Earlier this week, the Wolf administration announced it had formed a new COVID-19 vaccine task force comprised of lawmakers and state officials. Wolf said the group will hold its first meeting Friday to discuss ways to improve the vaccine rollout.

In the news conference, Wolf was again asked about creating one centralized state hotline to help people get appointments. Wolf administration officials have said a central hotline may not necessarily be a better option than directing residents to local providers such as health systems and pharmacies. But Wolf didnt rule it out as the task force begins examining ways to get vaccines out more quickly.

Theres nothing thats off the table, Wolf said.

More than 884,000 Pennsylvania residents have contracted the coronavirus and more than 22,800 deaths have been tied to COVID-19, according to the state health department. More than half of the states coronavirus deaths have occurred in long-term care facilities.

Most who are infected suffer relatively mild symptoms and many never get sick, but the virus poses health risks to everyone, particularly seniors and those with health complications.

More from PennLive

Pa. education groups urge Gov. Tom Wolf to prioritize school staff for COVID-19 vaccinations
 Thoughtful accounting of the dynamic world of prosecutorial discretion | Main | Senators Durbin and Grassley re-introduce "COVID-19 Safer Detention Act" 

I am very pleased to see this lengthy new Politico piece shining a light on federal clemency under this full headline: "Trump left behind a clemency mess. The clocks ticking for Biden to solve it. Lawyers and criminal justice advocates are pushing Biden to act swiftly. But Covid and the economy are pushing action back." I recommend the whole piece, and here are excerpts:

Bidens White House counsels office has started to reach out to attorneys and advocates for suggestions on reforms, what could be done about the backlog, and mistakes they believe were made in previous administrations, according to the people familiar with the conversations. Roy Austin, an Obama administration veteran who served on the Biden transition team on Justice Department issues, has spoken to advocates as well. Bidens new adviser on criminal justice issues at the Domestic Policy Council, Chiraag Bains, is expected to play a role too, according to two people familiar with the situation.

But the White House has revealed little about its own plans. And attorneys and advocates still worry that Bidens team lacks a comprehensive plan for dealing with the enormous backlog. Perhaps for good reason: A former Obama aide said that while Bidens team is familiar with the clemency problems it faces, it has been too busy with nominations, executive orders and proposed legislation, including those designed to tackle the coronavirus pandemic and cratered economy. They couldnt have had time to formulate a plan, the person said.

More than 100 progressive groups working on criminal justice issues are urging Biden to overhaul the arduous clemency process and start resolving cases right away. One of them, the ACLU, launched an ad campaign to push him to grant clemency to 25,000 people and make good on his pledge to tackle criminal justice issues amid a national reckoning on racial injustice. Among those who have met with Bidens team are Cynthia Roseberry, deputy director of policy at the American Civil Liberties Union's Justice Division, and Nkechi Taifa, convener of the Justice Roundtable, an umbrella organization on criminal justice issues....

The time to figure out how to do this shouldve been during the transition, said Mark Osler, a former federal prosecutor who serves as a law professor at the University of St. Thomas in Minneapolis who is pushing for a change. The danger is that theyll replicate the mistake the past several administrations have done of never focusing on it until its too late and its a mess.

The White House did not respond to questions but released a statement. President Biden has laid out an ambitious agenda to address problems in our criminal justice system that have resulted in overincarceration and miscarriages of justice, and he has a talented team of attorneys working to examine appeals for clemency to ensure sentences are consistent with the values hes articulated, White House spokesman Michael Gwin said.

In modern history, presidents have treated clemency as an afterthought, granting it in their waning days, often as a gift to friends and associates. Trump was no exception and took that a step further. In most cases, Trump bypassed the lengthy, multilevel process for clemency that has been conducted for more than a century. Instead, he made decisions through an ad hoc system where politically connected allies and well-paid lobbyists tried to persuade him in person and on TV to use pardons to help friends and hurt enemies.

In total, Trump granted 237 pardons or commutations and denied 180 cases. Many of those he acted on were headline-grabbing: former members of Congress, numerous people convicted in Robert Muellers probe into Russias 2016 election interference, and security contractors convicted for massacring Iraqi civilians in 2008. He failed to act on thousands of other cases, leaving 13,750 behind for Biden. But the current backlog  the largest on record, according to the Justice Department and experts  cant be blamed on Trump alone.

Barack Obama waited well into his second term to act. When he urged federal prisoners to apply for leniency under his clemency initiative, which allowed certain inmates to make their case for getting their sentences commuted, petitions soared. He received more than 36,000 requests, the largest total of any president on record. And he acted on an historic amount  more than 22,000 cases  granting clemency 1,927 times, including 212 pardons and 1,715 commutations.

But Obama didnt take care of all the pending cases, leaving behind 13,000 of them when he left office. And when his final pardon attorney, Deborah Leff, resigned in January of Obamas final year in office, she lamented that the clemency initiative didnt have enough resources. In his clemency initiative, President Obama focused significant resources on identifying inmates, most of them people of color, who had been sentenced to excessive and draconian sentences, said Neil Eggleston, who served as White House counsel for Obama. The president would have liked to clear the backlog in pending petitions, but resources spent in achieving that goal would have resulted in fewer inmates who were serving those excessive sentences for relatively minor drug crimes being released....

Obamas aides say they began talking about the pardon process during the transition but they didnt take Bushs advice because they had other priorities, including health care. Advocates and lawyers hope Biden learns the lessons of history and makes clemency a first term priority.

We hope hell break from what folks have done in the past and do things at the last minute or as a gift, Roseberry said. Our position is it should be used now and as much as necessary to correct all of the wrongs that we now acknowledge from our past criminal legal system. ... It takes courage to do it this year. We are ready for this. Its time. Its past time.

Biden didnt campaign aggressively on the issue of clemency. But supporters of his and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) did address the topic in its 110-page list of recommendations designed to try to unite the two camps ahead of the November election. One of the main proposals that the task force put forward also is one of priorities of criminal justice reform advocates: the creation of an independent clemency board.

The Biden-Sanders task force proposed a 60-person agency composed of people with diverse backgrounds to review cases. The Democratic Partys 2020 platform, likewise, called for an independent clemency commission, taking the process out of the Justice Department, which, some activists argue, is ill-suited to submit clemency recommendations to the White House since it also prosecutes the cases.

Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.), who chairs the House Judiciary subcommittee with jurisdiction over pardons, lobbied Obama and Trump to issue more pardons. He said he plans to do the same for Biden. There are ... more and more people in jail, and a lot of those people have been there forever and they have been there for long draconian sentences, Cohen said. Theyre basically wasting their lives, wasting the federal governments finances ... and destroying lives and families. Its a total loser, but we do it.
EIR LEAD EDITORIAL FOR THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2021

To Reverse the Collapse, Look to the Stars

Feb. 10 , 2021 (EIRNS)Helga Zepp-LaRouche presented the following political analysis of the current global crisis in her weekly strategic webcast sponsored by The LaRouche Organization:

The political situation in the United States is a circus, but let me say something optimistic in the beginning: because you have three Mars missionsone is already in orbit from the U.A.E., another one today from China, and then still another one from the United States on Feb. 18. So that shows you where mankind should be going. But before we come to that, lets look at what needs to be overcome, and one of those situations is exactly the unbelievable situation in the United States. Looking at it from a distance, so to speak, I think its a very, very dangerous development, because you have a clear effort to declare former President Trump a non-person; you have a trampling on the Constitution. Yesterday, 56 Senators voted for impeachment, which means they dont respect the Constitution, because the Constitution says you can only impeach a sitting President or official, but not a former one. And it is clearly designed to completely confuse the population, brainwash the population.

It will increase the polarization, and the whole thing is phony, because there is now plenty of evidence that the storming of the Capitol was planned long before Jan. 6, probably immediately after the election took place, there were preparations. The FBI now has evidence that there were 200 people, whom they arrested on Jan. 6, who were involved in the preplanning: Some of these people were FBI informants, or had high-level security clearance from the FBI, such as some of the people from the Proud Boys, and also the so-called Oath Keeper head Caldwell. So, this is a sting operation if you ever have seen one, and it is clearly designed to make sure that Trump can never run for office again, so the whole thing is fraudulent.

But you have to see it in the context of other things which are going on in the United States as well: And that is, censorship. What we had seen already beginning against then-President Trump when he gave press conferences, the major TV stations intervened and said, no, we dont agree with the content of what he is saying, overriding and over ruling the President of the United States. Now you have a whole pattern of blogs and websites being banned by the social media. You cannot mention certain words any more. If you say vote fraud you are being banned; if you say certain other things which dont fit the official narrative, so it completely suppresses any kind of open discussion, the First Amendment. And then, you have this very worrisome effort to criminalize the Trump base: Naturally one is against violence of any kind, but when the former CIA station chief for Afghanistan and Pakistan, and Director of the CIA Counter Terrorism Centera person called Robert Greniersays one has to use the same methods one used against insurgencies in Afghanistan and Iraq against those domestic terrorists, because they swim in a larger environment of support in the population.

This is really incredible: This should upset any person who loves democracy, for that matter, or freedom. And I think it is creating an atmosphere of realI think McCarthyism is a mild word for saying itand its a very dangerous development. So I can only call on all people to keep free debate, keep open truth-seeking of matters, andI think its a very dangerous development, thats all I can say.

Look at this Navalny story, a real concoction. First of all we should remember that Navalny was not very well-known in Russia until recently, until this so-called poisoning through the Russian government, was supposedly happening.

As a matter of fact, if you look at his older statements, he is a rightwing person, he called some people, immigrants, cockroaches and using a language which we know from Germany from 80 years ago. So hes not exactly a hero or a nice person. There is this video which was published by RT, where one of his top campaign managers, Vladimir Ashurkov, is seen in 2012, where he talks to a member of the British embassy who in reality was an MI6 agent, where Ashurkov asks this British so-called diplomat for $10-$20 million a year, because that would enable them to organize mass demonstrations in Russia.

So this is the reality of this operation, and [Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman] Maria Zakharova just said in a press conference, that it is very clear that there are powerful circles behind Navalny from the West, and some of them demonstrated in these street demonstrations, members from the embassies and consulates, from Germany, from Poland and from Sweden, which is going against any statutes and standards of the diplomatic service. So Russia expelled these individuals; then, in a reciprocal move, these countries expelled Russian diplomats. But then the thing was crowned by an unbelievably provocative event, which just took place in Brussels, in the Polish mission to the EU, with EU participation, but also U.K., U.S., and Canadathey basically discussed with Ashurkov and also another person, Leonid Volkov, who is another person from the Navalny team, they discussed how all these countries should respond together to the jailing of Navalny.

This is a real intelligence operation, and it is aimed to create an environment where you have internal opposition emerging against Putin, and it has the same character as we discussed last week, with the paper of the Atlantic Council targetting Xi Jinping for regime change.

Now, needless to say, that if from one nuclear power, and the EU, they are running regime change operations against the other two major nuclear powers, this is really very, very dangerous. I think its completely disgusting.

On the Green New Deal.The financial system is hopelessly bankrupt. The central banks have pumped money, trillions and trillions into the system since 2008, when you already had a systemic crisis, and it is very clear this cannot be maintained forever. So in one sense, this idea to pump another $30 trillion into the system for green investments, which will ruin the economy! If you go to these low energy flux-density levels, you cannot maintain a modern industrial power, and it really is a last-ditch effort to bail out the banks, to bail out the speculators. The economy is collapsing. You have massive layoffs in all major industries, Thyssen, MAN, and various others, but also many small and medium industries are going bankrupt.

We should really fight against it.

We will be bringing out tomorrow, Executive Intelligence Review will publish a Special Report on the Green New Deal, on the Great Reset, and I can only encourage our viewers to get this report, because this is designed to explain to people what will be the effect of such a policy and what can be done against it.

So I think this idea that the future of mankind is the colonization of space, and that the best thing which could happen is that all countries work together. The way to overcome geopolitical conflict on Earth is to start to really reach for the stars, to colonize the Moon and Mars, and prepare for future interstellar travel of mankind as one.

I mean, if you look at mankind from space, you see that our little, blue planet is very small, its very fragile, and the universe is incredibly big. We have not discovered the first secrets yettheres so much to discover, in 2 trillion galaxies, which we know for sure to exist. So its really time to overcome what I call the infancy of mankind, where people squabble over territory. If we go for space science, we can completely transform everything which is called a resource, and conflicts now which seem to be so big, will completely vanish once we reach the next phase, the next era of human civilization. So I think this is a good reason for optimism.
Kevin Hart's one time personal shopper Dylan Syer has been accused of laundering more that $1 million from the A-list star.

Syer appeared in Queens Supreme Court Wednesday in New York City, where he was charged with grand larceny and nine other counts in connection with his misappropriation of the actor's funds.

Syer, 29, initially began working with the comic/actor, 41, in 2015, according to Queens County District Attoney Melinda Katz, and did honest work for Hart for a period.

The latest: Kevin Hart's one time personal shopper Dylan Syer has been accused of laundering more that $1 million from the A-list star

Katz said that Syer eventually used the Philadelphia native's credit cards to transfer money into his personal accounts, racking up in excess of $1.2 million from October 12, 2017 until February 25, 2019.

Syer, a native of Long Island City, spent money on luxury items such as a painting by artist Sam Friedman; a lot of five Patek Philippe watches valued in excess of $400,000, a pair of Louis Vuitton bags, and a lot of at least 16 collectible dolls by Bearbrick, which can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars per doll, and five KAWS collectible dolls.

He subsequently showed off the items on his Instagram page. Authorities continued to repossess all of the goods illegally purchased in an effort to recoup Hart's losses.

After Syer was arrested, officers executing a search warrant on his home 'seized approximately $250,000 worth of cash and goods,' according to Katz.

The DA said the accused used Hart's credit cards to transfer money into his personal accounts, racking up in excess of $1.2 million from October 12, 2017 until February 25, 2019

Hart had hired the NY native as a personal shopper

Katz said a lesson to come out of the case is that 'no one is immune to being targeted by fraudsters.'

The DA continued, 'The defendant thought he was beyond reach and was living out his uber-rich lifestyle fantasies. But my team uncovered the bogus purchases  from the credit card charges being processed by the bank, down to tracking FedEx packages delivered to Syers home and business.

'Regardless of whether you are a celebrity or not, anyone can fall victim to this kind of fraud. It is paramount to keep track of your expenses, check your credit reports and diligently keep your financial information to yourself.'

Hart is dad to daughter Heaven, 15, and son Hendrix, 13, from his former marriage to Torrei Hart; and son Kenzo Kash, three, and baby daughter with his spouse Eniko Parrish, 36.
Mortar shelling in Afghanistan kills at least 10 civilians

Fire breaks out at West Virginia oil refinery in US

Iran ready to help improve the defense capability of Syria

European Parliament head proposes to strengthen sanctions on Russia

UK PM gets married in London

Armenia reports COVID-19 new 81 cases: for people die

EU countries invite US to issue joint statement against Russia

2 people die in Armenia road accident

Nigeria: Students taken hostage a month ago are released

61 quakes recorded in Congo per day

Syrian MFA: EU lost credibility due to blind obedience to US policy

Armenia ex-minister of emergency situations hospitalized with heart attack

Mher Grigoryan: Clarification of border points is possible only after withdrawal of Azerbaijani troops from Armenia

Suspicious deal: Whether there was profit from buying DNA IDs?

Armenia ex-president says current authorities are trying to blame Russia for defeat in war

4 people killed in Afghanistani bus attack

Robert Kocharyan: This war could not have happened, it was a consequence of the policy of the authorities

Kocharyan: I have to ask people how it happened that overwhelming majority elected this leader

Armen Gevorgyan presents 'Armenia' bloc program: We offer the concept of a working country

Biden's administration proposed to leave unchanged amount of financial support to Armenia

US Embassy in Baku calls on Azerbaijan to immediately release Armenian POWs

Luxembourg MFA calls on Azerbaijan to immediately release all Armenian prisoners

Russia peacekeepers climb to Armenia Gegharkunik Province village positions

Biden strongly condemns manifestations of antisemitism in US

Iran intensifies its diplomacy amid Armenia-Azerbaijan border tensions

Armenia acting PM on forthcoming snap parliamentary elections: We hope to get 60% of votes

Lukashenko accuses West of destabilizing situation in Belarus

Armenia Central Electoral Commission chief on snap elections: No legal basis for postponing, suspending any function

Armenias Pashinyan is met by Yerevan district residents chanting against him

We are ready to be fully engaged in negotiation process to resolve Karabakh issue, says Armenia acting PM

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan gives interview to Russia TV channel

Armenia acting premier: We are ready to start withdrawing troops at any moment

Canada MFA expresses concern over 6 Armenian soldiers capture by Azerbaijan troops

There are omissions in registration documents of political forces that applied to Armenia Central Electoral Commission

Armenia Central Electoral Commission chief: There is activeness in Yerevan for the past day or two

Three new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Group of US Congress members threaten Azerbaijans Aliyev regime with sanctions

Chicago mayor is sued for allegedly refusing interview with white reporter

Iran exports oil to US for first time after long interval

"Armenia" bloc top 50 MP candidates are announced

42 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Sri Lanka public beach is covered in charred plastic pellets due to fire in container ship

US preparing list of targeted sanctions on Belarus authorities

China believes it will own America by 2035, Biden says

15 al-Shabab militants killed in Somalia

Newspaper: Armenia political forces that applied for running in election impatiently await CEC decision

Newspaper: Changes are expected in Artsakh

California prisoner who considers himself Satanist beheads cellmate, dismembers his body

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM's "mutually beneficial" proposal to collapse state system?

Armenia National Security Service Reserve Officers' Union members meet with His Holiness Karekin II

EU is ready to help Armenia and Azerbaijan with border delimitation and demarcation

ARF-D member on Nikol Pashinyan: 103 years ago Armenia's founding fathers would have executed him for treason

Iran President hails brotherly ties with Azerbaijan

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

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
US President Joe Biden has announced a series of sanctions on the military leaders of Myanmar in response to their recent action to overthrow a democratically elected leadership in a coup. Today Im announcing a series of actions that were taking to begin imposing consequences on the leaders of the coup. The US government is taking steps to prevent the generals from improperly having access to the USD1 billion in Burmese government funds held in the United States, Biden told reporters at the White House on Wednesday.

Biden said he has approved a new executive order enabling US to immediately sanction the military leaders who directed the coup, their business interests, as well as close family members. We will identify a first round of targets this week. We are also going to impose strong export controls. We are freezing US assets that benefit the Burmese government, while maintaining our support for healthcare, civil society groups, and other areas that benefit the people of Burma directly, Biden said.

As protests grow, violence against those asserting their democratic rights is unacceptable, Biden said the US is going to keep calling it out. The people of Burma are making their voices heard. And the world is watching, he said. In his first public address on Myanmar, which the US and several other western countries continue to call it by its previous name of Burma, Biden demanded that military must relinquish the power it seized and demonstrate respect for the will of the people of Burma as expressed in their November 8th election.

Last week, the United States helped bring together the UN Security Council, which issued a strong statement in support of Burmese democracy. This week, the administration will use its renewed engagement on the Human Rights Council to strengthen the worlds commitment to human rights in Burma, he said. Today, I again call on the Burmese military to immediately release the democratic political leaders and activists that theyre now detaining, including Aung San Suu Kyi. And also Win Myint, the President, he said.

Biden said that the assault on Burmas transition to democracy remains an issue of deep bipartisan concern. Weve consulted at length, for example, with Senator McConnell, whos had a very keen interest in this, and his team. We welcomed their helpful insights, he said. Senator Bob Menendez, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, welcomed Bidens announcement that his administration will take concrete and targeted measures to demonstrate to the Burmese military that their actions are unacceptable.

As Ive said before, there must be real consequences if Aung San Suu Kyi and the rest of Burmas elected leaders are not immediately freed and allowed to resume their rightful place at the head of a civilian government, he said. Meanwhile, Congressman Gregory Meeks, Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, and Ami Bera, Chairman of the Asia, the Pacific, Central Asia, and Nonproliferation Subcommittee, on Wednesday held a briefing on the situation in Burma.

Members expressed concern for the safety of those illegally detained by the military and expressed support for the administrations commitment to review the reimposition of sanctions, among other policy options, to hold the Burmese military accountable for the coup, they said in a joint statement. We urge the Burmese military to accept the will of the people and will continue to engage the Biden administration and likeminded partners and allies to support Burmas progress toward democracy, the two top lawmakers said.

State Department Spokesperson Ned Price told reporters that as protests grow, Burmas military leaders need to know that violence against those who peacefully assert their democratic rights will not be tolerated. The United States will take note of those who stand with the people of Burma at this moment of crisis, he asserted. Price said the US stands with the people of Burma and support their right to assemble peacefully, including their right to protest peacefully in support of the democratically elected government, the right to freedom of expression, including the freedom to seek, receive, and impart information both online and offline.
MBABANE  Nedbank (Swaziland) Limited is demanding over E3 million from TZ Concrete Products Manufacturers (Pty) Ltd.

TZ Concrete has been cited as the first defendant in the matter.

It is said to be a company duly registered and incorporated according to the countrys company laws whose chosen domicilium citandi et executandi at Sidwashini Industrial Sites in Mbabane. The Latin words mean the address nominated by a party in a legal contract where legal notices may be sent.

Capacity

Thulani Dlamini and Nompumelelo Dlamini have been cited as second and third defendant, in their alleged capacity as surety and co-principal debtor to the first defendant. Completing the line-up of defendants are the trustees for the time being of Ingcamu Family Trust. Thulani Dlamini and Nompumelelo Dlamini were cited as the trustees for the time being.Nedbank has instituted action against the defendants jointly and severally the one paying of the other to be absolved. The reputable financial institution is claiming the payment for the sum of E2 395 475.32, being in respect of monies reportedly lent and advanced as an urban home loan in June 2017 to the first defendant at the latters special instance request. The monies are now allegedly due.

Another prayer for the bank is an order declaring Lot No.2835 situated in the Mbabane Extension No.8 (Sidwashini Industrial Township) measuring 2 075 square metres and held by the Mortgagor executable.

In the second claim, the bank is demands the payment of E765 211.92 being in respect of mony (business loan) allegedly advanced to the first defendant. The bank claimed the money was now due and the defendant was allegedly neglecting to pay.

Claim

An order declaring Portion 8 (a portion of Portion 6) of Farm 289 situated in the Shiselweni Region and measuring 104 360 exuctable. The plaintiffs claim against the second, third and fourth defendants is for payment of the sum of E765 211.92, that being the amount for which they bound themselves jointly and severally as sureties and co-principal debtors to the plaintiff for any and all debts owing and owed by the first defendant, averred Nedbank.

The plaintiff further wants the sum of E930 628.51, being in respect of monies reportedly lent and advanced on overdraft by the plaintiff in April 2018 to the first defendant. This brings the total for the claim to over E3 million.

These are allegations contained in summons whose veracity are still to be tested be tested in court.
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In 2016, the San Francisco morning rush was so busy that Bay Area Rapid Transit did something unprecedented: It paid some riders cash to take the train at a different time. The six-month pilot was the transit authoritys answer to a common problem for big-city subway systems. BART could not physically run any more trains through the four-and-a-half-mile tunnel beneath the San Francisco Bay every morning; the tunnel hit capacity around 8 a.m. Maybe commuters could be induced to head downtown at 7 a.m., or 9?

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What a difference a pandemic makes. BART ridership is down about 90 percent from normal, and the future looks dimmer every day. The agencys January 2021 ridership projection is mostly below its lower-bound projection from June 2020. Every forecast we make that we thought was conservative, reality is much more dire than we forecast, said Brendan Monaghan, a BART financial planning analyst.

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The prevailing sense of doom comes from a dawning awareness that the old workday travel patterns are not going to snap back into place when the pandemic subsides. Even when its safe for Bay Area workers to travel to work, many of them wont. The tallest building in San Francisco is the Salesforce Tower, a totem of blue glass and a symbol of the citys tech economy since its completion in 2018. On Tuesday, the software companys chief people officer outlined new work policies. The 9-to-5 workday is dead, he wrote. Most employees will be in the office between one and three days a week. Twitter, another San Francisco tech employer, has announced an indefinite work-from-home policy. The situation looks similar in New York, D.C., Chicago, and other major U.S. cities.

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Last month, the transportation scholar David Levinson asked: What if downtowns never come back? In Sydney, where Levinson teaches, the virus is contained. Car traffic has returned to normal, but transit use is down about 40 percent from last year. Transit demand may be off more than 80% since now parking is easy, and there isnt enough demand from non-work trips to compensate, he wrote, concluding that the central business district has peaked in significance. The consequences will be felt for the rest of our careers.

If it does come to pass, the decline of downtown would have severe ramifications for American life, upending local businesses, municipal budgets, housing markets, and civic culture. But mass transit would grapple with its effects first. Asking a transit agency to operate without rush hour is like asking a restaurant to operate without dinner service. Most systems are built to serve a downtown core and managed to serve peak demand. And it was during that peak that transit agencies collected most of their fares.

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Fewer people traveling isnt a problem in and of itselfuntil the resulting loss of revenue produces a death spiral of service cuts and ridership drops, leaving some riders in the lurch and forcing the rest of them to buy cars. An unfortunate irony of American transit is that the best systems are also the ones most dependent on revenue from riders. Farebox reliance was for a long time a point of pride, said Monaghan at BART. But it turns out to be an unmitigated risk. At Metra, the Chicago-area commuter rail network, high-quality, crowded, peak service subsidizes mediocre off-peak service, said Metra CEO Jim Derwinski. Youre filling those trains up, and those rides are paying for the trains that are off-peak that arent full.

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Asking a transit agency to operate without rush hour is like asking a restaurant to operate without dinner service.

Rush-hour travel to a concentrated area is also the scenario in which transit best rivals driving on cost and convenience, thanks to jam-packed roads and expensive parking rates, said Katie Chalmers, who supervises route planning at King County Metro in Seattle. Transit is often more time-competitive during peak periods, she wrote in an email. Transit really excels in moving large groups of people to the same place and at the same time.

And yet when I asked her and other transit professionals about the importance of peak-hour ridership, they all said more or less the same thing: Peak-hour transit is a blessing and a curse.

Picture a 10-lane road with sparse traffic, said Zakhary Mallett, a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Southern California who studies peak-hour transit. Just as roads are built to accommodate maximum rush-hour traffic and then spend many hours looking overbuilt, so transit has become bloated to meet peak demand. We build a ton of capacity and buy a ton of vehicles for the peak of the peak, he said. Peak service is extremely expensive when you consider capital costs. My hypothesis is that peak period travel, after you account for capital costs, is more expensive than off-peakeven after accounting for revenues.

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Translation: We have spent a ton of money to prepare subways and buses for morning rush hour. Even with all the crowded platforms, its not clear if it pays off.

One example is train cars. Mallett says 41 percent of BARTs train cars are bought and maintained just for the peak of the peak. Alon Levy, a Berlin-based transit analyst, calculates that rush-hour trains cost as much as five times more as those used for off-peak service per mile of use.

Unfortunately, its hard to downsize on a dime. The resale market for trains is not good, and theres no undoing peak-oriented capital projects like New York Citys East Side Access, the most expensive mile of subway track on Earth that will give suburbanites better access to Manhattans Grand Central Terminal.

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But some peak-hour expenses could be wound down, such as labor inefficiency. When you see a full bus or train running one direction [at rush-hour], I always picture it half-empty, said Jarrett Walker, a transit planner in Portland, Oregon, because it must be run back with no passengers. For employees, peak shifts are short. They drag operators into the city center. Even if youd like to leave the vehicles there for the afternoon rush, youve got to get the workers back to where they came from.

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As it happens, the pandemic reckoning over rush-hour transit neatly aligns with a broader critique that has been underway for a decade. What if off-peak, non-downtown ridership is low because off-peak, non-downtown service is bad? Theres compelling case theres a lot of travel demand outside of peak not met by current service patterns, and changing to a service model that offers consistent, all-day frequency could end up capturing trips and having positive revenue effects, argued Ben Fried at Transit Center, a think tank in New York.

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Off-peak travel outside of downtowns has been surging for decades. Transit systems have rarely been there to meet the demand, however. In fact, many of themsuch as Washington, D.C.s WMATA and New Yorks MTAhave moved in the opposite direction, forcing late-shift commuters to blow their paychecks on Uber rides because the trains now stop running earlier. In New York City, the situation is particularly absurd, since empty trains are still moving underground all nightthe agency just isnt letting the late-shift workforce ride on them.

In 2018, New York City Comptroller Scott Stringer published a report on the MTAs failure to adjust service to meet the needs of musicians, actors, nurses, home health aides, delivery workers, bartenders, baristas, and other workers unlikely to fit into the typical commuting pattern. Ridership into Manhattan before 7 a.m. grew twice as fast as ridership after 7 a.m.; subway service did not keep pace. Traditional commuters made up barely more than half of MTA traffic, down from 61 percent in 1990. And the decline of the classic peak trip was both temporal and spatial: The fastest-growing group of New York City commutes by far came from workers who didnt go to Manhattan at all, but instead commuted between boroughs or adjacent counties.

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But instead of reviving train service on an underused right-of-way connecting Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx, New Yorks politicians and planners have poured their energy (and an astonishing amount of money) into four new, multi-billion-dollar transit hubs serving the two Manhattan business districts.

Not surprisingly, catering to peak commuters means tailoring transit toward the needs of a whiter, wealthier, and more male cohort than straphangers at large. In the 2018 study of New York, the rush-hour commuter group was 52 percent college-educated with a median income of $42,300. The before-sunrise crowd, by contrast, was 31 percent college-educated with a median income of $35,000. The second group also featured more foreign-born workers and more minorities

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This pattern holds up across every city. Even including off-hour workers, commuting in general accounts for only three in 10 transit trips, according to the National Household Travel Survey. Equity advocates say the 9-to-5 bias isnt just unfair; it also depresses ridership by dissuading riders who travel for reasons besides work. This is a major issue for woman travelers, whose tripsparticularly for childcare or family responsibilitiesare more likely to be off-peak.

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This is not by accident; the downtown, peak-hour emphasis hinges in part on the received wisdom that transit users are either captive or choice riders, and that better service is necessary to keep choice riders (with cars, jobs, and cab fare) on board. In reality, as the transit analyst Uday Schultz reminded me, off-peak riders are more likely to bail when service gets worse. This has been borne out over the past decade, as bus riders have fled transit in response to U.S. cities inability (or lack of desire) to rise to global transit standards and liberate buses from traffic with dedicated streets or lanes.

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During the pandemic, cities such as Boston, New York, San Francisco, and Chicago have seen ridership remain higher in neighborhoods with more essential workers. And agencies are (finally!) changing service to respond: In San Francisco, Muni chief Jeffrey Tumlin has consolidated a diminished pandemic-era network around good service in high-ridership areas. In Boston, with commuter trains registering just 7 percent of their pre-pandemic rush-hour ridership, the schedule has shifted to provide 30-minute service all day to Chelsea and Lynn, two cities north of Boston with large Latino populations.

Many cities have spent billions to reinforce transits rush-hour, downtown functionalityand many of those costs are sunk.

Even Chicagos Metra, despite its reliance on peak-hour fares, will experiment with more frequent, all-day service. This is the time to try new stuff, Derwinski told me. This is the time to lay out a different service model. Its not just the core 9-to-5 worker, its the folks using Metra to go to the doctor or to a sporting event. Derwinski cited a prior service increase at Hyde Park, the neighborhood eight miles south of the Loop that includes the University of Chicago. The introduction of 20-minute service, he said, helped make Hyde Park our heaviest station outside of downtown.

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Unfortunately, many cities have spent billions to reinforce transits rush-hour, downtown functionalityand many of those costs are sunk. Downtown business interests and long-haul office commuters have been powerful advocates in getting public money committed to new projects. How much effort will be spent to recover rush-hour riders after the pandemic instead of experimenting to pull in, for example, teenagers or seniors or grocery shoppers or other underserved groups? Does the transit coalition stay intact when the raison detre is ensuring mobility without cars in general and on a regional scale, rather than specifically reinforcing the centrality and viability of downtown?

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Walker, the planner in Portland, recently redesigned the bus network in Houston to be less focused on downtown. He said he believes there are a lot of potential transit riders out there who are not getting picked up. Were leaving a lot of low-income ridership on the table, he told me. And a lot of zero-car ridership on the table. We dont need luxury, we just need usefulness.

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In the long run, Walker said, moving away from the twin camel humps of the morning and evening rush would be a great thing for transit operators who have historically shelled out for both capital and operating expenses to meet peak demand. The demand curve is flatter in Paris, for example, where a focus on all-day use (and concurrent investment) has taken ridership up by 20 percent in the last two decades. Less Metro, boulot, dodo (subway, work, sleep) than Metro, bus, Metro. American politicians, by contrast, have neglected the suite of transit, traffic, parking, and land-use policies that might make transit useful for anything beyond traveling to and from the downtown core at the busiest times of day.

If those trips vanish, urban transit will have a short window to reinvent itself. The pandemic may be a chance to reset. It may also be an ultimatum.
alexsl/iStockBy JON HAWORTH, ABC News

(NEW YORK) -- Two brothers have been arrested after creating an elaborate hoax over a fake stabbing so that the prank could be shared on social media, according to authorities.



The incident occurred on Jan. 24 at approximately 5:46 p.m. when the Montgomery County Emergency Communications Center received a call reporting a stabbing at a residential home in Silver Spring, Maryland.



The caller stated that two brothers had been fighting in the house and it appeared that one of them had stabbed the other in the neck with a knife, the Montgomery County Police Department (MCPD) in a press release published on Feb. 10 detailing the ordeal.



Responding authorities entered the home and observed a 21-year-old male, later identified as Denidson Jean, lying on the floor holding a t-shirt to his neck to stop the apparent heavy bleeding and covered in what appeared to be a large amount of blood.



The responding officer observed a 19-year-old male, later identified as Pierre Jean, standing over the victim along with a kitchen knife covered with blood on the counter next to the kitchen sink. The officer asked who stabbed Denidson and Pierre replied by saying I didnt mean to, according to MCPD.



Four other residents were in the home and were in emotional distress with what had occurred. The residents were yelling and crying which contributed to the chaotic scene, MCPD said in their statement released to the media.



The officer immediately began to administer first aid and informed dispatch that he would need an advanced life support response and that fire and rescue personnel were needed to help the victim.



Authorities say that the officer had been in the home and rendering aid for approximately two minutes when Denidson sat up, started laughing and told the officer that this had all been a prank for social media.



The investigation by the Department has determined that the two brothers planned this hoax to be recorded and posted to social media, said the MCPD. Prop blood was located in the home, as well as a digital camera which had been placed in the kitchen light. Pierre and Denidson created the bloody scene, pretended to be involved in a physical altercation with each other, and then Pierre, with blood on his clothing and holding the knife, left the kitchen. He returned to the kitchen with residents of the home and directed the residents to call 911/ the police a total of five times.



There is no indication that the other residents knew the situation was fake or that they were in on the hoax.



Montgomery County Police Chief Marcus Jones released a statement expressing his anger at the situation.



The suspects decision to orchestrate this hoax for social media and set it into motion with directing a call to 9-1-1 demonstrated a total disregard for the numerous Montgomery County police officers and Fire & Rescue personnel who were dispatched to the residence, said Jones. These officers and medical personnel responded in an emergency status (activating vehicle overhead lights and siren) to render aid to the alleged stabbing victim, causing unnecessary risk to the emergency responders and the community. The suspects created a dangerous and chaotic scene for the officers and other residents in the home, and we are fortunate that no one was hurt or injured during this situation.



These suspects also showed a total disregard for Montgomery County residents, who may have needed those emergency services that were unnecessarily devoted and possibly diverted from other calls for service to this hoax, Jones continued. Even after the suspects confessed that this was a prank, officers were needed at the scene to interview witnesses and document the incident. The follow-up investigation included conducting a search of the home to recover evidence. I am proud of my officers, who responded to the stabbing call with great concern, and who began to immediately care for the alleged victim and investigate when arriving at the scene. They exhibited tremendous professionalism throughout the entire incident."



Denidson Jean and Pierre Jean were subsequently arrested on Feb. 8 in Silver Spring, Maryland, and transported to the Central Processing Unit before being released from custody.



They have both been charged with knowingly causing a false call for an ambulance and making a false statement to an officer with the intent to deceive and cause an investigation.



Copyright  2021, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.
Kids want to fish? You don't know how yourself? Here's a little help

GOVERNMENT has dismissed as false and mischievous, claims that it does not know which Covid-19 vaccine it should import, saying Zimbabwe will receive its first batch of 800 000 jabs from China on Monday to start the process of immunising 10 million people against the virus.

Reports in some sections of the private and social media had suggested that the Government was not sure which vaccine it should procure, and alleged that this would put the whole vaccination process into jeopardy.

Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said in addition to 200 000 donations from the Chinese Government, Zimbabwe had also purchased 600 000 jabs from the same country.

Zimbabwe was now expected to dispatch an aircraft to China on February 13 to collect the vaccines, which were expected in the country two days later.

The Government of the Peoples Republic of China has extended a donation of 200 000 Sinopharm Covid-19 vaccine doses. This vaccine, which has 76 to 86 percent efficacy, has been endorsed by the World Health Organisation and is already being used in several countries, said Minister Mutsvangwa.

This donation and an initial batch of 600 000 doses which the Government has purchased, are expected in the country by February 15, 2021, and the first week of March 2021 respectively. An aircraft will be dispatched to China no later than February 13, 2021, to collect these vaccine doses.

Russia has donated some of its Sputnik V vaccines, with negotiations ongoing for the procurement of more vaccines. India has also promised to provide vaccines and Zimbabwe is expecting some vaccines through the African Union vaccination programme.

Minister Mutsvangwa said Government had noted with concern, efforts by some mischief-makers to cause confusion and panic over Zimbabwes vaccination programme.

His Excellency, President ED Mnangagwa, when he declared the Covid-19 pandemic a state of disaster, said that Government would be transparent in its response and action plan against the virus.

Government continues to work with the World Health Organisation and other partners as part of Zimbabwes response to this pandemic, she said.

Minister Mutsvangwa said the Government had placed an order for the vaccine adding that key to the response plan, was science-based evidence on fighting the pandemic.

Government has already developed a deployment plan, mapping the priority groupings for roll out of the vaccines. No one will be left behind in this fight against Covid-19, she said.

Meanwhile, the worlds largest diamond producer, Alrosa, has pledged to buy vaccines for Zimbabwe.

The Russian mining behemoth, which accounts for almost a third of the worlds rough diamond production, has a 70 percent stake in Alrosa Zimbabwe with the remaining 30 percent being owned by the Zimbabwean Government through the Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company.

Alrosa chief executive officer Mr Sergey Ivanov yesterday told international media that they would buy and donate the Sputnik V vaccines to Zimbabwe and Angola.

We intend to provide dozens of thousands of vaccines to each of these countries upon their availability for export. Allowing for time needed to produce the vaccine, we expect first shipments to start from the second half of March, Mr Ivanov told Bloomberg. Herald
One of Queenslands major medical research facilities has been caught up in an international data breach, with non-identifiable patient data believed to have been accessed.

QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute said it was investigating exactly how much data the third parties accessed as part of a wider breach of the Accellion file-sharing system.

QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute is working to establish which files were accessed.

Accellion is an external company that bills itself as provider of secure file sharing services for large organisations, with QIMR using the service to share data with collaborators in what it thought was a secure way.

The data accessed was estimated to be about 4 per cent of the nearly 16 gigabytes of QIMR Berghofer data on Accellions servers.
Post Malone is preparing for a new gig.

On Thursday, Billboard announced that the White Iverson songwriter will be headlining a virtual concert to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Pokemon franchise.

The 25-year-old songwriter then shared news of the upcoming event in a video uploaded to the official Pokemon YouTube channel this morning.

Gotta catch 'em all! On Thursday, it was announced that Post Malone would be headlining a virtual concert to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Pokemon Franchise; he is seen at the 2020 Billboard Music Awards in October

The video showed Malone stepping out of a limousine and being escorted through the walkways of a concert venue.

The Congratulations songwriter looked down at a Poke Ball in his left hand and transformed into an animated version of himself before walking onto a stage.

The rapper will perform on February 27 and the concert will be simulcast across Pokemon's YouTube and Twitch channels as well as its 25th anniversary website.

Malone's concert serves as the kickoff for the P25 series, envisioned as an artist-led tribute to the numerous entries in the media franchise.

Big announcement: The news about the rapper's performance was confirmed in a promotional video that saw Malone transforming into an animated version of himself

Kickoff event: The Congratulations songwriter's concert will serve as the first event in the artist-led P25 series

More details regarding the lineup for the series will be announced at the end of the Circles songwriter's show.

Katy Perry has already been confirmed as one of the featured artists for the celebration.

As a lead-up to the event, the Pokemon Company International will release Pokemon GO Tour: Kanto on February 20th.

Also appearing: Katy Perry has already been confirmed to be a part of the upcoming artist-led celebration for the gaming franchise; she is seen appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live! earlier this month

The event will add numerous characters from the original games to the mobile gaming sensation.

Ahead of the virtual concert, Malone gave a statement to the music publication to express his longtime fondness for the franchise and elaborate on why he was excited to collaborate with the Pokemon company.

'Ive been a fan for such a long time, kind of grew up with it. Celebrating 25 years is a big deal, so we decided to do it together,' the songwriter said.

Big fan: Malone gave a statement to Billboard where he noted that he 'kind of grew up' playing games from the Pokemon franchise; he is pictured in 2020

He also sat down for a Q&A session, during which he acknowledged the gaming company's efforts to produce his upcoming show.

'The Pokemon team put in so much work -- this is one of the coolest things Ive been a part of,' he remarked.

Malone then spoke about the state of musical performance in the era of the global pandemic and stated that he was looking forward to performing in front of fans again.

The rapper noted, 'Id like to hope live music gets back to where it was. I know I cant wait to get back to playing live music.'

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 11)  Quezon City authorities are preparing to file a complaint against a manning agency for allegedly violating quarantine protocols when it transferred a COVID-19 patient to an apartment in the city without informing the local government.

That patient turned out to have the more transmissible coronavirus variant first discovered in the United Kingdom.

Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte said the manning agency, which she identified as Baltic Asia Crewing Inc., should be held liable for violating the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act. The manning agency is based in Malate, Manila.

I feel that their irresponsibility has put our community at risk, Belmonte told a media briefing on Thursday, adding that she will check with the Manila City government if the agency has the necessary permits.

Belmonte questioned why the manning agency brought the patient to an apartment on Riverside Street in Barangay Commonwealth, the biggest barangay in Quezon City, a few days after testing positive for COVID-19 on Jan. 18. The patient got tested after securing a job abroad.

Authorities have contacted Baltic Asia, but there was no response yet as of Thursday afternoon, according to Dr. Rolly Cruz, head of the City Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance Unit.

In a statement sent on Friday in response to CNN Philippines query, lawyers of Baltic Asia said they were still checking and verifying the facts. The manning agency is also coordinating with the local government, The Law Firm of Mallari Fiel Brillante Ronquillo assured.

Belmonte said the patient's quarantine hotel in Manila could also be held liable for allowing him to leave, but that matter is under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Quarantine.

She also lamented that the city government was informed the patient had been staying on Riverside St. only last Wednesday, five days after he was diagnosed with the new variant. The patient was initially tagged as a resident of Liloan, Cebu.

Authorities are still waiting for the COVID-19 test results of the person the patient stayed with in the Quezon City apartment. They are also tracing other individuals who had close contact with the patient.

READ: QC to conduct testing, tracing in Commonwealth after transient tests positive for UK variant

Dr. Rolly Cruz, head of the Quezon City Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance Unit, said the driver who brought the patient from Manila to Quezon City via a ride-hailing service should also be contact traced.

The city government is studying whether to place Riverside St. under lockdown. Certain criteria have to be met, including whether there is clustering of infections, according to Belmonte and Cruz.
Kindergarten registration underway

Kindergarten registration for the Westport Public Schools in Westport, Connecticut, is underway for the 2021-2022 school year.

Parents who have children turning 5-years-old on or before Jan. 1, 2022, are asked to register her/him as soon as possible. Registering now allows the school district in the town to optimally plan for the parents new kindegarteners.

All registration information is located on the school districts website, https://www.westportps.org, under the Kindergarten Registration link on the websites homepage.

All information regarding Parent meetings will be forthcoming.

Parents who are unsure as to what elementary school their child(ren) should attend, are asked to visit the school districts locator website: https://www.westportps.org/parents/school-locator-and-directions

Call the Superintendents office for the school district at 203-341-1026 for further assistance.

Crowdsourcing science virtual lecture Feb. 16

The Westport Astronomical Society is welcoming Lucy Fortson for a virtual lecture at 8 p.m. on Feb. 16 via Zoom titled: Mapping the Haystacks while Finding the Needles: How Crowdsourcing Science is Solving Big Data Problems. The Astronomical Society will not be opening its observatory for the event.

A livestream on the Astronomical Societys YouTube Channel will also be available.

Fortson is cofounder, of the Zooniverse, the largest online citizen science platform in the world. Fortson is also a professor of physics in the School of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Minnesota.

The Astronomical Society is located at 182 Bayberry Lane.

Jewelry appraisal, consignment event to benefit historical society

Rago, a leading auction house featured on the PBS series The Antiques Road Show will have their second jewelry appraisal and consignment event March 9, by appointment only from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m, at the Weston Historical Society, 104 Weston Road.

Rago is scheduling the appointments, not the Historical Society. Rago will donate a portion of its commission on the property consigned from this event to the Historical Society.

Appointments are required, no walk-ins. Email robin@ragoarts.com, or call 609-460-3619 to register or for more information about the event.

Masks are required for all attendees, and social distancing protocols for the coronavirus pandemic will be in place.

Contact the Historical Society at: info@westonhistoricalsociety.org, 203-226-1803 or visit www.westonhistoricalsociety.org for more information.

League having virtual town hall

The Weston League of Women Voters will hold a virtual town hall titled Speak Up Feb. 13, from 10:30 a.m. until noon on Zoom.

The event has been held annually since 1991 and is in collaboration with the town. The town is providing the technology for the event.

Residents will have an opportunity to ask local officials about government issues and community affairs .

Laura Smits, the vice president of voter services for the league will be the moderator and take questions from the public using Zooms Q&A feature, and from people who call in to 646-558-8656.

It will be available on Zoom with the passcode: 178012

It is also available on the towns website www.westonct.gov.

The league welcomes new members..Local membership entitles a member to automatic membership in Connecticuts, and the U.S. leagues.

An individual membership is $50. A household membership, (limited to two people), is $75. To join, go to www.lwvwestonct.org, and use PayPal, or mail a check, payable to League of Women Voters of Weston, to LWV Weston. P.O. Box 1081, Weston, CT 06883.
Lawmakers on marijuana study committee plan out-of-state site visits

Lawmakers want a firsthand look at legal cannabis operations in response to South Dakotans voting to loosen their state's pot laws last fall.

STERLING HEIGHTS, MI  A man armed with a box-cutter style knife is in police custody after allegedly attempting to rob a bank in southeast Michigan.

The would-be bank robbery occurred around 2:15 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 10 at Citizens Bank on 14 Mile Road in Sterling Heights, according to a news release from the Sterling Heights Police Department. Police were alerted to the situation by a 911 caller who was inside the bank.

The caller reported that the white male suspect was armed with a box-cutter style knife and was taking money from cashiers drawers, police said.

Sterling Heights Police officers were on the scene within minutes of the call and took the suspect into custody, police said. Officers recovered the weapon and about $2,600 in cash.

The suspects identity along with formal criminal charges have not yet been released.

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Great Lakes ice cover growing rapidly after arctic outbreak; See with your own eyes
India, China reach pact to pull back troops in Pangong lake areas: Rajnath

India and China have reached an agreement on disengagement in the North and South bank of Pangong lake in eastern Ladakh that mandates both sides to cease forward deployment of troops in a "phased, coordinated and verifiable" manner, Defence Minister announced in Parliament on Thursday, in a breakthrough after a nine-month border standoff. Sharing details of the pact to defuse the tense military face-off in eastern Ladakh that severely strained ties between the two Asian giants, Singh also assured the Rajya Sabha that India has not conceded anything in the sustained talks with China. India will not allow even an inch of its territory to be taken by anyone, he said. Read more

Cap on airline capacity extended till 31 Mar, but fares may rise up to 30%

Government on Thursday has extended the cap on capacity and control on air fare till 31 March. However, in order to help airlines improve their balance sheet, the government has increased the upper and lower cap on airfare by up to 30 percent. Currently, airlines are allowed to deploy 80 percent of their pre-Covid capacity but except market leader IndiGo, no other airline has been able to deploy around 70 percent capacity of what they operated during the winters of 2020. After a closure of almost two months due to the coronavirus-induced lockdown, domestic flights resumed on 25 May, 2020. Read more

Aditya Mittal appointed CEO; father to be executive chairman

Aditya Mittal will take over as the chief executive officer (CEO) of from his father, said the steelmaker on Thursday about an executive who has the companys acquisitions Aditya Mittal, 45, is now president, chief financial officer (CFO) and chief executive officer (CEO) Europe. His father Lakshmi Mittal, who founded the company in 1976 and is currently the chairman and CEO, will become executive chairman of the company. Read more

appeals to in Future-Reliance deal dispute: Report

com Inc has mounted a legal challenge against its partner Future Group's $3.4 billion retail assets sale in India's Supreme Court, three sources told Reuters on Thursday, marking the US firm's latest effort to block the deal. Amazon, locked in legal disputes with Future, alleges the Indian firm violated contracts by agreeing to sell its retail assets to Reliance Industries last year. Future denies any wrongdoing. A New Delhi court this week dealt a blow to the US firm by revoking a previous court decision that effectively blocked the deal, and has filed an appeal against it in the in the capital city, the three sources said. Read more

Biden seeks more foreign workers while skirting H-1B visa uproar

Joe Bidens immigration overhaul seeks to allow more skilled foreign workers into the U.S. without stirring widespread protest from labor groups, whose opposition would all but ruin prospects for what is already one of the presidents most precarious priorities. The sweeping proposal Biden sent to Congress on his first day in office drew quick Republican opposition over its centerpiece: a faster path to citizenship for 11 million undocumented immigrants in the U.S. Another provision would allow more foreign students and workers to enter the U.S. by increasing the number of employment-based green cards. Read more


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 surpassed 190,000 total coronavirus cases Sunday, but the pandemics spread in the region continued to abate.

After a week of limited coronavirus testing due to the winter storm and power outages, city officials reported 77 new coronavirus cases and no new deaths  relatively low numbers even as new cases and deaths have been on the decline here since January.

February 19

Increased occupancy: Citing a decrease in hospitalized COVID-19 patients, bringing the total to below 15 percent for the past seven days, Bexar County has increased occupancy for a slew of businesses to 75 percent. The businesses include restaurants, gyms, retail establishments, amusement parks, water parks, swimming pools, museums, libraries, zoos, aquariums, natural caverns, and indoor and outdoor professional, collegiate and similar sporting events.

February 13

COVID-19 numbers: Coronavirus statistics showed encouraging improvement Saturday as the number of cases dropped for the second day in a row and hospitalizations continue to slow. The Metropolitan Health District reported 684 new cases and one new death Saturday.

February 12

COVID numbers: On Friday, city and county officials reported 716 newly diagnosed cases of the coronavirus, along with nine more deaths. Mayor Ron Nirenberg and Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff sent an urgent appeal Friday to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, asking it to establish a mass vaccination site for the San Antonio region.

February 11

COVID numbers: The number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 on Thursday fell to the lowest point in two months, a sign that the pandemic is continuing to ease slightly in San Antonio after the deadly winter surge. Nirenberg reported Thursday that 22 more Bexar County residents died of COVID-19 in the last two weeks.

This virus has taken far too many lives  too many of our friends, family members and colleagues, said Nirenberg.

The city added 902 cases Thursday, bringing the total since the start of the pandemic to 186,346.

February 10

COVID-19 numbers: COVID-19 cases have leveled off somewhat in Bexar County after an alarming spike in January, but health experts are concerned that the onset of bitterly cold weather could keep people homebound for days and hasten the spread of the virus within families.

The San Antonio Metropolitan Health District on Wednesday reported 660 new cases, down from 1,348 the day before. Over the last two weeks, three new deaths have been reported.

February 9

New variant: Two cases of the COVID-19 UK variant have been identified in two residents of Bexar County, according to a press release from the City of San Antonio. Bexar County added 1,348 new cases of the disease Tuesday, bringing the confirmed total since the pandemic began to 184,784. Health officials reported the first day without deaths since mid-January.

February 8

COVID-19 update: San Antonios winter coronavirus surge continued to loosen its grip on the city Monday, with sustained improvements to infection rates and hospitalizations for COVID-19.

Officials reported just 235 new cases, a number thats likely low due to delayed reporting from the state laboratory. The San Antonio Metropolitan Health District also reported one new COVID death from the past two weeks

February 7

Will S.A. heed warnings about gatherings on Super Bowl Sunday? Community spread of the coronavirus in San Antonio continued its downward trend Sunday, but officials still reported 739 new cases and three new deaths. The number of new cases reported daily has been dropping since mid-January, and new deaths have been on the decline for about a week.

But officials have expressed concern that Super Bowl gatherings Sunday could undo that progress and propel the region into an even more dangerous period in the pandemic.
In the spy movies of yore, a foreign agent who manages to gain access to a U.S. government office undetected sneaks about, perusing appointment calendars, reading through files, photographing secret documents, ultimately learning something truly astonishing, and then heads out, hoping to have covered his tracks.

In the real-world version of this in our time, Russian hackers infiltrate government computer networks and snoop around, undetected, for many, many months before being discovered. At least eight federal departments had their computer networks compromised, and theres no telling how many private companies -- perhaps thousands -- also had their networks breached.

This ought to be terrifying to anyone who is paying even the slightest bit of attention.

On Wednesday, the House Homeland Security Committee staged a hearing about the hack. It was the first such hearing of the new Congress, but it will surely be just one of many, many to come.

Members of Congress, from both political parties, need to be reading from the same playbook on this one. In case they need reminding, they ought to tape a little note up on the wall above their desks, reading simply: Cybersecurity is national security.

Threats from foreign adversaries no longer come via land, by sea or air, but are made through computer switches and routers and in compromised software that allows outsiders access.

Separately, a recent report of a hack of a water system in a Florida community shows clearly how dangerous a network breach can be. Though the hacker didnt do anything, he could have made changes to the water supply that would have had serious health consequences.

The Russian hack, which was discovered in December after having gone undetected for at least six months, exploited a vulnerability in software from a third-party vendor named SolarWinds. How many similar products are in use and may also be less than fully secure?

We do not yet know what went on during the hack. Were the hackers merely spying, or were they hoping to do real damage?

Whats needed, straight away, is a fully coordinated effort across the federal bureaucracy. Rather than having 57 committees and subcommittees looking into the matter, put someone in charge and work, double-time, to get to the bottom of things.

The goal, plain and simple: Find out what went wrong and see that it cannot happen again. Ever again.
Residents wear masks while walking through the entrance of the Wuhan Beer Festival in Wuhan city, Hubei Province, China, on August 21, 2020. (Getty Images)

Australian Scientist on WHO Mission Thinks Virus Started in China

An Australian scientist appointed to the World Health Organisation (WHO) team investigating the origins of the CCP virus has said he thinks the contagion originated from bats in China.

Prof. Dominic Dwyer, a microbiologist from Sydney, told 9News after returning home from the month-long investigation that there was very limited evidence it originated outside China. There is some evidence, but its not really very good, he said.

He has concluded that the virus originated in bats, which often carry other viruses closely related to the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus.

The virus then likely went through an intermediate animal like a pangolin or a cat where it can replicate.

We know that other viruses like MERS and SARS, back in 2003, also came from bats. Now these bats dont respect borders of course, so they are present not just in China but in other parts on South East Asia and indeed elsewhere around the world, he said.

Dominic Dwyer waves while leaving The Jade Hotel after completing quarantine in Wuhan, Chinas central Hubei province on Jan. 28, 2021. (Hector Retamal / AFP via Getty Images)

He thinks the virus got into humans and was in circulation for weeks before the outbreak at the Huanan Seafood Market in Wuhan, which he described as an amplifying event.

On the ground, the team of scientists put aside their national differences and worked together well, but Dwyer said there were firm and heated exchanges with the Chinese team.

One of the core differences [of opinion] was trying to get agreement on what was happening just prior to the outbreak in the market in Wuhan, Dwyer said.

He said the Chinese were very keen on the idea that the virus was introduced to the Wuhan wet market at the time of the outbreak, but genetic analysis of the viruses provided evidence that it was likely circulating from mid-November, early-December.

After the investigation, Dwyer concluded that there must have been many many more cases in December than were identified.

He noted that the focus on the politics of the investigation, and not the science surprised him.

I think the Chinese have a different emphasis on what might be important and what they would like to say, and theres some political point of views, he said.

Much like with SARS, Dwyer thinks it will take well over a year to determine what really happened. I would expect its going to be similar here. But theres clearly a lot of work that needs to be done, not just in China, to be honest, but in the region and indeed around the world, he said.

The P4 laboratory (L) on the campus of the Wuhan Institute of Virology in Wuhan in Chinas central Hubei province on May 27, 2020. (Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images)

Part of the WHO teams work includes making recommendations for further studies.

One avenue that wont be recommended for further study is the lab origin theory, which was ruled out on Tuesday by Peter Ben Embarek, the Danish scientist leading the WHO team.

He said that based on their findings, it was extremely unlikely that the virus could have accidentally escaped from a lab.

U.S. officials in the Trump administration had hypothesised that the CCP virus might have leaked from a virology lab in Wuhan.

State Department spokesperson Ned Price later cast doubt on the transparency of the probe during a press briefing, when asked whether he believed the Chinese regime gave the WHO team full cooperation.

I think the jurys still out. I think clearly the Chinese, at least heretofore, have not offered the requisite transparency that we need, Price said.

Minister for Health Greg Hunt addresses a press conference in the Main Committee Room at Parliament House on April 8, 2020 in Canberra, Australia. (Sam Mooy/Getty Images)

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, Australian Health Minister Greg Hunt said it was never Australias view that the virus emerged from a lab. He also noted he was not surprised that the investigation didnt uncover anything new.

Mike Ryan, whos one of the most senior people in the World Health Organization has said, when you look for the origins, you look nearest to the source of the first identified human cases, he told Nines The Today Show.

We have to learn all of the elements and all of the lessons of this virus, its origins, we work on the containment lessons from around the world, and people look at us, the capacity, how we build our hospital system to avoid what weve seen in other countries, and then the vaccines, he said.

Hunt said Australia wouldnt be afraid to ask the difficult questions once the report is released. And thats what we should do as a country because, ultimately, thats whats going to save lives and protect lives, he said.
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Ireland's biggest secondary school teachers trade union has pulled out of talks with the Government on the Leaving Cert 2021 saying the proposal made is 'not viable' due to the dominance of calculated grades in the proposals.

The Association of Secondary School Teachers in Ireland (ASTI) has issued a statement saying has announced it is withdrawing from discussions on the Leaving Cert 2021 pending a guarantee that the talks will focus on the Minister for Educations stated objectives of planning for examinations and scoping out a corresponding measure.

An ASTI statement said General Secretary Kieran Christie said it is unacceptable that a plan is being developed which they say will effectively see students preparing for two versions of a Leaving Cert, with Calculated Grades being the dominant option, and the Leaving Cert exams filling in assessment gaps.

We entered a process in good faith to explore the position whereby if the Leaving Certificate or elements of it do not go ahead, a fair and credible choice or option would be available to students, said Mr Christie.

It is clear to us that the approach being developed would not provide the meaningful Leaving Certificate experience this cohort of students deserves.

The process is being developed in a manner that would see the Leaving Certificate relegated to a secondary position with Calculated Grades the premier option. The lack of data this year would make the delivery of a credible Calculated Grades process extremely challenging.

Given the widely accepted additional stress that students are currently experiencing, it is extraordinary that the only option being explored is that they would effectively prepare for two versions of a Leaving Certificate rather than one.

We are calling for the Minister to re-establish the focus of the talks so that a meaningful Leaving Certificate experience is provided to this cohort of students, which they rightly deserve, he said

The ASTI said it would continue to engage constructively with the re-opening of schools process.

The Government had originally said it wanted to hold the Leaving Cert in a traditional way. Then, following talks with teachers and others, it was decided to negotiate some form of dual-track approach.

The other big secondary school union says wants to work towards Leaving Certs returning after the midterm break on February 22.
Indigenous children skipped school to gamble with money from welfare payments, according to a report from the Family Responsibilities Commission.

The Queensland Commission's annual report said children in Aurukun in the state's north were 'attending and engaging in gambling circles, in some cases with adult encouragement, and in others, conducting their own gambling activities with significant sums of money in the pot.'

The report attributed the 'notable increase in gambling' to 'the increase to certain welfare payments coupled with restricted activity and movements due to Covid-19'.

Children were reported gambling in the Indigenous community of Aurukun (pictured) in Far North Queensland to the Family Responsibilities Commission in June, 2020

'Gambling was impacting school attendance and some children who did turn up to class were struggling with having had very little sleep.

'Since the COVID-19 pandemic emerged, we have seen an influx of money into the community which has ultimately led to an increased number of parties, drinking and gambling in the community.

'These issues have been exacerbated by the fact that the community has been locked down and isolated since March, leading to heightened tensions.'

Family Responsibilities Commissioner Tammy Williams raised concerns about gambling to the FR board after hearing the reports in June last year.

A working group convened to address the issue but there was a 'limited ability for the Commission to act due to the disconnect between gambling and the agency notices received by the Commission'.

An empty street in Aurukun during lockdown in May last year. The Queensland Commission's annual report attributed the 'notable increase in gambling' in Aurukun to 'the increase to certain welfare payments coupled with restricted activity and movements due to Covid-19'

Local commissioners issue Conditional Income Management (CIM) orders, which control up to 90 per cent of a person's fortnightly welfare payments, to prevent funds being spent on alcohol and gambling.

'CIM remains a flexible tool used by Commissioners to improve the welfare of children by encouraging families to ensure basic household needs are met and to encourage consistency in school attendance,' the report reads.

Some 104 CIM orders were issued in Aurukun from July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2020.

Meanwhile, a total of 219 CIM orders were issued to 165 clients across Aurukun, Coen, Doomadgee, Hope Vale and Mossman Gorge during the same period.
These three actors are dedicated to their craft even in the freezing cold.

Jennifer Lawrence, 30, Leonardo DiCaprio, 46 and Timothee Chalamet, 25, were spotted in the throes of filming their upcoming comedy, Don't Look Up, on a chilly Wednesday in Boston.

The trio has been braving real snow drifts lately while shooting on location in New England, however, despite filming in Massachusetts, the movie itself is set in New York City.

All in a day's work: Jennifer Lawrence, 30, Leonardo DiCaprio, 46 and Timothee Chalamet, 25, were spotted in the throes of filming their upcoming comedy, Don't Look Up, on a chilly Wednesday in Boston

For the particular scene that the group was filming this week, they looked in a hurry, rushing from a parked vehicle into a house with Leo carrying in roses and a paper bag.

Lawrence was sporting her character's fiery red wig with ultra short retro bangs and plain makeup.

She was bundled in a ski sweater, charcoal jeans, boots, and an olive toned parka with fingerless gloves.

Chalamet, whose job was to lug two large grocery bags out of the car for the scene, looked like he was ready for anything in combat boots, army fatigues, an orange puffer coat and a back pack.

On location: For the particular scene that the group was filming this week, they looked in a hurry, rushing from a parked vehicle into a house with Leo and Timothee hauling in grocery bags

Meanwhile, Leo, looked a bit more relaxed in a simple dark ensemble with a black puffer coat.

The group has been spotted filming Don't Look Up in and around Boston for the last several weeks.

Despite all being world renowned for their dramatic work on screen, they will be flexing comedic muscles in the upcoming disaster comedy.

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.'

A-list cast: It's being produced by Netflix and has been described as a political satire and a disaster comedy and also stars Rob Morgan, Jonah Hill, Tyler Perry, Ron Perlman, Cate Blanchett, Meryl Streep, Chris Evans, Ariana Grande and Kid Cudi

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, 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.

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.

Love story? Earlier this week Lawrence and Chalamet were pictured filming an intense kissing scene

Last week, Lawrence was injured on set when a stunt went badly wrong and she was hit in the face with exploding glass.

In photos obtained by Dailymail.com, Lawrence was spotted holding her face on the ground as several bystanders rush to her aid during filming in Brockton, Massachusetts.

A source told Page Six that Jennifer is doing well despite an eye injury after the explosion.

'An explosion was set up for a stunt in which glass shatters,' a source told the site. 'It was a stunt in which the glass was supposed to shatter  but it injured her.'

Filming on the political/disaster movie was reportedly halted on Friday following the incident, but all was seemingly back to normal by Monday.

Police charged Bruce Springsteen with drunken driving last year after he stopped his motorcycle to take photographs with fans and drank tequila with the crowd, the New York Post reported.

Bruce stopped, took the pictures, then a fan offered him a shot of liquor, which he took, while sitting on his bike, which was stationary, a source, described as a music industry insider, told the Post.

Springsteen, 71, was charged after he drove off after the Nov. 14 visit at the Gateway National Recreation Area on the New Jersey coast.

Asbury Park Press reported Springsteens blood-alcohol content was 0.02 - well below New Jersey's legal limit for drunken driving.

Springsteen received citations for driving while under the influence, reckless driving and consuming alcohol in a closed area. The spokesperson said Springsteen was cooperative, the Associated Press reported. He'll face the charge in federal court because the alleged offenses occurred on federal land.

The park is on a narrow, beach-ringed peninsula, with views across a bay to New York City. It is about 15 miles north of Asbury Park, where Springsteen got his start as a musician and bandleader and which was later made famous with his debut album, Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J. Springsteen lives in Colts Neck, about 12 miles from the site of the arrest, the AP reported.

Even if a drunken driving suspect's blood alcohol content is below the legal limit, police can use their personal observations to try to prove the suspect was intoxicated.

CNN reported Thursday an officer said police saw Springsteen "consume a shot of Patron tequila and then get on his motorcycle and start the engine," according to a probable cause statement obtained by the network.

The rocker told police he consumed two shots of tequila in a 20-minute span before his arrest, CNN reported, citing the probable cause statement.

The network reported the officers said Springsteen smelled of alcohol and had glassy eyes.

CNN said an officer wrote Springsteen"was visibly swaying back and forth while I observed his eyes."

The news of the arrest came on the heels of two high-profile appearances by Springsteen.

On Jan. 20, Springsteen performed as part of President Joe Biden's inauguration, singing Land of Hope and Dreams in front of the Lincoln Memorial. While during Sunday's Super Bowl, he appeared in a Jeep ad filmed in Kansas that urged people to find common ground.
(Natural News) America as we know it is over. President Trump is the last president of the United States of America. Fake president Joe Biden wasnt elected by the people and isnt a real president, so his fake regime doesnt count.

Beyond all the politics and cyber warfare and criminal vote fraud carried out by Democrats, what is the real root cause of the fall of America? As I explain in todays podcast, it really comes down to mass mental illness.

Over half the people in America are mentally poisoned to the point of clinical insanity, and it is these people who attempt to run the government, the fake news outlets, the CDC and public schools, all like some twisted scene out of Idiocracy where even the Secretary of Education is a complete moron.

Weve already passed the Idiocracy tipping point in America, of course. Fake White House press secretary Jen Psaki is a moron. Fake president Joe Biden has advanced dementia. None of the Democrats in the U.S. Senate can recognize reality anymore, and they function almost entirely as brainwashed bio-puppets who do whatever theyre told. (Which is what NPCs do, of course.) Meanwhile, the people who voted for Biden suffer from the mental illness / cult brainwashing of progressivism which is rooted in irrationality, learned hatred and denial of reality.

But what caused all this mass mental illness? Its not difficult to identify the vectors of the poisoning:

5G exposure

Toxic vaccines that attack human neurology

Brain-damaging pharmaceuticals such as antidepressants

Heavy metals in the food supply

Glyphosate herbicide exposure, which is now known to cause mass mental illness

Covid bioweapons exposure, now documented to cause mental illness in 33% of survivors

Fire retardant exposure, which is known to cause antisocial, violent behavior

Journo-terrorism (psychology terrorism by the media)

Fluoride in the public water supply

Mass media brainwashing and subliminal messaging like what you see in every Super Bowl halt-time demon cult worship theater event

Widespread nutritional deficiencies caused by the processed food industry

When you put all this together, you realize that a majority of Americans are now cognitively poisoned beyond the point of rationality. Recently, a woman who ran out of hair spray spread Gorilla Glue across her entire head and then couldnt figure out why the glue wouldnt wash out in the shower. But thats not the mass mental illness Im referring to.

In response to this, people donated $15,000 to her GoFundMe account, and nearly 700,000 followers joined her on Instagram, so the woman has now hired a manager. This is the mass mental illness of the population being demonstrated, where people are attracted to insanity and stupidity and end up supporting it. It really is like a scene ripped right out of Idiocracy.

Heres a short Brighteon video explaining this fascinating demonstration of total madness and stupidity. Its too bad Democrats wont try to use Gorilla Glue as lipstick, so they might glue all their lips shut and stop filling the world with stupidity:

In todays important Situation Update, I reveal why America is over and how the globalists will likely succeed in mass murdering six billion people. It doesnt look like a process we can stop.

Its also apparent that the masses are either too stupid or too insane to have any idea whats happening to them. The Bill Gates effort to mass murder six billion people wont be difficult for globalists to achieve. Do you really think Gorilla Glue girl has any clue that the global depopulation agenda is targeting people like her, whom globalists label useless eaters?

Meanwhile, Big Tech censors intelligent people like Sherri Tenpenny or Dr. Joseph Mercola, while promoting the content of idiots who use industrial glue as a hair gel. Whats next? Will she use Gorilla Glue as a food thickener in her macaroni and cheese, and then wonder why she has a stomach ache?

Yet her story isnt unusual anymore. People are insane everywhere, and that includes US senators, so-called journalists and even the authorities at the FDA or CDC.

We are no longer living in a world ruled by rationality, morality and clear thinking. The world has collapsed into insanity, immorality and demonism.

This is why America as we know it is over. The genocidal globalists will win in their effort to slaughter billions. But after the coming collapse and mass genocide, there will be a next society for the survivors, most of whom will be preppers and anti-vaxxers because thats who is prepared to survive the global culling.

We must all prepare to survive the mass culling and then contribute to the society that emerges on the other side.

Also, there will be no more traffic jams or difficulty finding parking, just fyi.

Brighteon.com/230c068b-2e3b-44e4-9f4f-6f797a1d3b46

Hear each days new podcast at:

https://www.brighteon.com/channels/hrreport
Kyiv City Council became the first city council in Ukraine to allocate funds for the purchase of a vaccine against coronavirus (COVID-19) disease: UAH 140 million was allocated for vaccination, the press service of Kyiv City State Administration said.

Deputies of Kyiv City Council supported the draft decision on amending the city targeted program "Health of Kyiv's Residents" for 2020-2022 and allocated UAH 140 million for vaccination against COVID-19 in the capital. Some 89 deputies voted for such a decision, the message said.

"We must prevent the massive spread of the disease. Protect, first of all, the most vulnerable categories of the population and people on whose work the city's life depends," the press service said, citing Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko.

Kyiv expects in the near future to sign a contract for the purchase of 1 million doses of vaccine for inoculation in general for half a million vulnerable categories of Kyiv residents. Kyiv plans to purchase the vaccine from the manufacturer.
Representative image.

The consortium of UAE-based businessman Murari Lal Jalan and London's Kalrock Capital, in a joint statement, have disregarded all rumors of its withdrawal from the revival plans of Jet Airways calling it 'baseless'.

In the statement released by Mr Jalan, Lead Member of the Consortium, and Mr Manoj Narender Madnani, Board Member of Kalrock Capital, it said, "all rumours surrounding around the withdrawal of the Consortium from the revival of Jet Airways are baseless and the Consortium denies the same".

The statement read that it is 'committed towards their submitted Resolution Plan and have no intentions of withdrawing from the ongoing resolution process'.

"The Consortium has faith in the Indian judicial system and is confident that their plan would be approved by the Adjudicating Authority as is, and at the earliest", said the statement.

In December 2020, the consortium, which had won the bid to revive Jet Airways, expected to start operating the airline by the summer of 2021. Two months back, the consortium was awaiting approvals from the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) and other regulatory approvals.

In fact, in a joint statement on December 7, the consortium had said that talks had been "extremely positive" between the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to reinstate airport slots and bilateral traffic rights of Jet Airways.

However, the NCLT hearings have been constantly getting delayed. As per reports , the Mumbai Bench will give its order on February 22 whether or not to share the resolution plan of Jet Airways with its employees.
Her research carried the hope of helping to create treatments to decrease the immunosuppression of T cells, especially among older people.

Millie was joyous about science, Dr. Carl Grunfeld, associate chief of staff for research and development at the San Francisco VA Medical Center, said in an interview. At one point during her illness, she proposed a different way to modify her chemotherapy and got a wonderful remission. When she told me about that, it was with the same joy about science as she had in the laboratory.

Millie Elizabeth Hughes was born on Dec. 21, 1945, in rural Mineral Wells, Texas. Her father, Charles, owned a grocery store. Her mother, Lanore (Wilder) Hughes, was a homemaker. Later in life, both her parents became teachers.

At 5, Millie became infatuated with science fiction when she watched the early Buck Rogers television series. She admired the character Wilma Deering because she was a pilot  and because she wore pants at a time when Millie was always being told to wear a dress.

And so I wanted to be Wilma Deering, because she could wear anything she wanted to, she flew a spaceship and was a professional woman, Dr. Hughes-Fulford said in an interview for the Department of Veterans Affairs website in 2014.

She became a pilot and remained a science fiction fan, with strong devotion to the Star Trek television series and the Star Wars films, as well to the newest Star Wars attractions at Disney World, which she visited in 2019, her daughter said.

Recognizing that NASAs missions in the 1960s and early 70s were restricted to men, Dr. Hughes-Fulford became a scientist. She attended Tarleton State University (now a part of the Texas A&M University System) in Stephenville, where she graduated in 1968 with a bachelors degree in biology. She earned a Ph.D. in chemistry and biology from Texas Womans University in Denton in 1972.
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

Periods of rain. High 51F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a half an inch..

Tonight

Rain. Low near 45F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a half an inch.
Kiambu Senator Kimani Wamatangi is now the official Senate Majority Whip.

This is after Senate Speaker Kenneth Lusaka on Wednesday upheld the removal of Irungu Kang'ata as majority whip citing that he was satisfied that due process was followed.

On Tuesday, the Jubilee Party has dropped Mr Kang'ata as the Senate Majority Whip amid a widening political rift between President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto.

The decision was made during the party's Senate Parliamentary Group meeting at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi. The meeting was chaired by Secretary General Raphael Tuju on behalf of President Kenyatta.

Late Tuesday, Speaker Kenneth Lusaka confirmed that he had received word from the party on the sacking of Mr Kang'ata and promised to communicate his decision to the House on Thursday afternoon.

The senator was convicted on two counts of insubordination and violation of the confidentiality code that guides party officials, Mr Tuju said.

"The meeting has resolved (to) replace him with Kiambu senator Kimani Wamatangi," Mr Tuju announced after the meeting, which was marred by walkouts from Tangatanga (MPs allied to Dr Ruto) lawmakers. Mr Kang'ata has been in the cross-hairs of powerful individuals allied to President Kenyatta ever since he authored a no-holds barred letter to the effect that the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) was unpopular in Mt Kenya region.

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Observers have always predicted that it was a matter of time before the axe fell on Mr Kang'ata after he authored the letter and leaked it to the media and the response came swiftly yesterday. Mr Tuju on Wednesday insisted that his removal had nothing to do with the contents of the letter, but the manner in which the senator chose to address the President.

"Whatever his opinion, he was within his right to express his views and not to be vilified. But we have issues in the way he did it," Mr Tuju said at a press conference in which he was flanked by Senate Majority Leader Samuel Poghisio and Jubilee Parliamentary Secretary Adan Keynan. However, a number of senators allied to Dr Ruto opposed the move, saying that Mr Kang'ata's removal was not done within the laid down rules as provided for in the Standing Orders.

Led by Elgeyo-Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen, the leaders, who had attended the meeting to voice their disapproval, said Mr Kang'ata was not notified of the reasons of his removal and given time to respond to such allegations.

They also questioned the manner in which the meeting was convened, saying that the agenda was not circulated and those pushing for his ouster had not collected signatures as required.

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02/10/2021

Photo (c) hapabapa - Getty Images Target announced Wednesday that it will give hourly employees who get a COVID-19 vaccine up to four hours of extra pay.

Although Targets 350,000 part-time and full-time employees arent required to get the vaccine, the company is strongly encouraging it. The retailer said it will pay the full cost of a Lyft ride to and from the vaccination appointment.

As more vaccines become available, especially for frontline and essential workers, well help our team members across the country get the information and access they need, Targets chief human resources officer, Melissa Kremer, said in a corporate blog post.

Protecting workers

Target has given employees who have continued showing up to work during the pandemic extra pay and coronavirus-related benefits. The retailer said it has spent $1 billion more on employees in 2020 compared to 2019.

The company has also stepped up its safety efforts and accelerated its plans to raise its minimum wage to $15 per hour. Officials say the retailer is also working on getting CVS and other providers on board with giving COVID-19 vaccines at CVS stores inside of Target locations.

A number of other retailers are offering four hours of extra pay to employees who get vaccinated, including Aldi, Dollar General, and Trader Joes. Kroger has said it will give employees who get the two doses a one-time payment of $100. Amtrak, Chobani, and McDonalds are also reportedly using cash incentives to promote vaccinations.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Donetsk region on Thursday.

During the visit, Zelensky will familiarize himself with the situation along the frontline and will speak to Ukrainian Armed Forces personnel serving in the area of responsibility of the Joint Force Operation (JFO), the presidential press service said.

Ambassadors from the G7 countries are visiting Donbas together with Zelensky, it said.
The attempted banning of the video-sharing application by President Donald Trump is now backed off by the administration of the United States President Joe Biden, as they now asked the court for a postponement of the TikTok ban on the legal dispute.

Reports say that Biden's administration will execute a broader review regarding the possible threat posed by the Chinese technology companies on the national security.

Based on a court filing on Wednesday, the United States Commerce Department is reviewing whether the claim of former president Trump regarding the threat of TikTok to national security made enough justification in their attempt of banning the application from smartphone app stores and deny its vital technical services.

According to a Wall Street Journal report, the administration of Biden has indefinitely shelved a proposed U.S. takeover of TikTok.

Moreover, the Trump administration brokered a deal last year that would have had Corporations from the U.S. like Walmart and Oracle in taking a huge stake in the Chinese-owned app on national-security grounds.

The said arrangement is due to the executive order of Trump that targeted to ban the TikTok app in the U.S. unless the Chinese-owned app will accept a greater degree of American control.

Meanwhile, Jen Psaki, White House press secretary did not deny the Journal report but mentioned Wednesday that the administration of Biden has not taken any step proactively in the process.

The White House press secretary also added that the administration of Biden is thoroughly evaluating the risks to the United States data, especially those who involved TikTok.

She also shared that a review of TikTok by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the U.S., which considers the national security implications of such investments, is ongoing, however, Psaki did not discuss its timetable.

READ ALSO: Trump Not Happy With Defense Team After Rambling Performance On Day 1 Of Impeachment Trial

On the other hand, former president Trump targeted the video-sharing application over the summer with a series of executive orders that cited concerns over the U.S. data that TikTok collects from its users.

But the attempted TikTok ban made by the previous administration was blocked by the courts, and the Presidential election overshadowed the fight against TikTok.

The United States President Joe Biden has previously mentioned that the video-sharing app TikTok is a concern, but his administration had not mentioned whether they will pursue the banning of the Chinese-owned app also known as the TikTok ban, or will be forcing a sale.

Based on some experts, Biden has so far taken a cautious approach to inherit the China policies of Trump and has not promised to scale back or even cancel tariffs and other combative measures previously imposed by the former president, Associated Press reported.

A China expert at Yale Law School, Samm Sacks, shared that the administration of Biden appears to be creating a clearer set of criteria in evaluating the Chinese technology platforms, whether they pose a legitimate security risk to Americans, The Guardian reported.

Sacks also mentioned that she does not think that the Biden administration see TikTok itself as a high-priority issue, and this one-off ban on a rotating cast of Chinese tech companies, is not likely to continue.



RELATED ARTICLE: Democrats Allegedly Cut out Trump's Calls for "Peace and Patriotism" in Impeachment Video

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During the current day of Thursday, February 11, in the area of the Joint Forces Operation (JFO) in Donbas, two ceasefire violations were recorded, as a result of which a serviceman of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was killed, the press center of the JFO said.

"In the area of responsibility of the Pivnich [North] task force, the armed formations of the Russian Federation carried out targeted shelling of positions of the Ukrainian defenders from sniper weapons near the village of Zaitseve. As a result of the shot, one soldier was wounded. The soldier was promptly provided with first aid, but, unfortunately, he died of his wounds during the evacuation to the hospital," the press service said in the report on the situation in the JFO area as of 17:00 on Thursday.

In addition, in the area of responsibility of the Skhid (East) task force near Vodiane, in the Azov Sea region, Russia-occupation forces opened fire towards the Ukrainian positions from a hand-held anti-tank grenade launcher.

"Our defenders opened fire on the shelling of Russia-occupation forces. The OSCE representatives were notified of the facts of ceasefire violation through the Ukrainian side in the JCCC," the report said.
President Biden on Wednesday had his first call with Chinese President Xi Jinping since taking office, with the two leaders discussing a number of sensitive issues, including human rights, trade policy and international security.

While the two leaders opened the door to working together on climate change, nuclear proliferation and fighting COVID-19, a senior administration official told the Wall Street Journal that the U.S. must join together with others to hold China accountable for its abuses and to shape Chinas choices going forward.

Biden raised his fundamental concerns about Beijings coercive and unfair economic practices, as well as human rights issues and preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region, according to a statement from the White House.

I told him I will work with China when it benefits the American people, Biden said in a tweet.

The Chinese leader said that cooperation is the only correct choice for both sides, according to a readout from Chinese state media.

China and the U.S. will have different views on certain issues and the key is to respect each other, treat each other equally, and to manage and deal with the issues in a constructive manner, Xi reportedly said.

The call comes as Biden initiated a Pentagon review of national security aspects of the administrations China strategy after he last week called China our most serious competitor.

The new China task force will study the militarys footprint in Asia, technology, intelligence, the role of allies and partnerships, and other areas of the strategy, administration officials said and will ultimately offer a baseline assessment of the Defense Departments policies, programs and processes on China.

Bidens strategy includes a focus on allies, which he says will give the U.S. an edge in its competition with China a shift from former President Donald Trumps outlook on the situation. The U.S. plans to work with allies on a plan to deny critical technologies to Beijing, the official told the Journal.

Story continues

However, the president will leave heavy Trump-era tariffs, including levies on $370 billion of Chinese imports, in place while the new administration reviews trade policy internally and with allies, according to the report.

Biden officials are reviewing the sources of leverage we have on the economic front, the official said. The administration will then move out with a sharper, more effective trade strategy towards China, off the baseline of the existing tariffs, not pulling them all back right out of the gate, the official added.

More from National Review
A local villager on contract, carrying out rescue and restoration work near Raini village, looks on at the damage caused by Sunday's glacier burst in Joshimath causing a massive flood in the Dhauli Ganga river, in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021. (PTI Photo)
On Jan. 14 at 8:43 p.m., Patrick McKenzie tweeted a plea for tech engineers to help him set up a website to track covid-19 vaccine availability in California. McKenzie, who heads a Bay Area financial services tech company, issued the call to "anyone in California [who] wants to do a civtech project which matters."

The response was swift and resounding. In less than an hour, someone had set up a chat group for brainstorming the effort. By 12:24 a.m. the next day, 70 people had joined. By noon, the tracker was live. Now, just over two weeks later, the site, called VaccinateCA, involves about 300 volunteers. They operate what is essentially a call bank, dialing pharmacies and hospitals for updates about covid vaccine supplies and posting the results on the site.

The quick and ardent response to McKenzie's pitch highlights just how desperate Californians have become amid a chaotic vaccine rollout that has overwhelmed public health departments. Similar crowdsourced websites have gone up in Georgia, New Jersey, Michigan, Texas and other states.

While helpful to some, however, the websites and apps have only compounded the frustration for many people seeking vaccines for themselves or loved ones but can't secure an appointment no matter how hard they try because supply is limited. Critics say that, at best, they simply enable the tech-savvy and people with time on their hands  two groups that don't necessarily overlap with those most in need of covid vaccination  while leaving poor and minority communities behind.

If you have an hourly job, you're not going to be on your phone every minute," said Jeffrey Klausner, a professor of preventive medicine at the University of Southern California's Keck School of Medicine, who likened the process of securing a vaccination to "The Hunger Games."

"We need call centers. We need people going out into the community door to door, registering people as if there were a census. You need to somewhat structure the system to allow and prioritize access for the most disadvantaged  reversing structural racism, or factors that exclude certain groups.

Rhonda Smith, executive director of California Black Health Network, said it's vital to reach out to communities where vaccine hesitancy is strong. While technology can help centralize information, building trust and relationships is what's needed to convince skeptical communities of the vaccines' importance.

"They arent going to just respond to a text message or a random app," she said.

Platforms like VaccinateCA acknowledge their limitations. "We recognize that this isn't our core strength today," said Zoelle Egner, a volunteer with the site. But the app could be a resource for organizations that work with disenfranchised communities, she said.

California is also working with an online platform called My Turn, developed by Salesforce, that will alert residents when they are eligible for vaccination and facilitate sign-ups. The state announced last week that it had hired insurance company Blue Shield of California to create and manage a statewide vaccination network.

While some platforms offer a central place to search for pharmacies and links to sign up for updates from hospital systems or local governments, they can't provide more vaccine-filled needles. With limited supply, a thousand allocation snafus and conflicting information about who is eligible, consumers find themselves signing up for wait lists and spending hours trying to snag appointments, only to be told there's no vaccine for them or their loved ones. The apps can't do anything about that.

Many users have found success. Melissa Reyes, who lives in Sacramento, was able to get her 76-year-old mother vaccinated after checking VaccinateCA. She called four pharmacies listed on the site before she hit the jackpot with her local Save Mart. She tweeted to VaccinateCA to thank the group.

For many others, success rests on luck: clicking through to the right pharmacy or supermarket website at the right time before all appointments are gone. For every exuberant user, there are often multiple frustrated people unable to land an appointment.

Misa Ahmad, whose 83-year-old father lives in Oakland, said VaccinateCA didn't work for her. She ended up deciding to wait for her father's health care provider, Kaiser Permanente, to contact him with an opening. (KHN, which produces California Healthline, is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente.)

Her VaccinateCA search involved "going through trying to look at all of the places and figure out what they are, where they are, if they would be optimal for him, and then locating some and then trying to see if I can get an appointment. That is a very time-consuming process. And, unfortunately, my father has limited technological ability."

Other users have found that the information provided is sometimes inaccurate, a product of ever-changing state and county regulations. Many Californians are still finding that, while Gov. Gavin Newsom announced that residents age 65 and older are eligible for the vaccines, their counties are still allowing only those 75 and older to sign up. Who is eligible for vaccination differs by county.

"What's really frustrating is I keep getting texts and emails from the Department of Public Health saying, 'You're eligible for the shot; call your health care providers,' and you call and no one is giving it to your age yet," said Leanna Dawydak, a 66-year-old San Franciscan. She estimates she's spent an average of four hours a day since Jan. 13 trying to find an appointment, only to be told she's too young, lives in the wrong county or gets her care from the wrong health care system.

Some localities have purchased or set up their own apps, with mixed results. Orange County reportedly paid $1.2 million to tech company CuraPatient to create an app for organizing the vaccination of county residents. County public health officials had registered 493,000 people as of Jan. 29, with about 81,320 having received a vaccine.

But the app, Othena, has gotten bad reviews. Residents say its interface is unfriendly, with bugs that have resulted in people being improperly scheduled for appointments.

"Its a disaster. Its a total mess," said Suzanne Haggerty, 60.

Haggerty, who has severe asthma, scheduled a vaccination through Othena, drove 45 minutes from her home to the vaccination site at Disneyland and spent two hours standing in line with her appointment and barcode in hand. She was turned away once she got to the front. A glitch in the app had cleared her for an appointment available only to those 65 and older. Staffers told her that about 50 people a day were being turned away for the same reason.

Still, some tech companies are confident they can ameliorate the scheduling fiasco.

Zocdoc, a web platform founded in 2007 to bring patients in for last-minute appointments with doctors, built a pilot program with New York's Mount Sinai Hospital late last year for scheduling covid vaccinations for hospital staffers. Now the company has begun a partnership with the Chicago city government to offer its vaccine scheduler tool  free  to care organizations and public health agencies, said Zocdoc founder and CEO Oliver Kharraz. His company's years of experience with scheduling software is a huge advantage, he said.

Zocdoc is the main platform for Chicago residents to make vaccination appointments free of charge, aggregating real-time appointment openings from various vaccination sites and care organizations. But vaccine supplies and shipments are out of his control, Kharraz said.

"I want to make the following disclaimer," he said. "The vaccines, per se, are in short supply. So, I think Chicagoans should expect limited availability."
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

Periods of rain. High 51F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a half an inch..

Tonight

Rain. Low near 45F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a half an inch.
Massachusetts State Police troopers on Thursday arrested a fugitive wanted for a Virginia shooting, seizing an AR-15 and other firearms allegedly in the suspects possession.

Hector Javier Bido, 23, is one of three suspects wanted in connection with a Jan. 24 shooting in Radford, Virginia. Recently, state police, Deputy US Marshals and Haverhill Police identified an apartment on Proctor Street in Haverhill as a possible location of Bido, Massachusetts State Police said in a statement.

Troopers, marshals and officers converged on the apartment early Thursday and arrested Bido in a bedroom without incident, the statement said.

As Bido was being arrested, authorities saw two firearms in plain view, a Smith & Wesson SD40 .40 caliber pistol with a round in the chamber and a fully-loaded 13-round magazine, as well as a Safeside Tactical AR-15 with a fully-loaded 30-round magazine, state police said.

Bido then told troopers that he had another firearm in his Dodge Challenger and handed over his keys. In the Challenger, officials found a Glock 17 9mm pistol with a round in the chamber and two fully-loaded 17-round magazines, the statement said.

Related to the Virginia shooting, Bido is charged with use of a firearm in commission of a felony; malicious shooting in/at an occupied building (two counts); aggravated malicious wounding; simple assault and battery; and pointing or brandishing a firearm (two counts).

Additionally, state police said Bido will face charges in connection with the firearms seized Thursday.

The victim of the Virginia shooting suffered serious injuries, state police said. Two other suspects remain at large, according to police in Radford, Virginia.

BIDO will additionally be charged in connection with the firearms seized during todays arrest.
BRUSSELS, FEB 11 - Umbria and Trento joined Bolzano as being dark red high risk COVID contagion areas in a new EU map from the European Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (ECDC) on Thursday. But Friuli left the dark red group. Val d'Aosta is orange. (ANSA).
The battle between biting cold but dry Siberian weather and mild but stormy Atlantic fronts looks set to be fought out over Ireland through the coming weekend and into next week with both sides dominating at times.

At the outset, this will mean snow and ice in many parts up to Sunday but milder conditions will then have set in delivering much wetter weather for the third week of February.

The latest forecast from Met Eireann shows that snow accumulations will create hazardous conditions in many parts from Thursday through to Saturday when the mild air will start to dominate.

The mixed bag of extremes is reflected in the list of weather warnings issued. Met Eireann as Status Yellow alerts in place for wind, rain, snow and ice. MORE HERE.

Met Eireann's outlook beyond the weekend if for the weather to stay very unsettled with further spells of wet and windy weather.

Forecasters say that the Siberian cold weather over Europe has not broken down so there is a risk that if the Atlantic fronts lose power the Siberian air, which already caused Storm Darcy over Europe and parts of the UK could return.

Ireland escaped Darc and the worst of the cold to date but Scotland has been in the grip of the freeze since the start of the year with temperatures plunging to -23 degrees this week. MORE BELOW TWEETS.

We can now confirm that last night was the coldest February night across the UK since 23rd February 1955 



That includes the infamous winter of 1962/1963 



The #temperature in Braemar, Aberdeenshire fell to minus 23.0 C at 08:13 this morning pic.twitter.com/NpcdIbg5eC  Met Office (@metoffice) February 11, 2021

Here is the latest air temperature , rainfall  and cloud  forecast from our HARMONIE weather model. It covers the period from now until Saturday afternoon. More weather forecast information for the coming days and outlook period can be found here https://t.co/9gKN6SVok4 pic.twitter.com/cm3fZQh9eh  Met Eireann (@MetEireann) February 11, 2021

NATIONAL FORECAST Issued at 5.45 pm on February 11.

THURSDAY Tonight will bring further outbreaks of sleet and snowfall with some accumulations and icy stretches, with falls of rain in southern coastal areas. Staying blustery with fresh and gusty southeasterly winds, stronger along coasts. Lowest temperatures of -2 to +1 degrees Celsius, with frost in sheltered spots.

FRIDAY Some lingering wintry falls in Leinster early Friday morning, with outbreaks of rain across southern counties, persisting here through much of the day. Dry elsewhere with a mix of cloud and sunny spells. Another blustery day, in fresh and gusty southeasterly winds, stronger along coasts. Highest temperatures of 4 to 7 degrees Celsius in Munster, but staying colder across the rest of the country with highs of only 1 to 4 degrees Celsius. Later in the evening, rain accompanied by strengthening winds will move into parts of the west and southwest.

A wet and windy night as rain extends countrywide, falling as sleet or snow in Connacht, Ulster and parts of north and east Leinster. Rain will be heavy in southern coastal counties with a risk of some flooding. Lowest temperatures of 0 to 4 degrees generally, but less cold in the southwest with lows of 5 to 8 degrees. Southeasterly winds will be fresh to strong and gusty.

SATURDAY: Saturday will be wet and windy. Further falls of sleet and snow will affect Connacht, Ulster and parts of north and east Leinster at first, before transitioning to rain later. Rain will again be heaviest in southern coastal counties, maintaining the risk of flooding. Staying cold in Ulster and Leinster with afternoon temperatures of 1 to 5 degrees, but turning milder in Connacht and Munster with temperatures reaching 6 to 11 degrees. Southeasterly winds will continue fresh to strong and gusty.

It will stay wet on Saturday night, with heavy rain in many areas giving a risk of flooding. Fresh to strong and gusty south to southeast winds will ease in most areas overnight. Lowest temperatures of 3 to 8 degrees.

SUNDAY: Further outbreaks of rain, turning heavy and persistent through the afternoon. Breezy again too, with fresh and gusty southerly winds developing. Highest temperatures of 7 to 11 degrees, coldest in Ulster.

Current indications are for rain to continue in the east of the country overnight but becoming drier in the west of the country. Lowest temperatures of 7 to 10 degrees in moderate southerly breezes.

OUTLOOK FOR NEXT WEEK: Staying very unsettled with further spells of wet and windy weather.
The nuts business contributed about $1.1 billion to Kraft Heinzs sales, primarily in the U.S., during its 2020 fiscal year that ended Dec. 26. The packaged foods company, which benefited from pandemic eating habits as more people stayed home and turned to comfort foods, on Thursday reported $26.2 billion in revenue for the year and $356 million in profit.
Remember the grubby flying taxi Bruce Willis drove in "The Fifth Element"? That was a very 90s view of the future. In reality, we may soon be taking up to 60-mile rides in sleek, elegant, and perhaps most importantly, emission-free electric planes.

Media reported this week a California-based startup called Archer was going public through a deal with a special-purpose acquisition company. SPAC deals are becoming increasingly popular, especially in the electric vehicle area, as a much quicker way to raise money on the stock market than traditional initial public offerings.

Archer, which has developed a vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (eVTOL), is expected to be worth as much as $3.8 billion after the deal with Atlas Crest Investment Corp. The deal itself is seen to raise $1.1 billion for the company.

And this is not all. United Airlines has already ordered $1 billion worth of eVTOL aircraft, with production set to begin in 2023, after the Federal Aviation Administration certifies the aircraft.

Besides United, investors in the startup include the newly merged Fiat Chrysler and Peugeot Citroen, which now call themselves Stellantis, as well as the UAE's state investment company Mubadala. Investment banker Ken Moelis and several funds are also among the backers of Archer's technology.

Making an electric plane has been a major challenge for a transportation industry that is now urgently seeking to decarbonize under pressure from governments and environmental groups. Air travel is among the biggest emitters, and a recent report from British researchers even went as far as to suggest that people should stop traveling by plane so we could phase off air travel by the middle of the century as a way of reducing our carbon footprint.

Related Video: Four of the Coolest Fictional Power Sources

The main problem is fitting the aircraft with batteries that can keep it in the air long enough without making it too heavy. Small aircraft with a relatively short range appear to be a lot more realistic bet on all-electric technology than airliners, at least for the time being. And the promise is great.

"It's pretty incredible to think how big this market can be," the co-founder and co-chief executive of Archer, Adam Goldstein, said, as quoted by CNBC. "The partnership with United really gives us a chance to get to market first and really helps us accelerate our timeline."

"Part of how United will combat global warming is by embracing emerging technologies that decarbonize air travel," said the chief executive of United, Scott Kirby. "By working with Archer, United is showing the aviation industry that now is the time to embrace cleaner, more efficient modes of transportation. With the right technology, we can curb the impact aircraft have on the planet, but we have to identify the next generation of companies who will make this a reality early and find ways to help them get off the ground."

According to the airline, Archer's aircraft could save 47 percent of emissions per passenger on the commute between Hollywood and LAXone of the first locations where Archer plans to use its aircraft.

The promise is great, and so is enthusiasm. However, Archer has yet to release a photo of its aircraft in full scale and show footage of it in action, as it were, eVTOL.com has noted. What's more, certification from the FAA may take longer than the company and its backers hope, based on evidence from previous certifications of aircraft with a novel design. Yet electric aircraft's entry into the transport mix seems to be only a matter of time, especially in a world stepping firmly and confidently on the path to lower, if not zero, emissions.

By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Chandigarh, Feb 11 : Punjab Social Security, Women and Child Development Minister Aruna Chaudhary on Thursday urged the National Commission for Women (NCW) to intervene for releasing Nodeep Kaur, a 23-year-old labour rights activist.

The minister said the Haryana government forcibly picked up Nodeep and others on January 12 who were peacefully protesting during the farmers' agitation. She has been charged under Section 307 (attempt to murder) and extortion, which is not acceptable at all, the minister said.

Chaudhary said the state government will provide legal assistance to Nodeep.

She appealed to the NCW to direct the Haryana government to arrange a meeting of delegation of the Punjab State Women's Commission with Nodeep.

The allegations of outraging the modesty of Nodeep in police custody as per her family members and not granting bail after four weeks is a horrifying moment for the entire womanhood, the minister said in a statement.

Abuse of peaceful protesting woman is a mockery of democracy and civilised society, said the minister.

She said a medical examination of Nodeep revealed injuries on her body and private parts, which endorsed the fact that she was sexually assaulted in police custody.
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 David Shepardson and Heekyong Yang

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) on Wednesday sided with South Korea's chemicals and electric vehicle (EV) battery maker LG Chem Ltd, which accused its cross-town rival SK Innovation Co Ltd of misappropriating trade secrets related to EV battery technology.

The ITC said it was issuing a limited 10-year exclusion order prohibiting imports into the United States of some lithium-ion batteries by SK Innovation, but would permit SK to import components for domestic production of lithium ion batteries and other parts for Ford Motor Co's EV F-150 program for four years, and for Volkswagen of America's MEB electric vehicle line for the North America region for two years.

The ITC added that SK Innovation can replace or repair its batteries in Kia vehicles sold to U.S. consumers. The move could effectively ban the company from supplying EV batteries in the United States unless the company can source all the needed materials there - a step analysts say is not feasible.

The ITC said the decision would allow the automakers to transition to new suppliers for these programs.

LG Chem's wholly owned battery subsidiary LG Energy Solution, a EV battery supplier to Tesla Inc and General Motors Co, praised the ruling.

"SKI's total disregard of our warnings and intellectual property rights gave us no choice but to file this case," Kim Jong-hyun, the CEO of LG Energy Solution, said in a statement. He said the company would "further strengthen the protection of intellectual property rights going forward."

SK Innovation, in a statement, said it regretted the ITC's decision "but it's a relief that we will continue to supply to Ford and Volkswagen."

SK noted there was a 60-day presidential review period in which President Joe Biden could decide to reverse the ruling. Biden has made electric vehicles and reducing vehicle emissions a top priority.

Story continues

"We have serious concerns about the commercial and operational implications of this decision for the future of our EV-battery facility in Commerce, Georgia, SK said in a separate statement, adding it believes the ruling could have a serious adverse impact on President Biden's policies to combat climate change and expand the electrification of the US auto fleet in coming years.

A White House spokesman declined to comment on the ruling.

An official at LG Energy Solution, who declined to be named because of the sensitivity of the matter, said the company was open to settlement talks with SK Innovation. If the two companies reach an agreement, the ITC's case will be dropped.

In February 2020, the ITC made a preliminary ruling in favour of LG Chem, which has since split off its battery business as LG Energy Solution.

SK Innovation is building two EV battery factories in Georgia to manufacture batteries for us in Volkswagen and Ford electric vehicles. LG Chem has set up an EV battery cell venture plant with GM in Ohio.

"With the ITC's final ruling, SK Innovation is now facing scenarios that they would not be able to operate their business in the United States, which will likely accelerate settlement talks between LG and SK," said Han Sang-won, an analyst at Daishin Securities, adding that SK Innovation needs to settle the lawsuit to better operate its EV battery business.

Ford said the "ITC decision supports our plans to bring the all-electric Ford F-150 to market in mid-2022."

"We are continuing to analyze today's ruling from the U.S. International Trade Commission and its impact on Volkswagen. Regardless, this ruling does not change our commitment to produce EVs in Chattanooga, TN, in 2022," Volkswagen said in a statement.

Volkswagen and Ford previously warned a U.S. legal row between South Korean battery makers could disrupt supplies of the key EV parts and cost U.S. jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic.

(Reporting by David Shepardson in Washington and Heekyong Yang in Seoul; Editing by Chris Reese, David Gregorio and Gerry Doyle)


OUR attention is seriously drawn to the latest saga involving Senator Varney Sherman of Grand Cape Mount County over allegations of bribery to judges in the judicial system to win cases in his favor.

WE think that the economic sanctions placed on him by the United States Treasury Department are grave and shouldn't be handled with emotions by his colleagues at the Liberian Senate. His colleagues at the Liberian Senate should give chance to the legal luminary to exonerate himself instead of pleading on his behalf as a cover up.

NOT only that, but also, an independent committee should be set up to carry out its own investigation so as to know the veracity of the case.

THE allegation against Senator Sherman is very serious because it has damaged his business and reputation. While it is true that the US is a heavy weight in the world, we should be aware that not everything that they say should be considered as a fact. Those who placed the sanctions are humans and they are not immune from errors.

This is an allegation that needs to be proven in Liberia or in the United States. We are aware that he is a member of the Liberian Senate and any negative story on him, places a dark cloud on the entire Senate indirectly; whether he acted in his private capacity or not.

SO, that is why we are calling for a thorough investigation. We know that in the USA, if any congressman or woman was accused of wrongful act, an investigation would be conducted. It will not be accepted and conclusion be made.

In the United States, there is The Foreign Corruption practices Act

Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Liberia Legal Affairs By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later.

https://www.jonesday.com/en/insights/2010/01/the-foreign-corrupt-practices-act-an-overview). They look at some of these corrupt practices, if any.

EVEN with that, there is a remedy. For instance, the Innocence and Justice project is there. This helps exonerate people who are locked up for crimes they didn't commit. The Innocence and Justice Project has been done at UNM for decades and it has exonerated at least five people and last tried to free Jacob Duran, who was accused of murder in 1987.

IN this case, Senator Sherman said he is innocent. We think that the Liberian Senate should work with the US foreign committee on the sanction to ascertain the facts.

EVEN if it were the USA whose citizen was accused, they would not jump to conclusion, but rather, they would try to work closely with the accusing authority to get to the bottom of it and not conclude.

WE think he should be given time to explain and come out with what he may term as fact However, he must be given the opportunity to be heard. Members of that august body should be very careful or else sentiments will take over them.

UP to now, there is no communication from the United States Treasury Department to the Senate. So, let Senator Sherman be investigated.

REMEMBER he is a Liberian citizen irrespective of whatever position he may be in. Do not conclude that he is guilty. Let the Senate try to ask for pieces of evidence that the US may have to move the process forward.
Actor Shamata Anchan, who is best remembered for playing the lead role of Anjali Shekhawat in Ashutosh Gowarikar's television show Everest, got married recently to her beau Gaurav Verma. The couple tied the knot on February 8 in an intimate ceremony after dating each other for almost a year.

The couple's wedding was a cultural mix of South and North Indian traditions, and had close friends and family in attendance. Shamata and Gaurav took a conscious decision to keep their ceremony a low key affair, and hence didnt let a lot of people know about the nuptials.

And now, Shamata has opened up about her marriage with SpotBoye and said, "After a year of being together, we knew we wanted to spend the rest of our lives with each other. Im in a really happy space personally and professionally and the new year has started on a beautiful note." The newlyweds will soon be jetting off to the Maldives for their honeymoon.

Shamatas Everest co-stars, Rohan Gandotra and Sahil Salathia were also seen attending the wedding. The two actors shared a similar picture with the bride on their respective Instagram handles. Take a look!

For the unversed, after her debut show on Star Plus, Shamata starred in Bin Kuch Kahe, in which she once again impressed everyone with her acting. The 30-year-old then grabbed many eyeballs last year in 2020, when she landed a role in legendary actor Rajinikanth-starrer Darbar.

ALSO READ: Bigg Boss 14: Eijaz Khan Says 'Pavitra Punia And I Will Get Married This Year

ALSO READ: Yeh Hai Mohabbatein's Abhishek Malik Surprises GF Suhani By Proposing Her; Couple To Have Winter Wedding


A 22-year-old woman was crushed to death by a speeding truck on Thursday in Delhi. The deceased was identified as Swati, a resident of Kondli. She was riding pillion while returning from GB Pant hospital along with a relative on a two-wheeler. The accident took place in east Delhi's Mayur Vihar. The police said that she was run over by the speeding truck as she fell from the scooty apparently after hitting a speed breaker. The truck coming from behind ran over the woman and she died on the spot. "The truck has been seized but the driver managed to escape. Efforts are underway to nab the driver," Deepak Yadav, DCP East said. A case has been registered at Mayur Vihar police station.




While launching Poribartan Yatra in Coochbehar on Thursday, Home Minister Amit Shah lambasted West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and said that after elections, the WB CM will also chant 'Jai Shri Ram' slogans.

"I am promising that till the time election ends Mamata didi will also say,' Jai Shri Ram'", said HM Shah in Cooch Behar.

He escalated his attack on the CM further and said, "Jai Shri Ram chant is an insult to Mamata Banerjee. Why? So many people take pride in this chant. Why do you get insulted by this slogan? Because you have to appease one section for votes." The HM also added, "If slogans of Jai Shri Ram are not raised here, will it be raised in Pakistan?"

While speaking on the alleged killings and violence against BJP workers ahead of the state election, the Home Minister ascertained, "More than 130 BJP workers have been killed by TMC goons, no action has been taken. Once our government comes to power, each of the murderers will be sent to jail."

READ | Ahead Of Polls, Amit Shah Reaches Guwahati; 'Poribortan Yatra' In WB's Cooch Behar Next

READ | Amit Shah Rekindles BJP-Sena Fallout At Maha Rally: 'Balasaheb's Principles Compromised'

Highlighting CM Banerjee's decision to contest from Nandigram along with her traditional constituency Bhowanipur in Kolkata, Shah said, "This time, she has so much fear in her heart that she cannot decide where to contest these elections from."

Shah also pointed out the episode that happened during the Celebrations of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose's birth anniversary when the West Bengal CM had objected to the 'Jai Shri Ram' slogans at Victoria Memorial in Kolkata. He said, "Mamata didi keeps on quarreling with Modi Ji, she even quarreled during Subhash babu's program. It was Subhash babu's event, you could have refrained from politics there." He proceeded to call for and successfully get a volley of thunderous Jai Shri Ram chants from the crowd.

WB Assembly Election

The West Bengal Assembly with 294 seats will go to polls in April-May 2021, Trinamool holds 222 seats at present. However, BJP has made major inroads in the state in the Lok Sabha elections winning 18 seats out of 42 and establishing itself as the major opposition force in the state. Recently, TMC trumped BJP in all 3 polls, but the BJP is using its booth-level strategy and has regularly dispatched its top leaders including Amit Shah and JP Nadda in the state for winning the upcoming elections.

READ | Congress' Claim That Amit Shah Sat On Tagore's Seat Debunked; R.Bangla Accesses Truth

READ | Pawan Kalyan Visits HM Amit Shah In Delhi; Reportedly Raises Vizag Steel Plant Issue
Presidente @FSagasti: Las felicito por sus logros y agradezco su dedicacion. Sigan trabajando y poniendo en alto el nombre del Peru. Ustedes son la muestra de que las mujeres tienen mucho que contribuir al desarrollo de nuestras capacidades en ciencia, tecnologia e innovacion. pic.twitter.com/jzEF40txZ9
Citing the need to get the COVID-19 vaccine to the communities hardest hit by the virus, the Black Doctors COVID-19 Consortium will enforce stricter rules at their clinics, the groups founder, physician Ala Stanford, said Wednesday. People who are not at increased risk of serious illness or death  including some who dont even live in the communities where the clinics are opening  have been coming to her clinics, she said, which means less vaccine is going to those who need it most.

Its just the wrong thing to do, to come to communities and take it away from folks [in communities] where one in two people have known someone with severe disease, or someone who died from COVID, Stanford told reporters at a news conference called to announce the changes. So please, stop doing this. And if you cant stop, were going to help you, because were going to be much more stringent.

The group will halt sign-ups for its vaccination clinics until it has served a backlog of 46,000 people who registered with the group. Going forward, people who come to Black Doctors vaccination sites must prove they live in Philadelphia.

Philadelphians over age 75 will be able to get vaccinated at Black Doctors sites. Younger people will have to prove they have a high-risk condition included in the citys 1B vaccination group. Those under 75 will also have to prove they live in a zip code where hospitalizations and deaths have been the highest in the city.

Those who have gotten their first dose from the consortium will receive their second dose, Stanford said.

After the group is done vaccinating the 46,000 preregistered clients  probably by the first week of March, Stanford said  vaccination clinics will operate on a first-come, first-served basis, registering patients on-site to accommodate people without access to a phone or computer.

Thats the only fair way to do it, Stanford said. Theres so many people that dont have access to a computer or access to a phone.

Black Americans are more likely than other groups to catch the disease, develop serious complications, or die.

But in recent weeks, the physicians group  which has been running testing sites in Black communities for nearly a year  has seen their vaccination client demographic shift, from 90% Black to only 50% Black.

If you take vaccines from communities where its spreading the most, youre hurting yourself. Were not going to get to herd immunity any faster  were going to be in this situation even longer, Stanford said.

Stanford said shed been spurred to tighten criteria around her groups clinics after reading news reports from around the country about affluent people traveling to poorer communities to claim scarce doses of the COVID-19 vaccine  and seeing similar scenarios play out at her own clinics.

Some people coming to consortium clinics outside their own neighborhoods may simply be turning to one of the most visible organizations still handing out vaccines in the wake of the citys disastrous, now-scuppered partnership with Philly Fighting COVID, Stanford said.

Others, she said, may be misrepresenting where they live or what medical conditions make them eligible for the vaccine.

Stanford had also been concerned that people in poorer Black neighborhoods, especially those without access to technology, were being shunted aside by white Philadelphians with more time and easier transportation to the sites.

She said shed been struck by a pair of Black sisters, both over 75, who had come to a clinic in North Philadelphia hoping to get a vaccine. The older sister, in her 80s, had asked if it was OK for her to get a vaccine, even though she had been unable to access the consortiums website.

Theyre pausing to ask if theyre OK, she said. And folks that drove up from West Philly and Center City are demanding that they get vaccinated. When is this mess going to stop?
The suspect in a fire that destroyed all but the outer rock walls of a 111-year-old Texas courthouse is being held on arson charges, authorities say.

Nicholas Miller, who remained jailed on Feb. 9, was arrested on Feb. 5 after leading authorities on a chase that ended near Waco, 170 miles northeast of Mason, the city where the courthouse was set on fire the night before, authorities said.

Mason County Judge Jerry Bearden has said that the person suspected in the fire at the Mason County Courthouse was also suspected of setting another blaze around the same time at a home about a mile away.

Miller, 41, was being held Tuesday in McLennan County jail on two counts of arson, burglary of a building, unlawful possession of a firearm and evading arrest. Hes being held on $1.8 million bond. Jail records dont list an attorney for him.

Authorities say that on Friday morning, police in Georgetown, located north of Austin, tried to pull Miller over on Interstate 35, but he did not stop. State troopers later took the lead in the chase, which ended south of Waco after authorities put out spikes, said Texas Department of Public Safety Sgt. Ryan Howard.

At the time of the fire, the courthouse was being prepared for renovation, so all of the county records had been removed.

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Europes oldest person, French nun Sister Andre, turns 117 on Thursday after surviving COVID-19 last month and living through two world wars, with a special birthday feast including her favourite dessert  Baked Alaska.

Born Lucile Randon on February 11, 1904, Sister Andre said she didnt realise she had caught the coronavirus, which infected 81 residents of her retirement home in the southeast city of Toulon, killing 10 of them.

Im told that I got it, the nun told AFP ahead of her birthday. I was very tired, its true, but I didnt realise it.

But David Tavella, spokesman for the Sainte-Catherine-Laboure nursing home, said she had experienced a triple confinement: in her wheelchair, in her room and without a visit.

So her birthday, it reinvigorates us, he added, following the deadly outbreak.

Sister Andre said she was not going to do anything special for her 117th birthday but the home is planning a celebration for her.

There will be a special mass at the home, which has a dozen nuns, and the chef is preparing a birthday feast of foie gras, capon fillet with porcini mushrooms and Sister Andres favourite dessert: baked Alaska, washed down with a glass of port.

She says her favourite food is lobster and she enjoys a glass of wine.

I drink a small glass of wine every day, she said.

Born in Ales in a Protestant family, she grew up as the only girl among three brothers.

One of her fondest memories was the return of two of her brothers at the end of World War I.

It was rare, in families, there were usually two dead rather than two alive. They both came back, she told AFP last year, on her 116th birthday.

She converted to Catholicism and was baptised at the age of 26. She joined the Daughters of Charity order of nuns at the relatively late age of 41.

Sister Andre was then assigned to a hospital in Vichy, where she worked for 31 years and then spent 30 years in a retirement home in the French Alps before moving to Toulon.

She is the second-oldest living person in the world, according to the Gerontology Research Group, after Japanese woman Kane Tanaka, who is 118.

Asked what she would say to young people, Sister Andre said: Be brave and show compassion.

 2021 AFP

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Abuja and Abeokuta  Controversy yesterday trailed Tuesday's alleged grazing of cattle by a herdsman at the Abeokuta home of Noble Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka.

While the Ogun State Police Command has said that missing cattle strayed into Soyinka's compound, a close associate of the laureate and a former Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Olu Agunloye, said the herdsmen led their cattle to graze in the compound because they thought that Soyinka was not at home.

However, the South and Middle Belt Leaders Forum (SMBLF) has condemned the reported herders' scare at Soyinka's home.

A statement by the state's Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Abimbola Oyeyemi, said the intrusion on Soyinka's home was just a case of a strayed missing cow.

Oyeyemi, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, said: "Yesterday, Tuesday, February 9, 2021, one Kazeem Sorinola, an indigene of Ijeun, Abeokuta, who is into cattle business, was said to have been informed by a young Fulani man, Mr. Awalu Muhammad, who is taking care of the cattle, that one of the cows had got missing.

"While the Fulani man was searching for the stray cow around Kemta Estate where Prof. Wole Soyinka's house is located, the Prof. himself who was going out then saw the Fulani man with some of the cows and he came down to ask where the man was heading to with the cows."

The police said Soyinka asked the herder to move the cattle away from the vicinity.

The statement added that the Divisional Police Officer, Kemta Division, who heard about the incident, moved to the scene with a patrol team and the owner of the cows was invited to come with the Fulani man.

"The duo was questioned and properly profiled. The entire place was inspected by the DPO and it was established that it was just a case of strayed cow, as nothing was damaged or tampered with.

"There is nothing like an invasion of Prof. Wole Soyinka's house or any form of attack on his person," it said.

The statement said the Commissioner of Police, Edward Ajogun, had visited the scene and he interviewed Sorinola and the herder, adding that their statements showed no evidence of invasion.

But Agunloye disputed the police's narrative, saying the herdsman trespassed on Soyinka's unfenced compound.

Agunloye said in a statement yesterday that the herdsmen did not attack the laureate or his family members.

In the statement titled, 'Herdsmen did not attack Prof Soyinka,' he said the police had arrested the trespassing herdsmen

Agunloye said: "What happened was that herdsmen led their cattle to graze in Prof. Soyinka's unfenced compound again yesterday despite his strong warnings to the herdsmen.

"Prof. Soyinka has been living in the forest at the outskirt of Abeokuta in an area designated as GRA since the late 1980s."

He stated that in recent times, cattle herders had desecrated Soyinka's compound by flooding it with cows. He added that Soyinka had summoned the herdsmen and sternly warned them to stop trespassing on the laureate's property.

"However, the herdsmen broke the rules yesterday thinking that Prof. Soyinka was not home. When the Prof accosted them, they fled into the bush leaving their cows behind. Prof Soyinka reported the incident to the police, which later arrested the herdsmen and their cows.

"We can say categorically that Prof. Soyinka and his house were not physically attacked but his compound was violated by recalcitrant herdsmen who wanted to turn his compound into a grazing field. Prof Soyinka and his family remain okay in their Abeokuta home."

Meanwhile, the SMBLF has condemned the reported herders' scare at Soyinka's home.

The forum, in a statement jointly signed by Mr. Yinka Odumakin (South-west); Chief Guy Ikokwu (South-east); Senator Bassey Henshaw (South-south) and Dr. Isuwa Dogo (Middle Belt), expressed sadness that the herders did not regard Soyinka's status.

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"It is a painful development that herders will not even give scant regard to a man of Soyinka's stature in their madness and were let loose on Nigeria with no authority to call them to order.

"If there are people still living in denial about the intention of these criminals and those shielding them, there is no further evidence than this.

"We do not know what they have that they are playing this roulette but we are sure when a blind man says we have to settle this stoning ourselves, it is either he is stepping on or clutching one," it stated.

The group warned the herdsmen of the implications of hurting Soyinka with the fragile unity of the country.

It also urged President Muhammadu Buhari to note that these criminals are working hard to make him the last president of a united Nigeria.
The Gambia Bureau of Statistics (GBoS) yesterday appeared before legislators of the National Assembly Select Committee on Public Enterprises Committee (PEC), giving excuses that they could not present their financial statements for the year ended 2017, 2018 and 2019 due to some internal problems.

Mr. Nyakassi M.B. Sanyang, statistician general of GBoS, disclosed to the committee that they had some issues with the reporting of their financial statements as a result of some number of changes at the Accounts Unit.

According to him, the then accountant responsible for the arrangement of the statements retired and a new accountant was hired but he too spent only 3 months with them and left for another better job that he found. After that departure, he added, it took the authority time to recruit another one.

"We needed to do a lot of work as we needed to get all assets valid which was a problem including the building as we had to write to the Ministry of Lands and Regional Governments for support, but that also it took us time before we got response," he stated.

He added that the frequent changes at the finance department also made it more difficult for them to act on time to provide the financial statement to the National Audit Office (NAO) for 2017, 2018 and 2019 which are yet to finish and that was why they could not present them, he concluded.

Dr. Momodou Njie, National Statistics Council chairman, stated that considering how important GBoS is to national development and social progress, they are very mindful of those responsibilities and for that, they have been doing their best to live up to those expectations.

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He added that GBoS has a problem and the problem is, they have incomplete set of documents submitted to the National Assembly and what they have in their possession is their Activity Reports for 2017, 2018 and 2019 but they don't have the audited financial statement as they are still at the Auditor's Office but they are in constant contact with the Audit Office to resolve the problem, he assured the committee.

After a stand down for the committee to decide on the matter, Hon. Halifa Sallah, the committee's chair, said that the committee has come to the understanding that the task now is for the auditors to audit the report which he described as a specialised function requiring expertise and time.

He added that the committee is also convinced that if an end is not put to the backlog, they would not be able to add value to the sustainable development of our institutions.

"We have a common responsibility to ensure that financial reports are correct and accurate, we cannot talk about Activity Report without talking about financial base that provides for the activity; which is why we do not consider them separate because the Activity Report should indicate the type of financial input necessary for the operationalisation," he continued.

The committee members demand that the chairman engage the Audit Office to have the statements prepared before the end of March for presentation prior to the Auditor's assurance that, by the end of the week, they would be sure on when they can be ready with the auditing.
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Ayvazian signaled Yerevans desire to see the border opened soon when he spoke in the Armenian parliament.

As you know, the [Turkish] blockade, the closure of the [Turkish-Armenian] border was the result of the Nagorno-Karabakh status quo, which has changed through a use of force. Turkey therefore no longer has any reason to keep its border with Armenia closed, he told lawmakers.

At the moment no [Turkish-Armenian normalization] process is underway, he said. But Armenia and our diplomacy will be making meaningful efforts so that our neighborhood becomes more favorable for Armenias security.

Turkey completely shut down the border between the two neighboring states in 1993 and has refused to establish diplomatic relations with Armenia since then out of solidarity with Azerbaijan. It has also maintained a ban on all imports from Armenia via third countries.

During the recent Karabakh war the Armenian government similarly decided to ban the import of all Turkish goods. The government cited Ankaras inflammatory calls, arms supplies to Azerbaijan and deployment of terrorist mercenaries to the conflict zone. It said the six-month ban, which went into force on December 31, is meant to neutralize various kinds of dangers emanating from the hostile country.

Ankara has yet to clarify whether a Karabakh settlement acceptable to Baku remains a precondition for normalizing Turkish-Armenian relations after the six-week war that resulted in the restoration of Azerbaijani control over all districts around Karabakh.

Some Armenian analysts have speculated that it may now also demand that Yerevan stop seeking greater international recognition of the 1915 Armenian genocide in Ottoman Turkey.

The Armenian-Azerbaijani ceasefire agreement also calls for the restoration of transport links between Armenia and Azerbaijan. A trilateral working group formed by the Russian, Armenian and Azerbaijani governments for that purpose held its first meeting in Moscow late last month.
We are incredibly proud to have accomplished such a feat in the DFW market, and in such a short timeframe. We are most proud of the level of quality and customer service we have been able to provide to our buyers. Great customer service and excellent quality are what we hang our hat on.

Perry Homes, one of the largest homebuilders in Texas, and its luxury brand, Britton Homes, have reached a historic milestone by closing over 2,000 new construction home sales in its first five years since entering the Dallas Metro area market.

Since 2016, Perry Homes and Britton Homes have been building quality homes at an exceptional value in dozens of the most sought-after communities across the Dallas-Fort Worth region. In just under five years, the companies have seen a tremendous increase in new homes sales in Texas largest metroplex and one of the most in-demand housing markets in the nation.

We are incredibly proud to have accomplished such a feat in the DFW market, and in such a short timeframe. While 2,000 sales is an impressive milestone for our company, we are most proud of the level of quality and customer service we have been able to provide to our Perry Homes and Britton Homes buyers, said Billy Shirley, Perry Homes and Britton Homes City President, Dallas-Fort Worth. Whether it be on the first home sale or the 2,000th sale, great customer service and excellent quality are what we hang our hat on  homeowner satisfaction is our true goal.

Perry Homes and Britton Homes consider customer service a significant pillar at the forefront of their success, and their outstanding customer satisfaction rating of 95% reflects the care and commitment put into each new home build.

Perry Homes and Britton Homes offer a large selection of new, open-concept home designs from the $280,000s up to $1 million+, with sizes ranging from 1,500 to 5,000+ square feet. Perry Homes and Britton Homes feature modern interiors with stylish design selections, smart home technology, and industry-leading warranties with each new home.

To learn more about Perry Homes and Britton Homes offerings in the Dallas-Fort Worth region, visit https://www.perryhomes.com/texas/new-homes-dallas/.

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About Perry Homes

Perry Homes, a Texas homebuilder for over 50 years, is committed to providing exceptional value, quality and customer service. Family-owned and operated, Perry Homes has spent over 50 years building a sterling reputation as one of the largest and most trusted homebuilders in Texas. Perry Homes offers a variety of new home designs in over 80 communities throughout Austin, Dallas, Houston and San Antonio. Perry Homes is dedicated to providing first-class customer service before, during and after the sale. The companys continuing loyalty to customers, combined with their distinguished reputation, creates an unrivaled demand for Perry Homes. For more information, please visit http://www.perryhomes.com.

About Britton Homes

Britton Homes, a luxury brand of parent company Perry Homes, offers high-end home designs in several North Texas cities, including Celina, Fort Worth, Lewisville, Plano, and Prosper. Britton Homes was founded in 2016 and represents the vision of CEO Kathy Britton. Britton Homes provides the same exceptional value, quality and customer service offered by Perry Homes while meeting the sophisticated design needs of the Dallas homebuyer. For more information on Britton Homes, please visit http://www.brittonhomestexas.com.
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Mumbai: India is currently witnessing the largest protests the country has ever seen. Farmers have been stationed at Singhu border for months now as they oppose the farm laws passed by the government.

Amid this, Sonakshi Sinha has shown support towards farmers. After standing in solidarity, she shared a poem on farmers.

Sonakshi Sinha Nazarein milake, khud se poocho - kyun? A tribute to the hands that feed us... a beautiful poem written by @varadbhatnagar. Shot and conceptualized by @gursanjam.s.puri and narrated by me. #farmersprotest, she wrote on Instagram.

A week ago, Sonakshi took to her Instagram stories to share a post made by an account named storysellercomics that explained that Rihanna and environmentalist Greta Thunberg's tweets on farmers protest. It highlighted human right violations.

Sonakshi Sinha

"The voices raised are about the violation of human rights, suppressions of free internet and expression, state propaganda, hate speech and abuse of power," the post read.
The FTSE 100 index closed up 0.07 per cent or 4.36 points to 6,528.72 this afternoon.

AstraZeneca has revealed annual profits more than doubled in 2020 thanks to strong performances in oncology and biopharmaceuticals helping to cushion the hit from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Royal Mail said its quarterly revenue jumped 20 per cent on higher demand for parcels during the holiday season, and forecast annual profit to be over 500million pounds and revenue above its prior outlook.

Pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca said product sales grew 10 per cent in 2020

Ted Baker saw its quarterly revenues fall by almost half, as the struggling fashion retailer's stores in Britain were shut during the latest coronavirus lockdown and it suffered weak demand during the Christmas season.

Demand for domestic UK holidays this summer will exceed pre-pandemic levels, according to a new survey from Mintel, which indicated that a total of 7.1billion will be spent on so-called staycations between July and September.
Bongoflava musician Diamond Platnumz is in talks with a Kenyan betting firm over a possible partnership with his yet to be launched Wasafi bet.

The Tanzanian musician, who is extremely popular in East Africa, recently made a private visit to Nairobi from where he is said to have met officials from Kenyan betting firm Odibet.

Sources reveal that the Waah hitmaker will be launching his Waafi bet gaming firm later this year.

It is believed that Diamond is keen to partner with OdiBet after his business manager Sallam Mendez uploaded a picture of himself wearing a white Odi Bet branded hoodie captioned 'Nairobi By Night'.

On October 27, 2020 during an interview with Wasafi TV, the musician who doubles up as an astute entrepreneur confirmed he was seeking to venture into betting businesses.

"Niko hatua za mwisho, Karibuni nafungua wasafi betting (I am in the final stages and will soon launch Wasafi bet)," he said.

Besides betting, Diamond has also invested in real estate having bought houses in Kenya, his native Tanzania and South Africa.

He also owns a radio and TV station and has been called up to endorse several products.
Today, much like last year, Guam wont be collectively gathering to thank and honor the troops who never came home. But that doesnt mean this Read more
[February 11, 2021] HND Assignments Help Introduces New Services for Higher National Diploma Students

Online assignment help platform, HND Assignments Help, helps students get through their HND course by offering a wide range of services to suit their diverse needs WALDITCH, England, Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Students taking the Higher National Diploma (HND) course in the UK can again breathe a sigh of relief thanks to the team at HND Assignment Help. The assignment solutions provider boasts of a team of HND writers who have certified academic and work experience across different fields to ensure that the needs of every student, especially in the area of writing assignments are met.

HND is an academic higher education course offered in the UK. Initially introduced in England and Wales in 1920, the course has grown over the years, becoming increasingly popular as one of the most sought-after qualifications. Split into two parts, HND is equivalent to a foundation degree or the first two years of a bachelor's degree and can be used for gaining entry into more than 95% of universities in the United Kingdom, including the University of Oxford. The uefulness of the course has further helped to increase its popularity. However, one of the major obstacles faced by the millions of students that take the HND course in the United Kingdom is writing assignments. While several platforms claim to help students overcome this obstacle, many do not deliver as claimed, which is where HND Assignment Help UK has been different over the years.





The HND assignments help platform serves students across different disciplines, delivering captivating and professionally written academic papers. Categories of assignments that students can enjoy include: management and marketing assignments, HND business assignments, assignments in health and social care, computing and system development assignments, travel and tourism assignments, and a host of others.



The services offered by HND Assignment Help UK help students to save a lot of time, especially as they cope with their busy schedules. The relative affordability of the services also offers a win-win situation that ensures that students do not have to break the bank to get good grades, while they focus on other important aspects of their lives.

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support@hndassignmenthelp.co.uk This release was issued through WebWire. For more information, visit http://www.webwire.com.

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Qatar is working to de-escalate tension in the region by advocating for a return to the 2015 Iran nuclear agreement, state media quoted its foreign minister as saying.

The State of Qatar is working on de-escalation through a political and diplomatic process to return to the nuclear agreement, Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani said on Wednesday, according to state news agency QNA.

The remarks came in briefing notes about two separate calls earlier in the week between Thani and US Special Representative for Iran Robert Malley and US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan.

US President Joe Bidens administration is exploring ways to restore the nuclear deal that Iran signed with world powers but abandoned in 2018 by former President Donald Trump, who restored sanctions.

Thani said Qatars communication was going on with both Iran and the United States, given the strategic ties Qatar holds with both.

A breakthrough was reached last month to resolve a three-year dispute between Gulf Arab states and Qatar.

The pact was one in a series of Middle East deals sought by the Donald Trump administration - the others involving Israel and Arab states - aimed at building a united front against Iran.

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US Senator Mike Lee speaks during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing (EPA)

A chaotic scene broke out late on Wednesday evening during the closing moments of the day's impeachment proceedings, as Republican senator Mike Lee demanded to strike evidence he believed Democrats mistakenly attributed to him during the trial.

The comments in question concerned a call Democrats believe former president Trump accidentally made to the Utah senator while trying to reach Alabama senator Tommy Tuberville, with whom he allegedly wanted to discuss stopping the transfer of power.

"What I asked was, statements were attributed to me repeatedly, as to which I have personal knowledge because I am the source, they are not true, I never made those statements, I ask that they be stricken," Mr Lee protested, as senators spoke over each other and the microphone system went in and out. "This has nothing to do with whether or not theyre based on depositions, which theyre not. Its simply based on the fact that Im the witness, Im the only witness, those statements are not true and I ask that you strike them.
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Russian and Turkish servicemen have conducted drills in Syrias city of Saraqib ahead of joint patrol missions in Idlib, a spokesman for the Turkish army command said on Thursday.

"We need to once again drill all necessary skills. I know that these are all experience people but it is important to ensure maximal coordination," he said.

No patrol missions have been conducted in this area for more than six moths, so, according to the spokesman, these drills are seen as a guarantee of success of joint efforts.

Idlib is the only Syrian region where the ceasefire is violated regularly. Joint Russian-Turkish patrol missions were suspended here six months ago.

During the exercises, Russian and Turkish servicemen drilled the skills of moving in convoys, repelling attacks on convoys and evacuating those wounded, as well as moving along sections with militants ambushes. A special signal system has been designed to help bridge the language gap, TASS reported.

Patrol missions as a rule involve Russian BTR-82A armored infantry carriers and Tigr armored cars, and Turkish Kirpi armored vehicles.



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Till Victory Is Won

As I examine Black History Month 2021, and what may be accomplished during the shortest month of the year, I am reminded of a special song that continues to motivate generations since the late 1890s. First commissioned as a poem, Life Every Voice and Sing was written by James Weldon Johnson, Principal of the segregated Stanton School in Jacksonville, Florida. It was then set to music in 1905 by his brother J. Rosamond Johnson a composer who trained at the New England Conservatory of Music. These influential and talented brothers worked together all of their lives, both in show business and as critical players in the civil rights movement. They believed that artistic and cultural excellence was key to Black Advancement in America. I believe that we have all witnessed many examples of this cultural excellence from the past as well as today.

As we are reminded this month (and should be all year) another such example of artistic and cultural excellence key to Black advancement during that time, was the impact of the indomitable Soprano Matilda Sissieretta Joyner Jones known as Black Patti. From the years 1897-1915, Miss Jones was the highest-paid African-American performer of her time. Miss Jones performed at the White House for various presidents such as: Benjamin Harrison, Grover Cleveland, William McKinley, and Theodore Roosevelt  as well as the British Royal Family. Of note, for three of her White House performances, Jones had to enter the building through the back. She was finally allowed to enter through the front door for her performance for President Roosevelt. Miss Jones would employ as many as 40 black entertainers in her Black Patti Troubadours for more than two decades.

When James wrote the song, Lift Every Voice and Sing, it was meant to be a prayer of thanksgiving for faith and freedom. For the promise of better days ahead, of unity and a collaborative purpose while carefully and purposefully notating the trials of a people. However, the poetry represents only half of the power of the song.

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Lift every voice and sing, till earth and heaven ring,

Ring with the harmonies of liberty

Let our rejoicing rise, High as the listening skies,

Let it resound loud as the rolling sea.

Until brother J. Rosamond added the music, the song was not complete. You see as the historians have discovered; the melodies match the text. Lift every voice always ascends when you sing it, to lift you up. The middle passages that speak to our trials and dark past, are gloomy and minor, mournful keys but arrive on an uplifting key to proclaim an affirmative statement of hope .

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Sing a song full of the faith that the dark past has taught us,

Sing a song full of the hope that the present has brought us;

Facing the rising sun of our new day begun,

Let us march on till victory is won.

At the time that this song was written, reconstruction had largely failed. Although there were achievements by some Blacks, the hopes and progress of a people rested on Black professionals, educators, and businessmen, like the Johnson Brothers and Miss Joyner Jones. Their rise belonged to all of the Black community as a sense of pride and inspiration. This song, performed in that segregated school room, by 500 children in celebration of Abraham Lincolns birthday in 1905 came to symbolize the musical icon that still to this day visualizes a peoples history; infused inspiration, faith filled vision, and a resolute hope . Unknown to the brothers at the time, was how the song would embed itself in the minds and hearts of the school children who performed that day.

Shortly afterwards my brother and I moved away from Jacksonville to New York, and the song passed out of our minds. But the school children of Jacksonville kept singing it; they went off to other schools and sang it; they became teachers and taught it to other children. Within twenty years it was being sung over the South and in some other parts of the country  The lines of this song repay me in an elation, almost of exquisite anguish, whenever I hear them sung by Negro children. -James Weldon Johnson.

In reviewing this song, that the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) adopted as the National Black Anthem and as their Official song in 1919, I am amazed at how relevant the lyrics remain to this day. The second verse applies very aptly to the economic uncertainty, civil unrest, police brutality, rise of white supremacy, threat of voter suppression, and our current health disparities made worse by the COVID19 pandemic, makes you want to throw up your hands and holler! And yes, we are weary, we are tired. We have been in this same place before as the song states

Stony the road we trod

Bitter the chastening rod

Felt in the days when hope unborn had died

Yet with a steady beat

Have not our weary feet

Come to the place for which our fathers sighed?

However, just as we stand today for future generations, we stand on the shoulders of those who have brought us through and to this time  better than the past, but miles to go. Our heroes and sheroes such as Fannie Lou Hamer, Medgar Evers, Ella Baker, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Daisey Bates, Bayard Rustin, C.T. Vivian and others brought us the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Which desegregated the schools, theaters, housing, offices and so much more and would lead us the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Those courageous, intelligent, and steadfast men and women who committed themselves to the fight for the basic human rights promised to all of under the Constitution. And for our God-given human dignity, which was done with the greatest amount of sacrifice, enduring death of both young and old, beatings, hosing; while fighting peacefully with sit-ins, marches, legislation, unity, coalition building and more. Through words, music, serving the poor and hope . Just as our forebearers, we cannot grow weary. We cannot and should not forget the horrific and unjust killings of Breonna Taylor, George Floyd and so many others who have died as a result of police brutality. We must continue to affirm that Black Lives Matter as we Lift our voices with conviction  as in times before  repeatedly to renew our hope and to press on toward victory each time we sing that hymn of hope .

We have come over a way that with tears has been watered

We have come, treading our path through the blood of the slaughtered

Out from the gloomy past

Till now we stand at last

Where the white gleam of a bright star is cast.

Lastly, where would we be without faith? Hope I believe is born of a great faith. Faith in God, faith in your fellow man/woman/child and faith in yourself. In our most fervent and reverent acknowledgment of a glorious history of incredible men and women, known and unknown, I urge each of us to pause to honor Black History Month. In the manner you are accustom, give a word of thanksgiving for those who came before. Who carved out a path toward a better future for Black Americans and in doing so, made all of America better.

God of our weary years,

God of our silent tears,

Thou who hast brought us thus far on the way;

Thou who hast by Thy might,

Led us into the light,

Keep us forever in the path, we pray.

On January 13, 2021, House Majority Whip Congressman James Clyburn, the highest-ranking Black American in Congress put forward a proposal. Mr. Clyburn proposed that Lift Every Voice and Sing be given a special place as a national hymn alongside the official US anthem, The Star-Spangled Banner. Clyburn believes it would help unite the country in a time of reckoning with its long history of racial turmoil. It would say to people, You arent singing a separate national anthem, you are singing the countrys national hymn. The gesture itself would be an act of healing. Everybody can identify with that song.  Congressman Clyburn

Lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met Thee,

Lest our hearts, drunk with the wine of the world, we forget Thee;

Shadowed beneath Thy hand,

May we forever stand

True to our God,

True to our native land.

Today, Lift Every Voice and Sing is more than just a song, a hymn, the Official song of the NAACP, the National Black Anthem. It is still a hymn full of the musically cultural architecture of Black classical and jazz music. With a deep history of Black pride, and a stirring cry to uplift and empower. It is firmly embedded in African American Culture. Pop artists from Beyonce to Alicia Keys have performed it at high-profile concerts introducing the song to new generations and cultures world-wide. The song has always enjoyed a global appeal because of its pledge of unity, promise and proclamation, combined with its musical and inspirational rallying cry for people who fight for equality and justice.

I am proud to reaffirm my faith, my hope , and my commitment to continue to Lift My Voice to proclaim the excellence and influence of the African American culture and personas in the American narrative. To proclaim that Black History is World History to be shared, taught, and honored 365 days of the year.

As we reflect on the past let us remember those who have paved a way that is both wide and deep for us. A way that so many have watered with tears, nourished with blood, built with inventions, a way decorated with artistry, ruled by governance and business, a way powered by raw energy, embellished with theater, TV, and film, and fueled with hope . Those who have provided both aspiration and inspiration, encouraging us rise up and to march on with HOPE in our hearts. To meet the challenges of today while forging a path for generations to come.

Please, go out and set a path for light and love. Deepen the waters of justice and let equality flow down until every woman, man and child see justice and liberty for all.

Till Victory is Won!

Ms. Sandra J. Evers-Manly is president of the Black Hollywood Education and Resource Center (BHERC) and former president of the Beverly Hills/Hollywood NAACP in Los Angeles, California. In October 2018, Evers-Manly released her first childrens book, Raised Up By Mrs. Manly and Her Ls from which all proceeds go to charitable organizations. Evers-Manly is the cousin of slain civil rights leader Medgar Evers.
DETROIT, Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Rocket Mortgage and Black-founded HomeFree-USA today announced an expansion of their ongoing partnership, which will continue financial education and career preparation through HomeFree-USA's flagship education initiative, The Center for Financial Advancement (CFA), at six historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs).

Through this partnership Rocket Mortgage is developing a pipeline to bring diverse new talent to Rocket Mortgage and its Rocket Companies (NYSE: RKT) affiliates.

First partnering in 2018 on CFA, the organizations work side by side to provide tools and opportunities to prospective homebuyers to bridge the Black homeownership gap, collaborate on numerous financial information programs, and offer educational initiatives to HBCUs. The partnership expands beyond those goals for 2021 by investing in career preparation that will allow HBCU students to access fields where they are traditionally underrepresented.

"Diversity, equity and inclusion are core tenets of our culture  existing beyond the lens of homeownership by informing everything we do and every space our organization touches," said Trina Scott, Chief Diversity Officer for Rocket Companies. "This expanded partnership will provide Black and other students of color with financial education programming and training, as well as allow them to access meaningful opportunities to join our organization in whatever role best suits their talents and skillsets."

HomeFree-USA launched CFA on the heels of a 2016 study that says although more African Americans than ever are going to college, Black students are still overrepresented in majors that result in the lowest paying jobs. As a solution, CFA was founded to introduce HBCU students to the mortgage and real estate finance industry as a career opportunity and elevate their money management skills, while teaching them about homeownership, credit and building wealth.

Sponsoring partners engage the students, faculty, parents and the local community at-large on such topics as credit, student loans, savings, homeownership and opportunities in the mortgage finance profession. CFA educates and prepares young adults financially, professionally and personally for a sound future.

The initiative was piloted in 2017 at Fisk University and continues at North Carolina A&T State University, Fort Valley State University, Bowie State University, North Carolina Central University and Morgan State University.

Fisk University, North Carolina Central University, Morgan State University and North Carolina A&T State University have all been scored by U.S. News & World Report as top-20 HBCUs in the United States.

"Partnering with companies like Rocket Mortgage allows us to continue this important work of diversifying talent in corporate America while providing much needed financial literacy to our students at historically Black colleges and universities," said Marcia Griffin, President and CEO of HomeFree-USA and an alumna of two HBCUs. "Very few mortgage and real estate finance corporations and financial institutions have internship programs that aggressively recruit directly from HBCUs. This must change. Students at historically black colleges and universities are among the best America has to offer."

Rocket Mortgage and HomeFree-USA will leverage the CFA Scholars program to bring diverse talent to Rocket Companies. Equipped with vital career, leadership, financial and life-skills training, students will be able to attend events at Rocket Mortgage's campus in Detroit specifically for CFA Scholars, meet with talent recruiters on their campus, participate in conferences and summits with Rocket Companies executives, and more.

In addition to efforts to increase the hiring of Detroit residents, this expanded partnership allows Rocket Companies' to attract diverse talent to Detroit as it continues to holistically address its ongoing DEI efforts. Rocket Companies will hire 10% of its future interns from HBCUs, with the goal of bringing as many of the interns on as full-time team members as possible.

"We are appreciative of the invaluable opportunities the Center for Financial Advancement has delivered to our campus community, providing our students with resources and key insights to enhance their academic and career pursuits," David K. Wilson, President of Morgan State.

In 2020, Rocket Companies and the greater Rock Family of Companies announced its "6 Point Plan," a blueprint to address diversity, equity and inclusion at the organization. Since then, the organization has leveraged its For More Than Profit philosophy and culture to impact the outcome on race, equity and inclusion in six specific areas, including talent recruitment.

The two organizations are already planning to bring the CFA initiative to additional campuses for the 2021  2022 academic year. Financial terms of the of the partnership were not disclosed.

About Quicken Loans/Rocket Mortgage

Detroit-based Quicken Loans, the nation's largest home mortgage lender and a part of Rocket Companies (NYSE: RKT), enables the American Dream of homeownership and financial freedom through its obsession with an industry-leading, digital-driven client experience. $213 billion dollars of mortgage volume across all 50 states in the first three quarters of 2020. In late 2015, Quicken Loans introduced Rocket Mortgage, the first fully digital mortgage experience. Currently, 98% of all home loans originated by Quicken Loans utilize Rocket Mortgage Technology.

Quicken Loans moved its headquarters to downtown Detroit in 2010. Today, Quicken Loans and Rocket Companies employ more than 22,000 full-time team members nationwide. The company generates loan production from web centers located in Detroit, Cleveland and Phoenix and operates a centralized loan processing facility in Detroit. Quicken Loans ranked highest in the country for customer satisfaction for primary mortgage origination by J.D. Power for 11 consecutive years, 2010  2020, and also ranked highest in the country for customer satisfaction among all mortgage servicers seven consecutive years, 2014  2020.

Quicken Loans was once again named to FORTUNE magazine's "100 Best Companies to Work For" list in 2020 and has been included in the magazine's top 1/3rd of companies named to the list for the past 17 consecutive years. In addition, Essence Magazine named Quicken Loans "#1 Place to Work in the Country for African Americans."

For more information and company news visit QuickenLoans.com/press-room.

About HomeFree-USA / The Center for Financial Advancement

HomeFree-USA is Black-founded nonprofit started by Marcia and Jim Griffin in 1994 with a vision to close the homeownership gap by giving African-Americans the guidance they need to achieve and sustain homeownership. As a HUD-intermediary, HomeFree-USA serves the diverse interests of 4.5 million consumers through its nationwide network of 50 plus affiliated, community-based, nonprofits that specialize in guiding people to first-time homeownership, homeownership sustainability, and increased financial capacity.

HomeFree-USA launched the Center for Financial Advancement (CFA) as a solution to the industry's call for more diversity. HomeFree-USA partners with, trains, and provides students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) opportunities for externships, internships and full-time jobs in partnering mortgage and real estate finance companies. Participating CFA Scholars are exposed to credit, money management, leadership development, and homeownership, creating the next generation of leaders and homeowners. For more information, visit homefreeusa.org/cfa.

SOURCE Rocket Mortgage
To the editor:

In 1970  half a century ago  Black History Month was initiated in the U.S. in February. In late January, NPR radio had a seven-minute discussion (on video) with African American Rev. Michael Eric Dyson, author (in 2020) of Long Time Coming- Reckoning with Race in America. I have included his response to one question that I find both highly hopeful and deeply disturbing.

Do you think we've made progress through the agonies of the past year that some of the violent acts of the past year have at least brought us some clarity as to what the issues are?

Dyson: I think so. in my book "Long Time Coming," I speak about the necessity of grappling with and reckoning with the horrors and the racial realities that we confront  there's been enormous progress  on one hand  and on the other hand, we've seen what happened at the Capitol on Jan. 6, and we saw the kind of insurrection that occurred there and whether or not clearly articulated, the racial premise could not be missed. Beyond that, the police treatment of the rioters and insurrectionists at the Capitol was glaringly different, was strikingly in contrast to what happened with African American people in protest of Black Lives Matter.

It's wonderful that many people in Midland, in Michigan and around the US, are helping children, youth and adults understand and practice the necessity of Inclusion, Diversity and Equality for all, because everyone deserves this.

I was recently email-invited by Debarah Weinstein  executive director of Coalition for Human Needs info@chn.org  to sign the following request to the US Congress:

Racism is a public health crisis. For centuries, structural racism in the United States has harmed black and brown communities and served as a major barrier to health equity. Racism leads to worse health outcomes for black and brown patients than their white counterparts. Congress must address this issue immediately by passing the Anti-Racism in Public Health Act.

I agree. I signed. I invite others to do the same.

JEANNE LOUND SCHALLER

Nonviolent Peaceforce Midland Chapter

Midland
on Thursday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's acknowledgement of the private sector's role in India's growth, national progress and enhancing the country's prestige globally is a much-needed shot in the arm for entrepreneurs, and the industry must live up to the expectations.

Industry chamber FICCI hoped that the statement by Modi will lead to a fresh new discourse towards the national consensus on the role industry and enterprise play in this country.

Industry leaders Anand Mahindra and Sajjan Jindal also took the PM's words as a great encouragement for the "community that has been creating wealth and jobs in the country".

FICCI President Uday Shankar said in a statement said, "At a time when the COVID-19-hit Indian industry is trying to pick up its rhythm of high growth, the prime minister's acknowledgement would be a much-needed shot in the arm for and the business community."



They were referring to Modi's remarks praising the private sector on Wednesday during his reply in the Lok Sabha to the discussion on the Motion of Thanks to the President's address. Modi had stated that the public sector is essential but at the same time, the role of the private sector is also vital.

Shankar said, "We are grateful to him for the trust reposed in the private sector. While this speaks of the vision of the prime minister in the role played by the industry in nation building, it also puts enormous responsibility on the business community to rise up to keep national interest above everything else."



Expressing similar views, earlier in the day, Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra tweeted, "Welcome words of encouragement at a fragile time for private enterprise due to the pandemic. Now, we have to live up to the expectations...both in performance and governance."Pitching for private enterprises, Modi in his address had also said there should be faith in the abilities of India's young population and everyone should get opportunities.

The prime minister had cited the examples of telecom and pharma sectors to note as to how the robust presence of private firms in these fields has helped people, with even the poor using smartphones, and mobile calls costing virtually nothing due to competitiveness.

Similarly, JSW Group Chairman and MD Sajjan Jindal tweeted, "For the first time ever, a prime minister of our country has publicly shared his respect for the Indian This is great encouragement for the community that has been creating wealth and jobs in the country."



Modi had said India is proud of the role of the private sector in national progress and in enhancing India's prestige globally.

"To use improper words against the private sector may have got votes for a few people in the past but those times are gone. The culture of abusing the private sector is not acceptable any longer. We cannot keep insulting our youth like this," he had said.

Stating that the private sector contributes as much as 87 per cent to the GDP and almost 60 per cent to the employment in the country, Shanka said, "If India has to lift its teeming millions out of poverty, we need to create a national consensus to ensure that those who create jobs, economic value and a culture of enterprise are recognised for their contribution."



He further said that every day, there is a surge in aspirations in the country and to meet those aspirations, the industry, civil society and political class will have to work together. "No single institution alone can work in a manner to give shape to the dreams of our youth.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
As part of efforts in boosting the educational system of Liberia, a local information Communication Company, Weeglo has enhanced the education of the country by introducing reliable e-learning program.

The company in a release said the current education project in the country is aimed at providing access to quality education in a way that is cost-effective, reliable, equitable, sustainable, and innovative.

Weeglo is a startup that is emerging as one of the potential tech giants in Africa and is a 2020 Orange Social Venture Prize (OSVP) Award winner, POESAM International Grand Prize 2020 Award winner as well.

The overall goal of the local company is to bridge the gap between traditional face-to-face and online learning opportunities.

The release further recounted that the company has significantly contributed and continue to contribute to the improvement of the education system of Liberia.

It can be recalled in 2014, Weeglo introduced the Wiki Reader to thousands of Liberian students who needed access to research information without internet connection. The Wiki Reader was a project to deliver an offline, text-only version of Wikipedia on a mobile device.

It contains the entire English Wikipedia with 3 million topics and works for months before replacement of its two AAA batteries.

"The company has been able to help by building e-learning and testing mobile applications which provide students the convenience of studying at home and on the go, buttress learning, and help boost their confidence and performance in the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), the Liberia Junior High School Certificate Examination (LJHSCE), the Liberia Primary School Certificate Examination (LPSCE), the University of Liberia entrance exam," Mr. Thomas Guwor, the Chief Executive Officer of the company is quoted in a release.

Mr. Guwor also added "Our solutions are tailored to make learning possible and accessible everywhere, all-the-time via computing devices (phone, tablets, computers), with no internet connection. This has enabled students to learn on the go and at their own pace and in their comfort zones (at home, on the farm."

He further stated that there are over 13,000 downloads on Google Play Store by just clicking 'Weeglo' in play store app.

According to the release, the company has extended the e-learning platform by building and integrating a school management system into solutions.

"The good news is that schools using this innovative e-learning platform will be able to manage everything including classroom activities and grading system, registration and payment system, online testing, live video meetings, live video teaching and more," the release added.

Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Liberia Education By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later.

Students, teachers, administrators, educators and parents are allowed to interact as well as access educational resources such as the national curriculum, course guides or catalogs, course notes, lesson plans, schedules, eBooks, e-libraries, and other supplementary digital learning resources through their personal mobile devices and computers.

"Schools that took advantage of our COVID-19 Help initiative made a successful pass with 98-100% passing rate. During the height of the COVID-19, we provided free access to Weeglo E-Learning Platform to enable learning beyond the walls of the classroom, at which time schools were closed due to the pandemic. Students benefited from 11 schools, including the Salvation Army School System. In a Facebook post, the Director of Education at the Salvation Army reported a 98% passing rate and attributed gains to the Weeglo COVID-19 Help initiative. We have since reduced the subscription price of the apps from US$5.00 & US$3.00 to US$0.99 or LRD200.00 for students in both Senior and Junior high divisions respectively per student, per annum," the release also quotes the CEO, Mr. Guwor.

The release added; "We also have a national tutorial program intended to train teachers at no cost of their own and then provide them with the tool, e-learning platform, to succeed. Under this program, we will train the teachers, who will then conduct a blended nation-wide face-to-face and online learning in all counties in Liberia. The program will target 1600 teachers."
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[February 11, 2021] TrueNorth Welcomes Bladimir Estevez as VP of Sales

TrueNorth.co, a global fintech software development company, today announced the addition of Bladimir Estevez to the executive team. Blad will be responsible for adding to the company's record setting results in 2020 by focusing on relationships within financial services, fintechs and non-bank lenders. Blad joins TrueNorth following six years as the Director of Sales at LendIt Fintech, the largest media and events company dedicated to innovation in lending and digital banking, where he is well-known for his expansive network and fintech industry knowledge. In his new role, Blad will work closely with financial services companies who seek a proven software development service to digitally transform their offerings, whether building an enterprise from scratch, adding strategic products, integrating with fintech vendors, or embedding financial capabilities. "I am really excited to be joining such a respected team of fintech pioneers, many of whom I have worked with in the past. Beyond the incredible expertise they have, the thing that impresses me most about TrueNorth is the consulting and strategic guidance they give to every single client," said Estevez. TrueNorth's pioneering leaders and software engineers have perfected a development process that brings products to market in a cost-effective way and with fast execution, three to six months for an MVP. This rare combination has led to the successful execution of 120 digital transformations and 45 original enterprises built from the ground up.



CEO Alex Gonikman said, "Blad's knowledge of the fintech ecosystem is unmatched in our industry and we recognize that his contribution to our go-to-market strategy will be huge. We're honored to have him on the team." Blad joins recent additions to the executive team Chris Del, Chief Revenue Officer, and Annette Ring, Chief Marketing Officer as the company looks to further solidify its position as a leader in fintech software development.

About TrueNorth TrueNorth.co is one of the largest and most successful fintech software development companies in the world having built three fintech unicorns from scratch--LendingClub, Upgrade and Dianrong. The company specializes in building digital solutions, including 45 original enterprises, 120 digital transformations and 40 product revamps. TrueNorth's unique Team Captain client-focused process enables its most senior engineers to navigate and apply the latest technologies to develop and integrate cutting-edge digital solutions for banks, credit unions, payment companies, lending firms, wealth management firms, and insurance companies. More recently, TrueNorth has expanded its expertise into additional mission critical industries including healthcare and education. CEO Alex Gonikman, a veteran software architect, leads a staff of more than 60 employees from the company's headquarters in San Francisco, a development center in Buenos Aires, Argentina and strategic offices in Hong Kong, New York City and Austin, Texas. For more information, visit www.TrueNorth.co View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210211005174/en/

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Washington, Feb 11 : US President Joe Biden announced that he has approved a new executive order to immediately sanction leaders of the Myanmar military who directed the February 1 coup, as well as their business interests and family members.

At a White House briefing on Wednesday, the President said the administration "will identify a first round of targets this week" and "we're also going to impose strong export controls".

Biden also confirmed the freezing of US assets that "benefit the Burmese (Myanmar) government, while maintaining our support for healthcare, civil society groups, and other areas that benefit the people directly".

The Myanmar military took over the country on February 1 over the disputed results of the November 8, 2020, parliamentary elections.

Besides the coup, the military also declared a year-long state of emergency and handed over the state power to Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Sen-Gen Min Aung Hlaing.

Ahead of taking control, former de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi, former President U Win Myint and other senior members of the National League for Democracy (NLD) party were detained.

Regarding Suu Kyi's detention, Biden demanded the immediate release of all "democratic political leaders and activists".

"The military must relinquish the power it seized and demonstrate respect for the will of the people of Burma as expressed in their November 8 election," he said.

Biden said the people in Myanmar are making their voices heard by staging the ongoing protests across the country the coup and the detentions, adding that "the world is watching".

"Violence against those asserting their democratic rights is unacceptable, and we're going to keep calling it out." The President concluded his address by saying that "we'll be ready to impose additional measures, and we'll continue to work with our international partners to urge other nations to join us in these efforts".

In the November 8, 2020, elections, the former de facto leader's NLD party obtained more than 80 per cent of the seats and increased its parliamentary majority.

The military or the Tatmadaw had called for an investigation into voting lists, alleging fraud and discrepancies.

But the Union Election Commission rejected the allegations of election fraud on January 29.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
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A warehouse in Brisbanes south has become the citys first hub of smart kitchens that cater purely for online delivery services such as Deliveroo and Uber Eats.*

The facility in Coorparoo houses 29 kitchens, purpose-built for existing and new restaurants to cater for online food deliveries.

Just of the food on offer from Seoul Bistro, which has leased a smart kitchen within the Chef Collective facility in Coorparoo.

Established Brisbane restaurants have set up operations in the hub, to allow their existing premises to focus on in-person customers.

Chef Collective spokesman Mark Heath said about half of the kitchens were leased, days after the facility launched.
Nine children have been rescued in the Philippines following the arrest of an accused paedophile in Australia.

The lives of the kids, aged between two and 16 years, changed forever when the man from small town regional Victoria, 61, was stopped at the Australian border in November 2019.

Authorities suspected the Victorian man of child sex crimes and allegedly found sexual conversations on his phone where he asked about girls' ages.

That sparked a Federal Police raid on his home near the Victorian-New South Wales border.

There, officers found videos of the man allegedly raping underage Filipino girls. The Victorian was charged and his case is before the courts.

And this week - some fourteen months since his arrest - authorities reported a major breakthrough overseas.

Filipino authorities walk a child out of the Angeles city home where abuse allegedly took place in her pyjamas and a face shield

Footage shared by the Australian Federal Police shows a grown woman carrying a small child out of the home down a dirt road, washing apparently hung up on the right

Philippines National Police arrested a 42-year-old woman who had allegedly pimped the children out in the city of Angeles.

Footage issued by the Australian Federal Police on Thursday shows a woman being led away by police while cradling a baby in her arms.

Video likewise showed two freed children being escorted down a dirt road.

Philippine police official Brigadier General Alessandro Abella said the investigation was sparked by a tip off from Australian police.

'It highlights the cooperation and commitment we share in protecting children and arresting and prosecuting offenders in the Philippines and abroad,' Mr Abella said.

The childreen were rescued from a home in Angeles city about 90 minutes' drive north of Manila, the capital of the Philippines

Above, a woman carries a small child into a waiting police vehicle

AFP Detective Superintendent Jayne Crossling said what Federal officers did in pursuing cases such as this was 'heart-breaking work'.

'Whether children are in Australia or overseas, our teams never give up because they know that every day we can't identify a child is another day they are being abused.'

Officials from Australia and the UK set up a 'centre for excellence' in fighting the scourge of child abuse in the Philippines in February 2019.

In 2017 alone, a United States-based organisation dedicated to stopping child exploitation received 45,645 online tips about possible crimes in the Philippines.
My fiance and I booked a trip to Antigua in November to get married, just the two of us, for this January.

We had to cancel, due to Covid, with our flights totalling 1,149.96. Expedia gave us flight credit to that amount and said we could use the credit with British Airways, who our original flights were with.

I tried to re-book some flights, via Expedia, for April that were priced at 720.36, some 400 below our credit.

Not so premium service: A couple due to get married in Antigua were charged more than new customers would be when re-booking their flights

Therefore, we looked to upgrade to Premium Economy at a cost of 1,716.36 - or 560 more expensive than the credit we had.

However, after much time spent trying to get through to Expedia, I was told the change of booking, inclusive of upgrade, would cost us 1,004 more as the prices advertised were for new bookings only and not those re-booking. How is this fair?

Grace Gausden, consumer expert at This is Money, replies: It is fair to say the service you received from Expedia was less than premium.

You are unfortunately just one in a long line of customers who has had their holidays ruined due to the coronavirus.

Many have had their flights cancelled with thousands waiting months on end for refunds.

Like thousands of prospective holidaymakers, you had to cancel your flights due to the ongoing pandemic but decided to hedge your bets on re-booking for April as the vaccine rollout continues.

It is worth pointing out there that you only booked in November 2020, so it was a gamble given the pandemic state of play - but, Expedia, and other travel firms, are accepting bookings so it the industry must have believed there was a chance for trips to take place.

You also said you booked before the winter lockdowns were announced and knew you would both be able to self-isolate between Christmas and your original departure date to be as safe as possible.

When you called the number advertised on the website, you were bounced through Expedia's automated options before finally dealing with a human based in Arizona.

The agent took the details of the new flights, and put you on hold to find out the price. However, you claim they left you hanging for an hour.

As you lost patience, you hung-up and received a call later with a brief apology and informed the change of booking for the new flights, inclusive of the upgrade, would cost you and your fiance 500 each.

Confused as to why this quoted price was almost 500 more expensive than the website, you apologised, presuming you had got the dates wrong and said you would call back later after checking dates on the website.

After checking and realising there was no mistake, you contacted Expedia again through the online chat function, providing the agent with the new flight details and asking for an upgrade.

Expedia told customers re-booking flights they would have to pay more than new consumers

However, this time you were instead quoted with a price increase of over 502 each, making the total bill 2,153.96.

Querying why the price was so much higher than that advertised on their website you were told the online prices are for new bookings whereas those re-booking a customer-cancelled flight warranted an increased price.

You asked to speak to an Expedia manager to discuss this but despite promising to call within 24 hours, they never got in touch.

A second online chat with them days later resulted in the firm increasing the Premium Economy flight quote to 2,560.36 for the two of you.

This included your flight credit of 1,149.96 and a 1,410.40 'fare difference' despite these still being advertised on the Expedia website at a total of 1,716.38.

GRACE ON THE CASE Our new weekly column sees This is Money consumer expert Grace Gausden tackles reader problems and shines the light on companies doing both good and bad. Want her to investigate a problem, or do you want to praise a firm for going that extra mile? Get in touch: grace.gausden@thisismoney.co.uk

Understandably, you were incredibly frustrated by Expedia and its customer service as well as the fact the holiday booking site expected you to pay out over a thousand pounds simply because you were forced to cancel your existing booking.

I contacted Expedia and asked it to explain itself and why its policy favoured new customers, leaving existing ones with few options.

An Expedia spokesperson said: 'In this instance, the customer should have received the rate seen on Expedia.co.uk and we apologise for any miscommunication regarding this. We will contact the customer directly about this immediately.'

It booked in your flights at the rate shown on the site, meaning an extra cost of 560 for the two of you.

To apologise for any inconvenience, it has also agreed to give you a 100 hotel coupon to use on their next Expedia booking.

It is likely you were charged more as airlines and other travel booking sites often use dynamic pricing meaning that prices for new customers and existing customers can fluctuate.

This has resulted in quite a few instances of people having to pay more for their rebooked flights or holidays due to demand increasing or dates changing to peak travel times.

You are now happy with the outcome. However, if you have now rebooked, you might facing more woe with Transport Secretary Grant Shapps this week suggesting all holidays could be off the cards this year...

Without insurance to protect you, it is currently difficult to see at trip to Caribbean happening in the next eight weeks or so.

STILL ON THE CASE: Yet another VWFS story A couple of weeks ago, GOTC covered a story about a widow who was asked to pay out thousands to Volkswagen Financial Services to pay off her late husbands car finance plan, despite the firm initially saying all necessary payments had been made. Since then, I was contacted by another reader who had a different problem with the company. Jack bought a Seat car on finance from VWFS in June 2020. Unfortunately in July, he was involved in an accident in which his car was then written off. His insurance company requested a settlement figure from VWFS and the insurer paid the settlement figure they were given. Jack then tried to buy a new car, however, he was advised that there was still finance outstanding on his old car and he could therefore not get finance on a new one. However, when he contacted VWFS about this, it said this was an admin error and the file was clear. Jack is serving in the Armed Forces and therefore is away for long periods of time and in October 2020, when he was on leave, he received a letter stating that he owed VWFS 3,624.47. After contacting it again, he was told once again the balance was nil. However, Jack then received two further letters in November and December requesting payment. A debt recovery letter was also received in January 2021 stating that VWFS was going through a debt recovery process. His father called the company on his behalf as Jack was waiting to be deployed and was offered a 700 reduction to the 'outstanding' amount but he believed this was unfair and did not accept the offer. The ongoing issue has caused Jack and his family plenty of stress and grief - especially as Jack is unable to always respond to the letters sent immediately. Clearly, this sounds like an error on VWFS' behalf and so I contacted the firm to understand why it was consistently giving conflicting information to its customers. Fortunately, it agreed to write off the balance and clear Jack's credit file. It did not provide any information about why the confusion had taken place. A VWFS spokesperson said: 'We are unable to comment on individual customer cases, however in this situation we are currently working with the customer to agree the best solution moving forward. 'We ask all of our customers to inform us immediately if their vehicle has been written off in order for us to provide the most appropriate solution. 'We apologise for any confusion caused during our conversations with Mr P and on this occasion we are able to offer the customer a solution which hopefully resolves this matter.' I'm glad that Jack can now focus on his upcoming deployment and not have to worry about a debt hanging over his head.

Hit and miss: This week's naughty and nice list

Each week, I look at some of the companies that have fallen short of expected standards as well as those that have gone that extra mile for customers.

Miss: This week, Jessica, got in touch to say her elderly grandmother, who I shall refer to as Ms B, bought 150 worth of beauty products from Look Fantastic in November but the delivery failed to arrive.

At the time, Ms B sought a refund through the online portal but found this difficult to operate despite being very technically savvy.

Jessica found this out and offered to help. Her grandmother was vaccinated very early on and in early January, she received the second dose of the Pfizer vaccine.

She waited two weeks before going inside her grandmother's home to help her send in a form stating she had received no delivery.

However, Look Fantastic reviewed the form and said the parcel was delivered to the property by the courier and because there are pictures of it in the hands of 'the household', no refund is due.

One consumer found her delivery hadn't arrived despite the seller saying it had been delivered

After I contacted Look Fantastic, saying no photo had been shown to Ms B to prove the delivery, it turned out the full address wasn't provided on the order, with the flat number omitted.

The delivery was made successfully to the address provided but not to the flat as that number was not available.

A Look Fantastic spokesperson said: 'We are sorry Ms B had this experience. Once this was raised as a disputed delivery, we initiated an immediate investigation through both our customer service and fraud protection scheme to ascertain what happened.

'In this case the full address wasn't provided, with the flat number omitted, when the order was made. The item was delivered in good faith to the address provided and an individual took delivery of the parcel, with a photograph taken of the item at the address provided.

'We recognise and acknowledge that Ms B did not receive her goods and we have offered the customer a full refund and an additional credit on her account as a gesture of goodwill for the inconvenience caused in resolving this issue.'

Fortunately, your grandmother has now received a refund. Here's hoping it doesn't put her off using the internet to shop again - and it always pays to doublecheck your address.

Hit: Perhaps surprisingly, given recent events, reader David is this week heaping praise on budget airline Ryanair.

He said: 'Last year my holiday flight with Ryanair did not go ahead. It had been booked in 2019 but when Covid came along in 2020 it was a flight cancelled by the company themselves and I was offered a credit note, free transfer or full refund.

'I opted for the refund and although it didn't initially arrive, a web chat conversation and prompt follow up email confirmation from Ryanair resulted in my original payment method receiving the funds a few weeks later in full.

'A second flight for this March has also now been cancelled by Ryanair, although to be fair, I had given up any hope of travel some months ago. Again, I opted for a refund and have now received confirmation that it too has been processed.

'The company does get a lot of stick and abuse. All I wish to say is that in my experience, although they may not have covered themselves with glory on all occasions, they aren't the scoundrels and rascals some would have us believe.'

It is nice to hear some positive news about airlines and their customer service after an incredibly difficult 12 months for the aviation industry and its customers.
Fintech company has raised $108 million in a Series D equity round, at a valuation of $900 million. The financial services company for merchants raised $90 million in a primary fundraising and also ensured secondary exit for its angel investors and employees for a $18 million.

The round was led by the companys existing investor Coatue Management. All 7 existing institutional investors participated in the round. These include Ribbit Capital, Insight Partners, Steadview Capital, Beenext, Amplo and Sequoia Capital. With this round, the company has raised a total of $268 million in equity and debt to date.

We, at BharatPe, do not celebrate fundraises  it is akin to procuring raw material, said Ashneer Grover, co-founder and CEO, We are super excited though to have returned Rs 125 crore of capital to angels and all ESOP (employee stock ownership plan) holders, earning them one of the highest returns on investment. The team is committed to making money for all stakeholders  investors, lenders, borrowers, employees and banks, he said.

The Delhi-based company, which competes with players like Pine Labs, Paytm and Mswipe provides payment technology and digital lending for offline businesses, including kiranas.

With the balance sheet well capitalized (more than $200 million in the bank), we are now going to keep our heads down and deliver $30 billion total payment volume (TPV) and build a loan book of $700 million with small merchants by March 2023, said Grover.

The new financing was one of the fastest funding round closures for any startup in India. The Series D round got oversubscribed within the last two weeks of December 2020. In the Series D round, existing institutional investors of the company showed their intent to consolidate the cap table. Hence, gave the opportunity to all angels and ESOP holders to liquidate.

The company is seeing rapid growth, as the Covid-19 pandemic has significantly accelerated digital payments. BharatPes payments business has grown 5x and its lending business has grown 10x in the last 12 months. We are committed to building Indias largest B2B financial services company that can serve as one-stop destination for small merchants, said Grover.

Last month, the company announced that it had raised Rs 249 crore ($35 million) in debt from all three top venture debt providers  Alteria Capital, InnoVen Capital and Trifecta Capital.

The firm is facilitating over Rs 200 crore of loans to its merchant partners every month through its non-banking financial company (NBFC) partners. It has also deployed more than 50,000 point of sale (POS) machines. The firm has been on an expansion spree and currently has a presence in 75 cities in the country.

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La Jolla, California--(Newsfile Corp. - February 11, 2021) - Tryp Therapeutics (CSE: TRYP) ("Tryp" or the "Company") a pharmaceutical company focused on identifying and developing clinical-stage compounds for diseases with high unmet medical needs, announced today it has executed an advisory agreement with Dr. Joel Castellanos, a noted chronic pain physician at UC San Diego Medical Center to join the company's Scientific Advisory Board. He will guide Tryp's clinical development of TRP-8802 for neuropathic pain indications. Dr. Castellanos is the lead author of, "Chronic pain and psychedelics: a review and proposed mechanism of action", which was published online in Regional Anesthesia & Pain Medicine on May 4, 2020.

"I'm eager to work with Tryp on their psilocybin program to treat neuropathic pain, a type of pain that originates in the nerve itself including phantom limb pain. These conditions are widespread and particularly challenging to treat with current drugs," said Dr. Castellanos. "It is clear that we are in need of significantly more effective and safe treatment options. Psychedelic drugs, used in conjunction with psychotherapy, are one of the most promising new therapies being studied for this condition."

"We are absolutely thrilled to begin working with Dr. Castellanos," stated Dr. Jim Kuo, Tryp's CEO. "Dr. Castellanos is a highly experienced clinician and leading scientist in studying psilocybin for neuropathic pain conditions, one of our two core areas."

About Dr. Joel Castellanos:

Dr. Joel Castellanos, MD, is a board-certified physical medicine and rehabilitation physician who is fellowship trained in pain medicine. Dr Castellanos is a member of the "Psychedelics and Health Research Initiative" at UC San Diego "PHRI", a collaborative endeavor cutting across multiple divisions and departments of UC San Diego.

Dr. Castellano is also an associate professor in the Department of Anesthesiology at UC San Diego School of Medicine, Dr. Castellanos instructs pain medicine fellows, as well as medical students, and residents in their pain rotations. Dr. Castellanos completed his fellowship in pain medicine at UC San Diego School of Medicine. He completed residency training in physical medicine and rehabilitation at University of Michigan Medical School, where he also completed a two-year program in healthcare administration. Dr. Castellanos earned his medical degree from University of Toledo College of Medicine in Ohio. He is board certified in physical medicine and rehabilitation and pain medicine.

Dr. Castellanos is an active member of numerous medical organizations including the American Academy of Pain Medicine, the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, the International Association for the Study of Pain, and the North American Neuromodulation Society.

About Tryp Therapeutics:

Tryp Therapeutics is a pharmaceutical company focused on developing compounds with known activity and/or safety profiles for the treatment of rare diseases and other diseases with high unmet medical needs. Tryp's psilocybin-for-neuropsychiatric disorders, or PFN, program is focused on the development of synthetic psilocybin as a new class of drug for the treatment of certain neuropsychiatric-based disorders. Tryp's lead PFN drug candidate is TRP-8802 for the treatment of fibromyalgia, a chronic pain syndrome estimated to affect more than 5 million people in the United States.

In addition to its PFN Program, Tryp is developing TRP-1001, an oral formulation of razoxane for the treatment of soft tissue sarcoma. Soft tissue sarcomas are a rare and diverse group of tumors that account for about 1% of all cancers in adults and 7% in children. Based on the prevalence of soft tissue sarcomas in the United States, Tryp believes it is a rare disease and that TRP-1001 should qualify for Orphan Drug status.

Contact:

For inquiries, please contact us at:

TRYP Investor Relations

T: 1-833-811-TRYP (8797)

E: investors@tryptherapeutics.com

Forward-Looking Information

Certain information in this news release, including statements relating to the anticipated closing date of the Placement, constitutes forward-looking information. In some cases, but not necessarily in all cases, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "targets", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "an opportunity exists", "is positioned", "estimates", "intends", "assumes", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate" or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "will" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". In addition, any statements that refer to expectations, projections or other characterizations of future events or circumstances contain forward-looking information. Statements containing forward-looking information are not historical facts but instead represent management's expectations, estimates and projections regarding future events.

Forward-looking information is necessarily based on a number of opinions, assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by Tryp as of the date of this news release, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to the factors described in greater detail in the "Risk Factors" section of Tryp's final prospectus available at www.sedar.com. These factors are not intended to represent a complete list of the factors that could affect Tryp; however, these factors should be considered carefully. There can be no assurance that such estimates and assumptions will prove to be correct. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release, and Tryp expressly disclaims any obligation to update or alter statements containing any forward-looking information, or the factors or assumptions underlying them, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

NEITHER THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER HAS REVIEWED OR ACCEPTED 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/74229


SCHENECTADY  Nicolle D. Harris, pastor of the first Black church in the city, will be sworn in Thursday as the head of the local chapter of the nations oldest civil rights organization.

The ceremony for Harris and other executive board members is slated to take place virtually during the group's monthly membership meeting, which gets underway 6:30 p.m. Thursday.
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP)  At least 75 vehicles were involved in a massive car crash Thursday morning on an icy interstate in Texas as a winter storm dropped freezing rain, sleet and snow on parts of the U.S., officials said.

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported that at least five people were killed and dozens were injured after a crash on I-35W northbound near downtown Fort Worth Thursday morning. The crash involved 75 to 100 vehicles, including 18-wheelers as well as police and MedStar vehicles, the newspaper reported.

First responders took about 30 people to hospitals after the crash, MedStar spokesman Matt Zavadsky told the newspaper. He said some of those people were critically injured.

Farther south, in Austin, more than two dozen vehicles were involved in a pileup on an icy road, and one person was injured, emergency officials said.

Elsewhere, ice storm warnings were in effect from Arkansas to Kentucky, while another winter storm was predicted to bring snow to Mid-Atlantic states, the National Weather Service said.

More than 125,000 homes and businesses were without electricity Thursday morning, largely in Kentucky and West Virginia.

More:

Overnight snow storms to finish up Thursday morning, but more is on the way

Heres how much more snow could fall in Pennsylvania this week: interactive map
The ads poured into Craigslist overnight, offering to drive 75-year-old residents to their vaccine appointments.

Will PAY $200 to assist 75+ year old with COVID vaccine process, wrote one user in Allston.

I will pay you $100 to book with me instead of those other posts..., another, based in Cambridge, wrote Thursday afternoon.

The flood of online ads offering rides to vaccination sites in Massachusetts quickly gained attention  not as signs of generosity, but as attempts for strangers to use older residents to skip the line and get a COVID-19 vaccine. Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker warned against these reports.

We have heard some pretty disturbing reports of some people trying to take advantage of this program already with some people posting online trying to get a senior to bring them to a vaccination site, Baker said during a news conference at the East Boston Neighborhood Health Center. If youre 75 years or older and you need assistance going through the vaccination process, you should only reach out to somebody that you know or trust to bring you as your companion.

Baker said thats a child, a personal companion, a spouse, a neighbor or a caregiver. If youre contacted by somebody soliciting to take you to a site, please report it to the authorities, he said.

Having recently started Phase 2, the state allows only residents ages 75 and up to get a COVID-19 vaccine unless the person is already prioritized under Phase 1. But state officials said Wednesday they would allow caregivers get a vaccine appointment if they are taking people ages 75 and up to their own appointments.

Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders said a companion can be a professional caregiver, or it can be a spouse, child, trusted neighbor or friend who is helping the person get to the appointment.

That de facto caregiver would simply need to attest online to being a trusted companion of the person getting vaccinated, according to state officials.

As the state opened up 74,000 appointments at its sites, ads flooded Craigslist. They range from simple offers of rides with no mention of the vaccine perk for companions, to offers of hundreds of dollars and a ride in exchange for a vaccine.

The state announced today that vaccines are open to those providing transportation to eligible groups, one of the ads states. Ill gladly drive someone who is eligible if we can coordinate on dates / times to get a vaccine. Im in Cambridge but willing to drive wherever is available (especially on a weekend). Youd have to be comfortable traveling in a small 2 seater.

Lawmakers criticized the trend, posting screenshots of the ads.

Totally Normal for your states vaccination plan to create a market on Craigslist for people willing to pay to drive seniors to their appointments, Rep. Steve Owens, a Watertown Democrat, said in a tweet.

Totally Normal for your state's vaccination plan to create a market on Craigslist for people willing to pay to drive seniors to their appointments. pic.twitter.com/5CosCWsz30  Steve Owens (@VoteSteveOwens) February 11, 2021

Rep. Mike Connolly, a Cambridge Democrat, criticized the buddy system proposed by the Baker administration. He also alluded to Baker, a former Harvard Pilgrim executive, calling the latest expansion for self-described caregivers inequitable.

Behold: "The Buddy System." If only we had a good manager with healthcare experience in charge of the state's vaccination program. Yes, this will improve efficiency, but it's an incoherent policy that puts #equity further out of reach (and potentially puts seniors in danger). pic.twitter.com/SOMbPScjaN  Mike Connolly (@MikeConnollyMA) February 11, 2021

MassLive responded to several Craigslist ads. Most did not immediately respond. One poster responded via email saying she has since deleted her post.

I honestly thought it was a Boston internet joke at first and figured if it worked on the tiniest chance and got me a vaccine, then I might as well try it out (which is why it sounded so serious and thought out and included a picture), said the poster, who identified herself only as a 27-year-old woman. It was funny while I still thought it was a joke, now I realize people are actually serious about this and its morally questionable. I hope that others take accountability for their actions as well.

Related Content:
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'Illness-phobic' billionaire Petra Ecclestone has defended travelling to seven countries in lockdown to 'escape coronavirus', claiming that 'others would if they could'.

The heiress, 32, has travelled with her fiance Sam Palmer, 37, and four children from London to Croatia to LA, then Switzerland, Monaco and France, then back to LA and Monaco, then The Maldives and back to Monaco since March last year.

Talking to the Times' T2, Petra asserted she hasn't broken rules and said: 'Were currently in Monaco. For now. Not sure where well be next week . . . Were very Covid-conscious. Weve flown completely around the world to try and miss it. What I think weve realised now is you cant run from coronavirus.'

The couple returned to London from their home in LA just as the pandemic hit last year and they hardly left the house at this point.

'We've flown around the world to try to escape coronavirus': 'Illness-phobic' billionaire Petra Ecclestone has defended travelling to seven countries in lockdown and asserted she hasn't broken rules and claims 'others would if they could' (pictured in Croatia last summer)

They then flew to Croatia to stay on her Formula One boss dad Bernie's yacht for one month in the summer.

But because her sister Tamara, 36, and her father Bernie, 90, were both in Switzerland with their families, they decided to go there so their children could partake in outdoor activities instead of being cooped up at home.

As the virus grew, the family travelled to Monaco after two months because 'it has done very well for coronavirus,' Sam noted.

Getting away from it all: Sam shared this picture of himself with Petra and their four children (who they doesn't picture publicly) on their holiday in the Maldives in January

Envious: The couple haven't been afraid to share pictures from the Waldorf Astoria on their luxury trip, while Brits are forced to stay at home - but they haven't broken the rules

Despite schools being open there, the couple have been home-schooling their children but their nanny-housekeeper contracted coronavirus and so they've been doing everything themselves.

Acknowledging how difficult single mothers would be finding this situation, homeschooling in an apartment, Sam said, 'we can't really complain.'

Petra regards herself as being illness-phobic due to a near-death experience with meningitis when she was aged 14.

Goodbye for now: Back in June, sister Tamara revealed she's been crying non-stop after saying goodbye to her sister Petra in Croatia (pictured with daughter Sophia, six)

'Missing my best friend': Tamara wrote: 'So hard to say goodbye it's always hard but this time especially so with the uncertainty of not knowing when we will see each other next'

Farewell for now: The family had been staying on Bernie's 28million yacht, but Petra, her fiance Sam and her children boarded a private jet to fly back to LA afterwards

Coming home: The recruitment consultant wrote: 'After 4 months a global pandemic, a new baby and 2 different countries.... We are finally on our way home..'

She noted: 'Im a huge hypochondriac. I hate germs and anything that Im not in 100 per cent control over gives me anxiety. So this whole virus . . . it scares me and it isnt great for my anxiety. '

Petra's father Bernie is worth $3.2billion and Petra famously sold her LA home for 97 million in 2019 - Essex born Sam who was new to this lifestyle noticed ways to cut costs and launched a staffing agency to the super-rich as a result.

While the couple, who have been together since 2017, know they get to live a privileged lifestyle, they are unapologetic for the benefits this has given them, particularly in lockdown.

Seeing the sights: The family travelled to London from LA when the pandemic started taking hold in April

Trip of a lifetime: Sam had been littering his Instagram with snaps from their time away in Croatia

Making memories: Petra and Sam appeared to have the time of their lives with the children

Reunited: In August, the family joined up with sister Tamara and father Bernie in G'Staad, Switzerland so they could give their children more of an outdoors lifestyle

A lunch in France: The couple popped to Paris for a bite to eat at La Petite Maison in October

Making it work: While many Brits were kept apart from their families, Christmas was certainly not cancelled for this family in Monaco

WHAT WAS THE COVID SITUATION IN THE COUNTRIES THEY VISITED? London, April The capital was at the epicentre of Britain's first wave in April, recording a peak of 208 Covid deaths a day. Fatalities did not rise above this level during the second wave. The Department of Health also published case figures for this time, but these are considered to be a significant underestimation because the UK's testing scheme wasn't working until well into June. Croatia, June The Eastern European country was suffering less than one death from the virus a day during this month, figures compiled by Our World in Data show. California, July When they touched down in the American state it was registering around 85 Covid deaths a day, which continued to rise throughout the month to 125 by the start of August. The state's infection rate was at about 15 cases per 100,000 people a day, rising to 20 by the next month. Gstaad, Switzerland, August When they stayed here Switzerland was beginning to see an uptick in coronavirus cases, which rose to an average of 300 a day nationwide by the end of the month. But this was well below the peak in November when the country was registering more than 8,000 cases. Monaco, September and October The 202-hectare country on the edge of France recorded less than 10 cases of the virus a day until October 23, when 14 were detected. France, October Covid-19 cases began to take off in France during their visit as the winter months approached. The number registered daily almost quadrupled during October, rising from 110,665 a week on October 5 to 382,553 a week on November 2. Los Angeles, December The 4million-strong city began to feel the full force of the second wave over Christmas. Official data from the LA county health authority reveals Covid-19 cases doubled in this month - from 6,500 to 13,071 cases a day on average. Covid deaths also quadrupled from 39 to 186 fatalities a day on average. Monaco, December As the rest of Europe battled the pandemic with lockdowns and ordering its citizens to stay home, Monaco was still recording less than 15 cases a day according to Our World in Data. The Maldives, January Coronavirus cases in the archipelago continued to rise in January, jumping four-fold from 31.6 to 121.1 a day on average by the end of the month, figures from Our World in Data show. Average deaths from the virus, however, remained below one a day. Monaco, again The 202-hectare country was recording more than a hundred cases a day by February. Advertisement

He added: 'A lot of people get blinded by the wealth. We are parents with four children. I think people think that we sit around eating lobster and bathing in champagne. It couldnt be further from the truth and thats really why we did this [P.S Say Cheese] podcast, to show we are very normal people.'

The couple also touch upon their holiday last month in the Maldives and were asked if they are worried about being judged in these coronavirus times as envious Brits back home remain banned for non-essential travel.

Nothing that, 'were living in a country where youre able to travel', Sam asserted that there is always going to be a wealth divide.

He said: 'Precoronavirus there were people starving in the world. Everyone was still posting pictures of food... Its like the world has to pretend there isnt wealth any more. Theres still the same problems systematically. And I think probably a lot of it theyve turned on to other people.'

And while Petra, who was previously married to bullion dealer James Stunt from 2011-2017, acknowledges that the fact she gets to travel is 'unfair' but said that 'if others had the opportunity, theyd go on holiday too.'

Her sister Tamara was criticised for living in up in G'Staad and then travelling to Dubai, but she maintains she travelled from Switzerland and not the UK, not breaking regulations.

Tamara's husband Jay revealed to MailOnline that the family have no plans to return to London following the dramatic security lapse that led to a multi-million pound jewel heist at her West London home in December 2019.

Jurors at a recent trial related to the burglary heard the home was so huge that security staff did not notice the thieves breaking in through the back garden or plundering several rooms of the house during the hour-long raid.

One guard was not on duty at the property in exclusive Kensington because he had gone to Tesco to buy groceries including vegetables for a roast dinner, the court was told.

Speaking from Dubai about their plans, Jay told MailOnline: 'We do not intend to return to the UK from Dubai.

'There are a host of reasons why we are not going back to London any time soon and security is one of them.

'The truth is we are playing it month by month and watching how the situation develops.'

Meanwhile, Jay denied he and Tamara had broken travel restrictions as he explained:

'We have not broken the lockdown rules to come Dubai, that is not what we have done.

'At the beginning of the outbreak last year we really stuck to the rules.

'From March to May we locked down and did not leave the house [in London].

'We went to Croatia in [June] the summer, but that was only after the rules changed and everyone was allowed to travel.

'From there we went to Switzerland and we stayed there until Christmas when we came here to Dubai.

'There are a host of reasons why are not planning to return to London any time soon.

'Security is one of them but certainly not the only reason.

'There is not a strict plan about when we are going to return to the UK or to Switzerland. Switzerland is in lockdown as well.

'Therefore, my gallery is closed and I can do any work I need to do remotely.

'We are here on an extended holiday while all this stuff is going on.'

Find out more about the podcast @pssaycheese on Instagram. To donate to Petras Place go to petrasplace.co.uk

With his girls: Formula 1 boss Bernie Ecclestone with daughters Petra and Tamara (pictured in 2017)
Ever wondered what happened to that restaurant you once loved and have memories of dining at with your family and friends? We did! There is an amazing website called Lost Tables, dedicated to celebrating the restaurants of our past. We are partnering with the sites creator Harley Hammerman and celebrating these wonderful stories. Hammerman and his wife Marlene are members of Shaare Emeth, and she is past president of the National Council of Jewish Women of St. Louis. Visit Lost Tables on Facebook

Remembering Lake Forest

Henry Schaumberg Jr. was born in 1872 in Kansas. Schaumberg is listed in 1895-1898 city directories as a draftsman, and after 1898 as an architect. Although his name is associated with many houses in south St. Louis and the Skinker DeBaliviere neighborhood, much later in his career Schaumberg designed a bakery, shop and garage in the city of Clayton.

Schaumbergs Art Deco design was executed by builder H. Beetz and Son in 1940 at the corner of Clayton Road and Bemiston. The August 26, 1940 building permit lists the cost of the construction at $14,500. A $700 addition to the shop was built in 1945 and a $6,000 addition to the bakery and garage was constructed in 1946.

Art Deco provided a convenient means of giving identity to small commercial buildings that might otherwise have lacked character. Schaumbergs design achieved its modern look with cubist massing, glass block and yellow glazed brickwork with orange stripes.

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Schaumberg designed his building at 7737 Clayton Road for baker Carl Bollenmueller. It was the last St. Louis bakery built with a second-story living quarters. Bollenmueller named his enterprise Lake Forest Pastry Shop.

More from Lost Tables: Remembering Yacovellis

Carl Bollenmueller was born Karl Bollenmueller in Oberbaldinger, Germany in 1886. He immigrated to the United States in 1923. Before moving into his bakery and home on Clayton Road in 1940, Bollenmueller was listed in the 1933 St. Louis City Directory as having a retail bakery at 3305 Arsenal.

By 1950, Lake Forest Pastry Shop had changed hands. The new owner was Walter Schuchardt.

Walter Robert Schuchardt was born in St. Louis in 1905. As early as 1929, he owned the Schuchardt Pastry Shop at 3538 Gravois Avenue, living above the bakery with his family. When he moved his bakery and home to 7737 Clayton Road, he kept the existing Lake Forest moniker.

Walter Schuchardt was adept at promoting his bakery. In February of 1952, when Eddie Cantor was in St. Louis for a fundraiser, Schuchardt designed a cake for the famed comedians sixtieth birthday. In 1956, Schuchardt was elected president of the Associated Retail Bakers of America.

Schuchardt was an innovative baker. A story in the September issue of Bakers Weekly gave Schuchardt credit for developing the German Chocolate Cake.
COLUMBUS, Ohio, Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- While the risk of COVID-19 poses the greatest threat to the elderly, it's also taking a toll on the people they rely on most: their caregivers. This is particularly true in the Black community, where the pandemic presents new sources of stress, both physically and financially.

A new Nationwide Retirement Institute survey of 313 Black caregivers commissioned in September 2020 reveals the toll the pandemic has taken on those providing care. Many current caregivers are worried that they can't protect their loved one from getting sick (67%) and among all caregivers, more than half feel that they can't take a day off (54%).

As Black caregivers struggle to balance work and caregiving, many also have concerns about their financial security, with only 58% answering that they are prepared financially for current or potential caregiving responsibilities (vs. 67% of all caregivers).

Among all U.S. adults, there is a surprising gap in financial literacy regarding the cost associated with being a caregiver. Only about half of Millennials (51%) and Gen Xers (46%) and only about a third of Boomers+ (35%) are knowledgeable about how much it costs to be a caregiver.

For Black caregivers, these costs average more than $5,000 a year and are an unwelcome sacrifice. More than 8 in 10 Black caregivers (83%) believe they should be able to provide care without dipping into their savings. Despite this, some may find themselves in this position, as around a third are worried they'll be unable to provide money they had planned for their children (33%) or unable to retire one day (30%) because of caregiving expenses.

"The pandemic has disproportionately impacted the Black community greater than other populations," said Kristi Rodriguez, senior vice president of the Nationwide Retirement Institute. "Many Black caregivers are struggling to balance work while providing care or have experienced a financial hit due to COVID-19. Despite these obstacles, they continue to provide care for their loved ones every day."

Fighting through the storm

Many current Black caregivers feel the pandemic has prevented them from providing the care they once did (49%) and has made it nearly impossible to complete their caregiving duties (44%). In addition, half (49%) say the pandemic has impacted their financial ability to provide care. What's more, two-thirds of current Black caregivers are avoiding everyone so they can stay healthy and keep caregiving (67%) and 57% feel they can't afford to get sick because no one else can provide care for their loved one.

"Caregiving can be financially, emotionally and physically exhausting, but it also is a rewarding experience that changes you as a person," said Rodriguez. "The challenges of caregiving are exacerbated by the pandemic; it is an especially stressful time."

Nearly three-quarters of current Black caregivers (73%) wish they had more help with their caregiving duties because of the increased stress of the pandemic. In fact, one in six (17%) say they have had to look for additional caregiving help because of the pandemic, but two thirds of Black caregivers (67%) would not be comfortable having an at-home care provider, because of the pandemic.

The pandemic has also disrupted the intimacy between caregivers and the loved ones they look after. More than half of current Black caregivers (52%) say they use video calls some or all of the time now to provide virtual caregiving, and nearly six in ten (59%) say social distancing makes their job as a caregiver more difficult.

Fear of not being there

Black caregivers are far more likely to say they chose to take on the role of caregiver (71%) and, if given the choice, most (73%) would choose to be a caregiver all over again. In fact, more than two in three Black caregivers (68%) say their biggest fear is not being able to provide care for their loved one.

As a result of being a caregiver, 49% say they have become closer to the person they care for, 34% report being a caregiver brought meaning and purpose into their life, and 29% say caregiving brought their family closer. In addition, more than two in three (69%) current Black caregivers say their family members are helping them with caregiving now that they are home more.

The dual life of a young Black caregiver

More and more, Millennials and Gen Xers are surpassing Boomers+ as the caregivers in their families, typically caring for an aging parent. For younger generations already struggling with work-life balance, this new role amounts to a second job. In the Black community, the workload can be stressful with caregivers spending an average of 32 hours a week providing care. In addition, Millennial Black caregivers spend $6,832 a year in out-of-pocket expenses on caregiving, and Black Gen Xers spend an average of $5,694.

Younger Black caregivers have the added stress of worrying about how their job could impact their caregiving duties. More than one in three Millennials (35%) and Gen Xers (38%) say they are afraid their responsibilities at work could cause them to have to stop providing care to their loved one, and some (32% Millennials, 42% Gen Xers) are even afraid their caregiving duties could cause them to lose their job.

"The pandemic is really bringing a sense of urgency for many Black Americans  especially younger generations  to focus on things such as financial planning, putting your health first and long-term care planning," said Rodriguez. "One of the greatest gifts you can give your loved ones is having a plan for when you need caregiving."

Back-up plan for care

Black caregivers who are familiar with long-term care are much more likely than all adults 24+ who are familiar with long-term care to have discussed long-term care with their family (64% vs. 41%) and about two-thirds of Black caregivers (65%) have a back-up plan if they can no longer provide care for their loved one. Most commonly, that plan involves another family member caring for them (50%).

While most Black caregivers say the pandemic has made it more important than ever to have long-term care insurance (92% vs. 81% adults 24+), not nearly as many Americans have long-term care insurance in place (8%*). Only one in 20 (4%) Black Americans say they have talked to a financial professional about long-term care costs.

"Amid today's uncertainty, it is more important than ever to work with a financial professional and use online tools to help plan for the unexpected and make long-term goals a reality," Rodriguez said. "The good news is that nearly half (48%) of all Black caregivers say they are working with a financial professional for the first time as a result of the pandemic."

To simplify this complicated issue and encourage discussions around health care and long-term costs in retirement, Nationwide's Health Care/LTC Cost Assessment tool provides a meaningful, personalized cost estimate that will help financial professionals and clients plan for future medical and long-term care expenses.

To learn more about the 2020 Black Caregivers Survey, visit www.nationwide.com/ltcinsights. Financial professionals can learn more at www.nationwidefinancial.com/ltcinsights.

Methodology

The 2020 Nationwide Retirement Institute Black Caregivers survey was conducted online by The Harris Poll on behalf of The Nationwide Retirement Institute within the United States between Aug. 25 and Sept. 16, 2020 among 313 Black adults aged 24 and over who are or have been caregivers. Caregivers are defined as those who have ever or are now providing paid or unpaid long-term care to a friend or family member, not through an agency, business, or non-governmental organization. Those who care(d) only for a child under 18 or a child over 18 born with a disability did not qualify as a caregiver for this survey.

The 2020 Nationwide Retirement Institute Long-term Care survey was conducted online within the United States between Aug. 25 and Sept. 16, 2020 among 959 adults aged 24 and over by The Harris Poll on behalf of The Nationwide Retirement Institute. The survey also included 308 adults 24+ who are or have been caregivers.

Respondents for these surveys were selected from among those who have agreed to participate in our surveys. Because the sample is based on those who agreed to participate in the online panel, no estimates of theoretical sampling error can be calculated. Data are weighted where necessary by age by gender, race/ethnicity, region, education, income, marital status, household size, and propensity to be online to bring them in line with their actual proportions in the population.

About The Harris Poll

The Harris Poll is one of the longest running surveys in the U.S. tracking public opinion, motivations and social sentiment since 1963 and is now part of Harris Insights & Analytics, a global consulting and market research firm that delivers social intelligence for transformational times. We work with clients in three primary areas; building twenty-first-century corporate reputation, crafting brand strategy and performance tracking, and earning organic media through public relations research. Our mission is to provide insights and advisory to help leaders make the best decisions possible. To learn more, please visit www.theharrispoll.com.

About Nationwide

Nationwide, a Fortune 100 company based in Columbus, Ohio, is one of the largest and strongest diversified insurance and financial services organizations in the United States. Nationwide is rated A+ by both A.M. Best and Standard & Poor's. An industry leader in driving customer-focused innovation, Nationwide provides a full range of insurance and financial services products including auto, business, homeowners, farm and life insurance; public and private sector retirement plans, annuities and mutual funds; excess & surplus, specialty and surety; pet, motorcycle and boat insurance. For more information, visit www.nationwide.com. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

* There are 93 million people age 55 and older (Kaiser Family Foundation  Population Distribution by Age Report for 2018). Only 7.5 million people of any age have LTC coverage. (American Association of Long-Term Care Insurance  AALCTCI, 2020 Report)

This material is not a recommendation to buy, sell, hold, or rollover any asset, adopt an investment strategy, retain a specific investment manager or use a particular account type. It does not take into account the specific investment objectives, tax and financial condition or particular needs of any specific person. Investors should work with their financial professional to discuss their specific situation.

This information is general in nature and is not intended to be tax, legal, accounting or other professional advice. The information provided is based on current laws, which are subject to change at any time, and has not been endorsed by any government agency.

Nationwide and The Harris Poll are separate and non-affiliated companies.

Nationwide Investment Services Corporation (NISC), member FINRA, Columbus, OH. Nationwide Retirement Institute is a division of NISC.

Nationwide, the Nationwide N and Eagle, Nationwide is on your side and Nationwide Retirement Institute are service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company  Nationwide 2020

NFM-20570AO

Contact:

Charley Gillespie

[email protected]om

SOURCE Nationwide

Related Links

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Agreement will help fuel Liquid Avatar's expansion to the UK and Caribbean.

TORONTO, CA and LONDON, UK and ST. MICHAELS, BARBADOS / ACCESSWIRE / February 11, 2021 / KABN Systems NA Holdings Corp. (CSE:KABN)(OTC PINK:TRWRF)(FRA:4T51) (the "Company", "KABN North America" or "KABN NA") (www.kabnsystemsna.com), a North American Fintech solutions company specializing in empowering individuals to manage, control and generate value from their biometrically verified Self Sovereign Identity ("SSI") through its Liquid Avatar (www.liquidavatar.com) platform, is pleased to announce that it has entered into an initial agreement with the Gibraltar holding company of London, UK and St. Michael's, Barbados based Tokenise International Limited ("Tokenise") (www.tokenise.io), a multi-jurisdictional regulated financial services organization.

Together, the Companies are working on initiatives to integrate Liquid Avatar with Tokenise and issue verifiable identity credentials to account holders and to use these credentials to gain access to Tokenise financial and brokerage services and other related platforms, starting in the UK and Barbados.

Tokenise operates Kession Capital Limited, a London-based broker dealer that is authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom. Tokenise offers issuers and investors the ability to tokenize crowdfunding programs through the purchase, sale, and exchange of blockchain based securities. Kession also acts as a UK conduit to the Tokenise Stock Exchange, a fully regulated stock exchange in Barbados providing global primary issuance and secondary market trading, promoting financial inclusion and asset diversification, and focusing exclusively on tokenized securities and Tokenise Brokerage to support the onboarding efforts of global investors. Tokenise is also exploring expansion opportunities into Canada.

With Digital Identity applications addressable to up to 100% of the online market, the financial services market is a primary opportunity for Liquid Avatar's Verifiable Credentials Ecosystem announced earlier this month. By accessing a biometrically enabled verifiable identity credential that a user can store in their Liquid Avatar wallet, Tokenise will be able to verify and validate customers allowing them to securely and safely access their accounts based on their known and verified digital identity. The program is expected to commence by early Q3 2021.

Tokenise provides customers and blockchain based issuers with a safe, secure, and regulated supported environment to purchase and exchange securities and is considered to be the first global digital Self Regulated Organization ("SRO") to focus exclusively on tokenized products.

The Tokenise Stock Exchange will support a wide range of company and program listings including but not limited to tokenized real estate, art, collectibles, businesses and enterprises, celebrity and influencer ventures, cannabis and potentially psychedelics initiatives, digital currency ETFs, and other digitized assets.

"With the rise in awareness and acceptance of digital currencies, like Bitcoin, Ethereum and other Altcoins, it naturally follows that investors will want to investigate and potentially invest in blockchain based securities and Tokenise is eager to support this global, growing opportunity," said Mike Kessler, CEO, Tokenise International Limited. "The Liquid Avatar platform and its verifiable identity credential provides Tokenise with a potentially effective and efficient way to continuously verify our customers and afford them increased security and safety to manage their digitized assets."

Liquid Avatar will be releasing its live, open beta app globally in Google Play and Apple App Store on February 18, 2021, subject to all final approvals. Liquid Avatar will launch in phases, as the Company prepares and tests additional service and program offerings to make it easier for users to become familiar with the Liquid Avatar platform, Self Sovereign Identity and Verifiable Credentials.

"We are excited to have the opportunity to work with Tokenise to support their growing global needs for customer verification and validation and account authentication," said David Lucatch, CEO, KABN North America. "We believe that by linking Liquid Avatar and verifiable identity credentials, users can use their biometrics and digital credentials to sign in and access their accounts from multiple devices anywhere in the world, potentially providing increased protection of their digital information and valuables."

Liquid Avatar, available at no cost to consumers, makes it easy for individuals to start and maintain the process of managing their SSI/digital identity while giving users the ability to share it with their friends, family, colleagues, and others easily, safely, and cryptographically secure through biometrically enabled Self Sovereign Identity tools and services.

The Liquid Avatar platform allows users to create high quality digital icon representations of the various facets of their online personalities and identity, which can be used to easily share what they want, when they want, and with whom they want. Liquid Avatar users will also be able to create digital wallets to manage and store a wide range of verifiable identity and access credentials, and to take their conventional identity online, allowing users to prove themselves as easily and effectively as they do in the "physical world".

As a verified platform, an individual user of Liquid Avatar can only have one account (with possibly multiple digital personas) which potentially reduces the ability for bad actors to create bots and fake accounts. Liquid Avatar users know that when they use and interact with other Liquid Avatar users, they are dealing with real, known people.

Liquid Avatar users are able to select from 1000's of combinations of facial features to create their perfect digital representations of themselves - all at no cost. Users can also visit the Liquid Avatar Marketplace (www.liquidavatarmarketplace.com) if they are interested in purchasing custom icons from leading pop-culture, anime, and comic book artists. In the future, users will also be able to upload certain personalized images and logos to represent their avatars.

While Liquid Avatar is free to consumers and KABN and Liquid Avatar never sells or rents data, the Company believes that verified, known users can create increased value for themselves and select marketers and vendors as they look to reach real people and not fake users or bots. Through the Liquid Avatar platform and approved, permission-based communications, Liquid Avatar will offer up value-based opportunities users can select. At the same time, Liquid Avatar partners who want to reach real, known users will be willing to provide increased value as they won't be spending money to reach fake users and bots.

KABN NA also has its KABN KASH rewards and loyalty program, with over 300 major online vendors, that will provide Liquid Avatar users with cash back incentives for purchases they make through KABN KASH. This program, together with the KABN Visa Card (initially available in Canada with the US and other regions under review), provides users with new and innovative ways to create and earn value.

KABN NA will earn potential revenues through card transaction fees, comarketing, bounties, commissions, and other fees paid by partners and vendors. The Company believes that other consumer and revenue programs will emerge as Liquid Avatar gains traction in the market.

Interested individuals can sign up for Liquid Avatar and receive information and notices on upcoming releases and services by visiting www.liquidavatar.com

If you would like to join our mailing list and receive updates on KABN Systems NA Holdings Corp., please click here

About Tokenise International Limited - www.tokenise.io

Working with and in fully regulated environments to meet the needs of the emerging blockchain based securities markets, Tokenise International Limited is a financial services group, operating in multiple jurisdictions. The firm's programs consist of:

Kession Capital Limited, an authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom (FRN 582160). Kession currently operates as a regulated hosting platform and oversees several clients across the investment management industry, from crowdfunding platforms to a national European stock exchange.

UK based Tokenise crowdfunding platform which, under its regulatory permissions, has the ability to manage the purchase, sale and exchange of tokenized securities.

Barbados based Tokenise Stock Exchange International Limited (formerly Daxnet BB (Barbados) Limited) which is a self-regulated organization which is licensed to operate as a fully regulated stock exchange in Barbados providing primary issuance and secondary market trading promoting financial inclusion and asset diversification and focusing exclusively on tokenized securities and is considered to be the first global digital SRO to focus exclusively on tokenized products.

The Company also owns and operates Barbados based Tokenise Brokerage (formerly Kession Capital International Limited) providing global access to investors who wish to use the Tokenise Stock Exchange and provides direct market access to a global customer base.

About KABN Systems NA Holdings Corp - www.kabnnaholdco.com

KABN Systems NA Holdings Corp. through its wholly owned subsidiary KABN Systems North America Inc. focuses on the verification, management and monetization of Self Sovereign Identity, empowering users to control and benefit from the use of their online identity.

Liquid Avatar is a verified Self Sovereign Identity platform that empowers users to create high quality digital icons representing their online personas. These icons allow users to manage and control their digital identity and Verifiable Access and Identity Credentials, and to use Liquid Avatars to share public and permission based private data when they want and with whom they want. www.liquidavatar.com

KABN North America has a suite of revenue generating programs that support the Liquid Avatar program, including KABN KASH a cash back and reward program that has over 300 leading online merchants and coming soon, an integrated offering engine. In Canada, KABN also has the KABN Visa Card, a "challenger banking" platform that allows users to manage and control a range of financial services for traditional and digital currencies. The Company is currently exploring expansion of the KABN Visa program to other geographic regions, including the USA.

KABN Systems NA Holdings Corp. is publicly listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) under the symbol "KABN" (CSE:KABN).

The Company also trades in the US under the symbol "TRWRF" and in Frankfurt under the symbol "4T51".

If you have not already joined our mailing list and would like to receive updates on KABN Systems NA Holdings Corp., please click here to join!

For more information, please visit www.kabnnaholdco.com or www.kabnsystemsna.com

For further information, please contact:

David Lucatch

Chief Executive Officer

647-725-7742 Ext. 701

ir@kabnsystemsna.com

US and Canadian Media Contact:

Nicole Rodrigues

NRPR Group

nicole@nrprgroup.com

The CSE has not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

All websites referred to are expressly not incorporated by reference into this press release.

Forward-Looking Information and Statements

This press release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation and may also contain statements that may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking information and forward-looking statements are not representative of historical facts or information or current condition, but instead represent only the Company's beliefs regarding future events, plans or objectives, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside of the Company's control. Generally, such forward-looking information or forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or may contain statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "will continue", "will occur" or "will be achieved". The forward-looking information and forward-looking statements contained herein may include, but is not limited to, information concerning the ability of the Company to generate revenues, roll out new programs and to successfully achieve business objectives, and expectations for other economic, business, and/or competitive factors.

By identifying such information and statements in this manner, the Company is alerting the reader that such information and statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance, or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such information and statements. In addition, in connection with the forward-looking information and forward-looking statements contained in this press release, the Company has made certain assumptions. Among the key factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information and statements are the following: changes in general economic, business, and political conditions, including changes in the financial markets; changes in applicable laws; compliance with extensive government regulation. Should one or more of these risks, uncertainties or other factors materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking information or statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated, or expected.

Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing, and the expectations contained in, the forward-looking information and statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information and statements, and no assurance or guarantee can be given that such forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information and statements. The forward-looking information and forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release, and the Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information and/or forward-looking statements that are contained or referenced herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. All subsequent written and oral forward- looking information and statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf is expressly qualified in its entirety by this notice.

SOURCE: KABN Systems NA Holdings Corp.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/628960/KABN-North-America-Partners-with-UK-and-Barbados-Based-Tokenise-International-to-Develop-Verifiable-Identity-Credentials-for-Regulated-Tokenized-Securities-Stock-Exchange
Victorian police have mocked a popular British cereal company Weetabix in witty Twitter put down.

The cereal brand shocked the world after suggesting fans should try to eat their baked beans on top of the cereal bricks, even sharing a picture of how to do it.

UK's Weetabix has suggested fans should try Heinz baked beans on their cereal (pictured)

Victoria Police have commented with a hilarious tweet that compares it to a crime (pictured)

While the response to the unique meal was overwhelmingly negative, the brand certainly achieved its aim of attracting attention - even from Australia's Victorian police.

'Please do not report crime via social media,' Victoria Police tweeted at Weetabix and HeinzUK.

The comment was liked 10,000 times in under 14 hours.

The Weetabix Baked Beans tweet has become a marketers dream - with other companies such as Specsavers and Just Eat UK managing to cash in on the fun.

'Removes glasses...Puts on blindfold,' glasses retailer, Specsavers, quipped.

'We've looked. We're happy to announce you cannot order this anywhere from on our app...', Just Eat UK tweeted.

The original tweet has 100,000 likes on Twitter and almost 35,000 retweets.
New Delhi:

In a shocking revelation, US intelligence officials have reportedly said that the United Arab Emirates was behind the hacking of Qatari government news and social media sites in order to post incendiary false quotes attributed to Qatar's emir, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad al-Thani. These posts, originating in late May this year, were later used as Gulf nations to boycott Qatar and impose sanctions.



According to a report in Washington Post, new information gathered by US intelligence agencies have confirmed that on May 23, senior members of the UAE government discussed the plan and its implementation. The officials told the Post that it remains unclear whether the UAE carried out the hacks itself or contracted to have them done. The false reports said that the emir, among other things, had called Iran an "Islamic power" and praised Hamas.



The 'false' statements had a devasting effect on the Gulf region, as soon after the alleged hack, the Saudis, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt immediately banned all Qatari media. They then broke relations with Qatar and declared a trade and diplomatic boycott, sending the region into a political and diplomatic tailspin.

However, the United Arab Emirates has categorically denied the alllegations. "In a statement released in Washington by its ambassador, Yousef al-Otaiba, the UAE said the Post story was "false"," the report said.



"The UAE had no role whatsoever in the alleged hacking described in the article," the statement said. "What is true is Qatar's behaviour. Funding, supporting, and enabling extremists from the Taliban to Hamas and Qadafi. Inciting violence, encouraging radicalization, and undermining the stability of its neighbours."



The hacking as revealed after a pro-Qatari organisation calling itself GlobalLeaks allegedly hacked into Otaiba's private account and circulated the emails to US media houses over the past several months.



Many of the emails highlight the UAE's determination over the years to rally Washington, DC, thinkers and policymakers to its side on the issues at the centre of its dispute with Qatar.



Qatar has repeatedly charged that its sites were hacked, but it has not yet released the results of its own investigation. Intelligence officials said their working theory since the Qatar hacks has been that Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, or some combination of those countries were involved. It remains unclear whether the others also participated in the plan.



The hacks and posting took place on May 24, shortly after President Donald Trump completed a lengthy counterterrorism meeting with Persian Gulf leaders in neighbouring Saudi Arabia and declared them unified.

For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps.
A painting of Prime Minister Narendra Modi made by a artist from Afghanistan has received wide praise from all corners, with even the PM sharing and expressing his gratitude for the same.

Artist Hamdullah Arbab had tweeted a picture of his creation on Twitter and written in Arabic, "Long live Afghan-Indian friendship!"

Arbab's Twitter bio says he is a portrait artist and activist and this painting by him presents the reflection of friendship, love and gratitude of the Afghans for India, he said.

Arbab's painting was shared amid the backdrop of India and Afghanistan inking a new deal and signing an MoU for building a dam outside Kabul on Tuesday. At the same event, PM Modi, who had attended via a virtual meeting, had also called for putting an immediate stop to the violence present in the state.

Arbab's work received wide praises from all quarters and social media users lauded his efforts in creating such a life-like painting. One user said, "Great portrait." Another wrote, "Beautiful it is. Long live the Friendship."

Prime Minister Modi also shared the painting on his Twitter handle and expressed his gratitude to Arbab for the painting.

Tashakkur, brother @Arbab911!This is a wonderful gesture, for which I am honoured. Afghan-Hind dosti Zindabaad! https://t.co/N3zq9qu1Jo Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 10, 2021

Several Twitter users also reacted to the photo.

Lovely pic of our beloved prime ministerLong live Afgan-hind friendship Nilesh (@nil_raj07) February 10, 2021

excellent pictureAfghanistan and india together.india is always with you in any situation.our friendship is better than others. Shani Shukla (@shanishukla123) February 10, 2021

Very very beautiful art & beautiful gesture #IndiaAfghanDosti Nitesh Nishu (@nitesh_nishu44) February 10, 2021

On Tuesday, India and Afghanistan signed an agreement that will facilitate the building of the Shahtoot Dam in Kabul that will provide drinking water facilities in the country's capital. India's External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar and his Afghan counterpart Mohammed Haneef Atmar were the primary officials at the virtual event where the MoU was signed. PM Modi and Afghan President Ashraf Ghani were also present virtually.

Addressing the incidents of violence, PM Modi had said that India was concerned over increasing violence and supports a comprehensive ceasefire in the country.

The water from the Shahtoot dam will also be used for irrigation and it will be built on the Kabul river basin.

India on Sunday had also handed over half a million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to Afghan officials as its gift to the people of the war-torn nation, a goodwill gesture described by Afghanistan as "a strong sign of generosity and sincere cooperation" of New Delhi with Kabul. The Afghan Foreign Ministry expressed its sincere gratitude for the assistance and delivery of the first shipment of the COVID 19 vaccine
They argue that the South African variant is rare in Vietnam, with just one imported case detected to date, and the vaccine is effective against the Wuhan strain and the U.K. variant that are found in greater numbers in the country.

The Covid-19 vaccine in question was developed by British-Swedish company AstraZeneca in collaboration with Oxford University. Britain approved the vaccine for emergency use in December 2020.

On February 7, South African health officials said they were pausing the country's rollout of AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine after a study showed it offered reduced protection from the Covid-19 variant first identified in the country, a CNN report said.

"I wouldn't be too worried at the moment about the AstraZeneca vaccine. We know that this vaccine is very effective against the U.K. variant and not so much against the South African variant," Professor Adrian Esterman, University of South Australia, Australia, told VnExpress International.

Esterman explained that the study mentioned by CNN is a small one, covering 2,000 young volunteers of around 30 years old. With half getting the placebo and the other half the AstraZeneca vaccine, researchers found the efficacy of the vaccine against the South African variant was only 25 percent against mild and moderate forms of the disease. However, they couldn't come to a conclusion about severe disease or death.

Esterman said scientists in South Africa and their partners will do a large-scale study with elderly people to see how effective the AstraZeneca vaccine is. It's likely that the South African government will continue to roll out vaccines because the country is in the middle of a bad epidemic of the virus, he said. Even if the AstraZeneca vaccine prevention was at 50 percent of severe disease and deaths, it would still help South Africa a lot. Other studies have shown that the vaccine is likely to get that level of effectiveness.

As far as Vietnam is concerned, Esterman said, the only real question is: how effective is the AstraZeneca vaccine against virus variants seen in the country.

"If, at the moment, either the original Wuhan virus is dominant in Vietnam, or it's the U.K. variant, the AstraZeneca vaccine could still be very effective," he said.

The AstraZeneca vaccine has the distinct advantages of being affordable and being easy to distribute. Also, the company has said it is currently working on a new, more widely effective version.

On February 1, AstraZeneca PLC signed a deal to supply Vietnam with 30 million doses in the first half of this year for domestic inoculation. In the same period, Vietnam would also receive around 4.886 million doses of AstraZenecas vaccine via the Covax program.

Professor Adam Finn, University of Bristol, U.K., said the AstraZeneca vaccine has been shown to be highly effective against the virus that originated in Wuhan and the U.K. variant. At this moment, the vaccine is one of several that looks to be very useful in terms of controlling the pandemic across the world, he said.

People are more concerned about the South African variant now. It has been seen in different places, but only in small numbers at this point. Finn and his colleagues in the U.K. were confident that the AstraZeneca vaccine, which is widely available globally, has an important role to play in global vaccination programs because it is priced low and can be stored and transported easily.

Finn agreed with Esterman that the scale of study done in South Africa was small. He said that while it doesn't show clear protection against mild disease in young adults, more information on its effectiveness in older people and people with more severe disease could be available in the near future.

Professor Stephen Evans, University of London, the U.K., affirmed that there is little doubt that the AstraZeneca vaccine is still effective against most of the variants of SARS-CoV-2, including the variant first found in the U.K. and now the dominant strain in the country. He guessed it may well have some efficacy against more severe forms of the disease with other variants even if it is reduced against milder ones.

Antecedent variants

Toan Ha, Assistant Professor at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health in the U.S., said the issue in South Africa is that the load of virus in the population has drifted to the new variant. Therefore, clinical studies from populations with only antecedent variants do not apply.

He believed that at present, with the original virus and a small number of cases with the U.K. variant in Vietnam, the AstraZeneca vaccine will work well and be effective in protecting the population. The U.K. variant, believed to be up to 70 percent more transmissible than ordinary strains, is deemed responsible for triggering outbreaks in the northern provinces of Quang Ninh and Hai Duong late last month.

Toan said Vietnam should work with international partners including WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA and other international and local NGOs to raise funds for accelerating the vaccination process and to advocate the inclusion of all eligible populations to receive the vaccines.

"We need to keep in mind that the more people in the community are vaccinated in a short period of time, the better the chances to slow down virus transmission," he said.

Vietnam should also note that clinical trials of the Johnson and Johnson single shot Janssen Covid-19 Vaccine have shown it can be more effective in preventing the spread of the South African variant.

Not a unique thing

Tram Anh Wartel with the International Vaccine Institute (IVI) in South Korea said the lower effectiveness seen in South Africa with the AstraZeneca vaccine was not a unique thing. For instance, she said, a similar trend has been seen with vaccines like the Novavax and J&J in the U.S.

The emergence of variants of SARS-CoV-2 serves as a powerful reminder that viruses by their nature mutate over time, and that the scientific and control response will need to adapt over time, she said.

From a vaccine development standpoint, there is indeed a need to invest in research and development and continue generating data from the front runner vaccines that have been approved for emergency use, she added.

In light of the additional data on circulating strains, it tells people that as long as the disease continues to circulate somewhere, there will always be the risk that new variants emerge that make existing vaccines less effective everywhere, she said.

Wartel said it would be useful to get the data on the South Africa strain detected in Vietnam as well as other strains including the original one in order to assess the short-term impact of the vaccination campaign in the country.

"The bottom line is to drive down the transmission everywhere by all means including safety measures and vaccination, and if we dont, we will see (more) variants emerging," she said.

Esterman clarified that sometimes, the original virus, which people call a wild type, can almost disappear from many parts of the world because it gets taken over by a new variant.

Basically viruses mutate all the time. The new variants can completely overwhelm older variants, if they're stronger. That could have happened in many countries where the U.K. variant has become dominant.

He guessed that Covid-19 will probably end up like the influenza, when everyone will have to have a new vaccination every year, because the virus keeps changing.

He also said his expectations are high that Vietnam produces domestic vaccines at low cost and sells them the world over.

"It's good for the surrounding countries and I can't see why you cant do it."
A spate of disappearances linked to January's general election have raised alarm among members of the opposition and the families of those kidnapped.

Concern is rising in Uganda over the alleged forced disappearances of dissidents across the country in the lead-up to and following last month's general election.

Members of the opposition National Unity Platform (NUP) party say they have been especially targeted. NUP candidate Bobi Wine was defeated in the January 14 election, with incumbent President Yoweri Museveni taking 58.64% of the vote to win a sixth term in office after 35 years of rule.

Wine has challenged the outcome of the elections in court, accusing Museveni of voter fraud.

Plain-clothed members of Uganda's defense forces have been blamed for the abductions, most of which took place at night.

In an address to his supporters from his home over the weekend, Wine estimated that over 3,000 NUP party members had been taken by authorities.

Ugandan authorities say only 31 NUP members have been arrested on suspicion of planning a rebellion.

"All those arrested will be investigated and those found with cases will be charged in courts of law," police spokesman Fred Enanga said on Tuesday.

An unknown fate

The families of those kidnapped say the abductees were beaten before being forced into vehicles and driven away.

One 55-year-old mother, who wishes to remain anonymous, says her son was abducted and his whereabouts are still unknown.

In an interview with DW, she implores President Museveni to release those who have been imprisoned.

"Who will this government lead if our children are imprisoned," she said. "We haven't been able to trace them in prisons. Dear president, when you take your oath and ask the clergy to pray for you, how will they bless you when our children are missing? Have pity on us because you are a parent, too."

Charles Kirumira, who ran in the elections as a NUP parliamentary candidate for Kyotera County in Central Uganda, says he has been living in fear ever since NUP colleagues of his were allegedly forcibly abducted in the days before the January 14 poll.

Kirumira says several NUP members were picked up from their homes by unidentified security operatives traveling in vans without number plates.

"Team leaders, our campaign agents and people whom we expected to be the polling agents are the people who have been arrested," he told DW.

Questions raised over reason for arrests

Ugandan lawyer Asuman Basalirwa says the lack of information about those who have disappeared, as well as the manner of their abduction, means that the disappearances can't be categorized as arrests.

"The reason why people are saying security is kidnapping Ugandans is because the mode of arrest is completely against the constitution," he told DW. "I think that's where the focus should be."

When questioned on the recent spate of kidnappings, the Minister of Internal Affairs Jeje Odongo said investigations were underway to determine who was behind the arrests.

"It is true many of the incidents were perpetrated by numberless tinted vehicles," he told DW. "We have taken interest in and arrested some of them, together with their arms, and they are in our custody."

In an statement to parliament last week, Odongo said 44 people had been reported kidnapped and 31 were still missing.

The Executive Director of the Uganda-based Foundation for Human Rights Initiative, Livingstone Sewanyana, says Museveni's government should swiftly bring those arrested before the courts of law in accordance with the country's constitution, pointing to a troubling resurgence of violent intimidation in the past.

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"The act of abductions, kidnappings and enforced disappearance is a relic of dictatorship," Sewanyana told DW. "It speaks of our past history and also developments and trends [seen] during the 1970s," he said, referring to the brutal rule of former Ugandan President Idi Amin.

"This must be rooted out. Those held responsible must be punished."

Stella Nyanzi seeks refuge in Kenya

Political activist and former university lecturer Stella Nyanzi, a prominent Museveni critic, has meanwhile fled Uganda with her children and sought asylum in Kenya.

Nyanzi, who ran for a seat in the January election alongside the opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) party, alleges her partner --a NUP member -- was abducted from his car and tortured a week the vote took place.

Previously, Nyanzi spent nearly 16 months after being found guilty of insulting the president with a graphic poem describing the birth of Museveni, criticizing his "oppression, suppression and repression" of Uganda. She was released in February 2020.
Despite long lines and sometimes hours-long waits, Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker defended the provider in charges of the super vaccination sites in Springfield and Danvers.

The Republican governor said his administration has spoken with Curative, as well as other providers about the long lines that MassLive reported on this week.

But he said the delays were because of rumors and confusion among the public, not staffing issues with Curative. In Danvers, he attributed the delays to rumors of extra vaccine doses that caused crowds to form out of confusion. In Springfield, he and Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders said people were showing up too early for fear of missing out on their appointments.

Curative operates thousands of sites all over the United States quite successfully and is one of several providers were using here in the commonwealth, Baker said during a news conference, held at the East Boston Neighborhood Health Center.

The California-based provider came under scrutiny earlier this week as hundreds of people, mostly residents ages 75 and up, braved the cold waiting to get vaccinated at the Eastfield Mall in Springfield. The Massachusetts National Guard sent 10 members to the Springfield site. The Guard also sent members to the Danvers site and to East Boston.

Hundreds of people waited outside the Eastfield Mall in Springfield on Monday and Tuesday, in some cases for hours. One woman who took her 95-year-old mother to the vaccination site on Monday told MassLive they arrived for their 11 a.m. appointment but waited two hours. They waited outside for an hour and were admitted inside, where they waited inside for another hour before the mother could get her shot.

Long lines formed after patients with appointments later in the week were offered a chance to get their shot Wednesday in Danvers to prevent doses from going to waste, WCVB reported.

Curative was also named as the provider for an upcoming super vaccination site at the Circuit City site in Dartmouth. A Curative representative did not respond to an email from MassLive on Wednesday about what staffing would look like in Dartmouth.

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[February 11, 2021] Argentina Recognized as the Restructuring Deal of the Year in LatinFinance 2020 Deals of the Year Awards

NEW YORK, Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- D.F. King & Co., Inc., an AST company, ("D.F. King") has been recognized by LatinFinance in their 2020 Deals of the Year Awards for "Restructuring Deal of the Year". The award acknowledges a recent Argentina sovereign restructuring transaction where D.F. King was retained to provide information, tabulation and exchange agent services. LatinFinance's annual Deals of the Year Awards recognizes both exceptional transactions as well as the institutions that drive them. The full list of winning transactions and institutions can be found in a special supplement to LatinFinance magazine. "We are honored by this prestigious award," said Ann Bekesh, Vice President, Corporate Proxy, of D.F. King. "Our team worked diligently on this complex transaction and it is very exciting to be recognized for this achievement." D.F. King utilizes an elaborate proprietary database and analytical apabilities as well as a team of experts for the best situational analyses to formulate approaches designed to position their clients for success.



"This sizeable transaction was essential for the Argentine economy and we are proud to have been an asset in its successful outcome," said Tom Germinario, Senior Managing Director of D.F. King. "We are relied on by our clients to provide insight, guidance and exceptional consulting services and this achievement highlights our ability to produce positive results." This award recognition comes shortly after D.F. King was named as a Top Proxy Solicitor by Bloomberg Global Activism Market Review. For the year ending December 31, 2020, the leading corporate proxy services company ranked number 1 representing and advising on the largest proxy contests by market capitalization.

About D.F. King, an AST Company:

At D.F. King, an AST company, we leverage our unique depth and diversity of experience to deliver high-level advisory services, custom reporting, shareholder outreach programs and educational strategies to each client. D.F. King provides high-level advisory services in contested solicitations and proactive solutions for all corporate governance needs. Services include proxy solicitation; shareholder profile analysis; proxy advisory firm consulting; M&A / information agent services; corporate governance consulting; and call center services. About AST:

AST is a leading provider of ownership data management and analytics to public and private companies as well as mutual funds. We offer a comprehensive product set, including transfer agency services, employee stock plan administration services, proxy solicitation and advisory services, private company solutions, and bankruptcy claims administration services. AST affiliates include AST Trust Company (Canada), D.F. King, and Donlin, Recano & Company, Inc. Learn more at www.astfinancial.com . Sara Walsh

AST

212-493-6945

swalsh@astfinancial.com Lauren Spain

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866.225.0920 ext. 104

lauren@flackable.com View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/argentina-recognized-as-the-restructuring-deal-of-the-year-in-latinfinance-2020-deals-of-the-year-awards-301226631.html SOURCE AST

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Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) returns after a dinner break on the second day of former President Donald Trump's second impeachment trial on Feb. 10, 2021. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Baton Rouge GOP Censures Sen. Cassidy for Vote Saying Impeachment Trial Is Constitutional

The Republican Party in East Baton Rouge, Louisana, censured Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) after he voted to affirm the impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump, underscoring the former presidents popularity in the GOP.

The local Republican group announced on Wednesday that it unanimously censured Cassidy.

We condemn Senator Cassidys actions in the strongest manner. He does not represent the people of this state or the Republican Party. He represents himself and has joined with some of the most dishonest and disreputable forces in our country to be part of this despicable sham, the party said in a post on Facebook. It added that Cassidys vote was a betrayal of the people of Louisiana and a rebuke to those who supported President Trump and him.

A spokesperson for Cassidy told the Epoch Times to refer to a tweeted video posted by Cassidy on Feb. 11, who argued that people should listen to the arguments yourself and come to your own conclusion. He added that hes a constitutional conservative who takes his oath seriously.

Cassidy, meanwhile, told reporters late Wednesday that his first loyalty is to the constitution, not Trump.

I took an oath to uphold the constitution. A constitutional conservative takes that oath seriously. So, if Im here to uphold the constitution, Im upholding it. Im doing my job, he added.

Full statement below: Now before you disagree, I ask you to go on @CSPAN and listen to the argument yourself and come to your own conclusion. pic.twitter.com/5BLE0uyV26  U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (@SenBillCassidy) February 11, 2021

The Republican Partys text also accused House Democrats of engaging in an unconstitutional act by seeking to remove a former official. The move would be undemocratic and violates the Constitution, it said, adding that it would place the United States in the category with Russia and various dictatorships and oligarchies around the world where the leading opposition figure is forbidden to run for President.

Cassidy joined five other Republicans on Tuesday to vote that Trumps Senate trial is constitutional. Every other Republican, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), voted to say that the trial is unconsitutionalsaying that President Joe Biden has taken office and Trump is a private citizen.

In explaining the vote, Cassidy said Trumps attorneys on Tuesday didnt lay out a good argument for why Trump shouldnt be impeached, or why the trial shouldnt go ahead as planned. Other than Cassidy, a number of other conservatives appeared to take issue with lawyers David Schoen and Bruce Castor in how they presented their case.

I always said Id be an impartial juror. Anyone listening to those arguments would recognize that the House managers were focused. They relied upon precedent, upon the opinion of legal scholars, he said. Anyone who listened to President Trumps legal team saw they were unfocused, they attempted to avoid the issue, and they talked about everything but the issue at hand.

Despite having voted in favor of the trial, its not clear whether Cassidy will vote to convict Trump. The House last month impeached Trump for allegedly inciting the breach of the Capitol on Jan. 6.

But the move by state Republicans to censure Cassidy is a part of a growing trend within the local Republican parties to condemn elected officials who voted in favor of Trumps impeachment. Notably, Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), came under fire for her vote to impeach Trump.

Wyoming Republicans recently voted to censure her, while Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) publicly campaigned against her in Cheyenne last month.

Meanwhile, Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) also appears to be facing similar blowback from Republicans in his state. Lincoln Countys Republican Party this week voted to censure Sasse over his votes to push the impeachment trial forward.
W

hat do we want politicians to look like? What do they think they should look like?

The two are not always identical. Take Rawiri Waititi, member of the New Zealand parliament and who has received global attention for not wearing a tie in the chamber, and being kicked out as a result. Waititi was in fact wearing a different type of neckwear, a traditional Maori hei-tiki, a pendant, and he looked perfectly smart. The speaker in Wellington has now reversed the hasty judgement, but not before some outcry and Waititi describing the traditional western necktie as a colonial noose.

Parliaments, like other workplaces around the world, have to move with the times, and politicians find it more difficult than most to get the balance between being elegant and in touch exactly right. The anachronistic example of Jacob Rees-Mogg makes the point perfectly. The combination of lanky build, old-fashioned manners (in all senses), and a taste for pinstriped double-breasted suits teamed with pebble spectacles make him look like a character from an Ealing comedy. Some might say that the overall effect is neither elegant nor in-touch, but it has served him well and has proved no impediment to getting elected in Somerset.
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PCUSA digitizes records of historic Mother Bethel AME Church

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The national archives of the Presbyterian Church (USA) has digitally preserved records of the historic Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Mother Bethel was originally founded in 1794 by Methodist preacher and former slave Richard Allen, who served as the first bishop of the AME denomination.

The Presbyterian Historical Society, also based in Philadelphia, recently completed their digitizing project, making them accessible here, as part of an overall effort to chronicle African American Christian history.

Margaret Jerrido, an archivist with Mother Bethel, told The Christian Post on Thursday that the project began in 2013, when the materials were first moved over to the Society for storage.

The Mother Bethel archives was running out of space to receive additional materials and I did a search for an appropriate place to house our materials, explained Jerrido.

Jerrido noted that the PHS was selected as the location because of various reasons, including its close proximity to the historic church, the humidity and temperature-controlled environment for the hard copies, and its security.

Presbyterian Historical Society Executive Director Nancy J. Taylor told CP that the digitizing process was with help from a grant from the Pennsylvania Abolition Society that supported the PHS initiative to preserve African American history in the area.

Using the funds, we digitized some Presbyterian records, including records of the first black Presbyterian church in the United States, First African Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia, organized in 1807, said Taylor.

But we also knew that there were significant records stored in our building from Mother Bethel AME Church that had not been digitized. We began partnering with Mother Bethel in 2013 to preserve their records in our archives.

Although part of the PC(USA), the Society has stored documents and records from other denominations and ecumenical bodies like the National Council of the Churches of Christ and the World Council of Churches North American delegation.

However, this project marked the first time that they had digitized the records on behalf of a church belonging to another denomination, with Taylor telling CP that the Society was honored to have the opportunity to digitize some of the Mother Bethel records stored at PHS.

These are significant records for understanding the religious history of Philadelphia and the United States because of Mother Bethels national influence inside and outside the A.M.E. denomination, she continued.

The records also speak directly to African American history in Philadelphia and the broader United States. And making these records available in digital form opens up access to researchers interested in the pastors, lay leaders, and congregants who attended Mother Bethel during the date span of the digital collection, 1848-1982.
You can listen to the latest episode of Today in Pa at this link, or on any of your favorite app including Alexa, Apple, Google, Spotify and Stitcher. Episodes are available every weekday on PennLive. Feel free to subscribe, follow or rate Today in Pa. as you see fit!

Today in Pa. Daily Podcast | Feb. 11, 2021

American Airlines will furlough over 1,000 employees at Philadelphia International Airport by April. Meanwhile, Lieutenant Governor John Fetterman defends his actions with regards to pulling a gun on an unarmed Black jogger in 2013. The State Department of Labor and Industry announces its intent to launch a texting system to aid in resolving unemployment claims. Plus, apparently a quarter of Pennsylvanians tend to hit the sauce more the colder it gets.

Those are the stories we cover in the latest episode of Today in Pa, a daily weekday podcast from PennLive.com and hosted by Claudia Dimuro. Today in Pa is dedicated to sharing the most important and interesting stories pertaining to Pennsylvania that lets you know, indeed, whats happening today in Pa.

Todays episode refers to the following articles:

If you enjoy Today in Pa, consider leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts or on Amazon. Reviews help others find the show and, besides, wed like to know what you think about the program, too.
Nissan has on Thursday celebrated the sale of its one millionth sport utility crossover vehicle to UK customers - the first car brand to achieve the major milestone.

The achievement by the trio of Qashqai, Juke and X-Trail has been made in the run up to next week's unveiling of the new third generation Nissan Qashqai to be built at the Japanese car giants Sunderland factory before reaching showrooms later this year.

Sunderland, which Nissan has pledged to support long-term in the wake of Brexit, has already produced more than nine out of ten of the million crossovers sold in the the UK so far  comprising Qashqais and Jukes.

Platinum collection: Nissan has hit the milestone of selling one million crossovers in the UK - the first manufacturer to reach the landmark figure

Nissan calculates that the combined sales of the first two generations of Qashqai SUVs produced from 2007 to 2020 and smaller Juke crossover - built from 2010 to date - plus the current generation X-Trail, available since 2014, collectively reached and have since passed the one million total.

It marked the occasion by wrapping the five models that contributed to the sales milestone in platinum  mirroring the platinum record that is traditionally awarded to music artists who achieve one million sales of their album or single.

Of the one million Nissan crossovers sold in the UK more than nine out of ten (93 per cent) were made at the companys Sunderland plant in North East England comprising both Qashqais (62 per cent) and Jukes (31 per cent).

The current generation X-Trail has been produced at Nissans Kyushu plant in Japan since 2014 and accounts for seven per cent of the one million UK sales.

Having made a commitment to stick with post-Brexit Britain, Nissan said: Since the Nissan Qashqai invented the crossover segment in 2007, and the Juke created the compact crossover segment in 2010, Nissan has been the market leader for UK crossover sales.

The Qashqai is a main fixture in the UKs top 10 selling cars, with the Nissan Juke regularly entering the top 15 best-selling models.

The Sunderland factory has built crossovers for Nissan since December 2006 when the first generation Qashqai rolled off the production line. Production of the quirky Juke began in 2010, with the second generations of Qashqai in 2014 and Juke following in 2019.

The Japanese car maker celebrated the achievement by wrapping every crossover contributing to one million sales in platinum wraps

THE NISSAN MODELS CONTRIBUTING TO HITTING 1MILLION SALES IN THE UK NISSAN MODEL TOTAL UK SALES % SHARE OF SALES MANUFACTURING LOCATION Qashqai (2007-2014) 246,993 25% Sunderland, UK Qashqai (2014-2020) 373,014 37% Sunderland, UK Juke (2010-2019) 292,723 29% Sunderland, UK Juke (2019-Present) 20,208 2% Sunderland, UK X-Trail (2014-Present) 67,062 7% Kyushu, Japan TOTAL 1,000,000 100%

Nissan noted: Both generations of Qashqai and Juke were designed, engineered and produced in the UK. The Qashqai is the UKs largest volume manufactured car with more than three million manufactured in Sunderland.

Nissans Sunderland plant is also the largest automotive factory in UK history, with one in three British-made cars coming off its production lines, making Nissan the UKs biggest car manufacturer.

Nissan said crossovers are a significant focus for Nissan and will continue to play an important role as part of its future plans.

Andrew Humberstone, managing director of Nissan Motor (GB) said demand for crossovers had grown because of their flexibility, raised seating position, ground clearance and capable styling mixing the practicality of SUVs with the compact external dimensions, efficient performance and handling refinement of a hatchback.

One of the biggest contributors to the sales is this first-generation Qashqai, which cemented the model's position as the best-selling SUV when it launched in 2006 - a record it has held every year since

The second-generation Qashqai, which remains the UK's favourite SUV has recently ceased production ahead of the arrival of a new model revealed next week. With 373.104 sales, it is the biggest-selling of all generations of Nissan crossovers

Mr Humberstone said: We are thrilled to have reached this unprecedented sales milestone and wish to express sincere gratitude to our customers for putting their trust and loyalty in the quality of Nissans vehicles.

He added: The next generation of Qashqai will also be with us very soon featuring two electrified powertrains that will reinforce its benchmark position in the segment.

The impressive UK sales figures are but a fraction of the production figure from Sunderland which exports 70 of its cars, mainly to the EU member states.

Almost a third of sales of Nissan crossovers in the UK has been Jukes, which hit the market in 2010

Like the Qashqai, the Juke is also produced at the Sunderland plant in the north east of England

Nissan's X-Trail has contributed to the remaining 7% of sales alongside the more popular Qashqai and Juke

In total, the Sunderland factory has built more than 10 million cars (10,478,120) up to the end of 2020 with the Juke and Qashqai accounting for 45 per cent of the total.

Total production of all versions of Qashqai stands at 3,728,930, with Juke production at 1,053,178.

Qashqai is also the most successful UK-built car and fastest to reach three million units which took 10 years.

Nissan's chief operating officer Ashwani Gupta said last month: The Brexit deal is positive for Nissan. Being the largest automaker in the UK we are taking this opportunity to redefine auto-making in the UK.

He said: It has created a competitive environment for Sunderland, not just inside the UK but outside as well. And he stressed: We are committed to Sunderland for the long term under the business conditions that have been agreed.
All Valentines Day events have been banned in the Latakia Governorate to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, reports Al-Watan.

Mohammad Ayman Awsata, member of the executive office in charge of the tourism sector in the Latakia Governorate, confirmed to Al-Watan that a decision was taken to ban Valentines Day events in the governorate, as part of the response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Awsata said that the decision was made based on the outcomes of the meeting of the executive office. A circular was issued to ban events as well as any promotional or marketing material and was shared with the Department of Tourism, the Artists Syndicate, the Arab Advertising Organization, and all administrative units from cities, towns, and municipalities, with instructions to strictly and completely enforce the decision.

He said that whoever violates the decision will face a 15-day closure penalty [of their venue], according to the circular.

Awsata pointed out that the decision aims to prevent Valentines Day events from being held on February 14, in order to safeguard the health of citizens and prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

Awsata said that there are no new developments regarding restrictions on wedding parties, which remain in accordance with previous circulars, according to which the occupancy rate is 40 percent. Attendees must adhere to social distancing measures and health and safety conditions pursuant to the instructions of the government team concerned with dealing with the coronavirus pandemic.

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.
ALBANY  The Catholic bishops of New York sold a lucrative insurance business they controlled and stored the proceeds in a foundation they also administer, keeping billions out of the reach of survivors of childhood sexual abuse.

The move occurred in 2018, with the church selling its Fidelis Care insurance company and moving $4.3 billion of the proceeds into the new Mother Cabrini Health Foundation. At the same time, the Child Victims Act in New York was gaining momentum in the Legislature, a measure that the church had lobbied against for more than a decade. It was ultimately signed into law a year later; and it has exposed the church to thousands of lawsuits alleging sexual abuse of children and, in some instances, the coverup of those incidents and shielding of predators.

It has been the churchs practice across the country for more than a decade to divert swarms of abuse claims into bankruptcy proceedings rather than handling each in individual court proceedings. That strategy allows the church to often avoid public trials or witness depositions, and to handle claims in one court proceeding that potentially will preserve more of their financial assets. Four of the eight dioceses in New York have already declared bankruptcy, as abuse lawsuits continue to pour in across the state.

This is certainly a transaction that is on our radar," said Ilan D. Scharf, an attorney at Pachulski Stang Ziehl & Jones in New York City, which has specialized for years in representing abuse survivors in diocesan bankruptcy cases. "The fact that they are hiding behind what they claim are legal structures that protect these assets is no excuse for them to avoid using that money to help the victims of these dioceses.

Scharf's firm is working on the creditors committee in the Rochester, Buffalo and Rockville Centre bankruptcy cases, meaning they are working to determine the settlement amounts for the abuse survivors.

As existing bankruptcy proceedings develop, or if more begin in the future, the church may have ensured that billions of dollars less would be available to those who say they were sexually abused within the church.

"I will say that if the church and the Mother Cabrini Fund wanted to assist survivors, they could use proceeds from that fund, either by loaning it to various dioceses, or purchasing assets of the diocese, or giving grants to the diocese, to free up money that is otherwise being used for their missions to create liquidity for survivors," Scharf said.

In the church's Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings, courts tally the assets held by the diocese and then dole out settlements to creditors, including people with abuse claims, often according to the total dollar value of the assets. If the money is held in a separate corporate entity  like the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation instead of an individual diocese  it wont be counted by a judge because the entity that declared bankruptcy isnt the legal owner, even if theres overlap among who controls the funds.

A lengthy investigation published last year by Bloomberg Businessweek and published reports on dozens of Catholic dioceses that have filed for bankruptcy over the last two decades, have revealed the church commonly uses this alleged shell game tactic. Money is moved from the churchs direct holdings into trusts, pensions or foundations to avoid bankruptcy creditors, but those trusts, while separate on paper, are still controlled by the dioceses.

That strategy, while legal, is frequently scrutinized by lawyers who specialize in abuse cases. Businessweek estimated that the church had shielded about $2 billion from bankruptcy proceedings over a 15-year period. Multiple bishops in New York have been tied to the practice, including Cardinal Timothy Dolan, New York's archbishop and a former president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

In creating Mother Cabrini Health Foundation, the New York Catholic bishops more than doubled Businessweeks estimate from the previous 15 years combined. Jim Stang, founder of Pachulski Stang Ziehl & Jones, aid it "dwarfed" any other single transaction.

These strategies and schemes are well known to those who have sought accountability from the Catholic bishops for harm done by clergy. But now there is a body of evidence that lays this chicanery barethat Catholic bishops across the country are moving and hiding their financial assets the same way they have moved and hidden predator priests for decades. It is deceitful, duplicitous, and dastardly," said Jeff Anderson, of Anderson & Associates, whose firm specializes in abuse cases.

The insurance company and joint foundation are controlled collectively by the New York bishops rather than by a single diocese. It creates a complex and unprecedented legal issue, one that Scharf and Stang described as unique. They said that they are not currently pressing to include shares of Cabrinis assets in court for the three diocesan bankruptcies theyre working on in New York, but that its obviously an asset thats been mentioned.

The Times Union interviewed more than a dozen experts for this story, and none could confidently project how a court would handle whether to count the foundation as diocesan assets. It's an open question.

In my view this isnt so much them hiding things, though they do that sometimes. Its more like hiding them in plain view, Stang said. They just thought they had lots of good defenses for why that money did not have to get disclosed to the demands of abuse survivors.  Most of the time theyre just saying, You cant reach this.

The Mother Cabrini foundation gives grants to charities around the state, including Catholic Charities, which is directly affiliated with the church, and sometimes directly back to the dioceses. The foundation has made $315 million in grants since its formation, said Jonathan Rosen, a public relations professional employed by Cabrini. Rosen said less than 10 percent, which works out to $31.5 million, went back directly to the dioceses, and a total of $37.4 million has gone to Catholic Charities.

The money is used to build homeless shelters, bolster immigrant legal services, create supportive housing and various other nondenominational charitable enterprises. Cabrini donated $2 million for a home for victims of domestic violence in Schenectady, for instance. When the foundation was endowed in 2018 from the proceeds of the sale of the church-controlled insurance company, it instantly became the largest Catholic foundation in the country, according to Guidestar, which tracks nonprofit data.

"Neither the Archdiocese of New York, nor any of the other dioceses of New York, owned Fidelis or controlled its assets, and the decision to sell Fidelis to Centene Corporation was totally and completely unrelated to the CVA in any way," said Joseph Zwilling, the communications director for the Archdiocese of New York, in an email to the Times Union.

While it's true that the dioceses don't legally own or control Fidelis or Cabrini, the bishops, who are in charge of the dioceses, are the controlling members of the nonprofit, and they appoint the board. The CEO is Monsignor Greg Mustaciuolo, former vicar general and chancellor of the New York archdiocese.

And charitable giving is part of the mission of the Catholic church. Meaning that Mother Cabrini's assets, although separate on paper from diocesan assets, are controlled by the bishops and the funds used to support activities the church would be doing anyway, said Jason Amala, an attorney with Pfau Cochran Vertetis Amala, which handles abuse cases, making the foundation effectually an extension of the church.

How did the church amass its fortune? The whole thing is supposedly a charity. Look at the massive wealth theyve accumulated," Amala said, pointing to how Mother Cabrini funds the dioceses directly and Catholic Charities. "So to the extent you can continue to do your 'charitable works,' but use those works to amass huge amounts of money, you cant just use it to paper-over a huge chunk of your overhead.

Fidelis Care

It started in 1993, when the Brooklyn Diocese founded a not-for-profit health insurance business called Fidelis Care. Four years later, the other seven dioceses in New York were brought in, each agreeing to invest in the business. Fidelis became a member organization, where the members included the bishops from across the state and the cardinal. Taking advantage of massive federal and state investment in health care over the last two decades, Fidelis Care grew significantly, becoming the largest insurance provider in New York with more than 1.3 million policies.

This arose because of an unusual set of circumstances where you had something that was not necessarily designed to make money and all of a sudden it became highly profitable because of a change in the law, Stang said.

On a parallel track, activists and lawmakers began pushing for the Child Victims Act in 2006, which would open a look-back window where people could bring lawsuits alleging child abuse outside the statute of limitations, no matter how long ago the abuse occurred. That legislation had the potential of exposing the church to an enormous amount of liability, and the church knew that.

The church spent millions lobbying against the CVA for years as one of their top legislative priorities. The measure stalled for years, often due to the support of Republicans in the state Senate, but it continued gaining momentum. In 2015, the church made the decision to sell Fidelis, saying it was because of future health care policy changes and because of increased competition in the industry. Meanwhile, the CVA inched closer and closer to becoming law, with the Assembly passing it in 2017 for the first time in nine years. It was blocked by the Senate that year, which was controlled by Republicans at that time.

I had senators tell me they got calls from their local bishops demanding that they never pass the Child Victims Act. That it would bankrupt the church and the victims are only after money and you have to protect the church, said Gary Greenberg, a longtime advocate who lobbied for the CVA.

The New York archdiocese opened its own fund to pay victims directly in 2016, and a recently leaked transcript of a December 2017 meeting on the subject with other dioceses from around the state shows that church leaders hoped the fund would have the effect of either scuttling support for the CVA or not allowing survivors who accepted money to later sue the church. The transcript was first reported by ABC News, then was obtained Thursday by the Times Union.

We are already doing this, why bother? Dont reopen the statute. We are taking care of our own problem. I think that is guiding Cardinal Dolan as well, said Kenneth Feinberg, an attorney appointed by the cardinal to administer the victims fund, in a private teleconference with church officials and lawyers. He reiterated several times in the call that this is the goal of the fund, and says they must consider "politically and financially what is the better way to go."

"Looking over this shoulder, he is worried that Albany has come very close to reopening the statute," Feinberg said of the cardinal.

In September 2017, after the breakthrough of the CVA in the Assembly, the bishops voted to sell Fidelis to a large St. Louis health care corporation. After a protracted negotiation with Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo over how much of a cut would go to the state, a deal was finalized in 2018 with the sale generating $3.3 billion, plus a substantial amount of assets held by Fidelis that werent included in the deal.

The deal was approved by the state after the bishops agreed to pay more than $1 billion into the state general operating fund, and it was given final approval two months later by the attorney general. The bishops took their $3.3 billion from the sale, plus another roughly $900 million more in Fidelis assets that werent included in the deal, and created the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation. It, like Fidelis, was a member organization, where the sole members were the bishops, who retained control.

Under New York law, the net proceeds from the Fidelis transaction were required by law to be used for health-related activities for New Yorks needy, similar to Fidelis, said Rosen, the spokesman for the Mother Cabrini foundation.

Nothing in the law would have precluded the foundation from distributing the proceeds to the dioceses if the bishops and state attorney general authorized it, as it says that funds from dissolved charities must go to other tax-exempt organizations, which dioceses are. Instead, the move effectively tossed more than $4 billion from the right hand of the church to the left, maintaining control over the funds, but keeping them in a separate corporate entity so the money wouldn't be counted as assets belonging to the dioceses  and capable of being pried away by abuse claimants.

Timeline of Fidelis sale and Child Victims Act The New York Catholic Church owned a highly successful insurance company called Fidelis, which was founded in 1993. But the bishops sold off Fidelis shortly before the Child Victims Act was passed in New York. Here is a timeline of events. 1993: Fidelis Care New York founded by Catholic Medical Center of Brooklyn and Queens 1997: Fidelis expands statewide and is led by the bishops of the states eight dioceses. 2006: The Child Victims Act is introduced in the State Legislature and appears almost every year for more than a decade but is not passed. 2017: Fidelis reaches an agreement to be acquired by Centene for about $4 billion. 2018: The Archdiocese puts $4.3 billion from the sale proceeds into a new and separate entity called the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation. 2019: The Child Victims Act is passed by the N.Y. state Legislature. The Diocese of Rochester files for bankruptcy protection. 2020: Dioceses of Buffalo, Syracuse and Rockville file for bankruptcy protection. Four of the eight dioceses in New York are in bankruptcy.

'The potential for true scandal'

It proved a prescient decision.

After Democrats took control of the state Senate in 2018, and Cuomo threw his weight behind the Child Victims Act, the bill finally passed in 2019, with Cuomo signing it into law on Valentines Day. Since then, nearly 5,000 child abuse lawsuits have been filed, with thousands naming the dioceses around the state. Four have declared bankruptcy so far.

Businessweek wrote that as a very rough guide, an archdiocese in bankruptcy will settle with clergy abuse victims for roughly half the value of its estate.

Financial records show the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation holds about $3.5 billion in assets. So by that estimate, nearly $2 billion less appears to be available to the thousands of New Yorkers who claim they were abused by church figures over the decades.

The mechanisms theyve used to avoid accountability and shield their assets are not just sinister, but they need to be scrutinized, as this appears to be a longstanding pattern," Anderson said.

Beyond the Cabrini transaction, the tactic of shuffling money to trusts and foundations has been linked to New York bishops and to Cardinal Dolan throughout their careers.

In Rochester, which is now in bankruptcy proceedings, the current bishop was linked to efforts to shelter assets from future bankruptcy creditors, according to local news reports. And In Buffalo, which is in bankruptcy protection, the church shifted about $91 million in 2006 from its main accounts into various trust funds, The Buffalo News reported.

A retired priest who had served on the financial council of the Buffalo diocese later told the paper it was an effort to shield money in the event the (CVA) became law and exposed the diocese to the same kinds of clergy sex abuse lawsuits that other dioceses faced.

A 2019 report from a Buffalo ABC television affiliate revealed a secret document from a local Catholic Charities meeting that planned to move funds that would traditionally have gone directly to the church instead to a separate church-controlled foundation, sheltering it from bankruptcy liability. That maneuver mirrors the much larger creation of the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation.

Albany Bishop Edward Scharfenberger, who served as interim head of the Buffalo diocese, denied last year that the financial maneuvers were designed to shelter assets. Mary DeTurris Poust, spokeswoman for the Albany diocese, when asked for comment directed the Times Union to the Cabrini Foundation.

The state attorney generals office has claimed to be investigating the Catholic church's handling of abuse cases in New York since fall 2018, and the first lawsuit stemming from that investigation was filed against the Buffalo diocese in November last year. The lawsuit accuses the Buffalo diocese of misuse or waste of charitable assets through its cover up of sexual abuse accusations against diocesan priests.

The investigation is ongoing, and the attorney generals office declined to speak with the Times Union for this article, citing the ongoing investigation.

Finally, the practice has been linked most directly with Cardinal Dolan, whose financial maneuver was overturned by a court during bankruptcy proceedings.

Cardinal Dolan has become, not just in Milwaukee, not just in St. Louis, not just in New York, but across this country, kind of a mastermind architect, working with all of his bishops, in using these compensation funds in strategizing around the transfer of assets, and effectively using techniques to shield assets and, frankly, to avoid accountability, Anderson said. I consider him individually as one of the most powerful nemeses to the protection of children and holding the Catholic Diocese and the Catholic Bishops in America accountable.

When Dolan was in charge of the Milwaukee archdiocese, he asked and was given permission from the Vatican to move about $57 million into a trust fund for cemeteries. As victims organize and become more public, the potential for true scandal is very real, he wrote to Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger in 2003. Ratzinger went on to become Pope Benedict XVI.

By transferring these assets to the trust, I foresee an approved protection from any legal claim and liability," Dolan later wrote in a 2007 letter. He has repeatedly denied over the years that he sought to shield assets from survivors.

When the diocese declared bankruptcy years later due to abuse claims, Dolan, having then taken over as archbishop in New York, the Milwaukee diocese declared in court that its assets were between $10 and $50 million, not counting the amount moved into the cemetery trust. The court eventually forced them to include the money moved to the cemetery trust in their list of assets.

It was known what he did out there, said Greenberg, who is an abuse survivor and had been one of New York's most staunch advocates for passage of the CVA. He was brought in knowing that they had this problem, and they knew he would do anything he could to protect the church because he has a record of that. Not worried about victims, just wanting to protect the church and its assets.

Beijing:

Chinas military has conducted live-fire exercises in Tibet amid the ongoing standoff between Indian and Chinese troops at the Dokalam area in the Sikkim sector.



The Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) conducted live-fire exercises in Southwest Chinas Tibet Autonomous Region, state-run China Central Television (CCTV) reported on Friday, without mentioning the exact timing of the drills.



The brigade that conducted the drills was from the PLAs Tibet Military Command and is one of Chinas two plateau mountain brigades, Global Times reported on Monday.



The PLA Tibet command guards the Line of Actual Control (LAC) of the India-China border along several sections connecting the mountainous Tibetan region.



According to the CCTV report, the brigade has long been stationed around the middle and lower reaches of the Brahmaputra (Yarlung Zangbo in Chinese) River which flows into India and Bangladesh and is responsible for frontline combat missions.



The live-fire drills included the quick delivery of troops and different military units working together on joint attacks.



Video posted online showed soldiers using anti-tank grenades and missiles against bunkers and howitzers for artillery coverage.



The video also showed radar units identifying enemy aircraft and soldiers using anti-aircraft artillery to destroy targets. The drills lasted 11 hours.



Separately, Tibets mobile communication agency conducted a drill on July 10 in Lhasa, capital of Tibet, where members of the agency practiced setting up a temporary mobile network to secure communications in an emergency.



Earlier reports said the PLA units exercised with several modern weapon systems including a new light battle tank being manufactured by China.



China and India have been engaged in a standoff in the Dokalam area in the Sikkim sector, where Indian troops stopped road construction by Chinese soldiers on June 16.



China has been demanding immediate pull-out of the Indian troops from the disputed Dokalam plateau.



Doka La is the Indian name for the region which Bhutan recognises as Dokalam, while China claims it as part of its Donglang region.



Of the 3,488-km-long India-China border from Jammu and Kashmir to Arunachal Pradesh, a 220-km section falls in Sikkim.

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Jessica Watkins, military veteran, is charged with counts including conspiracy, conspiracy to hurt an officer, violent entry, obstruction of official business and destruction of government property

An Oath Keepers leader who joined the Capitol riot was 'awaiting direction' from Donald Trump and 'trained and plotted for a moment like this', prosecutors say.

Jessica Watkins, 38, of Champaign County, Ohio, is charged with counts including conspiracy, conspiracy to hurt an officer, violent entry, obstruction of official business and destruction of government property.

Prosecutors say: 'As the inauguration grew nearer, [Jessica] Watkins indicated that she was awaiting direction from President Trump.'

They also allege: 'Her concern about taking action without his backing was evident in a November 9, 2020, text in which she stated, 'I am concerned this is an elaborate trap. Unless the POTUS himself activates us, it's not legit. The POTUS has the right to activate units too. If Trump asks me to come, I will. Otherwise, I can't trust it.'

'Watkins had perceived her desired signal by the end of December', the Justice Department adds, alleging: 'Unlike the vast majority, Watkins had trained and plotted for a moment like this.'

Donald Trump is facing his second impeachment trial charged with incitement of the insurrection through his fiery words.

The Oath Keepers believes in a 'shadowy conspiracy' to strip Americans of their rights. It often recruits current and former military, police or other first responders.

The House Democrats have this week showed evidence from the former president himself - hundreds of Trump tweets and comments that culminated in his January 6 rally cry to go to the Capitol and 'fight like hell' to overturn his defeat.

Trump then did nothing to stem the violence and watched with 'glee,' they said, as the mob ransacked the iconic building.

The FBI said some Oath Keepers members were wearing helmets, protective vests and items with the group's name and motto: 'Not On Our Watch.' The agency also said that they seemed to 'move in an organized and practiced fashion and force their way to the front of the crowd gathered around a door to the U.S. Capitol.'

Military veteran Watkins allegedly called herself the commanding officer. Thomas Caldwell, 66, and Donovan Crowl, 50, were arrested on January 18 in Ohio.

According to the arrest affidavit: 'Caldwell planned with Donovan Crowl, Jessica Watkins, and others known and unknown, to forcibly storm the U.S. Capitol.'

Jessica Watkins, 38, participated in the mob that stormed the Capitol, federal prosecutors say

Jessica Marie Watkins (2nd from Left) and Donovan Ray Crowl (Center), both from Ohio, march down the East front steps of the U.S. Capitol with the Oath Keepers militia group

The FBI said some Oath Keepers members were wearing helmets, protective vests and items with the group's name and motto: 'Not On Our Watch'

Prosecutors say she had a 'single-minded devotion to obstruct through violence'.

They add: 'Clad in camouflaged battle fatigues, a tactical vest emblazoned with an Oath Keepers patch, combat boots, military grade helmet, and radio equipment, Watkins and her fellow Oath Keepers militia members were among those hundreds of insurgents who stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021.

'But unlike the vast majority, Watkins had trained and plotted for a moment like this.

'What is more, Watkins was and remains a leader within the broader militia movement. Her texts reveal her extensive efforts to recruit individuals to her militia group and to participate in the January 6 insurgency.

'Her efforts were successful in recruiting at least two people to attend.'

President Donald Trump arrives to speak at a rally ahead of the January 6 Capitol riot

The FBI also said that they seemed to 'move in an organized and practiced fashion and force their way to the front of the crowd gathered around a door to the U.S. Capitol'

Military veteran Watkins, left, allegedly called herself the commanding officer

A complaint reports one male voice is heard on an audio recording near Watkins exhorting: 'Get it, Jess,' and that the Capitol breach is what they had trained for.

'Yeah. We stormed the Capitol today. Teargassed, the whole, 9. Pushed our way into the Rotunda. Made it into the Senate even. The news is lying (even Fox) about the Historical Events we created today,' she allegedly wrote.

Watkins also posted that entry was forced through the back door of the Capitol.

Authorities said Watkins returned to Ohio.

Asked if she understood the charges against her, the Daily News reported, Watkins replied: 'I understand them but I don't understand how I got them.'

The FBI said a search of Watkins' home found personal protection equipment and communication devices, along with instructions for making plastic explosives.
The Namibia Airports Company (NAC) intends to invest over N$1.3 billion in infrastructure development across all eight airports in the country within the next five years to improve compliance, operational efficiency and revenue generation.

NAC CEO Bisey /Uirab yesterday explained that N$250 million being pumped into Hosea Kutako International Airport (HKIA) is aimed at creating a southern African hub for world-class airlines. During a progress report on HKIA's renovations, which at end of January 2021 stood at 75%, /Uirab said: "These projects are meant to address immediate safety and security concerns at the two airports as well as the congestion situation, particularly at HKIA."

Despite the Covid-19 pandemic challenges that have decimated global and regional air travel, /Uirab said over N$174 million was invested in the Eros and HKIA projects in the 2019/20 and 2020/21 financial years, specifically N$154 million on HKIA and N$20 million on Eros.

At a time when global air travel passenger is at an all-time low, /Uirab confirmed that government assisted in terms of funding for NAC to seamlessly execute the projects. But NAC still requires another N$143 million for capital expenditure projects planned within the 2020/21 and 2021/22 financial years.

These funds are to be sourced from local financial institutions.

Meanwhile, the HKIA expansion project includes two business lounges, forex banks, duty-free shops, more immigration counters and more retail spaces to diversify shopping.

NAC spokesperson Dan Kamati said the HKIA completion date has been shifted to March 2021 for terminal two, which is the arrival point, while June 2021 is the anticipated date for terminal one to be transformed to cater for domestic flights.

"We aim to attract more international passenger and aircraft traffic from across the globe, including Asia and the Americas, and also to ensure that HKIA is in full compliance with national and international safety and security standards," said /Uirab.

More projects lined up include the HKIA apron expansion, estimated at N$70 million, HKIA CUTE system at N$16 million and the Ondangwa apron rehabilitation at N$16 million.

Also, Katima Mulilo runway holding action (N$32 million), the Walvis Bay airside boundary wall (N$10 million), Walvis Bay electronic equipment (N$4 million) and HKIA road upgrade (N$4 million) include some of the upgrades across the country.

Meanwhile, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) recently called 2020 "a catastrophe" for global air travel.

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"There is no other way to describe it. What recovery there was over the Northern hemisphere summer season stalled in autumn and the situation turned dramatically worse over the year-end holiday season, as more severe travel restrictions were imposed in the face of new outbreaks and new strains of Covid-19," said Alexandre de Juniac, IATA's Director General and CEO during a recent briefing.

IATA's full-year global passenger traffic results for 2020 showed that demand fell by 65.9%, compared to the full year of 2019, which was by far the sharpest traffic decline in aviation history.

Also, international passenger demand in 2020 was 75.6% below 2019 levels and domestic demand in 2020 was down 48.8%, compared to 2019.

IATA's baseline forecast for 2021 is for a 50.4% improvement on 2020 demand that would bring the industry to 50.6% of 2019 levels. While this view remains unchanged, there is a severe downside risk if more severe travel restrictions in response to new virus variants persist.

Should such a scenario materialise, IATA expects demand improvement could be limited to just 13% over 2020 levels, leaving the industry at 38% of 2019 levels.
Beijing:

The Chinese state media on Sunday hailed India's biggest tax reform- the Goods and Services Tax and said the Country's ambition to rise as a great power has received a strong boost from abroad, in the form of massive investment from foreign manufacturers.

India is receiving a massive influx of foreign investments which will greatly enhance its ability to develop the manufacturing sector and China should keep calm and start working on a more effective growth strategy for the new era, a state-run newspaper said on Sunday.

This massive influx of investment by foreign manufacturers is of great significance for Indias economy, employment and industrial development, an article in the Global Times said.

China should be calm seeing Indias rise. To cope with competition from India, China could start working on a more effective growth strategy for the new era now, it said.

The influx of foreign manufacturers is addressing some of Indias weaknesses and enhancing its manufacturing ability, with Chinese companies also playing an important role in the process, according to the article.

TRENDING NOW: Kulbhushan Jadhav death row: Pakistan army chief analysing 'Indian National's' plea, decision on merit

This is a repeat of Chinas introduction of foreign investment, which is why it is likely that India may succeed.

If in the past India lacked capital, a developed manufacturing sector and skilled manufacturing workers, the foreign manufacturing inflow is now helping India address the problem, backing up the governments Make in India initiative, it said.

The article listed a host of foreign companies including some of the Chinese firms which are investing in India.

It should be pointed out that what is happening in India occurred in China two decades ago.

Just like what happened with China during its reform and opening-up, the arrival of foreign manufacturing will greatly enhance Indias ability to develop its manufacturing sector, which will help in cultivating a large number of skilled workers, managers and factories, it added.

(With agency inputs)

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DUBLIN, Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) System Market By Component (Hardware v/s Software), By Type (Fixed, Mobile, Portable), By Application, By End User, By Company, By Region, Forecast & Opportunities, 2026" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The Global Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) System Market is expected to grow at a formidable rate of around 10% during the forecast period.



The Global Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) System Market is driven by the growing need for effective traffic management and safety. The increasing incidences of thefts, crimes, road accidents, breach of traffic laws, among others are expected to fuel the market growth during the forecast period.



Furthermore, increased adoption of advanced technologies such as cloud based services, IoT, AI, among others is expected to propel the market through 2026. However, inconsistency in size, designs, font, color, style, among others can hamper the market growth over the next few years since it becomes very difficult to make an algorithm that can read all the different number plates pattern without any discrepancy.



The Global Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) System Market is segmented based on component, type, application, company and region. Based on component, the market can be categorized into hardware and software. The hardware segment can be further categorized into ANPR cameras, frame grabbers, triggers and others. The ANPR cameras segment is expected to dominate the market on account of the widespread adoption of ANPR cameras in traffic management and law enforcement.



While, the software segment is also expected to significant growth during the forecast period. This can be accredited to the increasing incidents of vehicle thefts and growing criminal activities which requires real time identification and tracking system in the automotive & transportation industry. Based on type, the market can be grouped into fixed, mobile and portable. The fixed ANPR segment is expected to dominate the market owing to the increasing demand for these system for monitoring traffic and collecting data in highways, bridges, parking spaces, among others.



On the contrary, the mobile is expected to grow during the forecast period attributable to the increased adoption of these by various agencies involved in security and surveillance sector. Based on application, the market can be fragmented into traffic management, law enforcement, electronic toll collection, parking management and others. The electronic toll collection segment is expected to dominate the market owing to the widespread adoption by the vehicles and strict government mandates in various countries for deployment of electronic toll collection.



Regionally, the automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) system market has been segmented into various regions including Asia-Pacific, North America, South America, Europe, and Middle East & Africa. Among these regions, Europe is expected to dominate the overall automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) system market owing to the increased adoption of ANPR system for traffic management.



While, Asia Pacific is expected to register the highest growth attributable to increasing public infrastructure and high construction. Additionally, Japan has been using this system since last 10 years for calculating the journey time. India has also started deploying ANPR system in traffic management and on highways. These factors support the growth of the market in the region.



The major players operating in the automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) system market Kapsch TrafficCom AG, Q-Free ASA, Siemens AG, Bosch Security System, Inc., 3M Company, ARH Inc., Vigilant Solutions Inc., NDI Recognitions System Ltd, Captec Ltd., ClearView Communications and others.



Major companies are developing advanced technologies and launching new services in order to stay competitive in the market. Other competitive strategies include mergers & acquisitions and new service developments.



Years considered for this report:

Historical Years: 2016-2019

Base Year: 2020

Estimated Year: 2021

Forecast Period: 2022-2026

Key Topics Covered:



1. Product Overview



2. Research Methodology



3. Impact of COVID-19 on Global Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) System Market



4. Executive Summary



5. Voice of Customer



6. Global Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) System Market Outlook

6.1. Market Size & Forecast

6.1.1. By Value

6.2. Market Share & Forecast

6.2.1. By Component (Hardware v/s Software)

6.2.1.1. By Hardware (ANPR Cameras, Frame Grabbers, Triggers)

6.2.2. By Type (Fixed, Mobile, Portable)

6.2.3. By Application (Traffic Management, Law Enforcement, Electronic Toll Collection, Parking Management, Others)

6.2.4. By End User (Government v/s Commercial)

6.2.5. By Company (2020)

6.2.6. By Region

6.3. Product Market Map



7. Asia-Pacific Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) System Market Outlook

7.1. Market Size & Forecast

7.1.1. By Value

7.2. Market Share & Forecast

7.2.1. By Component

7.2.2. By Type

7.2.3. By Application

7.2.4. By End User

7.2.5. By Country

7.3. Asia-Pacific: Country Analysis

7.3.1. China Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) System Market Outlook

7.3.2. India Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) System Market Outlook

7.3.3. Australia Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) System Market Outlook

7.3.4. Japan Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) System Market Outlook

7.3.5. South Korea Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) System Market Outlook



8. Europe Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) System Market Outlook

8.1. Market Size & Forecast

8.1.1. By Value

8.2. Market Share & Forecast

8.2.1. By Component

8.2.2. By Type

8.2.3. By Application

8.2.4. By End User

8.2.5. By Country

8.3. Europe: Country Analysis

8.3.1. France Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) System Market Outlook

8.3.2. Germany Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) System Market Outlook

8.3.3. United Kingdom Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) System Market Outlook

8.3.4. Italy Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) System Market Outlook

8.3.5. Spain Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) System Market Outlook



9. North America Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) System Market Outlook

9.1. Market Size & Forecast

9.1.1. By Value

9.2. Market Share & Forecast

9.2.1. By Component

9.2.2. By Type

9.2.3. By Application

9.2.4. By End User

9.2.5. By Country

9.3. North America: Country Analysis

9.3.1. United States Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) System Market Outlook

9.3.2. Mexico Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) System Market Outlook

9.3.3. Canada Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) System Market Outlook



10. South America Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) System Market Outlook

10.1. Market Size & Forecast

10.1.1. By Value

10.2. Market Share & Forecast

10.2.1. By Component

10.2.2. By Type

10.2.3. By Application

10.2.4. By End User

10.2.5. By Country

10.3. South America: Country Analysis

10.3.1. Brazil Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) System Market Outlook

10.3.2. Argentina Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) System Market Outlook

10.3.3. Colombia Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) System Market Outlook



11. Middle East and Africa Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) System Market Outlook

11.1. Market Size & Forecast

11.1.1. By Value

11.2. Market Share & Forecast

11.2.1. By Component

11.2.2. By Type

11.2.3. By Application

11.2.4. By End User

11.2.5. By Country

11.3. MEA: Country Analysis

11.3.1. South Africa Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) System Market Outlook

11.3.2. Saudi Arabia Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) System Market Outlook

11.3.3. UAE Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) System Market Outlook

11.3.4. Kuwait Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) System Market Outlook



12. Market Dynamics

12.1. Drivers

12.2. Challenges



13. Market Trends & Developments



14. Competitive Landscape

14.1. Kapsch TrafficCom AG

14.2. Q-Free ASA

14.3. Siemens AG

14.4. Bosch Security System, Inc.

14.5. 3M Company

14.6. ARH Inc.

14.7. Vigilant Solutions Inc.

14.8. NDI Recognitions System Ltd

14.9. Captec Ltd.

14.10. ClearView Communications



15. Strategic Recommendations

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/x6qas



Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



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SII CEO Adar Poonawalla (File Image: Twitter)

After Piramal Groups acquisition of crisis-ridden non-banking finance company (NBFC) Dewan Housing Finance Corporation (DHFL) early this year, billionaire businessman Adar Poonawalla has become the latest industrialist to jump on to the NBFC bandwagon.

Rising Sun Holdings, a company controlled in his personal capacity by Serum Institute of India CEO Adar Poonawalla, announced a transaction on February 10 to acquire a controlling stake in Magma Fincorp (MFL), a non-banking financial company (NBFC). The deal will be carried out via a preferential issue of Magma Fincorp's equity shares worth Rs 3,456 crore. The deal also includes an open offer as per SEBI norms.

The Piramal group emerged as a winning bidder for DHFL after a prolonged bidding war. The NCLT is yet to notify the winner.

So, what is drawing big investors to the NBFC business?

To begin with, what are NBFCs? A simple definition is that NBFCs are financial intermediaries that are positioned between full-scale commercial banks and a category of borrowers who typically dont get funding from banks, for instance small-scale real estate developers and businesses. NBFCs also process the loans very quickly compared to banks. This draws borrowers to non-banks even if they have to pay a higher rate of interest.

But, the RBI has always viewed NBFCs with a bit of extra caution since these entities have high interconnectedness with the mainstream banking system. At the end of September, banks have a loan outstanding of Rs 8 lakh crore to NBFCs, which has gone up from Rs 5.4 lakh crore in 2018. Mutual Funds, too, have exposure to the papers issued by NBFCs, although this has come down in recent years.

The NBFC segment has faced a roller-coaster ride in the past, post the collapse of IL&FS in 2018 and the subsequent mess at DHFL. Banks shut the door on most NBFCs, especially the smaller ones. It took more than a year for the risk aversion to subside. This (the liquidity crisis) has changed the risk perception on these firms, thus leaving banks worried about their existing exposure to the sector.

Even before the 2018 crisis, the RBI has had bitter experience with smaller lending institutions in 2010 when the Andhra Pradesh microfinance crisis broke out. This led to the creation of NBFC-MFIs later in December, 2011. This was the last major reform in the NBFC-segment.

Coming back to the original question, what is drawing Indian billionaires to shadow banking business now?

There are a few factors at play here:

One: As mentioned above, NBFCs, more commonly known as shadow banks, were a lucrative business that every industrialist wanted a share in till 2018 when the IL&FS collapse happened. NBFCs used to consistently grow at 15-20 percent. Since then, the scenario changed and NBFC sector felt the heat of liquidity crunch. But, after two years, NBFCs are back in business and normalcy has come back to the sector. Liquidity constraints have eased. This is a good time for long-term investors to look at fresh business possibilities using an existing well-known brand.

Two: The pandemic has impacted all businesses and company valuations. This may be the right time to look at potential businesses at a cheaper valuation rather than buying the same businesses at a higher value once things normalize. This is the right time for an investor to enter the NBFC space, said Raman Agarwal, Chair-NBFCs at Centre for International Economic Understanding. The way NBFC sector has grown over years, it is bound to attract investors from all segments when valuations are cheaper, said Agarwal.

Three: Shadow banks across the world are lightly regulated compared with regular commercial banks. To an extent, that was the case in India too. But Indian NBFCs are now entering a phase of tighter regulation that gives more confidence to the investors. Recently, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) proposed scale-based regulations for NBFCs grouping them in multiple layers depending on their size and interconnectedness. 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. Stringent regulation means more stability for the sector from an investor point of view.

Four: The RBI is largely in favor of converting big NBFCs to banks. An RBI working group had recently recommended that big NBFCs should be allowed to convert to commercial banks. Getting a bank licence from scratch is more difficult than acquiring an existing NBFC and converting it to a bank at an opportune time, according to Agarwal. This (acquiring an existing NBFC) could be a stepping stone to becoming a bank. Instead of straight away going for a bank licence, the investor can buy an NBFC and then try for conversion to banks, he said.

: Even if bank conversion doesnt happen, running a retail-focused NBFC will be a profitable business proposition at this stage considering that banks do not have the reach in many areas where NBFCs actively operate. NBFCs typically enjoy a bigger margin than banks from borrowers. India is a largely underbanked country and NBFCs play a significant role in extending credit to far-flung areas of the country. A cash-rich group like the Piramals or Poonawallas has the opportunity to build a business tapping the under-banked borrower segments.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki speaks during a news briefing at the James Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House in Washington on Feb. 10, 2021. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Psaki Defends Biden Admins Goal to Reopen Half of Schools for At Least One Day a Week by April

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki on Wednesday defended the Biden administrations definition of reopening schools amid the CCP virus pandemic, following criticism that resuming some teaching in person for at least one day a week in 50 percent of the nations schools is not setting the bar high enough.

Psaki was pressed during her daily press briefing on why the Biden administration hadnt set a more ambitious goal, after Biden in December vowed to ensure a majority of our schools are open within 100 days of his presidency.

Well, certainly we are not planning to celebrate at 100 days if we reach that goal,she said. That is our own effort to set our own markings, set an emboldened ambitious agenda for how were going to measure ourselves and progress. But we certainly hope to build from that even at 100 days.

And from there, our objective, the presidents objective, is for all schools to reopen, to stay open, to be open five days a week for kids to be learning, Psaki added. Thats what our focus is on. This is simply a goal for 100 days.

A day earlier, the White House Press secretary said all schools wont necessarily fully reopen by day 100 of Bidens presidency.

His goal that he set is to have the majority of schoolsso, more than 50 percentopen by day 100 of his presidency. And that means some teaching in classrooms. So, at least one day a week, she said on Tuesday. Hopefully, its more. And obviously, it is as much as is safe in each school and local district.

Psaki noted that the Biden administration is waiting for official guidance on school reopenings to be released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The agencys director said on Feb. 5 that guidelines will be released in the coming week.

Our focus really, at this point in time, is waiting for the CDC guidelines to come out and give schools across the country, school districts across the country the first medical and scientific recommendations and guidelines that have been given from the federal level, Psaki said.

She added, And obviously, once those are put out publicly and concluded, we will look for ways to work with states to ensure that schools are getting the resources they need.

When reporters pointed out that a lot of schools are already open for in person learning one day a week, Psaki said the figure is a bar of where wed like the majority of schools across the country to be.

Theyre not at this point in time, and we want to build from there. And it really depends; it differs from school district to school district, she responded.

Officials have recently said Congress must pass Bidens $1.9 trillion relief plan, which includes $130 billion to support schools in safely reopening, in order for more schools to reopen.

CDC officials earlier released a summary of recent studies that looked at the effect of reopenings on transmission of COVID-19, the disease caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus.

Research both inside and outside the United States shows little evidence that schools have contributed meaningfully to increased community transmission, the officials said.

One argument against school reopening is the spread of new mutations of the virus, for example, the CCP virus strain that was first identified in the United Kingdom in December. Initial data indicate that this more-transmissible strain is also more virulent or potentially harmful but that needs to be confirmed, said Dr. Anthony Fauci, head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), during a Feb. 8 briefing.

Peter Svab contributed to this report.
Given that the authorities have launched SUMAL 2.0 in an untested and incomplete form, which generates blockages in the market, WWF Romania requests the creation of a new SUMAL 3.0 and the start of a real reform.

In a release sent to AGERPRES on Thursday, WWF Romania points out that, without a new architecture of the system to combat illegal logging and, consequently, without a new SUMAL 3.0, Romania will not be able to get rid of illegal exploitation.

"Today we see that the SUMAL 2.0 wood traceability system has been launched on the market in an untested and unfinished form. That is why we must manage our expectations, especially when it creates blockages for those who want to act legally and do not offer a minimum required transparency," the release reads.According to the organization, in its current form, SUMAL 2.0 removes the controls from exiting the forest and risks wasting the resources necessary to carry out real controls. WWF claims that the system imposes a series of unnecessary administrative tasks on the Forest Guards, which thus turn into detection bodies: they are called upon to ascertain satellite alerts, to confirm standard errors in estimating the volume of notices that accompany timber and then note the differences in volume at the reception of wood in warehouses.WWF states that it has repeatedly drawn attention to these issues and made proposals for a real reform of the system to combat illegal logging."We will submit to the Government and Parliament the WWF petition to urgently establish primary legislation to support the simplicity, transparency and efficiency of a new SUMAL 3.0," the release reads.
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The Lee University group in Oklahoma City on their way to Colorado for a cross-cultural experience

Lee Universitys School of Nursing sent a group of 24 students and faculty to Colorado for a cross-cultural experience this past December over winter break.

Led by Jacob Fast, SON enrollment and advising specialist and assistant professor, the group spent two weeks traveling over 4,000 miles through 16 states, ranging from Little Rock, Ar., to Amarillo, Tx. The group was accompanied by Cesli Vaccaro, adjunct professor at Lee, and Lee digital media alum T. McLauchlin.

While fulfilling the mission of the cross-cultural experience at Lee, Mr. Fast had multiple goals for the trip. A focal point of our time in Colorado was working with the Hispanic populations within the communities we experienced, said Mr. Fast. We also wanted to focus on disaster management concepts, humanitarian ideals, and health disparities, which was successfully accomplished.

While in Colorado, the group visited the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center. They heard from Sarah Jackson, founder of Casa de Paz, a nonprofit that has been reuniting families separated by immigration detention for over eight years. Sarah shared with the students about the conditions within the detention facility, the impact that Casa de Paz has had on those who have encountered immigration detainment, and ways to personally help those in need, said Mr. Fast.

The students were also made aware of the hospitality home, made available for people from out of town visiting those in detention; Casa on Wheels, which provides immediate assistance for those released from ICE; and how to become a pen pal to those inside ICE facilities. Ms. Jackson also shared about the potential of starting similar organizations in other locations where the services do not exist.

Though the trip was designed to cater to Disaster and Healthcare Mission Management majors, any student was welcome. In addition to those mentioned above, students on the trip currently study nursing, psychology, health science, and biology.

This trip meant a lot to me, said Cristina Moore, a senior psychology major. My original trip overseas was cancelled due to COVID, and I was so nervous about this trip, but it was amazing to travel and meet new people, especially during a pandemic.

Pierson Nelson, a junior nursing major, said, This trip was the opportunity of a lifetime. All the places we got to see in such a short amount of time was truly amazing and something that I will never forget.

Though many of the universitys cross-cultural trips have been postponed or cancelled due to the pandemic, administrators agreed this trip could take place in a safe manner while following necessary precautions.

We had goals of staying safe, being smart, and having fun, and I believe these goals were met in momentous ways, said Mr. Fast.


Union Home Minister Thursday said the process of granting Indian citizenship to refugees under the CAA, including to the Matua community of West Bengal, will begin once the process of COVID vaccination has ended.

Accusing the opposition parties of misleading the minorities about the Citizenship (amendment) Act, he said, its implementation will not impact the citizenship status of Indian minorities.

Shah said the Modi government had in 2018 promised it will bring in a new citizenship law and kept it when the BJP was voted to power in 2019.

He said, after the country was hit by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, its implementation had to be kept in abeyance.

"Mamata didi said we made a false promise. She started opposing the CAA and saying she will never allow it. The BJP always fulfils the promises it makes. We have brought this law and refugees will get citizenship.

"As soon as the COVID vaccination process ends the process of granting citizenship under CAA will begin. All of you will be respected citizens of this country," he said, addressing a rally in Thakurnagar in the bastion of the Matua community.

Matuas, originally from East Pakistan, are weaker section Hindus who migrated to India during the Partition and after the creation of Bangladesh. Many of them have been accorded Indian citizenship but a sizeable section of the population has not got it.

The Matua community, with an estimated population of three million in the state, can tilt the scales in favour of a political party in at least four Lok seats and more than 30 assembly seats in Nadia, and North and South 24 Parganas districts. It once stood solidly behind the TMC but had supported the BJP in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

A section of state BJP leadership is apprehensive that the delay and confusion over the implementation of the CAA could make them turn against the saffron party.

Shah asserted that Banerjee will not be in a position to oppose the implementation of the CAA as she will cease to be the chief minister after the assembly polls likely in April-May this year.

"Mamata Didi is misleading the people on the CAA. But let me tell you that she won't be a position to oppose as she will not be the chief minister after April-May. We will implement the CAA, it is a law that has been passed by Parliament," he said.

"As the Home Minister of this country, I want to assure the minorities of India that none of you will lose citizenship. The CAA is about granting citizenship to refugees, it is not about taking away anyone's citizenship," he said.

Accusing the erstwhile Congress and the Left Front governments of West Bengal of never bothering about granting citizenship to the refugees, Shah said they betrayed them much in the same way as the TMC did.

Shah also attacked the Mamata Banerjee government over Bangladeshi infiltration, and asserted only a BJP government can stop it.

Courting the Matua community, Shah said if voted to power, the BJP government will propose renaming the Thaukurnagar railway station 'Shri Dham Thakurnagar' after Sri Sri Harichand Thakur, their socio-religious guru.

After coming to power in West Bengal, the BJP government will introduce 'Chief Minister Sharnarthi Kalyan Yojana' for the welfare of the refugee population.

Reacting to Shah's assertion about implementing the CAA, Mamata Banerjee said he should mind his language and declared she will never allow it to be enforced in West Bengal.

"The home minister of the country should be careful about his utterances. We will never allow CAA, NRC or NPR in Bengal. They can say whatever they want to. They want to destroy Bengal. We will never allow them to do that," she asserted.
Helsinki, Feb 11 : The Finnish Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority (STUK) has confirmed that an automatic emergency shutdown of the Olkiluoto nuclear power plant on December 10, 2020, was due to human error and not because of a technological fault or equipment breakdown.

In a statement on Wednesday, the STUK said that was the first emergency shutdown of a nuclear plant in the country, since the beginning of using nuclear energy in the national power grid in the mid-1970s, reports Xinhua news agency.

It explained that during maintenance a pump had been stopped, and when it was restarted improperly water had started going in the wrong direction, causing erroneous entry of hot water to the reactor cooling system.

STUK Deputy Director Tomi Routamo said that this error had resulted in the development of highly radiating isotope 16 in the system.

Then radiation levels in the circulation of steam increased three- or fourfold, triggering the emergency shutdown. Initially, a much more serious fuel leak was suspected.

Routamo added that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) had also reacted upon a Finnish notification while the seriousness of the situation was still uncertain.

Finland has also notified neighbouring countries.

Olkiluoto is operated by the Finnish energy company Teollisuuden Voima.

After the incident, STUK had admitted in a statement that informing the public about the shutdown was too slow.

The municipality of Eurajoki, in the immediate vicinity of the plant, was not informed until several hours after the incident, according to a local media report.

The relatively slow information about the incident was criticised at the time.

In a survey by the Finnish National Rescue Association published on Wednesday, half of the respondents were dissatisfied with the communications about the incident.


There are 4,828 people waiting to take their driving test in Kildare, according to Kildare TD, Patricia Ryan.

The Sinn Fein politician today called on the Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan, to take decisive action to tackle the massive driving test backlog.

The RSA has confirmed to me that there are now 92,210 (nationwide) people waiting for a driving test, with some constituents telling me they will be forced to wait months for a test date," she said.

Throughout 2020 we called on Minister Shane Ross and the new Minister Eamon Ryan TD, to address the worsening crisis. Neither took the problem seriously and the situation has now greatly worsened.

In fact, the number of people waiting for a test has increased by 70% since June of this year.

With public transport down to 25% capacity and sharing of lifts not feasible due to Covid, this is causing massive problems for people who need a licence to get to work."

She said this is a huge issue for people in rural Ireland, where public transport isnt an option.

The problem is particularly bad in Kildare with 4,828 learner drivers waiting for a test in Naas testing centre. There is a clear need for additional driving instructors and testers. Likewise, longer opening hours and weekend tests would go some way to address the lengthening backlog," she added.

The Minister needs to urgently consult with instructors, testers and their unions to find a way forward to accelerate the number of tests that can be carried out safely over the coming months.

In addition, the driver theory test is still suspended, causing further delays for those learning to drive."

Sinn Fein have also called for online driver theory tests to be extended to all categories of learner drivers, to help deal with the growing backlog of those learning to drive.

The Driver Theory Test Service are currently providing remote theory tests for bus, truck, CPC and ADI categories. This is a welcome development, but it is essential this is now expanded to those learning to drive a car.
Never underestimate the soothing power of llamas. Just ask Susan Leslie, proud llama mama to 60 of the calmest and cuddliest camelids in South Texas.

Across her 10-acre farm in Seguin, the many llamas short and tall, brown and white, spotted and solid poke their long woolly necks over farm fences and barn gates, each with its own tale of kindness.

Poco, a medium-wool 8-year-old, once walked a fashion show runway with a model and granted the birthday wish of a 10-year-old girl with cancer to take a llama for a walk. JJ, a black and white classic llama, often visits nursing homes as a therapy animal. Ziggy, a silky behemoth at 6 feet tall and 425 pounds, poses for bride-and-groom photos at weddings. And bottle baby llama Torrey gladly gives kisses to preschoolers.

I guess one phrase Ive used to describe them is they are food for the soul, said Leslie, owner of Leslie Lane Farm and a llama breeder for more than 20 years. Theres just this calming effect to them.

Susan Leslie

Aint no drama with Leslies llamas, or really any of these Peruvian pack animals with a soft disposition to match their silky wool.

On ExpressNews.com: Meet the T. rex of Texas that prowled the San Antonio area more than 100 million years ago, the Acrocanthosaurus

Llamas are very quiet (and) they can be super friendly, said Kelsey Crandall, an animal care specialist at the San Antonio Zoo who raised her own two llamas, which lived around 25 years. Theyre very, very smart and curious animals. But theyre also known as guard animals, and they can be very protective and loyal to their herd.

Theyre also all the rage, having joined the sloth and the unicorn as the other It animal to launch a 1,000 internet memes and grace cakes, notebooks and other merchandise. Though like Crandall, Leslie also loved llamas long before it was cool.

In 2000, Leslie started her own llama farm in Ohio with just a fluffy female and a gelding. By the time she moved to Texas in 2007, she had 16 llamas. Since she got her ranch for the llamas in Seguin, shes grown the flock to 60.

Susan Leslie

When Leslies not hiring out her llamas for runways and other events, she hosts tours at her farm. And as much as Leslie loves to see her llamas brighten faces, she also cherishes the warm glow she gets every time she and several of her llamas watch the sunset from her front porch.

Its just  ahhhh, Leslie said.

Heres a closer look at the chill llama.

A North American native that came back home. The domestic llama (Lama glama) is from South America and a member of the camel family. The llamas you see today in the United States and Canada were imported in the late 20th century.

Llamas originally roamed the central Plains of North America around 40 million years ago, then migrated to South America 3 million years ago. North American camelids later went extinct during the ice age, more than 10,000 years ago.

Marvin Pfeiffer /Staff photographer

The Incas domesticated llamas around 5,000 years ago, primarily as beasts of burden but also as a source of food and clothing. Llamas are synonymous with Peru, where youll find them in many streets, as well as in the Andes Mountains at peaks such as Machu Picchu.

Not so big in the USA. While several million llamas roam South America, the U.S. is home to fewer than 40,000. Leslie, who hires out her shearing services to the San Antonio and Austin areas, estimates there are fewer than 50 llamas in the Alamo City, though you can own up to two llamas in San Antonio with a livestock permit.

Llamas are raised for their wool. Often when Leslie shears llamas, shell clean the fleece and then send it to a mill, where its washed and spun into yarn for rugs, blankets and other products that are shipped back to her.

Llamas produce a soft, oil-free wool thats lightweight yet great for keeping warm. Llamas have two coats: thick guard hair used for ropes and soft down good for spinning into yarn.

They also make great livestock guards. Most llama owners in Texas have a single llama as a livestock guard, Leslie said. Those llamas will protect sheep and other livestock from coyotes and hunting dogs.

Llamas usually drive off predators with a high-pitched scream, though theyll also bite, stomp and spit.

Those soft cuddly little things can get super fierce when something is trying to attack their family, Leslie said.

Marvin Pfeiffer /Staff Photographer

Like a camel without the hump. Llamas look a lot like fancy camels that traded their humps for extra wool, which comes in a variety of colors, though often brown or white. They also have feet, not hooves, with two toes.

With their long necks, llamas reach average heights of around 5 feet tall from the ground to the top of their head. Full-grown llamas weigh anywhere from a bit less than 300 pounds to a bit more than 400 pounds and live around 15 to 25 years.

On ExpressNews.com: Feral hogs cause more than $1.5 billion in damage each year, but the most hated animals in Texas have their charms

Not an alpaca. Llamas and alpacas are both camelids, but they have differences. Llamas are about twice the size of alpacas. Also, llamas have long, banana-shaped ears, while alpacas have short pointy ears.

Happy herbivores. Llamas mostly eat hay and grain, though theyll also chomp on some fruits and veggies (and at Leslies farm, the occasional cookie).

Yes, they spit, but mostly at each other. Like camels, llamas will spit if agitated, but theyre more likely to aim at each than humans.

Marvin Pfeiffer /Staff Photographer

Usually its a defense mechanism or a warning mechanism that (another llama is) making them unhappy or to back off, Crandall said.

They give birth to cute little crias. A baby llama is called a cria, the Spanish word for baby. Llamas give birth standing up and usually have a single cria every one to two years, Leslie said.

The ladies huddle around mother and child. Female llamas will surround a female giving birth to protect mother and child from any pesky males or predators.

On ExpressNews.com: Yep, San Antonio gets its share of wild alligators. On guard, Fluffy!

A Christmas meme with legs. Llama-mania broke out around five years ago with the rise of Fa La La La Llama Christmas sweaters and other merch. That gift has kept on giving, with llamas now on just about everything, from cakes and throw pillows to towels and pajamas.

Llamas that got their groove in pop culture. Famous llama characters go back to at least 2000 with Kuzco, the egotistical Inca ruler whos transformed into a llama in the Disney animated film The Emperors New Groove. Then theres the 2005 childrens book Llama Llama Red Pajama, which saw a resurgence when author Anna Dewdney died in 2016. Now the big llama in pop culture is the Loot Llama, the colorful supply pinata in the video game Fortnite.

rguzman@express-news.net | Twitter: @reneguz
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Writer and TV personality Amber Ruffin has joined the creative team of the new musical Some Like It Hot, based on the 1959 Billy Wilder movie, which is now planning to arrive on Broadway in 2022.

Emmy nominee Ruffin will co-write the book with Matthew Lopez (of The Inheritance fame). The show will feature a score by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman (who penned Hairspray), with direction and choreography by Casey Nicholaw (The Prom). Casting, dates, and Broadway venue are still to be announced.

Some Like It Hot follows two musicians who witness a mob-connected murder and flee town, disguising themselves as women in an all-female band. The original film had a cast including Jack Lemmon, Marilyn Monroe, and Tony Curtis.

The property had previously been adapted by Peter Stone, Jule Styne, and Bob Merrill as the 1972 Broadway musical Sugar.

Ruffin, a writer on Late Night With Seth Meyers, also hosts her own self-titled late night talk show on Peacock. Her theatre work includes contributions to a new book for The Wiz, which premiered at the Muny in 2018, as well as the musical parody King of Kong.

Plans for a UK run are unconfirmed, though as soon as we know, we'll definitely let you know.
Most years, Presidents Day is treated as little more than a shivery three-day weekend. But with a new chief executive in office, a former one on trial for impeachment and several statues of past presidents pulled down last year, maybe the holiday can offer time to reflect on the presidency and the ambit of our country in general.

Do we still admire George Washington, knowing that he owned slaves? Abraham Lincolns treatment of Native Americans merits scrutiny, as well. But on the third Monday in February, a date that often falls between the two leaders birthdays, Presidents Day asks a nation to celebrate them, which should also mean questioning them, learning from our past so that we can envision a better future. While the kids are off from school, here are some suggestions for what to do virtually or in person in New York City.

Visit the Resolute Desk

Last year the New-York Historical Society opened a permanent exhibition that recreates the Oval Office as decorated for Ronald Reagans second term. (Love the rose curtains. And the matching pink phone.) The space includes a replica of the Resolute Desk, a gift from Queen Victoria. Visitors cannot sit behind it for photo ops right now, but they can still take selfies in the room. There are other presidential artifacts on hand, including Washingtons inaugural Bible.

The society also invites visitors to participate in an interactive game, Playing the President: FDRs First Hundred Days. By reading historical documents and consulting virtual advisers, you too can help pull America out of a depression.
Traffic in San Francisco's Tenderloin neighborhood may soon slow down.

A proposal to reduce the neighborhood speed limit to a 20 mph speed with the goal of preventing traffic injuries and fatalities is under consideration.

The San Francisco Municipal Transit Agency Board of Directors will vote on the proposal in March and Supervisor Matt Haney said it's expected to pass.

"The changes would go into effect thereafter," Haney wrote in an email. "We'll need the signage etc., which have already been approved. So the changes will be in effect this spring."

The downtown neighborhood is part of a small percentage of streets13%that account for 75% of severe traffic injury collisions and fatalities, according to the SFMTA.

SFMTA is also implementing a pilot program with "no turn on red" at 54 intersections.

"Prohibiting turns while facing a red traffic signal is a proven method for reducing intersection conflicts," SFMTA said in a blog post on its website. "This includes both right turns and legal left turns from one one-way street to another."

The speed limit in the Tenderloin is currently 25 mph, and Haney posted on Twitter that even a 5 mph reduction in speed will make a difference.

"A pedestrian struck at 20 mph versus 25 mph has 2x the chance of survival," wrote Haney, who has worked with the city on the safety improvements. "This will also protect people who drive, obviously. This will save lives."

SFMTA cited a recent study from Seattle, Washington showing that posting new, lower limits led to reductions in speeds and collisions, "even in the absence of streetscape or enforcement changes."

If the proposal passes, the Tenderloin will be the first S.F. district where the speed limit for all major streets is 20 mph.
To the editor:

A special thank you to everyone that has donated their bottles and cans to us over the last few weeks. Your donations have paid for school fees, clothing, food and medical treatment for our orphans and staff in Uganda, Africa. Your support has also made it possible to travel and minister to several churches and villages as part of our outreach program in Uganda.

Bottle drives will continue on the following days:

 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 13 at The Bear Den, 106 N. Silverleaf, Gladwin. Contact Brenda at 989-965-7057. (We will be traveling to Uganda for a ministry trip  contact Robert at 989-324-8937 for arrangements.)

 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays, Feb. 13, 20, 27 and March 6, 13, 20, 27 at Fruchey Plaza, 360 Ross St., Beaverton. Contact Robert for more information.

 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays, Feb. 13, at Lowe's, 1918 Airport Road in Midland. Contact Lourie at 906-430-5549.

Why do we continue asking for your help? Here in American we have many ways to receive help through many government programs and/or church assistance programs. None of the Ugandan people we help get any form of assistance other than what we provide them. There are no government programs or state aid to help them in tough times.

We still welcome any assistance you are willing to provide to further our cause in Uganda. Your help goes directly to the people that need it.

We are currently in need of a fresh water well badly. Our staff and children have been sick several times due to bad water. We estimated the coast of a new well is just under $10,000. If you can help with this please let us know.

Extension to the orphanage is a possibility due to a four-bedroom home adjacent to the property. It also has coffee and bananas on the property to help offset some of the cost of food. We have talked with the owner and they would like $4,500 for that place. Again, if you can help, please let us know. We are non-denominational group of believers that want to help spread the word of God and be a blessing to our neighbors in Uganda. Come and be a part of something great!

Please send your cash donations to: Glory Ministry, 3739 Pratt Lake Road, Gladwin, MI, 48624.

ROBERT A. WOOD JR.

Gladwin

MOSCOW, Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- PhosAgro CEO Andrey Guryev was awarded the 15th national Director of the Year Prize in the category "Contribution to the Development of a Culture of ESG".

The aim of the national Director of the Year Prize, established in 2006, is to recognise the personal contribution of directors to the development of corporate governance systems and to promote best practices for the work of boards of directors in Russian companies.

The winners are selected by the Prize's Expert Council from among participants in the annual ratings of best directors prepared by the Independent Directors Association (IDA) and the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RUIE) in partnership with PwC.

The Expert Council includes Alexander Shokhin, President of the RUIE; Andrei Sharonov, Dean of the Skolkovo Moscow School of Management; Alexey Mordashov, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Severstal; Bella Zlatkis, Deputy Chair of the Executive Board of SberBank; Vladimir Gerasimov, Executive Director of Interfax Group; Yury Denisov, Chairman of the Executive Board of Moscow Exchange; Oleg Vyugin, independent director at Rosneft; Andrey Bugrov, Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors of Norilsk Nickel; Alexander Ikonnikov, co-founder of the IDA; Vitaly Podolsky, independent director at LSR Group; Oleg Tsvetkov, Corporate Secretary at SberBank; and Elena Dubovitskaya, Director of Corporate Governance and Sustainability at PwC.

In presenting the award, the RUIE's Mr Shokhin noted that the "Contribution to the Development of a Culture of ESG" nomination, which has been granted for the first time, will become an annual award.

"For a long time, all RUIE members have adopted the practice of regularly submitting non-financial reports and sustainable development reports. It is no coincidence that an RUIE company has won the award this year."

Head of PwC's Corporate Governance Practice Alexey Fegetsyn stressed that thanks to its commitment to the principles of ESG, PhosAgro not only invests in the development of its own business but makes a much broader overall contribution to sustainable development.

"This year marks our company's 20th anniversary, and throughout this entire 20-year period, sustainable development issues have been a key priority for PhosAgro," said Mr Guryev, a member of the RUIE's Management Board. "The three letters of 'ESG' are part of the DNA of our company  they are our mission. The growing focus on these principles is a macro trend that will continue to shape the coming decades. ESG does not only cover our social and environmental policies and aspects of our corporate governance, it shapes our entire lives and those of all the stakeholders around us.

"We are one of the first companies in Russia to create a Sustainable Development Committee under our Board of Directors, which is headed by PhosAgro Independent Board Member Irina Bokova, who previously served as Director-General of UNESCO for eight years. The combination of her expertise and the humanist values that she applies to her work have profoundly influenced me personally and the entire Board of Directors of the company.

"It is gratifying to note that today an increasing number of leading Russian companies are paying attention to ESG issues. That makes this award all the more meaningful for me and for the entire PhosAgro team. I would like to thank the organisers of the Corporate Governance Forum and the Prize's Expert Council for acknowledging our progress."

"This recognition by the Expert Council of the Director of the Year Prize is a well-deserved celebration of Andrey's strategic vision and skills as a Chief Executive and a further validation of PhosAgro's environmentally sustainable Strategy. The Company's commitment to the objectives of the United Nations is an integral part of our 2025 Strategic Plan as we directly contributed to 11 of its 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

"PhosAgro PJSC will continue its investment program in that area as part of its commitment to the Planet's food security and the supply of environmentally-friendly mineral fertilizers free of toxic concentrations of carcinogenic heavy metals and other substances hazardous to human health. PhosAgro PJSC currently distributes its products to 102 countries around the world," said Chairman of the PhosAgro Board of Directors Xavier Rolet KBE, commenting on Mr Guryev receiving the national Director of the Year Award.

In the "Best Corporate Secretary" category, the 15th national Director of the Year prize was awarded to PhosAgro's Corporate Secretary Sergey Samosyuk.

PhosAgro's ESG-related activities were highly rated in 2020 in prestigious Russian and international ratings and awards competitions.

In September 2020, the UN confirmed PhosAgro's LEAD status within the Global Compact, a leading platform for socially responsible business. Only 41 companies around the world have been granted this status.

In October, the Company won the Grand Prix in the "Russian Business Leaders: Dynamics, Responsibility and Sustainability" awards held by the RUIE. The Grand Prix has been awarded only twice in the history of the awards, and both times it has gone to PhosAgro.

In November, PhosAgro was awarded its second IFA Gold Medal for its consistent commitment to continuous improvement and for its application of the best solutions in terms of energy efficiency and resource conservation, occupational health and safety and environmental protection.

In December, a leading authority on climate reporting, CDP, upgraded PhosAgro's rating from C to B-. The influential international agency Sustainalytics, in its annual review of ESG risk ratings, improved PhosAgro's rating considerably  from 43.8 to 26.9 points (moderate risk)  ranking the Company among the top three enterprises in the global agrochemical industry.

About PhosAgro

PhosAgro (www.phosagro.ru) is one of the world's leading vertically integrated phosphate-based fertilizer producers in terms of production volumes of phosphate-based fertilizers and high-grade phosphate rock with a P 2 O 5 content of 39% and higher. PhosAgro's environmentally friendly fertilizers stand out for their high efficiency, and they do not lead to the contamination of soils with heavy metals.

The Company is the largest phosphate-based fertilizer producer in Europe (by total combined capacity for DAP/MAP/NP/NPK/NPS), the largest producer of high-grade phosphate rock with a P 2 O 5 content of 39%, a top-three producer of MAP/DAP globally, one of the leading producers of feed phosphates (MCP) in Europe, and the only producer in Russia, and Russia's only producer of nepheline concentrate (according to the RAFP).

PhosAgro's main products include phosphate rock, more than 50 grades of fertilizers, feed phosphates, ammonia, and sodium tripolyphosphate, which are used by customers in over 100 countries spanning all of the world's inhabited continents. The Company's priority markets outside of Russia and the CIS are Latin America, Europe and Asia.

PhosAgro's shares are traded on the Moscow Exchange, and global depositary receipts (GDRs) for shares trade on the London Stock Exchange (under the ticker PHOR). Since 1 June 2016, the Company's GDRs have been included in the MSCI Russia and MSCI Emerging Markets indexes.

More information about PhosAgro can be found on the website: www.phosagro.ru.

SOURCE PhosAgro
analysis

With ongoing fighting in the Tigray region, Ethiopia's chronic instability is set to worsen unless the federal government adopts a conciliatory approach toward opponents. In this excerpt from our Watch List 2021, Crisis Group urges the EU and its member states to press federal authorities to allow access for humanitarian aid and support dialogue to address the country's most divisive fault lines.

After five years of protests and a tumultuous transition, Ethiopia faces its toughest challenge yet in 2021 as conflict continues in the northern Tigray region and opposition parties threaten to boycott elections. Unless the federal government adopts a conciliatory approach toward opponents, the country's chronic instability is set to worsen. Following weeks of fighting, federal forces took Tigray's capital Mekelle on 28 November 2020 and declared victory over its regional leadership. Tigrayans continue to mount armed resistance, although federal authorities recently announced that they have killed or detained some high-profile figures from the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), the ousted regional ruling party. The war to date has killed thousands of people, forcing 50,000 refugees into Sudan and displacing up to two million people internally, many of whom are now bereft of food and shelter. Worryingly, border tensions with Sudan are escalating; relations between the two countries were already strained due to the dispute over Ethiopia's dam on the Nile. Elections, delayed due to COVID-19, pose another challenge. Those polls are set for 5 June, but not, at present, in Tigray. Opposition parties in another key region, Oromia, may well sit out the vote, complaining of state repression, including their leaders' detention. Addis Ababa promises a fair and competitive ballot, but that prospect is diminishing.

To forestall further fragmentation and address Ethiopia's deep divisions, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and his allies will have to address anger among Tigrayans who fear for their self-determination rights and believe that Ethiopian and Eritrean forces have committed atrocities against civilians in Tigray. Prior to the election, Addis Ababa should also convene an inclusive national dialogue, offering an amnesty to key jailed opposition leaders.

The EU has suspended 88.5 million of planned direct budgetary support to Ethiopia and linked its resumption to the cessation of hostilities, follow-up on allegations of human rights abuse, and full access for humanitarian aid agencies and media outlets to all areas of Tigray. Building on this step, Brussels and European governments should:

Continue to press federal authorities to allow untrammelled access for aid agencies and media outlets to all of Tigray. To date, movement restrictions and a telecommunications blackout have prevented vulnerable populations from receiving assistance and rendered claims of atrocities by both sides hard to verify.

Push, in conjunction with key international partners, for independent probes of all sides' claims of atrocities. The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) could conduct investigations, perhaps with support from the UN high commissioner for human rights.

To help calm widespread Tigrayan anger at the intervention, the EU should urge the federal government to roll back Amhara occupation of parts of Tigray and curtail Eritrea's involvement. The Amhara claims to parts of Tigray should instead be addressed via a federal boundary commission.

Encourage the federal government to offer amnesty to jailed Ethiopian opposition leaders from major political parties to give the June election a chance of proceeding without boycotts or other disruptions. Once free, those opponents should then be part of a national dialogue that will first discuss how to create conditions for a fair vote. After the election, the dialogue should take on questions underpinning the country's most divisive fault lines, notably the schism between pan-Ethiopian forces and ethno-nationalists.

War Entrenches Divisions

Ethiopia ended 2020 with a bloody conflict ongoing in Tigray. On 3 November, Tigray's forces, in alliance with some of the Tigrayan officers in the national army, forcibly took over some of the units stationed in the region, fearing, Tigrayan leaders claimed, an imminent federal assault. They killed or detained federal troops who did not surrender. The federal government responded with an armed campaign, which included drone attacks and support from Amhara region regular and irregular forces and Eritrea's military - though both Addis Ababa and Asmara deny Eritrean involvement. These combined forces swept across Tigray, taking major towns and seizing Mekelle less than a month later.

Gains came at a high cost. Thousands died, millions fled their homes, and reports suggest mass killings and rape. Tigrayans who escaped to Sudanese refugee camps report abuses by Amhara militias, especially in the parts of west Tigray that Amhara factions have de facto annexed. Accusations of atrocities and looting by Eritrean troops are also stacking up. The EHRC, a body accountable to parliament, said a Tigrayan militia massacred hundreds of mostly Amhara civilians in west Tigray in the first week of the war.

If the Tigrayan takeover of military bases was the final trigger, the war's roots lie primarily in bitter divisions over power sharing. When Abiy took office in 2018, Tigray's leaders lost the disproportionate federal influence they had long exercised, along with coalition partners from other regions, with an iron fist. Acrimony grew as Abiy's tenure went on. Tigrayan leaders distrusted Abiy's rapprochement with their old foe, Eritrean leader Isaias Afwerki. They and other supporters of Ethiopia's ethnic federal constitutional order that, on paper, devolves power to its regions, feared that Abiy planned to dismantle that system. Abiy's allies accuse TPLF elites of obstructing reform and stoking trouble through violence. When federal authorities delayed elections due to COVID-19 and, in June 2020, extended the federal and regional governments' terms, Tigray baulked and, in defiance of federal rulings, went ahead with its regional poll. Addis Ababa classified Tigray's new executive as unconstitutional. Mekelle rejected the federal government's authority after its term expired in early October. The mutual delegitimisation put the two sides on a collision course.

With Abiy set on military victory, the struggle is a matter of survival for Tigray's leaders. Some of these leaders have already been killed in battle, but those who are still at large are likely to continue to resist unless defeated. They appear to have significant popular backing. Despite the federal gains, Tigrayan political and military leaders are still claiming battlefield victories, despite having been overpowered by the ground incursion and aerial bombardment and having lost control of the regional government apparatus. Addis Ababa now faces a fundamental political challenge, as many Tigrayans appear to view the ousted TPLF leaders as legitimately elected and the federal intervention as illegal. Atrocities during the war have also heightened Tigrayan outrage, which makes a political settlement harder to achieve.

If Abiy's administration is to have any hope of assuaging Tigrayans, it must act fast. Amhara nationalists claim parts of Tigray's west and south as historically belonging to their people, suggesting that they intend to stay. The federal government should put disputed areas under the interim Tigray government's writ, push Amhara leaders to withdraw their forces and expedite a federal boundary commission's work assessing Amhara claims. Addis Ababa also must ensure that Eritrea's troops leave Tigray immediately. Without these measures, hope seems slim of convincing Tigrayans, including the lower echelons of the formerly TPLF-run administration, to work with a federally imposed transitional government, as is Addis Ababa's wish.

Absent such steps, the federal government may well face a protracted crisis in Tigray that will sap its resources and further alienate the Tigrayan population, thereby making a political settlement even harder to reach. Sustained resistance with popular support would also pose a threat to the lives of millions of Tigrayans who are dependent on aid. So far, the federal government has shown no inclination to allow deliveries of food and other essential items to areas outside its control. International appeals, including from the EU commissioner for crisis management, for unrestricted access to all areas affected by fighting have gone unheeded to date. The EU should maintain its principled stance on this issue and keep insisting that its delivery of development assistance to Ethiopia is linked to the federal government allowing humanitarian and media access to all of Tigray.

A lengthy federal campaign in Tigray could also trigger unrest elsewhere. It might embolden other ethno-nationalist Abiy opponents who are concerned that federal policy in Tigray violates constitutional principles of regional autonomy and self-determination. There are already escalating ethnically targeted attacks in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, which borders Sudan, reportedly by ethnic Gumuz militia who say their community has been marginalised. The Tigray conflict came after the federal government had responded to intercommunal violence in Oromia and Addis Ababa by arresting top Oromo opposition leaders, such as Jawar Mohammed and those from the Oromo Liberation Front, and also the likes of Eskinder Nega, who campaigns against ethno-nationalism. These moves threaten prospects for a credible election, as they target rivals of Abiy's ruling Prosperity Party. For now, the crackdown appears to have cowed Oromia's youthful protest movement that helped usher in Abiy's rule and hope for political liberalisation in 2018. But Oromo nationalist rebels have stepped up attacks and attracted more support, bringing a stern response from regional and federal security forces, involving mass arrests and killings. There is a real risk that the country is returning to the exclusionary violent politics of the past rather than moving toward the more inclusive democratic future that Abiy promised.

Pathways to Peace and National Dialogue

One way to break a counterproductive cycle of claim and counter-claim is to mount independent investigations of reports of atrocities committed by different parties in Tigray. Ethiopia's opposition puts no stock in state investigators and the private press is weak and intimidated, so those entities cannot do the job. The EHRC, on the other hand, looks capable of winning the public's trust. Accountable to parliament, the EHRC has made important contributions under the leadership of former activist Daniel Bekele, including a report on the violence in Oromia, which found evidence that state security forces killed protesters and that protesters committed crimes against humanity. Thus far, the body has probed alleged atrocities in Tigray on only one occasion, despite countless reports of rights violations. Building on the position it has already taken, the EU should strongly back the EHRC in probing the claims of atrocities across Tigray, perhaps with assistance from the UN high commissioner for human rights, as well as the events in other regions.

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Equally importantly, European leaders should impress on Abiy's government that it should be more tolerant of dissent from activists and journalists. Abiy should stop punishing dissidents with legal measures that will likely breed further instability. Recent examples are the trial of politician Lidetu Ayalew for promoting the idea of a transitional government and the arrest of Tigrayan journalists in Addis Ababa.

While investigations can help establish facts and lay the foundations for a new political settlement, in themselves they are insufficient to bring Ethiopia's polarised political camps closer together. To achieve that end, sparring elites will need to resolve the core dispute over the balance between federal and ethno-regional power. That needs the participation of all key players.

Some form of inclusive national dialogue appears ever more critical. Prime Minister Abiy doubtless views the war as having strengthened his hand domestically. Many Ethiopians supported the federal war effort and, in quickly ending the TPLF's formal control of Tigray's regional political apparatus, he took out a key opponent and ideological rival. Ethiopia's deep fault lines are fundamentally political, however; they cannot be resolved on the battlefield. In the spirit of Abiy's forgiving medemer philosophy, which stresses national unity and cooperation of diverse entities for the common good, the EU should first urge a comprehensive political amnesty. That would serve as a precursor to a national dialogue, which would seek first to reach agreement on how to get to a credible election in June. After the vote, it would resume to address festering schisms, notably the split between supporters and opponents of ethnic federalism.

While European actors, such as NGOs that are present with financial support from the EU and its member states, have been doing important preparatory work for such a dialogue, it is also vital that the process be homegrown. The EU can play an important role in ensuring that all organisations it and member states support are well coordinated and backing national efforts. The EU should also encourage the federal government and ruling Prosperity Party to participate sincerely and give space to other participants. Its abstention or, alternatively, attempts to dominate proceedings would increase risks to Ethiopia's ailing democratic transition.
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PHOENIX  The Arizona Senate voted Wednesday to ask voters to curtail the governors authority to assert emergency powers during future pandemics or other crises.

Republicans approved the measure in a 16-14 party-line vote, sending it to the House.

The measure was pushed by Republicans because of Gov. Doug Duceys decision to sign executive orders closing or restricting businesses to limit opportunities for COVID-19 to spread. They say the governor should have authority to immediately respond to a pressing emergency, but eventually the Legislature should have a say in whether restrictive measures are allowed to continue.

I hope we never again see something so fearsome that we give all control to one person and his bureaucrats, said Sen. Kelly Townsend, a Gilbert Republican.

If the House signs off, voters would be asked to limit a governors emergency declaration to 30 days unless lawmakers vote to extend it. The governor would be required to call the Legislature into session within 10 days of declaring an emergency.

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Democrats said involving the Legislature would slow down the states response to an emergency and inject politics into crucial life-and-death decisions.

Sen. Juan Mendez, a Tempe Democrat, said Ducey has done too little to respond to the pandemic and should wield his emergency powers more aggressively.

We all know the governors powers have limitations. We cant make him out to be a dictator when he hasnt even done anything, Mendez said. The constitution is not threatened by an emergency, but by how we choose to react to an emergency.
Azerbaijans Defence Minister Zakir Hasanov has left for Turkey at the invitation of Turkish National Defense Minister Hulusi Akar, according to the ministry.

Hasanov will observe the final stage of Turkish-Azerbaijani joint exercises entitled 'Winter - 2021'.

The Winter Exercise 2021 is held with the participation of the Turkish Armed Forces and units of the Separate Combined Troops Army of Azerbaijans Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic.

The Turkish-Azerbaijani joint tactical Winter Exercise 2021 started in Kars on February 2 and will be completed on February 21.
Mastercard Inc. will begin allowing cardholders to transact in certain cryptocurrencies on its network, becoming the latest company to embrace digital assets.

The firm is also actively engaging with central banks around the world on their plans to launch new digital currencies, according to a Mastercard blog post on Wednesday.

The company will prioritize consumer protections and compliance in its own plans, Raj Dhamodharan, executive vice president of digital asset and blockchain products and partnerships, said in the post.

Mastercard has already partnered with some of the biggest cryptocurrency firms, including Wirex and BitPay  but the company has historically required digital currencies to be converted into fiat currencies before processing payments for transactions on its network.

Our change to supporting digital assets directly will allow many more merchants to accept crypto  an ability thats currently limited by proprietary methods unique to each digital asset, Dhamodharan said.

This change will also cut out inefficiencies, letting both consumers and merchants avoid having to convert back and forth between crypto and traditional to make purchases.

Mastercards announcement comes after Tesla Inc. said it invested $1.5 billion in Bitcoin this week, sending the cryptocurrency to a record.

For its part, rival Visa Inc. has said if a digital currency becomes a recognized means of exchange, there would be no reason why the firm wouldnt add it to its network, which already supports 160 currencies.

Our philosophy on cryptocurrencies is straightforward: Its about choice, Dhamodharan said. Mastercard isnt here to recommend you start using cryptocurrencies. But we are here to enable customers, merchants and businesses to move digital value.
Harsh and exploitative conditions don't amount to slavery, a barrister defending a woman accused of keeping a woman as a slave for eight years has told her trial.

The Melbourne woman and her husband, who cannot be identified, are accused of keeping the woman as a slave between July 2007 and July 2015 when she was rushed to hospital in a serious condition.

The Tamil Indian woman, now in her 60s, was emaciated, suffering untreated diabetes and weighed just 40kg when she was rushed to hospital, where she stayed for more than two months.

She first came to Australia on two six-month tourist visas to care for the Melbourne couple's three children before being granted a one-month tourist visa in July 2007.

Harsh and exploitative conditions don't amount to slavery, a barrister defending a woman accused of keeping a woman as a slave for eight years has told her trial

The Melbourne woman and her husband, who cannot be identified, are accused of keeping the woman as a slave between July 2007 and July 2015

The woman twice came to Melbourne from her home in Tamil Nadu, in southern India, to care for the couple's three children (pictured), then disappeared for eight years, the court heard

A month later the woman became an unlawful non-citizen and her passport expired in 2011, prosecutor Richard Maidment QC told the couple's Supreme Court trial.

But the wife's barrister Gideon Boas told the jury the expiry of her visa was central to the case, disputing that the alleged victim who had initially lied about working for the family did so because she believed she had been treated as a slave.

'You see, the alternative and far more plausible reason, we say she did these things is that the discovery of (the woman) by the authorities spelled serious trouble for both (the wife) and (the woman),' Dr Boas told the jury.

He said the woman was an integrated member of the family's household, referred to by the Tamil word for grandmother and seen in family pictures and on holidays with the family.

The alleged victim was interviewed by police six times and some of the details in her evidence are 'colourful', Dr Boas said.

The couple accused of imprisoning her allegedly lied about how they knew her when she collapsed in their Melbourne home, a court heard

'The way that she says she was treated - abused, locked up, unable to speak to anybody - these are claims that come from her and they come from her alone,' he said.

The wife has denied all allegations the woman worked in domestic servitude for the couple and their three children, and Dr Boas said even if some of the allegations stacked up the jury had to decide if it amounted to slavery.

'Even if (the woman) was brought here to work, to serve, that does not amount to slavery,' Dr Boas said.

The husband and wife, whose home she was found at, are accused of intentionally possessing the woman as a slave between July 2007 and July 2015

'The law is clear. Harsh and exploitative conditions of labour may be conditions of slavery but do not themselves amount to slavery.'

The husband's barrister John Kelly SC told the jury the trial was essentially two entirely separate cases against his client and the wife.

He said the woman had described the husband as being supportive of her, someone who 'mucks in with the chores' and worked extremely hard.

Mr Kelly said the alleged victim was interviewed six times by police, had given evidence in court previously and 'very often' it was the wife she spoke about.

'Evidence regarding one accused is not necessarily the same as evidence against the second,' he said.
Yuma News

Yuma, Arizona - On Wednesday, at about 8:32 p.m., Yuma Police officers responded to a report of a vehicle collision with injuries on S. Frontage Road and Avenue 10E.

The initial investigation revealed a 2004 Ford Mustang failed to yield from the stop sign at Avenue 10E and collided with a 1999 Ford E350 van. The driver of the Mustang, a 44 year old female, was ejected from the vehicle. Responding officers performed life saving measures until the Yuma Fire Department arrived and took over.

The driver of the Mustang was transported to Yuma Regional Medical Center where she was later pronounced deceased. There were no reported injuries from the driver of the van, a 67 year old male.

This case is still under investigation.

The Yuma Police Department encourages anyone with any information about this case to please call the Yuma Police Department at (928) 373-4700 or 78-Crime at (928) 782-7463 to remain anonymous.
Sen. Graham Predicts End of Impeachment Trial Soon: Not-Guilty Vote Is Growing

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) is predicting the impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump will conclude by Sunday, as he argued the number of senators who will vote against the article of impeachment is growing.

This thing is collapsing before their eyes, and the not-guilty vote is growing, so itll be over by Sunday, I hope, for the good of country, Graham said on Fox News Hannity late Wednesday, after senators heard nearly eight hours of arguments in Washington.

The not-guilty vote is growing after today. I think most Republicans found the presentation by the House managers offensive and absurd. We all know what happened at the Capitol was terrible. I hope everybody involved that broke into the Capitol goes to jail, but I dont remember any of these House managers saying a damn thing when they were trying to break into my house and going after Susan Collins and spitting on all of us, Graham added.

Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) faced attacks for her vote on the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court in 2018. Grahams Washington home, meanwhile, was targeted last year by noisy activists.

Were hoping the thing concludes by Saturday, Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) added to reporters on Capitol Hill on Thursday. The last I heard was Saturday, but Im not sure thats going to be possible. I think it may be more like Sunday, Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) added.

Senators are seen during the impeachment trial against former President Donald Trump, in Washington on Feb. 10, 2021. (Senate Television via AP)

Some senators said they found the House impeachment managers presentation Wednesday compelling but others suggested it had done nothing to change minds.

Im not a lawyer but I didnt see a case there that a prosecutor can make in court against the president, Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), a member of Republican Senate leadership, told reporters.

I think you get, at best, six Republicans, and everything else will stay as it was, Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) said.

Six GOP senators sided with Democrats in authorizing the trial to happen, with a core group of five regular Trump criticsSens. Susan Collins (Maine), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), Mitt Romney (Utah), Ben Sasse (Neb.), and Pat Toomey (Pa.) joined by Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), who had previously dubbed it unconstitutional.

The bulk of Republicans have suggested or pledged to vote to acquit Trump, while 10 Democrats have committed to convicting him.

A supermajority must vote to convict, or Trump will be acquitted for a second time. After an impeachment trial last year, Trump was acquitted on two counts, with every Republican but Romney voting to acquit.
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Pentecostalisms global impact outsizes its organizational footprint, according to a recent study parsing the reach of American Protestant mission organizations.

Pentecostals and charismaticsits often difficult to name such a broad and diverse groupcomprise 26 percent of all Christians worldwide, according to the Center for the Study of Global Christianitys 2020 report, and they have a growing presence in the developing world.

Yet only about 10 percent of US missions agencies serving abroad over the past 40 years were affiliated with the popular movement, sociologist Jared Bok found.

Global Pentecostalism saw its roots historically in the US. Yet despite its growth around the world, in the US itself, its evangelical Protestantism that is more dominant, said Bok, adding that American evangelicalism doesnt always affiliate with and sometimes even dissociates with Pentecostalism or charismatic forms of Christianity.

Bok, inspired by his familys interactions with US missionaries in Southeast Asia, said he has wondered how big of a role US missions agencies are playing in the growth of the faith around the world.

In a study published last year in the Review of Religious Research, the researcher analyzed a sample of 799 agencies from the North American Mission Handbook, a directory of North American missions organizations, alongside United Nations data on development and Protestant identity. His analysis begins in 1972the first year that the questionnaire sent out by Mission Handbook included the word evangelical and differentiates between organizations that identify as evangelicals, Pentecostals, both, or neither.

Bok reported that evangelical agencies rose from around 100 in the 1970s to a peak of over 300 in the 1990s, around the time Pentecostal agencies spiked to around 70. (Groups that were neither numbered somewhere in between evangelicals and Pentecostals.)

Pentecostals and charismatics have been more likely to engage in evangelism and publishing abroad, while evangelical agencies are more likely to evangelize over TV and radio.

Generally, sociological research sorts Protestants into subgroups: mainline, evangelical, and black Protestant. But recently scholars have also suggested the importance of differences within evangelicalism between Pentecostals/charismatics, evangelicals, and fundamentalists as key categories.

Any contribution sociologists can make in breaking apart stereotypes and highlighting the diversity within seemingly monolithic groups is useful, said Bok, who is an assistant professor at the University of Reno.

The differences  between evangelical and Pentecostal/Charismatic agencies in terms of what they do and where they operate may have implications for the survivability of their international ministries in the near future.

In certain countries, government regulations around religious activities can target foreign workers and agencies, in some cases forcing Christians to conclude their work, leave, or find new ways to evangelize. (Boks forthcoming research focuses on factors that prompt organizational changes at missions agencies.)

Although both Pentecostals and evangelicals tend to minister in countries where Protestants are underrepresented, Bok found, as he suspected, that evangelical agencies operate more frequently in countries with unreached people. He tentatively concluded that Pentecostal and charismatic agencies have seen more success in deepening the faith of active Protestants or igniting a new practice in those who were Christian in name only.

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Bok clarifies that this doesnt mean Pentecostal mission workers dont evangelize nonbelievers, but that social networks play a significant role in spreading the faith.

Bok recounts Tulane University sociologist David Smildes research in Latin America, which found that a lot of conversions, especially from Catholicism to Pentecostal/Charismatic Protestantism, happen through social networkspeople know family members who are Pentecostal, make friends or meet people in a different townmeaning not directly through the operations of an American mission organization. Bok suggests that organizations should be studied more with ethnographies or analysis of mission agencies materials to provide a fuller picture of reach.

Geographically, the new research adds to understanding of the greater share of global Christians who belong to Pentecostal or charismatic churches. In Latin America, Pentecostal and charismatic mission agencies had a larger presence, while in sub-Saharan Africa, organizations that identified as neither Pentecostal nor evangelical had a larger presence. Few American agencies had a presence in North African/Middle Eastern and former Soviet countries.

Overall, Bok found less sweeping and more selective differences between Pentecostal and evangelical missions than he anticipated.

There is far more that binds these two types of mission agencies together, especially compared to other Protestant agencies (such as mainline Protestant), than divides them, said Bok.

For example, Bok hypothesized that Pentecostal/charismatic agencies would tend to do less ministry as development increased for countries over timeother scholars have promoted the assumption that Pentecostalism is uniquely appealing to those experiencing poverty. (Others have also documented the popularity of Pentecostalism among the middle class.)

The data did not support the idea that Pentecostal agencies were more interested in low-income countries. But the answer could be beyond the scope of his examination of organizationsBok again suggests that more personal, community-level evangelism among those in poverty may be at play in those countries.

His study also found the role of denominations in US missions work abroad has shifted.

In the 1970s, over 70 percent of Pentecostal agencies were denominationally affiliated, while evangelical organizations were mostly not denominationally affiliated. By the 21st century, Pentecostals resembled evangelicals in that regard, and only about 25 percent of Pentecostal mission agencies were denominationally affiliated.

The change suggests some agencies began to emerge from independent congregations, said Bok. It also reflects rapid growth in nondenominational Christianity.

One advantage denominational agencies have over their nondenominational counterparts: a more robust missional scope.

Denominations may indeed provide the networks and scope of mission to allow their agencies to reach wider audiences, Bok said. They may not be as prolific in number as nondenominational agencies, but they certainly are making up for it with more ministries per agency.


Women today represent two-thirds of all Canadian doctorates in archaeology, but only one-third of Canadian tenure-stream faculty. While men with Canadian PhDs have done well in securing tenure-track jobs in Canada over the past 15 years, women have not, according to a new study from McGill University. The current COVID-19 pandemic is likely to exacerbate these existing inequalities.

Published in American Antiquity, the study is the first to follow archaeologists from graduate school to faculty positions to determine when women are exiting the academic track. It's also the first to explore grant applications and the success rates of women in Canadian archaeology.

"A 'chilly climate' exists for women in academia. Subtle practices that stereotype, exclude, and devalue women, as well as inhospitable working environments, particularly for primary caregivers, are just some of the factors that could be contributing to attrition rates," says co-author Lisa Overholtzer, an Assistant Professor and William Dawson Scholar in the Department of Anthropology at McGill University.

According to the researchers, most women are exiting the academic track after significant investments of time and money in their doctoral training and before landing a tenure-track position. Over the last 10 years, women have earned 64 percent of the PhD degrees in archaeology in Canada but make up only 46 percent of assistant professors today.

"We might think that 46 percent sounds good - it's near 50 percent after all, but our expectations for gender ratios shouldn't be 50/50. They should reflect the proportions in candidate pools," says co-author Catherine Jalbert, an archaeologist with the Texas Historical Commission.

Gender gap in Canadian hiring

A significant drop in hiring coupled with the end of mandatory retirement has translated into fewer jobs at precisely the moment when women became most of the PhD recipients. Still, this does little to explain why women fill proportionately fewer of those jobs, say the researchers.

The situation looks even bleaker when tracing paths of Canadian doctorates compared to foreign doctorates into Canada. "While most of the men hired here have Canadian PhDs, most women hired in Canada are trained internationally," says Professor Overholtzer.

Only 4 out of 28 (14 percent) of assistant professor positions are currently filled by women who were trained in Canada. Of men who earned their PhDs in archaeology between 2003 and 2017, 36% are Canadian faculty members today, while that's true for only 12% of the women who trained alongside them.

In the United States, women with Canadian PhDs are hired at higher rates - even higher than men. However, the researchers note that the numbers don't make up for the gender gap in Canadian hiring. Neither does it appear that women archaeologists are choosing to work in other career tracks within the field in greater proportions.

Problems with academic research grants

The researchers found that women are just as likely to apply for federal research grants at each level. However, there are small but persistent gender gaps in success rates across all levels, from doctoral student to faculty member. This could be due to unequal mentorship or to a devaluing of the methods and research questions typically explored by women.

"Our findings have some direct implications for federal policy, like the eligibility of dependent care during fieldwork funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council," says Professor Overholtzer. Currently, childcare expenses are only eligible if a child is nursing or if a mother is a single parent. "We think that archaeology and other disciplines would be able to better retain women if they were able to cover childcare costs during fieldwork, regardless of the age of their children or their marital status," she says.

Potential solutions

Increased hiring will be essential in curbing gender inequality. But this will be a challenge post-COVID as many universities face hiring freezes and budget constraints. However, another potential avenue could be boosting the Canada Research Chairs program with high targets for women scientists, say the researchers.

"The onus is on us to scrutinize how we train and prepare women in the field. We also need to scrutinize our hiring practices to find out why women are hired less often, especially in Canada," Professor Overholtzer concludes.

The authors note that their analysis was limited to gender, but other inequities likely exist along intersecting factors of identity, including race, class, and parental status. As next steps, they plan to explore these, and assess the impact of the pandemic on career advancement, research productivity, and well-being among Canadian archaeologists.

###

About this study

"A "Leaky" Pipeline and Chilly Climate in Archaeology in Canada," by Lisa Overholtzer and Catherine L. Jalbert was published in American Antiquity. Three McGill University undergraduates, Stephanie Frenette, Sophie Manfredi, and Marina Martin also contributed to the research.

DOI: http://doi. org/ 10. 1017/ aaq. 2020. 107

About McGill University

Founded in Montreal, Quebec, in 1821, McGill University is Canada's top ranked medical doctoral university. McGill is consistently ranked as one of the top universities, both nationally and internationally. It?is a world-renowned?institution of higher learning with research activities spanning two campuses, 11 faculties, 13 professional schools, 300 programs of study and over 40,000 students, including more than 10,200 graduate students. McGill attracts students from over 150 countries around the world, its 12,800 international students making up 31% of the student body. Over half of McGill students claim a first language other than English, including approximately 19% of our students who say French is their mother tongue.
The court considered several cases before its decision.

The Supreme Court has ruled not to open proceedings on a claim seeking the cancellation of sanctions against such pro-Russia TV channels as 112 Ukraine, ZIK, and NewsOne.

This was reported by the Supreme Court on Facebook on February 10.

Read alsoAlmost half of Ukrainians support ban on pro-Russian TV channels  poll

"The Cassation Court under the Supreme Court has ruled on cases No. 9901/22/21, No. 9901/23/21 on claims of citizens who appealed against presidential decree No. 43/2021 dated February 2, 2021, on a National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) decision of February 2, 2021, to use personal special economic and other restrictive measures (sanctions)," it says.

The court refused to open proceedings on a claim filed by a citizen who was seeking the cancellation of presidential decree No. 43/2021 by ruling it null and void. The court noted that the content of the claim virtually testifies to the fact that it was filed in the interests and in defense of the rights of other persons  legal entities who, according to the plaintiff, are the owners of the TV channels.

The court also took no further action on a claim filed by another citizen, setting for the plaintiff a ten-day period from the date of delivery of the ruling to eliminate the shortcomings. "The decision is based on the fact that the plaintiff did not give reasons as for which way [the presidential] decree, which is the subject of the claim, violates the rights, freedoms and interests whose protection the plaintiff seeks in court. In addition, the plaintiff did not specify the grounds for involving the NSDC, LLC Novosti (Novyny) 24 Hours, LLC TV and Radio Company 112-TV, LLC New Communications in the case as third parties who do not make independent claims on the subject of the dispute on to the defendant's side," the court said in its ruling.

On February 8, the court received another request with similar claims (case No. 9901/26/21). The Supreme Court must decide within five days since the registration of the request whether a criminal case should be opened to investigate it.

Sanctions against pro-Russian TV channels

On February 2, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky enacted a National Security and Defense Council decision on imposing sanctions on MP from the Opposition Platform - For Life Party Taras Kozak and eight companies that are the founders of TV Channels 112 Ukraine, ZIK, and NewsOne.

The broadcasting of the TV channels in the digital multiplex and cable networks was suspended in the early hours of February 3.

Reporting by UNIAN

India is also privileged to be one of Sri Lankas top development partners with commitments close to US$ 3.5 billion for grant projects as well as Lines of Credit.

The author of this article was the Guest of Honour at the 'Most admired companies of Sri Lanka' award ceremony organized by International Chamber of Commerce Sri Lanka, Daily FT and Chartered Institute of Management in Colombo on 10 February 2021.

by Vinod K. Jacob

I am honored to participate in todays award ceremony of the ten most admired companies of Sri Lanka organized by the International Chamber of Commerce Sri Lanka, Chartered Institute of Management Accountants and the Daily Financial Times. Let me begin by acknowledging the Chief Guest and other dignitaries. I compliment the organizers for the excellent programme. I congratulate the award winners of this year 2021 and wish them all the best in their future endeavors.

I would like to make use of this opportunity to share my views on recent developments in Indian economy and the current snapshot of some important elements of the India-Sri Lanka bilateral economic relationship.

In 2020, Government of India provided three stimulus packages at a combined value of US Dollar 405 Billion or nearly 15% of Indias GDP to assist the most vulnerable sections of the Indian society during the Covid 19 pandemic.

Earlier this month, the Honble Finance Minister of India Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget for 2021-22 which also happened to be Indias first digital budget with special focus on dealing with the challenges triggerred by the COVID-19 global pandemic.

Finance Ministers latest budget presented a vision for the actualization of Atmanirbhar Bharat or Self Reliant India through 6 key Pillars: (1) Health and Well-being, (2) Physical & Financial Capital, and Infrastructure, (3) Inclusive Development for Aspirational India, (4) Reinvigorating Human Capital, (5) innovation and R&D (6) Minimum Government and Maximum Governance.

According to Indias Economic Survey 2021, the projection for real GDP growth is 11 % in 2021-22 which is in line with the IMFs estimates of real GDP growth of 11.5 % in 2021-22 and 6.8% in 2022-23. India has also set a US Dollar 5 Trillion target for its economy in financial year 2024-25. With strong rebound expected in the second half of financial year 2020-21, the Indian economy is well on course towards realizing these figures.

In the past year economic innovation has enabled Indian business and industry to step up manufacturing of masks, PPE kits, ventilators and development of vaccines. In line with the commitment of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the UN General Assembly in 2020, India is using its vaccine production and delivery capacity to help all humanity. We have given particular attention to our neighbors.

You all would be aware of COVISHIELD and COVAXIN vaccines that are currently being administered in India. A plane load of 500,000 vials of vaccines arrived in Colombo on Duruthu Poya Day last month. Probably because of the success of this initiative, I am given to understand that Sri Lanka is placing large scale orders for more vaccines from India. Having seen at closed quarters, the benefits of jointly fighting COVID-19 related challenges, I am confident that both countries can deepen our cooperation in this field. One of the lessons learned is that while dealing with public health matters as important as vaccines, it is imperative to respect the national regulators freedom and competence. I would like to commend the professionalism of Sri Lankan authorities who cut no corners and yet provided necessary approvals in just about a week to COVISHIELD.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is deeply committed to making India-Sri Lanka bilateral ties stronger. This has been evident in the outcomes of our bilateral engagements including the visit of His Excellency President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to India in November 2019, of Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa to India in February 2020, the Virtual Bilateral Summit held on 26 September 2020 and most recently during the visit of External Affairs Minister, Dr. S. Jaishankar to Colombo from 5 to 7 January this year.

The existing bilateral ties in trade, investment, and development cooperation provide a strong template for realizing the leaderships vision in the economic sphere, specially considering that India was Sri Lankas largest trade partner in 2019 and Sri Lanka is one of Indias largest trade partners in South Asia. We have been looking at ways to utilize complementary strengths for increasing the resilience of our bilateral trade through a better understanding of evolving requirements on both sides.

We have been able to reduce the trade gap in 2018 and 2019 and made our trade more balanced through such efforts. According to latest data from the Sri Lankan side, in 2020, Sri Lankan imports from India were valued at USD 3 billion while Sri Lankan exports to India were valued at USD 604.42 million. This means that the bilateral trade gap which was USD 3.39 billion in 2018 was further reduced to USD 2.40 billion in 2020.

Due to proximity and familiarity with Sri Lanka, Indian manufacturers can play positive role through investments, equipment, technology, know-how, and manpower training, to enable Sri Lanka to emerge as a manufacturing and connectivity hub. The implementation of large-scale economic projects in infrastructure and energy would give a big boost to investor sentiment and promote win-win and mutually beneficial cooperation. Let me reiterate that India abides by all of its international and bilateral commitments in letter and spirit.

Connectivity is another crucial area which has seen good progress with the initiation of air-link between Jaffna and Chennai in 2019 and the pursuit of additional air links and ferry services. India had proposed in August 2020, the creation of an air bubble to facilitate controlled movement of certain categories of people between India and Sri Lanka. We had sent a proposal in August 2020 and I am happy to inform that we have just received the response from the Sri Lankan side.

India is also privileged to be one of Sri Lankas top development partners with commitments close to US$ 3.5 billion for grant projects as well as Lines of Credit. We continue to implement several projects under this umbrella, apart from moving forward on new initiatives like the US$ 100 million Line of Credit for solar power projects in Sri Lanka. As a part of the commitment to support Sri Lankas efforts to address pandemic-related challenges, the Reserve Bank of India had provided a US$ 400 million currency swap to the Central Bank of Sri Lanka in July 2020.

Participation of the private sector is critical for the success of all endeavours aimed at the expansion of economic ties between India and Sri Lanka and jointly overcoming the challenges emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic. We hope that Indian and Sri Lankan companies will make full use of available opportunities to forge comprehensive long-term ties, specially in context of integration with global supply and value chains.

The private sector requires certain basic conditions for the success of its ventures, which primarily include stable and predictable regulatory and economic policies and an enabling business environment. It is important to ensure that measures aimed addressing immediate difficulties are suitably adjusted to support the need for long-term growth in trade and investment.

India has been a preferred partner in Sri Lankas journey of progress, prosperity and development and we look forward to continuing this association for jointly overcoming all common challenges in the future. I convey my best wishes to the business community of Sri Lanka for a rewarding year ahead.

( The author is Indian Deputy High Commissioner to Sri Lanka )
DOJ Flips Under Biden, Now Tells Supreme Court Obamacare Is Constitutional

President Joe Bidens Justice Department told the Supreme Court on Feb. 10 that it no longer thinks the Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare, is unconstitutional, and it urged the court to uphold the health care law.

The shift in legal position represents a reversal from the Trump administrations stance that Obamacare should be invalidated because a key provision of the law, referred to as the individual mandate, is unconstitutional.

Following the change in Administration, the Department of Justice has reconsidered the governments position in these cases. The purpose of this letter is to notify the Court that the United States no longer adheres to the conclusions in the previously filed brief of the federal respondents, Deputy Solicitor General Edwin S. Kneedler wrote in a two-page letter to the court (pdf).

This development was made in a pending case in which both sides have already presented oral arguments to the Supreme Court. The case in question was brought to the top court by California and other Democratic states after a lower court found a key tenet of the ACA unconstitutional.

In December 2019, judges at the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans ruled 21 that the individual mandate was invalid, after Congress removed the mandate in 2017, rendering the law unenforceable. The mandate required people to obtain health insurance or pay a tax penalty.

Following the amendment from Congress, a group of red states and two private individuals filed a lawsuit claiming that the provision was no longer constitutional and that the entire ACA needed to be invalidated because the provision was inseverable from the rest of the law.

A district court judge in Texas found in favor of the plaintiffs, prompting an appeal to a circuit court. That court upheld the plaintiffs constitutional claims and sent the case back to the district court for a more detailed review of the question of the severability of the individual mandate.

Before the district court could complete that review, state officials from a coalition of blue states asked the Supreme Court in January 2020 to take up the case and review the lower courts decision. The House of Representatives also filed a similar appeal the same month, asking the court to review the lower courts decision.

Oral arguments were heard on Nov. 10, 2020. The Trump administration, which declined to defend the ACA, and red states led by Texas, argued that the individual mandate was unconstitutional and, as a result, the entire ACA should be struck down. Meanwhile, blue states and the House of Representatives rejected the argument that the entire Obamacare statute should fall.

In the letter, the Biden administration elaborated on the Democrats position, telling the court that it believes the mandate is constitutional.

In the view of the United States, Congresss decision to reduce the payment amount to zero therefore did not convert Section 5000A from a provision affording a constitutional choice into an unconstitutional mandate to maintain insurance, Kneedler wrote.

He added that if the court finds the mandate unconstitutional, then the court should find that the provision is severable from the remainder of the ACA.

That presumption of severability cannot be overcome here, particularly as the 2017 Congress that reduced to zero the amount of the shared responsibility payment option under Section 5000A simultaneously left in place the remainder of the ACA, he wrote.

Kneedler told the court that the department wasnt asking for supplemental briefing.

Former President Donald Trumps administration and Republicans had taken steps to weaken the ACA in an effort to ultimately repeal and replace the Obama-era law with more lower-cost options. They say the ACA represented government overreach that increased the cost of health care.

Meanwhile, Democrats have vowed to strengthen the law following the Republicans efforts to invalidate it through this case. The $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package that was being drafted by House Democrats contains the first expansion of the ACA in more than a decade.

The top court is expected to render a decision in the case by the end of this term in late June.
Jean-Claude Carriere, an author, playwright and screenwriter who collaborated with the director Luis Bunuel on a string of important films and went on to work on scores of other movies, among them Philip Kaufmans The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1988), died on Monday at his home in Paris. He was 89.

The death was confirmed by his daughter Kiara Carriere. No cause was given.

Mr. Carriere had barely started in the movie business when he met Bunuel, the Spanish-born director, in 1963 (although he had already won a short-subject Oscar for a 1962 comedy he made with Pierre Etaix, Happy Anniversary).

At the time, he was looking for a young French screenwriter who knew the French countryside well, Mr. Carriere recalled in a 1983 interview with the writer Jason Weiss.

I was a beginner, he said. I had gone to Cannes, and he was seeing various screenwriters there. I had lunch with him, we got along well, and three weeks later he chose me and I left for Madrid. Since then I havent stopped.
The shadowy escalations of Koch money and power in U.S. politics over the past four decades has far outpaced mainstream medias ability to quantify it to the public. The media deludes itself that it is dealing with the problem by talking about the symptoms of corporate and billionaire money in political campaigns while ignoring the actual disease  the Party of Koch.

The rise of Trumpism is merely a symptom of the Party of Koch. The violent mob in the Capitol on January 6, attempting to overturn a duly conducted election, is merely a symptom of the Party of Koch. If Donald Trump is banned from ever again holding federal political office, and he should be, Congress still has done nothing to deal with the actual disease  the Party of Koch.

Charles Koch has been the Chairman and CEO of Koch Industries since 1967. According to Forbes, in 2020 he ranked as the 18th richest man in the world with a net worth of $38.2 billion. Charles Koch and the heirs of his late brother, David, who died in 2019, are the majority owners of Koch Industries, one of the largest private corporations in the world with interests in fossil fuels, refineries, pipelines, coal, chemicals, consumer paper goods, proprietary trading in currencies, commodities and stocks as well as numerous other pursuits.

For the past forty years, Charles Koch has been involved in creating and funding a sprawling network of front groups that seek to shrink the federal government in order to gut it of its regulatory powers over corporations and kill off federal programs like the U.S. Postal Service, Social Security and Medicare because they are popular with, and have earned the respect of, the American people. Charles Koch also holds semi-annual strategy meetings with like-minded billionaires and millionaires to plan how to sway election outcomes to their favored candidates.

In 2014, then Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid accused the Koch brothers of trying to fix every election in America to their liking. That was the same year that Koch Industries launched its first ever nationwide marketing campaign  which since that time has enriched media outlets with millions of dollars in ads for its consumer paper products such as Dixie disposable paper plates, bowls and cups and its Northern Quilted and Angel Soft bath tissue.

While Charles Koch has tried to distance himself in the media from Donald Trump, he and Koch Industries were deeply incentivized to ensure that Donald Trump had another four years as President, because the Trump administration had been packed with Koch-friendly operatives.

A Koch nonprofit front group that played a major role in the 2016 presidential election was Freedom Partners. It shuttered in 2019. (Shuttering and reopening under a new name is standard operating practice by the Koch machine.) It was hard to decipher where Freedom Partners began and Koch Industries ended. In 2018, we perused its Board of Directors. We found that all but one of its Board Members was a current or former Koch company employee. According to the Center for Media and Democracy, Freedom Partners ended up with 12 of its former employees working in the Trump Administration.

Freedom Partners Action Fund, a related organization that pummeled Democrats in attack ads, had received at least $14 million from Charles Koch and his trust before it shuttered its operations.





Iran Is Producing Uranium Metal, in Violation of Nuclear Deal: IAEA

The Iranian regime has begun producing uranium metal, in violation of the 2015 nuclear deal that Tehran agreed to with world powers, according to the United Nations atomic watchdog agency.

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) head Rafael Grossi told member nations that his inspectors confirmed on Feb. 8 that 3.6 grams of uranium metal had been produced at Irans Isfahan plant, the Vienna-based organization said.

Iran had previously announced the move, saying its plans to conduct research and development on uranium metal production were part of its declared aim to design an improved type of fuel, according to the IAEA.

Grossi told member states in January that Iran planned to conduct research and development activities on uranium metal production as part of its declared aim to design an improved type of fuel for the Tehran Research Reactor, the agency previously said.

Uranium metal can also be used for a nuclear weapon; research on its production is specifically prohibited under the nuclear dealthe so-called Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOAthat Iran signed with Germany, France, Britain, China, Russia, and the United States in 2015.

The American Israel Public Affairs Committee called the latest development a dangerous step toward a nuclear weapon.

Yet this action is allowed under the JCPOA in 10 years. To permanently prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, key flaws of the JCPOAincluding the sunset clauses & inadequate inspectionsmust be fixed, the lobbying group said in a statement.

Russian official Sergei Ryabkov told state media: We understand the logic of their actions and the reasons prompting Iran. Despite this, it is necessary to show restraint and a responsible approach.

Irans supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks in a meeting in Tehran, Iran, on Feb. 5, 2020. (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via AP)

U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters in Washington that he hadnt seen the report.

I think more broadly this isand everything we have said about Irans behavior in recent weeks in monthsits the steps that its taken to further distance itself from the JCPOA, he said.

That undergirds our concern, and it undergirds the urgency with which we are approaching this challenge, and the urgency with which we are approaching our allies and our partners and undertaking these consultations with members of Congress to ensure that we have an approach to Iran that is harmonized and thats synchronized and that has the best chance of success.

Former President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from the agreement in 2018 but other members remained part of it, even as Iran has defied particulars on multiple occasions. Tehran has been using violations of the deal to put pressure on the other signatories to provide more incentives to Iran to offset crippling sanctions reimposed after the U.S. pullout.

The regime declared last month that it would no longer abide by the limits of the JCPOA.

The ultimate goal of the deal was to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon, something the regime in Tehran insists it doesnt want to do. Iran now has enough enriched uranium to make a bomb, but nowhere near the amount it had before the nuclear deal was signed. Still, the country is a mere matter of weeks from having enough material to produce a weapon, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said recently.

When Iran announced its plans in January to produce uranium metal, the German, French, and British foreign ministries issued a joint statement saying they were deeply concerned.

Iran has no credible civilian use for uranium metal, the nations said, urging Iran to halt the activity. The production of uranium metal has potentially grave military implications.

U.S. President Joe Biden has said he wants to rejoin the JCPOA but also said last week he wouldnt lift sanctions against the regime unless it halts uranium enrichment.

Iranian leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei told officials during a meeting this month that Iran has fulfilled all its obligations under the deal, and accused the United States and Germany, France, and the UK of not fulfilling theirs.

The United States must lift all sanctions or Iran wont comply with the accords, he added.

Jack Phillips, Reuters, Lily Zhou, and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
A smartphone with the Huawei and 5G network logo is seen on a PC motherboard in this illustration picture taken on Jan. 29, 2020. (Dado Ruvic/Reuters)

Citing China Threat, Business Groups, Experts Push Biden Administration for Digital Policy

WASHINGTONThe Biden administration needs to develop an aggressive, coherent digital policy to counter Chinas growing technological power, industry groups and former U.S. officials say.

The White House should increase broadband access in the United States, help U.S. companies sell abroad, and take the lead on global data and technology policy worldwideor risk U.S. tech companies being overtaken by Beijing, they say.

The Biden administration must seize this moment to launch a comprehensive, whole-of-government digital strategy, providing good jobs for workers sidelined by automation and upgrading U.S. competitiveness, the American Leadership Initiative (ALI), a think tank led by former U.S. trade negotiator Orit Frenkel, said in a report to be published on Thursday.

The report follows a Jan. 27 recommendation from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the biggest U.S. business lobby, urging Washington to partner with like-minded governments and the tech industry to set global tech standards.

Chinese flags and American flags are displayed in a company in Beijing on Aug. 16, 2017. (Wang Zhao/AFP/Getty Images)

The Biden administration is reviewing Trumps approach toward China on trade, technology, and other areas.

One critical step, ALI said, would be to set up an Office of Global Digital Policy at the White House, which would work more closely with U.S. allies.

ALIs report, based on six months of meetings with experts, business leaders, academics, and elected officials, including Antony Blinken, now U.S. secretary of state, includes dozens of specific recommendations including expanded access to broadband, connected devices, digital training, and education to address existing racial, socioeconomic, and geographic disparities.

Forty million Americans do not have reliable Internet service, or none at all, and among low-income households, 30 percent dont have a smart phone, Frenkel, a former General Electric executive, told Reuters.

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission estimates it would cost up to $80 billion to achieve universal broadband.

Frenkel said the effort could be part of an infrastructure investment plan that Biden officials plan to unveil later this year after securing passage of a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief plan.

The White House had no immediate comment on the proposals.

ALI also called for a Digital Marshall Plan that would provide export financing and support for U.S. companies competing against Huawei Technologies and other Chinese technology providers abroad, Frenkel said, estimating the cost at around $60 billion.

Frenkel said she witnessed Chinas aggressive push to sell its technology while still at GE, noting it raised critical security concerns. Chinese technology also gave developing countries more refined tools to monitor and censor their populations, she said.

By Andrea Shalal and Nandita Bose
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Defence Minister on Thursday said India has always told China that bilateral relations can only be maintained by mutual efforts and any impact on peace and tranquillity on the Line of Actual Control (LAC), will adversely affect the ties between the two countries.

Speaking about the present situation in Eastern Ladakh' in the Rajya Sabha, Singh said, "India has always told China that bilateral relations can only be maintained by the efforts of both the countries. And the question of border issue can be resolved through talks."

"Any impact on peace and tranquillity on LAC adversely affects our bilateral ties and China is well aware of this. Many high-level joint statements also mention that maintaining peace and tranquillity on LAC and borders is very important for bilateral relation," he added.

Talking about the ongoing station at the border area, he said, "Since last year, we have maintained a relationship with China on military and diplomatic levels. During the talks, we told China that we want a solution of the issue based on three principles."

"First, both parties must agree on LAC and respect it. Secondly, there shouldn't be an attempt to change the status unilaterally, by any party. Thirdly, all the compromises should be completely agreed upon by both parties," Defence Minister added.

This comes after the Chinese and Indian border troops on the southern and northern shores of Pangong Lake began disengagement on Wednesday as per the consensus reached during the ninth round of military commander-level talks, according to China's Ministry of Defence.

The Chinese and Indian border troops on the southern and northern shores of Pangong Lake began disengagement as planned on Wednesday according to the consensus reached during the ninth round of military commander-level talks, reported Global Times, citing the Defence Ministry.

India and China had agreed to push for an early disengagement of the frontline troops in eastern Ladakh during the ninth round of the China-India Corps Commander Level meeting held on the Chinese side of the Moldo-Chushul border meeting point on January 24 to address the ongoing military standoff.

The two countries have been engaged in a stand-off along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) since April-May last year. While China began amassing massive military strength along the LAC, India responded with a befitting build-up.

(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.)
Once elegant and bustling with life, Paradise Beach Hotel in Kikambala, Kilifi county, is a pale shadow of its former self.

Eighteen years after a terrorist attack that left 15 people dead and more than 80 injured, the hotel, which used to boast of more than 100,000 international tourists every year, is deserted, with only guards on the lookout for vandals.

The white lobbies and dining halls are vacant, with a few rusty and broken chairs and tables.

Beds without mattresses are lying idle in the more than 600 rooms.

The attack sapped life out of the Israeli-owned hotel.

Corroded chandeliers hang from the ceilings.

Terrorist attack

A vandalised bar, massage tables, spa rooms and broken gym equipment are a reminder of the attack that brought down the once-loved hotel. The compound is bushy and littered with coconut fronds.

The plunge pools and jacuzzi are filled with smelly greenish water.

The main swimming pool is dry and littered with trash.

The decaying doors and rusted padlocks are proof that the rooms have not been used for years.

Once among Kenya's top tourist destinations, Paradise Beach Hotel has suffered a decline since the al-Qaeda terrorist attack.

On November 28, 2002 a suicide bomber detonated explosives while two others drove past the barrier at the gate and crashed into the hotel's reception, detonating more bombs.

Disrupted operations

The raid disrupted the operations of the hotel, which was popular with Israelis, Germans, the French, Italians and other Europeans.

The attackers killed 12 Kenyans and three Israelis.

The Kenyans were members of a troupe performing a welcoming dance for the guests.

The attack also disrupted the flow of Israeli tourists to Kenya and the continent in general.

Gradual decline in international tourist numbers following more attacks on the Kenyan Coast and subsequent international travel advisories dealt further blow to the hotel.

Simba Group Kenya chairman Yehuda Sulami says the hotel has struggled to stay afloat since the bombing.

He says with Paradise Beach Hotel unsuccessfully attempting to bounce back to profitability, the management took the decision to sell it.

Foreign tourists

In an interview with the Nation, Mr Sulami said the attack appeared to have scared away international tourists.

"The beach hotel solely depended on foreign tourists," he said.

The terrorist attack resulted in the scaling down of charter flights from Europe. One flight could bring in up to 270 guests. The flights were later cancelled.

"With no charter flights from Europe, our business collapsed," he said, adding that Arkia Airline, which used to fly tourists to the hotel frequently, stopped the Mombasa route when one of its aircraft narrowly escaped a missile attack.

Terrorists had attempted to bring down the plane full of tourists but the ground-to-air missile missed its target.

Before the attack, Mr Sulami says, the hotel served as a second home to more than 100,000 foreign guests.

"The bed occupancy for more than seven years was purely foreigners. When they stopped coming, the business started dwindling. That's how Paradise Beach Hotel collapsed," he said.

Painful decision

The management has used more than Sh300 million on renovations since the attack, but this has not brought back foreign tourists.

"We will remain this way until an interested party buys the hotel. We've lost hope in the hotel and tourist business in Kenya. The interested buyers need to know that the hotel is ready for operations," Mr Sulami said.

Paradise Beach Hotel is on a 20-acre parcel and just 300 metres from the Indian Ocean.

"We tried local tourists, but were greatly disappointed. There was no money. It was not worth it. That is why we took the painful decision to sell the property," the Simba Group chairman said.

Mr Sulami adds that despite international tourism being one of the main government revenue sources, State authorities offered no help to enable the hotel bounce back

"How I wish we got such help! We wouldn't have put the hotel for sale," he says.

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Mr Maurice Mung'oma, a hotel guard who escaped unhurt during the attack, and one of the men still hired by the hotel, says the day will forever be etched in his mind.

Life sentence

A man and his son, who hosted al-Qaeda terrorist Mohammed Abdullah Fazul -- believed to have coordinated the bombing of the hotel -- are serving life in prison.

Mahfudh Ashur Hemed and his son Ibrahim Mahfudh Ashur were jailed on two counts of being accessories to murder by harbouring and maintaining Fazul so he could escape punishment after the 1998 and 2002 terrorist attacks in Nairobi and Kikambala respectively.

They were also fined Sh10,000 each or serve six month jail terms in default for sheltering Fazul at Silversand estate in Malindi.

Fazul was in Kenya illegally from December 2007 to August 2, 2008.

While jailing them, the court said it did not believe the two did not know Fazul "yet there were Friday bulletins with his picture and stories on the suicide bombers".

The two have filed an appeal against their conviction and sentence at the High Court.
PRESS RELEASE  B-29 Doc will host two other World War II-era aircraft in partnership with the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Fourth of July Weekend, July 2-5, 2021, in Wichita, Kansas.

The event will feature B-29 Doc, along with B-17 Aluminum Overcast and B-25 Berlin Express, and will give warbird fans a unique, up-close and personal opportunity to see the three American bombers that helped win World War II.

We are tremendously excited to host this event and partner with the EAA to showcase three WWII-era bombers that served to protect freedom in both the European and Pacific Theaters of the war, said Josh Wells, Docs Friends general manager and executive director. This will be the largest event hosted by our team in Wichita since the opening of the B-29 Doc Hangar, Education and Visitors Center and were confident it will be a highlight for the summer in Wichita and across the state of Kansas.

All three aircraft will be on static display and open for ground and cockpit tours Friday, July 2 at the B-29 Doc Hangar, Education and Visitors Center. The aircraft will each operate ride flights on Saturday, July 3 and Sunday, July 4. The aircraft will be on static display the remainder of the weekend unless serving ride flight customers.

The opportunity to bring our bombers to Wichita to be featured alongside Doc was something we said yes to immediately, said Sean Elliott, EAAs vice president of advocacy and safety, who is one of the few individuals who have flown all three aircraft. The history and legacy of these airplanes is surpassed only by the courage of the crews that flew these aircraft types in combat. We are proud to honor their memories during this reunion.

Tickets for B-29 Doc Flight Experiences at the Wichita Warbird Weekend are on sale now via the B-29 Doc website at www.b29doc.com. Flight tickets for the EAAs B-25 and B-17 can be purchased via the Events and Experiences tab at EAA.org.

Preserving history and sharing these warbirds to honor the Greatest Generation, while honoring our past, current and future heroes is the common mission for both B-29 Doc and the EAA B-17 and B-25 teams, Wells continued. As the Air Capital of the World, Wichita is the perfect host for this event, and we look forward to the opportunity to showcase these national treasures on our ramp at Eisenhower National Airport.

Further details on the arrival of the EAA aircraft, as well as hours for static ground tours will be announced as they are finalized.
The Daily Beast

Screenshot/YouTubeA Christian diet guru and six other people are presumed dead after her small plane crashed into the waters of Tennessee lake on Saturday morning. Authorities were called to the Percy Priest Lake around 11 a.m., not long after the plane took off from the nearby Smyrna Rutherford County Airport. Late Saturday evening, investigators said they believed all seven passengers had perished. The cause of the crash is still under investigation. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Joe Lara (@joelaraofficial) The plane, a Cessna C501, belonged Gwen Shamblin Lara, founder of the Remnant Fellowship Church and author of The Weigh Down Workshop, and her husband William J. Lara, who went by Joe. The couple lived in nearby Brentwood and had registered the plane via their company JL&GL Productions LP. The aircraft has not been located, but Tennessee Highway Patrol told News Channel 5 that officers located debris consistent with a Cessna C501 and that a small plane had been seen descending into the water near a boat ramp early Saturday.Laras daughter, Elizabeth Hannah, sent a text message to members of the Remnant Fellowship Church saying that her mother and father were aboard the aircraft when it was forced to make a quick, controlled landing. All the planes passengers had ties to the church, including Hannahs own husband Brandon, according to her text. The others aboard were David and Jennifer Martin and Jonathan and Jessica Walters, according to authorities.My brother and I are asking for immediate prayers right now, as we have just gotten word that Gwen and Joe Laras plane had to go down, Hannah wrote before authorities said everyone appeared to have been killed. More information to come, but be in prayerand be at peace, the message continued. GOD IS IN CONTROL, and we will not stop moving forward with WHAT GOD WANTS with this church.Read more at The Daily Beast.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.
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Anti-coup protesters on Thursday took to the streets of Myanmar for a sixth consecutive day, after US President Joe Biden announced sanctions against the Southeast Asian nations generals and demanded they relinquish power.

There has been an outpouring of anger and defiance since the military ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi last week and detained her along with other senior figures of her National League for Democracy party.

Security forces have used tear gas, water cannon and rubber bullets against the protesters, with isolated reports of live rounds also being fired. Police also ramped up their harassment of the NLD with a raid on its headquarters.

But demonstrators again marched peacefully on Thursday in Naypyidawthe capital and military strongholdas well as Yangon, the largest city and commercial hub.

Dont go to the office, chanted a group of protesters outside Myanmars central bank in Yangon, part of a civil disobedience effort urging civil servants and people in other industries to boycott work and put pressure on the junta.

We arent doing this for a week or a monthwe are determined to do this until the end when.

There were also fresh rallies in the cities of Dawei and Mandalay, with protesters carrying signs that said Restore our Democracy! and We condemn the military coup.

U.S. sanctions

Western nations have repeatedly denounced the coup, with the United States leading calls for the generals to relinquish power.

In the most significant concrete action to pressure the junta, Biden announced Wednesday that his administration was cutting of the generals access to $1 billion in funds in the United States.

I again call on the Burmese military to immediately release democratic political leaders and activists, Biden said, as he flagged further sanctions.

The military must relinquish power.

European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has also warned the bloc could impose fresh sanctions on Myanmars military.

This seems like a well-calibrated set of measures Also, a strong signal that President Biden himself announced them, Myanmar-based political analyst Richard Horsey tweeted, describing the sanctions as a clear message to the military.

Crackdown deepens

There were more reports of arrests on Thursday, including the deputy speaker of the parliaments lower house and a key aide to Suu Kyi, taking the number of coup-linked detentions to more than 200, according to monitor Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.

The military justified last weeks power grab by claiming widespread voter fraud in the November polls, which saw a landslide for Suu Kyis party.

It quickly moved to stack courts and political offices with loyalists as it ended a decade of civilian rule.

Fears are growing over how long the junta will tolerate the masses of people taking to the streets.

Live rounds were fired at a rally in Naypyidaw this week, critically wounding two peopleincluding a woman who was shot in the head.

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Images depicting the woman have been shared widely online alongside expressions of grief and fury.

They can shoot a young woman but they cant steal the hope and resolve of a determined people, UN special rapporteur Tom Andrews tweeted Wednesday.

The militarys clampdown on information using internet blackoutswith tech companies ordered to cut communications intermittentlyhas drawn widespread condemnation.

Concern was also building Thursday that the junta was planning to impose a much harsher and sustained internet crackdown.

Tech-focused Myanmar civil society organisation MIDO tweeted that a draft cybersecurity bill had been sent to telecom companies, which would allow the military to order blackouts and website bans.

It would also require social media platforms to hand over users metadata.

France 24 is Premium Times syndication partner. We have permission to republish this content.
A 32-year-old Houston man has been charged with conspiracy to transport illegal immigrants, according to an announcement made by U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. A Laredo grand jury returned an indictment on Tuesday against defendant Brodrick Keith Rhodes, who was originally charged by criminal complaint.

According to an LMT Online report, Rhodes is set to appear before a U.S. magistrate judge soon. Authorities stopped Rhodes after he approached the Free Border Patrol checkpoint in San Diego, Texas, in January as he drove a semi-truck and refrigerated trailer.

He claimed that he was hauling lettuce and produced a bill of lading, as stated under the complaint.However, the law enforcement allegedly noticed discrepancies, and Rhodes appeared to be nervous.

Furthermore, the refrigerated trailer was set to 30 degrees, but the internal temperature was at 68. The complaint added that authorities discovered the 119 illegal immigrants after a K-9 alerted a possible presence of contraband in the trailer's cargo area and a subsequent inspection.

Related story: 71 Migrants, Including Children, Found Inside Tractor-Trailer to be Smuggled to Texas Border

The Smuggling of Illegal Immigrants

Rhodes has said that he worked for a business in La Porte. But the bill of lading indicated that he was transporting lettuce from a Laredo produce company to a location in Sugar Land.

According to the complaint, the business then indicated Rhodes had never been employed with them, nor do they transport outside the Houston area. The complaint further alleged that two other companies confirmed that they had no record of the shipment at that time.

Some of the transported illegal immigrants said they had been taken to and told to get in the truck. It then left soon after and did not stop until it reached the checkpoint, the complaint said.

According to a Woodlands Online report, Rhodes is facing up to 10 years in prison and a maximum possible $250,000 fine if convicted with the charges filed against him.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations and the Border Patrol conducted the investigation. Meanwhile, prosecuting the case is Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul A. Harrison.

Human Smuggling Attempts

This was not the first time a human smuggling attempt ended in the suspect's apprehension and conviction. Last year, a Mexican citizen was sentenced to federal prison after a failed human smuggling attempt that left seven people dead in southeast Texas.

Last Jul. 9, 31-year-old Ivan Dario Puga-Moreno was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison for conspiracy to transport unlawfully present aliens into the United States that caused death or serious bodily injury, My Texas Daily reported.

In a guilty plea, Puga-Moreno admitted to driving a Chevrolet Suburban, fleeing police, and crashing in a ditch near Robstown, Texas in June 2019.

A statement from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said that Puga-Moreno had attempted to smuggle "18 unlawfully present aliens with brush guide Agustin Gutierrez-Gonzalez, who was from his hometown in Mexico."

Read also: NATO Steps in to Prevent People-Smuggling Between Greece, Turkey in the Aegean Sea

The European Parliament approved a resolution on Ukraine's implementation of the Association Agreement, noting significant progress in fulfilling the obligations associated with the Agreement, and pointing out the need to complete several initiated reforms, in particular in the area of the rule of law and the fight against corruption.

The resolution was supported by 526 MPs, some 79 parliamentarians voted against and 71 ones abstained.

The results of the vote, which took place on Wednesday evening as part of the plenary session of the European Parliament, were announced on Thursday morning, as the majority of MPs due to the restrictive measures introduced due to coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic take part by video link and vote via email. The spokesperson on Ukraine was a deputy from the European People's Party Michael Gahler (Germany).

The document consists of several parts: a preamble and subsections. The preamble itself consists of 61 points, which contain criticism of Kyiv, while the report has nine sections, which include 137 clauses.

In particular, the preamble states that "Ukraine has a European perspective pursuant to Article 49 of the TEU and may apply to become a member of the Union provided that it adheres to all of the Copenhagen criteria and the principles of democracy, respects fundamental freedoms, human and minority rights, and upholds the rule of law."

It is also stated that the 22nd EU-Ukraine Summit recognized Ukraine's European aspirations, welcomed its European choice, acknowledged the significant progress made by Ukraine in the reform process, and welcomed the results already achieved in the implementation of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement and the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area.

Separately, this is about local elections, which says that, in accordance with the assessment of civil society and experts, local party organizations, candidates and members of election commissions could not properly prepare for the registration of candidates, since the Electoral Code was adopted immediately before the election process, and as well as the introduction of top-down control mechanisms that reinforce the principle of an imperative mandate, as well as linking party lists to a minimum number of voters of 10,000, weaken the democratic nature of elections.

The spokesperson also dwelled on the analysis of the work of the Verkhovna Rada: the pace of legislative activity, especially in the second half of 2019, for the rapid implementation of the reform promised during the election campaigns, was especially continuous, sometimes at the expense of parliamentary control, transparency and the quality of legislation.

At the same time, the resolution states that, while Ukraine has made significant progress in fulfilling the obligations associated with the Association and Integration Agreement with the Union, it is necessary to complete several initiated reforms: in the field of the rule of law, good governance and the fight against corruption.

"Despite notable progress, widespread corruption continues to hamper Ukraines reform process; whereas, moreover, some additional measures still need to be adopted in order to avoid any backsliding, with a focus on the judiciary."

According to the resolution, the full potential of the ongoing reforms is not being implemented due to the dynamics of the reform process and related institutional problems, and reforms are also undermined by internal institutional instability and contradictions, lack of clear guidelines, weak capacity, limited resources and external factors such as COVID-19 pandemic, as well as a lack of political resolve to accept and ensure the full independence of judicial and economic institutions and the non-selective use of justice.

In addition, it is stated, based on a recent report from the Office of the UN Commissioner for Human Rights, that there is no progress in Ukraine in the criminal proceedings of serious human rights violations allegedly committed by members of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, as well as delay and insufficient progress in the investigation of crimes related to Maidan.

There is also a link to a recent report by Transparency International, according to which the perception of corruption in Ukraine has dropped to the level of 2017.

It also takes into account the fact that support for modernization, de-oligarchization, reform and the fight against corruption is still very high among Ukrainian citizens, and these expectations should be met without further delay.

Separately, the general situation in the security sector is recorded, which worsens the situation in the country as a whole. Ukraine's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders, as well as its ability to carry out the necessary economic and social reforms, is still seriously undermined by targeted disinformation campaigns, cyberattacks and other hybrid threats, as well as due to the unresolved conflict in the east of the country caused by the ongoing Russian military aggression and occupation of large parts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, as well as the continuing illegal occupation and annexation by Russia of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol, which worsen the human rights situation and constitute an obstacle to the country's welfare, stability and growth.

In this regard, it is also reminded of the position of the EU, which strongly condemned the ongoing aggression of Russia against Ukraine, including the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol in violation of its sovereignty and territorial integrity, established and will continue the policy of non-recognition and continues to apply restrictive measures against individuals and legal entities, implicated in this violation of international law.

The resolution also recalled the MH17 shot down in the context of Russia's efforts to undermine the territorial integrity of Ukraine, in respect of which the Netherlands-led Joint Investigation Team confirmed that flight MH17 was shot down by a surface-to-air missile delivered by Kursk-based 53rd Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade of the Russian Ground Forces.

The resolution also displays in detail the situation about the war in the east of Ukraine, with reference to the number of killed, temporarily displaced, held in prisons of Ukrainians, about the humanitarian crisis, about the deterioration of the human rights situation both in the east and on the Crimean peninsula, the persecution of Crimean Tatars for political motives.

The officials also mention the situation with freedom of the press, "is needed to loosen the oligarchs tight grip on the media, encourage editorial independence and combat impunity for crimes of violence against journalists."

The European Parliament regrets that the political climate in the country has deteriorated when intimidation, hate speech and political pressure are widely used for political purposes; urges the authorities to strongly condemn and ban the activities of extremist and hate speech groups and websites such as Peacemaker, who create tension in society and misuse the personal data of hundreds of people, including journalists, politicians and members of minority groups.

In addition, the situation with gender equality, LGBTI and Roma was raised. The implementation of the Association Agreement in the social sphere remains unsatisfactory, since Ukraine has ratified the main international instruments, but still does not fulfill them, the Parliament's officials said in the document.

The artillery barrage began at dawn, just as the sun began to light up the gentle blue of Pangong Lake. Facing some six hundred Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) soldiers, backed by light tanks, the 28 men of the 8 Gurkha Rifles dug-in inside hastily-dug trenches at Sirijap must have known they had no hope of survival. Yet, Major Dhan Singh Thapa and his troops held their ground, engaging their enemy at almost hand-to-hand range until just three men survived, too injured to fight on.

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday announced that Indian soldiers locked in confrontation with the PLA along the Fingers  the eight, radiating ridges running from the north bank of Pangong  will pull back to Dhan Singh Post, named for the hero of Sirijap. The PLA, in turn, will withdraw to Sirijap, the complex of posts it took in that battle.

This Line of Actual Control (LAC) agreement, military commanders and diplomats in both capitals hope, could pull China and India back from the abyss  but many dangers still lie ahead.

In essence, the agreement is simple. In return for the Indian Army withdrawing to Dhan Singh Post, behind Finger 3, the PLA will retreat to positions east of Finger 8. Indian troops who occupied key heights on the Kailash range, south of Pangong, will also pull back to their bases in and around Thakung; the PLA will return to positions around Yula. The armies have been ordered not to patrol into the new no-mans land from Finger 3 to 8, until New Delhi and Beijing agree otherwise.

The deal wont be hard to monitor: satellites, drones with high-resolution cameras, and troops positioned on heights give both the PLA and Indian Army excellent visibility. Ahead of the spring, negotiators hope, the deal will deepen trust, and thus enable more troop withdrawal.

In some senses, the agreement restores the ground position before April 2020, when the PLA move to seize territories across the LAC. For years, the PLAs patrols had moved out of Sririjap over Finger 8 and on to Finger 4; the Indian Army, in turn, patrolled the territory from Finger 4 to Finger 8. Neither side held positions in the area, though.

Even though critics will argue this weeks agreement concedes the PLAs claims on the LAC, by suspending Indias right to patrol up to Finger 8, that argument obviously applies to China as well.

Generals in Indian Armys Northern Command have long debated the merits of creating such demilitarised zones in contested parts of the LAC. Proponents argue these patrols serve no military purpose and raise the risks of fights breaking out between troops  an all too frequent occurrence.

In 2014, after PLA troops had occupied ground in the Chumar area, the two armies eventually arrived at a similar, though undeclared, mutual withdrawal and no-patrolling arrangement.

The 2014 deal appears to have served as an unacknowledged template for PLA-Indian Army negotiations through the crisis. Though conceptually elegant, however, the idea proved hard to implement.

Early on, the PLA had agreed to leave the positions it had occupied in the Galwan Valley in April. However, the PLA quietly reoccupied one of the vacated positions. The Indian Armys effort to physically vacate this PLA outpost snowballed into the savage clash which claimed the lives of 20 Indian soldiers.

Following the Galwan clash though, the PLA and Indian Army again moved forward with the disengagement effort, pulling back soldiers from Patrol Point 14, 17 and 17A. These points mark the limits to which the Indian Army patrols, thus approximating the contours of the LAC.

Late in July, Chinas foreign office spokesperson Wang Wenbin asserted that most of the bases deployed on the front have completed the evacuation process and the ground conditions are recovering. However, Wang acknowledged the existence of remaining outstanding issues.

The most important of those outstanding issues was the PLAs refusal to vacate Green Top, a patch of scrub-land perched at over 5,000 metres above sea level, overlooking Finger 3 and Dhan Singh Post. China argued its occupation of Green Top was legitimised by Indian Army infrastructure development in the areaneatly eliding over the fact the Indian Armys work was a consequence of the PLAs own construction of roads and bunkers.

In later negotiations, the PLA insisted that it be ought to patrol up to Finger 4, in return for withdrawing from Green Topbut the Indian Army relinquish its right to Finger 8.

Following weeks of frustration, the Indian Army occupied positions along the Kailash range, on the south bank of Pangong  a counter-grab, as it were, to the PLA intrusions. The operation was intended to pressure China to negotiate.

That strategy seems to have worked  but there are some important caveats. First, as strategic affairs expert Manoj Joshi has pointed out, Chinas claims to Finger 4 run well to the west of its so-called Claim Line of 1960, which enforced by the PLA in the China-India war two years later. In discussions held in April 1960, coordinates provided by China placed the LAC along Finger 7 and 8. The positions in Galwan and Gogra now claimed the PLA also lie to the west of its own claims.

In other words, the demilitarised zone now created between Finger 3 and 8 lies in territory which China has acknowledged, in formal negotiations, to lie on the Indian side of the LAC. To create this zone, moreover, India has used up an important bargaining chip, pulling back from the positions it took on the Kailash range.

Theres also the fact, secondly, that key areas of contention remain unresolved, in at least one case involving territory significantly larger than the Fingers. The PLA has cut off Indian patrols headed out through the Depsang plains to the arc marked by Patrol Points 10, 11, 11A, 12 and 13. At Bottleneck, a rock massif through which Indian patrols must pass to move through the plains, the PLA has created new, reinforced-concrete bunkers.

Finally, the PLA has mounted pressure elsewhere along the LAC, building roads and villages through disputed territory. Last month, the PLA sought to block Indian patrols at Naku La in Sikkim  part of a pattern of behaviour that could hold the kernels of future crisis.

These concerns arent reasons not to disengage troops; the deadlock at the LAC puts both countries at risk of ending up at war through missteps and miscalculations. New Delhis deal with China is a significant step away from the brink.

Yet, these are all excellent reasons to be cautious. For over a decade, after all, PLA-Indian Army face-offs have occurred with increasing frequency since 2013, each more significant in scale than the last. At its core, these tensions are political, not military: Facing what many in its leadership consider to be an inevitable confrontation with the United States, China has been seeking to intimidate adversaries across its borders, from the Senkaku Islands to the South China Seas and the Himalayas.

New Delhi has shown the courage and resolve to march the path to peacebut must beware the avalanches, crevices and cloudbursts that almost certainly lurk ahead.
In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was established that SARS-CoV-2 infects cells by binding to the human protein ACE2, which plays a role in regulating blood pressure. But ACE2 is almost absent in human lung cells, so how can the lungs be one of the most affected organs in COVID-19? This gave researchers a hint that ACE2 might be more than just a blood pressure regulator, and might not be the only player in the SARS-CoV-2 infection mechanism.

EMBL's Gibson team, in collaboration with Lucia Chemes at Universidad Nacional de San Martin in Buenos Aires and partners from Merck KGaA Darmstadt and University College Dublin, analysed sequences of ACE2 and other human proteins involved in SARS-CoV-2 infection, such as a class of proteins called integrins. They focused on short strings of amino acids called short linear motifs (SLiMs), which are involved in transmitting information between the inside and outside of cells. Quick identification and comparison of SLiMs was possible thanks to the Eukaryotic Linear Motif (ELM) resource, the largest curated SLiMs database, which the team and collaborators have been developing for 20 years.

They saw that ACE2 and several integrins contain SLiMs that are probably involved in endocytosis and autophagy - cellular processes of uptake and disposal of substances, respectively. This result suggests previously unknown roles of ACE2 and integrins in cell physiology. "If SARS-CoV-2 targets proteins involved in endocytosis and autophagy, it means these processes might be hijacked by the virus during infection," says Balint Meszaros, a postdoc in the Gibson team and the first author of the study.

Several findings were experimentally verified by Ylva Ivarsson and her group at Uppsala University in Sweden. They confirmed the predicted protein interactions, and verified that these interactions are regulated by the naturally occurring addition of ions containing phosphorus. "Ylva Ivarsson was the best person we knew of to test these predictions. We were delighted she agreed to join this project," says EMBL team leader Toby Gibson. Ylva Ivarsson is equally enthusiastic. "Switching our work to SARS-CoV-2-related research helped us keep the spirit up in the lab during the pandemic," she adds.

Potential drugs for COVID-19

The findings might lead to new therapeutic approaches for COVID-19. "SLiMs could 'switch' to turn viral entry signals on or off. This means that if we can find a way to reverse these switches using drugs, this might stop coronavirus from entering cells," says senior author Lucia Chemes.

Together with a collaborator from Merck KGaA Darmstadt, the team gathered a list of existing drugs that interfere with endocytosis and autophagy. The list includes some surprising candidates, such as the antipsychotic chlorpromazine. "If clinical trials prove some of these drugs to work against COVID-19, this could be a game changer," says Manjeet Kumar, a bioinformatics scientist in the Gibson team and a senior author in the study.

Highlights, challenges, and collaboration during the pandemic

This research was initiated at the beginning of the first lockdown in Germany in spring 2020. The project was an opportunity to strengthen relations between scientists across continents. "Toby and I have had a collaboration since 2012, when Argentina became an associate member of EMBL. Our previous experience enabled us now to work together on SARS-CoV-2," says Lucia Chemes.

Working under lockdown conditions was not always easy. For example, one of the co-authors of the study, Elizabeth Martinez Perez from Leloir Institute in Argentina, was unable to return from her secondment in the Gibson team at EMBL Heidelberg.

At the same time, Manjeet Kumar had to adjust to working from home when his children were around. "I got kind support from our landlady to work in the attic of the building, though the internet signal wasn't reaching there! Eventually I bought a 35 metre internet cable and connected it to the attic. Once this was set, I got momentum in the project," he recalls.

For many, working on SARS-CoV-2 research was an inspiring experience. "We wanted to contribute to combating COVID-19. This gave us a common aim," says Toby Gibson. Balint Meszaros agrees. "It's strange, thrilling, and a bit unsettling breaking new ground in the COVID-19 field," he says. "As researchers we're enthusiastic about figuring out bits of the biology, but at the same time we're thoroughly excited to work on such an important topic."

###
Kids want to fish? You don't know how yourself? Here's a little help

The first priority of the revival project was to establish a market for these saris so that they could be sold at higher prices, which would in turn compensate the weavers.

Weaving has boosted my physical and mental health; it is a way of life for me. I am not only mentally active but operating the looms strengthens my arms and legs, says Vedavathi, 55, who returned to weaving after a long gap. Having been taken gravely ill, she had to give up weaving which she did for 20 years.

But now with the support of the Kadike Trust, she is back where she belongs. Joining the trusts advance weaving workshop and working with several other women, Vedavathi has never been happier.

In fact, Vedavathi has inspired her daughter Payaswini (28) to enrol for the training too. I was really motivated seeing my mother and decided to take up weaving, says Payaswini, who used to work as a social science and Kannada school teacher. She now plans to take up weaving full-time after the training.

Organic growth of weavers

This has been the story of many young women and a few men in the Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts, who have been actively pursuing weaving as professionally. While some of them belong to the native Shettigar weavers' community, others are from different communities and professions. While Udupi saris are now seeing a major revival, it is heartening to note that in the recent past, we have seen an influx of youth getting initiated to weaving. This is the true essence of revival as we need the next generation to take up the profession so that the legacy can continue. Out of the 20 people who have joined our weaving and skill development training, 19 are women and come from varied professions like teaching, tailoring, pottery and even beedi-making, says Mamtha Rai, president of the Kadike Trust.

Kadike Trust is a non-profit organisation based in Udupi's Karkala, and has been the cornerstone of the Udupi handloom sari revival project that started three years ago. The trust engineered by Rai, her husband BC Shetty, along with a few of their like-minded friends, took up the revival of these saris in association with the Talipady Weavers Society in Kinnigoli city in Karnataka, as their first project after witnessing the dire straits in which the industry was in a few years ago. The handloom saris of Udupi is a legacy which has to be preserved not only for its heritage value, but for the fact that it is an industry that is not dependent on the consumption of fossil fuel. It is a handmade, sustainable and eco-friendly industry that has the propensity to provide employment to hundreds of people, says Rai.

Historical perspective

The handloom industry in the Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts was a flourishing one and dates back to the 18th century, when a number of migrants from the Padmashali (Shettigar) community of Andhra Pradesh and Kerala arrived in Karnataka. The industry gained further impetus with the introduction of frame looms by the Basel Mission in 1844, and the subsequent co-operative and cottage industry movement. There were close to 5,000 weaving families until the 1980s, and eight co-operative weaving societies in the region. All of them were represented by the Udupi co-operative society, and hence, the saris that were woven here were called the Udupi saris.

Post this period, the advent of the power looms caused the income of handloom weavers to plummet. Hence, the number of weavers diminished rapidly and most of them took up other jobs. Weaving was far from a respectable profession and the sari had lost its value among the locals too. When Rai started the project, the number of weavers across the five existing societies was just 42, with all of them being above the age of 50. Most of them were not working regularly and even when they did, they were being paid a pittance of Rs 50-55 per meter. The saris were selling at very low rates too. There were no weavers who could craft the signature 80 count and butta (motif) saris.

Creating a market

The first priority of the revival project was to establish a market for these saris so that they could be sold at higher prices, which would in turn compensate the weavers. Exhibitions and fairs were held to make people aware of the handloom saris, apart from marketing them actively on social media. An attractive logo and packaging was created that displayed the name and picture of the weaver on every sari. These efforts paid off and now we have customers from all over India and abroad. The demand from locals has also picked up which again is an achievement, says Rai, who also mentions that the saris are now priced from Rs 1,000-2,500.

The saris have also been used to adorn the deities of the Udupi Sri Krishna temple and the Shri Durga Parameshwari temple in Kateel in Dakshina Kannada. As a result of all this, the Talipady Society was able to pay a bonus to its weavers after 16 long years. The Kadike Trust has also been supporting the weavers of the Padupanambooru and Shivahalli Societies, and have also been felicitating weavers with incentives and awards on a regular basis.

Holistic skill development training

While the spike in demand is a positive sign, the challenge that remains is of ensuring a steady supply of saris, for which the number of skilled weavers have to increase. Kadike Trust has been providing a six-month-long intensive, holistic training for new as well as comeback weavers in association with NABARD. With two batches being trained, the number of weavers has risen to around 70, including 35 in Talipady alone. Today, there are weavers who are able to weave the butta saris as well the 80 count ones. The training has really boosted our morale. Apart from weaving, we have one on one sessions where we can share our problems and concerns. This has built our confidence, says Sadhana, 30, an electronics professional who was earlier working in Kochi.

Similar sentiments have been echoed by her friends Poornima (34) and Vidyavati (39), who are both tailors and have been enjoying the training. Slowly and steadily, we are trying to build a strong ecosystem so that the young trainees who are the future of this industry stay motivated to pursue this profession and take pride in preserving their own heritage, adds Rai. The Kadike Trust has also organised workshops on Azo-free dyeing and natural colour dyeing to make the saris eco-friendlier. They recently produced the Udupi sari with the ikkat design after 20 years.

(Images courtesy Kadike Trust)
Kenneth Copeland doesnt believe coronavirus can kill televangelist friend Frederick KC Price

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After a weekslong bout with COVID-19 left famed televangelist Frederick K.C. Price hospitalized with a ravaged heart, lungs and kidneys, sparking a global call for prayers, fellow televangelist Kenneth Copeland said he doesnt believe the virus will kill his longtime friend.

For almost 50 years, Fred and Betty Price have been wonderful friends of our family. We have laughed together, cried together, and preached together. Weve stayed in each others homes and have watched each others children grow up! We have truly lived life together, Copeland said in a statement on Facebook urging prayers for Price Wednesday.

The first time I heard Fred Price in person was in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He ran onto the platform and shouted, I am ready Freddy! What a man of God! What a man of faith and power! I dont believe this disease can kill him. We as a family, and ministry, are standing strong for Apostle Frederick Price! said Copeland, who leads the Texas-based Kenneth Copeland Ministries.

Price, 89, founded the 28,000-member Los Angeles-based Crenshaw Christian Center, which is led by his son, Fred Price Jr.

An announcement from Minister Baltimore Scott, the staff administrator for the center's New York operations, shared concerns about Prices health Sunday, along with a global call for prayer.

Today, I am calling on all members and friends of Crenshaw Christian Center New York and on everyone everywhere who has been touched by the teaching of Apostle Frederick K.C. Price to join in a worldwide prayer for the Apostle as he faces the health challenges posed by COVID-19. Specifically, we need to pray for the complete restoration of Apostles lungs, heart and kidneys and any other parts of his body that are now under attack as he remains in the hospital, Scott said in a statement on Facebook.

Since the statement released Sunday, Crenshaw Christian Center has not provided any additional updates on Prices condition and did not immediately respond to requests for further comment from The Christian Post.

Price, who is also well-known from his Ever Increasing Faith ministries broadcast, aired weekly on both television and radio, has been a force in Christian circles for decades. His church, also known as the Faithdome, was founded in 1973. And with a seating capacity of 10,000, the church building is recognized as one of the worlds largest houses of worship.

Price, who is a proponent of the prosperity gospel, was once described as a darling of white evangelical prosperity preachers and branded a religious Uncle Tom.

All that changed in 1992, after a group of black ministers gave him a recording of a controversial sermon on race preached by Kenneth Hagin Jr., the son of his mentor, Kenneth Hagin, who died in 2003.

On the recording, Hagin Jr. was caught telling his congregation that he did not believe in race-mixing, and had taught his daughter from her kindergarten years that she was not to date blacks.

That led Price to become more involved with development in the black community and he went teach a series on racism and published Race, Religion & Racism, Vol. 1: A Bold Encounter With Division in the Church in 1999.
Prime Minister Florin Citu will pay a working visit to Brussels on Thursday and Friday, his agenda comprising a series of meetings with senior EU officials, including the presidents of the European Council and the European Commission, Charles Michel and Ursula von der Leyen respectively, according to AGERPRES.

According to a Government press announcement, the PM's schedule also includes meetings with the President of the European Parliament, David Sassoli, as well as with the Executive Vice-Presidents of the European Commission Frans Timmermans, Margrethe Vestager and Valdis Dombrovskis.

The Executive's head has also scheduled official meetings with the European Transport Commissioner Adina Valean and NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoana.

The agenda of the visit also includes meetings with representatives of political groups within the European Parliament: EPP Group leader Manfred Weber, EPP Secretary General Antonio Locez-Isturiz White, RENEW Group leader Dacian Ciolos and S&D Group leader Iratxe Garcia Perez.
Will Landry recently joined the ABC Creative Group as media coordinator.

A mass communications and media studies graduate of State University College at Oswego, Landry has years of sales experience and media expertise. Some of his previous positions included media buyer, account manager, corporate partnerships executive and sales manager.

As media coordinator, he will gather information, build media strategies and analyze campaigns at completion. He will leverage his outgoing personality to work closely with media reps throughout the country within various industry-specific outlets.

If youd like to submit an item about People in Motion at your organization, send a press release including photo, to business@syracuse.com with Company News in the subject field. See all recent Company News items.
Amaravati, Feb 11 : Telugu Desam Party (TDP) national president N. Chandrababu Naidu on Thursday accused the State Election Commission (SEC) of failing to properly conduct the panchayat elections in Andhra Pradesh.

Naidu alleged that the SEC has failed to exercise its powers in totality.

He claimed that cases were only filed against TDP supporters who were contesting the polls.

The Opposition leader claimed that nominations were rejected in high numbers in Punganuru, Rompicherla, Somala, Choudepalli and other places.

Naidu alleged that nominations were blatantly rejected to make way for unanimous polls.

He said that earlier they had sought SEC's protection to the election candidates, but after they failed, we moved the High Court.

The TDP national president alleged that the Panchayat Raj Minister Peddireddi Ramachandra Reddy, himself undermined the polls and called for sacking him over alleged threatening to the officials.

He said that all the political parties have equal rights and opportunities and claimed that they will complain to the Election Commission of India (EC) over the pathetic conditions in the state.

Naidu reminded that the Governor should uphold the Constitution and if anybody hinders, they should be acted upon sternly.

SEC is headed by Nimmagadda Ramesh Kumar, a retired Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer and believed to be a close associate of Naidu.

Naidu appointed Kumar as the State Election Commissioner after his retirement from the IAS in 2016, resulting in several accusations from the ruling YSRCP that he was working at the behest of Naidu for TDP's advantage.

Since March 2020, the SEC and the state government have been at odds with each other, leading to a lot of unsavory incidents between the two entities.
The Romanian insurance market had a weight of 2.3% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2020, and the first gross premiums have gone up to 11.5 billion RON, rising by 5% from 2019, announced on Thursday, during a specialty conference, Nicu Marcu, the chairman of the the Financial Supervisory Authority (ASF), according to AGERPRES.

"The Romanian insurance market has gone up in a not so high percentage, but it has gone up to 2.3% of the GDP, which is not very pleasing, because in Romania there is a pretty broad area which is not being used by insurance companies, by the citizens that must be ensured. Our intention is to raise this share of assets which are part of the insurance in the GDP. During the year 2020, the first gross premiums went up to 11.5 billion RON, raising by approximately 5% from the previous year. Also, general insurance registered their first gross premiums of 9.28 billion RON, rising by 6% from the year 2019," Marcu declared.

According to the data presented by the ASF official, in 2020, the first gross premiums related to life insurance have slowly gone down, by 2%, in comparison with the previous year, "but to compensate, the health insurance reached a pretty large number, to a volume of 451 million RON, which represents a growth of 18%".

Last, but not least, the Civil Auto Liability (RCA, ed. n) has gone up, year-on-year, by 5%, while the CASCO insurance segment registered a jump of 4%, during the analyzed period.

The Financial Studies Institute Foundation and the DC Media Group host on Thursday, an online conference dubbed "Quo Vadis 2021!", 3rd edition, Insurances digitisation - Zero Priority!".
All four of the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) record events from Jesus earthly life and ministry, but Mark, or John Mark as he is called in the book of Acts, omits Jesus ancestry and birth and starts his record with Jesus baptism and ministry, focusing more so on Christs humanity.

Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it (Mark 8:34-35).

Luke

Luke, a medical doctor, a gentile, and the author of both this gospel and the book of Acts, focused largely on Jesus healing ministry in his account of Jesus life, and his two-volume set of Luke and Acts (written for Theophilus) gives us an overview of Christ, the origins of Christianity, and the birth of the Church!

Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught (Luke 1:1-4).

Related - 8 Important Mini Lessons from Jesus in Luke 12

John

John, one of Jesus 12 disciples, and one of the sons of thunder along with his brother, James, wrote his gospel after the other three were written and focused his eyewitness account on supplying supplemental information, perspective and details complementary to the other gospels.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).

Related - Why Is John the "Disciple Whom Jesus Loved"?

Photo credit: Getty Images/jchizhe
In poll bound states, including



Tamil Nadu, the Central police forces would play a greater role as part of measures to ensure fair polls and to see that no one took any undue advantage, Chief Election Commissioner said here on Thursday.

Several measures were being contemplated to ensure inducement free, fair elections to the Tamil Nadu Assembly in view of allegations of inducement of voters in the past and two Special Expenditure Observers would also be deputed, he said.

The bypoll to the Kanyakumari Lok Sabha seat would be held alongside Assembly polls, he said. The seat fell vacant following the death of Congress MP, H Vasanthakumar due to COVID-19 last year.

The top official, wrapping up meetings with senior officials and representatives of political parties here along with his colleagues, expressed confidence of a free, fair and transparent elections.

In keeping with the best administrative traditions of Tamil Nadu, there shall be no 'Vellores and RK Nagars,' he said in an apparent reference to allegations of distribution of cash to voters and the EC's measures to prevent such attempts.

It has been decided that for all the five poll bound states including Tamil Nadu, the Central Armed Police Forces coordinator shall be at the apex level of a committee that allocated personnel from one place to the other, Arora said addressing a press conference.

Tamil Nadu, Kerala, West Bengal, Assam and the Union Territory of neighbouring Puducherry are likely to go to polls in April or May.

The official said that at the district level, the senior most general observer would be part of the exercise on allocation of personnel.

"This is a major decision we have already taken. It will be formally conveyed to the Chief Electoral Officers in the next two to three days maximum."



The decision follows feedback from political parties and a 'complaint' that the personnel were deployed by the state governments "wherever they like," he noted.

The Commission is trying to put more forces in every state and the coordinator of the Central forces have been assigned a greater role to play in terms of both deployment and allocation of personnel so that no one took any undue advantage when it came to exercise of franchise through postal ballots, he said.

Referring to a high level meeting today with Central and state regulatory agencies, answering a question, he said the EC has emphasised a lot about measures to ensure inducement free polls.

"There are several things we are planning to do and we shall do, but I am sorry to say that it will not be possible for me to share a lot of things in public domain...

because we have given instructions and we shall be conducting another meeting with senior officers and enforcement agencies after a week or 10 days virtually to review as to what is the outcome of the meeting we held today."



The EC is sensitive to alleged inducements, he asserted and recalled cancellation of polls to Vellore Parliamentary Constituency (2019) and bypolls to RK Nagar Assembly segment (2017), the 'harshest' action taken by the commission in any state in respect of such allegations.

On special observers, he said, "because of money factor of inducement in Tamil Nadu, besides the normal observers we send, we have decided to send Special Expenditure Observers (SEO)."



This would be in addition to district observers, he noted.

Such SEOs shall be noted for their integrity and would be of the rank of retired secretaries of the Centre and also former chaipersons of the Central Board of Direct Taxes.

There shall be at least two SEOs and one of them shall be a very senior person for guidance for Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

The exercise of deputing SEOs was being done on a state to state basis and not followed necessarily eveywhere while in some states, the special focus would be on law and order front.

The top official expressed displeasure over the work by some regulatory arms of the Tamil Nadu government ahead of the notification of state polls.

"When we had the meeting of the regulatory agencies, I must say we were quite unhappy with the overall performance of the state excise department as well as the Special DG enforcement. We have brought the relevant facts to the notice of the Chief Secretary."



Since the state has excise revenue of Rs 34,000 crore, he said, "we felt that much more could have been done" vis-a- vis matters like the kind of seizures done.

"... how many decimal points you have to put after the zero, the honourable excise commissioner was not even able to calculate it."



He said the EC was very disappointed about not apprehending the 'big fish.'



On this matter, he said they were apprised that during enforcement in a particular seizure of almost Rs two crore, the authorities registered 23,000 to 27,000 cases.

It meant that these were against the "small guys, some drivers, some couriers, the foot soldiers who were being caught and not the big fish."



The EC has sought a special report on this matter from the Additional Chief Secretary Home who also looked after the Finance Department, he noted.

From the previous 68,324 polling stations in Tamil Nadu, there would be 25,000 more now as per the norms to prevent spread of COVID-19 and in total there shall be 93,000 booths, he said adding it also meant mobilisation of more men and materials.

As regards arrangements for procurement of COVID-19 related materials, the state Chief Secretary has assured that these would be available on time.

Asked on likelihood of TN elections being held in April or May and if polls would be conducted in a single phase, he said these would be made known later at the time of announcement of elections.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
As incidents of cybercrime continue to grow, it is essential to have tools with proper security features in place. These new desktop models provide the security and ease of use today's businesses need to help address these threats, such as IP address and protocol filtering, port control, Transport Layer Security (TLS) Encryption and more. Additionally, each of the new MFPs also offer out-of-the-box copy, print, scan and fax capabilities, as well as available Cloud Connect features. The MFP models also offer connectivity for mobile devices enabling users to easily manage workflow from PCs, smartphones and tablets. A user-friendly touchscreen display provides quick access to copy and scan settings, as well as a built-in user guide.

"Over the past year, we've seen a significant shift for many employees towards remote and hybrid work environments, which is likely to persist," said Shane Coffey, vice president of product management at Sharp Imaging and Information Company of America. "These new models bring advanced integration and powerful productivity right into your workplace or home office, allowing teams to remain productive while helping to keep their information and documents secure."

The new MX-B427W MFP and MX-B427PW printers offer output speeds up to 42 pages per minute (ppm), while the new MX-B467F MFP and MX-B467P printers offer output speeds up to 46 ppm. Whether in a desktop or console configuration, these new compact devices are a perfect fit for work from home environments, as well as for smaller businesses, such as pharmacies, doctors' offices or restaurants.

These four new models will be available by the end of March 2021.

About Sharp Electronics Corporation

Sharp Electronics Corporation is the U.S. subsidiary of Japan's Sharp Corporation. Sharp is a worldwide developer of one-of-a-kind home appliances, networked multifunctional office solutions, professional displays and smart office technologies. Sharp has been named to Fortune magazine's 2020 World's Most Admired Company List, a ranking of the world's most respected and reputable companies.

About Sharp Imaging and Information Company

Sharp Imaging and Information Company of America, a division of Sharp Electronics Corporation, strives to help businesses achieve Simply Smarter work through technology that is smart and easy to use. The aim of the Simply Smarter Workplace strategy is to accelerate collaboration, improve efficiencies, digitize workflows, and increase information security. Sharp's expansive line of products and solutions include interactive displays such as the award-winning Windows collaboration display and AQUOS BOARD interactive display, commercial displays, security-first laptops, desktop monitors and a full suite of multifunction copier and printer solutions.

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Indigenous people under threat from Asia clean energy push

by Rina Chandran

February 11,2021 | Source: The Guam Post Daily

Muhammad Lamoh had no inkling that his small village of Ban Khu in southern Thailand would be key to the nation's renewable energy goals, until local authorities called a community meeting to inform them of a plan to build a biomass plant. The 25 megawatt plant began operating in March last year, despite villagers' concerns about its effects on their health, its proximity to a local school, and sharing water from a canal that they used for fishing and their rubber and rice crops.



Before long, villagers noticed a foul smell and waste such as fly ash being dumped. Some residents complained of skin rashes, and many could not get as much water from the canal. "Our main concerns are the impacts on our health, and on the land and water  but our concerns were not addressed in a satisfactory manner," said Lamoh, 58, a fourth-generation resident and community leader. "We know renewable energy is good, but we were not consulted on the plant, and we do not benefit from it," he said, gesturing to the plant that is off a highway, about a mile from his home.



Gulf Chana Green Co., a subsidiary of Thai-based Gulf Energy Development Co. that operates the plant, did a "thorough" environmental and social impact assessment, a spokeswoman told the Thomson Reuters Foundation. Emissions are monitored, waste is securely stored and water usage is minimized to limit "any potential impacts on the environment or local community," and information on emissions and other environmental aspects is publicly disclosed, she said. Worldwide, the rush to adopt renewable energy to reduce carbon emissions is hurting rural and indigenous communities disproportionately, with their lands taken for solar, wind, bioenergy and hydropower projects, human rights groups say. While renewable energy has a large land footprint, the projects receive government incentives and less scrutiny than fossil-fuel projects such as coal, and few companies have policies to avoid or minimize human rights abuses. "The transition to clean energy is necessary. But it has to be undertaken respecting rights of local communities," said Jesse Cato, a program manager at the Business & Human Rights Resource Centre in Berlin. BHRRC has seen a "concerning rise" in human rights violations in renewable energy projects, she said, recording about 200 allegations of land rights and indigenous rights abuses, displacement, violence and threats in the last decade.



'Decades of struggle'



With falling costs and favorable government policies, renewables are forecast to supply one-third of the world's electricity in 2025, with hydropower making up about half that output, followed by wind and solar photovoltaics. Japan and South Korea have pledged to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, and China by 2060, with other nations in the Asia-Pacific region also committing to ambitious goals. India, the world's third-biggest greenhouse gas emitter, has set a renewable energy target of 175 gigawatts by 2022, including 100 GW from solar and 60 GW from wind.



To reach that goal, large-scale projects  which make up the bulk of India's solar capacity  are exempt from environmental assessments and public hearings, and are fast-tracked. In states where solar and wind parks are planned or have been built, human rights groups say rural communities have been uprooted, with few being relocated or given enough compensation. "Almost all land areas are being envisioned as empty spaces to accommodate these projects, including grasslands, forests and agricultural land," said Kanchi Kohli, a senior researcher at the Centre for Policy Research think-tank in New Delhi. "Legalizing these projects doesn't make them socially or environmentally legitimate," she said. In Mikir Bamuni Grant village in the eastern state of Assam, a 15 MW solar power plant being built on agricultural land will displace hundreds of villagers, according to Prafulla Samantara, an environmental activist. "The law to protect the right to land of indigenous communities was secured after decades of struggle," said Samantara, who won the prestigious Goldman Environmental Prize in 2017, also known as the "Green Nobel." "The culture, identity, lives and livelihood of indigenous farmers of Mikir Bamuni Grant are under threat." A spokesman for the Assam government did not respond to a request for comment.



Human rights index



On BHRRC's first human rights benchmark of the world's 16 largest publicly traded wind and solar energy companies  including three Chinese firms  none had policies to respect land rights, or for just and fair relocation of residents. Besides the projects themselves, there are also violations related to mining sites and extraction of minerals like lithium used in solar panels and batteries for electric vehicles, according to BHRRC. "Indigenous communities are on the front lines of both climate change and the energy transition, but we find their land and livelihoods are once again under threat from a new and expanding industry," said Cato. In Nepal, the 140 MW Tanahu hydropower project funded by the Asian Development Bank, is expected to affect nearly 800 households of the Magar indigenous community along the river Seti, with more than 60% of residents losing farmland.



They will also lose two temples and nine cremation sites. A survey by human rights group Community Empowerment and Social Justice Network, or CEMSOJ, showed three-quarters of residents were not consulted, and 80% did not get compensation. "Investors and the government see hydropower as the only way to development and economic growth," said Prabindra Shakya, executive director of CEMSOJ. "But that growth is coming at the cost of poor, indigenous communities with no other livelihood options," he said. Tanahu Hydropower Ltd. has said it will seek a "mutually acceptable and sustainable solution." Dozens of hydropower projects in southeast Asia have also come under scrutiny with growing evidence of drought and reduced fish catch in the Mekong, where 60 million people depend on the river for fishing and farming. Three years ago, a dam under construction in Laos broke, killing dozens and sweeping away homes.



In Thailand ADB, which also funded the Chana biomass plant, said the project is an "environmentally sustainable solution" to convert agricultural waste into renewable electricity. But for the more than 100 families in the vicinity of the biomass plant, it has so far brought only discord and unease. "We understand that we need the power plant, and that this is less harmful than coal, but they must consult with the community and ensure that we have a stake in it," said Lamoh.

Theme(s): Others, Freshwater ecosystems and threats, Fishing Craft, Gear and Fishing Methods, Fisheries Resources, Communities and Organisations, Coastal Ecosystems and Threats, Post Harvest Technology and Trade, Fisheries Development and Aquaculture, Landing Centres.
Maputo  The Mozambican police have detained a prominent businessman, Minoj Hassan, in Pemba, capital of the northern province of Cabo Delgado, in possession of 180 kilos of the drug ephedrine, reports Friday's issue of the independent newssheet "Carta de Mocambique".

Ephedrine can be used to create methamphetamine ("crystal meth"), and is listed as a "Table 1 precursor" under the United Nations Convention on Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs.

Hassan, who once worked for the Aga Khan Foundation, had been under police investigation for same time, according to "Carta de Mocambique"'s sources. He was suspected of drug trafficking, money laundering, and contraband.

The ephedrine was found in one of Hassan's Pemba warehouses, disguised in sacks of maize flour.

Hassan's businesses in Cabo Delgado include warehouses where grain and other foodstuffs are stored, and the sale of fuel. He was also a councillor on Pemba Municipal Council, prior to the latest municipal elections, held in 2018.

Hassan brushed aside the police discovery of an illicit drug in his warehouse. He claimed the ephedrine was intended to produce cakes, and that his detention was all a misunderstanding.

Sources in the National Criminal Investigation Service (SERNIC) say that moves are under way to ensure the release of Hassan, since his family is very influential in Cabo Delgado.
LONDON, Feb. 10, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- For those with a significant stake or role in a Data Centre business, whether it's for their own organisation or for others, here is a burning question:

'Does the Cyber Security for your Data Centre Operational Technology get overlooked because it falls between your IT, Security and Engineering teams?'

Throughout industry, Industrial Control Systems (ICS) have long been targeted with Cyber Crime. Now, however, more malicious and sophisticated strains of Malware and Ransomware are specifically targeting Operational Technology (OT) environments. As the Data Centre industry develops, forward-thinking operators are using techniques and approaches typical of more complex industrial facilities to drive innovation.

It is time to reclassify the Data Centre Operational Technology (DCOT) environments, ensuring they are treated separately.

The risks for Data Centres are growing

Data Centre stakeholders should be seriously concerned about the impact of Cyber Attack on their DCOT, an impact which is compounded by a combination of downtime and severe financial hits.

Dan Coats, the US director of National Intelligence warned of the danger of a crippling Cyber Attack in a speech in 2019, drawing a parallel with the increased Cyber Chatter detected amongst terrorist groups ahead of the World Trade Centre attack in 2001. "Here we are nearly two decades later, and I'm here to say that the warning lights are blinking red again. Today the digital infrastructureis literally under attack."

In the Data Centre Industry, downtime is measured in seconds, minutes and for a serious outage, hours. When it comes to recovery from a Cyber breach, though, it is measured in days, weeks and months - a totally different landscape.

Financial impacts are similarly compounded. The Uptime Institute reported that one in ten major outages at a Data Centre costs over 1m, and cited examples of substantially greater financial impact.

It is clear, however that the average cost of downtime is dwarfed when we start to look at the costs associated with a Cyber breach. In April 2020, IT services and Data Centre provider Cognizant was hit by a ransomware attack that, it forewarned investors in July, could cost it between $50m and $70m.

Data Centre owners in countries such as the UK are mistaken if they think it is really only US companies that are at risk; this is not true. Whilst the US has most attacks and suffers the highest losses, in the UK the average loss was slightly higher than the global average of $3.9m.

And research shows that Data Centres are at a particular risk, with the average loss to a technology company being much higher than the average, standing at $5.04m, the fifth most 'at risk' industry after Healthcare, Energy, Financial and Pharma.

Mike West, CEO of Digital Infrastructure Advisers, a company specialising in Data Centres asks, "Do you see the Cyber threat being a risk for your customers' or your company's data rather than for you, the building operator?

"As a building operator, it's your Operational Technology that is at risk. There are scores of vulnerabilities in and around the Data Centre facility itself, where increasingly clever hackers are able to get in and cause devastation, and where there is grave doubt that you are protected."

Mike explains: "Your DCOT comprises all the equipment and services embedded in your building, from your biometric, security and CCTV to your critical power and cooling, Internet of Things (IoT) devices and sensors, fire & life safety systems, remote monitoring tools, building management systems as well as control systems on multiple networks, which have many protocols and platforms such as BacNet, ModBus, SCADA, TCPIP, Distributed Control Systems (DCS), Remote Terminal Units (RTU) and Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC).

"These terms are well-known and catered for throughout major industries, but they are still not widely recognised in the world of Data Centres.

"The equipment that keeps your building running is very similar, if not the same, as the equipment that keeps a Power Station or car manufacturing plant such as Honda going.

"Exactly as in these industries, your building's equipment will be at least partly maintained and serviced by external suppliers. They employ people who come in from outside with laptops, tablets and phones, and log naively into your systems, just doing their jobs. Increasingly, thanks to IoT, they maintain your systems remotely."

Mike argues that the Data Centre operator is not only responsible for their own building's security, but are suddenly at the mercy of their security. He says, "You might be right in thinking that this area is beneath your notice, but your own DCOT is bringing a potentially devastating threat right there, beneath your nose."

The burgeoning costs of Cyber crime in the Data Centre world

Where a ransom demand is made, it is only the start of the financial cost of a Cyber Attack. In the well-documented Equinix case for example, attackers reportedly asked for $4.5m USD, but the additional financial consequence of this attack and the potential unseen long-term effect on its business were much greater.

To ransoms and operational recovery costs may be added the severe fines imposed as a result of subsequent regulatory investigation. For example, the EU GDPR sets a maximum fine of 20 million or 4% of annual global turnover - whichever is greater - for infringements. This type of regulation is already extending beyond personal data theft, and considering the impact to safety and disruption to national critical infrastructure.

Our connected world has become a lucrative playground for criminals who can launch attacks on victims in multiple countries and jurisdictions, with little fear of being caught.

Cyber criminals steal an estimated $600 billion per year from governments, companies and individuals, while the overall loss of company revenues over the course of five years from 2019 to 2023 will reach $5.2 trillion. In fact, Cyber crime is one of the most disruptive and economically damaging criminal activities in the world today.

Supply chain attacks which include the SME sector

Whilst those in Data Centres are fortunate enough to be working in a growing industry in that Data Centres are now essential to the fabric of society, and one of the foundations of our increasingly digital lives, we must recognise that an attack on the Data Centre infrastructure is an attack on all the businesses it supports, irrespective of the size, scale or location of the facility.

This isn't about data security, it's about being a core component of the technology supply chain, which increasingly contains SME's as well as major corporates. Data Centre operators could be forgiven for thinking that it's the larger companies that are at risk of Cyber Attack; this simply is not true. Mid-sized organisations are essential components in any supply chain; they experienced the biggest increase in average breach cost, and smaller organisations had higher than average costs per employee. These are possibly the organisations that have take fewer steps to protect themselves.

As an example, the UK MOD's Small and Medium-sized Enterprise Action Plan 2019-2022 aims to spend 25% of its 186b budget away from its 19 Strategic Suppliers, and with SME's, bringing a considerable number of additional players into the Cyber attackers' crosshairs.

"The biggest loss to a Data Centre in the end, is that of trust," says Mike West. "If the very company that houses its customers' precious IT assets, has allowed a data breach in its own systems or facility infrastructure, the resultant loss in confidence can be difficult to recover from. With technology companies standing to lose more than the average in terms both of money and reputation, it is not a situation that a responsible stakeholder can ignore."

The widely-reported SolarWinds attack clearly demonstrates the impact of a supply chain strike, and how Cyber gangs are becoming more sophisticated in approach as well as in the use of technology. No doubt there is more to come from this incident, because it highlights the disastrous and widespread impact of embedded Cyber infection or hacking at source.

Why Data Centres may not be 'the most secure facilities in the world'

Whilst some may hide behind the veil of physical security, (certain Data Centres mention being 'the most secure facilities in the world', with sophisticated multi-layer protection zones and high-end systems), ironically the IoT devices used on these networks can be used by Cyber criminals to get access to the broader DCOT network.

We are all aware of the almost unthinkably destructive actions a malicious insider could take, but perhaps the real risk is latent, hiding in the code of an electronic IoT device, waiting to be activated, as the hack on the Scheider Triconex Safety systems demonstrates. In this incident, the hackers' software gave them remote control over the plant's safety instrumented systems, designed to defend against life-threatening disasters.

As the sophistication of the Data Centre infrastructure develops, and many smart building techniques integrated with control and automation systems are adopted, there is further risk that attackers will use evermore imaginative ways to find a back door even to the most highly secure, so-called 'dark' sites.

With so many engineers, from both operator and client teams, entering the facilities with uncontrolled hardware, and the prolific use of IoT devices and out-of-band network facilities on plant and equipment, a clear plan of defence measures have been compromised.

Our world is now about novel and new Cyber Attacks and never-before-seen events, and so the landscape has become massively challenging for security teams to defend. With low and slow, hard-to-detect techniques, through to machine speed attacks, where criminals weaponize AI, it is clear that human speed responses are no longer adequate.

Cyber criminals are taking an ecosystem approach

Cyber crime is becoming evermore lucrative, and we are seeing Cyber gangs operate in concert, using Ransomware-as-a-service from the dark web, to conduct malicious attacks at scale, as the widely publicised case of WannaCry demonstrated; it is clear that traditional security approaches are inadequate.

Of all the types of crime, Cyber continues to increase at the fastest rate. According to INTERPOL, as quoted within the World Economic Forum (WEF) Future Series:

"'Cybersecurity, emerging technology and systemic risk', is an insight report published in November 2020, citing 'In less than a decade since cybersecurity first featured in the Global Risks report, it has emerged as one of the most important systemic issues for the global economy."

Solutions for Data Centres to consider

The WEF report comes to three conclusions, the third of which is Leadership action: "Business leaders need the ability to plan more strategically for emerging risk, so they can ensure that the organisations delivering the most critical infrastructures do not suffer failures that are catastrophic for societies."

Mike West agrees. "Given the Data Centre industry is a strategic part of the world's technology infrastructure, and Industry has demonstrated high levels of collaboration tackling key challenges, there is no doubt that Cyber resilience and security are a shared responsibility that involves everyone and, as such, require an ongoing holistic, systematic and coordinated approach."

Decide where the responsibility lies for the Cyber risk at DCOT level

Because the infrastructure in a Data Centre is focused on keeping the computers going, there is usually little or no focus on the security around the Operational Technology. Mike West asks: "Whose responsibility are these networks? Is it the engineering department because it's to do with the mechanics of the building? Is it the IT department because it's got Cyber written on it? Or is it security, because they are in charge of protecting the building? This question must be answered at the top, where the key stakeholders sit.

"It's an abnormal, overlooked risk and if you are leading a Data Centre business, it's time you got involved. You need to ensure it's clear where the overall responsibility for your systematic, coordinated approach lies."

Don't be tempted to kick this can down the road

The threats to a Data Centre business via its Operational Technology is urgent, and whilst it's understandable to consider this as a problem that can be dealt with 'later', it is alive and ready to kick right now.

Mike West says, "We would argue that Data Centres are amongst the most critical infrastructures in society, because the data held in these facilities is increasingly vital to the way communities run. Tomorrow is too late to start looking at the risk to DCOT, which underpins the facilities."

Data Centres are used to support utilities, hospitals & healthcare, food manufacturers, the logistics and transport industries, education, defence and communications - all examples of key sectors that affect the very fabric of how the world runs.

Consider specialist DCOT Cyber protection

Mike West has spent his career in Data Centres, and his company, Digital Infrastructure Advisors, has a unique awareness of where and how this new threat can devastate not only the Data Centre business, but also that of its customers. The organisation's deep knowledge of how Data Centres are built, how they operate and how they are maintained means that they can see things that most people overlook.

Its Data Centre advisory and technical services extend to specific Cyber services including compliance, audit, testing and technology solutions.

An opportunity to take protective action against Cyber in the DCOT

Digital Infrastructure Advisors has partnered with one of the world's most powerful providers of Cyber AI security, and the creator of Autonomous Response Technology, Darktrace.

Because Darktrace's AI technology doesn't look at yesterday's attack to predict that of tomorrow, it has the unique ability to find potential threats that have never been seen before.

Every three seconds, Darktrace AI fights back against a Cyber-threat, preventing it from causing damage.

With Digital Infrastructure Advisors' intimate knowledge of the potential risks to Data Centres and specifically their Operational Technology, the partnership between the two organisations is a powerful ally to the Data Centre stakeholder.

The Darktrace technology with Digital Infrastructure Advisors' insight is uniquely positioned to support both the Industrial and DCOT environments as well as corporate networks including cloud, SaaS and email, providing a single unified platform to protect 'every corner of the network' for Data Centre business from Cyber threat.

Case Study: Protection against one of the world's most notorious Cyber Attackers

Shamoon is a highly destructive malware, which has been associated with the interests of the Iranian state. Shamoon 3 is so called because it seems to be a new version of the malware.

At a global energy company, Darktrace's Industrial Immune system detected Shamoon 3 in its earliest stages, flagging the threat to the security team as soon as it detected the initial intrusion. Read more about this incident, and the indicators of compromise that most likely represent lateral movement activity in the weeks prior to the 'detonation'.

Proof of value to the Data Centre

As a way of enabling organisations to carry out due diligence on this collaborative solution, Digital Infrastructure Advisors and Darktrace have developed a two-step 'Proof of Value' opportunity, for no financial outlay to the Data Centre operator.

Because of the self-learning nature of the technology, there is very little configuration needed, and it may be set up in under one hour.

Virtual presentation to all relevant personnel in the Data Centre organisation

- This includes the opportunity for stakeholders to interrogate the solution

- This includes the opportunity for stakeholders to interrogate the solution Set of reports on the participating Data Centre's network, after a 30-day trial of the solution

Reports include identification of vulnerabilities

No financial outlay to the Data Centre operator

To set up the initial virtual presentation of around an hour, please contact mike.west@digitalinfrastructureadvisors.com or call +44 (0) 7768 557 191

https://www.digitalinfrastructureadvisors.com/


A Maori lawmaker has won his battle against compulsory tie-wearing in the New Zealand parliament after describing neckties as a 'colonial noose'.

Rawiri Watiti, the co-leader of the Maori Party, sparred over the dress code with parliament speaker Trevor Mallard - who ejected Watiti from the debating chamber despite saying he did not personally agree with the rule.

'This is a breach of the rights of indigenous peoples,' said Watiti, who was wearing a pendant called a hei tiki. 'We have the right to practice our cultural identity.'

But on Wednesday, Mallard changed course after a meeting of a standing orders committee which heard from Maori representatives and ended with the speaker saying that ties were no longer a required part of 'appropriate business attire'.

Moori Party co-leader Rawiri Waititi speaks to reporters after being ejected from parliament on Tuesday for wailing to wear a tie. He was instead wearing a pendant called a hei tiki

Waititi has previously described a necktie as 'a colonial noose' and dramatically took one off in the debating chamber during his maiden speech in New Zealand's parliament last year

Waititi hailed the dawn of optional tie-wearing as a win for New Zealand's Maori and for indigenous people around the world.

And with the rules loosened, several other male lawmakers followed his lead by not wearing ties on Thursday.

Waititi, a father of five, won a seat at last October's election and arrived in parliament with a jovial but also uncompromising attitude, promising to fearlessly promote the rights of Maori.

'Maori have had enough of being assimilated and forced to do and look like everyone else,' Waititi told lawmakers during his opening speech in December.

'We are not like everyone else. We are unique. Being Maori is like having superpowers. There is no-one else in the world like us, and we need to maintain who we are.'

New Zealand's parliament speaker Trevor Mallard, pictured, had ejected the Maori politician on Tuesday but subsequently changed course

Waititi is pictured greeting prime minister Jacinda Ardern with a traditional Maori hongi during the Commission Opening of Parliament last year

Mallard had kicked Watiti from the chamber on Tuesday after previously warning him that he needed to wear a tie.

'I do not recognise the member, he will now leave the chamber,' Mallard told Waititi, who responded by saying the issue was not about ties but about culture.

New Zealand's prime minister Jacinda Ardern played down the issue, saying she had no objection to someone wearing a tie in parliament or not.

'There are much more important issues for all of us,' said Ardern, who was re-elected in a landslide at last year's poll.

But the clash kicked off a debate about colonialism in New Zealand, and sparked outrage from around the world with #no2tie soon trending on Twitter.

Waititi, who has called ties 'a colonial noose,' said there was still systemic racism in New Zealand as a result of European colonisation.

He had previously used a tie as a prop while telling the story of a tribal member who had been wrongfully hung to death for a crime he did not commit.

Waititi then took off his own red necktie as he repeated what he said were the man's last words: 'Take the noose from around my neck, so that I may sing my song.'

Strong acceleration of growth in the second half (+33%) after a first half slowed by the health crisis (+10%);

Continued high client acquisition rate with 265 new accounts in 2020;

International sales up 29% year-on-year, the result of investment in strategic markets and the first contract over 1m outside France;

Adequate positioning of the offering in access security and development of high-potential business solutions in healthcare and industry;

Gross cash of 23 million at December 31, 2020, thanks to efficient management of expenditure;

Sustained growth trend and profitability outlook of the second half reaffirmed for 2021.



Paris, February 11, 2021 - WALLIX (Euronext ALLIX), a European cybersecurity software developer and expert in privileged access management (PAM), reports its full-year 2020 turnover.

Unaudited results, 000 2019 2020 Variation France 11,002 13,212 +20% International 5,333 6,860 +29% Consolidated turnover 16,335 20,072 +23%



Jean-Noel de Galzain, Chairman of the WALLIX GROUP Management Board, said: "2020 began and ended with a sharp increase in business volumes. The health crisis undeniably slowed our annual growth rate, but we ultimately delivered overall performance superior to many of our peers. Business growth of 23% in 2020, and a 25% increase in new accounts, reflects the growing attractiveness of Wallix solutions and the resilience of our model, with an increasing proportion of recurring business and highly promising underlying trends for the cybersecurity industry. Despite the challenging environment, we maintained our growth investments and workforce fully mobilized to support our range of solutions in digital access security and to pursue the roll-out of our commercial networks abroad, whilst retaining significant cash flow for the future.

This strategy contributed to the sharp increase in turnover in the second half and will continue to sustain this momentum in 2021. We are pleased with the successes achieved by the Group in critical areas such as essential services, healthcare and industry that have a particular reliance on digital to sustain their operations. We intend to continue our efforts in these areas, through strategic partnerships such as the one we recently announced with the Fives Group, or the signing of a contract with Tech Data in Germany, in order to include Wallix's trusted cybersecurity solutions within broader offers and secure Industry 4.0.

In a "world after" in which companies and individuals are more dependent than ever on digital technologies, cybersecurity is becoming a priority sector in terms of investment in Europe to create a trusted digital territory with the guarantees of autonomy and sovereignty we all expect. We have no doubt that WALLIX can play a driving and unifying role in the construction of this alternative international-standard European cybersecurity offering."



2020 turnover up 23% to 20.1 million, with growth accelerating in the second half

WALLIX recorded sales of 20.1 million in 2020, up 23% from 2019. This strong performance, within an environment still impacted by the health crisis, reflects dynamic momentum in the second half (+33%), driven by international operations and key sectors such as healthcare and industry. Although full-year growth was slowed by the impact of the heath crisis, particularly in the second quarter, with deferment of project implementation schedules in key accounts, we achieved our target of posting full-year growth significantly above that of the first half (+10%).

International turnover rose 29% to 6.9 million. Amid an economic downturn, France continued to grow with turnover up +20% to 13.2 million.



Business growth by region:

In France, the Group benefited from increasing interest in its offerings among small and mid-sized businesses and a number of key sectors such as healthcare and industry. Key accounts, which had adopted a wait-and-see approach at the peak of the health crisis, gradually gained momentum at the end of the year with the implementation of projects under major contracts signed previously, representing 6.9 million in billings in 2020. Wallix estimates the potential turnover from these key account equipment contracts to be worth 18.1 million over the next three years (2021-2023).



With regard to its international operations, WALLIX started to reap the rewards of the investments made under the strategic plan (developing the office network in Germany, UK and Spain and expanding the partner network in target markets). The Germany/Central Europe region, with nearly 2 million in annual turnover for the first time, and the United Kingdom, where the first contract over 1 million outside France was signed, in particular saw robust growth. Growth outside the European Union was very strong (+34%), mainly in the Africa Middle East zone where WALLIX recorded notable developments.

Continued growth in recurring business

Unaudited results, 000 2019 2020 Variation Licenses 8,914 9,459 +6% Maintenance & Subscriptions[1] 6,415 8,516 +33% Professional services 1,006 2,097 +108% Consolidated turnover 16,335 20,072 +23%



Sales of licenses were up 6% over the year to reach 9.5 million, reflecting the rebound in sales in the second half (+27%). This highly positive trend, evident among both key accounts and small and mid-sized businesses, reflects the increasing demand among companies to address new digital challenges. It offsets the negative impact of the health crisis (slowed solutions roll-out in key accounts) observed in the first half.

A key strategic development driver for WALLIX, recurring business grew sharply in 2020, up 33% to 8.5 million. The share of recurring business thus represents 42% of 2020 turnover compared to 39% in 2019. In addition to the impact on maintenance activities, generated by the increase in the number of clients equipped, WALLIX posted an 80% increase in turnover from subscription solutions (SaaS mode license subscriptions) and a doubling of the turnover generated by managed services.

At December 31, 2020, the Group estimates the future value of the subscription contracts billed in 2020 to be 3.9 million over three years.



Strategy underpinned by financial strength

At December 31, 2020, gross cash and cash equivalents amounted to 23.2 million versus 29.3 million at December 31, 2019. The Group pursued its organic growth investments in 2020 (workforce increased from 172 to 210 over the period) and the commercial roll-out of its new offerings.

This financial capacity affords the Group the flexibility required to continue its development and seize new external growth opportunities.



Major growth and profitability targets for 2021 and goal of European cybersecurity leadership

Due to the health crisis, organizations and individuals have completely transformed their relationship with digital technology and its uses, opening the door to new risks with a proliferation of cyberattacks. Interactions and exchanges are instantaneous and mobile, and the security of access to information and data is becoming a key element in ensuring a successful digital transformation. To ensure the long-term viability of these new uses, users and companies must make investment in cybersecurity a priority, as underlined by leading market analysts such as KuppingerCole or Gartner, which predict an average annual increase of 10.7% for PAM[2] over the 2020-2024 period (i.e., a global market of $2.9 billion in 2024).

WALLIX is ideally positioned to capitalize on the growth of the sector, which features among the strategic priorities of the digital recovery plan presented by the French government in September 2020. Thanks to the structural investments carried out over the last 18 months, WALLIX has a comprehensive PAM2 offering (WALLIX Bastion) expanded into adjacent market segments (WALLIX BestSafe launched in February 2020 and WALLIX Trustelem launched in May 2020), enabling it to address all the threats posed by the implementation of new technologies (IoT, Cloud, etc.) and new digital services (telemedicine, WFH, smart city, predictive maintenance, etc.). Its leadership in Zero Trust cybersecurity architecture and By Design cybersecurity for the industry of the future make it a partner of choice for companies anxious to properly address the challenges posed by their digital transformation.

WALLIX confirmed a new rapid growth phase in the second half of 2020, with excellent sales momentum and notable success in the automotive sector (signing of a large-scale contract with a leading European manufacturer outside France), aerospace (first order from a major contractor) and healthcare (private European hospital group). Backed by an installed base of more than 1,300 clients and an increase in recurring business, the Group intends to maintain its growth trajectory in 2021. Recent partnerships, particularly with Fives targeting the industrial sector, should also increase the rapid development of Group's offering and turnover.

As the Group nears the end of its growth investment cycle, operating margins should gradually improve and WALLIX confirms its aim to turn an operating profit by the second half of 2021.

Against the backdrop of the significant challenges at the European level involved in creating a trusted digital territory in Europe, with guarantees of independence and sovereignty, the Group foresees the creation of a standardized regulatory and legislative framework to "process and host Europeans' data in Europe" (Digital Services Act (DSA) and Digital Market Act (DMA), GDPR). This will be supported in the years ahead by the emergence of a trusted digital product and service offering, certified and recognized as such by European states (similar to GAIA X) and the creation of multinational cyber industry players. The only European developer among the 7 global leaders (KuppingerCole PAM survey, 2020), WALLIX reaffirms its desire and capacity to establish itself as one of the key players in European cybersecurity.



Next publication: full-year 2020 results, March 25, 2020



ABOUT WALLIX

A software company providing cybersecurity solutions, WALLIX is the European specialist in Identity and Access Security Solutions. WALLIX's unified solutions portfolio enables companies to respond to today's data protection challenges. WALLIX solutions guarantee detection of and resilience to cyberattacks, which enables business continuity. The solutions also ensure compliance with regulatory requirements regarding access to IT infrastructures and critical data. The portfolio of unified solutions is distributed through a network of more than 180 resellers and integrators worldwide. Listed on the Euronext (ALLIX), WALLIX supports more than 1,300 organizations in securing their digital transformation. WALLIX is a founding member of the HEXATRUST group and has been included in the Futur40, the first ranking of growth companies on the stock exchange published by Forbes France and is part of the Tech 40 index.

www.wallix.com | info@wallix.com

FINANCIAL COMMUNICATION CONTACTS

ACTUS Finance & Communication



Investor Relations - Olivier LAMBERT

Tel. +33 (0)1 53 67 36 33 / wallix@actus.fr

Press Relations - Nicolas BOUCHEZ

Tel. +33 (0)1 53 67 36 74 / nbouchez@actus.fr

[1] o/w Managed services

[2] Privileged Access Management

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MBABANE  Renowned hip-hop artist Diba Diba has praised Illa Penboys charity work in helping many vulnerable and impoverished families through his foundation.

With the corporate social responsibility work that he has done over the past months in assisting the needy families with building material, food, clothes and other basic necessities, the well-known hip hop artists charity work has not gone unnoticed.

In an appreciation post by renowned hip-hop artist Diba Diba, he described Illa as a beacon of hope for many emaSwati who are in dire need of assistance since many have been affected by the recent heavy rainfall and the adverse effects which came with the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the post which had garnered over 217 likes, Diba Diba shared, I see your endless acts of kindness. I see your pure heart filled with unfathomable power which is the power of loving and caring for the less unfortunate and changing peoples lives for the better.

He further mentioned that the Gcoba-Gcoba hitmaker was a prime example of what it meant to have a purpose and to change the world with one act of kindness at a time.

People may mock you and ridicule you for your flaws and mistakes, but know my brother that some people are so consumed by hate and jealousy such that they forget their own imperfections by blaming it on others, read the post.

In an interview with this reporter, Diba Diba stated that the work that Illa Penboys Foundation had done so far made a difference to many peoples lives such that he had now become a beacon of hope and a miracle they had been praying for.

society

He said it was important to notice the good that people do in society instead of focusing on the negative. He went on to add that he had known Illa Penboy for a long time such that he shared his experience he had in the past with him when he unexpectedly gave him a gift.

The point is not to make music to only entertain, but to also contribute to society by making a change with the influence we have as artists, he said.

He further urged young people in general not to continuously post irrelevant information on social media but have productive conversations that ooze positivity and growth.

Asked on whether his fans should expect new music from him anytime soon, he said: there is a project I am working on as I am in the middle of shooting a couple of music videos and new music which will be released very soon God willingly. Speaking to Illa Penboy, he appreciated the love and positive messages which appreciated the work done by his foundation in assisting emaSwati one day at a time.

He mentioned that the Illa Penboy foundation had of late partnered with Pam Golding as they donated building material worth E10 000 which will be assist in building a house for an impoverished family.

The whole campaign we are doing as a foundation is about changing young peoples lives and changing their perception that they too can make a difference in other peoples lives, he said. So far, the Illa Penboy Foundation has assisted 100 care-points and over 50 homes on a monthly basis depending on the available donations from emaSwati who contributed with what they had.






Union Home Minister on



Thursday said that the will not rest before forming the government in with a two-thirds majority.

He said that the "war" is not just to remove Mamata Banerjee from power in but to turn the state into 'Sonar Bangla' (Golden Bengal).

"We will not rest before forming the government in with a two-thirds majority," he said while addressing the "social media warriors" of the here.

Shah said that it will be ensured that every voter can freely exercise his/her franchise during the upcoming state assembly elections due in April-May.

Shah, known to be the master strategist of the saffron party, said that winning the West Bengal polls will pave the way for electoral successes in Odisha, Telangana and other states of the country where the is not in power.

He set a target for the BJP's social media team to reach out to two crore of the 10 crore population of West Bengal by propagating the party's messages and the Centre's achievements.

(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 2020 election and the events of January 6, 2021 have convinced many of the need for better civics and U.S. history teaching in K12. Bolstering this feeling is how poorly students perform in multiple tests and studies when it comes to U.S. history and government. Unfortunately, teachers are inadequately prepared to educate pupils in these subjects. Rigorous, coherent, and carefully structured certificate programs can provide the training teachers need to successfully instruct the next generation of American citizens.

In a 2019 RAND study, 80% of teachers did not think they were "very well prepared" to teach a course on the United States government. The same study also showed that "between a third and just over half of both elementary (K5) teachers and secondary (grades 612) teachers who taught social studies reported they had not received any training on civic education." These numbers are troubling and indicate the need for professional development programs to address this lack of preparedness.

Teachers are not the only ones struggling when it comes to civics and history. Students are failing to learn American history and its founding principles, including the latter's roots in the Constitution. The 2010 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) showed that, when it comes to civics, 36% of students tested did not test at a basic attainment level. Eight years later, the 2018 assessment showed that only 24% of students performed at or exceeded a proficient level. Worse, there was no significant improvement compared to 2014 or 1998.

The situation is worse when it comes to U.S. history. The 2018 scores decreased from 2014, from a meager 18% of students performing at or above NAEP proficient down to 15%. The grim reality of student performance when it comes to history requires action.

Lest you think the general ignorance of citizens exaggerated, just read the results of a 2014 survey from the Annenberg Public Policy Center. Of those surveyed, 35% could not name a single branch of government, 16% knew two branches of government, and only 36% knew all three branches of government. Matters improved in 2019, when 39% could name all three branches of government, and reached 51% in 2020. However, the fact remains that, after one of the most contentious elections in memory, a little under half of America could not name all three branches of government.

This problem is not new, there have been multiple reports on it, and there are many current proposals to fix it. However, creating new programs and spending obscene sums of money are ineffective without objective assessment standards, rigorous curricula, and teachers prepared to instruct using primary documents. There are other potential problems lurking in reforming and improving civics education, but we will stick with unprepared teachers.

To be effective, a program in civics or U.S. history must have strict parameters. One of higher education's greatest failings is how distribution or breadth requirements  that is, classes outside a major that are ostensibly intended to create a more broadly educated graduate  can be fulfilled with fluff. To prevent this, students who wish to become teachers should be required to complete a specific set of courses.

For example, an 18-credit civics minor could require U.S. Constitution 101, The Federalist Papers, Constitutional Law 101 (focused on the Bill of Rights), Constitutional Law 201 (focused on the rest of the Amendments), Modern American Regime (surveying changes in the structure and size of the federal government), and a class on the political philosophy of the American Founding. A rigorous history minor intended to prepare U.S. history and government teachers would cover Colonial History 16071776, American Revolution 17751783, the Early Republic and Antebellum 17881860, Civil War and Reconstruction 18611877, American History 18771945, and American History 19452001.

American teachers are unprepared to teach American government and U.S. history courses. Universities can help solve this problem by creating minors in American government and U.S. history that are specifically designed for educators. To prevent this from becoming just another well intentioned effort, these should be required courses rather than just suggestions for distribution (or breadth) requirements.

Zachary is a graduate of Hillsdale College. He enjoys Cicero, cigars, and country music.

Image: Classroom by NeONBRAND on Unsplash.
President Biden has said he wants schools to reopen by mid-April, and his call for all teachers to be admitted to the front of the line for vaccinations, as they are in 18 states  but not New Jersey  has a compelling public purpose.

The longer the pandemic keeps kids out of classrooms, the greater the blow to our economy from learning loss. Its hurting kids emotionally, too. Oversight of virtual schooling prevents parents from working, and some families cant afford decent internet connections.

In New Jersey, more than 200 districts remain fully remote, and given the standoffs with local unions over returning to the classroom, Reps. Tom Malinowski and Josh Gottheimers push to vaccinate all teachers is understandable.

Our concern, though, is that theres also compelling reason to protect daycare workers who dont have the union and political clout that teachers do, but are just as vulnerable and essential. And while were at it, what about NJ Transit bus drivers, exposed to hundreds of people each day? Or grocery workers?

This game could go on and on. Which is why, at this early stage, we still think it makes the most sense to prioritize people based on their age or vulnerability, like a teacher with a heart condition. Lets wait until more people are vaccinated, before we prioritize all teachers.

This one is not an easy call. We did prioritize frontline health care workers and first responders, to ensure wed have enough essential workers to care for the sick, and some see teachers in much the same way  as essential to guiding struggling kids back to school.

But consider how this might play out, in practice. If the goal is to get schools open quickly, wed have to vaccinate all teachers, along with any other support staff, right away. And the moment we pull the trigger on that, we are cutting out more vulnerable people who are actually risking death.

Millions are competing for doses right now, and only about 9 percent of our population is vaccinated. Why should a healthy 29-year-old teacher get in line in front of a 70-year-old with pulmonary disease?

So far, just 35 percent of our vaccines have gone to those 65 and older, even though they account for nearly 80 percent of COVID deaths. Even older people who can isolate at home are just one health crisis away from having to seek treatment and risk exposure.

The average age of teachers is about 43, which doesnt put most in the highest risk category, though some do have medical conditions that make them more susceptible  and, for that reason, are already eligible to be vaccinated.

People frustrated by the eligibility of smokers argue that teachers who choose not to smoke are more deserving. Smokers are prioritized because they are more likely to be hospitalized. If hospitals get overwhelmed with COVID patients, we all suffer, if we have to get cancer treatment or have heart attacks or strokes and need those beds.

And if we base vaccine priority on how much control someone has over their unhealthy habits, where does it end? Is a 29-year-old teacher more deserving than an over-eater with Type 2 diabetes, for which obesity is a risk factor?

These are not easy questions, and teachers have good reason to be anxious, with variant strains of the virus on the rise. Will there come a time when teachers should get access, even if they are healthy and young? Absolutely. When we get more doses, teachers should be a priority occupation, as should grocery workers and daycare workers. A lot of people may belong on that list.

A recent study of occupations found those most at risk of dying of COVID are line cooks and farm workers, followed by bus drivers, truck drivers and janitors, among others. But at this early stage, to save the most lives, we have a moral duty to vaccinate those at greatest medical risk, first  including the most vulnerable teachers.

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Tell us your coronavirus stories, whether its a news tip, a topic you want us to cover, or a personal story you want to share.
Before he was killed on Saturday night, Kevin Jiang was on the cusp of momentous life changes. After serving in the military and spending time as a consultant, he was on track to finish a graduate program at Yale. He had just proposed to his fiancee a week earlier, and he was days from his 27th birthday, on Valentines Day.

But on Saturday night, Mr. Jiang was gunned down near his car in New Haven, Conn., in a gruesome death that has shaken a city where violence has been on the rise.

The killing became all the more shocking on Wednesday, when the New Haven police said they were seeking a man for questioning whom they considered armed and dangerous. That man, Qinxuan Pan, is a graduate student at M.I.T.  the same university from which Mr. Jiangs fiancee graduated last year.

Image Qinxuan Pan Credit... New Haven Police Department

The New Haven police would not provide any details about possible connections between Mr. Pan, Mr. Jiang and Zion Perry, the fiancee, citing the ongoing investigation. But Chief Otoniel Reyes said that the police believed Mr. Pan had been in the area of Mr. Jiangs killing at the time of his death.
The Nigerian police still routinely interfere in civil cases despite rebukes by the courts and clear provisions of the law.

Francis Ajinzo runs a fish nursery at Ibeju-Lekki in Lagos.

Early 2019, two months after he sold 2,000 fingerlings, the buyer returned to complain that all the fish had died and to demand either a refund of her money or replacement of the fish.

"I told her there was no way I could pay for her recklessness," Mr Ajinzo recalled. He had taught the woman how to safely raise the fish, just as he does for all his customers, he says. He realised, however, that the woman had not complied with his instructions.

"Rather than take responsibility, she claimed I had not trained her well."

A week after the exchange, the police arrested Mr Ajinzo.

"I was manhandled and detained for several days," he recalls to PREMIUM TIMES.

"The woman came three days later to the Ajiwe police area command that she wanted another fish. One of the officers in the police station told me that if I refused her demand, they would keep me in their custody indefinitely."

Mr Ajinzo said he was forced to produce new juvenile fish for the customer by the officers who kept him in custody over a civil matter.

Like Mr Ajinzo, many Nigerians have faced police interference in their civil matters such as breach of contract, landlord/tenant disagreement, family dispute, and even disagreement among neighbours.

But Mike Ozekhome, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), said security agencies, including the EFCC and ICPC, have no roles in civil disputes.

"Any matter that is civil or contractual or which concerns banking and general relationships with people without criminal elements must not be dabbled into by the police," he stresses.

"It has been the position of the courts up to the Supreme Court that only matters that are criminal in nature should involve the attention of security agencies because they cannot make or remake a contract for people."

The Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) of 2015 excludes the police from civil disputes but the major provisions of the Act are rarely implemented.

According to section 8(2) of the Act, a suspect shall not be arrested merely on a civil wrong or breach of contract.

The Nigerian Police (Establishment) Act 2020 also frowns at officers' interference in civil disputes, unless on the order of a competent court. Section 32(2) of the Act prohibits officers from arresting anyone based on a civil wrong or breach of contract.

But the police have continued to ignore those restrictions with impunity. They arrest and maltreat Nigerians based on civil offences and adjudicate matters that are exclusive to the courts.

Mr Ajinzo said he was afraid he could lose his business by going to court to challenge the police interference in his case.

"I accepted my fate because the police would not stop disturbing me and I might no longer have the time to take care of my business."

Violation of human rights

Findings by PREMIUM TIMES show that police officers across Nigeria routinely dabble into debts recovery.

The motive for some of the officers is to get a percentage of the recovered debts from the creditor and to further extort bribes from the debtors to release them on bail.

At the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the police in Panti, Lagos State, a woman who spoke on condition of anonymity because of fear of reprisal, recalled how a microfinance bank used the police to hound her over a debt.

According to the woman, she had taken a loan from the bank in 2018 for her business and was to pay back in monthly instalments over six months. Due to business difficulties she faced, however, she defaulted in the fifth month.

"I was arrested and taken to Panti," she says. "The officers drew up a schedule of when I should refund the remaining debt and forced me to sign post-dated cheques.

"When I didn't have sufficient balance in my account on the due date for the cheque, the same police officers turned round to accuse me of issuing a dud cheque. It took the intervention of a top police officer known by my husband. We later settled the matter amicably and I returned the borrowed funds."

Many Nigerians, including journalists, have also been arrested for comments they made on public issues on social media, as Nigerians increasingly turn to the platforms to tell truth to power.

A recent case involved a journalist, Tom Uhia, and the Minister of State for Power, Goddy Jedy-Agba. Mr Uhia publishes Power Steering, a monthly magazine that covers the power sector.

Mr Jedy-Agba accused Mr Uhia of defaming his character with a report he published in the June 2020 issue of his magazine, which accused the minister of wrongdoing when he was a senior manager with the Nigeria Nigerian Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

Rather than go to court for redress, Mr Jedy-Agba wrote a petition to the police through his lawyer, Obi Nwakor. On October 13, 2020, the Police Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) in Area 10, Abuja, arrested the journalist over the petition and kept him behind bars for about a month.

"Even if treated as a criminal case, Section 35 of Nigeria's 1999 Constitution demands that the police should not detain any suspect for longer than 48 hours without a court order," the FCT Council of the Nigerian Union of Journalists said, in a statement at the time, by its chairperson, Emmanuel Ogbeche, to protest Mr Uhia's treatment.

So many cases

A human rights lawyer and former chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja branch, Adesina Ogunlana, says cases of police interference in civil matters are commonplace.

He says the police do this to the "extent that when people organise protests, police can say when you are protesting, you conducted yourself in such a way that intimidated others and they will call it (a) conspiracy to intimidate, assault and overawe authority.

"The reality is that when they even interfere illegally, they can detain you for years due to poverty of the mind and poverty of the pocket. So, police officers focus on the tendency to harvest for their pockets rather than to enforce the law. They tend to read more criminality to matters that can easily be settled.

"For example, if somebody takes a loan to finance a project, instead of the bank to take the collateral when he defaults, they will go to the police that what you have done is fraudulent. For you to know that police are not sincere, you will sign undertaking in police station and they will be deducting their own share.

"The police are hardly sincere and they have exaggerated perception about what the law says. Even many of them that are lawyers are worse because they rejoice in having the power of law enforcement and the training of a lawyer.

"Sometimes, the police tell people to rewrite petitions and say some other persons threatened to kill them even when the matters are simple disagreements. The laws are there but the way police interpret the law is heavily slanted for their selfish and unprogressive agenda," Mr Ogunlana says.

Court rulings on police interference in civil matters

Various courts in Nigeria have said it is illegal for the police to interfere in civil disputes.

In fact, when a person involves a police officer in a civil matter, both the complainant and the officer may be sued for breach of the fundamental human rights of the accused.

In the case of McLaren v. Jennings, the Court of Appeal held in 2003 that "it was unlawful for the police to arrest and detain the Appellant with regard to the collection of a debt; this is as under the Law, the Police is not a debt collection agency."

In addition, in the case of NWADIUGWU v. IGP & ORS (2015) LPELR-26027(CA), the appellate court held that the "police are neither debt collectors nor Arbitrators and Section 24 of the Police Act 2004 does not list settlement of disputes or collection of debts amongst the duties of the Police."

The court said the "police, in that (by interfering in civil matters), muzzled the rights and freedom of Nigerians even where cases are clearly outside their jurisdiction, power or corridor. If this is not curbed, everybody, including the judicial officers, will suffer always from floodgates of civil matters being hijacked by the police and transmuted into crimes. If this is not tackled, everybody would have suffered in the merciless hand of the police who has (have) become a law unto itself in this country."

Why we interfere in civil disputes - Police

PREMIUM TIMES reached out to the police authorities on the issue.

The spokesperson of the police, Frank MBA, did not respond to our correspondent calls and text messages. But his counterparts at the state level say many complaints are sometimes difficult to isolate as civil.

The police spokesperson in Ekiti State, Sunday Abutu, says the police authorities had always warned officers to be professional when dealing with "complicated matters."

"Sometimes, civil matters have (led to) assault and even threat to life. It may start from a mere land dispute before it would later degenerate to threat and assault," he says.

"The police authorities have always admonished those working within divisions and those handling such cases to be professional and ensure that they handle the criminal aspect alone.

"I don't expect any police officer to dabble into civil matters. When (the) police come into civil matters, it is basically based on the petitions and what is being reported to us. If you report that you gave money to somebody and when you requested your money back, he started assaulting you, the police cannot sit down and look."

The police spokesperson in Ogun State, Abimbola Oyeyemi, said police officers interfere in civil matters because many Nigerians do not know the difference between civil and criminal issues.

"It is not right for the police to interfere in civil matters. But the question is how do we determine civil matters? For example, a landlord comes to the police station to report that his tenant is not paying his rent. It is not police business to recover his tenancy fee from his tenant. But there are matters people present to the public as civil but in the real sense, they are criminal in nature.

"If you give money to somebody to keep and he converted the money to his use without your consent, he stole by conversion. But when such a person is arrested, he won't say he stole the money. In some instances, people will say they have judgment over land matter, and take thugs to the land. Can court judgment be enforced by thugs?

"Anybody can report either civil or criminal issues to the police and it is now the duty of the police, after listening to both parties, to determine which is civil because many people did not know that some cases are not meant to be brought to the police," Mr Oyeyemi says.

A lawyer, Ademola Owolabi, agreed the powers of the police do not extend to civil relationships.

"But we live in a nation where human interactions bring a lot of friction, and the police are often one of the first ports of call and the police will tell them how to criminalise the offence of the offender in their petition.

"This is not to say that police cannot be legally involved in assault allegations, even when the matter is civil. But one of the reasons why we have sad incidents, like illegal interference of police, is because the court system is not robust enough such that a simple matter between tenant and landlord could take years. So, when people know that they may not quickly get justice in the court, they go to the police and the officers take advantage of that."

Way forward

Mr Ozekhome said people who have their rights denied by the police may challenge that in court.

"I think the more Nigerians begin to assert their rights, the more their rights and liberties would be respected," he said.

A lawyer and author, Dele Farotimi, said the issue indicates that "the law does not rule in Nigeria.

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"We are living in the jungle. Police interfere because impunity governs Nigeria. That is the evil tree, by the time you cut the trees, all the madness we are always debating will disappear. Let's talk about the system.

"It is not just about the police whom I call uniformed armed robbers. They are not different from the ones who are not carrying guns called civil servants. Even me, I am a victim. The reality is that we have become lost as a people," Mr Farotimi said.

Mr Owolabi advised the police to keep off matters that have no criminal elements.

"The police must wash their hands off matters that have no criminal elements and for the populace, anytime they feel harassed, the law is not handicapped. The fundamental human rights abuse law is robust enough to get justice for victims.

"A lot of Nigerians suffer in silence because they don't understand their rights. I have handled a matrimonial matter that the police sent to the anti-cultism unit. These are not (the) proper use of the police," he says.

"Lawyers should also take time to engage the police on their proper duties. When an allegation is made, police must investigate before (making) arrests. It is always good to investigate the angle of the complainant first before an arrest is carried out. It is not right to arrest before investigating. The proper thing is investigation before an arrest," the Lagos lawyer said.

Mr Ogunlana, on his part, called for a change in the attitude of those in control of the police - from the commissioners of police, the minister of police affairs and those at the police service commission.

"The Nigerian police are not the people's police. They see themselves as serving those in government than serving the people. Even when we talk of reform, it deals with humans and particularly those at the helm of affairs. The citizens must be radically ready to perfect leadership change."

For the Director of Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC), Okechukwu Nwanguma, "in performance of their duties, the police should adhere to various human rights protection protocols."

Common examples of civil matters

To guide our readers on their fundamental human rights and help them to understand matters that are civil, PREMIUM TIMES lists some examples of civil matters below:

1 Dispute between landlords and tenants.

2 Dispute over land sales.

3 Non-delivery of purchased goods and services

4 Complaints against a city or government

5 Property dispute

6 Loan recovery

7 Disagreement over child or other matrimonial issues.

All of the above are purely civil matters except when there are recorded events of assault, battery or a threat to life.

This report was funded by the Civic Media Lab, under its Criminal Justice Reporting Fellowship, with support from MacArthur Foundation.
11 February 2021

ANANDA DEVELOPMENTS PLC

("Ananda" or the "Company")

Shareholder Update

Ananda's vision is to become a significant participant in the UK medicinal cannabis sector.

Following the legalisation of medicinal cannabis in the UK in late 2018, the sector initially grew slowly. Now, however, growth is starting to gather pace. More than 37,000 packs of cannabis-based products for medicinal use (CBPMs) were notified for import into the UK in the six months from March 2020 to September 2020. This compares to a total of just 3,700 CBPMs notified for import in the previous 16 months. According to Maple Tree Consultancy, a leading UK based medical cannabis advisory group, there are currently approximately 3,000 private medical cannabis patients in the UK and the number is growing at around 20% per month.Maple Tree advises that growth in demand and patient uptake is a result of both patient awareness and doctor education.

Maple Tree also reports that approximately 60% of medicinal cannabis prescriptions are for pain, 20% for anxiety and depression, 10% for neurological disorders and the balance for a range of other conditions. For pain and anxiety, both oil for ingestion and cannabis flower for vaping are being prescribed. Cannabis oil is prescribed for regular use and flower is prescribed for vaping when pain or anxiety peaks.

Maple Tree also reports that cannabis oil and flower are being imported from Australia, Israel, Canada and Holland. Some limited cannabis oil formulations are created in the UK from imported raw materials.

In view of this and other evidence, the Directors believe that demand for medical cannabis will continue to grow significantly, even without its adoption by the NHS. They further believe that there will be benefits from production in the United Kingdom; already withdrawal from the European Community has resulted in potential disruption to supplies.

LICENCE TO GROW MEDICINAL CANNABIS

The Company continues to work towards its objective of being a cultivator of medicinal cannabis in the UK with its partners, JEPCO Marketing Ltd ("JEPCO"), previously a grower of medicinal cannabis in the UK for GW Pharmaceuticals.

The application to grow medicinal cannabis was submitted to the Home Office in October 2019 in anticipation of the development of the UK sector, via joint venture company DJT Plants Ltd ("DJ Plants"). Once DJT Plants has received its licence and established its large-scale research growing project, it will look to expand the licence to grow medicinal cannabis for commercial purposes.

The Home Office has advised DJT Plants that its application has progressed successfully through internal Home Office checks and that at this point no objections have been raised. The Home Office has also advised DJT Plants that a site visit and meeting with DJT Plants' personnel is necessary prior to licence issuance. However, due to the COVID-19 situation the Home Office is currently unable to make such a visit. It has undertaken to conduct its visit as soon as its travel restrictions allow.

The Directors remain positive and confident that the Company is well placed to provide UK grown and manufactured cannabis flower and oil products to UK based patients and, in due course, to international markets.

A computerised fly through of the proposed growing facility has been created to help provide shareholders with an indication of the nature, scope and scale of our medicinal cannabis growing plans. This can be accessed at https://anandadevelopments.com/tiamat-agriculture-ltd/.

Please refer to the Company's announcement of 30 October 2020 for more detailed information on the application.

Advantages of growing medicinal cannabis in the UK

JEPCO successfully cultivated medicinal cannabis for GW Pharmaceuticals from 2014-2017 in UK natural light and heat conditions. Unlike the high capital and operating expenditure facilities built in, for example, Canada, JEPCO is able to grow cannabis in greenhouses (multi-span design) with the required light, humidity and heat metrics via 100% natural means. By doing this for GW Pharmaceuticals, JEPCO achieved one natural growth cycle per annum with a yield of 700g/m2. JEPCO's direct experience growing medical cannabis is that one natural cycle per year achieves better economics and is more environmentally friendly and sustainable than 'pushing' the plants to achieve two to three crops per year with the associated high costs.

OTHER INVESTMENTS

ICAN-Israel Limited ("ICAN")

Ananda holds 180 shares (0.9%) in ICAN, a medical cannabis incubator and conference company. As a result of the COVID-19 emergency, ICAN has not been able to conduct conferences since March 2020. It continues, however, to provide online education and networking events and to work with its incubator companies. ICAN intends to return to its large, in person conference format when circumstances and its financial situation allow.

Liberty Herbal Technologies ("LHT")

Ananda holds 15% of the equity in LHT and one board seat. Further to the update of 30 October 2020, LHT continues to explore and assess other opportunities for its vaping product.

In particular, LHT is assessing the opportunity to have its inhaler certified for use as a medical device. This would open up opportunities in this growing sector, where the vaping of cannabis flower is the preferred dosage mechanism. LHT's ability to deliver a measured dose of medicinal cannabis flower is an attractive, non-carcinogenic route to delivering high bio-availability medical cannabis benefits to patients.

LHT is also continuing to explore launching its offering in the US.

Funding

The Company remains funded by loans from Ananda's Chairman, Charles Morgan, which allows continued operations without undue dilution to shareholders.

On behalf of the Board

Melissa Sturgess, Chief Executive Officer



Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs Cannabis-based products for medicinal use (CBPMs) in humans. An assessment of the impact of rescheduling CBPMs to Schedule 2 under the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2001 (MDR) and recommendations to mitigate the issues identified, November 2020. Published January 2021.

-Ends-

The Directors of the Company accept responsibility for the contents of this announcement.

ANANDA DEVELOPMENTS PLC

Chief Executive Officer

Melissa Sturgess



Investor Relations

Jeremy Sturgess-Smith +44 (0)7717 573 235

ir@anandadevelopments.com PETERHOUSE CAPITAL LIMITED

Corporate Finance

Mark Anwyl

Allie Feuerlein



Corporate Broking

Lucy Williams

Duncan Vasey +44 (0)20 7469 0930



Market Abuse Regulation (MAR) Disclosure

The information contained within this announcement is deemed by the Company to constitute inside information. Upon the publication of this announcement via a Regulatory Information Service, this inside information is now considered to be in the public domain.

Deepti Sharma, one of the Indian American candidates running in the special election for the New York City Councils 24th District seat, lost, claiming about 5 percent of the vote. (Facebook photo/DeeptiforNewYork)
Of the 7,382 students who took the i-Ready exam in the fall of 2019 and fall of 2020, the majority in kindergarten through second grade, students performed on average at 105% of the expected learning growth in math, and at 130% in reading, said Jim Rigg, superintendent of the Archdiocese of Chicago Catholic schools.
By Benjamin Jumbe

Members of parliament have expressed disappointment over continued blocking of Ugandan products by regional organizations.

This was during last evenings plenary session as the minister of trade Amelia Kyambadde issued a statement Continued Prohibition of Ugandan Dairy Products to Access the Kenyan Market.

Members of parliament including John Baptist Nambeshe, Gilbert Oulanya and Jackline Amongin said it was frustrating for Ugandans to be the ones losing out yet traders from other EAC member countries are freely trading in Uganda.

The speaker Kadaga has equally raised concern over the matter.

The minister said government will

explore all available avenues to resolve the matter including continued engagement with the Kenyan Government through the existing bilateral and EAC structures and Referral to the East African Court of Justice for arbitration.
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Digital Editor
WASHINGTON - Federal health officials Wednesday urged Americans to consider wearing two masks as one of several strategies to better protect themselves against the threat of more contagious variants of the coronavirus.

"We know that universal masking works," said John Brooks, medical officer for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's covid-19 response. "And now these variants are circulating . . . whatever we can do to improve the fit of a mask to make it work better, the faster we can end this pandemic."

Two methods substantially boost fit and protection, according to a CDC report and updated guidance on its website. One is wearing a cloth mask over a disposable surgical mask. The second is improving the fit of a single surgical mask by knotting the ear loops and tucking in the sides close to the face to prevent air from leaking out around the edges and toform a closer fit.

Both of those methods reduced exposure to potentially infectious aerosols by more than 95% in a laboratory experiment using dummies, the report said.

A year after the coronavirus's arrival in the United States - with the death toll approaching 500,000 - the updated guidance stresses the importance of mask-wearing as one of the best defenses against more transmissible variants, along with social distancing, avoiding crowds and poorly ventilated indoor spaces, and practicing frequent hand-washing.

The guidance comes at a potentially perilous moment, as health officials race to vaccinate tens of millions of people to protect them from more transmissible and possibly more lethal variants but remain hampered by a limited vaccine supply.

It also represents a new administration's effort to present clear masking guidelines after mixed messaging and the politicization of the issue appear to have bewildered many Americans. Early last year, health officials did not urge their use because of concerns health workers would be unable to get them. Even after health officials reversed course last April after realizing that people without symptoms were driving the virus's spread, President Donald Trump refused to wear a mask and ridiculed those who did.In part as a result, many Americans still disdain them.

Washington Post photo by Sarah L. Voisin

CDC Director Rochelle Walensky acknowledged at a White House briefing Wednesday that some people may be "both tired of hearing about masks as well as tired of wearing them." She noted that "masks can be cumbersome, they can be inconvenient."

Conceding the changing guidance since the start of the pandemic, Walensky said that knowledge about the virus has evolved over time.

"The science is clear," she said. "Everyone needs to be wearing a mask when they're in public or when they are in their own home but with people who do not live in their household. This is especially true with our ongoing concern about new variants spreading in the United States."

Walensky said that research shows that coronavirus infections and deaths have decreased when policies mandating masks are implemented. "With cases, hospitalizations and deaths still very high, now is not the time to roll back mask requirements," she said.

The bottom line, she said, is that wearing any type of mask is better than not wearing one at all.

Until now, the CDC's recommendation has focused on cloth masks because of worries about a shortage of surgical masks and N95 respirators masks for health-care personnel.But as supply has improved, the agency is providing information about the pros and cons of different masks "so consumers can make an informed choice about what they want to use," Brooks said. The agency is still not recommending that consumers wear N95 respirators.

President Joe Biden has urged all Americans to wear masks for his first 100 days, and signed executive orders requiring their use on federal property and on planes, trains and buses. Thirty-six state governments currently require people to wear face coverings in public to curb the spread of the coronavirus, according to a tally by AARP. The District of Columbia and Puerto Rico also have mask orders. Three states - Iowa, North Dakota and Mississippi - have lifted such mandates.

Several European nations have also tightened mask regulations: Germany and Austria last month required people riding on public transportation or going to supermarkets to wear more-protective masks, including N95s that filter 95% of airborne particles. France has mandated its citizens wear masks that block more than 90% of airborne particles in public places. The World Health Organization recommends the public use fabric masks, ideally with three layers.

Brooks and other public health experts say the key takeaway of the new CDC guidelinesis mask fit, which improves filtration, or the ability of material to block tiny particles.

"Double masking is one way you can do it," he said, noting that double masking does not mean double protection. "It may not be the right solution for everybody,"he added. For some people, wearing two masks can impede breathing or obstruct peripheral vision that could lead to a fall and result in injury.

Surgical masks can also be adjusted to make them better fit the contours of the face, Brooks said. The three-ply masks, which may be flat pleated or cone shaped, are not designed to protect against infections from viruses and bacteria but rather to prevent contamination of sterile surgical sites and to prevent blood and other fluids from splashing onto the wearer's mouth and nose.

Knotting the medical procedure mask where the loops attach to the face helps the mask fit closer to your face, but it also slightly reduces mask size, he said.

"People with big faces may have difficulty getting the mask to cover their nose and mouth completely when they do the knot, so you really have to look around and find a technique that works well for you," Brooks said.

Studies have shown that fit also can be improved using simple materials, including nylon hosiery around the neck and over either a cloth or surgical mask, and the use of mask fitters - small reusable and adjustable frames or braces worn either as ear loops or behind the head to secure face-coverings tightly on noses.

The CDC conducted experiments last month to test the effectiveness of mask combinations: A three-ply surgical mask blocked 42% of particles from a simulated cough, and a three-ply cloth mask blocked 44%. But a cloth mask covering a medical mask blocked 92% of the particles, the report said.

In a second experiment simulating someone releasing particles during breathing, a dummy wearing double masks and one wearing a knotted/tucked medical mask reduced exposure for an unmasked dummy by 82% and 62%, respectively. When one dummy was not wearing any masks and the one acting as the bystander wore a double mask or a knotted/tucked medical mask, the bystander's exposure was reduced by 83 and 64.5%, respectively.

But when both dummies wore double masks or knotted/tucked medical masks, the bystander's exposure was reduced by more than 95% in both situations.

Brooks cautioned against generalizing the numeric findings of the studies, however. The experiments used one type of cotton mask and one type of medical mask in a laboratory, "not with human beings,"he said.

Other experts expressed concern that double masking could discourage mask-wearing.

"I would rather people focus on finding one quality mask that meets the mark, versus trying to layer masks and create discomfort, difficulty breathing . . . or frustration that might lead to no mask at all," said Saskia Popescu, an infectious-disease epidemiologist and assistant professor at George Mason University.

David Rothamer, an engineering professor at the University of Wisconsin at Madison, has experimented with masks on mannequins in classrooms while studying the best ways to prevent the spread of the virus in college classes. He said he is not a proponent of double masking because it consumes more masks and can also lead to more air leakage.

"The only reason to [wear two masks] is if you can get better fit," he said.

Linsey Marr, an engineering professor at Virginia Tech who has studied how to maximize mask efficiency, offered these tips for ensuring the best mask fit:

"You should not be able to see or feel any kind of open spots around the edges of your mask, especially around your nose, which is why a metal bridge is so important for fitting tightly around the nose," she said.

"You don't want gaps around the cheek or chin, really anywhere," Marr continued. "One way you can check for that is when you are breathing through it, does it feel like air is leaking out of the side? Put your hand on the edge to see if you feel anything. When you breathe in, you should feel suction up against your face."

Other signs of leakage include eyeglasses fogging up or cold breath coming from the sides of masks while outside, she said.

Another test involves breathing hard in front of a mirror to see if you blink while wearing a mask, which would indicate leakage from the top of the mask.

If masks fail these tests, Marr said, you should try a different kind of mask. "Peoples' faces have such different shapes that you can try to find something that can work better for your face," she advised.
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Naval Research Laboratory experts created and tested 3D-printed antennas and arrays to advance radar technology and enable new applications for the U.S. Navy.

The lightweight and rapid production of 3D-printed parts make it an attractive alternative to traditional manufacturing that often requires expensive materials and specialized equipment.

"3D printing is a way to produce rapid prototypes and get through multiple design iterations very quickly, with minimal cost," said NRL electrical engineer Anna Stumme. "The light weight of the printed parts also allows us to take technology to new applications, where the heavy weight of solid metal parts used to restrict us."

Radar systems perform critical functions for the Navy, and remain an important part of maritime navigation and national defense. Parts for antennas and arrays, which are multiple connected antennas working together as one, may unexpectedly break or wear out requiring replacement. Traditionally, parts are ordered or intricately machined out of metal, sometimes taking weeks to produce. 3D-printed radar parts, such as a cylindrical array, which provide 360-degree visibility, can be produced within hours versus several days using traditional methods due to the reduced machining and assembly time.

In addition to the production benefits, the relatively low cost of 3D printing materials enable researchers to test multiple versions of parts at minimal overhead. The perfected prototypes can then be machined using traditional methods. Once a prototype is successfully produced, whether 3D printed or traditionally manufactured, it must undergo rigorous testing before it is used operationally. That's the "super power" said Stumme and her colleagues - they can quickly perform a variety of tests on new designs using 3D-printed parts.

"We are not trying to say we need to 3D print everything and put it on a ship because that is not realistic," Stumme said. "We don't necessarily know how it would hold up in that environment. For us, it's a way to test more design iterations in a short amount of time."

In early 2019, Stumme submitted a paper comparing 3D printed parts against traditionally manufactured parts at the Antenna Applications Symposium. She won the student paper contest for her research.

New applications

Stumme and her colleagues are investigating how weight-and-size- constrained applications, such as unmanned aerial vehicles or small ships, can benefit from 3D-printed parts. Many of the 3D prototypes are printed using light weight nylon in NRL's Laboratory for Autonomous Systems Research facility. Once the part is printed, it undergoes a process called electroplating.

During the electroplating process, a thin coat of metal is applied to the printed part. Electroplating provides a conductive surface for the device to radiate as intended; something that isn't feasible with plastic alone. The result is a lightweight prototype that can then be evaluated for a variety of attributes, such as surface roughness - a major factor in the functionality for antenna elements.

Stumme collaborates with NRL materials scientists from the across NRL, who perform critical surface roughness characterization. Surface roughness characterization provides an assessment of the coating on an antenna, and the impact roughness has on its performance.

"Surface roughness is important for wave guides and antennas because it can cause scattering losses and result in a less efficient antenna," said Nick Charipar, head of the Applied Materials and Systems Section. "Antennas radiate and receive waves. So if a wave runs along a rough surface it is distorted and the energy may not go where you want it to go."

Charipar and his team, part of NRL's Material Science & Technology Division, prototype 3D printed parts for the NRL's Radar Division. Once the part is created, researchers investigate how the material features impact functionality of the radar. Each 3D printer has unique characteristics that may alter product performance. If researchers can figure out the optimal parameters for specific 3D printed parts, Stumme and her colleagues agree ships could become self-reliant for those critical parts anywhere in the world.

Next steps

Despite current COVID-19 restrictions, research at NRL continues to thrive from a distance. Later this year, Stumme and her colleagues plan to demonstrate new prototype cylindrical array apertures for an X-band surveillance radar demonstration in a laboratory setting. The X-band surveillance radar is designed to search the area surrounding a particular platform, such as a ship. They are exploring integrating cylindrical arrays into the masts of smaller vessels using microwave photonics and optical fibers.

"Cylindrical arrays are advantageous because they provide full 360-degree visibility," said Mark Dorsey, head of the Antenna Section in the Radar Analysis Branch of the Radar Division and project principal investigator. "Optical fibers are valuable because they can allow for long separations between the antenna itself and where the processing is conducted."

Using optical fibers reduces the number of components required on a Navy ship's mast, further reducing heat and weight constraints. The demonstration will include testing traditionally manufactured and 3D printed versions of the array to compare performance. Stumme designed both versions.

In 2021, the team is scheduled to perform field testing on the prototype. The demonstration will be in the final year of their four-year effort to make the array more practical to use on smaller platforms, and show how to use arrays easily with optical fibers. Funding for the research is provided by NRL base funding.

###

About the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory

NRL is a scientific and engineering command dedicated to research that drives innovative advances for the Navy and Marine Corps from the seafloor to space and in the information domain. NRL headquarters is located in Washington, D.C., with major field sites in Stennis Space Center, Mississippi; Key West, Florida; and Monterey, California, and employs approximately 2,500 civilian scientists, engineers and support personnel.
Company Ranks Among Top 75 Companies in the Large Employer Category



Ranked Among Top 10 in Travel & Leisure Sector

MIAMI, Feb. 11, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE: NCLH) announced today it has been named by Forbes to the 2021 list of Americas Best Large Employers. The Company is honored to rank among the top 75 companies in the overall Large Employer category and among the top 10 companies in the Travel & Leisure sector.

We are pleased to be named by Forbes to the list of Americas Best Large Employers, said Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings President and CEO Frank Del Rio. This recognition highlights our ongoing commitment to maintain a safe, diverse and inclusive culture which supports and empowers our team members while delivering on our vision to be the vacation of choice for everyone around the world. It is my extraordinary privilege to lead and work alongside our Companys 34,000 talented, dedicated and passionate team members across the globe.

Forbes and Statista Inc., a statistics portal and industry ranking provider, selected the Americas Best Employers 2021 through an independent survey applied to a vast sample of more than 50,000 American employees working for companies with more than 1,000 employees in America. Across 25 industry sectors, 1000 employers have been awarded, 500 large employers and 500 midsize employers. The evaluation was based on direct and indirect recommendations from employees that were asked to rate their willingness to recommend their own employers to friends and family. Employee evaluations also included other employers in their respective industries that stood out either positively or negatively.

Based on the results of the study, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings is pleased to be recognized on the Forbes list of Americas Best Employers 2021. The awards list was announced on February 9th, 2021 and can currently be viewed on the Forbes website.

About Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE: NCLH) is a leading global cruise company which operates the Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises brands. With a combined fleet of 28 ships with approximately 59,150 berths, these brands offer itineraries to more than 490 destinations worldwide. The Company will introduce nine additional ships through 2027.

Investor Relations & Media Contact

Andrea DeMarco

(305) 468-2339

InvestorRelations@nclcorp.com

Jessica John

(786) 913-2902
PetDesk Announces - Pet Insurance Guide Animals covered by pet insurance visit their vet more often, extending the length and quality of their lives. And millions of PetDesk App users are looking for a trusted guide to aid them in their search for the right policy for their furry family members.

PetDesk today announced the Pet Insurance Guide, a tool for pet parents to quickly request and purchase pet insurance policies from inside the PetDesk app, is now active for all PetDesk App users**. The Pet Insurance Guide is the latest addition to the Lifetime Action Plan  PetDesks suite of pet parent tools assisting pet parents, and veterinary clinics, to extend the lives of pets.

The Pet Health Insurance Guide offers a new way for pet owners to easily find and compare pet insurance policies. The new tool will help achieve PetDesks mission to engage pet parents in their pets health through a deeper relationship with their pet care providers.

Our mission is to extend the lives of pets by 10M years and have the data to prove it says Taylor Cavanah, CEO of PetDesk, and animals that are covered by pet insurance visit their vet more often, extending the length and quality of their lives. We aim to accelerate the adoption of pet insurance and know that the millions of PetDesk App users are looking for a trusted guide to aid them in their search for a policy specific to their furry family member.

A survey of pet owners found that over 40% of pet owners consider pet insurance either confusing or too expensive*. To simplify this experience, PetDesk has partnered with Pets Best, a leading pet insurance provider, to help educate pet parents and veterinary clinics about pet insurance to increase adoption by clarifying common misconceptions.

"Were thrilled to partner with PetDesk on this new Pet Insurance Guide, and share the same dedication to constantly enhancing our customers experience in innovative ways, said Donna Cejalvo, VP of Business Development at Pets Best. This new partnership will help both veterinarians and pet owners alike learn more about how to best care for and protect their pets.

Features and benefits of the Pet Insurance Guide include.



Education for both clinics and pet parents to get ahead of difficult financial conversations before they happen

Simplified cost of care conversations between clinics and clients

Curated, trusted pet insurance providers including Pets Best, Trupanion, and ASPCA Pet Health Insurance Program with other providers constantly being evaluated based on plans, coverage, and more.

The PetDesk Pet Insurance Guide will be exclusively available in the PetDesk app starting February 10, 2021, accessible for all registered users. For more information on the Pet Insurance Guide, visit http://www.petdesk.com/pet-health-insurance-guide

About PetDesk

PetDesk, an industry leader in veterinary client communication software, has helped over 2,500 veterinary practices streamline business with simple software solutions that help pet parents stay current and pet care providers stay connected. The PetDesk Experience has garnered more than 2 million app users by offering powerful features including a 5-Star Rated Pet Health Mobile App and industry-leading customer support. The nearly 200,000 reviews across the App/Google store are evidence of PetDesk's commitment to connecting pet owners to pet care providers.

Founded in 2013, PetDesk secured a Series-B Investment of $12 million from Silicon Valley based PeakSpan Capital in December 2018. Headquartered in San Diego, PetDesk has more than 90 employees and proudly supports a gender balanced and pet-friendly workforce. For more information about PetDesk, visit http://www.petdesk.com.

About Pets Best Insurance Services, LLC

Pets Best offers pet insurance and wellness plans for dogs and cats in every state. Founded in 2005 with a mission to provide access to comprehensive animal healthcare at an affordable price, Pets Best delivers flexible coverage, fast claims and excellent customer service. In 2019 the company was acquired by Synchrony (NYSE: SYF) and is part of CareCredit, a Synchrony solution.

Pets Best is highly rated by independent review sites and is recommended by veterinarians across the nation. Pets Best is a founding member of NAPHIA, an organization dedicated to ensuring high standards and transparency for the pet insurance industry. Visit http://www.PetsBest.com for more information.

Pet insurance coverage offered and administered by Pets Best Insurance Services, LLC is underwritten by American Pet Insurance Company, a New York insurance company, or Independence American Insurance Company, a Delaware insurance company headquartered at 485 Madison Ave. 14th Fl. New York, NY 10022.

About Trupanion

Trupanion is a leader in medical insurance for cats and dogs throughout the United States and Canada with over 530,000 pets enrolled. For over two decades, Trupanion has given pet owners peace of mind so they can focus on their pet's recovery, not financial stress. Trupanion is committed to providing pet owners with the highest value in pet medical insurance with unlimited payouts for the life of their pets. The company was founded in 2000 and is headquartered in Seattle, WA. Trupanion policies are issued, in the United States, by its wholly-owned insurance entity American Pet Insurance Company and, in Canada, by Omega General Insurance Company. For more information, please visit trupanion.com.

About Crum & Forster Pet Insurance Group

Crum & Forster Pet Insurance Group (C&F Pet) is committed to helping pet parents get access to reliable and affordable pet health insurance plans. With a history dating back to 1997, making it one of the original providers in the U.S., C&F Pet utilizes various go-to-market strategies, including direct-to-consumer, employee benefits, white labels, and other partnerships. Insurance plans are underwritten by United States Fire Insurance Company and produced by C&F Insurance Agency, Inc.(NPN # 3974227), a Crum & Forster company. More information can be found at http://www.cfpetinsurance.com.

The ASPCA is not an insurer and is not engaged in the business of insurance. Through a licensing agreement, the ASPCA receives a royalty fee that is in exchange for use of the ASPCAs marks and is not a charitable contribution. More information on ASPCA Pet Health Insurance can be found online at http://www.aspcapetinsurance.com. Crum & Forster Pet Insurance Group, Crum & Forster, and C&F are registered trademarks of United States Fire Insurance Company. Crum & Forster is comprised of leading and well-established property and casualty business units.

*PetDesk Survey, November 2020

**Limited to customers in the US, only
[February 11, 2021] H.I.G. Capital Completes Acquisition of Brazilian Pet Food Manufacturer FVO

H.I.G. Capital ("H.I.G."), a leading global alternative investment firm with $43 billion of equity capital under management, is pleased to announce that its affiliate has completed the acquisition of FVO - Brasilia Industria e Comercio de Alimentos LTDA. ("FVO" or the "Company"), a leading pet food manufacturer in Brazil. Founded in 1967, FVO is a fast growing and leading pet food manufacturer, with a complete portfolio of brands in the standard and premium segments for dogs and cats. The Company has national coverage, with clear dominance in the Midwest and is among the top 10 largest pet food players in Brazil. FVO operates 5 industrial facilities, 9 distribution centers and reaches all 27 Brazilian states. Marcelo Hudik, Managing Director of H.I.G. Brazil and Latin America, commented: "We are pleased to have completed the acquisition of FVO. The Company has done an outstanding job of creating a leading platform that is competitively well positioned to scale in the attractive pet food market." About FVO FVO is a leading pet food manufacturer, with well-known brands in the standard and premium segments for dogs and cats. For more information visit www.fvoalimentos.com.br.



About H.I.G. Capital H.I.G. is a leading global private equity and alternative assets investment firm with $43 billion of equity capital under management.* Based in Miami, and with offices in New York, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Atlanta in the U.S., as well as international affiliate offices in London, Hamburg, Madrid, Milan, Paris, Bogota, Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, H.I.G. specializes in providing both debt and equity capital to small and mid-sized companies, utilizing a flexible and operationally focused/ value-added approach:

H.I.G.'s equity funds invest in management buyouts, recapitalizations and corporate carve-outs of both profitable as well as underperforming manufacturing and service businesses. H.I.G.'s debt funds invest in senior, unitranche and junior debt financing to companies across the size spectrum, both on a primary (direct origination) basis, as well as in the secondary markets. H.I.G. is also a leading CLO manager, through its WhiteHorse family of vehicles, and manages a publicly traded BDC, WhiteHorse Finance. H.I.G.'s real estate funds invest in value-added properties, which can benefit from improved asset management practices. Since its founding in 1993, H.I.G. has invested in and managed more than 300 companies worldwide. The firm's current portfolio includes more than 100 companies with combined sales in excess of $30 billion. For more information, please refer to the H.I.G. website at www.higcapital.com. * Based on total capital commitments managed by H.I.G. Capital and affiliates. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210211005918/en/

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International trade figures show Victorias trade deficit with China has worsened since the signing of a controversial deal with Beijing and ballooned further since COVID-19 border closures and lockdown ravaged the states service economy.

The figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics also reveal that since Victoria signed its Belt and Road agreement with China in October 2018, the state has imported a cumulative $42 billion more from the Asian superpower than it has exported.

Victorias trade deficit with China has ballooned. Credit:Joe Armao

The trade deficit with China has almost doubled since 2014 and has increased by about 25 per cent in the years since the signing of the memorandum of understanding, which the Andrews government said was about improving jobs and trade outcomes for Victoria.

China remains the states largest two-way trading partner but the latest figures show the states exports to China dropped last year while Chinas exports to Victoria grew.
With every significant event that takes place in the world, the church has changed. What we know of church, what we do in church, who goes to church  that have all been impacted generations after generations. Another worldwide pandemic in 2020 proved this true.

I dont see this as a bad thing. In fact, I find it a refining process. God is using this season to take the church out of the box we have placed it in. We have squashed church into a box and have expected it to fit in there and stay that way.

I understand. Change is usually hard for me too. I find comfort in routine and the mundane. I like being in this box that I am used to.

Stepping out

It is interesting to see what happened when the first waves of lockdowns hit the world last year. The church gained a whole new audience. Our testimonies have reached a wider community through different means. People who usually might not step into church now get to see what happens in it with just a few clicks. Not that they couldnt before, but the somewhat bleak year has propelled people to do different things.

What a generation to live in! We got to see the Great Commission manifested in a whole new way. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you (Matthew chapter 28, verses 19 - 20).

We also got to see how church goers reacted. We are now dealing with a whole group of people who think that meeting physically as a church is not necessary. Even without safety or health restrictions in place, there are those who are arguing that we can reach a greater audience through the internet. It has certainly become a contentious issue within the church.

What we think and we feel, however, needs to be based on the Word of God. There has always been and there will always be a blessing in the church gathering together. Hebrews chapter 10, verse 25 states that we should not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another  and all the more as you see the Day approaching. It nourishes our spirit man to encourage and be encouraged by fellow believers.

Martin Luther declared that, In the church when the multitude is gathered together, a fire is kindled in my heart and it breaks its way through. I am sure many, if not all, Christians can attest this statement to be true. How many times have we dragged ourselves to church but found a spring in our step as we left? Truly, there is a special blessing in the gathering of believers.

So.. do we go back into the box?

Should we do church the same way again? Not at all. In fact, quite the opposite. I like how Martijn van Tilborgh mentions in his book, Innovation: Transforming Your Ministry With Creative Thinking, that we have to destroy those boxes that once controlled our thinking and limited the abundant life that God has destined us for.

The meeting of believers should not stop, but lets face it. Church as we know it has changed. In order not to run back to the old ways of doing things, we need to get rid of the box that we have so carefully made. We need to start looking to God and move with the times.

Make an opening in the roof

They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them.Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them.Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on.When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, Son, your sins are forgiven (Mark chapter 2, verses 2  5).

The Gospel never grows old. Jesus never changes. Lets focus on the One who is constant as we strive to find new ways to help people reach Jesus. Those four men who made an opening in the roof? They did just that.

Will you?
The money was supposed to be invested in BART coffee shops.

Instead, Terrence Goggin, 79, who served in the California State Assembly as a Democrat from 1974 to 1985, laundered over half a million dollars and is now spending his twilight years behind bars.

A federal grand jury in Oakland indicted the former state assemblyman in 2018 for defrauding investors during his time as CEO of a coffee shop chain that operated in BART stations.

Goggin faced four counts of wire fraud and nine counts of money laundering from his time overseeing ownership of four Peets Coffee & Tea shops in high-traffic BART stations  Montgomery, Embarcadero, Downtown Berkeley and Pittsburg/Bay Point.

Goggins attorney asked that being a convicted felon and other consequences, like loss of his law license, and public shame and embarrassment, were deterrent enough. A judge rejected the defense's argument that Goggin is too old and ill to go to prison, saying it would send a wrong message.

Goggin was sentenced Wednesday to a year and a day in federal prison.

Goggins was also ordered to repay $685,000, the amount of money prosecutors said he took from investors in 2013 to build coffee shops at two BART stations but instead used for other purposes, including personal expenses and other business ventures the investors hadn't agreed to fund.

However, U.S. District Judge James Donato said he doubted Goggin had the money to pay back his victims.

In the '70s, as a Democratic Assemblyman representing San Bernardino, Goggin led a push to limit natural gas plants, passed legislation preserving a 5-mile stretch of the SoCal coast from high-rise development and passed the first DUI bill that required jail time for repeat drunk drivers.

The old friend of then-Assembly Speaker Willie Brown also taught a class on "The Politics of Nuclear Power" at Harvard.

All of the privileges Mr. Goggin enjoyed in his life as an educated urban white man have vanished by his own hands. He had hoped his legacy would be that of a successful politician, attorney and developer, assistant federal public defender Hanni Fakhoury wrote in a sentencing memo in October. Instead, he appears at sentencing a broke, disgraced and disbarred convicted felon.

Bay City News contributed to this story.
CLEMSON  Authorities are investigating after a man from Greenville was shot and killed during an altercation with Clemson police officers on Feb. 11.

Officers had confronted the man about a stolen moped, according to the State Law Enforcement Division. An altercation at a Circle K ended in gunfire, and the man died of a gunshot wound.

SLED noted that the suspect was armed but hasn't said whether he opened fire. No other injuries were reported.

The Pickens County Coroner's Office identified the man as Gregory Chandler Metz, 25, of Greenville.

SLED, which investigates all police shootings in South Carolina, will send their findings to prosecutors. In the meantime, officials declined to share any more information about the case.

The investigation marks the sixth shooting involving a police officer in South Carolina in 2021, SLED said. In 2020, 49 such shootings occurred across the state, none of which involved the Clemson Police Department.
New Delhi, Feb 11 : India and China have reached an agreement to disengage troops from north and south of the Pangong lake in eastern Ladakh region, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh told the Rajya Sabha on Thursday.

The Defence Minister said, "The sustained talks with China have led to the agreement on the disengagement on the north and south banks of Pangong Lake. After the agreement, India-China will remove forward deployments in a phased and coordinated manner." "China will keep its troops to the east of the Finger 8 in the north of Pangong Lake. India will keep its troops at its permanent base near Finger 3," said Rajnath Singh.

"China has built up a heavy force with arms and ammunition on their side at several spots near the LAC in eastern Ladakh. Our forces have also adequate and effectively done counter deployment," said the Defense Minister.

"We are committed to maintaining a peaceful situation at the Line of Actual Control. India has always emphasised on maintaining bilateral ties," said Rajnath Singh He said that forces will return to the command post and added: "Not an inch of land will be given and nothing has been lost since the faceoff".

The Defence Minister said the security forces have proved that they are ready to face any challenge to protect the sovereignty of the country and the nation will always remember the supreme sacrifice of the soldiers.

He said, "The country stands united when it comes to the national security whichever party you belong."

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
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By Keith Burbank

Bay City News Service

OAKLAND(BCN)

A woman died and another person was injured in a collision Wednesday afternoon on southbound state Highway 13 in Oakland, California Highway Patrol officials said.

The collision was reported at 12:20 p.m. just north of Broadway Terrace.

Two people were standing on the right shoulder of the highway near their Honda Civic when a Toyota Tacoma struck the Honda, pushing it into the two, according to preliminary information from the CHP.

The driver of the Honda, a woman, died and her passenger was taken to Highland Hospital with major injuries.

The name of the woman was not available mid-Wednesday afternoon from the Alameda County coroner's bureau.

CHP officers don't know why the Toyota crashed into the Honda. The driver of the Toyota suffered moderate injuries. He was treated at the scene.

CHP officials do not suspect drugs or alcohol played a role in the collision, which remains under investigation. Anyone with information about it can call the Oakland CHP office at (510) 457-2875.

Copyright  2021 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited.

Chairman of the Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Committee Bibek Debroy said that West Bengal has a significant manufacturing sector but the problem is the nature of manufacturing in the state. He also said that the state has just about performed average in recent times and asked if West Bengal is content being average. Debroy said that Bengal has been believing that the Centre treats it like a stepmother for ages.

Speaking at India Today Conclave East session titled 'Economic Agenda: What stops industrial enterprise in Bengal', Bibek Debroy said that it is not that there is no manufacturing in West Bengal but the kind of manufacturing that is the problem. "So far as manufacturing is concerned it is not that there is none in West Bengal. Number of people employed in manufacturing in Bengal is thrice than that in Gujarat. Problem is the nature of manufacturing. The manufacturing here is micro cottage manufacturing. How many of the traditional manufacturing will survive now?" he asked.

Debroy said, "No one is blaming Bengal. But in the midst of the slowdown there were states that performed relatively better than West Bengal. We have to put the question in perspective of states like Tamil Nadu, and Gujarat."

The PM's adviser said that it is time for West Bengal to stop pointing fingers at others and ask the question if something is wrong with it. "I would stop pointing fingers at others and try and ask the question of is there something wrong with me and focus a little less on the propaganda and ask myself the question that in the 60s, until the time of Bidhan Chandra Roy, West Bengal was among the top. Today, West Bengal is just about average. Is Bengal content with being just average?" he asked.

When asked how the problem with the manufacturing sector can be dealt with, Bibek Debroy said that there are a few things to keep in mind. The state must figure out if it needs manufacturing and what kind since modern manufacturing is not labour intensive. The next thing to keep in mind is stock of land. Debroy said private players cannot be expected to acquire land and set up facilities. He then said that Bengal needs to figure out why train-loads of students leave the state to acquire higher education and skills. He said law and order, labour, roads are among the key requirements needed for the revival of industrialisation. Debroy further added that an administration that delivers governance is a must. He said that the state must look within to solve its problems.

Also read: FM Nirmala Sitharaman announces Rs 25,000 crore for highways in poll-bound West Bengal

Also read: Gail completes Rs 2,433 crore pipeline project in West Bengal
Connecticut has become a nucleus of life science advancement, and companies of all sizes are taking maximum advantage of intellectual capital, talent and practical expertise to be found here.

Connecticut Innovations (CI), Connecticuts strategic venture capital arm and the leading source of financing and ongoing support for Connecticuts innovative, growing companies, in partnership with AdvanceCT and BioCT, today announced an effort to promote Connecticuts life sciences ecosystem.

The effort, Connecticut: Where Science Lives, highlights the life sciences opportunities in Connecticut and attracts new businesses to the state, while supporting existing businesses. Designed by Primacy, a full-service digital experience agency located in Farmington, the integrated marketing campaign includes a dedicated website; traditional, digital and out of home (OOH) advertising; and social media outreach. It was prompted by state legislation passed in 2018 to position Connecticut as a leader in life sciences.

Connecticut has become a nucleus of life science advancement, and companies of all sizes are taking maximum advantage of intellectual capital, talent and practical expertise to be found here, said Dawn Hocevar, president and CEO of BioCT, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting and growing bioscience in Connecticut. Startup activity is at a high; we are seeing record investment and expansion within the ecosystem, and several new commercial developments are underway to deliver increased lab space and resources in the near future.

Connecticut has seen a surge of activity in the life sciences sector from the growth of companies like Sema4 and Arvinas; the $200 million, 14-story, 513,000-square-foot, LEED-certified office space and life sciences incubator in New Haven; and the COVID-related successes from Pfizer.

Through the Connecticut Bioscience Innovation Fund (CBIF), we are seeing more investment opportunities in life sciences than ever before, said Matt McCooe, CEO of Connecticut Innovations. The hope is that this campaign highlights what most of us who live here already know  companies can succeed here because of access to capital, resources and top talent, which are essential for growth.

At the center of the effort is its website, WhereScienceLives.org, which provides information tailored to specific target audiences: career seekers, entrepreneurs and startups and VCs. The content includes resources pertaining not only to the life sciences industry but also to overall living and running a business in Connecticut.

The Where Science Lives campaign is consistent with our mission to engage, retain and recruit businesses to our state, said Peter Denious, President and CEO of AdvanceCT. Life sciences is one of our key industries in Connecticut, and this campaign highlights our value proposition for employers and industry professionals. We look forward to making new connections and helping interested employers and talent learn more about the life  and the science  in our great state.

About AdvanceCT

AdvanceCT is a nonprofit organization that works to engage, retain and recruit businesses and advance the overall economic competitiveness of Connecticut. AdvanceCT works in close collaboration with the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD), as well as the private sector and other statewide economic development organizations to implement high-impact and inclusive economic development solutions. Our team advocates for and promotes Connecticut as a location for companies to compete and grow. For more information, visit http://www.advancect.org.

About BioCT

BioCT is the bioscience industry voice for Connecticut, dedicated to growing a vibrant ecosystem by supporting innovation, collaboration, networking, education, talent engagement and advocacy. BioCT brings together companies, institutions, entrepreneurs, investors, government, service providers and other passionate, dedicated people, to build a thriving bioscience community to improve patients lives and public health, while driving economic growth. For more information, visit http://www.bioct.org.

About Connecticut Innovations

Connecticut Innovations (CI) is Connecticuts strategic venture capital arm and the leading source of financing and ongoing support for Connecticuts innovative, growing companies. CI provides venture capital and strategic support for early-stage technology companies, financial support for innovation and collaboration, and connections to its well-established network of partners and professionals. For more information, visit http://www.ctinnovations.com.


Local news has a new local face.

Port Neches native Aaron Drawhorn will debut as KFDM 6 News evening co-anchor on Friday, the station announced.

He and Murphy will co-anchor KFDM 6s broadcasts at 5, 6 and 10 p.m., and he will anchor the 10 p.m. broadcast on Friday, according to station management.

Drawhorn, a three-time Emmy Award winner, has almost 20 years of television news experience at stations in Corpus Christi, Bryan-College Station, Las Vegas and Albuquerque, New Mexico. He also interned with CNNs business desk while in college.

But his first experience with journalism was at Port Neches-Groves High School, editing the schools newspaper and appearing on its in-school news broadcast.

Aaron has an incredible depth of news experience and reporting integrity, News Director Paul Alexander said in a statement. Were excited to welcome him home to Southeast Texas.

Drawhorn graduated from PN-G High School in 1996 and holds a political science degree from Trinity University.

He started his first job in the spring 2000, but said he found time to visit home often. In 2005, he was assigned to report from Beaumont during Hurricane Rita while working in Corpus Christi.

Drawhorn said he met Tiffany Murphy when they worked for competing stations in Las Vegas.

Shes actually the one that encouraged me to apply for the job, he told The Enterprise.

After 17 years as a full-time journalist, Drawhorn said he started to wonder if he should try something different, briefly branching out as a commercial broker while in Las Vegas.

But he couldn't stay away for very long.

News is just in my blood, he said. Its just something I couldnt stay away from.

Drawhorn recalled watching KFDM news as a kid, memories hes been reliving since his return by digging through old tapes at the station of anchors like Albert Zipp.

The way of gathering and consuming news may have changed, he said, but the work remains vital.

The role of a local journalist is more important than ever because this is our home, where we live, go to school, and something we care about as much as our neighbors, Drawhorn said. We have that local perspective from living and working in these communities.

jacob.dick@beaumontenterprise.com

twitter.com/jd_journalism
Puberty blockers stunt childrens bone growth, research finds

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New research has revealed what doctors critical of transgender medicine have been saying for years, that puberty-suppressing drugs given to gender dysphoric youth stunt their bone growth.



Published in PLOS One last week, the study, "Short-term outcomes of pubertal suppression in a selected cohort of 12 to 15 year old young people with persistent gender dysphoria in the UK," found that puberty blockers do not alleviate psychological distress regarding ones gender by any measurable benefit. The study does claim, however, that the overall experience of the patients on the blockers was positive. The study followed a cohort of 44 children who had undergone the experimental treatment in the United Kingdoms lone gender clinic with the National Health Service.

When the children completed chemical puberty blockade at age 16, the researchers found reduced growth in both height and bone strength. Additional research is necessary to say whether the weakened bones are irreversible, researchers said.



In both cases (height and bone strength) there was some growth but less than would be expected during those years without hormonal suppression, states the paper, which was published nine years after the research began.

Amid increasing visibility of gender identity policies and legislation, transgender activists and others have often asserted that such drugs are a mere pause button to allow children more time to decide whether to proceed with a full medicalized gender-transition, which includes cross-sex hormones and various cosmetic surgeries to appear more as the opposite sex.



Of the 44 children that the latest study followed, 43 went on to take cross-sex hormones.

Dr. Michael Biggs of Oxford University, who has criticized the studys methodology, said he found it striking that the youth who were tracked experienced no improvement in gender dysphoria.



We would have expected a large positive placebo response, as these kids and their parents were desperate to get the drugs, he said, as was reported in the UK Times.

In 2019, California endocrinologist Dr. Michael Laidlaw detailed in a Heritage Foundation panel the harms of gender identity medicine that Biggs had previously discovered through a freedom of information request. Biggs found that at the Tavistock gender clinic  which a U.K. high court ruled against in a recent judicial review  children that were treated at the facility reported greater self-harm with these particular medications, and girls exhibited greater emotional problems and dissatisfaction with their bodies.

In a Feb. 3 comment on the study on the PLOS One site, Biggs explained that it is hard to square this finding with the authors claim that pubertal suppression may be both a treatment in its own right and also an intermediate step in a longer treatment pathway.

Considered as a treatment in its own right, the suppression of puberty with GnRHa might be the only treatment provided by the NHS for which there is no objective evidence that the benefits outweigh the risks  as the authors themselves admitted in their statistical plan. The only justification for puberty suppression is to prepare a child for lifelong medicalization with cross-sex hormones and surgeries, with irreversible consequences for sexuality and fertility.



Still, the Tavistock director, Dr. Polly Carmichael, who was part of the study, maintains that the research shows that patient experience on the blocker is positive overall and there were no unexpected adverse events, but that more research is needed around this complex issue.



The studys acknowledgment of reduced bone strength dovetails with what doctors critical of the medicalization of gender have been saying for years about treating psychologically distressed youth with untested hormonal agents, children who are otherwise physically healthy.



In a 2018 interview about Lupron  a drug that is approved for and is routinely used to treat prostate cancer in men and endometriosis in women but is now being used to treat gender dysphoria in children despite lack of FDA approval for that purpose  Dr. Quentin Van Meter, a pediatric endocrinologist from Atlanta, told The Christian Post of the numerous repercussions of using high-powered drugs to suppress normal puberty.



Unlike when a hormone blocker is administered to a child who is dealing with precocious puberty, another medical condition for which the drug has been formally approved, when you give puberty blockers to a pubertal-aged child, what you're doing is sideswiping them out of the physiological development that puberty is intended to create and facilitate, Van Meter explained at the time.

You are taking calcium out of the bones of girls which cannot be introduced later; you're putting them at risk for osteoporosis. On top of that, you're taking the ovaries and testicles, which have not yet started to mature to the stage of fertility, and you're cutting them off at the knees, essentially making them sterile," he said.












More than five years after a Pennsylvania woman was shot to death in her home, a man living on Isle of Palms has confessed to killing her.

Agents with the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office and Charleston County sheriff's deputies arrested 34-year-old Sand Dollar Drive resident Christopher Gordon Kowalski on Feb. 8 and booked him into the Sheriff Al Cannon Detention Center pending extradition to Pennsylvania, authorities said.

A criminal complaint and other information from the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office outlines further details about the killing.

Jean Tuggy, 60, was at her home in Pine Grove Mills, an unincorporated community near State College, Pa., when she was shot twice with a 9mm pistol, the Attorney General's Office said.

Tuggy was found dead in her home at 2:47 p.m. Jan. 21, 2016, after two women called 911 when Tuggy didn't meet up with them and they couldn't reach her, according to the criminal complaint.

The callers said they went to Tuggy's home, saw her car in the driveway, and found the font and side doors still locked, according to the complaint. The women found an unlocked basement door at the back of the home, entered, and found Tuggy in the living room, lying in a large pool of blood.

"Over the course of the five-year investigation, agents identified Tuggy's former Wegmans coworker, (Kowalski), as a potential suspect," prosecutors said.

Investigators learned that she'd struck up a friendship with him and he became romantically interested in her, prosecutors said. About the time of the slaying, Kowalski owned a 9mm pistol that he later sold.

Authorities tracked down the pistol and, although they couldn't definitively match the bullets recovered from Tuggy's body to it, authorities said the gun couldn't be ruled out "due to the significant similarities noted in the bullet comparisons and the fact that it matched the bullets in all class characteristics," the complaint said.

A forensic analysis of Tuggy's computer revealed Facebook chat logs in which both she and Kowalski said they struggled with loneliness, according to the complaint.

The chat logs do not specify who is sending the message, but it was apparent that Tuggy and Kowalski exchanged phone numbers and were speaking.

After his arrest in South Carolina, Kowalski initially told investigators he and Tuggy were just friends, but eventually admitted they'd engaged in sexual activity, the complaint said. He initially claimed the shooting was accidental  that he'd gone over to visit her and a gun fell out of his coat pocket before going off twice.

When investigators told him his story didn't make sense, he confessed.

"The truth is, I killed her," the complaint quoted Kowalski. "I killed her because I was depressed, down and hopeless. I was having a mid-life crisis."

Kowalski told investigators he shot Tuggy once in the lower back, the complaint said. She fell onto the arm of a couch. He went to fire a second shot but the gun jammed. He cleared the chamber and fired again, hitting her in the back of the head.

"Kowalski stated that he turned Tuggy's oxygen off to ensure she was dead," the complaint said.

According to the complaint, he gathered the two spent bullet casings, locked the doors and left through the basement door to avoid being seen. He then threw the casings away at a pizza restaurant.

Investigators were able to connect her death to him following an interview with a close friend of Tuggy's in January 2019, the complaint said. The friend told investigators Tuggy told him about a coworker named Chris who had a "Polish-sounding last name," that may have ended in "-ski."

Tuggy's friend told investigators he believed the suspect worked with her at Wegmans, attended a local Lutheran church and was in his late 20s to early 30s, the complaint said.

A search of records at Good Shepard Lutheran Church in State College revealed a former member named Christopher Kowalski, as well as his date of birth, the complaint said. Investigators matched that information to his Wegmans employment records and traced him to Isle of Palms, where he'd moved "in the later part of 2016."
How to Do It is Slates sex advice column. Have a question? Send it to Stoya and Rich here. Its anonymous!

Dear How to Do It,

Im a straight man with a somewhat unusual and awkward kink: Theres absolutely nothing else that a person could possibly do to me that works in the same way, but the kinks uncommon nature has brought about more than a few inelegant conversations. In a nutshell, I love to be given CPR in the bedroom by my partner. I know that must be quite unusual to read, but Im 100 percent serious about it, so I think it bears some explaining.

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All my life, my chest has been my bodys absolute most sensitive erogenous zone. Touch and massage there have always worked wonders in terms of my arousal. As I started becoming sexually active in my late teens, I discovered that good kissing chemistry and technique was also at the top of my list. Shortly after high school, I dated a girl who was in an EMT program, and she decided to play practice CPR on me one night in the bedroom after she had taken a class. It immediately blew my socks off because it connected, more or less, the two things I sexually enjoyed the absolute most. In the years since, its grown to be a deeply desired kink of mine, so much so that its basically become a deal breaker when potential partners either are averse to it, or become averse to it.

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To be clear, over the years, Ive come up with some key differences between my version of CPR and actual clinical CPR so as to maintain safety, mostly for my role as the patient. The rescuer simply shouldnt compress that deeply, for one. For two, it helps to be on a surface with some give, like a mattress. For three, the mouth-to-mouth component usually includes a bit more tongue technique than actual blowing, as opposed to how most people are trained to do it, although gentle breath exchange can be VERY sensual as well. The partner who (hopefully) learns how to harness the energy these activities create in me will assuredly be rewarded with a very exciting, explosive bedroom life.

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I say all that to get to my dilemma, which is in finding a better way to bring this up with a potential partner. What I ultimately want is the right long term partner, but for all of my discoveries over time in regard to which physical CPR techniques work best for me, I have yet to figure out a reliable, non awkward way to initially bring this up. Its definitely not typical dinner conversation. As with lots of kink enthusiasts, I suppressed this interest for years of my life before I learned to accept that its a part of who I am, and as I said, its now on the level of a deal breaker for me. I dont believe in wasting much time with people who are decidedly against it no matter how much sense my explanation makes. Ive tried putting vague references to it in online dating profiles. Ive tried the direct approach, just coming out and saying it. And Ive tried pretty much everything in between. Results have been greatly varied. At best, Ive had a few eventual partners who werent fazed by it, but the problem with that is they werent into it like me and their interest in fulfilling it for me just faded over time. In the middle are people who consider it silly and dont take it seriously, even though Im completely serious about it. At worst, a few girls were weirded out by it and thought it was creepy.

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Believe it or not, there is a small, somewhat niche but dedicated CPR/resuscitation kink community that exists out in the ether. There can be elements of it come across as creepy and individuals within it that turn out to act like creeps, just as with any other kink, fetish, or otherwise alternate bedroom behavior. My own interest in it breaks down to not much more than the physical fulfillment of the desires of my sensitive chest, just in a very specific way. Is there any advice you can give me on this that might be able to help with my dilemma? Is there a right way to bring this up? Should I only seek to date medical professionals who have existing CPR knowledgewould that soften the blow any when I eventually bring it up?

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Resuscitate Me

Dear Resuscitate Me,

CPR comes with risk of broken ribs and collapsed lungs. I hear that youve modified the experience out of concern for your well-being. Im wondering if youve thought through the experiences of the people who youre asking to engage in this still dangerous activity. Lets take a moment to imagine their perspective: This person, who they are new to dating, is asking them to do something that could kill him. They want to be accommodating, open, and accepting. But theyre aware that this activity has a risk of serious ramifications.

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I think the safety question is crucial here. A New York City Health and Hospitals worker I spoke with on the phone hung up on me, so I feel you on the difficulty involved with discussing this particular kink, but I was able to get in touch with Shane Woodall, president of Frontline Health, an emergency training school who has been teaching CPR for 23 years. The things that hes trying to mitigate it withthe mattress surface, not pushing as hard, and all of thatwell, a person is doing this, he told me. Perhaps in the heat of the moment, the person may push a little too hard and you may end up with a fractured sternum, or a fractured rib. You may actually crack a rib and have that cause internal injuries to the persons organs as well.

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Woodall left me with a warning: definitely not going to recommend this as a practice anyone should do. A nurse acquaintance of mine also pointed out that you could still disrupt the rhythm of your heart.

I get that this is your kink, so Im not expecting complete compliance with best practices here no matter how much Id prefer it, but I hope this reminds you of the stakes herenot just for you but for the other person involved. I agree with your instinct to seek out medical professionals as romantic matesthey have more of an ability to evaluate what youre asking them to do. Keep in mind that theyre more than their qualifications, treat them as humans first, and please prioritize your health and safety.

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Dear How to Do It,

Im a lesbian in my 30s and somehow during the pandemic Ive stumbled into my most emotionally fulfilling relationship. She is simply wonderful. Shes loving, kind, affectionate, smart, funny, adorably goofy, and essentially everything I could ask for in a partner. Most of our relationship comes as easily as breathing. Unfortunately  she does not.

I am very sexual. I enjoy long and varied sexual sessionssometimes tender, sometimes a little rough, sometimes with a strap on  you get the picture. In my ideal situation, Id prefer sex four to five times a week if not more. My partner is a fabulous lover and is doing a wonderful job bringing me to orgasm. In fact, I have never orgasmed more in my life. We currently have sex two to three times a week, and she has told me that this is a lot for her. While she is generally interested in sex, she prefers to give pleasure rather than to receive. She often initiates and is always happy to pleasure me through oral sex, clit stimulation, penetration or any combination thereof with no expectation of reciprocation.

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Im sure to most this sounds like a dream. The problem is she is only interested in being pleasured sporadically, though she does climax every time she allows it. She says that she finds the most fulfillment in giving, and doesnt have a strong desire to orgasm. I can logically understand this, but unfortunately, I too enjoy giving. I have always found extreme arousal and sexual fulfillment in bringing my partners to climax and, with her in particular, I get so aroused by her orgasms that my orgasms afterward are mind blowing. I find the limited opportunity to do this in our relationship is making sex less enjoyable for me. On top of that, Ive found myself irrationally doubting her attraction to me despite her freely telling me that she desires me and our frequent sex.

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We have discussed this multiple times, and my partner says her sex drive is just low, but she loves to make me climax. I know my partners preferences are perfectly reasonable and that orgasm isnt the only goal in good sex. I want to be able to accept the wonderful selfless sex she offers and be grateful for the times when she is interested in being pleasured, but how can I get past my disappointment and insecurity when she isnt interested in orgasming?

Lusting for My Lady

Dear Lusting,

When I read your words, I hear a woman who wants to contribute to her partners pleasure and happiness, in a loving, rational, and respectful way. Im wondering how much of your sexual confidenceyour ability to think of yourself as a good loveris tied to your orgasm giving. See, good people did so much work raising awareness about the female orgasm, framing it as something that we should value, and now, Im more and more encountering people who feel like theyve failed if their partnerregardless of genderdoesnt orgasm. I certainly didnt see this coming, but some of us may be headed toward the other extreme now.

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What does your partner want more of? If the love language framing works for you, what kinds does she receive most easily? When you want to give her an orgasm, and she declines, can you think of it as an opportunity to provide the sort of affection she desires at that time? Im essentially asking you to transmute your lust into a different sort of attraction and affection, hoping that inciting other forms of happiness in her will sufficeor maybe even turn you on.

Make a list of all the ways you can show affection to your partner, and a list of all the ways she shows her affection for you, and turn to it when youre feeling insecure about what you bring to the relationship aside from your pubic prowess.

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Dear How to Do It,

I have been single for a while. Because of reality, Ive started a course of anti-depressants, which is demolishing my libido and ability to get it up. Ive recently reconnected with someone with whom theres the possibility that this could turn sexual. Were definitely completely remote for the next month, but after that, who knows. Id also point out that there is a bit of a cause and effect relationship here: Im engaging more with people because of the drugs, where before I just  didnt really bother connecting with people.

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I know that there are different drugs and different schedules that can help mitigate the sexual dysfunction side effects of anti-depressants. At what point do I need to acknowledge to her that this is  well, a potential problem? For now, its not up for debate that I need some kind of mood stabilization. And any time Ive been on the drugs in the past, sex and by extension the relationships have been fraught with misfires and hurt feelings. There are plenty of ways to express affection and intimacyIm all for creativity and communicationbut Im not a 70-year-old guyIm in my 30s, and Id like to be banging too! If I could just make my brain and the rest of me show up for it at the same time that is.

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It matters to me to be honest, and Id rather be before anything sexual happens, but neither do I want to kill off a potential chance to get laid, which doesnt really happen to me all that much. When do I speak up and what do I even say? If anything, Im inclined to pass on this opportunity to avoid this issue, but that seems to defeat the purpose of being on these meds in the first place.

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In Between a Rock and a Soft Place

Dear Soft,

Depression sucks. It dampens our desires and muffles our joy. Im getting a pretty strong should vibe from your letter: You feel like you should have reliable erections because youre in your 30s. You feel like you should pursue sexual interaction with this woman because you dont often encounter mutual interest. Im wondering if you have any connection to what you want, whether thats your current feelings or your memories of your goals before this period of depression. You might not, and thats fine, but if you do, that information might help you figure out the best course of action.

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Especially when there isnt much excitement in our lives, fear of missing out can be a powerful motivator. And when we havent felt happy, inspired, or joyful in a while, every flash of positive emotion can feel like a lifeline.

You have several options. You can proceed or pass, yes, but you can also pause while being vague, pause while being totally transparent, or something in between. Come up with some statements: I find you attractive, I am dealing with some personal stuff, and I would like to keep things platonic for now. If you continue and the time comes, I have a suddenly shy penis, and Im nervous about engaging in a sexual relationship with you. Or I want to have sex with you, presuming youre interested, but Im not sure how my cock will react because of this medication Im on. Put them in your own words and try them on in front of the mirror. Make sure to include pass or proceed options. Look yourself in the eye, state your statement, and listen to your feelings when youre saying these sentences. Do any of them feel right? If so, even if its only partially, youll have a better idea of which direction youre going. And the statements that feel totally off. thats good data about what youre averse to right now.

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Lastly, give your psychiatrist a call. They should know that youre experiencing side effects, and might be able to help you with some of the management strategies you mentioned.

Dear How to Do It,

I am a 20-year-old female virgin who masturbates semi-frequently (more so since the pandemic started). While Ive had some sessions Ive definitely enjoyed, Ive never orgasmed from masturbation, mostly because I find myself getting tired out from it really quickly, whether I use my fingers or I use a toy like a dildo or vibrator. While Im not especially physically active, Im not unhealthy either, and this exhaustion in both my hands and the rest of me has me a little concerned for when I start having sex with other people that Im going to struggle to go for very long in any capacity. Do you have any suggestions for how I could build up more stamina for masturbating and beyond?

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Finger Fatigue

Dear FF,

Finger stamina can be increased with exercise. This can mean more masturbation, but it can also mean doing little finger curls. Get a two- or three-pound barbell. Hold your hand palm up, put the stem of the barbell across your fingers, and get to curling. Let the weight take your fingers as far back as theyll go, and then curl them so the weight is all the way in your palm. Do it till your fingers have had enough, wait a couple of days until they arent sore anymore, and do it again.

You can also work on making your movement more efficient. Are you putting excessive effort or force into your movements? You might be prematurely wearing yourself out. And you might shift which part of your body is active so you have more options when one set of muscles starts to tire out. For instance, you can hold the dildo steady and move your pelvis around on it, or even get one that suction-cups to the wall or floor so you dont have to hold it at all.

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When you do get around to partnered sex, youll want to keep efficiency of movement in mind. Do they actually want that much pressure? Does the stimulation need to be that fast, or is half speed pleasurable too? Are you zeroed in on one erogenous zone? Are there other spots that could use some attentionand a different kind of strokingfor a bit?

Realistically, youre going to get tired at some point. Or your partner will get tired. And eventually your body will be less reliable than it is now. Remember that sex is a journey of pleasure, and try to be kind to yourself when youre thinking about your limitations. For instance, I can only be on top for a handful of minutes before my joints start to hurt. Thats just enough to get through a porn scene, but frequently disappoints recreational partners.

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Stoya

More How to Do It

I met a guy on a dating app in November 2019. We hit it off immediately and had a lot in common, and we were looking for something similar. We made several attempts to make plans that kept getting canceled, and then COVID happened. We ended up meeting in person finally in May (masked up and safe) and continued to see each other throughout the summer and into the fall. One week he didnt return any of my texts. We didnt normally go more than a few days without texting, so I was worried. I knew he wasnt on social media, but ended up searching for him on LinkedIn, and it turned out we had a shared connection. It also turns out that the name he gave me when we met (and on the dating app) wasnt his actual namehe gave me a different first name. OK, now Im curious. So I Googled him. I was shocked by what I found.

IL Okays Vaccine For Pre-Existing Conditions

By The Associated Press

SPRINGFIELD - Illinois residents under 65 years old with pre-existing medical conditions will be eligible to receive vaccination to protect them against COVID-19, Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced Wednesday.The Phase 1B distribution plan on Feb. 25 will follow Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for vaccinating pregnant women and people with diabetes, heart disease, cancer, sickle cell disease and other conditions.Many of those who are under 65 and live with co-morbidities have an elevated risk of serious complications or even death if they contract COVID-19, he said during a tour of a vaccination site in Quincy. As quickly as we receive vaccine supply, we need to waste no time in protecting them.Currently, those eligible for vaccination include health care workers, nursing home residents and workers, some other front-line essential workers and all residents 65 or older.The Pritzker administration says the expansion is possible due to increased federal vaccine shipments to the state. It also notes Johnson & Johnsons one-dose COVID-19 vaccine is on track for emergency authorization from the Food and Drug Administration as soon as the end of the month.Pritzker said Illinois is making progress in adding more vaccination sites, with 517 vaccination locations established statewide. However, he conceded making an appointment requires patience because the state hasnt received enough vaccines to provide for everyone who is eligible in phase 1B.Illinois has received 2,152,425 vaccine doses, with nearly 1.5 million administered as of late Tuesday.
Nusrat Senior Secondary School will celebrate its 50 years of existence in October 2021. In a move to raise public awareness about the Golden Jubilee celebration, the Nusrat Ex-Students Association (NESA) over the weekend held a press conference at the school.

The event was also designed to raise public awareness about the association and its programmes and activities.

The event was graced by the current and immediate past principals, Messrs. Lamin Ceesay and Karamo S. Bojang respectively.

At the forum, the principal of the school, Mr. Lamin Ceesay disclosed that Nusrat is a household name in the country's educational system and even in the sub-region.

"This is for the simple reason that at Nusrat both past and current students distinguished themselves to the very high level of discipline, academic excellence."

Starting out in 1971, Nusrat Senior Secondary School has over the years carved a niche for itself in academic excellence, thanks to its team of dedicated tutors.

"We believe that the contribution of the press to the success of our forthcoming Golden Jubilee celebration which will last for a week is highly solicited."

For his part, Mr. Karamo S. Bojang, who served as principal for over 30 years, said every school has two systems, which includes the academic and infrastructural systems.

The academic system at Nusrat, he said, is fine but the infrastructure is very bad compared to other schools.

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He jokingly indicated that he always feels ashamed of his school in terms of infrastructural development. However, he added that in terms of academic excellence, he is always proud of himself when the results come out in any examinations.

"The central government does not put money in the maintenance and upkeep of the schools, so to find a way out of that bondage, we decided to maintain and renovate the school before October. And in that regard, we are asking for assistance from every concerned Gambian especially from the past students of the school wherever they are. The current principal threatened to close the school if the renovations are not done and I personally supported him on that idea because as it stands right now, the school is in serious need of renovation."

With classrooms to be built in observance of the golden jubilee anniversary, Bojang maintained that they want to celebrate this Golden Jubilee in grand style.

"Students from the school today are manning key positions at the medical school, the police force, the army, the teaching profession, banking and even at the University of The Gambia." he concluded.

About NESA

Constituted in October 2020, the Nusrat Ex-Students Association (NESA) has cardinal objective of contributing to the growth and development of their former school. The non-profit making association plans to establish a scholarship fund to support the education of high-achieving students from underprivileged backgrounds.

The Work

Jessica Dovalina describes the city government's commitment to ensuring older adults are healthy, engaged and independent by fostering an equitable, age-friendly community.

Planning for Equity

In 2019, we used the age-friendly community framework  alongside other planning efforts centered on older adults  to inform a review of city senior services, location decisions for future senior centers and the integration of age-friendly policy actions across multiple city departments and programs," says Dovalina. "We gathered and disaggregated insights from community and senior center members to ensure that our work reflected the specific needs identified by our diverse residents."

Through the planning process, the city developed multi-year goals, prioritizing equity-based investments in the 8 Domains of Livability. "The goal of our programming and services is to support the ability of older adults to remain healthy, safe, independent and thriving in our community," Dovalina adds.

Implementing the Plan, Measuring Equitable Impact

In Fiscal Year 2020, the city evaluated how its programming and services were meeting the interests and needs of the community. Data was reviewed by gender, race, age and income to ensure that senior center programming has an equitable approach to serving the communitys most vulnerable populations. With 10 comprehensive senior centers and 42 part-time community-operated nutrition sites, the culture, environment and services offered at each center are tailored to meet the needs of the community each one serves.

"The Department of Human Services works closely with other city departments and community stakeholders to assess program and service utilization so we can understand if our older residents are experiencing barriers to accessing these services," Dovalina says.
ROODHOUSE  A fire just after 3 p.m. Sunday destroyed a Roodhouse home and claimed a family pet, though the rest of the family was uninjured.

The home of Lacey and Scotty Thompson, along with a majority of their belongings, was lost to the fire that swept through their trailer at 715 W. Clay St.

Clothes, furniture, blankets and other household items now are being collected for the family.

Needed clothing includes mens jeans in size 34 x 32, shirts or hoodies in a mens large, socks and underwear, shoes in a mens size 11; womens jeans in size 14 to 16, womens extra-large shirts and scrubs, socks and underwear, and shoes in a womens size 7.

Donated items can be dropped off at 226 E. Palm St. in Roodhouse or at Mandys Whine and Bark at 507 Edgewood Drive in White Hall.

Roodhouse Fire Chief Terry Hopkins said the front of the home was fully engulfed when crews arrived at 3:09 p.m. Sunday.

There was no one home at the time, Hopkins said.

Though the family was not home, two dogs were inside at the time of the fire. One dog escaped the home when a family member arrived. The other dog died inside the home, Hopkins said.

The cause of the fire still is unknown, though the likely origin was one of the bedrooms, he said.

There were no heating elements or space heaters, Hopkins said. It may have been electrical, we just dont know at this time.

The cause doesnt appear suspicious, he said.
New Delhi:

The giant online retailer Amazon is reportedly working on a new messaging app called Anytime. Through this people can chat, share photos, make video calls.

According to a news report from AFTV news, Amazon has started surveying customers to know what features are important for people. The description in the survey notes that the app would allow people to connect to each other without knowing their phone numbers.

Anytime will have standard messaging features such as encryption, video support, audio support and stickers. Amazon says user will be able to "encrypt important messages" at a higher level of security, while voice call and audio call will be private and secure.

There will also be a feature for location sharing,simultaneous music listening, food ordering and bill split.Amazon says app will also support business chat.
New data shows U.S. car buyers how to navigate pandemic-choked inventories across vehicle categories. Tweet this

It's a seller's market. Inventories of both new and used cars have been driven to historic lows by the pandemic. As a consequence, buyers face limited selection and little leverage in price negotiations in most categories. If a buyer balks on price, sellers know they can find another buyer.

Inventories of brand-new cars and trucks began to stabilize a bit in January. But selection is still limited and buyers are paying close to sticker prices for popular models -- often in addition to long waits for delivery.

If you can, wait for better prices and more selection later this year  but given current inventory levels and supply chain disruptions from the pandemic, it's not clear when that will happen, nor which vehicle categories will be first to replenish.

If waiting isn't an option, pay close attention to current pricing and inventory trends and consider something less popular than trucks, SUVs and crossovers. There are some relatively good buys out there, but they remain the exception. Your CoPilot can help you find them.

CoPilot's proprietary "Google for Cars" search platform has the deepest level of vehicle and market data available anywhere. The CoPilot app is a car buyer's expert partner, helping them navigate every step of car shopping and buying. Each user's CoPilot scans more than 46,000 websites several times daily, looking for their perfect car. And CoPilot's 600 million analytical pricing models provide superior insights on what and when to buy, and at what price.

CoPilot is the only car buying assistant that accepts no money from car dealers or manufacturers, so it gives shoppers the only truly independent recommendations to help them confidently navigate this turbulent car market.

About CoPilot

The CoPilot assisted commerce car shopping app is a car buyer's expert partner, helping them navigate every step of car shopping and buying. CoPilot makes it easy for people who don't know a lot about cars to discover their perfect car at the best possible price, so they can buy with confidence. Unlike virtually all other car shopping apps, CoPilot is fully independent of the industry, forgoing money from dealers and manufacturers so consumers can feel confident their CoPilot is 100% on their side.

Based in Chicago and Austin, CoPilot's data platform and tech team were spun out of a successful SaaS business which provided the analytical insights that car dealers and manufacturers use to price and market their cars.

In the fall of 2019, CoPilot made its powerful "Google for cars" search platform and analytical models available to consumers. In the year since, CoPilot has grown to more than $700 million of gross merchandise volume (GMV), empowering thousands of car shoppers every month to find "hidden gems" and buy them with confidence.

CoPilot's investors include Next Coast Ventures, Chicago Ventures, PayPal & Affirm cofounder Max Levchin and Accel Partners cofounder Arthur Patterson.

SOURCE CoPilot

Related Links

http://www.copilotsearch.com


The European Parliament calls on the Ukrainian authorities to de-oligarchize the country.

This is discussed in the section "Trade and economic cooperation, labour and social affairs, mobility of workers" of the resolution on the implementation by Ukraine of the Association Agreement voted by the European Parliament during the plenary session. The spokesperson was deputy from the European People's Party Michael Gahler (Germany).

"The European Parliament notes that a number of reforms have been introduced, leading to the deregulation of the economy, greater transparency of public finances and an improvement in regulations, however, it notes that no visible effects have been achieved in the de-oligarchisation of the country, as oligarchs still have a strong impact on the Ukrainian economy and politics, in particular in media ownership and influence over the judiciary and the law enforcement system; considers that creating clear and equal-for-all rules in the economy and politics may prove to be an effective method of de facto downgrading the unofficial influence of a small group of the richest entrepreneurs on the functioning of the state, including legislation, and therefore calls on the Ukrainian authorities to speed up the process of de-oligarchisation," according to the document.

Nairobi  The Salaries and Remuneration Commission (SRC) has approved car grants for all the Members of County Assemblies their Speakers totaling to Sh4.5 billion.

SRC Chairperson Lyn Mengich said the move that will see all the ward representatives awarded a Sh2 million car grant each.

She said the decision announced on Tuesday was informed by the need to promote "equity and fairness".

In a memo addressed to the newly elected Chairperson of the Council of Governors (CoG) Martin Wambora, Mengich noted that all the County Assemblies Speakers and the MCAs who had taken car loans will now have the facilities converted to grants.

Consequently, upon conversion, the existing Car Loans shall cease and the Speakers and Members of the County Assembly who have already benefited on the existing loans shall convert their Car Loan to Transport Facilitation Benefit in form of a Car Grant.

Wambora had petitioned SRC to confer the car grant benefit to the MCAs to match Members of Parliament.

"The SRC takes cognizance of the similarity of the roles of the legislators at the county and national levels. It should be noted that the category of benefits to the legislators at the county and national levels are similar, with the exception of Transport Facilitation Benefit "Car Grant" that is provided to the legislators at the national level," Mengich said.

Mengich however, clarified that the car loan facility funds will not affect the country's expenditure ceiling as provided by the Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA).

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She added that the benefit is only applicable to the current County Speakers and the MCAs and that the operationalization of the car loan can be undertaken administratively by the respective county governments.

County Assemblies Forum Chairperson Ndegwa Wahome hailed the move noting that it will strengthen the MCAs' capacity to oversight devolution.

The ward representatives have been leading a spirited campaign to have them granted the car grant in the wake of the ongoing Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) debate.

President Uhuru Kenyatta, during a meeting with a section of the ward representatives drawn from the Mt. Kenya region two weeks ago, had promised them the car grant after they made it a precondition for passing the BBI Constitution Amendment Bill 2020.

ODM Party Leader Raila Odinga during a meeting with MCAs from Nyanza region also backed the proposal insisting MCAs had a right to enjoy the privilege and assured them that President Kenyatta will honor his promise.

Whereas Deputy President William Ruto allies have been categorical that the car grant benefit to the MCAs is an act of bribery, the move is a big incentive that is set to be a gamechanger in the passage of the BBI Bill in the county assemblies.

Already, Siaya and Kisumu County Assemblies have passed the document that seeks to change the country's governance structure.

At least 24 county assemblies are needed to pass the Bill for it to move to Parliament and subsequently pave way for a referendum.
Egypt reported 610 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday bringing the total infection tally to 171,290 since the outbreak began in February.

The health ministry also reported 53 new deaths, bringing the total number of deaths from the virus to 9,804.

The statement said that 233 patients have been discharged after recovering from the virus, bringing the total number of recoveries to 133,331.

Egypt has started its vaccination campaign against coronavirus using the Chinese Sinopharm vaccine late January by inoculating hundreds of medical workers at quarantine hospitals.

Beijings Ambassador to Egypt Liao Liqiang said in February that China will provide Egypt with 300,000 doses of its Sinopharm vaccine soon.

Egypt also received 50,000 doses as a first batch of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine from the British-Swedish companys branch in India late in January.

Short link:


[February 11, 2021] Shareholder Updates: Premier Products Group, Inc. Enters into Talks With the City Of Port Lavaca, Texas for Waterfront Commercial/Retail Real Estate Development

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 11, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Premier Products Group, Inc. (PMPG), (OTC Pink:PMPG) announced today that talks with the City of Port Lavaca, Texas have resumed in regard to the development of 48 plus acres of City owned waterfront property. PMPG have executed a letter with the City of Port Lavaca that agrees in principle only to enter into a P3 Public/Private Partnership combined with an Agreement to promote Economic Development on behalf of the Municipality. The multi-faceted development project goes beyond the obvious initial economic stimulus to the municipality; it creates a long-term regional resort destination, states, Greg J Goulas, Senior VP of Development.

The Development team has provided preliminary site-plans and architectural renderings to the City for the Bison Bay Business District development. Developing a project of this size takes time, city planning, and numerous approvals from several municipalities, also stated Mr. Goulas. This Partnership willinclude a land swap in exchange for much needed additional infrastructure improvements provided by the joint venture. The Initial Bison Bay District plans includes retail space, residential condos above retail w/water-views, restaurants, a marina, brick paved boardwalk along shore line with new sand beaches and two mid-rise apartment complexes.



OTHER PMPG UPDATES: PMPG executed a joint venture contract with NPI Mobile to create SmartRoad Turtle, LLC (SRT)

SRT continues talks to finalize a Letter of Intent with a global manufacturer for manufacturing and distribution Safe Harbor Statement:

Except for historical information, certain statements in this news release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of Rule 175 under the Securities Act of 1933 and Rule 3b-6 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and those statements are subject to the safe harbor created by those rules. All statements, other than statements of fact, included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding potential plans and objectives of the Company, are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance such statements will prove accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The Company cautions these forward-looking statements are qualified by other factors.

CONTACT:

Tony Hicks Chairman and CEO www.pmpginc.com

info@pmpginc.com

(818) 798-1878





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A descendant of the last Dutch governor of New York has been named the world's top-earning hedge fund manager for 2020 after adding $3 billion to his fortune in just one year.

Chase Coleman III, who is related to Peter Stuyvesant who governed New York in the 1600s, was No. 1 on Bloomberg's annual list of the top-earning hedge fund managers.

Collectively, the 15 hedge fund managers on the list added $23.2billion to their personal fortunes in a year that saw the global economy battered by the coronavirus pandemic and accompanying lockdowns - more than the annual GDPs of Iceland or Zambia.

Coleman, who runs a hedge fund called Tiger Global that focuses on tech companies, benefited from bets placed on companies that ended up soaring during the pandemic.

Some of his well-timed holdings? Pandemic darlings Zoom, which has gained 390 percent over the past year and Peloton, which is up more than 118 percent over the same time frame.

Chase Coleman III (left) topped Bloomberg 's annual list of the top hedge fund 15 earners of 2020, making $3billion, according to the outlet's Billionaires Index. Pictured: Coleman and his wife, Stephanie, at a fundraiser in New York in 2016 [File photo]

The number crunchers at Bloomberg called Coleman's holdings "a portfolio almost perfectly positioned for the unprecedented experience of billions of people stuck at home."

His fund as a whole returned 48 percent in 2020, far outstripping the broader U.S. stock market, which gained around 16 percent.

Meanwhile, not all of the people on the 2020 list did so well: No. 15 last year, Gabe Plotkin, head of Melvin Capital, lost around $460 million personally, Bloomberg reports, in his bet against GameStop as retail investors pushed into the retailer and led its stock sharply higher.

Fellow hedge funders said they thought Plotkin would stay the course and build back.

Coleman, 45, on the other hand, already has an estimated fortune of $4.5bn, according to Forbes, which ranked him as the 458th richest person in the world in 2019.

He is the founder of Tiger Global Management (TGM), which he set up at just 24 years old after being given the $25million seed money by Julian Robertson, the founder of Tiger Management, when he closed his fund in 2000.

Coleman, who grew up in the affluent Glen Head community on Long Island, New York, connected with Robertson through the elder's son Spencer, who he was good friends with.

Coleman owns several homes including a sprawling property in Southampton, New York (pictured) and an apartment near Central Park thought to be worth more than $100m

Coleman is a descendant of Peter Stuyvesant (pictured), the last Dutch governor of New York who ordered the construction of the wall after which Wall Street is named. Stuyvesant surrendered New Amsterdam, now New York, to the English in 1664

While he has largely invested in new technologies, Coleman's wealth goes back generations.

He is a descendant of Peter Stuyvesant, the last Dutch governor of New York who ordered the construction of the wall after which Wall Street is named.

Stuyvesant surrendered New Amsterdam, now New York, to the English in 1664.

Coleman married Stephanie Ercklentz in 2005. The couple have several homes including an apartment near Central Park thought to be worth more than $100m, according to The Guardian.

Ercklentz is the daughter of banker and industrialist Enno Ercklentz. In 2018, the couple invited guests to vandalize their apartment ahead of a massive renovation.

Coleman is a major donor to the Republican party and supported Mitt Romney's 2012 campaign. He has also donated to Democratic candidates including New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.

All 15 of the hedge fund managers on Bloomberg's list are men, the outlet noted, and their combined wealth is equivalent to more than the gross domestic product of Iceland or Zambia, according to The Guardian.

Renaissance Technologies' Jim Simons came in second place having made $2.6billion, while Israel Englander of Millennium Management was ranked third with $2.2billion.

Other entrants included New York Mets owner Steve Cohen, who made $1.6billion at Point 72 and Pershing Square's Bill Ackman, who made billions for the fund betting that stock markets would collapse early in the pandemic. Ackman took home $1.3billion.

The rewards are 'unlike anything the hedge-fund industry has ever seen,' Bloomberg reported, with experts noting that the earnings illustrate the gulf between the super rich and the rest of the world more starkly than ever due to the pandemic, which has ravaged many businesses and drained personal savings.
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"True Beauty" actress Moon Ga Young flaunts her German-speaking skills in 'Foodvengers.' She is indeed blessed with beauty and brains!

Did you know that Moon Ga Young can actually speak three languages? Yes! She can speak German, English, and Korean. The actress was born in Karlsruhe, Germany, and grew up there. Though she was born in a foreign country, Moon Ga Young's parents are South Koreans. When she was ten years old, her family decided to move back to Korea.

On an episode of Foodvengers, Moon Ga Young appeared with ASTRO's Moonbin. The two celebrities are known to be close friends since they both started as child actors in the industry. "Foodvengers" is a new eco-friendly reality show where participants use leftover ingredients to make a new menu. In particular, chefs and participants will create and present new menus using leftover ingredients to support zero-waste cooking. The show provides fun and empathy to viewers.

The show features few celebrity guests running a restaurant and in one episode, Moon Ga Young was busy working in the kitchen when ASTRO's Moonbin rushed inside in a panic. He immediately explained his situation that there is a German customer outside. Knowing that Moon Ga Young speaks the German language, Moonbin instantly asked for her help and told her that it would be better if Moon Ga Young will be the one to explain the menu to the German customer.

Moon Ga Young flaunts her German-speaking skills

A good friend to the rescue, Moon Ga Young, went out to entertain and serve the German customer. He explained that a Korean friend was responsible for booking the place, but he was running late. Since he arrived at the restaurant first, he was served with an appetizer, and the actress explained the food, of course in German. She even checked her recipe record to fully explain the ingredient of the dish to the customer. Well, what can you say? Moon Ga Young is definitely a pro in customer service!

Later on, the actress generously taught Moonbin some famous and common German phrases that might help him in the future. Words such as "welcome" and "bon appetit" were some German words that Moonbin learned on that day.

You can catch Moon Ga Young's fluent German skills below!



Moon Ga Young's previous works and her latest hit drama "True Beauty"

German-born-South Korean actress Moon Ga Young was born on July 10, 1996. The 24-year-old actress became well known for her portrayal in television dramas such as (2011), EXO Next Door (2015), The Merchant: Gaekju 2015 (2015), Mirror of the Witch (2016), Don't Dare to Dream (2016), Tempted (2018), Welcome to Waikiki 2 (2019), Find Me in Your Memory (2020), and True Beauty (2020).

The actress has just wrapped up her latest drama, "True Beauty" where it ended with high viewership ratings! The drama is a remake of the webtoon with the same title that features the story of love, friendship, and discovering the essence of true beauty.

You might be interested in: tvN's Hit Drama 'True Beauty' Ends its Run with High Viewership Ratings

Kdramastars owns this article.

Written By Liza Parker

Who receives the coronavirus vaccine, and in which order, is increasingly proving to be 2021s contentious topic, especially with supplies dwindling and only two suppliers currently approved in Canada.

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Who receives the coronavirus vaccine, and in which order, is increasingly proving to be 2021s contentious topic, especially with supplies dwindling and only two suppliers currently approved in Canada.

Inmates at correctional facilities are a part of the congregate living population the province is prioritizing in its first of four vaccination phases, but the Manitoba Government and General Employees Union is concerned staff at correctional facilities are not being equally prioritized.

Dr. Joss Reimer is the medical lead with Manitobas COVID-19 vaccine implementation task force. When asked about prioritization between inmates and staff at correctional centres on Wednesday, Reimer said such lists were being worked out at the regional level. (Winnipeg Free Press)

"We are very concerned that when inmates at the Brandon Correctional Centre (BCC) start receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, correctional officers working at the facility will not be vaccinated. They are being told they must wait," stated union president Michelle Gawronsky in an email to The Brandon Sun.

"We keep hearing that those living and working in congregate settings should be prioritized for vaccination. As we told the Minister of Justice last month, jails are obviously a congregate setting. It just doesnt make sense to vaccinate inmates, but not the correction officers who work closely with each other and with inmates.

"This is particularly concerning in light of the numerous outbreaks that have occurred in Manitoba jails. Common sense would dictate that protecting those entering the facility to go to work will also protect those that live in the facility."

An outbreak at BCC saw 90 inmates and 19 staff contract COVID-19. Similarly, other correctional facilities in the province saw more inmates and less staff get infected. There are currently no active cases at BCC, according to the provinces reporting system. There have been no deaths reported from any correction facility in the province.

But that disproportionate representation of inmates contracting the illness is similar across all correctional facilities in the province, except the Manitoba Youth Centre, which saw five staff and no youth with the illness.

At the federal level, only inmates who are medically vulnerable are receiving vaccines.

When asked about prioritization between inmates and staff at correctional centres during the provinces daily COVID-19 update on Wednesday, Dr. Joss Reimer, the provinces medical lead on the vaccination task force, said such lists were being worked out at the regional level.

But Reimer did state First Nations people are greatly overrepresented in correctional facilities.

"And we also know that they have a much higher risk of severe outcomes. So part of the reason why correctional facilities remain an important location is because we do see in our First Nations Manitobans that higher risk. And, because the majority of our inmates are First Nations, we certainly worry not only about the inmates while theyre in the facility, but also when they might be going back to their communities," she said.

However, in an email from the province several hours after the daily news conference, the province stated by email that a draft internal document that was intended to help plan immunizations in congregate living facilities was shared externally and has been mistakenly ascribed as part of Manitobas vaccination prioritization list.

"This is incorrect," stated the spokesperson.

"Although planning discussions are currently underway, no decisions have been made and there is no congregate living prioritization list to provide at this time."

The spokesperson also stated when decisions are made, they will be shared with the public.

"These decisions will be based on science and with the goal of protecting those who are most at risk from COVID-19," stated the spokesperson.

At the afternoon news conference, Reimer was clear that figuring out priority groups, when so few vaccines are available, is about the science and epidemiology.

"I want to highlight a few different aspects that we consider when we make these very difficult decisions. The first is that we dont put any value judgment into different Manitobans. People dont need to earn the vaccine. We dont look at whether were deserving because were all deserving, and I want to give all Manitobans a vaccine," said Reimer.

"We look at the risk. We look at what weve seen in those settings, and weve seen huge outbreaks in some correctional institutions, among the inmates."

There is also the fact that correctional facilities in the province are overcrowded. The BCC capacity is roughly 244 adult men. A CTV report from last year showed that facility count at roughly 50 more inmates.

Reimer said the province is thankful correctional officers continue to work in that environment, knowing they could be exposed at work, and that it is trying to provide them with the best possible protections.

"They have personal protective equipment. I know the Department of Justice has some excellent protocols that theyve worked through with public health to try to protect their staff as much as possible," said Reimer.

But the union for those workers doesnt necessarily agree.

"Since the pandemic began, we have repeatedly had to fight for basic personal protective equipment for correctional officers. Now, the decision to prioritize inmates but not correctional officers for vaccination is a slap in the face to correctional officers who have been working with COVID-positive and isolating inmates," Gawronsky stated.

"The province must ensure that correctional officers are vaccinated at the same time as inmates. These correctional officers have been left feeling disrespected and vulnerable. They should be protected."

The union represents roughly 2,000 correctional officers working at provincial correctional facilities.

 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.
Deputy Director of Legal Affairs for the largest opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Baba Jamal has indicated that cross-examining the Chairperson for the 1st Respondent, Mrs Jean Adukwei Mensa in the ongoing 2020 election petition will be crucial for the petitioner, John Mahama and Ghanaians as a whole.



According to the former Member of Parliament for Akwatia Constituency, the petitioner needs some answers and documents from the 1st Respondent to help shape the petition before the Supreme Court.



Speaking on Okay FMs 'Ade Akye Abia' Morning Show, Baba Jamal said that the intention of the petitioner from the beginning to inspect some documents of the 1st Respondent and also interrogate the Chairperson of the 1st Respondent was to help the petitioner authenticate his case.



He, however, said he cannot fathom the argument of the 1st Respondent not to mount the witness box after swearing-in affidavits in the Court to make herself available to provide answers to some earlier demands of the petitioner in a cross-examination.



We are not even talking about the witness statement; we are talking about evidence which is already before the Supreme Court. We are talking about her affidavit before the Supreme Court to allow herself for cross-examination when the need arises, he argued.



Do you think it is proper for someone who has sworn affidavit before the Supreme Court to allow herself to be cross-examined is now saying she will not mount the witness box? The law is that once you have adduced evidence before the court, you cannot run away from your own evidence, he opined.

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.

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CitiGlobal Realty and Development, Inc., a top real estate developer offering affordable and income-generating properties in the country, recently started turning over the first batch of its Cedar Tower's condotel units to their investors.

The Cedar Tower is one of the several towers that comprise the Tagaytay Clifton Resort Suites (TCRS). The completion of TCRS is still underway and promises to provide deluxe amenities at an affordable price. Once completed, the TCRS project will feature a clubhouse, gym, library, swimming pool, and other leisure facilities.

The project is among CitiGlobals real estate developments aimed at revolutionizing the Filipino mindset on leisure properties, giving new investment opportunities for ordinary working-class Filipinos, especially Overseas Filipino Workers. Among its other projects are the Fontaine Villas in Tagaytay, as well.
The NSW government faces a tax shortfall of hundreds of millions of dollars over the next four years as an uncertain future hangs over Crown Resorts and its new $2.2 billion Sydney casino.

NSW was already preparing to take a $190 million hit in casino tax revenue as a result of COVID-19 border closures, with budget forecasts showing it would take several years for revenue to recover.

Crowns Barangaroo development in Sydney and major shareholder James Packer (inset). Credit:Nick Moir, Getty

However, if the James Packer-backed group is denied a licence, or another company does not take over the under-siege casino, the government faces as much as $400 million in lost tax revenue.

This comes as high-profile director Andrew Demetriou resigned from the board of Crown Resorts after gambling regulators in Victoria and NSW pushed him and Crown boss Ken Barton to leave after being heavily criticised in an inquiry that found the company unfit to run a casino.
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.
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Zimbabweans are using social media platforms to express outrage at the 'lawfare' waged by their government against dissenting voices.

"Alert Zimbabwe: I have received information that the Mnangagwa regime wants to arrest me today for the offence which I don't know. They are alleging that I undermined the authority of the police by Tweeting about the kid allegedly assaulted by them. I have alerted everyone."

"I am gathering that after my arrest they want to expose me to Covid-19. If anything happens to me let it be known to Zimbabweans that I am Covid-free as I speak. Few days ago I warned about the plot by the regime & they really want to arrest me for no apparent reason. Oppression."

These were tweets on 8 January by Job Sikhala, a human rights lawyer and vice-national chairperson of Zimbabwe's main opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change Alliance (MDCA).

On Saturday, 9 January, as he had warned, he was arrested at the Harare Magistrates' Court where he was part of journalist Hopewell Chin'ono's defence team.

Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) posted these tweets, explaining what Sikhala was accused of:

"Broad charge against @JobSikhala1 is sec...
Federal court permanently blocks New York's restrictions on houses of worship

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A federal judge permanently blocked New York Gov. Andrew Cuomos controversial restrictions on indoor worship gatherings that the U.S. Supreme Court issued a temporary injunction against last November.

On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Kiyo A. Matsumoto, a George W. Bush appointee, granted a permanent injunction to block Cuomo's COVID-19 guidelines as applied to all houses of worship listed in red and orange zones throughout the state.

In red zones, houses of worship were subject to a limit of 25% maximum occupancy or 10 people, whichever is fewer. Meanwhile, places of worship in orange zones were subject to a limit of 33% maximum occupancy or 25 people, whichever is fewer.

Cuomo issued the order last October and extended the restrictions five times without modification on houses of worship.

The restrictions were contested in court by religious bodies, including the Agudath Israel of America and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn. Plaintiffs argued that the rules violated their rights under the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment.

On Nov. 25, 2020, the nations highest court temporarily blocked the order in a case brought by the diocese, arguing that the rules were not neutral or generally applicable because essential businesses and some non-essential businesses were not subject to the same restrictions.

The Supreme Court reasoned that fixed person capacity limits must satisfy strict scrutiny, Matsumoto wrote in her injunction.

The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals remanded the Agudath Israel case back to the lower court with directions to grant a preliminary injunction against enforcement of Executive Order.

On Jan. 19, the district court granted the plaintiffs motion for a preliminary injunction.

In light of the rulings, the state agreed to an injunction against enforcement of the 25% and 33% capacity limits in red and orange zones, Matsumoto stated in the order. She added that the state has not presented additional evidence to supplement what was submitted in opposition to the Plaintiffs motion for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction.

Subsequently, Defendants counsel has represented in status conferences that before the end of February 2021 EO 202.68 will be amended to remove houses of worship, the order explains.

Eric Rassbach, vice president and senior counsel at the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, which represented Agudath Israel and affiliated synagogues as part of the lawsuit, said that it is not every day that a governor asks a federal court to block his own guidelines.

[B]ut that is exactly what Governor Cuomo asked for, Rassbach stressed.

The Governor is desperately trying to avoid testimony showing that his orders shutting down synagogues and churches werent based on public health, but on politics. The courts order is good news for the synagogues, churches, and other houses of worship of New York.

The court order comes after the New York Times reported earlier this month that several state health officials resigned amid disagreements with Cuomos handling of the pandemic and vaccine rollout. According to the report, Cuomo urged health officials to match their health guidelines with his announcements.

According to the newspaper, the states health department was not involved in final decisions on policies that based business closures on color-coded microclusters. Becket notes that the policy led to the shutting down of houses of worship throughout Brooklyn.

We welcome Governor Cuomos surrender, even if it took him way too long to figure out he was acting illegally, Rassbach said. And we hope he learned something along the way. If he writes another COVID book, maybe he can give it the title I Did It My WayAnd Boy Was I Wrong!

The states request for the court to block the restrictions followed Cuomos comments from November when he called the Supreme Courts decision to issue a temporary injunction indicative of the courts conservative bent following the confirmation of Justice Amy Coney Barret.

At the time, the governor said the decision is irrelevant and moot because the Brooklyn zone no longer exists as a red zone.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP)  An acknowledged member of the Ku Klux Klan was sentenced Tuesday to three years and eight months in prison on charges he drove his pickup truck through a crowd of Black Lives Matter protesters near Virginias capital city.

Harry Rogers, 37, of Hanover County, was convicted of three counts of assault and battery, one count of destruction of property and one count of failure to stop at the scene of an accident in connection with the attack last June in Henrico County near Richmond, news outlets reported.

Rogers pleaded guilty Feb. 5 and had three felony charges and a fourth misdemeanor assault count dropped. He was originally sentenced to six years in jail in August, but he appealed that conviction.

Authorities said Rogers struck at least two people after driving over a median near a Confederate monument and then through a group of protestors in a roadway. Nobody was seriously injured, though officials said he ran over a mans toe and twice hit a woman who stepped in front of the truck.

Defense attorney George Townsend argued that the protesters who were struck put themselves into the vehicles way. Townsend had previously said Rogers was a member of the KKK.

Before he was arrested, Rogers boasted about the incident on social media.

This Chevrolet 2500 went up on the curb and through the protest, he said on a Facebook live video played in court. They started scattering like (expletive) cockroaches ... Its kind of funny if you ask me.

He told the court on Tuesday that he was sorry for his actions, and he said he didnt make the right decisions that day, news outlets reported.

The incident came last year amid nationwide protests against racial injustice and law enforcement treatment of minorities after the police custody death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

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Bruce Springsteen charged with DWI and reckless driving at Jersey Shore, official says
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Bullit Group, the rugged phone maker that owns the Cat, Kodak  Land Rover smartphone brands has agreed to a long-term brand partnership deal with Motorola. The UK-based company will develop and market Moto-branded rugged phones which will be drop-proof and shockproof as per the accompanying press release.

This is a unique strategic alliance, as it allows Bullitt to apply its expertise to the Motorola portfolio of products. Motorola invented the mobile phone and remains one of the most iconic brands in the world. To be entrusted by Motorola to create a portfolio of Motorola branded rugged phones, bears testament to the exceptional business we have built at Bullitt over the last 11 years. - Dave Floyd (Bullitt Co-Founder)

Bullitt Group began its journey into the rugged smartphone sector back in 2009 and currently designs, manufactures and distributes its Cat and Land Rover-licensed smartphones in over 50 markets worldwide.

Motorola had its own go at drop-resistant phones and shatterproof screens with the Moto Z Force and Moto Z2 Force back in 2016-17. More details on the first Moto branded rugged phone will be revealed later this quarter.

Source
Jeremy Hunt shared a photo from his hospital bed today after breaking his arm whilst jogging - then wore a sling as he took part in a Commons debate just hours later.

The Conservative chairman of the Health and Social Care Committee told MPs he had spent the morning at the Royal Surrey County Hospital after slipping in the icy conditions.

The former health secretary, who appeared virtually in the debate on the future of health and care wearing a blue sling, went on to thank the hospital's staff for his treatment.

In a post on his Facebook page, Mr Hunt uploaded a picture of himself in a hospital bed next to NHS worker Charlotte, who had put a plaster cast on his arm

He told MPs: 'Can I start my comments by thanking the brilliant staff at the Royal Surrey County Hospital for the wonderful care they gave me this morning, as it happens, when I unfortunately slipped over and broke my arm on a morning run and I have just come back from there.'

In an earlier post on his Facebook page, Mr Hunt uploaded a picture of himself in a hospital bed next to NHS worker Charlotte, who had put a plaster cast on his arm.

The caption read: 'The perils of running on an icy road in February.

'Thanks to Charlotte and the brilliant Royal Surrey staff for looking after me so well! Happy Hunt children will now get busy drawing pictures...'

It comes after Matt Hancock said today 'now is exactly the right time' to reform the NHS as he unveiled plans to join up hospitals, GPs and social care into local bubbles.

The Health Secretary has published a white paper outlining how the health service will be divided up into 'integrated care systems' across England.

It will also give the Department of Health controlling power of the NHS, with its current chief executive Sir Simon Stevens expected to resign by the end of this year.

Mr Hancock, who has been criticised for launching wide-ranging changes to the health service during one of the toughest periods in its history as it battles the Covid-19 epidemic, said there is 'no better time than now' to do it because it will take so long to get the plans approved and put them into action.

The former health secretary, who appeared virtually in the debate on the future of health and care wearing a blue sling, went on to thank the hospital's staff for his treatment

Committee chairman Mr Hunt, pictured in 2019, is often seen jogging around the capital

The Government has pledged to 'bust bureaucracy' in the health service and the plan could see England's 152 major hospital trusts and 135 clinical commissioning groups, which control GP practices, condensed down into 42 boards to control all local health services with one massive budget for each area.

Ideally this will mean long-term sick patients  of whom there are a constantly growing number as the population ages  will be able to move seamlessly between family doctors, hospitals and care workers. Currently these services are separated.

This was already the NHS's plan  it is under way already and expected to cover the whole of England by 2021, but this reform gives the Department of Health control over them.

The reform will also remove the need for NHS bodies to offer up expensive healthcare contracts to private companies and allow them to keep them in-house.

Previously, contracts worth more than 615,000 had to be put through a tendering process meaning private companies could get them if they undercut NHS prices. Unions said this was in danger of turning medical care into a competitive market.

On the surface this looks to be a step away from privatising parts of the health service, although critics said it wasn't clear whether it would definitely have that effect. Labour pointed out private contracts could still be drawn up if desired.
AstraZeneca is on track to roll out a new booster vaccine that will tackle coronavirus variants by autumn, the firm said today.

Its current Covid vaccine, developed by Oxford University and being rolled out en masse in Britain, targets earlier versions of the virus.

Growing evidence suggests that while the jab in its current state stops severe symptoms from all Covid strains, it may not prevent vaccinated people catching some of the newer variants and experiencing mild symptoms.

AstraZeneca said the new jab will be ready in 'six to nine months', with human trials expected to start at some point in the spring.

Tweaking the current jab to target new variants is a much simpler process than making a new vaccine from scratch, experts say. For comparison, Oxford managed to develop the original one and have it rolled out around the world in under a year.

It comes as a number of studies have suggested the E484K mutation, which was first found in the South African variant of the virus and is now cropping up in strains in Britain, reduces the potency of the current crop of vaccines.

The findings suggest some people may still be at risk of picking up the virus and passing it to others, but there is no evidence they would suffer anything other than mild symptoms.

The more infectious Kent variant of the virus is already 'sweeping the world', the director of the UK's genetic surveillance programme claimed today, and is well on course to becoming the global dominant strain.

Studies show it is still susceptible to immunity triggered by the current crop of vaccines, although it can acquire mutations that may open the backdoor to dodging antibodies - virus-fighting proteins - from the jabs.

AstraZeneca CEO Pascal Soriot said the company's current vaccine provides a 'good level of protection' against severe disease caused by the new variants, but will need to be adapted to prevent milder symptoms.

The update could be used either as a booster for people who have already had a different vaccine or it could be used on its own for those who are still unvaccinated.

AstraZeneca is on track to roll out a new booster vaccine that will tackle coronavirus variants by autumn, the firm said today

AstraZeneca's chief executive, Pascal Soriot, said the new jab will be ready in 'six to nine months', with human trials expected to start at some point in the spring

There are now six variants of coronavirus being investigated by Public Health England, five of which have already been found in the UK

Meanwhile Mr Soriot said the UK should start seeing a decline in hospital admissions from the disease 'very soon' thanks to the Government's rapid programme with hopes for it to start having a marked impact from March.

It comes as Number 10 sources told The Sun hospitalisation rates among the 12.6million Britons who've been vaccinated have also reportedly starting falling to a 'fraction of previous levels'.

Public Health England chiefs monitoring the UK's mammoth vaccination rollout have not yet released any actual data detailing the real-world efficacy of either jab. Initial results are expected within days.

AstraZeneca said it is set to deliver 100 million doses of its current vaccine globally in February before doubling to 200 million a month by April.

Mr Soriot said: 'One hundred million doses in February means 100 million vaccinations, which means hundreds of thousands of severe infections avoided and it also means thousands of deaths that are avoided.'

'We're going to save thousands of lives and that's why we come to work every day as individuals,' he added.

It comes as the Kent coronavirus variant may become the most dominant strain in the world, the director of the UK's genetic surveillance programme claimed today.

More than 50 countries have already spotted the mutant B.1.1.7 strain, which evolved to become more infectious than the original virus.

Professor Sharon Peacock, head of the Covid-19 Genomics UK (Cog-UK) Consortium said the variant 'is going to sweep the world, in all probability'.

It is already the dominant strain across the UK but all the evidence suggests current vaccines work against it.

But there are fears the variant has started to mutate further to become more like the one that evolved in South Africa, which is better able to resist immunity developed by past infection or from the current vaccines.

SINGLE SHOT OF OXFORD'S JAB 76% EFFECTIVE FOR 12 WEEKS A single shot of Oxford University's coronavirus vaccine is 76 per cent effective at preventing symptomatic illness and may have a 'substantial effect' on transmission, research suggests. In a huge boost to the UK's immunisation drive, analysis of the jab trials found the first dose was extremely successful in preventing people from falling ill within the 12-week time window between getting a second dose. When the second dose is administered after three months, the jab's efficacy is bumped up to 82.4 per cent, according to the study, which has been submitted to The Lancet for publication. The results, from more than 17,000 trial volunteers, suggest Britain's vaccination gamble to delay its dosing regimen has paid off. In a bid to get wider vaccine coverage quicker, regulators pivoted from their original plan to give people their second dose after 21 days when the Oxford University/AstraZeneca jab was approved in late December. They pushed back the second dose for 12 weeks in the hope that giving partial protection to as many vulnerable people as possible would drive down hospital admissions. Boris Johnson tweeted: 'Really encouraging data from a new study today shows the Oxford/AZ vaccine provides significant protection against the virus.' The strategy has helped make Britain a world-leader in vaccinations, with 9.6million people now injected with at least a single dose of either Pfizer's or AstraZeneca's jab. Meanwhile, analysis of PCR positive swabs carried out on nearly 7,000 patients in the UK arm of Oxford's trial suggests the vaccine may reduce transmission by 67 per cent. Health Secretary Matt Hancock described the findings as 'hugely encouraging', adding: 'It further reinforces our confidence that vaccines are capable of reducing transmission and protecting people from this awful disease.' Dr Gillies O'Bryan-Tear, of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine, said the study suggested the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine could be the 'holy grail'. He added: 'The data support the recommendation to delay the second dose of the Oxford vaccine out to 12 weeks. 'If these vaccines reduce transmission to the extent reported, it will mean that the easing of social restrictions will be enabled sooner, than if we have to wait for herd immunity, which may never in fact be achieved because of insufficient vaccine population coverage. 'That would be the holy grail of the global vaccine rollout, and these data bring us one step closer.' Advertisement

Professor Peacock said her work sequencing variants could be needed for at least 10 years.

Meanwhile a senior SAGE scientist has warned that the coronavirus variant detected in Bristol has the 'potential' to reinfect vaccinated Britons

Professor John Edmunds said it could be 'very dangerous' to the UK's mammoth jab drive if the mutant strain is allowed to spread around the country.

Public Health England has so far found 21 cases of this version of the virus, with 14 in Bristol, four in Manchester and three 'scattered' across the rest of the UK.

It is an evolved version of the Kent variant  the dominant strain of the virus in the UK  which has mutated further to develop a change first found on the South African strain that makes vaccines slightly less effective.

The alteration, scientifically known as E484K, is thought to play a key role in helping the strains 'hide' from the immune system.

Therefore manufacturers need to be extremely specific with their vaccines in order to offer the best form of protection due to the spike protein that the jabs target.

Vaccinating someone introduces a part of the virus to the body so the immune system can mould antibodies to it and then store them in case it comes into contact with the real, live virus in the future.

When the virus mutates and changes shape  as its spike protein has in coronavirus cases caused by the South Africa variant and the ones found in Brazil and Kent  these antibodies can become outdated and less successful at targeting the virus.

Top Government advisers insist the current crop should still work  but may be slightly less effective.

If the immune system has a weaker line of defence against the virus because of this, it raises the risk of people getting reinfected or getting sick despite having been immunised.

Developing new vaccines based on this changed version of the virus should overcome this problem.

Oxford's Professor Andrew Pollard, who is leading studies of the jab, said last Wednesday it would be a 'short process' compared to making the original vaccine from scratch.

Professor Pollard said it was 'very difficult to know' which mutations and variants would pose the biggest problems by the autumn this year.

But he said: 'At this moment, researchers are looking at current variants that are dominating... I suspect that this is going to be an ongoing challenge to follow what the virus is doing.'

The main worrying variants at the moment are B.1.1.7, found in England; B.1.351, which emerged in South Africa; and P.1, from Brazil.

The South African and Brazilian variants both have a mutation called E484K, which changes the spike protein in a way that makes vaccines less effective.

A study in South Africa found that 48 per cent of blood samples from people who had been infected in the past did not show an immune response to viruses with this E484K mutation. One researcher said it was 'clear that we have a problem'.

And cases of the English Kent variant have also been found with the same mutation, although it is not yet a permanent feature of that strain.

Professor Pollard said earlier last Wednesday that he expects the E484K mutation and future changes to the virus to reduce how well the current vaccines work.

He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'That mutation is a really interesting one because it is in a bit of the spike protein that most of us try and make antibodies against, and so it's highly likely that that will have a big impact on the immune response from all the vaccines...

'I think all developers are looking at updated vaccines at this moment so there will be vaccines that are tested  and that's a relatively short process  in order to make sure that we are prepared if these mutations result in ongoing severe disease.

'But I think there is a bit of hope in that, when we look at studies that have been done of the vaccines from any country in the world, including those with the variants, if they look at severe disease in those studies then we're still seeing very good protection.'
The Bachelor host Chris Harrison took to Instagram Wednesday with an apology after making comments about a racial controversy on the show that raised eyebrows.

'To my Bachelor Nation family - I will always own a mistake when I make one, so I am here to extend a sincere apology,' Harrison said in the social media post. 'I have this incredible platform to speak about love, and yesterday I took a stance on topics about which I should have been better informed.'

The 49-year-old TV host clarified his stance in making comments to Extra's Rachel Lindsay (formerly of The Bachelorette) suggesting 'a little grace, a little understanding' and 'a little compassion' toward Kirkconnell as he discussed the details of a racial scandal the contestant was tied to years ago.

The latest: The Bachelor host Chris Harrison took to Instagram Wednesday with an apology after making comments about a racial controversy on the show that raised eyebrows

She attended a bash described as 'antebellum plantation themed ball' in images that showed up on Reddit.

The Dallas native said, 'While I do not speak for Rachael Kirkconnell, my intentions were simply to ask for grace in offering her an opportunity to speak on her own behalf.'

'What I now realize I have done is cause harm by wrongly speaking in a manner that perpetuates racism, and for that I am so deeply sorry.

'I also apologize to my friend Rachel Lindsay for not listening to her better on a topic she has a first-hand understanding of, and humbly thank the members of Bachelor Nation who have reached out to me to hold me accountable. I promise to do better.'

Harrison took a solemn tone in the social media post following the controversy

Harrison especially apologized for the remarks to his 'friend Rachel Lindsay for not listening to her better on a topic she has a first-hand understanding of'

In the segment, Harrison initially called for 'a little understanding' toward Kirkconnell, when Lindsay said that the scandal was 'not a good look' for the contestant.

Harrison responded, 'Is it [not] a good look in 2018? Or is it not a good look in 2021? Because theres a big difference.'

He continued, 'The woke police is out there. And this poor girl Rachael, who has just been thrown to the lions, I dont know how you are equipped when you have never done this before, to be woke enough, to be eloquent enough, to be ready to handle this.'

In the segment, Harrison initially called for 'a little understanding' toward Kirkconnell, when Lindsay said that the scandal was 'not a good look' for the contestant

Speaking with ET earlier this month, Matt James - who is the first Black contestant in The Bachelor's history - opened up on his reaction to the scandal surrounding Kirkconnell.

'I have not spoken to anybody since the show ended, but I would say that you have to be really careful about what you are doing on social media,' James told the show. 'Rumors are dark and nasty and can ruin people's lives.

'So I would give people the benefit of the doubt, and hopefully she will have her time to speak on that ... everyone has a story, and I would just be receptive to that.'
Mount Greylock Committee on Remote vs. Hybrid Question Remains Secret

Updated Thursday morning with further comment from the district's superintendent.

WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass.  In-person classes resumed for most students in the Mount Greylock Regional School District this week with the blessing of a secret committee created recently under a memorandum of agreement between the district and its union.

But guidance from the Attorney General's Office suggests that committee and others like it are subject to the Open Meeting Law.

Superintendent Jason McCandless this week said the public health metrics the district uses to determine whether to stay fully remote indicated that a return to hybrid instruction on Monday, Feb. 8, was appropriate.

The six-person committee formed under the MOA is charged with reviewing those metrics and consulting with local health officials to determine whether it is appropriate to override the numbers either way -- either going remote when the stats do not require it or having in-person classes when the numbers dictate otherwise.

This week, the Hoosac Valley Regional School Committee talked about following a similar model.

"Monday's decision was dictated by the metrics," Mount Greylock's McCandless said this week. "There was a committee vote. It was a unanimous vote. But it was to support the metrics that say we should be back in school."

McCandless serves on the six-person committee, along with the district's business manager, Joe Bergeron, and a member of the School Committee, Curtis Elfenbein. McCandless said the other three members are union representatives from each of the district's three schools: Lanesborough Elementary, Williamstown Elementary and Mount Greylock Regional School.

On Tuesday, he declined to identify the union representatives.

"The advice I've gotten thus far is the union retains a right to not have those names necessarily made public," McCandless said.

"The members come from among our teacher, paraprofessional and other ranks and are not necessarily folks who have signed up to being the public eye."

McCandless said the decision to not hold the Joint Labor Management Committee meetings in public or even to identify the panel's members is based on his experience with JLMCs in the Pittsfield Public Schools and advice from the Massachusetts Teachers Association and the district's legal counsel, Westfield's Dupere Law Offices.

That advice arguably runs contrary to guidance released by the Attorney General's Office in a November newsletter.

The full text of that guidance reads:

The Open Meeting Law defines "public body" as any "multiple-member board, commission, committee or subcommittee within the executive or legislative branch or within any county, district, city, region or town, however created, elected, appointed or otherwise constituted, established to serve a public purpose." G.L. c. 30A,  18. The Law further defines a "subcommittee" as "any multiple-member body created to advise or make recommendations to a public body." Id. A public body forms a subcommittee when the body formally authorizes multiple members of the public body to perform a task or prepare a recommendation to the public body. If a single member undertakes a task, or multiple members volunteer on their own to do something without action by the public body, no subcommittee is created. The name of a subcommittee does not determine whether it is subject to the Open Meeting Law. A "working group" or "task force" or other multimember group will still be subject to the Open Meeting Law if it was created by a public body to perform a task. Even subcommittees that have members who are not part of the public body will be subject to the Open Meeting Law if they meet the other criteria.

There is some ambiguity in the guidance. It first refers to subcommittees as bodies with "multiple members of the public body," which Mount Greylock's Joint Labor Management Committee does not have; Elfenbein is the only member of the School Committee on the JLMC.

On the other hand, the AGO's guidance states that, an "other multimember group will still be subject to the Open Meeting Law if it was created by a public body to perform a task." The JLMC was created by the School Committee when it agreed to the MOA, the term "multimember" in this clause is not the same as "multiple members of the public body" used elsewhere in the guidance, and it is indisputable that the JLMC is performing a task.

Then there is the attorney general's standard guide to the OML, which states, "The purpose of the Open Meeting Law is to ensure transparency in the deliberations on which public policy is based. Because the democratic process depends on the public having knowledge about the considerations underlying governmental action, the Open Meeting Law requires, with some exceptions, that meetings of public bodies be open to the public."

After receiving a copy of the AGO's November guidance on the Open Meeting Law, McCandless on Wednesday said he had no response but would share the attorney general's guidance with others.

Thursday morning, he replied with further comment on behalf of the district.

"The JLMC has one school committee member," McCandless wrote. "The JLMC does not report back to the School Committee to advise on further actions by the School Committee. The JLMC stands as a human-overlay to a metrics driven process -- to examine the nuances of the data to potentially create exceptions to the data driven process.

"We believe that we operating appropriately within the law, within the ethics that guide our profession as we move forward during challenging times for all involved."

On Tuesday, McCandless said he understood that members of the public might expect the district's Joint Labor Management Committee to be subject to the OML, but he argued its work would fall under one of the law's 10 recognized purposes of executive session.

"I totally get it," McCandless said. "I would suggest it is indeed a negotiation. It impacts working conditions, impacts the health and wellness of staff and students. And our contention is it absolutely falls under the umbrella of negotiations and should be, to some degree, protected from some of the pressures that could come to bear on this."

Unlike negotiations, which ultimately lead to contracts being ratified in public by the School Committee in an open session, the Mount Greylock JLMC conducts all of its business, including votes, in secrecy.

McCandless likened the newly formed JLMC to similar committees he used in Pittsfield to advise on topics like teacher evaluations. Those would appear to fall under a separate piece of guidance from the AGO in its November newsletter: that advisory committees may fall outside the OML if they "merely make recommendations on an action the official could take on her own."

Nothing in the Jan. 28 MOA between the district and the Mount Greylock Education Association authorizes the superintendent to take action "on his own." It is only a majority decision of the six-person JLMC that decides whether the district will go remote or have in-person instruction.

"We have our advice," McCandless said on Tuesday. "That's simply how it is. If we're directed otherwise by the state or someone with authority over us, we understand that and would comply."
Bhubaneswar, Feb 11 : A local court in Odisha's Balasore on Thursday awarded life imprisonment to former contractual cameraman of Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) Ishwar Behera on charges of espionage.

Balasore Additional District Judge (ADJ) court convicted and awarded life imprisonment to Behera, former cameraman at DRDO's Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur for his links with Pakistan's intelligence agency ISI.

Behera was arrested in January 2015 for passing confidential information to ISI regarding testing of missiles at the ITR.

He was convicted under Sections 121, 121A and 120B of the IPC, and 3 and 5 of the Official Secrets Act, informed Nalini Kumar Panda, public prosecutor.

"ADJ Balasore convicted accused Iswar Behera former cameraman of ITR Chandipur in CID CB Case No. 02/15, for life imprisonment, on charges of espionage," tweeted the Crime Branch of Odisha Police.

A native of Kantipur village near Baisinga in Mayurbhanj district, he was employed as a cameraperson on contractual basis in 2007 in the ITR and had been spying for ISI for the last 8-10 months.
For the last two decades, American Jewish Committee has been blowing the whistle on the rising tide of anti-Semitism worldwide.

When asked the source, our answer has always been the same, depending on the specific circumstances: Look in one of three basic directions far left, far right, and jihadists. Too many in our hyper-partisan world, however, would prefer to shy away from this trifocal analysis. For them, it doesnt necessarily sit well politically, the facts be damned.

But, true to AJCs mission, we dont have a particular ax to grind or, if you will, a preferred enemy...
CHICAGO, Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Seeking justice for her son and hoping to hold local officials accountable in order to prevent future tragedies, Miguelina Pena filed suit in federal court on Monday, naming the police officer who shot her son, as well as the former police chief, city and county as defendants.

Ms. Pena's son, Ricardo Munoz, 27, was fatally shot after his family contacted police for their help during a mental health episode last year. Mr. Munoz, who had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder in his early 20s, was well-known to the local police department, whom his family had turned to repeatedly for help in similar situations.

On Sept. 13, Mr. Munoz's family had again called the crisis intervention hotline when Ricardo became agitated and was experiencing a psychotic episode. Following instructions from the crisis intervention operator, they then called the local non-emergency police number for assistance as well as 911.

Local police dispatched Officer Karson Arnold to the Munoz family residence. Within minutes of the Officer Arnold's arrival, Ricardo Munoz was dead: shot multiple times by the officer in front of his home as his mother, Ms. Pena, watched in horror.

Attorneys Steven Levin, Daisy Ayllon and Julie Murphy from Levin & Perconti in Chicago are representing the Munoz family, along with attorneys Michael Perna and Ryan Borchik of Perna & Abracht in Chester County, Pennsylvania.

The suit, which comes in the wake of local officials' decision not to file charges against Officer Arnold in the matter, notes that the city and county had no proper procedures in place to deal with people in mental health crises and that the officer failed to make any attempt to de-escalate the situation or use less-lethal means to bring Mr. Munoz to safety.

"Ricardo's death was, at best, the predictable result of ill-advised and clumsy police workand heart-breakingly preventable. At worst, it was the direct result of a cynical and callous disregard for the well-being of one of society's less fortunate sons," said attorney Michael Perna.

Citing the city's deficient policies concerning officer supervision and training, attorney Daisy Ayllon added, "Ultimately, Ricardo's lawsuit is about mental health reform, about police accountability when dealing with mentally-disturbed individuals who have committed no crime, and about the prevention of similar tragedies as a direct result of untrained and heavy-handed police intervention."

"Sometimes a community must look beyond itself for justice, and that's what the federal courts are for. We are looking to shine a light upon the system failures in responding to this call for help," said attorney Julie Murphy.

In December, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) introduced two bills calling for reform in how police nationwide respond to people with mental health issues and other disabilities. Casey referenced the Munoz case, along with two other police shootings of mentally ill men in Pennsylvania, as he announced the legislative initiative. In Philadelphia, days of demonstrations, including some protests that escalated into violence, had followed the October police shooting of Walter Wallace, who, like Munoz, suffered from mental illness.

"To their astonishing credit, rather than venting anger while in the grip of anguish, Ricardo's family actively discouraged violence in the immediate aftermath of his killing, which spared the city of Lancaster yet more tragedy," said attorney Ryan Borchik.

The Munoz family's lawsuit seeks damages for Ricardo's pain and suffering  including the denial of medical attention after he was shot  and his wrongful death as well as the emotional distress inflicted upon his mother as she witnessed his killing and the physical injury she suffered when, following her son's fatal shooting, she was tackled against a police vehicle.

"Ricardo's family first looked to a local crisis center for help with his well-documented mental health condition, but instead the police arrived and within a few short minutes had shot and killed their son and brother. Next the family looked to local law enforcement for transparency and accountability, but instead they encountered a most condescending response from the District Attorney and no transparency. Now they look to the federal court for justice," said Steven Levin.

Levin & Perconti is a nationally renowned law firm concentrating in all types of personal injury, medical malpractice, and wrongful death litigation. The lawyers at Levin & Perconti are committed to protecting and vindicating the rights of people who are injured by the negligence of others. Please contact the firm at (312) 332-2872 or visit www.levinperconti.com for more information.

Contact:

Debra Pickett

Page 2 Communications

[email protected]

773.368.7064

SOURCE Levin & Perconti

Related Links

http://www.levinperconti.com


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Film-streaming service, IROKO TV, is seeking to list on the London Stock Exchange (LSE) Alternative Investment Market within the next year, CEO Jason Njoku tells The Africa Report.

iROKOtv was launched on December 1, 2011. Dubbed the Netflix of Africa, it is the worlds largest legal digital distributor of African movies, especially Nollywood films.

According to Mr Njoku, the sale would aim to raise between $20m and $30m and would value the whole business at between $80m and $100m. He also added that discussions with brokers will start in the coming weeks.

Confirming the report on his official Twitter handle, he tweeted, God willing It feels like the right time.

In August 2020, PREMIUM TIMES reported Mr Njokus plan to lay off about 150 workers.

He said the move was partly necessitated by the devaluation of the naira which has affected his companys revenue since 2016.

He also noted that his firm will focus more on North America and Western Europe subscribers, who account for more than 80 per cent of revenues.

According to him, the devaluation of Naira dropped the platforms subscription costs from N3,000 ($18) in 2015 to N3,000 ($8.33) by 2017.

Currently, a subscription to the platform costs $6.3 with a dollar equivalent to N477.

Mr Njoku said it was rather strange to be finding out after almost nine years with IROKOtv, five exclusively focused in Africa, that the brand may be too early for Africa.

Interestingly, while the companys fortunes are dipping in Africa, business is booming internationally with the average revenue per user in the west between $25 and $30.

The Supervisory Board of Commerzbank approved the CEOs  Strategy 2024  on Wednesday. Starting in 2024, costs are to be reduced by 1.4 billion a year and return on equity increased to 7 percent. To do this, the bank will cut 10,000 full-time positions and close 340 of its 790 branches.

Headquarters of the Commerzbank (right) in Frankfurt

The works council and the Verdi trade union are represented on the Supervisory Board, which has equal representation. As the Supervisory Board has no formal decision-making authority on strategy, there was no vote. After the special meeting of the Supervisory Board, the Bank merely announced that the majority of the Supervisory Board had approved the CEOs plans.

It is obvious, however, that in addition to the shareholders, the supposed employee representatives also support the slash-and-burn proposal. At the end of January, when Commerzbank CEO Manfred Knof announced very painful cuts, Verdi representative Stefan Wittmann told the dpa news agency that the union could largely support the content of the strategy, objecting only that the timeline for staff reductions was too short.

On Wednesday, the Management Board and the Central Works Council agreed on a regulation agreement, which is only concerned with making the job cutting go as smoothly as possible. According to this agreement, by the time of the Annual General Meeting on May 5, 2021, the necessary regulations frameworksa framework reconciliation of interests and a framework social planare to be concluded with the Central Works Council. In other words, the Management Board and the Works Council will jointly agree on how the 10,000 jobs will be eliminated.

Bank employees are facing a tight phalanx of the Groups Board of Management, the Verdi union, the Works Council, the shareholders and the German government. During the financial crisis of 2008, the German government took a stake in Commerzbank, paying more than 5 billion for a 25 percent share. Even then, the concern of the government was not for jobs, but for the economic interests of the large corporations. According to its own figures, Commerzbank handles about 30 percent of Germanys foreign trade, by financing and securing import and export transactions.

Currently, the German government still holds 15.6 percent of Commerzbank shares and is fully behind the banks rationalization plans. When Verdi official Wittmann complained about the early announcement of the job cuts, Federal Finance Minister Olaf Scholz made it perfectly clear that Everyone knows something has to be done, even something very drastic. Scholz warned that the job cuts should be carried out in accordance with the tradition of social partnership and that a closing of ranks should be established between the Works Council, the union and the company.

It was two years ago that German Economics Minister Peter Altmeier called for the formation of large and strong players that would be on a par with competitors from the USA or China. Thus, two years ago the government had advocated a merger of Deutsche Bank and Commerzbank. Since those plans failed, it has advocated Commerzbanks restructuring.

According to the new strategy, the bank is to streamline its international presence, focus on customers with a clear connection to Germany and expand its business with high-net-worth customers and corporate clients in private banking and wealth management. Customer traffic is to be greatly reduced through digitization. Employees appear in the strategic plan only as cost factors.

In order to achieve annual cost savings of 1.4 billion by 2024, the bank is prepared to spend 1.8 billion on restructuring. Fifteen international locations will be closed, 350 branches in Germany will be eliminated, and the 200 branches already shut down due to the coronavirus pandemic will not be reopened. Internationally, one in four jobs will be cut; in Germany, one in three. Specific figures are to be presented at the banks annual press conference on February 11.

Countless workers in recent years have learned the meaning of the social partnership tradition invoked by Finance Minister Scholz. Tens of thousands have been manoeuvred out of their jobs in this waywith low severance payments, partial retirement, transfers to transitional companies, and from there into unemployment. Those affected are often urged by the works councils to accept these offers, with the warning that otherwise they risk a less advantageous firing.

Commerzbank employees are shocked and deeply concerned about their professional futures. In an internal survey conducted by the bank, 80 percent of respondents were not optimistic about the banks future. For shareholders and the board, on the other hand, the new strategy is a goldmine. Class antagonisms between labour and capital is on full display.

In 2019, when they were drawing up plans for branch closures, Commerzbank board members received a 39 percent increase in their pay compared to the previous year, according to the annual report, which amounts to more than 12 million.

Now, the prominent weekly paper Welt am Sonntag reports that the banks top managers are discussing a program for the second half of the planning period that will make shareholders happy. The newspaper states that the bank wants to use the money saved and equity released from the reduction of unprofitable business relationships to spend several billion euro on a dividend program and share buybacks. Share buybacks are a common business model that increases the value of shares and thus the wealth of shareholders. The German government, as the main shareholder, will also welcome this programme.

Commerzbank CEO Knofs post about the banks strategy on his LinkedIn page was answered by a branch manager with a clear comment: Its a pity that so many people lose their jobs for this, so that the heads up there can once again push through their strategy. The little people in the branches were working hard so that the trough up there can get even bigger.
The president of Queenslands Land Court has excused herself from a further re-hearing of the New Acland coal mine case, to be tentatively set for November, saying she had formed views about the merits of some of the issues that could affect its proceedings.

At the first court date for the long-running legal fight since the High Court set aside previous orders this month, judge Fleur Kingham said it would be inappropriate for her to be involved beyond managing the case to a new hearing.

A group of 60-plus farmers has won the latest round in a legal battle to stop the expansion the New Acland coal mine. Credit:Glenn Hunt

Other than getting this matter going, I dont expect that I will have any decision making to do in this hearing, she told the court on Thursday.

The New Hope energy company has spent almost 14 years trying to expand the New Acland mine into agricultural land near Oakey, about 130 kilometres west of Brisbane, and hoped a High Court appeal by opponents could clear the way for final state government approvals.
Priyanka Chopra Jonas added another feather to her cap, after modelling, acting, singing and production, by penning her memoir Unfinished. The actor poured out her thoughts on numerous events in her life, including some of the controversial developments. One of them had been her picture with Prime Minister Narendra Modi which had been termed inappropriate by a section over her choice of attire.

READ: Priyanka Chopra Recalls When A Director Demanded Her Undergarments Be Seen For A Song

Priyanka Chopra on picture with PM Modi

Priyanka Chopra sitting cross-legged in a skirt while interacting with PM Modi in Berlin in 2017 had sparked a controversy then. Opening up on it in her book Unfinished, she shared that she had contacted the leaders office upon learning that they were both staying at the same hotel.

The 'Desi Girl' stated that her response to the anger was posting a picture with her mother Dr Madhu Chopra, both dressed in her skirts, and captioning, 'it runs in the family.

On a serious note, Priyanka believed that she had presented herself respectfully, the snippet in the book read. Priyanka added that she had worn skirts and dresses all her life in India, be it at school or elsewhere, so could not understand why it was suddenly being considered so unacceptable. The Mary Kom actor stated that entire uproar had baffled and saddened her.

READ: Priyanka Chopra's Memoir 'Unfinished' Becomes No. 1 Bestseller Within A Day Of Its Release

She stated that she had become a global news, and being angry and confused since that was not how she wanted to be in the headlines around the world.

Priyanka Chopras memoir

Priyanka Chopras memoir Unfinished hit the book stores on Tuesday. Numerous other statements from the book, like opening up on a botched nose surgery, being caught with her boyfriend in the closet, praise for first co-star 'Thalapathy' Vijay, quitting a film over an inappropriate comment by a director have gone viral. Her 'griha pravesh' with husband Nick Jonas were among the other highlights of the book.

READ: Priyanka Chopra's Book 'Unfinished' Features Unseen Pic Of 'Griha Pravesh' With Nick Jonas

READ: When Nick Jonas Helped Priyanka Chopra Fix Tech Issues During Her Instagram Live Session

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.
America's Best Physicians Again for 2020 and 2021 One of America's Best Physicians Again for 2020 and 2021

Dr. Edward D. Buckingham of Buckingham Plastic Surgery in Austin, Texas, is honored to be nominated as one of "America's Best Physicians" again for 2020 and 2021. The National Consumer Advisory Board is a private organization dedicated to providing consumers with reliable information on leading U.S. physicians. The advisory board presents this renowned award to physicians who demonstrate outstanding credentials and meet the following benchmark qualifications:



Four or more years of experience after their essential residential training

Average more than three times the required continuing education in the state that they are licensed

Receive positive online reviews

Selected by other healthcare providers for their own treatment

Provide full-time care for patients

Have no malpractice issues or license suspensions

In recognition of his ongoing training, excellent results, patient satisfaction, and dedication to offering outstanding cosmetic and functional treatment options, the National Consumer Board has nominated Dr. Buckingham for the America's Best Physicians Award year after year. Dr. Buckingham, known by his patients as Dr. B, is a trusted facial plastic surgeon with over 20 years of experience. He is double board-certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology  head and neck surgery and by the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Dr. Buckingham's online reviews from previous patients are exceptionally high, with an average of 4.9 stars on Vitals, Google, and RealSelf. He also received the Top Doctors for Women Austin 2020 award and Top Doctors Austin 2020 award.

Dr. Buckingham is a Fellowship Director of one of the world's top fellowship programs, the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS). He is a distinguished facial plastic surgery teacher and mentors one surgeon each year, providing valuable training and surgical guidance.

Dr. Buckingham provides solutions for aging using traditional surgical options and the latest minimally-invasive endoscopic procedures to ensure natural-looking and long-lasting results. Dr. Buckingham specializes in facial fat transfer, liquid rhinoplasty, facial rejuvenation procedures and rhinoplasty. Dr. Buckingham is the founder of the prestigious Buckingham Center for Facial Plastic Surgery, where local Austin residents and out-of-town patients receive exceptional care.

To learn about specific treatment options from one of Americas Best Physicians, call (512) 4012500 or visit Buckingham Center to schedule a consultation with Dr. Buckingham at Buckingham Center in Austin, Texas.
Mortar shelling in Afghanistan kills at least 10 civilians

Fire breaks out at West Virginia oil refinery in US

Iran ready to help improve the defense capability of Syria

European Parliament head proposes to strengthen sanctions on Russia

UK PM gets married in London

Armenia reports COVID-19 new 81 cases: for people die

EU countries invite US to issue joint statement against Russia

2 people die in Armenia road accident

Nigeria: Students taken hostage a month ago are released

61 quakes recorded in Congo per day

Syrian MFA: EU lost credibility due to blind obedience to US policy

Armenia ex-minister of emergency situations hospitalized with heart attack

Mher Grigoryan: Clarification of border points is possible only after withdrawal of Azerbaijani troops from Armenia

Suspicious deal: Whether there was profit from buying DNA IDs?

Armenia ex-president says current authorities are trying to blame Russia for defeat in war

4 people killed in Afghanistani bus attack

Robert Kocharyan: This war could not have happened, it was a consequence of the policy of the authorities

Kocharyan: I have to ask people how it happened that overwhelming majority elected this leader

Armen Gevorgyan presents 'Armenia' bloc program: We offer the concept of a working country

Biden's administration proposed to leave unchanged amount of financial support to Armenia

US Embassy in Baku calls on Azerbaijan to immediately release Armenian POWs

Luxembourg MFA calls on Azerbaijan to immediately release all Armenian prisoners

Russia peacekeepers climb to Armenia Gegharkunik Province village positions

Biden strongly condemns manifestations of antisemitism in US

Iran intensifies its diplomacy amid Armenia-Azerbaijan border tensions

Armenia acting PM on forthcoming snap parliamentary elections: We hope to get 60% of votes

Lukashenko accuses West of destabilizing situation in Belarus

Armenia Central Electoral Commission chief on snap elections: No legal basis for postponing, suspending any function

Armenias Pashinyan is met by Yerevan district residents chanting against him

We are ready to be fully engaged in negotiation process to resolve Karabakh issue, says Armenia acting PM

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan gives interview to Russia TV channel

Armenia acting premier: We are ready to start withdrawing troops at any moment

Canada MFA expresses concern over 6 Armenian soldiers capture by Azerbaijan troops

There are omissions in registration documents of political forces that applied to Armenia Central Electoral Commission

Armenia Central Electoral Commission chief: There is activeness in Yerevan for the past day or two

Three new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Group of US Congress members threaten Azerbaijans Aliyev regime with sanctions

Chicago mayor is sued for allegedly refusing interview with white reporter

Iran exports oil to US for first time after long interval

"Armenia" bloc top 50 MP candidates are announced

42 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Sri Lanka public beach is covered in charred plastic pellets due to fire in container ship

US preparing list of targeted sanctions on Belarus authorities

China believes it will own America by 2035, Biden says

15 al-Shabab militants killed in Somalia

Newspaper: Armenia political forces that applied for running in election impatiently await CEC decision

Newspaper: Changes are expected in Artsakh

California prisoner who considers himself Satanist beheads cellmate, dismembers his body

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM's "mutually beneficial" proposal to collapse state system?

Armenia National Security Service Reserve Officers' Union members meet with His Holiness Karekin II

EU is ready to help Armenia and Azerbaijan with border delimitation and demarcation

ARF-D member on Nikol Pashinyan: 103 years ago Armenia's founding fathers would have executed him for treason

Iran President hails brotherly ties with Azerbaijan

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

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
Covid: no queues at the Brenner Pass due to Austria's checks Online registration and negative swab are mandatory.

(ANSA) - BOLZANO/BOZEN, 10 FEB - Austria has intensified today, as announced in recent days, border controls to verify compliance with anti-Covid measures. This compliance is primarily about online registration, which is mandatory for anyone traveling to Austria. Cross-border commuters and travelers must have a negative swab test. The controls, which would only concern light traffic, are not causing problems at the Brenner Pass. (ANSA).





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BEIJING  China has banned the BBC World News television channel in a diplomatic fight with Britain after British regulators revoked the license of state-owned Chinese broadcaster CGTN.

The move late Thursday was largely symbolic, because BBC World already was limited to being shown on cable TV systems in hotels and apartment compounds for foreigners and some other businesses.

The National Radio and Television Administration said BBC World News coverage of China violated requirements that news reporting be true and impartial and undermined Chinas national interests and ethnic solidarity.

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The Chinese government has criticized BBC reports about the COVID-19 pandemic in China and about allegations of forced labor and sexual abuse in the Xinjiang region, home to the Uighurs and other predominantly Muslim ethnic groups.

The channel fails to meet the requirements to broadcast in China as an overseas channel, the Radio and Television Administration said in a statement dated midnight Friday.

It gave no indication whether BBC reporters in China would be affected.

The communist Beijing government last year expelled foreign reporters for The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times during disputes with the Trump administration.

British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, in a written statement, called the move an unacceptable curtailing of media freedom that would only damage Chinas reputation in the eyes of the world.

In Hong Kong, government broadcaster RTHK said it would stop carrying BBC World broadcasts on Friday. It cited the main regulators order.

Britains communications watchdog, Ofcom, revoked the license for CGTN, Chinas English-language satellite news channel, on Feb. 4. It cited links to Chinas ruling Communist Party among the reasons.

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Ofcom had acted on political grounds based on ideological bias.

Losing its British broadcasting license was a setback for CGTN, which is part of efforts by the ruling Communist Party to promote its views abroad abroad. CGTN has a European operations hub in West London.

U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price called it troubling that media operations were restricted inside China while Beijings leaders use free and open media environments overseas to promote misinformation.

Price called on the Chinese government to allow its population free access to the media and the internet.

Media freedom is an important right and its key to ensuring an informed citizenry, an informed citizenry that can share their ideas freely amongst themselves and with their leaders, Price said.

Sir Richard Henriques says confidence in the criminal justice system has been 'gravely damaged' by the failure to hold officers to account following the disastrous VIP child abuse inquiry

A retired High Court judge today urges the Home Secretary to order an independent criminal investigation into five detectives at the centre of the 'Nick' scandal  and the watchdogs who cleared them.

In an open letter to Priti Patel, Sir Richard Henriques says confidence in the criminal justice system has been 'gravely damaged' by the failure to hold officers to account following the disastrous VIP child abuse inquiry.

He adds that the 'apparent condoning of police criminality by its notional watchdog, will inevitably give rise to allegations of political manipulation of the police', 'an orchestrated cover-up' and 'corruption at the highest level'.

Sir Richard spoke out after Leon Brittan's widow attacked a 'culture of cover-up and flick away' at the Metropolitan Police in an interview with this newspaper.

Her husband, a former home secretary, was among the public figures falsely accused of child sexual abuse and murder by Carl Beech, originally identified only as 'Nick'.

Beech, a serial liar and paedophile, was eventually jailed for 18 years after being convicted of perverting the course of justice.

Sir Richard spent several months investigating the Met's shambolic Operation Midland in 2016 before recommending five officers face a misconduct probe.

The hunt for justice Four inquiries have attempted to deal with the fallout  yet no-one directly involved in Operation Midland has been held responsible... Henriques review: In 2016, the Met's then-commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe asked Sir Richard to carry out a review into Operation Midland. The report identified 43 failings, and five officers were referred to the watchdog. The IPCC: The Independent Police Complaints Commission cleared the two most senior officers within four months, without interviewing them. Its successor, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, later announced that all the officers had no case to answer. Only one was spoken to face-to-face. Priti Patel: In 2019, the Home Secretary Patel ordered Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary to investigate whether lessons had been learned. Published last March its report was highly critical, saying the Met had made 'slow progress'. House of Commons: The Home Affairs Select Committee opened a probe into the IOPC in October 2019 following criticism over its 'whitewash' report into the five Midland officers. Following a pandemic-related delay, it is currently accepting submissions from interested parties such as Lady Brittan. The committee is due to hear live evidence soon. Advertisement

He today attacks not only the conduct of those officers but officials at the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), previously known as the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC), who cleared them.

Sir Richard says a district judge was 'knowingly misled into issuing search warrants' to raid the homes of Lady Brittan, D-Day hero Lord Bramall and former Tory MP Harvey Proctor.

He urges Miss Patel to order an investigation by an independent police force 'so that public faith in our police service, our judicial processes and our rule of law can be fully and finally be restored'.

His letter to the Home Secretary will place more pressure on the Met Commissioner, Cressida Dick, who sanctioned the setting up of Operation Midland in November 2014. She has previously refused to call in an outside force to investigate the officers at the centre of the scandal.

The most senior of the five  former deputy assistant commissioner Steve Rodhouse  also faces an uncertain future. Now deputy head of the National Crime Agency, with a salary package of around 300,000, he was cleared of misconduct after four months, without even being interviewed.

Among Sir Richard's questions for Miss Patel is how the promotion came about.

Others facing scrutiny include IOPC chairman Michael Lockwood, an accountant who previously ran a suburban London council.

A House of Lords debate yesterday saw peers question why no officers involved in Operation Midland have been disciplined.

Lord Garnier, a former solicitor general, said any officers who had perverted the course of justice by misleading a district judge should be prosecuted.

Yesterday the Mail revealed detectives used the infamous words 'credible' and 'true' to persuade a judge to let them raid Lady Brittan's homes in March 2015.

Dame Cressida had claimed a senior officer 'mistakenly' used the words to describe Beech at a notorious press conference in December 2014.

SIR RICHARD HENRIQUES: Why we must now launch a criminal inquiry into the Met and its watchdog

As you know, in 2014 Carl Beech (AKA Nick) gave false information to the Metropolitan Police that gave rise to a lengthy and detailed investigation into allegations of child abuse and murder by a number of high profile individuals.

That investigation, Operation Midland, was a travesty that ruined the reputations of many decent and highly regarded fellow citizens.

In the process, our criminal justice process was perverted. A judge was duped by false information. A former home secretary's high reputation was tarnished and his widow's grieving was crudely interrupted.

A former chief of the general staff in his nineties was treated as a common criminal in a shameful and inappropriate police interview conducted by a detective constable. Lord Bramall's home was searched for an entire day during which his terminally-ill wife was moved from room to room.

As part of their investigation into Beech's claims, Metropolitan Police officers gave false information to a district judge and thereby unlawfully obtained search warrants. All five officers involved in that process have been exonerated after referral to the police watchdog

A former MP lost both his home and his employment and has suffered greatly.

Several others of the highest standing and repute, who had been so treacherously named by Beech as his alleged assailants, found themselves named in public.

The devastation that they and their families endured has been brought back into the spotlight this week by the testimony of Lord Brittan's widow. I congratulate Lady Brittan on her courage in bringing this injustice to the attention of the public, and the Daily Mail in giving these events the publicity they demand.

Confidence in our processes has been gravely damaged. A single uncorroborated liar was allowed to run amok due to a combination of stupidity, incompetence, an ill-conceived doctrine that victims must be believed, and an apparent ambition to rectify errors made in the Jimmy Savile investigation  in which one senior officer in Operation Midland had been involved.

My independent review of Operation Midland, called for by the former head of the Metropolitan Police Service, Lord Hogan-Howe, found a total of 43 basic errors in the investigation.

The operation was conducted in a disordered and chaotic manner and was littered with mistakes, all of which could and should have been avoided by officers who were subsequently promoted. I made a total of 25 recommendations designed to avoid similar catastrophic investigations.

Lady Brittan has spoken this week about what she calls 'a culture of cover-up and flick away' within Scotland Yard

I was therefore deeply concerned to learn last March, following publication of a report by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary, that Scotland Yard had been more concerned with covering up its mistakes in the case than learning from them.

The force did little to improve practices for nearly three years.

So far as I know not one of my recommendations has either been accepted or rejected by the Metropolitan Police.

I visited New Scotland Yard in October 2019, at the invitation of the present Commissioner, Cressida Dick. I was assured that a team led by a deputy assistant commissioner 'was working on improving the investigative skills of the Met focusing on warrants and searching, and ensuring that 'belief' is well understood'.

Last January, Dame Cressida wrote to me confirming that work was under way. I have since heard nothing.

It is now over four years and four months since I handed my review to Lord Hogan-Howe. I am dismayed at the delay in acting upon my recommendations.

A general election and Covid have twice prevented the Home Affairs Select Committee from considering either Operation Midland or the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) investigation into its manifest failings.

I implore it to find time to consider them both. These shocking events have seriously damaged public confidence in both the Metropolitan Police and the IOPC.

The absolute lack of accountability, coupled with apparent condoning of police criminality by its notional watchdog, will inevitably give rise to allegations of political manipulation of the police, an orchestrated cover-up by the IOPC and others, and corruption at the highest level. Positive action is now urgently called for.

A district judge was knowingly misled into issuing search warrants. The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) and its successor, the IOPC, failed in its duty to investigate.

There are reasonable grounds to believe that criminal acts have been committed.

Today, therefore, I am writing to you to request that an independent police force should now be asked to investigate not only the conduct of Metropolitan Police officers involved in authorising and applying for search warrants, but also those in the IPCC and IOPC whose duty it was to investigate. Northumbria Police is fully aware of the facts and has demonstrated competence where others have failed.

May I respectfully invite your attention to a number of key questions that should be central to this inquiry. As part of their investigation into Beech's claims, Metropolitan Police officers gave false information to a district judge and thereby unlawfully obtained search warrants. All five officers involved in that process have been exonerated after referral to the police watchdog.

The most senior officer (a deputy assistant commissioner, or DAC) and the senior investigating officer (a detective chief inspector, or DCI) were promoted before the investigation by the IOPC had been completed.

Q1: Who caused or permitted promotions to take place before the investigation was completed?

Q2: Was the promotion board informed that the investigation was not complete when the officers were promoted?

Q3: Were either of the candidates supported by references from those with knowledge of Operation Midland?

Five Metropolitan Police officers were referred to the police watchdog and a decision was taken to investigate them for misconduct, rather than gross misconduct or criminal conduct, notwithstanding the fact that false documentation had been placed before a district judge on oath in order to obtain search warrants.

Q4: Whose decision was it to investigate mere misconduct as opposed to gross misconduct or criminal conduct when a district judge was misled by false evidence?

The applications for a search warrant falsely stated that the account from 'Nick' had remained consistent when in fact he had given conflicting accounts to the Wiltshire and Metropolitan police forces. He told the former that he was raped in a hotel off Oxford Street by foreigners, but told the latter he was raped in the Carlton Club and Dolphin Square by named politicians and retired Army officers.

The search warrant application also indicated that there were no undermining factors. There were at least six matters which required disclosure within the knowledge of the DAC authorising the application for search warrants.

In granting the application, the district judge indicated that he relied on the fact that a DAC had overseen the applications.

Q5: How can the exoneration of the DAC without cross-examination be justified?

Q6: Whose decision was it to exonerate the DAC and detective superintendent (DSU) after four months  long before an attempt was made to interview the more junior officers?

The only officer to face questioning, many months later, was the DCI who, by reason of the passage of time, 'was unable to recollect what information was available at what time'.

During the investigation into Beech's allegations two further opportunists, known as A and B, both with histories of criminal offending, also made allegations calculated to support his claims.

Richard Henriques says in a letter to Priti Patel (left) that he visited New Scotland Yard in October 2019, at the invitation of the present Commissioner, Cressida Dick (right). He says: 'I was assured that a team led by a deputy assistant commissioner 'was working on improving the investigative skills of the Met focusing on warrants and searching, and ensuring that 'belief' is well understood'. Last January, Dame Cressida wrote to me confirming that work was under way. I have since heard nothing'

Both were serial liars, and Operation Midland officers  after lengthy investigation  properly concluded that both had invented their accounts.

In my review of Operation Midland I advised that A and B be reported to an independent police force with a view to their being prosecuted for attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Lord Hogan-Howe, the then commissioner, agreed and accepted my advice. Yet subsequent to his retirement, a decision was made to take no further action against A or B.

I am at a loss to comprehend that decision. A and B had committed the same offence as Beech and if convicted faced lengthy prison sentences. The evidence against them was contained in their own witness statements.

Q7: Who decided that no action should be taken against A and B and on what grounds?

It took almost three years for the IOPC to publish their findings into the Operation Midland affair. The 'lead investigator' contacted me 20 months into the investigation and readily conceded a lack of knowledge, training or education in relevant criminal procedure.

One or more officers caused a false document to be placed before a judge and supported on oath. This was no proper investigation by the IOPC.

In my review of Operation Midland I had called for a rigorous investigation and indicated that there were many questions to be asked. The IOPC failed in both respects.

Q8: Why did it take some three years to complete an investigation when the two most senior officers were exonerated after four months?

Q9: Why was a person lacking the appropriate skill and experience appointed as lead investigator in such a high profile and important investigation?

In the years since Operation Midland, the Metropolitan Police has paid a total of more than 1million in damages and costs to those persons whose homes were searched pursuant to the warrants unlawfully obtained.

Q10: How can the exoneration of all officers responsible for the application for and obtaining of the search warrants be reconciled with the payment of very significant sums of compensation to those wronged by the issue of those warrants?

All these questions, and more, have troubled me greatly. Carl Beech is now serving 18 years in jail for perverting the course of justice and other offences. Yet I still do not believe the full truth has been exposed about the decisions, many taken at the highest level, that saw so many innocent individuals suffer as a consequence of his wicked lies.

Lady Brittan has spoken this week about what she calls 'a culture of cover-up and flick away' within Scotland Yard.

I urge you now to act on such claims, so that public faith in our police service, our judicial processes and our rule of law can be fully and finally be restored.
Relief as Tanzanias Mwanza cooperative sets up drying, icing factories

February 11,2021 | Source: The Citizen

Fishermen and traders who deal with sardines and Nile perch at Gana Island, Ukerewe District in Mwanza Region have stepped into the new year smiling broadly. This is because they will now no longer be required to travel all the way to Mwanza City in search of icing and drying services. Bukasiga Fishery Cooperative Society in the Isles has set up two factories that have been a boon to micro and small scale fishermen and traders.



The presence of the two factories means that fishermen and traders will cut the cost and time associated with icing and drying services for their fish. With a financial boost of Sh200 million from Tanzania Agricultural Development Bank (TADB), the cooperative has installed a solar-drying facility and ice-processing, according to a chairman of Bukasiga Cooperative, Mr Maganga Majula.



A total of Sh220 million was spent to install the facilities where Sh130 million went to solar drying facility, particularly for sardines and the remaining used to install ice factories for preserving Nile perch fishes. So far, the cooperative has a capital of more than Sh300 million. The capital surged from Sh2 million they collected from entry charges and membership fees. Statistics from Ukerewe district, Fisheries department, show that there are a total of 16,228 fishermen, with a total of 4,057 canoes in the district.



New firm in the house



The cooperative was established in 2019, after a long struggle among fishermen, searching for funds from private and public financial institutions. Mr Majula and few fishers went to the Ukerewe District office to seek financial support, but they were told to formulate the cooperative union that will bring together all fishers to get loans. We established the cooperative union in 2018, but it was not easy to gather the members until 2019. We started it with only 12 members, he said. So far, the cooperative has 62 members, owning more than 1, 000 canoes for catching sardines and Nile perch fishes.



With the Bukasiga cooperative, it becomes easy for fishers in the Island to access financial boosts, connection with the government and private institutions as well as accessing markets. The cooperative is representing all our thoughts, challenges and opportunities. I am benefiting a lot from this union, says Mr Nichorus Sese, a member of the cooperative. Each member contributes Sh5, 000 as entrance fees and they buy and sell shares at Sh10, 000 to generate income that would run the cooperative.



Financing



The Bukasiga cooperative finally secured a loan of Sh200 million in 2020 from Tanzania Agricultural Development Bank (TADB), but members say it was not easy. They say, soon after establishing the cooperative union they went back to the Ukerewe district office, but the officers directed them to travel to Mwanza regional office. Majula and a few members went to Mwanza town, paying Sh20, 000 for go and return fare, seeking for financial boost from public and private institutions.



We had to visit the regional office because we didnt know where and how we can access the loans. For a very long time, the majority of banks and financial institutions have been rejecting our loan proposals, says Mr Majula. Under supervision of Mwanza regional office, they were introduced to TADB where they were asked to bring a business plan. No one in our union has the skills of preparing the business plan. We hired a professional to write the business plan, asking for Sh250 million to build the two factories, but only Sh200 million were disbursed, he said. Bukasiga also received financial support of Sh20 million from the United Nations Development Programme - Tanzania (UNDP Tanzania) to connect electricity in the factory.



Ice factory



Nichorus Sese (31), a fisherman and trader of Nile Perch in Gana Island says before the factory started operating in late January 2021, he used to fetch the ices from Mwanza. He owns one fishing boat worthy more than Sh15 million. He uses the boat on fishing and transporting his Nile Perches to market places. He was paying Sh30, 000 to buy a 50kg bag of ice in Mwanza plus Sh60, 000 as transport fees. I currently pay Sh20, 000 per same bag of ice here in the Island. Transportation is also no longer a trouble and I get the product on time, he said. Easier access to ices gives Mr Sese and other fishers and traders broader space to decide when and where to sell their Nile perches. Mr Majula said the Sh90 million factory is producing five tons of ice everyday but the Islands demand is 20 tons. The demand is still bigger compared to the supply. We are planning to increase more ice machines, he said.



Solar drying facility



Mr Majula is also the fisherman of sardines, owning four fishing boats worth Sh16 million, each. The main challenge for him and his fellow sardines fishers was a post-loss due to poor drying technologies. They were depending on sunlight only with poor places of drying their sardines. We were drying them on sands so the quality of our sardines was very poor. When it rains, it becomes more difficult, he notes.



It was hard to dry sardines during the rain seasons. But with the Sh130 million solar-drying facility, the activities will be easily done by a solar panel technology, he added. The quality of the sardines has improved and so does the price. Sardines are currently sold at Sh10,000 per 20-litre container from Sh6,000 per the same container, one month ago. The cooperative union has benefited me a lot. I will convince more small scale fishers to join and raise our capital, he noted.

Theme(s): Fishing Craft, Gear and Fishing Methods, Fisheries Resources, Coastal Ecosystems and Threats, Communities and Organisations, Others, Post Harvest Technology and Trade, Freshwater ecosystems and threats, Landing Centres, Fisheries Development and Aquaculture.

When Eman Essas husband died and she took over running his farm in southern Egypt, she found herself guessing when the wheat crop needed watering.

Essa, 36, would often end up either using too much water on her 2-feddan (2-acre) plot outside Samalout city or hiring another farmer to take over the irrigation duties, she told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

Then, in December last year, the mother of four joined a new government project that uses sensors to allow her to see exactly when the soil is dry and just how much water she needs - all from an app on her phone.

When I first heard about the new system, I did not know exactly how it would benefit me. But when people showed me how it works, I found it really helpful and (it) would save me a lot of effort and money, she said in a phone interview.

In the few weeks since she adopted the system, Essa has been using 20% less water and her labour costs have dropped by nearly a third.

The system, developed by the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation and Cairos MSA University, uses a sensor buried in the soil to measure moisture levels and a transmitter to send the data to the user, who accesses it through a mobile app.

Even if they are away from their fields, farmers can tell whether their crops need more water or have had enough.

Essa is one of dozens of farmers who have started using the new system, launched in December, in Upper Egypts Minya governorate and in New Valley governorate in the southwest.

The project, in its pilot phase, is part of a nationwide strategy to encourage the use of modern irrigation methods, said Mohamed Ghanem, spokesman for the water ministry.

The aim is to reduce water use, increase crop productivity and lower production costs as Egypt faces increasing water pressures, he said.

The preliminary results indicate success in saving large quantities of water and reducing production costs, he said by phone, adding that the government is still in the process of collecting data on the projects impact.

The ministry has so far provided 200 free devices to farmers, but after the trial period ends, it will start selling them countrywide, Ghanem added, without specifying the price.

WATER POOR

At another farm near Essas in Minya governorate, Gerges Shoukri said combining the new mobile system with the drip irrigation he and his wife installed early last year had been a big boost.

Shoukri, 32, said he now uses 15% less water, while the quality of his vegetable crops has improved and production has jumped by about 30%.

We have to be prepared in case of any water shortages by adopting new irrigation and agricultural methods, he said.

A 2019 report by the Egyptian Center for Strategic Studies noted that every year agriculture consumes more than 85% of the countrys share of the Nile, which provides the bulk of Egypts water supply.

Officials say Egypt currently has about 570 cubic metres (150,000 gallons) of water per person per year. Experts consider a country water poor if its annual supply is less than 1,000 cubic metres per person.

In 2017, Egypt embarked on a 20-year strategy to tackle its water challenges, which experts say are becoming increasingly urgent in the face of a growing population, climate change-related drought and fears of losing much of its access to the Nile Rivers waters.

According to Egypts statistical agency, about 70% of the countrys water comes from the Nile, which amounts to 55.5 billion cubic meters a year based on a 1959 deal with upstream Sudan.

But the deal is not recognised by Ethiopia, which has now started filling the reservoir behind its new Grand Renaissance mega-dam upstream from Egypt.

TOO HIGH-TECH?

Some agricultural experts are sceptical about the effectiveness of the new mobile irrigation system, pointing to the cost and the fact that many farmers will not be familiar or comfortable with the technology.

Abbas Sharaky, an associate professor of economic geology at Cairo University, said the system could benefit large commercial farmers, but would not be useful to many small-scale farmers.

Some companies in Egypt are already starting to apply (mobile irrigation technology) in agriculture for better quality and management, he told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

But applying it to individuals would be difficult because they would need training and adequate resources.

Youssef El Bahwashi, an agricultural engineer who has a farm in Giza city and has not installed the new system, said many farmers do not even use mobile phones.

With their long experience in irrigation and agriculture, they cannot be easily convinced to use a new device which will cost them money and which most probably they will not be able to deal with, he said.

Safaa Abdel Hakim, supervisor of the project in Minya city, said the farmers who receive the devices get training on how to use them.

Essa said that, as someone who is not tech-savvy, it was quite difficult to keep up with all the changes.

But, she believes that embracing new irrigation trends and evolving attitudes about water consumption will help Egypts farmers deal with whatever comes down the line.

Getting educated about the new technologies will not only help me better manage my land but also ... adapt to any changes in the future, she said.

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Kids want to fish? You don't know how yourself? Here's a little help
Can fully vaccinated people against COVID-19 still spread the coronavirus?

Gujarat: Maharrao Pragmalji III, the last Maharaja of Kutch, dies of COVID-19 complications

UP eases covid restrictions: Shops allowed to open on weekdays in districts with less than 600 active cases

Govt warns against fake website offering COVID-19 vaccine for Rs 4k-6k

India

oi-Briti Roy Barman

New Delhi, Feb 11: The government on Thursday warned people against a website impersonating the official website of the Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.

The fake website 'mohfw.xyz' claims to offer COVID-19 vaccine for Rs 4,000-6,000.

"This is a fake website, for any information, please visit 'https://www.mohfw.gov.in/'," a tweet by PIB Fact Check's Twitter handle said.

Meanwhile, India has became the fastest country in the world to achieve over 70 lakh vaccinations against COVID-19 in only 26 days.

It took 27 days for the US and 48 days for the UK. Union Health Ministry said, a total of over 70 lakh 17 thousand people have been administered COVID-19 vaccines in the country so far. More than four lakh five thousand people were inoculated with COVID vaccine doses in the last 24 hours.

The number of beneficiaries being vaccinated every day has shown a progressive increase. The Ministry said, 13 States and Union Territories have vaccinated over 65 per cent of the registered health care workers.

Bihar leads with over 79 per cent of the registered health care workers vaccinated. Seven States and UTs have reported less than 40 per cent vaccinations of the registered health care workers.

Farm Laws: What did PM Modi say on the agricultural laws in the Parliament| Oneindia News

Puducherry has recorded the lowest vaccination performance of 17.5 per cent.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Thursday, February 11, 2021, 16:20 [IST]
New Delhi: Bhojpuri actress turned television actress Monalisa is an avid social media user, who loves to update her fans with fresh posts. She recently took to Instagram and dropped her stunning pictures in a red outfit.

Monalisa rocked a noodle-strap red body-hugging shift dress, looking like a perfect Valentine tease. Here, take a look at her fancy pictures:

She a massive 4.1 million fan base on Instagram alone. The actress has had the opportunity of working with almost all the Bhojpuri big shots in her movie career. In 'Nazar', she played an evil force named Mohana. And received immense adulation for her work on TV.

Monalisa was seen this year in 'Nazar 2' as Madhulika Chaudhary. She sure knows how to keep her social media fam happy and smiling.

She is these days seen in popular daily soap 'Namak Issk Ka'.

The sensational star was seen as a popular contestant in the reality show 'Bigg Boss 10' and in fact, got married to her then-boyfriend Vikrant Singh inside the BB 10 house.
UK full-fibre infrastructure provider and ISP Truespeed has started rolling out its fibre broadband network in Bath and neighbouring areas in the South West including the towns of Keynsham, Saltford and South Widcombe.

In nearby Wells, where the build began in June 2020, Truespeed has now passed over 3,000 premises. The firm is boosting its investment in Wells, with plans to connect more areas of the city and continue expanding its current building works in surrounding areas such as Wookey and Coxley.

As well as concentrating on rural communities across the South West, Truespeed also offers primary schools and community hubs passed by its network free ultrafast broadband for life. To date, over 100 schools and community hubs have signed up.

Were excited to get going in Bath while stepping up the roll-out of our full fibre network in Wells and surrounding areas in Somerset," said Truespeed CEO Evan Wienburg commenting on the rollout. "Were lighting up our map of the South West and bringing under-served households and businesses the future-proofed gigabit capable connectivity they deserve.

Related Activists in Beirut protest killing of Hezbollah critic Lokman Slim

The US ambassador to Lebanon paid a rare visit to a quarter of Beirut that is a Hezbollah stronghold to attend the memorial service for activist Lokman Slim on Thursday.

He was shot dead and found in his car last Thursday in south Lebanon - the first killing of a high-profile activist in years.

"This was a barbaric act, unforgivable and unacceptable," Dorothy Shea said in a speech at the service which was held at the family home in Beirut's Dahiya quarter.

Slim ran a research centre, made documentaries with his wife and led efforts to build an archive on Lebanon's 1975-1990 sectarian civil war.

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India rebuked Twitter on Wednesday for not complying with its orders to take down certain content and warned the social media giant that it needs to obey local laws, even as Indian lawmakers urged their followers to switch to home-grown rival Koo.

Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, in a statement, said, "Secretary expressed his deep disappointment to Twitter leadership about the manner in which Twitter has unwillingly, grudgingly and with great delay complied with the substantial parts of the order. He took this opportunity to remind Twitter that in India, its Constitution and laws are supreme. It is expected that responsible entities not only reaffirm but remain committed to compliance to the law of land."

The statement came after the IT ministry secretary held a virtual meeting with Twitter Vice President Global Public Policy Monique Meche and Deputy General Counsel and Vice President Legal Jim Baker.

ALSO READ | After Centre's Warning, Twitter Blocks Accounts with 'Khalistani' Links But Adds 'Free Speech' Rider

The government conveyed to the Twitter leadership that the "manner in which Twitter officially allows fake, unverified, anonymous and automated bot accounts to be operated on its platform, raises doubts about its commitment to transparency and healthy conversation on this platform".

The IT ministry secretary reminded Twitter about the action taken by Twitter during the Capitol Hill episode in the USA and compared that with the disturbance in Red Fort in India and its aftermath. He expressed dissatisfaction over Twitter's differential treatment in the two incidents.

"Despite the attention of Twitter being drawn to such content by the Government through a lawful process, the platform allowed the content with this hashtag to continue, which was extremely unfortunate. A deep sense of disappointment at seeing Twitter side not with freedom of expression but rather with those who seek to abuse such freedom and provoke disturbance to public order, was conveyed to the Twitter representative," the statement further read.

ALSO READ | 'Content is Not Available': YouTube Takes Down Music Videos Related to Farmers' Protests

India has ordered Twitter to remove more than 1,100 accounts and posts that it alleges are spreading misinformation about the widespread protests by Indian farmers against new agricultural laws.

Twitter Inc riled Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government earlier on Wednesday, after it said in a public blog post that it had not fully complied with the government's order because it believed some of the take-down orders were not consistent with Indian law.

"In keeping with our principles of defending protected speech and freedom of expression, we have not taken any action on accounts that consist of news media entities, journalists, activists, and politicians," it said.

The IT Ministry, via a post on rival platform Koo, said late on Wednesday that its top official had on a call with some of Twitter's top executives expressed "strong displeasure" with Twitter's actions.

"Twitter is free to formulate its own rules and guidelines," the government said. "But Indian laws which are enacted by the Parliament of India must be followed irrespective of Twitter's own rules and guidelines."

Twitter did not immediately respond to a request seeking comment on the meeting with the IT ministry.

Twitter's moves to defy India's orders have put the company and its executives at the centre of a political firestorm. New Delhi has previously threatened legal action which could result in fines or imprisonment for Twitter executives responsible for implementing government directives.

It also comes after Twitter's top lobbyist in India, Mahima Kaul, resigned while the company scrambles to contain a growing public relations crisis.

Public opinion in one of Twitter's key markets is split. Some lawyers say Twitter must comply or challenge the order in court while activists blame the government for using legal provisions to curb free speech.

I'M ON KOO!

Earlier on Wednesday, Twitter said following government orders it permanently suspended over 500 accounts for engaging in platform manipulation and spam. For many others, it only restricted access within India and their tweets can still be read abroad.

For Twitter, the stakes are high in India, where it had 17.5 million users as of last month, according to German database firm Statista. It is also ardently used by Modi, his Cabinet ministers and other leaders to communicate with the public.

As the row takes a toll on Twitter, many Indian politicians and users are joining the home-grown Twitter-like social media platform Koo, which was launched last year.

#kooapp was the top Twitter trend in India on Wednesday with nearly 21,000 posts, followed by #BanTwitter.

Twitter declined to comment about some users migrating to Koo. Several people on Twitter, including Trade Minister Piyush Goyal, have posted tweets this week saying "I am now on Koo". Goyal, who has 9.6 million Twitter followers, has a pinned tweet asking people to connect with him on the rival Indian platform.

ALSO READ | What is Koo, Who Made it? Top Ten Questions You Had about Twitter's New Desi Doppelganger

Sambit Patra, a national spokesman for Modi's ruling party, and its head of IT Amit Malviya also joined Koo on Wednesday.

Koo, which has a yellow bird as its logo, said downloads have surged 10-fold in the past two days to over 3 million. "The last 48 hours has seen the largest number of sign-ups," Koo's co-founder Mayank Bidawatka told Reuters. "I've slept for two hours in last few days."

An Indian couple accused of 'crimes against humanity' by keeping a slave claim the alleged victim is a liar who cooked-up the story after overstaying her welcome.

The couple, who along with the victim cannot be named due to a court-imposed gag order, outlined their defence on Thursday on day two of their Supreme Court of Victoria trial.

Dr Gideon Boas, acting on behalf of the alleged female slaver, described the victim's evidence as 'colourful indeed'.

The woman twice came to Melbourne from her home in Tamil Nadu, in southern India, to care for the couple's three children (pictured), then disappeared for eight years, the court heard

The couple accused of imprisoning her allegedly lied about how they knew her when she collapsed in their Melbourne home, a court heard

The woman was discovered in 2015 after she collapsed inside the couple's Melbourne home.

She later alleged she had been held as a slave in a squalid corner of the suburban home for eight years.

The woman was found in a pool of her own urine weighing just 40kg.

She had a temperature of just 28.5C and was suffering from sepsis.

The husband and wife, whose home she was found at, are accused of intentionally possessing the woman as a slave between July 2007 and July 2015

Traumatised and with serious medical conditions, she spent more than two months in hospital recovering - and for much of that time nobody knew her real identity.

The husband and wife, whose home she was found at, are accused of intentionally keeping the woman as a slave between July 2007 and July 2015.

A trial for the couple, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, began in Victoria's Supreme Court on Wednesday.

Dr Boas told the jury his client actually considered the woman as family and referred to her affectionately as 'grandmother'.

He claimed the only crime his client had committed was harbouring the woman after he one-month travel visa had expired.

It was fear of prosecution over the visa violation that not only caused the woman to lie to authorities, but the alleged victim to lie about her captivity, the court heard.

Dr Boas said the alleged victim had 'crucial motivation' to make up the story after being questioned by police and Australian Border Force officers.

'There is very much another side to the story,' Dr Boas said.

The experienced barrister warned the jury to watch the alleged victim closely as she provided her evidence to the court.

'Her honesty and reliability is crucial,' Dr Boas said. 'Even if some of it stacks up, you need to determine if it amounts to slavery.'

Dr Boas claimed the alleged victim's story had changed 'dramatically' and he urged the jury to judge is she was a 'reliable storyteller'.

'She is the heart of this case,' he said.

An alleged slaver leaves court in 2017. She faces years behind bars if convicted of the 'crime against humanity'

The alleged slaver denies the allegations and claims her supposed victim made up the story to save her own skin

Earlier, prosecutor Richard Maidment QC said the woman twice came to Melbourne from her home in Tamil Nadu, in southern India, to care for the couple's three children before returning in 2007.

Eight years later, paramedics found her to be emaciated, weighing just 40kg and suffering from sepsis and untreated type-two diabetes.

The wife called triple-zero after finding the woman collapsed in their Mount Waverley home, and told the operator that she only knew the woman's first name.

She said the woman had come to stay with them, but left a number of times after receiving calls from unknown people.

The woman also didn't tell the truth, later telling authorities she was still under the couple's influence and control, and that she was fearful of being illegally in Australia. Her visa expired in August 2007, and her passport in 2011.

Mr Maidment said it's alleged the husband and wife seriously interfered with her fundamental rights and freedoms, including her ability to leave their home, communicate with others and access healthcare.

He said while she didn't pay for lodging all she received in payment was 'the odd $5 or $10 note on her birthday' and some saris in exchange for cooking, cleaning, folding clothes and caring for the children.

The jury heard the woman's son-in-law had arranged for her to work for the family - under the impression she would be paid.

'In the early days she would be allowed to speak on the phone with her son-in-law and daughter two or three times a year, but from about 2012 contact slowed to almost nothing,' Mr Maidment said.

When her daughter sent an email to the couple asking for her mother to be sent back to India she received two replies.

The first simply said 'get f**ked' while the second said, in all capitals, 'tell her to go f**k herself', the court heard. Her family in India then contacted Australian authorities who launched an investigation.

Earlier the court heard visa applications for the woman included a letter to her from the couple, describing them as 'eternally grateful' for her help.

Mr Maidment said the letter was written in English, purportedly to the victim who was an illiterate Tamil speaker who didn't know English. He described it as 'window dressing'.

The alleged victim is expected to enter the witness box on Friday.
Q1 2021 Consolidated Highlights:

Production of 18,398 gold equivalent ounces (14,127 gold ounces, 2.0 million copper pounds and 55,333 silver ounces).

Revenue of $27.8 million . Average realized gold price per ounce of $1,868 and copper price per pound of $3.29 .

. Average realized gold price per ounce of and copper price per pound of . EBITDA of $7.3 million .

. Free cash flow of $5.1 million .

. Cash balance of $15.6 million as at December 31, 2020 .

as at . Cash Operating Costs ("COC") and All in Sustaining Costs ("AISC") of $1,051 and $1,467 .

Juan Gavidia, CEO of Orvana Minerals stated: "I am proud of the Company's achievements this quarter, notwithstanding the challenging COVID-19 restrictions, both pursuant to our internal policies and governmental regulations, of which we strictly follow for the safety and good health of our teams. At $5 million free cash flow, we were able to generate one of our highest quarters of free cash flow, allowing us funding exploration and developmental initiatives at our three business units. Orvana is on track to meet its annual guidance, and in excellent shape to keep executing its long term value creation strategies".

TORONTO, Feb. 10, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Orvana Minerals Corp. (TSX: ORV) (the "Company" or "Orvana") announced today financial and operational results for the first quarter of fiscal 2021 ("Q1 2021").

OroValle

Quarterly gold production of 14,127 ounces, 5% higher than previous quarter due to 9% higher throughput, partially off-set by 4% lower grade.

Copper production was 2.0 million pounds, 15% higher than previous quarter, due to higher throughput and grade.

On track to meet production guidance.

Revenue of $27.8 million .

. OroValle COC & AISC of $954 and $1,191 .

and . Drilling:

Orovalle drilled 7,214 meters in El Valle in first quarter of fiscal 2021; 4,002 meters were infill drilling and 3,212 meters were in brownfield drilling.



Lidia Program commenced on schedule in the first quarter of fiscal 2021 and permitting for Ortosa Godan is in progress.

Taguas

After the completion of the fieldwork campaign in December 2020 , preparations are underway for 5,000 meters DDH drilling. Subject to the completion of all the required permitting and paperwork, and assuming no activities restriction in Argentina due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the program will be completed between February and April 2021 .

, preparations are underway for 5,000 meters DDH drilling. Subject to the completion of all the required permitting and paperwork, and assuming no activities restriction in due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the program will be completed between February and . A new Mineral Resource Estimate is being updated in compliance with Canadian National Instrument 43-101, by Geosim Services Inc, an independent consulting firm, by February 2021 .

EMIPA

As a result of latest metallurgical testing showing positive results for the Oxides Stockpile Project (OSP), a pilot program is being developed, with final conclusions expected in late fiscal 2021.

New reprocessing and interpretation of historical geological data was completed in December 2020 . Areas of interest will be subject to non-drilling exploration fieldwork during the next three quarters of fiscal 2021. The goal is to develop drilling targets for fiscal 2022 within the most prospective areas of the Don Mario Complex.

Selected Q1 2021 Consolidated Operational and Financial Information



Q1 2021 Q4 2020 Q1 2020 FY 2020 Operating Performance







Gold







Grade (g/t) 2.60 2.70 2.42 2.56 Recovery (%) 92.6 93.3 92.2 93.1 Production (oz) 14,127 13,422 15,815 53,421 Sales (oz) 12,085 14,784 18,663 55,344 Average realized price / oz $1,868 $1,891 $1,473 $1,647 Copper







Grade (%) 0.63 0.58 0.36 0.45 Recovery (%) 81.6 83.4 71.5 80.8 Production ('000 lbs) 2,044 1,780 892 5,611 Sales ('000 lbs) 1,645 1,971 1,051 5,512 Average realized price / lb 3.29 2.93 2.64 2.68 Financial Performance (in 000's, except per share amounts)





Revenue $27,815 $32,586 $29,020 $101,994 Mining costs $17,657 $22,392 $26,004 $82,240 Gross margin $6,263 $3,290 ($2,613) ($2,114) Net income (loss) $1,919 $8,640 ($2,745) ($1,592) Net income (loss) per share (basic/diluted) $0.01 $0.06 ($0.02) ($0.01) EBITDA $7,282 $7,255 $1,515 $9,544 Operating cash flows before non-cash working capital changes $7,494 $4,304 $2,108 $8,959 Operating cash flows $5,087 $13,392 $2,176 $11,435 Free Cash Flow $5,087 $602 $328 $278 Ending cash and cash equivalents $15,562 $15,572 $8,135 $15,572 Capital expenditures (2) $2,407 $3,702 $1,780 $8,681 Cash operating costs (by-product) ($/oz) gold $1,051 $1,241 $1,207 $1,278 All-in sustaining costs (by-product) ($/oz) gold $1,467 $1,609 $1,370 $1,582 All-in costs (by-product) ($/oz) gold $1,518 $1,643 $1,382 $1,614

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA"), free cash flow, cash operating costs, all-in sustaining costs and all-in costs are non-IFRS performance measures.

Capital expenditures are presented in the consolidated cash flows in the Audited Financials on a cash basis.

ABOUT ORVANA - Orvana is a multi-mine gold-copper-silver company. Orvana's assets consist of the producing El Valle and Carles gold-copper-silver mines in northern Spain, and the Don Mario gold-silver property in Bolivia, currently in care and maintenance. Orvana is in the process of completing the registration of transfer documents with the mining authorities in connection with the acquisition of Taguas, Argentina. Additional information is available at Orvana's website (www.orvana.com).

Cautionary Statements - Forward-Looking Information

Certain statements made herein constitute forward-looking statements or forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws ("forward-looking statements"). Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions, potentials, future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "believes", "expects", "plans", "estimates", "intends" or "anticipates" or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "will" or "are projected to" be taken or achieved) are not statements of historical fact, but are forward-looking statements.

The forward-looking statements herein relate to, among other things: Orvana's ability to achieve improvement in free cash flow; the potential to extend the mine life of El Valle and Don Mario beyond their current life-of-mine estimates including specifically, but not limited to in the case of Don Mario, the processing of the mineral stockpiles and the reprocessing of the tailings material; Orvana's ability to optimize its assets to deliver shareholder value; the Company's ability to optimize productivity at Don Mario and El Valle; any measures taken by the Company to prevent and/or mitigate the impact of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases at or near the Company's mines and support the sustainability of its business including through the development of crisis management plans, increasing stock levels for key supplies, monitoring of guidance from the medical community, and engagement with local communities and authorities; estimates of future production, operating costs and capital expenditures; mineral resource and reserve estimates; statements and information regarding future feasibility studies and their results; future transactions (including the completion of the acquisition of Taguas and subsequent results of any exploration work on Taguas); future metal prices; the ability to achieve additional growth and geographic diversification; future financial performance, including the ability to increase cash flow and profits; future financing requirements; and mine development plans. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company as of the date of such statements, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. The estimates and assumptions of the Company contained or incorporated by reference in this news release, which may prove to be incorrect, include, but are not limited to, the various assumptions set forth herein and in Orvana's most recently filed Management's Discussion & Analysis and Annual Information Form in respect of the Company's most recently completed fiscal year (the "Company Disclosures") or as otherwise expressly incorporated herein by reference as well as: there being no significant disruptions affecting operations, whether due to labour disruptions, supply disruptions, power disruptions, damage to equipment or otherwise; permitting, development, operations, expansion and acquisitions at El Valle and Don Mario being consistent with the Company's current expectations; political developments in any jurisdiction in which the Company operates being consistent with its current expectations; certain price assumptions for gold, copper and silver; prices for key supplies being approximately consistent with current levels; production and cost of sales forecasts meeting expectations; the accuracy of the Company's current mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates; and labour and materials costs increasing on a basis consistent with Orvana's current expectations.

A variety of inherent risks, uncertainties and factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control, affect the operations, performance and results of the Company and its business, and could cause actual events or results to differ materially from estimated or anticipated events or results expressed or implied by forward looking statements. Some of these risks, uncertainties and factors include the effect of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases on the Company's operations, workforce and supply chain, fluctuations in the price of gold, silver and copper; the need to recalculate estimates of resources based on actual production experience; the failure to achieve production estimates; variations in the grade of ore mined; variations in the cost of operations; the availability of qualified personnel; the Company's ability to obtain and maintain all necessary regulatory approvals and licenses; the Company's ability to use cyanide in its mining operations; risks generally associated with mineral exploration and development, including the Company's ability to continue to operate the El Valle and/or Don Mario and/or ability to resume long-term operations at the Carles Mine; the Company's ability to successfully implement a sulphidization circuit and ancillary facilities to process the current oxides stockpiles at Don Mario; the Company's ability to acquire and develop mineral properties and to successfully integrate such acquisitions; the Company's ability to execute on its strategy; the Company's ability to obtain financing when required on terms that are acceptable to the Company; challenges to the Company's interests in its property and mineral rights; current, pending and proposed legislative or regulatory developments or changes in political, social or economic conditions in the countries in which the Company operates; general economic conditions worldwide; and the risks identified in the Company's disclosures. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of the Company's forward-looking statements and reference should also be made to the Company's Disclosures for a description of additional risk factors.

Any forward-looking statements made herein with respect to the anticipated development and exploration of the Company's mineral projects are intended to provide an overview of management's expectations with respect to certain future activities of the Company and may not be appropriate for other purposes.

Forward-looking statements are based on management's current plans, estimates, projections, beliefs and opinions and, except as required by law, the Company does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements should assumptions related to these plans, estimates, projections, beliefs and opinions change. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements.

SOURCE Orvana Minerals Corp.

Related Links

www.orvana.com


Over the past day, February 10, seven ceasefire violations were recorded in the Joint Forces Operation (JFO) area in Donbas.

"In the area of responsibility of the operational and tactical group East, the Russian occupation forces opened fire from small arms and snipers weapons to shell Ukrainian positions near Pisky (11km north-west of Donetsk). As a result of the shelling, one Ukrainian defender received a gunshot wound. The serviceman was promptly taken to a medical facility, where he received the necessary medical assistance. His health condition is satisfactory," the press center of the JFO Headquarters reports.

The enemy repeatedly fired from hand-held anti-tank grenade launchers and heavy machine guns near Vodiane in the Sea of Azov area and from a mounted anti-tank grenade launcher in the area of Verkhniotoretske (22km north-east of Donetsk).

In the area of responsibility of the operational and tactical group North, the armed formations of the Russian Federation fired an automatic mounted grenade launcher near Pivdenne (40km north-east of Donetsk).

In addition, the enemy used a UAV to drop two VOG-17 grenades near the Joint Forces positions in the area of the village of Zolote 4.

Ukrainian defenders gave an adequate response to the shelling of the armed formations of the Russian Federation.

The OSCE representatives were informed about all the facts of ceasefire violations through the Ukrainian side of the Joint Control and Coordination Center (JCCC).

Today, February 11, no ceasefire violations have been recorded in the JFO area.

The situation in the JFO area remains controlled by Ukrainian soldiers.

ish
The official assures that only safe vaccines will be used.

Ukrainian Deputy Health Minister, Chief Medical Officer Viktor Liashko says that healthcare workers will be the first to get vaccinated against COVID-19 in Ukraine.

He announced this during the 'Right to Power' talk show, according to the TV news service TSN.

Read alsoChina's Sinovac applies for registration of COVID-19 vaccine in Ukraine

"Who will get it [first]? These will definitely be healthcare workers. Because Ukraine has decided to start a vaccination campaign with healthcare workers to protect those people who are on the front line with the coronavirus from day one. I believe that any healthcare worker today is a hero and he or she could become the one who would get the first shot. And then we will not have to decide who deserves more or who deserves less," he said.

He also assured that Ukrainians would be vaccinated against the coronavirus with vaccines that will be recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and will undergo registration in Ukraine.

"We will not comment on the effectiveness [of vaccines]. If a vaccine is registered as an immunobiological medication, it is ready to be used and it protects us from a severe course of an infectious disease. Therefore, all vaccines that will be used are safe, effective and will safeguard our citizens against a severe course of coronavirus disease," he said, adding that only safe vaccines will be used during the vaccination campaign.

COVID-19 vaccine for Ukraine

Ukraine plans to launch a COVID-19 vaccination campaign in the middle of February 2021. The first stage is expected to take about 20 days when healthcare workers who have contacts with COVID-19 patients will get vaccinated.

On December 30, 2020, Ukraine signed a contract for the supply of 1.9 million doses of China's Sinovac vaccine.

On January 30, 2021, Ukrainian Deputy Health Minister, Chief Medical Officer Viktor Liashko said Ukraine would receive 117,000 doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine within the COVAX (the COVID-19 Vaccine Global Access Facility) in February.

From the middle of February to the end of June 2021, Ukraine will obtain 2.2 million to 3.7 million doses of an AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine.

On February 5, Health Minister Stepanov said shipments of 12 million doses of vaccines produced by AstraZeneca and Novavax to Ukraine had been confirmed.

In December 2020, the Health Ministry's coronavirus task force approved a COVID-19 immunization plan under which at least 50% of Ukrainians (20 million people) are to be vaccinated during 2021-2022.

Reporting by UNIAN
BEFORE MY ACTUAL HEART BREAKS by Tish Delaney (Hutchinson 14.99, 384 pp)

BEFORE MY ACTUAL HEART BREAKS

by Tish Delaney (Hutchinson 14.99, 384 pp)

Mary Rattigan dreams of escaping her toxic family background in Northern Ireland to seek her fortune in the U.S. But accidentally becoming pregnant at 16 puts paid to all that. Instead, a hasty wedding is arranged to handsome local farmer, John Johns.

Despite not being the father of Mary's daughter, John dotes on the child. His relationship with Mary, though, is fraught with problems and the pair live in a state of near estrangement.

Mary is an eloquent narrator, conveying her and her husband's pain with exquisite and moving precision. The loneliness, grief and long-lasting repercussions of trauma are achingly real.

The graphically described Troubles provide a powerful backdrop to this arresting and moving novel.

THE DIVINES

THE DIVINES by Ellie Eaton (Hodder 17.99, 320 pp)

by Ellie Eaton (Hodder 17.99, 320 pp)

After her new husband's discovery of a pornographic photograph, journalist Josephine is forced to look back to her school days, where the picture came from. Prestigious English boarding school St John the Divine was forced to close shortly after Gerry, one of the pupils, was badly injured falling from a window.

Josephine remembers what went on leading up to the fall: the mysterious appearance of a series of pornographic snaps; the crush she developed on Lauren, a 'townie'; then on Lauren's brother  with devastating results.

Ingratiating herself with Skipper, her erstwhile best friend, involved bullying Gerry, despite her help when Josephine was in trouble. The novel draws us into Josephine's life, watching her confront her memories while trying to align them with who she is today. The teenage tension and angst among the girls is all too convincing in this compelling story.

BERNARD AND PAT by Blair James (Corsair 12.99, 160 pp)

BERNARD AND PAT

by Blair James (Corsair 12.99, 160 pp)

Catherine was only five when her father died. She has never got over it. Nor has she got over her Christian childminders, Bernard and Pat, who looked after her while her mother was at work, but who were far from the saints they seemed to be.

The novel is narrated by an older Catherine, who sifts through her memories in bite-size chapters of differing lengths.

'I often wonder if I remember anything at all or whether it is all made up. Is my life all made up?' Her voice is intriguing, at once childlike in tone yet adult in language, underscoring the ongoing influence of the past on her present circumstances.

As the fragments piece together, Catherine's story becomes horrifyingly clear. Memory and the tricks it plays are at the centre of this intense piece of writing.
BEIJING: The Chinese government led by Xi Jinping is known to use every dirty trick in the book to advance Jinpings expansionist and authoritarian ambitions. From intellectual property and technology theft to coercing the developing and low-income countries into a vicious debt trap, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has rigorously been using unscrupulous means to gain a strategic advantage.

Having control over cross-boundary rivers are also such potential tools or weapons that are being strategized by Xi's administration to achieve the strategic goals of China. The fact that China has come up with three large hydropower projects in very close proximity to each other, within the span of 24 kilometres, is a matter of immediate concern.

These three dams are - the Zangmo dam, which is already in commission; the Gyatsa dam, which has been constructed and is waiting to be commissioned; and finally, the Dagu dam, which has been in construction since 2017 and is the largest of the three.

All the three dams have provisions for reservoirs with a combined capacity of almost a billion cubic meters of water. Despite the fact that there is only one village comprising 150 households close to these dams, China decided to undertake such large and costly projects. This has prompted speculation that Beijing's prime aim behind the projects is to control the flow of the river, besides exporting electricity from Tibet to mainland China. Tibet, with all the rivers that flow through it, can generate 200 million kWh of power, accounting for 30 per cent of the gross hydro-power production of China. a source aware of these developments told Zee News.

The prospect of having control over the flow of the river Brahmaputra by China is a matter of concern not only for India but also for other downstream nations such as Bangladesh. China has also constructed dams on the Nyang river  a tributary of the Brahmaputra river. These three dams are-Pagsum, Langsai, and Nyang.

While these dams are smaller in size, they are still able to hold a considerable amount of water. Also, there are 11 other hydropower projects on the upper reaches of the Brahmaputra. Moreover, China has already planned for several other dams on the Brahmaputra in the coming ten years at Bayu, Jiexi, Langta, Dakpa, Nang, Demo and Namcha.

The recent plan for building a major hydropower project plant on the lower reaches of the Brahmaputra has been put forth in the 14" Five-year plan (2021-2025) of CCP. The extent of importance China has attached to the project is evident from the statement of the Chairman of the Power Construction Corp. of China, Yan Zhiyong.

On the 40" founding anniversary (November 26), Yan stated that the proposed project could be a historic opportunity and could serve to maintain water resources and China's national security

There are many reasons why a mega hydropower project so close to the border is a security concern for India. It is feared that after China completes the dam on the lower reaches of the Brahmaputra river in Tibet, it will gain full control of the flow of the river that is the lifeblood of millions of Indians.

If at any point, China decides to cut off the water supply, even for a few days, it could prove disastrous for India. Fears reign that amid a conflict or a border dispute, China may decide to stop the flow of the river as a means of retaliation to make India submit to China's demands.

 Satellite images have shown that besides building several military structures in the Galwan Valley, China has also attempted to barricade the Galwan river so that it can hold and release water at will, potentially endangering bridges on the 255-km Darbuk-Shyok-Daulat Beg Oldie road. China could also withhold water in the case of severe droughts, when the water levels of the river are already low, as well as flood low lying areas in Arunachal Pradesh by releasing large amounts of water from the dams at once. Another source told Zee News.

The river Brahmaputra and its tributaries carry more than 30% of the total water resource potential of India. The residents of 22 districts in the Indian state of Assam rely on the Brahmaputra and its tributaries for their livelihood. The river is also extremely important for the transportation of people and materials.

During 2013-14, the total number of people that were transported through Brahmaputras inland water transport system stood at 70,39,000, and the river was also used to transport 3, 56,552 metric tons of goods. These ferry services also provide employment to over 5,000 people just in the state of Assam.

625 million people live in the Brahmaputra basin, of which, 80% are farmers that need the water from the river for their crops and animals. Bangladesh gets 94% of its water from the Brahmaputra and its tributaries, totalling 2.9 billion metric tons. The high use of water sources is reflected in the agriculturally based economies that come up near the river and how important its waters are.

The newest dam which has been envisaged by China on the lower reaches of the Brahmaputra river in Tibet will also hold back the river silt, which provides essential nutrients to the soil for farming and is the reason for the fertility of the plains of Assam.

Further, the Brahmaputra river system and its delta are one of the worlds most ecologically sensitive regions and China's cot lams could have disastrous ecological consequences.

Indian farmers use the waters of the Brahmaputra to grow their crops and are sometimes wholly dependent on the waters of the Brahmaputra. The Brahmaputra river sub-basin in India and Bangladesh supports the livelihood of 66 million people through subsistence agriculture.

In the lower basin, due to greater precipitation, there are forests with valuable timber, reed jungle and several key agricultural products in the Assam valley including tea and fruit trees. If Beijing decides to withhold water, North-Eastern India will be deprived of nutrient-rich silt from the Brahmaputra. According to experts, with China's dam in place, even without Chinese intentions, Assam might get 64% less water during the monsoon season and 85% less water in the rest of the year.

In 2016, China has announced that it had decided to block the Xiabuqu river, which is one of the many tributaries of the Brahmaputra on the Chinese side. As per reports, China also has plans to build a dam at Xigase as a part of the Lalho hydroelectric project in the Tibet Autonomous Region.

Zhang Yunbao, head of the project's administration bureau stated that the Lalho project in Tibet represented an investment of $740 million and upon completion will be able to store close to 300 million cubic meters of water, which would be used for irrigation. However, one can easily speculate on the real intentions of China.

China's continued construction activities in the Himalayas pose an ecological risk as well. Seismologists consider the region to be highly vulnerable to earthquakes and seismic activities. The sheer size of the projects being undertaken by China poses a grave environmental risk to the millions of people and several other species living downstream.

The Brahmaputra basin is one of the world's most ecologically sensitive zones. This region is home to several species of flora and fauna that are unique to this part of the world. The Kaziranga National Park houses 15 mammalian species that are listed as threatened in the IUCN conservation list. While the river itself is home to the Gangetic river dolphin that is considered critically endangered.

This is a well-known fact that when nature retaliates to human activities that disturb the environment and ecological order, it comes in the form of mass destruction. The 2015 Nepal earthquake in the region and the resulting landslides wiped out several dams and other structures in the region.

Recently, a Himalayan glacier fell into a river, triggering a huge flood in the Indian state of Uttarakhand. Early June 2020 also saw floods severely devastating Bangladesh. A quarter of the country was inundated by the floods. Almost a million homes were flooded and more than 1,500 square kilometres of farmland was damaged.

According to a study titled Biodiversity decline of fish assemblages after the impoundment of the Three Gorges Dam in the Yangtze River in, China the Three Gorges Dam (TGD) has had a negative impact on fish biodiversity and has caused habitat loss and environmental changes brought about by the TGD has disrupted the natural seasonal flow patterns used by fish and blocked or destroyed their breeding grounds.

A completely different study title Unraveling the effects of large-scale ecological programs on ecological rehabilitation of Chinas Three Gorges Dam published in 2020, uncovered major ecological issues caused by the TGD such as degradation of terrestrial ecosystems in the reservoir area, water quality, aquatic biodiversity and riverbank erosion.

Construction activities undertaken in close proximity of rivers, especially in mountainous areas, cause an increase in suspended particles (rocks, sands etc.) in the river. In 2017, the clear waters of the Siang river had suddenly become extremely muddy.

The Siang river originates in the Tibetan plateau and flows into Arunachal Pradesh, where it joins the Lohit and the Dibang downstream to form the mighty Brahmaputra in Assam.

Results from testing of the water had shown a much higher level of turbidity in the water. The turbidity is the measure of the concentration of suspended or dissolved particles in the water. The turbidity of the Siang river was measured at above 400 Nephelometric Turbidity Unit (NTU) against the standard 12-15 NTU. Even during monsoons, when the turbidity of a river goes down, the Siang river has 290-310 NTU of turbidity.

The high turbidity level of the river greatly affects the life of fishes as the presence of suspended particles leads to choking of gills resulting in mass deaths. Results also showed a higher concentration of iron in the water at 40 parts per million (PPM) as against the standards of 0.2 PPM.

According to Professor Dr Sriparna Pathak, China has also started using polymer resin adhesives during its major construction activities. The resin adhesives are commonly used during large construction activities but are never used in close proximity to water bodies because they are harmful to humans and animals. Till now China has denied all such reports of it planning to build tunnels.

Rajya Sabha member from Assam, Ripun Bora who highlighted the darkening of the river waters in the Indian Parliament stated that the waters of the river had turned poisonous and had led to the death of many animals and aquatic life.

MP Bora also went on to add that that the cause for the sudden change in the river was due to the continued construction activities undertaken by China upstream. The increase in the turbidity of the river was greatly affecting the availability of drinking water supply as well as the livelihood of fishermen and farmers that rely on the clean waters of the Brahmaputra.

What has also been extremely concerning news are reports detailing how China may divert the waters of the Brahmaputra by using tunnels connected to the reservoirs constructed under their hydropower projects. Chinas water diversion plan was revealed after news broke on another Chinese dam construction-13 kilometers upstream from the Tsangmo dam.

The finding suggested that the main purpose of this structure was to divert the water from the river and not hydropower generation. According to media reports, China plans to divert the waters of the Brahmaputra almost 1,100 kilometres away from its original path.

Dr Dhansree Jayaram, a professor at the Manipal Academy of Higher Education stated during a recent webinar, organised by Red Lantern Analytica, that China has already undertaken water diversion projects on domestic rivers and it is a very real possibility that they will attempt to do so with trans-boundary rivers as well.

The rationality of the water diversion plans on Chinas part may be understood through shortages of drinking water in the Southern and Eastern regions of China due to prolonged droughts. China's Ministry of Water revealed on 4 February 2021 that 500,000 hectares of arable land had been affected by the drought and over 300,000 people in rural areas were without a sufficient supply of potable water.

The Ministry of Water also added that the region south of the Yangtze River had received 50-80 per cent less water from rainfall since October 2020 and that over 2 million people in Zhejiang, Guangdong and Fujian provinces had been affected. This tunnel diverting water from the Brahmaputra may provide a solution to its growing problems.

However, diverting river routes, especially through its youthful stage, can have devastating effects on downstream nations like India and Bangladesh, as well as on the river dependent flora and fauna - the negative impacts that China seems to be deliberately ignoring.

Though China had, in principle, agreed to provide water flow data of Brahmaputra to India so that the Indian government may aptly prepare in advance if the water level were to rise or fall, it has been untruthful to its word. The two countries have even signed an MoU in 2013 regarding the sharing of water flow data. However, unlike the Indus Water Treaty that India has with Pakistan in terms of water sharing of the Indus river, there are no binding agreements between India and China on Brahmaputra water sharing. China seems to be exploiting the gestation period, before any binding agreement on the Brahmaputra, to ensure its permanent leverage against India.

Apart from India, Bangladesh, which is wholly dependent on the Brahmaputra River is concerned with the increasing number of dams that China is building on the Brahmaputra.

Chinas actions in the last few years have shown its neighbours and the international community that it will go to extreme lengths to secure a strategic advantage even at a cost of environment and ecological disruptions. This latest dam project gives the power to China to hold hostage the river and its life-giving waters. As many as 100 million people rely on the Brahmaputra in the region besides numerous aquatic species.

The impacts of climate change are already visible in this region and rising temperatures result in the glaciers and snowlines retreating, increasing the possibility of flash floods. China's indifference towards the ecological ill effects of such massive projects should immediately be taken note of by the international community.

In view of these, a strong bilateral treaty with China on Brahmaputra water sharing is necessary and India must pressurize China to enter into a dialogue and establish a treaty that will regulate the amount of water to be released, preservation of the quality of the water and the aquatic life as well as water-sharing during times of droughts and abnormal weather. If necessary, the international community should also be involved.

Live TV
PARIS, Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Quadrant Knowledge Solutions announced today that it has named Sopra HR as a 2020 technology leader in the SPARK Matrix analysis of the global Multi-Country Payroll Solution (MCP) market.

The Quadrant Knowledge Solutions SPARK Matrix includes a detailed analysis of global multi-country payroll market dynamics, major trends, vendor landscape, and competitive positioning. The study provides a competitive analysis and ranking of the leading multi-country payroll vendors in the form of its SPARK Matrix, providing strategic information for users to evaluate different vendor capabilities, competitive differentiation, and market position.

The multi-country payroll market is currently transitioning from early adoption to the rapid growth stage of the overall product lifecycle. While multi-country payroll is essentially around for several years, the current advanced solutions powered by robotic process automation (RPA), advanced analytics, artificial intelligence, and machine learning is increasingly gaining market traction across industry verticals and various geographical regions. Businesses around the world are turning to multi-country payroll solutions to effectively navigate their way through the global pandemic by ensuring that the employee payroll cycles are getting streamlined, and that the organizations are remaining competitive through their pursuit of payroll processing excellence.

Driven by the impact of Covid-19 on the global economy, major industries across diversified areas, are facing significant challenges and a negative growth rate. Covid-19 has also impacted the market for overall digital transformation and enterprise software, including the multi-country payroll (MCP) technology market. The multi-country payroll platform market which has grown by 18.5% in 2019 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 13.4% from 2020-2025. Despite of the fact that the majority of the technology market is witnessing negative growth due to the on-going pandemic across the global regions, the market growth for multi-country platforms still has a positive growth in the year 2020. Global multi-country payroll vendors continue to gain significant market traction with direct inquiries from various medium to large-sized organizations and their partner networks.

The multi-country payroll platform's key value proposition of designing, visualizing, and delivering payroll through comprehensive employee information is obtained through various data sources. The global demand for multi-country payroll is increasing due to the capability of the platform to seamlessly process the payroll activity automatically, resulting in uniformity and reduction in discrepancies apart from reducing the risk of human error. Additionally, the platform's ability to adapt to the frequent & dynamic improvements in compliances, ensures adherence to the latest legal regulations, safeguarding them from future legal actions. The multi-country payroll platforms are governed by the requirement of global payroll, which would rise with the market adoption of third-party payroll solutions against in-house processing of payroll. This can only happen when the payroll vendors provide a scalable, customized, yet standardized payroll platform, as per requirement.

"Sopra HR, with its comprehensive payroll, talent & HR management solutions equipped with an innovative digital transformation capability, has received strong ratings across the parameters of technology excellence and customer impact, and has been positioned as the technology leader in the 2020 SPARK Matrix of the multi-country payroll solution market," said Pallavi Bothra, Analyst at Quadrant Knowledge Solutions.

"Sopra HR solution comes with an in-built core HR, payroll, time & attendance, HR administration and robust interoperability, along with strong UI/UX tools and real-time consolidated reporting capability - helping enterprises transform their HR strategy by digitalizing HR transactions, improving operational processes, and driving business benefits across functions. With its robust technology platform, comprehensive functional capabilities, and compelling product strategy and roadmap, Sopra HR is well positioned to expand its market share in the global multi-country payroll market," adds Pallavi.

"We are delighted to be positioned as a leader in Multi-Country Payroll Solutions by Quadrant Knowledge Solutions. Innovation, employee experience and multi-country payroll are at the heart of our strategy. We are continuously investing and innovating to improve and extend our solution to accompany our customers on their HR digital transformation journey, alongside meeting the right compliance rules wherever they are needed," said Mauricio Potente, Deputy EMEA Managing Director at Sopra HR.

About Sopra HR

Sopra HR Software, a leading provider of payroll and HR solutions and services, meets the challenges of Human Resources departments of medium and large sized organizations, from public and private sectors. An expert in Payroll, Talent Management and HR management, locally and internationally, Sopra HR fosters co-innovation and focuses on HR performance and an optimum employee experience. Sopra HR helps its customers ensure a successful digital transformation to HR 3.0.

Sopra HR, a subsidiary of the Sopra Steria group, provides solutions to over 900 customers in more than 54 countries in on-premises or cloud services mode. Sopra Steria, a European leader in consulting, digital services and software, helps its customers with their digital transformation. With over 46,000 employees in more than 25 countries, Sopra Steria achieved revenues of 4.4 billion in 2019. For more information, see: www.soprahr.com

About Quadrant Knowledge Solutions

Quadrant Knowledge Solutions is a global advisory and consulting firm focused on helping clients in achieving business transformation goals with Strategic Business and Growth advisory services. At Quadrant Knowledge Solutions, our vision is to become an integral part of our client's business as a strategic knowledge partner. Our research and consulting deliverables are designed to provide comprehensive information and strategic insights for helping clients formulate growth strategies to survive and thrive in ever-changing business environments.

For more available research, please visit https://quadrant-solutions.com/market-research/

Media Contacts

Sopra HR Software:

Valerie Vaudry

+33-(0)1-57-00-04-65

valerie.vaudry@soprahr.com

BCW press agency:

Elodie Larcis

+33-(0)1-56-03-15-20

elodie.larcis@bcw-global.com

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Gunnison adds chief growth officer

Gunnison Consulting Group has tapped Brian Westoff as its chief growth officer, a new addition to the companys executive leadership team.

Westoff is a 25-year industry veteran and most recently was at Aquilent, where he built out a centralized sales function that helped the company grow from $25 million in revenue to $125 million. Aquilent was then acquired by Booz Allen Hamilton.

He also was a senior vice president at VMD Corp.

Brian is a highly accomplished, seasoned Government Services executive with over 25 years of experience in providing innovative technology solutions that help build small companies into mid-sized ones, including a number of successful ones acquired by larger players in our sector, said Gunnison CEO Gil Dussek.

ADussek will lead Gunnison's business development, capture and proposal management and marketing efforts. He will also drive the companys go-to-market strategy.

The hiring of Westoff is part of a pattern at Gunnison to move into the middle tier of the market. The company has a minority investment from Blue Delta Capital Partners, which helped bring in Dussek, a former GDIT executive, as the CEO.

Gunnison recently acquired G2SF Inc. to add IT services capabilities such as mobility, security and integration. The company also has a couple of industry stalwarts on its board of advisors in former SRA International CEO Renny DiPentima and Anne Altman, the former IBM federal chief.
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NEW YORK, Feb. 10 -- Harvard University remains committed to welcoming Chinese students and scholars in all fields, said Lawrence Bacow, president of Harvard University.

Speaking recently in a video message celebrating the Chinese Lunar New Year, Bacow said, "Harvard remains committed to welcoming to our campus Chinese students and scholars in all fields of study as we do from scholars and students from all over the world."

"We at Harvard remain firm in our support of the collaborations that we've developed with scientists and researchers across China, some new and some going back in the years," said Bacow.

Only by working together in mutual good faith, "can we succeed in advancing the frontiers of knowledge and addressing the challenges we face in building a shared future that is safe, free and fair for all," Bacow said in the video clip posted on the website of the Chinese Consulate General in New York on Tuesday.

Bacow stressed that America's openness to immigrants who seek new opportunities here is a historic strength of the country and the same openness is one of the keys to Harvard's excellence as the center of education.

"Whatever the future may bring, I promise you we will not veer from this path," said Bacow.

While wishing everybody a very happy Lunar New Year of the Ox, Bacow expressed his optimism in the future thanks to continued ability of advanced institutions to pursue their research and teaching missions as well as the partnership built to find solutions to pressing problems of all sorts at all scales.

Americans, Chinese and the people of the whole world have seen more than the usual share of sorrow and loss in the last year and "we look forward with greater eagerness than usual to a brighter new year," said Bacow.

The Chinese Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival, is the most important holiday for Chinese around the world. This year's Spring Festival falls on Feb. 12, marking the beginning of the Year of the Ox.


West Brighton Residents! Your Build the Block Meeting is February 13th at 230 Broadway at 1pm. Come meet your Neighborhood Coordinating Officers Lee & Weinberg. See you there! pic.twitter.com/mFSW6qoiTh  NYPD 120th Precinct (@NYPD120Pct) February 10, 2021

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Following a chaotic year that included surges in burglaries, car thefts and shootings across Staten Island, residents are undoubtedly left with concerns and questions for the police officers serving their communities.

Enter the departments Build the Block meetings, where Neighborhood Coordination Officers (NCO) address residents concerns and work with them toward a possible solution.

The neighborhood policing initiative first was laid out by the NYPD in 2015, under which NCOs patrol the same neighborhood on consistent shifts each week, in an effort to familiarize themselves with residents to prevent crimes from occurring.

Heres where to find a Build the Block meeting near you.

NOTE: Additional listings will be provided by the Advance/SILive.com as they are announced.

120th PCT./ WEST BRIGHTON

Feb. 13 @ 1 p.m.

Community Center

230 Broadway

Hosted by detective Weinberg and officer Lee

121st PCT./ MARINERS HARBOR

Feb. 20 @ 10 a.m.

St. Michaels Church

211 Harbor Rd.

123rd PCT., SECTOR A

(Charleston, Richmond Valley, Rossville, Woodrow and Pleasant Plains)

Feb. 17 @ 6:30 p.m.

Waterside, 225 Ellis Street

Hosted by NCOs and Councilmember Joseph Borelli.

YOUTH COORDINATION OFFICERS

In January, the department announced a crime prevention initiative focused on engaging young people in high-crime areas , building on the idea of neighborhood policing.

As the title implies, YCOs will play a critical coordinating role, maintaining awareness of troubled youth and connecting better and sooner with them, said NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea at a press conference to announce the program.

They also will coordinate with the other cops in the precinct, and with city agencies and local community-service groups that have a stake in improved youth outcomes, which, I would say, is everyone.

Meet your 121 Precinct Youth Coordination Officers!



PO Williams and PO Nerguti are dedicated to work closely with the kids in the community to build a stronger relationship between youth and police, in all youth-related matters. pic.twitter.com/YPVLxv32d8  NYPD 121st Precinct (@NYPD121Pct) February 10, 2021

Emergency responders saw a surge last year in gang-related shootings and other altercations involving teenagers and young men in impoverished neighborhoods across New York City  including parts of Staten Islands North Shore.

Law enforcement officials and community leaders have described crews of young men and teenagers, representing different low-income, high-crime neighborhoods on the North Shore, feuding over a range of issues that might include retaliation for a past robbery, inflammatory comments on social media, altercations related to the black-market marijuana trade, or disputes over significant others.

In 2020, those same communities also faced the unprecedented burden of a months-long pandemic, which  as District Attorney Michael McMahon pointed out recently  came with school closures, lack of youth programming, forced quarantine in confined living spaces and family members falling ill.

Youth travel company Topdeck has been accused of booking customers onto tours without their knowledge and despite Covid-19 border restrictions banning international travel.

Topdeck, which offers worldwide group tours for 18 to 39-year-olds, has come under fire from customers who have had their travel plans put on hold due to the pandemic amid claims they were unknowingly being rebooked onto different tour dates.

Maddens Lawyers, which has been 'investigating potential breaches of contract and the Australian Consumer Law by Topdeck' since last year, said they have been contacted by affected customers.

'We are aware of a number of Topdeck customers who have requested refunds only to have a voucher provided as an alternative, and then unknowingly have a trip rebooked on a future tour by Topdeck with new dates and thousands of dollars of costs,' Maddens Laywers class action principal, Kathryn Emeny, told Guardian Australia.

Youth travel company Topdeck has come under fire from customers amid claims they were being rebooked onto tours without their knowledge

Through Maddens Lawyers, one customer said rebooking them onto a different tour date at Topdeck's choosing without any indication of when international travel will resume was 'outrageous'.

'This was also done without my permission and the company didn't apologise or acknowledge my concerns after I had reached out to them to question the move,' the customer said.

Topdeck reportedly told one customer: 'Having to postpone your 2020 Topdeck trip-of-a-lifetime totally sucked'.

'Get excited as you'll be revelling the Road Trip USA trip in September 2021. Now that I've booked your 2021 trip, you can kick back and relax  we don't need full payment until 60 days before your departure'.

In a statement provided to Daily Mail Australia, Topdeck said it is 'providing refunds to customers who request them (so customers have that option)'.

'Late last year, the company communicated with other customers who have funds on file (to be used towards future trips) and advised them they had been tentatively booked on a new departure to avoid price increases that would otherwise apply if the 2021 tour season was to go ahead.

Topdeck is adamant no customer has been pressured to travel during the Covid pandemic, to travel on a booking that does not suit them and to travel if circumstances do not allow them to so

'Obviously, the new tour dates would not suit all customers so they were also provided with the following advice (in writing) within those communications: "This date doesn't suit you? Or want to talk options with me? Reply to this email with your questions, jump on our Topdeck website chat or pick up the phone and give me a call".'

Topdeck is adamant no customer has been pressured to travel during the Covid pandemic, to travel on a booking that does not suit them and to travel if circumstances do not allow them to so.

'To date, most customers have either elected to keep the new trip booking or to leave the funds in credit. A minority asked for refunds - which they were entitled to - after receiving the communications and if the new dates didn't suit them or if they simply no longer wanted to travel,' the Topdeck statement said.

'We apologise for any confusion caused in this instance, but believe that this approach has generally been well received by customers, given that many are looking forward to travelling when it is safe to do so and when normal operations resume.'
With the installment of a new government in the U.S., Christians must continue to pray for the nation especially in the midst of an impeachment that could affect the future of the United States.

The Intercessors for America have started a live webcast to pray for the nation's leaders. With the impeachment trial, the IFA is now calling Christians to pray for the key people who will be involved in the impeachment.

If former President Trump will be impeached, it only means that he will not be able to run for the next election for any office or worse, he can face a possible criminal prosecution.

Right now, Christians must pray that Trump will receive the due process of the impeachment and that the Senate will not rush 2-4 weeks' worth of trial to just a couple of days - without giving Trump's defense team enough time to defend him.

On Feb. 2, Democrat managers have submitted a full 80-page impeachment trial brief using small print. On the very same day, Trump submitted a 13-page reply written in big print to the Articles of Impeachment complete with a conclusion and his signature.

Trump's lawyers need to work smart because losing the impeachment battle would result to lifetime disqualification of ever taking public office again. Trump may also face criminal prosecution down the line.

However, if one would look closely at what's happening, Democrats are merely pushing for Trump to be disqualified out of holding any political office in the future. This move clearly identifies that Democrats are afraid of losing a rematch election once Trump runs for office again.

One of the good things that Americans and believers should expect is that Democrats are required to prove that the 2020 election was not rigged or stolen, the IFA noted.

Since the impeachment was brought about by Trump's continued allegations of election fraud which they called as "false," they now have to prove that the election really was not stolen or that no fraudulent activities happened to manipulate the results of the 2020 U.S. elections.

Another point of the impeachment was that Trump's statements were made to incite violence against the present government. The Democrats accuse Trump of inciting violence and calling his supporters to start a riot at the Capitol Hill during the "Save America March" which was in fact organized by others and not the then president. The impeachment brief against Trump is full of false narratives which can be confusing without knowing the truth.

Previous reports indicated that Trump could not be blamed for the violence as he did not incite his supporters to violently make their voices be heard. Evidence also revealed that leftists were present at the Capitol to cause trouble.

Knowing all these, here's how Christians can pray for Trump and the ongoing impeachment trial.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-11 12:06:28|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said Thursday that China and the United States should re-establish their various dialogue mechanisms so as to accurately understand each other's policy intentions and avoid misunderstanding and miscalculation.

In a phone conversation with U.S. President Joe Biden, Xi said Chinese and U.S. foreign affairs departments may deepen communication on a broad range of issues in bilateral relations and on major regional and international affairs.

Xi added that more contact may also be carried out between the economic, financial and law enforcement agencies as well as the militaries of the two countries. Enditem
The Tribune Editorial Board put the finger on the trigger pretty fast in condemning U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth for their lame response to the reported dismissal of U.S. Attorney John Lausch (President Biden: Keep our US Attorney John Lausch, Feb. 10). I read the wording of the senators news release. It includes: While the President has the right to remove U.S. Attorneys, there is precedent for U.S. Attorneys in the Northern District of Illinois to remain in office to conclude sensitive investigations. We believe Mr. Lausch should be permitted to continue in his position until his successor is confirmed by the Senate, and we urge the Biden Administration to allow him to do so.

The boss of Royal Mail has apologised for delays after the company saw its busiest winter in history - as its profits look set to exceed more than half a billion pounds.

The company has apologised for delays in its service as social distancing and tiered-restrictions left many relying on the service to send Christmas presents to loved ones.

Around 33,000 temporary workers joined the company over the festive period to help cope with the significant rise in demand. Some 10,000 are still working for the company.

Royal Mail delivered 496million parcels over the last three months of 2020, new figures have revealed, as the company said it has kept on 10,000 of the 33,000 workers it recruited to cope with Christmas demand

Over the last three months of 2020, the Royal Mail delivered 496million parcels, an all-time high.

'Given these record volumes, we recognise that at times our service during the period was not always as we would have wished,' said chairman Keith Williams.

'But, thanks to the efforts of our team, the retention of around 10,000 of the 33,000 flexible workers from the Christmas peak, and the introduction of new processes, we have been making encouraging progress.

'We are resolutely focused on delivering a comprehensive service despite the challenging circumstances.'

Royal Mail now expects to make an operating profit 'well in excess' of 500 million in the financial year ending in March.

Revenue in the first nine months of the financial year hit 9.3bn, a rise of nearly 14%.

Royal Mail boss Keith Williams has apologised for delays in the service over Christmas

The number of parcels it delivered rose by 31% to 1.3 billion, while letter numbers dropped 14% to 5.6 billion.

The company said the third quarter had been driven by Christmas and Black Friday, and that tighter Covid-19 restrictions in November and December had made people shop online more.

So far in January, the company's parcel wing is still performing well, seeing growth of 37% as nationwide Covid-19 restrictions were introduced at the start of January.

Many people are also returning unwanted Christmas presents through the post.

Julie Palmer, partner at Begbies Traynor, said: 'Royal Mail remains one of the largest couriers in the UK and has shown its willing to innovate and reshape itself to meet the new demands of its customers.

'The introduction of parcel hubs will add greater efficiency and help to offset the drop in letter volumes, while potential new contracts from the growth in e-commerce could help to keep the business on track.'
Under-fire Nicola Sturgeon yesterday repeatedly refused to say if she would quit if proven to have breached strict rules she signs off herself.

The First Minister was asked three times whether she would stand down if she broke the Scottish ministerial code in relation to meetings with Alex Salmond about harassment complaints  but refused to give a direct answer.

She also denied that her husband, Peter Murrell, had committed perjury by insisting the evidence he gave to MSPs under oath was 'the truth'  even though it contradicted her own account.

Nicola Sturgeon pictured speaking at the First Minister's Questions at Holyrood, Edinburgh, February 10

And she called for the Holyrood inquiry into the handling of harassment complaints to use special powers to compel Mr Salmond to attend.

It comes after Nationalist MSPs on the inquiry committee grouped together to refuse to publish his written evidence putting his appearance before the inquiry in jeopardy.

Scottish Labour's interim leader Jackie Baillie said: 'The First Minister cannot simply ignore the ministerial code. That would have deeply damaging consequences for the parliament, the Government and our democracy.'

James Hamilton, QC, is already investigating whether Miss Sturgeon broke the code by failing to declare meetings with Mr Salmond or to arrange for a civil servant to be present.

The First Minister was asked if she would stand down if she broke the Scottish ministerial code in relation to meetings with Alex Salmond (pictured) about harassment complaints

At First Minister's Questions, Miss Baillie said: 'The ministerial code exists to protect the public interest, to ensure there is trust between politicians and the public, and for the public to hold the Government to account.

'It is, therefore, critically important. Can I therefore ask her, if she is found to have breached the ministerial code, will she resign?'

Miss Sturgeon suggested that Miss Baillie was 'prejudging the outcome'. She added: 'When the committee has reported and when James Hamilton  again, I am fully, as I'm obliged to do, co-operating fully with that inquiry  and when the outcomes of those are published, people can ask me then and I can set out what I intend to do.

'However, I do not believe that I breached the ministerial code. That is my position right now, and I think I am entitled to due process, just like everybody else.'

Nicola Sturgeon's husband Peter Murrell (pictured) was accused of lying under oath about what he knew about a meeting between his wife and Alex Salmond

Miss Sturgeon initially told parliament she learned of the complaints from Mr Salmond on April 2, 2018.

But in written evidence, she said that she had 'forgotten' about a meeting with his former chief of staff, Geoff Aberdein, on March 29.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and her predecessor Alex Salmond (pictured)

Yesterday, she failed to directly answer two further questions by Miss Baillie about whether she would resign if she breached the code, saying: 'I don't believe I did breach the ministerial code, and therefore I am not going to engage on the hypothetical.'

Miss Sturgeon also said the committee should be 'ensuring everybody who has relevant information to offer here is before that committee doing that fully, openly, on the record and on oath, just as I will do on Tuesday'.

At a later media briefing, her official spokesman was asked to clarify if Miss Sturgeon wanted the committee to use full legal powers to force Mr Salmond to attend.

He said: 'Yeah, yeah, I mean yeah, you surmise correctly. I mean, bluntly, why wouldn't they? If the committee and all its members are serious about getting to the facts and getting to the truth, as they claim to be, then why on earth wouldn't they use the powers at their disposal to compel witnesses to attend?'

It is understood the demand has infuriated Mr Salmond, who is considering a formal complaint against the spokesman for a potential breach of the civil service code of conduct for expressing a political opinion.
Last month, 20 New York representatives voted for impeachment, while six were against. Senator Chuck Schumer, Democrat of New York and the majority leader, helped set the structure of the trial.

Convicting Mr. Trump would require a two-thirds majority in the Senate. If that happened, the Senate could then vote on whether to bar Mr. Trump from ever holding office again.

[A complete timeline of Trumps second impeachment.]

Heres what senators and representatives from New York are saying about the impeachment trial:

Senator Chuck Schumer

For weeks, Mr. Schumer worked with Senate minority leader, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, to set the rules and procedures governing the trial. On Monday, the two Senate leaders reached a deal.

A president cannot simply resign to avoid accountability for an impeachable offense, Mr. Schumer said on the Senate floor that day. This trial will confirm that fact.
Sinn Feins Ruairi O Murchu has called on the Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan to "take decisive action to tackle the massive driving test backlog".

His comments came as the Road Safety Authority (RSA) confirmed to Sinn Fein that there are now 2,997 learner drivers waiting for a test in Dundalk and over 92,000 people waiting across the state.

Deputy O Murchu said: "The RSA has confirmed to my colleague Darren ORourke TD that there are now 92,210 people waiting for a driving test, with some constituents telling me they will be forced to wait months for a test date.

"Throughout 2020 we called on Minister Shane Ross and the new Minister Eamon Ryan, to address the worsening crisis.

"Neither took the problem seriously and the situation has now greatly worsened.

"In fact, the number of people waiting for a test has increased by 70% since June of last year.

"With public transport down to 25% capacity and sharing of lifts not feasible due to Covid 19, this is causing massive problems for people who need a licence to get to work.

"Its a huge issue for people in rural Ireland, where public transport simply isnt an option.

The problem is particularly bad in Louth, with almost 3,000 learner drivers waiting for a test in Dundalk testing centre.

"There is a clear need for additional driving instructors and testers.

"Likewise, longer opening hours and weekend tests would go some way to address the lengthening backlog.

"The Minister needs to urgently consult with instructors, testers and their unions to find a way forward to accelerate the number of tests that can be carried out safely over the coming months.

"In addition, the driver theory test is still suspended, causing further delays for those learning to drive.

"Sinn Fein have also called for online driver theory tests to be extended to all categories of learner drivers, to help deal with the growing backlog of those learning to drive.

"The Driver Theory Test Service are currently providing remote theory tests for bus, truck, CPC and ADI categories.

"This is a welcome development, but it is essential this is now expanded to those learning to drive a car."
Norton Member of Parliament Temba Mliswa, who is accused by his girlfriend of attempting to poison President Emmerson Mnangagwas son, was arrested at his Borrowdale home in Harare today and charged with violating COVID-19 regulations.

In a statement posted on Twitter, police said Mliswa violated some COVID-19 regulations by holding an unlawful meeting knowing that such gathering was unlawful.

He allegedly contravened Section 5(3)(a) of the Public Health (COVID-19 Prevention, Containment and Treatment (National Lockdown) (Consolidation and Amendment Order 2020 of Statutory Instrument 200/2020 as read with Statutory 10 of 2021.

In his warned and cautioned statement, Mliswa denied the allegations levelled against him saying he held the press conference at his residence and not at a public place.

Number 21 Domboshava Road is a private residence  l did not convene the said gathering as it was convened by the Media Centre. Only 20 journalists were in attendance whilst the threshold for the regulation is 30 people.

Mliswas girlfriend, Susan Mutami, claims that the legislator attempted to poison Mnangagwas son and is a corrupt politician.

A furious Mliswa threatened to punish journalists for publishing his messy breakup with his girlfriend, saying in future he will advocate a law to deal with lying media practitioners.

In the video captured by some media organizations, he said, if ever there is a time Im gonna move a motion in parliament against journalists to be given five years is this time around because at all you cannot rule by the stroke of the pen and lie. We stand for you when you are arrested for lying. We say its unfair. We stand for you. We defend you because we believe you are key but now as a legislator Im forced to protect the innocent person and not me by those who abuse the stroke of the pen.

There must be a law that has got to come in and you know that the ruling party has always wanted to curtail you. I will move the motion. They have two thirds and the bill will pass. You cannot get away with it. This must be a new era of journalism where laws will be enacted to protect the innocent people from journalists who are unethical. There must be a prize journalists pay for being unethical and a law must be there if a man who steals eight cattle is given nine years there must also be a law that if a journalist is not factual it must be five years  This is as good as putting someone in prison for life unknowingly, recklessly for the love of money, for the love of the brown envelope which has become now the norm in journalism today.

Mliswa is expected to appear in court Friday.
How a Lost Manuscript Revealed the First Poets of Italian Literature

Imagine a world where we knew the name of Homer, but the poetry of The Odyssey was lost to us. That was the world of the early Italian Renaissance during the second half of the 15th century.

Many people knew the names of some early poets of Italian literaturethose who were active during the 13th century. But they could not read their poems because they had not been printed and were not circulating in manuscripts.

Then, in around 1477, the de facto sovereign of Florence, Lorenzo de Medicithe Magnificentcommissioned the creation of an anthology of rare early Italian poetry to be sent to Federico dAragona, son of the king of Naples.

Portrait of Lorenzo de Medici the Magnificent, circa 15551565, by Bronzino and workshop. Uffizi Gallery. (Public Domain)

The luxurious manuscript became one of Federicos most prized possessions. It was exhibited to and coveted by patricians and intellectuals for half a century, until its disappearance in the early 16th century.

A page from another manuscript of vernacular poetry commissioned by Lorenzo the Magnificent in 1476. Gallica/National Library of France. (Public Domain)

But it did not disappear completely. The interest aroused by this manuscript generated a paper trail of letters, partial copies, and other materials, which I, along with other researchers, have managed to piece together. These documents allow us to reconstruct not only the trajectory of the manuscript through different courts in Europe, but alsocruciallywhat works it may have contained.

Who Were the Vernacular Poets?

Vernacular literaturethat is, literature written in the language normally spoken by the peoplehad only a marginal role during the Middle Ages and early Renaissance. The real culture was Latin. This meant that interest in the early poets who wrote in the Italian vernacular was limited, until the flourishing of the Italian language in the age of Lorenzo de Medici.

One of these 13th-century poets, Cino da Pistoia, was loved and celebrated by Dante Alighieri in his treatise on the art of poetry, De Vulgari Eloquentia. Dante said of his contemporary Cino:

There are a few, I feel, who have understood the excellence of the vernacular: these include Guido, Lapo  and Cino, from Pistoia, whom I place unworthily here at the end, moved by a consideration that is far from unworthy.

A print portrait of Cino da Pistoia, with the original drawing by Giuseppe Valiani. (Public Domain)

Guido Cavalcanti was another love poet. He and Dante were best friends, and Dante regarded Cavalcanti as an authority on poetry. Cavalcanti is mentioned in Dantes early poetry collection, La Vita Nuova (The New Life).

The whole work is addressed to Cavalcanti, and Dante even implies that he is writing in Italian because of him. But despite Dantes popularity, even La Vita Nuova was hard to get hold of before 1576 when it was printed for the first time.

Guittone dArezzo was another highly regarded poet. He started as a love poet before becoming the most important author (before Dante) writing on moral and political themes.

The Raccolta Aragonese

The collection of Tuscan poetry sent to Federico dAragona by Lorenzo de Medici in 1477 contained Dantes Vita Nuova, as well as rare poems recovered from ancient manuscripts by Cino, Guittone, Cavalcanti, and many others. The collection was opened by a letter signed by Lorenzo himself.

The manuscript was later named after its owner and became the Raccolta Aragonese (The Aragon Collection). It became one of Federicos most prized possessions and the object of widespread interest and curiosity.

Federico took it with him when he traveled to Rome at the end of 1492 to swear allegiance to the Borgia Pope Alexander VI. During this trip, he showed it to the scholar Paolo Cortesi, who immediately wrote to Piero de Medicithe son of the recently deceased Lorenzo the Magnificent. In this letter, Cortesi recounts that he had been shown a manuscript with poems by early vernacular poets, chiefly Cino and Guittone. The excitement is palpable: Cortesi is able to read poems by these authors whose names he had only ever heard mentioned before.

Such was the interest in these lost poets that partial copies of the Raccolta started to circulate. The first one was probably made by someone in Federicos inner circle before he became king of Naples in 1496. News about his collection of rare early Italian poems was spreading.

King Federico of Naples portrayed on a Francesco di Giorgio medal. (Sailko/CC BY-SA 3.0)

The Widow Queen and the Duchess

Federico was the last sovereign of his dynasty. He lost his throne when Louis XII of France invaded Italy. When he left Naples in the summer of 1501, Federico took the books of the royal library with him. He later had to sell part of them to sustain himself and his followers during his exile in France. But the Raccolta Aragonese was not sold; after his death in 1504, it was passed on to his widow, Isabella del Balzo.

Portrait of Isabella dEste, circa 15341536, by Titian. Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna. (Public Domain)

The widow queen then lent the collection to Isabella dEste, the duchess of Mantua, in northern Italy, in 1512. She kept it for two months and, even though in her letters she promised not to leave it in other peoples hands, it is likely that she commissioned a complete copy, which led to further partial copies being made.

Even though the transmission of these copies was in manuscript formand so not widespreadseveral Renaissance intellectuals managed to read these lost works and were influenced by them in their attempts to reconstruct the history of Italian literature.

The real game changer came in 1527 when a printed collection of vernacular poetry finally took the works of masters like Cino, Guittone, and Cavalcanti to a much wider audience. This is when they stopped being obscure and arcane authors and finally took their place in the canon of Italian literature.

Maria Clotilde Camboni is the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellow at the Faculty of Modern and Medieval Languages, and academic visitor at Somerville College, both at the University of Oxford in the UK. This article was first published on the Conversation.
On Thursday morning, in the area of the Joint Force Operation (JFO) of Donetsk region, a serviceman of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was killed as a result of shelling by Russian-occupation forces, the Ukrainian delegation to the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) said.

"Today, on February 11, at about 09:30, in the direction of Horlivka, a sniper of the Russian Armed Forces seriously wounded a serviceman of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Despite the assistance provided, he died during the evacuation," the TCG said on the Facebook page. The Ukrainian side of the JCCC sent a relevant note to the OSCE SMM.
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The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated and highlighted many health issues, particularly those suffering from chronic pain.

An estimated 50 million people in the U.S. live with chronic pain, of which approximately 19.6 million experience high-impact chronic pain that interferes with life, social, and occupational activities. Regardless of the pathology of pain, chronic pain may involve comorbidities of depression, anxiety, sleep disturbances, and fatigue. A crisis, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, worsens these issues and further negatively impacts social isolation and financial stress related to chronic pain. Evolving pain guidelines include a combination of pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic methods to manage complex pain syndromes and their deleterious effects.

One of the most common non-pharmacologic recommendations is yoga, usually suggested and understood in the context of contemporary yoga which focuses primarily on physical postures as a form of exercise in a community group setting. However, for the purpose of reducing symptom burden, alleviating suffering, and improving quality of life in the midst of chronic conditions resulting in persistent pain, medical providers should instead consider recommending therapeutic yoga for their patients, as the intent and scope of practice differs significantly from contemporary yoga.

Yoga was developed over 5,000 years ago as a comprehensive system of health and wellbeing for the mind, body, and soul, and consists of a wide variety of traditions and practices. The word yoga is believed to derive from the Sanskrit root yuj meaning union, to bind, or concentrate ones attention. Yoga continues to be the most commonly used complementary therapy by adults in the United States, with rates increasing each year.

A rapidly evolving profession called yoga therapy or therapeutic yoga interfaces with comprehensive, integrative pain management to provide a patient-centered, multi-faceted approach to complex pain management. Comprehensive, integrative pain management (CIPM) takes an individualized, multimodal and multidisciplinary approach to pain through the use of medications, restorative therapies, interventional procedures, behavioral health strategies, and complementary and integrative therapies. Akin to how CIPM incorporates a biopsychosocial approach to pain management, yoga therapy applies traditional yoga practices, like philosophy, meditation, and mindfulness with adaptive physical postures to promote well-being, optimize daily function, and alleviate physical, psycho-emotional, and existential suffering in people experiencing chronic conditions within a therapeutic relationship.

Yoga therapists typically see clients one-to-one or in small groups with specific conditions across a variety of settings, including schools, worksites, clinics, hospitals, halfway houses, substance-use disorder centers, and prisons. An increasing number of health care facilities and hospital systems, such as Mayo Clinic Health System and Columbia University Irving Medical Center, offer therapeutic yoga, in group and individualized settings. In 2015, the University of Rochester Cancer Center (URCC) Community Clinical Oncology Program (CCOP) led a nationwide, multicenter, randomized clinical trial to examine the effects of yoga on symptoms of sleep disturbances, cognitive changes, fatigue, musculoskeletal pain, and overall quality of life in adult cancer survivors. In regards to pain, breast cancer survivors with treatment-related induced musculoskeletal aches from estrogen blockers showed improvement in pain and daily function.

Yoga therapy differs from contemporary yoga in that the profession has a defined scope of practice based on educational standards and accreditation requirements for training schools and yoga therapists. In dealing with pain conditions, certified yoga therapists possess understanding and knowledge of pain theories and pain physiology and may collaborate with a patients health care team to develop an individualized care plan. While pain and musculoskeletal conditions represent the most common reasons for referral, yoga therapists may also see clients with chronic conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, post-traumatic stress disorder, and addiction.

In contrast to a community, contemporary yoga class where an instructor determines the content and delivers it in an often vigorous pace to large, mostly healthy, groups of varying experience, yoga therapy sessions are adapted to the individual and his or her conditions to meet their wellness goals, and at a less strenuous pace. Yoga therapy empowers the patient toward positive behavioral changes and an active role in his or her self-care. Whereas the focus of a yoga class is on the yoga techniques, the focus of a yoga therapy session is on the individual and his or her conditions.

A common barrier to yoga therapy in medical care is access to quality therapeutic yoga services, particularly in underserved areas. This is compounded by the fact that health insurance often does not cover yoga therapy, despite it being shown to be a cost-effective health care service and non-inferior to physical therapy, which is covered by most health insurances, in regards to benefitting chronic pain and function. Increasing the number of replicable research studies among large, diverse populations and showing effectiveness of therapeutic yoga practices through proposed dosage and frequency may support a movement toward health insurance coverage in the future. Recent advances in telemedicine also present an opportunity for health care facilities to offer virtual therapeutic yoga to their patients in efforts to increase access to pain management services while minimizing risk of exposure to COVID-19.

As the field of yoga therapy increasingly integrates within our health care system and expands in research evidence, medical providers can strengthen their recommendations for yoga to patients by specifically informing them about therapeutic yoga which offers a more patient-centered approach than contemporary yoga does.

Jaime Lewis is an internal medicine and palliative care physician.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com
Rajya Sabha chairman Venkaiah Naidu on Thursday did not allow an AAP MP to pose a question in which he was citing a report from a Sweden-based institution. The incident happened during the Question Hour in the Rajya Sabha when Union Information and Technology minister Ravi Shankar Prasad was replying to a number of questions related to social media in the country.

First, AAP MP Sushil Kumar Gupta sought to ask about the steps taken by the Government of India to curb misinformation and fake news on social media and what measures or laws it is planning to introduce. The Minister gave an elaborate response to the MP saying that the government respects social media for empowering common people but action will be taken if it is misused to spread fake news and violence. He also said that social media companies will have to follow and respect Indian laws.

'What is the use of a Sweden report?'

Then, the Aam Aadmi Party leader tried posing a question citing a Sweden-based institution, only to be interrupted by the Rajya Sabha Chairman who said, "What is this question? What report it is? What is the concern of Sweden's Widen institute here? These are all political. They should look inward. All countries which are commenting on India should first look inward and then comment on India." He then asked another question.

See wen this AAP M.P started quoting some Swiss article report on Modijis Government Rajya Sabha Chairman @MVenkaiahNaidu ji took his class... pic.twitter.com/QZAwinUvDN  Adarsh Hegde (@adarshahgd) February 11, 2021

Venkaiah's Naidu's statement comes at a time when the Indian government has condemned the statements from international celebrities and governments on the ongoing farmers' protests.

Comply with laws in India: Govt to Twitter

The government on Wednesday expressed "strong displeasure" over Twitter's delay in taking prompt action against accounts and hashtags spreading misinformation and provocative content around the farmers' stir, as the IT Ministry made it clear that the company must comply with the country's laws irrespective of the platform's own rules.

READ | Strong 'India first' hints spice up US President Biden's phone call to China's Xi Jinping

READ | Ranvir Shorey advises 'live with farm laws till 2024'; slams Andolanjeevis, 'Pappu Prince'

Twitter has suspended over 500 accounts and blocked access to several others within India while refusing to block accounts of "news media entities, journalists, activists and politicians" citing the need to uphold freedom of expression. During a virtual interaction between IT Secretary and senior officials of Twitter, the government told the microblogging platform that as a business entity operating in India, it must respect the laws and democratic institutions and take strong action against "well-coordinated" campaigns "designed to create disharmony and unrest" in the country.

READ | 'Should be proud of Koo app': IT Minister names & shames 'genocide trending' Twitter in RS

READ | Dominican PM raising 'faith in Bible' to thank India for vaccines gets Health Min's reply


Maximiliano Development Management Services (MDMS), a key player in the growing real estate development industry in Saudi Arabia, has signed an agreement with MSKANK, a reputable housing cooperative Society that works to provide the necessary housing and services for residential communities.

Under the agreement, Maximiliano will provide full development services for Mskank residential projects, which include planning, design and land development, financial and design studies, project management, implementation program management, and all marketing and sales services plans and execution.

MDMS and Mskank share the same mission raising the quality of life of Saudi nationals by providing residences that combines ease and luxury. We look forward to the successful completion of our projects, said Dr Nermin Bin Othaimeen, board member of (MDMS) after signing the deal with Abdul Rahman Al Sharif, CEO of Mskank Society.

She pointed out that this deal demonstrated the cooperation between the private and cooperative sectors to support the Saudi Vision 2030.

MDMS also handled the engineering, design, construction including marketing and promotion of the Rawas inn residential project in KSA resulting in 99% of the project units being sold.

According to her, MDMS, works closely with the National Housing Company to develop housing projects for Saudi citizens. It has cooperated with private sector developers in partnership with the National Housing Company.

MDMS has recently launched special architectural designs for the Sumou House project in Jeddah. The Sumou House residential project is part of the "Sakani" program of the Ministry of Housing in Saudi Arabia, she added.-TradeArabia News Service
The insurance regulator has asked companies to spruce up their IT systems to allow storage of policies through the Digilocker. Policyholders are already permitted to store their policies electronically in the Digilocker but this facility hasn't yet taken off in a big way in the sector. The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) now wants insurers to encourage their customers to use this facility.

DigiLocker is a digital locker app that can be used to securely save copies of important documents on devices such as a mobile phone. The app is available for download on the Google Play Store and Apple App store. Important government documents such as driving licence, car registration, voter ID, PAN card, school and college certificates, and many other document can be saved digitally. Documents presented in digital form DigiLocker can be produced as an ID proof for verification purposes.

Benefits

The DigiLocker will not only help in storing policy documents in electronic form but also reduce costs and eliminate customer complaints relating to non-delivery of policy copy. It would also result in an improved turnaround time of insurance services, faster claims processing and settlement, reduction in disputes, reduction in fraud, etc. On the whole, it is expected to enhance the customer experience.

The Digilocker team in NeGD (National e-Governance Division) - under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology - shall provide necessary technical guidance and logistic support to facilitate the adoption of Digilocker.

Insurers should also inform their retail policyholders about Digilocker and how to use it. Insurers are also advised to enable the process by which policyholders can place their policies in the Digilocker, the circular said.

To promote the adoption of Digilocker in the insurance sector, the regulator has advised all insurers to enable their IT systems to interact with the facility to enable policyholders to use it for preserving policy documents.
Kate Ferdinand has shared an adorable new snap of herself cradling her son Cree as she admitted sharing things on social media makes her 'nervous'.

The former TOWIE star, 29, posed for a mirror selfie as she held her son, who she shares with husband Rio Ferdinand, in her arms.

Alongside the snap, Kate admitted that lately she has started regretting posting pictures and videos of her life to Instagram.

Candid: Kate Ferdinand has shared an adorable new snap of herself cradling her son Cree as she admitted sharing things on social media makes her 'nervous'

She wrote: 'Instagram has been such a positive place for me in the last few weeks but for some reason when I post anything I get so nervous...

'I'm not exactly sure why, but I start regretting posting straight away. Does anyone else feel like this??

'I love this picture of me and my big boy so I don't know what I would be so nervous about... but the feeling's there.'

Kate then shared a photo of her pet pooch as she speculated that Britain's ongoing lockdown may be a cause of her apprehensiveness.

Honest: Kate admitted that lately she has started regretting posting pictures and videos of her life to Instagram

She said: 'I think I may have got used to lockdown and not seeing people... that maybe now it makes me nervous to share certain things.

'Thanks for all your replies... Turns out lots of you feel the same... that's made me feel a bit more normal. Think it's time to switch off now.'

It comes after Kate revealed the thought of having another child makes her 'anxious' during an exclusive chat with MailOnline.

Kate, who is stepmother to husband Rio's three children from his marriage to late wife Rebecca, also said she wants to give fellow mums a 'real' perspective of post-baby life, and admitted she would be 'lying' by only uploading glamorous pictures.

'Nervous': Kate then shared a photo of her pet pooch as she speculated that Britain's ongoing lockdown may be a cause of her apprehensiveness

On the prospect of having more children, she said: 'If you ask me right now I would say never ever again. Our house is very hectic as it is.

'We have four kids and two dogs, it's a madhouse. The thought of having another one makes me slightly anxious.

'I'm only 29 but I feel 39 at the moment! But you never know, I might feel different in a few years.'

Since announcing the arrival of Cree, Kate has kept a low profile while she recovers from her C-section at home.

Motherhood: Since announcing the arrival of Cree in December, Kate has kept a low profile while she recovers from her C-section at home

In recent weeks she has posted health updates on Instagram, documenting the plus points of caring for a newborn and the negatives.

Kate revealed she was struggling to cope with the combination of sleep deprivation, lack of exercise and homeschooling her stepchildren.

She explained: 'I felt like I was scrolling on Instagram and everybody was looking so amazing after having a baby.

'They were in these tight little trousers and I was looking at myself thinking, 'I don't look like this.'

'I felt like I would be lying if I didn't tell the truth. I didn't just want to upload a picture of myself looking great, because it's just not real.

Couple: Kate is stepmother to husband Rio's three children from his marriage to late wife Rebecca

'I've felt some sort of release from doing it. I was a bit nervous before and sometimes social media can be a real negative but it's been positive for since I posted my experiences.'

Kate and husband Rio, 42, confirmed the birth of their son in December.

The parents are already father and stepmother to Lorenz, 13, Tate, 11, and Tia, nine.

In a post shared to Instagram on Christmas Day, Kate confirmed that she and her partner had decided to name their newborn Cree.

The star posted a snap of the tot alongside his older siblings cooing over him in matching PJs.

She captioned the post: 'My whole heart. Cree Ferdinand our angel boy we all love you so much. (sic)'
Actor Billie Piper and writer Lucy Prebble first worked together on the TV series Secret Diary of a Call Girl. The pair formed a close friendship; after that four-season run was completed, Piper would go on to star in the original London production of Prebble's The Effect at the National Theatre in 2012. The pair took divergent roads in the years that followed  Piper, most notably, earned a slew of awards and reviews like "a generation's greatest performance" for her truly amazing work in the stage play Yerma, while Prebble began serving as writer and co-executive producer on HBO's equally amazing series Succession and won a Blackburn Prize for her 2019 play A Very Expensive Poison.

For their first work together in almost a decade, Piper and Prebble co-created the blistering dark comedy I Hate Suzie, now streaming on HBO Max. Piper plays Suzie Pickles, a celebrity whose seemingly bucolic life unravels after some very private photos are hacked from her phone and leaked on the internet. The series draws inspiration from Piper's own career  like her portrayer, Suzie is a former popstar who switched careers and gained more notoriety for co-starring on a renowned sci-fi series (for Piper, it was Rose on Doctor Who)  but while the circumstances and emotions are relatable to anyone who has experienced a life-upending trauma, the similarities basically end there.

Piper and Prebble view the show as a natural progression from their Call Girl days. While that show was the result of two people working for a TV network, Suzie is something different: the brutally honest and entirely exciting product of two people calling the shots for themselves.

Billie Piper in I Hate Suzie

(courtesy of HBO Max)

This conversation has been condensed and edited for clarity.

In terms of intensity alone, I feel like I Hate Suzie is a natural jumping off point from Yerma.

Billie Piper: I think you're right. I think I'm just more intense now.

Lucy Prebble: You and I were talking about the idea for this show then, so there maybe was a cross-over in the emotional intensity.

Billie: If you're enjoying that kind of work, it's quite hard to do anything but that or come to any work without that level of intensity. You just hope you can feel it as much as you did, and fortunately, I was able to.

Obviously, celebrity nude photo leaks have happened in real life  but this is the first show I can think of that has dramatized it. I don't think I've seen it before.

Billie: When we started coming up with ideas, it was quite different. It felt more like a friendship-based show, and we both thought that that had been done. It was Lucy who came up with the idea of the hack.

Lucy: You're right when you say it hasn't been done before. I find it difficult to get excited about ideas that I've already seen, and Billie is the same. I was always surprised that no one had done anything about it, considering what a huge deal it was, a huge act of theft of people's private materials, and we were fascinated by the idea of a woman being exposed. All sides of it: the horror of it and the victimhood of it, but also the fact that she's been hiding for her whole life, living a compartmentalized life filled with performance and anxiety. And Billie always said, if you picked up anybody's phone and it was unlocked and you decided to go looking, most people could have a pretty life-changing experience.

Billie Piper in I Hate Suzie

(courtesy of HBO Max)

One of the things I loved most about I Hate Suzie was how vastly different it is from basically everything else that's on TV. It's surreal, it's theatrical, it's like a dream and a nightmare at the same time.

Lucy: Both of us, but Billie particularly, were tired of a certain kind of television where you knew where it was going. There's a massive form that's gotten woven into our bodies. We recognize the rhythm of "Now we're meeting this character" or "Now, things are going wrong." You can almost sing along with it because you've been so exposed to that narrative. Billie is an incredible emotional actress, one of the greats, and I thought about how we could create something that allows us to show every one of those emotions and to feel each of those emotions.

Billie: I really relished working with this particular tone and style. We also lucked out with our directors, Georgi Banks-Davies and Anthony Nielson, who worked so closely with us to fulfill the things that we felt were really important in terms of making everything feel bold and fresh and authentic. It's very hard to achieve that, and it doesn't happen often, so it was a great thrill.

Lucy: We stole a lot of theater stuff for it; not just in the content, but the form feels very theatrical. What's stopping us from having a fantasy moment right now? When you normally do it, it's kind of pointless narratively or indulgent or pretentious, and we went, "That's fine." We also worked very hard to make it physically affecting. When you're watching it, you're supposed to say, "It's viscerally affecting me." Sometimes, the best way to create that, as you see in horror, is to do something odd. And sometimes that makes people uncomfortable and I get why, but for people who are more theatrical by nature or understand that language, that can be really thrilling.

Do you see a progression in your work from Call Girl to Suzie?

Lucy: I see a massive progression. I'm a better writer than I was then. But honestly, one is what you get when you're an employee at a television company; the other is what you get when artists make what they want to make.

Billie: I second that completely. With Call Girl, we were both really interested in the woman and her story. I think we had the right intentions; we wanted to make something that was thoughtful about that world, because you're only used to seeing one version of that world. But we weren't able or allowed to achieve them in that way, and with age and confidence, we've arrived at something like Suzie.

There's a particularly confrontational scene at a sci-fi convention in an early episode. Billie, was that rooted in any lived experience from your time doing Doctor Who?

Billie: Thank god I've never experienced anything like that. All of my experiences at Q&As and conventions have been incredibly warm. I am overwhelmed at conventions, but for different reasons. People have such enormous emotional responses to you, and I'm not really equipped to handle that. You sort of say, "if you really knew, you wouldn't be crying in front of me right now." [laughs]
In the lead-up to Donald Trumps second impeachment trial this week, Ive been wrestling with a deceptively complex question: does it matter if hes convicted?

His presidential term is finished, and while a conviction would mean he cannot run again in 2024, it might also mean someone of similar political inclinations  only more competent  takes his place (and his voters) instead. In that scenario, a Trump re-run would have been a better result.

National Guard troops walk past the US Capitol building on the first day of hearings to impeach Donald Trump. Credit:Bloomberg

Still, I think a conviction does matter. Not of itself, but because it can only happen with significant Republican help. Democrats condemning Trump for insurrection means little except further polarisation. Republicans doing it is something else entirely.

It would almost certainly tear the party apart and may well drive it into the political wilderness for a generation if a new Trumpist party is created as a result. That is both why it almost certainly wont happen, and why it would be so heroic if somehow it did.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed diplomatic efforts to end the war in Yemen and bolstering Saudi Arabia's defenses in a call with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud on Wednesday, the US State Department said.

Saudi state media and the state department said the two ministers also discussed the need to find a political solution to the war in Yemen.

Saudi Arabia leads a coalition which intervened in Yemen in 2015, backing government forces fighting the Iran-aligned Houthi group. UN officials are trying to revive peace talks to end the war, which the UN says has created the world's largest humanitarian crisis.

On Wednesday, Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi group said it carried out a drone attack on Saudi's Abha airport, which the Saudi-led coalition fighting Houthi forces in Yemen said caused a fire in a civilian aircraft.

The two officials "discussed joint efforts to bolster Saudi defenses against attacks on the Kingdom," the State Department said in a statement.

US President Joe Biden last week named veteran US diplomat Tim Lenderking as a US special envoy to Yemen in a bid to step up American diplomacy to end the war.

The new administration in Washington has also announced an end to its support for Saudi-led military operations in Yemen.

Short link:


Gambian journalist Sainey M.K Marenah in collaboration with fifteen other African journalists, have authored a book entitled "Hounded".

Hounded is a book written by African journalists in exile.

The Gambia, under the past regime was very hostile to journalists resulting in the fleeing of some of them to other countries across the world.

"Once again, I'm proud to tell my story and the difficult experience of Gambian journalists under a repressive and cruel dictatorship through this international publication, which further inspires my commitment to journalism and freedom of expression in Gambia and Africa at large," Marenah told Foroyaa.

Some of the contributors of Hounded are editors, journalists and bloggers who hail from West, Central, East and Southern Africa - remain in exile for telling the truth.

"Power hates scrutiny," Hounded editor Joseph Odindo writes.

As Odindo observed, the book is both a tribute of record and history. History rhymes eerily for African journalists who continue to be hounded to this day.

Marenah thanked Ebrima Jatta, the Managing Editor of GRTS for his support and guidance during the process, Dr. Baba Galleh Jallow, the TRRC Executive Secetary and his friend, Saikou Jammeh, the Secetary General of Gambia Press Union.

The Book is published by The Media Programmme Africa of The Konrad Adenauer Foundation, a German Think Thank based in South Africa.
The German government has denied claims by an environmentalist group that it offered Washington 1 billion ($1.21 billion) to boost imports of American liquefied natural gas (LNG) in exchange for dropping Nord Stream 2 sanctions.

On Tuesday, a group called Environmental Action Germany published a letter from Finance Minister Olaf Scholz to former U.S. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin, offering the alleged deal.

In the letter, Scholz refers to the talks between the two officials, which appear to have centered around the Nord Stream 2 pipeline and imports of American LNG. In the attached non-paper section, the minister said that the German government is very concerned about US sanctions against the project, which endanger completion and subsequently put European energy security at risk.

While stressing that Berlin rejects both "direct pressure" from Washington and its punitive measures, the German government still came up with "a way forward." In addition to increasing European purchases of American LNG, the German government was ready to massively boost investment in construction of LNG terminals on its territory.

"The German government is willing to massively increase its public support for the construction of LNG terminals along the German coastline in order to secure the construction of LNG terminals in Brunsbuettel and Wilhelmshaven and by providing up to 1bn," the letter read.

Shortly after the document emerged, Germanys Minister for Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety Svenja Schulze said that no such deal ever existed.

"There is no dirty deal. It doesnt exist. I strongly deny this," the minister said as cited by Russian media.

Other German proposals included ensuring continued gas transit through Ukraine and supporting a Polish gas pipeline known as the Baltic Pipe, as Warsaw seeks to cut energy imports from Russia.

In return, the U.S. would allow the completion and operation of Nord Stream 2. Future legislation, which could be the basis for sanctioning Nord Stream 2, will either not be used or, in the case of compulsory sanctions provisions, blocked by waivers or other adequate and effective tools," according to the letter.

While the environmental group that made the letter public does not support the construction of the Russian pipeline, it called the proposal to the U.S. a "dirty deal" at the expense of taxpayers. The group demanded clarification from the government on the matter.
A World Health Organization panel of immunization experts Wednesday recommended the use of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine for all ages and in regions where variant strains of the virus are prevalent.

The WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) on immunization made the recommendation from agency headquarters in Geneva. The panel reviewed the vaccine this week after South Africa halted its use Sunday in response to a study by a university there that indicated the drug provided only minimal protection from the variant that was first discovered in that country.

The panel made the evaluation at the request of WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and for the benefit of health care workers around the world who already are administering the vaccine. But the panel recommendation does not signify official WHO approval of the drug for emergency use, which is expected in about a week.
Mumbai:

In order to prepare the list of farmers that are eligible for the crop loan waiver, the Maharashtra government is developing a software.

The move is aimed at bypassing manual interference in list preparation, keeping a check on malpractices that crop up during the process and ensure that only eligible farmers reap the benefits of a loan waiver.

Cooperation Minister Subhash Deshmukh cited experience of the 2008 loan waiver scheme wherein many non-eligible farmers walked away with the benefits leaving the needy farmers in the lurch.

The 2008 loan waiver scheme, benefitted many non-eligible farmers, while those in need and eligible ones were kept away, Deshmukh told PTI.

In 2008, all the documents of outstanding loan, bank accounts and eligibility were processed manually. It was carried out by officials in cooperative banks, who under influence of local political leaders, favoured some persons and got their loans waived, said Deshmukh.

These persons were not eligible, but because the documents were processed manually, politicians could manipulate it resulting in non-eligible farmers getting a loan waiver, he said.

The minister said, As per my information, around Rs 9,000 crore outstanding loans from Maharashtra were waived when the then UPA government introduced the relief package.

Out of it, Rs 180 crore worth amount was of non-eligible farmers which was later pointed out in CAG report. As a follow up of it, the state government insisted those farmers and persons to repay the amount but not more than Rs 150 crore have been recovered so far.

Deshmukh said, In the backdrop of previous experience, the state government decided to develop a software for implementing such large scale loan waiver scheme.

It will have an in-depth database of farmers, their land holdings, all the bank accounts along with linking of Aadhar number to these accounts and to the land owned.

If available, PAN will also be linked to the farmers account to bring more authenticity and transparency.

The meta-data can be accessed in multiple ways and based on crop, size of land, particular regioninformation can be sought, he said.

We will use it for finding out eligible farmers as the Maharashtra government has come up with some criteria for the loan waiver. It will bypass manual intervention as we will be adding entire information of farmers in Maharashtra and then based on criteriaeligible farmers list will be prepared, Deshmukh said.

The database once ready, will be used on a regular basis for assessing the cropping pattern, change in yield and change in land holding patterns, he added.

There are 1.34 crore farmers in Maharashtra of which some 90 lakh farmers have availed crop loan from respective district central cooperative banks or public sector banks.

The Maharashtra government has claimed that around 89 lakh farmers will benefit from the loan waiver and relief scheme while the entire outstanding of 36 lakh farmers will be totally waived.

The Devendra Fadnavis government has decided to waive farm loans of Rs 34,000 crore with a cap of Rs 1.50 lakh for each farmer.

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MEDICAL aid funds will pay for the Covid-19 vaccine on behalf of their members, said Namibian Association of Medical Aid Funds (Namaf) chief executive officer Stephen Tjiuoro yesterday.

This comes after the minister of finance, Ipumbu Shiimi and the minister of health and social services, Kalumbi Shangula, approached Namaf and the Namibia Financial Institutions Supervisory Authority (Namfisa) last month to support beneficiaries of their schemes to access the vaccine.

"Medical aid funds have agreed to pay for costs related to Covid-19 vaccines on behalf of their members," Tjiuoro said.

He added that the landing cost and distribution of the Covid-19 vaccine is yet to be determined. Therefore, the impact of the roll- out remains unknown, however, discussions around the procurement are ongoing.

Private medical aid funds in Namibia cover about 8% of the population, which represents roughly 200 000 citizens.

Shangula last month said the government signed a financial commitment agreement on 5 November 2020 to pay US$9 096 780 (N$134 359 441) to the Covax facility for the Covid-19 vaccine supply.

The government already paid US$1 626 240 (N$29 272 320) to acquire vaccine doses enough to vaccinate 20% of the population, which represents 508 200 persons.

Namibia is set to receive at least 127 200 doses of the AstraZeneca/Oxford Covid-19 vaccine through the Covax facility by the end of this month.

The vaccine has, however, not been cleared by the World Health Organisation (WHO) for emergency use yet.

ASTRAZENECA

After South Africa announced that it stopped the rollout of the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine, there are fears that the vaccine is not effective enough to protect those who receive it and some have equated it to glycerin.

However, Windhoek-based infectious disease specialist Dr Gordon Cupido says the fear among Namibians is not justified.

"It [AstraZeneca-Oxford] has advantages in price and less complicated storage, so it is attractive to us. It is also likely to protect against severe illness but to be confirmed. There is also the Johnson and Johnson vaccine that is similar, has a single dose and has been tested against the [SA] variant.

"The Pfizer and Moderna vaccines seem to protect against illness, AstraZeneca and J&J against severe illness and death, so we should definitely go for J&J, likely also AstraZeneca," he recommends.

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Cupido, however, admits that it is likely the SA variant is in Namibia, which will become more common after regulations are relaxed.

The Lancet Medical Journal said the results of the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine give hope that Covid-19 vaccines can interrupt some asymptomatic transmissions.

The researchers stressed that there were no deaths, hospitalisations or severe disease observed in the vaccinated groups from three weeks after the first dose, which should exceed regulatory thresholds. However, the verdict on the WHO's emergency use listing for the vaccine is still not out.

The vaccine's effectiveness in older age groups could not be assessed because only 12% of the participants in the trials were over age 55 and only 4% were over 70, too few to give a statistically robust answer.

Despite the age limit of the vaccine in some countries, Cupido said Israel, where the vaccine is being administered, new hospitalisations are down more than 90% in all age groups and it is also not restricted in the United Kingdom as well as the United States.

The UK has close to two million active cases and the US has over nine million.

Germany, Spain and Austria are among a number of countries that will only administer the vaccine to 18-64 year olds, saying there is not enough evidence on how well it protects those 65 years and older.
Posted Wednesday, February 10, 2021 5:41 pm

As Lewis County assessor, I have concerns about the gift of approximately 9,600 acres of TransAlta land to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, and I am opposed to the acquisition by WDFW.

The tax shift from the shutdown of power plant No. 1 will be felt by the taxpayers of the Centralia School District, Port of Centralia and Riverside Fire Authority in the 2022 tax year without the donation of the land.

The second half of the closure will follow by 2025, which will be another devastating blow to those districts. We have not totally economically recovered from the shutdown of the mine in 2001. That was 19 years ago, and one of the taxing districts, Riverside Fire Authority, is just now seeing recovery from that closure. Their tax base has been limited by the $5.90 levy limitation for many years.

This is the first year they have been able to have their levy limit expand in many years without the cost of running special levies. TransAltas value was close to $1 billion at one time. Since the negotiation with the state of Washington to shut down the mine and the coal plants, it has steadily decreased at an alarming rate.

The coal plants were a huge benefit to the taxpayers of Lewis County. Since the shutdowns have begun, the value is less than half that value today. It will be less as time goes on.

What has the state of Washington done to give us economic relief from that?

Part of the land that is mentioned to be donated was set aside for industrial development to offset the loss of value due to the shutdown of the mine and the power plants. That was a law passed specifically to offset the loss of the mine and plants.

If the land is donated, it will be exempt and taken off the tax rolls permanently. This creates a tax shift to already strapped taxpayers due to the pandemic and the economic losses that are already being suffered.

The land will be left fallow. An example of that already exists in Lewis County, where the state of Washington purchased hundreds of acres to mitigate the widening of Interstate 5 not only in Lewis County, but up and down the corridor, far outreaching this county.

That land used to produce agricultural crops, cattle and other benefits, such as paying taxes and jobs. Making land exempt just makes others in the county pay more.

Another example is Tacoma Power.

Tacoma Power has purchased hundreds of acres of forestland in East Lewis County that will never produce a dime of timber income again. They have used this land to mitigate not only dam ownership in Lewis County, but to mitigate projects in other areas.

The taxpayers of Lewis County get virtually little benefit from the power or the dams, but they get to pay the taxes Tacoma Power does not for the right to have the dams located in Lewis County. All of these exemptions result in a loss of employment and a loss of income from the land itself.

Part of TransAltas responsibility of owning the land was to reclaim the property back to its original state, which mostly was forestland.

They knew that at the time of purchase in 2000.

Even though the value of forestland is low, it is a rotational crop that will, in time, produce income for schools, ports the county and the fire districts that the property is located upon. Harvest tax is a huge offset to the taxing districts, and when the land is replanted after harvest, it promises income in the future. Exempt property typically provides little to no income.

I strongly urge TransAlta to finish its reclamation project, which by the way, produces employment in the local area for those that were laid off or retired. If those folks arent interested, they are jobs for local folks that might not have that opportunity otherwise. Family wage jobs are critical for us.

If not used for future industrial development in the near future, at least if it is planted in forest land it will provide for shelter for animals and jobs in the future in the forest industry. The land will be held until it is practical to do industrial development sometime down the road. Once it becomes exempt, that opportunity is lost forever, especially if it is for the protection of endangered species.

Havent we suffered enough through the spotted owl protection of timber and loss of wages and employment from that enactment?

Making this land exempt is a very bad choice for all of the citizens in the state of Washington. We need jobs, and we need places to create those jobs. Lewis Countys land mass is already 60% exempt with full or partial exemptions from taxation. We dont need more exempt property to shift taxes to already strapped taxpayers.

School levies and fire levies will fail continually as folks cannot afford to pay them. Industry and commercial developments pay the same tax rates, but typically use 20% of the services. Residential taxpayers typically use 80% of the services and pay 20% of the taxes.

If you have further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.



Dianne Dorey is the elected Lewis County assessor. Her office can be reached at 360-740-1101.
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-3.9% organic decrease in Sales (-8.9% reported)

-2.4% organic decline in PRO1 (-10.8% reported)

Regulatory News:

Pernod Ricard (Paris:RI):

H1 FY21 Sales and Results

Press release Paris, 11 February 2021

SALES

Sales for H1 FY21 totalled 4,985m, with an organic decline of -3.9% (-8.9% reported), with an unfavourable FX impact linked mainly to Euro appreciation vs. USD and Emerging market currencies.

H1 FY21 Sales declined but Q2 improved vs. Q1. For H1 FY21, the trends were:

Americas +2%: good growth in most domestic markets, with particular dynamism in USA (+5%), but significant decline in Travel Retail

good growth in most domestic markets, with particular dynamism in USA (+5%), but significant decline in Travel Retail Asia-RoW -6%: double-digit growth in China (+13%), Turkey, Korea and Pacific, and return to growth in India in Q2: +2% (India H1 -6%), but Covid-related declines in certain Asian markets and Travel Retail

double-digit growth in China (+13%), Turkey, Korea and Pacific, and return to growth in India in Q2: +2% (India H1 -6%), but Covid-related declines in certain Asian markets and Travel Retail Europe -5%: continued very strong growth in Germany, UK, Russia and Poland, more than offset by Covid impact in Spain, France, Ireland and Travel Retail

continued very strong growth in Germany, UK, Russia and Poland, more than offset by Covid impact in Spain, France, Ireland and Travel Retail Sales excluding Travel Retail grew +1%.

Strategic International Brands declined due to Travel Retail and On-Trade exposure but Specialty Brands performed very strongly

Strategic International Brands -6%: solid growth of Malibu, Jameson and The Glenlivet, but overall category impacted by Travel Retail exposure. Martell and Scotch growing in domestic markets

solid growth of Malibu, Jameson and The Glenlivet, but overall category impacted by Travel Retail exposure. Martell and Scotch growing in domestic markets Strategic Local Brands -4%: mainly driven by Seagram's Indian whiskies and Seagram's Gin in Spain

mainly driven by Seagram's Indian whiskies and Seagram's Gin in Spain Specialty Brands +22%: continued very dynamic development of Lillet, Malfy, Aberlour, American whiskeys (Jefferson's, TX, Rabbit Hole and Smooth Ambler), Avion and Redbreast

continued very dynamic development of Lillet, Malfy, Aberlour, American whiskeys (Jefferson's, TX, Rabbit Hole and Smooth Ambler), Avion and Redbreast Strategic Wines +3%: solid growth thanks mainly to Campo Viejo and Brancott Estate.

Pernod Ricard gained or held share in key markets, notably in Europe, despite the On-trade disruption. Dynamic portfolio management continued, with Innovation in strong growth (+10%.)

Q2 Sales were 2,750m, with -2.4% organic decline, but improvingvs. Q1 Sales (-5.6%), thanks in particular to better trends in China and India.

RESULTS

H1 FY21 Profit from Recurring Operations declined -2.4% organically, with an organic margin improvement of +51bps, thanks to dynamic management of resources and favourable phasing:

Gross margin contracting -108bps , driven by: Soft pricing, with fewer price increases and on solid comparison basis (H1 FY20 +2% on Strategic Brands, benefiting from FY19 Martell price increases) Adverse mix primarily linked to decline in Travel Retail Higher Cost of Goods mainly from continued agave cost pressures and lower fixed cost absorption, offsetting Operational Excellence initiatives

, driven by: A&P: +132bps , resulting from purpose-based investment, with strong reduction in markets and channels with subdued demand, and favourable phasing (ratio of c. 16% expected for FY21, with strong double-digit increase in H2)

, resulting from purpose-based investment, with strong reduction in markets and channels with subdued demand, and favourable phasing (ratio of c. 16% expected for FY21, with strong double-digit increase in H2) Structure costs: improving +27bps , reflecting dynamic management of resources and FY20 reorganisations

, reflecting dynamic management of resources and FY20 reorganisations Strong negative FX impact on PRO -155m due to USD and Emerging market currency depreciation vs. Euro. A significant negative FX impact is also expected for full-year FY21.

The H1 FY21 corporate income tax rate on recurring items was 23.4% vs. 24.2% for H1 FY20, due to a reduction in the French tax rate and geographical mix.

Group share of Net PRO was 1,087m, -11% reported vs. H1 FY20 and the Group share of Net profit 966m, -6% reported, reflecting decline in Profit from Recurring Operations partially offset by lower non-recurring items.

Earnings Per Share were -9%, reflecting decline in PRO and positive impact of FY20 Share buy-back

FREE CASH FLOW AND DEBT

Recurring Free Cash Flow was very strong at 995m. The decline in Profit from Recurring Operations was offset by a significant improvement in operating Working Capital Requirement (inventory normalisation and payables rebuilding vs. June, leading to very strong cash conversion2 at 79%), a lower increase in strategic inventories and broadly stable capital expenditure.

The average Cost of debt stood at 3.2% vs. 3.7% in H1 FY20, thanks to successful US Dollar bond debt refinancing.

Net debt decreased by 443m vs. 30 June 2020 to 7,980m. The Net Debt/EBITDA ratio at average rates3 was 3.4x at 31 December 2020.

SUSTAINABILITY RESPONSIBILITY

Pernod Ricard continued to drive its 2030 Sustainability Responsibility roadmap, with progress in each of the 4 pillars (Nurturing Terroir, Circular Making, Valuing People and Responsible Hosting.) Significant achievements were attained in particular regarding packaging: all single-use Point-of-Sales plastic will be removed from June 2021.

Alexandre Ricard, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, stated,

"We are particularly encouraged by our Must-win domestic markets returning to growth in H1 FY21. The first half confirms the long-term sustainability and underlying strength of our business.

Despite an uncertain and volatile environment, with disruption in the On-trade and a prolonged downturn in Travel Retail, we anticipate organic Sales growth for full-year FY21, thanks in particular to our dynamic performance in domestic Must-win markets USA, China and India.

We will continue to implement our strategy, in particular accelerating our digital transformation, while dynamically managing resources. Thanks to our solid fundamentals, our teams and our brand portfolio, I am confident that Pernod Ricard will emerge from this crisis stronger.

I would like to take this opportunity to praise our teams, whose engagement and performance are exemplary in these very challenging times, and to express our support to our On-trade and Travel Retail partners who continue to be impacted by the pandemic."

All growth data specified in this press release refers to organic growth (at constant FX and Group structure), unless otherwise stated. Data may be subject to rounding.

A detailed presentation of H1 FY21 Sales and Results can be downloaded from our website: www.pernod-ricard.com

Limited review procedures have been carried out by the Statutory Auditors on the condensed half-yearly consolidated financial statements. The Statutory Auditors' Review Report on the Half-yearly Financial Information is being issued.

Definitions and reconciliation of non-IFRS measures to IFRS measures

Pernod Ricard's management process is based on the following non-IFRS measures which are chosen for planning and reporting. The Group's management believes these measures provide valuable additional information for users of the financial statements in understanding the Group's performance. These non-IFRS measures should be considered as complementary to the comparable IFRS measures and reported movements therein.

Organic growth

Organic growth is calculated after excluding the impacts of exchange rate movements and acquisitions and disposals.

Exchange rates impact is calculated by translating the current year results at the prior year's exchange rates.

For acquisitions in the current year, the post-acquisition results are excluded from the organic movement calculations. For acquisitions in the prior year, post-acquisition results are included in the prior year but are included in the organic movement calculation from the anniversary of the acquisition date in the current year.

Where a business, brand, brand distribution right or agency agreement was disposed of, or terminated, in the prior year, the Group, in the organic movement calculations, excludes the results for that business from the prior year. For disposals or terminations in the current year, the Group excludes the results for that business from the prior year from the date of the disposal or termination.

This measure enables to focus on the performance of the business which is common to both years and which represents those measures that local managers are most directly able to influence.

Profit from recurring operations

Profit from recurring operations corresponds to the operating profit excluding other non-current operating income and expenses.

About Pernod Ricard

Pernod Ricard is the No.2 worldwide producer of wines and spirits with consolidated sales of 8,448 million in FY20. Created in 1975 by the merger of Ricard and Pernod, the Group has developed through organic growth and acquisitions: Seagram (2001), Allied Domecq (2005) and Vin&Sprit (2008). Pernod Ricard, which owns 16 of the Top 100 Spirits Brands, holds one of the most prestigious and comprehensive brand portfolios in the industry, including: Absolut Vodka, Ricard pastis, Ballantine's, Chivas Regal, Royal Salute, and The Glenlivet Scotch whiskies, Jameson Irish whiskey, Martell cognac, Havana Club rum, Beefeater gin, Malibu liqueur, Mumm and Perrier-Jouet champagnes, as well Jacob's Creek, Brancott Estate, Campo Viejo, and Kenwood wines. Pernod Ricard's brands are distributed across 160+ markets and by its own salesforce in 73 markets. The Group's decentralised organisation empowers its 19,000 employees to be true on-the-ground ambassadors of its vision of "Createurs de Convivialite." As reaffirmed by the Group's strategic plan, "Transform and Accelerate," deployed in 2018, Pernod Ricard's strategy focuses on investing in long-term, profitable growth for all stakeholders. The Group remains true to its three founding values: entrepreneurial spirit, mutual trust, and a strong sense of ethics, as illustrated by the 2030 Sustainability and Responsibility roadmap supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), "Good times from a good place." In recognition of Pernod Ricard's strong commitment to sustainable development and responsible consumption, it has received a Gold rating from Ecovadis. Pernod Ricard is also a United Nation's Global Compact LEAD company.

Pernod Ricard is listed on Euronext (Ticker: RI; ISIN Code: FR0000120693) and is part of the CAC 40 and Eurostoxx 50 indices.

Appendices

Emerging Markets

Asia-Rest of World Americas Europe Algeria Malaysia Argentina Albania Angola Mongolia Bolivia Armenia Cambodia Morocco Brazil Azerbaijan Cameroon Mozambique Caribbean Belarus China Namibia Chile Bosnia Congo Nigeria Colombia Bulgaria Egypt Persian Gulf Costa Rica Croatia Ethiopia Philippines Cuba Georgia Gabon Senegal Dominican Republic Hungary Ghana South Africa Ecuador Kazakhstan India Sri Lanka Guatemala Kosovo Indonesia Syria Honduras Latvia Iraq Tanzania Mexico Lithuania Ivory Coast Thailand Panama Macedonia Jordan Tunisia Paraguay Moldova Kenya Turkey Peru Montenegro Laos Uganda Puerto Rico Poland Lebanon Vietnam Uruguay Romania Madagascar Zambia Venezuela Russia Serbia Ukraine

Strategic International Brands' organic Sales growth

Volumes

H1 FY21 Organic Sales growth

H1 FY21 Volumes Price/mix (in 9Lcs millions) Absolut 5.6 -12% -11% -1% Chivas Regal 2.1 -16% -20% 4% Ballantine's 4.2 -12% -5% -7% Ricard 2.3 -5% -4% -1% Jameson 4.7 3% 2% 1% Havana Club 2.4 -9% -2% -6% Malibu 2.5 26% 26% 0% Beefeater 1.6 -20% -20% 0% Martell 1.5 -3% -6% 3% The Glenlivet 0.7 2% 0% 2% Royal Salute 0.1 -28% -32% 5% Mumm 0.5 -5% -2% -3% Perrier-Jouet 0.2 -19% -17% -2% Strategic International Brands 28.3 -6% -5% -1%

Sales Analysis by Period and Region

Net Sales

( millions) H1 FY20 H1 FY21 Change Organic Growth Group Structure Forex impact Americas 1,461 26.7% 1,402 28.1% (59) -4% 22 2% 47 3% (128) -9% Asia Rest of World 2,415 44.1% 2,127 42.7% (288) -12% (148) -6% 1 0% (140) -6% Europe 1,598 29.2% 1,456 29.2% (142) -9% (83) -5% (8) 0% (52) -3% World 5,474 100.0% 4,985 100.0% (489) -9% (209) -4% 40 1% (320) -6% Net Sales

( millions) Q2 FY20 Q2 FY21 Change Organic Growth Group Structure Forex impact Americas 788 26.3% 729 26.5% (59) -7% (10) -1% 27 3% (76) -10% Asia Rest of World 1,299 43.4% 1,209 44.0% (90) -7% (11) -1% 0 0% (79) -6% Europe 904 30.2% 811 29.5% (93) -10% (50) -6% (5) -1% (37) -4% World 2,991 100.0% 2,750 100.0% (241) -8% (71) -2% 22 1% (192) -6% Net Sales

( millions) Q1 FY20 Q1 FY21 Change Organic Growth Group Structure Forex impact Americas 674 27.1% 673 30.1% (0) 0% 32 5% 20 3% (52) -8% Asia Rest of World 1,116 44.9% 918 41.0% (198) -18% (138) -12% 1 0% (61) -5% Europe 694 27.9% 645 28.8% (49) -7% (32) -5% (2) 0% (14) -2% World 2,483 100.0% 2,236 100.0% (248) -10% (138) -6% 18 1% (128) -5%

Note: Bulk Spirits are allocated by Region according to the Regions' weight in the Group

Summary Consolidated Income Statement

( millions) H1 FY20 H1 FY21 Change Net sales 5,474 4,985 -9% Gross Margin after logistics costs 3,419 3,021 -12% Advertising and promotion expenses (842) (706) -16% Contribution after A&P expenditure 2,577 2,315 -10% Structure costs (789) (721) -9% Profit from recurring operations 1,788 1,595 -11% Financial income/(expense) from recurring operations (164) (151) -8% Corporate income tax on items from recurring operations (392) (337) -14% Net profit from discontinued operations, non-controlling interests and share of net income from associates (15) (20) 30% Group share of net profit from recurring operations 1,216 1,087 -11% Other operating income expenses (152) (61) NA Financial income/(expense) from non-recurring operations (1) (103) NA Corporate income tax on items from non recurring operations (31) 44 NA Group share of net profit 1,032 966 -6% Non-controlling interests 14 18 26% Net profit 1,046 984 -6%

Profit from Recurring Operations by Region

Segment Reporting World ( millions) H1 FY20 H1 FY21 Change Organic Growth Group Structure Forex impact Net sales (Excl. T&D) 5,474 100.0% 4,985 100.0% (489) -9% (209) -3.9% 40 1% (320) -6% Gross margin after logistics costs 3,419 62.5% 3,021 60.6% (398) -12% (188) -5.5% 17 0% (227) -7% Advertising promotion (842) 15.4% (706) 14.2% 136 -16% 101 -12.1% (5) 1% 40 -5% Contribution after A&P 2,577 47.1% 2,315 46.4% (261) -10% (87) -3.4% 12 0% (187) -7% Profit from recurring operations 1,788 32.7% 1,595 32.0% (193) -11% (42) -2.4% 4 0% (155) -9% Americas ( millions) H1 FY20 H1 FY21 Change Organic Growth Group Structure Forex impact Net sales (Excl. T&D) 1,461 100.0% 1,402 100.0% (59) -4% 22 2% 47 3% (128) -9% Gross margin after logistics costs 986 67.5% 909 64.8% (77) -8% 3 0% 22 2% (103) -10% Advertising promotion (285) 19.5% (250) 17.8% 35 -12% 18 -6% (4) 2% 21 -8% Contribution after A&P 701 48.0% 659 47.0% (43) -6% 21 3% 18 3% (81) -12% Profit from recurring operations 486 33.3% 459 32.7% (27) -6% 27 5% 11 2% (65) -13% Asia Rest of the World ( millions) H1 FY20 H1 FY21 Change Organic Growth Group Structure Forex impact Net sales (Excl. T&D) 2,415 100.0% 2,127 100.0% (288) -12% (148) -6% 1 0% (140) -6% Gross margin after logistics costs 1,442 59.7% 1,232 57.9% (211) -15% (120) -8% (3) 0% (87) -6% Advertising promotion (341) 14.1% (291) 13.7% 50 -15% 35 -10% 0 0% 15 -4% Contribution after A&P 1,101 45.6% 940 44.2% (161) -15% (86) -8% (3) 0% (72) -7% Profit from recurring operations 833 34.5% 674 31.7% (159) -19% (95) -11% (4) 0% (60) -7% Europe ( millions) H1 FY20 H1 FY21 Change Organic Growth Group Structure Forex impact Net sales (Excl. T&D) 1,598 100.0% 1,456 100.0% (142) -9% (83) -5% (8) 0% (52) -3% Gross margin after logistics costs 991 62.0% 881 60.5% (110) -11% (71) -7% (2) 0% (37) -4% Advertising promotion (216) 13.5% (164) 11.3% 52 -24% 49 -23% (1) 0% 3 -2% Contribution after A&P 775 48.5% 717 49.2% (58) -7% (22) -3% (2) 0% (34) -4% Profit from recurring operations 468 29.3% 461 31.7% (7) -1% 26 5% (3) -1% (30) -6%

Note: Bulk Spirits are allocated by Region according to the Regions' weight in the Group

Foreign Exchange Impact

Forex impact H1 FY21

( millions) Average rates evolution On Net Sales On Profit from Recurring Operations H1 FY20 H1 FY21 US dollar USD 1.11 1.18 6.5% (79) (40) Russian rouble RUB 71.19 88.61 24.5% (33) (24) Turkish Lira TRL 6.36 8.94 40.5% (20) (20) Indian rupee INR 78.59 87.48 11.3% (59) (18) Chinese yuan CNY 7.80 7.99 2.5% (17) (12) Pound sterling GBP 0.88 0.90 2.6% (5) 4 Other (106) (46) Total (320) (155)

Sensitivity of profit and debt to EUR/USD exchange rate

Estimated impact of a 1% appreciation of the USD Impact on the income statement(1) ( millions) Profit from recurring operations +10 Financial expenses (2) Pre-tax profit from recurring operations +9 Impact on the balance sheet ( millions) Increase/(decrease) in net debt +38 (1) Full-year effect

Balance Sheet

Assets 30/06/2020 12/31/2020 ( millions) (Net book value) Non-current assets Intangible assets and goodwill 16,576 15,953 Tangible assets and other assets 3,699 3,867 Deferred tax assets 1,678 1,578 Total non-current assets 21,953 21,398 Current assets Inventories 6,167 6,139 aged work-in-progress 5,084 5,135 non-aged work-in-progress 76 72 other inventories 1,006 932 Receivables (*) 906 1,829 Trade receivables 862 1,758 Other trade receivables 44 70 Other current assets 323 299 Other operating current assets 317 293 Tangible/intangible current assets 6 5 Tax receivable 142 133 Cash and cash equivalents and current derivatives 1,947 1,964 Total current assets 9,485 10,363 Assets held for sale 87 11 Total assets 31,525 31,772 (*) after disposals of receivables of: 513 750 Liabilities and shareholders' equity 30/06/2020 12/31/2020 ( millions) Group Shareholders' equity 13,968 14,435 Non-controlling interests 243 244 of which profit attributable to non-controlling interests 21 18 Total Shareholders' equity 14,211 14,679 Non-current provisions and deferred tax liabilities 3,511 3,424 Bonds non-current 8,599 8,680 Lease liabilities non current 433 409 Non-current financial liabilities and derivative instruments 192 82 Total non-current liabilities 12,735 12,595 Current provisions 222 187 Operating payables 1,877 2,345 Other operating payables 1,016 753 of which other operating payables 633 704 of which tangible/intangible current payables 383 49 Tax payable 232 349 Bonds current 723 237 Lease liabilities current 88 103 Current financial liabilities and derivatives 404 523 Total current liabilities 4,563 4,497 Liabilities held for sale 16 0 Total liabilities and shareholders' equity 31,525 31,772

Analysis of Working Capital Requirement

( millions) June

2019 December

2019 June

2020 December

2020 H1 FY20 WC change* H1 FY21 WC change* Aged work in progress 4,788 5,047 5,084 5,135 123 67 Advances to suppliers for wine and ageing spirits 12 13 19 10 1 (8) Payables on wine and ageing spirits (105) (182) (108) (161) (77) (47) Net aged work in progress 4,695 4,878 4,995 4,984 47 11 Trade receivables before factoring/securitization 1,842 2,928 1,375 2,508 1,070 1,173 Advances from customers (24) (17) (38) (18) 7 19 Other receivables 338 340 343 354 (20) 27 Other inventories 889 923 1,006 932 15 (62) Non-aged work in progress 79 76 76 72 (3) (2) Trade payables and other (2,717) (2,951) (2,364) (2,870) (206) (554) Gross operating working capital 405 1,299 398 978 864 601 Factoring/Securitization impact (674) (827) (513) (750) (143) (246) Net Operating Working Capital (269) 472 (115) 227 721 355 Net Working Capital 4,427 5,350 4,879 5,211 768 366 * at average rates Of which recurring variation 763 350 Of which non recurring variation 5 16

Net Debt

( millions) 30/06/2020 12/31/2020 Current Non-current Total Current Non-current Total Bonds 723 8,599 9,322 237 8,680 8,917 Syndicated loan Commercial paper 299 299 232 232 Other loans and long-term debts 81 192 273 275 82 357 Other financial liabilities 380 192 572 507 82 589 Gross Financial debt 1,103 8,791 9,894 744 8,762 9,506 Fair value hedge derivatives assets (3) (40) (44) (30) (30) Fair value hedge derivatives liabilities Fair value hedge derivatives (3) (40) (44) (30) (30) Net investment hedge derivatives assets (13) (13) (53) (53) Net investment hedge derivatives liabilities Net investment hedge derivatives (13) (13) (53) (53) FINANCIAL DEBT AFTER HEDGING 1,100 8,737 9,837 744 8,679 9,423 Cash and cash equivalents (1,935) (1,935) (1,955) (1,955) NET FINANCIAL DEBT EXCLUDING LEASE DEBT (835) 8,737 7,902 (1,212) 8,679 7,468 Lease Debt 88 433 522 103 409 513 NET FINANCIAL DEBT (747) 9,171 8,424 (1,108) 9,089 7,980

Change in Net Debt

( millions) 12/31/2019 12/31/2020 Operating profit 1,636 1,534 Depreciation and amortisation 174 179 Net change in impairment of goodwill, PPE and intangible assets 8 6 Net change in provisions 75 (31) Changes in fair value on commercial derivatives, biological assets and investments (3) (5) Net (gain)/loss on disposal of assets (7) 2 Share-based payments 21 15 Self-financing capacity before interest and tax 1,903 1,699 Decrease (increase) in working capital requirements (768) (364) Net interest and tax payments (401) (347) Net acquisitions of non financial assets and others (164) (153) Free Cash Flow 570 835 of which recurring Free Cash Flow 627 995 Net acquitions of financial assets and activities and others (540) (33) Dividends paid (843) (699) (Acquisition) Disposal of treasury shares and others (228) (25) Decrease (increase) in net debt (before currency translation adjustments) (1,041) 78 Foreign currency translation adjustment (36) 406 Non cash impact on lease liabilities (531) (40) Decrease (increase) in net debt (after currency translation adjustments and IFRS 16 non cash impacts) (1,608) 443 Initial net debt (6,620) (8,424) Final net debt (8,228) (7,980)

Net Debt Maturity at 31 December 2020

billions

[Missing charts are available on the original document and on www.pernod-ricard.com]

Strong liquidity position at c. 5,3bn as of 31st December, of which 3.4bn undrawn credit lines

Gross debt after hedging at 31st December 2020 (excluding lease liabilities):

5% floating rate and 95% fixed rate

58% in EUR and 41% in USD

FY21 maturity includes US$201m reimbursed at maturity on 26th January 2021

Bond details at 31 December 2020

Currency Par value Coupon Issue date Maturity date EUR 500 m 1.875% 9/28/2015 9/28/2023 1,500 m o/w: 500 m 0.000% 10/24/2019 10/24/2023 500 m 0.500% 10/24/2027 500 m 0.875% 10/24/2031 650 m 2.125% 9/29/2014 9/27/2024 1,500 m o/w: 4/1/2020 750 m 1.125% 4/7/2025 750 m 1.750% 4/8/2030 500 m o/w: 4/27/2020 250 m 1.125% 4/7/2025 250 m 1.750% 4/8/2030 600 m 1.500% 5/17/2016 5/18/2026 USD 201 m Libor 6m spread 1/26/2016 1/26/2021 1,650 m o/w: 1/12/2012 800 m 4.250% 7/15/2022 850 m 5.500% 1/15/2042 600 m 3.250% 6/8/2016 6/8/2026 2,000 m o/w: 600 m 1.250% 10/1/2020 4/1/2028 900 m 1.625% 4/1/2031 500 m 2.750% 10/1/2050

Note: US$201m reimbursed at maturity on 26th January 2021

Net Debt EBITDA ratio evolution

Closing rate Average rate(1) EUR/USD rate Jun FY20 -> Dec FY21 1.12 -> 1.23 1.11 -> 1.14 Ratio at 30/06/2020 3.2 3.2 EBITDA cash generation excl. Group structure effect(2) and forex impacts 0.0 0.0 Group structure(2) and forex impacts 0.1 0.2 Ratio at 31/12/2020 3.3 3.4 (3)

(1) Last-twelve-month rate (2) Including IFRS16 impact (3) Syndicated credit leverage ratio restated from IFRS16 is 3.3

Diluted Earnings Per Share (EPS) calculation

(x 1,000) H1 FY20 H1 FY21 Number of shares in issue at end of period 265,422 261,877 Weighted average number of shares in issue (pro rata temporis) 265,422 262,315 Weighted average number of treasury shares (pro rata temporis) (1,462) (1,654) Dilutive impact of stock options and performance shares 1,303 816 Number of shares used in diluted EPS calculation 265,263 261,478

( millions and /share) H1 FY20 H1 FY21 reported Group share of net profit from recurring operations 1,216 1,087 -10.6% Diluted net earnings per share from recurring operations 4.58 4.16 -9.3%

Upcoming Communications

Date1 Event 9 March 2021, 3pm CET North America conference call 22 April 2021, 9am CET Q3 FY21 Sales conference call 25 May 2021, 3pm CET Sustainability Responsibility conference call 22 June 2021 Asia conference call

1 The above dates are indicative and are liable to change

1 PRO: Profit from Recurring Operations

2 Recurring Operating Cash Flow PRO

3 Based on average EUR/USD rates: 1.14 in calendar year 2020

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210210006042/en/

Contacts:

Julia Massies VP, Financial Communications Investor Relations +33 (0) 1 70 93 17 03

Charly Montet Investor Relations Manager +33 (0) 1 70 93 17 13

Alison Donohoe Press Relations Manager +33 (0) 1 70 93 16 23

Emmanuel Vouin Press Relations Manager +33 (0) 1 70 93 16 34
Brexit has been called an unmitigated disaster by food industry experts, as they told MPs about the impact of new trade arrangements.

Sector leaders told the International Trade Select Committee the cost of disruption hads already caused some businesses to shut their doors for good.

The Brexit trade deal secured on Christmas Eve left businesses just days to prepare for changes, which came into force in the new year.

Ian Wright, chief executive of the Food and Drink Federation (FDF), told MPs on Thursday food exports have been cut by at least half since the start of January despite the deal.

He told the committee: "We agree with other trade groups that food exports to the EU have declined by 50 to 60 per cent in January.

"That may be because companies have stockpiled three or four months of goods on the other side of the Channel and they may bounce back, but that is a big number to recover in the next few months."

He said he was "particularly concerned" about uncertainty among officials overseeing new trade checks.

"This is not trivialising it, but in many cases they are making it up as they go along, because they don't know what would happen with particular certificates," he said.

Mr Wright also warned that the UK could be "50,000 customs agents" short of what is needed when import regulations are enforced from April.

Marine and fisheries consultant Terri Portmann told MPs that seafood businesses are already shutting amid the impact of Brexit disruption.

UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 18 May 2021 An employee stands before a costume for the Queen of Hearts by Bob Crowley on display at the Alice: Curiouser and Curiouser exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London PA UK news in pictures 17 May 2021 Passengers prepare to board an easyJet flight to Faro, Portugal, at Gatwick Airport after the ban on international leisure travel for people in England was lifted following the further easing of lockdown restrictions in England PA UK news in pictures 16 May 2021 Emergency workers at the scene of a suspected gas explosion, in which a young child was killed and two people were seriously injured, on Mallowdale Ave Heysham which caused 2 houses to collapse and badly damaged another PA UK news in pictures 15 May 2021 Pro-Palestinian activists and supporters let off smoke flares, wave flags and carry placards during a demonstration in support of the Palestinian cause as violence escalates in the ongoing conflict with Israel, in central London AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 14 May 2021 Member of staffs tighten screws and paint a Marlin skeleton, before it goes on display at the Natural History Museum in London, as the museum prepares to reopen to the public on 17 May, following the further easing of lockdown restrictions in England PA UK news in pictures 13 May 2021 A worshipper at the Baitul Futuh Mosque in Mordon, south London, ahead of Eid al-Fitr. The celebration marks the end of the Muslim month of fasting, called Ramadan. PA UK news in pictures 12 May 2021 A couple have wedding photos taken in Westminster, London Getty UK news in pictures 11 May 2021 The sun rises on Coquet Island, off Amble on the Northumberland coast, where as many as 35000 seabirds cram onto this tiny island to breed PA UK news in pictures 10 May 2021 Newly elected for a second term Mayor of London Sadiq Khan during his signing in ceremony at Shakespeare's Globe Theatre on Londons Southbank PA UK news in pictures 9 May 2021 People mill around St. Michael's tower on top of Glastonbury Tor as it is seen through blooming yellow rapeseed on a day of mixed weather in Glastonbury, Somerset PA UK news in pictures 8 May 2021 Wales First Minister Mark Drakeford elbow bumps newly elected MS Labour candidates Elizabeth Buffy Williams, Rhondda, left, and Sarah Murphy, Bridgend & Porthcawl Labour, right, as they meet in Porthcawl, Wales PA UK news in pictures 6 May 2021 A group of five Sisters from Carmelite Monastery in Dysart cast their vote in the Scottish Parliamentary election at Dysart Community Hall, West Port, Dysart PA UK news in pictures 5 May 2021 Leader of the Labour Party Sir Keir Starmer (centre) with West Midlands Metro Mayor candidate Liam Byrne (far right) and Labour Deputy Leader, Angela Rayner (far left) during a visit to Birmingham, whilst on the election campaign trail PA UK news in pictures 4 May 2021 Artists Heather Ackroyd and Dan Harvey stand within 100 oak saplings which form part of a living art installation entitled Beuys' Acorns by the UK-based artist duo, outside the Tate Modern in London PA UK news in pictures 3 May 2021 Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie feeds the Gentoo penguins during a visit to Edinburgh Zoo on the campaign trail for the forthcoming Scottish Parliamentary Election on May 6 PA UK news in pictures 2 May 2021 Chelsea players celebrate their fourth goal during the Womens Champions League semi-final second leg against Bayern Munich, at Kingsmeadow Stadium in south west London. The Blues won the game 4-1, (and the tie 5-3 on aggregate) sending them through to their first Champions League final AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 1 May 2020 Demonstrators during a march through London during a 'Kill the Bill' protest Angela Christofilou UK news in pictures 30 April 2021 Shoppers queue outside Primark in Belfast as shops reopen and hospitality is able to open outdoors in Northern Ireland where lockdown restrictions have begun to gradually ease PA UK news in pictures 29 April 2021 Specialist operators at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford, near Telford, Shropshire, clean the Hawker Hunter aircraft displayed within the museum's National Cold War Exhibition, during annual high-level aircraft cleaning and maintenance PA UK news in pictures 28 April 2021 Millions of tulips in flower near Kings Lynn in Norfolk, as Belmont Nurseries, the UK's largest commercial grower of outdoor tulips, offers socially-distanced visits to its tulip fields at Hillington to raise funds for local charity The Norfolk Hospice Tapping House PA UK news in pictures 27 April 2021 Paula Laughton checks one of the newly installed Lego models in the new Lego Mythica land at Legoland Windsor Resort PA UK news in pictures 26 April 2021 A red panda rests on a tree at Manor Wildlife park, which reopened its doors as lockdown restrictions continue to ease, in Tenby, Wales Reuters UK news in pictures 25 April 2021 Sheep climb the hillside as flames from a moor fire are seen on Marsden moor, near Huddersfield AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 24 April 2021 Supporters protest against Manchester United's owners, outside English Premier League club Manchester United's Old Trafford stadium in Manchester AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 23 April 2021 People enjoy the warm weather at City Hall near Tower Bridge in central London PA UK news in pictures 22 April 2021 Uyghurs during a demonstration in Parliament Square, London, which is being held ahead of a House of Commons debate, bought by backbench MP Nus Ghani, on whether Uyghurs in China's Xinjiang province are suffering crimes against humanity and genocide PA UK news in pictures 21 April 2021 People walk at the Taihaku Cherry Orchard in Alnwick REUTERS UK news in pictures 20 April 2021 People stand in front of anti Super League banners outside Anfield as twelve of Europe's top football clubs, including Liverpool, launch a breakaway league Reuters UK news in pictures 19 April 2021 Women enjoy sunny weather in Greenwich, amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in London, Britain, Reuters UK news in pictures 18 April 2021 Stephen Maguire (right) of Scotland interacts with Jamie Jones of Wales during day 2 of the Betfred World Snooker Championships 2021 at The Crucible, Sheffield PA UK news in pictures 17 April 2021 Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburghs coffin, covered with His Royal Highnesss Personal Standard arrives by Landrover Defender at St Georges Chapel carried by a bearer party found by the Royal Marines during the funeral of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh at Windsor Castle Getty Images UK news in pictures 16 April 2021 Scotland's First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, checks the teeth of "Dentosaurus" during a visit to the Thornliebank Dental Care centre in Glasgow, as she campaigns ahead of the 2021 Scottish Parliamentary Election AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 15 April 2021 Myanmar's former ambassador to the UK, Kyaw Zwar Minn, outside his residence in north west London. The ambassador has been barred from entering the Myanmar embassy in Mayfair after he was removed from office PA UK news in pictures 14 April 2021 People take part in coronavirus surge testing on Clapham Common, south London. Thousands of residents have queued up to take coronavirus tests at additional facilities set up after new cases of the South African variant were found in two south London boroughs. 44 confirmed cases of the variant have been found in Lambeth and Wandsworth, with a further 30 probable cases identified PA UK news in pictures 13 April 2021 The core of the Milky Way becomes visible in the early hours of Tuesday morning as it moves over Bamburgh Lighthouse at stag Rock in Northumberland PA UK news in pictures 12 April 2021 Rebecca Richardson (left) and Genevieve Florence, members of the Aquabatix synchronised swimming team, during a practice session in the swimming pool at Clissold Leisure Centre in north London, which has reopened to the public. Many facilities have reopened in the latest easing of lockdown include pubs and restaurants who can serve outside, non-essential shops, indoor gyms and swimming pools, nail salons and hairdressers, outdoor amusements and zoos PA UK news in pictures 11 April 2021 A pub staff pins up a sign announcing the reopening of the Fox on the Hill pub on Denmark Hill in London EPA UK news in pictures 10 April 2021 The Death Gun Salute is fired by the Honourable Artillery Company to mark the passing of Britain's Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, at the The Tower of London AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 9 April 2021 A man arrives to lay a bunch of flowers outside Buckingham Palace in central London after the announcement of the death of Britain's Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. - Queen Elizabeth II's husband Prince Philip, who recently spent more than a month in hospital and underwent a heart procedure, died on April 9, Buckingham Palace announced. He was 99. AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 8 April 2021 Cousin Pascal ridden by James King clears the chair on their way to winning the 4:05 Pool via REUTERS UK news in pictures 7 April 2021 Deliveroo riders from the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain outside Deliveroo headquarters in London, as they go on strike in a dispute for fair pay, safety protections and basic workers rights PA UK news in pictures 6 April 2021 Waves crash over the walls next to Seaham Lighthouse in Durham PA UK news in pictures 5 April 2021 Lusamba Katalay (third from left), the husband of Belly Mujinga joins activists at a vigil at Victoria station in London to mark the first anniversary of the death of railway worker Belly Mujinga who died with Covid-19 following reports she had been coughed on by a customer at London's Victoria station PA UK news in pictures 4 April 2021 People spend Easter Sunday at Hengistbury Head, Bournemouth Jake McPherson/SWNS UK news in pictures 3 April 2021 A woman looks into the camera as she attends a 'Kill the Bill' protest in London EPA UK news in pictures 2 April 2021 Members of the Bamburgh Croquet club play a game following the easing of COVID-19 restrictions in Northumberland, Britain Reuters UK news in pictures 1 April 2021 A family walks in St Nicholas' Park in Warwick, the hot weather which baked much of the UK this week is set to give way to a chilly Easter weekend. PA UK news in pictures 31 March 2021 A woman adds a heart to the National Covid Memorial Wall in London EPA UK news in pictures 30 March 2021 Jamie Klingler from Reclaim These Streets speaks to the media in Clapham Common, south London, after a review by the Chief Inspector of Constabulary Sir Thomas Winsor concluded that Metropolitan Police officers did not act inappropriately or in a heavy-handed manner at the vigil PA UK news in pictures 29 March 2021 An aerial photo shows people playing tennis at the Mersey Bowman Lawn Tennis Club in Liverpool northwest England on March 29, 2021, as England's third Covid-19 lockdown restrictions ease, allowing groups of up to six people to meet outside. - People in England rushed outside Monday to enjoy sports, picnics and other previously prohibited activities, as the nation entered the second phase of its coronavirus lockdown easing thanks in large part to a successful vaccination drive AFP via Getty Images

"It has been an unmitigated disaster," she said on Thursday.

"We have already seen seafood businesses who heavily relied upon an export market close their doors  companies that have been around for 30 to 40 years.

"And I suspect there are many more that are currently hanging on by their fingernails and going bankrupt slowly, because part of the problem is that with fresh seafood products, you can't stockpile."

Earlier this week, Boris Johnsons chief negotiator admitted implementation of the Brexit deal had been more than bumpy in its first weeks, citing a row over Covid vaccines, disruptions to trade with Northern Ireland and niggling border issues over shellfish.

Additional reporting by Press Association
Bella Hadid looked more like a college student than a top model on Thursday morning.

The 24-year-old Vogue favorite wore an argyle sweater with a crossbody purse that made her look ready for an Ivy league campus.

The social media personality appeared to be enjoying her time outside as she walked around the bustling city's sidewalks before meeting up with two male pals.

Stepping out: On Thursday, Bella Hadid was spotted leaving her SoHo apartment building in a stylish outfit to take a walk in the crisp winter air

Colorful attire: The supermodel wore a multicolored fleece crewneck jacket to keep her comfortable in the cool winter weather. In August, Hadid remarked that she was 'really eager to get back to work' when the situation regarding the global pandemic became more manageable

Hadid was dressed in a multicolored fleece crewneck sweater that kept her nice and comfortable in the cool winter weather.

She wore a light blue button-up shirt underneath her outer layer and pulled her sleeves halfway up her forearms.

The social media personality contrasted her tops with a pair of vintage black loose-fitting jeans and a set of leather boots.

The supermodel kept her belongings close to her in an orange bag that had been slung over her right shoulder.

Contrast: Hadid provided counterpoints to her tops with a pair of vintage black loose-fitting jeans and a set of leather boots

Staying cozy: The fashion industry icon kept an orange purse slung over her left shoulder to add a little pop to her outfit

Hadid complemented her main accessory with a beanie featuring a lighter shade of orange; her gorgeous brunette hair shot out from underneath her headwear.

She wore several bracelets on each wrist, and a single necklace could be seen around her collarbone.

The model kept multiple rings on both of her hands and held her phone for much of her walk.

A male pal by her side: The siren was also seen with two men as she added a jacket

The boys: One man had on a green jacket while another had on a fire engine red jacket

The fashion industry icon tied off her outfit with a pair of sunglasses.

And she was also smart to add a large black facial covering during the pandemic.

During an interview with Elle that was published in August, the supermodel spoke about her enthusiasm to continue her modeling career in a COVID-conscious fashion.

Her bikini life: The star also posed in this two piece this month as she noted she was part Dutch

She remarked, 'Im really eager to get back to work and make art again. Moving into the next season, I hope we can find a proactive way to move forward in a safe, healthy way.'

Hadid also noted that her extended period of quarantine with her family was not something she had prepared to undergo.

The model said, 'After a few years of being a workaholicnot being home for more than five daysI found spending three months at home [intense].'
During a working trip to Donetsk region, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky paid tribute to the memory of the Ukrainian military that died in the battles for Avdiyivka, and also stressed the need for a ceasefire.

"Today marks exactly 200 days since we agreed on a comprehensive ceasefire. And we all see that the number of attacks from militants has increased recently. However, no matter how skeptical anyone is about the word 'truce', a ceasefire is needed and is an achievement. It saved the real lives of our military and civilians," the presidential press service said, citing Zelensky.

In this context, the president recalled that in 2018, some 121 servicemen were killed and 799 were wounded in Donbas. In 2019, some 100 servicemen were killed and 507 were wounded. In 2020, some 50 servicemen were killed and 338 were wounded.

Zelensky noted that in recent weeks the number of shellings has indeed increased, "which is associated, in particular, with attempts to put pressure on the Ukrainian side of the Trilateral Contact Group on the peaceful settlement of the situation in Donbas".

According to the information, the ambassadors of foreign states also laid flowers at the memorial and honored the memory of the Ukrainian soldiers with a minute of silence.

A memorial sign to the Ukrainian soldiers, who died in battles defending Avdiyivka, was installed in September 2017 at the initiative of the command of the 72nd separate mechanized brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The memorial has the form of a cross, next to which military equipment broken in battles and fragments of enemy shells were installed.
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Radio communications from the Metropolitan Police Department highlight how, during and and following President Trumps speech, Trump supporters descended on the Capitol, and became increasingly violent. What you are about to hear has not been made public before. In another radio communication between Metropolitan Police officers, you can hear an officer declare that there is a riot at the capital at 1:49 p.m. We are seeing the inside view as the mob approaches from outside and beats the windows and doors. You can see that the rioters first broke the window with the wooden beam that you saw previously, and a lone police officer inside responds and begins to spray the first man who enters, but is quickly overwhelmed. I want you to pay attention to the first group of assailants as they break into the building. The second man through the window is wearing full tactical body armor and is carrying a baseball bat. Others are carrying riot shields. Among this group are members of the Proud Boys, some of whom, like Dominic Pezzola, who was recently indicted on federal conspiracy charges, we will discuss later. In this security footage, you can see Officer Goodman running to respond to the initial breach. Officer Goodman passes Senator Mitt Romney, and directs him to turn around in order to get to safety. On the first floor, just beneath them, the mob had already started to search for the Senate chamber. Officer Goodman made his way down to the first floor. On the left-hand side of the video, just inside the hallway, is the door to the Senate chamber. And watch how officer Goodman provokes the rioters and purposefully draws them away from the door to the Senate chamber and towards the other officers waiting down the hall. The rioter seen carrying a baseball bat in this video is the same one we saw moments ago, breaching the window on the first floor. While all of this was going on, Vice President Pence was still in the room near the Senate chamber. It was not until to 2:26 that he was evacuated to a secure location. This next security video shows that evacuation. His movements are depicted by the orange dot in our model  the red and blue dots represent the location where the mob and Officer Goodman were, and where Officer Goodman led the mob away from the chamber, just moments ago. You can see Vice President Pence and his family quickly moved down the stairs. The vice president turns around briefly as hes headed down. About the same time Capitol Police announced the Capitol had been breached, Speaker Pelosis staff heeded the call to shelter in place. As you can see here, the staff moves from their offices, through the halls, and then enters a door on the right hand side. Thats the outer door of a conference room, which also has an inner door that they barricaded with furniture. The staff then hid under a conference room table in that inner room. This is the last staffer going in and then barricading themselves inside of the inner office. After just seven minutes of them barricading themselves, and the last staffer entering the door on the right, a group of rioters entered the hallway outside. And once inside, the rioters have free rein in the speaker of the Houses offices. In this security video, pay attention to the door that we saw those staffers leading into and going into. One of the rioters, you can see, is throwing his body against the door three times until he breaks open that outer door. Luckily, when faced with the inner door, he moves on. This security footage, which does not have sound, shows a close-up of Trumps mob as they move toward the second floor of the House chamber to stop the counting of votes. This security video shows Ashli Babbitt, followed by others in the mob, turning the corner toward the House lobby doors where the members were leaving. This security video from 2:56 p.m. shows the mob in the House of Representatives wing on the second floor of the Capitol. Insurrectionists who are still inside the building are fighting with the police, who are overwhelmed and trying to get them out. In this security video, you can see how the Capitol Police created a line and blocked the hallway with their bodies to prevent rioters at the end of the hall from reaching you and your staff. Additional security footage shows how leader Schumer and the members of his protective detail had a near miss with the mob. They came within just yards of rioters and had to turn around. Going up the ramp with his detail, hell soon go out of view. Seconds later, they return and run back down the hallway, and officers immediately shut the door and use their bodies to keep them safe. Heres an audio recording from the radio traffic of the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department describing the violence. In a separate Metropolitan Police Department radio traffic recording, you can hear an officer when he realizes that the insurrectionists had overtaken the police line. Hours after members of the House and Senate had left this area, on the west front of the building, the mob continued to grow, continued to beat the officers as they tried to get in. In this new security video, you can see the mob attacking officers with a crutch, a hockey stick, a bullhorn and a Trump flag.
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The Senate has invited the Governor of the Central Bank, Godwin Emefiele, to brief it on the opportunities and threats of cryptocurrency on the nations economy and security.

It also invited the Director General of the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC), Lamido Yuguda.

This invitation comes about a week after the CBN directed banks in the country to close all cryptocurrency-related accounts prohibiting financial institutions from facilitating crypto currency payments in the country.

This was a follow up of its earlier directives in January 2017 and February 2018 which forbade banks not to use, hold, trade or transact in cryptocurrencies.

The apex bank claimed that the digital currency is used for money laundering and terrorism.

CBN Acting Director, Corporate Communications, Osita Nwanisobi, said the ban on such transactions will not have any negative impact on fintechs.

The decision has triggered outrage across the country, from many Nigerians, mostly young people, who have invested in the digital currency.

Messrs Emefiele and Yuguda will, in a briefing, explain the reasons behind the recent ban, the negative impact that cryptocurrency can cause to the economy as well as opportunities that can be explored.

The decision to invite the duo was a sequel to a motion titled CBNs decision to stop financial institutions from transacting in cryptocurrencies sponsored by Plateau senator, Istifanus Gyang and Adetokumbo Abiru (APC, Lagos).

Leading the debate, Mr Gyang said the digital currency was anchored on anonymity and concealment of its patrons making it difficult if not impossible to trace and uncover those that may deploy it for ignoble and illegal usage such as money laundering, terrorism financing, drug purchase, cybercrime, among others.

Cryptocurrency is, however, both an opportunity and a threat, he said.

He, therefore, called on the Senate to ensure that the nation and citizens do not miss out on the opportunities that cryptocurrency offers and in the same vein, mitigate and prevent likely consequential effects on the nations economy and security.

Other senators like Adeola Olamilekan, Sani Musa, Albert Bassey and Biodun Olujimi, spoke in support of the motion.

Matthew Urighode (PDP, Edo) on the other hand, expressed fear about the anonymity of the digital currency.

The briefing with Messrs Emefiele and Yuguda will be conducted by the Senate Committees on Banking, Insurance and Other Financial Institutions, Cybercrimes and ICT and Capital Market.

The joint committee will thereafter prepare a report with recommendations and submit to the Senate in two weeks.

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US President Joe Biden announces targeted sanctions against Myanmar's military and urges the generals to relinquish power, in Washington, Feb. 10, 2021.

Signaling a tough U.S. response to last weeks military takeover in Myanmar, President Joe Biden announced Wednesday economic restrictions and imminent sanctions against the coup leaders as he pressed them to release country leader Aung San Suu Kyi and respect the results of the Nov. 8 elections.

Aung San Suu Kyis National League for Democracy (NLD) won the vote in a landslide victory deemed free and fair by the international community. But the military and its proxy party accused election officials of fraud, and soldiers staged a coup on Feb. 1 in response, arresting the 75-year-old leader and some 170 others, mostly politicians.

Biden said the U.S. was taking steps to prevent the generals from improperly having access to the U.S.$1 billion in Myanmar government funds in the United States, and that he was issuing an executive order to allow immediate sanctions on the coup leaders and close family members. He said targets of these sanctions would be announced this week.

The U.S. would also impose strong export controls and freeze U.S. assets that could benefit the military, while maintaining U.S. support for health care, civil society groups, and other assistance that directly benefits the people of Burma, Biden said, using the former name for the country.

I again call on the Burmese military to immediately release the democratic political leaders and activists they are now detaining, including Aung San Suu Kyi and also Win Myint, the president, Biden said.

The military must also relinquish power it seized and demonstrate respect for the will of the people in Burma as expressed in the Nov. 8 election, he said.

As protests grow, violence against those asserting their democratic rights is unacceptable and were going to keep calling it out. The people of Burma are making their voices heard, and the world is watching, and well be ready to impose additional measures, Biden said.

The U.S. previously levied broad sanctions against the former ruling junta in Myanmar but lifted those restrictions as the country transitioned to democracy beginning in 2011.

However, current army chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and a handful of other figures are already facing U.S. restrictions over the militarys brutal 2017 crackdown on minority Rohingya Muslims that drove 740,000 of them into Bangladesh.

An x-ray of the head of injured Myanmar protester Mya Thwe Thwe Khaing

shows a metal bullet lodged in her skull at a hospital in Naypyidaw, Feb. 9,

2021. Photo courtesy of hospital





Symbol for the cause

Meanwhile, protesters in Myanmar continued their defiance of the military rule in major street rallies on Wednesday, the fifth consecutive day of mass demonstrations against the regime that have spread across the nation despite a ban on public assemblies in the two largest cities.

People in nearly all major cities and towns held anti-junta protests as more government employees from several ministries joined the civil disobedience campaign, though there were no reported incidents of violence.

Protesters have embraced a young woman who was shot in the head by security forces Tuesday during a nonviolent rally in Naypyidaw as a symbol for the cause. Mya Thwe Thwe Khaing remains in critical condition, through unlikely to survive. Protesters draped a huge banner with her image from an overpass today where demonstrators gather daily in Yangon.

The military has denied shooting real bullets at protesters during the Naypyidaw rally, but a doctor at the hospital where the young woman is being treated said that a CT scan indicated a metal bullet had pierced her motorbike helmet and skull.

On Monday, Myanmars junta banned gatherings of more than five people along with motorized processions in Yangon and Mandalay  he countrys two biggest cities.

People are also banned from leaving their homes between 8 p.m. and 4 a.m., according to the orders issued after 10 p.m. on Monday night local time, which will remain effective until further notice.

The restrictive measures were ordered after police fired water cannons at hundreds of protesters in Naypyidaw, who were demanding the military hand power back to elected officials. It was then that police shot Mya Thwe Thwe Khaing.

We were watching from a bus shelter when the police, along with fire trucks, moved forward and the protesters retreated, her sister, Mya Thadoe Nwai, told RFA Wednesday.

Angry youths were throwing water bottles and rocks at the advancing police when shots rang out, though Mya Thadoe Nwai and others thought they were shooting into the air, she said. As they turned around to move to a safer place, she saw that her sister had fallen to the ground.

We tried to take off her motorcycle helmet to help her breathe and saw her head covered in blood, Mya Thadoe Nwai said. Only then did I realize that she had been hit. I was in real shock and didnt even know how we had gotten to the hospital.

Her sister remains in critical condition and has only a five percent chance of survival, she said.

I will go on fighting against the military dictatorship to make my sisters death meaningful, Mya Thadoe Nwai said.

The condition of So Wei, another critically injured protester who was shot in the chest on Tuesday, has improved, and he is said to be out of danger.

Myanmar protesters drape a huge banner with an image of Mya Thwe Thwe Khaing from an overpass in Yangon, Feb. 10, 2021. Credit: RFA





Ongoing civil disobedience

Amid the ongoing protests, at least 40 police officers joined the protests in Loikaw, capital of Kayah state, in the largest case so far of police switching sides.

About 80 protesters detained Tuesday in Myanmars second-largest city Mandalay were released on bail but are forbidden to participate in future demonstrations.

As thousands of civilians protest against military government nationwide, small groups of pro-military supporters held counter-protests in Pathein, Ayeyarwady region.

Volunteer medics providing medical treatment to injured protesters in Naypyidaw said armed soldiers on Tuesday night positioned themselves nearby a religious gathering hall they are using as a makeshift medical center to try to get them to leave.

The medical team, comprising nearly 200 doctors and nurses from various hospitals in the capital as well as local residents, protesters, and voluntary ambulance personnel, said they treated about 15 protesters who were wounded after Tuesdays shooting and sent critically injured Mya Thwe Thwe Khaing and So Wei to a 1,000-bed hospital.

These people got injured in a violent crackdown, and the presence of armed policemen and soldiers will make them more frightened, said a doctor who declined to be identified for safety reasons. He told RFA that the medical professionals are relocating the temporary treatment center.

About 500 government employees from five government ministries in the capital joined protesters Wednesday at the Myoma Market. Protesters said many senior officials were there, including directors and deputy directors.

We think the military takeover was illegal, and so instead of going to work, we are here to stop the government administrative machinery, said a government employee.

Another government worker said, It is important that we all do not go to work and instead reinforce the civil disobedience campaign.

About 1,000 youths participated in a street protest at the Thabyegon roundabout where police shot at protesters the previous day. No further incidents were reported.

The juntas military information committee issued a statement denying the allegations that police fired live ammunition at the protesters and accused the demonstrators of staging the violence.

The doctor who treated wounded Mya Thwe Thwe Khaing, however, told RFA Tuesday that we believe it was a real bullet.

Rubber bullets cannot inflict this kind of injury. The head CT scan also indicated that the bullet lodged in the brain was metal and not rubber, he said, declining to be identified for security reasons.

UN rapporteur alarmed

On Wednesday, Thomas Andrews, the U.N.s special rapporteur on the human rights situation in Myanmar, expressed alarm at reports of the use of lethal force by security forces against protesters, saying all members of the security forces had an obligation under international law not to use excessive force, and that they risked being prosecuted if they did so.

I am alarmed at the increasing levels of force against peaceful protesters, he said in a statement. People are frightened but also determined. It is imperative that security forces stand down before there are more casualties of protesters who are exercising their fundamental rights to freedom of expression and association.

Myanmar military personnel and police need to know that following orders is no defense for committing atrocities and any such defense will fail, regardless of their place in the chain of command. International crimes are manifestly unlawful, Andrews said.

During the first week of the coup, authorities made hundreds of arbitrary detentions, including Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi, top government officials, NLD members, lawmakers, civil society members, and protesters.

Reported by RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Khin Maung Nyane. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin and Mat Pennington.
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Cigarette-FMCG-hotel-to-paper major ITC is likely to report 8-9 percent year-on-year decline in profit for the quarter ended December 2020 dented by weak cigarette business.

Revenue from operations may also be reported muted in Q3FY21 as all segments, barring other FMCG, may see tepid performance. Cigarette business volumes could fall 6-8 percent YoY with its EBIT declining 7-10 percent compared to the corresponding period, though month-on-month there may be improvement, while FMCG, other businesses could remain strong with double-digit growth for the quarter.

The stock has rallied 12 percent in February so far, especially after the Budget as government didn't propose any higher taxes on cigarettes, which contribute 40-45 percent to the company's revenue.

The company will declare its December quarter earnings on February 11, along with an interim dividend for the current financial year.

"We model 8 percent decline in cigarette volumes, 1 percent growth in cigarette segmental sales (gross) led by 9 percent price/mix (net sales decline would be marginally higher than volume decline). We forecast 10 percent YoY decline in cigarette EBIT," said Kotak Institutional Equities which sees 9 percent YoY decline in profit and 3.3 percent fall in revenue.

In the FMCG segment, the brokerage expects health and hygiene portfolio growth to moderate a tad and discretionary portfolio recovery to continue. "We model 10 percent and 117 percent YoY growth in FMCG revenues and EBIT respectively. We model 320 bps YoY expansion in FMCG PBIT margin."

According to Emkay Global, FMCG momentum may continue with sales growth of 15 percent, similar to Q2FY21 and a 156 percent rise in EBIT. "We estimate for other divisions to record flat sales and EBIT decline of 24 percent," said the brokerage which feels profit could decline 8 percent YoY and revenue could increase 1 percent YoY in Q3FY21.
PRAGUE, Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Komercni banka will start a gradual migration to a new software platform from Temenos this year. Syncordis will deliver and implement the system. This is one of Komercni banka's most crucial investments ever; the objective is to achieve the reference level of the digitalisation of banking services in the Czech Republic.

"The signing of the contract with Syncordis and Temenos constitutes for us a strategic investment in our future. It is a crucial milestone in Komercni banka's history, which confirms our digitalisation leadership in the Czech banking market. We regard the opportunity to work with partners who share our approach to innovation and will help us to use the latest technologies for the benefit of our clients as a natural and integral part of our efforts," said Jan Juchelka, Komercni banka's Chairman and CEO, adding: "Growth of our clients' satisfaction and improvement in overall customer experience are some of the primary and natural objectives of this investment."

Pierre Servais, Syncordis's Chief Business Officer EMEA (Europe, Middle East and Africa), noted: "We are delighted to have this opportunity of strategic cooperation with Komercni banka in its drive to transform the main banking operations, and of directing its digitalisation journey. Innovation and the willingness to transform is the key in today's constantly changing world. Thanks to the powerful Temenos technology and Syncordis's extensive expertise in implementation, Komercni banka will be able to leverage the new possibilities of digital banking, and to provide its customers with new experience based on the foundations of a cutting-edge technological environment."

Komercni banka's long-term partnership with Syncordis includes the supply and implementation of the Temenos banking software that will support the bank and its subsidiaries in continuing their digitalisation, in simplifying the range of their products, and in enhancing security and sustainable business.

Komercni banka is Syncordis's very first client in Eastern Europe.

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(OTCQB: SWISF- CSE: SWIS- FRA: A2PN34) CEO Alain Ghiai joined Steve Darling from Proactive with news the company is looking to move into the U.S. with their Sekur platform. That will include their SekurMessenger and SekurMail as well.

Ghiai talks to Proactive about how they plan to grab market share in American and why their platform is very different from those currently available. He also discusses who they feel are perfect fits for this service.
Under normal circumstances, the University of Georgias football season would bring a major boost in business. But while local restaurants and bars are hoping for crowds, the pandemic is preparing business owners for the worst.
The money was supposed to be invested in BART coffee shops.

Instead, Terrence Goggin, 79, who served in the California State Assembly as a Democrat from 1974 to 1985, laundered over half a million dollars and is now spending his twilight years behind bars.

A federal grand jury in Oakland indicted the former state assemblyman in 2018 for defrauding investors during his time as CEO of a coffee shop chain that operated in BART stations.

Goggin faced four counts of wire fraud and nine counts of money laundering from his time overseeing ownership of four Peets Coffee & Tea shops in high-traffic BART stations  Montgomery, Embarcadero, Downtown Berkeley and Pittsburg/Bay Point.

Goggins attorney asked that being a convicted felon and other consequences, like loss of his law license, and public shame and embarrassment, were deterrent enough. A judge rejected the defense's argument that Goggin is too old and ill to go to prison, saying it would send a wrong message.

Goggin was sentenced Wednesday to a year and a day in federal prison.

Goggins was also ordered to repay $685,000, the amount of money prosecutors said he took from investors in 2013 to build coffee shops at two BART stations but instead used for other purposes, including personal expenses and other business ventures the investors hadn't agreed to fund.

However, U.S. District Judge James Donato said he doubted Goggin had the money to pay back his victims.

In the '70s, as a Democratic Assemblyman representing San Bernardino, Goggin led a push to limit natural gas plants, passed legislation preserving a 5-mile stretch of the SoCal coast from high-rise development and passed the first DUI bill that required jail time for repeat drunk drivers.

The old friend of then-Assembly Speaker Willie Brown also taught a class on "The Politics of Nuclear Power" at Harvard.

All of the privileges Mr. Goggin enjoyed in his life as an educated urban white man have vanished by his own hands. He had hoped his legacy would be that of a successful politician, attorney and developer, assistant federal public defender Hanni Fakhoury wrote in a sentencing memo in October. Instead, he appears at sentencing a broke, disgraced and disbarred convicted felon.

Bay City News contributed to this story.

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Copyright  2021 Albuquerque Journal

SANTA FE  Legislation seeking to bring an end to private prisons in New Mexico is heading to a key House budget committee after a potentially expensive amendment was added by the House Judiciary Committee.

Several lawmakers expressed concerns that the Private Detention Facility Moratorium Act was too green as written and doesnt have a proper transition plan in place to lead New Mexico away from private prisons. There are currently four private state prisons in New Mexico.

The bill is sponsored by Rep. Angelica Rubio, D-Las Cruces, along with four other lawmakers, and would essentially make private prisons illegal.

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Over 20 people spoke in favor of the bill during a public comment period. It ultimately passed by a 7-5 vote after a motion to table the bill failed.

I believe this bill is not directionally wrong, but I believe it is green, said House Minority Leader James Townsend, R-Artesia. It is not ready to go forward, and putting something forward out of (this committee) that we all agree is problematic is troubling to me.

One of the amendments approved by the committee would provide assistance for workers affected by the switch from private to public facilities. Specifically, it states any county or neighboring county that had 20 or more workers displaced or laid off because of the switch could get financial aid.

The amendment also creates several funds and a community advisory board that would provide assistance to the workers and communities with private prisons, Rep. Zachary Cook, R-Ruidoso, said.

Rep. Micaela Lara Cadena, D-Mesilla, said she supports the bills intent but doesnt think New Mexico is quite there yet, due largely to the legislations potential cost.

So my worry is that we have more inmates than prison beds, and were potentially giving the Corrections Department an impossible problem to continue housing these folks without anywhere to put them, Cadena said.

She also said changes to state sentencing laws would allow the Corrections Department to safely let some people out of prison, reducing the number of beds needed, but that hasnt happened yet.

Rep. Daymon Ely, D-Corrales, said hed like to see New Mexico moving away from private prisons, but said the bill could face tough sledding in the House Appropriations and Finance Committee, which plays a key role in crafting the states annual spending bill.

Heres what Im worried about  I think it gets to appropriations, and its going to stop right there, Ely said. I dont think were going to have the kind of funds that were talking about to be able to do this.

Now is not the time to let up in this fight and I am honored to be named national finance chair. I look forward to working with NRCC Chairman Tom Emmer, Republican leader Kevin McCarthy and the entire NRCC team to ensure our candidates and incumbent members have the necessary resources and are prepared to take back the majority in 2022, he said.
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Some of the over two thousand teachers sacked last year in Kwara State on Thursday stormed the governors office in Ilorin to protest the recruitment of new teachers to fill their positions.

The state government had in December last year sacked 2,414 teachers employed in the last weeks of the administration of former governor Abdulfatah Ahmed in 2019.

The state Ministry of Education said the Sunset teachers were laid off because their employment contravened due process.

It also said an investigation conducted by the state government with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) found over 600 of the teachers not qualified to teach.

The government has decided to start the employment process all over again in January 2021. The government will open a new application portal for all the 2,414 and any other eligible persons to apply for SUBEB teaching jobs in relevant subjects to be advertised. This effectively nullifies the controversial employment process of 2018/2019, the state government had declared.

The decision was criticised by labour leaders and opposition politicians.

The chairperson of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) in the state, Issa Ore, said the decision to sack such large number of workers was harsh on the affected workers, their families and dependants.

The congress received with great shock and concern, the decision of the State Government to disengage those workers employed by the immediate past administration tagged Sunset Workers under the guise of not qualified to take the job as teachers, Mr Ore then said in a statement.

The government ignored the protests and has now begun fresh recruitment of teachers.

This newspaper learnt that over 80, 000 applications have been submitted and the sacked teachers are worried they may not be reabsorbed.

Protest

At about 11 a.m. on Thursday, PREMIUM TIMES reporter witnessed the sacked teachers displaying placards in front of the governments secretariat in protest against the recruitment exercise.

One of the protesters, Abubakar Salahudeen, said the new recruitment exercise was needless.

The population of the people in Kwara State is not 1000. It is not 2000. The number of those that have registered for the recruitment is over 80, 000. Now, tell me what is the assurance that we sunset teachers, that 90 per cent of us is going to be re-engaged?

Mr Salahudeen disputed the claim that a large number of them were not qualified to teach.

We are qualified teachers. We are ready for anything. The government should organise a screening for us. We have everything to prove that we are qualified, he told journalists.

Another woman, who refused to give her name, told our correspondent that the government was not being transparent.

We have our certificate. We are qualified. The government is lying, she yelled.

But the spokesperson of the governor, Rafiu Ajakaye, appealed to the protesters to align themselves with the new recruitment process.

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For the first time in the recent history of the state, the government is conducting an online recruitment exercise for prospective teachers, which is open to all persons that are qualified and competent. This is certain to improve the standard of basic education in Kwara State.

We appeal to the protesters to align themselves with the transparent process which is already ongoing. There is nothing to be afraid of. The exam begins on February 22.Everyone gets their result on the same day ahead of the next stage of the exercise which is interview.

If the process throws you up as qualified and competent, no one will deny you the opportunity to serve the state as a teacher. Insisting on a fair, transparent and thorough recruitment exercise for those who would mould our children cannot be a crime for a government elected on the mantra of change, Mr Ajakaye said.

No one desirous of a better public education system will want to stampede the process. Seeking to stop the process midway is like asking the government to halt the agenda to give our children the best basic education as a legacy, he added.


The Ukrainian defender was shot dead outside Horlivka.

A Ukrainian soldier has been killed by a Russian sniper in the Donbas warzone, Ukraine officials report.

"Today, February 11, at about 09:30, a Russian sniper seriously wounded a Ukrainian fighter near the town of Horlivka. Despite the assistance provided, he died during the evacuation," the Ukrainian delegation to the Trilateral Contact Group wrote on Facebook.

Read alsoZelensky, G7 ambassadors arrive in DonbasThe Ukrainian side to the Joint Ceasefire Control and Coordination Center has submitted an appropriate note to the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission.

"Our delegation expresses sincere condolences to the relatives and friends of the soldier who died for Ukraine," the report says.

Reporting by UNIAN


Everest Rehabilitation Hospitals Quality rehabilitation hospitals are a much needed bridge for patients often between surgery and home

Everest Rehabilitation Hospitals, LLC, today announced the plans to construct its seventh physical rehabilitation hospital in the ever-growing East El Paso, TX community.

Everests modern comprehensive medical rehabilitation hospital will be constructed on 5.51 acres, just north of Pebble Hills Blvd on Joe Battle Blvd (Loop 375) in El Paso, TX. The construction is planned for completion in twelve months.

Among the amenities, the approximate 40,000 square foot hospital includes numerous uncommon details and 36 private patient bedrooms and baths designed as if you were in a luxury hotel versus a post-acute care hospital. All of Everest Rehabilitation Hospitals are identical and pre-designed for the expansion of an additional 18 private bedrooms as the market dictates. The hospital also includes spacious, state-of-the-art equipped inpatient and outpatient gyms, a large outdoor mobility courtyard for therapeutic use, aqua therapy, a fully furnished training apartment with kitchen and bath, several family gathering areas, an open dining hall, in-house dialysis and an in-house pharmacy. The hospital will serve patients recovering from injuries and illness or living with disabilities and chronic medical conditions.

Everests $23 million-dollar rehabilitation hospital investment will create approximately 120 jobs and provide for an $8 million-dollar a year payroll to the El Paso community. Everest Rehabilitation Hospital will feature a comprehensive and interdisciplinary physician-led team of physical rehabilitation therapists focused on increasing patient strength and endurance and improving quality of life in a modern, naturally lit setting. We are extremely excited to be a part of the East El Paso community. We firmly believe that patients thrive exponentially when their environment and their care far exceed their expectations. Everests individualized treatment is unparalleled and cannot be provided at skilled nursing facilities or nursing homes. Quality rehabilitation hospitals are a much needed bridge for patients often between surgery and home, Jay Quintana, Everest Rehabilitations CEO said. We provide one to one therapy, five to seven days a week, daily medical visits by rehab physicians and a strong nurse patient ratio that contributes to the optimal outcomes and the highest quality of care.

About Everest Rehabilitation Hospitals, LLC

Everest Rehabilitation Hospitals LLC, based in Dallas, Texas, is a multispecialty acute care physical rehabilitation hospital company focused on providing high quality, physical rehabilitation care. Everest is passionate about patient care; striving to create healing and nurturing environments for all patients that not only meet their medical needs but address their emotional and social needs as well. Patients are guided through the necessary steps to reclaim daily life, recover function, and return to an optimal quality of life by combining the latest treatments, technologies, and research with a unique interdisciplinary team approach involving the patient and family from day one. Everest provides the highest level of care available to patients with disabilities caused by injuries or illnesses, or from traumatic accidents.

http://www.everestrehab.com

Jay Quintana, CEO/ Co-Founder

jquintana(at)everestrehab.com

469-713-1145


New 5 Year R&D Sponsorship Signed with Dalhousie University

Brisbane, Feb 12, 2021 AEST (ABN Newswire) - NOVONIX Limited ( ASX:NVX ) ( FRA:GC3 ) ( OTCMKTS:NVNXF ) is pleased to announce that its wholly owned, Canadian-based subsidiary, Novonix Battery Technology Solutions ("Novonix BTS"), will extend its sponsorship of Prof. Mark Obrovac's lab at Dalhousie University through a new research agreement under the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) of Canada's Alliance Grants Program.- Novonix will extend its sponsorship of Professor Mark Obrovac's Research Group for a subsequent 5-year term under a new agreement- Novonix will have first rights to IP developed from this agreement- The Canadian government's NSERC Alliance program will contribute CA$2.2M over the 5-year termNovonix BTS had sponsored Prof. Obrovac's group for the previous 2 years through the NSERC Industrial Research Chair (IRC) Program. Under the new five year program, NSERC will contribute a total of CA$2,202,834 and Novonix BTS will contribute CA$1,110,420. This funding will be used for equipment, support for new students and researchers as well as necessary research materials.Novonix Chief Executive, Dr. Chris Burns, said, "We are excited to renew our relationship with Dr. Obrovac's lab. It has been extremely valuable to have a team focused on new materials projects across a range of battery materials. The synergy of this lab located so close to our development center in Halifax allows our team to quickly assess materials or processes on our battery cell pilot line and with Novonix BTS's significant internal testing resources."Novonix has previously announced multiple patent application filings that have come from research in Prof. Obrovac's group including patent applications related to Dry Particle Microgranulation (DPMG) technology and the ability to increase yield in the anode manufacturing process as well as synthesize single and polycrystalline high-nickel cathode materials.Novonix BTS is expanding its team to commercialize and demonstrate the cathode technology starting with the installed in-house cathode pilot processing capability based on the DPMG technology.Prof. Obrovac said, "It is great to be able to continue our relationship with Novonix. As a partner, Novonix has provided opportunities for commercialization of our developed technology and a place for our students and researchers to gain experience around battery development and testing. I'm also excited for the opportunity to collaborate with Dr. Jeff Dahn later this year when he joins the Novonix team."Novonix announced that in June 2021, Prof. Jeff Dahn will be joining the Novonix team, serving as the company's Chief Scientific Advisor. Prof. Dahn is a world renowned researcher also at Dalhousie University working with a group sponsored by Tesla. Prof. Obrovac completed his PhD under the supervision of Prof. Dahn in 2001.In addition to its Canadian operations, Novonix operates the PUREgraphite anode material plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, which is ramping capacity to 2,000 tons/year of synthetic graphite.Included in this increased output will be the supply of an initial 500 tons to Samsung SDI, one of the world's largest lithium-ion battery makers for EVs. As the only US supplier of synthetic graphite to tier-one EV battery producers, Novonix also has a non-binding agreement with Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd. (a subsidiary of Panasonic Corporation of Japan) to assess production materials from this plant.ABOUT DALHOUSIEDalhousie University is Atlantic Canada's leading research-intensive university. Located in the heart of Halifax, Nova Scotia, with an Agricultural Campus in Truro/Bible Hill, Dalhousie is a truly national and international university, with more than half of the university's 20,000-plus students coming from outside the province. Dal's 6,000 faculty and staff foster a diverse, purpose-driven community, one that spans 13 faculties and conducts more than $181 million in research annually. Part of a cluster identified as one of the world's top international centres in ocean research, the university proudly celebrated its 200th anniversary in 2018.ABOUT PROFESSOR MARK OBROVACProfessor Mark Obrovac is a leading battery materials innovator having authored over 90 peer reviewed journal articles, fifteen issued patents with a further twelve patents pending in the field of battery science covering anodes, cathode, electrolyte and binder materials.Regularly called on to review funding applications and to provide advice for Canada's NSERC and U.S. DOE battery programs for fuel cells for EV.- DALHOUSIE UNIVERSITY (9/10 - Present) CanadaProfessor at Dalhousie UniversityIndustrial Research Chair of NSERC/3M CORPORATION (2010 - 2018)Industrial Research Chair of NSERC/NOVONIX (2018 - Present)- 3M CORPORATION (7/02 - 8/10) USAProject leader of Anode Materials Group with 3M CorporationResearch group became one of the top research teams in the world that with several fundamental discoveries describing the electrochemistry of silicon.- BLUESTAR BATTERY SYSTEMS (5/95 - 8/95) CanadaSuccessfully developed electrolytes for primary carbon monofluoride batteries.- BALLARD ADVANCED MATERIALS (09/93 - 12/93) CanadaDeveloped methods to synthesize and characterize solid lithium-ion electrolytes.- MOLI ENERGY (9/90 - 08/92) CanadaWorked on solid polymer electrolytes and cathode thermal stability for safety.About NOVONIX Ltd

NOVONIX Ltd (ASX:NVX) (FRA:GC3) (OTCMKTS:NVNXF) is an integrated developer and supplier of high-performance materials, equipment and services for the global lithium-ion battery industry with operations in the USA and Canada and sales in more than 14 countries. NOVONIX's mission is to support the global deployment of lithium-ion battery technologies for a cleaner energy future.


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British animal feed businesses who export to the EU or NI have warned they are still facing 'significant problems' in trading following the end of the Brexit transition period.

The animal feed sector has asked for 'political intervention' to resolve the problems facing firms who export feed materials and finished feeds to the EU and NI.

The Agricultural Industries Confederation (AIC) warned that British businesses were facing lost revenue, delays and increased costs to Northern Irish and EU customers.

In a letter sent to Minister for the Cabinet Office Michael Gove, Robert Sheasby, AIC chief executive, said the issue could not be resolved without government action.

Problems have been particularly challenging for feeds containing animal by products such as milk and milk derived products, gelatine and collagen, hydrolysed proteins, eggs, dicalcium phosphate, chondroitin and glucosamine."

The requirement to complete Export Health Certificates (EHCs) for feeds containing these products was particularly challenging, he said.

Suitable EHCs do not exist and British suppliers are not listed on EU approved establishment lists to supply such feeds into the bloc.

Our members, ranging from multinational businesses to SMEs, have found no way of practically exporting such feeds to the EU and Northern Ireland, Mr Sheasby added.

The AIC has asked Mr Gove to raise the issue with the European Commission as a matter of urgency, in order to achieve clarification and certainty for the feed sector.

It comes as the pig sector faces similar exporting disruption following the end of the Brexit transition period on 31 December 2020.

Sector officials entered crisis talks with the government earlier this week to discuss the series of events that has seen thousands of pigs build up on farms due to Covid-19 problems in pork plants and export disruption since January.
Six men are in the custody of the Amasaman Police in the Greater Accra Region for allegedly assaulting some policemen on patrol duty in the environs of Amasaman and Pokuase.



They were part of a mob who assaulted the law enforcement officers at Sapeiman Faase, near Amasaman, in the Ga West Municipality.



Their names were given by the police as Phillip Klevor Kokou, John Tetteh, Daniel Lavor, Wisdom Selassie, Ofori Daniel and Peter Klutse.



They have been charged with obstruction and assault of public officers.



The attack



Briefing the Daily Graphic, the Public Relations Officer of the Accra Regional Police Command, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Effia Tenge, said the men were arrested yesterday.



She said some police personnel on patrol duty spotted a young man standing behind the fence of a house at about 9:30 p.m. and questioned him, but the young man took offence.



He is said to have raised an alarm which attracted a number of young men in the area who attacked the police personnel.



In the process of the attack, two hand cuffs and a cell phone belonging to the police personnel were taken by some of the young men.



Energy Quest Show

The police called for backup, and with the intervention of the additional personnel, six of the men were arrested.



The handcuffs and mobile phones were also retrieved from those arrested.







Source: graphiconline.com









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Featured Video
THE mother of a little girl with a rare and aggressive form of cancer is trying to raise 241,000 in a last-ditch bid to save her life.

Elara Foxley, three, was diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma just before Christmas 2019.

She had eight rounds of chemotherapy treatment followed by a four-hour operation to remove a growth in her abdomen before being given the all-clear.

She was still receiving treatment to boost her immune system when doctors confirmed last week that the disease had returned  and worse than before.

Elara, who lives in Knappe Close, Henley, with her mother Nicky and bulldogs Roxy and Reggie, now has the disease in her brain, spine and possibly other parts of her body.

The team at the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, which has cared for her from the outset, says it is probably incurable and they can realistically only prolong her life for a time.

But Ms Foxley, a former office administrator at Invesco in Henley, wants to take her daughter overseas for experimental drug treatment.

This involves drugs which make the bodys immune system attack cancer using radioactive iodine.

It is being trialled at a hospital in America and another in Spain. Ms Foxley said: Being without my daughter isnt an option. I simply cannot survive without her.

Elara was born at the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Reading on June 9, 2017 and was seven weeks premature so, her mother says, she battled right from the start.

Her cancer fight started in December 2019 when a bruise below her right eye wouldnt heal.

Her GP referred her to the John Radcliffe, where blood tests showed she had a very low platelet count.

Ms Foxley recalled: When they said her blood was abnormal, I passed out because I could tell something was terribly wrong.

The doctors grew alarmed when they felt a mass in her abdomen and soon afterwards confirmed it was neuroblastoma, which typically affects young children as it grows in leftover tissue from foetal development.

It had also spread to her bones, which often happens as the condition is rarely detected at an early stage.

Elaras specialist Dr Ismail Elbeshlawi immediately began chemotherapy comprising eight doses of drugs, each given 10 days apart.

She was able to go home sometimes but had to spend long periods at the hospital, including Christmas.

Ms Foxley said: It was an awful shock at first. Theres nothing to prepare you for a consultant using phrases like rare, aggressive and incredibly hard to treat and you can only fear the worst.

You have to quickly adjust to a new normal, plaster on your best smile and stay focused on the treatment plan, which gives you something to cling to when life suddenly becomes so uncertain.

I told Elara there was a cheeky monster in her tummy which had to be taken out and the chemotherapy would give her super-powers to beat it. It was crushing for me but I had to stay positive for her sake.

I turned it into an adventure where we were going to visit our friends at the hospital and at times she really loved it, though she missed the dogs, who had to go and live with my sister.

The pair spent Christmas on the childrens ward when several charities came with Father Christmas and once he touched down in a Chinook helicopter.

Children awoke on Christmas Day to find gifts in stockings at the foot of their beds and ate a traditional festive lunch.

Elaras hair began falling out that day, which her mother had warned her would happen.

Ms Foxley said: A big clump came out in her hand but Id told her some naughty fairies were going to take her hair away and give it back better than ever.

She was laughing and saying, Mum, the fairies have come and I had to go outside and have a little cry.

She lost weight, was sick and lost her hair but never complained and always lit up the room with her bright and infectious smile.

It was hard to stay positive and there were some very dark moments but my friends and family were behind me and I cant thank the nurses enough for their support. I had to believe wed somehow get through it.

The chemotherapy finished at the end of February 2020 and had shrunk Elaras main tumour by 60 per cent as well as clearing the cancer from her bones. The remaining growth wasnt wrapped around any organs so surgery was possible.

Professor Kokila Lakhoo, who carried out the operation in late March, said afterwards that all visible growth was gone.

Ms Foxley said: The operation was the longest four-and-a-half hours of my life. It wiped out Elara completely and left her very thin and pale but she came around, smiled and ate some food.

The coronavirus lockdown was in effect by then so we couldnt have visitors and she was released as soon as possible to avoid the risk of catching it. We called her scar her monster mark and shes still very proud of it.

The hardest challenge was yet to come as Elara needed high-dose chemotherapy in case any microscopic tumours remained.

She was given such strong drugs that her immune system was temporarily destroyed and even a cold could have killed her.

She returned to hospital in May and was supposed to leave after a month but developed veno-occlusive disease in which blood vessels to the liver become blocked.

She remained under observation until this healed and left in July.

Elara and her mother were kept in strict isolation so she didnt pick up any bugs. She couldnt celebrate her third birthday because the treatment stopped her digestion, which left her constantly fatigued and living off liquid meals.

Ms Foxley said: The fear of coronavirus was horrendous  it was a very emotional time. Before treatment started, I only allowed friends and family to visit us by waving and chatting at our front window.

We were kept in one room the whole time and Elara couldnt eat, talk or swallow for most of it and needed constant morphine for the pain.

That was definitely the hardest time but the treatment seemed to be going well so we couldnt have asked for more.

I warned Elara she would feel rubbish at times but promised Id be there to make her feel better. She was frustrated that she couldnt talk but we cuddled and watched films on the iPad  I must have watched Toy Story 4 a hundred times.

There was an agonising wait for her to recover and her health sometimes got worse after a few good days. I was constantly looking at the nurses faces to try to guess whether they had good or bad news.

Elara got the all-clear a few days after going home.

It was amazing but I couldnt believe it at first, said her mother. Its the news youve always wanted but youre scared to get your hopes up.

The doctor kept using cautious phrases like no evidence of disease and I was asking, so thats good, then?

Elara underwent four weeks precautionary radiotherapy in September then returned to the hospital for immunotherapy, which uses drugs to teach the immune system to fight cancer.

The experimental therapy which Elara could undergo is a more advanced form of this.

She was due to undergo five rounds of this treatment, each lasting 10 days with a five-week wait in-between, but had just completed her third round when she became ill last week.

Elara was experiencing pain in her right hip which rapidly worsened until she couldnt walk. Her mother feared the worst and called the hospital, which told her to go straight back. She underwent a lumbar puncture which showed cancer in her brain and spine and tests are still being carried out to assess the full extent of her relapse.

Ms Foxley said: Most young children need an anaesthetic for an MRI scan but Elara was so well-behaved and just lay there holding my hand while I sobbed. They kept coming in saying they needed some dye but wouldnt tell me what it was for.

Dr Elbeshlawi kept saying he couldnt confirm anything but there were abnormal areas. I understand why he couldnt say more but I could tell it was back and theyve now confirmed the outlook is very negative.

Elara is now on steroids to reduce any swelling in her spine and will undergo some form of NHS treatment in the UK, then hopefully take part in the overseas trials soon afterwards.

Ms Foxley found a charity called Solving Kids Cancer online, which supports families, funds research and suggests options when regular treatments have failed.

The charity would organise Elaras treatment abroad and the money raised would cover that as well as travel, expenses and additional procedures like scans.

Ms Foxley based her 241,000 target on other peoples experiences but doesnt yet know whether it will be enough.

So far she raised more than 70,000 in donations after family and friends shared her story online.

The Harris + Hoole coffee shop in Duke Street, Henley, is to host a fundraising cake sale tomorrow and on Sunday.

Ms Foxley said: Id be shocked if we needed less than 241,000 and it could well be more but the charity will help us draw up a budget.

So many people have shared our story in such a short space of time and Im grateful to every single person who has helped. To get more than 70,000 in donations in a few days is just amazing.

She is yet to tell her daughter the latest news.

Ms Foxley explained: Its heartbreaking to have this awful knowledge but shes completely unaware.

Shes sad because she cant walk properly but I dont know what to tell her, or how to tell her, until we know exactly whats happening.

As far as shes concerned, were just going back to see our old friends at the hospital and take some pictures because shes so beautiful. We should know a bit more by the end of this week.

We were so happy at Christmas and it really felt like we were on the home stretch after all that gruelling treatment.

Elaras immunotherapy was meant to finish on Easter Sunday and Id arranged for a charity to lend us a bell she could ring.

All my positivity has tanked because were not even back at square one now. Its more like square minus ten because were even worse off.

Elaras very good-natured but the steroids give her mood swings and sometimes she gets very upset, saying Mummy, I dont want to be angry. I have to reassure her that its okay and Ill always love her very much.

Im a mess and she knows something isnt right but if her time is going to be limited, I want us to be happy for as much of it as possible.

The support weve received through the appeal has been a huge relief as it gives me space to just sit and play with her.

To support the family, visit https://www.gofundme.com/f/elaras-neuroblastoma-treatment
LAFAYETTE, La., Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- RedHawk Holdings Corp. (OTC: SNDD) ("RedHawk" or the "Company"), a diversified holding company primarily engaged in sales and distribution of medical devices, announced today that its wholly-owned subsidiary, RedHawk Pharma LLC, has agreed to acquire certain cannabis assets of Med Tech Farms LLC ("Med Tech"), an Oklahoma-based start-up grower and supplier of cannabis products for a total of $1 million to be paid through a combination of cash, stock and convertible notes. The assets to be acquired include, but are not limited to, the licenses to grow, manufacture, transport and sell cannabis products in the State of Oklahoma, with an anticipated initial focus on "craft" cultivation and distribution.

Commenting on the acquisition, G. Darcy Klug, RedHawk's Chairman and Chief Financial Officer, said, "We are really excited about the anticipated Med Tech acquisition, its management team and the potential for strong and exciting strategic organic growth opportunities for RedHawk, not only in Oklahoma, but in other states as well."

A closing, is expected to occur before March 31, 2021 and is contingent upon, among other things, approval by RedHawk's board of directors, the negotiation, acceptance and execution of a final definitive purchase agreement, acceptance and approval by the board of directors and the shareholders of the seller, satisfactory completion of legal and financial due diligence, RedHawk obtaining the required amount of acquisition financing, and the obtainment of all necessary consents and approvals of any third parties.

About RedHawk Holdings Corp.

RedHawk Holdings Corp., formerly Independence Energy Corp., is a diversified holding company which, through its subsidiaries, is engaged in the sales and distribution of medical devices, sales of branded generic pharmaceutical drugs, commercial real estate investment and leasing, sales of point of entry full-body security systems, and specialized financial services. Through its medical products business unit, the Company sells the Sharps and Needle Destruction Device (SANDD), WoundClot Surgical - Advanced Bleeding Control, and the Carotid Artery Digital Non-Contact Thermometer. Through our United Kingdom based subsidiary, we manufacture and market branded generic pharmaceuticals. RedHawk Energy holds the exclusive U.S. manufacturing and distribution rights for the Centri Controlled Entry System, a unique, closed cabinet, nominal dose transmission full-body x-ray scanner. For more information, please visit: http://www.redhawkholdingscorp.com

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This release may contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are all statements other than statements of historical fact. Statements contained in this release that are not historical facts may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. The words "anticipate," "may," "can," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "expects," "projects," "targets," "intends," "likely," "will," "should," "to be," "potential" and any similar expressions are intended to identify those assertions as forward-looking statements.

Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain. Actual performance and results may differ materially from that projected or suggested herein due to certain risks and uncertainties. In evaluating forward-looking statements, you should consider the various factors which may cause actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statements including those listed in the "Risk Factors" section of our latest 10-K report. Further, the Company may make changes to its business plans that could or will affect its results. Investors are cautioned that the Company will undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

Company Contact:

G. Darcy Klug, Chairman and CFO

(337) 269-5933

[email protected]

Philip C. Spizale, CEO

(337) 269-5933

[email protected]

Investor Relations:

Stephanie Prince, Managing Director

PCG Advisory

(646) 762-4518

[email protected]

SOURCE RedHawk Holdings Corp.

EACH AND EVERY DAY, my colleagues and I hear about how New Hampshires high property taxes are an unsustainable burden on hardworking Granite Staters. According to a recent report from US News and WalletHub, New Hampshire has the third-highest property tax rates in the country. For young wor
I was having such a rough year  it was everything. I mean everything, said of the UNCF scholarship. It was everything needed to further motivate me and keep me in school  said Basco who said shes the first in her family to attend college.
The state of U.S. politics is horrifying.

A sustained campaign of lies on right-wing media  echoed by nearly half of the Republican senators  has convinced almost two-thirds of Republicans that the presidential election was somehow stolen. These lies set the stage for the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol; but a great majority of Republican senators appear set to acquit Donald Trump for his undeniable role in promoting that attack.

Yet President Bidens plans to rescue the economy command overwhelming, bipartisan support.

My sense is that the remarkably strong public consensus in favor of Bidenomics has largely flown under the radar. To be sure, Im not saying that the surprising unity among voters (but not politicians) on economic policy compensates for the terrifying fact that one of our two major parties no longer accepts the legitimacy of elections it loses. But its still important for Americas future.

You might have thought that Democratic plans for a big rescue package, probably close to the $1.9 trillion the Biden administration has proposed, would lead to a Tea Party-style backlash. But a recent CBS News poll found that 79 percent of those surveyed either believe that the package is the right size or think that its too small. There are, of course, partisan differences, but even among Republicans, 61 percent support a plan as big as or bigger than the one in the works.
[February 11, 2021] PayByPhone Brings Contactless Parking to the City of Denver, Colorado

VANCOUVER, BC, Feb. 11, 2021 /CNW/ - Residents and visitors of the City of Denver, Colorado will now have a better parking experience thanks to PayByPhone. The leading global provider of mobile parking payment solutions, is expanding to over 6000 on-street parking spaces across the city, now providing a contactless choice to drivers to pay for parking. "Denver and other cities around the world are looking at parking more strategically - clearly understanding the impact of parking on its residents and visitors," said Roamy Valera, CEO of PayByPhone. "We strive to bring our experience to our municipal partnerships to deliver a safe and frictionless parking experience for their municipalities and their drivers." "Denver is excited to introduce this technology to improve how the city manages parking" said Eulois Cleckley, DOTI Executive Director. "Not only will the new mobile payment system make it easier for people to pay for parking while supporting adjacent businesses, it's a contact-free option during these times of COVID-19." Over the next few weeks, DOTI will roll out PayByPhone stickers on parking meters and overhead signs to let people know they have the option to pay through the app. To get started, download the free PayByPhone app on the iOS App Store or Google Play. Then, enter the location code listed on the parking meter sticker or posted signage. For more information on parking in Dnver, please visit parksmartdenver.com .



PayByPhone is a hassle-free solution for over 35 million registered drivers, allowing them to pay for parking with just their smartphone. The app sends text messages automatically when a parking session expires, and gives drivers the ability to extend their parking session without needing to return to their vehicle. Drivers can also begin a session without registering for an account, making it ideal for those who are pressed for time. For more information, visit paybyphone.com

About PayByPhone

PayByPhone is one of the fastest growing mobile payment companies in the world, processing over 125 million transactions annually, totaling more than $550 million USD in payments. Through the company's mobile web, smartphone and smartwatch applications, PayByPhone helps millions of consumers easily and securely pay for parking without the hassles of waiting in line, having to carry change or risking costly fines. A subsidiary of Volkswagen Financial Services AG, PayByPhone is leading the way in the creation of the mobile future. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/paybyphone-brings-contactless-parking-to-the-city-of-denver-colorado-301226887.html SOURCE PayByPhone Technologies Inc.

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CTU President Jesse Sharkey, however, doubled down on his criticism of the mayoral-controlled school district, saying it was a disgrace that Chicago Public Schools would not delay reopening to ramp up staff vaccinations, among other things. He also said that alone will be a stain on the record of their administration. Expect the politically active union to raise that record come the next mayoral election.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron, who is tuning in from Paris via video link, speak to the media following talks in Berlin on Feb. 5, 2021. (Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

US Allies Snub Bidens Plan to Counter China

WASHINGTONPresident Joe Biden has promised that he would elevate diplomacy and seek a more coordinated approach with U.S. allies to address trade challenges posed by China.

His strategy to unite friendly nations to pressure Beijing, however, faces a rift as partners such as Germany and France have already signaled that theyre not on the same page.

French President Emmanuel Macron last week pushed against the idea of building a bloc against China, calling it counterproductive.

This is a scenario of the highest possible conflictuality, Macron said on Feb. 4 during an interview with the think tank Atlantic Council.

This one, for me, is counterproductive because it will push China to increase its regional strategy, he said, adding that it would also discourage Beijing from cooperating on global issues such as climate change.

Macrons comments came after German Chancellor Angela Merkel refused to side with the United States to contain China.

I would very much wish to avoid the building of blocs, Merkel told the Davos World Economic Forum on Jan. 26. I dont think it would do justice to many societies if we were to say this is the United States and over there is China and we are grouping around either the one or the other. This is not my understanding of how things ought to be.

Working with allies is the cornerstone of the Biden administrations policy toward China in resolving a wide range of thorny issues, from trade to human rights and Hong Kong.

Human rights advocates in Germany have been pushing Merkels government to take a more hard-line approach to the Chinese regime regarding Hong Kong and Xinjiang, but economic interests have stood in the way, according to critics.

Philip Stephens, a Financial Times columnist, doesnt characterize Germany as a reliable U.S. partner due to the countrys business interests in China and Russia.

Berlin cannot be expected to choose between human rights and the overseas sales of, say, Volkswagen, BMW, or Mercedes, he wrote in his recent op-ed.

Merkel gave a strong push to conclude the EUChina business investment deal on Dec. 30, 2020, a few weeks before Biden took office.

The comprehensive deal, which was seven years in the making, allows greater market access to European investors. Beijing has also agreed to ensure fair treatment of EU companies and address forced labor issues as part of the deal. The agreement drew criticism from the Biden team, who had called for early consultations with the new administration.

Its unclear how the White House will work with U.S. allies to manage the China challenge.

Clete Willems, former key trade negotiator and deputy director of the National Economic Council under the Trump administration, supports Bidens strategy to work together with allies. However, he also recognizes Europes business ties with China as a big obstacle.

If that strategy is going to be successful, its really going to take more ambition out of Europe, he told The Epoch Times.

He said the EU should be more determined to fight for market-oriented trade policies despite pressures from businesses and the Chinese regime.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki on Feb. 5 avoided answering a question from the press when asked if the Biden administration can rely on Europe, following Macrons comments.

This administration sees the United States as engaged in strategic competition with China, and technology is a central domain of that competition, she responded, adding that the Biden administration wouldnt allow Beijing to undercut Americas leadership in technology and research.

Thats certainly what the president conveys in his conversations with our partners and allies, she said.

Psaki also said on Feb. 11 that the administration is not in a rush and is taking a strategic approach to deal with China.

Her comments came after Biden, on Feb. 10, held his first phone call with Chinese leader Xi Jinping since taking office. During the call, which lasted two hours, Biden expressed his fundamental concerns about Beijings coercive and unfair economic practices, crackdown in Hong Kong, human rights abuses in Xinjiang, and increasingly assertive actions in the region, including toward Taiwan, according to a White House statement.
Book of the week

Two-Way Mirror: The Life Of Elizabeth Barrett Browning

by Fiona Sampson (Profile 20, 336 pp)

During her lifetime, Elizabeth Barrett Browning was our most popular woman poet yet, today, even the most passionate poetry lover would struggle to quote more than a few lines of hers.

If you're familiar with her story, it's probably because of The Barretts Of Wimpole Street.

This 1930 play, which has been filmed three times, is an irresistible slice of melodrama about the romance between Elizabeth and the dashing poet Robert Browning  a love affair which was opposed by her tyrannical father, who wanted Elizabeth all to himself. As the trailer for the 1957 version gasped, 'Behind the doors of a proud, respectable house surge the conflicts of dark, hidden passions!'

Born into a wealthy family in County Durham in 1806, Elizabeth was the oldest of 12 siblings. A fiercely intelligent child, she began writing at the age of six and never stopped.

'Literature was the star which in prospect illuminated my future day . . . it was the spur which prompted me . . . the very soul of my being,' she wrote at 14.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning's father disinherited her when she married Robert Browning. The play The Barretts Of Wimpole Street (pictured here in the film version) depicts their love story

Already immersed in Milton and Shakespeare by the age of eight, Elizabeth taught herself Greek, Latin and Hebrew. Her first collection of essays and poems, published at 20, received little attention, and her career was interrupted by upheavals.

Her mother Mary died in 1828 and Elizabeth, who was already suffering from a series of mystery pulmonary illnesses, was so distraught that her own health worsened.

The Barretts moved to London in 1835 and, three years later, Elizabeth published The Seraphim, And Other Poems, which made her name.

Despite her illness, Elizabeth became the darling of London literary society, keeping up a lively correspondence with fellow writers and sometimes receiving them at the family home in Wimpole Street.

A uthor Fiona Sampson, a sympathetic biographer (even if Two-Way Mirror is, annoyingly, written in the present tense) calls Elizabeth 'a big personality crammed into the small frame of a diminutive body', far from the stereotype of a Victorian invalid.

By her mid-30s all thoughts of romance and children must have seemed an impossible dream  until, in 1842, she received a letter from the poet Robert Browning, who wrote flirtatiously: 'I love your verses with all my heart, dear Miss Barrett.'

During her lifetime, Elizabeth Barrett Browning (pictured) was our most popular woman poet

After four months and an exchange of 30 letters, Elizabeth allowed Browning to visit her. The day after their first meeting, he wrote declaring his love. Elizabeth dismissed this, but they continued to meet in secret. Browning, who was six years younger, proposed and they began to talk about a future together. She even cut back on the daily 40 drops of laudanum (a highly addictive mixture of alcohol and opium) which she took for her nerves.

When she said she feared he would grow tired of an invalid wife, he assured her his love was so strong he would even settle for a sexless marriage: 'I would come when you let me, and go when you bade me  I would be no more than one of your brothers.'

The biggest obstacle to their marriage was Elizabeth's father. In The Barretts Of Wimpole Street there is a strong implication that Edward Barrett's love for Elizabeth verged on the incestuous.

Fiona Sampson dismisses this, although there is no doubt Mr Barrett was determined that all his children should be dependent on him. It wasn't a question of disapproving of her suitor; he would never have agreed to Elizabeth marrying anyone.

The Barrett sons at least had their working lives, but to be denied marriage and motherhood for Elizabeth and her two sisters, Henrietta and Arabella, was to condemn them to a suffocating life of genteel spinsterhood.

Two-Way Mirror: The Life Of Elizabeth Barrett Browning by Fiona Sampson (Profile 20, 336 pp)

In September 1846, Elizabeth and Robert were married, with Robert's cousin and Elizabeth's devoted maid as the only witnesses  the two women having prudently stopped on the way to buy smelling salts for the bride. Elizabeth returned home after the wedding, saying nothing to her father.

A week later, having smuggled out two cases of her possessions, Elizabeth, her maid and beloved spaniel Flush slipped out of the house in Wimpole Street and set sail for Italy with Robert Browning. On hearing the news, Mr Barrett declared she was dead to him, and never spoke to her again.

Against the odds, the couple's 16-year marriage was to prove a huge success, a union of both heart and mind. After several miscarriages Elizabeth gave birth, aged 43, to a much-loved son, Robert, known as Pen. The Barrett Brownings settled in Florence, and the Italian climate was good for Elizabeth's health.

Despite her fragility, Elizabeth was a charismatic woman of strong opinions: committed to the abolition of slavery, passionately interested in Italian politics and single-minded about her work.

The writer Anne Thackeray, who met Elizabeth in the 1850s, called her 'the greatest woman I ever knew,' saying: 'She is very, very small . . . her eyes are bright and full of life, she has a manner full of charm and kindness.'

Elizabeth's beautiful Sonnets From The Portuguese, written during her courtship with Browning but not published until 1850, expressed her sense of wonder that her life had been so transformed by love. The collection includes her most famous poem, which begins: 'How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.'

Her stock was now so high that when William Wordsworth died, she was spoken of as a possible successor as Poet Laureate. In the end Alfred, Lord Tennyson got the job; and we didn't get a female Poet Laureate until Carol Ann Duffy in 2009.

Aurora Leigh, an epic novel written in blank verse which came out in 1857, is regarded as Elizabeth's masterpiece. Its main theme is how women can achieve independence in a world dominated by men, and it didn't shy away from controversial topics such as the Victorians' cruel treatment of 'fallen women' who were the victims of sexual violence.

It was an instant bestseller  the first edition sold out in a fortnight  and was to influence writers such as George Eliot, Emily Dickinson and Oscar Wilde.

Elizabeth died in Italy at the age of 55, with her beloved Robert by her side. Tributes poured in, with one newspaper calling her 'the Shakespeare among her sex', yet within a few decades her poetry had fallen out of fashion.

Fiona Sampson, herself a poet, believes that Elizabeth Barrett Browning's work is due for a renaissance, and points out that many feminist scholars are rediscovering her often startlingly modern writing. Elizabeth's was, she concludes, a 'triumphant life'.
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analysis

Nigeria's newly appointed service chiefs have a brief window of opportunity to change their strategic approach, embrace reform and move beyond past failures before old habits set in.

President Muhammadu Buhari's recent decision to appoint new leaders at the head of Nigeria's military has put the spotlight on the shortcomings of the country's armed forces. Nigeria is perhaps more insecure now than at any time since its civil war raged in the late 1960s. The Council on Foreign Relations conservatively estimates that conflict across Nigeria has killed 38,000 in the past 5 years, while the UN assesses that the Boko Haram conflict has displaced over 3.4 million civilians across the deeply impoverished Lake Chad region. Even Nigeria's once-placid northwest is experiencing an unprecedented wave of violence, crime and kidnapping.

The military have performed poorly against this formidable range of security threats. As a result, Africa's largest economy and most populous country faces increasing risks to its long-term stability, socioeconomic health, investment climate and relationships with key external partners. Change was desperately needed.

A decision long overdue

The appointment of new military service chiefs typically takes place every 2-3 years or when a new president takes office. Yet Buhari clung onto the outgoing incumbents for over 5 years, despite their repeated strategic and operational missteps, and a series of high-profile security failures and battlefield defeats.

The president's unshakeable confidence in his top brass - especially former army chief Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai - eventually became a lightning rod for domestic and international criticism that intensified with every mass kidnapping and terrorist attack.

Buhari also shielded army leaders from accountability in connection with gross human rights violations. Incidents such as the 2015 killing of over 300 people by rampaging soldiers in Zaria and the 2020 Lekki shootings - in which troops opened fire on unarmed civilians during the #EndSARS protests - were especially shocking.

Nor has Buhari ordered the army to close its detention centres in which thousands of detainees, including children, have died from torture, starvation and neglect over the past decade. The removal of Buratai, who proved unwilling to implement reforms or rein in corruption and human rights abuses, gives the army a chance to mend its ways.

A chance for a fresh start?

His successor, newly promoted Lieutenant General Ibrahim Attahiru, inherits a broken institution more skilled at profiteering and producing propaganda than planning and sustaining effective counterinsurgency campaigns. To succeed, he will need to pursue incremental reform, notably tackling procurement-related corruption and quelling interservice rivalries, while also bringing new strategic vision and energy to the army's many internal security operations. Whether Attahiru and new Chief of Defence Staff General Lucky Irabor have the vision, skills and resources to push forward change amid deteriorating security conditions remains an open question.

Further, both men enjoy close ties to Buratai, who groomed them for their new roles, and so may be reluctant to dismantle the patronage networks that he constructed during his unusually long tenure. Both also previously served as top commanders in northeast Nigeria, directly overseeing counterinsurgency operations. Attahiru, however, was sacked after seven months, after underperforming in the role. Why this did not disqualify him from being promoted to army chief is unclear.

It is perhaps no surprise that initial indications are that Attahiru may be as reluctant as his predecessor to cooperate with disillusioned but doggedly loyal security assistance partners. To reboot its international relationships with longstanding partners like the United States and the United Kingdom, the army would - at a minimum - need to soften its standoffish attitude toward accepting international help and substantively address human rights concerns.

Until top officers like Irabor and Attahiru acknowledge the army's deficiencies and embark on much-needed reforms, international military engagement likely will remain as contentious, intermittent and unfruitful as it has in recent years. And Nigeria's escalating security crises will only get worse.

Piercing the echo chamber

However, the roots of the malaise crippling the Nigerian security sector run far deeper than individual corruption or incompetence. Most fundamentally it is due to a dogged refusal to engage with the realities of Nigeria's situation at the most senior levels, including President Buhari himself. Buhari's claims that the army has 'technically defeated Boko Haram' and that the outgoing service chiefs recorded 'overwhelming achievements in our efforts at bringing enduring peace to our dear country' are representative of a set of 'alternative facts' about the causes and consequences of insecurity that are endlessly recirculated by Nigeria's political and military elite.

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Questioning such claims is treated as an attack, with the army routinely decrying its critics as unpatriotic, terrorist sympathisers or instruments of foreign powers, and even blaming them for deteriorating security conditions in the country. It has also accused respected international humanitarian aid organizations of 'aiding and abetting' Boko Haram. And just days before its soldiers opened fire on #EndSARS protestors demonstrating against police brutality, an army spokesman labelled them 'subversive elements and troublemakers'.

To succeed, Nigeria's new service chiefs will need to dial back this rhetoric, step out of their echo chamber and work to regain public confidence and the trust of international partners. On his part, President Buhari will need to provide leadership, clarity and realism in his assessments of both the strategic challenges facing his country and the performance of its top military leaders. Failure to do so will see Nigeria become increasingly unstable and ultimately ungovernable, squandering rather than benefitting from its enormous human and economic potential.

Matthew Page, Associate Fellow, Africa Programme
The impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump continued Thursday with House Democrats concluding opening arguments in their case that he incited the deadly riot at the U.S. Capitol.

As they did the day before, the prosecutors presented more video evidence, and argued events before Jan. 6, such as the siege on the Michigan Statehouse, served as a dress rehearsal for the insurrection. They also used the words of the Capitol rioters to emphasize Trumps role in the attack.

The trial will resume at noon Friday when the former presidents lawyers will have up to 16 hours to present his defense.

Yahoo News is providing an uninterrupted live stream of the proceedings as well as instant analysis from our reporters at the trial in Washington, D.C., and elsewhere.
Ahead of the West Bengal Assembly Polls later this year, political parties across the spectrum are doling out sops to appease different sections of the State. Considering the sentiments of the Rajbonshi community in North Bengal, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday announced a new 'Narayani Sena Battalion' in the paramilitary forces and said that the training centre will be named after veer (brave) Chila Roy (the Prince and younger brother of King Nara Narayan of Koch Dynasty.

He also pledged to fulfill the dream of Sonar Bangla in West Bengal in five years and requested the masses to vote for the BJP under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Recently, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also played a masterstroke by announcing the formation of three separate police battalions under the names of Narayani in Cooch Behar, Gorkha in the Hills and Jangalmahal focusing on tribal belt. It was a long pending demand for 'Narayani Sena Battallion' by the Rajbonshi in North Bengal.

With more than 30 percent vote share, Rajbonshi are undeniably a deciding factor to turn the tables for any political party in North Bengal. It was Rajbonshi which helped the BJP to gain massive inroads in the region in the last Lok Sabha polls.

They were the deciding factor during the Left rule till TMC came to power in 2011 under Mamata Banerjee.

BJP and TMC both know it well that any significant division in the Rajbonshi vote share  a deciding factor in nearly 50 out of 54 Assembly segments in North Bengal out of the 294 Assembly seats in the State  could jeopardise her mission Ekush (2021 Assembly polls).

While addressing a Porivartan Yatra in Rash Mela Ground in Cooch Behar, Shah said, Today, I feel honoured to address you from Cooch Behar which is known for the bravery of Narayani Sena. Once Narayani Sena courageously fought with the Mughals and chased them away. Now once again infiltrators are entering India illegally. We will dedicate a Narayani Sena battalion in the paramilitary forces soon. Not the least the training centre for Narayani Sena will be known as Chila Roy.

He said, I heard TMC leaders are discussing why BJP has launched this Porivartan Yatra? I would like to tell them that this Porivartan Yatra is not to replace one chief minister by another. This Porivartan Yatra is to free Bengal from the misrule of Mamata and Bhaipos (Abhisekh Banerjee). This Porivartan Yatra is to fulfill the dream of Sonar Bangal. This Porivartan Yatra is to stop illegal infiltrators. Therefore, I would like to request you to vote for BJP for Sonar Bengal.``

Announcing BJPs road map for North Bengal, he said, Not only Narayani Sena battalion but we will set up Rajbonshi Cultural Centre, a Tourist Circuit and Thakur Panchanan memorial centre with his statue if we come to power in 2021. The Rajbonshi cultural Centre will cost Rs 500 crore while Rs 250 crore will be earmarked for the statue of Panchanan Barman.

On Central schemes, the Union Home Minister while accusing Mamata for blocking it, said, Mamata Banerjee is not implementing the central schemes including Ayushman Bharat in Bengal. Crores of people across India have availed free surgeries under Ayushman Bharat. Not the least, Mamata is also blocking PM Kisan Samman Nidhi scheme and depriving farmers from its benefits. But I am sorry to say that didi has not implemented the scheme in Bengal. Mamataji, dont you think people of Bengal have the right to avail this free and quality treatment? Why are you not implementing it? Mamataji, we are not doing politics, its you who are doing politics.

I would like to assure the people of Bengal that within minutes of forming the government in 2021, we will implement Ayushman Bharat health scheme in our first cabinet meeting, Shah said, while alleging that she is not sending the list of farmers from Bengal for the central monetary schemes because she is afraid of PM Modis popularity.

BJP under the leadership of PM Modi can only ensure good governance in Bengal. Our target is to ensure good governance and development in West Bengal and on the other side, Didi (Mamata) is busy in bhatija kalyan (nephews rise) as the next chief minister of the state. In this election, we are going to win more than 200 seats. There will be double engine government in West Bengal, he added.

Cholo paltai (lets change).... cholo paltai.... cholo paltai, Shah raised slogans while ending his speech.
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Bidens Justice Department on Tuesday asked for Lauschs resignation as U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, along with other Trump-appointed U.S. attorneys across the country. Two U.S. attorneys are being allowed to stay, in Connecticut and Delaware, because they are in the middle of high-profile investigations. Lausch is, too, having led so far several multifaceted corruption investigations into ComEd, red light cameras and government bribery that reached as high as former House Speaker Michael Madigan, Public Official A in the ComEd case, who has not been charged. But more than 20 officials have been indicted or charged, and many more are on the feds radar.
Researchers from North Carolina State University used a three-model approach to trace the between-farm spread of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV), as well as to analyze the efficacy of different control strategies in these scenarios. The approach may enable farmers to be more proactive in preventing the spread of PEDV and to optimize their efforts to control the disease.

PEDV is a virus that causes high mortality rates in preweaned piglets. The virus emerged in the U.S. in 2013 and by 2014 had infected approximately 50 percent of breeding herds. PEDV is transmitted by contact with contaminated fecal matter.

"We wanted to compare three different models by using actual outbreak data in order to test their efficacy," says Gustavo Machado, assistant professor of population health and pathobiology at NC State and corresponding author of a paper describing the work. "Then we could use the data to determine the best intervention strategy in each case."

The team compared three models. One was PigSpread, a novel epidemiological modelling framework developed by coauthor Jason Galvis specifically to model disease spread in swine populations. The other two models were SimInf (a commercial disease spread simulator) and PoPS, which was developed by NC State's Center for Geospatial Analytics to model the spread of pests or pathogens within fields and forests.

"There are mainly two ways PEDV can spread - either between the pigs on the same farm, or when pigs are moved from one farm to another," Machado says. "Each of the models we picked had a different strength: PigSpread looks at the number of pigs per farm and differences in numbers to make predictions, SimInf looks at disease in the environment, and PoPS uses both differences in numbers and environmental factors like temperature and precipitation."

Using data from recorded PEDV outbreaks from three separate companies, the team calibrated the models weekly and looked at which one performed best in each given week.

"While PoPS was the most accurate overall, each model had its own advantages or disadvantages," Machado says. "What we're doing here is similar to the way meteorologists model weather data, using different models with different strengths to give us more flexibility. We calibrate the models each week and predictively, we would use the model that performed best on the most recent data."

The team analyzed the predictive capability of the models in conjunction with disease control strategies such as herd closure, vaccination and biosecurity measures. They estimate that by combining modeling and control protocols farms could see a 76% to 89% reduction in outbreaks in sow farms and a 33% to 61% outbreak reduction among gilt farms.

"This is a flexible way to keep farmers up to date during an outbreak and enable them to make decisions," Galvis says. "We hope to be able to provide farmers with potential hot spot maps prior to an outbreak so that they can increase surveillance and preempt the spread of disease. Our next steps will be to look more closely at how the infection responds to specific interventions."

###

The research appears in Transboundary and Emerging Diseases and was supported by the Swine Health Information Center under project #19-211. Galvis, a postdoctoral researcher at NC State in the Machado Laboratory, is first author. Chris Jones, a research scholar in NC State's Center for Geospatial Analytics, led the development of the PoPS model. Joaquin Prada from the University of Surrey, U.K., and Cesar Corzo from the University of Minnesota also contributed to the work.

Note to editors: An abstract follows.

"The between-farm transmission dynamics of Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus: A short-term forecast modeling comparison and the effectiveness of control strategies"

DOI: 10.1111/tbed.13997

Authors: Jason Galvis, Chris Jones, Gustavo Machado, North Carolina State University; Joaquin Prada, University of Surrey, U.K.; Cesar Corzo, University of Minnesota

Published: Online in Transboundary and Emerging Diseases

Abstract: A limited understanding of the transmission dynamics of swine disease is a significant obstacle to prevent and control disease spread. Therefore, understanding between-farm transmission dynamics is crucial to developing disease forecasting systems to predict outbreaks that would allow the swine industry to tailor control strategies. Our objective was to forecast weekly Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea virus (PEDV) outbreaks by generating high-resolution maps to identify current and future PEDV high-risk areas, and simulating the impact of control measures. Three epidemiological transmission models were developed and compared: a novel epidemiological modelling framework was developed specifically to model disease spread in swine populations, PigSpread, and two models built on previously developed ecosystems; SimInf (a stochastic disease spread simulations) and PoPS (Pest or Pathogen Spread). The models were calibrated on true weekly PEDV outbreaks from three spatially related swine production companies. Prediction accuracy across models was compared using the receiver operating characteristic area under the curve (AUC). Model outputs had a general agreement with observed outbreaks throughout the study period. PoPS had an AUC of 0.80, followed by PigSpread with 0.71, and SimInf had the lowest at 0.59. Our analysis estimates that the combined strategies of herd closure, controlled exposure of gilts to live viruses (feedback) and on-farm biosecurity reinforcement reduced the number of outbreaks. On average, 76% to 89% reduction was seen in sow farms, while in gilt development units (GDU) was between 33% to 61% when deployed to sow and GDU farms located in probabilistic high-risk areas. Our multi-model forecasting approach can be used to prioritize surveillance and intervention strategies for PEDV and other diseases potentially leading to more resilient and healthier pig production systems.
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INDUSTRY INSIGHT

State and local digital infrastructure is rife with vulnerabilities

Over the past year, state and local government authorities have rightfully devoted their energies and their budgets to fighting the coronavirus and providing services to those impacted. Its been a difficult fight, full of challenges, and its not over yet.

It seems doubly cruel that in the midst of the pandemic, governments have been forced to deal with cyberattacks that have interfered with their ability to deliver essential services to their constituents. Following a virus attack in September 2020, for example, police officers in Key West, Fla., were forced to use pen and paper for their reports until servers could be rebuilt and IT systems restored.

Then in November, Delaware County, the fifth most populous county in Pennsylvania, was hit with a ransomware attack that disrupted significant portions of its network. The perpetrators had access to networks containing police reports, payroll, purchasing and other databases. The threat actors demanded -- and eventually received -- a $500,000 ransom in exchange for a key to decrypt the systems held for ransom.

Fortunately for Delaware County, its emergency services department was not part of the affected network. However, the threat does go beyond just government, impacting critical infrastructure as a whole. The ability to disrupt emergency medical services is giving attackers extra incentive to target the countrys public-sector and health-care organizations in the hopes of scoring even larger payouts.

For instance, this past October, just as COVID-19 cases began to surge, heartless attackers used ransomware to disable computer systems at health-care facilities in Oregon, New York, Vermont, Michigan and Wisconsin. The attacks on this critical infrastructure could potentially result in tragic outcomes as has already been observed in other parts of the world.

Most of these cyberattacks -- whether or not they involve ransomware -- make their way into environments by first exploiting vulnerabilities in completely different parts of an organization. Recently we found out about the large supply chain SolarWinds campaign that was used as a vector into both commercial and public-sector entities. Remote attackers often exploit unpatched servers, misconfigurations, compromised credentials and other conditions that demonstrate poor security hygiene.

As an example, Atlanta was the subject of a massive cyberattack in March 2018. Caused by ransomware, the attack was notable for both the extent and duration of the resulting service outages. Prior to the attack, a January 2018 IT audit uncovered 1,500 to 2,000 vulnerabilities in the citys systems, which left the infrastructure open to attack.

The Atlanta government was criticized for failing to upgrade equipment, which could have prevented the successful attack. City authorities blamed the inaction on a lack of funding -- certainly something every agency can relate to today.

The national election infrastructure is vulnerable

The recent 2020 election also put a huge spotlight on the security of the digital infrastructure that underpins voting systems. Rather than being one monolithic system that is centrally controlled, the technology used to support elections is actually owned and operated by thousands of individual state and local government agencies. This means the equipment and systems are managed locally, and likely with vastly differing levels of security hygiene.

As a security practitioner, I wondered whether there could be vulnerabilities in these systems that put our elections at risk of unintended manipulation. Together with our team of cyber threat researchers, we took a non-partisan, purely technical approach to evaluating the risk in the attack surface of these systems. We only used publicly available information to identify the external facing infrastructure that could be targeted and infiltrated by an outside attacker.

We found many common vectors for ransomware and other destructive attacks to gain entry into the state- and county-run systems. For example, there are thousands of internet-facing applications, many of which appear to be running vulnerable and out of date software. Some of the systems expose services like Kerberos, which have been previously exploited in attacks such as WannaCry and ZeroLogon.

Fortunately the Department of Homeland Security declared the 2020 election to be one of the safest and most secure in recent history. But the fact is, the vulnerabilities remain and must be addressed to reduce the risk of cyberattacks in future election cycles. There are still many adversaries looking to wreak havoc at all levels of government and the focus on cybersecurity around the election should serve as a clear call to shore-up cyber defenses.

The coffers for cybersecurity are empty

Perhaps the main hindrance to securing digital critical infrastructure is lack of funding. Cities and states are undergoing severe budget crises due to dramatic revenue declines during the pandemic and uncertainty about federal aid.

Congress recognizes the need to help fund cybersecurity at the state and local level but hasnt yet codified the aid into law. In 2019, the Senate passed the State and Local Government Cybersecurity Act designed to create grants and other programs to help states and localities fend off ransomware attacks and other threats. In 2020, the House passed its own bill, the State and Local Cybersecurity Improvement Act, also creating a federal grant program to go toward state and local government cybersecurity efforts. Despite the similarities of the bills, neither has yet passed into law, thus leaving states and municipalities without federal funding in the foreseeable future.

This highlights the unfortunate reality that agencies either dont prioritize the threat correctly or dont have the money -- or the technical expertise -- to address the dire need to harden their computing environments on their own. This conundrum might need a collective approach to finding a solution -- perhaps public/private partnerships or grants from private sources.

Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon, who views cybersecurity as a significant problem that poses a threat to critical infrastructure and the economy, agrees. "I think more coordination between companies and government on this issue is super important," he said.

One thing is certain: doing nothing to enhance cybersecurity of public infrastructure will only grow the vulnerabilities and continue to put vital services at risk.
One of the most crucial announcements in the Budget was with regard to infrastructure development projects, across various states and UT's

Amidst a global pandemic, Indias overall allocation for health and well-being increased by 137 per cent in the financial year 2021-22, thus boosting the capacity of the healthcare system to detect and cure new diseases. (Photo: AFP)

The first Union Budget of this decade comes at a time that our nation is commemorating the 75th year of Indian Independence, 60 years of Goas accession to India, 50 years of the 1971 India-Pakistan War, eight censuses of Independent India (and also the first digital census), Indias turn at the BRICS presidency, the Chandrayaan-3 mission and the celebration of Haridwar Maha Kumbh. Under this scenario, India has a vital role to play as a major Asian economic power in the new world order in the post-Covid era.

The Union Budget 2021-22, along with the myriad mini-budgets, including the Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana and the Atma Nirbhar Bharat packages, presented by the finance minister to stabilise the economy during a critical pandemic period, has prepared our country to move in the right direction.

Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Budget addresses the imperative of resetting priorities and identifies the emergence of opportunities by devoting an all-inclusive Budget as a guide to a self-reliant India.

The development of any nation depends on transportation networks and the way in which they are maintained. One of the most crucial announcements in the Budget was with regard to infrastructure development projects, across various states and Union territories.

For connecting the areas and maintaining smooth flow of traffic, the construction of new roads is a must. The infrastructure projects are not just connectivity specific, like the proposed highway works and upgrade of the existing 675 km Kolkata-Siliguri highway bisecting the state of West Bengal, but also employment-generating opportunities.

Further, as Union territories receive 100 per cent of their funding from the central government, long-stalled projects are being revived and new welfare projects implemented.

The budget has provisioned Rs 30,757 crore for Jammu and Kashmir, the highest among UTs. The announcement of a maiden gas pipeline in J&K has further rekindled hopes for the revival of the project that, due to a paucity of funds and the lack of an administrative push, showed no progress for a decade. This gas pipeline project will create a base for increased beneficiary coverage under the Ujjwala Yojana as well as decrease carbon footprint by increasing utilisation of clean fuel for cooking purposes.

This connectivity upgrade also envisions the development of modern fishing harbours and fish landing centres along the banks of rivers and waterways. The government has provisioned for developing five major fishing harbours  Kochi, Chennai, Visakhapatnam, Paradip and Petuaghat  as hubs of economic activity. The development of fishing harbours would help in exploitation of rich fishing grounds, create adequate infrastructure for operation of mechanised fishing vessels, mitigate navigation hazards, save fishermens lives and fishing vessels from the rough seas, make for the handling of fish and crustaceans in hygienic conditions, and, thereby, enhance export earnings.

The first-ever paperless Budget also gave a major boost to the start-up ecosystem in India, with the objective of encouraging entrepreneurship and fostering growth. Recently, 11 Indian start-ups managed to bag a unicorn tag in a pandemic year when they crossed the US $1 billion valuation mark.

Prime Minister Modi has averred that start-ups are changing the demographic characteristics of todays businesses. Further, start-ups played a major role in ensuring availability of sanitizers, PPE kits and related supply chains, and fulfilled a sterling role in meeting local needs like grocery, medicine delivery at doorstep, transportation of frontline workers and online study material. The Budget provided a boost to start-up investments by extending the eligibility for claiming tax holidays for start-ups along with a capital gains exemption for investment in start-ups till March 31, 2022.

Modi has ushered in a wave of behavioural change among people with the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan. The pandemic made swachhta an integral lifestyle and a practice that has seen increased community participation.

For further swachhta of urban India, the government raised the focus on complete faecal sludge management and wastewater treatment, source segregation of garbage, reduction in single-use plastic, reduction in air pollution by effectively managing waste from construction and demolition activities and bioremediation of all legacy dump sites. The Urban Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0 is being implemented with a total financial allocation of Rs 1,41,678 crores over a period of five years.

Amidst a global pandemic, Indias overall allocation for health and well-being increased by 137 per cent in the financial year 2021-22, thus boosting the capacity of the healthcare system to detect and cure new diseases.

Underscoring the importance of strengthening the healthcare infrastructure, the government launched the PM Atma Nirbhar Swasth Bharat Yojana, with an outlay of about Rs 64,180 crore over six years. The scheme will concentrate on bridging the health infrastructure gap at the village, block and panchayat levels and integrate them with centralised healthcare facilities.

Today, India has indigenously manufactured a vaccine and has begun medically safeguarding not only its own citizens against Covid-19, but also those of 100 or more countries under its Vaccine Maitri outreach. Our nation has strengthened its ethos of vasudhaiva kutumbakam while turning a crisis into an opportunity for developing self-reliance and presented a budget with an eye on future growth.
PITA wants to make order out of order

The High Authority for Audiovisual and Communication frames the private media, it was yesterday Tuesday during the meeting held between the latter and heads of organizations on the deontological and ethical foundations of journalism. In recent times, the private media are facing arbitrary penalties while playing their role of whistleblower.

However, this role, according to HAAC officials, leads private media men to believe themselves to be Untouchables while making the Togolese press a place of disorder. With this, the HAAC undertakes to subject all members of the private media to respect for the rules of professional conduct and ethics. We must recognize that our profession is bad, it is in crisis. Recess is over. Some journalists must stop seeing themselves as untouchables who have the right to trample on the rules of the trade with impunity, said Pitalounani Telou, president of the HAAC.

He added, "We are worried because we have seen that since the decriminalization of press offenses, there is a carelessness that has taken hold in the profession. We have seen that some journalists have become untouchables, political activists, who spread fake news or who simply make it up. No respect for the rules of professional conduct and ethics of our profession. Everything happens as if the journalist is above all the laws in this country. It is not normal that a certain category of journalists thinks they are allowed everything in this country ".

In the process, Pitalounani Telou reminded fellow journalists that the HAAC does not only have to protect press freedom. You dont have to come here all the time to tell us youre not happy. We too are not happy with you because you are not doing your job. If you did, I think we wouldnt be at that level. You cant just think that the HAAC should only protect press freedom and leave the other side, he said. Everything suggests that the HAAC wants to dot the is in the Togolese press, which it finds wrong.

Severin A.
India and China have begun simultaneously disengaging their troops at Pangong Tso lake in Ladakh as part of an agreement reached during the last round of military talks, the Chinese defence ministry said on Wednesday, a statement that India did not deny.

The Chinese and Indian frontline troops at the southern and northern bank of the Pangong Tso Lake started synchronized and organized disengagement from 10 February," Chinas defence ministry spokesman senior colonel Wu Qian said.

This move is in accordance with the consensus reached by both sides at the 9th round of China-India corps commander level meeting," Wu said in a written statement put up on the ministry website.

Also Read | Inside the Mindtree makeover strategy

In New Delhi, there was no official reaction to the Chinese claim, although defence minister Rajnath Singh was due to make a statement on Thursday.

Tensions have been running high between India and China for nine months since India first detected Chinese intrusions into its territory in May. India quickly mobilized troops to match the Chinese deployment that Singh said had started in April last year.

Last month, foreign minister S. Jaishankar warned ties were truly at a crossroads" and that choices that are made will have profound repercussions, not just for the two nations but for the entire world".

Over the weekend, Jaishankar acknowledged some progress in dialogue but added that this had not eased the situation.

Two people familiar with the matter on Wednesday said India was moving out some armoured components, accompanied by some thinning out of troops" from the rear on the Indian side.

We continue to hold strategic heights. Frontline troops are not disengaging at the moment. It is still early days," one of the people cited above said, declining to confirm if the development could be described as disengagement".

Its a multi-step process, and there will be verification at each stage," the person said.

News of the pullback came after the closure of markets and analysts predicted a possible rally on Thursday.

This is a welcome development from the economy and the markets perspective, though not a major one. However, this pullback needs to be sustained, and hostilities should not resume," said Deepak Jasani, retail-research head, HDFC Securities.

Markets have more than doubled since the crash last March. With an inflow $5 billion from foreign institutional investors into Indian equities, the benchmark Nifty has jumped over 8%, one of the best performers among Asian markets in 2021.

According to strategic analysts, Indias cautious response is understandable, given the tense situation on the ground.

We will not judge the Chinese by their words, we will judge them by their actions," said former Indian ambassador to China Gautam Bambawale.

Even if there is disengagement of troops, the trust deficit between both sides will not be bridged, considering that the Chinese have gone back on almost all the agreements they have signed in decades to stabilize the border," said the second person cited above.

According to Srikanth Kondapalli, professor of Chinese Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University, the Chinese statement focuses only on Pangong Tso area, which is one of many seen as disputed in the current standoff. There was also Galwan, where a fatal clash took place in June, he said. Other areas include Gogra Post and Depsang Plains where Chinese are thought to be inside Indian territory.

What was announced on Wednesday could be seen as a quid pro quo", he said. Under the deal, China could be pulling out of its position along the northern bank where it had occupied positions that were previously seen as lying within India. India could pull out of the southern bank where in a pre-emptive move in August, India took control of five peaks, including one overlooking Chinese positions across the LAC in Moldo. But then what happens to the others areasDepsang plains, Gogra and Galwan where Chinese intrusions have happened," Kondapalli asked. We need to wait and see what India says in its statement."

Nasrin Sultana contributed to this story.

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[February 11, 2021] Presenting the 2020 Partech Africa Report: The African Tech ecosystem is still accelerating with 359 equity rounds (+44% YoY) to a total funding of US$ 1.43B (-29% YoY)

Today, Partech Africa publishes its annual report on VC Funding for African Startups. It appears that, in the middle of the global pandemic, the African tech ecosystem is still growing fast, with more deals closed, and is getting a boost from the accelerated digitalization of foundational economic sectors. More equity rounds in a challenging year In 2020, more startups have closed deals than in any previous year: 359 deals were closed by 347 startups, compared with 250 rounds in 2019, i.e., a +44% growth YoY. Another very positive signal is the number of seed deals which massively accelerated, reaching 228 deals (+80% YoY). Venture stages (Series A & B) are continuing to grow (+11% deals YoY) despite a general erosion of round sizes. Growth stage sees a low deal count and a marked drop in ticket size (-60% YoY). The effects of the global crisis Despite the strong growth in activity, the total amount raised by African startups decreased for the first time after nearly a decade of growth: the equity funding raised by African startups in 2020 totaled US$ 1.429 Billion, representing a -29% drop YoY. Another effect of the crisis was the drop in the average deal size of African VC tech equity deals. The absence of mega-rounds explains to a great extent the drop in funding amount. The monthly breakdown shows that there was no clear and significant impact on activity level attributable to the crisis and, in fact, every month of 2020 saw more deals closed than the same month in 2019. A resilient ecosystem which already creates value Investors may have slowed down their processes, and founders delayed their rounds for better times, but the ecosystem still benefitted from a boost and acceleration of digitalization of key economic sectors, such as: Agriculture, Logistics & Mobility, Offgrid Energy, and Healthcare. Key facts: Country breakdown: Nigeria remains the leader with US$ 307 million invested, while Egypt is first in equity deal count with 86 deals: an +83% growth YoY. 4 countries attracted 80% of the volume invested but 26 countries in total have attracted capital.

Nigeria remains the leader with US$ 307 million invested, while Egypt is first in equity deal count with 86 deals: an +83% growth YoY. 4 countries attracted 80% of the volume invested but 26 countries in total have attracted capital. Sector breakdown: Fintech is the first in total equity funding, with 25% of total amounts, but the highlight is the digital transformation of key economic sectors with Agritech (US$ 179 Million), Logistics & Mobility (US$ 157 Million), Offgridtech (US$ 148 Million) and Healthtech (US$ 141 Million).

Fintech is the first in total equity funding, with 25% of total amounts, but the highlight is the digital transformation of key economic sectors with Agritech (US$ 179 Million), Logistics & Mobility (US$ 157 Million), Offgridtech (US$ 148 Million) and Healthtech (US$ 141 Million). Founder gender breakdown: Female-founded startups raised 13% of the rounds in 2020 - 4 points down from 17% in 2019 - but they accounted for 14% of the total equity funding, just above 13% in 2019 (+8% YoY).

Female-founded startups raised 13% of the rounds in 2020 - 4 points down from 17% in 2019 - but they accounted for 14% of the total equity funding, just above 13% in 2019 (+8% YoY). Investor breakdown: Africa's tech ecosystem is not only attracting more investors (+24% YoY), but they are also more committed to the market, with 108 of them involved in 2 or more deals, and 22 very active in 5+ deals.



A stable methodology The fifth Partech Africa annual report on African tech start-ups is based on the same methodology as the previous years: it covers equity deals in tech and digital spaces, and funding rounds higher than US$200K.

. Read the full report on Partech's website. About Partech Born in San Francisco and Paris, Partech is one of the most active VCs in the world, bringing together capital, operational experience and strategic support for entrepreneurs at seed, venture and growth stages. In 2020, Partech invested in 82 startups across 24 countries in Europe, America, Africa and Asia, and generated US$ 1.3B in aggregate exit value. About Partech Africa Headquartered in Dakar, Senegal, Partech Africa is the largest VC fund dedicated to technology startups in Africa. Partech Africa focuses on series A and B equity rounds in startups which are changing the way technology is used in education, mobility, finance, healthcare, delivery, energy, etc. Follow us: partechpartners.com @PartechPartners Partech View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210211005034/en/

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Basel, February 11, 2021

Invitation to Dufry's Full Year Results 2020 on March 9, 2021

Dufry is pleased to invite you to our Full Year Results (FYR) 2020 Conference Call on March 9, 2021 at 14.30h CET.

Speakers will be Julian Diaz, CEO Dufry AG, and Yves Gerster, CFO Dufry AG. The call will be held in English, followed by a Q&A session.

Due to the ongoing Covid-situation and pandemic restriction measures, Dufry is verifying the possibility to invite interested parties to a physical FYR 2020 presentation at the Zurich Marriott Hotel, Neumuehlequai 42, 8006 Zurich. If confirmed, Dufry will ensure that all Covid-related measures will be strictly followed during the event as our priority is the health and safety of our guests and employees.

For those planning to attend the event, only if the situation allows, we would kindly request confirmation through ir@dufry.ch until March 3rd. We will inform you in due course if Dufry will hold the physical event.

Telephone & webcast

Participants are kindly requested to pre-register for the conference call and webcast here . Participants will receive the dial-in numbers and a personal pin-code. The access to the webcast platform will be available on Dufry's Investor Relations website. A playback option will be available until April 9, 2021.

Participants to the conference call or webcast will be requested to indicate their name and company.

Dufry will publish its Full Year 2020 Results on March 9, 2021, at 7am CET.

For further information, please contact:

Dr. Kristin Kohler Renzo Radice Global Head Global Head Corporate Communications Investor Relations & Public Affairs Phone: +41 61 266 44 22 Phone: +41 61 266 44 19 kristin.koehler@dufry.com renzo.radice@dufry.com

Dufry Group - A leading global travel retailer

Dufry AG (SIX: DUFN) is the leading global travel retailer operating over 2,500 duty-free and duty-paid shops in airports, cruise lines, seaports, railway stations and downtown tourist areas, in more than 420 locations in 65 countries across all six continents.

The Company, founded in 1865 and headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, is offering customers a first-class shopping experience, global brands, a unique market access and landlords a reliable, value-enhancing partnership. To learn more about Dufry, please visit www.dufry.com.

Social Responsibility

Dufry cares for children and supports social projects from SOS Kinderdorf in Brazil, Cambodia, Mexico, Morocco and Ivory Coast. SOS Children's Villages is an independent, non-political and non-demonstrational organization established for orphaned and destitute children all over the world.

Relatives, friends, colleagues, politicians, journalists, civic activists, and rights defenders have honored the memory of Altynbek Sarsenbaiuly, a Kazakh opposition leader who was shot dead execution-style along with two associates 15 years ago.

Dozens of people laid flowers and prayed at Sarsenbaiuly's grave outside Almaty, Kazakhstan's largest city, on February 11, paying tribute to the late politician.

Sarsenbaiuly's elder brother, Rysbek Sarsenbaiuly, said at the grave that his sibling's murder has yet to be fully investigated.

"We feel Altynbek's absence every day. Although it has never been officially established who was behind his murder, we all know who is responsible for the crime. We want all those involved to be brought to justice. This is not about a revenge. What we want is justice to be served," Sarsenbaiuly said.

Altynbek Sarsenbaiuly (aka Sarsenbaev), a former Kazakh ambassador to Russia and information minister, was a co-chairman of the opposition Naghyz Aq Zhol (True Bright Path) party when he, his bodyguard Bauyrzhan Baibosyn, and driver Vasily Zhuravlyov, went missing on February 11, 2006. They were found dead two days later in the mountains near Almaty, with gunshot wounds to the back of their heads and their hands tied behind their backs.

The slaying of the opposition leader deepened a sense of shock in the Central Asian country as it came shortly after another influential opposition politician, Zamanbek Nurqadilov, had been found dead inside his Almaty home.

The death of Nurqadilov -- a former government minister and Almaty mayor who joined the opposition in 2004 and accused then-President Nursultan Nazarbaev of corruption -- was officially declared a suicide although his body had two gunshot wounds to the chest and one to the head.

The deaths three months apart of the two opposition politicians came after they were both interviewed by prominent independent journalist Askhat Sharipzhanov in the summer of 2004.

Sharipzhanov himself was found bloodied and unconscious, with a fractured skull, the same day he conducted the interviews -- July 20, 2004 -- and died several days later in hospital.

Sharipzhanov's death was later declared to have been caused by a traffic accident, but colleagues and opposition politicians said the journalist's wounds were inconsistent with that finding and rejected it.

Sarsenbaiuly's killing was officially declared to have been motivated by personal enmity. A former chief of staff of the Kazakh parliament, Erzhan Otembaev, was convicted of ordering the slaying and sentenced to 20 years in prison.

However, in 2013, Otembaev's sentence was annulled after Kazakh authorities announced that the case had been sent for review based on newly obtained evidence they said indicated Rakhat Aliev, Nazarbaev's former son-in-law, had ordering the killing.

Otembaev was released in 2014, but died of an unspecified illness in June 2018.

Aliev, who was deputy chief of Kazakhstans National Security Committee when the slaying took place and became a fierce opponent to Nazarbaev in 2007, was in self-imposed exile in Europe at the time.

Aliev was later arrested by Austrian officials on the request by Kazakh authorities that accused him of involvement into kidnapping and murder of two Kazakh bankers.

In February 2015, Aliev was found hanged in a Vienna jail.

Austrian officials ruled Aliev's death as suicide, but many in Kazakhstan suspect he was murdered while in Austrian custody.

With reporting by RFE/RL's Kazakh Service

NOTE: The author of this article is a brother of the late journalist Askhat Sharipzhanov.
FRAMINGHAM, Mass., Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Even though 2020 brought unforeseeable challenges as a result of COVID-19, MCR Labs tested 38% more cannabis samples than in 2019, hired 57 new employees, and stayed on track to expand the company beyond Massachusetts. Thanks to keen foresight and planning that began before the pandemic, the state's leading cannabis testing lab has forged ahead with plans to add a General Manager in Massachusetts, open an additional location in Pennsylvania, and launch a new business unit that coordinates operations for their growing organization.

"With medical cannabis businesses deemed essential, we had to make quick and extreme adjustments to protect the safety of our staff so the lab could continue running throughout the pandemic," said Michael Kahn, MCR Labs' president and founder. "We're so grateful and proud of how our team handled everything, which has allowed us to double the staff in Framingham and move forward with plans to open our first locations outside of Massachusetts."

MCR Labs has experienced nearly 100% revenue growth year over year since 2017 and has gone from a team of less than 20 to hiring their one hundredth employee this past December. They have also brought in a new general manager, Kaylan Burnham, who will draw on nearly a decade of laboratory management and operations experience to ensure the Framingham facility continues providing accurate and reliable cannabis testing for the state's licensed medical and adult use marijuana providers as well as patients who grow their own medicinal cannabis.

By installing new leadership at the Massachusetts location, MCR Labs' directors are now turning their full attention to expanding the business into other markets. This past January, they announced that their laboratory in Allentown, PA is open and ready to begin accepting samples from licensed medical marijuana producers in that state. The company is also in the early stages of setting up shop in Maine having received an initial approval from the Gardiner Planning Board on Feb. 10.

To help the organization grow and coordinate operations at additional laboratories, Kahn and his partners have established a laboratory consulting and process development firm, Phase 4 Services. "Phase 4 will primarily be geared toward assisting with administrative and business development projects," said Kahn, "so that the labs themselves can concentrate on performing the accurate and reliable science our clients require to ensure their products are safe."

While Phase 4 Services is a new and separate venture, it is meant to help build on the foundation of success MCR Labs has established in Massachusetts. In tandem, the two organizations will pursue a shared mission of advancing cannabis safety throughout the U.S. cannabis industry.

About MCR Labs: MCR Labs is the first independent cannabis testing laboratory to be certified by the state of Massachusetts. We are ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited providers of analytical cannabis product testing and R&D services committed to assisting licensed marijuana establishments, patients, researchers, entrepreneurs, and advocates. Our team of chemists and pharmaceutical scientists are dedicated to advancing public health and safety through leading-edge chemical analysis of cannabis products and offering unparalleled guidance and support for partners, regulators, and the communities we serve. For more information visit http://mcrlabs.com.

SOURCE MCR Labs

Related Links

mcrlabs.com


"We have been a Microsoft Gold Partner for a number of years now  and we couldn't be happier to deepen our relationship to help remove the threat of data spillage for customers, said Rich Hale, CTO of ActiveNav.

ActiveNav, a data privacy and governance software provider, today announced that they have joined the Microsoft Security Intelligent Security Association (MISA). With this membership, ActiveNav advances its classification capabilities by integrating with Microsoft Information Protection (MIP).

We are very proud to be included in MISA. With our participation, ActiveNav is better placed to integrate our products for the benefit of Microsoft users. We have been a Microsoft Gold Partner for a number of years now  and we couldn't be happier to deepen our relationship to help remove the threat of data spillage for customers, said Rich Hale, CTO of ActiveNav.

MISA membership is by invitation only. Organizations must be nominated by Microsoft for demonstrating integrations that support the goal of improving enterprise security, compliance or identity. ActiveNav was selected to join the association for its data discovery and classification capabilities that are designed to reinforce sensitive security labeling on files located within a Microsoft environment. ActiveNavs software identifies risky records and information such as PII, credit card numbers, and password files and determines the appropriate classification for each file to ensure that the correct sensitivity label is applied before migration, reducing the risk of data spillage.

Members of the Microsoft Intelligent Security Association, like ActiveNav, offer solutions that help defend against a world of increasingly sophisticated, fast-moving threats. The integration of ActiveNav with Microsoft Information Protection allows us to work together to help customers navigate the security landscape, said Alym Rayani, General Manager for Microsoft Compliance at Microsoft Corp.

About ActiveNav

ActiveNav is the data privacy and governance software provider and innovator of DMaaS (Data Mapping as a Service.) With ActiveNav, organizations can map, clean, classify, quarantine, and delete sensitive, redundant, obsolete, and trivial data. Hundreds of leading companies and government agencies trust ActiveNav to help them control sensitive data and support compliance with various data privacy regulations such as the CCPA and GDPR. ActiveNav is headquartered in the DC metro area and has offices in Europe and Australia. For more information, please visit ActiveNav.com or follow the company on Twitter and LinkedIn.


People will stay at home and enjoy the high altitude firework display on Vietnam Television, which is scheduled to be live broadcast on Lunar New Year's Eve.

Hanoi will let off high altitude fireworks at one location on Lunar New Year's Eve, which falls on February 11, without crowd but broadcast them live on television.

Previously, the Hanoi Party Committee has decided to cancel the firework displays in 30 places citywide as the Covid-19 pandemic is spreading widely.

The municipal Party Committee stated that since late January, the Covid-19 pandemic in the city has turned more and more serious. The new variant of the coronavirus is more contagious and has a shorter incubation period.

The 20 latest Covid-19 infections, which are related to the outbreaks in the northern provinces of Quang Ninh and Hai Duong, have an extensive travel history and direct contacts with numerous people, so the risk of infection is very high. The third pandemic wave is predicted to prolong.

Therefore, Hanoi authorities have banned gatherings near its one-and-only fireworks display location to help curb the spread of a recent Covid-19 outbreak. The venue for the citys single fireworks display has yet to be announced.

Apart from the pyrotechnic show, the city has limited festivities to only those it deems absolutely necessary.

Earlier, Hanoi authorities decided to shut down all bars, karaoke parlors, discotheques, game and internet service outlets and local residents have been told to avoid non-essential gatherings from February 1. Over two million students from kindergartens to high school have also stayed at home and attend classes online since the same day.

The Hanoi Party Committee also requested relevant agencies and local authorities within the city to actively adopt the Covid-19 pandemic prevention and control, considering them as an important and urgent task in the period before, during and after Tet holiday.

Besides, amid serious evolution of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Hoan Kiem district Peoples Committee has suggested suspending activities at the pedestrian zone around the lake starting from February 5 until further notice. Preventive measures have also been tightened in the district.

Hanoi has reported 21 cases of community transmission out of 366 new Covid-19 infections in Vietnam since January 28, when the country logged its first two domestic cases after nearly two months.

At the time of writing, Vietnam has documented 2,091 coronavirus patients, with 1,480 recoveries and virus-related 35 deaths, according to the Ministry of Health.

Hanoitimes

Arlene Foster has hit out after European Commission vice president Maros Sefcovic said the Northern Ireland Protocol is the only way to protect the Good Friday Agreement.

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen earlier apologised for mistakes that led to the triggering of Article 16, which overrides part of the protocol which prevents a hard border.

However Mr Sefcovic has made it clear in his letter that the commission regards the protocol as the only way forward.

In a letter to Mr Gove on the eve of their meeting in London today, Mr Sefcovic wrote: The protocol is the solution agreed by the UK and the EU to these challenges: it is the only way to protect the Good Friday (Belfast) Agreement, preserving peace and stability and avoiding a hard border on the island of Ireland.

He added that our shared objective is to work tirelessly in order to make the protocol work. It requires full and faithful implementation by both parties.

The Unions commitment to the objectives of the protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland, as a cornerstone of both the Withdrawal Agreement and the relationship between the European Union and the United Kingdom, is unwavering.

First Minister Mrs Foster accused Mr Sefcovic of putting his head in the sand at a meeting over the protocol last week.

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Mrs Foster told ITVs Peston: I wasnt surprised because I sat in on the meeting between Michael Gove and Maros Sefcovic last week and it really was an occasion of putting his head in the sand and his fingers in his ears.

There was complete as if nothing had happened the Friday before in terms of the Article 16 triggering by the European Commission and that we should just all move along and pretend that it hadnt happened.

But worse than that in his response actually to Michael Gove this evening he is actually asking for more protocols.

So the answer to the difficulties with the protocol and the fact that we have this real problem for trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, in other words internally in the UK single market, is actually more protocol  we need to be tighter on the protocol  and I think that that is an incredible state of affairs.

A UK Government spokesperson said it was disappointing that the Commission had failed to acknowledge the shock and anger felt right across the community in Northern Ireland from its decision to trigger Article 16, and the need to take urgent steps to restore confidence as a result.

Meanwhile, staff from Stormonts Agriculture Department have returned to their posts conducting post-Brexit trade checks.

Inspections at Belfast and Larne ports were suspended recently amid concerns for the safety of staff.

One police car was parked outside the facility in Belfast Harbour yesterday.

Former Stormont agriculture minister Edwin Poots had ordered the suspension of checks shortly before stepping down for medical treatment.

The PSNI has since said there was no evidence of credible threats.


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Regulatory News:

As announced in its press release published December 28th, 2020, AKKA (Paris:AKA) (BSE:AKA) (ISIN:FR0004180537) will account for non-recurring costs relating to the restructuring plans that the Group has decided to implement in Germany and France in its consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year 2020, in accordance with the accounting principles in use.

In addition to the information already provided, as part of AKKA's FY2020 consolidated accounts closure process, the Group will record a provision of around 80M relating to both restructuring plans. However, this amount is likely to change marginally until the accounts are approved by AKKA's Board of Directors prior to the FY2020 results publication on March 17th, 2021, as it will depend on the ongoing information and consultation procedures in France and the final terms of the plan's implementation in Germany. The corresponding cash outflow will be spread over the fiscal years 2021 and 2022.

In addition, as previously indicated, the accelerated deployment of the Group's transformation plan and the ongoing partial unemployment measures during the second half of 2020 resulted in non-recurring costs of the same order of magnitude as those recognised in the first half of 2020.

About AKKA

AKKA is the European leader in engineering consulting and R&D services in the mobility segment. As an innovation accelerator for its clients, AKKA supports leading industry players in the automotive, aerospace, rail and life sciences sectors throughout the life cycle of their products with cutting edge digital technologies (AI, ADAS, IoT, Big Data, robotics, embedded computing, machine learning, etc.).

Founded in 1984, AKKA has a strong entrepreneurial culture and is pursuing its fast-paced growth and international development in line with its CLEAR 2022 strategic plan. With 22,000 employees, who are passionate about technology and dedicated to advancing the future of industry, the Group recorded revenues of 1.8 billion in 2019.

Following the completion of the friendly take-over bid of Data Respons launched in January 2020, AKKA now holds 100% of the company's shares; with the success of this operation, AKKA leverages the most comprehensive portfolio of digital solutions in Europe to harness the growing demand from its customers in the mobility sector.

AKKA Technologies is listed on Euronext Paris and Brussels Segment A ISIN code: FR0004180537

For more information, please visit www.akka-technologies.com

Follow us on: twitter.com/AKKA_Tech

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210211005789/en/

Contacts:

AKKA Contacts

Media Relations

Stephanie Bia

Group Communications Investor Relations Director

Tel: +33(0) 6 47 85 9878

stephanie.bia@akka.eu

FTI Consulting

akka@fticonsulting.com

Media Relations, France

Emily Oliver

Tel.: +33 1 47 03 68 65
opinion

In a career spanning more than 30 years, family lawyer Judy Thongori has seen the good, the bad and the ugly side of marriage.

Arguably the best in the business, Ms Thongori knows more about the challenge of troubled marriages than anyone else. She has been involved in numerous family cases, guiding parties through the pre-dissolution processes of mediation and counselling, the dissolution, parental responsibility agreements, asset division and settlement.

To the question about whether she deals with high profile cases, Ms Thongori says all her cases are high profile to the particular family concerned, that every case is as important as the other. When conflict manifests in family, she observes, it affects everyone equally irrespective of the social standing.

Warning from the outset that she cannot discuss the cases she deals with owing to client confidentiality and also the need to dignify families, the lawyer speaks of an institution that defines lives very deeply but which has not received the deserved support by the society. Like a boat in the high seas pounded by wave after wave for decades but never completely keeling over, instead always maintaining poised.

While it is harder for married couples in recent times, the process of dissolution is also not easy, Ms Thongori says. The underlying condition that makes divorce so hard is the emotional investment, the combined lives, the loss of the identity that one has had, sometimes for a long time. When mismanaged, it's a stormy affair typically replete with fights and humiliation.

There are also profound financial implications because, well, divorce doesn't come cheap.

While a failed marriage is distressing enough, Ms Thongori notes that a mismanaged divorce process could potentially wreck the prospect, and relief, of starting a new life. In well-managed processes, though, she points out, parties reach a settlement, agree on co-parenting, split assets and go their separate ways with dignity. This is slowly becoming the norm.

Statistically, Kenya may not be in the divorce league of the Maldives and Belarus, but marriage dissolution in the country is on the rise, as shown by the numbers from the Registrar of the Family Division at the High Court.

Nairobi's Milimani Court, for instance, has about 15 magistrates presiding over three to five divorce cases a day. The court handled 60 divorces last year alone despite the fact that it was a Covid-19 year.

Interestingly also, the courts in 2020 processed divorce cases in as short a time as three months, mostly through the digital platform.

So, what is the world of divorce like? Has the attitude toward the family institution changed over time? Why are more Kenyans seeking to dissolve their marriages? What do divorce demographics look like in Kenya?

Many factors

Infidelity, violence, alcoholism and wastage of family assets are invariably cited. Sometimes it is a combination of those factors. Yet after many years of practice, Ms Thongori says non-alignment of values is the prime killer of marriages in Kenya. That young couples do not usually focus on their respective values and whether they are aligned.

In fact, many may not even be aware at the tender age of marriage about how important some things are where marriage is concerned, only focusing on the feel good-factor, which is, unfortunately, not sustainable.

"While opposite traits attract and indeed different personalities can be complimentary, there's a limit to that. After some time, it becomes unbearable to live with a spendthrift if you're a miser, for instance."

How long can a person who is deeply religious pretend not to be bothered by the spouse who does not believe in God? How do they bring up their children if each is on the opposite side of the pendulum?

Incompatibility, the lawyer explains, drawing from cases she has handled, could be anchored on religion, investment decisions, even whether or not to have children. She argues that it is such a mismatch that later cascades to triggers such as verbal and physical violence as the couple gradually drifts farther apart.

From the trivial to the absurd and outright outrageous, the ears of a divorce lawyer hear it all: accusations and counteraccusations from warring couples.

"Sometimes you find a colleague at work talking to you nicely and making you feel happy. You wonder why your wife or husband can't treat you the same, but it can't happen because either there is so much water under the bridge or you aren't aligned," Ms Thongori says.

And even though incompatibility precipitates marriage failure the most, she admits that the law only recognises the more tangible factors such as violence or alcoholism as grounds for divorce.

There's a rejoinder though.

Over time, what's put in divorce papers has become less explicit. She explains: "All isn't lost (through divorce), it's the beginning of another life. It doesn't help when you air your (dirty) linen in public or yell at each other during the exit. Even as you divorce, you must dignify each other."

In her earlier days in court, she narrates, divorce proceedings were an embarrassing spectacle. Couples humiliated and yelled at each other, compounding the trauma. The enactment of the Marriage Act (2014), brought an end to the circus.

"We (lawyers) negotiated a ground where in case of irretrievable marriage breakdown, divorce is granted after a two-year separation period, among others" Ms Thongori recalls.

This decision, she explains, was premised on the assumption that when there's dignity in the dissolution of marriage, couples could cooperate during the proceedings.

"When you seek divorce on the basis of irretrievability of the marriage because of a two-year separation, the court will grant divorce without more as long as that separation is proved. None of you walks out with egg on the face."

With dignity, Ms Thongori says, there are better odds for a couple to continue to effectively co-parent. This also creates a friendly environment within which the parties can discuss settlement of property and finances.

As a matter of practice, divorce petitions across the world are in camera.

"The court protects the parties as much as possible. It's humiliating to have people listen to your matrimonial matters. This may put a lot of pressure on the parties," she says.

Even so, records of divorces are kept by the state in recognition of the public's right to information.

Transformation of family in Kenya

The recent rise in number of those seeking to dissolve their marriages is the result of the transformation of family in Kenya. These changes have disrupted both its existence and structure.

Ms Thongori laments that young couples today are in more distress than earlier generations. The setbacks range from financial pressure to joblessness and lack of family support.

There's also increased awareness on the law as a go-to place to resolve marital conflict, she says. Access to legal service involving divorce has also increased in the last 20 years, she adds.

Conflict in marriage occurs across board, pushing Kenyans from all walks of life and demographics to part ways. But according to the lawyer, it's usually the people with the money and means who mostly file for dissolution.

While a person can seek divorce without the need of a lawyer and, in fact, the courts are quite sympathetic with unrepresented litigants, it is a daunting task.

It is easier when you have a lawyer even for the pre-divorce advice. While organisations like Federation of Women Lawyers (Fida) of Kenya and the Centre for Rights Education and Awareness (Creaw) offer such services, there is a limit to the number of people they can assist. The reality then in that you have to have financial capacity to pay for legal services to file for divorce," she says.

Divorce fees

But what determines the fees? Ms Thongori says there's a standard fee, which varies based on several factors.

"Some cases are more involved than others. Some parties defend the petition while others choose not to (undefended petition), in which case the fees vary."

In all cases, however, time is a key factor. The longer the proceedings take, the higher the charges.

"For consultation, I charge Sh15,000 per hour while my younger colleagues in the office charge Sh10,000. We listen to the client and evaluate the case. Many a time, we point towards other services like mediation and counselling rather than the courts."

The lawyer hints at a fee of between Sh200,000 and Sh400,000 which is, routinely, paid through a deposit and the balance settled upon conclusion of the matter. Depending on the complexity of the matter and the number of sessions in court, the amount could be higher or less.

On the age of those seeking divorce, there are fewer people older than 60 filing for divorce. It is in the 40-55 age bracket where there's more activity, she notes.

"At this point, people realise their spouses are never going to change and that they still have good years left to their lives, so they file for divorce," she explains.

Still, some people in their 20s and 30s are also divorcing. Many Kenyans struggle to fend for their families. For millions, the legal fees for divorce is out of reach. But what happens when marital conflict strikes and they choose to end things?

The lawyer explains that many are estranged, not divorced. Some may have lived apart for decades and for many, it could be the difficulty of obtaining legal services or because the process is so emotionally draining.

In the end, non-resolution may cause many complications because people eventually find other partners but they remain legally unmarried to such partners due to the existing first union, except where such union was potentially polygamous.

Pro bono for divorce

When death happens and the process of succession sets in, more problems arise. But aren't there pro bono services for divorce, for instance?

Part of the rationale for establishing the Federation of Women Lawyers of Kenya (Fida), Ms Thongori explains, was to assist poor people who couldn't afford to pay lawyers to represent them during marital disputes. She worked as deputy executive director at Fida for five years, from 1997 to 2003.

"We handled so many cases of women looking to dissolve their marriage but didn't have the means to facilitate the process. These cases would be referred to legal aid centres for assistance."

Between the sexes, the lawyer says Kenyan women file for divorce more frequently than men, even though lately, there has been an increase in men seeking to divorce and for solutions.

Divorcing couples may not always have assets to divide after divorce.

"Sometimes there's little or nothing to divide," Ms Thongori says, alluding to many Kenyans' low economic capacity. "The court on the division of assets has fewer cases to settle."

Should you divorce?

Why divorce? This is the question she puts to parties who go to her for advice on marriage dissolution.

"The first thing that comes to mind when you're unhappy in marriage is to dissolve it. Sometimes your partner is seeing someone else or they've moved out. But the question to ask the unhappy partner is: "why do you want to facilitate your partner in that regard unless that is your priority? Could your priority be to seek counselling and heal and adjust to the new space?"

She points out that divorce is a process, not an event. A divorce certificate will not give you any more joy than the marriage certificate in your pocket if you have not healed emotionally, thus, she says, family conflict cases should almost always be referred to counsellors to help them deal with the breakdown first.

She goes on: "If a marriage has broken, you need to first focus on yourself. How are you dealing with it? How are your children faring? Divorce can come later."

Ms Thongori was part of the committee that established the Family Division at the High Court in 2002. Having dedicated two decades of her 32-year career (she was admitted to the bar in December 1988) to family law, her name is synonymous with this domain.

Ironically though, the lawyer says she's dedicated to "saving marriage" than to facilitate its dissolution, that is why she prefers the title "family lawyer" to "divorce lawyer".

"Family defines you"

She's a mother of two, married now for 26 years. What has her long career and own experience taught her about family life?

"We're defined by our family. That is family of origin, which is where you're born, and the family of choice, which is who you choose to live with as a couple," she says.

She adds: "We're the sum total of our family, from the values to vices and how we relate with others. The quality of output at work is also influenced by our family relations."

To go to court or not to go to court? Ms Thongori says lawyers only get money when the petition goes to court, but her motto is, "Don't go to court. Instead, see a counsellor or a mediator."

Isn't this contradictory for someone who opens her office doors hoping clients will come bearing a cheque? Not at all, she insists.

Family law is a calling. You have a responsibility to point the family to their best destination. If lawyers fail to do that at the point when a client is in distress, it could be disastrous.

"As a family lawyer, I've learnt that when you have so many balls, catching them all is impossible, you must, therefore, choose what to prioritise."

Many marriages are retrieved when couples pursue dialogue and counselling, she says, adding that she spends more days in the office "having quality time with clients and talking" than arguing out divorce cases in court.

"It's refreshing," she says of when disputes are resolved and marriages restored without having to go to the court, "I go home knowing that I'm living my purpose as a family lawyer."

Whereas counselling doesn't always lead to reconciliation, Ms Thongori says it allows couples to have control over the process.

"It gives you more clarity and you become deliberate about what you want to do thereafter. You're also able to co-parent better."

Balancing Christian values

On balancing her Christian values and the law when handling disputes, she says she isn't conflicted in any way.

"I have my values as a Christian and as a person. But I sit here as a lawyer. I don't impose my values on my clients. The most important thing is to exercise my professional capacity to advise people during their divorce process," she replies.

Quick torture or slow torture? The lawyer says whether fast or slow, divorce tortures the parties. She describes it as a winding process that involves several stages from the time one looks for a family lawyer.

"You're no better when your divorce is granted in 24 hours than someone else who waits for two years to end things. But you can make the process bearable by seeking (moral and emotional) support."

She, however, believes that a couple that divorces after 24 months is in a better place "because they've taken time to process the matter psychologically" through debriefings.

The law in Kenya doesn't explicitly state how long the divorce process should last.

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The pandemic though has dramatically slashed the timelines "to an unbelievable three months" after which the parties are issued with a divorce decree.

For most divorcees, the divorce decree hardly offers any more comfort than a marriage certificate if the other factors are not in place, such as counselling, she says.

"The process is like removing pus from a wound. You must remove it completely to feel better. Exiting a marriage quicker doesn't take away the pain."

Although exceptionally rare, there are instances when a court may throw out a divorce petition. "This may happen where there aren't enough grounds to grant divorce. Often, a judge will do what the law requires them to do."

Interestingly, divorce rulings can be appealed just like other cases. A ruling can also be overturned in the event that one party isn't served with the decree, upon which the matter is heard afresh.

Still, some parties choose to remarry even after going through divorce.

Then there's Covid-19. Experts observe that the pandemic has accelerated dissolution of marriage globally, with divorce currently at its peak. It's no different in Kenya.

A spike in divorce cases at this turbulent time was among scenarios she least expected.

"I'd imagined that (with the current financial stress) people want to preserve their resources than spend their money on divorce petitions, but then you realise that divorce could be the most important decision for them at the time."

Nothing to do with Covid-19

Many couples may be filing divorce petitions now, but Ms Thongori argues this has nothing to do with the pandemic. To her, many marriages were "long dead" and that the pandemic's strain only exposed that reality.

"Most people were busy with their jobs, businesses and other social engagements. There was virtually no time to focus on what they didn't have in marriage. Suddenly, they had time to reflect and evaluate. It's then that they realised there was nothing left in the marriage."

Consequently, some people invested their resources in dissolution of marriage - to escape agony.

But even as many marriages are staring at the dark prospect of snapping, Ms Thongori observes that the pandemic has also fortified other families, as couples and their children now have more quality time.

"There has been more time for people to look within themselves and to reconcile," she adds.

As spouses tear into each other during divorce, children are flung at the centre of the proceedings, exposing them to their parents' bile. Until 2003, children matters, including maintenance and alimony, were part of the divorce proceedings, and would be heard alongside the petition.

This, however, changed when the Children's Act (2003) became operational. "It provides for (establishment) of special courts for children to deal with welfare issues. The courts determine what's in the best interest of the children, irrespective of what's happening elsewhere (in the divorce court)."

This, though, doesn't deter intrigues. Last year, a court in Nairobi granted custody of a child to the mother, only for the child to protest, insisting on remaining with her father. In the dramatic turn of events, the court was forced to review the ruling.

Thongori defends the judicial process, saying courts always act in good faith.

"There's no scientific way to determine who's a better parent for the child. The court does what it does based on the evidence presented before it."

She notes that while a child may be fond of one of the parents, they may lack the capacity to fend for and protect them. This forms a solid ground for denial of custody by the court.
A First Nation says a report calls into question the design of a $540-million anti-flood project in the Interlake.

A First Nation says a report calls into question the design of a $540-million anti-flood project in the Interlake.

"The provincial government is hell-bent on pushing this project through (despite) all the concerns weve raised to date," said Little Saskatchewan First Nation Coun. Dwayne Blackbird.

Design questions worry First Nation leaders.

The engineering report, which was shared with the Free Press, suggests Manitoba miscalculated the effect of two outlets that are supposed to prevent catastrophic flooding in the region. The first outlet would connect Lake Manitoba to the southern part of Lake. St. Martin. The second outlet, at the northern part of Lake St. Martin, would connect it to Lake Winnipeg.

The modelling, completed last week, suggests when the two new channels become operational, the south basin of Lake St. Martin would overflow because the lake becomes very narrow before it opens into the northern basin.

"Model simulations contradict the assumption that Lake St. Martin can be treated as a single basin, and suggests that models of the lake used for flood prediction purposes must consider the role of the narrows," reads the Feb. 6 report by environmental consultant Ian Halket.

"This finding casts doubt on the level of protection offered by the outlet channels for a 2011 flood event reported in (Manitobas regulatory filings.)"

Manitoba Infrastructure responded on Wednesday by saying it had revised the plan to accommodate the concerns.

"During the initial conceptual design process, the hydraulic model to evaluate water levels and flows in Lake Manitoba and Lake St. Martin made the assumption that Lake St. Martin acted as a single basin. As planning and design progressed, Lake St. Martin was modelled as two basins, the north and south basins," a spokeswoman wrote.

That came as a surprise to the band.

Band councillors say changes to water flow could affect ancestral graves and spawning grounds that fishers depend on.

"Im very concerned about our way of life," said Coun. Albert Shorting.

Councillors were also critical of the province taking more than a year to approve funding for consultations. It did so last summer, just as the pandemic made it nearly impossible for meetings to take place.

The province said it has put up more money and will extend the consultation process to account for the pandemic.

"Manitoba will continue to work with Little Saskatchewan First Nation on the implementation of the jointly developed work plan for the Project," a spokeswoman wrote.

Premier Brian Pallister has bemoaned Ottawas repeated stalling to approve the project. He maintains it's because the consultation process has been expanded to include communities that are far too downstream of the project.

In 2011, residents of reserves in the area were forced to move to Winnipeg because of extensive flooding that destroyed their homes. Ten years later, not all residents have returned because of disputes over whether children who grew into adults in the city are owed houses back on the reserve.

dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca
This Stacker slideshow showcases some of the most prominent African American writers in history whove had impacts that reached far beyond the page. Some of the esteemed authors include James Baldwin, Zora Neale Hurston, Toni Morrison, Frederick Douglass, Maya Angelou, and others.

Chilling new details emerged on Thursday about the plot by the Oath Keepers militia group to attack the Capitol as prosecutors said that members discussed a brazen plan to ferry heavy weapons in a boat across the Potomac River into Washington and began training sessions for urban warfare, riot control and rescue operations well before Election Day.

The new accounts about the Oath Keepers role in the Capitol assault came on the third day of former President Donald J. Trumps impeachment trial and included allegations that a member of the militia group was awaiting direction from Mr. Trump about how to handle the results of the vote in the days that followed the election. POTUS has the right to activate units too, the Oath Keepers member, Jessica M. Watkins, wrote in a text message to an associate on Nov. 9, according to court papers. If Trump asks me to come, I will.

The Justice Department has brought charges against more than 200 people in the attack on the Capitol last month, but the case against Ms. Watkins and her two co-defendants, Thomas E. Caldwell and Donovan Crowl, is among the most serious to have emerged from the vast investigation. Prosecutors say that the three Oath Keepers, who are facing conspiracy charges, appear to have worked with other far-right extremist groups and began plotting to undo the results of the election only days after it occurred.

Shortly after the three militia members were arrested last month, prosecutors said that they were some of the first rioters to have planned their part in the attack on the Capitol instead of merely storming the building spontaneously. Federal agents said that Mr. Caldwell, a 66-year-old former Navy officer, had advised his fellow militia members to stay at a particular Comfort Inn in the Washington suburbs, noting that it offered a good base to hunt at night  an apparent reference to chasing left-wing activists. Ms. Watkins, a 38-year-old bar owner from Ohio, apparently rented a room at the hotel under an assumed name, the agents said.
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The World Health Organisation expert mission to China ended this week without finding the source of the coronavirus that has killed over 2.3 million worldwide.

But the team of foreign experts did agree the novel coronavirus likely jumped from bats to an unknown animal species, before being transmitted to humans.

It also concluded that it was extremely unlikely that the virus came from a high-security lab in the central city of Wuhan, appearing to quash a number of theories linking the citys virology institute to the outbreak.

Huge global pressure and scrutiny trailed the team during its probe in China, which mission member Peter Daszak described as working flat out under the most politically charged environment possible.

After a mission that lasted nearly a month, here are five things we still dont know about the virus origin:

The animal source

Experts said tests were done on tens of thousands of samples from wild, farmed and domestic animals across China  but none of them contained the SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19.

However, Dutch virologist and WHO team member Marion Koopmans said that species more susceptible to the virus  including bamboo rats, badgers and rabbits  were sold at Wuhans Huanan market, the site of an early virus cluster, and could be an entry point for trace-back investigations.

British zoologist Daszak also said after the briefing that new bat viruses discovered in Thailand and Cambodia, shifts our focus to Southeast Asia.

I think one day well find that (reservoir), it might take some time but it will be out there without a doubt, he told reporters.

Raw data

Concern has been expressed about the scientists access to data in China, amid accusations that Beijing downplayed the initial severity of the outbreak in Wuhan in late 2019.

Danish epidemiologist and team member Thea Kolsen Fischer said after the briefing that the WHO team were not given raw data, but instead relied on earlier analysis by Chinese scientists.

In most cases, she said, it would be usual for outsiders to get access to aggregated data.

WHO team members said they were granted full access to the sites and individuals they requested to visit.

Cold chain transmission

Beijing has repeatedly floated the theory that the virus was brought to China through packaging on cold chain products like imported frozen seafood, linking these to recent domestic outbreaks.

WHO emergencies chief Mike Ryan had previously said that there is no evidence that food or the food chain is participating in transmission.

But in China, the WHO mission appeared to give some weight to the theory.

The head of the Chinese side of the mission, Liang Wannian, said the virus can travel long distances on the surface of cold chain products, and environmental samples from Huanan market  which sold frozen wild animals and seafood  showed widespread contamination of the virus.

But WHO team lead Peter Ben Embarek cautioned that it is still unclear whether the virus can transmit to humans from contaminated cold chain surfaces.

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Origin outside China?

Beijing has repeatedly called for the WHO to launch an origin-tracing mission in the U.S., and foreign ministry officials have drawn attention to conspiracy theories about virus leaks from an American military germ research lab.

Eager to deflect international criticism over its initial handling of the outbreak, China has also amplified studies suggesting some COVID-19 cases emerged in Italy and other countries in late 2019.

But in releasing the reports conclusions, Koopmans said these studies do not provide full evidence of earlier circulation outside China in early December.

However, she conceded that experts should really go and search for evidence of earlier circulation.

What next?

In addition to sampling more wild animal reservoirs  especially bats  in and outside China, Ben Embarek suggested re-testing samples using new approaches to blood tests and looking for more early cases that went undetected in Wuhan in December 2019. Koopmans said farms supplying wild animals to Wuhans Huanan market deserve further research.

China, meanwhile, is keen that the next stage of the virus origin investigation takes place in another country.

(AFP)

France 24 is Premium Times syndication partner. We have permission to republish content.
World The World Reacts to the Coup in Myanmar

A demonstrator attends an anti-coup protest in Yangon on Wednesday. / The Irrawaddy

President Joe Biden has ordered new sanctions against the Myanmar military after it seized power in the country earlier this month and arrested de facto leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and other senior politicians.

Biden said he was issuing an executive order that will prevent Myanmars generals from accessing US$1 billion (1.4 trillion kyats) in assets in the US. Biden added that more measures were to come.

The military must relinquish [the] power it seized and demonstrate respect for the will of the people of Burma, Biden said. In Myanmar, a nationwide peaceful uprising has gained momentum across the country calling on junta leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing to step down.

Biden said the new sanctions will allow his administration to freeze US assets that benefit Myanmars military leaders while maintaining support for health-care programs, civil society groups and other areas that benefit the countrys people. He said the administration planned to identify the specific targets of the sanctions later this week.

The people of Burma are making their voices heard, and the world is watching, Biden said, using an alternate name for Myanmar. Well be ready to impose additional measures and well continue to work with our international partners to urge other nations to join us in these efforts.

Thailand

Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, who himself first seized power in a coup, said on Wednesday he had received a letter from Myanmars new junta leader asking him to support democracy. Sen-Gen Min Aung Hlaing has visited Thailand several times and gets along well with the Thai generals. Many observers believe that he and his subordinates have studied and learned from the Thai militarys methods for maintaining power.

We are supportive of the democratic process in Myanmar but what is most important today is to maintain good relations because it impacts the people, the economy, border trade, particularly now, Prayuth said.

Thailand supports the democratic process. The rest is up to him to see how to proceed, he said.

US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan called the secretary general of the Thai National Security Council, General Natthaphon Narkphhanit, to convey the US commitment to the longstanding US-Thailand alliance based on a shared commitment to peace and stability, and also conveyed Bidens deep concern regarding the coup in Myanmar.

Singapore

Singapores Minister for Foreign Affairs Vivian Balakrishnan and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke via telephone on Wednesday and the duo discussed regional developments including the situation in Myanmar.

Minister Balakrishnan and Secretary Blinken also exchanged views on regional developments, including the situation in Myanmar, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

In a separate release by the US State Department, spokesman Ned Price said the two diplomats expressed deep concern over the coup in Burma.

EU ponders sanctions

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the bloc could impose fresh sanctions on Myanmars military over its seizure of power, but warned any punishment should not hit the population.

We are currently reviewing all our options, Borrell told lawmakers at the European Parliament on Tuesday.

Borrell said one of the paths open to the bloc was additional targeted sanctions on individuals and on business owned by the military.

The EU already has an arms embargo on Myanmar and has slapped asset freezes and visa bans on 14 officials over the bloody crackdown on the Rohingya population in Myanmars Rakhine State.

UN expresses strong concern

The United Nations in Myanmar expressed strong concern about Tuesdays use of force by security personnel against demonstrators in Naypyitaw, Mandalay and other cities, which left numerous demonstrators injured, some of them seriously.

I call on the security forces to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression, Ola Almgren, the UN Resident Coordinator and Humanitarian Coordinator in Myanmar, said. The use of disproportionate force against demonstrators is unacceptable.

He went on to reiterate the words of United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres urging the military leadership to respect the will of the people of Myanmar and adhere to democratic norms, with any differences to be resolved through peaceful dialogue.

Japan

Tokyo is one of the key allies of Myanmar and is among its key investors and donors. Myanmars generals have kept up the strong relations with the Japanese government. It is believed that up until now Japanese Special Envoy Yohei Sasakawa, the chairman of Japans Nippon Foundation, has been in regular phone contact with coup maker Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing.

He visited Myanmar to witness the Nov. 8 general election, and held meetings with State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and military commander-in-chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing.

Japanese lawmakers plan to urge their government to work with the US and the EU to impose effective sanctions against the military leaders in Myanmar following the coup.

The West and governments in the region again expressed concern after Tuesday nights raid by police and military personnel on the headquarters of the NLD in Yangon.

A woman protester remains in a coma after being shot in the head in the capital Naypyitaw on Tuesday. Massive protests continue throughout the country but remain peaceful. Many tech savvy youth, celebrities, doctors, nurses, civil servants, and some police officers have joined the protests, known collectively as the Civil Disobedience Movement, or CDM.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and President U Win Myint are believed to be under house arrest. Several chief ministers and union ministers have been arrested and taken into detention in undisclosed locations.

You may also like these stories:

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Ivory Bean Coffee House in Shelby, Ohio Hands down the best decision we made was going with Crimson Cup. Doing this on our own, I dont think wed be sitting here right now. Doing it with a company that does it, knows it, simplifies it, trains it, has been key to opening Ivory Bean."

In their new Ivory Bean Coffee House, the Gordon family has created a place for friends, neighbors and new customers to gather in Shelby, Ohio.

We wanted to create a family-friendly place where people can hang out, drink terrific coffee, and do their homework, said Owner and Manager Angel Gordon, who owns the new coffee shop with her mother-in-law, Paula Gordon.

A stay-at-home mother of eight children, Angel created Ivory Bean as a way to use her marketing degree in a family-oriented business.

Ive always loved coffee shops  the environment, the drinks, the sense of community, she said. This seemed like a business that could combine family and doing something I love!

The Gordons turned to nationally renowned coffee roaster Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea to achieve Angels dream of opening a coffee shop.

Were honored that Angel and Paula chose Crimson Cup as their coffee partner, said Crimson Cup Founder and President Greg Ubert.

We are excited to help them achieve their vision for Ivory Bean and support their success over the coming years.

Angel said she was impressed by Crimson Cups comprehensive approach to helping new owners open and run successful coffee shops.

I was intrigued by the description on the website that explains how Crimson Cup helps with everything, she said. Then I called a lot of shops and read Gregs book. I liked how it broke down how and why the Crimson Cup system is effective.

Ubert first published Seven Steps to Success: A Common-Sense Guide to Succeed in Specialty Coffee almost 19 years ago. Now in its second printing, the book is the foundation for Crimson Cups 7 Steps to Success coffee franchise alternative program.

Over 150 entrepreneurs in 30 states have used this proven system to start unique independent coffee shops in their local communities.

Even during the 2020 pandemic, the award-winning coffee roaster helped more than a dozen entrepreneurs open new and thriving coffee shops.

From selecting a winning location to writing a strong coffee shop business plan, training baristas and much more, Crimson Cup guides new coffee shop owners from initial concept through opening day and beyond.

We offer all the benefits of a coffee franchise  without any royalties or franchise fees, Ubert said. Customers dont even have to sign long-term contracts.

The Gordons found Crimson Cups expertise invaluable in opening Ivory Bean Coffee House.

Hands down the best decision we made was going with Crimson Cup, Angel said. Doing this on our own, I dont think wed be sitting here right now.

Doing it with a company that does it, knows it, simplifies it, trains it, has been key to opening Ivory Bean.

Everyone is so knowledgeable, she added. Crimson Cup has placed great people in the right position to help coffee house owners.

I love how easy they are to reach with questions, and how they can guide me through things like loyalty programs and other marketing efforts.

Angel said Step 5: Focus on Training was especially valuable in opening Ivory Bean.

Even the best coffee can be terrible if you dont do it right. Customers come back for the product. If youre doing that right, everything else falls in line.

She said the proof is that her customers love Ivory Bean coffee, which is roasted by Crimson Cup.

Over the past five years, the Columbus, Ohio roaster has won several national coffee awards  including a 2020 Good Food Award, which recognizes the best tasting, most responsibly sourced coffees in the United States.

Weve had so many people say this is the best coffee they have had, Angel said. It makes me laugh every time I hear someone say our coffee is so much better than the big corporate chain.

The shops signature Ivory Bean Mocha, which melds espresso with caramel and white chocolate, has become the most popular drink.

From delicious drinks to the warmth of exposed brick walls in their newly renovated space, the Gordon family is dedicated to providing a great experience to the Shelby community.

Servicing people and providing a warm, comfortable environment for people to relax and spend time has always been our mission, Angel said. It gives us great pleasure to witness people enjoy our shop as it was intended.

Ivory Bean Coffee House is open six days a week at 44 East Main Street in Shelby, Ohio. Regular hours are 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and closed Sundays. To keep up with events and announcements, follow the stores Facebook Page.

About Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea

Columbus, Ohio coffee roaster Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea is a 2020 Good Food Award winner, 2019 Golden Bean Champion for Small Franchise/Chain Roaster and Roast magazines 2016 Macro Roaster of the Year. Since 1991, Crimson Cup has roasted sustainably sourced craft coffee for consumers and wholesale coffee customers.

Through its 7 Steps to Success coffee franchise alternative program, the company teaches entrepreneurs to run independent coffee houses in their local communities. By developing a coffee shop business plan, entrepreneurs gain insight into how much it costs to open a coffee shop.

Crimson Cup also supports life-enriching projects through its Friend2Farmer initiatives, promoting the education, health, sustainability and economic growth of small-plot coffee farmers and their communities.

Crimson Cup coffee is available through over 350 independent coffee houses, grocers, college and universities, restaurants and food service operations across 30 states, Guam and Bangladesh. The company also operates several Crimson Cup Coffee Houses and a new Crimson retail flagship store. To learn more, visit crimsoncup.com, or follow the company on Facebook and Instagram.


Colorado Springs, CO (80903)

Today

Thunderstorms. High 59F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%..

Tonight

Rain early...then remaining cloudy with showers overnight. Low 46F. Winds N at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%.

For all their importance as a breakthrough treatment, the cancer immunotherapies known as checkpoint inhibitors still only benefit a small minority of patients, perhaps 15 percent across different types of cancer. Moreover, doctors cannot accurately predict which of their patients will respond.

A new study finds that inherited genetic variation plays a role in who is likely to benefit from checkpoint inhibitors, which release the immune system's brakes so it can attack cancer. The study also points to potential new targets that could help even more patients unleash their immune system's natural power to fight off malignant cells.

People who respond best to immunotherapy tend to have "inflamed" tumors that have been infiltrated by immune cells that are capable of killing both viruses and cancer. This inflammation is also driven by the immune signaling molecule interferon.

"There are some factors that are already associated with how well the immune system responds to tumors," said Elad Ziv, MD, professor of medicine at UCSF and co-senior author of the paper, published Feb. 9, 2021, by an international team in Immunity. "But what's been less studied is how well your genetic background predicts your immune system's response to the cancer. That's what is being filled in by this work: How much is the immune response to cancer affected by your inherited genetic variation?"

The study suggests that, for a range of important immune functions, as much as 20 percent of the variation in how different people's immune systems are able to attack cancer is due to the kind of genes they were born with, which are known as germline genetic variations.

That is a significant effect, similar to the size of the genetic contribution to traits like high blood sugar levels or obesity.

Rather than testing selected genes, we analyzed all the genetic variants we could detect across the entire genome. Among all of them, the ones with the greatest effect on the immune system's response to the tumor were related to interferon signaling. Some of these variants are known to affect our response to viruses and our risk of autoimmune disorders. As observed with other diseases, we demonstrated that specific genes can also predispose someone to have a more effective anti-cancer immunity." Davide Bedognetti, MD, PhD, Director, Cancer Program, Sidra Medicine Research Branch in Doha, Qatar, and Co-Senior Author

The team identified variants in 22 regions in the genome, or in individual genes, with significant effects - including one gene, IFIH1, that is already well known for the role its variants play in autoimmune diseases as varied as type 1 diabetes, psoriasis, vitiligo, systemic lupus erythematosus, ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.

The IFIH1 variants act on cancer immunity in different ways. For instance, people with the variant that confers risk of type 1 diabetes had a more inflamed tumor, which suggests they would respond better to cancer immunotherapy. But the researchers saw the opposite effect for patients with the variant associated with Crohn's, indicating they might not benefit.

Another gene, STING1, was already thought to play a role in how patients respond to immunotherapy, and drug companies are looking for ways to boost its effects. But the team discovered that some people carry a variant that makes them less likely to respond, which may require further stratification of patients to know who could benefit most from those efforts.

The study required a huge amount of data that could only be found in a dataset as large as The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), and from which they analyzed the genes and immune responses of 9,000 patients with 30 different kinds of cancer.

All told, the scientific team, which includes members from the United States, Qatar, Canada, and Europe, examined nearly 11 million gene variants to see how they matched with 139 immune parameters measured in patient tumor samples.

But the 22 regions or genes identified in the new study are just the tip of the iceberg, the researchers said, and they suspect many more germline genes likely play a role in how the immune system responds to cancer.

The next step, Ziv said, is to use the data to formulate "polygenic" approaches - taking a large number of genes into account to predict which cancer patients will benefit from current therapies, and developing new drugs for those who will not.

"It's further off," he said, "but it's a big part of what we hope will come out of this work."


President Trump holds a campaign rally in Sunrise, Florida, November 26, 2019. Reuters/Yuri Gripas

(Reuters) - Dozens of former Republican officials, who view the party as unwilling to stand up to former President Donald Trump and his attempts to undermine U.S. democracy, are in talks to form a center-right breakaway party, four people involved in the discussions told Reuters.

The early stage discussions include former elected Republicans, former officials in the Republican administrations of Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush and Trump, ex-Republican ambassadors and Republican strategists, the people involved say.

More than 120 of them held a Zoom call last Friday to discuss the breakaway group, which would run on a platform of "principled conservatism," including adherence to the Constitution and the rule of law - ideas those involved say have been trashed by Trump.

The plan would be to run candidates in some races but also to endorse center-right candidates in others, be they Republicans, independents or Democrats, the people say.

Evan McMullin, who was chief policy director for the House Republican Conference and ran as an independent in the 2016 presidential election, told Reuters that he co-hosted the Zoom call with former officials concerned about Trumps grip on Republicans and the nativist turn the party has taken.

Three other people confirmed to Reuters the call and the discussions for a potential splinter party, but asked not to be identified.

Most Republicans remain fiercely loyal to the former president

Among the call participants were John Mitnick, general counsel for the Department of Homeland Security under Trump; former Republican congressman Charlie Dent; Elizabeth Neumann, deputy chief of staff in the Homeland Security Department under Trump; and Miles Taylor, another former Trump homeland security official.

The talks highlight the wide intraparty rift over Trump's false claims of election fraud and the deadly Jan. 6 storming of the U.S. Capitol. Most Republicans remain fiercely loyal to the former president, but others seek a new direction for the party.

The House of Representatives impeached Trump on Jan. 13 on a charge of inciting an insurrection by exhorting thousands of supporters to march on the Capitol on the day Congress was gathered to certify Democrat Joe Biden's election victory.

Call participants said they were particularly dismayed by the fact that more than half of the Republicans in Congress - eight senators and 139 House representatives - voted to block certification of Biden's election victory just hours after the Capitol siege.

Most Republican senators have also indicated they will not support the conviction of Trump in this weeks Senate impeachment trial.

Large portions of the Republican Party are radicalizing and threatening American democracy, McMullin told Reuters. The party needs to recommit to truth, reason and founding ideals or there clearly needs to be something new.

Asked about the discussions for a third party, Jason Miller, a Trump spokesman, said: These losers left the Republican Party when they voted for Joe Biden.

A representative for the Republican National Committee referred to a recent statement from Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel.

'The only way were going to win is if we come together'

"If we continue to attack each other and focus on attacking on fellow Republicans, if we have disagreements within our party, then we are losing sight of 2022 (elections)," McDaniel said on Fox News last month.

"The only way were going to win is if we come together," she said.

The Biden White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

McMullin said just over 40% of those on last week's Zoom call backed the idea of a breakaway, national third party. Another option under discussion is to form a faction that would operate either inside the current Republican Party or outside it.

Names under consideration for a new party include the Integrity Party and the Center Right Party. If it is decided instead to form a faction, one name under discussion is the Center Right Republicans.

Members are aware that the U.S. political landscape is littered with the remains of previous failed attempts at national third parties.

But there is a far greater hunger for a new political party out there than I have ever experienced in my lifetime, one participant said.
[February 11, 2021] Finland General Insurance Market Report 2020: Key Trends and Opportunities 2015-2019 & 2019-2024 - ResearchAndMarkets.com

The "Finland General Insurance - Key Trends and Opportunities to 2024" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. 'Finland General Insurance - Key Trends and Opportunities to 2024' report provides in-depth market analysis, information and insights into the Finnish general insurance segment. This report provides a detailed outlook by product category for the Finnish general insurance segment. It provides values for key performance indicators such as direct written premium, loss ratio and general insurance penetration during the review period (2015-2019) and forecast period (2019-2024). The report gives a comprehensive overview of the Finnish economy and demographics, and provides detailed information on the competitive landscape in the country. The report brings together the publisher's research, modeling and analysis expertise, giving insurers access to information on segment dynamics and competitive advantages, and profiles of insurers operating in the country. The report also includes details of insurance regulations, and recent changes in the regulatory structure. Key Highlights Key insights and dynamics of the Finnish general insurance industry.

Comparison of the Finnish general insurance segments, along with premium trends and key profitability ratios.

A comprehensive overview of the Finnish economy, government initiatives, investment opportunities and enterprise structure.

The Finnish insurance regulatory framework's evolution, key facts, taxation regime, licensing and capital requirements.

The Finnish general insurance industry's market structure giving details of retail and commercial lines of business.

Details of the competitive landscape, M&A and competitors' profiles. /li>



Scope It provides historical values for the Finnish general insurance segment for the report's 2015-2019 review period, and projected figures for the 2019-2024 forecast period.

It offers a detailed analysis of the key categories in the Finnish general insurance segment, and market forecasts to 2024.

It profiles the top general insurance companies in Finland, and outlines the key regulations affecting them. Reasons to Buy

Make strategic business decisions using in-depth historic and forecast market data related to the Finnish general insurance segment, and each category within it.

Understand the demand-side dynamics, key market trends and growth opportunities in the Finnish general insurance segment.

Assess the competitive dynamics in the general insurance segment.

Identify growth opportunities and market dynamics in key product categories. Key Topics Covered: Chapter 1 Executive Summary Chapter 2 Economy Overview Key Macroeconomic Indicators

Country Risk Index Chapter 3 COVID-19 Impact Assessment Chapter 4 Summary Trend and KPIs Penetration and Growth

Premiums and Key Lines of Business

Consumer Segments and Profitability Chapter 5 Regulatory Risk Evolution

Key Facts

Licensing Requirements Chapter 6 Key Trends by Line of Business- Retail and Commercial Lines of Business

By Consumer Segment

Commercial Line of Business

Retail Line of Business Chapter 7 Key Lines of Business- Trend and Market Share Property Insurance

Motor Insurance

Liability Insurance

Financial Lines Insurance

Marine, Aviation and Transit insurance

Personal Accident Insurance

Health Insurance Chapter 8 Competitive Landscape Chapter 9 Competitor Profiles Chapter 10 Insurtech Chapter 11 Consumer Insight Survey Chapter 12 Appendix Companies Mentioned Pohjola Vakuutus Oy

Keskinainen Vakuutusyhtio Fennia

LahiTapiola Keskinainen Vakuutusyhtio

LahiTapiola Paakaupunkiseutu Keskinainen Vakuutusyhtio

Keskinainen Vakuutusyhtio Turva

Pohjantahti Keskinainen Vakuutusyhtio

A-Vakuutus Oy

Forsakringsaktiebolaget Alandia

LahiTapiola Pohjoinen Keskinainen Vakuutusyhtio

LahiTapiola Vellamo Keskinainen Vakuutusyhtio

Vakuutusosakeyhtio Eurooppalainen

LahiTapiola Etela-Pohjanmaa Keskinainen Vakuutusyhtio

LahiTapiola Pirkanmaa Keskinainen Vakuutusyhtio

LahiTapiola Varsinais-Suomi Keskinainen Vakuutusyhtio

Suomen Vahinkovakuutus Oy

Suomen Keskinainen Laakevahinkovakuutusyhtio

Alands Omsesidiga Forsakringsbolag

LahiTapiola Uusimaa Keskinainen Vakuutusyhtio For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/ea4552 View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210211005570/en/

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[February 11, 2021] Kraken Backs Launch of Venture Capital Fund

Kraken Digital Asset Exchange, one of the world's largest cryptocurrency exchanges, today announced its backing of the newly launched Kraken Ventures, an independent investment fund targeting early stage companies and protocols across the crypto and fintech ecosystem. The fund will invest in the technologies powering the next wave of crypto and fintech innovation and provide entrepreneurs with the financial resources and industry expertise needed to build and scale their business. Kraken Ventures will focus on areas including fintech, crypto companies & protocols, decentralized finance (DeFi) as well as enabling technologies such as AI, Machine and Deep Learning, Reg Tech, and cybersecurity. Kraken Ventures offers the best of both worlds in being a completely autonomous fund that's backed by the resources and expertise of Kraken. Led by a team with extensive experience in the crypto and financial services industry and leveraging its strategic partnership with Kraken, portfolio companies get access to the ideal environment for their teams to collaborate across the Kraken and broader fintech ecosystem. The fintech and crypto ecosystems will continue to be drawn closer together and Kraken Ventures will be investing at the intersection of these two dynamic industries. Jesse Powell, co-founder and CEO of Kraken said: "As we enter the crypto industry's next growth phase, Kraken Ventures will support entrepreneurs in making the financial system more open, inclusive, and transparent. With a strong team in place, Kraken Ventures offers the right combination of resources to bring the best ideas to their full potential. We've arrived at the point where crypto is starting to show its true potential, transforming the financial services industry and creating truly global, digital economies." Kraken Ventures will be led by Brandon Gath, who has 20 years of experience in the financial services and crypto industries. He most recently served as the Head of Corporate Development at Kraken ad prior to joining Kraken helped lead CME Ventures, where he was an early investor in numerous unicorn startups across fintech, AI, Deep Learning, Quantum (News - Alert) Computing and Crypto. He led early investments in Orbital Insight, Crosslend, Digital Currency Group, Nervana Systems, Crypto Facilities, Privitar, and Fortscale. Brandon has a wealth of professional experience ranging across venture capital, M&A, investing banking, and consulting. He holds an MBA from the University of Chicago in Entrepreneurial Finance.



Brandon Gath, General Partner of Kraken Ventures said: "Fintech and specifically crypto technology provides the opportunity to drastically change how businesses and consumers exchange and store value, invest, lend, borrow, and conduct global commerce. We take a long-term view on investing to add value from inception through each growth phase of our portfolio companies' evolution. We will take a hands-on approach with our portfolio companies to provide guidance, new commercial opportunities and additional capital support. The possibility to leverage Kraken's experience building a truly global, scalable platform enables us to support our portfolio companies from inception to market leadership. We've already identified some of the best opportunities out there and expect to announce our first investments in the near future." Brandon will be joined by Kirill Gourov and Akshi Federici. Kirill currently supports strategic investment for Kraken and previously managed blockchain investments for a New York-based multifamily office. Prior to this, he led blockchain strategy efforts at Expand Research, a subsidiary of The Boston Consulting Group. He has been actively involved in the Bitcoin community since early 2013 and has over 7 years of experience in the blockchain industry including investment, strategy development for both public and private chain applications, and business development for blockchain projects. Akshi Federici is a seasoned strategic operator with over 15 years of experience in the financial services and cryptocurrencies industries with The Boston Consulting Group, BlackRock, Conde Nast, ConsenSys, and Kraken.

For more information, please visit www.krakenventures.com About Kraken Based in San Francisco, Kraken is the world's largest global digital asset exchange based on euro volume and liquidity. Kraken's clients trade more than 50 digital assets and 7 different fiat currencies, including EUR, USD, CAD, GBP, JPY, CHF and AUD. Kraken was founded in 2011 and is the first digital asset exchange to have its market data displayed on the Bloomberg (News - Alert) Terminal and one of the first to offer spot trading with margin, regulated derivatives and index services. Kraken is trusted by more than 5 million traders, institutions and authorities around the world. Kraken is backed by investors including Hummingbird Ventures, Blockchain Capital and Digital Currency Group, among others. For more information about Kraken, please visit www.kraken.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210211005504/en/

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Papu Gomez and Lionel Messi stayed talking on the pitch at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan after Sevilla's 2-0 win over Barcelona in the Copa del Rey on Wednesday night, and they were soon joined by fellow Argentines Lucas Ocampos and Marcos Acuna, who were both unavailable due to injury.

The conversation between the four Argentina internationals lasted a long time, and they could be seen talking amicably. In fact, Ocampos and Acuna travelled with Messi to Argentina in the last international break. They are friends.

Papu revealed what they spoke about, beginning with the conversation just between himself and Messi.

"We talked about life. He asked me what had happened at Atalanta and what had caught my attention now that I am in Spain," Papu told Cope Sevilla.

"We didn't talk about anything strange... How I was feeling, etc."

As soon as Ocampos and Acuna approached, the conversation turned to the winger's ankle injury.

"We also spoke to Lucas about his injury," Papu continued.

"We love Leo very much; he's captain of the Argentina national team and we want the best for him."

However, the former Atalanta star made clear that they did not hear anything about Messi's future.

"No, no. Nothing," Papu responded.
Traffic congestion levels decreased by 69 per cent in Toronto and by 75 per cent in Montreal, compared to the same week of March in 2019, stated Xuelin Tian.
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HP India and National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) have announced a collaboration to provide scientifically designed worksheets and content to support home learning and early childhood skill development for students across India. As part of this partnership, NSDC will host content from HPs Print Learn Center on its digital skilling platform  eSkill India and make it available for millions of potential users, free of cost. Print Learn Center (HP-PLC) is an initiative by HP which provides printable learning modules, created by education and skilling experts.

HPs Print Learn Center content will be made available in English and seven Indian languages (Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Bengali, Hindi, Gujarati, and Marathi). The HP-PLC content is designed to promote universal learning and will supplement regular school curriculum. It will enable the development of modern skills in like problem solving, analytical ability, computing and leadership abilities among young students. Through this collaboration, HP and NSDC aim to ensure holistic skill development for children from an early age.

Announcing the collaboration, Dr. Manish Kumar, MD & CEO, NSDC said, Wider adoption of technology-based skill delivery will enhance learning outcome and experience of the students. The HP-PLC content and its delivery through eSkill India platform are designed to grab the attention of young children and provide them interactive and simplified learning environment.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Ketan Patel  Managing Director, HP India Market said, Following the pandemic, students across the country had to adopt e-learning as a primary mode of learning. The absence of regular teaching methods put increased pressure on parents and educators to inculcate early learning concepts. The Print Learn Center is an effort by HP to help overcome this gap, and through our collaboration with NSDC, we hope to provide this content to millions of students and educators across India and play a part developing essential skills for our countrys future generations.

eSkill India is a digital skilling initiative from NSDC that aggregates e-learning resources through various Indian and global knowledge partnerships to enable provision of best-in-class content for the India youth. Currently, over 28,000 minutes of digital courses and content is available across various sectors in multiple languages. The platform is aimed at providing learners with the technology and skills needed to prosper in a rapidly transforming digital world.

The HP Print Learn Center modules bring innovation into learning via structured modules that aid home learning and encourage development in areas such as physical health and motor development, language & cognitive skills, STEM skills, critical thinking, social and emotional development, sensory and perceptual development, development of creative and aesthetic appreciation, among others.

The content can be accessed via the NSDCs eSkill India or HPs Print Learn Center via a free subscription. Registered users will get access to 100 learning worksheets every month. The content will be available for multiple categories of learners.
Demonstrators shout slogans calling for the release of detained Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi during a protest in Yangon, Myanmar, on Wednesday. Photo: AP

At least a dozen police officers joined protesters in Myanmar demanding an end to military dictatorship yesterday as thousands of people took to the streets for a fifth day of demonstrations against last weeks putsch.

It came as the family of a woman who was shot by security forces during the crackdown on pro-democracy demonstrators said she was unlikely to survive.

Mya Thwate Thwate Khing, a 19-year-old student, was shot in the back of the head on Tuesday afternoon as she joined a group of protesters in Naypyitaw demonstrating against the coup that ousted the civilian government of Aung San Suu Kyi. She remains in a critical condition in hospital.

We were hiding because the police used the water cannon. Then we heard the sound of a gunshot and we decided to go back. When we left the place, my sister was shot, Mya Tha Toe Nwe, her sister, said.

The hope for my sister is only 5pc. Im deeply sad. Im the eldest and she is the youngest sister. We participated in the protest against the military coup because its not only for one person or one party.

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Its for our country and our generation. So, we need to eliminate the military dictatorship from our country and I will keep fighting, she said.

Myanmars military arrested Ms Suu Kyi and other members of her National League for Democracy (NLD) party on February 1, claiming that a general election the NLD won by a landslide in November had been fraudulent.

Tuesdays violence saw at least three other people wounded by suspected rubber bullets in Naypyidaw.

Protesters were also hurt in Mandalay and other cities where dozens were arrested. Four policemen were also injured as protesters threw stones.

There were no reports of violence yesterday, although thousands of protesters took to the streets again for a fifth straight day.

The 2020 election is the first time I voted and the coup happened. They should respect our vote. We did not vote for the military, said Wai Wai Tun, a 20-year-old university student.

At least 20 police officers in Loikaw in the eastern Kayah marched with protesters as part of a civil disobedience movement protesting the putsch, in the first significant defection of security personnel to the side of the protesters.

I decided to join the protest because I know there is nothing good about military dictatorship. I dont want to be the one who helps dictators. So, I decided to join the protest and I will continue to fight until Min Aung Hlaing steps down, one police officer who joined the strike said. The unnamed officer said locals were now helping to shelter the rebel policemen to help them avoid arrest. MWD, a military-controlled television station, claimed the officers were fake police.

Hundreds of government workers, including staff from the ministry of electricity and energy have marched in support of a civil disobedience campaign launched by medical workers.

The US and UN condemned the use of force against the protesters and demanded the release of those arrested.

Joe Biden, the US president, last night ordered new sanctions against the military regime.

He said he was issuing an executive order to prevent it accessing $1bn in assets in the US. He added that more measures are to come.

The military must relinquish power it seized and demonstrate respect for the will of the people of Burma [Myanmar], he said.



Thomas Andrews, UN special rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar, voiced concern at reports of security forces using lethal force.

All security forces, regardless of rank, were liable to prosecution for any violations, he said.

I am alarmed at the increasing levels of force against peaceful protesters, his statement said.



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Telegraph Media Group Limited [2021]
TORONTO - Ontario is postponing March break until the week of April 12 in an effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19, a move decried by critics who argued the government should instead be focusing on making schools safer.

Ontario Education Minister Stephen Lecce makes an announcement at Father Leo J. Austin Catholic Secondary School in Whitby, Ont., on Thursday, July 30, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Nathan Denette

TORONTO - Ontario is postponing March break until the week of April 12 in an effort to reduce the spread of COVID-19, a move decried by critics who argued the government should instead be focusing on making schools safer.

Education Minister Stephen Lecce said postponing the break -- a decision based on the advice of the provinces top doctor -- is an important way schools can help limit community transmission.

"I recognize this is one more change in a year that has been challenging for so many students and our education staff," Lecce said Thursday. "But it is one made on the best advice of public health officials to keep them safe and to keep our schools open in this province."

The minister said people should avoid travelling over the next several weeks and noted that limiting transmission is especially important given that more contagious variants of the virus are circulating in the province.

The province's largest teachers' union, the association representing public school boards and the Opposition New Democrats had all asked for the March break to go ahead as planned, saying families, students and teachers needed it.

Four teachers' unions decried the postponement in a joint statement Thursday and called on the government to reverse the move.

"The governments decision to postpone March Break does not take into consideration the mental health and well-being of those involved," the statement said.

The group said going ahead with the plan despite opposition from unions and stakeholders shows a disregard for front-line workers.

The group also questioned why the Progressive Conservative government is starting to lift restrictions on businesses if there are concerns about travel and gatherings during March break.

A union representing other education workers also criticized the move, saying Lecce has failed to implement other pandemic safety measures like mandatory screening in schools and universal paid sick leave.

"The minister can delay March break and claim hes doing it in the interest of public health. But if hes not carrying out the proposals above during the COVID-19 pandemic, hes putting students, workers and families at risk," union president Laura Walton said in a statement.

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath echoed those concerns, saying the government should do more to make schools safe rather than cancel a much-needed break.

"We have to find a way to give everyone a spring break thats safe. Just kicking the can down the road isnt a solution," Horwarth said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the Ontario Public School Boards Association said school communities are grateful to have at least a break coming, even if it isnt at the preferred time.

"We do know that it is important to be following the public health recommendations and if this is going to help us get to the end of the pandemic sooner then this is what we'll do," Cathy Abraham, the association's president, said Thursday.

"We do appreciate getting a break at all, because it has been a challenge for some."

All students began the new year learning remotely as part of a provincial lockdown.

The government then took a gradual approach to reopening physical classrooms, starting with northern and rural areas.

Students in three COVID-19 hot spots -- Toronto, Peel Region and York Region -- will be the last ones in the province to return to physical classrooms on Feb. 16.

Top doctors in Toronto and Peel have warned that rolling back other restrictions as students resume in-person learning amid the spread of new virus variants could kick off a worse wave of infections.

The provincial and the federal governments have been urging residents to limit their travel.

The federal government recently introduced its own policies aimed at preventing travel over the spring break. Four major airlines have halted their flights from Canada to Mexico and the Caribbean until the end of April.

The provincial government has also introduced mandatory COVID-19 testing for all international arrivals to Ontario.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 11, 2021.
Ireland's minimum wage, calculated on a monthly basis, is the second highest in the EU

Ireland has the second-highest minimum wage across the EU, at 1,724 per month, according to Eurofound.

Luxembourg has the highest, at 2,202, the Dublin-based EU agency said in a new survey.

Irelands minimum wage was raised to 10.20 an hour from January this year for people aged 20 and over.

The rate here is recommended by the Low Pay Commission to the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment.

Decision-makers on minimum wages were faced with determining the 2021 level of minimum wages in the context of challenging economic conditions, downward pressure on wages due to higher unemployment, and great uncertainty about the economic projections for the months ahead, said Christine Aumayr-Pintar, senior research manager with Eurofound.

The dilemma for decision-makers  how to keep the purchasing power of the lowest paid high and ensure the adequacy of their pay, while safeguarding jobs and businesses - is not a new one, but was aggravated and made more urgent during the [Covid] crisis, she added.

The Eurofound study noted that some of the highest nominal increases in minimum wages during the past 12 months were recorded in counties where governments had made earlier commitments through legislation or pre-election promises, or where a pathway had been agreed in previous years with social partners.

A 16.3pc increase in Latvia, where the minimum wage is now 500 a month, had been negotiated in 2017.

Bulgaria has the lowest minimum wage amongst members, at 332 a month.

While no longer an EU member, the UKs minimum wage stood at 1,765 a month in January, just slightly higher than that in Ireland.

In Germany, its 1,610 a month, while in The Netherlands, its 1,685.

Since 2016, the minimum wage in Ireland has risen from 8.65 an hour to its current level.

Officials from the Irish Congress of Trade Unions walked out of the Low Pay Commission last year in protest at the proposed 10 cent increase.
Russia calls on the United States to "stop reckless saber-rattling," the Russian embassy in the U.S. wrote on its Twitter account, commenting on the U.S. drills in the Black Sea.

"We call on the U.S. military to stop reckless saber-rattling and mind their business in the territorial waters of the United States. The peace and security of the Black Sea need no alien interference," it emphasized.

"It looks like the U.S. 6th Fleet cant wait to find an enemy in the Black Sea. It desperately looks for a pretext - now openly under the banner of warfare exercise - for ramping up presence in the region," it noted.

The U.S. 6th Fleet reported earlier that U.S. and Turkish warships backed by two F-16 Turkish fighter jets had held joint drills in the Black Sea.

The Russian Foreign Ministry has repeatedly said that military presence of off-region nations warships in the Black Sea cannot promote stability in the region. The United States insists it acts within the Montreux Convention Regarding the Regime of the Straits (the Bosporus and Dardanelles) and conducts drills in international waters.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg earlier said the alliance had concerns about a buildup of Russian fleet in the region.
Senators Express Concern Over Bidens Termination of Trump-Appointed US Attorneys

Senators from both sides of the aisle have expressed concern over President Joe Bidens move to replace most Trump-appointed federal prosecutors without consulting home state senators.

This comes after the Justice Department (DOJ) announced that its beginning a transition process for Senate-confirmed U.S. attorneys.

Most U.S. attorneys have been asked to hand in their resignation earlier this week, several media outlets reported, citing DOJ officials. But Delaware U.S. Attorney David Weiss, who is overseeing the tax probe of Hunter Biden, and John Durham, who has been appointed as special counsel to investigate the origins of the counterintelligence probe into Trump and Russia, are expected to remain in office.

Illinois Democratic Sens. Dick Durbin and Tammy Duckworth said in a statement on Feb. 9 that they were disappointed by the Biden administrations decision to replace U.S. Attorney John Lausch, whos been serving as the top federal prosecutor for the Northern District of Illinois since 2017.

While we agree with the Biden Administrations criminal justice agenda, we are disappointed with the decision to terminate U.S. Attorney Lausch without consulting us. In 2017, our non-partisan screening committee gave its support for Mr. Lausch to serve in this position, and the Senate confirmed him unanimously, the senators wrote.

While the President has the right to remove U.S. Attorneys, there is precedent for U.S. Attorneys in the Northern District of Illinois to remain in office to conclude sensitive investigations. We believe Mr. Lausch should be permitted to continue in his position until his successor is confirmed by the Senate, and we urge the Biden Administration to allow him to do so.

Similarly, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) wrote a letter to the White House calling on Biden to consult home state senators before removing prosecutors.

It is unfortunate that you are taking these actions without replacements announced. It is also concerning that your administration did not consult with homestate Senators about this decision and that some of these U.S. Attorneys may be involved in sensitive investigations, Grassley wrote (pdf).

He argued that although Biden is entitled to reshape his administration, in the interest of the rule of law, he urged the president not to simply fire all of President Trumps U.S. Attorneys except for the two most obviously sensitiveDurham and Weiss.

Take the time to do it right. See who has important investigations ongoinglike Lauschand make sure that the American People have confidence in the independence of the Department of Justice, he said.

Lausch previously worked on cases relating to Operation Legend and is currently overseeing a case related to former state House Speaker Mike Madigan.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki confirmed the administrations move to replace federal prosecutors during a Feb. 9 press conference, saying that Biden is looking forward to working with the Senate to quickly fill the vacancies in the coming weeks. She also confirmed that Weiss and Durham will remain in office.

The president has also made clear that he wants to restore the independence of the Department of Justice and to ensure it remains free of any undue political influence. That will be helped when our attorney general is of course confirmed. But the decision to leave two U.S. attorneys in their roles is a reflection of that commitment, Psaki said.

Former presidents have also asked U.S. attorneys to resign, although some did so over a broader time period. The practice of removing U.S. attorneys has repeatedly garnered widespread scrutiny. But previous administrations have defended the move saying that its a tradition for new presidents.

President Bill Clinton demanded the resignation of all 93 attorneys after he took office in 1993. Similarly, Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama also replaced top federal prosecutors, but over a longer period of time. President Trump asked 46 to resign in 2017.

Maharashtra: Mumbai Crime Branch has recently uncovered a gang that used to create fake Aadhaar cards of foreign nationals for a few thousand rupees. According to recently received information, the Mumbai Crime Branch has exposed this gang after a raid. This gang was working to make fake Indian Aadhaar card of Nepali citizens by taking money. Crime Branch said that these people used to collect fake documents to make Aadhaar card of Nepali citizens.

After that, they applied for Aadhaar card. A total of 12 accused have been arrested by the Crime Branch in this case. Out of these 12 accused, 10 are from Nepal and the other two had also created fake Aadhaar cards of these people. The crime branch has so far recovered some fake documents and Aadhaar cards. Regarding the matter, a police officer said that Unit 11 of Mumbai Crime Branch had received news from its sources that the business of making Aadhaar card through fake documents was going on in a bank in Chamunda area of Borivali West area.

As soon as information was received about the case, the crime branch raided. Then two accused Vinod Chavan and Umesh Arvind Chaudhary were arrested. Police said that the accused were sitting at the Aadhar card counter at that time. In this case, the accused also tried to mislead the police but when the investigation was done, the truth came out.

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Kerala CM denies any 'backdoor' appointments during his rule

Defense Minister Rajnath Singh makes big announcement in Rajya Sabha

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FTSE 100 pushed higher again as good numbers from and Royal Mail helped the mood, Londons blue-chip index rose 21 to 6,545.

AstraZeneca expects profit growth to pick up this year after a strong performance from its cancer therapies in its latest quarter. The group added it might to take 6-9 months to adapt its COVID-19 vaccine to the new variants of the virus.

Plc ( ) told investors its oil business is past its peak, as it unveiled plans to accelerate its drive to net-zero emissions. Shells oil production volumes peaked in 2019, the company said.

Royal Mail Group PLC ( ) delivered a record number of parcels over Christmas in what it described as the busiest period in its history. 10,000 temps are being kept on to meet the demand with profits this year to be well ahead of forecasts.

Among the small caps, PLC ( ) has launched a pioneering new type of concrete block that does not contain cement. It is the first product of its kind in the UK.

( ) had a record month in December thanks to its online casino games licensing business. Revenues this year should be 11mln and adjusted earnings 3mln.

S&U PLC ( ) said trading remains robust and profitable despite the current lockdown. The motor financing specialist forecast a significant rebound to pre-pandemic levels once restrictions are lifted.
Its a crowded Saturday night on the River Walk, and the bridges and trees are still draped in holiday lights even though it is February. People are dining alfresco along the San Antonio River.

The tables at On The Bend Oyster Bar & Cigar Lounge are spaced 6 feet apart, a concession to the safety rules enacted amid the COVID-19 pandemic. But the outdoor diners still have plenty of company. Hundreds of visitors crowd this portion of the River Walk, Texas most popular tourist attraction.

Some visitors linger close to those eating as they snap photos or listen to two jazz musicians at work.

Many of the passersby share something in common with the diners: Theyre not wearing masks, flouting city rules requiring face coverings on the River Walk.

On ExpressNews.com:Members challenge San Antonio River Walk Association merger

About one out of every four visitors to the River Walk isnt complying with safety rules requiring masks, according to the San Antonio Police Department, the San Antonio River Walk Association and restaurant owners.

Mayor Ron Nirenberg said he asked city administrators during the holidays for stricter enforcement of mask-wearing on the River Walk. But local enforcement is limited by state rules. Under an order by Gov. Greg Abbott, violators of mask rules only receive a warning the first time they are seen without a face covering.

Its fair to say that a year into this pandemic, everyone has heard the message about the importance of mask-wearing and really doesnt need to be warned anymore, Nirenberg said.

Nirenberg favors fines for first-time offenders. As it is, offenses after an initial warning can bring penalties of up to $250, but Nirenberg said its almost impossible to catch a person a second time.

His push for more enforcement succeeded  somewhat. City records show that more than 1,500 people received verbal warnings from San Antonio police to wear a mask or put one on correctly between Dec. 30 and Feb. 5. The records do not show even one verbal warning issued from mid-March to Dec. 30.

Yet, there were no warnings issued Feb. 6 and 7, a weekend of warm weather that bought thousands to the River Walk.

On ExpressNews.com: Fiesta moved to June, but the big street parades won't happen

Park police officers who patrol the River Walk have been giving verbal orders to pedestrians to mask up since the beginning of the pandemic, but they werent documenting the actions, said Lt. Jesse Salame, spokesman for the San Antonio Police Department. (The park police are under the SAPDs purview.)

Since the holidays, more visitors have been crowding walkways along the river.

People are coming out more, Salame said. During March, April and May, the River Walk was like a ghost town.

He believes many of the violators are tourists from rural parts of Texas.

I traveled through West Texas a few months back, and I was surprised that no one in the convenience stores was wearing a mask, he said. If you stop in a little town, they look at you like youre from another world if you show up with a mask.

Salame said visitors generally put on masks after being confronted by an officer. But a normal contingent of about 10 officers can only give so many warnings during a shift along the River Walk, honeycombed with bars, restaurants and attractions.

Jonathan Pischner was one of the maskless pedestrians on a sunny Sunday afternoon on the River Walk this month.

I have breathing issues, said the 32-year-old from a rural area near Mankato, Minn. Pischner pulled a blue surgical mask out of his pocket and said he would put it on if asked.

He said few wore masks back home. Pischner and his parents, who are farmers, had been staying at a hotel near San Antonio International Airport since Jan. 8.

Were snowbirds, he said as he checked the temperature in Mankato on his cellphone. There, it was -2 degrees. Here, it was about 70 degrees.

Michael Calderon, a corrections officer from San Saba, wasnt wearing a mask either as he strolled down the River Walk with family members.

In San Saba, most people dont wear their masks, he said. Its more rural Republican over there.

Nevertheless, he said he carried a mask and put it on whenever somebody asked him to.

I wear mine out of respect for other people, if they dont feel comfortable with me not wearing a mask, he said.

Calderon said he found it funny that he had to put on a mask to go into a River Walk restaurant to ask for an outside table but was allowed to take it off as soon as he sat down.

Not everyone going maskless on the River Walk is from a rural area.

A couple from Jacksonville, Fla., who declined to give their names, said it was their right not to wear a mask as they strolled on the River Walk. The couple had come to San Antonio to attend a wedding.

Its your discretion. Everyone is adults here, the woman said. Her partner said he didnt see the need for a mask.

I dont think they do anything, he said.

The man said he does electrical work in hospitals and hasnt caught COVID-19, leaving him unworried about the virus.

Customers without masks can put restaurant owners in difficult situations when they refuse to put one on, said Maggie Thompson, executive director of the San Antonio River Walk Association.

There are some people who do argue. They feel they have a God-given right not to wear a mask, she said.

The reality is that nothing can be done when tourists refuse to wear masks, said Robert Thrailkill, general manager of the Hilton Palacio del Rio. Still, he said most guests comply when he tells them that mask-wearing is required in hotels public areas and on the River Walk.

But some people say its their right not to wear a mask, he said.

Six people in line at The Frosty Dog, a small pavilion serving frozen margaritas to go, werent wearing masks on a recent Saturday night.

If they're not wearing the mask, we politely to ask them to wear a mask, owner Terry Corless said. They happily comply until they get their drink and then walk away and pull it off.

Mask-wearing is only required when coming within 6 feet of unrelated parties. But the River Walks twisting walkways can lead visitors to brush against tables full of diners just around a bend. In some parts, the stone pathways narrow to as little as 6 feet, making social distancing impossible for oncoming walkers.

Were asking people to do one thing for us  wear a mask, Salame said.

Fortunately, being outdoors on the River Walk in the pandemic is safer than being indoors, according to epidemiologists and experts on outdoor air flow.

If people put on masks outside, the risk of transmission is quite low, said Anne Liu, an infectious disease specialist at Stanford Health Care in Palo Alto, Calif.

randy.diamond@express-news.net
BRUSSELS - The European Union has proposed a new agenda for the Mediterranean with a seven-billion-euro plan to stimulate the economy of Mediterranean partner countries in recovery from the Covid crisis, as well as face political instability and slow the causes of the push on irregular migration, aiming at a green transition as well as young people and women.



Investments in the 10 countries of the southern partnership (Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Syria and Tunisia) will be financed by the EU's new Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI), which will allocate up to seven billion euros for the 2021-2027 EU budget period.



The funds could mobilise up to 30 billion euros in private and public investment in the region in the next decade.



"Europe wants to contribute directly to a long-term vision of prosperity and stability of the region, especially in the social and economic recovery from the Covid-19 crisis," said EU Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Oliver Varhelyi.



He said new investments in the Brussels programme aim to restore security in the area - "the greatest challenge that has arisen since the Arab Spring" - and fight "irregular migration".
A puppy attacked by a Staffordshire bull terrier-pitbull has undergone life-saving surgery after being attacked outside his home.

The chihuahua, named Paco, was playing with the other dog in Zetland, inner Sydney, when the staffy cross mauled him on Monday morning.

Paco's owner Bruna Meirelles told Daily Mail Australia her beloved dog suffered serious injuries, including a punctured lung.

Six-month-old Chihuahua Paco (picture) was bitten by a Staffordshire bull terrier-pitbull near his Zetland home on Monday morning

Paco has undergone life-saving surgery (pictured), where he had a section of his lungs removed following the attack

'Paco has always loved big dogs, so it makes me sad to know he'll never be the same after this', she said.

Ms Meirelles watched over Paco as he played in the grass, when she noticed a middle-aged man shouting at his staffy and letting her off the leash.

'She saw Paco and became fixated and stopped in front of him,' she said.

But instead of backing away, six-month-old Paco slowly approached the staffy, who opened her mouth and grabbed him.

'The staffy was about to shake her head but I grabbed her, put her between my legs and squeezed, holding her mouth open to release Paco', Ms Meirelles said.

Bruna Meirelles said Paco has always loved playing with big dogs (pictured) and is 'sad he'll never be the same'

Bruna (pictured left) said losing Paco (pictured right) 'wasn't an option' when she took him to the doctors for immediate surgery

The staffy immediately stopped and dropped straight to the floor.

Ms Meirelles said the owner quickly apologised and walked away, while she stood there with blood covering her hands.

'I don't blame the staffy, she's as much a victim as Paco is.'

Ms Meirelles, who is an international student from Brazil, later launched a GoFundMe campaign to help raise $14,900 to help pay for Paco's surgery.

Six-month-old Paco underwent immediate surgery to remove a part of his lung (pictured)

'It's always just been Paco and I, so losing him wasn't an option', she said.

'Doctors found air leaking from his lungs which caused him a lot of pain, so he needed immediate surgery.'

The campaign has currently raised $13,098, helping Ms Mierelles get Paco his life-saving surgery.

Paco has now had a part of his lung removed, after doctors found three puncture wounds from the bite.

Despite doctors calling Paco their 'little miracle', he still has a long way to go.

'He is now fighting with all his heart'.

Paco is expected to make a full recovery in the next four to five days, and will return back home with Bruna.
After months on the run, a Chester man wanted in connection with a murder outside a hotel this summer has been taken into custody, Delaware County officials said Thursday.

Nasir Frisby, 42, remains behind bars in South Carolina, where he was arrested late last month by local police officers, according to investigators. He has been charged with first- and second-degree murder, gun violations, and related offenses. There was no indication he had hired an attorney.

Detectives in Delaware County have been searching for Frisby since July, when he shot Charles Bryant, 36, twice in the chest outside of the Candlewood Suites hotel in Chester, according to the affidavit of probable cause for his arrest.

Witnesses told police they saw Frisby and Bryant arguing outside the hotel as Bryant was waiting to pick up his mother, who was staying there at the time.

During the dispute, Frisby pulled out a handgun and shot Bryant before fleeing in a black pickup truck, the affidavit said. Medics pronounced Bryant dead at Crozer-Chester Medical Center.

Detectives tracked Frisby to Stallings, N.C., in October, when his wife called police after a domestic dispute with him at a hotel there, the affidavit said. They learned that Frisbys wife owns the truck he used during the Chester murder.

He was taken into custody Jan. 26 in Conway, S.C., after a judge in Delaware County approved a warrant for his arrest in Bryants killing.

Frisby is not permitted to legally possess a gun because of a previous conviction for drug offenses, court records show.

In announcing the arrest Thursday, District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer thanked the police in South Carolina for assistance in finding Frisby.

Hard work, skillful investigation and cooperation have resulted in taking an alleged murderer off the street  thats a good day for law enforcement, he said.


It took more than a year for Deok-Ho Kim, a biomedical engineer at Johns Hopkins University, to prepare for one monthlong experiment. Kim studies cardiac health, working toward developing therapeutics to counter heart diseases. For his experiment, his team developed a leakproof tissue chamber the size of a smartphone and a remote magnet monitor to measure the beating of their experiments heart tissues. And then right before the start of his experiment, Kim sent his experiment away to be conducted by strangers he had never met, in a place he had never set foot.

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It would take a rocket ride to get there. Kim and his colleagues were to entrust their experiment to the astronauts on the International Space Station, whether or not these astronauts were scientists.

The ISS is a unique environment for research, as its microgravity and the barrage of cosmic radiation it receives are challenging, to put it mildly, to replicate on Earth. More than 3,000 science experiments have been conducted in the more than two decades since the ISS opened its doors for research, and all of them have been conducted by astronauts. Before their missions, astronauts receive crash courses on the requisite experimental techniques, taught by space agency intermediaries who are first trained by the original scientists themselves. During spaceflight, astronauts are guided by mission controls science experts for the duration of the experiment.

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To run an experiment on the ISS, researchers like Kim apply through the proposal calls by space agencies around the world, such as NASA or the European Space Agency. These organizations also cover the costs of the space portion of the experiments of successful applicants, from liftoff to sample return. Kims project was facilitated through the Tissue Chips in Space program, a relatively new initiative run by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences to accelerate biomedical research and drug development in space. (Tissue chips are cell culturecontaining devices, usually the size of a USB stick, that mimic the internal conditions of the human body.) Kim was chosen for the second cohort of the program. He knew before his experiments launch that only half of the first cohorts five experiments had run successfullysome teams containers leaked fluid or living samples died out too soon. Kim had anticipated that his own experiment would hit several snags, but it ran without a hitch. I think we were lucky, he says.

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What may feel like luck belies months of preparationyears in some casesbefore an experiment ever leaves Earth. A diverse team of engineers works with the experiments creators behind the scenes to adapt a laboratory experiment for space. Several groups contributed to the success of Kims experiment: NASAs knowledgeable consultants, the experienced space hardware developer companies his research team partnered with, and the competent astronauts on the ISS.

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Conducting an experiment on the ISS presents unique challenges. Space and astronaut time are limitedabout 600 experiments are conducted on the ISS each year, run by only a crew of six or so onboard at a time. Astronauts have highly regulated schedules that are packed with housekeeping (someone has to clean, change out the filters, check on the equipment, and perform fixes, after all) and even exercise, on top of research. Moreover, astronauts may not have the same scientific background as the researchers who proposed the experimentsabout half of astronauts have a military background, and the only scientific requirement to qualify for the astronaut program is a masters degree (or equivalent) in a STEM field. Earthbound scientists launching space-bound experiments must work out all the logistics and provide detailed instructions for the astronauts to perform by proxy. And the scientists usually only have one shot to execute their experiment.

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These constraints translate into a golden rule for modifying an experiment for space: simplification. Long before launch, researchers rehearse their experiments in the lab to weed out any superfluous details and flaws. It took more than a year for Sonja Schrepfer, an immunologist at the University of California, San Francisco, and her team to redesign their experiment for space. Her research examines the genetic and molecular markers of aging in the immune system, leveraging space to artificially age biological tissues. Schrepfers was one of the successful teams in the first cohort of the Tissue Chips in Space program in 2018, an experience she describes as both exhilarating and nerve-wracking.

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The experiment sounds simple enough, at firstlet the tissue chips sit quietly in space for three weeks, then freeze the cells right before the return tripbut even that demanded significant remodeling and reorganization. Planning requires a lot of visualizing, she says, as her team had to imagine the day in the life of the astronaut carrying out their experiment, from how fast he could move the tissue chips from the rocket to the incubator to which arrangement of chips and accessories would provide the astronaut the most convenient access to the contents.

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Kim says the astronauts are very disciplined, so they follow instructions very well. Nonetheless, he says, we try to minimize the astronauts tasks. His team also reduced the need for astronaut intervention in their experiments. His experimental setup is similar to Schrepfers, with additional in situ measurements of his heart tissues and a routine feeding step. On Earth, their heart tissues would be bathed in a nourishing liquid medium that would be replenished every day. For space, Kims team upsized their chamber volumes housing the tissues so that an astronaut would only need to switch out the bathwater once a week. Someday, he adds, we can also automate the medium-change process with a robot to make the process even easier for the astronauts.

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Danilo Tagle, the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences special initiatives director, advises making experiments astronaut-proof. That includes making everything automated as much as possible  so that experiments would run at the push of a button, he says, which is very different from how we do experiments here on Earth.

Where automation isnt possible, researchers have to rely on astronauts to carry out even the most delicate procedures. But slight differences in how astronauts perform the experiment may introduce variability in the resultsa major concern for scientists if they have to reduce their sample size to begin with.

In 2016, Rosamund Smith, a now-retired Eli Lilly cellular biologist, and her team sent only 20 mice to the ISS for a drug experimenta number Smith normally wouldnt be comfortable with. Half of the mice were injected with an antibody drug to test whether it could reduce muscular atrophy, a concern for astronauts on long-term missions and people with some conditions back on Earth. With such a small sample size, any changes in the mices physiology would need to be drastic to convincingly demonstrate the drugs efficacy. The different human handlersthe astronauts and the ground scientists (who would take measurements on a set of control mice for comparison)was a concerning source of potential variability.

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Sometimes, researchers cant even identify the source of the variability. You may handle the mice much more roughly  if youre not used to dealing with mice, says Smith. Ideally, the same person runs the entire experiment to minimize the inconsistencies. Because, if there was a difference between [the astronauts] set of mice and mine, is it because [the astronauts] is under microgravity and mine wasnt? Or was it because the astronaut did it and I did it? Back on Earth, experiments can be repeated to overcome the impact of minor variations or to confirm a result. Not so in space.

Smith admits that she was nervous at first. In the end, she was amazed to see statistically significant differences among her small group of mice subjects. It was in no small part thanks to the professionalism of the astronauts. Smith remembers observing the astronauts in action through a video livestream, and that she was impressed by their sense of responsibility. Astronaut Tim Peake even worked through lunch break on her experiment, she recalls.

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Were asking the astronauts to do complex things  thats not their general training, says Smith. She attributes her triumphant experiment to the wonderful efforts of the astronauts and all the experience of the people at NASA  and whomever else we worked with. Smith adds, They knew to plan it down to the finest, finest detail.

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But theres only so much that ground scientists can prepare for. Many factors are beyond the scientists control, and each step on the journey to space carries risk. In 2015, Smiths experiment came close to the ultimate nightmare: a rocket explosion right before her experiments own launch. Her eventual launch date was postponed by a year while SpaceX fixed the rockets design.

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Research bound for the ISS has also been disrupted by the pandemic. Space agencies worldwide had to reduce their in-person staffing and postpone long-awaited missions. And it was not just the launch centers that were affectedany disruption and delay in an early preparatory step, such as the assembly of the necessary equipment, could throw off a projects timeline and cause researchers to miss their launch windows. Kim was fortunate that his experiment was delivered to the ISS right before the first wave of COVID-19 cases in March. When labs nationwide began shutting their doors and halting nonessential research, Kims experiment ran unaffected on the ISS, protected by the cordon sanitaire of space. Kims team found it harder to carry out the follow-up experiments on the samples that returned from space six weeks later, due to the labs COVID restrictions. Had his launch been delayed, Kim suspects his experiments might not have made it to the ISS at all.

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Researchers need to be logistically and psychologically prepared for any surprises that may turn the experiment into a no-go. This one-step-at-a-time, come-what-may mentality is perhaps best exemplified by the astronauts themselves.

[We] understand that there are many years of Ph.D. leveltheses type of work that have gone into each one of these experiments, says NASA astronaut Chris Cassidy, who returned from the ISS in October. He estimates he spent 60 percent of his day on scientific experiments; the rest of his time was spent on general ISS upkeep. But the gravity of each experiment is not lost on him. On behalf of the astronauts, he says he feels responsible that we can make a small error and screw up the entire science experiment. He adds, Sometimes you get a little nervous when you think about [it] this way. But in reality, every single thing we do up there is like that.

What does an astronaut have to say on making an experiment astronaut-proof? Clear instruction manuals, Cassidy advises. Annotated diagrams and photos are welcome.

Where the confusion happens is when the scientists write the experiment thinking that theyre talking to people that speak that same language of research, says Cassidy, who comes from a military background. We dont necessarily.

Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society.
International money held in trusts hiding under US federal and state laws "Foreign grantor trusts could tarnish the great reputation of South Dakota trust law"

A co-authored report by a current US international tax attorney and co-founder of a trust company based in South Dakota highlights the unpriceable risk to domestic trust companies when accepting foreign grantor trusts. Should these risks bear fruit, they could negatively affect their domestic trust clients.

The two potential risks:

(1) Wealthy non-US citizens have chosen to locate their assets under foreign grantor trusts using US trust laws. With secure and regulated markets and stable trust and estate laws, the US is an attractive location for international clients to establish a trust. It is certain that some portion of these funds were proceeds of tax evasion in the source country. Some foreign grantors may hold such illicit funds to avoid scrutiny or to seek a certain privacy level, maybe using US trust laws to reach those goals.

Seeing an estimated 6x increase in the last 10 years from foreign grantor trusts, South Dakota banking and trust regulators, taking the initiative, have identified the potential risks inherent with these types of trusts under their current guidelines.

(2) Any corporate trustee must perform due diligence on a new trust client. An example of due diligence includes tax reporting. Foreign grantor trusts include domestic and international tax issues. Most domestic trust companies do not have the capabilities to perform tax due diligence on foreign grantor trusts, nor aware of the implications if the US implements tax disclosures on foreign grantor trusts to the grantors country of origin.

Wealth Advisors Trust Company, showing thought leadership, is the first trust company in America to not accept foreign grantor trusts.

Current or prospective domestic trust clients should ask themselves why any trust company in South Dakota or elsewhere in America would accept foreign grantor trusts when regulators have issued warnings on this type of trust.

Read the report here.
Keralas chief secretary Vishwas Mehta came under fire from the National Green Tribunal (NGT) over the continued ineffective solid waste management in Kochi.

According to sources, the tribunal made scathing remarks against the state government while criticising the affidavit filed by Mehta and threatened to prosecute officers responsible for ensuring that parameters of environmental safety are met. The tribunal lamented that the chief secretarys affidavit did not show any effective action being taken on the ground, despite several directives issued in the past two years.

The tribunal, quoting a report by the State Pollution Control Board, noted that the municipal authorities in Kochi were continuing unauthorised operations and were yet to start work for bio-mining.

The directive came while the tribunal was hearing a case seeking direction to take effective steps for infrastructure development for collection, storage, segregation and disposal of tonnes of waste, termed legacy waste, that has accumulated over the years in Kochis Brahmapuram area.

Ironically, the adverse comments come at a time when the state government claims that it is strictly following the green protocol and chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan declared more than 11,000 government offices and public sector undertakings as green on Republic Day!

Nitish to weed out Home deadwood

The Nitish Kumar government in Bihar is moving ahead with its announcement last year of retiring identified inefficient employees. The state home department headed by the chief minister has set up high-level committees to implement the order.

According to sources, a committee headed by additional chief secretary of the home department Amir Subhani will deal with Group A employees of the department. The panel also includes special secretary Vikash Vaibhav, among others. The other committee will be headed by secretary of the home department, K. Senthil Kumar, and include joint secretary Bimlesh Kumar Jha, among other senior officials. It has been tasked with identifying the deadwood from among Group B, C and D employees. Both committees will meet every year in June and December to consider the proposals to retire identified officers. Further, the department has instructed all offices and directorates under it to set up such panels at their level.

Previously, in 2017, the state government had announced to compulsorily retire non-performing education department officials, school headmasters and teachers after disappointing Matric and intermediate exams. But the decision was not followed through, say sources. Will it be any different this time?

Return of the prodigal?

Is Shah Faesal, the former IAS officer from Jammu and Kashmir, contemplating a return to the civil service that he had quit in protest against unabated killings in Kashmir? A tweet by the ex-babu, who was the first Kashmiri to top the civil service exam, in response to Prime Minister Narendra Modis Mann Ki Baat program seems to hint at a change of mind, say some observers. In his tweet, Faesal praised the PMs radio programme and wrote that communication can build solidarities

The buzz around Faesals plans has only grown, especially when he quit Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Movement, the political party he had set up barely a few months later.

Interestingly, his resignation as an IAS officer in January 2019 has been kept in abeyance all this while. The government has not accepted it, pending the investigation into some of his social media posts.

That it was never accepted means that the door is still open for him to rejoin the IAS. Watch this space for updates!

BEIJING: While China has remained mum over the casualties it suffered during the Galwan Valley clashes with the Indian troops in estern Ladakh, the Russian news agency TASS has now claimed that Beijing lost at least 45 soldiers during the violent faceoff between the two armies.

TASS, in its report on India-China border troops disengagement, said that the Chinese and Indian forces clashed in the region in May and June 2020, resulting in at least 20 Indian and 45 Chinese servicemen dead.

Following these incidents, New Delhi and Beijing increased the concentration of forces in the region to about 50,000 people each, it added. The revelation was made by TASS on the day when the border troops of the two-nuclear-powered Asian giants began withdrawing troops from the shared border near the Pangong Tso Lake, in accordance with earlier agreements.

This was also confirmed by the Chinese Defense Ministry on Wednesday. "Both sides simultaneously commence the planned withdrawal of forces from the border in accordance with agreements, achieved during the 9th round of negotiations at the army commanders level," the Chinese Defense Ministry statement said.

The spokesperson of Chinas Ministry of National Defence, Wu Qian said, "According to the consensus reached by the 9th round of the military commander-level talks between China and India, the frontline units of the Chinese and Indian armed forces in Pangong Hunan and North Coast began to simultaneously and systematically organize disengagement on February 10."

Since May last year, the Indian and Chinese troops have been engaged in skirmishes along the LAC near Pangong lake in Ladakh and the Tibet Autonomous Region. After the face-off, the Narendra Modi regime sent massive deployments to Ladakh.

Though both sides disengaged in the Galwan Valley of Ladakh in July the stand-off continued at critical points at Pangong and PP17A. In August, Indian troops regained multiple strategic heights in the Chushul sector along the LAC.

However, both the countries remained engaged in talks through established institutions and mechanisms like Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on China-India Border Affairs (WMCC). Several rounds of talks were held at diplomatic and military levels.

On January 24, the ninth round of the Corps Commander level meeting was held. The tensions between the two Asian economies resulted in the government banning several mobile applications and people boycotting Chinese products. The accusations that Chinese smartphone apps were stealing Indian data, led to the government banning over 200 Chinese apps.

However, the bilateral trade continued through the hostility and during the coronavirus pandemic, which had originated in Wuhan city of Hubei province in China.

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WHERE DID THE BREACH COME FROM?

WHO IS HANDLING THE INVESTIGATION?

WHAT ARE SYMPTOMS OF SODIUM HYDROXIDE POISONING?

(TNS)  A hacker, who attempted to raise levels of sodium hydroxide in the city of Oldsmar, Floridas water supply, put thousands at risk of being poisoned, officials said.A CNN report said that according to Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, on Friday a hacker gained access into the citys water treatment system and adjusted the level of sodium hydroxide - commonly known as lye - to more than 100 times the normal level.According to Gualtieri, an operator who noticed the intrusion and had watched the hacker access the system remotely, immediately reduced the level back, the report said.CNN cited Gualtieri who noted that at no time was there a significant adverse effect to the citys water supply, and the public was never in danger.According to CNN, it is unknown if the hacker was someone local, national or even outside of the U.S.CNN cited Gualtieri, who said: This is somebody who is trying, as it appears on the surface, to do something bad. Its a bad act. Its a bad actor. He added, This isnt just Oh, were putting a little bit of chlorine or a little bit of fluoride, or a little bit of something, were basically talking about lye that you are taking from 100 parts per million to 11,100.CNN cited Robert M. Lee, the CEO of Dragos Inc., an industrial cybersecurity company, who noted that early intervention prevented the attack from having more serious consequences, - but, he said, this type of attack is precisely what keeps industry experts awake at night.It was not particularly sophisticated, but its exactly what folks worry about and as one of a very few examples of someone making an attempt to hurt people, its a big deal for that reason, Lee said.There were some safety measures in place.CNN noted that the city has taken steps to guard against further access into the system.Had the hacker been successful in their attempt, Gualtieri said it would have taken 24-36 hours for the water to reach the system, and in the meantime, several redundancies are in place that would have alerted of the excessive sodium hydroxide levels, before that happened, CNN cited.Gualtieri said that the breach is being jointly investigated by the Pinellas County Sheriffs Office, FBI and Secret Service, while the FBIs field office in Tampa is working with Oldsmar and the sheriffs office, offering resources and assistance in the investigation, CNN noted.CNN stated that it has reached out to the Secret Service for comment.Florida Sen. Marco Rubio tweeted on Monday that he wants the hacking of the water treatment system handled as a national security measure.I will be asking the @FBI to provide all assistance necessary in investigating an attempt to poison the water supply of a #Florida city, the tweet read. This should be treated as a matter of national security.According to Gualtieri, sodium hydroxide is the main ingredient in liquid drain cleaner, CNN noted.CNN cited the University of Florida Health Systems list of symptoms associated with sodium hydroxide poisoning, which includes: breathing difficulties, lung inflammation, throat swelling, burning of the esophagus and stomach, severe abdominal pain, vision loss, and low blood pressure.The UF Health overview added: Long-term effects of poisoning depend on how fast the poison is diluted or neutralized in the system. Damage to the esophagus and stomach can continue to occur for several weeks after the poison was swallowed. Death can occur as long as a month later, CNN cited.Had the hacker been successful in their attempt to poison the Oldsmar water supply, CNN said it is unknown if the increased levels of sodium hydroxide would have led to any of these symptoms.
Prices of petrol and diesel shot up 347 percent and 338 percent respectively between 2010 and 2019, due to the cedis persistent depreciation, taxes and levies, according to a new study by the Institute for Energy Security (IES).



In 2010 the average pump price of petrol stood at GH1.16 per litre (GH5.22 a gallon), but in 2019 the average price was GH5.18 per litre (GH23.31 a gallon). Likewise, the average pump price of diesel moved from GH1.18 per litre (GH5.31 a gallon) in 2010 to GH5.17 per litre (GH23.27 a gallon) in 2019.



The analysis was carried out using data from the Energy Commission (EC), National Petroleum Authority (NPA) and IES MarketScan data, and revealed that by the end of 2019 domestic consumers of these products were paying more than four times the amount they parted with for a litre of fuel in 2010.



Even as price deregulation and the falling prices of crude oil over the past decade offered a great opportunity for fuel consumers to spend less on the commodity, the poor performance of the cedi against major trading currencies, and the introduction of additional taxes/levies, eroded the benefits presented to consumers, IES said.



Cedis depreciation



Over the period, the cedi depreciated approximately 265 percent  beginning at a yearly average of GH1.43 per US dollar in 2010 to a yearly average of GH5.22 per US dollar in 2019.



Regardless of general reduction of crude oil prices over the decade, the cedi-depreciation, government fiscal policies among other factors significantly affect the price Ghanaians pay at present for finished products, IES said.



Additionally, historical data from the Bank of Ghana (BoG) and US Energy Information Administration (EIA) show that performance of the cedi on the forex market greatly affects ex-pump prices Ghanaians pay more than crude oil prices does.



Meanwhile, had it not been for the global COVID-19 pandemic, it said, the price of domestic petrol that sold at GH5.30 per litre in early 2020 and is currently at GH5.10 per litre could have been more than GH6 per litre today.



The pandemic led to a slump in crude prices for a good part of 2020; hitting a 21-year low of US$16 per barrel in April, and trading at negative US$30-plus  the first time oil price has turned negative because of reduced global economic activity and markets lockdown due to the virus.



Furthermore, the period also saw the introduction of several taxes and levies  including the Price Stabilisation and Recovery Levy (PSRL), Road Fund Levy, Energy Fund Levy, Energy Debt Recovery Levy, and the Special Petroleum Tax (SPT). The margins cover the Primary Distribution Margin (PDM), BOST Margin, fuel marking margin, marketers margin, and the dealers (retailers/operators) margin, IES indicated.



The report added that: But for some government fiscal policies which led to the introduction of new taxes and margins over the past five years, prices could have been much lower than we see at the pump today. The introduction of new taxes and levies, the upward adjustment in the RFL, the EDRL and the PSRL in 2019, plus the 100 percent increase of the BOST Margin, fundamentally aided in seeing pump prices go up.



Consequently, year-on-year, the pump price of petrol went up averagely 18.4 percent within the period. The year 2014 recorded the highest year-on-year increase of 37 percent, with an average price of GH2.84 per litre as against GH2.07 per litre in 2013. Meanwhile, the least yearly increase of petrol pump price was recorded in 2019, as average price per litre increased from the previous rate of GH4.80 to GH5.18.



Before deregulation



Prior to full deregulation of the downstream petroleum sector in 2015, when consumer price for fuel was below the supply cost, government intervened through various forms of subsidisation because it had the exclusive right to do so through the NPA.



These interventions, IES noted, in a way distorted the market as it created perverse forms of incentives, resulting in unnecessarily high pump prices not reflective of international market conditions. However, the introduction of full deregulation has seen Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) actively negotiating prices with Bulk Distribution Companies (BDCs) to benefit the final consumer.



Domestic fuel prices were seeing sharp annual increases prior to price deregulation of 31 percent in 2011, 12 percent in 2012, 22 percent in 2013, and 37 percent in 2014, IES stated.



Nevertheless, from 2015 onwards it said, the highest annual price rise recorded was in 2018 at 17 percent  with annual increases falling below 8 percent in 2019: This literally means that introduction of the price deregulation regime in 2015 has greatly contributed to a slowdown in the margin of annual price increases over the last 5 years.



Key indicators of local fuel prices



Key determinants of local fuel prices at the pump, the study says, include: global crude oil price, prices of finished products on the world market, the foreign exchange (forex) rate of the cedi to the US dollar, and the taxes and levies that are slapped on price per litre of domestic fuels.



The ex-pump price  the price the public buys fuel at the various filling stations  is a sum of ex-refinery price, export duty, taxes/levies, marketers and dealers margins.



The ex-refinery price constitutes the cost of product on the international market, insurance, freight, and other related charges.

Source: B&FT









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AstraZeneca, the British maker of a Covid vaccine with Oxford University, said Thursday its 2020 net profit more than doubled to $3.2 billion thanks to strong sales growth of cancer drugs

London, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th Feb, 2021 ) :AstraZeneca, the British maker of a Covid vaccine with Oxford University, said Thursday its 2020 net profit more than doubled to $3.2 billion thanks to strong sales growth of cancer drugs.

Profit after tax, equivalent to 2.64 billion Euros, soared 139 percent compared with 2019, the company said in a statement.

Revenue from cancer medicines, including Lynparza and Tagrisso, jumped 23 percent.

"Despite the significant impact from the pandemic, we delivered double-digit revenue growth" in 2020, chief executive Pascal Soriot said.

"The consistent achievements in the pipeline, the accelerating performance of our business and the progress of the Covid-19 vaccine demonstrated what we can achieve," he added.

The update comes one day after AstraZeneca said it plans to accelerate production of its Covid vaccine in the second quarter to support EU needs, in a deal with Germany's IDT Biologika.

The announcement follows controversy over deliveries of the AstraZeneca-Oxford University jab to the European Union, which had caused tensions between the bloc and the pharmaceutical company.

Ahead of the EU's vaccine approval, AstraZeneca sparked fury in Brussels by announcing that it would miss its target of supplying the bloc with 400 million doses, owing to a shortfall at the firm's European plants.

While the UK government has vaccinated millions of Britons with the AstraZeneca vaccine since late last year, the company began shipping its jab to the EU only on Friday after the bloc's drug regulator took a comparatively much longer time to recommend its use.
The Gambia government through the Ministry of Agriculture on Tuesday 9 February 2021 launched a staggering US$80 million dollar resilience for a transformative smallholder project.

The project is the biggest ever-agricultural project in the country and would be implemented for a period of six years in all five administrative regions with the aim to improve food security in the country.

The project would focus on upscaling the NEMA CHOSO achievement on the rice and vegetable value chains targeting strategies to reach poor farmers in the country.

Speaking at the launching event, President Adama Barrow said that the project was funded by the International Fund for Agricultural Development and other partners.

He also said the agricultural sector is the backbone for sustainable rural development of the country.

"My government recognises agricultural development and modernisation as the gateway for employment creation and poverty reduction for rural Gambia."

Barrow further expressed gratitude to the development partners especially IFAD for providing support in increasing the food and nutrition security of the country, and to create employment and reduce poverty in communities.

Meanwhile, the Gambian leader also assured that his government would render support to the agricultural department at all times.

The minister of Agriculture, Amie Fabureh, said the project would address a lot of gaps in the agricultural sector.

"The project development objective is to improve food security, nutrition, smallholder farmers, resilience to climate change and access to market for enhanced food security and nutrition," she declared.

"The project would directly benefit 40 thousand households involving about 320 thousand people," she said, adding that the primary targets of the project are smallholder farmers; women and youth farmers aged 18 to 35 years amongst others.

She added that over 80% of the beneficiaries would be women and youth.
The United States Senate began the impeachment trial of on Wednesday with impeachment managers from the Democrats-controlled House of Representatives made a strong case against the former president accusing him of inciting insurrection.

Led by Democratic Congressman Jamie Raskin, a battery of his party colleagues from the House of Representatives alleged that Trump incited his supporters for violence on January 6 as they stormed the Capitol Hill wherein Congressmen and Senators were performing their constitutional duty of counting and certification of the November 3rd presidential election results.

Trump lost the elections to Joe Biden, who was sworn in as the 46th president of the United States on January 20. While the House, wherein the Democrats have the majority, impeached him before January 20, when he was still the president, the Senate impeachment trial has begun three weeks after he left office. This is for the first time in American history that a former US president is being impeached. He is also the first president ever to have been impeached twice.

Leading the charge on the Senate floor, Congressman Raskin alleged Trump willfully incited an insurrectionary mob to riot at the Capitol. Several of his Democratic colleagues took the Senate floor to argue that Trump be impeached. They showed some of the rare video footage from the January 6 incident wherein top American lawmakers were seen running for life as rioters stormed the building.

While one of the videos showed the then Vice President Mike Pence and his family rushed from the Senate Chamber, while in others Senators were seen hustling through a hallway.

"The evidence will show you that ex-president trump was no innocent bystander. The evidence will show that he clearly incited the January 6 insurrection. It will show that surrendered his role as commander in chief and became the inciter in chief of a dangerous insurrection, Raskin said.

This was, as one of our colleagues put it so cogently on January 6 itself, the greatest betrayal of the presidential oath in the history of the United States. The evidence will show you that he saw it coming and was not remotely surprised by the violence, he said.

And when the violence inexorably and inevitably came as predicted and overran this body and the House of Representatives with chaos, we will show you that he completely abdicated his duty as commander in chief to stop the violence and protect the government and protect our officers and protect our people. He violated his oath of office to preserve, protect, and defend the constitution, the government, and the people of the united states, he said.

Raskin said that the evidence shows that Trump assembled, inflamed and incited his followers to descend upon the Capitol to "stop the steal", to block Vice President Mike Pence and the Congress from finalising his opponent's election victory over him.

House managers have up to 16 hours to present their case. Raskin said that they would continue with their opening argument on Thursday. Lawyers of Trump would make their presentation after that and they would also have 16 hours to respond to the allegations against Trump.

President Trump put a target on their backs and his mob broke into the Capitol to hunt them down, said Congressman Stacey Plaskett.

Republican Senator Ted Cruz appeared to be unconvinced by the allegations against Trump. They spent a great deal of time focusing on the horrific acts of violence that were played out by the criminals, but the language from the president doesn't come close to meeting the legal standard for incitement, he said.

The Democrats need support of 17 Republican Senators to impeach Trump by two-third of the 100 Senate votes, as required by law. Political pundits described this as a toll order for the Democrats. A day earlier, six Republican Senators had broken ranks and supported the Democratic move during a procedural vote.

People listened. Armed supporters surrounded election officials' homes. The secretary of state for Georgia got death threats. Officials warned the president that his rhetoric was dangerous and it was going to result in deadly violence. He didn't stop it. He didn't condemn the violence. He incited it further, said Congressman Joe Neguse, another impeachment manager.

(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.)
Cigna's COVID-19 Global Impact Study shows early access to vaccine may create a brighter outlook

HONG KONG, Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Cigna's (NYSE:CI) International Markets business today published the fifth edition of its COVID-19 Global Impact Study, which highlights the contrast in well-being around the world as vaccine roll-out commenced for some, while other markets anticipated vaccine approvals to come. With the COVID-19 pandemic continually evolving and new waves and variants emerging in different geographies, these latest results show the initial impact of vaccine availability, and highlight a growing nostalgia for the normalcies of pre-pandemic way of life.

Building on the previous wave of results from October, which saw many markets reach record lows, this latest study was conducted in late November and early December 2020, and gauged global attitudes to five health indices - family, financial, physical, social and work. The study's timing coincided with one vaccine already being administered in UAE, following emergency approval in September and at a time when the first, highly anticipated approval for a vaccine was imminent in the U.K.

Thailand fell by 1.4 points, amid its largest single outbreak, as well as Spain and Hong Kong, which saw continued record lows as pandemic-associated stay-at-home orders continued. However, a different picture emerged in markets where the vaccine deployment had commenced, or approval was imminent. The UAE and U.K. saw increases of 1.8 and 1.6 points, respectively. These increases were only surpassed in New Zealand and Taiwan, where COVID-19 restrictions were considered successful and had been almost entirely lifted, with overall scores improving by 2.7 and 2.5 points, respectively.

Jason Sadler, President, Cigna International Markets said: "We predicted that vaccine availability would have a direct impact on people's physical well-being as they received the immunization, but we are also seeing a broader positive impact for whole health. As global vaccine distribution moves forward and the rollout continues, it will be increasingly critical that all parties involved help to manage the expectations of their citizens, especially those not in priority groups, to help ensure a continued focus on our populations' well-being."

Craving Normalcy

The desire for pre-pandemic normalcy is also seen in people's preferences for remote vs. office working. In mid- 2020, at the end of the first waves of the pandemic in most markets, the data reflects an overwhelming preference for remote working globally, as people enjoyed the flexibility and family time it offered. This latest study reveals that this novelty has begun to wear off and many people are beginning to crave a return to some form of normality, with 53 percent of people surveyed now wanting to work from the office at least 80 percent of the time. The key reasons stated for this were more effective communication, better team collaboration and better productivity.

Health Fatigue Sets In

With the pandemic ongoing for approximately one year now depending on geography, along with new and varying waves of restrictions, the data also reflects increases in health fatigue. At the beginning of the pandemic, rates of physical exercise rose in many markets. However, by December 2020, rates declined in a number of markets - notably in the United States, which fell from 32 percent in October to 24 percent in December; in Thailand, which fell from 27 percent to 21 percent; and in Singapore, where it fell from 22 percent to 17 percent.

Sadler added, "The enduring nature of the pandemic is showing that some of the positive habits many people established at the onset may be waning. People are looking back to life before the pandemic, especially from a work perspective, as the pressure of work, family, home-schooling and other responsibilities are being felt."

Family Time Improves in Many Markets

Despite the declines in physical well-being, overall family well-being scores have remained robust in most markets. When asked about their ability to spend quality time with their family, 40 percent of people surveyed said it was either excellent or very good. In many markets, results in this area have been more positive since the last study in October. In the UAE, 57 percent of people said they had high-quality family time in December compared to only 53 percent in October; in Spain it improved from 46 percent to 50 percent; in the UK it improved from 32 percent to 39 percent and in Singapore it improved from 30 percent to 37 percent.

People say they feel more able to take care of their loved ones. When specifically asked about their ability to take care of their spouse or partner's health and well-being, 54 percent of people in the UK said it was excellent or very good, compared to 49 percent in October. In the UAE, it increased from 48 percent in October to 64 percent in December and in Spain it remained steady at 54 percent.

"The continued focus on family continues, which we hope will be a long-term benefit from the pandemic. Although people's lives have changed significantly as they have adapted traditional roles of employee, partner, parent, carer and educator, for many, it has resulted in a greater connection with loved ones and potentially an improvement in their well-being," Sadler said.

Changing Models of Health

Since the beginning of 2020, different models of care have become embedded in our new normal. Notably, virtual health is now a widely accepted part of mainstream healthcare delivery in many markets across the world. Fifty-nine percent of people surveyed say they would choose to have a diagnosis virtually, compared to only 41 percent pre-pandemic. However, when asked how likely they would be to use virtual care if they could connect with their regular doctor, 73 percent of people said they would be receptive, rising to 88 percent in Thailand and the UAE, and 86 percent in Taiwan.

The trend toward increased utilization of health and well-being apps seems set to continue with 80 percent of people globally now reporting that they would consider or would prefer virtual rather than face-to-face engagement when it comes to general health advice, such as nutrition and lifestyle tips. There also continues to be strong interest in virtual health for mental health support, such as therapy and counselling, with 69 percent of people globally saying they would consider or would prefer virtual consultations, opening up the potential to rapidly expand mental health provision across the world.

Sadler concluded, "The experience of the last year has profoundly changed people's expectations of healthcare with many now preferring to speak to clinicians virtually, rather than face to face. This presents a clear opportunity to adapt the healthcare journey for patients in the future, especially for general health, mental health and well-being support, delivering improved health outcomes for all in a way that works best for them as an individual."

Click here to download Cigna's COVID-19 Global Impact Study - 5th Edition

To download our previous reports please visit:

Click here for the Cigna COVID-19 Global Impact Study - 1st Edition

Click here for the Cigna COVID-19 Global Impact Study - 2nd Edition

Click here for the Cigna COVID-19 Global Impact Study - 3rd Edition

Click here for the Cigna COVID-19 Global Impact Study - 4th Edition

How the study was conducted:

The Cigna COVID-19 Global Impact Study is an ongoing study that has been conducted by Cigna, in partnership with Kantar. To date, more than 25,000 online interviews have been conducted across Mainland China, Hong Kong, Korea, New Zealand, Singapore, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and United States.

The study was conducted using an online survey, with respondents recruited from online panels and undergo rigorous quality control. Age, gender and residing city quotas were set based on the population proportion of respective markets. The 20 to 25 minutes survey was completed anonymously.

About Cigna

Cigna Corporation is a global health service company dedicated to improving the health, well-being and peace of mind of those we serve. Cigna delivers choice, predictability, affordability and access to quality care through integrated capabilities and connected, personalized solutions that advance whole person health. All products and services are provided exclusively by or through operating subsidiaries of Cigna Corporation, including Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company, Cigna Life Insurance Company of New York, Connecticut General Life Insurance Company, Express Scripts companies or their affiliates, and Life Insurance Company of North America. Such products and services include an integrated suite of health services, such as medical, dental, behavioral health, pharmacy, vision, supplemental benefits, and other related products including group life, accident and disability insurance. Cigna maintains sales capability in over 30 countries and jurisdictions, and has more than 170 million customer relationships throughout the world. To learn more about Cigna, including links to follow us on Facebook or Twitter, visit www.cigna.com.

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ZURICH (dpa-AFX) - Zurich Insurance Group AG (ZURVY) on Thursday reported weak profit in fiscal 2020, with the first half impacted by COVID-19 and a return to growth in the second half. For the year, net income attributable to shareholders declined 8 percent to $3.83 billion from $4.15 billion last year. Earnings per share were 23.98 Swiss francs, down 13 percent from 27.51 francs a year ago. Business operating profit or BOP was $4.24 billion, down 20 percent from prior year's $5.30 billion driven by COVID-19-related impact and higher catastrophe losses. The COVID-19-related impact was $852 million, including $450 million in the property and casualty business as previously reported. In addition, catastrophe losses were$588 million higher than in 2019. Business operating profit return on common shareholders' equity or BOPAT ROE was 11 percent, down from 14.2 percent last year. Property & Casualty or P&C gross written premiums and policy fees increased 4 percent to $35.52 billion. Life gross written premiums, policy fees and insurance deposits declined 18 percent to $27.62 billion. Further, the company proposed stable dividend of 20 francs per share. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX

Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
WASHINGTON  President Donald J. Trump was sicker with Covid-19 in October than publicly acknowledged at the time, with extremely depressed blood oxygen levels at one point and a lung problem associated with pneumonia caused by the coronavirus, according to four people familiar with his condition.

His prognosis became so worrisome before he was taken to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center that officials believed he would need to be put on a ventilator, two of the people familiar with his condition said.

The people familiar with Mr. Trumps health said he was found to have lung infiltrates, which occur when the lungs are inflamed and contain substances such as fluid or bacteria. Their presence, especially when a patient is exhibiting other symptoms, can be a sign of an acute case of the disease. They can be easily spotted on an X-ray or scan, when parts of the lungs appear opaque, or white.

Mr. Trumps blood oxygen level alone was cause for extreme concern, dipping into the 80s, according to the people familiar with his evaluation. The disease is considered severe when the blood oxygen level falls to the low 90s.
Former child star Mary-Kate Olsen was spotted in Manhattan on Monday for the first time since finalizing her divorce from banker husband Olivier Sarkozy.

It was also the first time the 34-year-old Daytime Emmy nominee was seen without her wedding ring on since their reported engagement around March 2014.

Mary-Kate wore her long locks in braids beneath a black beanie along with a cream-colored maxi-coat over a white blouse, grey pants, and white sneakers.

Newly single! Former child star Mary-Kate Olsen was spotted in Manhattan on Monday for the first time since finalizing her divorce from banker husband Olivier Sarkozy

Olsen made sure to protect herself and others from the coronavirus by wearing a black face mask.

There have reportedly been 1.5M confirmed COVID-19 cases in New York state (647K in NYC) leading to 44,683 deaths as of Wednesday.

The Row co-founder legally separated from the 51-year-old Frenchman last April but, due to the pandemic, the couple could not end their four-year marriage until January 25.

'Olsen had an ironclad prenup ahead of the divorce proceedings,' an insider told Us Weekly.

Bare hand: It was also the first time the 34-year-old Daytime Emmy nominee was seen without her wedding ring on since their reported engagement around March 2014

Mandatory mask: Mary-Kate wore her long locks in braids beneath a black beanie along with a cream-colored maxi-coat over a white blouse, grey pants, and white sneakers

'Her business interests and [estimated $250M] fortune are protected.'

Fans were puzzled in 2012 when Mary-Kate began dating Oliver (born Pierre), mostly due to their 17-year age gap and 13in height difference.

The half-brother of former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has two teenage children - Julien and Margo - from his 14-year marriage to writer Charlotte Bernard, which ended in 2011.

COVID-19 court delays: Olsen legally separated from the 51-year-old Frenchman (L, pictured in 2019) last April but, due to the coronavirus, the couple could not end their four-year marriage until January 25

An insider told Us Weekly: 'Olsen had an ironclad prenup ahead of the divorce proceedings. Her business interests and [estimated $250M] fortune are protected' (pictured in 2016)

Odd couple: Fans were puzzled in 2012 when Mary-Kate began dating Oliver, mostly due to their 17-year age gap and 13in height difference (pictured in 2014)

And while Olivier is the Further Global Capital Management head, Mary-Kate runs high-end label The Row and Kohl's collection Elizabeth and James with fraternal twin sister Ashley.

The twin tycoons originally founded their minimalist brand in their NYU college dorm way back in 2006.

But the Olsens first found fame collectively portraying Michelle Tanner on ABC sitcom Full House from 1987-1995.

Twin tycoons: And while Olivier is the Further Global Capital Management head, Mary-Kate runs high-end label The Row and Kohl's collection Elizabeth and James with fraternal twin sister Ashley (R, pictured in 2019)

The Row FW/21 sneak peek: Mary-Kate and Ashley originally founded their minimalist brand in their NYU college dorm way back in 2006
Pandemonium broke out in the early hours on Thursday, at Obalende area of Lagos Island following violent clash betweens rival groups of National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW.

According to sources, people were seen running in different directions for safety while several properties were said to have been destroyed. Scores of people were also said several people sustained injuries.

Also read: Normalcy returns to Kwara community after security operatives, drivers clash

The clash, which is still ongoing, it was gathered started at about 8 am.

At press time, it could not be ascertained if there were causalities as well as the cause of the clash.

Meantime, residents and motorists have been urged to avoid the area for now pending the arrival of security personnel to restore sanity and safety.

Vanguard News Nigeria

Hunter Schafer bundled up to protect herself against the elements while out and about in New York City.

The 22-year-old actress was spotted arriving at The Mercer Hotel in the Soho neighborhood of New York City on Wednesday.

The Euphoria star stayed safe amid the COVID-19 pandemic by keeping a face mask over her mouth and nose.

Bundled up: Hunter Schafer bundled up to protect herself against the elements while out and about in New York City

The blonde was wearing a long fur-lined dark blue denim coat that fell below her knees over an open black top and a light blue top that exposed her midriff.

She had her hair pulled up in a neat bun with a black face mask covering her nose and mouth to stay safe amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

She completed her look with black denim jeans, black shoes and a black choker, while carrying a blue purses.

Hunter's look: The blonde was wearing a long fur-lined dark blue denim coat that fell below her knees over an open black top and a light blue top that exposed her midriff

Schafer is coming off co-writing and starring in the second of two Euphoria special episodes, which aired last month.

The episode, entitled F**k Anyone Who's Not a Sea Blob, was co-written by Schafer and series creator Sam Levinson (Malcolm & Marie).

The episode followed Schafer's character Jules as she reflected on the past year over the Christmas holiday.

Special: Schafer is coming off co-writing and starring in the second of two Euphoria special episodes, which aired last month

Schafer and her Emmy-winning co-star Zendaya are slated to come back for a full second season of Euphoria, which was renewed by HBO in July 2019.

Both of the Euphoria special episodes were filmed under strict COVID-19 production guidelines.

There is no indication yet when production will get under way on the second full season of Euphoria, or when it may debut on HBO.
Crisis-torn Argentina has managed to avert another disaster in its economically crucial hydrocarbon sector. Many institutional investors are unhappy with Buenos Aires sovereign debt restructuring undertaken last year, which allowed the government of President Alberto Fernandez to end Argentinas ninth debt default. That saw bondholders accept a significant reduction of income payments, collectively losing almost $40 billion between 2020 and 2024. Even after settling that deal, Argentinas public debt is a disconcerting 110% of gross domestic product, primarily because of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic which is estimated to have caused the economy to shrink by a worrying 12% during 2020.

What many creditors did not realize at the time was that the measures taken to avert Argentinas third debt crisis in 18-years would also impact any investment in national oil company YPF. The integrated energy major, which was nationalized by the former president and now vice-president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner in 2012, last month announced it was restructuring $6.2 billion of debt. YPF was forced to take this action because the action taken by Argentinas central bank to preserve its rapidly dwindling reserves of U.S. dollars prevented the energy company from making a $413 million March 2021 bond payment. International ratings company Fitch described the planned swap as a distressed debt exchange and downgraded YPFs long-term rating to C from CCC, basically denoting it as junk debt. A hold-out group of bondholders, which account for 45% of the payments falling due on March 23, were vehemently opposed to the deal meaning YPF was facing the unpalatable prospect of defaulting on its debt. That would trigger a crisis for Argentinas national oil company because a combination of weaker oil prices, the parlous state of Buenos Aires finances, and the deep recession sparked by the pandemic have made it virtually impossible to obtain finance.

If YPF was forced to cease operations, it would place tremendous pressure on Alberto Fernandezs administration because the state-controlled oil company is the leading operator in the vast Vaca Muerta shale oil and gas play which is seen by Buenos Aires as an economic silver bullet. In a recent development, holdout bondholders have agreed to a deal, granting YPF a reprieve and allowing it to push $2 billion in bond payments out to 2023, giving the company some breathing room. Buenos Aires precarious fiscal position, declining foreign investment, a sharply weaker Argentine peso, and the economic fallout from the pandemic have only amplified the importance of tapping the vast hydrocarbon reserves of the Vaca Muerta. This makes it essential that YPF not only avoids defaulting on its $6.2 billion of bond debt but retains sufficient liquidity to continue investing in developing its assets in the shale play. By securing a deal for the $6.2 billion debt swap and deferment of payments YPF can focus on mustering the capital required to conduct its 2021 drilling program. This is particularly important because Argentinas national oil company has a pivotal role in developing the Vaca Muerta and extracting the shale formations considerable oil and natural gas resources. Nonetheless, YPFs debt issues, weaker oil prices, and Buenos Aires precarious fiscal situation have forced the state-controlled oil company to dial down spending on its operations. While no solid numbers have been released at this time in November 2020 YPF announced estimated 2021 capital expenditures of $1.5 billion, around $1 billion less than the $2.5 billion spent for the first nine months of 2020.

Related Video: The Silver Squeeze Conspiracy

These are alarming developments for the Vaca Muerta and Argentinas crisis-stricken economy. Buenos Aires since 2012, when YPF was nationalized, has perceived the substantial hydrocarbon resources of the Vaca Muerta to be a silver bullet for all of its economic problems. The geological formation, which is ranked as the worlds second-largest shale gas resource, has been unable to attract the desired level of offshore investment because of heightened geopolitical as well as economic risk and high breakeven prices. While the outlook for the Vaca Muerta is not as positive as it was prior to Argentinas latest economic crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic, there are signs that activity is increasing at a steady pace. Data from oilfield services company NCS Multistage indicated that fracking activity in the Vaca Muerta hit a 17-month high during January 2021. The Baker Hughes international rig count, another useful proxy measure of activity, further supported this showing 29 operational drill rigs at the end of December 2020, which was three greater than a month earlier, but that was still 42% lower than a year earlier. Both sets of numbers are good proxy indicators of activity in Argentinas oil industry and especially the Vaca Muerta.

There are also several recent developments that will further support the development of the shale formation. Crude oil and natural gas production have been steadily growing since plunging to a multiyear low in May 2020 because of the pandemic. According to data from Argentinas Ministry of Economy, December 2020 crude oil production rose by 4.59% month over month to an average of 495,402 barrels daily, although that was 4% lower than a year earlier. Natural gas output gained 1.67% compared to November to be 715,940 barrels of oil equivalent daily, albeit it was a worrying 10% lower year over year. Those numbers, despite the solid month over month increases, indicate there is some way to go before Argentinas hydrocarbon sector recovers to pre-pandemic levels.

The latest oil price rally, which sees Brent up by an incredible 574% since the 2020 oil price crash to be trading at over $60 a barrel, combined with growing bullishness over the direction of prices and rising petroleum demand bodes well for increased investment to develop the Vaca Muerta. That reduces the financial pressures on Buenos Aires because Brent is now trading above the domestic $45 price floor established by President Fernandezs administration to protect the domestic oil industry from sharply weaker oil prices. A recent article from Oilprice.com contributor Viktor Katona indicates that rising energy demand from neighboring Chile coupled with an agreement to refurbish and recommission the Trans-Andean crude pipeline will boost demand for Argentinas crude oil.

By Matthew Smith for Oilprice.com

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Police are looking for the publics help in identifying a man sought for questioning in connection with the use of a Staten Island womans debit card at a bank in Brooklyn.

A man entered a TD Bank, located at 2063 Ralph Ave., on Nov. 26 at about 3:45 p.m. and used the 19-year-old womans debit card to withdraw $563, according to a statement from the NYPDs Deputy Commissioner of Public Information.

Police released bank surveillance video of the man sought for questioning in the incident.

Anyone with information in regard to this incident 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 CrimeStoppers website at WWW.NYPDCRIMESTOPPERS.COM, on Twitter @NYPDTips.

All calls are kept strictly confidential.
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.
ABINSK, Russia -- A court in Russia's Krasnodar region has sentenced a 63-year-old Jehovah's Witness to 7 1/2 years in prison, a decision immediately condemned by the U.S. State Department.

The sentence is the harshest since authorities launched a campaign against the religious group after it was officially labeled as extremist and banned in the country in 2017.

The Abinsk district court on February 10 found Aleksandr Ivshin guilty of the "organization of an extremist group's activities," and sentenced him the same day.

Yaroslav Sivulsky of the European Association of Jehovah's Witnesses told RFE/RL on February 11 that this was the "harshest sentence ever given to a Jehovah's Witness in Russia" and is "equal to life imprisonment" given Ivshin's age.

"Aleksandr Ivshin is an old person and has medical problems. In fact, he was handed a prison term that might be longer that the time he will live," Sivulsky said.

Ivshin pleaded not guilty, saying that his life principles are based on Bible teachings that do not include violence and extremism.

Investigators say that Ivshin organized online Bible studies with other members of the group, which according to them, is a crime since the religious group is officially banned in the country.

U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price said on February 11 that the United States condemns Russia's continued crackdown on Jehovah's Witnesses and other peaceful religious minorities in the strongest possible terms.

Also on February 10, police in Moscow and the surrounding region searched 15 homes of Jehovahs Witnesses and detained several of them for questioning. Three of them remain in custody.

Meanwhile, the Kursk regional court in Russia's west on February 10 again rejected the early release request of a jailed Danish member of the Jehovah's Witnesses who has been serving a 6 year prison term since 2017, the religious organization said.

For decades, the Jehovah's Witnesses have been viewed with suspicion in Russia, where the dominant Orthodox Church is championed by President Vladimir Putin.

The Christian group is known for door-to-door preaching, close Bible study, rejection of military service, and not celebrating national and religious holidays or birthdays.

Since the faith was outlawed in Russia, many Jehovah's Witnesses have been imprisoned in Russia and the Russia-annexed Ukrainian Black Sea Crimean Peninsula.

According to the group, dozens of Jehovah's Witnesses were either convicted of extremism or are in pretrial detention.

In September 2019, Washington banned two high-ranking regional officers from Russia's Investigative Committee from entering the United States over the alleged torture of seven detainees who are Jehovah's Witnesses.

The Moscow-based Memorial Human Rights Center has recognized dozens of Jehovahs Witnesses who've been charged with or convicted of extremism as political prisoners.
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A ghastly discovery at a gas station in eastern Pa. has touched off a full-scale death suspicious death investigation.

The probe is underway in Philadelphias Germantown neighborhood after a woman was found dead inside a vehicle parked at a gas station, as 6ABC reports, adding:

The unidentified woman, approximately 20 to 30 years old, was found dead inside a silver Chevy Equinox around 4:24 p.m. Wednesday on the 4500 block of Germantown Avenue.

Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small told 6ABC the victim was found in an unusual position, not fully clothed, with bruises on her body.

READ MORE:

When police and medics arrived on location they found a female inside of this parked vehicle. She was lying on the floorboards of the passenger seat in a very unusual position, Small said.

At last report, the medical examiner was still working to determine the cause and manner of death.

Meanwhile, Philly police were hoping surveillance video from the gas station will help lead to more clues in the case.

The investigation continues.
The Head of the Local Government Services, Dr Nana Ato Arthur, has stated that he supports the election of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs).



He noted that being appointed chief executive came with no security of tenure for which reason he supported the election of MMDCEs.



According to him, most MMDCEs were always struggling to become Members of Parliament (MPs) and found means to sabotage their MPs because of their job insecurity.



"Why is it that MMDCEs control more resources than MPs and yet they want to go to Parliament. It is because they are sure of their job security at the Legislature for four years".



Decentralisation



Dr Ato Arthur told the Daily Graphic that the election of MMDCEs would deepen Ghana's decentralisation process.



He explained that local level elections had become highly political,indicating that during district level elections, posters of assembly members were cleverly designed with political colours sponsored by political parties.



"So we must stop playing the ostrich and hold the bull by the horn," he stated.



Accountability



Dr Arthur noted that the election of MMDCEs would also promote accountability at the local people as the elected chief executive would be accountable to the electorate.



He expressed his joy at President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for adding decentralisation to the then Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development to strengthen the existing structures of decentralisation.



MMDCEs



Dr Arthur encouraged MMDCEs to work with local communities and engage more with the chiefs and people, involve them in the implementation of assembly programmes and reduce the usual evasion of taxes and levies.



He said the government had introduced the Electronic Biometric Logging System in all assemblies to check the attendance of staff.



"In addition, all MMDCEs are also made to sign performance contracts to ensure effective leadership and accelerated development at the local level.









Source: graphiconline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Ambassador Zamir Akram

In 2015, Ambassador Akram was elected as Chair-Rapporteur of the Human Rights Council Working Group on the Right to Development.

The task of the Chair-Rapporteur includes chairing of the annual session, formal and informal consultation with political and regional groups, Member States, UN agencies, non-governmental and civil society organizations in relation to the work of the Group, presenting the report of the Group to the General Assembly and Human Rights Council, undertake activities in-between the annual session as requested by the Group. For example, at the request of the Group, the Chair-Rapporteur elaborated and submitted to the Group a draft convention on the right to development  a process which was supported by international experts organized by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.

As Pakistans Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the UN and other International Organizations in Geneva from 2008 till 2015, Zamir Akram has played a leading role in areas such as Disarmament, Human Rights, Refugees, Humanitarian Affairs, Trade and Development, Intellectual Property, Labour and Health among others. He was instrumental in promoting consensus on contentious resolutions regarding religious intolerance, freedom of religion and freedom of expression.

Ambassador Akram joined the Pakistan Foreign Service in 1978 and served in several vital posts including the (former) Soviet Union, India, the United States (twice) and the United Nations (twice). He has dealt with key issues including Afghanistan, Nuclear nonproliferation, arms controls and disarmament, disaster response and recovery, UN reforms, human rights and counterterrorism in his career.
A person works remotely from his laptop during the COVID-19 pandemic, in a file photo (Daniel Foster/Flickr)

Working From Home May Become Permanent, Could Spur Rural Boom in Canada: Think Tank

As Canadians continue to adjust their lives amid the COVID-19 pandemic, one study suggests that working from home could become a permanent thing, causing a possible decline in urban living and an unprecedented population growth in the countrys rural areas.

The study released Wednesday by think tank Brookfield Institute for Innovation and Entrepreneurship attempts to explore the possible future of Canadas labour market post pandemic.

More and more Canadians have been making the shift from in-person activities to virtual ones, according to the study. COVID-19 has significantly accelerated this shift, meaning that more and more Canadians are living, working, and playing online.

According to Statistics Canada (StatCan) last May, nearly 40 percent of workers have shifted to working from home due to pandemic lockdowns. The trend is expected to continue as an increased number of employers told StatCan they have shifted part of their workforce to teleworking or remote working, and are likely to carry on with the new business model even after the pandemic is over.

One example cited in the study is Ottawa-based e-commerce giant Shopify, whose CEO Tobi Lutke announced last May that his company would go digital by default, meaning most will permanently work remotely.

The Conference Board of Canada also announced in July 2020 that they were selling their head office in Ottawa to shift to a remote workforce permanently.

Besides that, the concept of working from anywhere is also emerging, according to the study. Countries such as Barbados have offered a 12-month work visa, welcoming visitors to go and work remotely there for a year.

However, the flexibility that comes with remote working also includes longer working hours, said the study, citing research conducted by the Human Resource Director (HRD), a magazine that features issues facing HR professionals and the industry.

Data released today found that 55 percent of employees working from home continued to do so over the weekendwith 34 percent of remote workers regularly going over their allotted eight hours a day, HRD wrote in November 2020.

The trend of working remotely may present a change in hiring too, the study suggested, while also acknowledging a greater blurring of lines between work and leisure, and social isolation could happen.

In addition, population shifts may occur between the urban cities and rural areas in the long term as more Canadians from Ontario, British Columbia, and Atlantic Canada had left the big cities for greener spaces since the pandemic started, the authors noted.

Given skyrocketing urban housing markets, increasing remote work opportunities, and growing desires for bigger houses (for home offices and remote learning), Canadas rural areas may experience unprecedented population growth in the coming years, the authors wrote.

This means more restaurants, shops, and other services may spring up in the rural areas as people continue to migrate there. Whereas urban cities may see a loss of mainstream retail and restaurants, as well as a reduced demand for work-related travel and conferences, such as the case of downtown Calgary, which experienced high office vacancy rates of nearly 30 percent in September 2020.

The Brookfield Institute said the report is not meant to be a prediction of the future, but rather to offer a perspective on how different trends might impact Canadians.
In line with its vision tocreate a digitally one nation and connect Bharat with Indiathrough financial empowerment at the last mile, PayNearby, the countrys largest branchless banking network, today unveiled its new brand identity. The company introduced its new brand logo and brand slogan ZiddAageBadhne Ki, signaling the companys determined vision to lead India into a new age of growth and prosperity, where the benefits of advancements reach everyone, everywhere.

With over 15 lakh retail touchpoints across 17,300 PIN codes in India, servicing close to 12 crore Indians on a range of products and services while delivering a monthly throughput of ~5000 crores, PayNearby todaystands tall as the largest agent banking platform in the entire Southeast Asia region.The company now aims to aggressively upscale its retail network from the existing 15 lakhs to over 50 lakhs in the near future. The new brand identity is,thus,part of a larger evolution of the brand as it aims to solidify its leadership position while diligently embarking on a mission to uplift the life of every citizen in the country.

While driving financial inclusion at the last mile, empowering localretailers who are building the nation ground-up and therebycreating a digitally forward and financially inclusive India has been the companys constant pursuit.With the new brand identity, the company aims to reimagine its brand narrative to reflect its current strengths, core values and aspirations. The idea behind the logo revamp is to present PayNearby 2.0, with a fresh brand narrative that is deeply rooted in the past, is reflective of the present and drawsinspiration for the future.

Thenew brand logo consists oftwo key elements - an arrow symbolising growth and prosperity and the location pin denoting PayNearbys reach across the country, to everyone everywhere.The corporate logo thus represents the companys vision of growth while its brand narrative ZiddAageBadhne Ki,reiterates its commitment to empower the last mile through its retail network, who have the ability to influence and uplift the surrounding ecosystem.

Commenting on the development, Anand Kumar Bajaj, Founder, MD & CEO, PayNearby said, Determination is not just a word but a passion that is inside us all. When we started our journey, little did we know that we would make such a big difference in the lives of our countrymen at the last mile. It is this determination and passion to move ahead towards our goal that has made this possible. And, this journey would not have been imaginable without our Digital Pradhans, who have time and again selflessly come to the aid of the banking sector to serve the masses including the migrants and rural population by offering seamless digital and banking services, even in these tough times. The remarkable work done by our retailers and our 650+ colleagues at PayNearby, over the last four years has made PayNearby synonymous with financial inclusion in the country. Our brand narrative is an odeto the resilience demonstratedto succeed against all odds, to the zeal demonstrated to lead a better life individually and collectively as a nation, and to the unstoppable ambition that each of us carry to be a part of the countrys growth journey.

PayNearbys new logo represents the companys commitment to drive change and innovation to connect Bharat with India and to empower every retailer, thereby taking digital and banking services to every nook and corner of the country.While our name remains the same, our logo has changed significantly to better represent PayNearby 2.0, our dreams and commitment to create a stronger, better India. ZiddAageBadhne Ki is not just an expression, its our emotion, Bajaj added.

Commenting on this Jayatri Dasgupta, Chief Marketing Officer said, India is a young nation, with a billion dreams that we live every day. From the daily age worker who migrates to a city for a better life, to the young man from rural India donning the Indian shirt to play for his country, our thirst to move ahead, to do better is exemplified in numerous moments around us.

Our customers and our Digital Pradhans are living examples of this determination. They personify the strong zeal to create a better life individually and collectively as a community. They reflect the dreams of our founders and 650 of us at PayNearby, who mirror this unstoppable ambition to make meaningful impact in our countrys growth and create a better life for ourselves and the nation.

Our brand positioning is rooted in that sentiment, it is reflective of the journey we had in the past 4 years, our reality today and our inspiration for tomorrow. We thank our research partner-Eschalot, and our creative agency- Leo Burnett Orchard, who partnered us in this journey.
With Trump's second impeachment, Democrats are trying to remove him from an office he has already left and hoping to disqualify him from future office. The odds are against them, but they are doing it anyway. Superficially, it makes no political sense. However, it makes sense when you realize this is the last in a long line of attempts to break the bond that Trump has with those who support him.

For more than five years, every attempt to take Trump down involved trying to sever him from his base. Democrats think the bond is emotional, missing that conservatives do not choose their leaders based on emotion. They choose the people they will support based on facts and reason:

1. The Mueller investigation focused on Russia because Democrats think Trump-supporters still have a Cold War mentality and assumed they would abandon him if he had been connected to Russians. Supporters saw that the facts did not support that he was a Russian sympathizer.

2. The Access Hollywood "Grab them..." tape was an effort to link Mr. Trump to behavior that Christians would hate. They forget that Christians are noted for forgiving past indiscretions when a person has shown a change in behavior.

3. The Ukrainian impeachment was appealing to conservatives' opposition to seeing justice manipulated for personal gain, but conservatives saw that Trump did not manipulate justice and that it was a specific Democrat who gained personally.

4. The emoluments clause attack was an attack on Trump's allegedly unfair business and earning abilities because Democrats thought that would appeal to conservatives' sense of fairness in business. Conservative knew, however, that Trump's businesses had been damaged because he was president.

5. The Charlottesville attack was intended to accuse Trump of being a racist to tar his supporters as racists. Conservatives know they are not racist, whether systemically or by privilege.

6. Not accepting the outcome of an election was to appeal to conservatives' support for legal processes, but the evidence quickly began to accumulate that maybe there was a problem with the process.

7. Democrats used a pandemic to make Trump look unscientific and dangerous. Conservatives, however, examined the sometimes contradictory information that was coming out and couldn't fault Trump.

8. The Democrats tried to sever conservatives' support for the police by provoking in them the fear that they are living in a police state. Conservatives noted that local leaders were supporting the rioters and pushing back against federal intervention  and that Trump was content to avoid turning the federal government into a police state.

9. The latest effort is to make Trump into an insurrectionist, something a conservative would never be. Trump-supporters, though, know that Trump never urged violence against the government and that he offered National Guard troops whom the mayor and congressional leaders did not want. A person does not lead an insurrection by bringing in forces to fight an insurrection.

Trump's supporters remained steadfast. The facts did not support the emotional appeal. They will again fail to break this support that remains because that support is based on evidence.

There is also a ratchet effect that is difficult to defeat. The support for most politicians swings from positive to negative based on the current perceptions and emotions.

The support for Mr. Trump is quite different. His support is a ratchet. He started out fairly low but with a decent base. As he brought people into his camp, most of them had to decide to abandon the person they had been supporting and attach themselves to Mr. Trump.

This new support was not emotional. It was reasoned. Once they made that rational decision, their support morphed into an immovable emotional bond as well. It is that bond that the Democrats do not understand. It is not their model of political support. They understand only emotion without reason at its base.

There are a few politicians who have ratcheting support. Bernie is an example, and it is one of the reasons that the Democrat party fears him and his supporters.

For Trump, every new supporter was a click of the ratchet. It was slow and methodical. The plan was to ratchet the support in the right places for a win in 2016. It worked.

Those clicks continue. By the time of the 2020 election, there were at least 75 million clicks of that ratchet. The Democrats may never understand that those 75 million will still be there at the end because they are there due to facts, not emotion. This will not break that bond.

As long as Mr. Trump remains a political force, the Democrats will be trying to break the bonds with his supporters. This "impeachment" is meant to put a constitutional face on that effort. They cannot break what they do not understand.

Image: Trump's in the way poster. Public Domain.

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Some Enugu residents are worried about the price of kerosene in the metropolis, which has increased from N195 to N235 per litre, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

A NAN Correspondent, who monitored sales of the product in the metropolis on Wednesday, observed that the prices have increased in most filling stations from N195 to N235 per litre.

The product, however, was available in almost all fuel stations.

A manager at a fuel station along Amaechi Road, Jude Ogbodo, said fuel stations witnessed the increase two weeks ago.

Here in our fuel station, we sell kerosene according to how we bought it, so we did not increase the price, he said.

A manager in another fuel station on Agbani Road, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the price has gone up when compared to what was sold two weeks ago.

He added that the product was sold for between N190 and N200 per litre before the recent price increase.

The manager was optimistic that kerosene would continue to be available in spite of the price increase.

Many buyers are lamenting over the increase of the product and they are afraid that scarcity of the product may set in.

It is a surprise to them that it is now sold between N235 and N240 at fuel stations, while at the black-market it is sold for between N290 and N300, he said.

A resident in Enugu, Onyeka Agu, said she was not able to buy the number of litres she planned to buy, and appealed to the government to step in and make the product affordable to ordinary citizens.

Another resident, Uzochukwu Nebo, said it was worrisome that the price of kerosene has increased.

Mr Nebo called on the government to reduce the price of the product as it continues to make it available, especially for the common man.

He said price reduction and product availability would reduce the inconvenience caused to families.

(NAN)
She talked about making sure no one forgets the Jan. 6 invasion of the U.S. Capitol by rioters: I think what commonly happens is we see some blatant racism, we see white supremacy, we see inequities. And as America, we want to cover it up. I think this new day, we cant cover it up if we want to move forward. Thats really important to me as we move forward, especially for my generation to call things what they are and try to right those wrongs.

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 12th February, 2021) The Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle, has won a privacy lawsuit filed against a UK media company that published excerpts of a letter sent to her estranged father two years ago, the London High Court said in a ruling on Thursday.

Parts of the letter, which was purportedly sent in 2018, appeared in the Mail on Sunday one year later. Markle subsequently filed a privacy claim against Associated Newspapers, the media conglomerate that publishes the tabloid newspaper.

"The Letter disclosed her intimate thoughts and feelings; these were personal matters, not matters of legitimate public interest; she enjoyed a reasonable expectation that the contents would remain private and not be published to the world at large by a national newspaper," a court ruling read.

The court issued a summary judgment, meaning that the claim was resolved without a full trial.

In a statement carried by UK media outlets, Markle welcomed the ruling, accusing the Mail of Sunday of conducting dehumanizing practices.

"After two long years of pursuing litigation, I am grateful to the courts for holding Associated Newspapers and the Mail On Sunday to account for their illegal and dehumanising practices," the statement read.

Meghan Markle and her husband, Prince Harry, have long been critical of the press coverage they have received and said in a statement in April 2020 that they would no longer deal with the editors of four tabloid newspapers.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who married in May 2018, announced in January 2020 that they would "step back" as senior members of the UK royal family.
South Africa: Economic recovery plan bears fruit

President Cyril Ramaphosa has outlined progress made since the announcement of the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan (ERRP).

Delivering the 2021 State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Thursday night, the President said since the launch of the plan on 15 October 2020, the countrys infrastructure investment project pipeline worth R340 billion in network industries such as energy, water, transport and telecommunications has been developed.

Construction has started and progress is being made on a number of projects, he said, adding that government has since the launch focused on four priority interventions.

Namely the interventions are:

a massive rollout of infrastructure throughout the country;

a massive increase in local production;

an employment stimulus to create jobs and support livelihoods; and

the rapid expansion of our energy generation capacity.

Since the announcement of the plan, two major human settlements projects that will provide homes to almost 68 000 households in Gauteng have been launched.

Smart cities

Similar human settlements projects are planned in other provinces while the Presidents dream to build smart cities that break from the apartheid special development is becoming a reality.

New post-apartheid cities are being conceptualised in a number of places in our country. The Lanseria Smart City, the first new city to be built in a democratic South Africa, is now a reality in the making.

The draft masterplan for the smart city  which will become home to between 350 000 to 500 000 people within the next decade  was completed in November 2020 and is now out for public comment.

On major water infrastructure projects, progress is being including Phase 2A of the Mokolo and Crocodile River project, and the uMkhomazi Water Project.

The Infrastructure Investment Plan identifies roads projects worth R19 billion covering the spine of the South African road network.

Work is underway to finalise project finance structuring for these projects. In addition, resources have been committed from the fiscus to support the construction and rehabilitation of the major N1, N2, and N3 highways.

Reviving infrastructure

The President is of the belief that these infrastructure projects will lead to the revival of the construction industry and the creation of much-needed jobs.

Unveiling the plan in October, President Ramaphosa said the Infrastructure Fund would provide R100 billion in catalytic finance over the next decade, leveraging as much as R1 trillion in new investment for strategic infrastructure projects.

On Thursday, he announced that the fund which will blend resources from the fiscus with financing from the private sector and development institutions, is now in full operation.

Its approved project pipeline for 2021 is varied and includes the Student Housing Infrastructure Programme, which aims to provide 300,000 student beds.

Another approved project is SA Connect, a programme to roll out broadband to schools, hospitals, police stations and other government facilities.

Supporting local production

The second priority intervention of the ERRP is to support a massive increase in local production and to make South African exports globally competitive.

Key to this plan is a renewed commitment from government, business and organised labour to buy local which will lead to increased local production, which will lead to the revival of the manufacturing industry.

In turn, all social partners who participated in the development of the plan, as part of a social compact have agreed to work together to reduce the reliance on imports by 20% over the next five years.

A total 42 products  ranging from edible oils to furniture, fruit concentrates, personal protective equipment and steel products - have been identified as those than can be sourced locally.

If we achieve our target, we will significantly expand our productive economy, potentially returning more than R200 billion to the countrys annual output.

On supporting SMMEs, the Departments of Small Business Development and Trade, Industry and Competition are supporting SMMEs to access larger domestic and international markets.

The country is firmly on path with its industrialisation plans which is underpinned by sector master plans to rejuvenate and grow key industries such as the poultry master plan.

Government has also worked closely with the auto sector to help it weather the pandemic.

By the end of the year, the sector had recovered around 70% of its normal annual production, in difficult circumstances.

Employment stimulus

The third priority intervention is an employment stimulus to create jobs and support livelihoods.

The largest numbers of jobs said the President, will be created by the private sector in a number of industries as the economy recovers.

Meanwhile, the Presidential Employment Stimulus is one of the most significant expansions of public and social employment in South Africas history.

By the end of January 2021, over 430 000 opportunities have already been supported through the stimulus.

Expanding energy generation

The fourth priority intervention of the Recovery Plan is to rapidly expand energy generation capacity.

The President said restoring Eskom to operational and financial health and accelerating its restructuring process is central to this objective.

This will lay the foundations for an efficient, modern and competitive energy system, he said, adding that the power utility is making substantial progress with its intensive maintenance and operational excellence programmes to improve the reliability of its coal fleet.

We are working closely with Eskom on proposals to improve its financial position, manage its debt and reduce its dependence on the fiscus, he said. - SAnews.gov.za

This story has been published on: 2021-02-11. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Five cases in total were discovered on Thursday which were recorded in Fridays official numbers. There are now 19 active cases in total in Victoria, with over 24,000 tests conducted on Thursday. Authorities confirmed on Thursday there were between 400 and 500 close contacts of confirmed cases. There are no mystery cases in Victoria  it has been 37 days since the state had a case with no known source. Brunetti cafe at Terminal 4 of Melbourne Airport was added to the states growing list of Tier 1 exposure sites just after midnight on Thursday.

A newly confirmed positive case was at the cafe for more than eight hours from 4.45am to 1.15pm on Tuesday, February 9 while potentially infectious. Melbourne Airport confirmed 29 domestic flights arrived and departed Terminal 4 during that period, and a deep clean of the area was conducted overnight on Thursday in response to the news. Anyone who visited the cafe or who worked during those times is being directed to isolate and test immediately and remain isolated for 14 days. Nancy Baxter, a clinical epidemiologist at the University of Melbourne, said Victorian authorities should be thinking very hard about implementing a snap lockdown to stem any unlinked transmission from the new cases.

What I am concerned about is as the at-risk sites grow and grow, there is the potential there has been some kind of spread outside of that group of close contacts that is already in quarantine [and] it could be a week or more before we know it, Professor Baxter told Nines Today program. Then there is that opportunity for spread throughout the community, under our very noses. I think if there is a time to really get this under control the time probably is now. Loading

But other experts are more confident in Victorias contact tracing system. Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness chair Jane Halton told Today she was reassured by a high number of Melburnians coming forward for testing. I really hope we dont need to lockdown, but everybody right now needs to read that list of what the hotspots are, think about where they have been, get themselves tested, if they actually have any symptoms, so no a lockdown will not be necessary, she said. COVID-19 response commander Jeroen Weimar said one of the five cases announced on Thursday was believed to have had some contact with Camberwell Grammar School. The school closed on Thursday. Genomic sequencing has confirmed that at least six of the 13 cases linked to the Holiday Inn are the more contagious B.1.1.7 strain of COVID-19, often referred to as the British variant.

As of Friday morning, there were 29 different Tier 1 exposure sites - which require mandatory 14 days of isolation for attendees  in 14 different suburbs across Melbourne. There are exposure sites in Brighton, Brandon Park, Clayton South, Glen Waverley, Heatherton, Keysborough, Maidstone, Melbourne Airport, Melbourne CBD, Moorabbin Airport, Noble Park, Springvale, Sunbury, Sunshine, Taylors Lakes and West Melbourne. There are eight sites in Sunbury alone. Professor Catherine Bennett, the inaugural chair in Epidemiology at Deakin University, said the detection of fragments in wastewater samples earlier this week would be at the forefront of the minds of government advisers this morning. Loading

Yesterday the government confirmed at least one case had been linked to wastewater samples in the Coburg- Pascoe Vale-Reservoir catchment, but there were also traces of COVID-19 found in Roxburgh Park, Broadmeadows, Westmeadows and Glenroy that had not been accounted for yet. Thats probably going to create a level of nervousness that there are missed cases and thats where it is so important that that you know people are really checking out those exposure sites, and getting tested if there were there, or if they got symptoms, she told 3AW. The outbreak, which authorities believe may have begun by the use of a nebuliser inside the hotel, prompted several states to tighten their borders to travellers from Greater Melbourne yesterday. South Australia snapped its border shut to travellers from Melbourne at midnight on Thursday, while Queensland will ban entry to visitors to the citys exposure sites from 1am on Saturday. Western Australia also announced its hard border to Victoria would be extended for at least another seven days. NSW remains open to all Victorians, but incoming passengers are being screened. NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian reaffirmed on Friday morning she had no intention of closing the border with Victoria.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah Thursday said the process of granting Indian citizenship to refugees under the CAA, including to the Matua community of West Bengal, will begin once country's COVID vaccination programme ends.

"As soon as vaccination drive will conclude and we become Corona-free, the work of providing citizenship will be undertaken. CAA is Parliament's law, how can you stop it? Also, you will not be in a position to stop it," Shah said addressing a rally here in the bastion of the Matua community.

Accusing the opposition parties of misleading the minorities about the Citizenship (amendment) Act, he said its implementation will not impact the citizenship status of Indian minorities.

Shah said the Modi government had in 2018 promised it will bring in a new citizenship law and kept it when the BJP was voted to power in 2019.

He said, after the country was hit by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, its implementation had to be kept in abeyance.

"Mamata didi said we made a false promise. She started opposing the CAA and saying she will never allow it. The BJP always fulfils the promises it makes. We have brought this law and refugees will get citizenship.

Matuas, originally from East Pakistan, are weaker section Hindus who migrated to India during the Partition and after the creation of Bangladesh. Many of them have been accorded Indian citizenship but a sizeable section of the population has not.

Shah said Banerjee will not be in a position to oppose the implementation of the CAA as she will cease to be the chief minister after the assembly polls likely in April-May this year.

The Citizenship (Amendment) Act, which the Parliament passed last year, offers citizenship to non-Muslims who entered India from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh before December 31, 2014. Opponents of the law, among whom Banerjee is a prominent face, insist that it is discriminatory and unconstitutional as it leaves out Muslims and links citizenship to faith in a secular country.

"People of Matua community have gathered here in large numbers, it shows that the next government in West Bengal will be of Bharatiya Janata Party," Shah further added.

Moreover, Shah also set target for BJP's social media team to reach out to 2 crore of West Bengal's 10 crore population before polls.

With inputs from agencies

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Deets on a daring but doomed alleged local heist amid harsh economic times . . . Take a look:



KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A Kansas City woman was charged in federal court Tuesday with the armed robbery of a Capitol Federal Savings Bank located in Liberty, Missouri, according to Tim Garrison, United States Attorney. Sarah Theresa Watkins, 41, was charged with one count of armed bank robbery in a criminal complaint filed in the U.S.
Cooperation with IMF to help receive new tranches from EU, World Bank  finance ministry

On December 9, the EU provided Ukraine with EUR 600 million in macro-financial assistance.

Reporting by UNIAN

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Brussels, Feb 11 : European Union (EU) member states have agreed to revise the rules on the protection of privacy and confidentiality in the use of electronic communications services.

The original proposal was presented by the European Commission in 2017, reports Xinhua news agency.

The European Council said in a statement on Wednesday that the agreement paves the way for negotiations with the European Parliament on the final text of the new rules which will repeal the previous directives.

These updated ePrivacy rules will define cases in which service providers are allowed to process electronic communications data or have access to data stored on end-users' devices.

President of the Council Pedro Nuno Santos said that robust privacy rules are vital for creating and maintaining trust in a digital world.

"The path to the Council position has not been easy, but we now have a mandate that strikes a good balance between solid protection of the private life of individuals and fostering the development of new technologies and innovation," he said.

An update to the existing ePrivacy directive of 2002 is needed to cater for new technological and market developments, such as the current widespread use of voice over IP (VoIP), web-based email and messaging services and the emergence of new techniques for tracking users' online behavioUr.

The mandate also covers rules on online identification, public directories, and unsolicited and direct marketing, the Council added.
News of the investigation came as the Homeland Security Departments intelligence branch warned law enforcement agencies separately on Wednesday that criminals on the dark web had since December sold counterfeits of coronavirus vaccines approved by the Food and Drug Administration for hundreds of dollars per dose.

That assessment, produced by the departments Office of Intelligence and Analysis and obtained by The New York Times, said that transnational criminal organizations in Latin America were probably best positioned to take advantage of a shortage of legitimate vaccines to distribute counterfeit and stolen vaccines, though it was unclear if they had done so.

Cassie Sauer, the president and chief executive of the Washington State Hospital Association, said about two million counterfeit N95 masks may have made it into the state. Washington State hospitals bought hundreds of thousands of the fraudulent masks, and the association itself bought 300,000 for its members, she said.

The masks were really good fakes, Ms. Sauer said, noting that they included a 3M logo, secure straps, a metal bar across the top and a foam strip across the nose.

They look, they feel, they fit and they breathe like a 3M mask, she said. But they were not made by 3M, she said, and officials dont know enough about them to know how protective they might be.
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Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-11 01:51:33|Editor: huaxia

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People view scenery after snowfall at the Champ de Mars in Paris, France, Feb. 10, 2021. Twelve regions of France were placed on orange alert due to snowfall and ice following a "remarkable snow episode" which hits the country's northeastern departments, the weather agency Meteo France said on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)

PARIS, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- Twelve regions of France were placed on orange alert due to snowfall and ice following a "remarkable snow episode" which hits the country's northeastern departments, the weather agency Meteo France said on Wednesday.

Meteo France noted that the intense cold episode required high vigilance for the most vulnerable and the most exposed to the freezing temperatures.

It decided to maintain the orange alert in these areas till Thursday morning based on the assessment of risks of snow and ice.

Cold and dry weather caused icy temperatures across French regions with thermostats dipping to about minus 10 degrees Celsius, with winds making people feel colder, according to the weather agency.

As the country is gripping with the coronavirus epidemic, cold weather likely to favor the virus spread, warned Pascal Crepey, an epidemiologist.

"When it's cold, we tend to change our behavior to stay more indoors and ventilate less," Crepey told RTL radio early Wednesday. "The air is less renewed and there is a greater risk to contaminate more people."

He recommended continuing to ventilate rooms when possible and respect barrier gestures to limit the risk of virus circulation.

On Tuesday, France reported 18,870 new COVID-19 infections, pushing the country's total cases to over 3.36 million. The cumulative deaths in the country topped 80,000.
The Daily Beast

Screenshot/YouTubeA Christian diet guru and six other people are presumed dead after her small plane crashed into the waters of Tennessee lake on Saturday morning. Authorities were called to the Percy Priest Lake around 11 a.m., not long after the plane took off from the nearby Smyrna Rutherford County Airport. Late Saturday evening, investigators said they believed all seven passengers had perished. The cause of the crash is still under investigation. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Joe Lara (@joelaraofficial) The plane, a Cessna C501, belonged Gwen Shamblin Lara, founder of the Remnant Fellowship Church and author of The Weigh Down Workshop, and her husband William J. Lara, who went by Joe. The couple lived in nearby Brentwood and had registered the plane via their company JL&GL Productions LP. The aircraft has not been located, but Tennessee Highway Patrol told News Channel 5 that officers located debris consistent with a Cessna C501 and that a small plane had been seen descending into the water near a boat ramp early Saturday.Laras daughter, Elizabeth Hannah, sent a text message to members of the Remnant Fellowship Church saying that her mother and father were aboard the aircraft when it was forced to make a quick, controlled landing. All the planes passengers had ties to the church, including Hannahs own husband Brandon, according to her text. The others aboard were David and Jennifer Martin and Jonathan and Jessica Walters, according to authorities.My brother and I are asking for immediate prayers right now, as we have just gotten word that Gwen and Joe Laras plane had to go down, Hannah wrote before authorities said everyone appeared to have been killed. More information to come, but be in prayerand be at peace, the message continued. GOD IS IN CONTROL, and we will not stop moving forward with WHAT GOD WANTS with this church.Read more at The Daily Beast.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.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal has said he agreed with Vice-President of the European Commission Maros Sefcovic on Ukraine's more active involvement in the industrial alliances of the European Union.

The head of government wrote this on Twitter.

"Discussed with Maros Sefcovic industrial dimension of our cooperation, in particular within EU ERMA [European Raw Materials Alliance] & EU Battery Alliance. Agreed to strengthen participation in EU alliances. 2021 will be a key year in launching new Ukraine-EU strategic partnerships," Shmyhal said.

Discussed with @MarosSefcovic industrial dimension of our cooperation, in particular within @EU_ERMA & #EUBatteryAlliance. Agreed to strengthen participate in #EU alliances. 2021 will be a key year in launching new  strategic partnerships. pic.twitter.com/jMPgDdHkWZ  Denys Shmyhal (@Denys_Shmyhal) February 11, 2021

Shmyhal also met with Executive Vice-President of the European Commission Margrethe Vestager.

"Was glad to meet Vestager before the EU-Ukraine Association Council. A great opportunity to discuss Ukraine-EU cooperation on digital, cybersecurity, industry and competition. We continue digital and economic integration into the EU," he added.

Was glad to meet @vestager before the #EU-#Ukraine Association Council. A great opportunity to discuss - cooperation on digital, cybersecurity, industry and competition. Continue digital and economic integration into the EU. pic.twitter.com/pkMwwzjBBu  Denys Shmyhal (@Denys_Shmyhal) February 11, 2021

A Ukrainian government delegation led by Shmyhal began a working visit to Brussels on Tuesday, February 9.

Government representatives have already met with the leadership of the European Union and NATO.

On Thursday, February 11, government officials will take part in the seventh meeting of the EU-Ukraine Association Council in Brussels.

op


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Startup leaders from Purdue University and across the state of Indiana will provide insights into technology transfer during The Frameworx Tech Transfer in Indiana virtual panel event. (Purdue University image)

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind.  Startup leaders from Purdue University and across the state of Indiana will provide insights into technology transfer during a virtual panel event Feb. 18.

The Frameworx Tech Transfer in Indiana panel also will feature startups from Indiana University and the University of Notre Dame. BioCrossroads, which released a report on tech transfer in Indiana, is hosting the event.

Tech transfer programs at universities across Indiana are vital components to drive innovation and commercialization for the state and the nation, said Brooke Beier, vice president of the Purdue Research Foundation Office of Technology Commercialization, who will be a featured speaker at the event.

Novosteo Inc., a Purdue-affiliated preclinical-stage biotechnology startup focused on the development of bone-targeted therapeutics, will be among the featured startups for the event. Registration information for the event is available online.

BioCrossroads, a public-private collaboration that supports Indianas existing research and corporate strengths while encouraging new business development, released a report called Tech Transfer in Indiana: An Overview for the Life Sciences Industry. The report highlights the technology transfer processes and approaches used by Purdue, Indiana and Notre Dame to facilitate commercialization of research-driven discoveries and innovations.

About BioCrossroads

BioCrossroads is Indianas initiative to grow, advance and invest in the life sciences, a public-private collaboration that supports the regions existing research and corporate strengths while encouraging new business development. BioCrossroads provides money and support to life sciences businesses, launches new life sciences enterprises (Indiana Biosciences Research Institute, Indiana Health Information Exchange, Fairbanks Institute for Healthy Communities, BioCrossroadsLINX, OrthoWorx and Datalys Center), expands collaboration and partnerships among Indianas life science institutions, promotes science education and markets Indianas life sciences industry.

About Purdue University

Purdue University is a top public research institution developing practical solutions to todays toughest challenges. Ranked the No. 5 Most Innovative University in the United States by U.S. News & World Report, Purdue delivers world-changing research and out-of-this-world discovery. Committed to hands-on and online, real-world learning, Purdue offers a transformative education to all. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue has frozen tuition and most fees at 2012-13 levels, enabling more students than ever to graduate debt-free. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap at purdue.edu.

Writer: Chris Adam, cladam@prf.org

Source: Brooke Beier, blbeier@prf.org

8 victims rescued in human trafficking raids in Missouri

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A Missouri anti-trafficking operation led to the rescue of six adults and two children as part of ongoing efforts to combat the scourge nationwide.



Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt said that in coordination with several state and federal agencies, law enforcement conducted a successful operation at two truck stops in St. Joseph, which resulted in three arrests and eight victims being rescued. Two of the victims were children, a 2-year-old and an infant, he said in a press release on Saturday.



This operation was successful because of cooperation between my office, the St. Joseph Police Department, the state highway patrol, the Buchanan County Sheriffs Office, and 13 other agencies and departments. This unprecedented success should send a clear message to traffickers: you are not welcome in Missouri, and you cant hide any longer, Schmitt said in a statement.

Sixteen different agencies participated in the effort, including: the St. Joseph Police Department, Missouri State Highway Patrol, Attorney Generals Office, Kansas City Police Department, Buchanan County Sheriffs Office, Johnson County Sheriffs Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Marshals, Department of Corrections, Probation and Parole, State Parks, and others, the statement noted.

A similar anti-trafficking operation in the Midwestern state took place in October 2020, in which 10 women and three children younger than 5 were rescued. Five arrests were made in the investigation surrounding that rescue.

According to The Epoch Times, the ongoing effort has been part of a larger project called the Hope Initiative, a state operation to combat trafficking, an initiative the attorney generals office says aims to reduce the number of illicit massage businesses, which are known as hotspots for trafficking.

Since its October launch, 16 massage parlors were shuttered in December and 16 more evictions of similar businesses are pending, The Epoch Times reported.

Twenty-five million people worldwide are ensnared in some form of human trafficking, according to 2018 data from the Walk Free Foundation.



The latest development comes on the heels of several operations in recent months that the U.S. Marshals, in coordination with other agencies, carried out across several states where dozens of missing children were rescued, many of whom had been trapped in trafficking.



In October, the Department of Justice announced that a five-day effort called Operation Find Our Children" was completed throughout the commonwealth of Virginia, which led to the recovery of 27 children.



In August 2020, 25 children who ranged in age from 13 to 18, a few of whom were trafficking victims, were recovered in Ohio in a similar effort called Operation Safety Net. Also in August, 39 children were rescued in Georgia as part of Operation Not Forgotten while several individuals in connection with their disappearance were arrested, including some who were sex offenders.
It has been previously reported that Trump had trouble breathing and a fever on Oct. 2, the day he was taken to the hospital, and the types of treatment he received indicated that his condition was serious. But the new details about his condition and about the effort inside the White House to get him special access to an unapproved drug to fight the virus help to flesh out one of the most dire episodes of Trumps presidency.
Apple acquired Beddit who invented a sleep monitoring system in May 2017. Then two years later Patently Apple covered a new patent application revealing a plan to advance Beddit's sleep monitoring system. The report was titled "Apple's work with Smart Bedding Systems is ongoing and it may Lead to a Specific Sleep Tracking App for Apple Watch."

Below is an old news report on Apple's acquisition of Beddit.

Today the US Patent & Trademark Office published a patent application from Apple that relates to Beddit's sleep monitoring system. Considering that the patent application was filed two years after Apple acquired the company, the new filing adds Apple specific additions to the original Beddit monitoring system.

For the record, four of the six inventors listed on the patent are on Apple's Health team.

Erno Klaassen: Director, Health Technologies (8-year veteran)

Yindar Chuo: Tech Lead | Health Technologies

Ali Amin: Senior R&D Engineer | Health Technologies

Timothy Weadon: R&D Scientist (worked on Beddit Sleep Monitor and Apple Watch 4). Weadon came to Apple from TE Connectivity where he was a Materials Scientist.

Two of the other inventors moved on. One health team member Zijing Zeng moved back to China to work with Oppo. One engineer from Beddit moved on to MuRata.

Patently Apple covered the original Beddit patent that we found in Europe and there's no mention of the monitoring of biological vibrations that is now being revealed in Apple's patent filing today.

Apple notes in their latest filing that the described patent embodiments relate generally to an on-bed differential piezoelectric sensor, or to a sensor system including such a sensor. The sensor or sensor system can be used on a bed or elsewhere to sense vibrations, including sounds. The sensed vibrations or sounds may include biological vibrations or sounds made by a user, such as heart vibrations or sounds, lung vibrations or sounds, nasal vibrations or sounds, or digestive vibrations or sounds.

In a first aspect, the present patent application describes a sensor system that includes a sensor stack, a differential amplifier, an analog-to-differential converter, and a processor.

The sensor stack may include a piezoelectric material having a first side opposing a second side, a first electrode connected to the first side, and a second electrode connected to the second side.

The differential amplifier may be coupled to the first and second electrodes and be configured to generate a differential output indicative of vibrations sensed by the piezoelectric material.

The analog-to-differential converter may be configured to digitize the differential output.

The processor may be configured to identify a type of biological vibration included in the digitized differential output.

Apple's patent FIG. 1 shows an example of a sensor system that may be used to sense biological vibrations; FIG. 2 shows an alternative embodiment of the vibration sensor described with reference to FIG. 1.

Apple's patent FIG. 5 shows an example embodiment of various components included in the sensor system; and FIG. 9 illustrates a method of monitoring biological vibrations of a user.

For finer details, review Apple's patent application number 20210041287. Considering that this is a patent application, the timing of any advancement presented in the filing being added to the Beddit system is unknown at this time.
Mumbai, Feb 11 : The Enforcement Directorate on Thursday again called Maharashtra Minister Vishwajeet Kadam's brother-in-law Amit Bhosale for questioning after recording his statement a day earlier in a money laundering case, sources said.

An ED source connected to the probe told IANS, "The agency recorded the statement of Amit Bhosale on Wednesday evening for several hours in connection with a money laundering probe." He said the agency has again called Amit for questioning on Thursday.

The ED on Wednesday carried out searches at several locations linked to Amit. On the basis of the documents and other materials collected, he was again called for questioning.

Amit is the son of Pune-based businessman Avinash Bhosale.

When IANS tried to contact the office of ABIL in Mumbai for a comment on the case, a person said that the office was closed since Wednesday and no senior person was available.

Earlier on February 2 this year, the ED had recorded the statement of Amit's mother Gauri Bhosale. The ED had also summoned Kadam's wife Swapnali Bhosale in the last week of January.

Avinash Bhosale was questioned by the ED on November 27 last year for several hours in connection with an old case under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA).

Avinash Bhosale is also facing a probe by the Income Tax department. Last year, the I-T department had carried out searches at 23 locations in Mumbai and Pune.


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AstraZeneca has seen its profits double in the past year as demand for cancer treatments surges and the company's time in the vaccine-packed spotlight rolls on.

The drugs giant, which has pledged not to make any money from its Covid-19 vaccine during the pandemic, said it was focusing its efforts on adapting its vaccine developed with Oxford University against new mutant strains of the virus.

AstraZeneca said it was on course to roll out a coronavirus vaccine that is effective against new variants by the autumn this year.

On the current vaccine, boss Pascal Soriot admitted that while it is not perfect, it was 'great' and will start bringing down hospital admission numbers in Britain 'very soon.'

Cutting time: AstraZeneca is cutting the time it takes for the mass rollout of its vaccines

Results: AstraZeneca's operating profits over time, as shown in their latest results

Growth: Cancer drugs gave AstraZeneca a major boost in the past year, new figures show

The FTSE 100-listed group also said it plans to cut the time needed to reach the point where it can produce its vaccine at scale from nine months to six months.

The AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine team were given a boost on Wednesday when scientists advising the World Health Organisation backed the use of the jab in all adults.

It came after a number of countries opted not to give the jab to those over the age of 65.

With Covid-19 in focus, AstraZeneca said hospital admissions around the world for the treatment of heart attacks and preventive elective surgery to sort out narrowing arteries had dropped.

For AstraZeneca, this has meant that demand for and sales of one of its heart drugs called Brilinta had fallen in the past year.

Under pressure: AstraZeneca boss Pascal Soriot

Sales hit: One of AstraZeneca's heart drugs sold less well last year amid lower worldwide admissions for heart attacks

No profit now: AstraZeneca is running on a not-for-profit basis at present with regards to the current Covid-19 vaccine

Even so, AstraZeneca reported a pre-tax profit of 2.83billion for 2020, marking a hefty jump from the 1.12 profit achieved back in 2019, despite offering the Covid-19 vaccine on a not-for-profit basis at present.

AstraZeneca's boss Pascal Soriot, said: 'The consistent achievements in the pipeline, the accelerating performance of our business and the progress of the Covid-19 vaccine demonstrated what we can achieve, while the proposed acquisition of Alexion is intended to accelerate our scientific and commercial evolution even further.

'Additional investment in new medicines continued to fuel our rapidly growing oncology and biopharmaceuticals therapy areas.'

Soriot said there should be a drop in hospital admissions 'very soon' as a result of Britain's mass vaccine rollout.

The group, which has a base in Cambridge, is on track to deliver 100million doses of its current vaccine around the world this month, doubling to 200million per month by April.

Soriot said in a conference call: '100 million doses in February means 100 million vaccinations, which means hundreds of thousands of severe infections avoided and it also means thousands of deaths that are avoided.'

He added: 'We're going to save thousands of lives and that's why we come to work every day as individuals.

'Is it perfect? No it's not perfect, but it's great. Who else is making 100 million doses in February?'.

The vaccine helped boost revenues over the year, contributing 1.44million to the company's total turnover of 19.21billion, marking an increase of 10 per cent.

Operating profits surged to 3.73billion, up 81 per cent with currency effects stripped out, as the firm hailed the success of fast-growing new medicines.

AstraZeneca said it expects to deliver revenue growth in the 'low-teens' this year, though it stressed the guidance does not include any sales or profit impact from the coronavirus jab or its planned takeover of US group Alexion Pharmaceuticals.

Fourth-quarter profits rocketed to 850million from 173million a year ago.

Revenues for the final three months of the year rose 11 per cent to 5.35billion, though this was slightly lower than expected.

Sebastian Skeet, senior analyst at Third Bridge, said: 'On a human level, AstraZeneca's vaccine saga has been disappointing - the clash with the EU, new data demonstrating a lack of efficacy in preventing mild to moderate infection caused by the South African variant, and the decision by German authorities to limit vaccinations in persons under 65 years old.

'However, the opposite can be said for AstraZeneca's core business. The company is arguably the poster child for big pharma turnarounds, with CEO Pascal Soriot rebuilding the pipeline and establishing the necessary growth drivers.'

The group's share price rose over 2 per cent earlier and is currently up 0.58 per cent or 42.00p to 7,289.00p. A year ago, the group's share price was 7,688.00p.

Michael Hewson, chief analyst at CMC Market UK, said the performance of AstraZeneca's share price had been 'disappointing.'

He added: 'For a company that has been at the forefront of leading the fight against Covid-19 the performance in the AstraZeneca share price has been very underwhelming, with the shares at ten-month lows.

'A lot of this may have to do with the fact that AstraZeneca, along with Oxford University is producing the vaccine at cost, along with tweaks to any possible variant, in a move that hasn't been replicated to the same extent by its peers in the industry.

'In terms of PR, it probably seemed like a smart move at the time, however given the flak it has received over the slightly slower rollout to production of the vaccine in the European Union, they would probably be forgiven for thinking that no good deed goes unpunished.'
Tunis/Tunisia  President of the Republic Kais Saied will hold a meeting Wednesday afternoon with MPs from various parliamentary opposition groups as well as those from the government, said Democratic Bloc MP Zouhaier Maghzaoui.

The latter pointed out that the meeting will probably focus on the cabinet reshuffle and the deadlock in the swear-in of the eleven new ministers, who had been given the confidence vote of the parliament.

For his part, PM Hichem Mechichi will have a meeting with jurists today, Wednesday.

The meeting is scheduled against the backdrop of the deadlock in the cabinet reshuffle and the President of the Republic's reluctance to summon the new ministers to be sworn in.

Saied, on January 25, indicated to the National Security Council that the cabinet reshuffle does not comply with the provisions of the Constitution.

He also stated that the proposed ministers who are suspected of being involved in corruption cases or conflict of interest will not be sworn in.


The activist, whose arrest sparked an uproar over the kingdoms human rights record, pushed for an end a ban on women driving in Saudi Arabia, was arrested in 2018

Dubai: One of Saudi Arabias most prominent political activists was released from prison Wednesday, her family said, after serving nearly three years on charges that sparked an international uproar over the kingdoms human rights record.

Loujain al-Hathloul, who pushed to end a ban on women driving in Saudi Arabia, was arrested in 2018 and sentenced to almost six years in prison last December under a broad counterterrorism law. Held for 1001 days, with time in pre-trial detention and solitary confinement, she was accused of crimes such as agitating for change, using the internet to cause disorder and pursuing a foreign agenda  charges that rights groups describe as politically motivated.

Loujain is at home!!!!!!" her sister Lina al-Hathloul declared on Twitter alongside a screenshot showing a flushed Loujain beaming on a family video call.

There was no immediate comment from Saudi authorities on her release.

Her release this year was widely expected as the judge suspended two years and 10 months of her sentence and gave her credit for time already served, putting her release date sometime in March.

The release Wednesday, earlier than anticipated, comes as Saudi Arabia faces new scrutiny from the United States, where President Joe Biden has vowed to reassess the US-Saudi partnership and stand up for human rights and democratic principles.

I have some welcome news that the Saudi government has released a prominent human rights activist," Biden said in a speech at the Pentagon. "She was a powerful activist for womens rights and releasing her was the right thing to do.

Biden had labeled Saudi Arabia a pariah on the campaign trial and promised to reverse former President Donald Trumps policy of giving the country a blank check to pursue a disastrous set of policies, including the targeting of female activists.

The harsh crackdown against women who had pressed for the right to drive before the kingdom lifted the ban in mid-2018 came to symbolise the dual strategy of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The young, ambitious prince has sought to portray himself as a liberalising reformer while also silencing and detaining activists who long had pushed for change.

The United Nations welcomed al-Hathloul's release but UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said it is important that others who are in the same condition as her, who have been jailed for the same reasons as her, also be released and that charges be dropped against them."

Prince Mohammed cultivated close relations with the Trump administration, which members of Congress say largely shielded the kingdom from censure over its human rights record and instead sought to prioritise lucrative weapons deals.

The suppression of perceived critics and potential rivals has intensified under Prince Mohammed, increasingly attracting international ire since the killing of Saudi critic Jamal Khashoggi inside the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul at the hands of Saudi agents in late 2018.

Although released, al-Hathloul will remain free under strict conditions, her family has said, including a five-year travel ban and three years of probation. Loujain is at home, but she is not free. The fight is not over, her sister Lina wrote on Twitter. I am not fully happy without the release of all political prisoners.

Many human rights activists applauded al-Hathlouls release from prison but urged caution amid the remaining restrictions on her freedom.

If she is not allowed to leave Saudi Arabia, or is forced to remain on probation, there is no reason to believe she will not be arrested again or forced to remain subject to her countrys draconian laws that prevent her from speaking out and demanding her basic rights, said Abdullah Alaoudh, Gulf research director at Democracy for the Arab World Now, the organisation founded by Khashoggi.

The 31-year-old Saudi activist rocketed to prominence in Saudi Arabia for her criticism of the kingdom's guardianship system, which bars women from travel without a male relative, and her outspokenness on human rights issues. She was first detained in 2014 for 70 days when, in an act of defiance, she posted a video online of herself attempting to drive from the United Arab Emirates into the kingdom.

From behind bars al-Hathloul launched hunger strikes to protest her prison conditions and joined other female activists in testifying to judges that she was tortured and sexually assaulted by masked men during interrogations. The women reported that they were caned, electrocuted and waterboarded. Some said they were groped and threatened with rape. Saudi Arabia denies that any were mistreated.

Al-Hathloul's family said that an appeals court Tuesday rejected her claims of torture, citing a lack of evidence. While some activists and their families have been pressured into silence, al-Hathlouls siblings, who reside in the U.S. and Europe, have launched a high-profile campaign calling for her release.

Al-Hathlouls release follows that of two dual Saudi-US citizens who had been detained since 2019: Badr al-Ibrahim, a writer and physician, and Salah al-Haidar, the son of a prominent womens rights activist.

Following intense pressure from Congress, they were both set free, the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee announced last Friday, calling it a positive, but long overdue step.

Al-Haidar, who has a family home in Vienna, Virginia, had faced up to 33 years in prison for alleged Twitter posts criticising the Saudi government. The Freedom Initiative, a prisoners' rights group, stressed that the release of the men was temporary, pending trial on what it described as unsubstantiated terrorism charges.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has responded to outcry over recent deportations of children and families to Haiti, a country engulfed in political chaos, in a statement to The Independent that appeared to blame the removals on the previous administration.

The department said our capacity at the border will not transform overnight while citing damage done over the last four years in the statement sent on Tuesday, as immigrants rights groups warned legal and international obligations were violated when the US deported at least 72 people to the Haitian capital of Port-Au-Prince earlier this week, including a two-month-old infant and 21 children.

The return of a family is a solemn and heartbreaking event. That is especially true when the country of destination suffers instability, violence, lack of economic opportunity, or other challenges, the DHS statement read. Our capacity at the border will not transform overnight, due in large part to the damage done over the last four years to our asylum system and infrastructure.

The response reflected a clash between President Joe Biden's White House and federal immigration agencies over deportations of Haitian asylum seekers, who were fleeing from the poorest country in the hemisphere as it faced an alleged coup attempt. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been accused of acting as a rogue agency while defying the presidents deportation guidelines, which require removal operations to focus on convicted felons and suspected terrorists.

Andrea Meza, director of family detention services for RAICES, said current deportation policies have been inconsistently and discriminatorily applied to Haitian migrants in recent days, adding: DHS is not a rogue agency. It is functioning exactly as it is intended to.

According to RAICES, Haitian families have been disproportionately subjected to expulsion procedures under Title 42, originally meant to exclude people who pose a health threat from entry to the U.S.

Haitians do not have Covid, but they are Black, Ms Meza said. The crisis for the Biden administration is for them to figure out how to justify to primarily Black voters who put them in power why they are allowing hundreds of Black families to be sent to danger and instability when they have the power to stop this."

She added: President Biden has authority over how ICE handles families who arrive at the border."

As tensions between the White House and ICE came to a head last week, it appeared the Biden administration obtained the upper hand when deportation flights from the US to Haiti were suddenly suspended on Friday. But deportation flights from the US to Haiti have since resumed and were still being coordinated with the Haitian government on Tuesday, a DHS official confirmed to The Independent.

Other deportation flights were also stopped last week, including one scheduled to leave for Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of Congo on Thursday. Those who were scheduled to be deported on the flight would instead serve as witnesses to an ongoing investigation against ICE involving accusations of physical abuse, The Guardian reported.

ICE has also been accused of ignoring an agreement that bars US immigration officials from sending Haitians who reach the southern border back to Mexico.

Recommended ICE defies Biden and deports child asylum seekers to Haiti as it faces political chaos

US authorities can send Guatemalans, Hondurans and Salvadorans who passed through the region to Mexico under current law, but recent reports have indicated Haitians were also being sent below the border from Laredo, Texas to Ciudad Juarez. Advocates have said Haitian asylum seekers in Mexico face additional language barriers, which make them further vulnerable to risk.

Karen Musalo, director of the Center for Gender & Refugee Studies, told The Independent: There is no justification for deporting Haitians at this point in time. The US has a legal and international obligation to not return individuals to persecution, and the deportation of Haitians to the current levels of violence and instability in Haiti clearly violate our legal obligations.

Under the previous administration, ICE used a public health law known as Title 42 and cited the coronavirus pandemic to begin removing asylum seekers from the country after they arrived at the US-Mexico border.

According to the DHS official, Haitians ranged between two to five percent of the Title 42 expulsions carried out within the last three weeks, which they said mostly involved individuals encountered while attempting to cross into the US between ports of entry.

As we review and reform current immigration policies, we will continue prioritising the health and safety of everyone we encounter during the Covid-19 pandemic, the DHS statement continued. We are committed to restoring our asylum system and building an improved system.

Johan Decopin, a Haitian asylum seeker who was returned to Mexico last week with her family, told Reuters she was left with nothing after meeting US officials at the border.

They threw away our clothes and my childrens shoes, she said. We asked for asylum but they told us no.

ICE continued to deport asylum seekers and immigrants who reached the US-Mexico border last month after a judge appointed by former President Donald Trump granted a stay on the Biden administrations executive order for a 100-day moratorium on all deportations.

The judge issued a temporary restraining order against the DHS after Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who contested the results of the 2020 presidential elections in a lawsuit filed to the US Supreme Court, argued his state could suffer imminent and irreparable harm" due to the deportation ban imposed by the new White House.

"Our state defends the largest section of the southern border in the nation," the attorney general said in a lawsuit filed shortly after the executive order was announced. "Failure to properly enforce the law will directly and immediately endanger our citizens and law enforcement personnel."

ICE directed The Independent to DHS when asked about the recent deportation flights from the US to Haiti. The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Restaurants will no longer be allowed to sell pre-packaged meals through arrangements with supermarkets and other outlets, as Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley definitively closed this loophole yesterday.

Rowley said this would not be allowed to continue, as it defeats the purpose of the public health regulations. Restaurants and street food vendors were among those businesses ordered to close to limit the movement of people and curb the spread of Covid-19.
In making their case to the Senate, the House impeachment managers are focusing on the Capitol riot itself rather than on Donald Trumps responsibility, if any, for it. Yesterday, Senators watched video of a mob going after Mike Pence, Nancy Pelosi, and others, injuring police officers in the process.

The video seems to have made an impression on Republican Senators, most of whom, Im sure, were already disgusted by what happened at the Capitol. If the House managers could show that Trump is culpable for the rioting  that he advocated or desired it  they could probably win additional Republicans over. Perhaps they could even approach the two-thirds majority required for conviction.

But showing video of the rioting wont accomplish this. Nor is it likely to sway many Americans. The public, I believe, has moved past the rioting even if, understandably, those who experienced it directly have not.

Where is the evidence that Trump advocated or desired the rioting that took place? Its not in the House impeachment article. That document focuses solely on Trumps claims that he won the election and won it in a landslide  claims he had an absolute right in a free country to voice  and his statement that Americans need to fight like hell to keep their country.

Is there a member of the Senate who has not urged supporters to fight vigorously for a cause or on his/her behalf? I doubt it.

The impeachment article relies on the context of Trumps statement about fighting. The reliance is understandable, given the weak to nonexistent support Trumps actual statement provides. But when scrutinized, the context further weakens the House managers argument.

Charles Kesler demonstrates this in an excellent article about impeachment and the future of Trumpism. Kesler focuses on the full speech Trump delivered on the fateful day. He writes:

If Trumps speech has a political target, its the weak Republicans who acquiesce in election fraud and will not fight in the trenches alongside himthe Liz Cheneys of the world, as he calls them. . . Weve got to get rid of them, he says. He specifies how that should be done: we have to primary the hell out of the ones that dont fight. You primary them. Later he adds, in a year from now, youre going to start working on Congress and weve to get rid of the weak congresspeople, the ones that arent any good. A year from now means as the 2022 election cycle gears up. His incitement, so to speak, is to oppose the weak Republicans by challenging them in the normal process of American primary elections. In the meantime, he calls on the audience to walk down to the Capitol in order to cheer on our brave senators and congressmen and -women, and were probably not going to be cheering so much for some of them, because youll never take back your country with weakness. You have to show strength and you have to be strong. He adds: I know that everyone here will soon be marching over to the Capitol building to peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard. It isnt sedition to peacefully and patriotically protest, to cheer on brave legislators and boo (or in some cases, buck up with pride and boldness) the weak ones. And what if, as Trump hints is likely, the protestors are ignored and Biden receives a majority of the electoral votes and becomes president, what then? Were going to see whether or not we have great and courageous leaders or whether or not we have leaders that should be ashamed of themselves throughout history, throughout eternity. The penalty he points to is eventual public and private obloquy. If they do the wrong thing, we should never, ever forget that they did, never forget. We should never, ever forget. Despite his constant, characteristic, and exaggerated appeals to strength versus weakness, his ultimate appeal is not so much to might but to a form of right, based not merely in history but in eternity. To know you have acted shamefully is the worst penalty, he advises, or ought to be, which is where public opinionand the possibility of later electoral defeatcomes to bear as an external sanction against the otherwise shameless. This glimpse suggests how far Trumps speech is from being a call to substitute might for right by inciting his partisans to riot. In fact, the chief business of the speech is a long, informative rehearsal of the facts behind the fraud he alleges took place in seven states. Though it has humorous moments, the statement is pretty dry, and he even apologizes for that. He wraps it up by calling for a series of changes in election laws to require voter ID and to prohibit ballot harvesting, unsecured drop boxes, universal unsolicited mail-in balloting, and the like. It surely didnt sound like a rallying cry to trash the Capitol. The Houses article of impeachment quotes from the conclusion of this long section and of the address: And we fight. We fight like hell. And if you dont fight like hell, youre not going to have a country anymore. But the context proves that the fight Trump was calling for was political and legal, not criminal. Rather than seeking to obstruct the democratic process, he was urging his followers to use it to the fullest extent of the law. In my judgment, there isnt a word of incitement of insurrection in the speech.

(Emphasis added)

I agree.

Some of the things Trump said in earlier days can be construed as incitement. But the focus should be on Trumps speech the day of. Thats the definitive version of what Trump was calling for and wanted.

As Kesler says, there is nothing in the speech that can reasonably be construed as inciting an insurrection.
Advertisement

A new book sheds light on the experience of black Civil War soldier through never-seen-before photographs from the 19th century.

The American Civil War, 1861-1865, was the first major conflict to be captured through photography as the new technology of the day.

After tensions between the North and the South seethed for decades over slavery, the bloody and brutal conflict began in 1861: The Confederacy seceded from the Union and attacked Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina.

Until 1865, the war raged - leaving loss, devastation and destruction in its wake. Deborah Willis, a New York University professor that chairs its Department of Photography & Imaging, uses the medium to tell the story of African Americans during the conflict in her new book, The Black Civil War Solider.

Thomas Morris Chester, pictured left, the first African American war correspondent for a major daily newspaper, the Philadelphia Press, circa 1870. Right, a tintype photograph of an unidentified American Civil War soldier. His buttons and belt buckle are hand-colored in gold paint.

Recruitment poster for 'Men of Color' which features in a new book of unseen images of black American Civil War soldiers

A drummer from the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, circa 1863, left. Right, portrait of unidentified soldier with cap of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, circa 1863

Much of the scholarship has focused on President Abraham Lincoln and the white soldiers on both sides of the war.

Since the founding of the United States, slavery was an issue, which only became exacerbated as the country expanded West and new territories were added. The question of whether slavery should be allowed was fought in Congress and by 1854, the legislative body passed the Kansas-Nebraska Act, which 'opened all new territories to slavery,' according to History.com.

Abolitionists  those who fought to end slavery  started to turn to violent tactics, including John Brown's raid at Harper's Ferry in 1859.

Abraham Lincoln was elected president and in his 1861 inaugural address stated: 'In your hands, my dissatisfied fellow countrymen, and not in mine, is the momentous issue of civil war. The government will not assail you. You have no oath registered in Heaven to destroy the government, while I shall have the most solemn one to preserve, protect and defend it.'

When the Confederacy attacked Fort Sumter, the 16th president called on the states for volunteers and the Civil War began. States decided to stay with the Union or secede with the South, which formed its own government with Jefferson Davis as its president.

Sgt. Major John H. Wilson of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment, circa 1863, left. Christian Fleetwood who was a non-commissioned officer in the United States army and received the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions in a Battle of Chaffin's Farm in 1864 right

Charles Burleigh Purvis, circa 1900, left. Purvis served in the Union Army in the US Civil War as a military nurse at Camp Barker. He later became the first black physician to attend a sitting president when President James Garfield after he was shot by an assassin in 1881. Unidentified African American soldier in Union uniform, circa 1860s, right

Black soldiers were fighting 'even though they were prohibited from joining until July 1862, fifteen months into the war,' according to the African American Civil War Museum's website. After Congress passed the Militia Act of 1862, free black men joined volunteer regiments in Illinois and New York.

'On September 27, 1862, the first regiment to become a United States Colored Troops (USCT) regiment was officially brought into the Union army.

'All the captains and lieutenants in this Louisiana regiment were men of African descent,' according to the museum's website.

'Before the Emancipation Proclamation was issued, two more African descent regiments from Kansas and South Carolina would demonstrate their prowess in combat.'

In the third year of the war on January 1, 1863, Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, which stated 'that all persons held as slaves' 'are, and henceforward shall be free.' The War Department recruited African American soldiers and the first regiment formed was the 54th Massachusetts Infantry.

The Bureau of Colored Troops opened in May that year to facilitate the recruitment of African-American soldiers, as well as Native Americans and Asian Americans.

Images of President Abraham Lincoln, as well as Union and Confederate soldiers are well-known, however images of African-Americans from that time are rare.

African American hospital workers, including nurses, at a hospital in Nashville, Tennessee, July 1863. The image is part of a new book featuring unseen images of black Civil War soldiers. A NEW book has shed light on the experience of black Civil War soldiers, using never-before-seen photographs from the 19th century

By the end of the Civil War, 10 per cent of the Union Army were made up of black soldiers, or roughly 179,000 men.

Nearly 40,000 black soldiers died over the course of the war30,000 of infection or disease. Black soldiers served in artillery and infantry and performed all noncombat support functions that sustain an army, as well.

Black carpenters, chaplains, cooks, guards, laborers, nurses, scouts, spies, steamboat pilots, surgeons, and teamsters also contributed to the war cause.

Black women were not formally allowed to join the army, but they served as nurses, spies, and scouts.

Although being permitted to join the army, black soldiers still faced racial discrimination. Segregated units were formed with black enlisted men and were often commanded by white officers.

White soldiers were also paid better for their efforts. Black soldiers were initially paid $10 per month from which $3 was automatically deducted for clothing, resulting in a net pay of $7.

In contrast, white soldiers received $13 per month from which no clothing allowance was drawn.

Portrait of an unidentified young African American soldier in Union uniform with forage cap, circa 1860s, left. Unidentified African American soldier in Union corporal's uniform, circa 1860s, right

Discrimination in the army also resulted in large numbers of African-American soldiers being assigned to perform non-combat, support duties as cooks, laborers, and teamsters.

Black troops faced greater peril than white troops when captured by the Confederate Army, with the Confederate Congress threatening to punish severely officers of black troops and to enslave black soldiers.

This prompted President Lincoln to issue General Order 233, which threatened reprisal on Confederate prisoners of war (POWs) for any mistreatment of black soldiers.

Portrait of Harriet Tubman, the first woman to lead an armed expedition in the Civil War. Born into slavery herself, she guided a raid at Combahee Ferry, which liberated more than 700 enslaved people

Enslaved men, women, and children standing in front of buildings on Smith's Plantation, Beaufort, South Carolina, circa 1860s

Sergeant Major William L. Henderson and hospital steward Thomas H. S, left. Portrait of Charlotte L. Forten, an African-American anti-slavery activist, poet and educator, right

Abraham Lincoln in 1862, with from left, Colonel Alexander S. Webb, Chief of Staff, Fifth Corps; General George B. McClellan; Scout Adams; Dr. Jonathan Letterman, Army Medical Director; an unidentified person; and standing behind Lincoln, General Henry J. Hunt.

Fighting for respect: The history of black soldiers in the US Army The United States Colored Troops (USCT) comprised approximately 175 regiments of more than 180,000 free black men, of whom 7122 were officers. President Abraham Lincoln official authorized use of African-Americans in combat in the Emancipation Proclamation on January 1, 1863, which also freed slaves in United States. But prior to that African-Americans had already begun serving. In July of 1862, Congress passed the Militia Act , allowing the use of the African-American population to help save the Union. A few weeks after President Lincoln signed the legislation, free men of color joined volunteer regiments in Illinois and New York and African-American Units and began to see action. In August 1862, the War Department decided to officially allow the Union Army to recruit African-American soldiers. It also said that any slave who fought would be declared free and this also meant freedom for their wives and children. Those who volunteered where a mixture of free blacks living in the North and former slaves. Advertisement

The first engagement by African-American soldiers against Confederate forces during the Civil War was at the Battle of Island Mound in Bates County, Missouri on October 2829, 1862.

African Americans, mostly escaped slaves, had been recruited into the 1st Kansas Colored Volunteers. They accompanied white troops to Missouri to break up Confederate guerrilla activities based at Hog Island near Butler, Missouri. Although outnumbered, the African-American soldiers fought valiantly, and the Union forces won the engagement.

In 2012 the state established the Battle of Island Mound State Historic Site to preserve this area; the eight Union men killed were buried near the battleground.[18]

USCT regiments fought in all theaters of the war, but mainly served as garrison troops in rear areas. The most famous USCT action took place at the Battle of the Crater during the Siege of Petersburg. Regiments of USCT suffered heavy casualties attempting to break through Confederate lines. Other notable engagements include Fort Wagner, one of their first major tests, and the Battle of Nashville.[19]

USCT soldiers were among the first Union forces to enter Richmond, Virginia, after its fall in April 1865. The 41st USCT regiment was among those present at the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia at Appomattox.

Following the war, USCT regiments served among the occupation troops in former Confederate states.

Book author Deborah Willis, who is a professor of photography at New York University, sourced remarkable pictures such as that of Christian Fleetwood who was a non-commissioned officer in the United States army and received the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions in a Battle of Chaffin's Farm during the Civil War.

However, it isn't just soldiers that the book celebrates.

A portrait of William P. Powell Jr., who was one of the first African American to tend to the wounded as a surgeon.

He was one of 13 black surgeons to serve in Civil War for the Union Army.

There's also Thomas Morris Chester, the first African American war corresponded for a major daily newspaper, the Philadelphia Press.

There's also a picture of the iconic Harriet Tubman, the first woman to lead an armed expedition in the Civil War.

Born into slavery herself, she guided a raid at Combahee Ferry, which liberated more than 700 enslaved people.

Photo: @vik.explores Wildlife on the highway

As we head towards the B.C. Family Day long weekend, it appears the itch to travel remains alive and well in our province.

According to a report from Destination Canada, British Columbians have been searching online for intra-provincial travel almost as much as they did back in 2019. The study, COVID-19 Impact and Recovery Report: Domestic Travel, Updated: January 26, 2021, indicates that B.C. appears to have moved into a phase of intra-provincial travel.

The study states, "intra-provincial travel searches are nearly recovered to 2019 levels and accommodation searches and bookings are at a moderate level."



British Columbia is also the largest province in the country to have that rating, according to the study. Non-essential travel is still not recommended in B.C., but study indicates we have moved from the hyper-local phase into the intra-provincial travel phase.

Destination Canada collaborated with partners in destination marketing, media, technology and travel on the study.
The Asian Art Museum of San Francisco agreed Wednesday to return two ancient relics allegedly stolen from temples in Thailand, ending a months-long legal tussle with the federal government.

The Justice Department sued the museum in October, demanding the return of two 1,500-pound, hand-carved window decorations known as lintels, that it said were removed from Thailand without permission in the 1960s. Following four months of negotiations, the museum announced Wednesday afternoon it would relinquish the religious relics.

The move comes as American and European museums reckon with the legacy of colonialism in the presentation of non-Western art.

The United States is committed to returning stolen relics to nations seeking to preserve their heritage, U.S. Attorney David L. Anderson said in a statement cheering the settlement.

The museum disputed claims that the religious artifacts were stolen and said it had long planned to relinquish them.

This settlement will allow us to do what we have been wanting to do for some time  return the lintels to Thailand, said Jay Xu, Asian Art Museum director.

As part of the terms of the settlement, the museum will relinquish the sandstone relics by early April. But museum officials have not been approached to discuss the logistics of their transfer to Thailand and do not know their destination, museum spokesman Zac Rose said in an email.

The ancient lintels are thought to have been removed from the Nong Hong and Khao Lon temples around 1,000 years ago. In its October lawsuit, Justice Department officials alleged that Thai archaeologists believed the lintels were looted and later purchased by European dealers in the late 1960s.

The lintel from the Nong Hong Temple joined the museum collection in 1966 as a gift from art collector Avery Brundage, and the lintel from Khao Lon Temple was acquired in 1968 as a purchase.

The settlement concludes several years of legal wrangling between museum and federal officials over the relics fate.

Federal officials said they first learned in 2017 that the lintels had been illegally exported from Thailand and contacted museum officials for their repatriation. The museum removed them from display the same year.

Following a three-year review of the issue by federal officials and San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera, the museums governing board unanimously voted in September to begin the process of removing the lintels from its collection.

The museums study found no evidence that these lintels were removed from their sites contrary to the laws of Thailand, but the museum was also unable to locate copies of the export documents that the laws of that time required, museum officials said in a statement following the Sept. 22 vote.

The Justice Department sued the following month, a move that Herrera characterized as a surprise after the board had already agreed to relinquish the lintels.

On Wednesday, the museums director cheered the resolution of the dispute.

We are very pleased that these lintels are going back to their country of origin, Xu said.

Nora Mishanec is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: nora.mishanec@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @NMishanec
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Healthcare and wellness products distributor Nureca will open its initial public offering (IPO) for subscription on February 15, with the price band fixed at Rs 396-400 per share.

The company plans to raise Rs 100 crore through the issue, which includes a reservation of shares worth Rs 1 crore for its employees. The eligible employees will get shares at a discount of Rs 20 a share.

Investors can bid for a minimum of 35 equity shares and in multiples of 35 shares thereafter. The issue will close on February 17, 2021.

Nureca will utilise the proceeds for incremental working capital requirements and general corporate purposes.

A B2C company, Nureca is engaged in the business of home healthcare and wellness products. The company enables its customers with tools to help them monitor chronic ailments and other diseases to improve their lifestyle.

The company sells products through online channel partners such as e-commerce players, distributors and retailer and through own website drtrust.in.

RailTel Corporation of India to open IPO on February 16, price band fixed at Rs 93-94

The home health market in India and neighbouring countries was pegged at Rs 20,757.0 crore in 2019 and is expected to grow to Rs 38,920.7 crore by 2025 at a CAGR 11 percent.

Nurcea classifies its product portfolio in five categories such as chronic , orthopaedic, mother and child products, nutrition supplements and lifestyle products.

The book running lead managers to the issue is the ITI Capital. The company will list its equity shares on the BSE and NSE.
A homeless man walks with his bike ,dog, and possessions in Santa Ana, Calif., on Dec. 17, 2020. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times)

Santa Ana Holds Forum to Help Low-Income Residents Push Through Pandemic

The City of Santa Ana was planning to hold an online forum Feb. 10 to help protect residents from eviction during the ongoing pandemic.

Officials were planning to educate low-income renters about some programs it offers to help support those whose lives became more challenging as a result of the COVID-19 virus.

One of its services, Santa Ana SAVES Eviction Protection Program, helps residents cover rental payments and arrears. The city is also offering free legal and mediation services as it works to protect people from homelessness.

Recipients can also receive help covering security fees, moving costs, credit repair, and more.

The SAVES program was funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, which awarded the city about $11.6 million as authorized by the CARES Act. Of that money, about $5.76 million will be used for the SAVES program.

The SAVES program is expected to help 750 Santa Ana households, with an average of $5,000 in rental assistance per household, though the number will fluctuate by individual need.

Meantime, a city eviction defense fund approved last August is expected to help 85 low-income households with legal services.

To qualify for the SAVES program, residents must live in Santa Ana and must be able to demonstrate COVID-19 related financial hardship impacting their ability to pay rent. Households must also review the income qualification table for the program to ensure their yearly income is lower than the 50 percent of the area median income for their family size.

After determining qualification, residents must complete a pre-application process to be screened, and then complete the full application once approved and provide the required documentation.

If approved, residents will be able to start receiving the assistance requested. The program began Feb. 1.

A Zoom meeting featuring information on the program and where residents will be able to ask questions will take place February 10 at 7 p.m.
Nicola Sturgeon warned of vaccine shortages due to Pfizer issues today despite No10 insisting it is 'confident' the UK has enough.

The First Minister said that the number of appointments being offered north of the border could be scaled back, blaming high uptake and Pfizer manufacturing problems.

Ms Sturgeon told her daily briefing that the Scottish government also needed to 'preserve some stocks for second doses'.

But Downing Street dismissed concerns about shortages, with the PM's spokesman saying: 'We're confident of our vaccine supply and we're confident that we can hit our target of vaccinating all those top four groups by Monday.'

The tensions emerged as ministers urge the last two million people in the top four vaccination groups to come forward.

The government is aiming to have covered around 15million Britons in the top four categories by February 15, with the total passing 13million yesterday.

The exact number of jabs needed to reach the goal depends on uptake, with government experts saying that will also be pivotal in lifting lockdown.

Nicola Sturgeon said that the number of appointments being offered north of the border could be scaled back, blaming high uptake and Pfizer manufacturing problems.

No10 insisted it is 'confident' the UK has enough vaccine supplies. Pictured, Boris Johnson at PMQs yesterday

Scots consider English border Covid patrols Scotland could introduce checkpoints on roads and rail links with England. Scottish transport chief Michael Matheson said that it was looking at a range of measures to close a loophole allowing visitors to avoid hotel quarantine by flying into England. England is only quarantining Red List arrivals but Scotland wants all travellers locked up for 10 days. However, attempts to have travellers destined for Scotland identified when they land in England appear to have failed. This would mean there would be nothing to stop them continuing their journey. Mr Matheson told the BBC's Good Morning Scotland: 'We're looking at the possibility of a range of measures and whether the individual should then have to come to a quarantine facility within Scotland. 'However, the danger with that approach and the challenge with that approach is that it involves individuals travelling potentially on public transport to get to that particular facility.' Advertisement

Ms Sturgeon said today that Scotland rollout - which has come under fire for being slower than England's - had now reached a million people.

'By Sunday, we expect to give vaccines to 70,000 more people than we originally anticipated in the deployment plan,' she said.

'This is due to the higher vaccine take-up rates than we had anticipated.

'These two factors combined with the need to preserve some stocks for second doses, mean we have to ensure we don't schedule more appointments than our vaccine supplies allow.'

Ms Sturgeon said that this might result in a reduction of appointments that can be scheduled.

However, she added that if vaccine supplies increase in that time, they would 'very rapidly' be able to accelerate the programme again.

She said that Scotland is still on track to meet all targets set out  including that all over-50s should expect to receive their first dose by mid-May.

Meanwhile, Matt Hancock hailed the 'incredible' vaccine takeup today as he said he is 'confident' the target of offering jabs to the four most vulnerable groups will be hit by Monday.

The Health Secretary welcomed the proportion of people agreeing to have inoculations as he called for the last two million people to contact the NHS.

In a round of interviews this morning, Mr Hancock said hitting the target was 'obviously critical' but it wasn't 'just about making the offer'.

'It is also about driving uptake,' he told BBC Breakfast. 'Amongst 75 to 79-year-olds  people in their late 70s  uptake has been 96%, it is absolutely incredible.

'However, every extra percent reduces the number of people who are not protected and that is crucial to how effective the overall rollout is.'

Chief science officer Sir Patrick Vallance warned last night that lockdown-loosening plans will have to go even slower if large numbers of vulnerable people remained unvaccinated.

This would mean there is always the threat of a rapid spike in deaths and hospitalisations, he said.

There are concerns that social care workers are more reluctant to come forward or have been missed because of shift patterns and that some elderly people are having trouble booking appointments or reaching vaccination centres.

GPs are now being paid commission to inoculate the housebound in their homes and family doctors are being urged to make personal calls to all their older patients who have not received their injection. Roving teams will hunt for care home staff who have been missed and drive-through centres have been set up to give them a more flexible way to get their jab without leaving their cars.

Meanwhile, data suggests up to twice as many black, Asian and ethnic minority Brits are turning down the vaccine compared to white people, which is believed to be due to a mistrust in Government. The NHS is working with local faith and community leaders to tackle vaccine hesitancy and counter anti-vaxx propaganda online.

So far Number 10 has batted away calls to start injecting younger people if those in the priority groups are turning them down or missing appointments.

But some areas of the country leading the way in the vaccine roll-out have taken it on themselves to start jabbing under-70s.
Vancouver, British Columbia - February 11, 2021 (Investorideas.com Newswire, MiningSectorStocks.com and RenewableEnergyStocks.com) Mining / Metals / Green Energy Stock News- Defense Metals Corp. ("Defense Metals") (TSX-V:DEFN / OTCQB:DFMTF/ 35D: FSE) is pleased to announce that it has engaged Welsbach Holdings Pte Ltd. ("Welsbach") to assist in building awareness for its Wicheeda Rare Earth Element (REE) Property ("Wicheeda"), providing physical product market research, introductions to supply chain partners, and assistance in commercial negotiations.

The road accessible Wicheeda REE Property is located close to infrastructure approximately 80 kilometres northeast of Prince George, British Columbia (BC). The Wicheeda project has indicated mineral resources of 4,890,000 tonnes averaging 3.02% LREO (Light Rare Earth Elements) and inferred mineral resources of 12,100,000 tonnes averaging 2.90% LREO[1]. Flotation pilot-plant processing of a 26-tonne bulk sample of Wicheeda REE material yielded a mineral concentrate averaging 7.4% NdPr oxide (neodymium-praseodymium) critical magnet metals[2].

Craig Taylor, CEO of Defense Metals, stated: "The engagement of Welsbach will enable Defense Metals to leverage their extensive experience and relationships in the Asia-Pacific region (Australia, Singapore, China, Japan, and South Korea), Continental Europe, and the United States towards engaging in one-on-one discussions with REE refiners and separators. The goal is the successful negotiation of one or more binding commercial REE offtake and/or other supply chain agreements with respect to the Wicheeda REE Deposit. Welsbach will immediately commence its work aiding with respect to strategic partner identification, business introductions, and ultimately commercial negotiations."

Brendan Jephcott, Welsbach's Asia advisory partner said: "We are pleased to engage with Defense Metals Corp. regarding the Wicheeda project. The current global situation requires supply chains to strengthen their resilience and increase their capacity, in order to respond to growing demand. Part of our mission at Welsbach is to support the efforts of junior mining companies and assist them in their commercial processes. Welsbach is a specialist in the Energy Transition Metals Supply Chain and we are keen to bring Defense Metals Corp project to our network of mid and downstream partners".

About Welsbach Holdings Pte Ltd.

For more information regarding Welsbach please click here.

Welsbach invests and develops projects that are related to technology materials and clean energy generation. Welsbach has supply chains partners in the upstream and midstream segments; Welsbach also focuses on R&D solutions for industrial consumers in the downstream segment.

Carl Auer Von "Welsbach" was an Austrian scientist who separated didymium into the elements neodymium and praseodymium in 1885. His work on rare-earth elements led to the development of the ferrocerium "flints" used in modern lighters, the gas mantle, which brought light to the streets of Europe in the late 19th century, and the metal-filament light bulb.

About the Wicheeda REE Property

The 1,708 hectare Wicheeda REE Property, located approximately 80 km northeast of the city of Prince George, British Columbia, is readily accessible by all-weather gravel roads and is nearby to infrastructure, including power transmission lines, the CN railway and major highways.

Geologically, the property is situated in the Foreland Belt and within the Rocky Mountain Trench, a major continental geologic feature. The Foreland Belt contains part of a large alkaline igneous province, stretching from the Canadian Cordillera to the southwestern United States, which includes several carbonatite and alkaline intrusive complexes hosting the Aley (niobium), Rock Canyon (REE), and Wicheeda (REE) deposits.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information contained in this news release as it relates to the Wicheeda REE Property has been reviewed and approved by Kristopher J. Raffle, P.Geo. (BC) Principal and Consultant of APEX Geoscience Ltd. of Edmonton, AB, a director of Defense Metals and a "Qualified Person" as defined in National Instrument 43-101  Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Mr. Raffle verified the data disclosed which includes a review of the analytical and test data underlying the information and opinions contained therein.

About Defense Metals Corp.

Defense Metals Corp. is a mineral exploration company focused on the acquisition of mineral deposits containing metals and elements commonly used in the electric power market, military, national security and the production of "GREEN" energy technologies, such as, high strength alloys and rare earth magnets. Defense Metals has an option to acquire 100% of the 1,708 hectare Wicheeda Rare Earth Element Property located near Prince George, British Columbia, Canada. Defense Metals Corp. trades in Canada under the symbol "DEFN" on the TSX Venture Exchange, in the United States, under "DFMTF" on the OTCQB and in Germany on the Frankfurt Exchange under "35D".

For further information, please contact:

Todd Hanas, Bluesky Corporate Communications Ltd.

Vice President, Investor Relations

Tel: (778) 994 8072

Email: todd@blueskycorp.ca

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding "Forward-Looking" Information

This news release contains "forwardlooking information or statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, which may include, without limitation, statements relating to the services to be provided by Welsbach and the expected outcomes including the negotiation and completion of commercial agreements, plans for its Wicheeda Property, the advancement and development of the Wicheeda Property, the technical, financial and business prospects of the Company, its project and other matters. All statements in this news release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that the Company expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. 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. Such statements and information are based on numerous assumptions regarding present and future business strategies and the environment in which the Company will operate in the future, including the price of rare earth elements, the ability to achieve its goals, that general business and economic conditions will not change in a material adverse manner, that financing will be available if and when needed and on reasonable terms. Such forward-looking information reflects the Company's views with respect to future events and is subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including those filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. While such estimates and assumptions are considered reasonable by the management of the Company, they are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive and regulatory uncertainties and risks. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward looking statements include, but are not limited to, continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions, adverse weather conditions, failure to maintain or obtain all necessary government permits, approvals and authorizations, failure to maintain community acceptance (including First Nations), decrease in the price of rare earth elements, the impact of Covid-19 or other viruses and diseases on the Company's ability to operate increase in costs, litigation, and failure of counterparties to perform their contractual obligations. The Company does not undertake to update forwardlooking statements or forwardlooking information, except as required by law.

Paid News -Disclaimer/Disclosure: Investorideas.com is a digital publisher of third party sourced news, articles and equity research as well as creates original content, including video, interviews and articles. Original content created by investorideas is protected by copyright laws other than syndication rights. Our site does not make recommendations for purchases or sale of stocks, services or products. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. All investment involves risk and possible loss of investment. This site is currently compensated for news publication and distribution, social media and marketing, content creation and more. Contact each company directly regarding content and press release questions. Disclosure is posted for each compensated news release, content published /created if required but otherwise the news was not compensated for and was published for the sole interest of our readers and followers. Disclosure : this news release featuring Defense Metals Corp. is a paid for service on Investorideas.com ($750) More disclaimer info: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp Learn more about publishing your news release and our other news services on the Investorideas.com newswire https://www.investorideas.com/News-Upload/ and tickertagstocknews.com

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[1] Technical Report on the Wicheeda Property, British Columbia, effective June 27, 2020 and prepared by APEX Geoscience Ltd. (Steven J. Nicholls, B.A. Sc., MAIG and Kristopher J. Raffle, B.Sc., P.Geo) is available under Defense Metals Corp.'s profile on SEDAR (www.sedar.com)

[2] See Defense Metals News Release dated September 23, 2020
Five cases in total were discovered on Thursday which were recorded in Fridays official numbers. There are now 19 active cases in total in Victoria, with over 24,000 tests conducted on Thursday. Authorities confirmed on Thursday there were between 400 and 500 close contacts of confirmed cases. There are no mystery cases in Victoria  it has been 37 days since the state had a case with no known source. Brunetti cafe at Terminal 4 of Melbourne Airport was added to the states growing list of Tier 1 exposure sites just after midnight on Thursday.

A newly confirmed positive case was at the cafe for more than eight hours from 4.45am to 1.15pm on Tuesday, February 9 while potentially infectious. Melbourne Airport confirmed 29 domestic flights arrived and departed Terminal 4 during that period, and a deep clean of the area was conducted overnight on Thursday in response to the news. Anyone who visited the cafe or who worked during those times is being directed to isolate and test immediately and remain isolated for 14 days. Nancy Baxter, a clinical epidemiologist at the University of Melbourne, said Victorian authorities should be thinking very hard about implementing a snap lockdown to stem any unlinked transmission from the new cases.

What I am concerned about is as the at-risk sites grow and grow, there is the potential there has been some kind of spread outside of that group of close contacts that is already in quarantine [and] it could be a week or more before we know it, Professor Baxter told Nines Today program. Then there is that opportunity for spread throughout the community, under our very noses. I think if there is a time to really get this under control the time probably is now. Loading

But other experts are more confident in Victorias contact tracing system. Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness chair Jane Halton told Today she was reassured by a high number of Melburnians coming forward for testing. I really hope we dont need to lockdown, but everybody right now needs to read that list of what the hotspots are, think about where they have been, get themselves tested, if they actually have any symptoms, so no a lockdown will not be necessary, she said. COVID-19 response commander Jeroen Weimar said one of the five cases announced on Thursday was believed to have had some contact with Camberwell Grammar School. The school closed on Thursday. Genomic sequencing has confirmed that at least six of the 13 cases linked to the Holiday Inn are the more contagious B.1.1.7 strain of COVID-19, often referred to as the British variant.

As of Friday morning, there were 29 different Tier 1 exposure sites - which require mandatory 14 days of isolation for attendees  in 14 different suburbs across Melbourne. There are exposure sites in Brighton, Brandon Park, Clayton South, Glen Waverley, Heatherton, Keysborough, Maidstone, Melbourne Airport, Melbourne CBD, Moorabbin Airport, Noble Park, Springvale, Sunbury, Sunshine, Taylors Lakes and West Melbourne. There are eight sites in Sunbury alone. Professor Catherine Bennett, the inaugural chair in Epidemiology at Deakin University, said the detection of fragments in wastewater samples earlier this week would be at the forefront of the minds of government advisers this morning. Loading

Yesterday the government confirmed at least one case had been linked to wastewater samples in the Coburg- Pascoe Vale-Reservoir catchment, but there were also traces of COVID-19 found in Roxburgh Park, Broadmeadows, Westmeadows and Glenroy that had not been accounted for yet. Thats probably going to create a level of nervousness that there are missed cases and thats where it is so important that that you know people are really checking out those exposure sites, and getting tested if there were there, or if they got symptoms, she told 3AW. The outbreak, which authorities believe may have begun by the use of a nebuliser inside the hotel, prompted several states to tighten their borders to travellers from Greater Melbourne yesterday. South Australia snapped its border shut to travellers from Melbourne at midnight on Thursday, while Queensland will ban entry to visitors to the citys exposure sites from 1am on Saturday. Western Australia also announced its hard border to Victoria would be extended for at least another seven days. NSW remains open to all Victorians, but incoming passengers are being screened. NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian reaffirmed on Friday morning she had no intention of closing the border with Victoria.
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According to Stratistics MRC, the Global Tamper Evident Packaging market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.2% during the forecast period. Some of the key factors such as increasing demand for tamper evident packaging in various end-use industries such as food & beverages, pharmaceutical, cosmetics & personal care industry and growing disposable incomes of consumers across the globe are boosting the market growth. However, stringent regulations are hampering the market growth.



Tamper Evident Packaging has one or several barriers of entry that provide visible evidence to a consumer that a product has tampered. It also needs to include a description of the safety feature used on the packaging for easier understanding by the consumer, such as a clear how to open visual instruction.

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By end user, cosmetics & personal care industries segment has growing importance due to the expanding industries across the globe. By geography, Asia Pacific is likely to have a huge demand due to the rise in the expansion of pharmaceutical, food & beverages industry in this region. Moreover, growing consciousness related to food safety among consumers and rising living standards of consumers also driving the market growth.



Some of the key players in this market include Ampac Holding LLC., Baker & McKenzie LLP, DuPont, Dynacorp, Enercon industries Corporation, Harcor, Interpack Ltd., Placon, Schreiner Group, Seal King Europe and Traco Manufacturing, Inc. .

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Materials Covered:

 Plastics

 Paper Lids

 Metal

 Glass

 Other Materials



Products Covered:

 Blister/Strip Packs

 Bubble Packs

 Film Wrappers

 Induction Seal

 Shrink Sleeves

 Other Products



End Users Covered:

 Cosmetics & Personal Care

 Food & Beverages

 Pharmaceutical

 Vacuum

 Other End Users



Regions Covered:

 North America

o US

o Canada

o Mexico

 Europe

o Germany

o UK

o Italy

o France

o Spain

o Rest of Europe

 Asia Pacific

o Japan

o China

o India

o Australia

o New Zealand

o South Korea

o Rest of Asia Pacific

 South America

o Argentina

o Brazil

o Chile

o Rest of South America

 Middle East & Africa

o Saudi Arabia

o UAE

o Qatar

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Hungary expects to receive 500,000 doses of the Chinese firm Sinopharm's coronavirus vaccine next week and plans to start administering it soon, becoming the first EU country to use it, prime minister Viktor Orban's chief of staff said on Thursday, breakingnews.ie

Hungary also on Thursday became the first European Union member to administer Russia's Sputnik V vaccine, after its regulator granted the shot emergency use approval rather than waiting for a green light from the EU's European Medicines Agency (EMA).

Hungary wants to speed up its inoculation programme despite delays in Western vaccine deliveries, in order to be able to lift lockdown measures and kickstart the economy. It has also granted approval to Sinopharm's vaccine.

The first 2,800 doses of Sputnik V are being given to those who have registered for inoculations and do not have a chronic disease, the surgeon general has said.

Mr Orban's chief of staff, Gergely Gulyas, told a briefing that Hungary had decided to issue a certificate of immunity from Covid-19 for those who have been inoculated, those who have recovered from the virus and those who can show the presence of antibodies in a blood test.

Mr Gulyas said the government has not yet decided what exemptions these certificates would entitle the holder to.
A Dublin doctor is due to stand trial next year for possession and distribution of child abuse images.

Dr Ronan Keogan (48) of College Square, Terenure faces five charges of possessing child pornography images at his clinic and three charges of knowingly distributing child pornography in 2017.

Dr Keogan previously appeared before Dublin District Court charged with possession of digital images of child pornography at his clinic at Cypress Park, Templeogue, Dublin, on May 15, 2017.

He is also charged that on March 26, 2017, at unknown locations, he did knowingly distribute child pornography for the purpose of distribution, publication, exportation, sale or show. The offences are contrary to section 6(1) and 5(1) of the Child trafficking and Pornography Act, 1998.

The case came before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court this morning when Phillip Rahn BL, defending, told Judge Martin Nolan that his client was seeking a date for a trial of up to four days.

Judge Nolan set a trial date of November 8, 2022. Due to the need for social distancing in courtrooms Mr Keogan, who is remanded on continuing bail, waited outside the courtroom while the brief matter was heard.

A no publicity order was previously imposed on the case at the district court after an application from his solicitor Dara Robinson.

This order was lifted following queries from media organisations when the case came to the circuit court.

Homeland star Claire Danes will replace Keira Knightley in period drama The Essex Serpent, Apple has announced.

Knightley reportedly pulled out of the show due to concerns over childcare during the pandemic.

Claire Danes will play a Victorian widow in The Essex Serpent (Ian West/PA)

Danes, an Emmy, Golden Globe and SAG Award winner, will now play the lead role in the Apple TV+ drama.

The US actress will star as the newly widowed Cora, who relocates from Victorian London to a small village in Essex, intrigued by a local superstition that a mythical creature has returned to the area.

The Essex Serpent is based on Sarah Perrys best-selling 2016 book and the series will be directed by Clio Barnard, with Anna Symon serving as lead writer.

Danes first found fame in 1994 teen drama series My So-Called Life.

She later starred opposite Leonardo DiCaprio in Baz Luhrmanns 1996 big screen adaptation of Romeo And Juliet.

Danes is perhaps best known for playing Carrie Mathison in drama series Homeland.
H-E-B is proving here everything is better  and bigger  thanks to a post seen and envied around the world.

On Feb. 1, Jessica Medrano, a League City H-E-B shopper, shared a Facebook photo of a kitchen drawer. Perfectly nestled in it is H-E-B's Texas Tough variety pack of storage bags. The already viral post, with 90,000-plus shares, got another boost on Sunday, when Dallas-based viral internet personality Michael Worthington Jr. posted Medrano's photo.

RELATED: 11 H-E-B items Texas Twitter convinced me I needed to add to my shopping list

Rather than stacking an assortment of bag containers in a cabinet, the H-E-B item is a big box with easy access slits for different sizes of baggies, from snack to gallon. The pack comes with 370 bags all in one box.

Medrano summed up the satisfying feeling of having neat drawer space.

You know you are an adult when you are excited about this!!  #adultinglevelup *disclaimer: I do not sell this.... Posted by GypsyChicken Designs on Monday, February 1, 2021

"You know you are an adult when you are excited about this," she captioned the photo.

More than 90,000 shares on the original post and 53,000 on Worthington's, people around the world are wondering how they can get H-E-B in their cities.

RELATED: H-E-B opened 2,300 vaccine appointments in San Antonio Wednesday, but spots were filled quickly

"That would make my bottom draw in the kitchen look sooooo much better. Lol. Only thing is I have never seen that set up in Australia," one person replied to Worthington's post.

"I wish Canada had these I've never seen this before," another said.

Others tried finding dupes on Amazon. Ziploc has a similar item, but the configuration is different. Rather than having slits, the Ziploc product is just a big box with smaller boxes inside. People in the replies also noted the price difference.

H-E-B lists the Texas Tough set for $14.39 online.

Dya Campos, H-E-B's director of public affairs, said the variety pack is a new item. The team had an "epiphany" to create a drawer-friendly box after realizing many customers do not store their baggies in cabinets. She said researchers went out and measured different drawer sizes to find the most-common dimensions to create a space-saving item. Campos said the box comes from a supplier in Seguin.

Madalyn Mendoza covers news and puro pop culture for MySA.com | mmendoza@mysa.com | @maddyskye
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-11 20:28:05|Editor: huaxia

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SANTIAGO, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- Residents of Chile's remote Pacific island of Rapa Nui, better known as Easter Island, began receiving vaccinations against COVID-19 this week, after the arrival of the first 1,200 doses of a vaccine developed by Chinese pharmaceutical firm Sinovac Biotech.

The vaccine arrived last Thursday on a cargo flight from South America, and soon began immunizing the locals of the Polynesian island that has seen zero cases since mid-March, when local authorities barred the entry of tourists to curb the spread of the disease.

The move was effective, but potentially painful, cutting off the community's major source of income. Now residents hope the vaccine push will help kickstart the economy.

"We are tremendously thankful to have the Chinese vaccine," Rapa Nui Mayor Pedro Edmunds told Xinhua, adding that having "the solution (to the pandemic) come from a similarly ancient people like the Chinese is highly appreciated."

Rapa Nui will receive 1,200 doses a week until it reaches 16,000, with the aim of inoculating 8,000 islanders in the first half of the year, according to authorities.

On Monday, 130 people were immunized, including hospital officials and those over the age of 85.

"The vast majority see this process as positive, as something that must be done, because Rapa Nui is a community that is very attentive to global news and information. People are informed," said Edmunds.

In addition, authorities prepared audiovisual capsules to help residents understand the science behind the vaccine.

Ovahe Tepano, a doctor and president of the Health Foundation for Rapa Nui, which promotes the physical and mental well-being of the population, said Sinovac's CoronaVac vaccine "has been well accepted."

"People feared the virus would reach the island, because the hospital is small, and it would have been devastating ... The vaccine gives us security and hope that we will not have deaths to regret," she said.

On March 16, with four confirmed COVID-19 cases and only three ventilators at the local hospital, the local government proposed a "tapu," or "sacred order" to completely close off the island situated about 3,700 km away from continental Chile, and called for "umanga," an ancestral concept that evokes collaboration and mutual solidarity.

It was a tough decision to make for an economy that relies 100 percent on tourism.

"We were aware the coming months were, and are, uncertain. We had to organize society into a kind of sustainability with the bare minimum," said Edmunds, noting that 317 days have passed with no signs of COVID-19.

The city has rolled out a program to employ 800 people out of the 1,800 who were without work in park maintenance, repairing facades and promoting environmental care, as part of a plan to beautify the island, which could receive up to 16 flights and 5,800 visitors a week at one point once travel resumes.

In contrast to the health and economic crises plaguing other parts of the world, last year Easter Island was able to resume face-to-face classes, while people returned to the workplace.

Crime dropped and resources were redirected towards ecological and healthcare projects, so the emergence of the pandemic and the absence of tourists were not entirely a disaster, but helped the local community reinvent itself, Edmunds said.

With the vaccination drive underway, as well as a newfound focus on the well-being of the people and the environment, Easter Island is once again preparing to reopen to tourists in the second half of the year.

The pandemic has now become "an opportunity, not a problem for the Rapa Nui people," added Edmunds. Enditem
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A 'rampaging driver' who allegedly stole seven vehicles during a nine-hour crime spree was finally brought down by Queensland police, with the dramatic arrest captured on video.

The 27-year-old man is facing 35 charges over the terrifying ordeal which began near Rockhampton in Central Queensland and finished on the outskirts of Emerald, 350km away.

Police tried multiple times to stop the man who had allegedly bashed a pensioner and held others against their will.

Dramatic footage shows the man being wrestled to the ground by officers after police deployed road spikes for a second time to disable the vehicle he was driving.

The 27-year-old man is facing 35 charges over the terrifying ordeal which began in near Rockhampton in Central Queensland and finished on the outskirts of Emerald - 350 km away

The long list of charges: - Ten counts of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle - Eight counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle - Three counts of armed robbery - Two counts of deprivation of liberty - Two counts of evade police - Two counts of willful damage - Two counts of stealing - One count of obstruct a police officer - One count of attempted armed robbery - One count of attempted unlawful use of a motor vehicle - One count of assault - One count of enter premises with intent and trespass Advertisement

The man's alleged highway reign of terror began on Tuesday morning at about 9.40am when he allegedly trespassed at a Meikleville Hill property and pulled a knife on a resident.

He then allegedly forced a 44-year-old neighbour out of his 4WD wagon and drove off.

At about 10am police intercepted the 4WD which pulled over on Rockhampton Yeppoon Road, in Ironpot - but the attempt to stop the vehicle did not go to plan.

'It was driven away at speed, narrowly missing a stationary police car and an officer on foot,' police said.

Police alleged the 4WD was then driven dangerously through Parkhurst, Park Avenue and Gracemere, where it collided with the rear of a station wagon on Knight Street at about 11.30am.

Just 20 minutes later the man allegedly drove onto a work site on the Capricorn Highway, forcing tradesmen to dive out of the way.

He then allegedly abandoned the 4WD and took off in a Ford ute.

When the man tried to refuel at a petrol station on Anakie Sapphire Road, Sapphire, he ditched the ute and approached a home on the Capricorn Highway near Emerald where he allegedly threatened a 37-year-old woman and stole her red hatchback.

About 2pm he allegedly stole an Isuzu wagon from Vine Tree Road which police alleged was seen driving dangerously on the Capricorn Highway towards Emerald.

'The Isuzu evaded interception through a series of dangerous manoeuvres causing police and other road users to swerve off-road,' police said.

Further down the highway the man allegedly bashed a 73-year-old and stole his Ford SUV.

Pictured: The dramatic moment officers move in to arrest the 'rampaging driver'

Pictured: Officers are seen dragging the man out of the vehicle on the Capricorn Highway

Just moments later he allegedly collided with a Hyundai hatchback and continued driving.

'The SUV was driven toward the outskirts of Emerald where police successfully deployed a tyre deflation device,' police said.

'The man fled the damaged car before assaulting a 52-year-old man in an Isuzu ute nearby. Police intervened and the man fled on foot.'

He then approached a 61-year-old woman in an Audi wagon and allegedly forced his way into the vehicle.

Police said the man made the woman drive a short way down the Capricorn Highway before letting her and her passengers - two men aged 29 and 34 - out of the car.

He then drove to Bluff, where 'he pulled directly into the path of a Toyota ute, causing it to stop on the Capricorn Highway,' police said.

Police tried multiple times to stop the man who had allegedly bashed a pensioner and held others against their will

Pictured: The suspect was finally taken into custody at about 6:20pm on Tuesday

The man then allegedly forced the terrified 22-year-old driver out of the ute and drove it east toward Dingo.

His alleged rampage finally came to an end at about 6.20pm when police successfully deployed another tyre deflation device on the Capricorn Highway near Emerald.

'The ute came to a stop and then allegedly reversed into the front of a police vehicle. The man was then taken into custody,' police said.

He appeared in the Rockhampton Magistrates Court on Thursday charged with 10 counts of dangerous operation of a vehicle, three counts of armed robbery, two counts of deprivation of liberty, two counts of evading police as well as one count of armed robbery.

Burma Myanmar Military Regime Probes Finances of Daw Aung San Suu Kyis Charity

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi with staff from the Mobile Library, one of the projects run by the Daw Khin Kyi Foundation. / Daw Khin Kyi Foundation

YANGONThe military regime has launched an investigation into the finances of the Daw Khin Kyi Foundation, a charity founded by Myanmar State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, who has been detained by the military since it seized power from her government. The move has raised fears that it could be a pretext to file more charges against the countrys de facto leader.

Two executives of the foundation were summoned by officials at the militarys investigation bureau in Yangon a week ago, family members said.

A relative of Dr. Thant Thaw Kaung told The Irrawaddy on Friday that the executive had not been arrested but was required to go to the bureau everyday to be questioned about the foundations finances.

He has to go there in the morning but returns home at night; he is asked about [the foundations] accounts all day long, the family member said.

Dr. Thant Thaw Kaung is a publisher and founder of the Myanmar Book Center in Yangon.

Named after Daw Aung San Suu Kyis late mother, Daw Khin Kyi, the foundation was established in 2012 to promote improvement in the health, education and living standards of the Myanmar people, especially in the countrys least developed areas.

Until the coup, the foundation also accepted public donations for COVID-19 vaccinations. As of Jan. 29, two days before the takeover, it had transferred a total of 2.5 billion kyats (US$1.77 million) to the government. Following the coup, the foundation announced it was closing temporarily.

Dr. Thant Thaw Kaungs wife said in a recent Facebook post that her husband had proved there were no irregularities in the foundations finances, adding that none of the organizations property had been confiscated so far.

As the investigations are likely to end in one or two days, I believe the truth will prevail and his involvement [in the investigation] will end completely, she said.

The military regime has detained Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and charged her with violating the Export and Import Law, claiming it found nine illegally imported walkie-talkies at her residence in Naypyitaw.

The reason for the militarys investigation of the foundation is not yet clear, but it has prompted speculation that regime officials are combing her affairs for any possible reasons to pursue more charges against hersuch as, for example, accepting money from foreign countries.

In a statement on its website, the foundation says it is politically neutral and works with government agencies, international NGOs and other partners.

Receiving funds from within the country as well as from friends of Burma abroad, we are able to accept charitable donations, public and private subsidies and legacies according to the law, it says.

You may also like these stories:

Myanmar Anti-Coup Protesters Defy Ban, Take to Streets for Fifth Day

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For five and a half years, The Marshall Project has tracked every execution in America. Despite the trauma suffered in these casesall of them marked by profound lossesthey are all too often invisible to most of us.

By recording each story and noting every death, we could show how the machinery of capital punishment quietly grinds forward while few are watching. In the process, we hoped to better understand how our courts and prisons dispense their most severe punishment.

To do this, we created The Next to Die and built a national network of news organizations to help us cover individual cases. On paper, the federal government and 27 states allow juries to impose death sentences for the worst crimes. In practice, fewer than half carry out such sentences, among them Alabama, which plans to put to death Willie B. Smith III on Thursday in its first execution of the year.

Even for those on death row, executions are rare. Since The Marshall Project began tracking cases in August of 2015, the courts set death dates for more than 230 people in these active death penalty states, a small fraction of the nearly 2,600 people sitting on death rows across the country. Many prisoners convinced courts to allow them to pursue additional appeals or were granted reprieves by governors. Yet 120 were executed in that time.

They were sentenced to die for crimes that led to the deaths of many others. Corpus Christi, Texas, Police Lt. Stuart Alexander was run down and killed while trying to stop a freeway chase. Harriet Smith was shot in a drug robbery in Missouri in 2002. Charles Estep was stabbed more than three dozen times in his Tennessee prison cell in 1985. Three-year-old Sheila Marie Evans was raped and beaten to death by her mothers boyfriend in Ohio.

After marking these cases, we are winding down The Next to Die and beginning a new series of stories on capital punishment, Death Sentences. More than five years of immersion in the death penalty allowed us to unearth new truths about the criminal justice system and the erratic ways it metes out punishment. We learned that very often a death date is not finaland many of those awaiting execution find the day scheduled and rescheduled. We saw that even once that date arrives, appeals and bureaucratic delays mean that the condemned and the victims families can wait hours and hours before someone is put to death. And we saw that even as capital punishment waned overall in the U.S., enough states pursued it that someone has been executed every two and a half weeks on average since the summer of 2015.

The case of Juan Castillo in Texas offers a snapshot of the convoluted path to execution. Convicted of killing his girlfriends former lover in a robbery, Castillo was scheduled to die in May of 2017, which was then rescheduled for September. After Hurricane Harvey hit Houston, where his lawyers were based, the district attorney withdrew the date to give them more time to prepare. Castillo was then set to be executed in December before the courts halted the process to allow him to pursue an appeal. Eventually a new date was set for May of 2018. After the appointed hour arrived and initial delays, Castillo, who maintained his innocence, was killed by lethal injection and pronounced dead 44 minutes after the execution was scheduled to start.

The wheels of the criminal justice system roll steadily, but the outcome is rarely certain or swift, for anyone involved.

Alabama and national executions (Graphic Katie Park, The Marshall Project)

Executions keep coming, even as some states struggle to carry them out.

State and federal governments put people to death more frequently than many of us realize, even though fewer and fewer states impose the ultimate penalty. While there can be long stretches in individual states between executions, when you look at the country as a whole, capital punishment is far from extinct.

One reason the death penalty endures is because some statesmostly in the Southpursue it with particular fervor. Since The Next to Die began, Texas has executed 43 people, twice as many as Georgia, the next closest state. Arkansas broke an 11-year hiatus to execute four men in eight days in 2017 (four others were granted stays) before its supply of lethal drugs expired. Virginia, historically a death penalty leader, executed only three and had to borrow the drugs from Texas to kill Alfredo Prieto.

On April 24, 2017, Arkansas executed Jack Jones and Marcel Williams in the span of about three hours. Under the Trump administration, federal executions resumed after a 17-year hiatus.

And yet, since its heyday in the 1990s when 98 people were put to death in one year, capital punishment has fallen off considerably. In states like Colorado, legislatures have abolished the sentence outright, sending anyone remaining on death row to serve out life sentences in the general prison population. Last week, Virginias legislature voted to ban death as a punishment. The governors of California and Pennsylvania have said they will not carry out any executions.

Then COVID-19 upended nearly everything in the world, and the death penalty was no different. Several states, including Texas and Tennessee, delayed executions during the pandemic. At the same time, the federal government pushed ahead with an uncharacteristic surge and put 13 people to death, drawing criticism and legal filings arguing that the executions turned into superspreader events for coronavirus, infecting more than a dozen people.

Even Texas has seen executions ebb after the legislature in 2005 allowed juries in capital murder cases to sentence people to life without parole instead of death.

In addition, a series of U.S. Supreme Court decisions narrowed the ranks of who could be considered for the death penalty, excluding those who are too young, too intellectually disabled or too mentally illeven though many remain on death row. At the same time, new forms of defense have evolved. New arguments and investigations led to longer, more costly trials and subsequent appeals, forcing many jurisdictions to rethink whether to pursue capital punishment in the first place.

Executions have also been slowed because the methods of putting people to death have come under sustained legal challenge. Most states use drugs intended to sedate and paralyze a person and stop the heart, but the drugs have come under increasing criticism as an excessively painful form of execution. Some manufacturers have stopped selling them to prisons, and opponents have brought suits that have tied up states like Arizona, Arkansas, Ohio and others in litigation for years.

In response, some states have been forced to seek alternatives. Tennessee brought back the electric chair and used it to execute Edmund Zagorski and four others. Nebraska became the first state to use the opioid fentanyl to kill a prisoner: Carey Dean Moore in 2018. But in Ohio, Gov. Mike DeWine has said there is an unofficial moratorium on capital punishment, because they cant secure the medicine to carry it out. Lethal injection appears to us to be impossible from a practical point of view today, the governor told the Associated Press in December. The shortage has left dozens of death row prisoners in Ohio in limbo, even as the state continues to set execution dates that get pushed back time and again, some as far out as 2024.

One-third of people executed went through more than one death date.

Often an execution date does not signal the end of a case.

Among the 120 people put to death since we started counting in the summer of 2015, more than one-third were given multiple execution dates. One man, Ronald Phillips, received at least five dates from the state of Ohio because of delays due to lawsuits over the lethal injection drugs before he was put to death in 2017.

Of the 234 people with a date set since The Next to Die began, nearly half are still alive, usually because lawyers convinced courts to give them another chance to pursue appeals.

Occasionally, governors have commuted sentences of the condemned to life in prison. In 2018, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott commuted the sentence of Thomas Whitaker an hour before he was to die. Later that year, Ohio Gov. John Kasich commuted the sentence of Raymond Tibbetts, after a juror argued evidence was withheld from the jury that might have moved them to mercy.

Executions can also fail. In 2017, Ohio executioners gave up trying to inject Alva Campbell, who suffered from cancer and other serious illnesses, after a half-hour of trying to find his vein. He died of natural causes in a local hospital a few months later after collapsing in his cell. His experience was similar to Romell Broom, whose execution in Ohio in 2009 was called off after prison officials stuck him 18 times trying to find a vein. He was rescheduled to be put to death in 2022 before he died of COVID-19 in December. Campbell and Broom were two of eight men who died in recent years of other causes after having death dates set.

Then there are more unusual reasons for delays. In a case in Texas, Anthony Shore received a 90-day stay on the day he was to be put to death, because he had tried to take the blame for the murder of college student Melissa Trotter, the crime that sent another man, Larry Swearingen, to death row.

Sometimes bureaucratic flubs cause delays. In the case of Swearingen, the paperwork setting his execution date was sent to the wrong state office. (Both Swearingen and Shore were later executed.)

In Ohio, Rep. Bill Seitz has co-sponsored bills to limit who can face execution, including the severely mentally ill, and has seen the movement of death dates there due to the drug shortages. He said the endless rescheduling has frustrated prosecutors, as well as the families of victims.

In their minds, justice is being delayed and delayed, Seitz said.

A solution would be for the legislature to choose another means of execution that doesnt rely on drugs, he said. The challenge would be to find one that the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled to be Constitutional. Otherwise, he said, youre just coming up with a proposed methodology for execution that will not be carried out.

Execution wait times (Graphic/ Andrew R. Calderon/The Marshall Project

Once an execution date arrives, many wait for hours to learn their fate.

The length of time death row prisoners wait for their sentences to be carried out has risen dramatically in recent decades. The federal Bureau of Justice Statistics found that since the 1980s the average time from conviction to execution has tripled to nearly 20 years.

In 2017, when the U.S. Supreme Court denied Rolando Ruizs appeal to stop his execution in Texas, Justice Stephen Breyer called out the delays in a dissent. He cited an 1890 court decision and wrote a prisoners uncertainty before execution is one of the most horrible feelings to which he can be subjected.

When the hour of death arrives, it often comes slowly. On average, prisoners wait more than two hours. Its not only the condemned who suffer through the minutes and hours of delaysfamilies of the victims are often on hand to witness executions and must endure the wait as well.

On occasion, as in the cases of Campbell or Broom in Ohio, the holdup can be attributed to the execution team being unable to inject the prisoner. More often however, lawyers for the prisoner and for the government are filing legal motions that lead to delays. State and federal courts will alternately forbid and allow an execution to proceed until ultimately the U.S. Supreme Court makes a final ruling.

In Texas, half of the 43 executions we tracked happened within 40 minutes of the appointed hour. Georgia and Alabama took close to three hours. In the fastest execution, Walter Barton was dead 10 minutes after his scheduled time in Missouri.

In Alabama, Tommy Arthur was sent to death row in 1983 after being convicted of murder-for-hire. He was given a November 2016 death date, which was delayed for nearly five hours before the U.S. Supreme Court halted his execution. When the 75-year-old Arthur was given a new date the following May, he waited again while the Supreme Court considered another appeal. After the court declined to hear his case, he was dead shortly after midnight, more than six hours after the execution was to begin.

In the worst scenarios, men have waited more than half a day while their appeals bounced from court to court. Days before Daniel Lewis Lee was to become the first person executed by the federal government in decades, a U.S. district judge stayed his execution. An appeals court allowed it to go forward. Then a district court stopped it again, until, hours after the execution was to begin, the Supreme Court lifted the stay. Lee died just after 8 a.m., after 16 hours of waiting at the death chamber in Terre Haute, Indiana. His lawyers later reported that he was strapped to a gurney for four hours before he died.

The next day, Wesley Purkey, who suffered from Alzheimers, went through a similar ordeal in the courts, waiting more than 16 hours before the Bureau of Prisons put him to death.

Attorney Dale Baich represented Keith Nelson, who was on federal death row and saw what Lee and Purkey endured before they were put to death. The night before Nelsons execution in August, a court lifted a stay that had been in place.

Keith said, Dont appeal it. Im only going to lose. Dont appeal it, Baich said.

When the hour came, Nelson was dead within 32 minutes.

This article was published in partnership with The Marshall Project, a nonprofit news organization covering the U.S. criminal justice system. Sign up for their newsletters, or follow The Marshall Project on Facebook or Twitter. AL.com also was among the news organizations that partnered with The Marshall Project on the Next to Die project.
House Bill 133 aims to extend Medicaid coverage to eligible new mothers. The House version of the bill calls for a one-year extension, whereas the Senate version calls for a six-month extension. Advocates say the bill could reduce the states maternal mortality rate. Currently, the state offers Medicaid for two months after giving birth. Should Texas extend Medicaid for eligible new mothers for six months or one year?

You voted:
Attempts to address the serious hospital waiting list situation here will result in longer delays in emergency departments, a leading medic has warned.

Dr Paul Kerr, vice president of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, said he expects that a reduction in the number of seriously ill Covid-19 patients will result in the resumption of elective surgery, which will make it more difficult to admit patients from A&E.

His comments come after it emerged that more than 5,000 people spent longer than 12 hours on trolleys in local A&Es last December.

Police officers have been told they can get vaccinated at health centres with spare capacity  but must wear plain clothes so as not to draw attention to themselves.

Force leaders were said to have felt 'betrayed' when Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced this week that frontline officers may have to wait months for jabs.

But the Mail has learnt of an arrangement with the NHS that lets police receive a vaccine if there is spare capacity at a centre and the jab would otherwise go to waste.

In an internal memo, staff are advised that they cannot be seen to receive preferential treatment that would contradict the Government's decision not to prioritise police.

It also emerged that some officers have sidestepped even this discreet arrangement by booking jabs through services meant for NHS staff.

It comes after Scotland Yard said last month that five Met officers had died with Covid in little more than a fortnight.

Police officers have been told they can get vaccinated at health centres with spare capacity  but must wear plain clothes and not their uniforms so as not to draw attention to themselves

A custody sergeant, three constables and a traffic police community officer died between January 11 and January 26.

Met Police bosses circulated the jabs memo after officers shared a link on WhatsApp that allowed them to ignore the agreed protocols and book in for vaccinations at Hillingdon Hospital in west London, via a link originally intended for health workers.

Officers were urged not to use the link but if they had already booked an appointment then they should 'still attend but in plainclothes or a plainclothes jacket and not in marked vehicles'.

The same dress code advice is given for officers who manage to book a spare vaccine at a health centre.

Among the other concerns outlined were police 'being seen to be given preferential treatment against Her Majesty's Government's stance,' creating a gathering that might become 'an unnecessary media story' and the 'operational impact of the side-effects' of the vaccines.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said the force had designed a priority list to ensure that if vaccines were made available then they could be directed to frontline staff who needed it most.

But they said the Hillingdon Hospital online invitation was meant for NHS staff and contravened the agreed protocols for police officers.

'Guidance was shared to officers to not make an appointment using this invitation and instead to wait for notification of any spare vaccines in line with our agreed policy,' they explained.

Metropolitan Police Federation chairman Ken Marsh said it was right that officers were able to take advantage of spare vaccines and should have been given priority in the first place

The spokesman said the potential jab side-effects warning was due to some people experiencing flu-like symptoms after receiving a vaccine  and the force wanted to ensure that officers only attended appointments after their shifts.

They added: 'Officers should not normally be in uniform unless on duty, however, in cases where at the end of the day vaccines may be being thrown away, and the administration of the vaccine is time-critical, officers may attend in uniform.'

Metropolitan Police Federation chairman Ken Marsh said it was right that officers were able to take advantage of spare vaccines and should have been given priority in the first place.

'It's disgusting that my colleagues have to beg, borrow and steal to get a vaccine to do their jobs safely,' he added.

'They are terrified  scared they'll get sick or make their families unwell.'
The Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA) has castigated the proposed demolition of illegal tuck shops in Harare saying the proposal is a war against livelihoods.

Harare City Council recently ordered all illegal tuck-shop owners across the City of Harare to cease all operations before the 18th of February 2021.

In a statement, CHRA said the proposal is a war against means of support that aims to deprive already suffering citizens.

"The Combined Harare Residents Association condemns the intention by Harare City Council to demolish tuck-shops at a time when the Zimbabwean economy is in dire straits and heavily informalized due to lack of employment.

"The proposed demolitions are a clear war against livelihoods and aiming at further impoverishing the already suffering Harare residents especially this COVID period. We are worried by the continued failure by the City of Harare to recognize the informal sector as a potential revenue stream and contributor to the local authority budget," read the statement

The resident association accused the local authority of taking advantage of the civic societies thereby making irrational decisions that have a terrible outcome on the poor.

"CHRA is opposed to the autocratic tendencies that have been adopted by the local authority since the emergence of COVID 19 of issuing orders. It is disappointing that the local authority has taken advantage of the closing civic space there by unilaterally making outrage and unreasonable decisions which have dire consequences on poor residents.

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"It is very unfortunate that these so-called demolitions seem to have other motives beyond "development control", as it targets high density areas where the urban poor reside. CHRA appreciates the intention of the City to bring order and sanity on market stalls and tuck-shops but condemns the process of how the City intends to "control development" by issuing orders without broader consultations and engagement." said CHRA

CHRA recommended that "The City of Harare must shelve the demolitions, engage players in the informal sector and the "illegal" tuck-shop owners to come up with an inclusive solution to the problem.

"The City of Harare must expedite and complete the process of coming up with its own master plan since the currently used Master Plan was last reviewed and updated in 1993, and the reviewed Master Plan must integrate the informal economy activities. Depoliticization of the informal sector that has been seriously affected by partisan politics and used as a tool for partisan political mobilization."

Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA)Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition (CiZC)Harare City Council

Three students who chose to drop out of secondary school instead of wearing masks -- a Covid-19 prevention measure -- claiming it contravenes their religious beliefs, have been arrested.

The three were arrested at their homes in Ibote, Tharaka Nithi County.

Two Form two students at Turima Hill Secondary School and a Form Three learner at Kajiampau Secondary School, followers of the Kabonokia sect, were arrested together with their parents and taken to Marimanti Police Station.

Ibote Assistant Chief Mauki Mutegi said they will be charged in court.

Went into hiding

The administrator said the girls dropped out of school immediately after learning resumed, and when they realised that they were being sought, they went into hiding only to resurface recently.

"The girls told teachers that they could not wear face masks because it's sinful and that the illness (Covid-19) targets sinners," said Mr Mauki.

The administrator maintained that no school child will be allowed to remain at home.

Adherents of the Kabonokia religious sect are usually compelled by the government to take their children to school. They argue that the "earthly education" contradicts their faith and is of no use.

The faithful also do not seek medical treatment in hospitals and do not acquire national identity cards. They also do not participate in national exercises such as elections and census.
Editor's take: Microsoft's Surface Duo is finally coming to international markets, but will buyers flock to the foldable? Considering it's been more than 16 months since the device was first shown off to the public, interest could have waned significantly.

Microsofts Surface Duo is going global.

The dual-screen, Android-powered smartphone broke cover in late 2019 and launched exclusively in the US in September of last year. Unlike other foldables that rely on flexible (and fragile) plastic displays, Microsofts handset is essentially two separate displays sandwiched together with a hinge mechanism. The design is considered far more durable than bendable units but isnt quite as aesthetically pleasing.

The device also runs Googles Android 10 operating system rather than a proprietary OS from Microsoft.

Early reviewers found lots of faults with the Surface Duo, chief among them being the $1,399.99 starting price. Microsoft has since addressed this matter by dropping the price of the 128GB model to $999.99 in the US. Thats still in flagship territory, albeit a bit easier to swallow. Should you require more storage, the 256GB variant is now priced at $1,099.99, which is down from $1,499.99.

Starting February 18, the Surface Duo will be available in four new markets: Canada, the United Kingdom, France and Germany. Pricing apparently varies greatly by market so if youre interested, check your local Microsoft portal for additional details.

Also, if you're in the US and purchase through Best Buy, you can save an additional $50 by activating the phone at the time of purchase.

Image credit: Jack Skeens, Mr. Mikla
China looks forward to becoming the largest economy in the world during the next few years, and a military superpower a decade after that. Longer term the outlook is less promising. Time is not on Chinas side. There are numerous examples of this. One of the more obvious is the shrinking Chinese work force and population in general. The overall population growth rate peaked in 2016 at 0.59 percent and has been declining ever since. There is a worse problem with the shrinking labor force because of working age population declining. All this began in 2014 and will continue for decades. The biggest problem, though, is the growing shortage of workers. As the population ages, all those one-child families means there will be more elderly than the economy, and the shrinking workforce, can effectively support. Currently there are ten working age Chinese for every retiree. By 2050, there will only be two for each retiree. At that point retirees will comprise 30 percent of the population versus 15 percent now. Traditionally, children cared for their parents in multi-generation households. That model is dying out, and China is faced with huge pension cost increases at the same time they expect their economy to be the mightiest on the planet. But at that point the largest single government expense will be the care of the elderly, and this will impose crushing taxes on those of working age. Many working age Chinese are worried about this as there is no easy solution in sight. China tried (in 2013) to relax the one-child policy but the newly affluent Chinese are less eager than earlier generations to have a lot of kids.

To make matters worse there is not much in the way of pensions or health care for most of the elderly to begin with. The government recognizes this is a real problem but does not, and will not, have the cash to deal with it. The population shrinkage is accompanied by another problem. Since the 1980s many of those couples forced to have only one child aborted a child if it was a female, because much more importance is attached to having a male heir. There are nearly 40 million more males than females in China and the disparity is growing. These surplus males are coming of age, and the competition for wives is causing problems. Women are taking advantage of their scarcity but men are also going to neighboring countries to buy, or even kidnap, young women to be wives. This is causing ill will with neighbors, where females are enticed or coerced, often kidnapped by criminal gangs, to become wives of Chinese men who have no other options. Its not just brides who are moving to China, foreign workers are being imported. These will not become permanent residents because China, like most East Asian nations, discourages that practice. There are still more Chinese leaving than foreigners entering as permanent residents. Its these migrants, temporary or permanent, that will become increasingly important in the next few decades for dealing with the rapidly growing labor shortage.

Its not just population growth that is slowing. A decade ago, it became clear that the years of ten percent a year GDP growth were ending. Not just because economic growth was slowing, but because the central government was finally forced to go public for first time about the false economic data that provincial officials had been sending to the central government for decades. Since 2014 Chinese officials became more open about the problem, and have gotten accurate economic information for such things like annual GDP and unemployment rates. Apparently Chinese GDP has not been growing steadily at near ten percent a year for decades. Chinese officials do eventually (months or years later) get more accurate data and while Chinese GDP has actually been steadily growing over the last three decades, it annual growth actually varied from 5-15 percent. Chinese official policy was to keep everyone calm by issuing less variable annual growth rates. In short, the official numbers were doctored. For more accurate and immediate indicators of economic activity, Chinese and foreign economists and business leaders use things like electricity production, railroad traffic and similar data that cannot be manipulated by local officials to make their city or province look more successful. Many financial exerts inside and outside China fear that all this official manipulation of economic data (an ancient practice in China, is masking some serious economic problems that could go sideways at any time, cause a banking crisis that would paralyze the economy for a while and cause political chaos. Its very much a crouching tiger and hidden dragon situation. This is an ancient phrase warning that behind seeming success and talent lurks the possibility of imminent disaster. Chinese are ever mindful of this sort of thing.

The affluence has not just reduced the birth rate, but increased the drug addiction rate. China will not release official figures but it is estimated (using arrests, drug seizures and such) that there are over 20 million addicts in China and that this is rapidly increasing. This is happening despite vigorous government anti-drug efforts. Arrests for drug offenses have increased more than ten times in the past decade yet the drugs keep coming in (especially from neighbors like Burma, North Korea, Thailand and Afghanistan).

Since the Chinese Communist Party is under growing popular pressure to do something about the rampant corruption in China, and specifically in the Chinese Communist Party, it has been arresting and prosecuting a growing number of senior officials. New anti-corruption measures were announced in 2015, included more scrutiny of senior officials and large corporations, which are the ones that pay the largest bribes. For years most Chinese believed the anti-corruption effort was having little impact. But in the last five years there are some believable indicators of progress. This comes in the form of declines in gambling (a favorite activity of corrupt officials) in Macau, where most of the legal gambling takes place. For the first time in over a decade annual casino revenue declined.

Its not just drugs and corruption the government is cracking down on. Visible dissent is also a major target. The government has rehabilitated some old Maoists and encouraged a new generation of communist zealots to find and crush criticism of the government. This includes unauthorized discussion of corruption, criticism of communism or the Chinese Communist Party. This thought control is becoming more of a nuisance to Chinese, which is not good news for the government of the worlds largest communist police state.

Victory At Sea

While the situation is bad at home, Chinese prospects outside the country are more promising. For example, China is catching up with the U.S. Navy in terms of quantity and quality of warships. Put another way, the U.S. Navy has suffered a major defeat in its effort to keep the American navy larger and more capable than the Chinese fleet. The problem is that the Chinese are building new warships much faster than the United States can and improving them with new technology, much of it stolen from the Americans. The Chinese warships cost less than their American equivalents and are delivered on time. For decades the U.S. Navy has seen less and less of that sort of performance in the United States. Since 2000 the decline of American warship construction capabilities has become painfully obvious and is now acknowledged as a major problem. Despite that nothing has been done to fix the problems.

Meanwhile the Chinese Navy because the largest in the world, at least by the number of warships in service. Currently the Chinese fleet have in active service two aircraft carriers, 75 subs including seven SSBNs (nuclear ballistic missile subs), eight SSNs (nuclear attack subs) and 60 SSK (non-nuclear attack subs). There are 300 surface warships including 50 destroyers, 49 frigates, 71 corvettes, 109 missile boats, 94 small ASW (anti-submarine warfare) ships and 17 gunboats. There are 75 amphibious ships including (in order of size) two LHDs, eight LPDs, 32 LSTs and 33 LSMs. There are 287 support ships including 36 mine clearing vessels, 19 oilers (for refueling ships far from a base), 30 coastal oilers, 27 fleet supply ships (for resupply at sea), six troop transports and a lot of harbor, training and medical support ships as well as intelligence collection ships, hospital ships and submarine rescue ships. The Chinese navy has also made arrangements with the operators of over fifty civilian cargo ships and ferries to make their vessels quickly available in the event of a major emergency.

All the above comes to 743 active ships with over sixty percent combat ships and the rest support vessels. That support force is the true mark of a major high-seas fleet. China is not just building a lot of new ships quickly, it is also sending them on unprecedented long voyages. This has been going on for a decade. There are so many Chinese naval firsts now because for most of Chinas history there was an attitude that there was really nothing useful beyond Chinese borders. Some ships were built for trade, but not on a large scale and never with a powerful navy to protect them. Then China began liberalizing and modernizing its economy in the 1980s which led to lots of exports and even more imports of raw materials and items that China did not make. That justified a larger, sea going, navy. Chinas economic interests are now, for the first time, worldwide and so is its navy. As any naval historian can tell you, a navy becomes effective only by keeping its ships at sea a lot. Thats how Britain won and maintained global naval dominance from the 18th through the early 20th century. That was how the United States took over that role by the mid-20th century and that is what may happen with China sometime in the 21st century. Currently the Chinese expect their fleet to become dominant by 2040.

Covid19

East Asian nations, including, China kept their covid19 infection rate low. That had little to do with being a communist police state because democracies like Taiwan, Singapore, Japan and South Korea produced verified results that showed how a disciplined response can keep covid19 infections and deaths and very low levels. China claims it suffered fewer deaths per capita and much less economic disruption than Western nations. The lower economic disruption is obvious. The death rate is less so because the government is not cooperating.

While exact Chinese covid19 infections and deaths data cannot be verified, the low losses in Taiwan and South Korea can be. China, claiming three deaths per million, admits it was not as effective as Taiwan (0.4 deaths per million) but did better than South Korea (29 deaths per million) Japan (52) or Singapore (5). The world average is 303 deaths per million and Western nations average a thousand dead per million. Reports from China indicate that Chinese covid19 deaths were much higher than reported. Even with that most Chinese were confident enough to go back to work, and large public gatherings like mass transit or movie theaters. To maintain this covid19 advantage China still sharply restricts Chinese from travelling outside the country and quickly quarantines any areas where more covid19 appears. These lower infection and death rates are the result of populations accustomed to acting in a unified and precise manner when confronting an emergency. Its a cultural thing, which is one reason why for the last few thousand years East Asia contained most of the world population.

February 10, 2021: Russian news agency TASS claims that mid-June 2020 fighting in southwest China (Tibet border with India) were more damaging to the Chinese than to the Indians. TASS reports 45 Chinese troops dead versus twenty Indian. The fighting took place on the shores of Pangong Lake. A 1996 agreement has troops from both sides entering disputed areas without firearms or explosives. The Chinese have taken to sending in their troops armed with wooden clubs and iron bars. This led to a battle on a ridge overlooking the Galvan River that was initially believed to have left at least twenty dead on both sides. Total casualties (dead, wounded, prisoners) were reported as at least fifty on each side. Currently both Indian and Chinese troops are moving back from the border Ladakh (India) area where they have been confronting, and occasionally fighting each other since May, 2020.

February 8, 2021: The China Ministry of Public Security released reported that there ten million births in 2020. This is 15 percent less than 2019 and continuing a downward trend.

February 6, 2021: Two Chinese coast guard ships came into Japanese territorial waters (within 22 kilometers of one of the Senkaku Islands) and remained while attempting to force two Japanese fishing boats out of what China claims are Chinese waters. A Japanese coast guard vessel quickly arrived and the Chinese warships left. This is the fourth such Chinese intrusion off the Senkakus in 2021 and the first since China enacted a law authorizing their navy and coast guard to protect Chinese coastal waters off the Senkakus. Anticipating this, in early 2020 Japan established a military base on Miyako Island (between Senkaku Island and Okinawa). The Miyako and Senkaku islands are between Okinawa and Taiwan. All three of these island systems dominate the seas between Japan and Taiwan and China has been making claims to some of these islands, especially the Senkakus and indicating that all of these Japanese islands are actually Chinese. The new garrison on Miyako Island has 380 troops and is equipped with anti-aircraft and anti-ship missiles. Chinese naval ships have frequently entered Japanese territorial waters (within 22 kilometers of land) around the Senkaku islands and remained in Japanese waters for an hour or more. There have been over thirty of these incidents since 2017. Miyako Island is 210 kilometers from the Senkakus and Japan plans to put garrisons on more of these small islands.

February 5, 2021: The U.S. Navy conducted another FONOP (freedom of navigation operation) in the South China Sea by passing near the Chinese occupied Paracel Islands. This FONOP was carried out by one American destroyer, trailed by Chinese warships acting as escorts. A FONOP means moving within the claimed territorial (closer than 22 kilometers) of some of the islands China now claims. China issues warnings and accuses the Americans of troublemaking because of these FONOPS. This was the first U.S. FONOP in the South China Sea for 2021. There were five South China Sea FONOPs in 2018 since 2015, when Chinese South China Sea claims became a major issue, the Americans have carried out more FONOPS in the South China Sea each year. By early 2019 China had moved more radars and EW (Electronic Warfare) equipment and guided missiles to the Paracel islands. China also declared once more that the Paracels were part of China and China would control its territorial waters. China took the Paracels by force in the 1970s. In 2012 one of the Paracel islands (Woody Island) was declared the center of Sansha, a new Chinese municipality (city). Sansha is actually Woody Island and dozens of smaller bits of land (some of them shoals that are under water all the time) in the Paracels and the Spratly Islands to the south. In fact, the new "city" lays claim to two million square kilometers of open sea (57 percent of the South China Sea). China continued its policy of not interfering with FONOPS but does sent warships to follow the foreign ships. There are two ways China can enforce its sovereignty and exert control over its territorial waters. The traditional response is to attack intruders with gunfire or missiles. Then there is the preferred Chinese method of swarming around the intruder with commercial, coast guard and even navy warships and combat aircraft. This has included causing collisions (often just bumping). China does not want a war with the United States, mainly because of the economic risks which could lead to more unrest inside China. Interference with seaborne trade and trading relationships in general would disrupt the Chinese economy and threaten CCP (Chinese Communist Party) control. What China has demonstrated is a willingness to do everything short of war, especially if they can remain able to claim victim status.

Playing the victim is hard to do when the Americans are the only naval power the Chinese are really intimidated by. When it comes to nations with legal claims on South China Sea waters China is more aggressive. Case in point is the recent standoff near Vietnam as a Chinese oil survey vessel sought to gather data on underwater natural gas deposits. China has forcibly prevented Vietnam from extracting gas in these waters and now Vietnamese warships are opposing the Chinese survey vessel. Vietnam complained that China was violating a 2011 agreement over how to handle these conflicting claims. That is a pattern for the Chinese; make agreements to settle disputes and then violate those agreements in the name of self-defense.

February 4, 2021: Off the Taiwanese island of Matsu, 19 kilometers off the Chinese coast, Chinese sand-dredging boats have been told by their government that the Chinese coast guard will protect them is they seek to steal sand from the sandbar that serves as a natural barrier between the Matsus and the mainland. Many of the sand dredgers also steal sand from off-limits sandbars and beaches in China, so the government sees this new policy on the Matsu reef as a way to reduce damage to mainland sand resources. Several decades of heavy construction has caused a growing sand shortage.

Closer to the Chinese coast there are the Kimmen Islands, some of them only two kilometers from the Chinese coast. These islands were last heavily fought over (with artillery) in 1958 during a failed attempt by China to gain control. One these islands, Quemoy, became famous in the west as the scene of some of the heaviest Chinese attacks.

February 3, 2021: China has continued to expand its dominant control of African raw materials. Currently Chinese firms control about 70 percent of Congos mineral deposits and mining industry. Chinese state-owned firms own most of this, which includes substantial portions of the global supplies of copper and cobalt. Since 2012 Chinese companies have invested at least $12 billion in Congolese mineral assets. Some of those billions go to enrich Congolese officials who make possible Chinese ownership and protect it from local or foreign interference. The eagerness to gain control of so much cobalt is driven by Chinese plans to become the major producer of electric vehicles. Congo is the worlds biggest cobalt producer, each year producing between 55 percent or 65 percent of the worlds total cobalt. Chinese companies control around 40 percent of Congos cobalt deposits and means of extraction. Cobalt is critical as a stabilizer in rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. It takes about ten kg (22 pounds) of cobalt to manufacture an electric car battery. China is committed to producing electric vehicles (EVs) of all types. There is one type that has a particular political importance: the very small city-town mini-EVs that can go about 300 kilometers on one charge. The Chinese people want these, so the demand is huge. The deal the CCP makes with the Chinese people is they can have goodies if they dont challenge the CCP dictatorship. The mini-EVs are a pay-off. Hence, the Chinese government wants to assure uninterrupted access to cobalt and other minerals used in producing electric devices. The world is paying attention to this because the price of cobalt has risen by 20 percent to about $35,600 a ton.

February 1, 2021: In the south, neighbor Myanmar (Burma) is again controlled by a military government. China and Russia promptly used their veto powers in the UN to block UN actions against the new military rulers of Burma. The military move was a reaction to recent parliamentary elections that put into power a political party that pledged to reorganize the military to prevent another military takeover. The response of the military was not unexpected, because the civilian government knew that the Burmese generals maintained their connections in China and were the main reason China has sold $1.4 billion worth of military equipment to Burma since 2010. Russia sold $800 million worth. Together China and Russia accounted for over 90 percent Burmese spending on imports of military gear.

Before the local military gave up power in 2011 Burmese army officers made a lot of money allowing China to do business in the tribal north, often at the expense of local civilians, most of them tribal people. After the return of democracy in 2011, China no longer had as much freedom in the north. After 2011 China tried to maintain many of these economic projects by including them in the new CMEC (China-Myanmar Economic Corridor) agreement China and Burma signed in late 2018. That agreement called for both countries to begin detailed negotiations on where a 1,700-kilometer-long transportation corridor from southern China (Yunan province) to central Burma (Mandalay) and then west to the coast at the Kyaukpyu SEZ (Special Economic Zone) will be built and what it will consist of. The corridor would improve roads, railroads and build, as needed, pipelines and electrical transmission lines. This would be financed by China and built mainly by Chinese construction firms.

CMEC paid special attention to the risk of a debt trap where Burma might find itself with debt it could not repay unless it turned over new facilities to Chinese ownership or control. This has happened in other nations, most obviously in Sri Lanka. Burma needs the investment and since 1988 China has been the major foreign investor in Burma with projects totaling $20 billion so far. Burma told China it was working on special debt trap provisions and the main one is for China to allow foreign nations to provide some of the loans needed for the CMEC work. Details of this deal are still being negotiated. This explains why only a few of the 38 projects that comprise CMEC have so far been approved by Burma. Reaching agreement on the rest of those projects gave Burma some leverage over China.

CMEC is the Burma component of the massive Chinese BRI (Belt and Road Initiative) effort. Also called OBOR (One Belt, One Road), BRI is all about China building roads, railroads, pipelines and ports to make it easier for Chinese imports and exports to move around, from East Asia to Europe, Africa and more. Pakistan, Nepal, Thailand Sri Lanka and Burma are all BRI participants that are seeing billions of dollars in Chinese construction projects taking place and the terms of these deal tend to favor China, not the country where the construction takes place. Not surprisingly many people in these BRI countries see the Chinese investments as another form of colonialism. China prefers not to call it colonialism but rather seeking to expand its commercial activities. All the disagreements over border security and CMEC have not slowed down the growth in trade with China. In 2019 that trade increased 38.5 percent over 2018 to $17.7 billion. That is huge considering that the Burmese GDP is $67 billion. That trend continued in 2020, despite covid19 problems.

In early 2020 t he Chinese leader made a two-day state visit to Myanmar. This was mainly about discussing matters of mutual interest with Burmese leaders. There a lot of things to discuss, including the Rohingya refugees, tribal rebel violence on the Chinese border and Chinese investments in Burma. China has been protecting Burma in the UN, where there are calls for punishing Burma over the Rohingya mess. The tribal rebels are largely an internal Burmese matter. Burmese negotiations with the tribal rebels have been heavily influenced by China. That is because China is part of the problem. This state visit was to try and get Burmese leaders to be more cooperative with Chinese investors. That did not happen. There were some token concessions but Burma remains wary of Chinese investments. For that reason, the quick Chinese moves to protect the new military government were not a surprise. The question for Burma is whether there be a civil war. That threat played a major roles in persuading the military to all democracy to return in 2010.

January 31, 2021: China wont admit defeat in its trade war with Australia but the stark reality is that they have lost. Australia has found other markets for the coal exports that long were monopolized by China. This comes after a late 2020 Chinese effort to increase the economic pressure on Australia by refusing to accept coal they had ordered because of quality problems. There are no quality problems but there is over half a billion dollars worth of Australian coal stuck on 57 ships waiting for either side to back down. When other buyers for the stranded Australian coal showed up, and China was unable to scare them off, the Chinese knew they were beat. They would not admit it but at least lowered their media animosity towards Australia and increased the tonnage of iron ore they have to keep buying from Australia because there is no other supplier so close and so capable of providing what the Chinese cannot afford to lose.

China is also angry at Australia for cracking down on Chinese espionage and influence operations inside Australia as well as criticism of, and active opposition to Chinese claims in the South China Sea. China is still Australias largest trading partner, accounting for over 30 percent of imports and exports. Australia still has a favorable trade balance with China as China bought far more (mainly raw materials) from Australia than the other way around. China accounted for 85 percent of the positive Australian trade balance and that has been going on for decades. This has made Australia immune to all the global economic recessions since the 1990s and given the Australian GDP and standard-of-living an unprecedented period of growth. Australia has found that this favorable situation came at a price. China expected Australia to do whatever China wanted. When Australia stuck with the United States over illegal Chinese trade practices China decided to teach Australia a lesson about who was in charge in the West Pacific.

As a result, Australia and China engaged in a major power dispute. China tried using trade restrictions (reducing purchases from Australia) to coerce Australia. Even though China is the largest customer for Australian exports, this coercion was not well received in Australia. One response from Australia was to repeat its accusations that Chinese claims in the South China Sea are illegal. At the same time Australia acknowledges that China has militarized its bases in the South China Sea and that makes it riskier for foreign warships that carry out FONOPS (Freedom Of Navigation Operations) there. Australia has increased its military spending because of the growing threat of attack by China.

Australia is not alone when it comes to Chinese economic pressure. Most of Chinas neighbors have had a taste of this and that played a role in the formation of a local coalition opposed to the Chinese efforts at domination. This is a problem for China because this coalition does have the military capability to block Chinese forces. That coalition includes the United States, Australia, Japan and South Korea and several other local nations. For the moment it is a war of words and economic attacks and its up to China to escalate that to open warfare.

China has not opened fire since 1974 when they fought a naval battle with the South Vietnamese near the Paracel islands, and took control after sinking one of the four Vietnamese warships and chasing the others away. Since Vietnam was united in 1975 China has continued to claim areas within the Vietnamese EEZ and used intimidation to enforce those claims. China is willing to take it slow in the South China Sea. As long as their buildup there is not stopped, China is winning. The same tactic is being applied to Australia and experience (with similar earlier attacks made on South Korea and Japan) indicates that China will inflict as much economic pain as it can without causing more problems for China. The Australians are using the South Korean and Japanese playbooks in this respect but while this process is underway a lot of Australians are enduring the economic fallout.

January 28, 2021: The U.S. effort to block illegal Iranian oil exports have noted that since late 2020 there has been a lot more Iranian oil going to China. This usually involves transferring cargoes at sea while one or both ships have their AIS (position transponders) turned off to avoid detection. Despite such deceptions more and more Chinese tankers are being caught in the act. Also caught are illegal shipments to Syria and Venezuela (which needs light oil to make its heavy oil usable). China apparently believes it is worth the risk to leave Chinese oil smugglers alone because there is an expectation that the new American government will, one way or another, lift the Iranian sanctions.

January 27, 2021: Corruption remains a major problem for China and years of well-publicized efforts to deal with it have failed and that can be seen in the international surveys of nations to determine who is clean and who is corrupt. For 2019 China ranked 78th out of 180 nations in international rankings compared with 80th in 2019. These ratings and ranking are updated each year for the annual Transparency International Corruption Perception Index. Corruption is measured on a 1 (most corrupt) to 100 (not corrupt) scale. The most corrupt nations (usually Yemen/15, Syria/14, South Sudan/12 and Somalia/12) have a rating of under 15 while of the least corrupt (New Zealand and Denmark) are both 88.

The current Chinese score is 42 (versus 41 in 2019) compared to 65 (65) for Taiwan, 40 (39) for Turkey, 40 (41) for India, 30 (28) for Russia, 61 (57) for South Korea, 42 (41) for China, 18 (14) for North Korea, 36 (37) for Vietnam, 85 (85) for Singapore, 74 (73) for Japan, 37 (40) for Indonesia, 38 (38) for Sri Lanka, 34 (34) for the Philippines, 31 (32) for Pakistan, 26 (26) for Bangladesh, 25 (26) for Iran, 19 (16) for Afghanistan, 28 (29) for Burma, 71 (71) for the UAE, 61 (61) for Israel, 15 (15) for Yemen, 67 (69) for the United States, 33 (35) for Egypt, 25 (26) for Nigeria, 44 (44) for South Africa, 21 (20) for Iraq, 40 (39) for Turkey, 53 (53) for Saudi Arabia, 33 (30) for Ukraine, 47 (45) for Belarus, 56 (58) for Poland, 80 (80) Germany and 25 (28) for Lebanon.

The Chinese corruption score has not changed much since 2012 when it was 39. Despite CCP claims to reducing corruption significantly, most Chinese, and foreigners consider the Transparency International data a more reliable measure of corruption in China.

January 26, 2021: Japan defense continuous annual increases. A record $51.5 billion will be spent during 2021. Thats an increase of three percent over 2020. The military had asked for $55 billion. Either way this is the ninth year in a row that Japan has increased defense spending and it is all about North Korea and China. North Korea openly complains about how unfair and unfriendly these increases are but they are a direct result of the increasing threat from North Korea. Both Japan and South Korea each have annual defense spending that is more than a third larger than the annual GDP of North Korea. That is one reason North Korea spends about a third of GDP on defense compared to 1.2 percent for Japan and nearly three percent for South Korea.

January 23, 2021: China, Afghanistan and Tajikistan have created a joint border force of 150 personnel that monitors border threats and coordinates responses by all three countries. This was organized because China asked for such a force and provided generous financial support. Recently Afghans noted that there were now more border guards on the Tajik side of the border closest to China as well as more Chinese forces along the smaller Chinese border. The Tajiks border force now have much better weapons and equipment, courtesy of China. The Tajik border with Afghanistan is 1,357 kilometers long while the Chinese border is only 76 kilometers long. This is the gateway to the 350-kilometer long Wakhan Corridor that is only 13-35 kilometers wide. And the only direct access between Afghanistan and China. There is no high speed (railroad or highway) passing through the corridor and China bans foreigners from the corridor unless they have been authorized. The corridor is thinly (10,000 people) populated and t he key bottleneck passage between Afghanistan and China is the 4,923 meter (15,261 feet) high Wakhjir Pass. The Wakhan Corridor area has never been very violent, and escaped most of the fighting that has torn apart Afghanistan since the 1970s. For a long time, China refused to open its border with Afghanistan, fearing complications with the mainly Moslem Uighur population on the Chinese side of the frontier. There are other problems with this border. There are no roads through the pass, only trails. The pass is closed five months of the year by snow. For several more months the pass is closed intermittently by bad weather. The Wakhan Corridor itself was once part of the Silk Road, but only when weather allowed caravans through. The Chinese Wakhan Corridor border has been closed to traffic for over a century and China considers it too difficult and expensive to build a road or rail line through it. North of the corridor there is a year-round road between Afghanistan and China via Tajikistan. The longer road route via Tajikistan works because it is open all year and safe. Google Earth images have shown that China built a new road to the border area, along with additional guard posts after 2010. The Chinese road was only built to make it easier to move border guards, and their supplies, to the frontier. That is more of a danger to China than the Wakhan Corridor and the main reason for the joint border force. China provides economic aid to Tajikistan and Afghanistan mainly to purchase cooperation along the border.

January 22, 2021: China enacted a new law authorizing their navy and coast guard to use lethal force to protect Chinese coastal waters, including those that are disputed by nations. In other words, Chinese coast guard and navy vessel commanders have the authority to open fire on trespassers, even when international courts have declared it is the Chinese who are trespassing. That was the case with the Philippines, which brought the issue to an international court with jurisdiction. In 2016 that United Nation backed Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled against China and stated that occupying uninhabitable rocks and building artificial islands did not confer an EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone). Ownership of rocks gets you, at best 22 kilometers of territorial waters from the edge of each rock rather than 360 kilometers for EEZ rights. At first the U.S. merely called for China to comply with the court ruling, something China said it would not do even before the court completed its deliberations. The Americans did continue to carry out aerial and naval FONOPs with warships to assert the right of innocent passage. This annoyed the Chinese, who claimed most of the South China Sea was under Chinese control and no foreign ship or aircraft could enter without permission. China has been claiming areas long recognized as belonging to Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan and the Philippines. That has caused all these nations, plus the United States, Japan and South Korea to form an alliance to halt Chinese aggression. Until the new permission to open fire law, Chinese armed coast guard and navy vessels had only been used to intimidate trespassers and have never opened fire. There has been violence in the form of bumping or even ramming trespassers. This has led to the countries being threatened to send their own warships to defend their territory. Until now this would usually cause the Chinese warships to back off. But the new low allows Chinese captains to order crews to prepare for combat and use the fire control radars to concentrate on possible targets. In the Chinese playbook this means the Chinese want to goad someone else to open fire first, which would make China the designated victim (according to Chinese media) and justified in unleashing violent and probably overwhelming retaliation.

January 19, 2021: Japan decided to proceed with a two-decade old plan to design and build its own stealth fighter. Since the 1990s Japan has been concerned with the growing belligerence of China and North Korea, plus a simmering territorial dispute with Russia. More warplanes, and the modern ones at that were needed, just in case. The rapid Chinese development of its new stealth fighter, the J-20, also alarmed the Japanese. The delays in the F-35 program proved to be minor compared to the problems the Chinese and Russians encountered with their first stealth fighters. South Korea had the same idea, having also obtained nearly as many F-35s as Japan and also planning to develop their own stealth fighters.

All this is bad news for China, Russia and North Korea because if you do the math it is clear that the modern warplanes available and planned for the local anti-China coalition (Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Australia and a growing number of South-East Asian nations) matches what China has and once you add American forces deployed in the Western Pacific, China is at a disadvantage. This coalition developed because China has been making territorial claims on many of the coalition members or otherwise threatening them. Absent that aggression there would be no coalition or arms race.

January 11, 2021: Chinese leader Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory message to Kim Jong Un on the occasion of Kim being elected chairman of the WPK (Workers Party of Korea). This message was important because it was a public demonstration that China still approved of Kim Jong Un, despite the fact that the economic, security and political conditions inside North Korea continue to deteriorate. Perhaps China was encouraged by the promotions given to Kims younger (31-year-old) sister Kim Yo Jong, who stepped up when her brother underwent heart surgery in early 2020 and was out of action for several months. Kim Yo Jong was decisive and suitably vicious in the Kim tradition. During that period. she received several promotions and was portrayed as a senior official who was making a lot of decisions. Now she has more promotions.

January 10, 2021: In Angola China has granted the country three years of debt payment relief. Angola is Africas second-largest oil exporter. Angola owes various Chinese organizations over $20 billion, with the China Development Bank holding about 70 percent of that debt. Angola is seeking more aid for the International Monetary Fund. Meanwhile, the Angolan government continues its anti-corruption drive. Last year the government began moving assets seized from corrupt entities and politicians into Angolas central bank.

January 9, 2021: In northwest India (Ladakh State/Tibet border) China began withdrawing about 10,000 troops it had brought up to the India/Tibet border in early 2020. The departing troops did not take all their heavy equipment with them, an indication that they would be back. Both India and China brought up about 50,000 troops to a border area where China is aggressively claiming Indian territory. This withdrawal is probably weather related and the Chinese troops will return with the warm weather.

January 8, 2021: China is still seen as a major threat to the Philippines. China tries to placate Filipinos by offering useful aid. The latest example is offering 25 million doses of the Chinese covid10 Sinovac vaccine. Not as effective as Western vaccines, but China gave the Philippines a discount and promised delivery beginning in February but not completed until the end of 2021. The government has also ordered an Indian vaccine and a British one (from AstraZeneca) and is seeking vaccines from two American firms (Pfizer and Moderna), Russia (Gamaleya) and a second Chinese vaccine (Sinopharm). Because of past misbehavior the Chinese vaccines are regarded as less effective, something which China admits but at the same times the Chinese vaccines are seen as at least fifty percent effective. The government admitted that it had already obtained some of the Sinopharm on the black market and used it to vaccinate soldiers and other officials most exposed to the virus.

January 7, 2021: China has cancelled $30 million worth of Congos interest-free loans, specifically the loans that matured in 2020. Most of these loans were for infrastructure development related to Chinas Belt and Road Initiative.
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(Newser)  A man who opened fire at a Minnesota health clinic, killing one staff member and wounding four others, previously threatened to carry out a mass shooting at the facility, according to a police report. Gregory Paul Ulrich, 67, was arrested in Tuesday's attack at an Allina clinic in Buffalo, a community of about 15,000 people roughly 40 miles northwest of Minneapolis. Ulrich has a long history of conflict with medical clinics in the area and had been unhappy with the care he had received, Buffalo Police Chief Pat Budke said. According to a police report, Ulrich threatened to carry out a mass shooting at the clinic in October 2018, with a doctor telling investigators that Ulrich had talked about "shooting, blowing things up, and practicing different scenarios of how to get revenge."

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The doctor said Ulrich told him he dreamed about exacting revenge on the people who "tortured" him, referring to issues he had with back surgeries and the medication he was prescribed for them, the AP reports. Ulrich told police he had just been telling the doctor about his dreams and that he wouldnt actually do anything, and police took him for a mental health evaluation at a facility in Monticello, the report says. Allina medical staff believed Ulrich might act on the threats and filed paperwork barring him from the company's property, which police delivered to his home the next month. Authorities initially said the victims were patients, but Allina said Wednesday that all five were employees. It's not clear whether the doctor who spoke to investigators was among them.

(Read more Minnesota stories.)
No more than three high-rise apartment buildings will tower over Waterloos revamped public housing estate, under the City of Sydneys plans to accommodate thousands of new homes demanded by the NSW government.

A wide central thoroughfare lined with trees and shops, new streets and two parks are also among the latest plans to overhaul the southern end of the sprawling site with a mix of private apartments and social housing.

The council is proposing three high-rise buildings, instead of the nine towers suggested by the state government. Credit:City of Sydney

The council has released its proposal to overhaul the Waterloo estate in what will be one of Australias largest urban renewal projects. The shape and density of the redevelopment has triggered debate between the council and state government since plans to demolish existing homes and rebuild the precinct were announced in 2015.

City of Sydney lord mayor Clover Moore said the proposal was a significant milestone for the complex project.


A Guilford-based company that has developed a portable magnetic resonance imaging system has raised $90 million in its latest financing round, funding that will increase the pace at which the technology can rolled out around the globe.

Among the investors participating in the financing round for Hyperfine Research is the former Google Ventures, now known simply as GV. Hyperfine, a privately-held company, got FDA approval to bring its Swoop MRI to market in February 2020.

Unlike stationary MRI suites, the portable system can be wheeled to the patient. According to Hyperfine, the Swoop MRI plugs into a standard electrical outlet and will interface with an Apple iPad.

The companys founder, Dr. Jonathan Rothberg, said the new round of funding will help Hyperfine Research move forward with its mission to democratize healthcare for all patients, everywhere.

We refuse to accept barriers to accessible, equitable care, and we intend to make the previously impossible both possible and affordable by delivering MR imaging to the patient, wherever that patient is, Rothberg said.

Dr. Khan Siddiqui, the companys chief medical officer, said the latest infusion of cash will help us not only in the United States, but abroad.

We have ambitious plans, but were not publicly disclosing them yet, Siddiqui said when asked how many countries the company hopes to begin offering the Swoop MRI in by the end of this year.

This is the fourth round of financing the company has engaged in since Hyperfine Research was founded in 2014. Hyperfine Researchs previous funding round  in January 2017  was for $60 million, according to online databases.

Siddiqui said Hyperfine Research officials wont comment on the results of the two other funding rounds.

One of the U.S. medical centers already using the Swoop MRI is Tampa General in Florida. Chief of staff Dr. Krishna Nallamshetty said in a statement the device is especially helpful for patients who are critically ill or difficult to transport.

When a baby or child gets an MRI, the parents have to stay outside and its frightening for everyone, Nallamshetty said. With the baby lying in a tunnel, parents feel far, far away. With this, the parent can be with the child as they are getting scanned, potentially eliminating the need for sedation.

luther.turmelle@hearstmediact.com

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[February 11, 2021] NMIMS' School of Design Opens Admissions For B.Des. in Humanising Technology

- The trailblazing 4-year undergraduate program offers a multidisciplinary and holistic design education that combines technological expertise with a practical user-centric approach MUMBAI, India, Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- SVKM's NMIMS School of Design, the leading institute for design education, invites applications for its pioneering B.Des. (Humanising Technology) programme at its Mumbai campus. The AICTE-approved 4-years undergraduate program offers a transdisciplinary approach to design education that brings together technology, science, and business. The interactive pedagogy combines workshops by ace professionals with mentored projects at state-of-the-art studios and labs. The program is designed to groom professionals who can create value by humanising technology in various emerging fields. By combining emergent technology with cognitive and behavioural science to create business value, this design program offers a multitude of career opportunities for students. Careers avenues include that of a design researcher, interaction designer, Experience Designer for emerging technology, Data Visualizer, UX & UI Designer and many more from being an essential component of every product and service, design has emerged as a critical component in every field. Design professionals are in high demand across various industries, including electronics, banking, healthcare, education, IT, media, hospitality, and consumer durables. Speaking on the merits of the program, Dr. Ramesh Bhat, Vice Chancellor, SVKM's NMIMS, said, "The School of Design at NMIMS was conceptualized as a centre for nurturing design professionals who can conceptualize and implement life-enhancing solutions in an increasingly digitised world. The B. Des. in Humanising Technology is a pioneering program that combines technology and design expertise with a deeply humanistic perspective and practical business-oriented skills. This transdisciplinary education equips students with a multi-stream skillset that is critical in any field today." As a future faced School of Design, it offers a comprehensive set of facilities that include state-of-the-art WiFi studios, workshops and well-equipped labs such a Tinkering lab, Rapid Prototyping lab, XR (extended reality) lab, and a Usability lab as well. These facilities are designed to provide students with an experiential learning experience



Elaborating on the program, Prof. Manisha Phadke, Director, NMIMS School of Design, said, "The biggest challenge in design today is creating solutions that transverse from physical to digital and consider the opportunity an emerging technology offers, yet are user-centric while remaining business-oriented. B.Des. (Humanising Technology) provides students with a transdisciplinary design-centric approach with a cognitive, behavioural and sociological perspective, enabling them to visualise products and services that are usable and scalable. The new age education is substantiated with our students consistently winning awards and accolades at some of the most highly regarded national and international design competitions." Humanising Technology is the act of design to make technology accessible, usable and delightful to the users. The curriculum focuses on four main streams, design, technology, science, and business. While the first two years focus on developing the students' multidisciplinary skillset, year three is dedicated to the project-centric application and the practice of their learning. The final year is designed to enhance their professionalism and business acumen with internships, industry-relevant Capstone projects, and dissertations.

Eligibility: The candidate must have passed 10+2 or equivalent examination including International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB certificate / & D.P. awarded candidates are eligible only if they have cleared their IB exam with a total of 24 credits compulsory having passed 3 HL & 3 SL mandatorily in any stream from a recognised Board and should have obtained a minimum of 60% aggregate marks). Admission process: Admission to the B.Des. (Humanising Technology) is through NMIMS - Design Aptitude Test (NMIMS-DAT). Under NMIMS-DAT, candidates must first register at https://nmims.secure.force.com//SOD_BAG_Login after which they will be asked to upload their portfolio. This will be followed by an online studio test, online personal interview and portfolio review. For details on the programs, admission, eligibility, selection process and other information, visit https://design.nmims.edu Accreditations: NMIMS has NAAC accreditation with Grade A+ (3.59 CGPA), Mumbai Campus and is recognized as Category-I University by MHRD/UGC Grant of Graded Autonomy Regulation, 2018. B.Des. (Humanising Technology) program is AICTE-approved. About NMIMS - DAT: Launched this year, NMIMS - Design Aptitude Test or NMIMS-DAT is carefully designed to evaluate the candidate's aptitude and potential for design. The process involves three main steps, an online studio test, an online personal interview, and a portfolio review. The 3-step process allows candidates to showcase their talent and ideas during the selection process. About SVKM' NMIMS School of Design: SVKM' NMIMS Deemed to be University, School of Design offers a holistic multidisciplinary education in design. With ultra-modern labs and studios, the school offers a pioneering program in the application of technology and design with B.Des. (Humanising Technology). Backed by a talented faculty, the school offers the most well-rounded education on all aspects of design. For more information, visit https://design.nmims.edu Follow us on - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NMIMS.Design/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/school/nmims-schoolofdesign/?originalSubdomain=in

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The European Parliament, in its resolution on Ukraine's implementation of the Association Agreement, noted the delay in privatization of state-owned enterprises (SOE) and expressed concern about their increase.

The report, approved by 526 MPs, was released on the official website of the European Parliament.

In addition to this, parliamentarians "urges Ukraine to tackle the pervasive cronyism and corruption that continues to exist in its healthcare sector, and especially in the Ministry of Health," The MPs call for an effective investigation of any corrupt practices, "in particular attempts to procure medical equipment at disproportionately high costs in the midst of the pandemic."

The MPs also urge Ukraine to comply with future decisions of the Arbitration Commission regarding a moratorium on the export of unprocessed timber and to fight against shadow employment, the volume of which is reaching significant proportions.
Arlene Foster has stressed Covid-19 case numbers must stay as low as possible so the Executive can "safely plan" the lifting of restrictions ahead of its review into the measures next week.

The First Minister welcomed the "significant achievement" of pushing down the curve of the coronavirus across the board in a weekly press conference in Dungannon with Finance Minister Conor Murphy on Thursday.

In her opening remarks, the DUP leader said the R number is "steadily below 1" in the community, "probably between 0.75 and 0.85".

Mrs Foster described the daily case number of 253, and hospital inpatients falling to 518 from 746 a week ago and the numbers of Covid patients being treated in ICU falling below 60, as "another gradual but positive step forward".

Hailing the success of Northern Ireland's vaccination programme as a "bright light" following a "very long and dark tunnel", she said a quarter of all adults in Northern Ireland will have received a first dose of a coronavirus vaccination by the weekend.

She stressed next week will be a "key decision point" when the coronavirus regulations will be reviewed.

"We need to see the numbers as low as possible so that we can safely plan for gradually emerging from the lockdown," she said.

"We all want to see an end of the restrictions but we must approach that with care so we don't lose the gains that we have made."

Mr Murphy also stressed the latest figures show the second wave is "beginning to decline" here.

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"Any changes to the restrictions of our behaviours will cause the pandemic to escalate so the restrictions do remain necessary and the actions of the public are still crucially important," he said.

"The Executive are looking forward to the next phase of our response. There is a collective focus on a managed recovery guided by the medical and the scientific advice."

Mrs Foster also revealed the issue of click and collect services for shops, which are currently restricted, will also be discussed by the Executive next Thursday, acknowledging that non-essential items may become essential to people as time goes on.

Meanwhile, the pair also addressed the ongoing issue over the Northern Ireland Protocol.

When it was put to her that it was "irresponsible" for her to call for it to be scrapped, she insisted it wasn't the case.

"The Prime Minister has a duty to the people of NI, like people in England, Scotland and Wales...he knows there is very little time to deal with these issues... therefore he needs to step up," she said.

The DUP leader also said she regrets that the European Commission's response to concerns about the NI Protocol "is more protocol and more rigorous implementation".

The protocol, which requires regulatory and customs checks processes on goods moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland, has caused some disruption to trade since it came into force on January 1.

Unionists have been deeply critical of the arrangements, insisting they have driven an economic wedge between here and the rest of the UK.

The DUP and other unionist parties have urged Westminster to trigger a mechanism within the protocol - Article 16 - that enables the government to unilaterally suspend aspects it deems are causing economic, societal or environmental problems.

Mrs Foster insisted the European Commission's current stance and approach is "not going to work".

"However we will await to see what happens at the meeting later on this afternoon between Michael Gove and Maros Sefcovic," she continued.

She responded to Taoiseach Micheal Martin's call for cool heads by saying she hoped it was directed at "his colleagues in the European Union bloc".

"There has been an attitude of sticking the head in the sand and fingers in the ears in relation to the concerns of not just my party but every single unionist politician who is opposed to the protocol so therefore there needs to be an engagement that recognises that," she said.

Stormont Finance Minister Conor Murphy, who stressed that the majority of people here had voted to remain in the European Union, said he hopes issues are ironed out to enable businesses to do what they need to do.

"We were always very clear when Brexit was voted through, it was going to cause disruption, in our view the protocol helps to mitigate against that. We need to make sure it works properly in the way it was intended," he said.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-11 23:40:41|Editor: huaxia

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Visitors pose for photos with Chinese character Fu, which means "fortune", at the Chinese zodiac exhibition in the China Cultural Center in Brussels, Belgium, Feb. 4, 2019. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong)

by Xinhua writer Chen Wenxian

BRUSSELS, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- Though COVID-19 is preventing overseas Chinese from celebrating the Chinese Lunar New Year the usual way -- with a family banquet -- those across Europe are embracing the Spring Festival via various online celebrations.

As Feb. 12 marks the start of the Year of the Ox, various online "get-together" galas are being hosted by Chinese embassies, cultural centers, Chinese community groups and student federations across Europe for those unable to return home.

As many overseas Chinese are welcoming the Chinese New Year in the cloud, most of them have received actual gift kits from Chinese embassies. The kits include medical supplies such as face masks, surgical gloves, alcohol gel, as well as Spring Festival poetic couplets and Chinese handicrafts.

The China Cultural Center in Paris is organizing a series of online events to celebrate the new year from Feb. 4 to Feb. 26, including exhibitions on Spring Festival traditions, concerts, a virtual exhibition of Chinese zodiac designs and an acrobatics performance on ice.

An artist performs the "face-changing" art of Sichuan opera during a reception held by the National Assembly of France to celebrate the Spring Festival, or the Chinese Lunar New Year, in Paris, France, Jan. 27, 2020. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)

The center told Xinhua that an estimated 800,000 people in France are expected to follow the celebratory events broadcasted on various social media platforms.

On Saturday, Chinese students in Belgium launched an online party via multiple social network platforms, which involved chorus performances, piano and cello duets, and percussion and poetry recitations performed by students.

On the small island country of Malta, the opera Turandot was presented both online and on Maltese TV, as part of Spring Festival celebrations.

Showcasing opera on this special occasion illustrated the deep bond between China and Malta, said Yang Xiaolong, director of the China Cultural Center in Malta.

The center, in cooperation with the Confucius Institute of the University of Malta, also hosted an online "Happy Chinese New Year" party on Tuesday, which featured martial arts, singing and dancing, trivia quizzes and interactive activities. Overseas Chinese, students, and locals took part in the event.

Dancers of an art troupe from southwest China's Guizhou Province perform during a cultural event in downtown Berlin, Germany, Jan. 10, 2020. (Xinhua/Wang Qing)

As early as Jan. 23, the 12 associations of Chinese students and scholars in Germany worked together to host an online Chinese New Year gala, which featured stunning performances, including street dances and martial arts.

Du Xiaohui, Chinese consul-general in Hamburg, said that the COVID-19 pandemic forced a rapid shift to life online and broke through geographical boundaries.

The Chinese New Year is celebrated wherever Chinese people are, and they can always find a way to celebrate together, Du said, adding that the holiday is an example of the power of culture.

In Sweden, the China Cultural Center in Stockholm is hosting a series of online activities with the Zhejiang Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism from Feb. 4 to Feb. 26, presenting a variety of exhibitions, performances and interactive experiences.

The "China-Sweden Happy Chinese New Year Gala" showcases cultural performances ranging from children's songs to Peking Opera, from Guqin (a traditional musical instrument) performance to traditional dance.

These online celebration events and Spring Festival greetings provide comfort for those unable to return home.

Actors of Guzi yangge dance troupe rehearse at a culture center in Shanghe County, east China's Shandong Province, Jan. 19, 2018. (Xinhua/Guo Xulei)

"This year's Spring Festival takes place right after exam week. I was about to take this opportunity to return to my home country to reunite with my family, but the global pandemic situation is still severe and complicated, thus I decided to stay in Poland for safety reasons," Chen Yiyu, a graduate student at the Faculty of Law and Administration of the Jagiellonian University in Poland, told Xinhua.

Temporary separation paves way for a better reunion. As vaccination campaigns are well underway in Europe, overseas Chinese are confident that the continent will defeat the pandemic and life will return to normal in the near future, a sincere desire as they welcome the Year of the Ox.

(Xinhua reporters Tang Ji, Liu Fang in Paris, Pan Geping in Brussels, Zhang Yirong in Berlin, Chen Xu in Warsaw, and Fu Ying in Stockholm also contributed to the story.)
MILTON  A note found in the pocket of a model whose body was found along Interstate 80 in western Union County led police to charge a Texas man in her death Wednesday.

Tracy Ray Rollins Jr., 28, an over-the-road truck driver from Dallas, Texas, has been charged with homicide and abuse of corpse in the death of Rebecca Landrith, 47, a native of Virginia who worked as a model in New York City. He was arrested in Connecticut.

Landriths body was found just before 7 a.m. Sunday by a Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) worker on the I-80 eastbound exit ramp at the Mile Run interchange near Loganton.

Eighteen bullets were removed from Landriths body during an autopsy, the arrest affidavit states.

She sustained multiple gunshot wounds to her face, neck and chest area plus two on a hand that state police called defensive.

Were relieved, her brother, George Landrith, said about the arrest. It doesnt ease the sense of loss.

There was concern whether there would be an arrest because she was found in the middle of nowhere, he said speaking for the family. The interchange is void of businesses and surrounded by state forestland.

Her family loved her dearly, her brother said. None of this brings her back. It is important she receives justice.

Tracy Ray Rollins Jr., 28, an over-the-road truck driver from Dallas, Texas, has been charged with homicide and abuse of corpse in the death of Rebecca Landrith, 47, a native of Virginia who worked as a model in New York City. (photo courtesy of Connecticut State Police)

It took old-fashioned police work, was the response of county District Attorney D. Peter Johnson when asked how an arrest was made so quickly.

Neither he nor state police would disclose what they believe was the motive for the shooting or if a weapon was recovered. No gun was found with the body, police said.

The arrest affidavit reveals investigators got a break when they found in a pocket of Landriths leather jacket a note that had Tracy Rollins name, a phone number and an email address.

Using that information, receipts found on her pockets and Rollins cell phone records, officials said they traced his travel from Wisconsin to Maine with a stop at the Mile Run interchange from 11:48 p.m. Saturday until 12:10 a.m. Sunday.

Landrith apparently was shot inside the cab of the truck, because according to the affidavit, investigators observed:

Flesh and brain-like matter on the bottom bunk mattress behind the passenger seat and flesh-like matter beneath the exterior top stair gate.

Powder applied as a cleaning agent on the front seat covering signs of blood, six 9mm shell casings on the front floorboard and on the floorboard behind the passenger seat.

Bullet strikes in the rear wall behind the passenger seat and above the bottom bunk, they said.

Rollins was tracked to Mildale, Connecticut, and was taken into custody about 11:50 p.m. Wednesday when state police stopped his rig after it left a truck stop.

Looking into the cab, police said they observed in plain view what appeared to be bleach/cleaning solution covering a large portion of the passenger seat and floor.

According to the affidavit, Rollins told investigators he had been driving rigs for three years, did not know Landrith or recognize her from a picture but that a woman named Leslie he had met at a truck stop near Milford, Conn., had been traveling with him.

Information was obtained from Milford police that Landrith had made hotel reservations in December under the name Leslie Myers, the document states.

According to Rollins, Leslie accompanied him to Maine, back to Connecticut, then Brooklyn, N.Y., and Wisconsin where he picked up a load to be delivered in Maine.

The affidavit provides this additional information:

When asked questions pertaining to his travels, Rollins replied: I hate to start lying to you cause this is a murder investigation.

At that point Rollins had not been advised or presented any information that this was a murder investigation.

By tracing a receipt found in Landriths pocket and viewing security video it was determined Rollins had made the purchase at a Popeyes in Howe, Ind., on Feb. 7.

Data obtained by court order tracked Rollins cell phone east of I-80 to the Mile Run interchange and then to Pittston and into Maine. He appeared in security video at a truck stop in Baileyville, Maine.

There was no identification on the body and Landrith was not wearing any socks or shoes. Her identification was confirmed by fingerprints.

According to Landriths biography she was born in Alexandria, Va., the youngest of five children.

She had been a professional model in New York City, a finalist for Miss Manhattan in 2014, an accomplished violinist and a champion for numerous charities. More insight into her can be found in this post she put on an iStudio webpage:

She had appeared in numerous product advertisements, video commercials and in multiple runway shows including Fashion Week.

READ MORE: Former model found dead at I-80 interchange in Pa. was shot multiple times in the head: coroner
Twitter has blocked the account of Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament Chaudhary Sukhram Singh Yadav in India, Medianama reported on Thursday. Yadav's is one of the most high-profile blockings undertaken by the social media platform in the country so far.

@MPSukhrams account has been withheld in India in response to a legal demand, the message on the micro-blogging reads as users try to access his page that has 244 followers.

According to a report in Scroll.in, Twitter said that the account has been withheld in response to a legal notice for users accessing it in India. However, users outside the country can see the MPs tweets normally.

Yadav, a member of the Samajwadi Party, confirmed that the account (which is not verified with a blue tick) is his official Twitter handle. Yadavs team also confirmed to MediaNama that they are able to post tweets, but not view them. Starting Wednesday, tweets from Yadavs account had received no likes, retweets or replies, indicating that the account was withheld for Indian users as recently as a day ago.

Yadavs account is able to send tweets, but tweets remain invisible in India, even to his team controlling the account, they said.

An incesnsed Chaudhary told MediaNama, To block the account of a peoples representative  this is one of the worst things to do in a democracy. If an MP is not given preference, then what can be said of the common man. I belong to a family where I am the third MP; my uncle was an MP, my father was an MP. To withhold an account of such an MP is not a sign of democracy.

He added that he would be writing to the government to protest the blocking.

It was not immediately clear if Yadavs account was withheld on the directives of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, for allegedly spreading misinformation about the farmers protest.

Twitter recently said it blocked a few hundred handles that the Indian government ordered them to take down. However, it held that it wouldnt block accounts belonging to journalists, activists and politicians, deeming those accounts newsworthy. In a meeting on Wednesday night, the Secretary of the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology, Ajay Prakash Sawhney, told the companys officials that they would have to comply with Indian law, but stopped short of demanding explicitly that the rest of the accounts ordered by MEITY be withdrawn.

Without naming Twitter, IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Thursday accused the platform of not cooperating in investigations into protests at the Red Fort.

"This won't work in India," he said.
President Bidens Racial Equity Initiative: Moving Marginalized Communities Toward Americas Bounty

On January 26, President Joe Biden took steps to bring the nation towards the long-promised, but never realized, pledge of racial justice. Four executive orders signed that day make clear that the new Administration will take meaningful and corrective actions.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) was directed to take steps necessary to redress racially discriminatory federal housing policies that have contributed to wealth inequality for generations. Similarly, the Department of Justice (DOJ) was ordered to end its use of private prisons. The whole of federal government also recommitted to respect Tribal sovereignty and strengthen the Nation-to-Nation relationship between the United States and Tribal Nations. Finally, President Biden committed to combatting xenophobia against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.

We have never fully lived up to the founding principles of this nation, to state the obvious, that all people are created equal and have a right to be treated equally throughout their lives, said Biden. And its time to act now, not only because its the right thing to do, but because if we do, well all be better off for it.

Yes, we need criminal justice reform, he continued, but that isnt nearly enough. We need to open the promise of America to every American. And that means we need to make the issue of racial equity not just an issue for any one department of government; it has to be the business of the whole of government.

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Responsibility for implementation and oversight will rest with the White Houses Domestic Policy Council, led by Director Susan Rice, a former Obama Administration appointee who served as National Security Advisor and U.S. Representative to the United Nations and a Black woman.

Millions of marginalized people  many who are Black and Latino  face imminent financial disaster. When people are poor, they face compounding struggles  ranging from food insecurity, to the threat of losing utilities, and the risk of homelessness  and hardships seemingly multiply each day. During this still-raging pandemic, a new kind of poor  those who were formerly gainfully employed  are learning the harsh realities of how hard life becomes when adequate income and decent health insurance are no longer available.

Regardless of income  or the lack thereof  every family still needs a home, one that provides shelter and sustenance. As much as America needs vaccinations from the pandemic, its people need and have a right to housing.

In 2020, to address this newly urgent need, a focused and collaborative national policy endeavor began, called the Housing Playbook Project. The effort was led by Community Change, a nonprofit with the mission of changing the policies and institutions that impact the lives of low-income people  particularly those of color  with support from the Ford Foundation. The sum of the projects insights and recommendations specific to housing challenges were contained in its report released on January 25th.

Entitled A New Deal for Housing for Housing Justice: A Playbook for the Biden Administration, the t is a road map to achieving housing justice that details bold federal actions that can effectively respond to the housing crisis and charts a path for leveraging policymaking to build power in the nations most neglected communities.

We face a housing affordability crisis, an evictions crisis, and a homelessness crisis like this nation has never seen, noted Julian Castro, project co-chair and former HUD Secretary and San Antonio Mayor. The Housing Playbook outlines a bold and ambitious blueprint to tackle these crises head-on, with housing justice and racial equity at the forefront. This is how we ensure housing is not just a commodity, but a basic need and a human right granted to every single American.

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Regardless of where we come from, what we do for work, how we identify or whether weve been caught up in our unjust criminal system, everyone deserves a roof over their head, added Community Change President Dorian Warren. The Biden-Harris Administration has signaled that they would make racial justice and equity in COVID-19 relief and long- term economic policy a priority. Safe and reliable housing is the cornerstone to economic security. This proposal is a blueprint for how to help move the country toward that vision.

The reports seven specific policy recommendations include:

Provide COVID-19 federal relief financial assistance to renters on the verge of eviction and homeowners in danger of foreclosure. Additionally, the report calls for the relief package to award community control of foreclosed and abandoned properties  a nagging blight in neighborhoods of color since the foreclosure crisis;

Create a renters tax credit for consumers who pay more than 30% of their income on housing, thereby affording renters a comparable tax break to that of homeowners;

Enact a Presidential Commission on Reparations comprised of lawmakers and diverse perspectives of community organizations and advocates who would together formulate 10-year goals to undo the legacy of anti-Black federal housing policy, establish long-term household, community, regional, and national metrics to track success in achieving the goals; and

Guarantee all low-income families a home by passing legislation to make housing choice vouchers an entitlement for eligible families and create 500,000 new vouchers for families with children under age six.

The urgency of Americas housing needs during the pandemic are poignantly analyzed in the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies (JCHS)State of the Nations Housing 2020, an annual report that analyzes the changes and challenges in American housing.

As of last September, the Black-White homeownership gap stood at 31%, according to the annual report. Additionally, 49% of renters and 36% of homeowners experienced employment income loss between March and September of last year. Those marketplace dynamics contributed to late rental payments that also reflected racial disparities affecting 10% of Whites, but 23% of Blacks and 20% of Latinos.

The JCHS report also found that from 2019 to 2020, the total number of homeless people grew in part because 17,000 more people needed shelter. In all, Americas homeless that could be measured came in at 568,000 people.

Widespread calls for racial justice have pointed out the high degree of residential segregation and economic inequality that still exists in the US, says Daniel McCue, a JCHS Senior Research Associate. In fact, the sharp racial disparities in housing are both a cause and a consequence of other social inequalities.

For people of color, the combination of concentrated poverty and under-representation in higher income areas leads to nearly two-thirds of poor Blacks, Latinos, and Native Americans living in communities with poverty rates above 20%  nearly twice that of the share of poor Whites. They also have far higher cost-burden housing rates and a disproportionately large share of the nations homeless.

For Nikitra Bailey, Executive Vice President of the Center for Responsible Lending, President Bidens Racial Equity Initiative is a critical first step by his Administration to address injustices that are holding our country back and will help to move the nation closer to its ideals and center solutions to discrimination that hinder opportunity, allowing marginalized communities to move closer to equal justice under law.

Prioritizing racial equity is needed at the outset, and fully implementing the Fair Housing Act of 1968 as part of a comprehensive racial equity agenda is essential to expanding opportunity for all Americans, she added. These actions give Black and Brown families an opportunity to live free of discrimination and participate fully in the economy.

Charlene Crowell is a Senior Fellow with the Center for Responsible Lending. She can be reached at [email protected]
Lazarist missionary, Fr. Pedro Opeka has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for his work among the poor in Madagascar.

By Lisa Zengarini

The Argentinian-Slovenian Lazarist missionary Father Pedro Opeka and his humanitarian association Akamasoa (City of Friendship) have been nominated for the Peace Nobel Prize by the Prime Minister of Slovenia, Janez Jansa. The nomination was announced on January 31st on the official website of the Slovenian government.

According to the Prime Minister, the Akamasoa Community - which father Opeka founded over 30 years ago and which Pope Francis visited in September 2019 during his Apostolic Journey to Mozambique, Madagascar and Mauritius - has given an outstanding contribution to "social and human development" in Madagascar, helping it to achieve the 2030 UN goals for sustainable development. Jansa has also remembered the former Malagasy President Hery Rajaonarimampianina as saying that father Opeka is a living beacon of hope and faith in the fight against poverty".

In the communique, the Slovenian Government points out that the humanitarian work of the Argentinian-born missionary and his collaborators in Madagascar has attracted public attention and support across the world and is an inspiration in the fight against poverty, marginalization and social injustice.

Born in 1948 in Argentina to Slovenian refugee parents, Father Opeka started working for the poor at a young age when he traveled to various countries. After entering the Congregation of the Mission (also known as Lazarists or Vincentians), he became a priest in 1975 and subsequently transferred to Madagascar. In 1989, because of his success with young people and his impressive high qualifications and knowledge of languages, his superiors appointed him director of a Vincentian theological seminary in Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar, where he soon noticed the extreme poverty in the slums of the city and discovered the human degradation of the garbage people  scavenging the waste hills to find something to eat or to sell. He thus convinced a group of them to leave the slums and improve their lot by becoming farmers, teaching them masonry skills, which he had learned as a young boy from his father, so they could build their own homes. The idea was to give these people a house, a decent job and an education. Since then the project has grown by leaps and bounds, offering housing, work, education and health services to thousands of poor Malgasies with the support of many international donors and friends of the association.

During his visit to the Akamasoa City of Friendship, on September 8, 2019, Pope Francis remarked that at its foundations is a living faith translated into concrete actions capable of moving mountains and that its success shows that poverty is not inevitable.
Prosecutors at Donald Trump's impeachment trial played an audio of Pelosi's staffers whispering for help as the mob tried to break down a door to her office

Washington: Democrats say Capitol Police evacuated House Speaker Nancy Pelosi from the Capitol complex entirely because they feared for her safety on 6 January.

Prosecutors at Donald Trump's second impeachment trial on Wednesday played audio of Pelosi's barricaded staffers whispering for help and showed images of the mob trying to break down a door into Pelosi's office.

The 80-year-old Pelosi was a longtime political target of the president, who derisively nicknamed her "Crazy Nancy".

House impeachment manager Stacey Plaskett says Pelosi was rushed to a secure offsite location because some of the rioters publicly declared their intent to harm or kill Pelosi.

Plaskett says that if the rioters had found Pelosi, they would have killed her. She said, They did it because Donald Trump sent them on this mission.
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W&Ms McLaughlin is a homegrown success story

Thomas Jefferson Award: Virginia McLaughlin started her W&M career as an assistant professor of special education and rose through the ranks to become the first woman to serve as Dean of the School of Education. As she nears retirement, her legacy comes even more into focus as the recipient of the 2021 Thomas Jefferson Award. Photo by Stephen Salpukas Photo - of - Hide Caption

As an alumna turned faculty member and administrator at William & Mary, Virginia McLaughlin 71 is a homegrown success story. From her myriad roles and accomplishments, she has had a grand impact at her alma mater for almost four decades.

She is a trailblazer and mentor to a large number of educators, including students and faculty at W&M and teachers she affected throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia as an influencer of policy.

As she nears retirement, McLaughlins legacy comes even more into focus as the recipient of the 2021 Thomas Jefferson Award. The honor is given each year to a member of the William & Mary family for significant service through his or her personal activities, influence and leadership.

The award will be presented virtually during the universitys Charter Day Ceremony on Feb. 11 at 7 p.m.

Its a wonderful capstone to a long career at William & Mary, said McLaughlin, who will retire in May. In preparing my narrative for this award, it was a wonderful way to reflect on the 38 years Ive been here as a faculty member and administrator in such a variety of roles.

A mentor to many

McLaughlin started her W&M career as an assistant professor of special education and rose through the ranks to become the first woman to serve as dean of the School of Education.

Throughout her career, she has taught a wide variety of courses ranging from the undergraduate to doctoral levels, and she has played a major role as an influencer of policy as a member of the Virginia State Board of Education and Virginia Early Childhood Foundation.

Moreover, she served on Virginia Gov. Mark Warners P-16 Education Council and chaired its Committee on Comprehensive Data Systems.

McLaughlin authored or co-authored three books and dozens of book chapters and journal articles on programs and interventions for students with special needs. Additionally, she has given over 100 presentations at international, national and state conferences. She has been a Principal Investigator (PI) or Co-PI on 32 federal and state grants totaling over $10.5 million.

What was most memorable to me was the model of intelligence, professionalism, sense of purpose, clarity and resoluteness that Dean McLaughlin exuded so authentically, said Christopher R. Gareis, professor of Educational Leadership at the William & Mary School of Education. I remember thinking that Ginnie McLaughlin was the kind of leader that I hoped I might become.

McLaughlins mentorship to so many people was a natural result of her lifelong orientation toward collaboration and a desire to build strong relationships.

It wasnt until later that she realized how much of a mentor she was to so many young educators, particularly women.

As women would be hired as faculty members or be appointed to administrative positions, it was just a natural thing to work closely with them to problem solve together to support one another, and I think it was only later on that I realized what a void that might have filled for other people as well, McLaughlin said.

McLaughlin twice served as chair of the William & Mary Womens Caucus, which later became the Womens Network, co-founded an informal Administrative Womens Group and has mentored and supported many women across campus in their career advancement.

Ginnie has always been generous with her wisdom and is an excellent mentor and colleague, said Chancellor Professor of Geology Heather Macdonald. I think back to my time as dean of undergraduate studies from 1993-96. There werent many women in administration at William & Mary at the time, and Ginnie was an important mentor and colleague, providing sage counsel and sharing her terrific grant writing skills, reviewing some of the proposals I wrote as a dean before sending them out.

At the state level, McLaughlin was a longstanding board member of the American Council for Education Virginia Womens Network, chaired one of its annual conferences hosted at William & Mary, and was recognized in 2012 with its Breaking the Glass Ceiling Award for women who have made outstanding leadership contributions in higher education.

Throughout my career, I have been a passionate advocate for equitable and inclusive opportunities, not only for those with disabilities but for all persons regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation and other factors, McLaughlin said. My lived experience as a woman has further sensitized me to structural and implicit biases that many encounter.

Feels like home

McLaughlin is among the select group of W&M alumni who returned to the university to teach. She took an indirect route back to Williamsburg, making stops in Tennessee and South Carolina to earn masters and doctoral degrees and to teach at two other universities before making it back to her alma mater.

It certainly feels like home, and I loved having the opportunity to teach at my alma mater, McLaughlin said.

I feel like being a graduate of William & Mary has given me an understanding of the culture and the people and our history in a way that's really been advantageous, and it's also helped me kind of keep things in perspective in terms of where we've been and where we need to go. It's been a wonderful opportunity, a wonderful life.

One of the biggest advancements that came during McLaughlins time as dean of the School of Education was the construction of the sprawling School of Education building, located on 22 acres adjacent to campus. She played a central role in the building of that $48 million state-of-the-art facility.

The School of Education previously occupied two floors of Jones Hall. Moving to the new building provided instant credibility and exposure.

It's heightened our profile so much, and I do delight in that, McLaughlin said. In a very concrete way, it changed our visibility, having our own building and kind of our own mini campus right there with signage and a presence where people can see us and know who we are. I also think it enhanced our capacity to raise the work that we do to a whole new level, and that's the most important thing.

During the pandemic, McLaughlin has had more time to enjoy the horse farm she and her husband, John, own in Toano. She is retiring to spend more time with their family, including four children and eight grandchildren, some of whom live in New York and Atlanta.

I don't need to work forever, she said.

McLaughlin will take with her a treasure trove of memories from her successful tenure at William & Mary.

Whats most enduring are the people, the people you taught and have seen go on to be dynamite teachers or significant leaders in all different levels of education and the faculty youve hired and seen flourish and grow, McLaughlin said.
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Stefanovic was critical of the time frame to rollout a vaccine across Australia

Today show host Karl Stefanovic has grilled Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton about Australia's slow vaccine rollout.

Stefanovic responded bluntly after MR Dutton attempted to defend Australia's vaccine timeline, pointing to the higher deaths toll across Europe and in America.

'Peter, are you embarrassed at all about how long this has taken?' Stefanovic said.

'I'm not,' Mr Dutton replied, before adding: 'Australia will not make political decisions to over-ride the decisions of the scientists.

Today co-host Karl Stefanovic (pictured left) took Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton to task in a fiery exchange on Friday

'We will get it rolled out in accordance with the medical advice and the expert advice from those that make decisions on a day-to-day basis about the medicines that Australians buy from their chemist.'

Mr Dutton went on to state Australian residents can be comforted by the fact that the government has valued and protected their health during a global pandemic.

The criticism followed Australian Labor Party national president Wayne Swan earlier declaring on Today he was 'gobsmacked' about the speed of the rollout.

'We should get our population vaccinated as soon as we possibly can,' Mr Swan said.

'There is much more to come in dealing with this virus and we should be very honest about that.

'They said there would be four million vaccines out by the middle of the March, that is not going to be achieved.'

Earlier this week, the Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment Dan Tehan announced older Australians and health care workers would be prioritised to receive the highly anticipated jab.

'First it will go to the elderly, those people who are on the front line with our hospital workers and then in the aged-care facilities and then rollout into the community,' he said.

Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton (pictured above) responded by stating the government is 'guided by medical and expert advice' when it comes to Australia's vaccine rollout

Australian Labor Party national president Wayne Swan (pictured above) was also critical of the government on the Today Show

'The government has planned this. We've put a lot of work into it. We're cooperating with the state and territory governments on the rollout and people can be reassured that our vaccine rollout is on target.'

The Morrison government plans to use hospitals, pharmacies and doctor surgeries to distribute the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines, before the end of February.

Health Minister Greg Hunt confirmed on Wednesday the government was closely watching the rollout of Covid-19 drugs abroad.

'We are all learning from each other and we have learnt immense lessons looking at some of the pitfalls and missteps in some countries with regards to the vaccine rollout,' he said.

'As a nation we are now in a very strong place.'
Attackers opened fire on a temporary base in central Mali on Wednesday in a well-planned assault that wounded 28 peacekeepers from Togo, UN officials said.

The condemned the attack in Mali, which remains the deadliest of the UN's 12 far-flung peacekeeping missions, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

Just so far this year, five peacekeepers have been killed and 46 injured by hostile acts in the violence-plagued West African nation, he said.

Mali has been in turmoil since a 2012 uprising prompted mutinous soldiers to overthrow the president. The power vacuum that resulted ultimately led to an Islamic insurgency and a French-led war that ousted the jihadists from power in 2013.

But insurgents remain active and extremist groups affiliated with al-Qaida and the Islamic State group have moved from the arid north to more populated central Mali since 2015, stoking animosity and violence between ethnic groups in the region. The country has also been plagued by a series of coups, the latest in August that overthrew President Ibrahim Boubacar.

There have been no claims of responsibility for what the UN mission called Wednesday's complex attack using direct and indirect fire against the temporary base in Kerena, near Douentza. But Islamic extremists linked to al-Qaida and the Islamic State group have staged regular attacks on UN peacekeepers and soldiers.

Mahamat Saleh Annadfi, the UN special representative for Mali and head of the peacekeeping mission, strongly condemns this cowardly attack on the peacekeepers and has ensured that all measures are taken to ensure that the wounded receive appropriate treatment, mission spokesman Olivier Salgado said.

The more than 12,500 UN peacekeepers and nearly 1,700 international police in Mali work in a very challenging and hostile environment, Dujarric said in New York, noting that there are not only extremist groups but a lot of nebulous armed groups.

I think, given the level, the complexity of the attack that we've seen, this was something that was clearly well planned, he told reporters.

For several months now, peacekeepers have been carrying out numerous security operations in central Mali to help reduce violence against civilians and to restore calm in areas where community tensions are reported, Dujarric said. They are also working to reduce the threat of improvised explosive devices, an issue in the Douentza region.

The UN spokesman said the key unresolved issue in Mali is the lack of political progress." He said all Malian leaders must join the political discussions and lay down their arms.

"UN peacekeepers are not meant ... to conduct counterterrorism operations on a regular basis, Dujarric said. They are peacekeepers. For there to be a peace to keep, we also need political leaders to assume their responsibilities across the board.

And it bears reminding that the investigation, the prosecution for these attacks, also is the primary responsibility of the government of Mali, and they also need to investigate it, the UN spokesman 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.)
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Students in U.S. high schools can get free digital access to The New York Times until Sept. 1, 2021.

Lesson Overview

Featured Articles

In the wake of protests against racism and racial violence in the United States this past summer, Black French people are bringing the subject of race into the public discourse. However, in recent months, politicians and academics say that conversations about privilege, colonialism and racism are a threat to French identity and the French republic  and they blame out-of-control woke leftism of American campuses.

In this lesson, you will read two articles that explore the roots of this tension and learn how it is playing out in present-day France. In a Going Further activity, you will make connections between the disputes in France and your own community or country.

Warm Up

In your journal, describe how you see your countrys national identity. What are the core values and shared history that hold it together as a unified nation? Do you think other people would agree with what you wrote? Why, or why not?

Questions for Writing and Discussion

We have created a PDF with excerpts from two articles. The questions below are based on these excerpts, but we encourage you to read both articles in their entirety.

(Natural News) It didnt take long for Joe Biden to once again show what a racist he is and how he really prefers policies that discriminate against certain ethnic groups  in this case, those that are not black or brown-skinned.

Following a two-year investigation, the former Trump administration filed discrimination lawsuits against Yale, an Ivy League university and one of the countrys oldest, because the institution illegally discriminates against white and Asian students.

The Trump Justice Department didnt do much in the way of helping President Trump enact his legal policies, but the DoJ at least got this case right: The suit was part of a larger effort by the former president to do away with so-called affirmative action programs that, by any definition, institutionalize racism by showing preference to minorities. If those policies were being used to show favoritism to white students, there would have been rioting in the streets decades ago.

Oh waitthere was. And thats when the affirmative action laws were passed.

In any event, back to the Trump effort.

Many conservatives hoped that the Supreme Courts shift to the right  with the confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett  would produce a decision striking down affirmative action in school admissions, Human Events reported last week. But that hope has been squashed.

Why? Because Bidens Justice Department has dropped the governments very provable, very winnable case (again, it was filed after a two-year probe) because Bidens woke left-wing handlers want to Make Racial Discrimination Great Again.

The investigation is still open, Human Events reported, but whats the point? There is no way Bidens handlers are going to let him order his Justice Department to make admissions more fair and equitable for all applicants because doing so would violate their left-wing identity policies.

The Justice Department has dismissed its lawsuit in light of all available facts, circumstances, and legal developments, said a spokeswoman.

Naturally, the like-minded leftists who run Yale and who were in charge of the discrimination applauded.

Our admissions process has allowed Yale College to assemble an unparalleled student body, which is distinguished by its academic excellence and diversity. Yale has steadfastly maintained that its process complies fully with Supreme Court precedent, and we are confident that the Justice Department will agree, the institution said.

And yet, that same Justice Department just a few days ago thought it had unearthed enough evidence to file suit against Yale. Howd that happen? (Related: Tucker Carlson warns that the Democrat Party has launched war on half of America.)

The DoJ first opened its probe in 2018 following a complaint filed in 2016 (so much for speedy justice) with the Justice and Education departments by several Asian-American groups led by the Asian American Coalition for Education, according to The Wall Street Journal.

The lawsuit accused Yale of racial balancing, similar to following quotas, saying the school keeps the annual percentage of admitted African-American applicants to within one percentage point of the previous years class, and that it conducts similar balancing for Asian-American applicants, the WSJ reported.

But the Justice Department said in its complaint that the schools oversized, standardless, intentional use of race has subjected domestic, non-transfer applicants to Yale College to discrimination on the ground of race.

The Asian American Coalition for Education, of course, blasted the Biden DoJs decision.

The Administrations refusal to defend equality and merit in college admissions will unequivocally harm Asian-American students, the group said, according to the WSJ. We will continue fighting courageously until our children are no longer treated as second-class citizens by American colleges.

Last fall, the Education Department said it would investigate allegations of racism against whites at another Ivy League school, Princeton, but seasoned politicos dont have any faith that Bidens handlers will allow that investigation to proceed, even if the evidence is plain.

See more reporting like this at IdentityPolitics.news.

Sources include:

WSJ.com

HumanEvents.com

OutrageDepot.com
Friends and family of Cha Xiong say he had no problems with others in the village.

Authorities in Laos investigating the shooting of a Christian community leader two months ago have yet to identify a suspect and remain hesitant to say religion was the motive, they told RFA.

On the night of Dec. 13, 2020, an unknown attacker shot 28-year-old Cha Xiong, a Christian leader and member of the Hmong ethnic minority group, as he was returning to his home in Nam Bak district, Luang Prabang province, in the northern part of the country.

Christians have had friction with local communities in Laos, a predominantly Buddhist country where the communist government monitors and restricts activities by minority religions. Last year the government began efforts to protect Christians after incidents blamed on local suspicion and prejudice.

A villager who lives close to Cha Xiongs house told RFAs Lao Service that the Lao-Hmong Christian community leader was known to host Bible studies and church services in his house.

The villager, who requested anonymity to speak freely, said that Cha Xiong was well regarded and had no problems with anyone else in the village.

On the day of the incident, Cha Xiong and his brother were returning home from working on his farm. After they went their separate ways, at about 9:00 p.m., when he was riding his motorbike back to his home, he was shot to death by an unknown assailant, the villager said.

His wife assumed he went to spend the night at his brothers house, so she was not out searching for him when he did not show up. The next morning, Dec. 14, another villager found his body on the side of the street. He notified the family and the police, said the villager.

According to the villager, the family confirmed that Cha Xiong had no problems with anyone else in the village and did not owe money to anybody, but police have not made any progress in investigating his case.

We lived close together. He is a good man and Ive never heard anything bad about him, another villager told RFA.

His killing couldnt have had anything to do with his behavior. He had four kids and now his wife has to raise them on her own without a husband, said the second villager, who requested anonymity for safety reasons.

RFA contacted Cha Xiongs family for more details but they were unwilling to comment on the situation because they are still grieving their loss.

An official from the Nam Bak district security office told RFA that authorities are still looking for the shooter, and they intend to punish him to the fullest extent of the law.

At first, they suspected the killing was religiously motivated.

But we are unable to conclude that because we are still searching for the person who committed this crime. But it is noteworthy that he was trying to propagate Christianity, and had been appointed to be responsible for other followers of that religion, the official said.

Due to a lack of witness or evidence, authorities cannot determine a motive, so they are investigating further, the official said.

RFA contacted an official from the Luang Prabang office of the Lao Front for National Construction (LFNC), which handles ethnic and religious minority issues, but an LFNC official told RFA they were unaware of the case.

The Luang Prabang Christian network, which hosted a conference on religious rights guaranteed by the Lao constitution last year to spread awareness about incidents of violence and discrimination against Christian believers, told RFA it was unaware of the case.

RFA reported in October that authorities in Ta Oy district, Saravan province, in the countrys south, evicted seven Christians and destroyed their homes when they would not renounce their faith, a clear violation of the law.

The Christians spent two months roughing it in the forest, but were in December allowed to return, though they are forbidden from rebuilding their homes.

The Law on the Evangelical Church, approved and signed into law on Dec. 19, 2019, allows Lao Christians the right to conduct services and preach throughout the country and to maintain contacts with believers in other countries.



But in practice, the law only seems to apply in the capital Vientiane and other large cities while the Christians in the rural areas are still subject to disrespect by the general public, according to sources from previous RFA reports.



Though improvements in religious freedom conditions were observed in Laos in 2019, cases of abuse were still seen in remote rural areas, the bipartisan U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) said in a report released in May 2020.



Reported by RFAs Lao service. Translated by Sidney Khotpanya. Written in English by Eugene Whong.

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Since the rampant spread of COVID-19 misinformation online, reining in fake news on digital platforms is a top-level policy concern for governments around the world.

Even my letterbox is not immune from this misinformation pandemic. Like many Melburnians, I recently received a glossy leaflet filled with nonsense about vitamin cures and conspiracy theories about how the novel coronavirus spreads.

Sadly, misinformation about COVID-19 treatments  whether spread deliberately or not  can cause real-life harm and even death. Much of this information circulates online.

The COVID-19 pandemic has seen a rise in misinformation campaigns and conspiracy theories. Credit:Peter Braig

Right now the Morrison government is attempting to tackle what the World Health Organisation calls an infodemic, instructing digital platforms to develop a voluntary code of practice to counter fake news, due to be released this month.

Political Strategist and Communications Exec will have the responsibility for the Brand

Formerly Incarcerated Activist in the C-Suite is a Corporate America First

NEW YORK, Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- R/GA has named Ashish Prashar as its Global Chief Marketing Officer. The former Global Communications leader at Publicis Sapient and Justice Reform Activist will start on March 2.

As Global Chief Marketing Officer, Prashar will oversee the global marketing function for R/GA with responsibility for market strategy, brand, and corporate communications. He will take the encyclopedia of creative, design, and experience work and tell a story in support of the company's growth. Prashar also will join R/GA's Executive Leadership Team reporting to Chief Executive Officer Sean Lyons.

"Why didn't someone introduce me to Ash sooner?! We connected immediately. Ash brings over fifteen years of experience to R/GA and is brilliant at finding the stories in the work and in the people," said R/GA Global CEO Sean Lyons. "Our agency, industry, and society have shifted tremendously over the past year. Ash's thoughtful, strategic advocacy and service to others make him an ideal shepherd of our values and our purpose of helping clients design businesses and brands for a more human future."

With over 15 years of experience, Ashish brings deep experience at the intersection of marketing and communications in building global brands. He joins R/GA from Publicis Sapient, the digital business transformation hub of Publicis. With a long and successful track record of leadership, he is a political communications strategist, most recently working with the Vice-Chair of the Democratic National Committee for Joe Biden's 2020 Presidential Election and served as a campaign press secretary to former Mayor of London Boris Johnson.

Known for justice reform activism, he was formerly incarcerated and went on to create programs for incarcerated peoples, campaigned for bail reform, ending solitary confinement, and the restoration of voting rights. He has appeared as a regular commentator in the media, contributing to ABC, Business Insider, CNN, Fast Company, NBC, and USA Today.

"I feel honored to contribute my experience to an already dynamic legacy, and I have a special place in my heart for those who use their creativity, technology, and their platform to drive social change," said Prashar. "R/GA is that kind of modern company. I'm looking forward to helping Sean and R/GA grow, build and execute the next generation of digital businesses using mission-driven innovation and technology to design better experiences for the human future while helping brands become better citizens of the world."

Outside of R/GA, Prashar has a deep commitment to ensuring fair treatment of people impacted by the justice system and advancing rights globally, with the goal of abolition of prisons. Prashar currently serves on the Boards of Exodus Transitional Community, Getting Out and Staying Out NYC, Just Leadership USA, Leap Confronting Conflict, the Responsible Business Initiative for Justice, and is a fellow at the Royal Society of Arts.

About R/GA

R/GA is an atypical innovation company. We help brands and businesses define, connect with and create more human futures. Our work spans innovation consulting, org design, brand design, experience design and marketing communications.

R/GA is part of The Interpublic Group of Companies (NYSE:IPG), one of the world's largest advertising and marketing services organizations, and has more than 1600 employees globally, with 16 offices across the United States, Europe, South America, and Asia-Pacific. For more information about R/GA, please visit www.rga.com, or follow @rga on Twitter.

MINSK - Alyaksandr Lukashenka has opened a Soviet-style "All-Belarusian People's Assembly" to discuss reforms and the country's development for the next five years, including possible amendments to the constitution, in an apparent move to survive ongoing mass protests against his rule, which the authoritarian ruler has blamed on the West.



Lukashenka, 66, who has run the country since 1994, opened the assemblys two-day session on February 11 saying that a foreign "blitzkrieg" on Belarus had failed.



"A color revolution in Belarus was impossible. That is why, by getting support from certain domestic forces, [foreign nations] attempted to organize not a color revolution, but a mutiny on the principle of a blitzkrieg. The blitzkrieg failed. We have managed to hold our country. For now...We must hold on no matter what. And this year, 2021, will be the decisive year," Lukashenka said, addressing some 2,700 delegates to the assembly, mainly pro-government officials and people selected by the authorities.



Lukashenka's opponents have dismissed the assembly as a sham exercise to help him to cling to power after he claimed victory in an election last year that the opposition leaders and the West has said was rigged.

The U.S. Embassy in Belarus issued a statement on February 11 saying that the assembly was a not real dialogue with people.



The assembly "is neither genuine nor inclusive of Belarusian views and therefore does not address the countrys ongoing political crisis. The government has jailed Belarusian protest leaders, activists, and dissidents -- often on falsified charges -- and forcibly exiled others. The political prisoners, those in exile, and the estimated 30,000 others arrested since August 2020 deserve the right to a voice in determining their countrys future through a genuine, inclusive dialogue -- as well as through free and fair elections," the U.S. Embassy statement said.



"The OSCEs Moscow Mechanism Report provides a clear, specific road map to inclusiveness," the statement said, citing a paper issued by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.

"The United States urges the regime to accept the OSCE Chairmanships offer to facilitate a genuine, inclusive national dialogue," it added.

Public Outrage



Opposition and public outrage over what was widely seen as a rigged vote in the August 9 election has sparked continuous protests since, bringing tens of thousands onto the streets with demands that Lukashenka step down and new elections be held.



Security officials have cracked down hard on the demonstrators, arresting thousands, including dozens of journalists who covered the rallies, and pushing most of the top opposition figures out of the country.



Several protesters have been killed in the violence and some rights organizations say there is credible evidence of torture being used by security officials against some of those detained.

Lukashenka has denied any wrongdoing with regard to the election and refuses to negotiate with the opposition on stepping down and holding new elections.



The European Union, the United States, Canada, and other countries have refused to recognize Lukashenka as the legitimate leader of Belarus and have slapped him and senior Belarusian officials with sanctions in response to the "falsification" of the vote and postelection crackdown.

With reporting by BelTA
Mogadishu  The survival of Somalia is facing new uncertainties amid a prolonged impasse over national elections which threaten ongoing efforts to achieve durable peace, stability, economic development and cohesion in the Horn of African nation.

Despite pressure from the international community and regional blocs, Somali leaders are yet to agree on a date and modalities of electing a new president and lawmakers despite the expiry of their terms in office, hence placing the country's future in jeopardy.

Somalia was set to hold national elections in November 2020 but they were shelved amid logistical hiccups and political differences among the current crop of leaders.

The National Independent Electoral Commission (NIEC) announced in 2020 that the earliest it could oversee national polls was March, citing inadequate preparations.

President Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo, whose term in office ended officially on Feb. 8, has been unable to find a truce with regional leaders and agree on a timetable for electing new officeholders.

Farmajo who won hotly contested presidential elections in 2017 recently convened a meeting of heads of regional governments in the central town of Dhusamareb to try to end the impasse over elections but no breakthrough was achieved.

Previous attempts by the UN and regional blocs to reconcile Farmajo and two heads of federal member states of Jubbaland and Puntland are yet to bear fruit, hence escalating impasse over modalities of conducting the polls.

Among the three major contentious issues that have thrown Somalia's electoral process in disarray include the composition of the Federal Indirect Elections Team (FIET) where the opposition has accused Farmajo of filing the slots with his loyalists.

The impasse was resolved on Feb.5 when Farmajo agreed to revoke the appointment of loyalists at the electoral body who had caused an uproar within opposition ranks.

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The second contentious issue behind delayed elections in Somalia revolves around sharp differences between Farmajo and Jubbaland leader Ahmed Madobe over the deployment of troops in the Gedo region where 16 electoral seats will be up for grabs.

Farmajo has however refused to withdraw troops from the Gedo region and instead proposed the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) police to oversee the elections.

His archival, Madobe has however stood his ground and demanded to have a strong hand in the appointment of a new administration to take charge of elections instead of the government-appointed officials.

The third contentious issue that has escalated electoral gridlock in Somalia is the selection of senators and members of parliament to represent the breakaway region of Somaliland.

President Farmajo and speaker of the Upper House, Abdi Hashi clashed over the matter as the latter demanded to play a major role in the appointment of regional lawmakers.

The contentious issue was partly resolved when Speaker Hashi and Deputy Prime Minister Mahid Guled were tasked with appointing the electoral team since both of them hail from Somaliland.

As the impasse over presidential and parliamentary elections in Somalia persists, there is a heated debate on political or legislative interventions that can be invoked to find a breakthrough.

The debate in the capital Mogadishu has revolved around the country's future after the lapse of the term of the current president and parliament.

To All the Boys cast members Janel Parrish, Madeleine Arthur, Anna Cathcart and Ross Butler feel the sequels have complicated the relationship at the heart of To All the Boys I've Loved Before. They agreed that the end of the trilogy, To All the Boys: Always and Forever, shows just how challenging relationships can be.

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"Love isn't perfect, just like nothing in life is," Arthur, who plays Chris in the films, told UPI in a Zoom interview. "There's a lot of growth through the second and third [films]."

To All the Boys I've Loved Before follows Lara Jean Covey (Lana Condor), who wrote five love letters to five of her crushes, but kept them in a box. Her younger sister, Kitty (Cathcart) mailed them, forcing Lara Jean to confront the boys.

The sequel, To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You dealt with the challenges Lara Jean faced with Peter (Noah Centineo), the suitor she chose at the end of the first film. In Always and Forever, Peter and Lara Jean face going to different colleges after graduation. Peter is going to Stanford, so Lara Jean plans to go to nearby Berkeley, until she discovers NYU.

"I think it's cool [the movies] show honest, real relationships," Cathcart said. "People can relate to those. It's not always perfect, but it can work out and there can be ups and downs."

Through all three films, Lara Jean has had friends and family support her. Older sister Margot (Parrish), who went to college in Scotland, encourages her to pursue NYU, even though it is far away from Peter.

"I feel like in every movie I said, 'Just make sure that's what you want,'" the 32-year-old Parrish said. "She is gently letting Lara Jean know you just have to follow your own voice."

Lara Jean's best friend, Chris, also takes a gentle approach, Arthur said. The 23-year-old Arthur said Always and Forever gave Lara Jean and Chris more of a chance to explore their friendship, particularly on a class trip to New York.

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"I feel like Chris is there for her and supports Lara Jean in whatever she chooses," Arthur said. "[She] also has kind of been the friend to kind of encourage her to step out of her comfort zone."

Ross Butler plays Peter's friend, Trevor. The 30-year-old encourages viewers to discuss the situation in which Peter and Lara Jean find themselves.

"What college you go to shouldn't depend on the person you're dating," Butler said. "College is where I think you meet your real life connections."

Chris and Trevor are a couple in Always and Forever. Chris was not looking for love like Lara Jean was, so Arthur said falling for Trevor surprised Chris.

"I think Chris is very independent," Arthur said. "It was really fun to play a character who just walks to the beat of her own drum, is not apologetic about it and doesn't care what anyone thinks."

Butler said actors improvised many of Trevor and Chris's flirtations. The actor said they continued to build on their natural chemistry in the third film during a scene in which Trevor picks up Chris for the prom.

"The banter between me and Madeleine in that scene is completely [improvised]," Butler said.

Lara Jean also gets a chance to pass the romantic torch to her younger sister in Always and Forever. Kitty meets a boy and sends him romantic texts.

Now that Cathcart is 17, she said she relates more to Lara Jean in the original film. Kitty, however, can ask Lara Jean and Peter for advice, since they've exchanged love letters before.

"I'm doing what my sister's been doing that I've seen her do for so many years," Cathcart said. "I have my own Peter in a way."

To All the Boys: Always and Forever premieres Friday on Netflix.
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Los Angeles swap meets might be on a pandemic hiatus but Instagram has filled the virtual void. While Coronavirus didn't create this marketplace, quarantine and the economic chaos it unleashed drove plenty of people to join it.

In 2020, we saw more home cooks, restaurant veterans and food vendors begin selling their goods via social media. Whether they did it out of financial need, entrepreneurial ingenuity, boredom or some combo of the above, the trend is likely to continue in 2021. And after the pandemic recedes, it may reshape the way Angelenos eat.

Although selling from home has its upsides -- not paying rent and all the other costs associated with a brick and mortar space -- vendors live in fear of angering a nosy neighbor and being shut down by public health officials. Most take the risk because they don't have any alternatives.

Adam Martinez from East Los Musubi holds up an egg and spam slider. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)

You Can Go Home Again

Adam Martinez and Doreen Nakama started East Los Musubi in 2016 to pay homage to Nakama's Japanese heritage and capitalize on Martinez's two decades of experience in professional kitchens. Before the pandemic, they had organized musubi pop-ups at various breweries and, on occasion, at Sara's Market in City Terrace.

As the city, county and state issued COVID-19 stay-at-home orders in March 2020, they put safety first and took a break from pop-ups. After a few months, they moved their operation to their El Sereno home to avoid what Nakama describes as "the anxiety of working in another kitchen where you don't know who [other people] are in contact with."

She and Martinez were also worried for their 14-year-old son, who has asthma, so Nakama left her job at a local pizzeria where she interacted with customers while working the register. "We needed that extra income, but from the comfort of our own home. It really did drive us to get creative," Nakama says.

During lockdown, they started making teriyaki plates to sell to friends and posting pictures on Instagram. Their followers, who were at home and hungry, wanted a taste. So Nakama and Martinez started using the app to sell teriyaki chicken lunch plates that customers could get via contactless pick-up.

El Sereno has long been a hub of homegrown food entrepreneurialism, and during the pandemic, that hustle has only ramped up. Alicia Lopez launched smashburger concept Hangaburs from her El Sereno home kitchen after she was furloughed from her graphic design job. Taquero metalheads Evil Cooks started in Azusa but pivoted to selling from their El Sereno home after Smorgasburg L.A. closed in March 2020. When David Marquez was laid off from his union construction gig, he started selling his Two Sons Burritos from his El Sereno home.

Three kinds of burritos from Two Sons Burritos. (Cesar Hernandez for LAist)

"I lost about 60% of my income and I was at home, so I just said, 'Fuck it.' I have nothing but time," Marquez says.

Victor Villa also had big plans for 2020. He had a few catering gigs lined up and his Highland Park pop-up, Villa's Tacos, was taking off. In March, he had to regroup and decided to bring his operation home.

Worried about clogging his grandma's neighborhood with hungry patrons, he developed an intricate ordering system, a combination of old and new. You order through Instagram then Villa writes the order down in a small notebook. You get a five-minute window to pick up your food. During that time slot, someone runs your order out to your car. It works for Villa and it keeps the line moving. Villa stresses the importance of adhering to the time slot but if customers are a few minutes late, the team will prioritize their order to prevent the line from backing up.

A's BBQ Pitmaster Alan Cruz photographed at his pop-up in his front yard in East Los Angeles. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)

Alan Cruz, the pitmaster of A's BBQ, found himself in a similar situation when Los Angeles began to shut down.

"We were in limbo. I'm not even gonna lie, I hit panic mode," Cruz says.

He tried a few pop-ups but didn't earn enough to cover transportation, so he returned to his roots. A's BBQ offers a rotating menu of smashburgers, fried chicken and barbecue with East L.A. soul, all of which Cruz cooks in his front yard. Customers must pre-order on Cruz's new website.

After COVID-19 forced Goat Mafia, known for its mighty Jalisciense birria de chivo, to end its Echo Park residency at 88 Monks, chef Juan Garcia had to pivot. By the summer, he was selling birria by the pound and tacos, all of which you preorder then pick up from his Compton home.

Almost all of these vendors rely on a pre-ordering system that starts in their DMs. When East Los Musubi announces a new drop date, often of comfort food staples such as musubi six packs, you DM them asking for some action. Once you confirm payment, they assign you a time slot, you show up and they place your order on the hood or in the trunk of your vehicle.

A pair of mulitas on blue corn tortillas from Villa's Tacos. (Cesar Hernandez for LAist)

Villa's Tacos operates the same way. Pre-orders help Villa manage food costs and reduce walk-ups.

On weeks when Cruz is barbecuing, you can place an order for smoked meat through the A's BBQ website. You'll get a four to five hour pick-up window but he won't slice the meat until you arrive. "Barbecue is one of those things that's just best carved to order," Cruz says.

A hunk of smoked brisket from A's BBQ. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)

The Neighbor Problem

If the Dude from The Big Lebowski was a car-obsessed Chicano who made stellar barbecue, he'd be Fernando Carrillo. Since 2016, Carrillo has been smoking and selling meat from his Koreatown home. It's his weekend side hustle, when he's not bumping oldies from his big brown UPS truck or working on his 1948 Chevrolet Fleetline (aka "bombita"). Operating under the banner of Ragtop Fern's BBQ, he's known for his lacquered pork ribs. He calls his smoker Lucifer and says it's the secret to achieving the beautiful bark on his giant beef ribs.

Carrillo is lucky. He doesn't worry about his neighbors calling the city. "I grew up in this neighborhood. I know everyone here. These are my friends," he says. But he takes precautions.

Carillo operates through Instagram, taking pre-orders and assigning customers a time slot to pick up their meal. His biggest piece of advice to budding home-food-sellers: "Never have a menu." His logic is pure Lebowski: If they can't find a menu, they can't prove you're selling food, man.

Among the people we spoke to for this story, pissing off neighbors is a top concern. Vendors know if they annoy their neighbors with too much traffic or noise, they risk getting reported and shut down by health officials. So they use DMs and time slots to control the flow of patrons.

Doreen Nakama and Adam Martinez of East Los Musubi photographed in the backyard of their home. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)

"Our side of El Sereno is a bit quieter, so we were worried we were gonna get shut down," Nakama of East Los Musubi says. "We did time slots and everything was pre-order and scheduled so we weren't being overwhelmed."

Villa asks patrons to stick to their time slot so orders don't stack up and slow down the operation. "That's what played a huge role in coming up with the [ordering] system. I'm not trying to burn myself. We have something good going on," he says.

In Compton, Garcia sets up Goat Mafia's tent as though he were prepping for a pop-up. Except this time, the pop-up is in front of his yard. As residents of L.A. County, Compton's home cooks can't legally sell from home. Even street vendors are relegated to certain areas like taquero row on the city's east side. But many are ready to take the risk.

"It's like they say, we're just being ghetto bro," Garcia says. When it comes to selling food from home, he says, he adopts an attitude of licencia de dios -- a license from god.

A lemon pepper chicken wing from Ronnie's Kickin. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)

Is It Legal?

Christina Oatfield was working as an attorney at the Sustainable Economies Law Center when most of California's recent legislation about selling food that had been prepared at home was being drafted. She used to bake bread from her home in Berkeley. Through the SELC, she teamed with baker Mark Stambler, farmers, retailers and food movement leaders to propose a state law, known as AB 1616, modeled after home food laws in other parts of the United States. It was signed into law in 2012 and allowed the sale of mostly non-perishable foods from home. But AB 1616 was extremely restrictive and home cooks could hardly turn a profit.

About five years later, the food-sharing company Josephine, which wanted to be "the uber of home cooking," approached the Sustainable Economies Law Center, hoping they'd support a new bill that expanded what home cooks could sell.

Hot Cheetoh Musubi from East Los Musubi. All the Hot Cheetos are crushed by Doreen Nakama and her husband. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)

AB 626 would let domestic residences to be considered food facilities under the California Retail Code, allowing people to prepare and sell hot meals from their homes. Josephine, AirBnB and DishDivvy supported the bill but the SELC feared it would leave home food vendors ripe for exploitation by third-party delivery apps and online platforms.

"We had all these concerns that this process was really being driven by these tech companies. We ended up on opposing sides," Oatfield says. The SELC opposed the bill.

Despite its potential downsides, California legislators passed AB 626 in 2018 -- but with a major asterisk. Individual counties could decided whether or not they wanted to participate. In Southern California, only Riverside County has done so.

"I think it's poor public policy on a lot of levels, this state-created law where all the restrictions and requirements are in state law and only the state legislature can change them but then local governments have to sort of choose to opt in or not. It creates a kind of confusing patch work," Oatfield says.

Alan Cruz slices ribs as he prepares an order for a customer. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)

In other words, selling food in L.A. County that you prepare in your home is technically illegal and definitely risky.

In May 2020, a representative from the county health department said in a statement to the Los Angeles Times, "The county of Los Angeles has not authorized the permitting of Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations. As such, preparing and selling/giving away food from a home kitchen is a violation of the California Retail Food Code."

When Ronnie Munoz of Ronnie's Kickin' tried to secure a permit from the L.A. County Department of Public Health for his porch operation selling fried chicken and al pastor tenders, they told him it was forbidden. "They just told me to roll with it until somebody rats you out," Munoz says.

That doesn't mean people in Los Angeles don't want to see loosened restrictions. "Vendors don't want to be criminalized," says Rudy Espinoza, Executive Director of Inclusive Action for The City. "The fact is, a lot of vendors who aren't in a commercial kitchen are cooking at home."

But in a time of economic crisis, the law hasn't stopped culinary entrepreneurs from trying to make ends meet. And it hasn't stopped hungry Angelenos from supporting scrappy local chefs.

Three tacos from Tania's Tacos, founded by Tania Macin. (Cesar Hernandez for LAist)

Looking Ahead

Will the trend last? It depends.

For Cruz, the barbecue pitmaster, selling from home is fine -- for now. He doesn't have to rent a truck or unload and reload his gear for each pop-up. Pre-orders help him figure out how much beef, chicken and other foodstuffs he needs to buy. He's comfortable cooking at home. Still, he knows it's not permanent.

"As we grow, I don't want to just stay here the whole time," he says. "For the time being, I'm going to do what I can, and it seems like my neighbors understand that I have nowhere else to go."

For Tania Macin, whose cochinita pibil has made Tania's Tacos a standout, selling from her mid-city home is also a temporary solution. Before the pandemic, she would set up at Echo Park Lake every weekend. She stopped doing that when stay-at-home orders went into effect. When she tried to return to her usual spot in August, she faced competition from a raft of new vendors.

"I was talking and kinda making friends with everyone... and I asked what made you come here. Basically it was just people that got laid off or their business wasn't as it was," Macin says.

Alan Cruz of A's BBQ slices ribs for an order. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)

The increased competition was cutting into her profits, so Macin returned to selling from home. She began offering her pibil by the pound along with tortillas so her customers could make tacos at home. Because she no longer puts the tacos together with her own hands, she worries that her customers aren't getting the full experience.

"It's not the same. I don't get to see when somebody comes and has that first bite of your taco or see the reaction," she says. "I feel like I'm missing half of the cooking experience."

Munoz, too, feels that shifting Ronnie's Kickin' to an at-home operation was a compromise. Before the pandemic, he saw it as a temporary fix, a holdover until he found a brick-and-mortar space. Then, he fell in love with watching people chow down on the food he had made on his front porch (although he eventually moved his operation to the garage).

"I had a lot of fun cooking from home. It was one of the happiest times I've had in cooking," Munoz says. After a year of selling from home, he's transitioning to a food truck. He says the decision was a last resort, and to keep doing what he loves, he wouldn't hesitate to hit the streets again. The Ronnie's Kickin' food truck started rolling in January: "I found a truck and I was like, 'Let's go!'"

A favorite Hawaiian fish, loco moco, served with a side of spam musubi. (Chava Sanchez/LAist)

YUMMY EATS FROM HOME COOKS

East Los Musubi

Villa's Tacos

Two Sons Burritos

Hangaburs

Be Happy Ice Cream (home delivery)

Ragtop Fern's BBQ

Tania's Tacos

A's BBQ

Rella Rolls

Little Fish

The Menudo Lady

Evil Cooks

Brandoni Pepperoni

Carnitas El Artista

WE LOVE TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS


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Healthcare staff refusing to take the Covid-19 vaccine may be removed from frontline duties it emerged today.

It comes as a further 52 deaths from the virus and 866 cases have been reported today.

It brings the total number of cases in the state to 206,801 and the total number of coronavirus related deaths to 3,846.

Read More

The HSE has said 12,000 people aged over 85 in large GP practices will be offered their first dose of vaccine next week.

Deliveries will be made to 85 GP practices where it will be administered in their own surgeries.

The plan is to deliver 42,000 doses each of the following two weeks and have the first doses completed by early March, said HSE chief Paul Reid.

Asked about reports some nursing home staff are refusing the vaccine, he said the information so far was that take up was nearly 100pc for residents and over 90pc for staff.

He said in some cases it is for legitimate health reasons, but for those who are suitable it is inexcusable not to take it up.

He believes there is provision in the health and safety legislation to carry out a risk assessment and if it is deemed essential a member of staff needs to be vaccinated they could be removed from frontline duties and told to work in an another area.

Vaccination is not mandatory and the HSE has no jurisdiction over facilities such as private nursing homes.

Speaking this evening, Deputy Chief Medical Officer Ronan Glynn told Independent.ie that healthcare workers have legitimate questions about the vaccines which must be addressed.

He said that some may have underlying conditions, and that a determination should not be made in relation to whether the worker should be removed from their role.

I dont think at this point that we should be making a determination about that. I think in the first instance that we should determine the size of the issue, he added.

Dr Glynn also said that there needs to be care in the language used.

I do think that we need to be careful in the language that we use. Healthcare workers are a sample of broader society and just as in broader society there will be a proportion of healthcare workers have concerns, legitimate questions.

And many will have underlying conditions that in particular questions that are specific to their own circumstances. Those concerns and questions need to be addressed.

Dr Glynn said that there is 5pc across society who will resolutely will not take these vaccines but that the uptake has been fantastic in healthcare settings.

Cork GP Dr Nuala O Connor said today it is a historic moment to see the vaccine rolled out to the community next week and GPs have lists, back up lists and more back up lists of patients ready for invitations to receive the vaccine.

They are starting with a smaller level of doses in order to see that it will work safely and build on it over the coming weeks.

Speaking at a HSE briefing today Mr Reid said it was a shocking decision for any GP to decide not to offer the vaccine to their patients.

Asked to comment on reports that a GP said they would not be participating in the vaccine he said it is extremely disappointing and alternative arrangements will be made to ensure they receive the jab,

So far up to February 243,353 doses were administered including 91,548 to people in long term care and 150,789 to frontline healthcare workers. Of these 88,758 have received a second dose.

He said Ireland is still in the middle rather than at the end of the third wave and hospitals are in no way able to get back to normal yet.

The number of patients with Covid-19 has fallen below 1,000 to 984 and there are 167 seriously ill people still in intensive care. Hospitals are still reliant on converted intensive care beds.

The 14-day incidence of the disease here is now falling at the fastest rate in Europe, according to HSE chief clinical officer Dr Colm Henry.

It will take three weeks to complete the over 85s and all over 70s should be fully vaccinated by around the middle of May.

Asked if the Taoiseach and members of the Cabinet should get the vaccine Dr Henry said he said the priority list already has already been set out according to essential criteria.

Members of the Cabinet are key decisions makers but it is important to build trust and confidence in the integrity of the priority list document, he added.

Chief operations office Ann O Connor also ruled out using the Citywest hotel as a location for people quarantining after coming here from abroad. She said it is a health facility which is used for different functions including health workers who need to self isolate.

Overall while there are continuing good trends in reducing the spread of the virus but the country is still at very high risk due to level of transmission, said Mr Reid.

There are 541 open outbreaks of the virus including 190 in nursing homes.

We still have a significant journey to go before we are at a level where we can restore services to the level we want them to be at, he added.
Jaipur, Feb 11 : An emotional Salman Khan on Thursday thanked the judge after receiving a breather from the Jodhpur District and Sessions Court, which dismissed two pleas filed by the Rajasthan government against the Bollywood actor in a case related to submitting a false affidavit in the court in 2003.

As soon as the court of Raghavendra Kachwal said that the pleas against him stood dismissed in the case, an emotional Khan, who attended the proceedings virtually, said, "Thank you sir".

Had the actor been proven guilty, a case under Section 193 of the Indian Penal Code would have been filed against him, which entails a provision of seven-year imprisonment, his lawyer Hastimal Saraswat told IANS.

Soon after hearing the verdict, Saraswat said, "We finally got justice after years of hearings." In 1998, Khan was arrested for hunting two blackbucks in Kankani village near Jodhpur during the shooting of the film "Hum Saath Saath Hain". At that time, a case under Arms Act was registered against the actor and the court had asked him to submit his arms licence.

Khan submitted an affidavit in the court in 2003, saying that he had lost the licence. He also lodged an FIR at the Bandra police station in Mumbai in this connection. However, the court later came to know that Khan's arm licence was not lost, but had been submitted for renewal.

Public prosecutor Bhavani Singh Bhati had then demanded that a case of misleading the court be filed against the actor. However, on Thursday, the Jodhpur District and Sessions Court judge Raghavendra Kachwal dismissed the pleas filed against Khan.

Earlier on Tuesday, Khan had apologised before the court for 'mistakenly' submitting a false affidavit in 2003 during his hearing in the blackbuck poaching case.

His lawyer Saraswat told the court that Khan should be forgiven for mistakenly submitting a false affidavit back then. Saraswat told the court that the affidavit was mistakenly submitted to the court on August 8, 2003, for which the actor should be forgiven.

During the hearing, Saraswat said, "The affidavit was mistakenly submitted on August 8, 2003, as Salman had forgotten that his licence was given for renewal as he was too busy. Therefore, he mentioned in the court that the licence had gone missing." A trial court in 2018 had convicted Khan and awarded a five-year prison sentence to him for the killing of two blackbucks in October 1998.

The actor had challenged the trial court verdict in the sessions court. Khan's fellow actors Saif Ali Khan, Tabu, Neelam and Sonali Bendre, who were present on the spot in Kankani along with him, were acquitted.
Biden admin. to keep US embassy in Jerusalem, recognize it as capital of Israel

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The Biden administration plans to keep the U.S. embassy to Israel in Jerusalem, upholding a controversial decision by former President Donald Trump.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in an interview with CNNs Wolf Blitzer that he recognizes Jerusalem as Israel's capital.

The interview was followed by the release of a CQ Roll Call report Tuesday that cited an unnamed Biden administration source saying that the U.S. will not move the embassy out of Jerusalem, despite Palestinian opposition.

The U.S. position is that our embassy will remain in Jerusalem, which we recognize as Israels capital, the source was quoted as saying.

The ultimate status of Jerusalem is a final status issue which will need to be resolved by the parties in the context of direct negotiations.

In his interview with Blitzer, Blinken was asked directly if he recognizes Israel as the capital of Israel.

I do, yes, the secretary responded. And more importantly, we do.

Blinken was asked if he would support Palestine locating its capital in East Jerusalem as part of a potential peace agreement.

What we have to see happen is for the parties to get together and negotiate these so-called final status issues, he said.

The Biden administration's confirmation comes days after the Senate voted 97-3 in favor of a congressional budget amendment that kept the U.S. embassy in Jerusalem.

The only nays to the measure were Independent Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Democrat Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Democrat Tom Carper of Delaware.

Many, including Republican Sen. Bill Hagerty of Tennessee, urged President Joe Biden to keep the embassy in Jerusalem. In May 2018, the Trump administration moved the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, a move to officially recognize Israels claim to the city as their capital.

"In order to correct the discrepancy that unfortunately now exists between our two branches of government and send an unequivocal message to our allies in Israel, I urge you to confirm ... that your Administration will continue to implement U.S. law and maintain the American Embassys location in Jerusalem," wrote Hagerty to Biden days earlier, as reported by The Hill.

In 1995, Congress passed the Jerusalem Embassy Act to recognize Jerusalem as Israels capital and to set aside funds to relocate the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

The status of Jerusalem has been a major point of contention during the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with each side making claims to the ancient city as their rightful capital.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who spoke at the ceremony opening the embassy, told then-President Trump that by recognizing history, you have made history.

Thank you, President Trump, for having the courage to keep your promises, stated Netanyahu. Thank you, President Trump and thank you all for making the alliance between America and Israel stronger than ever.

Several protests by Palestinian nationalists and others took place on the day of the ceremony, while critics argued the move was counterproductive to peace in the region.

Trump has consistently stated that resolving the conflict is a top priority for his administration while ignoring continued warnings that moving the U.S. embassy would dramatically undermine that goal, stated the Muslim Public Affairs Council in 2018.
A paint chip found on the body of a 20-year-old woman killed in a Joliet hit-and-run may help authorities build their case against a Naperville man whose stunning confession last month to the woman's family led to felony charges being filed against him.

After Melissa Lech was killed while walking along a Joliet road in 2008 after leaving a bar, a paint chip was found on her body during the autopsy, court records show. The FBI determined the paint chip came from a silver General Motors vehicle from the model years 1997 to 2001.

The father of David H. McCarthy, 27, owned a silver 2000 Pontiac Grand Prix that was totaled in a May 2011 crash in Naperville, court records show. The vehicle was on the FBI list of models using the paint found on Lech's body.

McCarthy was charged last month with leaving the scene of an accident involving death and is being held on $1 million bail. He was arrested shortly after ringing the Plainfield doorbell of Lech's sister and then allegedly confessing to the unsolved crime at her kitchen table.

The court records say McCarthy told the family he struck their sister after she "jumped out" in front of his car. He told them he got out of his car to check on Lech, who he moved and spoke with before fleeing.

Joliet police Detective John Ross wrote in an affidavit that McCarthy's account was "beyond miraculous." An autopsy found that Lech, a University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign student who hoped to become a lawyer, had died of massive trauma, including a fractured skull, records show.

Investigators tracked the McCarthy family's Grand Prix to an Indiana salvage company, which allowed Joliet police to take the vehicle.

On March 2, a Will County judge signed a search warrant allowing experts from the FBI, Joliet police and National Insurance Crime Bureau to examine the car for possible trace evidence on its undercarriage.

They also plan to search the car for possible signs of damage from the 2008 crash, records show.

McCarthy told police who arrested him at his Naperville home last month that "he had said what he needed to say and that his conscience was clear," according to Ross' affidavit.

sschmadeke@tribune.com

Our focus is on helping companies enhance their cyber preparedness and mitigate the disruption of a cyber attack, said Elissa Doroff, managing director and cyber technical leader at NFP.

NFP, a leading insurance broker and consultant that provides property and casualty (P&C), corporate benefits, retirement, and individual solutions, is partnering with NetDiligence and CyberCube to offer new analytical tools and resources to support clients as they face a variety of cybersecurity challenges.

NetDiligence provides cyber risk management software focused on cyber risk readiness and responsive services. The platform offers tools for users to assess cyber risk and data breach response planning. Additionally, NetDiligence releases a cyber claims study annually to highlight trends in cyber security across various business sizes and industries.

CyberCube offers cyber analytics that inform risk decisions. Information gathered by the platform is curated into data sets that identify risks and project the impact of a cyber event. The platform predicts trends that guide insurance placement choices and creates reports to quantify the potential loss of an uncovered vulnerability.

Our focus is on helping companies enhance their cyber preparedness and mitigate the disruption of a cyber attack, said Elissa Doroff, managing director and cyber technical leader at NFP. Utilizing tools like NetDiligence ensures we provide a wide variety of solutions as our clients navigate cyber threats. Cyber related incidents are on the rise, making it critical that we identify the latest tools and resources, collaborate with partners to evolve and adapt innovative coverage solutions, and continually advance our clients' preparation."

CyberCube provides our clients with actionable, data-driven insights that support a proactive approach to cybersecurity, said Akhil Chopra, managing director and head of NFPs cyber liability practice. Its imperative that we continue to expand our solutions to help our clients navigate a dynamic environment of cyber threats.

We value our partnership with NFP and the opportunity to offer our product to their employer clients, said Mark Greisiger, president of NetDiligence. Todays cyber landscape underscores the need for security tools that ensure organizations are cyber ready and have an effective response strategy in place.

About NFP

NFP is a leading insurance broker and consultant providing specialized property and casualty, corporate benefits, retirement, and individual solutions through its licensed subsidiaries and affiliates. NFP enables client success through the expertise of over 5,800 global employees, investments in innovative technologies, and enduring relationships with highly rated insurers, vendors, and financial institutions. NFP is the 5th largest benefits broker by global revenue, 5th best place to work in insurance and 6th largest US-based privately owned broker (Business Insurance); 9th commercial lines agency by P&C commercial lines revenue and 10th largest property and casualty agency (Insurance Journal); and 12th largest global insurance broker (Bests Review).

Visit NFP.com to discover how NFP empowers clients to meet their goals.

About NetDiligence

NetDiligence specializes in Cyber Risk Readiness & Response services. With 20 years of experience in cyber, NetDiligence is an award-winning provider of innovative cyber risk management software and services to the insurance industry, including QuietAudit Cyber Risk Assessments, the eRiskHub cyber risk management portal, and Breach Plan Connect, a securely hosted solution designed to help senior managers plan and execute their organizations response to a cyber incident, and which also includes a free mobile app for convenient access and alternative means of communication if company systems are compromised. NetDiligence publishes an annual Cyber Claims Study and traditionally hosts annual Cyber Risk Conferences in Philadelphia, Santa Monica, Toronto, London, and Bermuda. NetDiligence also offers a variety of virtual programs that are free of charge to attendees and qualify for CE/CLE credits. For more information, visit https://netdiligence.com.

About CyberCube

CyberCube delivers the worlds leading cyber risk analytics for the insurance industry. With best-in-class data access and advanced multi-disciplinary analytics, the companys cloud-based platform helps insurance organizations make better decisions when placing insurance, underwriting cyber risk and managing cyber risk aggregation. CyberCubes enterprise intelligence layer provides insights on millions of companies globally and includes modelling on thousands of points of technology failure.

The CyberCube platform was established in 2015 within Symantec and now operates as a standalone company exclusively focused on the insurance industry, with access to an unparalleled ecosystem of data partners and backing from ForgePoint Capital, HSCM Bermuda, MTech Capital and individuals from Stone Point Capital. For more information, please visit http://www.cybcube.com or email info@cybcube.com.

Leonid Volkov (L) poses with Russian opposition activist Alexei Navalny and friends in Germany before returning to Moscow, in a photo posted on Twitter on Jan. 17, 2021. (Leonid Volkov via AP, File)

Lithuania Rejects Russian Courts Demand to Arrest Navalny Ally

MOSCOW  A Moscow court on Feb. 10 ordered the arrest of a top ally of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, although Lithuania, where the associate lives, bluntly rejected the demand to take him into custody.

The action against Leonid Volkov by the Basmanny District Court was seen as part of an effort by authorities to squelch demonstrations demanding the release of Navalny, a top Kremlin foe who has been jailed since Jan. 17.

Volkov, a chief strategist for Navalny, was charged with encouraging minors to take part in unauthorized rallies, which could land him in jail for up to three years. He had already been put on an international wanted list.

Volkov, who has lived abroad since 2019, has rejected the charges, and Lithuanias government has refused to carry out the Russian courts order.

Using international tools for politically motivated prosecution is a wrong practice, Lithuanian Interior minister Agne Bilotaite said.

This raises serious doubts about Russias membership in these organizations, she said, referring to the Russian arrest warrant sent through Interpol.

Navalny, 44, an anti-corruption investigator who is Russian President Vladimir Putins most prominent critic, was arrested upon returning from Germany, where he spent five months recovering from a nerve-agent poisoning that he blames on the Kremlin. Russian authorities have rejected the accusation.

Protests across Russia drew tens of thousands of people to the streets for two straight weekends in January in the largest show of discontent in years. More protests rocked Moscow and St. Petersburg after a Moscow court on Feb. 2 sentenced Navalny to two years and eight months in prison for violating terms of his probation while recuperating in Germany.

That stems from a 2014 embezzlement conviction that Navalny has rejected as fabricated and the European Court of Human Rights has ruled to be unlawful. He described his new imprisonment as Putins personal revenge for surviving and exposing the assassination plot.

The authorities responded to protests with a sweeping crackdown, detaining about 11,000 people across Russia, many of whom were later fined or handed jail sentences ranging from seven to 15 days. They also have moved to isolate key members of Navalnys team, putting several of his top associates under house arrest for two months without access to the internet.

In a shift of strategy amid the crackdown, Volkov said last week that the pro-Navalny demonstrations should pause until the spring, arguing that any attempt to maintain rallies each weekend would only lead to thousands of more arrests and wear out participants.

On Feb. 9, however, he announced a new form of protest, urging residents of big cities to briefly gather in residential courtyards on Feb. 13 with their cellphone flashlights turned on. He argued that the new tacticssimilar to ones used by anti-government protesters in neighboring Belaruswould prevent Russian riot police from interfering and allow more people to participate without fearing repressions. The Belarus protests follow the reelection in August of the countrys longtime autocratic President Alexander Lukashenko in balloting widely seen as rigged.

Navalnys arrest and the crackdown on protests have further stoked tensions between Russia and the West. The United States and the European Union have urged Russia to release Navalny, but the Kremlin has accused them of meddling in Russias internal affairs and warned that it wont listen to Western criticism of Navalnys sentencing and police actions against his supporters.

By Vladimir Isachenkov
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Cathay Pacific just canned all long haul flights to Australia, excluding Sydney. This follows new government restrictions being announced in Hong Kong, regarding stricter quarantine rules for airline crew.

Cathay Pacific also declared it would cull flights to Vancouver, San Francisco and Frankfurt in response to the local governments new rule, which requires flight staff to quarantine for 14 days if they leave China.

The changes are reported to take effect from the 20th of February until at least the beginning of March.

During that time, Cathay Pacifics five weekly services between Hong Kong and Sydney will continue running, but its Brisbane, Perth, Melbourne and Auckland flights will lie limp in the bin.

In view of the Hong Kong SAR Governments latest announcement, with effect from February 20, 2021 our Hong Kong-based pilots and cabin crew are required to undergo 14 days of hotel quarantine plus 7 days of medical surveillance when they return to Hong Kong after being on duty, the airline confirmed in a statement, Executive Traveller reports.

The new measure will have a significant impact on our ability to service our passenger and cargo markets, noted Cathay Pacific chief operating officer Ronald Lam.

News.com.au reports it is understood the airline made the decision to introduce the 14-day quarantine rule after the governments announcement on February 5 following growing concern over the risk of importing mutant strains of COVID-19.

Cathay Pacific are not the first airline to be impacted by this mutant strand of COVID-19 (and the bureaucratic changes it has instigated). Emirates canned a week of flights (bar Perth) after Australian international flight caps were scissored in half in January.

Emirates ended up reinstating these flights after flight caps were increased in February.

According to news.com.au, The number of people allowed to fly into NSW, Queensland and Western Australia were halved at the beginning of January in response to the new strain of the virus from the United Kingdom But the weekly cap will now increase from 4127 to at least 6362 nationwide.

What does this all mean for stranded Australians? For starters, it means when you jump on Cathay Pacifics homepage, all flights from the 20th of February (and for that matter before it) to the end of March come up as fully booked.

Even months later, Cathay Pacific flights from London to Perth, come up as fully booked too, at the time of writing, until around June. From June one way flights from London to Perth start becoming available for about AU$1,453.

Evidence of how many Australians are still stranded overseas trying to get home? Looking at the availability of Emirates and Qatar Airways, the two other airlines which are operating flights to Australia right now, it appears so.

At the time of writing DMARGE was unable to find an Emirates London-Perth flight (with seats available) until the 26th of April, and even then the only fares on offer are AU$7,076 first-class ones. We couldn`t find availability in Economy Class for the dates you selected. Weve provided a flight fare for the same journey in First Class, Emirates message reads.

Its a similar story with Qatar Airways, with flights appearing to be booked out until Wednesday the 31st of March.

As Sydney University Professor of Transport and Supply Chain Management Rico Merkert told DMARGE last year: 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).

Speaking about Qatar Airways he said: They 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).

The upshot? If carriers like Qatar Airways and Emirates, which lack the domestic market to sustain them like, say, the likes of Qantas, and thus have great incentive to be operating long haul flights to Australia right now are having difficulties making them happen, the aviation industry must be in real strife.

Smart Traveller is currently providing the following advice to Australians trying to get home: If youre overseas and wish to come home, be prepared for delays and disruptions to your travel. There are fewer international flights available due to travel restrictions, disruptions to key transit hubs and limits on passenger arrivals into Australia. Travel regulations and restrictions are changing often and at short notice.

There are caps on the numbers of passengers coming into Australian airports from overseas. These are in place to ease pressure on state and territory quarantine facilities. These measures will remain in place until further notice.

Airlines manage the sale of tickets in line with the caps, not the government.

This could affect your flight into Australia. If youre scheduled to fly home to Australia in the coming weeks, confirm your itinerary and travel plans with your airline or travel agent.

Other tips if youre trying to get home, from Smart Traveller, are:

For questions about visas and other entry and exit requirements, contact the relevant foreign embassy or consulate.

For up-to-date advice on local conditions and information on available flights to Australia, check the website of your nearest Australian embassy or high commission and follow them closely on social media.

Subscribe to our travel advisories and news.

Make sure youve considered all your available options, and be prepared to put in place alternative arrangements in case your flights are cancelled at short notice, or while en route.

If youre receiving an Australian Government payment, you may be eligible to request an extension so that you continue to receive your payment. Contact Services Australia to discuss your situation.

For more information check out the Smart Traveller website.

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There were complaints from Ronald Koeman, Pedri and Frenkie de Jong about Barcelona not being awarded a penalty for an incident involving Jordi Alba and Suso during Sevilla's 2-0 win in the Copa del Rey on Wednesday night, yet Suso himself decided to reply after seeing Pedri's comments.

The incident saw Alba and Suso seemingly tangle, with the left-back either pushing himself back into the Sevilla playmaker and then falling over or Suso was aware of what he was doing and brought the left-back down. Nevertheless, Antonio Mateu Lahoz said that the foul occurred outside the area.

"I think there is a penalty," Pedri said, with these quotes being published in a tweet by El Chiringuito.

"I don't know if he starts to grab Alba inside or outside [the area]? That's what the VAR is there to decide."

Suso simply quoted this tweet, replying with a series of crying emojis.
ITS been a difficult 11 months for teachers and parents  so how hard must it be for someone juggling both?!

Its fair to say that Helen Quealy Murphy is looking forward to the schools reopening in the coming weeks more than most...

Since the new year, she has been teaching her pupils from Midleton C.B.S. Secondary School online, and also home-schooling her four children.

Helen, from Douglas, has quite the CV. When shes not busy with her main teaching job, you can find her modelling for some of Corks top boutiques, hosting events, or catch her live on her popular Instagram account  Daily Diva Diary.

So how does the busy mum of Katie, aged 14, Roisin, aged 12, Lucy, aged 11, and Dan, aged 10, manage these busy days? Well, she gets off to a good start by tackling the housework at the crack of dawn!

The one thing that helps me is that I have to be up before the kids, Helen explains.

If I am not up before the kids  forget about the rest of the day, it just doesnt work.

I get up at least an hour and a half before them and it lets me get my head straight. I have my quiet cup of tea in the morning.

Helen Quealy Murphy and her children Katie, Roisin, Lucy, and Dan.

Getting up that time also allows me to do things like clean out the fire and empty the dishwasher without being disturbed.

I will have the washing on, washing hung out, and brush and wash the floor so at least I know that the house is straight and I am not sitting down doing work, saying in the back of my head Oh Jesus, I have to clean that bathroom.

Helen, whose husband is a heath professional, sums up her attitude thus: I suppose, to have a tidy house, a tidy mind.

Almost a year into the pandemic, education has changed dramatically, with the rise of e-learning.

The sudden shift away from the classroom for teachers came as a shock to the system for many teachers like Helen, and she admits it hasnt been easy.

Last year, when all this kicked off in March  the first day we started home-schooling, I really didnt have a clue, Helen recalls.

I put the four kids and myself around the kitchen table and we did absolutely nothing. Sure, within a half an hour we were all having a big row!

I learned from my mistakes and now we all have separate study spaces.

I am at the kitchen table and my son Dan sits at the other side of me so I can go up and down and help him.

The three girls then are in their bedrooms and they all work away, she explains.

Cleaning done, breakfast eaten, seating arrangements allocated  its only now that Helens official working day really begins with her students in Midleton C.B.S. Secondary School.

As well as juggling her own four kids at home, she then has to educate almost 30 students per class throughout the day via Zoom and Seesaw.

She explains: We extended our classes to an hour, just to leave that bit of extra time for students in case they are having wi-fi or log-in issues.

Usually, throughout the day, it works well. However, in between some classes my own kids might come over and ask me to help them with their own work.

If I have time off then I can help Dan with his maths or his English, or else Lucy might be shouting at me to help her with a subject.

If there is anything that can wait, I ask them to wait until I am finished, so I can help them with their homework.

Its funny because my own pupils are even used to my kids coming over to me saying Mammy, can you set up this zoom call?

Whenever this might happen, Ill ask my own class then to read something on PowerPoint so I can assist them for a minute.

Then, I might even have other mammies on my Zoom classes fixing their kids computers! Some mums are not even realising the camera is on them.

We are all faced with so many similar issues and we are all trying to get through this together. Its not an ideal situation, but its work, she said.

With the shift away from the classroom, some of us are wondering whether the adoption of online learning will continue to persist post-pandemic.

A year on into the current health crisis, Helen says schools are much better prepared this time than last year and says that some of her students are even performing better.

This year, parents and schools are much better prepared and teaching and learning is happening online, as opposed to it being home-schooling.

I think this is a very important distinction to make. The kids are literally learning online and the teachers are teaching online.

Some of my pupils are engaging with me even more now than they would in the classroom and I am giving them immediate feedback, even on their homework.

The feedback they are getting back online is more instantaneous from me and thats a great thing.

This year, it is much more official and definite. I have so much more interaction.

When the familys school day is over, its very important to the Quealy-Murphy clan to get out and about for some fresh air and some down time.

Helen and her husband are very mindful of the childrens screen time and they allow them an hour in the evenings for games like TikTok or Minecraft.
Photo by Tyler White/SAEN

San Antonio police are investigating a suspicious item at the Haven For Hope campus.

The San Antonio Police Department bomb squad was heading to the scene Thursday, according to a spokesperson.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Todays archive page is from March 28, 1990.

Public hearings are scheduled across the city so that residents can give their suggestions on improving the public school system.

The hearings are being held by the Temporary State Commission on New York City School Governance, headed by state Sen. John J. Marchi.

The 11-member commission will determine whether the city Board of Educations decentralization program needs to be overhauled. The panel must seek the input of citizens, teachers and watchdog groups.

The group will make recommendations to the governor and Legislature on various issues.

Staten Islands hearing is scheduled for April 20 at Susan Wagner High School.

If you have trouble viewing the page below, click here to enlarge it.
President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi stressed in a phone call on Thursday to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas Egypt's "consistent stance" regarding the Palestinian issue.

El-Sisi said that Egypt will continue its "relentless" efforts to coordinate with the Palestinians and international partners to develop a clear vision to push forward the peace process to settle the Palestinian-Israeli issue based on international resolutions and terms of reference.

The pair exchanged points of view concerning the latest developments in the Palestinian arena as part of the continued coordination between the two sides, said a statement released by Egyptian presidential spokesman Bassam Rady.

Abbas hailed Egypt's "relentless" and "appreciable" efforts to support the Palestinian issue, the statement added.

He also said that Egypt's role throughout history in this respect is marked with "stability and continuity" with the aim of reaching a just and comprehensive solution to the Palestinian issue.

Egypt's role "reflects the deep and special" relationship between Egypt and Palestine in light of the deeply-rooted ties binding the two peoples.

Over the past years, Cairo has been in talks with several Western parties to push forward the frozen Israeli-Palestinian peace process. In February 2020, Egypt, Jordan, France, and Germany formed the quartet committee on the sidelines of the Munich summit with the aim of reviving the halted negotiations.

The Munich committee has so far held four meetings, the latest of which was hosted by Cairo earlier this month, where the foreign ministers of the four countries forged 11 provisions detailed in a joint statement outlining the endeavours to revive the peace process. A fifth meeting is set to be held in France this year.

Thursday's call comes two days after the conclusion of the two-day talks dubbed the National Palestinian Dialogue held in Egypt on Monday and Tuesday, which brings together various Palestinian factions with the aim of ending inter-Palestinian differences and guaranteeing the success of the long-awaited elections scheduled for this year.

Egypt is set to host another meeting of the National Palestinian Dialogue in March to further discuss the upcoming steps regarding the election of the National Council in Palestine.

Egypt also hosted on Monday an emergency ministerial meeting for the Arab League, in which a resolution was adopted to further support solidarity between Arab counterparts and joint action.

It also affirmed the legitimate rights of Palestinians and the establishment of an independent state based on the 1967 borders.

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The ring tone of my mobile rang at around 4am. My contact in Karachi was on the phone. Doctor sahib its bad, he said in a shaky voice. What is bad? I asked. The following is what he then revealed.

During the early hours of morning on February 10, a rangers para-military jeep was speeding towards the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Malir in Karachi. The driver was a rangers officer of Major rank. On the back seat Ali Wazir, a member of the National Assembly and a senior leader of Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM), was all curled up with stabbing pain in his abdomen. On either side of Wazir, sat an armed rangers guard.

For the past one week, Wazir had been continuously brought to the rangers headquarters every day for interrogation. However, in actuality the ranger officer was forcing Wazir to sign a confessional statement regarding his alleged involvement in anti-state activities on the behest of Afghanistan and Indian secret services.

Wazirs refusal to sign the confessional statement drafted by the Inter-Services-Intelligence agency, the ISI, has cost him dearly. He has been subjected to brutal torture and humiliation at the Rangers Headquarters every single day until February 10 when finally, the torture took its toll and Wazir collapsed with agonizing pain in his kidneys.

Ali Wazir was arrested in Peshawar on December 16, 2020 after he attended the Army Public School (APS) massacre memorial meeting held in remembrance of the young pupils, who were targeted during a terrorist attack allegedly conducted by Ehsan Ulla Ehsans terrorist outfit six years ago and in which 150 pupil and teachers lost their lives.

Wazir was then flown to the Karachi jail where he has been languishing since. At the time of his arrest, the Peshawar City Police Officer Muhammed Ali Gandapur said that Wazir has been arrested on the request of the Sindh police which had filed a case against Ali Wazir at Sohrab Goth police station in Karachi.

Meanwhile, a reference has been sent by the speaker of the national Assembly to the Election Commission of Pakistan seeking disqualification of Ali Wazir as a member of Parliament. The reference was received at the commission on Thursday night. Now the file rests on the table of Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja. The grounds for disqualification have not been shared with the press or public. In the past, Ali Wazir has been accused of hatching conspiracy against the state.

In a nutshell, the state of Pakistan is hell bent on sorting out Wazir and seems willing to go to any length to finish off Wazirs political significance and even life. Talking of Wazirs political significance, it would be relevant to delve very briefly and examine what Wazirs politics has meant for his people and for the state of Pakistan.

Ali Wazir hails from the Pashtun tribe of Ahmedzai Wazir. His father was the leader of this tribe. Ali Wazirs father was against the Taliban and this brought the family into direct conflict not only with the Taliban but with the Pakistani military establishment as well. The Taliban were given a free hand to target Wazirs male family members and businesses. Between 2003 and 2020, 18 of his male family members including his father, brothers, uncles and cousins have been murdered. Luckily, Ali Wazir has so far survived numerous assassination attempts on his life.

Pashtun Tahafuz Movement, or PTM (Pashtun Protection Movement), was founded in 2014 by eight students of Gomal University in Dera Ismael Khan. Initially PTM started off with a campaign to remove hundreds of landmines laid down by the Pakistani army and which are dotted across Waziristan Agency. Landmines are a major cause for maiming and killing hundreds of innocent children and women. PTM was led by Manzoor Pashteen. Ali Wazir and Mohsin Dawar were confidants who became popular as PTM grew attention and large crowds began to attend their public meetings.

Soon the movement began to demand a truth and reconciliation commission to address the grievances of the people of Waziristan. But in actuality PTM shot to fame in January 2018 when PTM raised its voice for a young Pashtun by the name of Naqeeb Ulla Mehsud, who was killed in Karachi and the blame was laid with the powerful and notorious police officer Rao Anwar.

On January 26, Manzoor Pashteen along with 20 friends started a long march from Dera Ismael Khan, which was joined by hundreds of thousands of Pashtuns from other Pashtun tribes. That was the day when in reality PTM became a force to be reckoned with. In 2018 Ali Wazir and Mohsin Dawar were elected to the national assembly of Pakistan.

For the first time in the history of the country and causing much embarrassment of the military establishment, two firebrand young activists were addressing Parliament making demands for landmines to be cleared, end of military operation in Waziristan, formation of a truth and reconciliation commission, end of humiliation of Pashtuns at military checkpoints, reproduce missing persons in front of courts of law and an end enforced disappearances.

As insurgency in Baluchistan gains momentum and Sindhudesh movement rises from the ashes of sectarian and ethnic hate and violence, a unified movement gains strength. PTM has begun to issue calls for a greater alliance among the oppressed nations of Pakstan. During a massive public meeting held in Peshawar on February 7, Manzoor Pashteen openly invited the people of Baluchistan to join their struggle. Pashteen also extended his support to the protestors in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan and even Sindh. This has since rung alarm bells in the corridors of the Pakistani state.

Pakistani military establishment is applying to all sorts of persuasive measures and torture to break Ali Wazirs resolve for justice and to get him to sign a confessional statement. As the clouds of revolt and revolution gather over the political horizon of the state of Pakistan, its establishment becomes more and more nervous and impatient.

From this point onwards the war between the oppressed nations and the State of Pakistan will only get fiercer. The recent $1.5 billion worth purchase of thirty T-129 gunship helicopters made by the Pakistan army from Turkey is a sign that Pakistani state will fight a losing battle to the end against a people burning with the desire for freedom while persistently inching towards liberating their lands, people and natural resources from the fascist shackles of the State of Pakistan.

Doctor sahib, please raise your voice for Ali Wazir, were his last words before my contact killed the call.

(Dr Amjad Ayub Mirza is an author and a human rights activist from Mirpur in PoK. He currently lives in exile in the UK. Views are personal.)
Iraq said the OPEC+ oil cartel is unlikely to change its production policy at next months meeting and repeated promises to deliver overdue output cuts, even as the Arab nations economy reels.

The group of crude exporters meets on March 4 and members will probably agree to keep output steady in April, Iraqs Oil Minister Ihsan Abdul Jabbar said. The biggest change will come from Saudi Arabia, which will likely end unilateral daily cuts of 1 million barrels after March, he said.

I think in March the agreement will be that output will remain on the same level, the minister told reporters in Baghdad Wednesday.

The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and partners such as Russia -- an alliance known as OPEC+ -- began unprecedented production curbs in May after the coronavirus pandemic battered economies and caused oil demand to collapse.

STANDING FIRM: OPEC+ discipline and US stimulus could drive oil this week

Iraq has drawn fire from fellow members for breaching its quota on several occasions and failing to compensate, despite repeated pledges to do so.

OPECs second-largest producer after Saudi Arabia has a limit of 3.86 million barrels per day for the first three months of the year under the current agreement.

Jabbar said Iraq will pump 3.6 million barrels a day this month if the semi-autonomous Kurdistan Regional Government complies with Baghdads wishes.

Iraq had said it would also cap its daily production for January at 3.6 million barrels, but ended up pumping more than 3.8 million a day.

The minister expects to export 2.9 million barrels a day in February, excluding Kurdish flows. Thats more or less in line with the figure for January.

Jabbar thinks crude prices will trade in the range of $58 to $63 a barrel this year. Brent crude has soared almost 20% since the end of 2020 to around $61.50 a barrel amid rising demand in China and vaccine roll-outs.
A man was jailed for four months and disqualified from driving for 20 years at Portlaoise Court recently.

Noel Holland ((46) of Ragg, Bouladuff, Thurles was charged with driving with no insurance and no driving licence at the M7 Cappakeel on July 12, 2020.

Sgt JJ Kirby told the court that Mr Holland had 12 previous convictions for no insurance, one for drink driving and a suspended sentence.

Defence solicitor Josephine Fitzpatrick acknowledged that he had an appalling record.

He is a 46-year old single man, a father to eight children and he contributes to their upkeep, she outlined to the court

On the date in question he was asked by his nephew to collect a horse cart for him. He very foolishly undertook the journey.

He is now working full time and earning a wage.

This comprises six days a week, 12 hours a day.

He did not give due consideration to his actions.

He has serious medical conditions and is not now drinking.

Judge Catherine Staines noted that he had a four month suspended sentence which he was in breach of.

She sentenced him to four months in jail and disqualified him for 20 years.

He is to appear at Nenagh District Court on February 18 to deal with the breach of the suspended sentence.
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - February 11, 2021) - Jaguar Mining Inc. (TSX: JAG) ("Jaguar" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it will be presenting at the Virtual Investor Day III ("VID III") February 17-18, 2021 hosted by IR.INC and FTMIG.

Mr. Hashim Ahmed, the CFO and Mr. Jonathan Victor Hill the VP of Exploration will provide an in-depth update on the Company at 10:30 am EST, February 18, 2021. VID III is a completely interactive experience for feature companies and stakeholders. Feature companies will have 30 minutes to outline their investment opportunity, while stakeholders and the audience will be invited to engage via direct Q&A, polls and other interactive tools after and during each presentation. To register for VID III, please click the link: https://www.bigmarker.com/series/virtual-investor-day-confere2/series_summit.

About Jaguar Mining

Jaguar Mining Inc. is a Canadian-listed junior gold mining, development, and exploration company operating in Brazil with two gold mining complexes and a large land package with significant upside exploration potential from mineral claims covering an area of approximately 102,000 hectares. The Company's principal operating assets are located in the Iron Quadrangle, a prolific greenstone belt in the state of Minas Gerais and include the Turmalina Gold Mine Complex and Caete Mining Complex (Pilar Mine and Caete Plant). The Company also owns the Paciencia Gold Mine Complex, which has been on care and maintenance since 2012. The Roca Grande Mine has been on care and maintenance since April 2018. Additional information is available on the Company's website at www.jaguarmining.com.

About IR.INC

IR.INC Capital Markets Advisory & Services works with its clients to develop and deploy strategic plans and build industry alliances while providing shareholder introductions and solutions. The Company also provides a number of traditional Investor Relations Services. You can find out more about IR.INC here www.irinc.ca

About FTMIG

Follow the Money Investor Group is a financial portal that provides content and information needed to navigate the ever-changing capital markets. Our global community of visitors and investors are able to use our platform to discuss and collaborate daily on all facets of their current and potential investments. Our goal is to help retail investors make the right financial decisions that fit their individual needs. You can find out more about FTMIG here www.ftmig.com.

Disclaimer

Follow the Money Investor ("FTMIG") is an online investor community that connects investors and public companies. Both FTMIG and IR.INC are not registered as a broker, dealer, exempt market dealer, or any other registrant in any securities regulatory jurisdiction and will not be performing any registerable activity as defined by the applicable regulatory bodies.

Both FTMIG and IR.INC and their affiliates do not endorse or recommend any securities issued by any companies identified on, or linked through, this conference. Please seek professional advice to evaluate specific securities or other content discussed during this event. Links, if any, to third party sites are for informational purposes only, and not for trading purposes. FTMIG and IR.INC. and their affiliates have not prepared, reviewed or updated any content on third party sites and assume no responsibility for the information posted on them.

For further information, please contact:



Joanne Jobin, Principal

IR.INC | Capital Markets Advisory & Services

jjobin@irinc.ca www.irinc.ca



Karl Boyd, President

Follow the Money Investor Group

kboyd@ftmig.com www.ftmig.com







To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/74036
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Franco Ortega of Italianissimo broadcasts to his customers on social media that hes warming up the business on this nippy February afternoon. Right now, it is two days away from reopening New York Citys dining rooms at 25% capacity and hes firing up an operation thats been closed since December.

A stock rolls to a boil in the kitchen. The scent of bleach wafts through the quiet restaurant as waiter Mario Cabanas swipes a cloth along surfaces. Tables smoothed with white linen cloths stand about seven feet apart from each other. Freshly sanitized glassware glistens on a rack. The floor shines and reflects the afternoon light so sunbeams highlight points around the dining room.

Chicken stock boils on the stove (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri)

Cabanas squints, presumably due to a smile under his mask. He says, Ive been wanting to come back to work. In the meantime, hes maintained a watchful eye on the buildings exterior during weather events as the restaurant has been dark. Ortega expresses his gratitude for the staff who take ownership of the establishment and feel love for the job.

On Christmas, Italianissimo served its last meals before declaring a pause. Back then, food was divvied up among the staff so nothing went to waste. With no indoor dining and a small, unheated outdoor patio area, there was not point in staying open, Ortega had reasoned. So, hes laid low these past few months and took time to reevaluate business, tweak the menu. Hes even shed a few pounds.

The chef says, Ive been home going crazy. You cant do anything!

In COVIDs quarantine stage ongoing hospital work, feeding first responders and donating food to front line workers kept things in motion. Those outlets for food service are no longer needed as Staten Islanders have settled into their new way of managing life in the coronavirus era.

Yet now hes in recovery mode. Ortegas weekend reservations are looking good, even at 25% capacity. Italianissimo is open daily now from noon to 8 p.m. and weekends til 10 p.m. Last call is at 9:30 p.m. to abide by the curfew in place.

I feel light. I feel happy. Im excited. I was happy to hear the Friday we were opening! he says and sighs. He confesses it was hard to hear about patrons taking a ride to New Jersey for an indoor dining experience.

In the pandemic, Ortega introduced pizza from a new pizza oven. It was selling well in autumn but, he says, People come for the lamb chops, the lobster... and other luxurious eats.

A worker runs down a prep list to put fresh ingredients on the mise en place for salad. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri

CUSTOMER CONFIDENCE

Does he think the customers will be confident to come back?

Yes, he does. And he bases this belief on how guests responded in the fall. He says, When we were open for indoor dining no one showed they were scared. We never had an issue.

Ortega is mindful of cross-contamination and how to best approach serving patrons in this new, germaphobic world.

Going forward, will the servers don gloves to serve the diners?

Gloves? I dont believe in that. I think you can spread more germs. You need to wash your hands. When your hands sweat in the gloves it makes it worse, says Ortega. So, the gloves will remain part of the kitchens uniform.

Tonight hes going to Fulton Fish Market at Hunts Point in the Bronx to buy seafood.

The last time I was there it was before Christmas Eve. And it was dead. A lot of restaurants closed or didnt reopen then, he observed. And at that point, the product was relatively cheap. Supply far exceeded demand.

I remember shrimps, U-12...on a good day you pay $13 or $14 a pound, says Ortega, and in December they were a mere $9.

Saute pans lined up for customer orders (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri

At that moment a wine rep walks into the restaurant to check on Ortegas inventory. The salesperson shares, Everyones really holding their breath right now to see how this weekend will turn out. Lets see how people respond, if they want to come out. Restaurant owners are optimistic. Some people are starting out slow because theyre working on stock they already have. But this week I have definitely seen an uptick in orders.

NOT EVERYONE WANTS TO DINE OUT

Correspondence comes every now and then from Advance readers who adamantly oppose opening restaurants. Some friends cannot wrap their heads around dining out  for many more months, theyre thinking, or until more of the population is vaccinated. I very much respect the perspectives. I also feel enormous relief that things are opening up and there will at least be an option for those who wish to eat indoors.

Keep in touch.

In other food stories:

S.I. group does a Q & A with NYC nightlife head about the restaurant industrys recovery

Composting the right (and wrong) way on Staten Island

They took a risk in a pandemic: A look at 31 restaurants that opened in 2020

Cuomos call for dining on Feb. 12 is a gift for Valentines Day weekend
Foreign exchange markets expect Biden to soothe relations between the US and China.

However, early indications suggest the Biden administration is still formulating a strategy and the approach may not change much.

Xi warned that confrontation would be a disaster for both countries.

With a lack of top tier data releases and little new market drivers, Thursdays session has been slow but generally bullish as stock markets grind higher. Oil has snapped its winning streak with a relatively small decline of 0.7% but so far this looks like another dip in the ongoing uptrend. Meanwhile, currencies are mostly flat with only AUDUSD worth noting due to its +0.4% gain.

US politics have stayed in the news thanks to Trumps impeachment trial and the expectation for fiscal stimulus, but other actions by the Biden administration have been fairly low key. For instance, Biden had not made any contact with China until during his first three weeks in office and only spoke to President Xi for the first time on Thursday. Considering the US-China relationship is probably the most important in the world and has been severely strained in recent years, the communication between Biden and Xi could be very important.

A New Chapter in US-China Relations

Bidens call with Xi was the first communication since March last year when of course Donald Trump was in charge. Much has changed since then, and relations have soured over a variety of issues such as Covid-19 (or as Trump called it, the China virus), Tiktok and banning US citizens from investing in certain shares tied to the Chinese state and military.

Biden brings the hope of a closer relationship, and the two leaders already know each other from Bidens long stint in US politics. Biden claims he has spent more time with Xi than any other leader. Even so, he will be keen to show he is no push-over and Thursdays phone call was his first chance to prove it.

The Biden administration has made it clear that it will continue to maintain pressure on China, however, although it has also pledged to take a more multilateral approach. A senior Biden administration official told reporters ahead of the telephone call that Biden would be practical, hard-headed, clear-eyed in dealings with Xi, but wanted to ensure they had the opportunity to have an open line of communication, despite U.S. concerns about Chinese behavior, reported Reuters.

Indeed, Biden followed on from the discussion started last week when Secretary of State Blinken talked to top Chinese diplomat Yang Jiechi about human rights and upholding democracy. The White House released a statement saying that Biden underscored his fundamental concerns about Beijings coercive and unfair practices, its crackdown in Hong Kong, reported human rights abuses in Xinjiang, and increasingly assertive actions in the region, including toward Taiwan.

Behind the scenes, Biden announced a new Pentagon task force to review US defence policy toward China. This will extend beyond military strategy to include technology which has been a major bone of contention in recent years. There will also be another policy review of trade tariffs and the approach to Chinese companies such as Tiktok and Huawei.

Chinas approach so far has been consistent with recent communications. Xi warned Biden that Hong Kong, Xinjiang and Taiwan were matters of sovereignty and territorial integrity that the United States should approach cautiously. Confrontation would be a disaster for both nations.

So far, the market has shown little interest in the story and seems convinced that there will be no disaster or renewed trade war. However, there is plenty ammunition for disagreements and with neither leader likely to back down, relations could remain tense.
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Leading the new offer is a new relationship with Whitworth Media brings history and engineering series Inside the Spitfire Factory (6 x 60 - pictured) to the Orange Smarty slate. Produced for and currently on air on Channel 4, led by a cast of wonderful characters, this observational documentary series follows engineers, pilots and historians as they restore rusty remains of the iconic Second World War flying machines.Two more new producer relationships, meanwhile, will result in two new true-crime series, both scheduled for release in the first half of 2021. The first is a distribution partnership with Brown Bob Productions on The Moment of Proof (15 x 30), which after a successful January 2021 TX is said to have performed consistently above slot average. The series looks at the inflexion point in police investigations  the moment of proof when the detectives realise theyve cracked the case thanks to a DNA match, a disproven alibi or an interview-room confession.In a second development deal, Orange Smarty is partnering with Irish based production company, Peninsula Films, on a 26-part crime series for AETN . The series which has the working title Jealous Killers will focus on cases involving the most prolific cause of relationship and spousal murder worldwide  jealousy. More true-crime content is in the pipeline through an existing relationship with Acme Films, which is in production on The Missing Files. The 2x 90 (3 x 60 international version) series for Channel 5 looks in new detail at the abduction of schoolgirl Milly Dowler in 2002, revealing hidden details about the investigation into her disappearance, and serial killer Levi Bellfield, the man convicted of her murder.Commenting on the deals, Karen Young, founder and CEO of Orange Smarty , said: Investment has always been an intrinsic part of the Orange Smarty strategy, its a balanced risk that is key in protecting and producing a strong pipeline of content. By offering a finance package we are not only helping see content come to market but also building relationships with production partners where there is a mutual benefit in sharing our international intelligence and expertise.www.orangesmarty.co.com
[February 11, 2021] BIONIK Laboratories Reports Fiscal 2021 Q3 Financial Results

BIONIK Laboratories Corp. (OTCQB:BNKL), a robotics company focused on providing rehabilitation and assistive technology solutions to individuals with neurological and mobility challenges from hospital to home, today reported financial results for its third quarter of fiscal year 2021, ended December 31, 2020. "We believe we have made tremendous progress in the most recent quarter in the further digitalization of our company, highlighted by a 14% growth in our revenue from the prior year period. This growth is driven by our InMotion Connect digital solutions sales from one of our strategic partners, and a key shipment to our distribution partner in South Korea, as we continue to penetrate the Asian markets," said Dr. Eric Dusseux, Chief Executive Officer, BIONIK. "Our R&D team continues to see positive results with the data we are collecting in the cloud from our technology, allowing us to develop further InMotion Connect digital solutions and explore new AI solutions." Third Quarter and Recent Corporate Highlights: Shipped an InMotion ARM  unit to our distribution partner in South Korea for installation in a prestigious local hospital.

unit to our distribution partner in South Korea for installation in a prestigious local hospital. On a GAAP basis, our operating expenses increased $5.9 million or 188%, associated with the impairment of our goodwill and other intangible assets.

On a non-GAAP basis, excluding the impairment and amortization of intangibles, third quarter operating expenses decreased by $1.2 million, or 40%, from the prior year period as we continue to drive our costs down in navigating the effects of the global pandemic.

BIONIK's R&D team continued to see success as it sees increases in the rehabilitation healthcare data it's collecting, allowing the company to continue developing and customizing its InMotion Connect  digital solutions, and enabling us to explore new artificial intelligence solutions.

digital solutions, and enabling us to explore new artificial intelligence solutions. Appointed Rich Russo Jr. as BIONIK's new Chief Financial Officer. Third Quarter Financial Results: Third quarter total revenues increased 14% to $180,000, compared with $158,000 for the quarter ended December 31, 2019, driven by subscription revenues from our InMotion Connect product and our product shipment to South Korea. Third quarter gross profit increased to $171,000, compared to $14,000 for the quarter ended December 31, 2019. The increase is due to reducing the company's warranty reserve with respect to lower overall unit sales in the current period compared to providing two robots at no charge to a customer in the prior year period. Total operating expenses were $9.0 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2021 compared to $3.1 million in the prior year quarter, an increase of $5.9 million, or 188%. This increase was primarily driven by the impairment charge to our intangible assets associated with a decrease in the fair value. On a non-GAAP basis, excluding the impairment and amortization of our intangibles, our operating expenses decreased $1.2 million, or 40%, primarily due to a reduction in personnel costs associated with reduced headcount due to the global pandemic as well as lower share-based compensation expense. BIONIK recorded a net loss of $9.0 million, or ($1.75) per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $3.0 million, or ($0.58) per diluted share, in the same period for fiscal 2020. On a non-GAAP basis, excluding non-cash unrealized foreign exchange measurement gains and losses and impairment and amortization of intangibles, third quarter net loss was $1.7 million, or a loss of ($0.34) per diluted share, compared with a loss of $3.0 million, or a loss of ($0.58) per diluted share. About BIONIK Laboratories Corp. BIONIK Laboratories is a robotics company focused on providing rehabilitation and mobility solutions to individuals with neurological and mobility challenges from hospital to home. The Company has a portfolio of products focused on upper and lower extremity rehabilitation for stroke and other mobility-impaired patients, including three products on the market and two products in varying stages of development. For more information, please visit www.BIONIKlabs.com and connect with us on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook. Forward-Looking Statements Any statements contained in this press release that do not describe historical facts may constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements, which involve assumptions and describe our future plans, strategies, and expectations, are generally identifiable by use of the words "may," "should," "would," "will," "could," "scheduled," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "possible," "believe," "intend," "seek," or "project" or the negative of these words or other variations on these words or comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements may include, without limitation, statements regarding (i) the plans and objectives of management for future operations, including plans or objectives relating to the design, development and commercialization of robotic rehabilitation products and other Company products, (ii) a projection of income (including income/loss), earnings (including earnings/loss) per share, capital expenditures, dividends, pipeline of potential sales, capital structure or other financial items, (iii) the Company's future financial performance, (iv) the market and projected market for our existing and planned products and (v) the assumptions underlying or relating to any statement described in points (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) above. Such forward-looking statements are not meant to predict or guarantee actual results, performance, events or circumstances, and may not be realized because they are based upon the Company's current projections, plans, objectives, beliefs, expectations, estimates and assumptions, and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties and other influences, many of which the Company has no control. Actual results and the timing of certain events and circumstances may differ materially from those described by the forward- looking statements as a result of these risks and uncertainties. Factors that may influence or contribute to the inaccuracy of the forward-looking statements or cause actual results to differ materially from expected or desired results may include, without limitation, the Company's inability to obtain additional financing, the inability to meet listing standards to uplist to a national stock exchange, the significant length of time and resources associated with the development of our products and related insufficient cash flows and resulting illiquidity, the impact on the Company's business as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Company's inability to expand the Company's business, significant government regulation of medical devices and the healthcare industry, lack of product diversification, volatility in the price of the Company's raw materials, and the Company's failure to implement the Company's business plans or strategies. These and other factors are identified and described in more detail in the Company's filings with the SEC. The Company does not undertake to update these forward-looking statements.







BIONIK Laboratories Corp. Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (unaudited) (Amounts expressed in U.S. Dollars) December 31,

2020 March 31,

2020 (Audited) Assets Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 895,697 $ 2,269,747 Accounts receivable 174,305 846,964 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 1,658,477 1,632,555 Inventories 839,552 1,059,462 Due from related parties 20,154 17,840 Total current assets 3,588,185 5,826,568 Equipment, net 105,220 154,144 Intangible assets, net 1,000,131 1,449,924 Goodwill 4,282,984 11,085,984 Total assets $ 8,976,520 $ 18,516,620 Liabilities and stockholders' equity Current liabilities: Accounts Payable $ 544,204 $ 857,093 Accrued liabilities 2,067,795 1,647,656 PPP Loan 459,912 - Convertible Loans 3,841,384 2,078,833 Current portion of deferred revenue 301,302 200,437 Total Current Liabilities 7,214,597 4,784,019 Deferred revenue, net of current portion 311,479 415,626 Total liabilities 7,526,076 5,199,645 Total stockholders' equity 1,450,444 13,316,975 Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 8,976,520 $ 18,516,620

BIONIK Laboratories Corp. Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (unaudited) (Amounts expressed in U.S. Dollars) Three months ended December 31, Nine months ended December 31, 2020 2019 2020 2019 Revenues, net $ 180,409 $ 158,005 $ 730,698 $ 1,230,074 Cost of revenues 9,581 143,595 142,183 562,887 Gross Profit 170,828 14,410 588,515 667,187 Operating expenses Sales and marketing 325,175 480,834 792,622 1,649,340 Research and development 449,580 1,021,418 1,213,350 2,724,000 General and administrative 983,858 1,184,381 3,052,017 3,415,671 Impairment of intangible assets 7,182,053 -- 7,182,053 -- Share-based compensation expense 98,794 447,219 719,048 1,373,195 Total operating expenses 9,039,460 3,133,852 12,959,090 9,162,206 Loss from operations (8,868,632 ) (3,119,442 ) (12,370,575 ) (8,495,019 ) Interest expense, net 79,183 11,798 265,566 197,119 Other expense (income), net 3,066 (161,291 ) (50,562 ) (218,860 ) Total other expense (income) 82,249 (149,493 ) 215,004 (21,741 ) Net loss $ (8,950,881 ) $ (2,969,949 ) $ (12,585,579 ) $ (8,473,278 ) Loss per share - basic and diluted $ (1.75 ) $ (0.58 ) $ (2.45 ) $ (1.99 ) Weighted average number of shares outstanding - basic and diluted 5,126,834 5,126,834 5,126,834 4,264,723 To supplement our consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with GAAP, BIONIK uses non-GAAP loss from operations, non-GAAP net loss and non-GAAP diluted net loss per share. The presentation of this financial information is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP. The non-GAAP financial measures included in this press release exclude costs associated with the amortization and impairment of intangible assets acquired, as well as unrealized foreign exchange gains or losses for the three and nine months ended December 31, 2020 and 2019. This exclusion may be different from, and therefore not comparable to, similar measures used by other companies. BIONIK's management believes that the non-GAAP financial measures provide meaningful supplemental information regarding our performance by excluding amortization, impairment and foreign exchange costs that may not be indicative of our core business operating results. BIONIK believes that both management and investors benefit from referring to the non-GAAP financial measures in assessing BIONIK's performance and when planning, forecasting and analyzing future periods. BIONIK also believes that the non-GAAP measures are useful to investors in allowing for greater transparency with respect to supplemental information used by management in our financial and operational decision making. The non-GAAP Financial measures also facilitate management's internal comparisons to BIONIK's historical performance and our competitors' operating results. Reconciliation of GAAP Income Statement Measures to Non-GAAP Income Statement Measures (Unaudited) Three Months Ended

December 31, Nine Months Ended

December 31, 2020 2019 2020 2019 Loss from operations $ (8,868,632 ) $ (3,119,442 ) $ (12,370,575 ) $ (8,495,019 ) Non-GAAP adjustments to loss from operations: Costs associated with impairment of intangibles 7,182,053 -- 7,182,053 -- Costs associated with amortization of intangibles 23,732 69,314 70,741 207,943 Total Non-GAAP adjustments to loss from operations 7,205,785 69,314 7,252,794 207,943 Non-GAAP loss from operations $ (1,662,847 ) $ (3,050,128 ) $ (5,117,781 ) $ (8,287,076 ) Three Months Ended

December 31, Nine Months Ended

December 31, 2020 2019 2020 2019 Net loss $ (8,950,881 ) $ (2,969,949 ) $ (12,585,579 ) $ (8,473,278 ) Non-GAAP adjustments to net loss: Costs associated with impairment of intangibles 7,182,053 -- 7,182,053 -- Costs associated with amortization of intangibles 23,732 69,314 70,741 207,943 Unrealized foreign exchange loss (gain) 12,181 (53,561 ) 43,243 (110,844 ) Total Non-GAAP adjustments to net loss 7,217,966 15,753 7,296,037 97,099 Non-GAAP net loss $ (1,732,915 ) $ (2,954,196 ) $ (5,289,542 ) $ (8,376,179 ) Three Months Ended

December 31, Nine Months Ended

December 31, 2020 2019 2020 2019 Diluted net loss per share $ (1.75 ) $ (0.58 ) $ (2.45 ) $ (1.99 ) Costs associated with impairment of intangibles 1.40 -- 1.40 -- Costs associated with amortization of intangibles 0.01 0.01 0.01 0.05 Unrealized foreign exchange loss (gain) 0.00 (0.01 ) 0.01 (0.02 ) Total Non-GAAP adjustments to net loss 1.41 0.00 1.42 0.03 Non-GAAP diluted net loss per share $ (0.34 ) $ (0.58 ) $ (1.03 ) $ (1.96 ) Weighted average shares used to compute GAAP diluted net loss per share 5,126,834 5,126,834 5,126,834 4,264,723 Weighted average shares used to compute Non-GAAP diluted net loss per share 5,126,834 5,126,834 5,126,834 4,264,723 View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210211005160/en/

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Sentencing of ex-Khabarovsk governor in Rosneft embezzlement case set for February 16

 RAPSI, Vladimir Burnov

17:43 11/02/2021

MOSCOW, February 11 (RAPSI)  Moscows Zamoskvoretsky District Court will deliver sentence against ex-governor of Russias Khabarovsk Region Victor Ishayev charged with embezzling more than 7.5 million rubles (over $100,000) from Rosneft oil company on February 16, according to the courts press service.

Prosecutors earlier demanded 7 years in prison for the defendant.

Ishayev was arrested in Moscow on March 28, 2019. On March 29, Moscows Basmanny District Court denied a 15-million-ruble ($200,000) bail to Ishayev and placed him under house arrest.

From 2013 to 2018, Ishayev was a vice-president of Rosneft. According to investigators, between 2014 and 2017, he fraudulently ensured signing of premises lease agreements for the company offices use in the Khabarovsk Region at an overvalued price. The contracts were concluded with Ishayevs firm.




Square Enix's Final Fantasy and Disney mashup series Kingdom Hearts is headed to PC for the first time and, thanks to a deal with Epic Games, will do so as an Epic Games Store exclusive.

The once-PlayStation-exclusive series crossed console lines with 2019's release of Kingdom Hearts 3 and, shortly after a collection featuring the series' mainline games was rereleased for Xbox as well.

Kingdom Hearts' PC debut will see Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5+2.5 Remix, Kingdom Hearts 2.8 Final Cut, Kingdom Hearts III + Re Mind, and Kingdom Hearts Melody of Memory all release for the Epic Games Store on March 30 of this year.

Confusing naming conventions aside, that brings enhanced versions of all of the mainline Kingdom Hearts games released since 2002 to PC, though a number of other Kingdom Hearts spinoffs with equally bizarre titles remain scattered across other platforms.
The family of a mother-of-five missing for six weeks in Greater Brisbane have made an emotional plea for public help to find her, as her children struggle to understand what is happening.

Amy Schulkins, 36, was last seen in Caboolture on December 30 driving towards the Bruce Highway. Credit:Queensland Police Service

Amy Schulkins, 36, was last seen driving her white 2001 Nissan Patrol 4WD on Morayfield Road in Caboolture, 45 kilometres north of Brisbane CBD, about 11.45pm on Wednesday, December 30.

Detective Senior Constable Michael Amey said it appeared, from CCTV footage, Ms Schulkins turned right onto Lower King Street and was heading to the Bruce Highway and Bribie Island interchange.

Further police investigations suggest Ms Schulkins previously visited a Morayfield Road address in Burpengary after leaving a John Street residence in Caboolture South on the same night.
An F-35 performs a high-speed pass during the Oregon International Airshow in McMinnville, Ore., on Sept. 21, 2019. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Senior Airman Alexander Cook)

US, Australia, Japan Conduct Cope North 21 Military Exercises on Guam

The United States, Australia, and Japan are conducting trilateral military exercises on Guam as the allies look to strengthen joint response times to counter growing threats from China and Russia in the Indo-Pacific region.

The Cope North 21 exercises will bring together more than 2,000 military personnel at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, along with approximately 95 aircraft from the three nations.

Group Capt. Nathan Christie, the Australian commander for Exercise Cope North 21, said the allies will conduct combat-readiness exercises, procedures for humanitarian aid, and disaster relief operations.

Led this year by the Koku-Jieita (Japan Air Self-Defense Force), the U.S. Pacific Air Forces command has said the exercise will reflect real-world threats and scenarios, and focus on reestablishing combat air dominance in the region.

China and Russia can increasingly hold overseas U.S. bases at risk, U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Jeremy T. Sloane, commander of the 36th Wing at the Guam facility, said at a virtual conference run by the U.S. Air Force Association on Jan. 27.

To adapt, the Air Force must evolve from its dependence on well-established airfields, or risk building an operational edge, Sloane said.

A promotional video by Chinas Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) last year for its H-6K strategic bombers showed them launching an attack on an unidentified military base. The Telegraph reported in September 2020 that the base appeared to be Andersen, although this wasnt confirmed.

Whichever base might have been targeted in the video, the Cope North 21 exercises will involve staging a scenario for F-35 and F-16 fighter jets out of Japan and Alaska to launch a simulated mission in an environment similar to the base.

The planes will have to demonstrate the ability to land in a remote environment, refuel, and launch again on simulated attack missions, while operating from small, rough airfields with limited facilities. Describing the bases northwest field, Sloane said, It has minimal markings, minimal lighting, and no permanent aircraft or airfield control.

Timothy Heath, a senior Rand Corp. defense researcher, told the South China Morning Post that the practical ability of the U.S. Air Force to work operations from smaller airfields such as on Guam means that the Chinese military can no longer confidently plan to wipe out the U.S. Air Force presence in the Asia-Pacific.

The PLA will be less confident in its ability to defeat US military forces in the region because they will be less certain where fighter aircraft might operate from, Heath said.

Cope North 21 will also establish the new fifth-generation Joint Strike Fighters military presence, the F-35A, as America will be deploying the planes into the theater of operation.

Australia and Japan both have F-35s but will focus this year on incorporating joint air communications capabilities and web-enabled logistics support as the planes roll out among the allied air forces.

A great flight formation over Guam during exercise #CopeNorth21 ! https://t.co/W2yRD7Hx7w  U.S. Forces Japan (@USForcesJapan) February 10, 2021

The joint exercise is taking place as Russia, China, and Iran have announced they will conduct joint naval exercises in the Indian Ocean later this month. Russian ambassador to Iran, Levan Dzhagaryan, told RIA news agency on Feb. 8 that the trilateral naval exercises will include rehearsing search and rescue operations and ensuring shipping safety.

The three countries held similar drills in December 2019. These drills were seen as a reaction to increasing U.S. pressure on Iran after then-President Donald Trump pulled out of the Iranian nuclear deal in 2018 and reimposed sanctions on Tehran.
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Expect more nation-state cyberattacks, Krebs says

Was the SolarWinds attack a preview of coming attractions? Possibly, according to a former top cybersecurity official.

Attacks from China, Russia, Iran and North Korea will likely continue until the leadership has decided that it cannot tolerate further behavior," Chris Krebs, the former director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, told the House Homeland Security Committee at a Feb. 10 hearing.

Rep. Lou Correa (D-Calif.) asked the former CISA chief about how the U.S. can prevent further attacks, which "should in all sense and purposes constitute a declaration of war on the United States."

When Krebs suggested the government could prevent attacks by levying financial sanctions on adversarial nations and certain oligarchs, Correa noted that suggestion had been pushed forward before but never acted upon.

The U.S. has used financial sanctions, Krebs said, but those penalties must be matched by other international allies. He cautioned committee members to recognize that "there are certain behaviors that, unfortunately, are within the realm of acceptable cyber behavior" such as espionage against a federal government.

The question of whether or not the SolarWinds hack constitutes an "act of war" has been raised often among elected officials. The federal agencies investigating the attack as well as third-party cybersecurity experts have largely concurred the breach appears to be espionage.

Testifying alongside Krebs were Sue Gordon, the former principal deputy director of national intelligence, Michael Daniel, president and CEO of Cyber Threat Alliance, and Dmitri Alperovitch, co-founder and a former Crowdstrike executive.

"So far, all of the information that is available about this intrusion indicates that it is espionage," Daniel said.

Gordon told Correa flatly that the government cannot stop all attacks, but lawmakers can clearly define what kinds of attacks and impacts -- such as knocking out an electrical grid -- would warrant a response. She also said lawmakers should not limit responses to a cyberattack with a "cyber response."

Since December when the initial hack was discovered, CISA has become the government's primary agency for responding to the damage caused by the breach. That role has called into question whether CISA has sufficient funding and staffing.

Asked about funding by Rep. Jim Langevin (D-R.I.), Krebs said his agency had a $2.2 billion budget, but only $1.2 billion of that were put toward cybersecurity programs.

"However, of that $1.2 billion, about $800 million was focused on two programs," he said, referring to the National Cyber Protection System and the Continuous Diagnostics and Mitigation program. "That leaves several hundred million dollars for incident response and actually very little frankly for broader engagement with the critical infrastructure community."

Krebs said his biggest regret is that he could not put more funding toward engaging state and local governments and other critical infrastructure entities.

In his opening remarks, Alperovitch recommended CISA be given the authorities and resources to effectively become the government's chief information security officer.

Asked about that idea, Krebs explained that the current federal CISO, which is part of the White House's Office of Management and Budget, is in a policy setting position, while CISA focuses on policy enforcement. Additional funding for CISA to help agencies improve their security would leave the federal government "in a much better place," he said.

This article was first posted to FCW, a sibling site to GCN.
VANCOUVER, BC, Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Defense Metals Corp. ("Defense Metals") (TSXV: DEFN) (OTCQB: DFMTF) (FSE: 35D) is pleased to announce that it has engaged Welsbach Holdings Pte Ltd. ("Welsbach") to assist in building awareness for its Wicheeda Rare Earth Element (REE) Property ("Wicheeda"), providing physical product market research, introductions to supply chain partners, and assistance in commercial negotiations.

The road accessible Wicheeda REE Property is located close to infrastructure approximately 80 kilometres northeast of Prince George, British Columbia (BC). The Wicheeda project has indicated mineral resources of 4,890,000 tonnes averaging 3.02% LREO (Light Rare Earth Elements) and inferred mineral resources of 12,100,000 tonnes averaging 2.90% LREO1. Flotation pilot-plant processing of a 26-tonne bulk sample of Wicheeda REE material yielded a mineral concentrate averaging 7.4% NdPr oxide (neodymium-praseodymium) critical magnet metals2.

Craig Taylor, CEO of Defense Metals, stated: "The engagement of Welsbach will enable Defense Metals to leverage their extensive experience and relationships in the Asia-Pacific region (Australia, Singapore, China, Japan, and South Korea), Continental Europe, and the United States towards engaging in one-on-one discussions with REE refiners and separators. The goal is the successful negotiation of one or more binding commercial REE offtake and/or other supply chain agreements with respect to the Wicheeda REE Deposit. Welsbach will immediately commence its work aiding with respect to strategic partner identification, business introductions, and ultimately commercial negotiations."

Brendan Jephcott, Welsbach's Asia advisory partner said: "We are pleased to engage with Defense Metals Corp. regarding the Wicheeda project. The current global situation requires supply chains to strengthen their resilience and increase their capacity, in order to respond to growing demand. Part of our mission at Welsbach is to support the efforts of junior mining companies and assist them in their commercial processes. Welsbach is a specialist in the Energy Transition Metals Supply Chain and we are keen to bring Defense Metals Corp project to our network of mid and downstream partners".

_____________________________ 1 Technical Report on the Wicheeda Property, British Columbia, effective June 27, 2020 and prepared by APEX Geoscience Ltd. (Steven J. Nicholls, B.A. Sc., MAIG and Kristopher J. Raffle, B.Sc., P.Geo) is available under Defense Metals Corp.'s profile on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) 2 See Defense Metals News Release dated September 23, 2020

About Welsbach Holdings Pte Ltd.

For more information regarding Welsbach please click here.

Welsbach invests and develops projects that are related to technology materials and clean energy generation. Welsbach has supply chains partners in the upstream and midstream segments; Welsbach also focuses on R&D solutions for industrial consumers in the downstream segment.

Carl Auer Von "Welsbach" was an Austrian scientist who separated didymium into the elements neodymium and praseodymium in 1885. His work on rare-earth elements led to the development of the ferrocerium "flints" used in modern lighters, the gas mantle, which brought light to the streets of Europe in the late 19th century, and the metal-filament light bulb.

About the Wicheeda REE Property

The 1,708 hectare Wicheeda REE Property, located approximately 80 km northeast of the city of Prince George, British Columbia, is readily accessible by all-weather gravel roads and is nearby to infrastructure, including power transmission lines, the CN railway and major highways.

Geologically, the property is situated in the Foreland Belt and within the Rocky Mountain Trench, a major continental geologic feature. The Foreland Belt contains part of a large alkaline igneous province, stretching from the Canadian Cordillera to the southwestern United States, which includes several carbonatite and alkaline intrusive complexes hosting the Aley (niobium), Rock Canyon (REE), and Wicheeda (REE) deposits.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information contained in this news release as it relates to the Wicheeda REE Property has been reviewed and approved by Kristopher J. Raffle, P.Geo. (BC) Principal and Consultant of APEX Geoscience Ltd. of Edmonton, AB, a director of Defense Metals and a "Qualified Person" as defined in National Instrument 43-101  Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Mr. Raffle verified the data disclosed which includes a review of the analytical and test data underlying the information and opinions contained therein.

About Defense Metals Corp.

Defense Metals Corp. is a mineral exploration company focused on the acquisition of mineral deposits containing metals and elements commonly used in the electric power market, military, national security and the production of "GREEN" energy technologies, such as, high strength alloys and rare earth magnets. Defense Metals has an option to acquire 100% of the 1,708 hectare Wicheeda Rare Earth Element Property located near Prince George, British Columbia, Canada. Defense Metals Corp. trades in Canada under the symbol "DEFN" on the TSX Venture Exchange, in the United States, under "DFMTF" on the OTCQB and in Germany on the Frankfurt Exchange under "35D".

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding "Forward-Looking" Information

This news release contains "forwardlooking information or statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, which may include, without limitation, statements relating to the services to be provided by Welsbach and the expected outcomes including the negotiation and completion of commercial agreements, plans for its Wicheeda Property, the advancement and development of the Wicheeda Property, the technical, financial and business prospects of the Company, its project and other matters. All statements in this news release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that the Company expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. 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. Such statements and information are based on numerous assumptions regarding present and future business strategies and the environment in which the Company will operate in the future, including the price of rare earth elements, the ability to achieve its goals, that general business and economic conditions will not change in a material adverse manner, that financing will be available if and when needed and on reasonable terms. Such forward-looking information reflects the Company's views with respect to future events and is subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including those filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. While such estimates and assumptions are considered reasonable by the management of the Company, they are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive and regulatory uncertainties and risks. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward looking statements include, but are not limited to, continued availability of capital and financing and general economic, market or business conditions, adverse weather conditions, failure to maintain or obtain all necessary government permits, approvals and authorizations, failure to maintain community acceptance (including First Nations), decrease in the price of rare earth elements, the impact of Covid-19 or other viruses and diseases on the Company's ability to operate increase in costs, litigation, and failure of counterparties to perform their contractual obligations. The Company does not undertake to update forwardlooking statements or forwardlooking information, except as required by law.

SOURCE Defense Metals Corp.
Engineering team focused on 5G software development and integration

Sequans Communications S.A. (NYSE: SQNS), leading developer and provider of 5G and 4G solutions for broadband, critical, and massive IoT, announced that it has established a new subsidiary in Salo, Finland, the purpose of which is to support Sequans core development work on 5G and 4G IoT semiconductor solutions.

"We established this new R&D center in order to take advantage of the talented community of wireless engineers in Finland who have the expertise we need to strengthen our development capabilities and support our growing list of customers worldwide," said Fabien Buda, vice president, engineering, Sequans. "We expect to grow our team in Finland to about triple its current size by the end of the year and we are pleased to become an official part of the vibrant tech community in Finland."

Sequans, the leader in 5G/4G IoT technology, has recently introduced the second generation of its 5G-ready Monarch (LTE-M/NB-IoT) and Calliope (Cat 1) platforms that are recognized worldwide as leading massive IoT solutions. Sequans is also developing its 5G Taurus broadband IoT platform, expected to be introduced at the end of the year.

The new facility, located in Salo, Finland, is Sequans' eleventh site among its worldwide locations. The new team will work closely with Sequans main R&D engineering team at the company's Paris headquarters.

To inquire about job openings at Sequans Finland, please visit our website careers page.

About Sequans

Sequans Communications S.A. (NYSE: SQNS) is a leading developer and provider of 5G and 4G chips and modules for massive, broadband, and critical IoT. For 5G/4G massive IoT applications, Sequans provides a comprehensive product portfolio based on its flagship Monarch LTE-M/NB-IoT and Calliope Cat 1 chip platforms, featuring industry-leading low power consumption, a large set of integrated functionalities, and global deployment capability. For 5G/4G broadband and critical IoT applications, Sequans offers a product portfolio based on its Cassiopeia Cat 4/Cat 6 4G and high-end Taurus 5G chip platforms, optimized for low-cost residential, enterprise, and industrial applications. Founded in 2003, Sequans is based in Paris, France with additional offices in the United States, United Kingdom, Finland, Israel, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, South Korea, and China. Visit Sequans online at www.sequans.com.

Forward Looking Statements

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210211005080/en/

Contacts:

Sequans media relations: Kimberly Tassin (USA), +1.425.736.0569, kimberly@sequans.com

Sequans investor relations: Claudia Gatlin (USA), +1 212.830.9080, claudia@sequans.com

To the Editor:

Temple Concord is more than a building on the corner of University Avenue and Madison Street in Syracuse. Today, however, the Temple Concord community is in jeopardy if we are prevented from selling that beautiful but aging building.

Temple Concord is a community, a community thats been part of Central New York for 182 years. It has provided spirituality, comfort, joy, belonging, inclusivity, education and so much more, to tens of thousands of people over those many years. From newborns to the most senior of senior citizens, lives have been enriched by being part of this vibrant family of families.

We have a rich history, but we are not a wealthy congregation. While we remain vibrant, it is infeasible for us to survive in an aging structure that has become a financial burden over the years. Our congregation is smaller and can no longer afford to keep the building safe and operational for our member families.

In July 2019, after looking at options and having months of discussion, we put the sale of this building up for a vote of our members. The overwhelming majority approved the sale. By far the largest portion of the sale proceeds would be put into the Temples endowment, which has been depleted over the years. This is not a profit-making endeavor. The funds will literally pay for daily operations and allow us to continue our spiritual and social action missions.

The developer offering to buy our property has committed to preserving the historic 1911 sanctuary intact, even as doing so reduces the buildable portion of the property by 20%. For this, we are grateful, and the Syracuse Common Council has affirmed its support for the developers approach. A delayed sale means the property will deteriorate further  perhaps past the point of salvage.

We know that those of other faith traditions are eager for our congregation to continue. Alicia Wood, pastor of University United Methodist Church, has told us that losing our Jewish congregation would be devastating to the spiritual diversity of Syracuses faith community, leaving a gap that would be difficult to fill.

We are committed to remaining a key Central New York religious institution, not only meeting the needs of area Jews but also continuing our social justice work and progressive interfaith engagement.

We look forward to support from those entities considering this proposal, recognizing the inestimable value that our congregation has added and will continue to add to Syracuse and all of Central New York.

Sally F. Cutler

President, Board of Trustees

Temple Concord

Syracuse

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Big student-housing project at Temple Concord runs into opposition

Debate over historical designation complicates life or death sale of Temple Concord

202-bed student apartments proposed at historic Temple Concord site
Lysaker, Norway - February 11, 2021: Reference is made to REC Silicon ASA's ("REC" or the "Company) announcements of 7 February 2021, with request from shareholder Aker Horizons Holding AS, for the calling of an extraordinary general meeting for election of new board members.

Notice is hereby given that the Extraordinary General Meeting of REC Silicon ASA will be held at the offices of Schjdt, Ruselkkveien 14, Oslo Norway, on March 4, 2021 at 4:00 pm CET.

In order to minimize the risk of spread of COVID-19 and to ensure that the extraordinary general meeting can be held in compliance with current laws and regulations applicable in Oslo municipality, shareholders may not participate in the extraordinary general meeting in person, buy may instead participate by either casting advance votes or voting by proxy (with or without instructions) as described in the notice of the meeting.

Please find attached Calling Notice of Extraordinary General Meeting.

The documents are also available at www.recsilicon.com/investors.



For further information, please contact:

James A. May II, Chief Financial Officer

Phone: +1 509 989 1023

Email: james.may@recsilicon.com

Nils O. Kjerstad, IR Contact

Phone: +47 9135 6659

Email: nils.kjerstad@crux.no

About REC Silicon

REC Silicon is a leading producer of advanced silicon materials, delivering high-purity polysilicon and silicon gas to the solar and electronics industries worldwide. We combine over 30 years of experience and proprietary technology with the needs of our customers, with annual production capacity of more than 20,000 MT of polysilicon from our two US-based manufacturing plants. Listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange (ticker: REC), the Company is headquartered in Lysaker, Norway.

For more information, please visit: www.recsilicon.com)

This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to Section 5-12 the Norwegian Securities Trading Act

Attachment

As Rwanda prepares to receive a million Covid-19 vaccines later this month, Minster of Health Daniel Ngamije says community engagement and collaboration among countries is crucial for the vaccine to be effective.

Rwanda is among the first four African countries that have attained required criteria to receive Covid-19 vaccines in the next few weeks, along with South Africa, Cape Verde and Tunisia.

Addressing a WHO Africa online press briefing on Covid-19 in Africa on February 4, Dr Ngamije said that Rwanda is counting on the Covax facility, a global initiative set to accelerate equitable access to vaccines, and to provide enough doses to cover 20 per cent of the population. For the rest of the population, Rwanda expects support from the African Union and other partners.

"Our ambition is to vaccinate 60 per cent of the population this year. The first batch will be out in March to be given to mainly frontline workers and elderly people," the minister said.

Of 150 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine that will be released in the first quarter of 2021, Rwanda expects to receive 996,000, and 102,960 doses of the Pfizer vaccine.

Unique vaccine

Rwanda is the only country in the region slated to get the Pfizer/BioNTech's mRNA vaccine. Because it requires ultra cold storage, several African countries have shied away from purchasing it due to the complexity of transportation, storage and distribution.

According to information from Covax, the published distribution for AstraZeneca vaccines is indicative, based on current communication of estimated availability from manufacturers.

"In this regard, it is likely the distribution may need to be adjusted in light of circumstances that are difficult to anticipate and variables that are constantly evolving," reads a statement from Covax.

Rwanda is preparing awareness campaigns to engage the public with the help of opinion leaders.

"We have seen groups of people already promoting conspiracy theories against the vaccine, but I believe all we need to do is explain and solve any misunderstanding around the vaccine through campaigns," Dr Ngamije said.
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WORCESTER, Mass., Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --

While nurses and patients suffer, for-profit Tenet Healthcare has used furloughs and staffing cuts, along with nearly $3 billion dollars in taxpayer funded CARES Act funding to boost its profits for shareholders and "improve its cash position." Today, as the nurses voted to authorize a strike over the corporations' refusal to provide the staffing and resources to ensure safe patient care, the corporation announced a profit of $414 million

The 800 registered nurses at St. Vincent Hospital, who are negotiating a new contract with Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare, cast an overwhelming vote tonight (Feb. 10) authorizing their negotiating committee to call for a strike should Tenet management continue to refuse to heed nurses' call to increase staffing levels to better protect their patients during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis and beyond. The vote comes as the parties are scheduled to resume talks with a federal mediator tomorrow, Feb. 11 where nurses hope Tenet will finally agree to work with them to address their patient safety concerns.

"With this vote, our members are sending a powerful message to Tenet Healthcare that we will do whatever it takes to protect our patients and our community in the face of their blatant disrespect and corporate greed," said Marlena Pellegrino, RN, a frontline nurse at the hospital and co-chair of the nurses local bargaining unit with the Massachusetts Nurses Association (MNA). "As nurses, we are legally and morally obligated to advocate for our patients to ensure they are safe and receive the care they deserve. We have tried for months to convince our administration and the Tenet corporation to provide us with the resources we need to keep the public safe, yet they only make things worse. While our goal is to avert a strike, should Tenet maintain its obstinance at the table, we will be compelled to take that step because our patients' lives are on the line."

The vote was scheduled after Tenet issued what it called its "last, best and final" offer at negotiations on Jan 28, an offer which once again, failed to include any proposal to address the hospital's longstanding staffing/patient safety crisis. Nurses were outraged that Tenet chose to draw its line in the sand, just days before Tenet's stock price rose to its highest level in months, a significant increase in shareholder profitability during the pandemic (from $31 on Feb 1, 2020 to close to $49 on Feb. 1 2021). Now, on the same day of the vote, Tenet announced 2020 profits of $414 million, as nurses report their patients in Worcester are experiencing a dramatic increase in patient falls, an increase in patient's suffering from preventable bed sores, dangerous delays in patients receiving needed medications and other treatments  all due to lack of appropriate staffing, excessive patient assignments, and cuts to valuable support staff.

Background on Staffing Crisis

For months, nurses have been struggling to care for patients without appropriate staffing levels, adequate personal protective equipment, and in the wake of furloughs and daily staff reductions that have left them unable to provide the care and attention patients, particularly desperately ill COVID-19 infected patients require.

The nurses' concerns have been documented in real time as nurses have filed more than 500 reports to management citing staffing and patient care conditions that they believed threatened the safety of their patients. This includes 76 such reports in the month of January alone, more than two a day. Nurses also have sent personal emails to management and confronted the hospitals' recalcitrant CEO with their concerns on her visits to hospital units.

Other efforts to move to Tenet to improve care include:

Last February, more than 70 percent of nurses signed and delivered a petition to Tenet administration calling for safer staffing levels and an end to management's punitive treatment of nurses, and this was before the onset of the pandemic.

In March, again, prior to the first surge in the pandemic, more than 200 nurses from every unit and every shift attended a negotiation session with management to provide alarming personal testimony about the impact current staffing levels were having on patient care, with numerous nurses describing conditions at the hospital as a "travestydisgraceful...and shameful." They described numerous patient falls, the onset of serious preventable complications, suicidal patients being left without one-on-one monitoring, and even preventable deaths directly attributable to inadequate staffing levels and unsafe nurse patient assignments.

In May, after management implemented a furlough of staff, and daily staffing cuts (a process referred to as flexing staff) and other negative staffing practices, the nurses cast an overwhelming vote of "no confidence" in hospital CEO Carolyn Jackson and her management team. No action was taken to address the concerns.

and her management team. No action was taken to address the concerns. During the last 10 months alone, as a result of these conditions, more than 100 nurses have left the facility for other hospitals, specifically UMass Memorial, with better staffing, pay and benefits.

In December, more than 400 nurses participated in an informational picket to call for public support for safer staffing, particularly in light of the growing second surge of the pandemic.

And starting in January, dozens of nurses have been participating in daily picketing in an effort to move Tenet to address our number one concern  safe staffing.

Still, management has done little or nothing to address nurses' concerns. In fact, as nurses prepared for the second surge, the hospital refused to put in place standards of care, such as the creation of COVID specific units with strict limits on nurses' patient assignments to no more than three patients that were in place during the first surge. Now, to the shock and dismay of the nurses, the hospital is insisting on comingling COVID and non COVID patients; and creating conditions that force nurses to take up to five patients at one time  a reckless practice that endangers both patients and nurses. They have also laid off secretaries and other support staff, thus exacerbating an already dangerous practice environment. When the nurses finally convinced management to meet with them to hear their concerns and recommendations, the chief nursing officer abruptly ended the meeting, refusing to address any of the issues raised.

"Our nurses have been sacrificing for our patients, family and communities throughout this pandemic," said Dominique Muldoon, a nurse who worked on the COVID floor during the first surge and co-chair of the nurses local bargaining unit. "Nurses have moved out of their homes or isolated from loved ones. Our members have been exposed or infected with this virus in our efforts to provide care to these very sick patients. Our members have witnessed unbearable suffering and been the only ones with patients, or been the conduit of all communication with families as they watched their loved ones die. For nurses, this is our duty and our obligation, and all that we ask is to be treated with respect and to be given the resources to perform this noble work."

Staffing/Patient Care Improvements Sought by Nurses

The nurses have spent more than a year in negotiations with management for a new contract that would include the staffing improvements nurses need to provide safe patient care, as well as improvements in pay and benefits to compete with other hospitals in the region, with the staffing improvements the key stumbling block to a settlement, and the issue Tenet refuses to address. Those improvements include:

Improvements to the current staffing guidelines to ensure all nurses have safe patient assignments and support staff to ensure safe patient care. These improvements are consistent with the standard of care provided at UMass Memorial Medical Center and a number of other hospitals in the state. This is a key point for reporters to understand, as Tenet falsely claims that St. Vincent has some of the best staffing in the state. First, this is not true. Staffing is better at UMass Memorial Medical Center.

Creation of a pool of nurses who are expert in caring for critically ill patients, which is essential to support nurses in the emergency department who in addition to taking care of five or six patients, are also expected to care for patients in need of ICU level care, who are waiting for a bed to open in the ICU.

The addition of what are called "STAT and Rapid Response" nurses, which are nurses who would be available to be assigned to floors and units when census increases, and the needs of the patients are more complex. These nurses are especially important to support newly graduated nurses, who may lack the experience to care for more challenging patients, or patients who may be in crisis. Again, UMass Memorial Medical Center provides this level of support to its nurses.

Tenet Can Afford Safe Patient Care

While nurses call for improved staffing levels, adequate PPE and the pay and benefits they need to recruit and retain the staff they need to meet the challenges of the pandemic, Tenet Healthcare's focus has been on cutting corners and recouping revenue to boost their bottom line, expecting nurses and patients to pay the price for their decisions.

Back in April of last year, Tenet's corporate leaders in Dallas touted their plan to use furloughs and hundreds of millions of taxpayer dollars from the federal stimulus package "to ensure we were focused on maximizing our cash position"  not to improve care for patients, according to the Dallas Morning News. Tenet has received more than $2.8 billion in loans and grants from the federal government as part of the CARES Act. During the first three quarters of 2020, the corporation generated more than $12 billion in revenue, and now has cash or cash equivalents of more than $3 billion, a 10-fold increase over 2019.

In addition, while other hospitals have cut back on elective surgeries to free up additional staff to support care for COVID-19 patients, Tenet has pushed ahead with procedures, such as knee and hip replacements, colonoscopies and cosmetic surgeries to generate revenue at the expense of care for COVID patients.

St. Vincent Hospital has been one of Tenet's most profitable hospitals, and St. Vincent is one of the most profitable hospitals in Massachusetts. In fact, St. Vincent Hospital generated more than $355 million between 2014 and 2019. In 2019, the hospital posted record profits of more than $73 million, a profit margin of 14 percent, four times the state average for hospitals and five times the profit margin for UMass Memorial Medical Center, a facility that provides the staffing levels the nurses at St. Vincent are seeking, while also paying their nurses significantly more and providing better health and pension benefits.

Nurses believe that Tenet can easily afford to provide the improvements the nurses are seeking, but the nurses see the decisions being made on the local level being driven by corporate heads in Dallas. Nurses view St. Vincent CEO Carolyn Jackson, a chemical engineer by training with no prior experience in caring for patients, as a willing tool for Tenet corporate management in Texas.

"Tenet is a for profit healthcare conglomerate, and we cannot stand by while they take advantage of a global pandemic to, in the words of their Dallas-based CEO. 'maintain a strong cash position.' The voices of our bedside nurses must be heard," explained Marie Ritacco, RN, a nurse in the Post Anesthesia Care Unit and Vice President of the Massachusetts Nurses Association. "We hold that patient care and the safety of the caregivers must be prioritized before profits going to Dallas and the shareholders. We will do everything in our power to shed sunlight on the decisions we believe fail to protect our patients, our community, and our families."

Contract talks with a federal mediator are set to resume on Feb. 11, the day after the strike vote.

MassNurses.org  Facebook.com/MassNurses  Twitter.com/MassNurses  Instagram.com/MassNurses

Founded in 1903, the Massachusetts Nurses Association is the largest union of registered nurses in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Its 23,000 members advance the nursing profession by fostering high standards of nursing practice, promoting the economic and general welfare of nurses in the workplace, projecting a positive and realistic view of nursing, and by lobbying the Legislature and regulatory agencies on health care issues affecting nurses and the public.

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Environment Minister Eamon Ryan has been urged to authorise a study on the possibility of harnessing nuclear power to help Ireland meet its emissions targets over the coming decades.

The 18for0 nuclear power lobby group, comprised of professionals in energy and related fields, said it had contacted Mr Ryan to enquire as to whether the Government plans "to conduct or commission a study to consider the potential of nuclear energy to benefit Irish society after 2030".

The group said its own study indicated that Ireland is capable of developing a nuclear power programme that would "provide cheaper energy than alternative proposals, reduce carbon emissions faster, and enable a just transition for hundreds of energy workers".

Just transition is the term used to describe making sure employment opportunities and societal benefits are present for those who may live and work in communities tied to legacy energy industries, such as coal mining or peat extraction.

In December, Mr Ryan said he had not ruled out the possibility of nuclear power being utilised during the transition to more efficient energy, but said there was no appetite for it at the moment.

Neither the Republic nor the North has ever produced nuclear energy.

When asked at an Institute of International and European Affairs event if modular nuclear reactors were on the agenda for the Government, the Green Party leader said: "Ive always said I wouldnt rule IT out if someone could show that there is a new form of nuclear power that fits in within this model and I see some things on design boards or drawing boards, but nothing in applications, and no rule scale of investment.

Coincidently, 18for0 had released its preliminary study on Ireland's nuclear potential at the same time as Mr Ryan's remarks.

In correspondence to the minister since those remarks, the group insisted its study deserved further discussion.

"The purpose of our study was not to provide answers to every conceivable question that might arise, but to establish whether there exists a prima facie case that merits further study into why, whether and how nuclear energy could be usefully deployed into Irelands 70% renewable electricity system after 2030.

"Our findings show potentially very promising answers to the questions of siting, cost and the other popular questions that arise when the topic is raised, and are a strong basis for further study," 18for0 said.

The group said recent Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland and Cork-based marine research institute MaREI reports on the importance of developing secondary infrastructure to support renewable energy should provide good enough reason to consider nuclear energy.

"There are no existing permitted technologies that can perform that role as effectively in Ireland as small nuclear power plants," it claimed.

Interested parties do not have to travel far to get the best deals on the latest Hyundai models.

Hiley Hyundai of Burleson has taken advantage of online shopping by creating a one-stop shop for new and pre-owned vehicles. Not only can all current inventory be viewed online but all forms can be completed virtually through PrecisePrice. Interested parties do not have to travel far to get the best deals on the latest Hyundai models.

The process of purchasing a vehicle from home is just as simple as doing it in person. Interested parties can browse the online inventory page and note any vehicles of interest. Next customers can reach out to staff at Hiley Hyundai of Burleson with any questions they may have. While the dealership tries to include all pertinent information directly on the website staff recognize the importance of asking questions. The trained sales staff at Hiley Hyundai of Burleson will be prepared to provide customers with any information that is needed to make an informed decision.

Once the customer has decided on a vehicle there is a spot under the vehicle called Get PrecisePrice. Customers can click on this to begin the at-home shopping experience. Customers will be prompted to enter the total months, APR and an estimated credit score. This will create a monthly payment calendar. Those that have a vehicle to trade-in can enter the vehicle information to have the value of the vehicle factored in.

Many new vehicles have incentives that comes with the purchase. This step is where the customer can choose which incentives to apply to the purchase. Examples of these incentives include college graduate rebates and military discounts. Service protection plans and warranties can be chosen to further protect the customers Hyundai investment.

The final step is to complete the deal. The customer will be invited to schedule a test drive or to send all the information to the dealership. Once the information is received by a Hiley Hyundai representative the customer can schedule a time to come into the dealership to finalize all details.

More information can be found on the Hiley Hyundai of Burleson website, https://www.hileyhyundaiofburleson.com. The dealership is located at 320 N. Burleson Blvd., Burleson, Texas. Staff can be reached via phone at 833-319-1533 Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
He truly made his base believe that the only way he could lose was if the election were rigged, Democrat Joaquin Castro, of Texas, another one of the prosecutors, said. Trump, the House impeachment managers argued, whipped his supporters into a frenzy with the big lie that their votes had been stolen, and urged them to fight. This attack never would have happened but for Donald Trump, said Democrat Madeleine Dean, of Pennsylvania, choking back emotion. And so they came, draped in Trumps flag, and used our flag, the American flag, to batter and to bludgeon. There was no widespread fraud in the election, as has been confirmed by election officials across the country and former attorney-general William Barr. Dozens of legal challenges to the election put forth by Trump and his allies were dismissed.

New surveillance footage To reconstruct the siege for senators, Democrats aired never-before-seen security footage from inside the Capitol that showed the attack unfolding. Their presentation included chilling video of the rioters rampaging into the building and audio of distressed police officers who tried in vain to keep them out. We have been flanked and weve lost the line, one frantic officer could be heard saying. Loading Replay Replay video Play video Play video The presentation also showed the perilous moments when lawmakers and others, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Pence, were rushed to safety; body camera footage of an officer being beaten; the sounds of crunching, breaking glass; profane screams and violent threats; and cries as the rioters streamed into the building, some carrying riot shields and weapons.

Where do they count the fing votes? one member of the mob could be heard shouting. You work for us, one yelled at officers. Wheres that meeting at? Democrats warned that many of the scenes would be hard to watch, including the horrifying screams of an officer being crushed in a doorway and video of one of the rioters, Ashli Babbitt, being shot dead by US Capitol Police. Also never before seen, footage of Capitol Police officer Eugene Goodman, who has already been hailed as a hero, warning Utah Republican Senator Mitt Romney that the mob was headed his way. Romney turned and dashed in the other direction. I did not know that was Officer Goodman, Romney told reporters after seeing it. I look forward to thanking him when I next see him. Goodman also directed the mob away from the Senate Chamber and towards other officers.

Trumps lawyers return They were merely observers as Democrats had the floor. But members of Trumps legal team indicated they would stay the course despite a flood of criticism, both from Republican senators and the former president, about their performance during procedural arguments on Tuesday. Not at all, said attorney Bruce Castor when asked by reporters whether there would be any changes to their strategy. No, I dont anticipate any, echoed David Schoen, another attorney. Both Castor and Schoen said they had spoken to Trump on Tuesday, but Castor denied that the former president had expressed displeasure to him.

Far from it, he said. Only one persons opinion matters and that is what I am going by. Schoen, meanwhile, allowed there was room for improvement. To the extent they were critical of anything that I did, I just want to try to do a better job then, he said in response to the Republican senators who panned their performance as disjointed and unhelpful. Bottom line is I think his team will do better, can do better, said South Carolina Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a close ally of the former president, after the two had spoken. While he acknowledged there was room for improvement, Graham said hed tried to tell Trump that the case is over. Its just a matter of getting the final verdict now. All but six Republican senators voted on Tuesday against moving forward with the trial.

Loading Making it personal Dean described the House Chamber descending into chaos as she stood with colleagues in the gallery above the floor and made panicked calls to her husband and sons. Someone shouted up to us, Duck! then Lie down! then Ready your gas masks!  she remembered. Shortly after, there was a terrifying banging on the chamber doors. I will never forget that sound. Democratic lawmaker Eric Swalwell, from California, described the text he sent to his wife telling her to hug their young children.

Loading Throughout the proceeding, the House managers served as personal witnesses of the horror and repeatedly invoked the word us as they appealed to fellow lawmakers targeted in the attack. He was coming for you, for Democratic and Republican senators. He was coming for all of us, just as the mob did at his direction, said Democratic lawmaker Ted Lieu, from California, after describing Trumps rhetoric. There appears little chance that enough Republicans will break with Democrats to convict Trump at the end of the trial. And some of them appeared indifferent to the proceedings and unmoved by the evidence. Missouri Senator Josh Hawley, who led the Senate challenge to the election along with Texas Senator Ted Cruz, said the prosecutors case was predictable and included information that was already public.

Loading The video evidence was nothing new here, for me, at the end of the day, said Hawley, who maintains the trial is unconstitutional. Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson, another close ally of Trump, predicted the rest of the trial was going to be pretty tedious and said the two sides would be better served if they just made their cases in a couple hours and be done with this. And Kentucky Senator Rand Paul, who sat with his back to the screen, writing notes on a pad, walked out in the middle of Plasketts description of the threats against Pence. It was a notable contrast with Democrats such as Maryland Senator Ben Cardin, who described the prosecutors presentation of evidence as painful to watch.
Zanzibar  Today marks 100 days since Zanzibar's eighth President and Revolutionary Council chairman Hussein Ali Mwinyi assumed office.

Dr Mwinyi was elected Zanzibar leader after collecting 76.27 percent of vote against his main opponent Seif Sharif Hamad of ACT-Wazalendo.

After the 2020 October General Election, on November 2, 2020 Dr Mwinyi was sworn-in to lead Zanzibar.

He immediately started executing his duties from Zanzibar State House located at Vuga in Unguja Town.

The Citizen was granted an exclusive interview by the leader of Zanzibar, who detailed a number of issues that he had so far implemented as well as what more he plans to do, his likes and dislikes in his leadership and the key features that will define his government in and outside the Zanzibar semi-autonomous Islands.
(Bloomberg) -- Oil futures rose for an eighth straight day in New York as a decline in U.S. crude inventories further highlighted depleting global supplies.

The rally of about 0.6 percent extended the longest streak of daily gains since February 2019. A U.S. government report showed domestic oil stockpiles fell by 6.6 million barrels to the lowest since March, though the data also pointed to gasoline supplies rising to the highest since June.

Underpinning crudes rally, the spread between Brents nearest contracts has surged this week in another sign of tightening supplies amid OPEC+ production curbs. Citigroup expects Brent crude to reach $70 a barrel by the end of the year, with the producer groups output agreement helping erode inventories and demand looking stronger than expected.

West Texas Intermediate for March delivery rose 32 cents to settle at $58.68 a barrel  the highest since January 2020.

It was good to see the crude draw wasnt just from one area, but constructive that it was throughout the whole U.S., said Brian Kessens, a portfolio manager at Tortoise, a firm that manages roughly $8 billion in energy-related assets. If there was one thing to be concerned about, it was that gasoline inventories built.

Oil has climbed more than 12% so far this month as the OPEC+ alliances supply curbs, led by Saudi Arabia, help deplete an oil surplus left in the wake of a pandemic-driven demand slump. Iraq said OPEC+ will likely agree to keep output steady in April, though Saudi Arabia will probably end unilateral daily cuts after March.

Theres support underneath the market with the cuts that Saudi Arabia has done, said Tariq Zahir, managing member of the global macro program at Tyche Capital Advisors LLC. But it really all comes down to the vaccine, how it gets rolled out and when we get back to any kind of normality.

There are still concerns that the rally may be overdone, with technical indicators showing crude in overbought territory. Rising prices may also spur American oil explorers to boost drilling and production later this year, the Energy Information Administration said in a monthly report Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the combined refining margin for gasoline and diesel fell toward $12 a barrel on Wednesday as the EIA report showed a nearly 4.3 million-barrel increase in gasoline supplies. At the same time, a rolling gauge for gasoline demand remains at its lowest seasonally in decades.

2021 Bloomberg L.P.

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The Senate will launch Donald Trumps historic second impeachment trial on Tuesday, with lawyers for the former president insisting he is not guilty of inciting mob violence at the Capitol to overturn the election.

Prosecutors, however, say he must be convicted of the most grievous constitutional crime even though he is gone from the White House.

Mr Trump faces a sole charge of incitement to insurrection over the January 6 Capitol siege, an attack that stunned the nation and the world after he encouraged a rally crowd to fight like hell for his presidency.

Rioters stormed the building trying to stop the certification of President-elect Joe Bidens victory, in an insurrection in which five people lost their lives.

No witnesses are expected to be called, in part because the senators sworn as jurors will be presented with graphic videos of the scenes they witnessed that day, when they were forced to flee for safety.

Donald Trump is the first US president to be impeached twice (AP)

Under Covid-19 protocols, senators will distance for the trial, some even using the visitors galleries. Holed up at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida, Mr Trump has declined a request to testify.

The first president to face charges after leaving office and the first to be twice impeached for high crimes and misdemeanours, Mr Trump continues to challenge the nations civic norms and traditions even in defeat.

Security remains extremely tight at the Capitol. While acquittal is likely, the trial will test the nations attitude toward his brand of presidential power, the Democrats resolve in pursuing him and the loyalty of Mr Trumps Republican allies defending him.

In trying to make sense of a second Trump trial, the public should keep in mind that Donald Trump was the first president ever to refuse to accept his defeat, said Timothy Naftali, a clinical associate professor at New York University and an expert on Richard Nixons impeachment saga.

His incitement of insurrection against the United States government  which disrupted the peaceful transfer of power  is the most grievous constitutional crime ever committed by a president Democratic impeachment managers

This trial is one way of having that difficult national conversation about the difference between dissent and insurrection.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki said on Monday that Mr Biden would be occupied with the the business of the presidency and would not spend much time watching the televised proceedings.

Hell leave it to his former colleagues in the Senate, she said.

In trial filings on Monday, lawyers for the former president lobbed a wide-ranging attack against the House case, dismissing the trial as political theatre on the same Senate floor that was invaded by the mob.

Mr Trumps defenders are preparing to challenge both the constitutionality of the trial and any suggestion that he was to blame for the insurrection.

They suggest Mr Trump was simply exercising his First Amendment rights when he encouraged his supporters to protest at the Capitol, and they argue the Senate is not entitled to try Mr Trump now that he has left office.

While never willing to allow a good crisis to go to waste, the Democratic leadership is incapable of understanding that not everything can always be blamed on their political adversaries, the Trump lawyers say.

Representatives Ted Lieu, left, Joe Neguse and other Democratic House impeachment managers walk through the Capitols Rotunda on Monday after preparing for the case in the Senate (J Scott Applewhite/AP)

House impeachment managers filed their own document on Monday, asserting Mr Trump had betrayed the American people and there was no valid excuse or defence.

His incitement of insurrection against the United States government  which disrupted the peaceful transfer of power  is the most grievous constitutional crime ever committed by a president, the Democrats said.

The trial will begin on Tuesday with a debate and vote on whether it is constitutionally permissible to prosecute the former president, an argument that could resonate with Republicans keen on voting to acquit Mr Trump without being seen as condoning his behaviour.

Under an agreement between Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Republican leader Mitch McConnell, the opening arguments are set to begin on Wednesday, with up to 16 hours per side for presentations.

Mr Trumps second impeachment trial is expected to diverge from his first one last year. That was a more complicated affair, with Mr Trump charged with privately pressuring Ukraine to dig up dirt on Mr Biden.

This time, Mr Trumps stop the steal rally rhetoric and the storming of the Capitol played out for the world to see. The trial could be over in half the time.
ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th Feb, 2021 ) :Minister for Defence Pervez Khattak Thursday said the Federal employees from grade 1 to 19 would be given ad hoc relief of 25 percent while the issues of their upgradation would be resolved after the budget.

He was addressing a press conference here along with Minister for Railways Sheikh Rashid and Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan.

He said there was a disparity of 100 to 200 percent between salaries of different departments.

The Finance Ministry would issue the notification for the ad hoc relief later today.

The ad hoc relief would be merged in the budget, he said adding the Prime Minister talked to two chief ministers and asked them to resolve the issue of salaries of the provincial employees as per directions and recommendations of the federal government. Upgradations of employees were already done in the provinces of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The ad hoc relief would continue till the decisions of the Pay and Pension Commission, he added.

The issue of time scale promotions would also be resolved in the budget and the promotions will be given by looking into the performance of employees, he told. A policy would be made for the time scale promotions.

Directions will also be issued for settling the issues of lady health workers, he informed.

Sheikh Rashid said that the ad hoc relief would be given to employees from grade 1 to 19 and the approval has been taken from the finance adviser Abdul Hafeez Sheikh.

The salaries of employees of grade 20 to 22 would be increased in the budget.

The government committee led by Pervez Khattak met the Prime Minister who gave approval for increase in the salaries, he said adding all the issues with the employees were resolved amicably. The government will remain in contact with the employees to further facilitate them.

Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan thanked the Prime Minister for taking a keen interest in the issues of employees. The government followed the model of the Riyasat e Madina. The Prime Minister was ending the disparity in pay and upgradations will be done, he observed.

He appreciated the employees for showing patience and for undertaking a peaceful movement for their rights.

To a question, Sheikh Rashid said the issues with Tehreek Labaik Pakistan will also be settled.

He said a budget proposal will be put before the cabinet to better meet the financial needs of the army, rangers, police and other law enforcement departments.

He said all cases against the protesting employees will be withdrawn and the protesters will be released.
The Health Minister has been urged to take control of private hospitals in Northern Ireland to assist with the pandemic response.

People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll has branded as obscene the fact that people can access treatment when they can afford to pay for it, while countless others are languishing indefinitely on hospital waiting lists.

Mr Carrolls proposal would see the likes of the Ulster Independent Clinic, Kingsbridge Private Hospital and North West Independent Clinic come under control of the Department of Health for at least the duration of the pandemic.

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Addressing Robin Swann at a meeting of the Stormont health committee on Thursday, Mr Carroll said: The state has done many things in this period, many things they wouldnt normally have done.

Why cant private healthcare capacity be utilised for the battle against this pandemic and also the fight against the ever-increasing waiting lists?

I believe firmly that it should be utilised for public control and to help tackle Covid, but also to tackle the ever-mounting waiting lists.

Its really sickening that some private providers are boasting that they have never had it so better in terms of the amounts of patients they are seeing at the minute and it is obscene that people can get treatment if they can afford it, creating in effect a two-tier health service, where if you have 15,000 you can get treatment, but if you dont you are forced to wait on the NHS waiting list like everybody else.

Mr Swann rejected any suggestion that health officials have not been working closely with the private healthcare providers in Northern Ireland to ensure as many operations as possible can go ahead.

He said that between April last year and the end of January, 4,200 health service patients were seen at private healthcare facilities.

The minister also revealed that private healthcare providers have cancelled a proportion of non-urgent work in order to carry out urgent work for the health service.

Its about a working partnership is the best way I can describe it, he said.

However, Mr Carroll said: Were told it is an unprecedented period.

The fact is we have got, I dont know how many, but a sizeable number of beds and capacity and the fact we are not saying they will be utilised for the public fight in a pandemic is quite unbelievable.

During the evidence session, Mr Swann also said it is not possible to give a guarantee that Northern Ireland will not experience a further deadly Covid-19 surge.

Responding to a question from the committee chair, Colm Gildernew, he said: I wouldnt want to say we could prevent another surge because that is out with my hands.

Thats within the hands of the people of Northern Ireland, of the Executive, how we react over these next three or four weeks, over the next two or three months.

We have seen R below one for a couple of weeks, but what I always caution is that we started from a very high level.

If you remember going back towards the end of last year, the start of this year, we were approaching 1,000 people with Covid in hospital.

As of yesterday, that number was still 554 and at the peak of our first wave it was 322.

We are going in the right direction, but we have a long way to go.

Mr Swann also said he wouldnt be supportive of going back to widespread click and collect services currently.

He continued: We would be cautious about introducing it again because our message still is stay at home.

However, he said a piece of work is under way to establish whether there are specific non-essential retailers, such as those that sell maternity goods or items for premature babies, that could provide click and collect services in a safe way.

Were not doing this because were cold, heartless and unsympathetic, he said.

Its how we manage the risk that additional travel and additional opening of shops will bring.
White House officials are quietly expressing concern about Meena Harris, the niece of Vice President Kamala Harris, and how she is tying her brand to her aunt.

Meena Harris, a 36-year-old social media influencer, has stopped selling clothing using the vice president's name.

But her other endeavors - including flying to the inauguration on a private jet paid for by a campaign donor, writing a children's book about her famous aunt, and multiple media appearances promoting her brand - have raised eyebrows among administration staff.

'Some things can't be undone,' a White House official told The Los Angeles Times. 'That being said: Behavior needs to change.'

Meena Harris' brand has used Kamala Harris' name and likeness to produce clothing, videos, designer headphones and children's books.

She has promoted her book 'Ambitious Girl' and her various productions in TV appearances on NBC's 'Today Show' and ABC's 'The View' along with appearances in glossy magazines.

Meena Harris, 36, with her aunt Vice President Kamala Harris; concern is being expressed at how she is tying her brand to her aunt

Meena worked with Beats By Dre on headphones with the slogan 'The First But Not The Last'

Meena Harris' clothing brand Phenomenal also sold sweatshirts with MVP - Madam Vice President - and 'I'm speaking' on the front; she was told after election to stop hawking products with her aunt's picture on them

Meena's mother, Maya, 53, right, was a single mother at 17. Kamala is center, Meena is left; Kamala Harris helped raise her niece

Meena Harris, a Harvard-trained lawyer, started a company four years ago that sells socially conscious T-shirts and sweatshirts, often worn by celebrities and posted on various social media channels.

She left her job at Uber to run her own company, called Phenomena, and, during the election, also was a surrogate for her aunt.

The Biden-Harris administration has vowed to be one of the most ethical in history.

'The Vice President and her family will uphold the highest ethical standards and it's the White House's policy that the Vice President's name should not be used in connection with any commercial activities that could reasonably be understood to imply an endorsement or support,' vice presidential spokeswoman Sabrina Singh told The Los Angeles Times.

Questions have arisen about the role various members of President Joe Biden's family will play in his White House and whether they will profit off of his administration.

Much of the focus has been on Hunter Biden, who recently signed a million-dollar deal to write a memoir, but now other family members are feeling the heat. But also under scrutiny is Biden's son-in-law Howard Krein, who works for a healthcare investment firm that advises companies on issues like how to get a government contract, and Biden's brother Frank, whose law firm has advertised its ties to the president.

The White House has emphasized its policy on possible conflicts of interest.

'The president is committed to ensuring we have the most ethically vigorous administration in history,' White House press secretary Jen Psaki said at the end of January. 'And that is something that he's conveyed publicly and privately as well.'

She also read the official White House policy: 'It's the White House's policy that the president's name should not be used in connection with any commercial activities to suggest or in any way that could reasonably be understood to imply his endorsement or support.'

Harris' office follows the same guidelines, which were put into place partly because of questions that arose about former President Donald Trump's family and how they may have profited off of his administration. His sons Don Jr. and Eric kept the family real estate firm running during Trump's White House tenure.

Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner held interests in a lifestyle brand and family real estate businesses while they served in (unpaid) positions in the White House.

Meena Harris, seen above on Inauguration Day, has hawked children's books and clothing items tied to her aunt, Vice President Kamala Harris

Meena Harris with her husband Nikolas Ajagu, and daughters Amara (left) and Leela

Meena Harris taking a selfie on Inauguration Day with Senator Elizabeth Warren

Meena Harris has hawked children's books tied to her aunt, sold 'Vice President Aunty' sweatshirts, launched a production company that produced a video with a political group to celebrate her aunt, and collaborated on special-edition Beats by Dre headphones that used a slogan popularized by Kamala Harris: 'The first but not the last.'

After Biden and Harris won the election, Meena was told she could no longer produce clothing or write new books with her aunt's name or likeness.

A book that Meena wrote about her mother and aunt, Kamala and Mayas Big Idea, is number four on the New York Times bestseller list

Her first children's book, 'Kamala and Maya's Big Idea,' was about two sisters taking on a community project. Meena is the daughter of Maya Harris, who was a single mother at 17. Kamala Harris helped raise her niece.

Meena Harris told The Los Angeles Times, in a statement released by a PR firm: 'Since the beginning of the campaign, I have insisted on upholding all legal and ethical standards and will continue to strictly adhere to the ethics rules of the Biden/Harris White House. With regards to Phenomenal, it was always our plan to remove the likeness of the Vice President from the website before the Inauguration, and refrain from using her likeness in any products or campaigns going forward.'

In an interview with The Times of London last month, Meena said her partner gave up his high-flying tech job in San Francisco to be a stay-at-home father to their two daughters, and free her to write feminist children's books and run her business.

She told how Nikolas Ajagu, who she met while working in the tech industry, decided he wanted to be a full-time father to Amara, four, and two-year-old Leela.

Ajagu left his job as the Global Head of Partnerships at Facebook to raise their children, she told the paper. It was unclear if he has since returned: his LinkedIn page says he still works for the company.

On the day of the inauguration won praise from sneakerheads for his stylish $2,000 Dior Air Jordan 1s.

'We do not ascribe to the traditional gender role thing in our house,' she said.
A new revelation has come to light following the controversial Wuhan investigations, an inquiry carried out to determine whether an accident in the Wuhan virology laboratory was indeed the location of the origin of the coronavirus that claimed millions of lives globally.

The investigation was conducted by a team at the World Health Organization (W.H.O.), who spent weeks in Wuhan to determine the true origins of Covid-19.The Associated Press reported that the "closely watched visit" by the W.H.O. investigators didn't result in much, and that it "did not dramatically change the current understanding of the early days of the pandemic."

"The findings suggest that the laboratory incidents hypothesis is extremely unlikely to explain the introduction of the virus to the human population," W.H.O.'s Dr. Peter Ben Embarek, leader of the investigation said of the Wuhan investigations, as per UN News. This is unsurprising, given that the investigation was actually carried out by Chinese authorities and not the W.H.O. team.

The revelation comes from W.H.O. adviser Jamie Metzl, who on Tuesday took to FOX News' "Ingraham Angle" to share some critical information about the Wuhan investigations. Breitbart reported that according to Metzl, "The actual investigation was done by Chinese authorities. And so, the W.H.O. investigators were basically receiving reports from the Chinese officials."

Metzl explained that contrary to what many thought was an in-depth look into the virology lab believed to be the source of the coronavirus, the Wuhan investigations were in fact "very short" and involved "two weeks of quarantine and two weeks of meetings." Metzl revealed,

"The actual investigation was done by Chinese authorities. And so, the W.H.O. investigators were basically receiving reports from the Chinese officials."

In a Newsweek op-ed by Metzl in late January, he wrote that such inquiries into the Wuhan laboratory hinges on "Chinese transparency and goodwill" and "can no longer be considered fully credible unless immediately proven otherwise."

He accused the Chinese of "obfuscation and malfeasance" and highlighted the fact that it has been well over a year since the outbreak and scientists still know little about its origins, unlike the 2003 SARS coronavirus outbreak that was more quickly analyzed because scientists were able to accurately hypothesize how it moved from animals to humans.

Metzl cited a U.S. Embassy document providing details about questionable activity in the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV), where the virus is believed to have originated.

The document mentioned the U.S. government has "reason to believe" some inside the WIV became sick before COVID-19 was reported to spread. The symptoms were consistent with both the China virus and common seasonal illnesses.

It also mentioned how the CCP prevented independent journalists, investigators and global health authorities from interviewing WIV researchers, such as those who became ill.

The document also mentioned a few other activities in the WIV, including "secret military activity." The CCP refuses to reveal details, however, as "Secrecy and non-disclosure are standard practice for Beijing."

It is no wonder that the W.H.O. investigators are now left with more questions than answers after the Chinese authorities carried out the Wuhan investigations.

On the other hand, the Chinese government sees the questionable report as a redeeming victory for their country, according to a report from The Washington Post, titled "As WHO coronavirus mission leaves empty-handed, China claims propaganda win."

Per the report, the W.H.O.'s headline announcement saying that the Wuhan laboratory leak was "highly unlikely" was "hailed by Chinese officials and in state media" as a victory and proof that the country was not "hiding secrets or deflecting blame."

The official Reference News highlighted China's "positive, scientific, cooperative attitude" in the face of the Wuhan investigations, which was revealed to be carried out by Chinese authorities and not W.H.O. investigators themselves.

The United States remains reasonably skeptical, however, with White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki committing to gather information independently to avoid rushing to "conclusions that may be motivated by anything other than science."

Former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo continues to stand by the State Department's earlier report that cited evidence indicating COVID-19 came from a laboratory in Wuhan, where it first spread.
Kelvin Mwangi, a resident of Ruiru, turned to a mobile lender when he needed medicine from a chemist late last year.

Mr Mwangi had an outstanding loan, so he quickly cleared it and attempted to borrow a bigger amount to buy the drugs.

He was shocked when his application was denied.

"I was very sick. I have been using the app for years and have always taken small loans, sometimes as low as Sh1,300. I depend on them," he told the Nation.

"Now, I am unable to borrow even from other lenders. My loan limit has been downgraded to zero, meaning I am ineligible for such loans. I wish I could borrow as I used to."

And this Ruiru resident is not alone.

Mr Humphrey Ashiono was similarly denied a loan at a time he needed the money most. It hit him like a tonne of bricks.

"It is very strange since no digital lender is willing to extend credit to me yet I have been borrowing for long. I have no idea why my borrowing limit has reduced to zero," Mr Ashiono told this writer.

He, however, admits not settling his debts on time.

Millions of Kenyans who want to borrow money from dozens of mobile lenders have encountered rejections.

In a country many people have become dependent on the micro loans, it is a big deal.

A report released in June 2020 by research firm Geopoll titled "Financial Impact of Covid-19 in Sub-Sahara" said 36 per cent of Kenyan respondents said they relied on loans to cover basic expenses like food, while just 16 per cent said they rely fully on their incomes.

'High risk' borrowers

In April last year, the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) issued a six-month order to mobile loan lenders to stop listing names of defaulters on Credit Reference Bureaus (CRBs).

The directive made many of the lenders to cut back on credit to "high risk" borrowers. The suspension was lifted on October 1.

Tala Regional General Manager Ivan Mbowa says mobile lenders have had to readjust their credit limits, changing their assessment of the credit-worthiness of borrowers.

It applies to individual borrowers and businesses, Mr Mbowa said.

A large number of debt limits were downgraded to zero after a sharp rise in non-performing loans.

Mr Mbowa told the Nation that Tala, one of the most popular mobile loan firms in Kenya, initially saw a rise in defaults when the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic manifested last year.

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"The company could only lend to people who were likely to repay," he said.

About 14 million mobile loan accounts have been listed with the CRBs, highlighting how deep-rooted borrowing has become since lending apps surfaced in Kenya barely a decade ago.

Best borrowers

"The pandemic pushed many businesses into the red. Most are unable to service their loans. We initially saw a sharp rise in loan defaults during the early period of the pandemic but the situation has since improved. Since August, for example, we have been gradually increasing disbursements," Mr Mbowa said.

"I cannot disclose by what percentage we have reduced the number of our debtors, but we have changed the way we look at credit-worthiness. We are also checking their records before the pandemic."

Digital Lenders Association of Kenya (DLAK) chairman Kevin Mutiso could not be reached for comment.

The association has about 20 members.

But Mr Mutiso had earlier said lenders are only giving loans to the best borrowers.

"We stopped lending in March, April and May but we had to make decisions. We wrote off the bad loans. We are only lending to the best customers, people who understand that they must settle their debts," Mr Mutiso said.

"Many people initially borrowed with no intention of repaying."
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday came down heavily on the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal for not allowing the chant of "Jai Shree Ram" as slogans.

Amit Shah said that "Mamata Didi" gets angry if someone chants "Jai Shree Ram" in Bengal as a political slogan. He also said that Banerjee treats people like criminals if they use the Jai Shree Ram-chant.

"Is it an insult to her? When so many people take pride in it, the Bengal CM feels insulted. It's because she wants to appease a particular community to maintain her vote bank politics.

"I want to ask her that do the people from other communities not vote for her in the state?

"If slogans of Jai Shri Ram are not raised in India, then will they be raised in Pakistan?" he said at a rally in Cooch Bihar district while kick-starting "Parivartan Yatra".

Shah will also visit Thakurnagar in North 24-Parganas Bongaon to address a rally there in the evening. He had arrived in Guwahati on Wednesday night and on Thursday met Ananta Roy, the chief of Greater Coochbehar Peoples' Association (GCPA), in Assam's Chirang district.

He said Mamata Banerjee is only focused at making her nephew Abhishek Banerjee the next chief minister of West Bengal.

"Had Dilip Ghosh not been there, she would have announced it long back. But she is scared now. I would urge people to choose Prime Minister Narendra Modi's development drive this time and reject Mamata's destructive politics.

"She constantly fights with the Centre. I want to ask you will it help bring developments in Bengal?" the Union Minister said.

Shah said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s Parivartan Yatra is targeted to eradicate corrupt Trinamool government in West Bengal. "This campaign is for building 'Sonar Bangla' (referring to the golden days of Bengal from history). We want to give you that in next five years," he added.
Mortar shelling in Afghanistan kills at least 10 civilians

Fire breaks out at West Virginia oil refinery in US

Iran ready to help improve the defense capability of Syria

European Parliament head proposes to strengthen sanctions on Russia

UK PM gets married in London

Armenia reports COVID-19 new 81 cases: for people die

EU countries invite US to issue joint statement against Russia

2 people die in Armenia road accident

Nigeria: Students taken hostage a month ago are released

61 quakes recorded in Congo per day

Syrian MFA: EU lost credibility due to blind obedience to US policy

Armenia ex-minister of emergency situations hospitalized with heart attack

Mher Grigoryan: Clarification of border points is possible only after withdrawal of Azerbaijani troops from Armenia

Suspicious deal: Whether there was profit from buying DNA IDs?

Armenia ex-president says current authorities are trying to blame Russia for defeat in war

4 people killed in Afghanistani bus attack

Robert Kocharyan: This war could not have happened, it was a consequence of the policy of the authorities

Kocharyan: I have to ask people how it happened that overwhelming majority elected this leader

Armen Gevorgyan presents 'Armenia' bloc program: We offer the concept of a working country

Biden's administration proposed to leave unchanged amount of financial support to Armenia

US Embassy in Baku calls on Azerbaijan to immediately release Armenian POWs

Luxembourg MFA calls on Azerbaijan to immediately release all Armenian prisoners

Russia peacekeepers climb to Armenia Gegharkunik Province village positions

Biden strongly condemns manifestations of antisemitism in US

Iran intensifies its diplomacy amid Armenia-Azerbaijan border tensions

Armenia acting PM on forthcoming snap parliamentary elections: We hope to get 60% of votes

Lukashenko accuses West of destabilizing situation in Belarus

Armenia Central Electoral Commission chief on snap elections: No legal basis for postponing, suspending any function

Armenias Pashinyan is met by Yerevan district residents chanting against him

We are ready to be fully engaged in negotiation process to resolve Karabakh issue, says Armenia acting PM

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan gives interview to Russia TV channel

Armenia acting premier: We are ready to start withdrawing troops at any moment

Canada MFA expresses concern over 6 Armenian soldiers capture by Azerbaijan troops

There are omissions in registration documents of political forces that applied to Armenia Central Electoral Commission

Armenia Central Electoral Commission chief: There is activeness in Yerevan for the past day or two

Three new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Group of US Congress members threaten Azerbaijans Aliyev regime with sanctions

Chicago mayor is sued for allegedly refusing interview with white reporter

Iran exports oil to US for first time after long interval

"Armenia" bloc top 50 MP candidates are announced

42 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Sri Lanka public beach is covered in charred plastic pellets due to fire in container ship

US preparing list of targeted sanctions on Belarus authorities

China believes it will own America by 2035, Biden says

15 al-Shabab militants killed in Somalia

Newspaper: Armenia political forces that applied for running in election impatiently await CEC decision

Newspaper: Changes are expected in Artsakh

California prisoner who considers himself Satanist beheads cellmate, dismembers his body

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM's "mutually beneficial" proposal to collapse state system?

Armenia National Security Service Reserve Officers' Union members meet with His Holiness Karekin II

EU is ready to help Armenia and Azerbaijan with border delimitation and demarcation

ARF-D member on Nikol Pashinyan: 103 years ago Armenia's founding fathers would have executed him for treason

Iran President hails brotherly ties with Azerbaijan

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

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
"My daughter and her best friend have been taking a serious oil painting class where their talents and creativity are being encouraged and nurtured. North worked incredibly hard on her painting, which took several weeks to compete. As a proud mom, I wanted to share her work with everyone."

But her initial post wasn't enough to stop the haters. Comments saying 'she didn't actually paint it' continued.

"How dare you see children doing awesome things and then try to accuse them of NOT being awesome!?" she said in response.

"Please stop embarrassing yourselves with the negativity and allow every child to be GREAT!!! NORTH WEST PAINTED THAT PERIODTDDDDABCDEFGZFDT!!!!!!"

Seems like no matter what Kim says, the speculation will continue!
Low-income middle-aged African-American women with high blood pressure very commonly suffer from depression and should be better screened for this serious mental health condition, according to a study led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

The researchers found that in a sample of over 300 low-income, African-American women, aged 40-75, with uncontrolled hypertension, nearly 60 percent screened positively for a diagnosis of depression based on a standard clinical questionnaire about depressive symptoms.

The results appeared February 10 in JAMA Psychiatry.

"Our findings suggest that low-income, middle-aged African-American women with hypertension really should be screened for depression symptoms," says study senior author Darrell Gaskin, PhD, William C. and Nancy F. Richardson Professor in Health Policy and director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Disparities Solutions in the Bloomberg School's Department of Health Policy and Management.

Recent research suggests that hypertension and depression often occur concurrently. Gaskin and colleagues note that the connection has not been well studied in African Americans, but should be, given they have relatively high rates of hypertension. Moreover, women in general have much higher rates of depression compared to men and depression is often under diagnosed and untreated.

The sample of women in the study were participants in an ongoing clinical trial of the Prime Time Sister Circles intervention--a health education-, lifestyle-change- and support-group-based intervention in Washington, DC, aimed at helping African American women better managed their blood pressure, weight, other chronic conditions and stress levels. The women were in the 40- to 75-age range, and had hypertension (?140 mmHg systolic or ?90 mmHg diastolic) that had been diagnosed at a federally qualified health center. At the outset of the study, the women filled out a standard questionnaire called the CES-D-10 which asks about depression symptoms in the past week. The analysis from the Bloomberg School team covered the 316 women age 40 to 75 who completed the questionnaires.

The researchers found that 180 of the 316, or about 57 percent, scored 10 or greater on the CES-10-D questionnaire--generally considered evidence of significant depressive symptoms. The women in this group were significantly more likely to have a high school education or less, and to be smokers. More than 34 percent of these women reported that at least once in the previous six months they had stayed in bed for more than half the day owing to depression, compared to only 9 percent of the women with CES-D-10 scores below 10.

The nearly 60 percent prevalence of apparent depression among these hypertensive, low-income middle-aged African American women suggests that these women should be routinely screened for, and, if need be, treated for depression, Gaskin and colleagues emphasize.

They note, however, that 85 percent of the women with depression-level CES-D-10 scores reported receiving some treatment for depression within the prior six months--implying that much of the depression among these low-income middle-aged, hypertensive African-American women is already treated, albeit inadequately.

The Prime Time Sister Circles intervention encourages African American women to prioritize and better manage their health. The clinical trial of that intervention, which is focused mainly on its ability to reduce hypertension but secondarily on its impact on depression, is still ongoing.

"We are hopeful that those women who are in that trial will do better not just in regard to depression but also with regard to other underlying factors that may contribute to high blood pressure," Gaskin says.

###

"Evaluating Depressive Symptoms Among Low Socioeconomic-Status African American Women Aged 40 to 75 Years With Uncontrolled Hypertension" was authored by Angel Gabriel, Hossein Zare, Wehmah Jones, Manshu Yang, Chidinma Ibe, Yidan Cao, Michele Balamani, Marilyn Gaston, Gayle Porter, Denise Woods, and Darrell Gaskin.

Funding was provided by the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (R01MD010462).
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - February 11, 2021) -Renforth Resources Inc. (CSE: RFR) (OTC Pink: RFHRF) (WKN: A2H9TN) ("Renforth" or the "Company) is pleased to announce that it will be presenting at the Virtual Investor Day III ("VID III") February 17-18, 2021 hosted by IR.INC and FTMIG.

Ms. Nicole Brewster, the CEO, will provide an in-depth update on the Company at 11:30 am EST, February 18, 2021. VID III is a completely interactive experience for feature companies and stakeholders. Feature companies will have 30 minutes to outline their investment opportunity, while stakeholders and the audience will be invited to engage via direct Q&A, polls and other interactive tools after and during each presentation. To register for VID III, please click the link: https://www.bigmarker.com/series/virtual-investor-day-confere2/series_summit.

About Renforth

Renforth holds the Parbec open pit constrained gold deposit in Malartic Quebec, contiguous to the Canadian Malartic mine, with 104,000 indicated ounces of gold at a grade of 1.78 g/t Au and 177,000 inferred ounces of gold at a grade of 1.78 g/t Au. A 15,000m drill program is ongoing, this program is planned to twin, infill and undercut existing drill holes at Parbec, the aim of this program is to rebuild the geological model and increase the resource estimate upon restatement. In addition to this Renforth has discovered a nickel bearing ultramafic, coincident with a copper/zinc VMS, over ~5km of strike in the western end of the 20km central anomaly at Renforth's wholly owned 215 km2 Surimeau property. This prospect was discovered on surface and the subject of a very short, shallow drill program, a more robust drill program is planned for Spring 2021. Renforth also holds the Malartic West property, the site of a copper/silver discovery, and Nixon-Bartleman, west of Timmins Ontario, with gold present on surface over a strike length of ~500m. Renforth is well funded, with ~$6.7 million in cash and securities on hand (*as at 02/08/21), in addition to the gold contained in our gold deposit.

About IR.INC

IR.INC Capital Markets Advisory & Services works with its clients to develop and deploy strategic plans and build industry alliances while providing shareholder introductions and solutions. The Company also provides a number of traditional Investor Relations Services. You can find out more about IR.INC here www.irinc.ca.

About FTMIG

Follow the Money Investor Group is a financial portal that provides content and information needed to navigate the ever-changing capital markets. Our global community of visitors and investors are able to use our platform to discuss and collaborate daily on all facets of their current and potential investments. Our goal is to help retail investors make the right financial decisions that fit their individual needs. You can find out more about FTMIG here www.ftmig.com.

Disclaimer

Follow the Money Investor ("FTMIG") is an online investor community that connects investors and public companies. Both FTMIG and IR.INC are not registered as a broker, dealer, exempt market dealer, or any other registrant in any securities regulatory jurisdiction and will not be performing any registerable activity as defined by the applicable regulatory bodies.

Both FTMIG and IR.INC and their affiliates do not endorse or recommend any securities issued by any companies identified on, or linked through, this conference. Please seek professional advice to evaluate specific securities or other content discussed during this event. Links, if any, to third party sites are for informational purposes only, and not for trading purposes. FTMIG and IR.INC. and their affiliates have not prepared, reviewed or updated any content on third party sites and assume no responsibility for the information posted on them.

For further information, please contact:



Joanne Jobin

Principal

IR.INC | Capital Markets Advisory & Services

jjobin@irinc.ca

www.irinc.ca



Karl Boyd

President

Follow the Money Investor Group

kboyd@ftmig.com

www.ftmig.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/74142

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Abuja, Nigeria (PANA)  The Nigerian Army on Thursday confirmed the death of three soldiers who died when Boko Haram/Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists ambushed troops providing security for road construction workers along Goniri-Kafa Main Supply Routes (MSR)

Following the Spanish governments decision that the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine will only be administered to people between the ages of 18 and 55, several regional leaders said they would seek to raise that threshold to 65.

Andalusian premier Juan Manuel Moreno and the deputy premier of the Madrid region, Ignacio Aguado, both said they would make this request at the Wednesday gathering of central and regional health officials known as the Inter-Territorial Council of the National Healthcare System, which meets every week to discuss coronavirus policy.

Catalonias health chief, Josep Maria Argimon, has not specified whether his government will formally ask to raise the age limit to 65, but on Wednesday he called the current threshold too strict, noting that the immune reaction of a 55-year-old is very similar to that of 65-year-old. Its very rare to see a different response. Its true that there are no studies to explain the reaction in over-55s, but we feel that the vaccine should be administered to over-18s, he said.

The bishop of Cartagena, Jose Manuel Lorca Planes, received the coronavirus vaccine after allegedly passing himself off as a care home chaplain. Edu Botella / Europa Press

The reaction to the central governments decision comes as the World Health Organization (WHO) insisted on Wednesday that there are no reasons not to administer the AstraZeneca vaccine to people over 65, in the words of Alejandro Cravioto, chairman of the expert committee advising the WHO on coronavirus vaccines.

Probe into Church officials

In Murcia, a regional daily has revealed that the bishop of Cartagena, Jose Manuel Lorca Planes, as well as other leading Catholic Church officials in the southeastern region, passed themselves off as chaplains of a senior care home in order to receive the coronavirus vaccine ahead of time. Prosecutors are now investigating whether the five individuals who cheated their way into getting early inoculations should be charged with crimes, La Opinion de Murcia reported.

Restaurants take fight to court

The regional high courts of Catalonia, Extremadura, Galicia, the Balearic Islands and the Valencia region are now considering legal challenges mounted by the food and drink industry in those regions, where bars and restaurants have been closed for weeks as part of coronavirus restrictions.

In the Basque Country, the justice system has already allowed these businesses to reopen on a provisional basis after judges found on Tuesday that bars and restaurants do not appear to be an element that poses a certain and serious risk to public health at the moment.

The Basque government will bring up the issue on Wednesday afternoon at the weekly meeting of health officials. Basque government spokesperson Bingen Zupiria questioned the ruling, saying that judges did not have enough time to conduct a rigorous analysis of the epidemiological data.

Speaking on the public station Radio Euskadi, Zupiria added that the decisions of the Basque executive are not taken on a whim. No politician, much less the lehendakari [Basque premier], goes around thinking up ways to aggravate people.

Andalusia: explosion of B.1.1.7 variant

Andalusian premier Juan Manuel Moreno has warned about an upcoming surge in the coronavirus strain first detected in the UK. JUNTA DE ANDALUCIA / Europa Press

Authorities in the southern region of Andalusia are warning about an imminent surge of the B.1.1.7 coronavirus variant first detected in Britain. The Andalusian premier, Juan Manuel Moreno, said on Wednesday that this strain still accounts for a minority of infections in the region, but that it could become the dominant one in the coming three to four weeks. Moreno said the strains incidence in the region is currently 20%, although in the provinces of Cadiz and Granada it is as high as 40%.

The Andalusian leader also said that mobility restrictions and business closures will be extended for one additional week instead of two, beginning on Saturday. Municipalities with a 14-day incidence rate of 500 cases per 100,000 people are under perimetral lockdown, and those with a rate of 1,000 and over must shut down all retail stores, bars and restaurants. Right now more than 66 of Andalusias municipalities have sealed their borders, and in over 31% of them all non-essential activities are closed.

Education

Education Minister Isabel Celaa said on Wednesday that only 32 learning centers, representing 0.11% of the total, are closed due to Covid-19 cases. Nearly 99% of classrooms are functioning normally and the third wave of the pandemic has caused fewer problems than the second one, she said.

We congratulate ourselves for the effort and determination to keep learning centers open. We have taken stock of the epidemiological situation, and despite the current context the situation remains one of containment, she said.

With reporting by Silvia Nortes and Pedro Gorospe.

English version by Susana Urra.
A SPLIT has emerged in Limericks Green Party over its handling of a key road project, with the resignation of its standard-bearer in the county.

Claire Keating, who amassed almost 2,700 votes in the general election in rural Limerick 12 months ago has resigned after feeling the party faithful did not listen to her warnings over the Coonagh to Knockalisheen Road.

Her resignation was submitted before the Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan, confirmed the project will proceed in full.

The Croagh woman  well known in the city for her work with Limerick Against Pollution  tended her resignation in a letter to the partys executive on Tuesday, writing: The Green Partys principles are at odds with my own.

On top of this, the partys chairman in Limerick John Humphreys has also stepped down from his position  but unlike Ms Keating, he will remain in the party fold.

Before this Wednesday's announcement. anger had been rising across the city, after Transport Minister and Green Party leader Eamon Ryan met with stakeholders and community representatives to discuss the 58m project leaving them with the belief it may be not be progressed as was previously envisaged.

Ms Keating  who spoke with members of the Green Party at an online meeting on Friday last  says her warnings as to the partys future fell on deaf ears.

In her speech  which was heard by Mr Ryan  Ms Keating warned that the partys failure to change tack on the 58m road will result in the demise of the Green Party in this city and county, and all of our work will have been for nothing.

So yesterday I resigned from Green Party because I did not agree with their stance on the Coonagh Knocklisheen Distributor Rd. Having met with the community @buildourroad and informed myself of the importance of this project going ahead not 2/3s pic.twitter.com/yLKydEFQVr  Claire Keating Green Party (@ClaireKeatingGP) February 10, 2021

Having visited Moyross, Ms Keating said she is blown away by the passion locals have for the project.

It is incredible to think that our party is now attempting to undermine the democratic processes of the State and destroy 14 years of painstaking consultative work because we know best at the 11th hour having consulted with nobody, she said.

She feels the position of the Green Party on the Coonagh-Knockalisheen Road  seen as vital to opening up Moyross  has done untold damage to the party locally.

It beggars belief that on the day Build Our Road (the Moyross campaign group) tweeted about their campaign, seven politicians from other parties were in contact with them, while our three elected representatives were out walking in the wetlands. Are we that detached from the real world, she asked.

Ms Keating said the road represents more than a physical pathway.

It is a pathway to education and employment, she added.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 11, 2021) - enCore Energy Corp. (TSXV: EU) (OTCQB: ENCUF) (the "Company") is pleased to announce that the Company's Chair, William M. Sheriff and the Chief Executive Officer, W. Paul Goranson, will be presenting at the Virtual Investor Day III ("VID III") February 17-18, 2021 hosted by IR.INC and FTMIG.

Mr. William Sheriff, the Chairman and Mr. W. Paul Goranson, the CEO will provide an in-depth update on the Company at 12:30 pm EST, February 18, 2021. VID III is a completely interactive experience for feature companies and stakeholders. Feature companies will have 30 minutes to outline their investment opportunity, while stakeholders and the audience will be invited to engage via direct Q&A, polls and other interactive tools after and during each presentation. To register for VID III, please click the link: https://www.bigmarker.com/series/virtual-investor-day-confere2/series_summit

About enCore Energy Corp.

enCore Energy Corp. is U.S. domestic uranium developer focused on becoming a leading in-situ recovery (ISR) uranium producer. The Company is led by a team of industry experts with extensive knowledge and experience in the development and operations of in situ recovery uranium operations. enCore Energy's opportunities are created from the Company's transformational acquisition of its two South Texas production facilities, the changing global uranium supply/demand outlook and opportunities for industry consolidation. These short-term opportunities are augmented by our strong long term commitment to working with local indigenous communities in New Mexico where the company holds significant uranium resources.

About IR.INC

IR.INC Capital Markets Advisory & Services works with its clients to develop and deploy strategic plans and build industry alliances while providing shareholder introductions and solutions. The Company also provides a number of traditional Investor Relations Services. You can find out more about IR.INC here www.irinc.ca

About FTMIG

Follow the Money Investor Group is a financial portal that provides content and information needed to navigate the ever-changing capital markets. Our global community of visitors and investors are able to use our platform to discuss and collaborate daily on all facets of their current and potential investments. Our goal is to help retail investors make the right financial decisions that fit their individual needs. You can find out more about FTMIG here www.ftmig.com.

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The Louisiana Department of Health reported 1,859 more confirmed coronavirus cases and 23 more confirmed deaths in its noon update Thursday.

There have been 61,973 more vaccine doses administered in Louisiana since the last update on Tuesday. Since Dec. 14, the state has administered a total of 699,334 vaccine doses.

The state releases data on vaccinations twice a week, as part of its regular updates on coronavirus cases, hospitalizations and deaths. The initial doses are the first of two -- spaced three weeks apart -- required for immunity.

The number of hospitalizations decreased by 24, and the number of patients in need of ventilators stayed the same.

There are also 56,377 total "probable" coronavirus cases in Louisiana, according to the agency's dashboard.

These are another few key statewide statistics as of Thursday:

Total confirmed cases: 361,038

Total "probable" cases: 56,377

Total confirmed deaths: 8,617

Currently hospitalized: 1,052

Currently on ventilators: 151

Vaccine series initiated: 482,010 (updated twice weekly)

Vaccine series completed: 217,324

Presumed recovered: 380,673 as of Feb. 8 (updated weekly)

Vaccine news in your inbox Once a week we'll update you on the progress of COVID-19 vaccinations. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up

Note: The Advocate and The Times-Picayune staff calculates daily case count and confirmed death increases based on the difference between today's total and yesterday's total of confirmed coronavirus cases and deaths. The Louisiana Department of Health releases a daily case count on its dashboard that includes probable cases as indicated by a positive antigen test. That case count can be different than the one listed here.

+10 Mardi Gras 2020 spawned up to 50K coronavirus cases, likely from a single source, study says Public health officials have largely accepted that last year's Mardi Gras helped make New Orleans an early coronavirus hotspot in the U.S., ev

Here are some of the parishes with the highest single-day increase in confirmed coronavirus cases, based on the Thursday report:

East Baton Rouge: 199

Jefferson: 192

Caddo: 118

St. Tammany: 118

Orleans: 114

You can view more graphs and charts breaking down the data by clicking here.

Louisiana began reopening for Phase 1 on May 15-16 then moved to Phase 2 on June 5. Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards extended Louisiana's Phase 2 restrictions twice in August before moving the state to Phase 3 on Sept. 11. The governor then moved the state back to a modified Phase 2 near the end of November.

This is a developing story. More details and analysis to come.
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi during an event to pay tributes to Deendayal Upadhyaya on his 53rd death anniversary remembered the former Bharatiya Jana Sangh leader's call for India to strengthen its local production and manufacturing giving rise to the slogan 'vocal for local' products.

During the event, which was held at the BJP headquarters in New Delhi, PM Modi reiterated Deendayal Upadhyaya's call during 1965 war for India to be self-reliant not just in agriculture, but also in defence and weaponry.

PM Modi pointed out that in the present times, India is witnessing defence corridors with other nations, and producing fighter jets like Tejas and other indegenious weapons.

Addressing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MPs Modi said the saffron party always puts "rashtraneeti" above "rajneeti" and gives respect to even its political rivals.

Further, PM Modi said, "Deendayal Upadhyay has always been an inspiration for us. His ideas are relevant in today's times as well and will continue to be so in future. Wherever the welfare of humanity is concerned, their integrated human philosophy will be relevant."

PM Modi hailed the leader's vision laying emphasis on studies and said, "We must constantly strive to broaden our horizons and make sure you take the time to study."

The Prime Minister pointed out his government's inclination to make local products and push for 'local for vocal'. Another initiative like 'Digital India' has drawn applause.

Live TV


Turkey's Defence Ministry has confirmed that the country's Navy along its US counterparts conducted a maritime exercise in the Black Sea.

"The frigates TCG TURGUTREIS and TCG ORUCREIS of the Turkish Naval Forces conducted a joint maritime exercise with the USS PORTER and USS DONALD COOK destroyers of the in the Black Sea," Xinhua news agency quoted the Ministry as saying on Twitter on Wednesday.

"Two Turkish Air Force F-16s and one US maritime patrol aircraft also participated in the maritime exercise," it said.

The training conducted for the fundamental types of naval warfare has "further strengthened cooperation between the naval forces of the two countries and has contributed to their interoperability", the Ministry added.

It recalled that the Turkish naval forces command has been maintaining the "Black Sea Harmony Operation" since March 1, 2004 to contribute to the peace and security of the Black Sea within the framework of the "regional ownership" principle.

As part of the operations, frigates, corvettes, assault boats, submarines and sea patrol planes display their flags and show their presence in the Black Sea, and various observations and expeditions are conducted, it added.

Within the scope of its planned activities, the Turkish Naval Forces conduct joint training and exercises at every opportunity with the elements of NATO, friendly and allied naval forces which have arrived in the Black Sea and regularly participates in the exercises organised by riparian countries, the Ministry added.

--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.)
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SAN PEDRO SULA, Honduras  Nory Yamileth Hernandez and her three teenage children have been living in a battered tent under a bridge on the outskirts of San Pedro Sula since Hurricane Eta flooded their home in November.

They were there in the dust under the rumbling traffic, surrounded by other storm refugees, when Hurricane Iota hit barely two weeks later. And when the first migrant caravan of the year shuffled by in January, only fear and empty pockets kept them from joining Honduras growing exodus.

I cried because I dont want to be here anymore, the 34-year-old Hernandez said. She had joined the first big caravan in October 2018, but didnt make it to Mexico before turning back. Shes sure she will try again soon. Theres a lot of suffering.

In San Pedro Sula, Honduras economic engine and the departure gate for thousands of Honduran migrants in recent years, families like Hernandezs are caught in a cycle of migration. Poverty and gang violence push them out and increasingly aggressive measures to stop them, driven by the United States government, scuttle their efforts and send them back.

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The economic damage of the COVID-19 pandemic and the devastation wrought by Novembers hurricanes have only added to those driving forces. Word of a new administration in the U.S. with a softer approach to migrants has raised hopes, too.

After her failed attempt to migrate in 2018, Hernandez returned to scraping out a living in San Pedro Sula. Last year, she sold lingerie door-to-door in one of the countrys most dangerous neighborhoods. But the storms wiped out her inventory and her customers had limited ability to pay her for items they bought on credit.

I couldnt charge people because we all lost, Hernandez said. We all have needs, but you have to be sensitive. They dont have anything to pay with and why go to collect?

Chamelecon is a neighborhood of low, tin-roofed houses and small shops with barred windows on the outskirts of the city. Only two of its streets are paved, including one that is the dividing line between the rival gangs Mara Salvatrucha and Barrio 18.

At the bridge where Hernandezs tent is pitched, tattooed youths smoke marijuana and residents slop around in rubber boots. The violence continues, with newspapers talking about finding bodies wrapped in plastic.

In December, Hernandez got sick with fever, nausea and, she said, her brain hurt. She went to a hospital, but was never tested for COVID-19. In January, her eldest son writhed in their tent with fever.

The father of her youngest son lives in Los Angeles and encouraged her to get money together for another trip. He told me that this year is going to be good because they had gotten rid of Trump and the new president was going to help migrants, Hernandez said.

Within weeks, U.S. President Joe Biden signed nine executive orders reversing Trump measures related to family separation, border security and immigration. But fearing a surge in immigration, the administration also sent the message that little will change quickly for migrants arriving at the southern U.S. border.

Hernandez recently found work cleaning flooded streets, but she still hasnt been able to tackle the house where she once lived with 11 others. Its still filled with several inches of mud and foul water.

The assembly plants that surround San Pedro Sula and power its economy are still not back to pre-hurricane capacity amid the pandemic.

The Sula Valley, Honduras most agriculturally productive, was so heavily damaged that international organizations have warned of a food crisis. The World Food Program says 3 million Hondurans face food insecurity, six times higher than before. The dual hurricanes affected an estimated 4 million of Honduras 10 million people. The area is also Honduras hardest-hit by COVID-19 infections.

Its a vicious cycle, said Dana Graber Ladek, head of the International Organization for Migration office in Mexico. Theyre suffering poverty, violence, the hurricanes, unemployment, domestic violence, and with that dream of a new (U.S.) administration, of new opportunities, theyre going to try (to migrate) again and again.

The last several attempted caravans have been foiled, first in Mexico and later in Guatemala, but the daily flow of migrants moved by smugglers continues and has shown signs of increasing. The hope and misinformation associated with the new U.S. administration helps that business too.

The traffickers are using this opportunity of desperation, of political changes in the United States to spread rumors and false information, Graber Ladek said.

In January, San Pedro Sula was abuzz with plans to migrate.

Gabriela, 29, feeling like she had nothing to lose, went north just days before a few thousand Hondurans headed out of San Pedro Sula on Jan. 15. She had lost her cleaning job in the pandemic and the rest of her life to the hurricanes. She asked that her full name be withheld because she had made it to southern Mexico and feared being targeted.

Gabriela paid a smuggler, paid off authorities along her route and walked through jungle as part of her journey north.

She had lived in La Lima, a suburb of San Pedro Sula. Small businesses there have begun to reopen, but in outlying neighborhoods, the streets are still full of debris, dead animals, snakes and burning mattresses.

Everyone wanted to leave, said Juan Antonio Ramirez, an elderly resident. His children and grandchildren were among some 30 people who spent six days stranded on a corrugated metal roof surrounded by floodwaters in November. A lot of people went from here, but they all came back. The problem is theres a barrier and they send them back from Guatemala.

After the 2018 caravans and rising number of migrants at the U.S. border in early 2019, the U.S. government pressured Mexico and Central American countries to do more to slow migration across their territories. Numbers fell in the latter half of 2019 and Mexico and Guatemala effectively stopped caravans in 2020. In December, a caravan leaving San Pedro Sula didnt even make it out of Honduras.

But the U.S. has reported a rising number of encounters at the border, showing that beyond the caravans, the migration flow is increasing again.

In September, Lisethe Contreras husband made it to Miami. The La Lima resident said it took him three months and $12,000 paid to smugglers. Shes thinking of going too, but for the moment has her small business selling necessities.

Biden has promised investment in Central America to get at the root causes of immigration, but no one expects to see any change soon. Honduras primary elections are scheduled for March and nongovernmental organizations worry any aid will come with political strings attached.

Hernandez admits confusion and disillusion. I dont know.  They all promise and then dont follow through, she said. I dont see a good future here.

Gabriela, already halfway to her goal of reaching the U.S., has no thoughts of turning back, even after 19 people, believed to be mostly Guatemalan migrants, were found shot and burned in northern Mexico just across from Texas.

I only go back to Honduras if Immigration sends me back, she said. And if that happens Ill try again with my son.
BACnet International 2021 Board of Directors

BACnet International is pleased to announce the results of its recent Board of Directors elections. The new board is comprised of nine industry executives, including: Andy McMillan, Erica Johnson (chair), Brad Hill (vice-chair), Paul Bartunek, James Burke, Raj Jayaraman, Raymond Rae, Dennis Swoboda, and Michael Wilson. The board of BACnet International will continue to focus on expanding the successful use of the BACnet building automation protocol.

The following individuals will serve on the 2021 BACnet International Board of Directors:

Andy McMillan, BACnet International President & Managing Director

Andy McMillan is president and managing director of BACnet International, where he works with users and suppliers to expand and enhance the BACnet community. Formerly he served as president and general manager of a building automation unit of Philips Lighting. McMillans background includes broad open systems industry development and marketing experience, as well as strong technical knowledge of distributed automation and information management systems. McMillan has co-founded several companies and has been a featured speaker on open systems and automation at conferences in North America, Europe, Japan and Australia. McMillan co-authored a book on open systems networking and holds a dozen patents in sensors, automation and software. He has MBA and BSEE degrees from the University of Michigan and is a member of ASHRAE, AEE, IEEE.

Erica Johnson, QA Cafe (Chair)

Erica Johnson is the chief executive officer at QA Cafe, a dynamic software company providing test and analysis solutions to the broadband, consumer, and enterprise networking communities. In this position she utilizes her industry experience in networking and data communications to oversee the operations of the company as well as deliver on strategies for continued growth. Prior to joining QA Cafe, she was the director of the University of New Hampshires InterOperability Laboratory (UNH-IOL) in Durham, NH, for over 10 years. In recognition of her ability to drive technical innovation, Johnson has been recognized by NH Business Review as a recipient of the 2016 Outstanding Women in Business award, Fierce Telecoms list of Women in Wireline, and was awarded, by the University of New Hampshire, the UNH Womens Commissions Stephanie Thomas Staff Award in honor of her achievements in promoting and embodying the advancement of women in the sciences. She received her Bachelor of Computer Science and MBA from the University of New Hampshire in 2001 and 2011, respectively.

Brad Hill, Honeywell International (Vice-Chair)

Brad Hill is currently working as the global director of Offering Management for Honeywell International corporate where he is involved in progressing the advancement of the new product development organization across the company. Hill has over 30 years experience in the building controls industry, beginning with Honeywell in 1990 where he was involved in the design and programming of complex integrated control solutions for large projects, and commenced involvement with BACnet in 1996. He has worked in a variety of roles relating to R&D, solutions delivery, program management, product management, and portfolio governance; and has worked in the United States, Europe, and Asia Pacific. Hill holds an MBA, MES (Sustainable Energy), and a Bachelor of Computer Science.

Paul L. Bartunek, III, ABB

Paul L. Bartunek, III is the vice president of HVAC Sales and Marketing for ABB Drives USA. ABB is an international pioneering technology leader in developing and deploying energy efficient products and systems that are transforming the industry in globally sustainable ways. With over 25+ years of experience in the electronic manufacturing industry and a demonstrated history of successful relationship building, Bartunek is a skilled development professional. In his role, Bartunek leads sales and marketing initiatives for the commercial family of variable frequency drive products. He has impact with mergers and acquisitions, new product development, team building, and creating energy efficient solutions for customers.

James Burke, Johnson Controls

James Burke is the vice president of HVAC Construction Sales, North America and is responsible for the strategic and executive leadership to achieve market share growth and secured results. Burke has been with Johnson Controls for more than 18 years. He started his career in the Controls product engineering business before transitioning to the NA Branch Organization where he took on increasing responsibility within the HVAC & Controls businesses, serving in roles such as construction account executive, branch general manager and area construction sales manager. Most recently, Burke served as vice president and general manager, Building Automation Systems, Global Products, where he was responsible for the product roadmap and execution of the product strategy for the Metasys, Verasys, and other BAS Global Brands.

Raj Jayaraman, Burton Medical

Raj Jayaraman currently serves as the president of Burton Medical, a leader in medical lighting applications. Prior to joining Burton Medical, Jayaraman was vice president of Philips Lighting, where he amassed over 30 years of experience in the lighting and electrical products industries. He has held a variety of executive positions in R&D, Lean Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing and General Management. Jayaraman was deeply involved in the connected lighting strategy and business at Philips Lighting, and also had extensive experience with M&A activities there. He received his PhD from MIT in Microelectronics and holds 9 patents.

Raymond Rae, CopperTree Analytics

Raymond Rae is an active principal in CopperTree Analytics. He also co-founded ESC Automation, Delta Connects and Delta Controls, a full line manufacturer of native BACnet Direct Digital Control (DDC) systems for building automation systems which is now a part of the Delta Group under Delta Electronics Inc. Rae has been an active supporter of BACnet since its inception, serving on the board of directors and/or contributing to BMA, BIG-NA, BIG-CA, BIG-CN and BI. He has enjoyed more than 45 years in the HVAC industry and has an extensive background, which includes: energy auditing, computerized building simulations, system commissioning, controls, engineering, product certifications, design and marketing. Rae has been a member of ASHRAE since 1984.

Dennis Swoboda - Blue Ridge Technologies

Dennis Swoboda is the vice president of Sales and Marketing for Blue Ridge Technologies, a manufacturer of Native BACnet lighting control solutions designed for open communication with most building automation systems. In his role, Swoboda oversees global sales and marketing initiatives for the sale and installation of Blue Ridge Technologies lighting control systems. In addition, he works with engineers, end users, owners and controls contractors to help lower life cycle costs, increase energy savings, and reduce carbon emissions by taking control of the largest energy loads in a building. Swoboda has over 20 years of lighting control experience, and gives frequent talks and presentations on energy codes, lighting, and BACnet. He has been a member of BACnet International for over a decade, and has previously served as the BACnet International marketing committee chair.

Michael R. Wilson  Automated Logic

Michael R. Wilson is the product marketing and sales operations manager for Automated Logic (ALC). Wilson is responsible for developing effective product marketing strategies and plans to communicate product features and benefits to customers. He produces comprehensive product launch kits, influences product pricing, guides sales teams, and develops messaging and market positioning. At BACnet International, Wilson has served as the marketing committee chair and a steering committee member. He has been recognized with multiple awards for his leadership and contributions to the association and BACnet community.

About BACnet International

BACnet International is an industry association that facilitates the successful use of the BACnet protocol in building automation and control systems through interoperability testing, educational programs and promotional activities. It oversees operation of the BACnet Testing Laboratories (BTL) and maintains a global listing of tested products. The BACnet standard was developed by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) and has been made publicly available so that manufacturers can create interoperable systems of products. BACnet International complements the work of the ASHRAE standards committee and BACnet-related interest groups around the world. Its members include building owners, consulting engineers and facility managers, as well as companies involved in the design, manufacture, installation, commission and maintenance of control equipment that uses BACnet for communication. For more information, please visit bacnetinternational.org.
National Liberation Army (ELN) rebels on Thursday denied planning an attack on Colombia's capital Bogota, despite a warning from Cuba.

But the leftist guerrillas insisted they would not renounce "military action" against the state.

Colombia's Defense Minister Diego Molano reported on Monday that Cuba had tipped off the government about a plan by the ELN, Colombia's last remaining active armed rebels, to attack Bogota in the "next few days."

On Wednesday, Bogota Mayor Claudia Lopez said the capital was taking the threat "very seriously" and had stepped up security.

"After verifying with all guerrilla structures ... we clarify that the information received by the Cuban embassy in Bogota is not part of the ELN's military plans," the rebels' high command said in a statement.

It added, however, that it would be "naive" to expect the rebels to cease their armed operations.

"This must be arranged around a negotiating table with an equivalent behavior on the part of the state," said the ELN statement.

The ELN speculated that the Colombian intelligence services were behind the warning released by the Cuban embassy with the objective of attributing attacks to the guerrillas to increase international pressure on their delegation based in Cuba.

Since 2018, Havana has hosted an ELN delegation that was negotiating a peace deal with former president Juan Manuel Santos (2010-2018).

But right-wing President Ivan Duque called off the talks following a car bomb attack on a police academy in January 2019 that killed 22.

Since then, Duque has demanded Cuba extradite the rebels on its territory to Colombia, but the island nation has refused.

The administration of former US president Donald Trump included that as a reason for putting Cuba back on a list of countries that sponsor terrorism.

The ELN has around 2,300 fighters and an extensive support network in urban centers.

dl/vel/rsr/bc/acb
(NBC News) - The Centers for Disease Control is encouraging all Americans to double-mask, wearing a surgical mask under cloth mask, to further prevent the spread of COVID-19.

The latest revision of masking guidelines comes after a new study found double-masking can reduce the risk of viral transmission versus wearing no mask at all.

Meanwhile, the mission to vaccinate as many as possible remains the same.

The White House Coronavirus Response Team announced Wednesday they've continued to increase the vaccine supply, now up 28 percent in the last three weeks.

Administrators are helping to create new mass vaccination centers and sending personnel and funds to support the effort.

The number of hospitalizations and deaths as a result of the virus is slowly falling. The seven day average for new infections is now at a three month low. It's a positive trend, but not the end of the fight.

"Because we are still losing more than 1,000 Americans daily to this disease, we must continue to take every action we can to protect our loved ones and our communities," says CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky.

Read more: http://nbcnews.to/372eCbA
US Attorney General William Barr rejected a plea deal for Derek Chauvin days after the Minneapolis cop was accused of killing George Floyd, a new report claims.

Three law enforcement officials with knowledge of the deal told the New York Times that Chauvin had agreed to plead guilty to third-degree murder three days after video of him kneeling on Floyd's neck during an arrest on May 25 went viral, sparking fevered protests in the city and around the US.

Under the deal, Chauvin would avoid civil rights charges and serve no more than 10 years in prison, the Times sources said.

But right before local prosecutors were set to announce the deal, Barr stepped in and quashed it. One official said Barr made the decision because he feared the deal would be perceived as too lenient and premature, potentially exacerbating the unrest gripping the nation.

The Times report published Wednesday came as tensions are again running high in Minneapolis ahead of the start of Chauvin's trial on charges of unintentional second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.

Attorney General William Barr (left) rejected a plea deal for Derek Chauvin (right) days after the Minneapolis cop was accused of killing George Floyd, the New York Times reported Wednesday. Three law enforcement officials said Chauvin had agreed to plead guilty to third-degree murder three days after video of him kneeling on Floyd's neck during an arrest on May 25 went viral, sparking fevered protests in the city and around the US

Chauvin is facing charges of unintentional second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter after he pressed his knee into the neck of Floyd, a black man, for eight minutes during an arrest on May 25

One official said Barr rejected Chauvin's plea deal because he feared the deal would be perceived as too lenient and premature, potentially exacerbating the unrest gripping the nation. Pictured: Buildings burn during protests in Minneapolis on May 28

Chauvin's plea deal was subject to approval by Barr, who stepped down as attorney general in December, because the officer was asking to serve his time in a federal prison and he wanted assurance that the Department of Justice would not charge him with civil rights violations at the federal level.

Barr blocked it in part because he worried about backlash that could arise from committing to a plea deal so soon after Floyd's death, before a full investigation was concluded, the one official said.

He also wanted to allow state officials, who were about to assume control of the case from the county prosecutor, to make their own decisions about how to proceed, the official said.

Chauvin was ultimately arrested and charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter on May 29, four days after Floyd's death. Prosecutors later upgraded the third-degree murder charge to unintentional second-degree murder.

Chauvin faces the possibility of up to 40 years in prison if convicted in the death of Floyd (pictured)

Chauvin faces the possibility of up to 40 years in prison if convicted.

His trial is slated to begin next month with jury selection on March 8.

However, the prosecution, led by Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, has asked to delay the trial, citing fears that coinciding demonstrations could become coronavirus super-spreader events.

City and state officials have already begun preparing for protests during Chauvin's trial and the trials of three other officers charged in Floyd's death, which are slated to begin in August.

Earlier this month Gov Tim Walz authorized the deployment of an unspecified number of Minnesota National Guard troops in Minneapolis, St Paul and elsewhere during the trials.

Protesters are seen outside Chauvin's home the day after Floyd was killed

Walz, a Democrat, came under Republican criticism last summer for not sending in the National Guard sooner when his state was gripped by the first round of protests over Floyd's death.

'There are some public safety events for which you cannot plan, and there are some for which you can,' Walz said a statement announcing his executive order.

The Guard troops will supplement local law enforcement agencies in keeping the peace and ensuring public safety while allowing for peaceful demonstrations.

The order leaves it to the state's adjutant general, Maj Gen Shawn Manke, to determine the size, timing and other details of the deployment. The money will come from the state's general fund.

The order also steps up pressure on legislators to authorize funding for local law enforcement agencies from across the state that have been asked to help with security during the trials.

Walz has proposed a $35million State Aid and Emergencies (SAFE) account that would reimburse local governments for providing mutual aid for 'unplanned or extraordinary public safety events,' including but not limited to the trials.

Republicans pushed back last week, calling the proposal a bailout for poor budget decisions and anti-police sentiment among Minneapolis leaders. They want Minneapolis to foot the bill.

The governor's statement said the state fund would be a 'critical tool' to ensure there are enough officers on the ground.

The Guard is not considered a law enforcement agency, so it must partner with police to prevent or respond to any unrest.

His office said that will require significant contributions of officers from other cities and counties, which will come at a cost.
But thats just my view. And weve heard the views of parents and teachers and administrators and all the rest. We can fight and holler over whos right and whos wrong, but at the end of the day, it will be the kids who judge us. Theyre judging us now, and theyll certainly judge us as they grow older and look back on the year the world ground to a halt.
Veteran diplomat Anwar Gargash has been replaced as the United Arab Emirates minister of state for foreign affairs in a small Cabinet reshuffle,

Gargash, 61, will now serve as a diplomatic adviser to UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Emirati government announced Wednesday. Sheikh Shakhbout bin Nahyan, who previously served as the UAEs ambassador to Saudi Arabia, will replace Gargash at the ministry.

Gargash was a key player in the Gulf countrys efforts to normalize relations with Israel under the US-brokered Abraham Accords, and was also involved in the UAEs recent warming of ties with Qatar.

Before serving in government, Gargash was a professor of political science at UAE National University. He was named minister of state for federal national council affairs in 2006, before his appointment as minister of state for foreign affairs two years later.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE's foreign minister and the UAE representative who signed the Abraham Accords, tweeted that Gargash would be missed at the ministry and thanked him for "everything that you taught me, which illuminated my road.

No words can thank you enough for what you have contributed to our beloved country and to each member of your team, tweeted ministry spokesperson Hend al-Otaiba. Blessed to have benefited from your extraordinary expertise and guidance.

The Emirati government has renamed the Emirates Diplomatic Academy the Anwar Gargash Diplomatic Academy in recognition of Gargashs dedication to serving the UAE, and his pioneering diplomatic efforts regionally and internationally.
Thriller 'Fear of Rain' seeks to remove stigma surrounding mental illness, promote empathy, stars say

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Fear of Rain, the new psychological thriller starring Harry Connick Jr. and Katherine Heigl, seeks to remove the stigma surrounding mental illness and promote greater empathy and understanding in society, according to the films stars and director.

From Lionsgate, Fear of Rain follows Rain Burroughs (Madison Iseman), a teenage girl diagnosed with schizophrenia. Every day, Rain must decipher whether the disturbing images, harrowing voices, and traumatic feelings she experiences are real or conjured up in her mind.

Against the will of her well-meaning parents (Heigl and Connick Jr.), Rain begins investigating the suspicious shadows and cries she hears from her neighbors attic, enlisting the help of her classmate, Caleb (Israel Broussard).

Written and directed by Castille Landon, Fear of Rain is both a psychological thriller and a moving drama that provides insight into a mental illness that carries a pervasive social stigma.

There is such a stigma attached to mental illness, Landon told The Christian Post. While theres a shifting toward accepting mental illnesses like depression and bipolar, schizophrenia is still sort of on the fringe, she said.

There are so many negative portrayals of people who have schizophrenia in media and film, she said. I really wanted to challenge those stereotypes and leave people with the overall message that we should not just accept these ... people, but we also should lead with love and compassion.

Words like crazy and psycho and other negative terms for those struggling with mental illness are so ingrained in us, Landon said, that the individuals humanity, value, and dignity are all but lost.

It was really important in making the film [to show that Rain is] just a teenage girl, and you might not otherwise know, had we not told you in the film, that she has schizophrenia, she said. You just don't know what goes on behind closed doors with people.

Watch Castille Landon discuss "Fear of Rain" with CP.

To bring the character of Rain to life, Iseman told CP she did a ton of research to fully understand the difficulties those with schizophrenia deal with on a day-to-day basis. However, she admitted it was hard to find resources for young women and children dealing with the illness.

So a film that sheds a little bit of light on schizophrenia, she said, is long overdue.

Im happy this film is able to be part of the conversation and to destigmatize [mental illness], she said. Hopefully ... in the future, we can find more films that kind of fit this mold of normalizing psychosis and mental illness and just talk about it more and then bring it to light.

Fear of Rain examines the complicated nature of mental illness. Rains parents, though they love her, struggle with knowing how best to handle their neurotypical daughter. Her classmates treat her with fear, while others look at her with pity.

So when Caleb treats her with kindness and empathy, Rain becomes suspicious he might not be real. In one scene, he gently reminds her that people dont apologize for physical ailments  and thus, she should not feel shame over her diagnosis.

I think most people kind of shy away or don't want to talk or think about mental illness at all, because it's something that most people don't fully understand, Broussard shared. I don't blame them, but at the same time, I think we need to start shedding light on what people with mental illness have to go through on a daily basis, and what their families and friends have to go through, and what life's like around them.

Watch Israel Broussard and Madison Iseman discuss "Fear of Rain" with CP:

Fear of Rain is not a faith-based film; its rated PG-13 for mature thematic content, violence/terror, disturbing images, and some strong language. However, it touches on meaningful and positive themes including tragedy, grief and hope, repeatedly reminding audiences that everyone is worthy of love, regardless of their struggles.

Broussard added that the film does shed away a lot of misconceptions, a lot of stereotypes, a lot of cliches that many people have about schizophrenia, adding that its nice to be a part of something that doesnt poke fun at the illness, but rather encourages empathy.

It really is focused on bringing a sense of normality, if you will, to Rain, who's battling with this mental illness, he said. Its important that a film like this is out in the world, and I hope a lot of people watch it and not only enjoy it, but I hope they take away a new understanding and hopefully a brighter perspective on what this mental illness is.

"Fear of Rain" is set for a digital, On-Demand, and limited theatrical release on Feb. 12, followed by a Blu-ray and DVD release on Feb. 16.
MEMBERS of the Parliament have called on the government to harmonize the modalities for tax collection to protect available businesses and attract new ones so that the country could sustainably implement its development plans.

They have also called on timely implementation and completion of the ongoing strategic projects and those which have been highlighted in the 2021/22-2025/26 national development plan, to ensure that all targets are realised.

The lawmakers made the remarks when contributing to the government's third five year national development plan slated for 2021/22 to 2025/26 and priorities set in the proposals for the roadmap plans for the year 2021/2022.

They are of the view that, since the implementation of the projects needs money, it's okay for the government to continue collecting tax but it's better for the taxman, Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) to put a conducive environment for taxpayers, especially, reviewing the approaches used in revenue collections.

Geita Rural MP Joseph Musukuma (CCM) opened the debate, telling the House that some businessmen were closing their shops due to the unfavorable approach by the TRA in collecting taxes.

For business to prosper, Mr Musukuma urged the government to be attentive and address challenges facing the business community, instead of rushing to penalise or close businesses whenever there is a delay on tax payment.

"If the government will continue this way, without taking into account advice from laymen on the ground, then chances are high for more businesses to be closed, as a result the government will end up losing revenue and expand the scope of unemployment," he said.

He suggested the necessity of President John Magufuli meeting with businessmen for them to speak out about the challenges they are facing and suggest the way forward, same to the approach that was used on improving the mining sector.

His views were seconded by Mtama MP, Nape Nnauye (CCM), who argued that tax collection should be left to TRA instead of using task forces that according to him, in most of the time are abusing the power they are given.

He said instead of applying a smooth approach in collecting tax, the taskforce has been using unnecessary force, a move that ends up harassing and frustrating businessmen.

"The job should be done by TRA officials as they are specialists on that, they were trained for the job, let them do it instead of coming up with task forces, that will kill businesses," he said.

He was of the view that the use of task forces in tax collection brings short-term joy, but in the long run, it's a trouble for the future of businessmen and government itself as it will lose the collections after closure of the businesses.

"The number of businesses being closed is too much, the government should stop using task force since they aren't skilled for the job," noted the Mtama MP.

The views were seconded by Mafinga Town legislator Cosato Chumi (CCM), who said the taxman should find a better way of collecting tax instead of harassing businessmen by closing their bank account, a move that led to closure of businesses.

He also spoke of the need for continued efforts on providing a conducive environment for businessmen to pay their taxes instead of being harassed and embarrassed.

"There must be a good environment for businessmen to fulfill their legal obligation of paying tax, the authority should stop the tendency of closing bank accounts of businessmen who have huge amounts of money, because that leads to closure of business and expands the scope of unemployment," he noted.

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For their part, Vunjo MP on CCM ticket Dr Charles Kimei and a Special Seats MP Jesca Kishoa (Chadema) said despite an increase in figure of amount being collected by TRA, still the country is collecting less.

They said the annual collections are equal to 13 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and that there is a need for the government to fix the loopholes that deny the government's actual collections.

"With these collections I'm sure there is something missing, the government has to work on it to ensure the relevant tax is obtained," said Dr Kimei.

For his part, Presidential nominated MP Humphrey Polepole suggested that all strategic projects should be completed before 2025.

"Let's have all the projects on the electricity sector implemented during President John Magufuli term in office," he urged.

His points were in line with what was said by Butiama MP Jumanne Sagini (CCM), who called for a harmonised process that would cut bureaucracy in implementing the plans for quick development.
A former Barneys New York employee is spilling the beans on the celebrities she helped over the years, detailing the best  and worst  behavior she experienced from A-listers during her time working at the department store.

New York-based TikTok user IAmTahira is a wardrobe stylist who previously worked at the luxury department store in Manhattan  and in her time there, she helped several stars shop for clothes.

But while she considered both Kim Cattrall and Emilia Clarke to be delights, she revealed that Anna Kendrick was 'nasty' and 'terrible' when they interacted years ago.

Tea: New York-based TikTok user IAmTahira, a former Barneys employee, is spilling the beans on the celebrities she helped over the years

Loved her! She said Sex and the City star Kim Cattrall 'was amazing' and rated her 10/10

Shopping: The star (pictured in SATC) was shopping for a Prada dress for an event

This week, Tahira has posted three videos detailing her experiences with stars at Barneys, and they've all quickly racked up over a million views.

First, she recalled a time she helped Sex and the City star Kim Cattrall.

Though tabloid speculation has painted the actress has difficult and a diva, Tahira's experience couldn't have been further from that  and she rated the star 10/10.

'Love her, she was amazing. She had a charity event, she was looking for a dress from Prada. She brought a picture in from Instagram,' she recalled.

'We actually didn't have the dress but I told her that I can call my friend at Bergdorf's to see if they have it, and they had it!

Upscale: Tahira is a wardrobe stylist who previously worked at the luxury department store in Manhattan

Sweet: Next up was Game of Thrones star Emilia Clarke, who was 'so sweet' and also got a rating of 10/10

She said: 'She was so sweet. Sweetest, sweetest, sweetest, sweetest thing'

'She's like, "text me!" and I texted her, "Go to Bergdorf's, they're holding the dress for you," and she went and got the dress. She was so nice.

'I still have her number in my phone,' she added with a laugh.

Next up was Game of Thrones star Emilia Clarke, who was 'so sweet' and also got a rating of 10/10.

Emilia had an appointment with a different stylist, but Tahira came over to say hello because she was a big fan.

'We talked about her Dolce & Gabbana campaign that just came out. I was also six months pregnant at the time, so we talked about motherhood. She was so sweet. Sweetest, sweetest, sweetest, sweetest thing.'

Uh-oh... Of Anna Kendrick, Tahira said that she would 'never support anything this chick does' after she behaved

But Tahira didn't rave about every star. While Kim and Emilia were both pleasant, the same couldn't be said for Pitch Perfect star Anna Kendrick.

Tahira rated her -100/10, calling her a 'terrible person'.

The stylist said she had actually met Anna while working at a different store in 2016, where Anna was doing a book signing.

While on tour for her book 'Scrappy Little Nobody,' the actress made a stop at Club Monaco on 5th Avenue in New York on November 15, 2016.

'My job was to pull a few look options for her to wear for the signing,' Tahira explained.

'I'm walking her through the racks [and] she won't speak to me  that's strike one. I'm asking her, "Do you want to wear pants? Or do you want to wear a dress?" She won't say anything.

'She turns to her PR lady and her PR lady was like, "Can I speak to you outside?"' she recalled. 'We go outside and she's like, "If you guys want her to wear a look, $10,000."

Quiet: Tahira said that after Anna refused to talk to her at a book signing where she was working, the star had all the gifts that fans brought thrown out

But Tahira insisted that her view of the star wasn't shaped just by this interaction  it was also how she treated her fans.

During the signing, the store collected all the gifts and notes that fans brought, including 'heartfelt letters,' gift cards to her favorite places, drawings, paintings, and scrapbooks.

'It was so nice  and all of that went into the trash,' she said. 'So if you went to visit this girl on her book tour and you gave her a gift from your heart, you should know it went in the garbage.'

After that, Tahira said, she knew she would 'never support anything this chick does.'

Ultimately, she did end up seeing Anna at Barneys two years later, where one of Tahira's colleagues was helping her.

After Anna left, the colleague told Tahira that Anna had become 'nasty' when she didn't know who she was.
Storia Foods & Beverages announced its partnership with Godrej LAffaire, a curated experiential luxury lifestyle platform by the Godrej Group for its fifth season. Unlike previous editions where it was onground one-day experience, this year, Godrej LAffaire is going digital to celebrate the spirit of lifestyle over a fifteen-day period. This exciting virtual avatar of Godrej LAffaire will go live on February 14th and will end on February 28th.

Celebrity live sessions, exclusive web-series launch, #LiveItUp sale with the biggest discounts on 40+ lifestyle brands along with flash contests, is lined-up for this power-packed 15-day lifestyle celebration by Godrej LAffaire. Catch all the excitement of Godrej LAffaire by clicking on https://bit.ly/3r8llIB

As part of this association, Storia Foods & Beverages will be integrating two of its hero products which will primarily emphasise on health and hygiene and will be featured in the #Liveitup chain. The association will also help Storia to be a part of various exciting flash contests along with Godrej LAffaires prominent #liveitup web series. Digital integration will help the brand to reach out to its target audience and markets as well.

Commenting on the association with Godrej LAffaire, Vishal Shah, Founder and MD, Storia Foods & Beverages said, "We're ecstatic about the association with Godrej L'Affaire for its fifth edition as this platform has carved out a niche for itself in the space of lifestyle and luxury. We would like to take this opportunity to introduce to the audience our 100% Natural Tender Coconut Water and recently added immunity booster beverage, Turmeric Latte in the portfolio. With Storia, we want to bring people together to build a nutritionally stronger nation by inspiring a healthier lifestyle through innovative drinks and foods in a disruptive yet sustainable way. Godrej LAffaire has given us a great platform to engage with audiences and work towards our vision of becoming their go-to brand and to add ease, create value and make a difference in their lives."

Speaking about the association, Sujit Patil, VP & Head of Corporate Brand & Communications, Godrej Group, said, Godrej LAffaire has always been a collaborative platform for Godrej as well as complementary external brands to experientially engage with consumers. We are happy to have Storia Foods & Beverages partner for the fifth edition of Godrej LAffaire. After the phenomenal success of season 4, this year, due to the prevailing conditions, we are piloting an online version. We are looking forward to a good mix of influencer engagement, showcase of brands in the lifestyle space, meaningful conversations and a dash of social commerce in this season.

Arjun Bijlani, Shivangi Joshi, Surbhi Chandana, Gurmeet Choudhary & Debina Bonnerjee, Amol Parashar, Smriti Khanna, Aashka Goradia Goble, and Kunal Vijayakar, are all suing the dreadful year 2020. Shocked? Dont be as they are all coming together for #LiveItUp 2021, an eight-part web-series which will be released during Godrej LAffaire. The mini-series is a quirky courtroom theatrical where the year 2020, played by actress-comedienne Jamie Lever, will be put on trial for the disruptions it caused in our lifestyle. A judge, played by radio host Sharma G aka Gaurav Sharma, will hear the arguments before delivering the verdict at the end of each episode. The webisodes will premier daily on Godrej LAffaire Instagram and Facebook pages.

Godrej LAffaire, in association with Bollywood Bubble, will stream live tete-a-tete sessions with bollywood and TV personalities.

Godrej aer, Godrej Professional, Goodness Me, Godrej Security Solutions (EVE Home Camera, Home Lockers, UV case), Godrej Locks (Advantis, Pentabolt), Godrej Appliances, Script, Godrej Interio, India Circus, BBLUNT, Godrej Expert, Cinthol, Godrej Protekt, Godrej HIT, Godrej Yummiez, Godrej Real Good Chicken, Godrej Jersey, Godrej Veg Oils, Godrej Interio Kitchen, SKIDO by Godrej, Goodknight, Godrej Properties and Godrej Housing Finance, are some of the Godrej brands which will be featured during the #LiveItUp sale. As part of the lifestyle festivities, flash digital contests will also be announced where people can win hampers of their favourite lifestyle brands.

Godrej LAffaire will host #LiveItUp Sale on its social media, offering the best deals, discounts and experiences of select non Godrej lifestyle brands too. These brands are Park Avenue, hand painted designer bags Paul Adams, luxury pret brand MxS, Vikram Phadnis Clothing India, online retailer Redesyn, footwear etailer MY|RA, handcrafted apparel & accessories brand Okhai, Isharya Jewellery, Renee Cosmetics, organic nutrition brand Wellbeing Nutrition, Fantasie Chocolate, Bombay Island Coffee, Storia Foods & Beverages, takeaway restaurant Varun Inamdars Mumbai Local Tawa, South Street - South Indian Comfort Food and Shuk Bombay -From the streets of Tel-Aviv to Bombay! among others.

Witness Season 5 of Godrej LAffaire on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @godrejlaffaire.

Police have charged and detained controversial Norton independent MP Temba Mliswa after arresting him Thursday morning at his Borrowdale home in Harare.

He was arrested while addressing journalists following his messy break-up with an Australian-based lover Susan Mutami.

The woman has been making several allegations linking the legislator to corruption, homosexuality and a foiled attempt to poison President Emmerson Mnangagwa's son.

He is detained at Borrowdale Police Station and is expected to appear at the Harare Magistrates' Courts Friday.

In his warned and cautioned police statement Mliswa denied the charges levelled against him.

"I deny the allegations levelled against me. Firstly, the prohibition in Statutory (SI) 57 /2021 relates to gatherings in a public place. Number 21 Domboshava Road is a private residence.

"Furthermore, l did not convene the said gathering as it was convened by the Media Centre. Only 20 journalists were in attendance whilst the threshold for the regulation is 30 people," reads part of Mliswa's response to the charges.
By Caitlin Wiesen - Resident representative in Vietnam United Nations Development Programme

The ambition of the first report, published in 1990, was to shift the focus of development thinking to human capabilities rather than focus exclusively on economic growth. Increasing incomes is important, especially for the poor and vulnerable, but we also need access to quality healthcare and education to realise our full potential.

Vietnams extraordinary achievement of joining the High Human Development group this year as a lower middle-income country demonstrates the importance of focusing on human capabilities while also striving for rapid economic growth. Vietnams Human Development Index (HDI) since 1990 shows one of the fastest rates of improvement globally since the indicators were introduced.

The country has excelled at widening access to healthcare and education, especially in rural and remote areas, which has enabled the country to avoid a situation  common within the Asia-Pacific region  in which inequality rises with urbanisation and industrialisation.

However, these impressive achievements have come at the cost of high pressure on planetary systems. This is a global problem, not unique to Vietnam  and it is the focus of the 2020 report which launched in January.

The report, entitled The Next Frontier: Human Development and the Anthropocene, rejects the idea that we must choose between people and the planet, arguing for a transformation in the way that we live, work, consume, interact  and most important of all  how we produce and use energy.

The Anthropocene, or the Age of Humans, is the new geological age in which we live today, an era in which humans have fundamentally changed the planetary systems needed for life on earth.

COVID-19 is the latest warning that humanity has reached a precipice. The pandemic has had a devastating impact on human development, lowering the global HDI for the first time in 30 years.

But the pandemic and disruption it caused to our routines and practices, is also an opportunity to reset our relationship to the environment from exploitation to regeneration.

To illustrate the harmony between human development and the planet, the report introduces a new experimental lens to its HDI, which for the last three decades has measured countries health, education, and standard of living.

By adding two new metrics  CO2 emissions and material footprint  the new index shows how the global development landscape changes when you consider the wellbeing of people alongside planetary pressures.

The results are stark: no country is currently achieving very high human development without straining planetary systems. In Vietnam, taking carbon emissions and material footprint into account lowers the national HDI by 5.7 per cent, from 0.704 to 0.664.

The impact is greater in richer countries. For example, Malaysia loses 13.7 per cent, China 11.6 per cent, and Thailand 7.9 per cent from its HDI because of high levels of carbon emissions.

Developing human capabilities without damaging the planet means working with and not against nature. There is huge potential in actions that protect, sustainably manage, and restore ecosystems. Ventures like coastal management, reforestation, and urban green spaces can benefit both the natural world and local communities.

For example, we are working with the government, coastal communities, and the Green Climate Fund to plant and regenerate over 3,000 hectares of mangrove forests, which act as a buffer against storms and provide ecosystem resources that support local livelihoods.

There is also a need to change social norms and values to better balance people and the planet. This year has demonstrated how quickly entrenched behaviours can change when driven by necessity, whether on mask wearing or social distancing. Here, Vietnams leadership and solidarity of the Vietnamese people have been critical to the success in containing the pandemic.

In just a generation, a similar movement has happened globally on issues ranging from stigma around HIV/AIDS to reducing single use plastics.

Finally, incentives are essential tools to bridge the gap between behaviour and values. The right policies and regulations have a vital role to play. Rethinking government subsidies for the construction of coal-fired power plants and creating further incentives to attract investment options for renewable energy could make a significant difference to greening Vietnams growth.

One of our recent studies indicates that enabling legislation would unblock a further $15 billion of private sector investment in clean renewable energy.

Inequalities of power and opportunity within and between countries are important barriers to change. As we have experienced during the pandemic, unequal societies were less about to respond to the threat in a prompt and coherent manner, and the economic costs of the disease were borne disproportionately by the poor and vulnerable. The excellent performance of Vietnam in managing the crisis is partly due to relatively low levels of inequality compared to other countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

We are the first generation of the Anthropocene, an era in which, for the first time, human behaviour will determine the future of the planet. The choices that we make now will determine how our time will be remembered: as the era in which people continued to exploit nature long after it was clear that our actions were unsustainable; or as the turning point, when people decided to mobilise our power and knowledge for the good of people, and the planet.

The choice is ours to make.
BRUSSELS - Despite deep uncertainty over a surge in coronavirus cases and the impact of new variants of the disease, senior European Commission officials on Thursday expressed cautious optimism that European economies will rebound later this year and in 2022.

European Commissioner for Economy Paolo Gentiloni speaks during an online news conference at the European Commission headquarters in Brussels, Thursday, Feb. 11, 2021. (Kenzo Tribouillard, Pool via AP)

BRUSSELS - Despite deep uncertainty over a surge in coronavirus cases and the impact of new variants of the disease, senior European Commission officials on Thursday expressed cautious optimism that European economies will rebound later this year and in 2022.

In its winter interim economic forecasts, the European Unions executive body predicts that growth in the 19 nations using the euro will reach 3.8% this year and next after a 6.8% drop in 2020.

Growth in the wider 27-nation EU is predicted to hit 3.7% this year and 3.9% in 2022 following last year's 6.3% slide.

The forecasts hinge on the assumption that coronavirus restrictions will remain tight for most of the first half of this year but ease in late Spring, when most vulnerable people around Europe like the elderly and those with other illnesses are expected to have been vaccinated.

Economy Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni said that there is, at last, light at the end of the tunnel.

Commission Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis said the prediction provides real hope at a time of great uncertainty for us all. The solid expected pick-up of growth in the second half of this year shows very clearly that we are turning the corner in overcoming this crisis.

But Dombrovskis warned that a strong European response will be crucial to tackle issues such as job losses, a weakened corporate sector and rising inequalities. We will still have a great deal to do to contain the wider socio-economic fallout.

Gentiloni conceded though that the virus is posing major economic and social challenges. None of the member states is expected return in 2022 to the growth path projected before the crisis. In 2022, GDP in the EU and the euro-area will remain about 4% below what pre-pandemic forecasts had projected, he said.

He also noted that much would depend on the way the coronavirus is handled. If restrictions are prolonged, the risk posed by new variants rises and confidence is subdued, "growth in 2021 would remain limited to 2%. But if vaccines are distributed earlier than expected and halt the spread of COVID-19 then growth might increase by a further 1% of GDP.

Despite the slightly upbeat nature of the new forecasts, the eurozone countries are predicted to lag China and the U.S. in bouncing back from the worst of the pandemic.

A winter wave of coronavirus infections around Europe has meant new restrictions on travel and business activity, although companies in some sectors such as manufacturing have been better able to adjust than services businesses like hotels and restaurants.

On the impact of Britain's departure from the EU with a limited trade agreement, Gentiloni noted that it implies an output loss of around 0.5 percentage points of GDP until the end of 2022 for the EU, and some 2.2 percentage point loss for the U.K. in the same period.
A woman who died suddenly in Portadown in the early hours of Tuesday morning has been named as 32-year-old Kerrie King.

Ms King, a mum originally from Dundee in Scotland, was found dead in the Carrickdale area of the town.

A man, aged 50, has been arrested and yesterday police were granted and extra 36 hours to question him.

Tributes continue to pour in online for the popular member of the community.

One relative, Amber King, posted: "Our cousin Kerrie such a shame, RIP beautiful, all our family will miss you such a shame."

Another cousin, Donna Marie King, wrote: Sleep tight big cuz gone from our sights, but not from our hearts. Fly high up there beautiful.

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DUP MLA for Upper Bann, Jonathan Buckley, said said his "thoughts are with the family and friends of the deceased at this time".

He added: "This is a tragic and shocking incident for the area and I would implore anyone who may have information to come forward to the police."

Upper Bann SDLP MLA, Dolores Kelly, said: "My thoughts and prayers are with the family of the woman who has tragically lost her life in the Tandragee Road area of Portadown. Police have arrested a man and I understand that they have established a line of enquiry.

"I want to put on record my thanks to the officers who are working with the family in these tragic circumstances."

A PSNI spokesperson said: Detectives are investigating the circumstances surrounding the sudden death of a woman in Portadown reported during the early hours of [Tuesday] morning.

A post mortem examination will take place in due course to determine the cause of death.

A 50-year-old man has been arrested as part of the investigation and has been taken to Musgrave Custody Suite.

There are no further details at this time.
DUBLIN, Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Connected Device Market for Consumer, Enterprise, and Industrial IoT Devices by Use Case, Device Type, Applications, and Industry Verticals 2021 - 2026" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

This report assesses the connected device market segment including consumer, enterprise, and industrial devices with associated connected device market sizing from 2021 to 2026. It evaluates applications and solutions in each market segment for major industry verticals including agriculture, advertising and media, automobiles, energy management, healthcare, manufacturing, oil & gas, public safety, and telecommunications.

The number, type, and purpose of connected devices is rapidly expanding as the Internet of Things (IoT) evolves beyond the current state of limited applications, many of which remain isolated and purpose-built for a given use case, industry verticals, and companies. Over the course of the next five years, many IoT applications will become increasingly interconnected.



Some of these applications will be enhanced through communication with a smart device, which is a connected device that benefits embedded intelligence. In contrast, an IoT Device need not be smart, and in fact, many are relatively unintelligent devices that are typically single-purpose and rely upon intelligence to be provided elsewhere for data processing, analytics, analysis, and dispersal of actionable information, typically via a cloud services model.



It is important to note that cloud services may be either centralized or distributed via Multi-access Edge Computing (MEC) infrastructure. MEC will also facilitate an entirely new class of low-power devices that rely upon MEC equipment for processing. Stated differently, some IoT devices will be very light-weight computationally speaking, relying upon edge computing nodes for most of their computation needs. However, AIoT is a dominant trend that the publisher of this report sees supporting connected devices via both distributed and centralized AI support for devices.



As AIoT causes networks and systems to become increasingly more cognitive in nature, connected devices that previously acted in a purely deterministic manner will leverage AI for decision-making, which may occur locally via edge computing and/or centrally via core cloud computing. As part of this evolution, devices will also increasingly engage in peer-to-peer communications including signaling and data exchange. This will create both an opportunity and a challenge connected device management as they will need to rely upon the AI-based cybersecurity solutions involving trust management.

Select Report Findings:

The global market for devices in support of Energy Management (Air conditioners, Temperature controllers, Smart lighting, Smart windows, etc.) will exceed $7 Billion USD by 2026

by 2026 The global market for devices in support of Government Security and Monitoring Equipment (CCTV, Cameras, etc.) and Structural Health Monitoring Devices will reach $6.4B USD by 2026

by 2026 The global market for devices in support of Hospital Equipment (Mobile furniture, Monitoring and Diagnostic Equipment, Surgical tools, Pathology and Laboratory Equipment, Ambulance, etc.) will reach $3.9 Billion USD by 2026

by 2026 The global market for Consumer Appliances (TV, Refrigerators, Washing Machines, Dishwashers, Microwaves, Cooking Appliances, Coffee machine, etc.) will reach $2.4B by 2026

Key Topics Covered:

1.0 Executive Summary



2.0 Introduction

2.1 Smart and IoT Connected Devices

2.2 Smart Connected Devices

2.2.1 Connected IoT Devices

2.2.2 Smart Devices vs. Non-Smart IoT Connected Devices

2.3 Connected Device Market Impact

2.4 Growth Factors

2.5 Market Challenges



3.0 Smart and Connected IoT Device Ecosystem

3.1 Connected IoT Device Systems

3.2 Consumer IoT Connected Devices

3.2.1 Enterprise IoT Connected Devices

3.2.2 Industrial IoT Connected Devices

3.2.3 IoT Software and Connected Applications

3.3 IoT Device Management Technology and Solutions

3.4 IoT Interoperability and Enabling Technology

3.5 Cloud Deployment and Open Architecture Model

3.6 Connected IoT Device Supply Chain

3.7 Business Models and Strategies

3.8 Machine Learning and other AI Solutions

3.9 Smart Workplace and Automation Systems

3.10 5G, MEC, and Connected IoT Applications



4.0 Smart and Connected Device Technology Enablers

4.1 Artificial Intelligence

4.2 Broadband Wireless

4.3 Computing (Centralized and Edge)

4.4 Data Analytics

4.5 IoT Convergence



5.0 Smart and Connected IoT Device Market Drivers

5.1 Consumer

5.1.1 Localized Intelligence

5.1.2 Autonomous Operation

5.2 Enterprise

5.2.1 Smart Workplace

5.2.2 Smart Products

5.2.3 Business Automation

5.3 Industrial

5.3.1 Industrial Evolution

5.3.2 Industrial Convergence



6.0 Global Markets for Connected Devices 2021 - 2026



7.0 Markets for Connected Devices in Consumer IoT 2021 - 2026



8.0 Markets for Connected Devices in Enterprise IoT 2021 - 2026



9.0 Markets for Connected Devices in Industrial IoT 2021 - 2026



10.0 Markets for Connected Devices in Government IoT 2021 - 2026



11.0 Company Analysis

11.1 IBM Corporation

11.2 Google Inc.

11.3 Apple Inc.

11.4 Microsoft Corporation

11.5 General Electric Co.

11.6 ABB Ltd.

11.7 LG Electronics

11.8 Koninklijke Philips N.V

11.9 Hewlett Packard Enterprise

11.10 Samsung Electronics Co Ltd.

11.11 Honeywell International Inc.

11.12 Sony Corporation

11.13 HTC Corporation

11.14 Vuzix Corporation

11.15 Osterhout Design Group

11.16 Schneider Electric

11.17 Siemens AG

11.18 Whirlpool Corporation

11.19 AB Electrolux

11.20 Oracle Corporation

11.21 Advantech Co. Ltd

11.22 PTC Corporation

11.23 Telit Communications PLC

11.24 Wind River Systems Inc.

11.25 Cumulocity GmBH

11.26 Amplia Soluciones SL

11.27 Nokia Corporation

11.28 Dell Technologies Inc.

11.29 ARM Limited

11.30 Aeris Communication Inc.

11.31 Smith Micro Software Inc.

11.32 Xively

11.33 Motorola Inc.

11.34 Lenovo Group Ltd.

11.35 Technicolor



12.0 Future of Smart and Connected Devices

12.1 Ubiquitous Distribution and Presence

12.2 Localized Intelligence and Computing

12.3 Autonomous Decision-making and Actions

12.3.1 Consumer Market

12.3.2 Enterprise Market

12.3.3 Industrial Market



13.0 Conclusions and Recommendations

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/yv9knf



Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

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Kangana Ranaut has once again taken a trip down memory lane. The Bollywood actor replied to one of Prime Minister Narendra Modis tweets with a classic Hindi song. In his tweet, PM Modi assured Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that India will be supplying them COVID-19 vaccines. Find out more details about this story below.

Kangana Ranaut replies to PM Modis tweet with a classic Hindi song

Kangana Ranaut is extremely active on social media. The Queen actor has never shied away from expressing her opinion or engaging in a Twitter debate. Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter and tweeted about receiving a call from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and revealed that Canada has sought COVID vaccines from India.

Also read | Kangana Ranaut Withdraws Suit Against BMC; To Seek Regularisation

In his tweet, PM Modi assured Canadian PM Trudeau that India will try its best to facilitate COVID-19 vaccines to their country. PM Modi also revealed that they have agreed to continue their collaboration on critical issues like climate change and global economic recovery. Take a look at PM Modis tweet here.

Was happy to receive a call from my friend @JustinTrudeau. Assured him that India would do its best to facilitate supplies of COVID vaccines sought by Canada. We also agreed to continue collaborating on other important issues like Climate Change and the global economic recovery.  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 10, 2021

PM Modis tweet received a response from Bollywood actor Kangana Ranaut. Kangana replied to PM Modis tweet by talking about a 90s' Hindi song. She also revealed that she used to dance on this song for her relatives when it used to be telecasted on Chitrahaar. Kangana even mentioned the lyrics of the song in her tweet. Take a look at Kangana Ranauts tweet here.

Who all remember that 90s song used to come on chitrahaar when I was very small. I danced on it for relatives.

      ,

     ...     ...  https://t.co/A1rTHhiiUK  Kangana Ranaut (@KanganaTeam) February 10, 2021

Also read | Ishaan Khatter posting Meryl Streep's quote On Her Success A Message For Kangana Ranaut?

The song Kangana Ranaut mentioned is from a Hindi movie titled Adharm. This 1992 movie starred Sanjay Dutt, Shatrughan Sinha, Shabana Azmi, Anita Raaj, and Gulshan Grover. In the music video, Sanjay Dutt can be seen dancing along with Shakti Kapoor to the songs catchy tune. Watch this music video here.

Kangana Ranauts upcoming films

Kangana Ranaut apart from being active on social media has been quite busy with her upcoming films. The Queen actor was last seen in the film, Panga. Now, the actor is gearing up for the release of her two films, Dhaakad and Thalaivi. In Dhaakad, Kangana is playing the role of Agent Agni. In Thalaivi, she will be playing the role of late actor and Tamil Nadu CM Jayalalithaa in her biopic.

Also read | Kangana Ranaut Takes A Dig At 'leading Filmmakers', Shares Message For 'Dhaakad' Director

Also read | Kangana Ranaut Says 'your Time Is Up Twitter', 'thrilled' To Experience Koo App

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.
Most black evangelicals say 'people like them' will gain influence under Biden, poll finds

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A new report from Pew Research Center suggests that even though evangelicals as a whole think they will have less influence in the Biden administration, a majority of black evangelicals predict that they will gain influence as a result of the change of power in Washington.

The study, based on the responses of adults from several religious denominations in the United States, was conducted between Jan. 8 and Jan. 12 as part of Pews American Trends Panel, which is based on a sample of 5,360 respondents with an error margin of 1.9 percentage points.

Respondents were asked if they thought people like them will gain or lose influence in Washington during the Biden administration, which had yet to take office when the survey was administered.

A majority of nearly all groups surveyed predicted that people like them would lose influence in the Biden administration, which commenced when President Joe Biden took office on Jan. 20.

Overall, 24% of respondents predicted that their religious demographics would gain influence in the Biden administration. Meanwhile, 36% predicted that their religious group would lose influence in the new administration and 39% said that people like themselves would not be affected.

Black Protestants and black evangelicals were the only two religious groups where most adherents surveyed predicted that they would gain influence in the Biden administration.

Among both groups, 55% said that they expected people like them to gain influence with Biden taking office, while 39% anticipated that their influence in Washington would not be affected by the change in administrations.

Just 4% of black Protestants thought they would lose influence, while 5% of black evangelicals said the same.

By comparison, only 9% of white evangelicals predicted that they would see their influence in Washington increase in the Biden administration, while 63% anticipated seeing their influence wane.

About 26% of white evangelicals predicted that their influence in Washington would not be affected by a new president taking office.

The divergent responses from black and white evangelicals regarding their influence in the new presidency reflect the groups dramatically different preferences in the 2020 presidential election.

Dr. Barbara Williams-Skinner, the co-convener of the National African-American Clergy Network, explained during a recent conversation on the religious divide in the U.S. that white evangelical Christians and black Protestant Christians are two of the most religiously active groups. But she stressed that they are totally opposite in their politics and their core beliefs, almost as though theyre serving a different God.

According to CNN exit polling, 76% of white evangelicals voted for President Donald Trump, the Republican candidate, in the 2020 presidential election. Meanwhile, 87% of black voters supported Biden.

A plurality of white mainline Protestants surveyed by Pew (47%) agreed with their evangelical counterparts that they would lose influence in the Biden administration. Only 14% thought they would gain influence, while 38% did not anticipate a change in the influence they would have in Washington.

Among Catholics, 25% said that they expect to gain influence in Washington with Biden in the White House, while 34% told Pew that they thought they would lose influence.

About 41% of Catholics foresaw no change in influence.

Biden, himself a practicing Catholic, has faced criticism from church leaders over his support for abortion rights, which contradicts church teaching.

About 46% of white Catholics predicted that people like them would have less influence during a Biden administration, while just 14% thought they would have more influence.

Hispanic Catholics were more optimistic about their influence during a Biden administration, with 38% predicting they would have more influence in Washington and 16% expecting a declining influence. In both cases, the remainder of Catholics did not predict an impact one way or the other.

Those unaffiliated with any particular religion were split on whether they would gain or lose influence in the Biden administration. Twenty-six percent predicted that they would gain influence in Washington, while 27% thought they would lose influence. A plurality of religiously unaffiliated respondents (47%) did not think their influence in Washington would change with the new administration.

While 7% of Republicans and independents who lean Republican thought they would gain influence under Biden, nearly two-thirds (66%) said they would lose influence.

At the same time, 40% of Democrats and independents who lean Democratic expect to gain political influence in the new administration compared to 10% who thought they would lose influence.

Half of Americans expect that evangelical Christians will lose influence in the Biden administration, with white evangelicals themselves the most pessimistic about their influence in the new administration.

Just 5% of white evangelicals predicted an increased influence in Washington compared to 72% who expected a decreased influence, and 20% said their influence would not be affected.

Black Protestants were split about their views of evangelical Christians influence on the new administration, with 27% predicting that evangelical Christians will have more influence with Biden at the White House.

Majorities of white Catholics (50%), whites (59%), Protestants (56%), white mainline Protestants (61%), men (57%) and Republicans (65%) believe that evangelical Christians will have a smaller influence in Washington under President Biden.

Pluralities of women (44%), unaffiliated voters (47%) and women (44%) said the same. Meanwhile, a plurality of Catholics (44%), Democrats (47%) and blacks (48%) think that evangelical Christians influence in Washington will not be affected by a new president. A majority of Hispanics (51%) agreed.
Jesus Saves: More Than Words

By Heather L. Hart

The United States is not a Christian nation. It is a nation with Christians. Expressing the Christian faith has been problematic in our history. This history includes both the affirmation and abolition of slavery. It includes the freedom of conscience and manifest destiny. It includes peaceful marches and non-disclosure agreements. And now, as of January 6, 2021, it includes signs at the political rally leading to the riot storming the Capitol building that read Jesus Saves.[1]

The truth that Jesus Saves is foundational to all Christians. Without Jesus we have no hope. As Christians, we recognize that the mess of the world is not something we can undo ourselves; only God can do that. Only Jesus, the divine-human mediator sent by God and guided by the Spirit, undoes our mess.

Jesus shows us what loyalty to God above any earthly thing looks like. It looks like a willingness to be born into a world of sin and death; it looks like the Beatitudes on a hill; it looks like a firm resolution to live faithfully for God even when faithfulness leads directly to a cross at the hands of political and religious powers. It looks like a resurrection that promises hope for all who see and hear and follow faithfully after him.

So, what does it mean when Jesus Saves is invoked at a rally attempting to exert political power? Language is never divorced from context. Were these signs meant as a rebuke to those present- a declaration that political power does not save? Or were they intended as an invocation of divine support for attempted political domination?

The words, the person saying them, and the cultural context all interact to create meaning. The inability or unwillingness of American Christians to see the meaning created by words used in a particular context leaves us vulnerable to manipulation and misappropriation. Anglican priest Tish Harrison Warren describes this lack of discernment and calls particular evangelical leaders and the white American church to account for their enablement in the conflation of faith and worldly power.[2] Like Paul, she sees the corruption of false teaching and its corrosive effects.

In 1 & 2 Timothy, Paul lines out a path forward for his successor to follow (1 Tim 1:2; 2 Tim 1:2). Paul is concerned with false doctrine, truth and passing down right teaching (1 Tim 1:3-7; 2 Tim 3:1-9, 13-17). He anticipates the conclusion of his ministry and his absence (2 Tim 4:6-7). Paul sends letters as a substitute for his presence.[3] He knew his letters would be read repeatedly in worship services and he clarifies his apostolic role lending them Scripture-like authority.[4] In Thessalonians, Paul commends the church for realizing that the word of God came through Pauls teaching; it wasnt merely human wisdom (1 Thess 2:13).

Paul may not have directly equated his letters with the Jewish Scriptures (what we associate with the Old Testament), but he was aware of their value and the importance of passing on his message (2 Tim 4:1-5). Connecting Pauls in-person preaching and his letters as two different expressions of his presence helps us see that the churches would also accept his letters as the word of God.[5]

The United States is not a Christian nation. It is a nation with Christians. Expressing the Christian faith has been problematic in our history. This history includes both the affirmation and abolition of slavery. It includes the freedom of conscience and manifest destiny. It includes peaceful marches and non-disclosure agreements. And now, as of January 6, 2021, it includes signs at the political rally leading to the riot storming the Capitol building that read Jesus Saves.

Pauls method of spiritual development through presence will aid Timothy when he is gone. The heart of Pauls instruction is always Jesus as Gods redemption for the world. From this truth flows spiritual renewal for individuals and communities.[6] The way renewed people live is sensitive to culture, always wanting others to see a reflection of Christ.[7]

Paul gives instructions to specific groups encouraging them to live in a way that is not shameful to those outside the faith and demonstrates the attractiveness of the gospel.[8] Paul adapts what it looks like to faithfully follow Jesus in their world and trusts the Lord to bring Timothy further understanding (2 Tim 2:7).

The gospel that Paul preaches comes through the calling of God and the Spirits inspiration of scripture (2 Tim 1:11, 3:16). It is taught and modeled from one person to the next through individuals and communities.

It brings renewal that Christians are meant to share with the world through their lifestyle, character, and testimony. Paul gives us discernment for expressing the Christian faith today as we proclaim, Jesus Saves.

[1] Tom Gjelten, Faith Leaders Nearly Unanimous In Condemning Assult on Capitol, NPR, January 7, 2021, https://www.npr.org/2021/01/07/954581163/faith-leaders-nearly-unanimous-in-condemning-assault-on-capitol.

[2] Tish Harrison Warren, We Worship with the Magi, Not MAGA, Christianity Today, January 7, 2021, https://www.npr.org/2021/01/07/954581163/faith-leaders-nearly-unanimous-in-condemning-assault-on-capitol.

[3] Sidney Greidanus, Preaching from Paul Today," in Dictionary of Paul and His Letters, ed. Gerald F. Hawthorne, Ralph P. Martin, and Daniel G. Reid (Downers Grove, Ill: InterVarsity Press, 1993), 738.

[4] Grant Osborne, "Hermeneutics/Interpreting Paul," in Dictionary of Paul and His Letters, ed. Gerald F. Hawthorne, Ralph P. Martin, and Daniel G. Reid (Downers Grove, Ill: InterVarsity Press, 1993), 391.

[5] Greidanus, Preaching from Paul Today, 738.

[6] Ibid., 743.

[7] Osborne, Hermeneutics/Interpreting Paul, 396.

[8] Bruce W. Longenecker and Todd D. Still, Thinking through Paul: An Introduction to His Life, Letters, and Theology (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2014), 270.
A Colorado grocery store worker who implored a shopper to wear a face mask got a slap in the face in reply, security video shows.

Now Parker police are seeking the woman on possible assault charges following the incident at a King Soopers market at 17761 Cottonwood Drive at 6 p.m. Feb 3, police wrote on Facebook.

The worker had repeatedly asked the woman, a regular customer, to wear a face mask, KDVR reported. The woman claimed a medical exemption and the worker offered her other options to receive her groceries.

Store security video shows the woman pushing a grocery cart down an aisle, followed by the employee. The woman turns and walks past the employee, slapping him.

The woman ran out of the supermarket and has not returned, KCNC reported.

Grocery workers are Essential Heroes and have been on the frontlines during this entire pandemic at great personal risk, Kim Cordova, president of the local United Food and Commercial Workers Union, told KDVR. They deserve to work in safe environments but unfortunately that hasnt been the case.

No need to assault an employee, read one comment on the police Facebook post, although some posters defended the woman and accused stores of going too far by requiring masks.

More than 107 million cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed worldwide with more than 2.3 million deaths as of Feb. 11, according to Johns Hopkins University. The United States has more than 27 million confirmed cases with more than 471,000 deaths.
New Delhi, Feb 11 Feb 11 : Manasa Varanasi, an engineer from Telangana, has bagged the VLCC Femina Miss India World 2020 title. Haryana's Manika Sheokand was declared VLCC Femina Miss Grand India 2020 while Uttar Pradesh's Manya Singh crowned VLCC Femina Miss India 2020 Runner Up.

In a nationwide virtual hunt, a total of 31 finalists were shortlisted for finale that was held in Mumbai on Wednesday.

The jury panel comprised actors Neha Dhupia, Chitrangada Singh, Pulkit Samrat and renowned designer duo Falguni and Shane Peacock.

Miss World 2019 - 2nd Runner-up and Miss World Asia 2019; Suman Rao crowned her successor Manasa Varanasi who will represent India at the Miss World pageant that is scheduled to take place later this year.

Image Source: IANS News

Neha Dhupia said: "Each year as the journey of Femina Miss India begins, it brings back all the memories of the priceless experiences I've had with this pageant. It's almost like reliving every moment of my journey with these young glamorous girls who are so full of enthusiasm and capability to take on the world with power and elegance. Certainly, there are challenges with the digital process in the wake of the pandemic, however I'm confident it will be as exciting and worthwhile irrespective of the layout."

-- Syndicated from IANS
WASHINGTON, Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- https://cpsc.gov/Newsroom/News-Releases/2021/Cybex-Agrees-to-Pay-7-95-Million-Civil-Penalty-for-Failure-to-Report-Serious-Injuries-Involving-its-Exercise-Equipment

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced that Cybex International, Inc., a New York corporation, has agreed to pay a $7.95 million civil penalty. The settlement resolves CPSC's charges that Cybex failed to immediately report to CPSC, as required by law, that its Arm Curl and Smith Press Machines contained a defect or created an unreasonable risk of serious injury.

CPSC charged that Cybex had information that a weld on its Arm Curl Machines can fatigue and fail, causing the handle to separate unexpectedly and strike the user in the face. Cybex received 85 reports of broken handles, including reports of serious injuries and one report of permanent vision loss, but the fitness equipment manufacturer did not notify the CPSC immediately of the defect or risk.

CPSC also charged that Cybex had information that the weight bar on its Smith Press Machines can fall, posing serious impact injury hazards to the user. Cybex received 27 reports of injuries associated with the Smith Press Machine, including reports of paralysis and spinal fracture, but the company did not notify the CPSC immediately of the defect or risk.

Cybex recalled the Arm Curl Machines on August 25, 2015, and subsequently recalled the Smith Press Machines on August 29, 2018.

In addition to paying the $7.95 million civil penalty, Cybex has agreed to maintain an enhanced compliance program to ensure compliance with the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA). Cybex will also maintain a related system of internal controls and procedures to ensure that information required to be disclosed by Cybex to the Commission is recorded, processed and reported in accordance with applicable law.

Cybex is now under new ownership, and the Firm's settlement of this matter does not constitute an admission of CPSC staff's charges.

The penalty agreement has been accepted provisionally by the Commission by a 3-0-1 vote. Acting Chairman Adler and Commissioners Kaye and Baiocco voted to provisionally accept the settlement agreement and order. Commissioner Feldman did not vote on this matter and therefore is considered to have abstained.

About the U.S. CPSC

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of thousands of types of consumer products. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $1 trillion annually. CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products has contributed to a decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 40 years.

Federal law bars any person from selling products subject to a publicly announced voluntary recall by a manufacturer or a mandatory recall ordered by the Commission.

For lifesaving information:

- Visit CPSC.gov.

- Sign up to receive our e-mail alerts.

- Follow us on Facebook, Instagram @USCPSC and Twitter @USCPSC.

- Report a dangerous product or a product-related injury on www.SaferProducts.gov.

- Call CPSC's Hotline at 800-638-2772 (TTY 301-595-7054).

- Contact a media specialist.

Release Number: 21-077

SOURCE U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Related Links

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After a few years of instability, in-fighting and inattention from Houston ISD leaders left the districts Student Congress on the brink of collapse, a new group of high schoolers want to rebuild the organizations voice in HISD.

Their effort, however, faces an immediate challenge: the HISD administration.

District officials are asking the board of trustees Thursday to sever ties with the seven-year-old Student Congress, arguing that adult alumni have seized control of the group and irreparably damaged its relationship with key administrators.

The squabble pits the administration of Texas largest school district against a small band of current students and several HISD graduates, who disagree over the best route for giving teens a greater say in key district decisions after years of scant activism.

Rather than repairing its relationship with HISD Student Congress, district officials want trustees to support the creation of a new student advocacy organization. The group would meet at least four times per year with senior HISD leaders, receiving support from a district liaison.

In statements over the past week, HISD administrators said the alumni remain an intractable force in Student Congress, highlighted by efforts to banish current students from the body and a refusal to communicate with district leaders.

They also noted that Student Congress typically lacks representation from all high schools, including many campuses with higher percentages of lower-income, Black and Hispanic students.

The district would like to ensure that students have a voice on issues that impact the educational experience and would like all voices from all of the districts high schools represented, HISD administrators said in a statement. The Student Congress has not met these needs, so the district is taking action to ensure student voices are heard moving forward and in the long-term.

Student Congress advocates are fighting back against the moves, claiming the HISD leadership is misleading board members and attempting to quash students voice. HISD Student Congress has no formal authority to dictate policy, but the organization is designed to serve as a sounding board for students and administrators on important district issues.

We really just want to build a community among students who are interested and invested in our future, said Jazmin Alvarez, a junior at Eastwood Academy and Student Congress leadership team member. At this point, student voice really is needed, especially in our administration.

The Student Congress new leadership team boasts 12 members from seven of HISDs nearly 50 schools serving high school-age students. Six of the seven campuses with representation traditionally rank among the highest-scoring in the district. The students are recruiting new members, hoping to attract a more diverse range of members.

The fractured relationship reflects the Student Congress inability to independently govern itself over the past few years, as well as the HISD administrations lack of institutional support for the student-led body.

Originally founded in 2014 as a grass-roots advocacy group, HISD Student Congress membership dwindled to a handful of students by 2020. The decline came as HISD leaders provided limited guidance and minimal financial resources to the organization, some former members said.

Tensions within Student Congress boiled over last year when current students tried to rebuild the body and impeach the organizations speaker, arguing in part that she kowtowed to former Student Congress leaders. The kerfuffle ended with Zaakir Tameez, an original Student Congress founder who graduated from HISD in 2015, attempting to ban the reform-minded teens from the group, three of the students said.

The people who are the ones controlling the Congress are not the high school students. Its controlled by college students, said David Dzul, a junior at DeBakey High School for Health Professionals, who received a banishment notice.

Tameez declined to comment on whether he issued such an order, citing concerns related to an unspecified ongoing investigation.

Ultimately, Tameez and a few other alumni devoted to supporting HISD Student Congress tried in late 2020 to reconstitute the organization with a new group of high schoolers, who now meet roughly once a week to map out revitalization plans.

Still, the continued involvement of HISD alumni in Student Congress has rankled district administrators, who described the graduates actions as alarming.

Based on some concerns over the past several years, its better to start anew, HISD Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan told trustees last week.

Some Student Congress alumni and current HISD high schoolers, however, are skeptical of the administrations intentions. They argue HISDs lack of support for the organization in recent years bodes poorly for elevating the voices of the districts nearly 200,000 students.

Student Congress has been brushed aside, undermined, neglected, Tameez said. And then the moment Student Congress is gaining new momentum, the district is perhaps apprehensive about that new momentum and seeks to cut that relationship off with Student Congress and create something that is well within their administration.

Athena Haq, a sophomore at the Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts and Student Congress member, said she worries about HISD administrators influencing a district-organized student advisory board. HISD officials originally said their body would operate under the direction of, and in conjunction with, district administration, though they changed that language this week to in collaboration with administrators.

Its just not authentic student voice if its facilitated by non-students, Haq said.

Some HISD trustees urged administrators and Student Congress leaders to hash out their differences ahead of Thursdays scheduled vote, but an agreement appears unlikely.

Several students and alumni said neither side has contacted the other, while HISD administrators did not directly respond to a question about any attempts in recent days to communicate with Student Congress. HISD officials said Student Congress leaders have been unresponsive in the past to district outreach, a claim the alumni denied.

If trustees vote to break ties with Student Congress, the organizations new student leadership still plans to keep the organization intact, even without a direct line to HISD leadership.

Regardless of how the vote goes, Student Congress is going to continue working just as we are now and we hope to recruit more, as weve been doing over the past weeks, Haq said. I see really big potential for Student Congress.

jacob.carpenter@chron.com
Were likely all familiar with the old anything stirring yet? It is a question that most of us face after we get married or if were with a partner for a long time.

Most of the time wed laugh it off, nod and agree, give the typical ah who knows! type of response. But for us that question involved smiling on the outside and silently crying on the inside.

But then weirdly, people seemed to slowly realise that things werent going to plan - and it felt worse when they stopped asking. Suddenly I was very aware that people had noticed that we couldnt seem to get pregnant - once or twice conversations would die down when I walked into a room. I could imagine them advising each other, dont mention babies if Jen comes in, I think theyre having trouble...paranoia.

Friends suddenly stopped talking about baby related things with me, out of kindness of course, but I didnt want to be treated any differently. It was a difficult, fine balance, of wanting to be included, yet not being able to think about babies without feeling my heart breaking a bit.

Years passed by, trying and failing to conceive. Month after month of hope followed swiftly by heartbreak. Watching family and friends announce pregnancies, attending their childrens Christenings and birthday parties, plastering a smile on in the hope you were hiding the heartbreak underneath.

The hardest was when someone told you they were pregnant. Youre genuinely happy for them, really. But the first thing you feel regardless, is a virtual kick to the stomach. When is it our turn?

You smile so hard your cheeks hurt, genuinely happy for the friend or family member that you love, wanting so much to share in their happiness, but feeling too much disappointment and devastation for yourself, trying hard not to run away and cry. It was so much easier to get advance warning, so I could deal with all of those emotions on my own, and then when I saw the person it was no effort to show my genuine happiness for them in a moment they absolutely deserved to celebrate.

After four years of trying, we turned to IVF.

At first it felt exciting. We had a plan! Early 2013, I took the planning as a very welcome distraction and threw myself into learning all I could about the process.It was daunting - so many medical terms and acronyms that scared the life out of me, not knowing what any of it meant and hoping we wouldnt need to find out either.

I looked at the prices. 4500 for IVF.

Ok, I thought, if we could manage 10,000 then that would give us two shots at this. We approached our credit union, explained what it was for, and they approved the loan. This was it.

Round one, we didnt get much change from our 10,000 and the pressure was immense. What if it doesnt work? How will we afford to try this again? How long would it take us to work and save what we need to try again? The odds of success, we were told by the clinic, were about 30%.

It puts a huge strain on your relationship. Both going through the same thing, and yet, not going through the same thing. I had to take all the meds, do the injections, have the scans, all while my husband felt helpless unable to do any of it.

We supported each other as best we could, by talking about it, and doing as much of it as we could together. Hed be beside me for every injection, wed hope together that this might just work, and worry together about what sort of marriage we might have if it failed.

After our first round was cancelled because I didnt respond properly to the medication, came our lowest point. We couldnt do it on our own, and now science was failing us too. I had let my hopes go so high that when it was cancelled, the crash back to earth was almost too much.

But what choice is there? You get back up and try again.

This time we took a few months away from it, we both needed the break. It completely consumes your life, you cant plan ahead, you cant really even focus on anything in the present. It had taken over every corner of our lives, I had completely withdrawn from family and friends, stopped socialising. Taking a break was needed, so we did, enjoyed Christmas and decided to try again in the new year.

This time, I started writing about it. Just to get the thoughts and emotions out of my mind where they felt crowded and overwhelming, and it helped a lot. Back then, Instagram wasnt really a thing, and if IVF is discussed very little now, it was less so then. By writing things down and putting them on a blog, people eventually started to find me and I found some support. I decided to take it in small pieces, afraid of that crash of failure again, if I did it in small steps, surely it would be more manageable.

But as it turned out, it worked.

In February 2014, we had seven frozen embryos as a result of the IVF treatment - an amazing result, beating the odds. We transferred one on Valentines day that year, and in November of that year, our first son Rian was born. We were unbelievably lucky, and we knew it. He was everything we had dreamed of for all those years, and he made it all worth it.

A year later we decided to try for a sibling for him. We had six embryos frozen with the clinic, and transferred one. Unfortunately that failed. Grieving for an embryo is hard to describe to people - its not quite a baby yet but to us, it was. Hard fought for, a collection of cells to some but a bundle of dreams to us.

In early 2016 we tried again and that October, our second son Alex arrived. Technically twins - conceived at the same time but just born two years apart! I love telling people that. Our little family fun-fact.

Below: Rian and Alex in Derryounce woods in Portarlington.

Isnt it amazing though when you think of it? The odds of these two amazing little boys even existing in the first place, and here they were. I still cant really believe theyre ours.

As I type this, I can feel the kicks of Embryo 4 as I call her, inside my belly. Thumping away as if to say heres some heartburn, Mam! No longer an embryo but according to my pregnancy app, the size of a coconut now at 31 weeks.

In July 2020, after a year of not being sure whether to push our luck again, in the end we decided to try one more time for our third baby. Four embryos at the clinic - you have to pay to keep them frozen, and every so often the clinic writes and reminds you the fee is due. Do you want to keep them for another year?

What a decision. How could we let them go? What if they never get the chance to become people? The randomness of them even still being in there - any one of them could have been transferred the previous three times. Of the two children we had, it could have easily been any of the other embryos. Who might they be?

It might sound hard to understand, and it is! But letting them go is a very difficult thing to imagine. That, coupled with the fact Im not getting any younger, led us to think that this was our last shot, it would either work or not, and at that point, we would draw a line under it and leave infertility and IVF behind us. Ten years of marriage, we have been luckier than we ever dreamed.

However, Embryo 4 had other ideas and yet again, against the odds, decided that three children would be the number for us! We found out over the summer that its a little girl, and in a couple of months, our two boys will graduate to big brothers.

Throughout the years of dealing with this, I wrote about it. I became passionate about raising awareness of infertility, the effects it has on your life, on your marriage or partnership, on yourself. It's part of who you are, it filters into every aspect of your life. Writing about my experience has opened doors for me too, it has given me opportunities like writing this very article, it puts me in touch with people who know what it feels like to be us.

When we did our treatment last July, I documented the process on my Instagram page. I showed people what the embryo looked like, the video of our daughter being conceived! I showed the embryologist explaining what was about to happen, which part of the embryo will form a baby and which part will form a placenta. I documented the torture that is the wait to find out whether the treatment had worked or not.

I was inundated with messages from people - either going through it, about to go through it, or that they knew someone who was doing it and now they had some insight into what was involved. Being open about it has its downsides, but it has so many more rewards.

Infertility is not something we should be embarrassed or ashamed about. If you had any other ailment, would you be embarrassed? Can you think of any other medical issue someone might have where people tell them to just relax, if its meant to be it will work out? Me neither.

One in six of us will experience infertility, both men and women, in fact it is equally spread between both sexes.

The most common question I am asked is, what advice would you give? Knowledge.

Inform yourself, talk if you feel able to, ask questions. Support is out there, much more so now than when I did it. Help is available.

I am hugely aware of the position of privilege I am in due to our success to be able to be comfortable in being open. So many couples do this treatment three, four five or more times and are still battling to get that magic pink line.

Think before you ask questions, or make comments. Be kind - we never know what battles people are fighting behind closed doors.

Meanwhile, if youre reading this and want to reach out - just get in touch. Things seem less scary when were not on our own - and youre certainly not on your own.

Read Jens Blog on www.thescenicroutebyjen.com and find her on Instagram @thescenicroutebyjen

For further support on IVF and infertility, Jen recommends The National Infertility Support and Information Group, Ireland. (NISIG Ireland).

The independent organisation is not associated with any clinic. It is offering online supports at this time.

Below Jen with her boys and husband Gavin Moran
Croatia, the EU gave the green light to 86m for broadband Funds from the ERDF

(ANSA) - TRIESTE, 10 FEB - BRUSSELS - The EC gave the green light to over 86 million euros to bring the new generation broadband to Croatia, thanks to the European Regional Development Fund. In line with EU digital strategy and policies, the investment will provide Croatian rural and suburban settlements with access to high-speed Internet services.



According to the European Commissioner for Cohesion, Elisa Ferreira, "by helping to overcome the digital divide between urban and rural populations, this project will open up new economic opportunities and stimulate Croatia's socio-economic development." Better connectivity will be vital for rural crafts and micro-enterprises, which will enter new markets and benefit from e-services for the first time. Moreover, the government will expand its digital education services and systems, including distance learning. (ANSA).





 Copyright ANSA - All rights reserved
LONDON, Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Telit, a global enabler of the Internet of Things (IoT), today announced that its ME310G1-WW module has successfully completed lab tests at TIM's Brazilian operations using LTE NB2. The tests are a major milestone toward TIM's commercial launch of NB2, which is ideal for smart grids, fitness/medical wearables, smart cities and other IoT applications that require long battery life, reliable connectivity and downlink speeds of up to 120 kbps. For more information, visit https://contact.telit.com/nbiot.

In the tests, the Telit ME310G1-WW achieved throughput of 115 kbps, just shy of LTE NB2's maximum of 120 kbps. These speeds:

Help maximize battery life by enabling larger data packages and thus more power-efficient communications.

Support rapid transactions for point-of-sale applications, including self-serve kiosks, to maximize customer satisfaction.

Enable over-the-air firmware (FOTA) updates, eliminating the time and expense of manually updating each device in the field.

Compliant with 3GPP Release 14, the Telit ME310G1-WW features Power Saving Mode (PSM) and extended Discontinuous Reception (eDRX) to maximize battery life, and coverage enhancement features to ensure reliable indoor connectivity. At just 15x18 mm, the ME310G1-WW is ideal for ultra-compact applications such as smart utility metering, industrial sensors, and wearable medical devices.

Based on the Qualcomm 9205 LTE IoT modem from Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., the ME310G1-WW has pin-to-pin compatibility with other members of Telit's xE310 family, enabling integrators to design a single PCB layout for any combination of 2G and 4G technologies. The ME310G1-WW supports GNSS for precise location, global LTE-M and NB-IoT bands and fallback to legacy 2G networks, making it ideal for IoT applications that need connectivity in Brazil and throughout the rest of the world.

"Our successful tests of the Telit ME310G1-WW pave the way for Brazilian businesses, utility companies, agriculture and financial services, industries we have been investing in to provide the best connectivity operations in the country," said Paulo Humberto Gouvea, Head of Corporate Solutions at TIM Brazil.

"By utilizing the Qualcomm 9205 LTE IoT modem to power the ME310G1-WW, Telit will be able to support best-in-class connectivity, with lower power consumption for emerging IoT applications," said Vieri Vanghi, Vice President, Product Management, Qualcomm Europe, Inc. "The Qualcomm 9205 LTE IoT modem is purpose-built for IoT designs, and we are excited to see how Telit will expand IoT to new applications and use cases."

"The Telit ME310G1-WW will give Brazil's IoT integrators, enterprise IT vendors and their customers the industry's most compact, high-performance solution for leveraging TIM's brand-new LTE NB2 network," said Manish Watwani, Chief Marketing and Product Officer, Telit. "These tests demonstrate several of NB2's key benefits, including speeds that enable over-the-air firmware (FOTA) updates and fast, power-efficient data transfers."

The ME310G1-WW supports Telit OneEdge, Telit's award-winning, module-embedded software system with pre-packaged, secure, easy-to-use deployment and management tools. OneEdge dramatically simplifies design, deployment, and management of IoT products and solutions.

The module also supports Telit's AppZone, an embedded application development environment. This allows software developers to leverage the processing resources of the Telit modules to run their application, avoiding the addition of an external MCU and ultimately reducing the total cost of ownership of the solution.

About TIM

"To evolve together with courage, transforming technology into freedom" is the purpose of TIM, which operates throughout Brazil with telecommunications services, focused on the pillars of innovation, customer experience and agility. The company is recognized for leading important movements in the market since the beginning of its operations in the country and is at the forefront of society's digital transformation, in line with the signature of the brand: "Imagine possibilities". Since 2015, it has been a leader in 4G coverage in Brazil, connecting, including the countryside, to enable innovation in agribusiness. It was a pioneer in the activation of 5G networks in the country, with the creation of Living Labs in 2019, and is ready for the next generation of mobile networks.

TIM values diversity and promotes an ever more inclusive culture, with a work environment based on respect. The company is committed with best practices in Environmental, Social and Governance, and that is why it is part of important portfolios in the Brazilian Stock Market, such as S&P/B3 Brazil ESG, Efficient Carbon Index (ICO2) and Business Sustainability Index (ISE), being the Telecom operator for longer consecutive years in this list (13 years). TIM is also part of B3 New Market, acknowledged as the highest level of Corporate Governance, and it was the first Telecom company recognized by the Controller General of the Union (CGU) with the "Pro-etica" seal.

For more information, visit: https://www.tim.com.br.

About Telit

Telit (AIM: TCM), is a global leader in Internet of Things (IoT) enablement, with an extensive portfolio of wireless connectivity modules, software platforms and global IoT connectivity services, empowering hundreds of millions of connected 'things' to date, and trusted by thousands of direct and indirect customers, globally. With over two decades of IoT innovation experience, Telit continues to redefine the boundaries of digital business, by delivering secure, integrated end-to-end IoT solutions for many of the world's largest brands, including enterprises, OEMs, system integrators and service providers across all industries, enabling them to simplify, connect and manage IoT at any scale.

Copyright  2021 Telit Communications PLC. All rights reserved. Telit, Telit OneEdge and all associated logos are trademarks of Telit Communications PLC in the United States and other countries. Other names used herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Qualcomm is a trademark or registered trademark of Qualcomm Incorporated. Qualcomm 9205 LTE modem is a product of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries.

Media Contacts

Leslie Hart

Telit

+1 919-415-1510

[email protected]

Lora Wilson

Valerie Christopherson

GRC for Telit

+1 949-608-0276

[email protected]

SOURCE Telit

Related Links

http://www.telit.com


New Delhi:

The BJP parliamentary board meeting began on Monday at party headquarters where the party leaders will decide the candidate for the vice-presidential poll.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and party president Amit Shah were present in the meeting. Senior party leader Venkaiah Naidus name is doing the rounds as NDAs front runner.

The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) is believed to be in favour of fielding a Vice-Presidential candidate who belong to upper caste and from south India.

Delhi: BJP parliamentary board meeting on #VicePresidential candidate begins at the party headquarters. pic.twitter.com/6J4zGYnN4p  ANI (@ANI_news) July 17, 2017

It is being considered that RSS has given this suggestion because NDA has fielded a Dalit candidate Ram Nath Kovind for Presidential position. Ram Nath Kovind also belong to North India.

As per the sources in BJP, RSSs first choice is Maharashtra Governor C Vidyasagar Rao. RSS believes that Vidyasagar can be frontrunner as he is having good amount of experience in public life.

Also Read: Venkaiah as NDA's choice for vice-president? Naidu denies but speculation rife

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Theres a growing outcry in Uganda from relatives of missing opposition supporters who were detained by security forces ahead of last months election. As Halima Athumani reports from Kampala, the government confirms 44 opposition supporters have gone missing since November
(@ChaudhryMAli88)

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Senator Shibli Faraz said on Thursday that the government was ready to move forward in addressing the legitimate demands of the employees

ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th Feb, 2021 ) :Minister for Information and Broadcasting Senator Shibli Faraz said on Thursday that the government was ready to move forward in addressing the legitimate demands of the employees.

In a tweet, he refuted statement wrongly attributed to him about government employees regarding reduction of their expenditures and said that he has never issued such statement.

Shibli Faraz said that some elements trying to create misunderstandings for political goals were attributing such statements to him.

The minister expressed the hope that media would play its due role on this issue.
Announcement of Periodic Review: Moody's announces completion of a periodic review of ratings of EDP - Energias de Portugal, S.A.Global Credit Research - 10 Feb 2021Paris, February 10, 2021 -- Moody's Investors Service ("Moody's") has completed a periodic review of the ratings of EDP - Energias de Portugal, S.A. and other ratings that are associated with the same analytical unit. The review was conducted through a portfolio review discussion held on 9 February 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.EDP - Energias de Portugal, S.A.'s (EDP) Baa3 senior unsecured rating reflects the benefits of EDP's diversified business and geographical mix which reduce cash flow volatility; its high share of regulated/contracted earnings, which account for around 80% of EBITDA; the group's track record of rotating assets and recycling capital into new investments in order to alleviate funding needs; and the 19% ownership by China Three Gorges Corporation (A1).Moody's rating also considers the variability of hydro output in Iberia and of wind resources in EDP's renewables business; the execution risks associated with the E12 billion gross investment programme during 2019-22; the adverse impact of the coronavirus pandemic on electricity demand and power prices in Iberia and Brazil; and the company's relatively high dividend payout and leverage, although the latter is declining.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.The principal methodology used for this review was Unregulated Utilities and Unregulated Power Companies published in May 2017. 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. Paul Marty Senior Vice President/Manager Project & Infrastructure Finance Moody's France SAS 96 Boulevard Haussmann Paris 75008 France JOURNALISTS: 44 20 7772 5456 Client Service: 44 20 7772 5454 Neil Griffiths-Lambeth Associate Managing Director Project & Infrastructure Finance JOURNALISTS: 44 20 7772 5456 Client Service: 44 20 7772 5454 Releasing Office: Moody's France SAS 96 Boulevard Haussmann Paris 75008 France JOURNALISTS: 44 20 7772 5456 Client Service: 44 20 7772 5454  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. 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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. 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New modelling data from the Ontario government shows "two stories" in the province, one a success story about Ontario's COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths, and the other about the threat of variants.

B117 COVID-19 variant in Ontario (Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table)

"If the B117 variant behaves as it did in the United Kingdom, cases will start to grow here again in late February or early March," Dr. Adalsteinn Brown, co-chair of the Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table said at a press conference on Thursday.

Ontario control of COVID-19 variants (Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table)

Variants of COVID-19 account for somewhere between five and 10 per cent of COVID-19 cases in Ontario. As the B117 variant becomes the more dominant strain of the virus, total cases will start to drive up because its increased transmissabilitiy.

COVID-19 variants triggering exponential growth (Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table)

Dr. Brown stressed that the effective reproductive number needs to be below 0.7 to be able to control COVID-19 cases, a number that has only been seen in "really rare' intervals.

Scenarios for lifting public health measures in Ontario (Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table)

Dr. Brown said Ontario's "most likley" outcome is the "medium" scenario in the province's modelling data, which would result in between 5,000 and 6,000 cases a day by the end of March.

"Aggressive vaccination and sticking with stay-at-home order will help avoid a third wave and a third lockdown," the information from the Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table reads."

This information comes as the province has moved three regions out of the stay-at-home order, Hastings Prince Edward Public Health, Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington Public Health, and Renfrew County and District Health Unit. The order will remain in an additional 28 public health regions until Feb. 21, which excludes Toronto, Peel and York region. The stay-at-home order will stay in effect in those three areas until Feb. 22.

Ontario's ICU occupancy (Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table)

Most ICU admissions in Ontario occur outside of the long-term care setting and more transmissable COVID-19 variants are expected to result in a significant burden on Ontario's intensive care units. ICU occupancy is expected to be close to 400, in Ontairo's most likely scenario, by the end of March.

Story continues

Ontario COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents (Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table)

On the more positive end of the spectrum, Ontario's COVID-19 cases have are decreaseing in virtually all public health units, but the spread of variants of concern will impact that progress.

Ontario's COVID-19 hospitalizations, ICU occupancy (Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table)

Hospitalizations have also dropped in the province, while ICU occupancy has remained more flat in recent weeks.

Check out our COVID-19 in Canada topic page for latest news, tips, health updates, cases and more.
New Delhi: Bigg Boss 14 contestants Rubina Dilaik and Jasmin Bhasin were embroiled in an ugly fight in the latest episode during a Ticket to Finale task.

Jasmin Bhasin, who is currently back in the house as housemate Aly Goni's connection, got engaged in a verbal spat with Rubina and her sister Jyotika.

"You are ugly mouth woman," Rubina told Jasmin during the fight. To this, Jasmin retorted: "You are an ugly woman top to toe."

Rubina hit back and said that Jasmin should keep her jealousy to herself.

Jasmin retorted, Khud aesi ki tesi karwaali poore show mein, jeetne ke liye (you have damaged your reputation in a bid to win the show)."

As the fight got heated, Rubina shouted at Jasmin that she is "spilling" her "unhappiness" on Aly. To this, Jasmin said she should not worry about Aly but about her husband, Abhinav Shukla, who was recently evicted from the house.

Jasmin then further attacked Rubina and said she isn't one of her family members who will listen to her orders. Rubinas sister Jyotika Dilaik then entered the fight and told Jasmin that she did not enter the show to listen to such rubbish talk from her. She then revealed that Jasmin spoke ill about Rubina and Abhinav outside the Bigg Boss 14 house. After Jyotika took a stand for her sister and slammed Jasmin, Rubina's fans started trending the hashtag #jyotikaistheboss on Twitter.

(With inputs from IANS)
A US appeals court refused Thursday to put a hold on the extradition of two men wanted by Japan on accusations that they helped smuggle former Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn out of the country in a box in 2019.

The Boston-based 1st US Circuit Court of Appeals rejected an emergency petition to halt Michael and Peter Taylor's extradition to give them time to challenge a lower court ruling.

The US government has said it could surrender the men to Japan as early as Friday, according to the Taylors' lawyers.

In a brief ruling, the 1st Circuit said the Taylors failed to show they are likely to succeed on the merits of their case.

A US appeals court refused Thursday to put on hold the extradition of Michael (pictured) and his son Peter Taylor who are wanted by Japan on accusations that they helped smuggle former Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn out of the country in a box in 2019

Taylor, a former Green Beret from Massachusetts, and his son are being sought by Japan so they can be tried on allegations that they aided Ghosn's (pictured) daring escape from the country while he was out on bail and awaiting trial on financial misconduct charges

An email seeking comment was sent to an attorney for the Taylors. Lawyers for the Taylors say the men cannot be extradited because 'bail jumping' is not a crime in Japan and, therefore, helping someone evade their bail conditions isn't a crime, either.

Their lawyers believe the men will be subjected to 'mental and physical torture' in Japan, describing its criminal justice system as 'akin to that of an authoritarian regime'.

Michael Taylor, a former Green Beret and private security specialist from Massachusetts, and his son are being sought by Japan so they can be tried on allegations that they aided Ghosn's daring escape from the country while he was out on bail and awaiting trial on financial misconduct charges.

The elder Taylor was allegedly paid $1.3million to help stash Ghosn in a box and transport him from Japan.

Michael Taylor said in an interview with The Associated Press this month that he fears they will be treated unfairly in the Japanese legal system and feels betrayed that the US would try to turn him over to Japan after his service to the country.

'You dedicate your time in the military and you serve in combat and you do a whole bunch of other things,' Michael Taylor said.

'And now they volunteer to extradite me and my son to Japan for something like this? Yeah, you feel a great sense of betrayal.'

The Taylors' defense team had lobbied the Trump White House to step in.

The father and son hired two high-powered attorneys with connections to former President Donald Trump - Abbe Lowell, who has represented Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and Ty Cobb, a former Trump White House attorney - in the hopes the case would catch Trump's attention before he left office.

Taylor had hoped President Joe Biden's administration would take a fresh look at the case, but the White House has not commented.

'My father is in his mid 80s now. We're going to get over there and we're going to get tortured. I'm not going to be here for my father's last days, which I'd like to be obviously. His grandson would like to be as well,' Michael Taylor said. 'Don't you think we've been punished enough already?'

In court papers this week, the US Justice Department called the claims in the Taylors' bid to block the extradition 'unprecedented and meritless' and noted that they had already been rejected by other judges.

An image from security camera video shows Taylor, center, and George-Antoine Zayek at passport control at Istanbul Airport in Turkey

These are the metal instrument cases that were allegedly used during Ghosn's escape from Japan to Lebanon through Turkey

This graphic shows details of how the escape occurred back in 2019

A DOJ spokesperson said anyone extradited to Japan to be tried for alleged crimes committed there 'will be afforded all due process and other rights typically available to all defendants facing criminal charges in Japan.'

The US Department of State agreed in October to hand the pair over to Japan, but a Boston federal court judge put the extradition on hold after their lawyers filed an emergency petition.

The judge rejected the petition last week, clearing the way for the extradition, before the lawyers appealed to the 1st Circuit.

Taylor has refused to discuss the details of the case because of the possibility he will be tried in Japan. But he insisted that his son 'wasn't involved' and was not in Japan when Ghosn left.

Prosecutors have described it as one of the most 'brazen and well-orchestrated escape acts in recent history'.

Ghosn wired more than $860,000 to a company linked to Peter Taylor shortly before the escape and Ghosn's son later made $500,000 in cryptocurrency payments, authorities said.

On the day of the escape, Michael Taylor flew into Osaka on a chartered jet with another man, George-Antoine Zayek, carrying two large black boxes and pretending to be musicians with audio equipment, authorities said.

Ghosn's escape came as he was awaiting trial on allegations that he underreported his future income and committed a breach of trust by diverting Nissan Motor money for his personal gain.

Taylor (right) has refused to discuss the details of the case because of the possibility he will be tried in Japan. But he insisted that his son (left) 'wasn't involved' and was not in Japan when Ghosn left

Taylor (right) and his son (left, when he was much younger) were arrested in May over their purported involvement in Ghosn's December 2019 escape and are being held in a Massachusetts prison

He headed to the Grand Hyatt in Tokyo and met up with Peter Taylor, who was already in Japan, authorities say.

The elder Taylor and Zayek met up with the two others at the Grand Hyatt and shortly after, they split up.

Peter Taylor hopped on a flight to China while the others got on a bullet train and went back to another hotel near the airport, where Taylor and Zayek had booked a room. They all went in; only Ghosn's rescuers were seen walking out.

Authorities say Ghosn was inside one of the big black boxes. At the airport, the boxes passed through a security checkpoint without being checked and were loaded onto a private jet headed for Turkey, officials said.

Ghosn, who led Nissan for two decades, rescuing it from near-bankruptcy, denies any wrongdoing.

He said he fled because he could not expect a fair trial, was subjected to unfair conditions in detention and was barred from meeting his wife under his bail conditions.

He is now in Lebanon, where he has citizenship but which has no extradition treaty with Japan.

Over the years, the elder Taylor has been hired by parents to rescue abducted children, gone undercover for the FBI in a sting on a Massachusetts drug gang and worked as a contractor for the US military in Iraq and Afghanistan. And this isn't the first time he has found himself in legal trouble.

In 2012, federal prosecutors alleged Taylor had won a US military contract to train Afghan soldiers by using secret information passed along from an American officer.

When Taylor learned the contract was being investigated, he asked an FBI agent and friend to intervene, prosecutors charged. Taylor spent 14 months in jail before agreeing to plead guilty to two counts.
Bank of Maharashtra gained 3.44% to Rs 15.94 after the public sector bank said it successfully raised Rs 205 crore through private placement of Basel III compliant tier II bonds.

The bank allotted 2050 Basel III compliant unsecured redeemable taxable subordinate tier II bonds. The bonds hold face value of Rs 10 lakh each and carry a coupon rate of 8%. Bonds will mature after 10 years i.e. on 11 February 2031.

The bank's net profit jumped 14.07% to Rs 154 crore on a 3.4% rise in total income to Rs 3,577 crore in Q3 FY21 over Q3 FY20. The bank's total Basel III Capital Adequacy Ratio stood at 13.65% with Common Equity Tier 1 ratio of 10.54% as on 31 December 2020.

Bank of Maharashtra is a major public sector bank in India. The Government of India held 93.33% stake in Bank of Maharashtra as on 31 December 2020.

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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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LADSON  A wildlife organization is calling on the Exchange Park to end its relationship with a national reptile expo company for health reasons.

World Animal Protection, a global animal welfare nonprofit, is asking Exchange Park officials to cancel the Feb. 13-14 Repticon Expo to help in mitigating the spread of diseases such as salmonella.

"Reptiles are known vectors of zoonotic diseases and the (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) holds them responsible for salmonellosis outbreaks every year which hospitalize people, said Ben Williamson, programs director for World Animal Protection.

Households with children under 5 are specifically warned against keeping reptiles, yet there are no age restrictions at these events," he added. "At a time when were observing the CDCs advice over COVID-19, it seems crazy not to follow its guidance on avoiding contact with reptiles.

The Repticon Expo organizers said they are taking all the necessary precautions to help prevent the spread of any disease.

This is a retail sale, said Lisa Parker, Repticons venue coordinator in a prepared statement. All elements of a social gathering have been eliminated. There are no educational areas, no food concessions, no seating areas, and no area in which to congregate.

The company website bills Repticon as an opportunity to buy reptiles and other exotic pets from quality breeders and get advice from breeders and experts.

Parker said the company is taking several social distancing precautions, which include mask wearing and face covering, spacing sales booth at least 6 feet apart, limiting capacity, and clearing the building every two hours to allow sellers to sanitize their sales booths.

We are taking more precautions to promote the safety of the shoppers and sellers at our temporary retail location than most big-box stores in the area, Parker said.

Williamson said the spread of disease is only part of what troubles his organization about an event like Repticon. The group also has concerns about how the animals for sale are housed.

They are kept in small boxes and Tupperware containers with very little food and water," he said. "Events like this are ignoring the best advice of health experts and as a result there is a very real health risk for the public like salmonella.

The S.C. Department of Natural Resources said they will be monitoring the two-day event.

We are keenly aware of events like Repticon, said DNR spokesman David Lucas. Our staff is intent on making sure everyone participating in those events are doing so within the guidelines and regulations that are out there.

The buying and selling of reptiles, especially turtles, is big business in South Carolina. Last year state lawmakers passed legislation implementing strict rules on the sale, purchase or transfer of native reptiles and amphibians out of the Palmetto State. It also prohibits the release of nonnative species.

The law imposes penalties for releasing non-native species into the wild. Violating the law is a misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail and a $2,500 fine.

No person or organization is exempt from the new law. Even zoos and conservation organizations must abide by the rules.
See how Pidj.co business text messaging changes customer communication. Text DEMO to 855-818-7435. Texting is an integral part of successful business communication, customer service and marketing. Text messages get read  its as simple as that. Texts wont be ignored, and the data on text messaging proves that out.

Pidj.co, a nationwide provider of business texting services, announced its official launch and the availability of its flagship messaging, marketing and customer engagement platform, which enables businesses to use their existing business phone numbers to connect with customers instantly via automated and two-way text messages on their mobile devices.

Pidj.co is the latest venture for communications industry veterans and business partners Erik Drumm and Jeff Beck, who serve as CEO and President, respectively. The two entrepreneurs own multiple companies and are former owners of YipTel, a Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) provider that sold to Broadvoice in 2018. While at YipTel, the executives added business texting technology from startup Pidj into their lineup and quickly saw the business potential for the new service. Two years later, they decided to buy in as majority owners. Pidj founders Brandon Elwood and Jared Davis remain co-owners and oversee business development and technology, respectively.

We saw the addition of Erik and Jeff as a big advantage for Pidj, said Elwood. Their experience and connections are exactly what we needed to accelerate the growth of our business text messaging company.

The new company, Pidj.co, is announcing the immediate availability of its business text messaging platform, which gives businesses a way to reach customers where they live  on their mobile devices.

Texting is changing the way businesses interact with their customers, said Drumm. It gives companies the chance to create an instant and personal connection with customers for sales, delivery and support. Thats everything in our digital-first world.

Pidj.cos business text messaging platform is ideal for customer notifications, promotions and live interactions, such as:

 Appointment Reminders

 Delivery Tracking

 Customer Surveys

 Marketing Drip Campaigns

 Sales Inquiries

 Customer Support

 More

Texting is an integral part of successful business communication, customer service and marketing, said Drumm. Text messages get read  its as simple as that. Texts wont be ignored, and the data on text messaging proves that out.

Gartner research shows text messages have, on average, a 98 percent open rate and a 45 percent response rate  all of which are significantly higher than with traditional communications methods using voice calls, voice mail and email.

Consumers are so used to the convenience of texting, they now expect to be able to text the businesses they work with, said Beck. In fact, some businesses are getting texts now and dont even know it. With the Pidj.co solution, they can quickly text-enable their existing business phone numbers and start interacting with customers today.

Pidj.cos business text messaging platform enables texting on an existing landline, VoIP, or toll-free telephone numbers, allowing organizations of all sizes to communicate directly with their customers using an intuitive web-based portal.

Pidj.co Business Text Messaging Platform Capabilities

The platform automates outbound text messages, including:

 Textcasts  Send a broadcast of text messages to a targeted list of contacts.

 Timetexts  Automate texts to be sent at a specific time for reminders and follow-up.

 Series  Schedule texts at predefined intervals to targeted contacts.

The platform also supports inbound text routing, including:

 Pathways  Handle inbound messages with automated responses or actions.

 Live Agent  Engage in two-way text conversations in real time.

Unlike other texting services, our platform supports Live Agent Routing, which enables businesses to route customer texts to contact center queues just like phone calls, said Beck. This includes advanced capabilities like directing texts by skills or departments and monitoring queues and individual interactions.

The Pidj.co platform also has an open applications programming interface (API) to integrate seamlessly with existing software, such as contact center, shipping, customer relationship management (CRM) and more.

Pidj.co Business Text Messaging Platform Availability

The Pidj.co business text messaging solution is available for self-signup at Pidj.co.

Pidj.co also makes its solution available to authorized indirect sales partners through relationships with national master agents.

Based on our long history in the channel, both as a partner and as a provider, we understand the value of indirect sales, said Beck. Partners are more important than ever in helping businesses to understand, source, deploy and manage technology solutions. Business texting is in high demand and represents a significant opportunity for telecom agents, VARs and marketing companies.

The company also offers a white-label program for telecom providers, managed services providers, real estate companies, or other partners that want to offer turnkey, branded solutions to their customers.

For more information on the Pidj.co business text messaging platform, visit http://www.pidj.co.

Customers and partners can experience the platform features instantly by texting demo to 855.818.7435.

To request a full demo of the Pidj.co platform, customers and partners can visit https://pidj.co/request-demo/ or text hello to 855.818.7435.

For more information on channel and wholesale partnerships, visit http://www.pidj.co/partners/.

About Pidj.co

Pidj.co empowers organizations to connect with customers and other stakeholders with real-time, personalized communications via text messaging. The companys business text messaging platform enables automated outbound text messages to be broadcasted to a targeted list of contacts as a one-off or a scheduled series. Uniquely, the Pidj.co platform also supports inbound text routing, including automated responses or actions or two-way text conversations with live agents. The platform is ideal for customer notifications, promotions and live interactions, such as appointment reminders, delivery tracking, customer surveys, marketing drip campaigns, sales inquiries, customer support and more. The Pidj.co business texting solution is available as a retail subscription service from Pidj.co and its authorized sales partners or as a white-label platform to wholesale partners seeking a branded business texting solution. For more information, visit Pidj.co online at http://www.pidj.co, or text us at 855.818.7435.

Media Contact:

Khali Henderson

BuzzTheory (for Pidj.co)

khenderson@buzztheory.com

480.999.5297
Public Safety Minister Bill Blair rises during question period in the House of Commons on Dec. 11, 2020. (The Canadian Press/ Patrick Doyle)

Political vs Principled: Civil Rights Proponents Concerned Over Recent Government Actions to Address Hate

Recent moves by the federal government to address hate groups and online hate speech has civil liberty advocates concerned that political considerations could be overriding the rule of law.

John Carpay, founder and president of the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms, believes the government has shown bias by its lack of condemnation of leftist groups often violent activism following the death of George Floyd last May in contrast to its willingness to take action in response to the storming of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.

Ideally in a free society, if people believed in the rule of law, they would denounce both the storming of the Congress as well as the many violent, destructive riots throughout 2020, Carpay said.

Yet through their silence, it seems that the federal government is not afraid of the arson and looting and killing that took place during all these other marches. So thats a big problem when people take a political rather than a principled approach.

On Jan. 25, NDP leader Jagmeet Singh introduced a motion to use all available tools to address the proliferation of white supremacists and hate groups starting with immediately designating the Proud Boys as a terrorist entity. The motion received unanimous support in the House of Commons.

The federal government was already considering the designation four days after the breach of Capitol Hill.

On Feb. 3, Public Safety Minister Bill Blair declared the Proud Boys and three other groups as terrorist organizations. Canada will not tolerate ideological, religious, or politically motivated acts of violence, Blair said at a press conference.

At the same time, he noted in particular that the decision was not political in nature even though it was being made just weeks after the Jan. 6 incident.

Certainly, the events of Jan. 6 and the great public concern arising from that unsurprisingly did initiate a political response. But this process of listing a group as a terrorist entity cannot be political. It has to be based entirely on evidence, intelligence, and the law.

The designation of a group as terrorist gives the government sweeping powers, including the ability to seize a groups assets. John Robson, a professor of history at Augustine University and an Epoch Times contributor, said the approach goes against English common law traditions.

The idea of prior restraint and proscription and simply declaring people outlaws by an act of the ministerit is incredible to me that such things could happen and could happen uncontroversially. The Proud Boys are declared a terrorist group. People are like, Well yeah, I dont like the Proud Boys, but whats to stop this power from being used in other contexts? Robson said in an interview.

If were really going to take action against somebody, as Magna Carta said, weve got to bring them into court, weve got to show cause, and weve got to get a ruling from a jury or a judge.

Robson is not surprised that Conservative MPs stood lockstep with the other parties on Singhs motion, saying its in line with what he characterizes as the partys recent shift to the left.

The federal government also wants to implement measures to regulate posts on social media with new legislation. Heritage Minister Steven Guilbeault told the House of Commons heritage committee on Jan. 29 that social media fed escalation that led to what we saw on January 6. He promised legislation to create a new government regulator that could levy fines on social media companies that allow hate speech to stay on their platforms.

Carpay believes the governments approach is misguided.

These people are fixated on content and focused on speech that they dislike, whereas the focus should be on the manner of expression.  In a free country, you dont abuse your free expression by looting and vandalizing and destroying property and making unauthorized, inappropriate illegal entries into spaces, he said.

Its unnecessary and very dangerous to have further restrictions on free speech that go beyond what is already there, he added, noting that the Criminal Code already has provisions in place prohibiting the wilful promotion of hatred.

He also added that the biggest threat to free speech is self-censoring.

Self-censorship kills free speech more than any law or government policy. And the best way to defend free speech is to exercise free speech and not allow yourself to be intimidated by name-calling thats bound to happen, Carpay said.
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Vancouver, Feb 11, 2021 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Join Ellis Martin for a conversation with Gerald Panneton , the Executive Chairman of Gold Terra Corp ( CVE:YGT ) ( OTCMKTS:YGTFF ). Mr. Panneton reviews progress from the early results of the 10,000 meter drill program at the Newmont Option Drilling Program at the Yellowknife City Gold Project, targeting more high-grade intersects. The Project is located in the prolific Yellowknife greenstone belt, covering 70 kilometers of strike length along the main mineralized break in proximity to the former high-grade Con and Giant gold mines which have produced over 14 million ounces of gold.The Yellowknife City Gold Project is close to vital infrastructure, including all-season roads, air transportation, service providers, hydro-electric power and skilled tradespeople. Ells Martin is a shareholder of Gold Terra Corp.To view the interview, please visit:About Gold Terra Resource Corp.

Gold Terra Resource Corp. (CVE:YGT) (OTCMKTS:YGTFF) owns a 100% interest in the Yellowknife City Gold ("YCG") Project, encompassing 790 sq km of contiguous land within 12 kilometers of the city of Yellowknife. The Project is located in the prolific Yellowknife greenstone belt, covering 70 kilometers of strike length along the main mineralized break in proximity to the former high-grade Con and Giant gold mines which have produced over 14 million ounces of gold. The YCG Project is close to vital infrastructure, including all-season roads, air transportation, service providers, hydro-electric power and skilled tradespeople. On November 4, 2019, Gold Terra announced an Inferred mineral resource of 735,000 ounces of gold for the YCG Project, consisting of a pit constrained Inferred mineral resource of 11.6 million tonnes averaging 1.4 g/t for 523,000 ounces of contained gold and an underground Inferred mineral resource of 1.2 million tonnes averaging 5.7 g/t for 212,000 ounces of contained gold.
ALEXANDRIA, Va., Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Burke & Herbert Bank invites northern Virginia high school seniors to register for Bank Day 2021. Participating seniors can win up to $7,500 from the Virginia Bankers Association (VBA) by submitting an essay about banking, financial services, and the vital role that banks play in the community.

Bank Day is a statewide program sponsored by the VBA Education Foundation. Bank Day began when the third Tuesday in March was declared Bank Day by the Virginia General Assembly in 1991. The purpose is to provide an opportunity for high school seniors to learn about banks and their role. Due to the pandemic, Bank Day will be virtual. Students will have access to an online Bank Day resource from March 15-April 2, 2021. Registrants selecting Burke & Herbert Bank as their host will receive additional resources, including a virtual opportunity to learn from our bankers and get answers to their specific questions.

A total of $29,000 will be awarded to twelve students across the Commonwealth, to include six regional and six honorable mention winners. One of the regional ($2,500) winners will be named the statewide runner-up winner, earning an extra $3,000 and one of the regional winners will also be named the statewide winner, earning an extra $5,000 for a total scholarship of $7,500. Burke & Herbert Bank's prior Bank Day participants have done quite well. Four seniors in the last four years have won awards, including two regional winners, and one grand prize winner.

Interested students must register online by March 5th through the VBA registration link. Additional details and the link can be found at burkeandherbertbank.com. Registrants should indicate "Burke & Herbert Bank" as their "host" bank on the registration form for access to additional resources.

Burke & Herbert Bank & Trust Company, established in 1852, is the oldest bank in the Commonwealth of Virginia and the oldest continuously operating bank in the Washington DC area. The Bank offers a full range of personal and business banking products and services designed to meet customers' banking, borrowing, and investing needs. Burke & Herbert Bank & Trust Company is headquartered in Alexandria and operates more than 20 branches in Northern Virginia.

Member FDIC

CONTACT:

Jane Petty

703-216-5491

SOURCE Burke & Herbert Bank
The Junta de Andalucia plans to begin vaccinating those over 90 years of age, who do not live in residences, against the coronavirus this week.

This will encompass some 37,000 people, according to the spokesman for the Andalusian Government, Elias Bendodo.

Bendodo also said that the first dose of the vaccine will also start to be given to home help personnel, which amounts to about 35,000 workers.

But, he warned, "Until more vaccines arrive and there is a high percentage of immunised people, no one will be able to rid us of new waves."

Bendodo urged the central government, headed by Pedro Sanchez, to demand more doses for Spain from the European Union in order to reach the summer with 70 per cent of the population immunised. Throughout February and March, Andalucia will receive just over a million doses, but it needs three million to reach the 70 per cent goal.

AstraZeneca for the under-50s

The decision of Spains Ministry of Health that the AstraZeneca vaccine should only be given to people between 18 and 55 years old, has forced the regional government to redesign the planned inoculation schedule.

Bendodo said that the Junta has prepared a new roadmap with the groups of people they want to be vaccinated as soon as possible. This week the central government authorised the vaccination of "essential workers" including police officers, military personnel, firefighters and teachers, as long as they are under 55.

These are in addition to health workers who are not on the Covid frontline, including physiotherapists and dentists, who are on the next target priority list.

As well as the essential workers mentioned above, the Junta de Andalucia also aims to use the AstraZeneca vaccine for transport workers, taxi drivers, employees of service stations and essential services such as electricity and telecommunications, workers in the food processing and production chain and journalists.

Elias Bendodo stressed that delivering this vaccination plan is viable as long as there are sufficient doses for it.

Mass vaccination plans

The spokesman for the Andalusian Government also reported that a team made up of professionals from the Ministry of Health is already working on a mass vaccination plan across the eight provinces when the central government doubles the delivery of doses..
In less than a week of Facebook's CEO Mark Zuckerberg making an appearance on the Clubhouse app, the firm is now reportedly building its own version.

Clubhouse is an audio-chat social media platform that is available by invite-only, but has climbed the popularity ladder in just a few months.

People familiar with matter told The New York Times that Facebook executives have ordered employees to create audio chat rooms, which is known internally as Fireside.

Zuckerberg appeared in The Good Time Show Sunday to discuss the future of virtually and augmented reality, but listeners of the discussion speculated that it was a reconnaissance mission for his own company.

Facebook is reportedly building its own version of the new social app Clubhouse. Clubhouse is an audio-chat platform that is available by invite-only, but has climbed the popularity ladder in just a few months

DailyMail.com has reached out to Facebook for comment, but has yet to receive a response.

Moments after news spread the Zuckerberg made a surprise appearance on Clubhouse, Twitter was filled with conversations about the CEOs motives.

Sal Rodriguez shared a tweet that reads: Listening to Mark Zuckerberg chat on Clubhouse, it's impossible not to wonder how long before Facebook releases its own version of this product.

One user called 'Amy' thinks the CEO could make his own spin off of 'audio rooms' that would be available on Facebook, WhatsApp and Messenger.

Moments after news spread the Zuckerberg made a surprise appearance on Clubhouse, Twitter was filled with conversations about the CEOs motives

One user called 'Amy' thinks the CEO could make his own spin off of 'audio rooms' that would be available on Facebook, WhatsApp and Messenger. And if the latest report from The New York Times is true, these users may have called it first

And if the latest report from The New York Times is true, these users may have called it first.

People familiar with the matter told The New York Times that Zuckerberg has long been interested in audio communication forms, but Fireside is still in its earliest stages of development.

Emilie Haskell, a Facebook spokeswoman, told the new source: Weve been connecting people through audio and video technologies for many years and are always exploring new ways to improve that experience for people, Emilie Haskell, a Facebook spokeswoman, said.

Facebook has been branded the king of copycats among the social media world.

The reputation stems from its first attack on Snapchat in 2017 when it added Stories to Instagram.

People familiar with matter told The New York Times that Facebook executives have ordered employees to create audio chat rooms, which is known internally as Fireside.

However, the move seems to have paid off as the feature has more than 500 million daily active users while Snap says it has about 238 million, as reported on by the Washington Post in August 2020.

Its latest offence, also a feature in Instagram, pulls from TikTok.

Facebook launched Reels last year that offers short-form video editing tools that lets users be creative with 30-second video clips with captions and music.

While TikToks entire model makes the same features available, but extends the clip time to 60 seconds.
Jacob Rees-Mogg accused Sadiq Khan of overseeing 'loony left-wing wheezes' today after the London mayor unveiled a new body that could remove statues and alter street names in the capital that are deemed offensive

The Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm was announced today and will include art historian Aindrea Emelife and chairman of City Sikhs Jasvir Singh among 15 panellists.

The homepage of the commission notes that London's statues, plaques and street names 'largely reflect a bygone era' and it seeks to improve diversity in public spaces.

It prompted a colourful response from patrician Mr Rees-Mogg, who branded the mayor 'Red Khan'.

The Commons Leader said councils should be responsible for naming streets, with the MP for North East Somerset advising Sadiq Khan to not 'interfere in things that aren't his responsibility'.

'Who would have thought that you'd have a more left-wing leader of London than Ken Livingstone? And now we do, and Red Khan is he,' Mr Rees-Mogg told the Commons.

'It is quite wrong that these loony left-wing wheezes should be inflicted upon our great metropolis, and I think the mayor in his zeal is potentially treading on the toes of councils anyway - that councils have the right to name streets, by and large, not the Mayor of London, and I don't think he should interfere in things that aren't his responsibility.

'As I was saying on the honours list, we should celebrate and glory in our wonderful history and in the great heroes of our nation going back over centuries.'

It came as Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick said the City of London risks damaging its 'rich history' if it goes through with a BLM-inspired bid to topple two statues.

Earlier today the Mayor of London unveiled his diverse 15-strong taskforce to review landmarks in the capital.

The team includes an academic who implied that all international examples of white supremacy can be traced back to Britain, and a campaigner who once confronted the Queen to demand she apologise for historical injustices.

Jacob Rees-Mogg accused Sadiq Khan of overseeing 'loony left-wing wheezes' today after the London mayor unveiled a new body that could alter street names in the capital

Sadiq Khan's Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm was announced today and will include art historian Aindrea Emelife (above right) and chairman of City Sikhs Jasvir Singh (lefthand picture, far right) among 15 panellists.

The City of London Corporation last month declared it would remove two huge sculptures depicting ex-Lord Mayor William Beckford (right) and philanthropist MP Sir John Cass (left) over their historic links to the slave trade.

Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick (pictured) said the City of London risks damaging its 'rich history' if it goes through with a BLM-inspired bid to topple the two statues

Councillors are set to discuss the proposals - laid out in a report by its Tackling Racism Taskforce - in a private meeting today. The statues are located in its Guildhall headquarters (pictured)

The City of London Corporation last month declared it would remove two huge artworks depicting ex-Lord Mayor William Beckford and philanthropist MP Sir John Cass from its Guildhall headquarters over their historic links to the slave trade.

It comes as:

Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick allegedly wrote to s enior officials, including the Lord Mayor William Russell, urging them to leave the statues where they are

Councillors in the City prepare to discuss the statue proposals - laid out in a report by its Tackling Racism Taskforce

Churchill College at Cambridge prepares to hold a debate on the wartime Prime Minister's 'backward' views

Boris Johnson last night joined the national clamour for a statue of Captain Sir Tom Moore

A spokesman for the Mayor of London said in a statement: 'The mayor makes absolutely no apology for creating a commission to help ensure everyone can take pride in our city's public landscape.

'London is one of the most richly diverse cities in the world, yet our public spaces don't fully represent who we are and the values of tolerance and inclusion that lie at the heart of our city.

Full list of statues on land owned by the Greater London Authority... including Churchill and Nelson Statue of Winston Churchill in Parliament Square The full list of statues, monuments and plaques on land owned by the Greater London Authority and under Sadiq Khan's control: Parliament Square Gardens Sir Robert Peel - statue Benjamin Disraeli, Earl of Beaconsfield - statue Edward Stanley, Earl of Derby - statue Viscount Palmerston - statue Field Marshall Jan Christian Smuts - statue Sir Winston Churchill - statue Nelson Mandela - statue David Lloyd George - statue Mahatma Gandhi - statue Dame Millicent Fawcett - [plinth includes images of 50 other suffragists] Trafalgar Square Nelson's Column - statue/monument Bronze bas-reliefs x4, base of column - monument Bronze lion sculptures x4, base of column - monument Major-General Sir Henry Havelock - statue General Sir Charles Napier - statue King George IV - statue Admiral Cunningham - bust Admiral Beatty - bust Admiral Jellicoe - bust Fountains x2 with sculptures of Dolphins & Tritons - feature Imperial Standards of Lengths, historic bronze inlay - feature 4th plinth sculpture, with temporary art installations - feature Advertisement

'By bringing together a range of people, through an open selection process, with proven leadership ability, expertise and influence, the commission will work with councils and partners to ensure we tell the full story of our capital.

'It's a great pity that the minister seems to have no interest in that diverse history being told.'

The Prime Minister's press secretary, Allegra Stratton, defended Mr Rees-Mogg's use of the word 'loony'.

Asked about the remarks during a Westminster briefing, she said: 'I don't think it is as bad as some of the language I have seen and heard.'

She said she would not be 'particularly upset' if such a term was used against her, when it was put to her that the term derives from the term 'lunatic'.

Councillors in the City are set to discuss the statue proposals - laid out in a report by its Tackling Racism Taskforce - in a private meeting today.

But Mr Jenrick is understood to have written to senior officials, including the Lord Mayor William Russell, urging them to leave the statue where it is.

He said it is in the 'City's own interests that heritage and tradition are given robust protection' in a letter seen by The Daily Telegraph.

He stressed that while 'history is ridden with moral complexity', ministers want local authorities to 'retain and explain - not remove - our heritage'.

Mr Jenrick pointed out that the plans for a new law on cultural and historic heritage were already in motion which would give the the Secretary extra powers to block statue removals.

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 January, the Communities Secretary pointed out that the plan would stop statues being removed by the 'decree of a cultural committee of town hall militants and woke worthies'.

But even with the proposed law change, The City of London Corporation's Policy and Resources Committee announced it had voted to remove the statues of Mr Beckford and Sir John from their historic Guildhall headquarters.

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.

Responding to Mr Jenrick's letter, the council insisted removing them was the 'correct' thing to do and all planning permission procedures - and Government guidelines - will be followed.

A City of London Corporation spokesperson said: 'We wrote to the Secretary of State last month outlining the reasons behind our decision and the proposed next steps.

'The Policy and Resources Committee has agreed what we think is the correct response to a sensitive issue.

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

'The view of elected 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.

'A working group will now consider the steps required to remove the statues and look at options for where they could be re-sited, with historical context, on public display.

'As Guildhall is a Grade I-listed building, we will need to seek planning permissions and we will of course comply with any new legislation which might be brought in.'

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.

The list - compiled by the Stop Trump Coalition - pinpoints the locations of 125 under-fire landmarks featured on a map.

The website lists the Beckford Statue on it's map, with a caption reading: 'Inherited sole interest in 13 sugar plantations in Jamaica and owned approximately 3,000 enslaved Africans.

'Served in Jamaican National Assembly before returning to England in 1744.'

Outrage over statues 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.'

Tory MP Gareth Bacon said today: 'No politician should be allowed to erase large swathes of British history. But that's exactly what Sadiq Khan's new unelected statue-toppling commission has been appointed to do.

'Worryingly, the Mayor is responsible for the statues of our nation's greatest heroes in Parliament Square and Trafalgar Square. That puts Winston Churchill's statue and Nelson's Column in the crosshairs of Khan's activist commission.

'It's not hard to imagine Khan pandering to loony protesters' demands to tear monuments down. The Mayor has repeatedly jumped on passing bandwagons to distract from his failure to keep our city safe.

'If Sadiq Khan tries to topple statues in these national squares, the Government must take responsibility for them away from City Hall.'

They are among 125 under-fire landmarks featured on a map by Topple The Racists, a website pinpointing their locations

Fury over Sadiq Khan's woke statue taskforce: London mayor unveils monuments commission - including social rights activist who praised people who defaced a statue of Sir Robert Geffrye and academic who said white supremacy can be traced back to Britain

By Jack Elsom for MailOnline

Sadiq Khan was today accused of 'reducing London's history to politics' after unveiling his diversity taskforce to review landmarks in the capital.

The 15-strong team includes an academic who implied that all international examples of white supremacy can be traced back to Britain, and a campaigner who once confronted the Queen to demand she apologise for historical injustices.

The project has come under fire from politicians concerned that figures of our national past could be erased by 'unelected activists'.

But the Mayor of London stressed the purpose of the Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm was not to remove statues, only to 'raise public understanding'.

Statues, street names, building names and memorials in the capital will all come under the spotlight.

Sadiq Khan has unveiled his diversity taskforce that will review London's landmarks in the wake of last year's Black Lives Matter protests

Toyin Agbetu grabbed headlines in 2007 after disturbing a ceremony at Westminster Abbey marking the abolition of slavery

The thorny subject of evaluating existing statues will be probed by the panel - many of whom have already been publicly outspoken on the matter.

Toyin Agbetu, a social rights activist, praised activists who painted red the hands of slaver Robert Geffrye's statue in Hackney, to symbolise the 'blood on his hands'.

He hailed them as committing 'a transgressive, yet progressive act of public service' by 'making visible the history and human cost of those involved in such monstrous evil'.

Agbetu grabbed headlines in 2007 after disturbing a ceremony at Westminster Abbey marking the abolition of slavery.

With both the Queen and PM Tony Blair present, he yelled: 'You should be ashamed. We should not be here. This is an insult to us.'

The Commission also includes prominent art critic Aindrea Emelife, who supported the statue of Bristol slave trader Edward Colston being replaced with a BLM activist.

Colston was memorably ripped down and thrown into the harbour during protests last year.

It also includes famous faces such as Emmy-winning actor Riz Ahmed (left), who has starred in Star Wars: Rogue One and US series The Night Of. The Commission also includes prominent art critic Aindrea Emelife (right)

Conservative candidate for mayor Shaun Bailey said: 'Sadiq Khan wants to reduce our history to politics'

It has been replaced with a likeness of Jen Reid, the BLM protester who climbed up on the empty plinth and clenched her fist in the style of Black Power.

At the time, Ms Emelife she described 'seeing the crane lift this up onto the plinth from our lookout point. The rush of adrenaline as this project is realised guerrilla style.'

City Hall said the panel was selected through an 'open recruitment process' and will serve initially for two years.

It also includes famous faces such as Emmy-winning actor Riz Ahmed, who has starred in Star Wars: Rogue One and US series The Night Of.

A staunch critic of the Prime Minister, on a television show he once called Mr Johnson 'an out-and-out complete c***' who is 'overtly racist' and 'blatantly lies to the public'.

He also said he hates the word 'diversity' because it does not equate with true representation.

Fellow panellist, business academic Lynette Nabbosa, who founded an organisation for role models to engage with black youth, has previously suggested that white supremacy is rooted in British history.

She wrote in October: 'The UK seems to be the common denominator in atrocities across the world.

Colston was memorably ripped down and thrown into the harbour during protests last year

'No matter where you find examples of white supremacy, all roads lead back to my country of birth.

Curator Sandy Nairne, pictured showing the Duchess of Cambridge around the National Portrait Gallery, is also a member of the Commission

'It was the UK's racism that birthed slavery and colonialism. We say it is in the past but our schools, colleges, universities, streets, museums etc have never stopped honouring the enforcers of our oppression.'

Shaun Bailey, Conservative candidate for London Mayor, said: 'London is a city built on history  sometimes bad, more often good, and always complicated. But Sadiq Khan wants to reduce our history to politics.

'A commission of fifteen unelected activists should not get to decide which statues to pull down and which streets to rename  which history my children are allowed to see.

'My preference is always to put up new statues instead of tearing down old ones. That's how we truly celebrate our black role models and pioneering women.'

Mr Khan announced his intention to establish the Commission last July following the police killing of George Floyd in the United States.

The death reverberated across the world, and spurred activists in the UK to topple and deface statues of historical figures.

Announcing the panel, Mr Khan said: 'For far too long, too many Londoners have felt unrepresented by the statues, street names and building names all around them, and it's important that we do what we can to ensure our rich and diverse history is celebrated and properly commemorated in our city.

'I'm delighted to bring together this inspiring group of leaders from across London to form the Commission for Diversity in the Public Realm. Each member brings with them great insight and knowledge that will help to improve the representation of our public landscape.'


Joe Biden made his first appeal to Xi Jinping as U.S. President on Wednesday, pressing the Chinese leader on trade and Beijing's crackdown on Hong Kong democracy activists as well as other human rights concerns.

Biden raised concerns about China's economic practices

The two leaders spoke just hours after Biden revealed plans for a Pentagon task force to review the U.S. national security strategy in China. Biden's first call also came after his announcement that he is imposing sanctions against Myanmar's military regime following the coup in the Southeast Asian country this month.

A White House statement said the President raised concerns regarding the "coercive and unfair economic practices" of Beijing, Chicago Tribune reported. Biden also pressed Xi on Hong Kong, Uighur, ethnic minority human rights abuses in the western Xinjiang province, and his actions against Taiwan.

After the call, Biden posted on Twitter, "I told him I'll work with China when it benefits the American people."

On the Chinese New Year occasion, Chinese state broadcaster CCTV said Biden and Xi "exchanged greetings and had an in-depth exchange of opinions on the bilateral relationship and major international and regional issues."

When he served as Barack Obama's vice president, Biden, who had dealt with the Chinese leader, used his first three weeks in the White House to make several calls with other leaders in the Indo-Pacific region. Biden tried to send the message that he would take a completely different approach to China than former President Donald Trump, who in the U.S.-China relationship placed trade and economic issues above all else.

With Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, Biden underscored the U.S. commitment to protecting the Senkaku Islands, a group of uninhabited islets administered by Tokyo but claimed by Beijing late last month.

In his appeal to India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Biden highlighted the need for "close cooperation in promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific." And last week, in his appeal to Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, the President emphasized that the two nations' coalition was crucial to the region's stability, the White House said.

Read also: China Formally Detains Australian Journalist Cheng Lei for Allegedly Spreading State Secrets

Biden ends weeks of silence between US-China leaders

On Wednesday night, President Joe Biden held his first official phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping, ending weeks of conspicuous silence between them.

Biden confronted Xi during the call about China's coercive and unequal economic policies, the crackdown in Hong Kong, human rights violations in Xinjiang, and more assertive behavior in the region, including against Taiwan. Among other issues, they also discussed the COVID-19 pandemic and climate change, as per Politico via MSN.

On Wednesday, two senior administration officials said that the call, which came three weeks after Biden's inauguration, resulted from comprehensive discussions with U.S. allies in Europe and Asia on the development of a new China policy.

Before calling Xi, Biden talked to over a dozen other heads of state, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, prompting concerns about whether Washington was giving Beijing a head start on ramming through its trade initiatives to foreign policy.

In their initial contacts with China, the officials admitted that the new administration was "very careful." Still, they said the preparatory talks with allies had put Biden in a "strong position" to negotiate with his Chinese counterpart.

Read also: Chinese Communist Party to be Held Accountable for Activities to Knee Cap the West

China's Xi told Biden confrontation would be a disaster

According to US News, the conflict between China and the United States will be a disaster for both nations. Chinese President Xi Jinping told U.S. counterpart Joe Biden that the two sides should re-establish the means to prevent misunderstandings and misjudgments.

According to the discussions, Xi also told Biden that he hopes that the U.S. can carefully deal with issues linked to Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Xinjiang, which has a dispute to Chinese sovereignty and territorial integrity' report published on Thursday by Chinese state television.

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Photo: (Photo : Screenshot from Instagram)

An Ohio boy walks for the first time after being paralyzed due to a disease. The hospital staff from Akron Children's Hospital in Ohio cheered on the young boy's milestone.

This emotional event for the 2-year-old Ohio boy, Alaric Bridgeman, was captured on video. The hospital uploaded it on Instagram, where it received thousands of views.

ALSO READ: Young Boy Orders More than $100 Worth of McDonald's, Mom Was Clueless





The Ohio boy

According to an article published by PEOPLE, the 2-year-old Ohio boy suffered from a rare inflammatory disease. This rare disease is called transverse myelitis. Alaric started suffering from this last December, and since then, hospital staff has been working hard to help him recover faster.

Transverse myelitis is a disease that causes injury and inflammation to the spinal cord. This disease caused the young boy to be completely paralyzed.

However, last December 20, a few weeks after being admitted to the hospital, hospital staff noticed that the 2-year-old Ohio boy had some intentional movement.

According to the hospital, that is when everyone worked hard to help the young boy.

The 2-year-old boy recovers fast.

After displaying "intentional movement," and through hospital staff's help, Alaric was allowed to start working with physical therapists.

The 2-year-old boy trained with his physical therapists twice a day so that he could regain his movement.

Alaric's father also helped his son through recovery by taking him on walks around the hospital. The young Ohio boy would often befriend those they would pass at the hospital during the walks.

ALSO READ: Mother Rescues Son Trapped in Vase After Hide-and-Seek Goes Wrong





Ohio boy walks for the first time.

Last week, the Ohio boy's efforts paid off. After weeks of recovering, Alaric was able to walk for the first time.

Because he was about to be discharged, the hospital staff, the Alaric's army, cheered on the young boy's milestone.

In the post on Instagram, the hospital said, "It was a very exciting day to send Alaric home and see all the incredible progress he has made!"

What the hospital staff did was set up a mini race road on the hallway floor. The event was even complete with a banner that read, "I did it!"

The Ohio boy walks for the first time using his walker. When Alaric crossed the finish line, he was welcomed by his physical therapists. All of them gave the little boy a big hug.

ALSO READ: Connecticut Boys Donate Money to Animal Shelters; Money Was from Their Invention





Netizens' reactions to the hospital staff's support to the Ohio boy

After being uploaded on Instagram, it already had more than 5,000 views.

Some netizens thought the Ohio boy did a great job, "Good job, Bud! Keep working hard."

Another Instagram applauded the hospital staff who helped Alaric, "God bless him. Thank you to all the health care workers who have worked continuously to serve others."

A lot congratulated Alaric too.

ALSO READ: Viral Video: Memphis Dad and Son Duo Inspires Everyone with a Song About Career Possibilities


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Mumbai, Feb 11 : Bigg Boss 14 contestant Rubina Dilaik and evicted housemate Jasmin Bhasin, who is currently back in the house as Aly Goni's connection, were embroiled in an ugly catfight during a task related to ticket to finale.

In the upcoming episode, contestant Aly will be seen venting ire upon noticing that during the task he was playing all by himself while the other housemates were helping Rubina win.

In a fit of rage, Aly was heard saying that if people help one person and he gets out of the task, he would do anything to ensure the task is cancelled ("radd"), so that no one goes to the finale.

Aly then gets into a war of words with Rubina amidst the task and also with Jasmin. Rubina and Jasmin then engage in a ugly spat.

"You are ugly mouth woman," Rubina is heard saying to Jasmin.

Jasmin retorted: "You are an ugly woman top to toe." Rubina countered by saying that Jasmin should keep her jealousy to herself.

To this, Jasmin replied: Khud aesi ki tesi karwaali poore show mein, jeetne ke liye (you have damaged your reputation in a bid to win the show)." As the fight gets intense, Rubina is heard shouting to Jasmin that she is "spilling" her "unhappiness" on Aly. To this, Jasmin said she should not worry about Aly but about her husband -- evicted contestant Abhinav Shukla.

Latest updates on Bigg Boss Season 14

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text

Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-11 14:05:33|Editor: huaxia

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U.S. Senate on Tuesday voted to proceed with the second impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump. Opening arguments in the trial began Wednesday.

The Senate voted 56-44 that the impeachment trial of Trump is constitutional despite calls from some Republicans to dismiss proceedings. Six Republican senators voted with all 50 Democrats.

"The Senate shall proceed with the trial," said Democratic senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont, who is presiding over the trial, after the vote was tallied.

The vote came after House impeachment managers and Trump's defense team spent four hours debating over whether a president who is out of office can be subject to a Senate trial.

Congressman Jamie Raskin of Maryland, the lead impeachment manager, opened his presentation with a video showing disturbing footage of how protesters overran police and ransacked the Capitol.

The 13-minute video concluded with Trump's deleted tweet on Jan. 6, which said "these are the things and events that happen when a sacred landslide election victory is so unceremoniously & viciously stripped away."

"If that's not an impeachable offense, then there's no such thing," Raskin said.

Trump's legal team contended that Trump did not incite the rioters and that his speech about the election was protected by the First Amendment.

Trump's lawyer David Schoen charged that Democrats were using impeachment as a political "blood sport" to try to keep Trump from running for office again.

Opening arguments in the trial are set to begin Wednesday. It will continue at least through Friday, but could extend into next week.

The House impeachment managers and Trump's team will have 16 hours over two days each to present their case to the Senate, according to the agreement struck between Democrats and Republicans, as well as the House managers and Trump's legal team.

The House, where Democrats have a majority, voted to impeach Trump over "incitement of insurrection" on Jan. 13, a week after his supporters stormed the Capitol building.

Trump has rejected a request that he testify during the trial, and the former president's legal team argues that any conviction would be unconstitutional.

Senate conviction requires a two-thirds majority. Democrats, who only hold half of the 100 Senate seats, would need at least 17 Republicans voting to convict the former president.

Trump is the first president in the U.S. history impeached twice. In December 2019, House Democrats impeached Trump on two articles - abuse of power and obstruction of Congress - over his efforts to pressure Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden and his family. He was acquitted by the Republican-led Senate in February 2020.

Produced by Xinhua Global Service
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He became a celebrity thanks to his role on Bravo's Million Dollar Listing New York.

And top realtor and reality star Fredrik Eklund has now cemented his move to the West Coast by splashing out a shade over $7 million for a new home in Beverly Hills.

Eklund, along with his artist husband Derek Kaplan and their twins, have moved after months of renting into a five-bedroom, eight-bedroom mansion built in 2017, according to Dirt.com.

Million Dollar Listing New York star Fredric Eklund has splashed out a shade over $7 million for a five-bedroom, eight-bathroom mansion in Beverly Hills built in 2017

Realtor and reality star Eklund, 43, along with his artist husband Derek Kaplan and their twins, have moved into their own place after months of renting in upscale LA neighborhoods

The 5,674-square-foot residence follows the current trend of offering a combined living and dining open plan space under a high ceiling.

There's also a family room area living room area with fireplace and built-in bookshelves and it backs onto the kitchen.

The kitchen has a large island with breakfast bar and features stainless steel appliances, marble counter tops and custom cabinetry.

The 5, 674-square-foot residence follows the current trend of offering a combined living and dining open plan space under a high ceiling

There's also a family room area living room area with fireplace and built-in bookshelves and it backs onto the kitchen and opens out onto the artificial grass backyard

The kitchen has a large island with breakfast bar and features stainless steel appliances, marble counter tops and custom cabinetry

A family room includes built-in bookshelves and a marble fireplace and this, too, opens onto the backyard.

All five bedrooms have en suite bathrooms and , except for one, are situated on the home's second floor.

The main bedroom includes a fireplace and a marble bath.

The grounds offer room to roam on a third of an acre, and there's a swimming pool with raised spa and a built-in barbecue.

There's a stone patio area under a portico with skylights

The third of an acre property boasts a swimming pool with raised spa and a built-in barbecue

The house has a home office and a home gym
Tunis, Tunisia (PANA) - The Tunisian ministry of Economy, Finances and Investment support on Wednesday announced that 14 local banking institutions contributed to raising a syndicated loan of 465 million dollars for the Tunisian government
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by Melani Manel Perera

At a press conference, the cardinal appeals to the government to be vigilant. The situation is very serious and could undermine religious harmony and national unity. Religious movements that do not have an administrative structure need to be regulated.

Colombo (AsiaNews)  The situation is very serious in Sri Lanka and this directly affects religious harmony and national unity, said this morning Card Malcolm Ranjith, Archbishop of Colombo.

In an impassioned appeal, the prelate calls on the countrys leaders and the faithful to examine their way of life, its quality, and for action to regulate religious groups that do not have an administrative structure. This represents a serious problem.

In light of the gravity of the situation, the cardinal called a press conference at the Archbishopric, drawing the attention of government authorities to religious groups who want to destroy confessional harmony in the country.

For the prelate, this requires urgent action by the government to stop the drift towards extremism and violence. To this end, all Sri Lankans must work together, regardless of their faith.

Card Ranjith explained that the Catholic Church has no extremist programmes and has never pursued forced conversions or offered economic benefits to persuade people to embrace the faith. Our parents, our forefathers lived inspired by religious values.

Instead, he urged people not to convert to a faith for personal gain or benefit because this would represent an insult to religion.

This is a reference to the growing trend among some radical Protestant and Evangelical preachers to proselytise by offering benefits in order to convert the greatest number of people.

Unscrupulous individuals target especially the sick and suffering, people in need without food or work, promising immediate help.

Such groups also stir tensions and divisions between different ethnic and religious communities with the evil goal of fuelling chaos.

Ultimately, Christianity is a commitment and one cannot live Christianity without suffering, Card Ranjith explained. If we are unable to accept suffering and embrace the cross we cannot call ourselves true Christians.

One of the peculiarities of Catholics is respect for the identity of other religions. For the cardinal, this means that we are not engaged in this type of activity. In fact, I must stress that we are not part of this strategy . . . Jesus is not magic.

Impeachment prosecutors at Donald Trump's Senate trial Wednesday aired terrifying, never-before-seen footage of senior US politicians fleeing for their lives during last month's assault on Congress, a riot they argued was deliberately incited by the former president.

With painstaking, graphic presentations, Democratic impeachment managers walked senators -- many of them clearly shaken -- through hours of video, some of which came from security cameras and police bodycams and was being aired for the first time.

The aim was to remind senators, and watching Americans, just how bad January 6 got when a mob stormed the US Capitol after Trump told a rally near the White House that his failure to win reelection was due to vote rigging.

The ensuing mayhem left five people dead, including one woman shot after she invaded the Capitol and one policeman killed by the crowd.

ALSO READ | Why Did Nobody Protect the US Capitol? Police Draw Severe Criticism as 4 Dead in Attack by Pro-Trump Mob

Video played on the Senate floor showed then-vice president Mike Pence -- who was in the Capitol to preside over certification of Joe Biden's defeat of Trump -- being hurried down back stairs to safety by security officers, along with his family.

Top Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer is seen narrowly dodging a rampaging throng of pro-Trump rioters. And Senator Mitt Romney, a Republican who often opposed Trump and was turned into a hate figure by the president, is seen being steered away by an officer at the last moment as an angry crowd approaches.

In another segment, the mob can be seen smashing into the offices of Nancy Pelosi, speaker of the House of Representatives and another frequent target of Trump's most violent rhetoric.

"Nancy, where are you Nancy?" protesters call out as they search, not knowing that eight of her staff were barricaded behind a door in the same corridor. Pelosi herself had already been urgently evacuated.

"We know from the rioters themselves that if they had found Speaker Pelosi, they would have killed her," said impeachment manager Stacey Plaskett, a House delegate from the US Virgin Islands.

ALSO READ | Capitol Hill Violence Result of Trump's 'Contempt for Democracy', Says President-elect Joe Biden

Trump's defense lawyers, who will present their arguments later this week, say Trump can not be personally blamed for the riot and that the entire trial is unconstitutional because he has already left office.

But over several hours, impeachment managers laid out their case that the links are clear between Trump, his lies about election fraud, the violence, and the then-president's inaction as the riot unfolded.

"The vice president, the speaker of the house -- the first and second in line to the presidency -- were... put in danger because president Trump put his own desires, his own need for power, over his duty to the constitution and our democratic process," said Plaskett.

"President Trump put a target on their backs, and his mob broke into the Capitol to hunt them down."

Lead impeachment manager Jamie Raskin said Trump "completely abdicated" his duty. "Donald Trump surrendered his role as commander-in-chief and became the inciter-in-chief of a dangerous insurrection," Raskin said.

Republicans loyal so far

Holed up in his luxury Mar-a-Lago club in Florida, Trump has been gone from power for three weeks.

But the trial has put the flamboyant and deeply polarizing Republican once more at the center of the national conversation -- and underlined his still-powerful hold over the base of the Republican electorate.

Some Republican senators have expressed disgust with the pro-Trump riot, openly blasted Trump's refusal to accept defeat to Biden, and acknowledged the compelling case made by the Democrats with the aid of extensive video -- an unprecedented development on the Senate floor.

"The evidence that has been presented thus far is pretty damning," Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski said. "Of course it's powerful," Senator Bill Cassidy, who with Murkowski was among six Republicans in supporting the trial's constitutionality, said of the chilling footage. But "how that influences final decisions remains to be seen."

It is highly unlikely that enough Republicans will join the Democrats to secure conviction in the impeachment trial. This requires a two-thirds majority, meaning 17 Republicans would need to go along with the 50 Democrats.

Forced off Twitter and other social media platforms following his unprecedented attempt to foment a conspiracy theory about his election defeat, Trump has fewer outlets where he can vent.

But it is also believed that advisors are pressing him to keep back, fearing his reappearance could turn Republican senators against him.

According to US media reports, Trump was privately furious on the trial's opening day Tuesday at his own lawyers' lackluster performance. They get another chance beginning Thursday, with 16 hours allotted to each side.

Unlike Trump's first impeachment trial a year ago, which took three weeks, this one is expected to be over within days.
What: A meeting on promoting good governance of regional public institutions: the example of CAFRAD

Who: The African Development Bank

When: Thursday, 25 February 2021 09:00 -10:30 GMT

Where: Virtual

On Thursday 25, February beginning at 9 am GMT, The African Development Bank will organize a meeting with the theme, Promoting good governance of regional public institutions: the example of the African Training and Research Center in Administration for Development (CAFRAD)

Created in 1964, African Training and Research Center in Administration for Development (CAFRAD) is a pan-African intergovernmental organization headquartered in Rabat, Morocco. The organization has 37 member states and works to improve public administration and governance systems in Africa.

This virtual meeting will provide an opportunity to discuss emerging challenges facing regional public institutions in Africa -in the context of the COVID-19 crisis- and to present CAFRAD's new strategy, which revolves around four axes:

Operational and strategic diagnostics of the institution;

Identifying strategic options;

Defining a target organizational model;

Developing a roadmap.

Please find attached the agenda for the event.

Please register for the event here.

Abdoulaye COULIBALY

Director of the Office of Governance & Public Financial Management (ECGF)
European Commission to scale up technical assistance program for Ukraine by EUR 800,000 in cooperation on critical raw materials

The European Commission will expand the technical assistance program to Ukraine by EUR 800,000 within the framework of cooperation in the field of critical raw materials, European Commission Vice-President for Interinstitutional Relations and Foresight Maros Sefcovic said.

"Working towards launching a strategic partnership on raw materials and batteries," Sefcovic wrote on twitter.

"As part of it, ready to scale up our technical assistance program with Ukrainian government by including raw materials and topping-up its budget with EUR 800,000," he added.

The European Commission Vice-President also welcomed the State Service of Geology and Subsoil of Ukraine, which became a new member of the European Raw Materials Alliance.
On Jan. 6, a mostly White mob attacked the nations Capitol in a violent attempt to overturn the election of the nations second Catholic president and first female, Black and Asian vice president. Two weeks later, 22-year-old Amanda Gorman took the stage at the Biden-Harris inauguration in front of the same Capitol, and delivered a sermon on equality and hope in the face of lethal resistance with her poem, The Hill We Climb.

After her awe-inspiring performance, Gorman  the youngest inaugural poet in U.S. history  became an instant star and best-selling author, even becoming the first poet to perform at the Super Bowl. The recent Harvard graduate also became one of the nations most famous Catholics.

Although the medias coverage initially overlooked Gormans membership at South Central Los Angeless historically Black St. Brigid Catholic Church, religion reporters rushed to correct their oversight, with many citing Gormans faith as further confirmation that the inauguration ceremony was the most Catholic in history.

Yet Gormans presence as a skinny Black girl descended from slaves on the stage with President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and former Georgetown University president Rev. Leo ODonovan, who delivered the invocation, was even more significant, given the leading role of the church in the histories of slavery, segregation and white supremacy.

As Gorman reflected on the need for the nation to repair its brutal past, to confront the unyielding threat of white supremacy and fully embrace a truly equal and inclusive democracy, she literally stood at the intersection of the Catholic Church  the first global institution to declare that Black lives did not matter  and Black womens long fight for equal rights and declarations that the lives of Black people do matter.

Slavery in the land area that became the United States did not begin under Protestant influence in Virginia in 1619. It began in 1565 under Spanish Catholic auspices with the successful establishment of St. Augustine, the nations oldest surviving city. Beginning in the 15th century with a series of papal bulls, the Catholic Church authorized the perpetual enslavement of Africans and the seizure of non-Christian lands. It also morally sanctioned and participated in the transatlantic slave trade.

From the beginning, Africans and African-descended people fought the trade and enslavement in the Americas. And many did so as members of the Catholic Church. In the area that became the continental United States, the first underground railroad led south to a runaway haven in Spanish Florida built by formerly enslaved Black people who fled slavery in English territories and agreed to convert to Catholicism and join the Spanish military in exchange for their freedom.

Black Catholics, especially women and girls, also fought to forge a tradition of Catholicism free from slavery, segregation and white supremacy within the U.S. Church.

Baptismal, marriage and confraternity records from Florida, Louisiana, Maryland, Kentucky and Missouri are inundated with the names of free and enslaved Black women and girls, whose faithfulness not only fueled the early churchs development, but seeded antislavery and anti-racist sentiments in the faith.

Many established some of the nations earliest Catholic schools, orphanages, parishes and nursing homes freely open to Black people. Several of these women and their descendants also became members of the first Roman Catholic sisterhoods freely open to African-descended women and girls.

In Washington, D.C., home to one of the nations longest-standing Catholic communities, one of the most important challenges to slavery and white supremacy emerged from the Black Catholic community that worshiped on a segregated basis at the Jesuit-led Holy Trinity Catholic Church. Free and enslaved Black Catholics made up as much as a third of Holy Trinitys faithful. Among them were the family of William and Sarah McDaniel Becraft, both of whom are buried at Holy Rood Cemetery on Georgetowns campus.

In 1820, the Becrafts 15-year-old daughter, Anne Marie, established one of Washingtons earliest educational institutions open to Black children. She transformed her school into the first Catholic academy for Black girls in the country. Her academy, which became known as the Georgetown Seminary, was relocated in 1827 directly across the street from the Visitation convent and academy, where more than 80 enslaved men, women and children labored, and around the corner from Georgetown College, where more than 300 enslaved men, women and children did the same.

That Becraft not only dared to establish a Black Catholic school but routinely marched her troop of girls, dressed uniformly ... in procession ... to devotions on the sabbath at Holy Trinity Church in the hell of D.C. slavery, underscores both the subversive and emancipatory nature of Catholicism in the hands Black women and girls.

That William Becraft was the natural son of Charles Carroll of Carrollton, the only Catholic signer of the Declaration of Independence, and a free woman of color who worked in Carrolls household, also matters.

Carroll was an early benefactor of the U.S. church. He was a cousin of the slaveholding Jesuit priest John Carroll, the nations first Catholic bishop and Georgetowns first president  a reminder that white Catholics played leading roles in Americas slave during and even before the founding of the nation, despite the realities of anti-Catholicism.

Although Becrafts school would not survive her departure from D.C. to enter the Oblate Sisters of Providence in 1831, the legacy of her anti-racist vision for her church lived on through the herculean efforts of the nations Black Catholic nuns and laywomen, who often led efforts to desegregate institutions and society.

While many of these freedom fighters remain hidden figures, the lives and labors of a few  like South Carolinas early suffragists, the famed Rollin Sisters, Montgomery Bus Boycott plaintiff Mary Louise Smith, Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee leader Diane Nash and Selma march veteran Sister Mary Antona Ebo  are well known. Their hopes, dreams and legacies were on full display Jan. 20.

In daring to imagine herself a future president of Americas unfinished project, Gorman brought forward a revolutionary and womanist tradition of Black Catholicism. She also powerfully reminded her nation and church that Black women and girls are some of its most formidable prophets of democracy and Catholicism  if only they dare to listen.
DGAP-News: Pareto Securities AS / Key word(s): Miscellaneous

2G Energy AG (2GB): Potential block sale of existing shares



11.02.2021 / 17:35

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.





NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, CANADA OR JAPAN OR IN ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL.



2G Energy AG (2GB): Potential block sale of existing shares



Heek, Germany - 11 February 2021.

Mr. Ludger Gausling (the "Seller"), has retained Pareto Securities AS (the "Manager") to explore a potential block sale of existing shares (the "Offering") in 2G Energy AG (the "Company").

The Seller is contemplating selling up to 220,000 shares in the Company, representing approximately 4.91% of the Company's outstanding shares, through an accelerated book building process. The Seller reserves the right, at its own discretion, to sell fewer shares or no shares at all.

The Offering will commence immediately following the publication of this announcement and may be closed at short notice at the full discretion of the Seller and/or the Manager. A further announcement will be made following pricing of the shares in the Offering.

The Seller currently holds 912,785 shares in the Company, representing approximately 20.35% of the Company's outstanding shares. The Seller will enter into a 90-day customary lock-up with the Manager following the completion of the Offering for any of the shares the Seller currently hold in the Company which are not sold as part of the Offering.

For more information about the Offering please contact the Manager:



Pareto Securities AS

+47 22 87 87 50
Theres an emptiness in Edees life as vast as the wide-open spaces she sees as her emotional escape route. We dont know why, but we know its bad: Her sister is concerned that she might do harm to herself.

Thats the beginning of Land, and Edee is played by Robin Wright, who not only makes us feel her pain but also makes an effective and visually lush directorial debut about a woman who seeks to lose herself, but against her wishes is found.

Edee moves to the mountainous Big Sky country, running from something. She trashes her cellphone, occupies a deserted cabin that has been owned by her family for years, then tosses the keys to her rental truck to the man she hired to accompany her to the cabin and asks him to drive away.

She is alone, stranded. Miles from nowhere, with no electricity, no means of communicating or traveling  and no wilderness training.

The cabin, which hasnt been used for years, is a mess. She begins the long process of getting the cabin into livable shape, eating canned goods and keeping the fire lit in the fireplace.

There are tears, and lots of staring out into the mountainous wilderness (Alberta, Canada, is the stunt double for northern Wyoming). She imagines a man and a boy outside the cabin  perhaps her husband and son?

The first sign there will be trouble is when she is trapped in her outhouse (no indoor plumbing) by a hungry bear, who proceeds to trash the cabin and takes a good amount of food. Soon, winter approaches, and clearly she has underestimated the harsh weather of the mountains.

On the verge of either starving to death or freezing, whichever comes first, she is found by Miguel (Demian Bichir), a rugged outdoorsman who happens to pass by. Edee rebuffs his attempts to take her to the local hospital  shes done with humanity and civilization  so he nurses her back to health.

More Information *** Review "Land" Rated: PG-13 for thematic content, brief strong language, and partial nudity Running time: 89 min See More Collapse

When she is well, he returns regularly to train her in outdoor living. He teaches her how to hunt and fish, how to hike and travel safely, and other helpful tips. He becomes, as she calls him, her Yoda.

Like in the Star Wars movies, she says.

Whats a Star Wars movie? he asks.

Surviving is one thing, living is another. Miguel has some wise lessons about that too.

Bichir, a Mexican-born actor most recently in George Clooneys The Midnight Sky, turns in a charismatic, easygoing performance as Miguel, a saint whose main job seems to be acting as a conduit between Native Americans and the local townsfolk (he transports water to some of the Native Americans who, like Edee, dont have modern plumbing).

Wright is perfect, and Edee is an interesting character for her to play, but its fair to say that when Bichir first appears he livens up the film considerably. They work well together, and there is an economy of words between the characters that test both actors ability to communicate visually. Credit also goes to the lean screenplay by Jesse Chatham and Erin Dignam, and the cinematography by Bobby Bukowski.

One odd directorial choice made by Wright is the reason for Edees depression, which is hinted at throughout the film but not fully explained until the end.

But the reason is a good one, and the choice doesnt affect our feelings for Edee: From the beginning we root for her in an appealing film that has something to say about the current human condition.

Vendors display hunting rifles for sale at the Crossroads of the West Gun Show at the Pima County Fairgrounds, in Tucson, Ariz., on Jan. 15, 2011. (Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

Proposed Gun Law Would Ban Gun Shows at Orange County Fairgrounds

An Orange County supervisor is speaking out against a proposed bill that would prevent gun sales at the Costa Mesa fairgrounds.

The state Senate billbeing pushed by Sen. Dave Min (D-Irvine)would ban firearm and ammunition sales on public property throughout California, effectively ending gun shows.

Orange County Supervisor Don Wagner called the proposed legislature a bad idea, saying it wouldnt help reduce gun-related crime.

There is to my mind very little legitimate science or study behind the idea that gun shows are in particular a source of some of the tragedies that we have seen around the country in the last few years, Wagner told The Epoch Times on Feb. 11. I think it is just sort of a mindless guns are bad and lets ban them when we can approach.

The Orange County Fair and Event Center in Costa Mesa has hosted the annual Crossroads of the West Gun Show for the past 25 years. This bill would halt the shows return, and any of its kind throughout the state.

Min said in a Jan. 28 statement that the bill is an effort to stop the sale of illegal guns, guns sold to buyers without a background check, and gun thefts from careless vendors.

Our county fairgrounds are supposed to be family-friendly venues, long associated with wholesome events like county fairs, 4-H events, rodeos and music festivals, Min said. But instead, in recent years, theyve become most well-known for gun shows. That needs to change, and this bill would accomplish that change.

While the Second Amendment allows for the well-regulated sales and purchase of firearms, it does not require that taxpayer-owned properties be used to facilitate those transactions.

Responsible Ownership

But Orange Countys District 3 supervisor says banning guns doesnt address the true issue.

It also isnt going to solve the problem because those who wont obey the laws against shooting people arent going to obey the laws against having guns and those who will obey the laws can be counted on to responsibly use, store, and learn their weapons. Wagner said.

He said he believes a prohibition on gun shows is part of a larger effort from the Democratic platform to ban guns entirely.

It is straight from the Democrats ban guns, guns are bad playbook. The Second Amendment seems to be foreign territory to a lot of my friends and former friends up in Sacramento, he said.

He said registered gun owners have a right to have firearms. He recommends they take a course to learn how to use the firearm, and store it responsibly.

Responsible gun ownership is not only a fundamental right in this country but at the end of the day, were watching an increase in crime; and were watching Sacramento make it more and more difficult to put people who belong in jail, in jail, and keep them in jail. I think that its inevitable that folks begin to fear for their safety, and want to protect themselves and their families.

The bill states that gun shows bring grave danger to a community, citing gun-related tragedies that have occurred at gun shows from vendors accused of trafficking illegal firearms, those prohibited to buy firearms, and illegal importation of large-capacity magazines.

It also sends the message that California wont endorse the proliferation of more guns into local communities, Min said.

When kids across the state, including my three children, return to in-person instruction later this year, theyll once again have to go through the terror of active shooter drills, Min said. Thats just wrong.
Pharmaceutical company said it could take between six to nine months to produce Covid-19 vaccines that are effective against new variants of the virus.

A six-month turnaround for an updated vaccine would represent a vast improvement over traditional vaccine development timelines, The Guardian reported on Thursday.

"Work on the variants hasn't started today, it started weeks and months ago, as soon as those new variants were identified and... we are aiming to be in the clinic in the spring, with next generation vaccines for the new variants," said Sir Mene Pangalos, Executive Vice-President, BioPharmaceuticals R&D at

Pangalos added that the jabs could be available to the public by the autumn, assuming the regulatory bodies are satisfied with using studies into the body's immune response to the vaccine as the route to approval.

The company's vaccine, developed jointly with the University of Oxford, remains effective against the original virus and at least one variant, first discovered in Kent, England. But preliminary findings in a small-scale trial prompted South Africa to limit its use while it ascertains its efficacy against the variant that emerged there, the report said.

A number of Covid vaccines have shown lower efficacy in trials where the South Africa variant predominates -- earlier this week preliminary trials revealed the Oxford- jab provided little protection against mild to moderate infection, although it is still expected to protect against severe disease and death.

It has recently emerged that some cases of the Kent variant have a mutation also found in the South African variant, a development that scientists have cautioned needs to be taken seriously, not least since the mutation -- known as E484K -- has been linked to the ability for the South African variant to evade protection offered by some current Covid vaccines, the report said.

Panaglos said tests need to be carried out on the Kent variant with the E484K mutation.

--IANS

vc/bg

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The best bang for your buck! This option enables you to purchase online 24/7 access and receive the Sunday, Tuesday & Thursday print edition at no additional cost * Print edition only available in our carrier delivery area. Allow up to 72 hours for delivery of your print edition to begin. Print edition not available for Day Pass option.
Shrugging off the disruptions of the year gone by, businesses and agencies are looking for a strong revival in 2021. Over the next few weeks, Adgully  as part of our annual TRENDING NOW endeavour  will be presenting the strategies and views of a cross-section of industry leaders as they go about reclaiming lost time and market opportunities and build for a stronger future, armed with the lessons of 2020.

Tuhina Pandey, Communications Leader, IBM India & South Asia, crystal gazes into the key trends that will dominate in 2021, which include a Hybrid world, era of cooperative competition, paradigm shift in media landscape and engaging employees.

Outlook for 2021

The Hybrid World: The world is truly Hybrid and 2021 will see this play out clearly. While it will be a Digital First strategy as we come out of the lockdown, the world will eventually settle more as a Hybrid  both physical and digital. This Hybrid world will shape new business models, rules of engagement, talent pool, channels and styles of communication.

Era of Cooperative Competition: The need for co-operation and shared purpose took centre stage in 2020. The pandemic demanded a coherent response from all walks of society, polity, brands and firms towards the collective cause of the human race. Consumers are far more sensitive to the values that the brands stand for  well-being and welfare of the human civilization at large is at the very core of how people connect with a brand today.

Paradigm Shift in Media Landscape: News consumption soared at the onset of the pandemic, a trend which has held its trajectory so far. The mainstreaming of OTT (over-the-top) platforms, digital and social content, low cost/ light production formats are all trending. The rise of fake news and therefore the need and growth of fact checking industry is taking roots as well.

Employee Communication is the Next Frontier: Engaging employees is a clear challenge that emerged during the pandemic, the risk of over-communication and consumption fatigue setting in, is a boundary that was tested repeatedly. Video, podcast, infographics all were tried and test in various permutations and combinations. We will see employee communication much more in focus going forward and the strive for that perfect balance.

Great expectations

Unlocking of Life & Economy  I expect 2021 to unlock growth and bring in a sense of relative normalcy.

Robust Digital Infrastructure  In this digital era, the key to success is a strong digital backbone. I expect stable and sustainable connectivity and spend on digital infrastructure to power seamless environment of work and growth.

Key learnings from 2020

COVID-19 was and is by far the biggest teacher of our time. The world changed and so did the way we live and work. My top 3 lessons:
Mortar shelling in Afghanistan kills at least 10 civilians

Fire breaks out at West Virginia oil refinery in US

Iran ready to help improve the defense capability of Syria

European Parliament head proposes to strengthen sanctions on Russia

UK PM gets married in London

Armenia reports COVID-19 new 81 cases: for people die

EU countries invite US to issue joint statement against Russia

2 people die in Armenia road accident

Nigeria: Students taken hostage a month ago are released

61 quakes recorded in Congo per day

Syrian MFA: EU lost credibility due to blind obedience to US policy

Armenia ex-minister of emergency situations hospitalized with heart attack

Mher Grigoryan: Clarification of border points is possible only after withdrawal of Azerbaijani troops from Armenia

Suspicious deal: Whether there was profit from buying DNA IDs?

Armenia ex-president says current authorities are trying to blame Russia for defeat in war

4 people killed in Afghanistani bus attack

Robert Kocharyan: This war could not have happened, it was a consequence of the policy of the authorities

Kocharyan: I have to ask people how it happened that overwhelming majority elected this leader

Armen Gevorgyan presents 'Armenia' bloc program: We offer the concept of a working country

Biden's administration proposed to leave unchanged amount of financial support to Armenia

US Embassy in Baku calls on Azerbaijan to immediately release Armenian POWs

Luxembourg MFA calls on Azerbaijan to immediately release all Armenian prisoners

Russia peacekeepers climb to Armenia Gegharkunik Province village positions

Biden strongly condemns manifestations of antisemitism in US

Iran intensifies its diplomacy amid Armenia-Azerbaijan border tensions

Armenia acting PM on forthcoming snap parliamentary elections: We hope to get 60% of votes

Lukashenko accuses West of destabilizing situation in Belarus

Armenia Central Electoral Commission chief on snap elections: No legal basis for postponing, suspending any function

Armenias Pashinyan is met by Yerevan district residents chanting against him

We are ready to be fully engaged in negotiation process to resolve Karabakh issue, says Armenia acting PM

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan gives interview to Russia TV channel

Armenia acting premier: We are ready to start withdrawing troops at any moment

Canada MFA expresses concern over 6 Armenian soldiers capture by Azerbaijan troops

There are omissions in registration documents of political forces that applied to Armenia Central Electoral Commission

Armenia Central Electoral Commission chief: There is activeness in Yerevan for the past day or two

Three new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Group of US Congress members threaten Azerbaijans Aliyev regime with sanctions

Chicago mayor is sued for allegedly refusing interview with white reporter

Iran exports oil to US for first time after long interval

"Armenia" bloc top 50 MP candidates are announced

42 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Sri Lanka public beach is covered in charred plastic pellets due to fire in container ship

US preparing list of targeted sanctions on Belarus authorities

China believes it will own America by 2035, Biden says

15 al-Shabab militants killed in Somalia

Newspaper: Armenia political forces that applied for running in election impatiently await CEC decision

Newspaper: Changes are expected in Artsakh

California prisoner who considers himself Satanist beheads cellmate, dismembers his body

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM's "mutually beneficial" proposal to collapse state system?

Armenia National Security Service Reserve Officers' Union members meet with His Holiness Karekin II

EU is ready to help Armenia and Azerbaijan with border delimitation and demarcation

ARF-D member on Nikol Pashinyan: 103 years ago Armenia's founding fathers would have executed him for treason

Iran President hails brotherly ties with Azerbaijan

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

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
New Delhi, Feb 11 : In a case of trust and betrayal, a man who was given shelter by a couple has killed the woman along with his friends in an alleged robbery bid.

The police said that the accused, who has been identified as Sumit Kumar, strangulated and slit the throat of 32-year-old Tarannum in Delhi's Kishangarh area with the help of his friends in a robbery bid when her husband was away. The murderers could find just Rs 2,000 in the house though.

The woman's body was traced by the police at a hospital on February 9 at around 3 a.m. when the hospital authorities informed the cops about stab wounds on the neck.

During the course of investigation, it was revealed that Sumit Kumar was staying with the said couple. Accordingly, he was apprehended for questioning.

"The husband of the deceased woman had given shelter to Sumit, and called him brother," said a senior police officer.

During sustained interrogation, Sumit disclosed that he had hatched a conspiracy with his three childhood friends, namely Arun, Amit and Ravi, to eliminate Tarannum.

"He offered his friends Rs 1 lakh for the job and also convinced them that huge cash and jewellery were lying in the house, which could be taken after killing the woman," said Ingit Pratap Singh, DCP, South West Delhi.

One of the miscreants, Arun, conducted a recee of the area and the house before executing the murder plan.

As per the plan, they assembled in Malviya Nagar on February 8 from where Amit and Arun boarded an auto while Sumit and Ravi took off on a bike and reached Kishangarh. They then went to the house of the couple and strangulated Tarannum.

"However, Sumit noticed that she was still breathing and directed Arun to eliminate her. Arun then took a knife from Amit and stabbed her on the neck," the officer said.

Later they ransacked the house in search of cash and jewellery, but could only find Rs 2,000 and the mobile phone of the deceased.

Arun, Amit and Ravi then left the house and reached Select City Walk after disposing of the knife at a park near Khirki village.

Sumit stayed back and took the body to Fortis Hospital with the help of the caretaker in a bid to mislead the police. All four accused have been arrested.
[February 11, 2021] Finicity Promotes FCRA Accountability for Financial Data Aggregators

Finicity, a Mastercard company and leading provider of open banking solutions, has produced a detailed white paper with analysis showing why the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) should apply to providers of data aggregation services ("data agents") in certain circumstances. The FCRA protects consumers by establishing and protecting the right for individuals to dispute inaccurate data in consumer reports and get those errors fixed. The growth of consumer-permissioned data sharing in lending, insurance, and employment means that FCRA compliance will become a critical component of consumer protection. "As Open Banking puts consumers in control of their financial data and gives lenders a more complete view of consumers' creditworthiness, it's critical that the sharing of financial data is conducted fairly, accurately, and with the utmost transparency," said Steve Smith, Co-founder and CEO of Finicity. "Leveraging the protections of the FCRA will provide a vital regulatory framework that gives everyone in the financial ecosystem confidence in all of these areas, as well as manageable, familiar compliance standards for the data agents behind growing aggregation capabilities for underwriting use cases." Lenders have increasingly relied on new forms of financial data, such as information about a consumer's bank account transactions, which can enable better, more effective credit-decisioning for lenders. This data supplements the traditional credit score to expand the lenders' view of a borrower's financial health, and ultimately stands to increase financial inclusion. Not only does this financial data give lenders a more thorough credit review process, it also empowers consumers with control over their own financial data, which they can grant or revoke access to. "With the emergence of third-partydata aggregators and their ability to provide financial data for the purposes of credit decisioning, FCRA compliance is essential to protecting the consumer," said Chi Chi Wu, Staff Attorney with the National Consumer Law Center.



Finicity believes this new credit process also necessitates that it function in concert with fair reporting principles: data should be accurate, consumers should have access to their own data, and they should know when and how their data is used. In December 2019, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and the federal banking agencies released an Interagency Statement on the Use of Alternative Data in Credit Underwriting. In the Interagency Statement, the agencies recognized the consumer benefits of considering cash flow data in credit decisions and noted how consumers "can expressly permission access to their cash flow data"-through data agents-to enhance transparency and consumer control.

The CFPB is expected to propose new rules around consumer-authorized access to financial data in early 2021. Finicity is releasing a detailed white paper "FCRA and Data Agents" with analysis of the mechanics and benefits of FCRA compliance for data aggregators. The full white paper can be downloaded at: https://info.finicity.com/fcra-data-agents/. To learn more about Finicity, its data services, and its commitment to fast, reliable and high-quality data, visit www.finicity.com. About Finicity Finicity, a Mastercard company, helps individuals, families, and organizations make smarter financial decisions through safe and secure access to fast, high-quality data. The company provides a proven and trusted open banking platform that puts consumers in control of their financial data, transforming the way we experience money for everything from budgeting and payments to investing and lending. Finicity partners with influential financial institutions and disruptive fintech providers alike to give consumers a leg up in a complicated financial world, helping to improve financial literacy, expanding financial inclusion, and ultimately leading to better financial outcomes. Finicity is headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah. To learn more or test drive its API, visit www.finicity.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210211005291/en/

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Nairobi  Supreme Court judges Philomena Mwilu, Mohamed Ibrahim, Smokin Wanjala, Njoki Ndung'u and Isaac Lenaola have kept of the contest to ascend to the position of Chief Justice which was vacated on January 11 after David Maraga retired on attaining the age of 70.

None of the five filed an application for the job which attracted thirteen applicants including five judges, two of whom sit in the Court of Appeal.

Court of Appeal judges William Ouko and Martha Koome as well as Justices D.K. Marete, Mathew Nduma and Said Juma Chitembwe, judges of various divisions of the High Court, will face eight other contenders including Senior Counsel Fred Ngatia who led President Uhuru Kenyatta's defence during the 2017 presidential election petitions.

The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) also listed Prof Otinga Mare, Prof Moni Wekesa, Alice Jepkoech Yano, Prof Patricia Mbote, lawyer Philip Murgor, Otondi Ontweka and Brian Matagaro as candidates who had applied for the job when the deadline for submissions lapsed at 5pm on Tuesday.

Multiple sources within the judiciary intimated the decision by some judges to keep off the process was due to the fear of being scandalized with some judges feeling targeted due to the manner in which they decided the August 2017 presidential election petition with the Supreme Court voting 4-2 in to nullify President Kenyatta's reelection.

JSC Secretary Anne Amadi who is also the Chief Registrar of the Judiciary Wednesday said the thirteen applicants will be shortlisted within 14 days in accordance with the Judicial Service Act.

The Commission will thereafter interview the candidates before recommending a candidate for appointment by the President subject to approval by the National Assembly as provided for under Article 166 (1) of the Constitution.

JSC will also seek to recruit one more judge of the Supreme Court to replace retired Justice Prof Jackton Ojwang' with the top court facing a quorum risk should the bench membership fall below its current configuration of five.

Six applicants who sought to be shortlisted for the position of Chief Justice - Justices Ouko, Koome, D.K. Marete, Nduma, Chitembwe, and Yano - also applied for the position of a judge of the Supreme Court which attracted nine applications.

Article 167 (2) caps the tenure of Chief Justice at ten years but the holder of the office is required to exit office regardless on attaining the mandatory retirement age outlined in Article 167 (1).

Maraga for instance left office after serving for four years, two-and-a-half months.

He handed over the instruments of power to Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu who is holding the position on an acting basis until a substantive Chief Justice is appointed.

In his final remarks, Maraga encouraged judges "not to let Kenyans down but to be guided by the rule of law as enshrined in the Constitution."

"I want to thank the people of Kenya for your unwavering support for me and for your steadfast support during difficult times as I served you," he said.

Maraga urged the judges to "always stand firm because God and the people of Kenya will defend you."

The former Chief Justice who had a fair share of run-ins with the national executive urged for respect to the constitution while expressing worries over politicians beating the drums of war ahead of the 2022 presidential race.

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With the interviews for the next Chief Justice set to begin in earnest after the publication of the applicants' names in two weeks, focus will shift to the JCS members who have the duty to uphold the independence of the judiciary.

The JSC currently has a membership of ten which includes two commissioners nominated by the President to represent the public - Prof Olive Mugenda and Felix Kiptarus.

Attorney General Kihara Kariuki and Public Service Commission representative Patrick Gachohi also sit in the JSC.

The others are Acting Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu (Supreme Court representative), Justice Mohamed Warsame (Court of Appeal representative), Justice David Majanja (High Court representative), Evalyne Olwande (Magistrate Court representative), Mercy Deche (Law Society of Kenya representative) and Macharia Njeru (Law Society of Kenya representative).

While vulnerabilities are inevitable in any software, regular patching and updates can minimize the risk of exploitation. Thats why users are always advised to install the latest software versions as soon as they are available, even if these updates can sometimes be difficult or a time-consuming task for organizations. However, a fresh study from Kaspersky revealed more than half (54%) of organizations in Southeast Asia (SEA) have work to do regarding this crucial task.

Kaspersky research shows timely updates can cut business data breachs costs

The recent Kaspersky report, How businesses can minimize the cost of a data breach showed that 38% of SMBs (small and medium businesses) and a whopping 48% of enterprises from SEA are still working with unpatched operation systems. In addition, 33% of SMBs and 43% of enterprises from the region are still guilty of using out-of-date software.

It may seem costly for companies to renew their software or opt for their legal versions especially at this time of an unprecedented crisis. It is, however, an investment which can save you money in the long-run. In fact, our research showed that enterprises using obsolete or unpatched systems will pay $437k more in case of a data breach, a 126% increase compared with the projected cost of $354K for those companies without such outdated technologies, says Yeo Siang Tiong, General Manager for Southeast Asia at Kaspersky.

SMBs in SEA can also save 9% of the attack costs if they use updated and legal software, with $94k being the toll of a single data breach against a small-to-medium-sized organization with obsolete operating systems.

Aside from the additional cost in case of a data breach, almost half (49%) of both SMBs and enterprises from the region also admitted to experiencing cyberattacks because of unpatched vulnerabilities in the software applications and devices they use. This is nine percent more than the global average of 40%.

The top reasons why organizations in SEA remain guilty of using such tools are:

Some line employees refuse to work with new software and devices, so we made an exception for them (57%)

We have in-house apps that cannot run on new devices or operating systems (52%)

They belong to C-level staff and we exclude them from our update plan (45%)

We don't have enough resources to update everything at once (17%)

Understanding the current cash flow dilemma of companies in SEA, Kaspersky offers savings for its latest Kaspersky Endpoint Detection and Response Optimum (KEDRO) solution for new and existing customers valid on 10-999 nodes across the region until March 31, 2021.

For KEDRO new and add-on:

1 Year License  33% savings

3-Year License  40% savings

Interested SMB owners can find out more about this promo here: go.kaspersky.com/Kaspersky_EDRO_SEA_Promotion.html.

In order to save money and minimize the risk of data breaches as a result of software vulnerabilities, Kaspersky suggests the following measures:

Michael Gove said Britain will do whatever is required to support its fishermen (Danny Lawson/PA)

Britain is prepared to do whatever is required to support its fishermen post-Brexit, Michael Gove said amid calls to board EU vessels if export barriers remain.

The Cabinet Office minister acknowledged there are bureaucratic obstacles to negotiate and navigate with Brussels, as he was pressed to support retaliation against member state vessels given the current difficulties experienced by the British industry.

Conservative MPs were among those raising concerns over extra paperwork and additional costs faced by UK fishermen despite a free trade agreement with the EU.

Mr Gove also used Cabinet Office questions to announce a 20 million Brexit support fund to help small and medium-sized businesses adjust to new customs rules of origin and VAT rules when trading with the EU.

Expand Close Michael Gove acknowledged bureaucratic obstacles remain (Kirsty OConnor/PA) PA / Facebook

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Speaking in the Commons, Conservative MP Sheryll Murray (South East Cornwall) said: Fishing exporters in my constituency are having problems exporting to the EU.

We signed a deal that said we could export to the EU.

What action is (Mr Gove) taking to ensure these exports happen without hindrance and will he start boarding EU vessels in retaliation if we still see this obstructive action on the part of the European Union?

Mr Gove responded: What we do need to do is make sure that any bureaucratic obstructions which individual EU member states may still be applying are lifted and of course as I mentioned we

will reserve our rights as an independent coastal state to do whatever is required in order to make sure that our fishermen are backed up every step of the way.

Conservative MP Lia Nici (Great Grimsby) said: Grimsby fish exporters are reporting to me that despite the EU agreement for free trade, French ports are introducing additional paperwork and extra costs. Theyre even insisting that we hire EU nationals to do that additional work.

Will (Mr Gove) take this matter up so that we can make sure the people of the EU continue to enjoy the highest quality seafood in Europe processed in Great Grimsby?

Mr Gove responded: Well, (Ms Nici) is absolutely right, the highest quality seafood in the whole of Europe is produced in Great Grimsby, indeed I remember my dad when he ran a fish processing business sending some of the fish that he bought at Aberdeen fish market to Grimsby for subsequent processing and it was enjoyed on tables across Europe.

And shes absolutely right that there are still some bureaucratic obstacles that we need to negotiate and navigate.

We have set up a specific seafood exports working group which meets twice weekly and were also engaging with our friends in France in order to make sure they can continue to enjoy Great Grimsby fish.

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Whatsapp Conservative MP Sheryll Murray voiced concern over export issues faced by fishing exporters (Chris McAndrew/UK Parliament)

For Labour, shadow Cabinet Office minister Jack Dromey urged Mr Gove to apologise for the disruption inflicted upon British businesses.

The DUPs Ian Paisley (North Antrim) warned: (Mr Gove) boasts of his unionist credentials, indeed he even boasted once in my local paper that he could sing the Sash.

Today he has the chance to protect the union in his meeting with (European Commission vice president) Maros Sefcovic.

Will he make clear that the Protocol is causing societal and economic damage to the union, and will he press on with the alternative arrangements that he previously supported and signed up to?

Mr Gove, in a nod to Scotlands Six Nations victory over England, replied: I do have a formidable singing record but I can also sing the Fields of Athenry and Flower of Scotland, not to mention Swing Low, Sweet Chariot  though of course the last of those songs was perhaps sung with a little less fervour last Saturday than is normally the case.

I am a convinced unionist, I do believe in the strength of the United Kingdom, all of us working together, and I look forward to working with him and all representatives from Northern Ireland to ensure our United Kingdom can flourish in the future.
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The first day of arguments at President Donald Trump's second impeachment trial ended in chaos when Sen. Mike Lee tried to object to evidence that referenced him.

Lee took issue with part of Rep. David Cicilline's presentation, which was supposed to show the senators where Trump's mind was at during the deadly January 6 siege.

'Statements were attributed to me moments ago by the House impeachment managers, statements related to the content of conversations between - a phone call involving President Trump and Senator Tuberville, were not made by me, they're not accurate and they're contrary to fact,' Lee said on the heels of primary impeachment manager, Rep. Jamie Raskin, saying they were done for the day.

Sen. Mike Lee delayed the close of the first day of arguments at President Donald Trump's impeachment trial by trying to strike evidence from the record. Lee was mentioned because Trump had accidentally tried to call his phone to reach Sen. Tommy Tuberville

Sen. Mike Lee's objection led to several minutes of chaos and confusion as lawmakers tried to decide whether what was said could be struck from the record. Lee charged Democrats attributing false statements to him

'Senator Lee stood by as Senator Tuberville and President Trump spoke on the phone and on that call Donald Trump reportedly asked Senator Tuberville to make additional objections to the certification process,' Rep. David Cicilline said, which was what Sen. Mike Lee objected to

The Senate's President Pro Tempore Patricky Leahy (left) tried to figure out how to handle Sen. Mike Lee's complaint for several minutes, but then chief impeachment manager, Rep. Jamie Raskin, said the Democrats would withdraw that piece of evidence for the time being

Democratic impeachment managers pointed out, again and again, that Trump never explicitly told his supporters to stand down, as they invaded the Capitol, hunted lawmakers and participated in hand-to-hand combat with police.

Trump was impeached by the House last month for inciting the insurrection and the Senate will decide whether he should be convicted on that charge.

On Wednesday night, Cicilline told an anecdote that was based on a story in Deseret News that cited Lee as its source.

During the insurrection Trump accidentally called Lee's cell phone trying to get ahold of Alabama Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville instead.

'Senator Lee describes it, he had just ended a prayer with his colleagues here in the Senate chamber and the phone rang, it was Donald Trump,' Cicilline said.

'And how Senator Lee describes it is the phone call goes something like this,' the Rhode Island Democrat continued. '"Hey Tommy,"' Trump asks. And Senator Lee says this isn't Tommy. And he hands the phone to Sen. Tuberville.'

'Senator Lee stood by as Senator Tuberville and President Trump spoke on the phone and on that call Donald Trump reportedly asked Senator Tuberville to make additional objections to the certification process,' Cicilline explained.

In the Deseret News story, Lee doesn't divulge the contents of the call, though he does say that in speaking to Tuberville after the Alabama senator's conversation with Trump that he got the impression the president didn't know that the protesters were laying siege to the Capitol.

Lee also told the publication that Tuberville and Trump spoke for about five to 10 minutes. He said he stood nearby to ensure he didn't lose his phone in the commotion.

Other news organizations reported that Trump pressured Tuberville to keep objecting to states' Electoral College vote counts.

'That's why he called,' Cicilline had said in disgust.

The Dispatch reported on a voicemail left for Tuberville by Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani that day, but he dialed the number of a different unnamed senator.

In the message, Giuliani is heard asking Tuberville to 'slow it down.'

'The only strategy we can follow is to object to numerous states and raise issues so that we get ourselves into tomorrow - ideally until the end of tomorrow,' Giuliani said.

After his initial request to get Cicilline's statements struck from the record, Lee explained, 'my point was not about whether it was appropriate for them to make characterizations, my point was to strike them because they were false.'

'Statements were attributed to me repeatedly to which I have personal knowledge because I am the source, they are not true,' Lee said.

With the use of 'reportedly' Cicilline didn't directly attribute the contents of the call to Lee.

'I never made those statements I asked that they be stricken,' the Utah Republican said. 'This has nothing to do with whether they are based on depositions, which they're not, it's simply based on the fact that I'm the witness, I'm the only witness, those statements are not true and I ask that you strike them.'

After a few procedural hiccups with Sen. Patrick Leahy at the gavel, Raskin, the chief impeachment manager, said the Democrats would voluntarily withdraw that piece of evidence - with the understanding they could bring it back up if needed.

'This is much ado about nothing, because it's not critical in anyway to our case,' Raskin said.

Afterward, Tuberville was asked by reporters what had been incorrect about Cicilline's retelling of the call, which Lee had said lasted five to 10 minutes.

'I don't know, you know President Trump, you don't get many words in but he didn't get a chance to say a whole lot because I said, "Mr. President, they just took the vice president out, I've got to go,"' Tuberville said. 'That's what it was.'

Dramatic new footage reveals Mike Pence being rushed to safety with his wife, daughter and the nuclear football when MAGA mob stormed the Senate chamber

Dramatic footage from the Capitol on January 6th showed Secret Service agents rushing Vice President Mike Pence out of his hiding place near the Senate chamber while Speaker Nancy Pelosi had to be taken from the complex entirely as the MAGA rioters threatened to kill them.

In the footage, taken from a security camera from inside the Capitol, a group of agents, one of whom carried the football with the nuclear codes, led the Pence family from where they had been taken after being removed from the Senate chamber.

Pence, his wife Karen and daughter Charlotte followed the agents down the stairs and were moved to another location in the Capitol.

'You can see Vice President Pence and his family quickly moved downstairs. Then, as Pence was being evacuated, rioters started to spread throughout the Capitol, Democratic Rep. Stacey Plaskett said during the impeachment managers presentation.

Plaskett played several never-before-seen security camera footage from the January 6th riot as part of Democrats' case for the impeachment of Donald Trump. She then showed the pro-Trump supporters yelling 'Kill Mike Pence.'

At a later moment in the trial, Rep. Joaquin Castro, noted how 'some of these insurgents were heard saying that they hope to find Vice President Mike Pence and execute him by hanging him as a traitors.'

A makeshift gallows had been erected outside the Capitol Building. Castro asked senators to look at that image for a moment.

'It harkens back to our nation's worst history of lynching,' the Texas Democrat said.

New footage also included the moment the MAGA mob busted into the Capitol Building, with Plaskett pointing out the first man who entered the Capitol was wearing 'full tactical body armor and carrying a baseball bat.'

'Others are carrying riot shields. Among this group are members of the Proud Boys,' she noted.

New footage shows Capitol Police officer Eugene Goodman running and getting Sen. Mitt Romney out of harm's way before distracting the MAGA mob away from the Senate chamber.

The footage, not yet seen publicly, shows Goodman running toward the Senate and its famous Ohio Clock. He then gestures to Romney, who does an immediate 180-degree turn, having been walking toward the House where another larger mob had already gathered.

'I did not know that was Officer Goodman but I look forward to thanking him when I next see him,' Romney said after the clip played. 'I was very fortunate indeed that Officer Goodman was there they get me in the right direction.'

Overall, Romney said of the playback: 'It tears at your heart and brings tears to your eyes. That was overwhelmingly distressing and emotional.'

The footage showed rioters searching for Pelosi in and around her office, with Plaskett revealing that Pelosi had been pulled entirely from the building for her own safety.

'The vice president, the speaker of the House, the first and second in line to the presidency, were performing their constitutional duties, presiding over the election certification and they were put in danger because President Trump put his own desires, his own need for power over his duty to the Constitution and our democratic process,' Plaskett said.

Plaskett also highlighted that Richard Barnett, the rioter who was photographed seated at Pelosi's desk, had been carrying a 950,000 volt stun gun, a weapon the FBI had since identified.

Dramatic new footage showed Vice President Mike Pence, his wife and his daughter being removed to safety as MAGA mob crowds spread throughout the building

Impeachment manager, Rep. Joaquin Castro, spoke of the gallows that had been erected outside the Capitol Building, nothing that 'Some of these insurgents were heard saying that they hope to find Vice President Mike Pence and execute him by hanging him as a traitors'

House Democrats showed new footage of the MAGA mob breaking into the Capitol during Wednesday's Senate impeachment trial

Democratic House impeachment managers showed the break-in from two angles

New footage shows a close call now Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (right) had, almost running into the MAGA mob

Rep. Eric Swalwell played some footage from the officers' perspective including a clip from a bodycam as the MAGA mob tries to break in

Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell, one of the House impeachment managers, showed the senators just how close they came to being attacked by the pro-Trump mob that day.

The senators, who are sitting as jurors in Trump's impeachment trial, saw, for the first time, security camera footage that showed their escape from the Senate chamber, as U.S. Capitol Police officers created a line of defense to hold the mob back long enough for the lawmakers to be ushered to safety.

'You were just 58 steps away from where the mob,' Swalwell told the senators.

The footage showed a hallway with senators running past the camera. In the background, police officers can be seen, holding the crowd away.

The senators sat in silence as the video presentation played, their eyes glued to the TV screens.

'You know how close you came to the mob. Some of you, I understand, could hear them. But most of the public does not know how close these rioters came to you. As you were moving through that hallway, I paced it off. You were just 58 steps away from where the mob was amassing and where police were rushing to stop them. They were yelling. In this security video, you can see how the police created a line and blocked the hallway with their bodies to prevent rioters from reaching you and your staff,' he said.

He then played it for them again.

'Because this is security footage that you've not seen before, I want to play it again. At the top of the screen, the other end of that hallway, where the mob has amassed, and the officers are rushing to protect you,' Swalwell told the senators.

He then showed never-before-seen footage of Senate Democratic Leader having a near miss with the rioters.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer's security detail escorted the senator up a ramp and down one of the hallways. The fixed security camera shows Schumer and his detail walking toward the camera and out of view. A few seconds later, the senator and his team are seen running back from where they came.

'They came within just yards of the rioters, and had to turn around,' Swalwell said. 'You see Leader Schumer walking up a ramp. Going up the ramp with his detail, he will soon go out of view. Seconds later, they return, and run back down the hallway. Officers immediately shut the door and use their bodies to keep them safe.'

Schumer called the clips 'gut wrenching' during Wednesday's dinner break. '

'I don't think many of us feel like eating dinner,' the New York Democrat noted.

'As for me, my situation, I just want to give tremendous credit to the Capitol Police officers who were in my detail, like the rest of the Capitol Police officers they are utterly amazing and great and we love them,' the Senate majority leader added.

He then showed the senators the footage of rioters on the Senate floor.

'We're here,' one yells. 'Where the f**k are they?,' another yells of the lawmakers.

'They invaded and desecrated the Senate floor,' Swalwell said. 'These vandals shouted, and rifled through the desks in this room. They took pictures of documents and of themselves. Celebrating that they had taken over the floor and stopped the counting of electoral college votes.'

Swalwell noted that while it wasn't part of his video presentation, he credited Senate staff with grabbing and protecting the Electoral College votes the mob was after.

Democrats play footage of officers being bludgeoned

He also played audio recordings between police officers and video from their perspective.

'The crowd is using munitions against us,' an officer in an audio clip said. 'They have bear spray in the crowd. Bear spray in the crowd.'

Swalwell talked about the 'hand-to-hand combat' the officers were forced to engage in, speaking of their 'extraordinary bravery.'

At the top of his presentation he said, 'I want to warn you that the following audio and video is graphic and unsettling.'

In a second audio clip that Swalwell played senators could hear the voice of a D.C. Metropolitan Police Department officer shouting, 'We have been flanked and we lost the line,' yelling out the code that an officer needed assistance.

Videos then showed officers being sprayed in the face.

'In this new security video, you can see the mob attacking officers with a crutch, a hockey stick, a bullhorn and a Trump flag,' Swalwell said, before rolling footage from the same moments from two perspectives, including from an officer's bodycam.

The California Democrat noted that this footage was taken two hours after the initial Capitol break-in.

'The attack on police that afternoon was constant,' Swalwell said.

D.C. Police Mike Fanone, Swalwell continued, was one of three police officers that the mob grabbed and dragged down the Capitol Building's stairs. Fanone was tased, which triggered a heart attack, Swalwell revealed.

'It was a medieval battle scene, it was some of the most brutal combat I've ever encountered,' Fanone said in a video clip, recalling the experience.

Swalwell paid homage to the three officers who died, Brian Sicknick, who perished from his injuries and officers Howard Liebengood and Jeffery Smith, who took their lives. He noted that another 140 police officers had been injured.

The impeachment manager blasted the rioters for crushing trapping and crushing Officer Daniel Hodges between two doors.

'I'm sorry I have to show you the next video,' Swalwell said at the conclusion of his presentation.

He then rolled the footage, that had previously gone viral, of Officer Hodges being crushed in the Capitol's door.

Impeachment managers also played a clip of the moment Ashli Babbitt was shot.

During recess after the video presentation a Capitol Hill pool reporter noted that the senators gathered in groups on the floor and 'it was clear that they were reliving the experience and realizing how close the riots had been.'

Top Trump ally, Sen. Lindsey Graham, suggested officers should have used more force.

'Well, I just can't believe that we could lose the Capitol like that. I got mad. I mean these police officers had every right to use deadly force, they should have used it,' Graham told the Capitol Hill pool. 'The people in charge of securing the Capitol left the country.'

Graham called Democrats legal theory 'absurd.' 'That somehow that Trumps a secret member of the Proud boys.'

Democrats argue Trump knew the Capitol protest would turn violent

Before showing the new footage, Democratic House impeachment managers argued that Trump knew his supporters' plans to violently attack the Capitol, yet still encouraged them to do so.

'Some of you have said there's no way the president could have known how violent the mob would be. That is false - because the violence it was foreseeable,' argued Plaskett.

She shared pieces of social media leading up to the January 6 attack.

One meme, which showed an illuminated image of the Capitol Building, said the date - January 6 - and below it, 'The capitol is our goal, everything else is a distraction. Every corrupt member of Congress locked in one room and surrounded by real Americans is an opportunity that will never present itself again.'

Chatter on pro-Trump message boards, shared by Plaskett, showed supporters plotting to overwhelm the Capitol Police. 'There are only around 2K of them and a lot are useless fat asses or girls,' one supporter pointed out.

'These are not just hidden posts in dark websites that Trump would not have seen. Quite the opposite. We know that President Trump's team monitored these websites,' Plaskett argued. 'We know this because his advisers confirm it.'

Lead House impeachment manager Jamie Raskin said Trump was 'a man who praised and encouraged and cultivated violence' as he disputed Joe Biden's victory.

Democrats presented evidence of that Wednesday by pointing to Trump telling the right-wing group The Proud Boys, a group involved in the insurrection, to 'stand back and stand by' during the September presidential debate. Then Plaskett shared a video of a Proud Boys member inside the Capitol on January 6 wearing an earpiece - evidence of the coordination and planning that was made.

'That's the level of planning in advance that occurred,' the Democratic rep said.

Plaskett also recalled how Trump had embraced supporters' efforts to run a Biden-Harris bus off the road in Texas.

Sharing a tweet the ex-president shared of the altercation, Plaskett noted how Trump 'put music to that video ... and then added to the top, "I LOVE TEXAS."'

Trump is charged on one count of impeachment - inciting the insurrection at the Capitol that left five dead.

In his opening remarks, Raskin blasted Trump for inciting the insurrection and enjoying the spectacle of his supporters disrupting the certification in the Capitol.

'He watched it on TV like a reality show, he reveled in it,' he charged. 'There has never been a greater betrayal by a president of the U.S. of his office and his oath to the Constitution.'

Raskin, in his nearly 20 minute speech, painted Trump as betraying his duties as president in order to preserve his political power.

'He incited this attack and he saw it coming,' Raskin argued. 'To us it may have felt like chaos and madness but there was method and the madness that day. This was an organized attack on the counting of the electoral college votes in joint session of the United States Congress.'

House Democrats on Wednesday began to make their case why Donald Trump should be impeached for inciting the January 6th riot on Capitol Hill

Impeachment managers showed the social media postings related to the January 6th riot

Lead House impeachment manager Jamie Raskin called Donald Trump 'a man who praised and encouraged and cultivated violence'

Rep. Stacey Plaskett of the Virgin Islands argued that the president knew his supporters' plans to violently attack the Capitol, but encouraged them to do so anyway

Democratic Rep. Joe Neguse of Colorado charged Trump with failing to stop the insurrection

TRUMP: GEORGIA CRIMINAL PROBE ON ELECTION CALL Donald Trump is facing a criminal investigation in Georgia into his call to its secretary of state asking him to 'find' votes to overturn the election, it emerged Wednesday. Newly-elected Fulton County prosecutor Fani Willis, a Democrat, sent a letter to state leaders, state officials telling them to save records related to the call, state officials with knowledge of the letter told The New York Times. Specifically, the criminal investigation is looking into the then-president's questionable January 2 call with Georgia's Secretary of State where Trump told Brad Raffensperger to 'find' enough votes to reverse his loss to Joe Biden in the Peach State. The letter does not specify what crimes are being investigated but experts have suggested that Trump could have committed conspiracy to commit election fraud, which can carry felony charges and a sentence of up to a year in prison on conviction. A Trump aide dismissed the move as a stunt by Democrats on day two of the impeachment trial. Advertisement

House Democrats face an uphill battle in getting Trump convicted. Senate Democrats need 17 Republicans to cross over and vote for conviction and there is no indication those numbers are there.

But Democrats laid out their case that Trump, as it became apparent he could not legally win the election, sought to incite his base in order to stay in power.

'President Donald J. Trump ran out of nonviolent options to maintain power. After his efforts in the courts and threatening officials failed, he turned to privately and publicly attacking members of his own party in the House and in the Senate,' Democratic Rep. Ted Lieu of California said.

'The president wasn't just coming for one or two people or Democrats like me. He was coming for you, for Democratic and Republican senators. He was coming for all of us,' he said.

The prosecutors reminded Republicans how Trump treated them - calling them 'pathetic' and threatening to primary them - while offering example after example of how the former president tried to overthrow the election results.

House impeachment managers have 16 hours to make their case against the former president. Then the defense will offer theirs.

Raskin said the prosecution will show Trump violated his oath of office and abdicated his duty as commander in chief.

'The evidence will show you that ex-President Trump was no innocent bystander. The evidence will show that he clearly incited the January 6th insurrection. It will show that Donald Trump surrendered his role as commander in chief and became the inciter in chief,' he said.

The managers handed off to one another to methodically tracing Trump's months long effort to undermine the election. And they repeatedly brought senators back to that day in the Capitol, when the Trump supporters stormed the building.

'That mob was summoned, assembled and incited by the former president of the United States, Donald Trump. He did that because he wanted to stop the print transfer of power so he could obtain power even though he had lost the election. And when the violence erupted, when they were here in our building with weapons, he did nothing to stop it,' Democratic Rep. Joe Neguse said.

Trump is only the president in American history to be impeached. It's also the first time senators have set in judgement of a president accused of putting their lives in danger while trying to overthrow a legitimate election.

Neguse focused his argument on demonstrating that Trump was ramping up his supporters long before his January 6th speech, intending to counter Trump's defense that his speech was protected under the first amendment. Trump's attorneys also argue that federal evidence shows the insurrection had been in the works for some time - meaning Trump's speech that morning could not have incited it.

'I'd respectfully ask that you remember those three phrases as you consider the evidence today. 'Election was stolen. Stop the steal. And fight like hell' because they did not just appear on January 6,' Neguse said.

He showed clips of Trump speeches and rallies where the president complained - falsely and repeatedly - that the election was stolen.

'He didn't just tell them to fly like hell, he told them how, where, and when, he made sure they had advance notice, 18 days advance notice, he sent his save the date for January 6th,' Neguse said.

He also showed video clips of the rioters from January 6th, saying they were at the Capitol because of Trump: 'Fight for Trump! Fight for Trump! Fight for Trump!,' one said. 'We were invited by the president of the United States,' said another.

Neguse also argued Trump didn't do enough to stop the rioters that day.

'He alone, our commander in chief, had the power to stop it. And he didn't. You will hear evidence tonight, tomorrow, throughout the trial about his refusal as commander in chief to respond to numerous desperate pleas on the phone, across social media, begging him to stop the attack,' he said.

Democratic Rep. Joaquin Castro also showed multiple examples of Trump falsely claiming the election was stolen from him.

And he appealed to the senators to remember their own election contests when listening to what Trump said.

'All of us in this room have run for election. It's no fun to lose. I'm a Texas Democrat. We've lost a few elections over the years. But can you imagine telling your supporters that the only way you could possibly lose is if an American election was rigged and stolen from you? Ask yourself if you have ever seen anyone make the same claim about their own election. That's exactly what President Trump did,' he said.

He went on to say when the media, including Fox News, said when the remaining votes were counted Biden would be the victor 'President Trump began urging his supporters to stop the count.'

'I would imagine that if we went around this room, there are folks sitting here that started down on election night and ended up coming back up and winning their races. Perhaps that's why some of you are seated in this room today. But imagine if you were behind and the results start coming in, and as you started pulling ahead, your opponent said, that's not fair, stop the count while I'm still ahead. That's what Donald Trump did. But that's not how America works. Here every vote counts. You don't just stop counting when one person is ahead. We count every vote,' he added.

Trump's goal, Castro argued, was to incite his base, 'to make sure that his supporters were angry, like the election was being ripped away from them.'

'This is clearly a man who refuses to accept the possibility or the reality in our democracy of losing an election,' Castro said.

As part of their case, House impeachment managers will show never-before-seen Capitol security footage of the January 6th riot as they start their case for impeaching Donald Trump.

The footage will demonstrate the extent of the violence that occurred and the threat the rioters posed to everyone in the Capitol, senior aides on the House impeachment team told CNN.

They did not say what the new footage was, or whether it came from Capitol Police or Washington DC's Metropolitan Police.

The video will show 'extreme violence' and make clear what additional safety risks were posed by the insurrection, a House aide told The Washington Post, including 'just how close Trump's mob came to senators, members of Congress and staff.'

'It will show the extent of what Donald Trump unleashed on our Capitol,' said the aide.

The House managers are not expected to use the full 16 hours they are allotted for their presentation. After they finish, the defense will make its case and also is not expected to use its full 16 hours.

Trump's second impeachment trial could end as soon as this weekend. He is expected to be acquitted.

The Democratic impeachment managers previewed their case against the former president with a 14-minute video on Tuesday that contained dramatic footage of Trump supporters storming the Capitol and taunting police officers with obscenities as they bashed in doors and windows.

Democrats showed video of the rioters on January 6th, stating why they were there

The new footage will show the extent of the violence that occurred and the threat the rioters posed to everyone in the Capitol

Trump's defense tried to counter the lingering image of the video, which visibly affected many senators in the chamber. Those lawmakers were also in the Capitol on January 6th.

But Trump wasn't happy with his defense team after their first day making arguments, according to reports.

Trump, viewing the proceedings from his new home at Mar-a-Lago, was aghast that one of his lawyers, Bruce Castor, acknowledged the potency of the opening argument put forward by House Democratic impeachment managers, ABC News reported.

Castor even acknowledged that his team changed course after viewing the Democrats' dramatic video.

'I'll be quite frank with you, we changed what we were going to do on account that we thought that the House managers' presentation was well done,' Castor admitted. 'And I wanted you to know that we have responses to those things.'

One Trump advisor even told CNN getting good legal representation was a concern if he is ever charged in criminal court, which is now possible since he is out of office.

'Trump is f***** if anyone ever charges him. No one wants to work with him,' said the advisor.

Raskin compares Trump to a fire chief 'who set the theater on fire'

Democratic impeachment manager Jamie Raskin sought to explode the First Amendment defenses put forward by Donald Trump's lawyers in their impeachment legal brief.

Trump's team had argued that the president's call for his supporters to 'fight' where not an incitement to riot but protected political speech.

Raskin, a constitutional law professor, picked apart the claim and brought up the well-worn example of a limit on free speech  that you can't yell 'fire in a crowded theater,' a concept explored by Supreme Court Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes.

'But even that time-honored principle doesn't begin to capture how off base the argument is,' Raskin said. 'This case is much worse than someone who falsely shouts fire in a crowded theater. It's more like a case where the town fire chief who's paid to put out fires sends a mob yet to yell fire in a crowded theater but to actually set the theater on fire,' he said.

He continued: And who then when the fire alarms go off and the calls start flooding into the fire department asking for help, does nothing but sit back, encourage the mob to continue its rampage and watch the fire spread on TV with glee and delight.'

Raskin was alluding to Trump's inaction during the riot, and his tweets praising rioters even when he finally asked them to go home.

'So then we say this fire chief should never be allowed to hold this public job again and you're fired and you're permanently disqualified and he objects. And he says, we're violating his free speech rights just because he's pro-mob or pro-fire or whatever it might be,' he added.

Then he quoted conservative Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. 'As Justice Scalia once said, memorably, you can't ride with the cops and root for the robbers.'

Raskin acknowledged the potential attractiveness of the free speech argument  but said it didn't apply.

'They present president trump as merely like a guy at a rally expressing a political opinion that we disagree with, and now we're trying to put him in jail for it. That has nothing to do with the reality of these charges where his constitutional offense,' he said.

He said his legal team would demonstrate 'with overwhelming evidence portraying Trump as a guy on the street being punished for his ideas is a false description of his actions, his intent, and the role that he played on January 6th when he willfully incited an insurrectionary mob to riot at the Capitol.'

Impeachment manager Rep. Joe Neguse pointed to the specifics of some of Trump's comments in and around the riot.

'He didn't' stop it. He didn't' condemn the violence. He incited further,' Neguse said.

'He didn't' just tell them to fight like hell. He told them how, where and when.'

'What time was that rally scheduled for?' Neguse told senators. 'The exact same time that this chamber was certifying the election results in joint session,' he said. He noted that Trump concluded his Jan. 6 speech 'literally moments' after Pelosi gaveled the House into session.

Only Trump could have stopped the rioters

Democratic Rep. Joe Neguse of Colorado used his time at the trial Wednesday to parse President Trumps statements for signals he sent to his supporters  as well as underline the things he did not do when MAGA rioters took the Capitol.

When the violence erupted, when they were here in our building with weapons, he did nothing to stop it. If we are to protect our republic and prevent something like this from ever happening again, he must be convicted, said Neguse, a lawyer and second-term lawmaker.

Neguse, 37, spoke of his own background as the child of immigrants, but also let Trump do the talking through his tweets and recorded statements.

He observed that neither he nor even a figure like former Vice President Mike Pence could have stopped the mob.

Rep. Joe Neguse, 37, spoke of his own background as the child of immigrants as he made the case against Trump

In his unique role as commander in chief of our country and as the one person that the mob was listening to and following orders from, he had the power to stop it. And he didn't, Neguse said.

He said Trumps Jan. 6 remarks were a deliberate effort and culmination of months of advance work through other remarks.

Now, some have said that President Trump's remarks, his speech on January 6th was just a speech. Well, let me ask you this. When in our history has a speech led thousands of people to storm our nations capital with weapons? To scale the walls, break windows, kill a Capitol Police officer? This was not just a speech, he said.

He said Trumps words were carefully chosen and had a very specific meaning to that crowd. The reason? Trump had used the same words over and over again.

Neguse went back repeatedly to Trumps words, including setting the table even before the elections, saying it's only way we can lose, in my opinion, is massive fraud.

He told his base that the election was stolen, as he had forecasted. and then he told them, your election has been stolen, but you cannot concede, you must stop the steal, Neguse continued.

The he sketched out the rest of Trumps pressure campaign: including efforts to threaten state election officials, have the Justice Department investigate his claims, and persuade Republicans in Congress to block certification of the vote.

None of it worked. so, what does he do? With his back against the wall when all else has failed, he turns back to his supporters who he'd already spent months telling them that the election was stolen, he continued.

He told them that they had to be ready not just to stop the steal but to fight like hell.'

Trump's pressure campaign on state officials

Democratic Rep. Madeleine Dean, who represents a suburban Philadelphia district, walked the senators through Trump's court challenges - and when those failed - his pressure campaign aimed at state officials in Michigan, Georgia and her home state of Pennsylvania.

'Donald Trump told his supporters they are stealing the election, they took away your vote,' Dean said. 'That was not true. According to judge after judge the truth was exactly the opposite.'

'Trump wasn't suing to ensure election integrity. He was pursuing lawsuits that would, in effect, strip away American votes so he could win,' she told her Senate audience.

She noted the calls Trump made to election officials in Michigan, inviting some top state lawmakers to Washington for a meeting.

'Let's be clear Donald Trump was calling officials, hosting them at the White House, urging them to defy the voters in their state,' she said.

Dean noted how he made similar entreaties to state officials in Pennsylvania, even calling into a legislative policy meeting - attended by his lawyers Rudy Giuliani and Jenna Ellis - as a way to curry favor.

Democratic Rep. Madeleine Dean walked the senators through Trump's pressure campaign aimed at state officials in Michigan, Georgia and her home state of Pennsylvania

However, 'his conduct was the most egregious,' Dean argued, in how he treated Georgia's Secretary of State Georgia secretary of state.

She called attention to a handful of Trump's tweets where the president attacked the Republican official, who then received death threats.

'Donald Trump was savagely attacking a secretary of state because the official did his job,' Dean said. 'Remember senators, those threats were to Mr. Raffensperger's family.'

Dean also pointed out that instead of stopping the attacks once they resulted in death threats, Trump doubled down.

She played a clip where Trump referred to Raffensperger as an 'enemy of the people,' usually a term the ex-president reserved for the press.

And she replayed the audio obtained by The Washington Post where Trump asks Georgia election officials to 'find' the precise number of votes that would give him an edge over Biden by one.

Republicans struggle to pay attention

Josh Hawley puts his feet up while Rand Paul doodles  Republicans struggle to pay attention

Many Republican senators struggled to pay attention during the Democrats prosecution of Trump. Most of these lawmakers have indicated they think the trial is unconstitutional, arguing a former president cannot be impeached.

Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri sat in the visitors gallery instead of at his desk on the chamber floor as his fellow senators did. He had his feet up on the chair in front of him while he read papers in unmarked manila folders.

He told reporters on Capitol Hill he sat there because the view was better than the one from his desk.

The gallery is, I feel had a little bit better view, kind of where I sit over in the Senate chamber is kind of in the corner. So, here you can sit head on, I can also space out a little bit more. And it's just not quite as crowded, he said.

As to his reading material, he said: I've got the trial briefs with me and I've also got my notes that I'm taking during the proceedings.

Most Republicans were looking down or otherwise occupied while the impeachment managers made their case. Some were taking notes on the presentation, but some were reading and others were just staring down or worrying their hands.

But a few heads popped up when Democratic Rep. Ted Lieu said the words bulls*** and p**** on the Senate floor during his part of the presentation.

Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky was doodling on Wednesday afternoon. He had a legal pad with a watermark of the Capitol at the bottom and he appeared to be tracing that watermark in pencil  for at least three pages.

Senator Rick Scott of Florida read a magazine article.

A notable exception was Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell, who paid attention as the House Democrats spoke. McConnell didnt visibly react, however, as the impeachment managers read tweets from Donald Trump threatening him.

And Senator Bill Cassidy  the only Republican to change his vote and say the impeachment trial is constitutional - spent about 30 minutes pacing at the back of the chamber during the prosecutions talk.

Meanwhile, Democratic Senator Cory Booker brought a bag of candy with him and passed out treats to his fellow senators.

Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts told him: Trick or treat! Trick or treat! She grabbed a yellow bag M&Ms and a small packet of Welch's fruit snacks.

During one the breaks, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York walked around with a large white Lululemon bag filled with books. She handed out at least five copies of Tim Keller's The Songs of Jesus to senators on both sides of the aisle including Tim Kaine, Joni Ernst, Steve Daines and Cassidy.

Of the 100 senators, only Republicans Rand Paul and Cynthia Lummis were not wearing face masks.

Day one of arguments ends in a brief burst of chaos

The first day of arguments at President Donald Trump's second impeachment trial ended in chaos when Sen. Mike Lee tried to object to evidence that referenced him.

'Statements were attributed to me moments ago by the House impeachment managers, statements related to the content of conversations between - a phone call involving President Trump and Senator Tuberville, were not made by me, they're not accurate and they're contrary to fact,' Lee said on the heels of primary impeachment manager, Rep. Jamie Raskin, saying they were done for the day.

Lee took issue with part of Rep. David Cicilline's presentation, which was supposed to show the senators where Trump's mind was at during the deadly January 6 siege.

Sen. Mike Lee delayed the close of the first day of arguments at President Donald Trump's impeachment trial by trying to strike evidence from the record. Lee was mentioned because Trump had accidentally tried to call his phone to reach Sen. Tommy Tuberville

'Senator Lee stood by as Senator Tuberville and President Trump spoke on the phone and on that call Donald Trump reportedly asked Senator Tuberville to make additional objections to the certification process,' Rep. David Cicilline said, which was what Sen. Mike Lee objected to

Democratic impeachment managers pointed out, again and again, that Trump never explicitly told his supporters to stand down, as they invaded the Capitol, hunted lawmakers and participated in hand-to-hand combat with police.

Trump was impeached by the House last month for inciting the insurrection and the Senate will decide whether he should be convicted on that charge.

On Wednesday night, Cicilline told an anecdote that was based on a story in Deseret News that cited Lee as its source.

During the insurrection Trump accidentally called Lee's cell phone trying to get ahold of Alabama Republican Sen. Tommy Tuberville instead.

'Senator Lee describes it, he had just ended a prayer with his colleagues here in the Senate chamber and the phone rang, it was Donald Trump,' Cicilline said.

'And how Senator Lee describes it is the phone call goes something like this,' the Rhode Island Democrat continued. '"Hey Tommy,"' Trump asks. And Senator Lee says this isn't Tommy. And he hands the phone to Sen. Tuberville.'

'Senator Lee stood by as Senator Tuberville and President Trump spoke on the phone and on that call Donald Trump reportedly asked Senator Tuberville to make additional objections to the certification process,' Cicilline explained.

In the Deseret News story, Lee doesn't divulge the contents of the call, though he does say that in speaking to Tuberville after the Alabama senator's conversation with Trump that he got the impression the president didn't know that the protesters were laying siege to the Capitol.

Lee also told the publication that Tuberville and Trump spoke for about five to 10 minutes. He said he stood nearby to ensure he didn't lose his phone in the commotion.

Other news organizations reported that Trump pressured Tuberville to keep objecting to states' Electoral College vote counts.

'That's why he called,' Cicilline had said in disgust.

The Dispatch reported on a voicemail left for Tuberville by Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani that day, but he dialed the number of a different unnamed senator.

In the message, Giuliani is heard asking Tuberville to 'slow it down.'

'The only strategy we can follow is to object to numerous states and raise issues so that we get ourselves into tomorrow - ideally until the end of tomorrow,' Giuliani said.

After his initial request to get Cicilline's statements struck from the record, Lee explained, 'my point was not about whether it was appropriate for them to make characterizations, my point was to strike them because they were false.'

'Statements were attributed to me repeatedly to which I have personal knowledge because I am the source, they are not true,' Lee said.

With the use of 'reportedly' Cicilline didn't directly attribute the contents of the call to Lee.

'I never made those statements I asked that they be stricken,' the Utah Republican said. 'This has nothing to do with whether they are based on depositions, which they're not, it's simply based on the fact that I'm the witness, I'm the only witness, those statements are not true and I ask that you strike them.'

After a few procedural hiccups with Sen. Patrick Leahy at the gavel, Raskin, the chief impeachment manager, said the Democrats would voluntarily withdraw that piece of evidence - with the understanding they could bring it back up if needed.

'This is much ado about nothing, because it's not critical in anyway to our case,' Raskin said.

Afterward, Tuberville was asked by reporters what had been incorrect about Cicilline's retelling of the call, which Lee had said lasted five to 10 minutes.

'I don't know, you know President Trump, you don't get many words in but he didn't get a chance to say a whole lot because I said, "Mr. President, they just took the vice president out, I've got to go,"' Tuberville said. 'That's what it was.'
PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- College Possible Philadelphia, a nonprofit dedicated to college access and success, received a $150,000 grant from Raymond James & Associates. The funds will support nearly 1,000 students in college-based programs as well as seven high schools in Philadelphia and Delaware. Last year, College Possible Philadelphia celebrated its first class of college graduates with 51 alumni earning their degrees.

"We are thrilled to partner with Raymond James to foster change in our community and help level the playing field for our students," said Dia Williams Adams, executive director at College Possible Philadelphia. "We are grateful for their philanthropic support; through this multiyear investment, our program is better positioned to provide more students with the tools they need to flourish and graduate from college."

The grant is part of Raymond James' $1.5 million commitment in support of advancing Black communities. Amid collective outrage following the tragic killings of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and countless others, 63 senior leaders across Raymond James, including on its Board of Directors and Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Council, reaffirmed their commitment to addressing racial inequality. This partnership is an outgrowth of their pledge to invest in enhanced programming and dedicated support.

To fulfill that pledge, the firm engaged its Mosaic Inclusion Network, Black Financial Advisors Network and Diversity & Inclusion Advisory Council to determine three priority areas: education, financial empowerment and mentorship in 10 U.S. markets. Each market will receive $150,000 over a three-year period to focus on relationship building, establishing metrics for success and long-term impact.

"As both an employee of Raymond James and a committed supporter of College Possible, I am thrilled to help initiate this partnership," said Tony Barrett, manager of the Raymond James Delaware Valley Complex and vice chairman of the College Possible Philadelphia Board. "College Possible is making great strides in the Black community in Philadelphia, and Raymond James' support will help us take that work to new heights."

To learn more about College Possible Philadelphia, please visit CollegePossible.org/Philadelphia.

About College Possible Philadelphia

College Possible is a nationally growing nonprofit organization making college admission and success possible for students from low-income backgrounds through an intensive curriculum of coaching and support. High school students in our programs attend after-school sessions two days per week for two hours, logging a total of 320 hours with College Possible over the course of their junior and senior years. The program includes intensive SAT preparation and one-on-one support to complete college and scholarship applications. Upon earning admission to college, students shift their focus to applying for scholarships and financial aid. Coaching continues through college graduation with ongoing financial aid assistance, connection to on-campus resources and support developing academic, social and professional skills.

SOURCE College Possible
Highlights Nokia 5.4 comes with a Snapdragon 662 processor that is not better than Nokia 5.3's Snapdragon 665 SoC.

Nokia 5.4 and Nokia 5.3 both come with Android 10 and will be upgradeable to Android 11.

Nokia 5.4 offers very few reasons to upgrade from the Nokia 5.3.

There is a new Nokia phone in the town. It is called Nokia 5.4 and it is the successor to the Nokia 5.3 that was launched back in August last year in India. The Nokia 5.4 is logically an upgrade over the Nokia 5.3. This means the specifications, the features, and the overall appeal should be far greater than what the Nokia 5.3 had. Often, an upgrade also bears a higher price tag, only to loosely justify the one too many bumped-up specifications. But in the case of Nokia 5.4, its price is exactly similar to what the Nokia 5.3 was launched for. It costs Rs 13,999 for the base variant.

It is a good thing the price is not even a buck higher. But that is because the difference in the specifications of the Nokia 5.3 and Nokia 5.4 is not too wide. So, if you have a Nokia 5.3 (Review), which you bought last year, there is not a solid reason to upgrade to the latest Nokia 5.4. And to tell you how much sense upgrading from Nokia 5.3 to Nokia 5.4 makes, here is an analysis of how different the two phones exactly are. This includes the difference in the specifications and performance of Nokia 5.3 and Nokia 5.4.

First, let us talk about the specifications.

The Nokia 5.4 has a 6.39-inch 720p LCD with 400 nits of brightness while the Nokia 5.3 packs a 6.55-inch 720p LCD with 450 nits brightness. Clearly, the Nokia 5.3 is a better device, even though these are marginal differences and will not materialise into large real-world outputs. The Nokia 5.4 is powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 processor while the Nokia 5.3 arrived with a Snapdragon 665 processor inside. The latter is a better processor and the most critical difference is the high download speed on it. Both phones have a 4000mAh battery with 10W charging technology.

Now, the biggest differences are in the cameras that are in favour of the Nokia 5.4. The Nokia 5.4 comes with a 48MP main camera, a 5MP ultrawide camera, and two 2MP auxiliary cameras on the back. This is a huge upgrade over the 13MP main sensor on the Nokia 5.3, accompanied by the same set of camera sensors. For selfies, the Nokia 5.4 has a 16MP camera inside the punch-hole setup, as opposed to the 8MP camera residing inside the waterdrop-style notch on the Nokia 5.3.

Nokia 5.3 in Charcoal colour.

Okay, let us jump to if these differences actually make a difference in your usage and justify your desire to upgrade from the Nokia 5.3 to Nokia 5.4.

Talking about the display, I did not realise much difference in the size, although there is clearly one. The displays of both Nokia 5.3 and Nokia 5.4 are good enough to watch movies and play games. The brightness is decent, although the Nokia 5.4 screen gets minutely brighter under direct sunlight. I did not face issues either by the punch-hole or the notch, so that is another irrelevant difference point. Although you can have a preference here -- whether you like notches or punch-holes -- and that will guide you in buying the phone.

Performance on both Nokia 5.3 and Nokia 5.4 is relatively the same so far. I have not tried the Nokia 5.4 entirely but in my first impressions, I said the processor is decent for its price. That is true for Nokia 5.3, which I thoroughly reviewed last year. The Nokia 5.3 can handle most apps and medium games but it is not meant for heavy gaming. Image processing and camera functionalities are also good on the Nokia 5.3, which I think will also be on par on the Nokia 5.4. Bottom line is that I do not think the Nokia 5.4 will have to offer anything extra in the performance department over the Nokia 5.3.

Yes, the Nokia 5.4 has better cameras than those on the Nokia 5.3, at least on paper. I have not tested the Nokia 5.4 cameras yet but they are likely good enough for the price. The Nokia 5.3 also clicked decent pictures but considering the difference in the main sensor resolutions, you can expect improvements in the photos clicked on the Nokia 5.4. And this is probably the biggest reason why Nokia 5.4 makes sense as a Nokia 5.3 upgrade. Because the rest of the things do not translate into a call to upgrade within a matter of six months or so.

Moreover, both Nokia 5.3 and Nokia 5.4 come with two years of Android version upgrades. This means the Android 11 and Android 12 software will be available on both phones and the Nokia 5.4 does not have an upper edge here, despite being a newer phone. And that is the benefit of buying a Nokia phone. You get timely updates no matter what phone you have because they all run on the Android One programme.

If your phone has become old and is giving issues, Nokia 5.4 is not a bad phone to consider. But if you have a Nokia 5.3 that is running fine, I do not see a solid reason to upgrade to the Nokia 5.4.
Trinity College, Dublin, is set to make history by appointing its first female Provost in the universitys 429-year history.

One of the three candidates to reach the final stage of the selection process to appoint the new senior academic administrator is Kilkenny woman.



Professor Linda Hogan is originally from Callan. The daughter of the late Bea and Patsy Hogan of the Steppes Bar, Linda attended St. Brigids College, Callan, and is currently a Professor of Ecumenics at the School of Religion in Trinity College.



Among her many academic achievements, Prof. Hogan was nominated as a candidate to become the first female cardinal in the Catholic Church, when it was speculated Pope Francis would make such an appointment in 2013.



A Fellow of Trinity College, Prof Hogan is an ethicist with extensive experience in research and teaching in pluralist and multi-religious contexts. Her primary research interests lie in the fields of inter-cultural and inter-religious ethics, social and political ethics, human rights and gender.

In addition to her academic expertise, Prof Hogan was Vice-Provost/ Chief Academic Officer and Deputy President at Trinity from 2011 to 2016.

She studied at NUI Maynooth before moving to Trinity where she was awarded a PhD. Prof Hogan worked as a lecturer at the University of Chester and University of Leeds before joining the staff of Trinity College.



Launching her manifesto, Prof Hogan said: As Provost, I will ensure that Trinity College Dublin provides a progressive and inclusive education for all students, and that its staff feel both empowered and supported in their roles.

The Provost will elected on April 10.
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Victorians who kill or injure native animals could face new fines of hundreds of thousands of dollars after community outcry over the failure of the states wildlife protection laws sparked a legal review.

Environment Minister Lily DAmbrosio announced the legislation would be overhauled after the deaths of dozens of koalas that were bulldozed at a blue-gum plantation in western Victoria last year, and the shooting and poisoning of hundreds of wedge-tailed eagles in Gippsland.

A dead wedge-tailed eagle on a property in Tubbut, East Gippsland. Credit:Facebook

We want penalties to be tough and act as a strong deterrent, Ms DAmbrosio said. These are distressing cases of attacks on wildlife. The current laws are outdated and havent kept up with community expectations.

A panel of four experts has been appointed to suggest ways to change Victorias Wildlife Act, which dates from 1975 and has never been reviewed.
The Heights Hospital in Houston, Texas, remains closed and is expected to stay that way after a dispute between the owner of the hospital, AMD Global LLC, and its creditor, Arbitra Capital Partners LLC, over the non-payment of loans of more than $3 million including interest and maintenance, repair and insurance costs.

Patients and staff only found out about the situation on Monday, January 18, when they found they were locked out of the building, with all the locks having been changed over the weekend. The hospital filed for bankruptcy on the same day. Patient records remain locked in the building, while staff were only allowed into the building briefly to secure their personal belongings.

Heights Hospital in Houston (Credit: Facebook)

The abrupt closure of the hospital was a violation of state law, which states that ceasing the care of a patient with less than a 30-day notice is illegal. In this case, there was no notice.

North Central Houston, where the Heights Hospital is located, was already listed as a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) according to the US Health Resources and Services Administration. This means that the closure of the Heights Hospital, following on the heels of the 2019 closure of the St. Joseph Medical Center in The Heights, will only exacerbate the existing crisis of low health care access for residents.

Dr. John Thomas, a doctor who worked at the hospital before it was closed, told the WSWS that since the Heights Hospital is now closed, I had to find a new location, and so Ive moved on and so have the other doctors.

He explained that there has been no explanation as to why, we never got a notice, it was just wrong. There was no communication with me whatsoever, they had security at the door and that was it. The security guards will not even tell who is paying for it or why. It is all secretive. When you call the people who own it, they say they do not know, same with the management group.

Now no one will admit to anyone responsibility for closing it.

Asked what happened to patient records, he stated that patient records are still locked up. Ive moved on, we have to treat patients as if they are new [at his new practice], all new records.

A representative from the hospital would not confirm whether the hospital was closed or not. It is possible that one clinic with one doctor is attempting to continue operations at the hospital, though that would not change its fate.

The hospital has now closed at least 3 times in part or fully in recent years. In 2015 Select Specialty Hospital laid off 222 employees and closed its section of the Heights Hospital, which, at the time, shared space with St. Joseph Medical Centers satellite location. Select Specialty cited business reasons for the closure after having operated at the location since 1998.

St. Joseph Medical Center in the Heights, an acute care hospital, closed permanently in September 2019. St. Joseph Medical said in a statement that patient demand has not improved and that the Heights occupancy ratethe rate of how many beds are occupiedhas remained below 30 percent. Keeping the Heights campus open is simply not sustainable. Now the Heights Hospital has closed, leaving no acute care in the immediate area and spreading its doctors to other parts of the city.

The statements by both St. Joseph Medical Center and Select Specialty Hospital illuminate a basic truth of private and non-profit hospitals: hospitals only stay profitable through shoving as many patients into a hospital at a time. This is accompanied with employing the least amount of staff that they can, often overworking nurses to the point that they have to sleep in their cars in order to avoid crashing on the way home from long shifts.

Hospitals also rely on patients having insurance and otherwise become unprofitable. It is likely that the high proportion of poor patients in the area contributed to the continued unprofitability, with 20 percent of Houstonians living below the poverty line according to the US Census Bureau, and a quarter of those under 65 lacking health insurance.

As Dr. Thomas has stated, what actually happened at the hospital is opaque, there is little clarity so far as to who was responsible for the decision to shutter the hospital in the middle of the deadly COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2017 AMD Global bought the Heights Hospital and Dr. Dharmesh Patel and James Robert Day, a former Heights Hospital CEO, created two companies to own and manage the medical center: 1917 Ashland Venture, whose CEO is Robert Day; and 1917 Heights Hospital, whose CEO is Dr. Patel.

According to Silver Flume, the State of Nevadas Official Business Portal, Arbitra Capital Partners LLC was only incorporated on August 26, 2020, and its officer is listed as CCS Management Services, LLC, which was formed on September 11, 2008, and is headquartered in Incline Village, Nevada, with its officers listed as Natalie H. Tiras and E. Alan Tiras. CCS Management is itself a branch of Centerpoint Corporate Services, Inc., which is located in the same town with the same officers. Centerpoints yearly revenue is estimated at around $500,000 on Dun & Bradstreet. Beyond the role in filing the lawsuit, it is not known whether Centerpoint or its officers are responsible for the lockout.

Dr. Patel is a former Chief Operations Officer of the now defunct Neighbors Health LLC. He is the founder and CEO of AMD Global, a commercial real estate company which owns many medical-related properties including medical office buildings, ambulatory surgical centers and micro-hospitals. He is also the founder and CEO of Avail Health, which was developing hospitals in three states, and a medical billing company.

In 2015 Neighbors Health LLC made more than $250 million in revenue, and at its peak operated over 33 health care locations. In 2018 Neighbors and 48 related entities filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, according to Bizjournals.com, and sold off its assets. Each of the individual entities listed debts over $1 million with a dozen having between $10 and $50 million in debt. Dr. Patel was previously COO of Neighbors Health but left more than a year before the time of the bankruptcy filing.

The Heights Hospital was bought as an investment property, that is a property that was to be flipped and sold for a higher price, that was then saddled with debt and allowed to go under. Dr. Patel, given his large list of properties, probably has the funds to pay for upkeep on the hospital, it just was not profitable for him. Even if this were not the case, the debtors, as well as the government which has given trillions of dollars to the financial oligarchy, had more than enough money to step in and ensure the hospital continued operating, yet they did not. Texas Democratic Representative Sheila Jackson used the hospitals demise as a PR event, appealing for an executive order to prohibit the closure of hospitals by Republican Governor Greg Abbott, despite the Heights Hospital already being closed.

In a rational society health care services would operate with as much support as they needed and on the basis of human need, not profit. The objective need for socialism arises out of the crisis of the capitalist system, and this is on display at the Heights Hospital.
FORMER minister of safety and security Charles Namoloh says he has lingering feelings of betrayal and humiliation because president Hage Geingob is regarded as a national hero without having been on the battlefront during the struggle for independence.

Namoloh yesterday confirmed the authenticity of two audio recordings that have been circulating on social media in which he questioned, among others, Geingob's military credentials.

Although he did not explain the context of the frustration he expressed in the recordings, he accused Geingob and some senior Swapo members of hijacking the glory meant for former People's Liberation Army of Namibia (Plan) combatants and of taking "our jobs".

According to him, Geingob and others were only concerned with glorifying themselves as heroes of the liberation struggle.

WARNED AGAINST CORRUPTION

Namoloh told The Namibian yesterday he had warned Swapo leaders between 2007 and 2012 to address corruption within the party, but was silenced.

At the time, former minister of home affairs Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana was Swapo's secretary general.

He said the problems the party faces today could have been avoided had the leaders made the correct decisions.

Namoloh said between 2014 and 2107, he was aware of allegations that some prominent party members were using money to buy political power, but he didn't know where the money was coming from.

Namoloh also stated he was aware of allegations that some candidates at Swapo's 2017 elective congress bribed delegates to sway the elections in their favour.

"I know there was money and maybe that's how some of us ended up on the parliament list. I know some people were saying that delegates were bought," Namoloh said.

Although Namoloh supported Geingob's slate at the 2017 congress, he said he was not part of the clique of politicians accused of looting Fishcor in the name of Swapo.

In one of the audio recordings, Namoloh said: "When they left for exile, there is no trace as to what they have been doing, but they are now glorifying themselves as combatants . . . 'we fought, we fought' . . . they were nowhere to be seen on the war front, they only used to come visit.

"Some did not even visit the war front. Now that they have realised that the people in the country love their former combatants, now they are inserting themselves in stories of the war front," he said.

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Namoloh claimed that former combatants are now frustrated by the current administration and "we will soon be fed up".

"There are no longer former commanders who have been at the war front here, because we only now have commanders who have been at the universities in America and wherever during the war," he said.

The former minister said Geingob must also be honest and stop misleading the people with his battlefront stories.

He was referring to Geingob who challenged journalists during a joint press conference held at State House when Botswana president Eric Masisi visited Namibia.

At that press briefing, Geingob said he was ready to train anyone who wanted to wage war against Botswana over the killing of Namibians by the Botswana Defence Force.

"They are even offering to train civilians. How professional are you to train anyone? If you want war. Please, save us. We will really get fed up with these things as veterans. We are being marginalised as veterans who fought for this country. I don't care now, because I have been humiliated so many times. But I am ready to stand for Swapo," he said.

State House press secretary Alfredo Hengari yesterday said Namoloh's claims were "trivial" and not deserving of the president's attention.

"The president has urgent matters to attend to that impact positively on the lives of Namibians. Therefore, in light of the agenda of development and service delivery to the Namibian people, the issues raised by the former minister are trivial and not deserving of the attention of the head of state," Hengari said.
A Texas mother was captured on video tackling a man she caught 'peeking' into her 15-year-old daughter's bedroom window.

Phyllis Pena told Lake Jackson Police that she had returned home from the store around 7am on January 31 when she spotted Zane Hawkins, 19, in her yard.

Hawkins was allegedly looking into her daughter's bedroom window and when he saw Pena, he fled the scene.

Phyllis Pena (pictured in red) is seen preparing to tackle a man who is accused of peeking into her daughter's bedroom window last month

The man, who was identified by police as Zane Hawkins, was running from police when Pena grabbed him and tackled him to the ground

Pena's daughter (right) rushed over to help her mother hold him down until police caught up

Lake Jackson police (pictured) had initially captured the suspect, but he somehow managed to slip away from them

Pena immediately called police who arrived to the scene and caught Hawkins. However, he somehow managed to get away from them.

The mother told KPRC that her 'first instinct was just to make sure he didn't go any further'.

And she did just that by tackling Hawkins like a pro. In dashcam video, Pena is seen preparing to grab Hawkins as he tries to run by her.

However, he was in for a rude awakening when the mother tackled him to the ground.

Her daughter then helped hold down the suspect until police arrived.

'The cop fist-bumped me and he was like, "Hey, so I heard the Texans are looking for a new linebacker,"' Pena told the news station.

According to Pena (left), her kids knew of the suspect but did not know him personally. Pena said the incident happened on January 31 when she arrived home from the store around 7am. She's pictured with her daughter (right)

Police said Zane Hawkins (left) tried to flee the scene after allegedly looking into Pena's daughter's (right) window. He was booked into jail and is facing charges of possession of a controlled substance, evading arrest and resisting arrest. More charges could be added

Pena also shared the video from the incident on her Facebook page.

She joked: 'The video everyone has been waiting for. My next step is to try out for the NFL.'

According to Pena, her kids knew of the suspect but did not know him personally.

Police said Hawkins was booked into jail and is facing charges of possession of a controlled substance, evading arrest and resisting arrest.

Authorities said more charges could also be added.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday got the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, Anadolu agency reports.

"I have received second dose of COVID-19 vaccine. Hopefully, we aim to vaccinate all our citizens as soon as possible," Erdogan said via his message on BiP, a popular Turkish messaging app, and Telegram.

On Jan. 14, Turkey began a mass vaccination campaign against coronavirus, starting with healthcare workers along with top officials to encourage public confidence in the vaccines.

According to latest data from the Health Ministry, Turkey has vaccinated over 2.88 million people since the start of the vaccination drive.

The second dose of the vaccine is administered 28 days apart and those who recovered from COVID-19 will not be vaccinated in four to six months following their recovery.
The Broadsheet LLC company has instructed its lawyers at Crowell and Moring LLP to initiate new proceedings so that it can seize Pakistani assets after the company failed to get a reply from the country regarding the recovery of nearly USD 2.2 million.

Geo News reported that Broadsheet's CEO Kaveh Mousavi has instructed his lawyers at Crowell and Morning to initiate the assets-seizure operation after previously successfully seizing Pakistani assets through the orders of the London High Court.

The company's lawyers have informed that the decision was taken after law firm Allen and Overy failed to engage with Broadsheet despite giving assurances on February 1 that Pakistan desires "to resolve the matter without the need for further enforcement action," but failing to confirm further whether it had the instructions to deal with the matter or not.

"Our client has instructed us to seize further assets to satisfy the sums due to it on the outstanding judgments," Broadsheet has said in a letter to Pakistan.

Meanwhile, a source at the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) said that Pakistan has received correspondence regarding the latest developments and the matter is currently under review, reported Geo News.

"With respect, we refer you simply to the dates of the outstanding judgments. We need say no more. Please, don't suggest that your client has not had time to deal with this situation as frankly, that is simply untrue. We will refer the court to the 18 letters that we wrote to you and to your client without response on this very issue and leave the court to draw its own conclusions," said Crowell & Moring LLP in its letter.

The Broadsheet LLC, based in the Isle of Man, was hired by the NAB during Musharraf's regime to trace out hidden assets of Pakistanis in foreign countries. The NAB signed an agreement with the Broadsheet but terminated it in 2003.

The scandal proved that Pakistan has been plagued by corruption. Instead of targeting the corrupt, the Broadsheet was used for political gains and safe passage was given to the corrupt people to escape accountability through National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO).

In March 2019, the London Court of Arbitration (LCIA) gave a USD 20 million final award in the Broadsheet case. However, the NAB/Imran-led government did not pay that amount and due to interest, the award amount rose to USD 28.7 million by December 2020.

Less than a month ago, Broadsheet asked Pakistan to pay USD 1,180,799 in respect of further interest owed by Pakistan on judgment debts, accrued after the issue of Broadsheet's third-party debt order on partial payment by funds received from United National Bank on 31 December 2020, reported Geo News.

The company also asked Pakistan to pay USD 40,677 which was the balance of the judgment debt remaining unsatisfied, USD 5,889 interest accrued on the balance of the judgment debt being and continuing to accrue at the daily rate of USD 267.72 and Broadsheet's enforcement cost currently standing at around USD 800,00.

Last month, Geo News also reported that a London court had ruled that the NAB knowingly 'conspired' to financially harm Broadsheet LLC by entering into a settlement agreement with an unauthorised individual and paid around 1.5 million dollars to his fake firm.

(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 Daily Beast

Screenshot/YouTubeA Christian diet guru and six other people are presumed dead after her small plane crashed into the waters of Tennessee lake on Saturday morning. Authorities were called to the Percy Priest Lake around 11 a.m., not long after the plane took off from the nearby Smyrna Rutherford County Airport. Late Saturday evening, investigators said they believed all seven passengers had perished. The cause of the crash is still under investigation. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Joe Lara (@joelaraofficial) The plane, a Cessna C501, belonged Gwen Shamblin Lara, founder of the Remnant Fellowship Church and author of The Weigh Down Workshop, and her husband William J. Lara, who went by Joe. The couple lived in nearby Brentwood and had registered the plane via their company JL&GL Productions LP. The aircraft has not been located, but Tennessee Highway Patrol told News Channel 5 that officers located debris consistent with a Cessna C501 and that a small plane had been seen descending into the water near a boat ramp early Saturday.Laras daughter, Elizabeth Hannah, sent a text message to members of the Remnant Fellowship Church saying that her mother and father were aboard the aircraft when it was forced to make a quick, controlled landing. All the planes passengers had ties to the church, including Hannahs own husband Brandon, according to her text. The others aboard were David and Jennifer Martin and Jonathan and Jessica Walters, according to authorities.My brother and I are asking for immediate prayers right now, as we have just gotten word that Gwen and Joe Laras plane had to go down, Hannah wrote before authorities said everyone appeared to have been killed. More information to come, but be in prayerand be at peace, the message continued. GOD IS IN CONTROL, and we will not stop moving forward with WHAT GOD WANTS with this church.Read more at The Daily Beast.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.
The Presbyterian Church in Ireland is to break with 127 years of tradition by having its Moderator serve for a second term.

Rt Rev Dr David Bruce will serve a second 12-month term, it was announced yesterday.

Late last year presbyteries had forwarded the names of ministers that they would like to see considered as their next Moderator to Rev Trevor Gribben, clerk of the PCIs General Assembly.

Rev Gribben, the churchs general secretary, had asked each of those ministers if they would permit their name to go forward to the next stage of the process.

Only one minister, however, consented to his name going forward  the current Moderator, Dr Bruce.

Rev Gribben explained: Taking an overview of the current situation, with our presbyteries not being able to meet physically, due to current restrictions in both jurisdictions, and the fact that only one name was under consideration, the General Councils Standing Committee, acting with delegated authority, unanimously agreed that Dr Bruces name be forwarded to the General Assembly for appointment as Moderator for the 2021-2022 church year.

The Presbyterian Moderator is the most senior office-bearer of the Church and its principal public representative.

By convention, the Moderator is selected each year by the Churchs 19 presbyteries, meeting separately across Ireland, on the first Tuesday in February and elected on the opening night of the denominations General Assembly in June.

Rev Gribben said the nomination of the current Moderator to serve a second term is a significant change.

He added: Since our General Assembly came into being in 1840, this has only happened on six previous occasions, the last time being in 1894, 127 years ago.

However, the outcome of this years nomination process is a further demonstration not only of the unprecedented times that we are living through, but also of leading of the Lord, as we have prayerfully sought his guidance for the days ahead.

Dr Bruce said he was deeply honoured to be asked to by the Moderator for a second term. He said usual church business has been impacted by the Covid pandemic and these are difficult days for us all, but there is hope for the future.

My wife Zoe and I hope that, regulations permitting, we may be able to travel across Ireland to visit and encourage congregations, and presbyteries during the year, he added.

We pray for our overseas partners in some of the poorest regions of the world, and hope that we might be able to offer encouragement to them by standing with them in solidarity as they seek to bear witness to Christ in face of unimaginable challenges.

In short, we hope to serve the Church in this year, and by doing so, to honour Christ who has loved us and called us.

Dr Bruce is the first Moderator in over 20 years to come from a position outside of parish ministry and the 175th person to hold the office since 1840.

Born in Banbridge, Co Down, in 1957, he as baptised in Scarva Street Presbyterian Church in the town.

He was selected as Moderator-Designate by the Churchs 19 presbyteries on February 4 2020. He was formally elected as Moderator to serve for the year 2020/2021 at a unique hour-long livestreamed event in Assembly Buildings last June.
Omada's solution will support digital transformation and automate processes for identity governance and access management

COPENHAGEN, Denmark, Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Omada A/S ("Omada"), a global leader of Identity Governance and Administration (IGA) software and cloud-delivered IGA services, announced today that MANN+HUMMEL has chosen to implement Omada's identity and access management system.

MANN+HUMMEL develops innovative filtration solutions for vehicles, industrial applications, clean air in indoor and outdoor spaces, and for the sustainable use of water. The company has over 22,000 employees at more than 80 locations worldwide. The filtration specialist selected Omada in order to provide a simple and centrally managed solution for all processes and applications responsible for the administration of identities and management access rights.

As a core discipline within information security and a key factor for digital transformation, Omada's identity and access management (IAM) system will help MANN+HUMMEL ensure that only authorized people or functions have access to specific information. Moreover, IAM increases service quality in the on- and offboarding of employees through automated processes and digital workflows. In addition, it will help ensure compliance with internal policies and external regulations.

Martin Kemle, IAM project manager, MANN+HUMMEL, said: "With thousands of employees worldwide, we needed a centralized IGA solution that was simple to manage yet effective. After a detailed analysis, the project team is confident that Omada will bring MANN+HUMMEL forward to a successful implementation of Identity and Access Management and to move us to the next level in securing our identities and our environment."

Michael Garrett, CEO, Omada, said: "We're committed to providing our customers with the most innovative IGA solutions needed to reduce access risk, strengthen compliance, and improve efficiency. We are proud to have been selected by MANN+HUMMEL who are leaders in their field and have a dedicated focus on innovation, service, and quality. Our solution, best practice process framework, and implementation approach will fulfil MANN+HUMMEL's requirements to a future-proof and scalable solution, and we look forward to a great working relationship."

About Omada

Omada, a global market leader in Identity Governance and Administration (IGA), offers a full-featured, enterprise-grade, cloud native IGA solution that enables organizations to achieve compliance, reduce risk, and maximize efficiency. Founded in 2000, Omada delivers innovative identity management to complex hybrid environments based on our proven best practice process framework and deployment approach.

For more information, go to omada.net

Media Contact:

Corey Eldridge

831-440-2414

corey.eldridge@nadelphelan.com

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Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism.

Bhubaneswar, Feb 11 : A local court in Odisha's Balasore on Thursday awarded life imprisonment to former contractual cameraman of Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) Ishwar Behera on charges of espionage.

Balasore Additional District Judge (ADJ) court convicted and awarded life imprisonment to Behera, former cameraman at DRDO's Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur on charges of espionage.

Behera was arrested in January 2015 for passing confidential information to Pakistan's intelligence agency ISI regarding testing of missiles at the ITR.

"ADJ Balasore convicted accused Iswar Behera former cameraman of ITR Chandipur in CID CB Case No. 02/15, for life imprisonment, on charges of espionage," tweeted the Crime Branch of Odisha Police.

He was convicted under Sections 121, 121A and 120B of the IPC, and 3 and 5 of the Official Secrets Act, informed Nalini Kumar Panda, public prosecutor.

A native of Kantipur village near Baisinga in Mayurbhanj district, he was employed as a cameraperson on contractual basis in 2007 in the ITR and had been spying for ISI for the last 8-10 months.
The tech conglomerate, which began as an online bookseller, is rapidly hiring for its global security center in Arizona. As the firm expands and faces new challenges, including increased antitrust scrutiny, counterfeiting issues, and pressure from worker activism, the company is staffing up with former FBI agents, with a focus on security and intelligence-gathering ability. From 2017 to 2020, the $1.6 trillion technology behemoth hired 20 former FBI agents, at least two of whom appear to be responsible for monitoring the labor-organizing activity of its workers to keep unions out.

Cindy Wetzstein, a former FBI agent brought onto Amazons security operations facility in Arizona last October, notes in her LinkedIn biography that she is an expert in both tactical and strategic intelligence production. Brian Brooks, now a senior official at Amazons national security division, previously served as a deputy assistant director at the FBI, where he specialized in the deployment of advanced electronic surveillance tools.

At least 26 ex-FBI agents and employees currently work at Amazon, holding positions in the security division, software development, human resources, and board of advisers, according to a review of LinkedIn. The companys earliest hires were in 2007 and 2008  for Deputy Chief Information Security Officer and VP of Security Engineering and Chief Information Security Officer, respectively  but hiring really started ramping up in 2019, when eight former law enforcement specialists were brought on board in security roles.

A wide variety of jobs fall under the umbrella of security. The company, whose cloud computing service, Amazon Web Services, is one of the largest web hosts in the world, has to ward off potential cyberattacks on its servers and work to prevent the theft of its array of merchandise. Hiring in the security division also includes monitoring employees, according to several job descriptions, and, in the past, has included tracking union activism. And the companys embrace of former law enforcement officials follows a familiar path among other industries that have faced labor and activist pressure.

Reached for comment, an Amazon spokesperson noted in an email that the company routinely hires from a range of backgrounds. Like most companies, we have a longstanding team that helps prepare for and manage matters such as natural disasters, inclement weather, power outages, and events like concerts or parades that could disrupt traffic or affect the safety and security of our buildings and our employees who work in them, the spokesperson said.

Last year, after Amazon was caught trying to hire two intelligence analysts tasked with tracking labor organizing threats within and outside the company, it quietly filled those positions with two former FBI agents and hired four others.

The company had posted job listings seeking an Intelligence Analyst and Sr Intelligence Analyst, both based in Phoenix, to monitor and collect information on organized labor, activist groups, hostile political leaders, and other sensitive topics. Amazon deleted the job listings after fierce backlash from labor groups and the public.

The deleted listings, accessible on the Internet Archives Wayback Machine, described the job duties and listed previous experience in intelligence analysis and or watch officer skill set in the intelligence community, the military, law enforcement, or a related global security role in the private sector among their preferred qualifications.

A company spokesperson told CNBC at the time that the job listing was not an accurate description of the role  it was made in error and has since been corrected. They did not say what was inaccurate about the listings, which had been up since early January.

Amazon filled jobs with identical titles later that year, hiring the former FBI special agent and supervisory intelligence analyst for its Arizona site. The company also hired former FBI officials for roles as a security engineer, two program managers, and a director for Worldwide Compliance Operations. The FBI official hired for the latter was previously an FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force executive board member.

Amazon is still posting similar job listings for roles in its security division, but the language used to describe what these jobs actually entail is now much more ambiguous. As recently as last month, Amazon put up listings for security jobs at its Goodyear, Arizona, site requiring several years of military experience.

Amazon took down one listing for a Program Manager in their Global Security Operations Center after The Intercept reached out for comment. The job description involved monitoring employees work performance to ensure that theyre meeting the companys goals, identifying methods of addressing human performance through learning and advising appropriately when training is not the answer and improving training and delivery methods.

Corporations seeking to monitor and disrupt perceived opponents have long drawn upon the expertise of former FBI agents. Major financial firms, casinos, and oil and gas companies have tapped a revolving door of retired FBI personnel, who offer ties to their former colleagues and services to track and undermine perceived corporate threats, including journalists and labor organizers.

In 2012, fearing a wave of labor activism, Walmart reportedly developed a centralized surveillance system headed by a former FBI officer named Ken Senser to track employees activities, sentiment, and political sympathies. When the companys security analysts received word that Occupy Wall Street demonstrators were contemplating a protest of Walmart, it swiftly engaged the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force and local police agencies.

The FBIs early roots focused on suppressing labor activism on behalf of business interests. In 1919, the agency established its General Intelligence Division that mobilized Red Squads focused on disrupting labor organizing. The most famous of these is the Palmer Raids of 1919 and 1920, during which around 10,000 people were arrested over suspected ties to communist and labor radical groups. The raids, timed to coincide with the anniversary of the Bolshevik revolt in Russia, were targeted at the Industrial Workers of the World. At least 1,000 IWW members were later convicted under dubious charges under the Espionage Act that the unions industrial organizing work was somehow part of a conspiracy to assist Germany during World War I.

Amazon has fended off unionization through a range of tactics, using common union-busting strategies while keeping its more aggressive investments under wraps. Leaked documents have revealed aspects of the companys internal surveillance apparatus, showing how analysts keep close tabs on its own workforce, including by hiring operatives from Pinkerton, a spy agency known for being hostile to unions, to spy on workers in Europe, as Vice previously reported.

The company is now facing its biggest union push since 2014. On February 8, the National Labor Relations Board began mailing ballots to nearly 6,000 Amazon workers at the facility near Birmingham, Alabama, who will begin voting on whether to join the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union. If enough of the workers vote in favor, they will become the first Amazon warehouse in the United States to unionize.

During the pandemic, Amazon workers in several warehouses across the country (and abroad) have ramped up their organizing, staging walk-offs and other labor actions to protest the firms abusive work practices: forcing grueling hours with little to no pay increase at a time of record profits.
San Franciscos Bernal Heights neighborhood is experiencing an increase in burglaries of homes and businesses, and District Attorney Chesa Boudin said he has two theories for the surge.

One is that criminals have shifted their sights from tourists now that the citys tourism industry has dropped because of the coronavirus pandemic. Instead, theyre breaking into small businesses and homes to steal property.

The second theory on whats driving the increase, Boudin said, is the economic desperation that has come with the pandemic, which has left residents without work and grappling with the economic impacts of the global health pandemic.

Boudin shared his theories during a virtual community safety forum for the Bernal Heights neighborhood on Wednesday night, where Supervisor Hillary Ronen and Ingleside Station Capt. Chris Woon discussed the recent uptick in crime, and offered advice to residents and merchants on how to be safe.

The recent rise in crime is very concerning to local leaders, Ronen said. She said shes seen small businesses on Cortland Avenue and the surrounding area get vandalized and burglarized during a time where small businesses are barely hanging on.

Woon said there have been quite a few incidents of burglars breaking glass windows on garage doors, and gaining entry to steal items between the midnight to 4 a.m. hours. There have also been more brazen, daytime burglaries where suspects ring doorbells to homes and break down the door if no one answers.

David Campos, Boudins chief of staff, said the crimes are part of a broader citywide spike in home break-ins and burglaries. He said the spike in home burglaries across the city have been a challenge for authorities to solve, particularly during the pandemic, when suspects are often wearing masks.

Ronan said the rise in reported crime comes at a time where families are navigating educating their children from home, residents are facing eviction and experiencing food insecurity, and economic disparities that existed before the pandemic have widened.

Gabrielle Lurie / The Chronicle

We know that that is one of the root causes of property crimes specifically, Ronen said.

In a question posed to Boudin asking his insight on whether the crime is a result of career criminals or people who are in desperate economic situations who are reacting to the pandemic, he said that its a crucial question that he spends time thinking about and discussing with San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott.

The devastation of the pandemic is hard to overstate, especially for people who were already struggling to begin with, who were already living paycheck to paycheck, or struggling to find a place to sleep every night, Boudin said. If you used to live from couch to couch at friends houses, they dont want you on their couch in the context of a contagious virus pandemic. So, thats definitely part of the picture.

But the other theory, Boudin said, is that while overall crime is significantly down citywide, it appears as if people who used to earn their living doing this kind of illegal auto burglary and targeting of tourists are now moving inside, just like the rest of us have moved inside for work in our daily lives.

He said San Francisco police officers are trying their best to respond to the recent trend in commercial and residential burglaries, saying that just a year and a half ago, police were vigilantly keeping an eye on tourist hot spots to reduce auto-burglaries of tourists.

Its one thing to have someone break a car window and steal a backpack. Thats a crime. We prosecute it as a felony, Boudin said. Its another thing to have someone break into your garage or your home  thats your castle. Hopefully, as we begin to go back to a normal post-pandemic life, well see residential burglaries go down, and well be able to focus on really problematic  but far less serious crimes  like auto burglaries instead of residential burglaries.

Lauren Hernandez is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: lauren.hernandez@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ByLHernandez
Second dose of vaccinations set to roll out from next week in North Wales

This article is old - Published: Thursday, Feb 11th, 2021

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board says it on track to reach the target set by Welsh Government to have offered COVID-19 vaccinations to the first four priority groups by the middle this month.

So far 160,395 people the first four priority groups have now received their first dose of a coronavirus vaccine.

These groups are made of the over 80s, care home staff and residents, the over 70s, healthcare workers and those who were asked to shield during the pandemic.

This includes 25,706 in Wrexham, Anglesey: 17,419, Gwynedd: 26,500, Conwy: 31,374, Denbighshire: 24,374, Flintshire: 29,865 and Other: 4,575.





Across Wales 684,097 have been vaccinated  around 20% of the adult population.

From next week the north Wales health board will start administer the second dose of Pfizer vaccines to those who were vaccinated at the end of 2020.

Chris Stockport, executive director for primary care and community services at the health board, said: Just like in lots of other parts of the UK, we are currently able to vaccinate people far more quickly than the supply of vaccine allows us to.

Here in North Wales we are getting our fair share of vaccines and we have to remind ourselves that the two vaccines available were first licensed in December and it is always the case that supplies of vaccine are slower and a little bit more bumpy in the early weeks of rollout.

We are assured that the vaccine companies are increasing their rate of manufacturing and of course it is likely than more vaccines will become approved with time.

So although people are frustrated at having to wait for vaccination we are confident that we can administer them as soon as they are supplied to us, and that the supply rate will continue to increase.

At present our supply is roughly half Pfizer Biontech and half AstraZeneca. The Pfizer Biontech vaccine needs particular handling conditions due to it needing to be stored at ultra-low temperatures. Once a tray of vaccines is thawed for use and then opened it has to be fully used within a short period of time. Each tray contains over 1,000 doses so once thawed, we have to administer that particular vaccine at high volumes.

The AstraZeneca vaccine is a little easier to handle and store using the normal vaccine facilities that you would find in your GP practice, dentist or community pharmacy for example.

To deal with this we are using two different methods of deployment here in north Wales. For the PfizerBiontech vaccine, we are using large scale mass vaccination centres, which can handle the complex storage and handling requirements and can administer to enough people to use up all of the doses in the tray within time.

For the AstraZeneca vaccine, we distributing all of this through primary care providers, such as your gp surgery, because they have the facilities to handle this vaccine. In this way we are delivering as much vaccine as possible in local communities, so that less people need to travel to a mass vaccination centre.

The following advice on your appointment and what to do when you attend either your GP surgery or local vaccination centre has also been issued by the health board:

Please dont phone the call centre, or your GP practice, unless you have been asked to do so, or unless you are in one of the age groups invited to phone us if they havent yet received an appointment. The health board wont be able to give you an appointment out of turn.

Please try to be understanding with your GP staff and the Health Board vaccination team, the vaccines are being administered as quickly as they are received

Some people do not answer their phones if they do not recognise the number. However if you are in one of the groups currently being vaccinated then you may be called and offered offer a short notice appointment if one becomes available.

If you receive an invitation for an appointment but are sure that you do not wish to be vaccinated then please make it known so that appointment can be offered to somebody else.

Finally, when you attend your vaccination appointment please remember that to keep you safe and so strict social distancing rules will be in force. Please do not arrive early, and please bring a face mask. You should also bring photo ID as you may be required to present it.

Dr Stockport added: Because we are delivering vaccinations from mass vaccination centres and from local primary care providers there is a lot of work going on behind the scenes to make sure everyone receives an invitation at the right time.

Your invitation may come from your GP practice, or it may come directly from the Health Board to invite you to a mass vaccination centre.

Because it will take some time for the vaccination manufacturers to supply enough vaccine, we have grouped our population in north Wales into ten groups, according to how at vulnerable individuals are if they contract coronavirus.

This is entirely in keeping with the national guidance and it means that the first available supplies are being used for those members of our communities that are at the highest risks.

You will only get an invitation for vaccination when we get to your group. As we vaccinate each group we will open up our call centre to allow people who have not received an appointment automatically to book an appointment directly with us.

At the moment (the 2nd week of February) we are booking appointments directly with anyone aged over 70 who has not yet received an appointment.

As we move through the groups and open the call centre up to more people we will publicise this on our website, through social media, through our partners working across north Wales, and will keep the media informed too.

So please dont worry that you will not be able to be vaccinated, or that you have been forgotten about.
ROME, FEB 11 - John Elkann, the president of Stellantis and Ferrari, said Thursday that he can see the arrival of flying cars in the not-too-distant future. "Lots of leaps forward will be seen for our industry in this decade," Elkann said in an interview with the Italian Tech Speak podcast channel. "On the one side there is the environmental challenge and the energy-transition challenge. "On the other there are the applications that the transport world is able to imagine, including, for example, automobiles that fly, something that films of the 20th century imagined arriving much earlier". (ANSA).

India and China have reached an agreement on disengagement in the North and South bank of Pangong lake in eastern Ladakh that mandates both sides to cease forward deployment of troops in a "phased, coordinated and verifiable" manner, Defence Minister announced in Parliament on Thursday, in a breakthrough after a nine-month border standoff.

Sharing details of the pact to defuse the tense military face-off in eastern Ladakh that severely strained ties between the two Asian giants, Singh also assured the Rajya Sabha that India has not conceded anything in the sustained talks with China. India will not allow even an inch of its territory to be taken by anyone, he said.

The defence minister said implementation of the pact will "substantially restore" the situation to the one which existed prior to the standoff that erupted on May 5 last, adding the two sides have agreed they should achieve complete disengagement at the "earliest" and abide fully by the bilateral agreements and protocols.

Making a statement in the Upper House a day after China announced the disengagement process, Singh said both sides have agreed to remove structures that had been built since April last in North and South bank areas, and put in place a temporary moratorium on military activities including patrolling the traditional areas.

The defence minister said under the agreement the Chinese People's Liberation Army(PLA) will keep its troops in the North bank area to east of Finger 8 and the Indian troops will be based at their permanent base at Dhan Singh Thapa Post near Finger 3 in the Pangong lake areas, a major site of friction between the two large armies.

He said the implementation of the pact started on Wednesday and it was agreed to convene the next meeting of senior commanders of both sides within 48 hours of completion of the disengagement in the Pangong lake area so as to resolve all other remaining issues.

"I am happy to inform the House today that as a result of our well thought out approach and sustained talks with the Chinese side, we have now been able to reach an agreement on disengagement in the North and South bank of the Pangong lake," the defence minister said.

The border standoff between the Indian and Chinese militaries erupted on May 5 following a violent clash in the Pangong lake areas and both sides gradually enhanced their deployment by rushing in tens of thousands of soldiers as well as heavy weaponry even as the two sides continued military and diplomatic talks.

"The agreement that we have been able to reach with the Chinese side for disengagement in the Pangong lake area envisages that both sides will cease their forward deployments in a phased, coordinated and verified manner."



"The Chinese side will keep its troop presence in the North bank area to east of Finger 8. Reciprocally, the Indian troops will be based at their permanent base at Dhan Singh Thapa post near Finger 3. A similar action would be taken in the South bank area by both sides," he said.

The defence minister said patrolling will be resumed in the areas only when both sides reach an agreement in diplomatic and military talks that would be held subsequently.

He said these are mutual and reciprocal steps and any structures that had been built by both sides since April 2020 in both North and South bank areas will be removed and the landforms will be restored.

"I want to assure this House that in these talks we have not conceded anything. The House should also know that there are still some outstanding issues with regard to deployment and patrolling at some other points along the Line of Actual Control(LAC) in eastern Ladakh," he said.

"These will be the focus of further discussions with the Chinese side. We have agreed that both sides should achieve complete disengagement at the earliest and abide fully by the bilateral agreements and protocols."



Noting that the Chinese side is fully aware of India's resolve by now, he said it is India's expectation that the neighbouring country will work with the Indian side in full sincerity to resolve these remaining issues.

"I would like this House to join me in paying gratitude to our armed forces who have shown grit and resolve under these extremely harsh climatic conditions of Ladakh which has resulted in the present agreement," he said.

"Our Nation will always remember the sacrifices made by our brave soldiers which has been the foundation of this disengagement at Pangong Tso lake."



The defence minister exuded confidence that the entire House, irrespective of political affiliations, is united together for upholding the country's "sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity and security".

"And further, this House is one in sending out the same message demonstrating the strength and unity of our Nation to the entire world," he said.

In the nine rounds of military talks, India had specifically insisted on withdrawal of Chinese troops from Finger 4 to Finger 8 on the North bank of Pangong Lake. The mountain spurs in the area are referred to as Fingers.

On its part, the Chinese side was insisting on withdrawal of Indian troops from several strategic peaks on the southern bank of the lake. Around five months back, Indian troops occupied a number of strategic heights in the Mukhpari, Rechin La and Magar hill areas around the southern bank after the Chinese PLA attempted to intimidate them in the area.

China on Wednesday said the Chinese and Indian frontline troops at the southern and northern bank of the Pangong Tso started "synchronised and organised disengagement" from February 10 in accordance with the consensus reached by both sides at the ninth round of China-India Corps Commander- Level meeting. The ninth round was held on January 24 and it lasted for around 16 hours.

Both sides had rushed a large number of battle tanks, armoured vehicles and heavy equipment to the treacherous and high-altitude areas of eastern Ladakh region after tension escalated following a deadly clash in the Galwan Valley in June last.

Twenty Indian soldiers were killed in the fierce hand-to-hand combat on June 15 in Galwan Valley, an incident that marked the most serious military conflicts between the two sides in decades.

China is yet to disclose the number of its soldiers killed and injured in the clash though it officially admitted to have suffered casualties. According to an American intelligence report, the number of casualties on the Chinese side was 35.

(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 foundation stone of the All India War Memorial Arch in Delhi or India Gate as it is known today was laid on February 10 in 1921 by British royal Duke of Connaught during his visit the country, according to old records.

Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn, was an uncle of King George V, the then reigning monarch of the British Empire who had held a grand durbar in Delhi in 1911 where he had also announced the shifting of the imperial capital from Calcutta to Delhi.

Following this decision, work began on creating a new capital in the Raisina Hill area, whose foundation stone was laid by King George V on December 15, 1911.

Sir Edwin Landseer Lutyens and Sir Herbert Baker laid out an extraordinary new capital, with the Viceroy''s House (now Rashtrapati Bhavan) and the North Block and South Block fronting it, being the centrepiece of ''New Delhi'', which was officially named so later in 1926.

However, during the construction of the new imperial capital city, the World War I broke out and a large number of soldiers from the British Indian Army were sent to the war zones.

The India Gate, a prominent tourist attraction today is a solemn memorial to the soldiers from India who died in action and originally called the All India War Memorial Arch.

During his Delhi leg of India visit in 1921, the Duke of Connaught participated in a number of activities and laid the foundation of the All India War Memorial on February 10 and the Council Chamber of the Parliament House, designed by Baker, two days later.

According to a 1921 publication of the Superintendent Government Printing, Calcutta, units of the Army from across India had gathered at the event in ''New Delhi'', which was under construction.

"On this spot, in the central vista of the Capital of India, there will stand a Memorial Archway, designed to keep present in the thoughts of the generations that follow after, the glorious sacrifice of the officers and men of the Indian Army who fought and fell in the Great War," the Duke of Connaught said in his speech.

"The men were nobly led and the officers were bravely followed, and we give thanks to Almighty Providence that the cause for which they fought was the cause which prevailed, and that our Memorial is not one of lives lost in vain, but a monument of great and overwhelming victory," he said.

The monumental sandstone arch, often compared to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, was opened after a decade.

The 42-metre-high All India War Memorial Arch was built to honour the soldiers who died in the First World War (1914-1918) and the Third Anglo-Afghan War (1919). The landmark has the names of soldiers inscribed on its surface.

Over 80,000 Indian laid their lives in those campaigns and India Gate bears names of 13,516 etched over its surface.

Amar Jawan Jyoti was built to commemorate India''s victory in the Indo-Pak War of 1971, an Army official had said earlier.

Amar Jawan Jyoti is a memorial symbolised by an inverted bayonet and soldier''s helmet over it with an eternal flame burning beside it. It was built in 1972 underneath the India Gate arch to commemorate the soldiers who lost their lives in the Indo-Pak War of 1971.

Delhi's iconic Connaught Place, a plush heritage shopping plaza, built during the making of 'New Delhi' was named after the Duke of Connaught.
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 11, 2021) - Better Plant Sciences Inc. (CSE: PLNT) (OTCQB: VEGGF) (FSE: YG3) ("Better Plant"or the "Company") is pleased to announce that on January 4, 2021 it added Nature's Fare Markets ("Nature's Fare") to its list of trusted retailers. Nature's Fare is a retail chain that operates in British Columbia, Canada, and is most popular amongst wellness conscious consumers for trusted, natural products.

Nature's Fare is Canada's first certified B Corporation. Certified B Corporations are businesses that meet the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability to balance profit and purpose. They are committed to responsible and sustainable products, making it an excellent fit for Urban Juve. Nature's Fare has seven locations across BC.

Better Plant's Urban Juve Expands Distribution into New Canadian Retail Locations

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/6377/74199_cdbb6b2784c04b24_001full.jpg

"We are excited about bringing on Urban Juve products," says Lisa Ramsay, Vitamin Manager at Nature's Fare in White Rock, BC. "The natural plant-based hyaluronic acid in their Skin Awakening Serum is something our customers have been seeking out, and not something we have seen before."

Ecotrend Ecologics ("Ecotrend") is Urban Juve's Canadian distributor and has proven itself to be an excellent fit with the brand. Ecotrend is also a certified B Corporation, in addition to being Climate Smart certified. Climate Smart is a government-approved program that requires a detailed assessment of all aspects of a company's climate footprint. It is the only company in the Health and Wellness industry in Canada that has committed itself to this level of environmental stewardship. Ecotrend manages over 2500 natural health retailers and over 2500 professional accounts.

Urban Juve is currently available in select locations in over 50 retail stores across Canada, including Pharmasave, Nesters Market, online wellness giant Vitasave.ca, and La Moisson's flagship store.

La Moisson, a high integrity natural health store in Quebec City, now carries the entire line of Urban Juve products. This demonstrates La Moisson's belief in the product's quality and shelf appeal.

"Urban Juve packaging is fully compliant in Quebec, which makes us well-positioned to take on the French-Canadian natural health and beauty product market with the help of our Ecotrend reps in this region," says Amber Allen, Head of Sales for Better Plant.

The Company is also committed to building a strong educational foundation and identifies as a wellness education brand. It accomplishes this through providing distributors and retailers with ongoing high-level product training and wellness education.

Urban Juve products are available at www.urbanjuve.com. For Canadian purchasing inquiries contact: marketing.manager@ecotrend.ca.

About Better Plant Sciences Inc.

Better Plant offers plant-based products for optimum health and wellness. It is a vertically integrated company with a team whose complementary experience enables acquisition, development, manufacturing, and direct-to-consumer distribution of its products. Its all-natural products vary in use from pain treatment to disease prevention to skin care, all without chemicals or harmful ingredients. It has an extensive catalogue of over 400 proprietary product formulas. Better Plant currently has over 70 plant-based products for sale through eCommerce and/or in retail stores under the brands Jusu, Urban Juve, and Wright & Well. Better Plant also owns approximately 28.6% of NeonMind.

For more information on Better Plant, visit betterplantsciences.com or follow @betterplantsciences on Instagram.

Penny White, President & CEO

penny@betterplantsciences.com

1-833-514-2677

Investor Relations:

Alexandra Dumanski

invest@betterplantsciences.com

1-833-514-2677

The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed, approved or disapproved the contents of this news release.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes forward-looking information and statements (collectively, "forward looking statements") under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates, forecasts, beliefs and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks, uncertainties and factors include, but are not limited to: risks related to the development, testing, licensing, brand development, availability of packaging, intellectual property protection, reduced global commerce and reduced access to raw materials and other supplies due to the spread of COVID-19, the potential for not acquiring any rights as a result of the patent application and any products making use of the intellectual property may be ineffective or the company may be unsuccessful in commercializing them; and other approvals will be required before commercial exploitation of the intellectual property can happen. Demand for the company's products, general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties, delay or failure to receive board or regulatory approvals where applicable, and the state of the capital markets. Better cautions readers not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements provided by Better, as such forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future results or performance and actual results may differ materially. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release, and Better expressly disclaims any obligation to update or alter statements containing any forward-looking information, or the factors or assumptions underlying them, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/74199
Everett Stern, a West Chester businessman who is credited with playing a role in an investigation leading to one of the nations largest civil banking penalties, has become the first entrant into the 2022 race for the Republican Party nomination for U.S. Senate.

Stern, 36, seeks the seat currently held by Sen. Pat Toomey, who announced last year that he would not be seeking a third term.

Though little-known to some in top state Republican Party circles, Stern has made a niche-y name for himself as a former employee of the London-based global banking empire HSBC who went to the government with information on what he felt were purposefully lax systems designs to stop illicit money laundering.

Sterns information became part of a larger probe that ended with the U.S. Department of Justice levying a $1.9 billion fine to settle charges against HSBC of violating U.S. sanctions for doing business with countries like Iran and North Korea, and breaking terms of the Trading With the Enemy Act and other money-laundering laws.

He was also interviewed in an episode of the Netflix documentary series Dirty Money that focused on HSBCs actions.

The people of Pennsylvania deserve a leader who will fight for them against the most powerful special interests, the most entrenched politicians, and a corrupt system whose leaders have forgotten that they answer to the people, Stern said in a statement announcing the launch of his campaign.

Theres never been a time when bold, unafraid new leadership has been more badly needed.

In an interview with PennLive Wednesday night, Stern said this is his first formal candidacy, though he explored a primary bid against Toomey in 2016, on the premise that Toomey was too close to the kind of banking empires like HSBC that Stern has come to see as too willing to do anything to make a dollar.

A self-described conservative Republican who features clips of past appearances on right-wing media outlets Newsmax and One American News Network in his campaign video, Stern is currently CEO of Tactical Rabbit, described on its Website as a private intelligence agency that provides clients with legal, business, and national security intelligence.

He touts himself as a supporter of less federal regulation of business and industry, a backer of the right to bear arms, and a law-and-order candidate who will fight any effort to scale back or weaken law enforcement in Pennsylvanias communities.

Stern, who is single, is a graduate of Florida Atlantic University and earned his MBA from Stetson University.

The U.S. Senate is right now evenly split, 50-50, but Democrats have control of the chamber, with Vice President Kamala Harris holding the tie-breaking vote on key issues. Pennsylvanias seat could be one of a handful that proves decisive in the struggle for majority control in the second half of President Joe Bidens time in office.

It is also expected to be one of the most expensive races in the nation in the 2022 cycle.

Stern said Wednesday he is not daunted by the challenges of running a statewide campaign against what is likely to be a large pool of more seasoned political veterans.

Im not going to be able to make the difference I want to make at the local level, he explained. If I can take on and take down HSBC Bank... I can take on every single opponent that steps in this ring with me.

Stern is the first of large field of Republican hopefuls interested in Toomeys seat to formally enter the race.

On record as expressing interest are former Lieutenant Governor nominee Jeff Bartos; Craig Snider, a never-Trump businessman whose late father, Ed, founded the Philadelphia Flyers; and Kiron Skinner, a Carnegie Mellon University professor who served a short stint as a senior policy adviser in former President Donald J. Trumps State Department.

Others widely believed to be looking at the race include U.S. Reps. Dan Meuser of Luzerne County, and Guy Reschenthaler, of Allegheny County; Bill McSwain, the former federal prosecutor in Philadelphia; Scott Brady, the top federal prosecutor in Pittsburgh; former U.S. Rep. Ryan Costello of Chester County, and Kenneth Braithwaite, a former Secretary of the Navy.

Lt. Gov. John Fetterman and Norristown businessman John McGuigan have entered the race for the Democratic Partys nomination.
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Litter along roadsides in the Palmetto State has gotten far worse during the coronavirus pandemic, South Carolina's top transportation official said.

The problem, she and other officials said, is not just an increase in food containers for take-home meals or personal protective equipment, but the fact that the typical labor force that cleans up this refuse has evaporated.

Speaking at a conference of beach advocates on Feb. 8, S.C. Department of Transportation Secretary Christy Hall said the trash issue has compounded in part because more people are using drive-thru restaurants and then discarding the containers improperly.

"We're seeing an epidemic of litter all across the highways, and we can't keep up with it," said Hall, who manages the fourth-largest state-owned road system in the country.

In an additional statement to The Post and Courier, Hall stressed that the trash is an eyesore and that it causes other problems, like clogged drains and a contaminated environment. SCDOT hired contractors to help with cleanup for the first time last year, paying $668,000 for collections of more than 272 tons of rubbish, and regular employees of the agency have been tasked with cleanups as well.

Sarah Lyles, executive director of Palmetto Pride, agreed that there's more litter alongside major roads and that more disposable masks and gloves have stressed an "already overloaded" waste stream.

Palmetto Pride, a quasi-state agency, coordinates volunteer cleanup efforts and saw a dip in participation last spring, Lyles said. There were about 55,000 litter-cleanup volunteers for the group in 2020. Typically, there are roughly 70,000 in an average year, she said.

There are problems elsewhere in cleanup efforts, too. Crews of incarcerated people from state prisons and county jails aren't going out to pick up trash, as they have in the past.

"We're missing a link in the labor chain right now," Lyles said. "We love our state because we have low taxes, but that also means certain programs aren't funded, like litter crews that clean up every road."

S.C. Department of Corrections spokeswoman Chrysti Shain said work crews, including litter-collection groups, were paused last March as the pandemic became a global concern. None of those programs have resumed.

"I think a lot of people are now understanding how much of the highways we maintain," Shain said.

In 2019, about 220 incarcerated individuals helped clean more than 15,000 miles of roadways, the majority of which were on interstates, Shain said. Workers on these crews receive credits for their labor that can help shorten their sentences, and work five days a week all year, except during inclement weather.

There is some good news in the volunteer world, however. Lyles said many people have come back to Palmetto Pride's programs, activities that lend themselves to social distancing because they already happen outside. About 500 people showed up to a cleanup earlier in February in the Francis Marion National Forest.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, many considered websites essential for modern businesses. Still, just over a quarter of small businesses (28%) have no website, according to a new report from Top Design Firms .

Most small businesses (71%) do have a website, though building and maintaining a website is still a challenge as enterprise business websites elevate customers' expectations.

Top Design Firms finds that 46% of small businesses use in-house teams to manage their company website. In 2021, 30% of small businesses plan to embed video content in their company website, according to Top Design Firms.

The survey found that almost half of small businesses (46%) have in-house employees manage their website, and 32% use DIY website builders to create a basic website. This demonstrates just how easy it is for small businesses with limited resources to establish a web presence.

A high-quality website will be even more necessary in 2021, and small businesses must build teams to keep up with customer expectations and demand.

Small Businesses Plan to Invest in Website Performance and Page Speed

Almost half of small businesses (43%) plan to improve their website performance and page speed in 2021.

Website functionality and performance is a key factor in organic search engine rankings. About one-fifth of small businesses (21%) reported their biggest website challenge was low traffic.

Improving the website's functionality can help increase organic search engine rankings and drive traffic. Small in-house teams, however, may lack the expertise required to improve a website's functionality.

Only 34% of small businesses currently invest in an agency partner to manage their websites. A trained design, development, or user experience expert can help small businesses implement technical updates to their websites.

Other website investments small businesses plan to make include optimizing for a mobile website (34%) and integrating voice search (17%), which demonstrates small business's understanding of search engine optimization (SEO) best practices.

Some Small Businesses Plan to Experiment With Video and Virtual Reality (VR)

Showcasing products and services remains the top priority for 24% of small businesses, and some small businesses plan to use new technology to do so.

Almost one-third of small businesses (30%) plan to embed videos on their websites in 2021. Videos are an engaging way to demonstrate a product or service's value to current and potential customers.

About one-fifth of small businesses (19%) even plan to invest in virtual reality (VR) features on their websites. Virtual reality can help small businesses visualize products in their space, or experience services before making a purchasing decision.

Other website features small businesses plan to try include chatbots (18%) and "dark mode" design (18%). New website features and tools can help keep current customers engaged, and attract new customers to a small business's products.

Read the full report here: https://topdesignfirms.com/web-design/online-presence-management

For questions about the survey, comments on the findings, or an introduction to the sources featured in the report, contact Shelby Jordan at [email protected] .

About Top Design Firms

Top Design Firms is a directory of design, marketing, and development companies from around the world. Launched in 2003, Top Design Firms was recently acquired by Clutch, the leading ratings and reviews platform for IT, marketing, and business service providers.

Contact

Shelby Jordan

[email protected]

(202) 350-4344

SOURCE Top Design Firms
Mortar shelling in Afghanistan kills at least 10 civilians

Fire breaks out at West Virginia oil refinery in US

Iran ready to help improve the defense capability of Syria

European Parliament head proposes to strengthen sanctions on Russia

UK PM gets married in London

Armenia reports COVID-19 new 81 cases: for people die

EU countries invite US to issue joint statement against Russia

2 people die in Armenia road accident

Nigeria: Students taken hostage a month ago are released

61 quakes recorded in Congo per day

Syrian MFA: EU lost credibility due to blind obedience to US policy

Armenia ex-minister of emergency situations hospitalized with heart attack

Mher Grigoryan: Clarification of border points is possible only after withdrawal of Azerbaijani troops from Armenia

Suspicious deal: Whether there was profit from buying DNA IDs?

Armenia ex-president says current authorities are trying to blame Russia for defeat in war

4 people killed in Afghanistani bus attack

Robert Kocharyan: This war could not have happened, it was a consequence of the policy of the authorities

Kocharyan: I have to ask people how it happened that overwhelming majority elected this leader

Armen Gevorgyan presents 'Armenia' bloc program: We offer the concept of a working country

Biden's administration proposed to leave unchanged amount of financial support to Armenia

US Embassy in Baku calls on Azerbaijan to immediately release Armenian POWs

Luxembourg MFA calls on Azerbaijan to immediately release all Armenian prisoners

Russia peacekeepers climb to Armenia Gegharkunik Province village positions

Biden strongly condemns manifestations of antisemitism in US

Iran intensifies its diplomacy amid Armenia-Azerbaijan border tensions

Armenia acting PM on forthcoming snap parliamentary elections: We hope to get 60% of votes

Lukashenko accuses West of destabilizing situation in Belarus

Armenia Central Electoral Commission chief on snap elections: No legal basis for postponing, suspending any function

Armenias Pashinyan is met by Yerevan district residents chanting against him

We are ready to be fully engaged in negotiation process to resolve Karabakh issue, says Armenia acting PM

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan gives interview to Russia TV channel

Armenia acting premier: We are ready to start withdrawing troops at any moment

Canada MFA expresses concern over 6 Armenian soldiers capture by Azerbaijan troops

There are omissions in registration documents of political forces that applied to Armenia Central Electoral Commission

Armenia Central Electoral Commission chief: There is activeness in Yerevan for the past day or two

Three new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Group of US Congress members threaten Azerbaijans Aliyev regime with sanctions

Chicago mayor is sued for allegedly refusing interview with white reporter

Iran exports oil to US for first time after long interval

"Armenia" bloc top 50 MP candidates are announced

42 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Sri Lanka public beach is covered in charred plastic pellets due to fire in container ship

US preparing list of targeted sanctions on Belarus authorities

China believes it will own America by 2035, Biden says

15 al-Shabab militants killed in Somalia

Newspaper: Armenia political forces that applied for running in election impatiently await CEC decision

Newspaper: Changes are expected in Artsakh

California prisoner who considers himself Satanist beheads cellmate, dismembers his body

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM's "mutually beneficial" proposal to collapse state system?

Armenia National Security Service Reserve Officers' Union members meet with His Holiness Karekin II

EU is ready to help Armenia and Azerbaijan with border delimitation and demarcation

ARF-D member on Nikol Pashinyan: 103 years ago Armenia's founding fathers would have executed him for treason

Iran President hails brotherly ties with Azerbaijan

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

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
EAST HAVEN  Cathy Finkle, former program director of the East Haven Public Schools Little Jackets day care program  and wife of imprisoned former school board Chairman John Finkle  pleaded guilty to federal wire fraud charges Thursday in connection with a scheme to divert $38,554 in tuition funds to her own bank account.

Finkle, 58, also a second-general owner of The Rib House restaurant on Main Street, was charged in a single-count information presented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Raymond F. Miller. She agreed to waive indictment in the case, allowing prosecutors to sidestep the requirement that they first go to a grand jury to determine whether to file charges.

Its my decision to plead guilty, Finkle told Judge Stefan Underhill during a virtual Zoom appearance in U.S. District Court in Bridgeport, flanked by her lawyer Michael Dolan. I did something wrong and Im responsible for it.

Finkle told the judge she understood that she would be charged with one count of wire fraud, a felony which carries a maximum possible sentence of up to 20 years in prison and up to three years of supervised release, along with a maximum fine of up to $250,000 and a $100 mandatory special assessment.

She also told him she understood that she was waiving her right to a trial, along with the rights and benefits that would come along with it, and that there was no deal or agreement today about how you will be sentenced.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Ray Miller told the court that the government would have been prepared to prove that Finkle devised a scheme to defraud the East Haven Board of Education, that she acted with intent to defraud and at some point transmitted an interstate signal or wire.

In accepting Finkles plea agreement, the U.S. attorneys office agreed to recommend that the judge reduce Finkles offense by two levels. It also recommended that she be sentenced to 8 to 14 months with a $40,000 fine, plus $38,554.50 in restitution, though the judge is not bound to honor it.

Finkle spent eight years as manager of the Little Jackets program. The families of students who attended would pay tuition, in some cases with Western Union money orders and in some cases with cash, Miller told the court.

From January 2011 to November 2018, she systematically took tuition payments and diverted them to her own account, Miller said.

You did that knowing that that money was not yours? Underhill asked Finkle.

Yes, your honor, Finkle responded.

Underhill set Finkles sentencing for 1 p.m.May 6 in the Bridgeport courthouse and ordered her released on a $50,000 non-surety bond co-signed by her daughter, Catherine DiLungo.

John Finkle pleaded guilty in federal court on July 16, 2019, to one count of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud in connection with a scheme to defraud the Illinois-based company that he worked for. He was sentenced to 24 months in federal prison on Nov. 22, 2019, in connection with a scheme to defraud JST Corp. of $3.36 million.

Hes currently serving his sentence in the Otisville Correctional Facility in Orange County, N.Y.

mark.zaretsky@hearstmediact.com
New York : China, which has been blocking India's efforts to become a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, on Wednesday reiterated its stand on New Delhi's bid, and called for evolving a "package solution" that is acceptable to all to reform the top organ of the global body.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin's comments in response to a question came a day after India and China discussed a wide range of issues relating to top UN body.

China is a permanent member of the UNSC while India began its two-year tenure as a non-permanent member on January 1.

In August, India is scheduled to serve as the president of the UNSC.

Asked about the outcome of the meeting and whether there was any discussion on India's candidature for permanent membership of the UNSC, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang told a media briefing in Beijing that during Tuesday's virtual meeting, the two sides held consultations on Security Council issues.

The two sides exchanged views on upholding multilateralism, peacekeeping operations and counter-terrorism, he said.

"As for India's bid for permanent membership to the UNSC, I can reiterate China's principled position on this. China has been a supporter of Security Council reform, advocating that the reform should enhance the Council's authority and efficacy and that priority be given to the increased representation and say of developing countries, with a view to enabling more small and medium-sized countries to participate in the decision-making of the Council," he said.

"Efforts should be made to seek a package solution that accommodates all parties' interests and concerns on the basis of extensive and democratic consultations," he said.

China is part of the permanent five (P5) of the UNSC with veto power has been stonewalling India's efforts to become member of UN's powerful body for years pointing to lack of consensus even though the other four, US, UK, France and Russia have expressed backing for New Delhi's membership.

Beijing's all-weather ally Pakistan is also opposed to India becoming a permanent member of the UNSC.

India and China on Tuesday held discussions on a wide range of issues relating to the United Nations Security Council, the ministry of external affairs said in New Delhi.

The MEA said the Chinese delegation was briefed about India's priorities during its UNSC tenure in the meeting that took place in the virtual format.

It said both sides agreed to continue their engagement on key issues on the UNSC agenda.
Frankly, my argument leaves even me a bit queasy. I deeply believe in the marketplace of ideas, and I do think that there is a danger of a liberal monoculture in some universities, nonprofits and news organizations. Ive railed against liberal intolerance, and I dont think the cancel culture that conservatives decry is entirely a mirage.

Defamation lawsuits by election technology companies may have led Fox to cancel Lou Dobbs Tonight on Fox Business Network and may have reined in Newsmax and OANN a bit. But before we start applauding too enthusiastically, lets remember that fear of such defamation lawsuits may also have allowed Harvey Weinstein and other #MeToo predators to escape accountability for years.

Conservatives are likewise right that The New York Times, CNN and other mainstream news organizations make mistakes all the time, and surely right-wingers are unhappy that their cable fees subsidize Rachel Maddow.

But theres no symmetry. Fox News and Fox Business didnt make an honest mistake about election outcomes but deliberately spun nonsense into ratings gold.

During 2020, Fox Newss caldron of lies and extremism boiled over, Carusone said. They made us sicker and put up obstacles to the pandemic response by flooding the airwaves with over 13,150 instances of Covid misinformation. They fomented racial animus and promoted white supremacy as a response to the Black Lives Matter demonstrations. And, in the first two weeks after the election was called for Joe Biden, Fox News laid the groundwork for the attack on the Capitol by challenging the results on 774 individual instances with wild conspiracies and flat-out fabrications.

In other words, the problem with Fox isnt that its conservative but that it monetizes conspiracy theories and disinformation in ways that are sometimes lethal. Researchers have found, for example, that places where Fox News is randomly assigned a lower channel number (and thus gets more viewers) had riskier behavior during the pandemic, and that media markets where Hannity is particularly popular had higher Covid-19 death rates early in the pandemic.

Suppose Discovery Channel went haywire and encouraged viewers to drink arsenic to lose weight? Or Cartoon Network was bought by a tobacco company and encouraged children to try smoking? Or MSNBC pundits called on viewers to burn down police stations?
Apple seems focused on building Safari to become the worlds leading privacy-focused web browser, continuing development of under-the-hood enhancements to protect private lives.

Better privacy by proxy

Beginning with (currently in beta) iOS 14.5, Apple is improving privacy by changing how Safari accesses Googles Safe Browsing service. The latter warns users when they visit a fraudulent website. (Apple uses the service to drive the "Fraudulent Website Warning" in Settings>Safari on iOS or iPadOS devices.)

The Safe Browsing service works by identifying potentially compromised sites from Googles web index. If it suspects a site is compromised, virtual machines are despatched to see whether the site attempts to compromise them.

In the event it does, Google then flags it as being fraudulent. Thats a lot of technology, but for Safari users, it means you should receive a fraudulent website warning when Safari checks your destination against Googles index.

To interrogate the service, it was originally necessary to share both the URL of the destination site and the users IP address. To help prevent data leaks, Apple already sends an encoded version of the site address. But in iOS 14.5 it begins to proxy the Safe Browsing service, routing requests through its own servers to hide the IP address of the person whose browser is making these requests.

Apple's philosophy of privacy

The philosophy behind this is that no one other than yourself should know which sites you are visiting or learn your IP address. Maciej Stachowiak, Apples head of WebKit engineering, says it will limit the risk of information leak.

Thats bad for some advertisers and surveillance snoops  just look at how loudly Facebook is squawking  but aligns perfectly with Apples overall mission to protect user privacy by minimizing the information its services and devices gather to what is essential for use.

Apple's senior vice president for software engineering, Craig Federighi, explained some of the company's thinking when he told the European Data Protection and Privacy Conference: The mass centralization of data puts privacy at riskno matter whos collecting it and what their intentions might be. So, we believe Apple should have as little data about our customers as possible.

"Now, others take the opposite approach," he said. "They gather, sell, and hoard as much of your personal information as they can. The result is a data-industrial complex, where shadowy actors work to infiltrate the most intimate parts of your life and exploit whatever they can find  whether to sell you something, to radicalize your views, or worse.

"Thats unacceptable. And the solution has to start with not collecting the data in the first place.

Dont track me for ISPs

Apple continues to develop additional solutions designed to protect privacy. Most recently, we learned of its work with Cloudflare to build a technology called Oblivious DNS-over-HTTPS (ODoH), which decouples DNS queries from the user; in plain English, that means your ISP can no longer easily track which sites you visit.

Firefox, PCCW and others are experimenting with ODoH, which you can access through Cloudflares existing 1.1.1.1 DNS resolver.

We dont yet know when Apple will implement this in iOS, but add it to the upcoming ability to access fraudulent site databases by proxy and you have useful privacy enhancements. It means Safari users can visit the websites they want and have access to fraudulent website warnings, without sharing their IP address or the address of the site they wish to visit.

Such data should be personal, Apple believes.

What some companies call 'personalized experiences' are often veiled attempts to gather as much data as possible about individuals, build extensive profiles on them, and then monetize those profiles, wrote Jane C. Horvath Apples senior director for global privacy.

Putting users in control

Finally, we have the raft of privacy protections introduced in recent iterations of Apples operating systems, including Privacy Reports in Safari, Privacy Nutrition Reports at the App Store and the upcoming introduction of App Tracking Transparency (ATT) tools, also in iOS 14.5. While Apple may face some regulatory pushback on ATT in the event it doesnt treat its own advertising services in the same way as it does competing advertisers, the company seems resolute that it will also implement the same protection around its own ads services.

We believe that this is a simple matter of standing up for our users, Apple has said. "Users should know when their data is being collected and shared across other apps and websites  and they should have the choice to allow that or not. App Tracking Transparency in iOS 14 does not require Facebook to change its approach to tracking users and creating targeted advertising, it simply requires they give users a choice."

Also read:

Please follow me on Twitter, or join me in the AppleHolics bar & grill group on MeWe.
Natural gas futures climbed to Rs 216.50 per mmBtu on February 11, with participants increasing their long positions as seen by the open interest. The price had risen 2.7 percent on the NYMEX the previous day.

Natural gas was supported by cold weather that swept across the US and warning of ice storms boosted heating demand.

Market participants will take further cues from the US EIA weekly inventory report scheduled to be released later in the day.

Kshitij Purohit, Product Manager, Currency & Commodities, CapitalVia Global Research Limited, said, Natural gas traded positive during the last trading session. The six-10 days forecast shows that the weather will be freezing throughout the mid-west and shows a ridge trough pattern where cold weather moves south from Canada, pushing cold air down to Texas.

MCX iCOMDEX Natural Gas Index jumped 64.85 points or 2.46 percent to 2,702.65.

In the futures market, natural gas for February delivery touched an intraday high of Rs 218.80 and an intraday low of Rs 215.30 per mmBtu on MCX. So far in the current series, natural gas has touched a low of Rs 169 and a high of Rs 223.20.

Natural gas delivery for February gained Rs 5.20, or 2.46 percent, to Rs 216.50 per mmBtu at 1432 hours IST, with a business turnover of 11,486 lots. Delivery for March edged up Rs 1.80, or 0.86 percent, to Rs 212 per mmBtu with a business volume of 2,879 lots.

The value of February and Marchs contracts traded so far is Rs 1,589.81 crore and Rs 63.14 crore, respectively.

MCX Natural gas price is expected to trade in a positive trend, with support at Rs 213 level and intermediate support at Rs 215 level, said Motilal Oswal. The brokerage firm advised clients to buy on dip, targeting higher resistance at Rs 220-223 zone.

At 0905 GMT, the natural gas price was up 2.10 percent quoting at $2.97 per mmBtu in New York.

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.
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South Africa has secured millions of doses of Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer vaccines to fight the highly infectious COVID-19 variant that is dominant in the country, President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Thursday.

During a televised annual state of the nation address, Mr Ramaphosa said South Africa had secured 9 million doses of the J&J vaccine, of which 500,000 would arrive over the next four weeks so authorities could start vaccinating health workers.

Another 20 million Pfizer doses were also on their way, he said. Driven by a new variant of the virus, this second wave was more severe and cost many more lives than the first wave, Mr Ramaphosa said.

We must undertake a massive vaccination programme to save lives and dramatically reduce infections.

In addition, the World Health Organisation-backed COVAX facility would provide 12 million vaccine doses, he said.

South Africa has been hit doubly hard by a second wave of COVID-19, driven by a new variant first discovered in the Eastern Cape, called 501Y.V2 and believed to be 50 per cent more contagious than earlier versions of the coronavirus.

Nearly 1.5 million people have been infected since the pandemic began and more than 47,000 have been killed, and Ramaphosa said the economy had shrunk by 6 per cent between the third quarter of 2019 and that of 2020, while joblessness now stands at a staggering 30.8%.

South Africa had been pinning its hopes on the cheaper AstraZeneca shot, but scientific evidence that it is less effective against the local variant of COVID-19 than other vaccine versions had led it to switch.

While it should not delay the start of the vaccination programme by much, it will affect the choice of vaccines and the manner of their deployment, Ramaphosa said, referring to the switch away from the AstraZeneca shot.

He outlined a plan to revive the economy and tackle growing poverty and hunger, driven by a massive programme of spending on building or revamping ports, container terminals, energy generation and transmission, water, transport and telecoms.

He also outlined plans to tackle South Africas dire energy shortages by greatly expanding capacity, especially in renewable power.

The government will seek bids for 2600 megawatts (MW) of solar and wind power to plug generation shortfall estimated by power utility Eskom in the coming weeks, he said.

Another round of bids will be invited in August 2021, the president said, adding that this will be over and above the power procurement plans already announced.

(REUTERS)

FRANCE 24 is Premium Times syndication partner. We have permission to republish content.


STAMFORD  Churches across the state are tweaking the way they observe Ash Wednesday this year in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Instead of using a thumb to mark their parishioners foreheads with an ash cross, priests are expected to either sprinkle ashes on the top of their heads or use a cotton swab to make the shape of a cross on their brows.

The Archdiocese of Hartfords spokesperson David Elliott said while Ash Wednesday is considered an important celebration, receiving ashes isnt a requirement.

Still, Elliott said Hartford, like the Diocese of Bridgeport and the Diocese of Norwich, is taking its cues from Rome on how priests should distribute ashes amid the pandemic.

According to a January directive from the Vatican, a priest should bless the ashes with a prayer and sprinkle them with holy water. It is recommended the priest bless everyone present, rather than saying the words to each person as they receive the ashes. Then, the priest should wash his hands, put on a mask and sprinkle the ashes on each persons head  with either them coming to him or him going to them.

Sprinkling ashes on the head is the customary practice at the Vatican and in Italy, said Monsignor Tom Powers, the Diocese of Bridgeports vicar general, in a post on the diocese website this week.

Bridgeport Diocese priests, the post said, could alternatively place a cross on foreheads using a cotton swab or ball  and should use a new one for each individual. The priest could recite the usual words when a person approaches him, but they should be 6 feet apart when he speaks.

However churches choose to distribute the ashes, Powers advised pastors to explain the plan to their parishioners well before Ash Wednesday so as to avoid confusion, according to the dioceses post.

While many might choose to receive ashes during a traditional Mass, the Most Rev. Frank Caggiano, the bishop of Bridgeport, is allowing pastors to offer ashes outside of Mass in order to accommodate as many as possible in a safe and reverent manner, according to the post. It noted that people need to register ahead of time if they want to attend Mass on Ash Wednesday.

At St. Peter Catholic Church in Danbury, for example, churchgoers who register can receive ashes during Mass at 7:30 a.m. and noon as well as during a Liturgy of the Word at 9 a.m. Priests also will distribute ashes on a walk-in basis from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

I cannot calculate how many people will choose to participate in Ash Wednesday, but to make it possible for as many as want to, it seems to make sense to have a period of time when parishioners can walk in according to their schedule and not worry about contact with others and social distancing, the Rev. Gregg Mecca wrote in the churchs bulletin.

In Greenwich, the Parish of St. Catherine of Siena and St. Agnes opted for three one-hour slots for walk-ins. Parishioners will be able to receive ashes at St. Catherines Chapel from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m., from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. and from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. There will also be services at 7 a.m. and 12:10 p.m. at St. Catherine of Siena Church and 5:15 p.m. at St. Agnes Church.

Unlike in years past, the Bridgeport Diocese has said they will not be doing any drive-by distributions of ashes such as at train stations or individual businesses.

Elliott said some parishes within the Archdiocese of Hartford may offer ashes via drive-thru, as they have for other services such as confession. But he doubted that many priests would distribute ashes at places other than churches this year.

Earlier this month, Gov. Ned Lamont issued an executive order loosening restrictions on religious gatherings. Indoor gatherings are now limited to no more than 50 percent of the venues capacity. Outdoor gatherings are limited to the number of people that can be accommodated safely by the venue or location.

Everyone in attendance at either kind of gathering must wear a mask unless speaking from designated safe locations. And all persons or groups not from the same household must stay 6 feet apart, the order states.
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BIG RAPIDS, MI  A Michigan DNR conservation officer recently took extra steps to make sure a wayward chicken was returned to its owner.

According to an official DNR reports, the saga of Roscoe the Rescued Chicken began when Angela Greenway, a conservation officer in DNR District 4, received a report of an injured turkey in a driveway near Big Rapids.

Upon arrival, CO Greenway immediately determined the bird was not a wild turkey, but a domestic chicken. She observed that it had been sitting in the same spot for so long it had melted the snow all around it.

CO Greenway was able to capture the chicken and told the homeowner that it was a chicken, not a turkey, much to their surprise.

The homeowner told CO Greenway that his neighbors south of him had chickens, and that they had gotten out a couple of days ago.

RELATED: Man in dinosaur mask tells DNR hes the alpha and the omega before breaking into home

CO Greenway took the rescued chicken to the neighbors house, but no one was home, so she took the chicken to her residence and cared for it for two nights.

On the third day, CO Greenway was finally able to contact someone at the residence and reunite the chicken, newly named Roscoe, with its owner and flock.

DNR District 4 includes Benzie, Grand Traverse, Lake, Leelanau, Manistee, Mason, Mecosta, Newaygo, Oceana, Osceola and Wexford counties.
BEIJING, Feb. 10 (Xinhua)  Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday exchanged congratulatory messages with his Nigerian counterpart, Muhammadu Buhari, on the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the two countries' diplomatic relations.

In his message, Xi noted that over the past half century, the two countries have seen their traditional friendship growing stronger and practical cooperation bearing rich fruit, and have coordinated closely on international and regional affairs.

In recent years, the China-Nigeria strategic partnership has shown a sound momentum of development, and has effectively improved people's well-being in both countries, Xi said.

Since the onset of the COVID-19 epidemic, China has joined hands with African nations, including Nigeria, to fight it, which has demonstrated the brotherly friendship between China and Africa featuring solidarity in the face of adversity, he added.

Xi stressed that he attaches great importance to the development of China-Nigeria relations, and stands ready to work with Buhari to take the 50th anniversary as an opportunity to make positive contributions to the building of a closer China-Africa community with a shared future.

He suggested that the two sides carry forward their traditional friendship and deepen cooperation in various fields within the frameworks of the Belt and Road Initiative as well as the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).

For his part, Buhari said that since the establishment of the diplomatic ties 50 years ago, Nigeria and China have been trusting each other and working closely, and have achieved fruitful results in cooperation, bringing enormous benefits for the two countries and their people.

Nigeria appreciates China's support in such fields as railway, highway, electric power and national defense, Buhari said, adding that China has been fighting together with Nigeria and other African countries against COVID-19 since the outbreak of the pandemic, which enriches the connotation of the bilateral ties.

Facing major global challenges, the two countries have been upholding multilateralism and the principle of non-interference in other countries' internal affairs, and also staying committed to defending common interests of developing countries, the Nigerian president said.

Nigeria is willing to work with China to ensure a successful meeting of the FOCAC this year, he added.

(Source: Xinhua)
New Delhi, Feb 11 : While the country recorded 108 deaths due to Covid-19 in the last 24 hours, a matter of relief for the nation is that they were limited to a few states and union territories as 17 states have not reported any fatality due to Covid-19, the Health Ministry said on Thursday.

The ministry informed that 17 states and UTs including Telangana, Gujarat, Assam, Haryana, Odisha, Uttarakhand, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Lakshadweep, Ladakh, Sikkim, Manipur, Mizoram, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Tripura, Arunachal Pradesh and Daman & Diu, have not reported any Covid death in the last 24 hours.

India as on Thursday, has reported 12,923 new infections and 108 more deaths from novel coronavirus. The case tally has mounted to 1,08,71,294 while the Covid-19 death toll in the country has increased to 1,55,360, the data by the Health Ministry showed.

Meanwhile, the country has recorded 1,42,562 active cases of the Covid-19 disease. The union ministry said that the total positive cases in the country now comprise merely 1.31 per cent of the total cases.

"India's active cases per million population (104) is amongst the lowest in the world," the ministry added.

However, 11,764 new recoveries were also registered in the same period which is 97.26 per cent of the total cases reported so far including deaths.

The ministry said that the national recovery rate (97.26 per cent) continues to be one of the highest globally.

The total recovered cases are 1,05,73,372. The gap between active cases and recovered cases is continuously increasing and stands at 1,04,30,810.

Meanwhile, the ministry also informed that 83.20 per cent of the newly recovered cases against Covid-19 are recorded in 6 states.

"Kerala has contributed the highest number to the newly recovered cases (5,745), followed by Maharashtra (2,421) and Gujarat (495)," it added.

Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text

Researchers from University of Amsterdam and Stanford University published a new paper in the Journal of Marketing that examines explores how human-as-machine representations affect consumers--specifically their eating behavior and health.

The study, forthcoming in the Journal of Marketing, is titled "Portraying Humans as Machines to Promote Health: Unintended Risks, Mechanisms, and Solutions" and is authored by Andrea Weihrauch and Szu-Chi Huang.

To combat obesity, governments, marketers, and consumer welfare organizations often encourage consumers to make food choices more rationally. One strategy used is to leverage human-as-machine representations--portraying humans as machines. This approach tries to leverage people's existing associations about machines--that machines make decisions rationally--to help them approach food in a machine-like manner, with the goal of encouraging healthier choices.

For example, National Geographic's series "The Incredible Human Machine" describes unhealthy behaviors as (human) "errors" in the maintenance of our bodily machine; Centrum asks consumers to "power the human machine" with healthy food supplements; and the international event Men's Health Week compares the human body to a car and states that unhealthy food and beverage choices (i.e., alcohol) hurt your "engine." In addition, consumers experience human-as-machine representations in everyday life: virtual telepresence systems show people as human faces with mechanistic bodies, human enhancement technologies (e.g., augmented reality goggles) represent humans as more machine-like, and artificial intelligence (AI) software further blurs the line between humans and machines.

When consumers see humans portrayed as machines, they feel that they are expected to behave like machines and choose food like machines would--in a rational and calculating manner. This style of choice making is in line with the hopes of policy makers and can lead to desired effects (healthier choices) for some consumers. However, this expectation backfires for a very vulnerable segment of consumers--consumers who have low confidence in their ability to choose healthy food. For them, human-as-machine representations actually lead them to choose unhealthier options.

Why does this occur? Weihrauch explains that "For this consumer segment, the expectation that one should be rational and machine-like when it comes to food feels impossible. Instead of feeling motivated to be more rational, the feeling of not being able to perform like a machine triggers unhealthier choice making instead. Thus, a strategy used with good intentions to educate consumers and improve their health can have an unintended dark side that hurts the very segment that consumer welfare organizations want to help."

There is hope, though. Research provides a practical solution to help circumvent this backfire effect: accompany the human-as-machine visuals with a message to reassure consumers that making machine-like food choices is doable. By adding this message in a cafeteria, the study found that consumers' choice of healthy food increased by 22% for some.

These results ring a cautionary bell for nonprofit organizations, policy makers, educators, and for-profit health marketers: the use of human-as-machine imagery can be more complicated than intended because confronting consumers with expectations to be "machine-like" can be risky if not aligned with their abilities. Understanding the potential processes that cause indulgent food choices is also crucial for consumers, especially as human-as-machine stimuli become more prevalent in the lives of consumers around the world.

###

Full article and author contact information available at: https:/ / doi. org/ 10. 1177/ 0022242920974986

About the Journal of Marketing

The Journal of Marketing develops and disseminates knowledge about real-world marketing questions useful to scholars, educators, managers, policy makers, consumers, and other societal stakeholders around the world. Published by the American Marketing Association since its founding in 1936, JM has played a significant role in shaping the content and boundaries of the marketing discipline. Christine Moorman (T. Austin Finch, Sr. Professor of Business Administration at the Fuqua School of Business, Duke University) serves as the current Editor in Chief.

https:/ / www. ama. org/ jm

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WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - VF Corp. (VFC) said Thursday that it is implementing new programs and actions to advance racial equity within the company and beyond. VF said it aims to achieve 25 percent Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) representation within its Director and above population by 2030. To support the commitment, VF has partnered with PENSOLE, a footwear design academy that provides students with the knowledge required to become professional footwear designers. VF noted that it will apply Mansfield Rule requirements, a recruitment benchmark originally developed for the legal industry, to its talent acquisition and development decisions across all company departments. The Mansfield Rule requires initial candidate slates to contain at least 50 percent diverse candidates when hiring or promoting candidates. By 2024, VF will assess and resolve any identified pay gaps for employees, sponsored athletes and influencers across the organization through a pay equity analysis. VF noted that it will establish a supplier diversity program to double its spend with minority- and women-owned businesses by 2025 through enterprise direct and indirect procurement, and the activities of its brands. 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.
Burma Myanmar Military Detained 220 Political Prisoners Since Coup: AAPP

Military vehicles in Mandalay on Feb. 3. The military has been patrolling the city since last Monday's coup. / Zaw Zaw / The Irrawaddy

A total of 220 people political prisoners have been detained since the Feb. 1 coup, including government officials, national leaders, election commissioners, political activists, monks, writers and peaceful demonstrators, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP).

More than half of those detained are from the National League for Democracy (NLD).

The partys chairwoman, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, and vice-chairs, President U Win Myint and Mandalay chief minister U Zaw Myint Maung, and nearly 50 senior NLD figures, including senior members and Union ministers, are among the detainees. At least 80 party members were also taken into detention by the military in the first nine days after the coup. A majority of the arrested NLD leaders and members were reelected in the Nov. 8 general election.

By Feb. 9, only 20 of those detained had been released and the remaining 200 are still being held.

Ko Aung Myo Kyaw of the AAPP said the number of detainees is undoubtedly rising amid arbitrary arrests on Wednesday night and other arrests which are yet to be confirmed.

Election commissioners who oversaw the 2020 general election have started being detained and some election sub-commission offices have been raided by the military, according to the AAPP.

Ko Aung Myo Kyaw said there are many detainees whose location and condition are unknown, even to family members.

Locking up civilians who are not charged for more than 24 hours and not contacting their families is unlawful detention, he said.

Prominent democracy activist Ko Mya Aye, filmmaker Min Htin Ko Ko Gyi, student activist Ko Min Thway Thit, writer and Yangon City Development Committee member Daw Than Myint Aung, writers Maung Thar Cho and U Htin Linn Oo and well-known military critic Mandalay monk U Thawbita and other monks Shwe Nya War Sayadaw and Sayadaw U Arriyawuntha are also among those detained since Monday.

We strongly condemn shooting at peaceful protesters, unjust arrests and breaking into the NLD offices at night. These all are shameful acts.

Some detainees are likely to face charges under the Natural Disaster Management Law, he said. Among the first to be prosecuted are U Thawbita and Karen politician U Saw Maung Kyi, who were both sentenced to two years imprisonment for online defamation and incitement, respectively.

State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and President U Win Myint were also charged under the Export and Import Law and Natural Disaster Management Law, respectively, and both were remanded until February 15.

You may also like these stories:

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Staff at Texas Southern University and Baylor-St. Lukes Medical Center plan to make the college the main destination for COVID-19 vaccinations in Third Ward.

Most vaccination sites are in Houstons western neighborhoods, according to Texas Department of Emergency Management data. However, Houstons hardest hit neighborhoods during the coronavirus pandemic are spread across the city, raising questions about whether the vaccines are going to people at highest risk of complications.

The vaccination site is in soft launch mode, with hundreds of community members lining up since Tuesday in hopes of receiving a first dose. It will not accept walk-ins. To register, people must visit the St. Lukes Health website at stlukeshealth.org/covidvaccine.

Now Playing: Video: Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle

Demand is already high. Roughly 1,200 people had been vaccinated at TSU on Tuesday and Wednesday, as word spread in Third Ward that Pfizer vaccines were available on campus. On Thursday, although gloomy weather kept lines from once again wrapping around the Nabrit Science Building, a diverse crowd of 325 people received vaccinations by 2 p.m., with more still waiting. Although many in line were Third Ward residents, a significant portion had traveled from other corners of the area.

Cecilia Joseph, a Westbury resident, received a text about the site from her brother-in-law, a Texas Southern professor. Joseph has been careful about going out in recent months: She works at a nonprofit that helps low-income families register for affordable health insurance, and her son is a dialysis patient.

Before the text, she had put herself on the citys waitlist in hopes she could get a vaccine. CVS and Walgreens told her to call back later when she asked about COVID vaccines, she said.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Everything you need to know about getting your COVID vaccine in Houston

I was thrilled  Ive been working to see if I can get on the lists, Joseph said.

Over the weekend, Mayor Sylvester Turner criticized the distribution system at a vaccination event at Settegast Health Center in northeast Houston.

COVID-19 has disproportionately affected people of color, but vaccination efforts are not reaching that vulnerable population, Turner said. At a Thursday news conference announcing the initiative, the mayor said he and other mayors have been in touch with Vice President Kamala Harris to talk about boosting equity in vaccinations.

Specifically, the vaccination site is targeted to reach people who are 75 and older, have a chronic illness that puts them at higher risk for complications from COVID-19 and/or are people of color. Picking TSU as the site is a good choice to achieve that mission, said Albert Myres Sr., the chair of the Texas Southern University board of regents, because more than 80 percent of Third Ward identifies as Black or Latino.

Step one cant be the last step, Myres said. We could use many more around the city.

Staff rotated dozens of people through a waiting room, where the recently vaccinated waited for 15 minutes to ensure they did not have an allergic reaction to the vaccine. Moments after Joseph, the Westbury resident, left the room, Ron Carter took her vacated seat to begin the waiting period.

Carter drove 30-plus miles from his home in The Woodlands to get his vaccine after his sister, who lives in Third Ward, texted him about the vaccination opportunity. His extended family has been swapping stories of where to get the vaccine since it began rolling out to the public in early January.

COVID HELP DESK: I've been vaccinated. Can I safely visit friends or family who haven't?

Its worth it, he said of the long drive. This is something worth the investment.

Carter said he was happy to reduce his chances of illness if he contracts COVID-19. Itll also provide a sense of relief for his three children, who are attending college via Zoom at home.

In 11 states that have released racial and ethnic data in vaccine distribution, white residents are being vaccinated at rates two to three times higher than Black residents, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation, a Washington, D.C.-based health policy think tank. Texas, which has administered 3.6 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine as of Thursday, has not released vaccination data by race.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 5.4 percent of those vaccinated so far are Black, while 60.4 percent are white.

These vaccine access issues mirror concerns about COVID testing access that plagued communities last year, said Dr. Jewel Mullen, a professor of health equity at Dell Medical School at the University of Texas at Austin.

Mullen is part of the National Academy of Medicines vaccine allocation advisory committee, which told federal officials in October that the pandemic disproportionately affects people of color. The committee recommended vaccine promotion campaigns in multiple languages, along with financial support for mass vaccination clinics to keep costs low.

We can't expect everybody to find their way to a shop, Mullen said. The shop also has to find their way to people with the information they need to make the decision to receive the vaccine.

Doug Lawson, the CEO of St Lukes, said the vaccination site will help the health system reach underserved communities and communities of color.

Its another step forward in making life better for everyone, Lawson said.

On HoustonChronicle.com: Have questions about COVID or vaccines? Ask us here.

gwendolyn.wu@chron.com

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Asserting that the India-US bilateral military and security ties are stronger than ever before, India's ambassador to the US Taranjit Singh Sandhu informed that the defense trade between the two nations, which has grown significantly in a short span of time, now stands at USD 21 billion. Sandhu said that India's designation as a Major Defense Partner' and accordance with Strategic Trade Authorization-1 Status by the US and the signing of the four foundational agreements with Washington will enhance military-to-military cooperation between the two countries.

India has signed the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA), Communications Compatibility and Security Agreement (COMCASA), Industrial Security Annex, and the Basic Exchange and Cooperation Agreement (BECA) to facilitate mil-to-mil cooperation.

READ | Strong 'India First' Hints Spice Up US President Biden's Phone Call To China's Xi Jinping

READ | Biden Announces Sanctions Against Military Leaders Of Myanmar

Our defense and security ties are stronger than ever before, Mr. Sandhu told PTI

He added, "The relationship would benefit from both sides focusing on areas of mutual interest that do not involve the most sensitive military technologies."

PM Modi & President Biden Commit To Work Together

On February 8, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a telephonic conversation with US President Joe Biden to convey his best wishes as the American leader pans out an ambitious agenda strengthening relations with the world during his first 100 days in office. PM Modi, in a tweet, elaborated, that he discussed the two countries shared priorities and agreed to further co-operation against climate change, and other regional issues "President Joe Biden and I are committed to a rules-based international order. We look forward to consolidating our strategic partnership to further peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond," Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said.

Earlier, as Joe Biden was elected the 46th President of the United States, PM Modi, in his first telephonic interaction with the American leader had reiterated the countrys firm commitment to the strategic partnership between the US and India. Furthermore, he discussed the coronavirus pandemic, climate change, and advancing cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region.

Biden so far had a phone call with nine foreign leaders. Traditionally the new American president makes first phone calls to the leaders of two neighboring countries Canada and Mexico.

READ | PM Modi Speaks To 'Vital Partner' US President Biden For First Time After Inauguration

READ | PM Modi & President Biden Commit To Work Together On COVID-19, Climate Change And Economy

(With Agency Inputs)
President Biden announced on Wednesday that he was imposing new sanctions that would prevent the generals who engineered a coup in Myanmar from gaining access to $1 billion in funds their government keeps in the United States, and said he would announce additional actions against the military leaders and their families.

It was the first concrete steps the U.S. government has taken since Mr. Biden demanded that the generals restore democracy and release Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the nations civilian leader, and other leaders, and announced that the army chief would take control.

Noting that protests are growing, Mr. Biden warned that violence against those asserting their democratic rights is unacceptable, and he said the world is watching. He said he had consulted with the Republican leader, Senator Mitch McConnell, and a range of nations across Southeast Asia.

But Mr. Bidens options are limited.

Myanmar has relatively little trade with the United States, and the key partner Mr. Biden needs to join in the sanctions is China  which is building much of the isolated countrys infrastructure, including a 5G telecommunications network. And so far the Chinese have not publicly condemned the coup, or announced their own set of sanctions. If China acted, it would likely not do so with public announcements.
Victor Lofton, 56, of Humboldt, Tennessee, was arrested Feb. 5 in the deaths of Felicia Howard, 21, and her daughter Dnisha Howard, 4. He is being held in Tennessee while awaiting extradition to Lake County. That usually takes a few weeks, an FBI spokeswoman said.
This was not simply a matter of ordinary policy preferences and differences. Throwing a sop to the religious right by cutting off federal money to organizations that provide vital health care, including reproductive health care, to underserved populations was shameful. But I cant say it was impeachable. The policy, which President Joseph R. Biden Jr. promptly revoked, was not in direct defiance of a congressional mandate. It just reflected a cynical calculation that the base mattered more than the welfare of tens of thousands of women and their families around the world.

The degradation of environmental law enforcement was of a different order. As recently as the week before Inauguration Day, the Trump administration was issuing policy memos to limit the Justice Departments ability to enforce the nations environmental laws, which the administration had spent the previous four years undermining. Last week, the Biden administration withdrew nine Trump environmental policies, some dating to 2018 and some as recent as last month.

One measure of how far the Trump administration had gone to shield the fossil fuel interests that supported it came on Mr. Trumps last full day in office. On Jan. 19, the federal appeals court in Washington overturned the Environmental Protection Agencys rescission and replacement of the Obama administrations Clean Energy Plan, which had imposed strict limits on emissions from power plants. The unsigned opinion by a three-judge panel was nearly 150 pages long, but the court made its point near the beginning. The question in this case is whether the Environmental Protection Agency acted lawfully in adopting the 2019 Affordable Clean Energy Rule, the court said, referring to the Trump administrations power plant-friendly substitute for the original Obama plan. Answering that question, the court said succinctly, It did not.

Housing policy was another example of the former presidents failure to take care. The Department of Housing and Urban Development is supposed to enforce the Fair Housing Act of 1968, which prohibits discrimination in the sale, purchase, rental and financing of housing on the basis of race and other protected categories. Almost until the last minute, however, the departments primary focus was on finding ways to curtail the acts enforcement by, among other things, raising the bar for what counts as discrimination, in defiance of the Supreme Courts more generous interpretation of the statute in a 2015 decision. On Jan. 26, President Biden ordered his housing secretary, Marcia Fudge, to revisit the Trump actions and to take any necessary steps, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, to assure the agency furthers laws that mandate fair housing.

I doubt there is a cabinet department without a similar story, and we can expect a steady flow of similarly worded orders as the Biden administration begins the project of repairing the damage. There is no heart-stopping video to dramatize a presidents failure to do his constitutional duty. But as citizens, we also have a duty  to record, to remember and to not let it happen again.

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 heres our email: letters@nytimes.com.

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Israel: Why it matters that Netanyahu and Biden havent talked

As we go to press, US President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu havent had a conversation since Biden took office on Jan. 20.

Thats unusual. Biden has spoken to heads of government and state from the following countries: the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Canada, Mexico, Russia, South Korea, Japan, Australia and India.

No worries, says Blinken. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken downplayed that gap, noting that they spoke during the transition and expect to connect soon. Blinken added that he and other senior members of the Biden administration are in touch with their Israeli counterparts.

Blinken also said this week that the Biden administration accepts the Donald Trump administration's decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israels capital. In Congress, there is an amendment to the COVID relief bill to make that permanent.

The Trump administration's controversial decision to recognize Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights may be a different matter. Blinken said the United States might look at that decision if the situation in Syria were to change. Netanyahu personally responded that the Golan will remain forever a part of the State of Israel.

Our take. Netanyahu needs the call with Washington more than Biden needs a call with Bibi. The prime minister faces a possible close election on March 23 and would like to show off his personal connection to the US president, whom he has known for decades. That Biden isnt calling is also noticed by the Israeli electorate and by Netanyahus opponents. Part of Netanyahus campaign is his role as statesman, peacemaker and architect of the most solid US-Israel relationship ever  at least during the Trump administration. Israels agreement to normalize relations with four Arab countries occurred during the homestretch of the US presidential election. Biden also looks to show he is steadfast on the threat from Iran by making a direct appeal to Biden on why the United States should not re-enter the nuclear deal with Iran.

The March 23 elections are looming, and if cornered politically, Netanyahu will presumably abandon his commitment to a calm dialogue with Washington and embark on fiery rhetoric and threatmongering against Iran, writes Ben Caspit. Iran has served in the past, and continues to do so, as one of Netanyahus strongest electoral cards, and he will not let any possible dialogue with Biden sway him from using it once again.

Read more: Ben Caspit and Mazal Mualem have the latest on how Israels elections, the COVID-19 pandemic and Netanyahus corruption trial are influencing his decisions on all fronts.

US-Iran-Yemen: Can US, Iran agree on worlds worst humanitarian crisis?

Nuclear standstill. Biden and Iran Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei this week each made clear that the other side needs to go first in reentering the Iran nuclear deal. Iran wants the United States to revoke all Trump administration sanctions on Iran; the United States wants Iran to get back in compliance by reducing its production of highly enriched uranium to the limits in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the official name for the nuclear deal.

Yemen first? With the nuclear question at a seeming standstill or in need of some creative diplomatic choreography, there may be a chance that Yemen could provide common ground to build confidence. Lets review these events of the past week:

-Jan. 27: In his first press conference as Secretary of State, Blinken says he is "particularly focused on the question of sanctions on the Houthis," and takes steps to delist it as a terrorist group in order to facilitate humanitarian assistance.

-Feb. 4: In his first foreign policy speech as president, Biden announces that the United States is stepping up  diplomacy to end the war in Yemen and ending support for Saudi-led offensive operations. Blinken announced the same day that he had appointed Tim Lenderking as the US special envoy to Yemen.

-Feb. 6: In their first telephone conversation, Blinken tells Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud that several key priorities of the new administration include elevating human rights issues and ending the war in Yemen.

-Feb. 8: In Tehran, Iran Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif tells UN Special Envoy for Yemen Martin Griffiths that Tehran is fully prepared to support any effective role played by the UN in settling the crisis considering the very difficult conditions caused by the war and economic siege imposed on the people of Yemen.

-Feb. 10: In Riyadh, Lenderking met with Foreign Minister Al-Saud and (as we go to press) is planning to meet with Griffiths and leaders of the Yemeni government.

Our take: The Biden administrations priority to ending the war in Yemen, deemed by the UN as the worlds worst humanitarian crisis, could provide a confidence builder with Iran as the two sides seek an alternative to the current standstill in nuclear talks. The UN rubric matters for Iran; it provides a kind of political cover to address Yemen without such diplomacy being seen as a quid pro quo with the United States. If there is traction, Yemen can also provide context and a toe in the water for further regional security discussions (see below).

Words and Deeds: But the burden in Yemen is on Iran; Ansar Al-Islam (Houthi) forces attacked Abha International Airport in Saudi Arabia today and damaged a civilian airliner. Zarif may have said all the right things to Griffiths, but words need to match deeds. Iran cant have it both ways, and the people of Yemen deserve a reprieve.

Listen: Check out my podcast conversation here with Mohsen Milani on Iranian politics and foreign policy, including why Yemen may indeed be a good start for US-Iran diplomacy on regional security.

Egypt: Is Cairo positioned to be kingmaker in Palestinian politics?

All roads to Cairo. Egypts President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi is well-positioned to be the broker of any eventual Israeli-Palestinian peace process. With good relations with both Israel and the Gulf Cooperation Council, no other Arab country has the diplomatic heft to guide a new round of Israel-Palestinian diplomacy  if thats even possible. But it definitely isnt possible without Egypt.

The Munich Group. The effort was launched last year among the foreign ministers of France, Germany, Egypt and Jordan on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference. The engagement has picked up in recent weeks, with further meetings among the group, as well as following the reconciliation summit of the Gulf Cooperation Council in Saudi Arabia in January, which laid out a framework for ending the rift between the kingdom, the UAE, Bahrain, Egypt and Qatar. There are now the makings of a mostly united Arab front, with Egypt in the lead, for another round of Israeli-Palestinian diplomacy.

Palestinian elections. Egypt is pivotal to the success of long-overdue Palestinian elections scheduled for this spring. Meetings among the Palestinian factions have been held in Cairo to try to smooth out differences between the Palestinian Authority, which governs in most of the West Bank, and Hamas, which rules in Cairo.

Sisi also waiting on a call: Daoud Kuttab makes the case here that Sisis effort to be kingmaker on Israeli-Palestinian issues is in part directed at the Biden administration to reinforce Egypts decadeslong partnership with the United States in the region. Egypt may come under more scrutiny for human rights with Biden than it did under Trump, as Elizabeth Hagedorn reports. Like Netanyahu, Sisi is waiting on a call from Biden.

Listen: For more on US-Egyptian relations and Egypts foreign policy, check out my podcast conversation last week with Motaz Zahran, Egypts ambassador to the United States.

In case you missed it: What did Rouhani mean by UNSC Resolution 598?

On Feb. 9, Iran President Hassan Rouhani said "Iran is ready to talk with all countries in the region and its neighbors, especially the Persian Gulf littoral countries, from Iraq to the six southern countries in accordance with UNSC Resolution 598, and settle regional problems and issues."

UN Security Council Resolution 598 is the cease-fire resolution that ended the Iran-Iraq War in July 1987. Section 8 requests the secretary-general examine, in consultation with Iran and Iraq and with other States of the region, measures to enhance the security and stability of the region.

The take here is that Iran expects any eventual regional security discussions will be under the auspices of the UN secretary-general.

What were reading: Latest Pentagon report says Syrian Kurds depend on coalition airpower

The quarterly reports of the Department of Defense Inspector General on Operation Inherent Resolve, the military campaign against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), reports that while Iraqi security forces are doing the bulk of the fighting and winning against ISIS, the Syrian Democratic Forces relied completely on coalition air support, including intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, during most of its operations against ISIS. You can read the report here.


The Nagol is Back! VTOs guide to this years Nagol, plus where to stay and play in south, central and north Pentecost.
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As a Nigerian who is threatened daily by the insecurity in my nation, one has few redeeming words for those in charge of our security. However, as a spectator of all that has unfolded in the last couple of years, one can separate the wheat from the chaff. And in doing so, one can comfortably vouch for the recently retired Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar.

From 13th of July, 2015, Air Marshal Sadique Baba Abubakar [DFS GSS DSS psc(+) fwc ndc(+) MSc], ascended the national stage and went on to stand as the gold standard of servitude in Nigeria by serving as the Chief of the Air Staff Of The Nigerian Air Force. OnJanuary 26, after five years, six months and 13 days, he successfully added value to his motherland by contributing to the security and development of Nigeria.From the time he stepped onto the national stage, he possessed the rugged independence of a natural leader. And throughout his tenure, being determined on succeeding in the fight to defend Nigerias territorial integrity and National sovereignty andmaking the atmosphere more secure for the Nigerian communities was the underlining theme for him.

At the helm of affairs of the Nigerian Air force, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar did his ultimate best to propel the force to a higher plain in order to secure Nigeria. He navigated the nuances involved in strengthening the force, not haphazardly shortchanging it. He went on to restructure and reposition the Nigerian Air Force into a highly professional and disciplined force. At the end of his tenure as the Chief of Air Staff, when he resigned, he negated the sit-tight syndrome that pervades the political landscape in Nigeria by stepping aside when the ovation was high.

Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar left the stage of his calling to give way for others to come in, to retire, not in death but alive, not forcefully but voluntarily, not when things have fallen apart but when the ovation was high. Since his resignation, Air Marshal Sadique has stood head and shoulders above his peers and this is evident from the accolades he is receiving, even out in the vicious social media streets. Hardly would one come across negative accounts of his service, despite the criticism of the outgoing service chiefs. The reviews of Vice Marshal Sadiques service reminds Nigerians that one can choose to lead and serve this beautiful nation either honorably or dishonorably. He chose the former. The lesson to be learnt from leaders like Air Marshal Sadique is that there is dignity in doing the right thing while in office and quitting. And it is good to do it when the ovation is loudest.

All the people who worked with him while he was in office attest that he was a humble soul who was not carried away by the paraphernalia of his office. As an officer, he was the embodiment of capacity, capability, and courage and encouraged the advancement of capacity building initiativesand operations that were necessitated by the insecurity abound in Nigeria. He understood the strategic choices the country must make when our nation is threatened by insecurity and he performed well in responding to this.

In service, he was known to be skilled and tough. His actions exhibited the belief that every Nigerian has a responsibility to make something of the protections, liberties and obligations given by the Constitution. His actions exhibited an understanding of the obligation of leadership. And from his service in the Air Force to his five and a half years in highest office of his profession, he lived and led by his creed every day. His conduct as the Chief of Air Staff should be an inspiration to all of those who aspire to such public service.

During his time as the head of the Air Force, Vice Marshal Sadique never forgot that the work of the Air Force was based on action, precision, growth, transparency, truth and conscience. Those qualities are sorely lacking in those who walk the halls of our nations authorities today. The spirit and leadership of men like Vice Marshal Sadique is needed now more than ever.

He is the personification of the Nigerian dream and he did his best to protect it. He has honored our country with the highest form of service and all who respect service of utmost good faith should honor his experience and integrity.

His work and what he leaves behind for the Nigerian Air Force is a testament to his success. As Air Vice Marshal, this unique leader launched an initiative, which trained and winged 133 pilots that are responsible for, at least, 49% of all active Nigerian Air Force pilots fighting all over the country in a bid to secure the country. In addition to this, another 21 pilots will join the ranks within the next few weeks.

In focusing on positioning the force in a better place to tackle the security challenges in the country, Vice Marshal Sadique oversaw the acquisition of 15 aircrafts and 8 unmanned combat aerial vehicles. These mediums will surely afford the Nigerian Air Force the manner of air power needed to successfully, proficiently and judiciously launch military operations across Nigeria. In order to consolidate force projection and force protection, he put into place a plan to train Nigerian Air Force Special Forces and force protection elements. He also sought to enhance the Forces research and development capacity through a partnership with 15 Nigerian universities in order to tackle aircraft maintenance challenges.

As a direct result of Air Marshal Sadiques performance, the new Chief Of Air Staff will inherit the strongest and the most equipped Air force in the history of Nigeria! In his bid to strengthen the Air force for the war against insurgency and insecurity in Nigeria, Air Marshal Sadique oversaw the procurement 10 Super Mushshaks, 5 Mi-35M Helicopter Gunships, 2 Bell 412 Helicopters, 4 Agusta 109 Power Attack Helicopters and 1 Mi-171 E Helicopter. Additionally, expected to arrive to the Air Force are 19 manned Aircraft along 8 Unmanned, Combat Aerial Vehicles, 12 A-29 Super Tucano, 3 JF-17 Thunder Fighter Aircraft, 1 Mi-171E Helicopter, 3 Special Missions Aircraft, 8 UCAVs- including 2 Wingloong 11, 2 CH-3 and 2 CH-4. Before leaving office, Air Marshal Sadique took delivery of 23 new aircraft mainly fighter aircraft, while 18 more aircraft, including the 12 Tucano fighter jets are on the way to be added to the artillery.

Those who have come into contact with the civilian Alhaji Sadique often speak of the remarkable nature of professionalism; optimism, humor, faith, empathy and dignity that he displays in his personal and professional capacity. Alhaji Sadique is known as a man of faith who believes in the power of prayer and who turns to The Almighty for strength and direction in times of joy and hardship. His faith is a fundamental part of who he is and what he represents. Those who have seen him in action speak about his kindness, brilliance, empathy, prayerfulness, dignity, honor and thoughtfulness. He is a family man who cares for people and caters for those without. He is a caring father, sibling, husband and son. The way he referred to his mother in his valedictory speech as he was stepping down as the Chief Of Air Staff exposed his thoughtful, affectionate and supportive nature.

Air Marshal Sadique is a good, good man and a persevering and patriotic leader. A man in immutable, relentless pursuit of what mattered most to him as a leader; the elevation of this country and its continued pursuit of the best Nigeria has to offer. A man of great humility, piety and faith.

As a Nigerian who is every day threatened by the insecurity in my nation, one has few redeeming words for those in charge of our security. However, as a spectator of all that has unfolded in the last couple of years, one can separate the wheat from the chaff. And in doing so, one can comfortably vouch for Air Marshal Sadique, for he has truly done his best and leaves office as a resounding success.

In his very own words, as he was handing over to his successor, Air Marshal SB Abubakar said, As I exit the Nigerian Air Force, I am leaving the service fulfilled because I have substantially achieved what I set out to achieve. He was right and should be proud of the contribution he has given to Nigeria.

There is a moral foundation, an integrity that has been the heartbeat of Air Marshal Sadiques national service. And it is this essential goodness that he will long be remembered for.He should hold his head up high and look forward to the fact that history will surely judge him well. The horizon is bright for this man of faith. It will be exciting to see what and where this Nigerian Treasure will give service next. But for now Nigerians can be rest assured that we have just witnessed the magic of one of our very best who has proved himself to ultimately be An Officer and A Gentleman!

@hanneymusawa
When Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk was under pressure from the Prime Minister and other premiers over her decision to close Queenslands borders and keep them shut, she also faced resistance from members of her own inner circle.

The revelation came during a one-on-one conversation with veteran journalist Kerry OBrien at a Griffith University event on the Gold Coast on Thursday night.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk in conversation with journalist Kerry OBrien at the Home of the Arts on Thursday night.

Ms Palaszczuk also revealed the imminent Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccine rollout had brought fresh optimism from Queensland Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young, who recently told the Premier privately: I can see light at the end of the tunnel, I can see a way out of this pandemic with this vaccine.

OBrien asked Ms Palaszczuk to describe her toughest leadership moments during the COVID-19 pandemic, which prompted her candid response regarding the pressure over the states borders.
(TNS) - With fallen power lines and cell network interruptions, communication was one of the biggest challenges after the Aug. 10 derecho.Six months after that unprecedented Iowa disaster, county, city and non-government organizations in Linn County have yet to decide how they will ensure emergency communications get to the public should another such storm again strike in and around the state's second-largest city."Part of our review will be, 'What communications systems didn't we tap into?'" said Steve O'Konek, Linn County Emergency Management Agency coordinator. "I don't have all the answers."The agency plans to gather information from its partners  such as cities and nonprofit groups  to put together an after-action review document in the next three to four months, O'Konek said. The review will focus on logistics, operations, communications and mass care of people displaced or needing services.When the winds of up to 140 mph died down in late afternoon Aug. 10, many Eastern Iowans found themselves trapped in their houses by fallen trees. There was immediate need for shelter and tree removal, with shortages in following days of gas, ice, food and power for medical devices and cellphones.Past natural disasters  even the life-changing 2008 flood  didn't affect the entire city of Cedar Rapids, which was in the path of the strongest derecho winds.Some Cedar Rapidians were critical of the derecho response, saying they didn't know how to access services like emergency shelters, food or internet. Others complained to Mayor Brad Hart and others about why the Iowa National Guard wasn't called in sooner. Government and non-government agencies said they did their best in the moment, but officials pledged that in coming weeks and months they would review the response and determine what changes might be needed.Experts differ on how long it should take for an after-action review, a process used by government agencies, nonprofits and companies after major projects or disaster responses to improve their plans.The World Health Organization recommends a review be done within three months to make sure stakeholders still are around and can freshly remember what happened, according to a 2019 report in the journal "Globalization and Health." The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention took just over five months to complete its after-action report on the agency's response to 2005's Hurricane Katrina.The derecho after-action review has taken longer than expected for some agencies. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has diverted focus and there have been other challenges."We have been working to find the best person to facilitate our derecho after-action review," Cedar Rapids Deputy City Manager Sandi Fowler said in an email. "Initially we had hoped to find a consultant or expert in the field who had direct experience with a disaster like ours, or at least with the same magnitude of disaster aspects. We have not been successful at that. However, the Fire Chief has identified a couple of people who have strong general experience in this work, and we are confident that we will be able to secure a contract with them to facilitate this process in the near term."Linn County's 83-page emergency management plan, which is approved by the Emergency Management Authority Commission that includes mayors of all the county's cities, the sheriff and a representative from the Board of Supervisors, delegates shelter and emergency food supplies to non-governmental organizations.The American Red Cross, tasked with providing shelter after disasters, conducted an informal review soon after the derecho and determined it should have had more emergency shelters, even with the risks of coronavirus, said Josh Murray, communications director for the Red Cross's Nebraska- Iowa region."During the derecho, we were trying to get everyone in hotels without having a congregate shelter location to avoid any spread of COVID," he said. "Moving forward, we will activate more congregate shelters early in the response with increased (personal protective equipment), then move people to non-congregate hotel sheltering."Murray said the lessons learned in Iowa led to revised directives for Red Cross responses to hurricanes Laura and Sally as well as wildfires in California, Oregon and Washington state. "When a larger number of people need housing, our protocols now call for opening congregate shelters in the initial aftermath of the disaster," he said.The Red Cross's formal after-action review on the derecho is scheduled for later this month, Murray said.Shawn DeBaar, captain of the Salvation Army in Cedar Rapids, said the focus for his organization, charged with distributing food after the derecho, is making sure it understands and fulfills those expectations."In a disaster, it can truly be an added burden for our government office holders and agencies when they add to the management of a disaster the need to manage or deal with NGOs that are trying to do the best they can, but sometimes communication or strings aren't being tied together," DeBaar said.The Salvation Army will provide whatever information it can to the county, he said, and work on its own challenges, which include repairing a $500,000 in derecho damages to the Salvation Army building at 1000 C. Ave. NW.___(c)2021 The Gazette (Cedar Rapids, Iowa)Visit The Gazette (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) at thegazette.comDistributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Campus police officers have been deployed to patrol the student dormitories at the University of California, Berkeley as a severe outbreak of COVID-19 that has spiked since the beginning of the year impacts students, faculty and staff.

In an email to students living in dormitories, campus administrators warned that students faced suspension from the University for not complying with campus directives regarding COVID-19. The email then added, We dont wish for residents to be alarmed by this increased UCPD (University of California Police Department) presence, but we must ensure the health of our community.

UC Berkeley Campus (Source: Wikimedia Commons)

The campus housing page clarifies that UCPD and a third-party security force have been deployed to enforce a self-sequester mandate that bans all UC dormitory students, regardless of whether they have tested positive, from leaving their rooms except to obtain medical care, including mental health care, in case of emergency, to comply with your testing requirements, to use the bathroom, or to obtain food from nearby outdoor Cal Dining kiosk.

Over the last two weeks, there has been a surge of new cases at UC Berkeley. While cases were below 50 a week in the fall, they now exceed 150 per week.

By mobilizing the police and threatening students with expulsion for violating protocols, the campus is doing everything it can to avoid and obscure the fact that university administrators are responsible for the spread of the virus, not the students.

While most college classes are being held online, the school has encouraged students to return to the dormitories, which serve as a lucrative source of cash for the university. UC Berkeleys budget has been significantly impacted by cuts over the last ten years, and the school is currently facing a $340 million budget deficit.

UC Berkeley is desperate to keep students in its business-minded dormitory and dining programs, while it pretends that the mass communal living units could ever be remotely safe from the virus during the pandemic.

In addition to threatening students with expulsion and deploying police, UC Berkeley has also implemented quarantines for non-sick students that have forced them to live alongside the ill.

Students who live on the same floor as another student who tested positive, even if they themselves tested negative, were sent over the last few weeks to one campus dormitory, with everyone who has or might have COVID-19, to quarantine. Students were given warning by the university and told to pack their bags and await shuttle pickup.

One Redditor posting on the UC Berkeley forum described this ordeal. He and his floor mates were now sequestered, unable to go outside, in the COVID-19 quarantine dorm for 14 days, even though none of them tested positive, but a floor mate did. He noted that while an individual may contract COVID-19, the larger weight of the punishment is given to the rest of the floor.

Further campus mandates ban students who are staying in UC housing from all solitary outdoor exercise and recommends that employed students not attend [work] during this self-sequester time. The campus states that Berkeley city ordinance allows the civil enforcement of local health officer orders. Individuals can be cited up to $100 a day for a first-time violation, with penalties up to $500 per day for repeat offenses.

Those who test positive for COVID-19 need to quarantine, and scientifically guided measures must be taken to stop the spread of the virus. But the problem is not the students; it is the reckless decision of university administrators to encourage broad layers of the student population to return to campus housing in the middle of a deadly pandemic in the first place.

Just this last week, UC Berkeley began the next phase of its reopening, allowing some smaller classes to return to in-person meetings. University leaders are anxious to reopen in the fall in the face of the budget deficit.

The International Youth and Students for Social Equality at UC Berkeley opposes campus policies imposing police in dormitories and threatening students with expulsion. There should be no in-campus instruction of any kind until everyone is vaccinated and the pandemic is brought under control.

Student dormitories should be shut down except for those students who need the housing because they have nowhere else to go. Those students, and all students, should not have to pay fees and should receive as much assistance as they need.

The San Francisco Bay Area is the wealthiest region in the wealthiest state in the wealthiest country in the world. Billions of dollars could be made easily available by taking small fractions of the wealth accumulated by billionaires in the region. This money could then be used to ensure a proper shutdown of the economy, where all workers and students receive full compensation and assistance, without risking their lives or those around them.

The mass outbreak of COVID-19 at UC Berkeley underscores the inherently unsafe, irrational and, ultimately, murderous policy of keeping schools open during the pandemic. Just yesterday, the Chicago Teachers Union finalized its deal to send teachers and students back to in-person learning at the behest of the school district, in order to get parents back to their workplaces.

This policy is part of the broader policy of the Biden Administration to reopen schools despite all scientific evidence pointing to school shutdowns being one of the most important ways of halting the spread of the virus. With the development and distribution of effective vaccines, the drive to reopen schools and businesses before the pandemic is under control is nothing but a crime, aimed at securing and protecting the profits of the capitalists who own the economy.
Press Release

February 11, 2021 Senators honor Gordon's brother ex-'Gapo Mayor Bong The Senate on Wednesday adopted Resolution No. 643, introduced by Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel "Migz" F. Zubiri, "expressing the profound sympathy and sincere condolences" of the Senate on the death of former Representative and Olongapo City Mayor James "Bong "Gordon Jr., the younger brother of Sen. Richard Gordon. Gordon, a professional musician, died February 9, Tuesday, at the St. Lukes' Medical Center. He was 73. "He had a talent and passion for music, and he performed with his singing group called Houseboys, formed while he was in Congress, and with his band Bonggo," the resolution stated. The band released a record "Fighting for Excellence" which was recently certified Gold by the Philippine Association of the Record Industry. Gordon first entered into public service as a Subic Bay volunteer, then as a Olongapo City Councilor. He was former mayor of Olongapo from 2004 and 2013. He was also a former member of the House of Representatives for the 1st District of Zambales from 1995 to 2004. Likewise, he also served as governor of the Board of Directors of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) chapter in Olongapo. "He was particularly dedicated to disaster response, volunteering during the Pinatubo eruption in 1991, and as a mayor, prioritizing Olongapo City's disaster preparedness, response, and recovery practices, to guard against the many calamities that threaten the hazard-prone city," the resolution stated. As a mayor, Gordon was able to live up to his father's legacy of "excellent urban management" and topnotch peace and order ratings for the city. Gordon was Zubiri's classmate in Congress. "The passing away of a kind and dedicated public servant, who had established standards of excellence in and devotion to public service, is a great loss to the City of Olongapo," the resolution added. All senators were made co-authors and co-sponsors of the resolution Sen. Gordon, who was speechless, tearfully thanked colleagues for the sympathy in the passing of his brother. Gordon was survived by his wife former Zambales Vice Gov. Anne Marie C. Gordon and their daughter Amelia Jane.
Good morning, Bay Area. Its Thursday, Feb. 11, and a friendly rivalry is pushing forward the world of competitive surfing. Heres what you need to know to start your day.

Two cases of a coronavirus variant first found in South Africa that reduces the effectiveness of some vaccines have been identified in the Bay Area, in Alameda and Santa Clara counties, Gov. Gavin Newsom said Wednesday.

The variant from South Africa is considered particularly concerning because studies have found that it is able to partially evade the bodys immune response, whether from a vaccine or previous infection by the coronavirus. So far the vaccines appear to prevent severe disease and death from the variant.

The Santa Clara County individual had recently traveled and was in quarantine with one other person, who also became sick but was never tested, but was extraordinarily careful about quarantine and does not pose a risk of further spread, said Dr. Sara Cody, the Santa Clara County health officer. The Alameda County case is still under investigation.

Read more from reporter Erin Allday.

 New York is reopening faster than the Bay Area. How does its coronavirus curve compare?

 The CDC now says you should double-mask. Here's the big data point behind the new guidance.

 Coronavirus surge at UC Berkeley prompts ban on outdoor exercise as dorm lockdown continues.

 Another Bay Area city passes hazard pay for grocery workers.

 Coronavirus outbreak infects 20 at Napa senior living facility.

Around the Bay

Santiago Mejia / The Chronicle

 Jordanesque: Warriors' Steph Curry is playing better than ever. His trainer says he hasn't peaked.

 A target on their backs: Pro-Trump rioters intended to kill Pelosi, impeachment prosecutors say.

 Audio-only: What is Clubhouse, the buzzy audio chat app that even San Francisco's mayor has joined?

 Its my store: Amid federal fight over minimum wage, this Bay Area store owner challenges big businesses to do more in viral tweet.

 1,500-pounds each and hand-carved: S.F. Asian Art Museum agrees to return allegedly stolen Thai relics following federal lawsuit.

In Case You Missed It

Audrey Lambidakis

Two female surfers have had an unforgettable winter at Mavericks: San Franciscos Bianca Valenti and Frances Justine Dupont each caught an impressive number of waves on two historic days this season where waves peaked near 50 feet, The Chronicle's Bruce Jenkins writes.

These two women are just going off, said Santa Cruz surfer Peter Mel, who has gained his own acclaim for his recent performances at Mavericks. Just insane. They love each other, but its the kind of rivalry I used to have with Flea (Darryl Virostko) at Mavericks, where we were friends but really pushing each other.

Read more from Jenkins about how Valenti and Dupont are pushing surfing forward on and off the waves.

Bay Briefing is written by Taylor Kate Brown, Anna Buchmann and Kellie Hwang and sent to readers email inboxes on weekday mornings. Sign up for the newsletter here, and contact the writers at taylor.brown@sfchronicle.com, anna.buchmann@sfchronicle.com, and kellie.hwang@sfchronicle.com.
Portland police union leaders on Wednesday accused the city of misleading voters on a ballot measure approved last year that calls for creating an independent civilian police oversight board.

How could the measure say the new board shall have the power to investigate and discipline officers, the union president and its lawyer asked in the second public session of contract talks.

That matter must be part of bargaining, said Officer Brian Hunzeker, president of the Portland Police Association, and union lawyer Anil Karia.

The two accused the city of making promises in Measure 26-17 without acknowledging the need to negotiate with the union in the ballot title or summary.

But Steven Schuback, a labor lawyer representing the city, pointed to the language of the full ballot measure, which says the city can proceed with the board upon compliance with any legal obligations the city may have under public employees collective bargaining.

That, Schuback said, means we have a management right to impose discipline but we will bargain whatever were supposed to bargain.

Deputy City Attorney Heidi Brown said the union could have gone to court to challenge the wording of the ballot title or summary but it didnt before it went to voters.

Karia retorted: Theres certainly no legal obligation for any third party to try to fix the citys mistakes.

Hunzeker defended the current system, arguing that police already face many levels of oversight.

He cited the Police Review Board, made up of police and one or two community members, which decides if an officer violated policy and recommends possible discipline. He noted the citys Citizen Review Committee hears appeals of Police Bureau findings on complaints against officers and the city auditors Independent Police Review office that investigates complaints against officers.

He also said the bureau is working to get a community member involved in the hiring of new officers. He said the citys plans to form a future civilian oversight board wont be feasible.

Schuback responded that the large support for Measure 26-17 shows residents have lost confidence in the current practice of the city and the agency, and is seeking new routes and new forms of oversight.

The voters have spoken, he said. Theyre looking for change.

Measure 26-217 passed with 82% of the vote. It calls for creating a civilian-run police oversight board that would investigate all officer misconduct complaints and impose discipline. The board would replace the Independent Police Review office, which along with the Police Bureaus Internal Affairs Unit, investigates officer misconduct complaints.

The existing Independent Police Review office has drawn criticism because it cant investigate shootings involving officers or deaths in police custody.

Two other proposals -- one from the union and one from the city -- drew further debate Wednesday.

The city wants to change contract language to limit overtime pay for an officer to 30 hours in any two-week period, unless otherwise allowed and excluding court appearances. No restrictions exist now.

The city also wants to limit the amount of overtime for officers called back to work when off-duty and the payout for officers who are placed on-call.

Instead of paying officers a minimum of four hours in overtime if theyre called back to work, the city wants to reduce the minimum to two hours of overtime if the officer is called to return more than four hours after completing a shift.

Schuback said police overtime is through the roof, just not sustainable. He said officers shouldnt come to rely on overtime pay for their livelihoods.

The Police Bureaus overtime costs far exceed whats budgeted and what the city can afford, Schuback said. We have a problem we need to solve, he said.

The union lawyer said overtime isnt created by officers.

If you want to fix overtime, Karia said, fix staffing.

The bureau has argued that it has had to pay overtime to fill vacancies in patrol shifts the past year due to limited staff. The bureau also had to fill shifts when patrol officers were pulled to help with protest coverage.

Police overtime costs are expected to reach from $13 million to $15 million by the end of this fiscal year, including for backfilling vacant patrol shifts, according to the bureau. Protest-related overtime covering July 1 through Dec. 23 was $4.3 million, representing 59,500 officer hours, according to bureau figures.

The bureau currently has 92 officer and 44 civilian employee vacancies for a total of 136. It is authorized to have 916 sworn officers, police officials said.

One of the unions proposals, in turn, is bound to draw resistance from the city.

Karia said if the city cant meet its 180-day goal of completing internal investigations into alleged officer misconduct, then the Police Bureau cant discipline an officer.

The clock would start from when a case is assigned to an investigator and stop when a proposed discipline letter is issued.

One way to get the city into compliance is to give it a penalty, Karia said. If the city cant meet its timelines, then the city should be the one to suffer, not the public, not the officer.

Bargaining for a new three-year contract started last month. The next session is set for Feb. 24 and be held behind closed doors, hosted by the union. City-hosted sessions have been held publicly via video conference due to the coronavirus pandemic.

-- Maxine Bernstein

Email at mbernstein@oregonian.com; 503-221-8212

Follow on Twitter @maxoregonian
(Newser)  A newspaper invaded the Duchess of Sussexs privacy by publishing a personal letter to her estranged father, a British judge ruled Thursday, in a major victory for the royal in her campaign against what she sees as media intrusion. The former American actress Meghan Markle, 39, sued publisher Associated Newspapers for invasion of privacy and copyright infringement over five February 2019 articles in the Mail on Sunday and on the MailOnline website that published large portions of a letter she wrote to her father after her 2018 wedding to Prince Harry, per the AP. High Court judge Mark Warby ruled that the publisher had misused the duchesss private information and infringed her copyright. He said the duchess had a reasonable expectation that the contents of the letter would remain private. The Mail articles interfered with that reasonable expectation. Legal damages have not yet been determined.

story continues below

Meghan said she was grateful to the court for holding Associated Newspapers to account for their illegal and dehumanizing practices. Meghans lawyers said the deeply personal five-page letter was intended to be read by her father alone. Associated Newspapers said it was very surprised" at the judgment and hasn't decided whether to appeal. At hearings last month, lawyers for the duchess asked for a summary judgment to settle the case without a trial, one in which she might have had to testify against her father, Thomas Markle. In granting the request, the judge said the publisher's disclosures of Meghan's private letter were manifestly excessive and hence unlawful. Thursdays ruling means Meghan has won her case on privacy and copyright infringement grounds, but the judge said a limited trial should be held to decide the minor issue of whether Meghan was the sole author and lone copyright holder of the letter. (Read more Meghan Markle stories.)
Strictly Come Dancing seems to be back on track in 2021, according to judge Shirley Ballas.

The 2020 series was severely cut down due to the pandemic, but Shirley, 60, seems confident that won't be the case this year.

Shirley was asked by a fan on Cameo what she knows about Strictly 2021, revealing: 'Just a little something: I heard theyre trying to do all 13 episodes this year.

Back to normal? Strictly Come Dancing seems to be back on track in 2021, according to judge Shirley Ballas

'Last time we had nine. Were trying to get 13 shows on. I think theyre getting used to the Covid thing.'

Like most TV productions amid the pandemic, measures were enforced to make Strictly Covid-safe.

Judges weren't allowed to sit at one panel - placed at three socially-distanced desks.

Pro dancers and their partners formed bubbles, unable to live at home with their loved ones between shows.

Toned down: The 2020 series was severely cut down due to the pandemic with pro dancers and their partners forming bubbles, unable to live at home with their loved ones between shows

Lucky number? Shirley, 60, was asked by a fan on Cameo what she knows about Strictly 2021, revealing - 'Just a little something: I heard theyre trying to do all 13 episodes this year'

A reduced audience were in the studio when the series first kicked off, but this was scrapped when the UK's November lockdown was enforced.

Judge Bruno Tonioli had to miss the series due to being unable to travel from the UK to the US in between shows as he normally does. He made a few appearances via video link.

Judge Motsi Mabuse also missed a show as she had a Covid scare, and boxer Nicola Adams had to pull out of the show entirely after testing positive for coronavirus.

The show was able to soldier on regardless, with Bill Bailey taking home the trophy.

2m rule: Like most TV productions amid the pandemic, measures were enforced to make Strictly Covid-safe. Judges weren't allowed to sit at one panel - placed at three socially-distanced desks

Victory: The show was able to soldier on regardless, with Bill Bailey taking home the trophy

Strictly Come Dancing returns to BBC One in the autumn, with no-one confirmed as a contestant yet.

However, Coral bookmakers have backed internet star Jackie Weaver at 10-1 to appear.

'Jackie Weaver has become an internet sensation overnight. She is now being backed to be on the Strictly dance floor later this year,' said Corals John Hill.

Will she, won't she? Strictly Come Dancing returns to BBC One in the autumn, with no-one confirmed as a contestant yet. However, Coral bookmakers have backed internet star Jackie Weaver at 10-1 to appear

Jackie made headlines last week when a Handforth parish council Zoom meeting went viral, of which she was the chair.

No-nonsense Jackie was drafted in to oversee proceedings amid claims of bullish behaviour from some of the council members during meetings, and was met with vicious remarks and aggressive yelling as a result.

She wasted no time in deleting those responsible from the Zoom conference in the recorded meeting, which was leaked online and ended up gaining her hero status.
It may be time to start double-masking.

New data released Wednesday from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that wearing two masks is more effective in slowing the spread of the coronavirus. Researchers spaced two artificial heads six feet from each other and recorded how many coronavirus-sized particles spewed by one were inhaled by the other, according to the Associated Press.

The one wearing one mask, surgical or cloth, blocked around 40% of the particles, while the other one wearing a cloth mask on top of a surgical mask blocked about 80% of particles.

If both heads were double-masked, more than 95% of the particles were blocked, the CDCs Dr. John Brooks told the Associated Press.

The first challenge is to get as many as people as possible masking, Brooks said. And then for those that do mask, to help them get the best benefit out of that mask.

The study had limitations. Researchers used one brand of surgical mask and one kind of cloth mask, so its unclear if results would be the same regardless of brand. However, it echoes earlier research supporting double-masking.

A new study from the CDC suggests wearing two face masks instead of one may offer more protection and reduce ones exposure to cough particles by nearly 96.5%. (CDC)

The CDC also updated its guidance on wearing two masks. A cloth mask worn over a surgical mask should tighten the masks edges that can let virus particles in, if done correctly.

But combining two disposable masks is not recommended, and neither is combining a KN95 mask with any other mask, according to new guidance from the CDC.

The CDC is also taking down a do-it-yourself page on masking.

CDC guidance has evolved over time. U.S. health officials discouraged the general public from wearing masks when the pandemic began, but two months later, recommended people wear masks in public.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and presidential advisor, said late last month double-masking makes common sense.

So if you have a physical covering with one layer, you put another layer on, it just makes common sense that it likely would be more effective and thats the reason you see people either double-masking or doing a version of an N95, Fauci told TODAY last month.

However, its not recommended to triple-mask.

Dr. David Cennimo, an infectious disease specialist at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, called triple-masking so crazy, I dont even know how to address it.

Tripling up on masks would likely involve six or nine layers, potentially leading to suffocation, he said during a recent interview with NJ Advance Media.

The Associated Press has contributed to this report.

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

Brianna Kudisch may be reached at bkudisch@njadvancemedia.com. Tell us your coronavirus story or send a tip here.
A fresh move to pass a bill that will recognise the Peace Corps of Nigeria as a federal security outfit is leaping through the National Assembly, despite its rejection by President Muhammadu Buhari, two years ago.

This is even as members of the Peace Corps continue to render security services to schools, shopping malls and other private facilities in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and in some parts of the country.

With headquarters in Abuja and commands in almost all the 36 states and 180,000 volunteers who are mostly youths, the corps operates like a paramilitary organisation.

Findings by our correspondents revealed that volunteers of the corps are subjected to one month drill before they are enlisted.

Some people believe that the Peace Corps has filled a large vacuum considering that thousands of youths have found a source of livelihood through the volunteer services they offer.

However, security experts observe that while the Peace Corps is found in many countries around the world and recognised as a voluntary organisation that helps in societal harmony and peaceful coexistence, making it a statutory agency in Nigeria will be an additional burden on the federal government.

Efforts to make the 28-year-old establishment a federal security outfit suffered a setback when President Muhammadu Buhari declined assent to its bill passed by the National Assembly in 2018.

In rejecting it, Buhari said there was paucity of funds to run the proposed agency. The president also identified security concerns, adding "some of the recruits may actually be sponsored by subversive elements."

It was observed that despite Buhari's rejection, a bill has been reintroduced at the National Assembly in a bid to get the presidential nod for legal backing for the outfit.

Also, the organisation has continued to carry out its activities in parts of the country with a visible presence of members of the corps in public facilities in FCT, Kaduna and Oyo states.

Daily Trust observed that some schools and organisations in the FCT have persons in the brown and blue beret uniform of the corps guarding their premises.

In Kaduna State, the corps has over 9,000 registered members who have continued to carry out security duties such as crowd and traffic control.

A member of the corps, Ibrahim Samaila, said their activities are strictly voluntary as they are not paid by the government or any organisation.

"We are Nigerians and we are youths, so we do this to help safeguard our communities," he said.

Why we want Peace Corps legalised - Senator Ndume

After President Buhari rejected the bill for an act to establish the Peace Corps in February 2018, the bill was reintroduced by Senator Ali Ndume (APC, Borno South) in 2019.

Checks by Daily Trust show that the bill has passed first and second readings in the Senate.

According to the bill, the core objectives of the corps is to "develop, empower and provide gainful employment for the youth, facilitate peace, volunteerism, community services, neighbourhood watch, nation-building and related matters."

Ndume, who is the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Army, said that he and his colleagues in the National Assembly are pushing for the passage and assent of the Peace Corps Bill to address unemployment and security challenges bedevilling the country.

The Senator, who sponsored the Peace Corps Bill at the Senate, said the corps as an internationally recognised organisation, backed by the United Nations should be supported by all to complement the services of the Nigerian Armed Forces and other security agencies in the fight against terrorism, banditry and other crimes.

"Members of the corps can be used to maintain peace, instead of force especially during peaceful protest; it is the members of the corps that are supposed to give them cover not the police carrying AK-47. If there is an occasion like a political rally, you don't need to deploy police but Peace Corps. Have you ever seen police in a stadium in the US?" he asked.

According to him, "It is about volunteerism, they (Peace Corps) have 180,000 youth that have registered with them voluntarily. Now there are about 5,000 soldiers in Borno and they are supposed to be in the war front. So, since there is peace in Maiduguri, members of the Peace Corps can be deployed to stabilise the capital," he said in a phone interview.

Ndume said at both chambers of the National Assembly, there is unanimity that the bill be passed and assented to by President Muhammadu Buhari to address unemployment and insecurity in the country.

"I am not the only one that is pushing for it. In fact, many people wanted to sponsor it but we synchronised because the bill is popular. If they (my colleagues) are not in support of it, it wouldn't have passed the third reading in the 8th Senate. And now, when I presented it again, it was unanimously supported. It is inter-agency conflicts and rivalry that stopped it before. Other security organisations, especially the police, don't want Peace Corps. That was how we battled on the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and look at the progress they are bringing," he said.

Corps not registered with us - NSCDC

Daily Trust reports that the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) is the agency with powers under the Private Security Guard Companies Act to register private security companies.

When contacted on the status of the Peace Corps, the Public Relations Officer of the organisation, Emmanuel Oke, said the Peace Corps has not registered with them, although it carries out functions of private security guard.

He said the non-registration of the Peace Corps might be because the corps carries out other functions that are not security-related.

"Since they are waiting for assent to their bill, that might be the reason they continue to carry out their regular duties such as volunteerism and others," he said.

Repeated calls to the mobile phone of Force Public Relations Officer, CP Frank Mba, by one of our correspondents seeking clarification on the development, were not answered. He did not also reply a text message sent to him on the matter.

Peace Corps operatives

Lawyer, activists react

Experts suggest that the Peace Corps, which was registered under Part C of the Corporate Affairs Commission in May 2002, having been founded in 1998, can continue to operate like other voluntary organisations such as the Boys Scout, Man O'War, among others.

The Executive Director of Centre for Social Justice, Eze Onyekpere, criticised Nigeria's recourse to duplication of governmental agencies, which should be performed by a single agency like the Nigerian Police.

"The Nigerian Police has been the father, grandfather and great grandfather of most security agencies. You have the NDLEA, which should have been the narcotic branch of the police; the Federal Road Safety Corps, the traffic branch of the police, the EFCC and ICPC, which could have been the special fraud office of the police, you have customs, immigrations and even NAFDAC; all of these could have been under the police," he said.

The Executive Director of Partners for Electoral Reforms, Ezenwa Nwagwu, in his response, said the country cannot all the time seek to legitimise private enterprises by appropriating public funds to them.

"I think there is something that is not sitting well on that. My position has always been that such beautiful initiatives can be run on a private basis and those who want to engage them can do so. If they want to provide enlightenment, they can do so without seeking to become another governmental agency. Those things can become like Boys' Scout," he said.

Also reacting, a former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Abubakar Mahmud (SAN), said being a private organisation set up as a voluntary agency, there is no need for the government to get involved in its funding.

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"Even if there is a need for it, it can continue as a private initiative. I don't see the justification for replicating other agencies because we have enough agencies on military and others. We have the civil defence, which can basically provide these functions," he said.

However, the Executive Director of the Citizens Advocacy for Social for Social and Economic Rights (CASER), Barr. Frank Tietie, expressed support for the Peace Corps as a job creation mechanism.

Our role is for neighbourhood watch - Founder

In his reaction, the Founder and National Commandant of the Peace Corps of Nigeria, Dickson Akoh said the corps' role is for neighbourhood watch as the second line of public safety, and as a think tank to educate residents of communities for security.

He admitted that without the legislative approval, the corps can continue its operations, which are legally recognised by the CAC registration, adding that the corps is self-funding through membership fees, donations and fees paid by schools and corporate organisations for guard duty.

"The public needs not to be confused; like I stated, our activities, for now, is a non-governmental organisation and in line with the National Policy on Youth Development.

"As far as I am concerned, security is evolving. And as the society evolves, it throws up a lot of security challenges, especially with the high level of unemployment and high level of poverty in the land. It has complicated the security situation in our country.

"That is why we have so many cases of kidnapping because when youths are jobless, and there is no adequate arrangement made for them to be occupied, they will find solace in crime and criminality. And that is the position Nigeria finds itself today," he said.

By Ismail Mudashir, John C. Azu, Abdullateef Salau, Idowu Isamotu (Abuja), Lami Sadiq (Kaduna), Ado A. Musa (Jos), Jeremiah Oke (Ibadan) & Hope Abah (Makurdi)
A group of women Michigan lawmakers is calling on Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey to relinquish his leadership role for his pattern of degrading and disturbing comments about Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

The Michigan Progressive Womens Caucus said Shirkey, R-Clarklake, should step down as Senate Majority Leader Thursday, citing his remarks in a video recorded by the Hillsdale County Republican Party where he dubbed the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol attack a hoax, said hed thought about challenging Whitmer to a fistfight and boasted that hed spanked her on a number of political issues.

Related: U.S. Capitol insurrection was a hoax, Michigan Senate leader says in video

Caucus Chair Laurie Pohutsky, D-Livonia, and House Democratic Leader Donna Lasinski, D-Scio Township, said Shirkeys words and actions, coupled with hot mic comments to Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist on the Senate floor indicating he didnt take back any of the points I was trying to make, show hes unfit to serve in a leadership position.

This isnt the first time Senate Majority Leader Shirkey has feigned an apology, just to repeat the same vile and outrageous comments, Pohutsky said. His degrading and disturbing comments about Gov. Whitmer send a horrible message to women across our state. Enough is enough.

MLive has contacted a spokesperson for Shirkey for comment. After an initial statement of apology issued from his office, Shirkey has not commented publicly on the recording or on his remarks to Gilchrist captured on the hot mic.

Related: Conservative Christian, prominent businessman, polarizing politician. Who is Mike Shirkey?

Shirkey also earned a sharp rebuke Thursday from the Michigan Womens Commission. In a statement condemning his comments, CEO Cheryl Bergman and Chief Strategy Officer Shannon Garrett said theres a difference between the defense of strongly held policy positions and careless resorts to violent, misogynistic and xenophobic bloviating.

...reliance on gendered language, sexual imagery and the glorification of violence is both careless and dangerous, they said in the statement.

Citing the foiled kidnapping plot against Gov. Whitmer and a state report showing nearly 42% of Michigan women experience rape, physical violence and/or stalking in their lifetimes, Bergman and Garrett said Shirkey needs to take violence against women seriously.

Napoleonic rhetoric has consequences, they continued.

Related: Michigan Democratic Party calls on Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey to resign

The Michigan Democratic Party called on Shirkey to resign, and Senate Minority Leader Jim Ananich, D-Flint, and Sen. Stephanie Chang, D-Detroit, criticized the comments during floor statements Wednesday.

House Speaker Jason Wentworth issued a statement Wednesday afternoon calling Shirkeys remarks disappointing.

Majority Leader Shirkeys comments are his own and dont reflect my feelings or beliefs, he said. Its disappointing that this situation is detracting from the important work we are doing every day.

Whitmer told the Associated Press she does not have the time or energy to indulge anyone in terms of conspiracy theories or even threats of violence against me personally.

On Wednesday evening, Whitmer Deputy Chief of Staff Zack Pohl said on Twitter Shirkey has not apologized directly to the governor.
MBABANE  SNAT is not in agreement with government on the proposed reopening of schools and it has vowed to discourage its members from reporting for duty if the proposed plan goes ahead.

This will be the case if government fails to meet the conditions that will tick all the boxes for the safe return of teachers and pupils to schools.

This comes after the Ministry of Education and Training (MoET) documented a proposed reopening schedule starting on February 16, 2021 for teachers to report to work in preparation for the reopening of schools this year.

According to the schedule, February 23, 2021 is the proposed reopening date of all grades.

However, the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) said there was nothing substantive that had been discussed by the MoET with them regarding the proposed dates of reopening.

In fact, the associations Secretary General, Sikelela Dlamini, said they would meet the ministry tomorrow to confirm the authenticity of the document and if the ministry confirmed, they would table new demands on the safe reopening of schools and that would be determined by the ministrys eagerness to go ahead with its proposed plan.

Demands

He said part of the demands would be to have teachers included on the list of the prioritised group in the first phase of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout.

Dlaminis argument was that schools could be classifed as superspreaders and if the teachers, together with frontline workers, were not prioritised in the first phase of the vaccine rollout, then that would not make reopening of schools safe and ideal.

However, he added that if government met all the conditions that would tick all the boxes on the safe reopening of schools, then teachers would go back to work.

It is too early to deliberate on the proposed reopening schedule because we are yet to confirm the authenticity of the document with the ministry. However, if the ministry confirms the document and it goes according to their proposed plan, then we will not encourage our members to go to work, he said.

Dlamini said if government was eager to continue with its proposed plan, they (SNAT) would be compelled to consider other options to stop the progress of the reopening of schools on the proposed dates if they felt their members were not safe.

You will recall that last year, we went to court and we were victorious, and if push comes to shove on this matter, we will consider other options to ensure that government does not go ahead with its proposed plan if they do not meet the conditions that we will forward to them next week, he submitted.

Dlamini confirmed knowledge of some of the contents of the document as he said they were engaged by the ministry on it.

However, he made it known that they had not agreed on the proposed dates slated on the document.

We totally disassociate ourselves from this so-called plan by few individuals from the Ministry of Education and Training (MoET). Well be meeting with the MoET tomorrow, reads a statement from the association.

SNAT said the ministry engaged them on the proposed schedule but the document was prematurely presented to Cabinet.

We confirm some of the contents in the document except the proposed dates. Those issues are still on the table and have not been finalised. We still await an explanation from MoET as to where they got that, he said.

Displeasure

When contacted on the matter, Minister Lady Mabuza expressed displeasure in the way the matter was handled.

She submitted that this was not an official document, but the first step towards the reopening of schools and the dates were nothing but a suggestion that the ministry submitted to Cabinet.

Honestly, this is very disappointing as things have been blown out of proportion. This was simply the ministrys first step towards reopening schools and nothing in that document is official.

Honestly, I have nothing to say with regard to the document, save to say that people will not take me seriously now.

This was not supposed to be in the public domain in the first place as it is still in its infancy stage, she lamented.

Eswatini joins South Africa (SA) in proposing to reopen schools this month. In a gazette published last month, SA Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga indicated that the return of pupils in SA would be staggered, with private school pupils allowed to return to school two weeks earlier than their public school counterparts.

The gazette depicted that private schools would return on February 1 while all public school grades would return on February 15.







STOCKHOLM  A progress report from forty Nordic textile and fashion companies, shows an initial joint 10,000 tonne reduction in baseline CO 2 emissions; with an ambition to meet goals in line with the Paris Agreement on climate change.

This is the first time the companies  all members of The Swedish Textile Initiative for Climate Action (STICA)  have collectively reported on their scope 1 and scope 2 CO 2 baseline progress, in a bid to calculate the more challenging indirect scope 3 supply chain emissions starting in 2021.

The companies presented in this progress report are setting a new standard for the apparel and textiles industry, says Mike Schragger, founder of STICA. They have committed to measuring and publicly reporting their greenhouse gas emissions on an annual basis according to robust standards. They have committed to time bound reduction targets. Now, in order to meet these targets, they will need to integrate climate action into everything they do, from business strategy, to supply chain management, to customer engagement.

Member companies include the likes of Fjallraven, Bergens, Lindex, KappAhl, H&M, Peak Performance and Volvo.

Update and Reflections for 2021

For the last 20 years I have been creating research and policy solutions aimed at understanding Indigenous life within cities. I remember early on how alienated urban Indigenous communities were from larger government and First Nations political discussions. There was a sense that urban Indigenous peoples were not worth supporting, and this was demonstrated by the lack of investment in understanding urban Indigenous issues beyond looking at homelessness. Politically, First Nations and urban Indigenous advocacy groups at the national level consistently belittled one another in an attempt to capture the who speaks for and represents Indigenous peoples outside of First Nations reserves. All levels of government seemed to not mind this in-fighting as it was just one more matter they wouldnt have to deal with, choosing the convenience of a seemingly unimportant policy gap that could fall between the cracks without much care. As a young woman who had made the city her home, I watched the disorganization of the urban Indigenous political scene and how the ones who suffered were regular Indigenous people and families. Who we were and what we aspired to achieve went unnoticed. When attention was given, it was on deficits alone which embedded harsh stereotypes, and any community building efforts underway were created without much external support.

Flash forward to today, and so much has changed in a short while. From 2008-2011 I led the implementation of the Environics Urban Aboriginal Peoples Study, the largest national research of its kind that explored the identities, values, experiences, and aspirations of Indigenous people living in 10 major Canadian cities and pushed back against the misconceptions held to date about the urban Indigenous population. In 2013 I joined the City of Vancouver to undertake hosting the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the historic Walk for Reconciliation by Reconciliation Canada. That same year Vancouver proclaimed a Year of Reconciliation and engaged Vancouverites and City staff in a year long effort to learn about the history of colonization and the government sanctioned Indian Residential Schools. At the same time, I led a city-wide policy and service review that evolved into a City of Reconciliation framework that ushered in systemic change within all city departments to ensure that the City of Vancouver found new ways to conduct its work in acknowledgement of the unceded Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh Nation homelands that it is situated on. In five years, close to 100 new initiatives and policy changes were implemented that ensured reconciliation was reflected as a core value throughout the City. So much space was created for systemic change  it was breathtaking.

Many lessons have been learned along the way about Indigenous peoples living in cities that requires thoughtful investigation and dialogue. Cities in Canada have reflected in their policies the learnings from the Urban Aboriginal Peoples Study and seen the success of the City of Vancouvers commitment to reconciliation and followed Vancouvers leadership. It is still early days in understanding the goals of reconciliation at a municipal level, and what this inspires for new aspirations in city building.

What is on my mind, is, if urban cities represent the identity and power of modern civilization, than the erasure of Indigenous peoples and Indigenous knowledge from cities is a perfect illustration of contemporary colonization in modern form. In an era of truth and reconciliation, Indigenous urban planners are pushing back in resistance to this contemporary colonization to create the conditions for an Indigenous cultural comeback in every neighbourhood, bike path, and downtown core. Through every new installation of Indigenous public art, incorporation of Indigenous design into a new building, or daylighting Indigenous knowledge on how the lands and waters sustained life for a millennia before settlers bulldozed and renamed it all  Indigenous urban planners are ensuring that the next generation of city dwellers understand that what they reside on are self-determining Indigenous homelands.

In Canada, there has been a growing movement to ensure Indigenous history and culture is reflected throughout major cities. This is a new goal of cities across the country  to acknowledge the truth of these lands having always been the unceded homelands of Indigenous Nations, and moving forward together, co-creating a city and urban identity that benefits all and connects everyone to the land they share through Indigenous knowledge. This is what respectful and meaningful reconciliation can be.

How we get from here to there requires us to not treat reconciliation as a time defined program. It should not have an expiry date. If we are going to move forward in an honest way, we need to act in remembrance, recognition, and respect.

AstraZeneca announced Thursday it had doubled its annual profit in 2020 as the World Health Organization approved its coronavirus shot for over-65s, boosting the global immunisation effort against Covid-19.

Mass vaccination programmes are being ramped up in many countries, but have been hampered by limited supplies as rising infections force governments to tighten virus restrictions.

Also Read | Inside the Mindtree makeover strategy

AstraZeneca was at the centre of a diplomatic spat between the EU and Britain earlier this year over supply problems, and also faced a setback when a number of European nations did not authorise its coronavirus shot for the over-65s -- the demographic most vulnerable to Covid-19.

"Despite the significant impact from the pandemic, we delivered double-digit revenue growth," CEO Pascal Soriot said as the firm announced a net profit of $3.2 billion in 2020. "The progress of the Covid-19 vaccine demonstrated what we can achieve."

The results did not include the impact of its coronavirus vaccine. The firm said it would report those figures separately.

The WHO backed AstraZeneca's coronavirus shot on Wednesday -- including for over-65s and in places were new coronavirus variants are circulating.

"It is likely that the vaccine will be found to be efficacious in older persons. The trial data indicate that the vaccine is safe for this age group," said WHO expert Alejandro Cravioti.

He said the WHO was awaiting more specific data on the vaccine's efficacy in over-65s, but that it "would not be appropriate" to wait with "thousands of people dying".

The AstraZeneca shot forms a bulk of doses being rolled out around the world -- especially in poorer countries -- under the Covax programme, and is considered crucial to the fight against the pandemic which has claimed more than 2.3 million lives.

WHO chief scientist Soumya Swaminathan said the benefits of using the AstraZeneca shot would "far outweigh" any risks even in nations with new variants.

'We are suffocating'

Faced with a scarcity of supplies, many governments have given approvals to multiple vaccines.

Mexico on Wednesday authorised shots made by the Chinese firms CanSino Biologics and Sinovac, following its green light for the Pfizer-BioNTech, AstraZeneca and Sputnik V jabs.

The hard-hit Latin American nation's healthcare system has struggled to cope, and with hospitals focused on dealing with Covid-19, neighbourhood doctors have had to deal with the overflow -- and they want to be among the first to get coronavirus shots.

"I want to keep working and supporting my community," said Karla Montano.

"But I need to be vaccinated so I can continue working without putting my family at risk."

The European Union is also trying to accelerate its vaccination programme, with some member states still tightening economically punishing restrictions to stop the spread of the virus.

Germany extended its strict curbs until March 7, while Greece on Thursday began a tightened lockdown in and around its capital region.

"We are suffocating," read a banner at a rally against the restrictions in Athens.

'I haven't been home in a long time'

More than 107 million people are known to have been infected by the coronavirus, which first emerged in China in late 2019.

While the Chinese government has largely suppressed its outbreak and kickstarted its economy, tough restrictions have remained to prevent a resurgence -- such as testing and quarantine requirements, even for domestic travellers.

That has hit travel plans for the millions who head home to see family over the Lunar New Year holidays.

Some decided to take on the inconvenience.

"I haven't been home to see my children for a long time," Li Xinjun, a 50-year-old housekeeper, told AFP outside the Beijing railway station.

Despite the heavy toll of the pandemic, a retirement home in the French city of Toulon was set for a unique celebration -- the 117th birthday of Sister Andre, Europe's oldest person.

She survived Covid-19 last month, one of the 81 residents of the home infected by the virus.

"I'm told that I got it," the nun told AFP ahead of her birthday. "I was very tired, it's true, but I didn't realise it."





This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text.

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In the face of a changing climate and crop diseases, manufacturers of products containing natural flavors and fragrances are pivoting to a new way to source ingredients. Companies have been partnering with biotechnology firms to manufacture scents and flavors using fermented microbes, which experts say are more sustainable. A new story in Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN), the weekly newsmagazine of the American Chemical Society, details how the industry is brewing up new fragrances.

Although the availability of natural fragrances and flavors like citrus and vanilla is dwindling, the demand for them has increased, writes Senior Business Editor Melody Bomgardner. In recent years, flavor and fragrance companies have been working with the biotech industry to shore up supply chains and avoid issues like seasonality and poor harvests, without having to use synthetic compounds.

Fermentation-derived ingredients can be listed as natural in the U.S. and Europe, which appeals greatly to consumers. Biotech firms and major chemical companies are stepping up their production of fermented products while also making the process more efficient and less expensive.

To be commercially viable, engineered microbes need to make a flavor or scent molecule at a much higher concentration than what's found in plants. Once microbial engineers figure out which plant genes they need to get microbes to produce a new flavor or scent molecule, it's relatively easy to make variants of that structure, they say. For example, -decalactone, which smells like peaches, is just one of 20 fruity and buttery molecules that can be made from a lactone process.

These new fragrance molecules can be used in products such as hard seltzers, laundry detergents and fine perfumes. Another advantage of fermented molecules is consistency of flavor and smell, which is hard to achieve with naturally derived ingredients. With sustainability being a must-have for consumers and manufacturers alike, experts are hopeful that this is a versatile, cost-effective solution.

English French

OTTAWA, Feb. 11, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- An international survey shows that about 1 in 4 (23%) Canadian adults (age 18+) reported using cannabis at least once in the past 12 months.

Canada, the only country surveyed by the Commonwealth Fund where cannabis is legal for recreational use, had a higher rate than the 11-country average (9%), although Canadas rate was similar to that seen in some states in the U.S. where cannabis is legal (20%). Reported rates of cannabis use were highest in the territories and Nova Scotia, followed by Alberta and British Columbia.

How Canada Compares: Results From the Commonwealth Funds 2020 International Health Policy Survey of the General Population in 11 Countries, released by the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI), covers a wide variety of topics about health care systems, including mental health, access to health care, barriers to care and virtual care.

The survey took place between March 6 and June 15, 2020, in Canada, with the majority (75%) of interviews occurring in March and April. A detailed analysis shows that survey results were not affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, as most patients recalled experiences with health care systems that happened before it started.

For the first time, the survey included comparable information about behaviours affecting health (use of alcohol, tobacco, vaping, cannabis and other drugs).

Heavy drinking in Canada

A quarter of Canadians reported heavy drinking at least once a month. Heavy drinking is defined as 4 or more drinks for women and 5 or more drinks for men on 1 occasion. Canadas rate of heavy drinking (27%) was slightly lower than the Commonwealth Fund average (32%).

Canadian men were significantly more likely than women to have a heavy drinking episode at least once a month (32% versus 22%). Heavy drinking was higher among younger Canadians (age 25 to 34) than among those 35 and older.

9% of respondents in Canada who reported heavy drinking had had a discussion with their doctor about alcohol use  the same as the international average (9%). More than twice that number (22%) had spoken to their doctor about their use of cannabis or other drugs like cocaine, amphetamines, heroin or other substances, a rate slightly higher than in other countries (17%).

Vaping in Canada

The survey results show that 5% of Canadians were using vaping devices (e.g., e-cigarettes), compared with 4% in peer countries. Vaping rates were highest among young adults (age 18 to 34) at 11%, compared with 3% among those 35+.

Quotes

The Commonwealth Funds survey shows that a quarter of Canadians reported using cannabis. Canada is the only country surveyed where cannabis is legal  other than a few states in the U.S.  and it only became legal for recreational use in 2018. It will be important to continue to study Canadians cannabis use and see how it affects their health in the future. While we have standards that define heavy drinking  4 or more drinks for women and 5 or more drinks for men on 1 occasion  there are no standards that define heavy cannabis use.

 Tracy Johnson, Director, Health System Analysis and Emerging Issues, Canadian Institute for Health Information

The Commonwealth Funds survey provides an important baseline for substance use in Canada. Since the onset of the pandemic, we have seen some of these numbers increase  especially for those with mental health and substance use concerns. With further lockdowns happening throughout the country, this is something we need to be mindful of as we work to reduce overall health harms in Canada. We encourage people to refer to the low-risk drinking guidelines and to remember the importance of seeking help, lower-risk substance use and positive coping methods as we continue to deal with the effects of the pandemic on our substance use and mental health.

 Rita Notarandrea, Chief Executive Officer, Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA)

Additional information

CIHIs 2017 report Alcohol Harm in Canada includes more information about alcohol harm, while the Your Health System indicator Hospitalizations Entirely Caused by Alcohol provides data by province and territory.

CCSAs Canadas Low-Risk Alcohol Drinking Guidelines provides recommendations for reducing the long-term health risks associated with alcohol, while COVID-19 and Cannabis Smoking and Vaping explains how COVID-19 can affect people who use cannabis products.

Additional analyses of the health of Canadians and Canadas health systems during the pandemic are in development and will be released in 2021.

About the Commonwealth Fund

Based in the United States, the Commonwealth Fund is a private foundation that aims to promote a high-performing health care system that achieves better access, improved quality and greater efficiency, particularly for societys most vulnerable populations.

The Commonwealth Funds 2020 survey focused on the views and experiences of the general population age 18 and older. For the first time, all 3 Canadian territories were oversampled, allowing their results to be reported alongside provincial results and to be statistically tested against the international average.

Within Canada, funding for an expanded Canadian sample was provided by CIHI, Canada Health Infoway, the ministere de la Sante et des Services sociaux du Quebec and Ontario Health, Quality unit (formerly Health Quality Ontario).

About CIHI

The Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) is an independent, not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing essential health information to all Canadians.

CIHI works closely with federal, provincial and territorial partners and stakeholders throughout Canada to gather, package and disseminate information to inform policy, management, care and research, leading to better and more equitable health outcomes for all Canadians.

Health information has become one of societys most valuable public goods. For 25 years, CIHI has set the pace on data privacy, security, accessibility and innovation to improve Canadas health systems.

CIHI: Better data. Better decisions. Healthier Canadians.

Media contact

media@cihi.ca

For English inquiries:

Julie Bortolotti

613-618-2890

For French inquiries:

Alexandra Maheux

416-729-5913
Three administrative councils in The Gambia have on 10th February 2021 launched a project worth 100, 000 euros (which is over six million dalasis) which aims to ensure a sustainable waste management in the Greater Banjul Area.

This is a joint project among the three Councils within the Greater Banjul (BCC, KMC, BAC) coordinated by Mbolo Association and supervised by Metropolitan Area of Barcelona.

This project will be piloting organic waste management, focusing on five (5) pilot council markets.

It is aimed at contributing towards providing a safe and healthy environment that is free of pollution through integral water cycle and the waste segregation, collection and treatment in the metropolitan areas.

Malang Sambou, Chairman of the Mbolo Association, said they visited Spain (Barcelona) in November 2019 and came to realize how Gambia is lacking in waste management.

"There is a way forward on how to treat our waste," he said.

He said the project is beyond just a launching, urging the councils to believe that it is something possible in their municipalities.

Omar Touray, Deputy Mayor of Banjul City Council (BCC), said most of their council's money goes to managing waste but they are yet to solve waste problems in their council.

"Waste management is a challenge and that is everyone's business," he said.

Touray hoped the local government and environmental ministries will support the project, adding that the initiative is local and Gambians should support it.

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Musa Bah, Deputy Mayor of KMC, said they can use waste to make money and venture into other developments. He said waste management is KMC's main priority and their municipality has been crying over it for a very long time. He called on Gambians to support the project to ensure its success.

The representative of Brikama Area Council, Bakary Jadama and the technical director of the council, said if waste is not quickly managed, it could bring more problems to the councils. He said the three councils have similar problems and they have to work together to combat the challenge.

"We are grateful to Mbolo association," he said.

David Gomez, Director of Governance at the Ministry of Regional Government and Lands, said The Gambia is mismanaging its waste and that it is time to change that narrative. He said Gambians must change their attitude towards waste management or else they will keep on repeating or discussing the same issues on waste.

"Gambian should do their quota in the management of waste," he said.

Gomez assured their collaboration for the success of the project.

Alagie Majang, Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Environment, said the project is timely, while urging all parties to work towards its success.
US President has announced a series of sanctions on the military leaders of in response to their recent action to overthrow a democratically elected leadership in a

"Today I'm announcing a series of actions that we're taking to begin imposing consequences on the leaders of the The US government is taking steps to prevent the generals from improperly having access to the USD1 billion in Burmese government funds held in the United States," Biden told reporters at the White House on Wednesday.

Biden said he has approved a new executive order enabling US to immediately sanction the military leaders who directed the coup, their business interests, as well as close family members.

"We will identify a first round of targets this week. We are also going to impose strong export controls. We are freezing US assets that benefit the Burmese government, while maintaining our support for healthcare, civil society groups, and other areas that benefit the people of Burma directly," Biden said.

As protests grow, violence against those asserting their democratic rights is unacceptable, Biden said the US is going to keep calling it out. The people of Burma are making their voices heard. And the world is watching, he said.

In his first public address on Myanmar, which the US and several other western countries continue to call it by its previous name of Burma, Biden demanded that military must relinquish the power it seized and demonstrate respect for the will of the people of Burma as expressed in their November 8th election.

Last week, the United States helped bring together the UN Security Council, which issued a strong statement in support of Burmese democracy. This week, the administration will use its renewed engagement on the Human Rights Council to strengthen the world's commitment to human rights in Burma, he said.

"Today, I again call on the Burmese military to immediately release the democratic political leaders and activists that they're now detaining, including Aung San Suu Kyi. And also Win Myint, the President, he said.

Biden said that the assault on Burma's transition to democracy remains an issue of deep bipartisan concern. We've consulted at length, for example, with Senator McConnell, who's had a very keen interest in this, and his team. We welcomed their helpful insights, he said.

Senator Bob Menendez, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, welcomed Biden's announcement that his administration will take concrete and targeted measures to demonstrate to the Burmese military that their actions are unacceptable.

"As I've said before, there must be real consequences if Aung San Suu Kyi and the rest of Burma's elected leaders are not immediately freed and allowed to resume their rightful place at the head of a civilian government, he said.

Meanwhile, Congressman Gregory Meeks, Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, and Ami Bera, Chairman of the Asia, the Pacific, Central Asia, and Nonproliferation Subcommittee, on Wednesday held a briefing on the situation in Burma.

"Members expressed concern for the safety of those illegally detained by the military and expressed support for the administration's commitment to review the reimposition of sanctions, among other policy options, to hold the Burmese military accountable for the coup, they said in a joint statement.

"We urge the Burmese military to accept the will of the people and will continue to engage the Biden administration and likeminded partners and allies to support Burma's progress toward democracy, the two top lawmakers said.

State Department Spokesperson Ned Price told reporters that as protests grow, Burma's military leaders need to know that violence against those who peacefully assert their democratic rights will not be tolerated. The United States will take note of those who stand with the people of Burma at this moment of crisis, he asserted.

Price said the US stands with the people of Burma and support their right to assemble peacefully, including their right to protest peacefully in support of the democratically elected government, the right to freedom of expression, including the freedom to seek, receive, and impart information both online and offline.

The fact that we continue to see these demonstrations throughout the streets in Burma indicate where the Burmese people are, what their aspirations for democracy are. We will stand with them, he said.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The boyfriend of a missing Melbourne mum has been charged with murder after police arrested him at the airport allegedly trying to leave the state.

Ju 'Kelly' Zhang, 33, was last seen barefoot and wearing pink pajamas at her home on Winchester Avenue in Epping, in Melbourne's north, at 5.30pm on February 1.

Ms Zhang's partner Joon 'Sam' Seong Tan, 35, was on Thursday charged with one count of murder and will face Melbourne Magistrates Court on Friday.

Mr Tan was arrested by police at 6.15pm on Wednesday while allegedly trying to fly interstate, The Herald Sun reports.

Ju 'Kelly' Zhang, 33, was last seen at her home in Epping, in Melbourne's north, at 5.30pm on February 1

Mr Tan was arrested by police at 6.15pm on Wednesday while allegedly trying to leave the state

After Mr Tan's arrest police searched an area of Darebin Creek Reserve as part of their investigation on Thursday.

Mr Tan previously told detectives Ms Zhang left her eight-year-old son at home when she went for a walk with no shoes on.

'At the time the 33-year-old went missing, she was believed to be wearing a pink nightgown and possibly pink slippers,' Victoria Police said.

The 35-year-old is still in custody ahead of his court date on Friday.

Tan told police he was with Ms Zhang and her son on the day she disappeared, and claimed she went for a walk and didn't come back.

'The information we have is that she would not have left her son by himself with someone who is not a family member.'

Police urged neighbours to check their CCTV footage from the afternoon she disappeared.

After Mr Tan's arrest police searched an area of Darebin Creek Reserve (pictured) as part of their investigation on Thursday

They are specifically looking for footage of a white Toyota Land Cruiser and a black 2008 Mazda CX9 station wagon, with registration WKE 850.

Both vehicles are believed to have travelled near Ms Zhang's home sometime between 4pm last Monday and 8am last Tuesday.

Investigators said Ms Zhang's disappearance was 'extremely out of character'.

Just hours before she disappeared, Ms Zhang made a post on social media that included a video of her cooking with her eight-year-old son.
Ford Motor Co displays a 2021 Ford F-150 pickup truck at the Rouge Complex in Dearborn, Michigan, U.S. September 17, 2020. Reuters-Yonhap



By Kim Yoo-chul



The United States International Trade Commission (USITC) gave a final ruling Thursday (KST) in favor of LG Energy Solution (LGES) in its legal dispute with SK Innovation (SKI) over the theft of trade secrets related to battery technology.



A few hours after this, LGES asked SKI to present follow-up measures to end the dispute.



"LGES is asking SKI to accept the USITC's final ruling," an LGES official said in a statement, adding the company was expecting SKI to offer settlement details that would protect the best interests of its shareholders and investors.



"Based on the USITC's final ruling, LGES has no option but to continue in other cases (against SKI) pending in courts in South Korea and the U.S. state of Delaware, if SKI fails to present proper remedies," a senior LGES executive said, Thursday.



The USITC issued a limited 10-year exclusion order prohibiting imports into the United States of components for battery cells, modules and packs by SKI, but permitted it to import parts for the production of lithium-ion batteries, battery cells, modules and packs for Ford Motor's F-150 electric vehicle (EV) program for four years, and for Volkswagen Group of America's modular electric drive matrix (MEB) platform for North America for two years, according to a copy of its original ruling. The commission added that SKI could replace or repair its EV batteries in Kia vehicles sold in the United States.



The move effectively bans SKI from selling EV batteries in the United States unless it can source all necessary components domestically  which many analysts view as unfeasible. Ford and Volkswagen earlier filed briefs with regional U.S. governments detailing the estimated impact of the LGES-SKI dispute.



Volkswagen and Ford, both of which procure EV batteries from SKI, said the final USITC ruling won't affect their EV production schedules in the United States.



Settlement talks, Georgia contribution



But because LGES doesn't want to see SKI's battery business suffer the worst-case scenario in the United States, top LG and SK Group management are expected to accelerate negotiations to settle the dispute, according to sources directly involved in the matter.






Tunis/Tunisia  The Tunisian League of Human Rights (French: LTDH) said Wednesday it filed a complaint against the National Union of Internal Security Forces in Sfax.

The move follows defamatory and libelous acts by the union members against peaceful protesters last February 1 outside the premises of Sfax 2 first instance court. The LTDH said these acts are punishable by the law.

The league said its president Jamel Msallem tasked president of North Sfax chapter Zoubeir Louhichi and Deputy SG Nada Hammami with lodging a complaint against the union with the public prosecutor at Sfax 1 first instance court.

The LTDH North Sfax section said earlier police personnel assaulted without reason relatives of arrested demonstrators who took to the streets over the deterioration of their social situation.

Politicians and human rights activists were also attacked, including the league's representative in the region who suffered physical and psychological abuse.
Mortar shelling in Afghanistan kills at least 10 civilians

Fire breaks out at West Virginia oil refinery in US

Iran ready to help improve the defense capability of Syria

European Parliament head proposes to strengthen sanctions on Russia

UK PM gets married in London

Armenia reports COVID-19 new 81 cases: for people die

EU countries invite US to issue joint statement against Russia

2 people die in Armenia road accident

Nigeria: Students taken hostage a month ago are released

61 quakes recorded in Congo per day

Syrian MFA: EU lost credibility due to blind obedience to US policy

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Mher Grigoryan: Clarification of border points is possible only after withdrawal of Azerbaijani troops from Armenia

Suspicious deal: Whether there was profit from buying DNA IDs?

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4 people killed in Afghanistani bus attack

Robert Kocharyan: This war could not have happened, it was a consequence of the policy of the authorities

Kocharyan: I have to ask people how it happened that overwhelming majority elected this leader

Armen Gevorgyan presents 'Armenia' bloc program: We offer the concept of a working country

Biden's administration proposed to leave unchanged amount of financial support to Armenia

US Embassy in Baku calls on Azerbaijan to immediately release Armenian POWs

Luxembourg MFA calls on Azerbaijan to immediately release all Armenian prisoners

Russia peacekeepers climb to Armenia Gegharkunik Province village positions

Biden strongly condemns manifestations of antisemitism in US

Iran intensifies its diplomacy amid Armenia-Azerbaijan border tensions

Armenia acting PM on forthcoming snap parliamentary elections: We hope to get 60% of votes

Lukashenko accuses West of destabilizing situation in Belarus

Armenia Central Electoral Commission chief on snap elections: No legal basis for postponing, suspending any function

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Armenia ex-President Kocharyan gives interview to Russia TV channel

Armenia acting premier: We are ready to start withdrawing troops at any moment

Canada MFA expresses concern over 6 Armenian soldiers capture by Azerbaijan troops

There are omissions in registration documents of political forces that applied to Armenia Central Electoral Commission

Armenia Central Electoral Commission chief: There is activeness in Yerevan for the past day or two

Three new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Group of US Congress members threaten Azerbaijans Aliyev regime with sanctions

Chicago mayor is sued for allegedly refusing interview with white reporter

Iran exports oil to US for first time after long interval

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42 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

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US preparing list of targeted sanctions on Belarus authorities

China believes it will own America by 2035, Biden says

15 al-Shabab militants killed in Somalia

Newspaper: Armenia political forces that applied for running in election impatiently await CEC decision

Newspaper: Changes are expected in Artsakh

California prisoner who considers himself Satanist beheads cellmate, dismembers his body

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM's "mutually beneficial" proposal to collapse state system?

Armenia National Security Service Reserve Officers' Union members meet with His Holiness Karekin II

EU is ready to help Armenia and Azerbaijan with border delimitation and demarcation

ARF-D member on Nikol Pashinyan: 103 years ago Armenia's founding fathers would have executed him for treason

Iran President hails brotherly ties with Azerbaijan

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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

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Josep Borrell: A group of EU Ministers will visit Armenia, Georgia and Azerbaijan

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Shoygu to Harutyunyan: Russia, Armenia strengthen military cooperation

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Stunning 'light pillars' were spotted illuminating the night sky over Nebraska earlier this week as ice particles floated in the still air forming a strange optical illusion.

Meteorologist Bill Taylor captured a photograph of dozens of bizarre glowing columns while out walking in the city of North Platte on Monday, February 8.

The pillars are formed when light reflects off of thousands of tiny ice crystals at different heights in the atmosphere  creating an elongated, virtual light source.

Light pillars have also been spotted in other locations in the northern US this week  such as in the north of Michigan  and may continue to appear into the weekend.

Stunning ' light pillars ' were spotted illuminating the night sky over Nebraska earlier this week as ice particles floated in the still air forming a strange optical illusion

Light pillars are formed when light rays  whether from a street lamp, the sun or the moon  are reflected off of horizontally aligned ice crystals suspended in or falling slowly through the air, which together act like a series of tiny mirrors in the sky. While the light is actually coming from ground level (in the case, say, of street lights), or higher in the sky (for light from the sun or moon), it appears to observers to come from various points in the sky above/below the real source, forming the 'light pillar'

'It was almost like I was looking at the northern lights because they were bouncing, moving and changing in appearance,' Mr Taylor, who works for the US National Weather Service, told CNN.

Light pillars are formed when light rays  whether from a street lamp, the sun or the moon  are reflected off of horizontally aligned ice crystals suspended in or falling slowly through the air, which together act like a series of tiny mirrors in the sky.

While the light is actually coming from ground level (in the case, say, of street lights), or higher in the sky (for light from the sun or moon), it appears to observers to come from various points in the sky above/below the real source, forming the 'light pillar'.

The pillars do not physically exist  they are an optical illusion and a type of halo  and form from the same way that virtual images objects seen reflected in mirrors appear to exist behind the plane of the mirror.

'The higher the crystals in the atmosphere, the taller the pillar,' a spokesperson for the National Weather Service in La Crosse, Wisconsin told CNN.

Specific conditions are required for the formation of light pillars  it must be below freezing, and the air must be virtually wind-free.

Without this, the tiny hexagonal ice crystals would be disturbed, but in very calm conditions, they naturally orient themselves horizontally as they fall through the air.

It is the presence of the horizontal crystals across various altitudes that causes the reflection of the light source to become elongated into a column.

Light pillars are most often seen in colder climates in the autumn and winter, when temperatures are low enough for ice to form in the atmosphere  which is typically when ground-level temperatures fall beneath 10F (-12C).

'The temperature dropped to -20F [-29C] the night these photos were taken in North Platte, which was the coldest we've experienced since March 2019,' meteorologist Darren Snively of the National Weather Service told CNN.

With artic air pushing further over North America this week, it is likely that more people in the US will have the opportunity to see light pillars for themselves.

In particular, meteorologists are predicting highs of less than 0F in Minnesota, Montana and North Dakota in the remainder of this week.

'Latest model guidance continues to show that an arctic air mass will dominate the northern and central portions of the country into this weekend,' a spokesperson for the National Weather Service's Weather Prediction Center told CNN.

The weather conditions are being driven, they explained, by 'the influence of a slow-moving polar vortex centred over the Canadian prairies.'

In the last 25 years, scientists have discovered over 4000 planets beyond the borders of our solar system. From relatively small rock and water worlds to blisteringly hot gas giants, the planets display a remarkable variety. This variety is not unexpected. The sophisticated computer models, with which scientists study the formation of planets, also spawn very different planets. What the models have more difficulty to explain is the observed mass distribution of the planets discovered around other stars. The majority have fallen into the intermediate mass category - planets with masses of several Earth masses to around that of Neptune. Even in the context of the solar system, the formation of Uranus and Neptune remains a mystery. Scientists of the Universities of Zurich and Cambridge, associated with the Swiss NCCR PlanetS, have now proposed an alternative explanation backed up by comprehensive simulations. Their results were published in the scientific journal Nature Astronomy.

Two contrasting forces...

"When planets form from the so-called protoplanetary disk of gas and dust, gravitational instabilities could be the driving mechanism", Lucio Mayer, study co-author and Professor of Computational Astrophysics at the University of Zurich, and member of the NCCR PlanetS, explains. In this process, dust and gas in the disk clump together due to gravity and form dense spiral structures. These then grow into planetary building blocks and eventually planets.

The scale on which this process occurs is very large - spanning the scale of the protoplanetary disk. "But over shorter distances - the scale of single planets - another force dominates: That of magnetic fields developing alongside the planets", Mayer elaborates. These magnetic fields stir up the gas and dust of the disk and thus influence the formation of the planets. "To get a complete picture of the planetary formation process, it is therefore important to not only simulate the large scale spiral structure in the disk. The small scale magnetic fields around the growing planetary building blocks also have to be included", says lead-author of the study, former doctoral student of Mayer and now Research Fellow at the University of Cambridge, Hongping Deng.

...that are difficult to grasp simultaneously

However, the differences in scale and nature of gravity and magnetism make the two forces very challenging to integrate into the same planetary formation model. So far, computer simulations that captured the effects of one of the forces well, usually did poorly with the other. To succeed, the team developed a new modelling technique. That required expertise in a number of different areas: First, they needed a deep theoretical understanding of both gravity and magnetism. Then, the researchers had to find a way to translate the understanding into a code that could efficiently compute these contrasting forces in unison. Finally, due to the immense number of necessary calculations, a powerful computer was required - like the "Piz Daint" at the Swiss National Supercomputing Centre (CSCS). "Apart from the theoretical insights and the technical tools that we developed, we were therefore also dependent on the advancement of computing power", Lucio Mayer says.

A decades old puzzle solved?

Against the odds, everything came together at the right time and enabled a breakthrough. "With our model, we were able to show for the first time that the magnetic fields make it difficult for the growing planets to continue accumulating mass beyond a certain point. As a result, giant planets become rarer and intermediate-mass planets much more frequent - similar to what we observe in reality", Hongping Deng explains.

"These results are only a first step, but they clearly show the importance of accounting for more physical processes in planet formation simulations. Our study helps to understand potential pathways to the formation of intermediate-mass planets that are very common in our galaxy. It also helps us understand the protoplanetary disks in general", Ravit Helled, study co-author and Professor of Theoretical Astrophysics at the University of Zurich and member of the NCCR PlanetS, concludes.

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Oman is satisfied with its current relationship with Israel, the foreign minister said on Thursday, even after two fellow Gulf Arab states normalised ties with Israel and raised U.S. hopes others would follow suit.

"As regards Israel we are content so far with the level of our current relations and dialogue, which involves the appropriate channels of communication," Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi said. Oman, he added, was committed to peace between Israel and the Palestinians based on a two-state solution.

Gulf neighbours the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain normalised relations with Israel last year, becoming just the third and fourth Arab states to do so in more than 70 years. The administration of then-U.S. President Donald Trump had hoped other Gulf states would also establish formal ties.

Away from the Gulf, Morocco and Sudan have also since normalised relations with Israel.

Busaidi also said Oman was ready to help with rescuing Iran's 2015 nuclear deal, fraying since 2018 when Trump withdrew the United States from the pact, but felt that existing U.S. communication lines with Tehran could suffice.

Asked at an online event about the chance of Oman mediating in new efforts to restore the deal Iran signed with world powers, Busaidi said Muscat has a very good relationship with both Tehran and Washington and was ready to assist if needed.

"I believe the channels are open directly between the foreign policy teams in Washington and Iran. I see no reason why those channels can't be reactivated," Busaidi told the Atlantic Council event.

The 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) deal limited Iran's uranium enrichment activity to make it harder for Tehran to develop nuclear arms, if it so chose, in return for the easing of U.S. and other sanctions.

Trump exited the deal, calling it too lenient on Iran, and reimposed sanctions that have crippled the Iranian economy.

New U.S. President Joe Biden has said Washington will rejoin the JCPOA if Iran stops breaching limits on enrichment and returns to full compliance with the deal.

Busaidi, who was appointed in August after Oman's new Sultan Haitham delegated this position away from his own portfolio, reiterated Oman's longstanding policy of neutrality in a turbulent region.

"Omani foreign policy has always sought to maintain and encourage dialogue between as wide a number of parties as possible," he said.

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ODM party leader Raila Odinga has asked Deputy President William Ruto to desist from calling him a 'mganga', which is a Swahili word for witch doctor.

The DP has on several occasions referred to Odinga as a witchdoctor while painting him as one who is against the church.

However, speaking in Homa Bay on Tuesday during the ordination of Bishop Michael Odiwa, Raila affirmed that he was a true and devout Christian.

"I'm a Christian, those who refer to me as mtu wa vitendawili na mganga (a witch doctor) should stop. A witch doctor is a person who treats people. Even though I don't mind being called one, I want to be known as a true Christian," said Raila.

Nonetheless, the former PM appreciated the church for the role it played in preaching unity among leaders, saying they contributed to his handshake with President Uhuru Kenyatta.

The word 'mganga' has been common in Ruto's attacks towards the opposition leader.

This is not the first time Odinga is defending himself from claims by his political rivals that he does not believe in God.

In January while speaking during a town hall meeting with religious leaders in Nairobi, Odinga affirmed his belief in God and rubbished claims that he engages in witchcraft.

He added that it is only through God's grace that he has survived all the tribulations with his family.

"I'm a beneficiary of God's mercies and miracles, so many times I'm left speechless when holier-than-thou members of our country say that Raila does not believe in God... .ni mtu wa vitendawili, ni mganga. Who will not believe in God after going through what I have gone through?" Odinga posed.

Odinga further clarified that he is not opposed to the funding of the church, stating that his concern is the use of the church to play politics and launder money.

"We support the growth of the Church... we support the funding of the Church but we are against the use of the Church to play politics. People should also not use the church to launder money," he said.
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The annual tradition of Lenten concerts will continue this year at Memorial Presbyterian Church. This year the concerts will be virtual. They will be livestreamed via Facebook, @MPCmidland and the churchs website, mempres.org. The concerts will occur at the traditional time of 12:15 p.m. on each Friday in Lent, beginning Feb. 19.

The series again will be characterized by a wide range of offerings. The series will lead off with the Apex Saxophone Quartet, a student ensemble from Central Michigan University. They will be followed each Friday by solo presentations: Andrew Spenser on percussion, tenor Keith Clifton, organist Brenda Hayden, Brad DeRoche on guitar and cellist Daniel Tressel.
The UK chairman of accounting giant KPMG has been ousted after 'woke' staff to who urged him to 'check his privilege' when he told a virtual meeting of 1,500 people to 'stop moaning' about the pandemic.

Outspoken Australian Bill Michael, who earns a 1.7 million salary, reportedly told consultants asking him about pay, pension and bonus cuts to cease 'playing the victim card'.

The 52-year-old also dismissed the concept of unconscious bias as 'complete c**p' and told staff he had been meeting clients for coffee despite lockdown rules, sources revealed.

His warning to staff to 'stop moaning' came after KPMG's annual results revealed that its hundreds of partners still earned an average of 572,000 each in 2020, despite the pandemic that is expected to see hundreds of thousands of Britons lose their jobs.

But Mr Michael later apologised for his comments and claimed they did not reflect his beliefs. But KPMG said he would now step aside while the 'big four' firm investigates.

During the virtual meeting staff took to an anonymous messaging app to vent about Mr Michael's comments.

One wrote: 'There's no such thing as unconscious bias?! Are you joking? Please do your research before just making such statements. Check your privilege.'

Unconscious bias is the theory that people hold stereotypes of others which lead to discrimination in the workplace, but it has also proved controversial with ministers dumping it for civil servants in England when the Government's Equalities Office found there was 'no evidence' that the training improved workplace equality.

Probe: KPMG chairman Bill Michael is said to have told staff worried about potential pay, pension and bonus cuts to 'stop moaning' and stop 'playing the victim card'

Volcanic anger of KPMG's 'woke' workforce after boss tells them to 'stop moaning' Bill Michael's comments to a KPMG town hall meeting on Monday. Staff were also said to be angered after he dismissed the concept of unconscious bias  unintentional discrimination based on stereotypes  as complete c**p. There was volcanic anger in the comments section of the app running the event. One worker responded: Theres no such thing as unconscious bias?! Are you joking? Please do your research before just making such statements. Check your privilege. Another said: He literally said, I know Im breaking the law to meet with people during the pandemic. A third said: People are struggling with serious mental health issues and having our leadership tell us to shut up and pull ourselves up by our boot straps is heartbreaking. Advertisement

A KPMG spokesman said: 'Following the meeting on February 8, the firm initiated an independent investigation into the alleged comments in accordance with its usual procedures.

'Mr Michael has decided to step aside from his duties as chair while the investigation is under way.

'We take this matter very seriously and will not comment further while the investigation is ongoing.'

The move comes after the Financial Times revealed details of what Mr Michael said to the 1,500 members of the finance team during the conference call.

Another person said: 'Did Bill Michael say unconscious bias is just crap? Herein lies the issue. Whilst the training may not be effective, to say it doesn't exist is just reckless.'

Mr Michael also angered some staff when he told them he had been meeting clients for coffee.

Who is Bill Michael? Bill Michael has been at KPMG for 30 years. The 52-year-old Australian took the helm four years ago after working as the firm's Global Head of Banking and Capital Markets. His City expertise featured in the high-profile Treasury Select Committee into Banking Standards following the global financial crash. He also represented KPMG as an advisory council member of the FICC Market Standards Board. He qualified as a chartered accountant in Australia before moving to the UK to work with clients such as JP Morgan, HSBC, Deutsche Bank, Credit Suisse, and Barclays. He has a young family and is a Manchester United fan. Advertisement

One attendee said: 'He literally said, 'I know I'm breaking the law' to meet up with people during the pandemic.'

Another staff member said: 'People are struggling with serious mental health issues and having our leadership tell us to shut up and pull ourselves up by our boot straps is heartbreaking.'

Mr Michael, who was admitted to hospital last spring after catching coronavirus, was speaking to staff who had raised concerns about potential salary, pension and bonus cuts.

Some workers interpreted his message as motivational but many complained that it was insensitive.

'If someone tells you to stop moaning in the middle of a recession and when people are dying... It's incredibly insensitive,' one worker told the Financial Times.

KPMG last year announced an 11 per cent salary slash to the firm's 582 partners to safeguard jobs.

Partners still pocketed an average of 572,000, down from 640,000 the previous year.

Mr Michael himself had his salary shaved down by 14 per cent to 1.7 million.

At the close of the meeting he apologised for some of his earlier comments and later sent a follow up email in which he further expressed regret.

'I know that words matter and I regret the ones I chose to use. I think lockdown is proving difficult for all of us. I am very sorry for what I said and the way that I said it,' Mr Michael wrote.

'Covid has hugely impacted the way we all live and work  many of us very deeply.'

He has been in charge since 2017 and his tenure has been plagued by criticism, including of KPMG's role as auditor of the liquidated government contractor Carillion and of a 'toxic culture' in the office.

KPMG is one of the Big Four accounting firms which includes Deloitte, Ernst & Young and PricewaterhouseCoopers.

The majority of KPMG's 16,000 staff are working from home during lockdown.

The firm reported a 2 per cent fall in revenue in the year to September 30 to 2.3billion.

The majority of KPMG's 16,000 people are working from home rather than the Canary Wharf office (pictured) during lockdown

However, KPMG did not furlough any of its staff during the pandemic, and is even overhauling its offices at the cost of 44million and bolstering remote working technology.

It followed a similar trend among rivals. Deloitte announced a 17 per cent cut in average partner pay to 731,000 last September.

PwC said in December that its partner pay fell 10 per cent to 685,000. EY's average partner pay slipped just 1.8pc to 667,000.

KPMG also added it has put in place 'a range of support measures' to help employees adjust to remote working, including new mental health resources, 'flex' hours and a company podcast to help colleagues stat connected.
A 116-year-old French nun who is considered the second-oldest person in the world survived COVID-19 and is looking forward to Thursday to celebrate her 117th birthday.

A French nun survived COVID-19 at the age of 116

The Gerontology Research Team, which validates descriptions of persons believed to be 110 or older, lists Frenchwoman Lucile Randon, the birth name of Sister Andre, as the world's second-oldest living person.

French media announced that in the southern French city of Toulon, Sister Andre tested positive for the coronavirus in mid-January. Yet just three weeks after, the nun was deemed to have recovered.

The second-oldest person in the world told a French newspaper Var-Matin, "I didn't even realize I had it."

When she got her diagnosis, Sister Andre, who is blind and uses a wheelchair, did not even worry, as per Mercury News.

"She didn't ask me about her health, but rather her habits," David Tavella, the nursing home relations officer, told the newspaper about the nun. "She needed to see, for instance, whether a meal or bedtime schedules would change. She had little fear of the illness. She was, on the other hand, very curious with the other tenants.

Not all home residents enjoyed Sister Andre's luck. In January, 81 of the 88 residents tested positive for COVID-19, and, according to Var-Matin, about 10 of them died.

Sister Andre was permitted to attend Mass after the doctors declared that the nun was no longer infected.

Whether it was the strength of her prayers or her T-cells that did it, a 116-year-old French nun Lucile Randon survived COVID-19. She was fit as a fiddle just three weeks after the nun tested positive for the virus but in her regular wheelchair. According to Fox News, Sister Andre is still healthy enough to look forward to her 117th birthday on Thursday.

Sister Andre will celebrate her 117th birthday after beating COVID-19

"The world's second-oldest person beat coronavirus and she was not afraid of it." Sister Andre caught COVID-19 during an outbreak at her nursing home in Toulon, France.

The nun, a wheelchair user, was separated from the other residents, but no symptoms developed, The Sun reported. Sister Andre has now made a complete recovery, and her 117th birthday is set to be celebrated tomorrow.

When she received the diagnosis, Sister Andre, originally from Ales, France, was not alarmed. When asked if she was afraid of the coronavirus, she said, "No, I wasn't afraid and I wasn't afraid of dying."

"I'm happy to be with you, but I would wish to be somewhere else - to join my big brother, and my grandfather and my grandmother."

In a smaller number of residents than usual, Sister Andre will celebrate her birthday. The nun who was born on February 11, 1904, is now the oldest person in Europe, according to the Gerontology Research Group's (GRG) World Supercentenarian Rankings List.

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Mortar shelling in Afghanistan kills at least 10 civilians

Fire breaks out at West Virginia oil refinery in US

Iran ready to help improve the defense capability of Syria

European Parliament head proposes to strengthen sanctions on Russia

UK PM gets married in London

Armenia reports COVID-19 new 81 cases: for people die

EU countries invite US to issue joint statement against Russia

2 people die in Armenia road accident

Nigeria: Students taken hostage a month ago are released

61 quakes recorded in Congo per day

Syrian MFA: EU lost credibility due to blind obedience to US policy

Armenia ex-minister of emergency situations hospitalized with heart attack

Mher Grigoryan: Clarification of border points is possible only after withdrawal of Azerbaijani troops from Armenia

Suspicious deal: Whether there was profit from buying DNA IDs?

Armenia ex-president says current authorities are trying to blame Russia for defeat in war

4 people killed in Afghanistani bus attack

Robert Kocharyan: This war could not have happened, it was a consequence of the policy of the authorities

Kocharyan: I have to ask people how it happened that overwhelming majority elected this leader

Armen Gevorgyan presents 'Armenia' bloc program: We offer the concept of a working country

Biden's administration proposed to leave unchanged amount of financial support to Armenia

US Embassy in Baku calls on Azerbaijan to immediately release Armenian POWs

Luxembourg MFA calls on Azerbaijan to immediately release all Armenian prisoners

Russia peacekeepers climb to Armenia Gegharkunik Province village positions

Biden strongly condemns manifestations of antisemitism in US

Iran intensifies its diplomacy amid Armenia-Azerbaijan border tensions

Armenia acting PM on forthcoming snap parliamentary elections: We hope to get 60% of votes

Lukashenko accuses West of destabilizing situation in Belarus

Armenia Central Electoral Commission chief on snap elections: No legal basis for postponing, suspending any function

Armenias Pashinyan is met by Yerevan district residents chanting against him

We are ready to be fully engaged in negotiation process to resolve Karabakh issue, says Armenia acting PM

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan gives interview to Russia TV channel

Armenia acting premier: We are ready to start withdrawing troops at any moment

Canada MFA expresses concern over 6 Armenian soldiers capture by Azerbaijan troops

There are omissions in registration documents of political forces that applied to Armenia Central Electoral Commission

Armenia Central Electoral Commission chief: There is activeness in Yerevan for the past day or two

Three new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Group of US Congress members threaten Azerbaijans Aliyev regime with sanctions

Chicago mayor is sued for allegedly refusing interview with white reporter

Iran exports oil to US for first time after long interval

"Armenia" bloc top 50 MP candidates are announced

42 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Sri Lanka public beach is covered in charred plastic pellets due to fire in container ship

US preparing list of targeted sanctions on Belarus authorities

China believes it will own America by 2035, Biden says

15 al-Shabab militants killed in Somalia

Newspaper: Armenia political forces that applied for running in election impatiently await CEC decision

Newspaper: Changes are expected in Artsakh

California prisoner who considers himself Satanist beheads cellmate, dismembers his body

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM's "mutually beneficial" proposal to collapse state system?

Armenia National Security Service Reserve Officers' Union members meet with His Holiness Karekin II

EU is ready to help Armenia and Azerbaijan with border delimitation and demarcation

ARF-D member on Nikol Pashinyan: 103 years ago Armenia's founding fathers would have executed him for treason

Iran President hails brotherly ties with Azerbaijan

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

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
Mortar shelling in Afghanistan kills at least 10 civilians

Fire breaks out at West Virginia oil refinery in US

Iran ready to help improve the defense capability of Syria

European Parliament head proposes to strengthen sanctions on Russia

UK PM gets married in London

Armenia reports COVID-19 new 81 cases: for people die

EU countries invite US to issue joint statement against Russia

2 people die in Armenia road accident

Nigeria: Students taken hostage a month ago are released

61 quakes recorded in Congo per day

Syrian MFA: EU lost credibility due to blind obedience to US policy

Armenia ex-minister of emergency situations hospitalized with heart attack

Mher Grigoryan: Clarification of border points is possible only after withdrawal of Azerbaijani troops from Armenia

Suspicious deal: Whether there was profit from buying DNA IDs?

Armenia ex-president says current authorities are trying to blame Russia for defeat in war

4 people killed in Afghanistani bus attack

Robert Kocharyan: This war could not have happened, it was a consequence of the policy of the authorities

Kocharyan: I have to ask people how it happened that overwhelming majority elected this leader

Armen Gevorgyan presents 'Armenia' bloc program: We offer the concept of a working country

Biden's administration proposed to leave unchanged amount of financial support to Armenia

US Embassy in Baku calls on Azerbaijan to immediately release Armenian POWs

Luxembourg MFA calls on Azerbaijan to immediately release all Armenian prisoners

Russia peacekeepers climb to Armenia Gegharkunik Province village positions

Biden strongly condemns manifestations of antisemitism in US

Iran intensifies its diplomacy amid Armenia-Azerbaijan border tensions

Armenia acting PM on forthcoming snap parliamentary elections: We hope to get 60% of votes

Lukashenko accuses West of destabilizing situation in Belarus

Armenia Central Electoral Commission chief on snap elections: No legal basis for postponing, suspending any function

Armenias Pashinyan is met by Yerevan district residents chanting against him

We are ready to be fully engaged in negotiation process to resolve Karabakh issue, says Armenia acting PM

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan gives interview to Russia TV channel

Armenia acting premier: We are ready to start withdrawing troops at any moment

Canada MFA expresses concern over 6 Armenian soldiers capture by Azerbaijan troops

There are omissions in registration documents of political forces that applied to Armenia Central Electoral Commission

Armenia Central Electoral Commission chief: There is activeness in Yerevan for the past day or two

Three new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Group of US Congress members threaten Azerbaijans Aliyev regime with sanctions

Chicago mayor is sued for allegedly refusing interview with white reporter

Iran exports oil to US for first time after long interval

"Armenia" bloc top 50 MP candidates are announced

42 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Sri Lanka public beach is covered in charred plastic pellets due to fire in container ship

US preparing list of targeted sanctions on Belarus authorities

China believes it will own America by 2035, Biden says

15 al-Shabab militants killed in Somalia

Newspaper: Armenia political forces that applied for running in election impatiently await CEC decision

Newspaper: Changes are expected in Artsakh

California prisoner who considers himself Satanist beheads cellmate, dismembers his body

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM's "mutually beneficial" proposal to collapse state system?

Armenia National Security Service Reserve Officers' Union members meet with His Holiness Karekin II

EU is ready to help Armenia and Azerbaijan with border delimitation and demarcation

ARF-D member on Nikol Pashinyan: 103 years ago Armenia's founding fathers would have executed him for treason

Iran President hails brotherly ties with Azerbaijan

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

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

A 19th Judicial District criminal judge is taking his seniority-based fight for a civil seat on the Baton Rouge state court to an appeals court.

Judge Beau Higginbotham's lawyers also indicated in a court filing Wednesday that they're prepared to take their case to the Louisiana Supreme Court if the state 1st Circuit Court of Appeal doesn't rule in their favor.

Higginbotham, who has served on the 19th Judicial District Court criminal bench since 2015, sued East Baton Rouge Parish Clerk of Court Doug Welborn in December after Welborn declined the judge's request to assign civil cases to him.

Earlier that month, a majority of Higginbotham's 19th JDC colleagues turned down his seniority-based request to move into the civil seat that longtime Judge Janice Clark relinquished when she retired Dec. 31.

A retired judge appointed by the Supreme Court to hear Higginbotham's lawsuit ruled last week that, because the judge's beef is with the colleagues who snubbed him for the civil seat, he must add them to the lawsuit.

Higginbotham's attorneys filed notice Wednesday of their intent to appeal ad hoc Judge Emile St. Pierre's decision. They alleged that Welborn declined to perform his "clear and specific ministerial duty" to begin allotting civil cases to Higginbotham. The clerk of court denies that allegation.

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St. Pierre ruled that what Higginbotham requested of Welborn was not purely ministerial and concluded that the 19th JDC judges are indispensable parties in the litigation. He gave Higginbotham 30 days from his Feb. 2 ruling to amend the lawsuit and add more defendants. Higginbotham's lawyers are asking the judge to extend that deadline.

The lawyers -- James Garner, Stuart Kottle and former 1st Circuit Judge James Kuhn -- said they want to seek appellate review of St. Pierre's ruling before making any amendments to the lawsuit because a ruling in Higginbotham's favor "would prevent suit against his fellow judges."

Nine of Higginbotham's 19th JDC colleagues told Welborn's office in a Jan. 4 order to allot the civil cases that formerly would have gone to Janice Clark to Judge Ron Johnson. A week later, a second order from 10 of the court's 15 judges informed the clerk's office that Johnson and fellow 19th JDC Judge Kelly Balfour would evenly share those civil cases while also splitting a criminal docket.

Higginbotham, the son of former 1st Circuit Judge Toni Higginbotham and ex-19th JDC Judge Leo Higginbotham, testified at a hearing last month that he was "next in line" in terms of seniority for the civil docket that Clark relinquished when she retired.

+3 Judge Higginbotham presses his claim to the civil docket. Could it be a stepping-stone move? Baton Rouge state Judge Beau Higginbotham told a special judge Monday that a majority of his 19th Judicial District Court colleagues ignored t

Higginbotham was elected to the 19th JDC Division M seat in fall 2014, then to the Division C seat nearer to his home in fall 2019. Ron Johnson, the twin brother of longtime 19th JDC Judge Don Johnson, also was elected in fall 2019.

A majority of Higginbotham's colleagues decided he lost his seniority on the court when he switched criminal divisions, and lost his right to lay claim to Clark's old civil seat. Higginbotham's lawsuit, however, argues there was "no gap" in his service on the court.
New Delhi, Feb 11 : There was a hanging glacier that slipped with rock and ice falling from 5,600 metres altitude owing to gravitational pull and this caused disaster in Uttarakhand, as per preliminary observations of experts.

This explanation by scientists comes days after Home Minister Amit Shah told Parliament that initial inquiry has revealed that a landslide triggered a snow avalanche covering approximately 14 square km area and caused a flash flood in the Rishiganga river downstream in Uttarakhand's Chamoli district.

The scientists, however, say it is difficult to comment right now if climate change has been directly responsible for the February 7 catastrophic that washed away two upcoming hydropower stations, claiming at least 34 dead and 200 missing who are feared dead.

Explaining what caused the flash flood, Mohd. Farooq Azam, who is an Assistant Professor at IIT Indore, told IANS in an interview that the Nanda Devi glacier did not burst.

"There is no terminology in science like 'glacier burst'. But we believe that there was a hanging glacier which slipped with rock and ice falling from 5,600 metres altitude," he said.

"To understand if the incident was climate change driven or not, we need to understand how glaciers grow. They have a pattern of snow and melt in winter and summer seasons respectively. This is the normal phenomenon. Now this was a hanging glacier. It is possible that the glacier also collected mass and debris over a period of time.

"We cannot say with confidence right now if climate change had a role to play, but it is possible that the strength of the mass was weakened due to climate driven factors," he explained.

Azam said a team of scientists are at the site in Chamoli district trying to understand what caused this disaster.

"It is early February so temperatures in the area are low and not much melting would be happening right now which could've led to this.

"So far the only explanation is that a hanging glacier cracked due to gravitational pull and the weight of accumulated mass, which resulted in this avalanche.

"However, there is no doubt that global warming is impacting the local climate of the region. The Himalayas are experiencing warmer winters, erratic and extreme rain and snow, more than ever before. These changes are leaving their imprint on the region," said the glaciologist.

"But the mystery which scientists are looking for answers for, is what is the source of the water we saw in videos on February 7. Some water will be generated from the heat energy of the fall, but that does not justify the quantum that hit Raini village." This disaster is a grim reminder of the 2013 flash floods and landslides in Uttarakhand that claimed the lives of thousands of people and animals.

Of course, the effects of such an event can be mitigated by some early warning systems, Azam told IANS.

"When there is a glacier lake outburst flood (GLOF) or flash flood, the only solution is that is an early warning system which can warn communities and authorities to prepare to evacuate people living in these areas.

"Secondly, exposed glacier lakes have a potential to burst and lead to such disasters. But it is possible to pump out water from these lakes. This has been done in Peru and Nepal, where water levels in such glacier lakes are reduced to safe zones to mitigate disaster risks." On the need to review the policy on 'water grab' dams that put fragile Himalayan ecology in peril, he replied, "Yes, although not 100 per cent sure how climate change effects are being taken into account when environmental impact assessments are done on these dams and other infrastructure projects." "Natural disasters or climate change induced disasters can harm these infrastructures, so there needs to be better planning for such projects and a review of the present situation of all dams. This lesson should be learnt after this tragedy," he said.

Observing climate change is increasing, Mandira Shreshtha, programme coordinator, HI-RISK Initiative with the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), said: "It is evident that climate change is increasing the occurrence of extreme events in the region." "Hydrometeorological monitoring is very important. However, the network density in higher elevations in our Himalayan region is poor and much lower than those recommended by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO). To monitor the changes occurring, we need to strengthen our hydrometeorological networks.

"Satellite data and information in real-time provides some opportunities, however, it has its limitations. In addition to strengthening our monitoring networks there is a need for risk assessments and increasing awareness of the communities living downstream to minimise the adverse impacts of such disasters," said Shreshtha.

The science behind what is currently happening in the Himalayas was forecasted by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in its 2019 report that said glaciers would retreat in the upcoming years, causing landslides and floods.

Himalayan glaciers play an important role in South Asia, providing drinking water and water resources for agriculture, hydropower and biodiversity.

Glaciers in the Hindu Kush Himalaya region are a crucial water supply for the 240 million people who live in the region, including 86 million Indians, roughly the equivalent of the country's five biggest cities combined.

Another comprehensive report two years ago, the Hindu Kush Himalaya Assessment, coordinated by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) notes that eastern Himalaya glaciers have tended to shrink faster than those in central and western Himalaya.

(Vishal Gulati can be contacted at vishal.g@ians.in)

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
The WHO yesterday recommended the vaccine be used across all age groups.

The World Health Organisations (WHO) decision to approve AstraZeneca globally for all age groups is unlikely to reverse Irelands decision not to use the vaccine on over 65s, Ed Lavelle, Professor of Immunology at Trinity College, has said.

The HSE announced in recent weeks it would use mRNA vaccines such as Moderna and Pfizer on the general public aged over 65 due to a lack of data on this cohort conducted in the AstraZeneca trials.

The Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine will instead be reserved for those under 65, starting with healthcare and key workers which began this week.

Prof Lavelle said it was worth bearing in mind that the WHO has to make global decisions for countries that dont have a choice of vaccines for subgroups.

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I dont think this means that Ireland is under pressure to reverse their decision, I think theyll consider what theyre saying, but Ireland has access to three vaccines at the moment so we can consider who gets what, Prof Lavelle told Morning Ireland.

What they did was they looked at the immune responses [to the AstraZeneca vaccine], so they looked at the T cell and B cell responses in that trial across all age sectors and found that they were comparable in under 65s and over 65s. Its not certainty, but in their minds it was predictive that it would be effective in over 65s.

The WHO have said, in certain countries, they only have access to the AstraZeneca vaccine right now, but in countries that have access to others, they can take their own view which subgroup to give which vaccine to.

Paddy Connolly of Age Action Ireland described the AstraZeneca vaccine as a workhorse vaccine, in that it doesnt need to be refrigerated at low temperatures, and said it may suit older people who are vaccinated in their own homes better than mRNA shots like Moderna and Pfizer.

All vaccines right now appear to be effective in preventing severe illness and death, Prof Lavelle said, but said there was a concern about some of them when it comes to mild and moderate illness.

There are concerns there, certainly. What weve seen in the South African variant, with some of the vaccines, is that the neutralising antibodies are less effective against this variant..and this would give people some concern.

It is possible that some of the other parts of our immune response are less compromised though, Prof Lavelle said.

This comes as the South African Government suspended the rollout of the AstraZeneca vaccine as they perceived it less effective against the dominant variant in their country.

They said they may look to swap or sell their doses of the vaccine for another batch of shots that are more effective against the strain.

The WHO is also concerned about the richer countries in the world tying up supplies of the vaccine in the short term and Prof Lavelle echoed these concerns.

It would be a disaster if the rich countries tried to commandeer the vaccines for a sustained period of time as this would mean the pandemic would roll on for a long time, he said.


Ethical hacker Elliot Alderson, who exposed flaws in Aadhaar as well as the Aarogya Setu app, has now tested the Indian microblogging site Koo. Alderson said that his followers urged him to test Koo App and so he did. In a tweet, Alderson said that he found that the app is leaking personal data of its users.

Along with three screenshots, Elliot Alderson tweeted, "You asked so I did it. I spent 30 min on this new Koo app. The app is leaking of the personal data of his users: email, dob, name, marital status, gender, ... (sic)"

You asked so I did it. I spent 30 min on this new Koo app. The app is leaking of the personal data of his users: email, dob, name, marital status, gender, ... https://t.co/87Et18MrOgpic.twitter.com/qzrXeFBW0L a Elliot Alderson (@fs0c131y) February 10, 2021

He also shared a snapshot of Koo App's details including the app's domain and registrant. The domain Koo App shows the IP geolocation as the US. It shows the name of the registrant as Tao Zhou, who also seems to be associated with over 100 domains. The state and country of the registrant is shown as Jiangxi, China.

In a subsequent tweet, Alderson shared a screenshot that showed the app was down. "And it's down," said the ethical hacker along with an image that shows the message 'no healthy upstream' under the Koo App url.

Koo is a microblogging site like Twitter. It was launched in March 2020 and won the Prime Minister's Aatmanirbhar Bharat App Innovation Challenge in August. The app has since garnered millions of users. PM Modi also encouraged users to use the Koo App in his Mann Ki Baat speech.

Koo App has shot to fame overnight amid the government's spat with Jack Dorsey-helmed microblogging site Twitter. The government had asked Twitter to block 257 accounts and 1,178 accounts in two different orders. The social media giant blocked 126 from the first list and 583 accounts from the second. It stated that it would not block accounts of journalists, activists and politicians as it violated the right to freedom of speech.

It said a portion of the handles that were asked to be blocked by the government were withheld in India only and continue to remain visible outside India. Twitter also sought a meeting with the government. Upon resistance of its orders, the Union IT minister Ravi Shankar Prasad refused to meet the social media site officials. The IT secretary met the officials after postponing for a day. The government has not taken well Twitter's response and asked it to follow the orders and block 257 accounts, which it said, was non-negotiable.

Also read: What's Koo App? Know all about govt's answer to Twitter

Also read: MeitY coochy-coos KOO - India's alternative to Twitter
PODCAST

PROJECT 38: Accenture's John Goodman on the need for speed and agility

The impacts of COVID-19 coupled with emerging technologies translates to government customers having different expectations and being more open to new ways of addressing challenges.

John Goodman, chief executive of Accenture Federal Services explains in this conversation with WT Editor Nick Wakeman what those challenges mean to his company and where he sees the market moving forward.

Goodman's perspective is largely optimistic because while the customer needs are great, he sees the technology being there to address those needs. COVID-19 has also opened government agencies to new ways of doing business and pulled them away from traditional approaches that have slowed progress.

You will hear Goodman share Accenture Federals strategy and what he sees as challenges and opportunities ahead.


To Retain And Advance Nimbus Silver-Zinc Project

Perth, Feb 11, 2021 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Horizon Minerals Limited ( ASX:HRZ ) is pleased to provide an update on the Nimbus silver-zinc project, adjacent to the Boorara gold mine, 15km east of Kalgoorlie-Boulder in the goldfields of Western Australia.The Company has now completed a strategic review of the Nimbus silver-zinc project, inclusive of a detailed assessment of all previous Feasibility Study work completed to 2017. Several expressions of interest were received to acquire or earn-in to the project, however the Horizon board has now elected to retain the project on a 100% basis with a view to update and complete the Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) with a fully funded dedicated independent technical team.Nimbus Definitive Feasibility Study UpdateUp until 2017, a significant amount of geological, metallurgical and engineering work had been completed on the Nimbus project with the completion of the comprehensive DFS put on hold due to depressed commodity prices.This included a partial DFS completed by Sedgman in 2015 when the Nimbus Project was held by MacPhersons Resources Limited. The focus of this study was on capital and operating costs only, including plant design and flow sheets. Several ore processing options were reviewed based on extensive laboratory testwork.The original strategy included a process to leach the silver to produce silver bars. Horizon's strategic review considered an alternative strategy to produce a high precious metal (silver) and zinc concentrate instead of silver bars. The production of a concentrate has potential benefits of a simplified processing circuit resulting in reduced capex and opex and to that end the Company will undertake an offtake process to obtain expressions of interest, indicative terms and potentially an offtake agreement for the sale of silver-zinc concentrate. Preliminary soundings have shown immediate interest from some traders, particularly due to the high silver content. On the basis of achieving commercially viable terms, the Company will then move to complete the DFS. Nimbus is located adjacent to the Boorara Gold Project which creates potential synergies in a complementary development scenario.CSA Global has completed various due diligence, geological and mining studies between 2011 and 2015, and concluded in their August 2011 report that "_there is potential for future development of both oxide silver and primary sulphide zinc-silver projects, from the known mineralised zones around and below the existing pits and their extensions, and from discovery of new zones."Prescribed Premise Licence and Works ApprovalThe Nimbus project already has a prescribed premise licence in place to treat 120,000 ore tonnes per annum and an existing works approval to expand to 480,000 tonnes per annum. The Company has recently completed an application for renewal to extend the current licence.The Company has now commenced an independent technical and economic study of all previous work undertaken to evaluate options for the next steps in advancing the project. As part of the study, the high-grade lodes will be evaluated for potential early-stage development and concentrate production.The Study is expected to be completed in the December Quarter 2021.About the Nimbus silver-zinc projectThe Nimbus silver-zinc project is located 15km east of the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder, Western Australia, covers approximately 170km2 and is situated on Mining Leases, Exploration Licences and Prospecting Licences and include the Boorara gold project area.Project highlights include:- High grade silver resource of 260kt @ 774g/t Ag and 12.8% Zn contained in JORC 2012 Resources of 12.1Mt @ 52g/t Ag, 0.9% Zn and 0.2g/t Au- Deposit remains open at depth and along strike with significant potential to increase existing silver-zinc resources with further drilling- Significant regional exploration potential to find additional silver and other base metal deposits- Close proximity to Kalgoorlie-Boulder and existing infrastructure- Historical production of 3.6Moz of high-grade silver (352g/t)Commenting on the Nimbus silver-zinc project, Horizon Managing Director Mr Jon Price said:"While the Company's focus remains firmly on gold, the strategic review has confirmed the potential for significant long-term shareholder value creation by retaining the asset at a time of sustained improvements in silver and zinc prices. The independent DFS team will now focus on the technical aspects and economic evaluation of mining the high-grade lodes and producing a high precious metal (silver) and zinc concentrate at site for sale to potential offtake partners."*To view tables and figures, please visit:About Horizon Minerals Limited

Horizon Minerals Limited (ASX:HRZ) is a gold exploration and mining company focussed on the Kalgoorlie and Menzies areas of Western Australia which are host to some of Australia's richest gold deposits. The Company is developing a mining pipeline of projects to generate cash and self-fund aggressive exploration, mine developments and further acquisitions. The Teal gold mine has been recently completed.

Horizon is aiming to significantly grow its JORC-Compliant Mineral Resources, complete definitive feasibility studies on core high grade open cut and underground projects and build a sustainable development pipeline.

Horizon has a number of joint ventures in place across multiple commodities and regions of Australia providing exposure to Vanadium, Copper, PGE's, Gold and Nickel/Cobalt. Our quality joint venture partners are earning in to our project areas by spending over $20 million over 5 years enabling focus on the gold business while maintaining upside leverage.


George Wallace's name removed from University of Alabama building over segregationist past

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The University of Alabama removed the name of the states former Gov. George Wallace from a building on its Birmingham campus because of the controversial legacy of the historical figure who supported segregationist policies for much of his career before he was born-again.

The Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama Systemunanimously approved a resolution last week to amend the name of the George C. Wallace Building, citing the need for diversity, inclusion, and respect.

Governor Wallace built his political career in substantial part on defending an unlawful system of segregation, appealing to and exacerbating racial animosity, and resisting lawful court orders, all to the detriment of the State of Alabama and the University of Alabama System, declared the resolution, in part.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Trustees that the name of the George C. Wallace Building on the Birmingham campus is hereby amended to the Physical Education Building.

While the resolution recognized that Wallace eventually renounced his support for segregation and made efforts to reconcile with the African-American community, Wallaces transformation does not erase the stain of his efforts to sow racial divisiveness and to promote conduct contrary to the law.

 nor does it erase the fact that for many of the students, faculty, and staff who comprise the University of Alabama System community, as well as individuals across the United States, Governor Wallaces name remains an enduring symbol of racial injustice and rekindles memories of one of the State of Alabamas darkest hours, continued the resolution.

Trustee Judge John England Jr.said in a statement released last Friday that he believed the name change was simply the right thing to do.

The UA System, the Board of Trustees, our working group and our campuses recognize Governor Wallaces complex legacy, including the well-known acceptance of his apology by civil rights icon John Lewis, stated England.

That said, his stated regret late in life did not erase the effects of the divisiveness that continue to haunt the conscience and reputation of our state.

Wallaces daughter Peggy Wallace Kennedy expressed support for the name change.

I, along with my husband Mark, have confidence in the Boards decision to rename the UAB Physical Education Building, she was quoted as saying in a statement shared by the university.

It is important to the university to always seek positive and meaningful change for the betterment of students, faculty and the community.

Wallace is a four-term governor of Alabama and failed Democratic presidential candidate, well known for his staunch support of racial segregation during the 1960s.

Refusing to enforce the U.S. Supreme Court decision Brown v. Board of Education, Wallace infamously declared, segregation now, segregation tomorrow, segregation forever.

However, in the late 1970s, Wallace became a born-again Christian. He repudiated his former views on race and apologized to the African-American community for his past actions.

In the 1980s, upon being elected governor of Alabama for the last time, Wallace made a record number of African-American political appointments.

Wallace died in 1998. Franklin Graham, the son of the late evangelist Billy Graham, spoke at Wallaces funeral and tied the governors change of heart on racial issues to his conversion as a born-again Christian.

"I believe that if the governor were here, he would want to be remembered for this: Jesus Christ today, Jesus Christ tomorrow, Jesus Christ forever," Graham said at the time, as reported by CNN.

Over the past few years, many longstanding debates over buildings and schools named for historical figures with controversial racial pasts have been reignited.

Last November, the Alexandria City Public Schools board in Virginia voted to change T.C. Williams High School's name  the school made famous in the 2000 blockbuster movie Remember the Titans  due to the namesake being an avid segregationist.
ENVOYS attached to Zanzibar have congratulated President Hussein Mwinyi for the admirable start of his first term of five years in office, following landslide victory in the 2020 general election.

"His 100 days in office have been good and convincing, we congratulate him," The Honorary Consul of the Federative Republic of Brazil in Zanzibar, Mr Abdulsamad Abdulrahim said.

He said that the envoys community in Zanzibar applauds President Mwinyi on his commitment to reform Zanzibar.

"On behalf of my colleagues here, I would like to congratulate him. His leadership has opened doors to investors and strengthens relations," he said.

Mr Abdulrahim said that Dr Mwinyi's focus on economic growth through blue economy is good move.

"Definitely many people will invest in Zanzibar as he also says that tax rates will be 'low/affordable' so that all people entitled to pay, willingly do so," he said.

He promised that his country (Brazil) is happy to continue working closely with Dr Mwinyi and the government of Tanzania in strengthening relations for the sake of prosperity for all the people of the country.

"Soon a business delegation from Brazil is expected to visit the Isles. Different areas of development including investment opportunities will be discussed during the visit," the Honorary Consul of the Federative Republic of Brazil in Zanzibar said.

He said that Mwinyi's emphasis on unity, rule of law and justice, accountability in public offices, hardworking, war on corruption and abuse of children and women, have made him win development partners and people's trust.

As he marks 100 days since he took oath of office, President Mwinyi said war on graft and violation of children and women will continue unabated, appealing to all people in Zanzibar to maintain peace and unity, which are prerequisite to achieving development goals.
MBABANE - South Africa-based private equity firm Secha Capital is said to be targeting to invest in some of the countrys small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

The firm  which targets SMEs in Southern Africa  has investments in food, hair and footwear businesses.

According to its online profile, the firm finds and funds SMEs that others do not. Apparently, a common problem for most SMEs is that they may succeed at first, but struggle to get the funding they need to grow.

We complement growth capital with boots-on-the-ground human capital. We work with you to implement our Accelerator Toolkit and Skills Transfer Playbook to realise financial return and job creation, reads the profile.

Operator-investor at Secha Kuhle Mnisi was quoted saying by South Africas News24 that their investment basis was around investing and looking into SMEs that were in the missing middle. These are sectors that a lot of investors that are looking into.

Secha, it has been gathered, takes a minority stake in the company and provides capital of between E3 million and E15 million, but only invests for seven to 10 years. After that, the plan is to make an exit and let the SMEs continue to grow by themselves.

In neighbouring South Africa, Secha is said to have helped a lot of small businesses. These include well-known South African hair-care brands that include Native Child.

Also benefitting was Rush Nutrition, which is an agribusiness. Mnisi is said to have spent some time in Rush Nutrition as Chief Operations Officer, ensuring that it met its need for skills as it grew.

Invest

Following a footprint in South Africa, the next step for Secha, according to the report, is to invest here in Eswatini as well as in Mozambique, Zambia and Lesotho.

At the time of compiling this report, Secha was yet to respond to a questionnaire sent by this publication on the finer details of the investment.

This publication wanted to establish the planned date for the investment; the number of targeted SMEs; as well as the total budget for Eswatini, among other details.

Minister of Commerce, Industry and Trade Manqoba Khumalo said he was yet to learn about the interest, when sought for comment yesterday.






Michael Ciaglo/Houston Chronicle

(Bloomberg) -- The biggest provider of oil and gas rigs to the U.S. shale patch is pushing a new pricing model as speedier drilling cuts into contractors revenue.

Rigs are typically rented out at a daily rate for a period of a few months, which has meant less money for oilfield service providers as drilling becomes quicker and more efficient. So Helmerich & Payne Inc. is touting a new pricing model based on overall well performance, and almost a third of its U.S. rigs are now being leased on that basis, Chief Executive Officer John Lindsay said Wednesday on an earnings call.
Ronald Coleman felt a surge of anxiety at even the thought of getting a COVID-19 vaccine.

I was very apprehensive, he said. I dont know what it does to you.

On Wednesday, though, Coleman, 76, got a shot in the community room of the African Episcopal Church of St. Thomas in Overbrook  the same space where he once attended Bible study, before the pandemic. Hearing about so many other people getting vaccinated without ill effects helped allay his concern, he said.

Im just going to try not to think about it and go on with my day, he said.

The Wednesday clinic was among the first partnerships in the city between a church and a hospital system, in this case, Main Line Health, to help correct the imbalance of who is getting vaccinated. More than 40% of Philadelphians are Black, yet have received about 17% of the more than 129,000 doses administered in the city so far, though that number has steadily improved.

Even at clinics specifically intended for African Americans at high risk of serious illness and death from COVID-19, too many doses have been going to others, health experts say.

The number of individuals with no health conditions who have never set foot in Black neighborhoods [coming to get vaccines] in the past month has been unconscionable, said physician Ala Stanford, founder of the Black Doctors COVID Consortium, who announced tighter rules around her groups clinics on Wednesday. The consortium, which is supplied by the city, has for weeks used churches as a setting for their vaccination clinics and brought testing services to hard-hit communities throughout the pandemic.

 READ MORE: Philly residents have to go online to sign up for the coronavirus vaccine. But what about people who cant?

Another hospital-church collaborative clinic is being hosted Saturday at Church of Christian Compassion, also in West Philadelphia, in a joint effort with more than a dozen area churches. There, the University of Pennsylvania Health System and Mercy Catholic Medical Center-Mercy Philadelphia will be offering 500 doses to people who have registered.

Places of worship offer a safe space, familiar faces, and trusted priests, ministers, and imams to communicate to members eligible for vaccination the importance of getting shots.

The church has always been the focal point of where people have been able to come in terms of joyous times and celebratory times, but also in times of need, said Martini Shaw, pastor of St. Thomas, the oldest Black Episcopal church in the country, which played a key role in treating people afflicted by a yellow fever epidemic in 18th-century Philadelphia.

We really see ourselves now as continuing that legacy that began in 1792, he said.

COVIDs toll

The Overbrook church has had its share of coronavirus tragedy in the past year, Shaw said.

I have buried more people in the last 12 months than any year during my 15-year tenure, he said. It has been enormous.

The churchs zip code, whose residents are nearly 90% Black, has seen 45 deaths and 648 cases per 10,000 people since the pandemic began, one of the highest rates in West Philadelphia, though more recently it has fared better than its neighbors.

 READ MORE: Black Americans may have to travel farther to get a COVID-19 vaccination, Pitt researchers find

Locally and nationally, Black Americans are more likely to be hospitalized and die of COVID-19. Yet more than half within the Black community, according to a recent Pew Research Center study, are skeptical of the vaccine, in part due to a legacy of mistreatment by the medical profession.

Were very concerned about the gap in the acceptance rate between the Black community and the white community, said Jack Lynch, CEO of Main Line Health. My goal is to be a part of the solution of dramatically increasing the Black communitys adoption rate in accepting the vaccine.

Concerns about vaccination are so deep-seated that hospitals are seeing them emerge among their own staffs. Less than 40% of Main Lines Black employees have agreed to be vaccinated, Lynch said. Penns number is similar, said Phil Okala, chief operating officer for the University of Pennsylvania Health System. Working with faith centers in the Black community gets doses to people who need them, Okala said, but also, he hopes, will help shift attitudes.

 READ MORE: Phillys rough COVID-19 vaccine rollout adds challenge to reaching skeptical Black residents: Our reticence is sacred

Were trying to depend on people who upfront would be willing to get the vaccine and then would be willing to tell the rest of the community the vaccine is safe, he said.

Main Line Health encouraged participation in Wednesdays clinic by filming a video of doctors speaking about the importance of vaccination, and sending a doctor to speak with members in person. Though the hospital systems four main facilities are outside the city, Lynch felt the disparity between doses that have gone to Black vs. white populations, and the number of Main Line patients from the city, made it important to participate in the clinic.

I feel the obligation without regard to the politics, without regard to the state and the city, he said. I feel an obligation to help that community.

Shaw, who is a trustee at Lankenau Medical Center, has told his congregation about the death and illness hes seen this year. He urged them to weigh the risk of infection against fears about a vaccine that has been thoroughly tested and found to be safe. Hes seen people change their minds, he said.

Whats most valuable, though, is the example spiritual leaders can set.

It helps with the community seeing that the vaccine is safe if our pastors are going to do it, said Terrilynn Donnell, an associate pastor at the church hosting Penn and Mercys clinic Saturday.

Torturous scarcity

A cruel irony of this moment in the pandemic is that even despite the number of people reluctant to take the vaccine, theres still not enough to go around. Swanie Goldsmith, 69, had no hesitation to be vaccinated, but couldnt find a shot until the offer came through her church.

I was really happy that the church, Father Shaw, made this arrangement because I really didnt know how I was going to get vaccinated, she said after getting a dose Wednesday.

Main Line had scheduled days for church members to register for vaccination. When phone lines opened, they filled all 150 slots in a few hours, Shaw said. About 600 church members have asked for doses. Most are on a waiting list.

 READ MORE: Black Doctors COVID-19 Consortium to tighten requirements around vaccine distribution

As Black Philadelphians struggle to be vaccinated, Stanford, of the Black Doctors COVID Consortium, has seen so many people from outside the targeted areas show up for shots that she is implementing more stringent checks.

Were not going to be another testing or vaccination location that was set up for the underserved and then have that overrun by everyone else, she said.

Many details about future vaccination clinics remain unresolved for Main Line and the Penn-Mercy partnership. The city has urged hospitals to begin sharing doses in the community, said James Garrow, spokesperson for the city Health Department, but it is still working on a mapping system to ensure hospitals are conducting outreach fairly.

We are working to map these types of events to ensure that theyre being placed in an equitable way, said Garrow, and we will share those data with the hospitals to encourage them to continue to offer vaccines to those without easy access.

Shaw would like to see vaccine doses available through his church routinely, he said. As of Wednesday, there were only 150 doses available, what Lynch called, whistling in the wind.

But were going to be back in that community, well increase the number, he said. Were going to be part of the solution.

Staff writer Aubrey Whelan contributed to this report.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-11 10:51:39|Editor: huaxia

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BUENOS AIRES, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese community in Argentina is preparing to celebrate the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year, which will be the Year of the Ox starting on Friday.

Argentine Francisco Risso Patron and his wife Zou Di, who was born in China's northeastern Jilin Province, as well as their two daughters, Victoria and Pilar, have been busy cleaning up their apartment, adorning it with red decorations, and preparing traditional Chinese food, like dumplings these days.

Their apartment in southern Buenos Aires was adorned with Chunlian, Spring Festival couplets pasted on either side of the front door, and a red paper lantern hanging on the balcony.

"The Chinese community in Argentina increasingly observes the tradition and passes the tradition on to their children, to the next generation," Zou said.

"We maintain the traditions, we make decorations at home, we greet friends and the children read materials to learn more about the tradition," she said.

A teacher and translator, Zou explained that usually celebrations take place in Chinatown in the northern area of the capital, but this year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the celebrations will be limited.

The couple met in 2009 at Northeast Normal University, in the Chinese city of Changchun in Jilin Province.

Francisco went to China to study Chinese, while Zou was pursuing a doctorate in linguistics at the time.

They married in August 2011 in Shanghai and two months later settled in Argentina, where they have maintained the tradition of celebrating Chinese Lunar New Year.

"We prepare food, which is an important part of the tradition, we made Jiaozi (dumplings) together. They know how to make them," Zou said with a smile, referring to her husband and daughters.

"It is a 'big year' for my mom, who will turn 60 years old," Zou said. "It's a pity that we can't visit her, but that's how it is. We have technology, the girls are used to talking to their Chinese grandparents over the Internet, greeting them and conversing in Chinese."

Francisco, an engineer, said that since they got married 10 years ago, he has been very used to the celebration.

"Our friends are mixed families too, it has become part of my life," he said, while Victoria recounted the tasks carried out by the family before the celebration.

"They clean, tidy up and cook. They hang decorations and sweep in order to sweep away the old year and receive good luck in the New Year," the little girl said. Enditem
RBmedia, parent company of Recorded Books, has acquired Booka, a Barcelona-based audiobook publishing company, and its full catalog of Spanish language titles. The company has been in business since 2015 and has recorded and published books in both English and Spanish from a variety of bestselling authors, such as Juan Gomez-Jurado, Fernando Gamboa, Jorge Magano, and Marc Reklau.

In addition to publishing audiobooks, Albert Codina Llorens, the founder of Booka, is also leading audiobook producer in Spain, producing for both Penguin Random House and Planeta, and it is retaining its professional services audio production business.

Troy Juliar, chief content officer for RBmedia, underscored that audiobook sales are increasing across the world, particularly in the Spanish language. With Booka as a cornerstone, we will build our Spanish-language audio publishing to include premier global propertiesboth fiction and nonfictionwhile also capturing the distinct local and regional authors required to serve all Spanish listeners," he said.

Albert Codina Llorens, founder of Booka, said, I built Bookas audio catalog over the years with great care. Putting it in the hands of RBmedia was the right choice for me and for my authors. I can trust that the titles will be widely sold around the Spanish-speaking world under good terms, in all markets, and with all resellers. I know RBmedia has big plans to increase this part of their business.

According to the most recent report from the e la Federacion de Gremios de Editores de Espana, audiobooks still account for less than 1% of book sales in Spain.
A food blogger has revealed the shocking differences between ingredients lists in UK and US, foods, showing how American items are laden with artificial flavourings and E-numbers that are banned elsewhere.

Vani Hari, who goes by the moniker The Food Babe online, showed the differences between common goods sold on both sides of the Atlantic, including Kellog's Frosties, Heinz Ketchup, and Cadbury's Creme Eggs.

The influencer, 41, from North Carolina, who has more than 450,000 followers on Instagram describes herself as a 'healthy living activist' and shocks her followers by showing the likes of preservative BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene) and artificial colouring in US products.

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A food blogger has revealed the shocking differences between ingredients lists in the same foods in the UK and US, showing how American foods are laden with artificial flavourings and e-numbers that are banned elsewhere. Pictured US vs UK Twix

Vani Hari, who goes by the moniker The Food Babe online, showed the differences between common goods sold on both sides of the Atlantic, including Kellogs Frosties, Heinz Ketchup, Creme Eggs and M&Ms (pictured)

While the list of British Twix ingredients seems fairly standard, with sugar, cocoa butter, and milk, the US version contains polyglycerol polyricinoleate - a cheaper substitute for cocoa butter - and artificial flavours.

British M&Ms only have one E-number, known as Blue 1, while the US version has more than ten, and also contains cornstarch, corn syrup and gum acacia.

Why does American food have so many E-numbers? And what's the difference in law in the UK? Different laws in the US versus the UK and EU mean chemicals are more present in American versions of the same foods. Due to lack of restrictions, food is often produced cheaper with e-numbers For example, BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene) is a lab-made chemical that is added to foods as a preservative. It's generally recognised as safe in the US, but is restricted in the EU due to evidence that BHT causes cell division. Polyglycerol polyricinoleate, E476, PGPR, is an emulsifier made from glycerol and fatty acids.In Europe, PGPR is allowed in chocolate up to a level of 0.5% but there aren't restrictions in the US. Other additives banned in the EU and UK but legal in the US include: Potassium bromate and azodicarbonamide (ADA)

Red dye 40

Yellow food dyes 5 and 6

Brominated Vegetable Oil (BVO) Advertisement

Even McDonald's, known for its uniformity across the world, features in the lists.

McDonald's fries in the US contain hydrogenated oil, while the UK's features non-hydrogenated oil.

Hydrogenated vegetable oil, or hydrogenated fat comes when artificial trans fats are formed during a food process called hydrogenation, which turns liquid oil into solid fat.

Studies have shown high levels of the hydrogenated fat can upset the balance between good and bad cholesterol in the body.

'Although artificial dyes are common in America, that doesn't make them safe to eat,' Vani said in a caption of one picture.

She explained that in the EU and the UK, food companies are required to include warning labels if they use artificial dyes - hence many opt not to use them.

'That's one reason the UK version is so different, she added.

'Companies don't want to slap warnings all over food packages because that wouldn't be good for business.

'To make matters worse, they add high fructose corn syrup, cellulose gum, and artificial preservatives to the US version.

She believes that US companies continue to sell the artificial ingredient-laden products because they're 'cheaper to produce' and 'they can get away with it'.

In one example, she calls out the way Red 40 is used in the production of Doritos in America.

Red 40 is a 'certified colour that comes from petroleum distillates or coal tars' and The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) mandates that it has to be listed by name on food and product labels.

Even McDonald's, known for its uniformity across the world, features. The fries in the US contain hydrogenated oil, while the UK's features non-hydrogenated oil.

The influencer, 41, from North Carolina, who has more than 450,000 followers on Instagram describes herself as a 'healthy living activist' and shocks her followers showing the likes of preservative BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene) and artificial colouring in US products. Pictured: US Frosties with BHT (left) and UK without (right)

UK Twix and Milkyway (right) has natural vanilla extract' instead of the 'artificial flavors' in the American version (left)

Vani's graphics have also been picked up by TikTok users - who are equally shocked at the chemical-laden products.

Corey Ewings, from San Diego, posted a video showing the long list of ingredients in American strawberry and cream porridge oats and the British version sold by the same company.

In the US, the ingredients include sugar, maltodextrin sodium caseinate, red 40, salt, gum and artificial colouring.

Yikes! A packet of Doritos sold in America, left, is shown to contain controversial chemical compounds like 'Red 40, Blue 1 and Yellow 5' - but they aren't used on the UK version

What are food additives? Food additives are ingredients that are added to foods to carry out particular functions, according to the British Food Standards Agency (FSA). In the UK, manufacturers must provide information about any additives used in the foods they produce. You can find this information in the list of ingredients on the packaging. It will tell you what each additive does, followed by its name or E number. Food additives are grouped by what they do. The additives that you are most likely to come across on food labels are:

antioxidants  these stop food becoming rancid or changing colour by reducing the chance of fats combining with oxygen

colours

emulsifiers, stabilisers, gelling agents and thickeners  these help to mix or thicken ingredients

preservatives  used to keep food safer for longer

sweeteners  including intense sweeteners like stevia and aspartame which are many times sweeter than sugar FSA studies show artificial food colours could cause increased hyperactivity in some children. In particular sunset yellow FCF (E110)

quinoline yellow (E104)

carmoisine (E122)

allura red (E129)

tartrazine (E102)

ponceau 4R (E124) Food and drink containing any of these six colours must carry a warning on the packaging. This will say May have an adverse effect on activity and attention in children. Advertisement

Meanwhile, the UK version is much more simple, featuring wholegrain oats, freeze dried raspberries and natural flavourings.

'Okay, I have one simple question, America, what are we doing?' Corey asks in the clip.

'One of my followers asked me to look up the difference between oatmeal in the UK and the US,' he explains.

Culpit: Red 40 once again appears on the label of Quaker's Strawberries & Cream Instant Oatmeal when it is manufactured Stateside, left

'I might not be the smartest person in the world, but I can read a little bit.

'Let's go over the UK, wholegrain rolled oats, sugar, dried raspberries, dried strawberries, natural flavouring. That's it.'

He then turns to the US version and jokes 'like I said, I can read, but I don't know what any of this means.

'Maltodextrin sodium caseinate, red 40, that sounds scary. Can someone smarter than me please tell me why we need so many extra ingredients?

Vani's graphics have also been picked up by TikTok users - who are equally shocked at the chemical-laden products.

TikTok users have shared their shock at the number of E-numbers and chemicals in US products

'There's plenty of examples too. Are we just test dummies? What's going on?'

In other videos Corey has discussed US food banned in other countries including beef that's been hormone treated, chlorinated chicken, Little Debbie's Swiss Rolls and Kellog's Frosted Flakes.

He also mentions Skittles, which are banned in Norway and Sweden, farm raised salmon, which is banned in Australia and New Zealand and even some milks, bread, and energy drink Mountain Dew.

Chocolate surprise: A comparison shows the use of artificial Yellow 6 in Creme Eggs sold in the U.S., whereas in Britain paprika extract is used

Complicated: In America, Heinz' classic tomato ketchup appears to have more convoluted ingredients compared to its British counterpart, right
One of the good things about the impeachment of Donald Trump  maybe the only good thing  is that it has brought William Belknap into the spotlight. And thats a good thing only for history buffs.

Belknap is the only member of the executive branch until now to be impeached after leaving office. His impeachment trial is said to be precedent for holding one for Trump.

Belknap was a heroic figure in many ways. A Princeton man and a lawyer, he joined the Army at the outbreak of the Civil War. He entered as a major, owing to prior service as captain in the Iowa militia. By the end of the war, he was a general.

Belknap fought at Shiloh, Vicksburg, and in Shermans march through Georgia. At Shiloh, he was wounded. At Atlanta, he jumped over an embankment and personally captured the colonel of the Alabama 45th Infantry who had moved close to the Union battle line.

After the war, Belknap was collector of internal revenue for Iowa. As far as is known, there was never the hint of scandal from that service despite the many opportunities it presented for personal enrichment.

Belknap became Secretary of War in the Grant administration. He worked with Grant to effectuate Reconstruction in the South, a heroic but probably doomed effort.

He also distinguished himself after the devastating Chicago fire of 1871. Belknap sent in troops who saw to it that Chicago received aid, that the aid was distributed promptly, and that order was maintained

Belknap got into trouble over a relatively minor but genuine scandal involving Army trading posts, over which he had control as Secretary of War. It seems that Belknap unjustly enriched himself to keep his second wife, and later his third wife (the sister of the second, who had died), living in style.

President Grant knew nothing about the scandal. When he learned of it, he reportedly was skeptical that Belknap had done anything wrong. But the evidence was clear, and Grant likely would have fired his War Secretary, as he eventually dismissed his corrupt private secretary, Civil War hero Orville Babcock.

Before it came to that, however, Belknap rushed to the White House and begged Grant to accept his resignation. The president wrote out a brief note accepting the resignation with great regret.

The House impeached Belknap anyway. In transmitting the impeachment articles to the Senate, the Speaker explained that Belknap had resigned with intent to evade the proceedings of impeachment against him.

The Senate voted that it had jurisdiction to try Belknap even though he was no longer in office. However, fewer than two-thirds of the Senators voted that way, and fewer than two-thirds (mostly the same ones) voted to convict.

The Belknap impeachment provides weak support for an impeachment trial of a president who is no longer in office because his term expired. Belknap was out of office because he resigned to avoid impeachment (as the House Speaker told the Senate) not because his term was over.

Chuck Schumer, in a speech that cited the Belknap precedent, said:

It makes no sense whatsoever that a president or an official could commit a heinous crime against our country and then defeat Congress impeachment powers. . .by simply resigning.

Thats what Belknap did. Its also what Richard Nixon did, successfully. However, its not what Trump has done. He didnt resign. His term as president ended.

I also question whether even apt Senate precedent has much bearing on the matter. Each Senate has its own dynamic, its own party balance, its own agenda, and its own prejudices. The vote on Belknap was likely driven more by how Senators felt about Belknap and Grant than by constitutional niceties (although, to be fair, there was a fairly erudite debate about the Founders intent).

The same dynamic drives the Trump impeachment, of course. Ask yourself how many of the 50 Democrats who found that an ex-president can be tried by the Senate would have voted that way if a Democratic former president were set to be tried. My answer is, approximately zero. And many Republican Senators would be taking a different view of the constitutional question, as well.

Given the way the Senate actually decides matters like this, I dont think one Senate should feel bound by what another Senate did  and certainly not if the first Senate acted almost 150 years ago.
Sanctions under the US Caesar Act introduced against Syria have hindered activities of the UN entities and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that provide assistance to the country's population, Russian Ambassador to Damascus Alexander Efimov told Sputnik, adding that the number of those states, which see negative implications of such a sanctions policy, continues to grow

DAMASCUS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 11th February, 2021) Sanctions under the US Caesar Act introduced against Syria have hindered activities of the UN entities and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that provide assistance to the country's population, Russian Ambassador to Damascus Alexander Efimov told Sputnik, adding that the number of those states, which see negative implications of such a sanctions policy, continues to grow.

"The Caesar Act adopted in the United States has taken Western restrictions against Syria to a whole new level. Now, under the threat of Washington's potential persecution, even those economic operators, whose work does not officially fall under the embargo, distance themselves from interaction with Syria. ... The sanctions imposed on Syria affect the work of various UN structures and non-governmental organizations here, directly helping the Syrians," Efimov said.

The NGOs themselves stated that unilateral sanctions toward Damascus remain a key barrier when providing humanitarian support to the people, including the supply of medications and many other types of activities, the ambassador added.

Efimov expressed regret that calls made by Moscow, as well as by a number of countries and international organizations, go unanswered. Russia has repeatedly indicated that such a policy is of an illicit and inhuman nature, and stands for the total elimination or at least, the weakening of these restrictive measures, he noted.

"However, in general, the circle of those who truly understand the destructive and counterproductive nature of the restrictions is constantly expanding," Efimov added.

Because of the sanctions, Syria has been experiencing the most complicated socio-economic period since the start of the armed conflict in the country, the ambassador said, noting that all of the circumstances had resulted in the economy's depletion and were then exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Along with the long-standing hostilities, its repercussions and the US sanctions policy, the return of refugees back to their homeland is also on top of the most sensitive issues on Syria's agenda. According to Efimov, the issue will be given specific focus during the upcoming Astana-format meeting on Syria in Russia's Sochi from February 16-17.

The so-called US Caesar Act, signed in late 2019 by then-President Donald Trump, affects almost all areas of Syria's economy, as well as foreign companies and individuals who do businesses with Bashar Assad's government. The law, which also impacts Syria's neighboring middle East countries, came into effect on June 17.
A jilted man who stabbed his girlfriend five times after she dumped him will serve a 10 - years - jail term for causing her grievous harm.

Robert Erick Ogeda was handed the sentence by Kibera chief magistrate Joyce Gandani after he was convicted for causing terminal injuries to Jackline Mutindi accusing her of infidelity.

He was found guilty of unlawfully and willfully causing serious injuries to the victim he stabbed on the neck, breasts, both hands and the back, on December 29, 2018 in Kabiria, Dangoretti in Nairobi.

He was charged on January 9, 2019 and released on a Sh300,000 bond and an alternative cash bail of Sh100,000 but could not afford any and has been in custody since.

Prosecution counsel Jeff Musyoka had called seven witnesses including police surgeon Dr. Joseph Maundu and a clinical officer at the Nairobi Women's Hospital where Mutindi was rushed after the assault, to testify against Ogeda. The prosecution proved the case against Ogeda.

Gandani said the cases of men attacking unarmed women and causing them serious injuries are prevalent and a deterrent penalty is necessary.

Ogeda had complained of a slow trial but Gandani said the convict delayed his own trial by recalling witnesses most of the time.

On the fateful day, Ogeda had asked Mutindi of her plans for their relationship before she left for work and she said it was ending.

He fished a knife and attacked her accusing her of having an affair with a cop. Mutindi screamed for help but neighbours could not rescue her because Ogeda had locked the house inside out.

She eventually escaped after the knife fell but she lost consciousness and fell outside the house bleeding profusely. Mutindi was taken to Nairobi Women's Hospital by a good Samaritan.

A police officer who was among the first responders after a distress call was made told the court during the trial of Ogeda that they recovered a blood stained kitchen knife from his house.

Ogeda had fled the house. The knife was presented to the court as an exhibit.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-11 18:04:51|Editor: huaxia

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JOHANNESBURG, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- As South Africa seeks to grow its stagnant economic growth this year after grappling with the pandemic, President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to deal with the economy and state-owned entities in his State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Thursday in parliament.

Jannie Rossouw, Head of School of Economic and Business Sciences at the University of the Witwatersrand, said while Ramaphosa unveiled an economic recovery plan late last year that prioritizes infrastructure development, he is set to reveal more details in SONA which set to reveal the government's bold plan for this year.

"He has to focus on growing the economy as job creation depends on it. The government needs to allow for more space for the private to invest," he told Xinhua.

With the state-owned entities including power utility Eskom, arms company Denel and state airline facing financial problems, Rossouw said the president should announce how will these be improved.

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) said the statement should address social ills such as poverty and unemployment.

"We do not need new economic plans, but we need details and definitive timeframes that will speak to the implementation of the Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan," spokesman Sizwe Pamla said. "The thrust of the SONA needs to speak to the rapid implementation of the economic recovery reconstruction plan. The economy is in deep trouble." Enditem
The World Health Organization recommends using the vaccine developed by the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca even in countries tackling new variants of coronavirus.



Some new forms of the virus appear to make vaccines less effective.



The WHO also says the vaccine can be used in people aged over 65, which some countries have advised against.

Spacing out the two doses, as is happening in the UK, makes the vaccine more effective, it advises.



The Oxford vaccine is seen as the "vaccine for the world" as it is cheap, can be mass-produced and is stored in a standard fridge.



However, it has attracted controversy about its effectiveness against new variants, whether it should be used in the elderly and how far apart the doses should be given, due to a lack of data.



The WHO's Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization, known as Sage, has been scrutinizing evidence from vaccine trials.



Its interim recommendations say the vaccine is 63% effective overall.



However, early data from trials in South Africa showed the vaccine was offering "minimal protection" against mild and moderate disease in young people.



The WHO's director of immunization, Dr Katherine O'Brien, said the South African study was "inconclusive" and it was "plausible" the vaccine would still prevent severe disease.



A variant in the country has acquired mutations that seem to help it evade immunity from vaccines and from previous infections.



However, Oxford scientists still expect their vaccine to prevent people from becoming seriously ill with Covid-19 and needing hospital treatment.



"There is no reason not to recommend its use even in countries that have circulation of the variant," said Dr Alejandro Cravioto, the chairman of WHO's Sage.



The scientific advisers also said giving two doses eight-12 weeks apart increased the vaccine's effectiveness and provided greater protection.



Initially, the WHO had recommended a gap of up to six weeks between doses, only in exceptional circumstances.

Source: BBC









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To be fair, it wasn't just the Pommies he accused of being whingers; it was everyone at KPMG UK who had complained about working for the company during the pandemic.

Coping with the lockdown has proved a bit harder than anticipated for Bill Michael, who has stepped down as chairman of top accountancy firm KPMG UK.

According to newspaper reports, straight-talking Aussie Michael was decidedly unsympathetic when confronted with the results of an internal survey at KPMG UK that indicated large numbers of staff were having difficulties coping during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

In a virtual meeting, Michael reportedly accused staff of moaning and playing the victim card after the survey also uncovered concerns about pension contributions, salaries and bonus payments.

On reflection, this excellent @olivershah interview with KPMGs controversial boss Bill Michael contained some early warning signs... pic.twitter.com/xB7SVv6TXN  Grant Feller (@grantfeller) February 11, 2021

Michael later apologised for the remarks but the damage had been done and he quit his post, while the company instigated an independent inquest into the incident. It is not known whether his departure is permanent or just for the duration of the investigation.

According to the Financial Times, Michael who was hospitalised last March after being infected with the COVID-19 virus said in a response to an enquiry from the Pink Un that lockdown is proving very difficult for all of us.
Dear Cathy,

During a recent cold and wet day, a lady posted online whoever owns the dog that has been outside crying all day, please take it inside.

She said this wasnt the first incident. I suggested a call to Universal City Animal Control because if they did a welfare check, it might give the neglectful owner a sense of weve got eyes on you, which might improve their behavior.

One lady piped up to not be judgy  that we dont know the circumstances. I said it didnt matter; no excuse to neglect the dog. She felt if the dog were given sustenance, then leaving it outside should be fine. I told her that being her dog would be a sad sentence to bear.

Then someone like-minded chimed in that the Texas Rangers should be called and gave the number. There were three or four of us on the pro-dog side of the debate. Its baffling that anyone would be okay with leaving a crying dog in the rain. This goes for cats or any critter that needs to be taken care of.

Linda

Dear Linda,

While you dont know the circumstances, the dog, from your description, sounds like the dog is being neglected. People neglect their pets for several reasons: they dont care, they dont know any better, they dont have the resources, or they are going through a difficult time.

I know people dont want to report their neighbors, but if the dog is always outside in inclement weather, then he/she needs an advocate.

What happens when you call animal control?

If the person doesnt care, the behavior continues despite a visit from an Animal Control Officer (ACO). If they fear the law, they may initially comply only to lapse later. A good ACO knows instinctively to keep tabs on the home though. In these situations, the owner often surrenders their pet at some point.

If the person doesnt know any better, they will accept the information  perhaps begrudgingly at first because people often push back when given advice. But in the end, they will want to take better care of their dog.

If they dont have the resources for proper pet care, then an ACO can talk to them about the various ways to protect a dog in inclement weather, and direct them towards resources or strategies that can help. This may range from finding a doghouse for the backyard to bringing the dog inside the home on these occasions.

If the family is going through a personal hardship, they may need other social service resources to take care of their family. Good ACOs will connect them with social service programs that can help. People who get help for their families are less likely to neglect their pets.

In all of these instances, the dogs life is bound to improve.

Send your pet questions, tips, and stories to cathy@petpundit.com. You can read the Animals Matter blog at http://blog.mysanantonio.com/animals and follow her at @cathymrosenthal.
A group of House democrats urged the Biden administration to legalize sending abortion pills via mail, which would reverse the two-decade-old rule that requires pills for medical abortions to only be acquired in person.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires Mifepristone, an abortion drug, to be given out in person with a prescription from a certified medical specialist, Christian Headline reported.

The rule was implemented in the year 2000 during Clinton's administration and has been continuously enforced by the Bush, Obama, and Trump administrations.

Mifepristone is one of the two drugs used in abortion. It blocks the hormone progesterone of a woman which causes the lining of the uterus to break down and kill an unborn child. The other drug used is called Misoprostol, which sparks contractions that also causes the death of the unborn child.

Christianity Daily wrote that in July last year, abortion activists filed a lawsuit against FDA's safety rule that only administers mifepristone in person. They argued that it would be safer for women to obtain the drug via mail than risk getting infected by the coronavirus at an abortion clinic.

U.S. District Judge Theodore Chuang of Maryland ruled to suspend the FDA's safety rule, however, then President Donald Trump filed for a reconsideration of the judge's ruling saying it is still best for women to go see a doctor for their own safety because the potent drug could still harm women even with proper "how-to" instructions.

Abortion drugs, such as the above mentioned, should only be prescribed by a professional and women should be examined properly before taking one to determine accurate pregnancy cycles. If not taken properly, it can cause serious internal damage to a woman's body.

The National Right to Life said that the FDA's record of "nearly two dozen deaths and thousands of complications" -- including severe hemorrhage and the rupture of undiscovered ectopic pregnancies -- "has proved" that the FDA's safety measures are important in order to protect women.

"Chemical abortions put at-risk healthy women who are pregnant with healthy babies," Carol Tobias, president of National Right to Life, said in January. "Women are not guinea pigs and putting them at risk so abortion activists can score political points is abhorrent."

Some have called the proposal "abortion by mail" as by overturning FDA's safety rule, women would be able to obtain the abortion drug through the mail.

A letter was sent to FDA Acting Commissioner Janet Woodcock on February 9, by 11 female members of the House Oversight Committee, urging the Biden administration to rule over FDA's safety rule and allow said pills to be sent in the mail.

"We are writing to request that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) lift the medically unnecessary in-person dispensing requirement for mifepristone, a prescription medication that has been used to safely end early pregnancies for more than two decades in our country," the committee said.

"Imposing this requirement in the midst of a deadly pandemic-one that has disproportionately impacted communities of color across the United States-needlessly places patients and providers in harm's way, and further entrenches longstanding health inequities," it continued.

The proposal was signed by several Democrat women including Reps. Carolyn B. Maloney (N.Y.), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (N.Y.), Debbie Wasserman Shultz (Fla.), Rashida Tlaib (Mich.), and Katie Porter (Iowa).
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WASHINGTON - The chilling, unseen footage of a riotous mob storming through the U.S. Capitol intent on killing Vice President Mike Pence and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., was presented to senators by a nonvoting member of Congress from the Virgin Islands.

Del. Stacey Plaskett, a former prosecutor in Bronx, N.Y., couldn't even vote on the article of impeachment against Trump, but in her role as impeachment manager, she has emerged in the Senate trial as a commanding presence entrusted with the grave task of showing how dangerously close the rioters came to lawmakers and staff on Jan. 6.

"The vice president, the speaker of the House, the first and second in line to the presidency were performing their constitutional duties, presiding over the election certification and they were put in danger," Plaskett said. "President Trump put a target on their backs and his mob broke into the Capitol to hunt them down."

At the beginning of her evening presentation, Plaskett, 54, shared that she'd been in the Capitol on another harrowing day when all the lives of those working inside were in danger. On Sept. 11, 2001, Plaskett was a staffer in the House, and she reflected on how she might be dead if Flight 93 had reached the Capitol as planned.

"When I think of that and I think of these insurgents, these images, incited by our own president of the United States attacking this Capitol to stop the certification of a presidential election," she said, enunciating each syllable, then pausing before adding, "our democracy, our republic."

Before returning to her ancestral home in the Virgin Islands, Plaskett spent much of her career in Washington. She attended Georgetown University for her undergraduate degree and American University for law school. Then a Republican, she worked as a staffer on Capitol Hill and in the Justice Department in the George W. Bush administration. She became a Democrat in 2008 ahead of her first unsuccessful run for delegate in the Virgin Islands in 2012. She won the seat in 2014.

Her selection to the managers team is a reunion of sorts with Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., the lead House impeachment manager, an opportunity to learn again from her former law professor at American.

"This is a moment of special pride for me because Representative Plaskett is not only the first delegate ever to be on a team of impeachment managers in American history, but she was also my law student," Raskin said, introducing her before her first presentation earlier in the day, "and I hope I'm not violating any federal educational records laws when I say she was an A student then and she's an A-plus student now."

As a woman of color - notably the only Black female elected official in the room for the Senate trial - Plaskett has spoken about the importance of her role as one of the nine managers tasked with trying to prove Trump's culpability in the Jan. 6 attacks.

"I recognize ... that I'm an example for them, for young women, young girls of color, and even for those who are not - because as other people who are not of color see our brilliance, our excellence, they recognize that there's so much we have to offer as well," Plaskett told NowThis in an interview last week.

"[These] nine managers look like this country and we are bringing accountability to a man who believed that with his wealth and his whiteness, he is unaccountable to anyone. I want them to hold that image in their mind when they see us arguing this case for the American people," she said.

Plaskett presented previously unreleased police communication audio and security footage with a passionate stoicism. Like a skilled prosecutor, she let the drama unfold and the facts tell the story.

She showed surveillance video of Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, moving unknowingly toward the mob when he encounters U.S. Capitol Police officer Eugene Goodman, who turns him in the opposite direction as Romney breaks into a run. It was the first time Romney had seen that footage and how close he'd come to confronting the violent mob.

Plaskett, citing an FBI affidavit, said the rioters would have killed anyone, "including Nancy Pelosi. And that, quote, 'they would have killed Vice President Mike Pence if given the chance.' They were talking about assassinating the vice president of the United States," Plaskett said.

She showed how the mob spread out through the Capitol searching for Pelosi, and that so grave was the threat to her life that she was taken to an off-site location away from the Capitol complex.

She read from one rioter's own Facebook post: "The first of us who got upstairs kicked in Nancy Pelosi's office door and pushed down the halls towards her inner sanctum, the mob howling with rage Crazy Nancy probably would have been torn into little pieces, but she was nowhere to be seen."

"Crazy Nancy," Plaskett said. "That's Trump's nickname for the speaker of the House."

She showed video of the rioters chanting: "Nancy, where are you, Nancy? We're looking for you." Another tauntingly called, "Nancy. Oh Nancy."

Staffers locked inside an interior room in Pelosi's office could hear the rioters calling for Pelosi as they ransacked and took over her office. Plaskett pointed out that in the now-infamous photo of one man sitting at a desk with his feet on it, he is carrying a stun gun the FBI identified as a 950,000 volt walking stick, a weapon that could have caused serious pain and incapacitation had it been used.

"The chilling evidence shows that on January 6, armed and organized insurrectionist trained their sights on Speaker Pelosi. They sought out the speaker on the floor and in her office, publicly declared their intent to harm or kill her, ransacked her office and terrorized her staff," Plaskett said. "And they did it because Donald Trump sent them on this mission."
Plus, Bill's Message of the Day, say goodbye to law and order Joe.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
CLEVELAND, Ohio - Did you not get your stimulus money, or were you underpaid for one or both of the first two rounds of cash approved by Congress last year? Now is your chance to straighten things out and get paid.

The 2020 tax forms that can be filed with the IRS as soon as Friday include a special rebate section where missing stimulus money can be claimed, or in some cases increased amounts can be collected due to life or income changes over the past year.

You might not yet have all the paperwork you need to fill out your taxes, but if youre in need of cash, get prepared. Review the new the forms ahead of time. The sooner you file, the sooner youll get your money, especially if youre able to complete your taxes before the April rush.

This is all part of the federal tax forms due by April 15, for 2020 taxes.

The first stimulus last spring was worth up to $1,200 per individual and $500 per dependent child. The second stimulus this winter was worth up to $600 per individual, plus $600 per dependent child.

The fairly simple Recovery Rebate Credit Worksheet as part of the tax form instructions walks you through the calculations to determine whether you deserve more than you already received.

It works this way: You report the stimulus payments you received, which were based on tax records for 2018 or 2019. There are a few questions to calculate what youre now entitled to based on the 2020 tax year. Then the bottom line shows whether the IRS still owes you money.

Money due will be paid as part of a tax refund, or will be credited toward the taxes owed if you underpaid.

As a bonus - heres the taxpayer friendly part of this - youre not going to lose any money based simply on new information in your 2020 tax form; you can only gain.

There is no provision in the law, the IRS explains, that requires individuals who qualified for and received a payment based on their 2018 or 2019 tax information to pay back all or part of the payment, if based on the information reported on their 2020 tax returns, they qualify for a lesser amount.

There are several groups of people who may still be entitled to money. Here are some of those situations:

Payments never received

There are any number of reasons why some people never got paid. One group, for example, represent those who qualified only after filing amended tax returns for 2019. The IRS confirmed late in the year that it would not issue payments based on amended returns - that those people would have to wait until filling out their 2020 taxes.

For other people, there may have been mistakes in the processing, or missing information.

The IRS online system to check the status provided only limited information. And wait times were long, very long, to reach IRS representatives by telephone. A fallback noted from the beginning was to sort things out with the 2020 tax forms.

Income fell

The first two rounds of stimulus included income cutoffs, with the check amounts phasing down starting at adjusted gross incomes of $75,000 for individuals and $150,000 for couples filing jointly. Payments were reduced by 5% for each dollar made above those amounts until there was no payment at all.

The IRS determined those payments based on the latest information it had in hand. That was either the 2018 or 2019 tax forms. If a persons income was too high to receive a stimulus, the money wasnt paid.

But 2020 was a rocky financial year for many people amid the coronavirus. For people whose income was below the threshold in 2020 - but too high previously - this is their opportunity to get paid.

New college graduates, other young adults

Young adults still being claimed on their parents tax forms in 2018 and/or 2019 didnt qualify for a stimulus payment of their own. This is now their chance, if they are no longer dependents.

Question No. 1 on the Recovery Rebate Credit Worksheet is: Can you be claimed as a dependent on another persons 2020 return?

If the answer is yes, no stimulus check. If the answer is no, you continue through the form to determine if you qualify like most adults.

In a way, this corrects a wrong for some people from a quirk in the stimulus programs. Parents of children 17 and up didnt get any extra payments for those children, but their older children that were still dependents couldnt receive their own stimulus checks either. Now newly former dependents can get some money.

Under IRS age limit rules, child dependents must be younger than you and either younger than 19 years old or be a student younger than 24 years old at the end of 2020. Students are defined as attending school full-time for at least five separate months during the year.

New births, adoptions

Each child under age 17 increased stimulus checks for their parent or parents by $500 in round one and $600 in round two.

But the IRS had to know about those children. Those born last year havent been listed on a tax form yet. The rebate worksheet cleans this up.

Question No. 6 (for round one) and question No. 9 for round two asks you to do the math based on the number of children who were under age 17 at the end of 2020 and were listed as dependents on your tax form.

A family member died

I noted this last week, but it bears repeating. While the IRS in the summer was asking people to return money that had been sent to those who had died, that policy has been reversed based on a newly established cutoff date.

Per the tax form instructions: Generally, you are eligible to claim the recovery rebate credit if in 2020 you were a U.S. citizen or U.S. resident alien, werent a dependent of another taxpayer, and have a valid Social Security number. This includes someone who died in 2020, if you are preparing a return for that person.

The key is that the person died in 2020, not earlier.

Nina Olson, executive director of the Center for Taxpayer Rights, said Congress explicitly stated in the law that persons who died in 2020 would be eligible not just for the second round of payments but also for the first round.

Another round of stimulus?

The tax form addresses the first two rounds of stimulus approved in 2020. President Joe Biden has proposed another round payments of $1,400 per person, but that proposal has yet to make its way through Congress.

Rich Exner, data analysis editor, writes cleveland.coms and The Plain Dealers personal finance column - Thats Rich! Follow on Twitter @RichExner.

Email questions and suggestions to rexner@cleveland.com. Include your hometown and first name for publication. And to help me sort through the clutter of my email box, try to remember including Thats Rich! in the subject of the email.

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In a secretly-recorded video, the GOPs top Michigan state senator called the Capitol insurrection a hoax, said hes spanked Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on the budget and has contemplated inviting Whitmer to a fistfight on the Capitol lawn.

Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey, R-Clarklake, met personally with the Hillsdale County Republican Party leaders, but even that wasnt enough to save him from being censured by the group for straying from conservative values.

A member of the group leaked video from the meeting with Shirkey  whos now being chastised from both sides of the aisle for his comments.

I said some things in a videoed conversation that are not fitting for the role I am privileged to serve, Shirkey said in a statement after the video leaked. I own that. I have many flaws. Being passionate coupled with an occasional lapse in restraint of tongue are at least two of them. I regret the words I chose, and I apologize for my insensitive comments.

Related: Conservative Christian, prominent businessman, polarizing politician. Who is Mike Shirkey?

But the morning after, on Wednesday, Feb. 10, Shirkey was caught on a hot mic on the Senate floor saying, I frankly dont take back any of the points I was trying to make.

What was a hoax is the fact that it was blamed on President Trump, Shirkey said when questioned by a leader with Progress Michigan, a liberal Michigan group. The actual event was very real and very, very unfortunate.

Heres what Michigan leaders are saying in response to Shirkeys comments.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer

I do not have the time or energy to indulge anyone in terms of conspiracy theories or even threats of violence against me personally, Whitmer told the Associated Press. Im going to stay focused on my job.

Im not interested in indulging any bologna conspiracy theories, she said to Fox 2. Im not interested even in engaging with someone who should be helping lead through this moment, who wants to make violent comments about me personally. Im going to stay focused on my job and when the leadership in the Legislature is ready to be leaders, theyll find a willing partner in me.

House Speaker Jason Wentworth, R-Clare

Even as it was happening, I expressed profound disappointment in the riot at the Capitol. As I said then and reiterate today: It was a tragic moment in our history that was un-American and was a blot on the beauty of this democracy and our nation, Wentworth said in a statement.

Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey speaks while House of Representative speaker Jason Wentworth listens during a press conference on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2020 in Lansing. Nicole Hester/Mlive.com

Majority Leader Shirkeys comments are his own and dont reflect my feelings or beliefs, Wentworth continued. Its disappointing that this situation is detracting from the important work we are doing every day. We remain laser-focused on our priorities  on things like reopening schools and workplaces safely, getting people and our economy healthy, ensuring transparency and accountability in government, and making sure that all Michiganders have access to quality, affordable health care. Because thats what the people sent us to Lansing to do.

Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist

This kind of rhetoric, this kind of conspiracy theorizing, is the definition of counterproductive. It has been deadly for people and our nation. It has wreaked havoc on the discourse in our state, and thats made our negotiations fail, Gilchrist told MLive.

The Senate Majority Leader has chosen to spend his time and energy fanning the flames of dangerous conspiracy theories about the 2020 election and the January 6 insurrection in Washington, alongside aggressive, sexist threats toward the governor, Gilchrist said in a statement, Wednesday. This behavior is beneath the office he was elected to and the standard of decency the people of our state deserve.

Michigan Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II addresses the crowd during the unveiling of the sign for the newly-renamed Elliott-Larsen Building in Lansing, on Monday, September 21, 2020. The building, which was previously named after Lewis Cass, was renamed after former representatives Daisy Elliott and Melvin L. Larsen, who sponsored the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act in 1976. (Mike Mulholland | MLive.com)Mike Mulholland | MLive.com

The Senate Majority Leader is shirking his responsibility to face the crisis at hand, instead doubling down his focus on attacking Governor Whitmer  literally threatening her to a fistfight on the Capitol lawn  and emboldening violent extremists, the statement continued. As a parent, my own children know these types of actions and threats are unacceptable, and I pray that the Senate Majority Leader is capable of evolving beyond such immaturity.

It is clear that his so-called apology was not heartfelt, nor did it come from a place of humility and understanding. Rather, it was an empty gesture made for political expediency, and one that the people of Michigan can see right through.

Its long-past time for the highest-ranking member of the Legislature to grow up and join the people of Michigan in fighting our common enemy, COVID-19.

Michigan Senate Minority Leader Jim Ananich, D-Flint

Today, I am more sad than I am angry. I am more disappointed than I am surprised, Ananich said during session on Wednesday. Im not going to address any of the specific comments that were made recently that were made by our senator from the 16th district because I just dont have the words. But I am going to ask all of us  but especially the Senator from the 16th district  to reflect on the opening prayer that he gave this very morning. This isnt the first time youve asked for grace. And Lord knows youve been given it. Id ask that youd please accept it and learn from it. This is a chance for all of us to do some self reflecting. But especially you, Mike.

When #mileg Republican leadership gives credence to conspiracies and lies, it hurts the people of Michigan and distracts from the important work in front of us. pic.twitter.com/fbP2NZTZ7r  Senator Jim Ananich (@jimananich) February 10, 2021

The predecessor, Arlan Meekhof, was a tumultuous four years  theres no question about that. And I want to say this, and I mean this with all sincerity  there was not one minute, one hour, one day where his actions or words ever made me feel embarrassment or shame to be in this body. I cant say that today.

Former U.S. Rep. Paul Mitchell

Michigan Senate Majority Leader Shirkey just keeps (digging) here, Mitchell said on Twitter. So he wishes he had used a different word than hoax? Oh and he would have used a different reference than spanking the Governor? Not sure what he would say differently here!

Hoax is not a term I, or many others, would use to describe events 1/6! Just wow. Assault - riot- insurrection but



Michigan Senate leader labels D.C. insurrection 'a hoax': video https://t.co/nicxA4vW7S via @detroitnews  Paul Mitchell (@RepPaulMitchell) February 9, 2021

State Sen. Stephanie Chang, D-Detroit

I try my best to separate out the views I find completely offensive from the views where there is alignment to get things done, Chang said during session on Wednesday. It is getting harder and harder and maybe even impossible to make that kind of separation. When statements are made that cut so deeply and show such complete dismissiveness and disregard for who people are  as women, as Asian Americans, as any other identity. How can we make that kind of separation, make that kind of distinction anymore, when it is so clear what your values really are. If your core values dont tell you that standing up for the truth instead of promoting lies about the 2020 election or the insurrection at the Capitol, how can we keep this line of separation? Ive always believed in forgiveness and working together in a bipartisan way and seeing the good in people  including those that I disagree with. But forgiveness requires genuine apologies. It demands acknowledgement of specific wrongdoing.

I have always believed in forgiveness, working together in a bipartisan way, and seeing the good in people, including those I disagree with.



But forgiveness requires genuine apologies. It demands acknowledgement of specific wrongdoing.



Here's what I said today in the Senate... pic.twitter.com/ijcA63zDmW  Stephanie Chang (@stephanielily) February 10, 2021

My daughters deserve to live in a world where women and girls are respected, where truth is uplifted and where basic decency among those serving the public is an expectation. As leaders in our communities and our state, we must act accordingly. We owe it to each other, our families and the residents that we have the honor of serving. As for seeing the good in people? Well, I will keep trying.

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By Asif Shahzad

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistan is to allow private companies to import coronavirus vaccines and has agreed to exempt such imports from price caps, according to documents reviewed by Reuters, even as the nation scrambles to secure supplies.

The documents show the National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination division of the health ministry had sought a special cabinet exemption to allow for such imports, while excluding the imported vaccines from the strict price cap regime that is typically applied to all drug sales within the country.

The documents show the cabinet of Prime Minister Imran Khan has approved the proposal, which also sought suspension of some related regulations for six months to let the private sector determine the maximum price caps.

Health Minister Faisal Sultan confirmed the cabinet decision to Reuters, saying it was an "approval of the principle that private sector can import" and drive the pricing due to "the non-availability of a reference price".

The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan didn't respond to a request for comment.

The decision is significant as Pakistan, a nation of 220 million, has yet to secure substantive volumes of vaccines from any company and only this month launched a vaccination drive with 500,000 doses of Sinopharm's vaccine donated by long-time ally China.

Frontline health workers are being given the shots on priority.

Sultan said that Pakistan still planned to inoculate its population for free and only a "small minority" who wished to pay for the shots would have that option in the open market.

"Only those who wish to get it via private sector will pay anything," he said. "Personally, my assessment is that when the vaccines are available and we have market competition, that will automatically set the prices."

Pakistan, which has recorded more than 550,000 cases of COVID-19 and more than 12,000 deaths, is still largely reliant on the GAVI/WHO COVAX vaccine initiative that is aiming to provide shots to poorer nations.

Story continues

Pakistan has yet to receive any of the 17 million doses it is expected to get through the COVAX initiative.

Sultan said last month the country could receive "in the range of tens of millions" of a CanSino Biologics vaccine under an agreement with the Chinese firm.

But there remains no clarity on a timeline.

CanSinoBIO on Monday released interim efficacy results of its multi-country vaccine trial, which included Pakistan, showing 65.7% efficacy in preventing symptomatic cases and a 90.98% success rate in stopping severe disease.

Experts have questioned the decision to allow commercial imports and no price caps.

The doctor leading the CanSinoBIO trial at Islamabads Shifa Hospital, Ejaz A. Khan, called on authorities to review the move as the government's procurement for public use seemed inadequate.

"Not setting a price limit for the private sector opens up the market for misuse," he told Reuters.

The government's decision revolves around a rationale of not being able to find any reference price.

"No information was available; about import prices of vaccines from different sources," says the document, adding: "In view of the above factual position, it might not be possible to fix a maximum retail price."

Sultan said it wouldn't go unchecked.

"We will continue monitoring the prices and obviously we will see their procurement price to see if there is any over-pricing, and the government always retains the right to intervene if there is any predatory practice."

Nasim Salahuddin, the head of department of infectious diseases at Karachi's Indus Hospital, questioned the need to involve the private sector at this stage, pointing out that there had been a slow uptake in administering already available vaccines since the drive started on Feb 3.

According to government records, only 27,228 healthcare workers have so far been vaccinated.

Sinopharm, AstraZeneca and Sputnik V are the only three candidates to be approved for emergency use in Pakistan.

(Reporting by Asif Shahzad; Additional reporting by Umar Farooq in Islamabad and Syed Raza Hasan in Karachi; Writing by Gibran Peshimam and Asif Shahzad; Editing by Euan Rocha and Nick Macfie)

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 Danilo Masoni and Julien Ponthus

(Reuters) - Shares in North American cannabis firms were heading for new highs on Thursday, with Reddit-inspired retail investors betting they could beat the short-sellers and benefit from new legislation that is expected under U.S. President Joe Biden.

U.S.-listed Tilray and Sundial Growers, which have already doubled in value so far this week, were up 6% and 50% respectively in U.S. premarket trading, as European retail investors piled in to the rally.

Participants on the WallStreetBets forum on Reddit, which inspired a price spike in GameStop earlier this year that squeezed out Wall Street short-sellers who had bet on a price fall, have turned attention to U.S. and Canadian cannabis firms.

"The involvement of Reddit means a frenzy is the right word," said Jasper Lawler, head of research at London Capital Group in London.

"Im splitting the outlook in two. Reddit targeting a short-squeeze in Tilray means a quick pump and dump," he said, while others looked longer-term at benefits from potential legislative changes under Biden and his Democrat allies in Congress.

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris said in the presidential campaign marijuana would be decriminalised at a federal level in the United States under a Biden administration.

Swaggystocks, which aggregates sentiment on shares discussed on WallStreetBets which has about 8 million participants, showed Sundial and Tilray were the most or highly touted stocks.

Analysts said the retail bet carried risks. Chris Bailey, a strategist at Raymond James in London, said it was "still a highly speculative area where hopes may rise sharply but then disappear equally as quickly."

'REDDIT ARMY AND FRIENDS'

Short interest in Tilray, measuring the number of shares borrowed by short sellers betting on a price fall, was about 37% on Wednesday compared to 27% at the end of January, financial analytics firm Ortex said.

Story continues

Short-sellers borrow stocks and sell them on, aiming to buy them back later more cheaply and pocket the difference. If the shares move up instead, they face a 'short squeeze' as they race to buy the stock to close out their positions to stem losses.

Tilray was one of the most traded stock on German trading platform Lang & Schwarz, vying with major German stocks such as Volkswagen and Deutsche Bank.

Other pot stocks, Sundial Growers and Aurora Cannabis, were also among the most active on the platform, reflecting high retail interest, traders said.

"It's the Reddit army and friends," said Stefan de Schutter, portfolio manager and Alpha Trading in Frankfurt.

Tilray jumped more than 50% on Wednesday, while U.S.-listed Sundial and Toronto-listed Aurora surged 78% and 21% respectively.

Customers on eToro, a retail trading platform seen as an alternative in Europe to popular U.S. platforms such as Robinhood, opened more positions in Tilray on Wednesday than in the first 10 months of 2020 combined.

One eToro user in Germany, @ChrisBro14, wrote in a thread about Tilray as it traded around $70: "Guess will go to $100. Where do you have TP limit. What do you think it will (do)?"

Interest in the sector lifted cannabis-focused exchange traded funds (ETFs) to new highs, with some more than doubling in value over the past month.

($1 = 0.8241 euros)

(Reporting by Danilo Masoni in MILAN and Julien Ponthus in LONDON and Shreyashi Sanyal in BANGALORE; Editing by Kim Coghill and Edmund Blair)
SAINT-DENIS, France - When France confined more than 64 million people under one of the world's strictest coronavirus lockdowns last spring, there was widespread speculation that a baby boom would follow.

"I thought to myself: They're all stuck at home, and they need to occupy themselves. So, they'll make babies," recalled Martine Mabiala Moussirou, a midwife coordinator at the main public hospital in Saint-Denis, a city on the outskirts of Paris that has one of France's highest birth rates.

Nine months on, though, instead of a boom, France is witnessing a sharp decline in births. Economic uncertainty, social stress and in some cases anxieties about the virus itself appear to have prompted families to abandon or postpone plans to have a baby.

The number of babies born at the Saint-Denis hospital plummeted by about 20 percent between mid-December and mid-January and is expected to remain below 2020 levels for at least the first half of the year. While the coronavirus wards were hives of activity last week, lights in the maternity ward were dimmed and the corridors empty.

"Usually, it's bustling here," said Mabiala Moussirou, who was chatting with other midwives next to a board showing the occupancy status of the ward's nine delivery rooms.

Only one was in use.

Other maternity wards in France are reporting similar trends, as are cities in Italy. A drop in births is predicted for the United States, as well.

The unusually quiet hospital wards are an early sign of how the pandemic may indirectly shape demographics. They are also one of many indications of the toll on women.

Some developing countries are registering the beginnings of a baby boom, triggered in part by reduced funding for and access to contraceptives and family planning services during the pandemic.

But in France and other developed countries, a pandemic birth slump is emerging, with implications for decades to come.

- - -

The full effect of the coronavirus pandemic on France's birth rate won't be known for months. But experts are increasingly confident that the sudden drops in some hospitals are too steep, widespread and abrupt to be coincidental.

"We're seeing the decline everywhere across the northeast of France," said Olivier Morel, the academic director of the obstetrics and gynecology department at the university hospital in Nancy.

At the five big university hospitals in the region, births declined between 10% and 25% in January compared with the same month last year, according to figures provided by Morel.

Those drops are far steeper than the normal year-on-year variations, which are usually in the low single digits.

"Throughout my career, I have never seen a 10 to 25% decline," Morel said.

Further south in Lyon, France's second-biggest metropolitan area, two hospitals said they recorded a combined 19% decline in births in January - a drop they attributed to the pandemic.

Italy experienced Europe's first major outbreak and was the first Western country to declare a national lockdown in March. Births declined by more than 21% across 15 major Italian cities in December, according to a report published by the country's statistics institute last week.

By contrast, hospitals in the German capital of Berlin have so far not noticed a significant downward trend, but the city was hit less severely than hotspots in France and Italy and didn't impose the same level of lockdown.

- - -

Demographers aren't as surprised by the drop in births as the health workers in France may be.

"Fertility has historically been sensitive to cyclical events such as wars, economic crises, epidemics and even to climatic conditions," said Arnaud Regnier-Loilier, a research director at France's national institute for demographic studies. "These events all result in a decrease and not an increase in births."

The Greek financial crisis, for example, contributed to a baby bust.

Sometimes, the impact transcends borders. After the 1986 Chernobyl disaster, researchers noticed an unusually low birthrate in Italy nine months later.

Researchers suspect that multiple factors associated with the coronavirus pandemic may be depressing fertility rates.

Economic uncertainty is a big one. People thinking last spring about whether to have a baby may have found themselves out of work or seen that major economies were experiencing record contractions. In France, the economy shrank by 5.8% in the first quarter of 2020, the largest decline since record keeping began in 1949, according to the national statistics office.

Although France and other European governments were quick to offer subsidies for furloughed workers, it was with the understanding that those supports would be temporary and some industries might not recover anytime soon. That left many people feeling less than secure.

The constraints of lockdowns also may have worked against decisions to add a baby. Some families felt the pressure of having older children at home while schools were closed. Some couples may have found that constant proximity strained their relationship. Some might have calculated that the need to shield older relatives would reduce the support they would get as new parents.

Researchers are also exploring how the severity of coronavirus outbreaks may have influenced family planning decisions. Some areas of France now reporting a drop in births were also among the hardest-hit areas during the first wave of infection, suggesting a possible correlation.

- - -

Saint-Denis is a place where multiple stresses collided.

It is one of France's poorest cities, located in a region with one of the highest excess mortality rates due to covid.

Many of its 110,000 residents had barely managed to stay afloat before the pandemic. When the virus hit, the city's informal economy collapsed, leaving undocumented immigrants without income or any way to qualify for unemployment benefits. The closure of schools meant that children could no longer get the heavily subsidized meals many families had relied on.

In the cramped apartments of Saint-Denis's housing projects, enduring the spring lockdown, when people were allowed to go out only once a day, for essential reasons, was especially hard.

Those conditions helped propel riots in the Parisian suburbs in late April - and may have depressed fertility rates, as well.

The lockdown led to a surge in domestic violence, said Ghada Hatem-Gantzer, a obstetrician who heads a hospital-linked center for women in Saint-Denis.

"More than usual, women came asking for an abortion because, as they said, 'I cannot have kids with someone who became so violent during the lockdown,' " Hatem-Gantzer said.

But while the portion of women citing that reason increased last year, the overall number of abortions did not, she said.

MaMaMa, a local charity set up to support mothers and babies through the pandemic, hasn't yet seen the impact of declining births. In a 15,000-square-foot warehouse, volunteers still welcome a constant stream of mothers coming for free essentials, such as bottles, food and clothes. But the financial strains that bring women to MaMaMa may also prevent future births.

Nogochami, 27, was waiting her turn at MaMaMa, wheeling her sleeping 8-month-old in a stroller. The baby was born during France's first lockdown, at a time when the family's income had dropped to a few dollars a day.

"We'll wait a very long time until the next child," said Nogochami, who gave only her first name because she is an undocumented migrant from Ivory Coast. "Everything is very difficult. I just can't have another one now."

Mabiala Moussirou, the midwife coordinator, said she was still hoping for a speedy rebound in births, even a boom, once women regain confidence about the future. But some colleagues are less optimistic.

While the economy in France and some other European countries had slowed less than expected by the end of last year, economists still warn of a double dip recession. Meanwhile, a resurgence of the virus and fears of more contagious variants have brought on second and third lockdowns in Europe.

Initial findings from a long-term study conducted by Morel and other doctors in the northeast indicate that pregnant women's economic concerns have only grown.

"I really believe we will face a significant drop in the number of births for several years," Morel said.

And for a continent that had already been dealing with rapidly aging populations and declining fertility rates, he said, that should spark "serious concern."
(Natural News) Gabriela Lopez, the elected-at-27-years-old head of the San Francisco Board of Education, recently gave an interview about her districts decision to rename some 44 public schools due to racism. And what she had to say made absolutely no sense.

Reminiscent of something Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) might babble while sipping a wine cooler, Lopez basically told New Yorker writer Isaac Chotiner that facts and truth played no role whatsoever in the name change process, and that it all hinged on how people felt, or something, about the continued use of the old offensive names.

Even when the committee that chose which schools to rename was challenged about the reasons why, the district went ahead and made the changes anyway because those who were triggered felt good about it.

When confronted about the incorrect claim that Paul Revere intended to colonize the Penobscot people during the Penobscot Expedition of 1779, as one example, Lopez said this is no problem because the committees truth was that he did. Thus, Paul Revere Elementary School has to be renamed.

So, for me, I guess its just the criteria was created to show if there were ties to these specific themes, right? Lopez rambled to Chotiner.

White supremacy, racism, colonization, ties to slavery, the killing of indigenous people, or any symbols that embodied that. And the committee shared that these are the names that have these ties. And so, for me, at this moment, I have the understanding we have to do the teaching, but also I do agree that we shouldnt have these ties, and this is a way of showing it.

Children in San Francisco dont get educated, they get indoctrinated

Read that quote over again a few times and try to make sense of it. This writer bets you will not find anything other than mindless, nonsensical babble, which seems to be the only thing Lopez was capable of saying throughout the interview.

Many others noticed the same thing, including War Against Boys author Christina Sommers. After reading through Lopezs interview with Chotiner, Sommers concluded that Lopez is less than cogent.

Someone named Erika Sanzi responded that Lopez is also a teacher, which is truly scary since that means she has direct influence over impressionable children.

Kathy Castro, who apparently lives in the district, also responded that she [c]annot wait until the next school board election, the insinuation being that she plans to vote against Lopez.

I realize this piece may be abbreviated, but she only perfunctorily answered your questions, and there was little follow up, wrote another named Steve Goldstein.

From whats presented here, SF children are learning no one gets honored unless they are perfect. And the definition of perfect is extremely fluid.

When asked by Chotiner why no historians were used throughout the renaming process, Lopez again had nothing to say other than the committee chose not to, and that is good enough for her.

She was also asked about the committees historical inaccuracies and blatant defiance against the facts, to which Lopez became defensive and accusatory against Chotiner.

I think what youre pointing to and what I keep hearing is youre trying to undermine the work that has been done through this process, was Lopezs response to Chotiner when he expressed that he was unsure whether the things they were talking about did or did not happen.

And Im moving away from the idea that it was haphazard, Lopez added, siding fully with the committee and against Chotiners suggestions.

Why would they consult historians? asked another Twitter user rhetorically about the committee. They have no interest in history.

More related news about Gabriela Lopez and others like her can be found at Libtards.news.

Sources for this article include:

Twitchy.com

NewYorker.com

NaturalNews.com

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The Illinois House has adopted new procedural rules that change how the chamber will function.

Wednesdays vote fell along party lines.

As COVID-19 continues to be a public health risk, the House adopted rules allowing committees to meet remotely. The Senate adopted remote committee meeting rules last spring. Lawmakers will have to come back to Springfield to pass legislation, however, unless state law is changed.

The rules, adopted with 70 Democrats voting for and 44 Republicans against, also make key changes to leadership and where bills go after they are introduced.

Both the speaker and minority leader now are limited to 10 years in their leadership positions. Speaker Chris Welchs time as speaker will last until January 2031 unless someone else is elected speaker during the next decade. Republicans already had caucus rules limiting their leader to 10 years in the position, which leaves Minority Leader Jim Durkin, R-Western Springs, with six potential years left as Republican leader.

Former Speaker Mike Madigan, D-Chicago, served in the role for nearly four decades, overseeing every detail of the legislative process, including the House rules. Welch was not directly involved in crafting this years House rules.

This time, for the first time in years and years and years, the rules were not prepared by the office of the speaker, said House Majority Leader Greg Harris, D-Chicago.

Under the new rules, bills introduced also are promised a committee assignment. Previously, some bills languished in the rules committee without consideration.

(The new rules represent) what is sort of a historic first step in reforming the ways of the past and injecting more transparency and accountability while our chamber operates effectively and fairly, Harris said.

Republicans still raised objections to the changes Democrats put forth, arguing they didnt do enough to limit the power of the speaker or create more transparency.

Republicans argued requiring bills to be assigned to a substantive committee was not enough and members also should have the opportunity to present the bill in committee. They also wanted more notice for members and the public about which bills would be called for discussion each day.

State Rep. Avery Bourne, R-Raymond, said not requiring bills to be discussed in the committees is the same old game as the rules under Madigan.

Republicans also pushed for at least a one-day waiting period before lawmakers vote on amendments or motions. The reasoning was to avoid situations in which bills such as a budget are introduced and passed within hours.

Theres some commonsense things that were left out of these rules, said state Rep. Mike Murphy, R-Springfield.

Welch argued the nearly monthlong discussion about the rules was the first step of a new way of doing business in the House under his leadership, noting he has been making an effort to reach out to Republicans since he was elected.

Theres a lot more left to be discussed, Welch said.

Democrats argued the Republicans were being hypocritical because the rules proposed were similar to rules Republicans passed in the mid-1990s when they briefly gained control of the House.

State Rep. Tom Demmer, R-Dixon, said he also would have opposed the Republican rules from the 1990s.

Democrats said they would continue to work with Republicans to ensure the rules are fair, and Harris will continue leading a working group to review the House rules.

I felt really good about what we did, said state Rep. Sue Scherer, D-Decatur, who was a part of the working group of lawmakers that made changes to the rules.

Harris said his party could not reach a consensus on other changes to the rules.

House members are unsure when they will next meet in Springfield. Scherer said lawmakers will be able to adjust to virtual work even though it isnt ideal. Murphy said he is glad the rules will allow the House to continue working but felt they could make in-person sessions work.

Im glad that remote was limited just to committees. I personally feel like we could do work here in Springfield, Murphy said. The General Assembly works best when were assembled in Springfield.

Its weird because its so exciting, but then we all just go home and work on our computers with each other. We cant talk to each other, Scherer said. At the end of the day, people just adjust.
analysis

Thursday is International Day against the Use of Child Soldiers. Taking care of the children who were abducted and suffered psychological trauma is as important as rehabilitating former combatants, and still needs to be addressed, according to a number of experts.

"In order for children who were used by armed groups to rebuild their lives and create a future for themselves, they must receive psychosocial support and adequate treatment," says Andrea Suley, the UN Children's Fund representative in South Sudan.

Ugandan activist Victor Ochen knows this all too well -- his brother was abducted by Dominic Ongwen, a commander in the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA).

"My own brother was abducted during an attack that was commanded by Ongwen, and up to now, he has not come back," Victor Ochen told the Africa Calling podcast.

16: Uganda LRA war crimes, Chad toxic spill, al-Qaeda in Sahel, Covid-19 in Tanzania

Victims of Uganda's notorious warlord hail ICC guilty verdict

Ongwen was found guilty last week of war crimes and crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court (ICC). The charges against him included forcibly recruiting child soldiers.

Ongwen himself had earlier been abducted by the rebel group, but had risen in the ranks.

"In the bigger picture, the verdict is a very strong deterrent -- it doesn't matter if you're abducted as a child, and conscripted to become a killer, there's a moment in life when you know what is right so you cannot hide behind a command chain," Ochen said.

"Ongwen had the power to walk away from the battlefield if he wanted to, but he took pleasure in causing all the pain, burning the camps, setting whole communities ablaze," said Ochen, who has worked on promoting peace, and helping those who were affected by the war, both physically and psychologically.

As Executive Director of the African Youth Initiative Network (AYINET), Ochen has lived through the war in northern Uganda, including living as a refugee for 21 years, and considers rehabilitation important in healing society form the ground up.

"What we say as victims, as survivors, as people who directly lost, is different from what academics, politicians and intellectuals are talking about...what they're carrying is not the same feeling of what we have on the ground," he said.

South Sudan children suffering

In South Sudan, where conflict is ongoing, there have been signs of progress, according to the UN, noting that there has been a significant decrease of violations against children since September 2018.

"The United Nations verified more than 700 grave violations against children across the country, with the Central Equatoria state being the most affected region," according to the UN Children in Armed Conflict division.

"The majority of violations were attributed to the Sudan People's Liberation Army-in-Opposition (SPLA-IO) and government security forces, including the South Sudan People's Defence Forces," it added, noting that 321 children are still being used as child soldiers.

"South Sudan has a broken mental health care system... however, much can be done at the community level, with close follow-up by social workers," the report adds.

UNICEF put out a series of videos illustrating the nightmares some children still face after being abducted and forced conscription, showing the damaging effects of armed conflict on children directly facing atrocities.

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Some children's sleep patterns are affected, as well as behavior and ability to concentrate. "They often have difficulty in school, become irritated and aggressive, or become completely withdrawn," according to UNICEF.

For Ugandan activist Ochen, who has lived among those in northern Uganda who have suffered the brunt of the war, justice at the ICC-- even if it took 'too long' in his words--was necessary for the people, even though many, he contends, despaired of ever seeing justice being done.

"Think about the damages--the mental, the psychological, the historical--and the trauma that has grown from one person to another," he said.

"What I can say is the war, the war between the LRA and the government of Uganda did leave the country so wounded, the region is so torn apart. It needs to heal," he added.
(@FahadShabbir)

French President Emmanuel Macron and Canadian authorities early on Thursday expressed contentment over the release of Loujain al-Hathloul, a prominent women's rights activist who was held in prison in Saudi Arabia since 2018

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 11th February, 2021) French President Emmanuel Macron and Canadian authorities early on Thursday expressed contentment over the release of Loujain al-Hathloul, a prominent women's rights activist who was held in prison in Saudi Arabia since 2018.

Al-Hathloul was arrested in May 2018, along with other women's rights defenders for allegedly undermining the security of Saudi Arabia, without more specific charges given. Her previous arrests were based on charges of defying the ban on women driving in the kingdom, a limitation she and other imprisoned activists campaigned against. Al-Hathloul's 2018 arrest came shortly before the driving ban was lifted in Saudi Arabia in June.

"I welcome the release of Loujain al-Hathloul and share the relief of her family," Macron tweeted.

Canada has also welcomed the release of Al-Hathloul, which took place on Wednesday.

"Canada welcomes the release of @LoujainHathloul and Noof Abdulaziz [another women's rights defender] today. We are all very relieved by this outcome and our thoughts are with their families and loved ones," the government tweeted.

Besides advocating for the lifting of a driving reform for women, Al-Hathloul is known for her campaign against the male guardianship system, under which a woman was required to receive approval from her male guardian for various activities, including accessing health care, getting a job, traveling or getting married.

Saudi Arabia has been repeatedly criticized by other states and NGOs for its poor record on women's rights and for suppressing activists seeking to reform it.
Falcon Gold (CVE: FG- OTCMKRTS: FGLDF) CEO Karim Rayani joined Steve Darling from Proactive with news the company has entered into an agreement to purchase the Gaspard Claims, a prospective gold property in British Columbia.

Rayani telling Proactive these claims are reported to cover similar geology to and maybe an extension of the Spences Bridge Gold Belt. The Gaspard Property is 3 mineral claims, covering 3,955 hectares in the Clinton Mining District.

This is the horrific moment a pro-democracy protester was shot in the back of the head by police in Myanmar - leaving her clinging to life in hospital.

Mya Thwate Thwate Khaing, who turned 20 today while in a coma, was shot by riot officers on Tuesday in the capital Naypyidaw as she joined tens of thousands of others to demand an end to a military-led coup which began last week.

Footage reveals that Mya was standing to the side of officers and behind a bus stop before being hit by a bullet fired from behind police lines.

Officers have denied using live ammunition and say Mya was struck by a rubber bullet, but experts say the motorcycle helmet she was wearing would have protected her against a non-lethal round.

The shooting has sparked a furious backlash against police in the east-Asian country as it was revealed the EU helped train officers involved in the crackdown.

Mya Thwate Thwate Khaing, who turned 20 today while in a coma in hospital, was shot in the head by police in Myanmar while protesting on Tuesday

The EU provided training to riot police in Myanmar who are now involved in a violent crackdown on pro-democracy protesters, it has been revealed

Police from the EU helped put together a training booklet for officers in Myanmar on 'crowd control techniques' including 'formations, chains and shield barriers'

Brussels provided support to Myanmar's military-controlled forces via a 4million-a-year programme called Mypol which has been running since 2012 and only ended last week.

Police from EU countries worked with their counterparts in Myanmar including specialist riot units to put together a manual of 'crowd control techniques.'

The manual contained lessons on 'formations, chains and shield barriers,' an EU official told The Guardian, while insisting it did not involve training on weapons or use of force.

They said those chapters were added later by officers in Myanmar.

The programme continued even as police became embroiled in violence against the country's Royhingya minority, and stopped just days before the shooting took place.

The booklet was designed to be used by riot units, including the one accused of firing live ammunition at protesters earlier this week - leaving demonstrator Mya Thwate Thwate Khaing in hospital with severe brain damage.

The scheme has been heavily criticised by campaigners who say the military police have been implicated in genocide, and should not receive support.

But Brussels has defended it, saying it was designed to promote human rights, best practices and 'gender awareness' among officers.

Police forces have become the target of fury in Myanmar since marshalling against pro-democracy protests which began at the weekend.

The training was provided under the Mypol scheme which began in 2012 and was still running until last week, when it was abruptly stopped after Myanmar's generals staged a coup

Police involved in repressing the protests have become the target of public fury, with protesters trying to identify those involved in the violence

Police have used water cannon, rubber bullets and live ammunition to crush protests which has drawn international condemnation and sanctions from the US

While some officers have been applauded for joining the activists, others have used increasing levels of violence.

On Tuesday, officers in the capital Naypyitaw used live ammunition on the demonstrators, hitting teenager Mya in the back of the head.

The 19-year-old, who turned 20 today while in hospital and in a coma, was wearing a motorcycle helmet which the bullet pierced before hitting her in the skull.

Doctor say she is not expected to survive her injuries.

The shooting has prompted a huge backlash, with internet sleuths launching a campaign to find the officer responsible.

One man seen pointing a gun at demonstrators was identified on social media, but it is not clear whether he fired the fatal shots.

Another wrongly identified as that man has denied being involved, and put out a statement on social media.

Amid the violence, President Biden announced Thursday that he is restricting the military's access to $1billion of funds being held in the US unless generals relinquish their grip on power.

He added that business assets of coup leaders and their families are also being identified and will be slapped with additional sanctions in the coming days.

Joe Biden has announced a first round of sanctions against military leaders in Myanmar, ten days after they carried out a coup

The move throws US support behind tens of thousands of protesters who have turned out every day this week to demand a return to democracy

Biden called on military leaders to immediately release political prisoners including leader Aung San Suu Kyi (on a poster, right) and said the 'will of the people' must be respected

Biden said: 'I call on the Burmese military to immediately release the political leaders and activists that they are now detaining, including Aung San Suu Kyi and Win Myint, the president.

'The military must relinquish the power it seized and show respect for the will of the people of Burma.

'Violence against those asserting their democratic rights is unacceptable and we're going to keep calling it out. The people of Burma are making their voices heard and the world is watching.'

Protesters have marched daily in Yangon and Mandalay, the country's biggest cities.

Large rallies also have been taking place in the capital Naypyitaw and many other cities and towns.

Participants have included factory workers, civil servants, students and teachers, medical personnel and other people from all walks of life.

Protesters wave banners demanding the release of Suu Kyi and accusing China, a long-time ally of Myanmar's military, of being behind the coup

Demonstrators hold up a banner showing Chinese President Xi Jingping holding coup leader General Min Aung Hlaing like a puppet on a string

Buddhist monks and Catholic clergy have been visible, as have LGBTQ contingents behind rainbow flags.

On Thursday in the southern city of Dawei, protesters wiped their feet and stamped on a poster of Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, the much-scorned coup leader who now heads the ruling junta.

The protesters are demanding that power be restored to the elected government and detained party officials, including ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi, be freed.

About 200 politicians and activists have been arrested, according to the independent Assistance Association for Political Prisoners.

The junta has shown no signs of backing down and on Wednesday night arrested more senior members of Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party, along with other politicians and activists.

Also reported to have been taken from their homes were members of the state election commission who certified the landslide victory of Suu Kyi's party in last November's election.

The military based its Feb. 1 takeover on allegations the election was marred by irregularities, though the commission found no evidence to support them.

The junta has formed a new commission to investigate the allegations and vows to turn over power to the winners of a new election after a one-year state of emergency.

Demonstrator hold pictures of ousted Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi during a protest against the military coup in Yangon

Members of the LGBT community take part in a demonstration against the coup in Yangon

Protesters hold up three fingers - a symbol of defiance borrowed from the Hunger Games books and used by pro-democracy protesters across Asia - during a march in Yangon

The participation of ethnic minority marchers in Yangon, many dressed in the colorful traditional garb of their regions, underlined the depth and breadth of the opposition to last week's coup.

While much attention has focused on protests in Myanmar's major heartland cities, large daily protests have also taken place in the far-flung border areas home to minorities such as the Shan, the Karen, the Kachin, the Kayah and others.

Ethnic minorities have long been the targets of repression by the military, which has used brutal counterinsurgency tactics to crush their decades-long aspirations for greater autonomy.

But the military has not hesitated to employ force in big cities either. Juntas ruled directly for five decades after a 1962 coup, and used lethal force to quash a massive 1988 uprising and a 2007 revolt led by Buddhist monks.

International sanctions long were employed by Western governments in reaction to those crackdowns, but they were eased when elections in 2010 and 2015 showed the country's tentative steps toward democracy.

At the White House on Wednesday, Biden said he was issuing an executive order that will prevent Myanmar's generals from accessing $1 billion in assets in the United States.

It remains to be seen what, if any, impact the U.S. action will have on Myanmar's military regime. Many of the military leaders are already under sanctions because of attacks against the Muslim Rohingya minority.
ISTANBUL  Turkeys state-owned oil and gas company has made a preliminary agreement to purchase a new drilling vessel to accelerate energy prospecting activities in the eastern Mediterranean and the Black Sea, according to Turkish media.

The Turkish Petroleum Corp. is finalizing a deal to acquire a deep-water drilling vessel from Dolphin Drilling, a Norwegian rig company, for a yet-to-be disclosed sum, the media said.

The purchase would add a fourth drilling ship to the companys fleet, which includes two additional seismic exploration vessels, and comes after a year marked by maritime boundary disputes in the eastern Mediterranean stemming from Turkish energy prospecting activities in areas claimed by Greece and the Republic of Cyprus.

Turkey largely suspended its energy projects in the eastern Mediterranean after EU leaders agreed in December to draw up sanctions over the nations activities and Ankara resumed high-level talks with Athens to de-escalate tensions in January.

The developments drew praise from German Chancellor Angela Merkel in a recent call with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, yet the purchase of a new drilling vessel has raised concerns territorial disputes could resume in the region.

A fourth drill ship could  indicate Turkey's plans to drill in locations off Greece, including key Greek islands such as Kastellorizo and Crete, Zenonas Tziarras, a researcher at the PRIO Cyprus Centre, told Al-Monitor. The latter scenario has been feared for some time and, should it happen, will stir a new crisis between Greece and Turkey.

Details remain sparse on the new vessels planned use, but Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Fatih Donmez said in October that officials were seeking to lease or acquire a new ship to expand drilling capacity, possibly in the Black Sea.

In August, Turkey announced the discovery of the Sakarya gas field 175 kilometers (110 miles) north of its Black Sea coast. The reserves are estimated to hold 405 billion cubic meters of natural gas, about eight times the nations annual consumption, opening the way to less dependence on energy imports.

Officials plan to establish up to 40 wells in the field, where drilling activities are ongoing, and Turkish Petroleum is considering partnerships to raise funds this year with aims to start production in 2023  the nations centennial and a scheduled election year.

Noting that Ankara officials have sought to make Turkey an energy transit hub amid discussions of possible gas export projects from eastern Mediterranean fields to European markets, Michael Tanchum, a professor of international relations at the University of Navarra, said Turkeys lack of significant energy resources outside the Black Sea will likely drive the Sakarya fields rapid development.

Even though Turkey is developing its rich renewable energy resources, Ankara faces an immediate pressing need to diversify its natural gas supply mix through the development of its newly discovered finds in the Black Sea as well as potential finds in its other territorial waters, Tanchum told Al-Monitor.

Turkeys Black Sea gas projects also benefit from the lack of territorial disputes the nation faces in the eastern Mediterranean. Dimitar Bechev, a nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, said the development of Black Sea gas could serve to boost morale in Ankara, and among voters, as Turkish officials wind down energy projects elsewhere and resume negotiations with Greek counterparts.

Bechev said gas extracted from the Sakarya field would add leverage to Turkeys future negotiations with Russias state-owned energy company, Gazprom, which serves Turkish markets on costly take-or-pay terms that set predetermined cost agreements, regardless of whether or not gas is imported.

The bulk of Turkeys contracts with Gazprom are expiring in the next one to four years, Bechev told Al-Monitor.

Currently, Turkish Petroleums Fatih drilling ship is conducting work on the Sakarya field, where it is expected to be joined by the Kanuni drilling ship in late March. Meanwhile, the Oruc Reis seismic research vessel continues survey activities near the Mediterranean coastal city of Antalya and the Barbaros Hayrettin Pasha research vessel stopped its work near Cyprus on Jan. 14, returning to port in Mersin. The Yavuz drillship is also undergoing maintenance in Mersin.

Turkeys energy prospecting activities in the eastern Mediterranean have impacted reunification efforts in Cyprus, where offshore gas finds in the 2010s were initially saw as an avenue to help resolve disagreements over sovereign rights between the islands two governments.

Recent statements by Erdogan and his Turkish Cypriot counterpart Ersin Tatar have both pointed to a two-state solution as an alternative settlement to stalled UN-led talks. Amid the current state of politics in Cyprus, Bechev said energy developments on either side of the island would face significant obstacles.

I dont think there will be gas or oil coming from Cyprus anytime soon because both parties have the means to be a spoiler for the other party, Bechev told Al-Monitor.
[February 11, 2021] Fimatix UK Ltd partners with Privacy4Cars to address vehicle privacy compliance burden in Europe

Platform to Track and Manage Deletion of Personal Information in Vehicles Now Available in the UK and EU LONDON, Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Fimatix UK Ltd, a leading Digital Technology Services Consultancy, announced today a new distribution partnership with Privacy4Cars , the first-of-its-kind platform designed to help erase Personal Information (PI) from modern vehicles. The partnership will bring Privacy4Cars' patent-pending process for the deletion of PI, including phone numbers, call logs, location history and garage door codes, from modern vehicles to the European market for the first time. Developed by a world-renowned cybersecurity and vehicle privacy expert, Privacy4Cars offers a standard process that makes data deletion simple and scalable. Committed to developing solutions that make organisations more effective, Fimatix has a strong track record in fintech and govtech and is a leading Digital Technology Services Consultancy. This new partnership will help to solve the privacy compliance risks faced by companies that handle vehicles. Research in 2020, by the consumer organisation Which?, highlighted that four in five UK vehicle owners took insufficient steps to remove personal data before selling their vehicles. PI is a rising compliance and reputation risk for auto remarketing businesses. For dealers, auctions, fleet managers, and others who handle used vehicles, failure to remove personal data before a vehicle changes hands could have major legal implications and represent data breaches under GDPR - as pointed out by the European Data Protection Board (EDPB) in their Guidelines for Connected Vehicles and Mobility Applications published in 2020. Through the use of the Privacy4Cars platform, companies with an auto portfolio in the UK and EU can now reliably rapidly, and intuitively delete any personal information that is stored in modern vehicle systems, and obtain a comprehensive compliance record of completion.



"Auto retailers and wholesalers in the UK and EU must pay close attention to the process of deleting personal information stored across their fleets, because neglect to do so could result in serious data breaches under GDPR and ePrivacy laws," said Privacy4Cars Founder, Andrea Amico. "The storage of personal information in modern vehicles has become a rising compliance and reputation risk due to legal liability and operational complexity. Through our partnership with Fimatix, we are bringing a simple, scalable, and auditable data deletion solution to the European market that will help reduce security liability and vulnerability through a certification that is backed by financial guarantee." Tim Howarth of Fimatix said: "At Fimatix our mission is to help our clients become more effective through technology and we're delighted to bring Privacy4Cars to the European market. This solution will help to protect consumers when they hire a car, or sell a vehicle, ensuring their personal data is kept safe. We are looking forward to working with clients, including car hire firms, dealers, auctions and fleet managers, to help them protect their consumers and avoid GDPR data privacy risks. Having spent 25 years in regulated industries, we know how costly compliance can be if not managed effectively and how vulnerable companies can be to regulatory intervention if known issues are not handled promptly."

https://fimatix.com/ About Privacy4Cars Privacy4Cars is the first and only platform designed to help erase Nonpublic Personal Information (NPI), including phone numbers, call logs, location history and garage door codes, from modern vehicles. Developed by a cybersecurity and vehicle privacy expert, Privacy4Cars lets users select car make, model and year, and provides customized, visual step-by-step tutorials to quickly clear vehicle users' personal information while building a compliance log. Privacy4Cars' patent-pending process is available to consumers and small fleets, and to manufacturers and businesses owning, servicing, or managing a large amount of vehicles as a SDK [software development kit] that can be embedded into their existing technology. For more information, please visit: http://privacy4cars.com/ About Fimatix UK Ltd Fimatix is a leading Digital Technology Services Consultancy. We have extensive experience and expertise in transformation strategy, coaching and digital service design and agile delivery obtained within the UK Governments world leading digital transformation programmes. We build banks and e-money fintech challengers from scratch and have been through the regulatory process with the FCA and PRA. We know what it takes to disrupt in this sector, and how to take advantage of regulations including PSD2 with all its possibilities or threats. We have world leading expertise in delivering Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) and Blockchain plus extensive agile software delivery, AI and Cloud. For more information, please visit: https://fimatix.com/our-services/privacy4cars/

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House impeachment managers have revealed stunning new footage of Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) and former Vice President Mike Pence being rushed to safety during January's deadly attack on the Capitol building.

During the second day of former President Donald Trump's impeachment trial on Wednesday, Del. Stacey Plaskett presented a series of previously unreleased audio and video from the Jan. 6 riot, as Democrats make the case that Trump incited it and must be convicted. One of the most shocking clips showed Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman rushing to direct Romney away from rioters.

"In this security footage, you can see Officer Goodman running to respond to the initial breach," Plaskett explained. "Officer Goodman passes Senator Mitt Romney and directs him to turn around in order to get to safety. On the first floor, just beneath them, the mob had already started to search for the Senate chamber." Minutes later, Plaskett played security footage of Pence and his family being evacuated to a secure location during the riot, as well as disturbing video of rioters chanting, "hang Mike Pence."

"As Pence was being evacuated, rioters started to spread throughout the Capitol," Plaskett said.

Plaskett went on to tell lawmakers that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) was also rushed from the House floor, and in fact, police "deemed the threat so dangerous that they evacuated her entirely from the Capitol complex."

"We know from the rioters themselves that if they had found Speaker Pelosi, they would have killed her," Plaskett added.

More stories from theweek.com

The most important person in the impeachment trial is missing. It isn't Trump.

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King of Prussia, PA, Feb. 11, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- George Nichols III, President and CEO at The American College of Financial Services, announced today that Karim Hill has been named the inaugural Executive Director of The American College Center for Economic Empowerment and Equality. As Executive Director of The Colleges newest Center of Excellence, Hill will oversee the Centers research, thought leadership, curriculum and course development, programming, and scholarships aimed at promoting economic justice for underserved communities.

Our exhaustive national search has come to an end and was well worth it. Karim brings a unique skillset to The College that complements our near century in financial services, having earned significant career success at some of our nations largest banks, representing his dedication to the industry and his ability to communicate and execute upon complex ideas to improve the lives of others, said Nichols. His embrace of the possibilities that could come through a collective impact approach to economic justice is what we need to start operationalizing Four Steps Forward for Black America and laying the foundation for The Centers success.

The Center for Economic Empowerment and Equalitys mission is to cultivate lasting relationships between the financial services sectors and all underserved groups. Under Hills leadership, The Center will catalyze, convene, and promote evidence-based knowledge in partnership with the financial services industry, nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and broader corporate America to drive solutions that grow businesses and uplift communities in need.



Im honored to lead the new Center for Economic Empowerment and Equality at The American College of Financial Services, said Hill. Joining The College in this inaugural position is an exceptional opportunity for me to take part in re-imagining how the financial services industry approaches diversity, equity, and inclusion. I look forward to developing and implementing a viable, actionable plan for sustainable, generational change that will help narrow the wealth gap and have a lasting effect on how the profession best serves an increasingly diverse nation.

Hill has devoted two decades of his career to the financial services industry, spending many years at some of our nations biggest banks, including Wells Fargo, Bank of America, Capital One, and Citizens Bank. In September 2020, he became a Board member and Interim Executive Director of BDC Capital Community Corporation, a Consumer Development Financial Institution focused on reducing the racial wealth gap in Massachusetts by deploying capital to underrepresented groups via term loans, equity investments, mezzanine loans, and financial based technical assistance. Some 80% of the capital raised has been distributed to Black business owners.

Since 2015, Hill has led the New England Business Association as its President and Chief Executive Officer, identifying gaps and fixing processes, as well as growing the organizations membership from 399 member companies to nearly 1,600. As Foundation Market President for northern California at Bank of America, he managed a $1.5 million philanthropic budget for the company, and in a similar role as Foundation Market President for New York State at Capital One Bank, he oversaw its philanthropic budget.

Hill is the Co-Founder of the Black Vanguard Alliance, a former Board member for the United Way of Northern California, and is a contributor for New England Blacks in Philanthropy and the New England Board of Higher Education. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Ohio University and a Master of Business Administration degree from Florida International University  Chapman Graduate School of Business. He is green belt certified in Six Sigma Methodology, a quality and process improvement methodology.

###

ABOUT THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF FINANCIAL SERVICES

The American College of Financial Services was founded in 1927 and is the nations largest nonprofit educational institution devoted to financial services. Holding the highest level of academic accreditation, The College has educated one in five financial advisors across the United States and offers two masters degrees in management and financial services, along with prestigious financial planning designations such as the Retirement Income Certified Professional (RICP), Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU), Wealth Management Certified Professional (WMCP), Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP), Chartered Special Needs Consultant (ChSNC), Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC), and education leading to the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) certification. The Colleges faculty represents some of the foremost thought leaders in the financial services profession. Visit TheAmericanCollege.edu and connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

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Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-11 13:38:42|Editor: huaxia

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JALALABAD, Afghanistan, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- One civilian has been confirmed dead and four others injured as a blast shocked Behsood district in eastern Nangarhar province on Thursday, a news release of provincial government said.

The explosive device was planted inside a handcart and went off at 08:30 a.m. local time, killing one civilian on the spot and injuring four others, the news release added.

Without providing more details, the release said that investigation had been initiated into the incident.

Target killing mostly in the shape of explosion has been on the rise over the past couple of months in parts of Afghanistan. Enditem
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The Nigerian Army has dismissed reports of killing of 20 soldiers by Boko Haram/Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists in the North-East Theatre of Operation Lafiya Dole.

The Director, Army Public Relations, Mohammad Yerima, via a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja, said the information was false.

Mr Yerima, a brigadier-general, described the report by an online medium, titled; Nigerian Army Keeps Mum As Boko Haram Terrorists Kill 20 Soldiers In Borno as false, fake and baseless.

He said the report was aimed at discouraging the public and demoralising troops in the fight against insurgency.

According to him, there was no attack where 20 soldiers were killed in the entire Theatre.

Mr Yerima said the recent attacks on troops providing security for road construction workers along GoniriKafa on February 5 and on Geidam on February 9 were decisively dealt with.

He said the attack on the troops along the road construction site and the attempt to infiltrate Geidam town by the terrorists were swiftly and professionally cleared by the Mobile Strike Teams (MSTs) and elements of 159 Task Force Battalion.

The spokesperson said soldiers paid the supreme sacrifice while two others who sustained injuries were currently receiving treatment at a military medical facility.

According to him, Boko Haram and ISWAP are on the run and desperate for foods, drugs and logistics from soft targets for survival as their camps, routes and enclaves have been destroyed, blocked and manned by troops of Operation TURA TAKAIBANGO.

He said that troops also overpowered terrorists mounted on eight gun trucks, motorbikes and foot soldiers who attempted attack on troops of 3 Battalion at Rann in Kala Balge Local Government Area of Borno on February 9.

According to him, the troops held their ground and instantly destroyed one terrorists gun truck.

With swift air support during the attack, the terrorists lost initiative and had to scamper for safety due to heavy aerial bombardments, while additional four terrorists gun trucks were completely destroyed as several of their members were killed while others fled with gunshot wounds.

The situation within the Rann general area is under control by our troops and members of the community are going about their normal activities.

Members of the general public are therefore requested to continue to cooperate with the Nigerian military to fight both the terrorists and peddlers of fake and unsubstantiated stories.

We shall continue to remain focused and determined to perform our constitutional roles and responsibilities professionally in the protection of the sovereignty of our nation, ensure the safety of lives and property, while we clear the terrorists and their cohorts within the region, he said.

(NAN)
During a working trip to Donetsk region on Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited the frontline in the Joint Forces Operation (JFO) area.

According to the press service of the President's Office, Zelensky "got himself acquainted with the situation on the frontline and talk to the servicemen in the area of the Joint Forces Operation".

It is important that the senior officers are on the frontline. We spoke with Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Colonel General Ruslan Khomchak to ensure that the senior officers rotate. So that they constantly visit our guys on the frontlines," the president said.

According to the information, the military of the 503rd Separate Battalion of the Ukraine's Naval Infantry on the frontline presented a commemorative pin to Zelensky.

Having returned, Zelensky awarded the military with state awards and valuable gifts.
Photo: The Canadian Press In this Feb. 9, 2021, photo, President Joe Biden meets with business leaders to discuss a coronavirus relief package in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington. Republicans are attacking the Democrats $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package as too costly, economically damaging and overtly partisan. It's an all-angles attempt by the GOP to derail Bidens top priority as it starts moving through a Congress that his party controls only narrowly. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

Republicans are attacking the Democrats $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package as too costly, economically damaging and overtly partisan, an all-angles attempt to derail new President Joe Bidens top priority as it starts moving through a Congress his party controls only narrowly.

Four House committees worked Thursday on their pieces of sweeping legislation that would send $1,400 payments to many Americans. It would also provide hundreds of billions for state and local governments and to boost vaccination efforts, raise tax credits for children and increase unemployment benefits. Democratic leaders hope for House passage later this month, with Senate approval and a bill on Bidens desk by mid-March.

This is the moment, said Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal, D-Mass., citing the pandemics human and economic toll.

As committees worked, Republicans proposed amendments spotlighting what they see as the legislations soft spots. Their themes were clear: Democrats are overspending, hurting workers and employers' job markets, being too generous to some immigrants, inviting fraud and rewarding political allies  allegations that Democrats dismiss as ludicrous.

The proposals signalled that Bidens plan faces solid Republican opposition in a House and Senate where Democrats have few votes to spare, while forcing Democrats to take positions that could tee up GOP campaign ads for the 2022 elections.

There were amendments to reduce the $400 extra in weekly jobless benefits Democrats want to provide through August and exempt the smallest businesses from Democrats plans to gradually raise the minimum wage to $15 hourly from $7.25. Others would limit emergency grants for undergraduates to U.S. citizens and bar federal subsidies for some job-based health insurance to people without Social Security numbers, effectively targeting many immigrants.

Other GOP proposals would put strings on emergency funds to help schools reopen safely, requiring that schools offer in-person classes or give the money to parents for education savings accounts if they remain closed. Still others would make sure assistance for renters, homeowners and the airline industry didnt extend long after the pandemic ends, and divide $26 billion for urban transportation systems between cities and rural areas, which many Republicans represent.

I dont know if the White House knows this, but youre supposed to be creating jobs, not killing them, said Texas Rep. Kevin Brady, the top Republican on the Ways and Means panel. He said while his party has backed over $3 trillion in earlier pandemic relief bills, whatever this rushed, partisan, special interest stimulus package does, it comes with no bipartisan discussion, no opportunity for finding common ground.

Biden campaigned on reuniting a country riven by President Donald Trumps divisive four years. He met two weeks ago with 10 GOP senators to discuss the COVID-19 plan in a session that seemed cordial but has produced no visible movement.

Democrats say attempts to compromise with Republicans wasted time and resulted in a package that proved too small when President Barack Obama sought an economic stimulus compromise in 2009, his first year. They want to finish this initial Biden goal without any stumbles and before emergency jobless benefits expire on March 14.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., said in a statement that Democrats were pushing liberal wish-list policies" and accused them of siding with teachers' unions, mostly Democratic-friendly organizations that have largely opposed reopening schools until they are safer.

McCarthy, eyeing 2022 elections that he hopes will make him speaker of a GOP-run House, suggested Republicans were ready to work to restore jobs, reopen schools and provide vaccines to those who want it." But he said Democrats policy distractions will only make America weaker and bring our recovery to a halt.

One by one, committees were rejecting GOP amendments, mostly on party-line votes. Democrats disputed Republican assertions that, for example, a proposed $400 weekly pandemic unemployment benefit was so generous it would discourage people from seeking jobs.

The whole force of this amendment is to not, quote unquote, spoil people by giving them too much money, said Rep. Gwen Moore, D-Wis. She said it suggested people whove lost jobs do not deserve to live above a starvation-level wage.

Even so, Republicans voiced concerns about the sheer size of the $1.9 trillion package. Big doesnt necessarily mean good," said Rep. Anthony Gonzalez, R-Ohio. Lets go smart. Lets go targeted and lets solve the actual need.

The Congressional Budget Office expects the economy to add an average of 521,000 jobs a month this year, a sign of robust hiring made possible in part by government aid. But those gains will likely hinge on containing the virus. Employers kicked off 2021 by adding a mere 49,000 jobs in January as deaths from the disease curbed economic activity.

Meanwhile, House Democrats unveiled new details of their plan.

The Energy and Commerce Committee's section of the plan, exceeding $180 billion, would provide billions for COVID-19 vaccination, testing, contact tracing and treatments. It would invest $1.75 billion in genomic sequencing, or DNA mapping of virus samples, to identify potentially more dangerous coronavirus mutations and study how fast they are spreading.

It would also advance longstanding Democratic priorities like increasing coverage under the Obama-era Affordable Care Act.

It dangles a fiscal carrot in front of a dozen states, mainly in the South, that have not yet taken up the laws Medicaid expansion to cover more low-income adults, proposing a temporary 5% increase in federal aid to states that newly expand the health care program for lower-income people.

Among the Medicaid expansion holdout states are major population centres like Texas, Florida and Georgia. Whether such a sweetener would be enough to start wearing down longstanding Republican opposition to Medicaid expansion is uncertain.
The Milkmaid is a Hausa language-based thriller on insurgency, especially as it affects women and children in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Desmond Ovbiagele's 'The Milkmaid' has lost out in the Oscar run.

15 foreign films have advanced in the Oscar race and Nigeria's official entry failed to make the first shortlist in the International Feature Film category announced Tuesday.

"The Milkmaid" is a Hausa language-based thriller on insurgency, especially as it affects women and children in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Inspired by the image on Nigeria's 10 Naira note, the film tells the story of a Fulani milkmaid who confronts extremists in a rural African community, in a quest to locate her missing sister, and how efforts to recapture her disrupted past proved complicated

The selected films will advance to the next round of voting in the international feature film category.

Films from 93 countries were eligible in the International Feature Film category, the most in Oscars history.

Two African films, "Night of the Kings" (Ivory Coast) and "The Man Who Sold His Skin" (Tunisia) did make the shortlist.]

The other 13 films that advanced to the next round of voting from the category are, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 'Quo Vadis, Aida?', Chile, 'The Mole Agent' Czech Republic, 'Charlatan', Denmark, 'Another Round', France, 'Two of Us' and Guatemala, 'La Llorona'.

Others are Hong Kong, 'Better Days', Iran, 'Sun Children', Mexico, 'I'm No Longer Here', Norway, 'Hope' Romania, 'Collective', Russia, 'Dear Comrades!' and Taiwan, 'A Sun'.

The Executive Committee for the International Feature Film (IFF) category of the Oscars had confirmed the eligibility of Nigeria's official submission, "The Milkmaid", among other contenders for the 93rd Academy Awards on January 30.

The official acceptance of the film by the Academy is a first-time feat for Nigeria at the Oscars, having disqualified "Lionheart", the country's first submission in 2019 for not meeting the non-English dialogue criteria.

This led to the controversy of whether or not Nigerian pidgin should not be considered a local language.

Although the Oscars has since reviewed the rule, giving approval for dialogues in pidgin, 'The Milkmaid', shot with Hausa, Fulfulde, and Arabic dialogues appear to have been made with the original Academy rules in mind and had not left anything to chance.

Another shortlist is expected to be released in March, ahead of the 93rd Academy Awards ceremony on April 25, 2021.

The Daily Beast

Screenshot/YouTubeA Christian diet guru and six other people are presumed dead after her small plane crashed into the waters of Tennessee lake on Saturday morning. Authorities were called to the Percy Priest Lake around 11 a.m., not long after the plane took off from the nearby Smyrna Rutherford County Airport. Late Saturday evening, investigators said they believed all seven passengers had perished. The cause of the crash is still under investigation. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Joe Lara (@joelaraofficial) The plane, a Cessna C501, belonged Gwen Shamblin Lara, founder of the Remnant Fellowship Church and author of The Weigh Down Workshop, and her husband William J. Lara, who went by Joe. The couple lived in nearby Brentwood and had registered the plane via their company JL&GL Productions LP. The aircraft has not been located, but Tennessee Highway Patrol told News Channel 5 that officers located debris consistent with a Cessna C501 and that a small plane had been seen descending into the water near a boat ramp early Saturday.Laras daughter, Elizabeth Hannah, sent a text message to members of the Remnant Fellowship Church saying that her mother and father were aboard the aircraft when it was forced to make a quick, controlled landing. All the planes passengers had ties to the church, including Hannahs own husband Brandon, according to her text. The others aboard were David and Jennifer Martin and Jonathan and Jessica Walters, according to authorities.My brother and I are asking for immediate prayers right now, as we have just gotten word that Gwen and Joe Laras plane had to go down, Hannah wrote before authorities said everyone appeared to have been killed. More information to come, but be in prayerand be at peace, the message continued. GOD IS IN CONTROL, and we will not stop moving forward with WHAT GOD WANTS with this church.Read more at The Daily Beast.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.

Venture over to Minute Maid Park, and you'll stumble upon a Houston Victorian architectural gem that may seem a little out-of-place. The curious question that's baffled Houstonians over the years: "Why is that charming blue Houston icon sitting right next to a baseball field?"

Now, this home known as the Cohn home is officially on the move.

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Built in 1905, the two-story home will likely be headed to a city park east of U.S. 59, according to Mayor Sylvester Turner's director of communications Mary Benton. Moving along with the home will be a historic locomotive that also rests on the land near Minute Maid Park.

In 2019, a company affiliated with the Houston Astros' bought the land where the Cohn home sits for $17 million. This week, they plan to break ground on a mixed-use residential and retail development, according to the Houston Chronicle's Rebecca Schuetz.

Right after the Astros' deal was made in 2019, Houston First's Peter McStravack told ABC-13 that the city bought the home years ago and moved the house to its current location near Minute Maid Park. The home was intended to be used as a Houston heritage center, but unfortunately plans fell through due to lack of funding.

"It was supposed to be a part of regional heritage center that we were developing on this site," McStravick said "Unfortunately, the oil and gas industry, the markets did not hold their value, so we decided to go ahead and postpone that project."

This isn't the first time the home has made a move. The Victorian home has changed hands several times and moved from Rusk Street to its location on Avenida De Las Americas right next Minute Maid Park, according to Houston Public Media's Abner Fletcher.

The blue-and-white home once graced on Houston's first upscale neighborhood called Quality Hill. If you're puzzled by a "hill" found in the coastal plains of Houston, the name reportedly refers to a spot that residents used to look down on Buffalo Bayou and Allen's Landing, according to Preservation Houston's Jim Parsons.

"And in Houston, you know, you take your hills where you can find them," Parsons said in an interview with Houston Public Media.

[February 11, 2021] Jaro Education launches a new online program in Corporate Finance and Analytics in collaboration with KPMG India

MUMBAI, India, Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Jaro Education and KPMG India have collaborated to offer training programs to students/ professionals. With a digital boom, every sector has revamped itself with the latest technological advances and the finance sector is no different. During this period of the digital boom, it is extremely crucial to polish one's skills at their workplace. Career growth is guaranteed if one upgrades themselves with skill sets which include Financial Modeling, Tableau, Fintech, Data Analysis, and Blockchain. Finding the right course can be difficult for a working professional because of time constraints. Keeping this requirement in mind, Jaro Education and KPMG India have come together to deliver a certification program in Corporate Finance and Analytics. This online course will benefit finance professionals to a greater extent. These professionals will then need advanced digital knowledge to up skill themselves. If a finance professional is not well-versed with Financial Planning & Analytics, Financial Modeling, Tableau, Data Analysis, Fintech, or Blockchain, this certification could be beneficial to upgrade their skills and make them future-ready./p>



"The entire program is constructed around real-world scenarios. While one learns the frameworks and concepts, numerous assignments are expertly crafted to allow one an opportunity to apply the concepts in real-world scenarios. Jaro Education is the program's marketing and technology partner," said an official from KPMG India.

Jaro Education is extremely thrilled about the collaboration with KPMG India and believes that this course could give great stimulation to the finance professionals, especially in the banking, finance, and insurance sectors. "The partnership with KPMG focuses on bridging the finance and analytics skill-gap in the workforce. The ideal candidate for the course is a professional in finance with 3-6 years of post-qualification experience. KPMG India experts will deliver the programme, which aims to bridge the skill gaps," said Ms Ranjita Raman, CEO of Jaro Education. This course will be of greater advantage to financing managers, corporate finance professionals, chartered accountants, MBA finance, and CFA program candidates, self-employed finance professionals, and graduates. The admissions are closing soon and last date to apply is 27th February, 2021. Apply for the program here: https://www.jaroeducation.com/kpmg/certificate-program-corporate-finance-analytics/?utm_source=pr&utm_medium=digitalhangover&utm_campaign=kpmg About Jaro Education Jaro Education is one of the pioneers in the executive education space. It is seen as a bridge, helping the institutes and universities to develop online and technology-based programs to cater to the needs of working professionals. Jaro Education offers a wide range of choices in management and technology programs from reputed universities and institutes, worldwide. Jaro takes pride in its premium associations with IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Trichy, IIM Nagpur, IMT Ghaziabad, KPMG, NSE Academy.

Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1433624/Jaro_Education_Logo.jpg

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Charleston police arrested a 29-year-old man in connection with a shooting that left a King Street bar worker injured on Feb. 5.

Brandon Jarell Bailey, of Charleston, was arrested Feb. 10 by police and federal marshals, authorities said.

He faces four counts of first-degree assault and battery, two counts of attempted murder and one count each of possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime and unlawfully carrying a handgun, police said.

Police said an employee of King Street Public House was shot after a group outside the bar got into a shouting match when they were told the establishment was closed for the night due to pandemic restrictions and they couldn't come inside.

The victim, 28-year-old Javar Dwayne Middleton, was identified as a bar employee and was transported to Medical University Hospital for treatment.

When contacted by phone, a King Street Public House employee said no managers were available and he was unable to make any comments. When asked how Middleton's recovery was going, the employee said he was unable to disclose that information.

The shooting happened Feb. 5 about 11 p.m., when bars in the city of Charleston were preparing to close due to COVID-19 restrictions put in place by state officials.

Officers were patrolling nearby when they heard gunshots coming from a nearby bar and were able to immediately respond, according to an incident report. When officers arrived, they found Middleton on the ground next to the pinball machines near the bar, wounded with a gunshot to his left leg.

Outside the bar on upper King, sidewalks were filled with onlookers as officers took statements from witnesses.

At least one bullet hole was visible in the bars windows and officers kept the street cordoned off with crime scene tape for more than an hour.

Police continue to investigate the shooting. Anyone with information can call the Charleston County Consolidated 911 Center at 843-743-7200.
Its been said that history repeats itself, first as tragedy then as farce.

We saw the tragedy on Jan. 6. Now were seeing the farce.

That came when Donald Trump sent in his second-string defense team in his impeachment trial.

He had parted ways with the first-stringers, reportedly over the issue of whether they would press his argument that he actually won the 2020 election in a landslide, as he likes to say.

Or maybe they were afraid he was going to stiff them on their fees. The locals in Atlantic City tell me that the only way you could expect the Donald to pay you for your first job was if he needed you for a second job,

That sort of reputation doesnt lend itself to hiring the top legal minds in the country. (As Bob Menendez did.) Instead Trump got the former district attorney for Montgomery County, a pleasant Philadelphia suburb.

Bruce Castor sounded like he was still running in a county election instead of defending a former president of the United States.

He began by recalling records his parents had of the speeches of Everett Dirksen, an Illinois senator who was the sort of Washington insider Trump most dislikes. In his faux-folksy tone, Castor offered this aside: And we still know what records are, right? The thing you put the needle down on and you play it.

He added, Heres little Bruce - 8, 9, 10 years old - listening to that back in the 60s 

My immediate reaction was that perhaps Trump had settled on a brilliant strategy. Its the Senate; why not filibuster? Maybe he hired Castor to get up there and change the subject until this trial is over.

That turned out not to be the case. Trump was reported to be furious with Castor.

One remark that really ticked The Donald off was the suggestion by Castor that the charges of incitement against Trump belong in a criminal court rather than in the Senate

After hes out of office, you go and arrest him, Castor said.

Though he was speaking hypothetically, this was an excellent point. But I doubt if Trump enjoyed hearing it made, especially when Castor added The Department of Justice does know what to do with such people.

What the department does is to amass all the evidence before indictment and trial. That didnt happen in this impeachment. The FBI is still arresting participants and gathering evidence concerning the events of Jan. 6.

In an article Tuesday headlined, Capitol Riot Warnings Werent Acted On, the Wall Street Journal reported that the governments prosecutions of alleged rioters cite some evidence of coordination and planning to disrupt Congress by members of far-right fringe groups such as the Proud Boys, Oath Keepers and Three Percenters.

The article went on to report how federal and District of Columbia officials failed to act on those warnings.

But thats not the issue. The issue is whether it was Trump or these various fringe groups who incited the crowd to break into the Capitol that day.

If I may invoke a legal cliche, the jurys still out on that. One eyewitness I interviewed is a video and radio producer from Indiana by the name of Tim Cramer who saw Trump speak that day.

It was all hyperbole, Cramer said of the speech. He used the words fight, stand up, take back, but nothing more than he had at any point.

When Trump got into listing his accomplishments over the prior four years, Cramer left and walked over to the Capitol. There was just a small crowd there at the time, he said, most wearing those red MAGA hats.

But he noticed a group of about 20 guys all wearing orange caps who would muscle their way up front of a crowd and start provoking the police. They would retreat once the police responded, he said.

They stuck together, Cramer said. Whatever their goal was, they were doing it as a group.

Was it these characters who incited the riot? In a criminal trial before an impartial jury, conviction requires a unanimous verdict.

But this is a political trial being held before a jury divided 50-50 by party. It takes 67 votes to convict.

We got a preview of the end result when the Senate voted Tuesday on the question of whether the constitution permits the trial of a president once hes out of office. All of the Democrats voted yes but only six Republicans agreed.

This trial is likely to end with a similar result. In the meantime we will see copious evidence of how Donald Trump is a loudmouth who ignores the Constitution.

But we knew that already.

And if that were an impeachable offense, Congress would have a hard time filling all the seats.
UPDATE: Jenoah Donald, shot in head by Clark County sheriffs deputy, has died, lawyer says

The man shot by a Clark County sheriffs deputy last week during a chaotic traffic stop is expected to be removed from life support as authorities revealed he had been pulled over for a bad taillight.

Jenoah D. Donald, 30, was taken to PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center in Vancouver after Deputy Sean Boyle, a K-9 handler, shot at him twice Feb. 4. Investigators said Donald and two deputies struggled inside Donalds Mercedes sedan and Boyle shot him when Donald ignored commands to let go of Boyle.

Police said one of the bullets stuck Donald, and the familys lawyer, Mark Lindquist, said Donald was shot in the head.

Clark County Deputy Sean Boyle with his police dog.

The family plans to have Donald removed from life support Thursday, Lindquist said. He said Donalds mother and brother were at his side.

Doctors dont expect him to survive, Lindquist said. For the family, its almost unimaginable a defective rear light led to this.

Donald, a Black man from Clark County, was shot during the stop in Hazel Dell, less than a mile away from the Oct. 29 shooting of Kevin Peterson Jr., a 21-year-old Black man from Camas. Clark County deputies fatally shot Peterson as he ran from an undercover Xanax pill sting.

A search warrant filed with Clark County District Court in Donalds case said investigators found an eyeglass container holding unspecified drug paraphernalia in the bronze Mercedes that Donald was driving when he was shot. Police also found a laptop, cordless drill, two phones and Donalds medical bracelet.

The car had been previously registered to a Fairview man and was listed as totaled/reconstructed, the search warrant says. The cars registration had expired, according to the records.

Donald was cited by the Clark County Sheriffs Office on Jan. 21 for driving with a suspended license, the affidavit says.

Vancouver police are leading the investigation into Donalds shooting and went nearly a week before releasing any details about what happened.

Police spokeswoman Kim Kapp on Wednesday released the police account.

According to police, the sequence leading to Donalds shooting began when county deputies responded to Northwest Jordan Way because a neighbor called to complain about a drug house and reported two suspicious vehicles circling the area.

It is unclear if Donald had any connection to the home or if his car was one of the two that had been reported circling nearby.

Boyle, one of the three deputies who responded, saw a Mercedes with Oregon license plates leaving the area, police said.

Boyle followed the car, noticed it had a defective rear light and pulled over Donald near the intersection of Northeast Second Avenue and 68th Street, according to the police synopsis.

Boyle told investigators that Donald produced his drivers license but no proof of insurance or registration, according to the police report. Donald told Boyle his license was suspended, according to the search warrant affidavit.

Deputy Holly Troupe came over to the passenger side of the Mercedes, saw several objects inside the car that caused her to become concerned, the report says.

One item, the report states, was a ball-handled object with a three-to-four inch sharpened stake at the end. Troupe told Donald to put his hands where she could see them because she was concerned he could quickly pick up the ball-handled object, according to the report.

There is never even a suggestion that he used it or reached for it, said Lindquist, the familys lawyer.

Police on Thursday declined to release a photograph of the object. Kapp said no additional information is being released at this time.

Troupe was quoted in the police report saying Donald did not comply with her commands, put his hands behind his lower back and pulled out his cellphone and a pair of metal pliers.

Boyle had gone back to his police car but came back toward Donalds car and told Donald to get out of the car but he did not comply, the report says.

Meanwhile, a third deputy, Greg Agar, arrived.

Boyle and Troupe then tried to remove Donald from the car, but he resisted and began to struggle, according to the report. Troupe tried unsuccessfully to gain pain compliance, although the report does not clarify what that means and Kapp declined to provide further details.

Boyle then punched Donald in the nose, according to the report. Boyle later said he felt Donald pull on his tactical vest and tug him inside the Mercedes.

Boyle told Donald several times to let go of him during the struggle, the report says, but Donald continued to pull on him. Troupe also told investigators she was worried Donald would hit Boyle with the ball-handled object.

Donalds car had been off, according to the report, but at some point during the struggle he turned it on. The report did not clarify whether Donald turned on the car intentionally or by accident.

Boyle told investigators he felt the car move forward and worried he was going to be killed. He said he pulled out his gun and warned Donald that he would shoot him if he did not let go of him.

Donald did not let go, according to the report, and Boyle fired two shots at him, striking Donald once.

The report says Boyle was able to free himself and that the car began rolling away, stopping when it hit a nearby fence.

The three deputies then took Donald out of the car and helped him until he was taken to a hospital, according to the report.

Lindquist said police mishandled the encounter.

All the evidence so far indicates the situation was escalated by the officers not Jenoah, he said.

Boyle previously fired his weapon during a September 2018 pursuit of a man in Hazel Dell who drove away after crashing into a parked vehicle in the Felida area, according to The Columbian newspaper.

The suspect in that case, Christopher Franklin Rollins, then 23, was not wounded. The Regional Major Crimes Team investigated the shooting, but whether prosecutors found the deadly use of force to be justified is unknown, the newspaper reported.

Clark County Prosecuting Attorney Tony Golik on Thursday said he will ask an outside prosecuting attorney to review the investigation once it is complete and has been submitted to his office. Golik took the same approach with the Peterson case. Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney Mary Robnett is still reviewing that case.

-- Noelle Crombie; ncrombie@oregonian.com; 503-276-7184; @noellecrombie
Joe Biden on Wednesday held his first call as president with Xi Jinping, pressing the Chinese leader about trade and Beijing's crackdown on democracy activists in Hong Kong as well as other human rights concerns.

The two leaders spoke just hours after Biden announced plans for a Pentagon task force to review U.S. national security strategy in China and after the new U.S. president announced he was levying sanctions against Myanmar's military regime following this month's coup in the southeast Asian country.

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A White House statement said Biden raised concerns about Beijings coercive and unfair economic practices." Biden also pressed Xi on Hong Kong, human rights abuses against Uighur and ethnic minorities in the western Xinjiang province, and its actions toward Taiwan.

I told him I will work with China when it benefits the American people," Biden posted on Twitter after the call.

Chinas state broadcaster CCTV said Xi and Biden exchanged greetings on the occasion of the Chinese New Year, and had an in-depth exchange of views on the bilateral relationship and major international and regional issues."

Biden, who had dealt with the Chinese leader when he served as Barack Obamas vice president, used his first three weeks in the White House to make several calls with other leaders in the Indo-Pacific region. He has tried to send the message that he would take a radically different approach to China than former President Donald Trump, who placed trade and economic issues above all else in the U.S.-China relationship.

With Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga late last month, Biden underscored the U.S. commitment to protecting the Senkaku Islands, a group of uninhabited islets administered by Tokyo but claimed by Beijing. In his call with Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Biden emphasized the need for close cooperation to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific." And in his call with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison last week, the president highlighted that the two nations' alliance was essential to stability in the region, the White House said.

Top aides to Biden have repeatedly heard from Asia-Pacific counterparts who had become discouraged by Trumps frequently sharp rhetoric aimed at allies, talk of reducing troop levels in South Korea and odd interactions with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un, according to a senior administration official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the private calls.

Allies in the region have made clear they want a more purposeful and steady approach to engagements going forward, according to the official.

To that end, Biden and other top administration officials have taken care in their initial interactions with their counterparts to look to the long game in resetting the relationships.

Biden used Wednesday's call to raise concerns about Beijings crackdown on activists in Hong Kong and about its policies affecting Muslims and ethnic minorities in Xinjiang. In the final hours of the Trump administration, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo declared that the Chinese Communist Party had committed crimes against humanity against the predominantly Muslim Uighurs and other minority groups.

The White House also said Biden made clear his concern about Beijings increasingly assertive" action with Taiwan. Beijing claims full sovereignty over Taiwan, even as the two sides have been governed separately for more than seven decades.

Days into Bidens presidency, China dispatched warplanes close to the island. The U.S. Navy, in turn, last week sent a guided-missile destroyer through the waterway that separates China and Taiwan.

One area that Biden doesnt appear ready to move quickly on is discontinuing Trumps trade war with China, which led to tariffs on their steel, aluminum and other goods.

Biden plans to leave the tariffs in place as his administration conducts a top-to-bottom review of trade policy. Administration officials note that the president is still awaiting confirmation of his U.S. trade representative nominee, Katherine Tai, and his pick for commerce secretary, Gina Raimondo. Both are expected to play key roles in helping shape China trade policy.

Administration officials say Biden also wants to consult with allies in Asia and Europe before making decisions on tariffs.

Biden and Xi know each other well and have had frank exchanges.

Biden played host to then-Chinese vice president Xi during his 2012 visit to the United States. Biden used that visit to get a read of Xi and was blunt at moments, even raising concerns about Chinese theft of intellectual property and human rights abuses during a luncheon toast.

The following year, when Biden visited China, he publicly criticized Beijing for refusing to affirm that it would renew the visas of American journalists and for blocking the websites of American-based news media sites.

Biden has said he believes there are areas where the U.S. and China can work closely, such as addressing climate change and preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons. But ultimately, Biden said recently, he expects the U.S.-China relationship to be one of extreme competition" in coming years.

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An acknowledged member of the Ku Klux Klan was sentenced Tuesday to three years and eight months in prison on charges he drove his pickup truck through a crowd of Black Lives Matter protesters near Virginias capital city.

Harry Rogers, 37, of Hanover County, was convicted of three counts of assault and battery, one count of destruction of property and one count of failure to stop at the scene of an accident in connection with the attack last June in Henrico County near Richmond, news outlets reported.

Rogers pleaded guilty Feb. 5 and had three felony charges and a fourth misdemeanor assault count dropped. He was originally sentenced to six years in jail in August, but he appealed that conviction.

Authorities said Rogers struck at least two people after driving over a median near a Confederate monument and then through a group of protestors in a roadway. Nobody was seriously injured, though officials said he ran over a mans toe and twice hit a woman who stepped in front of the truck.

Defense attorney George Townsend argued that the protesters who were struck put themselves into the vehicles way. Townsend had previously said Rogers was a member of the KKK.

Before he was arrested, Rogers boasted about the incident on social media.

This Chevrolet 2500 went up on the curb and through the protest, he said on a Facebook live video played in court. They started scattering like (expletive) cockroaches ... Its kind of funny if you ask me.

He told the court on Tuesday that he was sorry for his actions, and he said he didnt make the right decisions that day, news outlets reported.

The incident came last year amid nationwide protests against racial injustice and law enforcement treatment of minorities after the police custody death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 11) - The Supreme Court named retired Chief Justice Reynato Puno as an amicus curiae or a 'friend of the court' in the oral arguments on the controversial Anti-Terrorism Act.

An amicus curiae is an experienced and impartial lawyer who the court invites to give an opinion that may help resolve a legal conflict.

The high court formalized Puno's appointment in a February 9 court resolution.

Puno will join former Associate Justice Francis Jardeleza as an amicus curiae in the oral arguments, which tackle the legal challenges to the controversial law.

Republic Act No. 11479, or the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020, repeals the Human Security Act of 2007, giving more surveillance powers to government forces. Among its contentious features is a provision allowing suspected terrorists to be arrested without warrant and detained without charges for up to 24 days.

Critics said the hotly-contested measure relaxes safeguards on human rights and is open to abuse, but lawmakers who authored and sponsored the bill said it is at par with the laws of other countries and will not be used against law-abiding citizens.

A total of 37 petitions were filed before the SC to challenge the Anti-Terrorism Act's legality. The oral arguments for the controversial law will continue on February 16.

The newly-appointed Jinja Resident City Commissioner (RCC), Retired Maj David Matovu, has asked whoever is planning protests to do so while carrying a coffin on their head.

Maj Matovu, while officially assuming office last week, was allaying fears that protests would rock the country following the January 14 General Election.

He was also adding his voice to that of the Minister of Information and National Guidance, Ms Judith Nabakooba, who had earlier said there were elements planning to shutdown the country through riots.

"I don't want to see such riots or hear of them in Jinja; it will be really treason and whoever will be involved should carry a coffin on their head, rest it by the roadside then go and protest on the highway and people's buildings are destroyed," Maj Matovu told a meeting at City Hall.

In attendance were politicians, technical staff, business community, cultural and religious leaders, among others.

He added: "And this also applies to all of you with businesses and wealth in Jinja; you should not tolerate such nonsense."

President Museveni last month reshuffled Resident District Commissioners (RDCs) and their deputies, two days to the General Election, dropping Jinja RDC, Mr Eric Sakwa, whom he replaced with Ms Deborah Mwesigwa.

He also appointed Maj Matovu as the first Jinja RCC following its attainment of City status on July, 1, 2020.

Following the General Election, National Unity Platform (NUP) President, Mr Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu (Bobi Wine), was placed under house arrest, while several of his supporters are reportedly missing or face various charges at the General Court Martial.

Security agencies accused Bobi Wine of mobilising to carry out nationwide riots, allegations he has denied, saying he has no knowledge of such planned civil unrest.

"We have always asked our supporters and Ugandans at large to follow the law. We believe in non-violence and it is what we have been advocating," he said last week, adding that if Ugandans are not happy with what is happening, the Constitution provides for peaceful demonstrations.

Maj Matovu, however, promised to work with everybody, including the Opposition, but only if they are 'honest and realistic'.

Mr Moses Bizitu, the NUP coordinator for Busoga Sub-region, has scoffed at Maj Matovu's talk and also asked him to carry his own coffin on his head.

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"He's not the first person to talk about people carrying coffins. Even himself must be prepared to carry a coffin on his head. If he doesn't know his duties, he should be taken for a refresher course other than telling protesters to carry coffins on their head," he said.

Bishop Charles Isabirye Bameka, the national presiding Bishop of the Lutheran Church, who led an opening devotion, challenged the public to respect those in power.

The law

According to the Constitution of Uganda, the guaranteed include the right to life (Article 22), to liberty (Article 23), and to freedom from torture and inhuman treatment and to dignity (Article 24).

Under the law, no person shall be deprived of life intentionally except in execution of a sentence passed in a fair trial by a court of competent jurisdiction in respect of a criminal offence under the laws of Uganda and the conviction and sentence have been confirmed by the highest appellate court.
The AstraZeneca vaccine forms the bulk of the UN COVAX stockpile, which aims to deploy coronavirus vaccines fairly and globally.

Independent experts advising the World Health Organization about immunization on Wednesday recommended the use of AstraZenecas vaccine even in countries that turned up worrying coronavirus variants in their populations. The WHO experts advice is used by health care officials worldwide, but doesnt amount to a green light for the United Nations and its partners to ship the vaccine to countries that have signed up to receive the shots through a global initiative. That approval could come after separate WHO group meetings on Friday and Monday to assess whether an emergency-use listing for the AstraZeneca vaccine is warranted.

The AstraZeneca vaccine is important because it forms the bulk of the stockpile acquired so far by the U.N.-backed effort known as COVAX, which aims to deploy coronavirus vaccines to people globally. COVAX plans to start shipping hundreds of millions of doses of the vaccine worldwide later this month, but that is contingent on WHO approval for the shot, vaccine stocks and countries readiness to receive it.

But the vaccine has faced rising concerns. After an early study suggested that it might be less effective against a variant first seen in South Africa, the South African government scrambled to tweak its COVID-19 vaccination program.

Even if there is a reduction in the possibility of this vaccine having a full impact in its protection capacity, especially against severe disease, there is no reason not to recommend its use even in countries that have the circulation of the variants, said Dr. Alejandro Cravioto, chair of the WHOs expert group.

Instead of rolling out 1 million AstraZeneca doses as planned, South Africas health minister said Wednesday that the government would start immunizing health workers with the still-unlicensed shot from Johnson & Johnson.

The expert groups recommendations about the AstraZeneca vaccine, which was developed at Oxford University in Britain, largely mirror those issued earlier by the European Medicines Agency and Britains drug regulator.

Cravioto said the AstraZeneca vaccine should be used in older age groups despite the lack of solid data, similar to advice from the EMA and Britain.

That means people over 65 years of age should be given the vaccination, he said.

Countries including Germany, France and Belgium, however, have said the AstraZeneca vaccine should not be used in older people, citing insufficient evidence.

The WHOs chief scientist, Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, noted that the AstraZeneca shot requires storage at refrigerator temperatures  not the far colder temperatures required of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine that the group has already recommended for use.

So far, the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is the only one to receive a WHO emergency use listing.

The expert group noted that preliminary analyses showed the AstraZeneca vaccine had a reduced effectiveness against coronavirus variants that have emerged in Britain and South Africa. Still, the studies were too small to produce definitive results and scientists think the vaccines might still be helpful in reducing severe disease, which would greatly slow the pandemic.

Any decision to leave vulnerable populations completely unprotected is a risky decision at this point in time, said Michael Head, a senior research fellow at the University of Southampton. Therefore, it is good to see the WHO recommend the use of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine in all ages groups, including older populations, he said in a statement.

The WHOs expert group also said international travelers shouldnt get preference for vaccine doses, saying that would counter the principle of equity while adding there was no evidence yet about whether vaccinations reduced transmission.
Cold weather can create health issues for many people, but some are more susceptible than others. In particular, cold can be especially difficult for cancer patients.

"Cancer, in general, puts a lot of stress on the body, and when we have stress on the body, we have trouble regulating other parts of our normal physiology," Dr. Nicholas Rohs, an oncologist at Mount Sinai in New York City, told AccuWeather.

Rohs said advising his patients about problems that can arise during cold weather is a regular part of his treatment routine.

It's not necessarily cancer itself that causes cold sensitivities -- it's therapies and side effects, Rohs said, that create problems, although cancer stresses out the entire system which puts a patient at a higher risk in general.

"People with really advanced cancers that are taking a really big toll on their body can have trouble regulating their own temperature," Rohs explained. "Inflammatory markers are flying around that can adjust how we are able to accommodate to our surroundings."

Dr. Nicholas Rohs, MD Medical Oncology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. (AccuWeather)

Chemotherapy and cold weather can be dangerous

Cold impacts can vary depending on the type of drug a patient is receiving. "Oxaliplatin is a very common chemotherapy medication we give," Rohs said. "That medication has a side effect called cold-induced neuropathy."

Patients being treated with Oxaliplatin who suffer cold-induced neuropathy can experience "numbness, tingling in their fingers, toes and even other parts of their bodies," Rohs said, adding that the condition "can get so bad they can be numb so they may not sense cold as well. But Oxaliplatin has this cold-induced neuropathy where when I give it to my patients they have hypersensitivity to cold to even a level where my patients say, 'I grabbed a sort of cold spoon and I couldn't hold it. I went to open my fridge and I couldn't.' And if it's really bad, people can be in an air-conditioned room and feel super uncomfortable because of it."

Story continues

Neuropathy is when the nerves malfunction, causing numbness or weakness. These patients experience cold temperatures, which can cause numbness, tingling, pain and muscle weakness. Neuropathies frequently start in the hands and feet but can affect other parts of the body as well. Rohs says this can cause them to be more prone to frostbite because they might not realize how cold their hands and fingers are getting in cold weather.

"If you have bad neuropathies -- and I actually have neuropathies not related to chemotherapy in my feet, I could go walk around in the snow for five or 10 minutes and not feel it the same way that a normal person would -- that can be really dangerous. If you can't sense the danger, you can't get away from it, so for people who have really significant neuropathies, they definitely need to be really thoughtful about wearing good cold-weather gear."

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Rohs advises his patients to wear gloves and layers, so they can adjust to temperatures as they go in and out of buildings and different settings.

Julene Diedrich, a Marshfield Clinic nurse practitioner in Oncology tells Shine365, "We even tell these patients to avoid cold drinks or ice."

Cancer patients at higher risk of flu, cold, pneumonia and other viruses and infections

Chemotherapy can also compromise the immune system, making a patient extremely vulnerable to viruses or infections, which means common illnesses like the cold, flu or pneumonia can be life-threatening.

Rohs said someone who is not receiving chemotherapy might "easily fend off" a case of the common cold or flu, but "somebody who has a low blood count [a side effect of chemotherapy] might not be able to do the same. Patients receiving chemotherapy can also be susceptible to bacterial infection," he said. "They can get really robust pneumonia and things like that that they can't easily fight off."

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One of the most common side effects of chemotherapy is that it attacks quickly dividing blood cells. Those cells include white and red blood cells. After a chemo treatment, patients often have lower white blood cell counts, particularly neutrophils, which are the first cells to arrive on the scene when someone experiences a bacterial infection. That's what lowers a patient's immunity. Having low red blood cell counts can make people feel colder and be more susceptible to cold.

"You don't have those red blood cells to circulate everything that you need and your body. If it's more anemic, your blood vessels in your peripheral part of your body -- the outsides of your body -- will clamp down more, so you can have more blood in your central areas because those are clearly more critical to us," Rohs said. "Our lungs, our heart -- all of these things are in the middle of our body."

If the body is going into a state in which it's really cold, the circulatory system is going to shunt blood to the middle of our body, Rohs continued. "So when we're anemic, our body will try and keep most of the blood pool where it's most critical so you're likely to have cold fingers, toes, things like that."

Some patients can also be prone to cold-induced asthma, which occurs when lungs react to the temperature by narrowing, making it tougher to breathe.

"Patients who already have breathing issues, going out into the cold can be particularly irritating to their lungs and cause them to feel like their more short of breath and actually make them more short of breath because they can't breathe as well," Rohs said.



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Cancer patients more prone to serious injury from an icy fall

In addition to treatment-induced issues, cancer patients often lose large amounts of weight, Rohs told AccuWeather. "Things like 20, 30 pounds for months so that's our biggest insulator," he said, adding that bodies that have lost a lot of weight due to chemotherapy can "have a lot of trouble regulating temperature."

Weight isn't just an insulator; it's padding that protects bones at a time when they are at their most fragile. Many cancer treatments cause bone loss also. Hormonal therapies often used to treat breast cancer can strip bone density, which is called osteoporosis. Osteopenia occurs when the body doesn't make new bone as quickly as it reabsorbs old bone. Both conditions put cancer patients at a high risk of becoming seriously injured when slipping and falling on ice. Rohs says a bone fracture can be devastating for a cancer patient whose body is already under tremendous stress.

"People have trouble adjusting to such an abrupt change in their physical health so they'll say, 'Well, I can still walk out to the street. Oh, it's a little icy, I do that all the time,' and they're more likely to fall and also when we talk about those neuropathies ...You might not be able to feel as steady on your feet, so you're more likely to slip and fall."

He added,"[If] we're having a snowstorm in New York I say. 'Hey -- stay home!' It's not the end of the world for many of my patients."

Bottom line, if you or someone you know is undergoing chemotherapy or other cancer treatments, pay particular attention to the weather forecast, so you can dress appropriately for the temperature.

"I tell my patients, you know, wear gloves, bring layers so that you can adjust to temperatures as you go in and out of buildings, or just different settings."

Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier, Spectrum, Fubo, and Verizon Fios.
The Mandalorians Gina Carano is in hot water after a recent Instagram post. And it certainly isnt the first time Caranos been the subject of controversy. Unfortunately, her posts got her fired from the show. But fans are wondering why fellow Mandalorian star Pedro Pascal isnt getting the same treatment after past social media posts. Heres whats going on.

The Mandalorian creators fired Gina Carano for her Instagram post

Gina Carano attends the premiere of Disney+s The Mandalorian | Rodin Eckenroth/FilmMagic

RELATED: Gina Carano Fired at Lucasfilm; The Mandalorian Actor Is No Longer With the Studio, a Statement Said

Carano worked as an MMA fighter, and she later gained a ton of fame as Cara Dune in the Disney+ series, The Mandalorian. Unfortunately, her days with the show are over. Page Six reports the actor was booted off the series after recent Twitter activity.

Gina Carano is not currently employed by Lucasfilm and there are no plans for her to be in the future, a Lucasfilm spokesperson wrote. Nevertheless, her social media posts denigrating people based on their cultural and religious identities are abhorrent and unacceptable.

As for what caused the firing, Carano posted an insensitive Instagram post stating the current political climate in the U.S. is akin to that of Nazi Germany. Jews were beaten in the streets, not by Nazi soldiers but by their neighbors even by children, the post read. Because history is edited, most people today dont realize that to get to the point where Nazi soldiers could easily round up thousands of Jews, the government first made their own neighbors hate them simply for being Jews.

Fans think Pedro Pascal has similar Instagram posts

#Mandalorian fans point to @PedroPascal1 tweets amid @ginacarano firing ("Pascal, 45, received no apparent consequences for his comparison of Donald Trump supporters to Nazis in a November post he subsequently deleted. ") https://t.co/LgLUgTYK3q via @nypost  Dave Lucas (@davelucas) February 11, 2021

While fans were quick to call out Carano on social media, theyre not asking for additional accountability from Mandalorian star Pascal. Bounding Into Comics notes Pascal added his own post to Instagram comparing Donald Trumps supporters to Nazis.

The meme Pascal posted started with the image of the battle flag of the army of Northern Virginia along with the text, Losers in 1865. Then, he posted the Nazi Germany flag with, Losers in 1945. Finally, he posted the Make America Great Again hat with, Losers in 2020. He later deleted the post.

Some are calling for Lucasfilms to fire Pascal over the post, though. #Mandalorian fans point to @PedroPascal1 tweets amid @ginacarano firing (Pascal, 45, received no apparent consequences for his comparison of Donald Trump supporters to Nazis in a November post he subsequently deleted), journalist Dave Lucas tweeted.

Pedro Pascal has shown support for Gina Carano in the past

Pedro Pascal and Gina Carano arrive at the premiere of Lucasfilms The Mandalorian | Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney

RELATED: The Mandalorian Cast Has Opinions About Gina Caranos return

So, how do Pascal and Carano feel about each other? Its unclear exactly how Pascal will respond to Caranos firing just yet. But in the past, hes shown some subtle support for his Mandalorian co-star.

We Got This Covered reported Carano also criticized the widespread acceptance of face mask usage in the U.S. And she supported Trump when he claimed voter fraud in the 2020 election. This brought her additional trouble.

While Pascals made it known hes not a Trump supporter, he did show support for Carano. He posted an old-school poster for The Mandalorian on his social media. In it, he tagged her as, the indomitable @ginajcarano.

Were not sure how Pascal will respond to losing his co-star on the Disney+ show. And well have to wait and see if Disney+ will reprimand him for his online activity.

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"The world must not short-change Africa on access to vaccines," Mr Adesina said.

The President of the African Development Bank, Akinwumi Adesina, has called for fair access to COVID-19 vaccines for Africans and said debt relief would help African economies recover faster and better from the pandemic.

Speaking on February 8 at a virtual event held in his honour as the outgoing African of the Year of African Leadership Magazine, the bank president warned that so long as the coronavirus was unchecked in any part of the world, no one would be safe.

"There is light at the end of the tunnel - it just happens to be a very long tunnel. I am very positive that African economies will bounce back over the next two years, but the speed of recovery will depend on ensuring that Africa gets enough vaccines for its population," Mr Adesina said.

"The world must not short-change Africa on access to vaccines," he added.

He also said significant debt relief would be key to accelerating African economies' recovery from the COVID-19 crisis.

"To recover faster, Africa will need significant debt forgiveness from bilateral and official creditors," he said during the virtual event attended by Douye Diri, the Governor of the Nigerian state of Bayelsa, and Benoy Berry, Chairman of Contec Global Worldwide.

Mr Adesina added: "While developed countries have been spending trillions of dollars for fiscal stimulus, Africa does not have such resources. The payment for vaccines is already adding to the already high debt burden."

A highlight of the conversation was Mr Adesina's induction into the magazine's African Leadership Hall of Fame for "raising the performance bar" in Africa.

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African Leadership Magazine Chairman Ken Giami said the African Development Bank had scored some outstanding achievements in 2020 under President Adesina and had "infected" Africa with optimism.

Mr Giami said: "ALM feels very proud of the President's contribution as he has raised the performance bar for future African of the Year winners. Indeed, his award was a call for greater service to the people, especially at a time when Africa needed true leadership."

Mr Adesina vowed that the African Development Bank, in collaboration with its partners, would continue to lead Africa's recovery and development after the pandemic, with a focus on youth, women and healthcare.

"Together, we will create new opportunities for African youth and trigger a youth-based wealth system for Africa. Together, we will ensure that we deliver financing for African women," he said in his concluding remarks.

He stressed: "Together, we will support Africa to build world-class, quality healthcare infrastructure, while ensuring also that the continent builds its pharmaceutical and vaccine industrial production."

African leaders who have previously won the African Leadership Magazine African of the Year award include former Liberian President and Nobel Peace Prize winner Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (2011); Sudanese businessman Mo Ibrahim (2012); former Vice President of Nigeria Atiku Abubakar (2013); former President of Tanzania Jakaya Kikwete (2014); Tanzanian businessman and philanthropist Mo Dewji (2016); and President of Rwanda, Paul Kagame (2017).

's ( ) (OTCMKTS:RDFEF) David Prentice tells Proactive's Andrew Scott they're fully-funded to drill and complete the much-anticipated Jewell Well in the SWISH AOI of Oklahoma, USA. It comes after a A$8.25 million capital raising. Brookside will now progress drilling plans at the well, which sits in the highly-sought after Sycamore-Woodford Trend in the companys SWISH Area of Interest (AOI) in the world-class Anadarko Basin.
'Chronically bored' prisoners have been locked up in their cells for almost 23 hours a day every day of the week since March to avoid Covid spreading in jails.

The statistics for prisons in England and Wales prompted the Chief Inspector of Prisons to warn that inmates are missing out of rehabilitation work and may be more likely to offend when they are released.

But official Ministry of Justice Covid data suggests the strategy may be working, as 71 prisoners have died after testing positive for the virus since March compared to previous predictions that 2,000 could lose their lives.

A total of 24 inmates died after testing positive in December 2020 - the highest figure of the pandemic. Around 6,000 positive tests have been recorded since March.

Figures for deaths and positive cases are not yet out for January but they are forecast to be lower. Vaccines are being administered in prisons, with the oldest age-groups prioritised under the same criteria as the national rollout.

So far 71 prisoners have died after testing positive for the virus since March compared to previous predictions that 2,000 could lose their lives

Around 6,000 positive tests have been recorded since March. This graph shows the cumulative total for each month

Prison visits are still banned, although inmates can speak to family and friends over Zoom.

Thousands of inmates on short sentences were released early during the pandemic in a bid to reduce overcrowding.

Additional Covid control measures include routinely testing staff and new prisoners, and requiring anyone showing symptoms to self-isolate for ten days.

Prisons minister Lucy Frazer said the action taken had 'significantly limited the spread of the virus', adding: 'We know these necessary measures have come at a cost, so we continue to support prisoners with their wellbeing and rehabilitation through vital family contact, education, work and exercise.'

However, Chief Inspector of Prisons Charlie Taylor warned that the effect of the 'prolonged' measures to contain the pandemic and the 'lack of support to reduce reoffending' could have long-term consequences and put the public at risk of 'serious harm'.

He wrote in the Telegraph: 'With such limited opportunities to get the training, education and skills that they need to turn their lives around, there is a danger that many will reoffend.

'That means more victims of crime, anti-social behaviour, violence and drug dealing.

'When people leave prison we want them to stop committing offences, to get jobs, pay taxes and take care of their families, but if we do not offer them opportunities to change, then many will too easily slip back into their old habits.

Pop paedo Gary Glitter, 76, is one of a host of elderly prisoners 'given Covid jab before guards and victims' Gary Glitter in a police mugshot Paedophile pop star Gary Glitter has reportedly had a coronavirus jab before his victims and the prison officers who are guarding him have had theirs. Glitter, 76, was reportedly among a host of elderly sex offenders who were given a vaccine last week at HMP The Verne, in Portland, Dorset. Sources told The Sun that the prisoners were not being prioritised ahead of the general public or ordinary elderly Britons. People aged over 70 and those with pre-existing conditions should be among the first to get a jab, according to official guidelines. Advertisement

The inspector's findings, based on analysis of interviews with 72 men, women and children in six prisons between September 30 and November 5, said the spread of Covid-19 was limited in prisons by a restricted daily regime which included long periods of time locked in cells and, as a result, predictions that thousands of people could die behind bars did not materialise.

But this came at a 'heavy cost' to the wellbeing of prisoners, many of whom had been locked in cells for 22.5 hours a day on average for months, Mr Taylor said.

Many likened their daily lives to the 1993 film Groundhog Day starring Bill Murray, with some saying they were 'sleeping' away their sentences.

A sense of 'hopelessness and helplessness' was becoming ingrained and some were 'chronically bored', Mr Taylor said.

He added: 'The cumulative effect of such prolonged and severe restrictions on prisoners' mental health and wellbeing is profound.

'The lack of support to reduce reoffending and help prisoners address their risk of serious harm to the public does not fill me with hope for the longer term.

'It is likely that prisoners who are released with no support to address their offending behaviour and no access to education or work will struggle to cope, potentially leading to further offending and greater strain on public services.'

The report raised questions as to whether the prison service struck the right balance between battling coronavirus and providing prisoners with enough time out of cells and activities to focus on.

It also urged action to make sure jails were ready to reinstate such programmes as soon as it was safe to do so.

Mr Taylor said he had heard suggestions that the restrictions, and a subsequent reduction in recorded violent incidents, had made prisons safer.

Thousands of inmates on short sentences were released early during the pandemic in a bid to reduce overcrowding. Pictured is an undated file photo of Wandsworth prison

'Clearly, with so little time out of cell, prisoners had less opportunity to be violent or fight, but this was not the full picture according to those we interviewed.

'Prisoners said that violence, intimidation and bullying had not stopped, but had instead taken other forms.

'The accrual of debt persisted, and some had turned to using drugs and other unhealthy coping strategies as a way of managing their isolation and boredom.'

On Wednesday at Canterbury Crown Court, defence barrister Oliver Kirk described poor prison conditions amid the pandemic as he argued gambling addict Nicole Elkabbas should not be jailed for pretending to have cancer and spending more than 45,000 in donations from well-wishers.

Judge Mark Weekes handed her a two-year-and-nine-month sentence.

The Ministry of Justice said the wellbeing of prisoners has been made a priority and rehabilitation work has been moved into cells where possible.
After initially announcing that it's holding talks with Apple over its car Hyundai last went on record saying that no negotiations are in progress. If that's due to internal disagreement or something else entirely we can't know, but it appears Apple will have no trouble securing a different partner for the project.

Nissan reps today said that it's open to collaboration with Apple after one of the journalists asked about it.

Moreover, some industry analysts suggest that as with its other products, Apple will be looking for more than one supplier and is already in talks with other Japanese car manufacturers.

Source
By Kate Kelland

LONDON (Reuters) - Roche's arthritis drug tocilizumab cuts the risk of death among patients hospitalised with severe COVID-19, also shortening the time to recovery and reducing the need for mechanical ventilation, results of a large trial showed on Thursday.

The findings - from the RECOVERY trial, which has been testing a range of potential treatments for COVID-19 since March 2020 - should help clear up confusion about whether tocilizumab has any benefit for COVID-19 patients after a slew of recent mixed trial results.

"We now know that the benefits of tocilizumab extend to all COVID patients with low oxygen levels and significant inflammation," said Peter Horby, a professor of emerging infectious diseases at Oxford University and the joint lead investigator on the RECOVERY trial.

In June last year, the RECOVERY trial found that the cheap and widely available steroid dexamethasone reduced death rates by around a third among the most severely ill COVID-19 patients. That drug has since rapidly became part of standard-of-care recommended for severe patients.

Tocilizumab, sold under the brand name Actemra, is an intravenous anti-inflammatory monoclonal antibody drug used to treat rheumatoid arthritis. It was added to the trial in April 2020 for patients with COVID-19 who required oxygen and had evidence of inflammation.

The study data were from 2,022 COVID-19 patients who were randomly allocated to receive tocilizumab by intravenous infusion and who were compared with 2,094 patients randomly allocated to usual care alone. Researchers said 82% of all patients were taking a systemic steroid such as dexamethasone.

Results showed that treatment with tocilizumab significantly reduced deaths - with 596 (29%) of the patients in the tocilizumab group dying within 28 days, compared with 694 (33%) patients in the usual care group.

This translates to an absolute difference of 4% and means that for every 25 patients treated with tocilizumab, one additional life would be saved, Horby and his co-lead investigator Martin Landray said.

They added that benefits of tocilizumab were clearly seen to be in addition to those of steroids.

"Used in combination, the impact is substantial," said Landray, who is also an Oxford professor of medicine and epidemiology.

He added that results "clearly show the benefits of tocilizumab and dexamethasone in tackling the worst consequences of COVID-19 - improving survival, shortening hospital stay, and reducing the need for mechanical ventilators."

Roche's drug division chief Bill Anderson said last week that previous mixed results were likely due to differences in the type of patients studied, when they were treated, and the endpoint - the juncture at which success or failure is measured.

"We think we're sort of zooming in on both the most relevant endpoints and relevant patient population," Anderson said. "It seems like the ideal candidates are patients who are really in that acute phase of inflammatory attack."

Actemra, along with Sanofi's similar drug Kevzara, was authorized by Britain's NHS in early January for COVID-19 patients in intensive care units after preliminary data from a smaller study called REMAP-CAP indicated it could reduce hospital stays by about 10 days.

During 2020, Actemra rose to become Roche's fifth-best-selling drug, at more than $3 billion, with nearly $600 million from COVID-19 treatment.

(Reporting by Kate Kelland in LONDON, with additional reporting by John Miller in ZURICH. Editing by David Evans)

(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.)
(Natural News) American pharmaceutical firm Moderna is developing a booster shot for its Wuhan coronavirus vaccine. The company said that its booster shot aims to improve effectiveness against the South African B1351 variant. Laboratory tests reported that the Moderna vaccine antibodies were six times lower when tested against the more worrisome variant. But the Boston-based company said its vaccine offers protection against both the South Africa and U.K. variants.

Laboratory analysis showed that the Moderna jab had six times less antibodies that block the virus from human cell receptors when tested against the South African B1351 strain. That amount of antibodies can still provide protection, albeit on a shorter period. Moderna is now working on a booster shot for the South African strain, which is going into pre-clinical trials as of writing.

The pharmaceutical firm said its vaccine worked just as well against the B117 variant found in the U.K., the same with older virus strains. However, it did not say if the jab equally worked against the P1 variant hailing from Brazil or any of the four homegrown U.S. strains.

A week earlier, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Director Dr. Anthony Fauci said the B1351 variant is the most concerning strain to have emerged. He explained that this particular strain may reduce the effectivity of existing vaccines and that it had already spread to at least 20 other countries.

Thus far, it does not appear that the South African strain is in the U.S., Fauci said during a Jan. 21 White House press briefing. That said, the level of sequence surveillance is not at the level we would like it to be.

According to the NIAID director, B1351 could enter the U.S. undetected because the country is not keeping its eyes open for new variants.

The American health expert later said that the U.K. variant may be more lethal than earlier strains. He added that vaccines may need to be upgraded to deal with the South African variant.

Fauci insisted that the current Wuhan coronavirus vaccines are still effective against the pathogen. The mutated strain only prompts a very slight dip in their effectivity, he said. (Related: Anthony Fauci, Bill Gates both have ties to COVID-19 vaccine manufacturer Moderna.)

Moderna has more problems to face aside from the South African coronavirus variant

Modernas vaccine has registered an effectivity rate of more than 94 percent against older coronavirus variants responsible for most U.S. infections. Research done by the Massachusetts pharmaceutical firm tested the mRNA-1273 vaccine on different Wuhan coronavirus variants. Samples of the new virus strains were combined with the blood plasma from a vaccinated individual.

Moderna scientists found that the B117 variant had no significant impact on the levels of neutralizing antibodies that hinder the virus from infecting human cells. The B117 strain is purported to be about 70 percent more infectious, but has shown few signs that it would reduce the effectivity of vaccines.

Moreover, the company said it is keeping a close watch on the B1351 variant from South Africa given the antibodies six-fold reduction. Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel said the firm is advancing an emerging booster candidate against the said variant. He commented: As we seek to defeat COVID-19, which has created a worldwide pandemic, we believe it is imperative to be proactive as the virus evolves.

But it appears that the drug firm has bigger problems than the B1351 strain. A number of people have reported serious side effects after getting the Moderna vaccine. ZeroHedge reported that the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) suspended its mass vaccination program that used Moderna jabs. The states health department exhorted providers to pause their immunization programs following a higher-than-usual number of adverse events reported with a specific lot of [the] Moderna vaccine.

Meanwhile, nursing home employee Shawn Skelton suffered from uncontrollable convulsions and tongue spasms after getting the Moderna shot. Skeltons partner Rich Vidiella said she experienced the adverse reactions three days after vaccination. Skelton advised against taking the vaccine in a Facebook post because of what she experienced. (Related: Moderna coronavirus vaccine causes dermal filler reactions, warns FDA.)

Even worse is the fact that antibodies against the Wuhan coronavirus dwindle after some time. Back in July 2020, The Hill reported that British researchers examined the immune responses of patients and health care workers who contracted COVID-19. They found that virus-destroying antibodies quickly declined after a peak period.

Sixty percent of patients who battled COVID-19 had a potent antibody response during a peak period. This percentage slid down to a low 16.7 percent after about two months. In some cases, antibodies against the Wuhan coronavirus became undetectable. This finding meant that any vaccine that aims to generate antibodies will eventually be rendered ineffective.

Visit Vaccines.news to find out more news about Modernas Wuhan coronavirus jab.

Sources include:

DailyMail.co.uk

ZeroHedge.com

GreatGameIndia.com

TheHill.com

COLUMBIA  There are very few classrooms in South Carolina public schools like Nicolas Jones at the Richland Two Institute of Innovation.

Filled with 3D printers and meant as a place for aspiring engineers and computer designers to hone their skills, the high-tech space has become a mini assembly line for pandemic-related equipment, churning out face shields, mask supports and special cameras for teachers to assist with virtual learning.

That's been our main goal lately, kind of innovating around the pandemic with the curriculum and students in general, Jones said. Weve been working on numerous projects and trying to meet need where we see it.

Over the past months, Jones and his students have processed more than 150 face shields and cameras, and several hundred plastic adjusters for masks. In addition to being distributed across Richland Two schools, some of the materials have found their way to nurses and other front-line personnel.

Among the mask recipients were Jones wife, who teaches at a nearby Montessori school where classes have not stopped, and a student's sister who is a nurse at Prisma Health.

In the beginning when it all kind of went crazy, I was creating those visors and sending them to my sisters and seeing if her friends needed any, said Thomas Temple, a senior at Spring Valley High School whose sister is the Prisma nurse.

Established in 2016, the center is open to students from all five of the districts high schools, with a science-heavy curriculum and course offerings such as film and animation, baking, clean energy engineering and mechanical design.

The hope is to create a pipeline of highly trained students who can use their skills to land jobs in advanced fields.

Were constantly coming up with real world challenges and the pandemic, as tragic as its been, has provided us a different avenue in all of our classes, center director Kevin Alberse said. These are challenges that can and will be overcome, and we need people with confidence in their own set of skills.

Temple, who will head to Clemson University on an academic scholarship to study engineering, said attending classes at the innovation center is an integral part of his education.

Everywhere you look in that whole building is just a place to learn, he said.

Richland Two resumed a mix of in-person and virtual classes on Jan. 19, but no date has been given as to when a five-day schedule may return to the 27,000-student district  fifth largest in the state.

Jones said he and his students stand ready to keep producing needed personal protective gear and other teaching materials for as long as the demand continues. Theyve created a spreadsheet that district staff can use make requests.

Anytime theres need, we can print them out on demand, Jones said.
Developer Gerry Gannon has completed the sale of the Paper Mill site in Clonskeagh, Dublin 6 to Bain Capital, an American-owned private investment firm which has been involved in a number of property developments in Dublin.

Sales agents Knight Frank had been quoting 18m to 20m for the site and it is believed to have achieved slightly over the 18m mark. CBRE acted for the purchaser.

State agency Nama will benefit from the deal as it had a charge on the site.

The 3.14-acre site has planning permission for 126 apartments in blocks rising to four storeys and the deal also included 10 existing terraced period houses on Clonskeagh Road with full planning permission for their refurbishment. Planning permission on the site includes 25 one-bedroom apartments, 98 two-beds and three mews/penthouse units.

However that planning permission pre-dated the decision of former Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy, who coincidentally is TD for the area, to allow developers to apply for apartment blocks of much taller heights.

Taking its name from the former Smurfit paper mill which was one of a number of mills that used to operate on this part of the river, many of the apartments will have views over the River Dodder and a proposed walkway. The location benefits from close proximity to Beech Hill Office Campus, UCDs Belfield campus as well as Donnybrook and Ballsbridge.

Bains Dublin office is headed by David Cullen and it has been involved in a number of residential developments in Dublin with Irish developer Regency Homes which was established in 2009 by Aodan Bourke and Patricia Hinch Together they are developing houses at Scholarstown Wood, Rathfarnham; Hollywood Rath, Dublin 15; and Knockrabo, Mount Anville, Dublin 14.

Regency is currently developing a scheme of 51 one- and two-bedroom apartments at Station Manor, Portmarnock, Co Dublin where it previously developed three-, four- and five-bedroom houses.

Mr Gannon acquired the Paper Mill site in 2005 as part of a 115m deal that also included a 49pc stake in the K Club,

In 2012 Mr Gannon sold his stake in K Club to Michael Smurfit for a reported 40m.
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Nairobi  Former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko was taken back to hospital Tuesday under police escort, with a medical report expected to determine his fate.

Sonko, who was hospitalised at the Nairobi Hospital on Monday night, was whisked to court for his court sessions, accompanied by a nurse. Reports said he was being treated for stomachache pains experienced at the Gigiri Police Station where he was remanded.

But on Tuesday morning, police went to hospital and took him out before they escorted him to Kiambu Law Courts where a ruling on his bail application on a robbery and assault case was due.

The magistrate at Kiambu Law Courts freed him on a Sh300,000 cash bail on a robbery with violence and assault case which he denied last week.

He was then escorted to Kahawa West court for a ruling on an application by police to detain him for 30 days to complete a terror probe.

The magistrate instead ordered he be escorted back t hospital pending a medica report expected Wednesday on his status before arguments on whether he should be detained for 30 days commence.

The Anti-Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU) is seeking to have him in their custody for 30 days to facilitate an investigation on alleged financing of terrorism activities and arming a militia group.

The robbery with violence and assault charges he is facing at the Kiambu court are linked to 2019 offenses in Buru Buru which he denies.

His lawyers John Khaminwa, Assa Nyakundi, Evans Ondieki and Alfred Nyamu have protested against the charges, terming them "politically motivated."

On Thursday, Sonko's bodyguards Clifford Ouko and Benjamin Ochieng were charged at the Kahawa West Law Courts for attempting to rescue the former Governor who was impeached in November 2020.

The prosecution said the two were arrested on February 3 outside the Kamiti court where they allegedly planned to help him out.

Sonko's woes deepened Wednesday after the prosecution applied to have him detained at the Kamiti Maximum Prison to facilitate investigations on alleged links to financing terrorism activities.

An affidavit filed in court also indicated that Sonko is under investigation for arming a militia group in a dramatic turn of events a day after facing multiple robbery and assault charges stemming from offenses allegedly committed in 2019.

On Tuesday, Sonko denied a total of 12 counts leveled against him and which his lawyers said were politically motivated due to public statements he made recently linking Interior Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho to the 2017 violence.

Others said his arrest and prosecution were linked to statements he made during a roadside rally in Narok last week against President Uhuru Kenyatta who had spoken about him in Nyeri where he told a youth meeting that the Governor was impeached due to incompetence.

Sonko denied the charges when he was arraigned at the Kiambu Law Courts on Tuesday and was ordered remanded at the Gigiri Police Station for two days to enable police conclude investigations.

But in a surprise turn of events, Sonko was arraigned at the Milimani Law Courts Wednesday during the mention of his corruption cases, only for him to be taken to the Kahawa West Law Courts in the evening where an affidavit was filed indicating that he was under active investigation on terrorism activities.

"I have intelligence information that the suspect is connected to financing of terrorism activities and he is in the advance stage of procuring arms and ammunition using a wide syndicate which is complex ad sophisticated," an affidavit filed in court by a Chief Inspector Newton Thimangu of the Anti Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU), an arm of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) states in part.

He also indicated that Sonko had "started arming his private security agents with full military attire namely military boots, military jungle uniforms and firearms. The suspect who was in company of unknown person had worn militia attire and together with the suspect they were both spotted in public in full glare of the media and in front of huge mass of people in a public rally."

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An undated photograph of Sonko and an unknown person was attached to the affidavit.

Charges read out to him on Tuesday stated that he assaulted two people in Buru Buru in 2019, leaving them with serious injuries.

The charges include assault causing actual bodily harm, robbery with violence and destruction of property.

He also faced an additional charge of entering private property without permission or a search warrant.

His case was heard by Kiambu Senior Principal Magistrate Stellah Atambo who ordered he be remanded at the Gigiri Police Station.

Sonko was impeached in November over gross misconduct, abuse of office and corruption.

He is also facing corruption charges in court alongside several county officials and suppliers accused of colluding to siphon public funds.
WESTPORT  Dr. Karin Hehenberger said she has always been interested in improving the way patients are treated.

Hehenberger, who lives in Westport, is a medical doctor and a PhD, and worked in the pharmaceutical industry for more than 20 years. Her main interest, she said, was innovation.

I was always very interested in finding solutions to the problems people faced, she said. But I had never really taken into account patients own experience in identifying the specific needs they might have.

She even repressed her own needs to some extent, she said.

Hehenberger is diabetic and was diagnosed more than 30 years ago. For a long time, she kept her condition secret. Then she developed complications that made her illness impossible to hide, including kidney problems and eye problems, she said.

As her condition worsened, Hehenberger needed two transplant surgeries  a kidney transplant in 2009 and a pancreas transplant in 2010. Actually having the surgeries, she said, made her much more knowledgeable about the kind of services and products someone who had been through a procedure might need and the challenges involved.

That realization led her to found Lyfebulb, which identifies itself as a patient-empowerment platform that connects patients with companies to help develop products to improve their quality of life, she said.

Lyfebulb also connects patients with other patients through such initiatives as its new site TransplantLyfe, a network of transplant patients, care providers, donors and experts.

Lyfebulbs main goal is to give patients more agency as they battle their illness Hehenberger said.

As a patient, you can often feel alone, she said. You feel like the receiver of information.

With Lyfebulb, she said, patients have ways to tell others, whether its a company or another person, what they need.

Another of Lyfebulbs programs is a regular Innovation Challenge rewarding patient entrepreneurs  someone whose experience with an illness, either as a patient or through someone they know, led them to form a company to address unmet needs.

Each challenge addresses a separate chronic illness. For instance, a finalist in one of the diabetes challenges came up with a cap for an insulin injection pen that keeps track of how much insulin a patient has dosed themselves with, and when. The winner of a mental health-focused challenge had developed a smart patch that tracks and improves biomarkers of mental health.

Were not going to find cures, Hehenberger said. We are looking to improve the quality of live  having people thrive, versus just survive.

Earlier this year, Lyfebulb launched an innovation challenge aimed at helping people who, like Hehenberger, had gone through transplant surgery. One winner will be awarded a $25,000 monetary grant. Competing finalists may be considered for possible partnerships or investments beyond the challenge.

One of Lyfebulbs supporters is Amanda DeJesus, 32, of Houston, Texas. DeJesus had a heart transplant 17 years ago and co-hosts a podcast called Unfiltered Survivors. Her co-host met a Lyfebulb representative at a conference, and they learned that Lyfebulb was developing the TransplantLyfe platform.

DeJesus helped develop the platform and said, since its launch, TransplantLyfe is getting new users daily. She said shes proud to be associated with a program that helps people with a variety of chronic illnesses.

Our journeys as survivors are not easy and we tend to feel alone, DeJesus said. Its nice to be able to connect with others who understand. I also love their passion for trying to find innovative ways to help make our journeys easier.

Association for The Support of Grassroots Communities (AGSC), a non-profit association in Kafuta on Sunday donated 10 bags of cement to Sona Camara, a victim of last year's flash flood in Kafuta.

The bags of cement are designed to help in the ongoing re-construction process of her building which was destroyed during the past rainy season.

At the presentation ceremony, Hon Balla Musa Darboe, councilor of Kafuta Ward, thanked members of the non-profit association for the move, adding that the move would go a long way in giving hope to the victim in her house re-construction process.

"This is a support from their own contribution and they have been doing this for long time."

Saloum Sheriff Janko, secretary general of Association For the Support of Grassroots Communities, said they have embarked on series of programs and projects in Kafuta, saying the association since its onset has embarked on series of projects such as painting of zebra crossings, renovations at the health centre and Kafuta Senior Secondary school library, distribution of facemasks to the various communities within Kombo East, fumigation of mosques and churches.

"Our process is a continuous process and we will continue to do this community service and give a helping hand to the needy within our communities."

Sona Camara, the beneficiary, thanked the benefactor for the magnanimity, saying the support would go a long way in her house reconstruction project.

"My house was inundated by flash flood last year but we thanked the Almighty Allah for this intervention."

Heavy, Prolonged Snow for Portland, Oregon Coast Range, Washington | Some for Beaches

Published 02/11/21 at 3:06 AM PDT

By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff

(Portland, Oregon)  The northwest corner of Oregon and much of Washington are headed for a prolonged snow event, including the Oregon Coast Range and even some mixes of snow for the coastlines of Oregon and Washington.

The central and southern Oregon coast will experience no issues, but travel over the coast range passes may be difficult. [See Oregon Coast Road, Traffic Conditions, Updates]

A variety of winter weather warnings and watches have been issued by the National Weather Service (NWS) for the Pacific Northwest, all the way up to Seattle and Bremerton.

Our first round of weather weather arrives Thursday afternoon, the NWS said. Will you see snow? Freezing rain? When? Where? For this first round of winter weather, snow accumulations of 2 to 6 inches are likely for Portland and Kelso, with 5 to 10 inches in the Hood River Valley. Expect a mix of rain, snow and freezing rain for locations like Astoria, McMinnville, and Salem. Freezing rain is unlikely but possible for Corvallis and Eugene.

The NWS is calling it a prolonged weather event from Thursday through Saturday. A series of Pacific storms will bring a mix of frozen wintry precipitation to much of the region Thursday into Friday. Another round of frozen wintry precipitation will spread across portions of the region Friday night into Saturday.

Oregon Coast Range Winter Weather Warning. For the coast range of northwest Oregon and Washingtons Willapa Hills, it's in effect through Saturday. The NWS said heavy mixed precipitation is expected, with a total snow accumulation of two to six inches. Winds will also gust as high as 40 mph creating blizzard conditions at times.

If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food, and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency, the NWS said. The latest road conditions for the state you are calling from can be obtained by calling 5 1 1.

Winter Storm Warning for Portland Metro Area, Greater Vancouver. In effect until Friday afternoon. Rain will turn to snow or freezing rain on Thursday afternoon.

Snow will be more likely for areas to east and north of downtown Portland, with mixed precipitation to west and south. Total snow accumulations of 2 to 6 inches. Ice accumulations of 0.10 to 0.20 inches possible to the west and south of Portland. Winds gusting 30 to 40 mph, with gusts up to 55 mph near the Gorge later Thursday afternoon through Friday.

Gusty winds will create wind chill values of 10 to 20 degrees.

Winter Weather Advisory for South Washington Coast, North Oregon Coast. This is in effect from 2 p.m. to noon Friday.

Temperatures will be falling Thursday afternoon, dropping into the 20s Thursday night. With the gusty winds, expect wind chill values of 10 to 20 degrees Thursday night, the NWS said.

The NWS is predicting a mix of snow / rain along the beach towns from Tillamook County northward into Washington  Pacific City through Raymond.

A winter storm watch is in effect for the areas around Seattle and northward, while there are winter warnings for Tacoma, Olympia, etc.

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21 runners killed during mountain race in northwestern province of Gansu; Indian variant of Covid-19 found in Guangzhou; Beijing willing to arrange for vaccines to be sent to Taiwan

May 28, 2021 08:15 PM
Malvi Malhotra Says Kangana Ranaut Failed To Help Her Despite Promising Support After She Was Stabbed Multiple Times

TV actress Malvi Malhotra who was in the news last year after being stabbed multiples times by a producer for turning down his proposition to marry her has now said that despite being promised help by actress Kangana Ranaut she did not come through to support her.

Malvi was stabbed thrice by Yogesh Mahipal Singh in October 2020 who was later arrested. Kangana had tweeted in support of Malvi during the time and made an argument against star kids for not standing up to support small time actors. Malvi has now in an interview with Mumbai Mirror said that despite having promised to help her on social media Kangana or no member of her team reached out to her while she was recovering in the hospital or after.

She told the publication, "I had a lot of faith in Kangana and I believed that she will come forward to help me and fight against this issue. So I requested one of the doctors taking care of me to record a video and put it in the public domain. The same day Kangana tweeted about it. She was targeting the industry and nepotism but she tweeted that she will come and help me and fight for me in this case."

The TV actress claims that she waited to hear from Kangana post discharge but it never happened. When I got discharged, I was waiting for her to come forward and help but nothing happened, she added.

In October, voicing concern for Malvi the Manikarnika actress had tweeted, Dear Malvi I am with you, I read you are critical, I pray for you dear girl, requesting @sharmarekha ji to take immediate actions against the culprit, we are with you and we will get you justice. Please have faith. (sic)

In another tweet the Bollywood actress had added, This is the truth of film industry, this is what happens to small town strugglers who dont have connections and proper channels, nepotism kids might defend themselves as much they want but how many of them have been stabbed, raped and killed ?

Malvi has also claimed that while she wasnt expecting it, actress Urmila Matondkar stood up for her and even got in touch with the police asking them to take care of the case.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-11 10:09:19|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- The following are the updates on the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

- - - -

CANBERRA -- An Australian infectious diseases expert has warned that it could take six years to vaccinate the world against COVID-19.

In an address to the National Press Club (NPC), Sanjaya Senanayake -- an infectious disease physician and associate professor at Australian National University's medical school -- said that just 10 percent of people in the world's 70 poorest countries would be vaccinated by the end of 2021.

- - - -

HAVANA -- Cuba reported on Wednesday 858 new COVID-19 infections and five deaths in the last 24 hours, for accumulated totals of 34,922 cases and 249 deaths, the Ministry of Public Health said.

Francisco Duran, the ministry's national director of hygiene and epidemiology, highlighted the common risk factors of most of the deceased, including high blood pressure and diabetes, in the daily report.

- - - -

NEW YORK -- New York City's COVID-19 test positivity rate on a seven-day average went up to 8.48 percent, compared with 8.09 percent one day earlier, Mayor Bill de Blasio tweeted on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, de Blasio said that there were 265 new hospital admissions and new cases of the coronavirus reached 3,859, adding that "You can help stop the spread. Get a free COVID-19 test today."

- - - -

BERLIN -- Germany will extend lockdown efforts to contain the COVID-19 pandemic for three more weeks till March 7, Chancellor Angela Merkel and the 16 federal state leaders decided on Wednesday.

According to the decision paper published following a video conference, the restrictions tackling the spread of the virus, which are due on Feb. 14, will extend to March 7.

- - - -

KUWAIT CITY -- Kuwait reported on Wednesday 987 new COVID-19 cases and five more deaths, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 173,983 and the death toll to 980, the Kuwaiti Health Ministry announced.

The ministry also announced the recovery of 553 more patients, taking the total recoveries in Kuwait to 163,264. Meanwhile, it said that 9,739 coronavirus patients are receiving treatment.

- - - -

MALABO -- A batch of China-donated Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines arrived in Malabo, capital of Equatorial Guinea, on Wednesday.

This is the first batch of vaccine aid provided by the Chinese government to African countries, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said Tuesday at a press briefing. Enditem


New Delhi, Feb 11 : The Centre on Thursday categorically cautioned social media platforms against spreading fake news or anything inciting violence, as Information Technology Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said action will be taken if Indian laws were flouted.

"There is freedom of speech but Article 19A says that this is subject to reasonable restrictions," the Minister for Communications, Electronics & Information Technology told in the Rajya Sabha as he reminded platforms like Twitter and Facebook to comply with Indian rules while carrying out business.

"We respect social media a lot, it has empowered common people. Social media has a big role in the Digital India programme. However, if social media are misused to spread fake news and violence, then action will be taken on the misuse of social media in India whether Twitter or else," said Prasad.

He said all the social media platforms will have to adhere to the constitution of India. The Indian constitution allows criticism of the government and the Prime Minister, but spreading fake news will not be allowed, he said.

Prasad said, "We have flagged certain issues to Twitter and social media has to take into consideration of the Indian Laws if they want to do business in the country.

"Different parameters can't be allowed for different countries. It can't be different for the Capitol Hill incident and some other parameters and for the Red Fort incident." The Indian government on Wednesday expressed displeasure over Twitter's delayed compliance on its order to remove "provocative" tweets amid the ongoing farmers' protests.

IT Secretary Ajay Prakash Sawhney expressed Centre's displeasure to Twitter's management.

An official statement issued late Wednesday night said the Secretary told Monique Meche, Vice President, Global Public Policy and Jim Baker, Deputy General Counsel and Vice President Legal of Twitter that delayed compliance to lawfully passed orders are "meaningless".

"Lawfully passed orders are binding on any business entity. They must be obeyed immediately. If they are executed days later, it becomes meaningless," Sawhney was quoted as saying in the statement.

The official expressed his deep disappointment to Twitter leadership about the manner in which Twitter has unwillingly, grudgingly and with great delay complied with the substantial parts of the order, the statement said.

He also told Twitter that in India its Constitution and laws are supreme.

-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed

L to R- Anand Lunia, Madhukar Sinha, Prerna Bhutani and Gagan Goyal

India Quotient, the venture capital firm known for its early bets on content startup ShareChat and makeup brand Sugar Cosmetics among others, is in talks to raise its fourth early-stage fund of $80 million, its largest so far, a senior executive told Moneycontrol

The fundraise is crucial for the firm amid changes in partnership and some churn among investors and indicates rising interest for Indian internet startups and experienced domestic fund managers.

For this fund, India Quotient also plans to tap investors (limited partners) in the US and Europe, something it hasnt done before, Anand Lunia, general partner at India Quotient, has said.

LPs from the UShigh networth individuals (HNIs), university endowments and financial institutionsare generally the largest sources of capital for well-heeled venture funds.

We have filed with SEBI for approval for the fund, and will be the largest fund doing idea-stage and paper plan deals consistently in India. We want to invest in 40 companies from this fund, and will have an average cheque size of $500,000, Lunia said.

The new fund will also be one of India Quotients biggest tests so far because two of its large LPs from earlier cannot participate in this fund. Gulf billionaire BR Shettyone of the funds earliest backersis battling fraud and forgery charges. In its third fund in 2018, India Quotient brought in a number of entrepreneurs and investors from China but following the governments restrictions on Chinese investments, they wont invest in this fund.

Lunia, however, is not worried. Out of a Rs 420 crore fund last time, we still raised Rs 250 crore just from Indian high-networth individuals. And I am confident that at least four-five more last HNIs and family offices will want to back us. We have been a top-performing fund, he said.

India Quotients other backers include

Flipkart co-founder Binny Bansal, MakeMyTrip founder Deep Kalra and Paytm founder Vijay Shekar Sharma,

India Quotient plans a first close of $40 million or so in the next two months, which will be the domestic component, while it plans to raise the rest from abroad by the end of the year.

A first close allows a VC fund to start deploying money, while it simultaneously continues fundraising. Depending on demand, it could even end up raising as much as $100 million.

Funding trail

India Quotient is a seed-stage investor, generally the first institutional investor in a company, taking 15-20 percent ownership.

Founded by Anand Lunia and Madhukar Sinha in 2012, India Quotient started with a $6 million debut fund, followed it up with a $20 million second fund in 2016 and a $60 million third fund two years later. In 2018, it also raised a $40 million opportunity fund-earmarked to back its best-performing portfolio companies in follow on rounds.

From this fund onwards, Gagan Goyal, who has been a partner from 2017, will be a general partner on par with Lunia and Sinha. Partners and general partners have a minor but key difference. In venture capital parlance, general partners are the fund managers directly responsible for investments, fund raising, connections with LPs, founders and so on, and receive the greatest share of profits.

The firms fourth partner was Prerna Bhutani, who joined in 2016 but stepped down last year to start up on her own, as Moneycontrol reported. As she figures out her next venture, Bhutani is still working with the firms portfolio companies, though not making new investments.

India Quotient has also had a decent share of exits with a few bumper outcomes. It got a Rs 25x return on regional language social network ShareChat in 2018 and took a part exit for Rs 50 crore. ShareChat is raising a round valuing it at over a billion dollars and India Quotient still holds a 5 percent stake, according to people aware of the matter.

It also took some money out of Sugar Cosmetics, which raised money from Elevation Capital (earlier SAIF Partners), valuing it at $100 million last week. Moneycontrol could not immediately ascertain the value of the part exit.

Its other investments include lending firms Lendingkart and Loantap and podcasting startup KukuFM. Sector-wise, many investors see content as India Quotients primary forte and the sector they identified before most other VCs did.

Venture capital fund performances are measured by their Internal Rate of Return (IRR), which factors in the expected annual rate of return for a fund adjusted with the time value of money. Top early-stage funds promise an IRR of 30-35 percent, although globally top funds have delivered even twice and thrice that in good periods.

From its first fund, India Quotient has an IRR of 19 percent, according to documents viewed by Moneycontrol. In India, many early-stage VCs have had middling first-fund performances and then picked up. Its second and third funds have a gross IRR of 49 percent and 40 percent.

"Building a homegrown VC brand is also important for us because we need domestic wealth creation and absorption. An outsized portion of the startup wealth created in India goes to overseas investors because that is where the VC money also comes from. I think we have a good shot at having domestic investors and creating wealth for them, Lunia said.

The firm wants to be in the top 10 percent of Indias VC funds in terms of money returned to investors.

They have been able to pick interesting companies from each fund, and Anand (Lunia) and Madhukar (Sinha) are well-known names in the ecosystem, which makes a huge difference for LPs and founders, said a senior venture capitalist, requesting anonymity.

With the Chinese app ban you could argue luck has played its part but India Quotient seems to be emerging as one of the top two-three homegrown VC brands. This is their largest fund yet, and will be a good test to see whether they can continue generating large outcomes to justify larger funds, the person added.
GREENWOOD VILLAGE, Colo., Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- RimRock Oil & Gas ("RimRock" or "the Company"), an oil and gas exploration and production company focused on the Williston Basin of North Dakota, today announced the completion an Exchange Agreement with XTO Energy Inc. ("XTO"), a subsidiary of Exxon Mobil Corporation.

Under the terms of the agreement, RimRock and XTO exchanged approximately 5,500 net acres and associated production located in Dunn County, North Dakota. RimRock now operates its entire land position with an average 85% working interest across approximately 31,500 gross acres, including a subset of acreage previously operated by XTO.

"This transaction is an exciting milestone for RimRock as it successfully transitions the company's acreage position to a fully operated one, without impacting the overall size of RimRock's net footprint or development inventory. RimRock will fully control both its capital spend and pace of development moving forward, creating a unique asset with meaningful inventory in the core of the Williston," said James Fraser, President & Chief Executive Officer, RimRock.

About RimRock Oil & Gas

RimRock Oil & Gas ("RimRock") is an oil and gas exploration and production company focused on the Williston Basin of North Dakota. The Company was formed in 2016 in partnership with Warburg Pincus, a global private equity firm focused on growth investing. The management team, led by President and Chief Executive Officer Jim Fraser, has more than 120 years of collective industry experience in acquiring and developing large-scale plays across North America.

For more information, please visit www.rimrockoil.com.

Contact

RimRock Oil & Gas

[email protected]

SOURCE RimRock Oil & Gas

The Cassation Administrative Court of the Ukrainian Supreme Court next month will hear an appeal against President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's decree to block three TV channels linked to Russia.

The court scheduled the hearing to start on March 15, the Supreme Court said on February 11.

Zelenskiy's government decided on February 2 to shut several television channels controlled by a Russia-linked magnate, a move supported by Washington but questioned by Brussels and slammed by Moscow.

The Supreme Court has already heard two other appeals against the decision, rejecting one and returned a second one to the plaintiff to eliminate some technical flaws from the motion.

Zelenskiy last week defended the decision in a meeting with a group of ambassadors from the G7 and European Union, telling them on February 3 in Kyiv that the decision to block 112, NewsOne, and ZIK channels was justified by the need to fight against the danger of Russian aggression in the information arena.

Relations between Ukraine and Russia deteriorated in 2014 after Moscow annexed the Crimean Peninsula and began supporting separatists in eastern Ukraine. The conflict, now in its seventh year, has killed more than 13,200 people.

The now-blocked channels are believed to belong to Viktor Medvedchuk, who has close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is the godfather of Medvedchuks daughter.

Medvedchuk supports the Opposition Platform for Life, a political party that is popular in Ukraine's southeast and holds a minority in the Ukrainian parliament.

According to Zelenskiy, the sanctioned TV channels have long been actively used for disinformation campaigns in Ukraine aimed at undermining reforms and Ukraine's course towards European and Euro-Atlantic integration.

The three blocked TV channels, which broadcast mainly in Ukrainian, issued a statement denouncing the ban as political repression. Medvedchuk called the presidential order illegal.

The U.S. Embassy voiced support for Ukraines efforts to counter Russias malign influence, in line with Ukrainian law, in defense of its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov denounced the blocking of the three stations as a violation of media freedom and of international standards.



The EU questioned the move, suggesting it could sacrifice media freedom in Ukraine.

With reporting by Interfax


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Actors Sidharth Malhotra and Rashmika Mandanna on Thursday commenced shooting for their upcoming film Mission Majnu. Set in the 1970s, the film is inspired by real events and follows the story of Indias most courageous mission in the heart of Pakistan that forever changed the relationship between the two nations.

Malhotra, the star of films such as Kapoor and Sons and Ek Villain, took to Instagram to share the news of shooting start. A special one with a special team. #MissionMajnu, day one, Malhotra wrote alongside a picture, in which he is seen holding the script of the film with Mandanna.

The 36-year-old actor will be seen as a RAW agent, who leads the mission. Written by Parveez Shaikh, Aseem Arrora and Sumit Batheja, Mission Majnu is the debut directorial venture of ad filmmaker Shantanu Bagchi.

The director said the team is exciting production on the project. The entire team was eagerly waiting to shoot with Sid to begin the exciting journey that lies ahead. Finally that day is here, Bagchi said in a statement.

Mission Majnu will mark Mandannas foray into Hindi movie industry. She is best known for starring in Kannada film Anjani Putra and Telugu title Geetha Govindam. Producer Ronnie Screwvala, known for films like Uri: The Surgical Strike and The Sky is Pink, is producing the espionage thriller via his RSVP Movies along with Bajrangi Bhaijaan producer Amar Butala and Garima Mehta.

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As development and democracy are deprived of a destination but are endless roads of consistent actions and consequences through which the state is adjudged, Obasanjo admonished all to keep pressing for a viable democratic space in Africa. Leadership re-arming, as he puts it, will ensure that Nigeria remains the bastion of hope for Africa and the entire black race.

In the pre-interview article I wrote about the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, I promised to get our distinguished former president, His Excellency, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, on the Toyin Falola Interviews where, as someone who had been at the frontline tackling this post-colonial contraption, his thoughts on managing these horsemen could be heard. Well, I did. And as expected, the meeting, held on Zoom and broadcast live on YouTube, was fantastic. The insights covering the two hours and thirty-minutes meeting reflect critically on the African predicaments in the 21st century and how to move out of the quagmire. The elderly statesman responded to questions ranging from the post-colonial formation and implications of African borders, democracy, the Chinese presence in Africa, corruption and leadership, youth engagement in governance, the restructuring debate in Nigeria, insecurity, elections, and lots more. If that terrific marauder in the name of COVID-19 had restricted our social activities in the realm of physical contact, the ingenuity of Eric Yuan, Steve Chen, Mark Zuckerberg and others brought us even closer. Eminent persons in the academy, media, public service, public space, as well as students and youth from Europe, America, and Africa, were thrown into the loop of the meeting and posed their questions to Chief Obasanjo.

It was even more interesting in that those from the intellectual community, like Richard Joseph, who have critically written about Obasanjos administration and involvement in the Nigerian story, were present to further get a hold of the wisdom from the proverbial horses mouth. But like the scribe summing his teaching to his students, the Ebora of Owu would tell all to remain calm and not be given to despondency, as the key to breaking the niche of the four horsemen remains with the people. From the precarious abyss-looking Nigerian condition to which the likes of the brilliant former Deputy Governor of the Central of Bank of Nigeria, Dr. Mailafia Obadiah, were worriedly concerned to the systemic and increasing Chinese presence in Africa, which bothered the Dean of the Veronica Adeleke School of Social Sciences at Babcock University, Professor Olajumoke Yacob-Haliso, and the significance of youth involvement in the democratisation of Africa, which falls within the constituency of youth curiosity, given the cliche about the leaders of tomorrow, the above sums up Babas admonition and response to questions raised at the meeting. Liberalism and liberal democracy, he argued, are built on contesting interests that must be taken into consideration by the state. Therefore, in the case of Chinese activities, Africa cannot reasonably develop a phobia for colonisation now, having been birthed from the process. But instead, these states can build solid structures and systems that protect the interests of their people in their bilateral and unilateral deals with Beijing.

From the realist perspective, the school of thought in which Obasanjo addressed the issues of the time, Beijing will not close a deal with Africa or any African state with the paramount aim of changing the poverty dynamics in the region but in China. All developed countries stepped on the path of development when the states began to realise the potentials of their populations in engineering this process and initiated networks and systems that could help annex these potential entities. Tellingly, a different story cannot follow in Africa, as development is essentially people-oriented. What a Chinese is worth abroad, like the American, is a plus or minus to the image of the Chinese government. China will protect this, even in the face of dire consequences for any of its partners, be it in India, the Philippines, Samoa, Taiwan, or any part of Africa. The simple and fundamental principle of state relations is that, as Obasanjo himself has long opined in one of his past writings, there is no permanent friend or enemy, but only permanent interests. Obasanjo posits that until this becomes the morning rhyme of those at the helm of state affairs in Africa, before launching out to sign papers in which details are, at best, ambiguous, and at worse, classified, China will keep seizing ports, state media houses, and other notable infrastructures in Africa as part of the preparation and for the potential realisation of a second colonisation to teach us a lesson.

From the discussion, since most of what make up the norms of social relations, engagements and expectations in many African states, especially in the south of the Sahara, are pragmatised by people who have not seen their state constitutions before, let alone read and digested the frames for their conduct or territorial integrity, the artificiality of African boundaries, though it might not be the best thing to happen to Africa, cannot and should not ordinarily have been the bane of post-colonial African predicaments. The problem of this, which in the case of Nigeria was finalised by the 1914 restructuring of the British colony, lies heavily on the manipulation of these boundaries for political gains.

The former president recalled his experience in the southern part of Cameroon during his early days in the military, following a mission designated to his platoon, the 5th Battalion, to root out terrorists hideouts in the area and capture the leader. A family tried to cross what the state regarded as the border, but which the people regarded as the next village. This is indeed the story of many, like the people of Ketu in the present-day Republic of Benin, who were forced to live according to a new identity by colonial machinations but still maintained pre-colonial relations with their relatives and neighbours in present-day Nigeria. In the long-expression, virtually all the cultural groups that made up each artificial state in Africa have had varying levels of relations in the past and fought together for independence. Yet, ethnicity pitched towards religious differences choke the post-colonial system.

Even though Africa has been badly treated in modern history and has contributed immensely to the advancement of cultures and civilisations around the world, Baba concludes that the world owes us nothing, but we owe ourselves a lot. Leadership in Africa needs the thorough attention of the people, the youth especially.

According to Obasanjo, rethinking political leadership in Africa thus requires all hands on deck for a debate on how to shift this space to illuminate good tidings for the population of Africa. From his own experience, he suggests that a firm root in economic matters and how the global system works should be made imperative for the recalibration of leadership and selection of peoples representatives in African states. This is more so considering that, like the rest of the world, Africa has grown past the age where direct democracy could be practiced at the village square, and the representative democracy practiced can only serve well if the few elected or appointed to lead the people are fully equipped with the ability to pursue their responsibilities which, due to the de-territorialisation of states and peoples in the recent times, will inevitably be moulded and remoulded by global realities. It is imperative to add too that losing touch with these two important factors  economics and world politics  cost Africa its independence. Until their lands were forcibly taken from them and their titles, prestige, and livelihood threatened by the aggressive encroachment of Europeans, post-1500 leaders in Africa were hardly aware of what was coming for them.

The 19th century unveiled the masquerade, and the rest is added to an already horrendously marginalised history of the people. Even though Africa has been badly treated in modern history and has contributed immensely to the advancement of cultures and civilisations around the world, Baba concludes that the world owes us nothing, but we owe ourselves a lot. Leadership in Africa needs the thorough attention of the people, the youth especially. In this case, the youth cannot complain of unemployment, the porous educational system, and neglect by the state when they are the ones who spearhead the manipulation of elections or refuse to take an active part in governance. On a general scale, the people of the state, through their unions and associations, cannot continue to demand their share of the national cake when the rots that obfuscate the adequate flow of this cake across the table persists because of their actions and inactions. To the political elites, keeping these rots have become the only thing of importance to protect as they serve their purpose of keeping many in poverty and distracted from issues affecting them, so as to recycle themselves through the sheer ignorance that oozes from this system. Like many have said, President Obasanjo reiterates that nobody will hand over change to the people; they have to take it.

In as much as the problem with Africa goes beyond leadership but transcends to followership  the people, among whom leadership is taken  it will be insanity driven by macabre intent to lay the leading role in the reinvention of a society in the hands of the masses. The masses, as we know, share a mob orientation which deprives them of the ability to process information or ideas rationally and independently. And it was in the realisation of this that the state emerged and the idea was sustained. Since the whole population cannot make collective decisions but chaos without a guiding authority, it behooves the peoples representatives to flock this population along the path of a social form and consciousness that fits into the well-conceived national interest/plan of the state. No doubt the people have a role to play, and that is to ensure that the right people are given positions of power. As the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, noted in 2018, the world is suffering from a trust deficit disorder. This is even worse in Africa and other third world countries. Bridging the huge deficit of trust between African leaders and their subjects will require developing a national strategy or a grand norm to which all is committed.

In the modern world, nothing retrogresses a nation more than policy inconsistency. There are two ways to this in Africa, as elsewhere. One is the failure of the political leaders to follow through on their campaign promises and demands of a policy  if it were to be a viable one, anyway. The other is the lack of continuity in government. Whereas both scenarios are deeply at play in the Nigerian case, some African states like Cameroon and Uganda still suffer the consequences of the former. It was to the latter that Obasanjo concentrated as he responded to the question about the stunted growth of the Nigerian project and why his administration failed to lift Nigeria out of the Third World narrative. He cited the example of how his successors left equipment worth millions of dollars, meant for the generation of increased electricity supply in the country, to damage at the port where they had arrived from the United States. More unfortunate is that to get these expensive gadgets working again, they have to be taken back to the States for servicing at another huge cost to the country. Yet, the country wallows in darkness, limiting the choices of investors, and ensuring a weakling local industrial drive.

Another case in point is the relegation of cocoa production, which had increased from about 150,000 metric tons per year to about 400,000 during his eight-year rule as a civilian president. Only about half of this is left in the yearly production of the country. Subsequent leaders have seemingly acceded to the plea of President Kufuor of Ghana to Obasanjo during his tenure, to leave cocoa production for Ghana, since Nigeria is blessed with oil. He cited these and many more as examples to drive home his point about the tedious task of leadership, which he described as an obligation to serve God. As he noted, You cannot serve God without serving humanity. Of course, the call to lead is the call to serve through the three tenets he gave as justice, fairness, and equality. To achieve this in the face of a blinking democratic future in Africa is, as he said, to inject new tonic into the democratisation process of states in the region. This tonic, we have highlighted above in the reinvention of state-societal relations. We are reminded that though democracy might not be a perfect model of governance, and the applicability of this form of government in Africa over the years is only a matter of metrics or magnitude that only vary from one place to the other in their deficient forms, it is still the only system that could generate a sense of belonging among the people.

Many have identified the restructuring of the governance morphology in Nigeria as the way forward from its peculiar mess. While Obasanjo agreed with this, he emphasised the ambiguity of the restructuring movement to articulate his stand on the issue. What you call restructuring, I call devolution of power, resources, and responsibilities.

As development and democracy are deprived of a destination but are endless roads of consistent actions and consequences through which the state is adjudged, Obasanjo admonished all to keep pressing for a viable democratic space in Africa. Leadership re-arming, as he puts it, will ensure that Nigeria remains the bastion of hope for Africa and the entire black race. The country is not only blessed with a population that makes it the largest concentration of Black people in the world but also of natural endowments and towering, stellar figures. Many have identified the restructuring of the governance morphology in Nigeria as the way forward from its peculiar mess. While Obasanjo agreed with this, he emphasised the ambiguity of the restructuring movement to articulate his stand on the issue. What you call restructuring, I call devolution of power, resources, and responsibilities. This came up when he was reminded that he had the opportunity to effect this change, to which he responded by reminding all that never at any time had the country had it this bad economically, socially, and politically, breathing life to the restructuring debate. More so, restructuring had been consistently taken by the state from the colonial times, one of the earliest forms of which was mentioned earlier in the 1914 amalgamation of the northern and the southern protectorates.

Obasanjos government adjusted the allocation formula for states but failed to encourage a structure that could make these states self-sufficient and contributing entities to the federal government coffers. Therefore, as he admitted in the meeting, the restructuring needed now would mean that federating units are viable enough on their own to take more responsibilities from the concurrent list. With the pace of insecurity and the rise of local militias and the reign of vigilante groups in various parts of Nigeria, he described state policing as an overdue part of the imminent restructuring of Nigeria but disregarded the need for a National Guard on the ground that creating more security units will not resolve the insecurity in the nation. This is given precedent in the making of the various units of the Nigerian police and their effectiveness in the face of the outcry by the people to scrap some of these units like the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), which had turned into Special Robbery Squad.

Bringing together people from different walks of life in a meeting like this with President Olusegun Obasanjo can only attune to the depth of discussions and analysis, some of which have been adumbrated here. Our next guest on the Toyin Falola Interviews is Dr. Awolowo Dosumu to examine the legacy of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, to be followed by Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah. Both will offer resourceful engagement with the African condition in the world and the way forward from another front-runner in the African project.

We thank President Olusegun Obasanjo and the distinguished members of the audience for the time joyously spent with us on the interview. We look forward to more insightful interactions like this soon.

Toyin Falola is professor of History at The University of Texas at Austin.

(This is a report on the interview conducted with President Obasanjo on Jan. 31st, 2021) For its entire recording, see https://youtu.be/8_ue5Hvi1vY)
WASHINGTON/DUBAI (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken discussed diplomatic efforts to end the war in Yemen and bolstering Saudi Arabia's defenses in a call with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud on Wednesday, the U.S. State Department said.

Saudi state media and the state department said the two ministers also discussed the need to find a political solution to the war in Yemen.

Saudi Arabia leads a coalition which intervened in Yemen in 2015, backing government forces fighting the Iran-aligned Houthi group. U.N. officials are trying to revive peace talks to end the war, which the U.N. says has created the world's largest humanitarian crisis.

On Wednesday, Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthi group said it carried out a drone attack on Saudi's Abha airport, which the Saudi-led coalition fighting Houthi forces in Yemen said caused a fire in a civilian aircraft.

The two officials "discussed joint efforts to bolster Saudi defenses against attacks on the Kingdom," the State Department said in a statement.

U.S. President Joe Biden last week named veteran U.S. diplomat Tim Lenderking as a U.S. special envoy to Yemen in a bid to step up American diplomacy to end the war.

The new administration in Washington has also announced an end to its support for Saudi-led military operations in Yemen.

(Reporting by Eric Beech and Lisa Barrington; Writing by Mohammad Zargham; Editing by Christian Schmollinger and Hugh Lawson)
The supreme court of Liberia has confirmed and affirmed the ruling of the lower court with respect to former Defense Minister Brownie Samukai over one million united states dollars misappropriation of ALF personal pension funds.

Brownie Samukai who was the longest serving minister of Defense under the regime of former president, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, was indicted along with Joseph Johnson, and Nyahm Dorkor, all former senior executives of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) by the George Weah led Government and subsequently held guilty for the crimes: theft of property, economic sabotage, criminal conspiracy, and money laundering, misused of public funds.

They were ordered to restitute the amount of over one million misappropriated, but the defendants excepted and took an appeal to the supreme court which is the final attributer of justice in Liberia. The move by the defendants was to ensure that the high court would turn the lower court's judgment.

Unfortunately for the defendants, the High Court upheld the trial court's March 10, 2020 verdict with modification that the applicants serve a two year term each in a common jail.

The verdict is subject to suspension, provided that the said defendants restitute the full amount of one million, one hundred forty-six hundred fifty-six and thirty-five United States dollars amounting to fifty percent within the period six months and thereafter enter appropriate arrangement to pay the remaining portion in one calendar year.

Reading the verdict on behalf of the Supreme Court, Justice Yusuf Kabah mentioned that, shall the defendants fail or refuse to restitute the amount as mandated in its judgment, it will lead to their incarceration in a common jail not specified and remain there until the full amount is paid or liquidated at the rate of twenty-five United States dollars per month as provided for by law.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court is expected to again decide Samukai's fate in an electoral dispute from the December 8, 2020 special senatorial and referendum elections in Lofa county.

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MANZINI  A pensioner, who aspired to own a property at Mkhosi Township, broke down and cried as she was overwhelmed by emotions when making her submissions before the commission.

Lindiwe Dlamini, who used to work in the education sector, broke down and cried after taking her sworn oath as she was about to make submissions to the Zonke Magagula-led Commission of Enquiry on the Mkhosi Township Petition.

She started crying after Magagula had requested her to share her involvement in Mkhosi Township, which saw the hopeful property owners writing a petition to the Manzini Municipal Council.

Dlamini alleged that the issue of securing a plot at Mkhosi Township had deprived her of financial freedom. Her narration was punctuated by muffled sobs.

Deprived

She proceeded to purport that beyond being deprived of financial freedom by this project, it had resulted in her health deteriorating such as her memory being elusive due to stress.

By stating this, the pensioner apologised that she may mix-up dates in the sequence of events. Dlamini submitted that her initial involvement with the municipality and the aforesaid township started in 1999. This was after she saw an advertisement encouraging low-income earners to show interest in procuring plots.

Thereafter, in between sobs, she said: I paid E2 000 through a loan facility which was to be deposited in the bank account of the municipality, which was a commitment fee.

The commitment fee, she supposed, was for infrastructure development within the farm that was to be partitioned into plots. From that year, Dlamini claimed, she sacrificed a number of things so that monthly, in her bank account, a stop-order payment of E2 000 would be deposited into the municipalitys account.

She submitted that this amount accumulated to E44 000, which was equivalent to the value of her plot. The price of her plot, she claimed, was relayed to her in one of the meetings that were hosted by the municipality.

Dlamini further purported to the commission that in 2017, she retired and because of this, her child (now deceased) accompanied her to the municipality as she was the one who would have secured a loan to construct a structure on their plot.

I left the municipality dejected as I was offered forms to sign afresh. In the new forms, the price of the plot was higher than I had been charged before while the square metres were less, submitted Dlamini. The pensioner claimed that employees at the municipality ordered her to sign the forms if she wanted to proceed with procuring the plot. Dlamini supposed that because she was hopeful that her daughter (now deceased) would be able to secure a loan, she grudgingly signed the new form.

When the commission sought to establish what did the form entail that she was made to sign, Dlamini said she was not certain but had faith that the municipality had files where they kept the information.

Retailing

What she claimed to recall was that when called to the offices of the municipality to sign again, a square metre was now retailing at E300 while initially when the project started, it cost E40.

With the money I had paid and sacrificed over the years, I thought I had a plot only to be informed to start afresh the whole process, she claimed.

When questioned how much was the price of the smaller plot that she was being offered at a higher price, Dlamini said: Ive forgotten a lot of things but I know that I signed for it and told them that my child would assist me.

She alleged that after being informed of the steep price, she complained about it to the municipality and informed the personnel that it was too expensive and that she wanted the plot at the cost of the initial provisional offer.

The pensioner was adamant that she purportedly paid the plot provisionally offered to her by the municipality in full.

Despite having paid about E44 000, Dlamini purported that she had never seen the plot she was paying for. This, she claimed, was because when she was invited for a site visit in 2017, the people who were to take her to see the plot were not around.

The pensioner supposed that after waiting to see her plot for hours, hunger got the better of her and she left the municipality premises. Tired of the commotion, Dlamini claimed that in 2019, her child whom was to assist her in procuring the plot, passed on.

While she was weeping, the pensioner claimed that she approached the municipality wherein she relayed that her finances were incapable of assisting her to fund the funeral. Dlamini claimed that when she approached the municipality seeking to be refunded the money she had paid over the years for the plot, an employee of the municipality requested evidence of the payment.

Saddened

When they said this, I was saddened and felt that the municipality was turning against me as they had been engaging me throughout the years. What evidence were they seeking? I wrote to them but their response was that they needed evidence from the bank that I had been paying, Dlamini claimed.

Subsequent to this, she purportedly sought the evidence from her bank whereupon they advised her to pay E500 in order to get statements. Dlamini supposed this was because it was almost two decades since she started making payments for the plot and probably some of the records were kept at its archives.

Dejected, the pensioner claimed to have aborted her mission and started engaging other prospective property owners of the township.
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The Iranian military held a military drill near the Iraqi border on Thursday.

The elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) conducted the war games exercise in the southwest Khuzestan province, which is located atop the Persian Gulf. Ground forces, tank divisions, drone units and paratroopers participated in the drill, the semi-official Tasnim News Agency reported.

Iran regularly holds military drills in the strategic Gulf region. On Jan. 19, the Iranian army conducted a ground forces exercise in the Gulf of Oman. Some recent drills have been focused on simulating a war with the United States.

Iranian military leaders have continued to speak boldly on tensions with Washington since US President Joe Biden was sworn into office. On Jan. 26, an IRGC commander said Iran has the ability to destroy American ships. Biden hopes to re-enter the Iran nuclear deal, but his administration and Iran disagree on whether Iran should return to compliance first.

Khuzestan province was the site of protests, political arrests and armed conflict last year. The province has a large Arab population, and separatists are active in the area.
Irish police have made a fresh appeal for information ahead of the 13th anniversary of the brutal murder of a Strabane man.

Andrew Burns (27) was shot twice in the back in a church car park in Co Donegal.

It happened around 7pm on Tuesday, February 12, 2008 at Donnyloop, Castlefin.

Mr Burns was later found on a roadway close to Donnyloop Church. He was pronounced dead shortly before 8pm.

Dissident republican group Oglaigh na hEireann were blamed for the murder.

Gardai have previously said they believe 12 people were involved but just one man was convicted in relation to the killing. Martin Kelly, also from Strabane, was jailed for life in 2012 for his part in the murder.

In a new appeal, gardai said Mr Burns family remain devastated by this callous act and continue to struggle to come to terms with his murder.

Detective Inspector Pat ODonnell said: An Garda Siochana in Donegal would like to directly appeal to those individuals who were on the periphery of the group involved in Andrews murder.

In particular their friends, family members and partners. It has been 13 years since Andrews murder and during that time relationships change, loyalties change and people may not now be constrained by the set of circumstances that existed for them some 13 years ago.

An Garda Siochana is appealing to those individuals to look into their conscience and unburden themselves of whatever information they may have.

He said detectives are grateful for all the witnesses that have come forward and made statements in the intervening years, but said it is never too late for those who have yet to come forward to make contact with police.

He added that information received by gardai will be treated in the strictest confidence.

In 2018, on the 10th anniversary of Mr Burns death, his sister Jacqueline issued an emotional plea for information.

She said: It has been a journey that you learn to live with, you never forget.

Andrew did not deserve what he got. It was well over the top.

Their mindset, their way of thinking, the location of the murder, on sacred ground within a church grounds, went against everything that is humanly decent.

My brother Andrew was left at the side of the road to die.

Anyone with information should contact the incident room at Letterkenny Garda Station on 074 9167100, the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111 or make contact with any Garda Station.

Hyderabad: The ruling TRS in Telangana on Thursday bagged the Mayor and Deputy Mayor posts in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) with the support of ex-officio members and the AIMIM.

Vijayalaxmi R Gadwal and Mothe Srilatha, both belonging to TRS, were elected the Mayor and Deputy Mayor respectively, by show of hands, during a special meeting of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC). The TRS did not get a majority on its own and secured only 56 wards in the 150-member GHMC in the civic elections held in December last.

The BJP contested the Mayor and Deputy Mayor election though it lacked the numbers, but the TRS nominees won as the ex-officio members and the AIMIM backed them. Though BJP won 48 wards in the election, its strength came down to 47 following the death of one of its victorious candidates.

The saffron party had said it decided to contest for the Mayor and Deputy Mayor posts, despite lacking the numbers, in the spirit of democracy and to oppose the "opportunistic" attempt of TRS to win the poll through a "backhand deal" with AIMIM.

Though the keenly-fought GHMC elections were held in December, the election of Mayor and Deputy Mayor was conducted on Thursday as the term of the previous body came to an end only on February 10.

The proceedings of the special meeting began on Thursday with the newly-elected Corporators taking the oath of office. While the TRS and BJP won 56 and 48 wards respectively in the GHMC polls, the AIMIM bagged 44 wards. Congress could win only two wards. The BJP gave the TRS a run for its money in the GHMC polls by organising a powerful campaign in which its top leaders, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, J P Nadda and UP CM Yogi Adityanath participated.

The Lok Sabha MPs and MLAs, who have their vote in the city are ex-officio members of the corporation. Besides, MLCs and Rajya Sabha members, who have their vote in the city, had to give an option, choosing the GHMC, to be able to vote, official sources said earlier.

According to GHMC sources, there were 44 ex-officio member votes in the GHMC and TRS has 32 followed by MIM 10, BJP 2 who are eligible to vote taking the total number of votes to 194. Meanwhile, state BJP president Bandi Sanjay Kumar alleged that the unholy alliance between the TRS and AIMIM stood exposed (with the AIMIM supporting the ruling party in the Mayor election).

What BJP said during the GHMC poll campaign about the two parties came true, he claimed. Vijayalaxmi R Gadwal is the daughter of TRS Rajya Sabha member K Keshav Rao who had also served as state Congress president before joining TRS.

According to TRS sources, Vijayalaxmi did BA and LLB. She lived in the US for several years and returned to India in 2007. While in the US, she worked as a research assistant in Duke University, North Carolina. She won from Banjara Hills ward in 2016 and again in December, 2020. Mothe Srilatha is TRS Corporator from Tarnaka ward.

Amelia Gray Hamlin has become close with her sister Delilah Belle's boyfriend of two years Eyal Booker.

On Wednesday the 19-year-old model love interest of Scott Disick put her figure on display in a curve hugging knit set, as she grabbed lunch with the Love Island star in Beverly Hills.

Perhaps doing some pre-Valentine's Day errands, the duo were seen without Delilah as they stopped for lunch at Croft Alley.

Stepping out: Amelia Gray Hamlin, 19, shows off her curves in a grey knit set while grabbing lunch with sister Delilah Belle's boyfriend Eyal Booker in Beverly Hills

Amelia flashed her abs in the grey cardigan that opened in the front and a pair of matching flared spandex.

She paired the look with chunky black boots and a black trucker hat as she carried a beige handbag.

Sunglasses and a face mask in tow, she was seen walking behind Eyal who carried a heap of clothing in an orange Goyard tote.

Wearing a geometric red and pink sweater with a pair of black slacks and converse, he carried two pairs of shoes in his hand while toting the designer duffle.

Comfy chic: Her toned midriff and long legs were on full display as she spent some quality time with Delilah's boyfriend of two years

Pack horse: The Love Island star seemed to be doing the heavy lifting as he carried a Goyard tote worth of clothing

Beverly Hills baby: Amelia was just a stone's throw away from her home in Beverly Hills, rising to fame as the daughter of RHOBH Lisa Rinna, who recently defended her from trolls

While the duo stepped out to refuel with some lunch, Delilah posted from a medical spa in Studio City.

In recent weeks Booker seems to have grown close to Amelia's beau Disick as they indulged in a boy's dinner with a private chef.

The Keeping Up With the Kardashians star even went to bat for him, attacking his former reality show love interest Megan Barton Hanson three months ago.

He seemed to prove that he deeply cared for the Hamlin sisters and Booker as he slid in with a DM that said he was 'astonished by her behavior' on the show and asking for Barton Hanson to 'write him an apology.'

Head to toe: Despite wearing what could be considered pajamas to some, she dressed up the look with chunky black boots and a black trucker hat

Eye candy: The model has been linked to Disick since Halloween even recently posting a photo from what appeared to be in his bathroom

Scott and Amelia first made their relationship known in late October when they were seen arriving together at Kendall Jenner's birthday party.

The romance seems to continue to blossom as they rang in the new year in Mexico together and she even seemed to post a cheeky underwear photo from his bathroom in Hidden Hills recently.

Despite the new love interest, Disick opted to skip out on a weekend in Santa Barbara with Amelia, Delilah, and Eyal a mere weeks ago, jetting to Miami instead.

Matters of the heart: The romance seems to continue to blossom as they rang in the new year in Mexico together and she even seemed to post a cheeky underwear photo from his bathroom in Hidden Hills recently

Safe at home: Later in the day the model posted a snap of her bedroom as she showed off her new purses and family dog

Sleepover: Amelia recently posted a photo in underwear that eagle-eye fans of KUWTK were able to identify as Disick's bathroom

On Tuesday Amelia was met with criticism online after she posted a racy lingerie snap to Instagram.

When Real Housewife of Beverly Hills mother Lisa Rinna commented with hearts on the photo, a troll wrote back 'wtf is wrong with u? U like what u see???? Disgusting [sic].'

Rinna, 57, clapped back 'What is wrong with you? This is my child,' as she encouraged the behavior which some deemed inappropriate.

Amelia has been open about struggling with an eating disorder - both on and off the Bravo show - recently stepping into her own as a model and embracing her enviable figure.
A NUMBER of fines were issued at a burial in County Limerick on Wednesday confirmed gardai.

The funeral Mass took place on the northside of Cork city before the deceased was laid to rest in Kilcornan. It is understood that a large number of mourners travelled from Cork to Limerick.

Under level 5 restrictions, attendances at funerals are limited to 10 people.

Gardai confirmed that fines in respect of breaches of the 5km travel rule were issued in Cork and Limerick. Minister Niall Collins said he had received complaints from constituents regarding the large crowd and traffic chaos in Kilcornan.

Minister Collins said there seemed to be a lot of Northern Ireland and UK registered cars which "is in clear breach of the Covid regulations".

"Their flagrant breaches of the rules is insulting to every other family and community who have experienced bereavement during lockdown. Right across rural Limerick, people are abiding by the small funerals and other restrictions.

"People are paying their respects by standing at the end of their boreen or their roadway as the hearse goes by. Its insulting for people to see and to hear of this," said Minister Collins, who also spoke of the garda resources and time used to deal with it.

One local said there was at least eight gardai on duty. "They closed the road and set up road checks," said the local.

Minister Collins said: "It is very difficult for the gardai to manage these types of situations."

A garda spokesperson said the Health Act 1947 (Section 31A-Temporary Restrictions) (Covid-19) (No.10) Regulations 2020, as amended, are currently in force.

"Regulation 8(2) provides certain restrictions on funerals. Regulation 8(2) is not a penal regulation. Regulation 4 provides a restriction on travel without a reasonable excuse attending a funeral is listed as a reasonable excuse.

"Where gardai identify potential breaches of the public health regulations a file is prepared for the DPP in each case or a Fixed Payment Notice is issued where appropriate.

"In supporting the Covid-19 public health guidelines and regulations, An Garda Siochana has and will continue to adopt, a graduated policing response based on its tradition of policing by consent. This has seen gardai engage, educate, encourage and, as a last resort, enforce," said the garda spokesperson.

They added that personal social responsibility - wearing of face coverings in open spaces and social distancing are public health guidelines and are not penal regulations.

"The Covid-19 Pandemic remains a public health crisis and An Garda Siochana continues to appeal to all citizens to demonstrate personal and social responsibility to comply with Public Health Guidelines and Regulations, in particular essential journeys, in order to continue to save lives," said the spokesperson.
Commissioner of refugees Likius Valombola, who is accused of murdering a student leader in 2018, wants the court to dismiss all charges against him.

His lawyer Nambili Mhata made the application yesterday before Windhoek High Court Judge Claudia Claasen.

Valombola (53) has been charged with murder after allegedly shooting and killing 25-year-old Helao Ndjaba in the head on 18 May 2018 in Windhoek's Ombili location.

Valombola has been free on bail of N$15 000.

Mhata argued the State failed to show on a scale of probabilities that Valombola intended to shoot Ndjaba when he fired the fatal shots.

According to Mhata, almost every eyewitness called by the State had a different version riddled with contradictions on the alleged shooting.

To make matters worse, he said, the police investigation was bungled in material respects by the scene of crime officer, the investigating officer, the pathology and ballistics personnel and officials at the forensic laboratory.

In contrast, he went on, the accused's case was consistent regarding the circumstances under which he fired the shot from his bail application to his plea explanation.

He said his client also maintained the same position when his instructions were put to State witnesses during the trial.

"In fact, the law is now to the effect that an accused cannot simply be placed on defence to supplement the State's case," he emphasised.

Mhata asked the court to carefully and objectively consider the application with due regard to the poor quality of the evidence presented by the State and rule in favour of Valombola.

The State, represented by Ethel Ndlovu, argued they presented a prima facie case and that Valombola has a case to answer.

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She said that at this stage of the trial, the credibility of witnesses does not play a significant role in the decision of the court on whether to place a defendant on his defence or dismiss the charges.

Valombola has pleaded not guilty to murder but admitted to firing the shots that could have possibly caused the death of Ndjaba.

The doctor who conducted the autopsy on the victim said the bullet (s) caused so much damage in his left brain that it was almost impossible for him to survive.

According to the doctor, he observed two entry wounds in the left side of the deceased's skull indicating that he was struck twice in close succession.

During his plea - in which he conceded firing the shots but denied intent to kill - Valombola told the court that he fired two shots about 10 seconds apart when he was accosted by three people that were banging on his car door.

At the time, he said, he was afraid for his life and the lives of his wife and son who were in the car with him.

Judge Claasen indicated she will deliver her ruling on the 174 discharge application on 10 March.
At the start of Matt James season of The Bachelor, frontrunner Rachael Kirkconnell was accused of past racist behavior on social media  now Chris Harrison is weighing in. But, it seems many Bachelor Nation fans think the longtime host made a number of surprising comments in his recent statement, from potentially spoiling Matts Bachelor journey to downplaying Rachaels allegations. So, heres what Harrison said about the situation.

Chris Harrison on the allegations against Rachael Kirkconnell from Matt James season of The Bachelor

RELATED: The Bachelor: Katie Thurstons Instagram Plays Coy About Reality Steves Bachelorette Spoilers

When Matts season of The Bachelor started airing in January 2021, multiple allegations against Rachael began to surface. On TikTok, a user claimed Rachael bullied her for dating Black men. Then another TikTok user accused the contestant of liking racist photos.

Meanwhile, pictures emerged of Rachael at an Old South themed fraternity formal thrown by Kappa Alpha at Georgia College & State University in 2018. The Sun also spoke with Rachaels cousin, Anastasia, who confirmed the antebellum plantation-themed ball photos were authentic.

On Feb. 9, The Bachelorettes Rachel Lindsay interviewed Harrison on Extra. Then when the former lead asked the Bachelor Nation host about Rachaels social media activity, Harrison wanted fans to show James frontrunner a little grace. He said:

First and foremost, I dont know. I havent talked to Rachael about it. We all need to have a little grace, a little understanding, a little compassion. I have seen some stuff online. Again, this judge, jury, executioner thing where people are just tearing this girls life apart and diving into her parents voting record. Until I actually hear this woman have a chance to speak, who am I to say any of this  I saw a picture of her at a sorority party five years ago thats it.

Lindsay reminded Harrison that Rachaels antebellum plantation photos were from 2018, merely two years before The Bachelor Season 25 started filming. Well, the picture is from 2018 at an Old South antebellum party, she said. Its not a good look ever.

Nevertheless, Harrison appeared to double down on his stance, claiming that 50 million people attended Old South parties in 2018.

Is it a good look in 2018 or is it not a good look in 2021? Harrison said. I dont disagree with you. Youre 100 percent right  in 2021. That was not the case in 2018. Again, Im not defending Rachael. I just know, I dont know, 50 million people did that in 2018 that was a type of party that a lot of people went to.

Chris Harrison says Rachael Kirkconnell will address the controversy after the Women Tell All on The Bachelor

Rachael Kirkconnell and Matt James on The Bachelor Season 25 | Craig Sjodin via Getty Images

RELATED: The Bachelor: Who Is Michelle Young? Matt James New Cast Member Could Be the Next Frontrunner

As mentioned, the allegations against Rachael have been circulating the internet since the start of Matts season of The Bachelor. But, as of this write-up, Rachael has yet to speak out. Then in the Extra segment, Lindsay revealed that theres nothing that contractually stops her from saying something.

Meanwhile, Harrison speculated why Rachael hasnt said anything. The woke police is out there, he said. This poor girl Rachael, who has just been thrown to the lions. I dont know how you are equipped when you have never done this before, to be woke enough, to be eloquent enough, to be ready to handle this.

The host also claimed that Rachael will have her time to speak on The Bachelor. But, he confirmed the cast member wasnt at the Women Tell All taping. He said:

Its first on Rachael. I dont think it is incumbent upon The Bachelor franchise to speak out on everything that everyone wants to hear about on social media.  The show does push these social issues. And then we will talk about it. On the Woman Tell All we do get into it. Rachael was not there, and so we didnt get into the Rachael of it all. But, Rachael will have her time to speak. Hopefully, I will be there to have that debate with her and I will push her. You know me well enough. I will push her, I wont make it uncomfortable. I will try to hold her feet to the fire as much as I can.

Seeing as Rachael wont be at the Women Tell All, but she will be interviewed by Harrison later on, it seems likely the host spoiled the cast members top four slot on Matts season. For now, viewers who are still watching will have to wait and see. But, regardless, it seems The Bachelor franchise wont be addressing the allegations until Rachael makes a statement.

I dont think the show needs to speak before Rachael does. I dont think thats fair, Harrison said. Whatever we say puts her in a box that now, where does she go? And that will dictate the course of action she has to take, and that will, in turn, make this insincere. So thats not fair.  I respect her enough to allow her the courtesy of time and she can speak on her own.

Bachelor Nation fans are calling out Chris Harrison

Chris Harrison on The Bachelor Season 25 | Craig Sjodin via Getty Images

RELATED: The Bachelor: Chelsea Vaughn Reveals What Matt James Really Said in the Last Episode

Following Harrisons Extra interview with Lindsay, many Bachelor Nation fans were disappointed in the host for downplaying and normalizing Rachaels actions.

I have basically no expectations of this man but I am shocked by his response to this and how much he is downplaying it, a fan wrote on Reddit.

Many viewers also pointed out that the hosts recent comments show that he is part of The Bachelor franchises problem with diversity. A fan wrote on YouTube wrote:

This was Chris Harrisons WORST interview. He kept interrupting Rachel. He didnt have his facts straight (saying the picture was 5 years ago) Saying that in 2018 this wouldve been OK. Making fun of the term woke. HE is obviously a big part of the problem of why the show has little to no diversity, and why they bring so many racist contestants on the show. He is enabling it.

Then in a Reddit discussion calling for Harrison to step down from The Bachelor franchise, viewers questioned why Harrison seemed more willing to victimize Rachael than to empathize with people of color who were hurt by the contestants past actions. A fan wrote:
Amazon .com Inc has mounted a legal challenge against its partner Future Group's $3.4 billion retail assets sale in Supreme Court, two sources told Reuters on Thursday, marking the U.S. firm's latest effort to block the deal.

Amazon, locked in legal disputes with Future, alleges the Indian firm violated contracts by agreeing to sell its retail assets to Reliance Industries last year. Future denies any wrongdoing.

Also Read | Inside the Mindtree makeover strategy

A New Delhi court this week dealt a blow to the U.S. firm by revoking a previous court decision that effectively blocked the deal, and Amazon has filed an appeal against it in the Supreme Court in the capital city, the two sources said.

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Fianna Fail Senator Erin McGreehan is calling for harsher consequences for dog owners whose dogs attack sheep.

The Louth Senator has also called for more responsibility from the State in the areas of dogs, dog ownership and the control of dogs.

Senator McGreehan was speaking after an incident which occurred in Carlingford in Co Louth on Friday evening, in which an attack by a dog on a farmers sheep was barely averted just in time.

The Louth Senator commented: This is a national problem, and it is an animal welfare issue.

"Sheep are being killed and maimed.

"I have written to both the Minister of Agriculture who has responsibility for animal welfare and also the Minister for Local Government, who has responsibility for the licensing.

In my opinion there should be one Department with responsibility for dogs, dog ownership and the control of dogs.

"Dog owners need to be fined/convicted if they willingly, or due to negligence, allow their dogs to kill and maim animals.

Senator McGreehan continued: Since the outbreak of this pandemic our countryside has been a great solace to so many people.

"It is great to see so many people appreciate our countryside.

"However, due to some dog owners who have blatantly shown huge disrespect to the landowners and to the welfare of sheep.

"This is the start of lambing season.

"An attack on a pregnant sheep if it doesnt kill the poor animal can lead to miscarriage.

"This is a farmers a familys livelihood."



I am very worried at this situation; farmers are at their wits end worrying about their stock. If this goes on much longer there will be a scenario where the walks will be taken back, and access will be denied to walkers. This is a situation is that both farmers and walkers do not wish to happen. However, to protect animals it may be end up necessary.



"It is not understood by so many that many lands for example the Cooley Mountains are commonage lands. This means common to the shareholders. The shareholders are the local farmers not the State or the general public. This needs to be understood and respected.



"There are 35,000 sheep farmers all across Ireland and they need to be supported," Senator McGreehan concluded.
The Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) is on track to meet the 50 per cent local processing target of cocoa beans produced in the country, the Chief Executive Officer, Mr Joseph Boahen Aidoo, has said.



He said the country was currently processing about 40 per cent of cocoa beans locally and was, therefore, confident of meeting the 50 per cent target soon.



At the launch of the National Chocolate Week, he said the chocolate week celebrations was part of a bigger drive by the board to promote local processing of cocoa to boost cocoa consumption among Ghanaians.



He said COCOBOD was determined to strengthen its incentive packages to help local processors and artisanal chocolate makers expand their businesses.



The incentives will ensure that the processors are able to access more beans and produce more chocolates and other cocoa products for the consuming public, he said.



The government in 2017 announced an ambitious plan to increase cocoa production to one million metric tonnes (MT) as it improves the local processing of the beans to 50 per cent.



The country already has seven major cocoa processing firms and with an estimated processing capacity of about 500,000 mt, with the construction of a new 50,000 capacity processing factory in the Western Region currently ongoing.



The new factory, when completed, will increase the capacity to about 550,000 which puts them in a position to meet the governments 50 per cent processing target.



Appreciation to farmers



The CEO also expressed the boards appreciation to cocoa farmers for their continuous support of the industry.



He said the farmers played an invaluable role in the cocoa value chain and must, therefore, be commended.



We have great support from our cocoa farmers and other stakeholders within the cocoa value chain and I will like to seize this opportunity to commend our illustrious farmers in particular for their efforts at producing the best quality cocoa for the confectionery market the world over, he said.



Role of cocoa



The Minister-designate for Information, Mr Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, who launched the chocolate week on behalf of the Vice-President, Dr Mahamadu Bawumia, said cocoa and chocolate played an integral role in the lives of Ghanaians and the economy as a whole.



He said every Ghanaian, in one way or the other, derived benefit from cocoa.



From foreign exchange earning to employment, food and beverages, cosmetics to the provision of social and infrastructural amenities, the cocoa business is one that can best be described as an essential and robust one with several untapped opportunities, he said.



He noted that among all the activities within the cocoa value chain, one aspect that required attention was the local consumption of cocoa products in the country.



I have been told that Ghanas current per capita consumption hovers around 0.52kg whereas elsewhere on the globe, and mainly among non-cocoa producing countries, per capita consumption ranges between three and 11kg.



Fortunately for us, the popularity of chocolate and cocoa products is growing in the country. Ghanaians are beginning to understand and appreciate the health benefits of cocoa and its related products, resulting in increased demand for high-quality good flavoured cocoa products in various forms, he said.



He said the government was, therefore, determined to support entrepreneurs and investors interested in cocoa processing and value-addition.



Enhanced collaboration



The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana Tourism Authority, Mr Akwasi Agyemang, for his part, said the authority would enhance its collaboration with the Cocoa Processing Company (CPC) to promote the consumption of cocoa within the countrys hospitality industry.



He said it was gratifying to note that hotels in Ghana now served chocolate drinks alongside tea and coffee.



Mr Agyemang said although the hospitality industry was still struggling as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, he was confident that the sector would soon bounce back.



Chocolate week



COCOBOD, in collaboration with the Ghana Tourism Authority, launched the 2021 National Chocolate Week which would be celebrated on the theme eat chocolates, stay healthy and grow Ghana.



The celebration, which is from February 8-14, is packed with activities to encourage the consumption of chocolate confectionery, beverages, and chocolate-infused dishes.

Source: graphiconline.com









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It's A Sin star Nathaniel Hall revealed he found love in lockdown with his partner Sean Taylor.

Appearing on Lorraine on Thursday, the actor, 34, who plays Donald Bassett in the hit series set in the 1980s, gushed about his relationship and how medication means he can't pass HIV on to Sean.

Nathaniel contracted HIV the first time he had sex at the age of just 16 and discussed the 'stigma', as well as medical advances surrounding the virus.

Loved-up: It's A Sin star Nathaniel Hall revealed he found love in lockdown with his partner Sean Taylor

Speaking about his relationship, the actor said: 'I actually found lockdown love. I'm on medication so my viral load is undetectable that means I cant pass the virus on.

'My partner Sean remains HIV negative and he also takes HIV medication which can help him preemptively getting HIV.

'Its phenomenal how far we have come... I was diagnosed about seven years into effective medication, I look at some of the characters on [Its A Sin ] and think, "Gosh, if I had been born a few years earlier my life could have been very very different".'

Smitten: Appearing on Lorraine on Thursday, the actor, 34, who plays Donald Bassett in the hit series set in the 1980s, gushed about his relationship

From multi-BAFTA Award-winning writer Russell T Davies, It's A Sin follows the story of the 1980s, the story of AIDS, and charts the joy and heartbreak of a group of friends across a decade in which everything changed.

Nathaniel talked about his own experience and how he didn't tell his family about his diagnosis for 15 years because there 'was a lot of shame and self-stigma'.

He said: 'I came out at 16 as gay and they're very supportive but that doesn't demonstrate the power of the stigma of HIV and I really struggled to say anything.

Speaking out: Nathaniel contracted HIV the first time he had sex at the age of just 16 and discussed the stigma as well as medical advances surrounding the virus

'While I was healthy physically it was impacting me mentally.'

After a decade of struggling with alcohol and drugs, he turned his life around in 2017 and began to work as an activist to raise awareness and reduce stigma around HIV.

In 2019 he starred at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in his one-man show First Time, in partnership with HIV Scotland, which, along with the UK government, is aiming for the UN goal of zero new HIV transmissions by 2030.

Around the same time, he told his family about his HIV status, choosing to write a letter before they came to see the show.

Of his family's reaction when he told them, he told Lorraine: 'It was really underwhelming, I wrote a letter to my mum and dad and my siblings, I got a few messages and my mum came to see me the next day.

'I know my sister will message me because whenever I do these interviews she says "sorry for the underwhelming response".'

His story: Nathaniel talked about his own experience and how he didn't tell his family about his diagnosis for 15 years because there 'was a lot of shame and self-stigma'

Since the show aired, it has inspired a record number of people to get tested for HIV and Nathaniel explained how when he decided to embrace who he was 'led to something magical' on stage.

He told Lorraine: 'For a very long time the shame affected my career, when I decided to flip the script and tell everyone and say it aloud, for me something magical happened when I went on stage, it was so well received it was overwhelming.

'I think when you live authentically people latch onto it.'

Nathaniel appears alongside an all-star cast in It's A Sin on Channel 4. All five episodes are available on All 4.

Starring Years & Years frontman Olly Alexander alongside a cast of rising stars and celebrated favourites including Keeley Hawes, Stephen Fry and Neil Patrick Harris, It's a Sin was universally praised by fans.

Davies, the writer and producer behind Queer As Folk, the 2005 revival of Doctor Who and Cucumber, loosely based It's A Sin on his own experiences in the eighties.

He also spent hours in conversation with his childhood friend Jill Nalder, an actor, ally and activist who lived in London during the decade and is played by Lydia West in the drama.

Moving: From multi-BAFTA Award-winning writer Russell T Davies, It's A Sin follows the story of the 1980s, the story of AIDS, and charts the joy and heartbreak of a group of friends

The real-life Jill also appears, playing Lydia's mother in episodes four and five.

Davies cast Alexander as the show's protagonist Ritchie Tozer, an 18-year-old hailing from an ignorant, unloving household on the Isle of Wight who throws himself headfirst into London life, soon befriending Jill and three others and renting their flat, lovingly dubbed The Pink Palace.

The cast of young talent is supported by a string of veteran screen stars, including Keeley Hawes and Shaun Dooley as Ritchie's parents, Stephen Fry as an MP lover of outrageous flatmate Rosce (Omari Douglas) and Neil Patrick Harris as a mentor to another, the quietly observant Colin.

Praise: It's A Sin has received an outpouring of praise since it began on Channel 4 last month

HAVANA  Car dealerships, book publishing and hedge funds are still prohibited. Bed-and-breakfasts are not. Zoos, scuba diving centers and weapons production remain banned. Veterinary services arent.

As Cubas Communist government continues its piecemeal expansion of the fledgling private sector, Cubans are carefully parsing a list of the economic activities that the government proposes to keep under its control.

The list, published on Wednesday and labeled as provisional, contains 124 activities that would remain forbidden to private enterprise. It would keep the countrys most powerful and productive sectors under the dominion of the state, including those employing many of the most highly educated and highly trained professionals, such as medicine and health care, education, media and construction-related trades like architecture and engineering.

Several days before making the much-anticipated list public, the government announced that it would greatly expand the number of economic activities open to private enterprise  which has been constrained by a different list, of 127 allowed types of businesses  in an effort to create jobs, open new markets and revive the economy. The news could promise a vast opening of the economy, elevating hope and expectations across Cuba.
A wildlife park banned from keeping big cats after one lynx escaped and another died has been wound up by the taxman with debts of more than 120,000.

Owners Tracy Tweedy, 50, and her husband Dean, 52, bought Borth Wild Animal Kingdom in Borth, West Wales, for 625,000 five years ago.

But the attraction faced a series of blunders and escapes - including when a lynx got loose and was shot dead by a marksman.

The owners admitted a second lynx had also died in a 'handling error' and were later found to have breached numerous safety laws.

In May last year the couple threatened to put down its animals because it was running out of money to feed the exotic breeds amid the coronavirus lockdown.

A hearing in London has now ruled the zoo be compulsorily wound up and have its assets liquidated after owing over 122,000.

Supporters feared the zoo would close permanently but, in a statement, its owners have vowed to reopen.

Owners Tracy Tweedy, 50, and her husband Dean (both pictured above), 52, bought Borth Wild Animal Kingdom in Borth, West Wales, for 625,000 five years ago

A hearing in London has ruled the zoo (pictured above) be compulsorily wound up and have its assets liquidated after owing over 122,000

Tracy and Dean were hit by a 'big cat' ban last year, but were told they could stay open without their main attractions.

They lost their licence to house 'Category 1 carnivores' such as lions and lynx but have since faced a winding up order from the taxman after racking up huge debts.

The owners said: 'We wanted to reassure you that, despite Borth Wild Animal Kingdom Ltd. being wound up today by HMRC, we are not planning to close the zoo permanently.

'Once the dissolution of the company has been finalised, we are hoping that the zoo will be able to reopen.

'Meanwhile, we would like to assure you that all of our animals are continuing to be cared for by our dedicated staff and their welfare will not be compromised during this transition period.

'We would like to thank you all for your continued support and look forward to seeing you all again when we are able to open.'

Lilleth the Eurasian lynx (pictured above) who escaped from the zoo in West Wales in October 2017 and was shot by a marksman after being found at a nearby caravan site

Supporters feared the zoo (pictured above) would close permanently but, in a statement, its owners have vowed to reopen once the 'dissolution of the company has been finalised'

In May last year the couple also threatened to put down its animals because it was running out of money to feed the exotic breeds amid the coronavirus lockdown (zoo pictured)

Tracy and Dean were hit by a 'big cat' ban last year, but were told they could stay open without their main attractions (Borth Wild Animal Kingdom pictured above)

Ms Tweedy told the Insolvency and Companies Court hearing in London that the zoo had struggled with debts since the start of the pandemic as it had not been able to generate any income.

The couple offered to pay off the debts at 200-a-month but officials from HMRC said it was unacceptable.

The zoo became notorious in 2017 when Lilleth the Eurasian lynx escaped and was shot by a marksman after being found at a nearby caravan site.

Timeline of Borth Wild Animal Kingdom's past blunders and escapes October 2017: Lilleth the Eurasian lynx escapes and is shot by a marksman after being found at a nearby caravan site. Sniper Andrew Venables, who carried out the killing after being hired by a council, said he had no option but to shoot the lynx because the tranquiliser darts take 15 minutes to take effect. He said this means the animal would have had enough time to run away. November 2017: Nilly, the Eurasian lynx, is accidentally strangled to death with a catch-pole while an 'under pressure' member of staff was trying to catch her. The couple said: 'Unfortunately, there seems to have been a terrible handling error where it seems she twisted in the catch-pole and became asphyxiated.' March 2020: Three African Antelope escape from the zoo and are returned safely. One of the younger antelopes swiftly went back to the enclosure while a male, described as having 'big horns but not aggressive' was darted on the same day and a female was captured the following day. Advertisement

Sniper Andrew Venables, who carried out the killing after being hired by a council, said he had no option but to shoot the lynx because the tranquiliser darts take 15 minutes to take effect.

He said this means the animal would have had enough time to run away.

A second lynx, called Nilly, also died in what was described as a 'handling error'.

In a remorseful statement posted on the zoo's Facebook page, Mr and Ms Tweedy previously wrote that Nilly, the Eurasian lynx, was accidentally strangled to death with a catch-pole while an 'under pressure' member of staff was trying to catch her.

The couple said at the time: 'It is with deep sadness and regret we announce the demise last week of Nilly, an adult female lynx, who was unrelated to Lillith but shared an enclosure.

'Over the past few weeks our staff have been under incredible pressure and when the authorities gave us 24-hour notice that they would be carrying out a full cat inspection we took the decision to move Nilly to a more suitable enclosure.

'Unfortunately, there seems to have been a terrible handling error where it seems she twisted in the catch-pole and became asphyxiated. The authorities were notified after the incident and will be carrying out their own full investigation.'

A report later found one in five of the zoo's animals died in just one year with monkeys, crocodiles and a leopard dying from its animal stock in 2018.

A stock list compiled by the Ceredigion Council revealed that 57 of its 305 animals died - including wallabies, an emu and ibises.

But the zoo said at the time that the death rate should not raise concerns because many of the animals it took in were ageing, vulnerable or suffering from health difficulties.

In March last year three African Antelope also escaped from the zoo and were returned safely.

One of the younger antelopes swiftly went back to the enclosure while a male, described as having 'big horns but not aggressive' was darted on the same day and a female was captured the following day.

Last year, the married couple said their money was running out to care for their stock due to the ongoing coronavirus crisis and were planning 'as a last resort' to euthanise 'the animals that we care for'.

Police outside Borth Wild Animal Kingdom during a search for the missing lynx in 2017. Sniper Andrew Venables, who carried out the killing after being hired by a council, said he had no option but to shoot the lynx

In a previous statement, the couple said: 'We came into this profession with the aim of making a difference and we wanted to help spread the word on protecting and saving wild species.

'We wanted to bring Borth Zoo up to modern day standards and provide a fantastic facility for the people of Mid-Wales and we are so close to doing that.

'We know that much of the local community are behind us, but it heartens us even more to see the zoo community giving us their support.'

Another attraction also battling for the dubious honour of 'Britain's worst zoo' is the South Lakes Safari Zoo in Cumbria.

A report in 2017 found there were too many 'contact incidents' between animals and visitors, with lemurs seen climbing into a baby's pram and chasing members of the public.

The zoo's animal director Andreas Kaufmann confirmed a diagnosis of chlamydia among the attaction's peacock population

Almost 500 animals died during a four-year period at the zoo and keeper Sarah McClay was mauled to death by a tiger in 2013.
Seoul, Feb 11 : North Korean leader Kim Jong-un called on the legislation sector to strengthen legal supervision and control over the establishment and executive process of the national economic plan, a state-media report said on Thursday.

On the third day of the plenary meeting of the eighth Central Committee of the ruling Workers' Party, Kim on Wednesday suggested important tasks for firmly ensuring the implementation of the national economic plan by law and the fulfilment of this year's economic tasks, the country's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said in the report.

He called on the legislative sector to "remove irrational elements becoming stumbling blocks to the implementation of the national economic plan and enact and perfect new laws for every sector which help promote the efficiency of the production and construction", Xinhua news agency quoted the KCNA report as saying.

Kim particularly urged legislative bodies to check all kinds of illegal practices revealed in economic activities.

He also said party officials should intensify political guidance to achieve this year's economic tasks.

At the eighth congress of the Workers' Party last month, Kim unveiled a new five-year economic development plan focusing on self-reliance.
Mortar shelling in Afghanistan kills at least 10 civilians

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Urr  Mr. Sheriff Sillah, the Chairperson of Sabi Village Health Facility Management Committee, has disclosed to lawmakers that in the past six years, flood has been claiming lives on a yearly basis in the village.

Mr. Sillah informed the National Assembly Health Committee on Wednesday 10th February 2021, during their visit to the health facility as part of their ongoing visit to disaster hotspots and health facilities.

He told the committee that they have been hit hard by floods; saying the last one destroyed their OIC ambulance, fences and soak-away. He said the reports have been taken to the NDMA, but they have never received support from the NDMA for their health facility in the wake of disasters caused by floods in the village.

"This flood destruction has been hitting us for almost 6 years now but we never received support from NDMA. Whatever is destroyed, the community bears the cost of restoring the destroyed properties. Our elders even wanted to relocate the village to elsewhere due to the severe impact of flood, but with the coming of NEMA and PUMAMP Projects, we have sighed relief, but since commencement of the construction of the Sabi Basse road, we started to experience this bitter experience, because the culvert they blocked was where water used to pass through," he said.

"When it got full with flood water, we told the relevant authority that the flood comes as far as Cassamance and it is emptied here and if there is no proper culvert, it can have adverse impact on the village.

"Since that happened, destruction of properties caused by flood has become severe both in the health facility and the village. For the past six years, no year passed without claiming a life in this Sabi. But despite these severe destructions, we have never received any support from the government and NDMA," he said.

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Hudul EN Colley, NDMA Regional Coordinator Upper River Region (URR), said NDMA received these cases of disasters in Sabi and they should have done something about the matter. But he said, Sabi has never been identified as a disaster hotspot.

"In fact it was the Regional Health Director who told me about these flood cases and upon receiving the information, I paid an urgent visit to the village and forwarded the matter to the NDMA. That is why NDMA has sent a technician to come and take water points in the village to see how the water flows and to devise ways of eradicating the disasters that often happen in the village.

"If there were cases of deaths as a result of flood we are not aware of it, because this year the records we have do not indicate Sabi village as among the worst disaster hotspots. The information we received were those of fire outbreak and storm destruction and the NDMA reached out to the victims," Colley said.

Adama Saidy Bah, Public Health Officer at Sabi Village Hospital, told the committee that the hospital is faced with mobility, accommodation and equipment challenge.

This, he said, is impacting negatively on their efforts to deliver effective and quality healthcare services to the residents of the area.
Syracuse, N.Y.  Onondaga County health officials will leave it up to primary care providers to decide which immunocompromised patients will be first in line for Covid-19 vaccines, county officials said today.

When the county begins giving shots next week to people with underlying medical conditions, the patients will be selected by their doctors based on who is most at risk of complications from the coronavirus, said Dr. Indu Gupta, county health commissioner.

County officials still have no estimate of how many doses they will have available next week for immunocompromised people, who are joining the ranks of people eligible for vaccines as of Monday.

When the county gets confirmation of its weekly vaccine supply from the state, it will allocate a certain number of doses to each primary care practice based on its patient population, Gupta said. With that number in hand, the doctors will decide which patients should go first.

Onondaga County will not have an open vaccine registration targeting immunocompromised individuals next week, County Executive Ryan McMahon said. That may change in future weeks if more vaccine becomes available, he said.

The vaccines will be administered at the Oncenter. Patients will be contacted either by their doctors office or the county to notify them of their appointment time, McMahon said.

Gupta said she is collaborating with local physicians on how to prioritize patients, but the final decision will be up to doctors. Although each selected patient will receive a doctors note attesting to their eligibility for a shot, the note will not identify their specific medical condition, Gupta said.

County officials anticipate they will receive exponentially fewer doses than there are people with qualifying medical conditions. During the first week, at least, only those who are most at risk will be selected, Gupta said.

We want to get those individuals  who are the most sick and vulnerable,' Gupta said.

Eventually, anyone with a doctors note or other proof verifying their underlying medical condition will qualify for a vaccine, regardless of age, as long as they have one of the conditions listed by the state health department. The countys strategy does not apply at other vaccine sites such as the NY State Fair or pharmacies.

But new appointments at many vaccine clinics are hard to come by. Onondaga County, which opens new appointments each week, is asking doctors to select the immunocompromised patients who will get the first round of shots next week.

McMahon said it would be easy for doctors to draft a list of their patients most in need of the vaccine. The top doctor for one of the regions largest medical practices, Family Care Medical Group, said its anything but easy.

You have a group of 150,000 patients and you get 100 or 200 or 300 doses: Who are you giving them to? asked Dr. Mitchell Brodey, chief executive officer of the group, with more than 100 providers across Central New York. Its the Sophies choice vaccination policy.

Brodey said its straightforward to determine the general category of highest risk: immunocompromised patients who have had organ transplants or receive immunotherapy for conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis.

But even then, he asked, how do doctors decide who is sickest of the sick?

I asked my doctors for their top five patients  the people you think are your most immunocompromised, Brodey said. One said its impossible to choose, which I think is a fair answer.

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Level 5 restrictions are likely to continue until at least Easter, the Taoiseach has said.

Micheal Martin said a phased reopening of schools and construction is the Governments priority.

Deputy chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn said while progress has been made, modelling indicates there is a long way to go in the pandemic.

We have made very significant progress over the past number of weeks, but despite that progress, last week in broad terms we had as many cases as during any week during 2020 and the numbers in hospital and critical care remain higher now than at any point through 2020, he told a Nphet press conference.

We have a long way to go, and I know thats a difficult message for people to take on board, given the extent to which they have complied with public health measures over the past number of weeks, but even to get to a reasonable position by the middle of March we need to continue keeping our contacts as close as possible and in particular to work from home if possible.

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Its the single best contribution people can make to cut their mobility and keep their mobility as low as possible over the coming weeks.

He said mobility data, including from mobile phone providers, indicates a 50% reduction, which while significant, is not where we were last spring.

Earlier Health Service Executive chief Paul Reid described continuing good trends in relation to the number of cases of Covid-19 but warned Ireland is still very high risk in terms of the level of transmission in the community.

He pointed out that the 990 were in hospital with Covid-19 on Wednesday, 100 more than in the peak of the first wave in April, at 880.

Speaking on RTEs Morning Ireland programme, Mr Martin said: Schools are the priority and construction  a phased return to construction, particularly housebuilding  because we have a social crisis in terms of the availability of housing for people across all strata of society.

And, certainly, we are looking at a continuation of high levels of restrictions to the Easter period. That remains to be determined by Government; there will be further discussions.

We have to get those numbers down, we have to relieve those pressures, not just in the short-term but for a sustained period Micheal Martin

Easter falls on the first weekend of April this year.

Mr Martin said it makes sense with the coronavirus vaccines being rolled out that the Government remains cautious and conservative in its approach to reopening society.

A phased return to schools got under way on Thursday with up to 4,000 children with additional educational needs returning to their classrooms for the first time since Christmas.

The special needs schools have been reopened following agreement between trade unions and the Department of Education. 50% of students will attend on alternate days.

From February 22 almost 3,000 secondary schools will resume classes for students with special needs.

This is going to be a different type of reopening because of the variant and the fact that its now in up to 70% of cases and I know public health are concerned theyre cautious, Mr Martin said.

They want to measure this measure in terms of the wider impact on the spread of virus.

Schools are safe classes and controlled environments, but its that wider impact of so many people on the move at one time.

The Fianna Fail leader promised there would be clarity next week for Leaving Certificate students about their June exams.

Better news again this morning as we have further reduced numbers of #COVID19 patients in hospital at 984 with 167 in ICU. However, there's nothing normal about these levels and we have a long way to go yet. But at least it feels like we have the wind behind us now. @HSELive  Paul Reid (@paulreiddublin) February 11, 2021

Mr Martin said by September a critical mass of the population would be vaccinated.

As of Sunday, 272,000 vaccines have been administered in Ireland, Mr Donnelly said.

Vaccination of the over 85s cohort is to begin on Monday through GPs surgeries.

The Taoiseach also told the programme that travel restrictions would be tightened following approval from the Cabinet next week.

He said at least 20 more countries will be added to the mandatory quarantine list that currently includes Brazil and South Africa.

He said some sub-Saharan African countries as well as Austria and the UAE would be added to the list.

Mr Martin said people should not be undertaking non-essential overseas travel.

Tanaiste Leo Varadkar said there is a long way to go before restrictions can be eased, adding: There isnt any strategy, unfortunately, that avoids the risk of rolling lockdowns or snap lockdowns.

We have a long way to go yet before we are in a position to ease restrictions substantially. We need to get down to much lower numbers than we have now.

He he told the Dail during Leaders Questions that he could not give an exact number of cases that needed to be reached before restrictions can be eased because a number of metrics needed to be considered.

There is little point in reopening things that you then have to close three weeks later, Mr Varadkar added.

He confirmed that 18 countries will be added to the mandatory hotel quarantine list: Austria, the UAE and 16 countries in sub-Saharan Africa.

On Thursday, a further 52 deaths related to Covid-19 and another 866 confirmed cases of the virus were notified.

As of 8am, there were 984 Covid-positive patients in hospital, with 172 in ICU.

Press Release

February 11, 2021 Probe govt underspending, delays in release of pay and subsidies to contact tracers, health workers, jeepney drivers: Pangilinan (UPDATE) WITH almost P40 billion of the funds allotted to address gaps in the country's Covid-19 response measures still not yet released, Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan seeks a Senate probe on the snail-paced disbursement and utilization of funds under Bayanihan 2. "Bakit mabagal? Minadali natin sa Kongreso ang dalawang Bayanihan at ang budget para masigurong may magagamit na pondo para sa maayos na pagkontrol sa Covid. Alam natin na ito ang susi sa pagbangon ng ating ekonomiya. Pero kung from disbursement at utilization sobrang bagal, baka patay na ang kabayo, 'ika nga," Pangilinan said. Senate Resolution 647 was filed as an online survey in Southeast Asia showed that a majority or 53.7% of its Filipino respondents from a more specialized cohort than respondents in national surveys disapproved of the government's handling of the pandemic. Findings by the Singapore-based ASEAN Studies Centre released Wednesday showed that among Southeast Asian countries, Filipinos in the policy, research, business, civil society, and media communities had the lowest approval rating for their government's response to the pandemic. According to the report of the Office of the President submitted to the Senate January 4, only a total of P103.24 billion of the P140 billion Bayanihan 2 funds have been released. In Senate Resolution 647, Pangilinan pointed out the delays in the release of the salary of contact tracers, hazard pay and special allowances of health workers, cash subsidies to jeepney drivers, and P83 billion of funds of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), as well as the underspending of the Departments of Transportation, Public Works and Highways, and Agriculture. "These delays and underspending are unacceptable given that Bayanihan 2 was signed into law September 11, 2020," Pangilinan said. "Five months na since naisabatas ang Bayanihan 2, ngunit ngayon ay 25% pa lang ang nagagamit ng DA. We cannot wait another 7 months para lang maging 50% ito lalo na ngayong hinaharap natin ang kawalan ng trabaho, mataas na presyo ng bilihin, nagkululang na suplay ng baboy," he added. At last week's Senate hearing, DA revealed that project implementation under the Bayanihan 2 is only at 25%, with no measures so far to address the African swine flu that has crippled the P200-billion hog industry and caused the drastic rise of prices of pork in the market. Senate Resolution 647 aims to direct the appropriate Senate committee to conduct an inquiry, in aid of legislation, on the release and utilization of the Bayanihan 2 funds to address the critical gaps in the country's COVID-19 response measures. In the resolution, Pangilinan noted the Philippines' abysmal rankings for Covid-19 management and vaccine procurement, where the country ranked 79th among 98 nations in the containment of the pandemic according to a study by the Lowy Institute. "We can't let bureaucracy slow us down from delivering much needed aid and support. Hindi natin pwedeng pinaghihintay ang ating mga kababayan para sa ayuda na dapat ay matagal na sana nilang nakuha. We have to know where else are we underspending and how we can unlock the funds and speed up the disbursement," he said. A similar House Resolution was filed in Congress February 8. House Resolution No. 1558 urges the House Committee on Public Accounts to probe the release and utilization of the Bayanihan 2 funds. "We are still in a pandemic which means government must act with a sense of urgency: fast, efficient, and transparent. With the way things are now, who knows how long it will take to get the ball rolling. Tututukan natin ito sa Senado," Pangilinan said. The senator earlier expressed doubts over a possible Bayanihan 3 due to the delay of disbursement and utilization of Bayanihan 2. The Philippines recently surpassed 540,000 in the number of Covid-19 positive cases with the additional 1,345 cases reported yesterday, February 10. The pandemic has claimed 11,401 Filipino lives, and is responsible for the biggest drop in Philippine post-war economy.
Australias fuel security is becoming an increasingly imminent challenge for the country as another refinery closes in Melbourne. With the countrys already high import bill climbing, experts are beginning to question the future of Australian fuel.

ExxonMobil has taken the decision to close its 80,000 bpd refinery in Melbourne, leaving the country with just two plants to meet its fuel needs. The plant will be transformed into a fuel import terminal.

This follows BPs decision to close its 146,000 bpd Kwinana plant in October 2020. Concerns have also been raised over the viability of Australian energy company Ampols Brisbane refinery. Canberra has offered A$2.3 billion in funding to keep the plant running, but no final decision has been made.

A decrease in oil demand and the growth in oil imports from the Middle East and Asia have reduced the number of refineries in Australia from seven to just two over the last decade. Mega-refineries across Asia have made it hard for Australia to compete in production.

The closure of Australias oil refineries makes it significantly more dependent on refined oil imports. While the government has assured the public that the closure will not have a negative impact on Australias fuel stocks, it is clear to see that a national fuel strategy is needed.

Many are putting pressure on the government to adopt more hydrogen and bioenergy projects as well as encouraging the switch to electric vehicles (EVs). However, the governments current approach to EVs is pushing people towards fossil fuels.

The national Future Fuels Strategy misinforms the public, suggesting that hybrid cars are more environmentally friendly than EVs. It also does nothing to incentivize the uptake of EVs through subsidies or the phasing out of traditional fuel vehicles. This adds to an already troubling situation in Australia; as international EV uptake increases, national figures are low. EV sales in Europe went from 3.3% in 2019 to 10.2% in 2020, while Australias sales increased only slightly from 0.6% to 0.75%.

Watch Now: The Energy Trades That Shook The World

Prior to recent refinery closures, Australia already imported around 90 percent of its oil needs, a figure that is now expected to rise. In 2019-20, Australia imported a total of $22.4 billion worth of refined petroleum products. This import figure shows the extent of change that has taken place in Australias oil industry over the last half a century, as the country was a net exporter of oil when it joined the International Energy Agency in 1979.

Australia is putting safeguards in place, with the government investing A$94 million in low-price oil during the global price fall in April 2020, to build a strategic fuel reserve. The national stockpile of crude oil goes towards Australias 90-day emergency threshold, established to tackle any problems with the supply chain.

However, to date, the government has failed to meet this stockpile quota, having just 63 days worth of oil reserves in November 2020, or 86 days if counting oil already en-route to the country.

The current import situation relies on geopolitical stability in multiple regions. While Australia relies on the USA and the Middle East to supply its oil, it also depends on Singapore or South Korea to manage the refining process of the crude product.

The question is how long can the government continue its laissez-faire approach to oil supplies before fuel insecurity becomes too big a threat? Only time will tell if the countrys remaining two refineries can maintain Australias small-scale national production or whether the country will, at some point, depend on 100 percent oil imports.

By Felicity Bradstock for Oilprice.com

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New births slipped 15% across China in 2020 despite stay-at-home lockdowns and state media baby-making cheerleading, Asia Times writes. During Chinas de facto nationwide lockdown in early 2020, when Beijing issued a sweeping shelter-in-place edict to stop the spread of Covid-19 from Wuhan, state media Xinhua entertained the thought that a Covid lockdown baby boom could be one upside. The new coronavirus forced the Chinese population, including couples in their prime ages, indoors, it noted.

What would you do during prolonged homestays and when working from home? asked an opinion piece run by the official news agency in March 2020. Newlyweds and couples in their 30s or 40s in Wuhan and other locked down cities may make good use of the commuting time saved to cement ties and procreate.

Xinhuas Covid baby boom forecast failed to pan out. Indeed, preliminary figures from the nations ongoing population census now suggest a Covid baby bust in China.

The worlds most populous country saw a 15% slump in registered newborns, from 2019s 11.79 million to 2020s 10.03 million.

The worrying 15% drop in new birth registrations was not revealed by the National Statistics Bureau, which has sought to hold back demographic figures when announcing economic and social development data for the year.

At a State Council press briefing on January 18, NSBs director Ning Jizhe failed to answer when asked by reporters if the anti-Covid measures of a year earlier had spurred a tide of new births across the country in September and October of 2020.

He was also asked if the findings of the census, held once every decade since 1949, would increase the prospects  as top policymakers had hoped  that a decent increase in the numbers of Chinas younger people would follow Beijings 2015 revocation of draconian family-planning laws, known as the one-child policy.

But Ning dodged that question, too, saying that all statistics from the census would be made public in April or at a later date to be announced as the NSB needed more time to crunch and analyze numbers.

It was instead the Ministry of Public Security that outed the disparities between newborn dreams and realities in its work report for 2020. The ministry is responsible for new birth registration and also is involved in the nationwide headcount operation.

The ministrys register of new births shows that among the 10.03 million babies born in China last year, there were only 4.74 million girls. It also shows that the peak birth count in the past decade, 17.86 million births, came in 2016  the year immediately after Beijing abolished the one-child policy.

Demographers now warn of more worrisome figures when the censuss final reports are released in the second quarter.

Figures compiled by a number of local authorities during the current population count and reviewed by Asia Times also paint a gloomy population production picture in both well-off cities and western regions, where babies are becoming a rare and even endangered species.

For instance, Shanghai, Chinas largest urban center with more than 24 million residents, on the first day of 2021 reported only 156 newborns whose mothers had the citys hukou, or permanent residency.

Non-local pregnant women are normally not allowed to deliver at Shanghais public hospitals and the inflow of migrants from elsewhere across China is stemmed by the high threshold for obtaining the citys hukou. Thus, Shanghais newborn figures are seen as a ballpark indicator of the citys population production.

Shanghais statisticians also revised downward the citys total births in 2020, from about 96,000 to fewer than 80,000, based on the latest figures from the census, which showed some district governments had sought to cook the population books by massaging new birth figures.

In December, Shanghais Xinmin Evening News quoted figures from a Pudong district government survey indicating that about a third of newlyweds in the affluent financial district in the first three quarters of 2020 said they would choose the DINK way of living, either permanently or for the initial years after their marriage.

Not only were they lured by the dual-income-no-kids lifestyle. They also dreaded facing parental and homeowning obligations in mainland Chinas most expensive city.

In the coastal city of Ningbo, Chinas largest maritime transportation hub, 36,000 new births were recorded in 2020, down 20%. In Hefei, capital of the eastern Anhui province, newborns decreased by 23% to 79,300 last year. Hefei is a city of close to 10 million dwellers.

In the Muslim-dominated far west autonomous region of Ningxia, the seven million-plus residents had fewer than 80,000 babies in 2020, down 16%  even though Chinas ethnic minorities in Ningxia are exempted from Beijings existing birth control rules that limit the number of kids each couple can have to two.

The northeastern backwater province of Jilin, grappling with the nations lowest birth rate and a constant brain drain to coastal provinces, has even stopped publishing annual changes to its population figures. It has removed related statistics from the databases that used to be accessible by the public.

Thus far the direst warning is from the National Health Commissions Center for Population and Development Research. Its latest studies published in January, based on mathematical models and past population growth trajectory, found that there would be fewer Chinese starting from as early as 2027, when the size of the population would peak at 1.417 billion.

That report said the gross birth rate would slip from 1.76 in 2020 into negative territory in or before 2027, and farther down to -2.18% around 2035.

The West Bengal Health Recruitment Board (WBHRB), under the Health and Family Welfare Department, Govt. of West Bengal, has called for online applications from qualified and experienced individuals for filling Two Thousand Five Twenty (2,520) vacancies to the post of Medical Officer (MO) and General Duty Medical Officer (GDMO) in WBHRB through direct recruitment to be posted in West Bengal, India on a fulltime basis. The application-cum-registration process towards the same starts on February 12, 2021 and closes on February 20, 2021 by 8:00 pm.

CRITERIA DETAILS Name Of The Posts Medical Officer (MO) and General Duty Medical Officer (GDMO) in WBHRB Organisation West Bengal Health Recruitment Board (WBHRB) Educational Qualification MBBS Degree and Post Graduate Qualification in the concerned Specialty Experience One-year practical training as House Staff in any Govt. Hospital Job Responsibilities null Skills Required null Job Location West Bengal Salary Scale Rs. 15,600 to Rs. 42,000 per month Industry Health and Family Welfare Department, Govt. of West Bengal Application Start Date February 12, 2021 Application End Date February 20, 2021

WBHRB Recruitment 2021: Age Criteria And Fees

Candidates interested in applying for WBHRB MO/GDMO Jobs 2021 through WBHRB Recruitment 2021 must not have exceeded 36 years of age (GDMO) and 40 years of age (Medical Officer) as on January 1, 2021 with relaxation (upper age limit) for reserved candidates as applicable as specified in the WBHRB Notification 2021.

Candidates must remit a prescribed amount of Rs. 210 as application fee for WBHRB MO/GDMO Jobs 2021 under WBHRB Recruitment 2021 through Banks participating in the GRPS only as mentioned in the WBHRB Notification 2021.

Also Read: WBHRB Recruitment 2021 Notification For 90 Pharmacist Grade III Posts, Apply Online Before March 3

WBHRB Recruitment 2021: WBHRB Vacancy 2021 Details

Post Name No. Of Vacancies Medical Officer (MO) 1,313 General Duty Medical Officer (GDMO) 1,207 Total 2,520

WBHRB Recruitment 2021: Education And Experience

Desirous candidates applying for WBHRB Medical Officer Jobs 2021 through WBHRB Recruitment 2021 must possess an MBBS Degree and Post Graduate Qualification in the concerned Specialty recognized by the MCI/SMC with one-year practical training as House Staff in any Govt. Hospital as detailed in the WBHRB Notification 2021.

WBHRB Recruitment 2021: Selection And Pay Scale

The selection of candidates as WBHRB Medical Officer Jobs 2021 through WBHRB Recruitment 2021 will be done bases on candidates' academic merit/marks, experience and Interview as notified in the WBHRB Notification 2021.

Candidates selected to WBHRB Medical Officer Jobs 2021 through WBHRB Recruitment 2021 will be paid emolument in the pay scale of Rs. 15,600 to Rs. 42,000 per month.

Also Read: Good News: Karnataka To Create 10 Lakh IT Jobs, Opportunities In Related Sectors Under KDEM By 2025

WBHRB Recruitment 2021: How To Apply

Candidates applying for WBHRB Medical Officer Jobs through WBHRB Recruitment 2021 must register online on the official WBHRB website from February 12, 2021 onwards, and submit their applications on or before February 20, 2021 by 8:00 pm

Download WBHRB Recruitment 2021 PDF Notification for Medical Officer (MO) posts

Download WBHRB Recruitment 2021 PDF Notification for General Duty Medical Officer (GDMO) posts
In a significant verdict, the Thursday directed the Centre to frame proper guidelines to regulate and facilitate grant of a facility of a scribe to persons with disability in writing exams and highlighted policy disconnect between two ministries on the issue saying left hand does not know what the right one is doing.

The apex court took note of the view of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MSJE), a nodal ministry for the welfare of persons, that a person with disabilities, other than benchmarked disabilities under the law, can also be provided with a scribe as the guidelines are not exhaustive.

This view of the nodal ministry has evidently not percolated to UPSC which, on the other hand, considers itself to be strictly bound, without deviation, from the rules specified by DoPT for the conduct of the CSEUPSC has therefore specifically stated before this court that a candidate who does not fulfill the description of a person with benchmark disabilities would not be entitled to a scribe.

These divergent views of two Central Ministries before the Court are symptomatic of a policy disconnect. We express our disquiet about the fact that, in a policy matter with profound consequences for India's population, the left hand does not know what the right one is doing, said a bench comprising Justices D Y Chandrachud, Indira Banerjee and Sanjiv Khanna.

The top court issued a slew of disabled-friendly directions to the MSJE on a plea of a UPSC's civil service aspirant, having neurological disorder 'dysgraphia' also known as a Writer's Cramp, who was denied facility of a scribe in exam on the ground that it can be provided only to persons with benchmark disabilities such as blind candidates and those with locomotor disability or cerebral palsy with an impairment of at least 40 per cent.

The bench allowed the appeal of MBBS graduate Vikas Kumar by setting aside the verdict of the Delhi High Court which had endorsed the views of the Central Administrative Tribunal denying him the scribe.

Writing the judgement, Justice Chandrachud held the facility of a scribe can be provided to persons with disabilities other than those having benchmark disabilities as given under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act.

We also intend to issue a broader direction to the Union Government in the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE) to ensure the framing of proper guidelines which would regulate and facilitate the grant of a facility of a scribe to persons with disability within the meaning of Section 2(s) where the nature of the disability operates to impose a barrier to the candidate writing an examination, the 62-page verdict said.

It asked the ministry that while formulating procedures, it may lay down appropriate norms to ensure that the condition of the candidate is duly certified by such competent medical authority as may be prescribed so as to ensure that only genuine candidates in need of the facility are able to avail of it.

This exercise shall be completed within a period of three months of the receipt of a certified copy of this judgment and a copy of the guidelines shall be transmitted to the Registrar (Judicial) of this Court, it said, adding the apex court registry shall place the guidelines, after getting them from the government, before for directions.

The top court also dealt with the policy disconnect in issues related to persons and asked the government to have consultation with persons with disabilities and their involvement in decision making about matters affecting their lives saying it was necessary to bring about any meaningful change in the realization of their rights and would be in sync with the philosophy of nothing about us without us.

In its judgement, the bench referred to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) which was brought by the then President George HW Bush and said that it reated an empowered class of beneficiaries known as the ADA generation.

Referring to the present case where the doctor was wrongly denied the scribe, it said there was need to make a meaningful contribution in the project of creating the RPwD (Rights of Persons with Disabilities) generation in India.

A generation of disabled people in India which regards as its birthright access to the full panoply of constitutional entitlements, robust statutory rights geared to meet their unique needs and conducive societal conditions needed for them to flourish and to truly become co-equal participants in all facets of life, it said.

It said the Centre, while framing guidelines, should be mindful that it was the duty of the state to provide reasonable accommodation to such disabled persons when they approach the authorities to take part in the process.

In India, as reflected by the policy disconnect in this case, there is often a lack of involvement of the disabled in such decision making processes, leading to their voice not being heard and their grievances remaining unaddressed Taking into account our constitutional and international obligations, we direct the MSJE to frame the abovementioned guidelines in consultation with the public, specifically with persons with disabilities and organisations representing them, it said.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Bright Pattern's Microsoft Teams integration enables an organization's Microsoft Teams implementation to be integrated directly into the Bright Pattern agent desktop. Agents have the ability to communicate with colleagues in the same desktop window as the customer, meaning agents don't need to stop the customer conversation to communicate with their colleagues. This allows agents to communicate with and seek help from other employees and subject matter experts outside of the contact center while resolving customer issues, leading to a better agent and customer experience as well as improving employee productivity. Bright Pattern's Microsoft Teams integration has many features for both agents and MS teams users that improve internal communication within Bright Pattern's platform. These capabilities are key to bring every employee in the company together to better help and serve customers, including remote employees.

Bright Pattern's Microsoft Teams integration allows companies to bring everyone in every department together to improve the customer experience:

See user presence on Bright Pattern's platform. Agents can see if a colleague is online, away, busy, or offline, and bring them into a contact center conversation immediately

Invite subject matter experts to join phone calls for transfers and conference calls

See Microsoft Teams directories and group membership

Allow users outside the call center to call agent extensions

Allow users outside the call center to start chats with agents as if it was a regular Microsoft Teams conversation

Bright Pattern's Microsoft Teams integration enables omnichannel communication throughout the enterprise:

Move the conversation from Microsoft Teams to any channel, like voice, chat, text, SMS, messengers, etc.

Invite Microsoft Teams users outside of the call center to join conversations over SMS, web chat, Facebook Messenger, Twitter direct messaging, Viber, LINE, and other messengers

Use their Microsoft Teams extension as a phone device option or softphone

Microsoft Dynamics 365 Integration

Bright Pattern integrates with Microsoft Dynamics 365 to make the customer service experience better for both agents and customers. Bright Pattern's Dynamics 365 integration uses customer data to make the customer journey seamless while giving agents the information they need to provide the best possible customer experience.

Bright Pattern's Dynamics 365 integration empowers the agent with information, provides customers with a more personalized experience, and reduces effort for both agents and customers:

Communicate on new digital channels - Bright Pattern allows agents to handle interactions on any channel, like voice, email, chat, IVRs, SMS, messaging apps, text, video chat, and chat bots.

Dynamics data is readily available to agents - Bright Pattern's Dynamics integration allows interactions to be handled directly from the Dynamics desktop or from Bright Pattern's omnichannel desktop. Dynamics data is at the fingertips of agents.

Contact recognition and identification - Bright Pattern uses Dynamics data to personalize customer interactions by dividing calls based on segment, prioritizing certain calls, and routing customers to the right agent. Allow customers to immediately connect to specific agents based on set privileges and statuses.

Create customized survey forms to send to customers after interactions through the Dynamics integration. Setup workflows that will automate the sending of surveys after any interaction to measure the Voice of the Customer.

Activity and interaction history that happen over Bright Pattern's platform is automatically uploaded to Microsoft Dynamics with transcripts and recordings

Microsoft Azure

Bright Pattern integrates with Microsoft Azure to bring voice biometrics and a powerful AI and bots framework to your contact center. Being a pioneer in Azure integrations, Bright Pattern has further developed it's integration with Azure to give contact centers access to powerful voice biometrics and best-of-breed AI.

Bright Pattern's Azure integration uses AI and bots to help agents and customers:

Voice biometrics to authenticate callers - Bright Pattern uses Azure speaker recognition to identify callers by voice for authentication and advanced routing, providing a more effortless experience to customers.

AI-Powered Conversational IVR  Bright Pattern leverages Microsoft AI so customers can speak naturally with IVRs using Natural Language Processing rather than being confined to an inflexible tree structure.

AI-Powered Suggested Responses to Help Agents  Bright Pattern utilizes Microsoft AI to provide agents with suggested responses to customers interacting over channels such as chat, SMS, voice, email, or messengers.

Virtual Assistants and Bots  Bright Pattern integrates to Microsoft Azure bots, so customers can interact with bots and be seamlessly transferred to an agent when needed.

"Bright Pattern has been committed to delivering the most advanced integration for Microsoft-powered contact centers. Our most recent product update brings the power of Microsoft Dynamics, Azure, AI and bots, and Microsoft Teams to improve the customer and agent experience", noted Konstantin Kishinsky, CTO of Bright Pattern. "Our latest integrations make us pioneers in fully leveraging the power of all innovative Microsoft solutions for contact centers."

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.

SOURCE Bright Pattern

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A young mum-of-two who was bashed in a horrific domestic violence attack has shared images of her injuries as she fears 'she could end up dead'.

Caitlin Widdowson's ex-partner William 'Billy' Simmons rocked up to her house in Launceston, Tasmania, 'unannounced and uninvited' late on Wednesday February 3.

The 23-year-old, who has two children with Simmons following an on and off relationship, said it was the third time he has attacked her in less than two months.

Ms Widdowson shared her story to Facebook on Saturday as Tasmania Police hunted Simmons for outstanding matters. He has since been located.

'I am posting this not for pity, not for people to feel sorry for me but for people to please please please help me in any way possible of finding or locating William,' she wrote.

Mum-of-two Caitlin Widdowson shared images of her injuries after she was attacked by her ex-partner so that she doesn't 'end up dead'

Ms Widdowson (pictured), 23, said her ex-partner rocked up to her house in Tasmania 'unannounced and uninvited' late on Wednesday February 3. Ms Widdowson said it was the third time he has attacked her in less than two months

'I cannot stress enough how dangerous, how scared and how on edge I am of late.'

The Facebook post included graphic pictures of Ms Widdowson's swollen and bruised eye and cheek.

Ms Widdowson said she met Simmons seven-and-a-half years ago and the pair have two children together.

'We've always been on and off. It's never been a serious relationship. He has been in and out of jail,' Ms Widdowson told Daily Mail Australia.

'It's been a very bad relationship from the start.'

Ms Widdowson's Facebook post included graphic pictures of her swollen and bruised eye and cheek

On Tuesday, Tasmania Police said they were hunting the whereabouts of William 'Billy' Simmons

Ms Widdowson said the violence began about five months ago when the pair were not together and living in separate houses.

'It's possessive. It's obsession,' she said.

'I've tried multiple times to move on from Billy. He's even tried to hurt other males. He doesn't want me to be around any other males.

'I'm still very much scared. Always wondering if he's going to rock back up again. I wish there was somewhere else I could go.'

Ms Widdowson said she has also been the victim of abuse over the phone and via text message.

She said he threatened to kill her and come back to her house to 'finish what he couldn't do'.

Ms Widdowson has two children with her alleged attacker. The former couple are pictured together

Ms Widdowson (pictured) said the violence began about five months ago when the pair were not together and living in separate houses

Ms Widdowson said he doesn't arrive at her home straight after sending the menacing text messages, instead appearing at other times to throw her off-guard.

The 23-year-old alleged Simmons is always armed.

'When he's come here, with the three assaults, the first time he physically kicked in the front door,' she said.

'Took my phone of me and trapped me in the room. Obviously he's got weapons. Once he's done what he's done, gives back my phone and runs out the door.'

Ms Widdowson said her alleged attacker will also say 'horrible things', often calling her a 'rat' and a 's***'.

'The second incident he came here and once again he got into the house and he smashed my nose and I ended up with black eyes,' she said.

Ms Widdowson also said Simmons has sent videos and photos threatening other people with a sawn-off shotgun.

Ms Widdowson asked Facebook to share her confronting Facebook post

In her Facebook post, Ms Widdowson said her alleged attacker is a heavy drug user and strongly advised others to avoid approaching him.

'He has told numerous people that he will keep coming back and finding me as he has nothing left to lose', she wrote.

'I don't want to end up dead and then have people not know my story.'

On Tuesday, Tasmania Police said they were hunting the whereabouts of William 'Billy' Simmons.

'Police would like to speak with William in relation to some outstanding matters,' a release read.

'I don't want to end up dead and then have people not know my story,' Ms Widdowson wrote on Facebook

'If you know where William is, or you've seen him recently, please contact Launceston Police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers Tasmania anonymously on 1800 333 000.'

A police spokesperson confirmed William Simmons was located by police on Thursday morning and is in custody.

Ms Widdowson also shared an update to her Facebook post.

'Thank you so much to everyone around Australia and Tasmania for helping me, I'll never have the words to tell you all how appreciative I am,' she said.

'Now I can continue with moving forward.'

For domestic violence support, call 1800 RESPECT
A Derry teenager campaigning for a detox centre in the city has criticised the Health Minister's response to her appeal.

Tamzin White's mother, Louise, died last month as a result of alochol addiction at the age of only 40.

Other members of Tamzin's family have also died from addiction.

In honour of them, eighteen-year-old Tamzin has launched a campaign for the creation of a local detox centre to help those fighting addictions.

She has written to the Health Minister Robin Swann requesting a meeting with him to talk about her plans.

The local teenager received a reply this week from a representative for Mr Swann.

In the letter, the representative passed on their sympathies to Tamzin on her recent bereavement.

He said that in the Western Trust area detoxification is primarily undertaken in primary care settings through doctors.

The Department of Health representative said that while there was no 'dedicated inpatient intoxification beds' in the Western Trust area, 'medical detoxification' can be provided within hospitals in the region.

He added that there was an addiction treatment unit in Omagh which catered for the Western Trust area.

In relation to a meeting with Mr Swann, his representative asked Tamzin to discuss her concerns with him in the first instance, given 'the pressure on the Minister's diary'.

However, Tamzin said the response from the Department of Health was 'not good enough'.

I want to meet Robin Swann. He said he would meet me and that he wanted to learn from my experiences.

Derry doesnt have the right facilities in place to meet the needs of addiction and to accommodate people in addiction.
Rep. John Katko opened up today about his personal experience during the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, describing how he spent the hours after the insurrection with wounded police officers.

Katko said he joined the officers inside a Capitol complex cafeteria when it re-opened at about 1 a.m. after a lockdown had been lifted.

I cant even describe to you what the Capitol Hill police officers, men and women, looked like, Katko said at an editorial board meeting of syracuse.com | The Post-Standard.

A lot of them had torn shirts, torn stuff, Katko said. They had bloody hands, scratches and bumps and bruises on their faces. They looked like they were shell-shocked, like after a war. You cant possibly adequately describe that. But I can tell you it was much worse than people realized.

He said the degree of the violence, destruction and terror has hit home with people who have watched new video of the attack aired during former president Donald Trumps impeachment trial in the U.S. Senate.

Katko said he spent hours hiding alone in his office at the Rayburn House Office Building as police officers struggled to take back the Capitol complex and clear out the violent mob.

We were holed up in our offices, and there were alerts going out to barricade our doors and turn off all the lights, Katko said. Every time you hear steps going down the hall, youre like OK, is this it? 

When the lockdown lifted, Katko said, he returned to the House floor, where he had been sitting hours earlier. Thats when he realized the severity of the damage and how close Vice President Mike Pence and his congressional colleagues came to being harmed.

Walking into the Capitol a couple hours later, and basically hearing glass crunching under your feet, and broken doors and windows, and the mayhem inside the Capitol, Katko said. Looking at the scene where the woman was shot trying to get on the floor of the House. It was right there where we were voting. I mean, it was real.

Among the Capitol police officers hurt in the violence was Joshua Call, a former intern in Katkos congressional office. Katko brought Call a care package from his mother in Central New York about a week after the attack.

On that same day, Katko said he would vote to impeach Trump for inciting the insurrection. He became one of only 10 House Republicans to vote for impeachment.

Katko said earlier Thursday that he and his family have been the targets of vitriol and nastiness from Trump supporters since his impeachment vote.

Its one of the toughest votes Ill ever take, but its one of the proudest votes I took, Katko said at Syracuse Universitys Thursday Morning Roundtable, a public forum.

Its been very difficult for me and my family, Katko said. But he added, There are some times that you have to take a vote even if you know it will cost you your job. This is one of them.

Katko declined at the editorial board to explain the specific threats or pushback he and his family have received since his vote.

At the Senate trial on Thursday, impeachment managers played a video clip of Katko explaining on the House floor why the presidents role in this insurrection is undeniable.

MORE ON REP. JOHN KATKO

John Katko has preached bipartisanship in Congress for years. That may finally pay off

Katko among 11 House Republicans who vote to rebuke Marjorie Taylor Greene

Katko: US Capitol attack was much worse than people realized

Rep. John Katko: Establish national commission to investigate US Capitol attack

Got a tip, comment or story idea? Contact Mark Weiner anytime by: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 571-970-3751

BISHKEK -- The former deputy chief of Kyrgyzstan's Customs Service, Raimbek Matraimov, who was placed on the U.S. Magnitsky sanctions list for his involvement in the illegal funneling of hundreds of millions of dollars abroad, has been fined just over $3,000 after pleading guilty to corruption charges.



The Bishkek Birinchi Mai district court ruled on February 11 that, because Matraimov had paid 2 billion soms ($23.7 million) to the State Treasury in damages caused by illegal activities and cooperated with investigators and testified against two top customs officials, he would receive a mitigated punishment of 260,000 soms ($3,088) and no jail time.



After the court's ruling was handed down, Matraimov quickly left the courtroom while refusing to comment to journalists.



Matraimov was detained on corruption charges in October and placed under house arrest.

ALSO READ: Plunder And Patronage In The Heart Of Central Asia

Kyrgyz authorities said at the time that he had agreed to pay compensation for the damage he caused. Days later, Kyrgyzstan's government announced an economic amnesty for individuals convicted or suspected in economic crimes.



In June 2019, an investigation by RFE/RL, the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project, and Kloop implicated Matraimov in a corruption scheme involving the transfer of hundreds of millions of dollars out of Kyrgyzstan by Chinese-born Uyghur businessman Aierken Saimaiti, who was assassinated in Istanbul in November 2019.



In early December, the U.S. Treasury Department announced that it had slapped sanctions on Matraimov for his role in a vast corruption and money laundering scheme.



The $700 million scheme involved a company controlled by Matraimov bribing officials to skirt customs fees and regulations, as well as engaging in money laundering, "allowing for maximum profits," the Treasury Department said.



The sanctions fell under the Magnitsky Act, a piece of legislation passed by the United States in 2012 that penalizes individuals responsible for committing human rights violations or acts of significant corruption.



Recent reports said that Raimbek Matraimov had changed his last name to Ismailov, and that his wife had changed her surname into Sulaimanova, which was viewed by many as a move to evade the U.S.- imposed sanctions.



Last month, a spokesperson for Kyrgyzstan's state registration service, Damira Azimbaeva, confirmed to RFE/RL that both Matraimov and his wife, Uulkan Turgunova, had changed their surnames.



There have been no official statements from lawyers for Matraimov's family to explain the decision to change surnames.
NEW YORK, Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Women Presidents' Organization (WPO), a peer advisory organization for leaders of multimillion-dollar companies, has announced new members to its Board of Directors, each for a two-year term. As a governing body, The WPO Board of Directors focus on the organization's mission. The primary duties are working on strategy, setting goals and objectives, providing insight and expertise, and actively managing risks.

Board of Directors

Ida Abdalkhani , Chief Catalyzer and Founder of Ability to Engage, Inc., an international, award-winning, brand strategy and innovation boutique consultancy, Las Vegas, Nevada

, Chief Catalyzer and Founder of Ability to Engage, Inc., an international, award-winning, brand strategy and innovation boutique consultancy, Elaine Buxton , President and CEO, Confero Inc., a nationwide mystery shopping and customer satisfaction measurement services company for automotive, banking, restaurant and real estate, Cary, North Carolina

, President and CEO, Confero Inc., a nationwide mystery shopping and customer satisfaction measurement services company for automotive, banking, restaurant and real estate, Fortunate Mdanda, CEO, Smith Capital Equipment (Pty.) Ltd, a designer and manufacturer of aerial platforms and a Level 2 BBBEE company owned and managed by iSipho Capital Holdings (Pty) Ltd, Germistown, Johannesburg, South Africa

Christina Seelye , CEO, Maximum Games Group, a video game publishing and distribution company with a development studio, Walnut Creek, California .

"The WPO is thrilled to welcome four new board members that will help shape the future of the organization and will keep WPO vibrant, innovative and relevant," said WPO CEO Camille Burns. "We will work with these talented women to expand the global footprint of WPO as the ultimate destination for successful women entrepreneurs looking to grow their businesses via confidential and collaborative peer learning."

"This is a pivotal time for WPO and we wanted to make sure that we had a super-charged Board to help us drive our future. So, we were excited that we had more than 30 highly qualified applications for the open WPO board positions, demonstrating tremendous interest in WPO's future," said Margery Kraus, Founder and Executive Chairman, APCO Worldwide and WPO Chair. "While the number of qualified candidates made our choices harder, we believe that the final selection of Board members brought great new talent to our Board that will help us as we create an exciting path forward."

About the Women Presidents' Organization

The WPO is the premier peer advisory organization connecting successful women who lead multi-million-dollar companies. Members in chapters around the world participate in confidential monthly meetings to share business expertise and experience, based on a peer learning methodology designed to accelerate the growth of their businesses. WPO chapters are coordinated by a professionally trained facilitator. Prospective WPO members must have annual gross revenue of at least $2 million (or $1 million if service-based). For more information, please visit our website www.womenpresidentsorg.com. Follow us on Twitter @womenpresidents. Like us on Facebook @TheWPO.

Contact: Frank Tortorici

[email protected]

908-875-8908

SOURCE Women Presidents' Organization

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Relatives of people who died in the crash of Sriwijaya Air flight 182 throw flowers into the Java Sea where the plane went down on Jan. 9, during a memorial ceremony held on the deck of Indonesian Navy Ship KRI Semarang, near Jakarta, Jan. 22, 2021.

An Indonesian passenger jet that plummeted into the sea last month, killing all 62 people on board, had problems with its automatic throttle system, investigators said Wednesday as they announced findings so far into the crash.

The left-engine throttle lever on the Boeing 737-500 moved backward, causing the engine to have less power and the Sriwijaya Air plane to roll onto its side before it crashed on Jan. 9, said Nurcahyo Utomo, the chief investigator at Indonesias National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT).

Both throttle levers experienced anomalies. The left side moved too far back, while the right one didnt move, as if it was stuck, Nurcahyo said during a press conference in Jakarta.

We are still investigating what went wrong because there are 13 components connected to the throttle, he told reporters, adding that some parts had been sent to Boeing, the aircrafts manufacturer in the United States, for investigation.

The 26-year-old aircraft operated by Sriwijaya Air, a budget carrier, vanished from radar about four minutes after taking off from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport, and plummeted into Java Sea waters near the Indonesian capital, Jakarta.

Sriwijaya Air flight 182 was en route from Jakarta to Pontianak, the capital of West Kalimantan province on Borneo Island, when it crashed.

The pilots last radio contact with air-traffic controllers was when the crew responded to an instruction to climb to 13,000 feet, Nurcahyo said.

The flight-data recorder showed the plane had reached an altitude of 10,900 feet and then started descending, he said.

Pilots on earlier flights had reported that the throttle system had malfunctioned on Jan. 3 and 4, but those problems had been reported as successfully fixed, Nurcahyo said.

During the previous month, an airspeed indicator on the plane had been replaced after being damaged, he said.

Teams from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Administration and the Federal Aviation Administration have joined the investigation.

A full report on the crash is expected early next year.

Cockpit voice-recorder still missing

Investigators are still searching underwater for memory data from the cockpit voice-recorder (CVR) but poor weather in recent days had hampered the operation, said KNKT chairman Soerjanto Tjahjono.

Investigators were unable to come up with the cause of the crash without clear and supporting evidence, he said.

Data are far from sufficient because the CVR has not been found, Soerjanto told reporters.

Meanwhile, an aviation expert at the Indonesian Pilots Federation, M. Ali Nahdi, said he suspected that other factors had contributed to the crash.

There must be other problems and faults, and the cause cannot be solely attributed to the automatic throttle system, he told BenarNews.

He said the investigation could take a long time as there was no sufficient data.

It would be great if the CVR could be found so that they have more complete data, he said.

Another aviation analyst, Gerry Soejatman, agreed that other factors must have played a role in the crash. The pilots could have turned off the automatic throttle system and switched it to manual operation, he noted.

Pilots are trained to pay attention to this and prevent loss of control, Gerry told BenarNews.

The plane rolled to the left slowly and maybe the crew was not aware of this. Were they busy doing something else? This should be investigated, he said.

The plane that crashed had been grounded for nearly nine months last year as airlines cut flights during the coronavirus pandemic.

But the Transportation Ministry said that the Boeing 737 had undergone inspections before resuming flights in December.

The accident was the fourth major air crash in Indonesia during the past six years.

In October 2018, a Boeing 737 MAX belonging to Indonesias largest budget carrier, Lion Air, crashed into the Java Sea, killing all 189 people on board.

The aircrafts faulty new anti-stall system was blamed for the crash, as well as that of another 737 Max in Ethiopia that killed 157 people in March 2019.

In June 2015, 139 people were killed, including 17 on the ground, when an Indonesian Air Force transport plane crashed near the Medan-Saewondo Air Base.

Indonesia, the worlds largest archipelagic nation, experienced a boom in low-cost carriers after the aviation industry was deregulated in the early 2000s.

In 2018, the European Union lifted a ban on Indonesian airlines, which was imposed in 2007 after a string of deadly air accidents.

Several Indonesian airlines, including flag carrier Garuda, were taken off the EUs banned list back in 2009 after steps were taken to improve safety.

In 2017, the International Civil Aviation Organization ranked Indonesias aviation safety as above the global average, with a compliance rate of 81.15 per cent.
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The Saudi-led coalition in Yemen said on Thursday it had thwarted and destroyed a ballistic missile that Yemen's Houthis launched towards Khamis Mushait in Saudi Arabia, state media reported.

The coalition spokesman also said early on Thursday that the coalition had thwarted an explosives-laden drone launched by the Iran-aligned Houthis towards the same city.

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Palestinian poll workers fanned out across the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, where they found voters eager to register ahead of elections that could serve as the first referendum on Hamas rule since the militant group seized power more than a decade ago.

The outreach came a day after Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas Fatah party and Hamas reaffirmed their commitment to holding parliamentary and presidential elections later this year, the first since Hamas won a surprising landslide victory in 2006.

That led to bitter infighting, culminating in Hamas violent seizure of the Gaza Strip a year later and leaving Abbas administration limited to enclaves in the Israeli-occupied West Bank. Several attempts at reconciliation have failed, and the elections could still be cancelled or postponed.

In the meantime, 28 teams from the Central Elections Committee deployed to help register voters in Gaza, where internet access is limited. Election officials said interest was high, with more than 90% of Gaza Citys 385,000 eligible voters having already registered before a Feb. 16 deadline.

There is a passion among the people, election official Mohammed Abu el-Khair said. The last legislation elections took place in 2006 and now we are in 2021, so a large portion of the youth have never participated or voted in an election.

Gazans have also seen their living conditions severely deteriorate under Hamas rule. Israel and Egypt imposed a crippling blockade after the takeover, and the rival Palestinian factions have bickered over the provision of public services. As a result, unemployment hovers around 50%, rolling power outages last for several hours a day and tap water is undrinkable.

Mohammed al-Jawabra graduated with a journalism degree shortly after Hamas took over and has yet to find a job matching his skills. Instead, the 34-year-old sells coffee and tea from a street cart.

I want to see a change here in terms of the economy, unemployment and many things, like the crossing points, he said as he confirmed his information to a poll worker with a tablet. Im sorry to say that there are youths who cant work at this time and graduates who cannot be hired.

Israel says the blockade is needed to keep Hamas from importing arms. The militant group has fought three wars with Israel since 2007, compounding Gazas suffering. The isolation is especially hard for university graduates, who face major obstacles in leaving the impoverished territory to seek employment or advanced degrees abroad.

Its unclear whether Gazans will punish Hamas in the polls. The militant group blames the territorys problems on Israel and Abbas Palestinian Authority, and it retains a strong base of support among Gazas mostly conservative population of more than 2 million.

The 85-year-old Abbas, who has presided over an increasingly authoritarian Palestinian Authority since his presidential mandate ended in 2009, could also face a backlash.

After two days of talks in Cairo, the Palestinian factions said Tuesday that they had agreed on some key points for holding elections. Rank-and-file police in the West Bank and Gaza who are seen as less beholden to the factions  will guard polling stations, and the two sides pledged to release political prisoners and allow freedom of expression and assembly.

They must still agree on the makeup of an election court to adjudicate disputes, and they plan to hold more discussions next month.

The Palestinians have vowed to hold elections in the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem, territories captured by Israel in the 1967 war that they want for their future state.

Israel annexed east Jerusalem and bars the Palestinian Authority from operating there. If it refuses to allow voting in the city, the Palestinian factions could cite that as a reason for cancelling or delaying the elections.

SOURCE: AP
A prominent Harrisburg law firm is expanding into the Philadelphia area.

Three attorneys in the Philadelphia area joined McNees Wallace & Nurick on Feb. 1. McNees Wallace & Nurick will open an office in the spring at 426 W. Lancaster Ave., Suite 100, Easttown Township, Chester County near Devon.

Joan Agran and Garth Hoyt have joined McNees as member attorneys in the firms Estate Planning practice group and McKinley Sandy C. McAdo joined McNees as of counsel attorney. All three attorneys were previously shareholder attorneys at another firm in Chester County.

All three attorneys specialize in providing advice relating to estate planning, tax planning, succession planning, and trust and estate administration. They represent families, individuals, business owners and executives.

We are thrilled to welcome these three well-respected and well-known attorneys to the McNees family, Brian Jackson, chair of McNees said in a press release. They have decades of combined experience, deep knowledge of local estate planning and share our clients first philosophy.

McNees has more than 130 attorneys with offices in the Harrisburg, Lancaster, York, State College and Scranton areas as well as offices in Ohio, Maryland and Washington D.C. The office in York opened in 2019.

The law firm also owns Capital Associates, a lobbying firm; Helix Strategies, a nonprofit consulting firm; Keystone Municipal Solutions, a company that provides municipalities with interim management and professional consulting services and Apollo Communications, a public relations agency. Apollo Communications opened on Jan. 11 and Keystone Municipal Solutions opened on Jan. 25.

--Business Buzz

You can follow Daniel Urie on twitter @DanielUrie2018 and you can like him on Facebook.
This year our dine and drink business locations throughout the Gorge have suffered with closures. You can help support your favorites by purchasing take out and gift cards. Many of these business will offer curb-side delivery and some will deliver to your home. Lets keep the Gorge going strong!
On Wednesday morning, the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) announced that the tentative agreement it reached with Chicago Public Schools (CPS) was ratified by a vote of 13,681 (54 percent) members in favor and 6,585 (26 percent) against, with 5,092 (20 percent) not casting ballots. Pre-K and special education cluster teachers are now set to return to classrooms this Thursday, with waves of educators and students returning until all Pre-K through 8th grade educators and tens of thousands of their students are back in classrooms by March 8.

The timeline for school reopenings agreed to by the CTU coincides with the hurricane of infections and deaths that Dr. Michael Osterholm has warned is coming in the weeks ahead. The more infectious and lethal B.1.1.7 variant of COVID-19, first discovered in the UK, is forecast to be the dominant variant in the US by late March.

Chicago teachers and supporters demonstrate last week (Source: CTU Facebook)

Underscoring the enormous dangers posed by the opening of schools, which have been proven to be major vectors for the spread of COVID-19, this week South African officials halted their vaccination program because the AstraZeneca vaccine has been found to be ineffective against the dominant variant in that country.

For the past two weeks, the reopening of Chicago schools was the most significant labor struggle in the United States. There was a concerted propaganda campaign involving the corporate media and the political establishment, falsely claiming that schools can safely reopen. Behind the scenes, the Biden administration and American Federation of Teachers (AFT) President Randi Weingarten were heavily involved in negotiations to reopen Chicago schools.

The aim is to set a precedent by restarting in-person classes in the third largest district in the country in order to reopen all other districts that are still remote only. This, in turn, is aimed at pressuring the maximum number of parents to return to dangerous workplaces to produce corporate profits.

The leaders of the CTUabove all, President Jesse Sharkey and Vice President Stacy Davis Gatesplayed the critical role in pressuring teachers to accept the deal they reached with Lightfoot and the CPS. They thus bear political responsibility for enforcing the policies of social murder pursued by both the Democratic and Republican parties on behalf of the American capitalist class. How many more educators, parents, students and community members will die or suffer life-long debilitation as a result of the opening of schools will be the responsibility of the CTU.

In a press release Monday, the union wrote that the results put it on a path to reopening school classrooms safely. Knowing that this policy will lead to further infections and deaths throughout Chicago, Sharkey cynically wrote, Thousands of students have lost at least one loved one to COVID. Those childrenour studentsdeserve safety.

What has unfolded in this city over the past month is the most damning exposure of the reactionary character of pseudo-left social justice unionism. Under the leadership of the Caucus of Rank-and-File Educators (CORE) faction, composed of members of the now-defunct International Socialist Organization (ISO), the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) and other pseudo-left groups, the CTU has been the archetype for unions promoting middle-class identity politics as a cover for their betrayals for more than a decade.

They have spawned replicas that now lead the United Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA), the Oakland Education Association (OEA) and other pseudo-left-led local teachers unions across the US that have betrayed strikes and are now collaborating with Democratic officials to send educators and students back into deadly conditions. All of them are wholly subservient to the Democratic Party and the capitalist system.

Every aspect of the CTU negotiations and voting process was entirely anti-democratic. Since last fall, the union held over 80 secret negotiations sessions with CPS CEO Janice Jackson, Chicagos Democratic Mayor Lori Lightfoot and other officials, accepting the basic framework that schools should reopen. Union members were kept in the dark as this conspiracy proceeded.

With rank-and-file members anticipating a potential lockout by Lightfoot on Monday, the CTU held a rushed all-membership meeting Sunday to present its agreement to reopen schools, during which the chatroom was closed and not a single rank-and-file teacher was allowed to speak. Sharkey read a laundry list of reasons not to strike, including, Its a pandemic. Its cold. This wouldnt be an easy strike. This would be a strike in which the board would be calling people to work remotely. So, we need you to know people could cross a picket line by going home and logging on to their computer.

Serving as enforcer for Lightfoot, and behind her Biden and Weingarten, Sharkey then used the threat of a strike as a weapon against teachers, saying little would be gained by striking and teachers could be subjected to massive fines.

According to reports from Second City Teachers, Sharkey repeated these same talking points at two private House of Delegates meetings held Sunday and Monday. At the latter meeting, 85 percent of these delegates, many of whom are closest to the CORE faction leading the CTU, voted to accept the deadly deal. Afterwards, they advanced the sophistry that they voted in favor of the deal only so the membership could democratically decide, while continuing to say this was the best offer teachers could expect.

Leading union officials who supported the reopening plan included CTU Area Vice President Sarah Chambers, who later posted on social media, I voted YES based on my schools support of the proposal. This agreement isnt what we DESERVE but it is unlike any union/district agreement Ive seen in the USA. Chambers, a longtime co-chair of CORE, calls herself a socialist and is regularly interviewed in Labor Notes and Jacobin, the semi-official publication of the DSA.

After Mondays meeting, rank-and-file teachers were given one day to vote on the deal and provided no forum to discuss the agreement or raise objections. There were reports Tuesday that some teachers received notifications that they voted when they actually had not, while over 5,000 were either not able to cast ballots or so disgusted by the whole process that they abstained.

There is enormous opposition to the deal among rank-and-file teachers. A Wednesday morning post on the CTUs Facebook page announcing the results of the vote has generated over 300 comments, with the majority negative and many denouncing the union. One stated, Absolutely a disgrace! Dont ever talk to me about fighting for CTU again. The nerve to say its not a good plan then accept the plan ANYWAY!

Educators in Chicago and everywhere must draw far-reaching conclusions from this experience. Chief among them is the need to break with the perspective of trade unionism and build new organizations of struggle, rank-and-file committees controlled democratically by workers themselves and not answerable to the corrupt union bureaucracies. Such committees must maintain independence from the Democratic and Republican parties, which serve the capitalists, and fight to unite with educators and all other workers across district, state and national boundaries.

The Chicago Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee has been formed to adhere to these principles and serve as the voice of opposition to the CTU. This committee fought for a No vote and appealed to the broader working class as its allies. It will deepen these efforts going forward and must be expanded into every school and neighborhood in Chicago and the surrounding metro region.

This committee is part of a network of such committees that have been built in New York City, Los Angeles, San Diego, Northern California, Michigan, Tennessee, Alabama, Texas and Pennsylvania, as well as in the UK, Germany, Australia, Sri Lanka and a growing number of cities and states worldwide. In each country, these committees are preparing for nationwide general strike action to close all schools and nonessential production in order to contain the pandemic, placing them in a direct confrontation with the unions and the capitalist parties that are enforcing reopenings of schools and all industries.

In a nervous Facebook post Wednesday morning, Sharkey wrote, We are going to need our union. In the history of the working class movement it has always been the case that the ruling class has done shitty things to workers. Sent us into unsafe factories and mines, started unjust wars and sent us to fight in them, for starters. The mines were unsafe and yet members of the mine workers union still had to go in. This might be a reason for further organizing, but it is not a reason to abandon our union.

In this distorted analogy, Sharkey says more than he intends. The determined miners' struggles of the first three-quarters of the 20th century were long, bloody battles, many of them waged against the United Mine Workers bureaucracy, to protect the lives and safety of workers and to prevent needless workplace deaths due to the profit demands of the mine owners. Today, it is the CTU that plays the most decisive role in blocking the resistance of educators and herding them into classrooms, which, as Sharkeys comment suggests, are as deadly as the coal mines.

This struggle is far from over. Chicago teachers will quickly be thrust into new struggles as infections and deaths spread across the city, and the CTU seeks to cover the situation up. At the same time, new battles are emerging in Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Detroit and other cities, which are part of a global wave of struggles, including the strike by more than 200,000 Brazilian teachers in Sao Paulo, the second largest school district in the Americas.

There is no progressive solution to the pandemic outside the mass mobilization of the working class in opposition to capitalism in the US and internationally. Educators and the entire working class must adopt the program of socialism, which entails the expropriation of the vast wealth hoarded by the financial oligarchy, the ending of the profit system based on exploitation, and the unification of workers internationally to reorganize society and implement scientific planning to provide for human needs.
Modern telecommunication systems rely on satellites to relay signals across the globe quickly and reliably, enabling users to send messages across the world in an instant, watch live television, or - more recently - hold conference calls with global partners right from the kitchen table!

Communications satellites use high-frequency radio waves to transmit data, with antennas acting as a two-way interface, converting electric current provided by the transmitter into radio waves, and vice versa when paired with a receiver. Antennas are therefore vital pieces of equipment, without which satellites and ground receivers would be practically useless. However, despite advances in modern satellite design and performance, antenna technology remains a limiting factor for next-generation telecommunications such as 6G. Engineers struggle to miniaturize antennas for nanosatellites without compromising on their cost or performance. For instance, nanosatellites like CubeSats can be as small as a 10 cm3 cube, but manufacturing a communication antenna small enough to be stored inside it during launch and flight is expensive and technologically challenging. "Many high-performance antennas reported for CubeSat systems are deployable, foldable, or inflatable." explains Dr. Sangkil Kim from Pusan National University in South Korea.

Recently, Dr. Kim and his colleagues at Pusan National University and the University of Alabama, USA, developed a new deployable antenna for CubeSats used in low-earth orbit (LEO). Interestingly, their design was inspired by the mathematics of "origami", the Japanese art of paper folding--specifically a field called spatial mapping--which enabled them to decide on the best geometry for a foldable, deployable antenna. With the design on paper, they set out to manufacture the antenna and test it.

With remarkable dimensions of 32.5 mm3 when folded and weighing merely 5 grams, the prototype antenna fits snugly within a CubeSat. The researchers used an inexpensive material to make the bulk of the antenna, using special joints to fold the square boards into a cube, which can easily be stored during launch and flight. Once in orbit, the antenna can be deployed outside of the CubeSat, ready to receive and transmit data.

Prof. Kim and his team went one step further and set up different deployment modes, depending on whether satellites needed to communicate with each other or with Earth. "The volume, radiation patterns, and polarizations of the antenna are reconfigurable according to the required operation mode," Dr. Kim explains. This configuration enabled the researchers to optimize the antenna's performance for each type of communication.

With such promising results, the scientists hope their design will inspire future deployable designs for nanosatellite antenna technology and pave the way for next-generation communication systems, such as 6G. Not only will their prototype reduce the cost of future nanosatellites and improve their overall performance, but it can also be scaled up to larger satellites in geostationary orbit and other communication platforms on Earth.

###

Reference

Authors: Myeongha Hwang (1), Gyoungdeuk Kim (1), Sangkil Kim (1), Nathan Seongheon Jeong (2)

Title of original paper: Origami-Inspired Radiation Pattern and Shape Reconfigurable Dipole Array Antenna at C-band for CubeSat Applications

Journal: IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation

DOI: 10.1109/TAP.2020.3030908

Affiliations:

(1) Pusan National University, South Korea

(2) University of Alabama, USA

About Pusan National University

Pusan National University, located in Busan, South Korea, was founded in 1946, and is now the no. 1 national university of South Korea in research and educational competency. The multi-campus university also has other smaller campuses in Yangsan, Miryang, and Ami. The university prides itself on the principles of truth, freedom, and service, and has approximately 30,000 students, 1200 professors, and 750 faculty members. The university is composed of 14 colleges (schools) and one independent division, with 103 departments in all.

Website: https:/ / www. pusan. ac. kr/ eng/ Main. do

About the author

Dr Sangkil Kim is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Electronic Engineering at Pusan National University (South Korea). After receiving a BS from Yonsei University in 2010, he graduated with an MS and a PhD from the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology. He then worked at Qualcomm Inc. as a senior engineer, where he worked on the world's first commercialized 5G mmWave antenna module for mobile devices. He received several awards, such as the IET Premium Award Microwave, Antennas & Propagation and the KIEES Young Researcher Award. He is a member of the IEEE MTT-26 RFID, Wireless Sensors, and IoT Committees.
Mumbai, Feb 11 : Pooja Bhatt on Thursday took to social media and spoke of indiscriminate waste disposal and unauthorised parking in the city's Bandra area. The actress-filmmaker feels simply blaming the municipal corporation is not a solution. Citizens need to be more concerned and conscious.

"Sorry to have to state this but Bandra is in an absolute mess. Only that much @mybmcWardHW can do. Citizens need to please be more concerned & conscious about how they dispose garbage. Apathy has replaced (love) for Bandra?," Pooja tweeted.

In a separate tweet, she wrote: "If only every co-op society took responsibility for the lane/road outside their building with regards to indiscriminate garbage disposal and even unauthorised parking, life would be different." Pooja was last seen in the digital film Sadak 2 directed by her father Mahesh Bhatt. The film stars Pooja's sister Alia Bhatt, Sanjay Dutt and Aditya Roy Kapur in the lead.

Pooja is all set to return to the screen with the web series Bombay Begums. The Netflix show, created and directed by Alankrita Shrivastava of Lipstick Under My Burkha fame, casts Pooja Bhatt alongside Shahana Goswam, Amruta Subhash and Rahul Bose. It is slated to release on March 8, on the occasion of International Women's Day.
[February 10, 2021] First Patient Enrolled in SELUTION SLR(TM) SUCCESS PTA Study

NYON, Switzerland, Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- MedAlliance has announced enrolment of the first patient in SUCCESS PTA, its large post-market study with the drug-eluting balloon SELUTION SLR for the treatment of patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD). SELUTION SLR is a novel sirolimus-eluting balloon that provides a controlled sustained release of drug, similar to that of a drug-eluting stent (DES). The objective of the study is to collect 'real-world' safety, efficacy, health economics and patient reported quality-of-life data in over 700 patients with PAD treated with SELUTION SLR. It is a single arm all-comers study including all lower limb indications (SFA; BTK; Foot) and will cover at least 50 sites in Europe, Asia and South America. Patients will be followed-up at 30 days; six months; then every year out to five years. The primary endpoint of the study is Clinically Driven Target Lesion Revascularization (CD-TLR) at 12 months. Secondary endpoints include device success and procedure success; Major Adverse Limb Events (MALE); and Target Limb Revascularization (TLR). Michael Lichtenberg, Arnsberg, Germany.



"SUCCESS PTA is part of the SUCCESS post-market study family, designed to show patient benefits in real world use of our technology," added Chairman and CEO Jeffrey B. Jump. "This is the largest study we have ever undertaken with SELUTION SLR, involving the most diverse group of patients. We are confident that the results will confirm the safety, efficacy and cost-effectiveness of our sirolimus-eluting balloon." In February 2020 MedAlliance received CE Mark approval for SELUTION SLR in the treatment of PAD. This award was supported by results from the First-in-Human study.

Data from the SUCCESS PTA study will be part of the clinical evidence supporting CE Mark renewal in 2023/2024 under the new European Medical Device Directive (MDR). SELUTION SLR has also received US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Breakthrough Device Designation Status for peripheral below-the-knee lesions as well as for the treatment of AV-Fistula. SELUTION SLR's technology involves unique MicroReservoirs made from biodegradable polymer intermixed with the anti-restenotic drug sirolimus. These MicroReservoirs provide controlled and sustained release of the drug. Extended release of sirolimus from stents has been proven highly efficacious in both coronary and peripheral vasculatures. MedAlliance's proprietary CAT (Cell Adherent Technology) enables the MicroReservoirs to be coated onto balloons and adhere to the vessel lumen when delivered via an angioplasty balloon. Media Contact:

Richard Kenyon

rkenyon@medalliance.com

+44 7831 569940 About MedAlliance Founded in 2008, MedAlliance is a privately-owned medical technology company. It is headquartered in Switzerland, with facilities in Irvine, California; Glasgow, UK; and Singapore. MedAlliance specializes in the development of ground-breaking technology and commercialization of advanced drug device combination products for the treatment of coronary and peripheral artery disease. For further information visit: https://medalliance.com/ SOURCE MedAlliance

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AGAWAM  The Massachusetts State Police and Agawam Fire Department searched the Connecticut River for about two hours Wednesday night after a witness reported seeing a body in the water.

The report was made around 6:30 p.m. and firefighters searched the river by boat while the State Police Air Wing searched above by helicopter, according to a state police spokesman.

Police and firefighters did not find anything in the water and called off the search at about 8:30 p.m. They plan to resume the search on Thursday, he said.

Chicopee Police and Fire departments and the Massachusetts State Police have spent several days searching the Connecticut River near the Willimansett neighborhood for Aiden Blanchard, 11, who disappeared on Friday.

The search of the river began on Friday evening, resumed Saturday morning and was called off late in the day after no evidence was found and high winds and other weather conditions made it dangerous. Police continued to follow leads in his disappearance.

Police and firefighters have been searching with boats, drones, divers and the helicopter. With conditions difficult due to storms and ice on the water, state police brought in a special boat from Boston Harbor, which is large enough and has the stability to navigate among the ice floes in the river, on Wednesday to resume the search. No evidence was found.

He was last seen at about 11:30 a.m. on Friday. Anyone who saw him after that or believes they have any information that may help locate him should immediately call 911, Chicopee Police at 413-594-1639, or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST.

Aiden, a sixth-grader at Edward J. Bellamy Middle School, was wearing a red parka and black ski pants when he went missing. He is 5 feet tall, weighs about 100 pounds and has brown hair and blue eyes. He was last seen alone in the Willimansett neighborhood walking near the Medina Street Boat Launch, police said.

Foul play is not suspected in his disappearance.
India's sugar exports are likely to drop more than 24% in the current year to September due to logistical constraints such as a shortage of containers and congestion at the country's ports, a leading trade body said on Thursday. India, the world's second biggest sugar producer after Brazil, is likely to sell 4.3 million tonnes of the sweetener to the world market in the 2020-21 season against 5.7 million tonnes shipped in the previous year, said R.P. Bhagria, chief executive of the All India Sugar Trade Association (AISTA). Also, sugar shipments to Iran, a key ...


Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, has insisted that President Muhammadu Buhari acted within the ambit of the law by extending the tenure of Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu.

Mr Malami stated this on Wednesday when he appeared on a programme on Channels Television Politics Today.

He said the president also acted within the timeframe stipulated by the constitution and exercised his powers to appoint persons into offices subject to confirmation by the Senate.

What I am saying in essence is that within the context of official records, within the context of the action taken by Mr President in terms of extension of tenure, the necessary compliance of with the law has been consummated, and the president was and indeed acted within the context of the law, he said.

Mr Buhari had last week extended Mr Adamus tenure by three months.

Mr Adamu was due to retire from the police on February 1 having spent the maximum 35 years in service.

The extension stirred controversies with lawyers slamming the president for consistently violating the law the amended Police Act 2020, which he personally signed into law in 2020.

Section 7 (6) fixes a single term of four years without an option of extension of tenure for the holder of the office of the Inspector-General of Police.

A person appointed to the office of the Inspector-General of Police shall hold office for four years, it reads.

Section 18 (8) of the Act also states that Every police officer shall, on recruitment or appointment, serve in the police force for 35 years or until he attains the age of 60 years, whichever is earlier.

Retirement overdue

PREMIUM TIMES reported how Mr Adamu was due to retire from the police February 1 having spent the maximum 35 years in service.

Mr Adamu and some other top officials of the Nigerian Police Force retired on that day after spending the maximum number of years in service.

The IGP, who joined the service on February 1, 1986, attained the mandatory 35 years in service.

Aside the IGP, three Deputy Inspector-Generals of Police and 10 Assistant Inspector-Generals of Police attained the maximum service year.

The DIGs are former EFCC Boss, Ibrahim Lamorde, Aminchi Baraya and Nkpa Inakwu.

The affected AIGs are Nkereuwem Akpan, Olafimihan Adeoye, Agunbiade Labore, Undie Adie and Olugbenga Adeyanju.

Others are Asuquo Amba, Mohammad Mustapha, Jonah Jackson, Olushola Babajide and Yunana Babas.

All other top police officers have proceeded on retirement, except for Mr Adamu, who according to sources, sought the tenure extension.

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As the Biden administration promises to jump-start the clean-energy economy, it faces an uphill climb: The United States has fallen behind Asia and Europe in the race to produce the central technology - the high-tech batteries that power electric cars and store solar and wind energy.

China dominates battery production today, with 93 "gigafactories" that manufacture lithium-ion battery cells, versus only four in the United States, according to Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, a prominent data provider. If current trends continue, China is projected to have 140 gigafactories by 2030, while Europe will have 17 and the United States, just 10.

That would leave the United States dependent on China and other trading partners for much of its battery supply, a risky proposition not just for the auto industry but for the military, which is planning to electrify more of its vehicles and gear. It would also mean missing out on much of the jobs boom the sector is expected to bring.

"This could be a game changer when it comes to jobs, but we have to find a way to ensure we keep the technology in the U.S. and incentivize companies to produce it in the U.S.," said Venkat Srinivasan, a top battery expert at Argonne National Laboratory in Lemont, Ill.

That will happen, say U.S. companies and clean-energy supporters, only if the federal government helps coordinate and finance an aggressive push to boost domestic manufacturing of batteries and their raw materials, as governments in China, Korea and Europe are doing.

"We're naive to pretend this will happen without government dynamism and action," says Danny Kennedy, CEO of New Energy Nexus, a nonprofit in Oakland, Calif., that funds and advises start-ups.

The calls are part of a renewed embrace of industrial policy to help the United States keep its technological edge in an increasingly competitive global economy. Backers of federal action say that without it, the United States risks losing out on another major technology boom - as it did with solar panels and 5G mobile network equipment.

Thanks to its federally funded universities and national labs, the United States has some of the best early-stage battery research in the world. It also has Tesla, an electric-car leader with big plans for domestic battery production. But other countries are doing far more to support their battery industries and ensure that production jobs stay local.

China is bolstering its battery and electric-vehicle companies with tens of billions of dollars of state support, including research and developmentfunding, subsidies for manufacturers and financing for battery-charging stations. It has also driven demand by subsidizing consumer purchases of electric vehicles, and by making buyers of gasoline-fueled cars wait much longer for a license plate.

The European Union is also closely involved in supporting its battery sector, having established a European Battery Alliance in 2017 that set sweeping goals for manufacturing, charging infrastructure and electric-car uptake. Germany is requiring all gas stations to offer electric-car charging. And last month, the European Commission said it would spend $3.5 billion to subsidize Tesla, BMW and other companies to produce more batteries in Europe and help cut imports from China.

Under the Obama administration, the United States offered federal loan guarantees to support clean-energy companies including Tesla, which is now one of the world's most valuable auto companies. It also introduced a $7,500 tax credit for electric-car purchases, but the perk was limited to 200,000 cars per manufacturer, which Tesla and GM have already exhausted.

Some of this federal support dried up during the Trump administration, under withering criticism from conservatives, who dismissed clean energy as a liberal priority.

Aside from California, which has adopted many incentives and regulations to boost electric vehicles and renewable energy, the United States has largely left the sector to the free market.

President Joe Biden has said he will "use all the levers of the federal government, from purchasing power, R&D, tax, trade, and investment policies" to "position America to be the global leader in the manufacture of electric vehicles and their input materials."

He took a first step by signing an executive order calling on government agencies, including the U.S. Postal Service, to start converting their fleets to electric vehicles. He's also pledged to build 500,000 charging stations, revise and extend tax credits for buyers and tighten fuel economy standards for gas-powered vehicles, which the Trump administration relaxed.

And his Cabinet members and nominees have stressed the need to act quickly to create clean-energy jobs.

"We'd better believe China is in this game. They are competing aggressively," former Michigan governor Jennifer Granholm, Biden's nominee for energy secretary, told a Senate hearing on Jan. 27. "Without a federal partner to make sure we can get these jobs in America then we will be losing globally."

Republicans have long expressed skepticism about government involvement in the economy and heaped criticism on the Obama administration when a solar-panel company failed after receiving a federal loan guarantee. But some have started to support more government intervention as necessary for competing with China.

Doug Campbell, co-founder of battery start-up Solid Power in Louisville, Colo., said the United States should boost tax breaks and other financial support for companies building manufacturing plants.

"One thing we do great here is innovate," said Campbell, whose company was spun out of the University of Colorado. "But where there is a chasm is when it gets to manufacturing scale. That is where other nations step in and provide some of that capital before a bank is willing to lean in."

He added, "We can choose to step in and entice industry and growth, or we cannot and run the risk that we are ceding all of this overseas." Solid Power so far has established a limited manufacturing line to produce thousands of cells a year, which automakers including Ford and BMW are testing.

Lithium-ion batteries grew out of research that won the 2019 Nobel Prize in chemistry. The powerful, rechargeable batteries first appeared in Sony camcorders in the early 1990s and are now used in everything from smartphones and laptops to electric vehicles.

They are also crucial for harnessing renewable energy, allowing power companies to store solar- and wind-energy for use when the sun goes down and the wind stops blowing. Cars, buses and power companies use large battery packs containing thousands of individual battery cells.

The Pentagon is "very interested in electrifying" as a means to lower its fuel costs, said Sam Jaffe, a battery expert at Cairn Energy Research Advisors in Boulder, Colo. Drones and other electronic gear are already battery powered, and in the future ships and aircraft may be, too, he said.

That heightens the need for strong domestic production, said William Acker, executive director of NY-BEST, a nonprofit promoting the battery sector in New York.

"If all of our batteries are coming from Asia and you need them to conduct military operations, that's a very concerning situation," Acker said.

Tesla and its Japanese partner, Panasonic, manufacture lithium-ion battery cells at a giant factory in Nevada. At Tesla's "Battery Day" presentation in September, CEO Elon Musk said the company was preparing to build a new battery-cell factory that would dramatically increase output and cut costs.

Musk didn't say where the plant would be located, but in January Tesla tweeted job postings for battery production at Giga Texas, the new auto factory Tesla is building near Austin.

Musk also said Tesla would begin extracting lithium from a deposit in Nevada to supply the new battery factory. He said the mining would involve using salt to extract lithium from heaps of dirt, and then returning the dirt to its original place, a process he called "environmentally friendly."

Tesla's goal is to exert control over the whole battery supply chain, from base battery materials to the building of battery cells, to their installation directly into Tesla's cars, Musk and other Tesla executives said at Battery Day.

General Motors and its partner, South Korea's LG Chem, began building a battery-cell plant in Lordstown, Ohio, last summer that will eventually create 1,100 jobs. The factory is part of GM's big push to stop selling gas-powered cars and switch to electric by 2035, which the automaker promoted with a Super Bowl ad starring Will Ferrell.

The Chinese company Envision Group gained control of a lithium-ion battery plant in Smyrna, Tenn., after acquiring the battery business of Japan's Nissan in 2019. The factory makes batteries for a nearby Nissan Leaf plant.

And South Korea's SK Innovation is building two lithium-ion battery factories in Commerce, Ga.

To maximize job creation and to ensure the United States has a secure supply of batteries, it needs to develop the industries that mine and refine the materials needed for production, including lithium, says Kennedy, the head of New Energy Nexus. At the moment, China dominates much of the trade of these materials.

The United Nations warned in a report last year that some battery-related mining has caused environmental damage. Much of the world's current lithium supply comes from Latin America, where some mining has caused groundwater depletion, soil contamination and other forms of environmental degradation, the report said.

The U.N. called the global boom in electric vehicles "great news" for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but said industry should invest in greener mining techniques and better ways to recycle materials from spent batteries.

Kennedy and others point to a fledgling project in Southern California called Lithium Valley, which seeks to extract the mineral from the Salton Sea.

Supporters of the project say the lithium could be extracted in an environmentally friendly manner, as a byproduct of geothermal energy production already underway in the area. The California Energy Commission has expressed interest in the idea, and has given grants for further study of the project. California also set up a commission to study the environmental impact.

California is the largest market in the United States for electric vehicles and energy-storage batteries for power grids, "and now we'd like to do more manufacturing of the intermediate steps," David Hochschild, chair of the California Energy Commission, said in an interview. "We have the end use of electric vehicles and energy storage, and we have the raw materials, so the vision of Lithium Valley is to get the full supply chain."

Europe is also pursuing development of its own lithium mines, to reduce its reliance on imports.
The government on February 11 has extended the cap on capacity and control on airfare till 31 March.

In a bid to help airlines maintain their balance sheets, it has increased the upper and lower cap on airfare by up to 30 percent. This will take be effective immediately, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said in a statement.

With the cap on airfare now increased, airlines can now charge more from its customers. For example, flights that have a duration of 90 to 120 minutes now have the lower fare cap increased to Rs 3,900 from Rs 3,500.

Whereas the cap on maximum chargeable fare has been increased to Rs 13,000 from Rs 10,000.

Currently, the centre allows domestic airlines to operate at 80 percent of their pre-COVID-19 pandemic approved capacity.

Thus far, however, no carrier has been able to deploy around 70 percent capacity of what they operated during the winters of 2020, apart from Indigo.

However, airlines have requested the government to delay the permit since they will not be able to operate any more capacity profitably.

Domestic flight operations had resumed on May 25, 2020, after a gap of two months due to COVID-induced travel restrictions. The Centre had initially allowed airlines to operate at 33 percent capacity, which was subsequently increased in a staggered manner.

Also Read: Silver Lining in Indigo: Airline now seventh biggest worldwide by capacity

Emphasising that capping of airfares was an "extraordinary measure", Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on February 10 said the price bands are expected to be done away with once flight services reach pre-COVID-19 levels.

"We are now confronted with an interesting situation. On the one hand, some of the carriers want us to open full capacity, 100 percent, whereas others would like to go slow," he said, and added the decision to raise beyond 80 percent capacity will depend on the behaviour of the virus and "our sense" of comfort that air travel has all the Standard Operating Procedures.
(Alliance News) - The Northern Ireland Protocol is the only way to protect the Good Friday Agreement, a senior European Commission official has said.

Maros Sefcovic expressed concerns over "teething problems" over the implementation of the protocol but said it was now "our mutually agreed legal obligation".

The commission's vice president made the remarks in a letter to Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove on Wednesday.

The pair will meet in London on Thursday to discuss the problems faced in Northern Ireland as a result of the new trading arrangements.

It comes amid tensions after the brief triggering by the bloc of Article 16, with particular ire among unionists in Northern Ireland who are calling for it to be ditched.

The protocol was designed to prevent a hard border with Ireland but has resulted in additional checks for goods crossing from the UK to Northern Ireland.

Article 16 overrides part of the protocol which prevents a hard border on the island of Ireland, and was intended as an emergency measure only.

Unionists regard the new checks as a border in the Irish Sea separating Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK.

Northern Ireland's First Minister Arlene Foster has urged Gove and Boris Johnson to "act on" their unionist beliefs.

"I believe they are both unionists but it is important that they act on that now and it is important that they realise that part of the UK is being treated differently," she told Peston.

"And actually if you look at the protocol it talks about respecting the fact that the sovereign territory of the UK as one, it also talks about respecting the internal market of the UK.

"I don't believe that the EU is doing either of those things and so I believe it is up to our Government to challenge them on that and the fact that they are separating out Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK."

Foster said the issues with the protocol are "fundamental", adding: "You can't even get a pot plant from Great Britain into Northern Ireland at the moment which is absolutely incredible."

UUP leader Steve Aiken said the letter "reeks of arrogance and intransigence".

"Instead of protecting the Belfast Agreement and defusing tensions, this letter will do the exact opposite," he said.

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen earlier apologised for "mistakes" that led to the triggering of Article 16.

However Sefcovic has made it clear in his letter that the commission regards the protocol as the only way forward.

"The protocol is the solution agreed by the UK and the EU to these challenges: it is the only way to protect the Good Friday (Belfast) Agreement, preserving peace and stability and avoiding a hard border on the island of Ireland," he wrote.

"It is designed to ensure clarity and predictability for people and businesses, while minimising the disruption inevitably caused by the withdrawal of the UK from the EU. It is a balanced outcome after years of difficult negotiations and is now our mutually agreed legal obligation.

"I therefore agree that our shared objective is to work tirelessly in order to make the protocol work. It requires full and faithful implementation by both parties.

"The Union's commitment to the objectives of the protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland, as a cornerstone of both the Withdrawal Agreement and the relationship between the EU and the UK, is unwavering."

Sefcovic set out concerns over the implementation of the protocol, writing that Border Control Posts are not yet fully operational and official controls not performed in compliance with the Withdrawal Agreement protocol and EU rules.

He also said the UK has "not yet fulfilled its obligation" to provide real-time access to all its IT systems, in particular access to key customs IT systems.

However, he wrote, he is convinced these are "teething problems, for which we should be able to find swift solutions".

By Rebecca Black and Harriet Line

source: PA

Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
[February 11, 2021] Margex Launches Globally and Announces $1,000,000 Bonus Giveaway Campaign Making Cryptocurrency Derivatives Trading More Accessible

MAHE, Seychelles, Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Margex announces its global launch. Along with the launch, every new client will be able to try Margex for free, with an included $100 bonus to settle trading commissions and funding fees on the platform. During the promotional campaign, Margex plans to distribute up to $1,000,000 in bonuses for a total of 10,000 users. Margex's global launch includes unique features such as: 100X scalable leverage for all of its trading pairs such as BTC, ETH, XRP, EOS, LTC, and YFI;

Combined liquidity of multiple liquidity aggregators, allowing for the best possible entry and exit prices;

AI-based Price Manipulation Protection systems, monitoring for irregularities across all trading pairs and mitigating the risk of accidental liquidations and short-squeezes;

Bank-grade security;

Scale-on-demand infrastructure, capable of handling up to 100,000 transactions per secnd;

High-Class User Interface.



Margex is the go-to cryptocurrency trading platform for thousands of traders who prefer having full control over their trades as well as transparency and security. Along with the premium user experience, the platform offers up to 100x leverage on all its trading pairs such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, Ripple, EOS, Litecoin, and exclusively Yearn.finance.



This press release was issued through 24-7PressRelease.com. For further information, visit http://www.24-7pressrelease.com.

View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/margex-launches-globally-and-announces-1-000-000-bonus-giveaway-campaign-making-cryptocurrency-derivatives-trading-more-accessible-301226563.html SOURCE Margex

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Aspen, CO (81611)

Today

Partly cloudy skies this morning. Thunderstorms likely during the afternoon. High 64F. NE winds shifting to S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 70%..

Tonight

Cloudy early with some clearing expected late. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 41F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph.
MIAMI, Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- It's A 10 Haircare, known for always being at the forefront of hair-related innovation is keeping to the same tune when it comes to technology. The company is proud to announce their new and innovative, "For Professionals" section, which is now live on the brand's hair extensions website, HairEx10sions.com, and will roll out to their main site, Itsa10haircare.com later this year.

Setting themselves apart from other brands and retailers, the purchasing process for professionals will now be more seamless than anything ever seen before, enabling the salon-industry to get their hands on pro-priced products in record timing.

When visiting the Ex10sions website, professionals will now be able to create a separate login, where a discount will be automatically applied with the use of their authorized license number. To make this possible, the It's A 10 team made a massive investment in infrastructure, IT and auto-processing. They've constructed a proprietary custom integration which connects their content management system (CMS) to a cosmetology license database of over a million licensed professionals.

For other brand websites, the arduous license-verification process can sometimes take up to one week. It's A 10 Haircare is proud to be setting the new industry-standard, with a 20 second verification time, and the ability to ship product within a few days of purchasing  whether that be a wholesale order, or enough product for a single chair rental.

"While the everyday consumer is a huge part of the It's A 10 business model, we never lose sight of how valuable the pro side of our business is," said Carolyn Aronson, CEO & Founder of It's A 10 Haircare and Ex10sions. "As a stylist myself, I am passionate and understand the need for seamless solutions when it comes to getting the products your clients love, so we wanted to create a way to make this practice easiest as possible, especially during this time."

According to Jeff Aronson, President of It's A 10 Haircare, "This new, 'For Professionals' ordering operation uses state-of-the-art technology, and we're proud to be at the forefront of it." Jeff continued, "This system will allow for expansive growth in the professional side of our business. It's been created to completely change how pros order our products and expedite it as well."

The "For Professional" tool is currently live on HairEx10sions.com for U.S customers only, and is set to launch on Itsa10haircare.com within the next few months. For more details, please visit the Ex10sions website.

About It's a 10 Haircare and EX10SIONS by Carolyn:

It's a 10 Haircare is an established, professional hair care line offering exceptional multipurpose products via salons and beauty supply stores worldwide. As one of the only female-owned professional hair care brands in the world, It's a 10 Haircare is dedicated to providing customers with the best hair experience possible. It's a 10 Haircare's collections include exceptional 10-in-1 multi-purpose products perfected and simplified to one unique lineup, providing solutions to all possible hair care needs. Additionally, the brand now provides state-of-the-art extensions, with the EX10SIONS by Carolyn, a line of tape-in extensions, made from the absolute highest quality 100% Mongolian Human hair.

SOURCE It's A 10 Haircare

Related Links

https://itsa10haircare.com


In 1870, Congress invoked a post-Civil War constitutional amendment  barring government officials from holding any federal or state office if they had engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the United States or given aid and comfort to its enemies  to prohibit former Confederate officials from holding public office. That prohibition lasted only two years before Congress granted amnesty to those officials.

In 1919, Congress cited the same constitutional provision in denying a House seat to Victor Berger, a newly elected Socialist Party member from Wisconsin, who had just been convicted under the Espionage Act for writings that opposed U.S. participation in World War I. After the courts overturned Bergers conviction, however, he was elected again in 1922 and was allowed to take his seat.

The constitutional provision is Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, which was ratified in 1868 and is best known for language in Section 1 that guarantees everyone equal protection of the laws. Now, the formerly obscure Section 3 is returning to the spotlight as a possible vehicle for preventing former President Donald Trump from seeking the White House in 2024.

The House impeachment of Trump on a charge of inciting an insurrectionary mob at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 went to trial in the Senate on Tuesday, with a two-thirds majority needed for conviction  a vote that would require the support of 17 of Trumps fellow Republicans. The Senate could then vote to permanently exclude Trump from office.

But a majority vote of each house of Congress would be enough to invoke Section 3. It has never been used against a sitting or former president, and its prospects for enforcement are uncertain. But it seems to offer Democrats, and a handful of their Republican colleagues who have supported impeachment, an easier political hill to climb.

This would appear to allow Congress to disqualify Trump from future office by a simple majority vote in both houses upon a finding that he engaged in, or aided, insurrection or rebellion, said Steven Schwinn, a University of Illinois law professor.

The history and content of Section 3 suggest it is the best legal framework available for addressing the extraordinary events at the Capitol with respect to the eligibility of participants to hold public office, Gerard Magliocca, a University of Indiana law professor who has written extensively on the constitutional provision, said in a recent posting on the Lawfare blog.

But unlike the impeachment process, which requires no judicial review, Congress could not act on its own to bar Trump from office under Section 3, Magliocca said. That decision would be up to the courts, he said, either in a suit seeking to keep him from running or in a case brought by Trump himself.

Only the courts, interpreting Section 3 for themselves, can bar someone from running for president, Magliocca wrote.

Not all constitutional scholars agree.

I would expect that the courts would see it as a political question and not for the judiciary to resolve, Erwin Chemerinsky, the law school dean at UC Berkeley, said by email. That was the Supreme Courts view in 1993 in the case of Walter Nixon, a federal judge in Mississippi impeached by the House and removed from office by the Senate after a perjury conviction, who challenged the procedures used in his Senate trial. The court declined to intervene and said Congress sets the rules for impeachment.

But federal courts have generally been willing to consider public officials appeals of their disqualification from office, apart from impeachment. And the current Supreme Court, while rejecting Trumps challenges to the November election results, has been deferential to his assertions of broad presidential authority, as in the 2018 ruling upholding his executive order banning U.S. entry to people from a group of mostly Muslim nations.

The first step to implement Section 3 would be congressional action. Magliocca said the strongest action would be a new federal law authorizing attorneys for the federal or state governments to bar Trump from the ballot. The 1870 Congress passed a law called the Ku Klux Klan Act that allowed the Justice Department to file suit in federal court to remove former Confederate officials from state offices. The law was enforced only briefly but was not repealed until the 1940s.

But a new law would probably need support from at least 10 Republican senators unless Senate Democrats repealed the filibuster, which now requires most legislation to obtain at least 60 votes in the 100-seat Senate.

An alternative, requiring only a majority vote, would be a joint resolution like the one proposed late last month by Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Tim Kaine, D-Va., to censure Trump for giving aid and comfort to Capitol insurrectionists  language taken directly from Section 3  and to bar him from seeking office.

The senators discussed a resolution as a possible alternative to impeachment and have not formally introduced it, but could do so if the Senate trial ends in acquittal, which most observers expect.

Margaret Russell, a Santa Clara University law professor, said Trump might argue that any such resolution would be an unconstitutional bill of attainder, a law declaring someone guilty of a crime without a trial. She said lawmakers could argue that their measure was neither a criminal charge nor part of the impeachment proceedings, or could simply draft the resolution to apply to any federal official who had incited the Capitol riot.

Magliocca said a resolution, in any event, would be considered merely a statement of congressional opinion, and the last word would be up to the courts.

The more support (a resolution) gets, the more weight courts would give it, he said in an interview. If its a party-line vote, his lawyers would tell the court a partisan vote doesnt mean anything.

And even if Congress takes no action, Magliocca said, this will still come up if he were to run again. Some state election official will say, I wont put you on the ballot because I think youre ineligible, and a court, state or federal, will have to decide whether Trump violated Section 3.

Trumps lawyers told the Senate that Section 3 was irrelevant because the former president never engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the United States.

In their filing for the Senate trial, the lawyers said Trumps call to the Jan. 6 crowd to fight like hell did not have anything to do with the action at the Capitol as it was clearly about the need to fight for election security in general.

Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko
Participants on the WallStreetBets forum on Reddit, which inspired a price spike in GameStop that squeezed out Wall Street short-sellers who had bet on a price fall, have turned their attention to US and Canadian cannabis firms.

US-listed Tilray and Sundial Growers have seen their share price more than double this week as momentum built but they have also experienced volatility, with Tilray shedding around 50 per cent on Thursday (US time) after a similar jump the previous session.

Tilray shares have surged this week but have fallen sharply on Thursday on Wall Street. Credit:AP

The involvement of Reddit means a frenzy is the right word, said Jasper Lawler, head of research at London Capital Group in London.

Im splitting the outlook in two. Reddit targeting a short-squeeze in Tilray means a quick pump and dump, he said, while others looked longer-term at benefits from potential legislative changes under Biden and his Democrat allies in Congress.
AGAWAM  Although Comcast has pressed pause on plans to charge customers for heavy Internet use, a task force announced today that it will look at whether a town-owned alternative should be offered.

Mayor William Sapelli has appointed seven individuals to study the pros and cons of establishing a new fiber-optic network in town. Currently, the only option for wired internet access in Agawam is Comcast, which announced in November that it would start charging customers extra when they exceed 1.2 terabytes of data per month. Comcast later said it would suspend implementation of the plan until August.

We have to have an alternative to Comcast, Sapelli said. Its getting ridiculous. Its not just the price people are paying, but the reliability. We have to have an option, and there are some options. He added that uncertainty over future price hikes has caused a tremendous anxiety in town.

Sapelli said he will ask the task force to look at the costs of a town-operated system as well as contracting with a third party. Whip City Fiber, the municipal broadband Internet provider owned by the neighboring city of Westfield, has partnered with several towns in the Berkshires to operate their publicly owned fiber networks. Whip City could serve as a model for Agawam, said Sapelli, or as a vendor. He said hes open to partnering with a for-profit operator, if that makes more sense.

The task force will be charged with studying a broadband network that will be more reliable and faster than Comcasts service, while being realistic on the cost.

Setting up such a system will be harder in Agawam than in cities like Holyoke and Westfield, Sapelli said, because unlike those cities, Agawam does not have a municipal electric utility.

They own their own (utility) poles, we dont, the mayor said. Itd be more expensive for us to string those wires.

Agawam has 130 miles of streets, Sapelli said. The proposed fiber network would serve both residents and businesses.

The task force consists of five town officials, IT Director Jeff Hulbert, City Councilor Rosemary Sandlin, Planning and Community Development Director Marc Strange and Cable TV Manager Les Tingley, as well as two residents at large, Brian Burbank and Paul Jenney. Sapelli said he expects the group to report back to him in the late spring.

Comcasts proposed data charges affect customers in the Northeast, including Massachusetts, who are not subscribed to an unlimited plan. Households exceeding the 1.2 terabyte cap would be charged $10 per 50 gigabytes of data, up to $100 per month. According to Comcast, 1.2 terabytes is equal to 21,600 hours of music, 34,000 hours of online gaming, 3,500 hours of video chat or 500 hours of high-definition television.

Several of Agawams neighboring cities have signed, or are considering signing, a petition calling for Comcast to abandon its data charge plans. Springfields City Council passed such a resolution on Feb. 8, with sponsoring Councilor Jesse Lederman stating that the Internet has become an essential utility for families and businesses, and needs to be regulated in the public interest.

Westfields City Council discussed making a statement last week, with some councilors in favor and some councilors saying the government shouldnt tell a private business how to set prices.

In West Springfield, Mayor William Reichelt said he would like to partner with Whip City Fiber to begin offering municipal broadband in at least one neighborhood of town.
BAY CITY, MI - As the pandemic comes close to reaching its one-year anniversary, Bay County has been undertaking a large public health directive to vaccinate its residents.

Health officer Joel Strasz of the Bay County Health Department provided an update on the current COVID-19 situation to the Bay County Board of Commissioners during a virtual meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 9 on case numbers, trends and the ongoing vaccination efforts throughout the county.

Strasz said that despite seeing a deluge of cases in November and December last year, the county is seeing a decrease in the number of cases.

Strasz reported that the current test positivity rate for Bay County is 3.8%, down from 20% rates that were seen in December. In addition, the seven day average of cases per million over time is at 70.8 per million for Bay County, which is down from a high of 610.9 cases per million. Bay County is currently averaging 7.4 cases per day, according to Strasz.

We are doing exceptionally well at this point, he said.

Meanwhile, Strasz said that Bay County has seen about 250 deaths due to COVID-19 in the last 11 months.

Were on par in this coming year to see COVID-19 as one of the leading indicator, perhaps the leading indicator of death in Bay County.

In comparison, Strasz said that Bay Countys 2nd and 3rd causes of death are cancer and lung disease, with about 200 cases per year.

On the vaccination front, Bay County is planning to vaccinate 72,000 people with two doses, meaning that the county is aiming to distribute 144,000 shots by the Fourth of July, which Strasz called an ambitious goal.

This is the largest public health initiative in Bay County history and it requires the coordination and cooperation of all the medical providers, its just not on the Health Department, said Strasz.

Bay County is currently vaccinating those in phase 1B, which includes frontline essential workers in critical infrastructure and people 65 years of age or older.

One of biggest issues facing the health department as it works to distribute the vaccine at this time is high demand while supplies remain low, explained Strasz.

There are continuing issues with supply and demand, we have overwhelming demand at this point in time. As of the beginning of this month there have been 26,000 persons that have registered with the Bay County Health Department. That number increases on a daily basis, said Strasz.

Meanwhile, he said that the health department is expecting to receive 1,000 first doses and anywhere between 1,000 - 2,000 second doses per week for the next three weeks, at least.

Strasz said that there are supply issues taking place throughout the state and that recent amendments to the states distribution guidelines left Bay County without a boost in vaccine allocations that he was hoping to see. The guidelines now are based primarily on population, said Strasz, with calculations involving vulnerable populations into the mix. With Bay Countys population size of 100,000 persons on average, the county did not see an increase in the vaccine supply from the state, according to Strasz.

I was initially hopeful that Bay County would see significantly more vaccine because of our senior population, as you are aware we have the highest percentages of seniors that any county in the state of Michigan,

Bay County is also grappling with its registration system. Strasz said that no centralized registration system has been developed in counties, leaving each of Michigans 83 counties to develop their own 83 individual systems.

Bay Countys system is far from perfect but were trying to improve that on a daily basis, said Strasz.

Currently, Bay County is accepting registrations through an online survey on the health departments website at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/bchd-c19vx. At this time, residents without internet access may instead call 989-308-1828 to register for the vaccine through the Bay County Health Department and Department on Aging.

Strasz said that the department is aiming to have a messaging system in place within the coming weeks that will confirm someones registration by sending them an email or a text. At this time, no confirmation response is given when one registers for the vaccine and registrants are left waiting for a manual confirmation from the health department.

The health department is also working on weeding through issues with non-Bay County residents or people who do not work in Bay County trying to get in line.

Vaccine tourism is a real thing. Weve got people from outside of Bay County, outside of the region, outside of the state of Michigan that are trying to get on the waiting list. Some folks that weve talked to even in the state of Tennessee, Georgia, and Indiana have no problem traveling several hundred miles if they get on a waiting list. We tell them that we prioritize Bay County residents and workers first, said Strasz.

While the health department is busy distributing vaccines as it is able to, Strasz stated that there are three variants of COVID-19 that have been discovered recently and that one of them, a variant out of the United Kingdom, is expected to be the main concern for Bay County this spring.

Each of these variants is more transmissible, especially the UK variant. It spreads about 50% more efficiently than the variant that were used to here in the state of Michigan. It has been discovered in four counties already in the state of Michigan, he said. We expect that this will be the dominate variant by the middle of March here in Bay County.

Whether or not that it is more deadly is yet to be known, added Strasz. We do know that it can cause more severe illness, particularly because of its efficiency of spread. The good news about that is that it seems to be responding to most of the vaccines that are available.

The variant, also known as B.1.1.7, has currently been reported in 10 counties as of Tuesday, Feb. 9. The breakdown of counties where those cases have been confirmed were previously reported by MLive as: 23 in Washtenaw; eight in Wayne, including two in Detroit; four each in Kalamazoo and Calhoun, and one case each in Macomb, Kent, Eaton, Charlevoix, Sanilac and Van Buren.

More from MLive

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Wednesday, Feb. 10, coronavirus data by Michigan county: Finally, all 83 counties under 10% positivity

U.K. COVID-19 variant now confirmed in 45 Michigan cases in 10 counties
Vivo has announced cashback, no-cost EMI, and other sale deals for customers planning to buy Vivo smartphones ahead of Valentine's day celebration on February 14. The company says that sale deals on Vivo V20, Vivo Y51A, Vivo Y31, and Vivo Y20G smartphones will be valid till February 13 for online buyers, and the mainline offers will be available till February 28. Vivo says all the above smartphones that are getting sale offers are made in India products, manufactured at Vivo's Greater Noida facility.

Vivo notes that customers purchasing Vivo V20, Vivo Y51A, Vivo Y31, and Vivo Y20G smartphones from its India-specific e-store can avail up to 12-month no-cost EMI option with select banks. Additionally, customers will also get a free Bluetooth speaker with all mobile prepaid orders. Customers can further enjoy Rs 3,000 cashback on Vivo TWS earbuds on purchase of Vivo X, V, U, Z, S, Y series smartphones.

As mentioned, Vivo is also offering sale deals on the V20, Vivo Y51A, Vivo Y31, and Vivo Y20G via its offline channel. Customers can avail Rs 2,000 cashback with HDFC credit card on both regular and EMI transactions. The company is also offering zero-interest down payment scheme with Bajaj Finance, Home Credit, HDB, IDFC First bank, TVS credit, HDFC bank, and ICICI Bank. Notably, VI (formerly Vodafone Idea) users can get 12 months of extended warranty.

The Vivo V20 carries triple rear camera setup that includes a 64-megapixel primary camera and a 44-megapixel selfie shooter. It packs the Qualcomm Snapdragon 720G SoC and runs Android 11 out of the box. Its price in India starts at Rs 24,990 for the base 8GB + 128GB model while 8GB + 256GB option costs Rs 27,990. Whereas the Vivo Y51A comes with a 48-megapixel main rear camera, 5,000mAh battery, Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 SoC, and 16-megapixel selfie shooter. Its price is set at Rs 17,990 (8GB + 128GB), the device is available in two colour options of Titanium Sapphire and Crystal Symphony.

The Vivo Y31 features 48-megapixel AI triple rear camera setup, and it packs the Qualcomm Snapdragon 662 chipset under the hood. It also comes with a 5,000mAh battery and a 16-megapixel selfie camera. Priced at Rs 16,490 for 6GB RAM + 128GB storage variant, the Vivo Y31 comes in Racing black and Ocean Blue colour options. Lastly, the Y20G comes with MediaTek Helio G80 SoC, 13-megapixel primary rear camera, and 5,000mAh battery. The budget device costs Rs 14,990 (6GB + 128GB) in India.
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Washington: As the second impeachment trial of his predecessor was under way on Thursday (AEDT), Joe Biden held his first call as US President with Xi Jinping, pressing the Chinese President on Beijings coercive trade strikes, human rights crackdown in Hong Kong and other issues.

The two leaders spoke just hours after Biden announced plans for a Pentagon taskforce to review US national security strategy on China and after announcing he was levying sanctions against Myanmars military regime following this months coup in the South-east Asian country.

A White House statement said Biden raised concerns about Beijings coercive and unfair economic practices.

The comments were quietly welcomed by the Morrison government given China slapped more than $20 billion on Australian exports last year over disputes concerning the origins of coronavirus, national security and human rights.
Tunis/Tunisia  The crisis caused by the cabinet reshuffle must be solved in accordance with the constitution rather than searching for an impossible legal outcome or interpretations and Fatwas that transgress the provisions of Law," President Kais Saied said at a meeting Wednesday with MPs at the Carthage Palace.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi received a group of experts in constitutional and public law to consult on the legal issue relating to the swearing-in of the eleven new ministers who obtained parliament's confidence at the end of January.

Prior to this, the PM sent a letter to the Administrative Court two days ago for consultation on the same matter.

The President's meeting with MPs discussed the political situation in the country, particularly the crisis related to the reshuffle and swearing-in.

The MPs who attended the meeting represented different blocs, involving opposition and supporters of the government, said a Presidency statement.

The meeting reviewed the available solutions to overcome these disputes while respecting the supremacy of the constitution and laws as well as respecting state institutions.

Saied indicated that the cabinet reshuffle is marred by many irregularities, the statement said.

The application of the parliament's rules of procedure must not cross the threshold of the hemicycle, the President pointed out, adding, the rules of procedure of parliament cannot be made into law.

He also called attention to the lack of women's presence in the new government line-up, as stipulated in the Constitution.

Saied questioned the usefulness of swearing in ministers suspected of corruption.

He said he has information confirming that the reshuffle was planned since the formation of the government, voicing determination, as a guarantor of the Constitution, to stay out of political conflicts. The President also warned against calls for foreign intervention in national affairs.

The meeting was attended by MPs Samia Abbou, Zouheir Maghzaoui, Haykal Mekki, Mohamed Ammar, Nabil Hajji, Hatem Mliki, Hichem Ajbouni, Marwene felfel, Samir Dilou, Naoufel Jammeli and Mustapha Ben Ahmed.
(Reuters) - An executive at Tencent Holdings Ltd has been held by Chinese authorities as part of a probe into a high-profile corruption case involving one of China's former top law-enforcement officials, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter. Shares in the gaming company and internet powerhouse fell 1.4% in early trade in Hong Kong on Thursday, while the broader market slipped 0.3%. Tencent did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Zhang Feng has been under investigation by China's anti-graft inspector since early last year ...
MASON CITY, Iowa - Normally, State Sen. Amanda Ragan and State Rep. Sharon Steckman like to hold in-person town hall meetings, inviting the public to attend and share their thoughts about what they would like to see done in Des Moines. Because of the pandemic, however, those town halls have been held virtually through Zoom for the time being.

CG Public Health Director Brian Hanft started off last night's meeting sharing updates regarding Cerro Gordo County's vaccine efforts, as the agency continues to vaccine those 65 years and older, as well as teachers, with more vaccines expected to arrive next week.

In addition, he points out the effectiveness of the mass vaccination clinic and referenced the roughly 140,000 phone calls to the department regarding vaccination efforts and pandemic related questions. He also emphasized for the public to continue wearing masks, even after Governor Reynolds signed a proclamation last week lifting most masking requirements and capacity limits.

Ragan has heard from many constituents in her district regarding the recent moves.

"I have had so many calls and emails about the change in the restrictions because people feel strongly one way or another on that. It's really been important to continue with the masks especially for safety and especially with other things going on, with people going back to full-time school and the variants that are coming through. We don't have that many people vaccinated at this point for the safety issue."

Another major topic that's being worked on at the Capitol and that was also discussed last night was education. The Senate recently approved a 2.2% funding increase this week, and the House is working to pass a similar bill, with their proposal including a 2.5% funding increase. Both the Senate's and House's bills include language that would allocate more money to districts who followed return to learn requirements at the start of this school year. Ragan feels this is not enough, considering the challenges this year.

"We really need to be taking care of public education and having a quality education in the state of Iowa. It's not going to happen if we don't happen where we put our money where we really think it is important. I think it is critically important to fund our education system."

To watch the meeting, click here.
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Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-12 00:25:18|Editor: huaxia

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UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Thursday that cooperation between China and the United States is very important to the international community.

"We welcome any direct communications between the world's two largest economies. Cooperation between China and the United States is very important to the international community as we face numerous challenges, especially climate change and the current COVID-19 pandemic," the UN chief told Xinhua through his spokesman Stephane Dujarric.

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday morning (Beijing time) took a phone call from U.S. President Joseph R. Biden on the eve of the Chinese Lunar New Year.

The two presidents wished each other good fortune in the Year of the Ox, and had an in-depth exchange of views on China-U.S. relations and major international and regional issues. Enditem
Convicted sex offender jailed without bond

Mark Anthony Honeucutt

A 57-year-old man with a long criminal record was jailed without bond after Henderson County sheriff's deputies and U.S. marshals served a warrant on him for failing to report a new address as a convicted sex offender, the sheriff's office said.

Deputies on the Henderson County Sheriffs Office Sex Offender Registration Unit and the U.S. Marshal's Carolinas Regional Fugitive Task Force, which had developed information as to the possible location of wanted sex offender, arrested Mark Anthony Honeycutt early Wednesday.

Honeycutt was wanted for felony failure to report a new address as required of a convicted sex offender. On that charge, he was jailed in the Henderson County Detention Center on a $20,000 secured bond. He was held without bond on a probation violation.

Honeycutt was convicted in 2003, 2017 and 2018 in Henderson, Cabarrus and Mecklenburg counties on charges including worthless checks, drunken driving and obstructing justice. He was released from his most recent state prison stay last April, state Department of Public Safety records show.

The U.S. marshal's fugitive task force is made up of state and local law officers from South Carolina and North Carolina who work directly in conjunction with deputy U.S. marshals to apprehend violent offenders and sexual predators wanted on state and local charges. The Asheville division of the CRFTF consists of law enforcement officers from the Henderson County Sheriffs Office, Transylvania County Sheriffs Office, Buncombe County Sheriffs Office, Rutherford County Sheriffs Office and the North Carolina Department of Public Safety.

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STEPANAKERT, FEBRUARY 11, ARMENPRESS. 4 more bodies of the recent Artsakh war casualties have been found during the search operations in Varanda (Fizuli), the official of the State Emergency Service of Artsakh told Armenpress.

Forensic examination will be conducted for identifying the bodies.

So far, a total of 1371 bodies have been retrieved from the battle zones.

Today the search operations will be conducted in Hadrut region.

Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan
[February 11, 2021] Howard University Announces 20-Year Energy Partnership with ENGIE North America

ENGIE North America announced today that it has solidified its relationship with Howard University, one of the nation's premiere HBCUs, by executing a long-term agreement for the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of a new central utility plant on Howard's campus located in Washington, D.C. The new central utility plant will provide both electric and steam services for buildings on campus. Under this agreement, ENGIE will design and construct the new plant and once complete, provide operations and maintenance services over the next 20 years. This long-term partnership will result in safe, reliable operation and resilient service for Howard's students, faculty and other stakeholders, while at the same time reducing the campus' carbon footprint and furthering Howard's energy efficiency goals. ENGIE plans to begin construction in late-February with expected completion in late 2022. The new, modern steam plant will be a combined heat and power (CHP) plant, which will generate 35-40 percent of the University's electric consumption on site. This technology produces a single source of energy that generates electricity or power at the point of use and utilizes exhaust heat that would normally be lost in the generation process to be recovered and recycled to produce steam. After managing numerous challenges related to its aging energy distribution infrastructure, the University sought a new solution in 2018 that would completely overhaul the existing central utility plant. ENGIE worked alongside the University on a feasibility study that included a site investigation and recommendations for near-term and long-term solutions for the system. The shared goal was to develop a cost-effective, energy solution to ensure safe operations and eliminate the risk of future campus closures stemming from problems with campus utilities. "Guided by our shared "Howard Forward" strategic vision, Howard is taking a proactive approach to strategizing and modernizing the University's aging steam plant. Our partnership with ENGIE, to address one of the campus' more critical infrastructural risks, will not only move our existing steam plant into the 21st century, but provide a blueprint for other HBCUs in their efforts to reduce vulnerabilities and become more energ efficient," said Howard's Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Tashni-Ann Dubroy, Ph.D.



"Howard University is an incredible leader in the constellation of Historically Black Colleges and Universities across the United States," said Serdar Tufekci, Head of Large Campus Partnerships at ENGIE North America Inc. "It is fitting that Howard University has taken this bold step to lead towards the energy transition. ENGIE North America is proud to serve the community's long-term vision of creating a utility system that is resilient, reliable and affordable for the University and its stakeholders." About Howard University

Founded in 1867, Howard University is a private, research university that is comprised of 13 schools and colleges. Students pursue more than 140 programs of study leading to undergraduate, graduate and professional degrees. The University operates with a commitment to Excellence in Truth and Service and has produced one Schwarzman Scholar, three Marshall Scholars, four Rhodes Scholars, 11 Truman Scholars, 25 Pickering Fellows and more than 165 Fulbright recipients. Howard also produces more on-campus African-American Ph.D. recipients than any other university in the United States. For more information on Howard University, visit www.howard.edu. About ENGIE North America ENGIE North America Inc. offers a range of capabilities in the United States and Canada to help customers decarbonize, decentralize and digitalize their operations. These include comprehensive services to help customers run their facilities more efficiently and optimize energy and other resource use and expense; clean power generation; energy storage; and retail energy supply that includes renewable, demand response, and on-bill financing options. Nearly 100% of the company's power generation portfolio is low carbon or renewable. Globally, ENGIE S.A. relies on their key businesses (gas, renewable energy, services) to offer competitive solutions to customers. With 170,000 employees worldwide, customers, partners and stakeholders, we are a community of Imaginative Builders, committed every day to more harmonious progress. For more information on ENGIE North America, please visit our LinkedIn page or Twitter feed, www.engie-na.com and www.engie.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210211005612/en/

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Recent weeks have seen a series of violent attacks by far-right thugs against migrants stranded on the Spanish Canary Islands. Various WhatsApp chats and videos have also been leaked to the press in which far-right individuals discussed plans to kill and maim migrant workers.

The fascist Vox bears direct responsibility for these incitements to violence, but the groundwork for the attacks has been laid by Spains Socialist Party (PSOE)-Podemos government which has lobbied for European Union funds to support Moroccan police operations to terrorise migrants.

Migrants who manage to arrive on makeshift boats in the Canary Islands are placed into concentration camps, their children separated from mothers, prevented from flying to the peninsula and then deported as fast as possible.

Spain Halts Moroccan Immigrants Protests in Canary Islands

This policy is based on the fascistic notion of the call effect, i.e., that treating migrants humanely will provoke new waves of migrants. Therefore, the policy of the entire political establishment in Spain, backed by the European Union, is to brutalise migrants. Physical assaults by fascist thugs or the police at the borders are therefore, unofficially at least, a part of the policy.

In an audio message on a WhatsApp chat leaked to news site La Marea, one man says: This is a government of shit, bro, but its gonna end. From tomorrow, were gonna go out hunting. A group of four or five Moors together: beating time. In another chat, an image of two pistols was shared, accompanied by the ominous caption: These two are coming to Maspalomas [a town on the island of Gran Canaria, where a number of migrants are currently accommodated].

Participants in another chat can be seen to discuss plans for this hunt, with one threateningly declaring: Tomorrow were gonna go down there and were going to bust them [the migrants] up. At least 15 guys are ready. Theyre gonna go crazy. Were armed up to here. The Moors are gonna die, Im telling you this straight.

This is not the first reported incident of far-right threats or violence against migrant workers on the Canary Islands. In December, dozens of fascistic individuals from the town of Mogan, Gran Canaria, gathered outside hotels housing migrants to scream insults and threats at them. Police were called to the scene but no arrests were made.

The Red Cross, which helps to run many of the migrant reception facilities on the Canary Islands, was forced to advise migrants not to leave their accommodations for the next 48 hours.

The most recent far-right rants on WhatsApp are not empty threats. Numerous injuries to migrant workers have already been reported in the Spanish press, and multiple formal complaints have been lodged with the police.

One migrant worker, Hassan, told elDiario.es that a group of men fired a pellet gun at him from inside a car, with one man making threatening gestures with a machete, miming slitting his throat. A man was arrested as part of an investigation into the alleged machete threats but was subsequently released. In a video of the incident leaked to La Marea, the assailant can be heard exclaiming: Im going to teach a lesson to the first little Moor [I see].

Nineteen-year-old Ahmad also told elDiario.es that he had been beaten by eight boys while out on a walk with three friends, with one of them hitting him with a metal baton. They dragged me across the floor and hit me in various parts of the body, he said.

Another Moroccan youth, Oussman, described to the same news site how he had been hit on the back while out for a walk with a friend. After beginning to run away from their attackers, Oussman tripped and fell and was then surrounded by four or five men who kicked and hit him. He received injuries to his jaw and leg. I couldnt sleep for three nights. I had a lot of pain in my mouth. I couldnt eat, he said .

Publico also reported that at least three migrants at a reception facility run by the White Cross Foundation had received injuries to their heads after rocks were thrown at them outside their accommodations. Other young migrants report being hit on the head, kicked or beaten when going out to take a walk, having to run for their lives to escape the attacks.

The most recent attacks on migrants came in the wake of a far-right campaign of hoax videos on WhatsApp and social media, falsely purporting to show migrants in the Canary Islands robbing shops, churches or restaurants.

The videos of ethnic minority youthnone of whom were in fact migrants or in the Canary Islandswere circulated across these online platforms, accompanied by captions such as, When you introduce thousands of illegal [migrants] with no jobs into your country and Look what the grateful immigrants who we have housed, looked after and fed in the Canary Islands are doing.

These efforts to depict migrants as criminals were enthusiastically promoted by the far-right Vox party, which launched a xenophobic Stop Islamicisation! campaign on Twitter. They [migrants] make up approximately 0.2 percent [of the population] and are responsible for 93% of complaints, Vox declared, with no evidence on its official Twitter account. The majority are from the Maghreb, it continued, echoing the threats against Moors.

Twitter temporarily suspended Voxs account for inciting hate over these tweets, prompting Vox leader Santiago Abascal to launch into another anti-immigrant tirade, writing: Of course, the tweet which provoked the censorship provided data about the violence which Spaniards are suffering. . The tech millionaires dont want us to know the consequences of the migrant invasion which they are promoting along with some governments.

Voxs anti-migrant agitation has been supported by the PSOE-Podemos government. While it cynically declared that were not going to accept hoaxes, images from other places, old videos published as current or false complaints, its delegate to the Canary Islands, Anselmo Pestana Padron, stated that migrants with bad behaviour would be subject to priority deportation. Many of these migrants have been directly repatriated, he said, while others have been transferred to the Immigration Detention Centres.

According to the Red Cross, at least 70 migrants were deported in the last week of January for supposed bad behaviour.

The PSOE-Podemos government is dutifully stepping up its efforts to rapidly deport migrants in line with Voxs calls. In December, Vox leader Abascal declared in parliament that the government must prevent any more illegal migrants from passing and demand their immediate and forcible deportation if its necessary.

The government reacted by recently signing a deal with Air Maroc to carry out three deportation flights a week from the Canary Islands to Morocco. In mid-January, the Spanish Interior Ministry also pledged 10.89 million for charter flights to deport migrants over 18 months.

At the same time, it is refusing entry at its border to hundreds of thousands of migrants. In 2019 before the impact of COVID-19, nearly 500,000 migrants were refused entry. The effective shutting off of the direct migration route across the Mediterranean from Morocco, with the assistance of the European Union, has forced migrants to risk the far more dangerous sea crossing to the Canary Islands. Migration to the Canary Islands increased by 1,670 percent this January, as compared to the same month last year.

The bloody result of the call effect policy has led to the deaths of at least 2,000 migrants on this crossing in 2020, for which the PSOE-Podemos government bears direct responsibility.

Syrian opposition figures have proposed to Russia the formation of a joint military council, reports Asharq Al-Awsat.

Russia is not pleased with the pace set by Damascus at the Constitutional Committee talks in Geneva. It is also awaiting the development of US President Joe Bidens policy towards Syria and Washingtons broader relations with Moscow.

Meanwhile, Russia received proposals from Syrian opposition figures for the formation of a joint military council that includes armed factions and defectors from the regime. The council would assume many duties, such as forcing the pull out of foreign forces and militias from Syria, unifying the country and its forces, and sponsoring the political solution. Russia would alone retain troops in the country.

As it stands, Russia is still maintaining its position that is based, first on prioritizing the upcoming presidential elections, set for mid-2021. It is hoping that Bashar Assad would win the elections, which would serve as a turning point to breaking Damascus international and regional isolation.

Second, Russia is keen on backing the constitutional reform path forged in Geneva and supporting the three guarantors  Moscow, Ankara and Tehran  at the upcoming Sochi talks. The talks would set the mechanisms for Constitutional Committee work to end the negative pace that was set by Damascus.

Third, Russia is relying on field settlements and understandings between warring parties, regime loyalists and their foreign sponsors in Sweida and Daraa in the south, al-Hasakeh, Qamishli and Aleppo in the north and northeast and Idlib in the northwest.

Given this vision, presidential envoy Alexander Lavrentiev said that Russia has other calculations, which he revealed during his recent secret visit to Damascus. Accompanied by senior generals, he met with Assad before heading to Geneva in late January.

In the meantime, Russia was approached with a proposal from Russian civil and military figures urging it to consider forming a joint military council. The suggestion was sent through various channels to Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, his deputy Mikael Bogdanov and Alexander Zorin, a Russian defense ministry official in charge of the Syrian file.

Military council

The first proposal was submitted by opposition figures from the Moscow and Cairo platforms and focuses on the implementation of UN Security Council resolution 2254. It suggests the formation of a joint military council during a transitional phase, whose duration would be agreed on.

Asharq Al-Awsat received a copy of the proposal, which explains that the council would be formed of three parties. The first are retired senior officers who served under late president Hafez Assad. The second are officers who are still in service and the third are officers who have defected from the regime but who did not become involved in armed factions.

Implementation of resolution 2254, continued the document, would take place in ten steps, including restructuring the military and enabling it to eliminate terrorism, dismantling all armed groups, collecting all weapons, restoring the authority of the state throughout Syria, naming an interim government that boasts full executive authorities as stipulated in the 2012 constitution, and calling for an internal national dialogue.

The dialogue would produce a founding association that would be tasked with drafting a new constitution, said the document. The proposal also calls for the release of detainees, allowing the return of refugees to their homes and holding international contacts over reconstruction.

It also demands the withdrawal of all foreign forces from Syria. Russia alone would keep its troops, who would work with the military council and interim government to restore stability, ensure the implementation of resolution 2254, form a reconciliation body and safeguard the constitutional referendum process and parliamentary and presidential elections.

The legal reference for the above would either be the 2012 constitution or a temporary constitutional declaration derived from the 2015 Vienna understandings.

Common ground

Opposition, government and foreign circles, including Russia, are in agreement on the need to preserve state institutions. Differences have emerged over the extent of reforms and the restructuring of the military and security agencies.

Moscow had previously tested the idea of forming a military council comprised of 40 officers. It had informed the opposition that this proposal still stands.

Meanwhile, a western official said the Russian military is historically enamored with the idea of military rule and testing the idea of a military council in an allied country, even if the circumstances in Syria have changed a lot in recent years.

Evidence of Russias military leanings are its support for the formation of the fifth armored division in southern Syria. Its Hmeimin military base also coordinates its operations with the Syrian army and patrols with the SDF in regions east of the Euphrates River.

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.
Major stakeholders Nigeria's oil and gas industry yesterday lamented the rising cost of doing business in the country, insisting that the development was hindering the much-needed investments in the sector.

The stakeholders, including the Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS), comprising 30 oil and gas companies and the Independent Petroleum Producers Group (IPPIG), with a membership of 25 firms, agreed that the prevailing situation was not sustainable.

They spoke at a Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE), virtual event tagged "The Nigerian Oil and Gas Regulations: X-raying the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), Stakeholders Review of the Perspectives, Legislation and Opportunities in the Oil and Gas Landscape."

Quoting industry data, Managing Director, Total E&P Nigeria Limited and Chairman, OPTS, Mr. Mike Sangster, noted that for instance, of the $70 billion that flowed into the continent between 2015 and 2019, only $3 billion came into the country.

He explained that considering Nigeria's huge resource base, the quantum of foreign investment was very low, noting that bureaucracy and the cost of doing business in the country was not only hurting investors, but also negatively impacting government revenues.

Represented by the Director, Downstream Gas, Chevron Nigeria Limited, Mr. Sanjay Narasimhalu, the Total chief executive argued that what Nigeria needed was "the right" PIB, saying that almost every Nigerian has a different reason for wanting the enactment of the proposed law.

"What Nigeria needs is the right PIB. Every entity, everybody has a different reason why we should have one. Between 2015 and 2019, there was an amount of capital spend across the globe and it shows that what resources a country has and the capital they received.

"The key takeaway is that of the $70 billion that came to Africa between 2015 and 2019, only $3 billion came to Nigeria despite the amount of resources. That's a powerful message," he posited.

Sangster opined that businesses will always go to where they are competitive, stating that there was so much time and resources wasted on bureaucracy in the country.

He added: "The cost of doing business in Nigeria is a reality. We spend so much time and money in developing projects and we are inundated with a significant amount of bureaucracy and oversight and that chews away profitability for government and for investors.

"So, cost is a parasite that hurts government and industry and that's where we can partner so that the PIB can work in our favour to help to focus on driving cost down. So, when it comes to governance, will the new PIB help to really drive cost down. Does it simplify the administration process?"

He maintained that a principle that all stakeholders must agree on is that the proposed law must establish a governance framework that simplifies the entire process and drives cost of business down.

In his remarks, the Managing Director, First E&P and Chairman of IPPG, Mr. Abimbola Adeyemi-Bero, noted that the biggest challenge before the PIB was the implementation stage, stressing that changing the mindset of the current operators will be a difficult task.

"Clearly, everyone believes that the NNPC must be a thriving, commercial company. I am a big advocate that every major resource holding country must have a thriving, progressive, independent commercial company like the Petronas or Statoil that has been renamed etc.

"That's the direction the NNPC wants to go and the boldness of that shift must be done without forging it, meaning that it can't be partly commercial and partly hung on the control of government. You need a truly commercial company that can raise money for example. When that independence is there, they can really thrive," he noted.

He opined that the entire performance of the NNPC should be to deliver to the people of Nigeria, but stated that the corporation must be given the freedom to execute the targets set by government.

"The biggest challenge for PIB is post-PIB. How do we implement the PIB and the biggest challenge is shifting from the old organisational structures, processes and framework to a new one. It's going to require a new set of people, a new mindset and we haven't given a lot of thoughts to that challenge. That transition will be very challenging," he said.

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Partner, Advisory Legal Consultants, Adegbite Adeniji and former Special Technical Adviser, Upstream and Gas, to ex-Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, noted that Nigeria must look at the cost of regulation and its impact on the regulated entities.

"The current structure just doesn't work. Basically, what should be the design. What the PIB does is that it creates a new national company and moves all the staff from the old company to the new company - old wine in new bottle.

"It does not quite address some fundamentals. First, is governance. How to ensure that the old problems related with the old entity goes away. There are the potentates, the political interference that doesn't allow for the National Oil Company operate the way it should for the benefit of Nigerians. How do you insulate that company.

"The solution is to put on the board of the entity independent directors and to minimise the appointment of government people to run a commercial agency. You need to draw on the expertise that's so available in Nigeria," he explained.
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OPEC+ seaborne exports down 1.8 mbd in January ahead of further planned cuts

New analysis released by commodities intelligence platform Kpler.

Kpler data shows OPEC+ seaborne oil exports slumped by 1.8 mbd to 25.5 mbd in January. The decline is relatively unsurprising: although OPEC+ had agreed to boost production by an additional 500 kbd in January, we had actually seen a 1 mbd increase in seaborne exports in December 2020 already. The decrease in exports also comes as Saudi Arabia has pledged a voluntary 1 mbd cut in February and March, part of which may have already been factored in into Saudi production. Further Saudi cuts are likely to boost storage draws: global oil inventories have fallen 33 million barrels (mb) in January, of which 20 mb in Eastern Asia only. The only significant increases were seen in Venezuela, Russia and Iran (up by 138 kbd, 137 kbd and 79 kbd m/m respectively) although our final estimate for Iran may change to the upside. The exports increase reflects Russia's ability to increase production by 65 kbd in each of February and March and stronger confidence from Iran that the worst of sanctions is behind them. Lower exports from the group help decrease expected market supply: we estimate 8.28 mbd of oil were removed in market supply since the reference month of October 2018, compared to a production cut target of 7.2 mbd in January 2021 against reference levels. Our models now include refinery runs estimates in partnership with Facts Global Energy (FGE). Key takeaways:  Saudi Arabia returns to cutting production and exports  Iraq's exports fall despite the launch of Basrah Medium  Africas shipments fall, a crude quality matter?  Iran's exports jump over 500 kbd: Is Iranian oil on the brink of being back in the market? OPEC+ seaborne oil exports variation in January (kbd) Saudi Arabia starts cutting while lighter oil exports from OPEC Africa fall out of favour in Asia. Saudi Arabia starts cutting production and exports, helping to push global inventories lower Saudi Arabias exports have been 435 kbd lower in January, a sign that the kingdom is on track to cut output as promised. However, despite this exports cut, Aramcos exports level is only 100 kbd lower than November as December exports were close to 300 kbd higher m/m. Saudis oil exports reached 6.33 mbd in January, with lower volumes being shipped to Asia: combined exports to China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Indonesia were down 380 bd m/m while shipments towards India (+60kbd m/m) and especially the US (+230 kbd) rose. Lower Saudi shipments towards Eastern Asia are likely to boost storage draws: global oil inventories have fallen 33 million barrels (mb) in January, of which 20 mb in Eastern Asia only. Iraq's exports fall despite the launch of Basrah Medium Iraqs exports (including exports out of Ceyhan) fell 121 kbd m/m, after having boosted by close to 250 kbd in December. Basrah shipments decreased by 50 kbd m/m while exports out of Ceyhan fell by 71 kbd. The decrease comes as the country plans to cut production in January and February to make up for breaching its OPEC+ quota last year. Earlier in the month, Iraq's SOMO launched a new grade called Basrah Medium, a move that would normally allow the country to unleash more production, as its oil production is increasingly heavy. 20 cargoes or 922 kbd of Basrah Medium were shipped on the month, mostly heading towards Iraq's key customers: China and India. SOMO announced that up to 1 mbd of its oil exports will be sold as Basrah Medium. Africas shipments fall, a crude quality matter? In addition to Saudi Arabia, exports from many African countries are down: Nigeria (-315 kbd), Algeria (-188 kbd), Libya (-152 kbd), Angola (-95 kbd), Gabon (-42 kbd) and Equatorial Guinea (-19 kbd). Only Congo and South Sudan were up by only 12 kbd and 11 kbd respectively. Nigerias exports have reached their lowest level since June 2013, boosting the countrys compliance to OPEC+ cuts after it already made strong efforts in the past few months.

One of the reasons of this may be explained in crude quality. Most of these countries oil blends are light oil, which are more suitable for refineries that target a higher yield for clean products such as naphta, gasoline or jet fuel. However, in the middle of a cold winter, buyers of crude may favour heavier blends in order to reach a higher yield of middle distillates or dirty petroleum products, in order to use such products for heating or power generation purposes. Eastern Asias net exports of gasoil and fuel oil show that the region went from a surplus of 300 kbd in November to 84 kbd in January. Iran's loadings jump over 500 kbd: Is Iranian oil on the brink of being back in the market? The National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) has grown bolder on the back of Biden's inauguration in the US. Irans oil exports have increased by 80 kbd to 550 kbd, while the 3-month moving average reached 484 kbd. Our estimate of Iran's shipments is likely to be revised upwards as we receive more information about ghost ships.

Unsurprisingly, all this oil is heading eastwards towards Malaysian waters where STS operations have been happening and eventually towards China. Even if a full agreement between Iran and the Biden administration isnt reached in months, we expect China to boost intakes of Iranian oil and to achieve better pricing for competing grades such as Basrah Medium and Arab Medium. Chinese firms CNPC and Sinopec are still recouping cost recovery and remuneration fee from their participation in two Iranian oil fields in the past decade. NIOC has already started ramping up production: Deputy Oil Minister Amir Hossein Zamaninia said the country could reach back previous production levels (+2-2.5 mbd) in just 1-2 months. We estimate this to be too optimistic and estimate it could take around 6 months to achieve such an increase. But the key issue remains the lifting of US sanctions. When this happens, traditional customers such as India, Japan, South Korea and Europe could come to Iran's door. OPEC+ market supply reductions against pledged cuts (kbd) A strong decrease in exports coupled with lower cut targets have boosted market supply cut expectations to 115%.




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Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-11 14:22:29|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- China has decided to provide Ethiopia with a batch of COVID-19 vaccines and financial assistance to help the African country fight the pandemic and restore its economy, said Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday.

In a phone conversation with Demeke Mekonnen, Ethiopia's deputy prime minister and foreign minister, Wang said the friendship between China and Ethiopia has stood the test of the changing international situation, and mutually beneficial bilateral cooperation has yielded fruitful results, setting an important example for China-Africa cooperation.

China has always attached importance to Ethiopia's important positions and role in Africa and is willing to see Ethiopia exert greater influence on regional and international affairs, said Wang, adding China hopes and believes that Ethiopia will continue to firmly support China on issues concerning China's core interests.

Demeke wished the Chinese people a happy Spring Festival, saying that Ethiopia enjoys traditional friendship with China and the two countries have maintained close cooperation in the areas of finance, economy and trade, and infrastructure construction.

Ethiopia always pursues a friendly policy towards China and firmly supports China on issues concerning its core interests, said Demeke, adding that Ethiopia thanks China for its COVID-19 vaccine assistance and appreciates China's selfless help with Ethiopia's economic and social construction. He also introduced the latest developments in Ethiopia's domestic situation.

Wang said China sincerely hopes that Ethiopia will maintain peace and stability, and expects Ethiopia's Tigray region to resume normal production and life soon, carry out inclusive dialogue and safeguard national unity, noting that China will provide emergency food aid to ease the hardship of the people there.

The ministers also exchanged views on hot issues concerning the Horn of Africa. Enditem
This cartoon demonstrates the three-dimensional structure of the pol theta enzyme. Credit: S. Doublie, University of Vermont

Considered the most lethal form of DNA damage, double-strand breaks must be repaired to prevent cell death. In developing therapies for hard-to-treat breast and ovarian cancers in patients with BRCA gene mutations, scientists aim to identify ways to keep cancer cells from using DNA break repair pathways. New findings demonstrate a previously-unknown capability for polymerase theta (pol theta) - a key enzyme in this repair functionthat shows promise as a new avenue for treatment development.

The study results are published in Molecular Cell.

Researchers at the University of Vermont (UVM), The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (MD Anderson), and Yale University discovered that pol theta, previously known to extend DNA in the repair process, is also able to behave like a nuclease and trim DNA.

Because these cancer cells rely on the pol theta pathway to survive and repair double-strand breaks, researchers have been focused on pol theta and trying to find out how to inhibit this pathway.

"Pol theta is a 'hot' enzyme right now," says senior author and self-described "polymerase geek" Sylvie Doublie, Ph.D., professor of microbiology and molecular genetics at the UVM Larner College of Medicine and the UVM Cancer Center. "This is a new activity for pol theta; it's an elegant way of solving the problemyou only need one enzyme."

For patients with hard-to-treat cancers, this finding could lead to the development of new therapeutic options, like the Poly-ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitors class of drugs that have been used to treat breast and ovarian cancer over the past decade.

"The cell has to decide which function needs to be applied and this trimming activity is a point of vulnerability for pol theta," says Doublie. One aim of the research is to create conditions where one reaction can be encouraged over the other.

A potential role for such an inhibitor would be to improve ionizing radiation therapy in cancer patients with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations.

Doublie's former doctoral student Karl Zahn, Ph.D., now a postdoctoral fellow at Yale, saw evidence of this dual function in pol theta several years ago while working in Doublie's lab. He carried out the experiments described in the paper after engaging the expertise of Richard Wood, Ph.D., professor of epigenetics and molecular carcinogenesis at MD Anderson. Wood and Doublie have had a long-term collaboration, funded by a Program Project grant from the National Cancer Institute.

Conducting the experiments, controls, and reproducing the findings took the research team several years but was critical to confirming this discovery.

"It was an unexpected finding, and the biochemistry makes sense, suggesting a way to inhibit the DNA repair process orchestrated by pol theta", says Wood.

"The trimming reaction is rapid, and many people missed it," says Doublie, adding that the research team's patience and work paid off. "'Chance favors only the prepared mind,'" she says, quoting the late French scientist Louis Pasteur.

Explore further 3-D snapshot of protein highlights potential drug target for breast cancer

Union Budget 2021 became Indias first digital budget as finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman switched the old bahikhata for a Made in India tablet. The minister proposed an array of measures to jump-start the covid-hit Indian economy.

This years budget proposals primarily rest on six pillars: health and well-being, physical and financial capital and infrastructure, inclusive development for aspirational India, reinvigorating human capital, innovation and research and development, and minimum government and maximum governance.

While acknowledging the hard work put in by her colleagues in the goods and services tax (GST) council, the minister highlighted numerous measures undertaken by the council for removing difficulties from the relatively nascent GST regime.

Union Budget 2021 showed a clear policy focus on ensuring ease of compliance for small taxpayers and technology-based initiatives for larger players to streamline compliance.

For this, the government is ensuring capacity augmentation of information technology infrastructure for undertaking electronic compliances such as pre-filled GST returns, e-invoicing by taxpayers (with turnover above `100 crore and expected inclusion of taxpayers with turnover above `5 crore from 1 April 2021.

The finance minister also gave a firm warning to all tax evaders, fake billers, and wrongdoers by informing the Parliament of deployment of artificial intelligence and Big Data analysis techniques by the tax department.

It was categorically mentioned that her ministry has made record collections by conducting numerous raids using these modern technologies.

With the GST Council, headed by the Union finance minister, being the sole authority to make changes in the GST law, the Finance Bill 2021 provided a flavour of changes which are likely to be implemented at a later stage.

The major amendment proposed under the Bill was removal of mandatory audit of annual accounts maintained under GST by a chartered accountant or a cost accountant. While this amendment reduces compliance cost and burden for businesses, it would put larger responsibility on taxpayers as they will be required to self-certify the same.

Provisions related to zero-rated supplies is sought to be amended by the Finance Bill 2021 so as to restrict the zero-rated supply on payment of GST only to a notified class of taxpayers or notified supply of goods and/or services. Further, it is proposed to link the foreign exchange remittance in case of export of goods with refund of GST. This would make non-receipt of export proceeds within the period specified under the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999, a non-compliance leading to repayment of refund amount so sanctioned, along with applicable interest.

Further, an additional condition is proposed to be introduced for availment of input tax credit (ITC) by a recipient of goods and/or services. Under the proposed provision, ITC on an invoice or debit note may be availed only when the details of such invoice or debit note have been furnished by the supplier in the statement of outward supplies and such details have been communicated to the recipient of such invoice or debit note. This would make claiming the ITC much more stringent, in comparison to the current situation.

Other key GST changes proposed under the budget include:

 Interest on delayed payment of taxes to be paid on net basis (retrospectively from 1 July 2017)

 Zero-rated supplies made to Special Economic Zone (SEZ) restricted to supplies made for authorized operations

 Seizure and confiscation of goods in transit to be treated as separate proceeding from recovery of tax

 Mandatory pre-deposit of 25% of penalty amount for filing appeal against any order passed in seizure of goods in transit

 Minimum amount of penalty in case of detention/confiscation of goods or conveyance increased to 200% and 100%, respectively.

On the customs front, with an aim to promote domestic manufacturing and to provide a level playing field to Indian manufacturers, tax rates under customs law have been rationalized, providing a push to the Make in India initiative of the government. Further, the government has announced that all conditional exemption notifications issued under the customs law shall now automatically expire on 31 March falling two years after the date of exemption unless otherwise stated or rescinded earlier, which clearly shows the intent of a minimal exemption-based customs tax regime.

As anticipated, continuing with the governments focus on Make in India, customs duty has been increased on import of certain goods, such as electrical appliances and household items, to de-incentivize their imports. The government has also strengthened safeguard duty provisions to protect domestic industry from an injury against the possible surge in imports. Additionally, the provisions for checking dumping of goods and import of subsidized goods has also been strengthened for providing a level playing field for domestic manufacturing.

The minister also proposed to define timelines to complete any enquiry or investigation under the customs law, culminating into issuance of notice within two years or within extended period of another year, from the date of initiation of such audit, search, seizure or summons. This will ensure timely completion of investigations leading to further Ease of Doing Business in India.

For financing and supporting agriculture infrastructure and other development expenditure by the government, a new cess called agriculture infrastructure and development cess (AIDC) is proposed to be levied as a duty of customs and central excise. The said cess would be leviable on certain items such as alcoholic beverages, crude palm oil and apples. Further, to ensure that imposition of cess on import of specified items does not lead to additional burden on the consumer, basic customs duty (BCD) and central excise duty (CED) on these items have been lowered/neutralized.

Apart from the above legislative amendments, the Union Budget 2021 was silent on some key expectations of India Inc. The Indian healthcare sector has been quite hopeful to get into the ITC-net with its supplies either getting zero-rated or taxable at a nominal rate of 5% but there was no mention on this front.

Further, while the government has sanctioned a massive amount of `35,000 crore with a promise of additional funds for covid vaccine if need be, no additional incentives and/or exemptions were announced for pharmaceutical companies involved in developing and manufacturing such vaccines.

Additionally, the severely affected Indian tourism and hospitality industry has been looking for some support from the government to get back on track. It was expected that the government, taking cues from countries like Malaysia and United Kingdom, would provide some relief to this industry by introducing measures like GST exemption on hotel accommodation for a limited period, or Eat Out to Help Out scheme introduced by the UK. However, no such measure was announced in the Union Budget 2021 and the industry at large is now looking at GST Council to address some of these demands.

The Budget has tried to provide the necessary boost to pandemic-hit Indian economy with the government focusing more on capital expenditure and developing the countrys infrastructure, which in turn would lead to employment generation. Further, the focus has been to plug loopholes and ease the compliance burden. Overall, a bold reformist budget and an important milestone in Indias journey towards $5 trillion economy.

Karan Kakkar and Pragya Sharma contributed to this article

Vikas Vasal is national leader, tax, Grant Thornton Bharat LLP.

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Tunis, Tunisia (PANA) - The search and inspection team of the Tunisian gendarmerie on Wednesday in the city of Sousse,140 km south of here, arrested a Takfiri fighter wanted after his 12 years prison sentence for his involvement in alleged terrorist affairs, Tunisian security sources said
Hi-Spirits launches own-brand rum range Jung & Wulff

Spirits distributor Hi-Spirits UK has announced the launch of a new luxury rum range showing off the best of the Caribbean.

The Jung & Wulff range features three limited-edition expressions - Trinidad No. 1, Guyana No. 2 and Barbados No. 3 - which will launch into the UK in 2021.

Its name is a reference to spirits industry pioneers L. E. Jung and Frederick Wulff, past owners of the Sazerac House and Peychaud's Bitters and an integral part of the spirits community in New Orleans.

The new rums have been blended by Sazerac's master blender Drew Mayville, using specially selected liquids from each country. The blends feature a range of pot and column-distilled molasses-based rums, aged for up to 15 years. The product labels feature vibrant imagery designed to represent the rum's country of origin.

In tasting notes supplied for each of the rums, Hi-Spirits says Trinidad No. 1 has a silky texture with medium oakiness, Guyana No. 2 is a perfect sipping rum with a rich and creamy texture, and Barbados No. 3 is full bodied and buttery with dark chocolate notes.

Liam Sparks, Bond & Royal portfolio manager at Hi-Spirits, said: "Jung & Wulff were early importers of rum, distributing to cafes and bars across New Orleans and beyond. These rums are a testament to them, for their ongoing quest to acquire and distribute fine spirits.

"Im delighted to launch these rums as part of the Hi-Spirits UK portfolio. Strictly limited, our Jung & Wulff rums celebrate three influential places: Trinidad, Guyana and Barbados. I believe these rums are a true interpretation of each islands style and brilliantly showcase the different terroirs that are available throughout the Caribbean."

11 February 2021 - Bethany Whymark
Will Facebook, Twitter, Instagram be banned in India? Check new IT Rules, Regulations and Penalties 2021

Will Facebook, Twitter be banned in India? What are the new rules and here is what the companies are saying

Twitter reacts to new IT rules, says potential threat to freedom of expression

Google, FB, WhatsApp share details with IT Min; Twitter still not following new digital rules

'Code of Ethics': Govt drafts rules to regulate social media after feud with Twitter

India

oi-Briti Roy Barman

New Delhi, Feb 11: Amid an intensified row with Twitter over the fate of a number of tweets and accounts, the Centre on Thursday has prepared draft rules to regulate social media, streaming and OTT (Over The Top) platforms, and news-related sites.

As per reports, the rules of the Centre call for a self-regulatory mechanism that will include a code of ethics and compliance reports.

The draft regulations from the Centre mention the need for a chief compliance officer who will respond on a 247 basis to any complaint from law enforcement.

Koo crosses 3 million users, popularity surges amid Twitter row

Moreover, there will be portal dedicated to grievance redressal and an oversight mechanism.

The oversight mechanism will be developed by the government, which will "coordinate adherence to Code of Ethics by publishers and self-regulating bodies".

Even though the draft rules don't mention any punishment, it clearly, however, states that the sites will have 36 hours to remove flagged content.

Also, a secretary-rank officer will have the powers to take action in case of an emergency and place it before the committee within 48 hours.

The draft proposes to remove, or at least heavily reduce, the "Safe harbour" shelter that social media giants sought over carrying controversial content.

The proposed rules park the onus of "due diligence" on "social media intermediaries" who have to warn users about what is allowed and what is not. The rules do not spell out any punishment yet.

Sites will have 36 hours to remove content flagged either by a court or a designated body.

The development comes at a time when the row with Twitter over blocking of accounts has intensified. The Central government on Thursday warned social media platforms of strict action for failure to crack down on inflammatory content, saying they have to fully comply with the country's law.

A day after his ministry rebuked Twitter for not complying with its orders to take down inflammatory content, Information Technology Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said earlier in the day said social media platforms cannot give differential treatment while handling problems on Capitol Hill and the Red Fort.
The director of a film about 19th Century palaeontologist Mary Anning has denied 'sensationalizing' her story by making her a lesbian.

Francis Lee, the director of Ammonite, said he wanted to give Anning something 'to elevate her' because her work was overlooked by men.

Ammonite, which will be released next month, stars Kate Winslet as Anning and Saoirse Ronan as her friend Charlotte Murchison.

There is no evidence Anning and Murchison were intimate, and distant relatives blasted the lesbian storyline when news of the film broke in 2019.

Barbara Anning said: 'Do the film-makers have to resort to using unconfirmed aspects to make an already remarkable story sensational?'

Mr Lee admitted there was 'no documentation to suggest' Anning had sexual relationships with either men or women, but defended his decision saying: 'I wanted to give her a relationship that felt worthy of her, that felt equal.'

Ammonite, which will be released next month, stars Kate Winslet (left) as Mary Anning and Saoirse Ronan as her friend Charlotte Murchison

Anning never married and there are no records of whether she had a romantic or sexual relationship with women. Pictured, Winslet and Ronan in a scene from Ammonite

Anning (pictured) brought Murchison on her trips along the coast in the hope the outdoor activity would help Murchison's illness

He told Deadline magazine: 'In this society where men overlooked and reappropriated her work, I didn't feel that that could be with a man.'

Francis Lee (pictured), the director of Ammonite

Anning was the daughter of a cabinet-maker, had little formal education, never married and died aged 47 in 1847.

But her finds along the Jurassic Coast in Dorset changed history.

Many of her finds were bought by men who put their name to the fossils - meaning much of her success went undocumented.

Mr Lee gained success from his debut film God's Own Country, which told the story of a gay relationship between a Yorkshire sheep farmer and a migrant worker.

Films depicting stories from history have come under fire recently for altering facts and timelines.

Real-life inspired dramas including Netflix's The Dig and The Crown have been criticised, with the culture secretary Oliver Dowden even demanding the streaming service make clear The Crown was a work of 'fiction'.

The Dig, starring Lily James, Ralph Fiennes and Carey Mulligan, dramatised the find of an Anglo-Saxon burial ship at Sutton Hoo, Suffolk.

Historical inaccuracies included the dramatisation of a Spitfire crashing while the excavation was ongoing. In reality this happened towards the end of the war - years after the 1939 dig.

The film showed the pilot's death, but the two airmen inside actually survived.

In another scene The Dig hints that Peggy Piggott's (Lily James) husband, fellow archaeologist Stuart Piggott, is more interested in fellow male excavator John Brailsford (Eamon Farren) than he is in his wife.

Kate Winslet as Anning and Saoirse Ronan as Murchison during one of the film's scenes

There is no evidence Anning and Murchison were intimate, and distant relatives blasted the lesbian storyline when news of the film broke in 2019. Pictured, a scene from the film

Peggy Piggott (shown left) is portrayed in The Dig as a 'sidekick' to her older, more experienced, husband (right, Stuart Piggott). In reality, she was highly experienced herself

Although Peggy and Stuart did divorce in 1954, his sexuality has never been documented and there is no record of any romantic relationship between him and another excavator besides his wife.

In the case of The Crown, invented scenes included the false suggestion the affair between Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles continued throughout his marriage to Diana.

Emma Corrin, who plays Princess Diana, has admitted that the controversial fourth series is 'fictionalised to a great extent'.

During a series of interviews, the 24-year-old said the storylines were invented and the members of the Royal Family depicted in the new series were 'characters' created by screenwriter Peter Morgan.

The Culture Secretary added his voice to mounting concern that fabricated scenes in the drama series were so damaging to the Royal Family (pictured, Princess Diana in the show)

US chat show host Tamron Hall asked Ms Corrin about reports that MPs and Royals were upset by The Crown's depiction of Charles, Diana and Camilla.

'It's a difficult one,' she replied. 'I think for everyone in The Crown we always try and remind everyone that... the series we are in is fictionalised to a great extent.

'Obviously it has its roots in reality and in some fact but Peter Morgan's scripts are works of fiction.'

Allies of Mrs Thatcher spoke of their fury at scenes suggesting that she sought to avoid being deposed in 1990 by urging the Queen to act in the 'national interest' by dissolving Parliament and allowing her to call a General Election.

Lord (Charles) Moore, Mrs Thatcher's biographer, dismissed the account as 'dotty' and 'a very bad mistake by The Crown'.
Miss Nzinga has now been awarded 2,500 after being 'victimised' by bosses at the charity

She went off sick through stress the following month and then resigned

Ten days later Miss Nzinga was suspended for alleged bullying in meeting

A senior charity executive told a black employee she hadn't noticed her in a room because she was the same colour as the chair she was sitting in, a tribunal has heard.

Chief operating officer Hilary Pannack was given a written warning after Bambii Nzinga reported her for saying: 'You're so dark, you just sort of blended in'.

But following her official complaint against Ms Pannack, bosses at the education charity where they worked unfairly targeted Miss Nzinga and she eventually resigned, saying her life had been made a misery.

A young mother Miss Nzinga has now been awarded 2,500 after an employment tribunal concluded she had been victimised by executives at Straight Talking Peer Education (STPE)

The young mother has now been awarded 2,500 after an employment tribunal concluded she had been victimised by executives at Straight Talking Peer Education (STPE).

A hearing was told Miss Nzinga was employed at the charity - which provides teenage pregnancy workshops in schools - as a 'peer educator' from April 2016.

The tribunal was told that the majority of parents which the London-based charity has supported, employed and mentored have been of black ethnic origin.

However, in the summer of 2018 Ms Pannack - the most senior manager in the organisation - was accused of racism, the panel heard.

Among the complaints was Miss Nzinga's report of an incident in August of that year which she said made her feel 'uncomfortable'.

Hilary Pannack had said on noticing her presence in the room: 'Oh I didn't see you there! You're so dark you just sort of blended in. Your shirt is black, the chair is black and you've just sort of blended in', the hearing was told.

Following her complaint, Ms Pannack was found to have breached the charity's equality and diversity policy and was issued with a written warning. She was later suspended.

The tribunal in Croydon, south London was told that a new senior executive was brought in, Brian Van Du, who effectively took over the running of the organisation in her absence.

Ten days after Ms Pannack was disciplined, Miss Nzinga and several colleagues were suspended for alleged bullying and harassment relating to a meeting they had held with Mr Van Du.

But in January, Miss Nzinga launched another grievance claiming that by being suspended she was being bullied herself. However, the charity did not investigate her claims.

Instead - despite Miss Nzinga being cleared by the disciplinary process and allowed to return to work in March - the tribunal heard senior executives began to discuss between themselves how they could get rid of her.

In particular, Company Secretary John Botterell believed she should be sacked because she had refused to continue working with Ms Pannack, the panel found.

'In our view, the reason for that sentiment clearly relates back to the complaints (Miss Nzinga) made about racially offensive comments by (Ms Pannack),' the tribunal concluded.

After she came back to work, Miss Nzinga told the tribunal her role had been changed and there was a dispute about how much holiday she was owed. She went off sick through stress the following month and in May she resigned.

In a letter to the trustees, she wrote: 'It is with a heavy heart that I have to inform you that I will be resigning from Straight Talking Peer Education effective immediately, due to poor management of the way I am treated by the CEO, COO, and trustees.

'My time at STPE has caused an enormous amount of stress, anxiety and contributed to a lot of issues in my life, I see no other choice but to leave.

'I came to STPE to gain skills and to be empowered as a young parent but that is not the lesson I am leaving with.'

The panel, chaired by Employment Judge Adenike Balogun, said that the charity had come to view Miss Nzinga as the problem, not Ms Pannack.

'There was no basis to dismiss her on conduct grounds as she had been exonerated following the disciplinary investigation,' its judgment stated. 'There was also no basis to dismiss her on performance grounds.

'(Mr Botterell) wanted to dismiss on grounds that there had been an irretrievable breakdown of the working relationship and relied on (Miss Nazinga) having said that she would not work with (Ms Pannack).

'However, we are not convinced that (he) genuinely believed this amounted to an irretrievable breakdown in the relationship with (the charity).

'(Miss Nazinga's) unwillingness to work with (Ms Pannack) was because of the matters raised in the 2018 complaints.

'(Ms Pannack) had been found guilty of inappropriate remarks breaching the company Equality and Diversity policy (and most probably the Equality Act 2010).

'Yet despite this, Miss Nzinga and her colleagues) were seen by the respondent as the problem that needed solving, rather than (Ms Pannack).'

The judgment observed that following Miss Nzinga's departure, Ms Pannack successfully lobbied to have the 2018 finding against her reversed.

'(Mr Botterell) said in his evidence that the decision was reversed because evidence had come up to suggest that the remarks alleged to have been made by (Ms Pannack) were not said,' the panel stated.

'We found evidence on this unconvincing.. When we asked what the new evidence was, he was unable to say.

'We believe that the decision was reversed on (Ms Pannack's) request to protect her reputation and potential legal liability and that of the (charity)..'

The tribunal ruled that the failure to investigate Miss Nzinga's January 2019 grievance had been deliberate and concluded she had been victimised by the company. She was awarded 2,499.83 in compensation.

Further claims of constructive dismissal and race and sex discrimination and harassment were dismissed.
British Ambassador to Ukraine Melinda Simmons has called on the Russian side to release a citizen of Ukraine, Crimean Emir-Usein Kuku, who has been in prison for five years.

"Kuku is just one of at least 109 Ukrainian political prisoners unjustly imprisoned by Russia. Like many others, he has been held held in inhuman conditions and denied medical care. This cannot continue. I call on Russia to release Kuku and all Ukrainian political prisoners immediately," Simmons wrote on Twitter on Thursday.

Member of the British Parliament Wendy Morton also called on to release Kuku. "A grim milestone today: Crimean Tatar human rights defender Emir-Usein Kuku marks five years in Russian detention after his politically motivated arrest in Crimea. Russia must end its persecution of Crimean Tatars and release Mr. Kuku at once," she wrote on Twitter.
African countries without the coronavirus variant dominant in South Africa should go ahead and use the COVID-19 vaccine, the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Thursday, while the World Health Organization suggested the vaccine even for countries with the variant circulating widely.

They spoke to reporters a day after South Africa announced it would not use the vaccine, citing a small study that suggested it was poor at preventing mild to moderate disease caused by the variant.

Africa CDC director John Nkengasong said seven countries on the 54-nation African continent have reported the variant and none besides South Africa is overwhelmed by it. No other has expressed concerns about the vaccine. The seven countries are South Africa, Botswana, Comoros, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique and Zambia.

In a separate briefing, WHO Africa chief Matshidiso Moeti added Tanzania to that list, saying two travelers from there had been found to be carrying the variant in the UK, I believe.

Tanzania's president has denied that COVID-19 exists in the East African nation, which has not updated its number of infections since April, even though reports are growing of a surge in infections there.

Africa is only now beginning to see the large-scale arrival of COVID-19 vaccines, and this week's news from South Africa, the continent's hardest hit country, was a shock.

The Africa CDC says African countries with the variant now dominant in South Africa should speed up plans to introduce all COVID-19 vaccines that have received emergency use authorization or approval by regulatory authorities, while considering their effectiveness against variants first reported in South Africa and the UK.

Suggesting that countries go ahead with the AstraZeneca vaccine even if the variant is circulating widely, the WHO's Moeti said what's important is the opportunity is there to continue to study the vaccine" and its effectiveness.

AstraZeneca doses are expected to start arriving in other parts of Africa in the next two weeks, the Africa CDC's Nkengasong said.

And the WHO's Moeti looked forward to a significant rollout of vaccines in March, adding that 34 of Africa's countries now have their rollout plans in place.

On Thursday, Equatorial Guinea said it had received 100,000 doses of China's Sinopharm vaccine. It was the first West African nation to receive a large amount of the vaccine. Vice President Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue has said he will be the first to be vaccinated.

The African continent has seen an average 18% decrease in new virus cases over the past four weeks, which Nkengasong called encouraging. But he warned that studies show more people have been exposed to the virus than the 3.7 million cases confirmed, and we are definitely not counting all the deaths, especially in the second wave.

Africa has more than 96,000 confirmed deaths, and the WHO Africa chief said the continent in the coming week will pass the devastating marker of 100,000 deaths.

The African continent on Sunday will mark one year since the first virus case was confirmed there, in Egypt.

While the recent resurgence of cases has been much deadlier than the first wave, Africa has much to be proud of for the initial response, and it certainly did much better than Europe, Peter Piot, director of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, told the WHO briefing.

Piot urged an equitable global approach to COVID-19 vaccines as rich countries have secured the bulk of doses, recalling that it took nearly a decade during the earlier years of the HIV pandemic for a significant number of people on the African continent to access HIV drugs.

We cannot afford today to have the same pace and time for access to (COVID-19) vaccines, he said.
HALIFAX - Canadians are expected to spend less this Valentines Day as COVID-19 lockdowns and ongoing economic uncertainty dampens consumer enthusiasm for the February mass-market holiday, retail experts say.

Florists Laura Logan, right and Jamie Roy work through the Valentines rush preparing orders at Acanthus Floral & Botanical in Almonte, Ont., on Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick

HALIFAX - Canadians are expected to spend less this Valentines Day as COVID-19 lockdowns and ongoing economic uncertainty dampens consumer enthusiasm for the February mass-market holiday, retail experts say.

Candy, supermarket flowers and takeout on the couch are largely expected to replace artisanal chocolates, rose bouquets and fancy dinners out this Sunday as people look to curb costs, they say.

"People will still spend money this Valentines Day, but theyll likely just spend less," said retail analyst Bruce Winder.

"A lot of folks have lost their jobs and I think many people are looking to save money."

A report by Hellosafe.ca estimates that Canadians will spend 20 per cent less this Valentines Day compared to last year, or about $74 dollars compared to $93 in 2020. The biggest ticket items tend to be dinner, gifts and flowers, the report said.

The tighter budget could benefit discount retailers like Dollarama and Walmart and as thrifty shoppers look for ways to save money, Winder said.

Indeed, supermarkets and big box stores that sell groceries like Costco are the only stores that remain open for in-person shopping in some provinces  critical for the last-minute crowd that didnt order ahead with a florist, he said.

But the Canadian Federation of Independent Business is urging people to consider buying locally.

February can be an absolutely brutal month at the best of times and needless to say after 11 months of a pandemic and plummeting sales is not the best of times, said Laura Jones, executive vice-president of CFIB.

Theres an opportunity here to make a small business your valentine and give a much-needed boost to Main Street.

Meanwhile, Restaurants Canada is encouraging people to make in-person reservations where possible or order takeout.

Valentines Day is one of the best holidays of the year for restaurants  if not the best, said Olivier Bourbeau, vice-president of federal and Quebec affairs for Restaurants Canada.

In normal times, most restaurants are fully booked in a month that can otherwise be a bit slow.

But after months of struggling during a pandemic, he said Valentines Day is more critical for restaurants than ever.

Sales for that one day could help a restaurant survive, and Bourbeau suggested customers think beyond just the traditional Valentine's Day dinner.

Whats interesting about Valentine's Day this year is that takes place on a Sunday," he said. "So people can think about supporting a restaurant for breakfast, lunch or dinner."

While some provinces are allowing dine-in meals, restaurants in many regions are only open for takeout or delivery.

But Bourbeau said whenever possible, customers should order directly through the restaurant, rather than through third-party apps that cut into already slim margins.

"I do think that many people will participate in Valentine's Day by ordering food and having a sort of quasi-candlelight dinner at home," Winder said. "People are still going to want to celebrate.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 11, 2021.
Opinion Article

11 February 2021

There have been enough articles written and published on the enduring changes 2020 will have on the hospitality industry. There's no need to rehash all of those. The Duty of Care issue is an emerging one that hoteliers are wise to pay attention to before it becomes part of the many sweeping legislative reforms occurring with the new administration.

Duty of Care is not new. Definitively it is the legal and ethical responsibility that employers have to take all reasonable steps to ensure employee health, safety and security, especially those traveling on behalf of the employer. Like so many other things, the global pandemic has added a special twist of focus and concern for companies with respect to the Duty of Care standard. The coronavirus transmission threat will likely extend the expectation of Duty of Care to encompass all elements of a business travelers' journey, from transportation to the airport until they return home. That includes their lodging and the steps hoteliers are taking to protect guests while on property.

Duty of Care is the number one priority for 80% of travel buyers, according to BCD Travel, underscoring the importance for hotels and resorts to create and publish what steps they are taking to contribute to the safety and security of guests. Increasingly it will become a key differentiator for corporate travel buyers who may use property virus transmission prevention protocols as a qualification for meeting corporate Duty of Care requirements in choosing where to book.

JTB USA Business Travel identifies Health and Overall Wellness as the top area of focus companies should have in a common sense approach to providing Duty of Care to business travelers. Another study by The International SOS Foundation lists travel related infection among the top concerns for business travelers.

Fortunately, most of the major hotel brands and management companies have been proactive in responding to the new expectations surrounding guest health and safety. Hilton Hotels has launched their CleanStay initiative, Marriott has instituted a Cleanliness Council to address virus-transmission prevention in their properties and Aimbridge Hospitality, the largest operator of Hilton, Marriott and Hyatt branded hotels in the world has developed an AIMClean initiative.

"Aimbridge was proactive early on in the pandemic to ensure our hotel teams were trained on proper cleaning and sanitizing, hygiene protocols and social distancing, all rooted in the CDC guidelines and with EPA approved products" states Dave Johnson, Executive Chairman of Aimbridge. "We formalized this into AIMClean, a three-step training and certificate program. We now have nearly 16,000 associates certified, with many more who went through AIMClean training. As corporate travel returns and more associates return to their hotels, AIMClean remains an important part of their onboarding."

Establishing and promoting routine cleaning and social distancing protocols are key elements of the evolving concept of Duty of Care for hoteliers. There is also opportunity for hotel operators to translate this elevated focus on air and surface sanitization into incremental revenue for the hotel through partnering with companies such as Pure Wellness to implement premium rooms that leverage a patented process to create an environment 99.99% free of all viruses, bacteria, allergens and pollutants.

The entire world is anxiously waiting for indications that the threat of COVID-19 transmission is declining. Businesses are anxious to put their people back on planes, trains and other forms of public transportation without concerns that doing so might jeopardize their health. Travel will come back eventually, and when it does hotel and resort operators will likely face a higher degree of scrutiny and expectation when it comes to playing their part in the role of Duty of Care for the business traveler.
The centers construction has been, and will continue to be, held to a high standard because it is being built on public park land that belongs to the people of Chicago. While the Obama team has promised repeatedly their design will enhance use of the land, that too is a high bar to maintain. Jackson Park is an exquisite South Side enclave, an expanse of outdoor artistry with winding paths, mature trees and placid lagoons. Critics of the center dont want to see the park become a monument to anyone.
Agencies | Brussels

The Daily Tribune  www.newsofbahrain.com

Ministry of Foreign Affairs for International Affairs Undersecretary Dr Shaikh Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Khalifa met with the head of the NATO Middle East and North Africa Section of the Political Affairs and Security Policy Division, Giovanni Romani.

Shaikh Abdullah affirmed Bahrains keenness to promote partnership with NATO within the framework of the Istanbul Cooperation Initiative, praising the great efforts made by the alliance in maintaining international peace and security and confronting traditional and emerging threats.

He noted the constructive and positive results of the two previous version of the Individual Partnership and Cooperation Programme between Bahrain and NATO, especially in the areas of political and diplomatic cooperation, and the exchange of experiences in defence and security fields.

Shaikh Abdullah said the third version of the cooperation programme for the years 2021-2023 would focus on promoting cooperation between the two sides in the fields of capacity building and providing specific training opportunities.

He reviewed Bahrains efforts and initiatives to combat terrorism in cooperation with allies and partners and stressed that the on going consultations will contribute to promoting an effective and sustainable security partnership between the two sides.

He also expressed Bahrains aspiration to continue promoting cooperation with NATO, especially in preserving maritime security and keeping pace with successive technological developments to ensure regional security and stability.

Romani praised Bahrains efforts to establish peace at the regional and international levels within the framework of the firm commitment to strategic cooperation with partners to combat terrorism. He stressed NATOs keen interest in cooperating with Bahrain in security and defence.
NEW DELHI : Sale of cooking oil between April and December increased by about 30% year-on-year, as in-home consumption helped branded cooking oil makers penetrate deeper into the market.

Data sourced from Bizom, a retail intelligence platform, showed that the prolonged lockdown drove up sales of branded edible oils by 28.2%.

Also Read | Inside the Mindtree makeover strategy

This was aided by the fact that hotels and restaurants were shut down for a while and then resumed business only partially. Consequently, the in-home usage moved consumption to soft cooking oils such as branded sunflower, groundnut and soybean oil.

There is a clear shift towards in-home consumption over the last 10 months and we think this trend is going to continue in the coming quarters," said Piyush Patnaik, managing director, at Cargills oil business in India. Cargills Gemini and Nature Fresh brand of cooking oils have both seen significant penetration gains in all markets across India. In larger cities, we could see the shift to higher health and wellness products and in other oils to larger pack sizes, Patnaik. Sales to consumers is over 80% of the companys branded oils portfolio.

Patnaik said with revival in the packaged food industry demands, the company is seeing return of strong" demand in its B2B business.

Indias edible oil industry is dominated by both loose and packaged oil including soy oil, mustard, coconut and groundnut oil. Several large companies participate in the market including Adani Wilmar, Marico, Cargill, Mother Dairy among others.

Indians are now consuming branded edible oils much more than ever, said Akshay D'Souza, Chief Marketing Officer at Bizom. With celebrities promoting the various benefits of cooking oils, it is only natural that we are seeing a surge in the movement of consumer preference towards branded edible oils. As HORECA (Hotel, Resturants, Cafe) usage has been muted since the lockdown, we've seen consumption of edible oils increase significantly from home use," said DSouza.

Marico that sells the popular Saffola brand of cooking oils reported 17% volume growth, in the December quarter, slightly lower than the September quarter. Close to 65% of the growth driven by increase in overall penetration, the company said in its earnings announcement. Increased household penetration and relevance of healthy cooking continued to lend impetus to the franchise," it added.

The company is anticipating sustained" growth for the portfolio going forward even as post-covid consumption patterns normalize. We believe the brand can continue to grow in a high single digit over a medium term as a base case," Saugata Gupta, MD and CEO, Marico Limited said in a post-earnings call last month.

Indias cooking oil market is estimated at $21.5 billion in 2019 and set to grow to $35.2 billion by 2025.

India imports palm oil from Indonesia and Malaysia, which is used by bulk or institutional consumers. Crude palm oil witnessed a sharp contraction in demand from bulk consumers, CARE Ratings said in a September 2020 report. On the other hand, the demand for soft oils picked up as demand from household segment gained traction during lockdown, it added. Soft oils refer to sunflower and soybean oils.

In the first quarter of the current financial year cooking oils reported sales growth of 31% year-on-year, sales surged to 34.9% in the second quarter, while settling in at 21.1% in the December quarter data from Bizom shows. This signals consumption moving from unbranded oils to the perceived safer branded edible oils," said DSouza.

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Viceroy Hotels and Resorts

For those in search of a quick winter getaway, ski resorts across the country are open and most are fully operating. This comes as great news to jet-setting ski buffs, as lifts in France and Italy have yet to open and Switzerland has banned entry to most countries. An even greater incentive to plan a last-minute ski getaway is the fact that there is very little ski lift traffic at resorts and fortunately, the sport provides the ideal conditions for social distancing and health safety, all while enjoying the great outdoors.

Viceroy Hotels and Resorts

Snowmass Village is the perfect choice for travelers seeking luxury accommodations, exclusivity, multiple dining options, convenience and safety. Enjoyed by couples, small groups and families, Snowmass has something for everyone. As of February 2, 2021, Pitkin County is operating at Orange Level restrictions to ensure the health and safety of locals and visitors. This includes the following guidelines:

Negative COVID-19 Test Result Required: Any persons 10 and above must provide a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of arrival in Pitkin County and complete a Traveler Affidavit for a stay of greater than one day

Personal Gathering Size: Up to 10 from no more than 2 households (Lodging stays limited to a max of 10 people from no more than two households in any lodging unit)

Restaurants: 25% capacity or 50 people, whichever is fewer; on-premise sale and service of alcohol must stop by 10:00 p.m.; dining parties limited to 10 people; patrons in different parties must be spaced a minimum of 6 feet apart.

Bars: Closed

Gyms/Fitness: 25% capacity or 50 people, whichever is fewer

Retail: 50% capacity, with increased curbside pick up, and delivery; dedicated senior/at-risk hours encouraged

Personal Services: 25% capacity or 25 people, whichever is fewer

Limited Health Care Settings: 25% capacity or 25 people, whichever is fewer

Indoor Events: 25% capacity or 50 people, whichever is fewer

Outdoor Events: 25% capacity, or 75 people, whichever is fewer

Outdoor Guides Services: 25% capacity not to exceed 10 people, whichever is less

Child Care: open, standard ratios

Viceroy Hotels and Resorts

If you are seeking the ultimate experience in a ski-in, ski-out, luxury vacation in a healthy environment, Viceroy Snowmass checks all the boxes. Snowmass only luxury property, Viceroy promotes a Promise of Cleanliness Seal that is visible throughout public guest areas in addition to the availability of self-parking, disinfected luggage handles, frequent cleaning of high-touch surfaces, hand sanitization stations and a furniture layout the encourages physical distancing. From the plush Studio Residences to the opulent Residential Suites and Penthouses, each accommodation at Viceroy Snowmass showcases an Alpine chic decor, fireplace, inspiring mountain view, bespoke furnishings and a kitchen that chefs of all culinary levels will enjoy. We were ecstatic to discover that Viceroy provides a ski valet service in addition to an on-site ski and snowboard equipment rental company, Four Mountain Sports, that was located down the hall from our two bedroom residence. Within minutes, we were expertly fitted with skis, boots and helmets by the friendly and knowledgeable staff.

Viceroy Hotels and Resorts

Guests who would rather spend more time slope-side than in the kitchen will delight in the contemporary Latin flavors of TORO Kitchen & Lounge. The vibe is very chic and sexy and Pan-Latin-inspired dishes from acclaimed chef and restaurateur Richard Sandoval include the TORO Bison Burger with morita bacon jam, garlic crema and chipotle jack cheese, Chipotle Miso Salmon with a quinoa-stir fry, sweet potato puree, crispy lotus root and adobo ponzu, and Short Rib Al Carbon with black bean sauce, peanut chili sauce, cucumber salsa cruda and corn tortillas. In addition to a raw bar that includes various ceviches and sushi rolls, local dishes such as Colorado Grass Fed Lamb Chops and Whole Colorado Striped Bass round out the eclectic and creative menu. TORO Winter Cocktails are perfect for apres ski or a warming nightcap and come in the form of a Smokey Old Fashion with Buffalo Trace bourbon or a Spicy Paloma with jalapeno infused tequila and grapefruit juice.

Venga Venga

If you find yourself feeling a little worn down in between conquering moguls and refueling is necessary, Venga Venga Cantina & Tequila Bar provides authentic Mexican food from Richard Sandoval in a casual and cozy environment located right off the slopes of Snowmass Village. Must-haves are the table-side guacamole and handcrafted margaritas that will compliment your street tacos, fajitas or enchiladas. With lively music, scenic mountain views, and al freso dining, Venga Venga is well-suited for your apres ski experience. Just keep in mind that at the present time all dining establishments are operating at limited capacity for enhanced health and safety measures during Covid.

Viceroy Hotels and Resorts

Once youve decided to hang up your skis for the day or merely want to take a break, enjoy a luxury apres-ski experience at Viceroys NEST Bar & Grill. Depending on your perspective, NEST offers al fresco, slope-side dining on Assay Hill or poolside where you can indulge in classics including the NEST burger, a lobster roll, lemongrass coconut ribs, cobb salad, healthy shakes and more. NEST is open daily from 11:30 AM to 4:00 PM.

Carin von Berg

With the current ban on international travel, perhaps you are feeling wistful for a truly authentic, Swiss or French Alpine dining experience? Located in Aspen, French Alpine Bistro-Creperie du Village will visually transport you to a cozy, European ski chalet. The French and Austrian owners have crafted an authentically alpine atmosphere furnished with antiques from the old world, rustic wood paneling, sheepskin throws, dark wooden beams, antique chandeliers, gilded artwork and candles galore that provide an invitingly warm glow. A trip to Aspen is not complete without savoring the world-famous Cheese Fondue of melted Gruyere, Vacherin, Beaufort and Comte cheese with white wine and a touch of Kirschwasser. Add crispy bread, assorted charcuterie, apples, potatoes or veggies and voila, you have the perfect winter meal. Add freshly shaved black truffles if you really want to feel spoiled. Another popular Alpine favorite is the Swiss Raclette with boiled potatoes, pickled pearl onions, cornichons, and various meats. The extensive menu also includes a Colorado dry aged Wagyu Burger, Saffron Sea Scallops, Boeuf Bourguignon, Truffle Gnocchi, Colorado Rack of Lamb, Steak a la Plancha and a variety of crepes both savory and sweet. For starters, or perhaps a light lunch try the warming Soupe a lOignon with a Terrine de Foie Gras or Steak Tartare. French Alpine Bistro is open daily for lunch and dinner from 11:30 AM to 10 PM.

Carin von Berg

The decision to book your winter holiday to Snowmass should be simple, especially with enticing packages from Viceroy Snowmass like their Complimentary Winter Nights package in which you receive an extra night with a booking of four or more nights from now until April 17, 2021 (excluding February 12-14). Before you know it, youll be shushing down a pristine run and breathing in fresh, mountain air instead of longing wistfully for winters past.
Kids want to fish? You don't know how yourself? Here's a little help
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-11 21:52:25|Editor: huaxia

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JUBA, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- South Sudan said on Thursday that it's seeking support from the European Union to help lift the arms embargo and sanctions imposed by the United States following the outbreak of conflict in December 2013.

Deng Dau Deng, deputy minister of foreign affairs and international cooperation said they have urged the EU to support their effort in lifting the existing arms embargo and individual sanctions imposed by the UN and U.S.

"This is why we have to talk to them (EU) to know that the reasons why sanctions were imposed was because of war and now the war has come to an end, we are implementing the peace agreement, those sanctions on individuals have no reason to remain," Deng told journalists in Juba.

In 2017, the U.S. imposed sanctions on senior South Sudanese officials including military officers from both the government and opposition on the pretext that they were obstructing the peace process.

The UN Security Council in July 2018 imposed an arms embargo on South Sudan due to renewed violence in July 2016 that violated the 2015 peace deal signed to end years of conflict.

Deng revealed that the unilateral sanctions imposed by the U.S. were endorsed by the EU and it's for this reason that they are urging the latter's support to help lift them.

"We are very concerned about our government officials who have been sanctioned by the UN and U.S. We have to speak to the international community for them to be able to review and support the call for lifting arms embargo and sanctions on individuals in South Sudan," said Deng.

The official disclosed that sanctions and existing arms embargo are the frustrating implementation of the 2018 revitalized peace deal.

The government has said failure to procure weapons overseas was delaying graduation of the unified forces made up of both government and opposition troops.

"We have to call for the lifting of arms embargo because South Sudan has the responsibility to provide security to restore its integrity. We have the responsibility to provide security across our borders and we have to provide security to our citizens," said Deng.

The parties to the 2018 peace deal formed the transitional unity government in February 2020 but are yet to conclude training and unification of the army to take charge of security during the ongoing three-year transitional period.

They have not also established the legislature, accountability and transitional justice institutions including passing of the amended permanent constitution. Enditem
Sacred Heart Catholic Church will host a Valentines Auction on Facebook on Friday.

The purpose of the auction is to raise money for the church.

A church official said there wont be too many auction items but a few items of interest include small appliances and Valentines-themed items.

The auction will go live at 7 p.m. Friday. Bids can be made online.

The church is offering a Venmo pay option. Information for that will be available on Facebook.

Those interested can also pay for their items in person at the church. Cash or checks or Venmo payment will be accepted.

Those who win items can pick them up the next day or throughout the next week.

For additional information, call Sacred Heart Catholic Church at 806-296-2753.
ATLANTA, Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- On Friday through Sunday, Feb. 12-14, The Georgia Hemp Company invites you to celebrate its newest Decatur store grand opening at 1524 Church Street Decatur Georgia. The local CBD retailer will offer free samples, twenty-five percent off products, live demonstrations, and offer educational resources for its Hemp, CBD and new Delta 8 products. The event will take place from 11 a.m. - 8 p.m. Friday , 10 a.m - 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday 1- 6 p.m. at 1524 B Church Street in Decatur.

Not forgetting about Valentine's Day weekend, The Georgia Hemp Company will have heart shaped CBD gummies, CBD red velvet cake slices and CBD brownies. Dj's will be spinning all weekend long to celebrate the occasion. There will be a merch pop-up shop on Friday selling Atlantabis Mehka King with Cash Color Cannabis. To get the grand opening week started, Joe Salome will be featured on the Cash Color Cannabis podcast.

Former 790 the Zone & Moe's Southwest Grill Marketing Executive Joe Salome and successful serial entrepreneur and Water conservation advocate Ryan Dills, co-founders and owners of The Georgia Hemp Company, have nearly two decades of combined experience crafting and delivering high-quality cannabis & hemp products on both a local and national scale. The first location opened in Sandy Springs in 2018. Salome and Dills knew they were ready to give more people the option to experience what CBD can do for their body.

"We knew Decatur was the perfect place for our next store due to all the growth and vibe of the city." says Salome. "We are excited to offer Georgia's finest CBD to the eastside of Atlanta and serve Dekalb County, Stone Mountain, Tucker and McDonough."

The Georgia Hemp Company's newest location is specifically catered to meet the needs of any and all customers with a wide range of products including hemp flower, oils, tablets, pain creams, beverages, delta 8 products, gummies, organic pet treats and more. Co-owner Ryan Dills says, "We want people to know that our lineup can fit every lifestyle, so come out with your friends, family and pets to celebrate with us!"

For more event details, please contact The Georgia Hemp Company directly at (678) 705-3682 or visit www.thegeorgiahempcompany.com

About The Georgia Hemp Company

The Georgia Hemp Company - a retail store based Sandy Springs GA- serves CBD and Hemp products to enthusiasts, newcomers, tourists, and those seeking the numerous plant-based benefits. The store offers a consultative and educational buying experience designed to make shopping and learning about products an enjoyable and meaningful part of using cannabinoid products. The Georgia Hemp Company is located at 290 Hilderbrand Dr Sandy Springs & 1524 Church Street Decatur Georgia.

SOURCE The Georgia Hemp Company
A bill that would effectively ban most abortions in South Carolina has been advancing quickly through the Statehouse.

After past failed attempts, this appears to be the year the so-called "heartbeat bill" will be signed into law in the Palmetto State.

Similar laws have been passed in almost a dozen other conservative states, but none are enforced because of court challenges.

The same is bound to happen with South Carolina's ban, if it's passed, so the policies won't take effect anytime soon  if ever.

Political reporter Jamie Lovegrove has been following the bill's progression, and he explained why GOP gains in the General Assembly have allowed the bill to advance farther than it has before.

Mary Ziegler, a law professor at Florida State University and author of the 2020 book, Abortion and the Law in America: Roe V. Wade to the Present, explained the legal implications of the bill, which is expected to start off a lengthy court battle as soon as it's signed.

And reporter Sara Coello, who covers criminal justice in the Lowcountry, shares why Charleston County's new sheriff weighed in on one portion of this abortion ban in particular.

Listen now for more.

Understand SC is a weekly podcast from The Post and Courier that draws from the reporting resources and knowledge of our newsroom to help you better understand South Carolina. This episode was hosted and edited by Emily Williams and Matt Rasnic.

How to listen:

Related reading:
The system of structures of the Union State of Russia and Belarus has not exhausted its resource yet and remains viable, and therefore one should not skip stages in the integration processes, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said, speaking at the Nationwide Belarusian Peoples Assembly Thursday, TASS reports.

"This process implies full preservation of sovereignty without establishment of any new supra-national structures. The entire system of structures of the Union State has been established, and it has not exhausted its resource yet, it is viable. It cannot be discarded: the Parliamentary Assembly, the Council of Ministers, and, finally, the supreme constitutional body, the Supreme State Council. [] One must not skip stages, must not overload the situation, neither in Russia, nor, even more so, in Belarus," he said.

According to Lukashenko, huge strides are possible in integration with Russia under the existing format.

"Today we openly state our readiness for further substantial work on improvement of inter-industrial cooperation within the Union State, with consideration of mutual interest, and based on equality of both members of the union," he said.

Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-11 08:24:09|Editor: huaxia

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BEIJING, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- The following are the updates on the global fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

- - - -

HAVANA -- Cuba reported on Wednesday 858 new COVID-19 infections and five deaths in the last 24 hours, for accumulated totals of 34,922 cases and 249 deaths, the Ministry of Public Health said.

Francisco Duran, the ministry's national director of hygiene and epidemiology, highlighted the common risk factors of most of the deceased, including high blood pressure and diabetes, in the daily report.

- - - -

NEW YORK -- New York City's COVID-19 test positivity rate on a seven-day average went up to 8.48 percent, compared with 8.09 percent one day earlier, Mayor Bill de Blasio tweeted on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, de Blasio said that there were 265 new hospital admissions and new cases of the coronavirus reached 3,859, adding that "You can help stop the spread. Get a free COVID-19 test today."

- - - -

BERLIN -- Germany will extend lockdown efforts to contain the COVID-19 pandemic for three more weeks till March 7, Chancellor Angela Merkel and the 16 federal state leaders decided on Wednesday.

According to the decision paper published following a video conference, the restrictions tackling the spread of the virus, which are due on Feb. 14, will extend to March 7.

- - - -

KUWAIT CITY -- Kuwait reported on Wednesday 987 new COVID-19 cases and five more deaths, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 173,983 and the death toll to 980, the Kuwaiti Health Ministry announced.

The ministry also announced the recovery of 553 more patients, taking the total recoveries in Kuwait to 163,264. Meanwhile, it said that 9,739 coronavirus patients are receiving treatment.

- - - -

MALABO -- A batch of China-donated Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines arrived in Malabo, capital of Equatorial Guinea, on Wednesday.

This is the first batch of vaccine aid provided by the Chinese government to African countries, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said Tuesday at a press briefing.

- - - -

ULAN BATOR -- Mongolia reported 54 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, bringing the nationwide tally to 2,174, the country's National Center for Communicable Diseases (NCCD) said Wednesday.

"A total of 25,275 tests for COVID-19 were conducted at 12 laboratories across Mongolia yesterday and 54 of them were positive," the NCCD said in a statement. Enditem
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Although I would certainly not be surprised if I picked up the phone later this year and heard Donald Trump say that he was calling about a crisis in my current debt level, which could only be resolved by immediately pressing 1.

The ones that drive me nuts are the ones with the auto warranties, said Representative Frank Pallone, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, in a phone interview. The New Jersey Democrat has been pushing for new laws to regulate robocallers, a very bipartisan issue. Some things still transcend party lines, and this is one of them.

Pallone co-sponsored legislation with Republican Senator John Thune of South Dakota that supporters say has already helped the Federal Communications Commission cut off international robocalls.

A second part to the law is aimed at ending spoofing.

Hard to believe anything called spoofing is all bad, but here were talking about the sometimes-nefarious practice of disguising the origin of a call. You may have noticed that your phone sometimes shows a local area code when the call is clearly from a different part of the country, or even the globe.

Everybody hates robocalls and telemarketers, but I always have a twinge of sympathy when theres a human on the other end of the line. Long, long ago, when I was a teenager and desperate for a summer job, I found myself in a small office with about a dozen other women, calling numbers from a long, long list and trying to get whoever answered to buy family photographs. The trick was to make them think theyd won a terrific bargain by correctly answering, What is the best-selling book of all time?

The Bible! I would exclaim when they gave the right answer. Youd be surprised how many people dont know that. Not really much of a shock since we were instructed to keep giving hints (Part was written by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. ) I had no problem continuing the clues forever  the longer I could keep the conversation going, the longer I could avoid making another call, which would very possibly lead to someone screaming that Id just woken up the baby or dragged him out of a sickbed.

Lord, it was awful. Thats why Im often sympathetic when some poor devil calls me to announce that I need to agree to discuss a supplemental health care plan or a time share in the Poconos.

MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell was ridiculed online on Wednesday after she tried calling Sen. Ted Cruz out on a literary reference, only to get it wrong herself.

While speaking about the second impeachment trial of Donald Trump on America's Newsroom, Cruz referenced Shakespeare, saying 'It's reminiscent of Shakespeare [in] that it is full of sound and fury, and yet signifying nothing.'

The line is from Macbeth, one of the most famous plays William Shakespeare ever wrote.

Mitchell saw this as an opportunity to needle Cruz, tweeting '@SenTedCruz says #ImpeachmentTrial is like Shakespeare full of sound and fury signifying nothing. No, thats Faulkner.'

Scroll down for video

Ted Cruz appeared on America's Newsroom on Wednesday, where he threw in a reference to Macbeth while discussing Donald Trump's second impeachment trial

Mitchell was right in thinking that The Sound and Fury was a novel by William Faulkner, which came out in 1929.

But Faulkner used the words from Macbeth, which predates Faulkner's novel by over 300 years.

And Cruz made sure to point out her mistake, writing: 'Methinks she doth protest too much. One would think NBC would know the Bard. Andrea, take a look at Macbeth act 5, scene 5: "[Life] struts & frets his hour upon the stage, And then is heard no more. It is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound & fury, Signifying nothing".'

He also took a shot at Jennifer Rubin of the Washington Post, who had sided with Mitchell, saying: 'Between NBC & the Washington Post, youd think somebody would have read Macbeth.'

Mitchell relented about an hour and a half after her original shot down the bow, tweeting a mea culpa over her mistake.

'I clearly studied too much American literature and not enough Macbeth. My apologies to Sen. Cruz.'

Ted Cruz (left) was able to jump on Twitter himself to make fun of the mistake by Mitchell (right)

But Twitter had a field day mocking Mitchell for her mistake.

One user wrote: 'Out, damned spot! Out, I say! No, thats not Shakespeare. Its a Tide Spot Remover commercial. -Andrea Mitchell, probably.'

Another cheekily asked if it was too late for the host to ask for her money back on her degree in English Literature from the University of Pennsylvania.

'Oh dear Andrea, this tweet is a Scottish tragedy,' said reporter Annie Gowen.

Robert A George tweeted, 'Um, Andrea. You know how 'Out, damn spot!' might SOUND like it's from a Tide commercial, but it's REALLY from Macbeth? Well... .'

Charlotte Clymer saw the humor in it all, writing, 'The dunking on Andrea Mitchell for a silly goof referencing a novel that is far more famous for the words than the original phrase in which they were coined is peak Twitter.'

One Twitter expressed disappointment in Mitchell's mistake forcing them to acknowledge Cruz being correct about something.
Carrie Lam, chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), commends seven serving and retired senior police officers in Hong Kong, south China, Feb. 10, 2021. Carrie Lam on Wednesday presented the Chief Executive's Commendation for Government/Public Service to seven serving and retired senior police officers for their significant contributions to safeguarding national security. (Xinhua)

HONG KONG, Feb. 10 -- Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Carrie Lam on Wednesday presented the Chief Executive's Commendation for Government/Public Service to seven serving and retired senior police officers for their significant contributions to safeguarding national security.

The officers receiving the award are Commissioner of Police Tang Ping-keung, Deputy Commissioner of Police Lau Chi-wai, Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police Choi Chin-pang, Assistant Commissioner of Police Kan Kai-yan, Assistant Commissioner of Police Kong Hok-lai, Senior Superintendent of Police Li Kwai-wah, and former Commissioner of Police Lo Wai-chung, according to a government statement.

Since the national security law in the HKSAR took effect last year, the Hong Kong Police Force has established a department for safeguarding national security with law enforcement capacity and within a critical time span completed the preparation for the necessary manpower, equipment, facilities, and the formulation of managerial and operational strategies and procedural guidelines.

In the past few months, relevant officers presented outstanding leadership, professionalism and courage to shoulder responsibility and unwavering commitment to discharge their duties in safeguarding national security, the statement said.

Among them, the seven officers made personal sacrifices to safeguard national security and ensure the full implementation of the "one country, two systems," demonstrating steadfastness and fearlessness, the statement said.
WASHINGTON  As it reaches out to allies rattled by four years of erratic American diplomacy, the Biden administration wants to enlist Congress in advancing foreign policies that will withstand the whims of any single president.

An early test lies in the fate of what is known as the Mexico City policy.

Enacted in 1984 by Ronald Reagan, the policy bans U.S. taxpayer funds for health providers overseas that, as part of their medical care for women, offer abortion services. It has been rescinded by every Democratic president since, only to be put back into place by every Republican.

Even when the ban is rescinded  as President Biden did on Jan. 28  the money cannot be used to pay for abortions.

Instead, and by law, it is used to pay for other health care for women and girls in some of the worlds poorest nations, allowing providers to cover abortion costs with other resources. But when the ban is restored, humanitarian groups that are backed by the United Nations and U.S. Agency for International Development must scramble for other support to cover health care costs.
According to a news published by Fars News Agency on February 11, 2021, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy in a ceremony at Bandar Abbas port in Southern Iran on Monday received 340 new speedboats with the capability to fire different missiles and rockets and support diving operations.

According to a news published by Fars News Agency on February 11, 2021, the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Navy in a ceremony at Bandar Abbas port in Southern Iran on Monday received 340 new speedboats with the capability to fire different missiles and rockets and support diving operations.

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IRGC Navy in a ceremony at Bandar Abbas with the new speedboats (Picture source: Twitter)

The ceremony was attended by Chief of Staff of Iran's Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Baqeri, IRGC Commander Major General Hossein Salami, IRGC Navy Commander Rear Admiral Ali Reza Tangsiri, Governor of Hormozgan province and other government and military officials.

The speedboats which are capable of carrying and firing various missiles and rockets and supporting diving operations joined IRGC Naval Combat Organization in Bandar Abbas.

The light, fast and offensive speedboats which were built in the centers affiliated to the IRGC Navy and in cooperation with the Defense Ministry will be ready for missions and operations in the Persian Gulf, the Sea of Oman and the Caspian Sea.

Rear Admiral Tangsiri had announced in October 2019 that Iran plans to manufacture speed boats in the near future which voyage at the speed of 100 knots per hour.

Former IRGC Navy Commander Rear Admiral Ali Fadavi, who is now the current IRGC deputy commander, had underlined in 2018 that the country's modern speedboats move at a speed of 80 knots (148 kilometers) per hour.

He added that while the speed-vessels across the world generally cruise at the speed of 35 knots, their Iranian counterparts voyage at the speed of 80 knots.

IRGC Navy has already Seraj-1 who is a military speed boat that was used by Iran Revolutionary Guard Corps. It is based on the British made Bradstone Challenger, a Bladerunner 51.
Global rating agency, Moodys Investors Service on Thursday said bad loans of public sector banks (PSBs) are unlikely to worsen sharply in the backdrop of an expected economic recovery this year.

India's economy will recover in 2021, reducing the likelihood of a sharp deterioration in asset quality at the country's public sector banks, Moodys said in a note. However, banks' capitalisation will remain insufficient to absorb unexpected shocks and support credit growth, according to Moody's Investors Service in a new report.

"Various measures by the Indian government to support borrowers have helped curb growth in public sector banks' nonperforming loans (NPLs), and the volume of restructured loans is not as large as we anticipated," said Rebaca Tan, a Moody's Assistant Vice President and Analyst.

Asset quality at the five largest rated public sector banks (PSBs) in India  State Bank of India, Bank of Baroda, Punjab National Bank, Canara Bank and Union Bank of India  improved mildly in the first nine months of the year ending March 2021 (fiscal 2021) despite an economic contraction exacerbated by the pandemic, Moodys said.

The gross NPL ratios of the five banks declined by an average of about 100 basis points as of the end of 2020 from a year earlier, even including loans that have become delinquent since the end of August 2020 but are not formally classified as NPLs because of a pending case in the Supreme Court, Moodys said.

However, India's public sector banks will continue to face capital shortages as their profitability remains weak given high credit costs, leaving them vulnerable to any unexpected stress. "While the government's capital infusion into public sector banks will help them meet Basel capital requirements, it will not boost credit growth," added Tan.

In the Union Budget 2021, the Union Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman announced a Rs 20,000 crore capitalisation in state-run banks. This was lower than expected by analysts who cited the significant capital requirement for PSBs to cover losses on bad loans and begin fresh lending when demand improves in the system.

PSBs have largely seen a stable NPA trend in the third quarter. Last week, countrys largest lender, SBI reported an improvement in its NPAs. The gross non-performing assets (NPA) as a percentage of gross advances at 4.77 percent in Q3FY21 declined 51 bps sequentially and the net NPA at 1.23 percent fell 36 bps QoQ, said the SBI in a BSE filing. All segments of loan books reported decline in NPA QoQ with NPA from corporate book down 35 bps and retail 62 bps.

On proforma basis without reference to the Supreme Court interim order, the gross NPA would have been at 5.44 percent and net NPA at 1.81 percent in Q3FY21.

The Supreme Court in September last year, in the case of Gajendra Sharma versus Union of lndia and another, had directed that "the accounts which were not declared as NPA till August 2020 shall not be declared as NPA till further orders". Accordingly, the bank has not declared any domestic loan account as NPA which was standard as on August 2020.

The fresh slippages were sharply lower at Rs 237 crore for the quarter ended December 2020, compared with Rs 3,085 crore in previous quarter, but proforma slippages for Q3FY21 were at Rs 2,073 crore and proforma slippages for 9 months at Rs 16,461 crore, said SBI.

Slippages ratio declined significantly to 0.04 percent at the end of December quarter 2020, compared with 0.46 percent in Q2FY21 and 2.94 percent in Q3FY20, the bank added.
Top government on Thursday told CNN-News18 that the first phase of disengagement, currently underway in Pangong Tso in Ladakh, will be complete in 15-20 days. The strategic heights India has occupied in the south bank will be the last to be vacated in this phase, they added.

"There is an agreement. A mutual verification will happen at every step. The Kailash range will see disengagement once we are satisfied with the way things progress in other parts of Pangong Tso," a senior officer told CNN-News18.

The disengagement of tanks and armoured vehicles in south bank was completed by Thursday evening; there were more than 100 tanks on both sides.

The 10th Corps Commander meeting will be held 48 hours after disengagement in Pangong Tso is complete. This is when other friction points like Depsang and Gogra Hotsprings and Demchok will be discussed, sources said.

"This is a positive step. The Chinese have agreed to go back to Finger 8 in the North Bank. From here on, we expect the process to play out as planned. The Chinese rapidly led out their tanks from the south bank yesterday. But let's see how things play out," said the top source.

A video released by the Army shows Indian and Chinese tanks withdrawing in South Bank. What it also highlights is how close the big guns were to each other.

ALSO READ | Pangong Lake Breakthrough in China Crisis as PLA to Pull Back Troops Till Finger 8, India Agrees to Halt Patrolling

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said an agreement has been reached with China on disengagement of frontline troops deployed at the North and South Bank of Pangong Lake after a nearly 10-month long standoff.

The disengagement at Pangong Lake, one of the key friction points on the contested Line of Actual Control (LAC), will be the first step in the long process of de-escalation.

Under the India-China agreement on the disengagement process, the Chinese army will pull back its troops to the east of Finger 8 areas in the northern bank of Pangong lake. Indian troops will be based at their permanent location at Dhan Singh Thapa post near Finger 3 areas.

Singh's statement clearly implied that the areas between the Indian position in Finger 3 and Finger 8 will effectively become a no patrolling zone till a resolution on future deployment is reached, defence experts said. The Chinese military built several bunkers and other structures in the areas between Finger 4 and 8 and had blocked all Indian patrols beyond Finger 4, triggering strong reaction from the Indian Army. In the nine rounds of military talks, India was specifically insisting on withdrawal of Chinese troops from Finger 4 to Finger 8 on the North bank of Pangong Lake. The mountain spurs in the area are referred to as Fingers. Dr Laxman Behera, associate professor at the National Security Centre in Jawaharlal Nehru University described as significant the announcement that Chinese army will pull back troops to Finger 8 areas.

"It is a significant development. I think it will be a major step in taking forward the overall disengagement process though it came very late," Behera told PTI. In his address in Rajya Sabha, the defence minister said similar action would be taken in the South Bank of the Pangong lake areas by both sides. Around five months ago, Indian troops occupied a number of strategic heights in the Mukhpari, Rechin La and Magar hill areas around the southern bank of the Pangong lake after the Chinese military attempted to intimidate them in the area. "A similar action would be taken in the South bank area by both sides. These are mutual and reciprocal steps and any structures that had been built by both sides since April 2020 in both North and South bank areas will be removed and the landforms will be restored," the defence minister said.

He said it was also agreed to have a temporary moratorium on military activities by both sides in the North bank of Pangong lake including patrolling to the traditional areas. "Patrolling will be resumed only when both sides reach an agreement in diplomatic and military talks that would be held subsequently.The implementation of this agreement started yesterday in the North and South Bank of the Pangong Lake," he said. Singh said it was also agreed to hold the next meeting of Senior Commanders of the two armies within 48 hours after complete disengagement in Pangong lake areas to resolve any remaining issues.

In addition, the Chinese side had mobilised a large number of troops and armaments along the LAC as well as in the depth areas. Our armed forces too had made adequate and effective counter deployments in these areas to ensure that India's security interests were fully protected. In his address, Singh also presented a genesis of the standoff and said the Chinese side had mobilised a large number of troops and armaments along the LAC as well as in the depth areas, adding Indian armed forces too had made adequate and effective counter deployments to ensure that India's security interests were fully protected "I am proud to say that our armed forces have responded to the challenges posed by the unilateral Chinese action and have shown valour and courage on both South and North bank of Pangong Tso," he said.

ALSO READ | Green Top Near Pangong Emerges as Thorn in LAC Talks as China Digs in at Key Vantage Point

"Many strategically important points were identified and our troops positioned themselves at those hilltops and at locations which were very important from our point of view. It is because of this great bravery of our Armed Forces in the face of harsh adverse climatic conditions that we maintained the edge," Singh said. He said the Armed Forces proved yet again that territorial integrity of India remains safe in their hands and their grit and determination to safeguard our borders is unwavering.

The defence minister said three key principles determined India's approach in handling the situation which is "both sides should strictly respect and observe the LAC, neither side should attempt to alter the status quo unilaterally, and all agreements and understandings between the two sides must be fully abided by in their entirety." He also gave a historical account of the border issue between the two countries. "As the House is aware, China illegally occupied approximately 38,000 sq km in the Union Territory of Ladakh, mainly during the 1962 conflict. In addition, under the so-called Sino-Pakistan 'boundary agreement' of 1963, Pakistan illegally ceded 5,180 sq km of Indian territory in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir to China," he said. "China thus is in illegal occupation of more than 43,000 sq km of Indian territory. It also claims approximately 90,000 sq km of Indian territory in the eastern sector of the India-China boundary in Arunachal Pradesh," he added. Singh asserted that India has never accepted this "illegal occupation" of our territory or the "unjustified claims".

He also mentioned India's consistent stand that while bilateral ties can develop in parallel with discussions on resolving the boundary issue, any serious disturbance in peace and tranquillity along the LAC is bound to have "adverse implications" for the direction of the overall relationship. "The Chinese side is well aware of our position. In fact, various high-level joint statements have acknowledged this point that maintenance of peace and tranquillity along the LAC in the border areas is a fundamental premise for the development of relations," the defence minister said.

Five cases in total were discovered on Thursday which were recorded in Fridays official numbers. There are now 19 active cases in total in Victoria, with over 24,000 tests conducted on Thursday. Authorities confirmed on Thursday there were between 400 and 500 close contacts of confirmed cases. There are no mystery cases in Victoria  it has been 37 days since the state had a case with no known source. Brunetti cafe at Terminal 4 of Melbourne Airport was added to the states growing list of Tier 1 exposure sites just after midnight on Thursday.

A newly confirmed positive case was at the cafe for more than eight hours from 4.45am to 1.15pm on Tuesday, February 9 while potentially infectious. Melbourne Airport confirmed 29 domestic flights arrived and departed Terminal 4 during that period, and a deep clean of the area was conducted overnight on Thursday in response to the news. Anyone who visited the cafe or who worked during those times is being directed to isolate and test immediately and remain isolated for 14 days. Nancy Baxter, a clinical epidemiologist at the University of Melbourne, said Victorian authorities should be thinking very hard about implementing a snap lockdown to stem any unlinked transmission from the new cases.

What I am concerned about is as the at-risk sites grow and grow, there is the potential there has been some kind of spread outside of that group of close contacts that is already in quarantine [and] it could be a week or more before we know it, Professor Baxter told Nines Today program. Then there is that opportunity for spread throughout the community, under our very noses. I think if there is a time to really get this under control the time probably is now. Loading

But other experts are more confident in Victorias contact tracing system. Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness chair Jane Halton told Today she was reassured by a high number of Melburnians coming forward for testing. I really hope we dont need to lockdown, but everybody right now needs to read that list of what the hotspots are, think about where they have been, get themselves tested, if they actually have any symptoms, so no a lockdown will not be necessary, she said. COVID-19 response commander Jeroen Weimar said one of the five cases announced on Thursday was believed to have had some contact with Camberwell Grammar School. The school closed on Thursday. Genomic sequencing has confirmed that at least six of the 13 cases linked to the Holiday Inn are the more contagious B.1.1.7 strain of COVID-19, often referred to as the British variant.

As of Friday morning, there were 29 different Tier 1 exposure sites - which require mandatory 14 days of isolation for attendees  in 14 different suburbs across Melbourne. There are exposure sites in Brighton, Brandon Park, Clayton South, Glen Waverley, Heatherton, Keysborough, Maidstone, Melbourne Airport, Melbourne CBD, Moorabbin Airport, Noble Park, Springvale, Sunbury, Sunshine, Taylors Lakes and West Melbourne. There are eight sites in Sunbury alone. Professor Catherine Bennett, the inaugural chair in Epidemiology at Deakin University, said the detection of fragments in wastewater samples earlier this week would be at the forefront of the minds of government advisers this morning. Loading

Yesterday the government confirmed at least one case had been linked to wastewater samples in the Coburg- Pascoe Vale-Reservoir catchment, but there were also traces of COVID-19 found in Roxburgh Park, Broadmeadows, Westmeadows and Glenroy that had not been accounted for yet. Thats probably going to create a level of nervousness that there are missed cases and thats where it is so important that that you know people are really checking out those exposure sites, and getting tested if there were there, or if they got symptoms, she told 3AW. The outbreak, which authorities believe may have begun by the use of a nebuliser inside the hotel, prompted several states to tighten their borders to travellers from Greater Melbourne yesterday. South Australia snapped its border shut to travellers from Melbourne at midnight on Thursday, while Queensland will ban entry to visitors to the citys exposure sites from 1am on Saturday. Western Australia also announced its hard border to Victoria would be extended for at least another seven days. NSW remains open to all Victorians, but incoming passengers are being screened. NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian reaffirmed on Friday morning she had no intention of closing the border with Victoria.
Cairo is looking forward to increasing the ongoing coordination with Jordan at the bilateral level, and within the framework of the two countries trilateral cooperation mechanism with Iraq, President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi told Jordanian Prime Minister Bisher Al-Khasawneh on Thursday.

El-Sisi received PM Al-Khasawneh, who is on an official visit to the Egyptian capital. Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly and head of Egypt's General Intelligence Service Abbas Kamel attended the meeting, according to a statement by presidential spokesperson Bassam Rady.

During the meeting, El-Sisi described Egypt-Jordan relations as historical and close, the statement added.

The Jordanian prime minister expressed his country's keenness to continue to coordinate with Egypt on different fronts as well as promote bilateral cooperation in a way that contributes to confronting the joint challenges facing the Arab world.

He added that Egypt is playing a "pivotal" role in the region, the statement added.

The meeting dealt with bilateral cooperation in the fields of energy, combating terrorism and extremist ideology, bolstering economic ties and enhancing trade.

The mechanisms of implementing the ventures agreed upon within the framework of the trilateral cooperation between Egypt, Jordan and Iraq were also tackled during the meeting, which followed a meeting between El-Sisi and Iraq's Foreign Minister Fouad Hussein in Cairo a day prior.

Egypt, Jordan and Iraq have been pushing for fostering trilateral cooperation in terms of the economy, trade, energy and investment to establish strategic integration between Egypt, Jordan and Iraq.

The three leaders held three trilateral summits to push forward their efforts, the latest of which was held in the Jordanian capital Amman in August 2020. A fourth summit is set to be held soon to follow up on the previous steps.

The meeting also touched upon the latest developments in the regional situations as both countries' officials agreed to maintain coordination to affirm the principle of a comprehensive political settlement for various disputes and issues in the region.

They also discussed the developments of the peace process in the Middle East in light of the results of the last ministerial meeting of the Arab League on Monday.

The statement added that the officials agreed to work on intensifying international efforts to settle the Palestinian crisis based on international legitimacy resolutions to resume peace negotiations.

Cairo has been in talks with several Western parties to push forward the frozen Israeli-Palestinian peace process. In February 2020, Egypt, along with Jordan, France, and Germany, formed the quartet committee to revive the halted negotiations.

The committee has so far held four meetings, the latest of which was hosted by Cairo earlier this month, where the foreign ministers of the four countries forged 11 provisions detailed in a joint statement outlining the endeavours to revive the peace process.

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Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said that disengagement process in North and South banks of Pangog Lake has been decided by India and China. Assuring that not an inch of land has been ceded, Defence Minister said that China has been made aware that trying to unilaterally change the status quo would not be acceptable.

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday addressed the Rajya Sabha. Rajnath Singh said that both India and China have mutually reached a consensus of disengagement on North and South banks of Pangong Lake. Assuring that not an inch of land has been ceded, Defence Minister said that China has been made aware that trying to unilaterally change the status quo would not be acceptable.

His statement was scheduled amid the withdrawal of troops from the Indian and Chinese border in Ladakh. The terms of this withdrawal to de-escalate the almost always tense situation at the border were decided in talks amid senior army officers on January 24.

Senior Colonel Wu Qian, spokesperson, Chinese Ministry of National Defence said that the Chinese and Indian frontline troops at the southern and northern bank of the Pangong Tso Lake started synchronised and organised disengagement from February 10.

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A statement issued by the Chinese Foreign Ministry said that the move was in accordance with the consensus reached by both sides at the 9th round of China-India Corps Commander Level Meeting.

Additionally, sources suggest that India will take actions as per the on-ground movements. The spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry expects India to carry a smooth implementation of disengagement and implement the consensus reached.

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COVID-19, the AfCFTA, peace, climate change, integration, gender equality and promoting African culture are his top priorities.

The 34th Session of the African Union Summit ended on 7 February 2021 with the new Chair, President Felix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), outlining an ambitious agenda for the year.

Addressing a virtual gathering of fellow heads of state and government at the two-day summit, President Tshisekedi said his priorities would be tackling the COVID-19 pandemic, accelerating the operationalization of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and fostering peace and security on the continent.

Combating climate change, expediting regional integration, investing in human capital, promoting Africa's culture and empowering women and youth will also get his attention.

The theme for this year's summit and the rest of 2021 is Arts, Culture and Heritage: Levers for Building the Africa We Want.

President Tshisekedi stressed that "Arts, culture and heritage constitute the basis for African renaissance" and afford an opportunity to "look back at our roots."

He added: "Culture is the beginning and the end of everything; it covers every aspect of human life."

President Tshisekedi took over from President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa as AU Chair.

Before handing over the reins of the rotating chairmanship of the AU, President Ramaphosa remarked that Africa, like the rest of the world, was confronting a pandemic that is exacerbating inequalities and threatening the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Africa's recovery requires debt relief, new funding and debt deferment, Mr. Ramaphosa said, and called for "an injection of fresh resources by the IMF through reallocating and issuing new special drawing rights, with a bias towards the developing world."

The South African leader said that was necessary to "correct glaring inequalities in fiscal stimulus measures between advanced economies and the rest of the world."

He highlighted several mechanisms that can help Africa succeed in its development aspirations, among which are the AfCFTA, which will help drive trade, investment and job creation, and enable a stronger and faster recovery.

Another mechanism is the "Silencing the Guns" campaign, which has been extended to 2030, and now consists of a roadmap and practical steps to achieve its objectives. There will be a two-year periodic review of implementation.

The AU-declared Decade of Women's Financial and Economic Inclusion (2020-2030) is expected to support women's access to financial services, he said.

As well, the Africa Medical Supplies Platform will assist countries to access affordable medical supplies.

"We are committed to developing African solutions to African problems," Mr. Ramaphosa added.

Insecurity decried

On his part, Mr. Tshisekedi bemoaned insecurity in some parts of Africa. He listed The Sahel region, Central African Republic (CAR), eastern DRC, and northern Mozambique as some of the places currently affected by varying levels of insecurity.

The Summit also witnessed the re-election for a second term of the AU Commission (AUC) Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat. "I am deeply humbled by the overwhelming and historic vote of confidence," Mr. Mahamat tweeted after his victory.

A highlight of the Summit was the election of Monique Nsanzabaganwa as the AUC's first-ever female deputy head. Before her elections she was the deputy governor of the National Bank of Rwanda.

The new US President Joe Biden delivered a special video message to African leaders, his first to an international gathering since assuming office.

President Biden said: "The United States stands ready now to be your partner, in solidarity, support and mutual respect."

In his response, the AUC Chairperson Mr. Faki said he was looking forward to "resetting the strategic AU-USA partnership," signaling renewed multilateralism in addressing global challenges after an apparent frosty relationship with the previous US administration.

On his first day as president, Mr. Biden lifted the ban imposed by the Trump administration on travelers from many African countries, including Eritrea, Libya, Nigeria, Somalia, Sudan and Tanzania.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres congratulated Mr. Faki on his re-election, saying that, "You can count on my support to continue building on the successful partnership between the AU and the UN, rooted in shared values and mutual respect."

Before the Summit, Mr. Faki took stock of the significant achievements of his first term, including the establishment of the AfCFTA in March 2018 and the launch that year of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) or "Africa's Open Skies," which liberalizes Africa's airspace.

He said progress had also been made in efforts at resolving the conflicts in Somalia, South Sudan, the CAR and the Sudan.

In his next term, Mr. Faki intends to focus on "Silencing the Guns" in conflict countries, promoting the AfCFTA, empowering women and youth, strengthening ties with strategic partners, among others.

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"Africa and Asia, Africa and Europe, Africa and America--how can we not be proud that our continent is today at the centre of these immense geostrategic entities?" he posed.

President Felix Tshisekedi's 9 priorities as Chair of the AU

Silencing the Guns in Africa

Implementation AfCFTA and the African Commodities Strategy

Construction of Grand Inga hydropower project

Fight against COVID-19

Development of Africa's human capital

Promotion of Africa's cultural heritage.

Promotion of zero tolerance for gender-based violence, gender parity in the AU and in member states.

Lay the groundwork for the African Humanitarian Agency, advocate on behalf of migrants, refugees and internally displaced persons

Fight climate change

Mr. Moussa Faki Mahamat's second term's 8 priorities as Chairperson of the AU Commission
Stacey Abrams, Black Lives Matter are Nominated for Nobel Peace Prize

Both Stacey Abrams and the Black Lives Matter movement have been nominated to win the Nobel Peace Prize.

The nominations represent an opportunity for either Abrams or Black Lives matter to win over even more support around the globe should they win. The Nobel Prizes have been given out since 1901 and were started by Swedish industrialist and inventor Alfred Nobel. Prizes are given out for distinguished work in Chemistry, Physics, Physiology or Medicine, and Literature.

There have been many controversies around the Peace Prize and a win by Abrams or the Black Lives Matter would likely extend the line of controversies. Past winners have included Martin Luther King, Jr. (1964), Nelson Mandela (1993), President Barack Obama (2009), Kofi Annan (2001) and Jimmy Carter (2002).

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Stacey Abrams political activist, voter registration & voting rights advocate has set a national standard for democracy. Her political activism has resulted in a nomination for a Nobel Prize. She deserves it & would become an even bigger voting rights, VR & democracy champion, wrote the Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr. on twitter.

The news of the Abrams nomination arrived on the same day that Georgia Republicans launched a Stop Stacey group. The group was created to support current Georgia Governor Brian Kemp in his expected re-match against Democrat Stacey Abrams. The race will be in 2022.

The defeat of former U.S. Senator Kelly Loeffler to Rev. Raphael Warnock demonstrated the strength of the Black vote in Georgia. even before Abrams announced whether shell run again, a sign of deep concern among Republicans about the threat she poses next year to the first-term governor.

Abrams efforts were so noticeable and the turnaround from red to blue in Georgia so pronounced that Donald Trump brought her up during his effort to flip the election results in 2020 his favor in Georgia.

The recipients of the Nobel Peace Prize will be announced in October.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Andrei Rudenko, speaking in an interview with Izvestia about the crises near the Russian borders, spoke in detail about the South Caucasus. He stated that Moscow is closely working with Azerbaijan and Armenia on all aspects of the Nagorno-Karabakh problem, building on the basis of the trilateral statement of November 9 last year on a ceasefire and all hostilities in the conflict zone.

Rudenko recalled that today the truce is provided by the Russian peacekeeping contingent deployed along the line of contact of the sides and in the Lachin corridor and assured: Of Yerevan as a whole ".

At the same time, the Russian diplomat stressed that at the Moscow summit on January 11, a working group was formed under the joint chairmanship of the vice-prime ministers of Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia. Its main task is to unblock transport and economic communications. The first meeting of the working group took place in Moscow on January 30. Now specialists from the three countries are starting to work in terms of their industry specialization. Rudenko drew attention to the fact that it is about the prospects for economic recovery in the broader context of the South Caucasus: "Peace and stability are in the interests of all partners in the region, including Georgia, Iran and Turkey. We count on their support for the aspirations of Baku and Yerevan to normalize relations in in line with the tripartite statement of November 9, 2020 and the agreements on January 11 ".

At the same time, the Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation saw in the actions of Western countries a desire to "reshape the post-Soviet space, destroy centuries-old ties between the peoples living there and impose their own scale of democratic values. Such a line, accompanied by gross interference in the internal affairs of sovereign states, largely provokes crisis phenomena along the perimeter. Russian borders ".

"The situation in the CIS space is directly projected on our security. In this regard, the situation in these states is far from being indifferent to us. We are interested in having stable, prosperous states in our neighbors, in which economic growth is ensured, human rights with which we develop friendly, partner, even allied, relations. For us, attempts to dictate to the CIS countries from outside, especially from overseas, how to live and with whom to be friends are categorically unacceptable. We intend to toughly oppose such a policy, "the diplomat said.
Former director of operations at National Intelligence Agent (NIA), Salimina Drammeh, yesterday testified before the TRRC, admitting he had participated in torturing Ballo Kanteh, Omar Dampha, Sainey Faye and Ebrima Barrow.

Testifying on the Farafenni attack, the witness said: "Suspects were arrested and brought to the NIA. They were treated badly and Mr. Foday Barry, Baba Dinding, Baba Saho and I participated in torturing Kanteh."

Shedding light on the claim that Ballo was electrocuted by Salimina and colleagues, witness denied that claim.

He told the commission that if his colleagues appeared before the commission and denied torturing Ballo, then the Qur'an will punish them.

On the allegation of Omar Dampha, who indicated that he was stripped naked before the panel of investigators, the witness replied in the positive, saying he couldn't deny such allegation. He admitted participating in torturing Omar during detention.

On 1996 Progressive People's Party (PPP) detainees, Counsel Faal told the witness that Sainey Faye alleged that he (Drammeh) tortured him. However, the witness denied that, saying the torturing machine at the NIA was used by Baba Saho, Baba Dinding and Foday Barry.

"With regard to the Ebrima Barrow case, I cannot tell you anything about that because I wasn't part of those who tortured him. I went to the panel where he was tortured but I only observed. Collectively I will say we all contributed in the torture."

Dwelling on the 1994 coup, the witness said Jawara was in the UK and decided to return after being informed about the planned coup.

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"After the coup, the supreme council announced that everybody should report to work on the following Monday. I was arrested by junior soldiers and taken to the NIA, where I met Samba Bah who informed me about my transfer to Basse. I spent four months in Basse."

He confirmed to the commission that it was illegal to beat or torture someone. He added that the NIA used to beat detainees just to get information.

Dreammeh recounted his involvement in torturing individuals alleged to have been involved in money doubling and counterfeit. According to him, suspects were arrested and taken to Bundung Police Station.

He continued that one of the suspects wanted to deny the allegation and his boss Daba Marena kicked him on his leg and he (suspect) fell down. He added that he couldn't remember any other tortures meted on the suspects.

The witness testified that the torture of Shering Ndegal was at the NIA and was ordered by former President Jammeh.
Appointment

11 February 2021

Evelyn Hamilton is the winner of BCD Travel's 2019 Circle of Excellence and GBTA Ladder's Mentee of the year awards. With 16 years of Bid experience she knows how to manage projects and people, research & validate info as well as write great creative copy. The British native's curiosity, intelligence, sense of fun and simplicity to any challenging deadline drove her to her role as Chapter Leader Sweden at WHTT.

Evelyn Hamilton's appointment to WHTT alongside fellow chapter leader Marjorie Sundstrom, is further the organisation's mission to increase the success and engagement in the workplace for women and other underrepresented groups, and to enable companies to attract, develop and retain potential diverse talent, nurtured by a powerful community. WHTT believes that by inspiring communities to enter the industry and organizations to leverage and retain in the sector, will create more diverse and inclusive leadership. Evelyn will take WHTT's global mission to the next level by opening a new local Chapter from Sweden.
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Thursday, 11 February 2021 15:37:09 (GMT+3) | Istanbul

According to Alacero, the Latin American steel association, Latin America continues to show signs of economic recovery, although performance is uneven across countries in the region. The goal of the Latin American steel industry is to continue to meet the demand in each country, Alacero said.

In 2020, Latin American crude steel production totaled 55.6 million mt, decreasing by 8.4 percent compared to 2019. Chile recorded the best performance producing 1.2 million mt of crude steel, up by 2.1 percent, followed by Peru with 732,000 mt of crude steel, decreasing by 40.6 percent, both year on year.

In the given year, Latin American rolled product output totaled 46.3 million mt, decreasing by 9.7 percent. Argentinas rolled product output was 3.5 million mt, down by 18.8 percent, while Mexico and Brazil produced 15.8 million mt and 21.7 million mt of rolled products, respectively.

In November last year, Latin American steel consumption totaled 5.5 million mt, up by six percent year on year, reflecting the economic recovery in the region at the end of the year. Alacero estimates that this performance may be maintained during the first quarter of 2021. In the given month, the share of imports in consumption fell and it is expected that regional consumption will grow again, with the trade deficit under control.

Meanwhile, new research carried out by Professor Dr. Germano Mendes de Paula, warns about the risks of competitive differences in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, and Mexico with countries in Asia such as South Korea, India, Vietnam and, especially, China. It also draws attention to the risk this represents for the metal-mechanic value chain of the steel industry in Latin America. According to Alacero, the research document shows how these differences in competitiveness variables such as taxation, education, logistics and financing are undermining the future of the steel industry in the region. In this context of great competitive asymmetries, the defense of the metal-mechanical chain and the steel industry in Latin America is essential to maintain activities that have high levels of linkage and generation of high-quality jobs.

In 2019, according to information provided by the aforementioned research on the impact of direct and indirect steel imports from China, the continued loss of jobs in the Latin American metal-mechanic chain due to deindustrialization is a topic that we must consider critical. Alacero calls for strengthening economic recovery by promoting private and foreign investment, reducing country costs in aspects such as taxes and logistics, stimulating infrastructure and strengthening the metal-mechanical value chain, which should reduce competitive asymmetries existing, Francisco Leal, general director of Alacero, said.


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New Delhi: India and China have reached an agreement on disengagement of troops from the north and south banks of the Pangong lake in eastern Ladakh, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said in Rajya Sabha today.

Under the agreement, Singh said both sides will cease their forward deployments in a phased, coordinated and verified manner in these areas.

Rajnath SinghThe defence minister assured the House that India has not conceded anything while entering into the disengagement process, adding there are "some outstanding issues" with regard to deployment and patrolling at some other points along the LAC in eastern Ladakh.

"I am happy to inform the House today that as a result of our well thought out approach and sustained talks with the Chinese side, we have now been able to reach an agreement on disengagement in the North and South Bank of the Pangong Lake.

"It has also been agreed to convene the next meeting of the senior commanders within 48 hours after the complete disengagement in the Pangong Lake area so as to address and resolve all other remaining issues," he said.

Rajnath Singh Singh said the agreement reached with the Chinese side for disengagement in the Pangong lake area envisages that both sides will cease their forward deployments in a phased, coordinated and verified manner.

"The Chinese side will keep its troop presence in the North Bank area to east of Finger 8. Reciprocally, the Indian troops will be based at their permanent base at Dhan Singh Thapa Post near Finger 3," he said.

"A similar action would be taken in the South Bank area by both sides. These are mutual and reciprocal steps and any structures that had been built by both sides since April 2020 in both North and South Bank area will be removed," Singh said.
The Agricultural Wages Board for Northern Ireland has announced proposed increases to the minimum wage rates for agricultural workers.

The Board proposes to increase existing minimum rates for agricultural workers for all grade by 1 percent from 1 April 2021.

Grade 2 - Standard worker will rise to 7.49 per hour; Grade 3 - Lead worker will rise to 8.91 per hour; Grade 4 - Craft Grade will rise to 9.58 per hour; Grade 5 - Supervisory Grade will rise to 10.09 per hour and Grade 6 - Farm Management Grade will rise to 10.95 per hour.

The Board will meet again on 12 March to consider any objections to the proposals.

It comes as the NI government is set to abolish the Board as the introduction of the National Living Wage has 'reduced its necessity'.

The region's agriculture minister announced the plans, saying there was 'little justification' for the industry to have 'special considerations of a wage board'.

The Agricultural Wages Board was established in 1977 and meets each year to consider changes to the rates of pay and related conditions for agricultural workers.

It consists of 15 members: three members appointed by the Minister of Agriculture, one of whom is Chair of the Board, six members nominated by the Ulster Farmers' Union as representatives of agricultural employers; and six members nominated by Unite the Union as representatives of agricultural workers' interests.
Some 20 UN peacekeepers serving with the UN Stabilization Mission in Mali, MINUSMA, were injured on Wednesday, after their temporary base came under attack in the restive central region of the country.

In a statement, MINUSMA said that the 'blue helmets' under fire were able to repel the attackers, who fled after delivering a "robust response". The base was located in Kerena, in the vicinity of Douentza, where peacekeepers have been carrying out numerous security operations in recent months, according to head of the mission.

It has been a deadly year so far for those putting their lives on the line from the mission. Five peacekeepers died in one week during attacks in mid-January.

'Cowardly attack'

Special Representative and MINUSCA chief, Mahamat Saleh Annadif, "strongly condemns this cowardly attack against the peacekeepers", said the statement, adding that the main objective of the UN security operations has been "to help reduce violence against populations, restore calm in areas where community tensions are reported, and reduce the threat of improvised explosive devices".

The Malian Government has been seeking to restore stability and rebuild the volatile country's institutions following a series of setbacks since early 2012 that fractured the country, including a failed coup d'etat, renewed fighting between Government forces and Tuareg rebels, and the short-lived seizure of its northern territory by radical extremists.

Last year military leaders staged a coup, and in September, agreed to establish a transitional Government for a period of 18 months, promising fresh elections and a return to civilian rule.

Mali for the Malians

The MINUSMA chief has ensured that "all measures" have been taken the ensure the injured blue helmets "receive prompt and appropriate treatment", according to the press release, and he wished all of those serving in what is the world's most dangerous peacekeeping operation, a speedy and full recovery.

Mr. Annadif said that operations by MINUSMA troops to secure areas from extremist and other armed groups, were succeeding against "the enemies of peace", and that the mission remained committed "alongside the Malians, for the Malians."


The building of a luxury hotel in downtown Midland is on hold but still very much alive.

Instead, both Spencer Robnett and Scott Dufford have told the Reporter-Telegram that the Western United Life Building in the 300 block of Texas Street will be demolished and an extension of the citys deal with the Midway Companies -- a development group out of Houston -- is likely to keep plans on track for the building of a four star hotel in the future.

Both have told the Reporter-Telegram in recent weeks that tough economic times across the nation and in Midland have created inevitable delays to the project, which was to use the current Western United Life Building and create a 205-room hotel across the street from Centennial Park and down the street from the Bush Convention Center.

However, both Robnett and Dufford have stated the expectation is the project will continue in some form. First, the city will concentrate on demolishing the Western United Life Building, no matter the eventual fate of the hotel deal. Robnett had told the Reporter-Telegram the hotel deal timeline always called for a full abatement of the Western United Life Building. Once that takes place, it is now expected the building will be demolished. The combination of such will start the clock on Midway fulfilling a laundry list of requirements to move forward, including proof of financing.

Dufford and Robnett said developers will build a new, 150-160 key hotel. The incentives will be similar to the previous agreement from in 2019, minus costs from the demolition.

The original deal approved by the council included $20.6 million ($15 million in cash incentives paid to Midway and $5.6 expended by the Midland Development Corp. to purchase and remediate the Western United Life Building). The Midland City Council also provided $8 million at the time to build a 400-space parking garage. Another part of the overall deal with Midway also included a pair of abatement packages with the city of Midland. The city is expected to abate ad valorem property taxes and hotel occupancy taxes for a period of 10 years -- contingent upon the projects cost, according to the current deal in place.

When the council approved the hotel deal in 2019, Midway officials had said there would be a ballroom and meeting space of approximately 14,000 square feet on land formerly occupied by the Building of the Southwest, which has been demolished. The finished hotel project also will include ground floor retail and restaurant space of approximately 10,000 square feet, according to previous Reporter-Telegram articles.

Midway does not want to give up on the project, Dufford told the Reporter-Telegram. We want to put in a nice product in that everyone will be proud of. That is what I envision.

In the interim, Dufford expects a parking lot to be put into place where the Western United Life Building currently stands until construction of the hotel begins.

Mumbai, Feb 11 : High commodity prices along with lower sales volumes are likely to put pressure on automakers' margins after an improvement Q3FY21, Fitch Ratings said in a report. "We believe the price hikes announced by automakers in January 2021 will not fully offset higher costs." the report said.

"We expect a quarter-on-quarter decline in volume from 3QFY21 on account of higher prices and a modest supply disruption due to a semiconductor shortage.

"This is notwithstanding our expectation that resilient demand after the November 2020 festive season will support higher volume in 4QFY21 from a low base last year and result in a stronger operating performance than our previous expectations." Lately, prices of key raw materials, including steel and copper increased by double digits after 2QFY21.

As such material costs typically amount to more than 60 per cent of automakers' revenue.

However, the impact on automakers' profitability was limited in 3QFY21 as their stronger bargaining power with suppliers facilitated a lag of three-four months in passing on higher costs.

Nonetheless, sustained high commodity prices imply the cost impact will be more visible in 4QFY21, the report said.

"Automakers have limited the price hikes to low single digits in most cases, underscoring a cautious approach in the current environment. We believe this will result in moderately lower gross margins." Consequently, the report cited that price hikes will add to the higher cost of ownership, especially in light of the continued rise in retail fuel prices after 1QFY21.

"We believe this could delay the recovery in passenger-vehicle (PV) sales volume, notwithstanding the resilience after the end of the festive season," the report said.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
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Johann Chuckaree is the epitome of the modern Indo-Trinidadian.

The 31-year-old is a proud descendant of East Indian indentured labourers. Prays to Jesus Christ. And plays the pan.

The Woodbrook-born musician exuded equal passion for all three during a virtual sitting with the Kitcharee on Thursday night.
Dominican Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit thanked India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for proving 35,000 'Made In India coronavirus vaccines to the Caribbean nation on Wednesday. Acknowledging his gesture, Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan said that he is humbled by the gesture shown by the Prime Minister of Dominica and calls it 'Vaccine Maitri'.

Dr Harsh Vardhan is 'Humbled'

Our beloved PM Sh @narendramodi Ji is steering the global family to safety from #COVID19, winning us blessings & praises galore.



Humbled by Honble PM of Dominica Mr Roosevelt Skerrits gratitude towards India for swiftly providing #COVID19vaccine to his country#VaccineMaitri https://t.co/HhGRGko0Iy  Dr Harsh Vardhan (@drharshvardhan) February 11, 2021

Dr Harsh Vardhan wrote in his tweet, "Our beloved PM Sh @narendramodi Ji is steering the global family to safety from #COVID19, winning us blessings & praises galore. Humbled by Honble PM of Dominica Mr Roosevelt Skerrits gratitude towards India for swiftly providing #COVID19vaccine to his country. #VaccineMaitri". Union Minister also lauded the efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to steer the global family to safety from Covid-19. He said that PM Modi's endeavour is winning us blessings and praises galore. While indicating the gratitude gesture made by Mr Roosevelt Skerrit, Vardhan said he is humbled.

Also Read: 'Thank You India': Dominica PM Extends Gratitude For 70,000 Doses Of COVID-19 Vaccine

Also Read: PM Modi Calls Farmers Protests Sacred; Contrasts 'Andolan Kaari' 'with 'Andolan Jeevi'

After the consignment of 35,000 'Made In India coronavirus vaccines was dispatched, Skerrit wrote, "Even though I trust every word of the Bible, I must confess that I did not imagine that the prayers of my country would have been answered so swiftly. Thank You India. @narendramodi." The consignment of Covid vials shipped from India is sufficient to inoculate half of Dominicas 72,000 total population.

Also Read: PM Modi Flays Congress' Walkout From Lok Sabha; Exposes 'conspirators' & Andolan Jeevis

Also Read: Justin Trudeau Dials PM Modi, Days After Facing Questions Over Procuring COVID Vaccines

India's 'Vaccine Maitri' initiative

Minister of External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar also lauded India's efforts and said, "A gesture of goodwill, an example of support. Made in India vaccines arrive in Dominica." In January 2020, the Dominican PM requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the shipment of a consignment of the coronavirus vaccine to begin a mass vaccination drive in his country. India, under the 'Vaccine Maitri' initiative, has dispatched shipment to neighbouring countries including Maldives, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, and Bangladesh, Barbados and Dominica.

Photo: The Washington Post via Getty Im

Investigators from the Southern District of New York were gaining momentum last summer in their inquiry into whether Rudy Giuliani had illegally lobbied the Trump administration on behalf of the Ukrainian interests who aided his search for compromising information on the Biden family. But according to a report from the New York Times, that effort stalled as senior political appointees at the Department of Justice repeatedly tried to block the SDNY from obtaining search warrants into the electronic records of the former presidents personal lawyer.

The stalling tactics largely had to do with the November election. Traditionally, the Department of Justice avoids taking actions in the two months prior to the vote that could significantly affect its outcome. And while the DOJ did observe this hiatus, the Times reports that the department also used it as a rationale not to issue Giuliani a search warrant in the summer, well before the 60-day cutoff. After Trumps November loss, the DOJ still resisted prosecutors request for a search warrant for Rudy Giulianis records, citing the legal effort to contest the election that Giuliani himself was leading.

It appears that all politically sensitive investigations were not treated equally at the Department of Justice during the final days of the Trump administration. Though the DOJ refused to sign off on search warrants for Giuliani after the election, the department did give the go-ahead for federal prosecutors in Delaware to issue subpoenas for an investigation into Hunter Bidens taxes. And though political appointees reportedly doubted there would be enough evidence to charge Giuliani, the Times reports that career officials at the department felt there was sufficient reason to believe that the search would turn up evidence of a crime, the legal standard to obtain a warrant.

The decision to approve a warrant in the sensitive case was ultimately passed on until President Bidens administration took over; to date, it is not known if prosecutors have successfully obtained a warrant in the first four weeks of the new administration.
A new Lancet study has accused the Trump administration of causing 461,000 unnecessary deaths in a year - in addition to 180,000 needless COVID-19 deaths - because of inadequate healthcare policies.

The report from the British medical journal - titled Public policy and health in the Trump era - was carried out by 33 researchers from the likes of Harvard and the University of California at San Francisco.

The study, which was highly critical of both Donald Trump's policies and what it described as America's inadequate healthcare system, found that 461,000 unnecessary, or excess, deaths occurred in 2018.

It reached that figure by comparing US life expectancy to the equivalent averages in the other G7 countries, including: Japan, Italy, France, Canada, UK, Germany.

That figure is in addition to the 180,000 - or 40 percent - of the US COVID-19 deaths that the study warns could have been averted.

A new Lancet study has accused the Trump administration of causing 461,000 unnecessary deaths in a year - in addition to 180,000 needless COVID-19 deaths - because of inadequate healthcare policies

The number of Americans who have died from COVID-19 has surpassed 471,000 but stood at about 450,000 when the study was completed.

According to the study, those 180,000 COVID deaths could have been avoided if the US death rate mirrored the average of the other G7 nations.

'Life expectancy in the USA was average among high-income nations in 1980, by 1995, it was 2.2 years shorter than the average of other G7 countries, and by 2018, the gap had widened to 3.4 years,' the report said.

'The extent of difference can also be quantified as the number of missing Americans- ie, the number of US residents who would still be alive if age-specific mortality rates in the USA had remained equal to the average of the other six G7 nations.

'By this measure, in 2018 alone, 461 000 Americans went missing, an annual figure that has been increasing since 1980. Most of the US mortality excess is among people younger than 65 years.

'If US death rates were equivalent to those of other G7 nations, two of five deaths before age 65 years would have been averted.

'To put this number in context, the number of missing Americans each year is more than the total number of COVID-19 deaths in the USA in all of 2020.'

The report from the British medical journal - titled Public policy and health in the Trump era - found that 461,000 unnecessary, or excess, deaths occurred in 2018

The report said that life expectancy in the USA was average among high-income nations in 1980, by 1995, it was 2.2 years shorter than the average of other G7 countries, and by 2018, the gap had widened to 3.4 years

The report slammed Trump's 'inept and insufficient' response to the pandemic but did note that it was magnified by health issues that have been accruing across America over the last four decades.

'Instead of galvanizing the US populace to fight the pandemic, President Trump publicly dismissed its threat (despite privately acknowledging it), discouraged action as infection spread, and eschewed international cooperation,' the report said.

'His refusal to develop a national strategy worsened shortages of personal protective equipment and diagnostic tests. President Trump politicized mask-wearing and school reopenings and convened indoor events attended by thousands, where masks were discouraged and physical distancing was impossible.

'The COVID-19 pandemic is one of many US health failures.'

The report also noted how Trump eliminated the National Security Council's global health team and put in place a CDC hiring freeze that left saw 700 jobs unfilled as the pandemic broke out.

In addition to his actions regarding COVID, the report said the Trump administration weakened the Affordable Care Act and 2.3 million Americans lost their health insurance after he took office.

While being highly critical of Trump, the report repeatedly notes that the health policy issues plaguing the US came well before he took office in 2017.

The number of Americans who have died from COVID-19 has surpassed 471,000 but stood at about 450,000 when the study was completed. According to the study, those 180,000 COVID deaths could have been avoided

The co-chairs of the commission behind the report, Dr Steffie Woolhandler and Dr David Himmelstein, are co-founders of the Physicians for a National Health Program - a group that advocates for a single-payer health system

'The disturbing truth is that many of President Trump's policies do not represent a radical break with the past but have merely accelerated the decades-long trend of lagging life expectancy that reflects deep and longstanding flaws in US economic, health, and social policy,' the report said.

'These flaws are not only evident in faltering longevity  and the especially sluggish progress in reducing deaths amenable to health care  but also in the widening gaps in mortality across social class and geography and the chronically high mortality of Black and Indigenous people.'

The report was put out by Lancet Commission on Public Policy and Health in the Trump Era, which was set up in 2017 when Trump took office to analyze his administration's policies.

Among the recommendations the commission suggested to improve the health of Americans included adopting a single-payer health system.

The co-chairs of the commission behind the report, Dr Steffie Woolhandler and Dr David Himmelstein, are co-founders of the Physicians for a National Health Program - a group that advocates for a single-payer health system.

The Lancet, which is one of the world's leading medical journals, has previously published reports that are highly critical of Trump, including an editorial last year calling for him not to be re-elected because he undermined the CDC.

It also retracted a medical study last year that warned against using a drug championed by Trump after flaring accusations of political-point scoring.

The paper's claim that hydroxychloroquine increases the risk of death in Covid-19 patients was used by rivals as a stick to beat Trump, who himself took the drug and hailed it a 'game-changer' in the war on coronavirus.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (L) shakes hands with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi during a photo opportunity ahead of their meeting at Hyderabad House in New Delhi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 10 assured his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau that India would do its best to facilitate the supply of COVID-19 vaccines to the North American country.



Was happy to receive a call from my friend @JustinTrudeau. Assured him that India would do its best to facilitate supplies of COVID vaccines sought by Canada. We also agreed to continue collaborating on other important issues like Climate Change and the global economic recovery.

 Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 10, 2021

In a telephone call, Trudeau informed Modi about Canada's requirements of COVID-19 vaccines from India, according to a government statement.

"Was happy to receive a call from my friend Justin Trudeau. Assured him that India would do its best to facilitate supplies of COVID vaccines sought by Canada," PM Modi said in a tweet.

During the call, the two leaders also reiterated the common perspective shared by the two countries on many important geopolitical issues, the statement said. The two nations also agreed to continue the close collaboration in fighting global challenges like climate change and the economic impacts of the pandemic, it said

Trudeaus outreach indicated his clear intentions to improve ties with India, especially after his comments backing the farmers' protest had adversely impacted bilateral relations. The situation had turned from bad to worse when the security of Canada-based Indian diplomatic missions was being reportedly compromised following agitation by the Sikh groups in the country.

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

Last week, a video by an Opposition MP Michelle Rempel Garner showed her quizzing the Canadian Minister in charge of procuring COVID-19 vaccines whether the government had reached out to India for makeup for its difficulties in getting enough doses, had gone viral.



The Minister said she was "scouring the globe to find vaccines". I asked if she or Trudeau had called @narendramodi. Nope. pic.twitter.com/ExGCUStn1B  Michelle Rempel Garner (@MichelleRempel) February 5, 2021



In December, Trudeaus comments on Indias farmers had raised hackles in the government and the viral video of the minister had raised questions about whether Canadas stance on the farmers protest would affect its ability to procure vaccines from India.

Read: 'Ill-informed' and 'unwarranted': India on Justin Trudeau's comments on farmers' protest

Trudeau had backed the farmers' protests in India and said that Canada will always be there to defend the rights of peaceful protests. In response, India summoned the Canadian High Commissioner and conveyed to him that the comments made by Trudeau and some other Canadian leaders on the farmers agitation constituted an unacceptable interference in the countrys internal affairs.



We welcome the support of @JustinTrudeau Pm Canada for the farmers agitation and urge Bjp govt to accept the legitimate demands of farmers who have contributed to the inclusive development of India and are themselves under a colossal debt leading to widespread suicides-khaira pic.twitter.com/T7WqMvWx51

 Sukhpal Singh Khaira (@SukhpalKhaira) December 1, 2020

Hours later, Trudeau reiterated his support for the protest.

The protests, along Delhi borders, are led by farmers from Punjab, which accounts for a sizeable migrant population in Canada. India and Canada have warm ties, but in recent years there has been concern in India that some Sikh leaders in Canada have ties to separatist groups hostile to India.

Also read: Indo-Canadians get threat calls after questioning farmers' protest on social media: Report

On February 10, however, Trudeau appreciated PM Modi's leadership in the global fight against COVID-19.

"Prime Minister Trudeau said that if the world managed to conquer COVID-19, it would be significant because of India's tremendous pharmaceutical capacity, and Prime Minister Modi's leadership in sharing this capacity with the world, the February 10 statement said adding that PM Modi thanked PM Trudeau counterpart for his sentiments.

India has reportedly cleared the supply of 24 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines to 25 countries on a commercial basis in February. Canada, however, was not included in the list of countries. With over 8,13,000 Coronavirus cases including 20,984 deaths, Canada has reportedly sought 1 million doses of Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine manufactured by the Serum Institute of India (SII).

"The two leaders looked forward to meeting each other in various important international fora later this year, and continuing their discussions on all issues of mutual interest," it said.
Trump Impeachment Political Theater, Ignores US History: Constitutional Lawyer

The impeachment effort against former President Donald Trump is political theater that goes against the history of the United States and the American Constitution itself, according to constitutional attorney Rick Green.

When we have political actors involved, we get political theater. And thats a lot of what were getting here. Is this the judiciary now? Is the Senate now the judiciary that will try any citizen? Because an impeachment is specifically for someone that is in office, according to the American Constitution, Green, a former Texas state representative and co-founder of the Patriot Academy, told American Thought Leaders.

Trumps attorneys have stated that it goes against the Constitution to impeach or try a former office-holder.

Virtually everyone agrees that impeachment in our Constitution is designed for those three categories listed in Article 2, Section 4. And thats the president, the vice president, and civil officersso people that are still serving in office, Green said.

He said the concept being pushed currently in the impeachment trialthat if Trump isnt convicted he will get away with doing horrible things, and future presidents will be able to do whatever they want and get away with itis a total red herring.

Its literally fantasy, the attorney said.

House Democrats, joined by 10 Republicans, voted on Jan. 13 to approve a single article of impeachment (pdf) against Trump for incitement of insurrection, making him the first president to be impeached twice. On Feb. 9, he became the first former president to stand trial.

Democrats allege that the president incited violence at the Capitol in a speech he delivered near the White House on Jan 6. In his address, Trump used the words fight like hell in reference to his teams legal efforts around election integrity. The Democrats allege that Trump used the words to incite his followers to commit violence.

However, Democratic House impeachment managers, led by Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), in their arguments on Feb. 10, presented no new evidence to support the allegation that Trump incited an insurrection at the U.S. Capitol last month.

President Donald Trump at the Save America rally in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021. (Lisa Fan/The Epoch Times)

Green suggested that in this case, constitutional provisions are being abused in order to silence the opposition.

My fear is a separation of powers conflict here that the Senate becomes more and more the judiciary and now if they can go after someone thats a citizen like Donald Trump is today, well, they can indict you. They can indict me, they can prevent us from running for future office.

I know that was not the view of the Founding Fathers. And when you abuse a constitutional provision in one instance, then other people will be able to abuse it in other instances in the future.

The constitutional attorney accused the Democratic House impeachment managers of stringing elements of the American Constitution together in order to argue that a former president can be impeached.

Ive said this throughout this whole process that what theyre doing and pulling together different parts of the Constitution and creating these new rules is more worthy of a banana republic than a constitutional republic, he said.

Green said language from Article 1, Section 3 of the Constitution was taken, separated, and mixed with some of the language in Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, in a way that was both masterful and deceptive.

The reason theyre doing that is because on one hand, they want to say hes the president. On the other hand, they want to say, it doesnt matter if hes the president, he did something awful, and we can still impeach. Putting those things together is the way that theyre trying to make their case. Its when we say political theater, he explained.

They took a few kernels of trutha few phrases out of the Constitution that are obviously there, and even few historical stories. They used those to weave that together to create a fantasy of a situation that has never been done in historybut it feels like its accurate and is truth because of the little kernels of truth that were thrown out there. Thats frankly good political theater, Green said of the impeachment managers in the way that they presented their arguments.

The attorney said that at this point, the United States is living post-Constitution, and urged Americans to read the text of the Constitution themselves.

Were literally ignoring the constitutional history and the plain text of the Constitution. I think its important for us to actually as citizens, to go look at the Constitution ourselves, and not just listen to the silver tongue rhetoric, he said.

He added: Its just like any other trial, you walk into a trial. If trial attorneys are really good, they paint the picture that they want you to believe and Im afraid theyve done that in this case, but it is new territory, and it ignores 240 years of history in the United States. And most importantly, it ignores the Constitution itself.

The Democrats face an uphill battle in convincing enough Republican senators that Trump should be convicted. Forty-four Republicans voted on the first day of the trial that the Senate doesnt have jurisdiction to try Trump because hes now a private citizen. Several Republican senators said on Feb. 9 that the vote is an indicator of how the GOP members will ultimately vote on the question of whether the former president is guilty.

Democrats need the votes of at least 17 Republicans in order to secure the supermajority needed to convict Trump. If the vote from the first day of the trial is any indication, the impeachment managers need to change the minds of at least 11 Republicans, a task which even liberal media commentators concede is virtually impossible.

Ivan Pentchoukov contributed to this report.
Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce (ABCC) is set to host a webinar today (February 11) to explore the economic situation of Brazil and the Arab world in terms of the Covid-19 pandemic and vaccine implementation.



The virtual event will present ABCCs 2021 calendar of activities and feature Ronaldo Lemos, a Brazilian expert in technology and innovation, and Bahrain Economic Development Boards (EDB) chief economist Jarmo Kotilaine.



There will be a series of presentations and panel discussions on technological innovations, as well as an overview of the current market and strategies to boost the economic sector of Brazil and the Arab countries.



Rubens Hannun, President of Arab Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, said: Amidst global health challenges that continue to threaten the global economy to take off, we continue to engage the Brazilian and Arab business community in strategic meetings using virtual platforms. This has been an effective format which us helped keep the ball rolling last year and maintain our connections.



While Covid-19 has disrupted every element of global business, it has also demonstrated the role of technology in the current situation. The upcoming webinar will navigate a broad range of themes that are central to this journey, to take a deep dive into the new economic situation in Brazil and Arab countries.  TradeArabia News Service
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A woman who turned up at a San Antonio hospital with a gunshot wound Thursday told officers she was shot while pumping gas, police said.

The woman called 911 at the intersection of Toepperwein and Kitty Hawk roads around 3:30 a.m., according to the Live Oak Police Department.
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Actress Gina Carano of Lucasfilm's "The Mandalorian" at the Disney+ Global Press Day in Los Angeles, Calif., on Oct. 19, 2019. (Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney)

Actress Gina Carano Removed From The Mandalorian Following Instagram Post

Actress Gina Carano is stripped from her role in the TV series The Mandalorian following a controversial social media post, according to a statement from the television production company Lucasfilm that is a subsidiary to Walt Disney Studios.

Gina Carano is not currently employed by Lucasfilm and there are no plans for her to be in the future, a Lucasfilm spokesperson wrote in the statement.

Nevertheless, her social media posts denigrating people based on their cultural and religious identities are abhorrent and unacceptable, the company spokesperson continued.

Carano has been criticized on social media after she shared a post on Instagramthat has since been removedcomparing the persecution of Jews during Nazi Germany toward current hate toward people with different political views.

Jews were beaten in the streets, not by Nazi soldiers but by their neighbors  even by children, the 38-year-old Texas native wrote.

Because history is edited, most people today dont realize that to get to the point where Nazi soldiers could easily round up thousands of Jews, the government first made their own neighbors hate them simply for being Jews, the post continues. How is that any different from hating someone for their political views.

Caranos post has since been deleted after receiving criticism, but the post was already widely spreading and the hashtag #FireGinaCarano became trending on Wednesday.

Other fans, however, showed outrage about Lucasfilms move, calling it hypocritical and comparing the actresss removal to another example of cancel culture. The hashtag #CancelDisneyPlus also trended and a petition titled bring back Gina Carano was launched.

Gina Carano attends the premiere of Disney+s The Mandalorian at El Capitan Theatre in Los Angeles, Calif., on Nov. 13, 2019. (Emma McIntyre/Getty Images)

It isnt the first time the actress who played the recurring character Cara Dune, a former Rebel shock-trooper who turned mercenary on The Mandalorian, a Star Wars series beginning five years after the events of Return of the Jedi, came under fire for posts on Twitter.

Last year in November, she shared a post mocking Democrats mask-wearing policies in the United States amid the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus pandemic.

Democratic government leaders now recommends we all wear blindfolds along with masks so we cant see whats really going on, she wrote, along with a Breaking News picture making fun of politicians.

Carano appeared in multiple blockbuster movies like Deadpool, Fast and Furious 6, Haywire, among others. She is also a former mixed martial artist who pioneered womens MMA, competing with Strikeforce and Elite Xtreme Combat or EliteXC.

Reuters contributed to this report.

From NTD News
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - February 10, 2021) - DelphX Capital Markets Inc. (TSXV: DELX) ("DelphX" or the "Company") wishes to announce that effective immediately the resignation of Larry E. Fondren from the Board of Directors has been unanimously accepted, and his employment with DelphX and its subsidiaries has been terminated for cause. It has recently been discovered by the Board that, contrary to fiduciary duties to the Company, Mr. Fondren has been using the Company's property to advance his own personal interests.

Mr. Fondren has also been terminated from DelphX Services Corporation, the Company's registered broker dealer, and a replacement will be announced shortly.

The Company relies on its intellectual property and remains committed to protecting the interests of shareholders, and any violations will be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

The Company remains optimistic for the future and looks forward to briefing shareholders on its advances in the near future.

About DelphX:

DelphX is a technology and financial services company focused on optimizing credit markets. Its Cloud-based technology, actuarial science and reinsurance protocols enable fixed income dealers to offer new Rule 144A securities that optimally transfer and diffuse credit risk. The new DelphX platform will be regulated by the SEC and enable dealers to competitively structure, sell and make markets in:

Covered Put Options (CPOs) that provide secured default protection for underlying corporate, municipal and sovereign securities, with each CPO strike-price equaling the par value of its underlying security.

Covered Reference Notes (CRNs) that enable credit investors to take on the default exposure of a single underlying security or optionally participate in a pool of diversified risks that broadly diffuses the impact of credit events.

All CPOs and CRNs will be collateralized by investment grade assets held in custody by an independent custodian.

For more information about DelphX, please visit www.delphx.com.

Contact:

Patrick Wood

DelphX Capital Markets Inc.

E: patrick.wood@delphx.com

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/74200
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The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities organised on Thursday a special tour for the wives of 20 foreign ambassadors in Egypt to Gizas iconic Saqqara necropolis as part of the countrys plan to promote the tourism sector.

The tour, in which the wife of the Egyptian foreign minister and a number of his assistants participated, aimed to promote Egyptian tourist destinations and shed light on the ancient Egyptian civilisation and tourist sites.

The group was received by Mohamed Youssef, director of the Saqqara Antiquities Area, who accompanied them on a tour inside the Pyramid of Djoser, the pyramid of Unas, the pyramid of King Tete, the tomb of Kagemni, and the Serapeum of Saqqara, in addition to a tour to the Imhotep Museum.

The group expressed their pleasure with the experience, which enabled them to get acquainted with the ancient Egyptian civilisation in the Saqqara area, especially in light of the latest archaeological discoveries made there.

Saqqara, home to the famous Pyramid of Djoser, or Step Pyramid, is an ancient burial ground that served as a necropolis for the ancient Egyptian capital, Memphis.

A series of discoveries were unearthed in the area, the most recent of which was a collection of 100 intact 26th Dynasty coffins discovered in November.

Golden funerary masks and a collection of 40 wooden statues of Saqqara goddess Ptah Soker were also found in the discovery.

To help offset the vital sectors losses amid the pandemic, Egypt resumed regular international flights at all Egyptian airports in July, with foreign tourists allowed into three coastal governorates as part of tour groups. Since then, 1.4 million tourists visited Egypt as of December.

The tourism sector is an essential source of foreign currency for the country.

Since September, Egypt has required travellers to present PCR certificates upon departure and arrival.

Short link:


Lawmakers on marijuana study committee plan out-of-state site visits

Lawmakers want a firsthand look at legal cannabis operations in response to South Dakotans voting to loosen their state's pot laws last fall.
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Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton violated his budget authority when he transferred $40 million of taxpayer money to cover pay raises for some members of his staff without approval of the Legislature or the governor, triggering an angry response from lawmakers on Wednesday.

You know that I am not pleased, Senate Finance chair Jane Nelson told Paxton during a meeting about the state budget. We have an appropriations process for a reason. And if every agency did what yours did, General Paxton, we wouldnt have a budget. We wouldnt even need a budget.

According to state budget officials, Paxtons office in February 2020 moved money without authority for various expense items, including $8.5 million that was supposed to go to data center services. Some of that money was moved from capital project funds that are not supposed to be used for pay raises. That was a violation of Paxtons budget transfer authority, according to officials with the states Legislative Budget Board. The money funded raises for 1,884 employees in the child support division.

Nelson, a Republican from Flower Mound, made clear to Paxton it is the Legislatures authority to consider pay raises from the various state agencies as part of the budget process, and it is not up to agency heads to make that call.

I wish we had done that one differently, Paxton conceded.

WE HAVE A LOT OF QUESTIONS: Lawmakers aim to slash embattled AG Ken Paxtons $1.26B budget

State Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, also pressed Paxton on the move, seeking assurances that it wont happen again.

After knowing more about that situation I would say Ive instructed my staff to make sure that doesnt happen again, Paxton said.

Paxton is facing deep cuts in his annual budget and a staffing reduction under the initial draft of the proposed state budget. According to the Senates proposed spending plan for the next two years, Paxtons would get $89 million less than he requested and lose 154 positions in his office.

In an exchange with Democratic senators, Paxton also defended his failed lawsuit seeking to overturn Bidens election, saying the U.S. Supreme Court erred in its decision not to take the case.

Paxton asked lawmakers to restore funding for his office, pointing to $43 million he needs for a major antitrust lawsuit against Google. Paxton said he needs to fund outside experts and hire seasoned anti-trust attorneys in the private sector to battle Google.

I think it will be the largest anti-trust case in the history of the world, Paxton said. It really is significant.

A $43 MILLION CASE?: Texas leads multistate coalition in antitrust suit against Google

Paxton said to go up against Google he needs the best experts he can find.

Thats literally the key to our case right now, making sure we have the right experts hired, he said.

Texas and other states brought a lawsuit against Google in December, accusing the search giant of anti-competitive conduct in the online advertising industry, including conspiring with Facebook to manipulate auctions where ads were sold.

Paxton said every state is suing Google, but hes convinced Texas has the best case and that it could yield billions for Texas.

TEXAS TAKE: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox

But that request triggered questions from State Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, who pointed out that Paxton has more than 4,000 employees on his staff, including over 700 lawyers.

Then you have talented lawyers who are capable of handling these big cases, correct? Huffman asked.

Paxton replied: If Google is going to have the very best lawyers that know anti-trust, we wanted to be able to compete on the same playing field.

Paxtons push for funding comes at a tumultuous time for his office. On Oct. 1, seven top aides filed a complaint with law enforcement accusing him of abuse of office and accepting bribes. The FBI is investigating those accusations, which focus on his advocacy for Nate Paul, a friend and campaign donor.

At least two of the whistleblowers have been fired, exposing the state to potential liability for illegal retaliation.

Paxton addressed the lost attorneys briefly during his presentation.

I have replaced the lawyers that have left with, I think, even better lawyers, he said.

Wednesdays hearing was the first in a series of budget deliberations that have to be completed by late May.

jeremy.wallace@chron.com
Chief executive Sean Smith said: It has been an unprecedented year for businesses across the globe, and Eden has not been immune to the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic."

( ) described its performance in 2020 as resilient as it weathered the impact of the global pandemic.

In an update, the biopesticides and plastic-free technology group said revenues for the 12 months to December 31 would be 1.6mln, down 400,0000 year-on-year, while the operating loss would be 2.6mln.

Importantly, it exited the year well-funded with 7.3mln in the bank.

Assessing the market, Eden said the hospitality industry had been hit hard, which, in turn, affected wine grape production, and by extension demand for crop protection products.

In addition, regulatory processes around the world saw wide-scale disruption.

As a result, a number of product approvals which had been expected in the year, and which should have resulted in sales, were delayed.

Investors were also told that Edens evaluation agreement with the US agriculture giant Corteva (NYSE:CTVA) was moving forward with an update on progress coming as soon as is practicable.

Development activity, meanwhile, has continued largely as hoped.

Chief executive Sean Smith said: It has been an unprecedented year for businesses across the globe, and Eden has not been immune to the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, we are proud of the resilience we have demonstrated against this exceptional backdrop and the continued progress we have made in advancing our strategy and positioning Eden for growth in the rapidly growing biopesticides market.
Washington, Feb 11 : American airplane giant Boeing said that its technical experts will continue assisting the investigation into an Indonesia plane crash that took place last month.

"We are deeply saddened by the loss of the crew and passengers on Sriwijaya Air flight SJ-182," Boeing said in a statement on Wednesday, adding that the company will provide the support needed "during this difficult time".

Indonesia's National Transportation Safety Committee said on Wednesday in a preliminary investigation report on the crash that the plane's auto-throttles showed an anomaly for both left and right levers.

On January 9, Sriwijaya Air's flight SJ-182, a Boeing 737-500 aircraft, was carrying 62 people when it disappeared from the radar screens minutes after taking off from Jakarta.

The crash claimed all the lives on board.
The Governments new quarantine plan is destined to fail, Labour claimed ahead of it coming into force on Monday.

An estimated 10,000 travellers arriving in the UK from higher-risk countries every day will avoid hotel quarantine, according to the Opposition.

I dont think anybody would argue thats a system thats going to work, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said.

The Labour analysis is based on the number of people travelling from countries where the South African or Brazilian coronavirus variants are circulating but which are not on the Governments red list.

This includes locations such as France, Germany, Spain and the Netherlands.

Those passengers will not be required to quarantine in hotels from Monday under the new system.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said on Wednesday that the number of people currently travelling to the UK from red list countries probably comes to less than 1,000 a day.

Sir Keir called for the requirements in England to match those planned for Scotland, which will require all international arrivals to self-isolate in hotels.

The Labour leader, who visited Heathrow Airport to speak to staff there, told reporters: Our concern isnt their preparations, because theyre getting on with that.

Our concern is that we now know that there are variants in countries that arent on the red list.

So this partial approach by the Government isnt going to work.

We are at this crucial stage now where its a race between the vaccine and variants, and the only way through this is to buy time by having a comprehensive system of quarantine in hotels, wherever you come from.

The vaccine roll-out across Britain could be undermined by a vaccine-resistant strain entering the country.



So the Governmentas failure to secure our borders risks jeopardising the fight against Covid-19.



Labour is calling for all international arrivals to quarantine in hotels.  Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) February 11, 2021

Sir Keir also urged the Government not to give mixed messages about the prospect of summer holidays.

The Labour leader is planning a holiday in Devon in August, subject to the restrictions.

He acknowledged it is really difficult for ministers to know what will happen over the coming months.

Im not going to stand here and criticise the Government for being unable to say with precision whats going to happen in August, I dont think thats fair.

What I do think they should avoid is mixed messages  so dont say, one day, through the Prime Minister, Itll all be fine and through the Transport Secretary say Dont book a holiday.
Tunis/Tunisia  Director of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Office in Zarzis Naoufel Tounsi said Wednesday that a request had been sent to the health ministry last January to ensure the vaccination of 700 refugees and asylum seekers against the coronavirus.

In a statement to TAP, Tounsi specified that the eligible persons for vaccination meet the criteria set by the Health Ministry, since 100 refugees and asylum seekers are over 60 years old and 600 others are chronically ill.

The official pointed out that the UNHCR office is waiting for the approval of the Health Ministry to submit the recipients' list to the relevant health services or to register them directly on the vaccination platform.

He also explained that out of a total of 6700 refugees and asylum seekers, 6 confirmed cases of coronavirus infection had been recorded in January and February 2021 as well as two deaths, already suffering from other diseases.

Tounsi said that the refugees staying at the specialised host centres are under constant medical supervision.
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LONDON  A newspaper invaded the Duchess of Sussexs privacy by publishing a personal letter to her estranged father, a British judge ruled Thursday, in a major victory for the royal in her campaign against what she sees as media intrusion.

The former American actress Meghan Markle, 39, sued publisher Associated Newspapers for invasion of privacy and copyright infringement over five February 2019 articles in the Mail on Sunday and on the MailOnline website that published large portions of a letter she wrote to her father after her 2018 wedding to Prince Harry.

High Court judge Mark Warby ruled that the publisher had misused the duchesss private information and infringed her copyright.

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He said the duchess had a reasonable expectation that the contents of the letter would remain private. The Mail articles interfered with that reasonable expectation.

Meghan said she was grateful to the court for holding Associated Newspapers to account for their illegal and dehumanizing practices.

She said that with this comprehensive win on both privacy and copyright, we have all won.

Associated Newspapers said it was very surprised by todays summary judgment and disappointed at being denied the chance to have all the evidence heard and tested in open court at a full trial.

We are carefully considering the judgments contents and will decide in due course whether to lodge an appeal, said the publishing company, which had strongly contested Meghans claim.

A trial in the case, scheduled for the fall, would have been one of the most high-profile civil legal showdowns in London for years. But at hearings last month, lawyers for the duchess asked for a summary judgment to settle the case without a trial.

In granting the request, the judge said the publishers disclosures of large chunks of Meghans private letter to her father, Thomas Markle, were manifestly excessive and hence unlawful.

There is no prospect that a different judgment would be reached after a trial, he said.

Meghans lawyers said the deeply personal five-page letter was intended to be read by her father alone. Her attorney, Justin Rushbrooke, argued in January that the publisher had no real prospect of winning the case.

For these outlets, its a game, Meghan said in her statement after the ruling. For me and so many others, its real life, real relationships, and very real sadness. The damage they have done and continue to do runs deep.

But the defense argued Meghan wrote the letter as part of a media strategy to rebut a negative view conveyed by her father in indiscreet media appearances, and with help from the communications team in the royal couples Kensington Palace office.

Thursdays ruling means Meghan has won her case on privacy and copyright infringement grounds, but the judge said a limited trial should be held to decide the minor issue of whether Meghan was the sole author and lone copyright holder of the letter.

The defense argues that Jason Knauf, Harry and Meghans former communications director, was the letters co-author. The judge said that argument cannot be described as convincing, and seems improbable, but should still be decided at a trial.

Meghan, a former star of the American TV legal drama Suits, married Harry, a grandson of Queen Elizabeth II, at Windsor Castle in May 2018. Their son, Archie, was born the following year.

In early 2020, Meghan and Harry announced they were quitting royal duties and moving to North America, citing what they said were the unbearable intrusions and racist attitudes of the British media. They recently bought a house in Santa Barbara, California.

Mark Stephens, a media lawyer with the firm Howard Kennedy in London, cautioned that the legal saga might be far from over.

The Mail on Sunday almost have to take it to appeal because the state of privacy laws (are) in a mess in this country, and they need a definitive statement, he said. So (Meghan) may not be allowed to walk off the pitch. She may have to go through an appeal yet. So this is just round one.

___

Danica Kirka in London contributed to this story.
Joseph Robinette Biden Jr. is the president of the United States of America. The planet seems a bit safer, the air and our water a bit cleaner and the end of the pandemic somewhat closer.

Well, guess what? We are still in danger. We have been lazy and allowed ourselves to become complacent in the United States. We turned the keys to the country over to politicians and corporate interests years ago and then expected them to take care of us. Then, we selfishly went about our lives without keeping an eye on the caretakers. Weve learned a big lesson. We are going to have to take care of ourselves.

Just because the Democrats are back in charge does not mean everything is going to be fine. We have to get involved and actively participate in the political process to see the results and the life we want in the United States. So Democrats and Republicans, get involved and run for office  or at least volunteer, become an activist or help organize.

Running for office is the most patriotic thing I have ever done in my life. It is also the most frustrating, tiring and brutal thing I have ever done  but I did it. As a former rock radio personality in Houston, the only politics I ever participated in was the occasional protest march and numerous snarky comments on Twitter. But, when I realized no one was going to run as a Democrat for the second election in a row in the Texas 36th Congressional District in 2018, I got to work with a team of activists, organizers and volunteers to make a difference in Southeast Texas politics.

Here are the first five things you can start today to make a difference moving forward  as a candidate or an organizer:

Just start. The mere fact you are still reading this piece means you have begun or are at least a bit curious. Now, take it one action at a time. You are officially looking into running for office and finding out more about how the process works. Again, congrats. You have started.

Politics can be time-consuming, so make the time. The more local the office, the less time it will probably take. The higher the office, it pretty much becomes your life for months and maybe a few years. Do you have the time and the money to run for office? Can you take time off? Can you work less? All of this goes into your decision making. Figure out what time you have to give to your country and community.

Attend those community meetings. There are any number of political gatherings happening all the time in your neighborhood and your sphere, you just didnt realize it because you werent running for office at the time or looking to get involved in any way. School board, city council, county commissioners, county political parties  they all have regular meetings. Make a plan to attend a few and get your feet wet. Get to know people and the issues. They will be a big help later on. Ask on your social media platforms and ask friends  you will find more of your contacts than you ever expected are already involved.

Research everything. Odds are you are considering getting into this process because you want to make something better, and you are probably mad as hell at the recent attempted coup. Maybe the events in Georgia lit a fire under your feet. Take the time to read everything you can find on the issues driving you to consider this crazy idea. Learn the pros and cons of both sides. Listen to the people on both sides and why they stand for what they do. Also, look for other candidates. Is there someone with the potential of winning already running? If not, why not you?

Choose the issues you align with, and send a message. Why are you getting involved? What has motivated you to give your time and energy to make a change? You are running because you think somebody can do things better.

As wonder woman Stacey Abrams has shown, this is not an overnight project. It is long, it is hard work, and it is tough on everyone involved. However, if you keep your eye on the prize, it can be done. It will be one of the most rewarding things you have ever done in your life.

So, lace up your walking shoes (I call mine Kamalas); there is work to be done. The first Black United States Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm once famously said, If they wont give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair. Ill see you there with my chair.

Steele is a rock Radio Hall of Famer, was the 2018 Democratic candidate for the Texas 36th congressional district, and author of the upcoming book, 101 Ways to Rock Running for Office (March 2021).

Last year, when a brand new school Gledswood Hills Public opened in Sydneys south-west, there were eight kindergarten classes. This year there were 12. When year 2 student Azalea returned for term one, she found 13 new demountables on her playground.

It used to be a whole field of grass, and the kids could freely go wherever they wanted to, said her mother Charelle, who did not want her last name used. Now they seem so boxed in. Driving into school in the morning, its like a car park.

Charelle with her daughters Azalea and Isabella in front of Gledswood Hills Public School, which has 13 demountables despite only being opened a year ago Credit:Dominic Lorrimer

New communities in western Sydney are growing so quickly, schools are filling up within a few years of being built. Last year, nearby Oran Park Public, which opened in 2014, had 27 demountable classrooms and support spaces.

Demountables are not the tin cans of the old days; they are insulated, air conditioned and come with more high-tech equipment than many fixed classrooms. But critics say they take up childrens play space, and are relied upon when enrolment forecasts are faulty.

Mumbai, Feb 11 : India's key equity indices snapped their two-day losing streak on Thursday to close higher in a lacklustre session.

Accordingly, positive global cues along with healthy foreign fund inflows of about Rs 944.36 crore buoyed the market.

However, bouts of profit booking capped gains.

Globally, trading was light in Asia on Thursday, with most major markets closed for the Lunar New Year holiday.

Besides, European stock markets were marginally higher Thursday, with investors looking to take their cues from the corporate sector on earnings results.

On the domestic front, the two key indices after consolidating for two days marginally gained and remained range-bound throughout the session.

Among sectors, except auto and PSU bank, all other indices ended in the green, with metals, FMCG and IT indices rising the most.

Consequently, the S&P BSE Sensex closed at 51,531.52, higher by 222.13 points, or 0.43 per cent, from its previous close.

Similarly, the NSE Nifty50 also slipped. It ended the day's trade at 15,173.30, higher by 66.80 points, or 0.44 per cent, from its previous close.

"Nifty rose mildly on February 11 after a sideways move on the previous two sessions," said Deepak Jasani - Head of Retail Research at HDFC Securities.

"It could remain in the 15,064-15,257 band in the near term and a breakout either side could see action in that direction." According to Siddhartha Khemka, Head - Retail Research, Motilal Oswal Financial Services: "In the near term, the market would actively track key macro data like IIP, CPI and WPI data along with global cues." In addition, Geojit Financial Services Research Head Vinod Nair said: "The domestic market closed with slight gains after its range-bound rally, tracking gains in index heavyweights and positive European and Asian markets." "The upward movement in the market was supported by energy, telecom and FMCG stocks with small caps outperforming. Dip in January auto retail sales numbers pushed the sectoral index into the negative territory while PSU banks also remained under pressure."
When the 26-year-old Boeing Co 737-500 plane reached 8,150 feet (2,484 m) after take-off, the left engine throttle lever moved back while the right lever stayed in its original position, Indonesias National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT) said in its report.

We dont know if its broken or not, but its an anomaly because the left moved far back, the right did not as though it was stuck, KNKT investigator Nurcayho Utomo told reporters of the levers.

At about 10,900 feet, the autopilot disengaged and the plane rolled to the left more than 45 degrees and started its dive, according to the report.

The Sriwijaya accident is Indonesias third major airline crash in just over six years and has shone a spotlight on the countrys poor air safety record.

Starting with just one plane in 2003, Sriwijaya has become the countrys No.3 airline group, aided by its strategy of acquiring old planes at cheap prices and serving routes neglected by competitors.

There had been two prior problems reported with the autothrottle system that automatically controls engine power based on maintenance logs, but the issue was rectified on Jan. 5, four days before the crash, KNKT said.

A working autothrottle is not required for a plane to be dispatched as pilots can control the thrust levers manually with their hands.

Divers are still searching for the planes cockpit voice recorder which could help investigators understand the actions taken by the pilots, both of whom were experienced with 17,900 hours for the captain and 5,100 hours for the first officer.

The report highlighted the importance of upset recovery training for pilots and the recognition of repetitive plane defects, just over six years after an AirAsia Indonesia crash where those were among the issues raised.

KNKT said that following the crash Sriwijaya had taken safety actions including adding upset recovery training in its next pilot proficiency check and reminding engineers that repetitive defects must be handled in accordance with safety manuals.

The airline sent a memo to pilots reminding them to write detailed reports to help engineers troubleshoot problems.

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation also discussed the handling of repetitive problems and upset prevention and recovery training with other Indonesian operators after the crash, KNKT said.

Boeing said it would continue to support the investigation.

The preliminary report, as is standard, laid out factual information obtained to date but did not list the contributing factors to the crash. That will require further investigation.

Safety experts say most air accidents are caused by a combination of factors that can take months to establish. Under international standards, the final report is due within a year of the crash.
Oman has extended its border closure and implemented other measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus. The sultanate is also making progress administering vaccine doses.

The Supreme Committee for fighting the coronavirus said on Wednesday that all land borders will remain closed till further notice. Omani citizens wishing to return by land will need to do so before Feb. 21 at 10:00 a.m., after which they will not be allowed in. Trucks will continue to be allowed to enter, the state-run Oman News Agency reported.

The committee declared people entering via air, sea or land will now need to quarantine in a state facility at their own cost due to people breaching the previous voluntary quarantine rules. All beaches and public parks will also close on Thursday. Places of business must also reduce capacity by 50% starting on Friday, among various other new restrictions, according to the agency.

Oman is registering a few hundred cases a day, which is less than previous months. The sultanate does not release the total number of its daily infections, however. On Wednesday, the Ministry of Health reported 25 virus-related hospitalizations in the last 24 hours, but the ministry did not specify the total number of new cases.

Oman previously closed its land border on Jan. 17 for one week. That closure is now indefinite.

The Gulf country began vaccinating people against the virus in late December and is making progress on that front. A total of 6,188 people received vaccine doses on Wednesday, according to the Ministry of Health. Oman has a population of around 5 million.
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IT Modernization

Wyden bill looks to overhaul unemployment benefit tech

A group of Senate Democrats led by Finance Committee chairman Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) introduced a bill on Wednesday to revamp state unemployment insurance technology by creating a set of shareable technology capabilities for benefits centered on user experience.

"Congress must not allow another recession to come and go without reforming our unemployment insurance system, and that starts with an overhaul of technology," Wyden said in a statement. Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Mark Warner (D-Va.) and Catherine Cortez Matro (D-Nev.) are cosponsoring the bill.

The pandemic and accompanying surge in claims have laid bare deep problems in current benefits systems that rely on outdated technology. Experts have called on federal agencies to coordinate the provision of benefits as states struggle to effectively deliver benefits.

The new bill would appropriate $500 million for the Department of Labor to create a modular set of technology capacities to modernize unemployment technology. States would choose which pieces, ranging from those focused on claims filing to determining the eligibility of claimants, to use.

Before development or procurement, the bill would require a study to identify current tech needs with accessibility and equity lenses.

Those focuses would extend into the technology itself via terms included in the bill. For example, online claim filing technology would have to be available in any language spoken by at least 1 percent of the people in a stats. The technology would also have to be accessible on a series of devices including cell phones.

The Labor Department would do all of this in part with the help of a new Digital Services team the bill would call on them to create with the $5 million appropriated for the new group.

It would include tech experts, user experience experts, a "technical team leader with experience in human-centered design and modern software development practices" and others.

The team would help develop the new modular capabilities and then assistant in their operation, maintenance and new iterations by working with states. They would also be called on to assist the Labor Department more broadly with in-house technology and procurement needs.

News of the bill was first reported by the Washington Post.
More than 1,100 undergraduate and graduate students at Columbia University in New York City are participating in a tuition strike, which began on January 22, to demand decreased tuition costs and increased financial aid. The strike action, which has support from over 4,300 students at Columbia, comes amid a dire international social and economic crisis triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic, which continues to rage out of control under Democratic Party leadership on the city, state, and now national level.

The student debt crisis is an international phenomenon and often plagues the life of a young person for decades. In the US, total college debt amounts to a whopping $1.56 trillion, with students leaving college with an average of $37,000 in student loans.

The tuition strike coincides with a rent strike by 15,000 students across universities in the UK against mistreatment and exploitation throughout the pandemic.

Columbia University Low Memorial Library (Wikimedia Commons)

Columbia University costs over $60,000 a year, has a massive endowment of over $11 billionwhich added $310 million in the first half of 2020 from the universitys stock portfolio and has surely gone up since thenand is one of the largest private landowners in New York City.

The tuition strike campaign, which also includes Columbia-affiliated Barnard College and Teachers College, was organized by the Columbia University-Barnard College chapter of the Young Democratic Socialists of America (YDSA) and was launched in October.

The main demands of the strike call for a 10 percent decrease in tuition costs and 10 percent increase in financial aid, while other demands include ending the universitys expansion in West Harlem, defunding Columbias Public Safety security force, divesting from fossil fuels and from companies tied to human rights violations, protections for international students, and granting union recognition for student workers to bargain for improved compensation and benefits.

In December, Columbia announced it would provide increased financial aid for the Spring semester, and more recently, announced that the university does not hold any direct investments in publicly traded oil and gas companies, and is formalizing this policy of non-investment for the foreseeable future. The YDSA has proclaimed these actions as huge wins of the tuition strike and the university conceding to their demands, despite Columbia refuting this.

In response to the tuition strike, Columbia released the following statement: This is a moment when an active reappraisal of the status quo is understandable, and we expect nothing less from our students. Their voices are heard by Columbias leadership, and their views on strengthening the University are welcomed. However, Columbia is fining all students who withhold tuition payments a monthly late fee of $150.

Currently, the YDSA is warning of shutting down the strike in the coming weeks due to the universitys implementation of these fees, which the tuition strike opposes. At a tuition strike town hall last week, YDSA leaders focused the discussion on when to end the strike, while stating that All of these demands, I dont think well win outright.

The International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE)the youth movement of the Socialist Equality Partyin New York and New Jersey strongly supports the fight taken up by students at Columbia to address the student debt crisis and strongly encourages the strike to continue. However, the struggle for the elimination of student debt and the right to free education can only be carried forward by broadening the strike and directly connecting it to the fight for genuine socialism. This requires a political break with the Democratic Party and forces such as the DSA.

The Columbia tuition strikes current call to reduce tuition by 10 percentfrom $64,000 to $57,600 will do little to solve the immense crisis facing students today.

As the WSWS emphasized in an earlier article on the tuition strike:

Combatting the widespread economic and social issues facing students and youth not only at Columbia, but internationally, requires a political understanding that these issues are the direct products of capitalism and are fundamentally class issues. In response, a political program is needed, based on expropriating the wealth of the ruling class to guarantee the right to free education and cancellation of all student debt, free housing, free healthcare, and safe working and learning conditionsthat is, the establishment of a society based on social need. Above all, this requires a turn to and independent mobilization of the international working class, the only social force capable of leading the progressive reorganization of society.

The past year contains rich political lessons for workers and youth. The capitalist system has completely failed to respond adequately in any remote sense to the pandemic. Both capitalist parties, the Democrats and the Republicans, have been putting forth the homicidal policy of herd immunity which has killed more than 450,000 people in the US. They have dumped trillions of dollars to prop up financial markets and corporations, while forcing the working class to bear the brunt of the crisis and sacrifice lives for the profits of the super-rich. Under these conditions, there has been a major lurch to the right by the entire US political establishment. The Trump administration has systematically built up far-right forces, culminating in the Trump-led January 6 fascist coup attempt that was aimed at overthrowing the results of the presidential elections. Fearing nothing but a mobilization of workers, the Democratic Party has sought to cover up the extent of the coup and the involvement of sections of the ruling class, the state and the military in it.

Amidst this horrific breakdown of capitalism, pseudo-left tendencies like the Democratic Socialists of America, promote the illusion that capitalism can still be reformed and that the Democratic Party, one of the oldest capitalist parties in the world, can be pressured to the left. In a panel entitled Organizing for socialism at a Columbia YDSA teach-in on the first day of the tuition strike, Eric Blanc spoke of how to build power within the state to transform it in order to win the gains we need, while Micah Uetrich, an assistant editor for the DSA-affiliated Jacobin, said that we are stuck with the Democratic Party.

This is a political dead end. The dismantling and defunding of public education, the enormous rise in college debt, and the destruction of jobs and wages have been facilitated by the Democratic Party. Workers and youth cannot take a step forward without breaking from both parties of Wall Street and the military. Students at Columbia should take heed of the role the DSA has played in betraying workers struggles, including, most recently, the Hunts Point produce market strike in New York City. It should also be noted that Eric Blanc, who was invited to speak by the YDSA at Columbia, is the author of Red State Revolt and played a key role in developing the political line for the DSA in response to a series of wildcat teacher strikes in 20182019 that developed in rebellion against the unions. The DSAs role in these strikes was to prevent a political break by teachers with the unions and the Democratic Party.

Critical workers struggles are beginning to break out in the US and internationally. In Brazil, teachers have gone on strike to protest the homicidal policy of school reopening. In Chicago, teachers are also fighting against the dangerous reopening of schools. This is the social force that students at Columbia should orient to in fighting for the broadening of their own struggle. We urge students and young people who agree with this perspective to contact us, sign up to join the IYSSE and help build the international struggle against capitalism and for socialism.
Two Dartmouth Engineering professors have been named to the National Academy of Inventors' (NAI) 2021 class of Senior Members: Charles Sullivan, professor of engineering, and Karl Griswold, associate professor of engineering. NAI Senior Members are active faculty, scientists, and administrators from NAI member institutions who have demonstrated remarkable innovation producing technologies that have brought, or aspire to bring, real impact on the welfare of society. They also have proven success in patents, licensing and commercialization.

Sullivan, who also serves as director of the Power Management Integration Center, funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), has published more than 200 technical papers in magnetics, power electronics, electric machine modeling and control, and energy efficiency. Other career honors include being named the recipient of an NSF CAREER award and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) Power Electronics Society Modeling and Control Technical Achievement award, and being named an IEEE Fellow. Sullivan also holds 43 patents and is a co-founder of Resonant Link, a wireless power transfer startup.

"I'm grateful to be at Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth, where not only is innovation encouraged and supported, but also interdisciplinary interactions bring different approaches to important problems," said Sullivan. "One of the most important challenges facing us today is climate change. I'm pleased that some of my inventions have contributed to improved energy efficiency. More exciting is to see engineering students going on to develop and deploy key improvements in energy technology, and I hope to inspire more to do so."

Griswold's research has resulted in the development of innovative high throughput screens for evolutionary protein engineering, new strategies for protein deimmunization, enhanced protein expression systems, and powerful antibacterial agents to treat drug-resistant infections. His collaborative research at Dartmouth has inspired the spinoff of several affiliated biotech startups that employ proprietary protein design and engineering platforms to create the next generation of safer and more effective biotherapies. Griswold's other honors as a Dartmouth faculty member include an award in Translational Biomedical Engineering from the Wallace H. Coulter Foundation, a Granite State Technology Innovation Award from the New Hampshire Innovation Research Center, and a Teacher of the Year award from Dartmouth Engineering. He has coauthored more than 60 peer-reviewed papers and is an inventor on six issued US patents and one foreign patent; he also has numerous US and foreign patents pending.

"It is an immense honor to be elected to the NAI as a Senior Member," said Griswold. "The culture of innovation and entrepreneurship at Dartmouth was a key factor in my joining the faculty many years ago, and I am thrilled to now be a contributing member of this translationally oriented community. While this NAI recognition has been given to me, I emphasize that it more broadly reflects the creativity and determination demonstrated by all of my co-inventors, and it further highlights the impact of Dartmouth's deep commitment to intellectual property development and technology transfer. My sincere thanks to colleagues in Technology Transfer and everyone at Dartmouth who makes such achievements possible."

This latest class of NAI Senior Members, comprised of 61 academic inventors, represents 36 research universities, governments, and non-profit research institutes. They are named inventors on 617 issued U.S. patents.

"NAI Member Institutions support some of the most elite innovators on the horizon. With the NAI Senior Member award distinction, we are recognizing innovators who are rising stars in their fields and the innovative ecosystems that support their work," said Paul R. Sanberg, NAI President. "This new class is joining a prolific group of academic visionaries already defining tomorrow."

###

Following a nomination for NAI Senior Member, individuals undergo a rigorous selection process by the NAI Advisory Committee, which is composed of elected NAI members and other professionals considered pioneers in their respective fields. Senior Members are elected biannually.

A full list of NAI Senior Members is available on the NAI website.
FHFA

CUNA President/CEO Jim Nussle discussed CUNA housing priorities and other issues on a call with Federal Housing Finance Administration (FHFA) Director Mark Calabria. Calabrias term as FHFA director runs into 2024.

I thank Director Calabria for his time, and during the call I expressed my appreciation to him for his recent decisions responding to credit union concerns, including over the GSE refinance fee, Nussle said. CUNA and Leagues continue to support efforts to ensure the safety and soundness of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, as well as maintaining credit union access to the secondary mortgage market.

In addition to changes to the refinance fee, the FHFA has recently:
This article appears in the February 12, 2021 issue of Executive Intelligence Review.

IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF GEORGE III

Prince Charles Invented and Runs the Green New Deal

[Print version of this article]

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UN

Feb. 1Prince Charles launched on January 11 the Terra Carta for Nature, People and Planet (Earth Charter), to push through a green genocide program of radical population reduction, shutting down agro-manufacturing production, and building a $40 trillion green speculative-financial bubble, all implemented through a central bankers dictatorship. If this Prince and his associates are not stopped, they will destroy the cognitive powers of man, halt capital-intensive, power intensive development of agriculture and industry, and bring down civilization.

Using the wealth of the House of Windsor, but much more from the City of London-Wall Street banks, insurance companies, and a host of governments, HRH the Prince of Wales has been building toward this strategy for the past five decades.

Charles derives this capability, certainly not from himself, but from being embedded in a network of institutions. One such institution is the monarchy, which consists not just of the royals, but hundreds of persons, from Oxford and Cambridge universities, financial institutions, and law firms. Indeed, the monarchy is embedded in a Quartet consisting of the monarchy, the City of London, the Bank of England, and the intelligence services, which has been in operation since the 1694 creation of the Bank of England.

Charles works with more than a hundred governments, but he emphasizes that corporate private business is necessary to implement his policy, as governments need to and can enunciate the policy, but do not have the power to carry it out. This is an embrace of corporativist-Synarchist top-down control, above and beyond government, as was the case for Hitler, Hjalmar Schacht, and Mussolini.

We look at three pivotal examples that indicate that Prince Charles, and those for whom he is a point person such as the Bank of England and the City of London, are the ones who began to originate and implement the green fascist dictatorship policies, often a full 10-20 years before others knew of them.

The first example is Charles critical role, along with his father, the Royal Consort Prince Philip, and the World Wildlife Fund, in running the precedent-setting 1992 Rio Earth Summit, which set the paradigm of harsh measures to fight the fake Global Warming; the second, is the Prince of Wales setting up of the Green New Deal in Britain in 2008, a full decade before it was allegedly first brought forward in the United States; and the third, is Prince Charles establishing the internal dictatorship of only accounting rules, a fundamental part of the guts of the Great Resets plunge of the world into destruction.

I

Prince Charles, Prince Philip and the WWF Launch the Pioneering Green Genocide of Rios 1992 Earth Summit

I just wonder what it would be like to be reincarnated in an animal whose species had been so reduced in numbers that it was in danger of extinction. What would be its feelings toward the human species whose population explosion had denied it somewhere to exist.... I must confess that I am tempted to ask for reincarnation as a particularly deadly virus.

This was Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Royal Consort of the Queen of England, in his Foreword to the 1987 book, If I Were an Animal by Fleur Cowles.

Philip repeated a variant of the quote in 1988 to the German news agency Deutsche Press Agentur.

Thus the Royal Consort expressed his view, that the lives not worthy to be lived (in the Nazis phrase) include not only the Jews, Gypsies, the seriously ill, and other despised groups, but the entire human populationreserving the need for perhaps several hundred million of the right sort and their servants. Culling the human herdhis utterances constantly returned to this theme.

Philip decided, on behalf of the institution of the British Monarchy which he represented, to bring back the policies of the Nazi regime which had not succeeded in its 1933-45 mission. This would be done under the disguise of environmentalism. These policies included eugenics; the concentration work-camp policies of the Hitler-Hjalmar Schacht regime of looting those beaten down who could be looted, and killing those who could not; and conducting a central bank financial dictatorship, such as that of Hitlers Reichsbank chief Hjalmar Schacht.

The outward aspect of what had been done under Hitler and Schacht, would be changed: the myth would be presented, starting at Rio in 1992, that anthropomorphic climate change requires decarbonization of the world economy. Such a drastic measure would lower the world economys energy-flux density, setting off a downward spiral of disintegration. The onrushing breakdown of the biggest derivatives-laden financial bubble in world history will make consequences even worse.

But the ultimate object targeted for destruction, is mans creative cognitive powers, which is the means for mans discovery of new physical scientific principles, which makes revolutionary scientific advances in the physical economy, which uplifts man out of poverty and into full humanity. It is these principles which man celebrates in classical art and music, and which will allow mankind to lift off from Earth, and extend his dominion over the galaxy. The oligarchy attempts to stifle those powers, and it is those powers that will allow mankind to defeat Prince Charles scheme.

The World Wildlife Fund, later renamed the Worldwide Fund for Nature (WWF), is a nexus that the British Empire had set up in 1961, to organize for green genocide.

Three principal founders give the intent of the organization:

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UNESCO/Claude Bablin

 Julian HuxleyIn 1907, Julian Huxley founded the British Eugenics Education Society in Britain; he was shortly to be joined by H.G. Wells, and Leonard Darwin, one of Charles Darwins sons. The rubble from World War II was still warm when in 1946, he helped create and made himself director of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). In a statement of direction, in a paper called UNESCO: Its purpose and its philosophy, Huxley revealed the intent to revive eugenics:

The dead weight of genetic stupidity, physical weakness, mental instability, and disease-proneness, which already exist in the human species, will prove too great a burden for real progress to be achieved. Thus even though it is quite true that any radical eugenic policy will be for many years politically and psychologically impossible, it will be important for UNESCO to see that the eugenic problem is examined with the greatest care, and that the public mind is informed of the issues at stake so that much that now is unthinkable may at least become thinkable.

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CC/Sander Lamme

 Prince BernhardRoyal Consort to Queen Juliana of the Netherlands, and first WWF president. Having joined the Nazi brownshirts on Hitlers accession in 1933, he moved on to the fierce Schutzstaffel (SS) in 1934. For cosmetic reasons, Bernhard resigned from the SS, but to show that nothing had changed, he signed his resignation letter, Heil Hitler! The Prince worked for the German chemical giant IG Farben, a central cog in the Nazi corporatist machine. He joined the statistics department of IG Farbens Berlin N.W. 7 department, the key Nazi overseas espionage center. In 1935, Bernhard became secretary to Farbens board of directors at its Paris office. Farben developed the gas Zyklon-B, which was used to gas people in the concentration camps starting 1942. In 1937, as a respectable suitor, Bernhard married Queen Juliana of the Netherlands.

 Prince Philipson of Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark, husband of Queen Elizabeth II, and Duke of Edinburgh. Of Philips four older sisters, three were married to German aristocrats who were part of Nazi circles in Germany. Philip appears to have been significantly informed and also involved in these networks. In June 1945, the British Royal Household dispatched a former MI-5 agent, to, in part, try to retrieve (presumably to conceal) Prince Philips wartime correspondence with this network.

Both of Prince Charles parents were products of this Nazi milieu, as Queen Elizabeths father King George VI and his wife were involved in appeasement circles, that at different times during World War II, tried through channels to reach an understanding with the Nazi German regime. There was, notoriously, King Edward VIII, an outright collaborator of the Nazis, who was forced to abdicate in December 1936, to make way for Elizabeths father, King George VI. This informed the upbringing of the Prince of Wales, the heir-to-the-throne.

There were several other environmental organizations: The International Union for the Conservation of Nature, Friends of the Earth, etc. But Prince Philip used the WWF as his home platform for his attempt to transform the world economy.

Prince Charles Transformation:

The 1992 Rio Summit

In 1989, Princes Philip and Bernhard, King Juan Carlos of Spain, and various prominent City of London financiers, decided to hold a singular conference in 1992, the United Nations Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. This WWF crew decided to use the Canadian Maurice Strong, a leading idea promoter for Prince Philip, and a money-raiser for the WWF who had founded the 1001 Club in 1970 as a means for super-wealthy patrons to fund the WWF.

Strong expressed his charming view to the National Review on September 1, 1997:

If we dont change, our species will not survive. Frankly, we may get to the point where the only way of saving the world will be for industrial civilization to collapse.

Consider what Strong must have meant by the world, thus saved, in that statement.

An oil developer in Alberta, first executive director of the United Nations Environment Program, and a leading figure in the WWF, Strong would be the Secretary General of the Earth Summit.

But with Philips and Strongs mentoring, Prince Charles would now take on a leadership role. Charles had delivered his first environmental speech in 1970, at age 22. He then took on more responsibilities. But for the Rio summit, he was placed in a leadership position to personally organize for the conference, overcome differences between nations, and help shape the agenda.

Author Jonathan Dimbleby in his 1994 authorized The Prince of Wales: A Biography, described what happened:

By 1991, the momentum generated by the Princes speeches had secured him an international reputation. In the run-up to the Rio summit, which was planned for 1992, the Prince was determined to have his own input by bringing together key international figures in an attempt to achieve a degree of harmony between the conflicting attitudes of Europe, the United States and the developing nations, led by Brazil. He alighted on the idea of using the royal yacht [the Britannia] as the base for a two-day international seminar at the end of an official tour of Brazil in April 1991.

Among others, he invited Senator Albert Gore; senior officials from the World Bank, chief executives from such as Shell [the Anglo part of the Anglo-Dutch Royal Dutch Shell oil company] and BP [formerly British Petroleum Company]; the principal non-governmental organizations; European politicians, including the British ministers of Overseas Aid and the Environment; and, most important of all, the host of the prospective summit, President Fernando Collor of Brazil.

The Rio Summit, Agenda 21, and Divine Nature

The Rio Earth summit was an extravaganza attended by more than 100 heads of state, and 38,000 people. It made three big shifts.

First, when the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (UN IPCC) was founded in 1988, it defined climate change as any change in climate over time whether due to natural variability or as a result of human activity. But at the Rio Earth Summit, that phrase was replaced by a UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which stated, human activities have been substantially increasing the atmospheric concentration of greenhouse gases.

Second, the Conference adopted a policy called Agenda 21, which stated: All energy sources will need to be used in ways that respect the atmosphere. Agenda 21 was the first UN document to identify roles and responsibilities for local and federal governments to pursue sustainable development, and stated that these governments would have to come up with a way to reduce greenhouse gases by a large percentage, voluntarily. The next UN summit, in 1997 in Kyoto Japan, made these sharp reductions in greenhouse gases of the Agenda 21 mandatorythe Kyoto Protocols.

Third, in a 1992 essay, Maurice Strong evaluated one of the strong points of the 1992 Rio Summit:

It is simply not feasible for sovereignty to be exercised unilaterally by individual nation-states, however powerful. It is a principle which will yield only slowly and reluctantly to the imperatives of global environmental cooperation.

Not only was sovereignty to be abrogated, but Strong gave the 1992 conference a pagan religious undercurrent. At the plenary session, as Secretary-General of the conference he stated:

The responsibility of each human being today is to choose between the force of darkness and the force of light. We must therefore transform our attitudes and values, and adopt a renewed respect for the superior law of Divine Nature.

The Rio Summit was a model-precedent. From that 1992 Earth Summit forward, the UN decided to hold a global conference every five years on either the environment or sustainable development; and the agenda and discussions of those subsequent UN summits were usually framed and based on the principal ideas and agenda of the first 1992 Rio Earth Summit. When the next of the UN sustainable development conferences that was explicitly on the subject of the Earth was held in 2002, it was referred to as Rio+10, and so on.

When Prince Charles played his leading role in 1991-92 for the Rio Earth Summit, he was 44 years old. By comparison, look at what others who are participating in the green finance agenda today were doing: Mark Carney was 27 years old, and working on his economics doctorate at Oxford, while making money at Goldman Sachs. Christine Lagarde was 36 years old, and concentrating on working her way up the financial hierarchy in France. Bernie Sanders first got elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was three years old, and Greta Thunberg wasnt yet born. Charles was the one creating policy.

II

Prince Charles and His Allies

Created the Green New Deal

Common folklore/mythology, backed by the media, has it that Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA), came up with the idea of a Green New Deal in 2017. This was discussed for a few years, and then introduced as a joint resolution into the Congress by Ocasio-Cortez and Markey in February 2019. The Green New Deal is at the heart of the Biden administrations policy initiatives.

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CC/Andy Miah

In truth, the Green New Deal was developed in the United Kingdom explicitly by the policy networks of Prince Charles. Two of the most important men in developing the Green New Deal in Britain, under Charles supervision, are Tony Juniper and Jonathan Porritt, two of the more murderous environmentalists in the world. Juniper and Porritt have both served as Special Adviser to Prince Charles on the environment, and have been in his inner circle for decades. They created the Green New Deal in 2008, and exported it to the United States.

We now look in turn, at Juniper and Porritt, and then how they created the Green New Deal. They might be called the Prince of Wales little green men.

Author Jonathan Dimbleby wrote in the authorized biography cited above, about Charles inner circle:

By this time [1986], the Prince had started to form around him a core of environmentalist advisers, which he described in a letter to a friend as a small team of knowledgeable people who can help me put as much pressure on international agencies, governments, and so on, via speeches, lunches, and dinners, as possible.

Most prominent are Juniper and Porritt.

From 1992 until 2008, Tony Juniper led many of the operations of the eco-extremist Friends of the Earth (FOE), including serving from 2003 to 2008 as the director of FOEs United Kingdom operations. Juniper was also a leader of Britains Green Party. Charles chose Juniper to co-author/ghost-write two of Charles books: Harmony (2010), and Climate Change (2017).

Juniper led the entire operation to have the Parliament of the United Kingdom adopt the Climate Change Act of 2008, one of the first laws of its kind anywhere in the world. The Act made it the duty of the British Secretary of State to ensure that the net UK carbon account for all six Kyoto greenhouse gasescarbon dioxide (CO 2 ), methane (CH 4 ), nitrous oxide (N 2 O), hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and sulfur hexafluoride (SF 6 )for the year 2050 is at least 80% lower than the 1990 baseline, supposedly to avoid dangerous climate change. This follows from the 1997 Kyoto Protocols, which in turn follow from the terms set by Prince Charles 1992 Rio Summit. The January 26, 2019 Times of London referred to Juniper as Prince Charles Green Champion.

Jonathan Porritt was a leading member of Britains radical Ecology Party since its founding in 1976, and its director as of 1979. In 1985, the party underwent a name change to the Green Party of England and Wales, and for a time, he was co-chairman. In 1986, Charles anointed Porritt as his trusted adviser, meaning that Charles and Porritt have worked together for 35 years. In 2000, Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair made Porritt the inaugural chair of Britains newly created Sustainable Development Commission (SDC), whose charge was to advise the UK on steps to be taken towards sustainable development, including cutting physical-economic production to reduce greenhouse gases. Porritt served as chairman of SDC for nine years.

But by far, the most dangerous feature of Porritt, which makes him most endearing to the Prince of Wales, is that he is one of the most open ultra-Malthusians in the world, calling, in effect, for halving the worlds population. In 2008, Porritt became a patron (effectively a director) of the Optimum Population Trust, which is perhaps the worlds leading advocate for genocide. According to the March 22, 2009 Times of London, Porritt delivered a speech in which he praised research by the Optimum Population Trust, suggesting that the UKs population must be cut to 30 million [from then 62 millioned.] if the country wants to feed itself sustainably. In November 2018 Porritt became president of the OPT, now renamed Population Matters.

For all this work, upon Charles recommendation, Queen Elizabeth designated Porritt a Commander of the British Empire (CBE).

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CC/John Cairns

The other patrons of Population Matters make clear its murderous intent. One patron is Sir David Attenborough, who has been described by several media as effectively a member of the Royal Family. Attenborough has been a father-figure and adviser to Charles since Charles was 8. He is one of Queen Elizabeths closest non-Royal friends and trusted advisers. Attenborough has stated:

The human population can no longer be allowed to grow in the same old uncontrolled way. If we do not take charge of our population size, then nature will do it for us.

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CC/Jay Cross

Another patron is Dame Jane Goodall, who prefers apes to people. A third is Paul Ehrlich, author of the discredited 1968 farce, The Population Bomb, who has publicly advocated reducing the worlds population by several billion people.

This fully resonates with the Prince of Wales. In a speech on June 10, 2010 to his Oxford [University] Center for Islamic Studies, Charles vented that the population of Lagos in Nigeria has risen from 300,000 to 20 million during his lifetime. He continued, I could have chosen Mumbai, Cairo, or Mexico City; wherever you look, the worlds population is increasing fast. He then said the Earth could not sustain us all, particularly in the developing sector if a vast proportion is consuming natural resources at Western levels. President Barack Obama copied Charles remarks in a tirade to young Africans a few years later.

Britains Green New Deal and Its Program

Under the supervision and ideology of Charles, Porritt, and Juniperalong with some others, particularly the leftist New Economics Foundationthe Green New Deal was created in 2008, to serve as the program for Britain, but especially as a basic template for the American one, which imitated its broad outline and several of its particulars.

The imprimatur of Charles is shown by four of the eight directors of Britains Green New Deal group in 2008:

 Tony Juniperdirector/initiator.

 Caroline Lucasdirector. Lucas was recruited as a protege of genocidalist Porritt. Lucas herself reported that she was utterly inspired by reading Porritts book Seeing Green and therefore decided to join the Green Party. She thought, Im going there now. Im going to dedicate myself to this [Green Party]. Porritt was the dominant force in the Green Party. Lucas would become Green Member of Parliament for Brighton Pavilion, and helped launch the Green New Deal.

 Charles Secrettdirector. His curriculum vitae says that Secrett is Senior Associate of the University of Cambridge Programme for Sustainability Leadership (CISL). Not only is Charles the patron and dominant force of this CISL, but he is working with CISL on a program for Rewiring the Economy by sustainability. And it is this which has lately been renamed by many, The Great Reset.

 Colin Hinesinitiator/director. Hines was an ongoing collaborator of Jonathan Porritt. They issued a joint paper in the November 2017 Journal of Population and Sustainability titled Progressive Parties in the UK Must Now Address the Immigration Challenge Head-On if Brexit Is to Be Avoided. Porritt commented that the paper argues that leftists and liberals should get real about the population problem.

As for the program, Britains Green New Deal called for government-led investment in energy efficiency and microgeneration which would make every building a power station; the creation of green jobs to enable low-carbon infrastructure reconstruction; a windfall profit tax on oil and gas companies to provide revenue for government spending on renewable energy and energy efficiency; providing financial incentives for green investment and reduced energy usage. It also called for Ensuring more realistic fossil fuel prices that include the cost to the environment, and are high enough to tackle climate change; the recommendation was for carbon taxes. Reflecting input from the New Economics Foundation, it also called for breaking up the mega-banks, and increased scrutiny on financial derivatives.

The moniker Green New Dealfalsely associating it with Franklin Rooseveltthe call for a large-scale shift to green energy; cutting out carbon-based fuels and related production; and creating green jobsall this was the remit of Charles and his little green men Porritt and Juniper and premised on radical population reduction. Export to America was intended.

III

Imposing the Reporting

Mechanism for the Reset

Toward Bankers Dictatorship

Prince Charles, acting on behalf of the financier power, the Bank of England, et al., has, since 2004, drawn up and attempted to enforce with increasing intensity, a body of green accounting-integrated reporting rules, upon industrial and energy corporations, farms, etc. This is called taxonomy in green finance circles. He has created, or modified existing regulatory bodies, endowing them with the authority to impose harsh penalties upon corporations that dont comply with anti-greenhouse gas accounting ruleswhich could place non-abiding corporations into bankruptcy. In Charles world, all physical production increases anthropogenic Climate Change. Man violates primitive Nature through scientific progress.

The skeptic rejoins, How are accounting/reporting rules, which are the provenance of accountants, finance teams, insurance companies and the like, going to force companies to go green? It all looks mushy.

Charles had helped organize the UNs 1992 Rio Summit on Climate change, keenly followed the 1997 UN Kyoto Climate Change conference, and had spoken at the 2002 UN World Summit on Sustainable Development. Charles thought that these conferences were valuable in setting parameters for climate change regulations, but corporations could pay lip service, and then evade the proposed rules, with no penalty to themselves. Thus the rules would for the most part, never go into effect. He believes rulescalled integrated reporting ruleshave to be surgically inserted into corporations, to make them comply and not evade. Corporations must reveal every significant investment or expenditure they made from the standpoint of whether it would increase Climate change.

In 2004, Charles and HSBC Bank (the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation), the worlds leading drug bank, founded Accounting for Sustainability, or A4S. On its website A4S states, under the heading Why Sustainability and Finance:

[Corporate] finance teams are an asset to their organization and a vital element in building a sustainable world. To live up to this potential they need to recognize the risks and opportunities associated with sustainability and be able to act on them.

Finance teams in an organization are critical in an organization because they control the flows of money and finance that are critical in enabling or blocking what the organization does. [Emphasis added.]

Finance teams could control the flows of money: Charles and the City of London wanted them to depart fossil fuel-based electricity, manufacturing, infrastructure, and scientific research and development, and move into a burgeoning green speculative bubble.

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Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark

To make this work, Charles and his team developed a series of integrated reporting risks, risks which would supposedly say how dangerous an investment is, strictly from the standpoint of whether it would allegedly increase Climate Change. These are some of what are officially called physical risks, legacy risks, financial risks, production risks, competitive risks, litigation risks, and reputational risks.

The production of fossil fuel-fired electricity by energy companies is supposed to produce CO 2 emissions and global warming, therefore they are assigned a high physical risk, which is posted in their integrated reporting statement. Simultaneously, environmental organizations are targeting fossil fuel-fired electricity plants for shut-down.

But what about a machine tool company whose energy is supplied by a fossil-fuel energy-fired electricity plant? It is now loaded with the sin of transmitting the physical risks of the fossil-fuel electricity company, abetting the fossil-fuel plant by purchasing electricity from it. Further, what about the bank/financial institution that lends to the machine tool company whose fuel source is fossil fuels? It has risks attributed to the fossil fuel plant and machine tool companies, and, according to the accountants, it also faces financial risks, because the fossil-fuel plant and the machine tool company may go under, and default, due to their irremediable risks. And the bank or financial institutional faces reputational and litigation risks, because a group of its stockholders may sue it for contributing to global warming.

A company can be assigned a risk for any activity that contributes to global warming, no matter how many steps removed from the supposed global warming-initiating incident it is.

Previously companies reported on their accounting statements and balance sheets, only profit and loss, the size of borrowings and investments, etc., and the financial risks that the company could accrue, based on losses in its business operations.

Now risk management teams which the companies have been compelled to hire, may report to the companys board of directors that the company has serious risks that threaten its stability. Heads of government regulatory bodies, whose teeth have been sharpened on environmentalism, may rule that the company is not in compliance, and must make immediate changes. Credit rating agencieslike S&P Global Ratings (previously Standard & Poors) and Moodys Investor Servicemay strip away positive credit ratings. A company will fear being accidentally or otherwise caught up in regulatory action which would cause them to be delisted, put out of business or even prosecuted.

These climate change-connected risks are still in the voluntary phase, but in 2021, some regulatory agencies are pushing to make them mandatory.

All told, the corporatist alliance he pulled together in the leading and most powerful financial institutions in the world, represented combined assets under management, or in the case of banks, direct assets of the bank, totaling more than $30 trillion. The organizations that he lined up to support his objectives had a combined membership of more than 9 million people.

Charles, his personal advisers and academic advisers from Oxford and Cambridge see these climate change-related risks as the inner disciplinary mechanism that will force companies to shut down production, shift to regressive technologies like windmills, and invest in a worthless green speculative bubble. In the 1990s and the first decade of the 21st Century, almost no one outside of Prince Charles saw the value of this mechanism. Charles now had to get it into the mainstream, through getting mass corporativist support for his plan, and then get the plan to be made mandatory. This required creating the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosure, nestled within the Bank for International Settlements. That part of the plan was achieved in 2015. How?

Creation of Accounting for Sustainability

As noted, Prince Charles established the Accounting for Sustainability (A4S) in 2004 with the support of the HSBC bank (Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank, with an infamous history in the Opium Wars). HSBC lent Prince Charles one Russell Picot, who would be a shared asset, and whom Charles would deploy over the next dozen years. Picot would become HSBCs Chief Accounting Officer. As the July 2019 By All Accounts magazine reported:

The opportunity to combine [Picots] personal convictions with the environmental and social aspects of reporting came in 2004 when the Prince of Wales invited HSBCs chairman, along with some other corporates, to help set up Accounting for Sustainability.

Picot heaped praise on Charles, saying The Prince is an extraordinary man. He has championed environmental and climate issues for many decades.

Charles A4S set up the Accounting Bodies Network (ABN) as a collaboration between A4S and professional bodies across the globe, including most of the top accounting bodies in the world. Together the Network represents over 2.5 million professional accountants and students across 179 countries, representing two-thirds of the worlds accountants; they support the A4S agenda.

Moreover, through A4S and other organizations he controlled, such as the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability, Prince Charles established specialized organizations that ran the gamut behind his integrated reporting objective: organizations for pension managers; for Chief Financial Officers (called the CFO Leadership Network); for bankers, asset managers, and bond fund investors; for leaders of insurance companies (called ClimateWise); a Center for Sustainable Finance; and so forth.

All told, the corporatist alliance he pulled together in the leading and most powerful financial institutions in the world, represented combined assets under management, or in the case of banks, direct assets of the bank, totaling more than $30 trillion. The organizations that he lined up to support his objectives had a combined membership of more than 9 million people.

In 2010, Charles launched the International Integrated Reporting Council (IIRC), for the sole purpose of bludgeoning corporations and national governments to adopt integrated reporting. His shared asset Russell Picot took a seat on the IIRC steering committee; Sir Michael Peat, Principal Private Secretary to the Prince of Wales, was made IIRCs chairman.

Taking Over Mark and Diana Carney

Mark Carney, former Governor of the Bank of England (2013-2020), is one of the most powerful central bankers of the 21st Century. Carney also served simultaneously as chairman (2011-2018) of the Financial Stability Board (headquartered at the Bank for International Settlements in Switzerland). But Carney became a strong and open supporter of Green Finance only after Prince Charles had indoctrinated and taken him over. Charles was assisted in this by the fact that Diana Fox Carney, the bankers wife and frequently described as an eco-warrior, answers to the Prince both as chair of the Trustees of Ashden (he is its royal patron, Porritt and Attenborough are her fellow trustees); and as board member of the World Wildlife Fund-UKs Council of Ambassadors. Prince Charles now heads the WWF, founded by his father.

Through Carney, Prince Charles has created the most powerful banker enforcement arm to date for the Green New Deal. This is the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures, which includes 34 central banks and large private banks and funds, headed by Carney and Sir Michael Bloomberg. Carney aggressively demands that banks enforce the taxonomy to cut down all fossil fuel investment, saying repeatedly that companies that dont comply will cease to exist.

The story of Prince Charles takeover of Carneys activity is sketched in EIRs October 18, 2019 profile, Mark Carney, the Prince (Charles) of Central Bankers.

Carneys words at Charles 70th birthday gathering in 2018 are indicative:

It is to HRHs credit that this happy occasion is marked by a serious discussion of the risks and opportunities posed by climate change and the transition to a low-carbon economy. His Royal Highness has provided inspirational leadership on these critical issues for decades. Indeed if we had heeded his advice when it was first offered, we might have already solved the Tragedy of the Horizon!

I have had the great pleasure of engaging with HRH on a number of occasions, and I can think of few people more knowledgeable about the sustainability agenda or as committed to it. Four years ago, he rightly put me on the spot, highlighting that climate-related risks will have serious financial impacts, and asking what regulators were doing about them. HRHs challenges are even more germane today as the impacts of climate change continue to mount and the time to act continues to shorten. [Emphases added.]

In 2017, this central bankers task force began issuing recommendations to companies to aid them in their disclosures of pertinent information related to climate-related risks. The adoption of these integrated reporting disclosures would be voluntary. But in November 2020, the Bank of England issued this statement:

The Bank of England, jointly with the other members of the GovernmentRegulator TCFD Taskforce, set up to examine the most effective way to approach climate-related financial disclosures, has published an interim report setting out an indicative path towards mandatory climate-related disclosures across the UK economy, aligned with the recommendations of the Taskforce on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD). [Emphasis added.]

This is the iron enforcement mechanismforcing corporations and financial institutions to move out of physical production for human existence, and into an immense green speculative bubblethat the green bankers dictatorship depends upon.

In the summer of 2018, the huge Wall Street fund manager BlackRock, Inc. took the side of the Prince and Carney, teaming with the latter at the Federal Reserves Jackson Hole, Wyoming annual bankers conference to add a deadly new tactic, which the BlackRock executives themselves called regime change. Central banks should take the field of fiscal spending away from governments which are slow to act. BlackRocks role in Charles re-wiring is dealt with in the next section of this report.
APC has been in crisis in Zamfara State.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has expressed its readiness for its membership registration and revalidation exercise in Zamfara State.

The chairman of the state caretaker committee of the party, Lawal Liman, stated this in Gusau on Wednesday at a meeting on the exercise in the state.

Mr Liman commended the Chairman of the National Membership Registration Committee, Umar Kareta, and his team, who were deployed to Zamfara.

"I call on our members to come out en-masse and participate in the registration and revalidation exercise for the development of the party.

"On Thursday, we are going to embark on step-down training for the exercise at the 14 local government areas of the state.

"The next day, the training will move to the 147 wards and the 2,516 polling units across the state.

"After the training, the exercise will commence fully.

"I am, therefore, appealing for your support and cooperation for the success of the exercise," Mr Liman said.

Also, Mr Kareta expressed delight with the arrangement made by the party for the exercise.

He commended the party's officials in the state for the unity and cooperation within the party.

"This is an indication of the party's victory in the next election," Mr Kareta said.

Giving a vote of thanks on behalf of the APC stakeholders in Zamfara, Sirajo Maikatako, gave an assurance of their continued support and cooperation to ensure the success of the exercise.

Mr Maikatako expressed delight with the peace and reconciliation of factions of the party in the state, saying this is a welcome development. (NAN)
The 1918 influenza pandemic provides a cautionary tale for what the future may hold for COVID-19, says a Michigan State University researcher.

After a decade studying a flu virus that killed approximately 15,000 Michigan residents, Siddharth Chandra, a professor in MSU's James Madison College, saw his research come to life as he watched the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"It was so surreal," said Chandra, who has a courtesy appointment in epidemiology and biostatistics. "All of a sudden, I was living my research."

Chandra's research is published in the American Journal of Public Health with co-authors Julia Christensen, a graduate of James Madison College; Madhur Chandra, Senior Community Epidemiologist with the Ingham County Health Department and graduate of the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics at MSU; and Nigel Paneth, professor of epidemiology and biostatistics and pediatrics at MSU.

Using influenza infection and mortality data on Michigan from 1918-1920, Chandra identified four distinct waves. The first large peak was in March 1918. "After a second spike in cases in October 1918, the governor instituted a statewide ban on public gatherings," Chandra said. "Much like the restrictions that were put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic."

After three weeks, the number of cases decreased and the ban was lifted, which led to another peak in December 1918. "The ban didn't stop the spread of the flu. It just delayed the spike in cases," he said.

Chandra mapped the data showing the peaks and spikes in cases from October 1918 and December 1918 and tracked flu virus case growth by county over time. In October, counties in the southern part of the state and near the Mackinac Straits had the highest numbers but by December, the highest numbers of cases were in the heart of the state.

The most surprising piece of data came 18 months later in February 1920, when a statewide explosion of cases created a massive spike even larger than the one in October 1918. For Chandra, it is an educated guess as to the reasons for this delayed increase.

Assuming it's the same influenza virus, World War I ended in 1918 and the men were coming home to their families. We had a mobile agent that brought the virus home to infect family members, which would explain the increase in cases among children and the elderly." Siddharth Chandra, Professor, James Madison College, Michigan State University

Unfortunately, there is not a way to confirm this, Chandra noted. "We would need samples from patients in 1920 from across the state. Then, we would need to compare those with samples from patients in 1918 from across the state, and that's not likely to happen."

The weather may have also been a factor since cool temperatures with low humidity likely provided optimal conditions for the virus to live and spread. Another factor that played a role was the absence of a vaccine.

"In 1918, there was no hope for a vaccine. In 2021, we have a vaccine available," he said.

One of the key insights from the 1918 pandemic that can inform the public health response to the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic is the number of people who are susceptible to the virus. Which means that it is possible that a spike like the February 1920 one will occur in late 2021 or early 2022.

"So many people will remain susceptible until they get vaccinated," Chandra said. "Bad things can still happen a year or two from now even if we see a decrease in the number of cases now. We still have over 200 million people walking around who are susceptible to the virus, including myself."

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Dr. Isatou Touray, the Vice President of The Gambia, has called for close collaboration among stakeholders in the fight against Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in The Gambia.

"Ending FGM requires collaboration among the large group of stakeholders, among these are policy makers, civil society organizations, teachers, health workers, traditional leaders, religious leaders, law enforcement and the judiciary as well," she said.

The VP made these remarks on Tuesday, 9th February, 2021, marking International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation under the theme: "No Time for Global Inaction: Unite, Fund and Act to End FGM Now."

Each year, February 6th marks the International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). The commemoration of this day marks a significant moment as the world recognizes that FGM is truly a universal issue.

Madam Touray said funding required to address FGM cannot be compared to the benefit in preserving a girl's body dignity and integrity, her health and her right to say no to violation.

"I therefore call on our development partners, philanthropists and concerned citizens to support this campaign to protect the Girl child," she said.

"We must act quickly and continuously to ensure that girls have access to education, health and let us encourage the leadership skills of adult girls and their male peers and empower them to speak out and say enough to all forms of violence on their bodies."

The Gambia's VP said the government will join hands with NGOs, CSOs and other agencies to cover the remaining regions to abandon FGM and to become the agents of change in their communities.
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Many Vietnamese companies have developed IT applications for COVID-19 prevention and control and online learning during the pandemic.

Bkav Electronic Joint Stock Company developed the Bluezone application to warn smartphone coming in close contact with diagnosed COVID-19 patients.(Photo: VNA)

Since early 2020, the Quang Trung Software City has been using an automatic body temperature measurement system it installed at TMA Building and Building 1.

It warns using sound and images when someone walks in with a fever of 37.5 degree Celsius or more.

It said the system should be used at all buildings and quarantine areas in place of people carrying digital thermometers to reduce the risk of transmission.

QTSC has also developed a system for face identification, which sets off an alarm if someone not wearing a mask enters a building.

QTSC has integrated the functions of face identification and temperature measurement in a system it installs for a rent of 3.5 million VND (151 USD) monthly or sells at 35-70 million VND (1,511- 3,023 USD).

Bkav Electronic Joint Stock Company developed the Bluezone application to warn smartphone coming in close contact with diagnosed COVID-19 patients. The app has been downloaded by 27 million people, according to Ministry of Health.

The company is collaborating with relevant agencies in the healthcare sector to constantly update information about the location of COVID-19 patients or those suspected to be infected and those from disease-hit areas with symptoms like fever, cough and breathing difficulties.

It also provides the addresses and phone numbers of the nearest health facilities and offers counselling on the disease and health declaration requirements.

The Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group (VNPT), the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Information and Communications and IT companies have jointly developed an NCOVI application for health declaration.

VNPT also developed an e-learning app used during the COVID-19 outbreaks that helps teachers digitise their syllabus, set up electronic lesson plans, track students learning, know their attendance, and test them.

It automatically shows what is wrong when students do tests.

Besides, parents can get their childrens learning history to supervise.

Other companies such as FPT and Viettel have also developed e-learning apps.

According to Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung, 38 Vietnamese-made digital platforms including NCOVI, Bluezone and e-learning and telemedicine ones have been used.

The country is probably among the ones with the highest number of digital platforms in the world, he added./.VNS
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - February 11, 2021) -Hill Street Beverage Company Inc. (TSXV: BEER) ("Hill Street" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has appointed Raymond Bisaillon to the board of directors of the Company.

Jack Fraser, Chairman of the Board stated, "We are very excited to welcome Raymond to the Board of Directors of Hill Street, as his past success & fresh approach to this rapidly expanding sector compliments the talents of the company's already rich assets."

His appointment comes at a time when Hill Street is poised to leverage the recent acquisition of the exclusive rights to Lexaria's ground-breaking DehydraTECHTM patent portfolio on a global basis. Mr. Bisaillon commented that "I am of the strong belief that DehydraTech is the safest, healthiest and most simple method to infuse the numerous attributes of the Cannabis plant into the bloodstream and am thrilled to partner with Hill Street Beverage Company in expediting the commercialization of this valuable patented technology. I am excited to help guide Hill Street Beverage Company through the next phase of its growth to become a unique shareholder friendly, health conscious, profitable Company."

Raymond Bisaillon

Mr. Bisaillon is a calculated, thoughtful, philanthropic entrepreneur and private investor who has had a successful passion for investing since an early age. In his quest to follow in the footsteps of legendary investors, he has taken calculated risks in excellent businesses that possess a unique competitive advantage.

As a proud graduate of Laurentian University, Raymond was fortunate to have been selected to represent the country of Canada as a member of AISEC in Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Vitoria and Salvador Brazil in 1997. In 1998, he was a Canadian Student Ambassador in the Sichuan Province of China to encourage International Trade Relations.

Upon graduation in 1999, Raymond worked as a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) and Canadian Investment Manager (CIM) with Industrial Alliance Insurance and then in 2002 as a Senior Financial Advisor with CIBC Imperial Service. In 2012, he launched Bisaillon Asset Management Inc, a full-service Financial Planning Firm in Sudbury ON.

About Hill Street Beverage Company Inc. (TSXV: BEER)

Hill Street Beverage Company is a leading and award-winning company focused on alcohol-free beer, wine, and adult-format beverages. Hill Street's brands include Hill Street Craft Brewed Lager, Vin(Zero) and Vintense wines, and have won numerous medals and accolades around the world. Hill Avenue Cannabis, the Company's wholly-owned subsidiary, will produce and sell cannabis-infused adult beverages and other cannabis products with expected distribution at licensed outlets in 2021. Check out Hill Street's award-winning line-up and order product to be delivered straight to your home at www.hillstreetbeverages.com.

For further information:

Jack Fraser, Chairman of the Board, Hill Street Beverage Company Inc.,

jack@hillstreetbevco.com

Follow Hill Street on Twitter https://twitter.com/hillstreetbevco

and on Facebook http://facebook.com/hillstreetbevco

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U.S. Capitol Police deploy during the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden in Washington on Jan. 20, 2021. (Allison Dinner/AFP via Getty Images)

Capitol Police to Hold No Confidence Vote in Its Leadership on Thursday

The U.S. Capitol Police announced it will hold a vote of no confidence this week over multiple officials in its senior ranks, more than a month after the Capitol building was breached by a group of rioters amid the counting of electoral votes on Jan. 6.

According to the Capitol Police, while the vote does not compel any specific action, it does speak to the sentiment and concerns of some of our officers that our senior commanders are working to address.

Acting Chief Yogananda Pittman will be among the officials the vote is aimed at, the department announced. Pittman became acting police chief on Jan. 8 after Steven Sund announced his resignation from the position on Jan. 7.

The no confidence vote was called by the executive board of the Capitol Police Labor Committee (Capitol Police union). The vote is also being aimed against other members of the departments senior leadership, including Assistant Chief Chad Thomas, acting Assistant Chief Sean Gallagher, and Deputy Chiefs Timothy Bowen, Jeffrey Pickett, and Eric Waldow.

Gus Papathanasiou, the Capitol Police union chairman, said in a statement, The enormity of the multiple leadership failures both in leading up to the insurrection, and in the Departments response to it, have convinced us there is no other choice. The leadership has failed us, and we have paid a terrible price.

The Capitol Police union previously pointed out that Pittman had acknowledged in her testimony to Congress over the Jan. 6 event that the Department knew that the January 6th event would not be like any of the previous protests held in 2020.

We knew that militia groups and white supremacists organizations would be attending, she also told the House Appropriations Committee on Jan. 26. We also knew that some of these participants were intending to bring firearms and other weapons to the event. We knew that there was strong potential for violence and that Congress was the target.

The Capitol Police in its announcement on Feb. 10 said that the Jan. 6 riots on Capitol grounds were tragic and heartbreaking and acknowledged that two officers had died while others were subjected to inexcusable violence during the attack.

Since the appointment of Acting Chief Pittman two days after the attack, she and her executive team took quick action to improve intelligence and operational communications with all officers, the Capitol Police announced. The team is also offering counseling and wellness support to all Department employees, including family members given the emotional toll so many are experiencing.

The Capitol Police added that since Pittmans appointment, she has met with officers from every division and has grieved with the families and loved ones of the officers who died.

U.S. Capitol Police Acting Chief Yogananda Pittman departs at the conclusion of a congressional tribute to the late Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick who lies in honor in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, on Feb. 3, 2021. (Erin Schaff-Pool/Getty Images)

Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick died on Jan. 7 after he sustained injuries while physically engaging with protesters on Jan. 6, after which he returned to this division office and collapsed, the Capitol police said in a previous statement.

Capitol Police Officer Howard Liebengood, a 15-year veteran of the Capitol police, later died of suicide on Jan. 9 while off-duty. Liebengood was on duty during the riots at the Capitol.

The vote, to take place on Thursday and Friday, comes a week after Sicknick was laid in honor in the Capitol Rotunda.

Former President Donald Trump had offered to deploy 10,000 National Guard troops in Washington D.C. prior to Jan. 6, the day of the Capitol building breach, on multiple occasions last month, but his offer was rebuked every time, White House chief of staff Mark Meadows recently told Fox News.

The Pentagon and the office of Washington mayor Muriel Bowser didnt immediately respond to requests for comment by The Epoch Times.

Isabel van Brugen contributed to this report.
A parade of snowstorms is threatening to roll through the Eastern U.S. over the next few days while bitter cold stabs through the heart of the country, driving temperatures below freezing all the way to Houston.

A system will sweep out of the Ohio Valley Friday, bringing freezing rain and ice across the central Appalachian Mountains and likely passing south of Washington. Another one will work its way up the East Coast late Saturday into Sunday, but it isn't clear whether it will bring rain, sleet, snow or a frigid mixture. And a third storm will arrive in the Northeast, hitting New York and elsewhere on Monday to Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service.

Temperatures, meanwhile, are forecast to be 30 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit (17 to 22 Celsius) below normal through the central U.S. as frigid air spills down from the Arctic. In the Northeast, where a gentle snow fell early Thursday, temperatures will be 10 to 15 degrees lower through next week.

"The core of the Arctic air is just sitting over the north central U.S.," said Dan Pydynowski, a meteorologist with AccuWeather Inc. "It will be diving southward down the Plains all the way right into Texas and the Gulf Coast by early next week."

Prices for natural gas, propane and heating oil, fuels used to heat homes, are surging as the cold sets in. Spot gas at the Waha hub in Texas traded at a two-year high Monday while, at Boston's Algonquin City Gate hub, prices neared a two-year high. Demand for propane has surged to its highest since 2004.

Temperatures in Houston will fall to 28 degrees Sunday and 12 in Dallas, the National Weather Service said. Highs in New York will linger in the low- to mid-30s through the weekend as a series of storms pushes west to east across the U.S.

"We are in an unsettled weather pattern," said Brian Ciemnecki, a Weather Service meteorologist in New York. "The main story is the cold and the unsettled pattern."

The chilly weather sent natural gas prices higher with March deliveries sold on the Henry Hub, the U.S. Benchmark, trading Thursday morning above $3 per million British thermal units.

Prices went even higher on the spot market where traders reported natural gas for next-day delivery on the Henry Hub being sold above $5, while bids for next-day gas on the Permian Basin's Waha Hub were seen has high as $12.

The average spot price for electricity in North Texas climbed 1,362% to $474.92 a megawatt-hour Thursday at 8:11 a.m. local time, according to data compiled by Genscape Inc. If that price holds, it will be the highest since Dec. 26, 2016.

Propane stockpiles have tumbled amid the cold, with inventories of the fuel sliding to the lowest since April 2019 last week, government data released Wednesday showed. The drawdown will likely support even higher prices, which may dent exports and prompt petrochemical plants to use a cheaper feedstock like ethane.

The cold snap stems from a sudden stratospheric warming event high above the North Pole, which led to a weakening of the polar vortex, the girdle of winds that traps frigid air in the Arctic. Making the situation worse is a block in the atmosphere over Greenland that's holding the cold in the U.S. It also weakened the Pacific jet stream, which had been keeping winter mild through much of December and January.

The only places in the contiguous U.S. that will be able to avoid the chill will be parts of California and Florida. The cold will get to the east and west, probably bringing snow to Seattle this week and potentially the East Coast next week.There are indications the deepest cold will begin to relax by February 20. By March and April the weather could begin to moderate and the U.S. could see a milder spring.

After hours of arguing former President Donald Trump incited the deadly Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, House Democrats serving as prosecutors in his impeachment trial presented a never-before-seen video of the riot from inside the halls of Congress.

The footage, which was taken from Capitol security cameras during the siege, showed the moment the violent mob of Trump supporters first broke through the windows and doors of the Capitol building.

A lone police officer could be seen using pepper spray but quickly retreating as the insurrectionists, including a man in full tactical body armor and carrying a baseball bat, flooded inside.

In another video, Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman, who was responding to the initial breach, could be seen passing Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, who was inadvertently walking toward the rioters on the second floor. After Goodman alerted him, the senator turned and started running in the other direction.

On the first floor, just below them, the mob had already started to search for the Senate chamber, said Stacey Plaskett, a Democratic House delegate from the Virgin Islands who introduced the new video evidence.

The footage was timestamped 2:13 p.m., just minutes after Vice President Mike Pence  who was presiding over the certification of the election results  was evacuated from the Senate chamber.

Vice President Mike Pence is evacuated from his Senate office during the Jan. 6 attack at the U.S. Capitol. (via Reuters)

Hey, where they counting the votes? some of the rioters could be asking as they took over the building.

Other security footage showed Pence being whisked away by Secret Service amid the siege.

The Democratic impeachment managers also played radio communications between police officers pleading for help as they were overtaken by the mob.

Before the footage was played, Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., the Democrats lead impeachment manager, warned that the imagery would be graphic.

Democrats have relied heavily on videos in an effort to prove Trump incited the attempted insurrection. On Tuesday, they showed a 13-minute video montage that stitched together cellphone videos of the Jan. 6 attack and remarks from Trump encouraging his supporters to fight like hell at the rally that preceded it.

"The evidence will show you that ex-president Trump was no bystander, Raskin said in his opening argument. The evidence will show that he clearly incited the January 6 insurrection. It will show that Donald Trump surrendered his role of commander-in-chief and became the inciter-in-chief."

____

Read more from Yahoo News:
In the next four years, the Middle East will be a different place from what it was under Trump. Gone are the days of impunity in exchange for total acquiescence, notably in connection with how the previous American administration pushed hard to sell the Arabs its peace plan to settle the Palestinian conflict with Israel.

Last Thursday, the newly elected Joe Biden visited the State Department, signalling his commitment to diplomacy as Washingtons foremost foreign policy tool  a dramatic and very welcome change considering how American diplomacy was from 2017 to 2020, when it was difficult to discern the true objectives of Trumps foreign policy. In fact, one could hardly recognise the United States during his one-term presidency, and the lack of American leadership turned the Middle East into a free-for-all at the expense of regional security and stability and lack of progress in solving decade-old crises and conflicts. Except for serving Israeli national security interests, incoherence and inconsistency were the hallmarks of American foreign policy.

President Biden has charted a new course for the United States in the Middle East, reformulating the American system of alliances in the region and setting out clear directions for American diplomacy. He just may manage to achieve greater coherence and consistency between means and ends.

Take two examples. First, the war in Yemen and American relations with Saudi Arabia. In his first foreign policy speech as president, on 4 February, Biden said that this war has to end. And to underscore our commitment, he went on, we are ending all American support for offensive operations in Yemen, including relevant arms sales. Given Washingtons position on this under Trump, this new policy is nothing short of a revolution. In the meantime, President Biden appointed a veteran diplomat, Timothy Lenderking, as his special envoy to Yemen, pointing out that Ambassador Lenderking will be working with the United Nations and all parties to the conflict to push for a diplomatic solution. This position by the Biden administration is a far cry from the position of either Obama or Trump.

To avoid any of the diplomats he was addressing misunderstanding his position, however, Biden did clarify that the United States would continue defending Saudi Arabia against attacks. He said that this Gulf country faces missile attacks  and other threats from Iranian supplied forces, and that the United States is going to continue to support and help Saudi Arabia defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity and its people.

On the other hand, the American president added, the United States Agency for International Development (AID) would also work to ensure humanitarian aid reached Yemeni people suffering unendurable devastation. Moreover, the American administration is reviewing the designation by the Trump administration of the Houthis as a terrorist organization, a designation that was announced at the very end Trumps term in office. It is more than likely that the Biden administration will reverse its course in this regard. In the meantime, the Treasury Department approved a licence to allow all transactions with the Houthis disregarding , indirectly , the designation .

Considering all these new elements, the odds are that all the parties to the Yemeni armed conflict will reconsider their positions and recommit to the implementation of related United Nations resolutions. The war in Yemen has reached stalemated that is counterproductive in relation to the national interests of all parties concerned.

On Friday 5 February, Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke with his Saudi counterpart, Faisal Bin Farhan Al Saud, to discuss regional security, counterterrorism and cooperation to deter and defend against attacks on Saudi Arabia, according to a readout by the State Department on 6 February. In that readout, Secretary Blinken outlined some key priorities for the Biden administration, namely elevating human rights questions and ending the war in Yemen. I believe the Saudis will look seriously into readjusting their policies now.

The second example of new directions in American foreign policy in the Middle East is the Palestinian question, which has been prey to the combined and well-orchestrated scheming by both Trump and Netanyahu to nip the two-state solution in the bud. In the course of 2020, the Trump administration did its best to kill this solution for good. In January 2020 it announced its peace plan to settle the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, but that turned out to be little more than a blueprint for annexing more Palestinian and Arab land with Americas blessing. In September that year, the White House hosted the signing of what has become to be known as the Abraham Accords, paving the way to circumventing the Palestinian conflict altogether with a string of normalisation agreements between some Arab countries and Israel.

The Biden approach is to build on these accords and enlarge them, indeed, but not as a substitute to settling the Palestinian question diplomatically. On 2 February  his first press briefing  Ned Price, the new spokesperson of the State Department, said that any normalisation deals in the future do not substitute Israeli-Palestinian peace. He expressed the hope that Israel and other countries in the region would join together in a common effort to build bridges and contribute to tangible progress towards the goal of advancing a negotiated peace between Israelis and Palestinians. Such an approach should encourage all parties concerned, Palestinians, Arabs and Israelis, to seize the opportunity and in good faith negotiate a solution to a conflict that has lasted for decades and brought undue suffering to both Palestinians and Israelis.

In this respect, it is interesting to note that the Biden administration has decided to resume American assistance to the Palestinians, which had been suspended by the Trump White House, to steamroll the Palestinian Authority into total submission to the Trump peace plan. According to Price, the suspension of aid to the Palestinians has neither produced political progress nor secured concessions from the Palestinian leadership it has only harmed innocent Palestinians.

Middle Eastern countries and the Palestinians should engage the Biden administration and push for solutions to old problems and issues that have so far remained unsolved to the detriment of all. Then we can look forward to a positive Arab and Palestinian response to the new American positions.

*The writer is former assistant foreign minister.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 11 February , 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

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opinion

By now you might have seen or heard about the sensational piece of fake news that went viral a few days on WhatsApp, claiming that western Uganda, President Yoweri Museveni's home region (with a third of Uganda's population), had 270 MPs, more than the rest of the regions combined, which had 256 MPs. It was wrong, as western region has 129 MPs, fewer than eastern region, which has 141, almost as many as the north, and only 24 more than central.

The fake news, however, was/is widely believed and, curiously, it took at least a day for the political system and Ugandan truth keepers on social media to counter it.

The misinformation was a piece of near-genius misinformation. Many believed it, because the Museveni government has been portrayed successfully as sectarian and many consider it to be "tribal".

Secondly, it was well-timed when feelings are still running high over the January 14 elections, which rivals have rejected as stolen and runner-up Robert Kyagulanyi (Bobi Wine) is challenging in court. In the prevailing ill-will, such "news" is likely to be well-received.

Except, this doesn't end there. In Ugandan history, such fake news has always been an indicator of a wider political contest - and in the early 1980s, ironically, President Museveni was a beneficiary. Generally, what have now gained prominence the world over as fake news and conspiracy theories, don't happen randomly or in a vacuum.

It can be deadly propaganda, used to incite violence, but it can also be revolutionary, a weapon of the weak against the powerful. A Goliathan state, frustrated by the enduring popularity of an Opposition figure or his tenacity, will resort to fake news (and trumped-up charges of rape) against him - just ask FDC's Kizza Besigye.

But a David-like Opposition or group will also resort to fake news, alleging the President is sacrificing children, has ordered a massacre he didn't, is plotting to steal a community's land, has done a corrupt deal with a foreign company, or was behind a car accident in which a famous person died.

By so doing, they heighten hatred for the Big Man, and diminish him. A fellow who loses the affection of a beautiful woman to a rival, will spread false stories about the victor on social media; a woman whose boyfriend takes off with her friend, will unleash fiery lies about them on Facebook or Instagram.

Nativists groups fearing they are being out-numbered by immigrants will spread conspiracies and apocalyptic tales about them, and the liberal politicians who support them. Liberal groups will do the same to loony conservative politicians and forces. The actors understand information asymmetry, or have a savvy of social prejudices and psychological needs.

No one had paid attention to the distribution of MPs in Uganda by region. But the creators of the infographic, also understood there is a yearning to see Museveni's regime as evil and unjust, and supplied the information that feeds the need.

In the 1960s, as this column reported before, one of the big stories in Uganda, especially in the south, was about alleged mysterious appearances of a giant red lizard called embalasasa (redfranked skink lygosoma). Being red, the embalasasa is unsettling, even if it wasn't big. Milton Obote, in the wake of his government's attack on the Buganda royal place, Lubiri, was deeply unpopular in the region.

Embalasasa would cause panic, and had the State scrambling to deal with sightings. No sighting was ever reported, but it became a force the Obote government couldn't control. It embodied the regime's powerlessness.

During Idi Amin's rule, a tormented country resorted to similar subterfuge. There were so many political rumours that caused panic, Amin's government actually banned rumours. It was common all over the country for the charismatic former Obote army chief Oyite Ojok to allegedly appear in barracks, in streets, in State House, everywhere.

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Amin soldiers would flee roadblocks on rumours of Oyite approaching, and military operations would be carried to arrest him. There was no Oyite. He was ghost that a helpless country threw up to gaslight Amin and make his terror machine feel small.

In the early 1980s, when Museveni was fighting the bush war in Luweero, he caused similar mayhem. There were wild stories about Museveni appearing as a rat or cat, sneaking into Bank of Uganda, and walking out with sacks of money to fight his war.

There were stampedes and mass deployment to catch a Museveni who had been "seen" buying stuff in Bwaise.

Mobile phones, the internet, and social media have highly technologised these old wild rumours. What hasn't changed are the small people, the tormented and oppressed, playing David and using them as weapons, in this case, against Goliath Tibuhaburwa.

The writer is a journalist, writer and curator of the "Wall of Great Africans".
The High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh Vikram Doraiswami has said that the cooperation between India and Bangladesh on COVID-19 depicts the closeness of the friendship between the two countries.

Doraiswami said that India and Bangladesh must vaccinate and make every effort to fight the disease together. He also said that it was commendable that more than 1.75 lakh people were vaccinated in the first few days of the programme.

READ | COVID-19: Bangladesh Kicks Off Countrywide Vaccination Drive

READ | Bangladesh Condemns Myanmar Military Coup, Urges 'Rohingya Repatriation Should Continue'

Bangladesh Kicks Off COVID Vaccination Drive

On February 7, Bangladesh launched its nationwide COVID-19 vaccination drive with lawmakers along with top administration and health officials taking the first shots of the vaccine.

Health Minister Zahid Maleque, who inaugurated the campaign at a virtual event at the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) here, urged people not to spread propaganda against the vaccine, saying it is safe and has no side effects, Dhaka Tribune newspaper reported. Lawmakers and top administration and health officials took the first shots of vaccine, the report said. However, there have been tepid responses from vaccine seekers in the country, it said.

Bangladesh on January 21 received as a gift from India two million doses of the AstraZeneca-Oxford University vaccine manufactured under license by the Serum Institute of India. The first consignment of 50 lakh doses of Covishield purchased by the government landed in Dhaka on January 25. Bangladesh has so far purchased 30 million doses from the Serum Institute of India through private Beximco pharmaceuticals under a tripartite agreement Health Minister Maleque said that the government is continuing its fight against the coronavirus and the condition of Bangladesh is now better than many other countries.

"The vaccine campaign will continue throughout the year. There is another process to get the jab other than online registration. People will be able to take the shots immediately after registering themselves at the vaccine centers," said Health Minister Maleque, who took the jab at Sheikh Russel National Gastroliver Institute and Hospital.

READ | Bangladesh Army Contingent Pays Tribute At National War Memorial

READ | Bangladesh Tri-service Contingent To Lead Republic Day Parade At Janpath On Jan 26
A 100 vehicle pile-up in Texas caused by icy road conditions has left five drivers dead and many others trapped stuck as rescuers work to administer aid.

The Fort Worth Fire Department tweeted about the pileup at 8am on Thursday morning on the North Freeway. The immediate cause of the accident is unclear.

Weather conditions late last night, which included a sleet storm, contributed to the dangerous driving conditions.

A photo shared by the Fort Worth Fire Department shows fire fighters trying to gain entry to a cargo truck that became wedged between two other cargo trucks on the highway.

Mike Drivdahl, of the Fort Worth Fire Department, told ValleyCentral.com that firefighters were going car-to-car to check for people who needed medical attention.

Information will change going throughout the day as we get more information, Fort Worth Fire Department public information officer Mike Drivdahl said during a morning press conference. We are going vehicle, by vehicle, to make sure that anybody that is still trapped in their vehicle has been extricated, if possible. Theres a lot of vehicles to go through.

At least 36 people have already been transported to area hospitals since emergency crews arrived. Some seriously injured individuals were taken to local trauma centres.

Rescue crews have to fight not only to locate the injured, but also to protect themselves and the victims of the crash from hypothermia.

Mr Drivdahl said it would be some time before the enormous wreck was cleared, and advised drivers to avoid the highway and to stay at home unless absolutely necessary.

If you dont have to get out, please dont get out, Mr Drivdahl said in a live phone interview on NBC 5. We have a lot of emergency crews doing a lot of work. The last thing we need is people who dont need to be out getting into any type of accidents.

Thin ice sheets caused havoc across several parts of Texas on Thursday morning.

A 26-car pile up was reported in Austin, and one person died in a multi-vehicle pileup in Dallas.

Police said in addition to the morning's chaos, there were multiple crashes overnight, including some that damaged city vehicles.

In Arlington, emergency workers responded to 82 crashes by 10 am, most occurring on bridges and overpasses.
Stumps is home.

After darting from his house during a Monday evening fire in Foster Twp., the canine was returned to his owners Wednesday after encountering a snow bank and a swift construction worker.

The puggle of nearly 5 years was resilient through two nights in the cold, winter conditions as people looked for him. Though still a little startled on Wednesday, the dog was certainly happy to be reunited with his people, said Jared Drauschak, who owns the dog with fiancee Gina Careyva.

Drauschak was at his house on Washington Street with his dad around 12:30 p.m. when he heard cheering outside and rushed out to find a construction worker with Franzosa Trucking escorting Stumps back home on a backhoe. Drauschak only got the workers first name, Tyler, but said he was extremely grateful to him.

Hes a hero in my eyes, said Drauschak. He and Careyva have daughters, ages 7 and 9, who missed their pet terribly and worried for his safety.

The construction crew, he said, were working near a snow bank a few blocks away from their home. The heavy equipment startled Stumps, who tried to run away, but his short legs left him beached in the snowbank, unable to free himself. Stumpss temporary immobilization allowed the workers to safely pick him up and take him home without him getting scared off again.

Stumps and his family have a lot of other people to thank, too, said Drauschak. There were family, friends and strangers who searched for the missing pet, or shared his picture on social media, following the house fire at 148-150 Washington St., just outside of Freeland Borough. Luzerne County Pet Recovery Services, a group that runs on donations, pitched trying to find him and so did Freeland police, he said. The family left clothing outside their home and food, hoping Stumps would return at the scent of them. They saw paw prints on the property Tuesday night, which gave them hope that he was still alive.

While the familys home was damaged in the fire that is suspected to have begun on the other side of the double house, losing the family dog made an already difficult year, worse for the family, who is staying with Drauschaks dad in Freeland in the meantime. This year their household had unexpected furnace repairs and, tragically, Drauschaks mom passed away in January. The fire left them wondering when they were going to get a break, he said.

But, peoples concern for their missing dog helped show them humanity still exists.

Everything in the house are just items. But, the dog, hes a piece of your heart and isnt replaceable, said Drauschak.

With the family reunited again, they have another thing to be grateful for.

This whole town, all the help we got, Drauschak said.

It was beautiful to see everyone coming together for our dog.
The head of UK's genetic surveillance programme on Thursday said the coronavirus variant first found in the British region of Kent is a concern because it could undermine the protection given by vaccines against developing COVID-19. She also said the variant was likely "to sweep the world, in all probability".

Here is a rundown on the new strain:

What is the Kent Covid variant and what are its symptoms?

The variant has swiftly become the most dominant in parts of the UK, having emerged only a few months ago. The more contagious and potentially more deadly strain has different symptoms to look out for, early data suggests.

Generally, the signs of Covid remain the same. However, data shows the most common symptoms of the Kent strain differ from other variants prominent in the UK.

The most common symptom of the Kent variant, reported by 35 per cent of people who tested positive, was a cough. Close behind was fatigue and muscle weakness, affecting 32 per cent of cases, and headache with 31 per cent.

Muscle aches were reported by a quarter of those testing positive for the Kent strain. A loss of taste or a loss of smell was reported by only 15 per cent of cases each.

Scientists have called for the official list of coronavirus symptoms to be altered to include signs such as headache and fatigue.

Is this variant more contagious?

According to report by The Telegraph, 53 per cent of people in England who tested positive with the Kent variant said they had Covid-19 symptoms compared to 48 per cent of people with other variants.

Scientists said this could explain why it is more easily spread, as infected people are coughing more. If the Kent strain causes people to cough more, this could explain why it spreads more easily.

This virus has 23 changes compared to the original Wuhan virus, some of which could affect the bodys immune response and also influence the range of symptoms associated with infection.

Will vaccines need to be reconfigured?

A recent study also revealed that the Kent strain has acquired a mutation similar to the South African variant - making it more likely to resist vaccines.

The mutation, known as E484K, is already present in both South African and Brazilian coronavirus variants. This means the antibodies produced by the immune system to fight the older version of the coronavirus may fail to recognise it in its new mutated form.

How difficult is tweaking vaccines?

While theoretically it seems an easy task to change chemical composition of vaccines to suit needs, more than 4-5 changes in the original atomic structure may take months.

Will borders need to be closed again?

Closing borders way delay the spread or completely block it but comes with a huge economical cost. UK is implementing an Australia and New Zealand-style hotel quarantine for travellers arriving from selected countries in order to prevent new variants being imported.

How far has the variant already spread?

The UK variant have spread rapidly. It is in more than 50 countries.
SPRINGFIELD  Want to open a pet-supply store?

Springfield offers as many as 100,000 potential customers of the right demographic characteristics for pet ownership, a nearby workforce with the right educational background, and there isnt much competition.

This is all according to the data-mining tools the Springfield Regional Chamber unveiled Thursday in a package called Do Business Here. Theyre available on the chambers website for use by anyone for free.

I think it really shines a light on the opportunities, said Nancy Creed, president of the Springfield Regional Chamber.

The audience for the website includes anyone from entrepreneurs and leaders of established businesses to companies looking for new locations to larger concerns looking to move or expand, she said.

The site takes users through steps from how to get financing, name a business and register its trademark to looking for locations, workers and customers. One of the final steps shows commercial property available for sale or lease.

President Nancy Creed speaks at the Springfield Regional Chamber annual meeting in 2019. (The Republican file photo)

Now is the time that we have to look at our recovery from COVID, Creed said. And not to just wait for the pandemic to be over.

The chamber spent more than a year on the package of data search and visualization tools, working with technology company Localintel to develop the website.

Creed said the chamber is paying for the website out of its own funds, but she cant say how much it cost due to an agreement with Localintel.

The chamber plans to make a public rollout at the end of February.

The numbers  gleaned from the U.S. Census Bureau and other sources  cover at least the Springfield Metropolitan Statistical Area. Heat maps show the geographic distribution of incomes, customers, businesses and the like around the region, not just Springfield.

The chamber is having the online data translated into Spanish, Creed said.

The site has listings for economic development officials in local, state and federal agencies and groups like Valley Venture Mentors, which also plans on making the data available to the startups and entrepreneurs it assists. The city of Springfield will also link to the data tools from its economic development website.

The Springfield Regional Chamber has developed an interactive set of data visualization and research tools meant to promote business.

The various search functions tell companies which existing employers and industries here are investing, which are strong and which are growing.

(Prospective businesses) want to make sure that the city and the region are making a capital investment, Creed said. They also want to know the company theyll keep.

Interesting facts that emerge from the data are that categories services to senior citizens and college and secondary education are fast-growing employment sectors.

This regions niche sectors include small arms manufacturing  Smith & Wesson in Springfield and Westfields Savage Arms  and toy and game manufacturing  which is likely a reflection of Cartamundi, the former Hasbro and Milton Bradley plant in East Longmeadow.
Alondra Carmonas mother was two months behind on rent and fearing an eviction but kept her struggle secret until last week.

Her loving daughter came up with a solution: She would reach into her hard-earned college savings  $1,800 from part-time jobs  to help her mother stave off eviction.

Almost as an afterthought, she also started a GoFundMe page that has exploded across the nation.

As of Thursday night, about 4,300 people had donated a combined $153,825, more than what she needed to pay for all four years of school at prestigious Barnard College. She also has earned grants and other financial assistance from the school, she said.

My mom, shes hard-working, and it helped me to go after what I want and look out for my mom, too, Carmona told the Houston Chronicle. And shes the only person we have.

Carmona, who has two sisters, at first did not think the GoFundMe would collect the tens of thousands of dollars needed to offset her remaining costs for school. About $3,000 was in the account after two days.

Then, to the familys surprise, the GoFundMe page blew up, she said.

Within four days, donations had ballooned to $40,000. Carmona was featured on Good Morning America. Julian Castro, the former U.S. secretary of Housing and Urban Development, tweeted about the heartbreaking nature of the familys plight.

Their story is one our nation should be ashamed of, he said, while also sharing the GoFundMe account.

Americans owe $70 billion in back rent that they wont be able to pay, he said in the tweet. If we dont get them relief, there will be millions of stories like these.

Carmona earned a reputation as a determined student at YES Prep East End, where she is set to graduate in June.

Shes gone through a lot of things throughout her years with us, and no matter the challenge, she takes it on full force, said Cecilia Mendoza, a student support counselor at the school.

Starting freshman year, Carmona pushed for opportunities to further her education during and after school. Despite not having access to a computer sophomore year, she used her smartphone to fill out a two-page application for a Rice University summer research internship.

With help from one of her teachers, she became one of five young scholars selected for the program in the summer of 2019. Her continued hard work led to her acceptance last year at Barnard College, a prestigious womens liberal arts school in New York City.

It had always been my dream school, she said.

The now 18-year-old had been sprinting toward her goal until last week, when she learned that her mother in November had been laid off from her job. Her mother, Martha Zepeda, a single mother of three daughters, had been working as a longshoreman at the Port of Houston. After pandemic-related layoffs, she kept the news from her daughter to prevent her from stressing about their finances, Carmona said.

Zepeda disclosed the news last week. So, Carmona scraped together savings from her current job at Chipotle and other past internships to help.

Carmona, who lives in the Gulfgate area, said her mother still plans to apply for rental assistance through the state.

The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs will soon launch a new rent relief program to help Texans who have struggled to pay rent and utilities in the pandemic. It will offer more than $1 billion to eligible residents through funding allocated to Texas in the latest federal stimulus package.

A federal order intended to halt evictions for qualified tenants remains in place until March 31. Mayor Sylvester Turner also said the city will pursue a grace period ordinance that could block evictions in the city through March.

Meanwhile, Carmona said she is grateful for the thousands of donors who have made my dream come true.

Her sights are set on becoming a pediatric neurosurgeon. She is interested in how childrens brains adapt and learn at higher rates than those of adults.

Carmonas goal is to continue to be a good role model for her younger nieces and nephews. They could be the first in their immediate families to go to college, she said.

They really look up to me, and I really try to be good, especially for them, she said. Because I know its hard.

julian.gill@chron.com



SACRAMENTO, Calif.  U.S. Attorney McGregor W. Scott announced Wednesday that he will resign his position as the chief federal prosecutor for the Eastern District of California.

The United States Attorney serves as the chief federal law enforcement officer and is responsible for prosecuting federal criminal cases and representing the United States in civil litigation. The Eastern District covers 34 counties throughout the Central Valley and the Sierras and has 92 attorneys and 91 non-attorney staff with offices in Sacramento, Fresno, and Bakersfield.

Scott tendered his resignation to the President and the Acting Attorney General Wednesday, Feb. 10. He will conclude his service as United States Attorney on Feb. 28, according to the Office of the United States Attorney Eastern District of California.

On Dec. 29, 2017, Scott was sworn in as the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of California, returning to the position he held from 2003 to 2009.

Serving as the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of California has been the most fulfilling experience of my professional career, said Scott. It has been an honor these past three years to work with the women and men in this office and our law enforcement partners to keep our communities safe, to safeguard the Treasury, and to provide the United States with the highest quality legal representation in all the matters we handle.

As of March 1, Phillip A. Talbert will assume leadership of the office as Acting U.S. Attorney.

Talbert, who is currently the First Assistant U.S. Attorney, has had a distinguished career of more than 18 years in the office. He previously served as the court-appointed U.S. Attorney during the last transition between administrations, the Chief of Appeals and Training, and a prosecutor in the Narcotics and Violent Crime Unit. He also served in the Department of Justices Office of Professional Responsibility and Criminal Division before coming to the Eastern District of California. Mr. Talbert was also in private practice. He is a graduate of Harvard University, the University of Sydney, and the UCLA School of Law.

Scott received his B.A. from Santa Clara University in 1985 and his J.D. from Hastings College of the Law, University of California, in 1989. He served as a deputy district attorney from 1989 to 1997 in Contra Costa County and served as the elected District Attorney of Shasta County from 1997 to 2003.

After completing his first term as U.S. Attorney, Scott practiced as a partner with the law firm of Orrick, Herrington, & Sutcliffe LLP, focusing on white collar criminal defense and corporate investigations. In addition, Mr. Scott retired in 2008 from the United States Army Reserve as a lieutenant colonel after 23 years of service.
An event has been held in a video format on the occasion of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science as part of the Year of Women declared by ICESCO. First Vice-President of Azerbaijan Mehriban Aliyeva made a speech at the video meeting.



In the first place, Mehriban Aliyeva thanked Director-General Salim AlMalik for his kind invitation to participate as a Guest of Honour in such an important event.



"It is a big honor for me, and I consider this invitation as a sign of appreciation for our policy to develop women's education and science," she said,



"I commend the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization for its noble mission to protect the Islamic cultural heritage and to promote education and science in the Muslim world, and note with appreciation the fruitful cooperation of Azerbaijan with ICESCO. I praise the Director-General for the attention given to the topic under discussion in line with the United Nations General Assembly resolution that declared 11 February as the International Day of Women and Girls in science," Mehriban Aliyeva noted.



She recalled that science, technology, and innovation all become necessary to address global challenges, and science and gender equality are vital for the achievement of international development goals, including the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.



"I would like to congratulate ICESCO on its initiative to proclaim 2021 as the Year of Women. This is not only the manifestation of the importance attached by the Organization to the role of women in our societies. This is also the recognition of their unique contribution to a better and safer world. We must pay tribute to all those women who today are at the front line of confronting the COVID-19 pandemic, as doctors, medical scientists, and health care workers. We can be proud of the critical role played by women researchers in different stages of the fight against COVID-19, from developing techniques for testing to creating vaccines against the virus," the first Vice-President of Azerbaijan said.



"I am very proud to come from the country well-known to the world not only for the drilling of the worlds first industrial oil well, opening the first opera in the Orient, or, more importantly, establishing the first democratic republic in the Muslim world more than one century ago. Azerbaijan has also entered history as one of the first nations in the world to provide women with the right to vote and to be elected back in 1918. As to girls education, the first secular school for girls in the Muslim East was opened by Azerbaijani philanthropist Zeynalabdin Taghiyev in my native town of Baku back in 1901," she stressed.



"Today, the literacy rate in Azerbaijan is close to 100%. 54% of students in the master course, 51% of PhDs at higher educational institutions, 46% of Doctor of science degree holders, and 56% of researchers in our country are women. Women represent 59% of the overall staff of the Azerbaijani National Academy of Science. At the same time, in our rapidly changing world, it is important that the education of girls and their participation in science should be adequate to new challenges. Globally, girls make up only 35% of all students who study in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics subjects. In our country, this number is 40%, higher than the worlds average," Mehriban Aliyeva said.



"As I mentioned before, many Azerbaijani women have made great contributions to science and have been the source of true inspiration for girls and young females to be engaged in science. But what is important today is to create more favorable conditions for our girls and young women to continue to improve their levels of involvement and to keep filling the gender gap in science. As one example, I can mention a pilot project we recently started with UNDP called Women in STEM mentorship program that links young female professionals and students with STEM role models so that they receive the advice they need to address the challenges faced in their education and careers," she added.



"We all agree that science, technology, and innovation are important drivers of the socio-economic development of societies around the world. In my capacity as ICESCO goodwill Ambassador, I would call on all member states to invest more in these sectors, develop necessary policies and joint action plans. We need to design innovative financing mechanisms to equip women and girls with the necessary skills for tomorrows labor market. Azerbaijan is ready to provide its contribution in this regard," the first lady stressed.



"On a separate note, I would like to take this opportunity to express my deep gratitude to the ICESCO, personally to Director-General Dr. Salim AlMalik for the valuable support during last years 44-day Patriotic War as a result of which Azerbaijan liberated its occupied territories after almost 30 years of occupation by Armenia and thus restored historical justice. One month ago, at the invitation of the President of Azerbaijan, a delegation of ICESCO led by the Director-General, visited Azerbaijan. Our guests had a chance to visit some of our liberated lands and witness with their own eyes the scope of destruction and vandalism, including tens of desecrated mosques and hundreds of destroyed historical monuments. Now the government faces a huge task: to bring life back to liberated territories and to ensure the return of Azerbaijani internally displaced persons to their native lands. And we will do it. We will restore destroyed cities and villages. We will build schools therein. We will restore the cultural heritage, and not only of Islamic origin but of all religions as a whole. We highly appreciate ICESCOs readiness to work with the Government of Azerbaijan to assess the damage to Azerbaijans cultural heritage sites destroyed during occupation. Also, please accept our special gratitude for considering the opening of ICESCO regional office in Azerbaijan, which among other fields could strengthen our cooperation in the field of science with a specific focus to increase the role of women and girls in science," Mehriban Aliyeva concluded.

The speaker of the House of Commons visited Ukraine 20 years ago.

Parliament Speaker Dmytro Razumkov has invited his British counterpart, Sir Lindsay Harvey Hoyle, to visit Ukraine.

He announced the invitation during an online meeting with Hoyle, according to the Ukrainian parliament's press service.

"The last visit of the speaker of the House of Commons to Ukraine took place 20 years ago. I think that trend should be changed," Razumkov said.

Read alsoSpeaker Razumkov says referendum may take place no earlier than 2022

Ukraine's Verkhovna Rada is ready to deepen the Ukrainian-British interparliamentary dialogue, he said.

"Despite the obstacles associated with COVID-19 that exist today, I would like to turn to you with a proposal to intensify the Ukrainian-British interparliamentary relations," Razumkov said.

He also expressed hope for the understanding and assistance by the British partners in liberalizing travel regulations for Ukrainians visiting the United Kingdom.

Other related news reports

Reporting by UNIAN
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PARKER, Colo.  Police near Denver are looking for a woman who is accused of slapping a worker while shopping at a supermarket after they said the shopper refused several times to wear a mask.

Police in Parker, about 20 miles (32 kilometers) southeast of Denver, said the shopper fled the King Soopers store after the alleged assault on Feb. 3 but released surveillance video on Wednesday in hopes of identifying her.

The video shows the unmasked woman turning to talk to someone out of the cameras view as she shops and then pushing a cart down an aisle.

The woman then turns again to speak as another woman wearing an apron walks toward her. The shopper then appears to raise her hand to the other womans face before they walk together out of the cameras view.

ADVERTISEMENTSkip



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Police said the shopper refused several requests to wear a mask to comply with store mask policy. Colorado also has a statewide mask mandate that was renewed last week.

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This version corrects that the alleged incident happened on Feb. 3, not on Wednesday.
(This Feb 11 story corrects Purus to tributary of the Amazon, not Xingu)

By Anthony Boadle

BRASILIA (Reuters) - Medical teams working to immunize Brazil's remote indigenous villages against the coronavirus have encountered fierce resistance in some communities where evangelical missionaries are stoking fears of the vaccine, say tribal leaders and advocates.

On the Sao Francisco reservation in the state of Amazonas, Jamamadi villagers sent health workers packing with bows and arrows when they visited by helicopter this month, said Claudemir da Silva, an Apurina leader representing indigenous communities on the Purus river, a tributary of the Amazon.

"It's not happening in all villages, just in those that have missionaries or evangelical chapels where pastors are convincing the people not to receive the vaccine, that they will turn into an alligator and other crazy ideas," he said by phone.

That has added to fears that COVID-19 could roar through Brazil's more than 800,000 indigenous people, whose communal living and often precarious healthcare make them a priority in the national immunization program.

Tribal leaders blame Brazil's far-right President Jair Bolsonaro and some of his avid supporters in the evangelical community for stoking skepticism about coronavirus vaccines, despite a national death toll that lags only the United States.

"Religious fundamentalists and evangelical missionaries are preaching against the vaccine," said Dinamam Tuxa, a leader of APIB, Brazil's largest indigenous organization.

The Association of Brazilian Anthropologists denounced unspecified religious groups in a statement on Tuesday for spreading false conspiracy theories to "sabotage" the vaccination of indigenous people.

Many pastors of Brazil's urban evangelical megachurches are urging followers to get vaccinated, but they say missionaries in remote territories have not gotten the message.

"Unfortunately, some pastors who lack wisdom are spreading misinformation to our indigenous brethren," said Pastor Mario Jorge Conceicao of the Assembly of God Traditional Church in Manaus, the capital of Amazonas state.

Story continues

The government's indigenous health agency Sesai told Reuters in a statement that it was working to raise awareness of the importance of coronavirus immunization.

Bolsonaro has played down the severity of the virus and refused to take a vaccine himself. He has aimed special derision at the country's most widely available shot, made by China's Sinovac Biotech, citing doubts about its "origins."

At an event in December, the president ridiculed vaccine maker Pfizer because he said the company had refused to assume liability for collateral effects in talks with his government.

"If you take the vaccine and turn into an alligator, it's your problem. If you turn into Superman or women grow beards, I have nothing to do with that," Bolsonaro said sarcastically.

Pfizer has said it proposed standard contractual guarantees to the Brazilian government that other countries accepted before using its vaccine.

Access to social media even in remote corners of Brazil has fanned false rumors about the coronavirus vaccines.

For instance, 56-year-old tribal chief Fernando Katukina, of the Noke Koi people near the Peru border, died Feb. 1 of cardiac arrest related to diabetes and congestive heart failure. Word spread rapidly on social media and radio that the COVID-19 vaccine he received in January had caused his death.

The Butantan biomedical center, which is producing and distributing the Sinovac vaccine, scrambled to convince indigenous people that was not the case.

"The social media messages saying that Fernando Katukina died after taking a COVID-19 vaccine are fake news," Butantan wrote in a tweet.

COVID-19 has killed at least 957 indigenous people, according to APIB, out of some 48,071 confirmed infections among half of Brazil's 300 native ethnic groups. The numbers could be much higher, because health agency Sesai only monitors indigenous people living on reservations.

(Reporting by Anthony Boadle; Additional reporting by Bruno Kelly in Manaus; Editing by Brad Haynes and Rosalba O'Brien)
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - February 11, 2021) - Moneta Porcupine Mines Inc. (TSX: ME) (OTC Pink: MPUCF) (XETRA: MOP) ("Moneta" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that in connection with its previously announced agreement (the "Purchase Agreement") with O3 Mining Inc. (TSXV: OIII) (OTCQX: OIIIF) ("O3 Mining") it has received support in the form of written consent from a majority of holders comprised of more than 51.6% of Moneta's outstanding common shares ("Moneta Shares") to acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of Northern Gold Mining Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of O3 Mining (the "Transaction"). Such written consent satisfies the Moneta shareholder approval requirement of the TSX. Please refer to Moneta's press release (ME-PR 01-2021) from January 14, 2021 for further details of the Transaction.

Gary O'Connor, CEO of Moneta, commented; "We are very pleased to have gained the early support of our shareholders to approve the acquisition of the Golden Bear assets from O3 Mining. This transaction will transform Moneta into one of the largest gold development companies in North America with a significant resource and land holding in Canada's most prolific gold mining camp. The Golden Bear assets, including the Garrison Gold deposits, occur adjacent to our flagship Golden Highway project and provide significant synergies for the development of the combined gold assets. Moneta will now hold 3,967,000 ounces of indicated gold resources and 4,339,000 ounces of inferred gold resources including both high-grade bulk tonnage underground deposits and near surface open pit resources. With the closing of the recent $22.6 million financing we are now well funded to complete the resource expansion drill program and updated preliminary economic assessment of the integrated project. The Transaction provides a good endorsement of our project and adds a highly successful project development team as a partner."

Jose Vizquerra, President and CEO of O3 Mining, commented: "O3 Mining is pleased to unlock value for our shareholders through our investment in, and support of, Moneta, and the possible future development of a large and long-life gold project in Timmins, Ontario - one of Canada's most productive gold camps. The consolidation of these two historically fractioned mining camps will allow for a more systematic exploration strategy going forward, and unlock value for our shareholders and other Moneta shareholders alike as the project develops. We look forward to partnering with Moneta's management team, through our board representation, and being part of Moneta's growth story in the Timmins Mining Camp, in our role as a significant shareholder."

Under applicable TSX rules, the Transaction requires the approval of holders of Moneta Shares, as the number of Moneta Shares to be issued as consideration pursuant to the Transaction exceeds 25% of the total number of currently outstanding Moneta Shares and may materially affect control. Pursuant to the terms of the Purchase Agreement, O3 Mining will receive approximately 150 million Moneta Shares, representing approximately 30% of the outstanding Moneta Shares upon completion of the Transaction, prior to the $22.6 million financing announced on February 04, 2021 (see press release ME-PR 04-2021).

As a result of obtaining written consent, Moneta will not hold a special meeting of its shareholders to approve the Transaction, and no information circular will be mailed to shareholders. The Purchase Agreement has been amended to give effect to the written consent. Moneta expects to seek shareholder approval for the previously announced consolidation of its share capital on a 6 for 1 basis at its next annual general meeting scheduled for the second quarter of 2021.

Closing of the Transaction remains subject to TSX approval and other closing conditions customary in transactions of this nature. The closing of the Transaction is anticipated to take place by the end of February 2021. The earlier closing will save Moneta costs and time in completing the Transaction.

About Moneta

Moneta's land package in the Timmins Gold Camp covers 12,742 hectares (ha) including six gold projects plus a joint venture with Kirkland Lake Gold Corporation (TSX: KL) covering 4,334 ha. The Company's flagship project, Golden Highway Gold Project is located 100 km east of Timmins and hosts a total indicated resource of 2,145,000 ounces gold contained within 55.3 Mt @ 1.21 g/t Au and a total of 3,337,000 ounces gold contained within 49.7 Mt @ 2.09 g/t Au in the inferred category at a 2.60 g/t Au at South West, 3.00 g/t Au cut-off for the other underground deposits and 0.30 g/t Au for the open pit deposits. The project includes a total of 1,512,000 ounces of open pit indicated resources contained within 50.5 Mt @ 0.93 g/t Au and 1,207,000 ounces of open pit inferred resources contained within 34.0 Mt @ 1.10 g/t Au. The project also includes 632,000 ounces of indicated underground resources contained within 4.9 Mt @ 4.05 g/t Au and 2,128,000 ounces of inferred underground resources within 15.7 Mt @ 4.21 g/t Au.

A preliminary economic assessment "PEA" study was completed in September 2020 on the South West underground gold deposit, one of 6 deposits located on the Golden Highway project, and highlighted an underground bulk mining operation consisting of an 11-year mine life with an after-tax NPV5% of C$236MM, IRR of 30% and a 3.4 year payback, generating C$371MM LOM after-tax free cash flow. The project envisaged producing 76,000 oz/pa at a cash cost of US$590/oz at a gold price of US$1,500/oz and an exchange rate of US$0.77/C$. The open pit resources and new underground discoveries have not yet been subjected to a preliminary economic assessment study at Golden Highway.

Moneta entered into a Purchase Agreement to acquire the Ontario assets of O3 Mining (see press release ME-PR 01-2021) on January 13, 2021. O3 Mining holds 9,269 ha of prospective land within the Golden Bear project located adjacent to or in near proximity to Moneta's Golden Highway project, 100 km east of Timmins. O3 Mining completed an updated resource estimate and preliminary economic assessment (PEA) study on the Garrison Gold project within the Golden Bear project in December 2020. The study highlighted a measured and indicated open pit resource of 1,822,000 ounces contained within 66.3 Mt @ 0.86 g/t Au and an inferred open pit resource of 1,062,000 ounces contained within 45.3 Mt @ 0.73 g/t Au at a 0.30 g/t Au cut-off. The PEA study showed an open pit mining operation consisting of a 12-year mine life with an after-tax NPV5% of C$321MM, IRR of 33% and a 2.3 year payback. The project envisaged open pit mining producing 121,000 oz/pa in years 1 to 8 (94,000 oz/pa LOM), at a strip ratio of 2.7:1 at a cash cost of US$721/oz using a gold price of US$1,450/oz and an exchange rate of US$0.75/C$.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Gary V. O'Connor, CEO

416-357-3319

Linda Armstrong, Investor Relations

647-456-9223

The Company's public documents may be accessed at www.sedar.com. For further information on the Company, please visit our website at www.monetaporcupine.com or email us at info@monetaporcupine.com.

This news release includes certain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements, collectively "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements are frequently identified by such words as "may", "will", "plan", "expect", "anticipate", "estimate", "intend" and similar words referring to future events and results. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to information with respect to the closing of the Transaction, the benefits of the Transaction, mailing the information circular, the shareholder meeting, the completion of the Consolidation, closing of the Offerings, tax treatment of the Flow Through Shares, use of proceeds of the Offerings, the future performance of the business, its operations and financial performance and condition such as the Company's drilling program and the timing and results thereof; and the ability of the Company to finance and carry out its anticipated goals and objectives.

Forward-looking statements are based on the current opinions and expectations of management. All forward-looking information is inherently uncertain and subject to a variety of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, including the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development, fluctuating commodity prices, competitive risks and the availability of financing, as described in more detail in our recent securities filings available at www.sedar.com. Actual events or results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements and we caution against placing undue reliance thereon. We assume no obligation to revise or update these forward-looking statements.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/74183
This week residents of Heliopolis were surprised to find workers, equipment and engineers next to the Basilica of the Holy Virgin, the iconic Roman Catholic Church located on Al-Ahram Square. Asked why they were there, the workers replied that a bridge is to be built to relieve traffic between Ismailia Square and the crossroads of Baghdad and Al-Ahram streets, a local resident told Al-Ahram Weekly.

The Basilica, designed by French architect Alexander Marcel, was built between 1911 and 1913 and is the final resting place of Baron Empain, the Belgian industrialist who founded Heliopolis, and his son.

This area is an A-type heritage site where it is prohibited by law to build anything that obstructs the view, including bridges, or anything that destroys the urban fabric of the district, Ayman Al-Kashty, an interior design consultant, told the Weekly.

After news of the bridge spread thousands of Heliopolis residents shared a statement issued by the Heliopolis Heritage Initiative on social media.

Al-Kashty told the Weekly that the construction of the overpass threatened what remained of the core of Heliopolis.

We sent a statement to the Roads and Bridges Authority, pointing out there are no serious traffic issues in the area, and suggesting alternatives such as instigating a one-way system, prohibiting car parking, and removing street vendors.

Al-Kashty said MPs representing Heliopolis had also been contacted by the foundation in what will be the first test for their credibility.

Amr Al-Sonbaty, MP for Heliopolis and Nasr City, noted that the Basilica is a landmark and an icon of Heliopolis and promised that nothing will be built against the residents will.

The project is on hold until further studies are carried out, Al-Sonbaty told the Weekly.

MP Mohamed Al-Sallab, a member of parliaments Industry Committee, said that after Mostakbal Watan Party discussed residents worries in an urgent meeting it received confirmation from the authorities that no bridge will be built in this area and the equipment in the area was for other developments.

Al-Sallab stressed that consultation between residents and officials was needed to promote a healthy and democratic community. MPs are the peoples voice, Al-Sallab said, adding that no projects will be carried out without the residents consent.

Yet according to a resident who preferred to remain anonymous no dialogue takes place. Referring to earlier projects in the area, he said there was no coordination between officials and residents. The streets are no longer safe for pedestrians and most of the trees have been felled. Heritage, beauty, and nature all take a back seat, he argued.

A similar situation arose in Zamalek when the residents launched a number of petitions objecting to the construction of the Cairo Eye after being shocked to find that the foundation stone of the proposed 120-metre-high Ferris wheel had already been laid.

According to Dalia Al-Saadani, a member of parliaments Media, Culture and Antiquities Committee, the Ferris wheel has yet to receive approval from the ministries of culture and tourism and antiquities.

A source who preferred to remain anonymous told the Weekly that while this may be the case, the ceremony for laying the foundation stone was nevertheless attended by representatives from the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, the Cairo governor and the presidents advisor for urban planning, which surely implies approval.

Current legislation requires an environmental study before the implementation of any project, says Salah Hafez, an environment and energy consultant and former chairman of the Environmental Affairs Agency.

Increased air pollution resulting from any project and the resulting congestion, leading to longer commuting times and the degradation of surrounding buildings, often cost millions and must be taken into account, Hafez pointed out.

Zamalek already has 22 schools, four university faculties, six clubs and many other activities that place an intolerable strain on the islands infrastructure, says Hafez, and when he took part in a study on the environmental impact of further development two decades ago it was actually recommended that some of the activities be moved off the island. Instead, they increased, to the point that traffic in Zamalek has come to a standstill.

Consultant architect, Seifallah Abul-Naga, president of the Society of Egyptian Architects, founded in 1917, believes specialised associations are needed to participate with the government on national projects.

The government has good intentions towards developing the country and needs expert groups to help offer solutions that balance ideas and their implementation, argues Abul-Naga.

The site chosen for the Cairo Eye is one of the inner citys lungs and helps reduce rates of air pollution: It is all about the quality of life offered to citizens, says Hafez, who published a newspaper appeal addressed to President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi to halt the building of the Ferris wheel.

Our built heritage belongs to all of us and it is not up for sale or ripe for any exploitation. Those who represent us, government officials and the authorities, are custodians of this heritage. They are responsible for keeping our heritage safe. It should be kept safe and intact to hand over to future generations, Sohailah Al-Sawi, chair of the Egyptian Association for the Environment and Community Services, told the Weekly.

*A version of this article appears in print in the 11 February , 2021 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly

Short link:


Qatar Airways Cargo will recommence cargo sales and bookings from February 21 in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt with the appointment of general sales agents (GSAs) in these countries.



The letter of appointment has been awarded to the following GSAs:



 Globe Air Cargo, ECS Group Subsidiary  for the United Arab Emirates

 Yusuf Bin Kanoo co. Ltd  for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

 Venus Air Cargo  for the Arab Republic of Egypt



Guillaume Halleux, Qatar Airways Chief Officer Cargo said: The resumption of passenger flights to these three countries is great news, allowing us to re-establish trade and support our customers. Along with the flights, we will also be offering trucking services to and from other offline points within these countries. We are pleased to appoint these GSAs who have an excellent reputation and share the common values of customer centricity and service excellence. We are certain that they will help promote the Qatar Airways Cargo brand further and grow our footprint.



The cargo carrier operates belly-hold flights to Riyadh and Jeddah in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, and Alexandria and Cairo in Egypt. Qatar Airways Cargo will start accepting cargo bookings for transporting freight into and out of these three countries through its appointed general sales agents.  TradeArabia News Service




French giant Total may be the best of a bad bunch in the unloved oil-and-gas sector.

The company weathered a traumatic year for the oil industry better than European peers Shell and BP, annual results released Tuesday confirmed. The sector isnt for the faint of heart as the world transitions to cleaner forms of energy, but Total seems well set up for a range of scenarios.

The company is the second-largest producer of liquefied natural gas, and added significant finds to its oil and gas reserves last year. Yet it is also developing a new-energy business. It has converted some refineries to biodiesel and is investing in renewable assets. It has trading and retail services, and is dabbling in batteries, electric-vehicle charging, hydrogen and carbon-capture technologies.

So much activity could raise the risk of poor delivery, but Totals results have been steady so far. It has the advantages of low production costs and a solid balance sheet. The company has been buying businesses in various industries around the globe for years, but resisted overextending itself, as Shell did with the 2016 purchase of BG Group. It also hasnt had to digest the vast cost of large oil spills, as BP did with the disasters in Alaska in 2006 and the Gulf of Mexico in 2010.

Investors used to prize oil companies for their stable and growing dividends. Both Shell and BP cut their payouts as the pandemic hit oil demand, but Total didnt and now offers a sector-leading 7.5% dividend yield. The payments are sustainable at a $40 a barrel oil price, management said.

Oil stocks were pummeled last year, but have started to recover as optimism about vaccines against Covid-19 builds. Totals shares remain below long-run average earnings multiples, though history may be less relevant, now that eight of the worlds 10 largest economies have promised to cut net carbon emissions to zero by 2050 or 2060.

Total proposed a name change to TotalEnergies" alongside its annual results. Investors should be under no illusions as it tries to live up to that multi-energy promise: Shifting a company with more than 100,000 employees across 130 countries and a market value of $112 billion is a massive undertaking. Yet the companys record offers some reassurance, and its big dividends some compensation for the risk.

This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text.

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Germany plans to impose restrictions on travel from Austria and the Czech Republic over concerns about aggressive mutations of the coronavirus, potentially disrupting cross-country commuters and commerce.

The German states of Bavaria and Saxony have asked the federal government to establish border controls with the neighbouring countries, Bavarian Premier Markus Soeder said on Thursday.

Also Read | Inside the Mindtree makeover strategy

We think it is necessary that both will be declared mutation areas," Soeder told reporters in Munich. This will probably happen."

A meeting is set to be held this afternoon to discuss the move, according to the Bild newspaper. Germanys interior ministry wasnt immediately available to comment.

Germany is on high alert for fast-spreading strains as it seeks to gradually reopen Europes largest economy. Chancellor Angela Merkel warned earlier Thursday that aggressive mutations will gain the upper hand in the country sooner or later, threatening to destroy progress made in containing the pandemic.

Under pressure from state leaders, the German leader agreed late Wednesday to loosen some virus restrictions and open a pathway to a return to some semblance of normality after months of stringent curbs.

Germany restricts travel from countries with high rates of virus mutations. The list currently includes the U.K., Ireland, Brazil and South Africa, according to the RKI public-health institute. If Austria and Czech Republic are added, people coming to Germany would need a negative test before travelling.

You can only enter with a negative test," said Soeder. There will be no exceptions."





This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text.

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(Natural News) The messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines developed to fight the Wuhan coronavirus may have caused at least 36 individuals to develop a rare blood disorder. Either Modernas mRNA-1273 jab or the Pfizer/BioNTech BNT162b2 vaccine may have caused thrombocytopenia  which affects blood clotting  in these individuals. Both vaccines had reported more than 90 percent efficacy rates and had received emergency use authorization in the U.S.

Thrombocytopenia is a condition where the immune system attacks blood platelets, which are responsible for clotting. People with the disorder tend to bleed uncontrollably due to the lack of platelets in their blood. So far, 36 cases reported of thrombocytopenia have been reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) from mRNA vaccine recipients as of Jan. 31 of this year.

No cases of the blood disorder were reported during clinical trials for the Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines.

The blood disorder appears to be triggered by other vaccines as well: Experts have posited that the jab activates thrombocytopenia, but they are still figuring out how. They have also theorized that only a small fraction of the population may be predisposed to develop the disorder after being vaccinated.

Concerns about mRNA vaccine safety have been raised following two cases of the rare blood disorder

Two cases of thrombocytopenia following Wuhan coronavirus vaccinations have raised the alarm bells on the dangers of these jabs.

Florida obstetrician Dr. Gregory Michael died Jan. 3 from a hemorrhagic stroke following a bout of thrombocytopenia. His death came 16 days after he got the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.

The 56-year-old did not experience any immediate reaction after being vaccinated. However, he sought medical treatment at Miami Beachs Mount Sinai Medical Center upon noticing red spots on his feet and hands three days after getting the jab.

When medics saw that Michael had an abnormally low platelet count, they administered medicine and performed platelet transfusions  to no avail. The medical professional subsequently died before he could even undergo a last-ditch surgery to remove his spleen. Pfizer and the CDC have looked into Michaels unfortunate death.

Michaels wife Heidi Neckelmann told The Daily Mail her husband lived an active and healthy lifestyle and had no pre-existing conditions. She remarked: In my mind, his death was 100 percent linked to the vaccine. Neckelmann further remarked that doctors talking to her husband said it was highly probable that the vaccine instructed his body to attack the wrong thing. (Related: Compilation of recent stories and videos covering COVID vaccine injuries, side effects and DEATHS.)

Meanwhile, Luz Legaspi received her first dose of the Moderna mRNA vaccine in January. She was healthy at the time she received the jab. But she woke up the next day and found red spots on her legs and arms. She also experienced bleeding blisters in her mouth. These symptoms got her admitted to a hospital in New York Citys Queens district.

Doctors ordered Legaspi not to leave her bed to avoid any injuries. They also administered treatments to the 72-year-old, but it did not improve her condition 10 days after she was admitted. Following the advice of thrombocytopenia expert Dr. James Bussel, doctors changed their course of treatment  with good results. Legaspis platelet count rose to more than 70,000 within two days, and she was discharged Feb. 2.

Bussel acknowledged that there is definitely a link between vaccines and the rare blood disorder

Bussel said thrombocytopenia commonly affects children. In adults, the blood disorder can be caused by bone marrow diseases. Alcohol consumption and some cancer treatments also play a role in the development of this ailment. Moreover, thrombocytopenia can also follow a viral infection.

He and his colleague Dr. Eun-Ju Lee studied 15 cases of thrombocytopenia that developed after people received the Wuhan coronavirus vaccines. The article is still being reviewed, and will be published in a medical journal after the process.

Bussel nevertheless pointed out that the blood disorder is linked to vaccines in general and not just the ones for COVID-19, but how exactly are the two connected merits further scrutiny. (Related: Media says COVID-19 vaccine side effects are proof that its working.)

Having [thrombocytopenia] happen after a vaccine is well-known and has been seen with many other vaccines. Why it happens, we dont know: I think is possible that there is an association. Im assuming theres something that made the people who developed thrombocytopenia susceptible, given what a tiny percentage of recipients they are.

Visit VaccineDamage.news to find out more stories about the dangers of mRNA vaccines against the Wuhan coronavirus.

Sources include:

DailyMail.co.uk 1

DailyMail.co.uk 2

NYTimes.com
NEW DELHI  India, the unmatched vaccine manufacturing power, is giving away millions of doses to neighbors friendly and estranged. It is trying to counter China, which has made doling out shots a central plank of its foreign relations. And the United Arab Emirates, drawing on its oil riches, is buying jabs on behalf of its allies.

The coronavirus vaccine  one of the worlds most in-demand commodities  has become a new currency for international diplomacy.

Countries with the means or the know-how are using the shots to find favor or thaw frosty relations. India sent them to Nepal, a country that has fallen increasingly under Chinas influence. Sri Lanka, in the midst of a diplomatic tug of war between New Delhi and Beijing, is getting doses from both.

The strategy carries risks. India and China, both of which are making vaccines for the rest of the world, have vast populations of their own that they need to inoculate. Though there are few signs of grumbling in either country, that could change as the public watches doses get sold or donated abroad.
Iraq's Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC) has sent invitations to embassies of 52 countries to monitor the country's elections slated to take place on October 10, a poll official told the media.

On Wednesday, Jumana al-Ghalai, spokeswoman of the IHEC, told the al-Sabah newspaper that the Commission's law allows the recruitment of observers to monitor the process to ensure its transparency, reports Xinhua news agency.

October's elections will decide the 328 members of the Council of Representatives who will in turn elect a new President and Prime Minister.

"The IHEC is currently continuing its preparations for holding the elections on the scheduled date," the newspaper quoted al-Ghalai as saying.

Meanwhile, Abdul-Hussein al-Hindawi, advisor to rime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi, told the newspaper that the UN's role in the polls is only to monitor the electoral process and not to supervise or run it.

"The Iraqis are the ones who manage the elections in all their stages, and the role of the UN is to monitor and evaluate, not to supervise," al-Hindawi said.

The invitation by the IHEC came to ensure the integrity of the elections in accordance with standards to restore the citizens' confidence in the electoral process, as many Iraqis believe the 2018 parliamentary elections were marred by fraud and irregularities.

On January 19, the Iraqi government approved October 10 as the new date for the elections to allow the IHEC more time to complete preparations.

The last parliamentary elections in were held on May 12, 2018.

--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.)


Microsoft's Surface Duo has remained a US exclusive since its launch in September 2020, but the company is now making good on its promise to launch the device internationally. In a flurry of news releases published this morning, Microsoft confirmed that its ambitious, dual-screen smartphone will go on sale in the UK, France, Germany and Canada on February 18th.

Fans in the United Kingdom will be able to buy their Duos at Currys PC World and from Microsoft directly, with prices starting at 1,349. The company has also inked similar distribution deals with FNAC and Darty in France, along with Saturn and MediaMarkt in Germany, where the Duo will be sold for 1,549. (At time of publication, Microsoft hasn't yet disclosed its Canadian pricing.)

The company also had good news for would-be Surface Duo owners a little closer to home: for now at least, the device now sells for just $999, down from the original $1,399. While we cant tell if this is a permanent price cut just yet, its a sure sign that Microsoft wants to give the Duo a fighting chance in a year when rivals like Samsung are prioritizing more accessible  or in other words, cheaper  foldables.

While Microsoft doesnt usually like calling it one, the Surface Duo is the companys first new smartphone since 2015s Lumia 950 and 950 XL  a pair of devices that more-or-less flopped right out of the gate. In the years since, weve seen the quality of Microsofts hardware shoot through the roof, and the Surface Duo might be one of the single best expressions of the companys talent for engineering. Unfortunately, the first wave of review units seemed to be plagued by inconsistent, inelegant software, resulting in reviews that killed much of the early hype Microsoft was hoping to capitalize on. By most accounts, though, the Surface Duos software situation has improved noticeably thanks to a series of semi-regular updates  between that added polish and this new price cut, the Duo just might have a chance to shine now the way it couldnt nearly six months ago.
Mumbai, Feb 11 : Gulshan Devaiah on Thursday took to social media to express that he is a bit threatened and annoyed by a fan. The reason is the fan has learnt a lot about him than he is comfortable.

Even though the actor chose not to disclose the identity of the fan, he warned the fan with "consequences", saying he would not sit quiet if the former does "anything stupid".

Gulshan shared a note on his Instagram and Twitter accounts that reads: "I have a fan, whose identity I will protect for now, who doesn't understand boundaries despite me sincerely and repeatedly requesting that person to do so. I feel a bit annoyed and a bit threatened as well for myself, my cats, friends and family because that person seems to know a lot about me then I am comfortable. I am very friendly, approachable and will mostly always oblige requests to take a picture or chat a bit... but this is going a bit beyond my patience level. You know who you are! I appeal to you sincerely! Please please please don't do anything stupid because I am not going to sit quietly after that. There will be consequences. God bless you." Reacting to his post, netizens expressed their concern. Some also felt that this "fan" of Gulshan reminds them of the Shah Rukh Khan films "Darr" and "Fan".

"Is it a #Darr type fan or #Fan type fan? Anyways there should be certain limits so that someone shouldn't feel threatened or harassed, please beware whoever this is and live and let others live peacefully," commented a user.

"You are the most humble celebrity. Please respect your boundaries dear fellow fans," warned a fan.
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A man said he was to be paid $2,000 for transporting 45 immigrants to San Antonio, according to an arrest affidavit.

Jason Goode was arrested and charged with transport, attempt to transport and conspire to transport immigrants who were in the country illegally for the purpose of commercial advantage and private financial gain.

On Feb. 8, a concerned citizen reported to the Laredo Police Department various vehicles dropping off people into a parked tractor-trailer at the intersection of Springfield Avenue and Michigan Street. First officers on scene encountered a white tractor with a white trailer.

Authorities identified the driver as Goode. Police contacted the U.S. Border Patrol for assistance. Agents arrived at the scene and obtained consent to search the tractor. A K-9 unit allegedly gave a positive alert to possible narcotics or people concealed within the trailer.

Agents cut the seal on the trailer doors and discovered 45 people inside. All were immigrants who were illegally present in the country. Homeland Security Investigations special agents took over the case. Goode agreed to provide a post-arrest statement, according to court documents.

Goode stated he was hired by an unidentified male subject to drive the tractor-trailer to Laredo, Texas, and pick up what he believed to be narcotics. Goode stated he was going to be paid $2,000 after driving and dropping off the tractor-trailer in San Antonio, Texas, states the affidavit.

Goode further stated he was instructed to park the tractor-trailer in the intersection of Springfield and Michigan. He stated he observed several vehicles drive to the back of the street to drop off people and load them inside the trailer, according to court documents.

He added that a man driving a Chevrolet Avalanche had instructed to depart after loading the people to avoid suspicion, states the affidavit.
Jodie Turner-Smith transformed into Anne Boleyn in a first look image at the new drama of the same name, after being cast as the first black actress to play Henry VIII's second wife in a bid to 'challenge conventions'.

In the photo, the Queen & Slim star, 34, posed in a traditional Tudor gown and headpiece for new three-part psychological thriller by Fable Pictures, Channel 5 and Sony Pictures Television.

The upcoming series - scheduled to air later this year - explores the final moments of the queen's life from her lens as she attempts to tackle patriarchy and struggles to secure a life for her daughter, before she is executed by her husband.

Challenging conventions: Jodie Turner-Smith transformed into Anne Boleyn in a first look image at the new drama of the same name, scheduled for release later this year

The cast also includes I May Destroy You's Paapa Essiedu, who will portray the role of Anne's brother and Tudor nobleman George, and actor Mark Stanley as Henry VIII.

Dating Amber actress Lola Petticrew is featured as Anne's love rival, Jane Seymour, who succeeded her as the Queen of England.

Barry Ward, Jamael Westman, Amanda Burton and Thalissa Teixeira also play roles in the mini-series - which finished production on location in Yorkshire in December 2020.

Penned by writer Eve Hedderwick Turner and directed by Lynsey Miller, Anne Boleyn aims to 'challenge all the conventions of who we think Anne Boleyn was and shines a feminist light on her story.'

Background: The series explores the final moments of the queen's life from her lens before she is executed by her husband

Fable Pictures added: 'We're absolutely thrilled to have the magnetic Jodie Turner-Smith on board to encapsulate Anne's determination to be an equal among men and to pave a path for her daughter.

'We feel that history has side-lined the voice of this ambitious Queen in favour of the men who brought her down, and that Lynsey Miller's beautiful, intimate vision will put Anne's gaze at the heart of the piece.'

Ben Frow, director of programs at ViacomCBS, added: 'This project re-frames her story as a propulsive psychological thriller, told from a new perspective, with top talent like Jodie Turner-Smith attached.

'It was simply too irresistible to say no to and I'm very excited to see the finished product.'

Upcoming: The Queen & Slim star, 34, leads the new three-part psychological thriller by Fable Pictures, Channel 5 and Sony Pictures Television (pictured in 2018)

Director Miller previously defended the decision to give the role to a black actress, after sparking accusations of 'blackwashing'.

The TV executive said: 'I feel very strongly that we have the best actress for the role so I am happy to stand by it.

'I'm very proud of what we have created together, so let them talk.

Anne Boleyn: Henry VIII's second wife whose historical significance is often overlooked due to her brutal death Though perhaps best known in English history for the brutal way in which she met her end, Anne Boleyn's mark on the country's history is far more significant. Anne Boleyn Born the daughter of Thomas Boleyn, 1st Earl of Wiltshire, and his wife, Lady Elizabeth Howard, in 1501, she first came into the eye-sight of Henry VIII in 1522 when she secured a post at court as maid of honour to the king's first Catherine of Aragon. It was not until 1526 that Henry began his pursuit of Anne - a pursuit which was initially resisted. Her refusal to be a mistress sparked Henry to approach the then-Pope to have his marriage annulled. When it became clear this would not be allowed, Henry began his drive to break the power of the Catholic Church in England - what later became known as the English Reformation. Henry and Anne formally married in January 1533 - a move which resulted in the Pope excommunicating Henry and him consequently taking control of the Church of England. But it was ultimately not a happy marriage after Boleyn failed to produce a male heir. In order to marry again he needed a reason to end his marriage to Anne and she was investigated for high treason and sent to the Tower of London. Her beheading in the tower of London followed the miscarriage of a male child, and increasing clashes with Thomas Cromwell who is blamed for orchestrating the charges against her after engineering the break from the Catholic Church. Court rumours also suggested that Boleyn's forthright manner and intelligence angered courtiers. She was politically astute and allied with Protestant reformers of the church, including Cromwell before he turned on her. And her execution immediately followed the death of Henry VIII's first wife Catherine of Aragon. That event legally freed Henry to pursue marriage with Boleyn's lady-in-waiting Jane Seymour, if his current wife were to die. She was convicted on 15 May 1536 and beheaded four days later. Henry began courting Jane Seymour in 1536. Anne did leave one more mark on English history though, her daughter, Elizabeth, who was crowned as queen in 1558. During her daughter's reign, Anne became venerated as a martyr and heroine of the English Reformation. Advertisement

'There are going to be a lot of people who don't like it, but I feel like there has to be space for that and there are going to be a lot of people who love it. I'm one of them.'

It is the second time a BAME actress has played the role of Anne Boleyn on screen, after Merle Oberon, an Anglo-Indian actress who played the royal in Alexander Korda's 1933 film The Private Life of Henry VIII.

Though she claimed she was Australian, in order to avoid prejudice at the time, Oberon was born in India to a British army officer father and Indian mother. She was nicknamed 'Queenie' in honour of Queen Mary and King George V's visit to India in 1911.

On her role, an excited Jodie, who was born in Peterborough to Jamaican parents, said: 'Delving deeper into Anne Boleyn's immense strengths while examining her fatal weaknesses and vulnerabilities, Eve's scripts immediately captured my imagination.

'In the hands of Lynsey Miller, the legend of this formidable queen and fierce mother will be seen as a deeply human story that is still so relevant for today.

'I look forward to bringing my heart and spirit into this daring retelling of the fall of this iconic woman.'

Henry's second wife, who was the white daughter of English nobility, is also one of the key causes of the English Reformation and the mother of Queen Elizabeth I.

Anne was famously beheaded in 1536 for high treason after failing to produce a male heir.

Her execution in the Tower of London followed the miscarriage of a male child, and increasing clashes with Thomas Cromwell - who is blamed for orchestrating the charges against her after engineering the break from the Catholic Church.

Court rumours also suggested that Anne's forthright manner and intelligence angered courtiers.

She was politically astute and allied with Protestant reformers of the church, including Thomas before he turned on her.

Her killing immediately followed the death of Henry VIII's first wife Catherine of Aragon.

That event legally freed Henry to pursue marriage with Anne's lady-in-waiting Jane Seymour, if his current wife were to die.

Jodie is the latest in a line of Hollywood stars who have taken on the role in recent years.

Back in 2007, Natalie Dormer took on the role alongside Jonathan Rhys Meyer's Henry VIII in BBC series, The Tudors.

The series was panned by critics for its 'sexed-up, dumbed down' version of English history, and received hundreds of complaints from viewers and academics who claimed to spot modern radiators, Tarmac driveways, concrete bollards and Victorian carriages.

With its raunchy explicit sex scenes the drama, which ran for four series, was part of a bid to interest younger audiences in history.

Natalie Portman then took on the role of the Queen for The Other Boleyn Girl - directed by Justin Chadwick - which was moderately successful at the box office when it was released in 2008.

She starred alongside Scarlett Johansson, who played her sister Mary.

The film followed the plight of Anne Boleyn and her marriage to Henry VIII, played by Eric Bana, as her sister Mary muscled in on the King's affections with the help of David Morrissey's character, their uncle The Duke of Norfolk.

In 2009, Claire Foy took on the role for the BBC's 7 million series Wolf Hall, based on Hilary Mantels award-winning novel.

The show - which also starred Mark Rylance as Thomas Cromwell and Damian Lewis as Henry VIII - charted the rise of Cromwell from blacksmiths son to one of the most powerful men in King Henry VIIIs court.

While viewers praised the cast and their acting abilities, some said the slow pace had sent them to sleep and complained there was too much complex Tudor history to make for entertaining viewing

Queen: Back in 2007, Natalie Dormer took on the role of Anne Boleyn alongside Jonathan Rhys Meyer's Henry VIII in BBC series, The Tudors

All the stars: Natalie Portman took on the role of the Queen for The Other Boleyn Girl in 2008, while Claire Foy played her for the BBC's 7 million series Wolf Hall in 2009

Meanwhile, news of Jodie's role came after months after she welcomed her daughter, Janie, nine months, with Fringe actor husband Joshua Jackson, 42.

In the October 2020 issue of Vogue, the British model confirmed her child's name for the first time in print, and reflected on what it's been like to parent a newborn in the midst of the pandemic.

The thespian explained: 'I had to learn how to breastfeed and how to be a mumit really worked out for my baby.'

The article reported that after giving birth in April, Jodie's mother Hilda came to stay with them for three months amid the pandemic, and while protests began erupting around the world in the fight of social justice and racial equality.

The Queen & Slim star reflected that it was a 'comfort' to have both her mother and husband with her and the baby during that time, without the outside pressures of work and amid a time of change and upheaval.

The murder trial involving the State and Buba Drammeh failed to proceed for the second time following the Prisons Director's failure to honour the court's summon to either bring Drammeh or appear in person to explain why he could not be produced.

In this case, Buba Drammeh is the only one charge with murder while all the other accused persons are charged with conspiracy. Drammeh is accused of murdering a UTG student in Gunjur.

When the case was called before the Banjul High Court on Tuesday, 9th February 2021, all other accused persons were present except Drammeh.

Tuesday's hearing failed because the director of prison service, Mr. Manneh, who was summoned to appear in court and explain why Buba Drammeh who is the principal accused person in the case has not appeared in court on two occasions, failed to appear before the trial judge.

Mr. Ansumana Manneh, the Director of Prison Services, did not come to court or send any one to represent him in the case. Drammeh was also not brought.

The Judge asked State Counsel M.D. Mballow to file a motion for the trial to continue with the other four accused persons and remove Drammeh's name.

The other five accused person are charged with conspiracy.

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Wyoming Business Tips for Feb. 15-21

A weekly look at issues facing Wyoming business owners and entrepreneurs from the Wyoming Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Network, a collection of business assistance programs at the University of Wyoming.

By Steen Stovall, regional director, Wyoming SBDC Network

In the normal life cycle of every business, there are going to be some periods of highs and lows.

However, there may be periods when the highs may get really high, and the lows may get really low. Its during those times a business owner has to make some critical and necessary decisions.

Eric Ries, in his book The Lean Startup, describes these situations as the intersection between the questions: Do I persevere, or do I pivot? Do I persevere, with the expectation that Ill plow ahead, weather the storm, keep operating and move forward; or do I pivot, by changing my strategy, my business model, my products and services, or the talent I utilize and recruit?

Neither of these decisions is easy, and both involve a level of some discomfort and uncertainty. Fortunately, by focusing questions in the following key areas, a business owner can make the process a little less uncomfortable and more certain.

Demand, Delivery and Diversification

The first area that should be looked at is demand. Is the product or service that the business provides still going to be required or desired? Is it still important, critical or necessary to its customer base? Are customers willing to buy it now but, more importantly, will they be willing to buy it in the future?

The second area is delivery. How does the business get its products and services to its customers -- in person, online or virtual? Is there going to be something in the future thats either going to prevent or enhance its ability to continue in the same delivery model, or is it going to have to shift and do something completely different from what it may have done in the past?

Market conditions may change as well, thus impacting a businesss ability to deliver its product or service to its customer base.

The final area is diversification. Although diversification encompasses a lot of different factors, perhaps the most important is the businesss products and services. Should the business keep them the same, or should they be changed? Or, perhaps the business should shift in a completely different direction in terms of what its offering and the talent and skills it can bring to bear.

Another important factor is the businesss customer base. Does the business need to change who its selling to? This goes back to demand. If the demand for its products and services is decreasing in its current customer base, it may be increasing in a different customer base.

Ultimately, every business will have to decide whether to persevere or pivot at some point during its lifetime. Luckily, when that time comes, the Wyoming SBDC Network is there to help.

If youre interested in obtaining assistance with the process of deciding whether to persevere or pivot with your business, contact your local adviser at www.wyomingsbdc.org for no-cost, confidential assistance.

The Wyoming SBDC Network offers no-cost advising and technical assistance to help Wyoming entrepreneurs think about, launch, grow, reinvent or exit their business. In 2020 alone, the Wyoming SBDC Network helped Wyoming entrepreneurs start 95 new businesses; support 6,954 jobs; and bring a capital impact of $18 million to the state. The Wyoming SBDC Network is hosted by UW with state funds from the Wyoming Business Council and funded, in part, through a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.

To ask a question, call 1-800-348-5194, email wsbdc@uwyo.edu, or write 1000 E. University Ave., Dept. 3922, Laramie, WY 82071-3922.
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The Gambia's Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has issued a warning to a group of individuals referring to themself as "Operation No Illegal Voting" to desist from illegally conducting voter sensitization.

In a presser issued on Tuesday, 9th February, 2021, the ICE stated: "It has come to the notice of the Independent Electoral Commission that a group of individuals referring to itself as "Operation No Illegal Voting," is illegally conducting voter sensitization in Upper River Region and West Coast Region."

Alieu Momar Njie, the Independent Electoral Commission Chairperson said the aforesaid group was impersonating as it was operating under the authority of the IEC.

"They wear T-Shirts bearing IEC logo and are purportedly engaging with Chiefs and Alkalolu warning them on electoral matters," he said.

The IEC Chairperson therefore urged the group to desist from such actions immediately failure of which legal action would be taken against them.

"Impersonation is illegal and the commission would not tolerate such," he said.

Chairman Njie added that the commission recognizes the role of Civil Society Organizations and therefore their activities must be within the confines of the laws of The Gambia.

"The Independent Electoral Commission is mandated to conduct voter education pursuant to section 134 (A) of the Elections Amendment Acts 2015. However, it sometimes collaborates with stakeholders in the fulfillment of this mandate," he said.
Microsofts Chief Executive Officer Satya Nadella said social-media services like Facebook, Twitter and YouTube need clearer laws and rules to govern whether controversial accounts, like former US President Donald Trump's, have a place on their services.

"Unilateral action by individual companies in democracies like ours is just not long-term stable  we do need to be able to have a framework of laws and norms," Mr Nadella said in an interview with Bloomberg Television..

"Depending on any one individual CEO in any one of these companies to make calls that are going to really help us maintain something as sacred and as important as our democracy in the long run is just no way that at least I, as a citizen, would advocate for."

Microsoft doesn't currently run a consumer social media service, but it is among cloud-computing providers that have been pulled into the debate over the deplatforming of certain individual voices, social-media accounts and entire apps, especially following the violent pro-Trump riot at the US Capitol last month.

Amazon.coms cloud unit pulled its hosting services from Parler, a social network that touts itself as anti-censorship and was popular among conservative and extremist figures. Apple and Alphabet's Google previously had removed Parler from their app stores.

The three tech companies' actions essentially took the service offline. Trump's account, meantime, was banned from Twitter Inc. and remains suspended on Facebook.

Read More

In the past several years, antitrust regulators have ramped up investigations into the market power of large technology companies, just as Microsoft fell under government scrutiny and faced a US antitrust lawsuit more than two decades ago, when Mr Nadella was a rising manager.

It's better for the younger technology companies to face robust competition and handle negative consequences of growing too big ahead of time, rather than waiting until their size leads to problems for consumers and rivals, the CEO said.

"Big by itself is not bad, but competition is good," he said.

"And more importantly, you need to have a business model that really is aligned with the world doing well. There are certain categories of products where the unintended consequences of the growth on that category or lack of competition creates issues."

The need for competition includes rivalry from China, Nadella said, although national security concerns must be reckoned with by each government, Mr Nadella said.

"There is no god-given right for US tech companies to take for granted that there cannot be other tech powers," he said.

"All of us in the West Coast of the United States need to be more grounded, because sometimes I think we celebrate our own advances far too much."
BMW Laval clients can now pay using Bitcoin

NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / February 11, 2021 / Alt 5 Sigma Inc., announced today that the BMW dealership in Laval, Quebec has joined its merchant services (www.Alt5pay.com) to begin accepting Bitcoin payments for the sale and maintenance of new and certified pre-owned vehicles.

According to the company, BMW Laval, has begun accepting payments in Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, and Litecoin. BMW Laval located on Chomedey Boulevard is under the leadership of Carmine D'Argenio and has always been at the forefront of customer service and satisfaction and the new payment option is just another demonstration of this leadership in the auto industry.

"There is a real and present demand for payment in cryptocurrencies and until now, there was no actual solution to remove the risk associated with crypto wallets, and price volatility. The Alt 5 Pay solution enables us to accept Bitcoin and receive the currency of our choice" said Carmine D'Argenio, President of BMW Laval. "Alt 5 Pay's merchant services invoicing and gateway is very efficient and easy to use." further added Mr. D'Argenio.

Alt 5 Pay is a payment gateway which enables the payment in cryptocurrencies without exposing the merchant to price volatility and security risks. The payment gateway offers merchants the possibility of creating invoices and or integrating the Alt 5 Pay directly to their checkout. The crypto payments are immediately converted to FIAT equivalent in either US dollars, Canadian Dollars and EUROs at the option of the merchant. As an example, an Alt 5 Pay invoice of $5,000 paid in Bitcoin will result in the conversion of the Bitcoins to $5,000 and paid to the merchant directly to their account.

"The cryptocurrency sector is not a fade, and its adoption and impact is seen globally," said Andre Beauchesne, President and CEO of Alt 5 Sigma Inc. "Some automakers may claim to seek to accept Bitcoin in the future, but for BMW Laval, the future is now" further added Mr. Beauchesne.

About BMW Laval

Serving the Laval area, BMW Laval, located at 2450 Chomedey in Laval, QC, is a premier retailer of new and used BMW vehicles. Their dedicated sales staff and top-trained technicians are there to make customers' auto shopping experience fun, easy and financially advantageous. https://www.bmwlaval.com/

Alt 5 Sigma Inc.

ALT 5 is a fintech company specializing in the development and deployment of digital assets trading and exchange platforms. Alt 5 was founded by financial industry specialists out of the necessity to provide the digital asset economy with security, accessibility, transparency and compliance.

ALT 5 provides its clients the ability to buy, sell and hold digital assets in a safe and secure environment deployed with the best practices of the financial industry. ALT 5's products and services are available to Banks, Broker Dealers, Funds, Family Offices, Professional Traders, Retail Traders, Digital Asset Exchanges, Digital Asset Brokers, Blockchain Developers, and Financial Information Providers.

ALT 5's digital asset custodian services are secured by GardaWorld. GardaWorld is the world's largest privately-owned business solutions and security services company, offering cash management services.

www.alt5sigma.com www.alt5pro.com

www.alt5pay.com

www.al5prime.com

www.alt5coins.com

www.alt5connect.com

Contact:

Andre Beauchesne, President & CEO

Tel. 1-888-778-7091

info@alt5sigma.com

SOURCE: Alt 5 Sigma Inc.

View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/629301/ALT-5-Pay-Welcomes-BMW-Laval-to-Its-Merchant-Services-Enabling-Bitcoin-Payments
A sign counts down the days until the trial of Derek Chauvin, the officer who killed George Floyd, at a Speedway gas station in Minneapolis, Feb. 8, 2021. With Chauvins trial a month away, there is great uncertainty in Minneapolis about the outcome, and whether the proceedings could provoke more violence. (Nina Robinson/The New York Times)

Tim Arango

MINNEAPOLIS  It was three days after George Floyd died in police custody last May, and businesses in the Twin Cities were on fire. Police officers were shooting rubber bullets and tear gas to hold back protesters, their anger fuelled by a cellphone video of Floyd, a Black man, gasping for breath under the knee of a white officer.

As soldiers prepared to take to the streets, the officer, Derek Chauvin, believed that the case against him was so devastating that he agreed to plead guilty to third-degree murder. As part of the deal, officials now say, he was willing to go to prison for more than 10 years. Local officials, scrambling to quell the communitys swelling anger, scheduled a news conference to announce the deal.

But at the last minute, according to new details laid out by three law enforcement officials, the deal fell apart after William Barr, the attorney general at the time, rejected the arrangement. The deal was contingent on the federal governments approval because Chauvin, who had asked to serve his time in a federal prison, wanted assurance that he would not face federal civil rights charges.

An official said Barr worried that a plea deal, so early in the process and before a full investigation had concluded, would be perceived as too lenient by the growing number of protesters across America. At the same time, Barr wanted to allow state officials, who were about to take over the case from the county prosecutor who has had tense relations with Minneapoliss Black community, to make their own decisions about how to proceed.

Now, in the lead-up to Chauvins trial, which is scheduled to begin with jury selection March 8, there is great uncertainty about the outcome and whether the proceedings could provoke more violence.

Some office workers in downtown Minneapolis have already been told not to come to work during the weeks long trial because of heavy security. The National Guard will be deployed, transforming the city centre into a military zone, with Humvees and armed soldiers monitoring checkpoints. In his recent budget proposal, Gov. Tim Walz included a special $4.2 million item for security during the trial, as well as a $35 million fund to reimburse local law enforcement agencies that may be called upon to quell unrest.

This is the most famous police brutality prosecution in the history of the United States, said Paul Butler, a former prosecutor and professor at Georgetown University and an authority on police brutality.

In a country whose criminal justice system rarely holds police officers accountable for killing on the job  not in Ferguson, Missouri, not in the death of Freddie Gray in Baltimore, not in the case of Eric Garner in New York  the trial of Chauvin is seen as a test of whether anything has changed. Chauvin, in widely seen cellphone video captured by a bystander, kept his knee on the neck of Floyd for more than nine minutes until he took his last breaths pushed against, in the words of a court filing, the unforgiving concrete of Chicago Avenue.

The trial may yet be delayed. The prosecution has asked an appeals court to put off the proceedings, citing the risk that the trial, with so many demonstrators likely to fill the streets, becomes a super spreader event during the coronavirus pandemic.

This appeal involves a question of exceptional and unique importance in one of the highest-profile cases in our nations history, reads the first sentence of the appellate brief filed by Keith Ellison, the states attorney general, who is leading the prosecution.

The state is also appealing a decision by Judge Peter A. Cahill to separate the trial of Chauvin, who is charged with second-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter  the initial charge of third-degree murder was dropped  from the trial of three other former officers involved in Floyds death, two of whom were rookies with just a few days on the job.

The three ex-officers who were with Chauvin during Floyds final minutes  Thomas Lane, who held Floyds legs; J. Alexander Keung, who was positioned on Floyds back; and Tou Thao, who held off angry bystanders  are scheduled to face trial on aiding and abetting charges in August.

Legal experts, and lawyers involved in the case, say that Cahills decision to hold separate trials could benefit Chauvin  whose lawyer had pushed for a separate trial  because he will no longer have to face the possibility of the other three men pointing the blame at him.

In fact, that has already been playing out behind the scenes: Defence attorneys for those former officers have shifted from crafting strategies built on establishing the culpability of Chauvin to offering their help to his defence. If Chauvin were acquitted  a possibility that many officials fear could lead to more upheaval and second-guessing about the failed plea deal  the other three officers would likely not face trial at all.

Floyds death forced a reckoning with racial injustice and police brutality that many felt was long overdue. Not since the civil rights movement of the 1960s had so many Americans taken to the streets to demand justice and equality. That it happened in the middle of a pandemic only added to the sense of magnitude.

Floyd died on Memorial Day after a store clerk called the police on him for allegedly using a counterfeit $20 bill to buy cigarettes. Soon, the impact of his death on the broader world will narrow  to a specially built courtroom, No. 1856, designed for social distancing at the Hennepin County Government Center in downtown Minneapolis.

At trial, the central question will most likely be the exact cause of Floyds death. The county medical examiner ruled the death a homicide caused by a combination of the officers use of force, the presence of fentanyl and methamphetamine in Floyds system and his underlying health conditions. But Chauvins defence strategy, which has emerged in numerous court filings from his lawyer, Eric Nelson, is centred on presenting medical evidence that Floyd died of a drug overdose.

A lot of the defence strategy will look like a trial of George Floyds character, Butler, the Georgetown professor, said.

In a series of motions filed this week, Nelson asked the court to allow testimony about Floyds drug use and to forbid anyone at trial from referring to Floyd as a victim.

Nelson declined to comment on the failed plea deal last year.

Lawyers and legal experts often bring up two of Americas most famous trials involving race and the police when asked to place the criminal cases arising from Floyds death in a historical context. One is the Rodney King case in Los Angeles in 1992, for its obvious parallels of white officers brutalizing a Black man. The other is the O.J. Simpson trial, which offers an example of how an emotional trial can become a televised spectacle.

Cahill, citing the immense interest in the Chauvin case and the pandemic restrictions that will limit public attendance, has ruled that cameras will be allowed in the courtroom, a first in Minnesota.

Ellison has objected to cameras in the court, writing in a motion that an innocent bystander who saw George Floyds murder does not deserve  absent his or her consent  to be rocketed onto the public stage.

There are also persistent fears that the trial could attract white supremacists or other right-wing extremist groups to the city. Already, during pre-trial hearings, lawyers for the defendants have been harassed; one man was arrested after managing to get a gun inside the courthouse.

Earl Gray, Lanes lawyer, was in his office on a recent morning, explaining that Floyds drug use will probably be at the centre of the case, when his phone rang. It was another in a stream of harassing phone calls he has been receiving for months.

Its a case where the politics are pretty tough, he said, matter-of-factly, after hanging up.

Jurors will remain anonymous during the trial, and possibly sequestered. A questionnaire has been mailed to prospective jurors, asking them a number of questions, including their opinions on the Black Lives Matter movement and the effort to defund the police, a rallying cry of last summers social unrest, and whether they participated in any protests.

Seating an impartial jury could be the most vexing challenge of the entire proceeding, and three weeks have been scheduled just for picking a jury. After all, many here ask, who has not heard of the case and formed an opinion about it? And how will last summers unrest, and the expectation that an acquittal in the case would cause more demonstrations in their own city, weigh on the minds of jurors?

Aside from the snow on the ground and a naked Christmas tree, the only indication that almost a year has passed since Floyd was killed outside Cup Foods in South Minneapolis is a sign at the Speedway gas station across the street that changes each morning.

GEORGE FLOYD, TRIAL IN 28 DAYS, it read on a recent day.

Eliza Wesley, known to the community around Cup Foods as the gatekeeper of George Floyd Square  anchored by a traffic roundabout transformed into a memorial with a raised fist sculpture jutting skyward  has for many months taken care of the area and greeted visitors.

The countdown sign, she said, is so we know exactly how many days to the trial, so we can be prepared. We want it to be peaceful. We dont want white supremacists coming down here.

Wesley said she had no doubt about the trials outcome, even as she worried that her city could once again be convulsed by unrest.

Im confident justice will be served, she said. Theres no way around that video. God allowed this to happen, so life can be changed and people can see whats going on. George Floyd died for a purpose.

c.2021 The New York Times Company
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Srinagar, Feb 11 : The Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) police on Thursday arrested five drug peddlers from Kulgam and Budgam districts and recovered contraband substances from their possession.

Police officers at a checkpoint in Kulgam district intercepted a truck with two persons on board. They have been identified as Mohinder Singh and Harpal Singh, both residents of RS Pora Jammu.

During checking, a recovery of 1.5kg of poppy straw was made from their possession.

Similarly, officers intercepted a suspicious person at the same checkpoint who has been identified as Reyaz Ahmad Dar.

"During search, officers were able to recover 100grams of charas from his possession.

"All the three accused persons have been arrested and shifted to Qazigund police station where they remain in custody.

"In Budgam, officers at a checkpoint established near Hyderpora Budgam intercepted another vehicle with two persons on board. They have been identified as Taufeeq Ahmed Bhat and Javaid Ahmad.

"During checking officers were able to recover psychotropic substance (15 bottle of Codine Phosphate and 225 Tablets of Alprazolam) from their possession. They have been arrested and shifted to Police Station Budgam where they remain in custody.

"Vehicles used in the commission of crime have also been seized.Community members are requested to come forward with any information regarding drug peddlers in their neighbourhood.

"Persons found indulging in drug peddling will be dealt as per law. Our consistent actions against drug peddlers should reassure the community members that we are making efforts to keep our society free from the scourge of drug menace".
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Energy Minister Angus Taylor has declared Australia is dead against carbon tariffs as Prime Minister Scott Morrison awaits an invitation from United States President Joe Biden to climate talks in April.

The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age revealed on Thursday that Australia would push back against Britains bid to use the G7 leaders summit in June to establish climate tariffs, arguing the sanctions would be a new form of protectionism designed to shield local industries from free trade.

Scott Morrison will be expected to travel to Washington, DC if the talks are held in person, potentially making his first meeting with US President Joe Biden on the fraught issue of climate change. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer, AP

Asked whether he opposed carbon tariffs, Mr Taylor said: We have always been against tariffs in this country under this government.

Weve actually made great gains in entering into free-trade agreements to eliminate tariffs, Mr Taylor told Sky News on Thursday. We are dead against tariffs and we believe in the role of trade in driving prosperity.
Aparshakti Khurana has a way of switching things up from time to time.

With a transient style that changes all the time, it's becoming harder with every passing week what he's going to wear next.

Even his Instagram feed is an example of how his style aesthetic keeps changing and yet never fails to impress us.

When he's spotted on the streets, his style is more laidback, casual, and functional, but when it comes to formal events, he really cleans up well and how.

For instance, for the Femina Miss India finals event, he'd made a fellow guest appearance with actors Pulkit Samrat and Neha Dhupia, among others.

For this particular event, he went for a velvet formal suit which consisted of a velvet blazer and coordinated velvet pants with a bow tie.

He then wore a pair of loafers with the lightning stud embedded on them. Take a look at his outfit here:

 Viral Bhayani

 Viral Bhayani

Wearing velvet suits in Mumbai's humid weather can be a huge risk. The velvet fabric can cling to the skin and leave you sweating in no time.



This is perhaps the reason why people only opt for velvet silhouettes in peak Winter months, but now that we're transitioning into spring, we hope this risky choice of this outfit worked out well for Aparshakti.

 Viral Bhayani

 Viral Bhayani

However, this is not the only risk Aparshakti has taken off late.



Last week, he wore fluffed up joggers from Kenzo and casual sneakers that were a rad combo together. Another time, he wore an odd pair of capri pants and a pair of pants that looked like the modern version of a 'lungi;

Having done films like Street Dancer, Pati Patni Aur Woh, and Luka Chuppi with Kartik Aaryan and Kirt Sanon, Aparshakti has a relatively tight schedule this year.

He's extremely busy shooting for film projects which include the likes of Kanupriye directed by Ashish Aryan and Helmet directed by Satram Ramani.
MBABANE  A man whose motorbike was involved in an accident with a motor vehicle allegedly driven by an employee of Inyatsi Construction Limited is suing the company for E3.1 million.

Bukhosibami Maseko (30) of Mnyokane in the Hhohho Region alleged that the motor vehicle he was involved in an accident with, a Ford Ranger registered NSD 099 AS, was driven by Mancoba Dlamini of Gundvwini in the Manzini Region. His bike was a Kawasaki Motorcycle ZX6 registered ZSD 192 AM.

He submitted in papers he has filed at the High Court that the accident happened on June 19, 2016 at 5:10pm along MR3 Public Road. He alleged that Dlamini did not give him the right of way and he hit the Ford Ranger from behind. He told the court that Dlamini was employed by Inyatsi Construction. Maseko said the motorcycle was damaged beyond repairs. Dlamini was charged with negligent driving and the accident was wholly attributed to him in that he was said to have failed to give the right of way, apply brakes timeously and to avoid the accident.

As a result of the second respondents (Dlamini) negligent driving and cause of the accident, the plaintiff suffered extensive injuries to various parts of his person. He suffered major fractures on his right femur, right thigh, right leg and left wrist. He sustained substantial injuries on his face and his head which required him to undergo extensive operations. Thus he sustained permanent injury to his leg and left wrist, he submitted.

veracity

The veracity of these allegations is still to be tested in court. Inyatsi Construction is yet to file its responding papers. Maseko is represented by SM Jele Attorneys.

Maseko informed the court that his left leg became considerably shorter than his right leg by 2.5cm and he lost 30 per cent functionality of his left hand. He also submitted that he suffered severe back pain and his right leg becomes painful when he is driving long distances. He stated that he underwent physiotherapy at his own expense. The biker said, due to constant visits to the hospital and being in constant pain, he suffered a great loss in earnings during the time he was in and out of hospital. Maseko said last year, the Sincephetelo Motor Vehicle Accident Fund (SMVA) offered him compensation in the amount of E176 199.22 in full and final settlement against the fund. This payment, according to Maseko, did not absolve Inyatsi Construction of its liability towards him.

He said, in the circumstances, the company had to compensate him, among other expenses, for medical and hospital expenses, general damages, pain and suffering. In total, he is demanding E3 135 800.78 from Inyatsi Construction.

In the circumstances, the defendants are liable for the sum of E1 135 800.78 which is due, owing and payable but despite demand, defendants neglect and/or fail to pay the plaintiff the sum of E3 135 800.78, he added.

interest

Maseko wants the money to be paid at nine per cent interest per annum. According to the police report, Maseko was riding from Mahlanya towards Lobamba, while the motor vehicle was moving towards Ludzidzini Royal Residence from Ezulwini.

The motor vehicle did not stop for incoming traffic before making a turn and thus was knocked by the motorcycle. The weather condition was fair and the road surface was dry, reads the police report.

Investigations, according to the report, revealed that the driver of the Ford Ranger was at fault in that he failed to give a right of way and apply brakes timeously. Dlamini was charged for committing a traffic offence. The matter is pending in court.






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On Feb. 2, Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that the Biden administration would suspend bilateral Asylum Cooperative Agreements with Guatemala and others in the region. In implementing the approach laid out by President Biden, the United States could be a reliable regional partner, working with governments, international organizations, civil society and the private sector to establish a comprehensive strategy to address the root causes of migration in the region, fight against corruption and impunity, and address climate drivers of migration.

The announcement comes on the heels of months of unrest in Guatemala. In November, Guatemalas Congress approved an emergency budget that axed pandemic assistance programs and slashed hunger relief, while earmarking additional resources for congressional perks like meal allowances for its members. The budget, which was negotiated and passed in secret, ignited a wave of unrest that in turn led the government to suspend the final ratification process. An emerging multiethnic and multigenerational coalition that coalesced around the budget protests is reimagining the countrys future.

This isnt the first time Guatemalan citizens have mobilized to demand accountability. For over a decade, human rights and justice activists, together with Attorneys General Claudia Paz y Paz and Thelma Aldana, worked alongside the United Nations-backed International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala, known by its Spanish acronym CICIG, and the United States government to dismantle the criminal networks that have long operated with impunity. Their efforts led to the resignation and arrest of former President Otto Perez Molina in 2015, and to formal accusations against more than 1,500 people, including powerful politicians and members of the business community.

In the last four years, those hard-fought gains have been dismantled piece by piece. President Jimmy Morales shut down the CICIG in 2018, and installed a more pliant attorney general, Consuelo Porras. Alejandro Giammatteis election in 2019 breathed new energy into the countrys Pact of the Corrupt, as the group of dirty political and business leaders are known. As they have moved to solidify their control over Congress and the courts, they have become more brazen about their ties to drug traffickers, and have openly vaunted their intentions to crack down on their political opponents.
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The global defibrillator market size is expected to reach USD 22.2 billion by 2028, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 7.4% from 2021 to 2028. Factors contributing to the growth of this market include supportive legislative reforms, rising incidences of sudden cardiac arrests in the region, presence of integrated technology, and rising awareness for cardiac conditions. Moreover, the COVID 19 pandemic further accentuated the need for defibrillators as many elderly patients suffering from COVID-19, suffered from sudden cardiac arrests, and the device was useful for the resuscitation of such patients.

Key suggestions from the report:

The implantable cardioverter defibrillator segment dominated the market in terms of revenue share in 2020 and is projected to witness a CAGR of over 7.2% from 2021 to 2028. Technological advancements by market players are expected to drive segment growth

North America held the largest revenue share in 2020, due to the supportive healthcare infrastructure and deeper penetration of the technologically advanced devices

The industry participants are focusing on investing in acquisitions, collaborations, product launches, and partnerships to gain a competitive edge

The hospital segment held the largest revenue share of more than 91.0% in 2020 owing to the high patient footfall for treatment of their cardiovascular ailments

In Asia Pacific , the market is anticipated to witness a CAGR of around 8.1% owing to the presence of emerging economies such as China and India and increasing healthcare expenditure

In January 2020 , Medtronic received the CE mark for its Crome and Cobalt portfolio of defibrillators. This significantly enhanced the company's cardiac solutions offerings and allowed it to commercialize the products in the market

Read 128 page research report with ToC on "Defibrillator Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product (ICD, External Defibrillator), By End-use (Hospital, Pre-hospital, Public Access, Alternate Care, Home Healthcare), By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2021 - 2028" at: https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/defibrillators-market

The rising demand for handling sudden cardiac arrests is leading to innovation in implantable as well as external defibrillators. Innovation with regards to implantable devices includes subcutaneous and transvenous devices, that aim to increase the comfort level of patients. Swedish Transport Agency ran a program in 2017 under the test phase, which aimed to deliver AEDs using a drone. This may reduce the delivery time of an AED, increasing the chances of survival with faster treatment. Therefore, the market is anticipated to grow because of technological advancements and product delivery innovations.

Major market players are focused on launching technologically advanced products to enhance their presence. For instance, in July 2020, Zoll Medical Corporation launched a new remote view technology feature on its X Series monitor/defibrillator. This enhanced the existing product portfolio.

Grand View Research has segmented the global defibrillator market on the basis of product, end-use, and region:

Defibrillators Product Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2028)

Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator



S-ICD





T-ICD





Single Chamber





Dual Chamber





CRT-D



External Defibrillator



Manual ED





Automated ED





Wearable Cardioverter Defibrillators

Defibrillators End-use Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2028)

Hospital



Pre Hospital



Public Access market



Alternate Care market



Home Healthcare

Defibrillators Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016 - 2028)

North America



U.S.





Canada



Europe



U.K.





Germany





France





Italy





Spain



Asia Pacific



Japan





China





India





Australia





South Korea



Latin America



Brazil





Mexico





Argentina





Colombia



Middle East & Africa

&

South Africa





Saudi Arabia





UAE

List of Key Players of Defibrillator Market

Medtronic

Abbott

Boston Scientific Corporation

Stryker

Koninklijke Philips N.V.

Zoll Medical Corporation

Biotronik, Inc.

Nihon Kohden Corporation

Progetti Srl, Schiller

MS Westfalia GmbH

AMI Italia

Axion Ltd

Bexen Cardio

Find more research reports on Medical Devices Industry, by Grand View Research:

Home Healthcare Market  The global home healthcare market size was valued at USD 281.8 billion in 2019 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.9% from 2020 to 2027.

in 2019 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.9% from 2020 to 2027. Cardiac Rhythm Management Devices Market  The global cardiac rhythm management devices market size was valued at USD 20.2 billion in 2019. Increasing incidence of heart failures and arrhythmias has fueled the demand for technologically advanced cardiac rhythm management (CRM) devices.

The global cardiac rhythm management devices market size was valued at in 2019. Increasing incidence of heart failures and arrhythmias has fueled the demand for technologically advanced cardiac rhythm management (CRM) devices. Congestive Heart Failure Treatment Devices Market  The Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) treatment devices market was valued at USD 15.6 billion in 2015 and is expected to witness a CAGR of 8.1% over the forecast period.

Gain access to Grand View Compass, our BI enabled intuitive market research database of 10,000+ reports

About Grand View Research

Grand View Research, U.S.-based market research and consulting company, provides syndicated as well as customized research reports and consulting services. Registered in California and headquartered in San Francisco, the company comprises over 425 analysts and consultants, adding more than 1200 market research reports to its vast database each year. These reports offer in-depth analysis on 46 industries across 25 major countries worldwide. With the help of an interactive market intelligence platform, Grand View Research helps Fortune 500 companies and renowned academic institutes understand the global and regional business environment and gauge the opportunities that lie ahead.

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Prosecutors at former U.S. President Donald Trumps Senate impeachment trial began to lay out their case against him on Wednesday, saying he was no innocent bystander to the violence that erupted at the U.S. Capitol last month as lawmakers certified Democrat Joe Bidens victory in the November election.

Congressman Jamie Raskin, the lead impeachment manager, and other Democratic lawmakers said Trump laid the groundwork for the storming of the Capitol over a period of weeks leading up to the election with dozens of unfounded claims that the only way he could lose was if the election was rigged against him.

Raskin contended that Trump, by urging hundreds of his supporters to fight like hell in confronting lawmakers at the Capitol on January 6, ignited the mayhem that left five people dead, including a Capitol Police officer.

He incited this attack, Raskin told the 100-member Senate that will decide whether Trump should be convicted of a single article of impeachment brought by the House of Representatives. It accuses him of incitement of insurrection.



WATCH TRIAL LIVE

He clearly surrendered his role as commander in chief and became the inciter in chief, Raskin argued. He contended that Trump, now out of office after his four-year term ended and Biden was inaugurated January 20, was singularly responsible in exhorting his supporters to try to upend Bidens victory.

Hundreds of his supporters  perhaps about 800, according to law enforcement authorities -- rampaged through the Capitol, breaking windows, bashing doors, ransacking some congressional offices and scuffling with police. Dozens of the rioters, many of whom bragged on social media about storming into the two chambers of Congress, have been charged with criminal offenses as the investigation of the chaos continues.

The House impeachment managers showed dozens of Twitter comments and video clips in which Trump claimed election fraud and urged his supporters to show up in Washington January 6 as Congress met to certify the 306-232 Electoral College vote favoring Biden.

Will be wild! Trump tweeted.

After nearly four hours of mayhem, lawmakers certified the Biden victory in the middle of the night early on January 7, making Trump the fifth U.S. president in the countrys history to be defeated after a single term in office.

Now, Raskin said, in 2021 the usually routine certification of U.S. presidential election results will be remembered as a day that will live in disgrace.

Congressman Joe Neguse, another House impeachment manager, said that in rallying supporters before the storming of the Capitol complex, Trump wanted to stop the transfer of power even though he had lost the election.

This attack was provoked by the president, Neguse said. It was predictable and foreseeable. He had the power to stop it and he didnt.

The House impeachment managers have up to 16 hours over Wednesday and Thursday to make their case before Trumps lawyers get an equal amount of time.

Trumps lawyers say that he bears no responsibility for the attack on the Capitol, a worldwide symbol of American democracy.

Instead, they say that Trumps rhetoric amounted to normal political discourse and was protected by the U.S. Constitutions First Amendment guarantee of freedom of speech.

The Senate voted 56-44 on Tuesday to move ahead with the trial, rejecting Trumps claim that it was unconstitutional to try him on impeachment charges since he has already left office.

Raskin said Tuesday that not holding the trial would create a dangerous new January exception during which future U.S. presidents could act with impunity in their final weeks in office.

It's an invitation to the president to take his best shot at anything he may want to do on his way out the door, Raskin said.

The Democrats showed the Senate a dramatic video montage establishing a timeline of the chaotic events on January 6.

Trump lawyer Bruce Castor Jr. rejected the notion of a January exception in which future presidents would be immune as nonsense. He said that if Trump committed any offenses, arrest him, now that he is a private citizen and no longer immune from prosecution.

Castor quoted the Constitution saying that conviction on impeachment charges shall not extend further than removal from office, an impossibility since Trumps term has already ended.

The 56-44 vote to proceed with the trial, in which six Republicans joined all 50 Democrats, showed that Trump remains likely to be acquitted. A two-thirds majority is needed to convict Trump, meaning 17 Republicans would have to vote with the Democrats.

Whatever the outcome, Trump is the only U.S. president to be impeached twice.

Trump declined Democrats offer to testify in his defense and is not expected to attend the trial. The high-profile proceeding, broadcast across the country, could last a week or longer.
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Tunisian President Kais Saied Wednesday rejected the idea of calling on foreign intervention in the conflict opposing him and Prime Minister Hichem Mechichi over the inauguration of five ministers suspected of conflict of interest.

The crisis between Saied and Mechichi further soured late last month as the Tunisian leader disapproved despite vote of confidence by the parliament the appointment of five new ministers as part of the Prime Ministers January cabinet reshuffle.

During a Wednesday meeting with a group of parliamentarians who came to diffuse the crisis, Saied indicated that the cabinet reshuffle was marred by several flaws, Webdo Tunis reports.

Saied criticized Mechichis unilateral move to name a new cabinet without consulting him. He also refused to validate the cabinet shakeup with the five new appointments suspected for offences.

Ministers of interior, Health, justice, energy and employment have not been received by the President who has refused to accept their appointments.

Several allegations including corruption, conflict of interest, have been leveled against them by popular anti-corruption non-government organization, I Watch.

The solutions of the crisis, Saieds office said in statement, are mainly based on respect for the supremacy of the constitution and laws and respect for state institutions.

The Tunisian President also indicated that he is aware of calls for foreign intervention to mediate the crisis.

He stressed that the North African country is a free and independent nation and no external party is allowed to intervene in the countrys internal affairs.

Saied and Mechichi, Tunisias top two personalities, have been in a cold war since the Prime Ministers appointment in September.

The two men have been haggling over the control of key state institutions including the interior ministry.

Mechichi has sacked several ministers including the minister of interior believed too close to Saied.

The crisis has impacted the North African country still reeling with the pandemic and economic hardship. The countrys second biggest GDP contributor (14 per cent), tourism, is battered due to the pandemic.

Last week, finance minister Ali Kooli said that the country is in need of financial assistance estimated at over $6 billion to run affairs and will turn to traditional creditors.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 11)  The Philippine government will also work on procuring vaccines against the African swine fever as part of the plan to ensure food security, according to Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque.

The plan to purchase vaccines to fight ASF outbreak in the country was hampered by the COVID-19 pandemic, Roque said during a Palace briefing on Thursday in response to Bulacan Governor Daniel Fernando's inquiry on the national government's program to address the pork price crisis.

"Kasama po 'yan sa whole nation approach na kailangan nating mag-angkat ng ASF vaccine," Roque said. "Naantala lang ang deployment ng ASF vaccine dahil mataas ang demand, mas inuna ng mga dalubhasa itong COVID-19 vaccine."

[Translation: That's part of the whole of nation approach, that we need to buy ASF vaccines. The deployment is delayed because of the strong demand, and that the experts first focused on the COVID-19 vaccine.]

Roque assured that the current administration has already taken steps to pursue ASF vaccine procurement. He, however, did not elaborate.

He added that local producers can insure their hogs so they can recover their investments in case the virus attacks their farms.

The Department of Agriculture recently urged hog raisers to tap the free livestock insurance offered by the DAs Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation. It provides 10,000 insurance cover per head of swine, on a premium payment of only 2.25 percent or 225.

The insurance package, Roque noted, can help regain the confidence of hog raisers.

Aside from market manipulators, industry observers, including the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas, blamed the spike in pork prices on the government's lack of response versus the ASF.

Data from the DA earlier showed almost 350,000 pigs have been culled, while total cost has reached 56 billion since the start of the outbreak in 2019.

RUEIL-MALMAISON (dpa-AFX) - French energy management firm Schneider Electric (SBGSF.PK) reported Thursday that its fiscal 2020 net income (Group share) was 2.13 billion euros, down 12 percent from 2.41 billion euros in the previous year. Adjusted net income (Group share) for the year was 2.61 billion euros, compared to 2.93 billion euros last year. Adjusted earnings per share for the year was 4.72 euros, compared to 5.32 euros last year. Revenues for the year declined 7.4 percent to 25.16 billion euros from 27.16 billion euros in the previous year. Organic growth declined 4.7 percent for the fiscal year. Schneider Electric noted that due to the ongoing economic uncertainty, and as the OSIsoft transaction has not yet completed, its current share buyback program of 1.5 billion to 2.0 billion euros remains on-hold in the near term. The company said that the proposed dividend is 2.60 euros per share, up 2.0 percent from the prior year, subject to shareholder approval in April 2021. Looking ahead to fiscal 2021, Schneider Electric forecast adjusted EBITA growth between 9 percent and 15 percent organic. The company expects the target would be achieved through a combination of organic revenue growth and margin improvement. The company projects revenue growth for the year of 5 percent to 8 percent organic, and adjusted EBITA margin of up 60 to 100 basis points organic. 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.
Holiday Inn cluster grows It was revealed on Thursday that another Holiday Inn worker, the spouses of two other staff members and two other primary close contacts had tested positive for coronavirus. The female assistant manager was tested on Wednesday and had been isolating as a close contact of a fellow Holiday Inn worker. One of the new cases is believed to have had some contact with Camberwell Grammar School but it was not yet known if the school was at risk, Department of Health COVID-19 response commander Jeroen Weimar said. All cases linked to the hotel are presumed to be the more infectious British variant of coronavirus, which scientists say poses increasing challenges to contain. We are still trying to get a sense of how far transmission has already occurred, and we need to be sure we keep running faster than the virus to ensure we run it to ground, Mr Weimar said.

The outbreak has prompted several states to tighten their borders to travellers from Greater Melbourne. South Australia snapped its border shut to travellers from Melbourne at midnight on Thursday, while Queensland will ban entry to visitors to the citys exposure sites from 1am on Saturday. Western Australia also announced its hard border to Victoria would be extended for at least another seven days. NSW remains open to all Victorians, but incoming passengers are being screened. Focus needed on airborne transmission: expert Professor Jason Monty, who spent months analysing airflow in hospital wards in Victoria to track the movement of COVID-19, said while authorities had done a great job stopping high-risk transmission, their attention now needed to focus on low-risk, airborne transmission.

The low-risk transmission is what is causing us problems right now, the head of mechanical engineering at the University of Melbourne said. Professor Monty uses theatrical fog to track the movement of air and said it often took a surprising and scary path. Sometimes it is from a room to a hallway, sometimes its from a room to another room and sometimes its up through the ceiling through light fixtures. He said air purifiers were highly effective at cleaning the air of coronavirus in contained settings and should be considered in hotel quarantine.

Knowing where the air travels is also important, he explained. If you have 20 rooms along a corridor and you know all the air comes down the corridor and sits at one end, then you shouldnt put your security guard down that end. He said while N95 masks were effective if used properly, they could pose a risk if people fiddled with them or did not remove them correctly. You need to do more than PPE, he said. You need to clean the air. Proper fit-testing needed for masks Benjamin Veness, a psychiatry registrar and co-founder of advocacy group Health Care Workers Australia, said N95 respirators should be distributed to all workers in hotel quarantine and fit-tested to ensure they created a proper seal.

Fit-testing  which ensures a mask seals to the face  is mandatory for workers dealing with asbestos and silica, but not for all hotel quarantine workers. The Holiday Inn at Melbourne Airport was evacuated and closed for cleaning on Wednesday. Credit:Joe Armao Dr Veness said spotters should also be rolled out in hotel quarantine to ensure that PPE was being worn correctly. They can check what youre doing when youre putting your PPE on and off to ensure youre doing it correctly and not accidentally infecting yourself in the process. He said authorities had a moral and legal obligation to keep hotel guests and workers safe and could no longer pretend that aerosol transmission was not a foreseeable risk.

Ventilation is now being spoken about because there have been so many events of transmission and acquisition in those environments. Questions remain over nebuliser use Initial investigations suggest a nebuliser  a device that vaporises liquid into fine mist and is commonly used by asthmatics  was behind the spread of the virus. The aerosol-based medical device was banned for use outside of negative pressure rooms in Victorian hospitals last year after it was believed to have helped fuel transmission in a serious COVID-19 outbreak at a Melbourne hospital. Victorian president of the Australian Medical Association Julian Rait renewed calls for the state government to release the audit of the ventilation system in the Holiday Inn before the hotel was used for housing high-risk returned travellers.

Professor Rait said on Thursday serious questions remained about how a nebuliser was able to get inside hotel quarantine in the first place, despite the government insisting such medical devices were banned from use. We need to make sure that doesnt ever happen again because its a super spreader type device, he said. Hotels can be brought up to standard Professor Rait said the states two hot hotels - the Novotel South Wharf and the Holiday Inn Flinders Lane  had shown it was possible hotels could be brought up to standard. If we were prudent we would be thinking, well, with more of these infectious strains around, maybe even those places might not be up to it, so we need to be thinking about more remote locations with more open air, he said.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- How did the Ohio Department of Health announced miss as many as 4,000 COVID-19 deaths?

The agency isnt really explaining, but were talking about the distrust it creates on This Week in the CLE.

Listen online here.

Editor Chris Quinn hosts our daily half-hour news podcast, with editors Jane Kahoun, Kris Wernowsky and me.

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:

How did the Ohio health department undercount COVID-19 deaths by as many as 4,000?

What do the elected officials from Larry Householders neck of Ohio think of him remaining a member of the Ohio house in good standing?

Why did two new county commissioners in Lorain County renege on the granting of $4.6 million to social service agencies like food banks to help people through the coronavirus pandemic?

What is Jobs Ohio thinking with its new marketing campaign in big American cities, a campaign catching some criticism in social media?

Do we have a better understanding of how the people who are filing hundreds of thousands of fraudulent unemployment claims in Ohio are getting our private information to make the claims?

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.

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Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-11 07:35:04|Editor: huaxia

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A kid makes "dumplings" at the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau Wild Zoo in Xining, northwest China's Qinghai Province, Feb. 10. 2021. The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau Wild Zoo on Wednesday organized an activity with the Qinghai Environmental Education Association to prepare "special dumplings" made of nuts, fruits and vegetables for the zoo animals, so that children interacted with small animals to celebrate the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year. (Xinhua/Zhang Manyi)
Sayragul Sauytbay (R) talks about her International Women of Courage Award and the detention centers for Muslims in northwestern China's Xinjiang region, outside the U.S. State Department in Washington, March 3, 2020.

Several women formerly held in internment camps in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR) have called on Beijing to allow international monitors to probe reports of rights abuses in the region after Chinese state media accused them of fabricating stories of systematic rape in detention.

Last week, a report by the BBC included interviews with four women who claimed they were systematically raped, sexually abused, and tortured while held in the XUARs vast network of internment camps, where authorities are believed to have held up to 1.8 million Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities since early 2017.

Chinas Foreign Ministry and state media quickly dismissed the report as lies, repeating claims that there are no internment camps in the XUAR and attacking the credibility of the women who spoke to the BBC.

One of the women cited in the report, Tursunay Ziawudun, said she spent nine months detained at a camp before she was able to flee the country and relocate to the U.S. She told the BBC that women were removed from their cells every night and raped by masked Chinese men, and that she was tortured and later gang-raped on three occasions.

Their crimes and their oppression have woken us up, she told RFAs Uyghur Service. If investigators are able to go back and see whats happening there, I will go with them.

The report also cited Gulzira Auelkhan, an ethnic Kazakh who said that during her 18 months in a camp she was forced to handcuff detainees to their beds, remove their clothes, wait outside the room while various Chinese men entered, and then help the detainees shower after they left.

Sayragul Sauytbay, an ethnic Kazakh teacher forced to work in the camps, described to the BBC watching a woman be gang-raped in front of around 100 detainees, while an Uzbek teacher named Qelbinur Sidik detailed torture that included being penetrated and sodomized with electric batons, as well as receiving vaccines that left detainees sterilized.

Sidik told RFA that if Chinas claims that there are no camps in the XUAR and that ethnic minorities in the region enjoy happy and prosperous lives thanks to Communist Party rule, they should let people go and see the truth.

They should open the borders. We should be able to go and come without worry, she said. If this is true, the simplest thing would be to let us see our relatives. Its been four years.

Beginning in October 2018, Beijing acknowledged the existence of the camps, but described them as voluntary vocational centers, despite reporting by RFA which has found that detainees are mostly held against their will in poor conditions, where they are forced to endure inhumane treatment and political indoctrination.

While former detainees have reported isolated incidents of rape and sexual abuse in the XUARs camps, the BBCs investigation provides some of the most damning evidence that such practices occur on a systematic and widespread basis.

The BBC report was followed on Tuesday by a report from Bitter Winter, a website launched by the Italian research center CESNUR that focuses on religion in China, which cited several ethnic Kazakhs who now live in foreign countries as saying that sexual abuse of men in the camps is also a regular rather than an occasional occurrence, particularly with respect to the younger boys.

And experts believe that while Chinese President Xi Jinping and other high-ranking members of the central government may not have ordered such abuses, it is extremely unlikely that they are not aware of them.

In response to the report, members of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China (IPAC)a group of more than 200 lawmakers from across the globecalled for a United Nations-led or international legal investigation into the allegations and other abuses in the region. The U.S. State Department said it was deeply disturbed by the report and also called for a probe, reiterating a Jan. 20 designation by Washington that Chinas policies in the XUAR amount to genocide and crimes against humanity.

Qelbinur Sidik prepares a lesson in her office in Urumqi, in an undated photo. Qelbinur Sidik

China attacks reports credibility

During a Feb. 3 regular press briefing in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin went on the defensive, dismissing the BBC report as having no factual basis at all.

Some of the interviewees in previous reports turned out to be actors spreading false information, he added, providing no evidence of his claims.

A day later, the official Global Times quoted Jia Chunyang of the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, as saying that all of the women quoted in the story had been groomed and bought by foreign organizations seeking to hurt China.

As far as I know, previously some Uyghurs in the region were recruited by overseas separatists and sold all their assets to go abroad, he said. Due to language barriers, limited education and vocational skills, they have had difficulty making a living overseas.

East Turkestan separatists and terrorist organizations usually find ways to contact these people and coax them into telling lies to defame China, he added, using the name Uyghurs prefer for their homeland.

China representatives also noted that Ziawudun, whose account of systemic rape, sexual assault, and torture in the camps forms the core of the BBC report, came to the U.S. with the help of the Uyghur Human Rights Project exile group and is applying for asylum.

The Global Times went on to attack Sauytbay and Sidik, as well as Zumrat Dawut, Mihrigul Tursun, and Gulbahar Jelilovaall women who have testified about their time studying or teaching in XUAR camps.

The same day, during a press briefing, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang showed a photograph of Dawut to reporters and spoke of her July 2020 interview with the BBC, accusing her of being an actress and claiming that she was never in a camp and had never undergone forced sterilization surgery, as she has testified to having undergone on numerous occasions.

Gulzira Auelkhan (R) and a fellow worker at the Zhuowan factory in Ghulja county, in late 2018. Gulzira Auelkhan

Former detainees respond

Ziawudun told RFA that accusations she had ties to Uyghur exile groups prior to fleeing China were baseless.

When I left  the Chinese police warned me not to get in touch with the World Uyghur Congress or other Uyghur organizations, and not to fall into their bag of tricks, she said.

It wasnt just me: while brainwashing us in the camp every day, they taught us about the Uyghur organizations in foreign countries  Otherwise we wouldnt have even known.

Jelilova, an ethnic Uyghur born and raised in Kazakhstan who was detained on a business trip to Urumqi and put into three different camps over a period of 15 months between 2017 and 2018, also rejected Beijings efforts to smear her testimony.

Im a Kazakhstani citizen. Where, how would I have learned the names of prisons and camps, she said in an interview with RFA from France, where she is currently living.

[After I returned to Kazakhstan] China itself wrote a letter calling me a terrorist. They noted when I was detained and sent it to Kazakhstan. I will take this to court as evidence  How can they deny this?

Tursun, who has been based in the United States since 2018 and has given testimony before the U.S. Congress as well as to a variety of media outlets, said Beijings efforts to discredit her have destroyed her family.

After I gave my testimony  China made my parents and my older brother give false testimony against me, she said. Its been almost four years since Ive been in contact with my parents and siblings. Ive lost my husband. Ive lost one of my children. I will not stop until I take China to international court.

Dawut told RFA that efforts to paint her as an actress working for separatist groups would not prevent her from telling the world what she endured.

The Chinese government thought it might be able to finish off Uyghur women by locking us in camps, oppressing us, raping us, and brainwashing us, but theyve strengthened our resolve, she said. Were speaking about the trauma.

Despite increasing international scrutiny and condemnation over Chinas policies in the XUAR, Beijing shows no intention to reverse course. According to a report by the official xinhuanet.com website, XUAR Party Secretary Chen Quanguo told a Central Party Committee Inspection Work Group on Feb. 6 that he will stay the course to ensure a solid job of stable development and reform in the region.

Sauytbay, a March 2020 recipient of the U.S. State Departments Women of Courage award who now lives in Sweden, told RFA she is not surprised by Chinas denial of its abuses in the XUAR.

All the policies of the Chinese Communist Party are based on lies and find further development in lies, she said.

We must give rebuttals to their lies. We must keep fighting for [the others] back in the homeland. We must not give up.

Reported by Gulchehra Hoja for RFAs Uyghur Service. Translated by the Uyghur Service. Written in English by Joshua Lipes.
Speciality shops in the EU are starting to switch to Irish suppliers to restock empty shelves after Brexit.

Stonemanor, a specialty shop in Belgium, is now sourcing Cadburys Creme Eggs and sausages from Ireland to avoid supply hurdles.

The family-run store, 20km north-east of Brussels, has been selling British cheese, milk, chocolate and meats to expats for 39 years.

But with supplies effectively blocked due to new customs rules, general manager Ryan Pearce says he is having to look to Irish suppliers to help fill the now empty shelves.

Weve always had Irish products on our shelves, Mr Pearce told the Irish Independent. Ireland, right now, is a good route for us to go because its fairly reliable.

The self-titled British Store previously stocked Irish products including Barrys tea, Tayto crisps and Odlums flour.

But it is now turning to Irish wholesalers for products it would usually get in the UK.

Stonemanor took delivery of 1,000 Cadburys Creme Eggs this week and is awaiting a shipment of Dairy Milk chocolate bars from an Irish-based supplier.

And Mr Pearce is sourcing sausages and bacon from Crowes Farm in Tipperary, which is shipping the goods by ferry, directly from Rosslare to Dunkirk, to avoid the UK land bridge.

With Brexit, its the easiest route to get sausages and bacon that require health certificates, said Mr Pearce. We dont have that issue from Ireland to the EU.

TJ Crowe, director of Crowes Farm in Gortussa, Dundrum, Co Tipperary, said he was also in talks to supply speciality stores in France and Luxembourg.

Were delighted with it, Mr Crowe said. I think there is an appetite there for us, or for anyone. We hope it will be an ongoing thing.

Gourmet International Food & Gifts, a stones throw from the European Commissions Brussels headquarters  and one of Stonemanors buyers  says its shelves are also empty of British goods.

They have had to start sourcing HP Sauce from Sweden, where its much more expensive, said Hakan Sundkvist, who works at the store part-time.

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We didnt get any delivery for six weeks now, and its running out on the shelves here. We dont [have] a plan B for the moment.

While its known as the English shop among local expats, Gourmet International also sells products from Norway, Sweden, Ireland and the US, so its not as exposed as Stonemanor.

But Irish products are not the same as British ones, said Mr Sundkvist, who says British suppliers should have figured out the new customs formalities by now.

This is ridiculous, he said of the delays.

Home from Home, a speciality store in Luxembourg, says its customers are very happy" with the switch to Irish goods.

Owner John Heffernan said he is getting sausages, black pudding and bacon from Crowes Farm.

Our customer base is very, very happy with the products from Crowes, and theyre finding its better-quality meat."

He said he would be looking at other suppliers in Ireland to help fill the shelves in the store.

Our shelves are half empty as well, and we cant get anything over. So we will be switching over.
Justin Theroux took to Instagram on Wednesday to generously share some professional advice.

The 49-year-old actor, producer, director and screenwriter posted a video clip on his Instagram Stories of himself sporting a beard, sunglasses and a backward cap amid recording equipment along with a 'Protip*' message.

His beloved rescue dog Kuma was shown in the background relaxing on a couch.

Pro tip: Justin Theroux took to Instagram on Wednesday to generously share some professional advice

The next Instagram Stories video for Justin's roughly 871,000 followers showed a close-up of Kuma with his eyes closed sleeping away along with the message, 'Don't bring a snorer to ADR'.

Justin was referring to the post-production audio process Automated Dialogue Replacement [ADR] in which actors re-record dialogue after filming either to improve audio quality or make changes to the original script dialog.

The Washington, DC native has the main role of Allie Fox and also is an executive producer of the upcoming Apple TV+ series The Mosquito Coast.

The series is a television adaptation of the 1981 novel of the same name written by Justin's uncle, Paul Theroux, 79.

Dubbing session: The 49-year-old actor, producer, director and screenwriter posted video clips on his Instagram Stories of himself sporting a beard, sunglasses and a backward cap amid recording equipment and his dog Kuma snoring during a dubbing session

Justin is best known for writing screenplays for films including Iron Man 2 and Tropic Thunder, which he co-wrote with Ben Stiller, 55.

He starred in HBO's critically acclaimed series The Leftovers and recently won two Emmys, for the show Live in Front of a Studio Audience.

Justin has a starring role in the upcoming drama film Violet, written, directed and produced by Justine Bateman, 54, in her directorial debut.

Best friend: Justin is shown with Kuman in October 2019 in New York City

Violet also starring Olivia Munn, Laura San Giacomo, Jason Dohring and Rob Benedict will have its world premiere in March at South By Southwest.

Justin additionally can be seen in the upcoming horror film False Positive co-starring Ilana Glazer, who also co-produced and co-wrote the screenplay.

The actor married Jennifer Aniston, 52, in August 2015 and in February 2018 they announced they had separated at the end of 2017.
Infrastructure Minister Vladyslav Krykliy has signed a protocol to the Interbus agreement on expanding its operation to regular passenger bus transportation, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal has said.

"The European level of services for Ukrainians in the field of bus transportation. Just in Brussels, Minister of Infrastructure Vladyslav Krykliy on behalf of the government has signed a protocol to the Interbus agreement, which expands its operation to regular passenger bus transportation," Shmyhal wrote in his Telegram.

According to him, the expansion of the agreement, in particular, will contribute to the development of international regular and special regular transportation of passengers with the EU and the member states of the Interbus agreement, which will positively influence the development of tourism.

"Ukrainians, in turn, will receive improved services from national carriers due to the introduction of European practices and requirements," the prime minister added.
Manitobas largest school division is proposing to axe funding for its police-in-schools program, among other line items, to balance its 2021-22 budget.

Manitobas largest school division is proposing to axe funding for its police-in-schools program, among other line items, to balance its 2021-22 budget.

On Wednesday, the Winnipeg School Division released its draft budget for the upcoming school year to achieve a balanced budget of $421,039,405.

The division is seeking $5 million in savings, owing to a decline in provincial operating funding and the governments directive to freeze education property taxes.

The board of trustees has recommended those funds be found through utility savings, eliminating summer clerical positions, and limiting non-salary school expenses (such as furniture and supplies).

Also on the chopping block is occupational therapy and physiotherapy services, unfilled support staff positions, a milk subsidy, and the divisions contribution to the police-in-schools program.

Nine uniformed officers currently work in its facilities, as part of the School Resource Officer program, which was established to build trust between police and marginalized communities.

The community policing initiative is funded by the provincial government, Winnipeg Police Service and school divisions.

The program has been put under the microscope in recent months, after a group of school staff, parents and community members formed the Police-Free Schools Winnipeg coalition.

If the draft budget is approved as is, WSD will become the first division in the province to cease funding the program.

Last month, the division surveyed its community about hosting police in schools to give presentations on everything from bullying to drugs, participate in truancy-checks in and restorative justice work, and undertake threat assessments. Responses have yet to be reviewed.

The chairman of the boards finance committee acknowledged that reality makes the division look "a bit disingenuous."

"Our intention all along was to have a review of the SRO program and then have thoughtful discussion around that. The elephant in the room today, though, is that the Winnipeg School Division saw a reduction in provincial funding and we need to make cuts to our operations," said Chris Broughton, trustee for Ward 2.

Broughton said the program, which would cost WSD upwards of $530,000 in 2021-22, could still continue in some form if the province and police continue to contribute their respective shares.

Police-Free Schools Winnipeg lauded the move as a first step.

The collective claims the program is an example of police overreach and makes BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and people of colour) students and staff feel unsafe at school.

"Community pressure is building, people are becoming more informed, this is the direction that things are going (in), so I hope that the other school divisions take note," said Irene Bindi, an organizing member with Police-Free Schools Winnipeg.

The WPS did not provide comment in time for publication.

WSD residents can provide input on the draft budget via email, in writing, or by registering as a delegation at the boards Feb. 22 meeting.

maggie.macintosh@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @macintoshmaggie
A new documentary is exploring a string of unsolved double homicides that occurred at a 'lovers' lane' in Virginia more than three decades ago, as experts try to figure out if the murders were the work of a serial killer or just a gruesome coincidence.

Premiering on February 11, Oxygen's two-night true-crime special Lovers' Lane Murders focuses on the slaying of eight men and women at the Colonial Parkway, a 23-mile stretch that links the historic towns of Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Yorktown.

'Urban legends usually come out of some seed of truth,' former prosecutor and Lovers Lane Murders co-host Loni Coombs explains in a preview clip. 'Lovers lanes  they are places that killers target.'

Scroll down for video

Unsolved mystery: A team of experts delve into the Colonial Parkway murders in Virginia in the 1980s in Oxygen's two-night true-crime special Lovers' Lane Murders

Deep dive: Forensic criminologist Laura Pettler explains in a preview clip that her job is to 'take everything we know and we reconstruct the scene'

The site: The Colonial Parkway in Virginia - a 23-mile stretch of road known as Lovers' Lane (pictured) - was the site of four double homicides in the 1980s, all of which remain unsolved

Cathy Thomas, a 27-year-old graduate of the Naval Academy, and Rebecca 'Becky' Dowski, a 21-year-old student at the College of William and Mary, were the first two known victims in the homicides that have been dubbed the Colonial Parkway murders.

They had been dating for several months and went missing on October 9, 1986, after they were seen leaving the College of William and Mary computer lab together.

Three days later, over Columbus Day weekend, their bodies were found bound with rope inside Thomas's white 1980 Honda Civic, which had been pushed down an embankment off of the Colonial Parkway in Williamsburg.

They had been strangled and their throats were slashed, though there was no evidence of sexual assault. Diesel fuel had been poured over the bodies and their car, but it failed to ignite. Without any leads, the case went cold.

Crime: Eight people were murdered at the Colonial Parkway over a four-year span, starting with the slaying of Cathy Thomas, 27, (L) and Rebecca 'Becky' Dowski, 21, (R) in October 1986

Loss Thomas and Dowski had been dating for several months and went missing on October 9, 1986, after they were seen leaving the College of William and Mary computer lab together

Murder: Thomas's white 1980 Honda Civic, had been pushed down an embankment off of the Colonial Parkway in Williamsburg

Nearly a year later, David Knobling, 20, and Robin Edwards, 14, were found shot in the head, execution-style after their bodies had washed up along the bank of the James River at Ragged Island Wildlife Refuge on September 22, 1987.

The two had been missing since September 19, though Robin's family initially thought she had run away as she had in the past.

Knobling had taken Edwards out with his younger brother and cousin that day. After he dropped her off that night, she snuck out to meet him.

It's unclear what they were doing together.

Knobling, who worked at his father's landscaping business, was expecting a baby with his longtime girlfriend.

The locations of the two sets of murders were just 30 minutes apart, and investigators linked the cases together, but both of them have remained unsolved.

Clue? Thomas's wallet was found open and face down on the floorboard of the driver's side

Horrific: Their bodies were found bound with rope inside the vehicle

On April 10, 1988, Christopher Newport University students Richard CallLess, 20, and Cassandra Hailey, 18, vanished after attending a party together in Newport News. It was their first date.

A day later, CallLess's Toyota Celica was found at a York River overlook that was only a few miles away from where Thomas and Dowski had been murdered two years prior.

CallLess's wallet and Hailey's purse were found inside the car along with most of their clothing. Investigators have never been able to locate their bodies, but they're presumed dead.

A year and a half later, Daniel Lauer, 21, and Annamaria Phelps, 18, went missing on September 5, 1989, following Labor Day Weekend.

They were headed to Virginia Beach together, but they weren't a couple. Phelps was dating Lauer's brother at the time.

Gruesome: Thomas and Dowski had been strangled and their throats were slashed, though there was no evidence of sexual assault

Crime scene: Pettler questioned if the women knew their killer, noting that Thomas's throat wound was far more severe than Dowski's

Lauer's gold 1972 Chevrolet Nova was found abandoned at the I-64 New Kent rest stop in New Kent County. However, the car was. heading in the wrong direction, away from their destination, which confused police.

Their bodies were badly decomposed when hunters found them covered in a blanket from Daniel's car. The cause of death remains unknown, though forensics suggested that Phelps may have been stabbed.

This case, like the others, has gone unsolved, but all four double homicides remain active.

In preview clips for the Lovers' Lane Murders special, forensic criminologist Laura Pettler and former FBI profiler Jim Clemente are among the team of experts who are tearing apart the cases, looking for clues.

'As a forensic criminologist, we take everything we know and we reconstruct the scene, each piece of evidence, breaking it apart, analyzing everyone individually, and then reassembling them into the mosaic that is the crime,' Pettler explains.

The forensic criminologist notes that Thomas and Dowski's murders  the first in the series  have 'earmarks of a victim-offender relationship.'

Break down: Former FBI profiler Jim Clemente suggested the killer may have posed as law enforcement and reenacted what that would have looked like

Loss: Nearly a year after the first double homicide, David Knobling, 20, (L) and Robin Edwards, 14, (R) were found shot in the head along the bank of the James River in September 1987

'Statistically, a lot of the personal attacks that we have on victims close to their faces are someone they knew,' she says. '

The wound to Becky's neck is nowhere near the degree that the wound to Cathy's neck is. Becky's wound isn't as deep as Cathy's wound. They're very, very different in force and intensity to the victim.'

The team of experts has reenacted the crime scene down to Thomas's wallet being found open and face down on the floorboard of the driver's side.

'That tells me that either they were getting ready because they thought they were pulled over by a police officer or a park ranger, or whoever approached them pretended to be a cop or was a cop,' Clemente suggests.

'That would give the offender the opportunity to actually get them out of the car, lean them against the car, maybe handcuff them.'

Still missing: Christopher Newport University students Richard CallLess, 20, (L) and Cassandra Hailey, 18, (R) vanished in April 1988 after attending a party together

Last: In September 1989, Daniel Lauer, 21, (L) and Annamaria Phelps, 18, (R) went missing on their way to Virginia Beach, but their bodies weren't found until a month late

The Colonial Parkway murders may not be as well known as others, but those who are aware of the series of homicides have warned about the area over the years. Mentions of the deaths have even found their way into some TripAdvisor reviews.

'There is no toll or charge but it is run by the Forest Service so dont get caught speeding and you might want to keep a lookout for the Colonial Parkway Murderer of the 80s  He was never caught,' one person wrote in 2013.

Three years later, someone else added: 'Beautiful and yet one of the scenes of a serial killerthat has never been solved and featured in one of Patricia Cornwell's earlier novels. No worries now, although I wouldnt go there at night.'

However, Katherine Ramsland, a professor of forensic psychology at DeSales University and author of 'How to Catch a Killer: Hunting and Capturing the Worlds Most Notorious Serial Killers' told Oxygen that there are also plenty of people who would visit an area like the Colonial Parkway just because it was the scene of a murder.

'People are attracted to spots of strong emotion,' she said. 'Murder scenes have the sense of an aura.' She added: 'The fascination depends on the level of publicity.'
The court also wanted to know their stand on the petition moved by the deceased Navreet Singh's grandfather who has claimed that the victim suffered gunshot injuries to his head

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Thursday sought response of the AAP government and police on a plea seeking a court-monitored SIT probe into the death of a 25-year-old man who died after his tractor overturned during the protesting farmers'' tractor rally on Republic Day.

Justice Yogesh Khanna issued notice to the Delhi government, Delhi Police, Uttar Pradesh Police, and the Chief Medical Officer of District Hospital at Rampur, where the post mortem was carried out.

The court sought their stand on the petition moved by the deceased Navreet Singh's grandfather who has claimed that the victim has suffered gunshot injuries to his head.

The court directed the Delhi Police to file a status report with regard to the investigation on or before the next date of hearing on 26 February.

Delhi government standing counsel Rahul Mehra, appearing for the police, told the court that according to instructions received by him, Singh died as result of over-turning of his tractor at ITO in New Delhi during the violent clash between farmers and the police personnel.

He said that a general FIR in relation to Singh's death has been registered at IP Estate police station.

Advocate Vrinda Grover, appearing for the victim's grandfather, told the court that the way Delhi Police has conducted itself in the matter "does not inspire a shred of confidence".

She said that the police abandoned all procedures, like carrying out inquest proceedings, conducting a post mortem and lodging of an FIR, as required under the law, even if it was a case of accidental death.

She said that the victim's grandfather took the body back to their native place in Uttar Pradesh where the post mortem was carried out.

The police, instead, seized all the CCTV footage from the area, including from cameras which were closest to the incident site, and only selectively released video recorded from far.

#WATCH | A protesting farmer died after a tractor rammed into barricades and overturned at ITO today: Delhi Police CCTV Visuals: Delhi Police pic.twitter.com/nANX9USk8V  ANI (@ANI) January 26, 2021

It also released a statement to the media, on the evening of 26 January, saying that the farmer died due to overturning of the tractor without even carrying out a probe, she told the court.

Grover told the court that according to a UK-based pathologist, who saw the video of the incident and also perused the post mortem report, the injuries on the victim were consistent with at least one or two gunshot wounds.

She argued that this indicated that the victim lost control of the tractor and it overturned as he was shot by the police personnel.

The petition has sought directions to Delhi Police to share with the petitioner the CCTV footage recovered from the incident site.

It has also sought directions to the UP police to share with the petitioner the FIR lodged there in connection with the death of the young farmer.

A direction has also been sought to the Chief Medical Officer of District Hospital at Rampur to provide the petitioner with a copy of the victim's x-ray report and also the video recording of the post mortem.

The petitioner's grandson was lying in a critically injured condition under the overturned tractor, however, despite the presence of a large number of policemen including senior police officials in the vicinity, no attempts were made by Delhi Police to provide immediate critical medical intervention to save the life of the petitioner's grandson.

Instead, the Delhi Police resorted to tear gas shelling to prevent other protestors from reaching the site where the tractor lay with the petitioner's grandson's body underneath. No efforts were made by the Delhi Police to cordon off the site of the incident and to collect time-sensitive material evidence from the site, which was allowed to be erased and destroyed, the petition has claimed.
The recent blame on high price of fish in the local markets is due to the quantity of fishes being transported to Senegal on a daily basis, according to local fish traders.

The country's artisanal fishermen reacting to the queries, say the daily transportation of fishes by vehicles into Senegal causes high scarcity in the country's local market.

Lamin Sarr, a fisherman told The Point in an interview that almost 2 to 3 Senegalese vehicles are loaded with quantities of fish and transported to the Senegalese markets. According to him, almost all of the fishes are bought directly from foreign investors with little or no economic benefit to the local fish vendors.

"Today if you go to markets in the Senegalese most of these high priced industrial fishes are from The Gambia. This is because on a daily basis, you see vehicles with Senegalese number plate transporting such fishes to their markets for sale.

"It seems there is no form of direct financial benefit The Gambia is gaining from this. What I suggest is for the government to create an intermediary trade at all the landing sites to ensure that foreign fish traders do not buy fish directly from the foreign fishermen in order to allow our a indirect benefit for our local traders," he suggested.

Dawda Saine, secretary general of All Artisanal Fishermen Association of The Gambia (AFRICOSA), said the issue of Senegalese coming to the country and take fishes to their markets has been in existence for many years. He said they influence the market by buying fish in CFA hard currency.

According to him, the Fisheries Act of 2007 and its associated regulations of 2008, require the director of Fisheries to promote fish trade among local traders of the industry.

"The 2007 fisheries Act and its regulations require the Fishery director to enhance commercial fish trade among the locals. Another relevance to the issue is to create an affordable credit scheme for Gambian fish traders," he advised.
A delegate casts her vote in the electoral process to choose members of parliament into Somalia's House of the People in Mogadishu, Somalia, on 6 December 2016.

Kenya has joined a growing list of international players in urging Somalia to negotiate an amicable electoral programme and save the region from instability.

Commenting for the first time on Somalia's electoral crisis since the two countries cut diplomatic ties, Kenya told the African Union Peace and Security Council on Tuesday that Somalia's elections will be vital for the long-term stability of the Horn of Africa, and asked donors and other partners to ensure all stakeholders take part.

Somalia is currently facing an uncertain political future after the four-year term of President Mohamed Farmaajo ended on Monday without the country holding elections. Farmaajo, by law, is expected to be in office at least until the next head is elected.

Differed with Farmaajo's stay

But stakeholders, including federal member states and political groupings, have differed with Farmaajo's stay.

The Council of Presidential Candidates, a grouping of presidential aspirants, said on Monday they proposed a transitional team led by the two bicameral federal parliament speakers.

The international community seemed to reject that idea, instead calling for dialogue. The UN in Somalia said it will reject any parallel processes or moves that are not reached by consensus.

The Peace and Security Council's meeting on Monday was meant for stakeholders to brief the African's Union's organ that addresses political stability on the way forward.

But Kenya's Permanent Representative to the African Union Jean Kamau used the occasion to defend her country's own reputation in Somalia, saying Nairobi had contributed troops to the African Union Mission in Somalia (Amisom), motivated by its own security interest and that of the region.

"Kenya called for the peace and Security Council to focus on the vital initiatives that must be undertaken to ensure that the historical consensus built between domestic, regional and international actors in Somalia, which included the federal government of Somalia and all its related entities was secured and guaranteed," a dispatch from Kenya's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Tuesday, calling for renewal of the mandate of Amisom which is due to expire in two months.

Rejected Somalia accusation

Mogadishu had accused Nairobi of meddling in Somalia affairs and cut ties in December. In the dispatch, Kenya rejected the accusation and said the African Union must be wary of entities "driving fissures among the various stakeholders, friends, partners of Somalia and of the region."

The AU's Peace and Security Council, to which Kenya is a member, also heard from Amisom and Somalia. But the meeting came a few hours as the UN Security Council, to which Kenya is also a member, planned to meet later on Tuesday to discuss Somalia's situation.

There are fears that a protracted electioneering campaign could provide Somali militant group al-Shabaab with a chance to attack more installations.

On Monday, African Union Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat said the situation was a security "grave concern", warning that "the considerable gains made by Amisom and the Somali Security Forces (SSF), in fighting Al-Shabaab, extending state authority over large parts of the country, and improving security and rule of law for the Somali people, are now being threatened by the escalating political tension."

"The chairperson stresses that the stability of Somalia is at stake and calls on all Somali stakeholders to put national interest first and constructively seek solution to their differences through dialogue and compromise," a statement from his office said.

Political gridlock

Donors including the US said a political gridlock had slowed down the fight against Al-Shabaab, as well as focus on rebuilding the country's institutions.

"Quickly resolving the current electoral impasse is critical to Somalia's future," said US Ambassador to Somalia Donald Yamamoto.

"It is the responsibility and the duty of national and regional leaders to put aside the search for political advantage and instead act in the interests of the people of Somalia, who deserve the best from their leaders. Now is the time to resolve outstanding issues and finish the job of holding elections."

Farmaajo and his opponents ran into a stalemate last week after failing to agree on the date of elections as well as membership of the official polling teams. An earlier list released by his Prime Minister Hussein Roble was termed biased with opposition groups saying it included spies and cronies of the president. The stakeholders have specifically failed to implement the September 17, 2020 Agreement, commonly known as the Dhusamareb III Agreement, named after the capital of Galmudug federal state where the meeting happened in September.

All the donors have asked parties to return to negotiations. But Farmaajo himself told the Lower House on Saturday that opposition groups had kept shifting goal posts.

"I have compromised in order to birth a political agreement for the sake of our solidarity as a nation in line with the aspirations of our Somali people," he said in a speech to the House.

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"I made two inputs for the September 17 agreement and were rejected. These included proposal to reduce registration fees for our Somali female candidates seeking elective posts and to retain the initial National Independent Electoral Commission, to hold elections since we had already invested resources and personnel," he added.

Commission rejected

The commission was rejected after it proposed an extension to the term of Presidency, admitting that holding an election by February this year would be difficult. Opposition groups, however, saw that as the president's plan to stay around without elections. In fact, Somalia's original plan of holding universal suffrage fell apart.

The European Union, one of the financiers of Amisom, said an absence of a political deal was "extremely serious."

Josep Borrell, the EU High Representative and vice president all participants should continue to "engage constructively to agree on the implementation of a national electoral process."

"Political leaders should continue their efforts on the implementation of the 17 September agreement. Any parallel or partial process or an extension of the current mandate of the institutions, which is not technical in nature would be considered as a severe setback."
LONDON, Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Redscan, the Managed Detection and Response and Penetration Testing specialist, today released its new report 'NIST security vulnerability trends in 2020: an analysis'.

NIST logged more than 18,000 vulnerabilities in 2020, over 10,000 of which were critical or high severity  an all-time high. Redscan's analysis also looks beyond severity scores, detailing the rise of low complexity vulnerabilities as well as those which require no user interaction to exploit. These trends may be of concern to security teams, highlighting the need for organisations to focus patch management efforts and adopt a multi-layered approach to vulnerability management. However, there are also positive trends, such as a decrease in CVEs which require no privileges to exploit.

NIST is the US National Institute of Standards and Technology, and its National Vulnerability Database (NVD) is a repository of Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs). The Redscan report focuses on vulnerabilities added to the NVD in 2020, examines wider CVE trends since 1989 and offers security advice to organisations. Key findings include:

More security vulnerabilities were disclosed in 2020 (18,103) than in any other year to date  at an average rate of 50 CVEs per day

57% of vulnerabilities in 2020 were classified as being 'critical' or 'high' severity (10,342)

Low complexity CVEs are on the rise, representing 63% of vulnerabilities disclosed in 2020

Vulnerabilities which require no user interaction to exploit are also increasing, representing 68% of all CVEs recorded in 2020

Vulnerabilities which require no user privileges to exploit are on the decline (from 71% in 2016 to 58% in 2020)

2020 saw a large spike in physical and adjacent vulnerabilities, likely due to the proliferation of IoT and smart devices in use and being tested by researchers

"Analysis of the NIST NVD presents a mixed outlook for security teams," said George Glass, Head of Threat Intelligence at Redscan. "Vulnerabilities are on the rise, including some of the most dangerous variants. However, we're seeing more positive signs, including a drop in the percentage of vulnerabilities which require no user privileges to exploit.

"When analysing the potential risk that vulnerabilities pose, organisations must consider more than just their severity score. Many CVEs are never or rarely exploited in the real world because they are too complex or require attackers to have access to high level privileges. Underestimating what appear to be low risk vulnerabilities can leave organisations open to 'chaining', in which attackers move from one vulnerability to another to gradually gain access at increasingly critical stages.

"Identifying which vulnerabilities to prioritise is a perennial challenge in IT security, especially as the number of CVEs only continues to grow. To aid decision-making, security teams need a practical understanding of the potential impact vulnerabilities pose and how readily they are being exploited in the wild. Defence in depth is also important. Not all vulnerabilities are known and patched, so persistent attackers may eventually find a way to breach an organisation's defences. The trick is having supplementary controls in place, such as continuous network and endpoint monitoring, to mitigate risks."

About Redscan

Redscan is an award-winning provider of managed security services, specialising in Managed Detection and Response, Penetration Testing and Red Teaming.

Possessing a deep knowledge of offensive security, Redscan's experts are among the most qualified in the industry, working as an extension of clients' in-house resources to expose and address vulnerabilities plus swiftly identify, contain and shut down breaches.

By understanding how attackers operate and leveraging cutting-edge tools and threat intelligence, Redscan's cyber security professionals can be trusted to provide the insight and support needed to successfully mitigate information security risk and achieve compliance standards.

SOURCE Redscan
The High Court has punctured the Building Bridges Initiative by stopping the electoral commission from subjecting the Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill to a referendum until petitions against the proposed changes are determined.

Five judges yesterday barred the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) from taking any action to advance the proposed change of the Constitution.

IEBC has three crucial roles in the process to amend the Constitution through a popular initiative: to verify signatures submitted by its promoters, submit the draft Bill to county assemblies and, once Parliament considers the Bill, act on a notification by the President to hold a referendum within 90 days.

The first two stages have been cleared, as the Bill is now before county assemblies. The Bill should it get the backing of at least 24 counties, whose speakers are required to notify the Speakers of both Houses of Parliament.

BBI process

Immediately after the ruling, lawyer Paul Mwangi of the BBI secretariat asked the court to clarify whether the order stops the county assemblies and Parliament from considering the Bill.

Justices Joel Ngugi, George Odunga, Jairus Ngaah, Janet Mulwa and Enock Mwita said though their order is not directed to the legislative bodies, they should be aware that their decisions in regard to the approval of the Bill can be declared invalid upon full hearing of the case.

Rushing the process, the judges said, does not invalidate the possibility of declaring it invalid because a court cannot be barred from interrogating the constitutionality of the entire BBI process.

According to the judges, the petitioners have asked the court to determine the constitutionality of the BBI process and whether the process is within the letter and spirit of the Constitution.

Unconstitutional

"We decline to interfere with the legislative process, but the court can interfere at the tail end. Even when considering the Bill, be aware the court can declare it unconstitutional upon hearing the petitions," said the judges.

According to the law, the High Court can nullify the outcome of a referendum if it is proven it was conducted in violation of the Constitution.

While ruling on two applications filed by the Turkana County Assembly and Thirdway Alliance Party, seeking to halt the constitutional amendment process, the court stated that if the referendum is passed, the petitions will be rendered an academic exercise.

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The judges said the order will remain in force until seven petitions filed by different individuals and rights' advocacy groups, challenging the process of amending the Constitution through the BBI, are determined.

Temporary order

They explained that their decision is to preserve and prevent the petitions from being rendered irrelevant, should the very constitutional amendments they are challenging take place.

The court found the grievances raised by the petitioners against the BBI, such as lack of a referendum law to guide county assemblies and possibility of the county assemblies deploying different positions on public participation, are not frivolous.

In urging the court to issue the temporary order to suspend the process, Thirdway Alliance and Turkana County Assembly had argued that the proponents of the constitutional amendments are using public funds which are not recoverable.

But the judges said there was no evidence that the activities of Parliament and county assemblies in considering the BBI Bill will entail use of public resources outside their routine legislative duties.
The Biden administration announced this week that it opened a soft-sided facility for immigrants in Donna, Texas, as Republican lawmakers warn of a "rising crisis" at the U.S.-Mexico border.

In a statement to Fox News, a spokesperson for U.S. Customs and Border Patrol said the agencys Centralized Processing Center in McAllen, Texas, is undergoing renovation, necessitating the additional facilities.

The primary purpose of the Donna location will be to process individuals in U.S. Border Patrol custody.

"The Donna location was chosen because it is central to Border Patrol stations throughout the Rio Grande Valley Sector," a spokesperson for U.S. Customs and Border Patrol said.
Coronavirus variants first identified in the United Kingdom and South Africa have been detected in District of Columbia residents, the city's health director announced Thursday, while Maryland announced the state's third mass vaccination site to battle the pandemic.

Appointments will begin at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore on Feb. 25, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, a Republican, said Thursday, and residents can begin reserving their spots next week.

Maryland earlier this month opened mass vaccination sites at Six Flags America in Prince George's County and at the Baltimore Convention Center Field Hospital. Three additional mass vaccination sites at yet-to-be announced locations in Western, Eastern and Southern Maryland will open in March if sufficient doses are available, Hogan said.

Maryland and Virginia reported their first cases of coronavirus variants days ago, and District Health Director LaQuandra Nesbitt had said she suspected the highly contagious variants already were circulating in the District. On Wednesday night, she got proof: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identified three patients in the city with the variant first seen in the U.K. and one with the variant first identified in South Africa.

There might be many more, Nesbitt said, as only a small sample of all positive coronavirus tests are sequenced to detect variants. In many cases, a patient might never know which variant was contracted.

Leaders in the District and Maryland on Thursday continued to confront enormous demand for vaccine doses from residents and from the pharmacies, clinics and health departments administering the shots.

County health departments in Maryland have seen their allocations drop in recent weeks as the state siphons doses into its expanding network of vaccinators, frustrating local leaders, who are struggling to meet demand at public clinics. The Hogan administration has defended its decentralized system as critical to building an infrastructure that can ramp up when the federal government delivers more doses.

To help assuage the concerns of local governments, Hogan said the state will offer a four-week guarantee of doses so public clinics can plan accordingly.

"The basic problem is very simple: We need more damn vaccine," Hogan said. "Just because you may be eligible does not mean that a vaccine or an appointment for a vaccine will be available to you."

Hogan said county health departments receive about one-third of the state's vaccine allotment. He said he considers their push for more vaccine an effort "to monopolize" doses, calling it an "absurd" request.

He noted that although just 24 health departments and 80 hospitals initially were authorized to administer shots, there now are 2,300 "points of access" to get vaccinated across the state. Doses must be distributed throughout the network, he said, and not concentrated in health departments.

The governor also announced Thursday that the state will provide 1 million coronavirus tests to public and private schools that offer in-person learning. Tests will be distributed based on the number of teachers, staff members and students participating in in-person instruction. Rapid antigen and the more-sensitive polymerase chain reaction, or PCR, tests will be available.

Hogan encouraged Maryland public school systems to reopen by March 1. Clinics throughout the state have prioritized vaccinations for teachers, although demand for shots far outpaces supply.

Hogan said progress in Maryland's vaccination campaign, which has distributed 753,000 first doses, has prompted him to decide that nursing homes without active outbreaks can resume in-person visits starting March 1, nearly a year after they were suspended.

Meanwhile, concerns continued to mount Thursday that the rush to vaccinate residents has unfairly favored the state's White residents, who have received a disproportionate number of vaccines, even though Black and Latino residents have been hit harder by the virus. Black people make up 31% of the state's population but have received just 15.2% of the vaccines, according to state data.

Hogan announced that each county needed to designate a liaison to work with the state's task force on vaccine equity, led by Brig. Gen. Janeen Birckhead of the Maryland National Guard.

Thursday marked the first day since the District started offering vaccine registration twice a week that every available appointment wasn't snatched up within minutes. The difference, Nesbitt said, was that this time the city reserved more than 1,000 of the 2,500 appointments for patients who called to sign up.

Previously, city officials drew from the same pool for both online registrations and those made over the phone. All online registrations were claimed Thursday morning, but appointments were still available by phone in the midafternoon.

Nesbitt said she worried that residents who had heard about long phone waits in the early days of vaccine registration were too discouraged to try calling in recent days.

"We're creatures of learned behavior," she said, urging residents to keep trying to schedule a shot as the District works toward its goal of vaccinating 70% of the city's senior citizens by the end of the month.

She also noted a decline in the portion of residents answering contact tracers' phone calls, which has dropped below 70% for the first time since September.

In Montgomery County, officials emphasized Thursday that only residents in Category 1A and those 75 and older are eligible for vaccinations at county sites. Health officials said a "significant" number of residents - including teachers - who did not fit into those categories have been turned away from county sites.

"People need to follow the rules," County Executive Marc Elrich, a Democrat, said. "It is not orderly right now."

Elrich said the short supply of vaccine doses in the county and across the country means that it is important to focus on older residents, who are most vulnerable. He said about one-third of Montgomery residents at least 75 years old have received their first shot.

Montgomery County Health Officer Travis Gayles noted that no vaccine doses are tossed out when people who signed up are turned away. The vaccines are stored for future clinics.

A line outside Richard Montgomery High School in Rockville, Md., on Thursday stretched multiple blocks, with people reporting that they waited for more than two hours in frigid weather to get their vaccines.
In an interview with Turan news agency, German Ambassador to Azerbaijan Wolfgang Maning made a number of noteworthy statements.

In particular, the ambassador stated that Germany was opposed to the settlement of the conflict by force, and recalled Berlin's calls for the parties to maintain a humanitarian ceasefire in accordance with international humanitarian law. These provisions are reflected in the tripartite declaration of November 10, 2020, which provides for the resolution of humanitarian issues in the Nagorno-Karabakh region. In this regard, we welcome the agreements reached in November 2020, which can help to resolve these issues and lay the foundation for reconciliation of the parties to the conflict, the diplomat said.

Germany believes that it is necessary to renew the efforts of the OSCE Minsk Group to ensure the implementation of an agreement. The Ambassador noted that Germany, as a member of the Minsk Group, still believes that the efforts of the OSCE, as a security organization, are necessary to overcome the existing problems and find ways to solve them. "We would like to see all countries of the South Caucasus to become a common zone of peace and prosperity, countries that are economically close connected with other European countries. We want not only strengthen economic cooperation, but also the political understanding among the countries of the region. In this regard, we expect that international organizations will gain access to the Nagorno-Karabakh region. At the appropriate moment, we are ready to discuss with the government the possibility of access to the region for German companies. (). In addition, participation in the restoration of the territories with the objection of offering economic benefits for Azerbaijan and Armenia is possible within the framework of the European Union Eastern Partnership program, of which both Armenia and Azerbaijan are members.

This is a matter for the future, for now we want to concentrate on humanitarian issues and ensuring the observation of international law, the diplomat said.

According to him, it is important to be able to overcome hostility, which is difficult to do right away. This takes time. However, in any case, the parties must abandon militant and defamatory rhetoric. Both societies should urge their governments to abandon this.

However, the ambassador's next statement raises many questions: "In this regard, we sincerely welcome the statements of the Azerbaijani authorities that Baku is ready for economic cooperation with Yerevan and that the Armenians living in Karabakh are highly estimated citizens of Azerbaijan," the Ambassador stressed.

To note, the Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh are not citizens of Azerbaijan, a country that systematically carries out ethnic cleansing against Armenians and incites hatred against Armenians. The political settlement continues, and in this context, the ambassador's statements at least seem strange. At the same time, vague and unaddressed calls for maintaining the ceasefire and improving relations do not add confidence to the aggressor and the victim toward the countries and institutions that voice them.

Thousands of people from sang songs and waved glow sticks as they gathered in Japan's capital on Thursday to protest the military coup in their home country.

Many of those in front of United Nations University in downtown Tokyo wore red in support of Aung San Suu Kyi, whose elected government was deposed in the February 1 takeover.

Some clutched photos of Suu Kyi, while held up mobile phones where messages like Justice and Save ran across the displays.

I am here because I want to relay what is in my heart, said Lei Yee Oo, who has been living in Tokyo for the past two years, studying law while working at a supermarket and a restaurant.

I am young, and I want to have a future, the 22-year-old said almost in tears.

The coup reversed significant gains had made on the path toward democracy following five decades of military rule. The reforms that led to Suu Kyi's party winning elections in 2015 led the community to lift sanctions on the country and there are now threats to reimpose some of them.

Some 33,000 people from Myanmar live in Japan, many of them workers, according to Japanese government data. There are also economic ties, with 436 Japanese companies doing business in Myanmar, mostly in construction and distribution services, that are members of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Myanmar, according to JETRO, a government-related agency that promotes trade and investment.

While the US has threatened sanctions, Japan's response has been less clear.

Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi spoke by phone with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken earlier this week, and agreed both nations want Suu Kyi's release from detention, restoration of democratic rule and violence against those protesting the coup to end.

In Tokyo, Phyo Wai Kyaw said he wanted to do all he could until is again his country's leader.

I want to fight without giving up, said the 28-year-old, who has lived in for about four years, studying business.

He said he was worried about his parents and siblings in Myanmar. He said he wanted to go back some day to what he hoped would be a more democratic Myanmar.

Organisers said they were planning more protests, including a march through downtown Tokyo on Sunday.

Their message was mostly emotional and did not center on demands for Japanese government action.

Myo Gyi, wearing a We Love Myanmar vest with a heart symbol, led the crowd in song as another man held a speaker blaring music.

Myo Gyi acknowledged he felt bad about so many people gathering during the coronavirus pandemic, which meant health risks.

But there is no future for our children under military rule, he said.

Francesca Paris covers North Adams for The Berkshire Eagle. A California native and Williams College alumna, she has worked at NPR in Washington, D.C. and WBUR in Boston, as a news reporter, producer and editor. Find her on Twitter at @fparises.
Sandoz to acquire three established brands sold in more than 100 markets



Acquisition, including leading global brand Zinnat , confirms Sandoz commitment to antibiotics, following plans to expand its integrated manufacturing site in Kundl

, confirms Sandoz commitment to antibiotics, following plans to expand its integrated manufacturing site in Kundl Transaction complements Sandoz leadership in generic penicillins with a leading position in cephalosporins - largest antibiotic segment by global sales

Basel, February 11, 2021 - Sandoz, a Novartis division, has signed an agreement to acquire GSK's cephalosporin antibiotics business, reinforcing its leading global position in antibiotics.

The agreement includes the global rights to three established brands (Zinnat, Zinacef and Fortum)) in more than 100 markets. It excludes the rights in the US, Australia and Germany to certain of those brands, which were previously divested by GSK, and in India, Pakistan, Egypt, Japan (to certain of the brands) and China, which will be retained by GSK.

Sandoz will pay GSK USD 350 million at closing, plus additional milestone payments of up to USD 150 million, subject to the terms of the transaction. Closing of the transaction is expected in the second half of 2021, subject to customary closing conditions including regulatory approvals. In 2020, the three brands had combined sales of approximately USD 140 million in the relevant markets.

In line with its integrated manufacturing strategy, Sandoz intends in the longer term to manufacture Zinnat at sites in its own network, which has global antibiotics production centered on its lead production site in Kundl, Austria. Once the transaction is completed, GSK will supply Zinnat to Sandoz under a manufacturing and supply agreement (MSA), while supporting a transfer of the related manufacturing operations to Sandoz. We expect this process to last for approximately four years from the close of the transaction onwards.

"This important transaction will further position Sandoz as a global leader in antibiotics - truly essential medicines that are the backbone of modern healthcare systems," said Sandoz CEO Richard Saynor.

"Cephalosporins are the largest antibiotic segment by global sales and acquiring this leading business, including the established global Zinnat brand, will complement our #1 position in generic penicillins, the other key segment. It will also set us up for additional synergies driven by an increased promotional footprint that will support growth of both the acquired brands and the current existing Sandoz portfolio."

The agreement confirms the Sandoz commitment to further grow its antibiotics business, following the announcement last year of a joint investment with the Austrian government of more than EUR 150 million to strengthen the long-term competitiveness of its Kundl antibiotic manufacturing site and help to ensure long-term supply resilience.

Kundl is the hub and center of the last major integrated production chain for antibiotics in the western world. Its focus is on generic penicillin products, but the plant also produces finished dosage forms of several generic cephalosporin products.

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This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can generally be identified by words such as "potential," "can," "will," "plans," "commitment," "to acquire," "to expand," "expected," "intends," "expect," "focus," or similar terms, or by express or implied discussions regarding the agreement to acquire GSK's cephalosporin antibiotics business; or regarding potential future revenues from Zinnat, Zinacef or Fortum. You should not place undue reliance on these statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on our current beliefs and expectations regarding future events, and are subject to significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. There can be no guarantee that the transaction described in this press release will be completed in the expected time frame, or at all. Neither is there any guarantee that the expected benefits or synergies from such transaction will be achived in the expected timeframe, or at all. Nor can there be any guarantee that Zinnat, Zinacef or Fortum will be commercially successful in the future. In particular, our expectations regarding the transaction described in this press release and Zinnat, Zinacef and Fortum could be affected by, among other things, the satisfaction of customary closing conditions including regulatory approvals; regulatory actions or delays or government regulation generally; the particular prescribing preferences of physicians and patients; competition in general, including potential approval of additional generic or biosimilar versions of such products; global trends toward health care cost containment, including government, payor and general public pricing and reimbursement pressures and requirements for increased pricing transparency; litigation outcomes, including intellectual property disputes or other legal efforts to prevent or limit Sandoz from selling its products; general political, economic and business conditions, including the effects of and efforts to mitigate pandemic diseases such as COVID-19; safety, quality, data integrity or manufacturing issues; potential or actual data security and data privacy breaches, or disruptions of our information technology systems, and other risks and factors referred to in Novartis AG's current Form 20-F on file with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Novartis is providing the information in this press release as of this date and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this press release as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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Port Sudan / North Kordofan / Kassala  Thousands of high school students in Port Sudan, Red Sea state in eastern Sudan, took to the streets yesterday. In a peaceful demonstration they denounced the poor living conditions and shortages of bread.

People from Port Sudan told Radio Dabanga that the demonstrations moved to Port Sudan market before heading towards the offices of the state government. The governor and other state leaders met with student representatives. The students also closed several main roads and chanted slogans that denounced the worsening living conditions.

The wali (governor) of Red Sea State, Abdallah Shangarai, praised the peacefulness of the students and acknowledged the legitimacy of their demands. He also affirmed their right to protest and their freedom of expression. He pledged to solve the problems affecting bakery owners.

North Kordofan

Violence and looting continued in El Obeid and El Rahad, North Kordofan.

The local security committee of Shikan in North Kordofan closed the Grand White Market, the city's sub-markets and all other local markets for a period of 48 hours, starting from Wednesday. Khaled Mustafa, the wali (governor) of North Kordofan, closed the markets in El Rahad and Umm Rawaba for a period of 48 hours.

Mousa Maki, director of Shikan security committee, confirmed in press statements that the decision to close the markets was made in order to preserve properties of the owners. He also said that the Shikan security committee implemented a curfew from 18.00 to 6.00.

Security forces were deployed on the streets of Kassala yesterday in anticipation of demonstrations accompanied by acts of violence, similar to what happened in El Gedaref, El Obeid and Nyala.

Finance Minister

Jibril Ibrahim, the new Sudanese Minister of Finance, will make efforts to end the queues for bread and fuel, and provide lifesaving medicine at affordable prices.

He said on Twitter that Sudan is undergoing a difficult period. He stressed his dependence on God and said that Sudan will need cooperation of people in all sectors to put the economy back on track. Ibrahim called on businessmen in the private sector "to cooperate in a purely patriotic spirit" so that the economy can be revitalised.

There is a phrase that has cropped up recently in the context of the ongoing controversy about the Northern Ireland Protocol and it is the all-island economy.

Supporters of the Protocol talk about the importance of protecting the all-island economy, but what is this all-island economy and where did this concept come from?

Its been floating around for some years, mostly just under the surface, but the usage of it increased in 2019 during the Brexit negotiations.

When Boris Johnson visited Leo Varadkar in Dublin in September 2019 they held a Press conference and Varadkar was determined that there had to be a Northern Ireland backstop, because we must protect the burgeoning all-island economy.

It was a fulsome phrase. According to Varadkar, there was not merely an all-island economy, there was a burgeoning all-island economy and it had to be protected.

So, when did it emerge? One of the earliest appearances of the phrase was 25 years ago, on August 1, 1995, when Dr Martin Mansergh, of Fianna Fail, delivered the Frank Cahill Memorial Lecture in west Belfast.

The title was Path to an All-Island Economy and the lecture was in memory of Irish republican Frank Cahill, brother of the notorious Provisional IRA leader Joe Cahill.

A few months later, in December 1995, the Irish Management Institute, based in Dublin, organised a conference in Belfast on the economic potential of the island of Ireland.

The conference was sponsored by KPMG and Independent Newspapers and a report in the Irish Independent commented that it would draw an array of corporate and academic power rarely seen in Ireland.

The promotional material explained that it had its genesis in the ideas of Sir George Quigley, chairman of the Ulster Bank, on whether the whole island could become a vibrant economic zone.

Sir George, who died in 2013, had been a senior civil servant in Northern Ireland before moving into banking and business on both sides of the border.

Irish nationalists and republicans welcomed the concept. They could see its political potential and said that an all-Ireland economy was good for the political process and a step towards an all-Ireland state.

Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams gave it his endorsement when he addressed the assembled Northern Ireland Chambers of Commerce in February 1998 and newspaper reports at the time noted that it had already been advocated by Sir George Quigley.

The British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference (BIIGC) was set up in 1999 under strand 3 of the Belfast Agreement, also known by some as the Good Friday Agreement, as the successor to the Anglo-Irish Intergovernmental Conference, which was set up under the 1985 Anglo-Irish Agreement. It has its own staff and meets several times a year.

In February 2006, the British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference requested a comprehensive study on the all-island economy.

The 36-page report was published in October 2006 with a foreword from Peter Hain MP, the Northern Ireland Secretary of State, and Dermot Ahern TD, the Republics Foreign Minister.

It set out a vision for collaboration between Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic in most aspects of life. It talked about collaboration, but was really about incremental integration, although that was not explicitly stated.

Throughout 2006, Sir George Quigley was still promoting his vision of an all-Ireland economy and the following year Padraic White said that, The concept of an all-island economy has become embedded in political and official discourse.

Martin McGuinness also spoke about it at a Uniting Ireland conference in Londonderry and said: I believe in moving forward inexorably towards an all-Ireland economy. Sir George Quigley has been at the forefront of that argument.

There is nothing wrong with mutually beneficial co-operation, but there is a lot more to the concept than that.

It is also about alignment, harmonisation and convergence between Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic, something that soon leads to divergence between Northern Ireland and Great Britain.

After pursuing that agenda for 25 years, pan-nationalism and its European Union allies were determined to protect it and preserve it.

An invisible border was sacrosanct and the result was the Northern Ireland Protocol. This problem has been a quarter of a century in the making.

The term all-island economy may appear innocuous  perhaps even vacuous  but today we can see the outworking of it in the creation of an internal border within the United Kingdom.


Disengagement at LAC raises hopes, but Delhi would remain cautious

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Feb 11: The spotlight is now on how the broader disengagement plan will unfold at the other flashpoint along the Line of Actual Control. India keeps a close watch even as there has been a limited withdrawal of frontline troops by the Indian and Chinese armies from of the key friction points along the Line of Actual Control in Eastern Ladakh.

Ladakh Standoff: Rajnath Singh says India and China have agreed to disengagement| Oneindia News

The mutual pullback of infantry combat vehicles and tanks from the heights of the southern bank of Pangong Tso came a fortnight after the military commander level talks. This has raised hopes for a solution to the military standoff that is now 10 months old.

With a hot summer ahead, India ups surveillance capabilities along LAC

Top officials tell OneIndia that India will continue to keep a close watch on the developments. This is in fact the first significant move towards easing of tensions since the standoff began.

The deployments by the Chinese PLA in the forward areas of Depsang had hindered access to Indian soldiers to the routes leading to Patrolling Points, 10, 11, 11-A, 12 and 13. Before the PLA snatched positions on Finger 4, the Indian soldiers would patrol up to Finger 8, which New Delhi says is Indian territory.

While India keeps a close watch, New Delhi would continue to remain cautious. The statement by the Defence Minister in the Rajya Sabha today at 10.30 am would offer more clarity. It is a welcome move, raises hopes, but we have to remain cautious the official cited above said.

#WATCH: Indian Army video of ongoing disengagement process in Ladakh. pic.twitter.com/kXjr0SiPN2  ANI (@ANI) February 11, 2021

Beijing on Wednesday said that India and China had begun synchronised and organised disengagement from the north and south banks of Pangong Tso. "The Chinese and Indian frontline troops at the southern and northern bank of the Pangong Tso Lake start synchronised and organised disengagement from February 10," Senior Colonel Wu Qian, China's defence spokesperson, said in a written statement.

There was however no official word from Delhi, following the statement. Singh's statement in the Upper House will give more clarity on the situation along the Line of Actual Control, where the two countries are engaged in a standoff since last May.

The last round of talks between the two countries lasted over 15 hours. The talks were aimed at diffusing tensions along the LAC.
Kids want to fish? You don't know how yourself? Here's a little help
Brain volume, verbal IQ, and overall IQ are lower in children with Type 1 diabetes (T1D) than in children without diabetes, according to a new longitudinal study published in Diabetes Care, a journal of the American Diabetes Association.

The nearly eight-year study, led by Nelly Mauras, MD, a clinical research scientist at Nemours Children's Health System in Jacksonville, Florida, and Allan Reiss MD, a Professor at the Stanford University School of Medicine in California, compared brain scans of young children who have T1D with those of non-diabetic children to assess the extent to which glycemic exposure may adversely affect the developing brain.

"Our findings indicate that, despite improved glycemic control now possible with emerging technologies, individuals with T1D are at risk for cognitive dysfunction," said Mauras, principal investigator of the study, and Chief of the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism at the Nemours Children's Health System in Jacksonville, Florida, and Professor of Pediatrics at the Mayo College of Medicine. "Our longitudinal data support the hypothesis that the brain is a target of diabetes complications in young children. Whether these changes can be reversed with scrupulous diabetes control requires further study."

The research team - from the Diabetes Research in Children Network (DirecNet), a multicenter National Institutes of Health-funded consortium - studied 144 children with T1D and 72 children without diabetes. Participating children had a median age of 7 years and average disease duration of 2.4 years when the study began.

All study participants underwent structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies, as well as age-appropriate cognitive testing. In those with T1D, metabolic control was assessed using continuous glucose monitors (CGM) and hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) testing. Over the eight-year study period, up to four MRIs were performed measuring white- and gray-matter volumes in various brain regions for all participants. In the T1D group, the research team assessed total cumulative hyperglycemic exposure since diagnosis.

The researchers found that total brain volume, gray- and white-matter volumes, overall IQ, and verbal IQ were lower in the diabetes group at 6, 8, 10, and 12 years, compared to controls. Differences at baseline persisted or increased over time, and brain volumes and cognitive scores declined as lifetime HbA1C index and higher sensor glucose rose.

Although differences in cognition were mild - around 4 IQ points - this magnitude is similar to other conditions that affect the brain.We know that T1D can cause complications in multiple organ systems, and our study adds knowledge to earlier research which suggested that glucose level variation in T1D can negatively affect brain development, beginning in childhood." Nelly Mauras, Study's Principal Investigator

"It is truly important to follow-up on these results in two ways. The first is to study this and other populations of indiviudals with T1D into young adulthood to see if and how brain and cognitive issues affect long-term educational and vocational outcome. The second is to see if more rigorous early control of blood sugars can stop or even reverse the brain and cognitive effects we have observed in this study," said Reiss, co-principal investigator of the study and Robbins Professor and director, Division of Interdisciplinary Brain Sciences at the Stanford University School of Medicine.

Future research should examine whether improved diabetes control could possibly reverse the observed brain changes, and such studies also might follow individuals with T1D into young adulthood to see whether and how brain and cognitive issues affect long-term education and vocational outcomes.

The DirecNet consortium includes Nemours Children's Health System Jacksonville, Fla.; the Stanford University School of Medicine; Washington University, St Louis; University of Iowa; and Yale University.
Another patient who was hospitalized in Ward V of the "Matei Bals" Institute during the January 29 fire died, bringing the total number of dead to 20, according to AGERPRES.

The Health Ministry announced on Thursday that it had been informed of a death among patients who were in Ward V of the 'Matei Bals' National Institute of Infectious Diseases in Bucharest during the January 29 fire.

According to the quoted source, it is about a 91-year-old man, transferred after the fire to the Central Military Hospital in Bucharest.

"The patient was diagnosed with a severe form of SARS Cov-2 and had associated conditions. The forensic investigation will determine the causes of death," the source was quoted as saying.
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(Alliance News) - Royal Dutch Shell PLC on Thursday set out plans to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050, while at the same time shrinking debt and maintaining a "progressive dividend policy".

The Anglo-Dutch oil major said it wants to reduce net debt to USD65 billion. It also aims to "maintain the progressive dividend policy", planning payout growth of around 4% per year.

The company plans to transform itself, becoming a "provider of net-zero emissions energy products and services", which it says will be powered by growth from its customer-facing businesses.

"A disciplined cash allocation framework and rigorous approach to driving down carbon emissions will deliver value for shareholders, customers and wider society," Shell said.

Shell also confirmed its expectation that it expects total carbon emissions for the company to have peaked in 2018 at 1.7 gigatonnes per annum, while oil production peaked in 2019.

The company, which is based in The Hague, Netherlands, said it will continue with its short-term targets, driving down emissions as it approaches its 2050 target, which is linked to the remuneration of over 16,500 staff members.

By 2023, it aims to shrink net carbon intensity by between 6% and 8%, 20% by 2030, and 45% by 2035 before complete elimination on a net basis by 2050, using 2016 as a baseline.

Shell is seeking access to a further 25 million tonnes per year of carbon, capture and storage capacity by 2035. It also plans to use nature-based solutions in line with a philosophy of avoiding, reducing, and only then mitigating, in its goal to offset emissions of around 120 million tonnes a year by 2030.

Other targets include increasing adjusted earnings to around USD6 billion by 2025 from USD4.5 billion in 2020 through "improving the already market-leading position of the lubricants business" as well as increasing customers to 40 million at 55,000 retail sites from 30 million at 46,000 sites at present

Shell also seeks to grow its electric vehicle network to around 500,000 charge points by 2025 from 60,000 currently.

It also seeks to extend its biofuels production and distribution business and to sell around 560 terawatt hours a year of integrated power by 2030, double the current amount, becoming a leading clean power-as-a-service producer.

Chief Executive Ben van Beurden said: "We must give our customers the products and services they want and need a products that have the lowest environmental impact. At the same time, we will use our established strengths to build on our competitive portfolio as we make the transition to be a net-zero emissions business in step with society.

"Whether our customers are motorists, households or businesses, we will use our global scale and trusted brand to grow in markets where demand for cleaner products and services is strongest, delivering more predictable cash flows and generating higher returns."

The change follows similar moved by oil production peers. France's Total SE on Tuesday proposed to rename itself as TotalEnergies to reflect its planned transformation into a broad energy company, with production growth focused on liquefied natural gas and renewables. UK peer BP PLC also is hoping to be net zero on carbon emissions by 2050.

Shell A shares were down 1.0% at 1,349.40 pence on Thursday morning in London, while B shares were down 1.0% at 1,293.64p.

By Anna Farley; annafarley@alliancenews.com

Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved.
When Jack and Carol Banowsky were planning their retirement home on land they owned in Boerne, they knew they wanted views of the wooded surroundings from every angle and an interior design that didnt distract from those views.

They also wanted the house to reflect both their love of living in the country and their more modern aesthetic.

The result is a three-bedroom, three-bathroom, architect-designed house in a style they call midcentury country for its mix of multiple sloping roofs and a plethora of windows with a limestone facade and recycled lumber. They moved in in November.

Im very happy with our new house, said Carol Banowsky, who is originally from San Antonio but lived the last 28 years in Houston, her husbands hometown. I got everything I said I wanted when we first bought the land four years ago.

After decades in and around the construction business  Carol has 25 years of experience as a general contractor and Jack is a civil engineer  the Banowskys also brought a depth of knowledge to the project that let them act as general contractors and helped them avoid many of the pitfalls less experienced homeowners often make. As a result, they saved what their builder estimated to be around $100,000 in materials and fees on their $375,000 home.

All the main spaces are on the ground floor, so climbing stairs is optional as they age. Theres a great room with a living, kitchen and dining area, plus the master suite, guest room and laundry. The second floor has another guest room reserved for their adult daughter and grandchild, and a balcony overlooking the living area, giving it a soaring ceiling.

Throughout the house, one is never more than a quick glance away from a view of the surrounding country. Because the property slopes down from the street, the back of the house sits on an 8-foot-high foundation. The view from there, even on the ground floor, looks over the treetops to thicker greenery that reveals the nearby Guadalupe River.

The whole idea was that you could look out any window and see nature, she said. Inside, we chose colors that dont take your eyes off the green.

In the kitchen that means beige quartzite countertops and island top, a cream-colored marble backsplash and brown Ikea cabinets.

The cabinets were also to keep us under budget, Jack Banowsky said with a smile.

The kitchen and adjacent dining area are not very large, both because thats what they wanted and because of geography.

We were trying to downsize from our previous home in Houston, Carol Banowsky explained. It wasnt a huge house, but we wanted to go smaller.

The homes size was also limited by the drainage ravine that runs along one side of the sloping property, and thats also why the house has a second-floor balcony, Jack Banowsky said.

As with the outside, the interior of the house deftly combines features both modern and country. In the living room, Jack Banowsky selected recycled lumber for a pair of 10-foot-long floating shelves that run parallel along one wall and hold the TV, photos and knickknacks. They used more recycled lumber for the fireplace mantle and the handrails running along the second-floor balcony railing.

I like the rustic look because it goes back to the whole idea of being out here in the country, Carol Banowsky said.

At the same time, the master bathroom is on-trend with simple ceramic tile and a separate shower and free-standing soaking tub, which is set off by a chandelier.

Relying on their deep knowledge of building and design, they were able to make important decisions on the fly while avoiding costly mistakes.

When youre in the middle of building a house, you have to make a lot of decisions in the field, Jack Banowsky said. It helped that we were able to do that ourselves and to explain what we wanted to the builder. Otherwise, hed make decisions on his own that we might later regret.

The architects plan for the TV shelf in the living room was little more than a sketched line. So, borrowing an idea hed seen in an architecture magazine, Jack Banowsky designed rods to anchor the floating shelves.

They also caught little things. The architectural plans did not specify the material to be used for the stairway treads. Most homeowners likely would have accepted whatever the carpenter picked.

Not the Banowskys.

We spent a surprising amount of time trying to figure that one out, said Jack Banowsky. Eventually we went with oak, which looks really nice.

Having the ability to imagine how things should be without relying on an architect or general contractor added up to big savings. It can pay to know what youre doing.

Constitutional law expert and leader of the National Constitutional Assembly, Professor Lovemore Madhuku Thursday launched a scathing attack on President Emmerson Mnangagwa's administration for its approach to human rights in Zimbabwe.

Madhuku, a member of the Mnangagwa led Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD), said the executive led by the president is very careless in its approach to upholding human rights in Zimbabwe.

"There is still a lot that needs to be done in terms of respect for human rights. The police, they are far below the standards of what ought to be a human rights-respecting culture.

"You also get members of the executive, by executive I'm referring to the President and his ministers and so forth. They have a very careless attitude to the respect of human rights.

"They are not like what you find in other governments that simply tolerate their citizens that they are supposed to be criticized, people are supposed to be able to do peaceful protests and so on," Prof Madhuku said.

He said the system runs down to the courts where magistrates and judges are being recruited to help with squashing human rights upholding.

"The new recruits to that failure to respect human rights would be the courts especially the magistrate courts level.

"I would say the magistrates are being recruited to join the group of people who are not reporting the rights of persons," he further stated.

Mnangagwa's government has been heavily criticized for its heavy-handedness on political activists, critics and opposition members.

More than 100 activists and political opponents have been arrested by the administration for simply speaking out against the regime with the worst cases being of alleged abductions of anyone opposed to the administration.

Although Mnangagwa rose to po0wer with the promise that he would turn a leaf from the late President Robert Mugabe's old, dirty ways, there is a general belief that in just three years, he has been worse than his predecessor.

In his recent months, journalist Hopewell Chin'ono has been arrested three times for calling on the Mnangagwa admiration to end corruption.

A demonstration meant to call for an end to corruption was also thwarted using the army and police while several people were arrested and allegedly tortured for planning and wanting to take part in the mass action.

Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa
Eir is to continue recruiting support staff as its chief executive again apologised for poor customer service over the last year.

Speaking today, Carolan Lennon also confirmed Eirs 6pc pay rise over three years for members of its biggest union, the CWU.

And she said that there are no price rises planned for GoMo, the discount mobile operator that Eir owns.

Meanwhile, the telecoms firm says it will take around three years to enable most homes in cities and big towns to receive fibre to the home broadband, which will replace existing phone lines over time.

On its levels of customers service, the companys chairman, David McRedmond, said that the company had let some of its customers down.

We have to admit an emotional deficit, he said. Eir wants to do the best for its customers, but we didn't adequately feel the impact of poor service on people's lives. We are all really sorry for this and every effort has been made to ensure that our customers have a much better experience in the future.

Eir continues to receive substantial customer service complaints, despite an easing in overall numbers, according to figures from Irelands telecom regulator.

Comreg data shows a 37pc quarterly fall in complaints to Eir, although levels still remain higher than this time last year.

Ms Lennon said that Eir has recruited 235 customer support staff since last July and was trying to hire more. She said that the company was investing in new IT systems that would simply support processes for its customer care staff and speed up the service for customers.

At the moment, our customer care staff have to see up to 13 different screens to deal with a customer problem, said Ms Lennon. The new IT stacks were investing in should simplify that hugely.

Ms Lennon said that customer growth in GoMo, its budget operator that has accrued 250,000 customers, has slowed. But there is no plan for a price increase from its current 12.99 level, she said.




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Directed by Archie Mayo and an uncredited Michael Curtiz; screenplay by Abem Finkel and William Wister Haines, based on a story by Robert Lord.

In light of recent events, it seems worthwhile to take a look atand recommend to readersthe 1937 political crime drama, Black Legion, featuring Humphrey Bogart, which deals with a fascistic movement of the same name active in the 1930s in the industrial Midwest of the US.

The Black Legion, an even more violent split-off from the Ku Klux Klan, claimed tens of thousands of members at one point (although it recruited or kidnapped individuals at gunpoint, making genuine membership figures impossible to determine) and received support and financing from the upper echelons of business and politics.

Initiation rites in Black Legion (1937)

The Warner Bros. film, directed by Archie Mayo and an uncredited Michael Curtiz, is a gripping depiction of the organizations thuggery and violence and their devastating social and personal impact. Black Legion is more limited in regard to the broader significance of the groups activities, which it carried out in the midst of the Great Depression and immense social convulsions.

Because of Production Code censorship and restrictions Hollywood placed on itself, the full scope and role of the Black Legion could not be developed in the film. This was a virulently anti-communist, racist, anti-Semitic and nativist outfit, which carried out violent acts against socialists and Communists, trade union organizers, African Americans (Malcolm X believed his father was murdered by the Black Legion in Lansing, Michigan in 1931) and immigrants.

Moreover, as the 1930s wore on and explosive conditions developed in the factories, the Black Legion becamedirectly or indirectlya weapon of the auto companies and the Michigan establishment in their campaign against unionization and, above all, socialism. The fascist gang reportedly included Detroits police chief among its members. Mark S. English in Under the Star of the Guard: The Story of the Black Legion explains that the Black Legion penetrated police and fire departments, as well as high places in city, county, and state government, and was connected with the Republican Party.

The parallels with the present situation should be evident. The fascist outfits today, with strong ties to law enforcement, the military and prominent figures in Washington and various state governments, have led the anti-lockdown efforts, doing the dirty work of the giant corporations in attempting to drive workers back to potentially lethal conditions, as well as the January 6 coup attempt.

Black Legion opensin a sequence that of all the Hollywood studios probably only Warner Bros. at the time would have filmedwith a shot of a large, smoky industrial complex. The Mayo-Curtiz work then moves in as scenes of everyday life at the plant unfold before our eyes. Frank Taylor (Bogart), a hard-working machinist, with the cutest wife and kid you ever saw, is in line for a promotion. He promises his wife Ruth (Erin OBrien-Moore) the trappings of the American Dream. He is particularly excited by the prospect of a new automobile.

Opening shot of Black Legion (1937)

However, the more qualified Polish immigrant Joe Dombrowski (Henry Brandon), who has invented a piece of equipment to enhance production, is given the job that Frank was expecting. Angry and bitter, the latter becomes susceptible to the blandishments of fellow worker Cliff (longtime character actor Joseph Sawyer), who all too easily convinces Frank that immigrants are stealing American jobs. This is reinforced by a radio program (a reference to the notorious broadcasts of the fascistic Father Charles Coughlin) that indicts hordes of grasping, pushing foreigners, calling them a peril that must be combated. The rallying cry is America for Americans.

Cliff brings Frank to a secretive Black Legion meeting in the basement of a drug store. A Hitler-like demagogue spews out his poison: If we unite with the millions of other red-blooded Americans under the banner of the Black Legion, we are invincible. With fire and sword, well purge the land of these traitorous aliens and strangle their every deadly scheme till once more our beloved stars and stripes will wave over a united nationfree, white, one-hundred-percent American!

Frank joins the organization in a terrifying initiation rite, and at the point of a revolver somewhat reluctantly promises to  pledge and consecrate my heart, my brain, my body and my limbs, and swear by all powers of heaven and hell to devote my life to the obedience of my superiors and that no danger or peril shall deter me from executing their orders. That I will exert every possible means in my power for the extermination of the anarchist, the Roman hierarchy and their abettorsI swear that I will die fighting.

Fascist demagogue in Black Legion (1937)

In fine American business style, Franks induction also involves purchasing a dark hooded uniform embellished with skull and cross bones for the nominal sum of $6.50. And for those who do not own a revolver, place your orders for the Black Legion special. A regular $30 revolver for the small sum of $14.95.

Soon afterward a menacing convoy under cover of the night heads to the Dombrowski farm. A fire is set, and Dombrowski father and son are brutally thrown onto a train leaving town.

In another memorable scene, the Legions accountant tabulates the disappointing monetary intake for his boss. Bigger and better patriots need to be recruited to increase the cash collection, he is told, and every member must enlist two new recruits within the next ten days.

After the beating and expulsion of the Dombrowskis, Frank becomes plant foreman. While bullying a worker to join the Legion, however, he neglects his own job, and a piece of machinery is destroyed on the shop floor. Frank eventually gets fired and spirals out of control. Meanwhile, the fascist organization goes on a rampage flogging and beating its victims.

Humphrey Bogart (right) with right-wing pal

In his misery and disorientation, Frank starts drinking heavily, provokes his wife into leaving and sets up his best friend and neighbor Ed (Dick Foran) to be punished by his black-robed cohorts on a phony charge of wife-beating. It is Frank who ends up pulling the trigger, firing several bullets into Eds back.

After the guilt-ridden Frank is captured and put on trial, he identifies the Black Legion members and with them is sentenced to life in prison. The judge intones: Your idea of patriotism and Americanism is hideous to all decent citizens. It violates every protection guaranteed by the Bill of Rights in our constitution... We cannot permit racial or religious hatreds to be stirred up so that innocent citizens become the victims of accusations brought in secrecy

We cannot permit unknown tribunals to pass judgments. Nor punishments to be inflicted by a band of hooded terrorists. Unless all of these illegal and extralegal forces are ruthlessly wiped out, this nation may as well abandon its constitution, forget its Bill of Rights, tear down its courts of justice, and revert to the barbarism of government by primitive violence

As Abraham Lincoln said: Our reliance is in the love of liberty which God has planted in us. Our defense is the spirit that prizes liberty as the heritage of all men in all lands, everywhere. Destroy this spirit and you have planted the seeds of despotism at your own doors.

Black Legion is a socially conscious product of a studio that was the most sensitive to popular sentiments. Within almost inevitable confines, the movie expresses genuine revulsion against these fascist organizations. It hints at big business connections with mercenary financial interests. Besides the Black Legions openly anti-immigrant thrust, the movie suggests its racist, anti-Catholic, anti-Semitic and even anti-communist inclinations.

The factory scenes are convincing, including the sequence in which Frank tries to recruit the southern worker for the Legion. The portrayals of the groups meetings complete with reactionary patriotic rantings, its initiation rights and the savage violence it metes out have an authentic ring. The actors are effective and, Bogart, in particular, still several years from his stardom of the 1940s and 1950s, gives a vivid performance. While some of the family moments are hokey and conventional, intimating that except for the Black Legion life in the Midwest might be heaven on earth, overall, the production has a gritty, concrete feel to it. We have no way of knowing which scenes were shot by Curtiz, a far superior director to Mayo, but the fluidity of some of the action sequences suggests the Hungarian-born filmmakers touch.

The story of the Black Legion is a significant one and, as noted above, has a strong pertinence to the current period. Its main target was unionism and particularly communism. According to Chris Lause in his book, Nativism in the Interwar Era: But to the Legion, communism was not simply a political ideology; it was a devious menace which had fully infiltrated leftist political organizations and labor unions.

In Michigan the murder of American Federation of Labor worker John Bielak marked one of the Black Legions most notable attempts to check communisms rampant spread. In the months leading up to his murder, Bielak, an employee for the Hudson Motor Company, had led a successful work stoppage for a wage increase in the companys metal finishing plant. In response, the Hudson Company attempted to fire Bielak. However, the Hudson local, a powerful Detroit-based automobile union, struck in response to his termination and forced his reinstatement soon after

The Black Legion was not simply a vessel through which businesses could enforce their interests, but the Legion often allied with the interests of big business anyway.

The Black Legion had unofficial friends such as Henry Ford in high places throughout the auto industry. writes Mark S. English . Fords anti-Semitic, nativistic views were highly respected by the worlds leading Fascist, Adolf Hitler, who stated in March of 1923: We look at Heinrich Ford as the leader of the growing Fascisti movement in America. We admire particularly his anti-Jewish policy which is the Bavarian Fascisti platform.

The mass movement of the working class was primarily responsible for the destruction of the Black Legion. Sit-down strikes began in late 1936 and involved some 400,000 workers the following yearthe year Black Legion was released. This was the beginning of the end for the fascist organization, which also faced a legal crackdown following a much-publicized murder.

In a 1946 speech, James P. Cannon, leader of the Trotskyist Socialist Workers Party observed that American capitalism had taken tens of thousands and hundreds of thousands of prejudiced hillbillies from the South, many of them members and sympathizers of the Ku Klux Klan; and thinking to use them, with their ignorance and their prejudices, as a barrier against unionism, sucked them into the auto and rubber factories of Detroit, Akron and other industrial centers. In capitalisms harsh school the imported southerners learned to exchange the insignia of the KKK for the union button of the CIO, and to turn the Klansmans fiery cross into a bonfire to warm pickets at the factory gate....

You wont find Ku Kluxers or Black Legionnaires in the auto and rubber factories todayor at any rate, not many of them

The American working class covered the great distance from atomization, from non-existence as an organized force, to trade union consciousness and organization, in one gigantic leap, in one brief decade.

Today the gigantic leap facing the working class is organizing itself as a politically independent force, armed with a socialist and revolutionary program.

MIAMI, Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Starwood Capital Group ("Starwood Capital"), a global private investment firm focused on real estate and energy investments, today announced it has hired Khalif Edwards as a Managing Director in its Global Capital Raising and Investor Relations Group. In his new role, Mr. Edwards will be responsible for raising capital within North America for all of Starwood Capital's private investment funds and co-investments.

Mr. Edwards, who began his new role on February 1, joins Starwood from Cityview, a real estate investment management company, where he also served as Managing Director and Head of Capital Raising and Investor Relations. Prior to Cityview, Mr. Edwards spent eight years at Clarion Partners where he oversaw capital raising and investor relations for the Western United States.

"Starwood Capital is extremely pleased to add Khalif to the ranks of our talented team, particularly given his demonstrated history of success in his previous roles," said Jennifer Barbetta, Senior Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer. "As our firm continues to grow and attract talent from around the globe, Khalif's strong relationships with the investor community and a deep understanding of the capital raising process within the real estate sector will be a welcome addition as we continue to build on our successes."

In his position at Cityview, Edwards worked to broaden and diversify the firm's investor and institutional relationships. Edwards led new capital development opportunities with private and public pension fund plans, insurance companies, foundations, endowments and family offices. At Clarion Partners, Edwards led West Coast fundraising and client relationships for the firm's funds and individual accounts where he was able to raise $3 billion in equity from 2012 to 2019.

"Starwood has a strong track record of success and I am both excited and honored to join the team," said Khalif Edwards. "I look forward to working alongside my colleagues to raise the capital and resources necessary for Starwood to continue executing on its strategy while delivering attractive returns to our investors."

About Starwood Capital Group

Starwood Capital Group is a private investment firm with a core focus on global real estate, energy infrastructure and oil & gas. The Firm and its affiliates maintain 16 offices in seven countries around the world, and currently have approximately 4,100 employees. Since its inception in 1991, Starwood Capital Group has raised over $55 billion of equity capital, and currently has in excess of $70 billion of assets under management. The Firm has invested in virtually every category of real estate on a global basis, opportunistically shifting asset classes, geographies and positions in the capital stack as it perceives risk/reward dynamics to be evolving. Over the past 29 years, Starwood Capital Group and its affiliates have successfully executed an investment strategy that involves building enterprises in both the private and public markets. Additional information can be found at starwoodcapital.com.

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Telecoms entrepreneur Declan Ganley is suing CNN over a report suggesting Donald Trumps administration pressurised US defence officials to award his company a multi-billion dollar contract without a competitive tender.

Lawyers for the Co Galway-based businessman have filed papers with the High Court in Dublin seeking permission to serve proceedings on the news network.

The matter is listed before a judge next week. Permission is needed from the court to serve proceedings on parties outside the EU.

The defamation suit relates to a report carried by the news network last October, in the run up to the US presidential election.

Contacted by the Irish Independent, Mr Ganley said he could not comment as the matter is before the courts.

However, he has previously described the allegation that the Trump White House wanted to fast-track a contract for his Rivada Networks company without a competitive process as a lie.

CNN has stood over the story and it remains accessible on its digital platforms.

Read More

Mr Ganley (52) is chief executive and chairman of Rivada, a US-based communications technology business.

He has been running the business from his home in Abbeyknockmoy, Co Galway since the Covid-19 lockdown last March.

The businessman became a well-known public figure when he campaigned against the Lisbon Treaty in 2008 and 2009. He later ran unsuccessfully for the European Parliament as a candidate for his own party, Libertas.

A staunch Catholic, he campaigned against the removal of the Eighth Amendment and is currently suing the Health Minister over pandemic restrictions on public religious services, which he claims are unconstitutional.

Mr Ganley was previously involved in defamation proceedings against RTE over a 2008 Prime Time programme about his background and business interests.

The case was settled last year, with RTE apologising and saying it accepted the death of an Albanian lawyer was wholly unrelated to Mr Ganley or any business related to him.

He is being represented in the CNN proceedings by defamation solicitor Paul Tweed.

After the story was broadcast, Mr Ganley denied his company was seeking to benefit from an alleged push by the Trump White House to grant Rivada a no bid contract for valuable 5G radio spectrum in the US.

If we were offered a no bid contract, we would turn it down, Mr Ganley said in a tweet at the time.

He also accused CNN of running the story at the behest of its corporate owner, telecoms firm AT&T, an accusation denied by the network.

Rivada previously lost out to AT&T in a battle for a substantial state contract worth an estimated $7bn that would have seen it control emergency first responders spectrum across large parts of the US.

CNN reported that Republican strategist Karl Rove, who was deputy chief of staff during the George W Bush administration and an investor in Rivada, was behind the alleged White House push to give the contract to Rivada. It also reported the Pentagon resisted the alleged move.

Mr Rove denied Rivada was seeking a non-competitive process.
BROOKLYN, New York, Wednesday, February 10, 2021 - Theodore (Ted) S. Rappaport, the David Lee/Ernst Weber Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the NYU Tandon School of Engineering and the founding director of the research center NYU WIRELESS, was elected to the National Academy of Engineering (NAE).

Election to the NAE - part of the 158-year-old National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine - is among the highest professional distinctions accorded to an engineer. Academy membership honors those who have made outstanding contributions to "engineering research, practice, or education, including, where appropriate, significant contributions to the engineering literature" and to "the pioneering of new and developing fields of technology, making major advancements in traditional fields of engineering, or developing/implementing innovative approaches to engineering education."

The NAE specifically cited Rappaport's contribution to the characterization of radio frequency propagation in millimeter wave (mmWave) bands for cellular communications networks. This marks the second consecutive year in which someone from NYU WIRELESS has been elected to NAE. Thomas L. Marzetta, distinguished industry professor of electrical and computer engineering, and director of NYU WIRELESS, was elected to the Academy in 2020.

Rappaport, also a professor of computer science at NYU Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences and professor of radiology at the NYU School of Medicine, is known worldwide as a pioneer in radio wave propagation and wireless communications, circuits and systems, and for the wireless research centers he created. Over his career, he has founded three highly regarded wireless academic centers at NYU, the University of Texas at Austin, and Virginia Tech, and co-founded two companies that were sold to publicly traded firms. His 2013 paper, "Millimeter Wave Mobile Communications for 5G Cellular: It Will Work," articulated the virtues of spectrum between 30 to 300 gigahertz for 5G radio and beyond, and has been cited well over 5,000 times. In 2019, he coauthored a vision paper for the future of wireless, "Wireless Communications and Applications Above 100 GHz: Opportunities and Challenges for 6G and Beyond,"

He has over 100 U.S. or international patents issued or pending and co- authored or co-edited more than 200 papers and 20 books in the wireless field, including the world's best-selling books on wireless communications, mmWave communications, and smart antennas.

Under his leadership, NYU WIRELESS researchers have done groundbreaking work on mmWave propagation, radio channel modeling, system simulation, and antenna technology --demonstrating that even the most challenging characteristics of mmWave radio can be overcome in both urban settings and in rural markets, presaging the viability of the mmWave regime for 5G, 6G and beyond. With other NYU WIRELESS researchers, he is exploring THz for ultra-fast, high-capacity data transmission and revolutionary applications for communications, medical imaging, precise position location, semiconductor testing, and new kinds of spectroscopy.

"I am deeply honored and humbled to receive this distinction, and am thankful to have had such wonderful students, colleagues, sponsors and supporters of my research and teaching efforts throughout my career," Rappaport said. "I am gratified that the hard work we have done has opened up spectrum that had long been considered fallow ground for consumer telecommunications. Now, it appears the fundamentals of 5G will carry the wireless industry forward for the next several generations and decades."

In addition to his election to the NAE, Rappaport has received many prestigious honors throughout his career, including the IEEE Eric E Sumner Award (2020), election into the Wireless Hall of Fame (2019), a Fellowship in the National Academy of Inventors (2019), the Radio Club of America (RCA) Armstrong Medal (2018) and Sarnoff Citation (2000), the IEEE Communications Society's Edwin Howard Armstrong Achievement Award (2015), the Institution of Engineering and Technology Sir Monty Finniston Medal (2011), and the Marconi Young Scientist Award (1990).

"I could not be more proud of Ted Rappaport and the NAE's recognition of his efforts to create technology for the good of society, which is so important to us at NYU Tandon. However, it comes as no surprise," said Jelena Kovacevi?, dean of NYU Tandon. "Ted is preeminent in the wireless field, and his work helped blaze the path ahead for 5G and beyond. We consider him an enormous credit to the school, applaud his work in democratizing access to bandwidth, and congratulate him for this recognition."

###

Rappaport, along with 126 other new members and 23 international members, will be inducted during a ceremony at the NAE's annual meeting on October 3, 2021.

About the New York University Tandon School of Engineering

The NYU Tandon School of Engineering dates to 1854, the founding date for both the New York University School of Civil Engineering and Architecture and the Brooklyn Collegiate and Polytechnic Institute. A January 2014 merger created a comprehensive school of education and research in engineering and applied sciences as part of a global university, with close connections to engineering programs at NYU Abu Dhabi and NYU Shanghai. NYU Tandon is rooted in a vibrant tradition of entrepreneurship, intellectual curiosity, and innovative solutions to humanity's most pressing global challenges. Research at Tandon focuses on vital intersections between communications/IT, cybersecurity, and data science/AI/robotics systems and tools and critical areas of society that they influence, including emerging media, health, sustainability, and urban living. We believe diversity is integral to excellence, and are creating a vibrant, inclusive, and equitable environment for all of our students, faculty and staff. For more information, visit engineering.nyu.edu.

About NYU WIRELESS

A woman opens her mouth for a heath worker to collect a sample for the CCP virus testing during the screening and testing campaign aimed to combat the spread of COVID-19 at Lenasia South, south Johannesburg, South Africa, on April 21, 2020. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

South Africa to Vaccinate Health Care Workers With J&J COVID-19 Vaccine as Part of Implementation Study

South Africa will move forward with its phase one vaccination program to inoculate its health care workers with the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) COVID-19 vaccine, though the vaccine has not been granted an emergency authorization usage.

Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said on Feb. 10 that the country could no longer wait to immunize its health care workers as the J&J vaccine has proven effective against the highly transmissible B.1.351 variant of the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) viruswhich causes COVID-19that was first identified in the country in November 2020.

The one-dose J&J vaccine was found to be 57 percent effective against moderate to severe illness due to the B.1.351 variant. It also protects against severe disease, hospitalization, and death, according to unpublished data presented on Feb. 7.

One-third of the volunteers in the J&J vaccine trial were aged 60 and older, and about 41 percent had comorbidities.

A vial of the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine by Johnson & Johnson in July 2020. (Johnson & Johnson via AP)

Zweli said the rollout of the vaccination will proceed in the form of an implementation study with a partnership between the medical research council and the national department of health vaccination sites across the country.

The country may receive the vaccines as early as next week.

Dr. Glenda Gray, president of South Africas Medical Research Council, told Reuters that the country is expecting to receive about 80,000 doses every seven to 14 days for the study, once it is approved.

Its not known if participation in the study will be on a volunteer basis. The Council did not reply to an email from The Epoch Times asking for clarification.

AstraZeneca Not Effective

Mary Williams receives an injection of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine at the mass vaccination center in Newcastle Upon Tyne, England, on Jan. 11, 2021. (Scott Heppell/AP Photo)

The governments rush to inoculate health care workers with the J&J vaccine may be due to pausing the roll-out of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine after a small study found it did not provide protection against mild and moderate illness from the B.1.351 variant.

The South African government had received its first shipment of one million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine last week and had planned to roll it out in the middle of February.

However, that plan is on hold until the government is advised by scientific experts on what to do, according to Zweli.

Dr. Salim Abdool Karim, co-chair of the Ministerial Advisory Committee on COVID-19, suggested on SAfm Sunrise on Feb. 8 that some AstraZeneca vaccines should still be administered to observe if the vaccine protects against severe illness.

So the doses that we have should be used but they should be used in a manner in which we can first assess, say in giving out the first 100,000 doses, we use that as an opportunity to answer the question, is it effective against severe disease and hospitalization, Karim said.

Once we can answer that question when the first 100,000 or so have been vaccinated, if the answer is yes  then we proceed, use up the rest, he added.

The AstraZeneca study consisted of mostly young and healthy volunteers with a median age of 31. Out of the 2,000 participants, 19 developed symptomatic COVID-19 from the vaccine group while 20 from the placebo, resulting in a vaccine efficacy of only 10 percent with a large confidence interval from minus 79 percent to 55 percent.

Researchers say that it may be too early to draw any conclusion on the vaccines efficacy against severe disease from the trials small data. The AstraZeneca vaccine did demonstrate a 75 percent reduction in mild illness due to the original CCP virus before the B.1.351 variant emerged in South Africa.

The study has been submitted as pre-print prior to peer-review publication according to a press release by the University of the Witwatersrand that is leading the research in South Africa.

In response to findings of the South African study, AstraZeneca told the Financial Times, We do believe our vaccine could protect against severe disease, as neutralizing antibody activity is equivalent to that of other COVID-19 vaccines that have demonstrated activity against more severe disease, particularly when the dosing interval is optimized to 8-12 weeks.

Treatment Options

While many governments are pushing vaccines as the only option to reduce risk of severe [COVID-19] disease and death, some scientists and doctors say that there are scientific data to support the use of safe, established medicines like ivermectin and hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19, the disease caused by the CCP virus, when vaccines are limited or not available.

The decision by South African health authorities demonstrates that lingering vaccine-related safety and efficacy questions require more study before embarking on a mass vaccination program with an experimental biological agent, Americas Frontline Doctors (AFLDS) told The Epoch Times in an email.

AFLDS is not anti-vaccine; we are, however, concerned that rushed experimental inoculations could prove ineffective, or worse, against variant strains of the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, they added.

A more reasonable course of action involves allowing a greater number of patients and doctors who choose generally safer, cheaper alternative treatment options such as hydroxychloroquine or ivermectin to pursue these without government interference or media attacks.

A health worker shows a box containing a bottle of Ivermectin, a medicine authorized by the National Institute for Food and Drug Surveillance (INVIMA) to treat patients with mild, asymptomatic, or suspicious COVID-19, as part of a study of the Center for Paediatric Infectious Diseases Studies, in Cali, Colombia, on July 21, 2020. (Luis Robayo/AFP via Getty Images)

In South Africa, it is illegal for people to use ivermectin to treat or prevent COVID-19, unless prescribed by doctors, according to the Sunday Times.

The South Africa Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA), the countrys regulatory agency, says the drug is only approved for the treatment of parasitic infections in animals. Yet, ivermectin has been widely used throughout Africa to treat river blindness and scabies since the late 1980s and can be bought over the counter.

Ivermectin, an anti-parasitic drug, has been used safely for over three decades in both animals and humans. It is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is listed as an essential drug by the World Health Organization. Some doctors have been using it to prevent and treat COVID-19.

Following a court ruling early this month, South African doctors can now prescribe ivermectin to treat COVID patients without waiting for approval from SAHPRA, according to Health Policy Watch. But they will still have to submit an application for use of the drug to the countrys regulatory agency.

Opponents of ivermectin say there are not enough data from randomized clinical trials to indicate that the anti-parasitic drug should be used to treat COVID-19.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has updated its guidance on ivermectin after meeting with members of the Front Line COVID-19 Critical Care Alliance (FLCCC) in January, who presented four months of data on ivermectin that has emerged since the NIH last issued its guidance on August 27.

The COVID-19 Treatment Guidelines Panel (the Panel) has determined that currently there are insufficient data to recommend either for or against the use of ivermectin for the treatment of COVID-19, the NIH stated.

Prior to the update, the NIH only recommended ivermectin in the treatment of COVID-19 in clinical trials.

The FLCCC said in a press release on Jan. 7 [pdf] that data from 18 randomized controlled trials that included over 2,100 patients have demonstrated that ivermectin produces faster viral clearance, faster time to hospital discharge, faster time to clinical recovery, and a 75 percent reduction in mortality rates.

With a surge in the demand for ivermectin around the world, medical experts advise people not to take ivermectin given to animals.
Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, addresses a Chinese Lunar New Year reception at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 10, 2021. The CPC Central Committee and the State Council held the reception on Wednesday in Beijing. [Xinhua/Pang Xinglei]

BEIJING, Feb. 10 (Xinhua)  Chinese President Xi Jinping, on behalf of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the State Council, extended Spring Festival greetings to all Chinese Wednesday at a reception in Beijing.

Xi, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivered a speech at the gathering at the Great Hall of the People, greeting Chinese people of all ethnic groups, compatriots in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, and overseas Chinese.

This year's Spring Festival, or the Chinese Lunar New Year, falls on Feb. 12.

Achieving the first centenary goal of finishing building a moderately prosperous society in all respects is a great feat of milestone significance, Xi noted.

Demanding the virtues of modesty and prudence, Xi called for efforts to achieve the second centenary goal and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and make new and greater contributions to the noble cause of securing peace and development for all mankind.

Party and state leaders Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji, Han Zheng and Wang Qishan were present at the reception. Li Keqiang chaired the event.

Xi summarized the nation's major achievements in 2020 under the Party's leadership, including emerging as one of the first countries that brought the COVID-19 epidemic under control, taking the lead among major economies in achieving positive economic growth, making historic progress in building a moderately prosperous society in all respects and accomplishing the poverty eradication tasks on time.

The country also saw the success of a number of key science and technology innovation projects, solid progress in pushing forward the Belt and Road Initiative and the successful conclusion of implementing the 13th Five-Year Plan, as well as growing global support for building a community with a shared future for humanity, Xi said.

Facts have once again proved that the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics has incomparable vitality and creativity, Xi noted.

As long as the entire Party and the Chinese people of all ethnic groups rally closely around the CPC Central Committee, there is no difficulty that cannot be overcome, he said.

In 2021, efforts should be made to consolidate and expand the results secured in epidemic containment and social and economic development, Xi stressed, demanding a good start in boosting the country's development during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025) so as to celebrate the Party's centenary with outstanding achievements.

Having completed a glorious journey of 100 years, the CPC has grown into the world's largest Marxist ruling party that has been in power for over 70 years in the world's largest socialist country, Xi said.

The centenary sees the Party, with more than 91 million members, in its prime with the widespread support of 1.4 billion Chinese people, he added.

The Party will remain invincible as long as it stands at the forefront of the times, leads the charge in overcoming difficulties and challenges, and takes root among the people, Xi said.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, addresses a Chinese Lunar New Year reception at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 10, 2021. The CPC Central Committee and the State Council held the reception on Wednesday in Beijing. [Xinhua/Ju Peng]

Party and state leaders Xi Jinping, Li Keqiang, Li Zhanshu, Wang Yang, Wang Huning, Zhao Leji, Han Zheng and Wang Qishan attend a Chinese Lunar New Year reception at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 10, 2021. The Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the State Council held the reception on Wednesday in Beijing. [Xinhua/Wang Ye]

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, chairs a Chinese Lunar New Year reception at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 10, 2021. The CPC Central Committee and the State Council held the reception on Wednesday in Beijing. [Xinhua/Liu Weibing]

(Source: Xinhua)
Hailee Steinfeld was spotted hard at work on the set of Hawkeye on Wednesday evening.

The 24-year-old actress was pictured pretending to draw and shoot an arrow while filming a nighttime rooftop scene in Atlanta for the upcoming Disney+ miniseries.

Also present was series lead Jeremy Renner, who appeared to be enjoying his time on the production as he walked around the set.

Bullseye! Hailee Steinfeld was seen pretending to draw and shoot an arrow on the Atlanta set of the upcoming Disney+ series Hawkeye on Wednesday evening

Steinfeld was dressed in a purple long-sleeve top that had been zipped up to just below her neckline.

She also wore a pair of black pants featuring various clips and pouches that had been strapped around her waist and thighs.

The actress kept a full quiver slung onto her backside; her beautiful brunette hair occasionally fell onto the arrow carrier during filming.

Her 50-year-old costar kept his ensemble much more pared down as he wore a black zip-up hoodie and a matching pair of jeans.

In costume: The actress was dressed in a purple top that had been zipped up to just below her neckline; she also carried a quiver full of arrows on her back

Comfy attire: Jeremy Renner was also spotted on the set, and he opted for a much more casual ensemble consisting of a black zip-up hoodie and matching jeans

In addition to the series leads, Hawkeye also features Vera Farmiga and Tony Dalton in costarring roles.

Florence Pugh, who is set to portray Yelena Belova in the upcoming film Black Widow, has been confirmed to be appearing in a guest role.

Hawkeye first entered development in 2019 when Renner signed on to reprise his character in a six-to-eight episode show.

The actor had initially planned on portraying Barton in a standalone film, but Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige retooled the idea into a miniseries.

Long time coming: The Hawkeye miniseries was first confirmed to have entered development in 2019; Renner and Steinfeld are seen filming in 2020

Changing lanes: The miniseries was originally envisioned as a standalone film, although Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige retooled the idea; he is seen at the 2019 D23 Expo

Filming for the series began in December of 2020 in New York City; shooting was originally supposed to start in October of that year.

The upcoming show's plot will follow Renner's character passing the title of Hawkeye to Bishop as he trains her to become a superhero.

Barton's time as the vigilante Ronin will also be explored in greater depth.

Steinfeld was first approached to take on the role of Kate Bishop in September of 2019, but she did not confirm her casting due to her busy schedule.

Passing the title: The upcoming series is set to follow Clint Barton as he trains Kate Bishop to become the new Hawkeye

After nearly a year of speculation regarding her participation in the show, the actress eventually agreed to appear in Hawkeye in December of the following year.

Earlier this year, she spoke to People about not commenting on her casting and noted that the circumstances of the pandemic indirectly kept her from letting anyone know about her part.

Steinfeld said, 'I guess in a way, it was kind of a blessing in disguise that I...couldn't be around a lot of people, cause that was a hard one to keep to myself.'

Hawkeye is currently set to premiere at an unspecified date later this year.
Myanmar leader writes to PM

THAILAND: Myanmar Commander-in-Chief Min Aung Hlaing has written to Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha explaining why the Tatmadaw had to stage a coup to seize power and asked for help to support democracy.

Myanmarmilitarypolitics

By Bangkok Post

Thursday 11 February 2021, 08:37AM

Myanmar Commander-in-Chief Min Aung Hlaing meets Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha at Government House in Bangkok in 2017. Photo: Chanat Katanyu.

Gen Prayut said yesterday (Feb 10) the letter asked Thailand to support the democracy of Myanmar, which he said he always supports.

Yet he said he wont interfere in the neighbouring countrys internal affairs as agreed under the Asean principle and the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC).

At the very least, we are supportive of the democratic process in Myanmar, while what we also have to do is maintain relations [with Myanmar] as well as possible because that will benefit all Thai people and border trade [with the neighbouring country], Gen Prayut said.

Thailand supports the democratic process. The rest is up to him to see how to proceed.

On Tuesday, Gen Prayut said he didnt want anti-Myanmar coup protests to take place in Thailand and warned certain groups against provoking unrest linked to the coup.

He said it was a sensitive issue and needs to be dealt with with prudence.

As for calls by Malaysian and Indonesian leaders for Asean to convene a special meeting to discuss Myanmars internal issues, Gen Prayut said he would leave it up to Asean.

Since the coup last week, Myanmar has been convulsed by the biggest protests in more than a decade as Aung San Suu Kyis supporters challenge the coup that halted a tentative decade-long transition to democracy.

Protesters took to the streets of Myanmar for a fifth day yesterday, vowing to keep up demonstrations against the coup even after a woman was shot and critically wounded during clashes the previous day.

The United States and United Nations condemned Tuesdays use of force against the protesters who are demanding the reversal of the Feb 1 coup and the release of deposed leader Ms Suu Kyi, and other leaders of her National League for Democracy (NLD).

We cannot stay quiet, youth leader Esther Ze Naw said.

If there is bloodshed during our peaceful protests, then there will be more if we let them take over the country.

Thousands of people joined demonstrations in the main city of Yangon. In the capital, Nay Pyi Taw, hundreds of government workers marched in support of a growing civil disobedience campaign.

A group of police in Kayah state in the east joined the protesters and marched in uniform with a sign that said We dont want dictatorship.

There were no reports of violence yesterday, but soldiers took over a clinic that had been treating wounded protesters in Nay Pyi Taw on Tuesday, a doctor there said.

Another doctor said the female protester shot in the head during Tuesdays confrontation with police in Nay Pyi Taw was not expected to survive.

She was wounded when police fired, mostly into the air, to clear the protesters.

Three other people were being treated for wounds from suspected rubber bullets, doctors said.

Protesters were also hurt in Mandalay and other cities, where security forces used water cannon and arrested dozens.

Four policemen were injured on Tuesday as they tried to disperse protesters, some of whom threw stones and bricks, the military said.

The military has imposed restrictions on gatherings and a night curfew in the biggest cities.

The protests are the largest in Myanmar in more than a decade, reviving memories of almost half a century of direct army rule and spasms of bloody uprisings until the military began relinquishing some power in 2011.

The military has tried to justify its takeover by alleging fraud took place in a Nov 8 election that Ms Suu Kyis NLD party won by a landslide, as expected.

The countrys electoral commission dismissed the armys complaints.

Western countries have condemned the coup but taken little substantive action to press for the restoration of democracy.

The US State Department said it was reviewing assistance to Myanmar to ensure those responsible for the coup faced significant consequences.
The overthrow of Myanmars democratically elected government by the military last week is drawing international attention to the armed forces vast but murky business empire as pressure builds on foreign companies to break ties with it.

The military declared  and took charge of  a one-year state of emergency on Feb. 1, hours after rounding up the top leaders of the ruling National League for Democracy, including the countrys de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi. The generals claim, without evidence, that a 2020 general election that gave the NLD a second landslide win was rigged.

International rebuke of the coup was swift and by the end of the first week. Japanese beverage giant Kirin announced it was pulling out of a joint venture with a military-owned firm behind the countrys most popular brew, Myanmar Beer. On Tuesday, RMH Singapore said it would be giving up its shares in Myanmars Virginia Tobacco Company, another joint venture co-owned by the military.

Foreign ministers add to calls for military to release detained political leaders.

Cutting ties

Calls for foreign companies to pull out of any tie-ups with army-run firms took off in the wake of the militarys widely reported campaign of arson, rape and murder against the countrys ethnic minority Rohingya in late 2017. While some companies took heed, many held on.

Last weeks coup will convince more of the holdouts to follow suit to save their reputations, said George McLeod, managing partner at Access Asia, which advises firms doing business in the region on risk and brand protection.

Absolutely it will quicken a process that was already underway before the coup had started, I would say, after the Rohingya crisis, McLeod said.

The Rohingya crisis started the process and the coup will cause many mainstream Western companies to eventually cut ties, he said, referring broadly to companies in both Western countries and their Asian allies.

Since the coup, Amnesty International, Global Witness and other rights groups have renewed and stepped up their calls for foreign firms to break ties they have with military-linked enterprises. They are also urging governments to impose targeted sanctions on the generals and their business interests.

The White House says targeted sanctions are being considered.

Much of the Myanmar militarys business interests are held together by a pair of bulky conglomerates, the Myanmar Economic Corporation and the Myanmar Economic Holdings Public Company Limited. Their operations run the gamut from mining and manufacturing to banking, real estate, tourism, transport and telecommunications.

Reports by the United Nations and Amnesty International in recent years have shed some light on the foreign companies tied up with the conglomerates and their subsidiaries. Japanese and South Korean firms dominate the known joint ventures. Others from China, India, Europe and Southeast Asia also have or recently had contracts, leases and other deals.

A Feb. 4 list drawing mostly on public corporate records published by Justice for Myanmar, a local pressure group, shows many of the same arrangements.

Sanctions

Kirins pullout was significant given Japans large corporate footprint in Myanmar and likely portends similar moves by more companies from both Japan and next-door South Korea, said Christopher Sidoti, an international human rights lawyer from Australia who co-authored the U.N. report.

One female protester gravely injured by with gunshot wound to head; security forces raid headquarters of ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

He said Singapores unusually tough public rebuke of the coup could signal that companies there will face pressure to sever any ties with Myanmars military as well.

Multinational corporations from other countries typically less sensitive to reputational risk may also start to come under pressure from the other countries they also do business in, Sidoti added, taking Indias Adani Group as an example.

Companies like Adani are not just Indian companies but transnationals, and Adani for example has major interests in Australia. So I think we will see increased pressure on Indian companies coming from other places where they are economically active, not necessarily coming from India itself, he said.

Sanctions put on army-linked companies by the United States and others would add more pressure still, said Peter Kucik, a former sanctions adviser at the U.S. Treasury Department.

U.S. sanctions placed strictly on those companies would bar U.S. firms and nationals from dealing with them. But they will also make anyone else still doing business with those companies toxic to U.S. firms and nationals, said Kucik, now with Ferrari & Associates, a U.S. firm specializing in sanctions risk.

U.S. businesses are reticent to have relationships with companies that have relationships with sanctioned entities just because they are concerned where that might lead and they dont want to have connections that they might have to quickly unwind, and they dont want the reputational concern, he said.

So while U.S. firms and nationals may have few interests in Myanmar themselves, the ripple effect of U.S. sanctions could convince foreign firms that do to ditch their Myanmar military partners to preserve their interests in and access to the much larger U.S. market.

This will hurt

For all the obscurity of the Myanmar militarys finances, and how much its two conglomerates contribute, experts believe an exodus of foreign business partners will bite.

I think it would cause an enormous amount of financial hurt, said Sidoti. You just have to look at the way the arms of this octopus spread through the Myanmar economy, what they own, the key roles that they play in a number of sectors.

He said Myanmar Brewing, the militarys joint venture with Kirin, was earning MEHL tens of millions of dollars a year alone.

McLeod said Chinese firms may be ready and willing to fill the breach but added that Myanmars long-running mistrust of its giant neighbor means the feeling is not wholly mutual.

Theres a real aversion there to the PRC [Peoples Republic of China] on a political level and on a business level, so it means something for these Western companies to break ties with these Myanmar military conglomerates, he said. Its not just a moot point where they turn around and happily engage with Chinese companies. It is an issue and it does hurt them.
LIMERICK City and County Council has announced the appointment of a new head of digital strategy.

Alan Dooley, a graduate of the University of Limerick, will drive the implementation of the Smart Limerick strategy, coordinating EU projects, support the broadband rollout and the development of the Councils digital plans.

Alan has lived in Limerick since coming to college here in 1993. He has almost 25 years experience in the IT industry, spending most of the last two decades leading global software engineering teams from the USA, to Ireland, to India and the Philippines for Pramerica Ireland, as subsidiary of Prudential Financial, a Fortune 50 company and subsequently Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) via a company acquisition.

Alans principal areas of responsibility will be Smart Limerick, which is a strategy for the development of a smart, sustainable region where digital technologies improve quality of life, empower communities, and enable economic growth.

He will also be responsible for the planning and development of digital infrastructure, digital innovation and services for Limerick using the Limerick.ie platform to expand and develop the provision of services to the people of Limerick. His department is also involved in the rollout of broadband across the city and county and in the development and coordination of EU funding proposals.

Commenting on his new role Alan said: I am very excited about joining the Smart Limerick team. I truly believe that Limerick is a city and region that can soar over the coming years  economically, culturally, with climate change, the services it provides to the community and much, much more. The fact that Limerick is a smart, sustainable region and that it strives to leave nobody behind, is a big attraction for me.

Alan has remotely led teams for almost two decades, up to and including all of his teams being fully remote since early 2020 as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

I am acutely aware of the myriad of challenges remote working brings at a personal level. The isolation can be difficult, impacting on your mental health, balancing home schooling, your work life and your personal life. Delivering services like broadband, which is intrinsic to our day-to-day life, to better enable remote working is something I really look forward to, he added.

Caroline Curley, Director of National and Regional Shared Services at Limerick City and County Council said: The head of digital strategy is a senior position within my directorate, and I am looking forward to working with Alan and his team in delivering for the people of Limerick and the employees of the Council.

A keen cyclist, Alan has participated in six Tour de Munsters, raising funds for Munster branches of Down Syndrome Ireland. Some of his other passions include playing the traditional Irish flute and singing and he has performed with the Voices of Limerick and the Munster Rugby Supporters Club Choir.
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After disobeying local laws, the Indian government berated Twitter India on Wednesday for its non-compliance regarding previous orders of taking down specific contents that prompted Indian lawmakers to urge their followers to switch to its native rival, Koo.

India's government has requested the social media giant to remove less than 1,100 accounts and posts that allegedly caused the widespread misinformation regarding the extensive protests by Indian farmers who contradict the latest agricultural laws.

According to Reuters, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's administration was riled early Wednesday after Twitter shared in a public post that it had not fully complied with the government's order because the social media giant believed that numerous takedown orders were not consistent with Indian law.

Twitter India also emphasized that they are just keeping their principles in defending protected speech and freedom of expression; that is why they have not taken any action on accounts that consist of news media entities, activists, politicians, and journalists.

In a post on rival platform Koo, the IT Ministry of India shared late on Wednesday that one of the Ministry's top officials had a phone conversation with several Twitter top executives wherein the strong displeasure of the Indian government was expressed against the actions made by Twitter.

The Indian government also stated that Twitter is free in formulating its own rules and guidelines, but Indian laws enacted by the Parliament of India must be followed regardless of the rules and guidelines imposed by Twitter, CNBC reported.

Also, the IT secretary expressed his deep disappointment regarding the manner that the company reacted.

According to the secretary, the company was not willing and only complied with some parts of the orders of the Indian government.

When asked for a comment regarding the ongoing issue and the IT ministry's meeting, Twitter India did not immediately respond to the request.

On the other hand, Twitter's defiance of the orders has placed the company and its executives in the eye of a political storm.

In the past, New Delhi has threatened legal action, resulting in fines or even imprisonment for Twitter executives responsible for implementing government directives.

The threats also came after the resignation of Twitter India's top lobbyist, Mahima Kaul, as it happened while the company was scrambling to contain a growing public relations crisis.

Meanwhile, in one of the social media giant's key markets, the opinion is split, Aljazeera reported.

Several lawyers are currently saying that Twitter must comply or challenge the order of the Indian government in court and handle it legally moving forward. At the same time, activists blame the government for utilizing legal provisions to curb freedom of speech.

The Threatening Migration to Rival application

Following the government orders, it permanently suspended over 500 accounts for engaging in platform manipulation and spam on early Wednesday.

For some, it only restricted access within India, and their tweets can still be read abroad.

@ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
The Covid-19 variant first found in Kent is likely to sweep the world and become the most dominant strain, the director of the UK's genetic surveillance programme has said.

The variant has been detected across Britain, in more than 50 countries and "it's going to sweep the world, in all probability", Professor Sharon Peacock from the Covid-19 Genomics UK (Cog-UK) Consortium told the BBC's Newscast podcast.

The new variant initially led to London and parts of southern and eastern England being rushed into tier 4 restrictions prior to Christmas, before stricter measures were introduced throughout the UK.

Analysis of the variant, known as B117, suggests it is up to 70 per cent more transmissible than the previous strain that was dominant in the UK.

Prof Peacock, professor of public health and microbiology at the University of Cambridge, predicted transmissibility was likely to cause scientists difficulties for at least a decade.

She told Newscast: Once we get on top of it [Covid-19] or it mutates itself out of being virulent  causing disease  then we can stop worrying about it.

"But I think, looking in the future, we're going to be doing this for years. We're still going to be doing this 10 years down the line, in my view."

Despite data suggesting the mutant variant may be more deadly, there is no evidence to indicate existing treatments, such as dexamethasone, will not be effective against it.

A study has suggested that people infected with the UK variant are less likely to report a loss of taste and smell.

There are now four "variants of concern" of the virus that causes Covid-19 identified by government advisers. Three of these have been found in the UK, and the fourth is the Brazil variant identified in people who had travelled to Japan.

Analysis is ongoing to establish the impact of these mutations on the virus.

Earlier this month, AstraZeneca and the University of Oxford said their vaccine had been found to provide only limited protection against mild and moderate disease caused by the South African variant in early data from a small trial.

However, researchers said a version of the jab that works against news variants should be available by the autumn.

The study, which has not been peer-reviewed, was conducted by South Africa's University of the Witwatersrand and Oxford University.

It analysed the E484K mutation in more than 2,000 people, with most of the participants considered young and healthy.

Additional reporting by PA
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Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 11 : A fluid political situation has emerged in the Kerala unit of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) which is an alliance partner of the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF). However, top leaders said that the final decision would be taken by NCP supremo Sharad Pawar and his Deputy Praful Patel in New Delhi on Friday.

Speaking to the media, after a meeting with Pawar, state NCP president T.P. Peethamabaran said there are differences of opinion between the NCP and LDF leaders.

"Ours is a democratic party and hence it is natural there will be differences of opinion. Patel is currently out of the country and will be reaching shortly for the decision tomorrow," said Peethamabaran.

The Kerala's NCP unit has been an alliance partner of the ruling LDF for years and has two legislators, including a state Minister.

Another NCP seat (Kuttanad), which was represented by Thomas Chandy, has been lying vacant since 2019 after he passed away.

The NCP in Kerala got a major boost when Mani C. Kappen won the Pala Assembly seat in a by-election in 2019, following the death of veteran K.M.Mani who was the incumbent legislator of Pala constituency since its inception in 1967.

Kappen who lost to Mani in 2011 and 2016, won the seat in 2019 when Mani's party - Kerala Congress (Mani) failed to capitalise on the sympathy factor after his death.

But things went for a toss, especially for Kappen, ever since K.M. Mani's son - Jose K.Mani who now leads the party became an ally of the LDF, while the other faction led by senior legislator P.J. Joseph continues in the UDF.

Things went from bad to worse when speculation began that Kappen will have to vacate his seat in the upcoming assembly polls in April/May for Jose K. Mani, who has already quit the Rajya Sabha and is all set to contest polls from Pala seat.

"In no way, I will vacate Pala as it's strange that a winning candidate is being asked to make way for a losing party. To me, Pala is everything and I will not part with it," said Kappen.

However, Cabinet Minister A.K. Saseendran of the NCP is fully with the CPI-M and he along with his faction has ruled out any rift within the party.

"I do not think it is an issue, let us wait," said Saseendran to the media on Thursday.

Sources said there are indications that in case of a split in the NCP, Saseendran and his aides may return to the Congress-S, also an ally of the ruling Left.

"I also heard that Saseendran and his aides might cross over to the Congress-S," added Kappen.

Meanwhile, State Congress president Mullapally Ramachandran on Thursday said that Kappen is welcome in the Congress if he is willing to join the party.
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Britons have caused the UK's summer staycation market to soar by almost 50 per cent despite Boris Johnson's warning to hold off from booking holidays.

Hotel and self-catering bookings for August this year are 46 per cent higher than last year.

Avvio, a company which provides technology to over 500 hotels around the world and operates a hotel-booking service, has revealed that families have doubled their share of UK hotel bookings so far this year.

The average length of family stays has increased by 56 per cent and the average cost of bookings has gone up by a whopping 81 per cent.

Avvio, a company which provides technology to over 500 hotels around the world and operates a hotel-booking service, has revealed that families have doubled their share of UK hotel bookings so far this year. Pictured: Crieff Hydro Resort

The average length of family stays has increased by 56 per cent and the average cost of bookings has gone up by a whopping 81 per cent. Pictured: The Grand Hotel in Eastbourne

It comes after Center Parcs, Haven and Butlins all hiked their prices for Easter as they plan to reopen in March despite concerns that the national lockdown will still be in place.

But Britons desperate for some respite from the coronavirus crisis are looking closer to home as fears mount over the future of foreign holidays this summer.

And hotels across the country have started to reap the rewards of the increasing number of Brits looking to take a break while staying close to home.

For a five-night stay in August The Grand Hotel in Eastbourne is charging 1,570 for two adults in a double room with dinner and breakfast included.

Britons desperate for some respite from the coronavirus crisis are looking closer to home as fears mount over the future of foreign holidays this summer. Pictured: Roe Park Resort in Limavady

To book a similar five-night stay at the Lough Erne Resort in Northern Ireland will cost 1,150 as the only rooms left are suites with a lake view.

Taking a trip to the Crieff Hydro hotel in Crieff is cheaper at 697 for a similar five-night stay in a 'cosy' double room.

For a stay in a deluxe room with breakfast included at Tylney Hall in Hook, holiday-goers will have to fork out 825.

And to have a similar break at Roe Park Resort in Limavady will cost 895.50.

Holiday operators regularly hike prices for Easter to make the most of high demand, but this year it seems extremely high compared to a few weeks before.

And hotels across the country have started to reap the rewards of the increasing number of Brits looking to take a break while staying close to home. Pictured: Tylney Hall in Hook

At Butlins Bognor Regis in Somerset for example, a Gold Apartment for four people is on offer for a week from March 19 for 318, but 1,353 from April 2 - an increase of 1,035 or 325 per cent.

The same room is available for a week from July 12 for 1,048 - rising to 1,701 from July 26, after the summer holidays start, an increase of 653 or 62 per cent.

Butlins is currently offering summer holidays for '270 per break'. At the same point last year, an archived version of its website shows it was offering summer summer holidays 'from 235 per break'. This means its minimum price is up 35 or 15 per cent at the same point this year.

Meanwhile at Center Parcs in Woburn Forest, Bedfordshire, a two-bed Woodland Lodge for seven nights from March 19 for 978, while from April 2 it is 2,498 - a rise of 1,520 or 155 per cent.

To book a five-night stay at the Lough Erne Resort (pictured) in Northern Ireland will cost 1,150 as the only rooms left are suites with a lake view

The same accommodation at the site for seven nights this summer is 1,608 from July 12 or 2,178 from July 26 - an increase of 570 or 35 per cent.

As for Haven, a standard caravan for seven nights at its Riviere Sands resort in Cornwall is on sale from March 19 for 186 or from April 2 for 502  a rise of 316 or 170 per cent.

Looking ahead to summer, the same property for the same time length is 623 from July 12 or 1,218 from July 26 - a difference of 595 or 96 per cent.

There are also fears prices could rise further if the VAT cut for hospitality and staycation accommodation from 20 to 5 per cent ends as planned on March 31.

Even Boris Johnson's holiday cottage is fully booked until October! The property where Boris Johnson stayed last August during his summer staycation has only one week left to book until October  and that is next month, when lockdown is still likely. Old School House near Kinlochbervie in the Scottish Highlands is set in splendid isolation with beautiful views over the islands of Rona and Raasay. Old School House near Kinlochbervie in the Highlands, where Boris Johnson stayed It is available for 425 for a week from February 26, but then not again until October 15 when it will cost 635, and October 22 when it will be 939. It can cost around 1,500 a week to rent in the summer and the nearest neighbours are half a mile away. The cottage is off a single track coast road and is around six miles from the village of Applecross which has a pub. Advertisement

As for Airbnb, a cottage in Portesham, Devon, is going for 737 for seven nights from March 20, but 889 from April 3 - a difference of 152 or 21 per cent.

A barn via the same website in Helston, Cornwall, is up for 973 for a week from March 20, or 1,068 from March 3 - a difference of 95 or 10 per cent.

Meanwhile a survey found most Britons have come to terms with not going abroad in the foreseeable future, with only 12 per cent planning to do so.

The figures haven't moved much from summer and autumn last year. They peaked in July when 17 per cent of people planned to go abroad.

The polling by YouGov found younger people are still more likely to say they're going on holiday abroad.

Avvio's Chief Commercial Officer, Michael De Jongh, told said: 'Everyone is desperate for something to look forward to at the moment, so it makes complete sense that many people are splashing out on a UK holiday.

'So long as they ensure they can amend or cancel their booking easily, they won't be left financially worse off if lockdown continues longer than anticipated.'

He added: 'There has been a surge in demand for the key booking dates available in June, July and August but also for the higher-level room types being snapped up by families as they look for more space and larger self-catering options.

'While families are certainly pushing demand right now we don't expect there to be the kind of spike we saw last June and July for booking. Instead we expect a longer, gradual build-up to the peak booking period of August, when shorter lead times from couples and millennials will result in a further pick-up in bookings much closer to their stay dates.'

It comes as passengers arriving in England from high-risk coronavirus hotspots look set to be made to quarantine in hotels to limit the spread of new variants.

Vaccines Minister Nadhim Zahawi warned that the country needs to be 'very careful' as new strains emerge, and said an announcement on the quarantine plans would be made later.

Despite reports suggesting it could take up to three weeks to implement the policy - partly due to the logistical challenge of arranging accommodation for thousands of arrivals - the head of a major hotel chain said they could mobilise 'within 24 to 48 hours'.

Various options for quarantining arrivals are said to be on the table, but Whitehall sources suggested that ministers may opt for a more limited system after aviation leaders warned that introducing tougher border rules would be 'catastrophic' for the industry.

In a joint statement, the Airport Operators Association and Airlines UK insisted the country already has 'some of the highest levels of restrictions in the world' and that introducing tougher rules would be 'catastrophic'.

Reports have suggested that arrivals in England would have to cover the price of quarantining in hotels for 10 days, potentially setting them back more than 1,000.

It is understood that the requirement to isolate in a hotel would apply to arrivals from most of southern Africa and South America, as well as Portugal.

However, Conservative former health secretary Jeremy Hunt said the proposals might need to go further than applying only to those arriving from countries where new variants of Covid-19 have been discovered.

The United Nations Security Council on Thursday, February 11, plans to hold a meeting in connection with the sixth anniversary of the signing a set of measures to implement the Minsk Agreements, the Ukrainian delegation to the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) said.

"The meeting will be held via video link in an open format and will start at 17:00 Kyiv time. The Ukrainian delegation to the TCG will be represented by Head of the delegation Leonid Kravchuk," the delegation said in a message on Facebook.

Thus, the Ukrainian side will provide its assessment of the state of implementation of the Minsk agreements. Also, Ukraine expects the corresponding support from international partners.
NEW HAVEN  Residents came together Wednesday near where Kevin Jiang was killed, gathering in sorrow and faith to call for an end to gun violence and honor the lives of those taken before their time in this city,

Jiang, 26, who studied at the Yale School of the Environment and lived in West Haven, was shot to death on Lawrence Street between Nicoll and Nash streets Saturday night. He was the sixth homicide victim of the year in New Haven.

Ice the Beef, a New Haven-based, youth-led antiviolence organization, held a vigil on Lawrence Street Wednesday.

Natalia Katz, an East Rock resident and member of Ice the Beef, said she had been filled with inspiration after the group held a rally last Saturday.

Later that evening, as she walked home, she came across police tape, and saw Jiang after he had been shot.

She said she was glad to have a community to reach out to for guidance in how to process that. Others, she noted, are not so lucky, or have had the experience become commonplace.

It was really jarring  in any situation  but especially just feeling all the hope from earlier that day, said Katz. And just saying  this is not over. Nowhere is this over.

Preachers offered prayers for change and healing, calling on residents and authorities to consider the lives of everyone killed in New Haven.

God, I just ask, humbly, Lord, that each and every one of the hearts here today  that we want to make a change and we be about that change, that we dont just talk about it, that we walk about it ... that we become peacemakers that walk boldly, and truthfully, and with courage,  said pastor Deniqua Washington of Elm City Vineyard Church. Lord, I cast the spirit of fear to hell, and I ask us instead that you give us redemptive power that transforms this land.

Josh Williams, also a pastor with Elm City Vineyard Church, noted the area straddled the border of the East Rock and Newhallville neighborhoods. God, he said, could provide shepherds to guard life in both neighborhoods and throughout the city.

In you, there is enough. ... No matter what is life is taken, no matter where life is taken, that there is more than enough, said Williams. Holy Spirit, would you give us the courage to be shepherds in each neighborhood of our city, from East Rock to Newhallville. ... We need to see your justice come, not just in one part of New Haven, but in the whole of our city.

Jason Ting asked for God to provide a balm on New Haven, a balm that heals, serving places that seem so broken and cracked.

God, would you pour into those places; would you give us hope that you can do the healing  that death is not the last thing. That you can bring life, said Ting. That you can bring renewal.

Michelle Phyong Ting offered a poem, linking Jiangs killing to that of Vincent Chin, a Chinese American killed in 1982 by two white men who thought he was Japanese.

What to say after the unthinkable is done: nothing rational. No elite affiliation, no record of service to the country, no volunteer hours clocked could suffice to measure the worth of Kevins life, nor the magnitude of loss. I did not know Kevin, but I know he was once living, breathing, beautiful and beloved, known most intimately by his family, his mother, his fiancee and friends, she said.

I know Kevin was to be married, and that his love is now lost, that he died breaths before his union, said Ting. I know Kevins life is worth remembering on its own, but his life was an entire history.

.. Let New Haven be more than a city that uses the occasion of death to rationalize more guns, more violence, more war in our streets, because we know the outcome of war is only more loss, she said.

Ting and Remidy Shareef, director of outreach with Ice the Beef, invoked the names of the others killed this year in New Haven  Alfreda Youmans, Jeffery Dotson, Jorge Osorio-Caballero, Marquis Winfrey and Joseph Mattei.

Shareef noted the death of Brandon Jenkins, 18, as well, among others.

He called for a collective effort to address gun violence. People, he said, would come forward to help if they were secure in the knowledge that they were loved and cared for. The mass killing at Sandy Hook had come and gone; people were killed in Chicago, as well as New Haven, but the issue remains.

What are we going to do? What we do, as a people, is come together in a state of consistency, said Shareef, likening peoples collective will to water, wearing away the hardness of hearts. We need to be in every neighborhood until the youth start saying, hey, I know I can talk to him, I know I can talk to her, because he truly, sincerely loves me.

Manuel Camacho, youth president of Ice the Beef, noted their loss and that of others. It was too common, he said. He had come off a rally against gun violence last Saturday to learn of Jiangs death.

(Jiang) was an individual who had a future, who had dreams, who had aspirations, who had the chance to live a life full of prosperity, said Camacho. Is that not what a person deserves? Do we not deserve to live? Its heartbreaking. It is truly heartbreaking to know that another member of our community is gone.

Alder Charles Decker, D-9, said he was desperate to live in a city where the work of Ice the Beef was not necessary, noting the commonality of gun violence and offering peace and strength to Jiangs loved ones.

Politicians need to better to address the feature of life in the city, he said. He said he would stand with the group in its efforts.

For gun violence, theres no Band-Aid. Theres no quick fix, said Decker. We need to radically address our priorities in the city, in the country.

Chaz Carmon, director of Ice the Beef, said that last Saturday would have been Tyriek Keyes birthday. Keyes was killed in 2017, at the age of 14.

Carmon called on the Board of Alders to declare gun violence a public health crisis, like it did racism in late 2020.

I know right now it may seem like its never going to end. But I believe, and I have faith in God, that one day, change is going to come for all of us who are experiencing this madness in our neighborhoods, said Carmon. I didnt have to know Kevin to love Kevin. I dont have to know any of you to love you. I can love you just because youre a human being. ... This is a health crisis. We are losing people almost every day.

william.lambert@hearstmediact.com

The World Health Organization, WHO, has announced, Kuwait has provided cancer drugs to 35,000 sick people in Yemen.

Thanks to the generous support from the state of Kuwait who provided cancer drugs for seven oncology centers across Yemen. Supporting the treatment of up to 35,000 cancer patients in need, of whom 10 per cent are children, the UN health agency said.

16,200 of the patients are women and 4,300 are children, the agency stressed. Yemen has slid into war since 2014 between President Hadi Mansour and Houthi rebels.

Kuwait, through its Kuwait is by your side campaign has provided humanitarian aids to millions of Yemenis displaced and affected by the war. The campaign is also in action in Iraq. The initiative has reportedly contributed to alleviating what the United Nations described as the worst humanitarian crisis in the world.
PRAGUE -- Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty says Russia is violating a bilateral investment treaty by targeting the organizations news operations within Russia under its controversial foreign agent law.

The assertion, made public by RFE/RL in a statement issued on February 11, comes as Russian regulators have hit the company with a series of fines in recent weeks.

Media regulator Roskomnadzor has demanded RFE/RL comply with strict requirements to label content published and broadcast within Russia as financed by foreign sources. Those demands include prominent 15-second disclaimers shown at the start of every television, radio, or video program, be it online or broadcast.

RFE/RL, one of three foreign news organizations to be labeled as a foreign agent and the only one facing fines, has not complied. In response, Roskomnadzor has served RFE/RL with 260 notices of violations. When they go through the court system in the coming weeks, the total fines levied will amount to almost $1 million.

In its statement, the company said Moscows move violated a bilateral investment treaty signed in 1994 between Russia and the Czech Republic that obligates Moscow to treat Czech investments in Russia fairly. It called on Russia to negotiate to try to resolve the dispute.

If Russia is not willing to do so, the treaty allows for international arbitration proceedings against Moscow, the company said.

These punitive measures by the Russian government are a nervous reaction aimed at driving RFE/RL out of business at a time when our audience in Russia is skyrocketing, said Daisy Sindelar, the organizations acting president and editor in chief.

We intend to use every legal avenue available to defend our operations in Russia, so we can continue to deliver the accurate, unflinching journalism our audiences expect and depend on," she said.

Prague HQ

Funded by the U.S. Congress, RFE/RL is a private nonprofit organization incorporated under Delaware law in the United States. RFE/RLs global headquarters have been based in the Czech Republic since moving there from Munich in 1995, and its operations there are executed through a Czech legal entity called a "branch."

For that reason, the company argues its investments in Russia are covered under the 1994 treaty between Prague and Moscow.

With dozens of employees in Prague, about 50 full-time staff in Russia, and close to 300 freelance reporters across the country, RFE/RLs Russian-language operations -- TV, radio, and online -- make it one of the largest independent foreign news organizations within Russia.

Press watchdogs have said the effort appears aimed at closing down all of RFE/RLs operations in Russia, which currently reach nearly 6.7 million people a week.

First passed in 2012 and expanded several times since, the foreign agent law gives authorities the power to brand nongovernmental organizations, human rights groups, and news media deemed to receive foreign funding for political activity as foreign agents, a label that carries pejorative Soviet-era connotations.

The law subjects these organizations to bureaucratic scrutiny and spot checks and requires them to attach the foreign agent label to their publications. They must also report on their spending and funding.

Among other things, the law requires certain news organizations that receive foreign funding to label content within Russia as being produced by a foreign agent. It also puts RFE/RL journalists at risk for criminal prosecution.

RFE/RL executives have said Russian regulators singled out the organization for punishment as compared with other foreign news organizations. The only other news organizations to be hit with the foreign agent designation and ordered to label their content, but not yet fined, are Voice of America and a small Czech outlet called Medium-Orient -- neither of which currently have a physical presence in the country.

Last month, a bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers called for new sanctions against Moscow if the Kremlin moves to enforce the fines and stringent restrictions.

Since early in Vladimir Putins presidency, the Kremlin has steadily tightened the screws on independent media. The country is ranked 149th out of 180 in the World Press Freedom Index produced by Reporters Without Borders.
The front page of the liberal newspaper Wyborcza, which reads: "Media without choice" - Omar Marques /Getty Images Europe

Some of Poland's leading newspapers and news portals imposed a news blackout on Wednesday in protest against a proposed tax on advertising revenue they claim will "weaken or even liquidate local media outlets.

The move has fuelled fears in Poland that the government intends to crackdown on privately owned media that it regards as being unfairly critical.

Gazeta Wyborcza, Poland's most famous paper, ran a blacked-out page on its website with only the words "Media without choice".

TVN24, the leading independent television news network in Poland, dropped its normal schedule and instead showed a screen with the same message.

Media outlets say the tax, which is now in parliament and could come into force in July, could force many to go bankrupt.

Polands government has justified the proposal by saying it will be used to support the Covid-battered national health service, the preservation of national monuments and a fund to support Polish heritage and culture.

But some believe it is politically motivated.

Leaders of Polands governing party, the socially conservative Law and Justice party, have often rounded on the countrys independent media, some of which are foreign owned, claiming that they do not represent the interests of the country.

Onet website also replaced its usual stories with the message "Media without choice" - KACPER PEMPEL /REUTERS

Onet, one of Polands most popular news websites, on Wednesday displayed only a black screen with the words: "Your favourite website should be here. See for yourself what the world will look like without an independent media. Media without choice has started.

Reacting to the blackout, the government said it was surprised by the protest and argued that similar taxes already existed in other EU countries.

Piotr Muller, the governments spokesman, said all parties could still sit down and talk about this project.

An open letter signed by dozens of media organisations addressed to the authorities of the Republic of Poland and leaders of political groups warned that the tax could result in the weakening or even liquidating of some of the media operating in Poland, and would significantly limit societys ability to choose the content it wants.

The letter also claims the tax could widen the financial divide between private media and its state-funded counterparts.

Some sectors of Polands public media such as TVP state television have received strong financial support from the government, which sees them as a counter-balance to private media.
President Joe Biden holds a meeting with senators about infrastructure improvements in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on Feb. 11, 2021. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images)

Biden Says Minds May Change at Impeachment Trial of Trump

President Joe Biden speculated on Thursday that some Republican senators may change their minds during the impeachment trial of his former rival, former President Donald Trump.

My guess is some minds may be changed, Biden told reporters at the White House.

Biden said he did not watch any of Wednesdays hearing live but did take in news coverage about what was presented.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki later told reporters: He was not intending to give a projection or a prediction, but was just giving a very human and emotional response to what many people did, many people felt, I should say, when they watched the video.

Biden was asked multiple times about the trial. His first answer was, Im focused on my job  to deal with the promises I made. And we all know we have to move on.

Democrats must convince at least 17 Republican senators to vote to convict Trump or he will be acquitted. They may need to sway even more, because 10 Democrats have said theyre waiting to decide on their vote or have declined to outline their stance.

Some 35 GOP senators have indicated or pledged to vote to acquit.

Biden has taken a backseat to Congress in the trial, frequently declining to weigh in. He also refused pleas from Republicans to call on top Democrats to not go forward with the trial. Many Republicans argue the trial is a waste of time since a conviction is unlikely, and say its unconstitutional because Trump left office on Jan. 20.

Members of the National Guard patrol the area outside of the U.S. Capitol during the impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump at the Capitol in Washington on Feb. 10, 2021. (Jose Luis Magana/AP Photo)

Biden and his team have said Congress can conduct the trial and work on his agenda at the same time, but senators were consumed with the trial for nearly eight hours on Wednesday.

Four senators met with Biden in the Oval Office on Thursday, Sens. Tom Carper (D-Del.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.).

The group, with Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg attending by phone, discussed infrastructure.

Biden expressed his hope that Congress can reach a bipartisan deal on infrastructure.

Theres a lot we have to do, including improving bridges in West Virginia and dangerous spots on Route 9, he told attendees.

Reporters were ushered out even as Biden was answering questions about the impeachment trial. Bidens media access has been strictly controlled during the early days of his presidency, in stark contrast to the previous administration.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki had told reporters on Wednesday that Biden made clear in a previous statement that he felt the process should proceed as history and many laws predetermine.

And he is going to wait for the Senate to determine the outcome of this, she added. But, you know, his view is that his role is, should be currently focused on addressing the needs of the American people, putting people back to work, addressing the pandemic.
EUNIKE Ventures Announces Partnership with Foresight Cleantech Accelerator Centre Tweet this

"The Consulate General of Canada in Dallas congratulates Foresight and Eunike Ventures on their partnership to accelerate the growth of Canadian cleantech companies in the energy sector. We look forward to continuing our relationship with Eunike Ventures to identify opportunities for innovative Canadian companies in the Texas energy sector" said Rachel McCormick Consul General of Canada.

Eunike Ventures is a global energy venture builder that works with innovative technology companies through commercialization, across the entire Energy value chain. This new open innovation model of 'Realizing the Entrepreneurial Spirit' focuses on entrepreneurs, energy companies, paid pilots, and smart capital, which has included backing from large industry players such as Equinor, Hess, TechnipFMC, and Anadarko.

This partnership marks Eunike's formal entry into the Canadian market with their first announced corporate sponsor Cassels Brock & Blackwell LLP, a Canadian law firm focused on serving the transaction, advocacy, and advisory needs of Canada's most dynamic business sectors. Eunike will bring their existing global partnership platform, established processes, due diligence, and de-risking methodologies for technology adoption.

"Calgary is a global centre for clean tech innovation in energy and establishing stronger connections between companies in the ecosystems here and in Texas through partnerships such as Foresight Cleantech Accelerator Centre and Eunike Ventures is important to the overall development and deployment of clean tech in the sector," said Mary Moran, President and Chief Executive Officer, Calgary Economic Development.

Foresight is Canada's cleantech ecosystem accelerator. Through strategic collaborations like this, Foresight brings partners together to identify, commercialize, and adopt the clean technologies needed to address today's most urgent climate challenges.

As strategic partners, Foresight and Eunike will build upon the strengths of their respective organizations, further enabling a complete innovative stream that is 'best in class'. This partnership also establishes a bi-lateral technology bridge between the two countries enabling shared technology sourcing, cross-fertilization of opportunities, learnings from industry peers, and increased foreign direct investment with the goal of accelerating and increasing adoption across the industry.

"We welcome the opportunity to partner with Eunike Ventures, who bring deep connections and expertise in the New Energy economy" said Jeanette Jackson, CEO of Foresight. "We are confident that by working together, we can move the dial with cleantech solutions in this important sector."

"Partnering with Foresight Cleantech was a naturally strategic fit with Eunike's value proposition and existing collaboration platform" said Amy Henry, CEO of Eunike Ventures. "Foresight's thought leadership and program development, along with co-partnering with industry, is how working together we will extend the runway for startups, increase adoption, and provide the increased global connectivity that is required for true success."

Find out more at www.eunikeventures.com or email [email protected].

Contact: Amy Henry, [email protected]

SOURCE EUNIKE Ventures

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http://www.eunikeventures.com





Boston, Feb 11 : Bollywood actor Sonu Sood was the first guest on the newly-launched television talk show Jay-Ho! The Jay Kumar Show. The actor said host Jay Kumar is an old friend, and was happy to be part of a show that inspires people with spiritually stimulating humanitarian themes.

Talking about the show, Sonu said: "Jay is my longtime friend. I am very happy to be his first guest on the 'Jay-Ho!' show, and I am sure this show will inspire millions of people to unlock their inner greatness and live their best lives." Host Jay Kumar said: "This show is going to give the audience a chance to see a different side of their favourite celebrities. We're going to go deep and ask questions you don't usually hear on TV -- like, in such a cut-throat competitive industry, how do you manage your spiritual fitness along with physical fitness? I am sure all these answers will inspire the audience." The show's name Jay-Ho translates to "Let there be victory". The term can also mean "Praise from your heart", which is an interpretation Jay Kumar prefers.

"Jay-Ho is a way of saying, 'we praise you for your victory in life's challenges'," he said.

Joint Forces have returned fire, the report adds.

The Command of Ukraine's Armed Forces has reported one wounded in action (WIA) amid seven violations of the latest ceasefire agreement committed by Russia-controlled armed groups in the Donbas warzone on Wednesday, February 10.

"In the past day, February 10, 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 February 11, 2021.

In particular, the Russian occupation troops fired automatic and sniper rifles near the village of Pisky.

"A Ukrainian defender was wounded in the shelling. He was rushed to the hospital where he received medical assistance," the report says.

Also, the enemy employed hand-held anti-tank grenade launchers and heavy machine guns near the village of Vodiane, as well as an anti-tank grenade launcher near the village of Verkhniotoretske.

Read also"DPR" specops forces chief profits off of Russia's war against UkraineRussia's armed formations also fired an automatic grenade launcher near the village of Pivdenne.

What is more, Russian occupation troops deployed a UAV to drop two VOG-17 grenades on the Joint Forces' positions near the village of Zolote-4.

The Joint Forces have returned fire, the report says.

The violations were reported to OSCE representatives through the Joint Center for Control and Coordination (JCCC) on the ceasefire and stabilization in Donbas.

Since midnight, enemy forces have not attacked Ukrainian troops.

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, 2020.

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. Ukraine has reported more such violations over the latest period.

Reporting by UNIAN

Overseas Vietnamese (OVs) across the world celebrate the traditional Lunar New Year (Tet) holiday in different forms due to the impacts of COVID-19.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Israel Do Minh Hung (Photo: VNA)

On February 10, the Vietnamese Embassy in Israel hosted a virtual gathering to celebrate Tet with the Vietnamese workers and students who are working at Israeli agricultural cooperation centres. The Tet celebration went online to ensure safety for the participants since the COVID-19 situation has become complicated in the nation.

Briefing the OVs on the domestic and international situation in the past year, Vietnamese Ambassador Do Minh Hung laid stress on the critical damage of the COVID-19 outbreak to the world.

However, he said, Vietnam was successful at completing the dual tasks of preventing the pandemic while maintaining GDP growth of nearly 3 percent to ensure local social welfare.

Talking about the Vietnam-Israel relations, the diplomat underscored bilateral cooperation across trade, aviation and labour, with trade as a highlight with exchange value topping 1.3 billion USD, compared to1.1 billion USD in 2019.

The Vietnamese Embassy has paid due attention to the citizen protection work, and it arranged two flights to bring Vietnamese citizens home amidst pandemic, he stressed.

Vietnamese expats in Austria offer incense to President Ho Chi Minh. (Photo: VNA)

In Austria, the Vietnamese Embassy organised a Tet celebration with the participation of OVs in Austria and Slovenia, and international friends, including Lao Ambassador Sithong Chitnhothinh.

Vietnamese Ambassador Le Dung wished the guest good health and success in the Year of the Buffalo, while hailing the Vietnamese people communitys activities in 2020 such as organisation Vietnamese teaching class, and donation to support flood-hit victims in the central region.

In 2020, Vietnam was a bright spot in the world in repelling the COVID-19 pandemic, he said, adding despite formidable challenges, Vietnam has attained excellent achievements in socio-economic development and foreign affairs.

The country is among very few countries posting positive economic growth, and is a model in the fight against COVID-19, he said.

Regarding the Vietnam-Austria ties, Dung said both countries maintained sound trade relations thanks to the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), adding with 35 effective projects valued 147.3 million USD, Austria ranks 44th among 139 countries and territories having investments in Vietnam.

Two-way trade reached over 3 billion USD, declining from the previous year due to the fall in purchasing power and COVID-19.

The embassy also presented Tet gifts to Vietnamese people in Austrias Vienna and Linz and Slovenias Maribor.







Tet greetings from Vietnamese Ambassador to Switzerland Le Linh Lan (Photo: VNA)





The Vietnamese Embassy in Switzerland this year celebrated the Lunar New Year by making Chung cake, the traditional food for Tet, to present to Vietnamese expats by post. Ambassador Le Linh Lan sent Tet greetings to the Vietnamese people community in the host nation in a letter, in which she highlighted Vietnams achievements in the past year.

She said the embassy stood shoulder by shoulder to the Vietnamese people community by carrying out a wide range of support activities, helping consolidate a community who always remember the homeland, help each other to overcome challenges, and build a bright future./.VNA
(POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Joe Bidens pick to lead the Office of Management & Budget was confronted with her past tweets about Republicans and the progressive wing of the Democratic Party for the second day as part of her confirmation hearing.

Appearing before the Senate Budget Committee, Neera Tanden faced famed progressive Bernie Sanders, Independent Senator for Vermont, with whom she has sparred before.

While the pair have shared goals, and Mr Sanders has said that he would support her nomination, they have a contentious relationship dating back to her support for Hillary Clinton, his challenger for the Democratic nomination in 2016.

In her opening statement to the committee, Ms Tanden said she regrets some of her past social media posts.

Mr Sanders reminded her that her social media remarks include not just snipes at Republicans, but also: Vicious attacks made against progressives. People whom I have worked with me personally.

He continued: As you come before this committee to assume a very important role in the United States government at a time in which we need serious work on serious issues and not personal attacks on anybody, whether they are on the left or the right, can you reflect on the decisions and personal statements you have made in recent years?

Ms Tanden acknowledged that her remarks caused hurt to people and that she felt badly about that, adding: I apologise to people on the left or right who have been hurt by what Ive said.

Moving on to policy matters, where the two share common goals, Mr Sanders asked Ms Tanden if she would commit to supporting a higher minimum wage, negotiating lower drug prices, lowering Medicare eligibility age, instituting free college tuition for the middle class, and taking action on the climate crisis.

Ms Tanden replied yes to all of those policies.

Senator Debbie Stabenow of Michigan called out Republicans about their newfound concern about mean tweets.

We've endured four years of the ultimate mean tweets, Ms Stabenow said. I don't want to hold you to a higher standard but we certainly want to turn the page.

Story continues

Republican Senator Pat Toomey asked Ms Tanden, citing her tweets about Russian meddling, if she thought Donald Trump was legitimately elected. She replied affirmatively.

At a hearing in front of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on Tuesday Ms Tanden was also confronted by Republicans regarding her tweets.

Ohio senator Rob Portman, the leading Republican on the committee voiced his concern that personal attacks on specific senators may make it difficult for her to work with them.

He noted that in the past she has criticised Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, Ted Cruz of Texas, Tom Cotton of Arkansas, and Susan Collins of Maine.

Mr Portman reminded Ms Tanden that she called Senator Collins the worst, said that Senator Cotton is a fraud, said that vampires have more heart than Ted Cruz, and called Senator McConnell Moscow Mitch and Voldemort.

He added that there are still nine pages of tweets about Senator Cruz.

Senator James Lankford of Oklahoma noted that, more generally, she had called Republicans criminally ignorant, corrupt, and the worst.

Ms Tanden described herself as an impassioned advocate in her previous role, adding: I understand, though, that the role of OMB Director calls for bipartisan action, as well as a nonpartisan adherence to facts and evidence.

While Ms Tanden's confirmation was in doubt when Republicans controlled the Senate, the results of the Georgia runoff elections have made her approval by the upper chamber much more likely with Democrats in control.

Read More

Biden budget director asked to justify tweets calling Ted Cruz worse than a vampire in confirmation hearing

Tom Cotton says Neera Tanden has no chance of being confirmed to a Biden White House

Neera Tanden deletes more than 1,000 incendiary tweets in preparation for confirmation

Joe Biden appears to have gotten over Neera Tandens criticism of him
Burma Myanmar Military-Chinese Copper Mining Stops as Workers Join Anti-Coup Protests

Copper miners protest at Kyisintaung against military rule. / Sithu Tun

Yangon  Work has ceased at copper mines run by Chinese firms in cooperation with Myanmars military in Sagaing Region after thousands of laborers joined the civil disobedience movement against the military coup.

By Monday more than 2,000 miners from the Kyisintaung copper mines in Monwya District, a joint venture since 2010 between the military-owned Myanma Economic Holdings Public Co. Ltd (MEHL) and Myanmar Yang Tse Copper Mining  a subsidiary of Bejing-based Wanbao Mining Limited  joined the civil disobedience movement against the coup.

About 300 miners from the project launched the movement on Feb. 5 and copper mining at Kyisintaung halted on Monday, according to the workers.

We are trying to save our country. I urge people to participate in the movement and for the release of our president and Mother Suu [Daw Aung San Suu Kyi], Ko Sithu Tun, a mechanic at Kyisintaung, told The Irrawaddy on Thursday.

The Letpadaung Taung copper mine in Sagaings Salingyi Township, another joint venture between MEHL and Wanbao, also stopped operations after thousands of employees joined the movement by Feb. 8.

Letpadaung has been estimated to the biggest copper mine in Southeast Asia.

Some operations are still being run by Chinese laborers, according to protesters.

Sagaing is home to several large copper mines operated by Chinese companies, including Sabetaung, Letpadaung and Kyisintaung.

Around 7,000 workers from Myanmar are estimated to be employed at Kyisintaung and Letpadaung combined.

A solvent extraction worker at the Letpadaung project, who asked to remain anonymous, said the protests will continue until the elected government is reinstated. The military regime is totally unacceptable and we joined the movement to increase pressure on it.

Thousands of government staff across Myanmar are participating in the civil disobedience movement that was launched by hundreds of doctors and nurses last Wednesday to defy military rule.

The movement has called for the release of all those detained since the coup on Feb.1 and for the parliament to convene with those democratically elected in the November 8 general election.

State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyis Facebook page called on the public to oppose the coup.

Tens of thousands of people take the streets in major cities each day to protest against military rule.

People also clap, honk car horns and bang pots and pans at 8pm every night across the country to defy the military regime.

You may also like these stories:

NLD File Charges Against Myanmar Military After Headquarters Raid

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[February 11, 2021] Leading Health Providers Unite to Advance Patient Care by Forming Truveta

SEATTLE, Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading health providers have come together in unprecedented fashion to unite around the goal of improving the lives of those they serve through data insights. Health provider innovators AdventHealth, Advocate Aurora Health, Baptist Health of Northeast Florida, Bon Secours Mercy Health, CommonSpirit Health, Hawaii Pacific Health, Henry Ford Health System, Memorial Hermann Health System, Northwell Health, Novant Health, Providence health system, Sentara Healthcare, Tenet Health, and Trinity Health have formed Truveta, a new company with a vision to save lives with data. Through structuring, normalizing, and de-identifying data from these health providers, a new data platform will be built, with careful protection of patient privacy and security. This new platform, using the power of AI and machine learning, will enable unprecedented insights as providers are able to learn from each other with statistically significant scale and representation of diverse populations. Together, these 14 health providers care for tens of millions of patients and operate thousands of care facilities across 40 states. The health providers will govern Truveta's ethical pursuit of insights from this unprecedented de-identified data set. "The COVID-19 pandemic has shown us how much the world needs to learn faster, so we can better serve our communities," said Terry Myerson, CEO of Truveta. "Our vision is to save lives with data. We want to help researchers find cures faster, empower every clinician to be an expert, and help families make the most informed decisions on their care. We believe the Truveta platform can help improve health equity and advance personalized medicine. We are honored to be partnering with innovative and world-class health providers in this pursuit." Saving Lives with Data Within health providers today, data sets are best illustrated as large haystacks growing at exponential rates without the tools to find the needles of insight that live within the proverbial stacks. Just as data revolutionized other industries, healthcare can benefit from thoughtful use of data, enabling physicians and researchers to learn quicker, move faster, and improve patient outcomes. The COVID-19 pandemic illustrates how quickly healthcare must move to effectively serve patients. The healthcare community has made remarkable progress, from diagnosis to vaccine distribution in less than a year. Truveta's innovative health provider partners agree COVID-19 must be a catalyst for even more rapid progress. If the Truveta platform had existed over the last year, physicians could have learned best treatment paths from each other faster. Which medications are most effective? When should patients be intubated? Why do African American men have significantly higher mortality rates? In the U.S., why are nearly one-third of the nurses who died of COVID-19 Filipino, even though they represent 4% of the nursing population? What are the effects of COVID-19 and related isolation on adolescents and their mental health? Faster answers to these questions could have saved thousands of lives and improved the lives of millions. Researchers could have staffed clinical trials more quickly with statistically representative populations, shaving months from the vaccine approval process. A greater understanding of health equity could have helped ensure more equitable distribution of vaccines. Truveta will drive innovation in patient care and the development of new therapies through the creation of the Truveta data platform, which will deliver valuable insights frombillions of clinical data points with a single search. The Truveta platform will structure and normalize a wide range of data across structured and unstructured data types to unlock the power of de-identified data across all diagnoses, geographies, and demographics. Using advanced AI and machine learning, Truveta will deliver continuous learning to physicians, researchers, biopharma, and more with aggregate analysis of conditions, therapies, and prognosis.



"For years we have seen the opportunity for diverse health providers to come together with a shared sense of purpose and use our collective data for the common good of humanity. With Truveta, we created a unique model that is led by the health providers yet supported by one of the most talented technical teams to focus on health," said Dr. Rod Hochman, President and CEO of Providence. "We believe the cure for certain diseases could lie within the Truveta platform," said Michael Slubowski, CEO of Trinity Health. "For the first time in the history of health, we have enough data at scale to dramatically advance innovation in healthcare with collective commitment to partner on ethical innovation."

Health Provider Led and Governed Truveta is uniquely created through strong partnerships with top health providers in the U.S. The providers partnered together to create the vision for Truveta and governing materials including privacy, ethics, and data security guidelines. "Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have seen displays of humanity and unity during our most trying moments. Together, we share a common mission to improve health equity and believe nobody should be left behind," said Michael Dowling, President and CEO of Northwell Health. "Truveta is a catalyst for innovation, energizing health providers to modernize how we look at data to benefit patients." Truveta will be advised by a Board of Governors to ensure expertise is infused from a variety of perspectives for strategic stewardship. Leaders from a diverse set of health providers will provide ongoing strategic, scientific, and operational advice?on areas of expertise including Ethics & Health Equity, Data Integrity, and Clinical Outcomes to help ensure Truveta operates according to its mission. "The future of health care is collaborative. We in health care exist side-by-side in our communities and we need to prioritize cooperation to truly make a differencenow more than we ever have," said Lloyd Dean, CEO of CommonSpirit Health. "We have a unique opportunity today to rebuild the health care system in our country, so it is better, stronger, and more responsive to the needs of everyone  especially the vulnerable and underserved populations." Commitment to Health Equity, Patient Privacy and Ethical Innovation Truveta aims to help democratize care and advance health for all with useful and broadly available tools. Truveta welcomes health providers, education, and research institutions anywhere in the world to join in creating and leveraging the Truveta platform to deliver the best care to patients. "Our mission is to improve ALL people's lives through excellence in the science and art of health care," said Wright Lassiter III, President and CEO of Henry Ford Health System. "Truveta can uniquely provide the data and insights that will empower us to deliver equitable care with respect and compassion, which are the fundamental rights of those we serve." Truveta's partners recognize the tremendous potential in the Truveta platform, balanced with careful and thoughtful stewardship of data. Truveta is deeply committed to patient privacy and security, and ethical innovation. Learning from other patient experiences will help providers and their patients make informed decisions and advance care for humanity all while maintaining trust. All data on the Truveta platform will be de-identified. Truveta is committed to transparent and clear privacy and security principles with more details posted on its website at truveta.com. "We know health data is unlike other data. It is the very definition of personal," said Myerson.

"While we embark on our pursuit to generate knowledge and insights to improve patient care around the world, we must do so with the utmost caution to protect the privacy of patients." "We see such a valuable opportunity to save lives in partnership with the Truveta platform," said Alan Sanders, Vice President of Ethics, Trinity Health "We believe it would be irresponsible to not join Truveta on this mission. It would be a tremendous data waste and withhold valuable contributions to the common good." About Truveta Truveta is the world's first health provider led data platform with a vision to save lives with data. Through partnerships with innovative health providers, the Truveta platform will represent tens of millions of patients and thousands of care facilities across 40 states. Truveta aims to help researchers find cures faster, empower every clinician to be an expert, and help families know they are receiving the best care for their condition. Truveta is a tax paying entity. Learn more at truveta.com. Truveta Partners For more information about our partners, please visit AdventHealth, Advocate Aurora Health, Baptist Health, Bon Secours Mercy Health, CommonSpirit Health, Hawaii Pacific Health, Henry Ford Health System, Memorial Hermann Health System , Northwell Health, Novant Health, Providence, Sentara Healthcare, Tenet Healthcare, and Trinity Health. View original content to download multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/leading-health-providers-unite-to-advance-patient-care-by-forming-truveta-301226457.html SOURCE Truveta

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Why hire a Canadian immigration lawyer? ANALYSIS: Becoming Canadian does not have to be a difficult process when an immigration lawyer is advocating for you.

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Hiring an immigration lawyer is not a requirement in the immigration process, however, there are major benefits to working with one. In fact, choosing to hire an experienced and trustworthy Canadian immigration lawyer can make the difference between a rejected and accepted application.

The decision to immigrate to Canada and make a life for oneself is never made lightly. It requires a strength of spirit, bravery and willingness to adapt to a new country with all of its challenges and opportunities. The immigration process naturally requires a great deal of paperwork, bureaucratic hurdles and policy-necessary considerations. Even temporary immigration, such as study or work permits, engages these same issues. While some immigrants choose to hope for the best and go it alone, becoming Canadian does not have to be a difficult process when a trained immigration lawyer is advocating for you.

Canadian lawyers have extensive training, knowledge, and experience in identifying, understanding, and synthesizing Canadian immigration law. Canadian immigration streams are vast and diverse. These factors can also make these streams complicated. Lawyers can translate legalese into a language you can understand.

There are well over 100 different ways to immigrate to Canada as a skilled worker. There are federal economic streams, as well as those offered by Quebec and other provinces. You have over 100 additional pathways if you wish to study or work in Canada, or immigrate here under the family and humanitarian classes. This variety means many wonderful opportunities for future Canadians and foreign nationals alike, but also creates much room for confusion and hassle. A lawyer can identify programs you may not have been previously aware of and tell you which ones you may be eligible for. They can also guide you in what steps you need to take to apply for the best immigration program for you. A lawyers job is to come up with a plan for you. They can also inform you of your options in appealing an unfavourable decision, and help you pursue them.

Find out if youre eligible for Canadian immigration

Lawyers are also subject to ongoing regulation by the various societies that monitor the legal profession. This supervision is designed to ensure a standard of knowledge, professionalism, and service. It also means you can verify your lawyer and his or her status on the websites of the provincial bar associations which have licensed them to practice in Canada.

Indeed, there are costs in engaging a lawyer. But, the costs of not engaging a lawyer particularly in a matter as immense and life-changing as immigrating to Canada can be infinitely higher. To use a business metaphor, investing in a Canadian immigration lawyer is not so much a sunk cost or a gamble, rather it is a prudent and smart investment that can pay rewards many times over.

A lawyer who specializes in immigration will develop a further base of knowledge and experience that can assist clients. An immigration lawyer not only can guide you in addressing any problems that arise, but they can also anticipate and prevent issues before they even develop. Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada or a provincial government may return an application for being incomplete. They may also refuse an application altogether for a variety of other reasons, which may be very broad or vague. A lawyer can review your application at any point in the process and tell you its strengths, weaknesses, and identify any errors or omissions. This advantage can save considerable time, money, and emotional energy.

The immigration process itself, as it is, will likely consume these resources. Hiring an immigration lawyer can allow you to consolidate these assets and allow you and your family to focus on other aspects of your journey. According to statistics published in the Toronto Star in 2018, the rate of refusal of permanent residence applications for those candidates who self-represented or used immigration consultants, who are not lawyers, was almost double that of those candidates who engaged a lawyer. These numbers are both striking and telling.

Beyond immigration law itself, immigration to Canada may engage many other areas of law such as business, family, and international, to name just three. For example, a family coming to Canada as part of an entrepreneur immigration program will benefit from a lawyer with a thorough understanding of Canadian business laws, regulations, and practices. If you are looking to buy an existing business, for example, or start a new one altogether, an immigration lawyer may be well-placed to advise you on what makes the most sense for you and your situation. Immigration lawyers can foresee potential problems, opportunities both the known and the unknown unknowns for their clients, who are oftentimes still navigating a new language, culture, and country. Having access to the wealth of analysis and practical know-how that lawyers provide can thus be enormously useful before, during, and after ones immigration to Canada.

Find out if youre eligible for Canadian immigration

 CIC News All Rights Reserved. Visit CanadaVisa.com to discover your Canadian immigration options.
Inspector Saidykhan, the prosecuting officer in the criminal trial involving one Corporal Alagie Ceesay of the Gambia Police Force has informed the court that Ceesay has absconded from custody and they are still looking for him.

According to the police, Ceesay escaped on Monday morning when he was scheduled to appear before the Banjul Magistrate's Court to face trial.

Corporal Ceesay is charged with assault causing grievous bodily harm to a civilian, Alagie Tambedou.

According to the particulars of the offence, Ceesay assaulted Tambedou by blowing him on his mouth and broke two of his tooth causing him grievous bodily harm. The incident allegedly occurred at the Police Headquarters on 17th July, 2020.

Inspector Saidykhan informed the court that Ceesay was granted bail and he (Ceesay) reported to the police headquarters on bail on the evening of Monday, 9th February 2021 but escaped the following morning.

Magistrate Sillah of the Banjul Magistrate's Court adjourned the case to Thursday, 11th February 2021, at 1 pm for hearing, while blaming the police for negligence as they (police) continue to look for him.
Qins path started in college, too. He had been a math whiz who planned on becoming a physicist, he told a website, DigFin, in a profile published in December, just a week before regulators closed in on him. He described himself on his LinkedIn page as a quant with a deep interest and understanding in blockchain technology. In 2016, he won acceptance into a program for high-potential entrepreneurs at the University of New South Wales in Sydney with a proposal to use blockchain technology to speed up foreign exchange transactions. He also attended the Minerva Schools, a mostly online college based in San Francisco, from August 2016 through December 2017, the school confirmed. Crypto bug He got the crypto bug after an internship with a firm in China, he told DigFin. His task had been to build a platform between two venues, one in China and the other in the US, to allow the firm to arbitrage cryptocurrencies. Convinced he had happened upon a business, Qin moved to New York to found Virgil Capital. His strategy, he told investors, would be to exploit the tendency of cryptocurrencies to trade at different prices at various exchanges. He would be market-neutral, meaning that the firms funds wouldnt be exposed to price movements.

And unlike other hedge funds, he told DigFin, Virgil wouldnt charge management fees, taking only fees based on the firms performance. We never try to make easy money, Qin said. By his telling, Virgil got off to a fast start, claiming 500 per cent returns in 2017, which brought in more investors eager to participate. A marketing brochure boasted of 10 per cent monthly returns -- or 2,811 per cent over a three-year period ending in August 2019, legal filings show. His assets got an extra jolt after the Wall Street Journal profiled him in a February 2018 story that touted his skill at arbitraging cryptocurrency. Virgil experienced substantial growth as new investors flocked to the fund, prosecutors said. Missing Assets

The first cracks appeared last summer. Some investors were becoming increasingly upset about missing assets and incomplete transfers, the former head of investor relations, Melissa Fox Murphy, said in a court declaration. (She left the firm in December.) The complaints grew. It is now MID DECEMBER and my MILLION DOLLARS IS NOWHERE TO BE SEEN, wrote one investor, whose name was blacked out in court documents. Its a disgrace the way you guys are treating one of your earliest and largest investors. Around the same time, nine investors with $US3.5 million in funds asked for redemptions from the firms flagship Virgil Sigma Fund LP, according to prosecutors. But there was no money to transfer. Qin had drained the Sigma Fund of its assets. The funds balances were fabricated. Instead of trading at 39 exchanges around the world, as he had claimed, Qin spent investor money on personal expenses and to invest in other undisclosed high-risk investments, including initial coin offerings, prosecutors said. So Qin tried to stall. He convinced investors instead to transfer their interests into his VQR Multistrategy Fund, another cryptocurrency fund he started in February 2020 that used a variety of trading strategies -- and still had assets.

Loan sharks Loading He also sought to withdraw $US1.7 million from the VQR fund, but that aroused suspicions from the head trader, Antonio Hallak. In a phone call Hallak recorded in December, Qin said he needed the money to repay loan sharks in China that he had borrowed from to start his business, according to court filings in a lawsuit filed by the Securities and Exchange Commission. He said the loan sharks might do anything to collect on the debt and that he had a liquidity issue that prevented him from repaying them. I just had such poor cash flow management to be honest with you, Qin told Hallak. I dont have money right now dude. Its so sad. When the trader baulked at the withdrawal, Qin attempted to take over the reins of VQRs accounts. But by now the SEC was involved. It got cryptocurrency exchanges to put a hold on VQRs remaining assets and, a week later, filed suit.

Asset recovery By the end, Qin had drained virtually all of the $US90 million that was in the Sigma Fund. A court-appointed receiver who is overseeing the fund is looking to recover assets for investors, said Nicholas Biase, a spokesman for acting Manhattan US Attorney Audrey Strauss. About $US24 million in assets in the VQR fund was frozen and should be available to disperse, he said. In South Korea when he learned of the probe, Qin agreed to fly back to the US, prosecutors said. He surrendered to authorities on February 4, pleaded guilty the same day before Caproni, and was freed on a $US50,000 bond pending his sentencing, scheduled for May 20. While the maximum statutory penalty calls for 20 years in prison, as part of a plea deal, prosecutors agreed that he should get 151 to 188 months behind bars under federal sentencing guidelines and a fine of up to $US350,000. That fate is a far cry from the career his parents had envisioned for him - a physicist, he had told DigFin. They werent too happy when I told them I had quit uni to do this crypto thing. Who knows, maybe someday Ill complete my degree. But what I really want to do is trade crypto. Bloomberg
She enjoyed a whirlwind trip back home to the West Coast.

And Kristin Cavallari jetted out of Los Angeles International Airport on Thursday afternoon, likely returning to her kids back at home in Nashville, Tennessee.

The 34-year-old reality star made her way through the terminal wearing a long trench coat after it was revealed she restored her last name amid her divorce from estranged husband Jay Cutler.

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Frequent flyer: Kristin Cavallari jetted out of Los Angeles International Airport on Thursday afternoon, likely returning to her kids back at home in Nashville, Tennessee

Kristin looked cozy in a rose pink hooded sweatshirt worn underneath a knee-length black trench coat.

She stayed comfortable in a pair of black leggings and wore chunky Dr. Marten combat boots with the laces left untied.

Her bright blonde hair peered out from underneath a black beanie and she wore a leopard print face mask to abide by strict mandates in LA County.

Ready to go: The 34-year-old reality star made her way through the terminal wearing a long trench coat after it was revealed she restored her last name amid her divorce from estranged husband Jay Cutler

Smart traveler: The Hills star carried a host of black leather bags across her shoulder and pulled Away's Bigger Carry-On suitcase in white by her side

The Hills star carried a host of black leather bags across her shoulder and pulled Away's Bigger Carry-On suitcase in white by her side.

Kristin and Jay announced their intent to divorce in April after seven years of marriage and 10 years together.

She requested to change back to her maiden name on Nov. 4, 2020, and the process was completed the next day, according to reports in US Weekly.

Over: Kristin and Jay announced their intent to divorce in April after seven years of marriage and 10 years together; seen in 2019

And while divorce proceedings are sealed and not yet finalized, it appears the pair are still on good terms.

In January, the Uncommon James founder and Cutler, who she wed in 2013, sent fans into a frenzy when they posted an identical selfie of them together.

The friendly exes, who have three children together, even used the same caption in their posts: 'The world is full of users. 10 years. Can't break that.'
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On Thursday, close to 600 restaurateurs and bar owners gathered on Place d'Armes to protest against the continued shutdown of the sector.

When the hospitality sector was forced into its second closure on 26 November 2020, there was disbelief among its members. By now, bars and restaurants have been closed for 77 days in total, as the government has moved from one extension to the next. Businesses no longer see a way of supporting themselves and are doubtful that the sector will be allowed to reopen after 21 February, the most recent deadline in the lengthy process.

Xavier Goetschy, 35-year-old owner of the Brasserie Beaulieu in Bonnevoie, was present at the protest march on Thursday, and his demands were clear: "Solid aid, which can easily be requested and quickly approved, as well as paid."

The event organisers announced on social media that 600 people were present at the protest march on Thursday afternoon. Luxembourg's complete hospitality sector offers around 22,000 jobs.

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#dontforgetus

The association Don't forget us, which was founded in October 2020, unites all members of the hospitality sector that have suffered under the pandemic.

Despite the cold, restaurateurs and bar owners gathered in the city centre to loudly voice their despair. The situation is growing increasingly troublesome for most of them, and many already have to rely on external support, including families and friends.

At the beginning of the event, attorney Frank Rollinger, who represents the association, put forward a law proposal for the hospitality sector, which is addressed at Chamber president Fernand Etgen. Rollinger noted that the strength of their proposal lies in the "covering of fixed costs, as well as retroactive aid dating back to 1 March 2020."

The European Union has already given its seal of approval to the measure, which also includes a reduction of the loss rate to become eligible for support from 40% to 30%.
A teen girl is recovering from burns and other injuries she suffered in a Jan. 30 rollover car crash that began with a deer in the road and ended with the crumpled sedan bursting into flames, police said.

Family and friends are now raising money for the medical expenses for the girl, whom they have identified as 17-year-old Brianna Stackhouse.

Police were initially called for a car fire a little after 10 p.m. that Saturday, on Hecktown Road between Frank Street and Cobblestone Drive in Lower Nazareth Township, and then learned it was a single-vehicle crash.

The crash was near Lower Nazareths border with Bethlehem Township, and Bethlehem Township police were initially called, Colonial Regional Police Chief Roy Seiple said Thursday.

Responding firefighters and police found a Subaru WRX engulfed in flames. Four juveniles were in the car and one passenger was ejected during the crash, the chief said.

Investigators learned the driver -- police have not released the identity -- was traveling west on Hecktown Road when a deer ran across the road, Seiple said.

The driver struck the deer, cutting the animal in half, then the sedan struck a utility pole before becoming airborne, Seiple said. The sedan rolled over and struck several trees, eventually coming to rest on its side and catching fire in a yard in the 4100 block of Hecktown Road, police said.

Fundraisers, including GoFundMe campaigns and an event earlier this week at a local Texas Roadhouse, say Stackhouse suffered third-degree burns and is in a medically induced coma.

Seiple did not have information on the groups injuries. The deers carcass was found several hundred yards from the initial impact.

Police are conducting an in-depth investigation, including getting search warrants for the vehicles black box.

Speed is most certainly the issue here -- very, very fast, the chief said.

The stretch of road has a posted speed limit of 35 mph and the driver was really exceeding the speed limit, Seiple said.

The road was shutdown as the police departments crash-reconstruction team came out, and police used a drone to get video and pictures of the wreckage and the road leading up to the point of impact, Seiple said.

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Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com.
On Wednesday, Oscar nominee Abigail Breslin asked her 917K social media followers for 'prayers and positivity' after her father Michael was hospitalized for the coronavirus.

'Hi guys. Unfortunately, this post isn't one I ever thought I would have to make. I'm asking for prayers and positivity sent this way for my daddy, Michael who tested positive for COVID-19 and this morning had to be placed on a ventilator,' the 24-year-old native New Yorker wrote.

'We are continuing to stay positive and know he's under great care. I'm extremely thankful for the nurses and doctors who are working hard to make sure he fights this virus. I have faith that things will turn around at any moment, but in the meantime, please continue to wear your masks and follow COVID protocol.'

'He's under great care': On Wednesday, Oscar nominee Abigail Breslin asked her 917K social media followers for 'prayers and positivity' after her father Michael was hospitalized for the coronavirus (pictured November 7)

The 24-year-old native New Yorker wrote: 'My daddy, Michael, tested positive for COVID-19 and this morning had to be placed on a ventilator...I have faith that things will turn around at any moment'

As of Wednesday, there have reportedly been 27.3M confirmed cases of the deadly pandemic in the United States leading to 471K deaths.

Abigail received well wishes from pals like Modern Family alum Sarah Hyland, The Magicians star Trevor Einhorn, and celeb trainer Tracy Anderson.

Before Wednesday, Breslin has never posted about her elusive patriarch - who's reportedly a telecommunications expert, computer programmer, and consultant.

Michael might have come down with the coronavirus last month as the former child star admitted on January 15 that she was 'super terrified' about it.

'Sending so much love!' Abigail received well wishes from pals like Modern Family alum Sarah Hyland, The Magicians star Trevor Einhorn, and celeb trainer Tracy Anderson

Could it be? Before Wednesday, Breslin has never posted about her elusive patriarch (it might be the man pictured here in 2016), who's reportedly a telecommunications expert

'Here if you wanna talk': Michael might have come down with the coronavirus last month as the former child star admitted on January 15 that she was 'super terrified' about it

'The woman who made me who I am today': By contrast, Abigail has previously posted a few snaps of her mother Kim (L, pictured in 2017), who's said to be a talent manager

By contrast, Abigail has previously posted a few snaps of her mother Kim, who's said to be a talent manager.

Breslin will next celebrate her fourth Valentine's Day with her boyfriend Ira Kunyansky.

On December 20, the Joe Biden supporter wrapped her directorial debut - Ash Khan & Mike Baez's pilot HitBaby - which features her big brother Spencer.

Abigail's last gig was serving guest judge duties on Netflix's Sugar Rush Christmas - but she previously acted in projects like Zombieland, Scream Queens, Little Miss Sunshine, and Signs.

Real-life leading man: Breslin will next celebrate her fourth Valentine's Day with her boyfriend Ira Kunyansky (pictured January 1)
MINNEAPOLIS (AP)  A bill aiming to create a clear process and timely system for investigating sexual assaults when both the perpetrator and the victim are members of the Minnesota National Guard is making its way through the Legislature.

According to the Star Tribune, the bill at the Capitol would require any sexual assault case involving two members of the Guard to be investigated by the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, a statewide law enforcement agency.

The Guard currently doesn't have internal criminal investigative capabilities.

Officials in the Guard who support the bill think sending all cases directly to the BCA will make the process more efficient and accountable to victims.
Cape Town  The popular radio personalities DJ Fresh (Thato Sikwane) and Euphonik (Themba Nkosi) have parted ways with music radio station 94.7 following rape allegations that were levelled against them.

The duo face a rape charge after a woman accused them of raping and drugging her in 2011.

DJ Fresh and Euphonik were employed by the radio station which is owned by Primedia Broadcasting.

The broadcaster has released a statement confirming the news.

"The decision doesn't reflect on the veracity of the allegations against the two DJs but rather prioritises the company's business imperatives", the statement read.

The statement said:

Primedia Broadcasting can confirm that, after careful consideration of the events of the last few weeks, the company has decided to release DJ Fresh and Euphonik from their contracts. Their last shows on 94.7 were aired on 15th January and 10th January 2021 respectively. "This decision does not reflect a view on the veracity of any allegations against either Euphonik or Fresh. Rather it prioritises Primedia Broadcasting's business imperatives. We believe that this decision is in the best interest of our company and our various stakeholders," says Geraint Crwys-Williams, Interim CEO of Primedia Broadcasting.

DJ Fresh and Euphonik confirmed the breakup in a joint statement. "After extensive consultation, legal and otherwise, we have concluded that it is in our best interests to resume all of our public engagements," adding "We look forward to our names being cleared."

They go on to thank the broadcaster for the great opportunities and moments, but add that they have agreed to a release from Primedia due to the inability to find common ground.

"After extensive consultation, legal and otherwise, we have concluded that it is in our best interest to resume all of our public engagements. We look forward to our names being cleared. Unfortunately, we can't find common ground with Primedia and have agreed a release from our obligations to the broadcaster, with immediate effect. Thank you to Primedia for all the great broadcasting opportunities and moments."
President Donald Trump greets the crowd at the "Stop The Steal" Rally in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)

Democrats Argue at Impeachment Trial That Capitol Breach Wasnt Sparked by One Speech

Democrats argued on the second day of former President Donald Trumps impeachment trial that the Capitol breach was not caused by a single speech on Jan. 6, but rather the outcome of a months-long model of messaging that sowed doubt about the election and fueled anger among Trump voters by reinforcing the view that they had been cheated out of a win and disenfranchised due to fraud.

Rep. Joe Neguse (D-Colo.), one of the House impeachment managers, prefaced his statement on the Senate floor on Wednesday by playing several clips back-to-back of Trump addressing the crowd on Jan. 6, in which the former president said, you have to get your people to fight and because youll never take back our country with weakness. You have to show strength and you have to be strong, and we fight, we fight like hell, and if you dont fight like hell, youre not going to have a country anymore.

After the footage was paused, Neguse addressed the assembly, alleging Trumps remarks were part of a months-long effort to incite his supporters to oppose the certification of Electoral College votes for President Joe Biden.

Senators, this clearly was not just one speech, Neguse said. It didnt just happen. It was part of a carefully planned months-long effort with a very specific instruction. Show up on January 6 and get your people to fight the certification. He incited it. It was forseeable.

Trumps lawyers insisted in filings that the former president is not guilty on the sole charge of incitement of insurrection, calling his rhetoric in a speech on Jan. 6the day a crowd breached the Capitola mere figure of speech.

Trump used the word fight a little more than a handful of times and each time in the figurative sense that has long been accepted in public discourse when urging people to stand and use their voices to be heard on matters important to them; it was not and could not be construed to encourage acts of violence, they argued in the filing.

While Trump made several fight references in his Jan. 6 speech, he called on supporters to peacefully and patriotically make their voices heard during the joint session of Congress and later denounced the days violence.

But Trumps remarks on Jan. 6 were not rhetorical, Neguse contended. Some of his supporters had been primed for this over many months, he argued.

Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas), another House impeachment manager, echoed Neguses remarks by alleging that incitement of the Jan. 6 incident took place over several months.

This attack did not come from one speech and it didnt happen by accident. The evidence shows clearly that this mob was provoked over many months by Donald J. Trump, Castro contended.

Castro alleged that in Spring 2020, Trump saw that he was falling behind in the polls and he was scared. He began to believe that he could legitimately lose the election. And so he did something entirely unprecedented in the history of our nation. He refused to commit to a peaceful transition of power.

The Democrat lawmaker alleged that Trump then resorted to a strategy where he began to call into question the validity of the election by making claims that widespread expansion of mail-in balloting would lead to fraud.

In support of his claim, Castro displayed several tweets by Trump, including one dating back to May 24, 2020, in which the former president criticized the massive expansion of mail-in balloting, and wrote, It will be the greatest Rigged Election in history. He referenced another tweet from July 30, 2020, in which the former president wrote that because of universal mail-in voting 2020 will be the most INACCURATE & FRAUDULENT Election in history. It will be a great embarrassment to the USA.

Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.), another House impeachment manager, made similar claims, arguing that Trumps actions were deliberate, planned, and premeditated.

This was not one speech, not one tweet. It was dozens. In rapid succession, Swalwell said.

This was never about one speech. He built this model over many months with repeated messaging until they believed that they had been robbed of their votes and would do anything to stop the certification. He made them believe that their victory was stolen and incited them so he could use them to steal the election for himself, Swalwell alleged.

The line of argumentation that Trumps alleged incitement was part of a months-long strategy enabled by a messaging model that fueled frustration among his supporters appears to take aim at one of the lines of defense that Trumps legal team has floated. The former presidents lawyers argued in filings that evidence showing that people preplanned the breach proves Trump couldnt have incited the incident in his Jan. 6 speech.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation has confirmed that the breach at the Capitol was planned several days in advance of the rally, and therefore had nothing to do with the Presidents speech on January 6th, they argued.

Either the President incited the riots, like the Article claims, or the riots were pre-planned by a small group of criminals who deserve punishment to the fullest extent of the law, they wrote.

Trumps lawyers have also contended that the incitement of insurrection charge against Trump is not rooted in fact.

An insurrectionunlike a riotis an organized movement acting for the express purpose to overthrow and take possession of a governments powers, they wrote in filings, arguing that Trumps speech was not an act encouraging an organized movement to overthrow the United States government.

Last month, the House voted 232197, including 10 Republicans, to impeach Trump on the sole charge of inciting an insurrection.

Trumps acquittal in the Senate, however, is near certain as 17 Republicans would have to join all Democrats in voting to convict.

According to a tally by The Epoch Times, 35 Republican senators have suggested or committed to voting to acquit Trump.

If Trump were to be convicted, the Senate could hold a subsequent vote to bar him from ever holding office again. Unlike an impeachment conviction, which requires two-thirds of the Senate to be adopted, only a simple majority would be required to ban Trump from future office.
Waze, which itself is a Google-owned app, has reached version 4.71 , and according to the official changelog, this new update includes a fix for the bug causing a crash when checking gas prices. The most recent beta builds have also brought several other stability and reliability improvements, so were guessing theyve been included too.Of course, there are no new capabilities part of this update. Right now, the focus appears to be on improving the overall performance of the app, as Waze has been hitting quite a lot of glitches lately on CarPlay.For example, earlier this week, we reported that Waze sometimes loses the GPS connection on iPhone and CarPlay, therefore being unable to follow the car on the map. This happens mostly on Ford cars, but others are affected too. Its not yet known if this new update fixes the problem for everybody.As far as Google Maps is concerned, the last update the app received on iPhone and CarPlay landed on December 1, so everybody is waiting for the software giant to come up with a new version. While the Mountain View-based firm has remained completely tight-lipped on this huge delay, its believed its more or less related to the new privacy information that iPhone app developers are forced to share in their updates following Apples revised policy.Google hasnt provided any information about when it plans to release a new Google Maps update for iPhone and CarPlay. In the meantime, the company keeps working on the Android and Android Auto version, with several new builds released since the beginning of the year.The latest Google Maps version you can download right now on iOS devices is 5.58
Katherine Barko-Alva to receive Thomas Jefferson Teaching Award

Thomas Jefferson Teaching Award: Katherine Barko-Alva, William & Mary assistant professor and director of English as a second language/bilingual education at the School of Education, will be recognized with the 2021 Thomas Jefferson Teaching Award during a virtual Charter Day celebration Feb. 11. Photo by Stephen Salpukas Photo - of - Hide Caption

Katherine Barko-Alva still remembers being that student in the classroom, learning English at the same time as the other material being covered.

Thats the main reason she is so thorough in preparing teachers at William & Mary to work with English-language learners, emergent bilingual and multilingual learners, she said. And why she continues to follow her passion to serve and learn from multilingual K-12 students and their families in our local communities.

These are among numerous reasons Barko-Alva, assistant professor and director of English as a second language/bilingual education at the School of Education, was chosen to receive the 2021 Thomas Jefferson Teaching Award. The honor is given annually to a younger member of the faculty who has demonstrated through concern as a teacher and through character and influence, the inspiration and stimulation of learning to the betterment of the individual and society as exemplified by Thomas Jefferson.

Barko-Alva will be recognized along with others being honored as part of Charter Day, which will be celebrated with a virtual ceremony Feb. 11 at 7 p.m.

Seeds of commitment planted

Barko-Alva emigrated with her family from Peru to Florida as a teen, and there her passion for education using family-instilled values began.

My pedagogy is guided by vulnerability, compassion and action, Barko-Alva said. My lived experiences as a K-12 English learner, ESL teacher, dual language specialist, working with fantastic teacher leaders, and now as a professor  all of those experiences have come together to inform my teaching practices when Im collaborating with and learning from pre-service teachers and future education advocates.

In our classroom, pre-service teachers are able to transform, envision and create curriculum that speaks to the realities of emergent bilinguals, multilingual learners, culturally and linguistically diverse students and their families. Our instructional practices are centered on the identities and realities of K-12 students, and they are outlined by principles of equity, inclusion and justice.

Key to all of that for her is to stay in a vulnerable and humble space as an instructor, she said. She keeps in mind her abuelas (grandmothers) lesson that each individual is their own little universe, and that we must be open to learn from anyone we encounter in our journey.

And were only privileged enough to enter in authentic connection with those we serve, Barko-Alva said. While taking my courses, I am aware my students often face an array of demands  financial, academic, professional and personal. I strive to be mindful of these challenges and create an engaging learning space for them.

My goal is that teaching, practice and reflective dialogue guides my students decision-making process as they learn in community.

A common thread

Hope and compassion shine through in the time and attention given to each aspect of her teaching, research and community partnerships, according to multiple recommendation letters.

I have never met anyone like Barko-Alva in terms of her unparalleled commitment to teaching at every level, Jennifer Bickham Mendez, professor of sociology, wrote. The beneficiaries of her talents and expertise extend from her own undergraduate and masters students who will be future teachers of some of the most vulnerable students in our public schools, to K-12 teachers across Hampton Roads, to English-language learner students themselves in public schools throughout Virginia and beyond.

She is a teacher of teachers with a deep knowledge base regarding the intricacies of curriculum design in diverse educational environments  from the post-graduate to the elementary school level. But serving English-language learner students and their families is where Professor Barko-Alvas passion truly lies.

As an undergraduate student at the University of Florida, Barko-Alva worked on Projecto S.O.L implemented by Maria Coady, a former professor and mentor. She looks back on this project as most influential to her path.

We would travel to different areas in Florida working with migrant families, Barko-Alva said. And a group of us as undergrads would teach our little ones, and another group would work with the families. And just being involved in this work guided my path towards how I envisioned the amalgamation of families, schools and community.

Sharing knowledge across communities

Branching out from the School of Education across the university, currently Barko-Alva serves as co-director of the W&M Scholars Undergraduate Research Experience and as a fellow at the Center for the Liberal Arts. From 2018 through 2020, she was co-director for the program with W&Ms sister university, the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, supporting its faculty members as they explored higher education teaching methodologies.

Among her most recent publications, Barko-Alva co-authored the 2020 book Equity in school-parent partnerships: Cultivating community and family trust in culturally and linguistically diverse classrooms.

Community engagement is one of her strongest commitments.

Her level of community engagement and professional activity is quite astonishing, Bickham Mendez wrote. Whether she is delivering professional development workshops (free of charge) to K-12 content area teachers on how they can better engage their EL students, offering classroom support to ESL high school teachers at Lafayette High School, organizing parent academies for families of English language learners, or spending her evenings volunteering as an ESL instructor at a local Catholic church, Professor Barko-Alva never wavers in her tireless commitment to a vision of inclusive, high-quality public education for all.

Influencing others beyond the classroom

Emma Zahren-Newman 17, M.Ed. 18, credited Barko-Alvas mentoring with her success so far in teaching.

Her belief in me has changed the trajectory of my life, and it is an honor to have the chance to write down some of the qualities of this amazing woman.  Dr. Barko-Alvas concern as a teacher continues to give value to my degree from the College of William & Mary, Zahren-Newman wrote.

Since graduating from W&M, Zahren-Newman has been teaching 3rd grade at Matoaka Elementary School in Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools. She received Matoakas 2019 WJCC Rookie Teacher of the Year Award and currently serves as her schools multicultural engagement advocate.

Dr. Katherine Barko-Alva understands that her teaching has wide implications outside of the classroom, Zahren-Newman wrote. She works to train teachers so that society as a whole can be a more inclusive and understanding place. Thanks to her influence, the students in my classroom and the teachers in my school division have benefitted.

During the pandemic, Barko-Alva has come up with creative ways to support and motivate her own students, as well as local students and families.

On March 20th of [last] year, a group of her bilingual students and Katherine joined efforts to support local ESL families, providing tutoring services for their multilingual children, wrote James Stronge, Heritage Professor of Education. These efforts are ongoing and have continued throughout this fall semester. Further, as she connects teaching, research and service, she has been able to support multiple school districts in their work with ESL students.

Barko-Alva describes herself as a teacher first, and taking the time to create authentic connections is crucial in her work, she reiterates.

Every single educator who has mentored me, every K-12 teacher, student, family and colleague I have encountered, have ignited within me a unique process of transformation, she said. I have been able to learn from them through connection and care. I see all these individuals as teachers and role models.
Registration information will be shared closer to the event. A live audio webcast link will be available on the day of the event at https://investors.sherwin-williams.com/events-and-presentations/default.aspx . If you are interested in attending or for additional information, please contact the Investor Relations team at [email protected] .

About the Sherwin-Williams Company

Founded in 1866, The Sherwin-Williams Company is a global leader in the manufacture, development, distribution, and sale of paint, coatings and related products to professional, industrial, commercial, and retail customers. Sherwin-Williams manufactures products under well-known brands such as Sherwin-Williams, Valspar, HGTV HOME by Sherwin-Williams, Dutch Boy, Krylon, Minwax, Thompson's Water Seal, Cabot, and many more. With global headquarters in Cleveland, Ohio, Sherwin-Williams branded products are sold exclusively through a chain of more than 4,900 company-operated stores and facilities, while the company's other brands are sold through leading mass merchandisers, home centers, independent paint dealers, hardware stores, automotive retailers, and industrial distributors. The Sherwin-Williams Performance Coatings Group supplies a broad range of highly-engineered solutions for the construction, industrial, packaging and transportation markets in more than 120 countries around the world. Sherwin-Williams shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol: SHW). For more information, visit www.sherwin.com

Investor Relations Contacts:

Jim Jaye

Senior Vice President, Investor Relations & Corporate Communications

Sherwin-Williams

Direct: 216.515.8682

[email protected]

Eric Swanson

Vice President, Investor Relations

Sherwin-Williams

Direct: 216.566.2766

[email protected]

Media Contact:

Julie Young

Vice President, Global Corporate Communications

Sherwin-Williams

Direct: 216.515.8849

[email protected]

SOURCE The Sherwin-Williams Company

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-- Vietnams Ministry of Health recorded 18 local COVID-19 infections in the northern provinces of Quang Ninh and Hai Duong on Thursday morning, raising the countrys tally to 2,109, with 1,480 recoveries and 35 deaths.

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BISHKEK -- Kyrgyzstan's top Muslim cleric, Grand Mufti Maksatbek Hajji Toktomushev, has been detained by police amid a corruption scandal.



Kyrgyzstan's State Committee for National Security (UKMK) said late on February 10 that Toktomushev is suspected of being involved in the alleged misuse of funds raised by worshippers for a Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca later this year.



Dozens of Toktomushev's supporters rallied in front of the UKMK headquarters in Bishkek on February 11 to demand his release.



Earlier on February 10, Toktomushev, who in his capacity was also head of Kyrgyzstan's Religious Directorate -- the state agency in charge of Islamic affairs -- had handed in his resignation.



The directorate's press office told RFE/RL that Toktomushev's place will be taken by his deputy until a replacement is elected.



The UKMK announced on February 10 that the directorate's chief accountant, whose identity was not disclosed, had been arrested on suspicion of misusing the equivalent of almost $2 million raised by worshippers.



According to the UKMK, the accountant's arrest occurred on February 9 during an alleged attempt to bribe a UKMK officer.



The directorate's press office told RFE/RL that it won't publicly comment on the case until after the trial.



The majority of the Central Asian nation's 6 million population are Sunni Muslims.

NEW YORK (AP) 

About 1 in 3 Americans say they definitely or probably wont get the COVID-19 vaccine, according to a new poll that some experts say is discouraging news if the U.S. hopes to achieve herd immunity and vanquish the outbreak.

The poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that while 67% of Americans plan to get vaccinated or have already done so, 15% are certain they won't and 17% say probably not. Many expressed doubts about the vaccine's safety and effectiveness.

The poll suggests that substantial skepticism persists more than a month and a half into a U.S. vaccination drive that has encountered few if any serious side effects. It found that resistance runs higher among younger people, people without college degrees, Black Americans and Republicans.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the governments leading infectious-disease scientist, has estimated that somewhere between 70% and 85% of the U.S. population needs to get inoculated to stop the scourge that has killed close to 470,000 Americans. More recently, he said the spread of more contagious variants of the virus increases the need for more people to get their shots  and quickly.

So is 67% of Americans enough?

No. No, no, no, no, said William Hanage, a Harvard University expert on disease dynamics. He added: Youre going to need to get quite large proportions of the population vaccinated before you see a real effect."

Nearly 33 million Americans, or about 10% of the population, have received at least one dose, and 9.8 million have been fully vaccinated, according to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention.

The poll of 1,055 adults, taken Jan. 28 through Feb. 1, provides insight into the skepticism.

Of those who said they definitely will not get the vaccine, 65% cited worries about side effects, despite the shots' safety record over the past months. About the same percentage said they dont trust COVID-19 vaccines. And 38% said they dont believe they need a vaccine, with a similar share saying that they dont know if a COVID-19 vaccine will work and that they don't trust the government.

Of those who probably will not get the vaccine but have not ruled it out completely, 63% said they are waiting to see if it is safe, and 60% said they are concerned about possible side effects.

I don't trust pharmaceuticals. I really don't. And it doesn't sound like it's going to be safe, said Debra Nanez, a 67-year-old retired nurse from Tucson, Arizona.

Nanez said she has gotten flu and pneumonia shots but is concerned about rumors about what's in the coronavirus vaccine, and her friends have the same hesitation.

"It would take a while for me to do research on it to make sure it's safe. I just don't want to take anything that's going to harm me," she said.

Baron Walker, a 42-year-old laid-off insulation installer from Parkersburg, West Virginia, said he is in the probably not column, at least for now.

He said that if he were elderly, or lived in a densely populated area, he might consider the vaccine more strongly. But he is in rural part of the country, he has been wearing a mask and social-distancing, and he feels there is a good chance the nation will achieve herd immunity, he said.

"I feel like I have plenty of time before I get a chance to get (the vaccine) anyway, to find out if there are bad side effects and whether its even worth getting it, Walker said.

In interviews, some Americans expressed concerns about the revolutionary speed with which the vaccines were developed  less than a year.

I feel like they rushed it, Walker said.

That was echoed by Matt Helderman, 31, of Greer, South Carolina.

Id like to see more safety data, said Helderman, a video editor and associate producer for a Christian TV program. He also said that he would like to see more clarity on whether the vaccine is effective against new variants.

Health officials are trying to counter concerns about the vaccine with science.

The latest evidence indicates that the two vaccines being used in the U.S.  Pfizers and Modernas  are effective even against the variants, Fauci said.

Also, while the development of the vaccines was unusually fast, it was the culmination of many years of research. And the vaccines went through clinical trials involving thousands of people who were monitored for 60 days after their last dose. Studies of other vaccines have found that harmful side effects almost always materialize within 45 days.

Safety certainly was not compromised, nor was scientific integrity compromised, Fauci said. Many have reason for skepticism. But I think that when you explain the facts and the data to them, you can win them over.

The survey found that older Americans, who are more vulnerable to COVID-19, are especially likely to say they have received a shot or will probably or definitely get vaccinated. Four in 10 of those under 45 say they will probably or definitely not get a vaccine, compared with a quarter of those older.

Black Americans appear less likely than white Americans to say they have received the shot or will definitely or probably get vaccinated, 57% versus 68%. Among Hispanic Americans, 65% say they have gotten or plan to get the vaccine.

Public health experts have long known that some Black Americans are distrustful of the medical establishment because of its history of abuses, including the infamous Tuskegee study, in which Black patients with syphilis were left untreated so that doctors could study the disease.

Americans without a college degree are more likely than college-educated ones to say they will definitely or probably not get vaccinated, 40% versus 17%. And Republicans are more likely than Democrats to say that, 44% versus 17%.

___

Fingerhut reported from Washington.

___

The AP-NORC poll of 1,055 adults was conducted Jan. 28-Feb. 1 using a sample drawn from NORCs probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, which is designed to be representative of the U.S. population. The margin of sampling error for all respondents is plus or minus 3.8 percentage points.

___

Online:

AP-NORC Center: http://www.apnorc.org/.

___

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
When the pandemic upended their wedding plans in June, Kristine Vejar and Adrienne Rodriguez moved everything online: dress shopping, cake-cutting, even the vows.

"We decided, what is there to lose? Let's get married and we can have a big party next year," said Vejar, 43, who co-owns a yarn shop and natural dye studio in Oakland with Rodriguez. The shift not only allowed them to share their special day with 150 friends and family, but italso "means we're not $10,000 in debt right now."

While the pandemic has led to a flurry of engagements, it also has put in limbo much of the wedding industry - a $73 billion market, according to data research firm IBISWorld. Most couples - about 80 percent of them - postponed or canceled their ceremonies after the U.S. outbreak began nearly a year ago, said David Wood, president of the Association of Bridal Consultants. Those who haven't are scaling back considerably, with backyard vows and online ceremonies to avoid large gatherings, Wood said.

As a result, couples are redirecting their wedding dollars - splurging on engagement rings, individually packed charcuterie plates and macarons, and moving away from multicourse dinners, traditional venues and tiered cakes. In states such as Colorado, where pandemic prohibitions include dance floors, couples are shunning live bands and DJs and turning to bingo and trivia games to keep guests entertained.

In 2019, the average wedding cost nearly $25,000, with most going toward the reception, according to the Wedding Report, a market research firm. But with nuptials increasingly taking place outdoors or online, the average couple now spend significantly less, forcing retailers and vendors to adapt. Hotels are offering elopement packages, bridal gown designers are creating simpler, shorter dresses, and bakers are churning out miniature cakes. And a growing contingent of videographers and wedding planners will produce and host Zoom nuptials, often with a price tag in the thousands.

In Baltimore, photographer Dave McIntosh recently added a live-streaming service, starting at $850, to his lineup of photo and video packages. He took a leap of faith, he says, early in the pandemic when he invested $10,000 on high-speed routers, modems and wireless radios to facilitate online weddings.

It has been a runaway success: McIntosh facilitates as many as 10 Zoom and YouTube weddings - and a growing number of funerals - each month. Overall bookings are up 50 percent from a year ago.

"Almost every wedding I had booked last year was postponed," he said. "That's when I realized, OK, times are changing. I need to adapt, too."

It's not just the wedding that's getting a makeover.

Bridal gown shopping has become an event unto itself, often accompanied by bridesmaids and champagne, as popularized by television shows such as "Say Yes to the Dress."

It's moving online, too.

Azazie, an online bridal boutique based in Silicon Valley, has doubled down on virtual showrooms where brides and their friends can select, share and vote for their favorite dresses. The company also expanded its at-home try-on program, which allows brides to select as many as three gowns at a time.

The company also created a line of simpler, shorter wedding dresses, starting at $190, and lowered prices overall, with bridesmaid dresses starting near $70. Its line of masks, which come in satin, velvet, lace and beaded varieties, sells for as little as $2 apiece.

"There is definitely more demand for more low-key, simple bridal gowns for virtual weddings and elopements," Chief Marketing Officer Ranu Coleman said, adding that sales rose 30% in January from a year earlier. "So many wedding plans were uncertain that we've had to make a lot of shifts and adjustments."

Evelyn Krig of San Jose had hoped to show up to bridal gown appointments with a full entourage - mother, aunts, friends - and bottles of champagne. "But with the pandemic, that's kind of been stolen from me," she said.

Now the 27-year-old teacher is doing her best to re-create the experience at home: She ordered a selection of wedding gowns and dusty blue bridesmaid dresses and invited her friends over. They sipped champagne from Costco while trying on their gowns.

"It wasn't what I envisioned, but I tried to salvage it the best way I can," said Krig, who married her partner, Benjamin, in 2018, shortly after graduating from college, but waited to save up for a more lavish ceremony and reception.

She's prepared to make other adjustments as her June wedding draws closer, including slashing her guest list and moving the cathedral ceremony outdoors. The steak and chicken buffet she'd planned will likely turn into a plated dinner.

"It's been so difficult because you never know if things are going to take a turn for the worse," she said.

The couple plan to spend more on the honeymoon by taking two - one in Mexico, the other in Italy - later this year, Krig said.

Others electing to downsize the event are boosting spending in other areas, such as flowers and jewelry.

At diamond giant De Beers, fourth-quarter sales of engagement rings rose 12% from a year earlier, with much of that growth coming from larger stones, according to Stephen Lussier, the company's executive vice president of consumer markets.

Other jewelers are reporting similar trends, including an uptick in diamond-encrusted wedding bands for men.

"Bridal revenue has literally spiked" during the pandemic, said Amish Shah, president of ALTR, a New York-based company that specializes in lab-grown diamonds. "Those who could afford it are getting even larger diamonds."

The typical engagement ring, he said, now comes with a 2.5-carat diamond (price tag: $6,000 to $9,000), compared with the 1-carat stones seen pre-pandemic. Signet Jewelers, the parent company of Kay, Zales and Peoples, also reports seeing higher demand for larger and more novel cuts of diamonds, including pear- and heart-shaped stones for both men and women, according to President Jamie Singleton.

"The ring is more important than ever," she said. "As couples have smaller weddings or postpone them, they're putting a little more of their budget in rings."

Couples also are choosing larger and more elaborate floral arrangements, says Pamela Klein, a florist in the Chicago suburbs.

"Couples are saying, 'Instead of 200 guests, we're just going to have 20, so let's go all out on the flowers,' " she said. "We're doing more specialty arrangements and hanging installations than ever before. They're costly and take a lot of labor hours, but more couples are saying, 'Let's build a boardwalk from grandma and grandpa's cottage all the way out to the lake because we can.' "

Katie and Ryan Bentley had planned to hold their wedding at a Minneapolis theater with 130 guests when the pandemic changed their minds. They chose instead to get married at her parents' lakefront house with just 15 people.

They served tacos and chicken wings and, in lieu of wedding cake, single-serve brownies, cheesecakes and macarons. The reception was set up in five seating areas, so each group of guests - the bride's family, the groom's family, bridesmaids and others - could maintain a proper distance. Everyone wore masks.

But there were unexpected complications, too. The formalwear shop where the groom had rented his tuxedo shuttered suddenly two days before the wedding, after employees were exposed to the coronavirus, setting off a frantic search for a new one.

In the end, the couple saved thousands on the venue and catering, and splurged instead on a videographer, event designer and day-of coordinator.

"Everything was drastically different than what we'd planned," said Katie, 35, who works in the insurance industry. "We didn't meet with the caterer. We didn't try any of the food. Everything was about ensuring that our guests were safe."

In Washington D.C., Marina Barakatt and Shaagnik Mukherji rescheduled their lavish Hindu ceremony for 200 guests. They exchanged vows at a local park - him in a purple suit, her in a flowered jumpsuit - and sprang for a photo shoot with their dog, Daisy. Afterward, they made the seven-hour drive to Lake George, N.Y., for a quiet getaway.

Barakatt, 33, who works in international development, said the plan is to have the larger ceremony on their first anniversary in October. But there is at least one wild card: The performing arts venue where they'd put down a deposit for their reception shut down in the fall.

"We're just waiting to see whether or not they'll still be in business," she said.

When traditional wedding bookings dried up at the beginning of the pandemic, Caroline Creidenberg took a chance on planning Zoom weddings instead.

It paid off. Her company, Wedfuly, hosted 500 online weddings from March through December, with as many as 30 bookings on some weekends.

"It's a much-needed shift for the industry, and it took a pandemic for things to finally change," she said. "We saw our clients start freaking out in March and thought, OK, let's do Zoom as a crutch to get through the pandemic. But pretty quickly the lightbulb went off in my head: This isn't just something that's going to get us through, but it's going to create radical change in the industry."

She purchased a few dozen tripods, microphones and ring lights, and came up with a template for interactive online weddings. There are group dances (often to Whitney Houston's "I Wanna Dance with Somebody" and Justin Timberlake's "Can't Stop the Feeling"), virtual toasts and breakout rooms separated by "table," so guests can interact as they would in person. Packages start at $1,200, with add-ons such as photo guest books ($100) and slide shows ($200).

"The industry as a whole has turned into a monster, where you need to have this party and a bridal shower and you need to care about your napkin folds," said Creidenberg, who is based in Denver. "The beauty of virtual weddings is that they strip away all of that extra stuff."

Alyson and Jason Beyer had planned a 200-person wedding at a Tallahassee venue, complete with a lavish Southern dinner. But the pandemic had other plans.

Weeks before their April nuptials, the couple uninvited just about everyone from their celebration. They still got married, but in front of a dozen guests in a friend's backyard. Everybody else followed along on Facebook Live. They served champagne in disposable cups, along with mini pastries that Alyson picked up from the local Publix supermarket. In all, they saved more than $20,000 by downsizing.

"Everything was abbreviated," said Alyson, 35, a business analyst at Florida State University. "Was it what I planned? Absolutely not. But it ended up being intimate and special."
The President Pro-Tempore of the Liberian Senate has described as false allegation made against him by some lawmakers that he owed them some money and pick up.

Senator Albert Chie made the statement in an interview last week to journalists at his office. He said, "I do not play with any senator's money here. I respect all of them. Not because I am the head for them. I hold each and every lawmaker here in high esteem," he said.

It was recently reported that some senators accused him of refusing to release money intended for them in their legislative work. Also, that he refused to turnover pick up intended for their use.

"There is no truth in that. Trust me, if I owe any senator money here, my name would be all out over the place. But that is not correct. The fact here is that we all work together and we respect one another. Those are all responsible people, whom I really respect."

According to him, he wants to remain in good relationship with his colleague until his tenure expires in 2024. "There is a tomorrow after this work.

He added that he wants to maintain cordial relations with his fellow senators so that the level of respect would live after him if he leaves the position the future.
Minnesota gunman Gregory Paul Ulrich, 67, has been charged with murder

Minnesota gunman Gregory Paul Ulrich, 67, appeared in court for the first time in a wheelchair Thursday morning where he was charged with murder after he allegedly stormed a health clinic, shooting five victims at random and detonating three homemade bombs before he called 911 on himself.

Ulrich was charged Thursday with one count of second-degree murder with intent-not-premeditated, four counts of first-degree premeditated attempted murder, one count of gross disregard for human life or property by discharging an explosive device and one count of carrying a firearm in a public place without a permit.

If convicted he faces 40 years in prison for the murder charge and 20 years for each attempted murder charge.

Bail was set at $10 million without conditions or $5 million with conditions including that he must submit to GPS monitoring, make no contact with any Allina Health Clinic, not possess any firearms, not leave the state of Minnesota and remain medically compliant.

According to a criminal complaint filed Thursday, Ulrich entered the Allina Health Clinic in Wright County, Buffalo, just before 11am Tuesday armed with a handgun, two magazines and four homemade bombs.

He allegedly shot five people including one victim six times and detonated three homemade bombs before he called police and said he would surrender.

A fourth pipe bomb that had not detonated was also recovered by authorities.

Ulrich also left a 'rambling message' on his cell phone recorded shortly before the attack where he spoke about his injuries and his intentions toward the clinic and its staff, authorities said in a press conference after the court appearance.

Mother-of-two Lindsay Overbay, 37, who worked as a medical assistant at the facility died Tuesday after being transported to the Hennepin County Medical Center.

Three other victims remain in hospital with gunshot wounds while a fifth has been discharged. One of the victims was named by the clinic Thursday as Sherry Curtis - a nurse who had worked at the center for seven years.

Officials addressed concerns raised in the days following the shooting about how Ulrich managed to get his hands on a firearm as it emerged he had made threats to carry out a mass shooting at the clinic and a doctor had taken out a restraining order against him in 2018.

Wright County Sheriff Sean Deringer said 'human error' did mean 'red flags' could sometimes 'slip through the cracks' and authorities would be investigating how Ulrich got a gun.

He said he could not reveal whether Ulrich had applied for or been granted a permit or not because of Minnesota laws. The suspect's former roommate claimed this week he had seen a permit and handgun obtained by Ulrich just last year but this is yet to be verified.

Deringer said the sheriff's department had not had any interactions with Ulrich for around a year prior to this week's attack and urged people to put the 'blame on Mr. Ulrich who is responsible for the devastation.'

Wright County Sheriff Sean Deringer addressed concerns raised in the days following the shooting about how Ulrich managed to get his hands on a firearm at a press conference Thursday

Wright County Attorney Brian Lutes said the 67-year-old had gone to the clinic with two loaded handguns and four 'IEDs equipped with gunpowder'

Ulrich wore dark-framed glasses and sat in a wheelchair as he appeared via Zoom from Wright County Jail Thursday morning.

He spoke only to confirm how to pronounce his last name and to say no when asked if he had anything further to say.

Wright County Attorney Brian Lutes said at Thursday's court hearing: 'He went to the clinic knowing he was going to shoot the clinic up... and knowing he was going to ignite those bombs.'

Ulrich's victims are believed to have been 'random but the location [of the shooting] was not,' he said.

The attorney described the suspected murderer as a 'significant flight risk' given the length of his possible conviction with the charges carrying consecutive sentences.

Lutes said he did not have enough to charge Ulrich with first-degree premeditated murder over the death of medical assistant Lindsay Overbay but said the murder charge could be upgraded later by a grand jury.

A first-degree premeditated murder conviction would mean life in prison with no possibility of parole.

Ulrich, who was represented by public defender Greg Davis, will next appear in court on March 22.

A jail worker was seen pushing his wheelchair out of the room following the short hearing.

Ulrich stormed Allina Health clinic (above) armed with a handgun before shooting five people including one victim six times and detonating three homemade bombs, authorities say

A map of the Allina Health Clinic which is just one mile from the Super 8 Motel. Suspicious packages were found at both locations

Wright County Attorney Brian Lutes said the 67-year-old had gone to the clinic with a handgun and 'IEDs equipped with gunpowder.'

Ulrich allegedly fired at least 11 bullets during the shooting rampage and detonated three of the four homemade bombs.

The criminal complaint initially stated that Ulrich had three bombs and detonated two but authorities said at Thursday's press conference there was now evidence of four bombs in total.

Two bombs were detonated in the lobby tearing holes through the lower metal frame of the exterior sliding door, shattering the glass of the interior sliding door.

A third bomb was detonated in an adjacent workstation.

Bomb squads later found another bomb that had not detonated near to a briefcase left by Ulrich inside the building.

The criminal complaint says the devices matched - with the same black powder encased within a cylinder structure with fuse ignition.

A search of Ulrich's trailer at a mobile home park and the nearby Super 8 motel where he was staying uncovered more ammunition and a pound of gunpowder consistent with that used in the homemade bombs.

The 67-year-old traveled by bus from the Super 8 motel to the Allina Health Clinic in Buffalo Tuesday morning with a pistol, two loaded Smith and Wesson 9mm magazines, four homemade bombs two marijuana cigarettes and a Ziploc style bag containing 29 rounds of ammunition, the criminal complaint reads.

One magazine had 13 rounds of ammunition and the other had seven rounds of ammunition.

Five health clinic employees were shot in the rampage including Overbay who later died of her injuries Tuesday.

The nurse killed by suspected Minnesota gunman Gregory Paul Ulrich, 67, at a health clinic in Buffalo Tuesday has been identified as 37-year-old mother-of-two Lindsay Overbay (left with her son and husband)

Lindsay Overbay died Tuesday after being rushed to hospital following the attack on the Allina Health Clinic on Crossroads Campus Drive in Wright County, Buffalo, that morning

Allina Health identified another victim Thursday as Sherry Curtis (pictured), a Licensed Practical Nurse at Allina Health who has worked at the facility since 2013

Ulrich allegedly shot Overbay once in the abdomen, with the bullet passing through her liver and spine and exiting her back.

One of the other victims - who has not been identified - was shot six times in the attack in the chest, abdomen, back, upper left arm, and twice in the left forearm.

Another victim was shot once in the back, another once in the abdomen and a fifth shot twice in the leg as they were trying to run out of the clinic away from the gunman.

During the attack, Ulrich detonated the bombs.

The criminal complaint states Ulrich took the Trailblazer bus to the Allina Clinic Tuesday morning from where he had been staying at the Super 8 motel.

Surveillance footage shows Ulrich in a heavy brown jacket and carrying a briefcase arriving at the clinic at 10:52 a.m.

According to the complaint, when Ulrich entered the clinic, staff asked if they could help him.

The suspect pulled out a 9 mm handgun and threatened them before opening fire, shooting one staff member in the back and another in the abdomen.

He then went into the clinic's interior and continued shooting, striking three other victims.

One victim, known only as victim number 3 was shot twice in the upper leg as they were trying to flee while 'victim number 4' was shot six times.

He also fired one shot at his fifth victim - Overbay - who later died from her wounds.

Ulrich then dialed 911 at 10:58am and surrendered to the officers.

Police arrived and found the suspect lying on the ground, the complaint reads.

He told them he had left his cell phone inside which he said contained evidence of the attack, the complaint reads.

The criminal complaint reveals that Ulrich did not have a permit to carry the handgun used to gun down his victims in a public place.

Ulrich's former roommate told Fox 9 this week the suspect was granted a permit and obtained a firearm last year.

Authorities would not confirm or deny these reports.

Deringer said in the press briefing he could not talk about whether or not Ulrich had received a gun permit because in Minnesota this is 'private data'.

One of the broken windows following the mass shooting at the clinic Tuesday

Ulrich, from Buffalo, had a vendetta against the Allina Health Clinic (above) on Crossroads Campus Drive in Wright County, Buffalo, and its staff because they refused to give him opioids for a back injury, court records show

He admitted that 'human error' could mean sometimes people 'slip through the cracks' but said 'the [gun] law is clear that if they meet this threshold we shall issue [a gun]'.

'Sometimes our hands are tied,' he said.

Deringer said the Sheriff's Department had not had complaints of threats made by Ulrich for around a year while the Wright County Attorney's Office said it had not dealt with him since 2006.

'While I know that previous threats were made by Mr. Ulrich I want you to know that we have not had any threats recently in the last few months or year,' Deringer said.

'If we are going to push blame I ask that people push blame where it's due... blame Mr. Ulrich who is responsible for the devastation.'

Lutes said the Wright County Attorney's Office had not dealt with Ulrich since 2006 over a DWI case.

'No reports have been referred to my office since 2006,' he said.

Lutes said he had viewed court documents for the first time this week showing Ulrich had a restraining order taken out against him by a doctor at the clinic - Andrew John Burgdorf - in 2018 and had then violated that order.

Buffalo Police confirmed Tuesday that 'suspicious packages' had also been found at the motel - located roughly one mile from the center - Tuesday while some windows appeared to have been blown out in the building

He said this was prosecuted as a misdemeanor by the City of Buffalo Attorney's Office.

Court records seen by DailyMail.com show a petition for a restraining order was filed against Ulrich by Burgdorf.

Ulrich called Burgdorf three times in an hour, becoming increasingly threatening each time, the filings say.

He threatened the doctor saying that 'killing one individual wouldn't be enough' and speaking of 'mass violence at a medical clinic and hospitals', the documents state.

Ulrich had a restraining order taken out against him by one of the facility's doctors Andrew J Burgdorf MD (above) in 2018, it has been revealed

'His intent was to create enough of a sensation to get public recognition that would warrant at least 30 years in jail [and] possibly a straight jacket,' they read.

'[Ulrich] stated he had practiced different scenarios [and] he was testing how to get through security with a length of steel since he knew he had only seconds after getting past security to achieve his goal.'

The order was granted in November 2018.

Authorities have not confirmed if Burgdorf was in the clinic at the time of Tuesday's attack.

Three victims remain in hospital with one in a stable but critical condition and the other two upgraded to fair following Tuesday's attack. A fifth victim was discharged Tuesday.

Allina Health identified another victim Thursday as Sherry Curtis, a licensed practical nurse at Allina Health who has worked at the facility since 2013.

A GoFundMe to help pay for her treatment had topped $9,000 Thursday.

Authorities said Thursday they do not plan to identify the remaining victims.

Overbay's family released a statement Thursday thanking the community for their support and paying tribute to her.

'On behalf of Lindsay Overbay's family, we would like to express a sincere thank you to our community for the outpouring of love and prayers that we have received,' it read.

'Lindsay was a dedicated mother, wife, daughter, sister, aunt and friend. Her laughter, abundant and loud, would echo through hallways. Her legacy will live on in the hearts of her children.

'We would like to extend our thoughts and prayers to the other four victims and their families. #LindsayStrong.'

A GoFundMe set up for her family - including her two young children - had topped $206,000 Thursday.
Yves here. I continue to be skeptical of contact tracing being effective in the US. The article below gives one reason weve mentioned repeatedly, that the contagion level needs to low enough that the contact tracing really is getting at exposures that were unique to that individual, and not community spread noise. The article does not address that test results confirming that the patient has Covid often come back so long after the individual became symptomatic that by the time hes interviewed for his contacts and they are tracked down, theyve already started shedding virus and/or are symptomatic.

Readers can pipe up, but I also wonder how many, if any, states have initiatives to assist with contact tracing. Maine, which has low population density (more roads per capita than any state), nevertheless requires restaurants to get the name and phone number of one diner at every table served to facilitate contact tracing in case someone with Covid visited that venue.

Another issue the article flags is some dont cooperate with identifying their contacts. And finally, those who were exposed are asked to isolate. That does not sound specific enough to give useful guidance, like Quarantine till the sooner of when you get symptoms or 5-7 days after you were exposed and get a Covid test then.

The wee problem in America is most people cant quarantine. Limiting interaction is better than nothing but well short of the standard in South Korea and Hong Kong where contact tracing was effective. You need to have your own bedroom and bathroom, use only them, and somehow get food delivered to your door for the entire quarantine period. The article cites a Pew study where 93% of respondents said they were told they had the virus, which is not the same as if they were exposed. And anyone who has done surveys will tell you that responses to questions like this are highly unreliable (just as Would you buy XYZ product?). Among many reasons, participants tend to say what they think the questioner wants to hear. And undercutting that 93%, one-third of the participants said it would be hard for them to do so.

To put it more bluntly, Americans dont seem to understand what isolate and quarantine mean. A friends significant other returned to Poland to see her family last month. She had to stay in her parents home for two weeks. She was not allowed even into their yard. There were cameras on the house plus the neighbors were enlisted to watch. Her first violation would result in a 5000 euro fine. Her second would be 15,000 euros plus six to twelve months in jail. So with no teeth in the US contract tracing programs, what is the point? A mini Job Guarantee scheme?

By Steven Findlay. Originally published at Kaiser Health News

Contact tracing, a critical part of efforts to slow the spread of the coronavirus, has fallen behind in recent months as covid-19 cases have soared. President Joe Biden had pledged to change that.

Biden proposes hiring 100,000 people nationwide as part of a new public health jobs corps. They would help with contact tracing and facilitate vaccination. Experts said its not clear that would be enough tracers to keep up with another surge in covid cases, even if the vaccination rate increases at the same time.

As with everything covid right now  testing, vaccinations and hospital capacity  ramping up contact tracing has become a race against time as new, more contagious variants of the virus threaten to accelerate transmission of the disease.

In addition, as testing has steadily increased to around 2 million per day, so has the need for tracing. The two go hand in hand. Also, even conservative estimates put the number of people with undetected infection at two to three times the number with reported positive test results.

Such estimates translate to 75 million to 100 million infections in the U.S. Officials in Californias Los Angeles County reported Jan. 14 that an estimated third of the population of the county, the nations largest, was likely infected.

I have experienced the urgency of the pandemic up close. With a leap of faith, I became a foot soldier in the covid fight last June as a contact tracer in Maryland. Talking by phone to dozens of infected and exposed people every week, I hear about the impact of the virus on families in often sobering detail.

We tracers, for example, are often the first to reach people with their positive test results since labs and health systems frequently get backed up. For people already experiencing symptoms, our calls usually confirm what they suspected. For people without symptoms, though, we are the bearers of unwelcome news. Thats not an easy part of the job.

Still, almost everyone we interview takes it in stride. They agree to isolate and provide us with the names of people theyve come into close contact with  generally, within 6 feet for more than 15 minutes  in the previous week or two. Those contacts then get a call, too. The aim is to reach as many people as possible within 24 hours, to break the chain of transmission by urging them to stay home and quarantine.

Of course, not everyone cooperates. Some decline to quarantine or give the names of close contacts. Most states do not report the number of uncooperative people. But a Pew survey of adults conducted last July found that 93% said they would quarantine if told they had the virus. A third, however, said it would not be easy to do so  usually because of work  and a quarter said they would not be comfortable telling tracers about places they had been or people theyd been in close contact with.

As such, contact tracing has inherent limitations, and quarantining isnt enforced in the U.S. Tracing also becomes far less effective as the number of cases grows.

An analysis by researchers at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore concluded that contact tracing in the U.S. can be fully effective in mitigating spread of the virus only when new cases are at or below 10 a day for every 100,000 people. The case count now exceeds that in most states. The national seven-day average as of Monday was 35 cases per 100,000.

Tracing programs nationwide are overwhelmed right now, said Crystal Watson, a senior scholar at Hopkins Center for Health Security. States just dont have enough people to keep up.

Even so, Watson added, every contact traced still means lives potentially saved. We cant let up.

Every state has a tracing program, but they vary widely. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has comprehensive covid tracing guidelines, but the Trump administration had neither data nor performance requirements for states to meet.

A White House spokesperson told KHN that the administration views contact tracing as critical to efforts to reduce spread of the virus.

Staffing is the most significant challenge. Researchers at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., evaluated contact tracing needs and how states and counties performed.

Their bottom line, based on the most recent surge in cases: The nation would need 928,000 contact tracers to keep up with the current number of cases  or 281 per 100,000 people.

But that projection, which takes many factors into account, is widely viewed as unrealistic. The current number of tracers, according to data from Johns Hopkins, is 70,500.

If we could get close to half the ideal number, it would help greatly, said Dr. Amanda D. Castel, a professor of epidemiology at George Washington University. With luck the vaccine will begin to reduce the need.

Most states arent even close to 140 tracers per 100,000 people. With 530 active tracers, the District of Columbia has 75 per 100,000 people, more than any state. Fifteen states have 12 or fewer per 100,000. And the number of people who have received two doses of the vaccine is not yet large enough to appreciably reduce the rate of infection.

State and county health departments are keenly aware of the deficit and have moved to hire more tracers or deploy existing state or county employees to the task. Maryland, for example, has hired several hundred tracers in the past three months and is up to 1,550, said Katherine Feldman, director of contact tracing for the state. Thats still just 26 tracers per 100,000 people.

Nationally, states have hired about 17,500 tracers since October, according to Johns Hopkins data.

Biden recommended hiring contact tracers and other public health workers as part of his proposal for a $1.9 trillion covid relief and stimulus package.

Those hired would keep their jobs once the pandemic eases, to enhance the nations permanent public health corps and readiness. The presidents proposal does not stipulate, however, how many of those hired would be initially deployed to contact tracing. Administration officials did not respond to requests for comment on this point.

Last week, a group of Republican senators proposed a scaled-back $618 billion covid relief package that includes resources for vaccine distribution, testing and tracing but makes no mention of a public health service corps.

David Cotton, vice president for public health research at NORC, the University of Chicago survey and research organization that assists Maryland with its program, said that while tracers dont need medical or public health experience, hiring and training the right people and nurturing their skills is not something to be taken lightly.

The success of tracing depends on having people in that job who can gain peoples trust, he said. Plus, the work can be quite emotionally draining.

States are also adjusting programs.

In Maryland, we have shortened the questionnaire and prioritized geographic areas with high positivity rates. People are also being texted to prompt them to answer our initial calls. These steps have sharply reduced a backlog of cases, said Feldman.

Nationally, traditional tracing programs successfully reach about 65% to 75% of people who test positive and 55% to 60% of contacts. Those numbers are likely trending lower over the past six weeks after the recent surge in cases, experts and state officials said.

But no one knows for sure. Thats because there is no national reporting requirement or strategy for tracing metrics, and only 14 states make full data on their tracing programs public.
Motorists suffered five hour long delays to drive just 10km across the border

Two other drivers taken to Bordertown Memorial Hospital in a stable condition

Three trucks caught fire in the accident, with one driver dying at the scene

A three-truck crash where a man died resulted in chaos for motorists from South Australia looking to flee Victoria due to border closures.

The smash happened on the Western Highway at Serviceton, just over the Victorian border near Wolseley, about 2.20am on Thursday - the main border crossing between the two states.

As of midnight on Wednesday, borders to South Australia were slammed shut to those from Greater Melbourne due to a coronavirus outbreak, with cars and trucks queuing to get into the state.

Victoria Police investigators confirmed a truck smashed into the back of another stationary truck queuing to get across the border, which then collided with a third vehicle.

A truck driver died after the horrific smash (pictured above) involving three vehicles near the Victoria-South Australia border

The fatality caused extensive delays for motorists (pictured above) looking to flee Victoria due to border closures - with a 10km journey taking five hours

The three-truck crash was at Serviceton, (pictured) just over the Victorian border at 2.20am on Thursday

All three vehicles caught fire, with the driver of the first truck, who is yet to be identified, dying at the scene, according to the Adelaide Advertiser.

Emergency services from both Victoria and South Australia police attended the crash site.

SA Police Commissioner Grant Stevens confirmed the circumstances of the crash would be investigated.

'My understanding is the trucks were heading to South Australia. One truck has gone into the rear of another vehicle and forced it into another truck, and those trucks were already in a line waiting to enter South Australia,' he told ABC Radio Adelaide.

'This is clearly a tragic set of circumstances where a person has lost their life. There are always going to be obstructions on our roads and people must remember to drive to the conditions and pay attention to the changing circumstances, particularly freight drivers.'

A truck driver near Wolseley saw the horror crash unfold in his rear view mirror.

'I felt the explosion of the truck that ran into the back of the other vehicle,' he also told ABC Radio Adelaide.

'It also took five hours to cross the 10km line from Victoria into South Australia due to the crash.'

South Australia Police (pictured above) confirmed the road closure following the fatality early on Thursday morning near Wolseley

Vic Traffic (pictured above) tweeted confirmation of the fatality close to 5km from the SA border

As of Thursday morning, the checkpoint to Bordertown remains closed, with the Dukes Highway expected to be closed until lunchtime.

The highway is also closed in both directions, with no current entry into South Australia.

Motorists driving to Victoria are being diverted towards Naracoorte, with access to Victoria on the Wimmera Highway.

Motorists heading to Victoria on Thursday are advised not to travel through Bordertown, as they will be turned away due to the new border restrictions.

Anyone who saw the incident should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Professor Siobhan O'Neill said that losing loved ones to the virus and the impact of restrictions was causing people to feel hopeless. (Dominic Lipinski/PA)

The coronavirus pandemic has led to an increase in people feeling suicidal in Northern Ireland, Stormont's mental health champion has warned.

Professor Siobhan O'Neill said that losing loved ones to the virus and the impact of restrictions was causing people to feel hopeless.

She was speaking after it emerged over 25,000 people called Northern Ireland's suicide prevention service Lifeline during 2019/20.

A total of 25,638 people called the crisis line in the 12 months to last April, an increase of over 2,000 from 23,555 in 2018/19.

In 2019/20, 5,255 calls were also made to Lifeline by third parties on behalf of an individual, down from 5,732 the previous year.

They are generally made by someone concerned about a person's mental health, such as a GP or the emergency services.

The highest number of calls last year came from the North Belfast Assembly constituency, with 2,493 people seeking help. This was followed by West Belfast on 2,257 and South Belfast on 2,144.

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Lagan Valley had the lowest number of calls with 843, South Antrim had 872 and Fermanagh and South Tyrone had 956 calls.

The figures were released by Health Minister Robin Swann after an Assembly question from Sinn Fein MLA Orlaithi Flynn.

Lifeline is a dedicated crisis response helpline service for people who are experiencing distress or despair.

Trained counsellors are available 24 hours a day and are experienced in working with trauma, suicide, self-harm, abuse, depression and anxiety. The service is funded by the Department of Health.

Professor O'Neill said crisis helplines in Northern Ireland had experienced a further increase in calls as a result of the pandemic.

She said it was "great that people are reaching out for help".

"It's really important that Lifeline's there and people know that they can call. This is a sign that many are reaching out, I would encourage more people to reach out for help and support, especially since face to face support had been reduced as a result of the pandemic. Helplines are one of the remaining ways people can ask for help," the interim mental health champion said.

Professor O'Neill admitted the pandemic was taking a toll on mental health.

"We know that there's more people struggling as a result of the pandemic and we know as the pandemic has progressed more and more people are feeling suicidal as a result of what's happening," she said.

"It's important that we all adhere to the restrictions because one of the things that does impact on mental health is whenever people lose someone to Covid or whenever there's outbreaks in the community."

Ms Flynn said she was concerned that some areas had higher rates of calls than others.

"The Lifeline crisis service plays a vital role in reaching out and supporting those in emotional crisis. Suicide prevention crisis services are clearly in considerable demand," the West Belfast MLA said.

"It is clear that areas of high deprivation would have higher rates of calls, but I am concerned that some constituencies have a lower number of callers than others, for what should be an easily accessible service, that is free and open 24 hours every day."

Anyone in distress can contact Lifeline on 0808 808 8000.
University of California, Berkeley has brought in sweeping new lockdown measures to tackle COVID-19 as cases surge on campus.

Students now won't be allowed to exit their dorms to conduct solo outdoor exercise, and a self-sequester mandate that was put in place for the campus has been extended until February 15.

An email from UC Berkeley student affairs to the student body obtained by The Daily Californian also announces an potential increase in campus security officers around the dorms.

Outdoor exercise is no longer going to be permitted on the UC Berkeley campus

There has been a surge in coronavirus cases on the college campus in the last two weeks

'Due to the 14 day incubation period of this virus, it is too early to be sure we have contained this current surge,' the email says.

'We understand this extension is frustrating, but please understand this will help us mitigate further spread while protecting our community.'

Lack of compliance for the directives, which restrict movement outside of dorms to getting COVID-19 tests, medical care, food, or using a bathroom, may result in suspension from school or eviction from the dorms.

The self-sequester mandate only applies to those living in UC Berkeley's dorms.

Solo outdoor exercise is part of the self-sequester mandate in place for campus dorms

There will also be more security officers out and about, monitoring the dorms

The spring semester at UC Berkeley began less than a month ago, a troubling sign

'Right now it is critical that you avoid gatherings  large or small  even with your residential household grouping, whether indoors or outdoors, and even if your most recent COVID test is negative,' the email continues.

While UC Berkeley is banning solo outdoor exercise, SFGATE reports the remainder of Alamdea County has no such ban in place.

The new protocols come as UC Berkeley is facing an explosion in cases, which they have been tracking on a public dashboard.

Pictured: The data on recent UC Berkeley cases, with a clear surge in recent weeks

In California, there has been over 3.36 million COVID-19 cases and almost 45,000 deaths

On the week of January 24, 146 people tested positive with the university's health services, including 135 undergraduates, easily the highest testing numbers since the beginning of the school year.

Those numbers rose even more the following week, with 164 positive tests, including 156 undergraduates.

Through Tuesday, there have been 38 positive COVID-19 tests through college's health services this week.

The spring semester began at the school on January 12, although in-person learning wasn't allowed to commence prior to February 1.

No students are required to be on campus for the current semester or required to take in-person classes.

Typically, about 7,000 undergraduates live in university housing, although that number is likely much lower due to coronavirus.

The last time UC Berkeley saw a spike like this was over the summer, when maskless fraternity and sorority parties resulted in 47 cases over the course of a week.

Prior to that spike, the college had only seen 23 cases over the course of the entire pandemic.

In total, there have been over 27 million coronavirus cases in the United States so far

There have been over 3.36 million COVID-19 cases in California, including 8,390 in the last day.

The state is likely to surpass 45,000 total deaths in the next 24 hours, with California only being five away from that total as of Wednesday.

Just over five million vaccines have been administered in the state so far.

There have been over 27.2 million COVID-19 cases in the United States so far, with over 468,000 deaths as the country grapples with new, more contagious strains and a slow vaccine rollout.

The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (Adnoc) has signed an exploration concession agreement, awarding the exploration rights for Abu Dhabis Offshore Block 4 to Cosmo E&P Albahriya, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Japans Cosmo Energy Holdings.



The award has been approved by Abu Dhabis newly formed Supreme Council for Financial and Economic Affairs (SCFEA) and marks the first of such awards endorsed by the SCFEA.



The award of Offshore Block 4 follows the recent exploration block awards to Occidental as well as a consortium led by Italys Eni and Thailands PTTEP, highlighting Adnocs ability to continually deliver value in Abu Dhabis second competitive block bid round and leverage its strategic partnerships to accelerate the exploration and development of Abu Dhabis hydrocarbon resources.



The exploration concession agreement was signed by Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology and Adnoc Group CEO, and Hiroshi Kiriyama, Group CEO of Cosmo.



Dr Al Jaber said: This concession award builds on our long-standing relationship with Cosmo and reinforces the deep-rooted and successful strategic relationship between the UAE and Japan, Adnocs largest importer of oil and gas products. We are delighted to extend our partnership with Cosmo, particularly as this award underscores, once more, the important role of energy cooperation in enhancing economic relations between the UAE and Japan as we focus on the post-Covid recovery.



Cosmo was selected after a very competitive bid round. They bring expertise and understanding of our offshore environment, technology, and market access  key ingredients that underpin Adnocs targeted approach to strategic partnerships, which is enabling us to unlock and maximize value from our assets and resources as we continue to deliver on our 2030 strategy.



Under the terms of the agreement, Cosmo will hold a 100 percent stake in the exploration phase, investing up to $145 million (AED532 million) towards exploration and appraisal drilling, including a participation fee, to explore for and appraise oil and gas opportunities in the block that covers an offshore area of 4,865 sq km northwest of Abu Dhabi city.



Hiroshi Kiriyama said: The Government of Abu Dhabi and Cosmo have a strong partnership in the oil and gas sector which we have built for more than half a century. This award represents a significant milestone for us to accelerate our upstream business in Abu Dhabi and further strengthens our seamless and multi-faceted partnership with both Abu Dhabi and Adnoc.



We are excited to explore this promising block to unlock the hydrocarbon value by leveraging our expertise and experience. We are also certain that our success in this block can be crystallized by creating the synergies with Cosmo groups existing oilfields and Mubarraz island which are operated by our affiliate, Abu Dhabi Oil Co., Ltd.



Following a successful commercial discovery during the exploration phase, Cosmo will have the right to a production concession to develop and produce such commercial discoveries. Adnoc has the option to hold a 60 percent stake in the production phase of the concession.



The term of the production phase is 35 years from the commencement of the exploration phase and the block offers the potential to create significant in-country value for the UAE over the lifetime of the concession.



In addition to drilling exploration and appraisal wells, the exploration phase will see Cosmo leverage and contribute financially and technically to Adnocs mega seismic survey, which is acquiring 3D seismic data within the block area. The data already acquired over a large part of the block combined with its proximity to existing oil and gas fields, suggests the concession area has promising potential.



Adnoc launched Abu Dhabis second competitive block bid round in 2019, offering a set of major onshore and offshore blocks, on behalf of the Government of Abu Dhabi. Based on existing data from detailed petroleum system studies, seismic surveys, exploration and appraisal wells data, estimates suggest the blocks in this second bid round hold multiple billion barrels of oil and multiple trillion cubic feet of natural gas.



Cosmo has long-standing partnerships in Abu Dhabis upstream sector with stakes in Abu Dhabi Oil Co., Ltd. (Adoc) and Bunduq Company Limited. Last month, Adnoc and ICE Futures Abu Dhabi (IFAD) signed an agreement with Cosmo Oil Co., Ltd.  one of Cosmo Energy Group companies  to explore the potential opportunity to price crude oil with reference to the new ICE Murban Crude Oil Futures.



Bilateral economic relations between the UAE and Japan date back to 1961 when the first shipment of UAE crude oil was exported from the Umm Shaif offshore field in Abu Dhabi to Japan. Today, Japan imports approximately 30% of its crude oil from the UAE.  TradeArabia News Service




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Peter Whyte started "without a sod of land", as his son Jimmy puts it. "Look around you - he bought every acre of it," says Jimmy of the sprawling North County Dublin farm today before pausing for a second.

"Actually, it was us that ended up paying for it because he wanted each of us to have our own bit," laughs the 72-year-old.

The Whytes are very coy about just how much north of "about 3,000ac" the farm actually stretches to, but the majority of it is leased or rented, with 1,000ac owned outright by individual members.

But it's not the thousands of acres that makes this enterprise so impressive.

Amazing

It's the fact that not only did seven brothers manage to farm in partnership together for the last half century, but now they have seven sons coming through the ranks and continuing this amazing feat of co-operation.

Jimmy is the eldest and can remember clearly his first harvest working on the farm full-time at the ripe old age of 14.

"We had one of the first farm grain driers in the area in 1958 and it was a terrible harvest. Crops were coming in at 30pc moisture.

"I can remember drying oats right up to Christmas. It used to be all stored in big 100kg sacks and we were so tight for space that we ended up stacking them four high in the shed," he recalls. But Jimmy's dad was taking a massive gamble as he hadn't any deal with any of the local merchants to take the grain.

The merchants weren't keen on encouraging farmers to get into the drying business, so they were quite happy to see the Whytes left with piles of unsold grain.

In the end, much of the grain was loaded on to railway cars at the local train station in Balbriggan to be transported into Guinness.

But risk-taking was second nature to Peter Whyte, experiencing several scary situations over the years when interest on borrowings on the land purchases soared to over 20pc. He also took a chance on experimenting with different crops, including everything from beet to onions.

"He would have us all under serious pressure but, in hindsight, he was rarely wrong in his thinking," says Jimmy.

Today, Jimmy, along with his brothers Peter, Martin, Eddie, Ollie, Joey, Anthony and Martin's wife Mary farm 200ac of potatoes, fatten about 500 cattle and grow cereals all along the rich vein of tillage land that runs along the south Meath/north Dublin border.

While some of the brothers have "retired" to make way for the next generation - James, Peter, Dermot, Davy, Peadar, Kevin and Joseph - in effect, they are still togging out in the overalls on a daily basis.

When I bump into Jimmy, he tells me about the new one-tonne lathe that he has just bought in the west to add to their already impressive workshop.

Jimmy still finds himself down in the workshop until 11pm at night, tinkering away on one of his 240hp autocross cars, which he only recently renewed his licence to drive.

"You could hit 80 or 90mph going around the track and I thought I was going to be very sore after it, but I was pleasantly surprised," grins the septuagenarian.

However, the workshops are also where much of the repairs and, indeed, innovation on the farm happens.

The sheer scale of operations throws open alternatives that would be out of reach for most farmers.

In 2014, the family invested 125,000 into Ireland's first 2.5MW biomass grain drier designed to utilise the huge amounts of low-value straw from oilseed rape and other cereal crops produced on the farm.

The 750C of heat inside the furnace is used to dry the 9,000t annual grain harvest, replacing the 80,000 yearly spend on diesel. Even with oil prices tumbling to lows of $30 per barrel in recent years, Anthony Whyte believes the burner has almost paid for itself in just three seasons.

There was no grant aid available on the installation at the time, but the Whytes forged on, convinced of the economic and environmental benefits, with the unit reducing carbon emissions from the grain drying operation by at least 95pc, or 240t.

"Obviously, there have been a few teething issues in terms of learning what way to optimise the burn, reduce smoke and keep the thing going smoothly, but I'm convinced we're there now," says Anthony.

But to feed the furnace with massive half-tonne bales, Jimmy had to engineer and build their own bale lifter.

"We needed something that handled the bale from the narrow end, didn't need extra room to drop the bale inside the oven and held on to the straw even after all the twines melt as we're placing the bale into the flames," he said.

Branded spuds and drones the way forward for the Whytes

The next generation of sons are already managing significant parts of the Whyte business, but more youngsters may join the crew yet.

"My young lad Conor is thinking about it," said Anthony, smiling. "But there's no point in anybody coming into farming for the money because they'll just end up being miserable."

Joseph (25) is the youngest of the sons currently working full time on the farm. "I studied agriculture in Kildalton and WIT, and specialised in tillage and did a work placement in Country Crest, which was a great way of seeing how other businesses operate. I was lucky I did that because you can get comfortable in the tractor," he says.

"Myself and David look after all the fertiliser with two Vicon spreaders. One is a 6t trailed one, but you do less tracking with the 3t mounted version because we have it on a tractor with big 900mm wide wheels. They cost up to 5,000 each, but they came with the (New Holland) combines so we can just swap them around.

"We tray test the machines almost every day because there can be awful variance between each batch for fertiliser. There's a fair bit of paperwork as well, but we've everything online now so we can access it on the phones wherever we are," says Joseph.

He's also the man behind the farm's foray into the branded world via Facebook with their Whyte Bros Potatoes page that has garnered over 1,000 likes from machinery enthusiasts wowed by drone footage of the harvest.

New holland tractors and no min-till

The Whytes operate a fleet of 11 tractors and are New Holland men. The latest purchase is a 330hp T8330, with a list-price approximately 150,000. "It has a variable transmission and we'll chip it to push out 400hp," says Peadar Whyte.

"We end up buying a new tractor or combine or something every year, but at the same time, we're not obsessed about new machinery."

All crops are sown into ploughed ground except for the oilseed rape, which is direct drilled in with a Sumo sub-soiler.

"We've tried them all - min-till, strip-till, no-till, but the only one that we feel is giving us a benefit is the direct drilling for the oilseed rape. It suits us because it saves time when we're under a lot of pressure," says Anthony Whyte.
London:

The UK government on Sunday ordered the takeover of one of the country's first state-funded Islamic secondary school after its policies, including the rule to segregate boys and girls in classrooms, were found "inadequate" and not "sufficiently" safe for students.



Al-Hijrah School in Birmingham, one of the first state-funded Islamic schools in Britain, had offensive books in its library which said a husband can beat his wife. The school also has a rule to segregate girls and boys.



Amanda Spielman, the chief inspector of the UK's schools regulator Ofsted, said Al-Hijrah would be taken over by an independent academy trust on the orders of the Department for Education (DfE). The department confirmed that the school's management would be handed to an outside trust, 'The Sunday Times' reported.



Birmingham City Council said both it and Al-Hijrah's interim executive board were "co-operating fully" with the DfE to find a suitable academy sponsor. The move follows a report by Ofsted inspectors who visited the school, which has about 750 pupils, after nine- year-old Mohammad Imaeel Ashraf collapsed there in March.

ALSO READ | London: British gay wins legal battle to secure equal pension rights



He was taken to hospital but died soon afterwards. His funeral was attended by more than 2,000 people. An inquest into the death, initially reportedly linked to an allergic reaction to fish and chips, will be held later this summer.



In a report published last month the inspectors gave the school an "inadequate" judgment, the lowest ranking. They found bullying, a chaotic playground, weak teaching, pupils who were not "sufficiently" safe and staff who did not know what to do in medical emergencies.



For more than a year, the co-educational Islamic school has fought through the UK courts to try to suppress an earlier critical Ofsted report that said its segregation of girls and boys for all lessons from the age of five to 16 was a breach of the UK Equality Act. Last week, appeal court judges were asked to make a definitive ruling in the case.



If Ofsted wins, up to 20 faith schools that teach boys and girls separately will be re-inspected and may have to change their arrangements. Spielman told the newspaper she found it "deeply frustrating" when legal challenges were "used to delay things that in our view urgently need to happen".



Spielman said: "I am deeply concerned about the idea that total segregation of children within a mixed school is acceptable. Segregating boys and girls in a mixed school feels as though it is depriving both boys and girls of a big part of the benefits of a school".

ALSO READ | London: 11-year-old Indian-origin secures 162 points on Mensa IQ test, higher than Albert Einstein and Stephen Hawking

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[February 10, 2021] mdf commerce Reports Q3 2021 Total Revenue Growth of 18% Year-Over-Year to $21.4 Million

MONTREAL, Feb. 10, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- mdf commerce inc. (TSX:MDF), a SaaS leader in digital commerce technologies, reported Q3 FY 2021 financial results for the period ending December 31st, 2020. All amounts are expressed in Canadian dollars.

The third quarter of 2021 was a busy and exciting time for the Company, said Luc Filiatreault, CEO of mdf commerce. Im very pleased that mdf commerce was able to deliver solid revenue growth while also successfully managing large customer deployments. We continue to invest in people and processes to capture emerging market opportunities for our growth platforms and ensure effective fulfillment of our robust sales pipeline. Third Quarter Fiscal 2021 Financial Results Total revenue for the quarter was $21.4M, an 18.4% increase over $18.1M reported for Q3 FY 2020. The three business platforms contributed to revenue for the quarter as follows: Strategic Sourcing Platform generated $8.3M of revenue for the quarter, a 9.2% increase compared to $7.6M reported in Q3 FY 2020, and a 2.9% increase from $8.0M in Q2 FY 2021. Including the acquisition of Vendor Registry during the quarter, US-based revenues increased 23.5% compared to Q3 FY 2020.





Unified Commerce Platform, which includes supply chain management, generated revenue of $9.4M, a 54.1% increase compared to $6.1M reported in the Q3 of the previous year, and a 4.1% increase over $9.1M reported for Q2 FY 2021. The ecommerce solutions, Orckestra and k-eCommerce, represented a 126% increase over Q3 FY 2020, which included six weeks of revenue recognized from the acquisition of k-eCommerce.





eMarketplaces Platform reported revenue of $3.7M, a 13.9% decrease from $4.3M reported in Q3 FY 2020, and in line with the $3.7M reported for Q2 FY 2021. As a percentage of total revenue, eMarketplaces Platform declined from 23.8% in Q3 FY 2020 to 17.3% in Q3 FY 2021. As revenue scales in Strategic Sourcing and Unified Commerce, eMarketplaces revenue will continue to become less impactful on future performance.

Monthly recurring revenue (3) (MRR) was 75% of total revenue, which is stable in comparison to Q2 FY 2021. The recurring portion of Strategic Sourcing revenue was 92% in Q3 FY 2021 compared to 93% in the preceding quarter. The recurring portion of Unified Commerce revenue was 57% in Q3 FY 2021 compared to 58% reported for Q2 FY 2021. Total gross margin was $13.4M or 62.7% in Q3 FY 2021 compared to $12.7M, or 70.4% in Q3 FY 2020 and $13.8M, or 66.7% in Q2 FY 2021. The decline in gross margin percentage during the quarter was due to elevated professional services activities related to large customer rollouts on the Unified Commerce platform. Operating loss for the quarter was $2.7M, compared to a $1.8M operating loss reported for Q3 FY 2020 and a $0.1M operating loss reported in Q2 FY 2021. The increase in operating loss, was impacted by increased investments in strategic growth initiatives, and deployment expenses. Net loss for the quarter was $2.9M or $0.14 per share compared to a net loss of $1.8M or $0.13 per share reported in the previous year quarter. In Q2 2021, the Company reported net loss of $0.6M or $0.04 loss per share.

The Company reported negative Adjusted EBITDA(1) of $0.1M for the quarter compared to a positive Adjusted EBITDA of $0.2M for Q3 FY 2020 and $2.3M for Q2 FY 2021. Adjusted EBITDA declined year-over-year and sequentially primarily due to increased investments in sales, marketing, product development, R&D, and professional services to support large deployment contracts. As deployments accelerate over the coming quarters, professional services expenses are expected to remain elevated. During the quarter, the Company closed a bought deal equity raise of $47.8M, executed a $50M credit agreement and acquired Vendor Registry for $6.9M. The Company incurred restructuring expenses and acquisition related transaction costs totaling $1.1M, that were specific to Q3 FY 2021 activities, net of wage subsidies from the federal governments assistance program. The Companys definition of Adjusted EBITDA includes foreign exchange gain (loss), stock-based compensation expense, and gain (loss) on sale of a subsidiary. The Company does not adjust for restructuring and acquisition related costs in its definition of Adjusted EBITDA. Year-to-date total revenue was $62.7M, a 10.9% increase over $56.5M in the same period last year. Year-to-date net loss was $4.7M or $0.26 loss per share compared to net profit of $1.0M or $0.07 per share for the first nine months of fiscal 2020. For the first nine months of fiscal 2021, total Adjusted EBITDA was $4.0M, compared to $8.0M for the corresponding period in fiscal 2020. The decline in Adjusted EBITDA is related to strategic investments in sales, marketing, R&D, and professional services associated with accelerated scaling of annual recurring revenue streams. As mentioned above, restructuring expenses and acquisition related costs impacted profitability in year-to-date period.

During the quarter, approximately 6,700 suppliers were added to the Strategic Sourcing Platform, along with 59 new active procuring entities. Approximately 157 SMB, and three enterprise-level mandates were added to the Unified Commerce Platform. mdf commerce is competing vigorously to capture emerging opportunities in our growth segments, said Luc Filiatreault. We will continue to scale our sales and marketing capabilities to be more in line with our peers in the industry to maximize success. During Q3 FY 2021, the Company executed a $50M senior secured credit agreement based on recurring revenue, closed a bought deal public offering with net proceeds of $47.8M and repaid the full amount of its debt under the previous credit agreement. At the end of Q3 FY 2021, the Company had $39.3M of cash and cash equivalents. These activities strengthened our balance sheet, and we are now well positioned to deliver on our 5-year strategic plan, added Deborah Dumoulin, CFO of mdf commerce. SUMMARY OF CONSOLIDATED RESULTS Three month

periods ended

December 31st Nine month

periods ended

December 31st 2020 2019 2020 2019

In thousands of Canadian dollars, except the number of shares and per share amounts $ $ $ $ Revenues 21,403 18,072 62,689 56,511 Adjusted EBITDA1 (139) 159 3,997 8,043 Operating (loss) profit (2,716) (1,753) (3,507) 2,769 (Loss) Profit (2,853) (1,879) (4,733) 1,006 Adjusted (loss) profit 2 (2,853) (1,879) (4,733) 1,089 Adjusted earnings (loss) per share (basic and diluted) 2 (0.14 ) (0.13) (0.26 ) 0.07 Earnings (loss) per share (basic and diluted) (0.14 ) (0.13) (0.26 ) 0.07 Basic and diluted weighted average number of shares outstanding (in thousands) 20,844 14,912 18,407 14,870





1 Adjusted EBITDA is a non-IFRS financial measure; see the Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA and Profit (loss) as well as the "About mdf commerce inc." section. 2 Adjusted profit (loss) and Adjusted earnings (loss) per share (basic and diluted) are non-IFRS financial measures; see the Reconciliation of Adjusted profit (loss) as well as the "About mdf commerce inc." section. 3 MRR is a key performance indicator and is composed of subscription and support revenues that are recurring in nature. Therefore, they exclude one-time fees and professional fees and other types of non-recurring revenues. See the About mdf commerce inc." section. RECONCILIATION OF ADJUSTED EBITDA AND PROFIT (LOSS)

Three month periods ended Nine month periods ended December 31st December 31st 2020 2019 2020 2019 In thousands of Canadian dollars. $ $ $ $ (Loss) profit (2,853) (1,879) (4,733) 1,006 Income tax (recovery) expense (625 ) (502) (914) 375 Depreciation of property, plant and equipment and amortization of intangible assets 1,121 797 3,064 2,210 Amortization of acquired intangible assets 885 680 2,799 1,882 Amortization of right-of-use assets 415 435 1,298 1,182 Amortization of deferred financing costs 58 10 78 29 Foreign exchange loss 516 316 1,256 400 Loss on disposal of a subsidiary - - - 83 Compensation under the stock option plan

156 - 343 - Interest on lease liability 93 91 290 275 Interest on long-term debt 95 211 516 601 Adjusted EBITDA (139) 159 3,997 8,043

RECONCILIATION OF PROFIT (LOSS) AND ADJUSTED PROFIT (LOSS) Three month periods ended Nine month periods ended December 31st December 31st 2020 2019 2020 2019 In thousands of Canadian dollars, except per share amounts $ $ $ $ (Loss) Profit (2,853) (1,879) (4,733) 1,006 Loss on disposal of a subsidiary - - - 83 Adjusted (loss) profit (2,853) (1,879) (4,733) 1,089 Earnings per share (basic and diluted) (0.14) (0.13) (0.26) 0.07 Adjusted earnings (loss) per share (basic and diluted) (0.14) (0.13) (0.26) 0.07 mdf commerce announces the resignation of Natalie Lariviere, effective February 10, 2021, who was a Board member for three years. All members of the Board of Directors and management team of mdf commerce wish to thank Ms. Lariviere for her unwavering support and contribution, especially in the context of profound transformation of the Company. About mdf commerce inc. mdf commerce inc. (TSX:MDF) enables the flow of commerce by providing a broad set of SaaS solutions that optimize and accelerate commercial interactions between buyers and sellers. Our platforms and services empower businesses around the world, allowing them to generate billions of dollars in transactions on an annual basis. Our strategic sourcing, unified commerce and eMarketplace platforms are supported by a strong and dedicated team of more than 600 employees based in Canada, the United States, Denmark, Ukraine and China. For more information, please visit us at mdfcommerce.com, follow us on LinkedIn or call at 1-877-677-9088. Non-IFRS Financial Measures and Key Performance Indicators The Corporation presents non-IFRS financial performance measures and key performance indicators to assess operating performance. The Corporation presents Adjusted profit, Adjusted profit per share, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) and Adjusted EBITDA as a non-IFRS measure and monthly recurring revenues as a key performance indicator. These non-IFRS measures and key performance indicators do not have standardized meanings under IFRS standards and are not likely to be comparable to similarly designated measures reported by other corporations. The reader is cautioned that these measures are being reported in order to complement, and not replace, the analysis of financial results in accordance with IFRS standards. Management uses both measures that comply with IFRS standards and non-IFRS measures, in planning, overseeing and assessing the Corporations performance. The terms and definitions associated with non-IFRS measures as well as a reconciliation to the most comparable IFRS measures, and key performance indicators are presented in the section Non-IFRS Financial Measures and Key Performance Indicators in Managements Discussion and Analysis for the third quarter ended December 31, 2020.

Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains certain forward-looking statements with respect to the Corporation. These forward-looking statements, by their nature, necessarily involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expected by these forward-looking statements. We consider the assumptions on which these forward-looking statements are based to be reasonable but caution the reader that these assumptions regarding future events, many of which are beyond our control, may ultimately prove to be incorrect since they are subject to the risks and uncertainties that affect us. We disclaim any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities legislation. The Corporations most recent interim condensed consolidated and annual audited consolidated financial statements, Managements Discussion and Analysis and its latest Annual Information Form are available on www.mdfcommerce.com and have been filed with SEDAR at www.sedar.com . For further information: mdf commerce inc.

Luc Filiatreault, President & CEO

Toll free: 1-877-677-9088, ext. 2004

Email: luc.filiatreault@mdfcommerce.com mdf commerce inc.

Deborah Dumoulin, Chief Financial Officer

Toll free: 1-877-677-9088, ext. 2134

Email: deborah.dumoulin@mdfcommerce.com mdf commerce inc.

Andre Leblanc, Vice President, Marketing and Public Affairs

Toll Free: 1?877?677-9088, ext. 8220

Email:? aleblanc@mdfcommerce.com



[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]
COVID-19 cases have leveled off somewhat in Bexar County after an alarming spike in January, but health experts are concerned that the onset of bitterly cold weather could keep people homebound for days and hasten the spread of the virus within families.

The San Antonio Metropolitan Health District on Wednesday reported 660 new cases, down from 1,348 the day before.

Officials also reported three new deaths that occurred over the last two weeks - two Hispanic women ages 70 to 79 and a Hispanic male over 80.

The seven-day rolling average of new COVID cases stood at 884down from 935 on Tuesday. The average was 1,510 a week ago.

During the January surge, some days saw more than 2,500 new cases in a 24-hour period.

There were 855 coronavirus patients in San Antonio hospitals as of Wednesday evening, Metro Health reported. They accounted for more than 21 percent of all hospitalizations.

The total number of patients included 342 in intensive care, one more than on Tuesday, and 198 on ventilators, the same as on the previous day.

The pandemic has claimed 2,365 lives in Bexar County since early 2020, though health officials acknowledge that some additional COVID deaths, especially those at home, could have been attributed to other causes.

During the daily televised coronavirus briefing Wednesday, Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff lauded Facebook and other social media sites for stopping some of these terrible lies about COVID-19 vaccines and deleting posts that say the vaccines are toxic or might cause infertility.

I hope theyll clamp down on such statements, Wolff said.

Wolff and Mayor Ron Nirenberg said they were encouraged by the slow, steady increase in the number of people vaccinated, even though supplies of vaccine continue to fall far short of demand.

Wolff said that about 24,600 doses of vaccine will be administered this week and that roughly 100,000 have been administered so far in the county.

Nirenberg said that Walmart and H-E-B pharmacies soon will receive shipments of vaccine.

As expected, with Bexar County reporting its first UK variant cases this week, Comal County reported its first two on Wednesday. Officially known as the B.1.1.7 variant, the United Kingdom strain is not thought by health experts to be more lethal but is considerably more infectious than the original strain.

Some 40 cases of the UK variant have been found in Texas since January  first in Houston, followed by others in Dallas and Austin.

Vaccines appear to be effective against it, health officials said.

The new strains arrival in South Texas coincides with the opening on Thursday of the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo. The annual two-week event is proceeding despite Wolffs request for a postponement.

To limit the potential spread of the virus, rodeo officials have scaled back attendance and are requiring masks, social distancing and temperature checks. They say theyve also installed touchless bathroom fixtures, antiviral lighting and ventilation, and contact-free payment options at the county-owned Freeman Coliseum.

bselcraig@express-news.net

Nifty futures on Singapore Exchange traded 72 points down at 15,066 around 8.20 am, indciating a weak start for the benchmark indices on Thursday.

Here are the top stocks that are likely to hog the limelight today:

Magma Fincorp: Adar Poonawalla-controlled Rising Sun Holdings will acquire a 60 per cent stake in the non-banking financial company by subscribing to a Rs 3,456-crore preferential issue. READ MORE

Q3 earnings: ITC, Coal India, Power Grid Corporation, ACC, Ashok Leyland, MRF and NCC are among 442 companies slated to post their December quarter numbers today.

Eicher Motors: Niche bike maker Royal Enfield may look at hiking prices from April in view of rising commodity prices, a top company official said on Wednesday.

BPCL: Privatisation-bound Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL) will buyout Oman Oil Company's shares in the Bina refinery project for about Rs 2,400 crore. READ MORE

National Fertilizers: The government will sell 20 per cent of its stake in through an offer for sale and has invited bids from merchant bankers for managing the share sale.

Titan: The company reported an 11.81 per cent YoY increase in consolidated net profit to Rs 530 crore for the third quarter ended in December 2020, led by income growth in the jewellery division.

Godrej Properties: The firm has plans to raise up to Rs 3,750 crore through a qualified institutional placement of its shares to fund new land buys and pay its joint venture partners. The GPL board has already cleared the proposal for the fund-raise. READ MORE

Greaves Cotton: The company's consolidated net profit declined by 56.98 per cent YoY to Rs 20.9 crore for the third quarter ended December 31, 2020. The consolidated revenue from operations declined to Rs 494.57 crore in the third quarter as against Rs 520.26 crore in the year-ago period.

Ujjivan Financial Services: The firm reported a consolidated loss of Rs 490.73 crore in the third quarter ended in December 2020. The company had registered a net profit of Rs 74.97 crore in the year-ago quarter.

Ruchi Soya: Ruchi Soya Industries reported a net profit of Rs 227.44 crore for the quarter ended in December. The company had posted a net profit of Rs 7,617.43 crore in the year-ago period because of an exceptional gain of Rs 7,466.06 crore.

Aurobindo Pharma: The company reported an over four-fold jump in consolidated net profit to Rs 2,946.32 crore for the quarter ended December 2020, mainly on account of exceptional gains.

Bank of India: CCI, on Wednesday, approved Bank of India's acquisition of 49 per cent stake each in BOI AXA Investment Managers and BOI AXA Trustee Services. The company also reported 412 per cent jump in standalone profit after tax at Rs 541 crore in the third quarter ended December on improvement in asset quality and lower provisions.

Eveready: Eveready Industries India reported a 44 per cent YoY fall in its standalone net profit to Rs 50.43 crore for the third quarter of the current fiscal.

TCS: Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) has launched its TCS AWS Business Unit (BU) that will focus on helping enterprise customers drive superior business outcomes using Amazon Web Services (AWS).

Mindspace REIT: Mindspace Business Parks REIT on Wednesday reported a consolidated net profit of Rs 140 crore for the quarter ended December and declared a distribution of Rs 283.5 crore to unitholders. The company had posted a net profit of Rs 68.4 crore in the previous quarter.

IGL: Indraprastha Gas reported an 18 per cent YoY rise in December quarter net profit after city gas sales recovered after easing of coronavirus lockdown restrictions.

Bata India: The company reported lower profit at Rs 26.4 crore in Q3FY21 against Rs 118.2 crore in Q3FY20. Revenue fell to Rs 615.6 crore.
Making emergency alerts less of a crisis

The Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Department of Homeland Security are working to develop a tool to help government entities authorized to use the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) determine how best to do so.

On Jan. 19, DHSs Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) announced that it had awarded more than $1.5 million to Corner Alliance, a small-business consulting firm, to develop the Alerts, Warnings and Notifications (AWN) Guidance Tool. The program planning app will be available via a portal on FEMAs website and is expected to provide customized resources, best practices and program templates to address the most pressing challenges of alert originators, according to the agency announcement.

Workers authorized to send alerts via IPAWS will be able to go online and answer questions about their state and local policies for sending alerts to the public, their local IT and cellular infrastructures, how radio and television share the messages, and population size and special needs, including languages spoken. After answering those questions, the tool will deliver a template for developing a policy, a start in developing their procedures and their protocols, who do they need to check with, who should be the office thats sending those alerts, said IPAWS Deputy Director Wade Witmer.

The tool will build on S&Ts work with FEMA on creating the IPAWS Program Planning Toolkit, which offers training guidance, frequently-asked questions and a fact sheet on the IPAWS Lab. The lab is a closed environment that authorities can use to test and practice sending alerts via all IPAWS pathways, including the Emergency Alert System, Wireless Emergency Alerts, Non-Weather Emergency Messages and more.

Authorized users can perform onsite, off-site or independent testing. Originally hosted via an onsite server, the lab migrated the test environment to the cloud in 2019 -- the same year IPAWS began requiring that anyone with authority to send alerts must practice using the system once a month. Currently, more than 1,500 agencies are authorized and have access to send alerts via IPAWS. Three are federal agencies: the National Weather Service (one of the largest users), the U.S. Geological Survey through its ShakeAlert Earthquake Early Warning System and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, which sends Amber Alerts. About 75 users are at state-level agencies, with the rest at local ones.

We replicate a cell network so that you can see what a phone looks like when it gets the alert, Witmer said. We have all the equipment that network television and cable use on their end. We have some sirens, we have some signboards, we have all these different things that can and do in some areas integrate into the IPAWS system and display alerts.

Initially, users had to visit the lab in person, but now that the test environment is cloud-based, its available online around the clock. Users can take their alerting tool off the live system, point it to the test cloud and send their messages. Then they go to a webpage to see how the alert would be displayed on cellphones, televisions and radios.

We do also frequently [provide technical] support especially when an authority might be having a problem, Witmer added. If messages arent working in their area, users can call the lab and workers there disseminate the message. Users can also send a test message to the lab to diagnose problems.

IPAWS avenues are primarily broadcast technologies. Authorities in an area with an emergency specify where they want to alert delivered via television and radio. Cellphone users can opt in to receive alerts, too. One drawback to that, however, is cellular providers broadcast only from cell towers that are relevant to the geographic area, which is sometimes a larger area than the alert targeted.

Government entities have been sending mass alerts since 1934, Witmer said, but the coronavirus pandemic led to an uptick: Usage by local- and state-level authorities was three times greater in 2020 than in 2019.

Agencies that maybe hadnt used it before started using it for COVID messaging. That spilled over. There was a lot of usage during the periods of civil unrest that happened there in the middle of the year also, Witmer said. I think the realization at the local level of the effectiveness of it -- that you could reach a bunch of people in a given area  they started using it for all sorts of other things that we hadnt necessarily thought of, such as missing persons beyond Amber Alerts, police activity, gas leaks and water issues.

The requirement for monthly practices also contributed to the increased use, he added.
Watertown, NY (13601)

Today

More clouds than sun. Slight chance of a rain shower. High around 65F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Low 44F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph.
Just three weeks into his presidency, Joe Biden is learning some tough lessons as the media and the public drill down on his top promises about trying to end the pandemic and return to a semblance of normal daily life, particularly regarding public schools.

The first big goal to fall flat was Bidens promise to get 100 million shots into arms in his first 100 days in office. White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain called the goal ambitious, but journalists pointed out that this wasnt really escalating the rate of immunization already underway. So the administration upped its number to 150 millions shots, only to back away and settle back the very next day on the original 100 million.

There were also basic unanswered questions. Did 100 million only refer to first shots when a second shot is required for a full vaccination regimen? If so, then only 50 million Americans would be inoculated from the coronavirus by the end of April.

A similarly underwhelming reality is settling in about Bidens promise to have most schools open within 100 days of his swearing-in.

It should be a national priority to get our kids back into school and keep them in school, Biden said in early December. If Congress provides the funding we need to protect students, educators and staff; if states and cities put strong public health measures in place that we all follow, then my team will work to see that a majority of our schools can be open by the end of my first 100 days.

Despite the multiple caveats, those words encouraged parents and students to believe public schools could reopen swiftly and safely -- especially as teachers went to the front of the vaccination lines. But the bubble burst early this week when White House press secretary Jen Psaki was asked exactly what the president meant by the promise and how administration officials would know whether they were on track to hit their mark.

At Tuesdays regular press briefing, Psaki said the goal is now to have the majority of schools  so, more than 50% -- open by day 100 of his presidency.

And what does open mean?

Some teaching in classrooms, she responded. So, at least one day a week  hopefully more.

The rebukes came fast and furious. mainly from conservatives  but also from unexpected voices in the media. CNN anchor Jake Tapper hit Biden for backtracking from his original pledge, faulting the president for failing to stand up to the teacher unions. Tapper suggested that the science shows that COVID is not spreading in classrooms and that students mental health issues caused by keeping schools shuttered were having a greater impact.

Conservative Republican Sen. Tom Cotton was also critical of the grip unions appear to have on the administration. Joe Biden only wants half of our schools open one day per week by May, Cotton tweeted. The science is clear  schools should be open now. Joe Biden needs to stop putting his special interests ahead of parents and kids.

So when Biden promised he would reopen schools by Day 100, he really meant 50% of schools, 20% of the time, added Rep. Mike Johnson, a Republican from Louisiana. Parents wont stand for this. #OpenSchools.

While political pundits had a field day with the administrations verbal gymnastics, many parents and students initially encouraged by the Bidens reopening promises felt dismay.

Obviously, its a hollow promise  its a betrayal of millions of students and voters everywhere who believed [Biden] would get students back in all classrooms with teachers more than one day a week, Seema Burke, a parent of three high school students in North County San Diego, told RealClearPolitics. Burke has spent the last year working to bridge the communitys divide between those with concerns about safely reopening schools and others who want a faster return to classrooms.

If [Biden] continues to avoid the clear science and the growing multitude of experts who say its safe to return to school, and that, in fact, schools are the safest place for students, the American public will be led to believe that teacher union interests, politics, is more important to you than the well-being of students, she said.

The growing frustration among parents over the political clout of unions is giving conservatives new ammunition for their decades-long crusade to break governments monopoly on public education.

This shows that we need to fundamentally change the way we do educational funding so that parents control it, David McIntosh, president the Club for Growth, told RCP. Bidens one-day-a-week metric will be a failure for the kids, he asserted.

You can put a label on a school that were open, but kids go to school one day a week? Then theyre going to continue to be further and further behind  this whole generation of school children. Its a travesty whats happening to them.

Instead of states directing property tax allocations to school districts, McIntosh said they should be redirected from bureaucracies to parents.

At least two data-collection organizations say the nations public schools have already met Bidens limited definition of school reopening. MCH Strategic Data, which was founded in 1928 and has become a leading provider of education data and technology solutions, has compiled figures on a district-by-district level across the United States. As of Feb. 1, MCH found that 51% of school districts across the country, a total of 7,187, were offering some type of hybrid learning  a combination of in-person and virtual learning experiences, with just 23% continuing to offer online-only learning and 3% of districts falling into the undecided/unknown category.

As of Feb. 9, Burbio, an organization that aggregates data from 80,000 K-12 public school websites across all 50 states, said 39.7% of K-12 public schools were offering traditional in-person learning while 25.1% were offering some type of hybrid learning. Thats a total of 64.8% of schools that are already meeting Bidens goal.

The administration is starting to track similar metrics across the country, acknowledging that it needs more information about how students are learning during the pandemic. As part of his executive order on school reopening, Biden requested that the Department of Education gather the data, and the agency last Friday announced a new survey aimed at collecting information from 3,500 schools that enroll fourth-graders and an equal number of schools that enroll eight-graders. The results will be collected from this month through June.

"President Biden is committed to the safe reopening of schools and to addressing the educational disparities and inequities that the pandemic has exposed and exacerbated," Ian Rosenblum, acting assistant secretary of the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, said in a statement. "To do that, we need more information about how students are learning during this pandemic  and we simply don't have it right now.

Psaki on Wednesday tried to tamp down some of the controversy she had set in motion one day earlier. Asked why Biden wasnt setting a higher bar, she conceded that it was a goal he hoped to exceed while still insisting the marker constituted a bold and ambitious agenda. But we certainly hope to build from that even at 100 days, she added. From there the presidents objective is for all schools to reopen and to stay open, to be open five days a week for kids to be learning.

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David Schoen, one of the leading lawyers for former President Donald Trump in his second impeachment trial, contended on Tuesday that the process would further divide the United States.

Schoen cautioned senators on Tuesday that convicting Trump could provoke a second civil war.

Trial to Tear Country Apart

The attorney claimed Democrats of knowing that "the so-called trial will tear the country in half, leaving tens of millions of Americans feeling left out of the nation's agenda, as dictated by one political party that now holds the power in the White House and in our national legislature. This trial will tear this country apart, perhaps like we've only seen once before in our history," reported Huffpost.

He said the impeachment trial could tear the nation apart based on partisan force-feeding.

According to Schoen, the process is ignited by base hatred. He said they are willing to risk their national character to advance their hatred. He added their fear that one day they may not be the dominant party, reported The Wall Street Journal.

Hapless Lawyers

Senate Republicans had stark denouncement for the former president's legal team following the opening of his second trial.

Many of them remarked they did not understand the attorneys' arguments as they sought to persuade the Senate for the impeachment trial's dismissal on the grounds of constitutionality.

Trump's trial was held for provoking the Jan. 6 siege of the US Capitol by courtesy of his supporters. The riot recorded five fatalities.

Divided United States

Schoen remarked the trial would leave the US much more divided, and its status across the globe will be badly broken.

Also Read: Trump Not Happy With Defense Team After Rambling Performance On Day 1 Of Impeachment Trial



Schoen said that if the trial moves forward, it will make "everyone" look bad and other nations that wish the United States harm will be delighted.

Both sides were arguing over the trial's constitutionality. The debate will be followed by a vote for the case's dismissal, which is expected to fail.

Following the presentation, 44 Republicans sided with the former president's legal team. They voted that the Senate cannot conduct a trial of a former president. The vote suggests Democrats will fall short of the 17 Republicans required to convict Trump, having won over a mere six.

Schoen also said the US could not possibly heal with the trial, reported Newsweek.

He added that with the trial, new and bigger wounds across the nation would be opened, "for a great many Americans see this process for exactly what it is: a chance by a group of partisan politicians seeking to eliminate Donald Trump from the American political scene and seeking to disenfranchise 74 million-plus American voters, and those who dare to share their political beliefs and vision of America."

Trump's trial in the Senate comes one year after the chamber acquitted him on two other articles of impeachment regarding his efforts to pressure Ukraine to smear Joe Biden and his family's reputation.

Related Article: Trump Happier, Calmer Since Twitter Suspension, According to Former Aide

@ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
Dublin, Feb. 11, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Research Report on China's Shipbuilding Industry, 2021-2025" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

Shipbuilding is a modern and comprehensive industry of strategic importance that provides technical equipment to industries such as water traffic, ocean development and national defense.



China's shipbuilding industry has been developing rapidly with the government's policy support and cost advantages since the beginning of the 21st century. China-made mainstream ships including container ships, bulk carriers and oil tankers and high-end ships including liquefied gas carriers have certain competitive advantages on the international market. In the recent decade, the global shipbuilding industry presented a market structure of tripartite China-South Korea-Japan competition.

According to the analyst, in 2020, affected by the COVID-19 epidemic, the global new shipbuilding market remains sluggish. In 2020, pessimistic expectations in the global newbuilding market will increase, new ship transactions will decrease significantly, and the number of new ship orders received by major shipbuilding countries will decline year-on-year. From January to November 2020, China received orders for new ships of 22.52 million dwt, a year-on-year decrease of 8.7%.



Among them, orders for export ships were 19.77 million dwt, a year-on-year decrease of 13.5%, and export orders accounted for 87.8%. In the same period, Japan's orders for new ships dropped by 66.7% year-on-year, and South Korea's orders for new ships dropped by 8.4% year-on-year. The global market share has increased.



From January to November, China's shipbuilding completions, new orders, and hand-held orders accounted for 40.4%, 50.8% and 46.9% of the global market, respectively. The three major indicators are higher than in 2019. The completion of the shipbuilding industry was better than expected.

The COVID-19 epidemic that broke out in early 2020 has had a major impact on China's shipbuilding industry in the first quarter of 2020. In the first quarter of 2020, China's shipbuilding completion volume fell by 27.3% year-on-year.



It will gradually recover from April 2020. From January to November 2020, China's shipbuilding completed 33.24 million deadweight tons, down 2.6% year-on-year. Among them, the completed export ship volume was 30.03 million deadweight tons, a year-on-year decrease of 5.8%, and the completed export ship volume accounted for 90.3%.

On November 15, 2020, the ten ASEAN countries, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand formally signed the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP). RCEP is currently the world's largest free trade zone. In 2019, the 15 member states of RCEP have a total population of 2.27 billion, GDP of 26 trillion U.S. dollars, and total exports of 5.2 trillion U.S. dollars, each accounting for about 30% of the global total. The establishment of the RCEP free trade zone means that about one-third of the world's economy will form an integrated market.

After the agreement comes into effect, more than 90% of the goods trade in the region will eventually achieve zero tariffs, and the tax will be reduced to zero immediately and within 10 years, so that the RCEP free trade zone is expected to fulfill all the goods trade liberalization commitments in a relatively short time.



According to the analysis, After the RECP takes effect, it will greatly promote the import and export trade between the contracting states, thereby promoting the rapid development of intra-regional and external maritime trade. Shipping is still the most important mode of transportation in global trade. The signing of the RCEP agreement may bring new growth momentum to the shipping industry, and the development and growth of the shipping industry will create new market space for the shipbuilding industry.

According to this forecast, if the COVID-19 epidemic can be alleviated in 2021, the global and Chinese shipbuilding industry is expected to recover. If the epidemic continues, the global shipbuilding industry will still be in a downturn in 2021 and may not gradually recover until 2022.



Topics Covered:

The impact of COVID-19 on the global shipbuilding market

Development environment of shipbuilding in China

Sales volume and value of shipbuilding in China 2015-2025

Sales volume and value of shipbuilding in China by section 2015-2025

Major shipbuilding Manufacturers and their market share in China

Export volumes and values of shipbuilding in China

Major export destinations of China's shipbuilding

Prices of shipbuilding in China

Prospects of Chinese shipbuilding Market 2021-2025

Key Topics Covered:

1 Basic Concept of Shipbuilding Industry

1.1 Definition of Shipbuilding Industry

1.2 Classification of Ship Products

1.3 Methodology

1.4 The impact of COVID-19 on the shipbuilding industry

2 Analysis on China's Shipbuilding Industry

2.1 Development Environment of China's Shipbuilding Industry

2.1.1 Economic Environment

2.1.2 Policy Environment

2.1.3 Technological Environment

2.2 Shipbuilding Supply in China

2.2.1 Analysis of China's Shipbuilding Capacity

2.2.2 Main Operational Indicators of China's Shipbuilding Industry

2.3 Analysis of China's Demand for Ships

2.3.1 Overall Demand

2.3.2 Demand in Segment Markets

2.4 Exports of Ships from China

2.4.1 Overview

2.4.2 Major Export Destinations

2.4.3 Export Structure

3 Analysis on Competition in China's Shipbuilding Industry

3.1 Barriers to Entry in China's Shipbuilding Industry

3.1.1 Policy Barriers

3.1.2 Capital Barriers

3.1.3 Technological Barriers

3.2 Competition Structure of China's Shipbuilding Industry

4 Analysis on Major Shipbuilders in China, 2015-2020

4.1 Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Co., Ltd.

4.2 Yangzijiang Shipbuilding (Holdings) Ltd.

4.3 Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Co., Ltd.

4.4 Guangzhou Shipyard International Co., Ltd.

4.5 Nantong COSCO KHI Ship Engineering Co., Ltd.

4.6 CSSC Chengxi Shipyard Co., Ltd.

4.7 Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding Industry Co., Ltd.

4.8 Hudong-Zhonghua Shipbuilding (Group) Co., Ltd.

4.9 Jiangsu New Times Shipbuilding Co., Ltd.

4.10 CSC Jinling Shipyard

5 Analysis on Shipbuilding Costs and Ship Prices in China, 2015-2020

5.1 Analysis of Shipbuilding Costs

5.2 Analysis of Ship Prices

5.3 Labor Cost

6 Forecast on Development of China's Shipbuilding Industry, 2021-2025

6.1 Factors Influencing Development of China's Shipbuilding Industry

6.1.1 Driving Forces and Market Opportunities

6.1.2 Threats and Challenges

6.2 Forecast on Shipbuilding Supply in China

6.2.1 Forecast on Production Capacity

6.2.2 Forecast on Completion of Ships

6.3 Forecast on Shipbuilding Demand in China 2021-2025

6.3.1 Domestic Demand

6.3.2 Forecast on Export of Ships from China, 2021-2025

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/ibl3kq




Risk from third-party providers

Ransomware, a growing threat

Securing teleworkers

The COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically altered the way we live, work and interact, creating new cyber-risks and challenges that will continue in 2021. A large portion of these new cyber-risks resulted from the sudden move to telework, which presented a particular challenge to the public sector because of its strong norms of on-premise work. Nevertheless, telework in government agencies has proved a success, with a number of agency leaders citing benefits including cost savings, increased productivity and broader pools of talent. Even as vaccinations are underway, many government employees look likely to permanently work from home. The question remains: Can public-sector cyber defenses meet the new realities of a post-pandemic cyberthreat landscape?In recent years, U.S. public-sector agencies have experienced a shift towards digitization, with greater use of new technologies including cloud-based infrastructures, Internet-of-things (IoT) devices, network management software and other software-as-a-service solutions. The pandemic accelerated the adoption of these new technologies, as well as additional new third-party applications for remote work collaboration like Zoom and Slack.While federal procurement programs like the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program ( FedRAMP ) can ensure a base level of cybersecurity compliance, the reality is that in cyberspace, it is still easier to attack than defend. Every year, cyberattacks become cheaper, easier and faster, with attackers growing increasingly persistent and sophisticated. Because government agencies perform critical functions and store large amounts of sensitive data, they are prime targets of a variety of cyber-adversaries  from financially motivated cybercriminals to nation-state hackers conducting cyber-espionage.The massive SolarWinds breach on multiple federal agencies has starkly highlighted the risk of supply chain vulnerabilities to both public- and private-sector organizations. The U.S. Intelligence Community has formally stated that the breach was part of a broad cyber-espionage campaign by Russias foreign intelligence service, the SVR. While the compromise was severe, the outcome could have been much worse if, for example, a ransomware group had been behind the intrusion and encrypted the affected systems for payment.As government agencies have grown more reliant on third-party providers, supply chains have become a major attack vector. Increasingly advanced attackers  including ransomware operators  are devoting more attention and resources to target supply chain companies as it allows them to compromise many networks at once. Managing supply chain risk is an essential part of cyber-risk management, but the majority of public-sector organizations  already underfunded and understaffed  do not have the resources to develop frameworks to measure and evaluate cyber-risk exposure from suppliers by themselves.One good way public-sector organizations can evaluate the cyber-risk exposure of prospective service providers before engaging them as trusted third-party partners is through security ratings. These ratings, from companies like SecurityScorecard , provide a standardized snapshot and ongoing monitoring of a companies cybersecurity capabilities. Public-sector organizations should leverage cybersecurity ratings alongside programs like FedRAMP to make effective strategic risk decisions.In February 2020, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) released new draft guidance around cyber supply chain risk management. Public-sector organizations from local, state to federal agencies, should look to this guidance for best practices on managing and mitigating supply chain risks. Measures should include communicating and validating cybersecurity requirements to suppliers, as well as identifying and adding protections around systems or components that would cause the greatest organizational impact if compromised.Lastly, given how difficult supply chain compromises are to prevent and detect, organizations must develop, test and train incident response plans so that if an attack were to occur, the blast radius can be contained. Part of this includes knowing who to engage in the broader cyber ecosystem for intelligence gathering and containment strategies to mitigate the effects of an attack.Supply chains are just one vector allowing threat actors to launch a variety of cyberattacks from data breaches to ransomware. Indeed, in 2020, the public sector faced a far greater risk from financially motivated cybercriminals than nation-state cyberspies. Verizon reports that last year, 75 percent of cyberincidents involving public-sector organizations were financially motivated, with ransomware accounting for 62 percent of malware incidents. Ransomware attackers have long targeted the public sector. The city of Baltimore has now experienced severe ransomware attacks three times: in 2018, 2019 and just last Thanksgiving , with an attack that crippled the districts remote learning programs, and grading and emailing systems. These attacks on public-sector entities will likely grow even more this year.In addition, ransomware threats are becoming even more advanced. In the last couple of years, a growing number of nation-state hackers have begun to conduct financially motivated attacks alongside their nation-state missions. This situation has resulted in an influx of highly advanced tools in the hands of cybercriminals, resulting in more impactful and costly attacks. Last year, Ryuk ransomware was seen going from initial phish to domain-wide encryption in just five hours, and double extortion ransomware attacks  where attackers steal sensitive data before encrypting systems  are now standard operating procedure.Aside from more advanced tools, ransomware threats are difficult to detect and defend against because once malware is running on a user's system, from an operating system view, the ransomware effectively appears as the user. User accounts can be compromised in a variety of ways, including business email compromises (BEC), phishing, stolen credentials and more. As such, a large part of cyberdefenses against ransomware attacks relies on good cyber-awareness and hygiene from employees  an even bigger challenge with the new teleworking arrangements.Teleworkers are using more devices, more applications and connecting to organizational infrastructure over home networks that are often poorly secured. Increases in endpoints, operating systems and applications have caused the cyberattack surface  i.e., the number of possible ways an attacker can get into a network  to expand significantly. In addition, many employees working from home are forced to juggle the demands of work, childcare and general stress over pandemic uncertainty. Distracted employees paying less attention to security are much more susceptible to clicking on malicious links and social engineering attacks. These factors create a situation where attackers can gain footholds in networks through negligence, careless mistakes and poor personal cyberhygiene.As employees continue to work from home, public-sector organizations must improve cyber-awareness and promote a good cyberculture across all levels. In October, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) released its Telework Essentials Toolkit , detailing best practices to keep employees and networks secure while working from home. Government agencies should consult and implement these guidelines across networks, paying special attention to ensure that mobile and tablet devices are also adequately protected.
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Despite growing calls by government officials discouraging the withdrawal of gender-based violence cases, the country has recorded 404 withdrawals last year, Chief Justice Peter Shivute announced yesterday.

Domestic violence cases brought before the lower courts took a sharp increase in 2020, with a record of more than 2 300 cases. This, according to Shivute, surpassed 2 044 cases brought before court during 2019 and 1 938 cases in 2018. Shivute was speaking at the virtual opening of the 2021 legal year yesterday. Statistics indicate that of the 2 370 cases for 2020, 1 835 cases resulted in interim protection orders, whilst 765 protection orders were made final.

However, an alarming number of 404 of these applications were withdrawn by the applicants.

"The 2020 reported domestic violence cases are more than the 2 044 reported in 2019. Violence in the home, therefore, continues to be a source for grave concern for the judiciary," said Shivute.

According to statistics released by the police last year, 5 961 GBV cases were opened between September 2019 to September 2020. Of that number, 3 119 suspects have been arrested and 2 595 have appeared in various courts around the country, while 892 cases were withdrawn for various reasons before they were brought before the courts by the complainants.

The police indicated 2 338 cases were still under investigation, while 900 have been finalised, with 712 suspects having been convicted, while 378 suspects were acquitted and their cases closed.

Of the rape cases, 869 were reported during the period under review, with 604 arrests made and 594 have already made their court appearances.

A total of 25 of these cases were withdrawn by the complainants and 125 are still under investigation, with four cases having been finalised, three convicted and nine acquitted.

On murder cases, 74 cases were reported to the police, with 64 arrests made, and the suspects have all appeared in court. 10 cases are still under investigation, no case was yet finalised and no one has been convicted either.
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San Francisco, 11 Feb 2021: The Report Gene Therapy Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Indication (Large B-cell Lymphoma, Beta-Thalassemia Major/SCD), By Vector Type (Lentivirus, AAV), By Region, And Segment Forecasts, 2021 - 2028

The global gene therapy market size is expected to reach USD 10.0 billion by 2028 registering a CAGR of 20.4% during the forecast period, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The market growth is attributed to the increasing prevalence of cancer coupled with the lack of effective treatment for the disease. Constant expansion of cancer genetic studies has deciphered relevant information about cancer-related molecular signatures.

This has driven the clinical trials for advanced cancer therapeutics, thereby driving the market growth. In addition, expansion of this mode of treatment in non-cancer applications with approval of therapies, such as approval of Bluebird Bios Zynteglo in June 2019 for -thalassemia and others, demonstrates the shift in the preferences of companies towards other unsaturated segments.

Various universities and institutes are observed to exhibit a broad portfolio in the pipeline, which is anticipated to boost revenue generation in the future. The market is anticipated to witnesses a short-term revenue slowdown due to a shift in focus and delay in product launches. However, initiatives for developing novel trial designs, improving the regulatory environment, and managing the supply chain are expected to play a critical role in minimizing the impact of the current global crisis.

Access Research Report of Gene Therapy Market @ https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/gene-therapy-market

Gene Therapy Market Report Highlights

Viral vectors have proven their efficiency as a method for effective gene deliveries. As a result, a substantial number of research communities and biotechnology companies have designed their gene therapy programs based on viral vectors

Moreover, most of currently FDA-secured products involve the use of viral vectors, which contributes to the dominance of the viral vectors segment

Due to the approval and huge success of lentivirus-based Kymriah and retrovirus-based Yescarta, retrovirus and lentivirus are also among the key revenue-generating segments

Cancer has led the revenue flow in the market over the past few years and is expected to maintain its dominance in the forecast period

The presence of approved products for various cancer forms including Large B-cell lymphoma, Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL), and melanoma has resulted in the dominance of this segment

The U.S. is recognized as the hub for clinical trials related to gene therapy. This has significantly impacted the revenue growth of the North America market

Also, the success of Yescarta and Kymriah in the U.S. as the first approved CAR-t therapy programs has driven huge investments by various government agencies, sponsors, and key companies in this region

Major market participants are partnering with other key stakeholders via signing licensing, commercialization, and development deals to enhance their worldwide business operations

For instance, in June 2020, uniQure announced a license agreement with CSL Behring for the commercialization of hemophilia B gene therapy

List of Key Players of Gene Therapy Market

REGENXBIO, Inc.

Oxford BioMedica plc

Dimension Therapeutics, Inc.

Bristol-Myers Squibb Company

SANOFI

Applied Genetic Technologies Corporation

Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd.

Bluebird Bio, Inc.

Novartis AG

Taxus Cardium Pharmaceuticals Group, Inc. (Gene Biotherapeutics)

UniQure N.V.

Shire Plc

Cellectis S.A.

Sangamo Therapeutics, Inc.

Orchard Therapeutics

Gilead Lifesciences, Inc.

Benitec Biopharma Ltd.

Sibiono GeneTech Co., Ltd.

Shanghai Sunway Biotech Co., Ltd.

Gensight Biologics S.A.

Transgene

Calimmune, Inc.

Epeius Biotechnologies Corp.

Astellas Pharma, Inc.

American Gene Technologies

BioMarin Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Access Press Release of Gene Therapy Market @ https://www.grandviewresearch.com/press-release/global-gene-therapy-market
Nairobi  President Uhuru Kenyatta has created a new State Department in the Ministry of Education to steer curriculum reforms through the implementation of the Competence Based Curriculum (CBC).

The new department has been mandated to oversee the roll out of the new education system including the recommendations of a taskforce report dubbed 'Enhancing Access, Relevance and Quality for Effective Curriculum Reforms Implementation'.

While presiding over the unveiling of the taskforce report at Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) on Tuesday, President Kenyatta said CBC will make Kenya's education system responsive to the demands of the modern world. He rallied Kenyans to back the process.

"The Taskforce has made several recommendations and consulted widely including through 11 sector-based pre-conferences. This is important because it underscores my Administration's commitment to adhere to the tenets of public participation, as envisioned in our constitution.

"In this regard, to ensure effective implementation of these recommendations, and other curriculum reforms, I have on this 9th Day of February, 2021 set my hand and presidential seal and established a new State Department for Implementation of Curriculum Reforms vested in the Ministry of Education," President Kenyatta declared.

The Head of State said the country is at a tipping-point with its education system where the old must give way to the new.

"It requires us to be bold, and not rigid. It calls us to imagine a system that creates responsible citizens as opposed to subjects; a system that celebrates the creative potential of all our children as opposed to one that leaves them with labels of failure, if they do not pass exams."

"And a system that brings about freedom as opposed to conformity. This is the promise of the Competency Based Curriculum," the President said.

Kenyatta said CBC will empower Kenyans to be better citizens.

"On citizenship, we have a crisis of competence and our education system must give us a response. Youth violence and pessimism are partly a result of low civic competence amongst citizens.

"And this is because we have not taught our children the values of citizen participation from an early age. This is why youth pessimism and blind activism are on the rise," President Kenyatta said.

The President applauded the taskforce led by Professor Fatuma Chege for its report saying its recommendations will help lessen the rigidity in the current education system by introducing the 'leading to learn' principle.

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"The purpose of the new system of 'Learning to Learn' is to allow our children to explore, innovate and unshackle their minds from the old and rigid molds of learning. This way they will be able to exploit their imagination, creativity, solve problems, use critical thinking, apply digital literacy, and feel a sense of civic duty as citizens," he said.

On the re-opening of schools, the Head of State said the government continues to be vigilant as schools resume after a long period of closure due to the outbreak of the coronavirus disease.

"But I must say I am grateful for the patience you all have shown, and for the speed and care with which we have resumed learning after re-opening of our learning institutions.

"Yes, through the tireless work of our doctors, our nurses, our medical staff, and the diligence of Kenyans themselves, we have gradually brought the pandemic under control; but we, nonetheless, remain vigilant as our children and teachers ease back into regular order," the President said.

Education CS Prof George Magoha, his Principal Secretary Dr Belio Kipsang, Teachers Service Commission CEO Nancy Macharia and Murang'a Governor Mwangi WaIria who is also the Chairperson of the Education Committee at the Council Governors also spoke at the event attended by a cross-section of education sector stakeholders.

Additional reporting by PSCU.

Murang'a Senator Irungu Kangata has hinted he will likely support Deputy President William Ruto's presidential bid in 2022.

He spoke on Tuesday during an interview with a local television station.

Kangata added he will base his support for the DP on President Uhuru Kenyatta's public declaration regarding Ruto's presidential ambitions in the past.

"In 2022, President Kenyatta will not be on the ballot so by supporting Ruto, you cannot say that I will be disrespecting him," he argued.

"After all, the President told us 'yangu kumi ya Ruto kumi (I want to rule for ten years and then will hand over for Ruto to rule for another ten). So when I support Ruto, I am doing as the President has said in the past. The President by the way recently told us that promise still stands."

Kangata has been loggerheads with President Kenyatta in recent times leading to his removal as Senate Majority leader on Tuesday.

Jubilee secretary general Raphael Tuju accused Kangata of leaking contents of a confidential letter addressed to President Kenyatta through the media.

The youthful politician has pleaded his innocence and suggested the ruling political party should embrace the freedom of speech and accept the contrary opinions.
A damning new study by the Lancet, one of the worlds leading medical journals, found that Donald Trumps handling of the coronavirus pandemic while he was president exacerbated problems that had been accruing over four decades of government neglect, leading to Americans dying of COVID-19 at a higher rate than people in other high-income nations.

The report commissioned by The Lancet, a British publication, laid out how years of declining spending on public health and an increase in wealth inequality combined with COVID-19 to cause avoidable deaths in the United States, with a disproportionate effect on minority communities. The authors found that 40 percent of the more than 400,000 American virus deaths as of mid-January could have been averted if the U.S. had a mortality rate in line with those of the other G-7 nations (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the U.K.).

The Lancet Commission on Public Policy and Health in the Trump Era found that the former presidents actions resulted in 2.3 million Americans losing their health insurance during his tenure, in addition to the nearly 30 million who werent covered when he took office. It also stated that his rollbacks of environmental regulations resulted in an increase in pollution that led to an estimated 22,000 additional deaths in 2019 alone.

President Trump speaks during a farewell ceremony at Joint Base Andrews, Md, on Jan. 20. (Stefani Reynolds/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

The study stands out from other recent reports in that it places blame for a large number of deaths not just on Trumps policies, but also on the American health care system more generally. Trumps response to the pandemic, though, came in for the most criticism.

Instead of galvanizing the US populace to fight the pandemic, President Trump publicly dismissed its threat (despite privately acknowledging it), discouraged action as infection spread, and eschewed international cooperation, read the report. His refusal to develop a national strategy worsened shortages of personal protective equipment and diagnostic tests. President Trump politicized mask-wearing and school reopenings and convened indoor events attended by thousands, where masks were discouraged and physical distancing was impossible.

The study also found that the pandemic increased the mortality gap between Black and white Americans by 50 percent and cut the life expectancy of Latinos by nearly four years. It stated that the fact that COVID-19 affects Black, Indigenous, and Latinx people disproportionately has reinforced longstanding health inequities driven by racially patterned disparities in housing, wealth, employment, and social and political rights.

The countrys treatment of Puerto Rico, specifically in the wake of 2017s Hurricane Maria, was highlighted as particularly neglectful, as well as the militarization of immigration policies, which the report said harmed the health and development of thousands of children and intimidated immigrant communities, discouraging them from using health and nutrition services.

While the authors of the study were critical of Trumps handling of the virus and his overall governing philosophy, they repeatedly stated that there were deep problems in the country before 2017, blaming neoliberal policies that resulted in cuts in government spending on public health and the lack of universal insurance.

The disturbing truth is that many of President Trumps policies do not represent a radical break with the past but have merely accelerated the decades-long trend of lagging life expectancy that reflects deep and longstanding flaws in US economic, health, and social policy, read the report. These flaws are not only evident in faltering longevity  and the especially sluggish progress in reducing deaths amenable to health care  but also in the widening gaps in mortality across social class and geography and the chronically high mortality of Black and Indigenous people.

People receive the COVID-19 vaccine at St. Johns Missionary Baptist Church in Tampa on Jan. 10. (Octavio Jones/Getty Images)

The report found that the average life expectancy in the U.S. began to fall behind those of other high-income nations in the 1980s, which it attributed to rollbacks of New Deal and Great Society anti-poverty programs under the Reagan administration. Further deterioration followed, as average life expectancy in the country actually declined between 2014 and 2018, a period that included the first 3-year decline in longevity since World War 1 and the 1918 flu pandemic.

What was so unprecedented about that decline is that the economy was booming at that point, Dr. Steffie Woolhandler, a co-chair on the commission and a Distinguished Professor of Public Health at the City University of New York at Hunter College, told Yahoo News. Usually when the economy gets better, life expectancy improves rapidly, but there was this decoupling of the overall economy from the overall well-being of the population as measured by life expectancy. That is the condition that existed in the United States before COVID hit. Now, what do we think happened? We think it was four decades of failures of policymakers.

Former President Bill Clintons tenure was also criticized in the report for the passage of a strict crime bill that disproportionately affected minority communities, the weakening of unions and financial regulations, trade deals that resulted in American job losses, and restrictions on welfare benefits and nutrition assistance. The authors noted that while former President Barack Obama campaigned on expanding health care coverage, the Affordable Care Act owed more to neoliberal tenets than to the progressive precepts of the Roosevelt era. Some 30 million people were still left without health insurance under the act, known as Obamacare, while sending public money to private health insurance companies, they wrote.

The authors stated that due to some metrics  such as Trump having a higher vote share in counties with lower life expectancies and Republicans doing better in majority-white districts where jobs were lost due to trade policies  its their belief that the hollowing of the health care system combined with GOP messaging on race drove more votes to Republicans. In contrast, the report found that job losses in majority nonwhite districts led to voters choosing more liberal Democrats, finding that the divergent responses of white and non-white voters to economic distress signals the power of diversionary racist and nativist appeals.

The editors of the report stated that taxes on high-income earners should be raised, with the proceeds going to social, education, health and environmental programs. In addition, they called for a national health insurance program to replace the means-tested Medicaid system, and for mobilization against structural racism and police violence that shorten the lives of people of color.

A demonstrator in front of the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus on Jan. 20. (Stephen Zenner/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

They also suggested ending the channeling of public funds through private companies and instead redirecting public investment from the military and corporate subsidies to environmental protection and neglected public health and social programs.

President Bidens proposed plan of adding a public option to Obamacare (in which the government would offer a plan on the market to buy into) and lowering the Medicare eligibility age from 65 to 60 falls short of the commissions recommendation. As the authors stated, Many people covered by Medicare or private insurance would still face onerous co-pays (ie, an out-of-pocket payment required for each service) and deductibles, and millions of people would remain uninsured, while the presence of private insurers would keep health care administrative costs in the hundreds of billions.

A separate 2019 analysis found that Bidens proposed plan would result in an additional 125,000 deaths vs. universal coverage over its first decade due to millions of Americans lacking coverage.

The policies recommended by the Lancet commission, even if politically impractical, appear to have public opinion 0n their side. Polling from the Kaiser Family Foundation has shown majority support for an increased government role in providing health care, in line with a September 2020 Pew Research survey that found 63 percent of respondents believe its the federal governments responsibility to make sure all Americans have health care coverage. A December 2020 survey conducted by the New York Times found 67 percent of Americans  including 45 percent of Republicans  support higher taxes on those making $400,000 or more, while a January 2020 Reuters poll showed 64 percent support for a wealth tax.

I do actually think the potential is there for the COVID pandemic to inspire people to think more deeply about the structural problems, Woolhandler, the commission co-chair, said. The commission is saying if they think these things through, think about how the situation has deteriorated over the last four decades, and its not going to be enough to just reverse what Trump did.

____

Read more from Yahoo News:
Luanda  An information campaign on HIV and AIDS will be held from 14 to 16 February, across the country, by the Angolan Network of AIDS Services Organisations (ANASO).

According to a statement sent Thursday to Angop, ANASO will, during the campaign, sensitise the population on the prevention of the disease during the carnival period, distribute about 36,000 male condoms, as well as several information materials.

The aim of the campaign is also to awaken society about the dangers that the disease represents and the need for the observance of safe sex during the 14 February, day consecrated to lovers.

Taking place under the slogan "AIDS free carnival: Let's go for a walk", in Luanda, the campaign will take place in the main reference centres, with about 100 activists and counsellors mobilised for the purpose.

According to a statement sent Thursday to Angop, ANASO will, during the campaign, sensitise the population on the prevention of the disease during the carnival period, distribute about 36,000 male condoms, as well as several information materials.

The aim of the campaign is also to awaken society about the dangers that the disease represents and the need for the observance of safe sex during the 14 February, day consecrated to lovers.

Taking place under the slogan "AIDS free carnival: Let's go for a walk", in Luanda, the campaign will take place in the main reference centres, with about 100 activists and counsellors mobilised for the purpose.
Its a crowded Saturday night on the River Walk, and the bridges and trees are still draped in holiday lights even though it is February. People are dining alfresco along the San Antonio River.

The tables at On The Bend Oyster Bar & Cigar Lounge are spaced 6 feet apart, a concession to the safety rules enacted amid the COVID-19 pandemic. But the outdoor diners still have plenty of company. Hundreds of visitors crowd this portion of the River Walk, Texas most popular tourist attraction.

Some visitors linger close to those eating as they snap photos or listen to two jazz musicians at work.

Many of the passersby share something in common with the diners: Theyre not wearing masks, flouting city rules requiring face coverings on the River Walk.

On ExpressNews.com:Members challenge San Antonio River Walk Association merger

About one out of every four visitors to the River Walk isnt complying with safety rules requiring masks, according to the San Antonio Police Department, the San Antonio River Walk Association and restaurant owners.

Mayor Ron Nirenberg said he asked city administrators during the holidays for stricter enforcement of mask-wearing on the River Walk. But local enforcement is limited by state rules. Under an order by Gov. Greg Abbott, violators of mask rules only receive a warning the first time they are seen without a face covering.

Its fair to say that a year into this pandemic, everyone has heard the message about the importance of mask-wearing and really doesnt need to be warned anymore, Nirenberg said.

Nirenberg favors fines for first-time offenders. As it is, offenses after an initial warning can bring penalties of up to $250, but Nirenberg said its almost impossible to catch a person a second time.

His push for more enforcement succeeded  somewhat. City records show that more than 1,500 people received verbal warnings from San Antonio police to wear a mask or put one on correctly between Dec. 30 and Feb. 5. The records do not show even one verbal warning issued from mid-March to Dec. 30.

Yet, there were no warnings issued Feb. 6 and 7, a weekend of warm weather that bought thousands to the River Walk.

On ExpressNews.com: Fiesta moved to June, but the big street parades won't happen

Park police officers who patrol the River Walk have been giving verbal orders to pedestrians to mask up since the beginning of the pandemic, but they werent documenting the actions, said Lt. Jesse Salame, spokesman for the San Antonio Police Department. (The park police are under the SAPDs purview.)

Since the holidays, more visitors have been crowding walkways along the river.

People are coming out more, Salame said. During March, April and May, the River Walk was like a ghost town.

He believes many of the violators are tourists from rural parts of Texas.

I traveled through West Texas a few months back, and I was surprised that no one in the convenience stores was wearing a mask, he said. If you stop in a little town, they look at you like youre from another world if you show up with a mask.

Salame said visitors generally put on masks after being confronted by an officer. But a normal contingent of about 10 officers can only give so many warnings during a shift along the River Walk, honeycombed with bars, restaurants and attractions.

Jonathan Pischner was one of the maskless pedestrians on a sunny Sunday afternoon on the River Walk this month.

I have breathing issues, said the 32-year-old from a rural area near Mankato, Minn. Pischner pulled a blue surgical mask out of his pocket and said he would put it on if asked.

He said few wore masks back home. Pischner and his parents, who are farmers, had been staying at a hotel near San Antonio International Airport since Jan. 8.

Were snowbirds, he said as he checked the temperature in Mankato on his cellphone. There, it was -2 degrees. Here, it was about 70 degrees.

Michael Calderon, a corrections officer from San Saba, wasnt wearing a mask either as he strolled down the River Walk with family members.

In San Saba, most people dont wear their masks, he said. Its more rural Republican over there.

Nevertheless, he said he carried a mask and put it on whenever somebody asked him to.

I wear mine out of respect for other people, if they dont feel comfortable with me not wearing a mask, he said.

Calderon said he found it funny that he had to put on a mask to go into a River Walk restaurant to ask for an outside table but was allowed to take it off as soon as he sat down.

Not everyone going maskless on the River Walk is from a rural area.

A couple from Jacksonville, Fla., who declined to give their names, said it was their right not to wear a mask as they strolled on the River Walk. The couple had come to San Antonio to attend a wedding.

Its your discretion. Everyone is adults here, the woman said. Her partner said he didnt see the need for a mask.

I dont think they do anything, he said.

The man said he does electrical work in hospitals and hasnt caught COVID-19, leaving him unworried about the virus.

Customers without masks can put restaurant owners in difficult situations when they refuse to put one on, said Maggie Thompson, executive director of the San Antonio River Walk Association.

There are some people who do argue. They feel they have a God-given right not to wear a mask, she said.

The reality is that nothing can be done when tourists refuse to wear masks, said Robert Thrailkill, general manager of the Hilton Palacio del Rio. Still, he said most guests comply when he tells them that mask-wearing is required in hotels public areas and on the River Walk.

But some people say its their right not to wear a mask, he said.

Six people in line at The Frosty Dog, a small pavilion serving frozen margaritas to go, werent wearing masks on a recent Saturday night.

If they're not wearing the mask, we politely to ask them to wear a mask, owner Terry Corless said. They happily comply until they get their drink and then walk away and pull it off.

Mask-wearing is only required when coming within 6 feet of unrelated parties. But the River Walks twisting walkways can lead visitors to brush against tables full of diners just around a bend. In some parts, the stone pathways narrow to as little as 6 feet, making social distancing impossible for oncoming walkers.

Were asking people to do one thing for us  wear a mask, Salame said.

Fortunately, being outdoors on the River Walk in the pandemic is safer than being indoors, according to epidemiologists and experts on outdoor air flow.

If people put on masks outside, the risk of transmission is quite low, said Anne Liu, an infectious disease specialist at Stanford Health Care in Palo Alto, Calif.

randy.diamond@express-news.net
Tupelo Mostly Cloudy 63 Hi: 78 Lo: 55 Feels Like: 63 More Weather Columbus Cloudy 62 Hi: 78 Lo: 57 Feels Like: 62 More Weather Oxford Mostly Cloudy 61 Hi: 75 Lo: 51 Feels Like: 61 More Weather Starkville Mostly Cloudy 62 Hi: 77 Lo: 56 Feels Like: 62 More Weather

After seeing a well-below average day, high temperatures will begin to rise as we go through the next couple of days reaching the high 80s by mid-week. We will also remain dry through Memorial Day.
Highways England could be taken to court for corporate manslaughter following the death of a grandmother on a smart motorway.

The dramatic development comes less than a month after the notorious roads were condemned by a coroner as death traps.

Yesterday another coroner referred Highways England to prosecutors after it was revealed no one had the responsibility to check cameras monitoring the smart motorways for breakdowns.

Highways England  the government-owned company charged with operating major roads  admitted that there was no 'policy' for 'constant or routine monitoring' of the cameras.

It also admitted incidents may not even be visible to control room staff because cameras may not be correctly positioned.

Nargis Begum, 62, was killed while waiting near the family's Nissan Qashqai which had broken down on the inside lane of a motorway with no hard shoulder.

Nargis Begum (pictured with her husband), from Sheffield, died on a stretch of the M1 in South Yorkshire, near Woodhall Services, in September 2018 after her Nissan Qashqai broke down

Another vehicle hit the car, sending it ploughing into the mother of five.

The accident happened 16 minutes after the breakdown on the M1 in South Yorkshire in September 2018.

No one had reported the stranded car and no road signs had been illuminated to warn motorists of the danger ahead.

Coroner Nicola Mundy told a pre-inquest review in Doncaster she was referring the case to the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Crown Prosecution Service to consider a charge of corporate manslaughter. A full inquest will be held later.

She said there was insufficient evidence to also refer a case for gross negligence manslaughter against a control room operator, but this would be reviewed.

Outlining her reasons for the referral, coroner Miss Mundy highlighted the 'amount of time the Nissan lay in the lane' without any warning signs being displayed or lane closures, and the fact that 'nobody has responsibility for monitoring cameras' relaying footage of smart motorways.

She added that there was also a 'distinct lack of knowledge and education of drivers' about how the 'onus is on them' to report incidents.

The regional control centre monitoring the North East and Yorkshire was manned by 'seven or eight' staff with access to 450 CCTV cameras  including 287 for smart motorways, the hearing was told.

However, Highways England said there was no 'policy' for 'constant or routine monitoring' to spot breakdowns.

Nicholas Chapman, for the company, said staff would 'occasionally look' at CCTV but the need to monitor cameras was not part of safety procedures.

The grandmother had exited the car and was waiting for help when another vehicle collided with the Nissan which crashed into her. Pictured: A stretch of smart motorway in Surrey

He also said there was no guarantee a breakdown would be visible because the camera operators needed to pan, tilt and zoom them to focus on incidents.

Mr Chapman said there was 'no legal basis' to prosecute Highways England and the decision to build smart motorways was a 'matter of public policy'.

Increased traffic meant a 'stark choice' between a road-widening programme or converting roads to smart motorways at a 'low cost'.

Ellen Robertson, representing Mrs Begum's family, said her husband Mohammed Bashir, 67, saw his wife die and was struggling to cope.

After the hearing, Mrs Begum's daughter Saima Aktar welcomed the coroner's decision but added: 'The feeling of grief and loss we feel doesn't disappear.'

Edmund King, AA president, said it was 'a significant moment for smart motorways and highlights many failings'.

Last month another coroner David Urpeth told a Sheffield inquest that the roads presented an 'ongoing risk of future deaths'.

After ruling that the lack of a hard shoulder contributed to two motorists being killed on the M1 near Sheffield in June 2019, he said he would write to Transport Secretary Grant Shapps calling for a 'wider review or inquiry'.

It is estimated that nearly 40 motorists have been killed on smart roads in five years.

Following crisis talks with Mr Shapps, Highways England has pledged to accelerate the rollout of technology to detect marooned vehicles.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi has announced she will grant the Congressional Gold Medal to the United States Capitol Police officers who protected the Capitol during the deadly pro-Trump mob attacks last month.

The speaker said in a Dear Colleague Letter issued on Thursday she was planning on awarding the highest civilian honour to officers like USCP Officer Eugene Goodman, seen saving Senator Mitt Romney in new video unveiled during former President Donald Trumps impeachment trial earlier this week.

The officers heroic actions were also previously seen in a viral video taken during the riots that showed him thwarting a groups of rioters from breaching the Senate chambers as lawmakers stood just feet away in hiding.

That day, those men and women risked and gave their lives to save ours, becoming martyrs for our democracy, Ms Pelosi wrote on Thursday. The outstanding heroism and patriotism of our heroes ... demand our deepest appreciation.

Read more: Follow live updates on Donald Trump's second impeachment trial

At least 140 USCP and Metropolitan Police Department officers were injured during the riots on 6 January following a speech the former president held in Washington in which he urged his supporters to fight like hell while promoting false, repeatedly debunked claims of a stolen election. His supporters breached security measures and attacked police officers as they attempted to stop Congress from certifying the results of the election.

USCP Officer Brian Sicknick died as a result of his injuries sustained by the mob, police officials said in a statement. Officer Howard Liebengood and MDP Officer Jeffrey Smith both died of suicide in the wake of the riots, as police leaders said the units involved in the attacks were suffering from significant stress, trauma and mental health issues.

We must never forget the sacrifice of Officer Brian Sicknick, Officer Howard Liebengood, MDP Officer Jeffrey Smith and the more than 50 USCP who sustained serious injuries, Ms Pelosi wrote, or the courage of the heroes such as Officer Eugene Goodman.

Lawmakers introduced a bipartisan resolution to award the police officers the congressional honour, and on Thursday, Ms Pelosi invited others to cosponsor her bill.

In her weekly press conference, the speaker said: It's been such a sad time for us, but as we see what is being presented, we also see the extraordinary valor of the Capitol Police who risked and gave their lives to save our Capitol, our democracy, our lives.

They are martyrs for our democracy. Martyrs for our democracy, those who lost their lives, she added. That is why I am putting forth a resolution, introducing legislation to pay tribute to the Capitol Police and other law enforcement personnel who protected the Capitol by giving them a Congressional Gold Medal, the highest honor that Congress can bestow.
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House impeachment managers delivered multimedia arguments on Wednesday as they started building their case that Trump was in no way an innocent bystander to the events of 6 January

House impeachment managers built their case against former President Donald Trump on Wednesday, methodically using video and audio clips to argue that Trump was responsible for the deadly assault on the Capitol on 6 January. Throughout much of the day, the managers let Trump and his supporters do the talking, showing videos of Trumps speeches, his Twitter posts and footage of his supporters answering his rallying cries that began months before the attack.

Here are some takeaways from the second day of the trial.

For a time on Wednesday, @realDonaldTrump was back.

In their efforts to prove that Trump was undeniably behind the attack, House impeachment managers let the former president tell the story in his own words, airing a Trump Twitter blitz worthy of the former tweeter in chief himself. This time, however, his posts were marked with a PROSECUTORS EVIDENCE stamp.

On 19 Decemeber, he wrote: Big protest in D.C. on January 6th. Be there, will be wild!

The managers repeatedly referred to the 19 December post as a save the date for 6 January.

On 26 December, he wrote: The Justice Department and the FBI have done nothing about the 2020 Presidential Election Voter Fraud, the biggest SCAM in our nations history, despite overwhelming evidence. They should be ashamed. History will remember. Never give up. See everyone in D.C. on January 6th.

Its been 33 days since the world has seen a new Trump tweet, after nearly four years of Trump using the social media platform to build his base of supporters and blast out his unfiltered messages.

Twitter banned Trump permanently on 8 January, citing the risk of further incitement of violence as its justification.

Seeing the collection of Trumps posts was a reminder of just how much the former president has been silenced after losing his most powerful megaphone. By comparison, on the second day of Trumps impeachment trial a year ago, Trump posted or reposted 142 tweets.

This week, Trump has been largely hidden from view at his private club in Palm Beach, Florida. He was steaming after seeing his lawyers defence on Tuesday, people familiar with his reaction said.

Democrats let Trump and his supporters make their case to convict.

House impeachment managers delivered multimedia arguments on Wednesday as they started building their case that Trump was in no way an innocent bystander to the events of Jan. 6, rebutting an assertion Trumps defence team made a day earlier.

The impeachment managers flashed outlines of their arguments and fleshed out each point with examples from Trumps months-long campaign to sow distrust in the countrys elections systems and his efforts to rile outrage from his supporters over what he repeatedly and wrongly called a fraudulent, stolen election.

Throughout the day, the managers let Trump and his supporters do much of the talking, showing footage of campaign rallies, screenshots of the presidents comments and clips of news interviews with supporters who said they went to Washington on 6 January in response to Trumps call.

One of Trumps comments made repeat appearances on Wednesday, underscoring how important House managers took these specific words to prove their case.

We fight like hell, and if you dont fight like hell, youre not going to have a country anymore, Trump told a crowd of his supporters just before he dispatched them east toward the Capitol.

The prosecution emphasised the role racism played in the riot and in the months before it.

Over the course of the day, the impeachment managers raised the role racism played in the riot as well as in the preceding months. Confederate flags were carried inside the Capitol, which historians said did not happen even during the Civil War.

The managers also identified rioters who had ties to white supremacist groups, including a far-right group, the Proud Boys, known for endorsing violence. Its members became loud supporters of Trumps after the former president refused to denounce the group during a debate with Biden.

The lead House impeachment manager, Representative Jamie Raskin, D-Maryland, quoted one of the Black officers who battled the mob that day describing his despair at being subjected to racist taunts from a crowd of attackers that was, according to witness accounts and video, overwhelmingly White.

Trumps affinity for groups like the Proud Boys and his refusal to condemn them publicly and forcefully at multiple points throughout his presidency has long made many Republicans bristle, a reaction the impeachment managers may have been hoping to elicit in the Senate chamber on Wednesday.

Eileen Sullivan c.2021 The New York Times Company
Yes, its time to panic if you dont yet have a plan for Valentines Day on Sunday, Feb. 14. Fortunately, you can contact Oregon makers who have invented food, books and fashionable looks with a Pacific Northwest flavor and arrange a pickup at their shop or a delivery to your door.

The new, Built Oregon Marketplace is an easy way to find up-and-coming small business owners by region (builtoregon.shop).

If youre in southern Oregon, may we suggest you stop (or shop online) at a culinary corner of Central Point that has world-renowned Rogue Creamerys organic, handmade cheese shop, award-winning Ledger David Cellars Le Petit Tasting Room and Lillie Belle Farms Artisan Chocolates (with its killer  and we mean it  chocolate zombie bunnies and ghost chili-infused candies)?

If your sweetie has a sense of humor, Lillie Belle Farms Jeff Shepherd has created a dark chocolate, mask-wearing Covid Bunny ($12). See more gift ideas.

Also, scroll through Etsy to find locally made, Oregon gifts.

Lillie Belle Farms Artisan Chocolates in Central Point, Oregon, has a dark chocolate, mask-wearing Covid Bunny ($12) that can be picked up or sent to you.Lillie Belle Farms Artisan Chocolates

Here are more last-minute Valentines Day gift ideas you can quickly order online:

Flowers and Plants

Harry & David of Medford has pointy, chubby and colorful succulents and other live plants along with Valentines Day-themed gift baskets, fruit baskets, chocolates, bakery items.

Flower subscriptions allow you to make sure your loved one is remembered on special occasions and just because days. The Bouqs Co.s customizable deliveries of blossoms, grown on sustainable, eco-friendly farms, lets you to pick the look  from traditional to tropical  and set the schedule  Happy National French Toast Day! Bonus: Subscribers receive a 20 percent discount each time plus free shipping.

You can feel close even if youre living far away by sending your loved one a potted plant that reflects his or her personality, from a formal orchid to a cheerful azalea. See ProFlowers Valentines Day best-sellers. Save up to 30% on select styles or save up to $10 when you request your gift be delivered between Feb. 11-12.

1-800-Flowers.com has a rose bouquet in a Marquis vase by Waterford as well as food baskets, keepsake gifts and same-day delivery.

Urban Stems offers responsibly sourced, modern bouquets, plants and gifts with no hidden fees and fast delivery.

The Sill ships indoor plants and potted houseplants with easy-care instructions to your loved ones door. Jumpstart their indoor jungle with a group of three, five or seven low-maintenance houseplants in nursery pots.

Chocolate, Coffee, Edible Treats

Watching a home movie can be more special with The Popcorn Factorys gourmet popcorn made with high-quality ingredients and to Kosher standards. See the Valentines Day tins and packaging.

Milk Bar is an award-winning bakery known for its familiar, yet unexpected desserts, including Milk Bar Pie, the Compost Cookie and unfrosted layer cakes. Check out the Valentines Day treats like a mini red velvet cake and assorted truffles ready to be delivered to your loved ones door.

Godiva is offering free shipping on all Valentines Day orders of indulgent gourmet chocolates, truffles and more. Receive free Saturday delivery by spending $100 or more and using the code SATURDAY at checkout.

Food52 is a food community where your loved one can browse recipes and get advice and you can shop for kitchen, cooking and home gifts. See what they suggest for Valentines Day.

Goldbelly lets you shop Americas most famous foods from more than 700 restaurants and small food shops in 50 states. Check out the date night dinners and search items that can be delivered by Valentines Day.

illy coffee offers a limited-edition cup and saucer by graphic artist Stefan Sagmeister. A minimalist design has precious minerals on a titanium surface (the collection starts at $65 and shipping is included on orders of $50 or more).

Cards, Photos and Personalized Gifts

Not sure what personalized present to make? Shutterfly has Valentines Day gift guide ideas for him, her, kids and grandparents.

Find more personalized cards, photos and gifts at Minted and Lovepop Cards.

Ulta Beauty offers prestige cosmetics, makeup, fragrance, skincare, bath and body products, and haircare tools. Shop for your loved one or send a gift card.

If youre completely flummoxed, you can buy gift cards and eGift cards at GiftCards.com.

Jewelry, Clothes, Sleepwear

BaubleBar has a collection of bracelets, rings, necklaces and other chic fashion jewelry with free shipping on orders more than $50. Take 20% off three or more charms with the code CHARM20

Kendra Scott has jewelry, home decor, gifts and beauty, from decorative trays to nail polish, earrings, necklaces, bracelets and more.

Gorjana has gold layering necklaces, engravable gifts, intention bracelets, hoop earrings, coin necklaces, thin stacking rings and other jewelry designed with love in Laguna Beach, California. Receive free shipping on your first order.

Nordstrom has Valentines Day gifts for her, him, kids and everyone.

Find slippers in the right size, color and style at Bed Bath & Beyond.

MeUndies has feel-good underwear, loungewear and apparel. See the limited-edition V-Day prints.

Victorias Secret calls Valentines Day a favorite time of the year. See a collection of ultimate gifts.

Agent Provocateur has luxury lingerie, classic corsetry, sumptuous nightwear, striking hosiery and more.

Candles and Cozy Home Additions

Huckberry has fragrant candles with a scent of bourbon and brown sugar and other delicious combinations. Huckberry also offers barware, bedding, home, blankets, outdoor gear and home gym equipment. See Huckberrys gift ideas suggested by activity.

Homesick has specialized candles and diffusers selected for their nostalgic scents to evoke memories, including your favorite city.

Uncommon Goods prides itself on unique home, kitchen and bar gifts. Check out Valentines Day ideas.

More for the Love of Your Life

Dont know what pampering your loved one is missing? Birchbox subscribers receive a monthly box, personalized for men and women, with an assortment of new skincare, hair and other products to test out along with tips on how to use them.

GlossyBox delivers five beauty products, plus treats, trends and tips, each month in a pink box.

The original Craft Beer Club offers small-production craft beers from nearly all 50 states. Twelve beers and up to three bonus gifts are $44.75, which includes shipping. You can order one to 12 shipments and receive up to an additional $25 bonus.

Dollar Shave Club has razors and grooming products. Take the get-started quiz.

Man Crates offers a selection of more than 150 custom gift kits and crates. Take 15% off Valentines Day best sellers, including a Heart Box filled with 10 types of beef jerky (0.5 ounces each).

The Art of Shaving has high-end mens shaving and skincare accessories. Shop Valentines Day gifts for him.

Cooking and Baking

Our Place has a promotion that lets you enter to win the best-selling Always pan by entering your email. The versatile, 10-inch pan ($145, including shipping; save $30 off with the code YUMMY at checkout) serves as a fry pan, saute pan, steamer, skillet, saucier, saucepan, nonstick pan, spatula and spoon rest so you can stay put, stay safe and learn that new recipe.

Sardel, a cookware company started by three meticulous brothers, has skillets, pots and pans that are classic in design, crafted with high-quality materials and more affordable than high-end brands. Celebrity chef Bobby Flay uses the full stainless-steel set (on sale at $570, a savings of $70) with six Sardel products and three lids. The company offers a 30-day trial and free shipping and returns.

Great Jones, named to honor Julia Childs editor and cookbook author Judith Jones, has items to help home cooks tackle recipes. There is a family-style cookware set ($395, save $75), bakeware suite ($265, save $20), stock pot, Dutch oven and gift cards. For each friend you refer, your friend will get 10% off the first purchase and youll get $15 in Great Jones store credit.

Macys has discounts on kitchenware, including small appliances, cookware, coffee makers, cutlery and bakeware. Take up to 50% off Valentines Day gifts.

Walmart has last-minute Valentines Day ideas and sales on kitchen gadgets, cookware and more.

Sur La Table has hands-on cooking classes while MasterClass has a host of culinary and mixology classes (classes are $15 a month). James Beard honoree Lynnette Marrero and Ryan Chetiyawardana, founder of Dandelyan, named the worlds best bar, teach the essentials of cocktail making, building a home bar and mixing a perfectly balanced drink for every occasion and mood. See all class offerings.

Wine

Support Oregon winemakers at their scenic tasting rooms. Another way to have Oregon wine delivered to your loved ones door is through Winc.com, Wine.com and Drizly, which offers cupids picks of champagnes.

 Janet Eastman | 503-294-4072

jeastman@oregonian.com | @janeteastman

A holiday is a joyous occasion for many in China as it is the time to catch up with family, friends and relatives. But for some, be it delivery companies, pharmacies, supermarkets and local governments, it is business as usual, as they work round the clock to ensure that the family reunions are a smooth and happy occasion.

Wang Chao, a package specialist with Hangzhou-based express company Best Inc, is one of those who will be staying in Shanghai during the upcoming Lunar New Year holiday. Although he misses his hometown and the special dishes made by his mother, he will be at his post during the seven-day holiday to ensure the smooth delivery of packages in the city.

Like Wang, there are several deliverymen and employees of logistics firms who are ensuring the normal collection and delivery of packages across China. Companies like ZTO Express, which has operations in more than 300 Chinese cities, will work normally between Feb 8 and Feb 16. The Shanghai-based logistics firm said more than 60,000 couriers, 5,000 units of high capacity tractors and 10,000 drivers are geared up for the holiday deliveries. JD Logistics, a unit of e-commerce giant JD, is handing out bonuses amounting to 100 million yuan ($15.5 million) to its staff for holiday deliveries to over 300 Chinese cities.

YTO Express, another delivery company, said its domestic and international operations will continue as usual during the holiday. Cheng Xie, head of the YTO Express unit in Tongji area of Shanghai's Yangpu district, said he and his colleagues have decided to work voluntarily during the Spring Festival period. As a reward, each of them would receive an allowance, a big New Year's Eve dinner, red envelops as well as gift packages for their parents and family at home, said Cheng.

It is not just the logistics firms that are working as usual. Xia Meili, who runs a vegetable stall at a wet market in Zhangjiang of Shanghai's Pudong New Area, said she and several of her peers are working as usual during the holidays. This is in stark contrast to earlier years, when the market would be shut for several days due to lack of customers, said Xia.

Freshippo, a unit of e-commerce giant Alibaba Group, has not only picked a wide selection of traditional Chinese Lunar New Year delicacies for its customers this year, but also increased its delivery capacity in Shanghai.

In addition to brick-and-mortar supermarkets, stores, as well as varied e-commerce platforms, Chinese convenience stores are also adopting similar measures. Surveys conducted in cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen of Guangdong province, Suzhou and Wuxi of Jiangsu province, Jinan and Qingdao of Shandong province, Zhengzhou of Henan province, and Ningbo of Zhejiang province showed convenience stores are the second preferred choice for purchases, after major e-commerce platforms, according to Xue Enyuan, executive director of Bianlifeng Convenience Stores. In addition to food, snacks, special purchases for Spring Festival and other daily necessities, the Bianlifeng Convenience Stores in Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Shenzhen and Suzhou will continue their round-the-clock services as usual, said Xue.

Nearly 60 percent of the pharmacies in China's more than 200 major cities would also conduct normal business during the Spring Festival, according to data collected by online catering platform Eleme. The platform said it would provide non-stop medicine delivery services in 10 major Chinese cities including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Hangzhou of Zhejiang province.

Local governments are also actively deploying sufficient resources to ensure safe and normal operations during the holidays. The municipal government of Shanghai is leveraging its resources to guarantee sufficient food supply and stabilize prices of meat, vegetables, beef, lamb and aquatic products, according to the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce.

Major wholesale markets of the city have strengthened the pork supply cooperation with 127 butcheries in 16 provinces including Hebei, Shandong, Heilongjiang and Jiangsu, which is expected to ease supply shortages. Shanghai Vegetable (Group) Co Ltd is providing 7,000 metric tons of 180 different vegetables on a daily basis.

There are also people from different walks of life who are sacrificing their holidays to ensure that there are no disruptions to daily lives. This is the second year in a row that Sun Chengcai, a police officer from the Hengmian Police Station in Shanghai Pudong New Area, has chosen to stay in Shanghai rather than go back to his hometown in Lianyungang, Jiangsu province. The 55-year-old and two associate police officers will be responsible for the safety of nearly 10,000 people this year. "For me, Spring Festival means responsibility. Family comes after duty," he said.

He Qi in Shanghai contributed to this story.
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A historic home where Eleanor Roosevelt, wife of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, spent a lot of her childhood is on the market. Although the exterior emits plenty of historic vibes, the home is a real fixer-upper.

The current interior is unfinished, and needs to be finished by the buyers, says the listing agent, Paul Hallenbeck.

The agent has high hopes for an enterprising buyer willing to take on this well-pedigreed property.

Its going to be incredibly grand, he says. I want to go back to the house when it is finished.

It may not be complete, but that doesn't mean that this prime piece of property on the Hudson River will come cheap. The 10,000-square-foot Second Empire-style home in Germantown, NY, is listed for $5.25 million.

Known as Oak Terrace, Eleanor Roosevelts grandparents built the home in 1865.

It was their summer house when they lived in New York City. Due to tragedies in her family, she eventually ended up living with [her grandparents] and spent summers there with them. Her bedroom is identified, so you can visit it, Hallenbeck explains.

Roosevelts memoirs say she spent time reading books under the shade of the trees on the estate.

The location and setting is hard to topfor reading or whatever leisure pursuit you choose.

It's directly on the Hudson River, with views of the river and the Catskill Mountains beyond. It's 25 acres and has total privacy there, Hallenbeck says.

Exterior Stephen Hallenbeck

Exterior Stephen Hallenbeck

Views Stephen Hallenbeck

Exterior Stephen Hallenbeck

Interior Stephen Hallenbeck

Veranda Stephen Hallenbeck

Veranda Stephen Hallenbeck

Veranda Stephen Hallenbeck

Those gorgeous views are visible from a wraparound veranda accessible from a number of spots in the house.

Inside, there are 18 rooms highlighted by a 700-square-foot great room with dramatic 16-foot ceilings. A grand staircase goes up 36 feet and is topped by a spectacular coved ceiling with skylights.

Each of the six bedrooms in the four-story house comes an attached bathroom, including what Hallenbeck says will be a marvelous master suite.

Staircase Stephen Hallenbeck

Interior Stephen Hallenbeck

Ceiling Stephen Hallenbeck

Ceiling Stephen Hallenbeck

Van Lamprou, a co-founder of Dolce Vita footwear, is the home's current owner. He bought the home in 2013, for $2.85 million.

In the years since, he has poured lots of money into unglamorous but necessary elements to bring the home into the 21st century.

The current owner has done an enormous amount of work, Hallenbeck says. He has redone the roof, drilled a new well, put in a new septic, installed modern heat and AC in the house, redone the fireplaces, and completely reinsulated the house."

In addition to that infrastructure work, the home's entire electrical and plumbing systems are also new.

Mechanicals Stephen Hallenbeck

Fireplace Stephen Hallenbeck

Interior Stephen Hallenbeck

Now that the crucial systems are in place, the next step is to finish off the interior.

The owner decided to move ahead with other projects, instead of finishing the interiorwhich I think is probably a very good idea when you have a house like this, Hallenbeck explains.

It will allow any buyers to customize to their personal taste the decor, finishes, and layout.

Hallenbeck estimates that the project will cost at least a million dollars.

Weve had quite a few people come with their architects and designers, trying to figure out how to finish it in the right way for them, he says.

Interior Stephen Hallenbeck

Interior Stephen Hallenbeck

The perfect buyer is likely to be a family looking for a private weekend retreat, he says.

When youre outside here, you see the river and the Catskill Mountains beyond, and if youre lucky, you see a boat or two on the river, he adds. But what you hear is nature, the wind. You dont hear motorcycles or traffic. There are very few places like that.

Interior Stephen Hallenbeck

The post Fixer-Upper With a Premium Pedigree: Eleanor Roosevelt's Childhood Home for Sale appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com.
New Delhi:

The waiting list of five at central Delhi's Lok Nayak Hospital may not seem to be a very large number, but it is a surge considering the nature of the procedure and the past records the surgery being talked about is a sex-change operation and seeing its growing demand in the city it is suggestive of the fact that old prohibitions are beginning to die away.

The queue includes two engineers and a medical student. Thats not surprising, according to Dr P S Bhandari, who heads the hospital's plastic surgery division. Many of such patients are from middle class backgrounds. "Ten years ago, we would get one or two such cases in a year. But now, we are getting three to four requests every month," said Dr Rajiv Mehta, consultant psychiatrist.

Ila (name changed) was one such person Mehta recently scrutinised the 27-year-old from Noida was born a girl but hated dressing or behaving like one. "I hated wearing frocks and playing with dolls. When I was forced to conform, I would fight with my folks at home. My parents were not ready to accept things. They felt I was doing it deliberately," Ila said, adding that she fell into a deep depression because of the continuous inner battle.

Ila attempted suicide three years back by overdosing on sleeping pills. She was hurried to Sir Ganga Ram Hospital by her parents where a detailed appraisal was done and the doctors discovered that she was suffering from deep depression with severe anxiety, alcohol and nicotine dependence, said Mehta.

He further said that Ila would drink more than half a bottle of whisky and smoke 20 cigarettes a day. Ila said she felt like a male imprisoned in a female body. Doctors said she suffered from gender identity disorder (GID)  a clash between a person's physical gender and the gender he or she identifies with  and elucidated the disorder to her parents. After her parents consent, Ila was prescribed antidepressants and detoxified for drugs. She was urged to live as a male and was administered testosterone therapy for months. Subsequently she surgeries were performed at a Mumbai hospital to detach her breasts and vagina, and get a reconstructed penis.

"A sex-change surgery is irreversible. So, we ask such patients to cross-dress and live like a man or a woman  as the case may be  for six months before undergoing surgery," one of the psychiatrists said.

Growing acceptance of GID, social support and the option of sex change surgeries have inspired people to go in for corrective measures.

A patient needs complete psychiatric assessment before going through such an operation. Dr Sameer Malhotra, who heads the department of mental health and behavioural sciences at Max Hospital Saket, said he, too, has seen an increase in demand for such surgeries. As sex-change surgery is an expensive process in private hospitals, many patients are lining up at public hospitals, such as Lok Nayak.
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Business awaits law enforcement reforms, but the latest version of the law on the Economic Security Bureau and the bill on the reform of the Security Service (SBU) adopted at first reading raise doubts about the quality of such reforms, the European Business Association (EBA) said in a release.

"It is worth noting that currently, the problem of cooperation with law enforcement agencies concerns not only SMEs and regional entrepreneurs but also large international companies and strategic investors," the release says.

"The reform issue is especially relevant now in the context of the establishment of the Bureau of Economic Security. Although the community has not yet seen the final version of the document, the business was wary of the penultimate version of the draft law. Thus, there are fears that instead of a radically new analytical body that would help protect the interests of business, a new structure may be created with a new name, but with the same methods of work and even the same people," the EBA says.

"At the same time, the SBU reform was launched, so to speak, by the adoption of the draft law No. 3196-d at first reading. Thus, the draft law was supposed to eliminate anti-corruption and economic units in the SBU, partially demilitarize the service, etc. However, there are fears that the liquidated SBU departments will be reincarnated as other functional units that will provide counterintelligence support in the economic context. In other words, it is likely to put continued pressure on the business. And, in general, this document invokes a lot of questions concerning the renewed functions and powers of the service," it noted.

"Therefore, the European Business Association appeals to Volodymyr Zelensky, President of Ukraine, Denys Shmyhal, Prime Minister of Ukraine, and Arsen Avakov, Minister of Internal Affairs, to pay due attention to reforming the law enforcement system in 2021. It is unacceptable and unreasonable to persecute the business. Otherwise, the issue of attracting investment, business development, and economic development, in general, may become a big question. We hope that the time for fundamental reforms has come and we will finally move from talks to the action!" the document says.
The average 30-year-old Australian has missed out on $40,000 in superannuation over the past 10 years due to low wage growth.

Labor's Shadow Treasurer Dr Jim Chalmers claims a freeze on the superannuation guarantee in 2014 is to blame for working people's predicament.

The Morrison Government plans to freeze the super guarantee again this year to spur on higher wages - but Dr Chalmers says freezing super has the opposite effect.

The average 30-year-old Australian has lost out on $40,000 in superannuation over the last 10 years due to low wage growth (stock image)

'The last super freeze didn't spur wage growth. On the contrary,' Dr Chalmers said on Thursday, according to news.com.au.

'If wages had not been so weak since the 2014 super freeze then the average 30-year-old could have an extra $40,000 in super when they retire.

'The Morrison Government should stop pretending another super freeze is about higher wages instead of higher super, when the truth is they want neither and they have form on both.'

Dr Chalmers said the Coalition want to 'cut pay, cut super and make work less secure' in a Tweet on Thursday.

The 2014 super freeze delayed an increase to 2021, meaning it is due to increase from 9.5 per cent to 10 per cent in July before reaching 12 per cent in 2025.

Labor's Shadow Treasurer Dr Jim Chalmers (right) said a freeze on the superannuation guarantee in 2014 is to blame for low wage growth on Thursday. Pictured with his wife and kids

But Prime Minister Scott Morrison said there may be another super freeze this year, meaning the rate could remain at 9.5 per cent for another year.

Mr Morrison argues this is to help struggling businesses post-Covid.

'Covid-19 has occurred, people's jobs are at risk. It is something the government has to carefully consider,' Mr Morrison said, last year.

'Prior to the election it was certainly my view that those were legislated changes and increases and we had no plans to change any of those.'

While the super rate remains stagnant, Reserve Bank governor Philip Lowe warned earlier this month that workers are unlikely to get a meaningful pay rise until 2025.

Tradesmen on their lunch break in the Sydney CBD. Dr Chalmers said the Coalition want to 'cut pay, cut super and make work less secure' in a Tweet on Thursday

Annual growth in the wage price index 'is expected to remain below two per cent over the next few years, even slower than the low rates recorded prior to the pandemic'.

Mr Lowe said the government and businesses needed to invest more and reduce the employment rate to drive wage growth.

'Drawing on the experience before the pandemic, I think we need a low unemployment rate  lower than we got to before the pandemic  to be sustained for a number of years,' he said.

'The Reserve Bank board can't drive sustainable increases in living standards, that comes from businesses and governments investing in the things that make us more productive over time.'

Source: Reuters

The government will adopt an integrated approach and come out with a policy to make India self-reliant in the area of advanced battery technologies to power electric vehicles and other applications, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said on Thursday.

Pitching for an integrated approach for developing indigenous fuel cells in the field of electric vehicles, he said India today stands at the cusp of becoming the world leader in this field as well as automobile manufacturing.

He made the remarks after chairing a high-powered meeting focussed on research and development in the area of alternative fuel. The meeting was held last night.

Central government's Principal Scientific Advisor K Vijay Raghavan, NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant, Highways Secretary Giridhar Aramane and senior representatives from DRDO, ISRO, CSIR and IITs besides Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways VK Singh participated in the meeting.

"So far work is happening in silos in the area of alternative fuel. We will now work in an integrated and concerted manner bringing together the best technologies. We will also focus on economic viability...We need a policy in this regard and for it we have decided to take an integrated approach," Gadkari told PTI.

He said scientists, academia and industry can together harness green hydrogen-based energy through water, for it being a cost effective and easily available mode in the country. He indicated towards the lowering costs of solar power in India, which can help energise other modes of fuels.

"Vast scope is there in the area of Lithium-ion battery too despite countries like China dominating in the sector. About 81 per cent of Lithium-ion battery components are available locally and India stands a very good chance for value addition at lower costs.

"Our mining entities could look for acquiring component assets globally and grab the opportunity as China has occupied 51 per cent but still 49 per cent scope is there," Gadkari said.

Stressing the need for advanced and concerted planning the minister said this is one area where there is good scope for becoming the world leader as the automobile sector which has a turnover of Rs 4.5 lakh crore is set to take it to Rs 10 lakh crore in future.

The resultant employment generation will be huge and vehicle scrapping policy under which initially one crore vehicles will go for scrapping will result in availability of cheaper aluminium, copper, rubber, steel and other products which will reduce the price of the components.

After going through the presentations from different organisations on different technologies including Lithium-ion, metal-ion, Sodium Sulphur, Hydrogen, Iron Sulphur, Polymer Electrolyte Membrane Cell System, ZincGel, etc, Gadkari said, economic viability is the basis of any successful technology.

The minister suggested taking ahead the suggestions put forth in the meeting by integrating industry experience in the field.

He assured the participants of his complete commitment in adopting best technologies.

He also urged various stakeholders including NITI Aayog, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Defence Research and Development Organisation(DRDO), CSIR, Ministries of Science and Technology, Heavy Industries, Commerce, Road Transport and Highways, IITs and private institutions to join hands in this regard.

Private sector has also worked in this regard.

DRDO in its presentation showed how technology transfer has resulted in manufacturing of 400 batteries of 120 MW by some institutes and added that mass production could reduce its prices.

NITI Ayog said it has collaborated with four IITs including Guwahati and Delhi for research in aluminium-ion battery.

Its CEO Amitabh Kant stressed that India should concentrate on lithium-ion alternative batteries and mining sector companies should explore opportunities aborad for acquiring assets in this regard.

Gadkari said next generation batteries will not only minimise vehicular pollution in India but make India a global supplier of EVs and added that two-wheeler makers like Bajaj, Hero Honda and TVS are already exporting 50 per cent of their production.

He said he would be launching a tractor on alternative fuel on Friday.

Alternative fuel promotion will result in economic growth and would bolster India's development, Gadkari said.
LANSING, MI  The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) is urging water plants to check their security protocols following a breach in Florida where a hacker tried to poison municipal drinking water.

The state issued the bulletin on Thursday, Feb. 11, roughly a week after the Oldsmar, Fla. incident on Feb. 5, which was noticed by operators before anyone was harmed.

Sodium hydroxide, which regulates alkalinity, minimizes corrosion and helps remove heavy metals from treated drinking water, was boosted to dangerous levels in Oldsmar by someone who assessed the treatment control system remotely.

The incident has raised alarm around the country.

In an urgent message on Thursday, EGLE stressed awareness and pushed plants to ensure they have security protocols in place to avoid such an incident in Michigan.

If you allow some level of remote monitoring and operation of your facilities, please consider adding additional safeguards like establishing chemical dosage limits, eliminating equipment overrides and reducing controls on systems to minimize the impact of this type of security breach, the state alert read.

Bonnifer Ballard, director of the Michigan section of the American Water Works Association, said the Florida incident has grabbed the attention of water plant operators.

Its generated a lot of discussion, thats for sure, she said.

Ballard said such a breach is technically possible at water plants in Michigan, but there are safeguards in place and cybersecurity audits are required by federal law.

Ballard said breaches like the one in Florida are unlikely to succeed because even small water systems have humans who monitor treatment levels and they are trained to spot and respond to irregularities.

Even though a lot of this stuff can be controlled by a computer its still monitored by humans, she said. A chemical feed doesnt have to be off by a lot before it gets noticed.

It gets your attention pretty quickly.

The odds that this kind of hack could actually have a negative impact I see as slim, but there is technically the possibility that it could happen, Ballard said.

Ballard said the Florida incident underscores the importance of human eyes on the treatment process and the need to invest in municipal utility staffing.

The association does cybersecurity training and is mulling some new free webinars.

We are all aware it can happen, she said. But operators are so involved in monitoring those systems that even if a hack happened, its pretty quick to circumvent whatever they are trying to do. That gives us a certain measure of confidence because we know we have the ability to intervene.

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Parkland shooting survivor David Hogg, 20, has launched his progressive pillow company rival to challenge MyPillow CEO and Trump loyalist Mike Lindell -- but the young activist is facing backlash even from his allies in the gun-control movement.

Hogg on Tuesday announced that the name of his new company, which started as an online joke, would be Good Pillow, and the company's Twitter account gained more followers in a day than MyPillow ever had before it was banned from the service.

While his new venture was met by applause from many of Hogg's supporters, not everyone expressed enthusiasm.

Cameron Kasky, a fellow Parkland survivor who together with Hogg, Emma Gonzalez and other students organized the national anti-gun protest March For Our Lives in 2018, blasted Hogg's new company as 'a grift' and 'a cash grab' in a series of tweets.

'To those of you who marched, donated, lobbied, and called for change... Im so sorry this is what it turned into. This is embarrassing,' Kasky wrote. 'But, welcome to America, everything ends up a grift.'

David Hogg (center left) is seen alongside Cameron Kasky (center right) at the 2018 March For Our Lives. The duo have now fallen out over Hogg's aspirations to become a pillow mogul

He continued: 'To those of you claiming Im jealous about the pillow grift, I was actually offered free shares as soon as I started tweeting about it. I just declined because while Im kind of a grifter, Im not that much of a grifter.'

'I spent so much time promising people this wasnt going to turn into a cash grab. I am applying my clown makeup with the shame I deserve,' added Kasky.

In a series of tweets quickly following Kasky's, Hogg defended his new venture, writing: 'I am more than my trauma- I am more than an activist Im a human being that gets to decide what I want to do with my life.'

'If I want to start a pillow company to help people, feed myself and create jobs Im going to do it,' he went on.

Hogg accused his critics of 'gaslighting' him, a term that refers to manipulating someone into questioning their own sanity.

'To all those questioning my intentions sincerely f*** off I refuse to feel guilty about wanting to help people and feed myself and pay for therapy,' Hogg tweeted.

After one day, Good Pillow's Twitter account had more followers than MyPillow did before the company was banned from the social media platform for violating 'Civic Integrity' rules

Hogg gained prominence as a teen gun-control activist, but now says his work to build a pillow company will help people and improve the world

'You may not agree with how I do it- but ultimately I know what my intentions are - to help people. Ill prove it,' Hogg wrote.

In his announcement on Tuesday, Hogg revealed that Good Pillow will pursue a range of liberal priorities in its business, including having a 'chief progressive officer' on the team to ensure the company stays 'true to our vision'.

The company also vows that all its pillows will be 'sustainably sourced' and made in America by unionized employees.

Hogg is teaming up with software engineer William LeGate to launch Good Pillow.

Hogg hopes to compete against Lindell - a loyal defender of former President Donald Trump who has repeatedly shared unsubstantiated conspiracy theories about election fraud.

'@williamlegate and I are going to prove that progressives can make a better pillow, run a better business and help make the world a better place while doing it,' Hogg tweeted.

'We will have the name announced soon but we need to get through the legal process of trademarking as so on.'

William LeGate, right, and David Hogg, left, have teamed up to form the pillow company

Hogg and LeGate decided to launch the progressive pillow company to rival Trump supporter Mike Lindell (pictured with Trump at the White House in 2017)

Hogg said that the partners aim to sell $1million of product within their first year.

MyPillow generates about $280 million in sales per year, Lindell has revealed in interviews, though the company has faced headwinds from distributors including Kohl's and Wayfair pulling their products from store shelves.

'Mike isn't going to know what hit him- this pillow fight is just getting started,' Hogg tweeted.

LeGate told DailyMail.com last week that the new company 'started two days ago as a joke.'

'We are 100% serious. Company will be officially incorporated by next week,' LeGate told DailyMail.com.

LeGate said he will be investing $100,000 of his own fortune into the company, which he said will 'have a site up this month.'

'We have had lots of interest from investors as well as many celebrities. As for manufacturing plans, they will be manufactured in the United States and union-made,' LeGate told DailyMail.com.

'We are obviously still in the process of working out the logistics.'

LeGate said on Twitter that 'a sizable portion of the treasury reserves' will be held in Bitcoin. He is the CEO of PredIQt - a 'decentralized prediction market' for shares of cryptocurrency.

'We are happy to announce that we will be the first pillow company in the world to use Bitcoin for a portion of company reserves,' LeGate tweeted.

'Someone suggested we include a free $DOGE coin with every pillow purchase and, honestly, I'm considering it.'

LeGate said that the company will keep part of its reserves in Bitcoin because 'we believe it is extremely undervalued at current prices, and I have personally been involved with Bitcoin for 8 years now.'

He added in a tweet that 'running a biz with David Hogg is fun because he is literally just a good person who also happens to be a genius.'

William LeGate took to his Instagram stories to post about the pillow company

'I don't know about you guys, but I like pillow companies that don't fund insurrections against the U.S. Government,' LeGate said in a video posted to Twitter.

LeGate said that the pillows will be similar to normal bedtime pillows 'but more comfy.'

'And they'll allow you to sleep well at night knowing your money is going to support good causes and unionized workers,' he said.

Responding to a question about tweets calling them 'meme pillows,' he said: 'The meme reference is in regards to our marketing strategy.'

DailyMail.com has reached out to Hogg for additional comment.

MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell told Axios in a text last Thursday morning, 'Good for them.... nothing wrong with competition that does not infringe on someone's patent.'

MyPillow's corporate Twitter account has been banned after Lindell appeared to use it to call for Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey to be jailed for 'election fraud.'

Lindell is a vocal supporter of former President Donald Trump and was pictured at the White House before he left office

The Minnesota-based company's account was 'permanently suspended' last week, a week after Lindell himself was barred from the platform for supporting Donald Trump's claims of election fraud.

Lindell had repeatedly pushed allegations that that Dominion Voting Systems had switched millions of votes from Trump to Joe Biden in swing states during November's presidential election.

On Wednesday, the conservative TV network Newsmax was forced to cut off the embattled 'MyPillow Guy' live on air when he started spouting election fraud conspiracy theories during a segment about the company being permanently banned from Twitter.

Bob Sellers stormed off camera Tuesday night as he tried to fact-check Lindell and stop him pushing unfounded claims about Dominion Voting Systems rigging the presidential election.

Dominion Voting Systems has sent a legal letter threatening Lindell with a lawsuit for his repeated voter fraud claims.
( ) revealed it has an option to acquire a 75% interest in four exploration licences that comprise the Central Menzies gold project.

Empire paid A$250,000 in cash plus A$100,000 in newly issued shares (at an assumed price of 2.85p per share) to acquire the option, which lasts for nine months.

Empire has agreed to spend A$500,000 on exploration at Central Menzies within the nine-month option period. It can exercise the option to acquire the 75% stake by paying A$1.75mln in cash and a further A$1.75mln to be satisfied through the issue of shares at a 10% discount to the prevailing 30-day volume-weighted average price.

The project, in Western Australia, is located in one of the region's major productive gold fields, is serviced by the Goldfields Highway, has access to power and water and is also within trucking distance of many gold processing plants.
PRESIDENT Hage Geingob wants legal practitioners to provide more free services to people in remote areas of the country.

In remarks made during the official opening of the 2021 legal year yesterday, Geingob encouraged lawyers in private practice to do more work for free through outreach programmes in remote areas, where he said the need for their services is the greatest.

Like his speech with the opening of parliament on Tuesday, Geingob's address at the opening of the legal year was pre-recorded. The opening was for the first time done on an online platform through the Office of the Judiciary's website.

Geingob remarked that "law is a tool that should drive social change and enhance social justice", and added: "Unfortunately, we don't see enough of that in our society. In fact there is growing discontent from the public in the manner justice is delivered and this requires introspection on all fronts."

He continued: "The lack of access to legal services and to the courts to a wide selection of our society should be an indictment on our collective conscience."

Namibia's "judiciary must increasingly become an indispensable and integral role player in the fight against poverty, corruption and inequality", Geingob said further.

"The provision of free legal advice has the ability to keep a family in its home and may help save a woman or a child from exploitation and abuse. Let us therefore all work hard to ensure that justice is made available to every citizen," he stated.

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The president also said he was recommitting himself to ensuring that the judiciary remains independent and impartial and serves the public with integrity.

"The rule of law, the administration of justice and protection of civil liberties are anchors that buttress the stability of our Namibian house," he said. "These principles must be respected and protected by all Namibians, as a collective."

Also speaking during the event, chief justice Peter Shivute noted that the country's courts had to adapt to a new reality and innovate due to the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown period last year. Although courts' operations were disrupted, they continued to function during an extraordinary and difficult year, he said.

During 2020, the Supreme Court delivered 86% of its reserved judgements within its three-month time limit after the hearing of an appeal, Shivute noted.

In the High Court, more judgements were delivered in civil cases during 2020 than in 2019, he said, with 6 491 civil cases finalised last year, compared to 4 937 disposed of during 2019.

Of the 927 civil cases in the High Court that were referred to mediation last year, 621 were settled, which is a success rate of 67% and is calculated to have saved about N$62 million in legal fees and some 2 636 days of court proceedings, figures released by the chief justice also show.

The country's lower courts, however, achieved a case finalisation rate of only 44% last year, resulting in a backlog of 6 288 matters being carried over into 2021, Shivute said. The lower courts had ended 2019 with a case finalisation rate of 51% for the year, he also noted.
Two people walk alongside the curtain wall of HMP Liverpool, northwest England, on Nov. 15, 2016. (Paul Ellis/AFP/Getty Images)

Ex-Prisoners to Get 150 UK Probation Service Jobs Helping Offenders Turn Their Lives Around

The UK government has promised it will give 150 jobs in its probation service to ex-prisoners by next April, it was revealed on Thursday.

The former prisoners will reportedly help people still in jail but nearing the end of their sentences to prepare for release back into the community.

The job of probation is to turn peoples lives around, to help support people to live fulfilling lives, Prisons Minister Lucy Frazer told the Times of London.

And if youve got somebody who has achieved that who is your peer mentor, for instance, in probation, I think that adds something to the role. We know that mentors are incredibly valuable in supporting people into work, she said.

Frazer is supporting the Ban the Box campaign from Business in The Community (BITC).

At BITC, we truly believe ex-offenders deserve a fair chance during recruitment practices in the UK. As we incredibly approach 1 million jobs covered by our Ban the Box campaign, join us on Thursday to learn why 150 employers have committed to #BantheBox: https://t.co/1zzk3iYxED pic.twitter.com/3nRSYZtZLs  Business in the Community (@BITC) February 8, 2021

The campaign signs up companies prepared to remove the criminal convictions question tick box from job application forms.

Signed-up companies instead leave questions about criminal convictions until later in their recruitment processes.

This is so a candidates skill set, experience, and abilities can be assessed first, rather than them being excluded from the outset solely because they have offended in the past.

In its response to a 2017 freedom of information request (pdf) made by Unlock, which supports people stigmatized due to their criminal past, the Home Office said there were over 11 million people in the UK with a criminal record.

Around 735,000 of these have unspent convictions which must be disclosed to an employer if they ask, Unlock said in a statement.

Relevant Risk

However, Francoise Seacroft Human Resources Director at BITC, which is itself a Ban the Box employer, said Screening based on a tick box is not a way of excluding inappropriate applicants.

We cant assume that everybody with a criminal conviction poses a risk.

Ban the Box firms agree to adjust their procedures to allow job applicants the chance to explain the circumstances.

Also to consider any conviction in terms of relevant risk within the specific role being applied for.

In some cases, questions about criminal convictions are not asked until a formal job offer is made or, for regulated roles, unless a legally required DBS (official criminal records) check has to be carried out.

The Ban the Box campaign has been running since 2013.

Since its launch it has covered a million jobs, it said in a statement, recruiting 150 employers to the cause of giving ex-convicts a second chance and fair access to employment.

The first company to sign up was UK health, beauty, and pharmacy chain, Boots UK Limited.

Not a Simple Issue

This is not a simple issue, Marco Pagni, Group Legal Counsel and Chief Administrative Officer at Walgreen Boots Alliance said on the BITC website.

People end up offending for a variety of complex reasons and as employers, the most powerful thing we can do is to help create a second chance for offenders  to enter employment and get back on track, he said.

Secure employment for ex-offenders is widely believed to contribute to the reduction in re-offending rates.

Almost half of all adult offenders released from custody re-offend within a year, said Myles Director of 007 Pest Control.

But evidence shows that having a job has been proven to reduce re-offending by 2533 percent. We want to help that 2533 percent, he said.

Mags Patten Executive Director of Arts Council England meanwhile said the tick box on job applications is a crude, blanket measure that stifles talented applicants and sends an unnecessarily harsh message from the start.

Humans possess a superpowerwe can reimagine ourselves, she said.

Because we can dream of new ways to be, we can make positive change in our lives.

ZANZIBAR will fully embrace electronic fiscal devices (EFDs) effectively this April, with all registered taxpayers to be compelled to use it in their transactions.

Minister of State in the President's Office, Finance and Planning Jamal Kassim Ali told the House of Representatives here on Wednesday that the machines have since October 16, 2020 been on trial, with 150 traders using them in Unguja and Pemba.

He said during the pilot period, the system experienced some operational challenges, which are being sorted out gradually but by April 2021, the system will be introduced countrywide.

The minister was responding to Mfenesini Representative Machano Othman Said who wanted to know when the government will use the gadgets. He also asked why many fuel stations in Zanzibar were not issuing receipts.

In further response, Minister Jamal asked the motorists implored to demand receipts every time they refuel vehicles, saying all petrol stations are required by law to issue manual or electronic receipt for every sale made.
Donald Trump's defenders were out in force on Wednesday night to denounce the 'crazy circus of the impeachment,' which Lindsey Graham likened to a dystopian novel being written by Democrats as they went along.

The former president's lawyer, David Schoen, described the hearing that began in earnest on Wednesday as an 'illegitimate, unconstitutional impeachment process,' which he said was seeking a conviction based on 'hearsay'.

His allies in Congress - Representatives Jim Jordan of Ohio and Devin Nunes of California, plus Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina - all told Fox News that they process was flawed and Trump had not incited the January 6 insurrection.

Graham told Sean Hannity that the prosecution's case, begun on Wednesday, was 'offensive and absurd.'

Lindsey Graham (right) told Sean Hannity that Wednesday's hearing was 'offensive and absurd'

Democrat prosecutors are arguing that Donald Trump, seen on January 6, incited violence

'We all know what happened at the Capitol was terrible. I hope everybody involved that broke in the Capitol goes to jail,' he said, but added that he was hurt no one cared when protesters gathered outside his own home, in Washington DC on September 21.

'I don't remember any of the House managers saying a damn thing when they were trying to break in my house,' he said.

Graham argued that the Democratic case was nonsensical, because the prosecutors are claimed that Trump knew tensions were high, saw the movement growing online, and encouraged the January 6 riot.

'The managers have got this cockamamie idea, this absurd theory, that Donald Trump was monitoring the Proud Boys and the far right websites and knew it was going to happen, and encouraged it,' said Graham.

'That is looney tunes.'

Graham said that proceedings in the Senate on Wednesday were 'loony tunes'

Graham argued that the Democrats made the point because if evidence of planning was found, ahead of the insurrection, then that would exonerate Trump from riling up the rioters on January 6 itself.

Graham said they were inserting Trump into the planning phase, to secure conviction.

'They are saying that because if the president didn't know, and it was preplanned, he is not guilty,' Graham said.

'So for the first time today they are trying to create a story line that he was in on it before it happened - that he was monitoring the Proud Boys and other crazy websites and he knew they were coming to Washington with violence on their minds and he encouraged it.

'That is beyond bizarre.

'This is not evidence. This is a liberal democratic novel being presented as evidence.'

Graham added: 'They were planning bombs the night before. So the whole story line that Donald Trump caused this, by the speech, has fallen apart thanks to good law enforcement activity.'

Graham said that he believed 'this thing is collapsing before their eyes.'

He concluded: 'The not guilty vote is growing. So it will be over by Sunday, I hope, for the good of the country.'

Graham, pictured on Wednesday, said he hoped the trial would be over by Sunday

Jim Jordan (center) and Devin Nunes both appeared on Hannity's show on Wednesday night

Jordan, seen arriving at Wednesday's hearing, insisted that Trump was blameless for the riot

Nunes, representative for California, said that the proceedings were a 'circus'

His congressional colleagues also set out to assure Trump supporters that the hearing was going their way.

Jordan, one of Trump's staunchest allies, argued that Trump was expressing his freedom of speech on January 6.

He said Trump never urged violence, noting he 'specifically said, peacefully and patriotically, make your voices heard.'

And he argued that the trial was unconstitutional.

'Trump came and did and fought for things that Americans care about and now there is a crazy circus of the impeachment,' Jordan said.

Nunes said there was no evidence the rioters were inspired by Trump.

'We should actually interview all of those people and say, did you talk to Donald Trump? Did you talk to anybody in the White House?' he said.

'What is really happening here is you have a radical left in total control of the government now and they don't want Donald Trump to win. They fear his rallies. They fear that 74.5 million people voted for Donald Trump. That is what is really going on here.'

On Thursday the nine House impeachment managers will continue putting their case forward.

David Schoen, one of Trump's impeachment lawyers, is seen arriving in the Senate Wednesday

Schoen appeared on Laura Ingraham's Fox News show on Wednesday night

When their 16 hours - which began at noon on Wednesday - are up, it will be the turn of Trump's defense team, comprising Schoen, Bruce Castor and Michael van der Veen.

Schoen, who on Tuesday managed to redeem their team following Castor's widely-panned rambling performance, on Wednesday night refused to preview their arguments.

He said the Democrats were 'clearly playing to the camera, to the public, all the time' and insisted that the 'horrific' riot was not at question.

'They would be thrown out of a courtroom for showing this video,' he said, arguing it was simply to stir up passions without any legal case.

'None of this stuff would be admissible in any kind of court of law.

'They have hearsay, on hearsay, on hearsay.'

Schoen, however, said they were quietly confident, telling Ingraham she would be 'quite impressed with the president's case'.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 11)  In a bid to further lower the risk of transmission in workplaces, the Department of Labor and Employment says a policy on ventilation is now being prepared.

"Nasa pipeline na ho namin na maglalabas kami ng polisiya tungkol sa ventilation. Alam naman po natin na ang bentilasyon, o ang pagpapasok ng...malinis na hangin at maglalabas ng contaminated air ay talagang magbababa ng risk, lalo na sa opisina, sa lugar ng paggawa," said Assistant Secretary Ma. Teresita Cucueco during a televised briefing on Thursday.

[Translation: The release of policies on ventilation is in the pipeline. We all know that ventilation or the inflow of clean air and the release of contaminated air can really lower the risk, especially in offices and places of work.]

Cucueco said this is particularly important in establishments like malls, restaurants and hotels. The guidelines could also help consumers see whether they should be concerned upon entering such places.

She said the guidelines were being finalized but mentioned no release date.

This development comes after the DOLE said that majority of workplaces they inspected comply with COVID-19 health and safety guidelines.

READ: DOLE: Workplaces compliant with COVID-19 safety protocols

Cucueco said they have inspected 70,000 establishments and that compliance is at over 90%.
Mortar shelling in Afghanistan kills at least 10 civilians

Fire breaks out at West Virginia oil refinery in US

Iran ready to help improve the defense capability of Syria

European Parliament head proposes to strengthen sanctions on Russia

UK PM gets married in London

Armenia reports COVID-19 new 81 cases: for people die

EU countries invite US to issue joint statement against Russia

2 people die in Armenia road accident

Nigeria: Students taken hostage a month ago are released

61 quakes recorded in Congo per day

Syrian MFA: EU lost credibility due to blind obedience to US policy

Armenia ex-minister of emergency situations hospitalized with heart attack

Mher Grigoryan: Clarification of border points is possible only after withdrawal of Azerbaijani troops from Armenia

Suspicious deal: Whether there was profit from buying DNA IDs?

Armenia ex-president says current authorities are trying to blame Russia for defeat in war

4 people killed in Afghanistani bus attack

Robert Kocharyan: This war could not have happened, it was a consequence of the policy of the authorities

Kocharyan: I have to ask people how it happened that overwhelming majority elected this leader

Armen Gevorgyan presents 'Armenia' bloc program: We offer the concept of a working country

Biden's administration proposed to leave unchanged amount of financial support to Armenia

US Embassy in Baku calls on Azerbaijan to immediately release Armenian POWs

Luxembourg MFA calls on Azerbaijan to immediately release all Armenian prisoners

Russia peacekeepers climb to Armenia Gegharkunik Province village positions

Biden strongly condemns manifestations of antisemitism in US

Iran intensifies its diplomacy amid Armenia-Azerbaijan border tensions

Armenia acting PM on forthcoming snap parliamentary elections: We hope to get 60% of votes

Lukashenko accuses West of destabilizing situation in Belarus

Armenia Central Electoral Commission chief on snap elections: No legal basis for postponing, suspending any function

Armenias Pashinyan is met by Yerevan district residents chanting against him

We are ready to be fully engaged in negotiation process to resolve Karabakh issue, says Armenia acting PM

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan gives interview to Russia TV channel

Armenia acting premier: We are ready to start withdrawing troops at any moment

Canada MFA expresses concern over 6 Armenian soldiers capture by Azerbaijan troops

There are omissions in registration documents of political forces that applied to Armenia Central Electoral Commission

Armenia Central Electoral Commission chief: There is activeness in Yerevan for the past day or two

Three new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Group of US Congress members threaten Azerbaijans Aliyev regime with sanctions

Chicago mayor is sued for allegedly refusing interview with white reporter

Iran exports oil to US for first time after long interval

"Armenia" bloc top 50 MP candidates are announced

42 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Sri Lanka public beach is covered in charred plastic pellets due to fire in container ship

US preparing list of targeted sanctions on Belarus authorities

China believes it will own America by 2035, Biden says

15 al-Shabab militants killed in Somalia

Newspaper: Armenia political forces that applied for running in election impatiently await CEC decision

Newspaper: Changes are expected in Artsakh

California prisoner who considers himself Satanist beheads cellmate, dismembers his body

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM's "mutually beneficial" proposal to collapse state system?

Armenia National Security Service Reserve Officers' Union members meet with His Holiness Karekin II

EU is ready to help Armenia and Azerbaijan with border delimitation and demarcation

ARF-D member on Nikol Pashinyan: 103 years ago Armenia's founding fathers would have executed him for treason

Iran President hails brotherly ties with Azerbaijan

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

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
For more than three decades, the Italian designer Ilaria Icardi resisted following in the footsteps of her father, Umberto Icardi, by becoming a jeweler. He and his brothers, Giuseppe and Piero, set up their family-run fine jewelry business, Emmeti, in Valenza in the late 1960s and made precious gold pieces for private clients and, eventually, bigger brands such as Tiffany & Co. Valenza, a small industrial town in the north of Italy surrounded by undulating, verdant terrain that the region promotes as Little Tuscany, has been renowned for its goldsmithery for centuries, but home held little appeal for Icardi. My father tried to pull me into the business, but I instinctively refused it, she says. I wanted to get out and escape.

Escape she did: to study fashion design in Milan, and an impressive, 25-year career in womens wear  with posts at Yves Saint Laurent under Tom Ford and Stefano Pilati, then at Celine with Phoebe Philo  followed. Since 2013, she has been the design director at Victoria Beckham in London, where she lives with her 8-year-old daughter, Theodora. Though she occasionally dreamed up jewelry in these roles, it was only when her father passed away four years ago, that Icardi found herself truly drawn to his craft. It lit a flame inside of me, she says of his death, which ultimately spurred her to launch her namesake line this year. It was already all there. I just had to bring it to life.
Husband and wife founders of Miami megachurch spar over possible $120M estate in messy divorce

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Pastor Guillermo Maldonado and prophetess Ana Maldonado, the husband and wife team that birthed the Miami-based King Jesus International Ministry, one of the nations largest and fastest-growing Hispanic churches, are now sparring over an estate that court papers say could be worth as much as $120 million.

Ana Maldonado filed for divorce from her husband, who was also an outspoken supporter of former President Donald Trump, after 32 years of marriage last year. In the initial filing, she alleged that he was emotionally and verbally abusive to her. She also alleged that she has reason to believe he is illegally profiting from the megachurch.

According to Ana Maldonados financial affidavit cited by the Miami Herald, they own a home in southwest Miami-Dade, a property in Sunny Isles Beach, Florida, and another in Treasure Cay in The Bahamas. They also own property in Opa-locka and Hialeah along with a 2020 Mercedes, a Lexus LX, plus a Falcon 50 business jet registered in Florida under the churchs name. The plane alone, according to Evojets, can range in price from $4.5-$6.5 million.

While she claims to know little about the family finances, Ana Maldonado claims in a preliminary financial affidavit that she and her husband own a possible boat, valued at an unknown amount. She also thinks there might be assets in Italy, Honduras and Colombia that attorneys said could amount to as much as $120 million.

Ana Maldonado is asking the court to award her the main marital home, attorneys fees and an equitable distribution of their assets.

She argues that she was pressured by her husband to sign financial documents but he kept financial information hidden from her, removed her from marital funds and prevented her from speaking to their two adult sons.

Guillermo Maldonados lawyers have denied the allegations, however, noting that the disputed properties were transferred to the estranged couples son, Ronald Maldonado, in January 2020 and he is now the owner of the marital home.

She bizarrely and falsely alleges in her amended petition that she is estranged from both of her sons, and that Ronald is unaware of these transfers being in his own name, Kathleen Phang, Guillermo Maldonados lawyer, wrote in a court filing, according to the Miami Herald. However, she and Ronald currently live together under the same roof, so she could simply ask Ronald about the transfers, but she does not do so.

At the center of the dispute is whether the church might have violated the Inurement Prohibition, which is an IRS rule that forbids board members, trustees and other key employees at 501(c)(3) organizations from directly profiting from a charity.

[W]hether [the church] is compliant with the law... is exactly what Wife is asking this court to adjudicate, Christina Echeverri, one of Ana Maldonados lawyers, wrote in a court filing. Ana Maldonado, she notes, has reason to believe that the church is misusing funds.

The church, however, denies any claims it violated the Inurement rule.

Any accusations that it has knowingly engaged in private inurement transactions are false and irresponsible, King Jesus International Ministry said in a statement to the Miami Herald. In 2020, alone, it gave away over 21 million pounds of food, almost 92,000 meals and over $780,000 in direct financial assistance to over 64,000 households and 53 churches and organizations.

Ana Maldonado now has her own competing church she calls Tabernaculo de su Presencia a las Naciones, which meets online and at the DoubleTree by Hilton Convention Center.

King Jesus International Ministry International did not immediately respond to calls from The Christian Post Thursday.
Associate Professor Erik Streed says the irony is not lost on him that he was racing the clock to make it home on time after setting up an experiment that could upend what we know about the nature of time itself.

The Griffith University experimental physicist had just set up an experiment to test the cutting-edge quantum theory of time, at Australias only nuclear reactor at Lucas Heights in Sydney.

Researchers are testing a cutting-edge theory which suggests what we know about how time works is wrong. Credit:Kerrie Leishman

I went down in mid-December, in the very narrow window of time when people from Queensland were able to go down, Professor Streed said.

Id been planning to spend a few days in Sydney with my wife, but then the Northern Beaches [COVID-19] cluster happened, so we had to high-tail it back over the border.

Hoping to transform Vietnams tech sector into a global leader in industry and trade, three successful Vietnamese engineers have returned home from lucrative jobs abroad to invest in the motherland.

Their projects are just three out of dozens of innovations being developed at the high-tech business incubator of the Saigon Hi-Tech Park in Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City.

AI-powered toy: New friend for Vietnamese children

Tong Vu Than Dans AI childrens toy may look like an ordinary wooden playset at first glance, but the hi-tech car set actually provides the opportunity for kids to conquer various transportation scenarios using an AI-powered car.

Dan, 38, had been a mechanical engineer for several American companies, as well as a professional in Japans semiconductor industry, before returning to Vietnam to take up a position at Intel Products Vietnam.

Despite his success at the international level, Dan felt he needed to give back to his home country. He left his secure corporate job behind and embarked on a mission to elevate Vietnams AI industry.

According to Dan, the idea to create an AI-powered toy was inspired by his childs addition to smartphones. Dan felt that creating an intersection between toys and technology was an opportunity to engage children without the need for a screen.

His invention, named Kodimo, is the result of that inspiration  a highly educational, modern update to typical wooden blocks that children can use to create roadways and other infrastructure designs.

After investing three years and billions of dong (VND1 billion = US$43,000) into Kodimo, Dan is finally beginning to see success, with two versions of the AI toy currently being trialed in the South Korean market. Each toy costs about VND5 million ($217) and can currently be found on various e-commerce sites.

Instructions and language programming for the toy are in English.

The great thing about this toy is that it uses technology to promote imagination and creativity in a way that is very familiar to children. That is why I believe this project will be successful, Dan explained.

Vietnamese product for Vietnamese market

Luong Vu Dang Quang (R) presents laser devices to Nguyen Van Nen (C), secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee, at a startup product launch event in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: T. Trung / Tuoi Tre

Luong Vu Dang Quang worked for a U.S. electronics company in Vietnam before serving as the head of R&D at a tech company in South Korea.

But even with his success, the 41-year-old felt the need to use his talent in order to bring Vietnamese-made products to the Vietnamese market.

Since leaving South Korea, Quang has founded Amed, a startup focused on optics and laser technologies for medical equipment.

After seven years of producing laser equipment for medical and beauty applications meant for other countries, Quang figured he had the skills to start his own company in the field in order to reduce his countrys reliance on expensive, foreign-made products.

I can absolutely make the same products here in Vietnam at a much cheaper price, Quang explained.

Despite his experience in the sphere, Quang faced many risks by choosing to launch his company in Vietnam. In South Korea, unlike in Vietnam, materials like circuits and screws are quality-ensured.

It took nearly all of his savings, but Quang is currently earning revenues with the sale of his first product  a 'fractional carbon dioxide laser resurfacing device' currently in use at 108 Military Central Hospital in Hanoi. He also exports other devices to the U.S. and South Korea.

Quang and his associates are currently conducting research on skin pigmentation treatment devices, hoping to create such products in Vietnam in order to reduce costs for customers in the country and other Southeast Asian markets.

An engineer on a mission

Le Trung Hieu sets up the Ewater filtration system with his associates at a factory in Vietnam. Photo: T.H. / Tuoi Tre

Ahead of the North KoreaUnited States Hanoi Summit in 2019, engineer Le Trung Hieu was sent to Hanoi to carry out a special mission: installing a water filtration system he designed into Sofitel Legend Metropole Hanoi Hotel  the site of the historic meeting between the leaders of the two countries.

Ewater  Hieus device  was invented in 2016 as a means of treating water electromagnetic technology instead of chemicals.

Hieu has since applied technology to several areas, including steam boiler treatment, industrial water treatment, and agricultural water treatment.

He has so far installed more than 3,000 products in Vietnam and around the world, including at the Da Nang City Hall and Landmark 81 skyscraper in Ho Chi Minh City.

A lot of people call me crazy when I gave up my high-paying job to launch my startup, but luckily my products were beloved by the community," Hieu said.

"Im really motivated to keep researching more porducts.

Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam!
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DUBLIN, Feb. 11, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Emergency Mobile Substation Market Forecast to 2027 - COVID-19 Impact and Global Analysis by Component (Switchgear, Transformer, Surge Arresters, and Other) and Application (Utilities and Industrial)" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The market was valued at US$ 910.00 million in 2019 and is projected to reach US$ 1,465.34 million by 2027; it is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.3% during 2020-2027



Substations play a significant role in the transmission and distribution of electrical power across the grid. Mobile substations are used in case of any power outage in the transmission and distribution of electrical power. Companies such as General Electric offer mobile substations that help end user in off-line events, and maintain grid safety and functionality.



The mobile substation is prefabricated, preassembled, and pre-commissioned with a compact design; therefore, it can be transported and installed in minimal time and on-site work. Customers can use mobile substation without investing in its procurement and maintenance as these substations are generally available on lease.



Presently, the utilities sector is facing critical difficulty to meet the regulatory mandates and consumer requirements. Thereby, it is aiming to lower the adverse effects on the environment. Emergency mobile substations are a revolutionary solution for providing temporary power supplies and interim grid connections.



Also, these substations are incrementally finding applications during the planned or emergency outages of power supply and in the integration of renewable or distributed generation. The diverse application areas under utilities cover distribution and transmission, renewables, and smart grid solutions.



Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Emergency Mobile Substation Market



The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is bringing long-term disruptions across several major processes and discrete industries - such as automotive, chemicals, oil & gas, energy & power, mining, and manufacturing. The tremendous growth in the spread of virus urges governments across the globe to impose strict restrictions on the movement of humans and vehicles.



As a result, the nationwide lockdown is disrupting the supply chain and production of components, equipment, and systems, as well as the supply of raw materials for manufacturing components used in a mobile substation.



The limited production activities and reduced demand from end-use industries are restraining the overall market revenue for the emergency mobile substation market, resulting in a decline in the market growth during the coming few years.



Key Topics Covered:



1. Introduction



2. Key Takeaways



3. Research Methodology



4. Emergency Mobile Substation Market Landscape

4.1 Market Overview

4.2 PEST Analysis

4.3 Ecosystem Analysis

4.4 Expert Opinion



5. Emergency Mobile Substation Market - Key Market Dynamics

5.1 Market Drivers

5.1.1 Growing Need for Instantaneous Power during Emergencies

5.2 Market Restraint

5.2.1 Lack of Appropriate Equipment in Undeveloped Regions

5.3 Market Opportunity

5.3.1 Rising Growth Potential in Rural Areas

5.4 Market Trend

5.4.1 Integration with advanced technologies in the future

5.5 Impact Analysis of Drivers and Restraints



6. Emergency Mobile Substation Market - Global Analysis

6.1 Global Emergency Mobile Substation Market Overview

6.2 Emergency Mobile Substation Market - Revenue and Forecast to 2027 (US$ Million)

6.3 Market Positioning - Key Players



7. Emergency Mobile Substation Market Analysis - By Component

7.1 Overview

7.2 Emergency Mobile Substation Market Breakdown, By Component, 2019 & 2027

7.3 Switchgear

7.4 Transformer

7.5 Surge Arresters



8. Emergency Mobile Substation Market Revenue and Forecast to 2027 - Application

8.1 Overview

8.2 Emergency Mobile Substation Market Breakdown, By Application, 2019 & 2027

8.3 Utilities

8.4 Industrial

8.4.1 Overview

8.4.2 Industrial Market Revenue and Forecasts to 2027 (US$ Mn)

8.4.3 Oil & Gas

8.4.4 Metals & Mining



9. Emergency Mobile Substation Market - Geographic Analysis



10. Emergency Mobile Substation Market - COVID-19 Impact Analysis

10.1 Overview



11. Industry Landscape

11.1 Overview

11.2 Market Initiative



12. Company Profiles

12.1 Key Facts

12.2 Business Description

12.3 Products and Services

12.4 Financial Overview

12.5 SWOT Analysis

12.6 Key DevelopmentsAZZ Inc.

Eaton Corporation PLC

General Electric Company

Siemens AG

Meidensha Corporation

NARI Group Corporation

Powell Industries, Inc.

TGOOD Global Ltd.

WEG Electric Corp.

For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/s0whre



Media Contact:

Research and Markets

Laura Wood, Senior Manager

[email protected]



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SOURCE Research and Markets

Related Links

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PAVIA, FEB 11 - Italian police on Wednesday night arrested two men on suspicion of murdering a 48-year-old Italian lorry driver and destroying his body at Vigevano near Pavia just over a month ago. The pair, aged 31 and 43, are both from Vigevano. Filippo Incarbone was last seen on December 27 when he went to see his brother at Gambolo near Pavia. On January 3 he sent a New Year's well-wishing message to his sister-in-law. Since then, there has been no trace of him. Neighbours called police after his dog had been barking non-stop for 24 hours. His disappearance was also covered on the RAI state broadcaster missing persons show Chi l'ha visto? (ANSA).
The Raj Bhavan official did not confirm about the approval for use of official plane and plan the Governor's travel schedule

Mumbai: Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari was denied permission to use a state government aircraft to travel to Dehradun on Thursday, triggering a row and inviting a strong criticism from the opposition BJP which sought an apology over the incident.

Koshyari was scheduled to travel by a state government aircraft to Dehradun, but the permission to use the plane was not granted even as the governor had boarded the aircraft, sources said.

The governor later took a commercial flight to travel to the capital of his home state of Uttarakhand, a statement from the Raj Bhavan said.

The Raj Bhavan secretariat and the state government sought to blame each other for the incident, which added a new chapter in the uneasy ties between the ruling coalition, comprising the Shiv Sena, NCP, Congress, and the governor.

The Raj Bhavan statement said the governor's secretariat had written to the government authorities seeking permission for the use of the aircraft "well in advance" on February 2.

The office of the chief minister was also informed about it, the statement said.

However, the Maharashtra government said the Raj Bhavan secretariat had been informed a day earlier bythe Chief Minister's Office (CMO) that approval for use of the official aircraft has not been given.

A statement from the CMO said the state government had taken serious cognisance that the official concerned at Raj Bhavan did not apprise the governor about the communication from the government (denying nod to use the aircraft).

"The Raj Bhavan official did not confirm about the approval for use of official plane and plan the Governor's travel schedule.

"The Chief Minister has issued directives that responsibility be fixed on the Raj Bhavan official concerned after taking serious cognisance of the developments," the CMO statement said.

It said the Raj Bhavan secretariat should have confirmed about availability of the official plane since non- approval for same was communicated a day earlier.

"Due to this the Governor had to face inconvenience. The state government is not to be blamed ," the CMO said.

It admitted that the Raj Bhavan secretariat had sought permission for use of the official plane.

"On February 10, the CMO communicated that no permission was given for use of the plane. The Raj Bhavan secretariat was expected to check on the permission and then bring the governor to the airport," the CMO statement said.

According to the Raj Bhavan statement, Koshyari is scheduled to preside over valedictory function of the 122nd Induction Training Programme of IAS officers at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration at Mussoorie in Uttarakhand on Friday.

He was scheduled to depart from the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai for Dehradun at 10 am on Thursday, the statement said.

Koshyari will travel to Mussoorie from Dehradun.

"Today, on 11th February 2021, the Honble Governor reached the CSIM Airport at 1000 hrs and boarded the government plane. However, the Honble Governor was informed that the permission for the use of Government Aircraft had not been received," the statement said.

As directed by the governor, tickets for Dehradun were booked for the governor on a commercial aircraft leaving Mumbai at 12.15 pm immediately and accordingly, he left for Dehradun, it said.

While the Shiv Sena said the government had followed all laid-down norms in disallowing the governor to use the state-owned plane, the opposition BJP demanded an apology from the ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) over the incident.

The BJP accused the MVA government of being "egoistic" and indulging in "childish acts".

Earlier, a source told PTI, "Normally, governors do not wait for the permission to come. He sat in the aircraft. The pilot then said the permission was not given yet."

When asked about the incident, deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar said he had no clue.

"I will take details on reaching the Mantralaya (state secretariat) and only then will be able to say anything," the deputy chief minister said.

Meanwhile, former Maharashtra minister and senior BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar said the MVA government should apologise for "insulting" the governor.

If the state government has purposefully denied permission, it is a "blot" on the state's reputation, he said.

"If this embarrassment is not intentional, then the state government should suspend the official who failed to issue the flying permission in time to the governor," he said.

The government should apologise and avoid further escalation of the issue, Mungantiwar said.

BJP leader and former Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis accused the state government of being "egoistic" and indulging in "childish acts".

He also alleged that the state government has insulted the constitutional post of governor.

"It is an unfortunate incident. Such an incident had never happened in the state earlier. Governor is not a person, it is a designation. People come and go, but the designation stays," he said.

The governor is the head of the state. In fact, it is the governor who appoints the chief minister and his cabinet, Fadnavis pointed out.

"The government should understand that it is insulting a constitutional post," he said.

Defending the government, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said it had followed all norms in disallowing Koshyari to use the state plane for his visit to Dehradun.

Rejecting the BJP's charge that the government has insulted the governor, Raut told reporters in Delhi that there was no politics involved in the incident.

"We respect the governor. The government has upheld the Constitution...This is what I gather from my conversation with Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray," he said.

"If the governor wants to use the government plane for private work, then there are some rules and had the government violated those rules, it would have been in the dock," the Sena MP said.

Notably, state Congress chief Nana Patole on Wednesday said the MVA government has decided to move court over the 'delay' by the governor in the appointment of nominated members to the Legislative Council.

The state government recommended 12 names for appointment to the Council under the governor's quota to Koshyari in the first week of November last year.

In October last year, during the coronavirus lockdown, Koshyari wrote a letter to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, asking if the latter had turned "secular" since he denied permission at that time to reopen temples in the state.

The CM later said he does need a "Hindutva certificate" from anyone.

During the pandemic last year, Koshyari also insisted on holding the final year exams of degree students in the state, but Thackeray at that time rejected the demand.

The Supreme Court of The Gambia has in a unanimous ruling refused to grant an interim injunction sought by Gambia Participate and Center for Research and Policy Development against the Clerk of the National Assembly, Auditor General and Minister of Finance.

The two civil society groups on the 28th December 2020 filed a motion for the country's apex court to grant an interim injunction against both the Executive and Legislature pending the hearing and determination of the case.

The Plaintiffs want the court to make an order directing the Auditor General not to grant approval for the payment of the sum of 54.5 million dalasis to the legislature pending the hearing and determination of the suit.

They wanted the highest court to make an order directing the Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs to hold the sum of 54.5 million dalasis allocated to National Assembly Members and staff of the aforesaid body, in the public interest and not to pay same pending the hearing and determination of the case.

They wanted the court to make an injunction against the Clerk of the National Assembly, his subordinates, any intended beneficiary and whomsoever from applying for, raising of warrants, preparing payment vouchers or any documents to access the sum of 54.5 million dalasi or any part of it by himself, staff of the National Assembly Services and National Assembly members pending the hearing and determination of the suit.

The motion was supported by a 12-paragraph affidavit sworn to by one Marr Nyang, the Executive Director of Gambia Participate. The first defendant (the Clerk of the National Assembly) filed a 13-paragraph affidavit in opposition sworn to by one Momodou A. Sise on the 20th January 2021. The Clerk of the House filed additional affidavit in opposition sworn to by one Lamin M. Dampha on the same day.

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The other defendants did not file affidavit in opposition but during the hearing, the Attorney General submitted in their behalf that the court should not grant the application.

"The court holds that this is not a proper case to grant the interim relief sought by the Plaintiffs. Accordingly, the motion is dismissed in its entirety," the Supreme Court ruled.

The Court said the decision will be incoporated in the final decision of the case.

There is no date fixed for the final judgment. Foroyaa will continue to follow the case.

The Work

Laura Poskin explains how Age-Friendly Greater Pittsburgh is recentering its work on equity as impacts from COVID-19 and increased calls for racial justice have elevated the need for the community to pause, reflect and act.

Reflection Leads to Focus on Black Lives

As we move into our second five-year cycle within the AARP Network of Age-Friendly States and Communities, we are taking a hard look at our practices, both internally and externally," says Poskin. "We have always been working toward being a region thats more inclusive and respectful of all ages, but a revealing report  Pittsburghs Inequality Across Gender and Race, released by the citys Gender Equity Commission in September 2019, coupled with COVID-19 and this summers Black Lives Matter protests  has made us pause, reflect and act. Pittsburgh is often heralded as one of the most livable cities  but for whom?"

White women in the region can expect to live to 78, while Black men can expect to live to 64. Pittsburgh ranks among the least livable cities for Black residents, particularly Black women. "Disparities across health, income, employment and education are pervasive  and they have been laid bare by COVID-19," Poskin says.

"I keep coming back to a phrase we included in a response to the murder in Minneapolis of George Floyd, which we sent to our mailing list in June," says Poskin. "It states, 'Everyone should have the opportunity to grow old in an environment that is safe and healthy, and in communities that are thriving.' This is different than how we have framed our work in the past."
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said the road to fighting climate change is through climate justice and called for giving developing countries enough space to grow.

Addressing the World Sustainable Development Summit (WSDS), Modi said two things will define how the progress journey of humanity will unfold in the times to come -- "health of our people and health of our planet, both of which are interlinked".

"The road to fighting climate change is through climate justice. At the root of climate justice is the principle of being large-hearted. Climate justice is also about thinking about the bigger and long-term picture," he said.

The remarks at the Summit, which brings together a wide range of experts to discuss ways to mitigate climate change, come amid a continuing tug of war between developed and developing countries on who needs to do more to save the environment by reducing emissions.

Noting that the sad reality is that environmental changes and natural disasters impact the poor the most, Modi said climate justice is inspired by a vision of trusteeship where growth comes with greater compassion for the poorest.

Also read: Such divided party can do no good: PM slams Congress

"Climate justice also means giving the developing countries enough space to grow. When each and every one of us understand our individual and collective duties, climate justice will be achieved," he said.

Asserting that India's intent is supported by concrete action, Modi said the country, powered by spirited public efforts, is on track to exceed its commitments and targets set at the Paris Climate Change Conference in 2015.

"We committed to reduce the emissions intensity of GDP by 33-35 per cent from 2005 levels. You'll be happy to know that a drop of 24 per cent of emission intensity has already been achieved," he said.

Modi also said that India is making steady progress on its commitment to land degradation neutrality.

"We're well on track to setting up 450 GW of renewable energy generating capacity by 2030," the prime minister said.

Highlighting the impact of his government's schemes in combating climate change, Modi said the Jal Jeevan Mission has connected over 34 million households with tap connections in just about 18 months.

"The destination we seek is a greener planet. Our culture's deep respect for forest and green cover is translating into outstanding results," he said.

"I'd like to draw attention to two aspects - togetherness and innovation. Sustainable development will only be achieved by collective efforts," he asserted.

The Prime Minister said that sustainable development is incomplete without equitable access.

"In this direction too, India has made good progress. In March 2019, India achieved nearly 100 per cent electrification. This was done through sustainable technologies and innovative models. He highlighted that through the Ujala programme, 367 million LED bulbs became a part of people's lives," Modi said.

This reduced over 38 million tonnes carbon dioxide per year, he said, adding that through the PM Ujjwala Yojna more than 80 million households below poverty line have access to clean cooking fuel.

"We are working to increase the share of natural gas in India's energy basket from six per cent to 15 per cent, he said.

The prime minister pointed out that often discussions on sustainability become too focused on green energy but green energy is only the means.

"Our mission to achieve sustainable development also includes special attention towards animal protection," Modi said.

He shared that in the last five to seven years, the population of lions, tigers, leopards and Gangetic river dolphin has gone up.

Regarding innovation, Modi said that there are many start-ups working on renewable energy, environment-friendly technology and more.

"As policy makers, we should support as many of these efforts. The energy of our youth will certainly lead to outstanding results," he said.

The prime minister specifically mentioned about disaster management capabilities.

He said that this requires focus on human resource development and technology. As part of the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, we are working in this direction, Modi said.

He assured that India is ready to do whatever possible to further sustainable development.

"Our human centric approach could be a force multiplier for global good," the prime minister said.

The WSDS is the annual flagship event of The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI).

Instituted in 2001, the summit series has marked 20 years in its journey of making 'sustainable development' a globally shared goal. The theme of the three-day-long summit this year is Redefining our common future: Safe and secure environment for all.

The virtual inaugural session was attended by Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, James Marape, Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea, Mohamed Nasheed, Speaker of the People's Majlis, Republic of Maldives and Amina J Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General, United Nations, among others.
At least 45 fashion designers recently ended a three-day training on technical fashion designs at the Gaye Nyoro Skills Center.

The training, organized by SheTrades and Andandorr (YEP) under the Ministry of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment, is designed to connect these women entrepreneurs to international markets.

EIF, OPEC and the Government of The Gambia are funding the training that is part of a three-year project.

A Senegalese fashion expert, Mr Momodou Diallo and three others from MoStyle were the resource persons during the three-day intensive fashion training.

The training exposed participants to technical drawing, pattern cutting, designing, and sizing, amongst others.

Speaking to this reporter at the end of the training, Momodou Diallo said the training would enhance the capacity of participants, as they have undergone an intensive 3-day training on technical patterns of cutting, designing amongst others.

"We have taught them how to take proper measurements and what to do to make sure that they know how many meters of fabric is enough for a person," he added that the expert team also trained them on how to cut and sew more appropriately.

The Senegalese fashion expert however called on the government of The Gambia to help young designers with the required materials, adding that such support would encourage the efficiency of fashion designers in the country.

The proprietress and creative director at Gamplus Clothing, Youma Wally Ndong described the training as the greatest opportunity for her, adding that she has learned a lot that could boost her work as a designer.

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"The technique that I've learned in the hardest way down to the shortcuts is really amazing. This has widened my knowledge in the production of garments. I never knew that certain things when not put in to consideration might end up in a very bad finishing product."

Ms Ndong explained that with the knowledge she gained from the training, she would now be able to control and monitor the product quantity she wants to produce for her business.

Rebecca Oli Jallow, a participant from the She Trades project, acknowledged that she has learnt a lot from the training, saying the knowledge gained is a challenge for her to do more.

Isatou Simaha, a fashion designer and a participant under the Andandorr project, described the training as chance and opportunity for them to network and partner with fellow designers.
A lawsuit brought by the widow of a sea captain who died after contracting the coronavirus last year was settled out of court last week, ending the opportunity for the case to set a precedent about whether American maritime law extends to such hazards.

The case had been brought in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana in New Orleans under the 1920 Jones Act, which gives seamen who are not eligible for traditional federal workers compensation some protection for the unique risks they face aboard vessels.

The lawsuit alleged that Michael Norwood, husband of plaintiff Kathy Norwood, died of COVID-19 in a Mobile, Alabama, hospital in April, 2020 after having been exposed to the coronavirus while he was working in Mobiles Austal marine facility on an offshore support vessel owned by Lafayette-based Rodi Marine LLC.

It further alleged that Michael Norwood had been negligently exposed to the virus when he was required to work on the vessel with another sea captain, John Reed, who the firm had transferred from New Orleans in late March when it was known at the time that the city had been a coronavirus hot spot.

Norwoods attorney, Paul Sterbcow, and other legal scholars have said the case would have been an opportunity to test whether the Jones Acts requirement that owners ensure the seaworthiness of their vessels includes a duty of care to ensure none of its crew members brings aboard a deadly virus.

" Captain Norwood had remedies available to him as a member of the crew of this vessel that others who are not vessel crew members dont have under the law, said Sterbcow, referring to the Jones Acts unseaworthiness provisions.

Crew who are American citizens or residents and work on American-registered ships are afforded special protection that those on foreign ships or in many other industries are not.

Seamen are in a particular class of workers as are railway workers, said Arthur Crais, a maritime law professor at Loyola University. Unlike other employees, both seamen and railway workers can sue the employer for negligence. All other employees are limited by the recovery of workers compensation benefits.

But in the Norwood case, both parties decided to settle rather than take it to trial.

We both thought it best for Mrs. Norwood and Rodi Marine to resolve this case, said Sterbcow, who said a confidentiality agreement forbids him from disclosing the terms of the settlement.

Kent Morrison, attorney for Rodi Marine, didnt respond to requests for comment.

Any monetary compensation would have been limited by the fact that maritime cases can only recover medical expenses and loss of income and cannot sue for pecuniary damages, which often are the lions share of non-maritime negligence cases.

Crais said that the settlement leaves it unclear for the maritime industry the extent to which companies can be held liable for negligence when it come to coronavirus.

I know that the worldwide shipping industry has been concerned about their legal obligations in the age of COVID, Crais said.

Though attention was focused early in the pandemic on lawsuits brought by passengers who had contracted COVID on board cruise ships, Crais said the fact that many cruise operators register their ships abroad and employ foreign crew means the chances for American crew to bring suits for negligent exposure are limited.

Similarly, most cargo vessels are registered under a foreign flag and employ foreign crew.

Seamen most affected will be those operating vessels serving the offshore industry, on mobile offshore drilling units, on tugs and inland vessels and any passenger vessels plying the U.S. waters, he said, noting that the federal court in New Orleans is by far the busiest in the country when it comes to hearing maritime cases.

___

(c)2021 The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate

Visit The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate at www.nola.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
On the third day of his impeachment trial in the US Senate, House impeachment managers screened Donald Trump's remarks to his supporters at his campaign rallies to illustrate his history of encouraging violence, leading up to the insurrection at the Capitol on 6 January.

Impeachment manager Jamie Raskin pointed to Mr Trump's directions to his crowds of supporters to attack counter-protesters at his rallies, telling them "get them the hell out of here" and "kick the crap out of them" in 2017.

Mr Raskin also showed senators footage of Republican Gregory Gianforte assaulting a reporter, and Mr Trump's apparent support: "Any guy that can do a body slam is my guy."

The attacks on the Michigan state capitol in 2020 among far-right groups to protest the state's coronavirus restrictions, fueled by the former president's attacks against Governor Gretchen Whitmer, were a "state-level rehearsal" for the Capitol siege and a "preview" of the coming insurrection, Mr Raskin said.

Read more: Follow live updates from Trump's impeachment trial

Following an alleged plot among far-right militia groups to kidnap the governor, interrupted by the FBI, the former president "chose to vilify Governor Whitmer, again, and then amazingly took credit for foiling the plot against her," Mr Raskin said.

A chant of "lock her up" erupted at a Michigan rally in October 2020  the president didn't intervene, but said that he would be blamed or implicated if he even "gives a little nod."Mr Raskin called that a "winking" acknowledgement of his own culpability in his behaviour.

The insurrection on 6 January "did not spring into life out of thin air," Mr Raskin said, following an opening argument on Thursday from impeachment manager Diana DeGette, who outlined how his supporters who stormed the halls of Congress explicitly said they were doing it at the former president's invitation.

"These tactics were road tested," Mr Raksin said, adding that the insurrection was a "culmination, not an aberration."

The former president was routinely criticised and condemned for his history of encouraging violence at his rallies and his apparent lack of remorse for the consequences.

Senators heard his comments following the deadly riot among neo-Nazis and "alt-right" groups in Charlottesville, Virginia in August 2017, when then-president Trump said there was "blame on both sides" and "very fine people on both sides."

Following the insurrection, on 12 January, Mr Trump said: "If you read my speech  people thought what I said was totally appropriate."

"There the pattern is, staring at us in the face," Mr Raskin said.
WHAT HAPPENED?: After failing to find a buyer for its refinery in Convent, Shell is shutting down the plant. The shutdown process is expected to begin in mid-November. The company will still try to sell the idled refinery.

JOBS AFFECTED: The refinery employs 700 Shell workers and 400 contract workers.

THEIR FATE: Workers are being offered alternative opportunities within the company or help to find new jobs outside the company. To free up some jobs for those displaced by the shutdown in Convent, Shell is offering a "selective voluntary severance program" to workers at Shell's Norco refinery near New Orleans.

+4 Shell decides to shutter the Convent oil refinery; hundreds of jobs lost After failing to find a buyer for its refinery in Convent, Shell is shutting down the plant, which employs 700 company workers and 400 contrac

PROXIMITY: Shell's Convent refinery sits midway between Baton Rouge and New Orleans, straddling Ascension and St. James parishes.

OVERALL STRATEGY: Shell is consolidating its assets from 14 sites into six energy and chemical parks. The survivors include the Norco refinery near New Orleans, in conjunction with Shell's chemical complex in Geismar. The goal is for the refineries to be more integrated with the chemical complexes and produce more biofuels, hydrogen and synthetic fuels as Shell positions itself for a transition to a low-carbon future because customers are asking for lower carbon products.
The City of Easton grew into an industry titan in the late 19th century. Railroads and canals brought raw materials through the city and into its silk mills and breweries.

The same modes of transport allowed the export of these products. But the growing city lacked something increasingly necessary for the health of its growing population: a hospital.

Take a walk through the history of Easton Hospital from its humble beginnings to the institution it remains today. (Source: Easton Hospital brochure from its centennial in 1990)

Nov. 20, 1890

Easton Hospital opens on Wolf Street. It was funded by nearly $10,000 in donations from a group of churchgoing women called The Kings Daughters. There are 11 beds, five doctors and one nurse.

1900

The hospitals school of nursing opens.

1906-07

1914

1927

1930

1935

Aug. 8, 1950

Groundbreaking ceremony for Easton Hospitals west wing. Work will also start soon on a new nurses' residence.

Feb. 27, 1951

1952

1953

1966

1975

Easton Hospitals nursing school closes, in part due to an increase in accredited nurses' training programs at local community colleges.

1985

2001

2004

2017

Steward Health Care of Dallas acquires Easton Hospital. Under Steward, the land and hospital were split so that each is under the control of separate corporations.

July 2, 2020

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Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com.
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Radical leftists and Democrats have also shown their ugly side, participating in violent protests during past Inauguration Day events as evidenced by reports.

At the center of the current impeachment trial against former President Donald Trump is his alleged call for insurrection that resulted in the Jan. 6 attack on Capitol Hill. The speech is now at the center of the debate that would determine if he was or was not guilty of insurrection. The impeachment managers are looking specifically at a few sentences that the former president said during the speech.

NPR reported that according to Democrats, the part of Trump's speech that was problematic was when he said, "We fight like hell. And if you don't fight like hell, you're not going to have a country anymore," because in using the word "fight," it may have been construed as to physically and literally take part in a violent struggle.

Trump's legal team is quick to defend the former president, saying that his statement, specifically, "I know that everyone here will soon be marching over to the Capitol building to peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard," was not meant to be taken literally and was a figurative call to action. They insist that it was "not a call for actual violence and lawlessness."

The riot that ensued following Trump's speech on Jan. 6 has garnered the attention of the national media, but this is not the first time Capitol Hill saw this much unrest. According to the One America News Network, radical leftists and Democrats have, for years, taken to the streets and committed acts of violence in groups if things don't go their way.

The report revealed how radical leftists and Democrats also brazenly took to the streets and caused riots during former President Trump and former President George W. Bush's Inauguration Day events. Back in 2017, CNN reported that there were six officers who were injured and 217 protesters were arrested after "ugly street clashes" and "coordinated disruptions" took place at former President Trump's inauguration ceremony. Black-clad protesters took to the streets to smash storefronts and bus stops and even broke the windows of a limousine before setting it on fire.

The unrest at Washington D.C. wasn't the only riots seen that day Trump was inaugurated, as demonstrations by the radical leftists and Democrats were also seen in New York, Seattle, Dallas, Chicago and Portland, Oregon. Going back 20 years ago, a similar scene could be observed. According to The New York Times, about 20,000 demonstrated during former President Bush's inauguration ceremony. These radical leftists and Democrats were angered by the ballot procedures and the ruling by the Supreme Court that named Bush the President of the United States. Protesters even waved the signs that read, "Hail to the Thief."

The One America News Network points out that it is important to take into consideration how radical leftists and Democrats when they do not get their way, especially during this crucial time of Trump's impeachment trial. As per BBC, US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer promised a "fair and honest Senate impeachment trial of the former president."
Gadwal Vijayalakshmi of Telangana Rashtra Samithi was on Thursday elected Mayor of Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, thanks to the strategic support from the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) at the eleventh hour.

Vijayalakshmi is the first woman Mayor after the formation of Telangana state in 2014 and the second woman to occupy the chair after the formation of GHMC in 2009, the first one being Banda Kartika Reddy of the Congress.

She represents Banjara Hills division of the GHMC, and is the daughter of TRS parliamentary party leader K Kesava Rao. She defeated the Bharatiya Janata Party candidate Radha Dheeraj Reddy, corporator from R K Puram division.

PTI

Another TRS corporator Mothe Srilatha Reddy from Tarnaka division was elected Deputy Mayor. She defeated Shankar Yadav of the BJP.

Both Vijayalakshmi and Srilatha were chosen by TRS president and chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and their names forwarded to the party in a sealed cover. The names were announced by TRS working president K T Rama Rao at a meeting of the newly-elected TRS corporators at the GHMC premises.

Meet Hyderabad's first Woman Mayor in Telangana state. G Vijayalakshmi- Corporator Banjara Hills has been elected with a high majority in the House.



All AIMIM Corporators elected TRS Candidate. pic.twitter.com/aDgkQgxD8i  @CoreenaSuares (@CoreenaSuares2) February 11, 2021

TRS corporator from Khairatabad, P Vijayalakshmi, who was the front-runner for the Mayor post, walked out of the meeting in protest. She did not take part in the voting. The elections to the GHMC held on December 1 witnessed a close contest between the TRS and the BJP.

The TRS won only 56 seats in the 150-member GHMC council and was 20 seats short of the absolute majority. The BJP finished a close second with 48 seats. The AIMIM retained its strength of 44 seats, which it had in the previous term.

The Congress ended up with just two seats. Though the TRS was 20 seats short of the majority mark, it was hopeful of winning the Mayor and deputy Mayor posts with the help of 38 co-option members, including the party MPs, MLAs and MLCs who registered their vote in GHMC limits.

PTI

The BJP had only two co-option members so the chances of winning the Mayor and deputy Mayor posts were very bleak. Interestingly, the AIMIM, which has 44 seats and 10 co-option votes, announced that it would also field candidates for the two posts, making the contest more interesting. Including the co-option members, the total number of members taking part in the voting on Thursday was 193 and the TRS required 97 votes to grab the top posts.

However, it had only 88 votes  56 elected corporators and 32 co-option members and it made the contest tight. However, a few minutes before the election of Mayor and deputy mayor was held at 12.30 pm, the AIMIM announced that it was dropping out of the contest and was extending support to the TRS, much to the shock of the BJP.



As a result, the TRS could get 100 votes (56 of TRS and 44 of AIMIM) and it could walk away with both the Mayor and deputy Mayor posts comfortably, without banking the co-option votes.
2 Christians flogged for violating Islamic law in Indonesia

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Two Christian men in Indonesia were flogged on Monday for drinking alcohol and gambling, which are crimes in the conservative Muslim Aceh province.

Agence France Press reports that each of the two men received 40 lashes from a masked Sharia officer who beat their backs with a cane.

Five others were flogged Monday in addition to the Christian men. The five others, all Muslims, were punished for the crimes of adultery and alcohol consumption.

One of the Christian men, who identified only as JF, told the news agency that he chose to be flogged to avoid a criminal prosecution in which he could have been jailed for up to six months.

The Sharia police gave us options, and we consciously decided to comply with the Islamic criminal code, the accused was quoted as saying. No one forced me to choose it.

According to the International Crisis Group, Aceh is the only province in Indonesia with the legal right to apply Islamic law in full. It has slowly put Sharia frameworks in place since 1999.

Although Sharia law is only supposed to apply to Muslim adherents, non-Muslims can choose whether they are punished under the criminal code or Islamic system.

Although flogging of non-Muslims is not common in Aceh, the two men are not the first non-Muslims to be canned in the province.

In 2018, a Christian couple was publicly flogged after being accused of using a childrens game for gambling. According to The Jakarta Post, the couple chose to receive eight and seven lashes rather than spend months in prison.

Last month, a gay couple was flogged nearly 80 times because they were caught engaging in sexual acts. Since Aceh is under ultra-conservative rule, homosexuality is banned in the province.

Islamic [S]haria enforcement is final, no matter who it is, and even visitors must respect local norms, public order official Heru Triwijanarko told AFP at the time.

Indonesia, the worlds most populous Muslim country, ranks as the 47th worst country for Christian persecution on Open Doors USAs 2021 World Watch List.

The human rights group reports that the situation for Christians in the Southeast Asian country has deteriorated in recent years because the Indonesian society has taken on a more conservative Islamic character. However, the level of persecution Christians face in Indonesia depends on the regions in which they live.

In certain hot spots, like West Java or Aceh, extremist Islamic groups are strong and heavily influence society and politics, an Open Doors factsheet explains. If they catch Christians evangelizing, believers could run into problems. Also, non-traditional church groups tend to experience difficulties getting permission for building churches. Even if they manage to fulfill all legal requirements (including winning court cases), the local authorities still often ignore them.

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom has advised the U.S. State Department to list Indonesia on its special watch list of countries that engage in or tolerate severe religious freedom violations.

In its 2020 annual report, USCIRF notes that Indonesia's religious freedom conditions are trending negatively since many religious minorities are prosecuted under blasphemy laws, and intolerant hardline groups continue to threaten religious minority houses of worship.

Reports from local nongovernmental organizations indicated that the provinces of West Java, Jakarta, and East Java had the highest number of incidents of religious intolerance  including discrimination, hate speech, acts of violence, and rejections of permits to build houses of worship for minority religious communities, the annual report states.
There have been rose Proseccos before, but these sparkling pink wines have now been officially blessed with their own appellation designation by the Italian and European wine authorities. So we will see a lot more of them! Here are two delicious introductions to the category, along with a tasty rose Cava from Spain and a pink bubbly from Savoie, in the French Alps. Why not a bouquet of roses for Valentine's Day? And if bubbles aren't your thing, we round out this week's list with a cabernet sauvignon from Italy's mountainous northeast, with a label from "Romeo and Juliet."

GREAT VALUE

Villa Sandi Il Fresco Rose Brut Rosato

2.5 stars (Excellent/Extraordinary)

Italy, $18

Spicy red fruit makes this delicious wine sparkle along with the bubbles. This will perk up your palate before dinner and highlight cheese or other antipasti. Alcohol by volume: 11.5%.

GREAT VALUE

Eugene Carrel Brut Rose

2.5 stars (Excellent/Extraordinary)

Savoie, France, $20

This delightful rose with flavors of red currants and raspberries hails from Savoie, nestled in the French Alps. It suggests an apres-ski celebration, but it's also appropriate for any occasion, such as a minor triumph on your Zoom call. ABV: 12.5%.

De Pro Cava Brut Rose

2 stars (Excellent)

Penedes, Spain, $15

Its bright cherry color and fun, fruity and effusive flavors make this an ideal aperitif to welcome the evening or a special occasion. ABV: 12%.

Covalli Prosecco Rose 2019

2 stars (Excellent)

Italy, $15

Pale salmon in color and slightly bitter on the finish with flavors of orange peel and clove, this refreshing wine has a lively edge to it. ABV: 11%.

Fossa Mala Amore Cabernet Sauvignon 2018

1.5 stars (Good/Excellent)

Friuli, Italy, $16

OK, here's your tacky romantic label suitable for either Valentine's Day or a marriage proposal. According to my translation app, the Italian quote from Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet" translates back into English as "From now on, call me Love." This seems like self-limiting marketing. The wine is actually pretty good - cabernet sauvignon is not a common grape in Italy's Friuli region, so this won't match the powerful flavor profile you may be used to from California, France or Chile. Instead, it's light-bodied, with cabernet flavors of blackberry and currant, but without the heavy oak influence from barrels. Make your point with the label, enjoy a glass, then move on to a more impressive wine to seal the deal. ABV: 13.5%.

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Prices are approximate. Check Winesearcher.com to verify availability, or ask a favorite wine store to order through a distributor.
Suspected sea pirates have continued to stage multiple attacks around the Gulf of Guinea in the last one week.

The insecurity in the Gulf of Guinea heightened in the last five days with attacks on four vessels and the abduction of an undisclosed number of crew on-board the ships.

Most of the attacks were said to have been carried out on the coast of Sao Tome and Principe north to Nigeria.

The pirates, according to Dryad Global, made its first attempted assault on a ship on Saturday, February 6, 2021 off the coast of Cameroon.
South Africa will start vaccinating health workers with Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 vaccine in an 'implementation study' to further evaluate the shot.
Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-11 14:27:16|Editor: huaxia

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by Chanthaphaphone Mixayboua

VIENTIANE, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- Lao people have shown their appreciation to China on the internet or when interviewed with Xinhua, after receiving the China-donated Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine on Monday.

Chinese Ambassador to Laos Jiang Zaidong officially handed over the vaccine to Vice President of Laos Phankham Viphavanh in Lao capital Vientiane on Monday.

"In my opinion, the arrival of the China-donated Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine has added calm and confidence to Lao people, especially frontline medical staff, in the fight against the pandemic," said Thanousinh Simeaung, a 32-year-old man and resident of Vientiane.

Sonthany Simahano, a 28 year-old-man told Xinhua that China is assisting Laos in many ways. "I am very grateful that Lao people has a chance to be vaccinated against COVID-19."

"I heard that China has been providing vaccine assistance to many countries. I hope we will overcome the pandemic sooner," said Khambai Vila, a 34-year-old woman in Vientiane.

Many Lao people also showed their appreciation through social media platforms.

A netizen named Sisouda Sophavandy said, "China's assistance has helped improve Laos' capability to combat COVID-19, thank you for your support!"

A netizen named Anusith Seesuphan said, "Thank you for the timely support to Laos! Your assistance made us feel warm and touched!"

Addressing the handover ceremony on Monday, Vice President Phankham spoke highly of China's achievements against COVID-19, noting that China, while advancing COVID-19 prevention and control efforts at home, have delivered strong support to Laos' fight against the virus by sending medical expert teams and providing a large number of anti-epidemic supplies.

The Lao side has found the Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine to be safe and effective in the earlier emergency use in certain high-risk personnel in Laos, he said.

According to the Lao Ministry of Health, the priority group in line for vaccinations are medical staff, officials working at land border crossings and airports, and elderly people living in risky communities such as border areas where there have been reports of illegal migration.

The total number of COVID-19 cases recorded in Laos remains at 45, and 41 of them have recovered. Another four infected cases are treated in designated hospitals.

Laos confirmed its first two COVID-19 cases on March 24. Enditem
A pack of stray dogs that are believed to have been turned blue by pollution have been spotted near a disused factory in Russia.

The animals' strange colouring is thought to have been caused by chemical waste near an abandoned Soviet-era plant in Dzerzhinsk.

Local authorities are heading to the area today to take the animals for a check-up after the pictures surfaced.

A flock of stray dogs that are believed to have turned blue by 'pollution from chemical waste' were spotted near a disused factory in Dzerzhinsk of Russia's Nizhny Novgorod region

The disturbing pictures of the dogs were taken by local residents near the Dzerzhinskoye Orgsteklo plant, a disused factory which closed due to financial problems six years ago

The disturbing pictures of the dogs were taken by local residents near the Dzerzhinskoye Orgsteklo plant, a disused factory which closed due to financial problems six years ago.

It was once a large chemical production facility making hydrocyanic acid and plexiglass.

The plant's bankruptcy manager, Andrey Mislivets, denied the authenticity of the images, claiming they were a prank.

He said that the stray animals could have found some copper sulphate, a type of chemicals that can cause inflammation, while wandering around the abandoned buildings in the area.

'Possibly they found the remains of some old chemicals and rolled in it, and possibly it was copper sulphate,' the commissioner said.

The disused factory (pictured) in Russia was once a large chemical production facility

A pack of strays are turned blue after they are suspected to have been polluted by chemical waste near an disused plant (pictured) in Dzerzhinsk of Russia's Nizhny Novgorod region

'Several years ago something similar happened when stray dogs got unnatural "dyes".

'They must have found something. No one controls them.'

He added that no one controlled the dogs, and it was not possible for the company to ensure the capture and sterilisation of animals.

The authorities in Dzerzhinsk city were reportedly seeking permission to go onto private land on Thursday.

They are planning to catch and check the polluted dogs at the Soviet-era facility.

'Talks are being held with the chiefs of the enterprise about the possibility of catching the dogs,' said a government spokesman.

'They must be checked, their health must be assessed, and the reason for their hair dye must be found.'

The animals are believed to have been coloured by copper sulphate, which can cause a burning or stinging sensation, leading to itching or inflammation.
Happiest Minds Technologies | BNP Paribas Arbitrage acquired 9,25,250 equity shares in the company at Rs 368.55 per share on the NSE.

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Bengaluru-based IT service provider Happiest Minds Technologies is eyeing acquisitions in the $10 million-$30 million range with a focus on digital capabilities, primarily in Europe, the UK and Australia.

In an interaction with Moneycontrol post the companys Q3 FY21 results, MD & CFO Venkatraman Narayanan said, We are looking at all the geographies and what we are saying is we are looking to build a certain competency when we do acquisitions. Pimcore gives you the clear market depth on that service. That adds a lot more value than just the numbers.

Happiest Minds, which acquired digital e-commerce and data management solutions provider Pimcore Global Services last month for $8.25 million, is now looking for similar acquisitions in coming months in the range of $10 million-$30 million, where the company can gain capabilities.

We are looking at capabilities (digital skills), then geographies, customers and profitability. These are all the benchmarks we will look at for every (acquisition) candidate. For acquisitions we are looking at Europe, UK, Australia, he added.

Aggressive lateral hiring plans are also in place to meet the increased demand across its digital service offerings including cloud, security solutions and analytics.

We will push for lateral hiring. It will be in security, full stack engineering and mostly the digital skills/capabilities, added Venkatraman.

While the company does not disclose its deal pipeline, Venkatraman said that unlike the previous quarter, the company is optimistic about growth in the coming months. During the interaction after the companys Q2 FY21 results in November 2020, the firm said that while client spends are returning, the second wave of the pandemic was a concern.

Venkatraman explained that the outlook is now positive, with investments that were paused coming back and enterprises are investing in digital, given that they have become key to doing businesses. Happiest Minds, he pointed out, with more than 97 percent of revenues coming from digital, is well-positioned to tap into this opportunity.

Happiest Minds had a stellar debut on Indian stock exchanges in September 2020 with its initial public offering being subscribed 150 times.

For the quarter ending December 2020, the company posted a revenue of Rs 20,129 lakh, up 14.6 percent year-on-year. Net profit rose to Rs 4,215 lakh, almost double the Rs 2,138 lakh seen in the same period last year. The company employs about 2,885 people across seven geographies.

As for work from home (WFH), the company intends to get people back to work at their desks eventually. Currently, almost all its employees are working from home.

We will WFH till the end of Q2 next year, when things will hopefully be back to normal with the vaccination drive on, Venkatraman said.

Our intention is to get people back to work. We always had work from home for one day per week. We will see that policy can be tweaked a little bit more, he added.
Britain's Queen Elizabeth II visits the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) at Porton Down, England, Thursday Oct. 15, 2020, to view the Energetics Enclosure and display of weaponry and tactics used in counter intelligence.

The parents say they want to be recognized as stakeholders and get greater transparency from CPS. They want a renewed urgency to improving remote learning, since most students still be receiving lessons online at least part time. And group said it wants a focus on mental health and social-emotional needs, as well as improved technology and as much as a $100-per-month stipend for families who are spending more on internet service because the district-provided hotspots can be unreliable.
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New Delhi:

Amid the present acrimony between ruling JD(U) and RJD of the grand alliance, BJP on Sunday said it does not favour snap polls in Bihar.

The party also extended support to Nitish Kumars stand that deputy chief minister Tejashwi Prasad Yadav must come clean on corruption charges against him.

We are not in favour of mid-term polls in Bihar. Such a situation should not arise in the state, senior Bihar BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi told reporters Patna.

BJP sought to steer clear of the acrimony between the two ruling allies saying it is not going to extend inside or outside support if JD(U) severs ties with RJD.

BJP does not believe in breaking the alliance government, but wants it to complete its term. Partys parliamentary board will decide the issue depending on the political situation, the BJP leader said.

Sushil Modi, the Leader of Opposition in the Bihar Legislative Council, said Kumar has on several occasions supported BJP and the Centre on various issues.

An intense check and mate game is going on between the two warring allies, but both are wary of losing power, the BJP leader said expressing hope that the situation will be resolved at the earliest.

The JD(U) has asked its key ally RJD to come clean on the issue of corruption charges levelled against its legislature party leader Tejashwi Yadav.

RJD supremo Lalu Prasad has, however, said Tejashwi will not resign merely on the ground that the CBI has lodged an FIR against him in the land-for-railways hotels case.

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ICE and law enforcement in Texas have launched a massive search for an oil tanker after a migrant called 911 saying that he and about 80 individuals were gasping for air and some had even died.

The screams and moans of other migrants could be heard on the chilling 911.

During the call, the Spanish-speaking female dispatcher asked the man, 'do you see anything?' as crying in heard in the background.

'No, no we can't see anything,' the migrant replied in Spanish. 'God, we don't have oxygen.'

The operator then asked the man if they are on a highway, and he replied, 'yes, I hear cars.'

During the conversation with the San Antonio Police Department and the Bexar County's Sheriff's Office, the caller says that some of the migrants had died.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and local law enforcement agencies in San Antonio, Texas, had launched a frantic search for a oil tanker that was used to allegedly transport at least 80 migrants, including one man who called 911 to report that they had no oxygen and that some of the individuals had died

San Antonio law enforcement agents stand near the site where a 911 dispatcher was able to pin the last location of a tanker truck that was reportedly ferrying at least 80 undocumented immigrants on Monday night

During the 911 recording, the man says that he and the migrants are unaware of who is driving the tanker.

When asked if anyone else had a cellphone, the man cried, 'Help me holy God, help.'

The phone call drops a short while later.

Surveillance video obtained by San Antonio Fox affiliate KABB shows what appears to be a white tanker truck smuggling the migrants on Interstate 35 before it comes to a full stop on the side of the road Monday night.

A surveillance camera captures the moment a tanker reportedly transporting at least 80 undocumented immigrants stops behind a pickup truck on a highway in Texas. A male migrant called 911 and told a dispatcher in Spanish that the group was having trouble breathing and that some of the undocumented immigrants had died

The truck, which in the video is accompanied by a black pickup truck, stops a second time before the footage comes to an end.

A spokesperson for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement told DailyMail.com in an email that the agency was aware of the incident.

'Homeland Security Investigations [HSI] is looking into an incident along with local law enforcement partners regarding a possible human smuggling event. 'No further details can be released at this time since the matter remains ongoing.'

Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar told Fox affiliate KABB that he doubts the human traffickers would have done anything to save the lives of the sickened migrants.

'It's heartbreaking to hear because clearly behind the caller, in the background, you can hear others in the car, in the trailer and they're also screaming for help,' he said.

'I bet a lot of money, that if the smugglers do encounter somebody in the back of that trailer that is very, very ill, as a result of the conditions they were exposed to or even dead, They're not going to do the right thing,' Salazar added. 'They're going to dump a body or they're going to abandon somebody at a hospital, maybe. They're certainly not going to do the right thing.'
ALTON  The city this spring plans to seek bids on Phase 2 of the Safe Route to School project.

The project will address safety and ADA accessibility issues, upgrading the sidewalks that serve the area.

Plans include a combined use path to be constructed from the intersection of Rock Spring Drive and Memorial Drive to College Avenue, with sidewalk upgrades along College Avenue from Holman to Pleasant. Additionally, Johnson Street from Tremont to College Avenue will received sidewalk upgrades as well.

Alton Public Works Director Bob Barnhart said the city is following the Illinois Department of Transportation schedule.

We hope to have plans completed in the summer, Barnhart said.

The grant for the project was awarded by the East-West Gateway Council of Governments which selected Alton to receive funds from the Transportation Improvement Program in the amount of $335,000. The work is expected to cost $421,000.

Similar work was completed in 2016 with the construction of a combined use path along College Avenue using similar funding opportunities, Mayor Brant Walker said.

He also said the Alton Public Works Department is currently awaiting a final decision on Phase 3 improvements to be awarded in the coming months.
While speaking in favour of the farm reform laws in the Lok Sabha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday cited a story of the Churchill Cigar Assistant in the office of Chief Secretary of Tamil Nadu. The post was specifically created for ensuring the supply of cigars to Churchill from Tiruchirappalli in the state.

Despite Churchill losing in 1945 and India becoming independent in 1947, the post continued till several decades later and the fact came to light when the state government set up a commission for raising the salaries of government employees.

The CCA had written to the Commission seeking a raise but no one was even aware that such a post existed.

"This incident is the biggest example of a need for change in governance for the progress of the society," PM Modi suggested while defending farm laws.

Here is the story behind CAA.

It wasnt until the 1960s, when the letter arrived that an investigation into the inscrutable job began, and the smokescreen around one of the Second World Wars great mysteries was fanned away.

In the early 1940s, Nazi Germanys submarine fleet began to savage convoys headed across the Atlantic Ocean, carrying weapons, ordnance, food and Prime Minister Winston Churchills beloved Havana cigars. Faced with the prospect of Great Britains wartime commander being lost to nicotine withdrawals, or so the story goes, the Madras Governor stepped in, using his special powers under the Defence of India Rules.

The CCA  Churchills Cigar Assistant, an English-speaking cigar taster  was tasked with discreetly obtaining the finest Trichinopoly cigars, and ensuring they made their way to 10 Downing Street.

Fenn Thompson & Co  along with Hunter & Co, John Mayer and others with names similarly redolent with Trichys great British heritage  once supplied customers across the Empire. The company is now the only surviving producer of the Trichy.

Founded in 1900 by Solai Thevar, Fenn Thompson was one of several cigar manufacturers founded in present-day Tiruchirappalli by enterprising Indians who understood the power of branding.

The Alabama Senate on Thursday passed a bill to allow home delivery of alcohol.

The bill by Sen. J. T. Waggoner (R) passed with a 26-3 vote.

Senate Bill 126's text says it would allow for "delivery service license issued by the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board that would allow the licensee to deliver sealed beer, wine, and spirits from certain licensed retail establishments directly to individuals in Alabama who are at least 21 years of age for their personal use."

Under existing law, delivery of beer, wine and spirits to homes is illegal.

The bill now moves on to the Alabama House. If approved there, it will need to be signed into law by Gov. Kay Ivey.

You can read the full bill below:
Kids want to fish? You don't know how yourself? Here's a little help
Using a newly developed system for mid-infrared exoplanet imaging, astronomers from the Breakthrough Watch Initiative say they can now use ground-based telescopes to directly capture images of exoplanets about three times the size of Earth within the habitable zones of nearby stars. Their initial observations, made with ESOs Very Large Telescope at the Paranal Observatory in Chile as part of the NEAR (New-Earths in the AlphaCen Region) program, resulted in the detection of a warm sub-Neptune-sized planet in the habitable zone of Alpha Centauri A, part of the star system nearest to Earth.

Alpha Centauri, also known as Rigil Kentaurus, Rigil Kent and Gliese 559, is the closest stellar system to Earth.

This triple system is made up of the bright binary star formed by Alpha Centauri A and B, plus the faint red dwarf star Alpha Centauri C.

The two brighter components are roughly 4.35 light-years away from us. Alpha Centauri C, better known as Proxima Centauri, is slightly closer, at 4.23 light-years.

Compared to our Sun, Alpha Centauri A is of the same stellar type G2, but slightly bigger. Alpha Centauri B, a K1-type star, is slightly smaller and less bright.

Alpha Centauri A and B orbit a common center of gravity once every 80 years, with a minimum distance of about 11 times the distance between the Earth and the Sun.

We achieved the capability to directly image planets about three times the size of the Earth in the habitable zone of Alpha Centauri A, said Dr. Olivier Absil, director of the PSILab (STAR Research Institute/Faculty of Sciences) at the Universite de Liege.

In 2016, Breakthrough Watch and ESO launched a collaboration to build a thermal infrared coronagraph, designed to block out most of the light coming from the star and optimized to capture the infrared light emitted by the warm surface of an orbiting planet.

In addition to helping drastically reduce the light of the target star and thereby reveal the signatures of potential terrestrial exoplanets, the coronagraph modifies existing instrumentation to optimize its sensitivity to infrared wavelengths, enabling it to detect potential heat signatures similar to that emitted by the Earth.

Building upon these advances, the astronomers conducted more than 100 hours of observation beginning in 2019, to hunt for exoplanets within the habitable zones of Alpha Centauri A and B.

We were amazed to find a signal in our data, said Dr. Kevin Wagner, an astronomer at the University of Arizona.

While the detection meets every criteria for what a planet would look like, alternative explanations have to be ruled out.

Verification might take some time and will require the involvement and ingenuity of the larger scientific community.

Only a few years ago, we set out on a search for possible Earth-like planets circling Alpha Centauri A and B, said Dr. Pete Worden, executive director of the Breakthrough Initiatives.

We built the machinery that could do the job, and now a candidate planet has revealed itself. The power of concerted, global scientific collaboration is quite astonishing.

When we collaborate on a global scale, we discover new worlds, and we keep advancing, said Yuri Milner, founder of the Breakthrough Initiatives.

The identification of a candidate habitable-zone planet in our celestial backyard will continue to power our curiosity.

The teams paper was published in the journal Nature Communications.

_____

K. Wagner et al. 2021. Imaging low-mass planets within the habitable zone of  Centauri. Nat Commun 12, 922; doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-21176-6
The head of the New York State Republican Party on Wednesday called for passage of reform legislation. State party chair, Nick Langworthy, says you should, too, regardless of your party affiliation.

"It's something that every democrat, republican, independent, conservative, liberal, no matter what stripe you're of, you should support it, because it holds people in power accountable," said Langworthy, in Albany.

The initiative, referendum and recall legislation would do the following:

Allow voters to propose laws to be considered during general elections. (initiative)

Place an already existing law on the ballot for New Yorkers to reject or accept. (referendum)

Place the question of whether to remove and replace a statewide-elected officials such as the Governor, Comptroller and Attorney General on the ballot. (recall)

Sen. Joseph Griffo, R-47, has been pushing for recall legislation since 2009. Griffo explains how it would work.

"What would happen is, you would have a number of criteria, you would have a process, process would be that you would have to get so many signatures that would require that and then there's a referendum election on the individual, so what happens is you would say yay or nay to keeping that person in office and if more people say no than yes, then that person is removed or recalled," said Griffo.

Griffo says the legislation isn't exactly groundbreaking; more than 20 states have a recall provision. In a high profile case, a movie star went from Hollywood, to the helm of his state, by way of a recall.

"This has worked successfully in 24 other states. If you recall in California, Gov. Schwarzenegger was made governor because of the recall of the prior governor, Gray Davis," said Griffo.

There's no timeline on when the state legislature might vote on recall legislation. Griffo says a provision for localities to opt in would likely be part of it.
Sen. Tommy Tuberville spoke to Donald Trump just as rioting rocked the Capitol on Jan. 6 and informed the president then-Vice President Mike Pence had been evacuated from the chamber, Politico detailed in a report today.

Tuberville, R-Alabama, told Politico he was on the phone with Trump when he had to abruptly end the call.

I said, Mr. President, they just took the vice president, Ive got to go, Tuberville said.

Tubervilles office provided AL.com with the full statement made to Politico:

I dont know if youve ever talked to President Trump  you dont get many words in. But he didnt get a chance to say a whole lot because I said Mr. President, they just took the Vice President out, Ive got to go. Thats pretty much what it was, Tubervilles office said.

Politico reports Tubervilles call came just around the time the president criticized Pence on his now-deleted Twitter account for not having the courage to stop the Biden certification.

It is unclear if Tubervilles call was the first time Trump was told about Pences evacuation from the chamber as protesters approached.

House managers said the call with Tuberville, who voted against certifying the Biden results, took place around 2 p.m.

Pence was evacuated at about 2:15 p.m. Trump tweeted his comments to Pence at 2:24 p.m.

Mike Pence didnt have the courage to do what should have been done to protect our Country and our Constitution, giving States a chance to certify a corrected set of facts, not the fraudulent or inaccurate ones which they were asked to previously certify. USA demands the truth! that tweet read.

That tweet came about six minutes before the entire Senate was cleared, Politico reported.

The story comes just as House Democrats are proceeding with the impeachment proceedings against former President Trump.

Prosecutors claim the president incited the deadly riots that erupted as Congress worked to certify the election of President Joe Biden.
MUSC Hollings Cancer Center researcher Yongxia Wu, Ph.D., identified a new target molecule in the fight against graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Bone marrow transplant, a treatment for certain blood cancers, is accompanied by potentially life-threatening GVHD in nearly 50% of patients. A January 2021 paper published in Cellular and Molecular Immunology revealed that activating a molecule called STING may be a new approach to reduce GVHD.

Xue-Zhong Yu, M.D., professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, focuses on understanding the intricate immune mechanisms that regulate GVHD development and anti-tumor activity.

Recently, STING (stimulator of interferon genes) has been highly studied in the context of cancer. Data from other groups has shown that STING activation in T cells helps the immune cells fight cancer. Cancer cells are essentially a "bad" version of the body's own cells and an appropriate target for its immune system. In contrast, in the case of GVHD, T cells fight the body's own "good" cells - in essence, the body attacks itself. Based on the previous data, it seemed logical that high STING activation, though good when it comes to cancer, would be bad in the context of GVHD. Yu's findings in a mouse model of GVHD confirmed this hypothesis. In the mouse model, which was obtained from collaborator Chih-Chi Andrew Hu, Ph.D., a Wistar Institute professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, GVHD was induced by bone marrow transplant, which closely models the disease development in humans.

To understand how GVHD develops after bone marrow transplantation, one must consider two immune systems: the donor's and the recipient's. The key immune cells are the antigen-presenting cells and the T cells. The immune system knows what to attack based on specific "tags," called antigens, that are shown to the T cells by the specialized antigen-presenting cells. Dendritic cells are the most effective antigen-presenting cells, and they play a critical role in GVHD.

Work from other research groups in cancer has demonstrated that STING signaling can regulate antigen- presenting cell function. STING is an important molecule in a DNA-sensing pathway that results in the production of inflammatory cytokines. But it is not known how STING regulates these cells in the context of GVHD.

The researchers used the mouse models to determine whether GVHD improved or worsened when STING was 1) absent in the donor immune cells, 2) absent in the recipient immune cells and 3) overexpressed in the recipient immune cells. GVHD severity was not changed when STING was absent from the donor immune cells. However, GVHD was more severe and mortality rates were higher when STING was missing from the recipient immune cells.

Yu and collaborators then looked at different cell subsets to try and understand which cells were most impacted by the loss of STING. Surprisingly, STING expression in the recipient mouse's antigen-presenting cells (dendritic cells) reduced donor T cell expansion and migratory ability after bone marrow transplant. In other words, it made it less likely that the T cells of the recipient mouse would attack its "good" cells and lead to GVHD. This finding was confirmed using a pharmacological drug that turned on the STING molecule. Activating STING in the host before transplantation reduced GVHD severity.

The finding in a mouse model that activating STING with a pharmacological drug reduced GVHD could be clinically relevant in that it suggests the possibility that a STING-activating drug might protect bone marrow transplant recipients from GVHD. Much more basic and clinical research will be required to assess that possibility, but Yu's findings suggest that such research is warranted.

To understand why the research team observed what they did, they will continue to unravel the biological functions of the STING molecule. Unanswered questions include what makes STING function differently in different immune cell subsets.

"Tools such as the mice from our collaborator allow us to study this more thoroughly. Total-body deletion of a protein does not allow for specific study in cell subsets, and we think that STING must have different roles in different cells," explained Yu.

###

About MUSC

Founded in 1824 in Charleston, MUSC is the oldest medical school in the South, as well as the state's only integrated, academic health sciences center with a unique charge to serve the state through education, research and patient care. Each year, MUSC educates and trains more than 3,000 students and nearly 800 residents in six colleges: Dental Medicine, Graduate Studies, Health Professions, Medicine, Nursing and Pharmacy. The state's leader in obtaining biomedical research funds, in fiscal year 2019, MUSC set a new high, bringing in more than $284 million. For information on academic programs, visit musc.edu.

As the clinical health system of the Medical University of South Carolina, MUSC Health is dedicated to delivering the highest quality patient care available, while training generations of competent, compassionate health care providers to serve the people of South Carolina and beyond. Comprising some 1,600 beds, more than 100 outreach sites, the MUSC College of Medicine, the physicians' practice plan, and nearly 275 telehealth locations, MUSC Health owns and operates eight hospitals situated in Charleston, Chester, Florence, Lancaster and Marion counties. In 2019, for the fifth consecutive year, U.S. News & World Report named MUSC Health the No. 1 hospital in South Carolina. To learn more about clinical patient services, visit muschealth.org.

MUSC and its affiliates have collective annual budgets of $3.2 billion. The more than 17,000 MUSC team members include world-class faculty, physicians, specialty providers and scientists who deliver groundbreaking education, research, technology and patient care.

About MUSC Hollings Cancer Center

MUSC Hollings Cancer Center is a National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center and the largest academic-based cancer research program in South Carolina. The cancer center comprises more than 100 faculty cancer scientists and 20 academic departments. It has an annual research funding portfolio of more than $44 million and a dedication to reducing the cancer burden in South Carolina. Hollings offers state-of-the-art diagnostic capabilities, therapies and surgical techniques within multidisciplinary clinics that include surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation therapists, radiologists, pathologists, psychologists and other specialists equipped for the full range of cancer care, including more than 200 clinical trials. For more information, visit hollingscancercenter.musc.edu.

Wedding bells are not ringing  just yet  for bride-to-be Jacquelynn Sharman and future groom Dan Scheuerpflug.

Wedding bells are not ringing  just yet  for bride-to-be Jacquelynn Sharman and future groom Dan Scheuerpflug.

The province announced this week, starting 12:01 a.m. Friday, 10 people plus an officiant and a photographer/videographer will be allowed at Manitoba marriage ceremonies under newly-loosened COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.

SUPPLIED Jacquelynn Sharman and Dan Scheuerpflug have pushed back their wedding to 2022 and aren't planning on changing the date despite loosening restrictions.

That's up from five people  a limit put in place in November, among other restrictions, while novel coronavirus infections skyrocketed in the province. Photographers and videographers hadn't previously been allowed.

However, the Winnipeg couple isn't rushing to hold a pared-down ceremony amidst the pandemic.

"It's just not worth it," Sharman said.

When the virus first arrived in Manitoba in March 2020, the couple waited with bated breath.

"Not only was I learning how to work from home and getting my home office set up, but I was also having to think constantly about the restrictions and about what was going on in the world, because of my upcoming wedding," said Sharman, who works for the federal government.

SUPPLIED Raydan Zacharias, owner of Divine Weddings & Events, said most weddings the company is planning have been pushed back to 2022.

They decided in May to push back their late-summer wedding 2020 date all the way to August 2022.

"At that point, it did feel like a weight was lifted off of my shoulders, because I know no longer had to watch what was going on in the world so intently," she said.

Now, some of that stress has returned.

"Its a lot of, Should we keep planning? Should we postpone again? Should we just try to do everything last minute?" she said.

"Its stressful in the way... its the fear of the unknown. I dont necessarily want to put forth thousands and thousands of dollars that I dont currently have and then have to postpone again."

"I want to do it right, I want to celebrate with all of my closest friends and my closest family, even having to reduce the guest list I dont think to get family and close friends there we could do it with under 50 people."  Jacquelynn Sharman

The couple's uncertainty is compounded by circumstance.

Scheuerpflug's parents live in Saskatchewan and are in their mid-70s. The province requires 14 days of self-isolation for people returning or coming to Manitoba from all jurisdictions.

Plus, most of the wedding party and many close friends are Americans who can't enter Canada under current travel restrictions. (Scheuerpflug is a retired Canadian Armed Forces veteran who served overseas alongside U.S. military.)

"I want to do it right, I want to celebrate with all of my closest friends and my closest family, even having to reduce the guest list I dont think to get family and close friends there we could do it with under 50 people," Sharman said, adding she wants to hold her wedding safely, even entirely outdoors if need be.

"Right now, thats all we can do. Its waiting and hoping."

"Any current and new couples coming to us, we're just really advising them: (start) with making a few lists, where there are 10 guests, 20 guests, 30 guests.... Were just trying to keep the hope and excitement alive, because really we just dont know whats going to come down the line."  Raydan Zacharias

Meanwhile, Winnipeg-based wedding planner Raydan Zacharias doesnt necessarily expect anyone to call, hoping she can quickly arrange pandemic-safe nuptials for the weekend  but shes open to it.

"If someone still wants to have their wedding here, right away, we definitely would be willing and able to turn around and get a 10-person wedding and we would do whatever we can to make that possible," the owner of Divine Weddings & Events said.

The loosened restrictions on nuptial ceremonies brings hope for the industry in the coming months, she said. Most of the upcoming weddings her company is planning have been moved to 2022.

"Some people have really adapted and enjoy having the smaller, intimate wedding," Zacharias said.

"Any current and new couples coming to us, we're just really advising them: (start) with making a few lists, where there are 10 guests, 20 guests, 30 guests.... Were just trying to keep the hope and excitement alive, because really we just dont know whats going to come down the line."

erik.pindera@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @erik_pindera
Bloomberg

(Bloomberg) -- This time is different may be the most dangerous words in business: billions of dollars have been lost betting that history wont repeat itself. And yet now, in the oil world, it looks like this time really will be.For the first time in decades, oil companies arent rushing to increase production to chase rising oil prices as Brent crude approaches $70. Even in the Permian, the prolific shale basin at the center of the U.S. energy boom, drillers are resisting their traditional boom-and-bust cycle of spending.The oil industry is on the ropes, constrained by Wall Street investors demanding that companies spend less on drilling and instead return more money to shareholders, and climate change activists pushing against fossil fuels. Exxon Mobil Corp. is paradigmatic of the trend, after its humiliating defeat at the hands of a tiny activist elbowing itself onto the board.The dramatic events in the industry last week only add to what is emerging as an opportunity for the producers of OPEC+, giving the coalition led by Saudi Arabia and Russia more room for maneuver to bring back their own production. As non-OPEC output fails to rebound as fast as many expected -- or feared based on past experience -- the cartel is likely to continue adding more supply when it meets on June 1.CriminalizationShareholders are asking Exxon to drill less and focus on returning money to investors. They have been throwing money down the drill hole like crazy, Christopher Ailman, chief investment officer for CalSTRS. We really saw that company just heading down the hole, not surviving into the future, unless they change and adapt. And now they have to.Exxon is unlikely to be alone. Royal Dutch Shell Plc lost a landmark legal battle last week when a Dutch court told it to cut emissions significantly by 2030 -- something that would require less oil production. Many in the industry fear a wave of lawsuits elsewhere, with western oil majors more immediate targets than the state-owned oil companies that make up much of OPEC production.We see a shift from stigmatization toward criminalization of investing in higher oil production, said Bob McNally, president of consultant Rapidan Energy Group and a former White House official.While its true that non-OPEC+ output is creeping back from the crash of 2020 -- and the ultra-depressed levels of April and May last year -- its far from a full recovery. Overall, non-OPEC+ output will grow this year by 620,000 barrels a day, less than half the 1.3 million barrels a day it fell in 2020. The supply growth forecast through the rest of this year comes nowhere close to matching the expected increase in demand, according to the International Energy Agency.Beyond 2021, oil output is likely to rise in a handful of nations, including the U.S., Brazil, Canada and new oil-producer Guyana. But production will decline elsewhere, from the U.K. to Colombia, Malaysia and Argentina.As non-OPEC+ production increases less than global oil demand, the cartel will be in control of the market, executives and traders said. Its a major break with the past, when oil companies responded to higher prices by rushing to invest again, boosting non-OPEC output and leaving the ministers led by Saudi Arabias Abdulaziz bin Salman with a much more difficult balancing act.Drilling DownSo far, the lack of non-OPEC+ oil production growth isnt registering much in the market. After all, the coronavirus pandemic continues to constrain global oil demand. It may be more noticeable later this year and into 2022. By then, vaccination campaigns against Covid-19 are likely to be bearing fruit, and the world will need more oil. The expected return of Iran into the market will provide some of that, but there will likely be a need for more.When that happens, it will be largely up to OPEC to plug the gap. One signal of how the recovery will be different this time is the U.S. drilling count: It is gradually increasing, but the recovery is slower than it was after the last big oil price crash in 2008-09. Shale companies are sticking to their commitment to return more money to shareholders via dividends. While before the pandemic shale companies re-used 70-90% of their cash flow into further drilling, they are now keeping that metric at around 50%.The result is that U.S. crude production has flat-lined at around 11 million barrels a day since July 2020. Outside the U.S. and Canada, the outlook is even more somber: at the end of April, the ex-North America oil rig count stood at 523, lower than it was a year ago, and nearly 40% below the same month two years earlier, according to data from Baker Hughes Co.When Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz predicted earlier this year that drill, baby, drill is gone for ever, it sounded like a bold call. As ministers meet this week, they may dare to hope hes right.More stories like this are available on bloomberg.comSubscribe now to stay ahead with the most trusted business news source.2021 Bloomberg L.P.
Roughly 1.5 million Alabamians are now eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, but making an appointment and getting a vaccine can be a daunting task.

Eight large-scale drive-in clinic sites launched this week and Walmart and Sams Club annnounced that the vaccine would be offered at 74 sites across Alabama. But getting an appointment can be a challenge.

There are more places offering the vaccine than ever, but supplies are still limited and not all the places on the Alabama Department of Public Healths list of vaccine providers have doses to give. None has enough to go around.

So, for those who are eligible  currently people 65 and older, medical personnel, educators, child care workers, first responders, corrections officers, grocery store workers and others -- here are the best ways to sign up and receive the vaccine.

Drive-through clinics, hospitals

The places that are giving out the most vaccine doses currently are those eight drive-through sites and the states larger hospitals.

Since late January, the state has been administering about 100,000 vaccine doses per week. This week saw the launch of some drive-through clinics that aim to give out 2,000 per day at each clinic. Thats a pretty big chunk of the shots available in Alabama.

You can find the list and contact info for those clinics here. Most require appointments (the Montgomery and Selma sites dont), and some have already had to turn away people who showed up without appointments or people who were not in the eligible groups to receive the vaccine.

Several hospitals in Alabama have their own online signups to request vaccine appointments, listed below:

UAB Hospital

Huntsville Hospital

East Alabama Medical Center in Opelika

USA Health in Mobile

Selma Hospital

Decatur Morgan Hospital

Southeast Health in Dothan

DCH Regional Medical Center in Tuscaloosa

Baptist Health in Montgomery

In Mobile and Baldwin counties, you can also register with Infirmary Health by calling 251-341-2819.

In Anniston, you can register with Northeast Alabama Regional Medical Center by calling 256-235-5600.

In Birmingham

If you live in the Birmingham area, or are willing to travel there, UAB Hospital has three drive-through clinic sites. Those sites are UAB Hospital Highlands parking deck, the Hoover Met Complex stadium parking lot and at Parker High School in Birmingham, just west of Interstate 65.

Those sites do require an appointment, and UAB officials say people are showing up every day without appointments who have to be turned away. You can request an appointment at one of those locations through the UAB vaccine portal or the one run by the Jefferson County Emergency Management Agency.

Dr. Sarah Nafziger, who heads UABs vaccine operations, said people do not have to live in Jefferson County to receive the vaccine at one of those sites.

Jefferson County and Birmingham officials are also working to expand access to the vaccine to people without internet access or transportation by offering free rides to and from the mass vaccine sites and holding a handful of unscheduled vaccine opportunities for people who live near the Parker High School vaccination site.

At Walmart, urgent cares

Beginning Feb. 11, 74 Walmart and Sams Club locations will offer the vaccine in their in-store pharmacies. Those locations are spread across the state, but almost all are outside of the Birmingham metro area, as the Walmarts were intended to reach areas of the state farther from major hospitals.

Walmart does require an appointment. You can see a list of participating locations here and request an appointment at www.walmart.com/covidvaccine for Walmart and www.SamsClub.com/covid for Sams Club. A Sams Club membership is not required for people to receive the vaccine.

The chain MainStreet Family Care and KidsStreet Urgent Care also has 17 locations across Alabama offering the vaccine with an online appointment portal here: https://www.mainstreetfamilycare.com/getting-the-covid-19-vaccine-in-alabama/

Other providers

There are other providers offering the vaccine in Alabama, but they can be a little harder to track down.

The Alabama Department of Public Health maintains a list of more than 800 vaccine providers on its website, and a map showing where theyre located. But that includes all the places that have signed up to give the vaccine. Not all those providers have vaccine doses to give.

Some of those havent gotten any shipments of vaccine yet, and many of the ones that have are fully booked and not taking appointments.

So its not as simple as finding the location on the map nearest you.

As of last week, Alabama State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris said there were still around 500 of those 883 sites that hadnt received any doses yet. And the map doesnt indicate whether that provider has received any vaccine yet, or whether theyre currently offering appointments.

Most providers dont have a phone number of web site listed on the map, so youll have to get the name of a facility near you from the map and then figure out how to contact them to determine whether theyre taking appointments and how to sign up.

The state health department has a portal for scheduling appointments at county health departments at ALCovidVaccine.gov.

Unfortunately, as of Wednesday night, the portal said all appointments are currently booked, and asks people to check back later. The state also has a notification tool to sign up for updates on when new groups are made eligible to receive the vaccine, but does not currently offer a way to be notified when more appointments become available.

Check your messages often

If youve requested appointments from providers, it may pay off to check your messages frequently.

Dr. Nafziger at UAB said the clinic typically books appointments when they have the vaccine in hand, ready to be given. That means that people may be notified at the last minute that an appointment is available.

Unfortunately, with this process, its going to be last-minute for a lot of us, Nafziger said. Thats just the nature of it, because the way the vaccine allocations are coming in, we want to use the vaccine very quickly.

And so what that means is last-minute communication on appointment times, were asking everyone to be patient with us with this, to check your email frequently, to check your messages and make sure that you are looking for those appointments. Its going to be usually with short notice, unfortunately, theres nothing I can do to make that better.

Their clinics overbook their appointments by a small amount in case of no-shows, she said, and maintain a list of stand-by patients to receive any extra doses that may be left at the end of the day.

We have a pool of people that we can call from who are on standby, who qualify for vaccine but havent been scheduled yet, and we can notify those people and get them in quickly, she said.

She also said that sometimes volunteers working at the vaccine sites can receive doses at the end of the day.

Dont delay

There still isnt enough vaccine to go around in Alabama, and the clinics are all limited by the number of doses they have. Most are not booking appointments until they know theyll have enough vaccines to give at those appointments.

Some places are booking appointments weeks into the future and some are already booked through March.

So, if youre eligible, dont delay. Sign up now and it still may be a few weeks before you get your appointment.

Dont double-book

Now, the part where we ask you to be considerate to everyone else living in Alabama.

The hard part is getting an appointment. Once you get that appointment, youre all set. So far, were not aware of anyone who received an appointment being turned away. Please do not get multiple appointments for the vaccine. If you signed up in multiple places, and receive an appointment at one, please cancel the others as soon as possible.

People booking multiple appointments bogs down the system for others who need it.

What to bring

The Alabama Department of Public Health asks everyone coming in to receive a vaccine to bring with them a facemask, photo ID, and proof that they are eligible to receive the vaccine, either an ID showing they are 65 or older, or proof of employment in one of the sectors included in the current phase of the rollout.

They should also bring health insurance information, if covered. While the vaccine is free of charge to individuals, there is an administrative fee paid by health insurers or by the government for people without health insurance.
"What our customers have been able to do with our no-code platform is a testament to whats possible when you can unlock the potential of teams to adapt at speed. Quickbase CEO Ed Jennings said.

Quickbase, a leading no-code operational agility platform, today announced the deployment of coronavirus vaccine distribution applications, accelerating shots in arms with local governments and healthcare systems. With customers such as Tarrant County, the third-largest county in Texas, New Orleans 911/311 and PeaceHealth Medical Centers, Quickbase is speeding up the delivery of vaccines and providing much-needed visibility into the ever-changing coronavirus vaccine rollout process.

Were seeing states, counties and cities get stuck in the last mile of vaccine distribution where processes are too unique, too integrated and too dynamic for most software solutions, said Ed Jennings, CEO at Quickbase. Were committed to doing whatever it takes to help remove those barriers. Logistics is the last thing that should slow down efforts to end the pandemic. What our customers have been able to do with our no-code platform is a testament to whats possible when you can unlock the potential of teams to adapt at speed.

Tarrant County excels at vaccine distribution to vulnerable populations

Tarrant County Public Health was able to stand up a vaccine registration portal in a matter of days, which has processed more than 500,000 requests for vaccination in a little less than two months, said Angela Hagy, deputy director of public health, Tarrant County. At its peak, the system was able to process more than 40,000 requests on a single day without issue. By utilizing a web-based platform, we have been able to engage community partners to assist us in the COVID-19 response while being able to maintain social distancing (sharing a system, without sharing an office).

Texas has distributed more vaccines by volume than any other state except California, and of 254 counties in Texas, Tarrant County ranks among the top 10 by percentage of individuals who have received at least one dose of the vaccine.

While the State of Texas purchased Salesforce to support its statewide COVID-19 response, Tarrant County, Texas has been using Quickbase to track cases since early 2020. They have since extended their use of the Quickbase platform to include vaccine distribution due to the need for technology that will flex and adapt in a way traditional software cant handle. Partnering with the Quickbase team, Tarrant County was able to get their custom vaccination portal up and running in a matter of days while other locations around the state and the country are stuck at a standstill navigating complexity that their systems cant handle.

The Tarrant County Quickbase app acts as a request portal for residents to register and check eligibility to receive an approved COVID vaccine. Upon receiving approval, the app moves them through the process of scheduling a date, time and vaccination site for the first round. It is also used on-site to check in individuals and schedule booster shots either 21 or 28 days later, depending on the vaccine received.

The City of New Orleans races to the challenge

As New Orleans is working to fight the virus  most recently canceling all Mardi Gras celebrations and closing all bars during peak celebration days  the city is moving quickly to try and get as many citizens registered and vaccinated as possible. The City of New Orleans local government, through NOLA-311, is using Quickbase to run their public vaccination campaign.

We are excited to say that 100% of the NOLA-311 public vaccination campaign is running on the Quickbase platform, said Tyrell Morris, executive director, Orleans Parish Communication District (New Orleans 911/311). With the applications weve built, the public is able to check their eligibility, register and schedule their appointments to get the first dose of the vaccine, then schedule their second dosage appointment. Weve been able to get hundreds vaccinated in a matter of weeks following the app roll-out.

New Orleans 911/311 are utilizing Quickbase to update their applications in real-time, including when new doses become available, managing both Pfizer and Moderna vaccines and the different dosage timelines, and updating the public on the citys efforts. The user experience is simple - New Orleans citizens can visit ready.nola.gov/getvaccine to check their status, and make an appointment if theyre eligible. Quickbase then automates all the reminder notifications - both in text and call format - to limit the number of no-shows and increase the number of vaccines that are administered each day.

In addition to state and local governments, healthcare systems are seeing the value of flexible and adaptable technology to roll out their vaccine distribution plans.

PeaceHealth, a not-for-profit health care system with medical centers, critical access hospitals and medical clinics located in Washington, Oregon and Alaska, is using Quickbase for their vaccine distribution. CIO Will Weider shared in a Tweet: The COVID-19 Vaccination scheduling app we built with Quickbase is amazing. Our low-code platform strategy solves lots of problems quickly and elegantly.

A proven solution for vaccine distribution management

Quickbase is committed to helping state and local governments immediately stand up vaccine roll out solutions that are tailored to their unique workflows and can be changed in real time as needs change.

The company is offering:



A dedicated implementation team to get you started fast

Fundamental training to help you sustain success

A set of templates, based on best practices of current customers, that serve as a headstart for your vaccine distribution management solution

Fast customization and iteration to meet the unique needs of your community and keep up with changing regulations

For more information, visit http://quickbase.com/coronavirus-vaccine-distribution/.

About Quickbase

Quickbase provides a no-code operational agility platform that enables organizations to improve operations through real-time insights and automation across complex processes and disparate systems. Our goal is to help companies achieve operational agilityto be more responsive to customers, more engaging to employees and as adaptable as possible to whats next. Quickbase helps nearly 6,000 customers, including over 80 percent of the Fortune 50. Visit quickbase.com to learn more.
Joe Biden on Wednesday held his first call as president with Xi Jinping, pressing the Chinese leader about trade and Beijing's crackdown on democracy activists in Hong Kong as well as other human rights concerns.

The two leaders spoke just hours after Biden announced plans for a Pentagon task force to review U.S. national security strategy in China and after the new U.S. president announced he was levying sanctions against Myanmar's military regime following this month's coup in the southeast Asian country.

A White House statement said Biden raised concerns about Beijings 'coercive and unfair economic practices.' Biden also pressed Xi on Hong Kong, human rights abuses against Uighur and ethnic minorities in the western Xinjiang province, and its actions toward Taiwan.

President Joe Biden and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping held their first telephone call as leaders on Wednesday

Chinese leader President Xi Jinping maintained a hardline tone regarding Hong Kong, Xinjiang and Taiwan, which Xi said were matters of 'sovereignty and territorial integrity'

'I told him I will work with China when it benefits the American people,' Biden posted on Twitter after the call.

Chinas state broadcaster CCTV struck a mostly positive tone about the conversation, saying Xi acknowledged the two sides had their differences, and those differences should be managed, but urged overall cooperation.

CCTV said Xi pushed back against Bidens concerns on Taiwan, Hong Kong and Xinjiang, saying the issues are Chinas internal affairs and concern Chinese sovereignty.

He warned, 'The U.S. should respect Chinas core interests and act with caution.'

Biden, who had dealt with the Chinese leader when he served as Barack Obamas vice president, used his first three weeks in the White House to make several calls with other leaders in the Indo-Pacific region.

It was the first call between Xi and a U.S. president since the Chinese leader spoke with former President Donald Trump in March last year. They are pictured here during a visit to China in 2013

He has tried to send the message that he would take a radically different approach to China than former President Donald Trump, who placed trade and economic issues above all else in the U.S.-China relationship.

On Wednesday, Biden announced that he was launching a new Defense Department task force on China that would take an overall look at the growing military and strategic rival of the U.S.  putting in place a scheme that could lead to a new national military posture.

He announced the move at the Pentagon  a signal to Beijing that the look will be overarching and will include military and not just economic components of the U.S. posture.

The reexamination comes after four years of clashes with Beijing over economic policy and a trade war that featured tariffs and counter-tariffs.

The task force will look at intelligence, technology as well as the U.S. the military footprint in the region.

It will include representatives of the joint staff and combatant commands as well as the intelligence community, a reflection of the areas upon which it will focus.

It will consist of 15 people, and will be tasked with presenting its findings in four months.

Move on China: Joe Biden announced a Pentagon review of the military's approach to China at the Pentagon

Speaking at the Pentagon for the first time as president along with new Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Biden called for the U.S. to lead a new era of competition 'from the deep sea to outer space'  two areas where China is on the move.

'And we need to meet the growing challenges posed by China to keep the peace and defend our interest in the Indo-Pacific and globally,' Biden said.

The moves comes days after Biden issued his most extensive public comments on China of his presidency in an interview with CBS where he cast China as a competitor.

'There's going to be extreme competition. And I'm not going to do it the way that he knows,' Biden said of Chinese President Xi Jinping. 'And that's because he's  sending signals as well. I'm not going to do it the way Trump did. We're going to focus on international rules of the road,' he said.

He also spoke of his experience meeting with the Chinese leader numerous times.

'He's very bright,' Biden said of Xi. 'He's very tough. He doesn't have  and I don't mean it as a criticism, just the reality, he doesn't have a democratic, small-D, bone in his body. But ... the question is, I've said to him all along, that we need not have a conflict.'

Biden underscored 'fundamental concerns about Beijing's coercive and unfair practices, crackdown in Hong Kong, and reported human rights abuses'

Officials have described the task force as coordinating various U.S. government levers. They include economic, diplomatic, political and military areas, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Biden has also spoken to many other Asian leaders.

With Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga late last month, Biden underscored the U.S. commitment to protecting the Senkaku Islands, a group of uninhabited islets administered by Tokyo but claimed by Beijing.

In his call with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Biden emphasized the need for 'close cooperation to promote a free and open Indo-Pacific.'

And in his call with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison last week, the president highlighted that the two nations' alliance was essential to stability in the region, the White House said.

Top aides to Biden have repeatedly heard from Asia-Pacific counterparts who had become discouraged by Trumps frequently sharp rhetoric aimed at allies, talk of reducing troop levels in South Korea and odd interactions with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un, according to a senior administration official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the private calls.

Chinese leader President Xi Jinping also maintained a hardline tone regarding Hong Kong, Xinjiang and Taiwan, which Xi said were matters of 'sovereignty and territorial integrity'

Allies in the region have made clear they want a more purposeful and steady approach to engagements going forward, according to the official.

To that end, Biden and other top administration officials have taken care in their initial interactions with their counterparts to look to the long game in resetting the relationships.

Biden used Wednesday's call to raise concerns about Beijings crackdown on activists in Hong Kong and about its policies affecting Muslims and ethnic minorities in Xinjiang.

In the final hours of the Trump administration, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo declared that the Chinese Communist Party had committed crimes against humanity against the predominantly Muslim Uighurs and other minority groups.

China has denied any abuses and says the steps it has taken are necessary to combat terrorism and a separatist movement.

The White House also said Biden made clear his concern about Beijings increasingly 'assertive' action with Taiwan. Beijing claims full sovereignty over Taiwan, even as the two sides have been governed separately for more than seven decades.

Days into Bidens presidency, China dispatched warplanes close to the island. The U.S. Navy, in turn, last week sent a guided-missile destroyer through the waterway that separates China and Taiwan.

One area that Biden doesnt appear ready to move quickly on is discontinuing Trumps trade war with China, which led to tariffs on their steel, aluminum and other goods.

Biden plans to leave the tariffs in place as his administration conducts a top-to-bottom review of trade policy. Administration officials note that the president is still awaiting confirmation of his U.S. trade representative nominee, Katherine Tai, and his pick for commerce secretary, Gina Raimondo. Both are expected to play key roles in helping shape China trade policy.

Administration officials say Biden also wants to consult with allies in Asia and Europe before making decisions on tariffs.

Biden and Xi know each other well and have had frank exchanges.

Biden played host to then-Chinese vice president Xi during his 2012 visit to the United States. Biden used that visit to get a read of Xi and was blunt at moments, even raising concerns about Chinese theft of intellectual property and human rights abuses during a luncheon toast.

The following year, when Biden visited China, he publicly criticized Beijing for refusing to affirm that it would renew the visas of American journalists and for blocking the websites of American-based news media sites.

Biden has said he believes there are areas where the U.S. and China can work closely, such as addressing climate change and preventing the proliferation of nuclear weapons. But ultimately, Biden said recently, he expects the U.S.-China relationship to be one of 'extreme competition' in coming years.

On Thursday, Chinas state broadcaster said Xi told Biden: 'Youve said Americas greatest feature is possibility. I hope that this type of possibility will develop in a way that is conducive to improving relations between the two countries.
PROVO, Utah, Feb. 10, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc. (NYSE: NUS) today announced Ryan Napierski, the company's president, has been selected by the Nu Skin Board of Directors to become the company's next president and chief executive officer. Napierski will succeed Nu Skin CEO Ritch Wood, who has decided to retire as CEO effective Sept. 1, 2021, after a successful 30-year career with the company. Wood will continue as an executive advisor through early 2022, and it is anticipated that Napierski will assume Wood's position on the Board at the 2021 stockholder meeting in June.

Wood, who served as Nu Skin's chief financial officer for 14 years before becoming CEO in 2017, has been a key leader at Nu Skin. Under his leadership and vision as CEO, Nu Skin has increased its emphasis on being a customer-focused organization; expanded its product innovation, particularly in beauty devices; and transitioned to a digitally enabled social commerce model. He introduced a greater emphasis on sustainability, including reducing the company's carbon footprint and incorporating environmentally friendly packaging into its products. He also led the company's efforts to build a more integrated and innovative supply chain through the acquisition of several manufacturing companies.

"We are grateful to Ritch for his tremendous leadership and all he has done to help position Nu Skin for further growth and success in the years to come," said Steven J. Lund, executive chairman of the board. "Ritch has exemplified our mission and vision every day for more than 30 years and is a force for good in every way. We are equally confident in Ryan and his ability to continue to lead Nu Skin to a bright and successful future. Together, Ritch and Ryan have built a strategy and vision that I believe will successfully drive Nu Skin forward for years to come."

"It has truly been my honor to be the CEO of Nu Skin and lead an amazing team focused on improving people's lives all around the world. I have such admiration for our global Nu Skin family, including our talented sales leaders and dedicated employees," said Wood. "The time is right for Ryan to take the reins, consistent with our succession planning process when we stepped into our roles together four years ago. Ryan has played a critical leadership role in developing and executing our strategy and evolving Nu Skin into a more customer-obsessed, global, digital-first organization. He exemplifies Nu Skin's mission and is absolutely the right person to lead the company to even greater heights."

Napierski, who has been with Nu Skin for 25 years, has served as Nu Skin's president for the past four years. Prior to that, he served as president of global sales and operations and lived abroad while serving as president of Nu Skin Japan and of Nu Skin's North Asia region and leading and executing Nu Skin's strategy in EMEA. Napierski has a bachelor's degree in business, an MBA from Duke University and a master's degree in international business from Goethe Universitat in Germany.

Napierski added, "I am honored to be given the opportunity to serve as Nu Skin's next CEO and appreciate the confidence of the Board and Ritch. Nu Skin is family to me, and I am fortunate to work alongside an incredible, global team of employees and sales leaders to fulfill our mission of empowering people to improve lives."

About Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc.

Founded more than 35 years ago, Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc. (NSE) empowers innovative companies to change the world with sustainable solutions, opportunities, technologies and life-improving values. The company currently focuses its efforts around innovative consumer products, product manufacturing and controlled environment agriculture technology. The NSE family of companies includes Nu Skin, which develops and distributes a comprehensive line of premium-quality beauty and wellness solutions through a global network of sales leaders in Asia, the Americas, Europe, Africa and the Pacific; and Rhyz, our strategic investment arm that includes a collection of sustainable manufacturing and technology innovation companies. Nu Skin Enterprises is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "NUS." More information is available at nuskinenterprises.com.

Important Information Regarding 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. These statements include, but are not limited to, statements of future Board and management members; statements of management's expectations regarding the company's growth, initiatives and future performance; statements of belief; and statements of assumptions underlying any of the foregoing. In some cases, you can identify these statements by forward-looking words such as "will," "anticipate," "confident," "future," "believe," "expect," and other similar words. The forward-looking statements and related assumptions involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and outcomes to differ materially from the forward-looking statements expressed herein. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, competitive pressures for personnel, economic and competitive conditions in our business and the markets in which we operate, potential failure of current or planned initiatives or products to generate and sustain interest among our sales force and customers, and regulatory risks associated with our products and business models. The forward-looking statements are further qualified by a detailed discussion of associated risks set forth in the documents filed by the company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements set forth the company's expectations and beliefs as of the date that such information was first provided, and the company assumes no duty to update them to reflect any change except as required by law.

SOURCE Nu Skin Enterprises

Related Links

http://nuskinenterprises.com


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According to Stratistics MRC, the Global Smart Manufacturing Platform Market is accounted for $2.76 billion in 2017 and is expected to reach $15.93 billion by 2026 growing at a CAGR of 21.5% during the forecast period. Some of the key factors influencing the market growth include Increase in the adoption of industrial automation and industry 4.0 solutions, support from governments of various countries for industrial automation, and increasing need for streamlined and automated data to enhance productivity. However lack of skilled IoT workforce and frequent software upgrade are restraining the market growth.



Smart manufacturing platform is associated with the concept of smart manufacturing or Industry 4.0 that enables companies to connect to Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) emphasizing on collecting, analyzing, and making use of as much data as possible, turn data insights into direct action, and create competitive advantage. Smart manufacturing platform usually finds its usability for performance optimization, asset management, condition monitoring, predictive maintenance, etc.



Based on the type, Device management segment has significant growth during the forecast period due to increasing adoption of industrial IoT solutions requires a number of IoT devices in industries or plants. Effective device management is essential for monitoring & maintaining the health, connectivity, and security of IoT devices. Device management platforms assist manufacturing enterprises in effectively managing and tracking and securing devices used in plants or industries.



By Geography, APAC is expected to grow at the significant market share during the forecast period. Major factors driving the growth of the smart manufacturing platform market in APAC include the rising demand for smart tools due to the growing automation in the industry, growing adoption of technologies such as Industry 4.0, smart factory, IoT, and IIoT and increasing investments in smart manufacturing platform to optimize productivity and improving maintenance efficiency.

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Some of the key players in global Smart Manufacturing Platform market are Amazon, IBM, Hitachi, Microsoft, Bosch, ABB, PTC Inc., Emerson, SAP SE, Fujitsu Ltd., Schneider Electric, Rockwell Automation, GE, Siemens, Telit, Cisco, Accenture and Oracle.



Types Covered:

 Connectivity Management

 Application Enablement Platform

 Device Management



Deployment Types Covered:

 On-Premises

 Cloud



Applications Covered:

 Asset and Condition Monitoring

 Performance Optimization

 Other Applications



End Use Industries Covered:

 Process Industry

 Discrete Industry

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 North America

o US

o Canada

o Mexico

 Europe

o Germany

o UK

o Italy

o France

o Spain

o Rest of Europe

 Asia Pacific

o Japan

o China

o India

o Australia

o New Zealand

o South Korea

o Rest of Asia Pacific

 South America

o Argentina

o Brazil

o Chile

o Rest of South America

 Middle East & Africa

Saudi Arabia

o UAE

o Qatar

o South Africa

o Rest of Middle East & Africa



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Source: Xinhua| 2021-02-11 07:20:29|Editor: huaxia

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Video: "We at Harvard remain firm in our support of the collaborations that we've developed with scientists and researchers across China, some new and some going back in the years," says Harvard University President Lawrence Bacow. (Xinhua)

Chinese Consul General in New York Huang Ping expresses his appreciation for the above dignitaries to send their best wishes on the occasion of the Chinese Lunar New Year. He also highlights the Chinese people's determination and perseverance to write a new chapter in 2021 with their U.S. counterparts.



by Xinhua writers Xia Lin, Liu Ya'nan

NEW YORK, Feb. 10 (Xinhua) -- U.S. governors, educators, scholars, artists as well as business people have manifested their determination to strengthen the cooperation between the United States and China in the upcoming Year of the Ox, while expressing their appreciation for the contributions made by the Chinese American community to this country.

Steve Orlins, president of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, said that the Ox symbolizes hardwork, persistence and honesty in Chinese culture, and for over 50 years, the committee's work has embodied those qualities.

"In this new year, in the spirit of the Ox, my National Committee colleagues and I will continue to work hard in building U.S.-China dialogues and exchanges, and improving the bilateral relationship," he added.

Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker said he is pleased to join the celebration, and wants to take a moment to wish those in the Chinese community throughout the Commonwealth a very happy Chinese Lunar New Year.

"We are proud to have such a vibrant piece of that culture here in the Commonwealth and especially in Boston. We are grateful for our continued friendship and collaboration," added the governor.

Lieutenant Governor of New York State Kathy Hochul said that she is very proud that New York State serves as the hub of rich culture and diversity, and it's home to more than 600,000 Chinese.

"We recognize that our strength comes through our diversity and that comes through the immigrants who have found their way here and built this country. That is why there is no room for xenophobia or hate in our state," she said.

"New York State stands with the Chinese community because together, we'll defeat COVID-19, and come back even stronger," added Hochul.

Harvard University President Lawrence Bacow conveyed a message that Harvard remains firm in its support of the collaborations that it has developed with scientists and researchers across China, some new and some going back in the years.

"Only by working together in mutual good faith, can we succeed in advancing the frontiers of knowledge and addressing the challenges we face in building a shared future that is safe, free, and fair for all," said Bacow.

"I also want you to know that Harvard remains committed to welcoming to our campus Chinese students and scholars in all fields of study, as we do from scholars and students from all over the world," he added.

Photo taken on Sept. 24, 2015 shows the national flags of China (bottom) and the United States as well as the flag of Washington, D.C. on the Constitution Avenue in Washington, D.C., the United States. (Xinhua/Bao Dandan)

Henry Lee, professor emeritus at University of New Haven, on this occasion showed his "deepest gratitude and appreciation" to all the Chinese in the United States.

"You are true the pillar of our community. You are the capstone of harmony. We work hard. We are honest and put the community together in such integrity," he added.

Tony Malkin, CEO, president and chairman of the Empire State Realty Trust, confirmed the message that the Empire State Building will be lit in red on Feb. 10 from sunset until 2 am to celebrate this significant holiday.

"We are proud that this lighting continues to celebrate not only the Lunar New Year, but also the ongoing partnership between the Empire State Building and the Chinese people, and the people of Chinese descent all around the world," he added.

Matias Tarnoposky, president and CEO of the Philadelphia Orchestra, said that the orchestra first connected with the people of China nearly 50 years ago.

"We value the people-to-people exchange through music that has marked our relationship since then. In these unprecedented times, it is important to remember the power the music has to bring us together now and in the future," he said.

"Music is a unifying, equalizing force," he added.

Clive Gillinson, executive and artistic director of Carnegie Hall, said that now more than ever, music serves as an inspiring bridge between peoples and cultures especially during a time of great distancing for most of us.

"May the Year of the Ox bring us all many opportunities to expand our partnership and continue our work together, to advance mutual cultural celebration both here and abroad," he added.

Chinese Consul General in New York Huang Ping expressed his appreciation for the above dignitaries to send their best wishes on the occasion of the Chinese Lunar New Year. He also highlighted the Chinese people's determination and perseverance to write a new chapter in 2021 with their U.S. counterparts.

"In spite of the dark clouds overshadowing China-U.S. relations in the past year, the two peoples supported each other in fighting the pandemic, put hearts together to overcome difficulties and preserve the bonds of people-to-people exchanges," he said.

"The spirit of mutual respect and win-win cooperation continue to prevail. The expectations for a sound and steady development of China-U.S. relations stay strong under new circumstances," he added.

The Chinese Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival, is the most important holiday for Chinese around the world. This year's Spring Festival falls on Feb. 12, which marks the beginning of the Year of the Ox. 
Dharamsala, Feb 11 : Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, has written to Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat to tell him that how sad he is about the loss of life, and also how concerned he is about those who are still missing, as a result of the recent glacial burst in Chamoli district.

He wrote, "I offer my condolences to those who have lost loved ones, and pray for them. I also pray for the safety and wellbeing of those who are still missing.

"I understand that both the Central and the state governments are engaged in rescue work and are doing their utmost to provide relief to people affected by this calamity. As a gesture of solidarity with the people of Uttarakhand, I have asked the Dalai Lama Trust to make a donation towards the relief and rescue efforts."


Posted Thursday, February 11, 2021 12:54 pm

Under more normal circumstances, state Senate Republican Leader John Braun would not be in his south Chehalis office midmorning on a weekday. He would have already made himself a quick breakfast in his Centralia home, stopped by his family company, Braun Northwest, and made the drive to the state Capitol. But with the current session being held remotely, Braun spends more time in his home district, out of what he calls the bubble of Olympia.

From his pixelated Google Teams window in a Jan. 22 conversation with Crosscut, the 54-year-old Braun looks like any other Washingtonian.

He is dressed in three layers: a white T-shirt under a blue collared button-down, finished with a partially zipped Columbia puffer jacket that rubbed against itself as his hands spoke in quiet, controlled gestures. He keeps not one, but two stainless steel, thermal water bottles  what appear to be the Pacific Northwest staple brand, Hydro Flask  within an arm's reach.

Im sure theres things people dont know about me, Braun says. Im not sure any of its very interesting.

His humble demeanor gives no hint of how his GOP colleagues unanimously elected him last fall as the new Senate Minority Leader, making him one of the most powerful Republicans in the state.

Braun, a U.S. Navy veteran, businessman, father of four and University of Washington electrical engineering graduate, decided to try on yet another hat in 2012 by launching his political career.

State Sen. Christine Rolfes, D-Bainbridge Island, Brauns longtime partner in budget negotiations, says he came into politics for all the right reasons.

Ive been in the Legislature eight years and if you go back nine years, I wouldnt have pictured myself in this position  even an elected official, Braun says.

In a three-way, all-Republican primary in 2012, Braun came in second to GOP incumbent Dan Swecker, who had held the position since 1995. Braun told The Daily Chronicle in Lewis County that despite a great respect for the incumbent, he believed Swecker had lost touch with the private sector during his 17-year tenure and it was time for a change.

The people of the 20th Legislative District voted for that change. In a major GOP upset, Braun, a then self-identified nonpolitician, overtook Swecker by nearly 11% of the vote.

Braun says he has tried to stay in-touch with regular folks even as he climbs the rungs of the Legislature.

Braun is the president of Braun Northwest, which was founded by his parents in 1986 and specializes in the design and manufacture of emergency vehicles. He credits the diligence of the companys 185 employees for enabling him to simultaneously hold office in Olympia and run his company.

Even pre-pandemic, Braun made it to the facility everyday  twice, if budget negotiations didnt keep him at the Capitol half the night. He believes his day job offers continued insight into the challenges of everyday, working people.

I dont work in a fancy office building  I mean, wed like to think we have a decent facility here, but its shop floor work, Braun says. It's regular people who face regular-people challenges like day care, making sure their kids are getting a good education and finding housing at a reasonable price.

With a background in a family-owned business himself, state Rep. J.T. Wilcox, R-Yelm, the leader of the House Republican caucus, relates to Braun.

Wilcox finds that in the minority, Republican efforts can feel fruitless. This can be frustrating for leaders like him and Braun who grew up working hard with (their) hands with the desire to produce something tangible and measurable.

In Washington state, Republicans have to reach across the aisle to accomplish anything tangible, Wilcox says.

Though she refers to Braun as a staunch conservative, state Sen. Karen Keiser, D-Des Moines, has worked closely with him on policy she calls "nonpartisan." She describes him as a quiet actor, not drawn to the limelight of floor speeches.

Keiser admits that Braun is not someone she would normally collaborate with, but together they sponsored Senate Bill 6419 to implement recommendations from a December 2019 William D. Ruckelshaus Center report in order to better support Washingtonians with disabilities.

(Braun) has the ability to not be ideological, to think things through, to make serious, thoughtful policy, Keiser says. I admire that from either side of the aisle.

Keiser is happy to have someone like Braun as the minority leader, as he has a good working relationship with Democrats in addition to a quiet sense of humor she appreciates.

Sen. Braun has two things: He has a sly smile and a twinkle in his eye, says Keiser. And when you spot that, you know he has something to say.

According to Rolfes, after a spirited debate on the Senate floor over whether to ban plastic bags, Braun presented the bills prime sponsor, state Sen. Mona Das, D-Kent, with a peace offering of sorts: a reusable shopping bag his wife made out of disposable plastic bags. Rolfes said the gesture calmed the room.

Part of Brauns vision in this new position is unity. But make no mistake: Braun is a resolute conservative.

I think theres a big misconception of John Braun based on his public persona of being soft-spoken and mild-mannered, says Adam Bartz, executive director of the Senate Democrats' campaign committee. The guys a far-right ideologue who gets treated as a moderate

thought leader.

Bartz points to Brauns work as lead writer of the state budget and the drawn-out negotiations that nearly shut down the state government in the summer of 2017. Bartz also notes that one of Brauns first actions as minority leader was to appoint Joe Fain, former state senator and accused rapist, to the Washington State Redistricting Commission.

Braun, a two-time Trump voter, is also an advocate for lifting pandemic restrictions. As part of his Economic Sense newsletter on May 9, Braun wrote an open letter to Gov. Jay Inslee in which he spoke against the governors COVID-19 induced shutdowns.

Braun is the primary sponsor of Senate Bill 5114, which would push the entire state through to Phase 2 of Inslees latest economic restart plan, and Senate Bill 5037, which would establish a metric tied to COVID-19 prevalence for the reopening of schools.

While being firm in his convictions, he is also committed to getting things done.

Its not like Im inventing bipartisanship  its been around for a while, Braun says. There are places where we can agree and we should try to.

He points to his experience with budget writing. There is no throwing in the towel over partisan disagreements when it comes to writing a state budget because, in Brauns words, youre leaving with a budget one way or the other.

Rolfes describes his negotiation style on the Ways and Means Committee as forthright and intellectual, something she believes is not always the norm in the world of politics.

She recalls Braun making proposals with a knowing laugh and the preface, Im not sure youre going to like this. To which she would often respond, Yeah, thats not going to work.

Braun does not have a spotless record when it comes to playing nice with Democrats.

In 2018, campaign mailers about Democratic candidate for state senate Emily Randall hit mailboxes in the 26th Legislative District. The mailer attacked Randalls support of then private citizen Tarra Simmons, who challenged the Washington State Bar Association in order to take the bar exam despite her felony record.

Braun is an officer for WA Forward, the political action committee that paid for the mailer. Braun never publicly apologized. According to Simmons, who is now a state representative in the 23rd Legislative District, Braun has never privately apologized either.

Its unresolved harm, Simmons said. If he did reach out to take accountability and be a person with integrity, I would absolutely want to work with him.

Bartz says that mailer was not an isolated mistake by Braun and his team. Rather, he says, offensive ads appear to be a part of their playbook." In the summer of 2020, the committee sent out mailers featuring a photo of then state Senate candidate Twina Nobles, who is Black, and some people said the mailers appeared digitally altered to make her skin darker.

Bartz says these kinds of ads are not standard in the world of politics. He thinks the Kitsap Suns editorial responding to the 2018 ad said it best when they called for Braun to do some real soul-searching.

Simmons acknowledges lingering hurt over what (Braun) has done when she sees him virtually on the Senate floor. Though none of her bills have involved him yet, she anticipates that when they do need to communicate, there will be difficulties.

Although these mailers muddle his message of bipartisan unity, Braun does not have to reach across the aisle to cause a stir. Braun has experienced blowback from Republicans as well.

In a Dec. 18 press conference, a reporter from KOMO asked Wilcox and Braun about failed Republican gubernatorial candidate Loren Culps unfounded claims of voter fraud. When asked if he had a message for Culp, Braun simply said, Whos Loren Culp?

Members of his own party were unhappy, and he suffered the consequences when Culps campaign manager gave the failed candidate Brauns personal phone number. Between Culp and other state Republicans, Brauns phone was blowing up for about two weeks.

Braun admits it was a smart aleck response. He knows who Culp is  he voted for him, but he was tired of answering for baseless voter-fraud allegations.

Still, as a strong believer that Washington is fundamentally purple or independent, he hopes to see a Republican governor soon.

Despite a relatively quick rise to become minority leader, Brauns political ambition appears to end there. When asked about running for governor himself, he smiles, stammers for a moment and gives a firm no.

He would sooner see himself as majority leader, as his focus is flipping the Senate.

Its been a long time since weve had a Republican governor, Braun says. Id love to see one, Im happy to help, I dont know that Im the right guy for the job.

Becoming governor would mean even less time at the family business, less time enjoying life with his wife, Marlo, as recent empty-nesters, and less time out of suit and tie.

And it seems like he enjoys retreating to his slice of normalcy in rural Lewis County, away from the bubble of Olympia.



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Ohio Senate

Development Services Agency

Ohio Chamber of Commerce

Ohio Poverty Law Center

Ohio Farm Bureau

Dayton Development Coalition

Ohio House

Mike DeWine

Senate

Theresa Gavarone

Bowling Green

Ohio

Aug. 4, 2019

Oregon District

(TNS)  Thevoted 32-0 on Wednesday to create a new residential broadband expansion grant program as a way to extend access to high speed internet to more Ohioans.Senate Bill 8 calls for $20 million in grant money to be administered by the stateand an appointed five-member board.Roughly 1 million Ohioans lack access to high speed internet services, which makes working from home, attending online classes and accessing tele-medicine visits difficult.The bill has support from the, Children's Defense Fund-Ohio,and others. Government associations representing cities, townships and counties also are backing the bill.A companion bill is also being considered in the. And in his budget proposal, Gov.wants to allocate $250 million to expand access to broadband.Thealso unanimously approved Senate Bill 2, which aims to expand access to beds in the state's six psychiatric hospitals. Currently, two-thirds of the beds are occupied by people who are admitted through court orders that they be restored to competency to stand trial. About half of those people are charged with non-violent misdemeanors and could be assessed and treated in less expensive, less secure centers. Many people restored to competency are then released by the courts for time served and then not sent to further treatment."That results in people going through a revolving door of courts, jails and state hospitals without any progress. This bill will help end that revolving door," said state Sen., R-Senate Bill 2 mimics legislation that failed to clear the final legislative hurdles last year. DeWine pitched the change as a component of his STRONGgun policy reform package after the, mass shooting in theDeWine wants to give courts the ability to send non-violent defendants to step-down facilities for treatment when appropriate, leaving the secure beds for violent patients.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday (February 10) upheld the Delhi High Court verdict which directed private unaided as well as government schools like 'Kendriya Vidyalayas' to provide gadgets and internet packages to students from economically weaker section (EWS) or disadvantaged group so that they have access to online classes.

A bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde agreed to hear the plea filed by the Delhi government challenging the high court judgement of September 18 last year.

In the meantime, there shall be stay of operation of the impugned order of the high court, the bench, also comprising Justices A S Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian, said in its order.

A division bench of the high court had directed that cost of gadgets and internet package are not a part of tuition fee and have to be provided free of cost to these students by the schools, subject to the right of private unaided schools to claim reimbursement from the state in accordance with the provision of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009.

While staying the verdict, the apex court also issued notices to NGO Justice for All', on whose petition the high court had delivered the judgement, and others on Delhi government's plea.

Senior advocate Vikas Singh, appearing for Delhi government, told the bench that additional burden has been put on the state by the high court verdict.

We are already spending a lot on the education front, Singh told the bench.

The bench, while observing that the apex court had earlier delivered a verdict on a similar issue in a case arising out of Himachal Pradesh, asked Singh to place that judgement before it.

The high court had delivered the judgement on a plea filed by the NGO seeking directions to the Centre and the Delhi government to provide free laptops, tablets or mobile phones to poor students so that they can access classes online during the COVID-19 lockdown.

The high court had said that to separate such students from others in the same class due to non-availability of a gadget or a device would generate "a feeling of inferiority" that may "affect their hearts and minds unlikely ever to be undone".

It said if a school decides to voluntarily provide synchronous face-to-face real-time online education as a method of teaching, "they will have to ensure that the students belonging to economically weaker section (EWS) or disadvantaged group (DG) category also have access and are able to avail the same".

The court had said that "Segregation in education is a denial of equal protection of the laws under Article 14 of the Constitution and in particular the Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009."

The high court had said that section 12(1)(c) of RTE Act requires private unaided schools to provide free and compulsory elementary education to 25 per cent EWS/DG students and that means "education sans financial barrier".

"Consequently, intra-class discrimination, especially inter-se 75 per cent fee-paying students viz-a-viz 25 per cent EWS/DG students upset the level playing field and amount to discrimination as well as creates a vertical division, digital divide or digital gap or digital apartheid in addition to segregation in a classroom which is violative of RTE Act, 2009 and Articles 14, 20 and 21 of the Constitution," it had added.

The high court had also directed constitution of a three-member committee, comprising education secretary from the Centre or his nominee, Delhi government's education secretary or his nominee and a representative of the private schools, to expedite and streamline the process of identifying and supplying the gadgets to poor and disadvantaged students.

Additionally, it had said the committee shall also frame standard operating procedures (SOPs) for identifying the standard of the equipment and internet package to be supplied to the poor and disadvantaged students.

Live TV

Taoiseach Micheal Martin has said he will travel to the US for St Patricks Day if he is invited by President Joe Biden.

Mr Martin said he had not yet been invited to Washington DC for the annual Shamrock ceremony but said there were ongoing engagements between Irish Government officials and officials in the White House.

He also said he expected that he would have to be vaccinated against Covid-19 if he was to travel to the US.

His remarks come following much commentary about whether the Taoiseach should make the trip this year in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic.

I think we have to work it out as two administrations and I'm conscious that we are in Covid times Micheal Martin

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald has said Mr Martin should not travel to the US this year because of coronavirus.

Mr Martin told RTEs Morning Ireland: If invited, I will go to the United States.

I think we have to work it out as two administrations and Im conscious that we are in Covid times.

There are huge challenges on the United States side in terms of their battle against Covid and President Biden has made that his number one priority.

He added: St Patricks Day represents a great opportunity, and always has, for Ireland. But I think its important that both administrations work out whats the optimal way of marking the US/Irish relationship this St Patricks Day.

Mr Martin said he expected that if he was to meet President Biden, he would have to be vaccinated against Covid-19.

He described the relationship between Ireland and the US as very important and said it would be honoured and marked in some shape or form on St Patricks Day as usual.

The Taoiseach said the economic relationship between the two countries was key but that there were a range of issues regarding the undocumented Irish in America that he would like to raise with President Biden.

He said the Irish Government would also like to work with Samantha Power, who is in charge of US Aid, with a view to helping developing countries.


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Realty firm has tied up with co-working operator Awfis to set up six centres, comprising around 4,000 desks, in Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Chennai with an investment of about Rs 40 crore.

Bengaluru-based and Awfis will jointly invest to set up these centres and also share revenues.

These six centres, spread over 2 lakh square feet area, will come up at Prestige Group's commercial properties in the three cities.

"The total investment in setting up these six centre is around Rs 40 crore. Both the partners are investing," Awfis founder and CEO Amit Ramani told PTI.

He said all these centres will be operational between April and July this year.

Ramani said the company will target not just startups and SMEs but also mid- and large-sized corporations looking to decentralise their workplaces amidst the new normal.

"Our partnership with aligns us to provide world-class amenities and meet the ever-evolving demand of new-age workforce and organisations.

"Over the past few months, we are witnessing large corporates and MNCs turning towards a hybrid model and witnessing the merit in partnering with for the same," Ramani said.

Awfis intends to deepen this partnership further and expand across other micro-markets and buildings, he said.

"This partnership will help us to accelerate our plans to strengthen our office portfolio and increasing our offering to our large clients, while leveraging the strength of Awfis' proven credibility in the co-working space across India," said Juggy Marwaha, CEO, Prestige Office Ventures.

He remained bullish about the growth prospects of the Indian office market.

Of the six centres, four are located in Bengaluru's prime commercial locations, namely Koramangala, Outer Ring Road and two in Whitefield. The other two centres are at Guindy in Chennai and Begumpet in Hyderabad.

With a diverse portfolio across asset classes such as office, residential, retail and hospitality, Prestige Group is well established in Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kochi, Mysore, Mangalore, Goa, Ahmedabad and has now forayed into Mumbai, NCR and Pune.

Prestige Group has completed 112 commercial projects spread across 36 million square feet and is developing 24 projects spread across 42 million square feet in some of the major cities of the country.

In November, Prestige Estates Projects announced sale of large portfolio of office, retail and hotel properties to global investment firm Blackstone for an enterprise value of Rs 9,160 crore.

Awfis currently has 75 centres and 40,000 seats across 11 cities. It is a fully tech-enabled workspace solutions platform.

(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.)


Waiho Bridge during the storm of March 25, 2019. Credit: Civil Defence

A University of Otago study has provided the first detailed analysis of atmospheric rivers and their impact on New Zealand weather events.

Atmospheric rivers are narrow corridors of concentrated moisture in the atmosphere. On average there are only three to five atmospheric rivers present in each hemisphere, covering just 10 percent of the globe's mid-latitude circumference but accounting for 90 percent of moisture transport in the same region.

A recent example of a significant weather event caused by an atmospheric river was the March 25, 2019 storm which washed away the Waiho Bridge near Franz Josef on New Zealand's South Island West Coast. It produced the highest ever total of rainfall over a 48-hour period in New Zealand recorded history (1086mm).

"This flood was produced by one of the most extreme atmospheric rivers observed over New Zealand, moving incredible amounts of moisture very quickly through the atmosphere, extending over 4000km and covering much of the South Island of New Zealand," says lead author Hamish Prince, who completed this study as part of his Masters in Geography under the supervision of co-author, Associate Professor Nicolas Cullen, from the University of Otago.

This extreme plume of moisture produced over a meter of rain in 48 hours on the West Coast, resulting in one death, millions of dollars of damage, and a state of emergency being declared.

"Understanding the climatic processes controlling atmospheric rivers, and how to predict them at weekly, seasonal, and annual timeframes can help mitigate damages and loss from such impactful events," Mr Prince adds.

Approximately 40 atmospheric rivers make landfall in New Zealand every year, with around 20 being weak, 10 to 15 being classed as rank one (lower end of scale) and approximately four or five being strong, predominantly occurring during summer. The most impactful atmospheric rivers occur approximately once every five years, however, evidence suggests that these impactful events may become more frequent and more intense in a warming climate.

An example of an atmospheric river over New Zealand in March 2019. Credit: Hamish Prince

"In very basic terms, one of the results of a warmer climate is a wetter atmosphere. With more moisture in the atmosphere the frequency and magnitude of atmospheric rivers making landfall in New Zealand are expected to increase. The increase in extreme precipitation is not expected to occur equally throughout the nation however, with indications that the landfalling location of atmospheric rivers is shifting southward in New Zealand," Mr Prince says.

The research found atmospheric rivers had the greatest impact on the West Coast of the South Island, accounting for much of the heavy rain commonly seen there. With this benchmark study, atmospheric rivers can be monitored to identify shifts in their behavior as weather continues to be influenced by climate change.

"Our study has shown that atmospheric rivers are responsible for the vast majority of extreme rainfall in New Zealandalong with over 50 percent of all precipitationso understanding what drives these events is fundamental to planning for extreme weather and the management of freshwater resources in New Zealand," Mr Prince says.

Those impacts can be both beneficial and hazardous, with Mr Prince (a 2020 New Zealand Fulbright Scholar), now also employed at the University of California, San Diego, Scripps Institution of Oceanography Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes examining the predictability and economic impact of atmospheric rivers. He has further ambitions to study these extreme weather events in New Zealand through modeling effects such as increased flow in rivers that feed reservoirs (hydro power, agricultural), or investigating how damaging these events could be in terms of threats to life and property.

The study, "A climatology of atmospheric rivers in New Zealand," has been published in the Journal of Climate. This research was supported by the University of Otago and the University of California, San Diego with collaboration from NIWA.

"The ability to automatically detect and understand the severity of atmospheric rivers before they make landfall is a promising tool for reducing the impacts of these storms, particularly on the west coast of the South Island where these events are common but not always hazardous," says co-author Dr. Jono Conway, a hydrological forecasting scientist at NIWA.

Associate Professor Cullen says the research also provides an important building block to assess the impact of extreme weather events on large snowfall events in winter in the Southern Alps, as well as significant glacier melt events during summer.

Explore further A warming California sets the stage for future floods

More information: Hamish D. Prince et al. A climatology of atmospheric rivers in New Zealand, Journal of Climate (2021). Hamish D. Prince et al. A climatology of atmospheric rivers in New Zealand,(2021). DOI: 10.1175/JCLI-D-20-0664.1
Mortar shelling in Afghanistan kills at least 10 civilians

Fire breaks out at West Virginia oil refinery in US

Iran ready to help improve the defense capability of Syria

European Parliament head proposes to strengthen sanctions on Russia

UK PM gets married in London

Armenia reports COVID-19 new 81 cases: for people die

EU countries invite US to issue joint statement against Russia

2 people die in Armenia road accident

Nigeria: Students taken hostage a month ago are released

61 quakes recorded in Congo per day

Syrian MFA: EU lost credibility due to blind obedience to US policy

Armenia ex-minister of emergency situations hospitalized with heart attack

Mher Grigoryan: Clarification of border points is possible only after withdrawal of Azerbaijani troops from Armenia

Suspicious deal: Whether there was profit from buying DNA IDs?

Armenia ex-president says current authorities are trying to blame Russia for defeat in war

4 people killed in Afghanistani bus attack

Robert Kocharyan: This war could not have happened, it was a consequence of the policy of the authorities

Kocharyan: I have to ask people how it happened that overwhelming majority elected this leader

Armen Gevorgyan presents 'Armenia' bloc program: We offer the concept of a working country

Biden's administration proposed to leave unchanged amount of financial support to Armenia

US Embassy in Baku calls on Azerbaijan to immediately release Armenian POWs

Luxembourg MFA calls on Azerbaijan to immediately release all Armenian prisoners

Russia peacekeepers climb to Armenia Gegharkunik Province village positions

Biden strongly condemns manifestations of antisemitism in US

Iran intensifies its diplomacy amid Armenia-Azerbaijan border tensions

Armenia acting PM on forthcoming snap parliamentary elections: We hope to get 60% of votes

Lukashenko accuses West of destabilizing situation in Belarus

Armenia Central Electoral Commission chief on snap elections: No legal basis for postponing, suspending any function

Armenias Pashinyan is met by Yerevan district residents chanting against him

We are ready to be fully engaged in negotiation process to resolve Karabakh issue, says Armenia acting PM

Armenia ex-President Kocharyan gives interview to Russia TV channel

Armenia acting premier: We are ready to start withdrawing troops at any moment

Canada MFA expresses concern over 6 Armenian soldiers capture by Azerbaijan troops

There are omissions in registration documents of political forces that applied to Armenia Central Electoral Commission

Armenia Central Electoral Commission chief: There is activeness in Yerevan for the past day or two

Three new cases of coronavirus reported in Artsakh

Group of US Congress members threaten Azerbaijans Aliyev regime with sanctions

Chicago mayor is sued for allegedly refusing interview with white reporter

Iran exports oil to US for first time after long interval

"Armenia" bloc top 50 MP candidates are announced

42 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia

Sri Lanka public beach is covered in charred plastic pellets due to fire in container ship

US preparing list of targeted sanctions on Belarus authorities

China believes it will own America by 2035, Biden says

15 al-Shabab militants killed in Somalia

Newspaper: Armenia political forces that applied for running in election impatiently await CEC decision

Newspaper: Changes are expected in Artsakh

California prisoner who considers himself Satanist beheads cellmate, dismembers his body

Newspaper: Armenia acting PM's "mutually beneficial" proposal to collapse state system?

Armenia National Security Service Reserve Officers' Union members meet with His Holiness Karekin II

EU is ready to help Armenia and Azerbaijan with border delimitation and demarcation

ARF-D member on Nikol Pashinyan: 103 years ago Armenia's founding fathers would have executed him for treason

Iran President hails brotherly ties with Azerbaijan

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

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




One of the 20 crew members who were aboard a South Korean oil tanker seized by Iran last month has been released and returned home, the foreign ministry said Thursday.







The Korean sailor, one of those detained along with the MT Hankuk Chemi by Teheran, entered his home country Wednesday afternoon for health reasons, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said.







He is the first among the detained sailors to be repatriated after the chemical carrier was seized by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) on Jan. 4.







IRGC seized the MT Hankuk Chemi carrying 20 crew members, including five South Koreans, in the Strait of Hormuz, citing alleged ocean pollution.







Earlier this month, Teheran said it will free the crew members detained aboard the MT Hankuk Chemi, except for the captain.







Iran's decision to release the sailors appears to have been made after Seoul made progress in talks with the United States about using some of the Iranian funds frozen in South Korean banks due to U.S. sanctions to pay off Iran's U.N. dues in arrears.







The foreign ministry said it is currently talking with other sailors remaining on the ship in efforts to find a replacement workforce that could take over the maintenance of the ship and the safekeeping of the freight.







Once the replacement workforce becomes available, the ministry plans to repatriate the sailors in stages, according to diplomatic sources.







"As soon as the plan for the sailors' disembarkment is fixed, the ministry plans to provide consular assistance to move sailors wishing to return home to Tehran and help them take polymerase chain reaction tests (for COVID-19) and head back home," a ministry official said. (Yonhap)


Even though pandemic restrictions make it impossible for the Springfield Symphony Orchestra to play together for a live audience, the musicians and staff continue to explore possible avenues by which to bring music to their patrons.

The weekly Homegrown series, featuring SSO and Youth Symphony members and Maestro Kevin Rhodes keeps music alive in the minds and hearts of audience. Area professionals have offered masterclasses and educational opportunities of various kinds for young musicians.

The SSO announced two new Virtual Adult Music Education events and an upcoming series. On Thursday, Feb. 18 at 7:30 p.m., Rhodes will give a 90-minute presentation on the final movement of Brahms Symphony No. 4 in E minor. In two weeks, a second program is planned with the SSOs principal cellist, Emily Taubl.

These events will be held via Zoom, and the link will be e-mailed after registration. Full details and registration information are available on the SSO website at springfieldsymphony.org/adult-music-education-classes. Registration closes a half hour before each event.

Participation in each presentation is $25, but individuals who are EBT, WIC, or ConnectorCare card holders may get free tickets through the Card to Culture program. Contact Education Director Kirsten Lipkens at klipkens@springfieldsymphony.org if interested.

Lipkens herself will be presenting a series of three Adult Music Education discussions collectively titled Orchestral Literacy during the months of March and April.

Rhodes and his SSO colleagues played Brahms Symphony No. 4 as recently as November 2019, at which time the Maestro remarked what an insane pleasure and reason for living it was for him to rehearse and perform the piece with a group of people you love and respect.

Completed in 1885 when the composer was 52 years old, it was the last of Brahmss symphonies, and the second-to-last orchestral work he wrote. When music critic Eduard Hanslick, a close friend of Brahms, heard a two-piano version of the first movement played by Brahms and a friend, he was said to have remarked I feel Ive just been given a beating by two terribly intelligent people. After hearing the whole piece, he wrote there is not another modern piece so productive as a subject for study. It is like a dark well; the longer we look into it, the more brightly the stars shine back.

Rhodes has titled his presentation Brahmss Last Hurrah.

I of course meant his last symphonic hurrah, he explained. I think one can objectively say that this final movement of his final symphony is like a final essay  a demonstration of all he could do as a composer at a time when composers were measured by their ability to take a piece of material and develop the notes into something new, yet clearly related to the original. As it has to do with this measure of compositional skill, while at the same time achieving an incredible degree of emotion, passion, and expression, this movement (for me) remains unparalleled. THAT is what we will look at.

The notion of making a sort of musical cathedral out of a few courses of stone-work runs through music history from Bach to Beethoven and forward. Rhodes will discuss how this organic approach to composing passed from Beethoven to Brahms. He described it as like giving you a set of four words to work with as a writer, and you come out with War and Peace! The trick is, of course, he added, to make the musical effect be about the message, the drama of the notes, not the dexterity the composer has with assembling them.

Springfield Symphony Orchestra Principal Cellist Emily Taubl, of Burlington, Vermont, seen at a 2019 performance at the Twin Hills Country Club in Longmeadow. (Frederick Gore photo)

On March 4 at 7:30 p.m., SSO Principal Cellist Emily Taubl will discuss The Art of the Audition: From Conservatory to Career.

As the founder and director of the Conservatory Audition Workshop, Taubl is an expert in the process of auditioning. The Workshop, based at Champlain College in Burlington, VT, prepares string students for auditions at top music schools.

Amen!

Taubl has been playing the cello since age 5, and all six of her siblings also play stringed instruments. The first audition she can remember was for a youth orchestra when she was around 8 years old.

I distinctly remember telling the conductor that while I had enjoyed going to a concert to hear the ensemble, that her brass section played very out of tune. By some miracle, she still accepted me into the orchestra and my love of orchestral repertoire really started there. I dont recommend being this blunt in auditions, however!

Taubl assumed her current post as Principal Cellist in the SSO in 2019. She will be talking about her audition (when I won, it was my third time auditioning for the position, she said) and about the process of taking a Principal audition.

In planning this presentation, it occurred to Taubl that SSO concertgoers might not know what large role auditions play in musicians lives.

Auditioning is a very challenging aspect of being a musician, Taubl said, and I thought I would dive into what the process looks like beginning at the Conservatory level and moving up through professional auditions.

I am constantly being asked things like how to choose which schools to audition for, how to choose a teacher, how to choose between a conservatory and a university, etc. These are all really important things to discuss prior to the audition process. My goal is always to help students feel ready to play a very high level audition, but also go into the process feeling informed and confident. Im looking forward to sharing what this world looks like.

Taubl hopes that her presentation will be an interactive event where participants feel comfortable asking questions.

I have a lot of funny (and sometimes embarrassing) audition stories and Im looking forward to sharing some of them, she said. I miss seeing the SSO audiience and am looking forward to reconnecting.

In addition to conceiving of and coordinating all of these events, SSO Education Director Kirsten Lipkens has taken the time to devise one of her own, entitled Orchestral Literacy.

It will consist of three 90-minute sessions, March 18, April 1, and April 15, all at 7:30 p.m., ticketed at $25 each, or $60 for all three.

I think everyone will enjoy this series, Lipkens said. I have had patrons speak to me (especially when we ran Real Time Concert notes) and tell me that they were still perplexed by many of the terms that came up during concerts. Even the most seasoned classical music enthusiast may not really understand the inner workings of a piece  its form  its harmony.

I could compare it to flying an airplane, she continued. I know what its like to be on a plane, and I enjoy riding in airplanes, but I would also enjoy seeing what happens in the cockpit, and how the airplane is made.

I hope to have some surprise guests and play LOTS of musical examples from past SSO recordings, she said. I LOVE making classical music fun for all.

The three sessions of Lipkens event include: March 1, Deconstructing a Symphony Orchestra Concert; April 1, The Composer, the Painter of Music, and April 15, The Architecture of Sound  Form and Structure in Music. Concert-goers at any level of musical understanding will find the discussion of musical building-blocks and their display in a symphonic context fascinating and illuminating.

Thanks to all this imaginative use of technology to keep the music playing in every possible way, by the time the Springfield Symphony Orchestra can once again walk onto the Symphony Hall stage and present a concert to a live audience, that audience will be that much more thoroughly prepared to fully enjoy what they are hearing!
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WASHINGTON  Congresswoman Claudia Tenney was sworn in during a brief ceremony in the House of Representatives Thursday, after she was certified as the winner of the 22nd Congressional District race earlier this week.

WATCH: Rep. Claudia Tenney (R-NY) is sworn into the House of Representatives by @SpeakerPelosi during Pro Forma Session https://t.co/aaPBdV9M06 pic.twitter.com/0P2vqlGXOL  CSPAN (@cspan) February 11, 2021

Tenney spoke with News Channel 2 shortly after her swearing in ceremony Thursday morning.

She says she is ready to get to work for the people of the 22nd Congressional District, "Ive been reaching out to a lot of my Democratic friends that I had in the 115th Congress who are really excited about getting together and working together, so I think its gonna be a good experience, I think we just need to all get past some of the animosity thats taking place right now."

Tenney says she has a lot of media interviews to do during the day and then she had to get her office at the Capitol situated.

Tenney says her Utica office will be the same office Anthony Brindisi had on Court Street.

Tenney says her number one priority is getting resources to our community for the pandemic and making sure that the PPE loans are distributed properly without any fraud abuse or waste which she says there is some evidence of.

She says she is just excited to be able to serve the people of her district for a second time in Congress, "I'm looking forward to the opportunity to be the compassionate advocate that Ive always been, to be the truth teller that Ive always been and to really aggressively fight for a region in upstate New York, and Im looking forward to the opportunity to doing that."

Regarding the impeachment trial of former President trump, she says if she were a Senator, she would not be voting to convict.

She believes the former President had nothing to do with what happened at the Capitol on January 6th.

After three months of litigation in Oswego County Supreme Court over questionable ballots and Board of Election mishaps, Judge Scott DelConte ordered the district boards to certify results in a decision issued Feb. 5. The state Board of Elections then certified those results Monday, Feb. 8, making Tenney the new representative for the 22nd District.

Tenney beat Democrat Anthony Brindisi by 109 votes.

Brindisi conceded Monday afternoon, congratulating Tenney on the win, saying I hope that she will be a Representative for all the people of this district, not just those that agree with her point of view, and work with members of both parties to heal the deep divisions that exist in our Country.

After the court order, Tenney released a statement saying, in part, The voters need a voice in Congress, and I look forward to getting to work on behalf of New York's 22nd Congressional District.

The NY-22 race was the last House race to be certified in the United States after the November 2020 elections.
Vallarta Living



Delivering Valentine's Day Romance in Puerto Vallarta



We've put together a recipe for a "Puerto Vallarta Valentine's Day 2021 Romance at Home," so that you can show your special someone how much you care with romantic deliveries right to your door. Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - These last months, as we have been sequestered at home with our loved ones, sometimes loving them has been a little extra challenging as we spent more time together inside than to which we are accustomed, but that is all the more reason to do something extra special and romantic for Valentine's Day in Puerto Vallarta.



So, as we still work together to keep our community safe and healthy, we've put together a recipe for a "Puerto Vallarta Valentine's Day 2021 Romance at Home," so that you can show your special someone how much you care with romantic deliveries right to your door.



Chocolates







Always a classic choice, some of the best chocolates in Puerto Vallarta are found at Vallarta Chocolate Factory. A decades old family-owned and operated chocolate store, they offer charming delivery boxes with customized, delicious selections that look and taste decadent but are very reasonably priced. Allow 24 hours for delivery and call or message via Whatsapp at 322-230-0654 or send a message



Flowers







Our pick for best floral delivery service in Puerto Vallarta is



Dinner







Although so many restaurants have done a wonderful job of reopening safely and providing delivery options, one of our primary recommendations this year is



Wine







The knowledgeable sommeliers at Uncork Mexico will help you discover some of the best wines in Mexico and can pair the perfect bottle a or two! a to help add to the romance and enhance your gourmet-at-home dinner.



As we move into our second month of 2021, there is still nothing sexier than a little social distancing, so cuddle up at home with your sweetheart this year and have romance brought to you. And if you're single, we recommend you go ahead and treat yourself to each and every one of our suggested ideas, because you deserve it.



Happy Valentine's Day from Tropicasa Realty.



Click HERE for more Puerto Vallarta real estate and lifestyle tips from Tropicasa Realty.

Since 1997, Wayne Franklin and his team at Tropicasa Realty have been a trusted name in Puerto Vallarta real estate. Tropicasa Realty is the region's representative for "The Leading Agents of the World" and with over 100 years of combined experience in real estate, all agents of the company are affiliated with AMPI. Wayne Franklin or any member of his knowledgeable team can be contacted in-person at their Romantic Zone Office - Pulpito 145-A at Olas Altas. While in PV they can be reached at (322) 222-6505 or by calling 866-978-5539 (Toll-Free) from the U.S.



- These last months, as we have been sequestered at home with our loved ones, sometimes loving them has been a little extra challenging as we spent more time together inside than to which we are accustomed, but that is all the more reason to do something extra special and romantic for Valentine's Day in Puerto Vallarta.So, as we still work together to keep our community safe and healthy, we've put together a recipe for a "Puerto Vallarta Valentine's Day 2021 Romance at Home," so that you can show your special someone how much you care with romantic deliveries right to your door.Always a classic choice, some of the best chocolates in Puerto Vallarta are found at Vallarta Chocolate Factory. A decades old family-owned and operated chocolate store, they offer charming delivery boxes with customized, delicious selections that look and taste decadent but are very reasonably priced. Allow 24 hours for delivery and call or message via Whatsapp at 322-230-0654 or send a message via Messenger for a rapid response.Our pick for best floral delivery service in Puerto Vallarta is Flowers To Go, for always fresh beautiful arrangements that can last a week or more and come beautifully presented in craft paper. Service in English and Spanish by phone at 322 223 5686 or Whatsapp at 322 205 8348. Because of high demand, be sure to order in advance.Although so many restaurants have done a wonderful job of reopening safely and providing delivery options, one of our primary recommendations this year is Bravo's for best delivery service in Puerto Vallarta. With a wonderful menu of International favorites, you can have a romantic, candlelit dinner brought right to your door, hot and beautifully presented. Call or send a Whatsapp message to 322-222-0339.The knowledgeable sommeliers at Uncork Mexico will help you discover some of the best wines in Mexico and can pair the perfect bottle a or two! a to help add to the romance and enhance your gourmet-at-home dinner. Visit their website to browse their selections and place an order.As we move into our second month of 2021, there is still nothing sexier than a little social distancing, so cuddle up at home with your sweetheart this year and have romance brought to you. And if you're single, we recommend you go ahead and treat yourself to each and every one of our suggested ideas, because you deserve it.Happy Valentine's Day from Tropicasa Realty.Since 1997, Wayne Franklin and his team at Tropicasa Realty have been a trusted name in Puerto Vallarta real estate. Tropicasa Realty is the region's representative for "The Leading Agents of the World" and with over 100 years of combined experience in real estate, all agents of the company are affiliated with AMPI. Wayne Franklin or any member of his knowledgeable team can be contacted in-person at their Romantic Zone Office - Pulpito 145-A at Olas Altas. While in PV they can be reached at (322) 222-6505 or by calling 866-978-5539 (Toll-Free) from the U.S. Click HERE to learn more about Tropicasa Realty , or visit tropicasa.com.



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(Newser)  Joe Biden had his first call as president with Xi Jinping, pressing the Chinese leader about trade and Beijing's crackdown on democracy activists in Hong Kong as well as other human rights concerns. The two leaders spoke Wednesday just hours after Biden announced plans for a Pentagon task force to review US national security strategy in China and after the new US president announced he was levying sanctions against Myanmar's military regime following this month's coup in the southeast Asian country, the AP reports. A White House statement said Biden raised concerns about Beijings coercive and unfair economic practices." Biden also pressed Xi on Hong Kong, human rights abuses against Uighur and ethnic minorities in the western Xinjiang province, and its actions toward Taiwan.

story continues below

I told him I will work with China when it benefits the American people," Biden posted on Twitter after the call. Chinas state broadcaster CCTV struck a mostly positive tone about the conversation, saying Xi acknowledged the two sides had their differences, and those differences should be managed, but urged overall cooperation. CCTV said Xi pushed back against Bidens concerns on Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Xinjiang, saying the issues are Chinas internal affairs and concern Chinese sovereignty. He warned, The US should respect Chinas core interests and act with caution. Biden used his first three weeks in the White House to make several calls with other leaders in the Indo-Pacific region. He has tried to send the message that he would take a radically different approach to China than former President Trump, who placed trade and economic issues above all else in the US-China relationship. (More on the calls, and Biden's history with Xi, here.)
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CHEYENNE, Wyo.  A Texas oil company has agreed to pay almost $2 million for spilling crude oil and wastewater at two central Wyoming oilfields.

The spills happened between the fall of 2016 and spring of 2018. One was in the Linch Complex Field in Johnson County and five were in the Salt Creek Field in Natrona County, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The biggest spill was about 300,000 gallons (1.1 million liters). The rest were 23,000 gallons (87,000 liters) or less.

Irving, Texas-based Fleur de Lis Energy, LLC, has agreed to pay a $1.9 million settlement, EPA officials said in a release Wednesday.

A phone message left with the company seeking comment wasnt immediately returned Wednesday.

Fleur de Lis didnt have adequate plans to prevent and respond to spills but recently has submitted plans that meet regulatory requirements, according to the EPA.

The penalty goes into the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund used by the U.S. government to respond to spills of oil and hazardous substances.

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2/10/2021

Welcome to Family News Digest, a weekly newsletter especially for University of Dayton parents and guardians.

COVID-19 status level 2  GREEN - LOCALIZED

For the most up to date information, check the COVID-19 case dashboard.

Survey shows UD grads employed, pursuing additional studies soon after graduation

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, nine of 10 recent UD grads who responded to the career services office's Flyer First Destination Survey report being employed, pursuing a graduate degree or participating in a service program within six months of graduation. It's a remarkable track record of success, with at least a 90% success rate for the last 10 years of the survey. View the latest report here.

Lent 2021

Campus Ministry has launched its 2021 Lent page, which includes the Feb. 17 Ash Wednesday schedule and other opportunities to deepen ones faith during the Lenten season. Registration for the in-person Ash Wednesday Masses and liturgies is required.

COVID-19 cases rising; student activities at risk

Students received an email last week about the number of new COVID-19 cases and close contacts on campus rising steadily in the past two weeks, creating a situation that requires immediate attention and changes in behavior to avoid additional campus restrictions. The full message can also be found here.

Residential Wi-Fi improvements

During Christmas break, UDs network engineers made substantial progress on updating our campus Wi-Fi infrastructure, replacing 645 wireless access points and 125 switches across the residential network. While the transition to Aruba Wi-Fi equipment wont be fully completed until this summer, the enhancements made during the past several months should greatly improve the stability of the wireless network in residential areas of campus. For students with questions or experiencing issues with the campus network, reach out to UDs IT Service Center by placing a request online or calling 937-229-3888.

Summer research fellowships in science and engineering

Applications for the Integrative Science and Engineering Centers summer research fellowships open this week. These collaborative research projects provide summer fellowships for students in the natural sciences or engineering to conduct full-time research with two or three faculty mentors from different disciplines. Project descriptions are available online and applications are due by March 12. For more information, visit go.udayton.edu/isecorps.

UD ranked in national index of CPA exam pass rates

The National Association of State Boards of Accountancy has ranked UD 4th in the state (out of more than 40 Ohio universities) for 2019 CPA exam pass rates. Accounting Today recently published a U.S. index ranking of 2020 CPA exam success. Out of 251 "large" programs with more than 60 graduates sitting for the exam a year, UD ranked 37th in the nation. For more information please contact Marsha Keune, accounting chair, mkeune1@udayton.edu.

Celebrate Spring Festival

Members of the University of Dayton community celebrate important religious holidays and cultural celebrations from many different faith and cultural traditions. Lunar New Year is the longest and most important festival in the Chinese calendar and is celebrated in China and in countries and territories with significant Chinese populations. This year, Chinese New Year is on Friday, Feb. 12. "Spring Festival," as its referred to in China, is a multi-day celebration that emphasizes family, food and centuries-old customs and traditions. Family celebrations are significantly important during this holiday. To our Chinese students, staff and faculty, we wish you a happy, prosperous and healthy new year. For more information about Chinese New Year, read more here. Happy New Year! Xin nian kuai le!

Reusable takeout food container pilot program starts at Marycrest

A pilot program offering reusable containers for takeout food has launched at Marycrest Hall. The containers -- which can be returned unwashed on the honor system -- are one way UD students can take part in a zero waste initiative. Read more on the Hanley Sustainability Institute blog.

Family News Digest

Every Wednesday and sometimes Friday, the University news and communications team will share news to help you stay connected. Previous issues of Family News Digest are archived at go.udayton.edu/flyerfamilies.
South Africa: Citizens urged to use water sparingly

Despite the water supply storage capacity of the Northern Cape surpassing the 100% mark, the Department of Water and Sanitation has urged South Africans to use water sparingly.

This as the country remains water scarce.

According to the latest report by the department, the water supply storage capacity of the Northern Cape stands at 104.5%.

This is by no means a licence to use water wastefully, as South Africa remains a water scarce country ranked the 30th driest country in the world. The department therefore urges all water users including agriculture, farming, mining, industry and all residents to continue to use water sparingly, the department said on Wednesday.

The two largest rivers passing through the Northern Cape, namely, Orange River is at 113.1% and the Vaal River at 103.9% above their storage capacity.

The Bloemhof Dam is at 110.0% and is continuing to spill.

The Vanderkloof Dam which is bordering between the Free State and Northern Cape is at 109.9% full and spilling a 1 207m3/s with a further 374m3/s going through the Eskom turbines to generate additional electricity.

Water outflows from the Vanderkloof, the second biggest Dam in the country, have a significant impact on the lower parts of the Orange River, the department said.

The Marksdrift gauging weir, which is just before the Douglas Confluence (where the Vaal merges into one with the Orange River), is recording a flow of 1 876 m3/s.

Katlani, just below the confluence is flowing at 2 518 m3/s, Prieska 2 727 m3/s and in Upington the flow is at 2 816 m3/s. The Blouputs, close to the Augrabies is flowing at 2 131m3/s.

Due to localised flooding in some areas, residents are urged to stay clear of rivers, dams, islands and flowing water. Motorists are also warned not to attempt to cross flooded roads,  SAnews.gov.za

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A Decatur man is facing several charges after police say he assaulted an 8-month-old child.

Decatur police say they were dispatched to a residence in the 2200 block of Victoria Drive S.W. Tuesday at around noon on a medical call involving a child. They found an 8-month-old in medical distress.

The child, who was not identified, was transported to a hospital. Responders found the child was suffering from physical injuries. Based on the preliminary investigation, it appears the child was assaulted.

The child remains in critical condition at a Birmingham hospital, police said.

Cameron Almen Elliott, 22, of Decatur, was developed as a suspect. After a search of his property, police say they found marijuana packaged for re-sell and some prescription medication.

Elliott was arrested Wednesday and charged with second degree assault, first degree marijuana possession and drug possession. He is being held in the Morgan County Correctional Facility on a $260,000 bond.
Churchill Show, the stand-up version, is set to return this weekend, with the audience set to part with up to Sh5000 for a ticket, per person.

According to a poster shared by the comedian on social media, the show will be filmed at Lake Naivasha Resort on Saturday, February 13.

"Twende Naivasha this Saturday 13th..LOVE,LAUGH and DINE @lakeNaivashaResort Limited tickets only!!! Let's laugh and share some love again...

Waja na nani?," Churchill posted on Instagram.

Also, on the poster are pictures of comedians who will be performing on the show that will be aired on NTV, Sunday evening, February 14 which will be Valentine's Day.

The comedians expected to attend the event are MC Jessy, MC Tricky, Mammito, Jemutai, Captain Otoyo and Terence creative.

According to close sources the event organizes are targeting individuals who will be spending their valentines in Naivasha and its environs.

Due to the Covid-19 protocols, less than 600 people will be allowed to attend the event to maintain the required social distance.

The last time Churchill show was recorded Infront of an audience was in March.

On March 14, 2020, a live recording that was to happen in South C was cancelled after the government banned public gatherings in the wake of the Coronavirus.
Canadian Prime Minister has said that he held a "good discussion" with his Indian counterpart on many important issues, including on the two nations' commitment to democratic principles, recent protests, and the importance of resolving issues through dialogue.

Trudeau made a telephone call to prime minister Modi on Wednesday.

"I had a good discussion with Prime Minister @NarendraModi on many important issues, and we've agreed to stay in touch," Trudeau tweeted.

"The leaders discussed Canada and India's commitment to democratic principles, recent protests, and the importance of resolving issues through dialogue," the Canadian Prime Minister's office said in a statement, in an apparent reference to the ongoing agitation by farmers in India.

Trudeau in December said that Canada will always be there to defend the rights of peaceful protests, and had expressed concern over the situation, evoking a strong reaction from India.

India later summoned Canadian High Commissioner Nadir Patel and told him that the comments made by Prime Minister Trudeau and others in his Cabinet on the farmers' protest constituted an "unacceptable interference" in the country''s internal affairs and these actions, if continued, will have a "seriously damaging" impact on the bilateral ties.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has also emphasised that the new farm laws have been passed by India's Parliament after a full debate and discussion and urged foreign individuals and entities to ascertain the facts before rushing to comment on the agitation by farmers.

"The Parliament of India, after a full debate and discussion, passed reformist legislation relating to the agricultural sector. These reforms give expanded market access and provided greater flexibility to farmers. They also pave the way for economically and ecologically sustainable farming," the ministry said in a statement last week.

"We would like to emphasise that these protests must be seen in the context of India's democratic ethos and polity, and the efforts of the Government and the concerned farmer groups to resolve the impasse," it said.

Thousands of farmers, mainly from Punjab and Haryana, have been camping at several Delhi border points since November last year, demanding the government to repeal the three farm laws and legal guarantee of minimum support price (MSP) for their crops.

During the phone call, Trudeau and Modi underlined the need to work collectively in rebuilding a more sustainable and resilient global economy.

"The two leaders had an exchange on their respective efforts to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, protect the health and safety of their people, and provide economic support for their citizens," the statement from the Canadian prime minister's office said.

The two leaders "spoke about India's significant efforts in promoting vaccine production and supply, which have provided vital support to countries around the world," it said.

The two leaders agreed to work together on access to vaccines.

The leaders also recognised the need for continued global coordination to respond to the pandemic and to promote recovery. "The two prime ministers reaffirmed their common interests in a free and open Indo-Pacific, and the importance of working together on global challenges such as climate change, strengthening global trade, and reinforcing the rules-based international order," the statement said.

They underlined the need to work collectively in rebuilding a more sustainable and resilient global economy, it said.

The leaders underscored the importance of the Canada-India strategic partnership anchored in shared values, strong people-to-people ties, and growing bilateral economic cooperation, it said.

"The two leaders looked forward to working together at the G7, G20, and other international forums," it added.

In New Delhi, the MEA in a statement said that Prime Minister Trudeau informed Prime Minister Modi about Canada's requirements of COVID-19 vaccines from India.

Prime Minister assured Trudeau that India would do its best to support Canada's vaccination efforts, just as it had done for many other countries already.

Expressing his appreciation, Prime Minister Trudeau said that if the world managed to conquer COVID-19, it would be significant because of India's tremendous pharmaceutical capacity, and Prime Minister Modi's leadership in sharing this capacity with the world. Modi thanked Trudeau for his sentiments, the MEA statement said.

The two leaders also reiterated the common perspective shared by India and Canada on many important geo-political issues.

They agreed to continue the close collaboration between both countries in fighting global challenges like climate change and the economic impacts of the pandemic, it said.

The leaders looked forward to meeting each other in various important international fora later this year, and continuing their discussions on all issues of mutual interest, the statement 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.)
Just now: A joint team of ITBP, Army, SDRF and NDRF entered the Tapovan tunnel for recce. Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi, Feb 11 : Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla on Thursday reviewed the progress of rescue and relief work being carried out by the Central as well as state government agencies at the site of the hydro project of the NTPC at Tapovan on the Dhauliganga River in Uttarakhand.

The Dhauliganga River was impacted by an avalanche incident in the upper catchment area of the Rishiganga River in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand on February 7.

Bhalla reviewed the action required for regulating the flow of water from a temporary obstruction which has formed upstream from the project and assured all possible help and assistance from Central agencies to the state government as and when required by them.

The Secretary DRDO has been asked to depute experts for analysis of the situation and for taking appropriate remedial measures in co-ordination with Central and state agencies.

The meeting was attended by Power Secretary, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police's Director General, the Chief of the Integrated Defence Staff, members of the National Disaster Management Authority, the National Disaster Relief Force Director General, the DRDO Chairman, the NTPC Chairman and Managing Director and scientists from various Central agencies along with other senior officers of the Union Home Affairs Ministry.

The Uttarakhand Chief Secretary joined the meeting with his team of officers through video conferencing.
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Got an idea of what was to come, former Pak envoy on meeting Ram Madhav

India

oi-Vicky Nanjappa

New Delhi, Feb 11: Abdul Basis, the former Pakistani high commissioner to India said that while meeting with former general secretary of the BJP, Ram Madhav, he got a sense of what was to come.

In a seven minute video Basit said that the unpleasant meeting was held before the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections in 2014. He added that Madhav's tone was unpleasant and aggressive during the meeting at the India Foundation's office in New Delhi.

Madhav told me that Pakistan should forget about Kashmir and worry about Gilgit Baltistan and Pakistan occupied Kashmir. He said that Pakistan was wasting time and its is only a matter of time before Article 370 would be abrogated as this was part of the BJP's manifesto.

India knows how to handle countries like Pakistan: BJP's Ram Madhav

He also said that Madhav referred to Pakistan as a terrorist state. He kept saying taht Pakistan is a terrorist state and when I said that it was not as simple as he thought, Madhav refused to listen. I got a clarity into the BJP's mindset and what their policy will be.

Basit said that there was no pleasantness of liking for each other. It is not important whether I like someone or not, but I have to convey my point and understand the other point of view. Basit said that he has mentioned the meeting in his upcoming book hostility.

Farm Laws: What did PM Modi say on the agricultural laws in the Parliament| Oneindia News

Madhav on the other hand said that the details of the meeting were made public without his consent. We had a long meeting, but I was never aggressive. I just put across India's view point with firmness. In any case, we do not expect details of such meetings to be made public without permission, Madhav also said.

For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications

Story first published: Thursday, February 11, 2021, 13:21 [IST]
The official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova, answering the question of Vestnik Kavkaza about the return of the Azerbaijani population to Karabakh, reminded that according to the trilateral statement, all internally displaced persons, both from Azerbaijan and from Armenia, can return to Nagorno Karabakh.

Zakharova cited the leaders' statement, which said that "internally displaced persons and refugees should return to the territory of Nagorno-Karabakh and adjacent areas under the control and direction of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees."

Over the past three months, about 52 thousand people have arrived from Armenia to the zone monitored by the Russian peacekeepers.

"At present, we are observing pretty intensive process of the return of Armenians who had previously left their homes due to the well-known events of last autumn. Our position is based on the fact that this paragraph of the trilateral statement applies to everyone who were forced to leave their homes," she explained.
(Natural News) Cornell University law professor William Jacobson has launched a new database that catalogs universities indoctrinating students in critical race theory, a school of thought in law and elsewhere that frames white supremacy as an ideology embedded in the structures of society such as the law.

Jacobson spoke to Fox News host Tucker Carlson on Feb. 4 to introduce the website, which is called Critical Race Training in Higher Education. He said that the site is meant to help parents avoid schools that brainwash children into thinking that the color of their skin is the most important thing in society.

The recently launched website includes 220 universities and their approach to critical race theory.

Critical race theory contends that addressing white supremacy requires all white people to acknowledge that they have benefited from white privilege. But critics including Jacobson and former President Donald Trump state that critical race theory only further divides the country and assumes that one race is inherently better than others.

Critical race theory is racist propaganda wrapped in pseudo anti-racist ideology

Jacobson, the founder of the conservative website Legal Insurrection, said that he started the database after Cornell incorporated anti-racism ideology into every aspect of university life amid the Black Lives Matter protests. He noted this ideology is very harmful to students.

Anti-racism does not actually mean what people think it means. It actually is very racist, Jacobson said, noting that the ideology sees discrimination as a remedy to past discrimination.

Jacobson added that instead of teaching students to view people based on their inherent worth, universities endorse the idea that the overwhelmingly most important thing in society is the color of your skin and everything derives from that.

This is what the colleges tell themselves. They love to talk about this stuff. They love to pat themselves on the back about this, Jacobson said. (Related: College director: Every White person in this country is racist.)

He noted that universities do not advertise their problematic propaganda in admissions brochures, which makes it hard for parents to choose the right schools. He hopes that the database can help parents who wish to avoid enrolling their children in universities that teach critical race theory.

Described as a resource for parents and students concerned about how critical race theory impacts education, the database lists schools such as the University of Austin at Austin and New York University.

Jacobson said that reaction to the site was overwhelmingly positive and that there had been requests to expand the database from elementary school to high school. Many people on Twitter also found the website helpful.

Hey, so I heard [the University of Oklahoma] teaches critical race theory. [I want] to make sure I am correct in this when my kid applies to colleges, wrote one person.

A Christian Univ. engaged in preaching racism, unbelievable. You have become nothing but a pawn of radical leftism and woke culture, said another.

Jacobson said he hasnt planned yet when hes going to expand the database, but hes looking forward to including more educational institutions. He warned parents to look out for mandatory courses and trainings in anti-racist ideology, especially as admission season is near.

Trump ends racist training on critical race theory, but Biden reinstates it

In September last year, Trump ordered federal agencies to end controversial forms of racial-sensitivity training on critical race theory because he saw that they further divide the country and generate hate.

I ended it because its racist, Trump explained during one presidential debate. They were teaching people to hate our country.

Russ Vought, then-director of the Office of Management and Budget, wrote a memo informing agencies of Trumps instruction to end forms of training on critical race theory, white privilege and any other training or propaganda suggesting the United States is an inherently racist or evil country or that any race or ethnicity is inherently racist or evil.

But President Joe Biden revoked Trumps order as soon as he took over the White House.

Learn more about the insane and evil propaganda peddled by the left to divide the country at Libtards.news.

Sources include:

DailyMail.co.uk

FoxNews.com

WSJ.com

The Government cannot ask the Central Bank to examine business interruption insurance, Tanaiste Leo Varadkar has said.

Sinn Fein's Pearse Doherty called on the Government to call on the Central Bank to launch a "tracker-mortgage"-type investigation into business interruption insurance after the High Court ruled last week in favour of four publicans that they were due a pay-out from their insurer FBD.

"These businesses had nowhere left to turn, so they decided to fight their own corner in the courts. The case revolved around the issue of business interruption insurance on whether they were covered as a result of the Government's closure and response to the Covid-19 outbreak," Mr Doherty said.

"The decision is legally binding now on eight insurers in Britain as a result, and thousands of businesses will receive payouts  a financial lifeline for so many of them that are struggling at this time.

I previously called on the Central Bank to intervene in a similar manner. The Central Bank took no action and your Government took no action at that time and that is why the four pubs were forced to defend themselves in the courts."

The judgment could affect up to 1,300 businesses which hold similar policies with FBD, however, Mr Doherty said there were thousands of businesses which have similar but not identical policies with other insurers who are "dragging their heels and refusing to pay even interim payments to businesses".

'Wave of litigation'

"Either the Central Bank intervene or there is going to be a wave of litigation at a cost that is too much for many small businesses," he added

Mr Varadkar said the High Court ruling last week "is very significant", but the Government cannot intervene.

"The Central Bank is an independent regulator. It operates independently of Government. It does not take direction from Government," he said.

"You've called on Government to intervene, you say those things because you hope other people are stupid and you believe that they may think that the Government has this power of intervention. It doesn't.

"It's an independent regulator, it has to decide for itself whether it's going to intervene or get involved in this particular matter.

"I know the Central Bank is aware of this issue. I know they're examining it, but they will make a determination as an independent Central Bank, and they're not subject to any direction from Government, and any calls that you make to Government to somehow intervene or direct the Central Bank to do something is totally disingenuous, and it's an attempt by you to mislead people in small business to pretend that you're on their side."

Mr Doherty said Mr Varadkar was "wriggling out of the situation".

"The reality is you led the Government last year, you washed your hands of it. You did nothing, absolutely nothing," he said.

"That is why we in this House need to make a united call for the Central Bank now to intervene."


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[February 11, 2021] Adara Acquisition Corp. Announces Closing of $115 Million Initial Public Offering

Adara Acquisition Corp. (the "Company"), a newly incorporated blank check company, today announced that it closed its initial public offering of 11,500,000 units, including 1,500,000 sold pursuant to the full exercise of the underwriters' over-allotment option, at $10.00 per unit. Total gross proceeds from the offering were $115,000,000, before deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and other offering expenses. The Company's units are listed on the NYSE American stock exchange ("NYSE American") and began trading under the ticker symbol "ADRA.U" on February 9, 2021. The Company's sponsor, Adara Sponsor LLC, is led by cbdMD, Inc. (NYSE American: YCBD, YCBDpA) and Blystone & Donaldson, LLC. The Company is led by its Chairman, Thomas Finke (former Chairman and CEO of Barings LLC), its CEO and director, Martin A. Sumichrast (Co-CEO of cbdMD, Inc.), and its director, W. Tom Donaldson (founder of Blystone & Donaldson). In addition to Messrs. Finke, Sumichrast and Donaldson, the Company's Board of Directors also includes Frank Quintero, Dylan Glenn and Beatriz Acevedo-Greiff. Each unit consists of one share of the Company's Class A common stock and one-half of one redeemable warrant, each whole warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one share of Class A common stock at a price of $11.50 per share. Only whole warrants are exercisable and will trade. Once the securities comprising the units begin separate trading, shares ofthe Class A common stock and warrants are expected to be listed on the NYSE American under the symbols "ADRA" and "ADRA.WS," respectively. The Company was formed for the purpose of effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization or similar business combination with one or more businesses. While the Company may pursue an initial business combination target in any industry, it currently intends to concentrate its search for a target business operating in the consumer products and related industries.



ThinkEquity, a division of Fordham Financial Management, Inc., acted as sole book-running manager. The offering is being made only by means of a prospectus, copies of which may be obtained by contacting ThinkEquity, a division of Fordham Financial Management, Inc., 17 State Street, 22nd Floor, New York, New York 10004, by telephone at (877) 436-3673 or by email at prospectus@think-equity.com.

A registration statement relating to these securities was declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the " SEC (News - Alert) ") on February 8, 2021. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking statements," including with respect to the initial public offering. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous conditions, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including those set forth in the Risk Factors section of the Company's registration statement and prospectus for the Company's offering filed with the SEC. Copies of these documents are available on the SEC's website, www.sec.gov. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release, except as required by law. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210211005863/en/

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United States President Joe Biden on Wednesday said that the Pentagon has established a task force to provide recommendations in the next few months to address challenges posed by China. Biden said that the task force will be composed of civilian and military experts across the department and will need a whole government effort, bipartisan cooperation in Congress and strong alliances and partnerships.

Indo-Pacific a priority for Biden administration

Meanwhile, hours after the announcement, Joe Biden held his first call as president with Xi Jinping, pressing the Chinese leader about trade and Beijing's crackdown on democracy activists in Hong Kong and other human rights concerns, Associated Press reported.

A White House statement said Biden raised concerns about Beijings "coercive and unfair economic practices." Biden also pressed Xi on Beijing's crackdown in Hong Kong, human rights abuses against Uighur and ethnic minorities in Xinjiang, and its actions toward Taiwan. Most importantly, Indo-Pacific finds a mention in just the third sentence. It is also interesting to note that Joe Biden's call with PM Modi came days before the US President's call with Xi Jinping.

'Need to meet the growing challenges posed by China'

"The task force will work quickly, drawing on civilian and military experts across the Department, to provide, within the next few months, recommendations to (Defense) Secretary (Lloyd) Austin on key priorities and decision points so that we can chart a strong path forward on China-related matters, Biden said in his remarks during his maiden visit to the Pentagon.

"It will require a whole-of-government effort, bipartisan cooperation in Congress, and strong alliances and partnerships. That's how we'll meet the China challenge and ensure the American people win the competition of the future, he said.

"To be headed by Special Assistant to the Secretary of Defense, Dr Ely Ratner, the task force will provide its final findings and recommendations no later than four months after establishment. No final public report is anticipated, although the Department will discuss recommendations with the Congress and other stakeholders as appropriate," the Pentagon said in a statement.

READ | Uttarakhand disaster: AAP MP Sanjay Singh gives Zero Hour Notice in Rajya Sabha

READ | India & China troops begin disengagement along the Pangong Lake as per consensus reached

In his address, Joe Biden said that the US needs to take on the dangers and opportunities of emerging technologies, enhance its capabilities in cyberspace, ensure that America is positioned to lead in a new era of competition, from deep-sea to outer space. "And we need to meet the growing challenges posed by China to keep the peace and defend our interests in the Indo-Pacific and globally," he said. Vice President Kamala Harris also visited the Pentagon along with Biden.

A China task force will study the military's footprint in Asia, technology, intelligence, the role of allies and partnerships, and other areas of the strategy, The Wall Street Journal reported citing administration officials. The relations between the US and China have deteriorated sharply over the last year in wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, China's efforts to curtail Hong Kong's autonomy, and the US-China trade war.

READ | Congress' claim that Amit Shah sat on Tagore's seat debunked; R.Bangla accesses truth

READ | VK Singh takes umbrage at 'distortion' of his China remark, clarifies 'LAC not demarcated'
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State regulators have fined an excavating company $14,400 for workplace safety violations discovered after three workers, including a father and son, died in August while working on a northeastern Indiana sewer project.

The Indiana Occupational Safety and Health Administration imposed the fine on Jan. 29 against Fort Wayne-based Crosby Excavating Inc. after an inspection found three serious safety violations and one repeat safety violation.

Jason R. Ball, 48, and his son, Bronson Ball, 21, both of Columbia City, died along with Douglas M. Kramer, 43, of Fort Wayne, on Aug. 25 after they became trapped about 20 feet (6.1 meters) below ground inside a manhole while working on a storm sewer project in Columbia City.

The men were pronounced dead at the scene after firefighters pulled them out of the manhole and medics were unable to revive them in the city about 20 miles (32 kilometers) west of Fort Wayne.

Whitley Countys coroner found that each man died from asphyxia caused by a low-oxygen environment and subsequent drowning inside the sewer, which the Columbia City mayors office has said contained 5 feet (1.5 meters) of water. The deaths were ruled accidental.

IOSHAs investigation determined that Crosby Excavating failed to properly train the crew on the project and did not effectively limit access to part of the worksite. It also found that workers were not protected by helmets while on a project with risk of head injury from impact, falling or flying objects or electrical shock.

The state agencys findings included that Crosby Excavating Inc. did not ensure that the employees possessed understanding, knowledge, and skills necessary for the safe performance of their duties.

The company has 15 days after receiving IOSHAs mailed safety order to pay the fine or to contest it, said Stephanie McFarland, a spokeswoman for the Indiana Department of Labor.

A telephone message seeking comment was left for Crosby Excavating.

Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Topics Indiana
Highlights Robert Baptiste, who goes by the name Elliot Alderson on Twitter, has found Koo is leaking sensitive user data.

Baptiste also says that Koo has a China connection

Though Koo does have a Chinese investor, who is reportedly now selling the stake.

As Koo gains momentum -- three million downloads in the last 24 hours or so -- as many in India believe that they should be using a desi aka Atmanirbhar app, the app has also started attracting scrutiny. How safe is it? That is the question. According to a French security researcher, Koo is not very safe, and currently, it is leaking a lot of sensitive user information including email ID, phone numbers and date of birth.

French cybersecurity researcher Robert Baptiste, popularly known as Elliott Anderson on Twitter, has looked at Koo and has found that it is leaking some user data. Baptiste earlier grabbed headlines after highlighting several vulnerabilities in the Aadhaar system. He has also highlighted a number of security bugs and vulnerabilities in other tech services.

Update: Reacting to the data leaks, Koo has said, "Users enter their profile data on the app to be shared with others on the platform. That's what's displayed everywhere across the platform. While there have been false allegations of a data leak, it's just commonly called the public profile page for all users to view!"

Talking about the Chinese investment, the company in a statement said, "Koo takes pride in being an Indian company with Indian founders and in being registered here. The recent investment in Bombinate Technologies Koo's parent company was by Mohandas Pai of 3one4 Capital, an Indian investor. Shunwei, a single-digit shareholder that had invested in Vokal, another start-up of ours which answers user questions in Indian languages, will be exiting fully. Bombinate is the parent company of Vokal and Koo."



Last night, Baptiste tweeted: "You asked so I did it. I spent 30 min on this new Koo app. The app is leaking personal data of its users: email, dob, name, marital status, gender."

If we go by the screenshots he has shared, it is clear that Koo is leaking some sensitive details and it is possible that data of millions of users have already been leaked or scrapped, including data of Indian government departments and ministers who have joined the service.

After Twitter refused to block accounts of journalists, politicians, and activists tweeting on farmers' protests, a push has been started by many to an Atmanirbhar social media app. Now, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and other government departments have verified handles on Koo.

"I am now on Koo. Connect with me on this Indian micro-blogging platform for real-time, exciting and exclusive updates. Let us exchange our thoughts and ideas on Koo," minister Piyush Goyal said on Twitter recently.

Baptiste is not the only one who has found a bug. Replying to his tweet, another user noted: "It's storing user tokens as frontend global variables if you know the token info of a user. go to /create you can directly put values in here, with inspecting mode which I think will enable the compose button, and you can remotely tweet to that account with the token info."

Chinese connection? Yes and no

Baptiste also shared the Whois record for the domain Kooapp.com, which shows a Chinese connection, but that is not entirely accurate. The domain details that Baptiste shared a part of the historical ownership of the domain. The record reveals that it was created close to four years ago and since then has changed hands several times. Its latest owner, which is Bombinate Technologies Private Limited, came to own it only in late 2019. Bombinate is the company behind Koo.

It is worth noting that it is not unusual for domain addresses to change hands and it is entirely possible that the domain which is currently used by an NGO in the past belonged to a company selling illegal drugs.

But there is a Chinese connection to the Koo app, and this is a small investment in the company by Shunwei. Connected to Xiaomi, Shunwei is a venture capital fund, which invests in startups. However, now that Koo is pitching itself as a total Atmanirbhar app, it says that Shunwei would be existing the company and would sell its stake soon. The Koo co-founder on Wednesday tweeted, "Koo is an India registered company with Indian founders. Raised earlier capital 2.5 years ago. The latest funds for Bombinate Technologies are led by a truly Indian investor 3one4 capital. Shunwei (single-digit shareholder) which had invested in our Vokal journey will be exiting fully.

There also seems to be confusion about the app's real Twitter account. While people have so far been believing that the Koo app is tweeting from @kooappofficioal, its co-founder Aprameya Radhakrishna last night said that the official account of Koo on Twitter is at @kooindia. He tweeted, "The official account of #kooapp is @kooindia. Please note."

(With inputs from Milan Sharma)
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Survivors of torture in Syrian prisons and families of those still detained or missing launched their first collective appeal to the international community on Wednesday.

Their message is simple: stop torture in detention facilities immediately and reveal the fate of tens of thousands who are still missing.

Only then, can a path to end the Syrian conflict be found, the drafters of the charter of Truth and Justice said.

Conservative estimates by rights groups indicate that at least 149,000 Syrians are detained or forcibly disappeared, more than 85% of them at the hands of the Syrian government.

Families and relatives are stuck in time and in a loop of bureaucracy and legal limbos, in desperate search with no official words of their loved ones.

Despite a push by the U.N. to make this a priority, no progress has been made on the issue so far.

The Syrian government denies it is holding any political prisoners and calls any opposition terrorists.

After major military wins, the government and various armed groups have arranged limited prisoner exchanges which families say offer partial solutions to a very select group of detainees.

And in recent years, Damascus began updating civil registries and sending death notices with no causes of deaths to families, a move many rights groups saw as an attempt to close the issue without any accountability or no closures for the families.

(Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com)
An 11-year-old boy has been arrested in Florida for threatening his teacher to shoot her while pointing an iPod at her and making gun noises. According to a press release, the Bunnell Elementary School student, who hasnt been named because he is a minor, was singing songs about guns and shooting people during a class on February 3 when his teacher told him to stop.

The boy was removed from class and sent home after he was found searching for guns on the internet while in school and was also talking about firearms with other students. However, the next day, the boy pointed his iPad at his teacher and said, "I am going to shoot you up!" while making gun noises. He repeated it the second time while walking out of the classroom and maintaining eye contact with his teacher.

The teacher reported the incident to deputies on Friday and shared that she feared for her life because of the student. The schools IT department, upon investigation, found out more than four pages of handgun and ammunition searches the student had made in school, press release states.

Flagler County Sheriff's Office said that the boy, now taken into custody, was charged with a false report concerning the use of firearms in a violent manner. This is the fourth case of a Flagler County student being taken into custody in 10 days for threatening students, a faculty member or school. Flagler Sheriff Rick Staly took to Facebook to announce that they have a zero tolerance policy for threats in the county and especially when it comes to schools. He added that this is the fourth case in as many weeks and everyone should realize that one will be arrested if they threaten anyone in school.

The boy was arrested and booked at Flagler County jail and released to the custody of his parents, reports Daily Mail. He has denied making any threats to his teacher but confessed talking about guns, admitting it was wrong. The case is currently being handled by the Department of Juvenile Justice after the Sheriff's office contacted them.

This arrest comes just two days after another 12-year-old student of the same school was arrested on Wednesday after warning other students not to attend the school next day as he was going to shoot up the school.
It is a story almost as old as America itself: technology advancing faster than government can keep up. Everything from the invention of rail travel to the development of drones has challenged governments to keep up with the pace of change. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, it has become clear that alcohol delivery is the latest frontier to stress the always uneasy relationship between government and technology.Uber's recent announcement of its $1.1 billion acquisition of the drinks delivery service Drizly is being hailed as a gamechanger that could "turbocharge" the growth of online-enabled alcohol delivery. While the deal will no doubt expand alcohol delivery options in many places, delivery of booze  bottles, cans and even pre-mixed cocktails  has already been experiencing exponential growth during the pandemic as more and more Americans are sheltered in place and ordering groceries, takeout meals and just about everything else to their door.In fact, the online alcohol delivery marketplace grew by 80 percent in 2020 , according to data from IWSR Research, an industry observer. A majority of states did their best to respond to the crisis by authorizing many forms of to-go and delivery alcohol during the pandemic.But most of these reforms were only temporary emergency orders. The reality is that alcohol delivery is still subject to a host of restrictive laws and rules that will limit substantial growth unless more durable reforms are enacted. Eleven states still do not allow alcohol to be delivered from retailers such as grocery or liquor stores at all, while many other states do not allow third-party independent-contractor services such as DoorDash and Grubhub to facilitate these deliveries.Long-distance alcohol shipping faces even more restrictions than local deliveries. More than 40 states allow wineries to ship their wines to out-of-state customers, but fewer than a dozen states allow these types of cross-state shipments for beer and liquor.This web of burdensome laws and rules traces its roots to our country's prohibitionary heritage. While many Americans enjoy gathering on Dec. 5 to toast the repeal on that day in 1933 of the 18th Amendment , the legal infrastructure of Prohibition and its aftermath has never really gone away. In the years immediately following repeal, states and local governments still faced immense pressure from temperance forces to restrict and control Americans' access to alcohol.As a result, many locales remained dry  and still do to this day  while others implemented strict rules about how alcohol can be purchased, consumed and transported. Over a dozen states maintain control systems in which the government itself is in charge of all wholesale or retail sales of alcohol. And nearly every state operates under what is known as a three-tier system of alcohol distribution, which requires brewers, distillers and vintners to work through a government-mandated middle tier of wholesalers rather than being able to sell directly to their customers.The effect of this outdated legal infrastructure has been to largely sideline alcohol from the Internet-fueled 21st-century marketplace. Americans can order everything from pickle-flavor lip balm to pharmaceutical drugs online and have them delivered to their doors within a day or two, but many states still refuse to allow alcohol products to be treated like these other legitimate articles of commerce.As noted, the move toward an online alcohol-shipping economy has shown some laudable progress during pandemic. Ohio and Iowa both passed laws permanently allowing restaurants to sell to-go and delivery cocktails and more states seem primed to follow suit , while Georgia passed a law allowing alcohol delivery from off-premise outlets such as groceries and liquor stores. And the bourbon mecca of Kentucky notably passed landmark legislation to permit interstate shipments of alcohol from all types of producers.But there is still a long way to go. In the 2021 legislation season, which is just beginning, states have one of the best opportunities in a generation to enact more alcohol-delivery reforms. In the COVID-19 new normal, consumers want to have alcohol delivered to their doorsteps just like every other product under the sun. The technology is already available. Lawmakers and regulators just need to catch up.GoverningGoverning
Charging that Executive Order 13990 issued by President Biden is in contravention of Article II Section 2 and the 10th Amendment of the United States Constitution, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt issued his own executive order this week to, in effect, nullify it.

Governor Stitt is a Republican, elected in 2018. His order is challenging Bidens order as adverse to energy producers throughout the United States and Oklahoma. His decision terminates the Keystone XL pipeline and claims to rejoin the Paris Climate Accord while failing to seek ratification by the U.S. Senate. According to the U.S. Constitution, a presidential agreement with the government of another nation is not law until at least two-thirds of the Senate ratifies it. President Barack Obama placed the United States in the Paris deal without a treaty vote. This was reversed by President Trump, and now President Biden has put the United States back into it.

These policies [of the Paris Accord] allow the worlds powers to continue CO2 emissions, Stitt wrote, causing the U.S. to harm its own economy, threatening millions of jobs in states like Oklahoma, while making no meaningful difference in worlds emissions. Special Envoy for Climate, John Kerry, admitted as much only days ago.

As Stitt said in his executive order sent to every state agency, Oklahoma has always embraced its role as a national and international leader in the production of oil and gas and other forms of energy. The Oklahoma oil industry began even before statehood, producing such oil companies as Phillips and Conoco, and oil-service giant Halliburton. By the 1920s, Oklahoma was perhaps the leading oil state in the country. And, as Stitt noted, That tradition continues today.

Source: Oklahoma Governor Nullifies Bidens Executive Order  With His Own - The New American

NASA has been ranked in the top 25 of Forbes America's Best Large Employers for 2021.

This year has been a banner one for NASA so far, with cutting edge technology, breakthrough research and future Mars exploration. It's no surprise the space agency would land at No. 12 on the list.

MARS SURVIVAL: Map of Martian water ice could help guide future astronauts

Forbes partnered with marketing research company Statista to put together a list from 50,000 Americans surveyed from various industries.

Participants from companies with at least 1,000 employees were asked how willing they would be to rate their employer and nominate other businesses besides their own, according to Forbes.com.

NASA along with MD Anderson Cancer Center were among the companies in the top 25 of the 500 companies chosen for the annual list. NASA clocks in with 17,000 employees on the list.

"NASA is honored to be recognized by @Forbes as one of Americas Best Large Employers in its 2021 ranking & the highest ranked in the aerospace industry!" the organization said in a tweet.

NASA also shined in other areas for 2020, coming in at No. 46 for Best Employers for Veterans; No. 38 for Best Employers for New Grads; and No. 365 for Best Employers for Diversity, among other rankings.

"Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, the U.S. economy has lost nearly 10 million jobs and the unemployment rate has reached 6.3%. But the companies featured on our list of Americas Best Large Employers are trying hard to attract and retain top talentmany while trying to keep the country safe," Forbes said.
The number of healthcare and frontline workers vaccinated against COVID-19 reached 74.30 lakh on Thursday, the 27th day of the countrywide inoculation programme, the Union said.

The cumulative number of healthcare and frontline workers vaccinated against the coronavirus is 74,30,866 till Thursday 7 pm, as per a provisional report, it said.

Of the total, 57,90,832 are healthcare workers and 16,40,034 are frontline workers.

The ministry said that 1,53,799 vaccination sessions have been held so far, with 10,743 sessions being held till 7 pm today.

On Thursday, all states and union territories, except Mizoram and Daman and Diu, reported vaccination of beneficiaries, and 4,13,752 people were vaccinated till 7 pm, it said.

"Of these, 85,604 were healthcare workers, while the other 3,28,148 beneficiaries were frontline workers,"the ministry said, adding that the final report will be completed by late in the night.

It said47 adverse events following immunisation (AEFIs) have been reported till 7 pm on the 27th day of the vaccination drive.

The nationwide inoculation drive was launched on January 16 with initial priority to healthcare workers. Frontline workers, like police, civil and defence staff and municipal employees, started receiving COVID-19 vaccine jabs from February 2.

The 74,30,866 beneficiaries vaccinated so far include 4,48,903 from Bihar, 3,33,436 from Kerala, 4,76,277 from Karnataka, 4,85,593 from Madhya Pradesh, 6,00,456 from Maharashtra, 1,62,596 from Delhi, 6,43,438 from Gujarat, 7,52,501 from Uttar Pradesh and 4,49,649 from West Bengal, according to the provisional report.

(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 : India's sugar exports may drop over 24% to around 4.3 million tonnes in the current marketing season 2020-21, due to logistics constrains and less chances of shipments to Iran, trade body All India Sugar Trade Association (AISTA) said on Thursday.

AISTA pegged sugar output to be higher at 29.9 million tonnes in the current 2020-21 marketing season (October-September), against 27.40 million tonnes in the last season.

Sugar mills had exported 5.7 million tonnes of sugar against the mandatory quota of 6 million tonnes set for the 2019-20 season (October-September).

In a statement, AISTA said its crop committee, which reviewed the country's sugar production for this year, has reported "export of sugar in the current season to be around 4.3 million tonne. The exports are likely to less than last year due to the logistics constrains."

The trade body said waiting time at ports is higher due to congestion, owing to shortage of container and large movement of grains, including soyabean, it said.

Further, there are less chances of export to Iran, one of the important sugar customers, as the Islamic Republic's rupee reserves in UCO Bank and IDBI Bank have nearly depleted.

"The chances of export of sugar to Iran are bleak as Indian rupee balances in the Vostro accounts held by Iranian banks with UCO Bank and IDBI Bank have been nearly drawn down," it added.

On domestic sugar production, AISTA said it is expected to be 29.9 million tonnes in the ongoing 2020-21 marketing season, higher from 27.40 million tonne in the previous season.

Production in the country's top-three sugar-producing states is pegged at 10.5 million tonne in Uttar Pradesh, at 10.2 million tonne in Maharashtra, and at 4.3 million tonne in Karnataka for this current season.

Sugar production stood at 12.60 million tonne in Uttar Pradesh, 6.20 million tonne in Maharashtra and 3.45 million tonne in Karnataka during the marketing season 2019-20.

The trade body said about 2 million tonne sucrose is estimated to be diverted for ethanol production in the current season, while domestic consumption is pegged lower at 25.5 million tonne in the same period as against 26 million tonnes during 2019-20 season.

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The High Court has been asked to amend the grounds of a legal challenge brought against An Bord Pleanala's decision to allow Intel Ireland proceed with a 3.76billion expansion of its Co Kildare plant.

The action has been brought against the board by Thomas Reid who lives a short distance from the Intel Campus at Collinstown, outside Leixlip which employs 4,500 people.

The proposed expansion, if given the go ahead, would be one of the largest construction projects in the History of the state.

Mr Reid claims a decision by An Bord Pleanala in late 2019 giving Intel permission to extended and revise its manufacturing facility was contrary to EU Council directives, lacked sufficient reasons and was contrary to fair procedures and should be quashed.

Intel is a notice party to the action.

In a pre-trial motion Intel has asked the court that aspects of Mr Reid's action be amended and that certain material, documents relating to scientific and technical issues the applicant seeks to use be excluded from the case.

Brian Kennedy SC for Intel said it wanted the claim amended as Mr Reid is seeking to argue issues before the High Court that counsel said should have but were not raised by the applicant when the board was considering the matter.

He had every opportunity to make those arguments in his submissions to the board, but failed to do so, counsel added.

Intel's application is supported by the board.

Rory Mulchay SC for the board argued that Mr Reid "let the opportunity go" to raise certain issues before the board, before it arrived at its decision to grant permission, that he now seeks to raises in the court action.

The applicant should not be allowed put those particular arguments before the court, counsel further argued.

Mr Reid, represented by James Devlin SC, opposed the motion and said that Mr Reid should be allowed make his case in its entirety and present all the material included as part of the claim to the court.

The application was heard by Mr Justice Richard Humphreys, the judge in charge of the High Court's strategic infrastructure development and commercial planning list.

Following the conclusion of submissions from the parties the judge reserved his decision on the motion.

The full hearing of the action will take place later this year.

Intel claims that proposed works form part of a strategic initiative to ensure that its Irish campus is optimised for next generation of investment within the Intel corporation, when major future capital investments are being considered.

Intel says its campus is one of the most technologically advanced manufacturing processes in Europe and is to the forefront globally in the production of the firm's process technology.

Under the November 2019 planning permission, Intel estimates that the proposed works will cost some 3.76billion, and 3,000 construction workers will be required over an estimated four-year building programme.

In 2015, Mr Reid won a landmark Supreme Court decision against IDA Ireland over the use of compulsory purchase orders for his 29-hectare Hedsor House farm, which is next to the US chip giants current 160-hectare campus in Leixlip.

He had sued the IDA and the State after the IDA notified him of its intention to acquire the land.

The Supreme Court unanimously overturned a High Court decision and ruled the compulsory purchase could not go ahead.
US has reiterated its commitment to supporting democratic values including freedom of expression while commenting on Twitter blocking nearly 500 accounts after receiving orders from the Indian government.

"What I would say generally, is that around the world, we are committed to supporting democratic values including freedom of expression. I think when it comes to Twitter's policies we would have to refer you to Twitter itself," US Department of State spokesperson Ned Price said while responding on the situation, ANI reported.

Twitter on Wednesday informed that it has taken multiple actions, including permanent suspension of over 500 accounts for clear violations of Twitter's rules.

India has ordered Twitter to remove more than 1,100 accounts and posts that it alleges are spreading misinformation about the widespread protests by Indian farmers against new agricultural laws.

The government said that its "patience is running out" over refusal of the company to follow the earlier notice given under Section 69A of the IT Act. It may arrest the companys top executives in India stating that its list of accounts sought to be censured over inflammatory content was not negotiable.

"Separate to our enforcement under the Twitter Rules, over the course of the last 10 days, Twitter has been served with several separate blocking orders by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India, under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act," Twitter said in a statement.

"We took a range of enforcement actions -- including permanent suspension in certain cases -- against more than 500 accounts escalated across all Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology orders for clear violations of Twitter''s Rules," the statement added.
Marion Koopmans, right, and Peter Ben Embarek, center, of the World Health Organization team say farewell to their Chinese counterpart Liang Wannian, left, after a WHO-China Joint Study Press Conference held at the end of the WHO mission in Wuhan, China, on Feb. 9, 2021. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

Chinese Critics Decry WHOs Wuhan Probe as a Farce

A Chinese dissident has condemned the World Health Organizations findings on the source of the pandemic as a farce, adding that the Chinese regime is likely to leverage them to deflect responsibility for causing the global crisis.

According to Yuan Hongbing, a Chinese academic and vocal critic of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) living in Australia, the WHO investigation in Wuhan was akin to a farce staged by the Chinese regime.

We could have predicted that this so-called investigation would come to this, he said in an interview.

As a team of experts at the WHO wrapped up its trip on Feb. 9, Peter Ben Embarek, a Danish scientist who led the WHO mission, dismissed the theory that the CCP virus may have leaked from a virology lab as extremely unlikely. Bats, he said, remained a likely source.

The State Department has cast doubt on the amount of transparency afforded to the WHO team and said that the United States would present its conclusion after reviewing the full WHO report.

Gordon Chang, author of The Coming Collapse of China, described Embareks comments as intensely political.

This mission to Wuhan is heavily negotiated with conditions that were really essentially designed so they are not going to find out anything, Chang told The Epoch Times American Thought Leaders program.

They are there for a month, two weeks of which are quarantine, and they go to the Wuhan Institute of Virology for three-and-a-half hours, he said. The team visited the lab on Feb. 3.

I dont know how WHO members can say that after such a cursory examination.

The wet market went through a thorough cleansing in March 2020, destroying all the livestock and goods stored inside. Zhang Meng (alias), a volunteer who helped with the cleanout, said that they stripped everything bare during the process.

Nothing was left save the metal board, he said in a recent interview, adding that the WHO team had nothing to see there. Everything was gone in a sweep.

Workers place barriers outside the closed Huanan Seafood wholesale market during a visit by members of the World Health Organization (WHO) team, investigating the origins of the Covid-19 coronavirus, in Wuhan, Chinas central Hubei province on Jan. 31, 2021. (Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images)

Chang also criticized Embarek for lending credibility to the idea that the virus could have been imported via frozen foods to the Wuhan wet market, where the first known cluster of cases emerged in December 2019. The investigator said transmission of the virus via frozen food is a possibility that warrants further investigation.

Chinese authorities have attributed local COVID-19 outbreaks to imported frozen foods, despite the WHO and U.S. health officials both saying there is no evidence that people can contract COVID-19 from food or food packaging.

Experts will tell you that yes, the coronavirus can survive on frozen food packaging, but nobody in any responsible position outside China thinks that it was a likely source of transmission, Chang said.

This is a parroting of a Beijing narrative, he said. This just shows you that the WHO mission is completely worthlessactually is worse than worthless because its throwing people off the trail.

The Trump administration last year began the process to withdraw from the WHO, as the agency was criticized for repeating Beijings narratives about the outbreak. President Joe Biden, upon taking office, reversed the decision and restored WHO ties on Jan. 20.

Peter Ben Embarek, of the World Health Organization team, right, shakes hands with his Chinese counterpart Liang Wannian after a WHO-China Joint Study Press Conference held at the end of the WHO mission in Wuhan, China, on Feb. 9, 2021. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Feb. 9 also questioned WHOs findings, saying he doesnt believe they [experts] got access that they needed.

I must say the reason we left the World Health Organization was because we came to believe that it was corrupted, it had been politicized. It was bending a knee to General Secretary Xi Jinping in China, he said in a Fox interview. He said the WHO announcement has not shaken his belief that theres significant evidence  that this [virus] may have very well come from that laboratory.

Days before Pompeo left office, the State Department released a fact sheet stating that it had reason to believe several researchers from the Wuhan Institute of Virology exhibited COVID-19-like symptoms in autumn 2019, despite a senior facility virologist saying otherwise.

Matt Pottinger, the former deputy national security adviser, later called for more attention to the fact sheet, which he said was very carefully vetted by officials across the Department of Health and Human Services, White House, and intelligence leadership.

Peter Daszak, a U.S. scientist on the WHO team, has co-written papers with Shi Zhengli of the Wuhan virology lab. He previously condemned the lab escape theory as a conspiracy, but later conceded that he did so as a showing of support for Chinese scientists to shield them from online harassment.

In a tweet on Feb. 9 in response to the State Departments comments, Dazsak said that Biden has to look tough on China. Please dont rely too much on US intel: increasingly disengaged under Trump [and] frankly wrong on many aspects, he wrote.

Heng He, a China affairs commentator, said that Daszaks involvement in the research constituted a conflict of interest.

Why did the WHO recuse him? he said. This is basically signaling to the CCP that the WHO will go along with its play.

He also noted the WHOs visit to a propaganda exhibition touting Beijings achievements in combating the virus. It doesnt even count as fourth-hand evidence, he said. Just purely man-made stories.

Cathy He contributed to this report.

Ebonyi State launched a free anti-rabies vaccination campaign on Wednesday.

The Ebonyi State Government has secured a total of 3,500 doses of anti-rabies vaccine for dogs and cats to prevent and eradicate rabies across communities in the state.

The state Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Moses Nomie, stated this during the launch of a free anti-rabies vaccination campaign on Wednesday in Abakaliki.

Mr Nomie said the programme, in collaboration with the Federal Government through the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, would get rid of rabies by the year 2030.

The theme for the two-week anti-rabies vaccination campaign is: "End Rabies in Ebonyi; Collaborate, Vaccinate".

The commissioner explained that the state government was collaborating with the federal government to ensure that dogs in rural and urban areas of the state were captured during the exercise to prevent rabies.

The Director, Veterinary Services Department in the state Ministry of Agriculture, Ephraim Nwanga, said the programme was a welcome development. He expressed hope that it would achieve 70 per cent coverage.

"I believe the exercise will achieve 70 per cent coverage and once it is achieved, the society will live without rabies; and even when bitten, the virus will not get to the level of community transmission.

"We are going to continue the vaccination of dogs and cats till 2023," Mr Nwanga said.

IDSR

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The director said the World Health Organisation (WHO) included rabies in the Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) list as a matter of public health importance.

He said the programme was being co-sponsored by WHO, World Organisation for Animal Health and the Nigerian government.

Meanwhile, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Rita Okoro, described rabies as one of the deadly viral diseases that affect human health, transmitted by dogs and cats.

According to her, each dose of the vaccine administered on a dog is expected to last between two and three years.

She urged the public to join in the fight against rabies by taking advantage of the programme to bring their pets for the vaccine.

"We are creating awareness on rabies disease, targeting dogs and cats both in rural and urban areas."

The Vice President of Dog Breeders, Ebonyi Chapter, Victor Chidiebere, commended the federal and state governments for the free anti-rabies vaccine.

He said "it takes a lot to care for dogs. The vaccine will go a long way to give relief to dog and cat owners in the state.

"I am impressed with the programme and wish they will continue to assist breeders with more than one pet."

A dog owner, Kenneth Nwaoba, appreciated the governments and the partners for the exercise and urged them to sustain it to eradicate rabies, noting that "this is because dog breeding is a lucrative venture".

(NAN)
Ham radio special event stations for World Radio Day Amateur radio special event stations will be on-the-air to celebrate World Radio Day on February 13 which this year has the theme 'Evolution, Innovation, Connection'



Spain's EA Digital Federation reports these special c amateur radio callsigns will be active from Feb 12-14: AO1WRD, AO2WRD, AO3WRD, AO4WRD, AO5WRD, AO6WRD, AO7WRD, AO8WRD and AO9WRD

https://fediea.org/news/?news=20210213&lang=en



On the occasion of World Radio Day 2021 (WRD 2021), UNESCO calls on radio stations to celebrate this events 10th anniversary and the more than 110 years of radio.



This edition of WRD is divided into three main sub-themes:



 EVOLUTION The world changes, radio evolves.

This sub-theme refers to the resilience of the radio, to its sustainability ;

 INNOVATION The world changes, radio adapts and innovate.

Radio has had to adapt to new technologies to remain the go-to medium of mobility, accessible everywhere and to everyone;

 CONNECTION The world changes, radio connects.

This sub-theme highlights radios services to our societynatural disasters, socio-economic crises, epidemics, etc.



UNESCO World Radio Day

https://en.unesco.org/commemorations/worldradioday
Nine children have been rescued in the Philippines following an investigation into the alleged activities of a Victorian man who was charged several years ago with paying for child exploitation material.

The Australian Federal Police charged Phillip John Cooper, 61, in November 2019 with procuring a child to engage in sexual activity outside of Australia.

Nine children in the Philippines have been rescued after a child exploitation investigation in Victoria led Australian Federal Police to pass information to Filipino authorities.

The matter was then referred to the Philippine Internet Crimes Against Children Centre (PICACC) and Philippine National Police carried out an operation in Angeles City, north of Manila, on February 3 and removed nine children from harm.

The children are aged between 2 and 16.
 Flash

U.S. governors, educators, scholars, artists as well as business people have manifested their determination to strengthen the cooperation between the United States and China in the upcoming Year of the Ox, while expressing their appreciation for the contributions made by the Chinese American community to this country.



Steve Orlins, president of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, said that the Ox symbolizes hardwork, persistence and honesty in Chinese culture, and for over 50 years, the committee's work has embodied those qualities.

"In this new year, in the spirit of the Ox, my National Committee colleagues and I will continue to work hard in building U.S.-China dialogues and exchanges, and improving the bilateral relationship," he added.

Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker said he is pleased to join the celebration, and wants to take a moment to wish those in the Chinese community throughout the Commonwealth a very happy Chinese Lunar New Year.

"We are proud to have such a vibrant piece of that culture here in the Commonwealth and especially in Boston. We are grateful for our continued friendship and collaboration," added the governor.

Lieutenant Governor of New York State Kathy Hochul said that she is very proud that New York State serves as the hub of rich culture and diversity, and it's home to more than 600,000 Chinese.

"We recognize that our strength comes through our diversity and that comes through the immigrants who have found their way here and built this country. That is why there is no room for xenophobia or hate in our state," she said.

"New York State stands with the Chinese community because together, we'll defeat COVID-19, and come back even stronger," added Hochul.

Harvard University President Lawrence Bacow conveyed a message that Harvard remains firm in its support of the collaborations that it has developed with scientists and researchers across China, some new and some going back in the years.

"Only by working together in mutual good faith, can we succeed in advancing the frontiers of knowledge and addressing the challenges we face in building a shared future that is safe, free, and fair for all," said Bacow.

"I also want you to know that Harvard remains committed to welcoming to our campus Chinese students and scholars in all fields of study, as we do from scholars and students from all over the world," he added.

Henry Lee, professor emeritus at University of New Haven, on this occasion showed his "deepest gratitude and appreciation" to all the Chinese in the United States.

"You are true the pillar of our community. You are the capstone of harmony. We work hard. We are honest and put the community together in such integrity," he added.

Tony Malkin, CEO, president and chairman of the Empire State Realty Trust, confirmed the message that the Empire State Building will be lit in red on Feb. 10 from sunset until 2 am to celebrate this significant holiday.

"We are proud that this lighting continues to celebrate not only the Lunar New Year, but also the ongoing partnership between the Empire State Building and the Chinese people, and the people of Chinese descent all around the world," he added.

Matias Tarnoposky, president and CEO of the Philadelphia Orchestra, said that the orchestra first connected with the people of China nearly 50 years ago.

"We value the people-to-people exchange through music that has marked our relationship since then. In these unprecedented times, it is important to remember the power the music has to bring us together now and in the future," he said.

"Music is a unifying, equalizing force," he added.

Clive Gillinson, executive and artistic director of Carnegie Hall, said that now more than ever, music serves as an inspiring bridge between peoples and cultures especially during a time of great distancing for most of us.

"May the Year of the Ox bring us all many opportunities to expand our partnership and continue our work together, to advance mutual cultural celebration both here and abroad," he added.

Chinese Consul General in New York Huang Ping expressed his appreciation for the above dignitaries to send their best wishes on the occasion of the Chinese Lunar New Year. He also highlighted the Chinese people's determination and perseverance to write a new chapter in 2021 with their U.S. counterparts.

"In spite of the dark clouds overshadowing China-U.S. relations in the past year, the two peoples supported each other in fighting the pandemic, put hearts together to overcome difficulties and preserve the bonds of people-to-people exchanges," he said.

"The spirit of mutual respect and win-win cooperation continue to prevail. The expectations for a sound and steady development of China-U.S. relations stay strong under new circumstances," he added.

The Chinese Lunar New Year, or Spring Festival, is the most important holiday for Chinese around the world. This year's Spring Festival falls on Feb. 12, which marks the beginning of the Year of the Ox.
The official also draws attention to an increase in the number of ceasefire violations in eastern Ukraine.

Special Representative of the OSCE's Chairperson-in-Office in Ukraine and in the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) Ambassador Heidi Grau says that TCG peace talks on Donbas have reached an impasse.

She announced this during a UN Security Council meeting on the sixth anniversary of the signing of the Package of Measures for the Implementation of the Minsk Agreements, according to an UNIAN correspondent. The event was broadcast on the UN's website.

Read alsoEU notes Ukraine's efforts toward Donbas settlement, urges Russia to reciprocate

In the first months of 2020, the TCG political group made significant efforts to come to a common position in the negotiations, she said.

At the same time, Grau noted that negotiations within the TCG political subgroup had stalled since August 2020, because "some participants demand that the Ukrainian parliament cancel the resolution on local elections for the talks to continue."

The OSCE representative recalled that in order to unblock the talks, the TCG participants proposed to develop a joint action plan for the implementation of the Minsk agreements.

"This is a very difficult task, unfortunately. Discussion in the Trilateral Contact Group is still at an impasse. Therefore, I am grateful that the political advisers to the Normandy Four [leaders] have joined the process and are actively looking for ways out of the impasse," she added.

The official also drew attention to an increase in the number of ceasefire violations in eastern Ukraine.

"In recent weeks, there has been an alarming trend of ceasefire violations in Donbas. However, the number of the violations is significantly lower than in the first half of last year," she stated.

What is more, Grau noted insufficient progress in humanitarian landmine action in Donbas.

"It is worrying that progress on humanitarian and security issues is not being made for political reasons," she said.

Reference

The Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) for the Peaceful Settlement of the Situation in Eastern Ukraine is an authorized group of representatives from Ukraine, the OSCE, and Russia, which was formed as a means to facilitate a diplomatic solution to the war in Donbas, the east of Ukraine.

The Ukrainian delegation is now led by first president of independent Ukraine Leonid Kravchuk.

Reporting by UNIAN
A Minnesota congressman accidentally flipped his Zoom video upside down during a House committee hearing on Wednesday.

The hilarious moment starring GOP Rep Tom Emmer has since gone viral and shows the congressman speaking about job security amid the pandemic during the House Financial Services Committee meeting until he's interrupted.

'Will the gentleman suspend?' Committee Chairwoman Rep Maxine Waters is heard asking.

'I'm sorry, Mr Emmer. Are you okay?' she asked him as their colleagues snickered in the background. 'I am,' Emmer responded.

The hilarious moment starring GOP Rep Tom Emmer (pictured) has since gone viral and shows the congressman speaking about job security amid the pandemic during the House Financial Services Committee meeting until he's interrupted about appearing upside down

Another person yelled out: 'You're upside down, Tom.' Emmer then said: 'I don't know how to fix that.'

One person yelled that Emmer is 'going viral' while another asked: 'Is this a metaphor?'

The hilarious moment comes just a day after Texas lawyer, Rod Ponton, appeared as a talking cat during a Zoom call with a judge, sparking worldwide delight.

The cat filter left lawyer Ponton struggling to explain his situation to sympathetic judge, Roy Ferguson.

'I believe you have a filter turned on in the video settings,' the judge said.

Ponton - his voice appearing to be spoken by an increasingly anxious white kitten - asked: 'Can you hear me, judge?'

The hilarious moment comes just a day after Texas lawyer, Rod Ponton, appeared as a talking cat during a Zoom call with a judge, sparking worldwide delight

The judge responded: 'I can hear you. I think it's a filter...'

'It is,' the nodding cat said. 'And I don't know how to remove it. I've got my assistant here, she's trying to, but I'm prepared to go forward with it... I'm here live. I'm not a cat,' Ponton said.

The judge replied 'I can see that,' before later sending out a tweet saying the incident underlined the legal profession's dedication to justice despite the challenges presented by Covid-19.

Ponton, who was appearing in a civil forfeiture hearing, told reporters 'if I can make the country chuckle for a moment in these difficult times they're going through, I'm happy to let them do that at my expense'.

Emmer also referenced Ponton's snafu in a tweet with a picture of himself upside down, saying: 'I am not a cat.'
Local educational leaders and a legislator had varying opinions on State Superintendent Michael Rice's recent recommendation that the minimum length of the school year be increased from the current 180 days.

Given the challenges to teaching and learning during the pandemic, students will need additional instruction time next school year, Rice stated during a Feb. 2 joint meeting of the education committees of the Senate and House, according to an article on michigan.gov. The current minimum number of days  180  was too low before the pandemic. It isnt close to that of high-performing nations. Students and staff need more days next year coming out of the pandemic. The state legislature should raise the minimum number of days to underscore the need for more time.

Rice noted some districts will need to add even more time beyond the state minimum in order to meet their students' needs.

Some districts will need to add time for all of their students, above a statutorily raised state minimum, he said. Some will need to add time for particular groups of students or for particular students. Some will need to do all three. Child by child, group by group, districts will have to reflect on what is needed and how to meet these needs. More time is the clearest need. Most have foregone it. Many will need to recoup it."

State Rep. Annette Glenn, R-Midland, said she has not heard of any discussions taking place in the House and Senate regarding the possibility of increasing the 180-day minimum. She said she does support measures to give school districts flexibility to meet their students' needs.

"I have always been in favor of providing local school districts with the option to tailor (instruction to) the learning needs of their students," Glenn wrote in an email response. "Last year, the state waived the required school days to match hours learned at home due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. The most recent COVID-19 relief plan that passed the House last week gives schools the decision to offer optional summer classes.

"I understand Mr. Rices well founded concerns and we all want nothing more than to get our kids caught up and prepared for their future," Glenn added.

State Rep. Roger Hauck, R-Union Township, whose district includes several Midland County townships, said the legislature should focus on encouraging all districts to return to in-person learning and on providing funding for summer interventions.

"The learning loss caused by the shutdown of in-person learning will be felt for years," Hauck said. "While its impacting all students, I fear its also dramatically broadening the achievement gap between students. I feel we have an obligation to the next generation to support bringing students back to in-person learning as soon as possible.

"The 180 days restriction is simply a minimum number of days. Schools have always been able to go above that number and Im sure many will consider it this year. Parents, teachers and administrators all know that they will have to address the issue of learning loss whether or not we raise the minimum standards. I think our time is better spent supporting efforts to return to in-person learning and prioritizing extra funds for summer school programs," Hauck concluded.

For his part, Midland Public Schools Superintendent Michael Sharrow said he is in favor of increasing the minimum number of days of instruction, although not for the current school year.

"I am a believer that 180 (days) is a little short. I'm a big believer in a balanced calendar," Sharrow said.

"But there's no way that teachers' unions would negotiate a changed calendar in the middle of a school year," he added. "I would support adding five days for the next school year."

It will take a number of years to help some current elementary students catch up with the learning gaps they may have due to the pandemic, Sharrow said.

Meridian Public Schools Superintendent Craig Carmoney said that Rice's recommendation has "merit," but Carmoney is wary of increasing the required days of instruction for all districts, given the varying ways that the pandemic has impacted different districts.

"Time is certainly an important variable when it comes to learning. I believe that Dr. Rice's idea has merit for a number of students and schools," Carmoney wrote in an email response. "However, I think we need to take a very close look at the differences in learning across the state and how it has impacted students. There are many schools across the state that have been in remote instruction most or all of the time this school year.

" ... I think that many of us feel that extended learning opportunities are important for some students every year. So I believe that we need to evaluate this on a case-by-case basis, as many students who have been in-person all year are hitting their learning targets. So those extended learning opportunities should be targeted to those who need additional support."

Carmoney, who was recently appointed by Gov. Whitmer to the Student Recovery Advisory Council, also emphasized that any increase in days of instruction would come at a significant cost.

"The other reality is that this is going to require a significant investment as each additional week is approximately 2.8% additional in expenses," he said.

Bullock Creek School District Superintendent Shawn Hale feels the current 180-day requirement is sufficient for his district, while extra help can be provided for those students who need it.

"I like that the State Superintendent is considering options to bring students up to grade level as a result of this pandemic," Hale wrote in an email response. "I am not sure it is necessary to increase the number of days for all students, but to look at how we may provide interventions to increase the learning for students that may have fallen behind because of the pandemic.

"For Bullock Creek, I would like for the 180(-day calendar) to remain, and to provide interventions to identified students," Hale concluded.
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Crude oil futures ended lower on Thursday, taking a breather after eight successive days of gains. However, hopes that energy demand will pick up thanks to vaccination drive gathering momentum, and the major oil producers' decision to extend output cuts for another couple of months supported the commodity and limited its downside. Recent data showing a drop in crude inventories in the U.S. too supported oil prices. West Texas Intermediate Crude oil futures for March settled at $58.24 a barrel, losing $0.44 or about 0.8%. Brent crude futures were down $0.60 or 0.98% at $60.87 a little while ago. OPEC+ would keep its output cuts policy unchanged at a March meeting and Saudi Arabia will continue making its extra voluntary cuts of a million barrels per day, Iraqi Oil Minister Ihsan Abdul-Jabbar said in a press conference on Wednesday. However, there is speculation that Saudi Arabia might consider reducing output by less than 1 million barrels per day. Traders were also digesting a report from the European Commission which said in its interim Winter forecast that said the near-term outlook for the euro area looks weaker than expected last autumn, as the pandemic tightened its grip on the region. EC expects the euro area to grow 3.8% this year, instead of 4.2% projected previously. Meanwhile, the outlook for 2022 was raised to 3.8% from 3%. 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.
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She has been dating Hollywood actor Liam Hemsworth for more than a year.

And on Thursday, model Gabriella Brooks showed off her impressive physique as she slipped into '80s-inspired swimwear to front the new Archive Bodycheck campaign for Seafolly.

The 24-year-old oozed sex appeal as she flaunted her figure in the sun-drenched photos, alongside fellow models Tahnee Atkinson and Elle Wagner.

Liam's a lucky guy! Gabriella Brooks, the model girlfriend of actor Liam Hemsworth, showed off her impressive physique in the new Archive Bodycheck campaign for Seafolly

Gabriella's abs were on display as she posed in a $160 two-piece, which featured a lime green and blue bralet and matching bottoms.

She enhanced her already striking features with a hint of bronzer and lip gloss, and styled her damp, windswept hair loosely.

Meanwhile, Tahnee looked nothing short of sensational as she whipped her wet locks around her shoulders for a series of seductive shots.

The brunette glamazon dressed her slender frame in a flattering swimsuit, which showed off her hourglass curves to perfection.

Wow! The 24-year-old looked sizzling as she flaunted her figure in the sun-drenched photos

Abs-olutely gorgeous: Gabriella's abs were on display as she posed in a $160 two-piece, which featured a lime green and blue bralet and matching bottoms

Beach chic: Gabriella (centre) posed alongside fellow models Tahnee Atkinson (right) and Elle Wagner (left)

Natural beauty: She enhanced her already striking features with a hint of bronzer and lip gloss, and styled her damp, windswept hair loosely

Professional poser: Gabriella regularly shows off her bikini body on social media

Meanwhile, Elle looked beautiful in a vibrant red number as she gazed at the camera while sitting next to the other models.

The brand has ventured into its archive and brought back original sketches from head designer Genelle Walkom dating back to 1989.

Seafolly promises the collection will bring the style of the '80s to 2021.

Gabriella has been dating Liam since December 2019, following his highly publicised split from ex-wife Miley Cyrus in August of that year.

According to a report by Us Weekly in December 2019, Liam was 'happy to be moving on' following his turbulent split from Miley.

Model behaviour: Meanwhile, Tahnee looked nothing short of sensational as she whipped her wet hair around her shoulders for a series of sultry shots

Striking: The brunette glamazon dressed her slender frame in a flattering swimsuit, which showed off her hourglass curves to perfection

Sun-kissed: Meanwhile, Elle Wagner looked stunning in a vibrant red piece

'Liam feels comfortable with Gabriella. His family approves of her and really likes her, which is very important to him,' a source told the publication.

Gabriella and Liam's romance is also 'very different' to his relationship with Miley, E! News reported.

'They like the same things and have the same lifestyle,' said a source. 'It's not a rollercoaster of highs and lows. Gabriella is very laid-back and even-keeled.'
Mortar shelling in Afghanistan kills at least 10 civilians

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Nigeria: Students taken hostage a month ago are released

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Mher Grigoryan: Clarification of border points is possible only after withdrawal of Azerbaijani troops from Armenia

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Robert Kocharyan: This war could not have happened, it was a consequence of the policy of the authorities

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Phuket officials ordered to prepare for Royal visit

PHUKET: Phuket officials were instructed today to prepare for an official visit by HRH Princess Ubolratana, who will visit the island on Mar 26.



By The Phuket News

Thursday 11 February 2021, 06:05PM

Phuket Vice Governor Pichet Panapong announced the Royal visit today (Feb 11). Photo: PR Phuket

Princess Ubolratana will be in Phuket to officiate a To be Number One event at Prince of Songkla University. Phuket Campus, in Kathu, Phuket Vice Governor Pichet Panapong explained today (Feb 11).

Princess Ubolratana launched the To Be Number One Foundation in 2002 to combat drug use by young people. The foundation today has more than 31 million members throughout the country.

The project encourages young people to strive to excel in whatever field they enjoy the most, be it academic studies, sports, the arts or even singing and dancing.

Of note, Princess Ubolratana studied at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where she graduated in 1973 with a degree in mathematics. She also attended the University of California in Los Angeles and graduated with a masters degree in public health.

Most famously in sports, the 67-year-old princess competed in the 1967 Southeast Asian Games in Bangkok, winning a gold medal in sailing together with her father, the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

On this occasion, all departments are asked to perform their duties carefully, to focus on providing maximum security, Vice Governor Pichet said.

And we ask all local government organisations to give importance to the maintenance of cleanliness in all areas, and to decorate their areas with the Royal Standard [of Princess Ubolratana] so that it will be neat, beautiful and honorable along the route that she will pass along, he added.